We are SO BACK BABY! Production heard our cries… and said, we’re going to flip this season around. The TWIST of changing the heart rate challenge into casa amor … and throw in a “movie night” for the girls. BRILLIANT!

THE CRASH OUTS WERE NEXT LEVEL. I didn’t know what a rage split was until Kenzie showed me. lol

We have 5 days of CASA this week. I hope you’re hungry because we are being FED! Here’s my predictions on who’s head will turn / who will stay in their couple.

Trinity - I WANT HER TO COME BACK ALONE, but today’s first look is making me nervous. Because I believe in love, I’m going to say she comes back alone.

Bryce - comes back alone

Melanie - comes back alone

Sincere - head will turn

Corbin - head HAS TURNED

Kenzie - head has turned

KC - head has TURNED x 2

Aniya - head has turned

Zach - head has turned

Kayda - I need her to be freed from Zach because that LOSER did not make her breakfast for the dumbest reason

Caleb - will find a match

Jen - will find a match

As for the new girls….. the standout is the race car driver who told Sincere he looks like LORD FARRQUAD. I DIEDDDDDDD

Sorry to say but the Persian Cat Lady seems to be lacking in intellect. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I know she’s a hot commodity to the boys, but I STAND BY IT!

I can’t wait to see what this week brings! What are your predictions?

Cheers!

Vanessa

My cousin is getting married in Mexico and my entire family is going which is going to be so fun. But this also means my boys usual athletic shorts and a tee shirt is not going to cut it for dinners. Cue a target haul! I got these light grey pull on shorts, multi color button down and white button down for all three of my boys to wear. I doubt they’ll all agree to match.

I thought this striped button down would be cute on my youngest and these light blue button downs for my older boys. Then I got all three these “nicer” khaki shorts (my boys call anything with a zipper nice).

My boys can’t be the only stylish ones on the beach! I got this Anthro dress in navy and will be sure to share a pic of me wearing it.

I still need more beachy dresses and will likely do a big order over the weekend!

Monday night was just grilled chicken and broccoli salad as we had a baseball game at 6pm.

Tuesday night, I made the bang bang shrimp again but sadly this time my middle decided he now hates shrimp. Who wouldn’t want this?

Wednesday night was supposed to be an end of season pizza party but mother nature had other plans, so my kids had nuggets and my husband and I had sushi.

Thursday night I made my meatball gyros and luckily everyone decided they still like meatballs and they still like tzatziki sauce.

Friday I was in Columbia with Vanessa celebrating her husband’s 40th! Did you know Vanessa married a younger man? By 10 months, but still what a cougar!

I was able about 80% through this book when our drive from Hilton Head to St. Louis started. The first half really grabbed my attention and I kept trying to figure what was actually going on. Did she time travel? Did one of the brothers kidnap her?

I won’t spoil the big reveal but I will say I was disappointed. Yesteryear started off really strong but the ending failed to connect a lot of dots for me. People were brought back without really explaining the meaning or reason why. This book has received a lot of mixed reviews and it was a solid 3 stars for me.

My disappointment continued with my next selection, Best Offer Wins, which I came dangerously close to being my first DNF. My biggest struggle was with how annoying I found the main character to be, I wasn’t even cheering for her and all her decision making was not just cringe but infuriating.

The fact this book was recommended to me has me questioning if that person thinks I am a psycho or if they are. JK… kind of. This was a 2- star for me.

Part of why I powered through Best Offer Wins is because I already quit on something once this week. Love Island US just wasn’t doing it for me and after consulting with the Bravo Chatroom, I felt comfortable ending this journey. But, I am not giving up on all Love Island. I started the UK version and it is MUCH BETTER.

Hope you all have a great weekend and if you’re lucky enough to live in a World Cup host city, enjoy all the love around you!

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Ting, ting, ting - I have an announcement to make. The last (nearly) 8 years of running/managing RMOB has been a JOY. Abby and I started it because we needed a creative outlet while we were in the early throws of motherhood. Because of your support, I am able to quit my job and pursue RMOB full-time, along with being more present with my kids. THANK YOU <3 And don’t worry - nothing will change with Abby and I. She is my wife for life and she is equally excited for me.

It’s not only Father’s Day this weekend, but it’s also my husband’s 40th birthday. We’re heading over to Columbia, MO (MIZ!) to relive the college days and celebrate him. Don’t worry, if I bump into West Wilson…. you will know!

Let’s get into what I’ve been up to this week….!

It feels like every since I’ve been in my 30s, I’m trying to replace my going out tops. I’ve ordered a few items from Sezane (spring/summer sale still going on), Mango and Zara. I’m still waiting for a more items to show up… so I’ll do a full haul for ya’ll.

This girl LOVEs a matching set, so I can’t wait for this to arrive.

Okay…. CONFESSION: I STILL haven’t finished “The First Time I Saw Him.” I am even more determined to wrap it up next week. :-p Yesteryear is next on the docket once I’m done… and then I’ll dive into Off Campus.

Because I started reading “The First Time I saw Him” … I decided to watch “The Last Thing He told Me” on Apple TV. I’m late to the game, but I am happy with what I’m seeing so far. I’ve only watched the first episode, but it feels like a good depiction of the book.

Cheers,

V

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The book reminded you what it was like to be a confused teen navigating big feelings of love, responsibility, friendship but also the challenges of becoming an adult and figuring out who you are and most importantly who you aren’t.

When it comes to the adaptation, the focus seemed to really be on casting people who matched the descriptions in the book. Percy with her dark red hair, Charlie’s muscular frame and universally handsome face, and Sam with more of a youthful attractiveness. The scenery was also exactly as described in the book and the way The Tavern was brought to life was flawless. But in matching the descriptions to a T, we lost the chemistry and the complexity of these characters.

And while in the book, each character had moments where they weren’t the most likeable, the reasoning behind it was later revealed and explained. But in the adaptation this part was rushed or missed all together. Percy and Sam’s friendship got more attention than their actual relationship which made the heartbreak feel that much more confusing to viewers.

Every adaptation is going to take creative liberties and change details from the book, as readers we have to expect that. Favorite scenes might be cut or dramatically altered but the core of the book should shine on screen. Unfortunately, Every Year After made changes that not only dramatically changed motivations it made key moments feel unearned and slow.

Unlike Off Campus, Every Year After has not been renewed for a second season yet and I worry that us Charlie Florek apologists might not get our moment. Below are thoughts on the changes and the series overall but it does contain both book and series SPOILERS.

