School is out, traffic is non-existent and everyone is road tripping, beach bound and European vacationing. This week, we’re sharing our favorite things to read, stream and listen to this summer.
Melissa has trips to Washington D.C. and Newport, Rhode Island, and of course plenty of time in Chappell Hill, Texas, where the fig tree is about to burst, so fig jam is on the summer agenda. Marcia is heading to her happy place, Sun Valley, Idaho, where she will hike while devouring podcasts and develop new farmer’s market-inspired recipes to teach this fall.
Listen
Melissa just downloaded the Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist podcast, which is full of celebrity interviews. Last Sunday’s listen was with the Barefoot Contessa herself, Ina Garten, so of course we like it.
Marcia is recently obsessed with Second Life, which is full of interviews with inspiring women in business.
Ear Hustle is next on our list.
The Cookbook Deal by Jessica Murmane is total inside baseball, but also a fascinating listen.
Goop. Sorry, could listen to the soothing inflections of Gwyneth and Elise all day long.
Criminal. We’ve already written about this one, if you haven’t listened what are you waiting for?
Plus, old favorites like How I Built This, SuperSoul Sunday and TED Talks Daily.
Read
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. Beautiful and lonely and reads like a detective novel.
You Think It, I’ll Say It: Stories by Curtis Sittenfeld. On my list because Curtis Sittenfeld is genius (she wrote Prep, Sisterland and American Wife.
Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah. Heard this is powerful and amazing but haven’t read it yet.
Elizabeth Gilbert’s City of Girls. So excited for this one!
Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen by Sarah Bird. A journey story with a strong woman following her heart.
Ask Again, Yes: A Novel by Mary Beth Keane. About two families in a suburban town and the relationships between their children.
The Second Mrs. Hockaday by Susan Rivers. A Civil War story from a young wife’s perspective.
Watch
Handmaid’s Tale. Soooo scary good!
What’s your take on Dead to Me? I didn’t get hooked, but I’ll try episode 2 and report back.
Berlin Station. Great watch if you’re into CIA and spy dramas like Homeland, The Americans or Alias. And if you haven’t watch those, get ready to binge!
Speaking of that genre, Killing Eve. The writing! The acting! Love you, Sandra Oh. Let’s be friends.
The creator of Killing Eve also stars in and wrote Fleabag (slang for a dry-witted woman). I reaIly really want to like this, but I can’t handle it when actors talk to the camera.
Jack Ryan. John Krasinski is adorable and it’s fun to watch him in a different type of role.
Younger Season 6! Total guilty pleasure.
Big Little Lies. Back for Season 2 and so moody and good.
The Romanoffs. Weird and fun to watch at the same time.
The Spanish Queen on Starz, the story of Catherine of Aragon, is a total summer escape watch.
Les Miserable on PBS. Be prepared to binge watch and cry.
The last season of the Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is on Netflix. If you have not seen it, start at the beginning.
I haven’t seen The Fix yet, but if you like legal dramas get on it.
90210 reboot anyone?
And of course if you’ve been living under a rock and haven’t watched GOT (Game of Thrones) or Outlander, get going.
We also can’t wait to watch Aaron Franklin school us on Texas-Style BBQ.
Pretty please leave a comment with your favorite book, podcast or show. We need to add to our list.
Loved Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen! Also enjoyed Second Mrs. Hockaday. They read well back to back since two very different takes on same time period. Thanks for the great recommendations!!
You might check out Daisy Jones and the Six also. Riveting summer read, and such an unusual style that it is worth reading for that alone!
Oh adding that to my list for sure. Thank you!
Still haven’t started Handmaiden’s Tale but will! Dead to Me was fabulous but the LANGUAGE is cringeworthy! Be warned. NOT for under 18! Great book for motivation & soul-finding (as opposed to soul-searching) is a book called Girl, Wash Your Face!
Lots of convo’s recently w/ my college & post grad daughters about REAL relationships, REAL connections and lots of UNPLUGGING from social media this summer & spending FACE time w/ the people who love you & BRING YOU JOY. Let’s all do it…
Lol, maybe that’s why I couldn’t get into dead to me! Need to add that book to my list — and planning a serious unplug when we’re in Sun valley in July. Can’t wait to recharge! Hi to your sweet girls!!!
Thanks for all of these recommendations! Summer reading is the best. I recently enjoyed The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware and The Unbreakables by Lisa Barr (both bought in the airport bookstore). For beach reading, Barefoot and The Rumor both by Elin Hildebrand are awesome. Circe by Madeline Miller is also wonderful. On Being by Krista Tippett is a great podcast.
Adding these to my list! Just finished The Second Mrs. Hockaday and it was SO good!