Summer Favorites Roundup:

The Best Books, Movies, TV Shows, and Lifestyle Finds

Welcome to Part 1 of a new two-part series!

Now that I am getting back into writing regularly, I want to share a roundup of my seasonal favorites.

Additionally, I will look ahead to the coming months and include The Best Books, Movies, TV Shows, and Lifestyle Finds.

As a pop culture writer specializing in books, movies, and television, I’m excited.

I’m eager to dive into everything that made my summer special.

Additionally, here is a look back at my favorite reads, watches, and everyday finds from this past season.

The Best Books, Movies, TV Shows, and Lifestyle Finds.

The Best Books, Movies, TV Shows, and Lifestyle Finds

Books

• The Last Republicans: Inside the Extraordinary Relationship Between George H.W. and George W. Bush by Mark K. Updegrove. A fascinating look at the unique dynamic of a father-and-son presidency—a historic rarity in American politics. (Full review to come!)
• Postscript by Cecelia Ahern, is an incredible sequel to P.S. I Love You. If you enjoy a good tearjerker, this is absolutely the book for you. If you aren’t a huge reader, check out the film adaptation of the first book—I dare say it’s just as good as the novel.
• The Atomic City Girls by Janet Beard is a must-read for historical fiction fans. This novel explores the secret world of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, during WWII as workers helped develop the atomic bomb.

Movies

• The Hobbit Trilogy: When I first watched these films, I didn’t enjoy them because my expectations were set too high; I was constantly comparing them to The Lord of the Rings. Upon re-watching them recently, I fell in love with their distinct magic. My favorite of the three is The Desolation of Smaug—it is visually stunning in so many ways. The series is based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s wonderfully written classic, The Hobbit. (The Hobbit can be found to stream on HBO Max.)

Children’s Movies

I watched far more children’s movies this season.

All of these movies can be found on Disney+. (I have no affiliation with them. No income will be made off of these reviews)

• The Fox and the Hound & The Fox and the Hound 2: I hadn’t seen The Fox and the Hound since I was a little girl, so sharing it with my son, Landon, was a true treasure. When I asked him which he preferred, he chose the sequel—mostly because it was a lot less scary and sad. Landon rated these a solid 10/10.
• The Great Mouse Detective: This story follows a young mouse searching for her missing father. In my opinion, this premise should have been turned into a full TV series! It’s a clever, animated twist on Sherlock Holmes. This is my husband Jon’s favorite childhood movie, and Landon rated it a 6/10.
• Oliver & Company: Revisiting this story of an orphaned kitten in New York City with a pack of stray dogs brought back so many fond childhood memories. It is just too cute. Landon gave this one a 7/10.
• The Aladdin Trilogy: I had only ever seen the original animated Aladdin, but after watching all three, Aladdin and the King of Thieves became my favorite. I’m a sucker for a good father-son dynamic—or perhaps, after losing my dad this spring, I simply needed an uplifting father-son story to warm my heart. Landon gave the trilogy a 9/10.

Television

• Chuck: A fantastic action-comedy about an average guy who accidentally downloads the entire CIA database into his brain. Jon and I love this show so much that we went ahead and purchased the complete DVD box set!
• North & South (2004 Mini-Series): A gorgeous BBC adaptation based on the novel by Elizabeth Gaskell (which is currently high on my reading list). It contrasts the industrial North of England with the rural South. It stars Richard Armitage—who also appears in The Hobbit trilogy—and he is phenomenal in it.
• Roswell: If you love sci-fi filled with alien encounters and secret government facilities, this is the show for you. Exploring themes of unknown space always intrigues me. (If you enjoy this genre, keep an eye out for my upcoming review of Jupiter Ascending starring Mila Kunis and Channing Tatum!) Roswell can be streamed on Tubi for free!

Summer Lifestyle Favorites

• Road Tripping to Raleigh and Norfolk: Pictures and a full trip recap post are coming soon!
• Plantlife Patchouli Natural Bar Soap: This handcrafted soap smells amazing and is gentle on skin. Because I manage hyper-mobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS), my skin is extremely sensitive, prone to cracking, and very delicate. Finding a product that works without irritation is rare, so this has been a wonderful find.
• Milk-Bone Pill Pouches (Hickory Smoked Bacon Flavor): Both of our dogs, Forest and Ginger, are terrified of loud noises. During summer thunderstorms or fireworks, we have to give them calming medication. For years, they would eat soft food and spit the pill right out! These pouches have been a total game-changer—they gulp down the treat and the pill with zero hassle.
• Tru Fru Frozen Blueberries in Dark & White Chocolate: The ultimate summer treat! I have to manually portion these out so I don’t accidentally eat the whole bag in one sitting.
• Starbucks Brown Sugar Cinnamon Oatmilk Coffee Creamer: I rarely buy Starbucks drinks out because they can be expensive and overly sweet—though I do stop on road trips (they always have the cleanest restrooms!). My usual order is an Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso, so when I saw this creamer at the store, I had to try it. It did not disappoint! However, it has been getting harder to find lately. Does anyone know if this is a seasonal flavor, or where to consistently buy it?
• PRETTYGARDEN Women’s Boho Tiered Ruffle Flowy Maxi Skirt: Such a cute, comfortable piece. The muted pink color is versatile, and the quality has held up great all season. Thanks to the soft tone, it will transition easily into my fall wardrobe.
• OLLY Hello Happy Mood Support Gummies (Saffron & Vitamin D): I picked these up on a whim after my doctor mentioned my Vitamin D levels were low. Beyond Vitamin D, they contain saffron for mood support. Since starting them, I’ve noticed a real difference in my day-to-day energy and mental clarity. I’ve already repurchased them!

That wraps up my summer favorites.

Additionally, be on the lookout for Part 2, where I’ll share everything I’m looking forward to this fall.

Share with me your summer favorites in the comment section below!