Harlan Coben has a knack for bringing the dead back to “life” in his mystery novels. The New Jersey-born-and-raised writer got his start in novel writing while working in the travel industry, publishing his first book, Play Dead, in 1990. Since then, Coben has released more than 30 novels, ranging from standalone thrillers to character-driven series.

There are a few elements that make a Coben thriller instantly recognizable. He often puts ordinary people in sleepy small towns, a setting inspired by his own upbringing, and then throws them into mysteries that force them to question everything they thought they knew. His characters aren’t always as reliable as they first appear, either, making even the most familiar surroundings feel suspicious. From a traumatized special operations pilot to a man forced to confront the secrets of the woods where he grew up, here are the Harlan Coben books that are 10/10, no notes.

‘Tell No One’ (2001)

Image via Bantam

Some people go missing for days, weeks, or months. But for David Beck in Tell No One, he’s spent eight years carrying the grief from the kidnapping and murder of his wife, Elizabeth, and Lake Charmaine. Just as he’s trying to move on, on the anniversary of her death, two bodies are discovered near the lake.

This might be all coincidental, but on the same day, David receives an email containing a secret phrase only he and Elizabeth knew. The message leads him to a webcam showing a woman who looks exactly like Elizabeth. Before David can make sense of what he’s seeing, the police begin treating him as a suspect.

‘The Boy from the Woods’ (2020)

Image via Hachette Book Group

The first book of the Wilde series, The Boy from the Woods takes its title literally. 34 years after a nameless boy is found wandering alone in the woods, Wilde has become an outsider who knows the forest better than anyone. When Westville teenager Naomi Pine disappears, television lawyer Hester Crimstein asks Wilde to help find her.

But what begins as a missing-person case quickly descends into something far more dangerous, linking Naomi to vicious school bullies, a wealthy media family, and controversial Senator Rusty Eggers. When another teenager is kidnapped and a ransom demand exposes a shocking connection to the senator, Wilde and Hester discover blackmail, political corruption, and a decades-old murder.

‘Fool Me Once’ (2016)

Image via Dutton

The most dangerous person might be the person closest to you. Fool Me Once introduces former special operations pilot Maya Burkett, who is reeling from the murder of her husband, Joe. While checking a nanny camera at home, Maya can’t believe the sight: it’s footage of Joe playing with their young daughter, Lily.

Desperate to find answers, Maya begins investigating the video, but the nanny steals the memory card, and the detective handling Joe’s case raises more questions than answers. Just like the television adaptation, Fool Me Once is just as controversially suspenseful. What may have started as an act of retribution against the killer eventually spirals into some of Coben’s most controversial twists.

‘The Woods’ (2007)

Image via Dutton

The Woods takes it back to twenty years ago, when four teenagers were murdered at Camp PLUS. However, the bodies of two victims, including Paul Copeland’s younger sister Camille, were never found. Now an Essex County prosecutor, Paul is forced to confront the case when a murdered man is identified as one of the teens presumed dead.

As Paul searches for answers, his former girlfriend, Lucy, receives an anonymous journal describing their relationship and the horrifying events they witnessed in the woods that night. With the past suddenly resurfacing, Paul begins questioning what really happened to Camille. His investigation threatens to expose secrets buried for two decades, forcing Paul to reconsider everything he thought he knew.

‘Run Away’ (2019)

Image via Dutton

Simon Greene has spent months searching for his missing daughter, Paige, who has become addicted to drugs and fallen under the control of an abusive boyfriend. When Simon finally finds her busking in Central Park, their reunion ends in a violent confrontation with her boyfriend, Aaron, captured on video and turned into a viral scandal.

In the aftermath of the unwanted incident, Paige disappears again, prompting the chase for Simon’s daughter in Run Away. Determined to find his daughter before the police do, his investigation leads to a decades-old secret involving arguably one of Cohen’s darkest and most twisted villains in his works.

‘The Stranger’ (2015)

Image via Dutton

Adam Price seems to have everything in The Stranger: a loving wife, two sons, a successful career, and a comfortable life in suburban New Jersey. Then a mysterious stranger approaches him with a devastating secret about his wife, Corinne. Adam confronts her, but before she can explain why she lied, Corinne disappears, leaving behind only a cryptic message.

Desperate to find her, Adam begins digging into her secret and discovers that he is not the only person the stranger has targeted. As more people’s hidden lives are exposed and a brutal murder draws the police into the mystery, Adam realizes the stranger’s revelations are part of something much larger.

‘Six Years’ (2013)

Image via Dutton

Six years ago, Jake Fisher watched the woman he loved, Natalie, marry another man and promised never to contact her again. He kept his word—until he saw an obituary for Natalie’s supposed husband, Todd Sanderson. Jake travels to Todd’s funeral, only to discover that his widow is a woman named Delia who has been married to Todd for nearly two decades.

Desperate for answers in Six Years, Jake searches for Natalie, but every trace of her has mysteriously vanished. Even her sister denies knowing him, while the Vermont chapel where Jake witnessed their wedding has no record of the ceremony. When Jake’s investigation puts him in danger, he quickly learns some disappearances happen for a reason.

‘Caught’ (2010)

Image via Dutton

Seventeen-year-old Haley McWaid seems to have the perfect life in Caught: she is a high school senior, lacrosse captain, and beloved daughter with college ahead of her. Then she vanishes without a trace. Three months later, reporter Wendy Tynes is investigating another scandal, but this time, it might have something to do with Haley’s disappearance.

Wendy’s brutal exposé leads her to Dan Mercer, a youth social worker accused of having sexually inappropriate online conversations with a 13-year-old girl. But after the evidence against Dan is thrown out, he insists he was framed. Before Wendy can even question him, her investigation comes to a shocking halt, turning what was supposed to be a routine work assignment into a personal pursuit of justice.

‘Don’t Let Go’ (2017)

Image via Penguin

Nobody can separate a pair of twins, especially in Don’t Let Go. Fifteen years ago, Detective Nap Dumas lost his twin brother, Leo, who was found dead beside the railroad tracks with his girlfriend. That same night, Nap’s girlfriend, Maura Wells, disappeared without explanation. Nap has spent years refusing to believe Leo’s death was an accident or accepting that Maura is gone.

