Entertainment
10 Most Ambitious Books of All Time
Books certainly aren’t restricted the way movies generally are, though there are definitely experimental films that run for far longer than two hours. But books can be hundreds and hundreds of pages long, and some are in the 1000-to-2000-page range before the notion of splitting things into volumes has to be considered, which makes the time commitment to reading some books much more like watching a multi-season TV show or a lengthy video game than watching a film.
So, there are probably more ambitious and overall gargantuan books than there are movies. Some are classics, including a bunch below. There’s a mix of older and some slightly newer works here, but they’re included because they’re all among the most ambitious books of all time, with a lot of ground covered, so many words to read, and – for most of them – approximately 1000 or so pages you’ll need to physically turn to get through everything.
10
‘Les Misérables’ (1862)
To start with an easy and obvious pick, here’s Les Misérables, which is famous for being very long and very heavy-going. There are almost two decades covered, with fictional characters existing and struggling during a tumultuous time in French history; namely, from the mid-1810s until the June Rebellion in Paris, which took place in 1832 (so not part of the French Revolution of the late 1700s, though that mistake does sometimes get made).
If you want to be flippant, you could also say Les Misérables is a novel about a guy who steals a loaf of bread, and then miserable (or misérable?) things happen. There are some tangents, lots of side characters and subplots, and just a lot of stuff that feels sprawling in general, but it is all rewarding and interesting, even if there are parts that don’t necessarily focus on the main plot, nor the truly “main” characters. It’s a classic for good reason, and one of those books everyone seems to agree, uncontroversially, is an essential one as far as world literature is concerned.
9
‘House of Leaves’ (2000)
House of Leaves is written and presented in a way that’s meant to make you feel like you’re going more than a little mad, and it’s also impressively layered, to say the least. There are a few different accounts of a documentary called “The Navidson Record,” with analysis of the contents of said documentary being covered throughout, and it’s mostly about a house with a mortifying secret (or some kind of portal) inside.
There’s a lot more to it than it being a haunted house novel, though, with some parts of House of Leaves also being weirdly funny, other parts being just weird, and even more parts that manage to be scary in ways that aren’t necessarily related to “The Navidson Record.” It’s a probably unadaptable beast of a book that finds so many interesting and unique things to do with certain horror conventions, and stands as the kind of thing you do need to read if you want to believe it (and even then, believing might remain somewhat difficult).
8
‘Underworld’ (1997)
If Underworld progressed in chronological order, it would still qualify as quite ambitious, what with it being dense, covering a great deal of history (much of the second half of the 20th century), and being lengthy, at over 800 pages. Structurally, though, it’s all those things plus something told largely in reverse, starting with a story about a prized baseball from a match in the early 1950s, and then jumping forward to the 1990s.
It’s about people who had – or wanted to have – that baseball in their possession, but everything keeps jumping back, and though there are some people in it who are sort of main characters, Underworld goes off on tangents fairly often. It does so in a way that works unusually well, with there being something powerful about the novel overall, even if it sometimes feels hard to say just what exactly makes it feel such a way.
7
‘The Second World War’ (2012)
The ambition here goes a little further than you might expect, since The Second World War covers some events that happened in the lead-up to 1939, which was the “official” start of World War II. It’s a way to set things up before the bulk of the book focuses on a very complex, sizable, and world-shattering event, with about as much detail as you can get when you’re doing only one book on the whole subject.
There are 50 chapters all up, and they’re about a whole range of different battles, events, and developments within the overall conflict. If you want more than an overview, it would, naturally, be better to find books that focus on a more specific part of the Second World War, but for a breathless recount of so much that happened during the biggest – and most impactful – event of the 20th century, you do get that here, condensed into a single book, which is undoubtedly impressive.
6
‘Against the Day’ (2006)
Having a one book per author limit here makes things a bit difficult, because there’s an argument to be made that Gravity’s Rainbow is Thomas Pynchon’s most ambitious book, owing to it being his densest, or maybe Mason & Dixon, since that one is so stylistically surprising and singular. Both of them are long and sprawling for sure, but Against the Day is longer than either, and it feels like more of a conventional epic.
Well, a conventional epic in the sense that it spans a good deal of time and has many characters, but then the rest of it’s quite unconventional in the way you can usually rely on a Pynchon novel to be. It’s a work of historical fiction that spans 1893 to 1918, and has countless characters, some borderline fantasy/sci-fi elements, and cameos from real-life figures throughout. Against the Day is often bewildering and a bit exhausting, but it’s also extremely impressive and, for the most part, rather rewarding, if you’ve got the time and patience for it.
5
‘Infinite Jest’ (1996)
Infinite Jest is a psychological something of a novel. Not really a psychological thriller, but maybe a psychological dramedy would be the best way to describe it? Even then, it’s kind of a mystery just because of how confounding it is, and how little certain things seem to line up with everything else. You’re also dealing with non-chronological storytelling here, and a massive number of characters, with some of them being residents at a drug and alcohol recovery program, others being members of a tennis academy, and some other people being radicals/revolutionaries.
You need two bookmarks and probably about 30 hours (at a minimum) to read a book like this, and then re-reads are necessary if you want to even come close to getting a grip on most of it.
And that’s before getting to the fact that Infinite Jest is over 1000 pages long (the font is small, and the style is such that most pages are filled with text), plus there’s all the footnotes to take into account, because they’re about the length of a short novel on their own. You need two bookmarks and probably about 30 hours (at a minimum) to read a book like this, and then re-reads are necessary if you want to even come close to getting a grip on most of it. As for understanding all of it… if you want to dedicate your life to reading and analyzing Infinite Jest, sure. No, not sure. Maybe. Godspeed.
