If someone were to tell me reading is overrated, I'd laugh and keep looking over my latest finds from the Good Morning America book club. It's like I can't get enough of coming across new romance and horror books to cozy up with. I've even started paying attention to #BookTok to see what everyone else is reading.
Although I'm no stranger to book club picks, I didn't know Good Morning America was in on the fun, too. Honestly, I love that their list is full of awe-inspiring titles...all of which hint I'll need a bigger bookshelf soon — sorry to my S.O.! Should you find yourself loving the idea of curling up with something new to read, scroll down for 22 Good Morning America book club picks!
April 2024 Book Club Pick:
Just For the Summerby Abby Jimenez
Justin's bad luck in life seems to follow him no matter how many times he starts over and eventually makes him the topic of discussion on a popular Reddit thread. It's embarrassing, but then Emma reaches out to him with a proposition that could possible put an end to his failed love affairs. She's just as familiar with not finding "the one" as he is so it makes sense that two people with bad romances can connect.
They're just supposed to enjoy a brief summer romance before going their separate ways, but life and emotions are hard to trick. Soon they find themselves thrust into situations that cause them to begin developing a bond that's anything but surface level.
Class: A Memoir of Motherhood, Hunger and Higher Education
Picking up after the events of her first book Maid, Stephanie Land's Class: A Memoir of Motherhood, Hunger and Higher Education takes readers on her continued journey of beating the odds. However, Land also tackles the intersection of motherhood, personal goals and the biases found in higher education. This pick for November 2023 is a thought-provoking read that requires the reader to confront their own perspectives about these things.
Happiness Falls
Happiness Falls is a novel that demands that a biracial family confronts their hidden truths after the patriarch doesn't come back home. Will the family be able to piece together clues that point to his whereabouts or is all hope lost?
Save What's Left
Not to be confused with a romance novel, Save What's Left is still poetic in its own right. It follows Kathleen Deane as she embarks on a soul-searching journey in the town of Whitbey. Inspired by her best friend's beautiful letters, she believes she's going to come face to face with paradise. But she's in for a rude awakening that might be her undoing while serving as a necessary wake-up call.
Pineapple Street
Take a peek into one high-society family as they come to terms with what they thought they wanted only to learn what they actually need. Alternating between the tales of three women in the family — Darley, Sasha and Georgiana — Pineapple Street is a delicious read that covers wealth, love and identity.
Age of Vice
Age of Vice is another book that focuses on the consequences of one family's greed and more. The Wadia family is well-known so it's not shocking that scandals follow them. But what happens when the lives of three people play a significant role in what happens to the family's fortune and reputation? Only time will tell.
Mad Honey
When the worlds of Olivia McAfee and the mother of Lily Campanello collide, all hell breaks loose. Unfortunately, this kind of hell involves the murder of young Lily with Olivia's son being named as the primary suspect. Will she be able to understand what happened or will she have to face a dark truth she's not ready to?
The Fortunes of Jaded Women
The Fortunes of Jaded Women is another family drama that involves a curse that prevents good fortune — romance and joy — from entering the lives of the Duong sisters. Although Mai hasn't spoken to her younger sisters in a long time, her Aunt Hua predicts that will change due to pivotal events no one was expecting.
More Than You'll Ever Know
If you're looking for a juicy read that has a shocking plot twist, you'll love More Than You'll Ever Know. It involves a woman who lives as a bigamist and all the chaos that ensues once it's discovered.
The Love of My Life
What would you do if you discovered your significant other isn't who they say they are? The Love of My Life answers this when Leo finds out shocking information about his wife after she gets sick.
The Violin Conspiracy
Ray McMillian must fight against dream crushers, racism and a ransom that threatens his chance to show how much of a talented musician he is. Will he be successful, or will he lose sight of himself in The Violin Conspiracy?
The Maid
When peculiar Molly Gray is suspected to have murdered a famous guest at the Regency Grand Hotel, she doesn't know how she got herself in such a mess. However, she soon finds that she's not as alone as she thought she was following her grandmother's death.
