The Great 2025 Retrospective: Books

While I didn’t quite manage to top last year’s total, I still read 157 books in 2025, which is still a lot! Running a bookstore is both a help and a hindrance in this regard, as it allows me to discover interesting new titles but also sometimes keeps me too busy to read as much as I’d like. Nevertheless, I consumed some fantastic titles this year, which I now present in the order I read them:

First-Time Caller & And Now, Back to You

The first installment in this series, First-Time Caller, rightfully enjoyed quite a bit of popularity early in the year. Billed as being reminiscent of Sleepless in Seattle, I’m happy to report that it delivers on all of the classic rom-com vibes you could want and features a cast of lovable characters, the majority of which make appearances in the upcoming sequel, And Now, Back to You. I enjoyed the latter just as much, and the snowed-in weather people vibes make for an excellent post-Christmas winter read.

The Once and Future Witches

If there’s a recurring theme of the book club I run at the bookstore, it’s “books Anna’s been meaning to read for ages,” and this Alex E. Harrow classic was the first of such books to make the OH Literary Society selection this year. Simultaneously a story of three very different sisters, a historical account of the struggle for women’s rights, and an atmospheric fantasy, Harrow manages to weave all these various threads together into a very satisfying tome.

A Memory of Light

This February I finished the three year, five month, and six day journey to read the entire Wheel of Time series, which will go down as one of my absolute favorites. It is truly mind-boggling how expansive and well-detailed the world building is, and while I appreciated the main chosen-one plot I still maintain that it’s the B, C, D, and even E plots that truly make this series so interesting. Add to that the multi-faceted magic system, and the result is a series I’m sure I will return to again and again. The Wheel of Time turns indeed.

Good Dirt

I greatly enjoyed Wilkerson’s debut Black Cake, but there’s a marked development in her follow-up Good Dirt, which released early this year. Focusing on an affluent Black family, their treasured family heirloom, and a tragic incident that marked them all, Wilkerson’s grasp of character and story threads was even more impressive on her second go-around. I was particularly struck by how an object created through an ancestor’s forced labor could become a treasured item, how creativity in the face of suffering can impact future generations, and how history is constantly being written.

North Woods

Another OH Lit Society selection, this was perhaps my favorite book club book of the year. Starting in the colonial era and moving forward through time, a rotating cast of characters pass through the same home in the New England woods. In some ways reading like a collection of short stories, I was particularly struck by how each entry informed and referred back to each other and the way the language evolved over time. Beautifully written and deeply affecting, I’m sure this will go down in the Lit Society Hall of Fame and be a tough act to beat.

A Death on Corfu & A Murder in Marylebone

I love me a historical mystery, especially if it blends mystery and romance and features an engaging main character, which is certainly the case for this new series from Emily Sullivan. Widow Minnie Harper has been living on Corfu with her two children when tetchy and famous (and famously tetchy!) mystery author Stephen Dorian moves in next door. She finds herself doing some typing work for him, and after a young maid is murdered the two reluctantly teamed up to investigate. Its sequel, A Murder in Marylebone, is just as excellent, and finds Minnie back in London and confronting her past. Minnie’s investigative mind and her chemistry with Dorian make this a promising addition to the genre.

Miss Austen

Jane Austen’s sister Cassandra quite famously burned a number of her letters after her death in order to protect her legacy, and it’s this historical fact that serves as the jumping-off point for this novel about the family behind the beloved author. We’ll never know what those letters contained, but it’s interesting to imagine, which Hornby does with the charm, scathing wit, and warmth the author is known for in her books.

Greenteeth

Jenny Greenteeth is an eons-old lake monster who’s spent that time largely minding her own business, protecting her lake and staying far away from the humans who fear her needle-sharp teeth. But when one of those humans is thrown into the aforementioned lake on suspicion of witchcraft, Jenny’s policy of non-interference is shattered and she finds herself assisting in the defeat of a sinister evil. Borrowing heavily from English folklore, particularly Arthurian tales, I absolutely fell in love with Jenny and her no-nonsense, curious voice.

Birnam Wood

If you like your fiction Shakespearean in its examination of human nature, then have I got a book for you. Not-for-profit, guerrilla environmental group Birnam Wood is given an opportunity beyond their wildest dreams: A whole lot of money and permission to use a large swath of land in the New Zealand countryside. The catch? It’s almost definitely certainly a coverup for a tech billionaire’s less-than-legal activities, whose shades of shadiness are expertly revealed as the novel goes on. Catton is a master of layers (which she proved in her Booker Prize-winning The Luminaries), and the way she presents an event then loops back to show the reader how it was arrived at, only to leave you with a cliffhanger at the very end, is both satisfying and infuriating in equal measure. Another OH Lit Society Hall of Famer!

Swordheart

I really really love T. Kingfisher’s brand of cozy, clever, and oft-fairytale inspired fantasy, and while I read several of her works this year it’s Swordheart that takes the top spot for me. Reduced down to its most basic form the premise is basically just this: he’s a ten, but he’s an immortal warrior trapped in a sword. Do with this information what you will, but I highly recommend you pick up this endearing and cozy romantasy. (P.S. I did also manage to get my grubby little hands on an advance copy of its sequel, Daggerbound, but as publication is so far out it doesn’t even have a cover design yet [that’s correct, this is a brag], I chose not to include it in the title entry. But I promise it’s just as good!)

The Emily Wilde Series

Speaking of the folklore and fairy-tale inspired (it’s almost like I have a favorite fantasy subgenre), this historically-set series follows a professor of faerie kind and her maybe fae prince fellow professor love interest (spoiler alert, he’s definitely a fae prince) as they defeat an evil queen but more importantly, expand the scholarship of the fae realm. Peopled with a fun cast of side characters and told in Emily’s curmudgeonly but endearing voice, I adored this trilogy and also greatly enjoyed Fawcett’s next book, Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter.

Nicked

I have two words for you: medieval heist. Okay, two more words: true story. That’s right, in the 11th century some mercenaries and Catholic clergy, ahem, liberated the bones of Saint Nicholas from modern-day Turkey, where they were said to perform miracles. This was done ostensibly because a monk had a dream that the Saint wanted to move to Italy, but in actuality it was more a desire for a boost in tourism. Nevertheless their actions paved the way for this rollicking and strangely earnest book, which I greatly enjoyed. Just whatever you do, do not look up exactly how the miracles were said to occur if you’re a bit squeamish.

The Lady Darby Mysteries

After absolutely inhaling Huber’s Verity Kent mysteries last year, I decided it was finally time to loop around to her first series, which follows a painter and widow of an anatomist in 1830’s Scotland who discovers a talent for investigating murders. Lady Darby is yet another fully-fleshed and compelling protagonist from Huber, and I greatly enjoyed how she used the not-often portrayed time and place to shine a light on some very interesting historical events. As of writing this I’ve finished all thirteen published books, and I certainly plan on embarking on my advance copy of the fourteenth in the New Year!

Honorable Mentions: Love You a Latke, The Stella and Lyndy Mysteries, The River Has Roots, Martyr!, Great Big Beautiful Life, Big Chief, What Happened in Miss Austen, The Paris Express, And then There Was the One, A Shore Thing, The Rushworth Family Plot, The Celebrants, The Listeners, TheShady Hollow Mysteries, The Wrong Lady Meets Lord Right, The Road to Tender Hearts, Mutual Interest, The Austen Affair, The Other Bennet Sister, Harriet Tubman: Live in Concert, Thistlefoot, Fan Service, Sunk in Love, The Princess Knight, Bog Queen, The Antiquarian’s Object of Desire, The Hounding, Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter, Love is a War Song, The Gales of November, A Matter of Murder, Hemlock & Silver, The Fatal Unpleasantness at Netherfield, The Snow Child, Good Spirits, Nine Goblins

The Great 2025 Retrospective: TV

Great television abounded this year, from new titles to beloved backlist series and an especially high number of murder mysteries. Here are my favorites, in the approximate order I viewed them:

The Pitt

This medical drama took over the zeitgeist at the beginning of the year, and deservedly so. Featuring a top-notch cast and set over one 15-hour emergency room shift, the pacing of the show finds time for both heart-pounding moments of suspense and quieter asides where each actor has the chance to shine. The production set out to make the most realistic medical drama to date, and while I don’t have the expertise to say whether they achieved that goal, the humanity and realism of the performances do wonders to highlight the struggles faced by American healthcare workers.

