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Your liver works tirelessly behind the scenes every single day without you ever having to ask. According to Columbia University Irving Medical Center, this vital organ performs over 500 essential functions to keep your body running smoothly—from filtering harmful toxins and processing vital nutrients to managing blood sugar balance. Yet, despite its heavy workload and central role in keeping you energized and thriving, most people don’t give their liver much thought until a frightening medical diagnosis or abnormal blood test forces the issue.

When afternoon cravings strike and energy levels drop around three o’clock, reaching for a quick bite is second nature. While popular choices like almonds, walnuts or mixed seeds often steal the spotlight in healthy eating discussions, top liver specialists emphasize that another creamy kitchen staple packs an even higher nutritional punch for long-term organ health.

Related: I’m a Health Editor, and I Might Never Eat Non-Organic Dairy Again

Maintaining a well-balanced diet remains your single best defense against fatty liver buildup, inflammation and metabolic complications, but choosing the right afternoon bite can make an immediate, positive difference in how you feel today and how your body functions decades down the road.

If you want to give your body an extra layer of protection while keeping your appetite satisfied between major meals, medical experts say one specific dairy staple stands out from the rest. Here’s why specialists consider it a premier choice for organ protection, how it fuels your body at the cellular level and how simple, mindful dietary adjustments can quietly transform your daily health routine.

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Why Specialists Praise One Creamy Dairy Favorite

When choosing foods that actively protect your digestive organs and overall metabolic health, whole-food options rich in high-quality protein top the list. Dr. Michael Schoech, MD, an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and a hepatologist at UC Health in Cincinnati, previously told Parade that Greek yogurt is his premier recommendation for liver wellness.

“My first-choice snack is Greek yogurt,” said Dr. Schoech. “It is a high-impact snack which is high in protein and lower in carbohydrates and sodium.”

By offering a robust protein profile while keeping excess sugars and salt low, Greek yogurt aligns directly with dietary guidance from the American Liver Foundation. The organization consistently advises avoiding foods loaded with high fats, added sugars and excessive sodium, which can contribute to fat accumulation in liver cells and increase the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Related: An Oncology Dietitian Says This Tiny Food Has ’10 to 100 Times’ More Cancer-Fighting Compounds Than Broccoli

To further optimize metabolic wellness, doctors recommend building a broader lifestyle strategy around high-fiber and nutrient-dense choices. “Eating a well-balanced diet is by far the most important consideration for liver health, including a diet high in fiber and protein with fresh fruits and vegetables,” Dr. Schoech noted. “Healthy proteins for your liver include fish and chicken, like what is recommended in the Mediterranean diet.”

Smart Daily Habits for Optimal Liver Function

Beyond Greek yogurt, integrating other nutrient-rich items into your daily routine helps preserve long-term vitality and keeps metabolic sluggishness at bay. Other medical experts point out that variety plays a vital role in preventing overeating and managing body weight, which directly protects your organs from metabolic strain.

Dr. Kunal Gupta, MD, Gastroenterologist at Hackensack Meridian Health Bayshore Medical Center, emphasized that nutrient-dense bites pay off across the board. “Nuts and nut bars are great snacks. They are rich in vitamins, minerals and protein,” explained Dr. Gupta. “Nuts and other snacks high in protein help satiate your hunger and allow you to limit overall weight gain, which is important for the health of your liver.”

Related: Here’s Exactly What Happens to Your Gut Health When You Eat an Apple a Day

Dr. Gupta stressed that protecting your vital organs requires looking at the bigger picture of systemic wellness. “What is good for your overall health is what is good for your liver,” says Dr. Gupta. “Maintain a diet that limits your risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease, which are all part of metabolic syndrome.”

Additionally, pay attention to your beverage choices throughout the workday. Dr. Schoech points out that regular coffee consumption—specifically black coffee without added sugars or sweet creams—has been linked to reduced liver stiffness and reduced cancer risks in clinical studies. Combining smart beverage choices with a daily bowl of protein-rich Greek yogurt gives your body a simple, effective blueprint for staying healthy for years to come.

Adapted from Parade’s ‘I’m a Doctor Who Treats Liver Conditions—This Is the Snack I Eat Almost Every Single Day’ by Bobbi Dempsey.

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Sources

• The Liver and Its Functions, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
• Dr. Michael Schoech, MD, an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and a hepatologist at UC Health in Cincinnati
• Dr. Kunal Gupta, MD, Gastroenterologist at Hackensack Meridian Health Bayshore Medical Center

If you’ve ever read an Andy Weir book, you already know he has a knack for putting ordinary people in extraordinarily bad situations: A stranded astronaut who has to survive alone on Mars. A smuggler who gets pulled into a dangerous scheme on the moon. Or a man who wakes up in deep space with no idea why he’s there and eventually realizes the stakes are far bigger than he could have imagined.

That mix of science, humor and high-pressure problem-solving has helped make Weir one of the most recognizable names in modern sci-fi. But for readers who have only seen the movie adaptations or picked up one of his bestsellers, figuring out where to go next isn’t quite as obvious as it seems.

His catalog includes full-length novels, shorter fiction and at least one major project that doesn’t fit neatly into either category. So, how many Andy Weir books are there—and what order should you read them in? Here’s how his work lines up.

Related: 2011 Novel From ‘Project Hail Mary’ Author Among Best Sci-Fi of the 21st Century

How Many Books Has Andy Weir Written?

If you’re counting Andy Weir’s traditional full-length novels, he has published three novels. These include:

1. The Martian
2. Artemis
3. Project Hail Mary

All three are standalone science-fiction stories rather than installments in an ongoing series. Penguin Random House lists those novels among Weir’s primary works, while his official author site also highlights the same three titles as the books that define his mainstream fiction career.

That isn’t the entire story, however.

Weir has also written the graphic novel Cheshire Crossing and a number of shorter works, including stories that have been published online, in collections or as standalone digital releases. So, if you’re specifically asking how many novels Andy Weir has written, the answer is three. But if you’re counting all of his major published works, the number is higher.

Related: Best-Selling 2021 Science Fiction Hit by Andy Weir Ranked ‘Best Audiobook Ever’ by Audible

Andy Weir Books in Publication Order 1. The Martian (2014)

Weir’s breakthrough novel also has one of the more unusual origin stories in modern publishing. The Martian was initially released by Weir online before becoming a traditionally published novel. Crown published the hardcover edition in 2014, and the story later became the basis for Ridley Scott’s 2015 movie starring Matt Damon.

The novel follows astronaut Mark Watney, who is presumed dead and left behind on Mars after an emergency forces the rest of his crew to evacuate. Watney quickly realizes, though, that surviving long enough for any possible rescue will require him to solve one problem after another with extremely limited resources.

That premise established many of the qualities readers now associate with Weir’s work: technically minded protagonists, hard science, humor and escalating disasters that require careful problem-solving.

According to Weir’s site, he worked as a software engineer for roughly two decades before the success of The Martian allowed him to write full-time.

2. Artemis (2017)

Weir’s second novel moved the action from Mars to the moon.

Published in November 2017, Artemis takes place in the first city on the moon and follows Jazz Bashara, a porter who supplements her income by smuggling contraband. Her life becomes considerably more complicated when she is offered the chance to take part in a lucrative criminal scheme.

