Looking for something to kickoff a summer of watching, reading, and listening? We’ve got you covered.

Watch

Game Changer (Dropout TV)
The funniest game show I’ve ever seen! During every episode the rotating cast of contestants play a different game, but they don’t know the rules and have to figure out how to play as the game goes on. (Rachel)

I Saw the TV Glow (currently in theaters)
A haunting masterpiece about growing up longing to be someone else, who you really are. The loneliness of growing up queer in the nineties. A love letter to Buffy, and the nostalgia of youth. (Ash)

Jury Duty (Amazon Prime)
I know I’m late but I absolutely loved this show, especially the last episode! (Renee)

La Chimera (currently in theaters)
This Italian film was a wild adventure and an unexpected delight. Josh O’Connor (young Prince Charles from the Crown TV series) stars as a British archaeologist who gets involved in an international network of stolen Italian artifacts during the 1980s. If you are familiar with the Etruscan civilization, this film will be an extra treat. 5 out 5 stars. (Tessa)

Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story (Hulu)
Will Richie ever reunite with the band? Will Jon get his voice back? This nostalgic four-part series looks back on Bon Jovi’s glory days and ends with JBJ’s surgery to repair his possible career-ending vocal injury. (Amber)
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Wrinkles (also available through Kanopy)
Simultaneously funny and heart wrenching, this Spanish animated film centers around a character with early Alzheimers whose family relocates him to a retirement home. Based on the comic book by Paco Roca, this story approaches aging and its accompanying illnesses with honesty and tenderness. (Tessa)

Read

Dead and Gone (Detective Annalisa Vega, #3) by Joanna Schaffhausen
Many mysteries wrapped into one! Written by a local Waltham author! (Deb)

An Education in Malice by S.T. Gibson
A modern retelling of Carmilla. Gothic, with Sapphic vampires. Need I say more? (Ash)

Four Against Darkness by Andrea Sfligoi, edited by Craig Whiting
Are you a fan of TTRPGs but can’t for the life of you get a group together? Do you enjoy sword and staff fantasy stories and are curious about how Table Top Role Playing Games Work? This book is a great way for you to scratch that role-playing itch in a singleton adventure designed to last about an hour. You only need the rules, some graph paper, a pen, and some D6s (a standard 6 sided game die for you non-nerds out there). A delightful bit of fun that can help make your days a little bit more adventurous. (Alanna)

The Mars House by Natasha Pulley
I’m about halfway through this sci-fi arranged-political-marriage novel and loving it! Has my favorite feature in sci-fi: snarky funny historical footnotes. (Renee)

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
A twisty, smart time travel adventure with a slow-burn romance. Excellent in print and audio! (Jen)

Minor Feelings by Kathy Park Hong
This book is a great choice for fans of poetry, language, Asian American identity and the arts in general. Kathy Park Hong is a master of her craft. (Liz)

Once In A Millennial: On Friendship, Feelings, Fangirls, and Fitting In by Kate Kennedy
This book is hitting me right in the millennial feels. Kennedy is a few years younger than I am, but many of our experiences align. It’s a validating trip down memory lane! (Dana)

The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang
SUCH a sweet graphic novel about loving yourself and exploring and accepting your queerness. Highly, HIGHLY recommend. (Renee)

The Republic of Pirates by Colin Woodard
I’ve been on a pirate kick of late, and this is what I needed. Focusing on the Golden Age of Piracy, the book details how a bunch of pirates came together to form a nation separate from England, France and Spain, as well as how it fell apart. If you’re looking for the true story behind the history of folks like Blackbeard, Stede Bonnet, and Samuel Bellamy, this is good place to start. (Greg)

Rules for a Knight by Ethan Hawke
I read this like a collection of daily meditations, and it always really brightened my day! It’s told from the perspective of a knight writing to his children, teaching them life lessons chapter by chapter before he goes to battle. Lots of wisdom that’s told in a historical fashion but still perfectly applicable to today. (Rachel)

Sheine Lende by Darcie Little Badger
Prequel to Elatsoe that is even better than the original story! Lots of good family and friend content. Plus ghost dogs! (Hazel)

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
Honestly one of the most beautiful short stories I’ve ever read. You can read this book in one sitting, yet get swept into protagonist Bill Furlong’s life. By the end, it feels like you’ve spent weeks in his shoes. This story shows how impactful and profound a single person’s actions (or inactions) can be, and how small things done with sincerity and care can make a world of difference. (Molly)

Listen

As You Wish by Cary Elwes, narrated by the author and others
The story of making the infamous Princess Bride movie was very entertaining. It includes the voices of the people involved, telling the story from their perspectives in addition to Cary Elwes’ point of view. Very cool! (Hazel)

Classy created by Jonathan Menjivar (podcast)
Blew through this eight segment limited series podcast about class in the United States in two days. So good and so thought provoking. (Janet)

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon, narrated by Jane Oppenheimer
Wow! 1789. Maine. Midwife Martha Ballard gets called to examine the body of a man found dead in the icy Kennebec River. What ensues is part mystery, part small-town early America in all its gossipy glory, but also stories of sexual assault and feminism. Martha Ballard suffers no fools. She and her husband are more tolerant & liberal than my imagination assumes of people in the 18th century. And the ending! Whew! (Deb)

Lingthusiasm created by Gretchen McCulloch and Lauren Gawne (podcast)
A podcast all about linguistics! I like to nerd out over how language works, so this is the perfect monthly listen for me. The two hosts pick a topic each month, like “how do vowels work?” or “why do people gesture when they talk?” and discuss it for 30-40 minutes with fun examples. They also explain all the terminology they use, so no expertise required to listen! (Rachel)

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, narrated by Lesley Manville
A fun story about how a bunch of retirees get mixed up with solving a murder in their picturesque UK-based retirement village. Narrated beautifully by Lesley Manville, the story regularly switches between the points of view of the four club members, police, and those immediately involved with the mystery. While overall a light-hearted book (despite the topic) it doesn’t shy away from the complex series of emotions around getting older, death, and how to move through a world that is constantly changing around you. At just over 12 hours with chapters averaging about 10 minutes, its an easy pick for people who can only grab a few minutes of an audiobook at a time. (Alanna)

True Biz by Sara Novic, narrated by Lisa Flanagan and Kaleo Griffith
Set in a school for the deaf, this is a compelling read about language and belonging. (Ash)

The Women by Kristin Hannah, narrated by Julia Whelan
Story of a combat nurse in Vietnam. Gritty, brutal, heart-wrenching, difficult, honest. (Deb)