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Social media is losing it over the news that Melissa McCarthy portrays JonBenet Ramsey's mother, Patsy Ramsey, in an upcoming Netflix limited series.

The beloved actress, 55, who worked her way into our hearts as Sookie on Gilmore Girls, became a comedy legend with roles in films like Bridesmaids, The Heat, Spy, and St. Vincent. Her role on Mike & Molly earned her critical acclaim and a bevy of acting awards, and her appearances on Saturday Night Live have gone down in comedy history. But the news that she appears as Patsy Ramsey in the upcoming series received a mixed response.

The Murder of JonBenet Ramsey, starring McCarthy and Clive Owen as Patsy and John Ramsey, is headed to Netflix for a winter debut, The Hollywood Reporter shared, after the limited series was originally set to play on Paramount+. Originally titled Unspeakable: The Murder of JonBenet Ramsey, the series follows the six-year-old beauty queen’s tragic killing on Dec. 25, 1996.

Netflix describes the limited series as an exploration of “one of the most infamous unsolved murder cases in American history, and the devastating personal and public reckoning that followed the death of JonBenet Ramsey on Christmas night in 1996.”

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Who Plays JonBenet Ramsey in the Series?

Emily Mitchell portrays the six-year-old girl who was killed in her family's Boulder home in 1996. Garrett Hedlund, Alison Pill, Shea Whigham, Owen Teague, Clifton Collins Jr., Angus Caldwell, and Jaime Ray Newman also star, THR confirmed.

Social Media Had a Dramatic Response

On social media, people seemed rather shocked that McCarthy plays Patsy Ramsey in the limited series.

"Is Melissa playing Jonbenet? Because we don't want to see her," one person shared.

"If you asked me who they were casting at Jonbenet Ramsey’s parents, and you gave me 1000 guesses, I never would have hit on this pairing. This is awesome Madlibs casting," someone else chimed in.

"Please tell me this is a slapstick comedy," another person replied to the Netflix announcement.

Is Melissa playing Jonbenet? Cuz we don’t wanna see her

— Jerkbait (@kevctz) July 2, 2026

If you asked me who they were casting at Jonbenet Ramsey’s parents, and you gave me 1000 guesses, I never would have hit on this pairing. This is awesome Madlibs casting.

— Erraticus Finch (@erraticusfinch) July 2, 2026

Please tell me this is a slapstick comedy

— Critically Thinking & Drinking 🧐 🥃🧉🍸🍹🤪 (@TheCriticalDri1) July 1, 2026

Related: Melissa McCarthy Shocks With Weight Loss Transformation on the Red Carpet: ‘She Looks Phenomenal’

Bad Wolves have kicked off a new chapter by releasing their first song of 2026, "Paint It Red," while officially introducing Sara "Killboy" Skinner as the band's new lead vocalist. 

The single, released through Better Noise Music on Monday, also arrives with an official music video and marks the beginning of the band's next era as it prepares for a 2026 tour.

The announcement confirms Skinner as the band's third lead singer following the departure of Daniel "DL" Laskiewicz in 2025. While fans previously heard Skinner collaborate with Bad Wolves on the 2023 track "It's You (2 Months)," "Paint It Red" is her first official release as a full-time member.

According to the band, the Monday release date was chosen to coincide with the Strawberry Moon, the full moon that appears in late June. The group said the moon's mythology and primal energy fit the identity of a band long associated with wolf imagery, per Blabbermouth.

Founding drummer and songwriter John Boecklin said Skinner was selected because of what she could bring to the band's future.

The new track blends heavy guitar riffs, pounding drums, and melodic hooks while highlighting Skinner's vocal range. The chorus features the lyric, "And watch the blood flow down like a river from my mouth… 'Cause they won't miss you when you're dead, so paint it red."

Skinner recently shared that she was performing at open mic nights before Boecklin contacted her about joining Bad Wolves. She also revealed that the band is working on plans for a new tour, with more details expected to be announced later.

The current Bad Wolves lineup consists of John Boecklin on drums, Sara "Killboy" Skinner on vocals, AJ Rebollo on guitar, and Derek Bolman on bass.

Formed in Los Angeles in 2017, Bad Wolves rose to international attention with their cover of The Cranberries' "Zombie." The band later earned multiple No. 1 songs on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, including "Remember When," "Killing Me Slowly" and "Sober." Across four studio albums, the group has built a catalog that includes Disobey (2018), N.A.T.I.O.N. (2019), Dear Monsters (2021) and Die About It (2023).

The band has also achieved a three-times-platinum single, two gold-certified singles, six No. 1 rock radio hits, billions of streams, and tours alongside acts including Papa Roach, Volbeat, Hollywood Undead, Five Finger Death Punch, Shinedown and Breaking Benjamin.

With "Paint It Red," Bad Wolves launch a new era centered around Skinner's debut while setting the stage for more music and an upcoming 2026 tour.

Related: Country-Rock Star Announced as Headliner for America's Salute 250 Concert

July 4, 2026, will be the most astrologically explosive day of the year, thanks to Mars and Uranus in Gemini crossing paths in a perfect conjunction. Anything could happen thanks to the unpredictable, mutable energy. Everyone will be on edge. Since anything could happen, this highly anticipated Mars-Uranus energy promises “fireworks-level” shifts for four zodiac signs. 

Astrologers say that these four zodiac signs are especially impacted because they share something with the Mars-Uranus conjunction: mutability. According to astrology, the mutable signs—Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces—are known for being highly adaptable and flexible. Mutable signs are great editors, since they can implement unexpected changes and last-minute pivots to keep the energy moving. If anyone can ride this wave of change that the Mars-Uranus conjunction brings, it’s a mutable sign.

Read on to learn more about the Mars-Uranus energy and how it will affect Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces on the 4th of July and the following weeks.

Mars-Uranus Energy, Explained

What happens when Mars, the warring planet, meets with Uranus, the rebel planet? A Mars-Uranus conjunction is notoriously combustible. Mars is a ball of energy ready to shoot off in different directions. Uranus cannot help but exacerbate Mars’ liveliness. But instead of giving Mars a boost, Uranus throws Mars for a loop. As a result, Mars-Uranus energy tends to be unexpectedly explosive and erratic.

This particular Mars-Uranus conjunction on July 4, 2026, is unlike anything we’ve ever experienced. It’s the first time Mars in Gemini meets with Uranus in Gemini. Mars-Uranus is already dynamic and disruptive, but Gemini adds another level of chaos to this mix. Gemini is the zodiac sign of two faces, so this mutable air sign is known for being changeable. With this in mind, the Mars-Uranus conjunction in Gemini will be exceptionally disruptive, unpredictable, and even volatile. 

Which Zodiac Signs Will Feel  a "Fireworks-Level" Shift this July 4th?

Keep reading, and look for your Sun, Moon, and Rising signs.

TRENDING: Love Island USA Season 8 Cast Zodiac Signs: Full Astrology Breakdown of Every Islander

Gemini: Think Twice 

Think twice before making drastic changes to your appearance, Gemini. Mars-Uranus shakes up your first house of selfhood, identity, and appearance. A strong desire to radically change how you look comes seemingly out of nowhere. Mars-Uranus could take advantage of your boredom instead of being fueled with an unexpected surge of courage. If you’re not careful, you might make a split-second decision that goes against your aesthetic and style. Luckily, certain decisions can be changed. Hair grows back, dye washes out, and piercings can be removed. But some decisions aren’t as easily reversed, such as throwing out your clothes or getting tattooed. Take a moment to really consider if your inspiration aligns with how, you see yourself.

RELATE?: Mercury Retrograde in Cancer Is Stirring Up Family Drama for These 4 Zodiac Signs

Sagittarius: Someone Will Reveal Their True Colors

A partnership isn’t what you thought it would be, Sagittarius. Unforeseen disruptions arise when Mars-Uranus erupts your seventh house of marriage, contracts, and commitments. You might have felt confident in a relationship up until this point. Mars-Uranus might impact a romantic connection or working relationship. It could be hard to gauge which arrangement could go sideways, because there might not have been any red flags. The other person might have acted completely normal, so this could be a shocking development. Since this could go either way, remain open-minded to your partner’s thoughts, feelings, and opinions instead of being reactive. All of this could blow over by the end of the week.