Changes that dramatically altered the series:

Doin’ Charlie So Dirty
In the book, Charlie has a way with the ladies but he’s not as douchey as they make him out to be. He is the one that actually tells Sam that he slept with Percy years before their mom is sick and ultimately dies. Also in the book, Sam and Percy were not broken up with that happened which I realize makes Charlie look worse but just bear with me. The night things happened with Percy and Charlie, they were both sober, it was not Charlie taking advantage of a drunk Percy. He even asked her more than once if she was sure. Charlie did hook up with a lot ladies but he did not sleep with a still married at the time Delilah. But most importantly, Charlie couldn’t hide this betrayal from his brother which made the moment in the series of him getting mad at Percy for telling the truth even more frustrating.

I would have preferred if they made the dramatic of change of not having Percy sleep with Charlie at all because it didn’t really fit either character. Sam and Percy would have likely broken up either way because of the distance of their colleges and the stress of Sam being so focused on med school. Sue would have still known Sam was going to need Percy when she passed and would have told Charlie to reach out. The conflict and tension would be both of forgiving themselves and each other for the mistakes they made as teens in a serious relationship. But instead, Charlie came across slightly predatory and slimey with not only keeping the secret but then getting mad at Percy for telling the truth.

Sam and Percy’s Relationship as Teens
The series made it seem like they were on again and off again. But when they were together, they were really together. The build up to finally admitting romantic feelings for each other was somewhat captured in the show but too quickly. Several of the flashbacks focused on how they were friends and Sam never made a move and when Percy finally did, Sam told her they were too young to be this serious long distance. What was missed was the fact that they both dated other people BEFORE admitting to their romantic feelings. There were several awkward conversations about boners, periods, and if Sam was a virgin. And then they finally took the plunge and truly fell in love. The show rushed through so fast that it didn’t really make sense that they were still pining over each ten years later.

Sam and Percy as adults
The book opens similar to the series with Percy attending Chantal’s engagement party and then getting a phone call from Charlie that his mom has passed. Also in the book, Sue told Charlie to make sure Percy comes to her funeral because she knows Sam will need her there. That’s how strong of a friendship these two had built, they were best friends before they become boyfriend/ girlfriend. Also similar to the series, Percy shows up and sees a light on at The Tavern and is flooded with memories of working there as a teen with Sam. She then sees Sam in there and they catch up while sparks slowly start to fly again. That electricity is interrupted when Sam’s girlfriend walks in and he introduces Percy to her. But in the book the next morning, Sam and Percy hook up in his truck and he later tells her that he and his girlfriend have been on and off. He then breaks up with his girlfriend after the funeral and Sam passively pursues Percy. Most of the struggle/ conflict in the book is that Percy wants to love him again but ultimately hasn’t forgiven herself for cheating on him. She finally tells him that he shouldn’t love her because of what happened with Charlie, but Sam tells her he already knew and still loves her. That he has had years to think it over and it was hard but he has forgiven Charlie and her.

In the series, Percy and Sam struggle with their feelings for each other while Sam not only continues his relationship with his girlfriend but plans on proposing to her. He then realizes he still loves Percy and decides to tell her. But the guilt of the secret is too heavy for Percy to hold and she ultimately tells him the truth. Blowing things up with them but also Sam and Charlie who just lost their last parent. The whole scene in the shed where Percy tells Charlie about how much that night has affected her only for Sam to walk in and see Charlie and Percy embracing in a way that he took to mean they were hooking up… again never happened in the book. And feels too forced in the series. Sleeping with your brother’s girlfriend and not telling him for ten years, would be enough to make anyone upset.

Yes, it creates tension but also is it really needed? Can’t their childhood tension be enough for a series that they can resolve it as adults? Instead, Percy leaves Barry’s Bay only to then come back as the owner of The Tavern. Which Sue did not leave to Percy in the book. Sue and Percy were very close but it is pretty out there for a woman to leave her restaurant to the girl who son once dated and not her two sons.

Percy lived in Canada NOT Seattle
A lot of Canadians are pissed about this and rightfully so, there really is no need to make Percy live in another country. In the book, she grows up in Canada, goes to university in Canada and lives there as an adult. Which makes more sense than a family living in the US buying a cabin on a small lake in Canada. I know that there not that far apart but it wasn’t in the book and there were no scenes in Seattle. There seems to be no real reason she needed to be there other than the weird Chantal’s passport is expired part which leads me to another change…

No One Goes With Percy to Barry’s Bay
Chantal stays in Toronto with her fiance, who doesn’t suck in the book btw, and continues planning her wedding. She does not go to Barry’s Bay with Percy, she doesn’t create some weird love triangle with Jordy and Delilah, and she does not call off her wedding. I am guessing this change was made so that season three or four can possibly be about Chantal and Jordy or maybe create some conflict in which Delilah is forced to accept she loves Jordy as much as he loves her. This choice doesn’t bother me as much as the others but didn’t feel like it was really needed.

Jordy
In the book, he is one of Sam’s best friends and is really there for him. But he actually warns Sam to not let Percy back in because of how badly that break up affected him and he doesn’t want to see his friend go through that again. There’s even a moment where he confronts Percy about breaking his friend’s heart. But beyond that, he doesn’t have a huge role in the book. In the series, Jordy might be the only likable character who really sees people beyond how they present themselves. He’s the epitome of quiet romance by remembering Chantal’s favorite ice cream flavor and knowing when she needs it. I was pleasantly surprised by the importance of his character and if this series has future seasons, I am rooting for his happy ending.

I really wanted to love this series and had high hopes after Amazon hit it out of the park with the Off Campus adaptation but the lack of chemistry, strong deviations, and emphasis of setting up future drama vs current needs made this one fall short. But will I give it a second chance for Charlie’s season? I think you know that answer.

I did it! I read A Court of Wings and Ruin and now I am still mentally recovering.

The book is long, as a fast reader it took me 10 days. The mental recovery is not because I didn’t enjoy the book but more so because SO MUCH happens. Also with romantasy, you really have to pay attention and with Sara J. Maas every detail is important. This book is no different.

Our girl, Fee, is the main focus again but also basically every single character you have ever met is also involved and we are still introduced to some new ones. And yes, they all matter and you have to pay attention. We meet the High Faes of every single court, some creatures that we aren’t really sure what exactly they are, members of the other courts that had a wide range from being creepy to dislikable to potentially your new favorites.

