August means back to school, and something about this year has me so excited to jump feet first into this new month and season. I used to love getting all of my new school supplies for a new year, and even though that mentality doesn’t quite apply to preschoolers, I’m excited to indulge a bit this month.

As a native Texan, I won’t apologize for the fact that summer is my moment for seasonal depression. I do my best to enjoy it as much as possible (soak up the magic and all the things), but the heat really takes it out of me chasing my boys around outside. The mark of a new school year gives me an internal breath of fresh air because fall is finally on the horizon.

I refuse to let myself go full fall mode until September (even though it’s still scorching where I live), so August is my little in-between month where I transition out of summer mode and into thriving on our new school year schedule, routines, kids sports, and finding little things to do for myself between the craziness.

Some of my favorite watches with “back to school” energy

After working as an entertainment writer and being forced to include certain things on every list just for SEO purposes, I’m very passionate about only sharing things that I personally like, regardless of how it shows up on Google. While it’s great that 10 Things I Hate About You, Mean Girls, and Rushmore are on every “back to school” movie list, here are some of my favorite cozy watches that feel ideal for the start of a new school year without being forced.

• Work It: Sabrina Carpenter is a high school nerd (with a constant sweater vest to prove it) who just wants to get into Duke like her late father. After her guidance counselor lets her know she’s not well-rounded, she enlists her best friend to start their own rag-tag competition dance team with the help of a handsome former dancer. This movie is so stinkin cute, takes place across senior year of high school and quite frankly should be talked about more. Petition to get Sabrina back on the acting track.

• Anne with an E: Everyone’s talking about the new Little House on the Prairie, but my favorite reboot of a childhood favorite is definitely Netflix’s Anne of Green Gables miniseries. It’s charming, well done, and makes me want to cozy up and read a book in the woods (you know if there were no bugs or snakes involved). Plus the Canadian coastal countryside is stunning.

• Drive Me Crazy: The pretend to date a nerd to make them popular trope has done many times over the years, but I fear this is my favorite. Nothing says back to school like high school Homecoming and Melissa Joan Hart ruled the teen scene of the 90s. The soundtrack, the nod to the Britney song, her chemistry falling for her grungy neighbor Adrian Grenier. Always a guilty pleasure.

• The Prince and Me: There was a moment in the early 2000s where mainstream rom-coms predated Hallmark movies with “surprise he’s a prince” movies and this is the GOAT. The wild prince of Denmark decides to go party in America at the University of Wisconsin after catching a glimpse of something suspiciously reminiscent of Girls Gone Wild only to be swept of his feet by Julia Stiles, a medical student who finds him wildly unimpressive. I watched this recently and am happy to report, it always holds up.

• Geek Girl: This is a little less books and freshly sharpened pencils and more high school romance escapism. I had never heard of this show until my mom raved about it and if you haven’t seen it…run to Netflix. It’s a British show following a high school girl who, for fun, goes to support her friend at a modeling casting. She’s tall and gangly and awkward which is obviously perfect for modeling. She enters a whirlwind of becoming a model while trying to survive high school while falling for the handsome teenage male model she’s working with. It’s very funny, very sweet, and honestly incredibly rewatchable.

• First Daughter: Similar to the falling for a prince trope, the early 2000s loved to romanticize life for the President’s Daughter. I love them all for different reasons, but I think this is my favorite. Katie Holmes starts college and falls for her R.A., an undercover agent (who is current Hallmark star Marc Blucas! It’s all full circle for me). This movie is a warm hug from the red brick college buildings to President Michael Keaton enjoying chocolate cake with his daughter in the White House kitchen.

• Center Stage: There are dance movies and then there is this. Save the Last Dance could never. Maybe it’s because I grew up a theater kid, but this was always the dance movie. A bunch of ballerinas starting off their year at a dance conservatory (led by Sandy Cohen for any OC fans), and a sexy teacher who sweeps one girl off her feet. I will shut up about Hallmark but also had to point out that Amanda Schull went on to star in at least 8 Hallmark movies. I rest my case.

• The Edge of Seventeen: I think this movie is a perfect representation of how awkward life is for a teenage girl. The angst, the self-doubt. I’m forever Hailee Steinfeld stan because she is truly wildly talented, and she does an excellent job playing Nadine, a high schooler mourning her late father and friendship with her best friend who starts dating her popular older brother. Woody Harrelson is her teacher she randomly leans on for support which is always great casting. The environment with the school and fall leaves just feel very 90s to me.

Reads that feel academic enough:

• Icebreaker by Hannah Grace: My new rule is all good romance reads eventally get an adaptation and Netflix clearly wanted a piece of the hot hockey player romance pie. But this time it’s a hockey player and an ice skater who both skate for the same university and are forced to share a rink. This is technically on my TBR to prepare for the show and I can’t wait. Does reading this much hockey romance make me a hockey expert? I’ll say yes.

• The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood: It is my humble opinion that no one writes STEM romance quite like Ali Hazelwood. Which is probably because she WAS a woman in STEM before becoming a writer. This is one of my favorites, following a med-student who finds herself protending to date the grumpiest professor at Stanford, who is very tall and very hot. It’s becoming a Prime movie that’s coming out 9/23 so now is your time to read the book first.

• The Deal by Elle Kennedy: Will I ever shut up about Off Campus? Probably one day. If you loved the show, read the book series. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, this is a story about Hannah, a music student going to a charming college who fake dates the star of her school’s hockey team to make another guy jealous. It covers the school year across seasons, makes you feel like you’re in college again (more so than the show honestly) and is just an easy and feel good read.

• American Royals by Katharine McGee: This is a few years old but whatever, I think the idea of what if America had a royal family instead of making Washington a president is fun (my history buff husband can’t deal). Lots of drama from royal American teens which probably loosely fits my school theme but I think it’s an enjoyable read! I need to re-read to finish the series though because I never got to the other books.

• The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand & Shelby Cunningham: We all know Elin is the queen of the beach read, but she and her daughter cowrote the first of a new series about a prominent New England boarding school. Told from the perspective of a scholarship student who filled the spot of a student who tragically passed away, there’s juicy drama, a little romance, perspective from multiple characters including the teachers. Highly recommend because another book is in the works.

• Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros: It’s a new school year…at dragon college lol. The book that got me back into reading. When you see “dragon college” it does sound stupid on paper. But wow is this book addicting. A+ world and character building from Yarros, and even though it’s very long, I devoured it. If you don’t enjoy an enemies to lovers romance, you won’t like this.

• A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson: I don’t love gruesome and overly depressing thrillers, but I love a cozy mystery. Sometimes I need a bit more substance than what you get in a Hallmark mystery series. This centers around an A+ high school student who is determined to solve a cold case in her little British town that doesn’t make sense to her on paper. She enlists help from someone tied to the original crime and they have some very sweet teenage banter and they try to find the truth. This is currently a series on Netflix (because of course it is) but I’m trying to finish the book series before watching. A little thrill for pre-fall!

My August Aesthetic

I officially signed up to be Room Mom for my middle son’s Pre-K 3 class and my oldest son’s Pre-K class. PTA is my new personality, and I can’t wait to be planning teacher gifts, guest readers, snack volunteers, and all the things. The head of the PTA gasped when I said I volunteered for both. Am I crazy or just ambitious?

My mom was Room Mom when I was in elementary school so this is something I’ve always wanted to do. Plus, we’re starting a new school so I think it will be fun to be present for my boys during this adjustment.

All Room Moms out there give me all your tips, I have no idea what I’m doing!

On my Radar:

Cozy news I’m following:

• Heated Rivalry Season 2 is in the works and apparently, we’re skipping multiple books to keep the spotlight on Ilya and Shane. The new season, which started filming last week, is centered around Book 6. And then introducting a new couple from Book 5, Harris and Troy. More info here.

• Why does Anne Hathaway being a lifelong Philadelphia Eagles fan make me want to be a die hard fan of a team? Is it all the sports romances I’m reading and watching? Do I like sports now?

• Emily Henry’s Beach Read adaptation is getting a theatrical release next May! I know the internet blew up over the casting but I’m excited for this one. More here.

• My mother-in-law shared this with me. Good news for us readers, Yale says we live 20% longer.

Trailers making me feel things:

• One Night Only trailer. Watch here. Okay a new rom-com hit theaters on Friday and the plot is…bizarre? It’s The Purge, but instead of everyone killing each other, single people get one night a year to have sex. I’m here for Callum Turner and Monica Barbaro as love interests though. It’s the filmmaker who gave us Easy A and I guess on paper a high school version of The Scarlet Letter also didn’t make sense so I’m willing to give it a shot. If anyone sees, please let me know what you think!

• Finding Emily trailer. Watch here. When the producers of Bridget Jones and Love Actually release a new trailer you watch and probably even show up to the theater. A quirky British college student meets a girl named Emily in a bar and is desperate to find her again. He teams up with a psych student (secretly doing a study that love makes you crazy) to find her and things get messy. It looks adorable and I can’t wait. I love a British rom-com any day.

• WICKER trailer. Watch here. Let’s file this under the strangest movie trailers I’ve ever seen. I half think that a studio head’s wife reads romantasy and he’s making this movie just to troll her. A woman in a little fishing village has Peter Dinklage make her a husband made of wicker. They are intimate all over town it seems. I have no words but had to share because this is absolutely the romance movie no one asked for haha.

Book releases:

• 8/11: A Witch in Notting Hill by Alexandra Paige. Pre-fall witchy vibes, love it.

• 8/18: How to Find Romance in a Bookshop by Poppy Alexander. She had me at the title.

• 8/25: The Cozy Nook Bookshop by Jeannie Chin. I will clearly read anything with “bookshop” in the title.

ICYMI

Hello and welcome to the new and improved Cozy Queue!

If you’ve been around for a while, you know this is where I share all of my favorite entertainment recs. But instead of scattering them across different posts, I’m now pulling everything into one big monthly list: what I’m watching, reading, romanticizing, adding to my radar, and saving for those precious after-bedtime hours.

This summer is somehow flying and dragging by at the exact same time.

