10 First Date Ideas That *Aren’t* Dinner and a Movie

Who is Sophia Bush?

Sophia Bush has had a lengthy career as an actress, and she's most recognized for her portrayal of Brooke Davis in the hit TV series One Tree Hill. She's also appeared in Nip/Tuck, Chicago Fire, Incredibles 2, and John Tucker Must Die. When she's not showing off her acting chops, she hosts the Drama Queens podcast alongside former One Tree Hill castmates Hilarie Burton and Bethany Joy Lenz!

Who is Ashlyn Harris?

Ashlyn Harris is a former U.S. soccer player who had a successful run — no pun intended — as a goalkeeper during the career. She also won the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada and continued making an impressionable mark. However, she announced her retirementin 2022 and — per her Instagrampage — has gone on to become the Global Creative Advisor for Gotham FC and Adidas Football.

When did the dating rumors about Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris start?

June 2023

Rumors about a possible connection between Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris swirled last summer when Cosmopolitanreported they were on a panel at Cannes Lion International Festival of Creativity. Sophia shared a pic of the two at the festival on Instagramand wrote, "Love you @ashlynharris24 and @sophieannkelly" towards the end of her caption.

A source told Page Six, "It’s very new...They are definitely a couple.” But, Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris didn't confirm or deny anything at that time.

When did Sophia Bush file for divorce from Grant Hughes?

August 2023

A couple of months after Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris were seen getting cozy together, Sophia filed for divorce from her former husband Grant Hughes. Peopleshared that they were only married for a little over a year — 13 months — but didn't end on a bad terms. A source then told Entertainment Tonight, "Grant and Sophia are better off as friends and they weren’t getting enough time with each other before their breakup."

When did Ashlyn Harris and Ali Krieger file for divorce?

October 2023

While things seemed to quiet down, Ashlyn Harris soon filed for divorce from Ali Krieger after getting married towards the end of 2019. What's interesting is that a source told Peoplethis decision wasn't surprising. "Although it’s new information to the public, Ashlyn and Ali’s divorce began months ago and they have been living apart since the summer,” the source said.

This is also around the time it was speculated Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris had their first official date. A rep told People, "Grant will always want the best for Sophia, and is supportive of all that makes her happy and fulfilled." We guess it helps he and Sophia had a solid friendship before getting married!

As for Ali Krieger, she basically let the world know things were business as usual with an Instagrampost. She captioned a pic of her playing soccer with, "Preparing for playoffs while in my Beyoncé lemonade era." A comment from user @lgbtlfg said, "the fact that a lot of players in these comment’s usually mind their business and stay out of drama but are supporting ali should tell everyone all they need to know."

The only thing Ashlyn said about it on Instagramis that she never intended for her and Ali's divorce to be made a public matter. A portion of her note says, "This process is never easy, but we were making our way through."

Have Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris publicly talked about their relationship?

March 2024

Besides showing up to Elton John's Oscars afterparty together, Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris were previously tight-lipped about their relationship. The only hint Sophia offered was much more of a reflective post about 2023 on Instagramat the beginning of January. She said, "This year taught me to listen to myself and no one else. To let go of expectation that wounds and grasp possibility that frees. To not care about optics and instead invest in honesty."

But, she's since chosen to own where she is in life.

April 2024

Sophia Bush has now reached a point where she's publicly ready to stand in her truth regarding her life and her relationship status so much that she penned her own cover story for Glamour. The first thing she did was open up about how she really felt about her marriage and fertility struggles.

She wrote, "But after the wedding I found myself in the depths and heartbreak of the fertility process, which was the most clarifying experience of my life. It feels like society is finally making space for brutally honest conversations about how hard and painful any fertility journey is, but I kept mine private. I was trying to get through months of endless ultrasounds, hormone shots, so many blood draws that I have scar tissue in my veins, and retrieval after retrieval, while simultaneously realizing the person I had chosen to be my partner didn’t necessarily speak the same emotional language I did.”

As far as her relationship with Ashlyn Harris is concerned, the star is enjoying the love that exists between them. Contrary to alleged rumors, their initial relationship was a platonic one that stemmed from a place of understanding and support.

She told Glamour,“I didn’t expect to find love in this support system. I don’t know how else to say it other than: I didn’t see it until I saw it. And I think it’s very easy not to see something that’s been in front of your face for a long time when you’d never looked at it as an option and you had never been looked at as an option. What I saw was a friend with her big, happy life. And now I know she thought the same thing about me.”

She also added, "A lot of effort was made to be graceful with other people’s processing, their time and obligations, and their feelings. What felt like seconds after I started to see what was in front of me, the online rumor mill began to spit in the ugliest ways. There were blatant lies. Violent threats. There were the accusations of being a home-wrecker. The ones who said I’d left my ex because I suddenly realized I wanted to be with women—my partners have known what I’m into for as long as I have (so that’s not it, y’all, sorry!).”