4
‘Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy’ (2007)
Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy is the longest book here, at over 1600 pages, and it’s also a hefty-sized book with so many words per page. By comparison, the Kindle version of Reclaiming History (which doesn’t have to worry about being bound), is 5,919 pages, though that surely includes the approximately 1000 pages of footnotes. If you want to see them after buying a physical copy of the book, you can, but they come on a CD with each physical copy.
So, 2600 pages, and those pages have the number of words you’d probably find on two pages of a more regularly formatted book. And so many of those pages exist to refute every single conspiracy theory regarding the assassination of John F. Kennedy, with a decent chunk of those pages also serving as a comprehensive overview of the event itself, and the chaotic/eventful days that immediately followed. It’s exhaustive, but perhaps the ultimate resource for covering just about everything you could want from a book on the subject (there are fictional and even sci-fi-related stories about it, sure, but this is arguably the definitive non-fiction book about the event).
3
‘The Stand’ (1978/1990)
There are two versions of The Stand, and they both tell the same story, but the 1990 uncut version is much longer, and it shifts the events of the story forward by a decade. You got either an 800-ish-page-long book about a flu wiping out most of humanity and a battle for the human race’s future, or a book that’s about 1200 pages long about the same thing.
Stephen King went all out for both, since The Stand (1978) was easily his most ambitious book at the time, and remained so until arguably IT (1986), but then The Stand (1990) outdid IT, in terms of page-count and scale, so it’s about as big as a Stephen King book has gotten. There are other beefy ones, of course, and if you were to count The Dark Tower as one cohesive story, then that would technically be his biggest and most sweeping epic to date, given there are seven main books that make up the overall continuous story in that series, all of them published over a period of a bit over 20 years.
2
‘The Lord of the Rings’ (1954–1955)
The one book that will rank ahead of The Lord of the Rings here is a work of historical fiction, but then again, The Lord of the Rings almost is, too. It’s just a history that’s entirely fictional, and there’s an argument to be made that J.R.R. Tolkien inventing it all and planning everything so thoroughly, all the while doing more by way of world-building than just about anyone ever, is more astounding than doing a more conventional work of historical fiction.
There’s a narrative here about a war that’s building while two Hobbits undertake a dangerous journey to destroy a very important Ring, but there’s also so much more to The Lord of the Rings than just the main narrative. It could be only the narrative, and it would still be a classic, but it’s the way Tolkien makes Middle-earth feel so convincing and tangible that makes The Lord of the Rings particularly special. As corny as it might sound, you can almost believe that Middle-earth did really exist, at some point. Tolkien does an outstanding job at maintaining – and building upon – that illusion, so to speak.
1
‘War and Peace’ (1869)
War and Peace feels a little in line, ambition-wise, with Les Misérables, and they were both published in the same decade, too. War and Peace involves Russian history, though, even if France does factor into the plot and some of the conflict, seeing as War and Peace takes place during the Napoleonic Wars, and there’s a similar amount of time covered in Les Misérables, going from about 1805 to 1820, rather than that previously mentioned novel’s span of 1815 to 1832.
There are stretches of War and Peace that aren’t too narrative-focused, with Leo Tolstoy using some of his 1200+ pages to unpack history and philosophical ideas, too. Like with Les Misérables, it’s all compelling and well-written, so he more than gets away with it. War and Peace is famously huge, and beyond iconic, as an epic… maybe even the ultimate epic, so here it is, trumping all the other books, and standing, arguably, as the most ambitious piece of literature of all time.
War and Peace
- Release Date
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March 14, 1966
- Runtime
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393 Minutes
- Director
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Sergey Bondarchuk
- Writers
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Sergey Bondarchuk, Vasiliy Solovyov, Leo Tolstoy
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Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce‘s wedding plans have generated months of excitement, with fans closely watching every rumored detail about the guest list.
One question, however, has finally been settled. Despite fueling speculation with a playful remark earlier this year, Prince William and Kate Middleton will not be attending the couple’s highly anticipated celebration, bringing one of the biggest wedding rumors to an end.
For weeks, royal watchers wondered whether the Prince and Princess of Wales would be among the celebrity guests celebrating Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding.
According to PEOPLE, that will not happen. Prince William and Kate Middleton are not expected to attend the upcoming ceremony, despite widespread speculation that suggested they could make a surprise appearance.
Much of the excitement began after Prince William appeared on “Heart Breakfast” in May. During the interview, co-host Amanda Holden asked whether he had already received an invitation to the wedding.
William smiled before replying, “No comment.” He then playfully added, “I’m hoping, and I’m sure there might be an invitation around, but we’ll see.”
His remarks immediately sparked online discussion, with many believing the royal couple might be among the wedding’s high-profile guests. That speculation has now officially come to an end.
Prince William’s Friendship With Taylor Swift Spans Years
Although William and Kate will miss the wedding, the relationship between the royal family and Taylor Swift stretches back more than a decade.
Their first memorable meeting came in 2013 during the Centrepoint Winter Whites Gala at Kensington Palace, where William joined Swift and Jon Bon Jovi on stage for an unexpected performance of “Livin’ on a Prayer.”
Years later, their friendship resurfaced during Swift’s Eras Tour stop at Wembley Stadium in June 2024.
To celebrate his 42nd birthday, William attended the concert with Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
During the show, he was seen enthusiastically dancing to “Shake It Off,” while Charlotte was said to be especially excited to see the global superstar.
