This is my weekly series for subscribers only, where I’ll share things that caught my eye this week in a fun and flirty way (kiss), a sustainable way (marry), or a not-so-good way (kill). And yes, this trendy game is technically “f***, marry, or kill” but we run a family-friendly-ish show around here.

Kiss (things I like right now)

🎧 Good People, Patmina Sabit (<listen with your ears)

This is a 5-star listen that blows away all of my other 5-star audiobook reviews this year. I finished it two weeks ago and have thought about it every single day since.

I went into this audiobook with zero information about the story, and I’m so glad. I stumbled across it on a TikTok recounting her best listens of the year. (She had me at “full cast narration.”) I downloaded it immediately and could not stop listening. My dogs have never been so walked.

The story is about an Afghan family who immigrated to the United States during the Russian invasion of Afghanistan. That is literally ALL I’m going to say about the storyline, and I beg of you to not read the summary or reviews. The story unfolds in a series of interviews with a wide variety of parties—some close to the family, and some from brief, passing encounters. If you’re a little lost in the beginning, that’s okay—just trust the process—and yes, the recurring voices will quickly start to become familiar. Aside: One of my favorite parts of this book was the Afghan phrasing and colloquialisms throughout.. You’ll see what I mean.

The book was brilliantly written, emotionally devastating, morally complex, and masterfully performed—and that’s all I’ll say because I REALLY WANT YOU TO JUST PRESS PLAY. Good People is nothing short of haunting, and you’ll definitely see it on my 2026 best book round-up come year-end.

Best audio of 2026

👃 Smell amazing without trying too hard

You know when you want to smell good, but you can’t smell too good? You’re running errands, going to the gym, meeting a friend for coffee, and perfume seems too overdone, but you want a little zhuzh? That’s where these come in.

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This is my weekly series for subscribers only, where I’ll share things that caught my eye this week in a fun and flirty way (kiss), a sustainable way (marry), or a not-so-good way (kill). And yes, this trendy game is technically “f***, marry, or kill” but we run a family-friendly-ish show around here.

Kiss (things I like right now)

📖 The Quitters Club, Jessica Strawser

First, let me say this book is a grocery store birthday cake. It’s so saccharin you want to hate it, but you can’t stop eating it (and you’d buy it again). It’s not my usual style of book, but I finished it in three days, and found myself surprisingly emotionally invested.

Four college friends get together for a long-overdue getaway—no spouses, no kids. Their conversation gets deep fast, and it turns out everyone has something big they’re struggling with. They form a pact—they’ll all quit the thing making them miserable, holding each other accountable and supporting each other through it.

I don’t have a group of friends like this. (To be honest, I don’t have many friends. I don’t seem to need people as much as others do, a conversation I’ve had with my therapist many times.) But this group of women truly embody “it takes a village,” and I found myself wondering what that kind of friendship would feel like. I settled on, ‘That level of closeness would be overwhelming,” but I can admire it just the same.

Some of the choices made in the book were… odd. Unrelatable at best. And yes, you’ll find some tropes in these pages, and a tidiness to the story that rarely happens in real life—birthday cake, remember? But the story itself was immediately engaging, and I found myself really rooting for these women. The story was heartwarming and satisfying (especially one woman’s ending—I bet you’d be able to guess which enraged me the most), and 5,500 5-star reviews can’t be wrong.

Eat this cake

💩 The bathroom accessory you never saw coming

In the earliest days of Whole30 (2010), a new product entered the Paleo scene. It wasn’t food or a supplement, but it was related to what you eat… when it came out the other end.

The Squatty Potty promised more efficient and comfortable pooping by placing your body into a more ergonomic pooping position. By placing your feet on their stool (placed in front of your toilet), you’d raise your knees, better align your colon, and produce easier flowing #2s with less strain. (I can only say “poop” so many times in a write-up, and “stool” in this context is confusing.)

Over the last 16 years, plenty of Squatty Potty competitors popped up. (Thank god for that, because the founder was later charged with buying child sexual abuse material.) I went with the Strongtek stool when I moved to Utah, and it still graces my toilet today. They’re all basically the same, though—a curved stool designed around your toilet. Until now.

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This is my weekly series for subscribers only, where I’ll share things that caught my eye this week in a fun and flirty way (kiss), a sustainable way (marry), or a not-so-good way (kill). And yes, this trendy game is technically “f***, marry, or kill” but we run a family-friendly-ish show around here.

Kiss (things I like right now)

🧛 Empire of the Vampire Book One, Jay Kristoff (← read with my sadly mortal eyeballs)

I have had a love-love relationship with vampires since I was a kid. The first scary movie I ever snuck-watch was Fright Night. I slept with the lights on for three nights in a row, and was officially enamored. I’ve watched a million vampire movies, from Let the Right One In (a masterpiece) to 30 Days of Night (wildly entertaining) to Blade—all three of them. I’ve read a million vampire books, from Anne Rice’s Interview With the Vampire to Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot. (I draw the line at Twilight.) And at least once a month, I say out loud, “Vampires, come on in because I’m not getting any younger.” My husband thinks I’m kidding.

So when I came across Empire of the Vampire on TikTok, I had to give it a go… and damn if it didn’t suck me in hard. First, the vehicle for the story is unique and kind of genius. It’s told in the form of a retelling: Gabriel (a member of a holy order sworn to defend against “coldbloods” or “the wretched”) is imprisoned by vampire Jean-François and forced to tell his origin story. We, the reader, are hearing the story at the same time, interspersed with their antagonistic conversation as Jean-François attempts to guide the tale. Second, as with much storytelling, it’s not linear. Gabriel jumps around in his own timeline in a way that feels natural and easy to follow—but it always leaves you wanting more. (Wait, we’re 20 years ahead now… but whatever happened to Astrid?) Third, Gabriel is rough for a holy warrior, and as such I have picked up a ton of 5-star insults from this book. If I ever call a man in my comments a “lackwitted gobblecock,” you’ll know exactly where that came from.

