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May 21 is International Tea Day, which feels like the perfect excuse to pour something hot and indulge in some proper tea—the kind that gets whispered behind hands and takes over group chats. Here are our favorite movies, books, and shows that spill the tea.
Steeped in Scandal: The Best Period Drama Films
Gossip travels well across centuries. Period films take the scandals of history and turn them into the kind of stories that still feel modern, even with the powdered wigs.
Dangerous Liaisons
Two French aristocrats and former lovers (Glenn Close and John Malkovich) play a game of lust, seduction, and revenge. Marquise de Merteuil tasks her ex-lover with seducing her other ex's fiancée—promising one last night together as his reward. This adaptation of Stephen Frears's 18th-century novel won three Oscars.
The full list:
Hotel Spotlight
Together with Inside Hotels
Omni Amelia Island Resort & Spa
The Vibe: Seaside serenity
The Location: Fernandina Beach, FL
Instaworthy Accommodations:
Discover a different side of Florida at Omni Amelia Island Resort & Spa. Off the northeast coast of Florida sits a serene escape from the bustle of the mainland. Open-air breezeways lead you to your oceanfront room, fitted with beach-inspired décor and top-tier amenities. Rent bicycles to cruise around seven miles of bike trails, take a naturalist-led kayak or paddleboard tour through the local marshes, or play a round of putt-putt at Heron’s Cove Adventure Golf. After a day of exploring, unwind at the resort’s championship golf courses, the world-class spa, or the stunning infinity pool.
Bombshell Reveals: Books for People Who Love a Secret
The best literary tea is poured slowly. Page-turners built on bombshell reveals and slow-burning mysteries that pay off in the final chapter.
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
When her Asian American best friend dies in a freak accident, a struggling white novelist steals her manuscript and passes it off as her own. R.F. Kuang's razor-sharp satire is part psychological thriller, part cultural reckoning, and a juicy, ruthless take on appropriation and ambition.
The full list:
Hotel Spotlight
Together with Inside Hotels
Dawn Ranch
The Vibe: Digital detox along the river
The Location: Guerneville, CA
Instaworthy Accommodations:
On 22 acres where Sonoma's wine country meets the southern edge of the redwoods, Dawn Ranch is the rare resort that takes the TVs and phones out of the rooms on purpose. The 85 restored accommodations span cabins, chalets, cottages, and glamping tents along the Russian River. Activities lean creative—foraging, flower pressing, scrub making, forest bathing. The Lodge serves seasonal Northern California cooking from local ingredients. The spa adds guided meditation and redwood soaking tubs. Plus, Guerneville's restaurants are a short walk away. For Sonoma travelers who want to be fully present while recharging, Dawn Ranch is the place.
Stirring the Pot: Reality TV at Its Messiest
Reality TV is engineered chaos. These unscripted shows are built on drama, lies, and turning friends against each other for our entertainment.
Vanderpump Rules
A cast of West Hollywood servers and restaurant owners turned their personal drama into a decade-defining reality juggernaut. Season 10 delivered Scandoval—the affair between Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss that became a cultural event, the blueprint modern reality TV has been chasing ever since.
The full list:
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