Announcing the First Read in Brit + Co’s New Book Club: Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy

Angela Velez
Oct 01, 2015

DIYs might rule everything around us, but in between those baking marathons and hand-lettering sessions, you can bet there’s a good book in our hands. Whether we’re diving into food memoirs or pulling all-nighters to finish tear-jerker stories, our TBR lists and our nightstands are overflowing with books. And we know there’s only one thing that makes a good read better: getting your BFFs together and chatting about the latest page-turner. That’s why we’re thrilled to bring you Brit + Co’s newest series: B+C Book Club! Over the next four weeks, we’ll be dishing about the sweetest, most empowering and memorable story we’ve read in a really, really long time: Dumplin’, by Julie Murphy.

Meet the Book: DUMPLIN’

Dumplin’ is the story of Willowdean Dickson, a sweet, funny and, yes — fat — teen who takes on her small-town Texas beauty pageant to prove to her haters and herself that she’s beautiful. The book is full of kissing, Dolly Parton references and a TON of gleeful, throw-your-fists-in-the-air-and-celebrate moments. With a #1 spot on the NYTimes bestseller list, it’s clear that readers everywhere are falling in love with Willowdean. You’ll laugh, you’ll swoon and you might just cry along with us as we dive into this magical book.

Meet the Author: Julie Murphy

Julie Murphy is a self-described “potty-mouthed Southern belle” who loves Dolly Parton, drag queens and pizza. We first discovered her writing in Side Effects May Vary, Julie’s debut novel about a teen cancer patient with a bucket list full of revenge… and who goes into remission and has to deal with the fallout. While Dumplin‘ is certainly lighter than her first novel, both stories present a fierce, bold and authentic teenage voice that resonates with readers of all ages. We caught up with Julie about her decision to become a full-time writer, her inspiration and more.

B+C: How did you decide to make the leap to become a full-time writer?

JM: It was truly a monetary decision. Growing up, our financial situation was never what you might call stable, so I held on to my job as a librarian until I knew I could support myself for at least a few years — or that I at least had guaranteed work for that long. I actually eased into it and worked part time for quite a while. It was always a little bit of a challenge to have one foot in the work force and one foot out, but it really worked for me. And, in the end, it made quitting my job a little less terrifying.

B+C: How do you power through creativity blocks? Do you have any tips or tricks for our readers?

JM: It’s really different for every project, but often times returning to the thing that inspired me in the first place gets me back on track somehow. Sometimes it’s a matter of retracing the breadcrumbs you’ve left for yourself. I also really love watching movie trailers — more so than movies, actually. They’re the ultimate, distilled highlight reel. It’s kind of odd, I know, but it works for me.

B+C: What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received?

JM: When I first started writing, I mentioned it to my international law professor. (I actually went to school for political-science research.) And he’s this very short, yet intimidating man from Cyprus. He didn’t even look up from his papers as he said, “Well, Julie, if you want it to be more than a hobby, you better treat it like a job long before anyone is paying you.” I thought that was pretty great advice in general.

B+C: What is the last thing you’ve made?

JM: I finished up a chapter of my third book the other day. Does that count? I also made this Dolly Parton collage/playlist for Dumplin‘ to be used for some online promo.

B+C: Tell us about a maker you admire.

JM: I’m obsessed with Brittany Howard and the side project she did outside of Alabama Shakes called Thunderbitch. I love that she’s a plus-size woman, but how that is never part of the conversation when people talk about her. She’s a musician first, and I dig that. I also love A.S. King. She’s kind of like the Cheryl Klein Strayed of the YA world, but without the memoir and the online column. And yet, she has that same warmth to her. Every time I see her, I just want to hug her and cry and tell her how important her books are to me, and then ask her for some new lump of wisdom. If you’re brand new to her, I would start with Please Ignore Vera Dietz, though all of her books are incredible in their own way. She’s this great reminder that we as women can be weird and open ended and more than the many titles (mother, daughter, wife, etc.) that we hold.

Join our Book club!

So what are you waiting for? Snag a copy of Dumplin’($18) and join us as we DIY + chat our way through this winner. Stayed tuned next week, when we’ll share our first reactions and learn more about Julie’s inspiration for Dumplin’. Until then, happy reading, y’all!

Will you be reading Dumplin’? Want to join our book club? Let us know in the comments below!

12 Darkly Twisted Books To Read If You're Obsessed With 'The White Lotus'

Love The White Lotus and wondering what to read after Season 3 wraps up? We’ve got you covered! Here’s a list of 12 books that capture the same mix of dark humor, intrigue, and biting social commentary that The White Lotus delivers so well. From upscale resorts with hidden secrets to complex characters tangled in webs of privilege and deception, these must-reads will keep you on the edge of your seat all in-between-seasons long.

Scroll to see which books you should read if you love The White Lotus!

