Picture this: You’re halfway through Valentine’s Day dinner when you take a quick trip to the bathroom mirror, only to spot — gasp — an angry, red blemish (the only red you *don’t* want to be seeing that day). In the grand scheme of things it might not seem like much, but there’s no arguing that it can be a bit of a bummer when you’re all dolled up with romantic date night makeup (no small feat). Luckily for you, this momentary concern can be solved in a flash, thanks in no small part to the contents of your purse. This Valentine’s Day we’re going out prepared, stocking our clutches with a few makeup essentials for any and all possible blunders. Scroll on for the seven products you won’t want to be without, whatever your February 14 plans might be.
I'm not trying to rush into a new year, but 2025 is looking incredibly promising based on the new books coming our way. At this point, I'm going to need more bookshelves to keep up with the influx of electrifying novels I keep adding to my growing TBR pile. So, here's the inside scoop on all the most-anticipated books for next year that you'll want to start thinking about — and even pre-order!
You know I love being your book bestie, so let's jump into these juicy titles and plots that have me buzzing with excitement!
The Most-Anticipated New Book Of 2025:
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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.
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Bearer of Bad News by Elisabeth Dini (April 29, 2025)
The Most-Anticipated Rom-Com Books Of 2025
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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.
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Accidentally Amyby Lynn Painter (January 14, 2025)
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Early Thirties by Josh Duboff (March 18, 2025)
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Kills Well With Others by Deanna Raybourn (March 11, 2025)
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Claire, Darling by Callie Kazumi (March 11, 2025)
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All the Other Mothers Hate Me by Sarah Harman (March 11, 2025)
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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.
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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.
Though she survived what happened in Delphine, Jane's never talked about it until now.
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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.
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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.
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You Can't Hurt Meby Emma Cook (November 5, 2025)
The Most-Anticipated Family-Themed Books Of 2025
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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The Californians by Brian Castleberry (March 11, 2025)
In between Tobey and Klaus' story lies that of the latter's granddaughter. Diane "Di" Stiegl began to make a career for herself as an artist in NYC during the 80s who manages to use art to paint a tale of the American presidency and pop culture at the time. Somehow this garners her the things her grandfather tried to hold onto.
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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.
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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
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The Outcast Mage by Annabel Campbell (January 28. 2025)
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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
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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.
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Intention Obession: Rituals and Witchcraft for Every Season by Erica Feldmann (January 14, 2025)
Feldmann takes great care to prioritize Intention Obsession by the zodiac so we're able to learn about each's archetypal powers. There's also a host of "DIY projects" that range from starting your own garden to hosting an epic dinner party!
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Beyond Anxiety: Curiosity, Creativity, and Finding Your Life's Purpose by Martha Beck (January 7, 2025)
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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.
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Single: Living a Complete Life on Your Own Terms by Nicola Slawson (February 11, 2025)
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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!
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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
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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.
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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!
Visit out Amazone Storefront to read our top fall 2024 book picks before pre-ordering these 2025 finds!
Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.
This post has been updated.
Major Outer Banks season 4 part 2 spoilers ahead. Like, the biggest spoiler of the whole series.
Outer Banks season 4 has come and gone, and after just completely weeping during the finale, I'm ready to commune with my fellow heartbroken Pogues. We've had four seasons of crazy adventures around the OBX (and around the world), and after surviving yet another storm, finally finding the Blue Crown, and even beginning a reconciliation with Rafe, we had to say goodbye to one of the Pogues during part 2— and I'm so genuinely upset I don't know if I can watch the show again. Here's what actually happened during that insane Outer Banks season 4 ending.
- Outer Banks season 4 part 2 premiered on Netflix November 7.
- Among various plot twists, the series shocked viewers by killing off one fan favorite character.
- Here's why the tragedy was "the overarching plan for the show."
Is Rudy Pankow leaving OBX?
Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix
After traveling to Morocco to find the Blue Crown, the Pogues (and Rafe, who I guess is a Pogue now??) once again find themselves in a race against Chandler Groff and Dalia & Lightener. Our favorite couples get some quality time, like JJ and Kiara talking about the legend that the crown grants wishes, but right when the group finally starts to crack the treasure map, a sand storm splits them up: Sarah and John B. running from Dalia's men, and Pope and Cleo holding off Lightener while JJ and Kiara find the crown.
