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BOOK REVIEW: The Pumpkin Spice Cafe - Laurie Gilmore

★★★★☆ - 4 stars

“I've loved you since I saw how many tiny pumpkins you could carry in your arms.”

Laurie Gilmore's autumnal romance, The Pumpkin Spice Cafe, emanates a cosy feel and Gilmore Girls allure. Combining a light mystery with a small-town romance, Gilmore creates an easy, entertaining and enchanting read. The novel focuses on the romantic developments between Jeanie, a young woman fleeing the memory of her boss's death, and Logan, a gold-hearted farmer with a gruff exterior. It combines the grumpy x sunshine trope with the new-in-town trope, to create a Lorelai and Luke inspired romance. Alongside the endearing relationship between Jeanie and Logan, the Pumpkin Spice Cafe centres around the wonderfully autumnal small town of Dream Harbour. The novel contains the typical micro-tropes of a small town including nosy neighbours, a close-knit community and seasonal fairs and events, allowing for an immersive yet familiar-feeling experience. Importantly, the story also revolves around the found family trope through those whom Jeanie forms relationships with as she discovers who she truly is. The mystery of who is attempting to scare Jeanie out of town truly inspires the reader to continue turning the pages, adding an interesting layer to the novel, whilst simultaneously adding to the main romance plot. Ultimately, all elements of The Pumpkin Spice Cafe come together to form a comforting and warm-hearted tale of love, friendship and self-discovery.

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Vivienne Westwood 2022 bridal, Grace gown

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LGBTQ+ Retellings

Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa

The Princess Deception by Nell Stark

The Song Of Achilles by Madeline Miller

The Sleeper and The Spindle by Neil Gaiman

Self Made Boys by Anna-Marie McLemore

Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

The Princess and The Fangirl by Ashley Poston

Northranger by Rey Terciero

Epically Earnest by Molly Horan

Twelfth Grade Night by Molly Horton Booth and Stephanie Kate Strohm

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

Peter Darling by Austin Chant

Mismatched by Anne Camlin

Girls Made Of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust

Escaping Mr. Rochester by L.L. McKinney

The Seafarer's Kiss by Julia Ember

Gwen and Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher

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TRACK REVIEW: Holidays - Conan Gray

"But I see it in your face that years have passed, but you laugh exactly the same when I see you for the holidays."

Conan Gray's seasonal track, The Holidays, combines indie and folk elements to create a heartfelt and poignant love letter to friendships past. It opens and closes with the sound of a film reel—memories captured within childhood, forming the idea that we are the main characters in our individual films. Slow piano and guitar meet Gray's melancholic vocals creating the vibe of a coming-of-age film, with whistles and bells forming a festive feel. As a whole, the single comments on the commonality of memories resurfacing during the festive season perfectly encapsulates the grief a person feels for their childhood and the fear of change that accompanies growing older. Gray beautifully describes childhood naivety and the pain of a distanced friendship in his ever-enchanting lyrics, detailing how we remember the tiny details about a past friend which remain the same despite how time physically ages you. Overall, though not the typically upbeat seasonal track, Gray creates a heartwarming tale of friendship and childhood nostalgia which many can relate to.

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15 Books About Zombies

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith

World War Z by Max Brooks

I Am Legend by Richard Matheson

The Last by Hanna Jameson

The Stand by Stephen King

Generation Dead by Daniel Waters

Writing On The Wall by Tracey Ward

Zombie Blondes by Brian James

Apocalypse of the Dead by Joe McKinney

Cell by Stephen King

Hollowland by Amanda Hocking

World Departed by Sarah Lyons Fleming

Zombie Island by Samantha Hoffman

Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter

This Is Not A Test by Courtney Summers

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20 Films About Witchcraft

The Craft

Hocus Pocus

Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone

The Witches of Eastwick

Stardust

The Crucible

Halloweentown

The Blair Witch Project

Addams Family Values

Bell, Book, and Candle

Kiki's Delivery Service

The Witches

The Tragedy of Macbeth

The Conjuring

Practical Magic

Bedknobs and Broomsticks

The Love Witch

Teen Witch

The Wizard Of Oz

The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

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The It Girl Of Skins: Effy Stonem's Style

Effy Stonem is the poster girl for Skins. She's the it girl of the entire show, admired both in the world of the characters and in real life. Her eclectic style encompasses the mysterious vibe of the show and mirrors her personality simultaneously. It shows her sense of rebellion, her allure and her intelligence all at once, depicting the many elements that make up her character.

Through the use of layers, the complexities of Effy's character are showcased to the audience. Often, Effy wears tank tops, crop tops and off the shoulder jumpers paired with either mini skirts or cargo pants. She most commonly wears mini dresses with fishnets or patterned tights, highlighting the grunge aesthetic of the show. She also wears a lot of ripped clothing, including jumpers and jeans, and often wears a leather jacket which furthers the appearance of the overall aesthetic.

