Between the first hints of summer heat, end-of-year deadlines and the general November delirium, our editors found themselves reaching for comfort watches, transportive reads and soundtracks that made the long days feel a little softer. Some of us spiralled into nostalgic rewatches, others fell into new obsessions (some expected, others… less so), and more than a few of us devoured albums that feel destined to score the season ahead.

Books veered from devastating meditations on growing older to sprawling family sagas; playlists blended dreamy synths with nineties rave classics; and our screens flickered with everything from neo-noir thrillers to guilty-pleasure reality TV.

Consistency wasn’t the goal – curiosity was. Here’s everything the RUSSH team watched, read and listened to this month.

Alys Hale

Music Editor and Creative Producer

Watch … I recently watched Brian De Palma’s Dressed to Kill, a neo-noir erotic thriller starring Michael Caine. It was very entertaining, its shot exquisitely yet remains incredibly ‘schlocky’ in the plot, although I did get genuinely scared in places. (It is no secret, I am a softie.)

Listen … Last night I was listening to the ever impressive Sharon Van Etten live, she’s truly sublime. There are also plenty of new treasures in my October-November music wrap.

Read … I’ve been thoroughly enjoying Jonathan Franzen’s The Corrections and I can’t wait to finish it, it explores the family dynamic in such an intriguing way, with often surrealist interludes. The level of observation surrounding the family dynamic is unparalleled.

Cassandra Dimitroff

Features and Production Editor

Watch … Unsurprisingly, still watching Girls.

Listen … More episodes of Fashion Neurosis. Obsessed with Ocean Vuong and Rosalia’s episodes.

Read … Lots of non-fiction this month: Monsters: What Do We Do with Great Art by Bad People? by Claire Dederer, and the audiobook of Why We Sleep? by Matthew Walker.

Jaime Carmody

Digital Marketing Specialist

Watch… I’ve fallen into a mild obsession with I Love LA, suddenly Monday has become my favourite night of the week. It feels like a love letter, a satire and a fever dream all at once. I can’t tell if I’m admiring the absurdity or the honesty, probably both. Either way, I’m happily along for the ride.

Listen… I’ve had Stella Donnelly’s new album, Love and Fortune on repeat. A very welcome addition to my November soundscape.

Read… I’m reading Early Thirties by Josh Duboff courtesy of Kaia Gerber’s book club and its a quietly brutal meditation on growing older and the myth of having it all figured out. I genuinely think everyone entering their thirties should read it.

Stacey Gaskin

Consumer Revenue Manager

Watch … I’ve been rewatching a few series of late. Friends, Sex and The City and Suits to name a few. As far as movies, I’m planning on watching Wicked: For Good at the cinemas this weekend. I personally really enjoyed the Now You See Me movies so maybe Wicked: For Good will have to fight with Now You See Me: Now You Don’t (or I could see both).

Listen … A lot of Michael Jackson this month, particularly the Thriller album. I’ve also been listening to/watching Good Hang with Amy Poehler. Love her podcast.

Read … The TBR list is stocked for me (when is it not?) this month. Things have been pretty busy of late so I need to prioritise time for reading. I purchased Callie Hart’s Brimstone, which I am excited about, despite the average reviews I’ve tried to avoid on TikTok. I also have Flashlight by Susan Choi and Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro in my amazon cart.

Sophia Serafin

Implementation Manager

Watch … I recently watched Boots, a compelling, humorous and gritty series set within the US Navy in the 90s. It follows a queer male’s journey through an unwelcoming territory. Also, Something’s Gotta Give – purely for Diane Keaton and the dreamy Hamptons home.

Listen … I’ve been curating a summer playlist, drawn to lo-fi beats and dreamy synths, with a touch of 90s rave nostalgia. Here’s what’s on the list so far:

• Blue Hawaii – I Felt Love
• Tame Impala – Ethereal Connection and Obsolete
• Lily Allen – Ruminating
• Jorja Smith – With you
• Everything but the Girl – Missing (Todd Terry Remix)
• Anything by Pink Pantheress
• Underworld – Born Slippy
• Addison Rae – New York

Read … I’m halfway through Evenings and Weekends by Oisín McKenna and really enjoying its balance of chaos and yearning. Set in London, it follows interconnected characters navigating immense life changes during a heatwave.

Kirsty Thatcher

Digital Editor

Watch … I absolutely devoured All Her Fault this month – my housemate and I got through the entire series in a single afternoon. The hype is real. I also saw Bugonia which was as weird as I expected, but still very good. And way on the other end of the spectrum, I’,m addicted to Love Island Australia. No judgement please.

Listen … Pretty much exclusively Lily Allen – in particular, her older stuff. Who’d Have Known and 22 have to be up there with my favourite songs of all time. Also the Wicked: For Good soundtrack, for obvious reasons.

Read … I’m keen to read The Mushroom Tapes, after hearing what feels like everyone I know rave about it.

Samantha Corry

Social Media Coordinator and Assistant to Editor In Chief

Watch … I recently saw Die My Love with Robert Pattinson and Jennifer Lawrence. I really liked it for an abstract movie, but in terms of drama it just needed a bit more to let the audience hold on emotionally. I also watched Now You See Me: Now You Don't, which was so fun, I really liked it. Need to see Dominic Sessa in more movies asap.

Listen … I saw Olivia Dean the other week and I have been listening to all her music on loop. To be fair, I have been listening on loop since this time last year. And I must say I have dabbled in Christmas music already, too…

Read … Bread of Angels by Patti Smith. This is actually my first book by Smith, which is wild, but I couldn’t recommend it enough. I also got A24’s Lady Bird screenplay book, which I am also loving so much. I love seeing the way these films are written.

Mia Steiber

Digital Strategy Director & Associate Publisher

Watch … I absolutely burned through All Her Fault. So I’m definitely going to have to consult our list of similar shows. I also have started a Game of Thrones rewatch which is frankly proving to be delightful. It’s perfect comfort viewing.

Listen … I have tickets to Good Things and have accordingly filled my playlist with Weezer, Garbage, All Time Low and more punk hardcore goodness. I also just got tickets to Deftones so I’ve been listening to their new album Private Music too.

Read … I’ve just finished the second book in the Throne of Glass series and I’m really enjoying it. I can’t believe it took me so long to read. I’ve also just started Brimstone, which is the latest book in the Quicksilver series. I’ve also grabbed Mary Fowler’s book Bloom on my Kindle Colorsoft.