We Are Not Like Them
A diverse friendship is tested when the husband of Jen finds himself at the center of an unarmed black teen's death. When her best friend Riley is assigned to cover the case in the news, tensions run high and the two friends must decide where they stand as a result.
The Husbands
The Husbands is a novel that was ahead of its time. It paints a dramatic version of how things would look if housework and parenting children weren't imbalanced within a marriage.
The Personal Librarian
The Personal Librarian is a true tale about Belle Marion Greener and the courage she has to become the best in her field. Despite her success, no one knows she's a Black woman and she works hard to hide the truth from her colleagues for fear that everything she's worked hard for will be taken away.
The Other Black Girl
The Other Black Girl is a novel that peels back layers of racism and bias in the workplace. When Hazel is first hired at Wagner Books, Nella believes she's finally found a kindred sole in another Black employee. However, she quickly realizes that something isn't quite right about Hazel and she works desperately to figure out what that is.
Of Women and Salt
Of Women and Salt is a powerful tale about how one's knowledge of their family's history can help them make peace with the past so they can move forward towards a better future.
How The One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House
Despite her grandmother's warnings in the form of a riveting story, Lala finds her world in disarray when her husband's actions set off a chain of events that will change the course of different lives.
The Midnight Library
Nora Seed discovers she can live in alternate realities when she reads different books in The Midnight Library but at what cost?
Sex and Vanity
Lucie Churchill is in over her head when it comes to denying how she really feels about George Zao. It's the very thing that causes her to spin a messy web of lies in order to protect her feelings while simultaneously giving in to them.
Oona Out of Order
When young Oona awakens to find that she's time-traveled to a different portion of her life, she quickly realizes her days — and life — are out of order. Will she be able to find out who she is with each passing day?
The Family Upstairs
Libby Jones life is forever changed when she finds her life-long question about who she is answered in the form of an inheritance. What she couldn't have known is that the past is filled with murky secrets that have been waiting to be discovered.
Which books will you add to your reading list this month?
Brit + Co. may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.
Featured images via Barnes & Noble.
I'll admit out of the many teen dramas I've consumed, Outer Banks is one of the most ridiculous. But the insanity surrounding the plot is half the reason it's enjoyable! John B. wrestling an alligator with his bare hands? Kiara getting kidnapped then making a daring escape in her PJ's? John B. and Sarah getting married (kind of) by the power of "the sky, the stars, and the sea" after escaping the SBI?
Considering my favorite fan theory for the future is that Madelyn Cline's Sarah and Rudy Pankow's JJ learn they're secret siblings, I know the crazy train isn't slowing down anytime soon. I took to Reddit to find the wildest Outer Bankshot takes and I was not disappointed. Keep reading to see if you agree with any!
JJ and Kiara Never Should Have Happened
Image via Netflix
While JJ and Kiara is one of the most popular ships on the show, a lot of Outer Banks fans think the "no Pogue-on-Pogue macking" rule from the pilot should have stayed in effect. The individual romances between Kiara and JJ, John B., and Pope make the story really messy, and the fact the show writes Kiara to be with all three of them in the span of three years gives a lot of viewers the ick.
I'll be team #Jiara forever (and literally screamed when The Backseat Lovers' "Kilby Girl" started playing during the motorcycle ride in season 3), but I'll say it would incredibly compelling to see a friend group take care of each other as much as the Pogues do without ever crossing over into romantic territory. That's found family, after all!
Pope Should Have Ditched The Treasure Hunt
Image via Netflix
One Reddit user is convinced that "Pope should’ve focused on his future in school instead of giving everything up to search for treasure." And TBH, I totally agree.
In season 1, Pope has a breakthrough about the hidden treasure in the middle of his scholarship interview. He ditches the scholarship committee to tell the rest of the Pogues, throwing away a crazy educational opportunity. Pope beats himself up for it, and his parents definitely aren't pleased, but at least it meant he got to stay in the show instead of leaving for college, which leads me to...