MORE: These 4 Zodiac Signs Are Set to Thrive During Jupiter’s Transit Through Leo

Virgo: Give It Another Go

Have you exhausted all options, Virgo? Plan A and Plan B might have failed, but Plan C unexpectedly arrives when Mars-Uranus invigorates your tenth house of career, success, and legacy. You could have felt unsure of your career path until now. Perhaps you’ve gone through many industry changes or tried different positions to find the right fit. It’s also possible that your ventures, ambitions, and goals reached unexpected conclusions that weren’t part of your professional vision. Since nothing has gone according to plan, you might be at a loss as to what comes next. Luckily, this Mars-Uranus energy could revitalize your energy. Your innovation will be reinvigorated, giving you the boost to try again. 

READ: The 4 Birth Months About to Get Very Lucky After June 30

Pisces: Domestic Bliss Gone Awry

Your inner world implodes, Pisces, as Mars-Uranus disrupts your fourth house of home, family, and foundation. This energy might play out in a few ways. Recent home improvements might unexpectedly backfire, so have a contractor on standby. Potential new beginnings might take a turn, such as being turned down from renting or buying a new home. It’s also possible that your family could erupt in chaos. Your parents or siblings might spark your frustrations; your children, partner, or roommates could also bring out another side to you. Regardless of what happens, this Mars-Uranus energy brings unease to your inner world. Find an outlet to pour your energy into if you cannot rest and relax in your sacred space.

UP NEXT:

Sister Wives fans have watched the Brown family navigate life on television for years, but now, one of Kody Brown's children is sharing her perspective on the "chaotic" childhood they experienced behind the scenes of the TLC series.

Maddie Brown Brush is opening up about her upbringing, sharing a deeply personal Instagram post reflecting on what it was like growing up in the Brown family and how those experiences continue to influence her today. She is the oldest daughter of six children born to Janelle and Kody Brown.

Brush opened with a powerful statement. She set the tone for her subsequent comments about life as one of Kody's kids and what TLC's cameras didn't see.

She began, "I didn’t grow up knowing what peace felt like. At least not in the nervous system sense. Not even in the 'exhale at the end of the day' sense."

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"My childhood was chaotic in ways I’ve spent my entire adult life making sense of and choosing to build something completely different from. That’s the short version. Maybe one day, I’ll tell the long one."

Brush continued, "What I know is this: I got married young, had my first son at 21, moved across the country at 23 to find my footing, and somewhere in the middle of all of it; the parenting books I consumed, the hard decisions I made, the life my husband [Caleb Brush] and I quietly built together, I found something I didn’t grow up with."

She concluded, "Peace. Not the absence of chaos but with the presence of it and the ability to choose calm anyway."

This isn't the first time the reality star has opened up about her childhood. However, her latest reflection is among her most personal yet.

In 2024, she spoke out about her estrangement from her father, Kody, on her former podcast, The Authentic Society. “I have no contact with some of my family, and it’s because of stuff that has happened,” she explained.

“[Kody] doesn’t have any respect for boundaries, and you have to play by his rules, and I just don’t care to do that.”

“My dad would get very angry when I would — I’m a straight shooter, you ask me a question, I’m going to tell you what I think — and he would get very angry when I would be like, ‘I don’t know why you’re surprised here,’” she continued.

“And so that was one of the reasons that I went no contact because it was like, he didn’t like a mirror being held up.”

Brush concluded, "“I always get messages from people who are like, ‘You should just forgive your dad and respect him.’ And I’m like, ‘I don’t think you know what you’re talking about because your experience with your dad could be very different than my experience with my dad.’ Some people just don't deserve to be in your life."

On Sister Wives, Maddie Brown Brush appears alongside several members of the Brown family, including her mother, Janelle Brown; her father, Kody Brown; his wife, Robyn Brown; and his former wives, Meri Brown and Christine Brown Woolley.

Season 21 of the series is set to return to TLC. An airdate has not yet been announced.

Related: ‘Sister Wives’ Fans Name the Cringiest Episodes in the Show’s History

"America The Beautiful," "This Land Is Your Land," "God Bless America," and "The Star-Spangled Banner" are beloved classics that celebrate the nation. As the United States marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, a new wave of patriotic music has emerged, offering fresh interpretations of America. Artists across genres created or re-imagined songs for the Semiquincentennial.

The 250th anniversary has produced a wide-ranging musical landscape spanning country, classical, choral, and independent releases. From Gloria and Emilio Estefan’s “America,” to Karen LeFrak’s orchestral “American Promise,” to Trace Adkins’ “American Made,” these songs form a new soundtrack for America’s milestone year.

Here are the new songs and musical projects that have been released to honor the United States and commemorate its 250th anniversary.

Related: 50 Songs About America To Add to Your Independence Day Playlist

New Patriotic Songs for America's 250th Birthday"America" – Gloria Estefan and Emilio Estefan

"America," by Gloria Estefan and Emilio Estefan celebrates their love for the United States. While the song was originally introduced in 2015, it has been released widely for the first time as part of the America250 celebration. The uplifting anthem reflects the Estefans' personal journey and gratitude for the freedoms and opportunities they found in America. Emilio Estefan says the project captures America's musical roots while looking ahead to the country's future, making the song a fitting tribute for the nation's milestone birthday. “Music has always been how Gloria and I tell stories about who we are and where we’re going,” said Emilio Estefan. “America’s Soundtrack is about capturing our dynamic musical roots as a country while creating something forward-looking that reflects our future.”

"American Made" – Trace Adkins

Country music star Trace Adkins returns with his first new single in five years, "American Made," released on June 26, 2026. Written specifically as an anthem honoring generations of Americans, the song celebrates farmers, laborers, and veterans. Created for America's 250th birthday, the song honors the hardworking spirit that has helped define the country.

"America/Beautiful" – Min Kwon

Classical pianist and composer Min Kwon has assembled one of the largest collaborative musical tributes with "America/Beautiful." Released on May 8, 2026, 5-CD box set features 76 contemporary American composers that Kwon commissioned to each write a solo piano variation on the song "America the Beautiful."

The interpretations offer a wide range of musical perspectives that celebrate America's diversity while encouraging thoughtful reflection on the nation's past, present and future. Some of the artists on "America/Beautiful" include Vijay Iyer, Nico Muhly, Timo Andres, Fred Hersch, Stewart Copeland, Terry Riley, Augusta Read Thomas, George Lewis, and John Harbison. As Min Kwon says, the mission of the album is "To celebrate the cultural melting pot that is our country," said Kwon. "To unite as many voices as possible for one purpose, one project, one question: What is America?"

"Blanket of Stars" - Craig Morgan

Country music star and Army Reserve soldier Craig Morgan will release his new song, "Blanket Of Stars," on July 3 through BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville. Drawing on Morgan's life as a performer and Army Reserve solder, the song reflects on the service and sacrifice of U.S. military members. In addition to the release, Morgan will host 4th of July Guest DJ with Craig Morgan on SiriusXM's Y2Kountry over the Independence Day weekend and will host and perform during the America Salutes You Armed Forces 250th Birthday, which begins streaming July 1 on Disney+ and Hulu.

Related: ‘A Capitol Fourth’ Concert Announces Lineup Update With 2 Country Music Icons for America’s 250th

"American Promise" – Karen LeFrak

Modern classical composer Karen LeFrak contributes one of the celebration's most ambitious new works with "American Promise." Commissioned specifically for the 250th anniversary, and part of America's Soundtrack, the orchestral composition is a musical portrait of unity, gratitude, and faith in the American dream. Recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra, the piece premiered with the Miami Symphony Orchestra on March 8, 2026, with additional performances by the National Symphony Orchestra and orchestras across the country throughout the year. LeFrak says the composition reflects the vast beauty of America and the ideals that have united generations of Americans.

"Battle Hymn of the Republic" – The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square

One of America's most treasured patriotic hymns receives a stirring new interpretation from The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. The newly recorded performance was selected as one of the inaugural releases of America's Soundtrack. The composition spotlights the enduring power of music to inspire hope, peace and national unity. The choir, often referred to as "America's Choir," recently performed the song during its "Songs of Hope" World Tour.

Next, Fired Up for the Fourth! Everything to Know About the 2025 Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks

In the early 1980s, Night Ranger was known for songs such as “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me” and “When You Close Your Eyes,” but their signature hit came in 1984 with the song “Sister Christian.”

The single from the album Midnight Madness peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in June 1984 and became the band’s highest-charting song.

Written by drummer Kelly Keagy, “Sister Christian” was a power ballad tailor-made for the early days of MTV. But more than 40 years later, Keagy revealed the hit song put Night Ranger in a bind.

In a new interview with the Dr. Music podcast, Keagy recalled that after the success of “Sister Christian,” Night Ranger’s record label pushed them to become a ballad band.

