“I really love it. It’s captain meets captain,” Ali, 30, told Us Weekly exclusively. “I know that’s so cheesy.”

Cheesy? We’ll allow it. Adorable? Absolutely. And honestly, she’s not wrong. Team captain Jalen, 29, was named NBA Finals MVP last night after leading the New York Knicks to their first championship in 50 years with a victory over the San Antonio Spurs. Hargitay, 62, has been playing the unflappable Captain Olivia Benson on Law & Order: SVU since 1999. Two captains. Two New York legends. One truly delightful friendship.

A lifelong SVU fan finally meets his Captain

Here’s the part that makes this whole story even sweeter: Jalen has been watching SVU his entire life. We’re talking deep, devoted, episode-after-episode fandom that started back when he was just a kid hanging out with his dad, Rick Brunson.

“He watches SVU religiously, for years and years,” Ali told Us. “To see her be a fan and then they’re able to meet, she’s a wonderful human. We’ve shared so many experiences together. It’s been really fun.”

Jalen has talked about his SVU obsession before, and his explanation is the kind of thing that will hit home for anyone who grew up in a house where one show was always on. “You just hear the iconic [theme song] ‘dun-dun’ all the time in the house,” Jalen said during a past episode of The Roommates Show podcast, which he cohosts with teammate Josh Hart. “My dad also watches the TV incredibly loud, so you hear it throughout the house.”

Anyone with a dad who treats the TV remote like a personal challenge knows exactly what he means.

“[I] always found myself watching the show and honestly, the older I got, the more I watched,” Jalen continued. “The more I see now I’m like, ‘I’ve seen that episode,’ I’ve seen so many different episodes.”

So when Mariska Hargitay turned out to be a Knicks fan, the universe basically handed Jalen the celebrity meet-cute of his dreams. And Mariska? She’s all in.

That unforgettable NBA Finals moment

If you’ve been on the internet at all this week, you’ve probably seen the clips. After the Knicks beat the Spurs by just one point to win Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday, June 10, Hargitay was running around the court hugging players — including Jalen — like she’d just witnessed the greatest moment of her entire life.

Spoiler alert: she basically said she did.

“I love my husband, and our wedding night was great and all, but I think it might have been the greatest night of my life,” Hargitay told The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday, June 11. “The game was so brutal, down 29 at the half, but I’m telling you, to watch this team fight and claw their way back — to see that look in Jalen’s eyes — there are just endless life lessons in there.”

She kept going, her passion clear as a game clock buzzer: “And then OG [Anunoby] comes flying in, his orange and blue cape fluttering behind him, and then it’s just pandemonium. It’ll get replayed again and again, not just as an epic moment in basketball, but on the highlight reel of the best moments in sports.”

Enter Taylor Swift, courtside in custom tees

As if this story couldn’t get any more share-worthy, Taylor Swift was right there at Game 4, too — sitting next to Mariska, no less. Ali couldn’t help but gush about that little slice of celebrity sisterhood when Us Weekly asked.

“That was awesome to see. She was there with her custom T-shirts. They’re all matching,” Ali said. “Sitting next to Mariska. How amazing is that? That’s another dynamic duo right there. It was fun. She was really in it. She’s a true fan.”

A captain, an actress and a pop superstar walk into Madison Square Garden… it sounds like the setup to a joke, but it’s just another Wednesday in New York during a playoff run. And there’s something so wonderfully wholesome about three powerhouse women — Ali, Mariska and Taylor — all cheering their hearts out for the team and the people they love.

And one more thing for SVU fans…

While we’re talking about Mariska, here’s a little bonus scoop to brighten your day. The beloved actress recently spoke to Woman’s World exclusively about Season 28 of Law & Order: SVU, and she had nothing but excitement to share.

“It’s going to be better than Season 27 and Season 27 was pretty great,” Hargitay teased.

She also reflected on how meaningful it is that the show is currently in such strong female hands. “We had a female director and producer named Brenna Malloy, and we have a female showrunner named Michele Fazekas. It is a very female-driven show right now, and I’m very proud of that — the leadership positions are all women.”

Season 28 doesn’t have a premiere date yet, but if the show sticks to its usual pattern, you can expect it on NBC and Peacock this fall.

Why this friendship just feels good

In a world that can feel heavy more often than not, there’s something so refreshing about a story like this. A boy grows up watching his favorite show with his dad. He grows into a basketball captain. The actress he’s admired his whole life turns out to be his biggest fan, too. His wife thinks the whole thing is “captain meets captain” cheesy and adorable. Taylor Swift shows up in a custom tee. The team comes back from being down 29 at halftime.

Captain, meet captain. We are so here for it.

Despite coming from a family of 12 children, Dolly Parton decided not to have children and it’s a decision she doesn’t regret. In fact, she looks back on it, knowing now that it has allowed her to pursue the life she wanted. 

