Hi, {{first_name | friend}}!
The New York Times recently ran an article titled “Who Goes to See The Odyssey at 6 a.m.?” Reader, I’m here to tell you the answer: me. This morning (Friday), I woke up at five to meet a friend at IMAX for the ideal viewing experience, as Christopher Nolan and, I assume, the ghost of Homer intended.
Having now seen the film twice—once on a regular screen and once on the largest IMAX screen in the country—I can confidently say I enjoyed both, but the IMAX experience was genuinely breathtaking. I also learned many people are surprisingly determined to eat popcorn and drink soda at 6 a.m., but that's neither here nor there.
Anyway, enough about The Odyssey. Then again, considering today's books include a classic reimagined and an ode to dogs, maybe it’s all connected after all…
Yours,
Genevieve
Senior Books Content Manager @ Pix
Current 📖: The Gate of the Feral Gods: Dungeon Crawler Carl Book 4 by Matt Dinniman
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6 August Books to Add to Your TBR
#4 The spooky szn romance
The Magic We Made by Meg Cabot
Romance | Out 8/11
A therapist who trusts science and a psychic who finds lost people are forced together when teenage witches begin vanishing in this charming paranormal romance from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Princess Diaries.
Everyone knows Meg Cabot from The Princess Diaries, but please listen to me: her adult rom-coms are so, so, so good. In fact, they were some of the first commercial adult books I read as a teen, and they’re still some of my faves. If you like her style and haven’t read The Boy Next Door and Size 12 Is Not Fat, I’m gonna need you to stop everything and fix that. Especially as readers who grew up with her, I think we’re so lucky that she’s still writing for us as adults. The Magic We Made is the second in her new Witches of West Harbor series, and the first one, Enchanted to Meet You, is an easy-to-read delight. I’m not quite ready to get spooky szn started over here, but as soon as I get that first urge, I’m picking this one up.
Hotel Spotlight
Together with Inside Hotels
Omni La Mansión del Rio
The Vibe: Historic meets modern
The Location: San Antonio, TX
Instaworthy Accommodations:
Omni La Mansión del Rio’s 338 airy guest rooms blend Spanish Colonial architecture and European style. Step out of Omni La Mansión del Rio to find yourself on the banks of the famed River Walk, which combines the natural beauty of the water with the city’s best dining, shopping, and entertainment. Take a Riverboat tour, visit the Alamo, and enjoy the sights and flavors of old Mexico at Historic Market Square. After a day of exploring, check out the courtyard swimming pool or Mokara Spa, a 17,000-square-foot oasis.
25 Book Club Favorites for Historical Fiction Lovers
Books of the Moment
Some books define the moment because they’re new, and others because they’ve found their way back into the conversation. From buzzy releases to older titles gaining fresh attention through adaptations, rediscovery, and word of mouth, these are some of the stories everyone’s talking about right now.
Dogs, Boys, and Other Things I’ve Cried About
By Isabel Klee
One of the internet’s favorite dogs passed away this week, and readers are celebrating him via the book he inspired. In this #1 New York Times bestseller, Isabel Klee, the rescue advocate behind @simonsits, explores how the dogs in her life—especially her beloved Simon— helped her find herself and, ultimately, (human) love, too. And while Simon may now be across the rainbow bridge, his story gets to live on forever. Squeeze your pooch extra tight this weekend in Simon’s honor!
Carrie
By Stephen King
We got the first trailer for Prime Video’s upcoming adaptation of Carrie this week, and it looks intense. As if the title character didn't have it bad enough in the original, Mike Flanagan (The Haunting of Hill House) is bringing Stephen King’s classic into the 21st century, where traditional bullying collides with cyberbullying. We predict this book will get a bump when the show premieres in October, so get a head start now.
Guess the Book: Poorly Explained Plots
Birds: barely discussed. Self-doubt: extensively discussed. Permission to create art: granted.
Answer in footer
Hotel Spotlight
Together with Inside Hotels
Grand Hyatt Denver
The Vibe: Mile High home base
The Location: Denver, CO
Instaworthy Accommodations:
At Grand Hyatt Denver, you're in the heart of the Mile High City—just a short stroll from the buzzy 16th Street Mall, Coors Field, and the Denver Art Museum. Inside, modern rooms feature rich wood finishes, oversized workspaces, and large windows with sweeping views of downtown Denver. The hotel also boasts elegant event spaces with panoramic city and Rocky Mountain vistas, perfect for weddings, meetings, or milestone celebrations. With a heated indoor pool, rooftop jogging track, and tennis court, this upscale high-rise is a refined and convenient home base in the center of it all.
Page to Screen
Anna Pigeon
National parks, murder, and a determined park ranger? We're in. Based on Nevada Barr's award-winning mystery series, Anna Pigeon follows a new national park ranger whose search for a fresh start is cut short when a fellow ranger is found dead. Now, as Anna digs deeper, she’ll uncover a truth—and a killer—that’s far more dangerous than anything lurking in the wilderness. Premiering August 7 on USA Network.
Guess the Book: Poorly Explained Plots Answer
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott! In case you missed her appearance on Good Hang with Amy Poehler this week, we recommend checking it out for the ultimate pick-me-up.
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