We’ve now been back in our house for almost two full months, and I’m relieved to finally feel fully unpacked, mostly decluttered, and like we’re getting back into the swing of things.

We just got back from spending the 4th in Dallas with family, and it was exactly the kind of getaway we needed. Lots of pool time, lots of activities, and successfully exhausting the boys enough that they passed out every night. We drove back home with our cups full, and not one person stayed up late to see fireworks except my husband.

This week has been all about settling back into our usual rhythm: the big two boys in morning camp, stroller walks with the baby before it gets scorching, and slowly tinkering around the house to find the right spot for everything.

The days are slow, a little sweaty, and full of small summer chaos, but I’m trying to soak them up before school formally starts again.

So here’s everything on my radar this month: the books, shows, movies, cozy news, and little life things I’m saving for my after-bedtime entertainment — plus a few attempts to find just a little extra magic in this exhausting, sticky, sweet phase of motherhood.

Hallmark Christmas in July will be taking over most of my viewing this month, and I’m very okay with it.

Time to crank up the AC, get cuddled under a blanket, and pretend I’ve transported myself to Vermont in December, where there is probably a struggling inn, a charming local bakery, and one emotionally available man in a flannel shirt.

There are four new Hallmark movies this month, and I’ll be sharing my thoughts after watching them all, probably over on Notes at the end of the month:

Premiered 7/4: Christmas Under Construction
Premieres 7/11: O Little Christmas Market
Premieres 7/18: Snowbound for the Holidays
Premieres 7/25: Love Under the Mistletoe

My non-holiday attention will be fully on The Five-Star Weekend, the new adaptation of beach-read queen Elin Hilderbrand’s novel starring Jennifer Garner.

A Nantucket setting, complicated female friendships, emotional reinvention, and Timothy Olyphant? I’m sorry, but that is basically a cozy summer viewing checklist.

I’m also going to try Elle, the new Prime series centered around a high school Elle Woods. Does the world need a Legally Blonde prequel? I don’t know. Am I going to watch at least the first episode because Reese Witherspoon was heavily involved and I remain deeply committed to the Elle Woods cinematic universe?

Obviously.

What, like it’s hard?

Everything on my nightstand this month:

Tough Guy by Rachel Reid

I’m slowly making my way through Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series after watching Heated Rivalry, and this is book three, so I have high hopes. If you watched the show and haven’t read the books yet, each one follows a different couple in the hockey world, with plenty of overlap for anyone who is now emotionally invested in this universe. This one centers on defenseman Ryan Price falling for an aspiring musician who hates hockey, which already sounds like exactly the kind of opposites-attract situation I’m here for.

The Husbands by Holly Gramazio

A show adaptation is in the works with Juno Temple starring as Lauren, a single woman who discovers her attic has somehow created an infinite supply of husbands. Every time one goes up to the attic, a new one comes back down, and with him, her life changes too. I love a little magical realism with my relationship spiraling, so this one has been sitting very high on my list.

Into the Blue by Emma Brodie

AJ and Noah first connect over a shared love of acting and form the kind of deep creative bond that obviously sounds like it’s going to emotionally destroy me. Then Noah disappears, and years later, they cross paths again after being cast in the same intergalactic TV production. I’ve heard nothing but good things about the chemistry between these two, and I’m very ready for a sweeping, angsty, Hollywood-adjacent romance.

Abby Offsides by Anna McCallie

When I say I can get into the World Cup, what I really mean is I can get into reading a soccer romance. Or should I say football? This one follows Abby after her relationship falls apart and she moves across the pond, where she finds herself in the world of professional football and, naturally, a handsome player. Sign me up for the emotional rebound, the British setting, and the possibility of me suddenly pretending I understand the sport.

School starts back up in mid-August, which means July is our last full month of summer.

And I have to be honest: I am a little bit of a summer Grinch.

The Texas heat, the flies — which I will never stop complaining about — and trying to find things to do with three little boys can feel draining and difficult. Taking everyone to the pool is an entire event. Setting up the baby pool and slip n slide in the backyard somehow requires the energy of a small municipal planning committee. And by the afternoon, it’s too hot to go outside, especially for my one-year-old, who truly cannot hang.

But despite all of that, I want to romanticize the crap out of this month.

I want to soak up the little moments of the boys thoroughly enjoying their melting popsicles. Splashing around the neighborhood pool before dinner. Making cookies in the kitchen in the afternoon because outside isn’t an option. Taking slow library trips and grabbing Chick-fil-A lemonades just because.

These are the slow summer days I know I’ll long for down the road, even if they currently come with sunscreen battles, sweat, flies, and someone always asking for a snack.

So despite my complicated relationship with summer, I’m trying to show up for my kids and myself this month. To find a little bit of magic in the life we already have, whether it’s dessert on the front porch, a Saturday morning adventure before the heat becomes unbearable, or a cup of lemonade in the car that makes the whole afternoon feel slightly more survivable.

On my Radar:

Cozy news I’m following:

• A Parent Trap sequel is rumored to be in the works with LiLo playing both twins again. Read about it here.

• A new series is in the works based on the Hannah Grace novel Icebreakers. Basically, Netflix needed its own spice on ice. Read about it here.

• Christina Lauren’s Love and Other Words adaptation. Read about it here.

Trailers making me feel things:

• The new Sense and Sensibility trailer. Watch here. Daisy Edgar-Jones in a Jane Austen adaptation? I will be seated with tea, a blanket, and the full emotional vulnerability of a woman who has never once recovered from a good period romance.

• The Love Hypothesis trailer. Watch here. Fake dating. STEM romance. I absolutely love Alli Hazelwood’s books, so I’ve been looking forward to this since it was announced.

• Practical Magic 2 trailer. Watch here. The Owens women are back and my fall personality is already loading. Do I have high hopes? I do not, but the nostalgia of the first movie will be dragging me to theaters anyway.

Book releases I’m excited for:

• 6/23: When You Loved Me by Beatriz Williams

  • Shop the book here

  • I absolutely loved Husbands & Lovers last year, so I didn’t even read the synopsis of Beatriz Williams’s latest release before adding to my Libby queue.

• 7/14: The Romance Revival by Christina Lauren

  • Shop the book here

  • Best friends Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings write romance books together and could anything be more fun? I love their books and can’t wait for this one. If you’re new, I recommend starting with either The Paradise Problem or The Soulmate Equation.

• 7/14: Hot Girl Murder Club by Ashley Winstead

  • Shop the book here

  • An aspiring actress/singer becomes the prime suspect in a series of Hollywood murders and must clear her name. I don’t always like a thriller but this piqued my interest! We will see if it’s too much for me.

Wishlist:

A Christmas in July movie night with the AC blasting, popcorn in a real bowl, and a blanket I absolutely do not need in Texas.

One afternoon library trip where no one cries over taking turns at the checkout stand. Ambitious, but I believe in us.

A new summer romance that makes me stay up too late and regret absolutely nothing.

A front porch dessert night with the boys, even if it’s just popsicles melting down their arms while I pretend the flies are not personally attacking me.

One cozy little reset for myself each week: painted nails, a candle during bedtime cleanup, an audiobook on a stroller walk, or a lemonade I did not share.

My July Cozy Challenge: Romanticize the Month You’re Actually In

This month, I’m challenging all of us to stop waiting for the weather, schedule, budget, and general vibe of life to become more romantic before we let ourselves enjoy it.

July in Texas is not exactly giving Nancy Meyers patio dinner. It is giving sweat, flies, sunscreen, and children asking for snacks while actively holding snacks.

But I still want to find the magic.

So my cozy challenge this month is simple: choose one tiny thing each week that makes real life feel a little more like a scene.

A Christmas movie with the AC cranked up.
Cookies in the afternoon because outside is cancelled.
A library trip that feels like an outing instead of a survival strategy.
Popsicles on the porch.
An audiobook during a trash-day stroller walk.
A lemonade in the cup holder just because.

Nothing expensive. Nothing complicated. Just one small cue that says: this counts too.

What are you watching, reading, or romanticizing this month? I’m building my July list and would love to know what’s in your queue.

ICYMI

I had high hopes for June viewing, but a couple of the bigger releases let me down. Maybe I need to give it another try, but Every Year After is not doing it for me. Have you seen all the memes about the ice cream scene? Yes. That about sums up my level of interest. It may be the worst recreation of The Summer I Turned Pretty’s peach scene imaginable. IYKYK.

Thankfully, there were a few things I genuinely loved and will probably watch again. Full reviews are below, but tell me what I should add to my list this month as I make my way through Hallmark’s new Christmas in July lineup.

Texas Two-Step

Hallmark takes Texas! As much as I love Hallmark in a fictional town filmed in Canada full of (fake) snow or seaside towns, I think I need more honky tonk cowboy magic. This delivers in the best way possible, featuring some truly delightful tropes:

• A workaholic boss who doesn’t understand how to relax and lives for work, work, work

• A family business in trouble

• A cowboy ready to sweep our heroine off her feet

• A side love story that makes no sense logistically and moves comically fast

Heather Hemmens stars as Olivia, a talented producer who left her little Texas hometown behind and found success in the big city. Apparently, she has even been featured in Forbes, which is a very Hallmark way to tell us she is thriving.

On a rare week off, she returns home to help her beloved aunt save her failing honky-tonk bar.

There is plenty of Hallmark-level yearning, two-stepping, small-town charm, and a wildly predictable happy ending that still had me falling asleep with a smile on my face. Who knew Brendan Penny could pull off cowboy vibes and horseback riding so convincingly?

Highly recommend. Plus there’s legitimately good country music which, as a Texan, I appreciate.

The Love Heist

As much as I enjoy a regular Hallmark mystery, it is always fun when they throw in an amateur-sleuth plot with a little more romance.

Lyndsy Fonseca plays a celebrity stylist (technically an assistant) working the Chicago Costume Gala by herself for the first time. When a priceless piece of fashion history goes missing, she teams up with the head of security at her hotel to find it.

I was excited to see Lyndsy join the Hallmark regular lineup a few years ago. I watched her on the Nikita reboot forever ago and have been a fan ever since.

