Hello, hello, and happy Friday! I’m feeling festive after yesterday’s big Summer Reading Guide launch, plus we have a lot going on around here in the Bogel household: one graduation this weekend, another looming on the horizon, a kid returning from a Big Trip—in other words we’re making all the good food this weekend for lots of family time. I’m pumped. (And I have my audiobooks queued up for meal prep listening!)
I hope you have something good to look forward to this weekend, and that this collection of interesting reads and favorite things helps ease you into that weekend frame of mind.
The 2025 Summer Reading Guide is here—get your copy now!
The FOURTEENTH annual Summer Reading Guide is here! My very favorite compliments so far are along the lines of “I thought I had a good handle on what was coming out this season, but I discovered so many new titles that weren’t on my radar!” Get your very own 2025 Guide right here! We’re still taking orders for our print (think: magazine) Guides, place your order here.
For my fellow minimalists and decision haters, the 2025 Minimalist Summer Reading Guide is up on the blog. This year’s Minimalist Guide has 6 great titles and it’s completely free and available to all. Happy summer reading!
My favorite finds from around the web:
I offer gift links for articles whenever possible (you may still need to create an account with the publication); if there’s no gift link and you’re not a subscriber, check to see if your library carries the publication or use a service like Pocket.
There and Back with Wally Lamb. (Publishers Weekly) The author talks about imposter syndrome, alcoholism, and his new novel, The River Is Waiting (Bookshop), out June 10. Is this a featured Summer Reading Guide book, just out yesterday? Maybe! (Just kidding, you know it absolutely was because this heartbreaker is a Minimalist pick.)
Our brand new Well Read hats have proven to be exceedingly popular in our shop: they sold out in a snap! We have more coming in soon—if you want in, place your order now!
Party Till the Break of 10 P.M. (New York Times gift link) “Earlybirds, by contrast, is all the sleepovers, summer camps and bachelorettes of my youth, but concentrated and distilled — purified of all mean girl behavior, insecurity, exclusion, competition. And significantly sweatier. By 10 p.m., I’d danced so hard, my legs felt leaden. But my heart was so full, I could have gone on forever.”
My daughter is graduating from high school this weekend so we’re making all her favorites, like this classic pimiento cheese. Also benedictine. (Both from Southern Living)
Unleashing Strength: Women Owning Their Power in Literature. (The Creative Edge) “I especially love stories of ordinary women forced into action. Their door is knocked upon by destiny, and they must choose: accept the challenge, or slam the door in adventure’s face. This is the heart of the suspense genre: an innocent, faced with certain death or destruction, who must rise above and save herself—and others.”
This ruffle rashguard from Summersalt is so cute! I love their swimwear; I just wore my longtime fave Perfect Wrap One-Piece in the classic black and white on spring break.
Bestseller Fredrik Backman says ‘My Friends‘ could be his last book in candid interview. (USA Today) A thoughtful discussion about the stressors of publishing and book marketing under capitalism.
Why SmartFood Popcorn Doesn’t Hit Like It Used To. (Eater) This piece about SmartFood in particular, but more broadly about shrinkflation and product formula changes, was Bogel family dinner conversation fodder last week.
Genetics adaptions allows all-female Korean divers to cope with extreme conditions. (Cosmos Magazine) Very cool scientific analysis that calls to mind Lisa See’s The Island of Sea Women (MMD).
These cotton pajama prints (XXS–3X) are bringing me so much joy! And I always tend towards neutrals for layering cardis, but this bright green (XXS–3X) is shoulder season perfection.
Triumph of the Undead: The Public Domain as Horror Hero. (Public Books) “Every horror fan knows that the monster is never truly dead the first time you think you’ve killed it. Florence Stoker should have heeded this advice.”
Need-to-know information we always share at our MMD events: for last night’s Unboxing, my lipstick of choice was VIOLETTE_FR’s Bisou Balm in Bêtise, Ginger’s was Maybelline’s Color Sensationsal Lipstick Lust for Blush, and Shannan’s was Bobbi Brown Extra Lip Tint in Bare Blackberry.
100 Book Covers for Mrs. Dalloway. (Literary Hub) So many cover trends over the last century.
Will and I really liked the new Trader Joe’s chicken mole I impulse bought last week; it made a great Summer Reading Guide Day lunch for two. I immediately added it to my shopping list for next time!
How your brain changes when you outsource it to AI. (Vox) “Working harder tends to lead to better outcomes, like earning a promotion or resolving a time-sensitive problem. And when cognitive effort is rewarded, people learn to value mental labor itself, even in the absence of an obvious short-term payoff.”
Don’t miss these posts:
Immerse yourself in these 20 full cast recording audiobooks. Full cast recording audiobooks are the modern equivalent of a radio play, except no one has to wait to listen to the next installment.
20 interesting recipes to make for dinner with boneless skinless chicken breasts. In case you’re in need of dinner inspiration.
23 recommended reads for those traveling to Chicago. For anyone planning a trip to Chicago or looking for some armchair travel!
Have a great weekend!