Archive for the ‘Entertaining’ Category

Better Than The Movies Movie List (FREE PRINTABLE DOWNLOAD)

Tuesday, March 5th, 2024

Download this Better Than the Movies movie list PDF Printable to watch the rom-com movies after you read the Lynn Painter book. We have included every quote!

Better Than The Movies Movie List (FREE PRINTABLE)

It is no secret that I am a sucker for a YA romance, and this year my daughter and I both discovered Lynn Painter and fell in love with the Better Than the Movies book. 

The novel pays homage to all your beloved rom-com movies, featuring delightful throwbacks and clever quotes at the beginning of the chapters. 

Most of the films were ones my daughter hadn’t seen or was unfamiliar with, and we spent our summer together going through the Better Than the Movies film recommendations.

And honestly, it might be one of my favorite memories that we have shared.

As we prepare for next year’s college adventures, I’m savoring these memories together, and I wanted to inspire your next mother-daughter movie night. 

I am sure Lynn Painter has no idea how much she has meant to our family, but I’m so thankful for every moment we have shared over her senior year.   

As she’s off to study UX Design, I begged her to do one last project for our website and make a movie checklist I could share with you so YOU can replicate this moment with your teenager. 

Better Than the Movies Book

Synopsis of Better Than the Movies Book

Better Than the Movies is an endearing teen rom-com that you won’t be able to put down.

Liz Buxbaum always considered her next-door neighbor, Wes Bennett, the least likely candidate for her romantic fantasies. 

He’s been a constant annoyance since they were kids, pulling pranks like putting a frog in her Barbie Dreamhouse and hiding a severed lawn gnome head in their neighborhood book exchange. 

But now, as Liz’s forever crush, Michael, returns to town and unexpectedly bonds with Wes, she needs his help to get noticed. 

Teaming up with Wes, they concoct a fake dating plan to make Liz stand out to Michael and secure a prom date. 

But, as their scheming unfolds, Liz finds herself surprisingly drawn to Wes, leading her to question her beliefs about love and the true meaning of a Happily Ever After.

Meet Lynn Painter

Lynn Painter is my favorite YA writer, and I’d love to introduce you to her writing for you or your teenager because her books have incredible crossover appeal for adult readers. 

Lynn Painter writes cute romance novels for both teenagers and grown-ups.

She wrote books like Better Than the Movies, Mr. Wrong Number, The Do-Over, Betting on You, and Nothing Like the Movies.

She also writes articles for the Omaha World-Herald newspaper.

Lynn lives in Nebraska with her husband and children and has an addiction to rom-com movies- which is quite evident in this book.

Is it Worth it To Read Better Than the Movies?

ABSOLUTELY! I’ve read almost all of Lynn Painter’s novels, and this is the best Lynn Painter book.

This novel is also the best book club book to try with your teen.

Thanks to how the novel incorporates music and film into each chapter, you can both indulge in pop culture references. 

More importantly, this novel explores mother-daughter relationships. 

Liz’s mother has passed away and was a screenwriter who happened to love romcom films. 

Liz gets her love for these movies from her mom, so she imagines any potential romance in light of her favorite romantic comedy movies. 

We love page-turners about motherhood and this fits the young adult book bill perfectly!

Better Than the Movies Quotes

As a reader, you will notice that each chapter starts with an iconic rom-com moment.

Since Liz is navigating senior year without her mom, there are some poignant scenes as she navigates significant senior milestones.

For example, prom dress shopping without her mom becomes a pivotal plot point.

If you are a stepmom, you will find that this relationship has also been tricky for Liz.

A strong relationship that blossoms between the two enhances this story a lot. 

There isn’t a better book to dive into with your teen daughter or son! 

Is Better Than the Movies Spicy?

This novel is recommended for grades 7-9 but will equally appeal to an adult reader.

Common Sense Media recommends this young adult novel for readers 14 years old and over.

For content warnings, readers can expect some swearing and occasional references to underage drinking, kissing, and sexual innuendos. 

Lynn Painter Young Adult Books

Lynn Painter writes both young adult and adult books, so we have separated those into two categories on our Lynn Painter books list to make finding books for your teen easier.

I will keep this updated with new releases as they are announced. 

Better Than the Movies Soundtrack

Download the Better Than the Movies Soundtrack

You’ll find a special treat at the end of the book with a curated soundtrack of all the songs lovingly referenced within the story. 

Lynn Painter has made the soundtrack available online and subtitled it “The Soundtrack of Wes and Liz.” 

Where Can I Read the Better Than the Movies Bonus Chapter?

Lynn Painter offers bonus chapters for readers. 

On Lynn Painter’s website, you can read Wes Bennett’s Vivid Dream, Wes POV- Party Scene Wes and Liz’s College Road Trip, & Wes Pov- Liz’s Proposal. Download those PDF bonus chapters here

Readers can also read Better Than the Prom (Better Than the Movies #1.5), a 30-page prequel short story, to immerse themselves further in their love story.

Where are the Better Than the Movies quotes?

I’ve included each quote and corresponding chapter under each film’s descriptions.

In some cases, films are highlighted in two chapters, and these have been noted below. 

Nothing Like the Movies- Better Than the Movies Sequel

Is There a Better Than the Movies Sequel?

Good news! There is a Better than the Movies series!

Lynn Painter has announced that there will be a Better Than the Movies sequel coming in October 2024.

Titled Nothing Like the Movies, readers are promised more adventures with Wes Bennett and Liz Buxbaum. 

Nothing Like the Movies will be on store shelves in October 2024. 

Be sure to visit my complete list of Lynn Painter books and where to read them. We have included her young adult and adult books with recommended age ratings. 

Books Like Better Than the Movies

We promise to make a more formal list later, but I recommend checking out Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum as a beautiful look-alike recommendation. 

Don’t miss my Julie Buxbaum interview about her inspiration for this young adult book and the parallels it shares with this book. 

As a person who loves Julie and Lynn- is it possible that the author created her character’s last name from the author? I am dying to know!

Outdoor Movie Night Ideas

If you click on any of these films, it will take you to Prime Video for streaming but don’t forget to check your DVD collection like we did for several of these films. 

You can also visit our guide to Outdoor Movie Night Ideas for your whole family which includes lots of movie snack options.

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE PRINTABLE VERSION!

Better Than the Movies Movie List

Are you looking for the Better Than the Movies movie list from the book?

We have you covered with this list that you can browse online or print the free PDF checklist we designed for Lynn Painter fans!

This includes the movie ratings and where to stream the films.

If you love this checklist, please share this resource!

Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter

We can all agree that Lynn Painter has impeccable movie taste. 

And for fans of the book, Lynn Painter adds a final “movie moment” in the epilogue.

In response to this movie quote- “A girl will never forget the first boy she likes,” Liz Buxbaum adds her own personal quote- “But she’ll also never forget the first boy she hates.”

So grab some popcorn and screen these beautiful movies together to create some of your very own movie moments with your kid!

Better Than the Movies PDF Movie List

TELL ME: What movie is your favorite from this list? Did you love the Better Than The Movies book? Let us know what Lynn Painter books you enjoyed reading.