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See How They Fall by Rachel Paris (April 29, 2025)

Skye thought marrying into the rich Turner family was a dream come true, but years later, she’s stuck in a world of secrets, trying to maintain a facade of normalcy for her daughter, Tilly. That fragile facade comes crashing down when the family patriarch, Sir Campbell Turner, dies unexpectedly, and an unknown heir shows up to claim his fortune. The Turners invite the newcomer to a weekend retreat at their stunning seaside estate, but what starts as a tense gathering quickly turns deadly. By the end of the night, one person is dead, and another is fighting for their life.

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The Ten Worst People in New York by Matt Plass (March 18, 2025)

The Ten Worst People in New York are dying one by one, and no one knows why. After a series of suspicious deaths — including a corrupt councilor and a real estate mogul — FBI Agent Alex Bedford is sure foul play is involved. Meanwhile, British filmmaker Jacob Felle arrives in the city to reconnect with his estranged sister but soon becomes a prime suspect in the case. As the two race to uncover the truth, they must confront their darkest fears and work together to stop the next death. This book is a thrilling ride full of twists, mystery, and murder.

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One in Four by Lucinda Berry (May 13, 2025)

A reality show about former child stars battling addiction spirals into chaos when a murder rocks the set, and therapist Dr. Laurel Harlow is thrust into the investigation. Amidst a mansion full of narcissistic stars, Laurel must navigate their secrets and her own buried past to find the killer. With each patient hiding something, Laurel races against time to uncover the truth — and face the demons she’s kept hidden. The stakes couldn’t be higher in this gripping tale of deception and suspense.

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Marguerite by the Lake by Mary Dixie Carter (May 20, 2025)

When lifestyle icon Marguerite Gray tragically falls to her death from a cliff, Phoenix, her young gardener, is thrust into a web of lies and danger. The affair between Phoenix and Geoffrey, Marguerite’s husband, began after Phoenix saved his life from a falling tree during a storm, igniting a forbidden attraction. But with Marguerite's sudden death, Phoenix becomes entangled in a growing mystery. As Detective Hanna and Marguerite’s sharp-eyed daughter close in on the truth, Phoenix must confront the consequences of her actions, navigating a dangerous path of deception and betrayal that could destroy everything she’s worked for.

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The Close-Up by Pip Drysdale

Imagine writing a thriller, only to have the most violent scenes reenacted against you by the stalker of your old flame. That’s Zoe Ann Weiss’s nightmare come true in The Close-Up. After reconnecting with her ex-situationship, Zach — the bartender turned famous actor — Zoe’s life takes a dark turn as Zach’s stalker begins mirroring the chilling events from her book. As the violent reenactments escalate, Zoe finds herself trapped in a twisted game where the lines between fiction and reality blur, and her life is on the line. Can she survive the horrors she wrote, or will the stalker make her story all too real?

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The Last Ferry Out by Andrea Bartz (May 20, 2025)

Abby travels to Isla Colel, the tropical paradise where her fiancée, Eszter, tragically died, hoping to find closure. But what she uncovers instead is a web of secrets, lies, and danger lurking beneath the island’s idyllic surface. As Abby befriends a group of expats, she learns one of them knows the truth about Eszter’s death — only for that person to mysteriously disappear. Determined to uncover the truth, Abby dives deeper into the island’s haunting past, but the closer she gets to the killer, the more she realizes she might be the next victim.

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Our Last Resort by Clémence Michallon (July 8, 2025)

A siblings reunion at a luxurious desert resort takes a dark turn when a woman is found murdered, forcing them to confront a tragic past they’ve tried to forget. Once inseparable, Frida and Gabriel have grown distant after a life-altering trauma, but their bond is tested once again when their shared history in a fanatical cult comes back to haunt them. As the investigation unfolds and secrets from their past emerge, they must grapple with what they’ve hidden from each other — and themselves. With tension building between present and past timelines, Our Last Resort is a heart-pounding thriller that will keep you guessing until the shocking end.

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They All Fall Down by Rachel Howzell Hall

Miriam Macy is thrilled when she receives a surprise invitation to a luxurious private island off the coast of Mexico, joining six strangers for what’s promised to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. However, once they arrive, the group discovers they've been lured there under false pretenses, each person hiding a dark secret. With limited cell service and miles of ocean separating them from the outside world, strange accidents begin to unfold, and suspicions grow. As tension builds and danger closes in, Miriam realizes no one is safe — and one by one they all fall down.

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Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 by Lisa Unger

Maverick Dillan, the charismatic daredevil, invites contestants to Falcao Island for the ultimate game of hide-and-seek — but no one expects it to turn deadly. What starts as a thrilling social media stunt quickly escalates into a life-or-death struggle for survival as a storm rages and a lethal threat stalks the players. Adele, a determined single mother, is caught up in the game, unaware that it has morphed into something far more sinister than anyone could have imagined. As the pressure mounts and the danger escalates, Adele must maneuver through the perilous island and stay alive — before time runs out.