There are three books in this series; the second is out, and the third comes out April 2027. (You know I hate having to wait for a follow-up.) But as the first book had me bumping against the shore on my paddle board as I was desperate to read just one more page, I will be starting Book Two henceforth, and as long as it doesn’t totally go off the rails, pre-ordering the third.

Also note, the book includes sketches of the characters here and there. (Jean-François is sketching as Gabriel tells his tale, so from time to time we’re shown the sketch.) I hated the illustrations—it’s like vampire meets Teen Beat magazine—so my advice is to skip over those and maintain the images you have in your own head.

Also if anyone reading happens to be a vampire… I’m here, and I don’t like garlic anyway. Just sayin’.

Invite this vampire in

🦶 Strong and bendy… feet?

In November 2024, I had surgery on my left big toe. I had an old kickboxing injury that, over time, slowly wore away at the cartilage between my toe and my foot. As a result, the bones started rubbing together, and I developed a big bone spur. (The technical term is “hallux rigidus.”) The pain was constant and getting worse each year. After a difficult hiking season, I decided to go under the knife in the fall. The surgeon shaved down my bone spur and drilled pinholes into the bones in my toe and foot, in an effort to stimulate my body to produce more cartilage there.

The surgery was a success. I recovered faster than most, and did weeks of PT to beak up scar tissue and regain as much range of motion as possible. It no longer hurt 24/7, but I wasn’t pain-free—it just hurt in a different way, albeit less severely.

I’ve continued stretching my toe and foot, but am always looking for ways to keep my feet healthy and prevent my bone spur from reoccurring. Then I stumbled across something that looked equal parts “this is intense” and “that feels so good.”

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This is my weekly series for subscribers only, where I’ll share things that caught my eye this week in a fun and flirty way (kiss), a sustainable way (marry), or a not-so-good way (kill). And yes, this trendy game is technically “f***, marry, or kill” but we run a family-friendly-ish show around here.

Kiss (things I like right now)

📕 The Last Secret of Lily Adams by Sara Blaydes (←read with my eyeballs)

This story was a delight, and (IMO) the perfect poolside read. Lily Adams was a movie star during Hollywood’s golden age, but disappeared from the limelight suddenly, with no explanation. Upon her death, her granddaughter and great-granddaughter are tasked with clearing out her home and preserving the most important memorabilia. Then, through a letter left by Lily, the two are dropped into a mystery—why did Lily leave the limelight, and what really happened to her murdered fellow film star Stella Lane?

The story flips between the 1930s and 40s, from Lily’s perspective, and present day, from the perspective of her granddaughter Carolyn. The pacing is perfect, the characters (mostly) richly developed, and the mystery builds until the big reveal (which I couldn’t have guessed). The treatment of women in the 30s and 40s, even Hollywood stars (especially Hollywood stars) is just as infuriating as it is today, but I loved rooting for the strong, intelligent, capable women of the story.

This one reminded me of Born for This by Caitlin Devlin: a famous actress who disappears from the spotlight, and a neice determined to get a closer look. That one was sharper, colder, and brattier—read it lying at a Las Vegas pool. This one is far more refined and elegant, and I found the story quite touching—read it by a mountain lake or on a quiet beach.

Read it on Amazon

🦟 Make that bug bite less itchy

I recently read this article (and I wish I could remember where) that offered tips about mosquito bites. First, they said not to scratch them, because that just makes them itchier. DUH… I think we already knew that. Then they recommended hydrocortisone cream, designed to temporarily relieve itching. Yeah, we knew that one too, and it doesn’t do shit IMO.

I’ve heard putting a dab of toothpaste on a bug bite makes it stop itching. It does not. Same with Manuka honey—it does nothing for the itch, and that stuff is expensive. Some swear by heating up a spoon and pressing the back of it into the bite. First, sketchy—how hot is that spoon? Second, that’s not particularly convenient, unless you keep a squad of spoons perpetually hot.

But the article made one more recommendation—something I’ve never heard before. And you know what? IT WORKS.

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This is my weekly series for subscribers only, where I’ll share things that caught my eye this week in a fun and flirty way (kiss), a sustainable way (marry), or a not-so-good way (kill). And yes, this trendy game is technically “f***, marry, or kill” but we run a family-friendly-ish show around here.

Kiss (things I like right now)

📕 Snake-Eater, by T. Kingfisher (←read with my eyeballs)

I am not often scared by a book. I mean truly scared—as in, turn the lights off to go to sleep, then turn them back on twice because I thought I heard a noise. Snake-Eater scared me, in the most shivery, unhinged, delightful way. The best part? There wasn’t a lick of violence, blood, gore, or other themes associated with horror. (It’s described as “fantasy seeped in horror,” which is actually solid.)

Selena flees an unhealthy relationship with her dog, Copper. She spends the last of her money taking the train to a tiny, isolated Arizona desert town, seeking her aunt. Her aunt, it turns out, is dead… but her house stands empty, and Selena decides to stay, for a little while, at least.

The tale spirals to include a feisty grandma, a Catholic priest, a garden spirit, and… a murderous (but kinda sexy) roadrunner? The desert, it turns out, is a deeply spiritual place, and when Selena accidentally offends the god called Snake-Eater, things get real weird. And creepy as hell.

Selena was such a likeable, relatable character. Her relationship left her so unsure of herself, and you witness her gaining that surety back as the book evolves. The cast of characters, from the sparkplug that is Grandma Billie to Father Aguirre (who has a few secrets of his own) to her loyal dog Copper, are equal parts lovable, hilarious, and fierce. And the gods… oh, the gods! This book has mystery, fantasy, and some truly sideways plot twists. I loved every second (and plowed through it in just two days). If you’re looking for equal parts warm, fuzzy feelings and “just gonna check under the bed real quick” vibes, Snake-Eater is for you.