The Best Time Travel TV Shows and Movies

Tuesday, February 6th, 2024
The Best Time Travel TV Shows and Movies

Explore the past, future, and alternate dimensions with our top picks for the best time travel TV shows and movies. Stream these new tv series and films today!

From our marriage & parenting contributor, Mary Carver.

What is it about time travel stories that gets me every time? 

Maybe it’s the idea of starting over or changing the past (and therefore the future). 

Or perhaps it’s the thought of seeing a completely different time with my own eyes (rather than trying to imagine while reading a history book or even watching a documentary). 

I don’t really know why I love time travel stories so much, but I do. 

I know several of you do too! And since we’ve been talking about some of the best time travel books so I thought I’d give you a list of time travel movies and TV series to check out!

Of course, we’ve all watched Back to the Future. 

Some of us have probably watched so many times we have most of it memorized. (Oh, just me?) 

And I suspect you’re probably familiar with About Time, Looper, 13 Going on 30, and possibly even Hot Tub Time Machine. 

So instead of revisiting those time travel classics like someone stuck in a time loop (which I consider to be time travel adjacent, though it isn’t quite the same as traveling forward or backward through time), here are 22 tv series and movies that might not be as familiar.

The Best Time Travel TV Shows and Movies

The Best Time Travel TV Shows and Movies

Obviously, this isn’t an exhaustive list of time travel series and movies. (I’d need a time machine to have enough hours to make that list!). Be sure to let us know what YOU would add to today's list!

P.S.- Be sure to scroll down for an additional list from Amy today under our Editor's Picks!

BEST NEW TIME TRAVEL MOVIES TO STREAM

These are Mary's picks for the best weekend escape with time travel.

THE BEST TIME TRAVEL TV SHOWS

EDITOR'S PICKS

These are some of the best new options for time travel tv and movies that Amy has gathered to expand this list for today.

TELL US: What should we add to the list? Is there anything you’ve enjoyed from our selections- we would love to hear it!

The Best Romantic Series TV Shows to Watch Now

Thursday, February 1st, 2024

These are 12 of our best romantic series tv show recommendations perfect for streaming now. These shows are perfect for the rom-com lover who crave a meet cute.

The Best Romantic Series TV Shows to Watch Now

From our marriage & parenting contributor, Mary Carver.

Do you love reading romance novels but have trouble concentrating on books right now?

Do you lament the lack of true rom coms these days (you know, the big-budget ones with Julia Roberts or Meg Ryan)?

Did you finish watching Sweet Magnolias or Virgin River or Bridgerton—and now you’re looking for another romantic comedy to fill the void?

I’m here to help!

I have a show for every kind of romantic comedy fan. 

If you love romantic comedies and want a new TV series to watch to scratch that rom-com itch, I have a dozen shows for you. (However, if you haven’t watched Sweet Magnolias or Virgin River yet, pause. Do not pass go. Watch those shows first. They’re both streaming on Netflix, and you will thank me.)

On to the rom-com shows!

The Best Romantic TV Shows to Watch Now

12 TV Shows to Watch if You Like Romantic Comedies

 If you love time travel with a romantic series bend…

Timeless is an action-adventure about a team that travels through time to stop the bad guys from changing history.

But also?

It’s about a soldier and a professor on that team who seem like they might not get along, BUT THEN THEY DO.

Of course, you’ll see that coming from the first episode, but the story (like the history and the science in this show) isn’t relatively so straightforward.

It is, however, lovely—and is wrapped up with the prettiest bow at the end of its two seasons.

Watch on Hulu.

If you love a family drama romantic series…

Jane the Virgin is a show about a young woman who’s accidentally artificially inseminated.

That plot might hint at the show’s (and character’s) love of telenovelas and all their messy drama.

And this show is twisty and silly and way over the top with the drama!

But also?

What none of that tells you is how incredibly sweet and moving it is.

The characters in JTV grow and change and make you fall in love every single week.

Watch on Netflix.

Chesapeake Shores is a Hallmark Channel family drama full of old flames and new loves, and plenty of family issues.

It’s like Parenthood, or This is Us, but less stressful.

Watch on Hallmark Movies Now.

The Baker & the Beauty is an adorable show perfect for anyone looking for a quick binge or anyone who loves the famous person who falls in love with an average person trope.

An international superstar meets a baker from Miami, and sparks fly.

Her friends and his family disapprove, but they’re forced to deal with everything that comes with a star-and-civilian romance anyway.

The supporting characters are just as lovely and loveable as the main two characters, and you can’t help rooting for every single one of them (even when they’re at odds with each other).

I still can’t believe this only aired for one season, but it’s still totally worth a watch.

Watch on Netflix.

If you love young love…

Never Have I Ever is about a teenage girl who wants to be popular and lose her virginity.

At least, that’s how it starts.

But this show from Mindy Kaling is so much more.

It’s about tricky family dynamics, and it’s about a first-generation Indian American girl trying to navigate her family’s culture with American culture and her interests and values.

And it’s about teenagers and falling in love and friendship.

It’s fun, funny, and moving. (And season 2 comes out this summer!)

Watch on Netflix.

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series has too much punctuation. I know.

But despite the ridiculous name and silly-seeming premise (students at the school where the HSM movies were filmed put on the HSM musical), the show is darling!

Sure, it has plenty of meta, wink-wink-nod-nod references to the High School Musical franchise.

But it also has original characters and just…TRY not to fall in love with these kids!

I watched this with my kids, and we’re excited about the second season, too.

Watch on Disney+.

If you love romantic series shows about friend groups…

Four Weddings and a Funeral is a series (also created by Mindy Kaling; I have a type) inspired by the Hugh Grant movie.

It is not a remake or a reboot, so don’t go in expecting that!

It’s about a group of college friends, some of whom have had or will have romantic relationships with each other.

It’s romantic and funny and, at times, heartbreaking.

I loved it, and I think you might too.

Watch on Hulu.

New Girl is one of my all-time favorites, which you might have picked up on (since I’ve written about this show before).

But it fits here too!

If you love seeing friendships develop and grow and fracture and heal, this is for you.

If you love outrageous hijinks and hilarious inside jokes, this is for you.

If you love shipping characters you know are meant for each other or watching two unlikely lovers connect, this is for you.

Watch on Netflix.

If you love small towns…

Hart of Dixie is a funny, emotional show about a New York surgical resident forced to work in a one-doctor practice in small-town Alabama.

It’s about a love triangle—no, wait!

It’s about several love triangles!

It’s about falling in love with characters you thought you hated.

It’s Doc Hollywood as a TV series or the Gilmore Girls in the South. (It’s also about a Black man being mayor of a small town in the South, yet nobody ever mentions race. So head’s up on that.)

Watch on Prime.

If you love magic…

The Good Witch is another show from the Hallmark Channel, and it’s about a widow who moves to a small town to raise her daughter.

Is she a witch?

Or…not?

The town doesn’t know for sure, but the (handsome) local doctor doesn’t believe it.

And yet, he’s drawn to her anyway.

Of course!

Watch on Netflix.

If you love musicals…

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist is one of my very favorite shows, and for so many reasons!