It's safe to say that Sophia Bush is thoroughly comfortable with her love life and identity as a queer woman. She said, "I’ve experienced so much safety, respect, and love in the queer community, as an ally all of my life, that, as I came into myself, I already felt it was my home. I think I’ve always known that my sexuality exists on a spectrum. Right now I think the word that best defines it is queer. I can’t say it without smiling, actually. And that feels pretty great.”

And this is what it looks like to reclaim your narrative when so many people are looking at a brief glimpse of the lives of celebrities. We love that Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris are loving each other on their terms without feeling pressured to share anything before they were ready to. Our hope is that their love story continues to unfold beautifully.

Be sure to watch Sophia Bush's interview with Glamour's Editor-in-Chief Samantha Barry here!

Full Credits From Glamour Magazine:

Writer: Sophia Bush

Photographer: Lauren Dukoff

Stylist: Deborah Afshani

Hair: Matthew Collins

Makeup: Afton Williams

Manicure: Brittney Boyce

Have Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris made their official red carpet debut?

April 27, 2024

Per Glamour, Sophia Bush and Ashlyn made their official red carpet debut as a couple on Friday. They attended the White House Correspondent's dinner where they were dressed to impress in complementing black ensembles.

It's easy to see the glowing couple couldn't stop laughing and smiling as they posed for pictures that seemed to capture every good angle of their faces and style.

After the dinner, Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris posed for more pictures on the red carpet leading to the Correspondent's after-party. Now that we're able to see their full faces, we have to talk about how well their hair and makeup complements their outfits. It's clear that Ashlyn's contour and bronzer were expertly applied to her face while Sophia's blush gave her a natural flush.

*Sigh* Their smiles are the only confirmation we need that they're enjoying the bliss of being a couple.

October 2024

Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris are packing on the PDA in Sophia's latest Instagram pic! In celebration of Ashlyn's birthday, Sophia shared an intimate photo of the two with a heartfelt message to celebrate the love of her life. Honestly, this is probably the happiest I've ever seen both of them and that makes my inner romantic giddy. Plus, they're such a good-looking couple! One of my favorite comments left on their picture is "if living her best life was a person" because it sums up how I feel about Sophia's growing romance with Ashlyn.

November 2024

Ashlyn Harris is finally telling her side of what led to her divorce and it has nothing to do with Sophia Bush. During her appearance on Naked Sports with Cari Champion, she talked about trying to save what she and ex-wife Ali Krieger had. "I started trying all these things, like, let’s do an open marriage." For Ashlyn, it was her "last attempt of" salvaging what they had.

Not only did that go against who she was, but Ashlyn dropped another bombshell about why she suggested it in the first place. "I felt so embarrassed and I felt so much shame that I didn’t know how to tell people that, like, oh, ‘My wife doesn’t want to touch me or doesn’t want to be intimate or doesn’t want this.'" Uh, no intimacy? Yikes.

She also admitted it felt like she fell last on the list of priorities in her and Krieger's marriage. "I didn’t feel that sense of connection, whether emotional or physical. It was soccer, job, kids, and then somewhere down the line it was like, ‘OK, what about me?'"

As far as her being the villain in the relationship, Ashlyn says it's completely untrue. "I’m constantly pegged as a cheater, which that is so far from the truth and she knows it." The image that Krieger's allowed to be painted of Ashlyn "torched" her, but it seems like she's chosen to focus on the happy relationship she's building with Sophia.

How many children do Emily Blunt and John Krasinski have?

The couple has two daughters together — Hazel, 10, and Violet, 7. They confirmed their first pregnancy with Hazel in 2013 and only announced the arrival of Violet after she was born in 2016.

On September 7, John Krasinski, Emily Blunt and their daughters showed up to the US Open. Hazel wore a white US Open cap while Emily and John opted for black hats. Violet stood out with her hair in a ponytail & bow.

What have Emily Blunt and John Krasinski said about their daughters?

John told Peoplein 2020 that becoming a father has been one of the biggest changes in his life. He said, "“I went through some really serious stuff...There is a mirror that is held up to me now. You have someone watching you. You have to lead by example.” He also said he's been able to see his parents' perspectives now that he's raising children.

Emily told Harper's Bazaar UK last year that their daughters are a top priority for her. It's why she carves out time to be with them as much as possible when working. She said, "...even though they’re...used to this strange life, it’s still rough on them when I have to go away." As a working mom, I can only imagine how difficult it is for actors and actresses to explain to their kids why they have to go away for periods of time.

She went on to say, "There are cornerstones of the girls’ day that I don’t want to compromise on – like, will you wake me up, take me to school...It’s such an exhale for me to be able to do that."

