The New York Times is a true institution, one of the last outlets that still commands widespread respect and whose opinion pieces and recommendations can still impact the broader cultural landscape on a massive scale. A major cornerstone of its content is the Best Sellers list, which compiles the most successful and talked-about books in different genres, acting not only as a recommendation guideline but as a stamp of quality. The books there are the best in the market, and hardly anyone can deny it.

Some books have the fortune of becoming mainstays on the Best Sellers list, as word of mouth spreads and eager audiences embrace them. Such is the case for The Calamity Club, arguably the greatest historical book of 2026 and a strong contender for the title of Best of the Year. The book has spent a whopping 14 weeks on the New York Times Best Sellers list, and it’s still at number 3. Furthermore, it doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere anytime soon, making it the perfect time for you to jump into it if you haven’t already.

What Is ‘The Calamity Club’ About?

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The Calamity Club is a historical fiction story with strong themes of sisterhood, found family, female liberation, autonomy, and resistance. Set during the Great Depression in Oxford, Mississippi, the plot centers on three characters, each one facing a struggle. Eleven-year-old Meg Lefleur was abandoned on Christmas Eve and now struggles to survive in an orphanage as one of the oldest and seemingly unadoptable children there. Meanwhile, unmarried bookkeeper Birdie Calhoun arrives in town hoping to ask her sister to help her struggling family. Soon, her path crosses that of Charlie, a down-on-her-luck woman, and Meg, and the three will form a strong bond, all while Charlie forms a plan to help her take control of their lives.

Described by Amazon as “an epic testament to underestimated women who know that calamity can be the spark of new beginnings,” the book is one of 2026’s biggest sensations. Author Kathryn Stockett is best known for her 2009 debut, The Help, which was eventually turned into a movie starring Viola Davis, Emma Stone, and an Oscar-winning Octavia Spencer. With The Calamity Club, Stockett revisits familiar themes in a similar setting. However, as she did in her 2009 debut, she injects her story with such vibrancy that it becomes nearly impossible to put it down.

Why Is ‘The Calamity Club’ a Great Book?

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The trio of main characters is by far the book’s strongest asset. Individually, each one is strongly defined, although the bold and outspoken Birdie is the highlight. However, The Calamity Club finds its true magic in the bond that blossoms between the three characters. Both Birdie and Charlie act as surrogate mothers to Meg, and all three come to confide in each other. The dynamic is not without its bumps, but Stockett keeps the emotional core firmly grounded in the connection born between three resilient figures who help each other in far deeper ways than they initially realize. The theme of found family is strong throughout the story, with each character eventually not only admitting their want and need for belonging but embracing it once it’s there.

As she did in The Help, Stockett uses a dark, biting sense of humor to critique, satirize, and often outright mock outdated social customs, beliefs, and behaviors. Birdie’s POV is perhaps the strongest in this sense. As a 24-year-old, unmarried, cynical, and pragmatic woman, she offers her thoughts with acerbic wit, employing a welcome sarcastic tone that makes her chapters stand out. Yes, there’s more than a bit of 21st-century in her personality that makes her not quite fit the setting, but that’s both on purpose and an inevitable necessity, an appeal to connect with modern readers. Also, as a side note, and probably because of the shadow of The Help, I kept picturing Emma Stone while reading Birdie’s narration.

Sure, the book has several elements of heavy melodrama, akin to the movies from the ’40s and ’50s that would star the likes of Joan Crawford or Barbara Stanwyck. The tonal shift in the middle is well-handled, neither too abrupt to discombobulate nor needlessly slow to bore. That said, the truth behind Charlie is rather expected, if not necessarily telegraphed. As in Stockett’s debut novel, the antagonists are borderline cartoonish figures so detestable that you’ll find it hard to ignore the vile in your mouth as you read their deeds. Whether that’s a strength or a hindrance to the overall story will be up to each reader to decide, but I’m inclined to say it’s the latter. A story like this one benefits from overt antagonistic figures, and Stockett sure knows how to write them.

Should You Read ‘The Calamity Club?’

Some books are so good that they compel a revisit once you reach the last page; The Calamity Club is one. There’s a remarkable accessibility to the book, a level of sheer, unadulterated entertainment that makes it almost impossible to put down. Stockett’s prose is relaxed yet quite insightful, flowing effortlessly between strong character work, vivid descriptions, and engaging, relatable insights into her protagonists’ thoughts, fears, wishes, and joys. The narrative is not straightforward, but Stockett’s writing is, resulting in an incredibly approachable novel, a masterclass in accessibility that makes it the perfect book for avid and casual readers alike.