With the majority of the characters being immortal, there’s also a lot of history. In the previous books this was more implied or stated briefly with phrases like “when you’ve known someone for 500 years, they’re bound to bicker.” But now we learn details behind those relationships and the 500+ years of fighting and wars. While it’s a lot of detail it’s also necessary as conflict slowly develops. And because this is ACOTAR, any opinions you may have formed are likely to be proved completely wrong.

The surprises and origin stories for so many characters was one of my favorite parts of this book. You might think someone is just lazy and selfish and not really important and then they not only show up unexpectedly but you also learn they’ve surprisingly redeemed themselves.

Fee’s journey in part 3 was also surprising at moments as her strength, love and alliances are tested in almost every chapter. She has gone from being the poor, unsure girl to this confident, fearless force that not just earns respect but demands it.

In many ways, this book felt as though it was a soft conclusion to her story. And while I have enjoyed my time with her and I don’t want her completely gone from the series, I am ready to shift to someone else’s POV in books 4 and beyond. Keep Fee around but let’s learn more about someone else in her close circle while also still watching her happily ever after take place.

Now, for my rating. This was a solid 4 stars for me. I loved the twists and character development but it did feel as though at times there was unnecessary conflict. For those of you that have completed the series, I am sure you’re thinking “just wait, everything will be explained.” I am going to take a slight break and catch up on some of my beach reads and other romance books before jumping back in. Also trying to time this strategically so that I won’t have a huge lag between finishing book 5 and being able to start book 6 which is being published this fall.

We are a few weeks in… and I hate to say, but the island isn’t love-islanding. A lot of the islanders are too closed off without officially being closed off.

There is a storm brewing… and it’s HURRICANE KENZIE. She truly wants to have her cake and eat it too. DRAMA will be incoming once the other girls find out what Kenzie has been up to.

Producers, please give us movie night this season. Speaking of, if you didn’t hear, USA will be streaming in movie theaters in a few US cities. And it will be CASA AMOR.

I am, however, happy that Sincere and Melanie aren’t in a couple. If they survive Casa Amor and boomerang back to each other… maybe they are meant to be after all.

Current take on all the couples:

• Bryce and Trinity - my fave (maybe) friendship couple, but really hoping that production isn’t sharing everything between the 2 of them

• Sol and Sincere - Sol deserves better!

• Kenzie and Caleb - Caleb deserves better. I hope producers encourage him to explore.

• Aniya and KC - Aniya, bb this isn’t the bachelor. I do think she needs to explore and not put all her eggs into KC.

• Corbin and Melanie - Melanie really needs to give Corbin a chance before Hurrican Kenzie comes through…

• Zach and Kayda - I have the ICK from Zach. I want a bombshell to come in for Kayda. I don’t think Zach is genuine.

• Jen and Gabe - 2 horny people - would rather they go on Temptation Island

A bright spot - our queen Ciara and Tefi are doing amazing on Aftersun. I hope producers are giving Kayda updates inside the villa. I love that she’s a summer

(screengrab/caption courtesy of my friend @hollbackcards)

I’m ready for Ariana to stir things up. UK has had jaw-dropping moments. If you’re not getting what you want from USA… hop across the pond.

Cheers,

V

Over eight years ago I unexpectedly lost my dad. He was on vacation in Mexico, I was at my national sales meeting, and I got a phone call I will never forget. By the time I made it to him, he was only being kept alive by life support.

My sisters were still processing when we arrived at the hospital so I went to his bedside first. I didn’t know what to say and I just stood there looking at him. A doctor approached me and asked asked me if I had family with me. He then told my sisters and I something I will never forget:

“Saying goodbye seems overwhelming because you don’t know where to begin. But really there’s just three things you need to say. I am sorry for, I forgive you for and I love you because.”

We each had our time with him before he was airlifted back to his home in Kansas City. My dad was very vocal about not wanting to be kept alive by machines and we promised him that once we got back to the US, we would let him go. He took his final breath right as the ambulance approached the hospital in Kansas City.

I’ve spent a lot of time since then thinking about what grief actually is, not what we’re told it should look like, but what it really feels like to live inside it. Here’s what I’ve learned.

Grief is not linear.

Time doesn’t heal the wound of loss because it’s not a wound. It’s a void. There is no magical timeline where one day the pain is simply gone and you no longer miss them. No matter how many years pass, you’ll still have moments where your first instinct is I have to tell them. Or a random memory will surface and, before you know it, there are tears streaming down your face.

The void doesn’t close. You just learn to carry it differently.

Grief will teach you a level of empathy that can’t be borrowed.

The people closest to you genuinely want to help. They want to understand. But if they haven’t experienced a significant loss, this pain is truly unimaginable to them and that’s not their fault.

What grief gives you is a kind of radar. You might barely know someone, but the moment you hear they’ve lost someone, you reach out. Because you know it’s never weird or inappropriate to offer that. You know because someone once did it for you, and it meant everything.

Grief will bond you with strangers.

I always say the “dead parents club” has the worst initiation, but the best members that look out for each other. There are people I used to exchange nothing more than a polite smile or a wave with and now I text them regularly. Some I’ve never even met in person but we DM each other funny memes or thoughtful reels.

Members of this awful club get my weird grief humor. They understand why the smallest, most ordinary thing can be triggering. And they make me feel less alone as I move through this.

Grief will both weaken and strengthen you — and both are okay.

When I look back at the months after my dad passed, I genuinely don’t know how I did it: working, parenting my 9 month old son, trying to be present for the people around me all while pregnant. Grief showed me I’m stronger than I ever knew.

But it also showed me where I’m not strong, and I’ve made peace with that too. I haven’t watched my wedding video since he died. I hold his father-of-the-bride speech in my heart, and I can still feel what it was like to dance with him. But seeing it on a screen, knowing I’ll never dance with him again, or hear his laugh is something I’m just not ready for. Maybe I never will be. And that’s okay.

Grief doesn’t end. But it does change shape, it softens at the edges, it lets you breathe more easily on most days but can still knock the wind out of you in a grocery store parking lot on a random afternoon.

But the love underneath it doesn’t go anywhere. That’s the thing you don’t realize until you experience it. Grief and love are the same thing, just wearing different clothes.

