Add to List - #87
Adding to the Wuthering Heights discourse, withering heights of pain, and delicious burgers
Hello, thank you, and welcome. I love you for being here!
Add to List is my Sunday round-up. It’s the small things that brought me joy, evoked an emotional reaction, or became some short-lived stability in the past seven days.
Obsession
Bumping into someone in London?
Most of my friends live south of the river, so it’s rare I bump into people I know. I see the memes about running into your Hinge dates in Broadway Market but:
A) I basically never go to Broadway Market, and
B) it would require me to have a much bigger archive of Hinge dates beyond a grand total of about 2.
However, yesterday I was delighted to run into a digital friend turned real-life connection of the best kind: a writer!
The brilliant
happened to be drinking at the same time I was in People’s Park Tavern. I was carrying a tonne of deconstructed lager shandies (pints with intermittent chasers of soda and lime — underrated combo, highly recommend) when I ran into her at the bar. As always, her cutesy NYC energy was infectious; we were overwhelmed and excitedly squealing about our run-in. And, the great news is I’ll get to see her again very soon at our event on 17th September. is one of our three community panelists for upcoming get-together. She’ll be chatting with us along with the utterly eloquent and the wonderfully interesting . We’ll be discussing how Substack has supported writers in their own personal journeys of new ventures, new formats, new countries, and pivoting plans, as well as giving everyone a chance to mingle afterwards with drinks.I’ll be co-hosting with co-founder
. It’s at London’s most adorable bookshop, The Gilded Acorn (a cosy space, which means slots are limited). We are almost at capacity, so make sure you sign up now.Confession
I’ve got wrapped up in the online discourse around Wuthering Heights.
I love Emerald Fennell; I adored Promising Young Woman and enjoyed Saltburn, despite its divided reception. But this? This feels a step too far.
Of course, a classic is allowed to be reimagined. Of course, creative licence is there to be applied freely. I love a book adaptation as much as the next woman. The Great Gatsby is my favourite classic and I didn’t even hate Baz Luhrmann’s take on it — even if he did romanticise one of the most heartbreakingly flawed character in literature by casting Leo. (Then again, look at Leo now — maybe not too off after all.)
Luhrmann’s zany, dizzying style added to the heady, epicurean nature of Fitzgerald’s prose. The large parties! The soundtrack! I became obsessed with Jay Z, Fergie, and Lana Del Rey’s tracks and then despised the non-stop Gatsby party/flapper-costume everything that came after it.
In this case, I firmly believe Charli XCX should be nowhere near Cathy and Heathcliff. The story is supposed to be brooding and bleak — very much not brat. Plus, I dread to think what this means for our future fashion staples and themed parties. Ruffled collars? Pop-art kink-wear? No thanks.
That said, I do protest too much. I know exactly what I’ll be up to on Valentine’s Day this year.
Shook
Just how many meet-cutes I witnessed at the Bored of Dating Apps event on Tuesday at BookBar?
I got to co-host with the wonderful
for the first time at this event. She’s also a journalist, writer, and the author of fabulous Substack, Billie’s Baby. Give it a read.We counted at least four book swaps/number exchanges, and conversation was flooooowing.
Turns out romance isn’t dead — perhaps we all just need to turn over a new leaf when it comes to dating.
Cook
This week I’ve been on a bit of a gym-rat diet hype. Not because I’m trying to gain muscle (or lose weight); I had an endometriosis flare-up earlier in the week so I’ve been trying to keep things at bay with anti-inflammatory foods.
This week has been filled with turmeric salmon fillets, brown rice, kale, herby chicken breasts, sauerkraut, sweet potatoes — all topped off with good nights’ sleep and limited caffeine and alcohol intake.
That said, I felt better by Saturday so decided to ‘live a little’ in the form of a Jupiter Burger and an Americano cocktail from Alibi at Netil 360.
The Jupiter Burger is basically everything I would concoct if asked to imagine my dream stack: smash beef patty, potato bun, a healthy dousing of pickles, lettuce, tomato, and their signature Jupiter sauce — a combo of mustard, mayo, hot sauce, and pickle juice. WOOF.
Worth every kcal and potential flare-up. (So far, so good actually). No regrets. Unintentionally matched the drinks to the wrappers too while we were at it.
Book
This week I’ve been researching cookbooks.
I was very excited to see that How I Cook by
is out this week. Adding that one to my wish list.Look
Uniqlo’s new Autumn collection is outstanding.
I’m back in my shirt era (tbh it never went away).
Ever since I opted for a black homework diary because I thought it chic at 18, there’s been something wannabe-academic-meets-apprentice-candidate about my wardrobe. Honestly, the boss-bitch / She-E-O trend really filtered into my young, impressionable brain, and thus, my wardrobe.
Uniqlo’s is now allowing me to live out all of my highly ambitious dreams via fashion. It’s full of great boxy-cut Oxford shirts, cords, oversized cardigans, and so many great jackets.
Can’t Stop Scanning
See above.
So far only one shirt purchased — likely plenty more where they came from.
Forward Planning
Italia.
I type this on a plane ride to Italy. I’ll be working from there for the week and spending some time with my parents. I’ve barely seen them all summer, and it’s the end of their stint out there this year, so I thought I’d go and enjoy their company and the final sunshine of the mountains before they head home.
The village here holds a special place in my heart. And this week will involve mostly:
You’ll get an Add to List: Italy Edition next week. If you’re new here and you missed last summer’s musings then feel free to catch up with the Italy archive.
Ciao for now!
Absolute best run in! To get to see you twice in a month? Dreamy!
wait. they're making another version of Wuthering Heights?! Why?
this book is so intense. I never knew what a tureen was until I read it in this story. 😮💨