Outer Banks Should Have Started With The Pogues In Their 20s
Image via Netflix
As one of the only people alive who loves the post-time jump One Tree Hill, I would have loved to see OBX start off with the characters in their 20s (although it looks like that's where Outer Banks season 4 will pick up!). This would eliminate SO MANY problems from the jump because the Pogues wouldn't have to worry about missing school, they'd be more self-sufficient, and instead of being the same old high school drama, it could have provided a commentary on figuring out life in your 20s the same way Friends did.
Rafe Shouldn't Have Any Kind Of Redemption Arc In Outer Banks Season 4
Image via Netflix
Drew Starkey the man that you are. According to one Reddit user, "Rafe should not have a love interest or a redemption arc" like we see in season 3. We spent all of season 1 and season 2 establishing that Rafe (played by Drew) would do anything it took to get what he wanted (including one successful murder and two other attempts?!). He shows next to no remorse for his actions, and exploring his literal psychopathic tendencies would take the show to a whole new level.
Big John Should Never Have Returned
Image via Netflix
John B.'s dad's disappearance is the catalyst for the Pogues' journey at the beginning of Outer Banks, and Big John's return means the story feels somewhat repetitive in the third season, and it undoes a lot of the growth we've seen from John B. Plus, Big John is just SO chaotic, selfish, and dramatic. If he had truly died in season 1, we could have seen John B. wrestle with that finality, and how to cope with loss in the face of finding the treasure and falling in love with Sarah.
And Finally, Outer Banks Should Have Ended After Season 1
Image via Netflix
Outer Banks season 1 was exactly what we needed at the height of the pandemic. It was escapist — both in terms of the beach vacation vibes, but also because the '00s aesthetic took us right back to simpler times — and it had such a wonderfully resolved finale that some fans think nothing has matched it.
Do you agree with any of these Outer Banks opinions? I'm such a romance fan, I don't know what I'd do if the show didn't have JJ and Kiara get together! Check out all the best New TV Shows coming this year for more.
Lead image via Netflix
This year, we’re honoring the fact that Christmas looks a little bit different for everyone. Whether you have an entire feast planned, or are just happy to fly solo for the holiday, there’s always a chance that you may need an easy snack or meal to tie you over between the chaos – plus, missing out on your daily Starbucks fix due to store closures is just no fun!
That’s where fast food places can come in real handy. But what restaurants are even open on Christmas this year? Turns out, some of our absolute favorites will be closed. When you're not celebrating with the fam and just need your drive-thru order, we've got you covered.
Ahead, a comprehensive list of fast food holiday hours that’ll help you navigate your last-minute holiday mealtimes – or in some cases, the main course!
Fast Food Restaurants Open On Christmas
Photo by Samuel Figueroa / PEXELS
Fast food holiday hours can be unpredictable, and largely depend on different restaurant’s needs and customer demand. Of course, these factors can change depending on where you live, too. Based on the information available, these are the places that will be open for Christmas 2023:
- Boston Market
- Burger King
- Denny’s
- Domino’s
- Dunkin’
- Hardee’s
- IHOP
- McDonald’s
- Starbucks
- Waffle House
- Wendy’s
Fast Food Restaurants Partially Open On Christmas
Photo by Polina Tankilevitch / PEXELS
As we noted, fast food holiday hours can really vary. A lot of chains are franchised as well, meaning the owners and/or staff have a say in holiday working hours. These are the restaurants that will likely be open during limited hours on Christmas this year:
- Burger King
- Domino's
- Jersey Mike’s
- Panda Express
- Panera Bread
- Sonic
Fast Food Restaurants Closed On Christmas
Image via Chick-fil-A
We’re pretty sad to report that some of our most favorite fast food joints will be closed entirely on Christmas 2023. If you’re craving any of these places (like a juicy chicken sammie or a cheesy to-go pizza), consider chowing down somewhere else:
- Arby's
- Auntie Anne's
- Bojangles
- CAVA
- Chick-fil-A
- Chipotle
- Cracker Barrel
- In-N-Out
- Jack in the Box
- Krispy Kreme
- Papa John’s
- Popeyes
- Qdoba
- Raising Cane's
- Smashburger
- Subway
- Taco Bell
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Lead photo by Alena Shekhovtcova / PEXELS.