It’s about a young woman who undergoes a medical test and suddenly can hear people’s emotions as if they are singing them.

It’s incredible.

The singing!

The dance numbers!

And don’t forget the friendships and family dynamics that are real and hard and lovely.

But for our purposes here today, I assure you: Zoey finds herself in a love triangle, and you will be hard-pressed to decide which guy to root for!

Rent season one on Prime; watch season two on Hulu.

The soundtrack is exciting.

It doesn’t feature singing performances like Zoey’s does.

Instead, it has the characters lip-sync and dance to songs that kinda-sorta move the story forward.

That story is about how the lives of seemingly unconnected people in Los Angeles intersect over the years.

I loved the story, and some of those connections are undoubtedly romantic!

Watch on Netflix.

What’s your favorite romantic comedy on TV?

Unique Jigsaw Puzzles for Adults You’ll Fall In Love With

Thursday, August 10th, 2023

These jigsaw puzzles for adults offer unique designs in 500, 1,000, or 2,000 piece counts. This list has easy puzzle designs to more challenging jigsaws shapes.

Unique Jigsaw Puzzles for Adults You'll Fall in Love With

As soon as the weather turns crisp, we designate a table in our home as the puzzle table for the season. I love to have a puzzle that we can work on in those early morning hours with coffee or at the end of the day with a cup of tea.

Today I’m sharing a few of my favorite puzzles we’ve done at our house and some that made my wish list this this year. We have had the best time updating this guide for you.

Make sure to bookmark this list for gift-giving this year. Puzzles make incredibly unique hostess gifts, housewarming presents, and holiday gifts.

try this tutorial for a diy jigsaw puzzle mat

DIY Jigsaw Puzzle Mat

Before we dive into the puzzles, I do want to mention a few ways that we have saved A LOT of money over the years on our puzzle collection.

Three Easy Ways to Save on Jigsaw Puzzles

Find Out if Your Local Library Lends Puzzles- I can’t tell you all of the ways we have saved money over the years with our local library.

Contact your local library to see if they offer any jigsaw puzzle exchanges or if you can check out puzzles with your library card.

Life's a Beach Puzzle

Start a Puzzle Swap With Friends- One of the best ways we have saved is offering a puzzle swap with our friends.

When we have coffee together, we just bring our puzzles we have finished and trade them for a fresh puzzle.

Check Deals Sites For Deep Discounts On Puzzles- If you want to buy puzzles at a brick and mortar spot, our used bookstores offer huge savings on used puzzles as well as new.

No matter where you shop make sure that you are signed up with Rakuten and that you activate your savings before any shopping!

If you are new to the Rakuten app, this discount code should give you $30 on your first puzzle purchase! I also wrote a tutorial on how to use the app on items you regularly buy that will give you cashback rewards.

Unique Jigsaw Puzzles for Adults You'll Fall In Love With

Unique Jigsaw Puzzles for Adults You’ll Fall In Love With

Spend a cozy night with these jigsaw puzzles that are great gifts for adults AND kids.

Trade in a board game night for these fun-themed puzzles that embrace bookish themes and more in their puzzle designs.

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

500 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle

Craving a quick win? These 500 piece puzzles are the perfect fit.

JIGSAW PUZZLES FOR BOOK LOVERS

Celebrate your love for books with this jigsaw puzzle collection that honors your love for reading.

JIGSAW PUZZLE GIFTS

Looking for a unique gift idea for a jigsaw puzzle lover? I recommend these jigsaw puzzle ideas and fun packaging ideas.

CHALLENGING JIGSAW PUZZLES

Are you craving more of a challenge? Try one of these difficult puzzles we have gathered for the puzzle enthusiast in your house.

Looking for more fall activities to try? Check out these fun additions to your puzzle routine!

watch these fall shows & movies while doing your new puzzle

The Best Fall Shows & Movies to Stream Right Now

download an audiobook from scribd while puzzling

How to Use Scribd for Your Reading Life from MomAdvice.com

What has been your favorite puzzle to do with your family?

My Top Celebrity Book Club Picks (How to Join)

Friday, March 3rd, 2023
My Top Celebrity Book Club Picks (How to Join) from MomAdvice.com

Discover my five favorite books from top celebrity book clubs. From Reese to Oprah to Jenna, the ultimate must-read list awaits. Get the scoop on them all!

Celebrity book clubs have become quite influential in my reading life, and I’m sure I’m not alone. From Reese Witherspoon to Oprah Winfrey, these celebrity book clubs are taking the literary world by storm! 

On this week’s Book Gang podcast episode, we spill the literary tea on some of your favorite celebrity book clubs. In this episode, Josh (from @tellthebeees on Tiktok) joins me to discuss how Hollywood and literature can collide.

We discuss the celebrity power of Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, and Jenna Bush on the publishing industry. We also discuss the Noname Book Club and her mission to get books into the hands of incarcerated individuals.

Listen to the full episode (the show notes are located here) below and subscribe to the Book Gang podcast for more episodes like this one.

How Did Celebrity Book Club Get Started?

In 1996, Oprah introduced her on-air book club with a simple goal: “to get the whole country reading again.” Her first book selection was The Deep End of the Ocean by Jacquelyn Mitchard. 

Oprah’s book club quickly became a cultural force in the literary world. She has been estimated to drive sales anywhere between 20 to 100 times more than any other media personality.

It is fun to reflect on the response of writers in those early days. Initially, some authors hesitated to have their work endorsed by a celebrity book club. Still, as time passed, Oprah’s approval became an author’s badge of honor, with many seeing a significant boost in sales after selection.

Thanks to Oprah’s influence, many celebrities are leading book clubs, each with a unique approach. In fact, during the pandemic, many celebrities started book clubs, but not all of them had staying power.

One of the most legendary of these book club stars was Kim Kardashian & Chrissy Teigen. After announcing that they were starting a book club in 2017, they got as far as meeting once and posting a few tweets about it – and no further. Kim said, “It never took off because we were lazy.”

One thing that has become increasingly clear about celebrity book clubs is that they are a driving force within the publishing industry and bring much success to these chosen writers.

Today I am sharing five of my favorite selections from these three featured celebrity book clubs in honor of today’s discussion. As we discuss more book clubs in the future, this book club list will later expand beyond this initial list. We hope to explore many other book clubs in the future, including an Oprah’s Book Club Deep Dive! 

MomAdvice Book Club Books 2023

Don’t Forget to Join the MomAdvice Book Club

Of course, I can’t encourage you enough to join MY book club, The MomAdvice Book Club! Not only do I curate twelve books for discussion each year, but we enhance this experience through our Patreon group. By joining, you gain access to exclusive author interviews and book club playlists that immerse you further in these book selections. To learn more about that, visit our 2023 book club books list

Read With Jenna Book Club Logo

Meet Jenna’s Book Club

Jenna Bush Hager, a former First Daughter of the United States, author, journalist, and television personality, founded Jenna’s Book Club. The club was launched in March 2019 as part of the Today Show on NBC.

Jenna’s Book Club features a new book selection every month, announced on the Today Show and on Jenna’s social media channels. The books selected are a mix of genres, including fiction, non-fiction, memoirs, and other types of literature. The club also provides discussion questions for each book selection to help facilitate conversations and engage readers. You can see the full list of Jenna’s picks here.