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You Are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego

When Mila del Angél is invited by the mysterious J.R. Alastor to host a writing retreat for a group of thriller authors at a private island estate; she thinks it’s the perfect opportunity for revenge against a fellow writer. But what begins as a week of games and writerly tropes soon turns deadly when one of the guests is murdered — and it’s not the victim Mila had planned. Trapped on the island with a storm cutting off all escape, Mila must navigate a deadly web of deceit and misdirection. As the body count rises, she must outwit a killer who knows literally every trick in the book.

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Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies by Catherine Mack

Bestselling author Eleanor Dash is ready to finish her Italian book tour and finally write the death of her main character, Connor Smith, in her Vacation Mysteries series. But when someone attempts to kill the real Connor — a charming but frustrating con man she can’t seem to shake off — Eleanor is pulled into a real-life mystery. Surrounded by literary rivals, obsessive fans, and an unexpected ex, Eleanor must sift through lies, betrayals, and old wounds to uncover who’s behind the crime. As the tour takes an unexpected turn, Eleanor realizes she may be the only one who can stop a killer from striking again.

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Saltwater by Katy Hays

Thirty years after Sarah Lingate’s mysterious death on the cliffs of Capri, the Lingate family returns to their villa to find a shocking discovery: the necklace Sarah was wearing the night she died. As the family gathers around, tensions rise and they are pushed to a breaking point. Helen, Sarah’s daughter, sees this as an opportunity to finally escape the suffocating control of her family, enlisting the help of Lorna Moreno, a trusted family assistant. But when Lorna disappears and the investigation into Sarah’s death is reopened, it becomes clear: someone in the family is hiding a deadly truth. As the Lingates’ carefully constructed facades crumble, Helen must confront the horrifying reality that the murderer has always been one of them — and not everyone will make it off the island alive.

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Millie Bobby Brown Claps Back At "Disturbing" Body Shamers

If you've been on the internet at all since Stranger Things premiered, there's a good chance you've witnessed how Millie Bobby Brown simply cannot catch a break. As a young girl, the actress (who plays Eleven on the hit Netflix series) was criticized for talking too much in interviews (then criticized for being silent the next year), and as she's gotten older, there has been endless conversation about her marriage, her sense of humor, and most recently, her makeup and body during The Electric State's press run. And she just called the press out — by name.

Here's what Millie Bobby Brown had to say to those body shamers after The Electric State premiere.

Haters flooded Netflix's Instagram comments to criticize Millie Bobby Brown's look.

Videos from the February 24 premiere of The Electric State immediately went viral — and not just because everyone asked directors Joe and Anthony Russo about Avengers: Doomsday. Throughout the movie's press run Millie Bobby Brown has been leaning into the Britney Spears 90s glam of it all, but while she's looked amazing the whole time, both press and Instagram users went out of their way to criticize her red carpet photos.

"babe you’re 21 not 41, jeez it’s so sad beautiful girls getting work done to look twice their age and bad," one user commented on Netflix's official Instagram.

"She looks like a mid aged woman with that hair style and dye," said another user, while others called her "tacky" and "old."

Although if you ask me, it's tearing women down that's tacky. And Millie Bobby Brown weighed in on the comments.

And Millie spoke out on the hate.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Millie Bobby Brown (@milliebobbybrown)

Millie Bobby Brown posted a reel to Instagram on March 3 to speak out on the criticism. This video breaks my heart, not just because of the content itself, but because you can just see in her eyes how tired she is. If I was constantly receiving hate from millions of people — no matter what I did — I'd be tired too!

"I started in this industry when I was 10 years old. I grew up in front of the world, and for some reason, people can’t seem to grow with me. Instead, they act like I’m supposed to stay frozen in time, like I should still look the way I did on Stranger Things Season 1. And because I don’t, I’m now a target," she says in the video, going on to discuss "the articles, the headlines, the people who are so desperate to tear young women down."

After naming some of the articles' headlines, and their authors, Millie goes on to say that "this isn’t journalism. This is bullying."

"The fact that adult writers are spending their time dissecting my face, my body, my choices, it’s disturbing," she continues. "The fact that some of these articles are written by women? Even worse. We always talk about supporting and uplifting young women, but when the time comes, it seems easier to tear them down for clicks."

Since Stranger Things premiered in 2016, Millie Bobby Brown has proven that she marches to the beat of her own drum. "Disillusioned people can’t handle seeing a girl become a woman on her terms, not theirs. I refuse to apologize for growing up. I refuse to make myself smaller to fit the unrealistic expectations of people who can’t handle seeing a girl become a woman," she says. "I will not be shamed for how I look, how I dress, or how I present myself."