This post has been updated.
Mariska Hargitay is the woman of the hour anywhere she goes, with her iconic Law & Order: SVUrole as Olivia Benson under her belt for the last 25 years. The character is an absolute advocate to women — and assault victims of any gender — through her words, actions, and powerful convictions of each perpetrator on the show. She takes great care with her victims and pursues perpetrators with fervor, and slowly as you watch the show..the line blurs between Olivia and Mariska.
This isn't anything new — just recently Mariska literally stopped production on the show to help a child (who mistook her for an actual police officer) find her mom. It's just who Mariska is. She walks the walk and talks the talk — including during her speech at Variety's Power of Women's Power of Women event.
Image via NBC Universal
As a Power of Women honoree, Mariska was recognized in regards to her work as an advocate for sexual assault survivors. She took the stage and used her platform to discuss rape and assault conviction reversals, shining a light on the recent overturned ruling in Harvey Weinstein's landmark NYC case. Here's what she said:
Today I want to talk about reversing convictions, and more specifically I want to talk to you about how impossible it is to reverse mine. It’s impossible to reverse my conviction that survivors matter. It is impossible to reverse my conviction that what happens to us matters, and that our society must respond to survivors with a more a compassionate, holistically, deeper, and more nuanced understanding of what healing means.
It is impossible to reverse my conviction that after a trauma, survivors can reclaim lives of hope, of possibility, of audacious risk, beautiful intimacy, and glorious, glorious abundant joy. And I stand before you as evidence of that statement.
It is impossible to reverse my conviction that we must listen to survivors as experts on what justice means. It is extraordinary how little their voices are consulted, let alone incorporated, in the process of deciding how to repair harm. Justice is not a one-size-fits-all journey.
It is impossible to reverse my conviction that patriarchal impunity has to end. Patriarchal impunity is when a male-dominated system exempts perpetrators from punishment. Studies show that only 20% of all rape cases in the U.S. are reported to the police, and that between 5 and 0% of all rapes result in a guilty plea or a conviction. So why do 80% of victims not report? Because they're met with a system that grants impunity to perpetrators; a system that blames victims; a system that accepts only those victims who are experienced as "real" rape; a system that completely misunderstands the neurobiology of trauma, which causes behavior in women that doesn't fit the picture of how a "real victim" would act.
Is that change needed that victims should just pull themselves together? Just buck up and report anyway? No. No, it's the system that receives them that needs to change
It is impossible to reverse my conviction — and the conviction of my extraordinary team, The Joyful Heart — that the backlog of untested rape kits can be brought to zero; that the testing of all new kits must be mandated; that we need a statewide kit tracking system; and that survivors have the right to access the status of their kits.
It is impossible to reverse my conviction that grammar — yes, grammar — that we use when we speak about rape must change. In the sentence, "A woman is raped," there's a crime and there's a victim, but there's no perpetrator. Where's the perpetrator? Where is he? Statistically, as we know, most likely he's walking free. He's so free that he doesn't even appear in the language about the crime that he committed. Is that not extraordinary? It's extraordinary that in the very grammar, the perpetrator goes free. Reintroducing perpetrators in the language of rape will make some very unwieldy grammar, but that's the nature of change. It's unwieldy, it's messy, it's uncomfortable, but it's necessary.
Image via NBC Universal
Hargitay continued on in her prolific speech to describe that rape shouldn't be considered a "crime of passion" because it's "not simply the next step in the trajectory of his passion" when a man takes a consensual hookup too far and assaults a woman against her will. She stated that it's "an exercise of power," doubling down that the language we use is important.
