10 Things I Read and Loved in August

Featuring a new book by a good friend, a poem by Woody Harrelson (?!), and another priceless text from my dad.

I spent most of the month preparing for the semester and singing “August, die she must” á la Simon and Garfunkel, but I did manage to make some time for reading. Here’s what I read and loved this month—books, tweets, texts, and more.

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1) My Big Fake Wedding by Jessica Hatch

One of my favorite people in the entire world wrote a book, and it’s a damn good one! My Big Fake Wedding is the story of Bea, a young (and very neurotic) woman who wins and all-expenses paid wedding… except all she’s missing is a groom.

The novel is hilarious, whip smart, and makes me tear up just thinking about it. I first read Jessica’s manuscript four years ago around the time when we first became friends, and back then, it was so obvious that the book had a future. It had all the workings of a fantastic novel, and seeing it in the world now is just the best.

But if I’m being totally honest and selfish, the thing that really gets me is the dedication page:

I’m telling y’all—writer friends are the best friends. Here we are at Jessica’s book release party! I am so, so proud of her 💛

big Steve Martin and Martin Short energy

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2) a good tweet:

R Y A N @RyanAllenb

youre in her DMs im in her Acknowledgments

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3) this amazing sign:

via @kellyccooper

So often in life, I feel like I can so clearly see the ocean and the lighthouse, yet I still head toward the tick-infested areas of my life. We’re healing, folks! It’s a process!

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4) Seek You by Kristen Radtke

This book completely expanded my perception of what graphic storytelling can be. I’d never imagined researched nonfiction being explored the way Kristen Radtke does in her “journey through American loneliness.” I’m glad I read it because it taught me so much about the ways in which the U.S. has fostered loneliness throughout history.

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5) another remarkable text from my father:

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6) a bunch of Sanborn maps with my friend Kiley

Kiley amongst the Sanborn maps in the Special Collections department at the Jacksonville Public Library.

I’ve been eager to find information on the history of my house. I found out a few years ago that the house used to face a different direction (!), and ever since, I’ve been dying to find a photo of it facing south instead of west.

Fortunately for me, my good friend Kiley Secrest is a historic preservationist and is also incredibly generous. He offered to help me navigate the Sanborn maps at the downtown library. And we found my house! Facing the other direction! It wasn’t a photograph, but it was something. And Kiley also discovered that his own house used to have an autohouse! A very good library day indeed.

If you’re located here in Jacksonville, you can access the Sanborn maps online here. All you need is your library card!

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7) Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman

Calling all romance fans! After you devour My Big Fake Wedding, get your hands on this novel. It’s a journey through a decade of a young writer’s life, before and after she profiles (and falls for) one of the most famous actors in Hollywood. Elissa Sussman’s writing reminded me so much of two of my favorite writers: Taylor Jenkins Reid and Emily Henry. She incorporates magazine article interludes similar to TJR’s Hollywood-set books, and the laugh-out-loud comedy felt akin to an Emily Henry novel.

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8) the best movie review ever

via @byron_queen

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9) a chart about boars

Tag urself. I’m grand old boar.

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10) a poem Woody Harrelson wrote for a baby who… looks exactly like him?

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I’ll be back in September with dispatches from the writing process, book recs, and more!

Love from your Grand Old Boar,

💛 Hurley