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Books, books, and more books! And the topics are far-ranging – flaneuring, reducing your mental load, where to start to find your life’s work, cozy mysteries, stepping inside culinary institutes, and more. Quite a few returning French mystery series and one French series that takes us back to school, which looks like quite a bit of fun and thought-provoking as well. Clothes to cozy up in, as well as summer linen shirts at an amazing price, and . . . oh! I have a music video for you that I think you’re going to love. Still, there is more!
Books
—Drained: Reduce Your Mental Load to Do Less and Be More by Leah Ruppanner PhD
At the heart of researcher and sociologist Dr. Leah Ruppanner’s new book Drained “is the Mental Load Audit, a powerful, practical tool to help readers assess where they are spending their time and attention, and how they can take steps to recalibrate their energy effectively.”
As her subtitle includes the term, the “mental load has become more familiar in recent years, but the popular understanding of the concept often reduces it down to managing a list of household chores and logistics. Ruppanner reveals that for women, mental load actually goes much deeper: It’s a complex form of emotional thinking that is invisible, boundaryless, and enduring.”
A book full of tools to build the life that nourishes us as well as those we love.
Just released on Tuesday April 21st.
—How to Start: Discovering Your Life’s Work by Jodi Kantor
Now, this is a book to give the graduate in your life. I happened to read the author’s excerpt in the NYTimes over the weekend, where she shares the two words that can help during this time, a time in our current economy in which it is hard to start a career. And as I read, those two words align, if not speak to, nearly precisely what finding your dharma is, just at the beginning stages. Written with awareness and encouragement, this is a book to help anyone, no matter where they find themselves along their life path, find their life’s work. Released on Tuesday, April 21st.
—The Menopause Gut: Balance Your Microbiome to Reclaim Your Health in Midlife and Beyond by Cynthia Thurlow NP
One of the most significant changes in women’s health (for the better!) over the past 20 years has been the conversation, research and thus, information made available for all women to better understand what exactly menopause is (technically, one day in our life – the 366th day in a row of not having a period), what perimenopause is and then, post-menopause (the rest of our lives).
In The Menopause Gut, being released on April 28th, Nurse Practitioner Cynthia Thurlow explains that “the composition of the gut microbiome shifts over a woman’s lifetime, peaking at age 40. Cutting-edge research suggests a bidirectional relationship between our estrogen and progesterone levels and our microbes. As our hormones shift, we become much more vulnerable to inflammation, which impacts our immune function, metabolism, mood, cognition, bone health and much more. But there are simple steps we can take to get our gut, and our health, back on track. Cynthia guides readers on how to:
• Combat bone loss through targeted exercise and nutrition
• Replace hidden gut disruptors with fiber-rich foods that balance our weight
• Practice cutting-edge stress management techniques that work
• Realign our circadian rhythm and prioritize rest
• Restore our immune systems by resolving leaky gut
• Understand the benefits of hormone replacement therapy
—Mrs. Benedict Arnold: A Novel by Emma Parry
An intriguing, well-researched, and well-written historical novel will always grab my curiosity, and such is the case with Mrs. Benedict Arnold. History has made Benedict Arnold’s name synonymous with being a traitor, but what do we know about his wife? Author Emma Parry dares to tell us, and then fills in the gaps to keep the intrigue all the more enticing.
The story begins in Philadelphia in the 1770s where the future Mrs. Benedict Arnold, “Peggy Shippen longs for the war she’s living through to end. Though not always appreciated at home, she finds her curiosity is welcomed by a lively and influential circle of friends, including a glamorous rising star in the British army, Captain John André. When the war separates them, Peggy is devastated—both by his absence and the horrors of ongoing conflict—before finding consolation in a man whose heroics for the Patriots have captured the world’s imagination: General Benedict Arnold.
“As she trades Loyalist balls for Patriot salons, entertaining the most prominent figures of early America, and navigating the country’s lethal political currents, she conceives of an audacious scheme to achieve peace and her family’s survival, unleashing what would become the most famous act of treason in history.”
