Kiss, Marry or Kill: 54
A VERY good thriller, because sometimes that's all you want. Plus a March boundary-pa-looza, the Says No Prospect Ever test, and Doritos gets naked (but are they healthier???)
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.
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.