William also revealed during his radio interview that both Charlotte and Louis are fans of Swift, with Charlotte, in particular, being “obsessed.”
Taylor Swift’s Royal Connection Continues Despite Wedding Absence
Following the Wembley concert, Swift shared a backstage selfie with Prince William, Prince George, and Princess Charlotte.
Travis Kelce also posed alongside the royal family in another photograph that quickly spread across social media.
Alongside the image, Swift wrote, “Happy Bday M8! London shows are off to a splendid start,” tagging Prince William and Princess Kate’s official account while adding Union Jack, American flag, and handshake emojis.
The warm exchange only strengthened public belief that the Prince and Princess of Wales might receive an invitation to one of the year’s biggest celebrity weddings.
While that prediction has not come true, the friendly relationship between the two sides appears unchanged.
Wedding Preparations Gather Pace In New York
Although Prince William and Kate Middleton will not be present, preparations for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding continue to generate plenty of attention.
According to Page Six, workers briefly rolled out a red carpet outside Madison Square Garden on Tuesday before quickly removing it moments later.
An employee reportedly confirmed that the decorations were intended for a “wedding,” but another individual explained that the carpet had been installed ahead of schedule and was promptly removed.
The brief appearance of the red carpet sparked even more curiosity as anticipation builds for what is expected to be one of the year’s biggest celebrity events.
Reports indicate Swift and Kelce are set to exchange vows at Madison Square Garden on Friday after hosting a more intimate rehearsal dinner the previous evening.
Celebrity Guests Prepare For Taylor Swift And Travis Kelce’s Big Day
While the royal couple won’t be joining the festivities, plenty of familiar faces are still expected to attend.
According to Page Six, the rehearsal dinner will host around 100 guests, offering a smaller gathering before the much larger wedding celebration.
Among the confirmed attendees are Zoë Kravitz, Karlie Kloss, Suki Waterhouse, NFL star Kyle Juszczyk, and several of the couple’s close friends.
The guest list reflects the worlds Swift and Kelce have brought together throughout their relationship, blending music, sports, fashion, and Hollywood into one of the most talked-about celebrations of the year.
Former “Real Housewives of Potomac” star Mia Thornton was recently called out for seemingly using AI to pass off someone else’s photos as her own. Now that her mishap has become a social media trend, her former “RHOP” co-stars, Gizelle Bryant and Robyn Dixon, are revealing their humorous reactions.
This comes after Thornton recently announced a career pivot following her “Housewives” departure.
Bryant and Dixon recently appeared on their “Reasonably Shady” podcast to react to the photo controversy surrounding Thornton. For context, the former “RHOP” star has been accused of taking a photo of influencer Sophie O’Neill‘s body and adding her head to pass the image off as her own.
They began discussing the topic, with Bryant saying, “Speaking of not growing, are we gonna talk about Mia and the AI of it all?” Dixon then joked about their former costar, “AI has gotten Mia.”
After that, they explained the situation, stating that many other social media users are creating their own takes of the photos, with even some Bravo stars joining in, including “Real Housewives of Orange County” star Tamra Judge.
The ‘RHOP’ Stars Pointed Out Flaws With Mia Thornton’s Photos
As Bryant and Dixon continued discussing Thornton and her use of O’Neil’s photo, they began to discuss some of the issues fans had pointed out with the social media content. Dixon stated, “She AIed herself onto this woman’s body.”
She continued, “Mia didn’t take her whole hips. The picture, you can see Mia looks slimmer than the girl.” They also highlighted that the photo features a rare Hermes handbag that Thornton does not herself own. Dixon also mentioned how Thornton’s photo included the same background as O’Neill’s original photo.
After that, the pair reacted to Thornton’s threat of legal action over the criticisms she faced for the doctored image. According to them, “Mia, just stop talking. The legal notice should be going to you, Mia. Why are you sending anybody legal notices? There is no way this is fake news.”
Toward the end of the clip, Dixon said, “You definitely superimposed yourself- it’s the same background, same hands, same… Why are we doing this?”
‘RHOP’ Fans Are Having Fun With The Controversy
“The Real Housewives of Potomac” fans are weighing in not only on Thornton’s photo controversy but also on her former co-stars’ take on the situation. One person said of Dixon and Bryant, “I love them together! Gizelle and Robyn are my favs!”
Someone else said, “Mia cut it out.” Another person reacted to Bryant’s comments about the changing of the hips in the photo, stating, “Didn’t take her whole hips. lol.” A different “RHOP” fan mentioned Bryant’s prior issues with Thornton, noting, “Gizelle never misses an opponent’s to put Mia in her place.”
A different social media user chimed in, saying, “This is why we need Mia back on the show. She’s the perfect amount of delusional. She brought a balance to ‘RHOP’ that’s been missing.”
Lastly, another fan said, “Gizelle and Robyn gave me such a laugh.”
Sophie Also Called Out Mia Thornton
According to Page Six, Thornton posted the now-deleted photo to Instagram in June 2026. After being called out online for the picture appearing to have been edited, the “RHOP” alum received a reply from O’Neil herself. The model said, “@mrsmiathornton — super imposing yourself onto my picture. The world is a very scary place these days — this is just sad.”
She added, “Please can you remove the picture of ME with your head on it. Thanks.” Later, Thornton posted another photo of herself wearing the same white dress. This time, she could be seen sitting down at a restaurant. She captioned the post, “Never needed clout. My name carries enough weight on its own.”
