Autumn is approaching, but it’s still not quite cool enough to be wearing my favourite long jeans. It’s getting harder to wake up early, as the sun is taking its time to nudge me awake, but I’m starting to embrace the shorter days and earlier golden hours, lounging at cafes in their outdoor seating areas because it’s finally cool enough, feeling the pages in my hands turn warm, illuminated at sunset, and trying my best to not get pastry crumbs stuck in the spines. I’ve been living between pages (of 14 books this month, to be exact), and need to remind myself to step into real life once in awhile. This month has been a summer dream I haven’t wanted to wake up from, but real life awaits.
Read
Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig // ★★★★★ // Read with Evie. Would recommend this for anyone who feels alone in their anxiety and depression. I’ve never heard anyone talk about depression or share their darkest thoughts in this way. There was so much I identified with. Reading this book, I took out sticky tabs for the first time in forever.
Bad Blood by John Carreyrou // ★★★★★ // Read with Bomi. I’ve been fascinated by the case of Theranos–the Silicon Valley startup–and Elizabeth Holmes–its founder, ever since listening to The Dropout podcast miniseries. This book is written by the man who first exposed Theranos in the Wall Street Journal.
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid // ★★★★☆ // TJR made the characters feel so real that I had to Google Daisy Jones & The Six just to make sure they weren’t, though I wish they were so that I could listen to their album! I enjoy reading and watching interviews with music artists, so the interview-style format of this book suited me. I’m so nosy.
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren // ★★★★☆ // My favourite contemporary romance of the season. The enemies-to-lovers trope fulfilled some kind of middle school satisfaction in me, and I thought Olive’s inability to lie was hilarious (also #relatable). (Full review here)
The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez // ★★★★☆ // Also love a good friends-to-lovers trope. Kristen and Josh had great chemistry. Didn’t love the end and got a little annoyed at Kristen’s stubbornness too, but overall I enjoyed the book.
Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey // ★★★★☆ // This is a book you read for the smut–not the the plot or characters. But sometimes you just be in that kinda mood.
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty // ★★★★☆ // Would have rated this a 3 if not for the wild end, as the beginning was slow and mundane, but it picked up! Now I can finally watch the show woohoo. (Full review here)
Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett // ★★★★☆ // My friends and I referenced this play so much after we had to study it in high school, but I forgot a lot of it so I gave it a quick reread. Vladimir and Estragon’s dynamic is so funny.
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley // ★★★☆☆ // Read with Emily. I can appreciate this book, but it took a lot of effort to read. I’m rusty with classics! Anywho, it left me with a lot of questions about society, individuality, purpose, and happiness.
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong // ★★★☆☆ // This writing style wasn’t for me, but I’d still encourage anyone who’s intrigued by the book to give it a try. I felt like I was just reading an anthology of moments or literary diary entries, rather than following a particular story.
My Friend Anna by Rachel DeLoache Williams // ★★★☆☆ // Former Vanity Fair photo editor Rachel DeLoache Williams tells the story of how her friend Anna Delvey, a young con artist posing as a German heiress, scammed her out of $62,000. A fascinating case, but very stressful and frustrating to follow. (Full review here)
The Arrangement by Robyn Harding // ★★★☆☆ // Read with Sadia & Tegan. This thriller started off well with a playful sense of danger, but the end was completely lukewarm. Very anticlimatic.
The Gospel According to Coco Chanel by Karen Karbo // ★★★☆☆ // This book was more about the legend of Chanel than about Chanel as a real person, and it felt like it was written by a fan. An unremarkable book about a fascinating woman. This pocket book is pretty though. (Full review here)
Spare Room by Dreda Say Mitchell // ★☆☆☆☆ // Read with Sadia & Tegan. Don’t bother. Would have DNF-ed if it wasn’t for this book being a buddy read.
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Music
I saw Andrew Belle live, and he performed my favourite song by him, “In My Veins.” I’ve also been obsessed with Jon Bellion lately, particularly his song “Stupid Deep,” which has been my anthem. It makes me cry and this acoustic version is magical too. I even shared a mini cover here (see slides 3 & 4).
Lately
Caught up with Katie at Hops Brewerytown! Truffle pizza for me.
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I rarely buy fresh flowers because they die so quickly and feel like a waste of money, but I had a vision for this bookstagram post that involved fresh flowers, so I got a bunch from Trader Joe’s. Took a pic coz it lasts longer.
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Another thing for the bookstagram. Treated myself at Miel Patisserie and took my new skirt out for a run!
Found my new favourite restaurant in Chinatown! Pork over rice and bubble tea is becoming a weekly tradition for me and Bomi. We started our own Bubble Tea Book Club as an excuse to have this every week. Just kiddinggg, that’s not the only reason. Bomi asked how I found so many cool people to read with on bookstagram, and I told her that I’d love to do buddy reads with her. She’s inspired me to read more nonfiction (she exclusively reads nonfiction and I mostly read fiction).
Photoshoot with Pri, and a catch up over coffee included, of course!
After following each other for so many years, Abby and I finally met up! It was her first time visiting Philly ever, and she was only here for a day, so I made sure to have the day all planned out, and I think I did pretty good, if I do say so myself. I’m so looking forward to seeing Abby’s film photos once they’re developed, and I think I might share my own “1 Day in Philly” post as well! Working on that.
An NYC day trip with Kat to celebrate our birthday together. Inspired by Abby shooting film, I brought three disposable cameras and went through two of them! I’ve dropped off my disposable cameras at CVS to be developed, and I can’t wait to get them back and share them on the blog.
Made my third trip to Martabak Ok and brought more friends along! Their savoury martabak was finally available and it was SO GOOD! I like it more than the sweet martabak. After lunch at Martabak, I did a fun shoot with my friends, and I can’t wait to share it on the blog.
As I said at the beginning of this post, the weather has been a dream. Although the days are shorter, I’m making the most of them–sunlight on my skin, exploring, eating out. On one day, I had a matcha latte and pistachio macaron at ICI Macarons, a spicy crab crepe at T-Swirl, and a mango sago dessert at Mango Mango.
I’ve been spending more evenings at the Rodin Museum Garden (free admission!), as well as in the area surrounding. I was sitting outside a cafe one day–reading a book, eating a croissant, and drinking coffee–when a dude asked if he could tie his dog to the chair at my table as he went inside to order something. It was the best day of my life.
More eats! I had a Cinnabon for the first time in five years; I couldn’t resist the smell of cinnamon in the air, especially as people have started sharing autumnal content on Instagram! I’ve continued making my own Hungarian lemonade, though I may be switching to more autumnal drinks soon. I’m currently obsessed with white nectarines, which have always been my favourite fruit but aren’t that easy to find for some reason, but I recently found a grocery store that has them so I’m ecstatic. And I’ve been having creamy dill and shaved cucumbers on toasted cranberry pecan sourdough for breakfast. And white nectarines hehe.
Closed the month with a birthday lunch at High Street on Market with friends. I’m obsessed with this boba sloth sticker my roomie Georgina gifted me. It’s pretty much a portrait of me.
What was your highlight of August? What are you looking forward to in September?
PS: august 2018, august 2017, july 2019