Very light shopping week for me but I did get a few things that will be waiting for me when I get home. I used this SOS spray heavily as a way to cleanse my face during lunch breaks before applying more sunscreen. It’s currently 28% off if you buy through Tower28’s site.

Since I was on vacation, cooking was also not a big activity for me. This is my annual vacation with my husband’s entire family and each one of us his siblings takes a night to make dinner so my husband and I only actually cook one night. We made poke bowls, ceviche, shrimp cocktail and my famous crab rangoon dip.

Now, this is one area I did have a lot of activity this week! I finished the third book of ACOTAR and will share my full review next week. It was LONG! I seriously felt as though I had just ran a marathon after finishing it so I am going to take a little break and start the fourth book at the beginning of July.

Last fall, I suspended my holds on all beach reads because I struggle really connecting when I am shivering in Missouri and the characters are frolicking around warm, sunny places surrounded by a body of water.

Meet Me At The Lake was one of the suspended holds that released just as I started ACOTAR so I needed to read it fast before my loan was up. Not sure I needed that motivation though because I would have read this fast regardless. Carley usually does a great job of jumping back and forth with her storytelling and I really loved the way different truths were revealed about Fern and Will. This was a quick read but I wouldn’t necessarily call it light. My heart broke for Fern as someone who also lost a parent in her early 30s but the grief was realistically woven into the book and was the catalyst for a lot of the more important moments. I gave it 4 stars.

I then read Annabel Monaghan’s newest book, Dolly All The Way.

I was a little hesitant because Abby and Carley’s newest books were disappointing so I feared I had set the bar too high for my favorite authors and their 2026 books. Annabel more than delivered! I loved this book so much that I need the adaptation to be confirmed immediately because there was so much spark and chemistry on the pages that I know with the right casting it will come through on screen. Dolly is not just relatable, she’s very likable and bonus 39! I love when romance books have people who are older because it’s just hard to believe that mid-twenty somethings really think and act the way they do in books. Stewart is also a great book boyfriend with his small gestures, slow burn, and thoughtful ways. Long story long, read this book! I gave it a rare 5 stars.

I mentioned I have been watching Love Island but I haven’t shared my favorite couple so far.

I mean, duh. Right? I did vote and I was really torn between making things messy or playing it safe the first round. I played it safe but I am a big fan of mess!

I also started Every Year After which is the adaptation of Carley Fortune’s book, Every Summer After. It pains me to think this and write it, but the series is not capturing the magic of the book at all.

I have three episodes left but I am really struggling through the series. Yes, they changed A LOT but there is very little chemistry between Percy and Sam. Off Campus set the bar so high. From episode one, I was hooked and even with the changes I couldn’t stop watching Hannah and Garrett. Apparently, there are five season planned for Every Year After but I am really having a hard time understanding how. My main hope is that season 2 is much deserved justice for Charlie.

Have a great weekend and if you haven’t yet, start reading Dolly All The Time! And then DM me throughout your journey so I can relive all the giddiness that book made me feel.

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Every time I think about the World Cup, I think about being in college (2006) and going bananas when Italy won. My roommates and I were tempted to catch a flight to Italy to celebrate. THE DELUSION, lol.

I can’t believe that was 20 years ago…. !!!!

Weighted blanket girlies, this is going to change your life. A weighted blanket + a weighted eye mask is a match-made in heaven. Very happy with this purchase.

Your eyes will thank you, trust me.

NOD POD

I’m not going to lie, but I am in a little bit of a reading slump. I think my brain has been so consumed with Love Island (US and UK) and Summer House that I can’t fully get into reading. I am reading The First Time I Saw Him. I might get the motivation to finish it by next week’s substack.

I’m thick in LOVE ISLAND BABY! But lemme tell you, UK is hitting all the right notes. If you can’t stand all the smooching in the US … I have a feeling UK will feel better for you. The banter, the shade, the MEN… just are better!

I am obsessed with this diva.

Hope you all have a great weekend! <3

GO TEAM USA!

Vanessa

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We got through out FIRST dumping on the island.

If you aren’t caught up, you’ll want to stop reading now….

Daddy Sean has been dumped from the VILLA! I had high hopes for the officer, but he didn’t have strong enough connection.

Here are my initial thoughts on the recent couples….

Aniya and KC: strongest and most emotionally stable couple so far. They’re a little boring, but that isn’t a bad thing…

Trinity and Bryce: I have high hopes for these 2! Friends to lovers… but they also seem to have the most fun together.

Kayda and Zach: I’m not convinced she’s into him….I don’t see the chemistry.

Corbin and Kenzie: Corbin gives me the ICK. I feel like his height is all he has personality wise.

Gabe and Bea: Gabriel also creeps me out…. I see him turning on Bea the second he’s able to, which we all know will make for good drama! I think Sean would have been a better pairing for Bea.

Melanie and Sincere: I had better hopes for my fellow Dominicana… but I think Sincere may want to run from the hills. :( It’s giving Jeremiah and Huda.

3 more bombshells will be entering the villa. Can’t wait to see how it shakes things up!

-Vanessa

My older boys were in desperate need of nicer yet casual summer shirts so I found these breathable golf shirts on Amazon. They fit great and they also have mens sizing so could be a fun Father’s Day gift to get your husband and if you have boys all a matching shirt.

Maybe it’s the virgo in me but when it comes to roads trips the most annoying part is how my kids will use the behind the seat pockets as trash cans. These waterproof car trash cans are great for making sure your second and third rows do not become a dumping ground for wrappers and food.

With all the travel prep and sports games this week, I didn’t have very many cooked meals this week. But, I will share what we had each night.

Monday night was grilled chicken caesar salad. My older kids learned they love caesar salad this Spring so it’s become an easy way to get more greens into their meals.

Tuesday I was at Failoni’s for Summer House watch party and had the most delicious buffalo chicken salad.

Wednesday night I made a Kevin’s meal of butter chicken and rice. My kids really loved it which gets me excited to add more Indian flavors into our weekly meal plans.

Thursday we had two baseball games at the same time but different fields that were 30 minutes away from our house . So it was a divide and conquer night for my husband and I. My kids requested my sliders since it’s easy to eat on the go.

Friday night we were on the road and stayed in Atlanta to break up the drive. It’s become our tradition to eat at the Cracker Barrel on this leg of the road trip.

I am still on my ACOTAR journey. A Court of Wings and Ruin is one of the longest in the series and considering these books are already long, you can imagine that this one has been quite the time investment. I should finish it early into my vacation and then I will knock out a few of my beach reads TBR.