“Since I had no kids, and my husband was pretty independent, I had freedom,” Parton shared in an interview. “So I think a big part of my whole success is the fact that I was free to work.”

Over the years, Parton has done a lot of work with and for children, including her Imagination Library, The Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital and The Dollywood Foundation. Learn more about Parton’s decision not to have children, what she’s said about it and why she’s okay with her decision. 

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Why didn’t Dolly Parton have children?

After her career blew up at age 21, her life changed drastically. Not only did she become famous worldwide, but she earned 11 Grammys, two spots in the Grammy Hall of Fame and the title of Billboard’s Greatest Country Singer of All Time. But while all of this was happening, Dolly never felt the passion to become a mother and never wavered throughout her nearly 60-year marraige. 

“I didn’t have children because I believed that God didn’t mean for me to have kids so everybody’s kids could be mine. I could do things like Imagination Library because if I hadn’t had the freedom to work, I wouldn’t have done all the things I’ve done,” she explained. “I wouldn’t be in a position to do all of the things I’m doing now.”

Dolly’s work with children

Over the years, Dolly has worked with children in several different capacities, including her efforts with Imagination Library, a program that mails free books to children from birth until they begin school. She also made a transformational donation to the Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital—named after the singer earlier this year—which allowed for new growth in medical specialties, a pediatric residency program and an investment in advanced medical technology and telehealth services. 

The singer also began The Dollywood Foundation in 1988, which was created to inspire children in her hometown to continue with their education and to decrease the county’s drop-out rate, which in fact reduced for two classes from 35% to 6%.

But these are just a few of the ways Dolly has helped children everywhere, so even though she didn’t have children of her own, the singer has been a motherly figure to many around the world. She’s also godmother to famed singer and actress, Miley Cyrus, who has been like a daughter to the country star. 

How Dolly feels about her decision now

Although some might assume that Dolly has had regrets about her decision, the singer is sure she made the right one. “I haven’t missed it like I thought I might,” Parton confirmed in 2023. “When you’re a young couple, you think you’re going to have kids, but it just wasn’t one of those burning things for me. I had my career and my music and I was travelling. If I’d had kids, I’d have stayed at home with them and worried myself to death about them.”

Nowadays, Dolly is still working on her music while also expanding her business empire. The singer recently revealed a new coffee line called Cup of Ambition, as well as working on music for a Broadway musical.

“I feel so honored to have worked in this industry for a long time,” the actress told Variety. “But it’s also great to live your life and raise your kids and be in Chicago and be a normal person. It’s kind of priceless, so there’s that.”

That revelation left fans with plenty of questions. Who exactly are Cusack’s sons? And what about the man she shares her life with? Read on as we take a closer look at her family, including her husband and children.

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Meet Tom Hanks’ Four Children and the Family Behind the Star

Everyone knows that Tom Hanks is one of the nicest guys in Hollywood. He’s funny, warm, genuine and just an all-around favorite. But when it comes to who loves him most, it’s not his millions of fans, his costars, his directors or even Andy and Bonnie from Toy Story. It’s his wife Rita Wilson and […]

Get to know Joan Cusack’s husband 

Cusack met her now-husband Richard Burke in 1993 on a blind date, the duo eventually marrying in a private ceremony in 1996. According to Hello! magazine, Richard went to Georgetown University Law Center and worked for Skadden Arps Slate Meagher and Flom law firm before becoming the president and CEO of Envoy Global from 2015 until 2025. He is now believed to be retired.

Cusack and Richard currently live in Chicago, which the actress said they—along with her kids—love.

“As my kids would say, ‘Chicago is awesome!’ It has rich culture and history, as well as some of the best museums, architecture and restaurants in the world,” the actress said, per HuffPost. “Plus, it prevents our family life from revolving around TV and the movies. In L.A. it’s easy to get caught up in what you look like or how much money you have, and those aren’t values I want my kids to adopt.”

The actress has also revealed how they feel about being Midwesterners, saying that their “very laid-back Midwestern attitude helps a lot! And recognizing when people are getting too stressed out and finding something relaxing and/or authentically fun to do.”

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By now you’ve probably seen the videos of Randy Newman and Taylor Swift singing the hit song “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” at the Toy Story 5 world premiere. It was heartwarming, nostalgic and just what the world needs right now. But after the performance, you may have found yourself wondering, “What has Newman […]

Get to know Joan Cusack’s two sons

Cusack and Richard have two kids: Dylan, who was born in 1997, and Miles, who was born in 2000. Obviously, they know their mom is a famous actress, and, according to her, they do have their favorite films of hers.

“Being in Toy Story 2 with Buzz Lightyear when Dylan was younger,” the actress said, according to Huffpost. “But now they’re more impressed that I was in School of Rock. Their friends thought it was awesome that I played the principal.”

Currently, both of Cusack’s sons have moved out of the house, which is fine by her. She believes it will allow them to discover the one thing she wants most for them: passion.

