10 Books Ideal for Your Holiday Travels

No one really likes holiday travel. But since it’s the one time of the year that everyone comes together, if you find yourself spending time in the car, on a plane, or even a long subway ride this season, we suggest you bring a few books as companions. Whether your taste runs to romance, thrillers, or page-turning biographies, here are some of the season’s best new books worthy of a spot in your travel bag.

Nell and Lady

Growing up as close as sisters, Nell and Lady never thought they’d see the day where they were no longer friends. But after a shocking secret is revealed on Lady’s 16th birthday, the girls become something closer to strangers. Nearly 30 years later, Lady’s mother is on her deathbed and has one final wish: a reconciliation between Nell and Lady. Reconnecting, the two longtime friends will confront their difficult pasts and set a new example for their own daughters. This touching story of friendship and forgiveness will leave you grateful for the friends in your life.

My Sister, the Serial Killer

This short novel packs a big punch. Taking a satirical approach to the ever-popular thriller genre, Braithwaite tells the story of two sisters with a secret. Ayoola has always been the favorite child, but what her parents and the outside world don’t know is that she’s a killer, and her sister Korede has gotten really good at cleaning up her messes. But when Korede’s crush takes interest in her sister, she must do everything in her power to keep the two apart.

Until the Last Star Fades

This complex and tender romance novel from Jacquelyn Middleton tells the story of Riley Hope, a college senior who seems appears to have it all. But what people don’t know is that Riley struggles with depression and is doing her best to keep it all together… and then she meets Ben. As Riley and Ben get to know one another, they find that their new relationship is exactly what they both needed. Can they learn to confide in each other and unleash their deepest secrets?

Never Grow Up

Beloved icon Jackie Chan brings readers inside his life in this remarkable new memoir. At 64, Chan isn’t looking forward to retirement — there’s so much more he wants to accomplish in life. In Never Grow Up, the actor takes his fans and followers through his many successes, failures, and the moments that forever changed his life. This honest memoir is a positive and illuminating read that not only makes the perfect travel companion but also makes a great gift for anyone on your holiday shopping list.

One Minute to Zen: Go from Hot Mess to Mindful Mom in One Minute or Less

Mother or not, finding a little peace during the holiday season is something to strive for. Ali Katz’s One Minute to Zen provides insightful tips and anecdotes for anyone feeling overwhelmed by their day-to-day obligations. This short but impactful book is a guide every woman should check out.

Five Feet Apart

If you loved John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars, you’re going to fall hard for this new release from Rachael Lippincott. Stella and Will are both battling life-threatening illnesses; when they meet, they begin to see that life is better when they’re together. Knowing that their relationship could put them both in serious danger, they’re willing to risk it all if it means no longer living with a broken heart. (Be sure to pack a few tissues in your carry-on for this one.)

River Bodies

River Bodies has the perfect blend ofentertainment and thrill for your winter travels. Becca Kingsley is headed back to her hometown now that her father is sick; she doesn’t anticipate getting thrown into the middle of a murder investigation. As she teams up with the lead detective on the case, the two make it their mission to find out what really happened to the bodies washing up in their local river. But when their search digs up shocking secrets, they’ll come to find that some things are better left undiscovered.

Night of Miracles

The holiday season is all about connecting, whether with loved ones or new friends, and Elizabeth Berg’s new novel will inspire you to bond with those in your life this winter. After the passing of her good friend Arthur Truluv, Lucille keeps herself busy by teaching baking classes inspired by Arthur himself. When a new family moves into the neighborhood and a sudden tragedy rocks the entire community, Lucille will step up and do whatever it takes to support the family and take care of their young son.

The River Widow

This enchanting historical fiction novel showcases the power of women to do whatever it takes to save the ones they love. It’s 1937 and Adah has just killed her abusive husband. Covering up the accidental murder, she gets rid of the body in a nearby river — only to be swept up in the current herself. Escaping the near-death experience, she skips town with her stepdaughter, knowing her late husband’s family will soon be looking to hold Adah accountable for her actions. But when Adah meets a new man who promises her a sparkly new life, she’ll be forced to make a radical decision that will affect the lives of everyone involved.