If you like these types of stories about strong, compelling women defying the status quo through sheer courage, then you simply can’t afford to skip The Calamity Club. Trust me, the book really does live up to the praise. The New York Times called it “pure, hell-raising entertainment“; such raves don’t happen to any book, especially in today’s landscape. Don’t wait until the inevitable movie adaptation; make sure to read The Calamity Club now before Daisy Edgar-Jones plays Birdie on the big screen.

The Calamity Club is available to buy on multiple platforms, including Amazon and Audible.

Riley Burruss hasn’t had the best season on Bravo’s “Next Gen NYC” so far in her second year on the show. This is the case following her arguments with castmates Georgia McCann and Ariana Biermann. Now, in a new interview with Gia Giudice, Burruss is opening up about the backlash she’s faced while also calling out harmful comments she’s received.

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Burruss appeared on Giudice’s “Casual Chaos” podcast in August 2026. While on the show, she was asked about the “hate” she had experienced, with Giudice noting the “toll” it must have taken on Burruss to not only see negative social media posts about herself but also receive hateful messages.

Giudice then led the conversation, telling listeners that “hate is never the answer.” Burruss responded, “I think for me, I got a lot of hate,” before mentioning how Biermann had said on “Watch What Happens Live” that she had not heard from Burruss since their verbal altercation. In explaining why she hadn’t spoken to her “Next Gen NYC” costar, she claimed her number had been leaked and that she turned her phone off for a week as a result.

She then said, “Personally, for me, it’s okay to call me certain things. I get it, the way I showed up on TV was really not okay, and I get some of the comments, but when it comes to, like, race, all of those things, the microaggressions, that’s not okay.”

From there, Burruss said she could understand why she’d be called “a spoiled brat,” saying, “I did look like a spoiled brat. I’m not gonna lie, I agree.”

Riley Tells Gia Giudice The Hate Is Only Online

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After taking accountability, Burruss then turned her conversation back to the more hateful aspects of the backlash she faced. According to her, “But I don’t appreciate the texts about me being a black B-word or the N-word, like, that’s not cool.”

During the conversation, Giudice also disavowed the hateful comments Burruss had received that were targeted at her for her race or that referred to her by derogatory names. The “Casual Chaos” host then stated, “The biggest cowards are the ones behind the screen.”

Burruss continued, “That’s true. I haven’t heard any of that to my face.” After that, she stated that when people met her and others from her cast, they were “surprised by how nice and caring we are, and then they go on social media and see a clip or two, and they make all these assumptions.”

The Fight Between Riley And Georgia Happened Early In The Season

In episode four of “Next Gen NYC,” the women on the show decided to have a girls’ night. However, after drinking alcohol, Burruss became angry and emotional, with multiple of her co-stars attempting to calm her down. During the verbal spat, she even accused McCann of using katameme and made a classist joke, stating that her Bravo costar couldn’t be included in a toast as she couldn’t afford a Birkin.

A bit part of the reason for the backlash is that Burruss then accused Biermann of not defending her or attempting to de-escalate the situation. However, it should be noted that Burruss later retracted the comment that McCann could not afford a Birkin handbag.

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Kandi Burruss Recently Defended Her Daughter Against ‘Next Gen NYC’ Backlash

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Riley’s mother, Kandi Burruss, has been vocal about her support for her daughter’s career in reality TV despite previously wanting her to attend law school. Recently, she mentioned the backlash Riley has faced on a recent episode of her “Speak On It” podcast.

The former “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star said, “I hate it for my baby,” before stating that Riley has received “hate mail,” “racist text messages,” and that people have referred to her as a “black b-tch” and accused her of “making the show bad.”

After that, the singer-songwriter noted that Riley had “let that stuff get to her.”

The ‘Next Gen NYC’ Cast Has Filmed The Season 2 Reunion

According to Bravo, the cast of “Next Gen NYC” sat down with Andy Cohen in New York City on July 30 to film the reunion. Notably, despite this being the show’s second season, it serves as its first reunion, as the first installment ended with its finale.

As of this writing, Bravo has not announced when the “Next Gen NYC” season 2 reunion will air or how many parts it will include.

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Callum Turner and Dua Lipa are officially navigating a new chapter in their lives together, and Turner is spilling all the tea on what’s to come. 

After sparking romance rumors in early 2024 and confirming their engagement the following autumn, the couple recently made headlines with an intimate civil ceremony at London’s Marylebone Town Hall.