When Did Emily Blunt and John Krasinski meet?

Emily appeared on A Late Night with Seth Meyers in 2018 and admitted their first meeting was fairly casual. She said, "...it's just kind of lame. I mean, I was in a restaurant. He was in the restaurant." She then says something that made me giggle. "This is our romantic comedy! This is it. Write it," said Emily.

From there, she talks about how their mutual friend spotted John and the way her future husband made her laugh when he came to the table. As simple as that sounds, I think the best love stories don't always have an overly dazzling beginning. Sometimes it's really the small interactions that touch the heart.

And as for John's perspective on the meeting? Well, he told PEOPLE for the Sexiest Man Alive issue that he fell for Emily "the second he met her." The star said, "I don't know what happened, but I remember someone introduced us, and it was across a room in a restaurant, and I walked over to her, and as soon as I shook her hand, I just knew." OKAY, BRB SOBBING. 😭❤️

When did Emily Blunt and John Krasinski start dating?

They've never shared an official timeline for their first date, but we're pretty sure it didn't take long for Emily Blunt and John Krasinski to have their first date after meeting in 2008. They don't agree on who asked who out first, but the couple told The Hollywood Reporter in 2018 that they basically hung out at John's apartment and ate pizza. I always say the best way to know if you really like someone is if you enjoy being around them doing something that's considered mundane — like eating pizza and watching movies.

When did Emily Blunt and John Krasinski get married?

Less than a year after dating, Emily Blunt and John Krasinski got engaged! A rep told People, "We can confirm that John and Emily are engaged."

They were engaged for almost a year before "jumping the broom" in 2010 and had an exclusive wedding at fellow actor George Clooney's house! Funny enough, John was hesitant about having their wedding there and told Elle, "Only on the fourth ask did I say yes. Because the first three times I thought, There's no way he is serious. But I started to see his feelings get hurt."

What have Emily Blunt and John Krasinski said about their relationship?

John admitted to Glamour in 2018 that he'd watched The Devil Wears Prada over 50 times. "I’m lucky enough that she stayed with me and didn’t realize that she had really married her stalker," he said.

Emily gushed about her husband by telling InStylein 2021, "When I feel the support that I have from him, I feel invincible. There's someone behind you on your good days and someone in front of you on your bad days."

Why did Emily Blunt and John Krasinski decide to work on "A Quiet Place" together?

When it was announced that Emily Blunt and John Krasinski were working on their first film together, A Quiet Place, I was beyond excited. Of their experience on set together, John admitted to Peoplein 2018 that he had a lot of fun working with Emily. He said, “I’ve never have loved my wife more than after we did this movie...We were really honest with each other from the beginning."

And when Emily won the award for Best Supporting Actress at the 25th Annual SAG Awards in 2019, she had nothing but positive things to say about John. She said, "I am going to share this completely with my husband, John Krasinski, because the entire experience of doing this with you has completely pierced my heart directly...You are a stunning filmmaker..."

How have Emily Blunt and John Krasinski supported each other's careers?

Now that Emily is getting ready for the debut of The Fall Guy alongside Ryan Gosling, she can't help but to talk about how John influenced her to lean into her latest role. She recently told People, "I am married to a director, I know what it's like to hold the tempest of the movie in your head and the pressures and being pulled in a million directions."

John's also grateful that he has a wife like Emily. He told Paradein 2022, "On a daily basis, but certainly in a career-wise, as a dad, she pushes me to be better every single day at everything I do. So I look forward to the next day cause I know it'll be better than the one before."

Sigh. Excuse me — I'll be somewhere crying about the way these two have shown up for each other over the years.

The Most-Anticipated New Book Of 2025:

Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley (February 25, 2024)

During the fall of 2000 at Berkeley University, Percy Marks and Joe Morrow have a chance encounter that changes the course of their lives forever. Instead of finding Percy's ability to deep dive into the meanings of songs, Joe thinks she's fascinating and has the makings of something great. So when he asks her to give her opinion about songs he's written, Percy doesn't hesitate.

It's the very thing that leads to a long collaboration where they begin writing songs together. However, Joe is the only one who's thrust into the spotlight. As such, Percy feels the rising fury of being in his shadows and longs for more. At this point, she knows she's more than capable of introducing the world to the songs in her heart.

Bearer of Bad News by Elisabeth Dini (April 29, 2025)

The Most-Anticipated Rom-Com Books Of 2025

For One Night Only by Jessica James (January 7, 2025)

Valerie Quinn's show is on the verge of being canceled because of her wild choices, and she's not ready for that to happen. In a hasty attempt to save it, she decides to put her band Glitter Bats back together. It's just the thing she thinks her public image needs. That and a certain bassist — Caleb Sloane.