"We have become a society where it’s so much easier to criticize than it is to pay a compliment. Why is the knee-jerk reaction to say something horrible rather than to say something nice?" she continues. "If you have a problem with that, I have to wonder—what is it that actually makes you so uncomfortable? Let’s do better. Not just for me, but for every young girl who deserves to grow up without fear of being torn apart for simply existing."

Check out how Sydney Sweeney Responded To Her Bikini Body Shamers for even more empowerment.

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29 Most-Anticipated New Books Coming In March — From Family Dramas To Feel-Good Rom-Coms

It's the most amazing time of the year for two reasons: it's National Reading Month and some of the most-anticipated new books will make their debut! Besides that, spring will finally make her own debut, so we can start bringing our favorite titles to the park again. I for one have grown tired of random snow days that make me want to fall asleep more than they inspire me to dive into a new rom-com or self-improvement book!

So, break out your reading journal because you'll want to keep track of the most-anticipated fiction and non-fiction new books debuting in March 2025!

Scroll to see which new books we can't wait to read in March!

The Most-Anticipated Fiction Books 

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Unlikely Story by Ali Rosen (March 1, 2025)

Nora's the relationship therapist you go to when your love life's a little shaky because she's got helpful tips for you to utilize. But, she hasn't mastered romance in her day-to-day because she's somehow fallen for an editor based in London. Though they've never met in person, Nora and J have built up a correspondence for a few years that eventually comes to a head when Nora's work assignment lands her in his city. Convinced she's destined to meet him, she happily packs up and moves into a co-op.
But her downstairs neighbor has it out for her because he believes her advice column contributed to the end of his relationship. All he wants to do is make her pay for his misery which results in a comedic, albeit annoying, "we're enemies" situation.
What neither Nora and her irritating neighbor couldn't have predicted is how well they actually know each other.

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While We're Young by K.L. Walther (March 4, 2025)

Grace, Isa and Everett's lives are a mess, but it didn't used to be this way. They were once close friends who spent hours upon hours together, but love has a way of enticing people to make disastrous choices.
Despite knowing Everett and Isa used to date, Grace got's a thing for the boy who broke her friend's heart. But, she's not the only one who has a secret because Isa's been cozying up to Grace's brother. Nevertheless, Grace believes the answer to everyone's "problems" is to explore Philadelphia one day in the spirit of Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
It's the perfect recipe for truths to exposed in the hilarious and somewhat heartbreaking While We're Young.

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Kills Well with Others by Deanna Raybourn (March 4, 2025)

Billie, Helen, Mary Alice, and Natalie took some time to finally relax after fighting back against the same agency that tried to have them killed. Enjoying a sabbatical was just what they needed until boredom started to kick in. Sensing their lackluster response to having "normal" lives, the four women are thrilled when the Museum, another assassin organization, contacts them for a job.
A killer mole is tracking down everyone who thwarted their plans to take out a notorious thug and they've never let it go. The women's task is to figure out who it is before said person comes looking for them. However, this murderer's skilled and conniving which will put their experience to the test.

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A Scandalous Affair by Leonard Goldberg (March 4, 2025)

When Joanna Homes and the Watsons are visited by Sir William Radcliffe one night, he drops a bombshell tale of blackmail on them. He's spooked because his position as the Chancellor of the Exchequer is being called into question with threats of the exposure of something that wasn't meant to come to light. At the center of the scandal is Sir William's granddaughter and her potential benefits of marrying someone of high benefit to society.
As the family continues to dish out funds to keep the pictures from being released, they've realized whoever's holding their reputation hostage won't stop until they've drained them dry. So, it's up to Joanna and the Watsons to figure out who the mysterious figure is before the Chancellor's family is publicly ruined.

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The Persians by Sanam Mahloudji (March 4, 2025)

The Valiat family have gone from being of importance to fading into the background of America's noise, but they haven't let that stop them from attempting to maintain their status. Beginning with the family matriarch Elizabeth, it's clear why they continue to hold their heads high. It's not like she didn't defiantly stay in Tehran when turmoil surrounded her.

However, her daughters and their daughters have packed up to start lives in America. There's:

  • Niaz and her crime-led ways
  • Shirin and her boisterous career as an event planner
  • Seema and her uninspiring housewife duties
  • Bita and her disenchanted life as a law student

When Shirin finds herself behind bars in Aspen, she feels inspired to make sure the Valiat name is respected again.

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Stone Angelsby Helena Rho (March 4, 2025)

Angelina Lee's living in Seoul after losing her mother and watching her marriage dissolve. Her goal was to find a connection to being Korean, but things haven't been working the way she'd hoped. Besides emotionally wrestling with the handsome Keishuke Ono, she's trying to find the answers that'll lead to what caused her mother's death.