Then fingerprints belonging to Maura turn up at the scene of a former classmate’s murder, proving she is alive. What’s even more surprising is Nap discovering a group of former classmates tied by a deadly secret. As more of them are targeted, Nap realizes the murders are connected to the tragedy that destroyed his life fifteen years earlier.

‘I Will Find You’ (2023)

Image via Grand Central Publishing

No one is truly dead in I Will Find You. Five years after David Burroughs was sentenced to life in prison for murdering his young son, Matthew, he is still adamant that he is innocent. He then gets the shock of his life when he receives a photo of a child, which appears to be Matthew—who should be dead.

Convinced his son may still be alive, David escapes prison with help from two fellow inmates and sets out to find him. But with a nationwide manhunt closing in, David must evade the authorities while uncovering who took Matthew, why his son was believed to be dead, and which people in his life may be hiding the truth.

Advertisement

I Will Find You

Advertisement

Release Date

2026 – 2026-00-00

Network

Advertisement

Netflix

Showrunner

Robert Hull

Advertisement

Directors

Adam Davidson, Brad Anderson, Maggie Kiley, Maja Vrvilo

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Within the larger rom-com renaissance that’s happening right now, Prime Video’s The Love Hypothesis is a pretty unique case. For starters, it’s adapted from the New York Times bestselling romance novel by Ali Hazelwood, which actually started out as a piece of Reylo (Rey/Kylo Ren) Star Wars alternate universe fanfic. There’s even a bit of irony wrapped up in the fact that Tom Bateman — who is married to Star Wars’ Rey herself, Daisy Ridley — plays the character who was originally inspired by Adam Driver‘s Sith Lord.

If you know what came before Prime Video’s adaptation, you’ll be able to spot all the ways screenwriter Sarah Rothschild and director Claire Scanlon lovingly wink at its origins — chief among them that Bateman is almost exclusively clad in head-to-toe black. But even if you have no idea how The Love Hypothesis began, you’ll still be able to enjoy it for what it’s evolved into: a thoroughly delightful rom-com led by a charming Lili Reinhart and a deceptively complex Bateman. While the film’s third act does stumble in tying up every possible loose end, it doesn’t detract from the joy of watching two people fumble their way through a fake-dating plot and all the very real feelings it stirs up in the process.

What Is ‘The Love Hypothesis’ About?

PhD student Olive Smith (Reinhart) has finally achieved her long-held dream of getting into Stanford. After losing her mother to pancreatic cancer, those personal stakes have only made her more driven to research new means of detecting the disease — now, she just needs to secure the necessary funding. Amidst the chaos of trying to fit in at a new school, Olive quickly strikes up a meaningful friendship with fellow student Ahn (Fallout‘s Rachel Marsh), while also initially nursing a crush on another peer, Jeremy (Nicholas Duvernay). Yet when she notices that Ahn is waffling over whether to take her friendship with Jeremy to the next level, Olive realizes she’ll need to convince her BFF that she doesn’t have any romantic feelings for him anymore. Enter: a boyfriend whom she invents right on the spot. But one thing leads to another after a late night working in the lab, and Olive spontaneously decides to lock lips with the professor everyone on campus refers to as “Dr. Evil.”

Dr. Adam Carlsen (Bateman) has achieved a reputation at Stanford for being harsh and overly critical towards students. He’s definitely surprised by Olive’s overture at first, but the next day of classes brings a fresh perspective — and with it, Adam’s consent to play Olive’s boyfriend for as long as it takes for Ahn and Jeremy to couple up themselves. He isn’t coming to this decision from a purely altruistic place, though; he needs to convince the heads of Stanford’s science department that he’s here to stay, and if he’s perceived to be putting down roots by way of a serious romantic commitment, they’ll entrust him with a lab grant of his own. Bargain struck, Olive and Adam are essentially thrown into the deep end of fake dating — especially since Ahn had already spotted them kissing the night before — and not just on campus, either. While forced to go to greater and greater lengths to convince everyone around them that they’re the real deal, the pair gradually begin to forget that their relationship has an expiration date. But what happens once their experiment ultimately wraps up?

‘The Love Hypothesis’s Many Strengths Make Up for Its Biggest Weakness

Honestly, when it comes to what The Love Hypothesis has working in its favor, the film makes that clear right from the very first scene. As someone who read Hazelwood’s novel, I was initially lightly skeptical about whether Reinhart was the right actor to play Olive. But even the slightest misgiving disappeared as soon as she started bouncing off her fellow lead. Her character is sweet, whip-smart, and maybe a little idealistic, but what makes Reinhart’s performance most endearing is her comedic timing, which includes an awareness of when to go big and when to let her scene partner shine with their own punchline.

Contrasted with that is Bateman, who initially feels almost too stiff in his portrayal of an admittedly rigid Adam, but who slowly peels back the character’s layers as he and Olive become closer. In hindsight, it’s a brilliant approach that lets the viewer glimpse more and more of his complexities and makes it easier to understand why Olive would end up falling for this guy for real. Together, Reinhart and Bateman’s chemistry — not just on a believably romantic level, but also as a comedy duo — only gets better as the film progresses, infusing Olive and Adam’s onscreen connection with vulnerability as well as a very welcome infusion of humor.

The Love Hypothesis also stands out simply because it doesn’t forget about its supporting characters. So many rom-coms introduce a supportive best friend or a hilarious inner circle, only to abandon them in favor of the sparkly new love interest, but Prime Video’s adaptation avoids that pitfall. Ahn is admittedly the catalyst that kicks off the story’s fake-dating conceit in the first place, but the script arguably keeps her at the center of Olive’s world, where she anchors several of the movie’s most impactful turns. Marsh is a terrific counterpart to Reinhart in their scenes together, but she’s also hilarious on her own, especially as Ahn starts to harbor her own suspicions about the legitimacy of Olive and Adam’s romance.

And Jaboukie Young-White, as Malcolm, Olive’s roommate, rises above the genre’s all-too-common stereotypes, with room to deliver a performance that runs the gamut between humor and deeper emotion. While the situation with Adam gradually becomes more complicated, the film gives just as much space to the tough conversations between Olive and her two closest friends, emphasizing the importance of all her relationships, whether they’re romantic or not. It would’ve been great to see more from Duvernay’s Jeremy, especially since his potential crush on Ahn doubles as a cute secondary plotline, but the overall runtime seems to have resulted in some trimming.

