My Quarantine Recommendations
Movies
Train to Busan (Netflix)
This is definitely one of my favorite movies of all time. Zombie fans will especially love, but even my friends who don’t enjoy zombie flicks love this one for the emotional depth, character development(!!), dark humor, and end-of-the-world drama. It might feel a little too close to home right now, but if you think you can handle, please please go for it.
New York Minute (Netflix)
Mark-Kate and Ashley Olsen in their prime! Very different vibe from my first rec but I literally screamed when I saw this was on Netflix. It is my childhood and if you were an angsty Paramore loving, Simple Plan obsessed kid, you HAVE TO WATCH this one.
Always Be My Maybe (Netflix)
Gotta add some rom-com to the list to lighten the mood, especially because Ali Wong is seriously everything in this movie! We love to see the Asian representation and the movie is actually so cute, funny, and has a unique twist I haven’t seen in many rom-coms. Also, Keanu Reeves.
Snowpiercer (Netflix / Amazon Prime)
People think I’m crazy for loving this movie, but it’s the same director as PARASITE, and it’s absolutely NUTS from beginning to end. Also the cast is *chef’s kiss* – Chris Evans, Octavia Spencer, Tilda Swinton, Jamie Bell and more. It’s also got that SF/Post Apocalyptic vibe, (but not linked to a disease so might be an easier pill to swallow than Train to Busan a the moment). Warning, not for the faint of heart, aka if you don’t like gore.
TV Shows
La Casa De Papel (Netflix)
This is seriously one of the best shows on Netflix and I will never stop yelling about it. Action, MAJOR character development, mystery, suspense, romance, emotion, dark humor. Seasons 1-3 are out on Netflix now and Season 4 is out on April 3rd! If you watch this show and hate it I will truly take the blame, but I can almost guarantee you’ll love it. (Also, I recommend watching it in Spanish with English subtitles if you can, it’s way better this way because it sounds very strange dubbed).
The Society (Netflix)
Season two of The Society has been #1 on my most anticipated list this year. If you love sci-fi teen shows like The 100, this show is definitely for you. It’s total anarchy and keeps you on edge, but the most incredible thing about this show for me is the actors’ skills and the character arcs – like holy shit. The gist: teens get trapped in their town that’s not really their town*cue mystery* and they basically have to start their own (you guessed it) society. Two hundred 16/17-year-olds, no adults, no rules. What could go wrong?
Euphoria (HBO)
Cinematic masterpiece. IMO, Euphoria is a show that is seriously going to change the game. It was beautiful and heartbreaking and addressed hard, but real AF topics. I don’t care what you have to do to watch this show – purchase it, steal your moms HBO subscription, sneak into your neighbors house (jk don’t do that there’s a quarantine), but the point is: watch. this. show.
Elite (Netflix)
Gossip Girl meets How to Get Away with Murder but it’s darker, sexier, better, chock-full of plot twists, and so addicting that I watched all of Season 3 in one night. The characters in this show are seriously some of my faves on the planet and they feel like my bb angels, I would probably do anything for them given the chance. Netflix Spain seriously knows what they are doing.
Love Island (Hulu)
The chances you’ve heard about this show are extremely high, and now’s truly the perfect time to fully dive in to the endless episodes of daily drama where men and women come and go and the accents are full-on. If you’re looking for an entertaining, very British TV, with plenty of couples to stan – this is it.
Books
You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle (Dutton Books, 04/07)
This couples race to make the other break off their engagement is absolutely PERFECT. This rom-com had me laughing out loud and literally squealing with devilish excitement over the antics these two pulled. This is truly the perfect escape and will get you out of your book slump!
Docile by K.M Szpara (Tor.com Publishing)
There is no consent under capitalism. Warning: this is not for the faint of heart. It’s raw, erotic, disturbing, and will make you definitely question many things (your morals and ethics, maybe). At some point you may want to throw this book at a wall, but the journey is totally worth it. Story, characters, plot, everything = A+. If you like science-fiction with suspense, erotica, crazy good character arcs, and a whole lotta baggage/emotion, this is it.
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Penguin Random House)
Inspired by Fleetwood Mac?! Need I say more? This novel is the oral history of the fictional band Daisy Jones & The Six and the amount of effort that went into this book is literally so obvious that I am fully convinced Daisy Jones & The Six is a real band. This book is heartbreaking, inspiring, romantic, dramatic, its got it all. Read it now before the TV Show!!
Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin (Harper Teen)
I have literally been yelling about this book since I read it. Witch and witch hunter are forced into a marriage together and they hate each other, and that’s with him not even knowing she’s a witch?!?! HOW IS THAT NOT CONVINCING?! A perfect ya/new adult fantasy!! Fans of ACOTAR will actually LOVE.
The Darkest Star by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Tor Teen)
A YA read also bordering on New Adult (in my opinion), JLA is the queen of teen angst, drama, sexual tension, and thrilling suspense! If you read the Lux series, this is the spinoff starring Luc, and I beg y’all: don’t sleep on this series! It is so addicting and book 2 (The Burning Shadow) is so beautifully thicc it will occupy a solid amount of hours during this quarantine. Read the whole Lux series too if you haven’t already. Romance lovers, you will not regret it!!
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel (Penguin Random House)
Okay this might honestly not be the best book to read right now, but I read it literally as Covid-19 was becoming a thing in the U.S. and it just felt appropriate in a weirdly chaotic way. Either way, this one is all about character story/ development – although yeah it does take place post-epidemic so don’t say I didn’t warn you. It’s beautifully written and watching it all come together and unfold gave me equal parts anxiety and hope.
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (St. Martins Press)
This is another feel-good rom-com that everyone should read! It took me about 5o pages to get into it, but once you do it will truly get you out of any book slump and have you falling in looooveeeee. Fans of the Royals or not, this is a must read for anyone looking for the ultimate feel-good rom-com that will have you grinning from ear to ear.
Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado (Graywolf Press)
This book was recently recommended to me by my lovely coworker Libby (@sleeprunreadrepeat) and I can’t believe I didn’t read it sooner!! I’m not a huge reader of short story collections but this book made me realize I need to change that. Inside you will find the creepy, dark, real, raw, and straight up bizarre. Law & Order SVU fans will find a pleasant surprise.
The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison (Thomas & Mercer/ Amazon Publishing)
I read this book so long ago but to this day it still sticks with me! If you love Criminal Minds, SVU, the like, you’re going to love this book. The Butterfly Garden is full of twists and turns and in this garden grows luscious flowers, shady trees…and a collection of precious “butterflies”—young women who have been kidnapped and intricately tattooed to resemble their namesakes. If you love solving mysteries and the edge of your seat feeling, this ones for you.
