And so it begins! The autumnal season of new releases are aplenty this week and will keep you reading, watching, exploring, delighting and listening to wonderful finds. From a new film of dramatic intrigue set in London, a fictional book set in Paris centered around relationships, a book about books, a book about the unnecessary and unjust burden women often shoulder and a book from a bestselling author about transforming our work life so we can live a great life. And then a favorite French series returns, a second season of a much enjoyed British series is back, a friend of TSLL American-living-in-Versailles baker is sharing an exclusive discount with readers for a limited time and don’t forget the clothes and shopping treasures! Bursting at the seams this week. I do hope you enjoy! 

Books

—The Banned Books Club: A Novel by Brenda Novak

Being released on Tuesday and already an editor’s pick, Brenda Novak’s new novel The Banned Books Club has been described as “a feel-good romance with drama, friendship, and a love story set in a small American town”. Learn more about the details of the plot here.

—Over Work: Transforming the Daily Grind in the Quest for a Better Life by Brigid Schulte

From the author who wrote the bestseller Overwhelmed in 2015, Brigid Schulte’s new book Over Work will be released this coming Tuesday and “the prizewinning journalist now turns her attention to the greatest culprit in America’s quality-of-life crisis: the way our economy and culture conceive of work. Americans across all demographics, industries, and socioeconomic levels report exhaustion, burnout, and the wish for more meaningful lives. This full-system failure in our structure of work affects everything from gender inequality to domestic stability, and it even shortens our lifespans.

“Drawing on years of research, Schulte traces the arc of our discontent from a time before the 1980s, when work was compatible with well-being and allowed a single earner to support a family, until today, with millions of people working multiple hourly jobs or in white-collar positions where no hours are ever off duty.”

—Shame on You: How to Be A Woman in the Age of Mortification by Melissa Petro

I just learned of Melissa Petro’s book Shame on You and immediately wanted to share here on TSLL. Released this past Tuesday, “Petro takes on the issue of women’s shame directly with an unflinching look at the social systems that encourage women to believe we are deeply inadequate. From shame’s beginnings ( Maybe she’s born with it? Nope, it’s misogyny.) to its effect on our lives as adults (How the humiliation of “bad women” affects us all.), shame poisons our friendships, romantic relationships, and work lives. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Blending investigative reporting, science, literature, and hundreds of women’s personal stories—including her own shameful account of winding up as an unwitting New York Post cover girl—Petro offers us a new way forward. No matter what you do, she explains, there is no escaping being judged. And yet, the women we can become—sometimes as a consequence of shame, rather than in spite of it—are powerful indeed. And maybe that’s what others are afraid of.”

Definitely a book to read to deepen our awareness of how we limit ourselves and unconsciously limit other women rather than being supportive of their traveling their unique journey that fulfills them but may not be our choice.

British Finds

—Agatha Christie’s Marple: Expert on Wickedness by Mark Aldridge

After reading Mark Aldridge’s detailed book on Poirot a couple of years ago, I am now most eager to read his new exploration of the other famous Agatha Christie sleuth, Miss Marple. Released in the states on October 22, it was just released yesterday in the UK – shop it here from Blackwells, where Aldridge draws on “a range of material, some of which is newly discovered and previously unpublished exploring everything about Miss Marple, from her origins in a series of short stories penned by Christie, to the recent bestselling HarperCollins collection Marple: Twelve New Stories”.

Dive deeper into all that is Miss Marple.

—Moonflower Murders, PBS Masterpiece

Finally, finally, finally, the second season of Anthony Horowitz’s murder mystery series has returned to PBS Masterpiece. Moonflower Murders, (the first season being Magpie Murders which aired last fall, each based on the title of the novel, but starring the same leading characters) premieres this Sunday at 9pm and will include six episodes running through the end of October. The novel is a fantastic read if you haven’t already read it, and good news! there is a third book in this series with Susan Ryeland at the helm! Yep! You can preorder Marble Hall Murders now and look for it to be released in May 2025. Have a look at the trailer below for Moonflower Murders starring Lesley Manville as Ryeland and Tim McMillan as Atticus Pünd.

