Oodles of books in a variety of genres, more novels than typical here on TSLL, but also some intriguing non-fiction – French history, sleep science and a mysterious British novelist who has come to the forefront of our attention this year. A new exhibit of a favorite French impressionist painter opens in France this month, a favorite French sporting event kicks off and quite a few clothing finds to keep you cool and stylish. Still, there is more to explore!

The other significant change to the membership model is that the names of TOP Tier and BASIC Tier will be changing! If you are currently a TOP Tier Member, you can find out what they will be when you watch
July’s A Cuppa Moments. 

As shared last week, another change will be to the TOP Tier offerings – monthly, quarterly, annually: Beginning August 1st, the monthly option will no longer be available for TOP Tier. However, if you currently have a BASIC membership or are a non-member and want to become a TOP Tier member and prefer the monthly plan, be sure to upgrade before August 1st, as you can retain the monthly TOP Tier for life even though it will no longer be available after August 1st.

~explore which membership works best for you here~

Learn more about all of the current membership offerings here, and if you already are a member and would like to upgrade, simply visit the Dashboard (by clicking ‘Account’ in the upper left-hand corner of the blog), click the ‘Subscription/Membership’ tab, and in the right column of your Active membership, click “Change” to choose the new membership schedule or tier you prefer. 

Books

—Habits of the Sea: A Novel by Shea Ernshaw 

A bit of magic, a bit of romance and a whole lot of intrigue arrives with bestselling author Shea Ernshaw’s new novel, Habits of the Sea. Set off the shores o Nova Scotia as well as Scotland, “the night Clay Lockhart’s wife dies, a violent storm tears their home—and the eight hectares of land beneath it—away from the Scottish coast, sending it adrift into the Atlantic. Thirty years later, twelve-year-old Ellie Mills discovers the fabled floating island off the coast of Nova Scotia and finds Clay still living in the weatherworn farmhouse perched on its highest hill.

“When the island vanishes overnight, Ellie is left questioning whether it ever existed at all. But decades later, the island resurfaces—and Ellie, now in her thirties, returns, determined to uncover the truth. What she finds is even stranger: Clay hasn’t aged a single day.”

—The Small Stuff: How to Lead a More Gratifying Life by Ian Bogost

I am quite looking forward to this new book. The Small Stuff is set to be released on Tuesday July 7th and comes from Atlantic columnist Ian Bogost. “From digital tickets to automated faucets, he argues that the simple pleasures of daily life have been stripped away, replaced by sleek, but soulless, design.

“Through anecdotes and sharp analysis, Bogost uncovers how modern conveniences not only fail to deliver on their promises but also rob us of small, satisfying tasks and moments that keep us grounded and human. He challenges us to rethink our daily interactions with the material world and illuminates how the loss of these tangible interactions has contributed to widespread feelings of disconnection and dissatisfaction.”

—Think Less, Sleep More: From Panic and Perfectionism to Stress-Free Sleep by Stephanie Romiszewski

Released in January in the UK and not yet available in the states, Think Less, Sleep More “unpacks the science and fundamentals of sleep – including misunderstood concepts such as sleep drive and sleep debt – and arms you with simple tools for how you can improve something you spend a third of your life doing. You’ll discover: Why your evening routine matters far less than your morning routine How to trust your body’s natural sleep drive and rhythms Why ‘bad nights’ don’t ruin your health How to re-set your relationship with sleep and free yourself from sleep anxiety.”

With summer bringing both a slower schedule for many as well as hot nights that reveal how important a good night’s sleep is. This time of year might be the perfect opportunity to situate beneficial sleep habits.

—What We Can Know: A Novel by Ian McEwan 

For fans of science fiction and brilliant literature, Booker Prize winner author (for Atonement) Ian McEwan’s latest novel is now in paperback, and ready for even more of us to enjoy it. What We Can Know has been described as “a genre-bending novel full of secrets and surprises, and an immersive exploration, across time and history, of what can ever be truly known.” Learn more about the plot here.

British Finds

—The Mysterious Affair of Judith Potts by Robert Thorogood

I was ready to read this book when I finished reading book four in the series! And thankfully, the wait is nearly over. This time the plot begins with two dead celebrities. The Marlow Murder Club — Judith, Suzie, and Becks ―”must untangle a dangerous web of blackmail and scandal to catch a killer. But with their trusted police ally DI Malik suddenly suspended, and Judith’s own past threatening to resurface, the women are on their own. Suspects are multiplying like tabloid headlines, secrets are stacking up, and time is running out.”

And, no doubt, fans of the adapted television series already know, season 3 is coming to PBS Masterpiece this September, and the trailer was just released earlier this week. Have a look.

