Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Wow. If I could use one word to describe this book, it would be powerful. Americanah touches on countless important topics, including race, love, and identity. The book follows the story of Ifemelu and Obinze, two young university students living in Nigeria as they move to the US and England respectively and face the struggles of being an immigrant. Ifemelu, bright and confident, is forced to deal with what it means to be black for the first time, while Obinze, unable to join Ifemelu in America, makes his way to London and dives head first into the perils of undocumented life. As The Oprah Magazine said, the book is, “Masterful… Pulls no punches with regard to race, class, and the high-risk, heart-tearing struggle for belonging in a fractured world.”

Continuum by John Mayer

If I could choose one album to listen to for the rest of my life, I would choose Continuum by John Mayer. The album is quintessential 2000s as it effortlessly combines blues sounds with Mayer’s classic guitar riffs. Imagine driving, windows down, the warm August breeze in your hair, singing Stop This Train, and smiling because you just can’t not smile. Debuting as a US number 2 on the Billboard charts, Continuum has earned Mayer a number of awards, including a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album. The album is versatile, fitting almost any occasion, and can brighten any day.

Next in Fashion

This Project Runway inspired series hosted by Tan France and Alexa Chung is the perfect non-committal, eat-dinner-in-front-of show. It follows designers from around the world as they battle for the $250,000 that would allow them to achieve their long-time aspirations. Each week, the designers are presented with a theme, such as streetwear or patterns, and given two days to complete their looks. At the end of the episode, one designer is pronounced the winner, and one designer is sent home. If you don’t have any other plans, watch Next in Fashion with your friends or siblings, eat ice cream, and critique the looks. You’re guaranteed a fun time.