Penguin Random House describes Artemis as a heist story set in the lunar city, giving Weir a chance to explore not only survival in space but what everyday life inside a functioning off-world society might look like. The novel retains Weir’s interest in science and technical detail, but wraps those elements in a crime thriller rather than another isolated survival story.

3. Project Hail Mary (2021)

For his third novel, Weir pushed the scale of the story considerably farther.

Project Hail Mary begins with Ryland Grace waking aboard a spacecraft with little understanding of who he is, why he’s there or what happened to the rest of his crew. As his memory returns, he realizes that his mission is linked to a threat that could have catastrophic consequences for Earth.

Published in 2021, the novel once again puts scientific problem-solving at the center of the story, but expands the scope far beyond the relatively familiar environments of Mars and the moon.

Penguin Random House notes that Project Hail Mary became a No. 1 New York Times bestseller and was a finalist for the Hugo Award. As of October 2026, it remains Weir’s most recent full-length novel.

Related: A ‘Project Hail Mary’ Sequel Could Be Possible—But Don’t Expect It Soon

Are Andy Weir’s Books Connected?

Barry Brecheisen / Getty Images

No. Weir’s three novels do not form a series.

The Martian, Artemis and Project Hail Mary feature different characters, different settings and separate storylines. That means there is no required reading order.

Readers interested in survival fiction may want to begin with The Martian, while those who prefer a crime or heist angle may be more drawn to Artemis. Project Hail Mary, meanwhile, leans heavily into scientific mystery and a much larger-scale space adventure.

Reading the books in publication order can still be rewarding because it shows how Weir’s approach to science-heavy storytelling develops across his career.

What Is Cheshire Crossing?

One Andy Weir title doesn’t fit neatly beside his three science-fiction novels.

Cheshire Crossing is a graphic novel written by Weir and illustrated by Sarah Andersen, best known for Sarah’s Scribbles. The story brings together Alice from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Wendy from Peter Pan and Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz as teenagers who meet at a boarding school designed to help them deal with their unusual experiences traveling between worlds.

The project began as a webcomic created by Weir before being reworked and professionally published with Andersen’s illustrations.

For readers trying to collect Weir’s major book-length works, Cheshire Crossing belongs on the list. It simply shouldn’t be confused with a fourth prose novel in the same category as The Martian, Artemis and Project Hail Mary.

Related: 5 Biggest Changes From Book To Screen in ‘Project Hail Mary’

Has Andy Weir Written Short Stories?

Yes. Weir wrote short fiction before and alongside his major books, and some of those stories have become well-known in their own right. One of the most famous is “The Egg,” a brief philosophical science-fiction story that spread widely online after Weir published it on his website.

Another is “Randomize,” which was released in 2019 as part of Amazon Original Stories’ Forward collection. The story centers on a Las Vegas casino, quantum computing and an attempt to exploit a supposedly secure random-number system.

What Is Andy Weir’s Most Recent Book?

Weir’s most recent full-length novel is Project Hail Mary, first published in 2021. Newer editions of his earlier books have appeared since then, but those don’t represent new stories.

What Is the Best Andy Weir Book To Read First?

It depends. For someone new to Weir, The Martian is the most natural starting point. It’s the book that introduced most readers to his signature style and remains a good example of what makes his fiction distinctive: realistic technical obstacles, frequent humor and characters who survive by breaking enormous problems into smaller ones.

That said, there is no wrong place to start, either.

Readers who like heist stories may prefer Artemis, while those drawn to large-scale space adventures and scientific mysteries may want to start with Project Hail Mary. And because Weir’s novel bibliography is still relatively compact, catching up doesn’t require committing to a sprawling series. You can simply pick the premise that interests you most—and start solving problems alongside the characters.

Related: 5 Books to Read After Watching ‘Project Hail Mary’

This article was drafted with the assistance of AI and thoroughly reviewed, edited and fact-checked by Parade editors. See our complete AI Policy.

On Tuesday, October 6, 2026, Mercury conjuncts Venus retrograde, bringing newfound clarity to four zodiac signs. Acting as an eye in the astrological storm of the ongoing October-November Venus retrograde, Tuesday brings greater peace of mind, easier decision-making, and a breath of fresh air. It has been an emotional time for these signs, but this Tuesday helps them turn confusion into conviction.

According to astrologer Miranda Victoria, “Because this conjunction is happening in deep Scorpio specifically, things won’t be surface level at all.” For the following fixed zodiac signs, there’s a real chance to go beyond the surface level and dive into the truth of a situation to unlock greater control, power, and direction.

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Taurus

Taurus, prepare for takeoff in your relationships. While it’s been challenging to communicate with loved ones or get everyone on the same page lately, October 6 offers hope. A healing conversation may naturally take place. Information that helps you understand one another comes to light. You’re no longer second-guessing your instincts in how to connect with those who matter most. A little vulnerability goes a long way.

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Leo

If you’re looking to heal your current circumstances, you must first tend to past wounds. As emotions arise on Tuesday, sit with them. Through the art of just being, you unlock greater wisdom in your psyche. Connecting present challenges with past disappointments helps you stop projecting pain onto hopeful circumstances. Change must begin from within before it materializes externally. October 6 is a first step towards claiming greater agency in your healing journey.

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Scorpio

As Mercury and Venus meet in your sign, you’re hit with a wave of heightened awareness. Mysteries that have been bogging you suddenly make sense. While you may not have all the answers, you’re given an important insight into the direction you want to take. Tuesday provides a clearer image of the person you’re becoming. Allow your instincts to lead you to the right place at the right time. You’ll be surprised by how things begin to fall into place.

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Aquarius

Career growth is calling your name, Aquarius. You’ve been toiling hard away at work. Much of your efforts may have felt overlooked, especially by your superiors or authority figures. A breakthrough moment allows for greater recognition on Tuesday. Coworkers are eager to connect. Customers are willing to trust your expertise. Lean into your knowledge, and don’t let imposter syndrome stop you from taking credit for how far you’ve come.

UP NEXT:

Anson Williams looked back on the death of Erin Moran nearly 10 years after her passing. The actress who played Joanie Cunningham on Happy Days died from cancer in April 2017. Moran had kept her diagnosis a secret from the public, but Williams had been in touch with her in the months leading up to her death.

In an October 2026 appearance on Still Here Hollywood with Steve Kmetko, Williams, 77, shared that Moran’s death affected him “tremendously.”

“What’s funny is I pretty much brought her into Happy Days,” he said. “Because before we did the second pilot, I was in Northern California shooting Lisa, Bright and Dark, a movie of the week playing the star’s [Kay Lenz] boyfriend, and this talented little actress was there playing her sister, Erin Moran. And cute as a button. So when I found out we’re doing the [Happy Days] pilot and all that and we’re meeting and all that, they were still looking for a Joanie. I said, ‘Have you auditioned Erin Moran?’ They go, ‘No.’ And they did, and she got it.”

Bob D'Amico / Getty Images

“Seeing her from 12 years old to, you know, her untimely death was terrible,” Williams continued. “She had a very difficult upbringing, you know, with her family situation, and you know really was in pain all the time. But she came out the other side. She beat it, but cancer got her. You know, she had already married this wonderful man, Steve. They had this beautiful relationship, but you know, she got throat cancer, and yeah, that was it.”

RELATED: 50 Years  Ago, ‘Happy Days’ Unexpectedly Replaced One of Its Most Beloved Characters

Moran died at home in Indiana on April 22, 2017, at age 56 of complications from stage 4 cancer, Deadline reported at the time.

