You don’t understand how obsessed I was over this series back in the day. It got me through my 20’s and we’ve seen it as a movie and it flopped (but I loved the movie). And now it’s a tv series on Peacock starting September 15th! I don’t even have Peacock which kind of sucks because how many streamings services do I need to pay for? 😩
I know book to tv adaptations alway have changes but I just hope the series is GOOD. Will you be watching it? Here’s the trailer:
Another book I read so long ago! But that’s okay if I hardly remember it, I am loving all these adaptations on all the streaming services I have.
I loved all the scenes in Italy – it made me reminisce about my honeymoon 11 years ago. I also love the food aspects of the movie. It made me crave pasta and gelato of course!
I thought it was a cute movie – my favorite parts were when Lina’s best-friend Addie was in the scenes, she made it fun. There is the love triangle between Lina trying to choose between Alessandro (hot, rich guy who’s going to Harvard) and Lorenzo who actually has a girlfriend but he’s the sweet, charming guy training to be a chef. There is some kissing, but all pretty innocent. I thought it’s a great summer movie option about traveling overseas instead of the typical beachy summer movie.
I haven’t read any of the other books in the series – should I? Let me know in the comments below if you read this series and if you will be watching this movie on Netflix!
Here’s the trailer:
I read this series when it first published back in 2009 and I’m not surprised Amazon picked it up after the success of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before on Netflix. I love that the books I read years ago are now becoming tv shows!
I just binged this series on Monday and it was done so well. I love how they added all the diversity that was missing in the original books. Jeremiah is bi in this show, which is awesome and I think reflect the times perfectly and can we just admire his gorgeous eyes?! And then there is Conrad and honestly the actor who played him was perfect – he’s brooding, tortured and of course Belly’s first love/crush. Who can blame her? I was always team Conrad since I love the bad boys but I was never into Belly choosing between two brothers. I know it happens in real life but I always felt so awful about the drama between all of them. 🥺
I love Jeremiah’s energy in this series – he’s so carefree and fun. Conrad is the one in pain and ugh I just feel for him. The actor who plays him, Christopher Briney is so good! And the girl who plays Belly, Lola Tung was perfect, as the 15 year old turning 16 and crushing on Conrad and just trying to be more grown. I honestly forgot about their mom being sick, I only remember the boys going through some hard things and Belly being there in the middle of it all. I did read that the debutant ball was added in to the show and true…I was wondering if I just didn’t remember the books all that well. But yeah…maybe I should re-read the books? They are quick reads so I just might if I can get my hands on them. It doesn’t matter though since now days I try to separate books from shows/movies as much as I can because so much changes get made. I loved all the changes though!
The friendship between the moms remind me of the movie Beaches so I’m scared Season 2 will make me cry! 😢
And can I say that the soundtrack for this whole series is AMAZING. If you are a Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish fan, you will love this series. The music just fits so well! And of course I went crazy when I heard “Teenage Dirtbag” by Wheatus lol…talk about bringing back MEMORIES, ughhhh so good! That song came out in 2000, and I was 21 years old at the time – just good times! 🥰 I found the show’s playlist on apple music so you know what’s going to be on repeat for awhile,
Are you planning on watching The Summer I Turned Pretty? If anything, even if you never read the books, it’s such a summer type of show – it’s full on SUMMER vibes!! Beach, sand, fireworks, cute boys, pretty girls, crushes, broken hearts, love drama, love triangle, family drama, good music – it’s fun and yet emotional too. Check it out if you can!🌊❤️
Jenny Han was another author I devoured in my early 20’s and this book series came out way before To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. The Summer I Turned Pretty was a book series my best friend and I read together. I remember she could relate because she was torn between liking two brothers, so she loved this series. As for me…this was the series that kind of made me wary of love triangles featuring brothers. Oh the drama – I couldn’t handle that it was between brothers. Like no…😒😩, that’s a no for me – I hate the thought of brothers fighting over a girl. But am I going to watch it? OH HECK YEAH. I’m so much older now and have heard worse real life drama in my lifetime now LOL and I’m sure my bestie will be watching this too! It’s nostalgic for me and it’s a summer vibes story and with summer coming, it’s perfect. Plus we have the bad boy brother, and the good one. So much drama…lol…
About the Book:
Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer—they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one terrible and wonderful summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.
