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Spotify Is Pulling Hate Music From Its Streaming Library

August 16, 2017, 5:30 pm
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Spotify has removed a number of white supremacist bands from its streaming library, Billboard reports.

The performers in question were flagged as racist "hate bands" by the Southern Poverty Law Center three years ago. The SPLC defines hate music as "white power music labels that record, publish and distribute racist music in a variety of genres."

Spotify removed the bands after Digital Music News posted an article titled "I Just Found 27 White Supremacist Hate bands On Spotify."

In a statement to Billboard, a spokeswoman for Spotify said that the record companies and aggregators who contribute music to the service are "at first hand responsible" for the content delivered. She added that "illegal content or material that favors hatred or incites violence against race, religion, sexuality or the like is not tolerated by us."

"Spotify takes immediate action to remove any such material as soon as it has been brought to our attention. We are glad to have been alerted to this content — and have already removed many of the bands identified today, whilst urgently reviewing the remainder," the statement said.

In 2014, Apple's iTunes removed 54 white power groups from its library after SPLC released the hate music list. At the time, the SPLC criticized Spotify for its "slow" handling of the matter.

"We take this very seriously. Content – artists and music – listed by [German agency Federal Review Board for Media Harmful to Minors] BPjM in Germany is proactively removed from our service," Spotify responded in 2014. "We're a global company, so we use the BPjM index as a global standard for these issues. Other potentially hateful or objectionable content that is flagged by uses or others but not on the BPjM list is handled on a case by case basis."

Tens of millions of tracks are available on Spotify and the streaming service says it's reviewing possible ways to block the content before it goes live. Meanwhile Spotify is urging its users to listen to a new playlist titled Patriotic Passion, which includes Jimi Hendrix's version of "The Star Spangled Banner," Lady Gaga's "Americano," and Khalid's "American Teen."

"It's a soundtrack to an America worth fighting for," Spotify's spokeswoman said in a separate statement.

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Bonnie Tyler To Perform "Total Eclipse Of The Heart" In The Path Of The Eclipse

August 16, 2017, 5:45 pm
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The upcoming eclipse will be an alignment of the sun, moon, and Earth, but it's also reason enough for another major event. According to Time, the astronomical phenomenon is setting the stage for a very special performance of "Total Eclipse of the Heart " by Bonnie Tyler.

The '80s powerhouse will sing her most famous tune aboard a cruise ship that'll be parked right in the path of totality, making for a monumental moment.

"It's going to be so exciting," Tyler told Time of the serendipitous match-up. "It doesn't happen very often, does it?"

Guests aboard the cruise knew that they were in for a different type of vacation: Tyler will be performing aboard a special Total Eclipse Cruise on Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas, which set out to create a unique eclipse-viewing experience for its travelers.

"Bonnie Tyler was a natural choice for this once-in-a-lifetime moment," Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, said.

The 1983 hit and current karaoke staple will get a modern remix with the addition of a new backup band for Tyler. For the special moment, she's enlisted Joe Jonas' DNCE. But anyone familiar with the song will know that it's not exactly brief. Tyler explained that she had to edit down the epic tune for the event. She'll only have a day to rehearse with DNCE, too, but she's not worried about that. She's been performing the tune since it debuted in 1983.

"The eclipse of the sun lasts 2 minutes and 40 seconds, I'm told. Unlike my song," Tyler said of her upcoming performance. "It had to be chopped about, because it was so long."

Even though Tyler will be performing a more abbreviated version of "Total Eclipse," it's sure to be an unforgettable moment. Like Tyler said, events like this don't happen very often.

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The Most Flattering Shorts For YOUR Butt

August 16, 2017, 6:00 pm
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Derrières have long fascinated great tastemakers, from Sir Mix-A-Lot to Jennifer Lopez to many in R29's HQ. We spend a fair share of our downtime analyzing our bums — specifically, how they look in our trousers. But, just as we scratched the surface of the rarely explored relationship between butt shapes and denim, it got warm out. So warm, we’re reaching the point where it’s officially too hot for jeans. And, while we may be forced to shorten our hemlines now, we refuse to abandon our bumbitions (a new term we just coined for the great future we envision for our behinds). How do we reconcile said bumbitions with the time of year? By revisiting the six butt types and bringing in fresh tips from experts at J Brand, Paige, and Levi’s that are specific to shorts. That’s right: Our comprehensive fit guide gets the summer treatment.

Butt Type: Bubble
A bubble butt is one that’s round from top to bottom. The key to dressing this type of shapely bum is to find a short that gives you enough coverage all around. To achieve this delicate balance between sculpting and not exaggerating your butt’s roundness, you need to bring your attention to the top of your bottom — that’s to say, the waistline.

“I think wearing shorts that fit sort of low on the hip when you have a bubble butt, that hang straight off your hip and come down, is great,” opines Mary Bruno, head of design at J Brand. She suggests styles, like a five-pocket boyfriend or a trouser-fit short, that sit right — if not a little low — on the waist, with more material down the leg to hug your bum more loosely. Jill Guenza, global vice president of design at Levi’s, agrees, but suggests a higher rise to highlight the waist even more.

In terms of color scheme, the same rules of denim apply: If you’re looking to de-emphasize, go dark. Paige Adams-Geller, co-founder and creative director of Paige, recommends going for a simple, darker wash “if you don’t want [your butt] to be so noticeable.” (This applies to anyone who wants to draw attention away from the shape of their butt — regardless of which category they fall under.)