—A Very Royal Scandal, Amazon Prime

While, yes, you are correct, there was already a dramatized version of Prince Andrew’s scandal starring Gillian Anderson, titled Scoop which aired on Netflix, now, in the series depicting “very” British scandals over the decades, the third season is titled A Very Royal Scandal and stars Michael Sheen as the disgraced and entitled Prince Andrew and Ruth Wilson as the determined reporter Emily Maitlis. The mini series premieres on Amazon Prime on Thursday September 19th and includes three episodes. Have a look at the trailer below.

—We Solve Murders by Richard Osman

If you too enjoyed Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club series, then you may want to explore picking up his new mystery that will be released this coming Tuesday and looks to be his new series. We Solve Murders centers around a retiree who is enjoying his new way of life Steve Wheeler and Amy Wheeler, his daughter-in-law, who thinks adrenaline is good for the soul.

The sleuthing begins when Amy, while working on a remote island protecting mega-bestselling author Rosie D’Antonio, has her job upended when a dead body and a bag of money cause a change of plans. So she sends an SOS to the only person she trusts . . . yep, Steve who much prefers his familiar routines: the pub quiz, his favorite bench, his cat waiting for him at home.

The family business of solving murders begins on the pages of this new series.

Film

—The Critic

Ian McKellen stars as a powerful London theater critic who becomes entangled in a web of deceit and murder. Bribes, blackmailing and excessive drama co-mingle to create a suspenseful new film. The star of a favorite British series of mine and chosen as a Petit Plaisir Funny Woman Gemma Arterton is also part of the cast, as well as Lesley Manville. Have a look at the trailer below and look for it in theaters today.

Francophile Finds

—Candice Renoir, season 10, AcornTV

Mondays and Candice Renoir! I always whiz through each season far too quickly, but that speaks to the likability of the characters and the plot lines. Yep, season 10 will begin on AcornTV this coming Monday September 16th (currently the cast is filming season 12, so we have much more to enjoy as we move along). Set in Sete, France, a harbor in the south on the Mediterranean near Montpellier, Candice has a unique but savvy approach to solving crimes, but it is her personal life that also keeps viewers intrigued – leading with her heart, but also her carefree personality, between the love of her four children, and her on-again, off-again colleague, now boss Antoine, there is never a shortage for storylines.

—Molly J Wilkinson’s Online Pastry School discount exclusively for TSLL readers!

After offering as a giveaway a gift from Molly Wilkinson’s online boutique during TSLL’s 9th Annual French Week this past August, Molly has reached out to extend an exclusive discount to TSLL readers who may be interested in her Online Pastry School. Valid through September 21st, you have two options to save: Enjoy one extra free month on a yearly subscription – that’s 3 months free (a savings of $84) – when you use code 1MONTHFREE or enjoy 50% off your first month with a monthly subscription when you use promo code TSLL50.

Happy French baking!

—Rosaé Paris, Le Grégoire, the iconic oversized boyfriend shirt in sustainable fabric

There is always a reason to have an oversized white button-up in the closet, and French clothing brand Rosaé’s Le Grégoire ticks all the right boxes (other colors are available as well, and one in stripes too!)

—Scaffolding: A Novel by Lauren Elkin

Perhaps you read Lauren Elkin’s acclaimed  Flâneuse a couple of years ago? Well now, in her novel debut titled Scaffolding, she is perking up the ears of editors and critics for all the right reasons. Centered around two different time periods in Paris, 2019 and 1972, “Two couples, fifty years apart, face the challenges of marriage, fidelity, and pregnancy. They inhabit this same small space in separate but similar times―times charged with political upheaval and intellectual controversy. A novel in the key of Éric Rohmer, Lauren Elkin’s Scaffolding is about the way our homes collect and hold our memories and our stories, about the bonds we create and the difficulty of ever fully severing them, about the ways all the people we’ve loved live on in us”. Look for the book to be released this coming Tuesday.