The speech went on to address that rape is both about power and control, as a "construct" that was "built, and assembled, and reinforced over time." She noted that there are people with these positions of power — and she specifically called out those in the entertainment industry — that could make a difference and aligned themselves to victims and survivors.
After this and some other remarks, Hargitay specifically called out the Weinstein conviction reversal. She said:
I do want to say something about the Harvey Weinstein conviction, specifically about the reason that it was overturned: too many women's voices. Too many women's voices were allowed to speak. Hallelujah! Amen! I can't imagine anything more beautiful than that. The Daily podcast episode talked about how it was so risky for the prosecution to have that many women testify. Risky to let women speak? You're damn right it is!
Too many women speaking brings change. Too many women speaking shakes the establishment. Too many women means we get listened to more, and people might actually hear what we have to say. Look what happened when women started saying just two words, right? Me too — just as an example — a tidal wave of change. Me too.
And then of course, there was the response: the Me Too Movement. The backlash. The examination of whether the changes that have come are lasting, or are even positive. Of course there's a backlash! What did they expect? For women to speak repeatedly, loudly, together, with a purpose — for there to be no backlash? The backlash is evidence of how powerful those voices were, how powerful those voices ARE.
Watch Mariska Hargitay's Full Speech Here
Turns out that your TV heroes really can be your IRL heroes after all. Long live Olivia Benson! Long live Mariska Hargitay!
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Header image via NBC Universal
After Emily in Paris season 3 dropped on Netflix in December of 2022, we were hoping to get the fourth installment of the hit show in 2023. But production halted when the WGA writers' strike, then the SAG-AFTRA actors' strike went to affect, and our beloved cast and crew campaigned for better wages and industry protection. But with the end of the writers' strike, and new SAG negotiations, Emily in Paris season 4 finally began production in February 2024 — and I can already tell you there's sure to be plenty of drama and French fashion this time around.
Not only will we see Emily in Paris (see what I did there?!) but she's also pulling an Audrey Hepburn and taking a little Roman Holiday. That's right — our favorite Parisians are heading to Italy! If that doesn't sound like a dreamy comfort show then I don't know what does. Here's everything we know about the upcoming season of your favorite TV brain candy!!
Is Emily in Paris season 4 coming soon?
Image via Lily Collins/Instagram
Via Variety, Emily in Paris season 4 began production in Paris the week of January 15! "Did someone say Saison Quatre?!" Lily Collins says in her Instagram post announcing production. "Finally reunited with my @emilyinparis fam back in Paris and it feels so good. Although, I may need to brush up on my selfie skills for Emily’s sake…"
Now the wait is over! According to the official announcementfor Emily in Paris, we know part one drops on Netflix August 15, followed by part 2 on September 12. I've been impatiently waiting for this considering we didn't know how filming would be impacted by things like the WGA writers strike!
Is Emily in Paris filmed in Paris?
Image via Lily Collins/Instagram
Yes, Emily in Paris is filmed on location in Paris! We got our first look at Emily in Paris season 4 when Lily Collins and Ashley Park were seen filming in the City of Love (via Daily Mail). The costumes for the series are still as bold and bright as ever, with Ashley's Mindy wearing cobalt and metallic boots, and Lily's Emily dressed head-to-toe in lemon yellow. I can't wait to see what these best friends get up to this season! Check out our Paris travel recommendations to live out your own Emily in Paris dreams ;).
On April 27, Lily Collins confirmed Emily in Paris season 4 had wrapped its France shoot and that the cast & crew have swapped the City of Love for the Eternal City! "When you’re the first ones on the dance floor at the Paris wrap party. Next stop: Rome!" she says on Instagram. Late spring is literally the perfect time to film in Italy and I just know this season is going to give me more wanderlust than ever before. I need gelato!
What's Emily In Paris season 4 about?
Image via Netflix
Season 3 left us with a huge cliffhanger: Alfie breaks up with Emily, Camille learns she's pregnant with Gabriel's baby, Benoit's "Mon Soleil" has been chosen for the Eurovision Song Contest, and Emily and Gabriel realize they've been in love with each other the whole time. Whew.
