It’s time to get in the water with Crew Girl.

The new teen drama, about a star rower (Miku Martineau) who has to find her place at an East Coast prep school after a family scandal implodes her life, arrived on Netflix on Sept. 10. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t know your way around a boat. The sports-romance from creator Vivian Lin gives you the full download on competitive rowing—you’ll know port from starboard and coxswain from stroke seat in no time—while also diving deep into the rivalries, romances, and all-around drama happening Easton Prep.

As Martineau told Netflix's Tudum, the show has "a lot of drama, a lot of abs, a lot of rowing." Read on to learn more about her and the rest of the crew grabbing the oars on this series, from an Off Campus star to a Mad Men alum and more.

Everything to Know About the Cast and Characters of 'Crew Girl'

Miku Martineau as Teagan Tao

Teagan is a talented 16-year-old rower who’s forced to relocate with her mom after her father is accused of financial crimes and goes on the run. She arrives at Easton Prep only to find out there’s no girls’ crew team — so instead, she becomes the coxswain (the person responsible for setting the pace and strategy for his or her crew) for the dysfunctional boys’ team. Not only is she trying to steer her way through a new life and a new school, she also has to get her new team to trust her out on the water.

Martineau, 21, is a Toronto-born Canadian actress who starred in the Netflix murder-mystery series Bet, which was renewed for a second season. You've also seen her in the 2021 action-thriller film Kate, the Paramount+ coming-of-age comedy Honor Society, and as the younger version of Michelle Yeoh's character, Phillipa Georgiou, in the sci-fi series Star Trek: Section 31.

Miku Martineau's Instagram: @miku.martineau

Jessica Paré as Ella Tao

Teagan's mother, Ella, is also figuring out how to start over. After her husband’s alleged crimes come to light, she moves them both back to her childhood home in Eagle's Cove to start this next phase of their lives, and enrolls Teagan at Easton Prep.

Paré, 45, is a Canadian actress and singer best known for playing Megan, Don Draper’s secretary-turned-wife, on the acclaimed series Mad Men. Born in Montreal, Paré has also landed roles on the CBS series Seal Team and films like Wicker Park, Hot Tub Time Machine, and Brooklyn.

Jessica Paré's Instagram: @jesspareforreal

Samuel Braun as Josh Regis

Josh is Easton Prep’s golden boy, a wealthy legacy student (his grandfather owns an airline) and the team’s coveted “stroke” seat. He isn’t exactly welcoming to Teagan when she joins the team, and they butt heads when he thinks he knows better than the new coxswain.

Samuel Braun got his start playing young Luke in 2013’s Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters. Since then, the Canadian actor has gone on to appear in Voices For Isabelle, Superman & Lois, The Way Home, Time Cut, and more.

Samuel Braun's Instagram: @samhbraun

Kyle Clark as Cam Dillinger

Cam is a quiet but determined local who attends Easton on a rowing scholarship and refuses to be underestimated. His working-class background makes him very different from the posh Easton students he (and Teagan) interact with on- and offshore.

Another Canadian-born actor, Clark has appeared in episodes of Riverdale (in an uncredited role as a young version of Jughead’s father, Forsythe “F.P.” Jones), The Baby-Sitters Club, and Home Before Dark.

Kyle Clark's Instagram: @itskyleclark

Thomas Cadrot as Coach Matt Hayden

Coach Hayden is the coach of the Easton Prep boys’ crew team, which means he’s juggling the chaotic team members, school administration, and very rich parents with a lot of opinions. He also grew up with Teagan’s mother, Ella, but stayed in town after graduation to start his own family.

Thomas Cadrot was born in Paris and can be seen in Scream VI, Family Law, So Help Me Todd, and more.

Thomas Cadrot's Instagram: @thomas.cadrot

Connor Paton as Ryder Regis

Ryder (above, right) is Josh’s cousin and fellow Easton crew teammate. He’s sick of being stuck in his cousin’s shadow.

Connor Paton made his acting debut in the TV movie Away & Back and has gone onto appear on Riverdale, Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce, iZombie, Happy Face, and the recent Netflix adaptation of Little House on the Prairie.

Jude Wilson as Bronson "Baloo" Garner

Bronson, aka "Baloo," is a good-natured member of the crew team. His sister, Britney (more on her below), is also an Easton student.

Jude Wilson is a Canadian actor based in Vancouver. You’ve seen him in the 2019 Are You Afraid of the Dark? reboot, Riverdale, Firefly Lane, A Million Little Things, and Fellow Travelers.

Jude Wilson's Instagram: @juderwilson

Olga Petsa as Juliet Morny

Juliet (above, right) is Teagan's new friend at Easton. Like many of their classmates, she comes from a wealthy family and boards at school — as opposed to Teagan, who lives at home and commutes.

Olga Petsa, 20, is a Cyprus-born actress who moved to Canada with her family when she was 9. In addition to Crew Girl, her onscreen credits include Mixtape, I Used to Be Funny, and Black Mirror. According to IMDb, she'll also be seen in the upcoming Netflix movie The Mosquito Bowl and season 4 of Yellowjackets.

Olga Petsa's Instagram: @olgapetsa

Vincent Muller as Damon Quaid

Damon is a member of the Easton Prep crew team with a propensity for starting trouble.

Vincent Muller, 21, has acted on shows like Riverdale, Watson, Murder in a Small Town, and Hope Valley: 1874.

Vincent Muller’s Instagram: @_vincentmuller_

Riley Davis as Noah Bainbridge

Straight-laced Noah is another member of the Easton Prep crew team.

Off Campus fans will recognize Riley Davis as Sean, Allie’s ex-boyfriend, on the hit Prime Video series. The Canadian actor has also been seen in Fire Country, the Curious Caterer Mysteries, The Copenhagen Test, and more.

Riley Davis' Instagram: @rileydavisfilm

Sage Linder as Britney Garner

Britney (above, center right) is Easton's resident Queen Bee and the "twibling" of Baloo. (Their mother, a senator, used two different surrogates at the same time.) She’s also Josh's girlfriend.

Sage Linder, 25, was born and raised in Vancouver, Canada. She appeared in episodes of Riverdale and Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, and The Good Doctor, along with starring in the miniseries Harlan Coben's Shelter. She also plays Bronte in the Disney+ series Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

Sage Linder’s Instagram: @sagelinder

Alaska Leigh as Amber

Amber (above, center right) is a friend of Britney's and a fellow member of the cool-kid crowd at Easton.

Alaska Leigh began her career at the age of 3 through dancing and modeling work, according to her IMDb page. Originally from Queensland, Australia, she's appeared in the TV movie Dying for a Family and series like Fire Country, Creepshow, and Dead Boy Detectives. She's also been cast in national tours for the musicals Chicago and Rock of Ages.

Alaska Leigh's Instagram: @alaskaleigh

Connor Wong as Perry Chou

Another member of the crew team at Easton Prep, Perry (above, center) is described as "always on trend, never on rhythm."

Connor Wong got his start in dance and theater, per his IMDb, and made his acting debut in 2020's The Baby-Sitters Club. He’s also been seen in Home Before Dark, Monster High: The Movie, and the second season of Cruel Summer.

Connor Wong's Instagram: @connor.wong

Jarrett Carlington as Chris "Crab Catcher" Padmore

Chris Padmore is another Easton rower. His nickname, "Crab Catcher," refers to his rowing ability, or lack thereof. (A "crab" in rowing-speak, is when your oar gets stuck underwater mid-stroke.)

Jarrett Carlington is a Canadian-born actor raised in Bermuda. He's landed roles on Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, Resident Alien, and Fire Country, as well as in the 2020 film Spontaneous.

Jarrett Carlington's Instagram: @jarrettcarlington

Niall Matter as Richard Regis

Richard Regis is Josh's entitled father, who's an Easton alum and former rower himself. He also knew Teagan's mother, Ella, and Coach Harvey from back when they all were students.

Niall Matter is a Canadian-American actor who’s appeared in films like The Predator and Watchmen. On TV, he's appeared in Primeval: New World, Melrose Place, The Good Doctor, and Supernatural, in addition to Hallmark shows and movies like When Calls the Heart and We Met in December.

Niall Matter's Instagram: @officiallyniallmatter

Readers often look to Tessa Bailey's romance novels because of their heart and relatability. Her books bring on the charm (plus ample spice!), but her love stories always feel grounded and resonant with working-class protagonists undergoing periods of transition.

Since 2013, Bailey has published 65 books—ranging from hit sports-romance titles like the Big Shots franchise to rom-coms like the Hot and Hammered series—and sold over 4 million copies. But this fall, the best-selling author will release a novel that's unlike anything else she's written thus far.

Cue Broken Rival, a high-concept time-travel romance. The sci-fi melodrama centers on 18-year-old Magnolia, who just so happens to be the daughter of the inventors of time travel. When her parents leave her in the past after the technology becomes corrupted and leads to their persecution, she finds herself trying to adjust and searching for answers in her new reality. That's all but complicated when she's caught in a love triangle between two brothers—including one who works for a militia group that hunts time travelers.

Before Broken Rival releases on October 6, Bailey has shared an exclusive excerpt with Marie Claire. Read on for the advanced chapter, which features a sweet moment between Magnolia and her boyfriend Fallon just before danger begins to loom in the distance.

Drumbeats pepper the crisp fall air.

The scent of hot chocolate and corn dogs drift through the gaps in the metal bleachers. Sparkles painted onto the cheeks of students catch the spotlights, never staying still. Shimmering, moving, going silver to pink. A horn signals the start of the second half and I smile, watching Fallon and his teammates take the field, the white knees of his football pants soiled with grass stains, his helmet dangling from his fingertips. He always leaves it off until the exact second official play resumes. One of his numerous good luck rituals.

Like kissing me in the parking lot before a game.

Taping his pinkie and ring finger together with white strips of athletic tape.

Parting his golden coif of hair to the left for away games.

Feeling eyes on my back, I turn and seek out Fallon’s mother, Camille, in the top row of the bleachers, her honey-colored hair pulled into a high ponytail, his jersey number—9—painted on her cheek in red, outlined in black. Looking nervous, she tilts her head toward the scoreboard, which shows a tied score. I hold up my crossed fingers and she does the same.

See you at home later, she mouths. Whatever happens.

Comfort steals through me and I smile, nodding. Home.

Home is a big house in the southeast corner of Aubrey with an entryway full of crosses. The opposite wall is painted pitch-black, but if you look at it from an angle, you can see where someone used a finger to draw the outline of a six-foot-two human figure in the wet paint. A nod to the boy who used to live there.

Home is dirty cereal bowls stacked in the sink, the smell of acrylic paint and daisies gathered from the fields surrounding the house. It’s the sound of the pastor muttering his sermons to himself in the study, his feet creaking the floorboards while he paces. It’s crop dusters flying over the Overmeyers’ farm to the north.

Home is Fallon.

I sigh gustily enough to emit a white cloud in front of my face, my gloved hands wedging between my thighs in my lap. When I came home with the Willoughbys two years ago, I slept in the guest room for three months until the pastor caught Fallon kissing me in the downstairs bathroom. He bought a small trailer after that and parked it in the backyard. Since then, the trailer has been my home. “I’m not harboring any notions this is going to keep you two away from each other,” he’d said wryly, opening the door to the trailer and gesturing us inside. Fallon laughed at my furious blush and tickled me up the stairs. “But if y’all are going to insist on holding hands in church, I think we’ll need to consider appearances.” The pastor dragged a long-suffering hand down his face.

“You two couldn’t keep this platonic, could you? Had to make it hard on me, huh?” Fallon laughs. “Sorry, Dad. She’s way too cute.”

Two years. Gone by in a blur. I’m eighteen now, but at sixteen, I still wasn’t used to being told I was pretty. My parents never once told me so, nor did I have access to a lot of kids my own age. As a child, I’d been close friends with another scientist’s son, but they left our station when I was six, leaving me isolated at our perfunctory employee housing near the lab. My thick brown hair always seemed kind of ordinary. Brown eyes, unremarkable.

Fallon called them bronze, though. He declared that, somehow by looking at me, a person could tell by these bronze eyes that I’m smart. He told me I smelled like fresh, wild raspberries. That my lips were soft, my voice was like music. He’d lean over and hug me out of the blue.