Music

—Mendelssohn, Isata Kanneh-Mason

Being released today is a new album from British pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason, a follow-up to complement the critically acclaimed 2024 film The Other Mendelssohn, which explored the life of the exceptionally talented but overlooked Fanny Mendelssohn, later Fanny Hensel. In the film, they uncover the fact that the Easter Sonata, a piece lost for 150 years, was in fact written by Fanny, not Felix. Isata was the first artist to perform the work attributed to the correct composer.

In this musical album ‘Mendelssohn’ “explores three facets of one of the most famous names in classical music: the glittering Piano Concerto No.1 by Felix with the London Mozart Players; the long-lost ‘Easter Sonata’ by his sister Fanny as well as transcriptions by other composers of Mendelssohn’s most famous music”. Listen to one of the selections below and look for the album today.

Shopping

—Dôen Harvest Fair Isle knitted sweater, on sale!

A classic of a style of sweater to have in the fall and winter wardrobe, and currently, this style is available at a wonderful price and in nearly all sizes at the moment.

—Inslee Calendars, 2025

Each year I purchase one of Inslee’s boxed calendars and always look forward to seeing what her new designs will be for each month. As many TSLL readers know, Inslee was the first illustrator for The Simply Luxurious Life and created the woman and pup you see at the top of the blog along with all of the illustrations in the first and second book. Each month, when a new A Cuppa Moments is released here on the blog, it is this calendar that you see welcoming members to join us for a Cuppa and our monthly conversation.

Calendars just became available yesterday and four different boxes are available to choose from. I choose the ‘Willie’ (see to the far-right in the stack of three), but all calendar pages are the same regardless of the box you choose.

—Veronica Beard Lloyd Striped Button-Down Shirt, navy/white

While yes, a white button up is a great staple to have, so too is a navy stripe, and as I love Veronica Beard’s designs for their fit of my long arms, this shirt is on my wishlist. And aren’t the jeans fantastic as well? Shop the denim wide-leg pants, Taylor Belted Jean in Dusted Oxford, here.

—Yes Aviator Optical Frames (sunglasses too)

Earlier this week on Instagram I snapped the photo below and shared on IG Stories. One of the main focuses of my zhushing up of my capsule wardrobe has been to add a few new optical frames, and I have been wanting for some time a pair of classic, tear-drop aviators. While I had my eye on Cutler & Gross’s, the price tag was just too exorbitant. Then, I found the frames from Yes. The price only $48 which seems absurdly. low, but I wanted a light-weight classic pair and that is exactly what these are – I love them. There are multiple finishes, and what you see me wearing below are the Yesterday frames in ‘shiny gold’. I figured for $50 I would give them a try – it wouldn’t hurt, and it turns out, it was actually a very smart purchase.

I purchase all of my frames without prescription lenses and then take them to my eye doctor and have them put in my anti-fatigue, light-weight prescription lenses. It does cost more than the frames themselves, quite a bit more, but I know for sure I am getting what I need and that they will be light-weight. (You can also purchase these frames with no prescription, as sunglasses and many other options are also available.)

Television

—76th Primetime Emmy Awards

If you enjoy award shows, the Primetime Emmys tend to kick off the season and really, kick off the new television season for the year as well. Hosted by Gene and Dan Levy this year, humor will be present, albeit no doubt dry and witty. And of course, the red carpet kicks the evening off which is always a good time. Tune in this Sunday on ABC/Hulu at 5pm Pacific/8pm Eastern.

September and dahlias. Ahhhh. And when Wednesday’s rain arrived, even more ahas were expressed as the smoke evaporated across the area relieving central Oregonians after many days of staying inside and dusting off ashes from the outdoor furniture and flowers. The cooler temps have been lovely for all sorts of reasons, and even though this means fall is near, just nine days away officially, tranquility surrounds the days and nights at the moment which may prompt disbelief, but I feel it. Do you?