The thing you can play with, then, is the hemline: straight-cut, folded over, or frayed. As a rule of thumb for all butt shapes, though, Guenza gravitates towards “shorts [that] are cut at a slight angle, with the hem edge at your outer thigh slightly higher than the hem edge at your inner thigh. Angled hems elongate the leg by drawing the eye up toward the outer hip."

Illustrated by Anna Sudit.

Topshop Moto Joni Shorts, $48, available at Topshop.

7 For All Mankind Relaxed Mid Roll Shorts, $159, available at Shopbop.

Levi's 501 Shorts, $59.50, available at Levi's.

Butt Type: Wide
When you’re wide all over in your butt region, our experts agree that a short that is straight at the hip is preferred — although they diverge on where the waist should sit. Bruno believes a medium- or low-rise short that’s “boyish” or more structured around the hip area “counteracts” the wideness of your butt.

Adams-Geller, on the other hand, stands by a high rise: “[It] will cinch at your waist and give you more shape, so you don’t feel like you’re so straight up and down.” She goes on to explain that “usually, wide butts make your body feel like you’re really straight.”

This translates to an A-line short — which then checks out for Bruno’s straight-hip recommendation. Adams-Geller suggests trying a frayed hem with this silhouette, because “the extra volume you have at the bottom of the hem in that A-line shape balances out your hips and makes your waist look smaller.” The rise, then, is up to you, depending on where and how you want to wear the short.

Illustrated by Anna Sudit.

Topshop Pansy And Spot Print Shorts, $55, available at Topshop.

Paige Margot Short, $169, available at Paige.

Sea Pleated-Front Cotton-Blend Canvas Shorts, $275, available at MatchesFashion.com.

Butt Type: Flat
A pretty literal description of the shape, a flat butt means there’s less curve to your behind. If you’re looking to enhance the shape of your derrière, the key lies in the details: Adams-Geller recommends seeking out back pockets with stitching or some sort of flap detailing, anything that can fill up the space back there. Bruno concurs on the pocket note.

She also brings up wash, and the almost contour-like effect strategically placed sanding can have on your butt: Much like you’d highlight your cheekbones and other key areas of your face with makeup, a sanding detail on the back of your short creates an illusion of shape on your nether-cheeks. Yes, contouring for your bum: It’s the 21st century, people; we can have it all.

A vintage-y wash can have the same highlighting effect, says Adams-Geller. In terms of silhouettes, she recommends a more fitted, high-rise short, because when the waist “go[es] into the small of your back...it creates more of an illusion of a curve.” Bruno suggests finding a high-rise style that “has a little kick to the leg,” which creates more room — and, hence, more volume — around your cheeks. Alternatively, you could try a longer short, something like a Bermuda length.

Illustrated by Anna Sudit.

Madewell High-Rise Denim Boyshorts, $69.50, available at Madewell.

Reformation Memphis Short, $158 $47, available at Reformation.

Citizens Of Humanity Liya High Rise Shorts, $228, available at Shopbop.

Butt Type: Triangle
If a small waist opens up to wider cheeks down at the intersection of hip and thigh, you've got yourself a triangle butt. You can either exaggerate the contrast between waist and cheeks with a high-rise short; or, you can fall back on a boyfriend short, which would make you look straighter. Adams-Geller explains that the latter “won’t be emphasizing how exaggerated the smaller waist is compared to the lower, saddlebag part.”

Alternatively, she suggests a relaxed Bermuda: The longer inseam, paired with looser-fitting, baggier fabric, de-emphasizes the saddlebags, she argues, so it “makes you look straighter.”

Because of the dramatic difference in proportions, you’ll also want to pay attention to fit. “You should find the size that fits your seat best, then tailor the waist down if need be,” Guenza advises.

Illustrated by Anna Sudit.

Butt Type: Low
We’re still not over the concept of a “butt bra” that Paige shared last time around. Luckily for us, it still applies to shorts. The goal for low-butted individuals — to perk up the cheeks — remains the same, despite the shortened hemline. To achieve the derrière bustier, Adams-Geller recommends picking out a fitted, classic-rise short and wearing it with a belt. “It’ll help keep the short higher and give that butt-bra effect,” she explains, “because you’re wearing something that’s holding you up almost like a bra strap would.”

A fitted knee style would work here, as the longer inseam makes the butt look higher than it naturally sits. Alternatively, Bruno suggests a baggier short — again, a boyfriend-style bottom “that’s kind of full and sits at your waist and kind of hangs off.” In the same vein as Adams-Geller, she advises finding a longer inseam (four or five inches) to create the illusion of a higher cheek.

Illustrated by Anna Sudit.

Whistles Cargo Pocket Short, $210, available at Whistles.

Acne Studios Othella Linen Short, $360, available at Otte New York.

Butt Type: No Butt
Here’s a well-kept secret: Having no butt is actually kind of awesome when it comes to shorts, because there’s a wide variety of styles and silhouettes that’ll make your derrière look good. You’ll want to highlight other parts of your body that you like, says Bruno, “whether it’s your waist or your legs.” (You can do so with a high-rise short for the former, a boyfriend short for the latter.) As with a flat butt, details like zippers, pockets, and flaps around the pockets help add volume out back.

For summer, paper-bag and drawstring-waist shorts are great. Adams-Geller praises the “drape effect” the fabric on these styles has, which fills out the back. “Nothing clings, yet you’re getting the cinch at the waist to add the extra volume...[which] can give you the illusion of a butt,” she explains. Guenza agrees, adding that “slouchy shorts will camouflage the size and shape of your butt by blurring the contours of your body.”