Emily in Paris season 4 will have a ton of cliffhangers to bring full circle, and a bunch of damage that all the characters need to heal. We know from the Netflix TUDUM fan event that we might also see Emily have to deal with an ultimatum head-on, as well as an unexpected twist. Plus, it looks like she's heading on a "Roman holiday," according to lead actress Lily Collins. We'll take any nod to an Audrey Hepburn movie, please and thank you!
Is Alfie coming back in season 4 of Emily in Paris?
Image via Netflix
We don't have OFFICIAL word on whether Alfie (played by Lucien Laviscount) will return for Emily in Paris season 4, but we're hoping for his sake that he gets some closure. Lucien wants to come back as well! "[The dream is] to keep this gravy train going and just to kind of really live in this world a little bit longer," he says in an interview with Elle. " The writers on the show and the creators behind it and everyone that comes into contact with it is so amazing and fantastic. Their minds [have] way, way, way, way surpassed mine. So, yeah. I’ll let them do their thing.”
Who else is in the Emily in Paris season 4 cast?
Image via Netflix
We can expect the rest of the cast — Lily Collins as Emily, Lucas Bravo as Gabriel, Ashley Park as Mindy, Camille Razat as Camille, Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu as Sylvie, Samuel Arnold as Julian, and Bruno Gouery as Luc — to return.
Will there be a season 5 of Emily in Paris?
Image via Marie Etchegoyen/Netflix
It looks like Emily in Paris season 4 will not be the final season, according to creator Darren Star. “There’s a lot more story to tell here and we’re not wrapping things up anytime soon,” Star tells Elle. “And also hopefully season four isn’t the end either. I feel like we’re all creatively feeling like we’re in the middle of something not heading towards the end.”
Darren also told Deadline season 4 is "not necessarily conceived as a final chapter. I think like every other show, it’s a rich ensemble. There’s no end in sight until everybody feels like it’s time to end. And I don’t think this show is limited by a number of seasons, I think it’s limited by everybody’s enthusiasm and excitement about doing it and telling stories about these characters."
We'll take as many seasons of Emily in Paris as they'll give us!!
What has the cast said about Emily in Paris season 4?
Image via Marie Etchegoyen/Netflix
Lucas Bravo told People he's excited for a coming-of-age for Gabriel. "When you start a character, then there's a year where you experience the world and you mature, you become another person and you come back and it's exactly the day you left off," he says. "I'm happy that in season four I'll be able to bring more of what I became and what I've experienced in the past four years."
Even though Lily Collins is now an executive producer, she doesn't want to know TOO much about the future of the show. “Darren and I speak, on occasion, about where he’s thinking of going, but he also doesn’t wanna spoil too much for me because there is a fine line,” she tells Collider. “I don’t wanna know everything because I want to be led with the writing, but I am also curious because, as a producer wanting to celebrate the other characters, I’m very curious to see what their trajectories are."
What happened at the end of Emily in Paris season 3?
Image via Netflix
To be fully prepared for Emily in Paris season 4, it's important to remember just what happened during season 3! The junior season was a bumpy ride for Emily, and it ends with the craziest finale yet. After Camille and Gabriel decide to get married, Camille stops the wedding, saying she knows Gabriel is in love with Emily instead of her. This declaration leads Alfie to break up with our leading lady because he refuses to be her second choice (and honestly, I respect it). That's not the only shocker because Camille also reveals that she's pregnant with Gabriel's child, which comes as a surprise to everyone. Meanwhile, Mindy learns Benoit has submitted a song (specifically "Mon Soleil") to the Eurovision Song Contest and Laurent has his heart set on opening a club in Paris.
Are you excited for Emily in Paris Season 4? Give us your craziest theory in the comments, and check out our Facebook for more pop culture news. Read up on how This Emily In Paris Theory Could Be Why Emily And Gabriel Aren’t Together (Yet).
Lead image via Netflix.
This post has been updated.