“What happened, the record company gives you a large amount of money to make a record and so their goal is to sell records,” Keagy said. “And we're back here going, ‘Yeah, but we got to go out and play. We can't do four ballads in the set.'”

“But the record company did push that,” he added. ‘You know with ‘Sentimental Street and stuff like that.”

Agreeing that the record label would have loved to have 10 "Sister Christians,’” Keagy continued, “Like when we turned in the last record, which was Man in Motion, we didn't have a ballad on there. We turned it in and [record label executives] just laughed and said, ’Right, a Night Ranger record without a ballad.’"

“So we went back and wrote ‘Restless Kind.’ And they loved it, but they didn't release it,” he shared. “They released a song we didn't write, which was ‘I Did It for Love.’ And that's when we knew we were stuck. We didn't have a safe zone anymore.”

“Like a young artist, they have to know that if somebody's, you know, footing the bill, they're going to want to, you know, sell records. It's a business…. And sometimes you just don't get that, you know, like, ‘No we want to do this,” he explained.

RELATED: 1982 Power Ballad Written by Rock Legends Became Iconic Band’s Only Top 40  Hit

Keagy had a very personal connection to “Sister Christian.” The song was written for his sister Christy, who was 10 years his junior. He started writing the song as “Sister Christy,” but Night Ranger bandmate Jack Blades suggested “Christian” instead.

"He thought the words were Sister Christian, instead of Sister Christy, so it just stuck,” Keagy told the San Francisco Chronicle in 2005.

The rocker noted that his sister “embraced” the fame and joked about changing her name.

“And my mom had a license plate that said, 'mother of Sister Christian’ on her license plate,” the Night Ranger alum shared on Dr. Music. “So she just absolutely had fun with it.”

Related: 1989 Rock Hit Ranked Among ‘Greatest Power Ballads of All Time' Was Nearly Rejected by Band

Seth Rogen has had plenty of surreal Hollywood encounters, but none left him more relieved to say no than an unexpected invitation from Sean "Diddy" Combs.

He recounted the moment, beginning with, "I'm glad I didn't do this," while speaking to his The Invite co-star Olivia Wilde during Entertainment Weekly's "Lie vs. Lie."

"Many years ago, me and my wife were at The French Laundry, one of the fanciest restaurants in the world, and at the table beside us was… Puff Daddy," Rogen shared. "Puff Daddy came over to me and my wife and he said, 'What are you guys doing tomorrow morning?' And we said, 'We're here actually scouting wedding locations.' And he said, 'Well, if you have time, would you like to come hot air ballooning with me?' And I said no, which I'm very happy about, 'cuz the last thing I need in the world is a photo of me on a hot air balloon alone with Puff Daddy, waving and smiling and holding glasses of rosé."

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Rogen laughed as he finished the story. Years later, Combs was convicted in July 2025 on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. In October 2025, he was sentenced to 50 months in federal prison, with credit for time already served. He is currently incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution in Fort Dix, New Jersey, and is projected to be released in February 2028. Combs was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges, and his legal team has said it plans to appeal the conviction.

The exchange came as part of Entertainment Weekly’s “Lie vs. Lie” game, in which cast members share surprising personal stories while trying to determine which ones are true. Rogen’s anecdote stood out as one of the most unexpected moments of the segment, quickly becoming a highlight of the conversation.

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Your kitchen shelves only have so much space, and your cooking time is even more limited. While it's easy to scroll through endless free vegan recipes online, there is a different kind of joy in holding a physical cookbook you trust to help you learn fun plant-based recipes. However, we know it can be hard to tell which cookbooks are actually worth buying until you’ve already brought them home and tried the recipes.

No one wants to spend the afternoon hunting down hard-to-find ingredients just to end up with a dinner that doesn't turn out well. Whether you're fully vegan, wanting to cut down on your meat consumption or looking to try a new way of eating, we wanted to find the vegan titles that are worth keeping in the kitchen, so we asked an award-winning chef to share the ones he uses for inspiration.

Rich Landau is the chef and co-owner of Vedge and Ground Provisions, two vegetable-centric restaurants that have changed the way people think about plant-based dining. Alongside his wife and business partner, Kate Jacoby, Landau has spent decades working with seasonal produce and building bold flavors.

He is a six-time James Beard finalist, won an episode of Food Network’s Chopped and routinely breaks down dishes as a judge on Beat Bobby Flay. Because he has also written four cookbooks of his own, including Vedge and The Vedge Bar Book, he understands the care it takes to make a recipe easy to follow and successful at home.

Whether you want to explore regional styles or just need a simple weeknight dinner, here are the 11 best vegan cookbooks Landau recommends.

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How These Cookbooks Were Chosen

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Instead of sticking to one specific style of cooking, Landau pulled a diverse mix of titles from his personal collection. His selections range from high-end restaurant manuals to simple weeknight guides and deep dives into regional cuisines.

While the techniques and flavors vary completely from book to book, Landau chose each one because it stands out as one of the best examples of its style, offering reliable recipes that he personally uses for inspiration.

Related: The Genius Way To Make Grilled Veggies 10x Better, According to an Award-Winning Chef

Top Vegan Cookbooks

• Best Vegan Cookbook for Korean Comfort Food: The Korean Vegan Homemade: Recipes and Stories from My Kitchen by Joanne Lee Molinaro
• Best Vegan Cookbook for Seasonal Cooking:Plant-Based Magic: 120 Seasonal Recipes for Healing Body and Soul by Lisanna Wallance
• Best Mediterranean Vegan Cookbook:Crossroads: Extraordinary Recipes from the Restaurant That Is Reinventing Vegan Cuisine by Tal Ronnen
• Best All-In-One Kitchen Reference:Mastering the Art of Plant-Based Cooking: Vegan Recipes, Tips, and Techniques by Joe Yonan
• Best Vegan Cookbook for Baking and Desserts:Vegan Chocolate: Unapologetically Luscious and Decadent Dairy-Free Desserts by Fran Costigan
• Best Indian Vegan Cookbook:Plant-Based India: Nourishing Recipes Rooted in Tradition by Dr. Sheil Shukla
• Best Japanese Vegan Cookbook:Vegan Japan: 70 Comforting Plant-Based Recipes by Julia Boucachard
• Best Caribbean Vegan Cookbook:Caribbean Vegan, Second Edition: Meat-Free, Egg-Free, Dairy-Free Authentic Island Cuisine for Every Occasion by Taymer Mason
• Best Vegan Cookbook for Healthy Longevity:The Blue Zones Kitchen: 100 Recipes to Live to 100 by Dan Buettner
• Best Vegan Cookbook for Beginners: Forks Over Knives - The Cookbook by Del Sroufe
• Best Southern Cooking Vegan Cookbook:Mississippi Vegan: Recipes and Stories from a Southern Boy's Heart by Timothy Pakron

11 Best Vegan Cookbooks, According to an Award-Winning Chef

These are the best vegan cookbooks Rich Landau highly recommends adding to your collection.

1. Best for Korean Comfort Food: The Korean Vegan Homemade: Recipes and Stories from My Kitchen by Joanne Lee Molinaro, $37 (Originally $40) at Barnes & Noble

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Instead of relying on easy shortcuts or processed meat alternatives, Joanne Lee Molinaro builds deep flavor by teaching readers how to use traditional, fermented pantry staples like doenjang (soybean paste) and gochujang (chili paste).

This cookbook features traditional staples like jjajangmyun (black bean noodles) alongside personal essays about her mother fleeing North Korea.

"Beautiful photography and great recipe adaptations from a very meat-heavy cuisine," Chef Landau says. "These recipes capture the essence of Korean cooking without sacrificing flavor or soul."

Related: 50+ Satisfying Vegan Breakfasts To Power Your Day

2. Best for Seasonal Cooking:Plant-Based Magic: 120 Seasonal Recipes for Healing Body and Soul by Lisanna Wallance, $27.95 at Barnes & Noble

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After being diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, clinical herbalist and chef Lisanna Wallance used plant and mushroom medicine to help manage her chronic pain.

This book organizes her entirely gluten-free, vegan recipes by the calendar, pairing in-season produce with functional herbs. Instead of traditional weeknight cooking, you get unusual, playful recipes, such as lilac panna cotta and adaptogenic stuffed zucchini, that are designed to target energy, focus and digestion.

"Fresh and inspired, this book blends food and healing both gracefully and deliciously," Chef Landau notes. It's a fantastic guide if you want to switch up your cooking habits and align your kitchen with the changing seasons.