Still does.

Eager to set my sights on my boyfriend, I return my attention to the football field and frown. Where are the players? I swear I saw them return from the locker room just a minute ago.

I stand up and lean over, trying to determine if the team are out of sight or if maybe there is a problem and—

“Magnolia Brown.”

Hearing my name over the announcer’s speaker, my skin immediately shrinks around my bones. The fear of being trapped and removed, like a spider on someone’s bedroom ceiling, has never quite gone away. But it’s Fallon’s voice, which doesn’t make me nervous—God, no, just the opposite—it’s just that everyone seated in the bleachers has turned to stare at me now.

And they knew right where I was sitting, because they always do.

I’m a moving landmark, no matter where I go.

Sounds grow tinny and distant in my ears, but I smile through the temporary discomfort and find my boyfriend where he stands in the announcer’s booth, the ends of his hair brushing his filthy shoulder pads. Those familiar white teeth are stretched in a smile, hovering just above the silver microphone. His teammates flank him on all sides, giving him good-natured slaps and shoves of encouragement.

“Magnolia Brown, I love you. Will you go to prom with me?”

Briefly, I catch Camille’s eye, and she gives me a beaming eye roll that says exactly what I’m thinking: There he goes again. Fallon being Fallon. There are no small gestures with my boyfriend. No minor commitments. He only leaves behind big, boisterous, memorable marks. Everyone loves him for it, too.

That fondness for Fallon is why the people of Aubrey have slowly accepted me as one of their own over the last two years. There might be an asterisk beside my name in the town records forever, but to Fallon, I’m just Magnolia. I’m not simply the girl whose parents negatively impacted the course of history.

You’re just Magnolia. Good through and through. Nothing like her parents.

Not a threat.

Sweet and helpful and most importantly, grateful to still have her head.

I push an effusive smile onto my face, pressure leaking out from behind my eyes. “Yes,” I whisper. Then louder, “Yeah, I will.”

The game buzzer gives several noisy toots, the audience erupting into cheers. Many of those clapping are the same people who called for my death when I was sixteen. I shake their hands now and accept their kisses on the cheek, agreeing when they tell me how incredible Fallon is. How lucky I am. Don’t I know it?

I blow a kiss to Fallon as he takes the field a second time, waving to me while he runs backward. I want to watch the second half from the bleachers, but it’s my turn to volunteer at the Helping Hands booth, drumming up support for the canned food drive I’m organizing with my cochair, Vetta.

I’m scooting past a row of underclassmen when gunfire rat-a-tats in the distance.

All the motion in the stadium fades to stillness.

Every head in the audience turns in the same direction. Three miles north. Toward the Burn Line.

The black ring of burned earth that separates Aubrey from the Breach.

Residents of Aubrey were ordered long ago by Cyrus to stay inside the Burn Line, for their own protection. We do not venture to the other side. No one, not even the wiliest troublemakers in our school, is self-destructive enough to attempt it. This close to the Breach, they could be mistaken for a Taker and executed by the Deterrence on sight.

As the Breaches have been declared disaster sites by the federal government, populations who live the closest to those holes in the atmosphere have shifted away, migrating to towns and cities they deem safer, leaving many southeast Kansas towns deserted. Not Aubrey, though. Everyone is either too stubborn to leave or their faith in Cyrus Royse is so great, they seem to believe we’re surrounded by an iron dome, rather than a man-made Burn Line that circles the town.

No one comes in. No one goes out. But we all proceed as normal.

The crowd is silent as a prolonged firefight ensues, parents folding children into their sides in the glow of the Friday night football game. Meanwhile, a sickly yellow hue reaches its fingers into the air above the Burn Line. A fire, perhaps. Bodies burning.

Not everyone is staring into the distance anymore.

Prickles on my skin tell me I’m being observed. Covertly, sure, but the silent judgment is not subtle. It’s always there. They think I can’t feel it.

A very intense part of me doesn’t want to seek Fallon’s comfort. He’ll mope if I don’t let him give it to me, though, so I look over and meet blue eyes that are hunting for mine from the football field, nodding back at him when he mouths, Are you okay?

Yes.

As soon as a full minute has passed without gunfire, the buzzer sounds, a blast of cheers go up and the game resumes, as if nothing happened. Pom-poms wave in the stands, cheerleaders call to the audience through a bullhorn, the Tiger mascot dancing out of rhythm to the delight of the children in the front row.

I duck my head and move through the tunnel leading to the concessions area, waving at Vetta, hustling forward with an apology on my lips. “Sorry I’m late to relieve you. How’d we do on pledges?”

“Good. Really good. People love to get rid of their verging on moldy green beans.”

“Don’t they, though?” I scoot behind the waist-high table and hip bump her out from behind it. “Go watch the rest of the game. I’ve got this.”

She tilts her head at me. “So you’re just going to pretend like your live-in boyfriend didn’t ask you to prom in front of the whole town?”

“Like I always say, Fallon is going to Fallon. And he’s not . . .” I sigh. “Okay, fine. I guess he’s technically my live-in boyfriend. Weird circ—”

“Weird circumstances. I know. We all know. And we hate you for it.” She smiles to let me know she’s at least partially joking. “You’re already shacked up with your man, and mine will only take me on a date if his boys are there, too.”

“Maybe he wants to show you off.” I waggle my eyebrows at her. “Hell, I would. A kickboxer and an uncompensated volunteer? You’re a catch.”

“Bah. Enough of that.” She laughs, her smile slowly ebbing from her face. “Did you hear those gunshots? They sounded . . . close.”

“Yeah, I did,” I reply, averting my eyes by scanning the pledge sheet, turning to a fresh page and uncapping the pen. “Sounded like it was near the Burn Line, as usual.”

“Yeah, but it’s been a while since the Deterrence had to intercept anyone trying to cross from the Breach into Aubrey, right? Like . . . at least three, four months?”

“That’s a good thing,” I point out, making it clear where I stand on the issue of Takers. Forever making it clear. “I’m sure the gunfire is nothing to worry about or they’d be issuing a curfew for tonight.”

“On a game night? The horror!”

I raise an eyebrow. “A game night you’re missing, standing here talking to me.”

A collective “ohhh” emanates from the stands. “Fine, twist my arm. I’ll go watch.” She skips backward toward the packed bleachers, nearly running into a couple returning to their seat with two loaded chili dogs. “As if Fallon Willoughby ever loses.”

That statement lingers in the air long after Vetta is absorbed by the stands.

Everyone has gotten their mid-game snack now and used the bathroom. It’s just me, waiting in case the odd spectator happens by but mainly to field the postgame rush. For now, though, I’m alone in the muffled roar behind the stands. In the filtered spotlight.

That’s when I let myself acknowledge the Presence. At least to myself.

The ringing in my ears grows more tense, more suspenseful, my mouth turning dry as a bone. Electricity dances slowly up the length of my arms and wraps around my throat, forcing me to cough to release the pressure. There’s no name for what watches me from the darkness. Or I won’t name it.

I’m not willing to admit which.

But it’s always there in moments like this. In the silent, finally alone moments, it reminds me that I’m never actually alone. It’s watching. Keeping tabs. Entertained by my actions. My very normal actions designed to help me blend in.

The Presence is not buying my serene act for a second. There’s something different about it tonight, though.

A sizzle of warning that drips down my spine and leaves a burn behind.

There’s change in the air.

From BROKEN RIVAL by Tessa Bailey. Copyright © 2026 by Tessa Bailey. Reprinted by permission of Avon Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Friendships don’t always get their due in discussions about the most important human relationships we can form, but they’re definitely up there. And that just might be why friends-to-lovers romances are so compelling: They start with an already intimate relationship that blossoms into even more over time, creating connections practically too powerful to be torn asunder.

The trope has been around for centuries, from Shakespeare’s 17th-century stories of comrades-turned-lovers in plays like Much Ado About Nothing and Twelfth Night to Jane Austen writing about the evolution of Emma Woodhouse and George Knightley’s relationship in Emma circa 1815. And who could forget Louisa May Alcott’s description of Laurie’s less-than-successful attempt to take his friendship with Jo March to another level in Little Women?

Since then, fortunately for the friends-to-lovers lovers among us, bookshelves have remained packed with plenty more slow-burn love stories between once-platonic pals. Here are 10 of the very best of the genre—each of which may or may not have you looking at your own besties in a new light. (And when you’re ready to make your way through yet another swoonworthy romance trope, check out our lists of the best enemies-to-lovers, fake-dating, and forbidden romance books.)

The Best Friends-to-Lovers Books

Classic Friends-to-Lovers Books

Fake Relationship Friends-to-Lovers Books

Forced Proximity Friends-to-Lovers Books

Love Triangle Friends-to-Lovers Books

Secret Pining Friends-to-Lovers Books

Second Chance Friends-to-Lovers Books

Even if you’re not a member of a book club yourself, odds are you’ve chosen an enlightening, engrossing read based on a trusted recommendation. Gone are the days when book clubs and their selections were only associated with the wine-drunk mom stereotype; they’ve become even more en vogue and a way to connect. Not only that, but celebrity book clubs and local reading groups are an important part of the literary ecosystem. They pick through the hundreds of thousands of books—over 642,000 in 2025 alone—that come out of publishing houses every year, elevating both highly anticipated releases and under-the-radar gems in hopes of delighting discerning readers. And of course, the real fun comes from discussing each month’s read with your most well-read friends.

The best book-club pick stretches the reader’s mind through complex relationships between nuanced characters and thrilling plots that touch on real-life history, or shrewd commentary on society’s flaws past and present. Whether you need a new recommendation or are even planning your own meetup, here are some books sure to start conversation, from underrated classics to shocking whodunits to layered love stories. Below, read on for the best book-club picks that should jump to the top of your lists.

The Best Literary Fiction You Need to Read in Book Club Next

The Best Thrillers You Need to Read in Book Club Next

The Best Nonfiction You Need to Read in Book Club

The Best Romance Novels to Read in Book Club

Fall may be just around the corner, but Sterling Point has us dreaming of an epic lakeside summer. Prime Video's new series from My Old Ass writer/director Megan Park is a coming-of-age drama centered on the titular small Canadian island. When N.Y.C. twins Annie (Ella Rubin) and Connor (Keen Ruffalo) inherit an idyllic cottage from their estranged grandfather, Annie sets out to visit Sterling Point, which was her late adoptive mother's favorite place in the world. But once she arrives, Annie finds that a secret sister (played by Amélie Hoeferle) is just the start of an avalanche of secrets surrounding their late mother.

Since its debut on August 5, Sterling Point has won the hearts of critics and fans, becoming the streamer's latest beloved word-of-mouth hit. The eight-part original series may have viewers wondering when they can book a seaplane to the small-town island. Below, read on for a guide to the filming locations of Sterling Point, from the stand-in for the titular island to the show's surprising connection to Heated Rivalry.

All About the Real 'Sterling Point' Locations

Where Was 'Sterling Point' Filmed?

According to star Ella Rubin, Sterling Point was filmed entirely in southeastern Ontario, Canada, "half in Toronto and half in Muskoka." The latter is a district two hours north of Toronto that comprises multiple villages and towns, as well as over 1,600 lakes. While Muskoka has plenty of rentals for visitors, most cottages are privately owned, especially ones that have been maintained for decades by the same families.

As seen on Sterling Point, Muskoka is part of "cottage country," one of Canada's most popular summer enclaves for wealthy families. (If that doesn't give you Hamptons vibes, Summer House's Canadian spinoff will be set in Muskoka.) The region regularly hosts celebrity couples from David and Victoria Beckham to Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, so Oona’s Kaia Gerber name-drop in episode 1 actually wasn't that far off.

Another reason that "cottage country" may sound familiar? Heated Rivalry put the vacation locale on the map late last year, as the cottage (of "I'm coming to the..." fame) is a real-life Muskoka rental property.

As for specifics, the Prime Video series was filmed in several locations around the region's three major lakes: Lake Muskoka, Lake Joseph, and Lake Rosseau. Per Streets of Toronto, some of the local haunts featured include the family-run Mortimer's Marina and the Sparrow Lake Camp, a real-life summer camp that also offers nightly tent stays.