The duo opted for a small ceremony surrounded by their loved ones, while also planning for a larger celebration in Italy. 

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In a recent interview, Turner reflected on the whirlwind of public attention surrounding his wedding to Lipa and expressed his joy.

“It was amazing, and it was… it was the most beautiful day of my life,” Turner shared. “We went to the park yesterday, and everyone who walked past said, ‘Congratulations.’ It was pretty surreal.”

Addressing the unusual nature of having a deeply personal milestone played out across international headlines, Turner noted that while it feels “weird,” he has learned over time to tune out public noise.

Looking ahead to what he wants from the next decade, the 36-year-old actor revealed his desire to expand his family. When asked if building a family was his “priority,” he told Esquire Magazine, “Obviously, yeah, I’m 36. I’d like to have a family and raise some kids.”

As the couple enjoys their newlyweds era, Turner is keeping busy professionally as well. Next up, he is working on a remake of “Possession,” while simultaneously tackling the personal goal of learning French.

What Dua Lipa Said About Her Views On Motherhood

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Building on Turner’s candid reflections about family priorities, his partner has similarly shared her perspective on the future.

Long before tying the knot, the “New Rules” singer confirmed her desire for children, stating, “I’d love to have kids one day.” 

However, the global pop star didn’t shy away from discussing the many sacrifices required to balance motherhood with a demanding international music career.

Despite those professional concerns, the Grammy winner maintained a hopeful outlook, trusting that family milestones would align naturally over time. “It will happen when it happens,” she noted, per The Blast. 

Her practical approach to the realities of balancing a high-profile career with future parenthood earned widespread praise from fans and commentators alike.

Dua Lipa & Callum Turner Tied The Knot In A Lowkey London Ceremony

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Almost a year after sharing her thoughts on motherhood, Lipa walked down the aisle and made her commitment to Turner official in a low-key setting in London.

The couple officially tied the knot surrounded by close family, which served as the precursor to a star-studded wedding celebration that later took place in Sicily.

According to The Blast, the singer opted for modern bridal elegance, wearing a custom Schiaparelli, a Bulgari necklace, and a dramatic hat, while her new husband rocked a tailored navy suit.

The intimate ceremony lasted approximately 30 to 40 minutes. Following the service, the newlyweds celebrated in relaxed, classic London style, hopping into an iconic black London cab as family members cheered them off.

The Couple Specifically Wanted An Intimate London Ceremony 

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The quiet London ceremony gave the newlyweds “exactly what they wanted”: a private, deeply personal moment to mark their commitment before stepping back into the international spotlight.

Following their nuptials at Old Marylebone Town Hall, a source close to the pair revealed that Lipa “couldn’t be happier.” 

The informant noted that an intimate civil service was paramount for the couple before hosting their larger, multi-day festivities because they wanted the event to be meaningful, according to The Blast.

The source also revealed that they wanted to enjoy the intimacy of a small wedding and the bigger celebration in Sicily. After exchanging vows, Lipa and Turner enjoyed a small post-ceremony gathering with close friends and family, with insiders noting they were “so excited for what’s still to come.”

Dua Lipa & Callum Turner’s Sicily Wedding Resulted In Backlash From Locals

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Although Lipa and Turner eventually had their big celebration in Sicily, it did not go without a hitch. The extensive street closures and heavy security surrounding the private event sparked notable pushback from Palermo residents. 

Discontented locals voiced their frustration over the disruption of public spaces by hanging protest signs from balconies and tagging slogans across neighborhood walls. According to The Blast, community members also argued that public areas should remain accessible to everyone rather than being privatized for high-profile events. 

One slogan read, “Palermo is not for rent. Public spaces belong to everyone,” and another stressed that Palermo was not exclusive to “rich” people alone.

Lindsay Clancy’s former mother-in-law, Susan Clancy, claims her former daughter-in-law was “begging for help” in the months leading up to the brutal killing of her three kids in January 2023.

“Lindsay was struggling — we were all concerned,” Susan, who is the mother of Lindsay’s ex-husband, Patrick Clancy, testified in court on Tuesday, August 18, while discussingLindsay’s alleged behavior in the months before she allegedly strangled her three young children, according to the Associated Press.

Susan said that she and Lindsay, 36, were close, and she added that her former daughter-in-law was a “wonderful mother” who was “very nurturing” and “very loving.”

She said that Lindsay was open with her about her mental health struggles and that she often turned to her for help.