This one works because Lyndsy has a real knack for delivering a cheesy line without making it feel unbearable, which is a very useful Hallmark skill. With a different lead, this could have gone another way.

I also loved the movie’s nods to iconic film quotes and moments that fit the glamorous setting. It becomes a running bit that Mills, the head of security, does not understand any of the references, which made me laugh more than it probably should have.

Office Romance

Don’t let the fact that this is on the same list as Hallmark fool you. This is, shall we say, Hallmark after dark? Not safe for Hallmark? You get it.

I feel like there are JLo fans who fall into three camps: her rom-com roles, her music career, vaguely follows all the things. I’m firmly in camp one.

Jennifer Lopez is so good in a romance. Maid in Manhattan and The Wedding Planner? Yes please. Brett Goldstein from Ted Lasso? Say less. Who knew I needed JLo and Roy Kent sharing the screen?

I’m not sure I’ve ever seen her drop F bombs like this so if you are bothered by cursing in movies, skip this one. If it doesn’t bother you, this has some funny moments. I saw some poor reviews but this is why I watch them anyways because I don’t trust the reviews.

Is this the best movie? Absolutely not. Do I need it to be? Also absolutely not. Sometimes it’s perfectly acceptable to enjoy a strangely stacked cast in a slightly ridiculous comedy. It feels good to feel good.

Voicemails for Isabelle

I am not exaggerating when I say this is one of the best rom-coms I have seen in years.

First of all, it is an original story written and directed by a woman, which helps. No studio heads handing us another half-hearted adaptation because someone decided a bestselling beach read was easier than giving a new filmmaker a chance.

Zoey Deutch, who I am officially declaring the modern-day Meg Ryan, plays Jill, a woman grieving the loss of her sister Isabelle, her confidante and real-life soulmate. She begins leaving voicemails on Isabelle’s old number about everything happening in her life.

But Wes, (Nick Robinson), ends up receiving those voicemails on his new work phone and slowly falls for her.

It is a tearjerker at times, especially in the beginning. If you have lost a sibling or close family member, this may be a rough watch. But the love story is sweet, Zoey is wonderful, and the emotional payoff really works.

I have seen a few reviews ripping this apart, although the overall response seems mostly positive. Here is my take: the most important thing about this movie is not even necessarily the story itself. It is the fact that an original romance is resonating with audiences and performing well.

As much as I love my beach reads, I am tired of every single one getting adapted because Hollywood is too lazy to give new filmmakers a chance.

So watch this movie, please. And if you hate it, come back here and yell at me, but I am confident you will not.

Did you watch anything spectacular in June? Let me know in the comments so I can add it to my list.

I swear every year I’m impressed by the fact that Hallmark is able to come up with more movie titles they haven’t used before.

The second happiest time of the year is almost upon us with the arrival of Hallmark’s annual Christmas in July. I wish that one day Netflix would join in on the fun with even just one holiday release in July because they’ve been dishing out some quality Christmas cheese. But yet again, Hallmark is carrying the festive escapism torch.

I’m a big fan of Christmas in July. It’s incredibly hot where I live (ahem, Texas), so by this point in the summer, I wish someone would dump me up in the North Pole. Since that won’t be happening, I tend to take advantage of some new Hallmark releases and get excited about the fact that we’re halfway to the holidays. Nothing some small town love stories can’t fix.

This year, Hallmark is releasing a new movie every week, and I’ve rounded up the details, early thoughts, and the ones I’m most excited to watch below.

Christmas at Sea

When: Streaming on July 1, broadcast on July 7

I’m not a big reality TV girl, but it’s hard to look away from this one. Imagine the most passionate Hallmark fans on the planet (who blow me out of the water) going on a cruise not only with a handful of Hallmark stars, but there are Hallmark activities.

You heard me. We’re talking Hallmark level decorations, gingerbread villages, caroling, you name it. Is it a bit over the top? Are there too many Christmas sweaters and wildly enthusiastic super fans? Yes. Of course. But it’s a good time and great background for folding laundry or doing dishes.

Christmas Under Construction

When: July 4

Starring: Jessica Lowndes, Daniel Lissing

We love a fake reality show moment. Chelsea (Jessica Lowndes) is the star of a renovation show with her on and off screen boyfriend. They are the sweethearts of the home reno world and take on a new project for the holiday season.

Plot twist: the owner of their new project cabin is the handsome Daniel Lissing who just might steal her heart as her relationship falls apart behind the scenes.

As far as leads go, I enjoy Jessica Lowndes. I watched her on the 90210 reboot, and was excited to see her come back to Hallmark after her little hiatus with an exclusive contract over on Great American Family. These two actually starred together in A December Bride back in 2016, which was cute with solid chemistry, so I feel good about this one.

O Little Christmas Market

When: July 11

Starring: Katherine Barrell, Stephen Huszar

I feel like this is one of those classic Hallmark plotlines people associate with cheesy Christmas movies. An artist (Katherine Barrell) is trying to save her town’s local Christmas market from a developer. The architect assigned to the project (Stephen Huszar) might just fall for her and help save the day.

Stephen Huszar found real life love on the set of 2023’s A Royal Christmas Crush and is still dating Katie Cassidy, living out their personal Hallmark love story. So I’ll always tune in to support a success story.

Snowbound for the Holidays

When: July 18

Starring: Vanessa Lengies, Marcus Rosner

We’ve got another big business coming to town to threaten a dreamy independent business. But this time it’s hotel manager Cassidy (Vanessa Lengies) who gets charmed by the holiday magic surrounding a ski lodge and its handsome owner (Marcus Rosner).

The plot doesn’t immediately do much for me, but I find myself always tuning in for Vanessa Lengies. Does anyone remember that random Hilary Duff movie The Perfect Man? She played the best friend and I found her so charming and cute. She’s an interesting and welcome addition to the Hallmark leads lineup.

Love Under the Mistletoe

When: July 25

Starring: Jen Lilley, Nick Bateman

Grace (Jen Lilley) and her high school crush work together to revive a beloved charity fundraiser. Gotta love how all these small towns have to fight to save things like fundraisers like those don’t exist in the big city.

On paper this seems a bit meh, but part of the plot is as they work on the fundraiser, they keep ending up under the mistletoe. Okay, that’s cute. This one could go either way!

Absolutely no one asked about this, but quick storytime about Jen: back in 2010/2011 when I was pursuing my own acting career in LA, I went to see a friend’s short film screening (like at a theater they rented at 2 pm on a Tuesday situation) and Jen was the star. I think at the time she had maybe been on one episode of a soap opera or something, so it’s kind of fun to see her now and how far she’s come!

I’ll be watching everything and will report back on what’s worth watching and what’s worth skipping.

Instead, it’s fly season.

Which means double-bagged trash, things flying directly into your face every time you step outside, and closing doors as quickly as humanly possible while letting dogs and children in and out of the house.

Can you romanticize such a thing?

I’m up for the challenge.

Historically, I get a little seasonally depressed in the summer because it’s just. so. hot. I can’t take the kids outside past noon unless we’re going to the pool, which my 15-month-old apparently hates. And my kids are not quite at the ages where I can leisurely pull out my Kindle and let them splash around while I become the effortlessly relaxed summer mother of my dreams.

So right now, summer survival mode looks like strategic morning outings, planned activities, sticking to a schedule, and accepting that 3 and 4-year-old boys do not, in fact, love to fly by the seat of their pants.

Here’s everything getting me through my sweaty summer days this week.

Watching

Every Year After

I was always going to watch this because I love a moody summer romance, a lake setting, and adaptations of romance novels I love.

This is exactly the kind of summer I want in theory. Dock days, old feelings, pretty scenery, complicated history, and the kind of nostalgia that feels reminiscent of The Summer I Turned Pretty.

I’m only an episode in and actually grateful I can’t remember much about the Carley Fortune novel it’s based on because I’m always a harsh critic with adaptations.

Reading

Dolly All the Time

Annabel Monaghan really knows how to write women who are trying to hold everything together while also wanting something beautiful for themselves. And a lot of her leading ladies are single moms.

Which is basically my favorite genre I didn’t know I needed until I discovered her books.

I’m still reading, but so far this feels like the exact kind of book I want in summer. Seaside town, a fake dating trope, and a love story written by one of the best.

Basically, butterflies guaranteed.

One Thing Making Life Feel Like a Warm Hug

A clean house.

I know. Groundbreaking. But it is incredible what a clean house does for my psyche, and I think I’ve finally started to figure out how to keep my house clean with three small children in a way that makes me feel somewhat relaxed instead of constantly overwhelmed by my own home.

The goal is simple: after bedtime, I want to take my shower, make my tea, and collapse into bed with my book or show without staring at piles of laundry, dishes, and tiny socks that I have to tackle with what little energy I have left.

Here’s what’s been working:

Laundry

Everyone always says to do one load of laundry a day, and I never really understood how to make that feel manageable. But I think I’ve finally cracked it.

Each kid has a hamper in their room, and during nap time or quiet time, I pick one kid’s laundry and bring it down. I fold it and put it away either during afternoon playtime or while my husband helps with bath.

Just one kid. One load. Based on whose hamper is the fullest.

It takes so much less time because I’m not separating everyone’s clothes afterward and trying to figure out what belongs where. I cannot believe this is the laundry system that may finally make me a changed woman.

Dishes

Unload the dishwasher before the kids get up.

Trust me.

Life-changing.

Then you can add dishes as you go throughout the day instead of creating a terrifying kitchen situation by 5 p.m. A trashed kitchen makes my eye twitch, but a kitchen that stays semi-reset throughout the day makes me feel like maybe I have my life together.

Romanticizing My Week

We don’t have camp this week, so I’m doing my best to romanticize busy mom mode with three kids home full-time.

Bless every homeschooling mom because truly, I am overwhelmed. But we will prevail.

My plan is to treat morning activities like little summer field trips instead of desperate attempts to survive until nap time.