Non-butted folk, then, are more likely to venture outside of the denim realm. While a classic jean cutoff offers support and structure, linen styles have "a great drape for more flowy, girly styles," says Guenza. They do, however, wrinkle more easily. She recommends "blends with other, less wrinkle-prone fibers, like cotton/linen and viscose/linen." Another thing to note about wrinkle-prone materials is the inseam: "If it already looks kind of short, and [it's] linen or cotton, when you put those on and it’s hot, they’re going to wrinkle up and look shorter on your body," advises Adams-Geller. Knits, she says, grow when it's hot, so they may look baggier after wear.

Zeus + Dione Leon Two-Tone Silk Crepe de Chine Shorts, $255, available at Net-a-Porter.

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Will We See Wes On Season 4 Of How To Get Away With Murder?

August 16, 2017, 6:00 pm
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The Keating Five's puppy may be dead and buried, but does that mean Wes (Alfred Enoch) won't be around at all in season 4 of How To Get Away With Murder?

Thanks to executive producer Pete Nowalk's interview with Variety, we now know whether Wes will appear on the show since his murder has been solved.

We discovered that it was Wes who was "under the sheet" following the fire at Annalise's (Viola Davis) house during the third season's winter finale. However, we didn't learn who actually killed him until season 3's last episode, when it was revealed that his girlfriend Laurel's (Karla Souza) father had him killed, for reasons not completely explained.

Prior to the reveal of his murderer, Wes was still a regular face on the series. He appeared in every episode of the show in season 3, usually in flashback. When it comes to season 4, however, his fate is more up in the air...especially given Enoch's availability.

When Variety asked whether Enoch would make a return to the series, Nowalk didn't rule it out, but did say fans shouldn't expect to see him anytime soon.

"We’ve only written the first four episodes, and [Enoch is] working abroad on another show, so right now we don’t have specific plans to bring him back," the showrunner revealed to the outlet. "But I’m really hoping it happens."

That doesn't sound like the most promising thing in the world, but hey — scheduling conflicts happen. (For the record, the actor told Entertainment Weekly that the decision to kill Wes was a "creative" one that didn't have to do with him taking on another project.)

As a fan who will miss Enoch's face, I'm hoping that Nowalk finds a way to weave a Wes-centric dream sequence in somewhere into season 4, as well as find a way to tie up all the loose threads about his tragic murder.

Come on, doesn't Wes deserve that?

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What A CrossFit Competitor's Stomach Looks Like When She's Sitting Down

August 16, 2017, 6:15 pm
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The human body can be an enigma. For some, it's prone to build rock-hard muscle, and for others, it prefers to remain in a softer, curvier state. Either way, bodies are gorgeous and rad.

Sometimes it's easy to get swept into the mindset that bodies need to fit a cultural standard of beauty and perfection at all times. Instead of listening to what their bodies need (be it nourishment, relaxation, or a more gentle form of exercise) sometimes people push themselves to the limit to attain waif-like figures or chiseled abs and look their best at all times, even when sitting or bending over to pick something up.

If you need proof that it's unrealistic to look like someone who just stepped out of a fitness magazine at all times, look no further than Jennifer Smith, a CrossFit competitor who PopSugar reports posted a side-by-side photo of herself to illuminate just how different her body looks when she's standing versus sitting.

A post shared by Jennifer Smith (@jensmith008) on

"Ahhh the power of lighting, body posture, and a good smile!" Smith captioned the photo shared with her 95.6k followers.

She also included the hashtags, #transformationtuesday and #15minuteslater.

Hopefully her post can serve as a reminder that bodies are always changing. Body-shaming — whether done online, in person, to ourselves, or at the doctor's office — is actually a health hazard that can lead to increased feelings of anxiety and depression, according to medical professionals.

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Snapchat's New Crowd Surf Feature Makes Concerts Even Better

August 16, 2017, 6:30 pm
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In an effort to steal some steam from another very popular social network, Snapchat added a brand-new feature that gives concertgoers — and their pals who couldn't make it — a new way to get in on the action.

Billboard reports that the new feature, Crowd Surf, gives Snapchat users the ability to share and enjoy concerts in a whole new way.

Snapchat developed a way for artificial intelligence to figure out when certain snaps have been recorded at the same place, like a concert, by listening in on audio. From there, anyone scrolling through Snapchat can flip between the various streams, so a view of the stage from the mezzanine can get stitched to a view from the pit to what the whole scene looks like from the nosebleed section. Another plus? Crowd Surf offers up a way to bypass the standard 10-second Snapchat clip, so videos don't get chopped off in the middle of a chorus.

According to Billboard, users will know when the feature is available when a "spinning phone icon appears in the bottom right corner." When snappers see that, they can switch between all the different views at a particular event. For now, TechCrunch reports that Snapchat is focusing on concerts, but it wouldn't be surprising if the feature rolls out to sporting events and maybe even visits to amusement parks. In theory, you could vicariously live through everyone's snaps at the new Disneyland parade or a basketball game with just a few taps and swipes.

Snapchat hopes that the new feature will bring in new users and encourage existing ones to submit content to public feeds. However, TechCrunch adds that it's only a matter of time before Instagram introduces something similar as its own retort in the two giants' ongoing back-and-forth battle for social-media supremacy.

Check out Snapchat's Crowd Surf in action below.

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Jack Antonoff Reveals Why Lena Dunham Is Such An "Inspiration" To Him

August 16, 2017, 6:45 pm
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If there's one thing that screams #RelationshipGoals, it's having a significant other who inspires you everyday. Clearly, Jack Antonoff and Lena Dunham are already there, as evidenced by the Fun guitarist's sweet Instagram post about his girlfriend.