Gimme all the gods

💇‍♀️ Brighten up those brassy tones

Two months ago, my son asked for the “baby duck.” Not an actual duck, but a haircut, whereby his head was buzzed short, then bleached white-blonde. (Like… a baby duck.) My hairdresser did the buzz, but I did the bleach at home, and it turned out great.

In solidarity, I decided to bleach out my money pieces—two thick strands of face-framing hair. (I chickened out DIY’ing it, though, and went back to my hairdresser.) I loved it, but the color was a little yellow-y, and I knew the sun could make it even more brassy—yellow-gold toned, versus a bright, neutral blonde.

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This is my weekly series for subscribers only, where I’ll share things that caught my eye this week in a fun and flirty way (kiss), a sustainable way (marry), or a not-so-good way (kill). And yes, this trendy game is technically “f***, marry, or kill” but we run a family-friendly-ish show around here.

Kiss (things I like right now)

📕 The Joe Ledger Series by Jonathan Maberry (←listened with my ears)

Remember a few summers back, when I listened to the entire Jack Carr The Terminal List series, narrated by the inimitable Ray Porter? I listened non-stop for months, two summers in a row, to the point where I couldn’t tolerate anyone but Porter in my ears.

Over the winter, I discovered another series narrated by Porter, in a very similar vein. Joe Ledger is an agent with the DMS (Department of Military Sciences), a clandestine government organization fighting some weird-ass threats to national security. Zombies, vampires, aliens… they exist not in a horror/science fiction way, but in a “the science behind these encounters is horrifying and also probably real somewhere” kind of way.

Ledger is similar to Reese in that he’s the baddest of the bad-asses. However, he’s got a fantastic sense of humor, an equally impressive and endearing team, and stories just out there enough to keep me enraptured. And, of course, RAY PORTER.

The series has full books interspersed with short novellas that embellish on the stories. The novellas aren’t available on audiobook, so I skipped them and just listened to the full books. The books are long, too—14 to 18 hours—which I loved. Plus I found many of them on Hoopla and Libby, letting me listen for free.

See the books in order here, and start with Patient Zero—which sucked me in SO hard.

Get weird with the DMS

🧳 Compression cubes that actually compress

When I bought my Monos suitcases (which I love, but did not use on this trip), I also bought their coordinated packing cubes. When I was practice-packing for Switzerland, I was struggling. I practically passed out trying to fully compress them, and most of the time one side of the cube just wouldn’t zip. I was super frustrated because I had my packing list down and didn’t want to compromise.

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This is my weekly series for subscribers only, where I’ll share things that caught my eye this week in a fun and flirty way (kiss), a sustainable way (marry), or a not-so-good way (kill). And yes, this trendy game is technically “f***, marry, or kill” but we run a family-friendly-ish show around here.

Kiss (things I like right now)

📕 The Revenge Party by Emily Lynn Paulson (←read with my eyes)

If you are a woman who has ever been manipulated, gaslit, or deceived by a man, welcome to your next beach read. I’m rubbing my hands together in glee, that’s how satisfying this book is. Is that a spoiler? Not at all, because there are twists galore in this book, and you’ll never see them coming. But I need you to know that this is a story that ends in a satisfying fashion, because as women, our real-life stories of terrible men rarely do.

The plot: A suburban housewife believes she’s happily remarried after a painful divorce. She discovers her husband/the stepfather to her kids isn’t at all who he pretends to be. She’s devastated. Horrified. Powerless.

And then she fights back.

Please don’t read the Amazon description! Although it doesn’t give away much, I’d love for you to go into this book completely fresh, as I did. (I got an advance copy; it just published in May.)

The book is fun, infuriating at times, and more than a little wild, especially in the back half. Remember I mentioned the twists? You’d better pay attention, because they come out of NOWHERE, and once made me stop, flip back, and go, “HOLY SHIT.” (You’ll know it when you get there.) Have fun with this one—I sure did!

Lately I've been dressing for revenge

You get a two-fer today, because Emily’s first book, Hey, Hun, was equally enthralling and gleefully chaotic… but this one is actually a true story. It chronicles Emily’s meteoric rise in an MLM (multi-level marketing company)—and just as spectacular fall. I highlighted this one when it came out; read my full review here:

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This is my weekly series for subscribers only, where I’ll share things that caught my eye this week in a fun and flirty way (kiss), a sustainable way (marry), or a not-so-good way (kill). And yes, this trendy game is technically “f***, marry, or kill” but we run a family-friendly-ish show around here.

Kiss (solid 4-star books)

My Husband’s Wife, Alice Feeney (←listened with my ears)

This audiobook was wild in a really fun way, with one small exception. (It was minor! I give this book 4.33 stars, in a delicious ear candy kind of way.) First, the narrator, Bel Powley, was incredible. I am so bummed she hasn’t narrated more that I’m going to start a petition. Also the writing was fun as hell, and I am totally stealing the phrase, “Off you f***.” The story has real twists; I didn’t know where any of it was going, right up until the end. The only weirdness was that, for no reason whatsoever, the producer would throw in sound effects. Like, the book would be normally narrated for 45 minutes, and then the character says, “I took off running,” and out of nowhere, you hear the sound of feet slapping on on pavement and heavy breathing. It was jarring and annoying and completely unnecessary, but this is still a must-listen if you’re into Nerd gummy clusters in your ears. (I love those things.)

Off you... Sorry, "See the book."

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This is my weekly series for subscribers only, where I’ll share things that caught my eye this week in a fun and flirty way (kiss), a sustainable way (marry), or a not-so-good way (kill). And yes, this trendy game is technically “f***, marry, or kill” but we run a family-friendly-ish show around here.

Kiss (things I like right now)

📕 Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke (←read with my eyes)

Note: No spoilers here, but I am going to give away the shape of the book. Skip this section if you want to go in totally blind, but I wish I had a bit more context before diving in.

Yesteryear was not what I expected, and I haven’t yet fully landed as to how I feel about it.

