Since working from home since March, I’ve been able to spend more time than normal watching, reading, and listening. Most of it is at night after the kids go to bed, but that’s my “me time” from 9:30 – 10:30 most nights.
Here are my top five favorite shows I’ve watched and five favorite books I’ve read in recent months that I would totally recommend to other moms.
Note: I’m a late adapter to most things and usually will watch/read/listen after the hype has passed.
Here they are in no certain order . . .
Shows
1. The Crown (Netflix)
I have been a huge fan of the British royal family as long as I can remember. I was obsessed with Princess Diana for years, reading everything I could get my hands on about her. But, I actually didn’t know much about the rest of the royal family (besides keeping up with Will and Kate over the last decade, then Harry and Meghan before their exit). This show sucked me in from the very beginning, and I have loved learning so much about Queen Elizabeth, along with the rest of the cast of characters. Even with the character changes, the transition is done so seamlessly, it just flows from one person to the next.
(Three seasons; no release date yet for season four but possibly December 2020).
2. Workin’ Moms (Netflix)
I don’t even know how I stumbled upon this Canadian sitcom. I think Netflix may have just known I would like it and recommended it to me. Since I’m a working mom, I think I can just relate to so much of each individual character. It is hilarious. Four working women become friends in a moms group after they go back to work following their maternity leave. The lives of main characters Kate, Anne, Frankie and Jenny are all different but with so many similarities.
(Four seasons. It has been renewed for a fifth season, but since it airs on CBC first, I’m not sure when it will make it to Netflix.)
3. Dead to Me (Netflix)
Two women become friends at a grief counseling group, and the series follows their unlikely friendship. It’s hard to go into detail about it without giving away any spoilers, but Christina Applegate (Jen) and Linda Cardellini (Judy) come to have more in common than anyone could realize. It’s a dark comedy, but it’s more comedy than dark. The viewers know their secrets before the characters do. James Marsden also stars in the show, in more than one role, but again, spoiler alert. The ending of season two is an incredible cliffhanger.
(Two seasons. Season three should come out hopefully summer 2021. It has already been announced that the show will end after three seasons).
4. Big Little Lies (HBO/Hulu)
This is another dark comedy, but this one is more dark than comedy. But I will legit watch anything that has Reese Witherspoon in it. This is not a series I think I would have normally watched, but the all-star cast that includes Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern and Zoe Kravitz make up an amazing ensemble. It’s based on a best-selling book (which I didn’t read first, or actually at all) but I liked watching it not knowing what would happen. Once again, I can’t give out much information without spoiler alerts, but this show is definitely worth watching.
(Two seasons with seven episodes each. From what I’ve read, season three is unlikely, but not out of the question.)
5. Hamilton (Disney+)
I had heard the hype over this for several years, but I obviously didn’t make it to see the play on Broadway. (I had a friend who did, and she got to meet Lin Manuel-Miranda and some of the other actors. Totally jealous!) I had heard a few songs from the soundtrack and thought they were catchy, but had no idea I would LOVE it as much as I did. I was hooked after the first time and have watched it so many times since it debuted on July 4th. I also listen to the soundtrack on the daily. I haven’t been this obsessed with a movie/soundtrack since The Greatest Showman. If you haven’t watched it, it’s a must see! (I’m actually watching it while I write this!)
Books
6. The Bookshop at Water’s End {Patti Callahan Henry}
Not only is Henry a New York Times and USA Today best-selling novelist of 15 novels, she lives in Mountain Brook. I don’t know how it’s taken me so long to read one of her books, but I just finished this one in about four days. Two best friends, a doctor and an artist, journey back to the house in South Carolina where they spent several summers when they were kids. The plot is an unsolved mystery about one of their mothers, but they wind up finding out about themselves as well. (I’m about to read everything I can get my hands on by her!)
7. All Adults Here {Emma Straub}
I had this book on my reading list but hadn’t gotten around to it yet, but when we visited my in-laws in July, my mother-in-law had a copy waiting for me. I usually read a book while we’re on our visit there, but I wound up waiting until we got back. Sometimes I can tell I’ll like a book just from its cover, and this one was definitely true. This one follows three generations of the Strick family, an unexpected death, sibling relationships, first loves and a lot more. (I’m about to read everything I can get my hands on by her also!)
8. The Lies that Bind {Emily Giffin}
This is the latest by my most favorite (New York Times bestselling) author. There aren’t many authors that I’ve read all their books, but Giffin is definitely one (along with Sophie Kinsella). A woman meets a guy in a bar after a recent breakup, falls in love fast, and then he disappears after 9/11. This book held more mystery than her others, but it was still completely amazing. Giffin also loves the royal family (way more than most anyone) and is really fun to follow on Instagram!
9. All Things Reconsidered: How Rethinking What We Know Helps Us Know What We Believe {Knox McCoy}
I recently interviewed Knox for a story I was writing for work and found him hilarious and delightful. In this book, McCoy asks readers to reconsider why they believe what they believe. If we ask one question, does everything fall apart? Like, who’s the greatest NBA player, MJ or Lebron? Are participation trophies really necessary? And what was Uncle Joey’s purpose in Full House? There are lots of Hamilton references in the book, along with hilarious footnotes, which makes me love it even more.
10. All of the Junie B. Jones and The Treehouse series
My soon-to-be first grade daughter and I have read through almost all 20-something of the Junie B. Jones series during quarantine. She loves them and so do I. I highly recommend them for girls around ages 5-8. My soon-to-be sixth grade son and I have been reading The Treehouse books series. It starts with The 13-Story Treehouse and goes up by 13 stories each time. We recently finished The-104 Story Treehouse and are anxiously awaiting the next release!
I’d love to know what you’ve been watching and reading during this pandemic!