My goal is to read Dolly All The Time and Meet Me At The Lake next week.

After Pluribus, I was a little nervous leading up to the finale of Rooster. Luckily, this ending left me thinking “I can’t wait to watch more” and not “wtf was that.”

I am not going to give away any spoilers but there were a few storylines that I was apprehensive about leading into the finale. Luckily those not only went the way I was hoping but didn’t end in a cliffhanger. That said, the finale set the stage for new developments in season 2 but I do have some bad news regarding that. It appears that even though Rooster is getting a second season, it is not on a fast track for filming and release. Season 2 is likely coming out late 2027/ early 2028. But at least we are getting another season!

That’s it for me! Kind of ironic that this week felt busy and crazy but when I look at it from this newsletter perspective it seems as though it was a light week.

Have a great weekend! -Abby

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Here’s what I’ve been into this week…

My ADHD girlies will know what it’s like to feel fixated on something. Right now, my hyperfixations include breakfast burritos and these boots. Yes, boots. I know it’s almost summer, but once I saw these boots… I had to have them! I love getting a deal on winter items during the summer.

Staud Western Wally Boot

I have FINALLY finished reading all of the books in the Heated Rivalry Series. Due to popularity, I wasn’t able to read all the books in order… but I am so glad that I ended with Troy and Harris’ story. They are my 3rd favorite couple from the series. I appreciated the perspective of toxic masculinity and sexuality.

1. Illya and Shane (due).

2. Kip and Scott.

3. Harris and Troy.

I am still waiting for some alone time to watch the Hacks Series finale…. but I did find time to watch the latest episode of Your Friends and Neighbors. This season is GOOD. Coop has similar energy to Walter White. You can’t help but wonder how he’s going to keep getting away with his behavior. NO SPOILERS, but I can’t help but wonder…. what cliff hanger are they going to leave us with this season!

If you’re looking for a good show to watch with a husband/boyfriend/partner… this is a good one.

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I kept seeing people in TikTok rave about this toothpaste. I will warn you that it tastes weird and the texture is odd at first but my teeth have never felt cleaner. You know that just left the dentist feeling only your gums aren’t swollen and sore.

Monday night was a family BBQ and my husband made the most delicious pork steaks (a STL delicacy).

Tuesday was the Summer House watch party where I enjoyed pretzel bites, a huge chef salad that really hit the spot, and washed it down with a delicious espresso martini. Shoutout Failoni’s!

Wednesday night was my classic crockpot chicken tacos. They’re so easy and a crowd pleaser. Just throw chicken thighs, salsa and dry ranch mix into a crockpot. After 6 hours it will shred easily and you can serve however you like your tacos.

Thursday night I decided to use my meatball recipe but make some Tzatziki and cut the meatballs in half to put inside pita bread with arugula.

Friday night is always carry out in our house and after a week at golf camp, my older boys were tired and wanted a pizza and movie night in. Who am I to say no to that?

I finished A Court of Mist and Fury, to read that review click here. As my palette cleanser before the third book, I read When We Had Forever. I saw it on BookTok but immediately closed the app because I didn’t want any spoilers.

This is a dark, kind of out there second chance romance that alternates between present and past to build up to a shocking reveal. There were some moments of great chemistry but overall it was just too out there for me. I gave it 3 stars but would read something else by this author.

Fun fact about me: ever since Friday Night Lights, I have LOVED Connie Britton. So imagine my delight when I saw her in Rooster this week.

I do love Connie but the cop and admin are still my two favorites in this show which is a bold statement as there are so many great supporting characters.

I hope you have a great weekend. I know I will enjoy spending time with my favorite Faes when I am not cheering my kids on at the baseball field or watching them flip underwater at the pool for the hundredth time.

-Abby

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I asked for spice and boy, did this book deliver. A Court of Mist and Fury is the second book in the ACOTAR series and widely reviewed as the best in the series. Since I’ve only read two so far, I can’t make that statement but I enjoyed this book significantly more than the first.

This is a spoiler-free review, which proved to be a lot more challenging than I initially thought. The biggest takeaway from this book, is read the first if for nothing else than to be able to really enjoy A Court of Mist and Fury.

The first book does a lot of building where the second one does a lot of surprising and revealing. Our girl, Fee (my nickname for Feyre), finds herself in an unexpected situation numerous times in this book. My favorite part was learning more about the other characters as everyone is layered and complicated in the best way possible. Also, because this is romantasy everyone is described as extremely attractive. I am waiting on the Fae workout plan to drop.

There is a lot of chemistry and heat in this book but also a bit of a slow burn build. It’s a little will they/ won’t they without being annoying. And given the dynamics of everything that’s happened there are several points where you feel a little conflicted about who you are really rooting for.

Sarah Maas does such a great job of surprising you even if at times it’s a bit devastating. Which makes it fun as you read because if you find there’s a character you do not like, your brain then wonders why? Is this person going to end up being a hero? An unexpected villain? Is there an origin story waiting to be revealed?

The constant guessing is what makes “just one more chapter” a common phrase you tell yourself before actually putting down your kindle. This book in particular was one of the most addicting ones I have read, ever. No surprise that I gave A Court of Mist and Fury a rare 5 stars from me.

The character development, surprises, romance and detailed descriptions that make you feel as if you are there for every anxious, spicy, and tense scene won me over.

The bar has been set very high as I go into the third book of this installment and honestly I don’t see how it can be topped. But, even if A Court of Wings and Ruin isn’t as strong, Sarah has earned my faith and trust that books four and five and eventually six will deliver. Gosh, ACOTAR is already becoming my personality so early into this journey.

Special shoutout to the chat group that has been following along with me. The reaction pictures, casting dream boards, and overall discussion have made this journey even more enjoyable.

Let’s get into it shall we!

There are some great Memorial Day sales going on right now. I am constantly looking for ways to add to my home …. I moved in 2 years ago and it’s been a gradual progress to add to it. I am a huge fan of Lulu and Georgia. They curate beautiful pieces that align with my aesthetic and home. I purchased a vase to go into my entry way and a drink stand to sit in between 2 chairs in my living room.

