issue #72 - the week that’s been 10 years one

I can’t even talk about this week.

But here’s what I have the energy to say:

VOTE. WEAR A MASK. AND STOP DOOMSCROLLING AND START READING AND WATCHING ALL THE WITCHY THINGS.

And, if you can, join me for one of these events I’m joining this week:

• Heymama is hosting a pre-Election Day Rally, and I’m honored to join this panel focused on getting involved in this election - and all elections - and the issues we’re most focused on this election.

• I’m co-hosting a Women For Biden Community Call on Tuesday at 8:30. If you have time to spare and want to get involved in the campaign, join us for the call!

• I’m hosing another Icebreaker for the VP Debate on Wednesday night (9 pm ET). The event is capped to 40, so be sure to log in early!

Anyway. That’s it from me. Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay at home whenever you can.

What we read and loved

Hitha

• Watch Over Me (c/o of Penguin Teen) - this modern ghost story is haunting, beautiful, and the perfect read to kick off October and all my favorite witchy/vampire/ghost reads to put me in the fall mood. I loved watching Mila’s story unfold, her past and present meld together, and for this beautiful, brief read.  I had a sponsored project with Penguin Teen on IG Stories to promote this book’s launch, but all opinions are my own.

• Magic Lessons (ARC provided by NetGalley, out October 6) - I re-read (and re-watch) Practical Magic every October, and I’m so thrilled that I have Magic Lessons to add to the rotation. It’s an even earlier prequel of the series, following the story of Maria Owens (the matriarch of the Owens line). I loved this book, though it’s more tragic than the other two in the series and slightly heartbreaking. But certainly worth reading.

Emily

• Frontier Grit: The Unlikely True Stories of Daring Pioneer Women - The history of women's role on the frontier isn't something I was taught in school - this book profiles 12 women who forged their own paths.

Emma

• 40-Love - I am here for an older women getting a hot man who worships her! She's 40 and he's 26, will their connection go beyond a resort fling? Loved this steamy read that pulled me out of a reading slump!

The top 5

1. Long-Concealed Records Show Trump’s Chronic Losses And Years Of Tax Avoidance (New York Times)

2. Your guide to making big decisions right now (The Lily)

3. Proud Boys celebrate after Trump's debate call-out (NBC News)

4. Kori Estrada: “Move, no matter what” (Thrive Global)

5. 50 Ways To Spend Your Next Mental Health Day (Wit And Delight)

All the smart reads

Monday (curated by Emily)

• The Legal Fight Awaiting Us After the Election (The New Yorker)

• The most competitive Senate races of 2020 (Washington Post)

• The Battleground States Biden and Trump Need to Win 270 (New York Times)

• Pelosi wrestles with House factions ahead of Supreme Court confirmation fight (Politico)

Tuesday 

• President Trump Finally Laid Out His Healthcare Plan. It Doesn’t Do Anything. (BuzzFeed.News)

• One Romance Novelist’s Fight for Diverse Love Stories (Slate)

• The German model for America (New York Magazine)

• What America owes: How reparations would look and who would pay (ABC News)

Wednesday 

• Monica Lewinsky Is God’s Gift to Twitter (Vogue)

• Joe Biden's plan to make the ACA more affordable (Axios)

• Tiffany D. Jackson’s Latest Novel Centers the Vulnerability of Black Girls (Zora)

• NASA veteran Sunita Williams tells us what it’s like to get ready to fly a new spacecraft (The Verge)

Thursday

• The covid-19 recession is the most unequal in modern U.S. history (Washington Post)

• Congressional investigation reveals Celegene, Teva plotted to keep drug prices high (STAT News)

• Here's How Black Women Educators Are Making It Work (Essence)

• House report: U.S. intelligence agencies have failed to adapt to China threat (Axios)

Friday (curated by Emma Cardenas)

• Maria Hinojosa: “I Was The First Latina In Every Newsroom I Ever Worked In” (Oprah Magazine)

• How Bad Bunny’s Concert Route Through NYC Paid Tribute To Latinx & POC (RemezCLA)

• 6 Things You Don’t Actually Need On Your Coffee Table, According To Home Stagers (Apartment Therapy)

• I’ve Gone Digital: How I Keep A Digital Book Journal (Simone And Her Books)

Things I Love This Week

• October is WITCHY MONTH, and here’s what I’m re-reading and re-watching:

• Hocus Pocus - A CLASSIC and Rho watched it for the first time this weekend. 

  • Witches Of East End - I prefer the show over the books, and I bought the series off iTunes.

  • The All Souls Trilogy -  I prefer the books over the first season of the show. This is my all-time favorite witchy/supernatural series, and I re-read it every year.

  • Magic Lessons, The Rules Of Magic, Practical Magic - I read the trilogy in chronological order and then end with the film. 

  • I’m still reconciling JK’s transphobia with the incredible world she created. I haven’t re-read or re-watched Harry Potter since her original comments were made, and jury’s out if this is the year I pick them back up.

  • The Craft - another classic, though I’ll watch this solo one random night when everyone is asleep.

• Do yourself a favor and get this top and the matching pants for your new fall WFH uniform. It’s insanely comfortable and flattering and you’ll want to live in it forever.

• Emily - I do not have the bandwidth to follow twitter but this podcast makes me feel like I'm at least keeping up.

• Emma - I absolutely loved this chat between Mirna Valerio and Rich Roll. They discuss Mirna smashing stereotypes, running on her terms, and racism in the outdoor community. Her positive attitude is infectious and you'll come away more knowledgable after listening to this episode.

Looking for my favorite things? You can find them here.

If you like what I’m sending, please forward it with someone you love (or someone you don’t). Or both. Everyone could use some smart reads in their life.

xo, HPN