What she uncovers is the existence and disappearance of her aunt Sunyuh, who was never spoken of. Unable to understand why the family decided to sweep this under the rug, Angelina decides to understand who she truly is.

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Blood Moon by Sandra Brown (March 4, 2025)

Detective John Bowie's career is in limbo due to the bitterness and misery he's nursing with alcohol. He's also haunted by the botched case of Chrissy Mellin's disappearance and TV series Crisis Point's decision to highlight it's open-ended results.
At the head of Crisis Point is Beth Collins, a producer who has high ambitions. She's sure Chrissy Mellin's case wasn't a singular event and wants to figure out why it along with other missing person's instances occurred during a blood moon. With nothing but a hunch and pure determination, Beth connects with Detective Bowie to figure out what happened.
They'll have to act fast because the person behind the disappearances could strike again if Beth's theory is correct.

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The Trouble with Annaby Rachel Griffiths (March 4, 2025)

Anna's life has been a series of unintentional decisions that resulted in consequences that changed the course of her life. From starting a betting ring to locking lips with Lord Julian Ramsay, she's been somewhat of a wild child. The thing is that her grandfather's will wants to put an end to this by demanding that she find a suitable man to marry her.

Though she'd rather run free, her heart knows it years for Lord Ramsay and therein lies her problem.

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Count My Lies by Sophia Stava (March 4, 2025)

Sloane Caraway's lies have never gotten out of hand before she met an attractive man in the park. Feigning concern for his young daughter, Sloane works her way into Jay and Violet Lockhart's lives. They seem to have a beautiful and flawless family from the outside looking in, but being their nanny reveals that ideas about perfection are nothing more than that.

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All the Other Mothers Hate Me by Sarah Harman (March 11, 2025)

Florence Grimes' only cares about the light in her life — her son Dylan. He's only 10, but he has a way of lazily motivating her to put one foot in front of the other. She knows he's being bullied, but she doesn't think too much of his reaction to it until said bully, Alfie Risby, goes missing during a field trip.
Everyone automatically suspects Dylan is to blame, but Florence is prepared to do whatever it takes to prove them wrong. However, she can't help but wonder if there's another side to her son she's been ignoring.

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Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley (March 11, 2025)

Jane's finally over her decades-long marriage to Dan. She feels invisible in her household and her is basically laughable at this point. Yet, she decides to muster up the courage to ask her husband for a divorce during their anniversary dinner at La Fin du Monde.
Before she can drop the bombshell on Dan, a group of climate activists storm the restaurant to hold everyone hostage. She's not exactly afraid she won't make it out alive as she's terrified they're using the plot of her unsuccessful book as their manifesto.
It's up to her and Dan to stop their overzealous scheme before everyone dies — including them.

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The Anatomy of Magicby J.C. Cervantes (March 11, 2025)

Lillian Estrada's success as an OB-GYN is coupled with the fact she's a part of family of women who've been gifted with magical powers. At her disposal lies the ability to control and alter memories as she sees fit; something that's come in handy for her. But, a freak accident makes everything go haywire and she's suddenly unable to manage anything.
During a trip back home to Mexico, she reconnects with her former love Sam and realizes they have unfinished business that could be the key to understanding the source of her magic.

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Story of My Life by Lucy Score (March 11, 2025)

Hazel Hart's career as a romance author is halted when she experiences a bad breakup. Instead of seeking inspiration, she'd rather hide from the world and dodge her responsibilities until her book's threatened with being dropped.

Afraid of becoming a flop, Hazel runs to Story Lake, PA for inspiration where she decides to live in a home she never got to see in person. Little did she know, the home isn't dilapidated and the town itself is on the brink of financial ruin. Oh, and she's suddenly tasked with being a part of the town council so her days of sulking are over.

When she comes across the tall hunk of man named Campbell Bishop, she realizes she needs he and his brothers help to make her home livable. And if she can get a "date" out of it, then her book may come to life! But she'll have some explaining to do when she hits the send button on her manuscript and no longer needs inspiration.

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Love and Other Paradoxesby Catriona Silvey (March 11, 2025)

In 2005, Joe Greene spends his time thinking about the kind of life he wants to live. All he cares about is making sure his words will touch others, but he doesn't know how that'll happen until he meets Esi. She spends time revisiting moments from the past that defined the lives of those who've accomplished great things and this time the focus is on Joe. According to her, he goes on to becoming a famous wordsmith who's poems center the beautiful Diana. However, Esi doesn't really care about Joe's past or success.
She wants to change the past so her future self isn't affect by what happens and finds Joe instead. But this causes their timelines to spin out of control, leading them to team up to save their future selves. What's worse is that Joe forgets about Diana and finds himself smitten with Esi and that's the opposite of what was supposed to happen...right?