To be released on Tuesday April 28th
—On Eating: The Making and Unmaking of My Appetites by Alicia Kennedy
Released earlier this month, in Alicia Kennedy’s book On Eating, she takes readers “from eating her grandma’s lamb chops and picking apples with her mom on Long Island, to an interest in chocolate leading her to open a vegan microbakery and mushroom reporting in Puerto Rico steering her toward the love of her life. Revealing how Kennedy has always been guided by curiosity and a hunger for flavor and experience, in her new book she teaches us that we don’t have to choose between what is delicious and what can sustain our planet and ourselves. But it’s also about the deep hunger of loss, grief, families, and the stories we tell each other in order to survive.”
Brooklyn-based food-writer, recipe developer and podcaster, listen to her show, TASTE here, and learn more about the author here.
—The Rich Minimalist: An Invitation to Embrace Luxury Living with Less by Byron Tully
As an American now living in France, currently in the middle of a significant renovation of a country estate, Byron Tully first became known to many readers as the author of The Old Money Book. His latest book, just released earlier this month, The Rich Minimalist, aims to help you “live a lean, luxurious life and get richer in the process.”
The book explores how to “redefine true wealth, not as what we own, but what we refuse to clutter our life with. It also challenges us to reimagine what ‘real luxury’ is and shows us how we can experience it every day, regardless of our present financial situation.” Since the concept of what real luxury is lies at the foundation of TSLL, I wanted to bring your attention to this book, as Tully often has insights worth pondering.
—Salt, Sweat & Steam: The Fiery Education of an Accidental Chef by Brigid Washington
If you’ve ever wanted to know what it’s like to go to school at The Culinary Institute of America, this is the book to pick up. Being released on April 28th, chef Brigid Washington in Salt, Sweat & Steam “takes readers inside America’s top culinary school and shows what’s really required to become a chef: from brutal unpaid internships and gruelling practical exams to late-night vending machine dorm-room dinners while trudging through the rarefied world of fine wine. As editor of the school’s newspaper, ‘La Papillote’ Washington, a Trinidadian, meets and interviews food-world luminaries such as Jerome Bocuse, Daniel Boulud and Thomas Keller and savors the joys of a life devoted to food.”
Get to know the author and chef on Instagram — @withbrigid.
British Finds
—A Deadly Episode: A Novel (A Hawthorne and Horowitz Mystery, 6) by Anthony Horowitz
I enjoy a well-written cozy mystery that moves so quickly, even 300+ pages fly by in a breeze. And that is exactly the type of writing you will find when you read an Anthony Horowitz mystery. The latest in his Hawthorne and Horowitz series, #6, A Deadly Episode, is a meta upon meta story as we have Horowitz (a character in his novel) who has written a novel that is now being adapted into a film. In the film adaptation, the character Hawthorne is killed, literally as well as in the scene. “Or, rather, the actor playing him in the film adaptation of The Word is Murder is. Rising star David Caine has been stabbed, and it seems that everyone on the set had a motive.”
My copy was ordered ages ago, and it arrives next Tuesday, April 28th on the release date. I cannot wait to begin reading.
Francophile Finds
—Blame It on Rousseau, Amazon Prime
About a year ago, I shared an Italian TV series here on This & That, Un Professore (I highly recommend it, having thoroughly enjoyed each season). The lead character is a high school philosophy teacher who lets the lives of his students help him teach the lessons as they align with various philosophers’ works and perspectives on life. Well, enter the French version of this series. Premiering back in 2021 (you will notice familiar French actors from other series), there are two seasons of Blame It on Rousseau, and the foundational plot points parallel its Italian counterpart. Except we are in Paris and most of the philosophers he introduces the students to are French. Have a look at the trailer below for Season 2, and find both on Amazon Prime.
—Chez Pluie, 10th Anniversary Sale
If you love French antiques, you have likely heard about Chez Pluie. Based permanently in Provence, two Australian expats arrived in France in 2015 – Hugh and Susannah Cameron, and in 2016, they opened up their now world-recognized online and flagship boutique. Friends of TSLL (they have sponsored French Week giveaways in the past – TY Susannah and Hugh!), they are celebrating their 10-year anniversary, and all of their customers benefit from this special occasion. Currently happening and running for 10 weeks, you can save 10% off anything in their shop with promo code CP2026. Also! If you will be in Provence in October, be sure to watch their IG Reel below for special gatherings taking place to continue the celebration in person. I am currently trying to figure out how I might make this possible, as it would be lovely to finally meet them in person.
