A cookbook full of flavorful, seasonally delicious desserts, novels to hold our attention, a new memoir from a favorite cook who cooked in the smallest kitchen in Paris with great success, and clothing sales not to miss. One such sale is from one of my favorite French brands, and then there is sprinkled treasures found for sipping a cuppa, pottering in the garden, and much more.

Books

—The Calamity Club: A novel by Kathryn Stockett 

From the writer who brought us the bestselling and adapted into an award-winning film The Help, Kathryn Stockett’s new novel The Calamity Club is receiving quite a bit of good buzz.

Set in Mississippi in 1933, Meg Lefleur is at the center. Orphaned as a young girl when her mother abandoned her on Christmas Eve, she is now “one of the ‘big girls’ who have yet to be adopted at the Lafayette County Orphan Asylum. She fights each day to keep her spirit unbowed. Birdie Calhoun, unmarried and outspoken, has come to Oxford to ask her socialite sister to help the struggling family she’s left behind. But as the Depression tightens its grip, Birdie discovers her sister’s seemingly charmed life is a tapestry of lies. Then, Birdie encounters Charlie, a woman running low on luck with little left to lose. When their fates—and Meg’s—converge, Charlie comes up with an audacious plan for them to take control of their lives.”

—Go Gentle: A Novel by Maria Semple

Released in April and already a bestseller, Go Gentle begins with our introduction to Adora Hazzard who thinks she has it all figured out. “A Stoic philosopher and divorcée, she lives a contented life on New York City’s Upper West Side. Having discovered that the secret to happiness is to desire only what you have, she’s applied this insight to blissful effect: relishing her teenage daughter, the freedom of being solo, and her job as a moral tutor for the twin boys of an old-money family . . . Soon, her ordered world is upended by black-market art deals, secret rendezvous, and international intrigue . . . and her past—which she has worked so hard to bury—lands like a bomb in her present.”

—How to Not Know: The Value of Uncertainty in a World that Demands Answers  by Simone Stolzoff

From the author of The Good Enough Job, Simone Stolzoff’s new book How to Now Know teaches readers how to become more comfortable with uncertainty. “From our careers to our politics to our personal lives, the future is unknown. And yet, our capacity to tolerate this uncertainty is in decline. How to Not Know will help you prepare for and even appreciate the uncertainty that surrounds us.” Look for this title to be released next Tuesday.

—The Well-Educated Child: How the Principles and Practices of Quality Thinking, Agency, and Ethical Purpose Cultivate Deeper Learning by Dr. Deborah Kenny

Released in April, In The Well-Educated Child, “Dr. Deborah Kenny offers an inspiring vision for education that cultivates intelligent, happy, morally grounded young people . . . Drawing on decades of experience with students from preschool through high school, Kenny presents education as soul craft. She reveals how to teach children the skills of self-management and the virtue of self-discipline, and what students must learn to become intellectually curious, knowledgeable, gracious, and motivated.”

—Start With Yourself: A New Vision for Work & Life by Emma Grede

Becoming one of America’s richest self-made women, author Emma Grede’s early life didn’t foretell such an outcome — she’s the child of a working-class single mother and grew up in a rough neighborhood in East London and dropped out of high school. “This makes Grede unique, but she’s convinced you can do it, too: Start With Yourself is a blueprint to her mindset and how she thinks about business and life, structured in easy takeaways, so you can immediately apply her philosophy to what you’re trying to build and create.”

British Finds

—Sophie Conrad’s Portmeirion Floret Mug, Robin’s Egg blue

While I am saving my ‘stash’ of British Finds for TSLL’s upcoming British Week, which is why fewer than usual are shared this week, I wanted to bring this find to your attention. You know I love a good thumb-rest on a mug or teacup; therefore, Sophie Conrad’s Floret Mug, designed for Portmeirion, immediately caught my eye. And each mug is only $19.