“I want my kids to experience passion. I want them to see that I have things I feel passionate about because it is such a great feeling to really love something,” the actress wrote in an essay for The Guardian. “As a parent, you have to figure out how to shape your kid’s character. You want to have human beings who learn about good character. You have to be able to see your child with clarity, see the good side and the bad side of them, and work on the bad side and make them better so they fulfill their potential.”

“You have to make them do stuff they don’t want to do, like take out the trash, while instilling in them all those difficult virtues that are not just about impulse gratification. Then there are those incredible moments when you see that they have learned or ‘got’ something,” she continued. “You see a quality in them that reminds you of your dad–there’s all the joy of being a parent. It’s absolutely true that you would sacrifice your life for them.” 

Be sure to catch Joan Cusack in Toy Story 5, only in theaters on Friday, June 19.

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By the time producer George Lucas and director Steven Spielberg began casting Raiders of the Lost Ark, Selleck had already spent more than a decade paying his dues. Born January 29, 1945, in Detroit, Michigan, to Robert and Martha Selleck, he had built a resume filled with guest appearances, soap operas, commercials, feature film supporting roles and television pilots that never went anywhere (though in 1979 he did star in the Western The Sacketts). He was a familiar face to casting directors, but had not yet become a household name. Then came the opportunity that seemed destined to change everything.

To be fair, Raiders casting director Mike Fenton believed Jeff Bridges would be ideal for the role of Indiana Jones, though Lucas’ late wife, Marcia, disagreed. She’s actually the one who strongly favored Selleck, and eventually Lucas and Spielberg agreed. The filmmakers contacted Selleck’s representatives and offered him the role.

Years later, Selleck recalled just how close he came to becoming cinema’s greatest adventurer. “I did the pilot for Magnum, I tested for Indiana Jones and got the job,” he explained. “Steven and George, my newest pals at the time, offered me the job and I said, ‘Well, I’ve done this pilot,’ and they said, ‘Thanks for telling us; most actors wouldn’t do that. But we’ve got cards to play with CBS.'”

Magnum vs. Indy

At the time, there was no guarantee that Magnum, P.I. would even be picked up, given that only the pilot had been completed. But Selleck’s contract required him to be available if CBS ordered a full season, and when Lucas and Spielberg tried to secure him for Raiders of the Lost Ark, the network refused to release him. “It turned out that CBS wouldn’t let me do it,” Selleck remembered. “They held the offer out for about a month.”

The irony is that history suggests the situation may not have been as impossible as it seemed. Producer Howard Kazanjian later revealed that everyone in Hollywood knew an actors’ strike was approaching and because Raiders was shooting in London under Equity rules outside of SAG jurisdiction, production would have been able to continue even after the strike began.

“Had Tom Selleck done Raiders, whether it would have been successful or not, it would not have hurt his career on Magnum, P.I.,” Kazanjian said. “We could have shot with Selleck and given him back to Universal when the strike was over.”

A man of honor

Selleck had no problem honoring his TV contract, saying. “I’m proud that I lived up to my contract. Some people said, ‘You’ve got to want to get in the car and drive into a brick wall, get injured and get out of Magnum and do this.’ I said that I’ve got to look my mom and dad in the eye, and we don’t do that.”

As Selleck stepped away from the role, Raiders of the Lost Ark suddenly found itself without an Indiana Jones just weeks before filming was scheduled to begin. Costume designer Deborah Nadoolman pointed out that preparations for Selleck were already underway.

“We were looking forward to working with Tom Selleck,” she remembered. “I had already made a prototype of the entire costume at Western Costume Company on Melrose. We were close to shooting and now we were missing an Indiana Jones.”

The search for a replacement ultimately led Lucas and Spielberg back to a familiar face. “We were left with the perennially unemployed Han Solo,” Nadoolman said.

The rest, of course, is movie history. At the time, however, not everyone viewed Harrison Ford as the obvious choice. Lucas had already made Ford a star through Star Wars, and there was concern about pairing the actor with yet another iconic Lucas-created role. Kazanjian, who had been pushing for Ford, remembered that the decision wasn’t immediate. “I really felt Harrison was the guy,” he recalled. “I could see him as Indiana Jones. I could see him with a whip. I could see him with two or three days’ unshaved growth.”

He believed Ford possessed something impossible to ignore. While he respected Selleck’s talent, he wasn’t convinced the actor was right for this particular role. “Selleck is a very, very good and respected actor,” he said, “but had you seen the pilot of Magnum, P.I., like I did, he wasn’t quite the actor that he became.”

Even so, replacing Selleck wasn’t an easy adjustment for everyone involved. Nadoolman admitted that the production initially viewed the change as a disappointment, because Selleck projected a larger-than-life quality that seemed perfectly suited to the serial-inspired adventurer Spielberg and Lucas were creating.