Read With Jenna Book Club Best Books

I’ve read nineteen of Jenna’s selections and have loved them all. These are five of my favorite Read With Jenna Book Club selections from my years of reading along with her.

Reese's Book Club Logo

Meet Reese’s Book Club

Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club is an online book club founded by the actress and producer Reese Witherspoon. The club focuses on promoting and celebrating books written by women, with a particular emphasis on uplifting and amplifying the voices of underrepresented authors.

Each month, Witherspoon selects a new book to feature on her book club Instagram page and share with her millions of followers. The books chosen are often contemporary fiction, memoirs, or compelling and thought-provoking essays.

In addition to her monthly book picks, Witherspoon also interviews the authors of the selected books on her Instagram page and shares their insights and inspirations behind their work. This provides a unique opportunity for readers to learn more about the books and their authors. You can see the full list of Reese’s picks here.

Reese Witherspoon Book Club Best Books

I’ve read twenty-four of Reese’s selections with mixed results. The earlier years yielded the majority of my favorites. Here are my five favorite picks from Reese’s selections. 

Noname Book Club Logo

Meet the Noname Book Club

Noname is a rapper, singer, and poet from Chicago known for her socially conscious and introspective rap lyrics.  She’s also the founder of the Noname Book Club, a Black-led cooperative that connects community members, including those in carceral facilities, with radical books written by Black, Indigenous, and other people of color.

Noname’s mom owned a bookstore in Chicago for 20 years, so she grew up around books her whole life. The library was a big part of her younger years; she even started recording her music in her local library. It’s clear that books have always been a big part of her life, and she’s using her platform to share her love of reading with others.

Since its founding in 2019, the club has established 12 chapters across the US and sends books to hundreds of incarcerated individuals.

The club’s mission is to provide free resources to incarcerated individuals and make revolutionary literature available in local communities. They’ve faced challenges in navigating what is and isn’t against prison rules for literature, but they’re working hard to get their books into the hands of those who need them.

They currently have local chapters in Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York City, Oakland, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Antonio, and Washington D.C. If you’re interested in joining, they pick one or two new books every month and ask that you pick a Black-owned bookstore to purchase from or grab a copy from your local library.

What I love about their monthly picks is that they tell you exactly the focus, so you can find books with themes you want to explore and learn about every month. The list is robust and eclectic, which matches Noname’s artistic style. You can see the full list of Noname’s picks here.

The Noname Book Club Best Books

The Noname Book Club only recently came on my radar so these are the four selections I’ve read from her list with plans to read more starting this year.

Love this post? Don’t miss these budget-friendly reading resources!

How to Get FREE Kindle Books from MomAdvice.com

Find the Best Places to Get FREE Kindle Books

How to Use Storygraph For a Better Reading Life

Learn how to use The StoryGraph App to Track Your Reading

Get the BEST Libby App Tips and Tricks from MomAdvice.com

Learn How to Use the Libby App (WITH LIBBY) In This Tutorial

What have been YOUR favorite celebrity book club books? Do we share any favorites?

This post contains affiliate links.

How to Get FREE Kindle Books Now

Saturday, February 25th, 2023

I’m sharing my four strategies for free Kindle Books that will give you an unlimited collection of FREE ebooks. Don’t miss this if you are on a budget!

It is no secret that I’m frugal so today I wanted to share my favorite ways to read for free and on a budget. Although this tutorial is for Kindle books, I want to remind you that these strategies can also be done with the free Kindle reading app. 

As I’ve been exploring these themes on the blog and Book Gang podcast, I wanted to share some of my favorite free reading tools. 

How to Get FREE Kindle Books Now

Get Free Audiobooks and Ebooks Through the Libby App

If you want to begin checking out Kindle books, you will need to begin by getting a library card from your local library. This card number is what you will use to access your account and allows you to get these free Kindle library books and audiobooks for free. 

When you get this card, you are typically assigned a pin that you will then use to access the Libby app (learn how to transition from Overdrive to Libby with our tutorial) that allows you to search for the books that you are interested in. If you have trouble figuring out a great library PIN, a local librarian offered the tip to make your pin the last four digits of your library card so you never forget it.

You can listen to the Book Gang podcast with the Libby team as they discuss how to create an account and tag your virtual library! 

Once you have this, you can download the Libby app to borrow ebooks, digital audiobooks, and magazines from your public libraries. 

After it is downloaded, simply search for your library by name or zip code. Sign in using your library card number and PIN, and then you can browse the available materials by title, author, or subject. 

To borrow an item, select it and tap the “Borrow” button. You can read or listen to the item with Wi-Fi or mobile data or download it for offline use and read it anytime, anywhere. The item will be available for a loan period, usually two weeks. 

When you’re finished, return it early by tapping the “Return” button in the “Loans” section of the app.

Don’t forget to check your library’s website to see what other apps you have access to so you can maximize ALL the freebies. Our library,  for example, offers Hoopla, Flipster, and the Kanopy app. 

What is Amazon First Reads?

Get a FREE Kindle Book Through the First Reads Program

Many readers aren’t aware that their Prime membership comes with many free books. Of the perks offered, my favorite is through the Amazon First Reads program. You can read all about this free reading program through this tutorial that I wrote

Each month, they offer one early release ebooks for free and the selection is often pretty amazing. These books are handpicked by Amazon editors and are made available a month before their official release date. The program was previously known as the Kindle First program.

The genres of books offered in this program are diverse, covering everything from mystery and historical fiction to true crime, children’s books, and more. This program is a great way to get a first look at upcoming releases and discover new authors and genres. And the best part is, it’s available for free to Prime members.

Download Free Classic Books from Project Gutenberg

Did you know that you can access over 60,000 free eBooks from Project Gutenberg?

This is the oldest digital library collection that includes works of literature, music, and even some non-fiction texts. The project’s goal is to provide free access to literature and other cultural works, which are in the public domain, meaning their copyrights have expired or were never enforced.

In fact, many classic works of literature such as Pride and Prejudice, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland are all available for free on their site.

The project is run by literary volunteers who digitize the books, proofread the texts, and make them available for free download. You can send these books to your Kindle by downloading the book in Kindle format (MOBI) from the Project Gutenberg website onto your computer.

Then, connect your Kindle device to your computer using a USB cable and transfer the MOBI file to your Kindle’s documents folder.

Alternatively, you can also send the MOBI file to your Kindle email address (which can be found in your Amazon account settings) and the book will be delivered wirelessly to your Kindle device.

Borrow  Books From Amazon Prime Reading For Free

Did you know that you can check out up to TEN books for free with your Amazon Prime membership?  The Amazon Prime Reading is a service exclusive to Amazon Prime members that offers unlimited acccess to a rotating catalog of ebooks, magazines, comics, and audiobooks that members can access for free.

Members can borrow up to 10 titles at a time, with the ability to return titles to borrow new ones. The selection of titles in the library rotates over time, with Amazon adding new titles as others are removed.

FYI- This is NOT the same as the Kindle Unlimited paid program (another confusing element to the Amazon services). 