The former Bravo star then said, “Let me guess, what’s her name has a photo sitting down inside the restaurant too.”
Mia Recently Announced Her New Career Venture
Thornton announced her departure from “The Real Housewives of Potomac” in April 2025. Since then, she hasn’t had the best go of things and, according to PEOPLE, was arrested in November 2025 for theft at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
The arrest came after she was accused of removing furniture from a rental property “in the middle of the night.” However, following the one-day jail stint, she’s seemingly on the path to greener pastures. Thornton took to Instagram in June 2026 to share her latest career feat, becoming a Marketing Executive.
She said in a caption, “Stepping into my next season—and doing it boldly. I’m proud to officially announce my work with HITCloud as a Branding and Marketing Executive. This isn’t just a move… it’s a mindset. It’s about growth, elevation, and owning every room I walk into.”
The former “RHOP” star added, “To every woman watching this: you don’t have to wait your turn. Build your own table. This is only the beginning.”
By Douglas Helm
| Published
There was once a time when The Walking Dead was must-watch television, as the early seasons had people absolutely gripped with its take on an apocalyptic zombie-infested world where the humans were just as scary as the so-called “Walkers.” While the show had some people drop off in later seasons, myself included, it’s maintained a loyal following and has become a full-blown franchise for AMC. If you’re interested in re-visiting this popular series or checking it out for the first time, you can stream it now on Netflix.
More Lore Than You Could Shake A Stick At
The Walking Dead is the type of series that draws you in instantly with its first episode, which was directed by series creator and first season showrunner Frank Darabont.
Based on the comic series of the same name by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard, this is a distinct zombie-filled world and there’s plenty of atmosphere and interesting characters to get you invested right from the jump. The first season also happens to be one of the best seasons, with the quality sort of rollercoastering after that.
The Walking Dead, at first, follows survivor and sheriff Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) who becomes the leader of a group of survivors in the zombie apocalypse in Atlanta, Georgia.
While Lincoln’s character gives us a central lead to anchor many seasons of the series, it is undoubtedly an ensemble show with a great cast that also includes Norman Reedus, Steven Yeun, Chandler Riggs, Melissa McBride, Lauren Cohan, Danai Gurira, Josh McDermitt, Christian Serratos, Seth Gilliam, Ross Marquand, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and many more. One thing the show does really well is creating characters who run the gamut from likable and understandable to abhorrent and extremely hateable.
Not A Quick Binge
The Walking Dead also isn’t opposed to killing its darlings, with the heightened tension of essentially anyone being in danger of dying throughout the show’s run. Which is a long tie to maintain tension, because this show went on for a whopping 11 seasons and 177 episodes before eventually ending in 2022. A light binge, this show is not.
With that being said, be prepared to not love every season of The Walking Dead. It’s hard enough to maintain quality for just a few seasons, but with 11 seasons across multiple showrunners, you have to expect that not everything is going to be great. Personally, I dropped off after the season with The Governor, but generally, most fans like the first five seasons and the last few seasons.
The Walking Dead definitely has a lull in the middle of its 11-season run with the sixth, seventh, and eighth seasons only getting middling reviews. I can wholeheartedly recommend at least the first few seasons but you’ll have to decide for yourself if the rest is worth watching.
The good news is, if you really enjoy the series on Netflix and the world of The Walking Dead, as many people do, then you’ll have numerous spin-offs like Fear the Walking Dead, World Beyond, Tales of the Walking Dead, Dead City, Daryl Dixon, and The Ones Who Live to dive into next.
Taylor Frankie Paul has taken a major step away from the spotlight after voluntarily checking into a rehab facility as personal and legal challenges continue to unfold.
The reality star’s decision comes after months of public scrutiny surrounding her relationship with Dakota Mortensen, a domestic assault investigation, and changes to her custody arrangement.
While those closest to Paul say she is focused on getting better, her latest move marks another chapter in a difficult year for the “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star.
Taylor Frankie Paul voluntarily entered a rehab facility after her doctor recommended she seek treatment, according to sources.
PEOPLE reported that the 32-year-old’s stay was entirely voluntary and that she has since left the facility.
A source told the outlet that Paul is “committed to getting better,” while another insider emphasized that those closest to her fully support the decision.
“The people around Taylor want her to get help,” the insider said, adding that everyone involved simply wants “to see her get better.”
The source also explained that protecting Paul’s children has become the top priority, saying, “Everyone is just trying to protect the kids.”
Recall that the influencer shares a two-year-old son, Ever, with former partner Dakota Mortensen, as well as a daughter, Indy, and a son, Ocean, with ex-husband Tate Paul.
Paul’s Rehab Stay Follows Domestic Assault Investigation
Taylor Frankie Paul’s decision to seek treatment follows months of legal developments involving Mortensen.
The former couple became the focus of an open domestic assault investigation tied to incidents that allegedly occurred on February 24 and 25.
The Draper Police Department confirmed the investigation to PEOPLE in March. Around the same time, footage from a 2023 incident was released, showing Paul yelling and throwing chairs at Mortensen while a child was nearby.
The reality star had previously been arrested on allegations of domestic violence in 2023. She later entered a guilty plea in abeyance to aggravated assault, meaning the charge would ultimately be dismissed if she complied with the conditions of her plea agreement.
The remaining charges connected to the case had already been dismissed. As the assault investigation continued, both Paul and Mortensen sought court protection.
Mortensen first requested a protective order in March before Paul filed one of her own in early April. Although prosecutors later announced they would not move forward with criminal charges against Paul, a judge ultimately approved mutual protective orders lasting three years.
