Our Online Editor shares what she’s reading, watching, and listening to this summer
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Looking for some suggestions for binge-worthy books, TV shows, and podcasts to plough through before summer ends?
Our Online Editor Erin Cross has one or two suggestions that might spark some new obsessions. Here’s some of the media she’s been consuming (and planning on consuming) this summer – hopefully it inspires you to make the most of the January holidaze before life really kicks back into gear.
READING
Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton
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Are you even a woman in your 20s if you haven’t read this book (or at least heard of it?). I devoured this memoir by British journalist Dolly Alderton in early December on my Kindle and I loved it so much that I’m considering buying the paperback version as well.
Light, readable, funny, and heartbreaking, it has all the elements of a perfect ‘coming of age’ story of a woman in her 20’s and 30’s. Exploring everything from addiction to grief, eating disorders, self-worth, and – of course – love, I recommend picking this up for when you want something sweet, silly, smart, serious, and with a touch of Sex and The City vibes.
The Life-Changing Art Of Not Giving A **** by Sarah Knight
This one I saved for January – cause New Year, new me, right? Kidding. This one I saved as purely as what I call a ‘palette cleanser’: a book that’s easy to read, maybe a little stupid, and maybe a little funny.
First published in 2015 as a satire of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo, this self-help book (if you can call it that) is all about how to free up your mind so you can spend your time, energy, and money on things that really matter. Was it life-changing and something I recommend that everyone MUST READ? No. But I will say that it did inspire this article I wrote about combating productivity guilt and I might take some of the author’s advice on board – mainly using the two-step NotSorry Method for mental decluttering and determining if I do actually give a flip.
The Woman In Me by Britney Spears
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I read this in about a day while in COVID isolation (I know – getting COVID in 2024? That’s SO 2020) and if I had to use one word to describe it, it would be… heartbreaking.
An insight into Britney’s mind and the horror she had to endure, I’m glad she finally got to tell her story on her terms. But for me, it lacked a lot of depth and read like a very angry, sad, and fragmented diary that had been edited for publication. Maybe it’s because we’ve been conditioned to feel entitled to knowing everything about the lives of celebrities, but it felt like there were some gritty and major details missing from the timeline – although what she did choose to share was a very raw and vulnerable insight into her life.
All I can say is if you want to read it, read it, but don’t go into it expecting more like I did – it’s Britney’s story, her truth, and she’s still healing from her trauma.
Rouge by Mona Award
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In June 2023 I read Bunny by Mona Awad (if you want to know, here are my thoughts on that weird and wonderful novel), so when I picked up Rouge, I knew I was in for a wild ride. And while I described Bunny as unhinged, Rouge is best described as surreal, confusing, and kind of acid-trippy. I think I love it.
At the time of writing this, I only have about 100 pages left, and I still have no idea what is actually happening, how, or why – but when you break it down, this is a horror story about a beauty cult with a deeply moving mother-daughter story at its core that dives into the dark side of grief, envy, and beauty. A great exploration of society’s collective fixation with looking beautiful, the prose is unique and flows like poetry – making it utterly addictive. Oh, and Tom Cruise plays a major role in the story. You’ll have to read Rouge for yourself to see what I mean.
Bite Back by Hannah Ferguson
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I haven’t read this one yet but it’s at the top of my TBR – and after Emma Macdonald’s glowing review (and as a big fan of Cheek Media Co.), I can’t wait to read Hannah Ferguson’s thoughts on feminism, media, and politics.
WATCHING
Foundation
Foundation on Apple TV+ is great if you love Star Wars. The series follows a band of exiles on their journey to save humanity following the prediction that the galaxy’s iron-fisted ruling dynasty (known as Empire) will fall. A complex saga (that’s loosely based on a book series of the same name), if you’re looking for a science fiction show that’s epic in its scale, and visual effects and has some great plot points, this one is for you.
Carnival Row
A twisty whodunnit fairytale starring Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevinge (yes, the model), this show is about a Victorian fantasy world filled with mythological immigrant creatures whose rich homelands were invaded by the empires of man. Now, I didn’t totally love this at first – but once I got invested in the world, I had to know what would happen. And with a murder investigation, war, political scandals, and more, I was kept guessing the whole time. Just a little note: if you don’t like sex, swearing, nudity, or Game of Thrones level gore…this isn’t a show for you.
ON MY TWL (To Watch List)
Anyone But You
I love rom-coms and the minute I watched the trailer for Anyone But You, it shot straight to the top of my ‘to-watch’ list. I haven’t made it to the movies yet but with Sydney Sweeny and Glen Powell in the leading roles, a destination wedding in Australia, and some great reviews on TikTok, I have high hopes it will give me all of the warm and fuzzy feelings I’m seeking.
Saltburn
Yes, I know about THOSE scenes. And yes – while I acknowledge it sounds very, very gross, I still want to see Saltburn. Why? Because while I do adore light and fluffy rom-coms like the previously mentioned Anyone But You, I also love a good black comedy psychological thriller film, especially when the plot is literally “something bad happened at a fancy house one summer.” And with themes exploring obsession and excess, I’m ready for a wild ride.
The Super Models
Another recommendation by Emma, now that I have an APPLE TV+ account, Supermodels is a must-see for me because I love fashion and the era of the supermodels in the 80s and 90s is iconic for a very good reason. I’m ready to sink my teeth into it – and be inspired to live by the motto “I don’t get out of bed for less than $10,000 a day”.
LISTENING
Ladies, We Need To Talk
I stumbled across this podcast by accident, and I have no regrets. Hosted by Yumi Styles, Ladies, We Need To Talk rips open the sealed section of life and unashamedly talks about all the topics women usually avoid.
Literally everything is up for discussion – from the mental load to cheating, avoiding monogamy, and motherhood – and Yumi does a great job jumping from the hilarious to the devasting, using a mixture of guests to dive headfirst into some incredibly tricky topics. It’s incredibly refreshing and even a little educational.
Tailored Talk
I will preface this by saying host Sammy Rose is a friend of mine – but that doesn’t make her podcast Tailored Talk any less good. Decoding the world of beauty and fashion with a Canberra twist, Sammy chats with knowledgeable locals about affordable style, fashion faux pas, skincare hacks, trends and so much more.
Sharing fabulous but realistic content, her bite-sized episodes are perfect for when you need some quick inspiration or advice.
Not Your Typical and Red Hot The Pod
These two are a part of my ‘guilty pleasure’ podcasts. Not Your Typical is a self-care podcast hosted by the lovely Katelynn Nolan. Based in California, her content is all about offering realistic lifestyle and self-love advice. When I’m feeling a bit self-conscious, lacking motivation or just need some wholesome vibes, Katelynn is who I turn to for some sisterly advice.
In contrast, Red Hot The Pod with Aussie influencer Lily Brown is great for when I want something fast-paced, funny and covers a range of topics. I’ve been following Lily on various platforms for years (and I’ve even met her in person once!), and I adore her sense of humour, perspective on life, advice, and laid-back vibe. Plus, who doesn’t love a glimpse into the life of a very successful influencer?