—Deadly Tropics, season 6, MHzChoice
This show has a great cast, and I was delightfully surprised to hear a new season has kicked off (April 21st) as I thought the series had concluded with its 5th season. But nope! Viewers get to return to the breathtaking island of Martinique and dive back into solving crimes alongside the two female lead police officers, Gaëlle Crivelli and Mélissa Sainte-Rose. Have a look at the trailer below for the new season.
—The Flaneur: A Stroll through the Paradoxes of Paris (reissued with new foreword) by Edmund White
In commemoration of the 25th anniversary, Edmund White’s “bestselling guided sojourn through the streets of Paris, with a new foreword by Alexander Chee” is being re-released. Described by The New York Times Book Review as a book sharing a glimpse of the “Paris you wouldn’t otherwise see”, Edmund White lived in Paris for sixteen years, wandering the streets and avenues and quays of his favorite city. “In The Flâneur he leads us on a walking tour of Paris’ lush, sometimes prurient history, to parts of the city virtually unknown to visitors and indeed to many Parisians.”
Rereleased on April 14th
—Master Crimes, season 3, MHzchoice
So many great French mystery series are returning this month, and Master Crimes is one of them. AND look who is joining the cast this season! Joining psycho-criminology professor Louise Arbus is one of the co-leads of The Art of Crime (a new season of that favorite show will return this June!). Set in Paris, this season enjoy six episodes, two dropping each week beginning April 28th, where the professor and her students, along with some help, solve the most peculiar of crimes.
—In the Spirit of French Murder, book #4 in the American in Paris mystery series, by Colleen Cambridge
The latest book in the cozy mystery series that takes readers back to post-war Paris, with the protagonist befriending Julia Child, in this caper, a medium becomes part of the crime that involves an evening soirée that goes horribly wrong and a symbol of a bluet flower is left with the body. Released on Tuesday, April 28th, preorder it today.
—Mystery in Paris, MHzChoice
I have yet to watch this series, but it popped up in my streaming recommendations. “An all-star cast leads investigations at some of Paris’ most famous landmarks in this riveting anthology series set in La Belle Epoque.” There are seven episodes, one becoming available each Tuesday, and currently, four are available. Have a look at the trailer below.
Shopping
—Self Portrait’s Tie-detailed belted pleated polka dot midi dress
Loving the pleated skirt on this design from Self Portrait. Having a couple of their dresses in my closet that I love, their attention to detail is worth the investment, as the dress will last, and if polka dots and this style is yours, then you will have a dependable spring dress to layer with, to wear alone, to play with variation of the pussy bow, and really, timeless print and color.
—The Olivia Wide Leg Pima Pajamas, many stripes and solid colors
Becoming quite popular and raved about by customers, this new collection of wide-leg pajamas at Petite Plume is a hit. They do look quite comfortable and perfect for cozying in.
—Petite Plume Twill Pajama set with French Ticking, three colors
One more from Petite Plume just in case the length of the above set isn’t quite long enough (for me, it would not be), and these are made of twill, so offering a bit more structure.
—Quince European 100% Linen Long-Sleeve Shirt, many stripe and solid colors
Earlier this month in Part Quatre of the Signature Style series, we explored all aspects of purchasing button-up/down shirts, and one fabric recommended was linen. And Quince has a well-priced version of the long-sleeve classic linen shirt to scoop up. I couldn’t help myself and added the striped version below to my wardrobe, but rest assured, there are oodles of colors (solids and stripes) available to choose from.
And it’s only $42
Television
—The Law According to Lidia Poët, season 3, Netflix
I was hoping this series would have another season, and thankfully, it is! While season 3 will be its finale, if it’s like the previous two, viewers are in for a treat. Have a look at the trailer below and watch the entire season on Netflix now.