Here’s what I have planned:

• Nature and Science Center: They have a covered dinosaur dig area, which I anticipate will entertain them for a significant chunk of the morning. Dinosaurs, shade, and children digging in something that is not my couch cushions? Perfect.

• Wildflower Center: Outdoor play areas in the morning, pretty flowers, space to wander, and the illusion that we are having a wholesome summer adventure instead of simply trying to beat the heat.

• Pool: It’s not my favorite right now because my youngest has decided water is his enemy, but the older boys love it. So alas, I will do it. For the plot. For the memories. For the inevitable post-pool naps.

• Coffee shop and playground: This is my favorite mom hack: get the fancy coffee before the playground as your advance treat.

  Not after.

  Before.

  You deserve to enter the wood-chip arena holding something iced, expensive, and morale-boosting.

  Here’s to romanticizing the sweaty parts, the survival-mode parts, and the parts of summer that do not look like a beach novel but might still become a good memory anyway.

When I was at book club this week, we were all gushing about how much we loved the new Off Campus show. I feel like everyone I know is at least aware of the hockey romance series based on the Elle Kennedy books, but a few girls in my group had thoughts about the casting.

One of them even complained about how sick she was of adaptations being everywhere.

Which led us into a debate. Is the rom-com actually back, or has Hollywood simply realized it’s easier to buy the rights to popular romance books than develop original love stories?

People complain about the casting (cough, Beach Read). They complain that every show is based on a book now.

And then we all watch it anyway.

Maybe it’s because I’m a former entertainment editor, but I’m just thrilled someone finally realized what many of us have known for years: people like watching people fall in love.

Whether the story starts as a screenplay, a paperback, or a fan-favorite BookTok recommendation, I don’t really care. I’m just happy we’re getting more romances on our screens.

Just some thoughts for your Sunday morning.

Watching

I’m rewatching Off Campus. Okay? There, I said it.

This show really does feel made specifically for millennial women. Garrett Graham looks like he walked straight out of a 2000s rom-com, Hannah has “The Rachel” haircut, and everything about it reminds me how fun it is to simply watch people fall in love.

The soundtrack is also wildly good. Highly recommend throwing it on Spotify if you’re in the mood to stare wistfully out a window and pretend a rugged hockey player is about to sweep you off your feet.

Reading

Just finished: Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune

I absolutely loved this one.

Carley Fortune is one of my favorite summer authors because every book somehow transports me to the dreamiest lakes and beaches in Canada. By the end, I’m ready to pack my bags and move there despite knowing approximately nothing about Canadian winters.

Is this her best book? No.

There’s a side storyline involving whales that I could have done without.

But it doesn’t really matter because Carley is exceptionally good at writing characters with history. I don’t usually gravitate toward childhood friends-to-lovers romances, but George and Frankie felt so layered and believable that I was rooting for them almost immediately.

Quick synopsis: Frankie gets dumped the night before her wedding and ends up taking her honeymoon with her childhood best friend, George. Unfortunately for both of them, there are a few unresolved feelings along for the trip.

On deck: The Shippers by Katherine Center

In the world of romance authors, Katherine Center is simply one of the best.

Her books are warm hugs in paperback form. They make you laugh, give you butterflies, and somehow leave you feeling slightly more optimistic about humanity than you did before you started reading.

If you’ve never read her before, start with The Rom-Commers and thank me later.

Her newest release is, once again, childhood friends-to-lovers (make it stop, respectfully), but I’m willing to overlook it because the story takes place on a cruise ship and that feels like a very fun place to fall in love.

Looking Forward To

Speaking of Carley Fortune, the adaptation of Every Summer After premieres on Prime this week under its new title, Every Year After.

The series follows first loves Percy and Sam over six summers in the dreamy lakeside town of Barry’s Bay, and if Prime gets this one right, I fear it may permanently alter my personality.

Last summer, Sam’s brother Charlie Florek stole everyone’s heart in One Golden Summer, so let’s all collectively manifest a second season.

I cannot wait to binge this.

Cozy Find

Summer has been a bit more chaotic than usual, which means my weekly grocery store flower habit has fallen apart.

To the point where my four-year-old recently informed me that my flowers were dead and he didn’t understand why they were still on the table.

Point taken.

So I ordered faux tulips.

I know.

I know.

But they’re actually great.

They look real, require absolutely zero upkeep, and honestly look so convincing I’m fairly certain Kathleen Kelly herself wouldn’t know the difference.

Romanticizing My Week

Maybe it was all the foodie talk in Our Perfect Storm, but this week I’ve been inspired to cook actual recipes for dinner again.

The kind where you flip through a cookbook, make a handwritten grocery list, and slowly put everything together at home while little hands “help” from the counter.

The survival-mode sheet pan dinners are still absolutely in rotation around here, but adding a couple of real grown-up recipes back into the mix has felt surprisingly good for the soul.

There’s something comforting about taking the extra time to make a meal that isn’t just getting everyone fed. It feels a little like playing house in the best possible way.

One Thing Making Life Feel Like a Warm Hug

Lately, I’ve been lighting the candle in my bedroom before I take the boys upstairs for bedtime.

By the time I make it back downstairs, my room smells amazing and the perfect ambiance is already waiting for me, whether that’s settling in with my latest book boyfriend, taking a bath, or simply enjoying a few minutes of peace before bed.

I’m a firm believer that a good candle can change your entire mood, and this tiny ritual has become one of my favorite parts of the day.

It’s a small thing, but walking into a softly lit room that smells like a cozy bookstore feels a little like giving myself a hug.

Until next Sunday,

We’ve been having the most unexciting weekend — and sometimes those are the best kinds.

Most Saturdays are full of activities and frantically making sure we don’t miss naps. But t-ball was rained out, so my husband got to sleep in… and then I got to take a long morning nap too. With nowhere to be.

Don’t get me wrong, I love a weekend full of curated activities and planning out the week ahead. But this one was far from productive.

And wow, it was necessary.

I’m also looking ahead to a new week and all the plans for making my new (old) home as cozy as possible for our family. ICYMI, we’re moving back to our small town outside of Austin. We’ve been in the city for the past eight months but decided to return to the house we never managed to sell.

It feels a little meant to be — and honestly, who are we to argue with that?

Here’s everything that’s been speaking to my soul this week.

Watching

I’ve been missing having a show of the moment, so I finally jumped into My Life With the Walter Boys on Netflix.

It felt like an obvious yes because of how much I loved The Summer I Turned Pretty — and I was right.

Teenage Jackie loses her family and moves from Manhattan to rural Colorado to live with her mom’s best friend…who has ten kids, including multiple sons around her age.

Also, the dad is the same actor from First Daughter (Katie Holmes as the president’s daughter), which made me feel approximately 100 years old.

Reading

Apparently I’m having a full ranch-life moment because I finally started Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage.

Clementine Ryder moves back to her hometown ranch in Wyoming and falls for her brother’s best friend — which means cowboys, horses, and the very elite brothers-best-friend trope I’m always here for.

Rituals

Two words:

Mom. Bootcamp.

Last week I completely fell off my normal rhythm. I skipped barre (gasp), stopped waking up before my kids, and generally felt like I was moving through the week sideways.

So this morning I dragged myself out of bed early and started again.

Sometimes the reset really is that simple.

Loving

I’ve been thinking a lot about thoughtful gifts lately instead of defaulting to influencer gift guides.

My mom is the queen of gift baskets and gave me the sweetest Mother’s Day bundle that honestly felt like a blueprint worth sharing:

• a useful vessel (similar): I’m a mom on the go with Saturdays that are turning into sports mornings, so how thoughtful to put everything into a thermal bag I can use for t-ball, soccer, the zoo, etc. for juice boxes and snacks? I’ve been trying to get more color in my life and my mom delivered with a fun pink, but this bag comes in a ton of different shades. (She got me a different brand, but I couldn’t find the exact one anywhere…I thought this was fun because you can wear it as a backpack too.)

• a candle (similar): If you know me or have read my page at all, you know candles are my thing. It’s one of my favorite ways to decompress and create a mental reset. My mom knows this better than anyone (and equally appreciates a good candle) and has exquisite taste. (I couldn’t find the exact candle she found, but I own this one and have purchased it multiple times.)

• a cup: Coffee is my life fuel and I’m reheating it multiple times a day, but I actually didn’t have a portable coffee cup. She got me a fun little cup with a pattern that adds some cheery whimsy to my day. (This is the exact cup she got me, how cute? how Cue the Cozy-coded?)

• a book based on interests: I joined a monthly Mahjong group last fall and my mom got me the sweetest book on the game. It doesn’t have to be that. It could be a cookbook, travel book, etc. but I love the idea of paying attention and choosing something just for your recipient based on what they’ve been loving lately. How cute is this book though? Perfect to feel good about leaving out as eye candy.

• a vase (similar): I’ve written on here how I’m weekly sparking joy with my $7 Trader Joe’s tulips. My bag also included the cutest flower-shaped vase for my weekly flower fix.

• cozy socks: Who do I think I am writing about a cozy life when I legitimately didn’t own cozy socks? Every woman needs these socks. Trust.

Main Character Moment

Waking up before my kids again this morning and remembering how much calmer my whole life feels when I start the day like the main character instead of the supporting character.

Fridays have started to feel like my Monday.

During the week, I get little pockets of quiet while the boys are at preschool, but by Friday morning I’m mentally preparing for an all-hands-on-deck weekend while also trying to reset the house, do the laundry I ignored, grocery shop, and somehow plan the week ahead.

So this week’s Cozy Queue is a small reset before the weekend begins — a few things that helped me refill my cup even in a very rainy, very loud week at home.

Watching: I’m desperate to see You, Me, & Tuscany. I’ve loved Regé-Jean Page since Bridgerton Season 1, so I’m absolutely here for him in a big-screen romance.

Will I make it to an actual theater? Unclear. But honestly I kind of want to, even by myself. I feel like we have to keep proving people still want rom-coms in theaters. Worst case, I rent it on Prime and call it a solo movie night at home.

A chef ends up in Italy pretending to be engaged so he can stay at a villa… and the cousin is Regé-Jean Page? Say less. It’s giving big-budget Hallmark.