The Love Hypothesis has so many strengths that its biggest weakness stands out a little more clearly. Those who have read the book know that nothing good can come of Olive crossing paths with the schmoozy Harvard professor Dr. Tom Benton (Daredevil: Born Again‘s Arty Froushan), a longtime friend and colleague of Adam’s, but the film ultimately struggles with the third act’s “black moment.” In romance novels, the best authors are the ones who can successfully convince the reader that a happily ever after may not actually be possible at the book’s lowest point. Yet the movie itself spends so much time introducing the leads, their fake-dating scheme, and the evolving emotional stakes that the third act has to shoulder the weight of resolving every single conflict. That’s not to say the story doesn’t reach a satisfying conclusion, or that the film doesn’t follow the iconic narrative beats that you remember — but the way it ends might feel more abrupt for viewers in light of the journey they’ve just been on.

Ultimately, The Love Hypothesis is a successful experiment led by Reinhart and Bateman, and another mostly solid addition to the rom-com genre — as well as the romance-novel-to-screen-adaptation pipeline. Now that even more of Hazelwood’s novels have been tapped for adaptation, not just on Prime Video but elsewhere, the remaining question is whether anything in the works will come close to reaching the high bar that’s already been set with this starting point.

The Love Hypothesis premieres September 23 on Prime Video.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Release Date

September 23, 2026

Director

Claire Scanlon

Advertisement

Writers

Sarah Rothschild

Advertisement

Producers

Elizabeth Cantillon

Advertisement

• 

  Lili Reinhart

  Advertisement

  Olive Smith

• 

  Tom Bateman

  Dr. Adam Carlsen

  Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Pros & Cons

• Lili Reinhart is a charming and hilarious lead as Olive Smith.
• Tom Bateman gives a deceptively complex performance, peeling back the layers of Adam Carlsen as the story goes on.
• The story never forgets about Olive’s closest friendships, with Rachel Marsh and Jaboukie Young-White as strong supporting standouts.

• The film’s third act struggles to tie up every narrative thread in a satisfying way, leaving the ending feeling a bit rushed.

Britney Spears’ anger toward her father did not begin with her recent and controversial social media remark about his health. The pop star has spent years describing the nearly 14-year conservatorship as a period when other people controlled her body, money, career, and personal decisions.

Although many of her accusations involved Jamie Spears, others were directed at doctors, managers, and additional members of the conservatorship team. Jamie has repeatedly maintained that he acted in his daughter’s best interests and denied responsibility for medical and reproductive decisions made after he stopped serving as her personal conservator.

Britney Spears Said Her Father Controlled Her Body And Money

7

Britney revisited the conservatorship in her 2023 memoir, “The Woman in Me,” describing herself as a “shadow” of the woman she had once been. “Thirteen years went by with me feeling like a shadow of myself,” she wrote.

The singer said thinking about her father and his associates controlling her “body” and “money” made her feel sick. Her account gained renewed attention after The Blast reported that relatives were allegedly “appalled” by a since-deleted Instagram post in which she referenced Jamie’s leg amputation. The post drew widespread criticism as cruel, but Britney reportedly believes she has a right to remain angry because of what she says she endured under the conservatorship.

The arrangement began in February 2008 following a period of intense public scrutiny and personal turmoil. Jamie initially held authority over both his daughter’s estate and personal affairs. However, the legal roles later changed. Jamie stopped serving as conservator of Britney’s person in 2019, when Jodi Montgomery assumed that position. He remained involved with the estate until he was suspended in September 2021.

The Singer Claimed Jamie Viewed Her As A Source Of Money

7

One of Britney’s most unsettling memoir allegations involved a remark she claimed her father made after gaining control. As The Blast previously reported, Britney alleged that Jamie told her, “I’m Britney Spears now.”

She also questioned how she could be considered unable to manage her own life while still recording music, appearing on television, touring internationally, and performing a demanding Las Vegas residency.

Britney claimed the contradiction eventually convinced her that her value to those controlling the arrangement was primarily financial. “I began to think that he saw me as put on the earth for no other reason than to help their cash flow,” she wrote.

Court records showed that Britney’s estate was valued at approximately $56 million in 2019. The conservatorship also generated substantial professional and legal expenses, which were paid from her estate.

Britney Said Her Father Criticized Her Weight And Restricted Her Food

7

Britney also accused Jamie of repeatedly criticizing her appearance. “If I thought getting criticized about my body in the press was bad, it hurt even more from my own father,” she wrote in her memoir.

The singer claimed Jamie regularly told her she looked “fat” and pressured her to change her body. She further alleged that her food was heavily restricted for two years, leaving her eating almost nothing beyond chicken and canned vegetables.

Britney said she would ask household staff for foods she wanted, including a hamburger or ice cream, but was denied them because they had received strict instructions. The alleged restrictions were especially painful because Britney was continuing to rehearse, perform, and financially support the operation surrounding her career.

Her complaints went beyond food. As The Blast previously reported, Britney claimed she was instructed to grow out her hair, get back into shape, follow a fixed bedtime, and take prescribed medication. She said the arrangement eventually made her feel more like a product than a person.

She Alleged She Was Forced To Work Despite Wanting A Break

7

Britney delivered some of her most serious accusations during her public court testimony in June 2021. The singer claimed that after years of performing in Las Vegas, she told her management team that she wanted a break. She alleged that her objections were characterized as a refusal to cooperate and that she was pressured to continue working. “I worked since I was 17-years-old and this conservatorship is abusive,” Britney told the court.

Britney had released multiple albums, completed international tours, judged “The X Factor” and maintained a successful Las Vegas residency while legally lacking control over major parts of her life.

Her former court-appointed attorney acknowledged that the conservatorship’s second phase covered her return to work as a “world-class entertainer.” By 2020, however, Britney had expressed a desire to stop performing and formally opposed Jamie’s continued control over her estate.