Taylor Frankie Paul’s Custody Arrangement Changed As Legal Case Played Out
The legal proceedings also reshaped parenting arrangements involving Ever. When the protective orders were first granted, Mortensen retained custody while Paul was limited to supervised visitation for up to eight hours each week.
Supervision was required to be provided either by an approved individual or by someone selected through the guardian ad litem process.
That arrangement did not remain in place for long. Just over a month later, the court eased those restrictions, ending the requirement that Paul’s parenting time be supervised.
The revised order allows the reality TV star to spend one midweek day with Ever, without overnight visits, in addition to alternating weekends.
Holiday custody, however, remains with Mortensen, who was designated Ever’s custodial parent for those occasions.
Paul’s Reality TV Future Changed Amid Personal Struggles
The legal turmoil extended well beyond the courtroom. As news of the investigation surfaced, The Blast reported that production on season five of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” was paused.
When filming eventually resumed, Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen were no longer part of production. Even so, one source suggested Paul’s story with the series may not be finished.
The insider told PEOPLE she “has the option to return,” adding that a future appearance remains possible.
According to the same source, Paul received encouragement from both producers and cast members while focusing on rebuilding her personal life.
“She’s receiving strong support from the cast and producers but is focusing on her kids and mental health issues and recovery from an abusive relationship,” the source said.
The insider also claimed Paul “is doing great, and realizing how abusive her relationship actually was.”
Taylor Frankie Paul Also Lost ‘The Bachelorette’ Opportunity
At the same time “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” paused production, another major opportunity slipped away for Taylor Frankie Paul.
ABC canceled her season of “The Bachelorette” just three days before its scheduled premiere after the 2023 video showing Paul attacking Mortensen was made public.
Following the video’s release, a Disney Entertainment Television spokesperson announced the network’s decision.
“In light of the newly released video just surfaced today, we have made the decision to not move forward with the new season of The Bachelorette at this time, and our focus is on supporting the family,” the spokesperson said per The Blast.
Vanderpump Rules alum James Kennedy and his girlfriend, Jordan Meyers, are engaged ahead of welcoming their first baby.
“We’re engaged!!” Kennedy, 34, announced via Instagram on Tuesday, June 30, alongside photos from the proposal. “I love you, adventures with you forever and ever. Thank you for making me the luckiest guy in the world.❤️🔥.”
The couple’s engagement comes just weeks after news broke that they are expecting baby No. 1.
“We are thrilled to share that Jordan and I are expecting our first child together,” Kennedy, 34, told People in a June 11 statement. “We have previously kept our relationship out of the public eye, and this is the first time we’re sharing it publicly. We wanted to keep things personal while we were building our relationship together, and we’ve shared this news privately with close friends and family for some time now.”
Several stars took the next step in their relationships in 2026 by getting engaged to their significant others. Sports Illustrated model Clarissa Bowers kicked off the New Year by announcing her engagement to Jackson Morgan by showing off her ring via social media on January 4. Allison Holker joined the list on February 12 when […]
Meyers told the outlet that she is four months along and confirmed that the pair have been dating for eight months.
“The second I met James, we instantly felt such a strong spark between us,” she shared at the time. “We initially connected on Instagram and then met in person at one of his shows. I’m from North Carolina, so I went to visit James for what was supposed to be ‘three days,’ which has now turned into eight months together. Watching our love grow and preparing to become parents together has been the most incredible experience.”
Later that day, the expectant parents made their red carpet debut at the grand opening of The Vanderpump Hotel in Las Vegas, where Meyers debuted her baby bump in a sparkling pink and silver mini dress.
“As we prepare for this next chapter, it felt like the right moment to share it more widely,” Kennedy told People. “This is an incredibly special and meaningful time for us, and we feel deeply grateful to be stepping into this new chapter surrounded by love and support from our family and friends.”
James Kennedy‘s love life has played out almost entirely on Vanderpump Rules — from drama-fueled hookup rumors in the early seasons to a five-year engagement, a whirlwind post-split romance and, most recently, a pregnancy announcement with a girlfriend fans barely knew existed. After eight months of dating, Kennedy revealed in June 2026 that girlfriend Jordan […]
Prior to Meyers, the DJ was in a relationship with Ally Lewber from January 2022 to December 2024. They split on the heels of Kennedy’s arrest for domestic violence.
“I was not hurt physically. Emotionally, yes,” Lewber, 30, later clarified to People, adding that the couple had been arguing because she was “suspicious” that the sober reality star had relapsed.
Ultimately, prosecutors declined to press charges against Kennedy over the incident.
The Bravolebrity previously dated costar Rachel “Raquel” Leviss from 2016 to 2021. They were briefly engaged.
Love Island USA‘s Kenzie Annis stood behind her decision to explore multiple men at once in the villa.
During the Tuesday, June 30, episode of the show, Kenzie confessed to Dylan Wrona that she secretly had a makeout session with Gal Tshnieder. She defended her decision to explore her feelings for Gal — despite it upsetting Dylan.
“To me, a kiss is like a handshake,” Kenzie told Aniya Harvey the next morning. “I am just seeing if there is chemistry.”
While Dylan cried when he heard the news, he ultimately hooked up with Kenzie hours later. Their future remained unclear, however, as things have gotten tense in the villa — especially coming off of Casa Amor. When the experiment came to an end, some of the Islanders were at odds with host Ariana Madix having to step in to break up an argument.