The Girls creator has been open about her battle with endometriosis which often led to her suffering through immense pain while trying to run her HBO show. In April of 2017, Dunham revealed she is endometriosis-free, following multiple surgeries and hormonal intervention.

However, according to a new Instagram from Antonoff, which he posted on Wednesday, it seems that Dunham is once again suffering from issues related to endometriosis. Though the pair is currently on opposite coasts — he's in Los Angeles and she's in New York — Antonoff took the time to share his love for the woman he calls his "inspiration."

"today i'm in LA and lena is in NY dealing with a bunch of endo / chronic pain issues and i want to give a massive shout out to everyone in the world who lives with chronic pain," wrote Antonoff in his caption.

He added:

"my gf has been in and out of the hospital for a long time now and has creating so much amazing work through that period. LD/everyone who lives with chronic pain and or illness are a huge inspiration. when you see all of lenas gorgeous work remember that a lot of it was created from a hospital bed. that is fucking incredible to me."

Fans on Instagram appreciated the support:

"Thank you, srsly. I live w IBD and it gets pretty tough sometimes. All the best to your gf," wrote one commenter.

"Couple goals for real @jackantonoff @lenadunham I'm so sorry you have to go through this- it's clear it has only made your art and you stronger," added another.

"Love her. Love you for loving her," a third commented.

While we don't have the details for what Dunham is battling, it's clear she has one supportive guy in her corner.

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More Than Half Of Parents Say They'd Support A Transgender Kid

August 16, 2017, 7:00 pm
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From the rollback of the transgender bathroom bill to Trump's attempt to ban trans people from the military because they're a "distraction," it's been an incredibly discouraging stretch for the trans community. But some positive news has finally emerged: A new study found that over half of American parents would support their teen's request to transition.

The study, which was conducted online between June 20 and June 22, asked 2,192 adults aged 18 or older their views on having a transgender child. Fifty-three percent of the participants responded that they'd support their trans child.

There's one major caveat here: This was a very small study, so it doesn't necessarily represent the views of parents across the entire country.

However, it is an encouraging sign that acceptance of trans individuals is growing. Furthermore, it's important because a parent's response to their child's transition is key to their mental health.

Stephanie Gonot

"Parents have a significant role in raising transgender kids," Dr. Laura Arrowsmith, who works at a trans clinic in Oklahoma, told PR News Wire. "Once they get on board — often after stages of denial, rejection, condemnation, and grief —they become powerful advocates at school and with extended family. This is crucial to the child’s well-being."

Transgender teens and adults are at a greater risk of homelessness and mental health issues such as depression and anxiety than the general population. The new study suggests that trans people who are rejected by their families are at greater risk than their peers who receive familial support.

Although the study's sample size was small and it's too soon to apply this statistic to the entire country, it's a positive sign that trans acceptance is moving in the right direction.

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The Deadpool 2 Set Observed A Moment Of Silence In Memory Of Joi "SJ" Harris

August 16, 2017, 7:15 pm
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Before filming began today on the set of Deadpool 2, Ryan Reynolds led the cast and crew in a moment of silence to honor Joi "SJ" Harris, The Wrap reports. After Harris' death on Monday, the Vancouver-based production had been halted, but resumed again this morning.

Harris, a stuntwoman and road racer, died on Monday during a motorcycle stunt. The Wrap notes that Harris had performed the stunt several times that morning, but passed away after she lost control of her motorcycle and it crashed into a building. Harris was standing in as Domino, played by actor Zazie Beetz, and the particular scene called for the character to be helmet-free.

People adds that Reynolds delivered a few words to the gathered crowd before everyone bowed their heads in remembrance. The moment of silence was a touching way to recall Harris' contributions to the film and gave everyone involved one more moment to remember her.

Immediately following the accident, both the director of the film, David Leitch, and Deadpool himself, Ryan Reynolds, offered condolences to Harris' family, friends, and colleagues.

"I'm deeply saddened by the loss of one of our stunt performers today," Leitch said in a statement. "No words can express how I and the rest of the Deadpool 2 crew feel about this tragedy. Our thoughts are with her family, friends and loved ones in this difficult time."

Harris' own Facebook page also issued a statement about the tragedy, adding that before her career in movies, she broke boundaries in the world of road racing. "Joi will be remembered for her groundbreaking career as the first African-American female road racer," it reads. "She was living her dream, when her life was suddenly cut short while filming as a stunt rider. She will be dearly missed by her race fans all over the world."

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Manchester Arena Will Reopen Soon With A Huge Benefit Concert

August 16, 2017, 7:30 pm
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Millions were heartbroken around the world following a deadly terror attack at an Ariana Grande concert Manchester, U.K. that left 22 people dead and injured many others. But Manchester Arena is determined to prove that music is louder than hate.

On Sept. 9, the site of the attack will reopen with a huge benefit concert, We Are Manchester, that will raise money to fund a memorial for the victims, according to Billboard.

So far, Billboard reports Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds have been announced as the event's headlining act with other performers including Courteeners, Blossoms, and Rick Astley.

Gallagher tweeted out an announcement on Wednesday via Twitter. The statement also noted that tickets for the show will go on sale on Thursday, August 17.

Astley, too, tweeted out an alert about the concert, saying: "Proud to be part of the re-opening of @ManchesterArena on 9/9. All proceeds go towards the Manchester Memorial Fund."

We Are Manchester will be the second major concert held in honor of those who lost their lives during the horrific attack in May. The first, One Love Manchester, was put together by Grande and featured performances by Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, Chris Martin, and Imogen Heap. The proceeds from the show contributed greatly to the We Love Manchester Charity, which has raised approximately $23 million.