—COMING SOON! TSLL’s 8th Annual British Week

Speaking of! In fewer than two weeks, the annual celebration of all things British will commence here on TSLL! Yep! The 8th Annual British Week is nearly here, and if you are not yet a TOP Tier Member but are an Anglophile, be sure to consider joining TSLL’s international community. Why? Well, for starters, this month’s A Cuppa Moments is already overflowing with oodles of British favorite finds and places to shared by members, and then there is the exclusive opportunity to enter all of the five giveaways that will be included during this year’s festive week. Also, a head’s up – now is a great time to become a new member (or reinstate your membership) as prices will be permanently increased come August 1st, so be sure to explore all of the options (monthly, quarterly and yearly here). And if you would prefer a guest membership (will not automatically renew after one month, quarter, or year – your choice), then you can sign up for that as well to ensure you can enjoy all that British Week has in store.

Learn more about all of these details of becoming a TOP Tier member here.

Cookbooks

—More Than Sweet: Desserts with Flavor by Marie Frank

This cookbook looks like a book full of dependably flavor-full desserts, and I am here for it ☺️ “Copenhagen-based pastry chef and author of the hit Substack More than Sweet, Marie Frank invites you to break down the boundaries between sweet and savory with confidence to create desserts that celebrate flavors both new and familiar, and to honor your own unique taste preferences.”

—Weeknight Vegetarian: Easy Vegetable Recipes for Lunch & Dinner by Joe Woodhouse

Released in April, discover 90 deliciously simple veggie-filled recipes in Weeknight Vegetarian. “Perfect for the everyday home cook, Joe Woodhouse uses minimal ingredients with maximum flavour, celebrating seasonal eating and making vegetables exciting.” Have a peek inside the book and meet Joe, in the IG Reel below.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Joe Woodhouse (@joe_woodhouse)

Francophile Find

—Armor Lux Sale, Buy One, Get the 2nd 50% off

This is a French clothing company, based in Brittany, that I absolutely love. Picking up one of their rain coats during my trip last year, their quality is top-notch, their options endless when it comes to Breton stripes in any design of clothing you could imagine, and their prices are quite fair.

And now through May 13th, buy one item and get the 2nd one 50% off. I have hand-picked my favorites below, but there are oodles more to explore.

—The Cannes Film Festival/Festival de Cannes

Kicking off officially on May 12th is the famed Cannes Film Festival, or Festival de Cannes, and this year, for the first time in a long time, there are more French films than ever before. Learn more about why this is here in a recent NYTimes article (gift link)

—The Parisian Chapter: A Novel by Janet Skeslien Charles

Released on Tuesday, we are taken to Paris in the 90s, 1995 to be exact. Which doesn’t seem that long ago, but so much seems to have changed in so little time, hasn’t it? In The Parisian Chapter, “it’s been five years since Lily Jacobsen and her best friend Mary Louise arrived in Paris from their small town of Froid, Montana. Determined to establish themselves as artists, they shared a tiny walkup and survived on brie and baguettes. But when Mary Louise abruptly moves out, Lily feels alone in the city of light for the first time and needs a new way to support herself. She lands a job as a programs manager at the American Library in Paris, following in the footsteps of Odile, her beloved French neighbor in Montana who told her stories of heroic World War II librarians when Lily was growing up.

“At work, Lily meets an extraordinary cast of characters—including her favorite writer, struggling students, haughty trustees, and devoted volunteers—each with their own stories…and agendas. In the library’s attic, Lily discovers a box of archives that may be a link to Odile’s own Parisian chapter.”

—The Smallest Restaurant in Paris: A Memoir by Rachel Khoo

This looks like a delightful (and delicious) memoir to dive into. I can remember watching British cook Rachel Khoo cooking away in her petite kitchen in Paris, amazed and inspired by all that she could do in such a small space. And so now we have a book that shares her story from the woman herself.

“Rachel’s Paris life in her adorable (and minuscule) apartment has already been captured in her cookbook and TV show, The Little Paris Kitchen. However, until now, Rachel’s books have focused on bringing French-style cooking to her audiences (even if you only have a two-ring cooker). This memoir is an account of Rachel’s high-street-to-Boulevard self-transformation: an inspiring story of how you can reach for your dreams and achieve them through determination and hard work, deciding to love the journey as much as the destination.”

~View Rachel Khoo’s book homepage.

Garden

—Gardenheir’s Handmade Bentwood w/Copper Trug, two sizes

May in the garden is dreamy and breathtaking, so rest assured, a monthly garden post will be shared later this month on TSLL. In fact, May’s gardening post will be shared during British Week. But until then, some trugs to consider adding to your tool collection as they really do serve a helpful function and look beautiful while pottering about or on display.