Willing to Pay For a Deal? Check my Kindle Deals List! 

As an avid reader, I love curating a Kindle deal list for my readers that I update (almost) daily! You can browse this list each morning, join the MomAdvice Book Club to see them posted in the group,  or get them sent straight to your inbox daily.

This list is rather diverse since I love reading across genres. If you love thrillers, literary fiction, science fiction, thrillers, nonfiction, or young adult- you will likely spy your favorite genres on my list. 

Please note, this newsletter is different than the pop-up you might see on the site.

Have any questions about reading for free on your Kindle device or app? Leave them below and I will be happy to answer them. Happy FREE reading, everyone! 

Please note, this post contains affiliate links.

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New Family Movies From 2022 To Watch Now

Thursday, January 12th, 2023

These family films include our top recommendations from movies we loved in 2022. While you wait the release dates of new films you can escape real life with this fun family movie streaming list!

From our marriage & parenting contributor, Mary Carver.

My family has always loved watching movies together, but since 2020, we’ve become a little obsessed with Family Movie Nights.

I am constantly on the lookout for family friendly movies new and old that might be, at the very least, acceptable to both my kids and my husband. 

(Obviously, I’m aiming for something they’ll love. But if you live with more than one person, I’m sure you understand the necessity of compromise and settling for “fine, I will sit here with you and watch this thing someone else picked but I’m gonna roll my eyes but maybe I also kind of like it but I’ll never say so and you can’t make me.”)

With a six-year age gap between my girls—one being a teenager and one a tween, both being quite opinionated—that’s no small task. It falls somewhere on the difficulty scale between fixing a meal that nobody complains about and making them both laugh at the same “dad joke.”

But I’m determined to make Family Movie Nights happen at least once every several weeks, so I persevere.

Fortunately for me—and for you—we are in a golden age of entertainment where we do not lack for options. In fact, we almost have too many options sometimes.

And with so many movies premiering or quickly appearing on streaming services, deciding what to watch has become even more complicated.

Well, you can scratch this whole issue off your list of things to worry about or be frustrated by, friends.

I’m here to help!

I have 12 movies that came out last year, along with reviews and where you can stream them.

Just like that, you’re halfway to one Family Movie Night a month!

Now you just need to pick a date and pop the popcorn!

New Family Movies From 2022 To Watch Now

New Family Movies 2022

The Adam Project (Netflix) – Are you sarcastic? Do you like action movies, buddy comedies, or time travel? If so, this Ryan Reynolds movie is for you! A time-traveling fighter pilot has to team up with his 12-year-old self to save the world, and it’s a blast. (watch the trailer)

New Family Movies 2022

The Bad Guys (Netflix) – Based on a series of children’s graphic novels, this animated caper follows a group of notorious criminal animals (e.g. shark, snake, spider, wolf) who pretend to be “good” to avoid prison. I watched it with my girls and we loved it so much we watched it again with my husband so he could enjoy it, too! (watch the trailer)

New Family Movies 2022

Better Nate than Ever (Disney+) – A 13-year-old and his best friend travel alone to NYC so he can audition for a Broadway play. This live action musical is based on a book, and it is the most beautiful, heartwarming movie I watched last year. (watch the trailer)

New Family Movies 2022

Cheaper by the Dozen (Disney+) – This is a modern-day remake of the 2003 movie starring Zach Braff and Gabrielle Union as an interracial couple with a blended family navigating complicated home life, a family business, and a new neighborhood that isn’t exactly welcoming. (watch the trailer)

New Family Movies 2022

Chip & Dale: Rescue Rangers (Disney+) – If you like your kids movies to come chock-full of references and jokes only the adults will get, you’re gonna like this return of our favorite crime-solving chipmunks. The jokes are nonstop and lean heavily on nostalgia, but both my youngest daughter and I had fun watching it. Voices include Andy Samberg and John Mulaney! (watch the trailer)

New Family Movies 2022

DC League of Super-Pets (HBO Max) – What if the fate of the world was up to Superman’s dog and a motley crew of other pets? Enter Krypto, the Super-Dog, here to save the day! This animated movie was cute (and not dark like most DC movies). (watch the trailer)

New Family Movies 2022

Enola Holmes 2 (Netflix) – Sherlock’s little sister is back, solving mysteries and breaking the fourth wall and (oh yeah) maybe falling in love. This period piece based on a series of middle-grade novels is sweet, funny, and actually tells a solid mystery. I hope we get many more Enola Holmes movies! (watch the trailer)

New Family Movies 2022

Luck (Apple TV+) – Ever wonder if luck is real and, if so, where it comes from? In this animated adventure, an unlucky young girl who’s just aged out of the foster system stumbles into the worlds of good luck and bad luck. Determined to improve her luck, she is pulled into the battle between good and bad luck, making friends and her own luck along the way. (watch the trailer)

New Family Movies 2022

Minions: The Rise of Gru (Peacock) – If you’ve wondered how Gru became Gru, this is your movie. If that’s never crossed your mind, it’s also your movie if you were born in the 70s or just love those crazy minions. (Banana!) This prequel to the Despicable Me movies is Gru’s origin story, and it’s both hysterical and heartwarming. (watch the trailer)

New Family Movies 2022

Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank (Paramount+) – Only cats are ninjas, but Hank the dog really wants to become one anyway. He seeks out the ninja who once saved him but is now washed up and possibly high on catnip (voiced by Samuel L. Jackson). Reluctantly, the old ninja trains a new one and together (again, reluctantly) they save the cat ninja world. Full of jokes for grown-ups, this one made all of us laugh a lot. (watch the trailer)

New Family Movies 2022

Secret Headquarters (Paramount+) – A middle school boy and his friends discover his distant dad’s secret underground lair. Because his dad is the most powerful superhero in the world! Hijinks ensue when the bad guys come after the kids and they have to save the day. If your family likes The Adam Project, this will be a hit as well, as it stars the same kid (Walker Scobell) and another lovable, sarcastic adult (Owen Wilson). (watch the trailer)

New Family Movies 2022

Turning Red (Disney+) – A 13-year-old girl enters adolescence and turns into a giant red panda. Like you do, apparently, when you’re a female in her family. She has to learn how to handle her inner panda, as well as a tricky relationship with her mom, along with the help of her friends. (watch the trailer)

A Note for Parents

Some of these movies are totally appropriate for little kids; some of them are better for older kids. Refer to Common Sense Media for parent reviews and guidance that can help you make decisions for your family.

Another note: I haven’t watched Lyle, Lyle Crocodile or Disenchanted yet. Based on reviews I’ve read and what I know of my family, we’re going to love that singing crocodile and his bonkers movie, but I don’t know for sure yet.

What’s the last movie you watched with your family?

Looking for more of the best family movies? Try these posts!

17 Movies From the 90’s You Must Share With Your Kids

22 Fall Movies & TV Shows to Cozy Up With Right Now

22 Fall Movies & TV Shows To Cozy Up With Right Now

Monday, September 12th, 2022

Stream these cozy fall movies and tv recommendations for the autumn season. This list of 22 cozy classics also includes some fun new releases you may have missed!