And here’s the trailer:
I mean they knew what they were doing using Taylor Swift’s song in this trailer. Good…BAD…yeah…I was so into the bad boy brother. LOL. It’s coming out on JUNE 17th on Amazon!
Did you read this series? Are you planning on watching the series?
~ Yolanda
I spent my late teens and early 20’s devouring Sarah Dessen books and loved them! And today Along for the Ride is on Netflix! So guess what I’m doing right now as I’m typing up this blog post? Yup, I’m watching it! ☺️
About the Book:
It’s been so long since Auden slept at night. Ever since her parents’ divorce—or since the fighting started. Now she has the chance to spend a carefree summer with her dad and his new family in the charming beach town where they live.
A job in a clothes boutique introduces Auden to the world of girls: their talk, their friendship, their crushes. She missed out on all that, too busy being the perfect daughter to her demanding mother. Then she meets Eli, an intriguing loner and a fellow insomniac who becomes her guide to the nocturnal world of the town. Together they embark on parallel quests: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she’s been denied; for Eli, to come to terms with the guilt he feels for the death of a friend.
In her signature pitch-perfect style, Sarah Dessen explores the hearts of two lonely people learning to connect.
And here’s the trailer:
What are you watching this weekend?
~ Yolanda
I just finished watching Heartstopper on Netflix and it was so sweet and sensitive and it made me tear up in so many parts.
I never read the books, so I can’t say how they compare at all but the whole cast of Heartstopper did such a good job in their roles. The music is great and the aesthetic seems to fit what I’ve seen of the book covers of the Heartstopper series – the colors and such. Even the characters look like the ones from the book which is amazing, at least Charlie and Nick does since the cover is all I’ve seen. It’s a series you easily binge quickly since each episode is about 30 minutes long.
Charlie is so earnest and hopeful even when he gets hurt constantly by boys he likes and just the kids at school. He is so brave being out. I love his tenacity to keep being himself, no matter what awkward and hard situations he is put into. Nick on the other hand is trying to figure out how he feels and I love watching his journey and his struggle. He’s a new kid, but a popular one right away because he’s a star on the rugby team but seeing him fall for Charlie and want to care and protect him was just the sweetest thing ever.
I love the friendships and all the diversity we get in the cast and characters. Tao is fantastic! Elle and Tao are the cutest best friends – love them. This is really one you shouldn’t miss. It gave me all the squishy, giggly, lovey-dovey, squealing feels when I was watching this. It is so wholesome. ❤️ I kept saying aloud, “Why are they so cute?!!!!!!” 😅 I wanted to squish them all into a big bear hug. I was feeling like a protective mom over all of them (except the bully).
Here is the trailer if you haven’t seen it yet:
Anyway watch it and fall in love with this whole series like I did!🥰
I’ve been seeing so many trailers lately of books that are adapted being adapted into movies or shows. I’m excited to see a few of these!
1814 promises to be another eventful season, but not, this author believes, for Anthony Bridgerton, London’s most elusive bachelor, who has shown no indication that he plans to marry.
And in truth, why should he? When it comes to playing the consummate rake, nobody does it better…
—Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers, April 1814
But this time, the gossip columnists have it wrong. Anthony Bridgerton hasn’t just decided to marry—he’s even chosen a wife! The only obstacle is his intended’s older sister, Kate Sheffield—the most meddlesome woman ever to grace a London ballroom. The spirited schemer is driving Anthony mad with her determination to stop the betrothal, but when he closes his eyes at night, Kate is the woman haunting his increasingly erotic dreams…
Contrary to popular belief, Kate is quite sure that reformed rakes do not make the best husbands—and Anthony Bridgerton is the most wicked rogue of them all. Kate is determined to protect her sister—but she fears her own heart is vulnerable. And when Anthony’s lips touch hers, she’s suddenly afraid she might not be able to resist the reprehensible rake herself…
***I read these books so long ago that I don’t remember much about the series but I loved season one and am super excited for season 2! Coming to Netflix on March 25. I’m so ready! ***
Charlie, a highly-strung, openly gay over-thinker, and Nick, a cheerful, soft-hearted rugby player, meet at a British all-boys grammar school. Friendship blooms quickly, but could there be something more…?