Vase | Drink Stand

I am watching a few shows right now. I just finished Imperfect Women on Apple TV. With such an amazing cast… the series felt more like a Lifetime movie to me. I don’t recommend. ⭐️

However, I do recommend Margo’s Got Money Problems. Wonderful casting - and as someone who has read the book, I feel they did a fantastic adaptation. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

For my true crime fans, I watched the Crash on Netflix. Tragic story and an interesting case. I don’t want to give too much away, but it revolves around an accident (I’m sure you guessed that with the title). This case is every parent’s worst nightmare. I’d like to learn more to have more a definitive answer on where I stand. I feel horrible for the families and what they’ve lost.

I recently finished reading Strangers by Belle Burden. A harrowing memoir on marriage and divorce. I think every woman can benefit from reading this memoir. I found Belle to be a self aware narrator…. And did appreciate how she acknowledged her privilege throughout the book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Currently reading my last Heated Rivalry book Role Model.

Have a great weekend!

V

With my new job I am 100% work from home, which I have been doing since 2013 but in previous roles there was an office I would have to go into from time to time. That means my wardrobe doesn’t have to be quite as polished. Being new, most of my meetings are internal so I need to look somewhat put together but my blazers aren’t needed yet.

I shared this henley on our stories but I love how it’s relaxed, lightweight but the colors feel summery. With two vacations in June (humble brag, I know), I needed a new coverup. This short sleeve crochet dress is perfect, I have the long sleeve version too but it did shrink in length when I put it through the dryer.

No link for this because it’s from Costco and they’re linking is weird. But they’re having a huge sale on Sun Bum sunscreen. You can get two spray cans for $20, which to compare it’s $17 for one can at Target right now. I may or may not have ordered 10 cans which was the max and may have also asked family members to buy more.

Did I cook every night this week? No. But, did I try a new recipe, get pics of what I made, and cook three of the five nights? YES!

Monday night was going to be grilled chicken fajitas but it rained the entire day and then poured it was dinnertime. So, I pivoted and got carry out from our favorite mexican spot. Shoutout Mi Ranchito!

Tuesday night I made my standard meatballs (ground beef/turkey, breadcrumbs, 2 eggs, onion powder, garlic, salt and pepper) but then created an asian honey garlic sauce that was so good.

It’s just soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, and minced garlic. Simmer and then add 2 parts water 1 part cornstarch to thicken it up. I served it with rice, broccoli and edamame. Next time I make it, I am going to add fresh ginger to the sauce.

Wednesday night my middle son had a baseball game. I weirdly love week day games because they don’t happen often. It was also the last day of school so my kids were coming from pool parties and I wanted something quick and easy. My individually wrapped sliders were perfect to throw in a bag and hand out as we were driving to the game.

Thursday was our parish’s carnival so I had a very balanced dinner of a chicken wings, the remaining half of my toddler’s shaved ice and two mich ultras (wild, I know).

Friday I was solo parenting and my kids were begging to get carry out burgers from this place close to our house. After my chicken wing dinner on Thursday, I was craving a big salad which sadly burger joints are not known for. The taylor farms bagged salads at Costco are my go to for dinner and lunch. I had the Italian crunch and added some leftover cut up meatballs for protein.

If you haven’t read my ACOTAR review, you can by clicking here.

Before starting the second book of the series, I wanted a little palette cleanser so I started The Best Worst Thing and per usual went in completely blind.

It’s not a “light” or “beach read” at all but so well written and plenty of romance. There are are a lot heavy topics but the writing style and humor never makes it feel dark or drowning in the sadness. This may seem weird but when I am in a reading rut, I think a heavier book does the trick since it’s usually more layered and not as trope heavy. This one definitely delivered. I gave it 4 stars but it would have been a 4.5 for me with all the incredible St. Louis references.

The way I have fallen for Garrett Graham, Vanessa has fallen for Steve Carrell in Rooster so I had to give it a try. Both my husband and I were laughing out loud and truly enjoying the first few episodes. It is the perfect mix of second hand embarrassing situations and dry humor. While Steve is the main focus, the supporting characters really make it for me. My only complaint is that I will likely finish the first season way too fast and don’t want to wait long for another round of episodes.

The police officer and the dean’s admin are in a tie for my two favorite characters so far and I really don’t think I could pick between the two of them.

Enjoy your long weekend and the kick off to summer.

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Losartan.

Spironolactone.

Cardiologist.

My new normal. My life changed forever July 14, 2020. 

Once something I knew nothing about, it has now surrounded me everywhere. In the books I read, the shows I watch. That thing being preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a dangerous pregnancy complication marked by high blood pressure. Without intervention, it can lead to seizures, stroke, organ failure, preterm birth or maternal death. Its “sisters” are eclampsia (after birth) and HELLP (Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, and Low Platelets) syndrome. According to the Preeclampsia Foundation, preeclampsia occurs in 5-8% of pregnancies. 

Watching the S2 finale of the Pitt, I did not expect to be overcome with so much emotion watching preeclampsia take over one of the patients. Seeing what could have happened to me without quick intervention was shocking, cathartic and painful. I shed tears for my health, my child, and the mothers who don’t get to share their story. 

(Top: S2 The Pitt finale on HBOMax, Bottom: Episode 4 of S2 of Paradise).

I relived my story with so many of you over the years, and I’ve been grateful to hear yours. What sticks out to me is how quickly we move on from the trauma of what happened to us. Motherhood never stops; we prioritize our children before we stop to process what’s happened to us. One moment, we’re on magnesium waiting for it to leave our system… the next we’re thinking about feeding schedule… and before you know it, your experience with preeclampsia is “done.” It may have “left” my body, but it’s never left my mind. 

It’s with me when I take my medication to monitor my blood pressure. It’s with me when I look at my youngest wondering if she will have preeclampsia when she’s older. It’s with me when I go to the cardiologist once a year. It’s with me every single time I get my blood pressure checked…. the anxiety that overcomes me every single time I wait to hear what my number is. That’s the part OBs don’t tell you about. They don’t prepare your mind to have an extra tab on this on top of the many metal tabs we already have open. 

It may be my new normal, but I wouldn’t change my story. The more visibility this disorder gets, the more women will be able to advocate for themselves and more importantly survive. 

- Vanessa

Never have I received so much advice and excitement before starting a book series as I did with ACOTAR. The biggest piece of advice was to avoid googling anything so that I did not have an spoilers and I was very thankful for that.

While romance books are usually pretty predictable, romantasy has twists and turns that are better when you don’t know they’re coming. For a virgo, this is easier said than done as we are always planning, guessing what is going to happen and we have to be right.