Miss Scarlet Seasons 5 & 6

I was initially hesitant to continue on with this series, even though it’s been one of my absolute favorites over the last few years, due to the absence of the formerly titular Duke. I’m happy to report that I was wrong, however, and that while I am disappointed to see the four-season long slow burn not come to fruition after Stuart Martin’s exit from the show, his replacement Tom Durant-Pritchard as Inspector Blake brings just as much chemistry and banter to his dynamic with Kate Phillips’ Eliza Scarlet while carving out his own space within the show. In addition to the romantic tension between the two leads, the mysteries they solve are just as engaging, leading me to believe the show is on safe ground as it goes forward in its new direction.

The Wheel of Time Season 3

I’m beyond saddened to hear that Prime video has cancelled this series, particularly after airing the best season yet. Season 1 was a strong if flawed start, while Season 2 was a pretty mixed bag, but it was in Season 3 the show finally hit its stride and delivered not only a fantastic adaptation of the books but one of the best seasons of television I’ve ever seen. Book fans, a group in which I ardently include myself, were treated to some stand-out moments including Rand and Moiraine’s trials at Rhuidean, Egwene’s attempts to master world of dreams Tel’aran’rhiod, and the introduction of Caemlyn and Queen Morgase. Unfortunately it doesn’t appear that another studio is going to step in and save this series, but I’m grateful it went out on such a high.

A Thousand Blows

Stephen Graham has rightfully had quite a year, including his award wins for miniseries Adolescence, but I’m partial to this series about the underground bare-knuckle boxing world of 1880’s London, based on an idea from Graham’s wife Hannah Walters (who also features as a member of the all-female gang The Forty Elephants) and produced by Stephen Knight (you know, the guy who made Peaky Blinders). Erin Doherty and Malachi Kirby also star, rounding out an absolutely sprawling cast of well-acted ne’er-do-wells. Outside of the pulse-pounding fights and heists, each actor brings depth and nuance to characters navigating a rapidly changing world that threatens to leave people like them behind. Season 2 arrives on January 9, a matter of mere days, and you can bet I will be seated and watching.

Code of Silence

I love a good British crime show, and this summer’s Code of Silence certainly stands out from the pack. Focusing on young deaf woman Alison, whose skills reading lips find her pulled into a police investigation, this drama combines the best elements of the genre with fresher aspects on disability, capability, and what causes good people to do bad things. Rose Ayling-Ellis’ portrayal of Alison is nuanced and deeply felt, proving she’s a natural in front of a camera. Disability representation in media has been slowly improving in fits and starts, and Code of Silence is a major leap forward in showing those with disabilities as real, complicated people.

The Gilded Age Season 3

While the first two seasons of this Julian Fellowes-created costume drama were by no means unsuccessful, Season 3 exploded the show’s popularity and took over the cultural conversation this summer. I would argue that it’s because of those previous seasons that this latest was so successful, with groundwork laid previously paying off in big ways: from Gladys and her Duke to the Russell’s marital troubles and #Larian finally acting on their feelings for each other. But it’s Denée Benton’s Peggy Scott that shines brightest on this spectacularly crowded stage, stepping into her own and getting a well-deserved fairytale moment to end the season. #HotGildedSummer indeed.

Karen Pirie Seasons 1 & 2

Outlander’s Lauren Lyle anchors this police drama about a young detective promoted to head the investigation into a 25-year-old murder, only to discover that her promotion is due to her gender and that the case has only been reopened as a public relations move with no real expectation that it will be solved. Karen is determined, however, and it’s this determination that carries her through the twists and turns of each mystery to find the truth. Both seasons are excellent, with extended flashback scenes playing out as more of the story is revealed, featuring a who’s who of Scottish talent. There’s no word yet on a Season 3, but considering the first two series’ strong performances I’ll be shocked if we don’t see more of DI Pirie on our screens in future.

Dept Q

If I had a nickel for every time I watched a Scottish detective series in which a brusque and socially awkward detective is tasked with solving a seemingly hopeless cold case this summer, I’d have two nickels; which isn’t a lot but it’s weird that it happened twice. This time around the detective is Carl Morck, who after returning from medical leave is tasked with heading up a new department. More or less against his will, a motley crew is assembled and a mystery is unraveled, with some interesting camera work and an excellent supporting cast rounding things out.

Vera

It’s taken me ages to get around to watching this British mystery juggernaut, but with my trusty Britbox subscription in hand I was able to binge all 14 seasons (yes, that’s right, FOURTEEN) this August and early September. Brenda Blethyn, who’s otherwise best known as the neurotic Mrs. Bennet from 2005’s Pride & Prejudice, is excellent as the titular character, a crotchety loner who’s too clever for her own good. I particularly enjoyed her pseudo-parental relationship with Sergeant Joe Ashworth and watching fashions and technology change over the course of its 2011-2025 run, which was particularly nostalgic for me.

The Hardacres

Speaking of getting my money’s worth out of my Britbox subscription, I greatly enjoyed this rags-to-riches tale of the Hardacre family, fishmongers who through both hard work and a good deal of luck become fabulously rich and must adjust to their new circumstances without losing touch with who they are. The costumes are lovely (I’m thinking particularly of daughter Liza’s peacock teal gown, in which she’s shown in the picture above), and the cast is excellent. Every single one of them delivers a stellar performance, but it’s Claire Cooper’s turn as Mary, the glue that holds the family together, that I found the most impressive.

Outlander: Blood of My Blood

After getting sick and being stuck at home convalescing for a week this August I hopped back on the Outlander train, which led me to this prequel series following the parents of Outlander’s Claire and Jamie. In a diversion from the original show’s lore, Julia and Henry Beauchamp (Claire’s parents) are thrown back in time by the standing stones at Craig Na Dun to the early 1700’s, where they cross paths with Brian Fraser and Ellen Mackenzie, who would go on to have Jamie. Is this a tad far-fetched? Certainly! But the show is fun and therefore I do not care. The main things I missed from the latter seasons of Outlander was its Scottish setting, which this has in spades (as well as great costumes, lots of accents, sword fights, improbable plot twists, and kilts. So many kilts).

The Gold

More of an out-and-out thriller than PBS’s usual fare, this series follows the audacious Brinks-Mat gold heist of the 1980’s, which became one of the most far-reaching criminal investigations in modern history. Jack Lowden is deliciously menacing as mastermind Kenneth Noye, Hugh Bonneville is calmly determined as lead investigator Brian Boyce, and Charlotte Spencer is a scrappy DI Nicki Jennings, peopling this caper with larger-than-life personalities.

Jet Lag: The Game

I’m not usually a fan of reality competition shows, but my partner and I got sucked in to this excellent Nebula series in which three friends (Sam Denby, Adam Chase, and Ben Doyle) play scaled-up versions of classic games such as tag or hide and seek across countries or regions, utilizing public transit and attempting challenges that often tie in to some aspect of the local culture of geography. The genuine friendship and camaraderie shines through, setting it apart from its more cut-throat peers, along with a respect for the people and places they visit. I’m also a big fan of their “Snack Zone” segment, the graphic for which I feel deserves its own place in this post:

Honorable Mentions: All Creatures Great and Small Season 5, Call the Midwife Season 14, Abbot Elementary Season 4, Belgravia: The Next Chapter, Game Changer Season 7, The Jetty, Grantchester Season 10, Leverage: Redemption Season 3, Very Important People Season 2, 1883, Sas: Rogue Heroes, Outlander Seasons 6 & 7, The Marlow Murder Club Season 2, Smartypants Society Season 2, Lynley, Maigret, House of Guinness, Murder Before Evensong, Miss Austen, Crowd Control, Gastronauts Season 2, Make Some Noise Season 4

The Great 2025 Retrospective: Film

While 2025 wasn’t quite as strong a year in film for me as previous years, I still found some fun things to watch, whether new releases in theatres or backlist titles I watched at home. Here are my favorites, presented in the order I viewed them:

Paddington in Peru

Following up the masterpiece that is Paddington 2 is a tall order, but this franchise’s third outing continues the magic of this beloved series. Featuring a tight script, beloved actors clearly having the time of their lives (including an impish Olivia Coleman and a swashbuckling Antonio Banderas), and the overall charming vibes we’ve come to expect from a Paddington movie, this was a great way to start off the year.

