What the HerCanberra team is reading, watching, and listening to this winter
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Looking for the perfect excuse to curl up and stay inside?
Here are some of our current TV, literary, and podcast obsessions.
Erin Cross, Online Editor
READING
Fourth Wing and Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
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I grew up in the 2000s and I LOVED books like Divergent, Eragon, and Throne Of Glass, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that I’ve jumped on the Fourth Wing bandwagon. To be honest, I didn’t want to love it (in fact, I don’t even think it’s well written) but there’s something I find incredibly comforting and nostalgic about romantasy YA novels like Fourth Wing and Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros.
And I’m not going to lie – at first, I didn’t get the hype. But by the end, I was hooked.
Set in the brutal world of a war college for dragon riders, it follows the main character, Violet Sorrengail as she tries to survive and become a dragon rider (spoiler: realistically, she should have died in the first chapter). There are some very cringy moments and cliches that would make most people squirm, but while the storyline is very predictable, the author has proved to me she’s able to throw in some big plot twists.
I won’t spoil too much for you, but obviously, Violet lives and becomes a dragon rider – but as her story continues, not everything in this war college is what it seems. As soon as I finished Fourth Wing, I picked up Iron Flame to see what would happen next.
I guess I’m just a sucker for dragons…
How To Not Work Forever: Start Investing a Build a Life You Love by Natasha Etschmann and Ana Kresina
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I recently interviewed the Canberra-based ‘finfluencer’ Natasha Etschmann about her career journey and new book with Ana Kresina, and she was kind enough to send me a copy of How To Not Work Forever: Start Investing a Build a Life You Love. And while I’m not a numbers kind of girl (there’s a reason I went into journalism), I am interested in becoming more financially literate, because when it comes to money I. Know. Nothing. Even talking about the topic – unless it’s about shopping – causes a high-pitched whining noise in my head. But I want to change that.
Along with many other gender gaps, in Australia, women tend to have lower financial literacy than men and without this knowledge, we are also more likely to experience financial abuse, make poorer investment decisions, and have lower superannuation savings. So, when this lovely book landed on my desk, I figured it was a great way to start educating myself.
Simply written and easy to understand, it it nicely (and practically) explains investing – from the basics to how it can help you build a life you love. I’m still not an an expert (and there’s still a few topics that trigger that high-pitched whining noise), but I now know a little bit more about money than when I started. And you’ve got to start somewhere.
Finding Your People: The ultimate guide to friendship by Alexandra Hourigan and Sally McMullen
I flew through this book, and if I had to summarise it in three words they would be: a warm hug. I’ve recently become obsessed with the Two Broke Chicks podcast (more on that later), so when I spotted Sal and Al’s brand new book, I had to grab it.
Described as “A relatable guide to finding, keeping and saying goodbye to friendships, from the twin-flame hosts of the hit podcast Two Broke Chicks”, it’s basically a companion guide for friendship in your 20s and 30s. And as someone who admittedly does struggle to balance her social life and make new connections as an adult, this book was a gorgeous read that reminded me of some very valuable things:
- You need to be your own best friend.
- Nobody is perfect.
- It’s not too late to make new connections.
- Not everyone is going to like you – and that’s okay.
- It costs nothing to tell your friends that you love them.
Wholesome, funny (there was some literal laugh-out-loud moments) and incredibly relatable, no matter what season of life you’re in and what you’re going through, there will be something that resonates with you in this book. It’s also a beautiful reminder of the power of friendship in adulthood.
WATCHING
Colin From Accounts
Looking for a laugh-out-loud romantic comedy series set in Australia? Colin From Accounts is exactly that. Co-created by creative powerhouse Harriet Dyer and Patrick Brammall (who also star as the main characters Ashley and Gordon), the series follows the lives of two single-ish people who meet after an incident involving a nip slip, a car crash, and an injured dog.
I think that’s enough detail to help you understand the kind of humour you’ll experience in this show – but it’s also charming, full of drama and you don’t need to think to understand what’s happening.
Plus anything with a really cute dog and hilarious one-liners is always worth watching.
LISTENING
Two Broke Chicks
Sharing shopping tips and life lessons, when I found this podcast, I was hooked (so hooked, I binge-listened to five episodes in a row. And yes, it was worth it).