She was just 13 when she joined the cast of Happy Days in 1974, then went on to star in the spinoff series Joanie Loves Chachi.

Shortly after Moran’s death, Williams told People magazine that he had been aware of her private battle with cancer.

“It’s hard to wrap your arms around it,” the actor said in 2017. “She was having treatment for throat cancer, so I was contacting her husband and her, and she seemed to be fighting it, really doing well. I was just shocked when I got the call she had passed. I had no idea it was that bad.”

“Erin always brought light into a room,” the Happy Days alum added. “Even though she’s gone, she will always be on that TV making someone smile. She does leave a legacy of good feelings and light for anyone that watches her.”

Related: Anson Williams Shares New Details on John Lennon Sneaking Onto the ‘Happy Days’ Set 52 Years Ago

I’ve always wondered how much difference there really is between the different grades of steak at Costco. So I decided to find out.  Smile widens. I bought Choice, Prime and American Wagyu ribeyes from the South San Francisco Costco and grilled them side by side.

The prices made for an interesting comparison. While I’ve never done it from Costco before, we’ve run this experiment with our local butcher a few times. It seems to make grilling extra fun. Plus, we paired it with a bottle of wine we purchased from Costco based on AI recommendations.  

Anyone who shops for quality meats knows it’s really hard to beat Costco day to day.

Related: 55 Mouthwatering Steak Recipes to Bring the Steakhouse to Your Dinner Table

Comparing Costco Steak Prices: Choice, Prime and Wagyu

Paul Edmondson

Costco’s USDA Choice ribeye was $18.99 per pound. USDA Prime was $22.99, and American Wagyu was $26.99. In theory, each grade is more premium by price point, and each incremental improvement in quality is about $4 per pound, with American Wagyu over 40% more expensive than the perfectly tasty Choice cut.

The Grilling Method: Oak Wood & Temperature Setup

I cooked all three the same way, grilling them over oak wood and seasoning with pepper and garlic salt. I also cooked them to an internal temperature of 125 degrees. One note, I expected them to cook at slightly different rates—typically, dry-aged meat grills a bit quicker, but in this case, there was no discernible difference in cooking time.  

At Costco, while looking through the packaging, I noticed the Wagyu was different. It appeared to have two to three times as much marbling as the Prime. After cooking, the difference was even more obvious.  The Wagyu was exceptionally tender and buttery.

Is Costco American Wagyu Worth the Extra $4 per Pound?

For $4 per pound more than Prime, I thought the Wagyu was worth the splurge.  I may be a bit biased here because our local butcher sells American Wagyu for over $40 a pound, so it feels like a great deal.

The surprise is the comparison between Choice and Prime.

Related: The 15 Best Steak Cuts and How To Cook Them (Trust Us on This!)

Choice vs. Prime Ribeye: The Surprising Taste Test Result

The Prime looked better to me in the package. I preferred its deeper red color, and the steak had more visible marbling. But after grilling them, the difference between the Prime and Choice was minimal.

Final Verdict: My Costco Steak Buying Strategy

All of this makes my Costco steak-buying strategy pretty simple.

For an everyday ribeye, I’d buy the Choice at $18.99. If I’m going to spend another $4 per pound, I’d skip over Prime and spend another $4 to get the American Wagyu at $26.99. 

It’s still fair to get all three and do your own taste test with the family.  We call it a steak sampler:)

American Wagyu ribeye — $26.99/lb

(Note: Pricing reflects the South San Francisco Costco warehouse on Sept. 28, 2026. Prices and inventory vary by location.)

Related Reading & Guides

• Costco Wine Guide: How to use AI to find hidden gems in the Costco wine aisle.
• Grilling Basics: Reverse searing vs. direct grilling for thick-cut ribeyes.
• [Steak Cuts Explained]: 15 types of steaks and cuts explained by the author of Carnivore-ish.

Melissa Joan Hart made sure her son’s final homecoming was one to remember.

The Sabrina the Teenage Witch star shared a photo with her grown son as he headed to his last homecoming dance.

Brady, full name Braydon Wilkerson, was dressed to the nines in a black tux with a pink bow tie. He had his arm wrapped around his mom, who beamed with pride while pulling the ultimate mom move—wearing a shirt printed with his baby photo.

Alongside the infant picture, the shirt read, “Look Who’s a Senior,” driving the point home, though Brady didn’t seem to mind his mom’s attempt to embarrass him as he smiled into the camera.

“His last homecoming! I had to sneak the shirt in and show up for pictures of course! #BabyBrady,” Hart captioned the photo.

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Fans couldn’t help but laugh at her mom antics in the comments, with one writing, “Well played mom!! 😍😂😂.”

Others expressed that it was a sure sign that she was “the best mama,” as one emphasized, “Cool mom alert!!!!” It’s mom just being mom!

“The best, I wish I had thought of that, when my son was a kid, maybe I will make a shirt now that my son is married. 😂,” another fan wrote.

“Love it! He’s such a handsome young man! 😍,” someone else noted about the football player.

Braydon, 18, is Hart’s middle child. She also shares sons Mason, 20, and Tucker, 14, with musician Mark Wilkerson. The boys have all tried their hand at acting, including Brady, who appeared alongside his mom in the 2014 Lifetime movie The Santa Con.

Hart previously told Business Insider she approached motherhood by prioritizing her kids while ensuring they “fit into our lives instead of us fitting into theirs.”

“One of my favorite things was making sure the kids napped in their car seat. That was always a really big deal. Making sure that they could sleep anywhere as opposed to only in their crib. Kids are kids but for me, if I’m out at dinner and ran a little over their sleep schedule, it wasn’t the end of the world. I was more laid back about it,” she noted.

That laid-back approach seems to have carried into their teen and young adult years, as she continues to support them with her signature cool-mom energy and humor.

She’s also stayed focused on her career, most recently announcing a Sabrina the Teenage Witch 30th anniversary tour alongside her castmates Beth Broderick, Caroline Rhea, and more.

During the reunion tour, the cast will revisit stories and behind-the-scenes moments, while surprising fans with live skits and musical moments.

The 15-city tour kicks off on Halloween near Salem, Massachusetts.

Happy birthday, Kate Winslet! The actress who played Rose DeWitt Bukater while co-starring alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in the 1997 blockbuster film Titanic is turning 51 years old today.

Kate Winslet as Rose DeWitt Bukater in “Titanic” (1997).

Photo by CBS via Getty Images

Known for other notable roles in movies like Sense and Sensibility (1995), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), and The Holiday (2006), while, in turn, earning a long list of impressive industry awards, Winslet has certainly accomplished quite a bit during her career and will be able to look back at her successes with pride.

At the same time, Winslet is embracing both her past and her present. That’s why British Vogue mentions that when it comes to aging, she’s previously explained, “I am proud of my wrinkles. They tell the story of my life, of who I am, and where I have been.”

In September 2024, she also told Harper’s Bazaar UK, “Women get more beautiful as they get older, for sure, because our faces become more of a part of who we are. [Our faces] sit better on our bone structure, they have more life, they have more history. Things I find incredibly beautiful are wrinkles around the eyes, the backs of hands, I think those things are very beautiful.”

Winslet’s opinion regarding women becoming more beautiful as they age certainly seems to apply to the actress herself. A stunning figure when she was younger, she’s still just as (perhaps even more?) gorgeous these days.