Is 'Sterling Point' a Real Place?

The town of Sterling Point may be fictional, but it's based on personal history. Creator Megan Park was inspired by her own childhood summers in Muskoka in the '90s while writing both Sterling Point and her 2024 coming-of-age film My Old Ass. Park explained to CBC that the series is a love letter to the rapidly-changing region.

"There is tension up there that's very real with people who have had these cottages in their families for [generations], and new people coming in...environmental challenges," she told the outlet. "Muskoka is stunning, and I'm so glad that the world gets to see it."

There's also a sweet connection hidden within the show's name. According to a blog from the rental company Jayne's Cottages, one of their properties, a "century-old traditional cottage," was the filming location for Elliot's childhood home in My Old Ass. The name of the cottage? Sterling Point.

Turns out we won’t be leaving Silver Falls any time soon: Netflix has officially renewed the coming-of-age drama My Life with the Walter Boys for a fourth season, with the news coming before the now-streaming third season premiered on August 6, 2026. Based on the Wattpad sensation-turned-novel by Ali Novak, the series follows Jackie Howard (Nikki Rodriguez), who moves in with her mom’s best friend’s family in small-town Colorado after her family is tragically killed in a car crash. As Jackie acclimates to the change of pace from her Manhattan roots, she finds herself in a love triangle with two of the brothers living under the roof.

While the first season of the series is largely lifted from Novak’s novel, the subsequent seasons have evolved the story across many different characters and plot points—and season 4 will be no different. Ahead, we break down everything we know about the forthcoming My Life with the Walter Boys season 4.

Everything We Know About 'My Life with the Walter Boys' Season 4

Is 'My Life with the Walter Boys' renewed for season 4?

In May 2026, a few months ahead of the season 3 premiere, Netflix officially confirmed My Life with the Walter Boys will return for a fourth season, signaling the popularity of the YA series. The Tudum announcement noted that this is the second consecutive year in which My Life with the Walter Boys was renewed before the forthcoming season’s premiere.

When will 'My Life with the Walter Boys' season 4 come out?

The streamer has revealed that new episodes can be expected in 2027. “I know I speak for the writers, the cast, and the crew when I say that it is beyond exciting to be returning to the world of Silver Falls for a fourth season,” showrunner and executive producer Melanie Halsall told Tudum. “We are all incredibly grateful and are thrilled to dive in.”

Seasons 2 and 3 of the hit romance series have been released in the summer, and it seems like season 4 could do the same. In early August—just as the new slate of season 3 episodes hit streaming—Netflix announced that the show had already picked the cameras back up. It shared a sweet photo of the main trio back on set on social media, along with a caption confirming season 4 was in production.

With filming already underway, it definitely seems feasible for season 4 to arrive in summer 2027—though we probably won't have an official release date until sometime next year.

Who in the 'My Life with the Walter Boys' cast will return for season 4?

My Life with the Walter Boys wouldn't be the same without the leads—Nikki Rodriguez (Jackie Howard), Noah LaLonde (Cole Walter), and Ashby Gentry (Alex Walter)—so they'll inevitably return. Netflix confirmed as much, based on the photo it shared of them back on set at the ranch.

Much of the supporting cast will also likely return, including the Walter matriarch and patriarch played by Sarah Rafferty and Marc Blucas, as well as the other Walter siblings (and cousins) portrayed by Corey Fogelmanis (Nathan), Connor Stanhope (Danny), Dean Petriw (Jordan), Lennix James (Benny), Alix West Lefler (Parker), Myles Perez (Lee), and Isaac Arellanes (Isaac). The various significant others and friends amidst the Walter family will also likely return, meaning we’ll see more of Jaylan Evans (Skylar), Alisha Newton (Erin), Ellie O'Brien (Grace), Mya Lowe (Kylie), and Kolton Stewart (Dylan). Jackie’s uncle Richard, played by Alex Quijano, could continue to recur in season 4—and his intern Eliot (Naveen Paddock), whom Jackie kisses in the season 3 finale, seems likely to return after that major cliffhanger.

Eldest son Will and his fiancée Hayley, played onscreen by Johnny Link and Zoë Soul, are question marks, as their plans to move to Atlanta were announced in season 3. Similarly, Erin Karpluk, who appeared in season 3 as Lee and Isaac’s mom Hannah, could reappear in season 4, though it’s unlikely given the conclusion of her arc.

What would 'My Life with the Walter Boys' season 4 be about?

Like previous seasons, season 3 ends on a few cliffhangers: Following Jackie and Cole's mid-season break-up, Jackie sees her childhood friend Eliot in a new light and shares a kiss with him, while Cole's life is in danger after a drag race gone wrong. The series also introduces a new love triangle with best friends Alex and Kiley kissing despite her dating Dylan.

The exact plot of season 4 has not yet been revealed—but with Cole's fate hanging in the balance, his pre-race clarity, and the amount of miscommunication that fueled Jackie and Cole's break-up, we're sure to see those lovebirds find their way back to each other in season 4. Halsall told Tudum, “Our story’s about love and romance and love triangles and all those teenage trials and tribulations around those things, and we’re not going to divert from those—so much, much more of that to come in season 4.”

Halsall also spoke to Deadline about her choice to end season 3 with so many stories up in the air. "We like to subvert expectations and make people desperate for more and make people shout at their screen because they can’t believe it’s over," she explained. "It felt like the right place to leave the characters for now after everything that’s happened in this season."

The showrunner shared that the team always knew season 3 would end how it did—and that they know where the entire series is headed. While speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Halsall said, "I definitely have a story in mind...Obviously things adapt and change while you’re writing. But the overall sense of where we’ll end up remains more or less the same." It hasn't been confirmed whether season 4 will be the show's final installment, but it sounds like there will eventually be a satisfying conclusion to its ultimate will-they-won't-they.

For now, continue to check back, as we'll keep this story updated as more information becomes available.

Princess Kate and Prince William had an exceedingly eventful weekend as the pair attended the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games in Scotland with their three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. From springing into "dad mode" to executing damage control, Prince William appeared to be on high alert throughout the event. But according to royal fans, the Prince of Wales was never far away from his wife.

One X user highlighted Prince William's seeming adoration of Princess Kate by sharing two photos. In the first snap, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, and Prince George sit between Kate and William. In the second, the children have moved, leaving Princess Kate and Prince William to sit next to one another. The royal fan captioned the post, "How it started v. how it ended...Oh William."

Another commenter suggested that William was a "smart man" for moving closer to his wife. Meanwhile, someone else shared, "They can't live without each other."

According to the Express, another royal fan expressed excitement regarding Kate and William's appearance at the Commonwealth Games, writing, "Prince William wanted to sit next to Princess Catherine!! So sweet. The bond they have with each other and their children is amazing! I love it!"

After navigating some complicated family dynamics, it appears as though Kate and William always come back to one another.

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Sports-romance is certainly having a moment—and not just on #BookTok. As romance book-to-series adaptations have started to take over our streaming services, the subgenre has proven particularly popular in the pipeline, with hits like Heated Rivalry to Off Campus.

There's certainly no shortage of romance books worth getting the on-screen treatment—but if you've been hoping for more LGBTQ+ love stories, you can get excited because one of the most popular sapphic soccer romances is headed to Prime Video. In spring 2026, the streamer confirmed that it will soon release a TV series based on Meryl Wilsner’s Cleat Cute. The 2023 book about two female soccer players who have tension on the field and even greater sexual tension on the sidelines marked Wilsner's third queer novel and has since become a TikTok hit and USA TODAY bestseller.

The series, retitled Playing the Field, will center on the Cleat Cute leads Grace and Phoebe, but also expand into an ensemble comedy. Wilsner, who is among the executive producers, has expressed how they're championing whatever is to come. "As a consumer, I can't stop thinking how lucky we are to get multiple versions of queer stories across different media," they wrote in an April 2026 Facebook post. "I'm so excited to see where [they take] my favorite fictional soccer lesbians!"

Read on for everything we know about the Cleat Cute adaptation Playing the Field so far.

What is 'Cleat Cute' about?

Cleat Cute unfolds as a classic rival-to-lovers story about a veteran national soccer team star named Grace and her new teammate, Phoebe, who just took her spot on the field after an injury. It’s all fun and flirtation between the two of them until Grace has recovered enough to get back on the field, where she’ll be competing against her new situationship for a spot on the World Cup roster. Both women will have to decide what's really important to them—and what they're each willing to give up.

According to Deadline, the TV adaptation will use the couple’s tension-filled relationship as the “anchor” to the show, which will showcase the “sexy, messy, and exciting” lives of four different players on the soccer team.

Who is involved behind-the-scenes of Prime Video's 'Cleat Cute' TV adaptation 'Playing the Field?'

When Deadline confirmed an adaptation was in the works in April 2026, the outlet revealed Sarah Tapscott—who previously wrote and produced on hit series like New Girl, The Sex Lives of College Girls, and more—will lead Playing the Field as showrunner, executive producer, and writer.

"When I tell you this could not be in better hands, I mean it," Wilsner gushed of Tapscott via a post on Facebook. "Within five minutes of meeting her over Zoom, I knew she was our showrunner. She's fucking hilarious, to put it mildly."

There are a few thrilling names beyond Tapscott, as well. Bringing the professional athlete expertise are former WNBA player Sue Bird and former USWNT soccer star Megan Rapinoe, who both serve as executive producers. Wilsner also sung praises of them, writing, "I mean come on, Megan and Sue...Everyone working on this project is fantastic."

Additional producers include Wilsner themselves, Jeff Wachtel (Murder in a Small Town, Good Cop/Bad Cop), Jared Berenholz (Murder in a Small Town), Camille Bernier-Green, and Emily Rasenick.

What has Meryl Wilsner said about the 'Cleat Cute' TV adaptation 'Playing the Field?'

Wilsner has made it clear to fans that while they are an executive producer of the show, they're very open to any liberties that Tapscott may take with their work. "Cleat Cute is one of my favorite books I’ve written, but that’s what it is. A book,” they explained in a Facebook post. "Playing the Field is not my baby. As a creator, I love seeing someone else’s take on the characters, and I can’t emphasize enough how great [Tapscott] is."

When will the 'Cleat Cute' TV adaptation 'Playing the Field' be released?

There is no release date for Playing the Field. It might be a while before it hits streaming, too. Wilsner has described the timeline as "vague."

"There are many, many, *many* steps to making a TV show," they wrote to fans in April 2026. "The basics of the show—script, outline, general vibe—are being established. This is a very fun stage, but it’s not the same as being in production."

Considering it's still early days for the series and casting hasn't begun (more on that below!), the finished product might not hit our screens until at least 2028.

Why is the name changed from 'Cleat Cute' to 'Playing the Field?'

The Cleat Cute title has notably been changed to Playing the Field for the TV show (not unlike Prime Video's decision to shift Every Summer After to Every Year After for its Carley Fortune adaptation). Wilsner opened up about the change, explaining that it only allows for the series to grow.

"This is a TV show, not a movie, so the story needs to be expanded instead of whittled down," the author wrote on Facebook. "Cleat Cute was specifically the story of Grace and Phoebe falling in love, and Playing the Field is an ensemble comedy."

And we already know how the show plans to expand beyond the book's horizon. As its logline teases, the on-screen version will focus on several players and their love lives. While it's way too early to say how long Playing the Field will run, it certainly seems ripe for a different focus each season à la Off Campus.

Who has been cast in the 'Cleat Cute' adaptation 'Playing the Field?'

No casting decisions have been made yet (“I don’t know who will play Grace or Phoebe," Wilsner admitted when the adaptation was announced). However, the writer is certainly interested in who her readers would like to see, asking on social media, "Who do y’all have in mind?"

While nothing is confirmed, several names have already popped up on social media, with fans nominating stars like Liv Hewson (Yellowjackets, Santa Clarita Diet) or Ella Purnell (Fallout, Sweetpea) as Phoebe and Charlotte Austin (Petrichor) or Sophie Thatcher (Yellowjackets) as Grace Henderson.