Shopping

—Me + Em May Collection

British clothing brand Me + Em has just released their May collection, and I have to say, it is full of fantastic keepers. From blouses to pants to dresses, I had a hard time stopping my exploring and saving of favorite items to share with you. You will notice this as the finds shared in the scroll below is quite long. Be sure to shop the entire collection because there are quite a few more wonderful finds.

—SHOP SHANNON’S FAVORITES:

—Madewell’s Sale on All Bags and Accessories

If you have had your eye on one Madewell’s bags, now is the time to pick it up and save! Use promo code SUNNY to save 25% off the regular price.

SHOP THE SALE:

—Rails’s Lucien Jacket

If you’ve been watching Rooster on HBO Max, perhaps you recall the long trench that Charly Clive wears in the first and many other episodes. It has the checked lining, similarly seen in the Lucien jacket from Rails. And while this is a short jacket, it is a timeless find.

Television

—Amadeus, Starz

While first premiering in January in the UK, now the much-talked about limited series Amadeus arrives in the States via Starz. It premieres tonight and includes five episodes in total. Have a look at the trailer below.

—EuroVision, Vienna 2026, Peacock

I know many TSLL readers enjoy this annual music event, and it is about to kick off again with the first round of semi-finalists taking place on May 12th and the Grand Finale to decide the winner happening on Saturday, May 16th. Watch each round on Peacock.

—Tucci in Italy, season 2, National Geographic

With Stanley Tucci in The Devil Wears Prada 2, let’s keep enjoying his presence, shall we? But this time, he continues the food and tasting tour of Italy in the second season of Tucci in Italy. There will be five episodes, and it premieres on Monday, May 11th. Have a look at the trailer below.

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This week marked the opening of our farmers’ market in downtown Bend, and the photo above captured the weather that accompanied us. What a beauty it was. Nelle joined me, and we found a tote full of goodies (see a few of them here on @tsllkitchen’s IG).

Needless to say, May is offering its sweetness at the moment, and I am drinking it up. Oh! And on the gardening front, as I shared in Monday’s Motivational post as we talked about knowing when to trust your intuition, all the rock in my west garden has been removed! Next week, the new plants will arrive, and I cannot wait to bring this space together. And on the interior part of the house, I will be painting one of the two closets this weekend in preparation for the floors and the new closets to be installed later this month and into June.

And of course, here in the States, it is Mother’s Day weekend, so a big thank you and sending much love to all the mothers out there (that includes our four-legged companion mums as well!). And to everyone, wishing you a wonderful weekend, and for some, a bank holiday weekend as well. Until Sunday, bonne journée !

~HOME OF THE WEEK: This home on the South Coast of England is both rich in color, while also being cool and breezy, beckoning inhabitants to relax and just be. (Also, loving the pantry ;)) [House & Garden UK]

~10 Things to do in Paris this month [Frenchly]

~What to do in the garden in May [Gardens Illustrated]

~One more to save for future trips – How to get from Paris to Versailles: Train, Bus, Car or Bike [Frenchly]

~If you will be traveling by train in France in June, save this article as it shares the date of the announced SNCF French rail strike. [Connexion]

~Tour actor Dominic West and Catherine Fitzgerald’s quirky garden in Wiltshire and tour their home in Ireland here. [House & Garden UK]

~Ramblers in the UK! You can now walk the entire coast of England – the King Charles III Coast Path [Britain Magazine]

~Seven locations in France where the French actually vacation [Travel + Leisure]

~An itinerary for exploring South Kensington: A London Local Guide to the Frenchiest Neighbourhood in Town [Taste France]

~Something TSLL readers and gardeners are already loving and embracing if British gardening speaks to your tastes – 6 British garden trends transforming American back yards [Real SImple]

~The most luxurious train stations in the world according to CN Traveller

~Spring is a beautiful time with trees in blossom, but when you have allergies, it can be a dance – wanting to enjoy, but also wanting to not have itchy eyes and all that comes with allergies. So let’s have a good laugh at these allergies (while also respecting them, most definitely) and all the other allergies, because what else can we do? Like only Portlandia‘s co-stars and co-creators can – the Allergy Pride Parade.

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~Explore last week’s edition of This & That, May 1st

~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.