22 Fall Movies & TV Shows To Cozy Up With Right Now from MomAdvice.com

From our marriage & parenting contributor, Mary Carver.

The moment the calendar turned to September, I started seeing posts about how it was time.

And while, yes, I saw and heard plenty of people celebrating the return of pumpkin spice season, that’s not what I’m talking about.

I’m referring to all the people starting their annual rewatch of Gilmore Girls, a practice that can only logically take place in the fall.

Some shows, as well as plenty of movies and books, just give us the coziest fall vibes.

Our pediatrician just said this week that she re-reads Harry Potter every single fall.

Since I know Amy has us covered in the books department (but can I recommend The Raven Boys series by Maggie Stiefvater for anyone looking for magical, fall-ish young adult reads?), I’m sticking to movies and TV shows for your autumnal enjoyment!

(Note: You’ve probably heard of most of these, so I won’t bore you with long plot summaries. Instead, I’m saving you time by doing the research, aka scrolling through all my streaming services, and curating a list just for you!)

22 Fall Movies & TV Shows To Cozy Up With Right Now

12 of the Best Fall Movies To Try

You've Got Mail

You’ve Got Mail (Hulu) – “Don’t you love New York in the fall?” Obviously this is my number one pick! The adorable rom com doesn’t quite hold up in every way, but do I still love it? Yep. I do. What could be better than the chemistry between Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan?

When Harry Met Sally

When Harry Met Sally (Netflix) – Speaking of New York in the fall, this romantic classic highlights the city in our favorite season like none other.

Love, Guaranteed

Love, Guaranteed (Netflix) – Fabulous sweaters, scarves, and coats and plenty of colorful leaves add a coziness to this cute romantic comedy.

Practical Magic

Practical Magic (HBO Max) – Would you believe I hadn’t seen this movie about witch sisters until a couple years ago? Since then, it’s spooky season required watching for me! 

Beautiful Creatures

Beautiful Creatures (Prime) – Speaking of magic, this movie based on a YA novel is gothic and dramatic in the way magical teens are dramatic. And it takes place in fall, so there you have it!

The Edge of Seventeen

The Edge of Seventeen (Netflix) – This coming-of-age comedy has plenty of drama and jackets. The sarcasm is thick in this one, and so are the falling leaves. It’s a good fall watch!

Dead Poets Society

Dead Poet’s Society (Prime) – Seize the day to watch this boarding school drama and just try not to be inspired all over again. Plus, who doesn’t want to visit New England in the fall? (starring Robin Williams)

Knives Out

Knives Out (Netflix) – Before the sequel comes out this winter, take time to revisit Chris Evans and his sweater, Daniel Craig and his accent, and this dysfunctional family and their mystery.

The Adam Project

The Adam Project (Netflix) – Does this movie take place in the fall? I’m not sure, but they do wear jackets and it’s strangely heartwarming for a science fiction, action film. Therefore, I deem it fall appropriate!

Coco

Coco (Disney+) – This animated movie is about a young boy and his family as they celebrate the Day of the Dead. The music is catchy, the colors are vibrant, and the story is moving. What more could you ask for from Pixar?

Fantastic Mr. Fox

Fantastic Mr. Fox (Hulu) – I haven’t seen this animated movie based on the Roald Dahl book, but my brother tells me it is, truly, fantastic. And the internet says it is, truly, a fall movie. I’ve bumped it up on my family’s to-watch list for this month!

And coming this fall:

The Storied Life of AJ Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin is being adapted into a movie starring Kunal Nayyar, Lucy Hale, and Christina Hendricks.

I actually haven’t read this beloved and frequently recommended book (I know! I will read it soon! I promise!), but I hear it’s quite cozy and the trailer for the movie has characters wearing a lot of sweaters and jackets. Plus, it’s coming out on October 7. Which is in the fall. Therefore, it’s a fall movie!

NOTE FROM AMY: If you haven’t read this book, you must! I included it on our Books About Books, Bookstores, and Libraries reading list! Check this post for the full review and more recommendations.

22 Fall Movies & TV Shows To Cozy Up With Right Now from MomAdvice.com

12 Fun Fall TV Series Recommendations

Only Murders in the Building

Only Murders in the Building (Hulu) – A twisty mystery that keeps you guessing, the surprisingly sweet friendship between the three main characters, and all the puffy coats Selena wears make this a great fall-feeling movie.

A Discovery of Witches

A Discovery of Witches (AMC+) – This fantasy about vampires, witches, and demons that’s based on the books by Deborah Harkness is moody in every way and perfect for a spooky watch this season.

Friday Night Lights

Friday Night Lights (Prime or Peacock) – Fall means football, right? And while this show is about so much more than sports, everyone knows the most important season in Dillon is football season (aka, fall).

My So-Called Life

My So-Called Life (Hulu) – With its flannel and melancholy, fall is the perfect season for Gen X-ers. And few shows are more Gen X than this gone-before-its-time show.

Freaks & Geeks

Freaks & Geeks (Paramount+) – Speaking of short-lived shows and flannel, this is another fall-feeling show set in a school—and even has episodes about marching band and Halloween!

Good Witch

Good Witch (Netflix) – Small town witch inherits a haunted mansion in a show from the Hallmark Channel? Can it get any more fall-ish?

Charmed

Charmed (Peacock & Netflix) – Three witchy sisters, both in the original show and the reboot, say the magic word. (It’s “fall.” Fall is the magic word!)

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (Netflix) – What can I say? Shows about witches give me fall feels. I’m too much of a scaredy cat for this one, but if you like creepy, scary stuff, this might be for you!

Halloween Wars

Halloween Wars (discovery+) – Get crafty with this seasonal competition series featuring candy makers, cake decorators, and—are you ready for this fall-ness?—pumpkin carvers!

Anne With An E

Anne with an E (Netflix) – Like Anne, I’m so glad I live in a world with Octobers. Aren’t you?

I hope these movies and TV shows are just what you need to get into the fall mood. Grab your favorite pumpkin (or apple) spice drink and a soft blanket, and get your fall vibes on with one of these movies or shows!

What movies or TV shows do you like to watch in the fall?

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Love these recommendations? Here are two other fun fall recommendations!

8 TV Shows with Hilarious Halloween Episodes from MomAdvice.com

8 tv shows with hilarious halloween episodes

fall date ideas for your bucket list

The 20 Best Family Movies to Stream Right Now

Wednesday, April 13th, 2022

Pop the popcorn, grab a board game, and watch the best family movies for your next memorable night together. We have you covered with family films to stream on Netflix, Prime, & Disney+.

The 20 Best Family Movies to Stream Right Now

From our marriage & parenting contributor, Mary Carver.

My family is not one of those quiet, calm ones (do those even exist?).

I wouldn’t even try to convince you that I always love spending time with them or that hunkering down with my crew is my happy place.

That’s not us.

But while we cannot agree on where to get takeout, whose turn it is to empty the dishwasher, what snide comments about politics are over the line, what board game is the best, or who gets to use the bathroom first in the morning, we can agree to occasionally watch the same thing on the same screen.

Miraculously, we can agree that family movie nights are our favorite nights.