Netflix's wholesome Korean reality show Better Late Than Single returned for its second season this month, with a new cast of eternal singles (or "모태솔로" in Korean) dipping their toes into the dating pool for the first time. Over 10 episodes, the 20- and 30-something singles lived together in a retreat on Jeju Island where they got to know each other in the hopes of finding their first relationships. The dating show ended on July 28 with the final couples walking off to continue their romances in the real world, leaving viewers to wonder whether their new faves are still together.

Thankfully, Netflix won't leave fans waiting for too long! The streaming giant has announced a reunion special for Better Late Than Single season 2, which will bring the cast back together for relationship updates and answers to some lingering questions. Below, read on for everything to know about the upcoming reunion, titled Better Late Than Single: After Service.

When does 'Better Late Than Single: After Service' come out?

Netflix has confirmed that the Better Late Than Single reunion special will arrive on the streamer on Saturday, August 1, 2026, just five days after the season 2 finale. The exact timing of the release is unknown, but fans have noticed the special may seemingly arrive a day early in the U.S.

With After Service, Better Late Than Single becomes the third Netflix Korean reality show to get a reunion spinoff, after Single's Inferno Reunion and Physical: Welcome to Mongolia.

Which cast members will return for 'Better Late Than Single: After Service?'

Netflix has yet to confirm which cast members will appear on Better Late Than Single: After Service. All of the season 2 cast members are likely to return to some extent, including Kim Jae-seo, Jeon Seo-yoon, Yoon Jung-yun, Choi Hyun-seo, Lee Han-ju, Ahn Seung-hyun, Kim Soo-hyun, Choi Hyuk-joon, Lee Jin-woo, Han Su-ji, An Jeong-eun, and Kim Tae-hoon. However, there's a chance some stars may only appear for part of the special, if there are scheduling conflicts with their real-life jobs.

As for the show's hosting panel, who provide both commentary for viewers and pre-show dating advice for the cast, comedian Lee Eun-ji and singer Car, the Garden are set to return for the special. (No word yet on whether actors Seo In-guk and Kang Han-na will also make an appearance.)

Finally, the Better Late Than Single: After Service trailer teases something that fans have been teasing for a while. In the clip, the season 2 cast sits down for blind dates with some familiar faces from season 1, including Kang Ji-su, Kim Seung-li, Lee Min-hong, and Yi Do.

Is there a trailer for 'Better Late Than Single: After Service?'

The Better Late Than Single: After Service trailer promises some awkward-yet-charming drama once the season 2 cast gets back together. In addition to updates from the final couples—Hyun-seo and Hyuk-joon and Han-ju and Jin-woo—it seems that there may be an update on the love triangle between Soo-hyun, Seung-hyun, and Tae-hoon.

Other notable clips in the trailer include a light-hearted "Dating IQ game" hosted by Lee Eun-ji and Car, the Garden; a presentation of dating tips given by season 1's Noh Jae-yun; and the aforementioned blind dates between season 1 and season 2 cast members. We'll have to wait and see whether the "second chance at love" the trailer promises will lead to success.

Princess Kate and Prince William announced their engagement on November 16, 2010, having gotten engaged during a trip to Kenya three weeks prior. But according to one royal biographer, King Charles was allegedly "a little irritated" when it came to Prince William's proposal.

In his book The Windsor Legacy: A Royal Dynasty of Secrets, Scandal, and Survival, royal biographer Robert Jobson explained, "The palace announced William and Catherine's wedding for April 29, 2011, at Westminster Abbey, a joyful event that would at last overshadow the sorrow of Diana's funeral in 1997."

Jobson continued, "Privately, Charles was surprised, even 'a little irritated' that William had proposed to Catherine using the same 12-carat Ceylon sapphire and diamond ring from Garrard's 1981 catalog, that he had presented to Diana on their engagement."

According to Jobson, this insight regarding King Charles's reaction was provided to him by a former palace employee.

However, any irritation King Charles might have felt seemed to quickly evaporate.

According to Jobson, "Prince William had kept his big news secret, even from The Queen and his father, making private plans with Catherine for their future."

The royal biographer continued, "On November 16, 2010, he telephoned The Queen to announce that he and Catherine were now officially engaged. She was delighted. When asked by the press, Charles joked that the pair had been practicing long enough."

In spite of any alleged trepidation King Charles may have experienced, it seems likely that the monarch was ultimately pleased about William and Kate's decision to marry.

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Once her divorce was finalized, Princess Diana became one of the most eligible people in the world. According to the princess's former royal butler, the royal was romantically pursued by an award-winning Hollywood actor, who lost some confidence after being turned down by Diana.

In his book A Royal Duty, former royal butler Paul Burrell recalled, "One Oscar-winning Hollywood actor's confident image suddenly disappeared when it proved he was too shy to ring the palace himself and ask the princess for a date: he got a friend to write a letter on his behalf."

Unfortunately for the unnamed actor, Princess Diana wasn't interested in dating him.

"When the princess wrote back, politely refusing, he returned with another request a month later," Burrell shared. "She had a drink with him and chose never to meet him again."

Of course, this particular actor wasn't alone in propositioning Princess Diana following her divorce, according to the former butler. "He wasn't the only one with honorable intentions," Burrell said.

Burrell recounted just some of the other men who attempted to date Diana after her split from King Charles.

"There was a sporting legend, who made a living out of racing in a field of competitors; a leading musician; a novelist; a lawyer; an entrepreneur; a billionaire who ran his own empire, and one extremely famous politician," the former butler noted.

He continued, "The unfortunate thing was that while they might have provided the princess with enthralling company, her heart lay elsewhere."

Ultimately, Princess Diana reportedly turned down the majority of men who tried to date her, but that didn't stop the invitations from arriving.

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When Netflix's Western-romance series Ransom Canyon premiered in April 2025, it cemented itself as the next must-watch for fans of the soapier side of Netflix originals. Based on author Jodi Thomas' book series, the show follows several locals in a West Texas ranching community as they deal with business rivalries, conman plots, and love triangles that make The Summer I Turned Pretty seem tame. And to cement its "Texas, Forever" bona fides, Minka Kelly leads an ensemble cast that has garnered the show the nickname "Handsome Canyon."

Ransom Canyon's second season, which just arrived on Netflix, turns up the heat with several new rivalries and suitors guaranteeing that the titular town is always on its toes. And of course, it ends with some cliffhangers to leave fans wondering what's next. Below, read on as we keep track of any and all updates on the fate of Ransom Canyon season 3.

Is 'Ransom Canyon' renewed for season 3?

No. Unfortunately, Netflix canceled Ransom Canyon and announced that it won't return for a season 3 in September, according to Deadline. The news came a month and a half after season 2 arrived on the platform.

According to the outlet, the romance series had been "on borrowed time" for a while, due to its "respectable but not massive" viewership numbers in season 1. Season 2's debut, which had a reduced eight episodes instead of 10, ultimately saw a 43 percent decline in viewership compared to season 1's opening week.

(Deadline noted that Netflix has recently renewed other shows that had sophomore-season dips, including Running Point, The Four Seasons, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder.)

Minka Kelly reacted to the news with a heartfelt tribute. via Instagram. "Appreciating this little trip down memory lane as we say farewell. All good things must come to an end. And so it is," she wrote.

Who in the 'Ransom Canyon' cast would have returned for season 3?

Minus some major shakeups, Ransom Canyon season 2 solidified the main cast for Netflix's romance hit. The main cast were all likely to return for season 3, including Minka Kelly (Quinn O'Grady), Josh Duhamel (Staten Kirland), Lizzy Greene (Lauren Brigman), Philip Winchester (Dan Brigman), Garrett Wareing (Lucas Russell), Casey W. Johnson (Kit Russell), Marianly Tejada (Ellie Estevez), Jack Schumacher (Yancy Grey), and Justin Johnson Cortez (Kai Flores).

It was unclear whether supporting players like Heidi Grace Engerman (Sidney), Kenneth Miller (Freddie), and Steve Howey (Levi) would return for more episodes.

What would 'Ransom Canyon' season 3 have been about?

Season 2 ends by resolving most of the show's big questions. Quinn and Staten finally get together, with the blessing of her previously disapproving mother Claire. Ellie gives birth to a healthy baby girl, but even though Yancey successfully kept his ranch away from Sidney, Ellie breaks up with him to protect their child. And after a season of Lauren being torn between two brothers, she makes amends with her ex Lucas and stops her new beau, Kit, from leaving Ransom. (Yes, that means she's now dating the guy her mom was having an affair with in season 1.) Staten even gets control back of the Double K, and Quinn's music festival saves Ransom. Happy times (mostly) all around.

After season 2's release, April Blair teased a bit of what she had in mind for season 3. Speaking to Deadline, she said that, unlike the six-month gap between seasons 1 and 2, Ransom Canyon season 3 would start without a time jump, so viewers can "see all the fallout of where we left off in season 2."

It also seemed that Staten and Quinn were fully out of their will-they-won't-they era for the foreseeable future. "I think, moving forward, there will be hurdles and challenges, but it’s not about breaking them up," Blair told the outlet. "I wanted, ‘Okay, now they’re together, but what are those challenges moving forward?’ A relationship, finding each other and falling in love, is actually the easy part. It’s making a life with someone and figuring out who they really are deep down, what are the skeletons in their closets, and ‘Can you love someone at their worst?'"

Ransom Canyon viewers would still have had other love triangles to watch. In addition to Yancy and Kai's interest in Ellie, Blair also hinted that the Lauren-Lucas-Kit saga isn't over yet (despite the Ashley of it all).

"Lucas is struggling to figure out who he wants to be, and for me, I don’t know if it’s even within the life of the series, but I think Lauren and Lucas are endgame in the way that Staten and Quinn were and are," Blair told Deadline. "They need to have loves and other lives and figure out who they are, and before they can be together, and I would love the show to go on long enough to see that. But even if it doesn’t, that’s, in my mind, where they end up. They’re the Staten and Quinn, and they just have to have a lot of other journeys and figure out who they are."

She added that Lucas may have been headed towards "his own bad boy era" in future episodes. "Moving forward, in our idea of season 3—we’re just in the room—it’s a potential Season 3 right now, but the idea is that Lucas is hurt, but he’s trying to put on [a brave face]."

Princess Diana's marriage to King Charles has been well-documented, as has the monarch's relationship with Queen Camilla. Early in Diana and Charles's romance, the princess was photographed spending time with Camilla, leading many to wonder why the pair had been communicating with one another. According to one royal biographer, the reason might be more straightforward than many initially believed.

In the new book Divide and Rule: Royal Women and Their Battles, author Catherine Mayer explores Diana and Camilla's unexpected meetings.

"Diana interpreted her rival's overtures of friendship towards her during this period as intelligence gathering," Mayer writes. However, the royal biographer is sure that there is much more to the story.

"Camilla seems unlikely to have taken on such a mission unilaterally," Mayer explains. "A more plausible theory, suggested by sources with some knowledge of these events, is that Charles saw Camilla as the person best placed to induct his fiancée into his life."

Considering the illicit nature of Charles and Camilla's relationship during certain periods of time, the suggestion that The King might have orchestrated the meetings might sound a little scandalous. However, there might have been some common sense behind the alleged idea.

As Mayer notes, "After all, [Camilla] knew [Charles] and his ways intimately. If accurate, this is the detail among all others that comes closest to crossing the line from the disordered impulses common to such situations to something colder."

Per the author, "Even if Charles, at this stage, lacked the emotional intelligence to grasp how misguided the idea was, you might have expected Camilla to demur."

Of course, it remains unclear whether Charles did, in fact, ask Camilla to befriend Diana and teach her how to navigate royal life. Either way, it seems that Camilla remained an integral part of Charles's life from the moment they met.

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Lovers of the romance genre have been absolutely spoiled in recent months with a steady stream of film and TV adaptations of beloved novels and book series. From Off Campus to Every Year After to the first onscreen version (so far) of an Emily Henry novel, romance readers and watchers alike have been booked and busy. And it’s not stopping: Still to come this year are adaptations of Ali Hazelwood’s The Love Hypothesis and Katherine Center’s The Bodyguard. At the same time, this summer has also heralded the arrival of the second season of Netflix’s Ransom Canyon.