Related: Lindsay Clancy’s Ex-Husband Choked Up While Describing Their 3 Kids in Court

Lindsay Clancy’s ex-husband, Patrick Clancy, got emotional while describing their three children during his ex-wife’s murder trial after she killed them in January 2023. Lindsay, 35, was arrested on January 26, 2023, and charged with the murders of their children Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, 8 months. Three years later, Patrick, 38, took the […]

At one point during the testimony, the jury was shown text messages exchanged between Lindsay and Susan. Lindsay told Susan that she developed a dependence on benzodiazepines, adding that she could not fall or stay asleep without taking the drugs.

“I’m not okay and I’m terrified of taking meds tonight,” Lindsay texted Susan on November 30, 2022, per the outlet. The message was sent just two months before the killings.

Lindsay is currently on trial for allegedly killing her kids Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, 8 months, on January 24, 2023.

Her attorney, Kevin Reddington, has not denied that the mother of three killed her children. Instead, he is arguing that Lindsay should not be held criminally responsible for the children’s deaths because she had postpartum psychosis at the time of the killings.

Reddington has also said that his client has bipolar disorder and that she was prescribed antidepressants to treat her postpartum depression that ultimately made her condition worse.

Prosecutors are arguing that Lindsay intentionally killed her children after she sent Patrick, 36, to run errands, purposefully removing him from the home so she would be alone with the children when she strangled them. After she killed the kids, Lindsay jumped from the second-story of her home in an apparent suicide attempt.

Susan testified in court one day after Lindsay’s mother, Paula Musgrove, took the witness stand on Monday, August 17. While testifying in court, Musgrove claimed that Lindsay’s mental health started to decline in October 2022, while the jury was shown a concerning text message Lindsay sent to Musgrove prior to the killings.

“Mom, will you please come up and stay with me for a bit? I’m really sick. Something is wrong,” Lindsay wrote. “I had horrible insomnia all night, and I just don’t know how I am going to get through the day. … It’s just really scary, and I don’t want to be alone.”

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Related: Mom Claims She’s Open to Admitting She Killed Her 3 Children as Trial Looms

Massachusetts mother Lindsay Clancy said she’s open to admitting she murdered her three children in 2023 as the start of her murder trial approaches. Clancy’s attorney, Kevin Reddington, said she “is offering to admit that she killed the children” if the judge agrees to a bifurcated trial format, according to WCVB. A bifurcated trial is […]

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Musgrove also recalled that her daughter appeared nervous during an incident in December 2022, in which she told her and Patrick that she “had thoughts of harming the children.”

Lindsay’s sister, Allison Ozga, also testified on Monday and opened up about a phone call she had with Lindsay in December 2022. Ozga testified that Lindsay admitted to having suicidal thoughts every day for a month at the time of the call.

If you or someone you know is pregnant or just had a baby and is in crisis, help is available. Call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline for free, confidential support 24/7 in English and Spanish at 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262).

Letterboxd’s highest-rated movie of 2025 is the latest bonkers anime adaptation of the hit Japanese manga series, Chainsaw Man. The new movie, Chainsaw Man — The Movie: Reze Arc, continues the storyline where the anime series last left off, showcasing Denji (Kikunosuke Toya), aka Chainsaw Man, in one of his wildest fights ever. It’s time to find out why everyone on Letterboxd is raving about this madcap anime adaptation.

‘Reze Arc’ Delivers a Canonical Adaptation

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The anime movies created for the One Piece, Naruto, or My Hero Academia franchises are typically filler storylines — specifically, stories created solely for the cinematic experience, using a unique storyline that the original manga creator or artist never depicted in the source material. The great thing about Reze Arc is that it’s not a “filler” storyline. Rather, the movie adapts a canonical storyline in the original manga series created by Tatsuki Fujimoto.

Reze Arc also eschews the usual format for theatrical anime adaptations based on popular manga series; instead, Studio MAPPA adapts a major storyline from Fujimoto’s manga and brings it to life in a feature-length format. It’s great to see that anime studios are experimenting with this trend more — Ufotable took a similar route with the Demon Slayer anime series, starting with the Mugen Train movie in 2021, and more recently with the Infinity Castle feature, which was a smash hit at the global box office. For Reze Arc, it was nice to see the Chainsaw Man anime franchise return with such an impressive big-screen feature, since the first season concluded in December 2022, over two years before the movie’s release. Although it was a long wait for Reze Arc, Studio MAPPA resumed the Chainsaw Man saga in a new movie filled with glorious animated visuals and a canonical story.