Her style is composed of a predominately dark colour palette, with hues of blue and black making the most common occurrence in her outfits. Using plaid and striped patterns, Effy creates unique but undeniably grunge outfits. Alongside these two patterns which frequently make appearance in her ensembles, she also wears checks (typically in the form of a checkered shirt) and has graphic designs on t-shirts and mini dresses.

She accessorizes her outfits creating an air of glamour to her style whilst still maintaining her rebellious allure and grunge vibe. She layers her jewellery, mixing pearl and chain necklaces together, and adorns her arms with lots of bracelets. In terms of footwear, she wears boots most commonly, once again highlighting the guarded and rebellious element of her personality.

Mystifying. Captivating. The embodiment of defiance and insubordination. Effy Stonem is a character that will undoubtedly withstand the test of time, and her role as a style icon will also.

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Witchy Books To Read This Autumn

The House Witch by Delemhach

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

A History Of Magic and Witchcraft by Frances Timbers

The Lighthouse Witches by C.J. Cooke

Which Witch? by Eva Ibbotson

Accidental Magic by Iris Beaglehole

Snapdragon by Kat Leyh

A Witch's Guide To Magical Inkeeping by Sanga Mandanna

Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett

The Witches by Roald Dahl

Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Kiki's Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono

Six Women Of Salem by Marilynne K. Roach

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

The Crucible by Arthur Miller

Witchfinders by Malcolm Gaskill

Macbeth by William Shakespeare

Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields

The Cupcake Witch by Melante Karsak

Every Witch Way by Madison Martin

Payback's A Witch by Lana Harper

Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett

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Films Referenced In Better Than The Movies: A Watchlist

Notting Hill

Bridget Jones' Diary

Sweet Home Alabama

Pretty In Pink

When Harry Met Sally

To All The Boys I've Loved Before

Kate & Leopold

You've Got Mail

The Ugly Truth

10 Things I Hate About You

Pretty Woman

Superbad

Back To The Future

Pillow Talk

She's All That

500 Days Of Summer

Gone With The Wind

Titanic

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

Remember The Titans

Gone Girl

The Hangover

American Pie

Miss Congeniality

The Wedding Date

Two Weeks Notice

27 Dresses

American Psycho

The Wedding Date

Two Weeks Notice

Love Actually

Pride and Prejudice

The Sandlot

How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days

The Notebook

My Best Friend's Wedding

Made Of Honour

Long Shot

He's Just Not That Into You

Four Weddings And A Funeral

Say Anything

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Skins: An Inspired Reading Recommendations List

Girl In Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow

Go Ask Alice by Anonymous

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

How It Feels To Float by Helena Fox

Doing It by Melvin Burgess

The Perks Of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

Lucy In The Sky by Anonymous

What I Lost by Alexandra Ballard

Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen

Junk by Melvin Burgess

Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger

Tales Of The City by Armistead Maupin

Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson

Alone With You In Ether by Olivie Blake

Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart

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Pink-Mania: The Style Of Elle Woods

Elle Woods: a feminist icon, a symbol of how women can do anything and proof that a breakup doesn't have to be the end of the world. She starts a career as a lawyer and puts her ex-boyfriend in her place, and she does it all in style. Her predominantly pink style sends a message of femininity, showcasing how women who dress in a stereotypically girly way can still be powerful.

Pink halter dresses, blue sparkly mini skirts and fur coats showed the fashionable flair and chic side of Elle's fashion. They highlight the fun side of her personality. Contrastingly, blazers and collared shirts and dresses are a physical depiction of her intelligence and drive - how she is both smart and disciplined enough to get into Harvard Law. Additionally, Elle's pink tank tops, capris and plaid pyjamas show how simple fashion can be just as meaningful. Warner broke up with her because she was too blonde - too plain, as stereotypes may say - but sometimes simplicity can be the thing that creates the perfect outfit.

Colours, patterns and textures define fashion, especially in Elle Woods' lookbook. She wears a mostly pink colour scheme, with the occasional blue, green, black and white. Elle mostly wears bright and solid colours in her outfits, however stripes and leopard print sometimes appear. Her use of pattern and colour in her outfits creates an eclectic mix of pieces, highlighting how she is a multifaceted person and is not the "dumb blonde" stereotype that many perceive her to be.

In terms of accessories, Elle is shown wearing a silver heart or singular pearl necklace and diamond stud earrings in almost every scene, using classic but elegant jewellery to complete her outfits. She is also often shown wearing hot pink sunglasses - practical and fashionable simultaneously, which summarises her character overall.

Elle Woods showcases how women can be intelligent and fashionable at the same time, and that first impressions do not always count. Her wit, wonder and stylish nature inspired a generation and will undoubtedly continue to inspire young women for years to come.