Related: The Genius Way to Make Guacamole 10x Better, According to an Award-Winning Chef

3. Best Mediterranean:Crossroads: Extraordinary Recipes from the Restaurant That Is Reinventing Vegan Cuisine by Tal Ronnen, $35 at Barnes & Noble

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Chef Tal Ronnen skips tofu blocks and processed meat substitutes in his cookbook, focusing instead on upscale Mediterranean cooking.

The book brings the menu of his famous Los Angeles restaurant straight to your stove, teaching you how to use nuts, grains and seasonal vegetables to build rich textures. You'll learn how to make house staples like almond-based ricotta cheese, hearts of palm "calamari" and fresh pasta tossed in homemade sauces.

"My dear friend and rockstar chef Tal Ronnen brings his Mediterranean-inspired approach to vegan food," Chef Landau says. "Crossroads effortlessly blends creativity and ingenuity with simplicity and clean flavors."

4. Best All-In-One Kitchen Reference:Mastering the Art of Plant-Based Cooking: Vegan Recipes, Tips and Techniques by Joe Yonan, $50 at Barnes & Noble

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Instead of just listing dinner ideas, former Washington Post food editor Joe Yonan delivers a massive, technique-focused guide to the fundamentals of plant-based cooking.

This 500-page volume opens with a comprehensive "building blocks" chapter that teaches you how to handle scratch-made kitchen basics. Instead of relying on store-bought substitutes, you’ll learn how to emulsify aquafaba mayonnaise, churn homemade nut butters, and craft your own oat milk and stocks from scratch.

"Joe’s curiosity and support for plant-based dining is infectious and always apparent in the pages of his books," Chef Landau says. It's a great technical handbook for anyone who wants to master the fundamental kitchen skills behind great everyday meals.

5. Best for Baking and Desserts:Vegan Chocolate: Unapologetically Luscious and Decadent Dairy-Free Desserts by Fran Costigan, $40 at Barnes & Noble

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Traditional baking relies on the chemistry of eggs and dairy fat, making plant-based pastries notoriously hard to master. Professional pastry instructor Fran Costigan skips common shortcuts like processed margarine and tofu, treating dessert-making like a science.

Her recipes in this cookbook focus on precise techniques, like tracking exact chocolate percentages and learning to properly emulsify almond milk ganache, to deliver bakery-quality tortes, tarts and mousses.

"Fran works magic with her vegan desserts; her experience and approachability shine through in this wonderful book," Chef Landau says. "If you have a sweet tooth, this is the book you need."

6. Best Indian: Plant-Based India: Nourishing Recipes Rooted in Tradition by Dr. Sheil Shukla, $32.50 at Barnes & Noble

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"Indian food is everyone’s favorite, and one of the most complex and extraordinary cuisines on the planet," Chef Landau says. "This book will have you mastering curry at home."

While Indian cuisine is inherently vegetarian-friendly, restaurant dishes still use dairy staples like ghee, yogurt and paneer cheese. Dr. Sheil Shukla, a physician who learned to cook traditional Gujarati dishes from his grandmother, reworks his family’s heritage meals into completely plant-based versions with Plant-Based India.

Instead of using processed substitutes, his recipes focus on the whole food basics of the Indian pantry, showing you how to build a rich shak (spiced vegetable dish) or a comforting dal using whole legumes and home-toasted spice blends.

Related: The 8 Best Cookbook Stands That Chefs Swear By

7. Best Japanese:Vegan Japan: 70 Comforting Plant-Based Recipes by Julia Boucachard, $24.95 at Barnes & Noble

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"Once you have visited Japan, you realize two things," Chef Landau notes. "The food is seemingly simple yet deeply soul-satisfying, and the other is that it is unexpectedly difficult to navigate vegan eating there. This book satisfies both points."

Japanese-French chef Julia Boucachard draws on her childhood memories, splitting time between Tokyo and France, to recreate her favorite comfort foods without hidden fish-based dashi or bonito flakes.

Her recipes in Vegan Japan make the most of clean, homestyle staples like kabocha squash stew, crispy karaage, miso butter ramen and even yoshoku favorites like Japanese potato salad.

8. Best Caribbean: Caribbean Vegan, Second Edition: Meat-Free, Egg-Free, Dairy-Free Authentic Island Cuisine for Every Occasion by Taymer Mason, $26.95 at Barnes & Noble

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Barbadian food scientist Taymer Mason celebrates the rich, traditional heritage of West Indian cooking by using regional, whole-food staples like cassava, breadfruit and green bananas as the foundation for her dishes in Caribbean Vegan.

"Caribbean food is so hauntingly delicious," Chef Landau says. "The spices, the unique ingredients, the taste of vacation and a window into an underrated food culture that deserves a bigger spotlight; this book is for that journey."

Mason teaches you how to create these complex flavor profiles from scratch, sharing reliable recipes for fiery Jamaican jerk marinades, slow-simmered Trinidadian doubles and your own homemade Bajan green seasonings.

9. Best for Healthy Longevity:The Blue Zones Kitchen: 100 Recipes to Live to 100 by Dan Buettner, $35 at Barnes & Noble

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National Geographic fellow Dan Buettner spent decades traveling the globe to document the world's "Blue Zones"—the specific regions where people consistently live past 100. This book serves as a field guide and cookbook, collecting recipes directly from families in these communities.

Instead of calorie counting or focusing on micronutrients, The Blue Zones Kitchen pages feature traditional, whole-food plant combinations. You will learn how to make daily staples like Sardinian herbed lentil minestrone, Costa Rican hearts of palm ceviche and steamed Okinawan sweet potatoes.

Chef Landau has personally collaborated with Buettner over the last decade and considers his findings game changing. "The importance of his discovery of the Blue Zones cannot be understated," Chef Landau shares. "His knowledge of these cuisines and the effects on our well-being are extraordinary."

10. Best for Beginners: Forks Over Knives—The Cookbook by Del Sroufe, $22.95 at Barnes & Noble

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"From the eye-opening documentary that changed so many minds," Chef Landau notes. "Everyone should see this movie no matter what, and if it inspires them, then this book will be a great next step forward."

Chef Del Sroufe handles the transition to plant-based eating by skipping processed meat substitutes and keeping the cooking methods simple. The Forks Over Knives cookbook features more than 300 oil-free recipes that use basic items like oats, canned beans and potatoes.

Instead of learning complex techniques, you learn how to make healthy and quick meals like mushroom stroganoff, black-eyed pea stew and baked oatmeal.

11. Best Southern Cooking: Mississippi Vegan: Recipes and Stories from a Southern Boy's Heart by Timothy Pakron, $36 at Barnes & Noble

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Classic American Southern food is legendary for its comfort, but the culture traditionally relies on ham hocks, bacon grease and butter. Photographer and chef Timothy Pakron reclaims his Gulf Coast heritage by letting the regional agricultural bounty take center stage in Mississippi Vegan.

He uses wild mushrooms, fresh okra and local root vegetables to recreate the comforting textures of the Deep South, offering recipes for plant-based gumbos, flaky biscuits and slow-smothered greens.

"Southern food may best represent what the USA has to offer the global culinary stage, but it is notoriously meaty despite having some of the best growing soil for vegetables. This book answers that call," Chef Landau says.

Final Thoughts

Investing in a few solid cookbooks makes a big difference when you're standing in front of the stove on a Tuesday night, and having a physical book on the counter means you can skip scrolling on your phone to find a recipe.

Plant-based cooking is at its best when it stops trying to mimic meat and just lets whole foods, vegetables, plants and spices taste great on their own terms.

Whether you want to spend a weekend afternoon simmering a vegan pasta sauce or just need a fast, reliable dinner after work, these are the best vegan cookbook titles you'll keep coming back to week after week.

Up Next:

Related: 5 Best Produce Items To Buy at Trader Joe's (and 4 To Skip)

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• Rich Landau is the chef and co-owner of Vedge and Ground Provisions. Landau is a six-time James Beard finalist, and he has written four cookbooks, including Vedge and The Vedge Bar Book.

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When you're short on space, every inch counts — and finding a storage cabinet that actually fits can feel like a challenge. Target's vintage-inspired Costway Slim Rattan Storage Cabinet is designed with small spaces in mind, thanks to its slim profile that fits neatly into corners. Right now, it's available for as low as $60, a steep discount from its original $280 price.