The House Next Door

Looking for a book to read between stops on the subway? This winter release is packed with three new thrilling stories, perfect for the suspense junkie. From a suspicious new neighbor to a kidnapping and a visit from extraterrestrials, this story collection is a surefire way to get you through even the most strenuous travel days.

Jennifer Lopez may be all over our FYPs, but she's also about to be all over the big screen as well. As some of you may know, she's producing the amazing Emily Henry adaptation Happy Place,and now she's set to work on a new romance with Ted Lasso star and writer Brett Goldstein. And guess what? The two will star in the film as well! Keep reading for all the latest information on the new movie — and Brett Goldstein's IRL crush on J-Lo ;).

What do we know about Office Romance so far?

Frazer Harrison / Getty

According to Deadline, there was a huge bidding war over the Office Romance rom-com, and Netflix ended up winning. Jennifer Lopez's production company, Nuyorican Films, is going to be working on it, thanks to Jennifer's multi-movie deal with Netflix.

As to who will star in it? Jennifer Lopez and Brett Goldstein themselves! Both are playing dual roles of writer/actor and producer/actress. We've all seen Brett Goldstein's incredible writing at play with Ted Lasso, and now we can't wait to see how it translates in this office romance with J-Lo. Brett will be writing the film alongside writer Joe Kelly.

Has cast information been shared? 

Yes! One of Netflix Film shared news about the cast today on Instagram and we're in disbelief over how good it is. Just Jared also shared who everyone will be playing which makes us even more eager to watch Office Romance. Here's the full cast list:

  • Jennifer Lopez as Jackie Cruz
  • Brett Goldstein as Daniel Blanchflower
  • Betty Giplin as Sydney
  • Edward James Olmos as Captain Jack Cruz, Jackie's father
  • Bradley Whitford as Peter Vance
  • Amy Sedaris as Julie Schatz
  • Jodie Whittaker as Lizzy
  • Mary Wiseman as Clair
  • Roger Bart as William Butten
  • Tony Hale as George Zein
  • Rick Hoffman as Carl Gunderson
  • Natalie Ortega as Heather
  • Jackie Sandler as Caroline
  • Tony Plana as Francisco Alberto
  • Michelle Hurd as Rachel Goldberg
  • Mo Welch as Debbie
  • Donald Elise Watkins as Henry
  • Brian Gallivan as Frederick
  • Ali Stroker as Maggie
  • Scott Seiss as Dave
  • Lisa Gilroy as Tanya
  • Will Sasso as Larry

How does Brett Goldstein feel about J-Lo?

David Livingston / Getty

Immediately after news was released about the two co-starring together, fans were so quick to find a clip on X from an interview in 2018 where Brett is talking about J-Lo's movie, Hustlers. He says in the interview, "She's 50! 50! I love her." He then goes on to say, in regards to a scene where Jennifer cuddles another actress in the movie, "I've never wanted to be cuddled more. That is one of the best cuddles. Give me one of your special cuddles." Based on this reaction, we just know their chemistry is about to be off the charts!

What else is Jennifer Lopez working on?

Amazon

Office Romance isn't the only rom-com J.Lo is working on! She's also working on adapting the EmHen book Happy Place for Netflix, which we all know and love (Hi, Emily. We love you!). It will be a multiple-part series on the platform with Leila Cohan from Bridgerton co-Executive producing it.

According to Deadline, Cohan will be the showrunner and co-writer for the series, which we are so excited for as Bridgerton-lovers! As for other future projects, we can't wait to see more news of projects J.Lo is working on, because if these two are any signifiers, then we know it must be good! You can also stream The Mother and Atlas on Netflix now.

