I have a later patient start today (sometimes we are granted this on our first day back after call). So, hi!
Happenings:
The weekend was pretty restorative. We didn’t end up getting to see family (tabling to next weekend on way back from Keys) but I DID spend several hours on the couch or in bed curled up with What Kind of Paradise (and agree – it’s great). I honestly needed that; my energy level was terrible (sort of self-inflicted as I tried increasing my beta blocker dose to the actual prescribed amount rather than the 1/2 pill I had been taking).
We also test-drove a car, and now are also considering a CR-V and maybe some other options? Really, it’s Josh’s car so it’s his pick.
Our nanny (G) gets back on Thursday. We held our own pretty well, and Josh managed to fix the dryer! But the afternoons have been super hectic and the rhythms definitely are not sustainable. Fortunately, we were super lucky that Josh had a very light week. It would have been far worse if he hadn’t!
Unrelated: I’m anxious about some heart stuff and waiting to hear back, and it’s kind of distracting.
On a more positive note we found out C will get to race in the first middle school XC meet (they have to ‘qualify’ based on trial times in practice though I don’t think the standards are too crazy or anything). Excited for him to get a taste of what running a race is like.
Songs on Repeat
Anyone else? This is driven by mostly G, but I have to admit the songs are catchy (except Soda Pop does kind of trigger a gag reflex — but I’m pretty sure that was purposeful). G has decided she will be Rumi for Halloween. (I should probably just order now . . . the outfit AND the braid, obviously).
Preorders:
Yesterday I heard from my editor that BLP is doing well in terms of pre-orders and that makes me so excited!! I am planning on some kind of bonus, but *you will still get the bonus later even if you preorder now*. If you plan on purchasing the book and you are able to order it now, it would be awesome! This just helps more bookstores and media outlets find out about the book.
Amazon // Bookshop // Barnes & Noble // Target
PS: You can see the endorsements in the links! So thrilled to get positive feedback from so many writers I respect so highly.
24 Comments
Those book endorsements are the best! I am so, so happy for how well your pre-launch things are going.
Ugh. Life is full of simultaneous ups and downs and it can start to feel like severe whiplash. Medical things are hard at the best of times and the stress of a chronic health condition is…so. much. to. deal. with. Add to that G’s broken arm, the car stuff, back to school chaos, work, your nanny being away. Oof. I can only imagine how exhausted you are mentally and physically. Hope things calm down and you get reassuring news from your medical team.
That’s awesome about C and XC. At our local school you can’t do school sports until Grade 6 (huge bummer for my athletic son, as he is only going into Grade 5), BUT you can do XC from Grade 3 and up and he really loves doing that each fall.
My son is VERY into K-pop Demon Hunters but the music on repeat at our house lately is the soundtrack to the Zombie movies. Some of the tunes are very catchy, but I think I’ve heard more than enough of each of the songs to last me a lifetime š
I think Paul has watched that K-Pop movie 5-6 times? My dad saw part of it when we were at their house this week and DID NOT APPROVE. I think he was reading too much into the demon aspect. Paul loves singing some of the songs. They are quite catchy!
Having your nanny gone for a week has probably shown you that you aren’t able to go without a nanny just yet… I think you had debated at one point if you needed full time child care but between Josh’s long hours and you also having call, it seems like it would be hard to not have childcare until you have a driver/drivers in the house?
Sending good thoughts on the heart stuff! It is hard to worry about that sort of thing!
Book pre-ordered! So glad you have a quieter week this week (and that you are loving What Kind of Paradise)!
aww thanks so much for the order!!!
My kids found KPop Demon Hunters I late July. Now even I keep seeing it everywhere, and yes Alexa has the soundtrack on repeat. Those are amazing reviews!! A large number of folks who question traditional planning strategies… definitely would make me read this book to see those folks all on favor.
I had a sleepover last weekend for my daughter’s birthday with 3 girls aged 8yo. This was the film of choice and they declared this is THE BEST FILM EVER. Indeed, soundtrack on repeat over here. I don’t mind, maybe it’ll lead to more kpop.
Pre-ordered!! Iām such a fan of all of those endorsers which makes sense because Iām also a fan of yours, but it truly makes me so happy and even more excited for your book! š„³
aww thank you so much!! I hope you love it. Yes I was absolutely thrilled at these – such awesome people that I admire so much saying such nice things.
I pre-ordered your book this past weekend. I had a coupon from participating in the National Book Foundation summer reading program and used it for your book. I can hardly wait to read it.
thank you so much for the order!!!!!!
WOW- those are some amazing endorsements! It seems like this book is going to do really well, and I can’t wait to read it.
Ugh sorry about the heart worries- is this why you were increasing your beta blockers? Hope everything resolves soon.
Preordered back in the spring when I had a bookshop free shipping code! (along with Kate Baer & Catherine Newmanās new releases) Looking forward to several months of fun surprises at my doorstep!
Yay for late work starts, decompression time, and the return of the nanny, and so many congratulations on your book preorders! Very very deserved. š
I just finished James by Percival Everett, which I really enjoyed despite not being a fan of Huckleberry Finn when I was required to read it in 10th grade. I then moved on to Babel by RF Kuang… but could not get into it, which I’m not sure is because it’s just not for me, or because I had a book hangover from James. So I moved on I am Thinking About Ending Things, which so far (20 pages in) I am enjoying more.
I think you might like what kind of paradise. I want to read the new RF Kuang that just came out!!
I canāt wait to get my hands on Katabasis. RF Kuang is awesome. There was an article recently (NYT?) about her and sheās just so stupidly smart. Yes Iām a fangirl! Iād love to run into her in New Haven but I think sheās rarely here.
I loved the writing in yellowface but couldnāt stand reading it bc the protagonist was so hard to watch! But I think katabasisās premise sounds super interesting.
I loved Yellowface, but you know how I feel about dark, messed up plot lines. š Adding What Kind of Paradise to my TBR!
Just preordered! All the way to Australia! Hooray. And those endorsements are amazing.
That Kpop movie is great and my sons 7-12 love the songs. One thing: I donāt think the anxiousness about heart stuff is āunrelatedā but rather an umbrella over everything else? At least it would be for me.
I think I already preordered, will check asap.
O and loving the endorsements, especially Kendra Adachiās is speaking to me (ādevourā), and I think the one from Cal Newport is funny because of the old news that he kinda has it easy with his compartmentalized life, work vs private, and he addresses that your book is for people with real lives? Well played š
We love the music from K-pop but canāt get into the movie. I have had Golden stuck in my head for over a weekā¦
We had some bad medical news for my youngest around the time you had your heart issues and I have not really been able to adapt. Struggling a lot with what it means for him and seeing how it plays out over time has basically kept me in a state of high alert for months now. I donāt even know if I can feel rested right now. Not sure if itās similar for you but Iām very sorry.
Going to preorder once September’s allowance kicks in! YNAB says no right now! But I’m looking forward to reading it, and I love that it will release just in time for the winter break–peak planning time for me.
thank you so much Lauren!!
We looked at hybrids and bought a 2026 Kia Sportage SX-Prestige. It’s a beauty and I love it. Just thought I would throw this car out there for you.