Kneecap

I think it’s safe to say we’ve hit a critical mass of music biopics (will I ever watch the Dylan or Springsteen ones? Maybe! Jury’s still out), but this one stands out from the crowd by virtue of the fact the musicians in question play themselves. There was a lot of room for this decision to not work, especially since none of them had experience in front of a camera or on a film set. But between the performances, script, and editing, what emerges is a raucous and deeply felt portrait of three aimless young men who find their voices – voices that are reviving a previously fading language.

Mickey17

Robert Pattinson continues on in his “weird little guy” era (which, let’s be honest, is the majority of his career at this point), playing a member of a planetary expedition whose sole role is to be expendable. Director Bong Joon-Ho expands upon the ideas in the original novel to comment on current events in what has become his signature style, with memorable performances from Naomi Ackie, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo rounding out the experience. Plus: some weirdly cute little critters!

Novocaine

An original premise gives way to a fun (and slightly gross) action thriller about a mild-mannered bank manager with a condition that causes him to not feel pain who pursues a band of robbers who’ve kidnapped the woman he’s been crushing on. Not only is this concept more well thought out than you might think it’d be (he doesn’t eat solid food, for instance, since he wouldn’t be able to sense if he started choking), but it gives way to some truly gnarly special effects and sound design.

Sinners

Perhaps the best film of 2025, Sinners has rightfully received a heap of praise for its original storytelling, committed performances, brilliant special effects, and perfect soundtrack. The scene in the juke joint is probably the most transcendent theatre-going experience I’ve ever had, and I’ll be thinking about it for a long time to come. There’s not much else I could say about this movie that hasn’t already been commented on, but if you’ve yet to experience it yourself take this as your sign to watch it.

Oh, Hi!

This summer flick starts out as an idyllic rom-com and ends in an unhinged but somehow still emotionally resonant examination of modern relationships, anchored by the excellent Molly Gordon and Logan Lerman. I’m not normally a fan of the cringily funny comedy style, but the script and performances sold it for me. Plus: I want that house!!

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale

It’s truly the end of an era. After fourteen years, six seasons, and three movies the Julian Fellowes-created juggernaut has taken its final bow, wrapping things up for the Crawley family in the early 1930’s. There are many things I’ll miss about this franchise, from the characters to the fashion to the bonding experience of watching new installments with my mom. It was time to move on, however, and I’m glad that it was able to bow out in spectacular fashion.

Frankenstein

If there’s anyone I trust to adapt this Gothic classic, it’s Guillermo del Toro, and I’m happy to say that trust was not misplaced. While del Toro does make plenty of changes from the original novel (including making Victor and romantic interest Elizabeth not related, thank God), it still captures the angst, philosophy, and overall vibes of the book. Plus, as can be expected from any del Toro picture, the set design and costumes are next level. I’ll be thinking about Mia Goth’s ensembles, especially her malachite dress, for ages.

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

I absolutely love a whodunnit and I love this franchise, so I was especially excited to see that Rian Johnson was dipping his toe into the crime-solving vicar subgenre and had cast Josh O’Connor, a favorite of mine since his Durrells in Corfu days. The result is not only a twisty locked room mystery, but also a deep meditation on faith and the power of religion to do good or evil. Johnson set an incredibly high bar with his previous installments, but I think this has definitively taken the top spot as my favorite.

Hamnet

I read the novel this Chloe Zhao film is based on back in 2020 and came to the conclusion that it was both one of the best things I’d ever read and that I would probably never pick it up again. It’s perhaps the rawest examination of grief and the different ways humans have coped with loss I’ve encountered in fiction, and the film adaptation is no different. Paul Mescal is excellent as William Shakespeare, but it’s truly Jessie Buckley’s showing as Agnes, a woman history has largely written off, that anchors the film and delivers one of the most powerful and deeply felt performances I’ve ever seen.

Honorable Mentions: Joy Ride, The Outrun, Picture This, Black Bag, A Nice Indian Boy, Thunderbolts, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Twisters, Deep Cover, The Thursday Murder Club, The Wrong Paris, Hit Man, KPop Demon Hunters

The Great 2024 Retrospective: Books

My reading list was the one thing not slowed down due to opening a new bookstore (shoutout audio books!), and with book number 164 skating in right at the last minute I tied with my all-time record of most books read from last year. Here are my favorites in the order I read them, and don’t miss the mile-long list of honorable mentions at the end:

Funny Story

Emily Henry is the current queen of the rom-com, and if you ask me that title is well earned. Her fifth book brings us back to small-town Michigan, and follows a librarian who moves in with the ex of her exes’ new fiancé and plots revenge by fake-dating her roommate. If this summary doesn’t clue you in: tropes abound, and not many other romance novelists are as good at both leaning into those tropes and subverting them than Henry is.

To Woo and to Wed

Speaking of one of the best to do it, Martha Waters wraps up her fantastic Regency Vows series focusing on fan favorite second-chance romance couple Sophie and West. Not only are all five books excellent examples of the genre, they’re also brimming with humor and endearing characters who form their own found family. I’m sad it had to end, but it certainly went out on top, plus the first four books are incredibly rereadable.

The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love & The Geographer’s Map to Romance

Rounding out the hat trick of “best to ever do it” romance authors, India Holton (she of the Dangerous Damsels series) released the first in a new series, all centered around various forms of magical academia. I was lucky enough to get my grubby little hands on advance copies of both of the first two books, and I was delighted to find more of the witty banter, literary references, and nods to favorite genre tropes (book one has “only one horse,” book two has only one room filled with nothing but beds) Holton established in the first series.

James

Book hype isn’t always warranted, but the constant stream of rave reviews for Percival Everett’s reimagining of Huckleberry Finn deserves every bit of positive feedback it’s gotten this year. Everett takes the seemingly familiar character of Jim from the original novel and recontextualizes his story, giving him agency while examining race and class in the American South. While it examines some heavy themes, it’s also wryly funny and entertaining.

State of Wonder

My local library (and, as of the day of the event, my former employer) hosted Ann Patchett in conversation with her friend Kevin Wilson, so of course my best friend and I had to read through her major works to prepare. While I found something to love in each of them, it was the story and characters in State of Wonder that stayed with me the longest. Unforgettable not only for its Amazonian setting and examination of morality, science, and human connection, if I was forced to pick a favorite Patchett novel this would have to be it.

The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club

I’m a major fan of Simonson’s The Summer Before the War, so I was extremely excited to hear that her next novel would be an examination of small-town English life after WWI, focusing in particular on injured veterans forgotten by the system and women, given unprecedented freedoms during the fighting, who were expected to go back to their prewar gender roles after the armistice. A balance of a cozy novel a la Downton Abbey (I’ve gifted both these books to my mom, a fan of that show), and something to make you think, this was the perfect springtime read.

The Verity Kent Mysteries

I absolutely tore through this historical mystery series by Anna Lee Huber, reading the first six books back to back in May and the seventh when it was made available on NetGalley in August. Verity Kent, a former spy during WWI, is an excellent amateur detective and an engaging character. The series continues to expand and deepen as it goes on, with the latest book bringing Verity and her husband to 1920’s Troubles-era Dublin. Not only was reading this series a great experience, it kicked off something of a historical mystery streak for me, and I cannot wait to read the next book in the coming year.

The Burial Plot

Speaking of things I couldn’t wait to get my hands on, I preordered the UK indie bookstore exclusive edition of Elizabeth Macneal’s latest the moment it was announced (I’d learned my lesson combing eBay for the special edition of her previous novel, Circus of Wonders). This also meant I got to read it before its US release, which as of this posting has yet to be announced. This time around we follow somewhat unwitting con woman Bonnie as she and her associates slowly infiltrate a manor house with the goal of convincing the owner to invest in an ornate cemetery (this was a real issue in Victorian England, I kid you not). Macneal has fast become one of my favorite authors, and her grasp of character, atmosphere, and plot make her stories feel like fully imagined worlds you’d want to walk around in.