It features a woven rattan door which brings a warm, vintage-inspired touch. However, its biggest draw is the adjustable shelf, with twelve height settings to hold everything from toiletries and towels to pantry items and baskets. Need to store something taller? Just take the shelf out for extra room. One impressed shopper described the design as "a stroke of genius" and called the cabinet "an organizer's dream come true." 

Costway Slim Rattan Storage Cabinet, From $60 (was $280) at Target

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This 54-inch-tall, slim cabinet is made to fit where larger furniture can't. Tuck it into a bathroom for towels and toiletries, add it to the kitchen for extra pantry storage, or place it in a bedroom corner to keep clutter under control. Despite its compact size, it supports up to 135 pounds, making it sturdy enough for books, folded linens, baskets, and decorative accents. It stands on solid wood legs and comes with two anti-tip kits for extra stability. 

Its vintage-inspired design is another reason shoppers love it. The handwoven rattan door adds warmth and texture while keeping clutter out of sight, Meanwhile, the open shelves give you a place to display books, plants, or your favorite decor. The woven door also allows air to circulate so the inside doesn’t get too stale, while a magnetic closure keeps everything neatly in place. 

Shoppers appreciated how simple it is to put together, with one reviewer calling it "so easy to assemble." Aanother Target customer simply called it “a stellar choice." It's available in three colorways: natural, white, and black. Prices vary by color, but even the priciest option is just $84, making every version a worthwhile buy. 

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Related: Target’s ‘Beautiful’ $90 Slatted Storage Cabinet Is a 'Stylish' Way to Tackle Clutter in Any Room

At under $100, the Costway Slim Rattan Storage Cabinet is worth considering if you’re looking for something that will save space. Head to Target and grab it now while it’s still in stock and on sale!

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Iconic theme park Holiday World is set to make a splash with Cannonball!, the first and only water roller coaster in the Midwest.

The largest single-attraction investment in the park’s history, the $22 million ride will be themed to the Fourth of July and reach speeds of up to 45 miles per hour, making it the fastest water coaster in the United States.

Designed by Mack Rides and at a attraction time of 3 minutes, it will also impressively feature the tallest drop in the country and is expected to open in May 2027. Ahead of the attraction’s thrilling final drop, riders will travel along 1,700 feet of coaster track reaching heights of up to 90 feet.

Related: The 9 Easter Eggs You Missed on Disney's New Muppets Coaster

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​"This ride is dedicated to every kid who had to work up the courage to climb the tall diving board at their community pool,” shared Leah Koch-Blumhardt, Fourth-Generation Owner and Director of Communications​, in a press release. “And it’s a tribute to every small town with a quirky annual tradition. There’s something special about the way we come together to celebrate our independence as a nation, and we hope Cannonball! conveys that magic.”

Related: Disney Has Revealed Details About Its Highly Anticipated New Land

“America’s First Theme Park” features four uniquely themed sections: Halloween, Christmas, Thanksgiving and Fourth of July. Cannonball! will become the marquee attraction of the Fourth of July land and will join the park’s three award-winning water-slide-style water coasters and Good Gravy!, USA Today’s 10best Best New Roller Coaster of 2024. The family friendly addition will operate with a minimum height requirement of 42 inches when accompanied by an adult and 48 inches unaccompanied.

Cannonball! comes with a unique backstory and will be themed after a community center pool in the fictional small town of Boulder Canyon, USA. Aboard unique pool float-inspired ride vehicles, riders will encounter a 90-foot life hill and a dramatic 75-foot drop. Holiday World is encouraging guests to yell “Cannonball!” as they descend down the final splashdown.

Related: A Legendary Amusement Park Just Announced A World-Record-Breaking New Water Ride.

Holiday World was founded in 1946 as Santa Claus Land and perfectly blends family friendly fun with thrill-forward attractions. The one-of-its-kind theme park is renowned for its themed lands and attractions, including The Voyage, an award-winning wooden roller coaster that has been ranked among the top in the world by Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Awards.

With family and fun at the forefront, the park offers free unlimited soft drinks, sunscreen and parking with all admission. Its seasonal events are a cornerstone, including Happy Halloween Weekends. Holiday World is located in Santa Claus, Indiana, and within houses of major cities like Nashville,Louisville and Cincinnati.

Related: Inside the Legendary Disney Studio No Theme Park Ticket Will Get You Into

In early 2009, romantasy author Sarah J. Maas set out to rewrite a story based on Beauty and the Beast, Tam Lim, and East of the Sun and West of the Moon. The manuscript took her just five weeks to write.

A Court of Thorns and Roses was released on May 5, 2015. Thanks in part to BookTok and reader communities online, the book and its respective sequels have become global sensations and have launched Maas into stardom as an author. The ACOTAR series (the acronym the series is colloquially known by) has sold more than 75 million copies worldwide and been translated into more than 38 languages. The success of the series has defined the romantasy genre, and drawn comparisons of Maas to the likes of J.K. Rowling.

ACOTAR continually appears on bestseller lists, such as The New York Times or USA Today's. The series is so popular amongst readers that multiple of its titles are currently some of the "Most Read Books of 2026," according to Goodreads. The first book in the fantasy adventure series ranks No. 22 on the list, being "shelved" by readers more than 400,000 times in 2026.

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A Court of Thorns and Rosesfollows Feyre, a 19-year-old huntress who kills a magical wolf that was actually a High Fae from the Spring Court in disguise. Feyre is taken away to the faerie realm of Prythia to pay for her crime with her life. In Prythia, she meets High Lord Tamlin and his emissary, Lucien, and slowly but surely learns more about the faeries and their world, which had previously only been the things of legends to Feyre. But something is looming over Prythia, an ancient blight is spreading and threatens Feyre, Tamlin, and everything she is only beginning to know about the world she's found herself a part of.

ACOTAR was followed by the sequelsA Court of Mist and Fury in 2016, A Court of Wings and Ruin in 2017, A Court of Frost and Starlight in 2018, and A Court of Silver Flames in 2021. Maas has announced the release of two more sequels with the sixth installment releasing on October 27, 2026, and the seventh on January 12, 2027. The series will conclude with an eighth book.

A Court of Thorns and Roses and the other books in the ACOTAR series are avaiable now wherever books are sold.

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Related: Best-Selling 2023 Romantasy Hit Is Still Ranked a ‘Most Read Book of the Year,’ According to Goodreads

It took exactly 20 minutes for a grieving country singer to write down the lyrics of a song that described his love for his late veteran father and a nation in turmoil in 2001.

Toby Keith never intended to record the song he initially called "Angry American." Its title would later be changed to "Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue."

Ranked as one of the most patriotic songs by The Hollywood Reporter, Keith wrote the song on the back of a Fantasy Football sheet a week after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. He intended to only perform it live for troops on USO tours, but a Marine Corps commander encouraged him to record it, CBS News reported.

Keith told Dan Rather, "He [the commander] said, 'You have to release it. You can serve your country in other ways besides suiting up in combat.' We will go kick their butts. But we survive on morale."

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The commander added, "I mean, we live on morale. That's what we travel on. And, he said I highly recommend you put that song out."

"Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue" hit No. 1 on Billboard's Country Music Chart in July 2002. It remained active on the charts for 23 weeks.

The Boot quoted Keith's comments about the song, made during a media event. "When I turned [the song] in, they said, 'Well, it really doesn’t say 'Angry American' in there. Why don’t you call it 'Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue?' So, I did."

He added, "I prayed about it and discussed it with everybody for a long time, because I knew it was going to cause a storm. But at the end of the day, I was like, 'If it means that much to those guys, then I don’t care. I’ll do it.' And that’s when we finally decided we were going to release it."

The impact included Keith's reported refusal to appear on an ABC special after reporter Peter Jennings asked him to tone down the song's lyrics. Additionally, he tussled with The Chicks' lead singer, Natalie Maines, who once called the song “ignorant."

"You know, until I became very successful, I didn't get these hits. So the higher you fly, the bigger targets you make. And I can take that," said Keith to CBS News. "And I'll be there every time. If you, if they need me to respond, I'll be that guy because I'm not gonna lay down. And I'm not gonna shut up."

By standing his ground, Keith did more than reinforce his reputation as one of country music's boldest voices. He helped push the genre into new territory, proving there was room for songs that tackled real-life issues without softening the message.

Toby Keith died on February 5, 2024, at the age of 62 after a battle with stomach cancer.