Kate Winslet attends the “Finding Harmony: A King’s Vision” Windsor Castle Premiere at Windsor Castle on January 28, 2026.

Photo by Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images

In December 2022, when Winslet was 47, she talked to BBC Woman’s Hour about getting older, and said, “I think women come into their 40s, certainly mid-40s, thinking: ‘Oh well, this is the beginning of the decline and … things start to change and fade and kind of slide in directions that I don’t want them to go in anymore.’ And I’ve just decided no.”

“We become more woman, more powerful, more sexy,” she explained. “We grow into ourselves more, we have the opportunity to speak our mind and not be afraid of what people think of us, not care what we look like quite so much. I think it’s amazing.”

She continued by saying, “Let’s go, girls. Let’s be in our power. Why not? Life’s too flipping short.”

Monday night was the penultimate night of Blind Auditions on The Voice. And, with the teams filling up, coaches Kelly Clarkson, Adam Levine, Queen Latifah, and Riley Green were more cautious in their selections of artists.

Still, that didn’t keep all four of them from turning their chairs for 31-year-old Kayleigh Matthews from Tucson, AZ, who performed a “magnificent” rendition of Vince Gill’s “When I Call Your Name.”

“I am going to fight as hard as I’ve ever fought for you,” Adam, who is determined to get a country artist on his team this season, told Kayleigh. “While I know I should temper my expectations. I know you might be thinking, ‘He’s Riley,’ as huge as he is in his world, a world you want to be a part of, this show is more my world.”

Kelly interrupted to say, “I like it, I like it, I like it.”

Adam continued, “There’s a whole lot of other strategic moves you’re going to have to make moving forward. The way that you fill the room with that voice, you are such a magnificent talent. I would be honored to be your coach.”

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Next up to sing Kayleigh’s praises and to try to woo her was Queen Latifah.

“Why did I turn this chair?” she posed. “Because you deserved to have four-chair turn for you. That was absolutely gorgeous. You took me to church. It became a spiritual moment for me. The more you sang, the more I felt in touch that I could help you translate and find songs that will bring out the beauty in your voice and help you to continue to touch as you go through it. Amazing job and you’re beautiful.”

“Kayleigh, I loved every minute of that,” Riley said. “To take on Vince Gill, one of the greatest vocalists in country music, that’s big shoes to fill and you really did it. That was awesome. That was so what I grew up listening to, and the vibe took me back to Alabama. I closed my eyes and I was back home and I am a long way from home right now, so thank you for that on top of everything. But I’d love to work with you. I think we could do something great.”

Finally, it was Kelly’s turn to turn on the charm. Like Adam, all season, she has been doing her best to get a country artist on her team – and she does have some country cred, even though it’s not to the same degree as Riley.

Related: Meet the Oldest Artist to Ever Get a Four-Chair Turn for His Blind Audition on The Voice

“I’m just saying and you want to know why, I know your mama must have listened to Patty Loveless because your tone and even how you drug out a note…I also heard a little LeAnn Rimes. You have like a musical baby of several female singers that I love. I am trying hard. I sang a duet with Vince Gill, a song called ‘Don’t Rush.’ I will be honest with you, I know Adam said he turned around first, but Adam maybe doesn’t know that song like we do. I was waiting to see if you were going to go there because Vince gets real big in that song, and I am sure Riley was, too. I’m going to let [Adam] talk, but I came back because of voices like yours. I like to be moved.”

As Adam was trying to get his two cents in, Riley interposed, saying, “Adam, you had a lot of time to talk. You said a lot of stuff, so we’re going to put you in a duck blind and you have to be absolutely quiet.”

Then then prop guys brought out a blind and stuck it in front of Adam, blocking his view.

Host Carson Daly joked, “I’ve been waiting years for that.”

But Adam didn’t take it sitting down. He walked around the blind and said, “What I was going to say before these shenanigans is, ‘Is country music where your heart lives?’”

Kayleigh, who now lives in Nashville, answered, “Country music is where my love started, but there’s a lot of soul in what I’ve got to do.”

Adam responded, “I really wanted to hear that. I really want you on my team. On my team, you would occupy the only space in country music.”

Once again, Riley interrupted, saying, “Adam may want you on his team. He’d be crazy not to, but this show’s [points to duck blind]. During the break, I built this.”

Related: Nina Howland Stuns the Coaches Earning a Four-Chair Turn on The Voice Blind Auditions with a Bonnie Raitt Song

Adam realized they may have gotten too silly and said, “We love you. I love you the most, but I think we may not be in this anymore, Riley. I think we’ve destroyed our chances.”

Queen took the opportunity to recap what went down, and then Kelly asked Kayleigh to pick her team.

To everyone’s great surprise, Kayleigh said, “I got to go with my heart and my gut and what I know, and I would love the opportunity to work with” … tune in tonight to see who she selects as her coach.

Tune in on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET/PT when The Voice airs on NBC to see the final night of Blind Auditions. Streams next day on Peacock.

Next, The Voice Returns for a Milestone 30th Season with Stunning New Format Twists

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Finding a good home for everything in your bedroom can be challenging when space is limited. Conventional storage units may help, but an actual piece of furniture can have an even greater impact if you want something that’s as stylish as it is functional. That’s definitely the case with the Concetta 7-Drawer Dresser, a thoughtfully designed organizer that adds a distinctive focal point to the room, too.

It’s also an awesome deal right now, marked down in the rust brown color from its usual $70 to just $37 during Walmart Deals through Oct. 11. Other hues are also on sale, including a gray version for $44, black for $49, and white for $50. The unit is incredibly popular, with thousands of five-star ratings praising its smart and durable construction.

Concetta 7-Drawer Dresser, from $37 (was $70) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

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Standing 30.3 inches tall by 39.3 inches wide by 11.8 inches deep, the dresser has a 66-pound capacity and plenty of room within its seven drawers. There are three on top and four at the bottom, lending the dresser a neat and elegant appearance. It also has a substantial tabletop, and it’s particularly practical for smaller rooms that could benefit from the added storage.

Despite weighing only a little over 26 pounds, the dresser’s greatest asset is its durability. It has a robust metal frame that provides rigid support for the fabric drawers. Featuring a sturdy MDF board between layers of breathable fabric, the drawers resist wear and withstand loads easily — so you can comfortably stack your pajamas, towels, and tees without worrying about weight.

What’s great about this dresser is that it’s versatile enough to work in any room. Several shoppers shared that they use it as a television stand, while others said it makes a great organizer for laundry rooms and home offices. It’s “absolutely beautiful,” one person wrote, noting that it “looks like an expensive wood dresser.”

Related: The Pioneer Woman’s $30 12-Piece Dinnerware Set Brings Major Cottagecore Vibes To Your Dining Table

Another person praised the “very polished” aesthetic and added that it’s especially “perfect for small spaces.” People were also pleased with the easy assembly process, and several stated that it took them under half an hour to put together. 

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• Cuisinart 12-Piece Ceramic Knife Set, $16 (was $25) at Walmart
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On the first night of Metallica‘s residency at Sphere in Las Vegas, surrounded by the venue’s wraparound screen, James Hetfield took a moment to speak to a bandmate who has been gone since 1986.