While TV shows and movies have teams dedicated to making sure nothing goes wrong on the production side, things slip through the cracks from time to time. That’s where fans come in. Over the years, viewers have pointed out the entertainment industry’s mishaps including the famous Starbucks cup of 2019 that popped up in a […]
“It’s a lot of emotions. It’s a really hard night tonight,” she told the group. “It’s hard for the girls to come from Casa. It’s obviously gonna be really hard for you guys as well.”
She continued: “So if we could squash it now, that way we can get to everybody and we can find out how everyone’s feeling.”
This isn’t the first time Ariana has had to step in. Earlier this month, Ariana addressed claims that voting was rigged in the villa. The host
replied to an Instagram comment after Caleb McDaniel and Sol Dean were not announced as a top couple during the Thursday, June 18, episode of the show — despite an online campaign for the season 8 bombshells.
“Unfortunately, they were not in the top 4,” Ariana wrote in response to a message that read, “They @loveislandusa messing up the show.” Ariana also “liked” a comment which stated that “legally” production “can’t tamper with results” despite the speculation on social media.
Fans were left frustrated when Sol and Gabriel Vasconcelos ended up dumped from the villa following a group vote. This came after America chose their favorite couples — and the bottom three were left at risk of elimination, leaving the remaining girls to decide which guy went home and vice versa.
This isn’t the first time Ariana has had to step in to debunk rumors. In June 2025, Ariana slammed the insinuation that the show was “rigged,” telling The Wrap, “You can have whatever opinions you want to have about the show itself, but I will tell you: Don’t you start making up conspiracies.”
She continued: “I’m not a conspiracy theorist, so I’m the debunker.”
At the time, Ariana also denied that any Islanders were coming into the villa with a plan on how to win.
“As much as someone might try to gamify the show for themselves while they’re in there as an Islander, you cannot for 24 hours a day,” she added. “It’s nearly impossible to really be able to fully keep that mask on at all times.”
Ariana encouraged viewers to show their enthusiasm by voting, saying, “If America does feel a certain way about certain Islanders, they do get their say. So if someone is trying to super gamify everything, and if they find out that they’re in the bottom, they’ll be like, ‘Wait, oh.’”
New episodes of Love Island USA are released six days a week — except for Wednesdays — on Peacock.
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Entertainment
When does “Reacher” season 4 come out? Inside Alan Ritchson's next adventure — and the book it's adapting
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Prime Video is delivering a double-dose of action this year with a new season — and a spinoff.
Most genres aim to generate a strong emotional reaction. Thrillers are all about excitement and suspense, romance tries to get the audience to swoon with joy, and comedies never hide their intention of making the audience laugh. Horror is special. Its goal is to generate its own emotional reaction, as well as a viscerally physical response in the audience. As long as viewers are screaming, squirming, and covering their eyes in fear, the genre is doing its job.
Another genre that horror often blends remarkably well with is adventure, seeing as some of the greatest horror gems of all time also happen to be adventure movies. Both genres are rooted in sky-high stakes and overcoming monumental challenges, so watching a hero journey through a strange land while combating monsters, demons, and the like can often be absolutely engrossing. Overcoming the unknown is what both horror and adventure movies are all about, so the marriage between these two genres is often remarkable.
8
‘Lake Michigan Monster’ (2018)
Before he broke onto the cult comedy scene with Hundreds of Beavers, indie filmmaker Ryland Brickson Cole Tews charmed festival crowds with the irresistibly hilarious B-horror comedy Lake Michigan Monster. Inspired by the likes of Monty Python, the earlier seasons of The Simpsons, and the work of Canadian auteur Guy Maddin, it’s one of those forgotten 2010s movies that have aged like fine wine.
Micro-budget productions are always at their best when they celebrate their own cheapness, and that’s certainly what Lake Michigan Monster‘s whole sense of humor is founded on. It’s a hilarious mishmash of genres, influences, offbeat moments, and tributes to Golden-Age Hollywood B-horror movies; and though it’s not particularly scary, it’s still a must-see horror adventure production.
7
‘Creature from the Black Lagoon’ (1954)
A clear inspiration for Lake Michigan Monster, as well as for countless other horror movies that came after its release, Jack Arnold‘s Creature from the Black Lagoon was one of the last classic Universal Horror movies that the studio produced during Hollywood’s Golden Age. It still remains the best film in the franchise, a timeless classic that may not be all that terrifying nowadays anymore, but is still just as entertaining as it always has been.
The film was shot in 3D right as the fad was coming to an end, but whereas many 3D films from its time were so gimmick-heavy that they could never stand the test of time, Creature from the Black Lagoon actually has merits that have allowed it to remain iconic. Aside from pioneering groundbreaking underwater cinematography and introducing one of the most memorable monster designs in film history, the movie is also an unexpectedly emotional creature feature which has aged wonderfully.
6
‘The Descent’ (2005)
Directed by Neil Marshall, The Descent is one of the best British horror movies of the 21st century thus far. With an ending so overwhelmingly bleak that it was originally removed in North America, it truly is one of those horror adventures so harrowing that those with a weak stomach are better off steering clear. Horror veterans, on the other hand, ought to consider this one of those modern classics that they should watch at least once in their lives.
It’s one of the heaviest adventure movies of all time, enough to make pretty much anyone want to avoid spelunking for the rest of their lives. Claustrophobic, emotionally complex, and complete with some of the scariest monsters of any horror movie from the 2000s, it’s a near-masterpiece that focuses on gradually building up a hugely effective sense of suspense rather than on springing cheap jump scares on unsuspecting viewers.
