Summer has arrived! Hurray for perfect blue skies and warm temps and spending time outside! I’ve been looking forward to the sun for a looooong time, and I’m so, so, sooo happy I FINALLY get to enjoy some serious vitamin D! In preparation of summer season, my May favorites have some super summery vibes going on:

I Read…

MEET ME BY THE LAKE by Carley Fortune!

I loved, loved, loved Fortune’s debut novel EVERY SUMMER AFTER so I was dying to get my hands on her second book MEET ME BY THE LAKE. 

I craved the intensity and nostalgia of summers long gone by, and MEET ME BY THE LAKE did not disappoint! Fern Brookbanks’ story once again hits close to home: the small-town origins, the feeling of others mapping out your life, the once-in-a-lifetime spark, the longing, the reconnecting—all of it just clicks. Add into the mix the heartbreak of “wrong place, wrong time” and the subsequent inability to let go…oh my! 

I Watched…

QUEEN CHARLOTTE: A BRIDGERTON STORY on Netflix!

This spin-off Bridgerton miniseries revolves around Queen Charlotte and contains two clever plot lines: one beginning in 1817 with the death of Charlotte’s royal heir, and one beginning in 1761 with Charlotte meeting and marrying King George. The latter explores their marriage, race, and the king’s mental illness.

In this series, everything that happens has consequences beyond Charlotte and George’s love for one another—which makes the series deeper and more powerful than the original Bridgerton seasons (though of course, those were fun and sexy to watch). 

I especially enjoyed Charlotte’s agency: rather than swoon for her king, bowing to his whims, she demands his attention and urges him to do and be better. She’s a badass!

I Listened to…

THE ALBUM by the Jonas Brothers!

Confession: I’m a total OG Disney-era Jonas Brothers afficionado and I never NOT enjoy their work. Nick, Joe, and Kevin will forever be A THING. Still, their new record is perhaps the best thing they have ever done!

With songs titled “Vacation Eyes,” “Summer in the Hamptons,” and “Vacation Baby” the album is the perfect soundtrack for the upcoming sun-drenched season! It’s also perfectly retro, giving off Bee Gee x The Doobie Brothers vibes—with eclectic harmonies, soft guitars, and a good dose of americana and seventies-soul nostalgia. 

THE ALBUM is summery and sparkly and fun, and I can’t wait for the boys to tour Europe!