And, more often than not, the same people who were just fighting over who gets to sit in the comfy spot of the couch or use the softest blanket, settle down in front of the TV and have a great time together.

Sometimes, we even share the popcorn bowl without a fuss.

Because family movie night has such a calming and bonding effect on my people (and me), I’m always on the lookout for feel good stuff to watch together. And I’m here to share what I’ve found!

If you’re looking for some great family night movies, I’ve got you covered.

I’m assuming you’ve heard of (and have possibly watched a few too many times) Encanto, Princess Bride, Star Wars and every other super popular kids movie.

These are movies you might not have heard of or perhaps forgot about, and they’ve all been vetted and voted for by my family. 

FYI, my family includes my husband who doesn’t really like “kid movies,” my 14-year-old who would watch Harry Potter and Marvel movies all day long given the choice and also thinks she’s too cool for “kid movies,” and my 8-year-old who [bless her heart] is game for pretty much any movie that brings us all to the same room at the same time.

Some of these picks won’t work if you only have little kids. But if you have older tweens and teens, especially if you have an age gap like we do, you’re definitely going to find your next movie here!

ANIMATED FILMS FOR FAMILY NIGHT

Family Movie Night Ideas From MomAdvice.com

Abominable (rent on Prime) – A grieving young teen discovers a yeti on the roof of her apartment building. She and two friends travel across China to return him to his home, while trying to avoid capture by a corrupt collector and zoologist. Sweet and fun enough that we’ve watched it more than once.

Family Movie Night Ideas From MomAdvice.com

Leap! (IMDbTV through Prime) – An orphan girl dreams of becoming a ballerina, so she escapes her orphanage and, after a case of mistaken identity, joins a ballet school in Paris. She befriends both a former dancer who becomes a mentor and a young inventor who becomes a friend. Takes place in late 1800s but feels modern. My youngest adores this movie!

Family Movie Night Ideas From MomAdvice.com

The Mitchells vs. the Machines (Netflix) – A dysfunctional family embarks on a cross-country road trip, only to find themselves in the middle of a robot war. Enormously creative animation and a realistic portrayal of a family that struggles to get along even though they love each other deeply.

Family Movie Night Ideas From MomAdvice.com

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (rent on Prime) – A black teen boy in Brooklyn becomes the Spider-Man in his universe, then has to work with other spider-powered individuals from other dimensions to save the whole multiverse. Great adventure with character development—and incredible animation!

Family Movie Night Ideas From MomAdvice.com

Vivo (Netflix) – A Cuban kinkajou and quirky tween work together to deliver a love letter and song to a famous singer. Fun adventure and sweet story with original music by Lin-Manuel Miranda.

LIVE ACTION MOVIES FOR FAMILY NIGHT

Family Movie Night Ideas From MomAdvice.com

Flora & Ulysses (Disney+) – A girl whose parents are separated and struggling finds a squirrel she believes to be a superhero. The family bands together to protect the super squirrel from an overzealous animal control agent. Cute, big-hearted movie I actually can’t wait to watch again.

Family Movie Night Ideas From MomAdvice.com

Lemonade Mouth (Disney+) – A group of high school misfits and mild rebels forms a band that inexplicably makes it big. Adorable with actual great music, and when those kids deal with family and friend issues but persevere for the music, I legit tear up. Every single time.

Family Movie Night Ideas From MomAdvice.com

The Sleepover (Netflix) – When two siblings discover their mom is a former thief in witness protection, who’s just been kidnapped, they team up with friends to rescue her. Wacky adventure and so much fun!

Family Movie Night Ideas From MomAdvice.com

Spin (Disney+) – A teenage girl struggles to balance the expectations of her multigenerational Indian-American family with her new passion of deejaying. Solid portrayal of figuring out the balance between honoring your family and following your dreams, and bonus points for the diversity of characters.

Family Movie Night Ideas From MomAdvice.com

Yes Day (Netflix) – Kids convince their uptight parents (though mostly the mom, sigh) to devote an entire day to saying “yes” to every idea they have. Of course the family bonds through the fun and the mess that ensue. Fun and, thankfully, didn’t convince my own kids we need to have a Yes Day at our house.

MIXED ANIMATION & LIVE ACTION MOVIES FOR FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT

Family Movie Night Ideas From MomAdvice.com

Mary Poppins Returns (Disney+) – Of course, Mary Poppins is a classic and for a reason! But this sequel (that mirrors the original nearly beat for beat in a lovely homage) is a blast too. Catchy music that’s bound to become new classics and, like with the Julie Andrews musical, some fun animation mixed in with the live action.

Family Movie Night Ideas From MomAdvice.com

Paddington (1 – Netflix; 2 – rent on Prime) – Is there a sweeter, accidentally wiser bear than Paddington? I think not. Both of these movies are a delight.

Family Movie Night Ideas From MomAdvice.com

Peter Rabbit (1 – rent on Prime; 2 – Netflix) – Nobody’s accusing Peter Rabbit of being sweet and wise, but he (and his animal friends and family) are quite funny. Both of these movies are a blast.

OLDER MOVIES THAT ARE STILL GREAT FUN

Family Movie Night Ideas From MomAdvice.com

Akeelah & the Bee (rent on Prime) – A tween with a rough home life and community competes in a spelling bee to avoid detention. To her surprise she wins! Her principal encourages her to compete in the regional spelling bee and to be coached by a former professor. This one was inspired by a true story and might be eye-opening for your kids about the challenges other kids face.

Family Movie Night Ideas From MomAdvice.com

Dora & the City of Lost Gold (Prime) – This one isn’t that old, but if you thought Dora was a thing of your past (and were glad), I urge you to give this movie a try anyway! It’s a funny, occasionally self-aware live-action adventure that isn’t grating like the original cartoon.

Family Movie Night Ideas From MomAdvice.com

Night at the Museum (Disney+) – A single dad struggles to connect with his son and hold down a job, takes a position as a night guard for a museum that comes alive after closing. Rumors say a fourth movie is coming out this year or next, so now’s the time to watch the first three!

Family Movie Night Ideas From MomAdvice.com

Parent Trap (Disney+) – I grew up on the original movie with Hayley Mills, but my family really enjoyed the Lindsay Lohan remake about identical twins who meet at summer camp and realize their parents divorced and then split them up as young girls. The hijinks are just as fun and the conclusion just as sweet in this newer version.

Family Movie Night Ideas From MomAdvice.com

Race to Witch Mountain (Disney+) – My kids and husband would ask if we’re even having a conversation about family movie nights if we don’t include a movie with Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson. So last but certainly not least is this adventure that unites two sibling aliens, an ex-con, and a scientist as they try to escape evil aliens and corrupt government officials to get the alien kids home to their own planet. It’s a ride, in the best way!

What’s the last movie your family watched together?

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#RelationshipGoals from the TV Shows I’m Watching Right Now

Friday, April 23rd, 2021

#RelationshipGoals from TV / MomAdvice.com

 

#RelationshipGoals from the TV Shows I’m Watching Right Now

 

From our marriage & parenting contributor, Mary Carver.

 

When I set out to write this post for you, I made a long list of all the best marriages I’ve seen on television.