Starting the first book of this series, my expectations were actually low based on several DMs and texts from loyal readers of this series. I was warned this book is building the world in which the other books take place. It’s also a longer read and not one you can read fast as there are so many details. But I hear the commitment is worth it in the future books.

Every character is layered and plays such an important role to the overall story for this book. I am guessing and really hoping future books as well. One thing I am learning is never take a person at face value, they all surprise you in different ways.

I had to nickname Feyre, Fee, because her name was way too close Fae/Faerie and I wasn’t sure how to pronounce it and I was also terrified to google the pronunciation and see spoilers. Her name choice is my biggest complaint of the book which is actually a pretty high compliment. I am well aware how petty that is but remember I am a Bravo girlie and petty is what we do best.

The dynamic between Fee, Lucien and Tam were my favorite especially Lucien and Fee. Giving someone a hard time is my love language and when I see that in the books I am reading, I get a serotonin boost. There is some bias for me with Lucien as he described to have bright red hair. My dad and sister are both red heads so gingers hold a special place in my heart.

While the spice level is a little low for this book, the banter and chemistry was very strong. You could feel the attraction and pull between the characters. The build up wasn’t rushed (we’re talking 200+ pages) but very earned when it does happen.

That said, book two needs to bring the heat! The world has been set, the tension is now thick so let’s have steamy scenes. Particularly with our beloved green eyed High Fae who I fear will be impossible to cast in future adaptations because how can you make this real?

My overall review was 4 stars for the character development, slow slow burn and several unexpected twists. It did take every bit of the 8 hours and 35 minutes that my kindle told me it would but the second half does move faster. You do have to power through the first half a bit and I did find myself re-reading sections especially around the geography of the different lands. Which I am still very confused about but I am just accepting that I have no idea where each court is located in relation to one another.

I am looking forward to start the second part of this series which one of my friends told me is not only her favorite in the series but one of her favorite books overall.

My reviews will be spoiler free but if you want to read along with me, join the chat room I’ve started for ACOTAR.

But hey at least it’s finally warming up and I got to wear one of the dresses I bought myself for the Spring!

Go figure I finally pull the trigger on this yellow sweatshirt I’ve been eyeing and now the temperatures are finally warm. But, I can’t complain because I would much rather have warmer weather than wear my new sweatshirt. I shared my Vivrelle handbag on our stories but this Louie is the perfect size to wear when going out or hold your stuff for the day to day. I am trying to talk myself out of actually buying it.

I cannot stop wearing these “illusion” earrings which make it look like you have double pierced ears. And with the warmer weather and future weekends spent at baseball fields, this set looked perfect for a polished but comfy ‘fit.

I’ve really been scrambling this week and need to get back to meal planning. It’s one of those things that when I am in it, I am so good but when I am off boy am I off. This week the only meal I really cooked was asian beef over rice with bell peppers and edamame. For the beef, I just used soy sauce, asian bbq sauce, and sweet thai sauce. My 3yr old asked for seconds, so that makes it a winner.

I am keeping this section though because it’s a reminder for me to hold myself accountable for meal prep!

My gift for Mother’s Day was getting to read alone in bed each morning over the weekend which allowed me to knock out two books before I started ACOTAR.

The first one was Abby Jimenez’s book, The Night We Met. I loved Abby’s Part of Your World series and Yours Truly is one of my all time favorites. But I have struggled with some of her other books.

I love a friends to lovers but I don’t love it when the friend is dating the other person’s friend. This set up feel icky to me and I had a hard time with the choices of all the characters. It also lacked that Abby chemistry and slow burn that she does so well. I gave this one two stars which is the lowest rating I’ve given a book. It just didn’t do it for me.

Next, I read Carley Fortune’s latest. One Golden Summer is another one of my favorites and Charlie Florek is my all time top book boyfriend.

But again, this one fell flat for me. I don’t want to give too much away but the entire felt very unrealistic. The life choices were impulsive and the reactions of friends and family didn’t make sense at all. And that’s one thing Carley usually does really well. She makes everyday life so romantic. Also, way too many Little Women and whale references for my liking. It was not as bad as Abby’s and I gave it 3 stars.

I owe you all an apology. I finally finished Pluribus and now I feel awful for ever recommending it. Carole’s build up from anger to loneliness to attempting to try and make sense of this new life was entertaining and intriguing. But that ending was just… woof. My husband looked at me and said “WTF, that’s it.” I am sure they will get a season 2 but I hate shows that do a big build up without any type of resolution.

Luckily though, my week was saved tv wise with Off Campus. This streaming series adapted from the books was deliciously binge worthy. I wrote a full review here. But I will likely spend my weekend rewatching the season.

Have a great weekend, read some romance, and watch some steamy hockey players.

-Abby

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How fitting that the books I devoured in a single sitting were adapted into a series I consumed even faster.

SPOILER FREE REVIEW:

If you haven't read the book, you absolutely should. With all the buzz surrounding the TV series, the books have been pulled from Kindle Unlimited (annoying, I know) but you can still find them through Libby. As for the casting: nearly perfect. Do the guys actually look like college students? No. But you get past that quickly, because…

The premise: Briar University hockey star Garrett Graham is struggling in a class and needs a passing grade to keep playing. Hannah Wells is a sharp music major who couldn’t care less about the school’s beloved jocks. She’s on scholarship and working three part-time jobs to afford tuition. When Garrett notices Hannah acing a test he bombed, he asks her to tutor him. She immediately shoots him down.

Garrett then watches Hannah awkwardly flirt with rockstar Justin and he calls her out for it. Then decides to offer a bit of free advice before asking for her help in their philosophy class, she shoots Garrett down again. Even after he offers to pay her. Now she has his attention. At another school event, he watches her fail at flirting with Justin a second time but he sees this as an opportunity. Garret steps in, and pretends to be interested in her which, naturally, gets Justin’s attention. A deal is struck: Hannah tutors Garrett; Garrett pretends to date Hannah and helps her land Justin. Classic fake dating. Perfect.

The series perfectly captures the chemistry, the found family, and the traumatic pasts of the main characters. And like the book, it doesn’t shy away from steamy scenes. There are plenty of butts, boobs, and sex scenes, and I am not complaining. If the last year has taught us anything, it’s that sexy hockey romance works on screen.