Sadly, Valerie and Caleb aren't on speaking turns due to an icky breakup that didn't fare well for the latter. But, Caleb's always found it hard to resist Valerie's charm so he decides to give their reunion and faux relationship another chance. It seems like a good ideas, but they'll have to figure out to avoid all the pitfalls that led to their demise if they want things to work in their favor.

Accidentally Amyby Lynn Painter (January 14, 2025)

Better Than Friends by Jill Shalvis (January 21, 2025)

Nothing shakes up your life quite like the disappearance of your parents and the fact your ex is the only person you trust to help you find out what happened to them. Reaching out to Noah Turner isn't at the top of Olivia Porter's to-do list, but she doesn't have a choice because he was a special investigative agent for the National Park Service. Of course he was good at his job and terrible at maintaining a relationship — at least that's what Olivia seems to think.

When they're forced to be in each other's orbit again, old feelings start to come up as the race to find Olivia's parents gets underway. But, Noah and Olivia will have to decide if they trust each other to stop living in their heads so they can have give love a real chance.

The Matchmaker by Aisha Saeed (February 4, 2025)

Nura Khan's following in her family's footsteps by continuing in the matchmaking business. She's super successful and has an amazing clientele due to how hard she works. Sadly, she's yet to put her skills to good use in her own romantic life. But, her childhood best friend decides to step in when she needs him the most. He's her childhood best friend who conjures up deep feelings in her even if he doesn't know it yet.

However, someone seems to have it out for her when a curated wedding crashes and burns among other odd occurrences. The more her work is sabotaged, the more Nura becomes convinced someone has it our for her. With the help of Azar and her team, she'll try to solve the mystery of who's toying with her before people get hurt.

First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison (February 11, 2025)

Aiden Valentine's become jaded by love even though he's hosting Baltimore's romance hotline, Heartstrings. He's tired of giving everyone else advice while his romantic life is all over the place, but he can't escape it after an interview with a young girl about her mom's dating life becomes popularized. That mom happens to be Lucie Stone.

In her eyes, she's doing a great job at work and has the support of her family. She never questioned things until her daughter called into Heartstrings and it makes her become open to love. Enter a collaboration with Aiden.

Though they're supposed to be helping Lucie's love life, there's a magnetic connection between them that's undeniable. Lucie knows this little "find romance" thing is meant for her, but she can't but wonder if it's closer than she or Aiden are willing to admit.

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

Jane and Dan's 19-year-old marriage has reached a crossroads that's threatening to send them in different directions. Well, it's mostly Jane who's become disenchanted with her life. She feels lost in motherhood, her career, and believes she's not the only person Dan has been with. Still, the couple decide to head to the luxurious restaurant La Fin du Monde in celebration of their anniversary. It's just Dan isn't suspecting Jane wants to drop a bombshell on him.

However, her plans are slashed into pieces when a climate activist group takes over the dining area. It's not just that, it seems like they've taken pages from book she wrote. She thought it was a failure, but apparently someone has been drawing inspiration from it.

Jane and Dan must rely on each other since they're privy to how this hostage situation will unfold. Although it's not what she had in mind, maybe it could be the very thing to put the spark back into their marriage.

Love and Other Paradoxes by Catriona Silvey (March 11, 2025)

Early Thirties by Josh Duboff (March 18, 2025)

Swept Away by Beth O'Leary (April 1, 2025)

One night stands are meant to be a "hit it and quit it" sort of thing, but running into a former fling is inevitable sometimes. What makes things awkward is when you become stranded with the person you didn't think you'd see again after a fun rump. That's exactly what happens to Zeke and Lexi when their sexy time overshadows logic.

While on Zeke's father's houseboat, neither of them make sure it's connected to the dock so they drift out and realize it much too late. Surrounded by a large body of water and minimal resources, Zeke and Lexi go from a one night stand to a mini version of Gilligan's Island, except they're not exactly laughing at their predicament at first.

But, their long talks begin to develop into much more and it proves that disasters are the best way to see what someone is made of.

Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry (April 22, 2025)

Emily Henry's gearing up for the release of a new Spring 2025 read and it has all the makings of a juicy rom-com, according to People.

When two writers find themselves on Little Crescent Island for a chance of a lifetime, a hilarious chase ensues as they rush to be chosen to write the biography of the mysterious Margaret Ives. Whereas Hayden Anderson is a Pulitzer-prize winning success, Alice Scott has been looking to make her mark as a writer. Though Alice doesn't want to think of it this way, she's pulled into the competitive nature of receiving Margaret's blessing because Hayden isn't letting up.