On Tuesday, the fund announced that it would donate $324,000 to the families of each of the victims. In addition to financial support, the fund has helped provide free counseling to families.

Billboard notes that nine people impacted by the blast are still hospitalized and that the investigation into the suicide attack is still in progress. Since the attack, many shows have been canceled, including those by Kings of Leon, Radiohead, and Blink-182.

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Federal Court Rules That Arkansas Can Block Planned Parenthood Funding

August 16, 2017, 7:45 pm
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A federal appeals court has ruled that Arkansas can withhold Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood. The 2-1 ruling vacated preliminary injunctions made by a federal judge that prevented the state from withholding Medicaid payments for services received by Planned Parenthood patients.

The court also ruled that anonymous Planned Parenthood patients who had sued the state don't have the right to challenge the defunding decision.

Arkansas is hardly the only state to make a substantial effort to defund Planned Parenthood, and today's ruling could potentially lead to a showdown in the United States Supreme Court. Judge Michael Melloy, who voted against today's ruling, pointed out that other other federal courts have ruled against defunding and said Planned Parenthood patients have a right to challenge the decision.

Planned Parenthood said it's looking into options to challenge today's ruling.

"We will do everything in our power to protect our patients' access to birth control, cancer screenings, and other lifesaving care," Dr. Raegan McDonald-Mosley, chief medical officer for Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said in a statement. "Extreme politicians are trying to defund and shut down Planned Parenthood — and this is not what Americans want. Every person deserves the opportunity to lead a healthy life and access care at a provider they know and trust, no matter who you are or where you live."

Andrew Harrer/Getty Images

The state's Republican Attorney General Leslie Rutledge expressed his support for the ruling.

"The Court found that Planned Parenthood and the three patients it recruited could not contest in federal court Arkansas's determination that a medical provider has engaged in misconduct that merits disqualification from the Medicaid program," Rutledge said. "All patients should have access to ethical, quality and responsible health care, and should never be beholden to a company that is only seeking to protect its profits."

"This is a substantial legal victory for the right of the state to determine whether Medicaid providers are acting in accordance with best practices and affirms the prerogative of the state to make reasoned judgments on the Medicaid program," he added.

Arkansas currently operates Planned Parenthood health centers in Fayetteville and Little Rock. Medicaid funds have never been used for abortions in the state.

The organization was targeted by Republican legislators nationwide after several videos were released by the anti-abortion Center for Medical Progress. They allege that the videos show Planned Parenthood illegally selling fetal tissue for profit. The organization said the videos were heavily edited and a Texas grand jury cleared Planned Parenthood of misusing fetal tissue. The same jury voted to indict the two individuals who recorded the videos.

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All The Signs LuAnn De Lesseps' Marriage Was On The Rocks At The RHONY Reunion

August 17, 2017, 9:45 am
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When LuAnn (de Lesseps) D’Agostino first confirmed she had filed for divorce from her husband of mere months, Tom D’Agostino, the entire Real Housewives Of New York -watching community had one reaction, other than a collective “Told you so”: “Why couldn’t she have done this before they filmed the season 9 reunion?” The Bravo post-season get togethers are infamous for rehashing old tensions from recent episodes, as well as delving into new, weird drama. For instance, during last year’s RHONY season 8 reunion, Ramona Singer all but confirmed she had more dirt on LuAnn’s then-fiancé Tom, but wouldn’t share it because the Countess didn’t really want to hear it.

The minds over at Bravo realized fans would hope to hear some details on LuAnn’s long-expected breakup … and confirmed we wouldn’t get a single drop of information. Before viewers saw the New York cast of characters or their ringleader Andy Cohen for the season 9 reunion, a card flashed on the screen, reading “What you are about to watch was recorded three weeks before LuAnn filed for divorce from her husband of seven months, Tom.” It was the network’s way of saying, “Don’t even think about getting any hot gossip tonight.”

Still, the RHONY cast, including LuAnn, did watch last week’s finale, “Thank You And Good Night,” prior to filming the reunion. That means the Countess did catch Tom’s deeply suspicious behavior at Tinsley Mortimer’s party, including the moment he removed his mic to speak with ex-girlfriend Missy. Because of this, there were tons of signs throughout the finale that all was not well in D’Agostino Land, as it was taped mere weeks before the divorce announcement. Here are all the red flags hiding throughout the special.

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The “Right Now” Comment

When most people enter a marriage, LuAnn included, they expect this whole spouse-thing will be a forever commitment. Bizarrely, when Andy Cohen asks LuAnn how she feels without her Countess title, she responds, “Right now I love being Mrs. D’Agostino.” Everyone makes the same face.

Dorina jokes, “Right now? I hope forever,” while Ramona screeches, “Freudian slip!” At least everyone allows LuAnn to back peddle her statement, as she says, “I don’t miss my title. I like being LuAnn D’Agostino now. Mrs. D’Agostino.”

No one says anything to counter LuAnn.

LuAnn Never Finishing A Pretty Important Sentence

Throughout RHONY season 9, multiple cast members questioned whether LuAnn’s wedding really was the best of ideas. But, at one point, even non-Bravolebrities dragged the controversial wedding, as Lu’s friend Barbara called out the future Mrs. D’Agostino for refusing to call off the wedding.

At the reunion, everyone defended Barbara’s shady comments, saying they were out of concern. LuAnn repeatedly tries to say “You don’t have to be concerned,” yet, she tellingly never finishes the sentence, cutting herself off at “You don’t have to be.”

“What Is This Obsession With Tom?!”