—This Dark Night: Emily Bronte, A Life by Deborah Lutz

With the latest film adaptation of Wuthering Heights released back in February, this biography looks especially timely. In May, Deborah Lutz’s This Dark Night: Emily Brontë, a Life was released and shares never before known revelations about the author.

“Emily Brontë (1818–1848) was only twenty-seven-years old when she began work on one of the most important novels in the English language. Two years later in 1847, she completed Wuthering Heights . . . Drawing on formerly inaccessible notebooks and manuscripts, This Dark Night constructs a portrait of Brontë, her famous writing sisters Charlotte and Anne, and the effect of their sisters’ and mother’s tragic deaths. Deborah Lutz sketches the days of a woman crafting otherworldly fiction while running her father’s parsonage: writing interweaving with household work, daydreaming, and exploring the rough-hewn outdoors.

“As she traces the influence of Brontë’s life and work, Lutz follows how Brontë’s fantastical early poems of the night sky, women rulers, and outsiders and rebels grew into the stormy, transcendent Wuthering Heights. Lutz also illuminates the overlooked ways that the legendary writer addressed debates of her time that still resonate today, including questions of gender and sexuality, race and class, and rapid industrialization set against the natural world.”

Décor

—Zara Home Linen Hemstitched Duvet Cover

Linen in the summer to sleep on is a gift to ourselves that brings wonderful, cool nights of restful sleep. I am a broken record about this everyday detail in my home décor, so I won’t prattle on about this simple luxury that is indeed a necessity, but instead just bring your attention to this subtly beautiful white linen duvet. They have sheets available as well.

Francophile Finds

—Hotel Exile: Paris in the Shadow of War by Jane Rogoyska

This book has been on critics’s most anticipated book lists for 2026 since the year began. Hotel Exile comes from award-winning historian Jane Rogoyska, and tells “the story of World War II artists, intellectuals, and refugees, and one famed Paris hotel.

“Since its opening in 1910, the Hotel Lutetia has been a grand Paris institution, a meeting place for artists, intellectuals, musicians, and politicians. André Gide took his lunch here, James Joyce lived in one of its rooms, Picasso and Matisse were regular guests. But the hotel has a darker history, too―from the years before, during, and after the second World War. In this short period, the Lutetia witnessed some of the most dramatic and terrible events in recent history.”

—Cassandre, season 7, MHzChoice

A favorite French crime series returns! Taking us back to the French Alps, Florence Cassandre heads her team as they set out to solve four separate mysteries, one dropping each Tuesday. Look for the premiere on July 7th, and have a look at the trailer below.

—Claude Monet, Des Jardins en Héritage, Les Franciscaines, Deavuville

If you will be in France during the next few months, head up to Deauville and view this new exhibit that opens this July 11th and runs through November 1st. This historical location in Deauville has seen many reiterations of how the space was used, and it was in 2021 that the newly built structure opened up as the museum and event space we have today. Les Franciscaines’s new Claude Monet exhibit, set to mark the centenary of Claude Monet’s death, “offers a sensitive, contemporary reinterpretation of the legacy of the master of Giverny, placing his work in dialogue with artists from around the world who share a fascination with light, gardens, and color.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Les Franciscaines – Deauville (@franciscaines.deauville)

—Le Tour de France

Allons-y ! It’s that time of year again when the three-week cycling tour of France begins. And actually, as the Le Tour often does, the race begins in a neighboring country. This year, it is Spain, and we will see the cyclists racing there for the first three days. Then, we travel up into France, as you can see on the map below.

If you live in the States, you can watch on Peacock, and new this year for viewers in the UK, the race will be found on HBO Max/TNT. You know what I will be watching each evening for the foreseeable future. 🙂

—Selency, up to 50% off

Les Soldes continue in France through the third week of July, and the online brocante that is Selency is offering sales as well. I have gathered a few images of some of the finds below, and in particular, the chandelier (Plafonnier vintage en cristal décoré de feuilles et de grappes, see below) is available at a great price and made with crystal. It is only 14″ wide, so ideal for a smaller room, or low ceiling where you still want to make a statement.

Shopping

—Banana Republic Factory, 50-70% off everything

Significant savings is available with BF Factory’s site-wide sale. I have shopped a few items below, and as I am living in a pair of twill utility pants at the moment, when I saw these that were similar on sale (more colors, navy too), I wanted to share. The price is quite nice.

—SHOP THE SALE:

—Eileen Fisher’s Heavy Organic Linen Full-Length Straight Leg Trouser, three colors

A quality pair of linen trousers. Bring on the comfort and the cool.