The problem is that Margaret isn't sharing everything she knows and the NDA the two have signed are making it difficult to decide what's worth adding to her story or not. The closer Alice and Hayden get to the finish line, the more their competition pulls them closer together for a steamy tale that'll leave your jaw on the floor by the time you read the last page.

One Golden Summerby Carley Fortune (May 6, 2025)

She's a decent photographer who spends time making other people look good, but she wonders if this is how she'll spend the rest of her life. No sooner than she has that thought, something happens to Nan that makes Alice want to take them back to Barry's Bay.

As soon as they arrive, someone familiar comes roaring by on the lake — Charlie Florek — and she feels like a giddy teen all over again. Though they're both adults, Charlie has a way of making her feel carefree, but she's afraid to open her heart. Could the change she's been looking for live in Barry's Bay?

Can't Get Enoughby Kennedy Ryan (May 13, 2025)

Hendrix Barry is the single, carefree, and sexy 'auntie' out of her friends — not that she's complaining. From the outside looking in, it seems like she doesn't have room to worry about anything. I mean, she's literally #careergoals in the flesh! But aside from the glitz and glamour of her life, Hendrix has to learn how to deal with being a caregiver for a parent.The last thing she needs is to add a man to her busy schedule — or so she thinks.

Her world bursts into a beautiful explosion of color when she meets sexy tech mogul Maverick Bell. He's as charming as as he is business savvy and seems to know how to knock Hendrix off her carefully planted feet. But, Maverick is the last person she's supposed to be with. The problem is that she can't seem to stay away from him.

Can't Get Enough is the final book of the Skyland series so make sure you read Before I Let Go and This Could Be Us to get introduced to the friends at the heart of each moving book!

The Most-Anticipated Thriller And Mystery Books Of 2025

The Drowning Game by Barbara Nickless (January 1, 2025)

Nadia and Cass Brenner have inherited Ocean House along with everything that comes with it. This means they've been set up for success by way of a successful yacht business that had elite clientele from America to Europe and are on their way to securing even more funding with the commission of an even bigger build for a wealthy billionaire. But just as they're on the brink of securing things, Cass' life is abruptly cut short.

The police wave it off as a suicide, but Nadia's intuition and sleuthing help her uncover the dangerous things Cass was involved in before her death. Unfortunately, she doesn't do a good job of evading the same world her sister was involved in and becomes embroiled in the dark web that eventually caught up with her sister.

The Perfect Home by Daniel Kenitz (January 7, 2025)

Dawn and Wyatt Decker are one of reality TV's beloved couples thanks to their show, The Perfect Home, but it seems like ego and fate have different plans for them. For starters, Dawn's never been keen to the idea of being a 'celebrity,' but Wyatt's always welcomed fame to the point he wants even more of it. One thing they agree on is the expansion of their family, but infertility issues have made it difficult for them to conceive due to Wyatt's medical issues.

However, his hunger to improve the situation turns sinister when he has an adverse reaction to fertility drugs. Though he and Dawn receive their miracle twins, Wyatt becomes a darker version of himself that Dawn can't recognize. When she decides to go on the run with their babies to protect them from her husband's new cruel nature, Wyatt convinces viewers and closed loved ones that Dawn is the one with the problem.

This mother will have to use her intellect and their past to put an end to the man she once knew. But it'll require her to trust allies in this fast-paced thriller.

The Unbecoming of Margaret Wolf by Isa Arsén (January 7, 2025)

Before long, Wesley receives a prestigious invitation by director Vaughn Kline to take part in a new Shakespeare project in New Mexico and Margaret makes the decision to tag along. But, they both find salacious things in the desert which threaten their marriage and sanity.

A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriageby Asia Mackay (January 14, 2025)

They decided to stop reaping the rewards of helping the world in their own twisted way to become a nuclear family and almost fooled themselves into thinking they'd put their pasts behind them. But Hazel can't stop thinking about the thrill of killing and it's really starting to bother her.

The slight problem is Fox is settling into the life they've built, especially where fatherhood is concerned. At the same time, he knows Hazel is struggling and completely understands her. There's no judgement from him until Hazel does the unthinkable and the police follow the breadcrumbs right to their front door.

Dead Money by Jakob Kerr (January 28, 2025)

Mackenzie Clyde is so great at fixing the problems of the most successful (and "ruthless" venture capitalist in Silicon Valley that she doesn't even blink twice when given tasks. She knows she's capable of handling them and seems to do so with great ease.

But when the CEO of a hot new startup is found murdered and leaves behind 'dead money,' Mackenzie realizes she's never played this kind of game before. The huge problem is that Mackenzie's boss was a chief investor in the startup which means there's money and cops on standby.

As always, Mackenzie is expected to fix this problem. Even though she's never dealt with something so grand, she's prepared to go down the list of high-value suspects until she discovers the necessary information that grants her to opportunity to move ahead in life.