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Reading: Katherine Center is one of those authors where if she writes it, I read it. She’s a modern rom-com queen and has such a gift for creating characters that actually give you butterflies.

One of the only books of hers I haven’t read yet is The Bodyguard, which is getting adapted into a holiday movie starring Leighton Meester and Jared Padalecki. The book is always better, so I want to read it before the Christmas version comes out.

I also finished The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez this week and… woof. She really makes you work for the happy ending. I loved Part of Your World, but this newer series feels heavier than I expected.

Ritual: I’ve been so overstimulated this week — tired, allergy season, kids bouncing off the walls.

One thing that made a surprising difference was letting the boys help make dinner.

I turn on music, set them up in their toddler towers away from heat and knives, and give them one tiny job. This week, the highlight was mashing potatoes (which they didn’t eat, obviously).

But something about doing it together shifted the whole tone of the evening. Instead of rushing through dinner, it suddenly felt like a movie scene. The boys were so proud they got to help which made the extra clean up worth it for me.

Loving: I’ve been “shopping my house” this week. Just moving things around instead of buying anything new which is more satisfying than it sounds.

It’s one of my favorite ways to scratch the creative itch during nap time when I can’t exactly wander Target for fun. Pinterest, Instagram, and honestly ChatGPT have all been part of the process before I start putting holes in walls.

Highly recommend this if you’re in a season where you want your space to feel different without spending money.

This week’s main character move: Last weekend I took my 3- and 4-year-olds to Target for boring things like toothpaste and paper towels, but somehow we ended up in the Frenshe section smelling perfumes together.

We had a little smelling contest to decide which one we liked best, and the winner came home with me: Moon Milk. I thought it would layer well with my Dedcool Xtra Milk (it does).

Now I’ve been putting it on before bed and even before barre class. It’s completely unnecessary and makes absolutely no difference to anyone but me — which is exactly why I love it.

Sometimes the main character move is just choosing one small thing that makes your day feel softer.

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It’s hard to believe it’s been an entire week since I left for my moms trip weekend away. And even harder to believe that it took me days to recover after lack of sleep and extra socialization for this introvert.

But my cup has been filled, and it was so wonderful getting some time for myself surrounded by women who love and lift me up. (and are definitely reading this right now because they’re the ultimate hype girls ilysm)

Because of this I’m feeling a bit thrown off and ready to start a new week and get back in the groove. But I do have some things that I’ve really been loving that have brightened up my days this week despite the exhaustion.

Watching: I’ve been wanting to watch The Housemaid and I think this is finally the weekend I do it. The book is always better than the movie (Practical Magic the only exception) so my standards will be high.

I’m skeptical of the Sydney Sweeney casting but everyone else was A+ so I have high hopes. Plus Kirsten Dunst signed on for the second movie which, OMG.

Reading: Currently reading The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez.

I absolutely love her writing and the way she creates her characters to feel so full of life. Every book in her Part of Your World series was a winner for me. Similarly, this also follows a friend group with each book centering on someone else.

This series is a bit deeper than Part of Your World and I’ve heard this is a really slow burn (my favorite trope). I’m buckled up and ready for the sweet sweet torture.

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Ritual: Having set days for everything showers. Now that I chopped my hair into a bob with bangs (what am I French?), I can’t go as long without washing because of…the bangs.

It’s still much more low maintenance than I anticipated but I do need to shower and style it twice a week like clockwork. Having these days programmed in the back of my mind gives me something to look forward to and prepares me ahead of time.

I have a love/hate relationship with everything showers because they take so long. Every time I wonder why I don’t just laser off all my leg hair. But giving myself these two nights to focus on just me is actually a nice little escape.

Loving: My daily scents even if I have nowhere to go. Perfume is such a romantic addition to your day and it’s been so fun to re-introduce. I’ve been very into the “your skin but better” perfume trend and needed a break from my tried and true Jo Malone Sea Salt and Sage.

I’ve also been loving stacking my scents so it’s unique to me but all complements each other. Here’s my current lineup:

• Saltair Santal Bloom body wash - the perfect base

• Glossier You solid perfume (wrists and pulse points) - a solid foundation on my skin

• Dedcool Xtra Milk (just got the travel size) - I swear this has to smell good on everyone and it’s light and not overpowering

• Dae hair and body mist - lightly fruity and fresh but doesn’t clash with everything else

Hope you have a fabulous weekend, not fully overwhelmed by youth sports and birthday parties. I’ll be headed to t-ball, which I just realized doesn’t actually track scores at the games.

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April always feels like a special month to me. It’s the first month it really feels like spring with fresh flowers everywhere and warm weather that isn’t stifling yet — unlike January when I’d rather hide under a blanket.

This week I watched a movie that made me cry in the best way, finished a book I didn't expect to love, and spent a lot of time thinking about the women who make my life make sense.

Here’s everything on my mind that I’ve been loving lately.

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Watching

I feel like I’ve seen nearly every rom-com ever made, so I’m always excited when I stumble on something new. When my mom was in town to visit last month we watched Table 19 one night. She was stunned I hadn’t seen it.

I discovered it didn’t get great reviews and I’m not entirely sure why. It’s such a great cast — Anna Kendrick, Lisa Kudrow, Wyatt Russell, June Squibb. Anna Kendrick plays Eloise, a woman who shows up at her former best friend’s wedding to discover she’s been assigned to the reject table. Her best friend is also her ex’s sister, and her ex is the best man. And she was supposed to be the maid of honor.

So much happens but it’s all so healing and special and just really has such a great ending it felt like I was getting hugged by the entire cast for going through it with them. Highly recommend, I found it streaming on Prime.

I watched the first few episodes of Love Story because I’ve long been a fan of CBK. But it sadly couldn’t hold my attention (I’m sorry I just didn’t love the leads!).

Reading

I recently joined a new bookclub, and our first book was One & Only by Maureen Goo. This isn’t one I probably would have chosen on my own but I found it really lovely. It’s a magical realism book and the heroine comes from a family who can see past lives in order to match you with your fated (soul mate).

It questions fate, destiny, family, and the reality of love in a really thoughtful way. I actually listened to it on Spotify (15 free hours/month folks), but probably would have read it if the wait on my Libby wasn’t 20+ weeks.

I’m currently reading the romantasy, Shield of Sparrows, before the sequel comes out in a few days. A princess. An arranged marriage to keep a treaty. Moving to a distant land filled with monsters. A slow burn romance. I’m about 85% through and definitely see why this was such a popular release last year. Highly recommend for the romantasy fans out there.

Feeling

Right now, I’m just really grateful for female friendships, in whatever shape or form. I met some of my closest friends online when I was pregnant with my third. We have never all been in the same room together, but we talk every single day.

Next week we're finally getting on a plane together for a mom’s trip, and I genuinely cannot explain what that friendship has meant to the last two years of my life. Find your people wherever they are. The shape doesn't matter.

Loving

I’ve been in search of easy ways to add a bit of whimsy to my days as the weather warms up and fresh tulips in the house every week really delivers. They always make me smile and just look pretty styled in a vase I love.

One new thing I’ve been doing is wearing perfume every day just because. We can file it under “simple things to romanticize” your day because I genuinely get a dopamine boost feeling like I smell nice in the middle of the afternoon even if I’m changing a diaper or chasing my kids around the backyard.

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I was raised with an appreciation for good quality films. My parents made it a point to introduce me to the classics they were raised on, like Doris Day comedies and John Wayne westerns, and movie time became a sacred family activity. One year, we even watched every Best Picture Oscar winner just to really dive into some epics.

Maybe this deep love of film is what led me into theater as a child and acting in Los Angeles in my twenties. Maybe it’s what keeps me rooting for Hollywood even though the future of film currently looks a bit bleak. Either way, nothing quite compares to a comfort movie to lift your mood when you need it.

Turning on one of my favorite comfort films is something I did growing up when I was sick, though it’s a bit different from popping in the Back to the Future VHS tapes while I stay home from school. I have a handful of movies I regularly turn to, whether I’m rotting on the couch, doing chores around the living room, or melting into my bedsheets sick or pregnant. Movies I can’t wait to share with my own kids when they get a bit older.

• Pitch Perfect - I’m not sure what it is about this little comedy about the world of collegiate a capella groups, but it just makes me feel warm and fuzzy. Anna Kendrick is always charming, and the music they use in the movie takes me back to high school and college. Plus, it has a cute little love story to root for.

• French Kiss - This Meg Ryan movie doesn’t get enough attention, and I think it might be my favorite of her performances. She follows her fiancé to Paris to win him back after he breaks up with her, and finds herself with the help of a handsome French thief. Anything in Paris is dreamy, and is there anything cozier than watching Meg be Meg?

• It’s Complicated - I love every Nancy Meyers movie, but this is always so watchable. Someone can bury me in Meryl Streep’s perfect kitchen, thank you very much. This cast is just so good with Meryl and Alec Baldwin as two exes who start hooking up again, but I always wish I got more John Krasinski as their daughter’s boyfriend and Steve Martin as Meryl’s new love interest.

• Jurassic Park - This is just pure childhood nostalgia. It’s one of those movies that I’ll always watch if it’s on TV during the day. While there’s not really anything relaxing about people running for their lives from dinosaurs, John Williams made an impeccable score, and it’s the definition of a perfect movie in my opinion. Has my family done Jurassic Park for not one but two Halloweens? Perhaps.

• Two Weeks Notice - Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant are a perfect comedic duo in this rom-com about a lawyer who falls for her boss. She’s very high stress, but I find it very relaxing to watch them slowly develop feelings for each other.

• Pirates of the Caribbean - Another peak childhood film with an amazing score, this is just one of those movies I could watch forever. The ultimate cozy adventure if I want something fun. Hot take, but I really only like the first one. Hard pass on anything past the third movie.

• Sabrina - I grew up watching the Audrey Hepburn classic with my mom, so this movie is always special to me. I really should do a list of the classics I was raised on that are still crazy watchable. While it’s hard to top Audrey, I equally love the remake with Harrison Ford. He’s the ultimate Linus in the timeless love story of a chauffeur’s daughter torn between the two wealthy brothers she grew up with.