Britney Spears Claimed She Was Forced To Take Lithium

7

Britney also told the court that her medication was changed to lithium after a disagreement over her work. She described lithium as much stronger than the medication she had previously taken and said it left her feeling intoxicated, frightened and unable to advocate for herself. The singer did not place responsibility solely on Jamie when describing the medication change. Her allegations also involved a doctor, management and other people overseeing her treatment.

Britney later shared purported text messages in which she told her mother that she felt sick from medication and feared for her safety. Lynne Spears subsequently claimed that her intervention helped end the lithium treatment.

The Pop Star Said She Was Prevented From Removing Her IUD

7

Britney’s testimony also raised alarming questions about her reproductive freedom. “I want to be able to get married and have a baby,” she told the court.

Britney claimed she had an IUD that prevented pregnancy and alleged that the conservatorship would not allow her to have it removed. However, Jamie disputed the suggestion that he was responsible for that restriction. His attorneys emphasized that he had not served as conservator of Britney’s person since 2019 and said he had no involvement in her medical treatment or reproductive decisions at the time of her testimony.

“Mr. Spears is simply not involved in any decisions related to Ms. Spears’ personal care or medical or reproductive issues,” his legal team stated in documents obtained by The Blast.

Britney Spears Said The Conservatorship Destroyed Her Creativity

7

Beyond the individual restrictions, Britney said the conservatorship fundamentally changed her identity. She described feeling infantilized and compared herself to a “robot” who was expected to behave provocatively onstage while remaining obedient in her private life.

Britney claimed the arrangement gradually robbed her of the creativity and independence that had fueled her career. She also explained that she initially cooperated because she believed following the rules would preserve her relationship with her sons.

After years of legal conflict, the court suspended Jamie as conservator of her estate in September 2021. Judge Brenda Penny terminated the conservatorship on November 12, 2021.

Kelly Osbourne turned her first runway appearance in more than a decade into another emotional tribute to her late father, Ozzy Osbourne. The 41-year-old television personality appeared in Natasha Zinko’s spring 2027 presentation during London Fashion Week on Friday, carrying a bat ornament that belonged to the legendary Black Sabbath frontman.

The meaningful accessory continued Kelly’s pattern of honoring Ozzy through fashion following his death in July 2025. It also came shortly after Sharon Osbourne visited a Halloween Horror Nights attraction dedicated to her husband’s life and solo career.

Kelly Osbourne Carries Her Father’s Bat Down The Runway

4

Kelly walked in Zinko’s “Pay Per View” presentation, an 18-piece collection created in partnership with OF. According to Page Six, Kelly wore a black bow tie and a detachable white shirtfront without a jacket. She completed the provocative look with a bat figurine hanging from a chain strap.

The accessory referenced Ozzy’s longstanding association with bats, which became part of his rock persona following the infamous 1982 concert during which he bit the head off a bat in Des Moines, Iowa. However, the item was more than a general reference to the Prince of Darkness. Vogue reported that the bat ornament had belonged to Ozzy.

The ‘Fashion Police’ Alum Transformed Her Appearance

Kelly concealed her short blond hair beneath a wig featuring a sharp, asymmetrical black bob. The hairstyle appeared to reference some of the edgier cuts she wore during the early 2000s, when her family became reality television stars through MTV’s “The Osbournes.” The bold look also fit the collection’s themes of performance, surveillance, and the way people construct public identities when they know an audience is watching.

Advertisement

Zinko staged the presentation inside a former theater, placing performers in illuminated windows across two levels. The setup allowed audience members to watch the cast as different sections of the space lit up. Kelly was joined by an eclectic group that included Katie Price, “The Sopranos” actress Drea de Matteo, and musician Lava La Rue.

Kelly Osbourne Returned To The Runway After More Than A Decade

4

Friday’s appearance marked Kelly’s first runway show since the 2015 Life Ball in Vienna. The annual fundraiser supported people living with HIV or AIDS and featured a number of celebrity participants. Before that appearance, Kelly had walked in Naomi Campbell’s Fashion for Relief events and shows for designers including Betsey Johnson and Heatherette.

Her London Fashion Week return followed a difficult period in her personal life as she continued processing her father’s death. Earlier in September, Kelly revealed that she wore wigs to conceal the “scary” weight loss she experienced while grieving Ozzy.

The Reality Star Continues Honoring Ozzy Through Fashion

4

The runway bat wasn’t the first time Kelly incorporated her father’s famous imagery into an outfit. She attended Royal Ascot in June wearing a bat-shaped fascinator. The following month, Kelly paired a white swimsuit with bat-shaped sunglasses while on vacation.

Each tribute has allowed Kelly to reference her father without relying solely on words.

Her latest appearance carried additional meaning because the bat ornament reportedly came from Ozzy himself. Rather than simply wearing an accessory inspired by the musician, Kelly brought a piece of his life onto the London Fashion Week stage.

Advertisement

The public tributes follow Kelly’s emotional recollection of one of her final conversations with her father. She previously shared that Ozzy reassured her of his unconditional love only three days before his death.

Ozzy Osbourne Is Also Being Honored At Halloween Horror Nights

4

Kelly’s runway appearance comes as Universal Studios celebrates Ozzy’s life with “Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness,” a haunted house featured at Halloween Horror Nights in Orlando and Hollywood.

The attraction takes guests through more than four decades of the musician’s solo career while incorporating imagery and songs from albums including “Blizzard of Ozz,” “Diary of a Madman,” “Bark at the Moon,” “No More Tears,” “Scream” and “Ordinary Man.”

Universal worked closely with Sharon and Jack Osbourne while developing the experience. The family supplied photographs and other personal details to help the creative team depict different periods of Ozzy’s life.

Sharon and Jack also attended the opening night of Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood and experienced the attraction created in his honor. “He’d absolutely love it. He’d be laughing his head off,” Sharon told Entertainment Weekly.

Advertisement

Universal described the experience as an unconventional memorial rather than a traditional biography. The house includes scenes inspired by Ozzy’s childhood in Birmingham, England, his solo music and the fantastical characters connected to his career.

I recently watched all of my favorite rom-coms from the ‘90s and realized the leading ladies shared one specific style. They were wearing the cutest kick-flare jeans. The flared-out style — which is traditionally cropped — is quickly coming back into style, and the silhouette is perfect for Us petite ladies. No need for a hem!

