In the airport in Miami, I saw a woman in the attire above. I asked to take a photo of her pants and shoes because I needed evidence of my pink and sparkly sole sister. I couldn’t find the shoes online, so I don’t own them…yet, but give me time. If you, dear reader, find…
“Why”…Wednesdays
NetGalley Review of Dolly All
(opens in new tab) title: Dolly all the Time author: Annabel Monaghan publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons publication date: May 26, 2026 pages: 368 peppers: 2 (on this scale) warnings: parental abandonment car accident with traumatic brain injury (in past) suggestion of abortion cancer (she’s fine now) summary: Along with her son Gus, Dolly heads back…
NetGalley Review of The Cherry Blossom Boathouse
(opens in new tab) title: The Cherry Blossom Boathouse author: Laura Bloom publisher: Dell publication date: May 26, 2026 pages: 352 peppers: 3 (on this scale) warnings: alcoholism adoption and child abandonment break-ins summary: In a wine-fueled evening after losing her job and her boyfriend, Sophie decides to crowdfund her dream plan: buying a boathouse…
385. Why I Love Instagram
I pasted two screenshots from my Instagram account above. On the left, you’ll see my toolbar/menu, not because it’s that exciting, but because I usually ignore it completely. On the right, you’ll see some of my saved folders. That’s what I love about Instagram. It doesn’t have as much to do with what I can…
NetGalley Review of Good Joy, Bad Joy
(opens in new tab) title: Good Joy, Bad Joy author: Mikki Brammer publisher: St. Martin’s Press publication date: May 19, 2026 pages: 304 peppers: 1 (on this scale) warnings: death, cancer, dying, theft, law-breaking, adultery summary: When her best friend of almost a century tells Joy that she’s dying, Joy examines her life and decides…
NetGalley Review of The Shippers
(opens in new tab) title: The Shippers author: Katherine Center publisher: St. Martin’s Press publication date: May 19, 2026 pages: 336 peppers: 2 (on this scale) warnings: violence sexual harassment drunkenness summary: Jojo’s sister Ashley decides that Jojo’s unlucky-in-love curse comes from being bonded forever to the boy who first kissed her. Fortunately, he’s going…
NetGally Review of Love Beyond a Reasonable Doubt
(opens in new tab) title: Love Beyond Reasonable Doubt author: Swati Hegde publisher: Dell publication date: May 12, 2026 pages: 304 peppers: 3 (on this scale) warnings: stabbing murder described grooming in past alcohol use, drunkenness pot smoking infidelity, in past summary: When lawyer Naina’s fiancé cheats on her so that she ends their relationship,…
NetGalley Review of First and Forever
(opens in new tab) title: First and Forever author: Lynn Painter publisher: Berkley publication date: May 12, 2026 pages: 320 peppers: 2 (on this scale) warnings: health scare of a major character football injury paintgun violence dead mother (before book) senile dimentia summary: When Duffy accidentally injures the handsy mascot of her favorite NFL team,…
384. Why The Imperfectionist
(opens in new tab) If you click the photo above, you’ll get to Oliver Burkeman’s page on which you can subscribe to his newsletter. I don’t know how to get back to the first issue I read, so I made a copy of it on this Google Doc, which you should be able to read…
NetGalley Review of Burnout Summer
(opens in new tab) title: Burnout Summer author: Jenna Ramirez publisher: Saturday Books publication date: May 12, 2026 pages: 352 peppers: 3 (on this scale) warnings: smoking vomit drinking alcohol summary: When Camille “Cam” Luna has the worst day of her life– first getting fired then spending the night in jail for disturbing the peace–she…