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Jenna Bush Hager chose Holly Gramazio's The Husbands as her book club's April pick in 2024 and it became an instant bestseller. Evidently, Apple TV took notice and decided it would be an excellent idea to adapt it into a new drama series! We're fond of adaptations here, so we're elated to this fresh storyline come to life. But, guess what else we're intrigued about?

The Husbands series has already found it's lead star in Ted Lasso and Fargo actress Juno Temple! Her characters are fan favorites, so we're sure she's going to do her lead role in this series justice.

Scroll to learn more exhilarating news about The Husbands series!

What is 'The Husbands' about?

Amazon

The Husbands chronicles one woman's journey as she explores an ever-changing life with different men she's never met before. But this isn't a tale of reckless one-night stands. On the contrary, Lauren will be as confused as readers and viewers because she's not sure what's happening.

It all begins with her return to her home and the realization that a man who's strangely familiar with her is calling himself her husband. Unbeknownst to her, she's been married to Michael for a while despite not knowing who he is. What's even more ironic is that her friends think something's wrong with her because they know who her husband is.

In the midst of trying to decipher this phenomenon, Lauren's shocked when Michael disappears into the attic and a new man returns in his place. As she watches her surroundings change to accommodate life with him, Lauren slowly realizes her attic has created a portal that allows her to live out different fantasies with a revolving door of men. But, she'll have to ask herself what she really wants and if she's willing to hang on to one reality instead of wishing for more.

Has more cast information been released?

Diana Patient

Holly Gramazio, Author of The Husbands

We know Juno Temple will star in The Husbands, but there haven't been more cast announcements just yet (via Variety). There's so many options for the many spouses she could have which makes us want to dream about our own casting wishlist.

Who's the executive producers of the series?

Diana Patient

Holly Gramazio, Author Of The Husbands

According to Apple TV+, writer Miriam Battye (Succession) will be executive producing The Husbands with Craig Gillespie (I, Tonya), and Annie Marter of Fortunate Jack Productions (The Devil All The Time), author Holly Gramazio and A24.

We love when authors are allowed to give their input in TV or film adaptations!

When will 'The Husbands' premiere on Apple TV? 

Production hasn't started on The Husbands TV series yet, but we'll share more information once it's available!

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Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

Flying doesn’t always have to be a stressful, chaotic experience. In fact, there are plenty of genius tricks to keep in your back pocket to make traveling as seamless and smooth as possible! From sneaky packing strategies to in-flight essentials you didn’t know you needed, these 7 simple travelhacks might just change the way you fly forever.

Scroll on for our 7 go-to travel hacks for making the trip easier every time.

Timur Weber / PEXELS

1. Roll your clothes.

Rolling your clothes is a huge help in saving space inside your backpack, duffle bag, or suitcase. Rolling garments tightly and packing them in is surprisingly much more efficient than traditional folding methods – plus it reduces wrinkles. Rolling comes in especially handy for bulkier items like maxi dresses, jeans, and jackets.

Timur Weber / PEXELS

2. Use packing cubes.

If you want to maximize even more space within your bag, packing cubes are definitely worth investing in. You can still roll your garments to pack ‘em, but placing them in packing cubes compresses their size down further. Plus, with multiple packing cubes, you can label each one and keep your things organized and easily accessible.

Tima Miroshnichenko / PEXELS

3. Bring an empty water bottle.

If you’re not doing this at the airport, what are you doing?! Probably spending $8 on a single bottled water. C’mon – bringing an empty water bottle is the simplest of all travel hacks. Just arrive with it completely empty to later fill it after passing through the TSA line. You’ll avoid paying for overpriced airport water and have limitless refill opportunities, even after you've arrived at your destination.

Valeriia Miller / PEXELS

4. Stuff small items inside shoes.

In the vein of more space-saving packing tricks, don’t underestimate the power of your shoes! From sneakers to boots, it’s so easy to use the insides of them to pack socks, lip balms, phone chargers, jewelry, or other small items.