The bottom comes in much more than just denim now, though. Shop our 13 favorite kick-flare styles made from cotton, corduroy, leather and more.

13 Flattering Kick-Flare Pants Styles for Petites

1. A Little Flare: Channel your inner ‘90s rom-com star in these ultra-flattering cropped flare jeans. They hug you in all the right places.

2. Work It Out: This hot silhouette isn’t just for denim — we’ve been wearing these cute flare yoga capris for weeks, and we’re never going back to leggings.

3. Autumnal Vibes: Corduroy has always been the unofficial fabric of fall, and it looks so good in the kick-flare silhouette. This comfy style has an elastic waist, but you’d never guess by looking at it.

4. Go Wild: Bring an extra personality pop to the kick flare trend with this leopard print style. The raw-edge hem makes the bottoms look even cooler.

5. Comfiest Work Pants: These professional-looking kick flare slacks are hiding a secret — they’re soft, stretchy and feel more like pajama pants than your average trousers.

Related: I’m 5’3” — And These Are the Best Spring Pieces That Flatter Petite Frames

Spring dressing should feel effortless, but for petites, it often turns into a constant battle with proportions. Oversized silhouettes dominate the season, yet without the right tailoring, they can easily overwhelm shorter frames. Well, after years of trial and error, I’ve learned exactly which pieces make petite proportions look longer, sharper and more polished instantly. […]

Advertisement

6. City Slicker: All of the coolest girls in New York City are traipsing around in these kick-flare capris that have a little extra flounce at the hem.

7. Going Out? The moment you shimmy into these leather kick-flare capris, you’ll want to spend your evening out on the town — they’re so fun!

8. Perfect for Travel: Whether you have a short train ride or are about to get on a long-haul flight, these ultra-stretchy ponte pants will keep you comfortable and stylish throughout your journey.

9. Effortlessly Elevated: In the right light, these cotton kick flare pants have a shine to them, similar to satin.

10. Instant Classic: Abercrombie just added this high-rise, figure-skimming kick-flare pant to its lineup, and it’s already become a bestseller because it’s that good.

11. Closet Must-Have: I don’t subscribe to the notion that you can’t wear white after Labor Day, especially not when these perfect flared jeans exist!

12. Little Detail, Big Impact: The seamed detail up the front of the legs of these flared pants gives you more shape. These may be the most flattering pair on our list.

13. New Favorite Jeans: Low-rise jeans really are worth the hype, especially flared styles. You’ll wear this black style everywhere.

UsNow Fall Sale Alert: These chic fashion finds are up to 60% off – plus free shipping

Welcome to fall with our biggest sale of the season. Our favorite dresses, tops, handbags, and shoes are all on sale + free shipping. Inventory is limited so hurry before they’re gone.

Shop the UsNow Fall Sale —> 

Advertisement

Related: The Denim Guide: 13 Flattering, Writer-Approved Fits for Every Shape

Finding the perfect pair of jeans can feel like a never-ending quest. Between shifting trends, rise debates and inseam dilemmas, it’s easy to end up with a closet full of denim that just doesn’t feel quite right for you. In 2026, the focus is less about chasing every new silhouette and more about finding options […]

Everyone has had that moment where they are holding something back and suddenly every normal interaction feels harder than it should. You choose your words a little more carefully. You notice how someone looks at you. You wonder if you sounded too calm, too nervous, too quick to answer.

That is why spy movies are so easy to get pulled into when they are done right. The missions and secret identities are exciting, of course, but the real hook is that constant pressure of hiding, watching, guessing, and trying to stay one step ahead. The 6 entries on this list understand that feeling. Scroll down to see the movies that master the game.

6

‘Operation Mincemeat’ (2021)

Image via Netflix

World War II produced some incredibly strange intelligence operations, but Operation Mincemeat turns one of the weirdest into a tense drama about fabrication, bureaucracy, and moral compromise. The movie follows Ewen Montagu (Colin Firth) and Charles Cholmondeley (Matthew Macfadyen), who help engineer a plan to fool Nazi command by planting false invasion documents on a dead body. The premise sounds almost absurd. However, the film quickly reveals how many practical, emotional, and ethical decisions have to be made before a lie can become believable.

The best scenes are built around tiny details. For instance, a pocket photograph, a love letter, a receipt, and a military identity all become parts of a person who never truly existed. He was a total ghost. Also, Jean Leslie (Kelly Macdonald) gives the invented “Pam” an emotional reality that makes this fabricated romance feel more intimate and more disturbing. At the end of the day, the film treats spy work just like telling a story. But if you mess up the details, thousands of lives are on the line.

5

‘Tenet’ (2020)

Image via Warner Bros.

Tenet is spy cinema turned into a physics problem. The Protagonist (John David Washington) starts inside a familiar undercover world of extraction teams, arms dealers, handlers, forged access, and global stakes. However, the moment a bullet moves backward, the genre suddenly becomes unstable. Christopher Nolan keeps the bones of a spy thriller in place, but every chase, fight, briefing, and infiltration is warped by inversion. Everything operates in reverse. Bullets aren’t fired, they’re pulled into the gun. Weird, right? But that’s how it is. Everything has reverse entropy.

That is why the film remains so fascinating. The Kyiv opera siege, the Oslo freeport fight, the Tallinn highway sequence, and the final temporal pincer movement all ask the viewer to watch espionage as choreography under impossible rules. Your brain has to scramble to keep up. To ground all this mechanical chaos, the film relies on a quiet human element. Neil (Robert Pattinson) spends the film quietly risking his life for a friend who doesn’t even know him. Yet, Andrei Sator (Kenneth Branagh) gives the plot an ugly, possessive human villain. Admittedly, the emotional core is thinner than the machinery. Even so, that machinery is too good. Few modern spy films have made movement itself feel this dangerous.

4

‘The Courier’ (2020)

Image via Lionsgate

The best undercover agents are usually the ones who look entirely unequipped for the job. The Courier works so well precisely because Greville Wynne (Benedict Cumberbatch) looks almost too ordinary for the danger surrounding him. He is a British businessman recruited to carry messages from Oleg Penkovsky (Merab Ninidze), a Soviet officer secretly passing intelligence to the West during the Cold War. The film understands that his usefulness comes from his apparent harmlessness. After all, he can travel, drink, smile, sell, and disappear into normal professional behavior. He hides in plain sight.

