I’m posting this a few days early because I’m off to run a marathon in Sydney, Australia! Wish me luck! Here’s the roundup.
Quotes I loved this month:
“You’ve got to come to terms with yourself early on. Be true to you, to know what you can do, and if it’s worth it, to get out there and go for it… And don’t let nobody else tell you that you’re wrong. If you believe what you believe about yourself to be true, that’s all you really have to know to be an anchored, decent human being.” —Dolly Parton (rest in peace, Dolly!)
“Please, no matter how we advance technologically, please don’t abandon the book. There is nothing in our material world more beautiful than the book.” —Patti Smith
Books I read this month:
I truly loved all the novels I read. I’d recommend all of them.
Seek Immediate Shelter — Residents in a small town receive an alert about a ballistic missile threat. It turns out to be a false alarm, but it has lasting effects on many lives.
The Calamity Club — Great story about family and found family. My only complaint is that it’s so freaking long (656 pages).
Five — About five people waiting for a train. We know from the start that one of them is about to die, but we don’t know who.
Celestial Lights — I’d argue this is a better “space book” than Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I really loved it.
The Testaments — Sequel to Handmaid’s Tale. Very good, especially relevant to the times we’re living in.
Mothersick — I got an advance copy of this and went in blind. It’s so good. It’s about sisterhood and motherhood and family dynamics. If you liked Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors, you’ll like this. Comes out next year.
My favorite nonfiction titles this month were:
My Mother’s Daughter — So well written and interesting. The author finds the half-sister that her mother had given up for adoption. She explores so much about identity and the social expectations for women.
It’s OK to Be Angry About Capitalism — I honestly don’t know how anyone could read this and not agree with what Bernie Sanders wants for our country. I’m so grateful that he’s fought so hard for so long. The policies he wants are common sense policies, IMO.
What I’ve been watching:
The Invite — Took myself to the movie theater for this one and LOVED it. The acting, the storyline. It’s about a pretty miserable married couple who invite a neighbor-couple over and, well, chaos ensues. It’s both funny and heartbreaking. I loved the quote at the start of the film: “One should always be in love. That is why one should never marry.” (Oscar Wilde)
Furious — New series on Hulu starring Emmy Rossum. I’m seeing a lot of women-taking-revenge-on-abusers storylines and I. Am. Here. For. It.
Mary Beth Barone: Galaxy Brain — Comedy special. She’s a new favorite.
Kelsey Cook: Happy Hour — Another comedy special. I didn’t like her as much as Mary Beth, but still good.
Something Very Bad is Going to Happen — Great limited series on Netflix from the Duffer Brothers (the guys behind Stranger Things). It’s about an engaged couple who arrive at the groom’s family home days before their wedding and all kinds of odd things happen. Entertaining horror movie with some thoughts on marriage and “the one” mixed in.
The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare — Documentary on Netflix. Disturbing.
The Predator of Seville: Another documentary series on Netflix. Also disturbing. This one is about a tour guide in Spain who assaults multiple women. It takes so much effort and YEARS of time for him to face any consequences. It’s a sad look about what women are often up against.
Writing news:
Nothing to report. I’ve been very busy with my daughter’s summer break, my regular full-time job, and marathon training. My agent has my latest novel and we will probably send out in the next few months. I have a new book idea that’s been percolating and I’m getting eager to jump in.
Interesting things I learned this month:
- Nearly three-quarters of U.S. adults (72%) say they are “very likely” or “absolutely certain” to vote in the November 2026 general election for congressional and state offices, according to a new Marquette Law School Poll. PLEASE VOTE!!!
- The U.S. liberal democracy score dropped 24% in one year, according to V-Dem’s 2026 Democracy Index. We fell from 20th to 51st in the world, ranking below every other G7 country. Again, PLEASE VOTE!!!
- Women are now the majority of NASA’s astronaut class
- July was the hottest month in recorded history in the U.S. I’m wondering if August will beat that record…
- The world’s largest, fully electric (battery powered) jet completed its first test flight. It was a half-hour flight and used just $5 of electricity
- There about 3,500 oak trees in England that are thought to be more than 600 years old. They’re suffering this year because of extreme temperatures and drought
- A 30-year-old dad broke the record for running a mile while pushing his daughter in a stroller. His time: 4 minutes, 17 seconds (9 seconds faster than the previous Guinness World Record)
- Horses can detect human heartbeats from up to four feet away using their acute hearing and sensitivity to physical vibrations, allowing them to perceive shifts in human emotions and stress levels
- California just became the first major grid system on the planet to generate more than 50% of its electricity from solar across an entire month
- 38% of men think they could become an Olympian by 2028 if they started training now, according to a survey of 2,000 adults conducted by OnePoll ahead of the 2028 Olympics. Oh, to have the confidence of a mediocre man
- U.S. men are twice as likely as women to fall in love with a robot, according to a Talker Research survey of 2,000 adults. One in 6 men said a conversation with AI had turned them on. Wow.
- Women accounted for 100% of the decline in the labor force in July. 165,000 women left the labor force in July. Men’s participation didn’t change at all. So many companies are pulling back on paid leave. Food assistance, healthcare, child support—all of these are being gutted. Women are our country’s safety net, sadly
- A female opossum is called a jill
- The word salmon comes from the Latin word salmo, meaning “to leap”
- A radicle is the part of a plant embryo that develops into the primary root
- Sophie Woods,42, ran 1,242 miles across the Alps in 29 days—faster than anyone in history. She climbed the equivalent of TWELVE Mount Everests
- At the age of 97, Betty Bromage broke her own Guinness World Record as the world’s oldest female wing walker
What I’m grateful for:
- A really fun summer break. I have to say my daughter lived a very charmed life this summer, and I was happy to be along for the ride
- Starting 3rd grade! I know some parents get sad about seeing their kids grow up, but I really love it. Watching my daughter gain confidence and independence is awesome
- A great marathon training cycle. I can’t say I recommend training during summer, but it does build character. I’m in taper mode, winding down my mileage before the race on 8/30. I don’t have any goal time for this race. It’s such a long flight and jet lag will be a thing. I’m going to just enjoy it as much as possible
- Starting a big backyard renovation that I’ve been planning (and saving for) for years. I’m stoked
Snapshots:
From top to bottom: Cuddle time with 3 of the pets; training run with my fake-it-til-I-make-it visor; running into 3rd grade like; can you spot the moon?
