I Read…
Every Summer After by Carley Fortune! Oh, my heart! This amazing debut is intense, beautiful, and filled with the perfect amount of nostalgia. I found Percy and Sam’s friendship to be completely disarming and beautiful and real (gah, and maybe, maaaybe it hit a little close to home).
The story is told over the course of six summers (the past) and one weekend (now), which makes it a wonderfully weird mix of Young Adult and Adult Romance. Set in Barry’s Bay, long summer days spent soaking up the sun at the local lake complete the book’s vibe, making it the ideal summer read (especially if you’re in the mood for stories like The Summer I Turned Pretty)! *chef’s kiss*
I Watched…
The fourth season of Netflix’s Virgin River!
Comfort watch alert! If you enjoyed the first three seasons of Virgin River, there’s no doubt you’ll love season 4. Even though this season’s pacing is slooooow, the show is a joy to watch. It’s easy and relaxed, and the landscape is divine (seriously, I want to live in British Columbia – like, yesterday).
Almost every episode ends with a cliffhanger, which makes the series seriously addictive despite the pacing issues. A binge-worthy season, once again!
I Listened to…
The symphonic wind bands participating in the first and concert divisions of the 19th edition of the World Music Competition!
The World Music Competition (WMC) is held every four years in the Dutch city of Kerkrade and is THE place to be for contests for wind and fanfare bands, percussion ensembles, brass bands, marching and show bands, and conductors. This year, the WMC welcomed over 20,000 musicians and 300,000 visitors from all over the globe.
In July, my orchestra competed in the first division for wind bands, and we won! It’s still a little strange to think we are the reigning world champions! The experience has been amazing, and it’s been really rewarding to see all our hard work pay off.
Besides our own experience, however, it’s been a true joy to watch the other WMC participants and listen to their music and stories, either live or via streaming!