After Ramona drops that aforementioned dirt she was holding during last year’s reunion — Tom supposedly went upstairs to a hotel room with a woman from Philadelphia, told her he had an “open relationship,” and then “nothing happened” — Andy asks the RHONY ladies if they’ve “heard anything” about Mr. D’Agostino since the wedding. Before anyone can respond, LuAnn yells, “What is this obsession with Tom?!” She’s clearly cutting people off before more rumored dirty laundry can spill out on national TV.

Still, the entire cast nods along with Bethenny Frankel’s explanation that they essentially believe LuAnn and Tom “have an arrangement,” and they’re trying to respect whatever the parameters of that “particular dynamic” might be. Bethenny then confirms she also heard the allegations Ramona brought up involving “a girl in L.A.” LuAnn originally dismissed that story since a loose cannon like Ramona was the one saying it, but, now Bethenny is bringing it up too.

LuAnn’s Ex-Husband Reveal

When LuAnn claims she would leave Tom if he cheats on her, the cast proves they don’t exactly believe their friend. Sonja Morgan actually vocalizes why she doesn’t agree with LuAnn, saying the ex-Countess didn’t leave her first husband Alex De Lesseps, and “he wasn’t faithful.”

LuAnn counters Sonja’s comment by explaining, “We were separated and I didn’t really want anyone to know.” So, here is the proof LuAnn prefers to keep a stiff upper lip amid serious relationship problems.

“Why Do You Think I Stayed At The Hotel Last Night?”

Finally, Andy brings up Tom’s dubious behavior at Tinsley’s “Thank You Sonja” party, where he flirted with ex Missy and took off his own mic to tell a story about the last time he saw his former lover.

First of all, LuAnn says she didn’t ask Tom about the incident, despite the fact she had seen it the evening prior, meaning she very easily could have inquired about it in the hours following. Andy points this out and LuAnn keeps saying she “didn’t have a chance.” LuAnn attempts to laugh off her husband’s flirtatious shenanigans, but Bethenny tells her longtime frenemy she has a “Countess Shield” protecting her from truly reacting to anything. On Twitter, LuAnn last night confirmed, “The shield is called self-preservation.”

As Bethenny continues to explain she would be “crying in the bathroom” if her partner behaved like Tom, LuAnn finally shoots back, “ Well, why do you think I stayed at the hotel last night?” As everyone’s reactions prove, no one knew that happened.

LuAnn Prioritizing Appearances Over Feelings

As LuAnn tries to explain away Tom’s suspect actions, she admits she tries to “look like the tough guy.” Instead of continuing on that thread of appearances versus inner emotions, LuAnn attempts to explain away Tom’s behavior, saying she’s going to talk to him “about how [his “humor”] might come off.” Everyone immediately starts yelling that the problem isn’t how Tom “comes off,” the problem is how he’s disrespecting his wife.

The Relationship Between LuAnn’s Son And Tom

LuAnn reveals her college-aged son Noel had a “hard” time accepting Tom’s place in his mother’s life due to the rumors constantly swirling around Tom. The mom of two swears the two most important men in her life “do”have a relationship now,” but adds, “You know, they’re not super close…”

LuAnn’s “Bachelor” Defense

The Countess accidentally boards the Defend Tom At All Costs Train, first pretending not to know what “indiscretions” might mean, and then making up excuse after excuse for her husband’s rumor mill-stirring actions.

“It’s either I accept him for the way he is,” she begins, but then doesn’t add a second option. “I’m not going to change him at this point.” LuAnn says she has “suggested” Tom stop behaving in a way that directly disrespects their marriage, adding, “Listen, he’s a grown man … who’s lived his entire life a certain way: as a Bachelor. He has friends. I’m friends with Jacques!”

Everyone reminds LuAnn she doesn’t “make out with Jacques,” as Tom supposedly did last year with a woman he had lunch with recently. LuAnn finally relents, saying, “Of course not.”

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If You Liked Gone Girl, You'll Love These Suspense Thrillers

August 17, 2017, 9:45 am
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For a long time, it seemed like maybe Liane Moriarty and Stephen King had cornered the modern market on the suspense-fiction genre. But no more: These days, there are plenty of psychological thrillers to pick from — many of them more sinister and more spine-chilling than Big Little Lies or even The Shining. Not that we're knocking either of those authors. It's just that there are so many stories to choose from, which you already know if you, like millions of other readers, rapidly inhaled novels like Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train over the last few years.

Here's the thing about suspense thrillers, though: Once you've reached the end and all the secrets have spilled out, it's not always fun to go back and read them again. You need new mysteries to unravel — new plotlines and characters to make the hair on your neck stand on end.

Luckily, there is no shortage of these sorts of books. We've pulled together some of our favorites (and by favorites, we mean the ones that freaked us out most) that should get you through the summer, at least. And if you rip through 'em all, no worries: We'll be adding more psychological suspense titles as time goes on. If we know anything about these books, its that they attract voracious readers always in need of a new literary fix.

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And Then There Were None
By Agatha Christie
Released in 1939

This mystery novel, considered to be Agatha Christie's greatest, is the kind of book you could devour in one long sitting. Boil a cuppa tea, put your feet up on the Ottoman, and lean back into this tale of a group of strangers lured to a house off the coast of England, each for a different reason. Then, one by one, they begin to die. Will the remaining inhabitants solve the crime before they're next?

The Silent Wife
By A.S.A. Harrison
Released 2013

As with the crumbling marriage at the heart of Gone Girl, Harrison paints a picture of a relationship through alternating accounts from a husband and wife in this well-plotted thriller. With its twist-a-page pace, you'll be gobbling down The Silent Wife with the same mad fury as you did Gone Girl.