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The Trouble Up North by Travis Mulhauser (March 11, 2025)

The Sawbrooks aren't exactly upstanding citizens, but they've managed to make a living through smuggling. Their secret? Traveling in secret so they're not punished for their crimes. Besides, it's not like they're doing anything different than the prestigious places that are taking over the place they called home.
Rhoda's the embittered matriarch who carries the weight of the family on her shoulders while Lucy, Buckner, and baby Jewell are doing things against her will. One's trying to protect the land while another's staring in the bottom of endless bottles, and the other gets caught up in a huge crime.
The only way they can save themselves is by going within to see where there troubles started and figuring out how they can move forward.

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Heat of the Everflame by Penn Cole (March 11, 2025)

Diem's caught in the middle of the Descended and Guardians post-coronation, but she has to tread carefully. On one side are the friends and lover she cares about, but she's also supposed to protect humans. It's a tough choice that leads to the exposure of who she is.Though Luther will do anything to help her, Diem is afraid to confront where she comes from and what she's meant to accomplish.
When the Crowns decide she's worth their time, Diem takes on her greatest task yet — infiltrating enemy territory to bring them down.

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Hot Airby Marcy Dermansky (March 18, 2025)

Joannie's in a heap of trouble and it's all because of a hot air balloon. After being single for years, she gets her first date with her daughter in tow. Asked to dinner by the gorgeous Johnny, things are derailed when Joannie discovers he's not a great kisser. Then comes the unexpected arrival of a former fling.

Not only does Jonathan literally land his hot air balloon in her pool, he brings with him the familiar attraction Joannie felt years ago. Then there's Julia and Vivian.

Somehow each of them become embroiled in a salacious game of love and lust as they try to figure out how to move forward now that they're in each other's orbits.

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Early Thirties by Josh Duboff (March 18, 2025)

Victor and Zoey are two best friends who are afraid to face a hard truth about their friendship: their lives are headed in opposite directions. The latter is trying to convince everyone she's happy about getting married while the Victor tries to make better choices.
Yet, one more bad moment involving Victor fractures his friendship with Zoey and the two stop communicating like they used to. There's no guarantee they'll be able to repair their friendship, but stranger things have happened.

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Cover Storyby Celia Laskey (March 25, 2025)

Ali is popular publicist in Hollywood who knows how to navigate her job and clients. She knows she has to make sure certain public figures' sexuality remains hidden but it's ironic because she's a lesbian. But she does what she has to, promising to not get too involved in her clients' lives.
When she meets Cara Bisset and her big break at becoming a household name, Ali realizes this isn't like other jobs she's had in the past because Cara doesn't want to play by the rules. The more they spend time together, the more Ali feels attracted to Cara's "wild" nature and wants to break free from the restrictions placed on her clients.
Only time will tell if both are really ready to live out loud though.

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Saltwaterby Katy Hays (March 25, 2025)

Sarah Lingate's dead body was discovered in Capri, but nothing came of the suspicions that her family was involved. They've even gone to great lengths to memorialize her death every year, but something's changed. Someone wants them to know they're being watched because they left behind a necklace Sarah wore when she was murdered. This pushes the Lingates to drop their "mournful" act which makes Helen realize there's more to her mother's death than she's been led to believe.
Despite asking the family's assistant, Lorna Moreno, for help, Helen soon realizes she'll be investigating by herself. It appears that not even the people she's been around her entire life may be who they've portrayed themselves to be which is scarier than knowing her mother's death wasn't an accident.

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Summer in the City by Alex Aster (March 25, 2025)

Screenwriter Elle is facing the biggest opportunity in her career so far and she'd be happy if she wasn't unsure of what to write. The worst news is that she's on a time crunch and hasn't written much.
Against her better judgement, she moves back To NY and begins feeling inspired until she runs into a former hookup — Parker Warren. He's a wealthy tech bro who became a walking nightmare, but he's giving her the fodder she needs to make her screenplay successful.
So, they orbit each other until they reach a familiar agreement. They'll pretend to be head over heels for each other and completely end things once fall starts. But, can they actually do it?

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What She's Hiding by Art Bell (March 25, 2025)

Henry Gladstone and Leslie Dunlop were a match made in hell, but the talented lawyer couldn't resist the femme fatale's charms. From fun romps to a full-fledged marriage, their love story was doomed from the start. That's why it's not surprising it ended in a tumultuous divorce. However, their tale is far from over.

Years later, Leslie attempts to tell Henry someone is coming after them unless he produces a large sum of money. Inclined to believe she's exaggerating, Henry ignores her until he discovers someone's broken into his apartment. The only person who knows what's going on is Leslie, but she's nowhere to be found when he needs her.

On a hunt for answers, Henry partners with the few people he trusts in order to evade the Russian mob's wrath.

The Most-Anticipated Non-Fiction Books

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Defining Style: The Book of Interior Style by Joan Barzilay Freund (March 6, 225)

Joan Barzilay Freund has written the best interior lookbook of the year and I'm beyond excited for you to get your hands on it! Whether you're into coastal styles or need something on the maximal end, you'll find inspiration for updating your space on every page.