And things look up when JJ actually does find the crown! And he and Kiara escape Dalia! But when they run into Groff, who holds Kiara at knifepoint, JJ is forced to choose between the crown and the girl he loves. He willingly gives the crown up, pulling Kiara to safety in a heartbreaking parallel to their sweet hug from season 1. And in a moment of heartless cruelty, Groff stabs JJ anyway, leaving him in Kiara's arms as Groff runs away with the treasure.
It's truly one of the most devastating scenes in recent TV. Kie sits with JJ as he struggles to breathe and he asks her to take care of the other Pogues before telling her he already got his wish — her. They say one final "I love you" and JJ dies. I'm not exaggerating when I tell you I was weeping.
Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix
"It’s something that's engineered to be gratuitous," showrunner Shannon Burke told EW. "JJ totally is at peace, that’s the intent. He’s gotten past this. He’s been in a bad place and has been spinning for a lot of the season...And you feel when he comes back [after saving Sarah] that he’s in a better place and that there’s a long and bright future with him and Kiara, so it makes it extra tragic, what happens." Yeah, Shannon, you could say that.
“We wanted to begin in a place of innocence and then go to a place that at least one point to go is really dark for [the kids], and then have them come out of it," he adds in a Deadline interview. "That’s the overarching plan for the show. It was always JJ that was going to be, we just weren’t sure how we were going to play it.”
Is JJ coming back in season 5?
Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix
I'm simultaneously pissed and very impressed with this finale. JJ's death immediately started trending on social media, and the fact that a single scene could get such a visceral reaction from millions of fans shows how much we care about this character. And the realization that burying him in Morocco fulfills his greatest fear of being left alone?? I can't handle it.
Despite the fact John B. checks JJ's pulse and we can see Rafe digging JJ's grave in the sand, some fans are hoping the show will bring him back after Ward, Big John, and Sarah have all technically returned from the dead. The show hasn't forayed into true supernatural territory yet, but if the crown really does grant Kie and rest of the Pogues a wish? I'm certain they'd wish JJ back to life.
"Why would they create a treasure with the power of invincibility and wishes if it wasn’t significant?" one X user says in a viral thread. "So either Chandler finds JJ's body in Morocco and uses the crown on him or Kie / the Pogues will wish for JJ's life back."
Stranger Things 4 brought a version of Billy (Dacre Montgomery) back to haunt Sadie Sink's Max, so at the very least we could see memories or scenes with JJ we've never seen before. "I wouldn’t put [Rudy Pankow's return] out of the realm of possibility, Shannon told EW. "I wouldn’t say for sure but I wouldn’t be surprised if it happened."
Is Sarah pregnant in OBX 4?
Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix
With the "death of the fandom's favorite character" of it all, you might have forgotten that yes — Sarah Cameron is pregnant! Season 5 is sure to give us some more info about the baby and parents-to-be, but considering JJ, who's the baby's godfather, suggested his name is a great gender-neutral option, there's a chance we already know the baby's name ;). It would be the perfect way to honor him TBH.
What's up with the rest of the Pogues?
Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix
In addition to Sarah's pregnancy, she also finally starts to make up with Rafe, who finds himself stuck with the Pogues in Morocco. Cleo has somewhat avenged Terrance's murder with Lightener's death — even though Pope's the one who will take the fall for it. Killing one of this season's bad guys was a huge step for Pope since John B. wasn't able to pull the trigger. And considering Pope is still on the run from the cops AND the Marines are waiting on him I have no idea what's in store for him next season.
But the showrunners did give us a clue as to what the final season of Outer Banks will revolve around: revenge.
What's going to happen in Outer Banks season 5?
Netflix
“[Revenge] is where we start but I think it will go through different iterations,” Jonas Pate says (via Deadline). “If you look at The Count of Monte Cristo, one of the greatest revenge stories, you start with revenge, but it goes to understanding and forgiveness, so revenge goes on to different iterations of that, but revenge is where we start for sure.”
