What I'm Reading / Watching - 7/01/25
Let's pretend that it's July 1 when I'm posting this.
Something happened these past few months where I suddenly got the will to binge-read. Coupled with movie theater visits and some self-assigned movie marathons, I consumed a lot in April, May, and June.
Did I watch any of the movies that I had said I would in my last post?
Nope!
But that's okay.
What I've Been Listening To
The Happening by Pixies
I Love You by Fontaines D.C.
Laugh Now Cry Later by Mareux (his sophomore album just came out; absolutely one of my favorite modern artists)
23 by Blonde Redhead (I've been playing this on repeat for a decade now)
What Horror I've Been Watching
feat. my Letterboxd
I've been on a Kyle Gallner bender, since I have a huge crush on him I realized I hadn't seen all of his horror movies and respect him as an actor.
Strange Darling is one that was recommended to me as something I would absolutely love, and while I loved the concept and it's visually stunning (shot all on 35 mm), it felt predictable and didn't seem to really make an impactful statement. Kyle and Willa's performance are amazing though. Watch it for that, at least. I can't say too much about it since it would spoil it.
The Passengers was absolutely fantastic. When dealing with some typical bullying from a co-worker at his fast food job, Randy (Johnny Berchtold) is shocked when Benson (Kyle Gallner) kills that other co-worker in Randy's defense. He then takes Randy hostage with the goal of getting Randy out of his shell. The movie does a great job of showing the tension Randy feels in being in such close quarters with a murderer while also finding a shared empathy with him. Great performances for both leads!
Movies I've Added to My Watchlist:
The Addiction (1995)
Near Dark (1987)
Nosferatu (1979)
We Need to Do Something (2021)
Dog Soldiers (2002)
The Invisible Man (2020)
The Ugly Stepsister (2025)
What I've Been Reading
I read 20 books in April, May, and June! That's quite an accomplishment for me, but I've been in love with reading.
Here were some of my favorites:
Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
This one has been on my TBR for a while after a fellow Dramione (Draco/Hermione) writer/reader said this is Dramione-coded. And it sure is. It also features an epistolary plot — in this case, the two mains write anonymous letters to each other where only one of them knows the identity of the other. So, while they hate each other in real life, they're falling in love on the page. Gotta love it.
Credence by Penelope Douglas
This is my second time reading Credence. I know. I know. Straight to jail.
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
Red Rising tricked me. I really would have said it was written in the 1990's and that Hunger Games was inspired by it. Lo and behold, it was written after Hunger Games. I likened it to a more adult, male-centric Hunger Games. I'm about to start Golden Son, #2 in the series, and also about to reread Hunger Games, 'cause it made me want to go back to that series.
The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen
An FMC who's a spy/assassin/badass. Hell yeah!
Everything is Tuberclosis by John Green
Amazing. Was not expecting to love this as much as I did. Particularly loved the chapter on tuberclosis influcence on Victorian beauty standards and vampire lore.
Five Brothers by Penelope Douglas
I love Penelope being absolutely unhinged.
All Fours by Miranda July
Such a touching book about mid-life crisis, motherhood, and bisexuality. Laughed out loud many times. Cried many times as well. I love how unhinged the narrator is. Girl is going through her messy era. Leave her be.
Misfit by Elle Kennedy
Elle Kennedy is just that girl. I picked this up despite it not having her usual hockey romance plot points, but it was so so good. I may be biased though since I love a multi-POV. Very funny and lots of fun!
Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery by Brom
On one hand, I'm upset that it took me so long to read this. On the other hand, right now, with the current state of our country, was the perfect time to read it.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
Another that's been on my list for so long, and that I absolutely loved. It was recommended to me again recently as having Tomione vibes (Tom Riddle/Hermione Granger - another favorite fanfiction pairing) and YESSSSS IT DOES. The first part also felt so much like Interview with a Vampire / The Vampire Lestat, in the best way. Beautiful writing by V.E. and I always appreciate an ambiguous (not happy) ending.
What I'm Currently Reading:
Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar
And a Regulus/Hermione fic that I'm absolutely obsessed with (Old as Your Omens by itcomestothis)