The Bright Sword

The blurb for this historical fantasy novel from the author of beloved trilogy The Magicians is as follows: young knight Callum steals some armor and heads to Camelot hoping to fulfill his dream of joining Arthur and his knights of the Round Table, only to find out he’s two weeks too late, Arthur and his knights are dead, and all that’s left are the C- and D-list knights no one’s ever heard of. The pacing of this 600 page tome ebbs and flows, with some sections taking their time to tell the remaining knights’ backstories and others involving fast-paced adventure. Absolutely one of my most favorite things I read this year, in my opinion Grossman has written the defining King Arthur novel of our generation.

The Cook of Castamar

I watched the Spanish-language adaptation of this historical novel back in 2021 and loved it, so I was disappointed to realize that no English-language translation of the book had been released. Skipping forward three years, I was delighted to discover that the time had come and I could finally get my hands on the translated source material. The novel is just as engrossing as the series, covering an era of Spanish history I didn’t know a lot about and including love, loss, political intrigue, and numerous mouth-watering descriptions of food.

We Solve Murders

I adore Osman’s debut Thursday Murder Club series, so I was very happy to see that he’s more than a one-trick pony. The strength of Osman’s books are not simply the plots but the characters, who all feel lived in and have well-developed personalities. This series follows a father- and daughter-in-law who get caught up in an international conspiracy and go on the run with a bored mystery novelist. While I’m anxiously awaiting the next Thursday Murder Club book this coming year, I’m also very interested in seeing what Steve, Amy, and Rosie get up to next.

The Shadow Key

More of a literary historical novel with a strong mystery element than genre historical mystery, this gothic-flavored novel set in 18th century Wales sucked me in from the first page. Not quite as breakneckingly paced as some other genre examples, this book took its time to unfold and reveal each layer of the characters and story. Not only is this a love letter to Wales and the Welsh culture, it also contains some of the best-written prose I read all year.

In Want of a Suspect

Tirzah Price’s Jane Austen Murder Mysteries had been on my to-read shelf for years, so when the bookstore I manage hosted her for an author event to celebrate the release of the latest book in the series I knew it was time to binge them all. “Jane Austen” and “murder mystery” are things that have historically gone together really well for me (see: my obsession with the Murder of Mr. Wickham series of books), but this series stands out from the subgenre it belongs to by being retellings of rather than sequels to Austen’s original works. It was great fun to see which bits Price kept or reimagined for her own stories, but the original elements also stand up very well on their own.

Murder at Gulls Nest

Rounding out my Year of Historical Mystery™️ (might as well own it), we have the latest from another of my faves: Jess Kidd. Up until now Kidd has written mostly historical fiction with a bit of mystery twist, but I would say she’s diving fully in to the genre with the first in this planned series. Nora Breen, a former nun, makes for an excellent main character, and her affable yet stubborn persistence in finding the truth is the strong core the rest of the varied characters and story elements revolve around. Yet again, I cannot wait to see what the rest of the series has in store as it develops.

Honorable Mentions: March, Making Money, The Housekeepers, This Other Eden, The Perils of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Winter’s Heart, The Warm Hands of Ghosts, Bel Canto, The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, The Painter’s Daughters, We Were the Lucky Ones, The Great Divide, The Bullet Swallower, The Familiar, The Frozen River, Song of a Captive Bird, Nothing to See Here, Unseen Academicals, The Dutch House, Wyrd Sisters, Witches Abroad, Maskerade, The Colony, Mrs. Nash’s Ashes, I Shall Wear Midnight, Earls Trip, The Queen of Poisons, People of the Book, Wedding Dashers, Blue Sisters, Ne’er Duke Well, Buried Deep & Other Stories, The Wedding People, The Time in Between, A Sorceress Comes to Call, The Appeal, Earl Crush, The Spellshop, The Mighty Red, Uprooted, The Ex Hex, The Thirteenth Child, The Turnglass, Duchess Material, Birding With Benefits, Virgil Wander, All I Want is You, Crossroads of Twilight, Murder at Morrington Hall, Knife of Dreams, Murder at Blackwater Bend, Most Wonderful Crime of the Year

The Great 2024 Retrospective: TV

2024 was a great year for TV, and whether it was new series with beloved actors, inventive fantasy, or long-awaited returns of favorite series, my partner and I found lots to settle down and watch together. Here are my favorites, as ever presented in viewing order:

Mr. & Mrs. Smith

Donald Glover and Maya Erskine are fantastic, but since both are primarily known for their comedy work neither my partner or I knew quite what to expect when we sat down to watch this remake of the classic romantic-thriller film. What we found was darkly funny, yes, but also a heart-pounding ride and examination of intimacy and trust. A season two has been confirmed, but reports vary on whether Glover and Erskine will reprise their roles. Focusing on different Smith couples would be an inventive way for the series to live on, but I have to admit I’m dying to know what happens after season one’s cliffhanger ending.

Renegade Nell

This new historical fantasy series from Disney+ and starring Derry Girls alum Louisa Harland was every bit as adventurous, inventive, and fun as the trailer led me to believe. This may not be the only slightly magical highway-person dramedy we got this year (Noel Fielding’s The Completely Made Up Adventures of Dick Turpin being the other) but this edged out as my favorite of the two. A stellar cast, great costume and set design, and a well-executed story made this a delight to watch, however Disney didn’t see fit to renew it for a second season. Alas.

We Are Lady Parts Season 2

I’ve lost track of how many times I rewatched season one of this superb comedy, centered around an all-female all-Muslim punk rock band, so it’s safe to say I had high hopes for the long-awaited sophomore season. Thankfully it did not disappoint, with the same wonderful performances and whip-smart comedic timing that made the first outing such a beloved success while adding in new challenges and layers for each of the main characters. Plus, we get a cameo from none other than Malala Yousafzai!!

My Lady Jane

I’m a sucker for romance, comedy, fantasy, and revisionist history, so this Tudor Era-set show was basically made specifically to my tastes. Emily Bader and Edward Bleumel have fantastic chemistry, and along with the rest of the all-star cast anchor this inventive, adventurous, and irreverently funny series. Oh, and did I mention that the historical conflict between Catholics and Protestants is instead swapped out with division between people who can shape-shift into animals and those who can’t?? The positive word-of-mouth for this series is definitely warranted, though it does appear to be a victim of the cancelled-too-soon trend amongst streamers. Again I say: alas.

House of the Dragon

I’ll be honest: I wasn’t really feeling this prequel series when it initially premiered in 2022. Between all the brutal birthing scenes, in-world sexism, and the cast changing week to week as the show covered multiple decades I decided to stop watching after the first four episodes, but especially as the second season premiered this summer and I found myself following the discourse as each episode aired I knew I needed to go back and catch up. And while there’s things I still don’t vibe with (see again: all those brutal birthing scenes), I found myself getting invested once the final round of casting had settled in and the main story got under way. House of the Dragon takes all the things we loved about Game of Thrones and expands on them, with the bonus that the source material actually has an end point.

Rings of Power Season 2

After the first set of titular rings was created at the end of the previous season, I was really interested to see where the follow-up to the most expensive fantasy show ever made would go. And I’m very glad to say that seems to be money well spent, with this season bringing even more character growth, world building, and stunning visuals. While the entire ensemble cast knocked it out of the park, special recognition needs to be given to Charles Edward’s as Celebrimbor and Morfydd Clark as Galadriel. There may be a vocal contingent of people online who hate this series, but the quality of the story continuing on just goes to show that they’re missing out.

What We Do In The Shadows: The Final Season

Ending a beloved comedy series is no small task, but I’m happy to say the creators of What We Do In The Shadows stuck the landing and then some, bringing a satisfying conclusion to the show while also hinting at all the adventures the characters had to look forward to (most of them are functionally immortal, after all). I for one am particularly pleased they fit in one last outing for Doug Jones’ Baron Afanas and his pronunciation of the word “vampire” (he says it “wampire”).

The Marlow Murder Club

Masterpiece Mystery stays winning, and this adaptation of the novel by the same name did not disappoint. It helps that author Robert Thorogood also penned the script for the series, but props has to also be given to the casting department. Samantha Bond in particular perfectly captures main character Judith Potts’ determination, humor, and downright busybodyness to perfection. Sources say work is already underway on adapting the second book in the series, Death Comes to Marlow, which is news I’m very happy to hear.

