The June List

Delicious things to read, wear, watch, do and cook

I will say that this is a great summer read: one of those books that once you pick it up, you just can’t put down. Gripping, in every sense of the word. It opens with the kidnapping of a wealthy American businessman in Long Island the early 1980s. He is held at ransom for a week before being returned to his family. The story then picks up again 40 years later, when his three children are all grown up and have children of their own. The book explores the complexity of family dynamics, living with trauma, Jewish American identity, the heavy weight of privilege, as well as fear, shame, self-doubt, hope, pride and so many of the feelings that make us human.

I’m a woman obsessed. Series 3 has just started, and is available on NOW TV (in the UK, not sure which channels it’s on in other countries… HBO, I think, in the US). I’m awaiting the release of each weekly episode with delight and (beyond) eager expectation. Another Julian Fellowes period creation: for those of you haven’t watched yet, it’s basically Downtown Abbey, but American, and with corsets and bustles. Set in New York City in the 1880s, it’s an upstairs-downstairs, new money-old money sort of a tale. Worth watching for the delicious extravagance of the costumes alone. Plus Christine Baranski!

I went to watch my friend Ted play the Arena in Verona a couple of weeks ago and it was - honestly - one of the most magical and utterly unforgettable nights ever. He and his band, Mumford and Sons, have a new album out, which I’m now listening to on repeat: it’s my soundtrack for summer 2025. I love it!! In fact, humming along to it, right now, as I type. The band are on tour now for the rest of the year: if you can get tickets, go go go!!!

I’m thrilled with this beautiful new Pelican House rug in my bathroom, that they custom made for me matching the pinks, egg-shell blues and greens in the room. It’s hand-woven made out of PET yarn, which is a type of polyester yarn made from recycled water and other old plastics; BUT you would never know because to look at and to touch, it feels just like wool. The real genius of the PET yarn, is that it’s easy to keep clean: you just wipe it down and it doesn’t really stain, so you can have a rug in the bathroom or the kitchen without worry about getting it dirty. Like I said, GENIUS. Pelican House have the loveliest range of beautiful designs of their own, or they will custom make for you. It’s an investment piece, but one I’ll treasure for years and years to come; and I’m beyond thrilled with it.

I really didn’t need this bag, but kinda had to have it anyway. Now that I’ve bought it, I’ve been wearing it pretty much every day, so maybe turns out that I did actually need it after all. Either way, I’m thrilled with it. Works for the beach (because it’s nice and roomy and raffia), but also can slip my laptop in there and wear it for smarter occasions too. So very versatile: basically, two bags in one. Incidentally, I think it’s actually now on sale, in case you were thinking of treating yourself to one too. I know: I’m a terrible influence, but you’ll thank me in the end.

My go-to uniform at this time of year is a cotton sun dress and jelly ballerina shoes. My current favourite is this dress, that has the prettiest little tie details on the sleeves, and then (crucially) a very flattering neckline. Another one of those you can dress up with a fancier shoe for the evening, or dress down to wear comfortably all day. It’s a goodie.