You Are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego (February 11, 205)

Mila del Angél may have been an aspiring writer at one point, but her passion is reignited when famous author J.R. Alastor picks her to host a writing treat in Maine. No one knows Alastor's identity, but that's all a part of the fun. What's even more thrilling is the fact Mila isn't exactly best friends with one of the other guests that'll be attending.

Between the two of them, Alastor and Mila have created a week full of fun for the thriller authors, but no one knows that the latter is willing to kill the guest she's not a fan of. Before she can act, someone else is found dead and it has nothing to do with Mila.

Whoever is doing the killing knows every single trick there is to murder someone and disappear into obscurity which makes Mila wonder why she was truly chosen to host a retreat.

Kills Well With Others by Deanna Raybourn (March 11, 2025)

Claire, Darling by Callie Kazumi (March 11, 2025)

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

Killer Potential by Hannah Deitch (March 18, 2025)

Gothictown by Emily Carpenter (March 25, 2025)

Billie Hope's prayers are answered when she's given the chance to purchase a gorgeous Victorian home in Juliana, Georgia for $100. Anyone else wouldn't touch this offer with a 10-foot pole, but it's just the thing Billie's been waiting for. It'll give her a chance to leave bustling NYC behind and all of the pain that followed her family once she was forced to close her restaurant. And that's the other thing — the offer to buy the new home comes with the promise of a business grant to help her open a new eatery!

It doesn't take long for Billie, her husband Peter, and their young daughter Meredith to move to Juliana. They start to settle into their new life, oblivious to the tiny red flags that keep appearing. Over time, Billie begins having nightmares coupled with the hardships her marriage begins facing. Also, the town's elders continue to make their presence known in uncomfortable ways.

Despite the sugary sweet charm of the south, Billie begins wondering if she made a grave decision by moving her family to Juliana.

This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead (March 25, 2025)

Convinced the police aren't telling the truth about what happened, Jane and her friends try to start solving the case themselves. But, nothing is as clear as they'd hope it would be and they're convinced that someone may be waiting until the right moment to trap them.

The Perfect Divorce by Jeneva Rose (April 15, 2025)

Attorney Sarah Morgan's life has moved forward after she successfully proved her ex-husband Adam didn't kill the woman he had an affair with. With her new husband Bob Miller, all that matters is the bright future she's envisioned for herself. Unfortunately, Bob follows in Adam's footsteps by cheating and this angers Sarah.

It seems that her decision to file for divorce from him creates a ricochet effect that results in her ex-husband's case being reopened. Not only will Sarah have to deal with getting divorced, she'll also have to face the fact that some things don't stay buried.

The Murder Show by Matt Goldman (April 15, 2025)

Ethan Harris was once a popular showrunner whose series The Murder Show used to bring in high ratings. Following a private detective who solved hard cases, it was a fan favorite until the network decides Ethan's latest pitch isn't cutting it for them.

This sends him on a journey back home to Minnesota where he runs into his former classmate Ro Greeman. As luck would have it, she's a police officer who's recently started looking into the death of the friend Ricky. Though he was killed one summer, nothing truly was uncovered about his murder until now.

Ro feels that it'll be a great idea for Ethan to help figure out what really happened, encouraging him to pitch the hit and run death for The Murder Show. Ethan feels there's more to Ricky's death, but he agrees to the idea so their friend can receive the justice he never got.

But, Ethan and Ro have no idea what they've signed up.

Follow Me by Elizabeth Rose Quinn (May 6, 2025)

You Can't Hurt Meby Emma Cook (November 5, 2025)

The Most-Anticipated Family-Themed Books Of 2025

The Rules of Fortune by Danielle Prescod (February 1, 2025)

Written by veteran journalist Danielle Prescod, The Rules of Fortune follows the lives of the Carter Family. True to tradition, they gather for a moment of celebration in Martha's Vineyard and expect nothing out of the ordinary to happen. But when the patriarch dies, the media quickly swoops in with questions about the family's booming business. At the center of it all is Kennedy Carter.

She planned to debut a documentary she'd been working on prior to her father's death, but her plans shift when she begins wondering about who her father was. She's never cared for the niceties of coming from a wealthy family or the ruthless nature it takes to have the things they've been afforded.

The more she digs into her father's past, the more she realizes how little she knew about her family's empire and will be faced with a moral task that will follow her for the rest of her life.

The Motherload: Episodes from the Brink of Motherhood by Sarah Hoover (January 14, 2025)

She stopped feeling sure of herself and began to push everyone away as she grappled with everything from anxiety to shame. It didn't help that one of doctors traumatized her either. And when she gave birth? She didn't feel the flood of emotions other mothers did and it was confusing because she couldn't understand what was wrong with her.