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How Tom Selleck's Westerns Changed His Life On and Off Screen

For most television viewers, the career of Tom Selleck begins with Thomas Magnum’s Ferrari. For others, it starts around the Reagan family dinner table on Blue Bloods. Yet if you listen to Selleck talk about the experiences that truly shaped him, he almost invariably finds his way back to a very different place: the American […]

“Harrison is, or was, an affable, introspective, reticent character, worlds away from the larger-than-life and glamorous Selleck,” she said. “We were disappointed, but we accepted the situation.”

What nobody could have known at the time was that Ford’s interpretation would fundamentally reshape the character and, looking back years later, Nadoolman argued that the actor brought qualities that transformed Indiana Jones from a straightforward action hero into something more relatable. “His natural warmth, intelligence and most of all his vulnerability transformed the character of Indiana Jones from a one-dimensional superhero to an everyman with a wry sense of humor.”

That doesn’t mean Selleck would have failed in the role. In fact, many who have watched his screen test understand exactly why Spielberg and Lucas wanted him. “I always wonder how Tom Selleck really feels about not getting that role?” said film historian and podcaster Zaki Hasan. “When you watch his audition footage, he’s not bad and you can see why they offered the part to him. His version of Indy would have been totally different. It just wouldn’t be what we know… of course, we wouldn’t have known the difference.”

Had Selleck boarded the plane to London and put on the fedora, perhaps he would have become one of the biggest movie stars in the world and Raiders of the Lost Ark would have been just as successful. On the other hand, Indiana Jones could have evolved into a completely different character. What we do know is that Ford became inseparable from the role, while Selleck went on to become Thomas Magnum, the role that turned him into one of television’s biggest stars, and would eventually lead to his playing Frank Reagan on Blue Bloods.

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In retrospect, Selleck has never sounded bitter about the road not taken. If anything, he seems grateful for it. “Look,” he said, “I didn’t pretend I was happy about losing Raiders, but I was not about to think of myself as a victim. Whether I thought CBS made the wrong decision—and I think they did—that did not mean I was treated unfairly. I had learned many times over by now that life isn’t fair, but at least I could be. Nobody made me sign a contract for Magnum. At that moment in time, it was the best thing that had happened to me in about a dozen years as an actor. I caught myself with a little smile on my face when my thoughts wandered to the first scene in the Magnum pilot. Only now it was, ‘Don’t think about Raiders, concentrate on Magnum.'”

“There is very little time for reflection in the life I had chosen,” he added in You Never Know: A Memoir, “at least if you’re living it right. But this time it was earned. I thought again of what my friend George Will wrote: ‘Luck is unpredictable, but talent takes advantage of it. Thus, the talented have, in effect, more of it.’ How lucky I was that serendipity had indeed done its best to smile on me again.” 

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Frank Sinatra on ‘Magnum, P.I.’ goes down in TV history

As the story goes, the “Strangers in the Night” singer was a major fan of the series, and Larry Manetti, who played Rick Wright on the series, shared the story of how the collaboration came to be. 

“Well, Frank came into Honolulu to do a concert and his secretary called Tom and I and invited us to come to the concert,” he recalled to Celebrity Drop. “We were in the concert, he introduced us, everything was great. And then a man walked up to the two of us and said, ‘Frank wants you two to go to this restaurant and meet him for dinner right after the show.’ Who’s gonna say no to Frank?” He continued, “So, we went to the restaurant and we sat down with Barbara Sinatra and Frank, and we were eating dinner and he was saying, ‘Well, I love this show,’ so I said, ‘Frank, why don’t you do the show with us?’ He said ‘Kid, I thought you’d never ask.’”

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Inside Frank Sinatra’s final television acting performance in 1987

In 1987, Frank appeared in the episode titled “Laura.” He brought to life the character of Sergeant Michael Doheny, a former New York police officer who employs the help of Magnum to track down the men who abducted and killed his granddaughter. His pursuit of her killers was a dramatic one before he ultimately ended one of their lives, and his performance showcased his abilities as an actor. 

Back in 2024, Selleck reflected on Sinatra’s time on the show in conversation with CBS Sunday Morning. “Larry comes to me and says, ‘Frank wants to do the show,'” he remembered. “‘But he wants to be asked, so you have to call him.’ And he wanted to do it right away. So I said [to Sinatra], ‘Well, we’re gonna have to write it for you. What do you wanna do?’ He said, ‘Oh, I don’t care. Just make sure I get to beat somebody up.'”

Frank Sinatra’s appearance on Magnum, P.I. remains a treasured moment in television history—a perfect example of how legends can surprise us and remind us why we fell in love with a show in the first place. 

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Why Sheinelle Jones confessed to not reading Jenna’s book club picks  

A few months ago, Sheinelle and Jenna did a segment on Jenna & Sheinelle called “Sip and Spill,” where they—you guessed it—spilled some tea. During the conversation, Jenna asked Sheinelle if she’s ever read a Read With Jenna book. Sheinelle looked at Jenna like a deer in headlights, but before she could reply, Jenna piped in with,  “I know the answer so you can go ahead.”