‘Reze Arc’ Features a Slow Burn to Unhinged Chaos

Reze Arc starts with a slow burn as the Public Safety devil hunter Denji meets and falls in love with a girl named Reze (Reina Ueda). Reze appears outwardly nice and sweet at first, but she harbors a dark secret. Once that secret is revealed, the plot becomes wildly unhinged and chaotic, as Denji is plunged into a fight for his life, with wild devils unleashing their powers to capture them. Denji is a half-human, half-devil hybrid, empowered by his former pet, Pochita, a devil that embodies people’s fear of chainsaws. Pochita’s power allows Denji to transform into the avenging devil hunter, Chainsaw Man. However, the minions of other factions, devils and humans alike, want Denji’s power for themselves, making him a valuable target.

Once the action in Reze Arc begins, it becomes a non-stop cavalcade of insanity, such as the car chase with the Bomb Devil and the jaw-dropping fight with the Typhoon Devil. Studio MAPPA was game for the task, as the animators crafted some of their most impressive animated sequences ever throughout the movie. The extra time and money the studio was given to adapt the story into the theatrical format certainly pays off. The wait for Reze Arc was long, but the movie did not disappoint in terms of its eye candy factor.

‘Reze Arc’ Features a Bittersweet Emotional Melancholy

Image via MAPPA

Despite its moments of unhinged violence, the genuine heart and emotions present throughout Reze Arc‘s narrative elevate the movie beyond mindless entertainment. Part of what makes Denji such a likable character is that despite everything he’s experienced, he’s oddly nice and naive (perhaps excessively so), and he’s merciful to a fault. There’s also Denji’s partner in the Public Safety devil hunting division, Aki Hayakawa (Shogo Sakata). Throughout the series and movie, Aki typically puts on a tough front, acting incredibly aloof and stoic. However, there’s a major moment in Reze Arc where Aki lets his mask slip, and you see through his usually cool veneer. The story reveals how Aki deeply and genuinely cares for his friends, and he becomes emotional at the loss of more of his comrades.

The narratively complex Reze also lets her mask slip at key moments in the story, proving the profundity of her relationship with Denji. For all of Chainsaw Man’s copious violence and gore, a genuine bittersweet sadness surrounding the characters grounds the narrative and adds emotional depth to the sometimes bizarre storyline. The way Fujimoto writes and depicts his characters, showcasing their emotional pathos, becomes the special sauce of Chainsaw Man. Chainsaw Man takes place in a morally ambiguous, decadent world where the main characters routinely face depressing hardships, yet they display grounded emotions, imbuing the story with fantastic emotional depth and stakes.

On that note, it’s easy to see why Chainsaw Man and its movie sequel became so beloved. The Chainsaw Man anime and the Reze Arc movie are available to stream now, subtitled and English-dubbed, on Crunchyroll in the U.S.

For Brenda Song, feeling confident in her body has been a journey.

“I think when you’re a parent, you just don’t have the time to think about your own personal style or to think about yourself anymore,” Song, 38, exclusively told Us, while promoting her partnership with Marshalls for the Fall Fashion Field Guide. “So it took me, actually, a minute. I actually really struggled the first couple years after having two kids because my body had changed, what was important to me in my wardrobe changed, and there was a second there where I was like, ‘I don’t feel confident in my body, I’m just gonna wear sweats.’”

She continued, “I realized that that was a mindset. I was like, ‘OK, let me find comfort. Is it possible to find comfortable clothing that feels accessible, that still feels trendy, that feels fashionable?’ And that was what it really took, was sort of me kind of breaking down, ‘What do I like now? What fits my body?’ I can’t wear what I was wearing when I was 27. I’m 38 now. My body has changed, and my lifestyle has changed.”

The mom of two explained that it was “really trial and error” to see what worked best when it came to her wardrobe. (Song shares sons Dakota, 4, and Carson, 3, with longtime partner and fiancé Macaulay Culkin, whom she got engaged to in 2022.)

Related: Brenda Song Reveals How Partner Macaulay Culkin Inspires Her Style

Brenda Song is giving props to partner Macaulay Culkin and how his innate sense of style inspires her own iconic looks. “He is so cool, and he has the best T-shirt collection. He’s truly, like, the true off-duty icon,” the Running Point actress, 38, exclusively tells Us while promoting her partnership with Marshalls. “He has the […]

“It was me trying on a million different things, trying on these different archetypes to see what felt the most to me,” she said, revealing there were particular items in her closet that looked fabulous and buoyed her spirits. “And knowing that I can’t follow all the trends, but I can find ways to incorporate it into my wardrobe and still feel hip and cool.”