We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes (February 11, 2025)

Lila Kennedy's suffering in the wake of having an unhappy marriage, daughters who won't listen, and more. She doesn't even know what's going on with her career anymore and feels like everything is in limbo.

Life seems to think she needs more hiccups when her dad decides to enter her life again. The wound he left when he decided to pursue a life in Hollywood over three decades ago is reopened, leaving Lila on the brink of exploding. Instead of doing that, her father's presence begins to crack the wall around her heart and teach everyone the most important lessons about having a family you love.

Tiltby Emma Pattee (March 4, 2025)

Annie is looking forward to the end of her nine-month pregnancy and is almost at the finish line when a detrimental earthquake shocks her town in Portland, Oregon. Having been at IKEA when it struck, she's left without a means to contact anyone which forces her to try to walk through destruction.She comes across others who are in need of help and even experiences the care of people she's never met before. The more Annie walks, the more she begins unpacking thinks about her marriage and her thoughts surrounding motherhood in a way that makes her want to approach life differently.

The Californians by Brian Castleberry (March 11, 2025)

Rabbit Moon by Jennifer Haigh (April 8, 2025)

Claire and Aaron Litvak's horrible divorce seems to be the least of their concern when their young daughter Lindsey is involved in a terrible car accident. They rush to her side at the hospital and wait with bated breath to see if their daughter will survive or not. Somehow this begins to not only unravel what caused Claire and Aaron to get divorced, but the former couple will begin to look at why Lindsey stopped talking to them. The only person who knows everything about Lindsey is her sister Grace.

Deciding to stay in Shanghai, Claire and Aaron struggle to adjust. Over time, they deal with the fact Lindsey's life may end along with the idea that she may have been hiding much bigger secrets.

The Beauty of the End by Lauren Stienstra (April 8, 2025)

The Bright Yearsby Sarah Damoff (April 22, 2025)

Ryan and Lillian Bright are in love with each other as well as the fact their young infant Georgette has been born. Everything seems great aside from the fact Lillian and Ryan are hiding things from each other. One has a secret son while the other grapples with a terrible alcohol addiction that manifests in huge ways as Georgette grows.

Things eventually reach a boiling point, leaving Georgette feeling jaded by the parents she thought she knew. It's around this time her half-brother begins searching for the his true family that pulls Georgette back. Somehow, they'll have to ask themselves if family is worth forgiving or not.

Old School Indian by Aaron John Curtis (May 6, 2025)

Abe Jacobs' unexpected diagnoses rattles him, but it also leads him back home to the Mohawk Reservation. It's the same place he was born and decided to leave once he became an adult. Somehow his healing journey, aided by his great uncle, exposes the parts of himself he's buried and allows him to see there's still much to look forward to in life.

The Most-Anticipated Fantasy Books Of 2025

The Outcast Mage by Annabel Campbell (January 28. 2025)

Ambessa: Chosen of the Wolf by C. L. Clark (February 18, 2025)

Ambessa Medarda is one of the most fearless women. Not only is she a mother, but she's proven herself ten times over as a general and warrior. It's to the point where everyone knows the Medardas can be ruthless when they're on a mission. In Ambessa's case, this has allowed her to reach the level of leading the Noxian empire. But, there's one person that stands in her way: her cousin and former friend, Ta'Fik.

He alone knows everything about Ambessa and doesn't believe she should be afforded such a powerful opportunity. This causes a split in the Medarda clan as family members because choosing sides. Among those who remain loyal to Ambessa is her daughter Mel. She's able to soften anyone's heart except her own mother. Ambessa doesn't think Mel has what it takes to fight for her right to rule, but that doesn't stop Mel from trying.

It's the reason why she's so willing to thrust herself in harm's way to prove her and her mother's worth...

The Most-Anticipated Self-Improvement & Spiritual Books Of 2025

Happy to Help by Amy Wilson (January 7, 2025)

This caused her to question why she'd allow herself to become a people-pleaser and she sought to delegate her tasks to others. Fed up with the way no one seemed to want to help, she decided that maybe she wasn't the only one with a problem.

Intention Obession: Rituals and Witchcraft for Every Season by Erica Feldmann (January 14, 2025)

Beyond Anxiety: Curiosity, Creativity, and Finding Your Life's Purpose by Martha Beck (January 7, 2025)

Go Higher: Five Practices for Purpose, Success, and Inner Peace by Big Sean (January 21, 2025)

You may know him as the successful rapper Big Sean, but Sean Anderson proves there's more to him than meets the eye in Go Higher: Five Practices for Purpose, Success, and Inner Peace. Despite his success, he's still experienced highs and lows like everyone else, even going as far to name his anxiety and depression.