• Under the Tuscan Sun - For some dreamy escapism, Diane Lane healing her broken heart in an Italian fixer upper is always a win for me. I just don’t think they make movies like this anymore, which is a shame because these are the films that are inherently watchable years and years later.

• Pride and Prejudice - I don’t care what anyone says, the perfect Jane Austen adaptation does exist, and it is the Keira Knightley Pride and Prejudice. The score is perfection and the cast couldn’t have been better if Jane had handpicked it herself. From the misty English countryside to the flawless costumes and set, this is a movie that envelops you from start to finish. I rolled my eyes when I saw Netflix is making a new version because truly, how can this be topped? (it can’t). Second place JA adaptation goes to Sense and Sensibility with Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, and Kate Winslet, which I also love.

• First Wives Club - This movie is pure 90s joy. Three absolute icons in a story all about women supporting women? Yes, please. Hilarious, empowering, and timeless, it’s shocking (and yet not) to remember that initially Hollywood didn’t even want to make this movie about three middle-aged women reclaiming their power after breakups.

Just writing this up has me wanting to turn on the kettle tonight for some tea and cozy up by my favorite candle to watch something tonight. What should I watch? There are so many more I didn’t include on this list, I’ll have to do a part 2.

xx

-Courtney

Despite the temperatures in Texas not being very festive, I’ve been loving slower days this month. Putting less on the calendar and enjoying some baking and simple joys with my boys has made the busiest time of the year much more enjoyable. I’ve said “no” to multiple things and listened to my body as I started to feel overwhelmed. It’s an easy thing and for some reason I always struggle with it.

I always love to know what other people are reading, watching, buying, etc. If you’re equally nosy, here’s a peek at this week’s cozy queue.

I’ve loved squeezing in some fun festive reads before Christmas. I recently finished Merry Christmas You Filthy Animal, which is silly but enjoyable. It’s the sequel to How My Neighbor Stole Christmas, Meghan Quinn’s first holiday book, which is full of Grinch references (think grouchy neighbor and his best friend’s name is Max). As the title might imply, book 2 is full of Home Alone references, this time centered around Max. It took me about 25% to get past the corniness, but it did have a sweet love story and was quite spicy.

I’m currently reading Good Spirits and really enjoying it! A woman is haunted by a hot Ghost of Christmas Past…so you need to be comfortable with that plot going in. It’s obviously a stretch, but I think it’s a fun take on A Christmas Carol and I really love this author. B.K. Borison also wrote First Time Caller which was a favorite read this year.

The Christmas Orphans Club is on deck for me, a recommendation from a friend! I love that it’s centered around friendship as a nice palette cleanser from all the romances I’ve read lately. I’ve also followed Becca Freeman for years, so excited to support her making her dream come true with a published novel.

‘Tis the season for all the Hallmark Christmas I can squeeze in. Twelve Dates Til Christmas is a new series this year and I looove it. Mae Whitman stars as Kate, an American in England, who is signed up for a Christmas dating service by her friend. It barely feels like Hallmark because of the higher budget and strong cast…highly recommend. Very attractive British men and Jane Seymour? Say less, Hallmark.

I gave up on Finding Mr. Christmas Season 1, but fully regret that because I’m obsessed with the second season. Jonathan Bennett is so charming as the host of this competition series to become a new Hallmark star. It’s a really sweet group of guys who have acting challenges opposite Hallmark actors, combined with some ridiculous Christmas crafts. It’s just a warm fuzzy hug (basically the complete opposite of Bravo haha).

My Secret Santa is one of the new Netflix Christmas movies this year I watched a few nights ago. A single mom takes up a job as a resort’s Santa (in a very Mrs. Doubtfire get up) and starts to fall for the resort manager. Did she take this job for the money? Yes but mostly to send her daughter to…a snowboarding class. This exact plot (without the snowboarding) has been done before by Hallmark and its always a lot.

I’ve been contemplating this recipe journal for a while now and sent it to my husband as a Christmas gift idea. I love the idea of having a place to store all of my favorite recipes, family recipes, and things I turn to the most. I’m trying to add more family photos around my home and love these fabric wrapped frames. I’ve got this blue one in my cart and think I’m going to pull the trigger this week.

I’ve you’ve been sleeping on Ashley Tisdale’s brand Being Frenshe at Target, please let me influence you. I’m obsessed with the lavender scent, it’s so good and truly smells like a spa. I’ve been eyeing the bath salts and really need to grab some (another gift idea I sent my husband). I can’t live without with the melting body balm, it’s become part of my nightly winddown and really does last all night long.

Any festive movies or books you’re squeezing in before Christmas week? Let me know so I can add to my list!

xx -Courtney

We’re two weeks out from Halloween so, *checks watch* right on time for Hallmark to start their new holiday content. It’s an overwhelming season every year, and for their sweet 16, they aren’t holding back. 24 new movies, new shows, over 80 hours of new content…how does one keep up?!

Great news…you don’t. It’s too much for one person to do. We all have opinions on who our favorite stars on the network are (don’t pretend you’re above it), so you get to skip based on casting and plot as your heart desires.

There’s only a handful of new releases this month, and I’m skipping half of them (oops). Life is too short…if the plot and actors don’t do it for you, just look the other way. If you have regrets, it’ll pop up again over the course of the season as well as on Hallmark+. As a busy mom who barely has time for TV as it is, I’m selective when it comes to rotting my brain.

Here are the few things coming up I’m absolutely making time for:

A Royal Montana Christmas

I love a royal trope and a ranch setting so the two of them together? Chef’s kiss. Not to mention the fact that the vast majority of Hallmark movies with a royal storyline have the female lead as the commoner, but this one changes it up. A princess is stressed over her royal duties and decides to get away from it all by visiting a Montana ranch.

Princess, cute cowboy, Montana, a Christmas event. I’m sold. Throw in a fake accent, small town vibes, and I’m pretty sure they’re really wearing winter coats? This premieres tonight, 10/18 so if you watch, tell me what you think in the comments!

Finding Mr. Christmas

This show is absolutely unhinged. If you missed Season 1, the series is a group of guys competing to be a Hallmark star (kind of). The winner lands the lead role in a Hallmark Christmas movie that will premiere later this season…we will see them again after that? Who knows. Jonathan Bennett is the host with Melissa Peterman starring as the lead judge which is perfect for the corny vibes.

This is a competition so think — best wrapped Christmas present, best emotional acting opposite random Hallmark stars who pop in, photoshoots with a loveable puppy etc (all real moments from S1). Two notable guests this season include Janel Parrish and Hunter King who I love. Season 2 premieres on Monday, 10/27 so mark your calendars! And stay tuned, I’m sure I’ll have lots of thoughts to share.

Mistletoe Murders

If you watch anything from last year, make it this series. The Mistletoe Murders quietly debuted last year on Hallmark+ but is getting its network premiere on 10/23. Hallmark will air all of Season 1 before Season 2 kicks off next month and I cannot wait. It follows a Christmas store owner (amazing right?) with a mysterious past, who helps the local law enforcement solve a couple of murders during the holiday season. There was a major cliffhanger at the end of Season 1 so I’m so so ready to jump back in.

Things really ramp up next month on Hallmark with multiple new releases every week. I’ll share another round up of my November picks in a couple of weeks, but there’s definitely some good stuff coming.

It feels slightly ridiculous to be watching Christmas movies with Halloween decorations all over my house but I just can’t help myself. Are you team jump on the bandwagon early or wait until after Halloween?

xx -C

Tomorrow night is the big premiere of Hallmark’s new Halloween movie, Haul Out the Halloween. It’s the third movie in the Haul Out the Holly franchise, with Lacey Chabert and Wes Brown starring as a couple living in a neighborhood with an HOA passionate about their Christmas decorations.

But Hallmark decided to take it a step further this year. They brought in the big guns — the queen of Halloween herself, Kimberly J. Brown, star of the Halloweentown franchise from Disney Channel’s original movie glory days. To top it off, she’s starring opposite her husband and Halloweentown II co-star, as a couple new to the neighborhood obsessed with Halloween. YES. YES PLEASE.

While I’m very excited (clearly) about the new release, Hallmark actually has a few other cute Halloween movies worth checking out before fully jumping over to their Christmas content on Nov. 1. They’ve successfully managed to recreate their secret sauce that makes their holiday movies so good for spooky season, and it’s exactly how you’d want it to be. Cozy, sweet little closed-door romances, with a dash of Halloween. No screams necessary.

I watched everything I could find that was Halloween or Halloween adjacent and cut it down to a short list. There are others out there that you can find on Hallmark+, but I personally found these to be the most enjoyable and the ones I’ll turn to again.

Haunted Wedding

Two ghost hunters getting married at a haunted inn? The plot alone was enough to reel me in. When a ghost mistakes the groom as her long-lost fiancé, hijinks ensue. I thought this was very cute. I love Janel Parrish…she’s always very charming and can really work with any plot. The definition of a cozy little mystery.

3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1 Ghost

Ever since Casper, I love a friendly ghost in the mix. An estate agent has a 1920s ghost on her new property who can’t cross over until completing her unfinished business — which apparently includes reuniting said agent with her ex. Not strictly Halloween themed, but there’s a ghost involved, so I say it counts. Real-life partners Julie Gonzalo and Chris McNally star in this together, so obviously, there’s great chemistry.

October Kiss

This little gem from 2015 is maybe the most feel-good on this list. That happens with everything Ashley Williams stars in. Here, she’s hired as a nanny to a single dad during the Halloween season. She teaches the work-obsessed dad and his kids how to enjoy life a bit more, and they all fall for each other in the process. Everyone in it is good, you’ll be smiling the entire time.

Autumn at Apple Hill

I really love both Erin Cahill and Wes Brown, so this was an easy yes for me. The “inherited an inn from a relative” trope is one of the best, so throw that in during the autumn season, and I’ll watch all day long. This one has peak fall vibes and a Halloween party you won’t want to miss.

