From House of the Dragon to Sally Rooney's Intermezzo, here's what we've been reading and watching in June.
Karen Leong
Digital Writer
Watch… On nights where Paris has been particularly heavy on my mind, I need something with a bit of a bite. There’s nothing that can heal the broken mind like a rewatch of Gillian Flynn’s Sharp Objects. I also caught All We Imagine As Light at the Sydney Film Festival, which snagged the Grand Prix Winner at Cannes 2024. Kapadia’s dreamy, moving portrait of Mumbai is one that is immaterially manifest in the women who lead the film.
Read… I couldn’t put down Bitin Back by Vivien Cleven. I’m also working my way through A Year of Magical Thinking by one Joan Didion -- which is as heartbreaking and pared back in prose as I’ve ever read.
Listen… Once The Girl, so confusing version with Lorde dropped, my Spotify has known no reprieve.
Cassandra Dimitroff
Production Editor
Watch… I’ve been watching Sex and the City for the first time this month and it’s quickly become a comfort show (especially on all of these rainy winter nights).
Read… I’ve been reading a few things this month – main reading meals including Taffy Brodesser-Akner’s Long Island Compromise and an advance copy of Sally Rooney’s Intermezzo. Snack-sized reads I’ve loved include W Magazine’s ‘The ‘It’ Girl Is Dead. Long Live the People’s Princess’, RUSSH Literary Showcase winner Tori Watts’ Substack article ‘I don't want casual sex. (I want to perfect my omelette).’ And Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s ‘Can Snails feel love?’ All were amazing morsels. I highly recommend.
Listen… It’s been a BRAT winter for me this month, with no signs of slowing tbh.
Olivia Repaci
Creative Studio and Campaign Manager
Watch … I ventured into the world of movies I’ve never seen before (rare) and watched Anyone But You and The Killing Of A Sacred Deer. On opposite ends of the spectrum genre and vibe wise, but both enjoyable watches. Going into watching Anyone But You I had the absolute lowest expectations, but I was pleasantly surprised that it was a pretty solid rom com, that was silly and surface level but still fun. Not mad at all. Moving onto the Killing Of A Sacred Deer, I was keen to see another Yorgos Lanthimos film after loving Poor Things. So interesting to see his directorial style applied to a more real context, but still loved the element of supernatural in this.
Read … One day I will have time to read a new book! Hoping that day is soon.
Listen … Someone stop me I’m obsessed with Blood Orange again. Best To You and Uncle ACE must be played every time I listen to music, or I feel incomplete.
Megan Nolan
Marketing Manager
Watch… House of the Dragon. I tried going straight into season two after the very long break between seasons and it was almost impossible to figure out what was going on so I spent some time going back and rewatching season one. Would highly recommend, it hits just as hard the second time around (or even harder because you can actually binge watch it now?).
Read… I’m still trying to get through Trent Dalton’s Lola in the Mirror. I’ve been told by multiple friends that it’s worth the slog it always takes me to get through the first half of a book, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t going slowly. In the meantime I cheated and listened to the audiobook of Julia Quinn’s When He Was Wicked. It’s Francesca’s book from the Bridgerton series (the next part from where the Netflix series has left us) and I had already read this before. The writing leaves a little to be desired for me, but it’s an easy one if you want to tune out from the world for a while.
Listen… I’ve finally gotten into HIT ME HARD AND SOFT (Billie Eilish’s new album). As a Billie fan it took me a while to come around to it, but my Instagram feed constantly feeding me Billie clips definitely helped (she’s a goddess). Now listening to it on repeat and counting down the days until she arrives down under.
Samantha Corry
Assistant to Editor In Chief
Watch… I also am up to date, waiting every Monday for the new episode of House of Dragon to drop. And while I wait for each episode to drop I’m also watching Presumed Innocent- and boy I have not been invested in a crime/mystery/drama show like this in a while. Also reminds me that Jake Gyllenhaal is one of the greatest actors (sorry, not sorry Swifties). And because two shows aren’t enough on my roster, I am going grizzly for The Bear to drop on the 27th.
Read… Unfortunately, I have developed a bad habit of starting books and not finishing them… I never got through A Little Life, but I will one day! And until then, I will finish Cleopatra and Frankenstein. I really love Coco Mellor’s style of writing, and I can’t wait to read her latest book too. But I’m also itching to read Sally Rooney’s latest book Intermezzo.
Listen… I’ve been listening to Suki Waterhouse’s latest song, and thus further listening to all her songs. Something so ethereal and nostalgic in her voice, I love it. Also some Gracie Abrams.
Phoebe Holden
Designer
Watch… I watched The Shawshank Redemption for the first time ever this month - loved it. I’m always rewatching various episodes of GIRLS as it’s my favourite show, those have been on gentle rotation getting me excited to see Lena Dunham back on screen in Julia von Heinz's new film Treasure, this comes out in July and looks sad, sweet and everything in between.
Read… Like Sam, I am a fan of Coco Mellor’s work, give me a twenty-something female protagonist with even a hint of quarter-life crisis and I’m on board. I’d like to read her new book Blue Sisters and am currently chipping through Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum.
Listen… Cheree by Suicide has been my theme song this month alongside After the Laughter Comes Tears-Tearz by Wu-Tang Clan and MODERN JAM by Travis Scott. Of course, Sabrina Carpenter has made an appearance in the queue and after 78 or so plays, I’ve decided I’m a fan.
Mia Steiber
Digital Strategy Director & Associate Publisher
Watch... In preparation for the newest season of House of the Dragon, I did a rewatch of the first season. It was definitely as good as I remember. I also obviously watched the second part of Bridgerton season 3, it was great. As for films, I decided to pick up Dream Scenario which is a really interesting allegory for cancel culture. An excellent watch. Notably, I have reserved some time this weekend to binge The Bear season 3.
Read... I didn't read any published books this month, I unashamedly spent most of my evenings reading some fanfiction favourites. I'm part of a subreddit that shares recommendations and I ticked a lot of the best rated ones of my list. But Sally Rooney's Intermezzo is also on my list. I've got some annual leave coming up, so I will be reading it then.
Listen... Like every other person, I've been listening to Chappell Roan on repeat. And of course, Charli XCX.