Rivals

I’m not normally a fan of the “rich people behaving badly” subgenre of television, but the all-star British cast (noticing a theme between a lot of entries on this list yet??), including David Tennant and Aiden Turner, meant I had to at least give it a chance. I was hooked in minutes, however, and got completely sucked into the titular rivalry between 1980’s TV execs in the aptly named fictional county of Rutshire. Oh, and fun fact: the same house used as the setting for Turner’s on-screen family’s new home is the same used for the family seat of Trenwith in Poldark!

Say Nothing

I wouldn’t have pegged Patrick Radden Keefe’s excellent nonfiction book examining the Troubles of Northern Ireland and the fallout of the IRA’s activities in the 1970’s up to the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 as prime fodder for a television adaptation, but I’m certainly glad it happened. Incredibly well scripted, acted, and shot, my partner and I were riveted by the excellent dramatization of real events that still impact Irish politics and life to this day. (The disclaimer concerning Sinn Fein president Gerry Adam’s at the end of each episode was also particularly entertaining to us.)

Bad Sisters Season 2

This falls into the same category as Big Little Lies season two: a follow-up to a fantastic first series that didn’t really need a sequel but was so good I’d gladly watch more of it. While this season wasn’t quite as tightly plotted or darkly funny as the first, I still enjoyed being able to see the fallout of the Garvey sisters’ actions and the paths their lives had taken since we learned how the quest to off their terrible brother-in-law finally succeeded. This time I truly do think the story has come to a natural end, but while I really can’t see where they would go with a hypothetical third season there’s no one I’d rather have it entrusted to than series creator Sharon Horgan.

Honorable Mentions: All Creatures Great and Small Season 4, Miss Scarlet and the Duke Season 4, Abbott Elementary, Call the Midwife Season 13, The Tourist, Ghosts Seasons 4 & 5, The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin, Dead Boy Detectives, A Kind of Spark Season 2, Bridgerton Season 3, Grantchester Season 9, Only Murders in the Building Season 4, Heartstopper Season 3, Outer Banks Season 4, Moonflower Murders, The Franchise, The Jetty

The Great 2024 Retrospective: Film

I didn’t get to the movie theatre nearly as much as I’d been hoping to this year (opening a bookstore, adopting a kitten, taking two out of state trips, and replacing major appliances will do that to ya), so this list is much shorter than in past years. Nevertheless, here are my favorite movies I watched this year, presented in viewing order:

Dune Part Two

Quite possibly the most anticipated follow-up of the year, Dune II lived up to the hype of the first movie and then some. With more worms, Zendaya given actual lines and a character arc, and more eye-popping special effects, the sequel cements the Dune franchise as one of the best in sci-fi. Having decided not to read more than the first book, I’m excited to still get to experience the rest of the series as Villeneuve continues his adaptations.

Drive-Away Dolls

A Coen Brother (singular, it was directed and co-written by Ethan) film, this off-beat adventure features two lesbian best friends on a road trip who accidentally get more than they bargained for with their rental car. I’ll watch anything Geraldine Viswanathan does, and seeing this movie in a theatre with all my friends was a fun and memorable experience.

Wicked Little Letters

Speaking of memorable viewing experiences, I dragged my partner and friends to a double-date viewing of this British period piece, which I’m fairly certain they thought was a stuffy drawing-room-and-tea affair. While you’ll find excellent historical costumes, a who’s who of British talent (Olivia Coleman! Jessie Buckley! Anjana Vasan! Timothy Spall!), and wry British wit at the heart of this story, that wit is a little more, shall we say, colorful than they expected. Based on the true story of expletive-filled letters that were delivered to residents of the seaside town of 1920’s Littlehampton, this clever black comedy brought quite a few of my interests together in one satisfying package.

Challengers

Quite possibly the film that created the most impactful and longest-sustained cultural moment this year, this perfectly acted tale of tennis, rivalry, love, and legacy follows three longtime friends and partners through about a decade and a half of their professional and personal lives. Much has been said about this movie, particularly its stars, but the way each part of the film, especially the editing and music, come together to make a pitch-perfect climatic moment is worth every ounce of hype this film has deservedly gotten.

Monkey Man

Dev Patel, beloved star of some of my favorite films such as The Green Knight and The Personal History of David Copperfield, makes his directorial debut in this action-thriller set in India. While the plot is a bit formulaic, the action sequences, set design, music, and editing come together to make a propulsive viewing experience.

Furiosa

The long-anticipated prequel to 2015’s Mad Max: Fury Road, this latest installment in the Mad Max franchise brought all the practical effects, inventive camera work, and bonkers worldbuilding we all expected while balancing the more bombastic elements with quietly poignant character moments for Anya Taylor-Joy’s title character.

The Lord of the Rings Extended Editions

Yes I’ve seen these movies before, but never like this. The experience of seeing these films, and the extended editions no less, on the big screen made me look at the franchise in a whole new way. My partner and I initially only planned on seeing the first movie in theatres, since it had most of the iconic moments, but as soon as the Shire came on screen and “Concerning Hobbits” began to play we knew we had to try to get tickets to the others. And I’m so glad we did! Seeing well-loved movies in a new way is always worth it, especially when they’re as visually stunning as this classic trilogy.

The Fall Guy

This action-rom com starring Ryan Gosling was both a love letter to one of the most unsung professions in Hollywood and just really, really fun. As can be expected, the stunt work and action sequences were excellently executed, while the comedic timing and chemistry between Gosling and Emily Blunt helped propel the movie along.

I’ll watch anything Saoirse Ronan does (the only reason The Outrun isn’t on this list is because my library hold hasn’t come in yet), and while this story of a mother and son separated in World War II London is formulaic at times, it’s both the performances by Ronan and newcomer Elliot Heffernan and visionary director Steve McQueen’s focus on often overlooked experiences in the titular Blitz that set it apart.

Honorable Mentions: Dumb Money, Yesterday, What’s Love Got to do With It?, Bodies Bodies Bodies, Something From Tiffany’s, The People We Hate at the Wedding, Upgraded, Joy

The Great 2023 Retrospective: Books

My goal for the past two years has been to slow down and actually absorb the books I read, and while I’m not sure I achieved that goal this year I did beat my personal record of total books read, clocking in at 164 full-length books (prior record 157 in 2021). Among that number are new entries in favorite series, intriguing historical fiction, exciting new releases, and (as ever) lots of romance. Here are some of my favorites in the order I read them, with a very lengthy list of honorable mentions at the bottom:

Hell Bent

The much-anticipated sequel to Bardugo’s adult fantasy debut Ninth House (which ended on a GIANT cliffhanger) we finally get to see what happens with Alex’s quest to retrieve Darlington from hell. Full of more magic, ghosts, secret societies, and clever world building, this story keeps you on your toes just as much as the first installment and is a worthy entry in this planned series. While it was more than worth the wait, we can only hope that we won’t have to wait another three years for the next installment.

Happy Place

One of the perks of my bookstore job is getting my grubby little hands on advance reader copies of highly anticipated new releases, and Happy Place was one of the ones I was most excited about having access to. Emily Henry is the current queen of the contemporary rom com, but her work is far from overhyped. Not only are they satisfying romances, often turning the conventions of the genre on its head in a way that pays homage to well-loved tropes, but also intimate character studies that dig into her characters’ insecurities and backstories in a way that feels grounded and real. Happy Place is no exception to this rule, and protagonist Harriet’s anxieties of being left behind by those she holds the closest resonated with me deeply.

The Whalebone Theatre

The final straggler in the Great Fall of 2022 Historical Fiction New Release Kick I went on, The Whalebone Theatre was advertised as a story of British siblings acting as spies in WWII France. It very much is that, but the story starts much earlier, on New Year’s Eve 1919, with the arrival of a new stepmother for toddler Cristabel. What follows is the saga of a family over the course of the next 25ish years, culminating in the promised spying, and I for one enjoyed the sprawling nature of the narrative as it unfolded. The supporting characters are interesting, but it was the bonds forged by Cristabel and her two younger half siblings (well, one is technically her cousin, but is also the half sibling of her half sibling; I promise it makes sense in the narrative) that I found the most compelling.

Killers of a Certain Age

After binging the Thursday Murder Club series last year I got into a cozy mystery groove, and the latest from Deanna Raybourn was one of my favorites. Following a group of female former assassins on what’s supposed to be their retirement cruise, they soon find out that someone from their former organization has put a hit out on them. What follows is a pacey and engaging mystery, with just enough thrills to keep you entertained while still very much being a book about unassuming old ladies who pack a punch. For the best in both a thriller and “an elderly woman gets into mischief” style fiction, look no further.