Related: 1992 Social Anthem, Initially Banned by Country Radio, Became a Top 20 Hit for a Megastar

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Picture yourself lazing in your backyard on a warm summer afternoon, drink in hand, reading your favorite book. What’s better than that? If you want to create a relaxing environment that’ll give you the prime lounging experience, consider adding the bestselling Edx Zero-Gravity Lounge Chairs to your home’s outdoor space. Right now, you can score a set of two on sale at Walmart for up to 40% off for a limited time with a flash deal. 

Normally retailing for $98, the black version of this lounge chair set is now on sale for just $59. For just a dollar more, you can also score this lounge chair set in a blue version. Considering that you’re getting each chair for about $30, this is a deal you won’t want to miss. 

Edx 2-Pack of Zero-Gravity Lounge Chairs, From $59 (was $98) at Walmart

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Take your lounging game to the next level with this zero-gravity chair. Whether you want to sit upright and read, recline back and watch a movie, or lie down and take a nap, this chair will meet all your relaxation needs. Designed with a reclining mechanism, this chair effortlessly tilts back up to 160 degrees. Once you find your preferred angle, you can lock the seat in place by pushing down the two levers by the armrests. 

Made of wear-resistant breathable mesh fabric, this chair allows air to flow through, keeping you cool on sweltering summer days. The mesh fabric is attached to the frame by numerous bungee cords, delivering that zero-gravity feel that’ll cradle your body and make you feel like you’re suspended in the air. Shoppers attested to the comfort of this chair, mentioning that it has great lumbar support and reduces the pressure on their back and legs. 

This chair comes with a thickened headrest that you can strap on if you want to prop up your head and neck. For added convenience, it also includes a side tray equipped with a cup holder and phone holder so you can always have your essentials by your side and access them without having to get up. 

Edx 2-Pack of Zero-Gravity Lounge Chairs, From $59 (was $98) at Walmart

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While these lounge chairs are a great way to turn your backyard or porch into a relaxing resort-like getaway, you can also bring them along to your summer outings. Thanks to their foldable design, you can toss them into the trunk of your car and easily take them to the tan on the beach, cloud watch in the park, or laze on a camping trip. Shoppers noted that these chairs fold and unfold easily and are light enough to carry. 

“The zero-gravity position makes me feel like I’m floating,” one reviewer raved. “It’s perfect for lounging, reading, or even taking a nap.” They also stated that it's “incredibly easy to transport and store.” A second reviewer said that these chairs are "beautiful, sleek, and very comfortable.” 

The frame of this chair is made of heavy-duty metal capable of holding up to 350 pounds. Shoppers commented that this chair feels very sturdy and durable. For size reference, it’s about 24 inches wide and 43 inches tall when upright. 

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• Mainstays 6-Piece Patio Dining Set, $117 (was $136) at Walmart
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Related: Walmart's 'Very Flattering' 2-Piece Swimsuit Is Now 40% Off, and It's 'Comfortable' for All Body Types

On sale for as low as $59, the Edx 2-Pack Zero-Gravity Lounge Chairs are a summer lounging staple you’ll want to add to your cart ASAP. Don’t hesitate to head to Walmart and snag the set while it’s still in stock in your preferred color. Be sure to hurry because they’re already flying off the shelves!

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Almost 30 years since its release, Saving Private Ryan has been ranked as the No. 1 movie to watch on Fourth of July weekend by Entertainment Weekly.

Saving Private Ryan follows a squad of U.S. soldiers led by John Miller, who is portrayed by Tom Hanks. The classic film also featured Matt Damon, who played Private James Ryan, a character whose brothers have been killed in combat. The film was nominated for 11 Academy Awards, and won five for best director, cinematography, sound, film editing and sound effects.

Directed by Steven Spielberg, Entertainment Weekly said that their film should be watched this Fourth of July weekend because it puts you where the soldiers stood.

“It puts you … where they bled,” Entertainment Weekly wrote. “Where they fell. But something good and decent rose from their sacrifice.”

Last year, The Pitt’s Noah Wylerevealed in an interview with the Still Here Hollywood podcast that he was offered a role in Saving Private Ryan, but had to turn it down. Although the film won a multitude of awards, Wyle said he doesn’t necessarily regret not doing the film.

“I’m almost glad that I didn’t do them because those guys made those parts,” Wyle said. “I got offered the part of ‘[Corporal] Upham,’ which was Jeremy Davies’ part. And he was so phenomenal in that, I couldn’t imagine doing anything close to what he did.”

Wyle was also offered the role of Damon’s Private Ryan, as well as a part in George Clooney’s 2005 film Good Night, and Good Luck. However, because he was working on ER, he had to turn down both roles.

Among the 30 films ranked as must-watch movies for Fourth of July, Entertainment Weekly also included Apollo 13, Hamilton, Miracle and the iconic 1939 film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.

For anyone who has ever had walking among the cherry blossoms, hiking Mount Fuji, or experiencing a legendary omakase dinner on their lifetime travel bucket list, that dream is about to get a lot easier to check off.

Starting March 27, 2027, American Airlines is launching a daily, nonstop service between Chicago and Tokyo Narita International Airport, opening up a whole new world of effortless international travel right from our backyard.

What makes this route particularly exciting for travelers isn't just the direct access to Japan, but how easy it makes exploring the rest of Asia.

Thanks to American’s close partnership with Japan Airlines, you can step off your flight at Narita and seamlessly connect to some of the most vibrant destinations across the globe, including Bangkok, Singapore, Taipei and Ho Chi Minh City.

Related: American Airlines Launches New Upgrades Fans Say Are 'Finally' Here

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Even better for frequent flyers, you won't have to sacrifice your travel perks to cross the Pacific. AAdvantage members can earn miles and Loyalty Points on these flights, unlock elevated status benefits like extra baggage allowance, and even use systemwide upgrades to turn a long-haul flight into a truly luxurious experience.

For the journey itself, American is bringing out the big guns with a Boeing 787-9 aircraft. If you are looking to splurge on comfort, the plane features thirty Flagship Business seats and twenty-one Premium Economy seats, meaning you can arrive in Tokyo feeling refreshed and ready to explore rather than jet-lagged and cramped.

While the headline is undoubtedly the new bridge to Asia, American is also quietly expanding options closer to home. To help feed into the growing Chicago hub, the airline is adding two strategic domestic destinations to the O’Hare lineup this winter. Beginning in November, travelers can catch a flight to Charlottesville, Virginia, making it easier than ever to explore historic southern charm and mountain getaways. Then in December, a new route to Ontario, California launches, offering a brilliant, low-stress alternative for anyone heading to Southern California who wants to skip the usual headache of navigating LAX.

Related: American Airlines Is Fixing Two of the Biggest Main Cabin Annoyances

All of these new routes pair perfectly with the massive upgrades American has been making to the overall passenger experience at O’Hare lately. Between a sprawling new 10,000-square-foot Admiral’s Club lounge and the addition of privacy-door Flagship Suite seats on select international routes, the airline is clearly investing heavily in making the journey just as enjoyable as the destination.

Tickets for the new Tokyo, Charlottesville, and Ontario routes will be dropping soon on the American Airlines app and website. Whether you are planning a massive solo adventure across Asia or a quick domestic escape, your 2027 travel calendar just got a whole lot more interesting.

Related: American Airlines Is Fixing Two of the Biggest Main Cabin Annoyances

It’s no surprise that the author behind a book called Beach Read has a novel that made it onto a Goodreads list of books perfect for reading at the beach or poolside. But surprisingly, Emily Henry’s 2020 novel about rival authors is nowhere to be found on the list. 

Related: Best-Selling Author’s Debut Novel Ranked Among ‘Favorite Summer’ Books on Goodreads

Instead, Henry’s 2021 book, People We Meet on Vacation, made the cut, and in fact is so popular on the bibliophile social media site that it garnered a Goodreads Choice Award in 2021 for Readers’ Favorite Romance. The book follows the friendship of two people who couldn’t be more different: impulsive Poppy can’t seem to sit still, traveling the world with short stints in New York City before her next great adventure. Alex is calm and rational, the type of person who plans things out and lives in a small town. 

But once a year, the unlikely duo go on vacation together, having the time of their lives. That is, until one fateful trip where their friendship was ruined. Now, two years later, they don’t speak, and Poppy realizes she has one chance to make things right with her best friend–but could there be more than friendship between them? 

Related: ‘Breathless’ Novel Wins 2026 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction

With over 1.9 million ratings on Goodreads, People We Meet on Vacation is a smash hit on the site, garnering an average 3.84 out of 5 stars from readers who call it “heartbreakingly amazing” and “the best thing I’ve read in so long.” 