This has been one of the most hyped books of the year, and it’s topical as hell. The premise (as far as I understood it): A “trad wife” influencer (think “millions of followers, kids as content, organic, low-tox, #farmlife #blessed”) wakes up one morning magically transported to the late 1800s, where she learns what it really means to be a trad wife in pioneer days.

I assumed this would be a fun and snarky beach read. This is how it went in my head: The influencer would be exposed for the hypocrisy of promoting “trad wife” values while building a literal empire through influencing. She’d be a fake internet persona, calculated in her image-crafting and hiding much of her reality from her fans. (Underneath it all, she’d be likeable. Maybe even relatable.) She’d be booted back in time in an ironic twist of fate, designed to teach her a lesson about values, gender roles, and what’s really important. She’d then… (here’s where it got vague for me—I didn’t know how it would end, but I was excited to find out).

I was right about some of it. I could not have been more wrong on the rest. It was so much darker than anticipated. And weirder. I felt like I was being seriously jerked around, which means the author is talented, as my experience mirrored that of the protagonist. Maybe the author is also dark and weird? Either way, Burke surprised me, but not in a, “Surprise, I brought home the cupcakes you’ve been craving.” More, “Surprise, I got the kids a puppy that neither the kids nor I will be training or walking, and also the puppy is a coyote.” Does that count as a spoiler?

I could say much more but (a) I err on the cautious side of what you’d consider a “spoiler,” and (b) I don’t share books I didn’t love, and I’m ON THE FENCE HERE. Let’s just say, I either loved it against my will… or it was one of the worst books I’ve read since I Who Have Never Known Men. (Note, this is embodied in the comment section of every TikTok review I’ve seen.)

To summarize, if you’re looking for, “trad wife gets an ironic but cute comeuppance with a satisfying redemption arc,” for your summer vacation, this ain’t it. But I’m still recommending it, because I have to talk about it with someone.

Don't read the reviews

🗣 How to speak

I’m asked often for pointers on public speaking. I speak quite a bit, on podcasts, TV, and at live events. I don’t use filler words, I appear comfortable on stage, and I’m able to roll with any direction the conversation takes.

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This is my weekly series for subscribers only, where I’ll share things that caught my eye this week in a fun and flirty way (kiss), a sustainable way (marry), or a not-so-good way (kill). And yes, this trendy game is technically “f***, marry, or kill” but we run a family-friendly-ish show around here.

Kiss (things I like right now)

📕 Demon Copperhead, Barbara Kingsolver (←read with my eyes)

If you’ve been following along, you’ll know I have tried to listen to this book THREE TIMES. I even bought it on Audible, convinced I’d love it. But every time I started it, I just… lost interest. The narrator wasn’t my cup of tea, and I don’t know why, because his voice was just fine? On top of that, I just couldn’t get into the story. It was just… monotone? One note? I’d heard this book was “love it or hate it,” so I figured I was in the latter camp.

I don’t know what prompted me to download a sample on my Kindle. (Maybe because my sister said it was one of her favorite books of last year, and I trust her opinion.) But I started reading it one night when Brandon was out of town, and I was immediately hooked in a way the audiobook simply couldn’t.

I devoured it. This book and Demon buried into my heart in such a profound way. (I’m not sure there is a character who has come more alive through a book than Demon.) The depictions of what it’s like to live with addiction were stark, realistic, and painful to witness. Demon’s story, in fact, was hard to witness. Still, at no point did I feel “depressed” while reading. (I’ve heard it described this way by many.) The energy of Demon (and Kingsolver’s brilliant prose) kept me deeply invested, and relentlessly hopeful. I lived inside this book for five straight days, and when it was over, I wished I could wipe my memory and read it with fresh eyes.

I know I’m not alone; it’s a Pulitzer Prize-winning book. But it strongly reinforced that (for me) some books need to be read with my eyeballs, while others fare better in audio format. So if someone you trust tells you, “You’ll love this book,” but you can’t get into it… try a different medium. (You can listen to and read samples on Amazon, then borrow in either format using your library card.)

Also, I’ve since tried getting into other Kingsolver books, and none of them are hitting, in either format. If there is one I should absolutely visit next, let me know in comments.

See it on Amazon

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This is my weekly series for subscribers only, where I’ll share things that caught my eye this week in a fun and flirty way (kiss), a sustainable way (marry), or a not-so-good way (kill). And yes, this trendy game is technically “f***, marry, or kill” but we run a family-friendly-ish show around here.

Kiss (things I like right now)

🎧 Wild Dark Shore, Charlotte McConaghy' (←listened with my ears)

I’m sure 92% of you have read this already, because everywhere I looked, I saw people raving about this book. But it was in Reese’s Book Club, and while I love her as an actress and business person, we don’t always have the same taste in books. Also, sometimes the more people say “you have to read this,” the less I want to read it? But it came up on Libby, so I gave in.

Dammit, Reese was right. This book is a masterpiece. I love books that hurt, and I haven’t read one in a while. Wild Dark Shore just broke me, in every way possible.

A woman washes up on the shore of a remote island just outside of the Antarctic. The family caretaking the island finds her. Who is she? How did she get here? Why is she here? The family, a father and three kids, have also been broken. Everyone is keeping secrets. Their lives begin to converge in ways that nobody (certainly not the reader) could have imagined.

It’s a bit of a thriller, but that word feels far too light and fluffy for this story. It’s a bit of a romance, but not in the traditional sense. It’s equal parts adventure and retreat; breakdown and resilience; destruction and rebirth. I can’t do it justice, but it will make you cry.

Of note, I was listening to this while reading Endurance. The similarities between both their settings and themes made listening to this even more impactful. Also, the multi-cast narration was glorious, and I only want to listen to Australian accents from here on out.

If you’re one of the 16 people who haven’t read (listened to) this yet, it’s time.