Sheinelle then replies, “I started it. The one with the lemons on the cover [One & Only by Maurene Goo]…I’m not finished. I did like it, but I’m not done.”

Sheinelle didn’t share why she hasn’t finished, or why she hasn’t read any other Read With Jenna picks, but Jenna already knew this about her longtime friend and didn’t seem upset by the confession.

One & Only was published earlier this year and was chosen as a Read With Jenna pick in February. It follows Cassia Park, who comes from a long line of soul-mate matchmakers. But as she nears 40, she still hasn’t found the one. Enter Ellis, a handsome younger man who can’t be her match…can he? As family truths arise, Cassia questions the meaning of destiny. 

“This is a book about fate versus free will, love and commitment, mother and daughters. It has a great love triangle. It’s about writing our own story,” Jenna said. 

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Sheinelle Jones on the book that helped her through grief  

Unlike Jenna and Savannah Guthrie, Sheinelle has remained tight-lipped about the books she likes. She has said that the book she wrote and published this year, Through Mom’s Eyes: Simple Wisdom From Mothers Who Raised Extraordinary Humans, is one the most important things to her because it helped her deal with the loss of her husband, Uche Ojeh, who died in May 2025 from glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. 

“This is the book I wish I had from the moment I joined this club [the widow club],” Sheinelle told Today. “I hope people can start to have these conversations about how it’s hard, or how isolating, or what did you learn, or how did you learn to exhale. It’s a community.”

“I am so thankful for this project, as it gave me a sense of purpose when I needed it the most. If reading it has brought you even a little bit of the comfort and clarity it has given me, then I’ve done what I hoped I would,” she continued. “No matter where you live or what you’re juggling as a mom, we all need each other now—in some ways more than ever.”

You can purchase Through Mom’s Eyes: Simple Wisdom From Mothers Who Raised Extraordinary Humans now wherever books are sold. 

Ready for more? Subscribe to our YouTube channel for video podcasts, health tips and uplifting stories designed for women 40, 50, 60 and beyond.

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What to know about Cole Hauser’s son 

Cole’s son Colt, born in June 2008, is his wife Cynthia Daniel’s second child, and over the years has been seen on the red carpet with his dad. He’s also been featured on his dad’s Instagram, which is where Cole announced that he was going to play football at North Carolina State in Raleigh,  North Carolina. 

“I’m so proud of you son! To go along with you on this journey has been amazing. To see the way these coaches and universities have respected you not just for your athletic ability, but your character makes me a proud father,” Cole wrote in the caption. “Thank you to all the universities across the country who treated us so well. Keep working your tail off son!!” 

Based on Cole’s Instagram, it’s believed that Colt will start at North Carolina State in the fall, though hasn’t shared if or when his son officially graduated high school, so that assumption could change. 

“Colt you’ve blown dad and I away with your determination, focus, heart, knowledge and love of the game,” Cynthia wrote on Instagram earlier this week. “We always support you honey and can’t wait to be the loudest parents in the stands.” 

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Does Cole Hauser have any other kids? 

Along with Colt, Cole and his wife have two other kids. The first, Ryland Hauser, was born in September 2004. He’s currently a student at Texas Christian University (TCU)  in Fort Worth, Texas—which is ironically one of the shooting locations of another Sheridan show called Landman.

“So very proud of my first born boy,” Cole wrote on Instagram back in 2023, when Ryland announced he was going to TCU. “Can’t wait to see your next chapter in your life.” 

Cynthia also commented on Ryland’s decision to attend TCU, writing, “And just like that my baby boy is starting his life. Dad and I are so proud of you Ryland!! We know you’ll touch so many lives! Thank you for being open to learning from us, sharing your enormous heart and making Steely and Colt feel so special. We’ll miss you very much, honey” on Instagram back in 2023. 

Following Ryland, there’s Colt and then Steely Rose Hauser, Cole and Cynthia’s youngest. Steely was born in December 2012 and was on the Yellowstone set a lot growing up. She’s also appeared on several carpets with her father and mother over the years, despite still being  in high school. 

“I love her ultimately so much that it’s hard for me to say no to anything,” Cole said on The Drew Barrymore Show in 2024. “But I’m getting better as she’s getting older to be a little bit more cautious with giving her everything she asks for.”

“[The boys] get nothing. ‘Go to work, do what I tell you to do, go play sports.’ It’s just totally different,” the actor continued. “My wife says it all the time, she’s, like, ‘She’s got you wrapped around her finger.’”

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New historical fiction books​

With stories featuring women all over the world, from Tudor England to rural Tennessee, here are the best new historical fiction books​ coming out this summer. 