He introduces readers to key moments that shaped his life — from signing with Kanye West to learning how to cultivate healthy relationships with others. Along the way, Sean has learned how to self-reflect and do the work to become a better person which is why he decided to write Go Higher: Five Practices for Purpose, Success, and Inner Peace.

Outlined as accepting, strategizing, trying, trusting, and manifesting, these five practices will help you work out your day to day life in a way that feels practical.

Single: Living a Complete Life on Your Own Terms by Nicola Slawson (February 11, 2025)

Me, But Betterby Olga Khazan (March 11, 2025)

Olga Khazan couldn't figure out why she was unhappy despite having a beautiful relationship and the career she'd always wanted. She's always known she's been an overachiever, but she started to fear that it was getting in the way of her enjoying the fruits of her labor. Thus began an experiment that lasted 365 days.

She wanted to know if it's possible to completely change your personality so she dived into the five traits that make it up — extroversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness, openness, and neuroticism. Based on the research she looked at, Olga realized that consistency plays a role in shaping or changing our personalities — except she had to do a ton of faking to even remotely see a change.

What she found is everything she's willing to share in Me, But Better, but it doesn't end the way you think it does.

Renegade Grief: A Guide to the Wild Ride of Life After Loss by Carla Fernandez (March 11, 2025)

Experiencing loss and the subsequent grief that often follows in inevitable, but what happens when time seems to move on in the midst of your heartache? Carla Fernandez explores this in Renegade Grief by sharing how she navigated life once her father passed. She helped found The Dinner Party to help teens and kids face death head-on instead of pretending it's something that shouldn't be discussed.

You'll find stories of people who experienced true grief and what they learned in the process. In turn, it'll serve as a guide that none of us are as alone as we think when suffering from loss. Even more, you'll be inspired to find ways to learn how to start living again.

Good Stress: The Health Benefits of Doing Hard Things by Jeff Krasno with Schuyler Grant (March 25, 2025)

How to Giggle: A Guide to Taking Life Less Seriouslyby Hannah Berner and Paige DeSorbo (April 15, 2025)

The Most-Anticipated Historical Books Of 2025

Give Her Credit by Grace L. Williams (January 1, 2025)

Grace L. Williams dives into that and more in Give Her Credit, shining a light on how women like B. LaRae Orullian, Carol Green, Judi Foster, and more changed the way the world looked at women's finances. They dared to break barriers in Denver so that marginalized communities would have the resources to do the unthinkable — kind of like how we've been doing ever since.

Jane Austen's Bookshelf by Rebecca Romney (February 18, 2025)

Book dealer Rebecca Romney has always loved reading Jane Austen's work because she appreciates how the author has always centered women, but she always wondered about other writers who dared to do the unthinkable during a time where women weren't taken as seriously.

Though she knew Jane Austen had to have been influenced by them, Romney wanted to know more about them. To her surprise, it was hard to find information on the other great literary minds of during that time that weren't men. So, Romney decided to write Jane Austen's Bookshelf to uncover where these women went by highlighting names like Ann Radcliffe, Elizabeth Inchbald, and Maria Edgeworth.

By the time you finish reading this insightful novel, you may feel compelled to do a bit of research yourself!

Smother by Rachel Richardson (February 18, 2025)

Rachel Richardson's new poetry collection examines a question we've all asked ourselves: "Can children be raised in a world plagued with climate control issues?" As a mother who's grieving the loss of a dear friend, Richardson lyrically documents the Californian fires via poems filled with despair and other heavy emotions. She also finds a way to connect the world's burning to the injustices and changes women's bodies experience in a lifetime.

Smother is beautifully written and invites us to find ways to answer tough questions while sitting with emotions we'd rather run from.

Most Anticipated Cookbooks

Eat What Elephants Eat: Vegan Recipes for a Strong Body and a Gentle Spirit by Dominick Thompson (January 7, 2025)

Kick off the new year with a very promising cookbook full of the yummiest vegan recipes I've ever seen! You'll find 80 meals you can easily recreate at home from Saturday Morning Nostalgia Pancakes to Jackfruit Tacos with Mango-Corn Salsa and Avocado "Cream." My mouth is already watering thinking about how amazing these recipes will taste.

The Fishwife Cookbook: Delightful Tinned Fish Recipes for Every Occasion by Becca Millstein & Vilda Gonzalez (February 25, 2025)

Think you can't create a ton of meals based on tinned fish? Think again because The Fishwife Cookbook wants to debunk that myth. These recipe are for the busy soul who can't be bothered to thaw out fish and want to spend more time binge watching Sullivan's Crossing like they've never seen it. You'll find everything from Tinned Smoked Salmon Deviled Eggs (OMG!) to Lamb Bolognese with Cantabrian Anchovies! If you ask us, these recipes sound like the best thing to eat while sipping a nice glass of wine!