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Me, But Better by Olga Khazan (March 11, 2025)

Olga Khazan's own experience with facing an identity crisis led her to explore if it's possible to change her personality. What she found is that not only is it possible, she didn't mind the journey of doing so. From making a "yes" bucket list to embracing the art of "faking it 'til you make it," she hilariously details what she learned in Me, But Better.

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Make Believe: Poems for Hoping Again by Victoria Hutchins (March 18, 2025)

Victoria Hutchins wants us to make space for our inner children to play again. Each poem in Make Believe revolves around wistful wonder and joy that reminds us it's okay to hold on to remnants of hope. That we deserve to live lives that aren't bogged down by things like stress and worry.

Most of all, she wants to know how we'd live if we need joy started in our minds.

Amazon

This Is Body Grief: Making Peace with the Loss That Comes with Living in a Bodyby Jayne Mattingly (March 18, 2025)

Jayne Mattingly is a disability advocate who's seen how thoughts about our bodies at various stages can affect how we move through life. Instead of rushing through the process, This Is Body Grief is encouraging us to embrace when things look or feel different. There's also a rejection of the idea that we're being punished for having bodies that experience a range of things.
Readers will become familiar with what Mattingly calls the "seven stages of Body Grief" so they're able to name how they're feeling at any given moment. As she knows, loving yourself is a journey instead of a race.

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Cults Like Us: Why Doomsday Thinking Drives Americaby Jane Borden (March 25, 2025)

America's no strangers to cults, but Jane Borden wants us to get real about how prevalent certain ideology that breed them continues to be. What started off as religious has become worldly in her eyes and she exposes it via our love for pop culture icons like cowboys, influencers, and more.
And if you're not familiar with cults, she's shining a light on some of the most popular ones.

Amazon

Feminine Intelligence: How Visionary Leaders Can Reshape Business For Good by Elina Teboul (March 25, 2025)

Elina Teboul is getting down to the nitty gritty of what's going to make businesses successful in the future. Through interviews and research, she's examining how certain characteristics play a role in groundbreaking work and they have everything to do with women's inherent nature. From tapping into one's spiritual growth to being more aware of the capitalist society we live in, readers will walk away with a different perspective about what makes a leader great.

Amazon

Pizza from the Heart by Paulie Giannone and Mary Ann Giannone (March 25, 2025)

Pizza is good for the soul, according to Paulie and Mary Ann Giannone. From his days working in corporate IT to the delicious pizza he and Mary Ann, Paulie is finally showing us how to find joy in our own kitchens. They've also sprinkled in lovely advice about being in four-decade marriage while being restaurant business partners.
You'll find over 100 recipes that reimagine your favorite pizza toppings into something that feels delicioso.

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12 "Wacky" Daylight Saving Facts (& How to Make the Transition Easier)

Only two states in the United States don't observe daylight saving time, observing standard time year-round: Arizona and Hawaii. After all, they argue, these states already get plenty of sun. The other 48 states – AKA the rest of us – will spring forward our clocks by one hour on Sunday, March 9, at least for now. It's been reported that it's on the table for abolishing. While it's my favorite time of year (who doesn't love the longer days?), it comes with some not so good health news. Let's get into what you can expect this daylight saving time!

Here are 12 wacky facts you may not know about daylight saving time.

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1. Most of us are saying it wrong.

The correct term is actually "daylight saving time" — singular, not plural. Despite common usage, "saving" is used as an adjective describing the act of conserving daylight, not a plural noun.

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2. The time change has been linked to more hospital visits.

The American Heart Association found that the time change showed an increase in cases of heart attack and stroke. A scientific study found a rise in cases of Atrial Fibrillation (AFib), a condition that resulted in irregular heartbeats with symptoms like chest pain, dizziness, and fatigue. The increase was more prevalent among women and occurred only during the spring daylight saving time shift, not with the fall clock change.

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3. There are more car accidents during this time.

Losing an hour of sleep can also impact your road safety. A study found that the spring daylight saving time transition increases the risk of fatal traffic accidents in the U.S. by 6 percent.

Andrea Piacquadio

4. DST can increase your cortisol and stress levels.

Losing sleep and disrupting your body’s natural rhythm can do more than just leave you feeling groggy — it can actually spike your cortisol levels, the hormone linked to stress. Research shows that sleep deprivation and circadian misalignment can trigger an increase in cortisol, along with inflammatory markers and cytokine imbalances. Since cortisol and inflammatory proteins are released in response to stress, chronic elevations could contribute to long-term health issues.

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5. We're at higher risk of depression.