After adjusting her own collection of clothes, Song has now partnered with Marshalls to launch its Fall Fashion Field Guide, a shoppable edit full of high-quality finds for every style and budget.

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“When this came about, I felt, first of all, so honored because I have been a Marshalls shopper my entire life. There was nothing like making a stop that turned into a two hour shopping excursion with my mom in Marshalls,” Song told Us. “Fall is also my favorite fashion season because I love layering, I love accessories, and when we were kind of going through these sort of archetypes, I realized, ‘Wait, these are all just different versions of Brenda’s mood throughout the day, depending on how I feel.’”

Song hopes that shoppers “pull inspiration from these vibes” from the Fall Fashion Field Guide and put their own spin on it.

“It’s not about finding that exact jacket. It’s about finding a version of that jacket you feel confident in, that you like and that suits your lifestyle,” she explained. “I just want to make it easy for women and people to still feel confident and still feel on trend, but accessible.”

From our grandmothers purchasing mass-market paperbacks in the grocery store to contemporary readers devouring romantasy in record-breaking droves, the romance genre has been a lucrative publishing staple for decades. For television viewers who were unaware of historical romance’s specific charms, Bridgerton has conducted a winsome crash course in its guarantees: women protagonists expressing their desires, triumphant happy endings, luxurious gowns, and the trappings of antiquated social etiquette. Netflix’s competitors have sought their Bridgerton equivalent for years, yet the period drama has failed to produce another undeniable cultural phenomenon.

It’s somewhat surprising that streamers haven’t followed Shondaland’s suit and snatched up the rights to other period drama bestsellers. In fact, they needn’t look further for runaway-success material than one of Bridgerton author Julia Quinn‘s peers. The name Lisa Kleypas elicits hushed awe from the countless readers who consider her a treasured mainstay, if not historical romance’s definitive monarch. Her breakout series, The Wallflowers, is an idyllic option to translate to the small screen. Not only is the format a studio’s dream, but the legendary quartet personifies the sub-genre’s crucial hooks and illuminates the craft-related strengths by which Kleypas ascended to her revered status.

What Is The Wallflowers Series About?

Although Kleypas’ prolific works don’t reinvent the wheel — straying from romance’s defining structure would defeat the purpose — her perspective, voice, and distinct niche have refined said wheel’s every component since 1987. The Wallflowers, a career highlight set in the Regency era, follows four social outcasts who reclaim their rejection and their futures by securing safe marriages for each other. Eldest daughter Annabelle Peyton seeks a wealthy husband to protect her financially imperiled family, whereas Lillian Bowman, a fiery and outspoken American heiress, couldn’t care less about English propriety. Daisy, Lillian’s younger sister, prefers her bookish imagination over her father’s suitor-related meddling. As for the soft-spoken and determined Evie Jenner, she rescues herself from her living hell by proposing to London’s most notorious rogue.

Connecting a romance series through female friendship was a rather revolutionary concept for the early 2000s. The Wallflowers was inspired by Kleypas’ high school experiences — ignored by, in her words, “the popular boys” — as well as her observation that “I haven’t really seen a lot about female friendships [in historical romances].” Kleypas’ mesmerizing execution honors her sensational idea.The titular Wallflowers’ life-changing bond is authentically infectious, a gravitational center of sparkling camaraderie, empathy, protectiveness, and unwavering loyalty that’s as empowering and meaningful as their respective erotic dalliances.

Kleypas’ career-wide magic touch, forged through instinct, practice, and artistic care, masters romance’s enduring value: engrossing prose, adroit wit, comforting escapism, painstaking historical accuracy, and a range of intellectually mature characters who reckon with their insecurities, shortcomings, fears, and traumas. Her sheer finesse prevents archetypes and dynamics like the reformed rake, enemies-to-lovers, or marriage of convenience from being diluted into copy-paste repetition. Likewise, her commitment to dissecting her characters’ formative pasts and charting their evolutions invigorates her heroines and antiheroes into vibrantly unforgettable genre icons. The Wallflowers’ leading ladies are capable, competent, and ambitious forces of nature; their dashing husbands wield their venomous silver tongues and scandalous reputations before their humbling vulnerability and ferocious devotion set the redemption-arc standard.

Like pieces of an assembling puzzle, Kleypas’ evocative characterizations are inseparable from how she constructs her irresistible relationships. A symbiotic foundation of internal honesty and sensual intimacy, rooted in mutual admiration, equality, and understanding, infuses every love affair with riveting freshness and to-die-for chemistry. High-intensity emotion fires on overdrive, but realistic plots needn’t apply when the operatic twists match the conflicted tension, feverish lust, and clashes between aristocratic hierarchies, self-made entrepreneurs, and women’s suffrage. Kleypas sells it all with every swirl of her pen.

