let's go to mckee university 💜
the white lotus, mckee hockey jerseys, and more!
but first… check in to the white lotus 🪷
(teensy tiny spoilers for TWL ahead fyi!)
I don’t know about you, but I wish I was at the White Lotus right now (before any of the drama goes down, of course). Something about this season has me in a chokehold—maybe it’s purely the aesthetics, or maybe it’s the slow unraveling of each group’s storylines. Maybe it’s Aimee Lou Woods’ cheerful, sly sarcasm (“Like a little boy’s dream!”) or Jason Isaacs’ convincingly terrifying bouts of drug induced hallucinations, or how the trio of women on their “victory tour” are cracking into pieces like the protagonists of a delicious Liane Moriarty novel. (For those who don’t know, she’s the genius behind Big Little Lies. My favorite of hers is Truly Madly Guilty.)
I love unexpected obsessions. I liked the show’s first two seasons, and but this one is richer and deeper and more foreboding, and it has drawn me in on all levels: watching episodes multiple times, trawling Reddit for theories about the finale, listening to the companion podcast, reading every cast interview I can get my hands on. I hope someone is writing the meta novel about a TWL-esque show being filmed where there’s an actual murder on set, not just a fake one. (If I wrote it, it would undoubtably turn into a weird romance novel that’s light on murder and heavy on sex, so it’s best I stay away.) If that’s been announced already and I missed it, please send it my way—I can’t be the only author thinking in that direction!
I do think there are definite weaknesses this season—pieces of backstory I’m desperate for, and interactions that feel just a tad forced or too slowly drawn out—but I’m ready for the finale on Sunday. Well, mostly ready. I have several faves I would be very sad to see killed off. Belinda and Pornchai better be safe. If I’m writing another newsletter next week and it’s full of tears, you’ll know that Rick and Chelsea didn’t get their HEA. (I know they’re sort of toxic, but I also believe they’re actually soulmates, okay?! Leave me alone, Redditors.)
If anyone wants to hear my thoughts on the subversion of the age gap trope as it applies to TWL, I’m ready to launch into it. It’s there, simmering. And it’s providing some inspiration…
Anyway, I love media that has no right answer, and where each character’s point of view is so sharply drawn it’s hard not to empathize with them, even if you don’t like them, and Mike White is great at that kind of writing. It’s filling my well to the brim, which is a delightful feeling. If you have any theories on the finale, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE I want to hear them!!
surprise: mckee hockey jerseys are here!
Another place I’ve always wished I could go is McKee University, naturally. I think this is common with authors: we create spaces we wish we could exist in, and we breathe enough life into the outline that hopefully you, the reader, will also say yeah, I wish I could spend the day watching Cooper play hockey or get a drink from The Purple Kettle made by Mia. Well… I can’t get you to McKee, but one of the coolest merch opportunities *ever* opened up a while ago, and I’m super excited to share that Novel Grounds has officially licensed McKee Royals hockey jerseys available for both Cooper and Nik!
Isn’t it amazing???!!! I love this design so much. Check out the backs:
(It’s too bad that the book boyfriend doesn’t come with the jersey.)
These beauties are LIVE on the Novel Grounds site! Check ‘em out below and purchase to show your McKee U pride!
and a few more updates:
Avon is releasing a mass market edition of Stealing Home on April 29th! It’s so cute in person, y’all <3 This size is totally stadium-approved and ready to accompany you this baseball season!
I believe the rest of the series will follow later this year, but I’m not sure of all the details right now. If you spot it at your local retailer once it’s out, share it with me! I love book sightings.
I unfortunately will not be attending Apollycon this year - I am so sorry! It no longer worked with my schedule. I will, however, still be at Beachside Book Fest in May and Romantically Yours in August! I hope everyone going has a fantastic time.
On the reading front, March was a slow month; I only read four books total (but they were all very good, including a lovely sports romance coming out later this year that I had the privilege of blurbing!)… but I have really settled into Pilates, and it sounds a little weird to say it’s my hobby, but yeah, it’s totally becoming my hobby. If only my younger self could see me now.
Happy April to all of you and have a happy reading month!