The band opened its Life Burns Faster run on Thursday, Oct. 1, with a 16-song set that ran about two hours and 15 minutes. Just past the midpoint came “The Call of Ktulu,” the instrumental from 1984’s “Ride the Lightning.” As it faded, Hetfield dedicated it to Cliff Burton, the bassist who co-wrote it. “We love you, and we miss you, brother,” he said.

Burton died at 24 in a tour bus accident in Sweden on Sept. 27, 1986. The Sphere opener fell days after the 40th anniversary of that date. One opening-night review noted that a photo of Burton appeared above the stage during the dedication, and The Hollywood Reporter described the song’s visuals as a vast ocean from which an enormous Lovecraftian creature rose until it filled the screen, a nod to the Cthulhu mythology behind the title.

Metallica opened with “Battery” and closed with “Master of Puppets,” both from the 1986 album that turned 40 this year. The set also included “…And Justice for All,” which the band had not played live since 2014, and “Now That We’re Dead.”

The group relocated to the Bay Area after recruiting Burton, and that Hetfield referred to those early days from the stage.

Related: 40 Years Ago Today, Metallica Released the Album That Defined Metal. Then Tragedy Struck.

Hetfield, 63, kept the mood light elsewhere. He called the residency “a dream come true and beyond,” Las Vegas Weekly reported, and the Chronicle quoted him marveling at the pairing of modern technology and “old guys playing loud music.”

Metallica is the first metal band to play Sphere, and the run is long. The residency covers 24 shows through March 13, 2027, played in Thursday and Saturday pairs under the band’s No Repeat Weekend format, which means no song from one night appears on the other. Tickets for the first eight dates went on sale in March, and demand led the band to add more. Billboard published the full opening-night setlist, and drummer Lars Ulrich has said the idea dates to U2’s first night at the venue in 2023.

The band marks its 45th anniversary at the end of October and Hetfield and Ulrich are the two members who have been there since it formed in 1981. Four decades after Burton’s death, on a night built around what the band can do with new technology, Metallica still set aside a song for him.

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Over four decades since he released The Talisman with his celebrated co-author Peter Straub, Stephen King is officially ending his critically acclaimed series with his new novel, Other Worlds Than These.

The third and final act of King and Straub’s Talisman series after 1984’s The Talisman and its 2001 sequel Black House, Other Worlds Than These also marks the first and only book in the series exclusively written by King.

While King himself remained aware of the challenges behind writing the last book in the series without his co-author Straub, the Shining author nevertheless attempted to channel his collaborator’s voice onto the page, crediting Straub for formulating the central narrative behind the book.

“Peter said, this would be a great idea for a book, and he wrote me a letter about it,” King recently told The New York Times. “I didn’t find it until after Other Worlds Than These was actually written. Time went by, and Peter got sick and then he passed away. And I had this idea for the third book, and I just channeled him like crazy. He was with me in the course of writing this book. So it finally turned out to be Stephen King and Peter Straub. We got the band back together, so to speak.”

The author of several critically acclaimed novels, Peter Straub was best known for his various supernatural novels, including Julia, Ghost Story and The Talisman. The winner of the prestigious Bram Stoker Award and World Fantasy Award, he died in 2022 from complications related to a broken hip. At the time of his death, he was 79-years-old.

In his interview with the NY Times, King spoke fondly about his working relationship with Straub, reflecting on the collaborative spirit at the heart of their work.

“We tried as much as we could in Black House so that I wrote like him and he wrote like me. And when I read Ghost Story and the short fiction that he did, I sat down, and the first thing that I did was I wrote, ‘Here and now, as an old friend used to say,’ which was a very Straubian line,” King recalled.

The Voice returned for Season 30 of the singing competition and the Blind Auditions are almost wrapping up as the show gets ready to move on to the Battles as the teams led by returning favorites Kelly Clarkson and Adam Levine and newbie coaches Queen Latifah and Riley Green are almost full.

Here’s everything we know about The Voice Season 30 so far.

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What will be the release date for The Voice Season 30?

The Voice Season 30 will air on Monday and Tuesday nights this Fall. It premiered on Monday, Sept. 21 with a second episode on Tuesday, Sept. 22.

Who will host The Voice in Season 30? Carson Daly

Photo by: Griffin Nagel/NBC

Once again, Carson Daly will return as host of The Voice for the 30th time, making him the only original cast member who has appeared on every season.

Who are The Voice coaches for Season 30? ADAM LEVINE Adam Levine

Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC

Adam Levine has been revealed as the first coach for Season 30 of The Voice.

“I’m having so much fun doing it,” Levine told People at the Season 29 finale. “Since I came back a few seasons ago it’s just been a blast and I’m super happy to keep it going as long as they’ll have me.”

KELLY CLARKSON Kelly Clarkson

Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC

Kelly Clarkson will once again be joining fellow fan-favorite coach Adam Levine for Season 30 of The Voice. The two are tied with wins: four each.

View this post on Instagram RILEY GREEN Riley Green

Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for CBS

Riley Green, who recently made his scripted TV debut on CBS’ Marshals, will also be making his coaching debut on NBC for Season 30 of The Voice.

View this post on Instagram

QUEEN LATIFAH

Queen Latifah

Courtesy NBC

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Queen Latifah makes her debut as a coach for Season 30.

Related: The 10 Most Successful ‘Voice’ Contestants of All Time

Who are the four-chair turns for The Voice Season 30?

Amanda Mikkel, 31
Dayton, OH
“Moon River” by Andy Williams
Team Adam Levine

Cade Mower, 35
Bluffdale, UT
“Something in the Orange” by Zach Bryan
Team Riley Green

Chari, 31
Atlanta, GA
“Get Here” by Oleta Adams
Team Queen Latifh

Ferryn Wright, 20, and Brinkley Wright, 17
Sevierville, TN
“When Will I Be Loved” by Linda Ronstadt
Team Riley Green

Kayleigh Matthews, 31
Tucson, AZ
“When I Call Your Name” by Vince Gill
Team TBD

Koumba Diallo, 15
Delano, CA
“Stone Cold” by Demi Lovato
Team Kelly Clarkson

Kyle Davis, 61
Prince George, VA
“In Your Eyes” by Peter Gabriel
Team Kelly Clarkson

Lexi Stephens, 23
Albany, NY
“Die on This Hill” by Sienna Spiro
Team Adam Levine

Nina Howland, 24
New York, NY
“Love Me Like a Man” by Bonnie Raitt
Team TBD

Who are the advisors for The Voice Season 30?

Again, too soon to know, but they will be music superstars in their own right.

Who will be the Mega Mentor for The Voice Season 30?

Too soon to tell.

Which coach has won The Voice the most times?

That would be former coach Blake Shelton, who has nine wins during his 23 seasons on the series. Kelly Clarkson and Adam Levine trail him with four wins each. Niall Horan and Michael Bublé have two wins. Coaches Christina Aguilera, Gwen Stefani, Usher, Pharrell Williams, Alicia Keys, John Legend, and Reba McEntire each have one win.

Which coaches on The Voice have never won?

Kelsea Ballerini, CeeLo Green, Chance the Rapper, Dan + Shay, Miley Cyrus, Jennifer Hudson, Nick Jonas, Camila Cabello, Shakira, Ariana Grande and Snoop Dogg have never coached a winner on The Voice.

Who won Season 29 of The Voice?

The winner of The Voice Season 29 was from Team Adam: Alexia Jayy.

Related: Every ‘The Voice’ Winner Ever: Meet All the Champions From NBC’s Hit Singing Competition

How can I audition for The Voice in 2026?