Fates and Furies
By Lauren Groff
Released in 2015

As with Gone Girl, the marriage at the heart of Fates and Furies is a multi-faceted beast. The first half of the novel tells the story of Lotto and Mathilde's whirlwind romance and ensuing 20 years of marriage from the perspective of the exuberant, positive, and naive Lotto. Then, halfway through, Mathilde's voice is heard — and what she has to say will shock you. Groff's insanely beautiful prose makes the novel's compelling plot all the better.

Girl Last Seen
By Nina Laurin
Out June 20, 2017

When Olivia Shaw goes missing outside of her elementary school, a stranger, Lainey Moreno, can't stop following the case. A surviving of kidnapping herself, Lainey spent the last 13 years scanning the faces on missing posters to find a case which resembled her own. And now, she's found one.

Not only are the circumstances of Olivia's kidnapping familiar, the little girl also happens to look just like Lainey. This is Lainey's chance to find the man who kidnapped her — but she'll have to confront her past in the process.

The Shadow of the Wind
Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Release 2001

In the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, a young Spanish boy finds a book called The Shadow of the Wind by Julian Carax. Captivated by the novel, Daniel seeks to find more of the author's works. Then, the boy discovers the shocking truth that someone has been systematically destroying all of Carax's books. As Daniel's obsession Carax grows, so does his involvement with the shadowy, literary underworld of 1945 Barcelona. Part romance, part fantasy, part gothic thriller, The Shadow of the Wind will have you up all night reading.

Rebecca
By Daphne DuMaurier
Released 1938

Lest you think that the psychological thriller originated with Gone Girl, here's proof that the origins of the genre stretch all the way back to 1938. I dare say that this mysterious, lush novel is the ultimate psychological thriller. The story begins when our young unnamed narrator moves to her new husband's estate, Manderley. Though Max de Winter is a widower, his new wife discovers that traces of the late Rebecca are all over the house — especially in the presence of Mrs. Danvers, the servant who remains loyal to Rebecca.

In the Woods
By Tana French
Released January 2007

Katy Devlin, a 12-year-old girl, is found dead at an archeological site in Dublin. Detectives Rob Ryan and Cassie Maddox are assigned to the case — the biggest case of their careers so far. But Ryan is shook by the similarities between Katy's murder and the murder of Rob's two best friends 20 years ago. Only Maddox is aware of Ryan's potential involvement in that long-ago crime, but soon, Ryan becomes a suspect in this one, too. This will leave you twisty and turny and floored by the identity of the killer.

The Chemist
By Stephanie Meyer
Released November 2016

We knew Meyer could write about vampires, but it turns out she's a master of thrillers, too.

As Alex, or Casey, or Juliana, or whatever her name is at the moment, can tell you, it's not easy to be on the lamb. A while ago, this secret agent learned a bit too much about her employers, and now they're hell-bent on killing her. She lives in a state of paranoia, running from location to location and name to name. Soon, she gets a call from her boss, calling her in for one last mission. She's not sure who to believe, but still, she goes along with the kidnapping of a schoolteacher, Daniel Beach, who's supposedly involved with the design of a virus intended to wipe out the human race. Only problem with Mr. Beach? He's irresistibly attractive, and doesn't seem to be much of a villain at all.

Night Film
By Marisha Pessl
Released August 2013

When Ashley Cordova, the daughter of legendary director Stanislas Cordova, commits suicide, disgraced investigative journalist Scott McGrath suspects her father of foul play.

But when he starts to dig into Ashley's death, Scott gets far more than he bargained for — and it turns out the truth could transcend the limitations of rational, scientific explanation.

Photo: Courtesy of Random House.

Everything You Want Me To Be
By Mindy Mejia
Released January 2017

Hattie Hoffman has spent her entire life up to this point playing different parts — the straight-A student, the dutiful daughter, the civically-minded teenager. So when she's found stabbed to death on the opening night of her high school play, her small town is torn apart by the tragedy, as well as the idea that Hattie's killer might be hidden in their midst.

But things aren't always as they seem, and as the local sheriff seeks out the murderer, he finds out that Hattie had some dark secrets, unseeable from the surface. Told from alternating perspectives — Hattie's, the sheriff's, and a high school english teacher who has secrets of his own — Everything You Want To Be is a chilling and mesmerizing look at the final year of a young woman's life.

Photo: Atria/Emily Bestler.

The Passenger
By Lisa Lutz
Released March 2016

In case you were wondering, I didn’t do it. I didn’t have anything to do with Frank’s death. I don’t have an alibi, so you’ll have to take my word for it...

Thus begins Lisa Lutz's acclaimed thriller, about a woman on the lamb after her husband's body is found at the base of the stairs. Did she really do it? It's hard to tell until the final pages — but this book will keep you gripped, and guessing, until the very end.

Photo: Courtesy of Simon & Schuster.

Moral Defense
By Marcia Clarke
Out November 8

In the years following the O.J. Simpson trial, Marcia Clark turned into a top-notch mystery writer. In the follow up to her bestseller Blood Defense, Clarke picks up with her character, defense attorney Samantha Brinkman, who is hired by legal aid when a teen named Cassie Sonnenberg is accused of fatally stabbing both her brother and father.

Suddenly Sam is facing her biggest challenge yet. And it turns out, the maybe-murderer and her attorney have more in common than Sam ever could have imagined.

Photo: Courtesy of Thomas & Mercer .

You Will Know Me
By Megan Abbott
Released July 26

What lines would you cost to achieve your dream? That's a question that Katie Knox — mother of Devon, a gymnastic prodigy and Olympic hopeful — has to ask herself when a violent death rocks their close-knit community and she finds herself being drawn ever-deeper into the chilling details of the crime. There's always a price for ambition, and ultimately Katie must decide if she's willing to pay the steep cost.

