the weekly | 06.18.25
let's talk about materialists, the berry blush agenda, and if AI is damning for the reader's experience
Is it not clocking to you that I’m standing on business1 to bring you a collection of musings, reviews, and recommendations on pop culture, fashion, and beauty every Wednesday? Unfortunately, that was the best opening I could come up with for today’s letter. Tank is low! Welcome back to the weekly: curated by me(@gabbywhiten), for you. This post contains affiliate links and opinions. Hot stuff this way →
📖 new on my tbr: ten incarnations of rebellion x vaishnavi patel
🎧 what i’m listening to: june bby - a curated Spotify playlist
📺 what I’m watching: the buccaneers (apple tv+)
🧖🏾♀️ beauty launches to watch: one/size spf setting spray, versed skin good defense spf50 PA++++
🛒 recently purchased: stok cold brew — delish!
There’s a lot to say about the literary sect this month. Dua Lipa’s signed with Spotify to host her Service95 Book Club podcast. Didn’t you get the memo: hot girls read. And according to British Vogue, they also marry hot boys who read. The New Yorker is joining the conversation about the effects of AI on reading behaviors. I’m still mulling over the author’s assertion that Substack and Reddit could be real competitors to the traditional act of reading a book.
I did get the distinct impression that a man wrote that article when he started discussing “a return to an oral culture” and made no connection to the rise of the modern literary salon: book club. What is a book club if not an environment where “gab and give-and-take are enhanced by the presence of text”? The article presents a thread that’s in direct opposition to this piece from The Cut that discusses a search for more “academic” modes of engagement with visual and written media. Sure, I’m assuming AI can produce an advanced version of SparkNotes but can it facilitate a curated conversation through the discerning eye of the
? As if!I reject the lazy reflex to call Materialists a bad movie; something’s inability to meet our lofty expectations is not an indictment of that which we critique but of our own point of view. (I whisper to myself before I proceed to rip something to shreds.) Dakota Johnson’s Lucy is a realist who had the misfortune of knowing an all-consuming, toxic young love. Chris Evans’ John is a rich man with no money. Pedro Pascal’s Harry is a background storybook character; mythologized but never tested. Song is still in my database of directors revolutionizing modern filmmaking. She brings a stylistic touch to every aspect of her films. Visually sumptuous; she also wields power sonically in such a precise way — from the staccato opening onto New York’s bustling Astor Place (lol) to the muffled buzz of happy wedding-goers gliding below a constellation of string lights. Beyond aesthetics, this is a movie that creatively tackles the qualms of finding love today. The foundation of this story is mechanical, sterile, and deeply unfulfilling… much like modern dating. I’m left wondering.. why the hell do we do this to ourselves? A slightly spoiler-y review/reflection [in 750 or less] for my paid subscribers… as a treat.
Less important takeaway from that movie is that cool girls wear MAC lip liner. You think my eyeline didn’t zip to see which brand of lip liner she applied at the beginning of the movie? Do you even know me? MAC Chestnut is my personal cup of tea. The movie set the tone for a summer of abundance. What screams New York Summer more than a melted cone of ice cream and sun kissed skin? EOS is launching a new scent of their fan favorite 24Hr Moisture Body Lotion, Créme de Pistachio. And they’re celebrating with Caffe Panna ice cream. They just get it.
Brad Lander was arrested in a New York immigration courthouse for “obstructing” the detainment of a migrant by ICE agents. I don’t want to sound like a broken record but it’s concerning to me that someone can be snatched off the street without documentation by random men. It’s a bad precedent to set especially as the administration comes for birthright citizenship.
Early voting for the New York primary elections continues through the week. The New York Times Editorial Board is not not endorsing a mayoral candidate. This y’all? The Supreme Court has upheld a Tennessee state ban on transgender care for minors in a 6-3 vote. The majority rejects the idea that these laws violate the 20th amendment.
Tensions are escalating between Israel and Iran(ee-ron) regarding the latter’s pursuit of nuclear weaponry. Contrary to trending TikToks, the Iranian military is not live tweeting threatening updates. It’s still unclear if Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu will be able to play Trump like a fiddle to encourage American involvement. Tim Kaine (D-VA) has [once again] introduced measures to restrict Trump’s power over militarization without Congressional authorization. But, time does seem limited. Call your reps! This article from NPR was so unserious — drawing parallels to Judi Dench in the Bond franchise and the new MI6 chief, Blaise Metrewli.
No one: [….] Pop Crave: Jeremy Allen White stuns as Bruce Springsteen in new trailer. 28 Years Later hits theatres this weekend — a sequel to the inventive 28 Days Later(2003). Cillian Murphy, Jodie Comer, and Aaron Taylor Johnson.. say less. I’ll also be watching F1: The Movie next weekend for the superior plot and thematic complexity. The only people who love a wash of berry blush more than me are the makeup artists on the set of The Buccaneers(Apple TV+).
After one episode of We Were Liars, I already know summer television is “soooo back”. This is my formal apology for the misinformation I spread last week. The Bear doesn’t premiere until next week. I was just overly excited. All episodes go live 6/25 on Hulu.
Addison Rae’s going on Chicken Shop Date. Ayo Edebiri kills “a fashion girl walking her dog” pap moment. The Hunger Games casting feels like Lionsgate is trolling us because what do you mean Glenn Close and Billy Porter are also in this movie.
Love Island shook the timeline on Sunday. The experience is the closest we’ve gotten to HBO Sundays since Euphoria went on break. Overall, the episode was the perfect blueprint for a Love Island episode. We the people did that. Huda needs to heal — the emotional manipulation gave me chills(the bad kind). It’s valid that Jeremiah’s feelings changed after finding out about Huda being a mommy (her words). But, be honest about it!! Hannah actually couldn’t have her cake and eat it too (would’ve been messy though). Taylor should’ve been sent home. Chelley should do the responsible thing and cut Austin loose. The villa needs Ace for dramatics. NicOlandria got mad airtime! We’re up!
And as an eldest sister, I really needed Coco Mellors to humble me. Blue Sisters depicts a dynamic and complicated quartet of messy siblings — Lucky, Nicole, Bonnie, and Avery. This wasn’t necessarily a page turner for me [actually it took me ages to finish], but it had some really meaningful and reflective passages. & it’s now available in paperback.
That’s all I have for you this week! stay hot <3
xx, Gabby
So glad to finally see someone call the materialists what it was (sterile and mechanical.) Especially after the elegiac and emotive whirlwind of past lives!! The rave reviews are making me feel insane
When is the EOS lotion coming out??