While the first book centers on Hannah and Garrett’s romance, the heart of the series is the friendships both among the women and the men. The show preserves this beautifully, letting the “side characters” shine and letting the different dynamics of each friendship breathe. The importance of music especially playlist was another piece that the series incorporated in such a great way.

The eight episodes are insanely addictive, you will likely binge the whole thing in under 24 hours. I started episode one with cautious excitement and finished absolutely loving it. Rotten Tomatoes agrees, with a 91% score. The internet has spoken.

Now, for the spoilers. Continue reading at your own risk….

I am really going to do it, so don’t be upset if I reveal things from the books you said you were going to read but haven’t yet.

Alright, there were A LOT of changes from the book to the streaming series. I am going to start with the ones I didn’t like and end with the ones I did like.

Didn’t love it
John Logan’s family rewrite

I have zero issue with Logan’s mom owning the auto shop instead of his dad. Women in male-dominated fields, always. But his sister being a gossip-posting, Jenny Humphrey-lite character doesn’t sit well with me. More importantly, it fundamentally changes Logan’s entire storyline. His whole arc hinges on not entering the NHL draft and letting everyone assume he’s being passed over because it’s finally his turn to run the shop and give his older brother a break. That quiet sacrifice is what makes him. The sister dynamic muddies all of that. And the fact that the players welcome her despite her posting gossip about them? Doesn’t track.

Didn’t love it
No One Direction

This one genuinely stings. One Direction was the foundation of the Garrett and Hannah banter, it was their thing. The show gives us a teacher mentioning she wrote a paper on them, and that’s it. We lose the whole thread where Garrett deletes their songs from her library and she immediately adds them back. It’s such a small detail that does enormous work in establishing who these two are together.

Didn’t love it
The Breaking Bad friendship-building

The book had the luxury of time during the tutoring sessions, they genuinely became friends before anything else happened. Watching Breaking Bad on study breaks, Hannah staying until 3am, Garrett refusing to let her bike home alone and giving her the choice of a ride or sleeping in his bed. That slow build is what makes the fake-to-real romance feel earned. The show rushes it. I understand the time constraints, but even a short montage of study sessions with the show playing in the background would have gone a long way.

Didn’t love it
The assault storyline on ice

This change troubled me the most. Having Hannah’s rapist playing against Garrett and Garrett finding out mid-game, is a hard sell. In the book, Hannah freezes when she locks eyes with one of the rapist’s friends near the opposing team’s locker room, and Garrett notices the shift in her immediately. That moment does something powerful: it shows how deeply he pays attention to her, how well he knows her. The series loses that entirely.

The fallout is also messier in the adaptation. In the book, Hannah gives him permission to share her story with his coach, which also shows the level of trust Garrett has earned from Hannah. After learning that, his suspension is lessened. In the tv series, Garrett is suspended for the rest of the season, and even if Hannah gives him permission to explain the assault to the coach, the court found the guy not guilty. The NCAA isn’t going to reinstate him based on something they’ll likely dismiss as an unsubstantiated claim. I’m genuinely unsure how season two addresses this without it feeling like a shortcut.

Minor gripe
Garrett’s move on Hannah

In the book, Garrett realizes he has real feelings for her and acts on them… quickly, maybe too quickly, but he makes the move. The series shifts this so that Hannah is the one reaching out by singing to him at the rink, which is genuinely iconic. But I wanted to see Garrett take the risk first. Even something small, him storming off after seeing her with Justin post-drunk Shakespeare, and her responding with the rink scene would have let both characters show their hand rather than putting all the emotional initiative on Hannah.

Waiting to see
Hunter as Dean’s rival

In the books, Hunter is a walk-on who eventually falls for Dean’s sister in a later installment. Making him Dean’s rival is a significant shift in his purpose and identity. I don’t hate it, the dynamic is interesting especially considering Allie thought she had meaningless sex with Hunter. I’m reserving judgment until we see where season two takes it.

The changes that actually worked

Loved it
Justin as a musician, not a football player

This is genuinely smart. It makes so much more sense for Hannah , a music major who writes songs, to be drawn to someone creative rather than another athlete. It also gives them a natural reason to spend time together through her songwriting, which integrates the storyline instead of forcing it. And it freed the show from the Cass subplot, which served the book fine but didn’t add much momentum.

Loved it
The Logan kiss setup

In the book, Garrett jokes that Hannah might be a bad kisser, they kiss to prove otherwise, and Dean walks in so she kisses Dean to seem unbothered. The series swaps Dean for Logan in that moment, and it’s a brilliant piece of foreshadowing. It quietly plants the seed for next season, where Logan starts to realize he has genuine feelings for her and has to reckon with that. A small change with a lot of downstream payoff.

Loved it
Drunk Shakespeare

This didn’t exist in the book at all, and it might be the show’s best invention. It gave both Garrett and Hannah a space to show their jealousy while watching each other flirt on stage, and it created organic chaos that the book’s pacing didn’t have room for. It also set up so much else including what’s really happening with Allie.

Loved it
Allie and Dean…and Allie in general

Allie stole the show. Full stop. She is the friend every one of us needed in college: present in both the loud moments and the quiet ones. The scene where Hannah finally reveals the assault wasn’t her friend’s, it was hers? Allie handled it with such grace. And moving her relationship with Dean up alongside Hannah and Garrett’s storyline was the right call. What we thought was Allie struggling with a breakup during drunk Shakespeare turns out to be the moment she finally gives in to her attraction for Dean. I am obsessed with them and already have a post forming in my head about their arc and my predictions for season two. Consider this your warning.

Loved it
The campus-wide hands-off rule — handled correctly

This one is going to be controversial among book fans, and I understand the nostalgia. In the book, Garrett’s dad threatens to cut him off financially unless Hannah ends things. She lies and says she wants to date other people. Garrett sees through it and puts out a campus-wide edict: no one is allowed to date Hannah. In 2015, that read as protective. In 2026, it doesn’t land and to their credit, the show knows that.

The series reframes it entirely: Hannah hears about the rule and assumes Garrett did it, only to discover through confrontation that it was a misunderstanding. He never tried to control her. Allie even names it explicitly that if he had actually done that, it would be misogynistic. That’s not erasing the story; that’s updating it thoughtfully.

Worth noting
Tucker’s casting

Jalen was great as Tucker. He nailed the essence of the character completely. Yes, book fans will notice he wasn’t cast as a ginger. It’s a deviation. But it’s also the least consequential one on this list.