Kimberlee K.

It’s the first favorites post of the year!

*fires confetti cannon*

Let’s jump right in.

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Books

One of my goals this year is to read all of Lily King’s books, and I started the year with Writers & Lovers, which instantly became my first five star read of 2026. It follows Casey, a writer who is trying to finish her novel while grappling with the loss of her mother. I am always drawn to books about writers because they always have little nuggets of insight that I desperately need, either to help me feel better understood, or to simply help me become a better writer. This book had both.

I was wary of The Correspondent by Virginia Evans, even though I had seen it literally EVERYWHERE and every review said it was easily their favorite read of the month/year. It’s an epistolary novel, which means it’s written exclusively in letters, which was new for me, but I’m telling you—EVERYONE WAS RIGHT. I absolutely loved this book and I marveled at the storytelling ability. I rented it from the library but I absolutely want my own copy.

And finally, Crushmore by Nava Kavelin, Penn Badgley and Sophie Ansari. The authors host a podcast, Podcrushed, that I listen to often, so I was already excited, but I was so pleasantly surprised by the essays! They were so beautiful and deep and human, and I had to press pause more than once so I could take a minute to feel all the feelings they were bringing up in me. There was one particular essay by Sophie Ansari about sisters that had me crying on the freeway—in a good way. I’d recommend the book in any form, but I loved the audiobook!

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TV Shows

Pluribus was another one that I watched mostly because I had FOMO and wanted to know what everyone was talking about. It follows Carol, who after a quasi-alien invasion is one of the only people found immune to their “joining.” Admittedly, it is strange, and there were a few episodes where I audibly asked, “what?!” But then it got me. I gasped after the last episode and was so mad/sad that it was over, and I’m anxiously awaiting season two. My best advice for anyone who hasn’t seen it is: just give it a minute.

I also loved Ponies that takes place in Russia during the Cold War and follows two women as they team up with the CIA after their husbands mysteriously die. It is fun and funny and features Emilia Clarke and Haley Lu Richardson and all of their clothes are 10/10.

I am also loving season two of The Pitt and was once again shocked and horrified (in a good way?) by the new season of Tell Me Lies.

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Documentaries

I have been a Scotty James fan for a long time, but after watching Scotty James: Pipe Dream in the lead up to the Olympics, I threw all American patriotism out the window and put all my hopes and dreams on this Aussie for the halfpipe finals. While he didn’t come away with the gold—he missed it by a mere 1.5 points!—I’d still recommend this documentary that gives a good look into both the sport and his journey to the Olympics. What a wild story and what a wonderful family!

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Movies

I’ve been hot on my quest to watch all of the movies nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, and that in addition to the Olympics being on, has left me with little time for other movies. But I did watch Eternity and cry. It follows Joan as she enters the afterlife and has to choose who she wants to spend eternity with, her first love or her husband of 50 years. I thought it was sweet and funny and hard and good! (find it on AppleTV)

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Music

Baby by Dijon

I Barely Know Her by Sombr

Jamie MacDonald by Jamie Macdonald

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Artists/Social Media

Emily Miller Art (@emilymillerarts) – an artist I started following amidst her coffee shop mural project, which turned out so good!

Sam Allen (@the.sam.allen) – a musician I found through his videos (like this one) of matching movie/tv dialogue to music.

Emma Joan (@emmajoan_art) – a still life painter whose work looks good enough to eat!!

The 100 Pages Movie team (@100pages) – a shameless plug for the wonderful project I was blessed to be a part of. We recently wrapped filming and it was a wild ride!

The owl trend – I admit I became addicted to the videos of people impersonating owls impersonating celebrities, like this one.

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Links

I loved this post about reconnecting with your 12-year-old self.

I swooned over these collages.

And thought this converted garage was SO PRETTY.

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Trader Joe’s Finds

⟶ Ketchup lattice chips

⟶ Pesto chicken wrap

⟶ Ricotta Cuoricini Ravioli

⟶ Tangerine Juice

Bonus Find (from Von’s): Jeni’s Gooey Butter Cake ice cream (WOW!)