In the final moments of the Outer Banks season 4 ending, the Pogues sit around a fire in the aftermath of JJ's death. And when they finally acknowledge that JJ wouldn't rest until he had avenged them, Kiara vows to get even and it's one of the most chilling moments of her entire character arc.
"What’s interesting about her is she’s this 'save the turtles, save the dolphins' kind of person, and when you see her at the end of [season] 4, she definitely does not look that like anymore," Shannon Burke tells EW. "She has turned into a different person and we’re excited for that and [Madison Bailey's] really excited for that."
"We’re planning a story of redemption, and a season that embodies the friendship that JJ had come to represent," co-creators Josh and Jonas Pates tell Netflix. "JJ's death was a hard but necessary piece of the architecture for the story, and we plan on honoring that as much as we can because we love the character as much as the fans do."
What did you think of the Outer Banks season 4 ending? Let us know on Instagram.
As the holiday season creeps closer, the excitement and, for some, the dread of finding the perfect gift for everyone returns. People can be fussy when it comes to gifts, and wishlists can grow unbelievably long. Luckily, we made a cheat sheet for you with a treasure trove of gift ideas covering every taste and budget. Whether you're shopping for your Mom, kids, or even your next-door neighbor, we have a collection of ideas to keep your loved ones happy. Scroll down and take notes to enjoy the holidays with minimal stress.
Thanks for reading about our favorite finds from across the internet! FYI: We participate in affiliate programs and may get a share of the revenue from your purchase.Serve Up A Stunning Charcuterie Board
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This handy charcuterie board has a hidden compartment to store the cheese knives, which makes it easy to keep everything in one place. Just imagine the stunning display of meat and cheese that will fit on this board.
See it on AmazonThis Massage Gun Soothes Tired Muscles
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Sore muscles? Try this Turonic GM5 Massage Gun, which loosens tight muscles and promotes blood flow. "So glad I spent more money and bought an excellent massager. This thing is professional quality," said one reviewer.
See it on AmazonPamper and Refresh Your Skin with Botanical Soap
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The Australian botanical soap bars are a luxurious choice for your skincare routine. With its exquisite blend of natural ingredients, rich lather, and enchanting botanical scent, every shower becomes a spa-worthy experience.
See it on AmazonGet a Spa-Like Treatment at Home With the Personal Microderm Pro
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The Personal Microderm Pro gives you a spa-like treatment in the comfort of your own home. It gently lifts dead, dull skin, leaving you a smoother and brighter look.
See it on AmazonYes, You Can Get a Smokeless Grill
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How cool is that? A smokeless grill? We didn't even know those existed until now! But luckily for us, they do, and if you're interested in cooking up your favorite meals on the grill without having to actually go outside and grill, you should get this indoor electric grill on Prime Day this year.
See it on AmazonThere Are 50 Sheet Masks In This Glow-Up Set
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This huge sheet face mask set has 50 masks for every skin need. Korean sheet masks are packed with nourishing goodies, like oat extract, charcoal, and royal jelly, to brighten up and hydrate dull skin.
See it on AmazonThe Packing Cubes That Help You Fit More Into Your Suitcase
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Not only can these packing cubes help you fit more into your suitcase, but they can also help you keep everything organized and wrinkle-free. One reviewer wrote, "I’m normally one for rolling my clothes but these packing cubes added even more organization and maximized space in my suit case. I really liked that it comes with a laundry bag as well."
See it on AmazonThis Weighted Blanket Could Give You a More Restful Sleep
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A quilted blanket can help you get restful sleep and reduce anxiety. Its seven-layer design is filled with tiny glass beads spread evenly to give the body a balanced pressure that keeps you cozy and encourages deeper sleep.
See it on AmazonSeasoning Just Got Easier With These Electric Salt and Pepper Grinders
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Make seasoning easy with these electric salt and pepper grinders. The battery-operated mills can just be tilted to kick into action, while the range of coarseness levels can be selected for the perfect taste.
