I chatted with the cast of Netflix's Ripley

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This upcoming weekend, I’m headed to the desert for Coachella festivities 🏜️ For a recap of last year, see below.

the one where she goes to Coachella

April 23, 2023

Just like last year, I won’t actually be attending Coachella — the music festival — but instead I’ll be spending my weekend bopping around different brand activations and parties. I’ve just about got my outfits selected (I’ll be linking everything on my LTK) and the itinerary for the weekend is very close to locked in.

Let me know if you’ll be there, too!

This past week, I had the honor of chatting all things book-to-screen with one of the internet’s boyfriends, Andrew Scott, (along with the rest of his cast mates) at the premiere of Netflix’s new series, Ripley.

Based on The Talented Mr. Ripley (the book by Patricia Highsmith, not the 1999 film by the same name, which is of course, also based on the book), Netflix’s Ripley — which is now streaming — stars Andrew Scott as the sociopathic Tom Ripley and Dakota Fanning as Marge, the woman who sees right through him.

I read the book in advance of getting to interview the cast for BookSparks, and so it was fresh in my mind as I watched the first three episodes at last Wednesday’s premiere. Director and screenwriter, Steven Zallian’s, take is stunning. Shot in black and white, Zallian explained to me on the carpet that when he read Highsmith’s Ripley many years ago, he was struck by how cinematic her descriptions were. As he brings the story to the screen, he takes his time bringing those tension-filled moments to life.

And Andrew Scott, what can I say? I only had a minute with him (by the time he got to my part of the carpet, his handlers were rushing him inside) but what a lovely minute it was. I was especially tickled that he found a way to work in how much he loves Normal People, both the book and show, which stars his buddy Paul Mescal (another of internet’s boyfriends.)

Why watch something new when I can just rewatch MadMen? My boyfriend has never seen it, so we are fixing that. Nine episodes into season one, I’m struck once again by just how brilliant this show is. The acting, the writing, the design…all a masterpiece of television. Each episode is so full, that even though this is my third time watching season one, I’m catching new things I didn’t notice before.

I will say though this show really needs to be more easily accessible. The AMC+ app is not cutting it.

This is a PSA. Netflix has added The Hunger Games series back to their platform. You’re welcome.

I’m continuing to love this gorgeous chaos, which just gets better with each episode.

ICYMI, we’ve announced our April Reading Lately Book — you can learn more about this month’s pick and get your copy below. Don’t forget you can also find us on Instagram.

Reading Lately Book Club: April Pick

Yesterday, I finished the audiobook for Ready or Not by Cara Bastone. A surprise pregnancy leads to even more life-changing revelations in this heartfelt, slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romance of found family and unexpected love.

Trust me when I say that no one is more surprised than I am that I’m loving a book with the main trope being unexpected pregnancy THIS much. But I enjoyed it immensely. Bastone’s story is absolutely charming. Thank you to PRH Audio for my copy.

At 8pm last night, I had this newsletter scheduled to hit your inboxes today. I had written about my April reading slump and how I was embarrassed because this was a slow month for me. And then I heard a package drop outside my front door. Inside it, The Age of Magical Overthinking. I have a stack of books beside my bed that I plan to read — hell, I WANT to read them — but for some reason, I felt compelled to start reading this new book immediately upon it’s arrival. Fifty pages in and I think it’s brilliant. In fact, I stopped reading for the night to come back here and write this so you will read it, too.

A series of essays that combines cultural criticism and personal narrative, exploring our cognitive biases and the power, disadvantages, and highlights of magical thinking. The first chapter, which is about the halo effect, is titled “Are You My Mother, Taylor Swift.” So of course I texted several friends immediately that I need them to read this, too. It’s just that kind of book. It’s out today. Thank you Atria for my copy.

Lynna Burgamy

Update: 2024-12-03

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