The Sunday Scoop - Issue #1
A weekly recap of all my latest obsessions—from books and shows to bakes and beyond.
Hello,
It’s 2025, and personally, I’m in hibernation mode. Hard pants? Not likely. Unfortunately, the rest of my industry didn’t get the memo (as evidenced by my growing inbox and escalating anxiety). But hey, I promised myself to go easy on the pressure this month, so I’m choosing to embrace the slow pace and move forward without guilt.
That said, there’s one exciting thing to share: this Substack! I’ve been thinking about starting this since mid-2024, but as you know, nothing motivates me more than procrastinating on other, more urgent tasks. So here we are—finally!
What can you expect? you might wonder. Well, let’s call it the erratic ramblings of a book-obsessed baker. But seriously, this space is where I’ll update you on what I’m loving (and sometimes what I’m not) each week. If you know me from Instagram, you can expect me to share some recipes and deeper dives into the books I’m reading.
The Book Recap
This week was a slow reading week for me (see aforementioned hibernation). And honestly, what was I thinking requesting ARCs (Advanced Reader Copies) in January? I should’ve known I'd be moving at a glacial pace this month. I don’t normally request a ton of ARCs because: 1) They give me anxiety, 2) They add unnecessary pressure to my hobby, and 3) I love reading books with all of you and discussing them. But past me didn’t plan well (oops). Here’s what I managed to get through:
Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams: This was by far my favorite read of the week. We’re back in Rome, Kentucky (the third book set in this charming fictional town), where we follow Emily. Her world is turned upside down when Jack returns, freshly after calling off his wedding, and Emily finds herself once again facing off with her longtime nemesis. I couldn’t put this book down! It’s sexy, witty, and bursting with top-tier banter. Honestly, I’m tempted to say this might be Sarah’s steamiest book yet. Highly recommend for anyone who loves a good romance.
Unromance by Erin Connor: This debut novel comes out on January 14th, and it’s a perfect winter read! Set in snowy Chicago, it follows a fun, flirty romance from Thanksgiving to Valentine’s Day. Despite being holiday-heavy, it’s more about winter vibes than just Christmas, so it’s great for those cozy nights. I’ll be sharing a full review next week, so stay tuned for more details!
For One Night Only by Jessica Joyce: This debut follows Valerie Quinn, a former rockstar turned actress, who reunites with her old band (and former flame), The Glitter Bats (I know), for one last concert to fix her public image. The book started strong (who doesn’t love a good musical romance?), but by the third act, I was cringing a bit at the main character’s choices. Still, I finished it and enjoyed parts of it, even though it wasn’t the love story I was hoping for.
Tunes & Talk
This week, music took a backseat to book playlists—especially this one for Beg, Borrow, or Steal. I also couldn’t resist revisiting the 10 Things I Hate About You soundtrack after it was mentioned a few times in For One Night Only. A total trip down memory lane. But the real soundtrack of my week has been the Fantasy Fangirls Podcast as we gear up for the Onyx Storm release. I just re-read both of these books with my husband in the late fall, so I’m feeling refreshed but I still plan to watch this recap.
Watched & Binged
I’m not sure how it happened, but my husband and I have been watching The Rookie every night on Hulu/Disney+. It’s become a bit of a comfort show for me, plus I’ve always loved Nathan Fillion since his Firefly days. It’s just one of those shows you can put on without having to think too hard, and it has just the right mix of drama and levity. I love a good episodic show where each episode generally wraps up nicely—this way, I don’t end up staying up until 2 AM binging (we’ll save that for the books).
I also binged the third season of The Sex Lives of College Girls on HBO. While I’m probably not the target demographic for this show (definitely not), I love it. It gives me the same vibe Girls did before it got too out there. Plus, I adore Mindy Kaling and her humor—she’s the co-creator of the show along with Justin Noble.
I recently finished Shrinking on Apple TV, and if you’re not already watching it, I highly recommend starting. The cast is amazing, the comedic timing is spot-on, and the writing is sharp. The show tackles some heavy topics but balances them with humor. While I adore it, I imagine therapists might cringe a little. As someone who’s been in therapy, I often think, “That would never happen.” So just suspend your disbelief a bit while bingeing this one. It’s totally worth it.
Tried & Tested
I tried a new recipe last week—𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗽𝗶𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝗽𝗰𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 & 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗹—and they turned out adorable and delicious (though they were a bit of a labor of love).
Also, on a completely different note, I bought these sheet organizer sets, and they’ve completely changed my life. I’m too embarrassed to show you the before and after, but trust me, they were much needed!
Thanks for reading this week’s update! What have you been loving, reading, or watching? Let me know—I'd love to hear from you.
Take care and stay cozy,
Danielle