But, that ordinariness becomes unbearable as the danger tightens. Hotel rooms, briefcases, dinners, border crossings, and casual conversations all start to feel loaded because one wrong gesture could expose everything. Really, the friendship between Wynne and Penkovsky gives the film its weight. This is a spy story about information that could help prevent catastrophe, but it is also about two men slowly realizing the personal cost of doing the right thing. Which is why the prison section is devastating because the adventure has fully vanished. Only loyalty remains.

3

‘No Time to Die’ (2021)

Image via United Artists Releasing

No Time to Die‘s greatest trick is giving James Bond (Daniel Craig) something much more fragile than a mission. It gives him the possibility of peace. The film opens with Bond trying to leave violence behind, only for the past to rip through that fantasy in Matera. The resulting Aston Martin chase leaves a mark because Bond’s silence behind the bullet-shattered glass feels as important as the gunfire. He is furious, wounded, and tired before he becomes deadly again.

The spy mechanics eventually expand into stolen bioweapon technology, old enemies, hidden laboratories, and Lyutsifer Safin (Rami Malek)’s island base, but the film’s real power is personal. Madeleine Swann (Léa Seydoux) and Mathilde (Lisa-Dorah Sonnet) force Bond to imagine a life beyond survival. The old swagger in Cuba and the brutal force in the stairwell are still there, but they take a backseat to a much heavier sacrifice. Bond finally saves the world. But, by giving up the only future he ever truly wanted.

2

‘Black Bag’ (2025)

Image via Focus Features

Black Bag is the decade’s cleanest recent example of spycraft as marital warfare. The story kicks off when George Woodhouse (Michael Fassbender), who is an intelligence officer, is tasked with identifying a possible traitor, and Kathryn St. Jean (Cate Blanchett), his wife, is one of the names inside the suspicion. That one fact gives the film its charge. Every professional instinct George has points toward investigation. Yet, every private attachment pushes against the same evidence.

Suddenly, their marriage basically becomes a quiet interrogation. The fun is watching two master liars casually eat dinner while secretly measuring every blink, pause, and perfectly chosen word. They can’t behave like ordinary spouses. They know the rules of deception way too well. The film ranks this high because it restores the adult spy thriller. It is controlled, elegant, suspicious, and built around the terrifying intimacy of wondering whether the person closest to you is also the operation.

1

‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning’ (2023)

Image via Paramount Pictures

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning easily earns the top spot. It turns a modern fear into pure spy-movie pleasure. At the center of that fear is the Entity, an AI that bends information, predicts behavior, and makes every screen feel compromised. Instead of a hacking war, however, the movie keeps dragging that threat back into the physical world. To fight it, the mission tracks Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise), who still has to chase a key through an airport, read faces in a crowd, handcuff himself to Grace (Hayley Atwell) during a Rome escape, and launch a motorcycle off a cliff because the mission eventually demands something no algorithm can fake. And, that is nerve.

Sure, the film is almost absurdly generous with massive stunts, but each sequence has weight because Ethan treats every person as more valuable than the objective. That is why Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson)’s death hurts. That is why Grace slowly understanding Ethan’s code anchors the whole story. The train climax is magnificent because it keeps reducing the mission to raw survival. Climb, grab, hold, trust, move. Every dangling carriage feels impossible, yet Ethan keeps choosing people anyway. That is the entire franchise. Thrilling, desperate, and completely sincere.

There’s nothing wrong with a basic black top, but Julianne Moore just reminded Us how much chicer the staple can look with one small switch. Rather than another crewneck or basic long-sleeve style, the actress opted for a shoulder-baring silhouette that instantly felt more elevated. It’s an easy city-girl upgrade we’re ready to copy this fall.

On September 10, Moore was spotted arriving at the Kering Foundation’s Fifth Annual Caring For Women Dinner in New York City wearing a sleek black off-the-shoulder top with a dramatic feathered skirt, platform heels and drop earrings. The neckline added interest without competing with her statement skirt. While her exact top remains a mystery, we found a $13 lookalike that captures the same chic effect.

Get the Tisfeer Off the Shoulder Knit Sweater for just $13 (Was $33) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication, September 21, 2026, but are subject to change.

The Tisfeer Off the Shoulder Knit Sweater delivers the same sleek, shoulder-baring look for a fraction of the price. It features a wide boat neckline, batwing sleeves, a cinched waist and a ribbed hem that gives the relaxed knit some shape. The soft, stretchy fabric also makes it easy to pair with everything from denim to trousers.

Related: Sandra Bullock Made This Controversial ’70s Shoe Trend Fall-Chic

Advertisement

Few shoes can divide a room quite like clogs. The chunky ’70s staple has spent decades bouncing between fashion-forward and downright questionable, but it keeps finding its way back into stylish closets. Now, Sandra Bullock is making the controversial shoe look surprisingly chic — and there’s an affordable similar style that makes the trend much easier […]

Shoppers are already sold on its elevated look. One buyer called the off-the-shoulder design “really stylish,” adding that it “gives it a relaxed, effortlessly chic look.” Black is the obvious choice for recreating Moore’s outfit, but it also comes in burgundy, beige, navy and more, with sizes from XS to XL.

Another customer called it their “absolute favorite fall staple,” saying they reach for it during “casual outings, coffee runs and weekend dinners.” Pair it with jeans and ballet flats for an everyday city-girl look, or dress it up with a maxi skirt and heels for dinner.

No feathered skirt is required to make this top look expensive. The off-the-shoulder neckline gives even simple jeans and boots a chicer feel, while the fitted waist keeps the silhouette flattering. For just $13, it’s an easy way to make a basic black top feel exciting again.

Love Moore’s black off-the-shoulder top? Shop more flattering, fall-ready options on Amazon below!

Shop more black, off-shoulder tops that we love:

Not your style? Explore more off-shoulder tops here and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!

UsNow Fall Sale Alert: These chic fashion finds are up to 60% off – plus free shipping

Welcome to fall with our biggest sale of the season. Our favorite dresses, tops, handbags, and shoes are all on sale + free shipping. Inventory is limited so hurry before they’re gone.