This week on TSLL, the blog’s regular postings do not end with today’s This & That. Nope! Because tomorrow the seventh season of TSLK cooking show premieres!

Stop by to watch the first of six episodes (a new episode will be shared each Saturday through October) tomorrow morning where we will begin with a recipe from Provence presented three different ways to utilize all of the fresh produce found at the market at the moment. Catch up on all of the past seasons of the cooking show here.

The week that was involved Mr. Norman in a big and celebratory way as he turned 15! Thank you to everyone who wished him a happy birthday. He felt the love and I am so tickled he is here and doing oh so well to receive it and enjoy it!

Also this week, I had the opportunity to be a guest on the Frugal Friends podcast with hosts Jen Smith and Jill Sirianni where I talked about how Contentment really does lead to better spending decisions, episode #440. You can listen to the episode below and view their show notes for highlights of our conversation.

And I don’t know about you, but a few episodes of Emily in Paris may or may not have been watched by the time you read this post 😉 (part deux premiered last night!), and before the weekend begins I am looking forward to joining one of my neighbors who is also a friend on a blind wine tasting outing in downtown Bend. Should be fun however successful (or not) my guessings are on what I am sipping. Other than that, the weekend will unfold as it will, and I hope you too have the opportunity to both look forward to something enjoyable as well as let go and just be as finding that balance often offers up wonderful moments.

Thank you for stopping by today, and until tomorrow, bonne journée !

~This brought a chuckle to my morning when I saw it on my IG feed – Isabella Rossellini taking her sheep by personal escort from their summer job (keeping her lawn mowed) back to the farm.

~Since we’re on the eve of season 7 of TSLL’s cooking show, a conversation with the recently retired (after nearly 30 years and five presidents) White House chef Cristeta Comerford. [NPR]

~Zac Posen and The Gap have teamed up! [NYTimes]

~A Parisian apartment that while small, 650 sq ft, feels much larger due to its subtle vibrant color scheme. [Clever/AD]

~The historic brasseries of Paris and where to dine [France Today, members subscription]

~This recipe from Nigel Slater looks absolutely delicious and full of simple autumnal flavors – baked potatoes, rollmops and capers [The Guardian]

~A video tour of Nigel Slater’s garden in London, small, but might. I adore all of his foxgloves.[Gardens Illustrated] His new book comes out October 1st – A Thousand Feasts.

~Why are people so fascinated with seeing how other people live (i.e. peeking inside their homes)? (I am guilty of this as well, always so curious!) [House & Garden UK]

~The 5 Pillars of Mindful Awareness that will change your life [Tiny Buddha]

~7 foundational pieces of a classic wardrobe for 2024 [Who What Wear, UK]

~Have a look inside how Emily (aka Lily Collins) actually lives, in her house in LA with husband Charlie McDowell. [Vogue Living]

~Kate Winslett’s words about life and what she has learned over the years. [Harper’s Bazaar] (Thank you to the many readers who forwarded me this video this past week, you know not only me, but TSLL community very well. :))

~Explore last week’s This & That: September 6, 2024

The fall season has begun, and that means new series premiere – a new French series too, and the return of favorite series. Also, three new films premiere this week that run from light-hearted, to serious to playful and contemplative. Also, clothing finds, those quintessential essentials that both finish a fall ensemble, but also lift the outfit to effortless chic. Two new books take us to Paris, and if you are looking for colorful, fun yoga pants, I have found the brand you’ve been looking for. All of that and much more to peruse and explore. 

~Please note: TSLL is supported by you, readers who take the time to stop by (merci!), peruse and sometimes welcome into your life mentioned and recommended finds. Affiliate links are present in today’s post and may earn commissions for TSLL when you purchase. View TSLL’s full Privacy Policy here.