The Voice is always casting. Visit the NBC The Voice official casting site to find out more about how to audition.

Where is The Voice filmed?

The Voice films at Universal Studios in Hollywood.

How to watch The Voice

You can always watch The Voice on Peacock.

Related: Kelly Clarkson’s Net Worth in 2026 Hits a High Note Indeed

In 1964, then-38-year-old Jerrie Mock made aviation history by becoming the first woman to fly solo around the world while piloting a single-engine Cessna plane.

At an early age, she developed a fascination with aviation and the idea of traveling, which she encountered primarily through magazines and paper maps.

Mock’s passion for flying and seeing the world began when she took her first flight at age five aboard a Ford Trimotor airplane, as cited by Women’s History.

With her deep interest in aviation, she studied aeronautical engineering at Ohio State University.

Long before her 1964 milestone, Mock, a member of Phi Mu sorority, was among the first women to study aeronautical engineering.

According to the National Air and Space Museum, being bored as a wife and mother of three led her to pursue this dream professionally.

American pilot Geraldine ‘Jerrie’ Mock, the first woman to fly solo around the world, seated at the controls of her Cessna 180, the ‘Spirit of Columbus’, after landing at Cairo Airport, Egypt, 8th April 1964. (Photo by Daily Express/Pictorial Parade/Archive Photos/Getty Images)

At 32, she earned her pilot’s license, eventually accumulating 750 hours of flying experience.

At one point, she proved that her dream was more than just a fantasy when she answered, “Why not?” after her husband jokingly suggested she fly around the world.

The aspiring pilot decided to take her ambitious dream even further by planning a solo flight around the world.

In January 1963, she and her husband reached out to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding the requirements for an international flight and found out that no woman had yet completed a solo flight around the world.

With the help of friends in the U.S. Air Force, Mock earned her instrument flight rating and prepared her route.

Moreover, she also ensured that her journey would exceed the 22,858.8-mile distance required for an official round-the-world flight.

On March 19, 1964, she embarked on an epic expedition from Port Columbus Airport in Ohio, piloting a Cessna 180, also known as the “Spirit of Columbus.”

After traveling almost 22,860 miles over 29 days with 21 stopovers, Mock, who was 38 at that time, successfully completed her solo journey around the world on April 17, 1964.

Recognizing her trailblazing achievement, President Lyndon B. Johnson awarded the Federal Aviation Administration’s Exceptional Service Decoration, also known as the FAA’s Gold Medal for Exceptional Service, to the female pilot on May 4, 1964.

President Lyndon B. Johnson presented Mock with the Federal Aviation Administration’s Exceptional Service Decoration after earning the first solo world flight by a woman.

Despite playfully describing herself as “the flying housewife,” her around-the-world journey demonstrated that she was a highly capable and well-prepared pilot who could handle both technical problems and diplomatic challenges.

Related: 1976 Rock Song, Lasting Over 10 Minutes, Was Recorded in a Wheelchair

Wish you could watch Percy Jackson and the Olympians on Netflix? Well, now you can. It’s one of 14 shows and movies making their way to Netflix after a mega deal with Disney.

The two global giants are changing everything about the streaming landscape. Sure, Netflix has licensed content in the past, and it has even paid megabucks to get the likes of The Walking Dead franchise and keep Seinfeld on its service. However, since the launch of Disney+, the idea of getting content from Disney on its service has been a pipe dream.

That is until now! Netflix and Disney have made a deal, bringing some of the biggest movies and shows to the global giant that started it all. Subscribers will already be able to get a handful of them, with release dates for others set through to 2027, according to Variety.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians is now available to stream, and yes, you can watch both seasons. However, there is a catch. This window is a short one, only lasting three months. So, if you want to watch it without a Disney+ subscription, you’ll need to do so right away. With an Oct. 4, 2026 release date and a three-month window, it means the episodes will be removed on Jan. 4, 2027. The last day to watch will be Jan. 3.

This makes sense as the third season of Percy Jackson and the Olympians is set to arrive on Disney+ on Nov. 20, 2026. Fans will have a chance to catch up on one streamer, and are then more likely to get the Disney+ subscription to continue the epic journey.

All five Ice Age movies have also been added to Netflix, and again, this is for a short period of time. You’ll have three months, which will allow you to get caught up before Ice Age: Boiling Point, the sixth main movie in the franchise, is released in theaters on Feb. 5, 2027.

What about other shows? So far, Netflix has launch dates for the following shows and movies:

• Will Trent (Seasons 1–4): Arrives November 3
• Shifting Gears (Seasons 1–2): Arrives December 1

The releases for the two shows are expected to be on the shorter side, similar to Percy Jackson. Both of these shows will have new seasons premiering in the new year, with episodes landing on Hulu the following day.

Then there are the following movies that have a loose time frame of release:

• Soul: Arrives Early 2027
• Elio: Arrives Early 2027
• Raya and the Last Dragon: Arrives Early 2027

Disney has also licensed the following shows to Netflix, but there is no launch date as of yet:

• Felicity
• Revenge
• Army Wives

Some of the licensing windows will be much longer than the three months Percy Jackson and the Ice Age movies are getting. This is likely the case for movies and shows that are older and have no extra content arriving in months to come.

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Fall is the season for pulling your favorite boots back into rotation, but finding a pair that looks polished and feels good enough for everyday wear can be tricky. The Clarks Breeze Glide Boots offer a classic, easy-to-style look with a comfort-focused design made for wearing all day. And right now, they’re marked down at Amazon ahead of Prime Big Deal Days on Oct. 6 and 7.

The Clarks Breeze Glide Boots are currently $58 at Amazon, down from $105, giving shoppers a chance to save $47 on a pair that’s made for comfortable everyday wear. They’re a timely pick for fall if you want a classic boot you can reach for with jeans, trousers, and other seasonal staples. Shoppers praised the boots as “well-made” and called them the “perfect boots for any season.” 

Clarks Breeze Glide Boots, $58 (was $105) at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

Shop at Amazon

The boots come in black and dark gray, with sizes 5 through 12 available, including wide widths for shoppers who need a roomier fit. Prices vary by color and size, but you can currently snag any option for under $92.

The faux nubuck upper gives the boots a classic look, while adjustable laces allow for a more customized fit. There’s also a side zipper, making them easier to slip on and off when you’re heading out the door. 

Inside, a foam footbed provides cushioning and shock absorption for walking, running errands, and other everyday activities. The footbed is also removable and machine washable, which is a practical feature for a pair of boots that may get plenty of wear throughout the fall. 

Amazon shoppers are particularly impressed by their comfort. One reviewer called them “extremely comfortable from the minute I put them on,” while another said they were “perfect for walking and for rainy days.” A third shopper wrote that they “fit like a tennis shoe and look like a bootie,” making them a compelling choice for anyone who wants the look of a boot without giving up sneaker-like comfort. 

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Related: Clarks’ Fall-Ready Ankle Boots Are Comfortable Enough to ‘Walk Miles’ in, Now 58% Off Ahead of Prime Day

For a classic fall boot that can go from walks to daily errands, it’s hard to beat the Clarks Breeze Glide Boots at $58. Snag a pair now while they’re 45% off ahead of Prime Big Deal Days on Oct. 6 and 7. 