Shop the UsNow Fall Sale —>

A 3-year-old boy in Indiana fatally drowned after his mother allegedly drank five 25 oz. cans of Bud Ice in two hours and she passed out on a patio chair.

Amie Jo Farber has been charged with neglect of a dependent causing death.

Officers with the Evansville Police Department responded to a home on Saturday, September 19, at 4:44 p.m. after a boy had been found unresponsive in a pool, according to a probable cause arrest affidavit viewed by Law & Crime.

Authorities immediately started performing lifesaving measures on the boy upon their arrival, and paramedics later rushed him to the hospital. The boy, who has not been publicly identified, was ultimately pronounced dead.

Related: Boy, 1, Suffocated by ‘Unsafe’ Bedding As Mom Ignored Him for 7 Hours

A mother in Indiana has been accused of leaving her 1-year-old son, Isais Pascual-Hernandez, for seven hours in an “unsafe” sleeping environment, leading him to suffocate on his bedding and die. Evansville Police Department officers and emergency medical personnel reported to an apartment after they received a report of a “medical emergency” at 4:22 p.m. […]

The homeowner spoke to police and explained that Farber, who is a family acquaintance, came to his house around 2:30 p.m. and asked if her son could use the pool. He said that he agreed to let the boy use the pool as long as Farber, 41, watched him.

The man added that he knew Farber had a drinking problem and noted that she appeared intoxicated when she arrived at his home, per the affidavit.

He said that he and Farber sat outside as the boy swam in the pool on a floatie. The homeowner then went inside for about 10 minutes and he found Farber “passed out” in a patio chair when he returned. The homeowner also said he did not initially see the boy, but the floatie was overturned in the pool.

The homeowner then noticed the boy was floating face down in the water. He got the boy out of the pool and yelled for someone to call 911 as he started to perform CPR.

A woman then called 911 and told the dispatcher that Farber “passed out drunk,” per the affidavit. The boy was ultimately pronounced dead after emergency services rushed him to the hospital.

Police said that Farber allegedly drank five Bud Ice “Big Ones” in the two hours she was at the home.

Farber spoke to police about the incident, and she claimed she briefly jumped in the pool before she got out. She then claimed to go back to a patio chair, where she “must’ve fallen asleep.”

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

Advertisement

“This is all my fault,” she allegedly told officers, according to the affidavit.

Police officers collected a blood sample from Farber before she was arrested and taken into custody at the Vandenburgh County Jail. Farber is currently being held on a $25,000 bond, and she is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, September 23.

It is not currently clear if Farber has entered a plea or retained legal counsel following her arrest. The Evansville Police Department did not immediately respond to Us’ request for comment regarding the case.

Chris “CT” Tamburello is in a new relationship, and according to him, things have been a breeze. The “Challenge” alum recently spoke about his new romance with “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” star Phaedra Parks and said their connection actually works because of the distance.

Of course, Phaedra and CT have spent years on television, showcasing the highs and lows of their previous relationships. But could things between them be endgame? CT, who first rose to fame after starring in MTV’s “The Real World,” says he’s hoping for the best.

CT Praises Phaedra Parks, Says She Fills Him With ‘Peace’ And ‘Calm’

4

In an interview with Us Weekly, CT briefly opened up about his new relationship with Parks and said things are going well right now. The reality star, known for shows like “The Challenge” and “Fear Factor,” added that when he’s around Parks, she “brings peace” and makes it “easy to just stay calm.”

CT and Parks are still testing the waters, considering CT lives in Boston and Parks lives in Georgia. The distance, however, might be working for them, CT said.

“It’s probably for the best if I’m not around her every day, to be honest. But she’s amazing. She really is. The way I would describe it is like Paula Abdul, ‘Opposites Attract.’ You remember that old video? That’s us,” he joked.

Parks Confirmed Her Relationship With The ‘Challenge’ Vet Earlier This Month

4

Parks confirmed she was dating CT earlier this month when she appeared on Jeff Lewis’ radio show, according to The Blast. The “Real Housewives” mainstay told the “Still Flipping Out” star that she was in Los Angeles with CT as his date to the Creative Emmys.

And while their romance seems sudden, loyal fans have been rooting for CT and Parks since season 2 of Peacock’s thrilling reality series “The Traitors.” During the episodes, viewers became so obsessed with CT and Parks’ connection that they deemed the former Parks’ “castle daddy.”

CT’s Relationship With Parks Has Already Received Negative Attention

4

Not everyone is happy with Parks and CT’s recent revelation, though. Days after going public, CT’s estranged wife, Catalina White, accused him of stalling their divorce for unknown reasons.

“I genuinely wish Chris well in whatever relationship or career he chooses to pursue. I’m not interested in commenting on whether his new relationship is real, for publicity, or anything in between,” she said. “What I would like is for him to put the same energy into ending our marriage that he’s putting into publicly promoting his new relationship.”

White Says She Wants Nothing From Her Estranged Husband

White also shot back at the suggestions that she’s trying to divorce CT for money, denying the claims and pointing to her status as one of that website’s top creators.

“I do not, and never did, need or want money from this man,” she said. “I’m not asking for anything from him other than his cooperation in finalizing our divorce.”

Advertisement

She finished by saying, “If Chris is ready to move on publicly, he should be ready to move on too legally. Sign the papers!”

And White isn’t the only one calling him out. Days later, “Jersey Shore” alum Angelina Pivarnick left a cryptic comment on Instagram that caught a lot of attention. “Soo much I could say right now because I know what really happened,” she wrote.

A New Season Of ‘The Traitors’ Is Coming To Peacock Soon

4

CT and Parks’ love story could potentially lead to new connections amongst other “Traitors” contestants, as the new season is currently in production.

A new report from The Blast states that several public figures, including “Real Housewives” stars and professional athletes, are joining Alan Cumming for another round of his treacherous game.

Until their time comes, viewers can stream the latest season, which features an all-civilian cast, on Peacock now.

Advertisement

“It’s got darkened tones of murder, but it’s tongue-in-cheek and can be a family-friendly viewing experience. There’s a cheekiness,” a producer said about the new version. “Alan’s got this theatricality to him, and it’s a multigenerational cast from all walks of life.”

