past, present, future: Red String Theory launch party, a fun movie, and audiobook news

+ a book sweepstakes to keep you warm

Hi! I’m changing up the format and content of this newsletter a tad so that I can share recommendations of things I’m enjoying/cooking/reading/watching/etc. and book news more easily. As always, thanks for being here!

🤔 Past: I watched Quiz Lady the night it came out so there weren’t many reviews or any percentages up yet that could sway me in a different direction. It was freeing to watch something without hearing anything about it, and honestly? It was so much fun. I laughed out loud a lot, adored Sandra Oh in this hilarious role, and it felt nostalgic and silly and light-hearted. I will never get over seeing people who look like me on the screen.

👄 Present: In January, I got to do an interview with Alexis Reliford, who writes a fantastic newsletter called Feeling My Shelf. One of the questions was about what my reading essentials are, to which I promptly responded lip balm (among a few other items) because it’s hard to read with dry lips. Which is true! And the cold, dry season has started where I am, so I have a minimum of three lip balms by my side pretty much at all times. Depending on my mood (and lip dryness level), I’ll go with Tower 28, Aquaphor, or Summer Fridays.

🎇 Future: The Second Chance Year by Melissa Wiesner is PERFECT for New Year’s and new beginnings and well, second chances (😉). I had the opportunity to read it early (and the honor to blurb it!) and it is truly a delight. It comes out December 5, so there’s still time to pre-order it!

🎧 Lunar Love on Spotify Premium: The Spotify addition of audiobooks being included in Premium is exciting to me as a reader because I have sooo many books I want to listen to. And now! Lunar Love is available to listen to on Spotify Premium. Raechel Wong does SUCH an incredible job bringing this world and these characters to life. Love, love, love her performance and I have a feeling you will, too 💙

📖 Book releases I’m excited for in November: There are so many great books coming out this month 〰️ I'm excited to share a few of the ones I'm excited for!

📚 Books to Keep You Warm Sweepstakes: The temps have dropped where I am, and I've been curled up under blankets and heavy knits with books that keep me warm, like the ones in this sweepstakes! Enter Forever’s Books to Keep You Warm Sweepstakes now through 11/15 for a chance to win my book along with 7 other Forever books.

We’re TWO months out from Red String Theory releasing. I’m very excited to announce my launch party at Parnassus Books on January 9, 2024, at 6:30 PM CT. I’ll be in conversation with my friend and author of My Roommate is a Vampire, Jenna Levine!

Join us as we discuss soulmates, fate vs. choice, if dumplings at midnight really taste better, NASA, space, art, creating art anonymously, and so much more. It’s going to be a very fun evening, and of course, there will be food and goodies for those who are there!

The event is free to attend, but registration is required since space will be limited.

✍🏻 Signed, stamped, and personalized pre-orders

If you want a signed, stamped, personalized, and doodled copy of Red String Theory, you can pre-order through my local indie Parnassus Books! You get preorder goodies when you order through them!

You can write any personalization notes in the comment section of your order. I’ve written everything from favorite lines to love advice to specific quotes to “all the doodles,” so just let me know what you’d like.

From me to you, in the present,
Lauren

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