From talking about expensive sh*t not worth the money to a spend-and-save checklist for your 20s, Two Broke Chicks is honest, full of great tips for getting on top of your finances, and it feels like you’re having a chat with your besties.
Co-hosts and journalists Sal and Al don’t take themselves too seriously (there have been many moments I’ve literally laughed at out) but I’ve already started using some of their suggestions and so far, I’m impressed. If you’re looking for easy listening with the bonus of life advice, I recommend giving this podcast a try.
Style-ish
For anyone interested in all things fashion, business, and beauty, this podcast is for you. Brought to life by Shameless Media, Style-ish is hosted by dermal therapist and beauty journalist Joanna Fleming, the founder of Sage Agency Anika Joshi Smith, and Mecca’s Senior Branding Marketing Manager, Maddison Sullivan-Thorpe.
Talking about everything from if TikTok’s colour analysis hack is worth it to dissecting Witchery’s rebrand, I enjoy it because they dive into the world of glamour to break down what’s happening in the industry with a mix of humour, history, tips, and tricks.
Beatrice Smith, Managing Editor
READING
Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen
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Nuclear War: A Scenario, a very intense non-fiction book that takes the reader second-by-second through a scenario where North Korea sends nuclear warheads towards the United States, was vaguely recommended to me by our Founder Amanda Whitley. By that I mean her husband read it and was mildly devastated by it, which wasn’t exactly a glowing review, but I was hooked.
Downloading as an audiobook was a great choice because it’s read by the author, the phenomenal writer and journalist Annie Jacobsen, whose writing reels you in due to its pacey, factual tone that feels like a script from a Hollywood blockbuster. I can report that I found it more than mildly devastating – Annie has interviewed the who’s who of American strategic command to be able to walk you through America’s governmental and military nuclear response in intense detail, some of which is hard to stomach – but the fact of the matter is that nuclear warheads exist and dictators exist and I feel more ‘armed’, pun intended, reading about this than I would otherwise.
WATCHING
American Sweethearts: The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders
I started watching this Netflix documentary one night when I couldn’t be bothered to choose something other than what it was shoving into my face. Oh boy, am I glad I did. I will admit I assumed that a documentary that took you behind the scenes of the audition process and boot camp to become a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader (DCC, for those in the know) would be toxic and drama-filled.
Instead, it was an uplifting, cup-filling peek inside the lives of the complex, driven women who cheer – who must ‘look like a supermodel and perform like an athlete’ – in 2024 and the women who coach them. Sure, there’s discussion of cheerleaders’ bare bones pay packets, the constant sexualisation and commodification of their bodies, the intense scrutiny of the audience and cameras on their shape and the challenges that come post-cheer career, but by choosing a variety of women to focus on – from the recently retired ‘veteran’ going through her third surgery to the bright-eyed newcomer – you get to know the people behind the pom poms. Bonus: the soundtrack is killer.
LISTENING
Chameleon: The Hollywood Con Queen
Chameleon: The Hollywood Con Queen is a cracking true crime podcast about a woman who posed as some of Hollywood’s top female executives in order to lure fresh faced actors, makeup artists and stunt men to Jakarta (of all places) in order to con them out of modest sums of money.
Confused yet? As the podcast explains, this was such a confusing con that it went under the radar for a long time – almost a decade. But the trauma inflicted on these victims after that realised that, halfway across the world and alone, they had been scammed, was finally given the attention it deserves in this pacey and addictive podcast that’s perfect for your next road trip.
Lordana Ibrahim, Intern
READING
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
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Crying in H Mart is a heart-breaking but beautiful memoir by lead singer of Japanese Breakfast. It explores grief, identity, and forgiveness in all its complexities.
When Michelle loses her mother after an exhausting battle to cancer, she turns to the Korean dishes her mother used to make as a lifeline to her culture after feeling as if the last thread has been broken. The novel shows how even something as simple as food can shape where we come from and ultimately who we are. Crying in H Mart takes you on a moving journey that was especially relatable as a first-generation immigrant- always trying to find that balance between cultures.
Crying in H Mart captures the complicated feelings of grieve, growing up and searching for identity perfectly, offering comfort and understanding to especially children of immigrants trying to find their place in a foreign country while holding onto their roots.
