WEEKLY R.E.P.O.R.T.

I can’t be the only person suffering from One Direction infection in 2026! And suffering from a shortage of good books

Reading: This week I have been slogging my way through the novel Hot Milk by Deborah Levy. The book is about a post-grad named Sofia, who has taken her ‘sick’ mother to Spain to get specialized help from a doctor there and we slowly see that both women are more mentally suffering than they are physically. My qualms with this book is that there is very little plot, which is not always needed for a good story, but the lack of likeable (or even intriguing) characters or suspense makes this novel hard to get through. I am bored, which is hard to say when reading something described as surreal and absurd. I think parts are repetitive, and I think parts are underdeveloped. I am not enjoying this book which makes me sad because I read this author in my undergrad contemporary lit course and I loved her! What is going on, girl?

Eating: Chicken parm! Thank you to all the Italians in my life who make it possible for me to consume chicken parm any time I want. I owe it all to you guys.

Playing: Ever since being in London at the start of spring, I have been deep into a relapse of my One Direction obsession. As a kid, I thought of England as defined only by Liam Payne and Zoella, and now that I have been, I have to say those still were the primary subjects on my mind!

Obsessing over: I was considering putting this in the ‘Recommending’ section of the blog, but if me and all my 8 closest friends/subscribers all had the same t-shirt, I would stop feeling so special and hot with mine on. My obsession this week has been the Aritizia Cassette Rib Capsleeve t-shirt. What a perfect cutie silhouette that makes me feel like the coolest girl at the function (the function most likely being White Rice Wednesday, our Survivor watch party, in my friend’s apartment).

Recommending: I am recommending Bria Stuart as a whole, or the ‘This is Niche, But’ podcast as an entry into her stuff. She is like The Toast but with better politics and a co-host who reminds me so much of my own boyfriend. Shout out to Bria and Will! You two are my heroes.

Trying: I am trying to find a knitting project that is beginner friendly, interesting for me to want to work on, and not a scarf (because it’s almost summer). If anyone has a baby that needs a blanket, let me know! If anyone wants a square of alternating coloured stripes, I can do that! Someone send me a link to a fun and EASY summer knitting project. Thanks!

And with that, I will R.E.P.O.R.T. back next week,

Sarah E