The Wallflowers Can Be Adapted as a Quartet or Expanded into a Sequel Show

From a strategic standpoint, The Wallflowers’ streamlined nature is its strongest selling point. Bridgerton‘s eight installments have proved intimidating and time-consuming, a conundrum each season’s lengthy production cycle and expansive ensemble cast have amplified. Comparatively, four main books starring a smaller group of recurring characters offer an entirely feasible budgetary and timeline scope.

The Wallflowers’ healthy limitations don’t exist at the expense of the series’ long-term potential, however. Several installments in Kleyplas’ seven-part Victorian saga, The Ravenels, depict the love-struck journeys of the central couples’ adult children. Following a Wallflowers show, The Ravenels both pulls on established emotional through lines and introduces new narrative opportunities: i.e., catching up with how the original eight leads have mellowed with time and tracking how the next generation overlaps with another eccentric family.

The first book, Cold-Hearted Rake, opens with the working-class Ravenel brothers — one a known scoundrel, the other happily irresponsible — inheriting their late relative’s neglected estate. The title includes the Earl’s icily defensive widow, Kathleen, and three wonderfully unconventional sisters: Helen, reserved but iron-willed, Pandora, a career-driven trailblazer, and Cassandra, precocious and entrancing. These connections cement the Lisa Kleypas Literary Universe as an effectively realized world enriched by narrative momentum, affectionate bonds, and animosities that inform the romances but exist independently of them.

A faithful adaptation of The Wallflowers can fulfill audiences’ longing for period dramas by following Bridgerton‘s blueprint of big-hearted earnestness and playfully modernized glamour, while always evoking Kleypas’ distinct sensibilities. The secret lies in capturing the novels’ timeless spirit in all its glory and including astute adjustments in line with Kleypas recognizing and rewriting her internalized sexism. Between pitch-perfect romantic gestures and indomitable women nurturing their unbreakable friendship, the soaring world of Lisa Kleypas is a win-win for fans and the industry — a polished diamond just waiting to be greenlit.

A mother in Miami was arrested after she poured hot, melted candle wax onto her two daughters and set a fire inside of her home during an incident she captured on camera.

Meliza Campos-Sanchez was taken into custody on Monday, August 17, and charged with first-degree arson, child abuse and two counts of child neglect, according to arrest affidavits viewed by People.

The investigation into Campos-Sanchez, 26, was launched after Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded to her home after receiving a report of a kitchen fire on Sunday, August 16.

After looking into the situation, a fire investigator ultimately determined that the fire had been intentionally set with an open flame, ignitable liquids and combustible materials.

Related: Mother Arrested for Allegedly Beating Son After He Accused Her of Cheating

A Florida mother was arrested after she allegedly attacked her 12-year-old son when he expressed suspicions that she was cheating on his stepfather. Lucianny Lizbeth Luna has been charged with one count of child abuse resulting in no harm, according to Miami-Dade County court records. Luna, 32, was arrested on Thursday, April 16, after her […]

Campos-Sanchez posted two videos to her Instagram account at the time of the fires.

One video showed her using lit candles to pour melted wax onto her own leg before spilling it into the hands of her two daughters. The second video captured Campos-Sanchez wearing a silver mask as she sprayed an unknown liquid onto clothing on the kitchen floor. She then set the clothing on fire with a red lighter.

Fire investigators searched the home and found burnt materials, as well as minor damage on the tiled kitchen floor. Investigators also found the silver mask, the red lighter and a clear plastic bottle with a yellow cap, which reportedly contained liquid believed to be rubbing alcohol.

Campos-Sanchez’s husband, Yusniel Cue, spoke to investigators following the fire and said they had been experiencing marital issues. He explained that he had been staying with his parents for about a week when the fire occurred.

Cue added that he learned about the incident when one of Campos-Sanchez’s friends called him to tell him about the videos, and they told him to call the police.

He arrived at the home after Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputies and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue got there and took custody of his daughters. Meanwhile, Campos-Sanchez was transported to a hospital for evaluation and treatment.

Additionally, Cue told investigators that Campos-Sanchez allegedly attempted suicide during an earlier occasion. He said he contacted the sheriff’s office one week earlier due to his concerns for their children.

Investigators also spoke to Campos-Sanchez’s eldest daughter, who said that she and her younger sister were in the laundry room when they saw their mother setting the clothes on fire in the kitchen.

