When in doubt, take a vacation
I write to you from aboard a ship sailing swiftly across the Aegean Sea. Fresh off of a busy school season, my 2 children somehow still have some pep in their step, and we’re going to enjoy some sorely needed quality time exploring the world together. I also want you to know that for ages I believed that I don't get seasick and that belief no longer holds true.
A very special welcome to our new subscribers, many of whom found us via Delia Cai's very excellent Deez Links. Thanks for taking her word for it - I'm thrilled you're here. If you want to peruse older newsletters, they're all here.
The entire aim of Hard Copy is to filter through the noise and get you only the quality essentials, shipping them straight to your inbox. I get you the best of what to watch, listen to, read, and indulge in. I love to help make your life a little more simple and a lot more enjoyable. You can email me anytime and let me know if it's working for you or not!
And so!! Summer is upon us; we’ve waited so long to enjoy the fruits of our winter labours, and I’m curious: do you have summer traditions with friends and family? A bucket list you work your way through?
Mine is less concrete and more conceptual: alfresco dinner with friends, exploring unseen places, saltwater swims and ice cream trucks with the kids, sweating at outdoor bbqs and concerts, strolling the streets and people watching in the evenings, and escaping the heat in my humble but hearty garden for some quiet reading time. The days seem to rush on by, and having my little ‘pleasure list’ means I’ll prioritize it over life’s other incessant demands.
There won’t be a newsletter next week as I’ll be powering down the laptop to enjoy this pretty special time with my spawns. That said, we've got your fantastic recommendations below and there are several new pieces up every week on Hard Copy, so lots to keep you entertained with. I’ll be back in your inbox on July 6th with all the latest so we can make the most of the dreamy summer months together.
In the meantime, send me your summer bucket lists! If you’d like, I’ll share them with the crew on IG for inspiration.
Oh wait, one more thing: if you're looking for more laughs and intimate conversations, pull up a chair and join my comedian friend Caitlin and I for the silly and smart podcast, Your Weekly Breakdown. It's funny, informative, and crass, and we made the mistake of sharing some of our clips on TikTok. The one about pubic hair trends went viral and WOW the internet is a weird place. Anyway, you're invited.
📺 Watch
I'm late to the game on Industry but this is filling the hole in my heart that Succession ripped out when it ended. Starring Kit Harrington, we dive into the competitive world of newbies at investment banks, with 5 graduates blurring the lines between competitors, colleagues, and lovers. Catch up because Season 3 returns in August. (Prime, Crave)
If you liked Poor Things, then head to theatre and revel in the chaotic genius of Yorgos Lanthimos’s Kinds of Kindness, with a buzzworthy cast including Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Joe Alwyn, and Margaret Qualley.
Next week: Because I will be throwing my laptop into the Aegean Sea, I need to remind you now that the Celine Dion special is coming on Tuesday, June 25 (Prime), and that A Family Affair starring Zach Efron, Nicole Kidman, and Joey King will be yours to admire on Friday, June 28 (Netflix). These are very important and I expect you to do your homework.
🎧 Listen
If sipping adult beverages by the pool is your party vibe, then you'll love Peggy Gou's album, I Hear You. The ditched fashion for music and everyone from Vegas to Ibiza to Dubai are thrilled about it.
For those that love a quirky listen, the soundtrack from Boy Kills World is unbelievably fun and trippy and wonderful. A fantastic score by El Michels Affair!
Rachel Chinouriri’s What a Devastating Turn of Events is a great weekend album - add some pep in your step with a blend of R&B, pop, and rock.
📚 Read
A book for Boy Moms. As the culture wars continue, the definition "masculinity" is truly up in the air. Ruth Whippman weaves reporting and cultural analysis into her memoir about trying to raise good sons amidst the seeming hopeless mess of everything from incels to mansplainers.
A propos of the friendship piece that is in the mag this week, The Other Significant Other: Reimagining Life with Friendship at the Centre is a profoundly important book given the lonely world we live in. NPR's Rhaina Cohen pushes conventional thinking by arguing that we undermine romantic relationships by expecting too much of them, while we diminish friendships by expecting too little of them.
Taking merch to a new level: Along with pieces by some of the best style writers, studio A24's How Directors Dress features hundreds of incredible photos of what directors wear to work, including Sofia Coppola in her signature button-up shirts, Hayao Miyazaki in his aprons, and Spike Lee in his sports caps and varsity jackets.
As always, I love your thoughts, feedback, and appreciate requests. You can email me anytime - I love it.
Happy Summer!