Listen to this, I beg you

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This is my weekly series for subscribers only, where I’ll share things that caught my eye this week in a fun and flirty way (kiss), a sustainable way (marry), or a not-so-good way (kill). And yes, this trendy game is technically “f***, marry, or kill” but we run a family-friendly-ish show around here.

Kiss (things I like right now)

🎧 The Hunting Wives, May Cobb (←listened with my ears)

After all of my non-fiction survival/adventure reads (I’m currently on my third in a row) I needed a little ear candy, and The Hunting Wives did not disappoint, except for the places where it definitely was disappointing. Listen, sometimes you have to suspend all disbelief for a book to work. (See: The Family Game.) This one was no different, in that (a) the “sexy” stuff was actually tremendously problematic (not illegal but HELLO) and (b) the protagonist kept making dumb decision after dumber decision, to a degree that I actually kind of hated her. Her lustful urges overpowered any semblance of executive function at every potential opportunity (bitch, are you a 14-year-old boy?) but that didn’t stop me from waving my hands in the air like I just did not care! I believe this is now a Netflix show, which I will not be watching because I can’t be this annoyed all over again, but the book was nothing but candy, and I did enjoy it far more than I hated it. Say it with me: BEACH READ!

Enjoy these awful women

📖 The Half-Hearted Queen (Shattered King, Book 2) Charlie N. Holmberg (←read with my eyes)

The Shattered King made the Marry section of my Best of 2025 book list. I gave it 7 stars out of 5, and pre-ordered the sequel the moment I finished it. Then I had to wait six months for the release—and it was worth the wait, mostly. First, to be fair, I dove into this between my second and third non-fiction adventure/survival book. It’s hard to go from parasitic infections in the Amazon and clubbing baby seals while stranded in the Antarctic to “a fantasy romance where a country healer and a cursed king have to save the kingdom using magic and love.” It was a record scratch. And though I didn’t notice any of this in the first book, I found myself rolling my eyes in the second with the exhausting “will we, won’t we” star-crossed lovers storyline. (They both need therapy.) BUT I loved it, and the second story delivered in a completely satisfying way, right up through the end. (And yes, it was the end—this is a duology, and I was impressed with how well it completed the series without feeling rushed.)

The Part 2 we've been waiting for

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This is my weekly series for subscribers only, where I’ll share things that caught my eye this week in a fun and flirty way (kiss), a sustainable way (marry), or a not-so-good way (kill). And yes, this trendy game is technically “f***, marry, or kill” but we run a family-friendly-ish show around here.

Kiss (things I like right now)

📖 Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage, Alfred Lansing (←read with my eyes)

This book was written in 1959, and is still considered the definitive account of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ill-fated 1914 expedition to the Antarctic. I have never been so on the edge of my seat. Also, I would never have believed this tale was real, had I not read about Lansing’s meticulous research. (He interviewed many of the surviving crew members, and used their personal diaries to piece together the full account.)

In 1914, Shackleton (an accomplished Antarctic explorer) led a party of 28 men, with a goal of being the first to cross the content of Antarctica. Their ship became stuck in ice floes (and eventually crushed) in the Weddell Sea—about 300 miles off the coast of Antartica, and described as “the most treacherous and dismal region on Earth.”

The book spans the next two years (!) as Shackleton and his men desperately try to survive in the most inhospitable environment you could imagine. I won’t share more, because I need you to read this book for yourself.

I have read some unbelievable tales of adventure and survival: Into Thin Air and Unbroken are two of my favorites. But Endurance tops them all (or at the very least, ties with Krakauer). This has sent me on a trek for more non-fiction historical adventure books; I’ve got at least three in my TBR pile as we speak. (Also, my fiction audiobook is vibing with my non-fiction read again this week! Standby for that review.)

READ THIS I ORDER YOU

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This is my weekly series for subscribers only, where I’ll share things that caught my eye this week in a fun and flirty way (kiss), a sustainable way (marry), or a not-so-good way (kill). And yes, this trendy game is technically “f***, marry, or kill” but we run a family-friendly-ish show around here.

Kiss (things I like right now)

📖 The Wondrous Life and Loves of Nella Carter, Brionni Nwosu (←read with my eyes)

UGH I LOVED THIS ONE SO MUCH. Nella was born enslaved in the 1700s, but during a near-death moment, is offered the chance to continue living… forever. The catch is, she has to prove to Death himself that humans are inherently good, and there is enough true beauty in the world to save them all. Thus unravels a tale across centuries, cultures, and literal lifetimes. Nella discovers the joy and pain of loving and losing over and over again, as she and Death become more entwined. (The evolution of Death as a human-like character spools out brilliantly.)

This one has the same vibes as A Short Walk Through a Wide World and especially The Invisible Life of Addie Larue, two of my favorite books of all time. This tale, however, is unique in that it creates, “a world of magical realism that incorporates an African-American historical perspective.” (I am always looking to diversify my bookshelf.) I cannot believe this is a debut novel??? To call it “lyrical” is under-selling it—this story, and Nella herself, are downright magical.

I don’t want to give too much away, but of course in the end, it all comes down to love. Will Nella ever keep hold of the love she so deeply craves, or will Death’s pessimism destroy them all?

See it on Amazon

😴 Lost Range CBD + CBN sleep gummies

During the period when Henry and Brandon were snoring (and before I discovered Ozlo Sleepbuds), I was trying everything to help me sleep better. I’m not convinced long-term melatonin use is safe or healthy, even if I’m generally in good health. (Plus, the dose of melatonin gummies is often way higher than you really need.) I was already taking magnesium in the evening. So I turned to the world of CBD sleep gummies.

I’ve messed with CBD here and there, but sometimes it leaves me agitated. (Nobody can explain it, but I’ve repeated the experience enough to know it’s true.) However, many brands of sleep gummies now contain small amounts of CBN (cannabinol, a mildly psychoactive compound with potential sleep aid/sedative effects), and tiny doses of hemp-derived THC (the psychoactive component of cannabis that gets you high).