Others agree, calling it a “sweet, fluffy, beachy read” and praising its ability to give “a fresh take” to the trope of friends to lovers. In 2026, Netflix adapted the book into a movie starring Emily Bader and Tom Blyth, and it currently sits at a 78% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Screen Rant said it’s the closest they have seen in a long time to a romantic comedy on the same level as When Harry Met Sally, While You Were Sleeping, and You've Got Mail, while Variety said it “offers the comforting satisfaction of pieces falling predictably into place to any viewers wishing their own life would slot together so neatly.” 

Next: 1952 Masterpiece Novel by Nobel Prize Winner Gets Netflix Adaptation

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If you love refreshing your bedroom with the seasons — or just whenever the mood strikes — a new comforter can instantly change the feel of the space. This reversible option from JCPenney makes it easy to do that by giving you two coordinated looks in one. Right now, JCPenney has the shopper-loved Home Expressions Down Alternative Reversible Comforter marked down by 50% during its 4th of July sale, bringing the price from $80 to $40. 

One side features a solid color, while the reverse offers a complementary shade or pattern, so you can change the look of your bed without buying a second comforter. Use the code STRSPNGL, and the total drops to just $28 for a queen size. It's available in twin/twin XL, full/queen, and king sizes, with the largest size priced up to $35 after the discount. Shoppers called it "extremely soft" and “fluffy" and said it's an incredible value. 

Home Expressions Ultra Soft Down Alternative Reversible Comforter, $28 (was $80) at JCPenney

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Made with a plush microfiber shell and down-alternative fill, this comforter is designed to stay comfortable all year long. The lightweight construction feels breathable during warmer months while still offering enough coverage to keep you cozy when the weather cools. 

It's available in 13 colors, including red, blue, green, and peach, so you have plenty of options to match your decor. Its reversible design means you can switch up your bedroom's look in seconds. 

Reviewers were especially impressed with the quality. One called it "very comfortable," while another praised the "beautiful color." A third wrote that "the bright colors make a statement all [on] their own." 

It’s also OEKO-TEX-certified, meaning it’s tested for harmful substances. The blanket is machine washable, so upkeep is simple — just toss it in the wash when it needs to be cleaned.

As one reviewer put it, “It’s shockingly good for the price I paid. It has good loft if you are someone who likes a thick, fluffy comforter.” They added a sweet side note that their cat “also adores it.” 

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• Martha Stewart Solid Blackout Curtain Panel, $35 (was $95) at JCPenney
• Home Expressions Maisey Reversible Comforter Set, $67 at JCPenney
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Related: Amazon’s 'Supportive' Convertible Sofa Bed Is 54% Off for Prime Day and 'Perfect for Small Spaces'

For a budget-friendly bedroom refresh that doesn’t compromise on softness or style, the Home Expressions Down Alternative Reversible Comforter is a standout deal. This bedding essential is selling fast right now, so it's worth grabbing soon before stock runs out!

Don’t miss future deals!Sign up for Parade Picks to receive our commerce team’s curated selection of discounts and sales, twice a week.

In 1966, the Beach Boys recorded a song that would go on to become an American classic. Sixty years later, it still ranks as a musical masterpiece and one of the best examples of American music from the early days of rock’ n’ roll.

The song “Good Vibrations” was just ranked No. 1 on Ultimate Classic Rock’s list of the 250 Top American songs that helped shape the country's musical history. Described as Beach Boys legend Brian Wilson's “singular masterpiece,” the song was hailed as "revolutionary” and “a marvel in studio production.”

“Wilson spent seven months, nearly 100 hours of tape and $75,000 constructing ‘Good Vibrations,’” the outlet shared. “More than 30 musicians appear on the finished track, from sleigh bells, piccolo and jaw harp to harpsichord, Electro-Theremin and cello.”

Written by Wilson and Mike Love, “Good Vibrations” underwent a months-long recording process. Known for its lush harmonic vocals and unique orchestral production, the song was released as a single in October 1966 and quickly climbed the charts, hitting No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on Dec. 10 of that year.

Wilson once told Uncut magazine that the song was inspired by a childhood memory in which his mother told him dogs can pick up on humans’ “vibes” when they’re scared.

Noting that he wanted to write something more than “surf” and “car” songs, Wilson took a step forward with the production of “Good Vibrations.”

“I was playing at the piano and began singing about good vibrations, just fooling around. Then I came up with a little melody at the piano [sings it]. Tony Asher had written some original lyrics, but my cousin Mike Love had some great ideas. He came up to the house and said, ‘What if I went, ‘I’m picking up good vibrations’.” And the rest is history,” Wilson shared.

RELATED: 1966 Monkees Hit Featured Something You May Have Missed

The Beach Boys legend admitted that recording the future “pocket symphony” was “a long process.”

“It took six weeks to record,” he shared. “We recorded it in five different studios, and I wrote out each player’s part on music paper. We recorded the verses at Gold Star, the choruses at Western Recording Studios, and the bridge at Sunset Sound. The voices were all recorded at Columbia Studios in LA. I recorded the voices in sections. …The idea was to overlap and create a double dose of harmonies.”

Lyricist Asher once told NPR that Wilson originally wanted to use the word “vibes” in the song's title, but he convinced him to use the winning word ‘vibrations.’”

"He wanted to call the song 'Good Vibes,'" Asher recalled. "And I remember when he began to play this little riff, which he said he had been working on. He was saying something like, you know, 'Good, good vibes, I get good vibes,' or something like that. And I kept saying to him, 'You know, it really ought to be vibrations.' And he said, 'Yeah, but that's not what people say.”

Related: 2003 Classic Rock Compilation Album, Loaded With No. 1 Hits, Is Suddenly Climbing the Charts 23 Years Later

As I've gotten older, and thus kicked out of the safety of the kids' table, I've realized that all my family gatherings end the same way: with everyone in the household gossiping about that one unlikable attendee. Maybe they couldn't stop yelling at the dinner table, or they somehow managed to insult half of the siblings before dessert. Whatever the faux pas is, they're now the family's enemy #1, and I don't know about you, but I will do everything in my power not to be that relative.

To make sure we're all best prepared for my next family dinner, Parade spoke to Co-President of The Emily Post Institute, Lizzie Post, to find out what 11 phrases make you instantly unlikable at family gatherings—and how to avoid them.

Granted, what makes you instantly unlikable to your clan will depend on your general temperament. Generally speaking, however, if you're worried about making a good impression with your immediate or extended family at a holiday gathering—or any type of function, for that matter—you should stick to the basics.

“To the best of your ability, try to treat people the way you would like to be treated,” Post says, adding that at the Emily Post Institute, they believe that everyone should be treated with three things: consideration, respect and honesty.

So with that, let's see how to not insult Granny in the near future (or ever).

Related: Psychologists Say People Who Have ‘Absolutely No Filter’ Likely Have These 7 Traits

11 Phrases That Make You ‘Instantly Unlikable’ at Family Gatherings, According to an Etiquette Expert

If the following phrases sound familiar, you could be unintentionally giving off a bad vibe with your extended or immediate family.

1. Bragging about your lifestyle

Anything braggadocious is a no-go.

“When you're overly braggy about anything that you're excited to share,” Post says it's best to keep that to yourself, especially if it's something that you know another family member might envy. For example, “bragging about how much free time you have to a parent is really nails on a chalkboard to them,” she shares.

These brags can also sometimes be hidden in a complaint as a show of false modesty—and they also won't go over well.

“‘My engagement ring is so big,’ or, ‘It's just so hard living in such a big house,’” Post explains, “Those are things that aren't going to go over well with family who might not have the same means that you have or the same life experiences that you do.”

2. “You could never understand”

Telling a family member that they “could never understand” something you're talking about can be “grating,” Post tells Parade, adding that it sends the message to whoever you're talking to that you think they are beneath you.

“I'm so sorry—you have to talk to me and explain everything,” she says, playing the part of the insulted family member.

Granted, in certain contexts, the phrase “you could never understand” can be incredibly useful. However, if you find yourself wanting to say this to a family member in a condescending way, you should probably try to come up with literally anything else.

3. “Look out, I might take her away from you”

“Anything in a sexual nature towards family members is pretty gross,” Post says. This includes something you might intend as a compliment—like, for example, threatening to steal your relative from their plus one.

4. “You grew out of your awkward stage”

Backhanded compliments like this might seem like a harmless return to childhood dynamics, but they can also be a way people assert dominance in a social situation, which can then make others feel uncomfortable.

