Peak summer vibes

(And I'm counting the days 'til sweater weather.)

Helloooo!

Here’s a question: what do you look for in the perfect summer movie? 

Is it nostalgia vibes? A sweet rom com? A big, noisy, action-packed blockbuster? A little of each? Last summer, Chris and I made our way through all of the movies in the Mission: Impossible franchise. This year, we’ve seen at least 3 John Cusack flicks, and they’re all pitch perfect.

We also decided to dive into the Batman universe, starting with Tim Burton’s absolutely phenomenal neo noir from 1989. Just this week, we checked out Batman Returns, which was the one I remembered seeing the most as a kid. (It is arguably a Christmas movie! It also features all the hallmarks of Very Problematic Feminism from 1992!).

I love a fun, ridiculous rom com, but I do think there’s something about the big bold action movie in the summer that’s right on point. Whether or not you’re in a theater for it, it’s such a pleasure to turn on something you know will sort of blow your mind but that you don’t have to think about that hard. WHAT A COMBINATION!

So tell me: what’s your favorite sort of summer movie?!

Links links links!

Y’all KNOW I have some TEMPERATURE TOLERANCE ISSUES. Summer is great, but also, I don’t like sweating when my heart rate is below 100!!!!! There can be so much pressure to Be Outside Fabulously, and especially when I’m feeling low, that is A Struggle. BUT. I love summer produce. It’s all so bright and juicy and exciting, and most of it barely needs any work to just be delicious. Like, nectarines? Are you kidding me?!?!?!? So with that in mind, here are three things I’m finding especially delicious this week:

• David Lebovitz’s caponata is one of my favorite peak-summer salad situations. It’s the perfect combination of sweet vinegary, it’s got a little heat. The eggplant is luscious and the olives and capers take it up a notch. It’s even better after a day in the fridge, and it’s amazing with focaccia.

  

• I love a slightly savory fruit salad, and it’s super easy to throw together. Nectarines, peaches, plums, any berry, mint, basil, a splash of balsamic… it’s lush, it’s gorgeous, it’s all you ever need.

• This is decidedly NOT summer produce related, but Van Leeuwen’s peanut butter brownie honeycomb ice cream is in fact the best ice cream I have ever tried.

Delights!!!

This week’s delight is from GRETAGRAM reader Kathryn:

“Our golden retriever puppy Milo has been losing his puppy teeth. He’s swallowed most of them, but we have managed to save four molars! I’m having them made into earrings.”

I LOVE that this is not only delightful but also WEIRD! Thanks for sharing, Kathryn!

If you want to chime in and tell me what’s delighting YOU these days, just send me an email and tell me about it!

Homework from Rainbow Rowell (!!!!!)

I have read everything Rainbow Rowell has written, and I love it all — the fanfic, the YA, everything. But her adult novels Attachments and Landline are two of my favorites, so when I heard she was writing a new book for Us Olds, I was THRILLED. Slow Dance is coming out this Tuesday, and it’s exactly what you want it to be.

Remember when I wrote recently about the idea of “saving books” for some absurd future where I’d NEED it? Well, a Rainbow Rowell book is for sure that kind of book. I’m very happy to report, though, that I didn’t sit on this one as long as I might have. I guess maybe getting laid off was the nudge I needed to just EMBRACE THE COMFORT OF A GREAT BOOK FULL OF LOVE AND KINDNESS.

To celebrate Slow Dance, I asked Rainbow to offer up some homework, and here it is!

READ: The Chrysalids by John Wyndham.

“In 2024, I've blown through my reading goals, compulsively gobbling up 1950s sci-fi books by John Wyndham. Wyndham was an English World War II vet who wrote the books that inspired Village of the Damned and The Day of the Triffids -- horror movies that have never appealed to me. But these books are like candy. They're creepy. They're shocking -- even now. And they're simple in a way that feels profound. Also, they're funny. Quietly funny. And occasionally romantic. Wyndham writes about one catastrophe after another, but his characters stay reasonably calm and carry on, and you think, "Yes, this is exactly what real people would do." The Chrysalids is the weirdest Wyndham that I've read so far, and I think it's my favorite. I won't say a word more to spoil you.”

I must say, I am enticed!

SPEAKING OF BEING ENTICED! I have TWO copies of Slow Dance that I want to give away to two lucky paid GRETAGRAM subscribers. Upgrade your membership now and you’ll be in that drawing, along with all the other book giveaways I do! The Slow Dance drawing will happen today at 5pm CT so as long as you upgrade before then, you’ll be in the mix!

And speaking of homework! I would LOVE to know what you think of this month’s book club pick! Send me a voice memo, chime in on the post, or email me your thoughts! (All I ask is if you reply to the post, keep it spoiler-free there, please!)

Talk to you later!

P.S. Do you like this email?! Spread the delight and forward it to a friend! (Or spam an enemy, lol!)