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She added that her mother threw a glass mug onto the floor while she was dancing near the flames, and she eventually used a bowl of water to put out the fire.

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Additionally, the daughter told investigators that her mother had brought her and her sister into the kitchen and started pouring hot wax from the lit candles onto the three of them.

An officer later went to a nearby hospital to interview Campos-Sanchez, but she was sedated and unable to speak prior to her arrest.

It is not currently clear whether Campos-Sanchez has entered a plea or retained legal counsel following her arrest.

Bringing it back! Ava Ryan sat down with ET to dish on the 2016 trends she’s not ready to let go of, from Taco Bell classics to internet fads, and more.

The Vine alum partnered with the food chain to celebrate its Decades #TBTB Menu, featuring the return of the Naked Chicken Chalupa, Beefy Crunch Burrito, Meximelt, and Caramel Apple Empanada.

“Taco Bell is a staple in my friend group. After all these years, my go-to order is still a Burrito, Nacho Fries, and a Baja Blast. I’m also so excited to try the Caramel Apple Empanada,” Ryan shared.

And while her favorite foods have stood the test of time, her appetite for nostalgia goes beyond the menu.

“If there’s one thing from 2016, I’d bring back, it’s that feeling of people making things because they genuinely thought they were funny or fun, where they were just being silly and enjoying what they do. There was something really special about being yourself, and being a little weird, and unique,” she notes.

Need proof? Look no further than her own archives.

“It’s still crazy to think that those 6 second videos I made with my mom had such a big impact on people. At the time, I was just being a kid and playing around. … Obviously, I miss Vine, the mannequin challenge, and making slime,” Ryan says.

A few staples from the era have managed to stick around.

“I still love the Snapchat dog filter, and seeing the way my videos have connected with people and remained a part of online culture really gave me the confidence to pursue comedy.”

That confidence has carried over from seconds-long clips to her acting career.

“My comedic style is sarcastic, as you could probably tell from those early videos. I still tend to gravitate towards sarcastic style characters like Georgia in Free Bert and the character and I are very alike. I try to bring a part of myself into any character I play.”

But of course, not every craze is worthy of a revival. “Throw away the fidget spinners,” the actress shares. 

The Decades Menu returns nationwide on Thursday, Aug. 20 before Taco Bell’s limited-edition collaborations with Anti Social Club and Camp Snap drop on Tuesday, Aug. 25.

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Baltimore Ravens veteran Calais Campbell is speaking out for the first time since his brother, Ciarre, allegedly killed their mother, Nateal, in June. 

“These past couple months have been pretty tough for me and my family,” Calais, 39, told reporters while attending Ravens training camp on Tuesday, August 18. “We’re working through it. I really appreciate all the love and support and prayers that have been coming from all over the NFL community, all the fanbases and you guys, as well.”

Ciarre, 41, was booked in Fulton County, Georgia, on Wednesday, July 1, on several charges including murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm or knife.

The body of Calais and Ciarre’s mother was found dead inside a Buckhead townhome on Tuesday, June 30. She was 71. 

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Authorities discovered that Ciarre had “barricaded himself inside the home” before he was successfully taken into custody. 

In a 911 call from the day Nateal was killed obtained by TMZ Sports, Calais told a 911 dispatcher that his brother is “mentally ill” and “diagnosed with schizophrenia.”

Calais asked for police to perform a welfare check on his mother, leading to the eventual discovery of her deceased body.  Local outlet WHSV reported that Nateal was found with several cuts to her neck. 

“This morning, he drove in her car, which is very unusual,” Calais said on the call. “He doesn’t drive at all…we can’t get in her house. I just tried to jump the window and he’s in there and she says she left, but the camera footage that my neighbor has showed she never left. We’re just trying to get in there.”

Ciarre’s attorney, Jay Abt, claimed his client was innocent shortly after he was taken into custody. 

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“We look forward to his day in court,” he told WSBTV. “I’m honored to defend him and, most importantly, the Campbell family, I’m asking on their behalf that the public respect their privacy at this time.”

The Campbell family issued a statement after Nateal’s death, but did not mention Ciarre being charged with her murder. 

“We are devastated to share that the Campbell Family has lost its matriarch, Mrs. Nateal Campbell,” the statement said. “While the details of her passing are still being investigated, we take comfort in knowing she is reunited with our father, her beloved Chuck, and in the arms of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We ask for privacy at this time so that we may honor her and share in our overwhelming grief privately and as a family.”