The Netflix show is based on a long-running series of cowboy romance novels by prolific author Jodi Thomas. Each dives into the life and love stories of a broad cast of characters throughout a West Texas ranching community. With the next set of eight episodes arriving on the streaming service on July 23, there’s no time like the present to dive into Thomas’ books—and, just in time, we’ve compiled a guide to help you on your journey through the neo-Western saga.

How do the 'Ransom Canyon' books compare to the Netflix series?

The first season of Netflix’s Ransom Canyon hews fairly close to the first book in Thomas’ book series, with its primary focus on Staten and Quinn. However, it also expands the roles of certain characters, such as Lucas and Yancy, who only briefly appear in the first book before having their stories fleshed out in later installments. Similarly, other characters, like Lauren, debuted in the show right away, while their arcs are introduced much later in the novels.

But beyond season 1, expect the show to veer off in a pretty drastically different direction from Thomas’ novels. Showrunner April Blair has said that the series essentially used the first Ransom Canyon book as a jumping-off point and will continue expanding the primary characters' lives and stories, instead of turning its attention to a new couple each season, as Thomas' books do.

“In Jodi’s series, each novel introduces a whole new cast of characters. It’s almost kind of anthology-like, and some characters reappear from time to time, but it really is like a whole new group of people,” Blair told Deadline when season 1 premiered. “That wasn’t really an achievable thing for us in series. We wanted to stick with one cast, so we stuck to the single book as this jumping-off point.”

So—spoilers for the first Ransom Canyon book and season ahead!—while the first novel in Thomas’ series ends with Staten and Quinn deciding to be together and preparing to welcome a baby, the TV show is stretching out their relationship into a will-they, won’t-they. After Quinn heads off to New York at the end of the first season, she returns to Texas in season 2 to figure out where she’s meant to be. She even has a new love interest (Ben Robson’s Oliver), making things even more complicated between her and Staten.

Everything to Know About the Main 'Ransom Canyon' Series

Book 1 — 'Ransom Canyon'

Thomas’ initial entry in the series arrived in 2015 and primarily follows an older Staten who’s haunted by memories and often turns to the artsy, reclusive Quinn O’Grady for comfort. In the Netflix series, this core couple is played by Josh Duhamel and Minka Kelly. The book also charts the coming-of-age story of the ambitious Lucas (Garrett Wareing in the show) and the potential start of a new life for petty criminal Yancy (played by Jack Schumacher).

Book 2 — 'Rustler’s Moon'

The main romance in Book 2 centers on Angela Harrell, a woman who ends up in Ransom Canyon while on the run from her past life, and Wilkes Wagner, who has also recently landed back in town to take over his family ranch. The novel also picks back up with Lucas, who’s keeping his high school sweetheart Lauren (portrayed by Lizzy Greene) in a frustrating situationship instead of committing to the full-fledged relationship he’s long promised.

Book 3 — 'Lone Heart Pass'

Lone Heart Pass introduces yet another ranch in Ransom Canyon: The rundown Lone Heart farm, which Jubilee Hamilton inherits. Still reeling from a career crash-out and a breakup to boot, Jubilee soon finds sparks flying with the gruff new foreman she’s hired, Charley Collins. They’re also joined on the farm by Thatcher Jones, who needs a safe place to land while tangled up in a murder investigation.

Book 4 — 'Sunrise Crossing'

Yancy’s back in Book 4, focusing on getting his life together and rebuilding his old house in Crossroads, Texas. There, he crosses paths with an artist, Tori, who’s hiding out from her controlling parents. Intertwined in their love story is that of Parker, Tori’s gallery manager, who hitches a ride with strong, silent cowboy Gabe to come to the artist’s aid.

Book 5 — 'Wild Horse Springs'

Thomas’ fifth book in the main Ransom Canyon series also circles back to some OG characters, as Lauren returns to her hometown and finds herself right back in the orbit of her first love, Lucas. Elsewhere, her dad Dan (played by Philip Winchester in the Netflix series) just might decide it’s time to spice up his steady life with the help of free-spirited singer Brandi.

Book 6 — 'Indigo Lake'

We’re back at the Lone Heart farm, now inherited by Blade Hamilton, who rides into his ancestors’ dusty Texas town on a motorcycle. He finds a star-crossed lover in Dakota, who can’t seem to resist Blade’s charms, despite the longstanding feud between their families. Meanwhile, Lauren is struggling to figure out where she really belongs: pursuing a big-city life or getting back to her comfortable roots in the canyon.

Book 7 — 'Mistletoe Miracles'

The penultimate novel in the main Ransom Canyon series centers on three separate people, each of whom ends up with a Christmas miracle on their hands. There’s Griffin Holloway, who’s decided the best way to save his family’s Maverick Ranch is by marrying a wealthy bride by the end of the year; Jaxon O’Grady, who learns from an unexpected visitor that maybe he actually isn’t as content in his solitude as he thought; and Jamie Johnson, who discovers a mysterious man sleeping on her couch—and claiming to be her husband.

Book 8 — 'Christmas in Winter Valley'

The eighth and final book in Thomas’ core series is another wintry tale and centers on two more of the Holloway men. Cooper, trying to avoid family Christmastime chaos, retreats to the remote Winter Valley, only to be visited by two strangers who each deeply impact his life. Elliott stays put at Maverick Ranch, where he’s juggling farm finances, an overbearing family, and the re-emergence of a past love.

Are there any 'Ransom Canyon' prequel novels?

You could start your Ransom Canyon reading journey by diving into the prequels, which Thomas published in 2015 and 2025—or you could read them later on after you've been introduced to some of the characters, considering these feature more of their and the town's origin story.

The first prequel, Winter’s Camp, is set in the frontier era and explains how the Ransom Canyon community came to be by following a young James Randall Kirkland on his journey west, where he comes across a beautiful Apache woman named Millie and is quickly smitten.

Silverleaf Rapids, Thomas’ latest addition to the series, picks up several generations later and further sets up the stories to come. A young Staten Kirkland leaves college early to take over his family’s Double K Ranch in the wake of his grandfather J.R.’s illness, forcing him to grow up quickly and shoulder quite a bit of responsibility. Meanwhile, two other couples you’ll soon come to know and love—Peggy and Duke, and Charlotte and Wade—are also finding each other in the small Texas town.

Are there any other books in the 'Ransom Canyon' series?

Thompson simply can’t get enough of Ransom Canyon Christmastime tales: In 2017, between Indigo Lake and Mistletoe Miracles, she published A Christmas Affair, a novella telling the very sweet love story of Maria, a hopeless romantic who makes jams and jellies to be sold at the local grocery store, and Wes, the store’s shy owner.

Otherwise, Thompson hasn’t said anything about publishing any other Ransom Canyon books. But while we continue to hold out hope for still more installments, there are plenty more series and standalone romance books from the author to dive into, most of which are also set in Texas and span both contemporary and historical love stories.

The YA genre tends to dominate lists of buzzy book-to-TV adaptations, but now and then, viewers crave a more mature adult romance. Thankfully, Peacock has already snapped up one of #BookTok's most beloved, complex love stories to bring it to screens.

Since 2022, author Kennedy Ryan has enthralled readers with emotional, breathtaking romances that also explore deeper issues like depression, grief, chronic illness, financial hardship, and caring for an aging parent. Now, several of these love stories may be headed to our TVs; in April 2026, Universal Studio Group announced a "first-look" deal with Ryan in which she can develop not only projects based on her own books, but also new original stories and adaptations from other authors. First up: a series based on her breakout novel Before I Let Go, which is in development at Peacock.

"Kennedy’s stories are deeply resonant and culturally impactful, and we are excited to collaborate on adaptations that honor her vision while connecting with audiences in bold, meaningful ways. Not only is she a celebrated and powerful voice in the literary space, but she leads with thoughtfulness and creativity. We can’t wait to work with her to bring these new and existing stories to life," Jordan Moblo, USG’s executive VP of creative acquisitions and IP management, said in a statement.

Though it's still early days for Ryan's journey from page to screen, we've already begun keeping an eye out for any news on the adaptation of her most-loved novel. Read on for everything we know about the Before I Let Go TV series adaptation so far.

What is 'Before I Let Go' by Kennedy Ryan about?

Before I Let Go, the first book in Kennedy Ryan's Skyland series, is a "scorching emotional second chance romance" about ex-spouses who can't help but be drawn back to each other.

Yasmen and Josiah Wade built a life together that includes two children and a successful restaurant in the Atlanta neighborhood Skyland. But following a pair of unthinkable tragedies, their marriage falls apart. Before I Let Go picks up two years after their divorce, which they spent learning to co-parent and run their business together amid the new normal.

After dealing with so much change, both Yasmen and Josiah are ready to date again. But as the spark between them reemerges—and spurs some spicy stolen moments—they begin to wonder whether they're really ready to let go of forever.

As Ryan has explained, "this is a love story for realists." "[This] may sound funny coming from a romance writer, but the romance I write leans into the realities of life and really makes no attempt to escape them," the writer has said. "These two people, who loved each other so very much, had a lot to work through on their own. I’m not saying they or anyone else has to divorce to do that, but for this story and the decisions this couple made, time apart reformed them into people who could be happy and healthy together."

Who is involved behind-the-scenes of Peacock's 'Before I Let Go' series adaptation?

It's official: Before I Let Go is moving forward at Peacock! The adaptation received a series order at Peacock in September 2026, with Attica Locke and Tembi Locke signing on as writers, executive producers, and showrunners. The sister duo are best known for creating the Netflix romance From Scratch, which was based on Tembi's bestselling memoir.

It was previously reported that Ryan had teamed up with Malcolm D. Lee, the writer and director behind the classic Black rom-com franchise The Best Man, to write the series. Ryan and Lee are staying on as creators and executive producers, and have also co-written the pilot episode. Lee, who has helmed comedy films like Roll Bounce and Girls Trip, will also direct on the series.

Joining the Lockes, Ryan, Lee are executive producers Dominique Telson, Mike Jackson, John Legend and Debra Martin Chase.

There will likely be more announcements for additional names joining the series as the show heads towards filming.

What has Kennedy Ryan said about Peacock's 'Before I Let Go' series adaptation?

Ryan has been keeping fans updated on Before I Let Go's journey to the screen so far. On the day her first-look deal was announced, Ryan shared a comprehensive update on the adaptation.

"Getting the chance to co-write the Before I Let Go pilot with Malcolm D. Lee is such an honor and an incredible experience," she wrote. "We are working hard to bring you the show you deserve! We’ve been plotting and cooking for a while. This opportunity has given me not only a great collaborator, but a friend! We’ll share more when the time is right."

She returned to break the news of the series order to fans, making it clear to those unfamiliar with Hollywood's machinations that "this book is now being made into a TV show for sure!"

She added in a statement, "Getting the chance to bring the Skyland series to life onscreen is a dream come true. I’m excited about what this remarkable team is creating. Co-writing the pilot with Malcolm D. Lee and now imagining this world with Attica and Tembi is more than I even knew to ask for. These characters have meant so much to so many readers, and none of this would be possible without the people who have supported my work for years. I’m incredibly grateful and excited to find a new audience for these books that have changed my life."

When will the 'Before I Let Go' TV adaptation be released?

There is no release date for Before I Let Go. It's still early days for the adaptation and casting hasn't begun, so it's likely that the series might not hit our screens until 2028 at the earliest.

However, Peacock has released the show's official logline:

"Their love was supposed to last forever, but when life dealt Yasmen and Josiah Wade back-to-back devastating blows, they realized love can’t solve everything. The life they created fell apart — divorce and shared custody followed. Now, Yasmen is finally starting to find joy, but proximity to Josiah keeps the embers hot despite reopening old wounds. They are beginning to wonder if they’re truly ready to let go of everything they once had. Is it too late to find forever? Or could the second time around be even better?"

Who has been cast in the 'Before I Let Go' series adaptation?

With Before I Let Go still in early development, no one has been cast in the series yet. Of course, that hasn't stopped devout readers from throwing their fan casts into the ring. Names that have been thrown out include Trevonte Rhodes, Aldis Hodge, McKinley Freeman, Jay Ellis, Jayme Lawson, Yaya DaCosta, and Teyonah Parris, among others. Start manifesting your dream Yasmen and Josiah now!