Obviously, as someone in recovery, I am deeply averse to using THC. However, these gummies contain less than 0.3% active THC by weight, which is federally legally per the 2018 Farm Bill. (Note, some states vary in terms of THC allowance, so please check your state’s regulations.) It’s also such a tiny amount that one gummy should not give you any psychoactive effects—but can help you relax and fall asleep.

I tried three different brands over the course of a few months, with varied success:

Feals Sleep Gummies: Contains CBD, CBN, and 1.5 mg THC. I tried these for about two weeks, with one major issue—they varied tremendously in terms of how I felt. I’d take 1 gummy, and sometimes not notice anything at all. But one night, 1 gummy sent me over the moon. (Like, I felt high.) I am wicked sensitive to THC, so this may not be a normal experience, but I hated it. After that experience, I abandoned them.

Sunday Scaries: Contains CBD, CBN, 2.5 mg THC, and other relaxing ingredients like L-theanine, magnesium, and melatonin (just 1 mg). However, I didn’t want melatonin, so that was a negative for me. Also, my first bottle arrived and all the gummies were clumped together in one messy brick. Apparently, they’re very heat sensitive, and in a plastic bottle, they melted before I even opened the bottle. They were cool about it and sent me a new bottle, but the texture was still a pain, and they didn’t do anything for me.

Lost Range: Contains CBD, CBN, 1.45 mg THC. This dosage was about the same as Feals, but never once did I have an inconsistent experience in terms of effect. I started taking 1/2 a gummy to be safe, then went up to a full gummy about a half-hour before bed. I slept better! They really do relax me. They have no negative effects whatsoever, they don’t make me feel weird, and I love that the ingredients are clear and simple. I’ve had these on subscription for three months now, and highly recommend you start here.

While the Ozlo were the real MVP in terms of my sleep quality, I’ve kept Lost Range in my repertoire because I really do notice when I forget to take them. Plus, the company is Colorado-based, I’ve known them for years, and they’re really good people. (I love giving money to small businesses run by people who share my values.)

Use the code WHOLE30 and save 30% on your Lost Range CBD purchase.

Note: Lost Range is a Whole30 Approved partner for many of their CBD products. (Gummies don’t fit, as they contain added sugar.) However, I have bought every bag with my own money, and this article is not sponsored. In fact, they didn’t even know I was writing it before I sent it to them for an accuracy review. (Hi, Matt and Given!) For a deep dive into CBD, CBN, CBG, and THG, see this comprehensive FAQ.

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This is my weekly series for subscribers only, where I’ll share things that caught my eye this week in a fun and flirty way (kiss), a sustainable way (marry), or a not-so-good way (kill). And yes, this trendy game is technically “f***, marry, or kill” but we run a family-friendly-ish show around here.

*Sorry for the sleep teaser I shared in the email subject line! That’s coming up soon I promise ❤️

Kiss (things I like right now)

🎧 The Family Game, Catherine Steadman (←listened with my ears)

What a delightful thriller!!! Can you sort of kind of guess where it’s going? Probably. Did that diminish the adventure? Not one bit. This was one of those, “How would I handle this?” stories. (I’m very brave sitting safely at home, let me tell you.) Truth is, I’d probably have done exactly what the protagonist did, although probably not as cleverly. The plot was unique, elements of books and authorship are always a draw for me, and this family is both uber-rich and UNHINGED... I like it!

A few things: The author narrates her own books, which (again) is usually a red flag, but her narration and crisp British accent are impeccable. Also, I came to this book from another one of hers, Something in the Water. This one was also very good, but you have to overlook all of the tremendously stupid things the protagonist does. Like, I was screaming at the book, “DO NOT (do that thing) because EVERYONE KNOWS (this is what happens).” However, the story was good enough that I let it slide, and maybe there are one or two people who do not know these things?

I had no such feelings about The Family Game, however, which is why that’s the one I’m sharing here. And I have another one of hers in my Libby queue, because she’s two for two, and I love a good audio thriller snack when my paper book is meaty.

Preview it on Audible

5️⃣ 5 Healthyish Things

I’ve been friends with Derek Flanzraich for a decade. We spoke on a panel together at SXSW in 2018. He founded Greatist, where I was named #19 in their Most Influential People in Health and Fitness list. (He sold Greatist to Healthline in 2019.) He also founded Ness, the credit card that gave you points for healthy spending. (I miss that card!) Basically, he’s a legacy force in health and wellness, and a wildly successful serial entrepreneur.

His newsletter, 5HT (5 Healthyish Things) is one of the few I read top to bottom, every single issue—and I reply back to at least half of them. Sometimes we agree, sometimes we do not, but what I love the most about Derek is we always have spirited discussions where we both end up learning something. He knows so much about cutting-edge supplements, technology, longevity research, entrepreneurship, and a bazillion other things… and I am his Boundary Phone-a-Friend.

So when he reached out last month and proposed a residency for the month of March, I was like, SAY LESS. Starting next Thursday, I’ll be answering one boundary question a week for his subscribers, and you can read my responses (and get all of his newsletter goodness) at the same time.

Subscribe to 5HT here, and look for my first boundary column next week! Also, read the counterpoint to last week’s AI Health Data Privacy in this week’s issue. (As a person with a uterus, I replied back to him making these same points. I love that he took that collective feedback and shared it with everyone.)

See you at 5HT next week—and let me know if you nailed the answer to my first boundary question. (I suspect some of you might, but a boundary refresher is always helpful.) And as always, if YOU have a boundary question, send it to me at hello@melissau.com. I read every single one of your emails.

Subscribe to 5HT

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This is my weekly series for subscribers only, where I’ll share things that caught my eye this week in a fun and flirty way (kiss), a sustainable way (marry), or a not-so-good way (kill). And yes, this trendy game is technically “f***, marry, or kill” but we run a family-friendly-ish show around here.