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

Everyone, and I mean everyone, told me how good this book was, and I did not believe them. I wasn’t the biggest fan of The Storied Life of AJ Fikry, Zevin’s other well-known work, and I know next to nothing about video games. “You don’t need to,” these persistent acquaintances insisted, “it’s about the people.” And reader, they were right. Not just a compelling story, it’s the execution that really shines, making the rise and fall of a home-grown game design studio and the core friendships that started it a riveting read.

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi

The newest from Daevabad Trilogy author Shannon Chakraborty, this first in a new series follows the titular pirate captain as she’s pulled out of retirement for “just one more job.” It’s never that simple though, and what follows is a tale of magical objects, mistaken identities, and adventure that kept me enthralled from start to finish. I fell in love with all the characters, but primarily with Amina’s straightforward narration and dry sense of humor.

Cassandra in Reverse

What if you had the ability to do over small moments of your life? That’s the ability Cassandra Dankworth discovers she has on a very rough day, and she decides to use it to undo getting fired, falling out with her roommates, and being broken up with by (she’s convinced) the love of her life. Things don’t turn out quite the way she thinks, however, and what follows is a wonderful tale of self-discovery and acceptance. Oh, and did I mention she’s autistic? The representation here is spot on, and Cassandra encapsulates the “difficult” nature many autistic women are labeled with while effectively showing how misunderstood autistic women are.

I Have Some Questions for You

Very similar in tone to another of this year’s reads, If We Were Villains, Rebecca Makkai’s tale of murder and memory is gripping from start to finish. Both a moody thriller with dark academia vibes and an examination of true crime podcasting and the mining of real people’s pain for content, this novel edged out as my favorite of the two.

Business or Pleasure

Both Rachel Lynn Solomon’s previous romances have been delightful, but it’s her latest release, Business or Pleasure, that takes the prize for my favorite so far. A ghost writer and a former teen heartthrob actor have a one night stand, and let’s just say it doesn’t go well. Cut to the next morning and our heroine discovers that the celebrity whose memoir she’ll be writing and the guy who was really bad in bed the night before are one and the same. As their relationship develops, she agrees to give him some, ahem, pointers, with the intention of never developing feelings. Which of course goes exactly as planned.

Tom Lake

Much has been said about Ann Patchett’s latest, set in a cherry orchard outside of Traverse City, Michigan during the summer of 2020 and the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. As Lara’s three grown daughters are stuck at home with their parents, they ask their mother to tell them the story of that One Magical Summer™️ when she dated a now-famous actor while playing Emily in Our Town at Tom Lake, a summer stock theatre company most likely based on Interlochen Center for the Arts. A meditation on what could have been, as well as an exploration of the relationships between women, this novel kicked off a bit of a Patchett era for both me and my best friend.

The Summer Before the War

Riding the line between a cozy historical novel and delving into some serious subjects, this book takes place in the months leading up to WWI. Beatrice Nash arrives in the small town of Rye in the summer of 1914 to replace the old Latin master and is met with several different opinions on whether it’s a job for a woman. But with the looming specter of war hanging over the country, it soon becomes apparent that it’s community rather than intolerance that will see them through the dark days ahead. With enough substance to make you think but not quite so dark you can’t give it to your Downton Abbey-loving mom (as I did), this was the perfect summer read.

Small Island

After hearing great things about Black Cake and enjoying it, I finally got around to reading one of the novels that inspired it: Andrea Levy’s Small Island. I’d seen the pro shot of the West End adaptation (which is excellent btw), but I’d never actually read the book. Full of beautiful writing and well drawn characters, this story of colonialism, immigration, class, and race has a compelling beating heart in its four POV characters, two Jamaican and two English. Andrea Levy was an astonishing talent, and Small Island may just be her masterpiece.

Watership Down

I’d read this classic novel at some point as a child, but when Dimension 20 announced their Watership-inspired campaign Burrow’s End I knew it was time for a reread. This tale of the search for a new home was even more exciting and detailed than I remembered, and I got fully sucked into the world that Adams created for these rabbits. Adams maintained that this story was not an allegory, but considering elements such as sexism and a warren that’s a literal fascist state, I think there’s much more here than just a story about rabbits for children.

Honorable Mentions: Inciting Joy, Once There Were Wolves, Pride and Protest, Lessons in Chemistry, The League of Gentlewomen Witches, Unmasking Autism, The Late Mrs. Willoughby, Lessons in Chemistry, A Long Petal of the Sea, The Secret Service of Tea and Treason, To Swoon and to Spar, Transcription, A Kind of Spark, Legends & Lattes, The Farewell Tour, Artfully Yours, Still Life, The School for Good Mothers, Portrait of a Thief, The Marlow Murder Club, The Gallows Pole, The Vaster Wilds, The Blond Identity, Mortal Follies, Funny You Should Ask, Once More With Feeling, Slightly Married, Thornhedge, Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand, The Patron Saint of Liars, Learned by Heart, Black Cake, The Last Devil to Die, Normal Rules Don’t Apply, Foe, Killers of the Flower Moon, Learning to Talk, The Truth, Blankets, The Color Purple, The Gentleman’s Gambit, Monstrous Regiment

The Great 2023 Retrospective: TV

There was just too much good TV this year, from exciting new shows to highly anticipated second seasons, with beautifully crafted final bows and satisfying re-dos in between. Here’s just a glimpse of some of my favorites:

The Last of Us

I’m not a video game person, so I really didn’t have much of an idea of what I was in for when my friends and I tuned in weekly to HBO’s post-apocalyptic drama. I absolutely was not prepared for people turned into zombies by mutant fungi (the special effects was a little too good in this regard), but what really impressed me was the casting and the chemistry between characters. Much has rightfully been said about the central duo, but an under appreciated tour de force is Melanie Lynskey as Kathleen, the slightly dictatioral leader Joel and Ellie encounter midseason. What can I say? I support women’s rights, but more importantly I support women‘s wrongs.

Transatlantic

A historical drama quietly dropped on Netflix and starring Britta from Community (Gillian Jacobs, did you know she went to Juilliard??), Transatlantic is based on the book The Flight Portfolio, which in turn is based on the true story of the Emergency Rescue Commitee. As tensions rise in Europe before the outbreak of WWII, a group of dedicated government workers, plus an heiress, work tirelessly to evacuate as many Jewish refugees and anti-Nazi intellectuals and artists from the French port of Marseilles. Not only does this miniseries boast excellent set design and costuming (half the characters are avant-garde artists, after all), it also does not shy away from the complicity of the French and American governments in abandoning refugees to their doom and the lengths the ERC had to go to in order to circumvent bureaucracy.

Tom Jones

PBS’ adaptation of the classic novel is a delightful romp with a perfect cast, and while it preserves the title character’s exploits the real strength of this adaptation is its focus on Sophia’s perspective, here played by Sophie Wilde. The lush pastoral scenery and costumes are still in full force, but this version leans into an exploration of class, gender, sex, and race that gives the jaunty story substance.

Jury Duty

Perhaps the most surprising breakout hit of the year, this Amazon Freevee original follows the ups and downs of a Los Angeles jury as they deliberate a case. The catch? Literally everyone but one of the jurors, from the plaintiff, defendent, lawyers, judge, bailiff, and other jurors, are actors. The cast of characters is hilariously brought to life by mostly unknown comedic actors (with one notable exception: James Marsden plays a heightened version of himself), with most of the series’ gags planned but fleshed out with a healthy amount of brilliant improv. The show succeeds with its wacky premise and proves that people are often just straight up weird enough that the subject of a hoax reality show just goes along with their antics, but it’s the kindness and accepting attitude of that person that really makes it shine.

A Kind of Spark

Based on a middle grade novel of the same name, A Kind of Spark follows eleven-year-old Addie, an autistic girl living in England (Scotland in the book) who learns about her small town’s history of witch trials and feels a kinship with the victims who were punished for just being different. Parallels between the town’s history and present attitude of intolerance are very easily drawn, and Addie’s mission of erecting a memorial to the victims of the trials is met with both support and opposition by those around her. The series balances serious subject matter with a tone appropriate for a children’s show, and is notable for its casting of autistic actors in both autistic and non-autistic roles (the lead actress, Lola Blue, who is autistic, played the young version of Eliza Scarlet in Miss Scarlet and the Duke Season 1, an established favorite of mine). The rise in authenticity in portrayals of autism and autistic individuals gives me hope for future representations in media.

