Watch Read Listen: September
Fall into something great with these picks!
Watch
Absolutely Fabulous (Kanopy)
Absolutely Fabulous (Ab Fab) is a British cult classic starring comedy dream team Dawn French & Jennifer Saunders. Centering on two selfish, narcissistic, drugged out besties and their hijinks, it’s an absurd comedy that somehow tricks you into caring about the overall despicable leads. (Lauren)
Clipped (Hulu)
This six-part limited series revolves around an NBA owner’s racist remarks, captured on tape. Completely engaging and it doesn’t hurt that it stars Ed O’Neill, one of my favorite actors. (Janet)
Check out our Hulu Roku to watch.
Deadpool & Wolverine (Apple TV+)
Ok, I know this will reach you all a little late but if you like comic book movies at all, Deadpool & Wolverine is a breath of fresh iron-scented air. It was a blast to watch even for someone like me who began to hate Marvel movies from sheer overexposure. Be warned, they take full advantage of their
R-rating so be prepared for some explicit humor and bloody fight scenes. (Alanna)
Ryan Reynolds dancing to NSYNC’s Bye Bye Bye during the opening credits is perfection. This movie was great fun to watch, but be prepared for lots of blood, violence, and raunchy jokes (basically what you would expect from a Deadpool movie). The film ties into the MCU multiverse, so I would recommend doing your homework and watching the Disney+ series Loki (check out our Disney+ Roku to watch) prior to seeing the movie for maximum enjoyment. I laughed through the whole film. (Tessa)
From (TV series)
A town where people mysteriously end up, but can never leave. Residents must stay in at night with doors and windows locked because things lurk on the town after the sun goes down. Terribly creepy, I don’t recommend watching before bed. (Ash)
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder (Netflix)
I loved this! It is based off of a teen book series. (Seana)
Grounded (Steam, Switch, Xbox, PS4/5)
This one is a bit of a blast from the past. An excellent 80’s themed adventure right from the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids playbook. You play as a few preteens who are exploring the back yard in a whole new way. A super fun survival crafting game with a hint of Sekiro’s fighting mechanics. Do yourself a favor and give it a go, especially if you have a few friends. Note: If you’re arachnophobic, they do have a slider to make the spiders less spidery. They’re still scary. (Alanna)
Longlegs (Amazon Prime)
This movie was a bit more atmospheric thriller than horror, but the dread you felt throughout the entire film was masterful. Nicolas Cage’s performance as the unhinged Longlegs was creepy, yet just over the top enough to be delightful. (Ash)
Mothertime (Kanopy)
The director of this hour-long film wore a body camera for a year and a half and recorded the everyday activities of her and her daughter, starting when the child was a year old. Sometimes the child wore the camera too and other times the camera was propped up on a shelf in the family home. If it sounds intrusive, it is! And the film has intruded upon my own thoughts about parenthood in so many ways. One of the most thought-provoking movies I’ve seen in a long time! (Janet)
Read
Bitter Water Opera by Nicolette Polek
If you are looking for an absolute gem, here it is! If you love all that is strange, weird and wonderful, follow Gia and her journey to dancer Marta Beckett’s Amargosa Opera House in Death Valley Junction and enjoy every wild and vivid detail along the way. (Sue)
The Deep Dark by Molly Knox Ostertag
Molly Ostertag is a MASTER of YA graphic novels and her most recent work is incredible. It’s a deep, wrenching exploration of queerness, family expectations, and mental health struggles, with absolutely stunning art. Stopped me in my tracks several times while reading. (Renee)
Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave
Another quick summer read! Full of vivid description and well developed characters, Laura Dave gives us a glimpse into a complex family dynamic. Set in California wine country, you can almost picture yourself there with a glass in hand, experiencing the family come to terms with secrets, change and new perspectives on life. (Catherine)
Emperor of Rome: Ruling the Ancient Roman World by Mary Beard
An interesting exploration of the similarities and differences of the Roman emperors. Great follow up to Twelve Caesars and SPQR for any fans of Roman history! (Hazel)
Ex-Wife by Ursula Parrott
Drinking, smoking, divorce, extra-marital affairs, unwanted pregnancies, and more are tucked within the pages of this engrossing novel, which was published nearly 100 years ago and was an instant bestseller. As an added bonus, I loved the 1920s sayings sprinkled throughout (“that was so 1880s of her”) and learning about the big stories from that period, none of which were familiar to me, including a 1927 submarine disaster off the coast of Cape Cod in which 39 lives were lost. (Janet)
Funny Story by Emily Henry
Predictable: YES. Entertaining: Yes. A fun, easy, summer beach read! (Catherine)
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
This family saga with a bit of a mystery set at a summer camp/small working class town was hard to put down. While a little slow, the mystery and exploration of class dynamics made for an interesting read. (Ash)
The High Desert by James Spooner
An excellent and engaging graphic memoir! I love reading nonfiction/memoir that feels narrative and educational and this excels – learning so much about the growth of punk in the US. (Renee)
Next Best Fling by Gabriella Gamez
This super cute debut novel launching Gabriella Gamez’s Librarians in Love series is a delight. YA librarian Marcela Ortiz has been in love with her best friend Ben for almost ten years. When he announces his engagement to his longtime girlfriend, Marcela and Ben’s brother enter a fake-dating agreement that becomes so much more. I finished it in a weekend and can’t wait for the next installment. (Liz)
One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware
A reality TV series gone wrong, a group of 10 couples are stranded on a remote island with no resources… and a murderer. A suspenseful page turner, Ruth Ware never disappoints! (Catherine)
Listen
Forever, or a Long, Long Time by Caela Carter, narrated by Janina Edwards
Sweet, touching, inspiring! A beautiful moving story (middle grade fiction) about two foster children who are hoping they have found their forever home. (Seana)
Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson, narrated by the author
Jenny Lawson manages to talk about serious mental health topics while also adding some humor, which makes for a great audio version of this book! (Hazel)
Nine Inch Nails (Hoopla)
I was a huge NIN fan in my teens and twenties. I’ve been rabidly re-listening to all of their albums over the past month and catching up with their newer releases. Trent Reznor’s catalog holds up. (Liz)
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley, narrated by Clare Corbett, Dauphne Kouma, Julia Winwood, Sope Dirisu, Sofia Zervudachi, Charlie Ansin
Mystery is not my typical genre, but this one had me hooked thanks in large part to amazing voice actors. A 2023 Audie Award finalist in the “Thriller/Suspense” category. (Janet)
The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess by Chappell Roan
I, like everyone else it feels like, recently was directed towards Chappell Roan. How I’ve missed her all these years I have no idea, but she is 100% worth every ounce of hype she’s been getting. Don’t let the hyper-pop facade fool you, this album has wonderful depth both musically and lyrically. The great beats and catchy tunes makes this a great album to finish out the summer with. (Alanna)
Too Hot To Sleep by Daniel Romano (Spotify)
Daniel Romano is a musical chameleon. His newest album features wildly catchy rock & roll that sounds out-of-it’s-time despite being a 2024 release. His whole catalog is incredibly varied in style and genre, so there’s something for everyone to enjoy! (Lauren)