Many people report mood disturbances during this time, but for those with bipolar disorder, the effects can be particularly destabilizing. For instance, a 2020 study found that the change impacts mood disorders, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. An Australian study revealed a significant increase in male suicide rates in the weeks following the start of daylight saving time, compared to both the weeks after the return to standard time and the rest of the year.

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6. Benjamin Franklin first suggested the concept.

He didn’t technically invent daylight saving time (as some have reported), but he did conceive the idea a century before it was credited to George Vernon Hudson, a New Zealand artist who formally proposed it in an 1895 paper. Benjamin Franklin observed that if people in France adjusted their schedules to sleep when it was dark and wake with the sunrise, they could save hundreds of francs on candles — making artificial lighting less necessary.

Andy Feliciotti

7. There's already buzz to make DST permanent.

The Sunshine Protection Act is a proposed U.S. law aiming to make daylight saving time permanent, eliminating the need to change clocks twice a year.

Anna Shvets

8. Farmers actually fought against it.

Contrary to popular belief, farmers have never supported daylight saving time. In fact, they opposed its implementation and, in 1919, an agricultural lobby even pushed for its repeal.

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9. We may actually consume more energy because of it.

While many believe daylight saving time conserves energy, research suggests it may actually do the opposite. A University of California-Santa Barbara study indicated that daylight saving time might increase consumption. A 2017 study in the International Association for Energy Economics Journal further supports this idea, noting that longer daylight hours can lead to more air conditioning in summer and heating in cooler months.

Federico Respini

10. Daylight saving time was extended in 2007.

First started in Germany, the U.S. adopted daylight saving time in 1918 and standardized it across the country with the passage of the 1966 Uniform Time Act, which gave the federal government oversight over the time change. It originally called for the last Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October. President George W. Bush’s Energy Policy Act of 2005 extended it from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November, starting in 2007.

Bhargava Marripati

11. About 70 countries observe daylight saving time.

Countries like Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, and those in the European Union observe daylight saving time either nationwide or in select regions. Meanwhile, most African and Asian nations — including India, China, and Japan — opt out of the time change entirely.

Kaylah Matthews

12. You can beat the clock.

Despite the health risks and safety concerns of daylight saving time, you can take steps to combat fatigue and adjust within a week. Here are B+C's 5 Best Ways to Beat Daylight Saving Time Fatigue.

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You Probably Just Missed The First Clip Of 'The Bear' Season 4

TV viewers are feasting thanks to Hulu. Not only are we getting five seasons of Only Murders in the Building in five years, but we've also gotten a new season of The Bear every year since 2022.

If you watched the Oscars, you were probably tuned into the best dressed stars and Emma Stone's great BFF moment (and maybe even caught moments between Hollywood's new It couple Andrew Garfield & Monica Barbaro) but there's one thing you might have missed: the first footage of Ayo Edebiri in The Bear season 4!

Here's a breakdown of that clip from The Bear season 4 starring Ayo Edebiri and Ebon Moss Bachrach.

@rottentomatoes Ayo Edebiri in our first look at #TheBear Season 4. #rottentomatoes#tv#tvshow#tvtok#firstlook#hulu#fx#teaser#ayoedebiri#jeremyallenwhite♬ original sound - Rotten Tomatoes

A commercial during the Oscars surprised us with a new clip from The Bear season 4. It's pretty straightforward, but it finally addresses something I've known from the very beginning: the staff of The Bear restaurant are a family, y'all!!

"Sometimes I feel like your work family is part of your family family," Sydney says, while clips Richie, Marcus, Luca, and Sydney's dad play in the background. After all that drama at the end of season 3, not to mention the fact that Sydney accidentally stumbled upon a new job opportunity, this definitely looks like a job interview to me.

Maybe Sydney does go through with the interview for a new restaurant, but when she learns they don't approach staff life the same way, she realizes that, despite its (many) flaws, The Bear is her true family. We haven't even gotten a full episode and I'm making myself emotional!

One question I've had from the very beginning of the series is whether we'll see Sydney and Carmy couple up. And actors Ayo Edebiri and Jeremy Allen White finallyaddressed the rumorsduring season 3's press conference.

“There was no talk in the rooms about any romantic implications,” Jeremy said. “[Carmy's] not the best communicator, but he will often make a sort of grand gesture like that to try and communicate to Syd or the kitchen or whomever."

“He’s got a lot going on in his mind all the time, and people aren’t always aware of exactly what’s going on," he continued. "You’ll see, obviously, how that affects Carmen and Syd’s relationship, but I think Carmen’s trying to welcome her in a little bit was the point of the partnership agreement.”

“Carmy is somebody that I think she’s really looked up to, but now is sort of in the thick of doing business with,” Ayo added. “It’s, I think, a lot more chaotic than she might have idealized before they really started working together.”

Check out The 8 Best TV Shows To Watch On Hulu This Month for more amazing shows to stream once you've rewatched all of The Bear.

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