Anna Shvets / PEXELS

5. Use a pill organizer for small items.

You can also easily leverage a pill organizer for the smallest of your small items like rings, earrings, earplugs, and more. Of course, you can still use a pill organizer for necessary medications or those ‘just in case’ painkillers.

Samantha Mandato / PEXELS

6. Bring a travel pillow and eye mask.

Travel pillows and eye masks are absolutely essential for long flights, or even shorter trips that you foresee yourself sleeping on. Bring them on your next flight, and you’ll immediately notice the difference from not flying with these must-have accessories.

Anna Gordon / Dupe

7. Download entertainment before you board.

Finally, to avoid risking total in-flight boredom, make sure you plan ahead and download your desired form of entertainment beforehand! Since you can’t always rely on in-flight wifi, pick out and download the movies, music, or audiobooks you want to tune into in advance. For a screen-free moment, you can never go wrong with a book or crossword puzzle booklet!

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As 1923 comes to a close, you might be wondering, What should I watch after 1923? Well you've come to right place because on the latest episode of Yap City, Brit + Co hosts Kayla and Chloe (that's me!) chat about the best Western TV shows to add to your watchlist. From When Calls The Heart for romance fans to Billy the Kid for Tom Blyth lovers, these shows can't be missed.

Here are the best Western shows to watch after you finish 1923 season 2.

What should I watch after 1923?

There are plenty of TV shows any 1923 fan will love (beyond 1883 and Yellowstone of course!)

5 TV Shows To Watch After You Finish '1923' Season 2

Emerson Miller/Paramount+

Landman — Stream on Paramount+

In this Taylor Sheridan show, crisis executive Tommy Norris is fighting to secure his company's spot in the oil business during a fuel boom. Easier said than done. 1923 fans, keep your eyes peeled for Michelle Randolph!

Landman is on Paramount+ and stars Billy Bob Thornton, Ali Larter, Michelle Randolph, Jacob Lofland, Kayla Wallace, James Jordan, Mark Collie, Paulina Chávez, Demi Moore, Jon Hamm, Andy Garcia, and Michael Peña.

Prime Video

Outer Range — Stream on Prime Video

If you like your Westerns with a side of sci-fi, tune into Outer Range. This show follows the Abbott family, who are trying to protect their ranch while also reconciling their daughter-in-law's disappearance. But things get even crazier when a black void appears.

Outer Range is on Prime Video and stars Josh Brolin, Lili Taylor, Noah Reid, and Imogen Poots.

Hallmark Media

When Calls the Heart — Stream on Hallmark+

1923 fans who can't get enough of Spencer & Alex's romance will want to watch When Calls the Heart, which follows teacher Elizabeth Thatcher as she relocates to the small town of Coal Valley, and faces all kinds of love, loss, and adventure.

When Calls the Heart is on Hallmark+ and stars Erin Krakow, Kevin McGarry, Pascale Hutton, Jaeda Lily Miller, Kavan Smith, Andrea Brooks, Chris McNally, Martin Cummins, Viv Leacock, and Jack Wagner.

David Brown/MGM+

Billy The Kid — Stream on MGM+

Before he became the infamous outlaw, Billy was just a kid who experienced all kinds of heartbreak, fell in love, and got into plenty of trouble. Watch our interview with star Tom Blyth!

Stream Billy The Kid on MGM+ and see Tom Blyth, Eileen O'Higgins, Daniel Webber, and Alex Roe.

Ursula Coyote/Netflix

Godless — Stream on Netflix

Godless is the perfect show for 1923 fans because it reorients the cowboy narrative we're all familiar with. It follows a supposed traitor named Roy who's chased by a gang of outlaws to La Belle, a town nearly entirely governed by women after a mining accident killed almost all the husbands, fathers, and brothers.

Godless is on Netflix and stars Jack O'Connell, Michelle Dockery, Scoot McNairy, Merritt Wever, and Thomas Brodie-Sangster.

