“I wonder what it would be like to live in a world where it was always June.”
Isn’t that quote delightful? L.M Montgomery, the author of Anne of Green Gables, wrote that in a journal entry in 1902.
She continues: “Would we get tired of it?”
After weeks of rain, I certainly don’t think I’ll tire of the sun any time soon, but I know myself well enough to admit that I’ll once again happily embrace the coziness of the evening chill as soon as autumn hits.
For me, June holds a few dizzying dichotomies:
…the school year routine ending, the haphazard schedule of summer beginning;
…the chaos in the world, the peacefulness of gardening tasks;
…the desire to get as much done as possible before the beach days come calling, and the desire to throw my phone in the ocean.
Here at Hard Copy, we focus on the lighter options of our dichotomies: the comfortable, the uplifting, the gentle. It’s not about toxic positivity or blissful ignorance—I know the Hard Copy reader is a well-informed and considerate one—it’s about making sure we are getting a little injection of joy into our very full lives. This week’s issue is no exception: the best in uplifting books, fun music, and satisfying shows and movies are just a scroll away.
One more thing: if you're looking for more laughs and intimate conversations, pull up a chair and join us for episode 4 of our podcast, Your Weekly Breakdown. It's funny, informative, and crass. You're obviously invited.
Big hugs, and happy pride month!!
Key Takeaways
📺 Watch
For those who love a Young Adult drama slash romance, Maxton Hall is sure to hit the spot. The German-language 6 episode show is comfortable and predictable in its enemies to lovers plot. (Prime)
Grab your pal and head to the theatre to enjoy Hit Man starring Glen Powell. An absolutely quirky and dark thriller and comedy, (and a notable 97% on rotten tomatoes!) it’s sizing up to be one of the best movies of the year. If you can’t make it out, the movie will hit Netflix on June 7.
🎧 Listen
Dream pop! The Marías are back with their latest album Submarine. It’s jazzy, funky, psychedelic, *and* it still brings that sexy chemistry that the two songwriters always bring, even though they broke up before recording the album.
Another week, another nepo baby just going for it: Maya Hawke, spawn of Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke, has released her third album. The actress writes from the heart, and you’ll find yourself humming along to the delicate tracks. If you listen closely, you can hear the James Blake and Joni Mitchell influences.
📚 Read
Emily Henry brings hit after hit with her effervescent romance novels, and Funny Story is no exception. What happens when you start falling for your ex-fiancé’s new fiancé’s ex? Sexy and chaotic. I gobbled it up!
For something with a bit more depth, Real Americans by Rachel Khong is a sprawling, generation-spanning literary fiction novel with beautiful prose that weaves a web of class, race, and family.
📱 What else?
Tech + Work
After many hilarious and entertaining flaws, Google has rolled back its A.I search feature. The disappearance of A.I. Overviews for some of the searches appear to be part of a broader rollback after the new technology produced a litany of untruths and errors, including recommending glue as a part of a pizza recipe and suggesting that people ingest rocks for nutrients. (NYT)
PayPal will now use your purchase information and shopping patterns to sell targeted ads. The company is launching an advertising platform built on a trove of customer transaction data, and they are not the first one to do so: Facebook gets info about users from thousands of different company, and Visa and JPMorgan Chase are making similar moves. (The Verge)
Women
Mexico’s next president will be a woman. The two leading candidates in the race are women: Claudia Sheinbaum, the ruling party’s candidate, and opposition candidate Xóchitl Gálvez. Come tomorrow (Sunday), Sheinbaum may well become the most powerful woman in Mexico. But what should be celebrated as a ground-breaking election has become overshadowed by the bloodiest election campaign in Mexico’s history: at least 34 political candidates or applicants have been murdered since June 2023 as gangs try to influence those coming into power. (CNN)
Ah yes, more confusion around mammograms. The Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care did not lower the starting age for routine mammograms to 40 from 50. The federal Health Minister is “extremely disappointed”. Several advocacy organizations, including the Canadian Cancer Society, also disagree with the decision. (CBC)
Culture
The launch countdown for Boeing’s new Starliner space capsule on its inaugural crewed test flight was halted this morning, postponing the mission for at least 24 hours. The first launch attempt on May 6 was delayed for oxygen leak checks and rocket repairs. (Globe and Mail)
Is wellness culture fuelling a health anxiety crisis? Wellness culture encourages people to view their health as a perpetual work in progress and to be constantly monitoring how they feel — two things that can heighten anxiety and preoccupation with illness. (Dazed)
Style + Art
This Cannes Film Festival recap is one of the more pleasant pieces I’ve read on the internet this week, encompassing all of the senses for those who enjoy film, glamour, and fashion. (SSENSE)
This summer, we’re wearing dresses. Enjoy this thoughtfully curated selection of ~50 summer dresses and report back on what you pick! (Hard Copy)
As always, I love your thoughts, feedback, and appreciate requests. You can email me anytime - I love it.
Until next week, take good care of yourself!