Hello! Pop culture and entertainment rule my life. I decided that it would be fun to do a little recap of all the media I consume each month:
I’m finally getting out of this mini slump! I’m watching more new movies—as well as some re-watches—and I’ve been reading a lot more.
BOOKS!
Faking Normal by Courtney C. Stevens
When I was working on my WIP, I was trying to read books that had to do with sexual assault. I had read Dress Codes for Small Towns, Stevens’s book that came out last year and I really loved it, so after finding this at a used bookstore I decided to give it a shot. I really loved the relationship between Alexi and Bodee and even though I guessed the “secret” pretty much from the start, I think this was a really strong debut novel and I can’t wait to read her most recent book— Four, Three, Two, One. 4/5
Gmorning, Gnight: Little Pep Talks for Me & You by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jonny Sun
WHAT CAN’T THIS MAN DO!?!? I could write my own book about how much I love this man. I keep this book on my bedside table and look at it from time to time when I need comfort and encouragement. 5/5
Brave Enough by Kati Gardner
What a big disappointment. I will basically read any book that has to do with dance, ballet specifically. That’s what I thought I was getting when I picked up this book—a ballerina in a top company who tries to hide an injury. Instead, the author skips everything having to do with dance and goes straight to when she is forced to quit because of cancer. I wanted to see her struggling to dance through this pain and slowly progress until she reaches her breaking point. I guess I just wanted so much more from the story. 2/
A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi
See my post from last week about how much I loved this book! 5/5
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before & P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han (reread)
After re-watching the movie (for the third time) I decided to reread the series. Lara Jean was kind of a bitch! It’s actually really nice to read the entire series one after the other because we see so much character development within these people who feel so real. I read the third book as well, but it was technically in December. 5/5
TV!
Dr. Phil
No, I am not a housewife in her mid-forties. I started by watching clips of the show on YouTube but then they started running marathons on TV during the day and now I’m hooked…
Dance Moms
Okay, I feel no shame for watching this show. I’ve been in it from the beginning. I haven’t been re-watching full episodes but the number of clips I’ve been watching on YouTube, pretty much equals to watching the series. It’s just too good!
MOVIES!
Beautiful Boy
This was a really heart-wrenching movie and all the actors were really incredible. There are few actors who can do both drama and comedy exceptionally well, and Steve Carell is one of them. And Timothee Chalamet is like a young Leonardo DiCaprio.
Brain on Fire
The book is one of my favorites of the year but this movie sucked. Really disappointing that they didn’t deliver on telling Susannah’s story.
A Star is Born (re-watch)
My dad was in town for Thanksgiving and hadn’t seen it yet. It’s very re-watchable. There were little things foreshadowing the end that I noticed the second time around.
Ralph Breaks the Internet
I was SO excited for this movie. I loved all the Internet Easter Eggs throughout the whole thing. And, of course, the princess scenes were my absolute favorite parts. It’s incredible that they managed to get almost all the living princess voice actors to return—Mary Costa (Aurora) does no reprise her role because she is too old to voice a 16-year-old.
To All the Boys I’ve Loved (re-watch)
I love it. What can I say? So swoony. PLUS! The sequel is officially happening!
6 Balloons
More people need to be talking about this little Netflix movie. I had only see Abbi Jacobson in Broad City so watching her tackle a completely different role so well was really great. Same with Dave Franco. The whole movie takes place in one day— Jacobson is taking her brother, Franco, to rehab and this isn’t the first time. Really, really good.
Lindsay Glenne 