What are all the Badass Women reading, watching and listening to this month? First up is this new release that’s getting a lot of buzz! Real Americans begins on the precipice of Y2K in New York City, when twenty-two-year-old Lily Chen, an unpaid intern at a slick media company, meets Matthew. Matthew is everything Lily is not: easygoing and effortlessly attractive, a native East Coaster, and, most notably, heir to a vast pharmaceutical empire. Lily couldn't be more different: flat-broke, raised in Tampa, the only child of scientists who fled Mao’s Cultural Revolution. Despite all th ..read more

Historical fiction is having a moment right now and there are several new releases worth checking out!  Have you watched Hulu’s We Were the Lucky Ones?  I’ve been saving it to watch with my daughter since learning the author of the book it’s based on graduated from her university.  It’s getting good reviews!  You can watch the trailer here and get your copy of the book here. Along with Hunter’s book, there’s a new one out about the friendship between Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe (who knew?!), a feminist telling of the fate of Mary Queen of Scots, an examination of th ..read more

There is something about the allure of a new book – it’s so hard to resist!  But, what about when you love a new book so much that it has you looking for more by the same author? I was having that discussion (online) earlier on this week about Missing White Woman, the new release from author Kellye Garrett.  My friend said that after checking out this buzzy new release she realized she had missed Garrett’s earlier book, Like A Sister, which was an Edgar Award finalist. Being a finalist for an Edgar award is a BFD in the mystery writing world! When the body of reality TV star Desire ..read more

Here’s what all the badass women are reading, watching and listening to this month! But first, how cool is this? It’s an interactive museum in Kansas City, MO dedicated to children’s literature! You can read all about it here! April is National Poetry Month so it’s only fitting that we have a newly released collection from some of our nation’s most accomplished poets. The collection is published in association with the Library of Congress and edited by Poet Laureate of the United States, Ada Limon. You can read more about it and get your copy here. Last week’s bookish podcast newsl ..read more

It's like rain on your wedding day It's a free ride when you've already paid It's the good advice that you just didn't take And who would've thought, it figures. Yes, just like Alanis Morissette told us, it’s ironic. (Technically, it’s a series of unfortunate events, not ironic events. But that makes the song ironic, right? But I digress…) What is ironic is that the quarterly “What to Watch” Badass Women’s Book Club newsletter consistently has the highest open rates! Well, I love putting this issue together so I’m always glad that it is much appreciated! Here we go… Save the Date – Season 3 ..read more

I was talking to a friend the other day about how I loved “double dipping”. No, not the George Costanza “double dipping” – I mean where I watch a show and then I listen to a podcast about it. For the record, my husband does not understand this at all. He especially doesn’t understand how I read an episode review, watch the episode, and then listen to a podcast about the episode. Also - for the record - by not doing this he is able to watch a lot more shows than me! Interestingly, I don’t listen to book podcasts in the same way. Usually, I’m relying on a book podcast on the front end. In other ..read more

It creeps up on you without warning—perhaps while chatting with a friend, scrolling through social media, or even just while walking down the street. All it takes is the hint of someone doing or having something you perceive as "better" than you, and it hits. A feeling takes over—intense, blinding, gutting. Your brain starts spinning with toxic thoughts about yourself (or others), and you're left feeling ashamed, guilty, and even worthless. It's called comparisonitis. And if you've suffered from it, you're NOT alone. Comparisonitis is a contagious, socially transmitted condition tha ..read more

Let me say: I really liked this book!  I think this is an issue that many people (including me!) struggle with, so I appreciated some of the practical (science-based!) strategies offered. Mostly I appreciate the concept: treating speaking positively to yourself as something you have to practice to build up the necessary muscles = working out. Here are some items that I flagged for my own growth and development: ·       Self talk is really, really important (according to science). Self-criticism worsens depression, anxiety, and stress; self-kindness improves ..read more

Happy Women’s History Month! Beyonce understood the assignment! Time to check out what else all the badass women are reading, watching, and listening to this month! If you enjoyed this month’s earlier newsletter featuring books about women you didn’t read about in history class, then you will definitely want to check out some new shows! Shirley on Netflix is about Shirley Chisholm’s 1972 run for the Democratic presidential after becoming the first Black woman elected to Congress. You can watch the trailer here. Inspired by true events and filmed exclusively in Paris, “The New Look” on Apple ..read more

The first Badass+Bookish Retreat was a smashing success! For starters, the retreat took place at Indigo House, a lovely bed and breakfast in Afton, Virginia, about three hours from DC. Indigo House is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains with easy access to the Rockfish Gap Appalachian Trail, Blue Ridge Parkway, Wintergreen Resort, and Shenandoah National Park. And to say it is surrounded by breweries, wineries, and distilleries is an understatement! We visited three in just our three days there! Our host, Stephanie and her husband, Kyle, have created such a lovely space! The ..read more