5
‘Ravenous’ (1999)
Despite having an exceptional cast led by Guy Pearce at the top of his game, Ravenous is still one of the most underrated folk horror movies of all time. Set in the mid-19th-century US, this Western dark comedy is one of the most unique Westerns that the ’90s ever saw. After a troubled production history that included its original director being replaced by Antonia Bird three weeks into the shoot, the movie became a box office bomb upon release. In the years since, however, it has become a bit of a cult classic.
It’s definitely the sort of horror movie that favors style over substance, but that style is so darkly hilarious, so delightfully gory, and so entertainingly gonzo both in terms of tone and visuals that it’s hard to complain. It’s an almost experimental genre experiment that somehow works remarkably well on every level that matters, making it one of those criminally underappreciated ’90s gems that deserve infinitely more love nowadays.
4
‘Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack’ (2001)
It was 1954’s Godzilla that pretty much invented the entire kaiju genre, a cornerstone of the horror genre so groundbreaking and important that no list of the best horror movies ever could ever possibly be complete without at least one kaiju classic. In the case of this particular list, that kaiju classic is a relatively modern one: Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack, by far one of the best Japanese Godzilla movies to date.
Serving as a direct sequel to the original Godzilla by ignoring the events of every other installment in the series, it’s one of the most suspenseful, entertaining, and visually impressive entries in the franchise’s history. Turning Godzilla into a terrifying villain and his classic foes into heroic guardians was certainly a bold choice, but one that director Shusuke Kaneko pulls off exceptionally well. Balancing a strong human narrative with brutal monster action in precisely the way that all kaiju movies should aim for, it’s a must-see for all those who love adventure horror.
3
‘Alice’ (1988)
Not many people have heard of 1988’s Alice, and that’s perfectly okay, because this surrealist dark fantasy masterpiece by experimental Czech auteur Jan Švankmajer feels like exactly the sort of international indie gem destined to remain an obscure cult classic forever, the kind of masterpiece that makes you feel like you’ve discovered a gold mine when you finally watch it. It’s also the type of surreal movie that makes you feel like you’re tripping balls.
A loose adaptation of Lewis Carroll‘s legendary Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, this masterclass in surrealist filmmaking is an animated/live-action hybrid unlike any other. By no means does it carry much of the whimsical innocence of Carroll’s work, however. Instead, Švankmajer’s film operates on a nightmarish dream logic that should delight any fan of David Lynch‘s work, creating an unsettling, almost grotesque sense of absurdity which benefits the story marvelously.
2
‘King Kong’ (1933)
There would be no kaiju genre without King Kong, one of the most perfect fantasy movies of the 20th century. Combining live-action sequences with stop-motion animation in ways that were absolutely revolutionary at the time, the film may no longer look quite as convincing as it may have back in 1933, but its wonderful black-and-white imagery still titillates the imagination in ways that not many other creature features from the era ever could. Adventure monster films have been absolutely foundational for adventure horror, and King Kong is right up there as one of the most important.
The film single-handedly saved RKO Pictures from bankruptcy during the Great Depression, and it’s not at all hard to see why. Even all these many years later, it’s still one of the most entertaining horror movies from Hollywood’s Golden Age, a pre-Code classic that introduced cinema to one of its biggest icons. Visually magical, elevated by Max Steiner‘s timeless score, narratively weighty and emotional, and even complete with some unexpected thematic depth, it’s a real icon of the genre that will never get old.
1
‘Jaws’ (1975)
Nowadays, blockbusters are Hollywood’s bread and butter; but it was only in 1975 that Steven Spielberg became the father of blockbusters when he made the adventure creature feature Jaws. Never before had a film had such a widespread release strategy, nor such aggressive marketing, and the film industry simply hasn’t been the same since. All these many years later, this is still one of the best horror masterpieces of the ’70s, genuinely one of the most important movies in the history of American cinema.
As far as adventure horror goes, it simply doesn’t get much better than Jaws. What’s not to praise about this legendary masterpiece? It’s an absolute masterpiece in suspense, with Spielberg’s airtight direction, John Williams‘ deceptively simple yet undeniably haunting score, and the wise decision to show very little of the actual shark all contributing to making this one of the most nail-biting cinematic experiences of the ’70s. Visually striking, perfectly acted, and exceptionally written, Jaws is the cream of the crop when it comes to adventure horror.
Taylor Frankie Paul‘s ex-husband, Tate Paul, has filed a restraining order against the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star.
According to documents viewed by Us Weekly, Tate, 32, filed a motion for a temporary restraining order in a Utah court on Tuesday, June 30. A hearing has been requested.
The exes, who were married from 2016 to 2022, share two kids together: daughter Indy, 8, and son Ocean, 6. Per People, the order was filed against Taylor, 32. Tate also filed a petition to modify the terms of their divorce and custody agreement. Additionally, TMZ reported that Tate is requesting sole custody of both children.
Us has reached out to Tate and Taylor’s reps for comment.
Years before The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives premiered on Hulu, MomTok became a TikTok craze in 2020. The interest intensified when Taylor, 31, revealed in 2022 that she indulged in “soft swinging” with other people’s partners — and she was subsequently going through a divorce from Tate.
At the time, Taylor, who shares two kids with Tate, reflected on addressing her past marriage on screen, exclusively telling Us, “I don’t know how [Tate] feels. It was a lot less bad than he thought. He saw the trailer and he and his fiancée were worried. Obviously that’s really triggering to hear that, especially for her.”