Good Omens Season 2

The “soft, gentle romance in the filling of the sandwich” between Season 1 and the recently confirmed Season 3, this season wasn’t just a continuation of the 2019 adaptation of the Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett-penned book and initial miniseries, but the manifestation of the sequel Gaiman and Pratchett plotted but never got around to writing. Or, I guess, more accurately, what happens before the events of that sequel. The stakes aren’t as fate of the world involved this time around but more personal, and Michael Sheen and David Tennant once again prove that they were the perfect actors to play the central pair. Especially considering that this season ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, I’m incredibly excited to see what’s in store in the next and final installment of the series.

Reservation Dogs: The Final Season

The final season of this excellent comedy series went out on a high, digging even deeper into the character’s backstories and personal lives to create a rich depiction of loss, hope, and community. With the dynamics between the titular Rez Dogs firmly established by the first two seasons, this time around the show takes the opportunity to delve further into the backstories and personal lives of the adult characters, with one full episode set in the 70’s and featuring a new cast playing the young versions of elders we’re already familiar with. And of course, as always, it was just really, really funny. Full of stellar performances all around, Devery Jacobs particularly stands out in Episode 9 “Elora’s Dad,” and her directorial debut with Episode 4 “Wahoo!” solidifies her status as a young talent to watch.

Our Flag Means Death Season 2

Speaking of being really, really funny: the highly anticipated season of Our Flag Means Death came out this summer, with even more piracy, real historical figures (They finally introduced Anne Bonny and Mary Read), hijinks, and excellent character work from the ensemble cast. If the finale of the first season broke each of the lead characters, the second spends most of its time building them back up again, resulting in a worthy follow-up for this breakout hit.

Dimension 20: Burrow’s End

As previously mentioned, my partner and I watched a lot of Dimension 20 this year, and while there are other seasons I could have put on this list (hell, I could make a whole post on just this subject, let’s see if my focus stays long enough for me to actually do that), it was Burrow’s End that most captured my attention. Aabria Iyengar is an excellent DM whose imagination keeps pushing further and further into more ambitious territory. When my boyfriend and I saw the trailer we were like “oh, so it’s Watership Down but with stoats”-and while that’s technically correct this series ended up being so much more. There are so many standout moments and fun character traits, but it was the chemistry between the players as a believable family unit that made this campaign truly special.

The Artful Dodger

I was initially confused when I saw the trailer for this follow up to Oliver Twist, in which the Artful Dodger (real name Jack Dawson) has grown up, moved to Australia, and become a surgeon, but I’d watch Thomas Brodie-Sangster just wiggle his extremely expressive eyebrows, so I sat down and gave it a shot. What I was met with was a smart, funny, engaging show full of interesting characters and entertaining plots that was way better than I was expecting. Sure the lead female protagonist, Lady Belle, has a serious case of Not Like Other Girls™-itis, but her interest in medicine provides a complimentary element to Jack’s own approach to healing, class, and justice. Whether or not there’ll be a second season remains very much in the air, but I would certainly watch more if given the chance.

The Gilded Age Season 2

The much-anticipated follow-up to Julian Fellowes’ newest historical juggernaut (he also created Downton Abbey), the second season builds on the foundation of the first and pushes the characters in new directions, with even more real historical figures and issues making appearances. As in the first season, a good part of the appeal is watching the uber-rich in their beautiful dresses stress over who they can be seen talking to or whether it’s acceptable to teach young ladies painting (jury’s out on that last one), but this time larger and thornier issues of the working class and marginalized communities also figure in the story, making the series feel more grounded. I enjoyed the first season, but this time around the show has really found its footing.

Percy Jackson & The Olympians

Much has been said about how disappointing the less-than-faithfully-adapted movies were, but this time around author Rick Riordan is in the creator’s seat, with a large Disney+ budget and a decade’s worth of CGI advancements at his disposal. The casting is also excellent, with actual children being tapped to play the lead roles instead of post-pubescent near adults. As of this posting only the first three episodes have been released, but they indicate a promising start full of the fun, wit, and clever Greek mythology references that are abundant in the books.

Honorable Mentions: All Creatures Great and Small Season 3, Dimension 20: A Court of Fey and Flowers, Sanditon: The Final Season, The Bear Season 2, The Power, Grantchester Season 8, Heartstopper Season 2, Dimension 20: Dungeons and Drag Queens, Only Murders in the Building Season 3, The Wheel of Time Season 2, Sex Education: The Final Season, Lupin Part 3, Our Flag Means Death Season 2, Annika Season 2, Dimension 20: Mentopolis, The Flatshare

The Great 2023 Retrospective: Film

Well, it’s that time of year. Specifically that time of year where we become inundated by yearly retrospectives, from current events to the best in media, and I dust off my trusty blog site and try to remember all the things I watched and read, starting with movies. This year I actually managed to keep a pretty comprehensive list, memorialized for your reading pleasure below:

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

Do I actually know that much about Dungeons & Dragons (the tabletop roleplaying game)? No, not really. Thanks to watching copious amounts of Dimension 20 with my boyfriend this year I’ve been able to grasp the basics, but thankfully you don’t need to know all the ins and outs of the game to enjoy this movie. It’s incredibly easy to tell that it was made by people who love the game and that everyone had a ridiculous amount of fun making it. I certainly had a lot of fun watching it, and look forward to repeat viewings during which I will (hopefully) catch more inside jokes and Easter eggs.

Polite Society

From the same mind that created We Are Lady Parts, one of my all-time favorite shows (where, oh where, is season 2???), comes this fantastic coming of age/comedy/martial arts movie about a British-Pakistani teen who dreams of becoming a stuntwoman and harbors suspicions about her sister’s new fiancé. Made with the same whip-smart line delivery and camera work that makes Lady Parts so engaging, Nida Manzoor’s feature directorial debut signals the beginning of what I hope will be a very long career.

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret

It’s been just over 50 years since the seminal coming-of-age (and perennially controversial) children’s book was published, and the first film adaptation of the classic absolutely does it justice. Still set in the 70’s, the movie is just as timeless in its depiction of navigating moving, family, friendships, growing up, and religion. The casting is fantastic, featuring heavyweights like Kathy Bates and Rachel McAdams, but it’s Abby Ryder Fortson (the original Cassie Lang from all those Ant-Man movies) that really steals the show in the titular role.

Asteroid City

Listen, if Wes Anderson releases a new movie I am seated in that movie theatre, and his latest outing was just as full of whimsy, venerated actors, miniature sets, and carefully planned shots as the rest of his work. A truly ensemble cast of characters, Anderson’s classic style and dry sense of humor is complemented by an undercurrent of grief and the search for meaning: whether that search involves literal, actual aliens or not.

Barbie

Truly the movie event of the summer-nay, the year-Greta Gerwig’s third outing as a director (and her first without Saoirse Ronan, alas) was even more of a hit than the plentiful amount of pre-release memes indicated. Gerwig’s first true comedy film, Barbie provided many hilarious moments and detailed references to the many iterations of the classic doll, but it balances these moods well with a moving and deeply felt exploration of womanhood and the expectations placed on women by society. I laughed, I cried, I immediately preordered the fuzzy “I am Kennough” pullover for my boyfriend’s birthday gift.

Oppenheimer

The summer’s other blockbuster juggernaut, releasing on the same day as Barbie and inspiring many “Barbenheimer” memes, frequent Christopher Nolan acting troupe member Cillian Murphy (hard “C,” btw) finally gets his moment as Nolan’s leading man, delivery a blistering performance as the person integral to the creation of the atomic bomb-who then spent the rest of his life campaigning for the results of his discoveries to not be used. “American Prometheus,” the subtitle of the biography on which the film is based, is right, and both Nolan and Murphy navigate his journey from scientist to conscientious objector to disgraced public figure with a deft hand.