See it on AmazonThis Luxury Soap Set is Filled With So Many Beautiful Scents
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This luxury soap gift set comes with nine beautifully-scented soap bars, including rose petals, coconut, milk, lavender, verbena, honey almond, white gardenia, sweet lemon, and sage. The nourishing bars are packed with shea butter, creating a creamy lather softening skin.
See it on AmazonThis Book Light's Timer Makes It Perfect for Reading Before Bed
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This extendable book light will keep all of your pages lit with its super-bright LEDs. The ultra-slim device is easy on the eyes and has an auto-shutoff feature that you can set the timer on. It also has a light that gradually dims, like the sunset, to help you unwind and get ready for sleep.
See it on AmazonThese Ice Globes Smoothe Wrinkles
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Ice globes are beauty influencers secret weapon. These ice globes stimulate nerves, tighten skin, reduce pore size, and smooth out fine lines and wrinkles.
See it on AmazonThis 14K Gold Pendant Necklace Makes a Special Christmas Gift
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Get personal with this 14K gold rope chain. The 18-inch chain is perfect for layering, and you can pick a gold-filled letter to signify a name to make it a special gift.
See it on AmazonGive Them the Gift of Chess and Checkers
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Chess is always a classy option. It's a classic game that comes in a portable case, so it doesn't have to gather dust on the side. It can also be used for a checkers game as it comes with handcrafted checker pieces.
See it on AmazonThese UGG Tazz Slippers Are Incredibly Comfortable
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These UGG Tazz slippers will give you a little height with a 1.5-inch platform comfortable enough to wear all day. These UGGs have a signature plush wool lining and insole, with a soft suede upper detail. They're also available in nine other colors.
See it on AmazonGet Your Glow Back With This Award-Winning Serum
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The Glow Recipe Niacinamide Dew Drops Face Serum is an award-winning Korean face serum and makeup primer. The watermelon-scented formula uses protective amino acids, Vitamin C and A, for a radiant glow.
See it on AmazonThis Plushies Set Is Perfect for Bluey Mega Fans
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Give the Bluey fan in your life a cuddle with this set of Plushies. This set includes the whole Heeler family, bringing the much-loved TV show into real life for cuddles and play.
See it on AmazonThis Rich Lip Sleeping Mask Will Keep Your Pout Soft
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The Laneige lip sleeping mask gives the gift of a perfect pout with its nourishing formulas. It includes a moisturizing formula of vitamin C, Murumuru and shea butter. There's something for everyone, available in flavors from Eggnog Latte to grapefruit and berry.
See it on AmazonSnap Away With This Instant Print Digital Camera
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Live in the moment with the Kodak Printomatic Instant Print Digital Camera, which lets you take brilliant snaps without needing ink cartridges or film. This pocket-size camera quickly prints photos that are water-resistant and smudge-free.
See it on AmazonThis Playful Weekend Travel Bag Has Cute Chenille Details
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Packing for a weekend break is easy with this fun travel bag that says, "I'm on my way!" With pops of playful color and chenille letter detail, the spacious duffle bag is crafted from water-resistant faux leather and is the perfect size for your overhead locker.
See it on AmazonCrocs Are a Great Gift for Everyone
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Crocs are undeniably comfortable and are a great gift These lightweight clogs are unisex, with rave reviews. Available in lots of fun colors to suit each personality and style.
See it on AmazonCoach Poppy Has a Long-Lasting Fragrance
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Coach Poppy is a long-lasting fruity and floral fragrance with notes of mandarin, gardenia, and sandalwood. The playful eau de parfum will last for up to five hours. One five-star fan wrote: "This is one of my favorite fragrances I’ve tried in years. I picked it based off the description, and it is better than I expected. Romantic and well balanced."
See it on AmazonThis Kate Spade Watch Has Cute Pearl Details
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The Kate Spade Monroe watch is great for lovers of fashion. It has a white mother-of-pearl dial with a bracelet that's made up of heart-shaped pearls. The super-feminine watch is water-resistant up to 30 meters so can be worn while taking a dip.
See it on AmazonKeep Essentials Close With This Crossbody Bag
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With this crossbody bag, you can keep all of your essentials close. It has zippered compartments to keep belongings safe. This lightweight bag is available in black with gold or gunmetal details and four other colors.