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Picture an old university library after dark. The shelves seem endless, rain taps against tall windows and a group of unusually ambitious students has become obsessed with something they probably should have left alone. There may be an ancient text involved. Or an eccentric professor. Perhaps someone has disappeared—or, given the genre we’re talking about, something considerably worse has happened.

Welcome to dark academia.

The name has become increasingly familiar to readers, but pinning down exactly what qualifies as dark academia can be surprisingly difficult. That’s partly because it isn’t restricted to one traditional literary genre. A dark academia novel can be a mystery, thriller, fantasy, horror story or work of literary fiction. What connects these books is usually something else: an academic world filled with intellectual ambition, obsession, privilege and secrets, all wrapped in an unmistakably moody atmosphere.

So what exactly is dark academia? Here’s what readers should know.

Related: 45 Best Nonfiction Books of All Time, According to Librarians

What Is Dark Academia?

Dark academia is a literary subgenre—or, perhaps more accurately, a cross-genre category—centered around academic environments, intellectual pursuits and darker themes.

Penguin Random House describes dark academia as a fiction genre in which universities provide particularly fertile settings for suspense, thanks to their combination of historic surroundings, obscure books and intensely competitive students. The publisher also defines the broader dark academia phenomenon as an internet subculture concerned with higher education, literature, art, the pursuit of knowledge and explorations of death.

That helps explain why defining it solely by plot doesn’t quite work. A murder isn’t required. Neither is a secret society, although you’ll certainly encounter plenty of both. The school doesn’t even have to be a real-world university. Dark academia has appeared in fantasy, horror, mysteries and historical novels as well as contemporary literary fiction.

At its most basic, though, dark academia combines academics with darkness.

The academic part frequently involves colleges, boarding schools, libraries, classical studies, professors or groups of gifted students. The darkness can take many forms, from murder and psychological manipulation to dangerous ambition, corruption, supernatural forces or an unhealthy obsession with knowledge.

Related: Librarians Are Calling This New Novel the ‘Best Book’ To Read Before Bed

What Are the Main Themes of Dark Academia Books?

MoMo Productions / Getty Images

Knowledge isn’t merely something characters acquire in dark academia. It’s often something they pursue at considerable cost.

Characters may become consumed by art, ancient languages, philosophy, literature or another specialized field. That intellectual curiosity can gradually blur into competition, elitism or outright obsession. Questions about privilege and power are also common.

Exclusive institutions make particularly effective settings because they create closed worlds with their own social hierarchies, customs and secrets. Students compete for the attention of revered professors. Outsiders desperately want to belong. Those already inside may discover that the institution they once idealized is considerably less admirable than it appeared.

That darker view of academia has deep literary roots. JSTOR Daily traces the movement back to the traditional campus novel, a form of fiction that uses colleges and universities as miniature worlds in which writers can examine relationships, status and institutional dysfunction.

More recently, Publishers Weekly noted that dark academia has continued expanding, particularly in young adult fiction. Editor Wendy McClure told the trade publication that newer stories increasingly explore institutions hiding secrets while incorporating stronger fantasy and horror elements.

What Does a Dark Academia Book Usually Include?

There isn’t an official checklist, but certain ingredients appear again and again.

Elite universities and boarding schools are especially common, as are old libraries, Gothic buildings, prestigious academic programs and secluded campuses. Fall and winter settings fit naturally with the genre’s darker tone, although they’re certainly not mandatory.

Then there are the characters. You might encounter brilliant but arrogant students, charismatic professors, tightly knit friend groups, outsiders trying to earn their place and academics whose dedication to their work has crossed into obsession.

Secret societies are another familiar ingredient. So are rivalries, forbidden relationships, academic competition and mysteries buried inside institutions that pride themselves on tradition. Some stories even add magic or the supernatural, while others remain entirely realistic.

Titan Books’ In These Hallowed Halls, a collection distributed through Penguin Random House and specifically billed as a dark academia anthology, demonstrates just how varied those stories can be. Its plots include a missing professor, an illicit affair, an obscure academic department, a séance, dangerous initiations and scholarly secrets.

The specifics change. However, the combination of intellectual life, atmosphere and something unsettling underneath it is much more consistent.

Related: 222 Best Books of All Time That Deserve a Spot on Your Bookshelf

Is Dark Academia Always Fantasy?

RomoloTavani / Getty Images

No. In fact, one of dark academia’s defining features is how easily it crosses genre boundaries.

Some books contain magic, secret magical societies or supernatural schools and fall comfortably within fantasy. Others are mysteries or psychological thrillers. Still others are literary novels primarily concerned with character, class and intellectual ambition. That’s why describing dark academia as only a fantasy subgenre can be misleading.

Penguin Random House‘s own recommendations range from thrillers and literary fiction to fantasy, while bookselling and publishing outlets regularly apply the term across multiple categories. What matters isn’t whether a book contains magic. It’s what the story does with its academic environment and darker ideas.

What Book Started Dark Academia?

There’s no single book that officially created the genre, especially because stories about troubled students and dysfunctional academic institutions existed long before anyone used the term “dark academia.” But one novel towers over the modern category: Donna Tartt’s The Secret History.

Published by Knopf in 1992, the novel follows a small group of students studying classics at an elite New England college under the influence of an unusually charismatic professor. Their intellectual and social world eventually leads them beyond conventional morality and into violence.

Penguin Random House calls it the book that “started it all” on its essential dark academia reading list, while JSTOR Daily describes it as perhaps the quintessential dark academia novel.

The phrase itself came later. JSTOR Daily traces the modern dark academia aesthetic to Tumblr blogs in the mid-2010s before it spread more widely through platforms including Instagram and TikTok. In other words, the books came first. The label followed.

Related: The 101 Best Young Adult Books of All Time

Why Is Dark Academia So Popular?

Part of dark academia’s appeal is escapism. Its fictional campuses can feel like worlds of their own: places where books matter enormously, conversations stretch deep into philosophy and history/learning seems capable of revealing something extraordinary.

Then the genre turns that fantasy on its head. The brilliant professor might be manipulative. The prestigious institution might protect terrible secrets. The close-knit group of friends might be held together by something much more dangerous than friendship.

That tension between romanticizing intellectual life and questioning it is central to dark academia’s appeal.

The category isn’t disappearing, either. Publishers Weekly identified dark academia as a rising area in its fall 2025 adult publishing preview, while its reporting on young adult trends found publishers continuing to expand the concept with horror and fantasy elements.

So, yes, the shadowy libraries, tweed jackets and Gothic campuses help create the mood. But dark academia is ultimately about more than appearances. Its most memorable stories ask what can happen when the pursuit of knowledge, achievement or belonging goes too far. And in dark academia, the answer is rarely anything good.

Related: 25 Best Short Books You Can Easily Read in a Day, According to Librarians

This article was drafted with the assistance of AI and thoroughly reviewed, edited and fact-checked by Parade editors. See our complete AI Policy.

Twix is getting an all-new flavor in 2027—and fans are saying it sounds “amazing” (and to some, wildly familiar).

This isn’t a rumor, either, but an update shared today by the candy bar’s parent company, Mars Inc., ahead of the upcoming National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) Show in Las Vegas. The annual convention, which has been held in various cities over the years, has become the go-to place for previews of what foodies can expect to be released over the next 12 months or so. And before this year’s event, Mars Inc. is giving everyone—not just NACS attendees—a preview of what’s to come.