Is there anything I missed? Let me know if you have any favorites I should check out.

xx -C

When it comes to Halloween, I feel like the biggest contradiction. I LOVE the season. I love witchy, slightly spooky vibes as the fall foliage changes and the temperatures drop, with pumpkins everywhere and trick-or-treaters filling the streets on Oct. 31. But I genuinely don’t like to be scared. I don’t like traditional horror movies, and I’m not sure what amount of money could ever convince me to watch Texas Chainsaw Massacre or ever attend Halloween Horror Nights. Let’s just say walking through a haunted house is my personal version of hell.

Luckily, there are so many lighter versions of the season to get me in the mood. We know I love a good romance, and paired with a good holiday, I’ll tune in every time. If you’re like me or are looking for something else to watch this year that isn’t Freddy, Michael Myers, or someone else trying to maim or kill, this watchlist may be for you. Here are some of my favorite romances or nostalgic favorites to watch this time of year.

Casper

This is one that I genuinely do watch nearly every year. Part of it is the childhood nostalgia. As a child of the ‘90s, this movie was a staple growing up. But it also just really holds up. It’s the perfect balance of a sweet teen romance, a haunted house, and all the fall vibes you could want in that dreamy New England town.

Bill Pullman and his cardigans perfectly balance out Cristina Ricci and Casper’s storyline. Plus, don’t we all wish we could live at Whipstaff?

Practical Magic

A movie so beloved, it’s getting a sequel decades later. I’ve tried so many times to read this book, and it genuinely pales in comparison to the movie. Sandra and Nicole were so good as the Owens sisters, and their perfect house, dreamy setting (actually filmed in Washington, not New England), impeccable score, and unexpected love story make this honestly one of my romance movies of all time, not just in the autumn. The midnight margaritas scene is forever iconic.

Stardust

I feel like I never see anyone talk about this movie, and I don’t even know how I stumbled on it, but it’s so good. A boy lives in a little village on the other side of the wall from a magical kingdom full of witches seeking immortality. Add in a royal family fighting over the throne, Robert De Niro as a pirate of the skies, and a star who’s come down to earth, and it’s such a sweet and magical little love story.

Warm Bodies

This is one of those movies I didn’t expect to like or come back to as often as I do. But it’s just such a gem. On paper, the plot of “zombie falls for human girl” sounds very bad, I’m aware. But they pull it off here. Nicholas Hoult is so charming as a gentle zombie who falls for said human girl. There’s humor and a love story that somehow does get a happy ending.

The Addams Family

To me, this movie is no notes perfect. The casting, the set, costumes…everything about it. Anjelica Huston is chef’s kiss as Morticia Addams and can never be topped (no shade to Zeta-Jones but it’s true). This also, I think, cemented Christina Ricci’s status as the queen of Halloween and made Wednesday Addams an icon.

Ghost

I hadn’t seen this movie in years, and it’s sad and kind of weird, but I still enjoy it. The cast and multiple scenes have become so iconic over the years, it’s just a fun and nostalgic watch every few Halloweens, especially because it has the ghost element but isn’t scary like a traditional horror movie.

Sleepy Hollow

This is about as spooky as I’ll get and only because every now and then I enjoy some Tim Burton. I personally think he nailed the legend with Christina Ricci and Johnny Depp in the leads. There’s some violence (I mean, the headless horseman literally beheads people), but it is fun to watch during the Halloween season to get in the spooky spirit.

The Witches of Eastwick

This movie is wild and weird, and I think the perfect balance of horror and comedy. Plus, peak late ‘80s for massive stars Cher, Susan Sarandon, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Jack Nicholson. Jack plays a charming newcomer in town who romances all three women who are friends and discover they are apparently also witches. Though he romances them all, the true romance is the power of their friendship.

Bewitched

I don’t think a lot of people liked this movie, but I find it so cute. I grew up loving the Bewitched sitcom reruns, and despite all of the updates made to that story for this movie, I actually think it was really well done. Nicole Kidman is just so adorable in this as a witch pretending to be a mortal, and while I’m not necessarily a big Will Ferrell gal, he works here as the love interest.

Teen Witch

I imagine that this is for children of the ‘80s what Casper is for children of the ‘90s. I just love this movie. A teenager discovers she’s a witch and does exactly what we’d all do if that happened — tries to be popular and land a cute guy. It’s cheesy and fun and the ultimate comfort watch.

What’s your favorite thing to watch every Halloween season?

xx -C

As soon as September hits, all I want to do is toss out my shorts, cozy up in sweaters, and drink my bodyweight in pumpkin spice coffee. But alas, I live in the south. Texas fall is nearly nonexistent…last year on Halloween, my husband was sweating in his jack-o-lantern sweatshirt, and I was worried about my three-year-old overdoing it in his werewolf costume. I genuinely don’t remember it feeling cool until Thanksgiving, and by cool, I mean around 70 degrees.

So, despite the weather not matching where I’m at mentally, I always do my best to find ways to get into the fall spirit while I wait for Texas to catch up with New England. This includes lots of fall scents in my house and snatching up all the best seasonal items at Trader Joe’s, adding fall reads to my TBR and kicking off the season with my fall watch list.

I’d love to be one of those people who has a storage unit of seasonal decor they whip out every season, but honestly, I’m not. Just thinking about that stresses me out. If that’s you, I salute you! Maybe one day I can talk my husband into letting me become a seasonal decor hoarder. Until then, focusing on perfecting my fall porch fills my cup as does dragging around my Lola blanket into every room. I’m too lazy to swap out my throw pillows, so the chocolate brown color of the blanket perfectly adds a fall vibe without any extra effort. Easy enough.

Here are a few things I’m loving right now to get in the fall spirit as we get ready to transition into October this week:

October has me revamping my go-to Halloween watch list, but at the top of my list this month is the new Hallmark movie, Haul Out the Halloween. Haul Out the Holly is an easy holiday favorite (as is its sequel), with Lacey Chabert and Wes Brown surrounded by an eclectic group of neighbors who are passionate about their holiday decorations. But a Halloween sequel? The movie we never knew we needed.

As if I wasn’t already on board, Hallmark is bringing over the queen of millennial Halloween nostalgia, Kimberly J. Brown, aka Marnie from the Halloweentown franchise (except for the last one that we can just ignore). Not only that, but her husband in the movie is her real-life husband and former Halloweentown II co-star Daniel Kountz. They will fittingly play new neighbors who are passionate about Halloween. I still can’t really believe Hallmark made this happen, and I’m thrilled.

Elin Hilderbrand just released The Academy, the first in a new series she wrote with her daughter, Shelby. It follows a dramatic school year at a New England boarding school, which I’m all about. I love back to school vibes in the fall, so this is a good one to knock out before jumping into something for Halloween.

I’m not a horror movie gal, but I sometimes will do a spooky book. Trying out this new take on a haunted house story, Play Nice follows adult sisters who inherit the supposedly haunted house they lived in with their mother as children. Following her death they work to fix it up, but it seems like the house may be more haunted than they realize.

I don’t always love a pumpkin candle because I feel like they are very easy to get wrong. They tend to be too sweet and give me a headache or smell vaguely of soap. I was excited to try this seasonal scent from Brooklyn Candle Studio, and it is so. good. Smoky notes with vanilla bean and a bit of santal make it so cozy and the spiced wood and cedar top it off in the best way. Like sophisticated charred marshmallow by a campfire vibes.

I live in the south, so fall is basically just a state of mind. We go to the pumpkin patch in short sleeves and really don’t get to pull out our sweaters until after Thanksgiving. So I’m really enjoying building a fall wardrobe built with fall textures and colors that is actually practical for the weather. A few things in my cart:

• this shortsleeved sweater tee

• this brown striped longsleeved tee

• this plaid top

• these brown suede loafers

• this white maxi skirt

I find that at least nodding to the season helps me get to enjoy fall a bit more even if I am wearing things fit for 85 degrees. Who wants to go on a hay ride in a tank top? Not me…but give me boots, a skirt, and a shortsleeved sweater, and that I can sign off on.

If anyone else lives in warm temps, what do you do to enjoy the season when it’s hot outside? I find it hard every year, but this year I’m really up for the challenge! Stay tuned next week for my very much not scary Halloween watch list, perfect for people like me who love the holiday but don’t want to watch people get chopped up.

xx -C

Coming back after a two week hiatus to move! It’s crazy how long it takes to pack and then unpack if you have kids. Dare I say, I’m never moving again?

The first official day of fall is Monday, so I’m fully ready to transition seasons. The start of September is just too hot for me to fully retire summer, but as school starts again and football season kicks off, I slowly prepare myself for the arguably best season of the year.

I’m all for any reason to create a themed movie list, and years ago I made myself Google Docs as I perfected my ideal watch lists by season. Excessive? Maybe, but I genuinely don’t like not remembering and having to Google “best fall movies” every year.

I swear every fall movie list out there includes things like Dead Poets Society, October Sky, and Stepmom. If you love those, that’s great. I find all three incredibly depressing, and they make me cry every. single. time. So this list is not depressing. It’s got a little bit of school vibes, some whimsy, and some football. Lots of cozy sweaters and fall foliage too. Sometimes it just needs to feel like cozy season as we prepare for the temps to finally drop below 90.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

I’ve seen this movie a million times, and no, it’s not the best in the franchise. But there’s something so comforting about it. It’s nostalgic, taking me back to reading the books as a kid. It’s whimsical and magical, covers Halloween and Christmas, and truly just feels like a warm hug every time.

Knives Out

I save October for anything spooky, but this is a perfect little thriller to kick off fall. Chris Evans in sweaters for days, stunning autumn foliage, and a good old-fashioned who-dun-it. It’s good every time.

The Breakfast Club

The high school movie to end all high school movies. A group of high schoolers in Saturday detention from varying cliques hits home even years after high school. It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve seen this movie, it’s perfect.

One Fine Day

If you haven’t seen this, respectfully, where have you been? This was a classic in my house growing up. Michele Pfieffer and George Clooney, two parents juggling their work day and their kids after they both miss the school field trip. Cozy season in New York City and a feel-good romance make this a must.