That moment when you just know that spring has made it over the hurdle, winter is firmly behind us, and we can let our hair down and know that we are entirely in spring. It occurred yesterday, and this moment captured in the photo above says it all – blue sky, leafed out trees (just enough to know it’s not winter), a full pond from all the winter melt-off, and just enough warmth to no longer have to bundle up.
Nelle took me for a walk across the bridge and around our loop, and I feel so grateful to be able to begin our days this way. Regardless of the weather, we walk in the morning before sitting down in the office, because I know that I wasn’t able to do this for two decades, and it feels like a gift to have the opportunity to do so. A seemingly simple everyday activity that to me is priceless.
This week, I am excited to share that the first proof (physical copy) of Savoring the Sojourn is en route to Le Papillon to be checked and confirmed that it is ready for publication! I have been sharing glimpses into this process on IG (follow along here @thesimplyluxuriouslife), and the thrill of realizing a book is nearing release never wanes, whether it is my first or now my fourth ☺️. I cannot wait to share it with you.
On the blog, the monthly garden post was shared (and why I may have an aching back for a few weeks 😉) along with the monthly Ponderings . . . post (and in fact, exclusively included is a TV series that returns this week and is one I thoroughly loved watching when it premiered in its first season last year; be sure to click here and explore). And, a new page has been created here on the blog!, or should I say, recreated – explore TSLL’s new Lifetime Wardrobe page and all of the correlating posts and annual guides here.
Now to the weekend! May the coming couple of days rejuvenate you with whatever activity you are pouring yourself into and may you happen upon many moments that prompt an unexpected smile as you savor the everyday you are living. Until Sunday, bonne journée !
~Favorite read of the week, maybe the year, confirming so much of my own experience, and the research of a friend of The Simple Sophisticate podcast (ep. #370) is included in the article as well – The happiest women in their 70s are single [Self]
~Luxury vacation rentals in Paris with an Art Deco vibe and a French twist. [FT.com, gift link]
~May 1st, the premiere date of The Devil Wears Prada 2 is fast approaching and the cast looked great in London at its premiere. [W Magazine]
~Discover where one of the world’s longest pedestrian bridges just opened up, and it is a beautiful sight to see as well (psst, it’s in one of the most walkable cities in the world as well). [Time Out]
~One more home tour, and this one is situated in London, blending British charm and stateside style. [Veranda]
~Explore all of the nominees for this year’s Cannes Film Festival; French films are favored over Hollywood in a swift of preference.[Frenchly]
~Get a local guide through north London’s Hampstead neighborhood and the restaurants worth dining at from head chef of French Society, Louis Bird. [Taste France magazine]
~Shakespeare fans, as it was his birthday yesterday, learn more about his lost London home that was hidden away in plain sight. [Mental Floss]
~As a fan of carrot cake, this recipe caught my eye – Carrot Sheet Cake With Dulce de Leche Frosting [Saveur]
~Tips for designing a reading nook (snug) that you never want to leave [Homes & Gardens UK]
~This is what 20 minutes outside does to your brain (it’s a good thing!) [Real Simple]
~On board with this new décor trend to invest in the small, yet frequently used rooms in our homes. And currently in the middle of updating one of these rooms here at Le Papillon – look for the full tour post this summer or autumn. [Domino]
~And to conclude, a music video from Belgium, singer Pierre de Maere sings “Je pense à vous”. It’s just fun, light, and breezy. Be sure to watch all of the dance moves by the extras throughout the video. 😌
~Explore last week’s edition of This & That, April 17th
Books about quiet living, how architecture influences our daily life, how to cook a delicious coastal-inspired meal, poetry to remind us to live fully, and still more titles. Also, two favorite French series return, a new film about something many of us love, commemorations begin in honor of Queen Elizabeth II’s 100th birthday, and many spring and clothing finds are shared, most at wonderfully reduced prices. Oh! And a décor sale not to miss as well if you are looking for this one particular item. Still, there is more!
~Please note: TSLL is supported by you, readers who take the time to stop by (merci!), peruse, and sometimes welcome into your life the mentioned and recommended finds. Affiliate links are present in this post and may earn commissions for TSLL when you make a purchase. View TSLL’s full Privacy Policy here.