“Mars is at the forefront of evolving our iconic brands to meet modern tastes,” Tim LeBel, chief customer officer at Mars Snacking North America, shared in a statement. “Our research and development teams know what’s next, and our 2027 lineup is built to capture cultural trends and help our retail partners maximize conversion opportunities storewide.”

Among Mars’ upcoming innovations are Protein Cheez-It crackers, Skittles Gummy Crystals, and an all-new Frosted Cookie Twix.

A New Frosted Cookie Twix Flavor Is Coming Soon—Here’s Everything We Know

The new candy bar features a shortbread base with a smooth, vanilla-flavored crème, all wrapped in rich milk chocolate, according to an official description, and social media users are already convinced it’s a “definite yes.”

Related: Snickers Just Made Cleats Inspired by Its Ghoulish Green Halloween Candy

“CANT WAIT,” one cheered on Instagram, “sounds amazing.”

“let’s goooooooooooo,” another applauded.

“Sounds good to me,” someone else wrote.

“That sounds really good,” one more shared, “I wish we didn’t have to wait until 2027.”

An overwhelming number of others suggested the new flavor reminded them of the Sugar Cookie Twix that never happened. But it also reminds us a whole lot of the Snickerdoodle Twix the brand launched last year, which fans admittedly couldn’t wait to get their hands on, so we can only imagine that if this release is also a slam dunk, there may be more cookie-inspired Twix flavors to come. And if the brand is currently accepting suggestions, we personally think an orange or butter pecan Twix would be fantastic.

As for when it’s to be released, Mars execs weren’t ready to reveal that just yet, but know that it’s coming sometime in 2027, and once we know more, so will you.

Mars Inc

That said, if you do plan to attend the NACS Show later this week, you can stop by the Mars booth for a first taste of the new treat and all the other goodies it has in store for next year, including Honey Sriracha Combos, Pringles Buffalo Wild Wings, Snickers Almond Extreme, and the most recent M&M’s fan vote winner: M&M’s Peanut Butter Cinnamon Roll.

Next: Ritter Sport Just Landed at Target—And Brought a Bunch of New Chocolates With It

Actress and comedian Janeane Garofalo, 62, was recently spotted by paparazzi while walking in New York City.

The photos, which were released by The Daily Mail, showed Garofalo wearing a graphic T-shirt, torn in an edgy manner, allowing her arm tattoos to be on full display. The Saturday Night Live alum also had on Adidas track pants, black tennis shoes, aviator sunglasses with pink-tinted lenses, and multiple colorful bracelets.

Throughout her four decades in Hollywood, Garofalo had starring roles in several memorable films, such as Reality Bites (1994), Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion (1997), and The Truth About Cats & Dogs (1996).

In a 2013 interview with George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight, Garofalo discussed her career. She said she was happy working as a stand-up comic, as it was something she had wanted to pursue “since [she] was in high school.” She also said while she enjoys acting, “it’s quite debilitating to audition for things and be rejected constantly.” In addition, Garofalo noted that she has been fired from projects, including Reality Bites.

“I was fired from Reality Bites and rehired. And I was threatened to be fired from Truth About Cats and Dogs, and if it weren’t for Winona [Ryder] and Uma [Thurman], I would have been. They went to bat for me in both those cases,” said the Emmy-nominated actress.

Garofalo went on to say that she “need[s] validation from others,” which makes it painful to be in an industry where her “career is not in [her] control.”

“In the ’90s, I had a lot of opportunities. That’s not been the case since about 2002, and it hurts my feelings terribly. Because I want to be accepted. I want to be thought of for roles,” said Garofalo during the 2013 interview.

Garofalo also explained that she didn’t intend to make a career out of portraying sardonic characters. She said she was directed to “behave” in a sarcastic, surly manner for her role as Paula in The Larry Sanders Show, which had a six-season run until 1998. According to Garofalo, her portrayal of Paula is the reason she was typecast as a sarcastic character.

Robert Kelker-Kelly, who is best known for playing Bo Brady on “Days of Our Lives,” died at the age of 62, TMZ reports.

The medical examiner in Missouri told the outlet that Kelker-Kelly died on Oct. 3, but his cause of death is not yet known.

Kelker-Kelly joined the hit soap as Bo Brady, taking over the role that was previously held by Peter Reckell. He remained in the role until Reckell returned in 1995. He also appeared on “General Hospital” as Stavros Cassadine, and made his acting debut in 1987 as Sam Fowler on “Another World.”

Kelker-Kelly also worked as a professional pilot.

Following the news, many fans paid tribute.

“omg…….I was in love with him in my younger years!! So sad,” one person wrote.

“Omg!! Another great actor gone to soon and young at heart. So devastating 😢
Prayers for his family, friends and all fans. May he rest in peace 💙🌹🙏,” another person posted.

“‘m so sorry to hear that. He was such a handsome guy and a great actor; he really made the role of Bo Brady his own. He was also great as Stavros Cassadine. He didn’t get enough credit while he was around. May he rest in peace,” a fan commented.

“Throughout his career, he left his mark on the soap opera world with several memorable roles, including Sam Fowler on Another World, Bo Brady on Days of Our Lives, and Stavros Cassadine on General Hospital,” another fan shared. “A very sad loss for the soap opera community and for everyone who remembers the characters he brought to life over the years.”

“Some stars leave the screen, but never our hearts. 🕊️ Robert Kelker-Kelly gave a generation of Days of Our Lives fans a Bo Brady we’ll never forget. Tonight, the lights feel a little dimmer. Rest peacefully, Robert. You will be missed. 😢💔,” one fan said.

Film buffs may find it hard to believe more than 10 years have passed since Sicario hit the masses.

The Emily Blunt starrer was a surprise hit and steadily gained more fans in the years since, thanks to the world of streaming. Meanwhile, its director Denis Villeneuve has been helming equally acclaimed features over the past decade — including those Dune installments, with the third one coming soon to theaters.

A sequel to Sicario was released in 2018, though it was no match for the original (which happened to be written by Yellowstone co-creator Taylor Sheridan, by the way). Perhaps Sicario: Day of the Soldado was inferior due the lacking of one-third of its A-list star power; Josh Brolin and Benicio del Toro were the only leads to return.

But on Monday, October 5, Deadline reported that Blunt, 43, is also joining her male co-stars for a newly announced threequel to the Sicario franchise.

Padraic McKinley is on board to direct Sicario 3, with Oscar nominee Steven Knight penning the script. Details surrounding the plot are being kept under wraps, Deadline also noted.

As moviegoers well know, Blunt was most recently seen in the summer hit The Devil Wears Prada 2, and she reportedly wrapped production on the upcoming A Quiet Place Part 3 (speaking of threequels).

Meanwhile, Brolin, 58, can next be seen in 20th Century’s Whalefall, which also stars Austin Abrams (Resident Evil) and opens October 16. And then there’s Del Toro, 59, who’s coming off a well-deserved Oscar nomination for his supporting role in One Battle After Another.

Emily Blunt and John Krasinski’s Daughters Look Just Like Their Famous Mom

Last month, the longtime couple made one of their rare public appearances with daughters Hazel, 12, and Violet, 10, while attending the U.S. Open in New York.

Blunt and John Krasinski have largely kept their children away from the spotlight, but the annual tennis tournament has become something of a family tradition. This time, the girls showed just how much they’ve grown since their previous courtside appearances, and both look strikingly like Blunt. Check out the pics here.