See it on AmazonNew Balance Sneakers Are Always Comfortable
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These New Balance 997H sneakers bring a fresh twist to a ‘90s classic. They’re designed for all-day comfort, with mesh panels that keep your feet cool and cushioned soles that feel soft.
See it on AmazonA Tommy Hilfiger T-Shirt for a Classic Look
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This Tommy Hilfiger graphic tee is a classic choice. The cotton t-shirt is comfortable to wear and is perfect for an everyday look.
See it on AmazonThese Cloud Slippers Have a Thick, Cushioned Sole
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These hot pink slippers are popping for teens and adults alike. The pillow slides have a thick sole that makes it feel like you're walking on a cloud, according to five-star reviewers, whether you're at home or taking a stroll.
See it on AmazonSpeed Up Workout Recovery With the Theragun Mini
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Work out those kinks easily with the Theragun Mini. Its three foam attachments each target a specific body area, easing tight spots, relieving aches, and speeding up post-workout recovery.
See it on AmazonThe Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil Makes Your Hair Shinier and Healthier
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The Olaplex No. 7 Bonding Oil will make your hair shine like never before. It repairs and softens the hair while also protecting each strand.
See it on AmazonThis Pour-Over Set Might Look Fancy But It's Easy-to-Use
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Perfect for a coffee lover, the Fellow Stagg pour-over coffee set will transform their brew. The manual brewing kit is easy to use with a built-in ratio guide so you know exactly how much coffee you need to use, removing all guesswork.
See it on AmazonThese Cole Haan Mary Jane Pumps Have a Built-In Comfort Sock
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These black patent Mary Jane pumps from Cole Haan have a double strap detail to give them a little something extra. They also have a 3D Lux Comfort sock that's super-thick, which means they're fabulous to wear all day.
See it on AmazonThis Martha Stewart Baker Set Will Look Fabulous on the Table
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Go bright in the kitchen with a little help from Martha Stewart. This oven-to-table stoneware baker set has three dishes that allow food to bake and brown evenly, and they also stack neatly together when not in use.
See it on AmazonGet Smoother Skin With This Luxury Exfoliation Scrub
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This luxury exfoliation scrub is clinically proven to improve the appearance of your skin after just one use. The triple-action formula smooths the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles using lactic acid and salicylic acid without drying your skin out.
See it on AmazonThe Bread Maker Machine Will Make a Baker's Dream Come True With Its Easy Settings
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Bring out the baker in your loved one with this compact Cuisinart Bread Maker Machine. It has 12 preprogrammed settings so it's incredibly easy to use. You can select crust shades and bake loaves up to two pounds.
See it on AmazonThis 18K Gold Necklace Can Be Styled in So Many Ways
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This gold-plated sunset etched necklace is a great length for layering, or the engraved white mother-of-pearl charm is beautiful enough to wear on its own.
See it on AmazonThis Anti-Aging Facial Serum Is Made With Black Bee Honey
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This powerful anti-aging facial serum is a gentle "soft-peel" formula that promotes skin renewal without irritation. Made with Ouessant black bee honey and royal jelly, it tackles visible signs of aging, reducing wrinkles and pores while boosting skin elasticity and firmness.
See it on AmazonThis Super-Soft Chunky Blanket is Hand-Knitted
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Bring the cozy with this super-soft chunky blanket hand-knitted with jumbo chenille yarn. The machine washable blanket is loved by five-star fans who rave about how soft it is.
See it on AmazonHit the Perfect Notes With This Mini Karaoke Machine
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Sing your heart out like a superstar with this mini karaoke machine. Despite its compact size, it delivers great audio with crystal-clear clarity, so you want to make sure you hit those high notes. The Bluetooth karaoke speaker comes with two microphones that automatically connect with each other.
See it on AmazonThese Gold Bow Earrings Are an Incredible Value
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These gold bow earrings are ultra-feminine. The chunky studs are lightweight and are sweet enough to dress up or down. While incredibly affordable, they still come in a fancy gift box.
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