#46 The Best Summer Book

and other VERY IMPORTANT Things You Need to Know About

Friends!

It has been a while, but I don’t want to send you a newsletter unless I actually have something useful to tell you. And now I do!

I have been reading a lot of the so-called books of the summer, and there’s only one you truly need to read. TLDR for some of the others: All Fours by Miranda July is weird and interesting, I have read that it has been revolutionary for mothers in their 40s, however I am not yet in either category. I’m Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself by Glynnis MacNicol, is an interesting memoir and POV from an unmarried 40-something woman spending a month in Paris, but it is also a tiny bit tedious and defensive. (SORRY). But also I feel like I can be honest because I’m not a published author (yet). Maybe I will rue the day! Despite the most generic title possible, Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan is a charming, easy romance.

The one summer book you actually need to read? Rufi Thorpe’s Margot’s Got Money Problems. I generally don’t believe cover blurbs, because I think there are a lot of publishing politics we are not aware of. However, this blurb is perfect and true! Rufi Thorpe is a singular writer!

The logline is that a 20 year old gets pregnant from her community college professor, drops out and needs to make money. Her estranged father, a professional wrestler, moves in and helps her with childcare and also gives her advice for her new OnlyFans account. (For those who don’t know, OnlyFans is where people post sexual pictures and videos.)

The logline might not sell you, but it’s such a funny, heartwarming tale that also looks at the judgment behind sex work and how difficult America makes things for young, single mothers (and all mothers, TBH). I was so sad when it ended. It’s the best book I’ve read this year.

Last pitch- it’s going to be a TV show with Nicole Kidman and Elle Fanning, so if you read it now you can tell everyone you read it ages ago when the show finally comes out.

Ok, a few other things you need to know:

• Did you know that if you have Spotify Premium you have access to 15 hours of free audiobooks per month? I know that’s not a ton of hours in the scheme of things, but it’s at least one free bestselling audiobook. They seem to get hot new releases on publishing day, including Margot!

• If bugs like to eat you, I really recommend this Bite Away that I bought two years ago. I tend to have an allergic reaction to bug bites where they swell and itch a lot. It’s very hot and you put it on the bug bite for about 30 seconds and the itch goes away. I realize the heat is counterintuitive, but you get used to it. This also seems to make the bites heal quicker. It won’t burn you even if it feels like it does!

• I think the Thermacell really, actually works. You put in the pod and then turn it on outside. It smells like nothing, you just have to turn it on 15 minutes before you’re going to be sitting out there. It apparently blocks mosquitos for 20 feet which is really quite impressive.

• Lavela WS 1265 is a lavender oil supplement that I take for anxiety. When my doctor initially suggested it I actually ignored her because it didn’t seem like lavender oil would do anything. Joke’s on me, Mother Nature knows what she’s doing! I take 2-4 softgels at night, or during the day if I’m feeling especially anxious. It does things! I recommend taking them before watching the debate.

That’s all, stay cool!

x Alex