Will there be another series after 1923?

Paramount

There are a few more Yellowstone spinoffs on their way! In addition to the new show The Madison with Michelle Pfeiffer, it looks like we're also getting a spinoff about Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler.

What order to watch Yellowstone 1883 and 1923?

Emerson Miller/Paramount+

If you're new to the Yellowstone universe, you can watch the shows in chronological order or in release order, depending on how you want to experience the story. If you want to watch chronologically (my personal favorite), watch the shows in the following order:

  • 1883
  • 1923
  • Yellowstone

But if you want to watch in release order, watch this way:

  • Yellowstone
  • 1883
  • 1923

Check out even more Western show recommendations with our 17 TV Shows For Yellowstone Fans!

Gingham dresses are one of our most-anticipated spring dress trends, and we’ve been on the hunt for the perfect pieces ever since they came back on the scene. Charming and nostalgic, gingham maxi dresses in particular are so stunning for springtime. They offer the playfulness of the classic pattern plus plenty of coverage so you can easily navigate the everyday. After searching high and low, we’re bringing you the 9 of the sweetest gingham maxi dresses from our go-to retailers!

Scroll on to shop the cutest gingham maxi dresses for spring!

Nordstrom

Princess Polly Cartmel Gingham Check Maxi Dress

This prairie-inspired dress is so sweet. It's got plenty of coverage, though the upper half fitted with a square neckline leans more femme and flirty. The flowy skirt just barely grazes the floor, enhancing the breeziness of the design! Plus, we adore that the gingham is a bit bulkier, as opposed to more micro patterns.

Reformation

Reformation Kiria Dress

This pick's complete with a totally-smocked bodice that hugs your upper half in the best way possible. It also comes down on your waist a bit further than you'd expect, supplying an elongating drop waist effect (which is super trendy at the mome). The cap sleeve-high neck combo feel undeniably cutesy together – we'd pair this dress with some ballet flats for an easy get-up.

Quince

Quince 100% European Linen Scoop Neck Midi Dress

This dress' silhouette is fairly simple, meaning you can style it in endless ways for spring and summer. No matter what you wear it with, it's especially nice on the waistline, thanks to the subtle pleating and stretchy, smocked back panel.

Urban Outfitters

Kimchi Blue Renee Smocked Maxi Dress

To amp up the feminine vibes even further, this maxi dress is dotted in illustrations of bows and lil' fruits that recall the spring season perfectly! The straps in the back make a criss-cross shape that's both pretty and practical for holding you in.

Abercrombie & Fitch

Abercrombie & Fitch Emerson Poplin Puff Sleeve Midi Dress

Abercrombie & Fitch simply kills it in the dress department every time. Case in point is this drop-dead gorgeous red gingham number that's elevated by some puff sleeves and a stylish tiered skirt. All the details found throughout this piece make it feel so whimsical and wonderfully comfy for spring outings.

Reformation

Reformation Elvira Dress

Bubble hem? Check. Open back? Check. This Reformation dress has it all, especially if you're all about taking on the latest fashion trends. It even has a subtle drop waist for an undeniable princess feel.

Nordstrom

City Chic Valley Check Maxi Dress

The sleeves on this adorable green number come with ties for a unique detail you can't often find in other gingham maxi dresses.

Nordstrom

Dôen Emmaretta Gingham Pleated Voile Maxi Dress

With a milkmaid neckline, this maxi is downright dreamy. It's also tastefully embellished with some ruffles and bows up front, adding to the vibe even more. We'd rock this cutie with some white Mary Jane flats or even brown cowgirl boots to pair up with the sheer timelessness of gingham.

Abercrombie & Fitch

Abercrombie & Fitch Mila Stretch Midi Dress

The vertical seaming on this A&F dress give it a flattering quality, smoothing and shaping your waist to a tee. What's more is the cotton-blend fabric it's cut from is infused with a good amount of stretch to ensure it's comfy all day long!

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