Princess Kate and Prince William's royal romance has gripped fans around the world since their relationship was first made public. Having tied the knot on April 29, 2011, the Prince and Princess of Wales have since welcomed three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—and built a life together. And according to one expert, Kate and William are now entering the next "chapter of their marriage."

Speaking the Daily Mail, body language expert Judi James said that Kate and William's recent appearances have shown "the honest intensity of their feelings for each other."

James continued, "Their rituals suggest there's been no real change in the intensity of their love for one another; what's happened is they have finally felt safe enough to trust enough (not each other but the public and the press) to show it."

James also referenced the moment Prince William hugged Princess Kate after she completed the Three Peaks Challenge for charity.

"It's a hug that suggests all inhibitions are being jettisoned as the desire to greet and cherish takes over," the expert noted.

The body language expert also dubbed the change "the latest chapter of their marriage," in which the couple will "feel free to show their levels of mutual love and adoration by more tactile behaviors in public."

According to James, William and Kate's newfound PDA is "still very much a part of their personal and generational royal brand now."

Royal fans will, of course, be happy to witness the next phase of Kate and William's royal romance.

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Queen Camilla and King Charles's romance has spanned decades, with the pair finally tying the knot on April 9, 2005. But according to a new royal biography, Queen Camilla wasn't entirely joyous on her wedding day for an understandable reason.

In her new book, Divide and Rule: Royal Women and Their Battles, royal author Catherine Mayer discusses Camilla's royal wedding to Charles.

"When dawn finally broke on her happiest day, Camilla reportedly felt a little broken too, reluctant to emerge from under her duvet," Mayer explains. "When she did, it was to a service that joined her and Charles in the prayer of preparation, an admission of 'manifold sins and wickedness' written by Thomas Cranmer for Henry VIII."

The seeming insistence on pointing out the couple's former indiscretions on their wedding day can't have been easy. In spite of any difficulties Camilla faced on the day itself, she reportedly moved forward.

"Still, this daughter and ex-wife of military men has never allowed adversity to rain on her parade," Mayer says.

Mayer continues, "Photographers captured the couple laughing as they posed on the steps of the chapel after the blessing, while the wind tried to whip away the feathered confection Camilla had chosen in place of a more traditional tiara. It was a glimpse of a key dynamic between them."

Noting King Charles's alleged "discomfort" when pictured with Princess Diana, Mayer reflects on the marked change he seems to exhibit with Queen Camilla.

"He and Camilla, by contrast, tend to mirror each other, engaging with a sustaining intimacy that is instantly recognizable and impossible to counterfeit," Mayer writes.

Even if Camilla did feel "a little broken" on her wedding day to Charles, hopefully the ceremony itself—and their enduring marriage—more than made up for it.

Spoilers ahead for Love Island USA season 8, which you can stream now on Peacock. The best seasons of Love Island USA have at least one buzzy second-chance romance; in season 8, that honor belongs to 23-year-old Aniya Harvey and 28-year-old Carl Schmidt. After original Islander Aniya's initial coupling with KC Chandler came to a dramatic end, Casa boy Carl swooped in as her prince charming and won the hearts of the audience. Though Trinity Tatum and Bryce Detloff walked away the winners of season 8, Aniya and Carl were the season's undisputed fairytale.

Now that the couple's back home from Fiji and preparing for the season 8 reunion, we're breaking down Aniya and Carl's relationship so far and their plans outside the villa.

What happened between Aniya Harvey and Carl Schmidt on 'Love Island USA' season 8?

Carl and Aniya's love story began when Carl entered the villa as one of 12(!) men brought in for Casa Amor. Only six of the boys were chosen to stay, but Carl was chosen after he and Aniya bonded over their shared love of volleyball. The pair spent all of Casa getting to know each other, but even though they had some steamy kisses and Aniya gushed over how great he was, she still had feelings for KC. She even cried when she saw a picture of KC kissing newcomer Titi Davis.

When Casa came to an end, Aniya remained loyal to KC, and she was humiliated when KC came back with Titi and seemed unrepentant. Since he wasn't chosen, a single Carl was dumped from the villa, and Aniya quickly regretted her decision. Luckily, Episode 21 ended with a brilliant twist where America voted to bring back one girl and one boy from Casa. Carl made his triumphant return in the next episode's cake-themed challenge, instantly cheering up Aniya.

Though Carl had said during Aftersun that he had some walls up after Aniya's choice, those walls were clearly made of air. They quickly picked up where they left off, with Carl making cute breakfasts for Aniya and the pair sharing more makeout sessions in Say Less. When the male Islanders got the chance to recouple after Movie Night, Carl shared his intentions with the iconic line, "Revenge is sweet, but this girl is a little sweeter."

From there, Carl and Aniya were one of the couples that floated through the final week of season 8. Their karaoke challenge was adorable, they got flirty in bed, and their respective families were (and remain) big fans of their relationship. The volleyball lovers even got one of the most romantic finale dates in the show's history, a Princess and the Frog moment with a custom storybook that made Aniya's princess fantasies come true.

In the finale, Aniya and Carl were revealed to be the runners-up for Love Island USA season 8.

Are Aniya Harvey and Carl Schmidt from 'Love Island USA' season 8 still together?

A little over two weeks after the Love Island USA finale, Carl and Aniya have confirmed that they are taking things slow. The pair appeared as guests on Andy Cohen's Watch What Happens Live on July 29, alongside season 8 winners Trinity and Bryce. Of course, Cohen made sure to ask the runners-up whether they've made things official.

"No, so we are not officially boyfriend-girlfriend yet," Carl told Cohen. "I came in late; I came during Casa Amor, so [we] had a couple weeks to get to know each other. I honestly feel after two weeks, the connection had just been really strong, and we just feel really really happy. We just kinda want to keep rolling that as long as we can."

Carl also shared new details about his time on the show, revealing that Aniya was his "number one" even before he went into the villa. He explained that producers let the Casa crew watch early episodes, adding, "They would ask us like who our top picks were, you know, and Aniya was always always number one."

He also admitted that his and Aniya's second Say Less kiss knocked down his cotton-candy-thin walls. "She just gave me so much reassurance and was like, 'We can take this at the pace you want.' She felt apologetic, but was also just like very open to keep exploring our relationship," he said. "People joke that the walls that I put up were made out of wet cotton candy. She brought those walls down and really gave me the comfort to feel how I do."

Immediately after Love Island USA season 8 ended, Aniya and Carl also took their romance to social media. On July 15, Aniya went Instagram official with Carl as part of a heartfelt tribute commemorating the season. "I truly cherish the connection I have with Carl and I’m so happy that he made my fairytale dream a reality. I cannot wait to see how our story continues," she wrote.

Carl posted his own tribute the same day, which was a bit more succinct. He captioned a picture from the couple's storybook date with the statement, "Walls were never really up let’s be honest." (The couple also commented "princess" and "prince" on each other's posts, of course.)

Since returning to the States, the couple has been very active on TikTok, where they've been commenting on each other's old posts and sweet fan edits.

Spoilers ahead for Love Island USA season 8, which you can stream now on Peacock. 22-year-old Trinity Tatum and 30-year-old Bryce Detloff were an unlikely pair when Love Island USA season 8 began. Though they chose each other on night one, fans didn't know whether the newly unemployed Virginia native and the Hollywood model and DJ would have much in common. Who would've thought that six weeks later, Trinity and Bryce would walk out of the villa together, as boyfriend and girlfriend and $100,000 richer?

As they leave Fiji and readjust to their regular lives, fans are ravenous for any news of the future of America's favorite couple. (First off, how quickly will Bryce get Trinity back to L.A.?) Read on for a breakdown of Brinity's relationship so far—and their plans for the future.

What happened between Trinity Tatum and Bryce Dettloff on 'Love Island USA' season 8?

Model and DJ Bryce and former hardware-store worker Trinity quickly paired up after entering the villa, but their romance was still a bit of a slow burn. After (attempting to) explore with bombshells Kayda Bosse and Gabriel Vasconcelos, Bryce and Trinity settled into a friendship pairing that could potentially build to romance. This lack of drama meant the couple got less screen time than other couples (like Melanie and Sincere), but they shared laughs, gossip sessions, and childhood stories over the weeks—and Brinity built one of the strongest bonds in the villa.

Everything changed with Casa Amor. In an ideal scenario for the relationship test, the three days apart made Bryce and Trinity both realize the depth of their feelings. Trinity briefly explored with Corey Sawyer, Jr., but she soon (unknowingly) joined Bryce in pining for the day they would be reunited. (They even had matching worries that the other had found someone who matched their traditional type.) Finally, when Casa came to an end, Bryce and Trinity reunited and ended their fake-relationship-to-lovers arc.

Once they were back together, Bryce wasted no time asking Trinity to be his girlfriend (which was contrasted with his bestie Zach Georgiou's hesitancy to make it official with Kayda). Brinity spent the rest of the season in relationship bliss, while supporting their fellow Islanders through the chaos of Movie Night. Brinity joined eventual runners-up Aniya Harvey and Carl Schmidt by bringing the love to Love Island, including an excellent Family Day where Bryce's grandma became a quick fan favorite while demanding that the young couple get sent to the Hideaway.

Trinity and Bryce sailed through to the final four and were treated to another out-of-Villa date during the season finale. During the romantic dinner, they said "I love you" for the first time, with Trinity admitting that she was waiting for him to say it first. Of course, it was no surprise when host Ariana Madix eventually revealed that Brinity had been voted the winners of Love Island USA season 8.

Are Trinity Tatum and Bryce Dettloff from 'Love Island USA' season 8 still together?

Bryce and Trinity wasted no time in sharing their love once they got their phones back. In addition to some cute Instagram posts and comments, the pair had their first post-finale interview on the Today Show on July 15, where they opened up about their romance and what's next for them. Though Trinity hinted that she was headed back home, she added, "Virginia ain’t seeing me for too long."

"Honestly, this is my first time out of Virginia, being in L.A. I definitely want to explore L.A. more and see how I like it," she explained. "I definitely want to be wherever Bryce is. I don’t like being away from him for too long. I get a little separation anxiety."

Bryce echoed that anxiety, sharing that now that they're outside of the Villa, his heart starts racing even when Trinity goes out on errands. "You spend 24 hours with each other every day for almost 50 days, and it's an emotional [show]...One thing that brings us together is that comfort in those moments," he said. "In those challenges [I could] confide in her and feel safe. Bringing that into the real world, I feel like life is the challenge."

Everyone keeps saying women’s sports are having a moment. But it’s more than that. On and off the court, women’s sports are changing culture, conversations, and even our personal style. For Marie Claire’s Women in Sports series, we talk to the athletes, executives, and industry vets who are at the top of their game.

When you're looking to get lost in a book, sometimes you need your reading material to match your mood. With Marie Claire's series "Buy the Book," we do the heavy lifting for you. We're offering curated, highly specific recommendations for whatever you're looking for—whether you're in your feels or hooked on a subgenre trending on #BookTok.

From Serena Williams returning to tennis to the World Cup and ESPN’s new series, Women’s Sports Sundays, sports of all stripes are playing point this summer. Lucky for sports fans and bibliophiles alike, it doesn’t end there. In recent years, sports romance books have vaulted onto our bookshelves, and the subgenre has won over readers with its diverse characters, high stakes, and palpable tension.

Sports romance has become the MVP of the book world for the better part of the past decade. Titles like The Deal by Elle Kennedy, which was self-published to viral success in 2015, arguably put the trend on the map. The book found renewed interest on #BookTok, inspiring Prime Video to adapt it and the rest of Kennedy’s Briar U series into the hit TV show Off Campus—and now it’s just one of the many series about smitten athletes topping best-sellers lists. In fact, sports romance is among the fastest-growing niches, and one of the top subgenres that’s made romance novels outpace the book sales of all other genres on the market, per 2025 Circa Bookscan data.

So, what is it about these books that leaves readers pining for more? For one, authors of sport romances are the Simone Biles of trope-maxxing. These writers barely break a sweat as they layer familiar plot devices with the extra intensity of risking everything—be it one’s career, sport, or dream—for love. This couldn’t be more evident than in Rachel Reid’s hit Game Changers series, the hockey-romance books that inspired the phenomenon that is Heated Rivalry. Here, familiar tropes like enemies-to-lovers and forbidden love are whipped into a tizzy with high-stakes competition and a hidden romance, earning a gold medal from readers across platforms like Goodreads, #BookTok, Bookstagram, and even IRL, as the genre’s inspired everything from game day watch parties to conventions.

