Thank you for reading The Lately! This issue is my weekly culture catch-up where I discuss what I’m watching, reading, and generally enjoying lately. If you like this newsletter, please consider becoming a subscribing member.
LA summer has finally arrived! I had genuinely forgotten what it feels like to wake up to blue skies and sunshine, but wow does it do wonders for my mood. I’ve spent as much time as possible over the last week outdoors; I even got my first (and hopefully last) little sunburn of the season.
Every year I think I’ve learned my lesson. Every year I think “Samantha, you know you burn easily! You have to really be careful!” But alas, Tuesday afternoon, I was at the beach reading Curtis Sittenfeld’s Romantic Comedy, enjoying it so much that I straight up forgot to reapply sunscreen and — what do you know! — I now have a bikini line sunburn!
It’s also officially Cancer Season, and my birthday is 19 days away so do with that info what you will…
Watching Lately
The Righteous Gemstones
Episode three of season three dropped on HBOMax last night, and this show is at its best when it utilizes its full ensemble. Which it did last night. With the return of Uncle Baby Billy and Aunt Tiff, plus the addition of the Montgomery cousins, the entire Gemstone family is reunited under one roof. Hilarity ensues and if you aren’t yet watching this show, it’s time for a binge!
The Other Two
This past week’s episode was full of moments I plan to meme and incorporate into any and all upcoming text conversations. If you haven’t started watching after this many weeks in a row of me begging you to do so, I fear you are a lost cause. And it truly is YOUR loss.
ALSO I have not yet started watching the most recent season of Love Island UK because I’m not ready to lose 60 hours of my life to The Villa, but I fear any day now it’ll happen.
Reading Lately
Romantic Comedy
This book was worth the aforementioned sunburn. It’s absolutely charming! A reminder that Romantic Comedy is a rom com about a sketch comedy writer for a late night TV show (a la SNL) who has all but given up on love until she falls for the week’s hot pop star host.
There is a section midway through wherein the two love interests write each other emails, and it made my You’ve Got Mail loving heart so happy. We love a pen pal!
Gone Tonight
I’m currently 50 pages into Sarah Pekkanen’s latest thriller, Gone Tonight, officially on shelves August 1st. A layered tale of secrets kept between mother and daughter, I’m such a fan of Pekkanen’s past work, I’m eager to see where this story goes!
Practice Makes Perfect
I’m halfway through the audiobook for Sarah Adams’ latest romance novel, Practice Makes Perfect, the stand alone sequel to one of my absolute faves, When in Rome. In Practice Makes Perfect, Annie — an arguably too wholesome flower shop owner — gets dating lessons from the emotionally unavailable celeb bodyguard, Will, and insane amounts of chemistry ensue.
Eating & Drinking Lately
Rosenthal Wine Bar & Patio (Malibu)
I spent the entirety of Saturday here celebrating a friend’s bday. A really fun patio space with live music just across the PCH from the ocean. They offer a wide variety of food, though everything was overpriced and IMO mediocre, so I’d suggest sticking to their wine and bringing lots of your own snacks with you if/when you go.
Products Lately
The Five Minute Journal
The first thing I do every morning (and when I say the first thing I do, I do mean after I’ve checked my texts, and emails, and IG, and made my coffee, and…I’m working on it, okay!)
This journal prompts you to write three things you’re grateful for, three things that will make the day great, and a daily affirmation. And then in the evening, you write three highlights from the day and something you learned. And truly and sincerely, I love it.
One Line A Day: Five Year Memory Journal
If you, like me, feel like reallllly becoming a person who journals, I also recommend this one. A nice addition to an evening routine.
Lastly, I am thrilled to announce that I officially have my tickets to Barbie The Movie’s Early Access Blowout Party on July 19th, and securing them was not unlike the Era's Tour Ticketmaster debacle. LA girlies are excited for this movie, I’ll tell you that much. Now I just need to plan my outfit! Stay with me here, I’m thinking pink.
If there is one newsletter I look forward to every week -- it's this one. Hope you'll follow back, Samantha :)