Editor’s Note: The following review contains some spoilers for the pilot of ‘Line of Fire’.

When Peter Krause‘s Bobby Nash died in Season 8 of 9-1-1, it was a devastating blow for fans of the ABC hit procedural series. Not only did it mean that Krause would no longer be on the show, but the series fundamentally changed after that point. But now, a year later, Krause is back on our TV screens. This time, he’s not suiting up in a firefighter’s uniform but in a Secret Service suit and tie for Line of Fire. The family procedural drama also doubles as a bit of a spy thriller as it puts the Hollingsworths, a family of law enforcement agents, into the center of a conspiracy that will keep audiences locked in for the long haul.

‘Line of Fire’ Takes a Messy Family and Puts Them Into Law Enforcement

Image via NBC

Line of Fire kicks off on a momentous day in Mike Hollingsworth’s (Krause) life, the day of his retirement. As he prepares for his last day at work, the rest of his family are chugging along at their own jobs. His wife, who he is separated from (kind of), Jane (Hope Davis), is a Deputy U.S. Marshal investigating the death of a fellow marshal alongside her daughter, FBI Special Agent Clare Hollingsworth (Kat Cunning). His youngest son Russ (Taylor Bloom) is headed to a new desk job at the Department of Justice, while his older son Micah (Tommy O’Brien) can’t wait to be free of his dad as a special agent also working in the Secret Service. As wild as the concept is — and unrealistic given how often Clare and Jane seem to work together — it makes for an exciting TV series as we follow the Hollingsworths through the upper echelons of law enforcement.

Unlike some police procedurals which might drop you in the streets of New York City or Chicago with detectives working homicide cases, Line of Fire‘s focus is both narrower and more expansive. Due to their high positions in the various departments of the government, the types of cases that the Hollingsworths are privy to extend far beyond your run-of-the-mill crime. However, considering how much ground there is to cover when it comes to their jobs, the series really uses their occupations more as a vehicle for drama and a strong gimmick to sell the show. The Hollingsworths give the impression of the prototypical American family, a patriotic group of public servants working hard to protect their country. However, that often just feels like the glossy veneer that the show operates behind in order to fuel its more soapy drama.

Despite the Procedural Action, ‘Line of Fire’ Has Elements of a Soap Opera

Among all the plots and subplots, the one storyline that feels the most to only exists on TV is probably the secret romance between Micah and his protectee, the daughter of the president, Sydney (Savannah Lee Smith). While the rest of the family is seemingly dealing with secret agents and deep conspiracies, Micah’s problems are decidedly more pedestrian. It feels slightly out of place but adds the type of romantic drama that is normally injected into a procedural to draw in part of its audience. At the same time, Jane and Mike also have a little bit of an affair bubbling between the two of them, despite the fact that they are separated and Jane is apparently dating someone on the side.

On top of all of that is the constant push and pull between the parents and the kids, specifically when it comes to Clare and her boyfriend Logan (Pico Alexander), who she’s terrified of introducing to her judgmental family. The kids all have their own dysfunctional relationship with their parents. Clare thinks Jane would have preferred it if she followed in her mother’s footsteps to go into the Marshals, while Micah can’t wait to be freed from his father’s watchful eye. Russ, who is already suspected at work because of his connection to his family, simply wants to be trusted and not considered a potential leak because of who his father is. While Line of Fire has the potential to be far larger than just a network show, the bones of a procedural are still there, and that’s where the lion’s share of the drama and family dynamic lies.

‘Line of Fire’ Kicks Off a Surprising Twist That Keeps Us Hooked

Image via NBC

Advertisement

What actually sets Line of Fire apart and makes it worth coming back to is the eleventh-hour plot twist at the end of the pilot episode. For much of the pilot episode, the scuttlebutt in the family revolves around the fact that Clare won’t let her family meet Logan. The episode reaches a climax when Logan comes over for dinner, and it ends disastrously when the topic of Jack (Charlie Barnett) comes up. Jack was Mike’s son from his first marriage. Clare, Micah, and Russ believe he killed himself five years ago after coming back from Afghanistan, haunted by the atrocities of war. Photos in the house have him removed from family pictures, the Hollingsworths barely mention him, and it seems to be a sore subject even years after his suicide.

However, the twist comes when we see Logan return to the Hollingsworth house and is met by his neighbor, Joel. Except it turns out Joel is actually Jack, and when Logan pulls back one of the family photos to reveal his neighbor BFF is the one hidden from view, Jack is quick to dispatch Logan, leaving him dead on the living room floor. The death shatters Clare, who got into a fight with Logan before he left the family dinner. But what’s more shocking is the fact that Mike and Jane seemingly know that Jack is alive and working on a case deep undercover. Logan’s death puts a pause on Mike’s retirement as Homeland Security Detective Nia Wallace (Antoinette Crowe-Legacy) steps in to investigate the case of the murder. It’s a twist on par with The Blacklist and makes the show worth tuning back into.

However, one potential problem remains. The fact is, Line of Fire is still a procedural. And anyone will tell you that a good procedural lives and dies on its ability to both maintain its case-of-the-week formula while balancing it with a greater overall season plot. It’s a sweet spot that Line of Fire will have to find, but not an impossible one, as shows have done it before and gone on to prosper with multiple seasons. But there is a part of me that feels like it’s a shame that this is a network procedural at all, as Line of Fire has all the makings of a serialized prestige miniseries, but perhaps that’s what will make the show withstand the test of time.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Release Date

September 21, 2026

Showrunner

Advertisement

Joshua Safran

Directors

Rebecca Thomas

Advertisement

Writers

Joshua Safran

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Pros & Cons

• The pilot delivers on a smashing twist that is intriguing enough to keep audiences coming back.
• The family dynamic has the potential to offer a lot of new storylines intermingling the multiple departments of the government.
• The Jack storyline adds an element of espionage that increases the tension of the episode.

• Some of the storylines, while juicy, dip too far into the land of soap for the main storyline, creating a bit of a dissonance.
• The family’s foothold in the upper echelons of law enforcement feels deeply unrealistic considering how incestuous it can be at times.

Advertisement