Here are some non-bookish articles I really liked this past month and my latest loves.
Do you have any links or loves to share?
Would love to hear about them!
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| Available on Hulu |
I decided to watch Rosaline for two reasons: I'm a fan of the book it was based on (When You Were Mine by Rebecca Serle) and Sean Teale is my #2 celebrity crush (behind my OG #1 Joshua Jackson, of course). I had a feeling the movie would be fun but this far exceeded my expectations! In the original Romeo & Juliet story (which I hate), Rosaline is only mentioned in passing as Romeo's ex. In this movie, it is all told from her perspective and the Rosaline of this adaptation is hilarious, witty, and flawed. I just laughed and smiled a lot throughout. Her scenes with Daario (Teale) had great chemistry and they had a whole hate-to-love thing which was just charming to watch. Not to mention, Sean Teale just oozes charisma and I loved hearing his British accent. If you want something fun to watch, I can't recommend this enough.
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| Available on Disney+ |
Orphan Black is one of my all-time favorite TV shows so when I heard that Tatiana Maslany was taking on She-Hulk, I could not have been more excited. She's a brilliant and underrated actress so I was looking forward to seeing her in something so mainstream. Unfortunately, I just wasn't a fan of the show. I think Maslany was great as Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk but I just wasn't happy with the direction of the story. I've heard the show follows the comics really closely and stays true to the voice and tone of it but it didn't work for me. There were definitely some highlights (I totally ship She-Hulk/Jennifer with Daredevil/Matt!) but I spent a lot of the season wondering where it was all going, how would it tie in to this phase of the MCU, and it never answers those questions. The finale made things worse in my eyes and just felt really sloppy. If it comes back, I'll probably still watch (because of Tatiana!) but my excitement and expectations will be much more tempered.
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| Available on Crunchyroll |
I was so bummed that I couldn't watch Fruits Basket: Prelude in theaters so I was checking Crunchyroll constantly until I could finally stream it. And now that I have, it did not disappoint! The first 20 minutes or so was basically a recap of Tohru and Kyo's scenes from the show, which honestly could've been shorter since I already watch YouTube videos that do exactly this. But we do get some extra scenes between Kyo and Kyoko (Tohru's mom) before segueing into her love story with Katsuya. Even though we already know the ending to their relationship and these two characters, it was really beautiful to watch how their romance unfolded and seeing them welcome Tohru into their lives. I didn't expect to get so invested or emotional in such a short period of time. If I had one complaint about the movie, it's that we didn't get more time with these two. But I really enjoyed it and we also got a glimpse into what Tohru and Kyo have been up to (somehow Kyo got even dreamier!) so all in all, I was very happy with it!
Fall is here and the weekends in October have been a mix of busy and low-key — which is exactly how I like things to be!
For the newcomers: Alexa, DJ, Kristin and I unofficially formed the Paranormal Book Club and the goal is to re-read (or in some cases, read for the first time) old YA paranormal books. The plan is to read a book/series per season (which I'm tracking here) and after, we'll answer five questions.
Here are my thoughts:
- What were your initial thoughts about the book? Were you excited to read it?
Having last read The Goddess Test in 2012, I was curious to see how it would hold up 10 years later. To be honest, it was never a favorite but I did look back on it fondly since I had enjoyed the lore and I remember getting quite invested in the romance. It's about Kate, who has just moved back to her mother's childhood town to honor her dying wish, and is struggling with being a teenager at a new school and the reality of caring for her terminally ill mom. Then she meets Henry, who claims to be Hades of the Underwood and brings a young girl back to life to prove it, and asks her to accept a bargain to pass seven tests. In return, he'll keep her mother alive. As you can imagine, it's an offer she can't pass up. - What was your favorite quote or passage, and why did it resonate with you?
"Keep trying until you have no more chances left." As a reader, this resonated because I was rooting so hard for Kate to pass every single test and to get her happily ever after with Henry. But on a personal level, I believe I'm type of person who will always try hard to succeed, no matter the circumstances. - Which character did you relate to the most, and what was it about them that you connected with?
I related to Kate the most. The situation with her mom hit very close to home and I think her single-minded devotion to her mom, especially in her time of need, was something that resonated with me. - Was there anything you wanted to see more of in the book, like more page time for a secondary character or a plot point you wish was explored more?
I would've liked to see more of Henry's side of things and maybe a bit more development overall but at the same time, I think the story was well-paced and the amount of time spent on each character made sense for this first book (especially since I do know what happens in the later books). - What are your final thoughts? Would you read this book again and/or continue with the series? Would you read another book written by the same author?
The book held up! I more or less rated it the same, which was roughly 3-3.5 stars. I think it's the writing that prevents me from rating it higher but overall, I still liked the story and the lore. I don't have any plans to reread the rest of the series but if the author came out with a new YA book, I think I would check it out from the library.
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Even though I'm never happy about the end of summer, I can't deny that I love shopping for fall items and my recent purchases definitely reflect that! Here's what I'm currently obsessed with:
[top-bottom; left-right]
Madewell Cali Demi-Boot Jeans in Shoreham Wash | As much as I love my skinny jeans, lately I've been trying to branch out. First with mom jeans, and now ankle-length demi-boot jeans! I'm loving this style and since this pair has a raw hem, I was able to cut it to a length that works for me.
Cuts Almost Friday Tee | I was influenced once again! The quality of these basic tees live up to the hype though. I have this (which is TTS) and the tomboy tee (had to go up 2 sizes) but I prefer the fit of this one best.
Sam Edelman Loraine Bit Loafer in Saddle | I adore this saddle color and have been wearing these loafers a ton since buying them. If you've been eyeing the Gucci loafers, this is a great dupe that's high quality.
Loft Houndstooth Long Modern Blazer | I am super into blazers lately but it can be hard to find one that's a flattering fit on me. So when I do, I don't second guess buying it. This one fits great!
Longchamp Silk Scarf | I had been wanting a printed silk scarf but originally I was looking at Hermes, although I was not a fan of the price. On a whim, I decided to check Longchamp since I've been loving their stuff so much and when I saw this, I knew it was the one. It's neutral, great all year round (IMHO), and it has horses!
Dior Forever Skin Correct Concealer | After using Tarte Shape Tape for 3 years, I decided to try something new and I did not expect to love Dior's concealer so much. The color is perfect (more so than Tarte's) and I love that it's more creamy but less heavy. I think this is my new holy grail concealer!
Baboon Conan Cropped Pants | I wanted to add non-denim pants to my closet but as per usual, it's hard to find something that fits me well and preferably wouldn't require hemming. So imagine my shock when I tried these on in-store and I immediately loved the fit on me. The length, the waist, way the trousers fall -- it's perfect! And if I were to order online, there's a short option if I wanted them to be truly cropped ("regular" crop is ankle length on me).
BLANKNYC Plaid Shacket | I got this during the Nordstrom Anniversary sale but only began wearing it recently! A shacket has long been on my wishlist but it was tough to find one that was oversized without overwhelming my frame and again, I got really lucky shopping because this one is just right. The neutral color is an added bonus.
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Have you bought anything lately that you're obsessed with?
Here are some non-bookish articles I really liked this past month and my latest loves.
Do you have any links or loves to share?
Would love to hear about them!
Hi, I’m Rachel! New Yorker at heart, Francophile in spirit, and forever wanderlusting. I’m passionate about books, ice cream, photography and finding creativity in my every day life.
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