Lovin' Lately no. 5

and my favorite Kindle accessory

Hi! Danielle Wraith here! The Second Act is the weekly newsletter I always wanted in my inbox, packed with obsessively-curated recommendations, thoughtful reflections on books, feelings, life, and the art of making room for more. Whether you're seeking inspiration or connection. The Second Act offers a warm, inviting space for all.

Imagine we’re catching up over coffee and I’m gushing over what I’ve been Lovin’ Lately…

I’m working my way through my Summer Reading List and I finally got around to Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan— Theres been a lot of buzz about this one and for good reason! My favorite romance novels are those that have a compelling story but also get under your skin and make you think about some aspects of your life. It also really made me want to clean out my junk drawer. Ali is incredibly relatable as a person, adept at helping others figure out their lives (and junk drawers) while in paralysis to care for her own life in the same way. There's also a very thoughtful storyline about how our choices as adults are viewed through the eyes of our children and that sometimes, knowing what we are subconsciously teaching them can be a catalyst for change. It is also a hilarious book about the chaos of life and making decisions based on whether or not you'll have to wear hard pants. This novel is gentle but spectacular. It's a perfect romcom and a wonderful, modern, well-paced story, with resonant, believable characters. I couldn't put it down.

🥗 Peach Caprese Salad: Add stone fruit for a sweet Summery twist on a classic. It makes a gorgeous side, snack, or light meal for the warmest days of the year. Fresh basil leaves and a drizzle of rich balsamic glaze tie it all together with no fuss. Nothing says Summer love like heaping piles of ripe, juicy peaches in every store, farmers market, and roadside farm stand. It’s the rare treat that is simply not available at other times of the year, which makes it all the more pleasurable to literally buy all you can eat when you can.

📚 Big Swiss by Jen Beagin: Greta has left her ten-year relationship to move in with her chaotic friend Sabine in a dilapidated 300-year-old farmhouse in Hudson, New York that is missing windows and packed with bees. She spends her days typing up transcripts for the town’s only sex therapist with a clientele she frequently runs into, identifying them by their voices. When Greta becomes enamored (obsessed?) with a married woman she nicknames “Big Swiss,” she strikes up a friendship then affair with her. The novel is bizarre but darkly funny, especially when Greta’s out-loud observations interrupt the transcripts she’s typing. I can’t remember the last time I actually laughed out loud while reading a book.

📺 “Queenie” on Hulu: I devoured Candice Carty-William’s hilarious novel about a 20-something woman navigating south London post-breakup. This Hulu adaptation pays homage to the sweetness of the book—Queenie’s relationships with her friends and family, the ups & downs of navigating a “quarterlife” crisis, and the complications that come from straddling cultures.

Sharing a few of my favorite links bc cool girls don’t gatekeep.

My must-have, favorote Kindle accessory.

Could these be the Summer sandal? Plus, they come in a variety of colors.

An AF cucumber, gin & tonic. Say less.

The Rory Gilmore reading challenge.

This darling Scalloped Dress that I’ll be living in this Summer.

I’ve been patiently waiting for this song release!

Are Pistachios are a quiet luxury?

What have you been reading lately?Here are a handful of books that explore Sisterhood.

Alright, see ya next week! Leave me a comment on anything you’d like me to include in Lovin’ Lately in the future… Day in the life details? What’s on my TBR? Fave spots in Fresno? Got a question? Lemme know!

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