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New Kacey Musgraves album, new Kristen Wiig TV show, The Eras Tour is now on Disney+, and apparently a ‘The Sims’ movie is in the works?! An embarrassment of riches for girls like me who at one time or another has made all of these things a part of their personality! Read on for what I’m listening to, watching, and reading lately.
Listening Lately
Deeper Well - Kacey Musgraves
Ms. Musgraves, you have done it again. While I don’t know that anything is ever going to top Kacey Musgraves’ 2018 album, Golden Hour, Deeper Well is a strong addition to the family. My (current) favorite songs include Dinner With Friends, The Architect, Sway, Heaven Is, Anime Eyes, and of course, Deeper Well. But it’s basically 42 minutes of no skips, and I’m elated to have tickets to see Kacey when she’s in Los Angels in October.
I would just like to say that, at this time — thanks to my pop and country girlies — I am overwhelmed.
Tomorrow, both Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter (!!) will be releasing new music. Shakira, too. Next week, we get new Beyoncé — Cowboy Carter. Next month, Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department.
Kelsea Ballerini shared an instagram post with the caption, “new chapter incoming” !!! Not to mention Ariana Grande already released eternal sunshine — we can’t be friends (wait for your love) is my personal fave off the album — AND Miley Cyrus’ dropped her single, Doctor (Work It Out).
Lizzy McAlpine, Dua Lipa, and Maggie Rogers ALSO all have albums coming out this spring. And Maren Morris just announced she’s going back on tour!
I don’t know what we did to deserve this but whatever it was, go team! May the odds be ever in your favor to all these songs yet to come vying for the top spot on my Apple Music 2024 Replay (I know.)
Watching Lately
Palm Royale on AppleTV+
In my high school’s yearbook, each senior received a “that’ll be the day when…” written about them. Mine was, “That’ll be the day when…Samantha Dockser isn’t obsessed with Kristen Wiig.” My friends, that day is not today. The obsession rages on in the form of Wiig’s Maxine Simmons, a character Wiig has described as a mix between her SNL character Penelope, Annie from Bridesmaids, and Ann Margaret. I’ve only watched the first episode of Wiig’s star-studded period piece (one that Variety calls “unserious in all the best ways”) and I think it is a damn good time. But I’d have fun watching this cast — which includes Laura Dern, Carol Burnett, Allison Janney, Leslie Bibb, and Ricky Martin — pick dirt out from under their nails.
Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version)
Three and half hours of pure joy. I cannot wait to watch this again and again. I’m being so serious. I’m lucky enough that the first night I went to The Eras Tour in Los Angeles last August (which you can read all about below) was one of the performances being recorded for the film. So watching it really does feel like reliving one of the best nights of my life. Again, I am being so serious.
I watched the Disney+ recording of the show with some girlfriends last week and was overcome with emotion thinking about if I could tell my 2007 self, who had just listened to and fallen in love with Taylor’s music, that someday I’d be living in a big ol’ city, singing and dancing to the same songs (plus SO many more) nearly twenty years later with adulthood friends… yeah, she’d be so happy.
The Oscars happened!
And the week prior, I had the honor of attending the Vanity Fair x Instagram 2024 Vanities: A Night For Young Hollywood. It was totally surreal being surrounded by so many young A-Listers. Many of whom I have learned smoke indoors in very crowded rooms and seem to operate outside the rules of society. Not me. I am quite fond of rules. And also of dancing, so if you’d been looking, you could have found me under the disco ball pretty much the whole time.
I share more product recs below, but providing links here for the dress and makeup I wore to the Vanity Fair party.
Reading Lately
You can find everything I’ve read so far this year here.
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
I finished our March book club book over the weekend, crying my way through the final chapter and acknowledgements. Just an incredibly beautiful story about the power of community and love. Easily going to make the list of favorite books I read in 2024. Highly recommend. And for what it’s worth, the audiobook is excellent, too, and a great way to keep the large cast of characters straight.
Murder Road by Simone St. James
One of my favorite mystery authors is back with her signature style. Another fantastically crafted paranormal nightmare about a couple on their honeymoon who stumble into a haunting string of gruesome murders committed along an old deserted road. If you need your mysteries tied up at the end with a pretty, grounded-in-reality bow, then this isn’t for you. But if you don’t mind ghost stories, Simone St. James is a must read.
The Deja Glitch by Holly James
An absolutely adorable take on the time-loop/Groundhog Day story. If you can suspend your disbelief and just soak up all the charm, there is lots to enjoy in this light, sweet story. For example, our male main character saying "today was the best day of my life" after we find out he's lived — and remembers — this day on which he meets our main female character 147 times? Swoon.
Right on Cue by Falon Ballard
I’m such a sucker for a Hollywood romance. If I see a clapper or camera on the cover, I’m quite likely to pick up a copy. Unfortunately, this one wasn’t my fave.I found our female main character to be frustratingly immature. Perhaps it's because I myself am an actor that I was so unable to overlook this, but the lack of professionalism she displayed just felt so inexcusable, especially given her privilege in the industry. Read it and you’ll see what I mean. Maybe that's too deep for what is meant to be a sweet, light romcom, but I personally couldn't get past it enough to really root for her and the male love interest.
Between Us by Mhairi McFarlane
Another book I picked up because of the camera on the cover and my understanding that it was a romcom…it wasn’t and it barely had anything to do with film. Which explains the — smart — cover update, pictured above, sans camera. A big miss for me and the marketing of this story by the publishers is largely to blame. I’d call Between Us more of a domestic suspense with romance interwoven throughout. There was lots in this story I did enjoy. But the romance felt like it came out of nowhere, and I just didn't feel invested in it.
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This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune
Berkley Publishing Group provided me with an advanced copy (on shelves May 7th and if you’ve enjoyed Carley Fortune’s past work, you’ll enjoy this, too (though Every Summer After remains my favorite of hers.) There is endless chemistry here and major summer vibes; it feels quite similar to Happy Place by Emily Henry and Fortune seems to know it, too, given there is a reference to Henry’s 2023 book in This Summer Will Be Different. I found myself getting annoyed with the main characters (hmmm…this seems like a recurring theme…) but still enjoyed my reading experience.
Hemlock Island by Kelley Armstrong
I’m currently listening to the audiobook for this locked room style horror story (halfway through) and am totally engrossed in it. It’s atmospheric and creepy and great for passing time in traffic.
Products I’m Loving Lately
Quick reminder I (try to) link all my outfits and products on my LTK shop, so if you follow me on other social pages and ever want to know where something is from, you can check that out HERE!
Bath Essentials:
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Beauty Products:
Tavi Active — you can use discount code SAMANTHA for 20% off site-wide from Vooray, TAVI, and ToeSox, and code SAMANTHA30 for an additional 30% off sale items, which starting today are already an additional 50% off!