‘An Infinite Love Story’ by Chanel Cleeton

From bestselling author Chanel Cleeton comes a page-turning tale that launches readers into the heart of the 1960s Space Race with a beautiful tale of love, loss and mystery. When an astronaut vanishes during a mission, his wife, Vivian, refuses to believe the explanation and sets out to uncover what happened. As eerie messages begin to arrive—messages only her husband could’ve sent—she questions if their bond can transcend space and time. This novel is perfect for fans of Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid. (On sale July 7, 2026) 

What early readers are saying: “Infinite Love Story is a five-star read that blends romance and mystery in a really engaging way. It’s fun, emotional, and keeps you guessing the whole time.” 

‘Henry Tudor Must Die’ by Jillian Laine  

Fans of the hit Broadway musical Six will adore this new novel by debut author Jillian Laine. Anne Boleyn knows she’s about to die and that neither her cleverness nor her witchery can save her. But when her old rival Catalina de Aragón mysteriously appears in her cell at the Tower of London on the eve of her execution, Anne feels a glimmer of hope for the first time in a long time. Now the two are on the run, and along the way they meet up with Anna von Kleve, Kat Howard and Catherine Parr—all of whom were wronged by King Henry VIII and all of whom want him dead. A fun tale filled with themes of powerful women and female friendship. (On sale July 21, 2026) 

What early readers are saying: “This book made me rave, cheer and feel things and I loved it very much. What a glorious debut. Long live the Queens.” 

‘A Fortune of Sand’ by Ruta Sepetys

Set in 1927 Detroit, this novel follows Marjorie Lennox, the youngest daughter of a powerful Detroit dynasty, who has spent her life being overlooked. So when she secretly applies to an elite arts program, Marjorie knows it’s her chance to leave that world behind. But when she arrives at the school, not everything is as glamorous as it seems. Doors in the school are locked, rumors are swirling about a missing girl and the man who’s funding her education is getting more unsettling by the second. Can Marjorie figure out what’s going on before it’s too late? Only time will tell.

What readers are saying: “This novel is a must-read for those who seek richly detailed historical fiction that is seamlessly weaved with mystery, family drama, and the timeless strength of self-determination. Marjorie’s story will stay with you long after the final sentence.” 

Entertainment

The 12 Best Summer-Set Historical Fiction Books to Read Right Now

The extra-long sunny days and relaxed pace of summer make this season an ideal time to delve into richer, more immersive novels. Enter historical fiction books. This expansive genre—which is arguably one of the most popular among avid readers—allows you to fully escape to different eras and experience life through the eyes of characters in […]

‘Summer of Love’ by Kerri Maher  

In 1967 San Francisco, UC Berkeley graduate Winnie Hartley is determined to spend the summer writing poetry and reconnecting with her high school boyfriend. Elsewhere, her sister Miranda is still running their family business, Hartley Vineyard, but soon she will make a decision that will change her and Winnie’s lives forever. Fifty years later, Dawn Hartley is determined to stay far away from her family’s vineyard, but when a work assignment forces her to research the bestselling Vineland novels written by a famous anonymous author, Dawn must change her ways. As she investigates, secrets emerge and Dawn starts to wonder if what she was told about her family was actually true. A perfect blend of mystery, love and summertime sun. (On sale July 7, 2026)

What early readers are saying:  “This gorgeously written novel explores the secrets, heartbreak and healing of the Hartley women in California wine country. I loved every word, every emotion and every moment of pain.” 

‘The Great Wherever’ by Shannon Sanders 

If you love historical fiction mixed with a little bit of magical realism, don’t miss this highly anticipated novel by Shannon Sanders. While grieving the loss of her father, Aubrey Lamb learns that she’s inherited his stake in a sizable Tennessee farm. Desperate to get out of debt, she moves there from Washington D.C.—only to discover that the land is haunted by the ghosts of four of her ancestors, all of whom want her to learn the truth about Aubrey’s great-grandfather Thomas, who purchased the land many years ago. Since then, the land has turned the Lambs against one another, and now that the farm is  up for sale, Aubrey must debate if it’s worth selling or if she wants to keep the family’s history—and its ghosts—alive. A thrilling tale that will leave readers needing to know what happens next. (On sale July 7, 2026) 

What early readers are saying: “This was such a wonderful book! The characters were deep and engaging and well-developed. The storylines were cohesive and it was a haunting and beautiful and deeply moving tale. This is one book that will stay with me for a long time.” 

‘The Windsor Affair’ by Melanie Benjamin 

From the bestselling author of The Girls in the Picture comes another inspired tale based on real people. Set in 1930s England, this novel follows Queen Elizabeth, who is supposed to serve as the symbol of strength for Britain, and Wallis Simpson, the woman for whom King Edward VIII chose to abdicate the throne, forcing Elizabeth’s husband George to become king. As the four lives become intertwined, drama, loyalty, power and love begin to complicate everything. What follows is a battle between the couples that will change the course of history forever.