Charlie Spring is in Year 10 at Truham Grammar School for Boys. The past year hasn’t been too great, but at least he’s not being bullied anymore. Nick Nelson is in Year 11 and on the school rugby team. He’s heard a little about Charlie – the kid who was outed last year and bullied for a few months – but he’s never had the opportunity to talk to him.
They quickly become friends, and soon Charlie is falling hard for Nick, even though he doesn’t think he has a chance. But love works in surprising ways, and sometimes good things are waiting just around the corner…
***I have not read this series but heard many good things! And the trailer looks so good! It already gave me butterflies. Coming to Netflix on April 22.***
It’s been so long since Auden slept at night. Ever since her parents’ divorce—or since the fighting started. Now she has the chance to spend a carefree summer with her dad and his new family in the charming beach town where they live.
A job in a clothes boutique introduces Auden to the world of girls: their talk, their friendship, their crushes. She missed out on all that, too busy being the perfect daughter to her demanding mother. Then she meets Eli, an intriguing loner and a fellow insomniac who becomes her guide to the nocturnal world of the town. Together they embark on parallel quests: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she’s been denied; for Eli, to come to terms with the guilt he feels for the death of a friend.
In her signature pitch-perfect style, Sarah Dessen explores the hearts of two lonely people learning to connect.
**I’ve read all of Sarah Dessen books. And I’m looking forward to seeing how they are adapted. Coming to Netflix on April 22.**
For years, rumors of the “Marsh Girl” haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet fishing village. Kya Clark is barefoot and wild; unfit for polite society. So in late 1969, when the popular Chase Andrews is found dead, locals immediately suspect her.
But Kya is not what they say. A born naturalist with just one day of school, she takes life’s lessons from the land, learning the real ways of the world from the dishonest signals of fireflies. But while she has the skills to live in solitude forever, the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. Drawn to two young men from town, who are each intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new and startling world—until the unthinkable happens.
In Where the Crawdads Sing, Owens juxtaposes an exquisite ode to the natural world against a profound coming of age story and haunting mystery. Thought-provoking, wise, and deeply moving, Owens’s debut novel reminds us that we are forever shaped by the child within us, while also subject to the beautiful and violent secrets that nature keeps.
The story asks how isolation influences the behavior of a young woman, who like all of us, has the genetic propensity to belong to a group. The clues to the mystery are brushed into the lush habitat and natural histories of its wild creatures.
***I’ve been meaning to read this for years and never got around to it and I don’t know why. But I think I should read it now since the movie is coming out. In theaters July 22.**
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell by chance into the hands of the hobbit Bilbo Baggins.
From Sauron’s fastness in the Dark Tower of Mordor, his power spread far and wide. Sauron gathered all the Great Rings to him, but always he searched for the One Ring that would complete his dominion.
When Bilbo reached his eleventy-first birthday he disappeared, bequeathing to his young cousin Frodo the Ruling Ring and a perilous quest: to journey across Middle-earth, deep into the shadow of the Dark Lord, and destroy the Ring by casting it into the Cracks of Doom.
The Lord of the Rings tells of the great quest undertaken by Frodo and the Fellowship of the Ring: Gandalf the Wizard; the hobbits Merry, Pippin, and Sam; Gimli the Dwarf; Legolas the Elf; Boromir of Gondor; and a tall, mysterious stranger called Strider.
***I was in my early 20’s when The Lord of the Rings came out in the theater and wow…what an event it was. I remember the hype around it before it was released. I remember going with my 2 best friends and being in awe, and trying not to go to the bathroom in case we missed something good (but I really had to go LOL) and was standing near the door when Gandalf said the iconic “You Shall Not Pass!” 😅. I ran to the bathroom after that scene. I’ve watched all three movies plus extended versions countless times on dvd over the years haha. I’ll definitely watch this – and no, I haven’t read any of the books. 🤦🏻♀️). Coming to Amazon on Sept. 2.**
I know there is a bunch more coming out but I’ll do a part 2 when there are trailers for them.
What are you excited to watch this year? ~ Yolanda
Past Midnight Book Reviews & More 