“Anything that references something that might have been a negative for you and is congratulating you on overcoming it is pretty nasty and unappealing,” Post notes.

5. “I know we shouldn't talk about politics, but...”

If at any point you find yourself wanting to use the phrase “I know we shouldn't talk about X, but,” it's probably a good sign that you shouldn't initiate this conversation. And if what you wanted to talk about is politics, then that's an even bigger red flag.

“At family gatherings, you're trying to have a good time. You're trying to come together over common things, not be divided over differences,” Post explains. “It's not the right time and place to go trying to have the political conversation with your antagonistic uncle from the other side of the aisle, you know what I mean?”

Related: Psychologist Says if You Go Quiet When You’re Upset, You Likely Have These 7 Traits

6. “Well, when I...”

“Constantly bringing it back to you,” says Post, is an easy way to make you the most unlikeable person at the function.

“When your response to other people's news and stories is only about your own version of those things, that'll make you instantly unlikable,” she explains.

It's okay to share your experiences and relate to what's being said, but she warns that you want to do it in a way that's “balanced and acknowledges what someone else has just said.”

7. “Oh, really?”

Responding to a family member's updates with an “Oh, really?” can immediately sour the vibe. According to Post, the phrase “gives off skepticism,” which can come off as condescending. It also “creates a stop in the conversation” that can be tough to recover from.

8. “I know you wouldn't be interested, but I...”

In the same vein, telling people that they wouldn't be interested in whatever it is you're talking about can also stop a conversation before it even starts.

“It immediately distances the person from you,” Post explains.

9. “Calm down”

This one is pretty self-explanatory, Post says: “Nobody likes to be told to calm down.”

Not only does it discount your feelings, but it can also feel infantilizing.

“Any close family member telling you how to behave once you're an adult is, I think, very triggering for a lot of people,” she shares.

Related: People Who Were Told They Were 'Too Sensitive' as Children Usually Develop These 14 Traits as Adults, Psychologists Say

10. “Are you sure you want to eat that?”

This should really go without saying, but any comments on how or what a person is eating at a family gathering should be kept to yourself.

“Whether you're eating a lot or a little, or certain types of food in general,” Post states, “you want to leave [your commentary out of it.]”

Related: 4 Food-Related Phrases a Child Psychologist Is Begging Parents and Grandparents To Stop Saying

11. “Why aren't you drinking?”

“It is really important not to comment on whether someone is drinking or not drinking,” Post states, especially if your instinct is to use someone's drinking habits as an indicator of major life events, like sobriety or pregnancy.

“It's more common than it ever used to be to see people with non-alcoholic beverages,” she shares. “You don't have to assume that they are in recovery or pregnant or have a problem with alcohol.”

How To Avoid These Phrases Altogether—at Family Gatherings and Beyond

A lot of these phrases can be avoided by simply taking a beat before speaking, but if that's not your style, Post has another suggestion: “Keep it simple.”

For example, “Say, ‘You look great,’ not, ‘You look great for your age,'" she suggests. Or, if you're really worried about letting something slip, you can take looks out of it entirely.

“Even better? ‘It is so great to see you.’ Because that's now just about being in your presence and how great it is to be in your presence right now, it has nothing to do with how you look or what's going on in your life,” Post shares.

This isn't to say that comments about people's looks are totally off limits, Post says, adding that some people love being told how great they look (in a non-creepy way, of course). The trick is not to elaborate.

“Don't add some kind of comparison to it or a reason for it. Just allow it to stand on its own,” she stresses. “Keep it simple.”

Related: Psychologist Says if You Hate Silence in Conversations, You Likely Have These 7 Traits

How to Smoothly Navigate Family Gatherings

Unfortunately, just because you're working hard to be on your best behavior at a family gathering doesn't mean everyone else will be. If you ever find yourself on the receiving end of these phrases, Post suggests taking the high road.

“The more you can cut through BS with honest, sincere, thoughtful responses, the less of a sting it has on you,” she explains. It may not be as satisfying as rolling your eyes or calling them out, but, Post says, “You can feel good that you don't treat people that way. You don't fall into the same trap.”

Another tip, she says, is to avoid any kind of confrontation. Sure, a family gathering might be a convenient opportunity for you to confront the uncle you've always hated, but she shares that things like that are best settled in private.

“There are some instances where pulling someone aside and just simply apologizing for your own behavior can really go quite a long way, but to hash something out or to try to come to a consensus on something—no, absolutely not,” Post states. “This is where we put that aside. We focus on ourselves as a family, and we go deal with the problem when it's not going to impact everyone else's good time.”

Up Next:

Related: Psychologist Says if You Instantly Apologize ‘For the Mess’ When Guests Arrive, You Likely Have These 7 Traits

Source:

• Lizzie Post is the great-great-granddaughter of renowned etiquette expert Emily Post. She is co-president of the Emily Post Institute, co-host of the "Awesome Etiquette"podcast, and co-author of Emily Post’s Etiquette—The Centennial Edition

If you’ve ever survived the chaotic crawl through LAX before a long-haul flight, you know that finding a quiet corner to decompress is usually a pipe dream. Delta Air Lines is trying to fix that for its highest-paying flyers by officially opening the first phase of its brand-new Delta One Lounge in Terminal 2.

If you are tracking Delta's massive premium overhaul, this new addition shouldn't be confused with the sprawling flagship lounge they already have running next door in Terminal 3.

Instead, this Terminal 2 outpost is a highly intimate, boutique hideaway carved out of the mezzanine level right above Gate 23A—a cozy, 4,000-square-foot bolthole designed for only 75 guests at a time. It's essentially taking over the space old-school frequent flyers will remember as the former Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, giving travelers on this side of the airport a dedicated, upscale sanctuary without needing to hike across terminals.

And you can forget the standard buffet lines. There are no stationary warming trays of rubbery eggs or corporate cheese cubes. Instead, the focus is entirely culinary, offering full table service right to your seat.

Related: The 8 Best Airport Lounges for 2026, According to The Points Guy

Delta

The rotating menu—which mirrors the high-end offerings in Terminal 3—features scratch-made plates like lamb bolognese with house-made lumache pasta, hamachi crudo flown in daily from Japan, and a classic French onion soup. If you’re passing through during the breakfast rush, you can order up everything from acai bowls and huevos rancheros to fresh pastries paired with small-batch, copper-pot jams delivered fresh every morning from East Hollywood’s beloved culinary hotspot, Sqirl.

The space itself is flooded with natural light, thanks to massive windows framing clear views of the airfield, and decorated with custom artwork from seven different Los Angeles-based creators.

Related: Delta Is Making Major Changes to Its Sky Clubs in 2026

For travelers looking to stay productive or freshen up before a transcontinental trek, the lounge is packed with clever, modern utility: fast Wi-Fi, wireless chargers, portable monitors you can borrow for your laptop, and four private cabana-style bathrooms.

If you want to grab a shower, they've set up a pretty clever workaround—you scan a QR code to jump on a waitlist, and a receptionist will guide you just across the hall into three dedicated shower suites hidden inside the future Sky Club construction zone.

Speaking of the future, this opening is actually part of a highly calculated, multi-year puzzle leading up to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Because Delta built and opened this boutique space in just five months to quickly scale up lounge capacity, this current setup is strictly "Phase 1."

In the second half of 2027, an adjacent, massive 11,000-square-foot standard Delta Sky Club will open next door. The second this new Sky Club welcomes flyers, this intimate Delta One Lounge will temporarily close its doors for a massive, top-to-bottom architectural renovation, ultimately reopening in 2028 a vastly expanded, unified flagship space.

Delta

By the time the final ribbon is cut, Delta’s total lounge footprint at LAX will span 60,000 square feet across four connected premium spaces.

Premium passengers can take advantage of the private, upscale Delta One curbside drop-off and dedicated security lane over at Terminal 3, and then simply hop into a private Delta golf cart shuttle to be driven directly airside straight to the Terminal 2 lounge entrance.

Keep in mind that access rules here are strictly enforced to preserve the quiet atmosphere. You can't buy your way in with a credit card or a standard lounge membership; entry is strictly reserved for travelers flying on a same-day transcontinental or international Delta One ticket, invite-only Delta 360° members, or top-tier first and business class passengers flying on select global partner airlines like Air France, KLM, and Virgin Atlantic.

The lounge runs daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., making it a massive logistical relief for anyone looking to eat a world-class meal and unwind in complete peace before takeoff.

Related: These Additional Delta Flights Will Bring Travelers to the Path of Totality for Unparalleled Views of a Rare Solar Eclipse