just finished: nothing. Despite being home more, I read a little of this and a little of that but didn’t finish anything. It’s the reading ADD. Gets me every time.

currently reading: I am a little over halfway through The Anatomy of Desire by L.R. Dorn. It’s amazing, like reading the transcript of a true crime documentary or podcast. A young woman, a fitness and diet influencer, goes canoeing with her female lover. There is an accident (or was it?), and the lover doesn’t make it. But the influencer swims to shore, gets in her car and leaves, meeting up with a group of friends for the rest of the weekend like nothing happened, at least, until the police show up to arrest her. We get to hear from the officers who investigated, the lawyers trying the case, a newspaper reporter covering the case, parents and friends and, of course, influencer Cleo Ray herself. As things develop, more lies and secrets come out, until you don’t know what the truth is. It’s beautifully written, and I can’t wait to see what happens. I’ve also started Where the Grass Is Green and the Girls Are Pretty, by the author of The Devil Wears Prada. Lauren Weisberger takes on the Varsity Blues scandal, where parents bought their teens “side doors” into Ivy League schools, with this one. I’m only about 10 percent in so far, but I am hooked! I’ve also started reading The Bookshop of Second Chances, where a woman is bequeathed her uncle’s estate in Scotland and his vast collection of first edition books just when she needs a reason to leave London. It’s so lovely and peaceful, in that way that books about booklovers or books about Scotland (I’m thinking Alexander McCall Smith here) can be.

up next: Cookbooks! Ten Speed was kind enough to send an early copy of Bavel, as you can see below, “Modern recipes inspired by the Middle East.” I’m always amazed at how those who know how to cook Middle Eastern cuisine are celebrated on food shows for their flavors, so I am excited to learn more here. Also, I have a cookbook called Spreads and Tables by Shelly Westerhousen Worcel and her partner Wyatt. It’s about how to plan and execute a spread for a dinner party, an occasion (like the Super Bowl), or just for a cozy weeknight dinner without too much fuss. Shelly is a vegetarian, so Wyatt is the one who adds the meats. She has over 20 themes with a bunch of recipes and decorating tips, and I can’t wait to see how to up my game, as puling this sort of thing off is something I can do perfectly in my head and only about 20-30% successfully in real life.