What We're Reading, Listening to, and Watching This Week (10/18/2026)
Linda-Marie Barrett / Executive Director:
Reading: Finishing Last First Kiss by Julian Winters, a Southern Book Prize Fiction finalist. It’s a second-chance queer romance that deals with tough issues around sexual identity, family dynamics, and acceptance. Fun and sexy and set in Atlanta!
Listening: Tree folk are trimming trees and hedges around the house in an effort to put an end to the squirrel highway that is my roof. Loud but hopefully ultimately satisfying (to me, not to the squirrels).
Watching: Finishing up the annual Lord of the Rings extended versions viewing. Taking occasional breaks to watch The Great British Baking Show, The Canal Boat Diaries, and The Brokenwood Mysteries.
Candice Huber / Membership:
Reading: I finished The Last Contract of Isako by Fonda Lee, and it was great! Lee is one of my favorite authors. I'm also excited to have started Dead Beat by Leigh Bardugo, the VERY HIGHLY anticipated last book in the Alex Stern series! I can't wait to see how it all shakes out.
Listening: I'm slowly making my way through Twig's Traveling Tomes on my short drives around the city. It's the perfect listen for the Fall!
Watching: The Traitors has started back up, and I'm super excited for this season with non-celebrities!
Nicki Leone / Communications:
Reading: The Fantasy and Necessity of Solidarity by Sarah Schulman. Exhibit G by Fady Joudah.
Listening: Plainwater by Anne Carson. Gaudy Night by Dorothy L. Sayers.
Watching: The leaves on the big sugar maple in the front yard go from green to fiery gold..
SP Rankin / Website Administrator:
Reading: The King of a Rainy Country by Brigid Brophy.Listening: New music from Lake Street Dive.Watching: Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma interspersed with Hallmark Christmas movies. Which is campier and scarier? I'm still deciding.
Andrea Richardson / Sales:
Reading: Meryl Wilsner's upcoming spicy romance, Flour Girl. They are an auto-read author for me and this one also revisits a couple from a previous book that I loved.
Listening: Like all the other Basic Bs, I am listening to the four new songs that Taylor Swift just dropped (though I don't really care for "Cleveland")
Watching: The new season of Ted Lasso, and it's so heartwarming and lovely. Everyone watches women's sports!