Whether you’re new to the subgenre or a seasoned reader, a fan of soccer, football, or figure skating—or honestly, just love a good romance—there are so many options to enjoy. Below, discover the best sports romance books that hit a home run with their spicy scenes, lovable characters, and capital-T Tension.

Netflix's Better Late Than Single returned this summer to bring another dose of fresh air into TV's dating show landscape. The Korean reality show debuted last year, with a refreshing concept centered on the 모태솔로 (which the show translates as an "eternal single"). Cast members in search of their first love story underwent makeovers ranging from wardrobe overhauls to communication coaching, before arriving at the "Solo Village" on Korea's Jeju Island. There, dates and challenges pushed them out of their comfort zones, resulting in clumsy-yet-earnest attempts at finding connections. (Like in Single's Inferno, their ages and professions are kept secret.)

Now, Better Late Than Single is back, with hosts Seo In-guk, Kang Han-na, Lee Eun-ji, and Car, the Garden returning. For the show's highly anticipated sophomore season, producers chose several earnest singles to watch after more than 17,000 people applied. Debuting on July 7, season 2's cohort skews older than the average dating show, with singles in their late 20s and early 30s ranging from workaholics ready to prioritize love over career to fangirls ready to swoon IRL to shy homebodies working through their social anxiety.

Now that season 2 has wrapped up with the July 28 finale (and the August 1 reunion), read on to meet the cast of Better Late Than Single season 2, from their MBTI and what they're looking for in a relationship to whether they're still single after the show. Spoilers for the Better Late Than Single season 2 finale ahead.

Who are the singles on 'Better Late Than Single' season 2?

Ahn Seung-hyun

Age: 30

MBTI: ISFP

Hobby: Hiking

Ahn Seung-hyun applied for the show after watching season 1 with a friend. He says that he feels he's falling behind because his friends are getting married. He also tends to ramble and trip over his words when nervous, so he works with a communication coach before entering the Solo Village.

Is Seung-hyun Still Single? Yes, Seung-hyun left the retreat alone.

Seung-hyun's Instagram: @2_a_s_h_2

An Jeong-eun

Age: 30

MBTI: INFP

Hobby: Watching movies and documentaries

Other dating shows have previously recruited An Jeong-eun, but she chose Better Late Than Single after her family watched season 1. Since she was picked on as a kid, she expects to be judged by new people and struggles to make connections. She says that she does not want to run away, and instead hopes to be truthful and give this experience her full effort.

Is Jeong-eun Still Single? Yes, Jeong-eun left the retreat alone.

Jeong-eun's Instagram: @_stability._.is_._

Choi Hyuk-joon

Age: 31

MBTI: INTJ

Hobby: Hiking, watching movies, and visiting cafés

Choi Hyuk-joon admits that he may be over-cautious about dating, after having his heart broken by an unrequited first love in college. His makeover consists of meeting with a dating coach, who encourages Hyuk-joon to be more proactive and drop the "dismissive-avoidant mask" he uses as a defense mechanism. Hyuk-joon also undergoes voice training to make his voice a bit deeper.

Is Hyuk-joon Still Single? Yes. Though Hyuk-joon left the retreat with Hyun-seo, they later decided to stay friends.

Hyuk-joon's Instagram: @hyukgoodjob

Choi Hyun-seo

Age: 27

MBTI: INTJ

Hobby: Reading, gaming, and watching anime

Choi Hyun-seo describes herself as a major otaku (an anime and manga fan); her favorite character is Toushirou Hijikata from Gintama. Since she went to arts school, she says she hasn't had a chance to meet men in real life, but she became interested in dating in her mid-20s after meeting a man who resembled one of her favorite characters. But she also says that guys don't tend to like her mellow, low-energy personality, and that guys have considered her a dongsaeng, or little sibling. She describes her "ideal 2D man" as someone with dark hair, cat-like eyes, and a serious personality.

Is Hyun-seo Still Single? Yes. Though Hyun-seo left the retreat with Hyuk-joon, they later decided to stay friends.

Hyun-seo's Instagram: @ee.at.night

Han Su-ji

Age: 26

MBTI: INTP

Hobby: Collecting merch and ballet

Han Su-ji is a potter who studied illustration overseas. Growing up between the U.K. and Korea, she learned to be independent early and now has a solitary job. She admits that she can seem unapproachable, but she's determined to leave the Solo Village with a boyfriend.

Is Su-ji Still Single? Yes, Su-ji left the retreat alone.

Su-ji's Instagram: @0x8007016a

Jeon Seo-yoon

Age: 29

MBTI: INTJ

Hobby: Fangirling

Jeon Seo-yoon is a longtime fan of the K-pop boy group NCT DREAM. (Her bias is Jisung.) She says that she applied for the show because she has to start thinking about marriage as she approaches her 30s. Though she's nervous, she remarks that "the fangirl muscle and the dating muscle are essentially the same." Her goal is to find a boyfriend to bring to her faves' next concert.

Is Seo-yoon Still Single? Yes, Seo-yoon left the retreat alone.

Seo-yoon's Instagram: @afterdreamee

Kim Jae-seo

Age: 32

MBTI: ENTJ

Hobby: Playing games

Kim Jae-seo is a game developer and KAIST graduate who was part of the founding team of the globally popular game PUBG: Battlegrounds. He admits that he essentially lived at work for eight or nine years, which "pulled [him] away from dating."

Before the show, he says he stood out for his gray facial hair, which he thinks made people assume he wasn't interested in dating. After his makeover, which included dying his hair black and waxing his beard, the hosts noted his resemblance to Jeon Hyun-moo. (He also says his ideal type is actress Park Bo-young.)

Is Jae-seo Still Single? Yes, Jae-seo left the retreat alone.

Kim Soo-hyun

Age: 28

MBTI: ESTJ

Hobby: Watching K-dramas

Kim Soo-hyun is at the age where her family is pestering her about dating and marriage. (Her mother even briefly hijacked her call with the producers.) Though her mother and sisters are quite nosy, Soo-hyun is confident that she'll be able to meet someone through the show.

Is Soo-hyun Still Single? Yes, Soo-hyun left the retreat alone.

Soo-hyun's Instagram: @soowoo_h

Kim Tae-hoon

Age: 29

MBTI: INTJ

Hobby: Cooking and playing soccer

Kim Tae-hoon dated someone in middle school, but his friends say it doesn't count towards his dating history. He also got a bad reputation for speaking with no filter and often arguing with girls in high school. As a game changer, he promises to "stir the pot with all my might."

Is Tae-hoon Still Single? Yes, Tae-hoon left the retreat alone.

Tae-hoon's Instagram: @hunitae_k

Lee Han-ju

Age: 27

MBTI: ISTP

Hobby: Concerts and baseball games

Lee Han-ju is a Korean medical doctor who uses acupuncture, herbal medicine, and Chuna Manual Therapy. She passed on applying to Better Late Than Single season 1, but she changed her mind after a year of failed blind dates and group dates. Though she enjoys drinking with friends, she admits that she has been rejected before due to her bluntness, such as a time she called a date a "man-whore" after he kept trying to brush her hair back. She also says that she's into pretty boys who look like K-pop idols, with a slight bad-boy edge.

Is Han-ju Still Single? Yes. Though Han-ju left the retreat with Jin-woo, they later decided to stay friends.

Han-ju's Instagram: @haanzzu

Lee Jin-woo

Age: 26

MBTI: ISTP

Hobby: Exercising

Lee Jin-woo isn't technically an eternal single. He met someone on an anonymous chat app during COVID; they dated for about a year but never met in person. After a weight-loss journey, he's confident about entering the dating world IRL.

Is Jin-woo Still Single? Yes. Though Jin-woo left the retreat with Han-ju, they later decided to stay friends.

Jin-woo's Instagram: @ejinu_00

Yoon Jung-yun

Age: 26

MBTI: ISFP

Hobby: Games (League of Legends) and piano

Yoon Jung-yun is a shy homebody who'd never even been on a blind or group date before the show. He admits that he has trouble maintaining eye contact with strangers and that his hyperhidrosis makes his palms sweat. His makeover consisted of several mock blind dates in which he worked through his nerves.

Is Jung-yun Still Single? Yes, Jung-yun left the retreat alone.

Jung-yun's Instagram: @jungyun_00

Who are the hosts on 'Better Late Than Single' season 2?

Seo In-guk

Seo In-guk is a familiar face to Netflix K-drama fans; earlier this year, he co-starred with BLACKPINK's Jisoo in the hit rom-com Boyfriend on Demand. The 38-year-old actor and singer-songwriter is best known for his roles in shows like Reply 1997, The Master's Sun, Hello Monster, The Smile Has Left Your Eyes, Doom at Your Service, Café Minamdang, and Death's Game. He's also currently starring in Prime Video's workplace rom-com See You at Work Tomorrow!.

Seo In-guk's Instagram: @seo_cccc

Lee Eun-ji

Lee Eun-ji, 33, is a former dance sports athlete turned comedian and entertainer. She's best known as a main cast member in producer Na Young-seok's popular variety show Earth Arcade, alongside rapper Lee Young-ji, OH MY GIRL member Mimi, and IVE member An Yu-jin. In 2023, Lee was one of Korea's most in-demand entertainers, taking home the Best Female Variety Entertainer award at the Baeksang Arts Awards.

Lee Eun-ji's Instagram: @happy._.ej

Kang Han-na

Actress Kang Han-na, 36, earned a Baeksang Arts Award nomination in 2017 for her breakout role playing a villainous princess in the historical K-drama Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo. Since then, her best-known K-drama roles have included the shows Just Between Lovers, Familiar Wife, Start-Up, My Roommate is a Gumiho, Bon Appétit, Your Majesty, and Cashero. She has also guest-starred in over 20 episodes of Running Man, making her the guest with the most appearances in the variety show's history.

Kang Han-na's Instagram: k_hanna_

Car, the Garden

Cha Jung-won, 34, is an indie-rock singer-songwriter better known by his stage name, Car, the Garden. (His surname "cha" translates to "car" in English, while "jung-won" means "garden.") Since his debut in 2013, Cha has appeared on soundtracks for dramas including True Beauty, Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, Alchemy of Souls, Taxi Driver season 2, and Marry My Husband. He's also an entertainer who has appeared on dozens of variety and YouTube shows.

Car, the Garden's Instagram: @carthegarden

Whether you’re throwing a book in your beach bag, taking advantage of an international flight, or lying by a body of water, July is for long, languid days of reading. This month brings a handful of new books you won’t want to put down—and because it’s summer, you won’t have to.

Get ready to fill your TBR list with coming-of-age stories of desire, obsession, and Tinder dates, as well as titillating thrillers and novels all about climate anxiety, sweaty summer jobs, and family scandals. To help you decide how to curate your summer reading and what to add to your cart, read on for our picks of the best must-read books coming out in July 2026.

The Best Literary Fiction Coming Out in July 2026

The Best Mystery-Thriller Books Coming Out in July 2026

The Best Short Story and Essay Collections Coming Out in July 2026

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are officially married, after the pair tied the knot during a wedding ceremony at Madison Square Garden in New York City on July 3. And according to one attendee, Swift and Kelce's wedding vows were incredibly personal and romantic.

Seemingly ignoring NDAs regarding the wedding, Good Morning America host George Stephanopoulos told ABC News, "The ceremony was very great, moving. Adam Sandler, funny and touching. Vows: everything you would hope for—real, vulnerable, serious and silly, deeply loving."

Stephanopoulos also said that the star-studded event was "as intimate as it could possibly be, given it was Madison Square Garden." He also noted, "It was just so beautiful, and it's hard to imagine that a place that big and a wedding with such stars could feel so personal and intimate.”

Fellow host Michael Strahan weighed in on the nuptials, saying, "It was their dream wedding, and it really was amazing...Congratulations to both of them."

Although no photos have been released as yet, Swift wore a dress created by Jonathan Anderson at Christian Dior Haute Couture, paired with custom Christian Louboutins and Cartier jewelry, a statement confirmed.

