Weekend: Take a look, it's in a book

Skimm'd while stocking our winter work wardrobes — Check out what we Skimm’d for you today December 30, 2023 [Subscribe]( [Read in browser]( [theSkimm Logo] Daily Skimm WEEKEND Header Image Skimm'd while [stocking our winter work wardrobes]( [Update location]( or [View forecast]( The holidays mean, yup, plenty of stress — but also, more time to do the things you love. For many of us, that’s reading. So here are some of our favorite articles and books from the past year… Bookmark'd 7 Articles That Dominated Our Group Chats in 2023 From the [endless entertaining moments]( to the [equally endless scandals](, 2023 provided plenty of group chat material. That also included these great reads — which we immediately read, bookmarked, and sent to our friends... “[Why Can’t Our Friendship Survive Your Baby?](” by [Allison P. Davis](...the arrival of a small human can change everything — just ask the friends who don’t have kids. --------------------------------------------------------------- “[How Therapy Speak Became the Language of the Office](” by [Amanda Montell](…water cooler talk sure sounds different these days. --------------------------------------------------------------- “[The Fake Poor Bride](” by [Xochitl Gonzalez](...luxury wedding planners have truly seen it all. Now, they’re spilling their secrets. --------------------------------------------------------------- “[What I Found Among Strangers in the Maggie Rogers Ticket Line](” by [Jenna Kunze](…to avoid another Ticketmaster fiasco, the singer-songwriter took things back to the box office. Fans walked away with more than just tickets. --------------------------------------------------------------- “[Nobody Has My Condition But Me](” by [Beverly Gage](...one woman on the emotional and physical toll of being a medical mystery. --------------------------------------------------------------- “[How Millennials Learned to Dread Motherhood](” by [Rachel Cohen](…an already life-changing decision has become even harder. --------------------------------------------------------------- “[How I Survived a Wedding in a Jungle That Tried To Eat Me Alive](” by [Melissa Johnson](…destination weddings can be a big undertaking — particularly when you have to pack survival skills. Skimm Reads 7 Books That Topped Our TBR Stacks in 2023 This year was one for the books, both literally and figuratively. So we asked our resident bibliophiles (our [Skimm Reads team]() to share some of the titles they couldn’t stop talking about... “[Quietly Hostile](” by [Samantha Irby](: Fans of laughter, assemble. Samantha Irby is back with another essay collection that’s so relatable, so funny, so exactly what we needed right now that we could scream. With gems like “being perceived is excruciating, especially if you can’t go person to person explaining why you look like that,” it’s basically a printout of our inner monologue (but with better jokes). And yes, there is a full chapter where she suggests re-writes for specific episodes of “Sex and the City.” Purchase and read immediately, if not sooner. “[Romantic Comedy](” by [Curtis Sittenfeld](: You’ve heard it before: Gorgeous female celebrity hosts iconic late-night sketch comedy show, starts dating non-famous male writer on said show. But what if, for once, the reverse happened? Enter: this delightful novel from one of our all-time favorite authors. It follows Sally, a sketch writer and self-declared regular-looking person, as she gets to know Noah, an objectively hot and famous musician. It’s thoughtful, smart, and just the right amount of seriously sweet. Prepare to fall in love. “[Social Engagement](” by [Avery Carpenter Forrey](: Picture it, you’ve just married a handsome, successful guy, in a dream location…but somehow, it’s all wrong. In this darkly funny novel — written by an OG Skimm employee, BTW — we meet Callie in this very situation. The book takes us back through the preceding year, during which Callie moves in with her best friend from childhood, reignites an old flame with her friend’s cousin, and discovers family secrets lurking in forgotten drawers. If you’re looking for a page-turner with some bite, this one’s for you. “[Homebodies](” by [Tembe Denton-Hurst](: When your work is your identity, and it goes away — what then? That’s one of the questions that propels this excellent debut novel. It follows Mickey, a Black beauty writer in NYC who’s let go from her buzzy, great-on-paper job...and then has to reckon with the way she was treated there, and what she really wants next. She flees the city (and the woman she loves) to try and figure it out. The book truly gets what it is to be young and confused in today’s world (worry about being iced out of the group chat included), and we devoured it. “[Tom Lake](” by [Ann Patchett](: Ann Patchett is back and we couldn’t be happier. This time, she tells the story of three sisters, who are back on their parents’ cherry farm during the pandemic. As they shelter in place, they ask their mother, Lara, a former actor, to tell the story of her young romance with now ultra-famous actor, Peter Duke. The story switches between the family’s present moment (with Lara happily married to the girls’ father) and her past romance with Duke. It’s cozy, and feel-good, and we recommend reading with a bowl of cherries. “[Late Bloomers](” by [Deepa Varadarajan](: Equally funny and heartwarming, this debut from law professor Deepa Varadarajan follows an Indian-American couple recently divorced after a 36-year arranged marriage. Ex-husband and father Suresh Raman bops around on dating apps. Ex-wife Lata discovers what it means to have an independent life. Meanwhile, their adult children Priya and Nikesh are unpacking their own relationships. In the end, secrets are revealed and the whole family collides in an endearing, humorous finish. “[Sea Change](” by [Gina Chung](: If you’ve ever been stuck in familiar patterns and felt yourself losing momentum, you’ll relate to this novel’s protagonist. When we meet Ro, she’s mourning a breakup, drifting away from her best friend, and letting childhood traumas lie. But as she prepares to say goodbye to Dolores — the giant octopus she takes care of at her aquarium job, who’s been sold to a wealthy investor — she goes through her own metamorphosis. Trust us: This unique, smart, emotionally rich book is a must-read. theskimm beta We’re building a tool to help you cross off the to-dos keeping you up at night. Meet [theSkimm Beta](, a space where you can learn how to [manage your debt]( and [get more pleasure](. Check it out. Skimm Picks Here are today’s recs to help you live a smarter life… 1. A pair of designer-inspired earrings you’d never know were from Amazon. You might recognize the chunky teardrop shape from a certain $1,000+ designer pair — but [these editor-approved ones]( cost less than $10. Psst...check out more of our favorite Amazon hidden gems [here](. [Buy them]( --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Up to 70% off Nisolo shoes. Through January 2, get up to 70% off [a pair of booties]( with a just-right heel height and [lace-up boots]( you can wear in any weather. More on-sale shoe shopping, [right this way](. [Get to it]( --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Up to 50% off Oprah’s favorite lounge set. Spanx just added a bunch of new styles to their [sale section](, including the [half-zip]( and [wide-leg pants]( set that made it onto Oprah's coveted list this year. Spanx sales sell out fast, so grab yours ASAP. [Shop now]( Psst…love our recs? Follow [@skimmshopping]( on Instagram for more products, gifts, and services that are actually worth the hype (and the price tag). Skimm'd by: Rasheeda Campbell, Hannah Parker, Melissa Goldberg, and Clem Robineau --------------------------------------------------------------- Photos by Vintage, Harper, Mariner Books, Random House, Random House Trade Paperbacks, Brand Partners Design by theSkimm --------------------------------------------------------------- *PS: This is a sponsored post. Want to wake up with us every morning? [Subscribe to the Daily Skimm](. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Instagram Icon]( [Tik Tok Icon]( [Linkedin Logo]( [Twitter icon]( [Facebook icon]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [theSkimm']( Skimm'd something we missed? skimmthis@theSkimm.com Issues? 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