Love Is a Mix Tape by Rob Sheffield
Honestly, I wouldn’t call this book a literary masterpiece, but it holds a special place for me- it was one of the first books that got me back into reading in my late teens, so I enjoy revisiting it occasionally. Love Is a Mix Tape takes you through love and loss, track by track.
It’s an autobiographical memoir where Sheffield recounts his first meeting with his late wife, Renee Crist, their beautiful love story, and her eventual passing just five years into their marriage. Sheffield, (a rock and pop culture critic for Rolling Stone Magazine), and Renee, (a passionate music advocate), fill the pages with an abundance of music references – so if you’re not into music (do those people even exist?), it might not be your cup of tea, but it’s overall a compelling read.
It’s not just a love story, it’s a raw exploration of life’s unpredictability that will have you laughing, crying, and falling in love with Renee right alongside Sheffield.
Good Material by Dolly Alderton
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My latest read is Good Material by Dolly Alderton. Her books feel like a big sister sitting you down and telling you that life is going to suck but that everything will be alright. After enjoying Ghosts and Everything I Know about Love, I hesitated to pick up Good Material. I wasn’t sure I wanted to be in the mind of a 35-year-old man navigating a breakup, for all the obvious reasons. However, I took the plunge and I’m so glad I did.
Andy and Jen had been together for five years when Jen unexpectedly ends their relationship, leaving Andy blindsided. Good Material excels in presenting both characters not as villains or victims, but as individuals grappling with heartbreak and struggling to see beyond their own pain.
Dolly possesses a remarkable gift for making you empathise with characters who might seem unfamiliar at first glance. She writes about characters who can be frustrating, yet somehow, I understand their motivations- even when I find myself wanting to yell at them. We can all relate to stalking an ex, wishing all the best and all the worst for them, making up imaginary situations and accidentally (not so accidentally) running into them and replaying the encounter in our minds for days.
WATCHING
Love, Rosie
Winter calls for a cosy movie night under a blanket, heater cranked up, and your favourite rom-com playing on the TV. Calling Love, Rosie, a rom-com might be a bit of a reach considering I tear up every time I watch it, but it’s an absolute favourite of mine. The film tells the story of two childhood best friends whose lives take separate paths, yet they keep circling back to each other, always missing the right moment. I seem to have a penchant for stories that tug at the heartstrings, but paired with the chilly weather, it’s simply perfect.
Fleabag
Fleabag is a series I find myself revisiting constantly. Its short 20 to30-minute episodes make it perfect for a binge watch on a cold weekend in. Beneath its vulgar and dry-witted humour lies a compelling story centered around a deeply flawed character, surrounded by equally flawed characters, whom I’ve grown to love.
The show offers a raw depiction of the consequences of our actions and the heartbreak of circumstances beyond our control. At its core is an unnamed woman navigating life, love, tragedy, and grief. She’s angry, loud, and imperfect- a portrayal rarely allowed for women on TV.
LISTENING
The Tortured Poet’s Department by Taylor Swift
Even though it’s been out for a few months, I still find myself hitting repeat. With every listen, a new song becomes a new favourite, and fresh metaphors are unlocked. Recently, So Long London and Chole or Sam or Sophia or Marcus have been on heavy rotation.
Taylor Swift possesses a rare talent for making her lyrics universally relatable, even if you’ve never experienced that situation she sings about. Have I ever even discussed marriage with someone? No, but her music still takes me on a journey every time.
While it may not be my absolute favourite Taylor album, its shiny newness keeps me hooked, and there’s no end in sight.
O by Damien Rice
This album, though released before my time, has aged incredibly well. Its aesthetics are perfect for a chilly day. For those of you who are unaware, Damien Rice is an Irish musician known for his comforting melodies (at least in my experience) and his discography is worth exploring. O, his debut solo album, is an excellent starting point.
Dedicated to Rice’s late friend Mic Christopher, a musician who passed away just before the album’s release, O serves as a heartfelt tribute to friendship and a celebration of Christopher’s life. Rice’s remarkable voice, poetic lyrics and incredible production come together beautifully, creating an album that remains timeless.