Judging by the comments made by wedding guests, Swift and Kelce's wedding day was incredibly romantic and intimate, despite taking place in such a huge venue.

Shop Books Inspired by Taylor Swift

Only a handful of details regarding Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's July 3 wedding have been released so far. Despite reportedly signing NDAs in order to attend the star-studded event, a few guests have begun providing insider info about Swift's nuptials.

Maren Morris shared several Instagram photos following Swift and Kelce's wedding. As well as posing next to Kelsea Ballerini, Morris posted a photo of a cloth handkerchief wedding favor from the nuptials, which paid tribute to the couple in the sweetest way.

The handkerchief included the couple's wedding date, along with a symbol entwining the letter T twice with two hearts. Underneath, a quote from "Blank Space"—Kelce's favorite Swift song—read, "So it's gonna be forever..."

The adorable souvenir shows just how personal Swift and Kelce's wedding really was.

Another person who appears to have ignored any NDA is the CEO of AMC Theatres, Adam Aron, who shared a long social media post containing details about the wedding. In a since-deleted X post, Aron said (via Entertainment Weekly), "It did not look like Madison Square Garden."

He continued, "Immediately upon entry, everything...floors, walls, ceilings...was draped in peach and white. Large blown up pictures of Taylor and Travis at each age, year by year from one year-old to late teenager-hood, were on display."

Describing the immense transformation that had taken place at the venue, Aron said, "Somehow magically, someone created an outdoor garden at a lush countryside retreat. Everything draped off this time in green and white. Real flowers and I think artificial trees welcomed 15 rows of maybe 75 or so chairs...surprisingly, it all felt intimate and small. Everything was close."

While Swifties await additional details about the romantic event, it's clear that the singer wanted to make the wedding extra special for her new husband, Kelce, by referencing his favorite song.

Princess Diana experienced both negative and positive press throughout her life, and endured a number of personal challenges in the public eye. Namely, the former Princess of Wales split from King Charles, an event which was voraciously reported on by the tabloids. According to her former butler, there was one particular thing that Princess Diana really wanted "people to understand" about her life.

In his book, A Royal Duty, former royal butler Paul Burrell claimed, "All she had ever wanted was for the British people to understand what she had gone through, how difficult it had been. And while she felt that [King] Charles had truly made her suffer, she had learned from her suffering."

According to Burrell, the princess's divorce knocked her confidence in a major way, after a lifetime of self-doubt.

"She felt her low self-esteem had taken root in childhood when she had acquired many of her ideas about herself," the former butler wrote. "She had taken that poor self-image into the marriage with [King] Charles."

Burrell continued, "In [Charles], she focused solely on deriving a boost to her ego, through his recognition of her achievements. When it was not forthcoming, she said she felt rejected."

According to the former Royal Family butler, Diana also had to learn to come to terms with the emotions she was experiencing.

"The princess also needed to realize, and I think many people told her this, that anger was a natural emotion, but she felt many women found anger distressing," he wrote.

Burrell further explained, "She even hired a boxer to come to [Kensington Palace] with his punchbag so that she could rid herself of her anger. Diana, Princess of Wales, could certainly pack a mean punch."

Ultimately, Princess Diana had to go through some incredibly difficult moments in her life, while navigating her role as a famous person, which can't have been easy.

Every year when dating shows like Love Island USA return and take over the internet, a perennial question resurfaces: Where are the gays? A queer Love Island may not exist, but there is an answer to the sapphic-shaped hole in reality TV: I Kissed a Girl.

In 2023, the BBC debuted a landmark LGBTQ+ reality franchise, releasing the U.K.'s first-ever gay dating show, I Kissed a Boy, followed by its lesbian version, I Kissed a Girl. Both series were critically praised and found passionate fanbases, with the latter receiving notable love for its groundbreaking representation of sapphic culture. Though Korea and Japan hold the crown for wholesome-yet-messy reality hits, I Kissed a Girl proves that the country that gave us Love Island can also release much less blood-pressure-raising fare.

If any of the above has piqued your interest, your watchlist is in luck. Read on for our breakdown of I Kissed a Girl and how U.S. viewers can tune in.

What is the reality show 'I Kissed a Girl?'

Hosted by LGBTQ+ ally (and Kylie's little sister) Dannii Minogue and lesbian narrator Charley Marlowe, I Kissed a Girl can be considered a sapphic, more low-key version of Love Island. It starts with 10 queer women arriving at an Italian masseria—a fortified farmhouse unique to Puglia, Italy—where pre-planned pairs immediately smooch on their first meeting to test their compatibility.

The couples are then left to flirt, build their connections, and possibly catch someone else's eye as they all live together. The dating-show gameplay includes the standard themed parties and challenges, or "chemistry tests," that stir up drama; reveals where new singles enter the masseria; and "Kiss Off" ceremonies that end in elimination. The final test is whether they'll commit to continuing their romance outside the masseria by kissing one last time in front of their families(!) who've been flown out for the finale.

While there are more exciting shows that focus on producer-contrived drama, I Kissed a Girl is made for the reality-TV sociologists who want to observe how the singles move through their romances. Many lovely moments also move LGBTQ+ representation on TV beyond tired stereotypes, such as discussions on the intersections of queerness and race.

When does 'I Kissed a Girl' season 2 come out in the U.K.?

After its acclaimed May 2024 debut, I Kissed a Girl began its second season on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. After dropping four episodes on the 23rd, the dating show will release two episodes at a time for the rest of its run, with drops arriving on BBC iPlayer every Tuesday at 6 a.m. BST.

According to PinkNews, I Kissed a Girl season 2 will have 10 episodes total, with the season finale expected to air on July 14, 2026.

How can I watch 'I Kissed a Girl' in the U.S.?

Thankfully for U.S. viewers, I Kissed a Girl and I Kissed a Boy are both available to stream stateside on Hulu. However, it hasn't been announced when season 2 will land on Hulu—and subscribers will likely have to wait. The queer dating show arrived on the streaming giant in late August 2024, a couple of months after it aired on the BBC.

If you're the impatient type or don't want to get spoiled by an IG reel, I Kissed a Girl season 2 is streaming without delay on BBC iPlayer, free with a TV license. If you don't have a VPN, you can use one like Nord VPN.

Will there be an 'I Kissed a Girl' season 3?

Unfortunately, I Kissed a Girl season 2 will be its final installment. In March 2026, the BBC announced that both I Kissed a Girl and I Kissed a Boy would come to an end with their second seasons.

“We are exceptionally proud of I Kissed A Boy/Girl, the U.K.’s first dating show for the LGBTQ+ community,” a BBC spokesperson said at the time. “We would like to thank our fabulous Cupid Dannii Minogue and the entire team at [production company] Twofour for bringing the series to screen. Unfortunately, we have to make difficult choices in light of our funding challenges, and there are no current plans for the show to return.”

Fans have since called for other networks to consider reviving the show and started a petition directed toward the BBC that has racked up over 20,000 signatures. For now, new viewers can enjoy the three (and soon four) franchise seasons airing on Hulu.

Whoever said romance novels have no substance was, first of all, wrong—but certainly hasn't read Kennedy Ryan. Though the novelist, who writes under a pen name, has been dubbed the “Queen of Hugs” by her fans for her welcoming embraces at book signings, Ryan’s emotion-driven books are anything but fluff, tackling deeper issues such as mental health and neurodivergence, social injustices, and climate change.

Ryan told Elle that the more profound subject matter she infuses into her traditionally light-hearted genre reflects the writing she wants to see out in the world. “I want to see people who are usually on the periphery—those identities, communities, and experiences—moved to the center,” she said. “I want to see marginalized voices represented. Once I had that level of intentionality, it formed a blueprint for my writing that I think started right around Long Shot. And that’s been the blueprint ever since.”

The formula has certainly landed with readers. She’s amassed more than half a million followers on TikTok, claimed several spots on The New York Times Best Sellers lists, and landed a “first-look” deal at Universal that will not only enable her to develop one of her own steamy works for the small screen but also develop various projects for others.

Before she expands her universe, however, we're paying homage to her journey thus far: Ryan has more than 20 titles to her name, and we’ve taken the liberty of ranking the top 10. Below are the best Kennedy Ryan books—including some of her steamiest reads.

The Best Books by Kennedy Ryan, Ranked

What is Kennedy Ryan's most popular book?

Ryan’s most famous book is the first novel in her Skyland series, Before I Let Go. Upon its debut, the book found a devoted following on #BookTok as much as it became a critical darling, landing on year end lists.

The author herself has spoken about the book's resonance and how its success catapulted her career to the next level. IIn an interview with Bookpage, she explained what inspired her to write it. "Before I Let Go was the third book I wrote during the pandemic," she said. "I had my annual check-up right before COVID hit, and my doctor expressed concern that I had several early indicators for depression. I never understood how debilitating depression and neglecting your mental health could be until I couldn’t get out of bed. Until I couldn’t make it through a day, sometimes through an hour, without crying. Until I was having panic attacks regularly. There was no room for creativity because I honestly was just trying to survive."

Once Ryan found her footing ("It took finding the right therapist…and the right medication for me to start feeling better"), she channeled that experience into the novel’s protagonist, Yasmen Wade, who struggles with her own depression in the wake of a stillbirth and the death of a loved one. "With Yasmen's journey, I wanted to convey the importance of putting yourself first. Women—moms and wives especially—often put everyone before themselves. I wanted this to be about a woman who esteems her personal, emotional and mental well-being above all else," Ryan said. "Choosing herself becomes a matter of survival."

What order should I read Kennedy Ryan's books in?

Ryan’s books can be read in several different ways. With seven different series to choose from—All the King's Men, The Bennetts, Grip, Hollywood Renaissance, Hoops, Skyland, and Soul—you can choose the character arcs and worlds that best align with your interests.

The series for which Ryan is most-known, the Skyland series, is about Yasmen, Soledad, and Hendrix, a close-knit trio of Black women who lean on each other for support while juggling high-stakes careers, romantic reconciliations, and family struggles. It kicks off with Ryan’s most famous book, Before I Let Go, and is followed by This Could Be Us and Can’t Get Enough.

Ryan’s most recent series, the Hollywood Renaissance series consists of Reel, The Close-Up, and Score and was inspired by the Harlem Renaissance. True to the series title, its characters are all navigating the entertainment industry (and their love lives) in various ways—Reel’s Neevah Saint is a Broadway understudy, for instance, while Score’s Verity Hill is a screenwriter. “It felt like a natural era to explore when I was examining overlooked accomplishments by Black creatives,” Ryan told The New York Times of the trilogy.

The All the King’s Men series, meanwhile, features The Kingmaker, The Rebel King, and Queen Move deals with social justice. The third entry is a standalone novel, but the first two books focus on Lennix Hunter's fight for the rights to her people's ancestral land against the nefarious Cade Oil company. The only problem? She’s gone and fallen for the company’s heir—A.K.A. the source of her people’s pain.

If sports romances are more your bag, you’ll want to skip straight to the Hoop series, which includes three interconnected standalone novels (Long Shot, Block Shot, and Hook Shot), a special edition book called Hoops Holiday (to be read after Block Shot, per Ryan’s website) and a novella (Hoops Shorts) that ties them all together.

The Grip series (Flow, Grip, and Still) also focuses on the entertainment industry, but with a more modern feel: The Black rapper/poet at its center, Marlon “Grip” James, is building a musical empire while navigating a romance plagued by socioeconomic challenges with his White manager.

Those with a penchant for music will appreciate the aptly-named Soul series—a three part chronicle of the blossoming love between Kai Pearson, a Georgia native on a mission to make it as a singer/songwriter, and rock star Rhyson Gray. (Start with My Soul To Keep before picking up Down To My Soul and Refrain.)

Last but not least, there’s Ryan’s first-ever series, The Bennetts. Ryan’s tetralogy may not be Austen-related, but the characters in When You Were Mine, Loving You Always, Be Mine Forever, and Until I’m Yours, are dealing with just as many interpersonal intricacies as those in Pride and Prejudice, if not more. The couple at its center, Kerris Moreton and her fiancé’s BFF Walsh Bennett, are in a tricky position, indeed.