Bottoms

I went in expecting a summer teen romp and I got a summer teen romp, with so much more. Starring frequent collaborators Ayo Edebiri and Rachel Sennott and helmed by Emma Seligman (who directed Shiva Baby, also starring Sennott), this coming-of-age comedy about two queer best friends who start a fight club in their high school in the hopes of getting with the popular girls takes familiar teen comedy tropes and turns them on their heads. Costar Ruby Cruz (who also starred in the TV show Willow, RIP), turns in an excellent feature film debut, frequently stealing scenes and providing a foil for the main character’s antics.

Killers of the Flower Moon

Scorcese’s highly anticipated adaptation of the David Grann book of the same name (while also taking inspiration from A Pipe for February by Charles Red Corn, a member of the Osage Nation), this masterfully crafted film about the exploitation of a people and the disintegration of a marriage was beautifully acted by its core cast. Relative newcomer Lily Gladstone (who almost quit acting before being contacted by Scorsese for the part) absolutely gives the standout performance as Mollie Burkhart, an Osage woman whose family’s murders were orchestrated by her uncle-in-law, played by Robert DeNiro, in a far-reaching conspiracy that encapsulates American greed and exploitation. Mollie’s story is one of many from that time, and it is to be hoped that the success of this film enables more Native American stories to be told.

The Marvels

I’ll say it now: this is the best Marvel movie ever made. I don’t care about fidelity to the comics, or how impactful it is to the overall cinematic universe. I’ve enjoyed other Marvel movies in the past, but this is the one that balanced deep character moments, an intriguing premise, gorgeous special effects, and a sense of humor that actually lands. There is a scene about halfway through the film during which our heroes, for story reasons, find themselves literally herding cats to the tune of “Memory” from the musical Cats. I’d already decided this was my favorite Marvel movie ever, but as I literally cried laughing in the theatre, that scene clinched it for me. Furthermore, in its execution and tone, it fulfills the promise of previous female-led movies Captain Marvel and Black Widow in a way that doesn’t indulge in girlboss feminism or copious amounts of male gaze. The Marvels is a Marvel movie made by women for women. Finally: a Marvel movie that’s truly for the girls.

Next Goal Wins

Taika Waititi’s adaptation of the documentary of the same name, this story of the American Samoa national soccer team’s quest to win literally just one game is both a heartfelt sports movie, an ode to a culture, and a deeply felt depiction of gender. With Waititi’s trademark balance of sadness and humor, this was a worthier vessel of his talents than that one disappointing Thor movie. The trans character, by the way, was not created for the movie, but is a depiction of real-life soccer player Jaiyah Saelua, a fa’afafine (third gender) and the first openly trans and non-binary woman to compete in a World Cup qualifier. Waititi actually considered casting Saelua to play herself, but ultimately decided on fellow fa’fafine actress Kaimana to play the part.

The Color Purple

A film adaptation of the Broadway musical, which is in turn an adaptation of the 1985 movie and 1982 book, this new re-imagining of a timeless classic features an all-star cast (many of whom starred in the original 2005 Broadway run and the 2015 revival), and most of the people behind the original movie in creative roles. The direction, cinematography, and costuming help create a lived-in world, while the choreography and staging of the musical numbers provides a sense of wonder and vitality in a story that’s been criticized for its depiction of difficult subjects. My only complaint is that I wish there were more of these musical numbers, an astonishing 13 were cut from the original Broadway soundtrack listing, but with Hollywood really unsure of how to treat movie musicals these days, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Nevertheless, I found this to be a vibrant adaptation of a classic story and a celebration of joy and sisterhood through adversity, particularly the joy and sisterhood of Black women.

Honorable Mentions: Women Talking, Hello Bookstore, Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris, Seven Kings Must Die, Bullet Train, Cocaine Bear, The Quiet Girl, Theatre Camp, David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived, The Boy and the Heron, A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong

The Great 2022 Retrospective: Books

Even with my goal of slowing down and actually enjoying the books I read instead of tearing through them as fast as possible, I still read 120+ books this year. Historical fiction in many forms continued to be my top genre, but I also made plenty of time for exploring new releases. My entire 2022 year in books is here, and below are my favorites, in the order I read them:

The Ten Thousand Doors of January

This magical tale follows a young woman who discovers she can make things occur by writing them down, and also that there are Doors between worlds (that’s Door with a capital D, as the opening paragraph makes clear). Harrow’s writing is beautiful, and the dual storylines weave together well to create an impactful impression.

The Heart Principle

I loved this entire romance series from Helen Hoang, in which at least one main character in each pairing is autistic, but it was the third entry that had the greatest effect on me. Not only is the protagonist named Anna, but her experiences as an adult-diagnosed autistic woman most closely mirror my own. Autistic representation and acceptance is slowly making headway, and this book is one of the most notable that made me feel like my experiences were understood.

Sea of Tranquility

Emily St. John Mandel announced this novel last year on my birthday, and I was able to get my hands on a special signed indie bookstore edition this spring. Once again she accomplished a beautifully written meditation on what the world could look like while speaking to the current moment, this time involving time travel, colonies on the moon, and a novelist on a book tour during a pandemic outbreak.

Once Upon a River

I initially DNFed this historical novel a couple years ago, but I decided to pick it up again this summer and am very happy to have done so. An injured man and a seemingly dead young girl show up at an inn on the river Thames, with no idea of who they are or how they got there. The girl comes back to life, however, and in the coming days multiple families come forward to claim her. With prose that flows, well, like a river, this book has become one of my new favorites.

Nettle & Bone

Speaking of new favorites, I very much enjoyed this fantasy novel from T. Kingfisher, in which a princess who’s been living as a nun who teams up with a grave witch, a subpar fairy godmother, a disgraced former knight, a demon possessed chicken, and a dog made of reanimated bones in order to save her sister from an evil prince.

Temeraire

It really is Master and Commander but with dragons, but it’s, dare I say it, far more entertaining than the aforementioned series. The first book starts off with a bang (somewhat literally), but it was the way the series expanded and showcased how different nations treated their dragons that especially fascinated me.

Haven

Emma Donoghue is a master of the slow burn, and her latest novel, in which three monks in 7th century Ireland attempt to leave the sinful world behind. Their different viewpoints and priorities are what make this story riveting, and while the plot is deceptively simple, there’s a lot to mull over.

Shrines of Gaiety

Good for fans of Peaky Blinders, Atkinson’s newest features a host of interesting characters: 1920’s nightclub owner Nellie Coker, her various children and their pursuits, the police inspector determined to bring her down, and a Yorkshire librarian turned undercover agent searching for a pair of missing girls.

The Sentence

Part ode to indie bookstores, part pandemic novel, and part ghost story, Louise Erdrich perfectly captures what it felt like to live through the early days of the pandemic with her unique perspective as an Indigenous small business owner.

The Thursday Murder Club

Four nursing home residents get together each week to look over old unsolved murders, then a real murder happens and they decide to put their investigative skills to use. Funny, charming, and well-plotted, I enjoyed each of these delightful mysteries.

Great Circle

A gorgeously written account of the life of a fictional female pilot who disappears over the Arctic in 1950, interspersed with chapters from the point of view of an actress playing her in a movie biopic, this wonderful novel is part adventure and part meditation on what pieces of history and a real person’s life get left behind on the cutting room floor.

Gilded Mountain

This one was initially pretty daunting to me, but while this story of a young woman coming of age in an 1800s Colorado mining town could at times be a little bleak, it also spoke truth to power in ways that are important in a historical sense but also have bearing on events of our time.

The Book of Dust Volumes One & Two

After rereading His Dark Materials in preparation for the final season of the TV show, I decided to continue on with the short stories and follow-up trilogy set in Lyra’s world. Normally when an author announces a prequel or sequel (Volumes I and II, respectively) to a beloved series I get a bit nervous, but thankfully we are safe in Philip Pullman’s more than capable hands. The story of the original trilogy is expanded upon beautifully, and Michael Sheen’s narration of the audiobooks is nothing short of masterful. Book Three is reportedly about half written, and I for one can’t wait to get my hands on it.

Honorable Mentions: Life After Life, Ninth House, Firekeeper’s Daughter, Wives and Daughters, Heartstopper, Middlemarch, Deacon King Kong, The Revolutionists, Front Desk, Paper Girls, Book Lovers, I’m Glad My Mom Died, Every Summer After, A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting, Things in Jars, Small Things Like These, Magpie Murders, The Night Ship, Ship Wrecked, The Murder of Mr. Wickham, A Very Merry Bromance