Kiss (things I like right now)

📚 The People’s Library, Veronica G. Henry (←read with my eyes)

I can’t remember where I first saw this book, but I love books about books, so it seemed a natural choice. This one was so inventive. It explored where AI could be headed, the conflict many of us feel about the technology, and what counts as “real?” In a highly integrated world of AI, a librarian named Echo moves to The People’s Library, where “readers” can check out virtual people to have a conversation. You can talk with Mozart, Anne Frank, Copernicus, or Madame Curie! How exciting! But powerful men have much bigger plans for the Library, and Echo is caught in the middle. I found the premise fascinating, the characters so richly developed, and the moral and ethical dilemmas presented incredibly relatable. It’s scary to think we’re not that far off, and even more unsettling that I was asking myself… what would I have done?

See it on Amazon

🎧 Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, Gail Honeyman (←listened with my ears)

This is an older book (2017), and I thought I’d read it. When it came up on Libby, I realized I had not, and borrowed it on audiobook. I wasn’t sure if I’d stick with it, as the first hour was a little… unexciting? And odd? But I’m SO glad I did. Eleanor is an unusual and particular woman who struggles with social cues, empathy, and tact. I found her abrasive and annoying at the start—then one small event completely changes the trajectory of her life. As we get to know Eleanor better, I found her nothing short of endearing—and realized there is so much more to her story. The author unfolds her story so beautifully and with such care. I like books that hurt a little, and Eleanor Oliphant does so in a most tender manner. She is now one of my favorite characters of all time (seriously), and I will recommend this book to anyone who needs a heartwarming story right now. (Which is all of us, right?)

ALSO, when I was in the middle of both of these books, I thought it interesting that both protagonists were portrayed as standoffish, cold, and tactless in the real world, while the reader is allowed to see their vulnerabilities, doubts, and fears. Then I realized that The People’s Library also features a character with the last name Oliphant! (It’s not a common last name.) It felt like a nudge from the universe that my instincts on the link between these two was spot-on.

Also you MUST get this in audio format. It’s one of the best narrations I’ve heard.

It's worth the Audible credit

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This is my weekly series for subscribers only, where I’ll share things that caught my eye this week in a fun and flirty way (kiss), a sustainable way (marry), or a not-so-good way (kill). And yes, this trendy game is technically “f***, marry, or kill” but we run a family-friendly-ish show around here.

Kiss (things I like right now)

📚 So Very Lucky, Caitlin Devlin (←Kindle First Reads)

First Reads are always a crapshoot. There aren’t usually many (or any) reviews, so you’re just going on the description and vibes. This one sounded very Daisy Jones in a candy-pop way. A T-Swift-level famous pop star has an accident during a concert. Her fans fear the worst, but she pops up a few days later on social media—bruised, shaken, but otherwise optimistic.

Her ex-girlfriend, Stevie, has been haunted by their relationship since they broke up a decade ago. She’s never gotten over their young love, and watching Calista skyrocket to fame from a distance leaves her depressed and more than a little obsessed. So when Calista reaches out to reconnect post-accident, Stevie blows her whole life up to rush to her side. (I won’t say more, because IMO the the official synopsis says too much. Trust me, just jump in.)

Stevie is painted far more deeply than I expected. All the characters are, in fact, thanks to a combination of diary entries, reflections, and nicely done show-don’t-tell scenes. Stevie is, in a word, a mess. Are you sympathetic? Sometimes. Are you disturbed? Often. But might you make the same choices, to reclaim a love imprinted as strongly as theirs was? This is what makes this book so good. Because you might. I might. It might even be easy, and if that makes you pause, it really should, and that’s what makes you think about a book long after you’ve turned the last page.

It's $1.99 on Amazon

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This is my weekly series for subscribers only, where I’ll share things that caught my eye this week in a fun and flirty way (kiss), a sustainable way (marry), or a not-so-good way (kill). And yes, this trendy game is technically “f***, marry, or kill” but we run a family-friendly-ish show around here.

Kiss (things I like right now MAYBE???)

The Last House on Needless Street, Catriona Ward (←audiobook)

This is not a new book (2021), and it’s been on zillions of “best horror books” TikToks, but for some reason I always passed it over. Then it came up as available on Libby and without even reading the summary, I thought, “What the hell.”

WHAT THE HELL INDEED. Nothing could have prepared me for this book. If you are going to dive in, here’s what you need to know, with zero spoilers because I would not cheat you out of one moment of this virtual acid trip:

• The story is whackadoodle. It’s going to feel like you’re taking crazy pills for quite some time. Just go with it; you’re not meant to understand yet.

• It comes together in a perfectly paced, utterly unhinged manner. But like, it’s genius? Like you’ve been huffing really good paint, but only a little at a time.

• Just when you start to understand—OPE, no you do not.

• It speeds up at the end like that time five of us took a taxi in Tijuana after drinking Micheladas all day. You will think you know where you are going and still you really will not.

Did I like it? Y….es? But also super duper no, because it was really f***ed up, and NOT in a fun Library at Mount Char way. I feel like I’m doing something wrong in recommending it but zero judgement if you’re like, “Girl, the more messed up, the better.”

Don't say I didn't warn you

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This is my weekly series for subscribers only, where I’ll share things that caught my eye this week in a fun and flirty way (kiss), a sustainable way (marry), or a not-so-good way (kill). And yes, this trendy game is technically “f***, marry, or kill” but we run a family-friendly-ish show around here.

Kiss (things I like right now)

The Winter Black FBI Mystery series by Mary Stone (←Kindle Unlimited)

I have ready many a book series, but it’s rare that I stay interested and invested past the third book. No matter how much I love the characters or storyline, by the fourth in the series I’m often bored and ready to move on.

I stumbled upon Winter’s Mourn (Book 1) through Kindle Unlimited; it was suggested to me based on my reading habits. I took a chance, and really liked the book. At the end, I realized there was a Book 2, also on Kindle Unlimited. Instant download. At the end of Book 2, I realized there was also a Book 3… repeat until today, where I’m halfway through Book 5.