—Goodnow Farms Chocolate

As someone who loves a bit of dark chocolate each evening when I haven’t indulged in dessert, when Goodnow Farms Chocolates reached out to offer a taste of their chocolates, I took a closer look. And upon learning about their commitment to fair compensation for workers and farmers (far more truly fair than ‘fair trade’ prices – learn more here), as well as investment in quality chocolate, I wanted a taste.

I loved them! Look at all the flavors, and as you will notice, each chocolate comes from a single source, so each is very unique and gives you a true taste of that region’s chocolate (cacao). I have enjoyed each one, making sure to leave the chocolate out of the fridge to let it come to room temperature before I break off my first square. The Brown Butter varietals are uniquely delicious and the award-winning Columbia dark chocolate was a favorite (yes, it has now been completely enjoyed :). They have many different types of chocolate, I just requested the dark chocolate, so be sure to explore their offerings here.

Purchase to enjoy as a bite of chocolate or bake with for a high quality chocolate flavor. I am dreaming about my first chocolat chaud this winter using one of these chocolates. 🙂

—La Ligne’s Isla Dress

A mini tunic dress with a touch of evening elegance.

—Petite Plume’s Pima robe in Periwinkle, more colors

—Reiss’s Ari Colour-block Tunic

Relaxed sophistication.

—Tommy Bahamas Coastlina Linen Relaxed Shirt, many colors

I realized last week that I am in need of another white linen button-up. One really isn’t enough when summer arrives as they go with everything and keep you both cool and protected from the sun. This style, after shopping quite a few, offers medium weight linen (I don’t want too light as it becomes too transparent), is a comfortable fit – not too fitted, but not too oversized and has a nice shape. And the price isn’t bad either.

—Veronica Beard Via Slide Sandal, 25% off

The navy and tan are still available in most sizes, and both are 25% off with promo code FIREWORKS2026.

---

The petals of this yellow rudbeckia appear silk-like in the early morning sun, and what tickled me even more is that I forgot I had these flowers in the garden. Needless to say, a huge smile emerged when I these had begun to bloom this week. They are also wonderful self-seeders, so I am noticing more and more pop up around the boulevard which is what the cottage garden aesthetic is all about – seed-on! seed-on! I say!

Welcome to July and to the holiday weekend of celebration here in the States. The entire week has felt like a holiday with vacationers filling up the town, so I try to get out early on our trails before too much congestion. Either way, it’s summer and Bend is always bustling this time of year which is a reminder to slow down and take it easy. And Mother Nature has been very kind too us here in the Pacific Northwest with her cooler temperatures – truly unseasonal and very comfortable compared to what I know many are experiencing at the moment. No doubt, our hot weather will be here at some point. She won’t forget us. 🙂

However you are looking to partake in the Fourth celebrations, or like myself, if you are keeping it pretty low-key, I hope you have a wonderful weekend. And for everyone, wherever you reside in our grand world, may the next couple of days be nourishing just as you need them to be. Until Sunday, bonne journée!

~Favorite read of the week: This interview with author and comedian David Sedaris, and his quote about stepping forward when a door opens. Ahhhh . . . yes! [The Talks]

~The first week of Wimbledon is already wrapping up and HRH the Princess of Wales, as the Royal Patron of the All England Tennis Club, paid a visit looking the elegant silhouette of a waterfall in a cornflower blue Gabriela Hearst suit. Stunning. [Harper’s Bazaar]

~For gardeners! Why it’s best not to rush a relationship: A garden comes into its own gradually as British landscape designer shares in this article. I especially appreciated this quote: “The gardener’s learning curve is never completed, any more than the garden is.” [NYtimes, gift link]

~Home Tour of the Week: Let’s go to Paris and peek inside Spanish fashion designer Maria de la Orden’s home. It is stunning. [House & Garden UK]

~Following the extreme heat, the lightning show came to Paris, and wow, did it ever light up the City of Light. [@ag_photographe]

~This cake – simple, subtly beautiful and not your typical cake. Looks delish – Lemon-Almond Butter Cake [gift link, NYTimes Cooking]

~A helpful article for HSPs – how you can utilize your strengths to rewire your brain for happiness. [Sensitive, Refuge]

~Francophiles and futbol fans in France, the French team has been a treat to watch as the World Cup continues on, and Kylian Mbappé especially. Here is a short clip of one of the three goals made during the victory over Sweden, which also helped him to reach the record for the most goals scored in World Cup Knockout Matches. Allez les Bleus !

---

~Explore last week’s edition of This & That: June 26th

~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.