Normally you’d see New Jersey behind me

We’re a few days into April and so far it’s been a crapshoot.

March went out with a bang with what was probably the most beautiful day we’ve had all year—50’s and sunny and perfect for being outside. April though, I hate to tell ya, but so far you’ve sucked. As you can see, I’ve got a disposition to match the weather.

On Monday, we got dumped on with the most snow New York City has seen in April in 30 years, and since then it’s been a freezing, slushy, sloppy mess. It’s extra offensive because this weekend was such a tease of spring, and now it feels like mother nature is throwing it back in our faces.

It also doesn’t help that I’ve got a cold that’s been holding on for a week—one of those cases of the sniffles that’s not so bad you have to call in sick but that’s juuust bad enough to make it feel like your head is filled with cotton balls. Getting soaked and shivery every time I venture out of my apartment isn’t helping matters.

This weather is the kind that makes you want to eat danishes and mashed potatoes and creamy soup and all of the cheese, and drink spiced wine at 4 p.m. Which is fine when it’s December and basically everyone is on vacation, but not that great for functioning on a random Tuesday.

In short, I’m in a foul mood and ready for warmer weather.

If I have to say something nice, I’ll at least say it’s been a chance to catch up on my books and my shows.

I recently finished Me Before You and its sequel, After You, both of which I liked a lot. They follow a 20-something woman, Louisa Clark, who at the start of the first book is living with her parents, working as a waitress and generally not doing much of anything with her life. When she gets laid off, a new job opportunity connects her with a wheelchair-bound paraplegic named Will Traynor, and the books follow the unlikely way Louisa’s life unfolds from there.

It’s not the type of series I’d usually choose to read, but I picked it for a plane ride and couldn’t put the first one down. The second one dragged a bit in the middle but finished strong. There’s a third book in the series, Still Me, which I think I’ll read eventually, but I want to switch things up with some non-fiction in between (any recommendations?).

Oh! While we’re on the book front, I have to mention two others I absolutely loved from a few months back, The Nightingale and Little Fires Everywhere. Stop what you’re doing right now and order both. Full disclosure, The Nightingale is a heavy read, but I think it might be in my top three books of all time. Thanks Steph and Meredith for the recommendations.

On the TV front, John and I just finished season one of Westworld and holy crap, what did I just watch? I have no idea what prompted me to watch this show—it’s a mix of sci-fi and western, two genres I pretty much never touch—but I’m glad I did.

The characters are easy to fall in love with and the premise is completely different from anything else that’s out there. Without including any spoilers, I’ll say season one did not give me the ending I was hoping for, but it definitely left me ready and eager for season two, which conveniently starts April 22. If you’re looking for something different and don’t mind a bit (okay, a ton) of violence, it’s worth checking out.

Since it appears this shitty excuse for spring weather will be sticking around for at least another week, I’d love to hear any other good books, shows or movies you recommend for days huddled up on the couch. Leave me a comment below and share!

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