At no point before now did I look to see how many were in this series. It turns out, 27. TWENTY SEVEN. I’m both impressed and exhausted… but it’s holding my attention, so let’s see where it goes! The story follows Winter Black, a serial-killer-victim (who survived against all odds with unexplained powers) turned-FBI-agent. In the first few books, she’s solving crimes while circling the serial killer who murdered her family, disappeared her brother, and left her in a 3-month coma. In the following books, she continues solving crimes, all of which are related in some way to the other books.

The way the stories are intertwined is quite clever, and do not hit you over the head. I really appreciated that. The introduction of new characters is also deliberate, and serves the purpose of furthering the plot quite well. The characters are well developed, if not at times cliched. If I were to rate this on my “How much does this book sound like it was written by a 14-year-old-boy” scale, I’d give it a 6. It’s not overtly cliched, but the authors consistent use of “females” (when she means “women”) is as misogynistic as a podcast bro, and the “will they/won’t they” love stories could be set on any college campus with any two people who have never gone to therapy. (Winter is a bit of a caricature at times, but I really like her anyway. Autumn might be my favorite!)

Also, the author uses words I find myself looking up and memorizing, because “laconic” is a much more elegant way of saying, “terse.” AND I’m on Book 5 with no plans of stopping! Consider these a delicious snack—not like Oreos, but a charcuterie board where once in a while, a rogue Taki pops up. Who doesn’t love a mix like that?

See it on Kindle Unlimited

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This is my weekly series for subscribers only, where I’ll share things that caught my eye this week in a fun and flirty way (kiss), a sustainable way (marry), or a not-so-good way (kill). And yes, this trendy game is technically “f***, marry, or kill” but we run a family-friendly-ish show around here.

Kiss (things I like right now)

Sociopath: A Memoir by Patric Gagne (←Audiobook)

I can count the non-fiction books I’ve listened to on one finger. (Born a Crime by Trevor Noah—that’s it.) But I love reading non-fiction, and The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson was one of my all-time favorites. When Sociopath came up as available on Libby, I was intrigued. Like most people, I suspect, I’ve often wondered what it would mean to be a sociopath. To be honest, there have always been aspects of it that sound enviable, but maybe that’s just me? (It’s the same part of me that believes I’d thrive in prison, with structured routines and so much time to read and exercise, plus I wouldn’t have to talk to anybody if I didn’t want to.) I’ve also known a few people I’ve suspected of this condition. In general, I wanted to know more.

I looked for excuses to keep listening. (My house is very clean right now.) The author is obviously brilliant, and surprisingly self-aware. Maybe that’s a common misconception about sociopaths—that they don’t know they’re sociopaths—but from childhood, Patric knows she’s different, and begins a quest to figure out how, and why, and what it means for her life. Her learnings and applications are fascinating. I immediately liked her. Her delivery is painfully direct, which is my favorite form of communication. Emotions—at least, the more subtle ones, like empathy, guilt, or other people’s perceptions of her—never enter the chat, which is also relatable. (I’ve had to actively work on developing empathy. The difference is that I could, and have, expanded that emotional range.) As she learns, we learn, but her storytelling is also exceptional, so it reads more like fiction.

In the book, she explores “faux-ciopaths;” those who pretend to be, want to be, or simply want proximity to real sociopaths. I understand that fascination. Still, the book reveals its own lessons without having to fangirl your local sociopath. Could we apply some of the more helpful aspects of her personality disorder to our own lives? We could. Should we leave the least helpful aspects behind? Yes—and we probably couldn’t cultivate those anyway, because that’s not how we’re built. Though some days, I almost wish otherwise. (Not really, but also yes, really. Remember, prison.) This is a book I’ll be thinking about for a very long time, and I’ve had to resist DM’ing Patric because I would fangirl (although she would not care a lick?).

P.S. Of note, the author reads it herself, which is always dicey. However, Patric does a phenomenal job, 10/10, which many professional narrators cannot achieve. Kudos.

Listen here (you know you want to)

Vashon Island Coffee Dust

I don’t often get unsolicited packages. I discourage brands from just sending me stuff, and my practice is that I only accept samples from brands I’m considering working with, or potential/current Whole30 Approved partners. But last month, a mysterious package showed up at the office, with a little note. It basically said, “Love your stuff, wanted to send you a little treat, hoping this makes it into a Kiss, Marry, Kill.” I love me some good insider knowledge, and I was intrigued.

It’s called Coffee Dust. The sampler contains six little spice blends with no added sugar, which you add to your coffee, coffee alternative, or hot cocoa for a flavor boost. As an example, Hot Momma is a mix of cocoa, cayenne, cinnamon, and sea salt. Cocoa Calm is cocoa, lavender, and sea salt.

I’m no stranger to adding flavor to coffee; Chocolate Salt LMNT has been my ride-or-die. But after the packet I consume at the gym, I don’t always need more sodium. This is where Coffee Dust has come in. One tiny scoop (included in the sampler pack) packs so much flavor. Hot Momma is my favorite, but I’ve now tried them all, and they are all delicious in their own way. Each tiny tin contains 12 servings, so a sampler pack can last you quite a while. I’ve added them to my decaf coffee and my MUD\WTR, and it’s equally good in both.

With no added sugar and the shortest ingredient list, this is such a fun and easy way to spice up your beverages. (It also makes a great host gift, if you know the person is a coffee lover.) Could you make this yourself? Probably, with a few additions to your spice cabinet. Am I going to do that every morning? Hell no. I don’t add these every time I make a mug, but a few times a week I’m picking-me-up with a scoop.

This is not sponsored, nor do I grant a mention to everyone who sends me free stuff. This product just happened to be a home run, and I’ve been using it consistently all month. In fact, they should become Whole30 Approved! The community would love this in addition to their nutpods. (I’ll reach out to the brand and share my thanks in person too.)

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