What readers are saying: “This was a colorful and exciting rivalry set against a glittering and then gritty multi-decade historical period. I’ll be placing Melanie Benjamin’s backlist on my wish list and I can heartily recommend The Windsor Affair to historical fiction readers.” 

‘The Castle in the Glen’ by Rhys Bowen 

Idyllic settings? Check! Lovable main character? Check! Mystery? Check! This historical fiction book from bestselling author Rhys Bowen has it all! Set in 1965, this novel follows Australian writer Emma Callander after she’s selected by Iris Blackburn to write the final book in her historical mystery series. The plot of the book? A 1904 murder on the Isle of Skye, which resulted in a couple’s suspicious drowning and the disappearance of a mysterious young woman everyone calls “the wild one.” Can Emma prove she’s up for the task, or will Iris’ fading memory and mysterious past get in the way? A fun-filled tale that will leave readers guessing. (On sale August 4, 2026) 

What early readers are saying  “This is a beautifully written, atmospheric, and utterly gripping mystery. The pacing is brisk, the tension constant, and I found myself turning pages far into the night. I couldn’t put it down until the very last page.” 

Entertainment

The Best New Historical Fiction Mystery Books To Get Lost In This Summer!

Whether you’re spending the summer stretched out on the beach, posted up on a cabin porch or simply soaking up the sunshine from your own backyard, there’s nothing quite like a good book to keep you company. And if you’re craving stories with atmospheric settings, rich intrigue, bygone eras and secret-filled suspense, historical mysteries are […]

‘The Ladies Hall’ by Vanessa Miller 

Based on the real lives of civil rights activists Mary Church Terrell and Anna Julia Cooper, this novel is set in 1880s Ohio and follows Mary and Anna after they graduate from the Bachelor of Arts program at Oberlin College. They have nothing in common other than their skin color, but as the years go on they find themselves drawn to each other’s ambition, drive and perseverance. What follows is a tale of bravery, strength and truth that proves the universe always has a plan for you. (On sale August 11, 2026) 

What early readers are saying: “This was my first book by Vanessa Miller, and it totally captured my interest! I’d never heard of the two main characters, but certainly came to admire them as a result of this book. I’d heard of Oberlin College but hadn’t realized they opened in 1835 and one of their purposes was to educate white and black students side by side. That was astonishing to me, and admirable. I’d like to read another book by this author.” 

‘Lost in the Summer of ‘69’ by Eliza Knight 

Buckle up readers: This new novel by Eliza Knight is guaranteed to take you on a wild ride! Set in the summer of 1969, it follows Eleanor Bell, a forgetful old woman who sets out west to join the country’s music festival scene. The only problem? She forgot to tell her daughter Leanne that she was going. Desperate to find her mother, Leanne enlists her daughter Nora, and soon the three find themselves on an epic road trip filled with celebrities, car chases and more. 

What readers are saying: “Everything about this book is perfect. I love the relationships, the friendships made, the music performed, and the road trip. There is so much music history within this story, the names are top notch names, the songs are familiar to any music listener. The Summer of ’69 is the perfect summer read. I am an Eliza Knight fan and cannot wait to read more of her books.” 

‘The Queen’s Coronation’ by Jennifer Ryan 

Set in London, 1953, this novel reveals what really happened before Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation. The plot follows three Buckingham Palace workers—Caroline Brimstone, assistant dresser; Lucy Jones, a junior wardrobe assistant; and Miranda Miller, a secretary—as they prepare the castle for Elizabeth’s ascension to the throne. Along the way they begin to realize that if a woman can rule England, then other women can rule as well. It’s an inspiring story that will leave readers feeling empowered.

What readers are saying: “The story is incredible and a great ‘glimpse’ into the world behind the royal curtain. These three women are tied together inexplicably through a series of events that promises to leave you wanting for more.”

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Entertainment

Every Emily Henry Romance Novel—Which One's Your Favorite?

Emily Henry is one of today’s most popular romance authors. With more than  10 million books sold and five adaptation deals, the 34-year-old is truly a force to be reckoned with. Whether you’re drawn to friends-to-lovers tales, fake-dating stories, small-town romances or all three, Henry has a book that will leave you swooning. Here, we’ve […]

Emily Henry teases what’s next for her 

It’s been over a year since Henry released her last book, Great Big Beautiful Life, which followed two rival journalists, Alice and Hayden, competing to write the biography of the mysterious heiress Margaret Ives. The book—quite the departure from the traditional romantic comedy novels fans have come to love Henry for—was a massive hit.

Since then, fans have gotten a movie adaptation of Henry’s book People We Meet on Vacation, which follows best friends Poppy and Alex as they travel the world together, and are also getting an adaptation of Beach Read, which follows two rival authors, January Andrews and Augustus “Gus” Everett, after they find themselves living next door to each other. What fans haven’t gotten is a new novel. But, according to Henry, that’s going to change within the next year. 