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16 Murder Mystery Book Recommendations

A Good Girl's Guide To Murder by Holly Jackson

Thirteen by Steve Cavanagh

The Puppet Show by M.W. Craven

One Of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

The Housemaid's Secret by Freida McFadden

Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens

Suddenly A Murder by Lauren Muñoz

Anything by Agatha Christie

The Trial by Robert Rinder

Kill For Me, Kill For You by Steve Cavanagh

The Pale Blue Eye by Louis Bayard

The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly

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If We Were Villains: A Playlist

Achilles Come Down by Gangs Of Youth

Drama Club by Melanie Martinez

champagne problems by Taylor Swift

Young and Beautiful by Lana Del Rey

no body, no crime by Taylor Swift

A Good Song Never Dies by Saint Motel

Problems by Mother Mother

As The World Caves In by Matt Maltese

die first by Nessa Barrett

favorite crime by Olivia Rodrigo

Rolling In The Deep by Adele

If I Killed Someone For You by Alec Benjamin

Iris by The Goo Goo Dolls

Two Birds by Regina Spektor

the 1 by Taylor Swift

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Dark Academia Fashion: A Guide

Imagine a Victorian woman, walking down the street in her blouse and petticoat, basking in the beauty of nature. Picture a university professor in a button-down shirt and tweed jacket, pondering life, the universe and everything within it. Consider the appearance of a starving artist, pouring their soul into their creations and staring wistfully into the distance. Dark academia is the aesthetic that encompasses all of these people. It combines the soulful desire to learn with a romanticisation for autumn and winter.

Though education is at the heart of dark academia, as a shared desire amongst all followers of it, fashion plays an important part in the romanticisation of the aesthetic. Ideas about dark academia's fashion typically stem from clothes referenced in what is often deemed The Holy Trinity of Dark Academia: The Secret History, Dead Poets Society and Kill Your Darlings. It also means dressing as though you have reversed time and now live in your favourite era of history, be it Victorian England or the times of the Renaissance.

The colour palette of the aesthetic is usually rich, dark colours - shades of brown, and beige and the darker hues of reds, greens and blues. These colours often appear as solid, colour-blocked elements of an outfit, though patterns such as tartan, plaid and argyle are also depicted frequently within a dark academic's lookbook.

In its time-twisting nature, the fashion of the dark academic aesthetic often allows its wearers to appear as an old professor or detective would. Blouses and button-down shirts are frequently paired with long, dark trousers, plaid miniskirts or flowing maxi skirts, creating a formal and classy impression. Waistcoats, blazers and tweed jackets are often worn, which furthers the image of elegance and beauty associated with the aesthetic. Some wear trench coats, creating the mysterious allure of an old-timey detective. Others wear pinafores and sweater vests, as though trapped in time, still wearing components of a child's school uniform, but with a much more sophisticated feel.

Outfits are often accessorised in a way that would suit an academic, allowing for practicality to meet fashionable flair. Shoe choices typically follow the pattern of either Mary Janes, Oxfords, loafers or Dr Martens, all of which amplify the class of the outfit. In addition, jewellery such as pearl earrings and necklaces are worn, as though heirlooms of an old-money family, or lockets containing pictures of loved ones. Furthermore, briefcases and leather-strapped watches add another layer of usefulness to the outfit, allowing the wearer to carry all items needed for their classes and to be well aware of the time when under the constraints of a deadline.

As we head towards the heart of autumn, dark academia shall see its typical surge in popularity, and in all its stylish beauty and timeless wonder nobody should complain.

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18 Books About Ghosts

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

Pet Sematary by Stephen King

The Spirit Bares It's Teeth by Andrew Joseph White

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Beloved by Toni Morrison

The Third Hotel by Laura Van Den Berg

The Sad Ghost Club by Lize Meddings

The Haunting Of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Experimental Film by Gemma Files

The Shining by Stephen King

Spirited Away, Vol. 1 by Hayao Miyazaki

The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill

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TRACK REVIEW: Taste - Sabrina Carpenter

★★★★☆  - 4 stars

"You'll just have to taste me when he's kissing you."

In Sabrina Carpenter's Taste, she combines pop, rock and indie elements with her usual witty lyricism to form a powerful pop masterpiece.

Throughout the song's clever yet playful lyrics, she discusses the profound impact she left on her ex-boyfriend, addressing a love triangle and the complex nature of relationships overall. She comments on how even though they've broken up she made him a better person, using the metaphor of taste to symbolise how elements of her impact on him will remain and be noticeable despite her moving on. The drumbeat accompanying Carpenter's vocals creates a relaxed atmosphere, alongside the occasional "la la la's" which cleverly show Sabrina's laidback take on the situation.

With Sabrina's angelic vocals and the track's creative lyrics, Taste is certainly going to be a hit.