Long before Taylor Frankie Paul earned the title of ABC’s Bachelorette, the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star found herself married to Tate Paul. In 2016, the couple got married and welcomed a daughter named Indy less than a year later. At the end of 2019, Taylor announced she was expecting another child, and their […]
She continued: “I can’t imagine wanting to hear that with someone else. So I think they struggled, but when they watched it. I guess it wasn’t as bad as they thought.”
Most of Taylor’s arc on the show, however, has centered around her romance with ex Dakota Mortensen. The pair have been involved in an ongoing custody battle over their 2-year-old son, Ever, following multiple domestic violence incidents and allegations. Earlier this year, Mortensen alleged Paul had been physically violent with him during a February incident, in which Mortensen claimed that Paul had allegedly choked him and shoved him into a window, per documents obtained by TMZ at the time. Paul denied the allegations of child abuse.
Mortensen was later granted temporary custody of Ever, while Paul filed for a protective order against Mortensen and claimed that he assaulted her in his truck. The order was granted and a judge ruled that the exes have to stay at least 100 feet away from each other. Earlier this month, a judge ruled that Taylor no longer needed supervised visitation of Ever and that she can have her son on alternative weekends and one midweek day.
Earlier this week, the Bluffdale Police Department confirmed to Us that Mortensen called the cops with questions about the exes’ protective order amid their ongoing custody battle. The case was ultimately sent to the District Attorney’s office, who will decide if a violation occurred. The exes’ next hearing is scheduled for July 8.
Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen‘s complicated romance was thrust into the spotlight on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives — and their relationship status remains unclear. Before the show premiered on Hulu in September 2024, Taylor and Dakota started dating following her divorce from husband Tate Paul in the wake of a high-profile “soft […]
In March, TMZ released unseen footage from Taylor and Dakota’s 2023 domestic dispute where Taylor was seen throwing chairs before one hit her and Tate’s daughter. Tate, for his part, has not publicly spoken out in the years since his ex-wife became a public figure.
“I just respect his privacy a lot, and I know that’s what he likes,” Taylor exclusively told Us for her March cover story. “But he and I have always been really good friends and [have a] very healthy coparenting relationship.”
For two seasons, House of the Dragon has struggled with the allegations that it is a slower and less interesting version of Game of Thrones. Even after the divisive finale of HBO’s flagship fantasy series, George R.R. Martin’s labor of love is beloved in prestige drama circles. After its conclusion, the prequel series about the Dance of the Dragons was intriguing but didn’t provide the same zest as its predecessor.
Now into Season 3, House of the Dragon has achieved the potential it was always meant to. The series has rewarded audiences’ patience for its slow-burn pace. The political intrigue of the fantasy story has differentiated the show from Game of Thrones in the best way possible, elevating it to a modern classic.
‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 Is the Highest Rated Yet
House of the Dragon seasons 1 and 2 did the hard work of setting up the generational trauma of the characters, and now the show is yielding results. The early years of the fantasy were instrumental, setting up the lifelong friction between Princess Rhaenyra and her childhood best friend, Alicent Hightower. As they grew, so did their resentment, and Season 3 finally reached the boiling point.
After an adult Alicent (Olivia Cooke) orchestrates a coup to put her son, Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney), on the throne instead of his older half-sister, Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy), the tension rises. It is the Battle of the Gullet, however, that marks the best years of the show. House of the Dragon Season 3 marks a Rotten Tomatoes best for the series and has been a decided improvement from Season 2.
The sophomore season of House of the Dragon was divisive, to say the least, particularly with fan-favorite character Daemon Targaryen’s (Matt Smith) plotline at Harrenhal. The Rogue Prince was wasted in the cursed castle as he grappled with his niece-wife’s claim to the throne and was plagued with nonsensical visions for a time. Daemon returns at the end of the season to pledge fealty to Rhaenyra, and the story finally reaches its full potential.
Now with Daemon being Rhaenyra’s unrelenting supporter, the Dance of the Dragons has finally begun, promising more fire and blood than ever before. This is a comeback that fans have been waiting for and one that is as thought-provoking as it is exciting.
‘House of the Dragon’ Has Surpassed ‘Game of Thrones’
Game of Thrones was such a popular fantasy show in its day that it would be difficult for any fantasy series to surpass it. House of the Dragon was slow going in establishing itself, but it was time well spent. The Fire & Blood adaptation is at its best when it is nothing like its predecessor. Game of Thrones was high-octane from the first episode, but House of the Dragon succeeds in drawing out the drama.
At its core, the prequel is an anti-war narrative that needs time to gestate. It can – and should – exist outside the realm of Game of Thrones. Its recent success proves that the Song of Ice and Fire adaptation doesn’t need carbon copies. Shows that exist in the extended universe should be different from one another.
Streaming hit A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms demonstrates that as well. It takes archetypal characters, but instead of placing them in life-or-death situations, it succeeds with comedy and low-stakes drama. Additionally, House of the Dragon isn’t the long-form epic that Game of Thrones is. This is a brutal civil war where there is no obvious winner.
Whether viewers root for the Blacks or the Greens, neither side comes out ahead. This is the war that drives dragons to extinction and decimates more than one House. Westeros may survive, but it is never the same. Thanks to Season 3, House of the Dragon has become must-see TV that has established itself as a classic.
- Release Date
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August 21, 2022
- Network
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HBO
- Showrunner
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George R.R. Martin
- Directors
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Clare Kilner, Geeta Patel
- Writers
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Gabe Fonseca
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Fabien Frankel
Ser Criston Cole
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