Of course, you can probably guess the top couples from tv on my list:

Coach and Tami Taylor from Friday Night Lights

Ben and Leslie from Parks & Recreation

Adam and Kristina from Parenthood

After all, these are the couples on everyone’s #MarriageGoals list!

As I expanded my memory and my list, though, I realized that I’d written this post before!

Yep, that’s right. Over on my blog, you can read all about my favorite TV marriages and why I think they’re great. https://marycarver.com/2019/02/best-marriages-tv-makes-great/

So today, I’m going to talk about something else.

Today, I’m thinking about the best relationships in the shows I’ve watched recently—including friendships and family relationships, not just marriages—the ones that give me #RelationshipGoals.

 

#RelationshipGoals from TV / MomAdvice.com

 

 

 

 

 

Ted Lasso #RelationshipGoals MomAdvice.com

Ted Lasso and Coach Beard

If you haven’t watched TED LASSO on Apple TV+, stop what you’re doing and watch it right now.

This truly is the show we need in 2020.

It’s a sitcom about an American college football coach hired to coach a professional soccer team in the U.K., and it is the most delightful, heartwarming, hilarious show I’ve watched in years.

One of the best parts of the show is the deep, authentic friendship between Ted, the main character, and his assistant coach, Coach Beard.

The two men have such a complete understanding of one another that they can frequently speak in their version of shorthand, uttering just a few words to get a complicated point across.

They also support each other, completely and unconditionally, and it’s beautiful. 

 

Psych #RelationshipGoals MomAdvice.com

Shawn and Gus

Before the new PSYCH movie came out this summer, I rewatched the whole series.

And one thing that struck me this time around was how completely on board Gus was for all of Shawn’s shenanigans.

Sure, their vastly different personalities mean they approach life differently.

But rather than one roping the other into trouble, they really are—for the most part—equal partners in crime (or, crime-solving).

I also appreciated that when Shawn went too far, Gus called him on it.

True friends speak the truth, even when it’s hard or when they normally go along with things.

 

One Day at a Time #RelationshipGoals MomAdvice.com

Penelope and Schneider

I actually adore every relationship in the new ONE DAY AT A TIME, but Penelope and Schneider are my favorite.

Over the seasons, they’ve developed such a deep friendship, partly bonding over their personal struggles and hard-earned through some serious conflicts.

Though they come from totally different backgrounds, they have found common ground, and it’s created an affection and a bond they don’t seem to have with anyone else.

 

Sweet Magnolias #RelationshipGoals MomAdvice.com

Maddie, Helen, and Dana Sue

The ladies of SWEET MAGNOLIAS have been friends since childhood, and it shows.

They know each other at a level we don’t always see in newer friendships, and that allows them to accept and encourage one another so completely in everything they face.

It also allows them to be honest, but loving, with each other—a gift to any woman living life and navigating decisions in career and relationships like they are!

 

Holly Hobbie #RelationshipGoals MomAdvice.com

Holly Hobbie’s Parents

If you haven’t watched HOLLY HOBBIE on Hulu, I do recommend it!

Sure, it’s a show made for and aimed at tweens like my daughters, but I loved it just as much as they did!

And while the show focuses on the children, I couldn’t help but be impressed and inspired by the parents in this show.

The mom is the breadwinner of the Hobbie family, while the dad takes on more of the daily parenting duties—and I am here for that.

They were supportive of one another and presented a [mostly] united front to their kids, and I love the way the show avoided stereotypes of dumb parents or needlessly contentious spouses.

 

Cobra Kai #RelationshipGoals MomAdvice.com

Daniel and Amanda LaRusso

I wasn’t sure about this one.

Every single main character of COBRA KAI, the Karate Kid reboot series, seems determined to make the worst decisions possible.

But while I do not love Daniel nearly as much as I did in the 80s, I do love his wife and her refusal to put up with his crap.

When he acts like a child, she rolls her eyes and gently points out a more reasonable approach to parenting, teaching, work, and his relationship with Johnny Lawrence.

And when his feud blows up their life, she draws a hard line to protect her family and restore some sanity.

At the same time, the series shows them working together as an excellent sales team at their car dealership, working through disagreements in a realistic way, and connecting like actual adults who love each other.

It’s the most refreshing part of this show.

 

Madam Secretary #RelationshipGoals MomAdvice.com

Elizabeth and Henry McCord

I will never miss an opportunity to shout the praises of MADAM SECRETARY, including the marriage portrayed by the main characters.

Elizabeth and Henry are two high-powered professional in an intense industry (politics!), but never do they neglect care for their relationship and for each other.

Even when they disagree at work or about decisions they must make, they treat one another with respect and genuine affection.

Almost every single episode of this show (which, though it ended last year, I finished watching this year so it counts) finds the McCords in their bedroom, getting ready for the day or unwinding before bed or even in bed together.

Like a normal adult person love story. (I’d like to stop feeling the need to classify fictional characters as “normal adult people,” but let’s be honest: So many TV characters are ridiculous and unrealistic and childish! That can be fun to watch, but I like the normal adult people, too.)

 

Girl Meets World #RelationshipGoals MomAdvice.com

Cory and Topanga Matthews

Most of us know Cory and Topanga as childhood sweethearts from BOY MEETS WORLD in the 90s.

I do, too, but I was re-introduced to them when my girls watched the reboot, GIRL MEETS WORLD.

The new show is just as cheesy and “Disney-fied” as the original, but also?

It’s sincere and heartfelt and lovely at times.

And the way grown-up Cory and Topanga appreciate each other as professionals, present a united front as parents, speak kindly to and about each other, joke and tease and play off each other—well, I loved it.

 

Babysitter Club #RelationshipGoals MomAdvice.com

The Girls of The Baby-Sitters Club

I mean…could they BE any cuter?

The girls in the new version of THE BABY-SITTERS CLUB aren’t perfect.

They are awkward, they make mistakes, they feel and act insecure and jealous, and they are just as different in personality as Ann M. Martin intended.

But, they are also sweet and kind and normal kids who make the choice to develop these friendships they then rely on and nurture and protect.

It’s adorable and lovely, and those are the kind of friends I want for my girls—and myself!

 

The Unicorn #RelationshipGoals MomAdvice.com

Every relationship in The Unicorn

Don’t sleep on this fairly new CBS sitcom.

THE UNICORN is about a friend group of three couples after one of the wives dies.

The way the two couples show their love for both their widowed friend and his late wife is beautiful.

When you think of the phrase, “it takes a village,” this is what you’re probably imagining.

The three families swap carpooling duties and share meals; the kids play together (and sometimes don’t); the married couples encourage their newly single friend to begin dating but balance out their silly advice with true understanding and love.

Again, this is a show (surprisingly) about actual adults, acting like adults.

And the best kind of adults, because they’re just such incredible friends.

To be clear, they’re not perfect and their relationships aren’t conflict-free (that would be a boring show).

But they work through things and come out stronger and more loving in the end, and I think we need more of that.

 

 

So, that’s my updated #RelationshipGoals list! Who’s on YOUR list of best TV relationships?

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#RelationshipGoals from TV / MomAdvice.com

 

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