“Taking a year off was really interesting, because getting back into writing my next book, which should be out next summer, it was really—I was shocked how nervous I felt. I felt so scared to get back into it,” Henry told the Today show co-host. “There is romance. With Great Big Beautiful Life, I kind of wanted to sidestep a little bit and expand a little bit. And so, for this one, this is another one that’s a pretty straightforward romantic comedy.” 

As for the plot of the romantic comedy, Henry described it as her take on the hit 2006 film The Holiday, which follows two young women after they agree to swap houses during Christmas. 

“It’s not a holiday book, but it kind of feels a little bit like my take on The Holiday in a very small way, “ Henry said. “No one else will see it, but like, for me, Book Lovers [which was published in 2022] was kind of my take on You’ve Got Mail. It very much is the book that you would write after taking a year off, and it’s very much that it might make everybody take a year off. The person needed a break.” 

After that,  Henry said she would love to experiment with another genre like she did with Great Big Beautiful Life. 

“My hope is that for my next book after that, I’ll kind of explore something else a little bit, still keep a romance, but I’m kind of trying to alternate between exploring new territory and just serving the readers what I think they’ve come to expect,” Henry told Hager. 

Entertainment

Emily Henry’s New Pajama Line Is Every Romance Reader’s Dream

Romance readers, listen up! Bestselling author Emily Henry just dropped a new line of bookish pajamas and they’re just as comfy, cozy and, dare we say, romantic as you would hope! Plus, they contain Easter eggs from Henry’s beloved romance books. To learn more about Henry’s new pajama line, including how to score your own […]

Emily Henry opens up about switching genres 

“I do ultimately think it was really good for me to just go live my life and have new things to say, new things to write about, but it also is kind of scary,” Henry told Hager after the release of Great Big Beautiful Life in 2025. “It feels like you’re in this little tunnel and you can’t really see anything beyond your little fire pit and what it catches. It sounds probably terrible to a lot of people, but for a lot of writers this is like the happiest time of your year, when you are kind of alone with your little world.” 

You can listen to Emily Henry on Jenna Bush Hager’s podcast Open Book With Jenna now on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or Amazon Music. 

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Alex Drummond’s Baby Sofia Has Grown So Much—See the Adorable Pic!

The world is full of uncertainties, but one thing we know for sure is that Ree Drummond is loving grandma life more than anything. The mastermind behind The Pioneer Woman television series and brand has been sharing the love with the world ever since her daughter Alex and her husband Mauricio welcomed baby Sofia at […]

Sofia’s curls are coming in—and they’re adorable

Baby Sofia is getting bigger every day, and now fans are getting a glimpse of how much she’s starting to look like her mom! This week, Alex posted an Instagram story showcasing the cutie’s curls that are starting to come in. 

“Like we are in full mullet mode [right now] LOL,” she wrote in the caption. “But I’m excited to see how pretty they get the more it grows!”

But that’s not the only thing that makes Sofia’s distinctive curls  so adorable. As it turns out, Alex had her own gorgeous ringlets as a toddler. Right after the photos of Sofia, she shared a throwback photo of herself—and the two could be twins!

“If you’re wondering where she gets the curls, this was me at age 2,” Alex wrote alongside two laughing emojis. “Sadly I put too much heat on my hair and it’s just kinda frizzy now vs. pretty curls. I need to start doing a curl routine!!!”

It seems little Sofia could be on her way to sporting some Shirley Temple-style curls in no time. 

Entertainment

Ree Drummond's Daughter Alex Announces She's Pregnant Again

Alex Drummond Scott is pregnant! That’s right, the eldest daughter of Ree Drummond—a.k.a The Pioneer Woman— is going to be a mother of two, and everyone in the beloved Drummond family is over the moon about it. To learn more about the surprise announcement, keep scrolling! Alex Drummond Scott announces her pregnancy!  On Wednesday, March […]

The resemblance goes beyond their curls

Alex has long been sharing throwback photos on her Instagram account, and it’s precious to see how much she and her daughter look alike—even before their curls came in. 

In 2013, Ree’s daughter posted a throwback Thursday image from 1998 that she captioned, “I guess my mom thought it was cute to dress me like a nun.” In the adorable memory, little Alex is giving a half smile to the camera while sporting a velvet blue dress and a white blouse with a Peter Pan collar underneath.

Here’s why that’s especially sweet: Sofia has been spotted wearing similar vintage-inspired pieces, including a lovely pink top with a Peter Pan collar in her 10-month update photo.

Talk about a cute coincidence! 

Baby number two is on the way

Alex and her husband Mauricio announced in March that they were expecting their second child, then revealed a few weeks later that this one will be a boy! 

Now fans are anxiously waiting for the arrival of the newest family member and to see who baby number two resembles the most. If it’s Alex, Baby Boy could end up twinning both his mom and big sister with curly hair!