When Harry Met Sally

Peak autumn in New York setting, this perfect enemies to lovers rom-com is one of the greats. Come for Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal’s insane chemistry, stay for the 80s fashion and iconic moments.

You’ve Got Mail

Is Meg Ryan the queen of fall? Quite possibly. The photo of Kathleen Kelly carrying a pumpkin to her charming little bookstore has stood the test of time. Technically, this spans multiple seasons as Joe and Kathleen fall for each other, but it starts in the fall, which really sets the tone.

Dan in Real Life

This movie doesn’t get enough attention. Ignore the fact that Dane Cook is in it because he’s actually fairly well cast as Steve Carell’s brother, who’s dating a woman he doesn’t mean to fall for. It’s got the best fall vibes on a cozy little family trip in Rhode Island.

Pride and Prejudice

The flawless 2005 adaptation is and will always be the best. The rainy English countryside just makes me want to cuddle up by the fire and watch Elizabeth and Darcy come together. And Darcy walking through the misty dawn to confess his love? Swoon.

Silver Linings Playbook

Football season kicks off autumn, and this is an ideal balance of sports with an unconventional love story. A crass Jennifer Lawrence is charming, and a lost Bradley Cooper is endearing. I also don’t fully understand crabby snacks, but I’m fully on board.

Twilight

There’s just something about watching Bella drive into Forks, Washington that makes me ready for the weather to get cooler. It takes me back to high school when I read the books and was fully invested in teen vampire romance. Now it’s just a comfort watch that I find myself turning to every year around this time.

What’s your favorite movie you love to watch every fall?

xx -C

I live for European romance tropes, the more unhinged, the better. Give me a good love story with an American falling for a true local abroad who probably shouldn’t know English and I’m fully invested. Shop owner, handyman, rival in an unrealistic competition? Yes, please. There’s nothing like taking that trusty Hallmark formula and throwing it over the pond for some romance and a good time.

Because I love these abroad tropes so much, I’ll probably do a few of these lists. First up is fully Hallmark, all set in Europe. I’ve rounded up 7 of my favorites I’ve been enjoying this summer that all meet this round up’s criteria — an American falls for someone overseas. There are so many more out there to watch, but these are movies that I actually find good and have personally seen. You never know with these made for TV movies if the chemistry will land or if the corny plot will be pulled off, and with these, I felt like it did. In that feel-good Hallmark way/

So here’s my little summer vibes watchlist for your enjoyment, all currently streaming on Hallmark+, which is fully worth investing in if you’re a Hallmark fan, you just add it to your Prime membership and get access to everything. Yes, please!

The Summer Villa

Hilarie Burton, before she left Hallmark for good, is a romance writer with writer’s block who double books a French villa for the summer with a celebrity chef. Dreamy vibes, dreamy chemistry.

Villa Amore

While on vacation in Italy, Liara impulsively buys a fixer upper for 1 euro and falls in love with a charming little town and handsome local handyman (yay he’s American with dual citizenship!). Under the Tuscan Sun meets Hallmark.

Her Pen Pal

Victoria is in Paris for her best friend’s wedding and decides to reconnect with her childhood pen pal when her ex brings someone new to the wedding. Realistic? Probably not. Dreamy none the less.

Love, Romance and Chocolate

Lacey Chabert and Will Kemp are one of my favorite Hallmark duos. This is one of their best movies, in my humble opinion. Emma is on vacation in Belgium and decides to team up with a renowned chocolatier to compete to be featured in the upcoming royal wedding.

Two Scoops of Italy

Joey King’s older sister Hunter is becoming one of the latest Hallmark heroines and I’m here for it. In this dreamy little film, she stars as a chef who travels to a cute little Italian village for inspiration. A handsome local gelato shop owner shows her how much there is to love.

The Presence of Love

This one’s a bit more serious, but I still like it a lot. Eloise Mumford (so nice she made the list twice) is a professor, who travels to England to spend time on the farm where her late mother grew up. There’s a handsome single father who currently runs the farm now so…she probably won’t be going back home.

Paris, Wine and Romance

Full disclosure, Jen Lilley isn’t really one of my favorites and is mostly over on Great American Family now. But I’ll always tune in for Dan Jeannotte (and anyone else who was on The Bold Type). I love an enemies to lovers trope, so rivals in a wine making competition is obviously chef’s kiss.

Hope you enjoyed this week’s watchlist! As always, send to any of your Hallmark loving friends and family or anyone who needs a little escapism as summer winds down.

xx -C

August is here, and I truly can’t believe summer is almost over. It seemed to last forever but also fly by…anyone else? I’m forcing myself to enjoy the final days of the season while also being so excited about September unofficially kicking off fall. Luckily, there’s plenty this month to keep me firmly in the land of summer, from bingeable shows to the perfect candle. Let’s get into it.

The Summer I Turned Pretty

After seeing the entire internet divided on being Team Jeremiah or Team Conrad, I had to jump on the bandwagon. I initially passed on this little Prime series because it seemed very teen, but I was so wrong. Sure, the story centers around a teenage girl in a love triangle between the two boys she grew up with, but I love that the story also follows their parents and siblings.

My husband and I have gotten fully sucked in, and while I haven’t made up my mind yet, my husband is passionately Team Conrad.

The Map That Leads To You

I’ve been so excited about this new romance movie starring Madelyn Cline and KJ Apa. The story follows Heather, who is on a European trip with her two friends, when she meets and falls for Jack. This is another book adaptation, so I’m definitely going to squeeze in that read if I can.

New Hallmark Releases:

• Providence Falls Parts 2 & 3: 8/9, 8/16

• Mystery Island: Play for Keeps — 8/17

• Double Scoop — 8/23

• Catch of the Day — 8/30

It’s a strong end-of-summer lineup, and I’ll be watching all of them.

The Nightingale

This has been on my TBR for years, but the news of the Fanning sisters starring in the movie adaptation has me finally pulling the trigger. I’ve had so many friends tell me it’s one of the best books they’ve ever read, so I have high hopes.

The story follows two sisters struggling to survive in German-occupied France during World War II. I’ve been on a lighthearted romance kick for the past year, so this will really be a change of pace. If you’ve read it, tell me your thoughts!

The Ex Vows

Once September rolls around, I fully plan on moving over to fall books, so squeezing in one more summery romance. This popular pick follows estranged exes who have to come together to save their best friends’ wedding. Love the trope, love the setting. I’ve heard nothing but good things, so anticipating a fun and easy read.

I’m beyond anxious to start burning fall scents, but really forced myself to soak in the end of the current season. One of my favorite candle brands, this was a new to me scent but oh. my. goodness. I’m in love.

The scent of Maison Louis Marie - No.13 is supposed to “transport you to the Italian coast,” and you really do get that. With notes of citrus, fig, coconut and santal, it really screams summer in the best way. I’ll have this burning all month before fully moving over to all things autumnal.

• Finalizing my Practical Magic reading order — trying to decide if I go publishing order or chronological (thoughts?!). I’m thinking the news of Practical Magic 2 is inspiring me to dive into this series next month.

• Fall capsule wardrobe inspo (more matching sets in fall colors?)

• This candle for early Sept. It’s a spicy vanilla, but don’t worry, it smells nothing like a Bath and Body Works lotion you used in middle school.

That’s it for this month’s Cozy Queue! Feel free to send to romance movie loving friends or anyone else excited about Hallmark’s new end of summer releases.

xx -C

The adaptation of Julia Whelan’s My Oxford Year hit Netflix yesterday, and I’ve been so excited to watch it!

I haven’t read the book (oops), but in my defense, my TBR is currently insane — and I didn’t want to wait to watch the movie.

This movie was everything I needed it to be. Sofia Carson is always a delight, the Oxford setting is beyond dreamy, and the chemistry between her and her co-star is off the charts. Solid 7/10 for an international love story that will have you smiling, laughing, crying, and fully enveloped in Anna and Jamie’s relationship.

Was it the best I’ve seen on Netflix? Probably not. But absolutely worth the watch anyway.

So if you’re in the mood to keep the European love stories going, I rounded up five more sweet romances set abroad — all available to stream right now:

Upgraded

Streaming: On Prime

I love Camila Mendes from Riverdale, so this one was an easy love for me. She plays an auction house assistant who lands a big work trip to London. After getting upgraded to first class, she ends up sitting next to a charming (and handsome) heir to an art fortune — and winds up posing as a VIP in the art world.

Very cute. Devil Wears Prada vibes.

Falling Inn Love

Streaming: On Netflix

It’s nearly embarrassing how many times I’ve seen this movie. Christina Milian has become one of Netflix’s go-to rom-com leads, and this one is just so cozy.
She wins a charming inn in New Zealand after entering a contest online, then fixes it up with the help of a handsome local.

This is peak Hallmark vibes: a charming town, friendly locals, a picture-perfect love story, and the classic “leave the big city for something slower” arc.

Love at First Sight

Streaming: On Netflix

On a flight from New York to London, two people fall in love. Is love at first sight actually real? For Hadley and Oliver, it might be.

Even though the odds of them finding each other again are beyond slim, fate might just have a plan. These two have incredible chemistry that grounds this feel-good movie. Despite a few dramatic moments, it’ll have you smiling the entire time.

Love in the Villa

Streaming: On Netflix

I love all of Kat Graham’s Netflix Christmas movies, so I had a good feeling about this one. A newly single Julie travels to Italy, only to discover her stunning villa was accidentally double-booked with a cynical (and obviously attractive) British guy.
I love a double booking trope as ridiculous as it is, and she has great chemistry with Tom Hopper. Plus...Verona. Need I say more?

Red, White and Royal Blue

Streaming: On Prime

I absolutely loved this book and still recommend starting there, but I thought this was a fun adaptation with a great cast.
The first son of the United States falls in love with the prince of England — and yes, it’s just as good as it sounds.

Watch for the love story, stay for Uma Thurman as the president — with an LBJ accent.

That’s it for this week’s watch list.

Send to your friends who love romance books and movies and need more added to their to be watched list!

xx -C