Photo: Little, Brown and Company.

The Last Days of Night
By Graham Moore
Released August 16

Devil in the White City fans, you'll adore this one. Picture it: It's New York City at the turn of the 20th century, and Paul Cravath is a newly minted lawyer from Columbia University who takes on a case that seems impossible to win.

His client, George Westinghouse, is being sued by Thomas Edison over a claim about who invented the light bulb — and who will be the one to spread their glow across America. But the deeper Paul goes into the case, and into upper crust society, the clearer it becomes that his opponent is frighteningly formidable. Secret societies, private spites, vast fortunes — this book has it all. But the way all its stories fit together at the end will make you realize that everyone was playing their own game all along. But of course, only one will win.

Image: Random House.

Dark Matter
By Blake Crouch
Out July 26

“Are you happy with your life?” Those are the last words Jason Dessen hears before being knocked unconscious by his unknown abductor — and wakes up to a new life as someone else.

His wife has been swapped out for another woman, and he doesn't have a son anymore. In this new version of existence, he's not just a college physics professor, but a genius who has achieved a truly remarkable, game-changing feat.

But which version of Jason Dessen's life is real, and which one is the dream? That question is at the heart of this suspenseful thriller, which also asks how far we'll go to get what we want — and what we are willing to sacrifice to get it.

Photo: Crown.

The Girl Before
By Rena Olsen
Out August 9

Claire Lawson's life with her husband and daughters is running along smoothly — until one day, a squad of armed men break into her house and tear her away from her family. The last thing she hears is her husband commanding her to say nothing.

From there, the book spirals back to Claire's past: a tumultuous youth, escaping her family, falling in love with the son of her adoptive parents. But Claire's history is full of dark secrets, some of which she doesn't even remember herself. The more she finds out about herself, the more it becomes possible that the past could ruin her life as she knows it.

Photo: G.P. Putnam's Sons.

The Couple Next Door
By Shari Lapena
Out August 23

Anne and Marco Conti seem to have it all: the gorgeous home, the loving relationship, the beautiful baby girl. But one night, while they're at a dinner party next door, a horrifying crime is committed.

Investigators pounce on the case, but the more they delve into the details of the Conti's lives, the clearer it becomes that the couple has a trove of skeletons in the closet, and secrets that they've been keeping — from the world, and from one another — for years. If you loved The Girl on the Train, then take The Couple Next Door for a spin.

Photo: Pamela Dorman Books.

The Woman in Cabin 10
By Ruth Ware
Out July 19, 2016

Lo Blacklock is a travel writer whose latest assignment lands her on a luxury cruise line in the North Sea. At first, the trip is a dream — but the longer she's on the boat, the more it begins to seem like a nightmare. When a woman goes overboard one stormy night, it becomes clear that something dangerous is afoot. Especially when it turns out that all the passengers have been accounted for, and so the ship sails on without a second thought.

Image: Gallery/Scout Press.

All the Missing Girls
By Megan Miranda
Released June 28, 2016

Nic Farrell returns to her hometown to deal with some family affairs, but she never imagined that she'd be forced to relive the same nightmare that drove her away 10 years ago, when her best friend disappeared without a trace.

Now that she's back, another girl has gone missing. And as this page-turner presses forth, it becomes clear that maybe Nic knows more about what happened than she feels safe sharing. Fast-paced and frightening, All the Missing Girls will teach you why it's dangerous to go into the woods alone at night.

Read our full review of All the Missing Girls.

Image: Simon & Schuster.

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
By Steig Larsson
Released in 2011

By now, you probably have some inkling of what this best-selling mystery is about. (There was only so long anyone could hold out before watching the movie, right?) But just in case...

Harriet Vanger is a member of one of Sweden's wealthiest families — but she's been missing for nearly half a century. Her uncle decides to investigate her disappearance, hiring journalist Mikael Blomkvist and his punk-prodigy assistant Lisbeth Salander to unearth the truth. But what they find is far more than anyone involved bargained for.

Image: Vintage Crime/Black Lizard.

Strangers on a Train
By Patricia Highsmith
Released in 1950

Brought to you by the same author behind Carol, Strangers on a Train is the tale of two men who meet in a train car and agree to "trade" murders, so that neither will be a suspect in the death of their intended victim's death. Brilliantly plotted and hair-raising, this is an oldie but still one of the best. (And if you like it, we would highly recommend getting into all of Highsmith's other novels, The Talented Mr. Ripley among them.)

Image: Bantam.

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The Trespasser
By Tana French
Out October 14, 2016

Tana French is a master of suspense, and her latest novel is no different from the rest of her canon: brilliant, fast-paced, and an undeniable page-turner you won't be able to put down until the final words have floated across the page.

Detective Antoinette Conway was thrilled to join the murder squad, but the only colleague with whom she feels any connection is her partner, Stephen Moran. Their latest case looks like a lovers' quarrel, but the investigation reveals that there is a lot going on beneath the surface. Every time they think they have it solved, a new loose thread comes to light, and it's up to Antoinette to unravel it until the end.

Image: Viking.

The Good Girl
By Mary Kubica
Released in 2015

Mia Dennett walks into a bar one night to meet her on-again, off-again boyfriend, but he never shows. So instead she makes the decision to leave with a stranger. Their one-night stand is going fine at first — but soon enough it sours, and the stranger kidnaps Mia. But there's much more going on here than a run-of-the-mill abduction: Her captor has an agenda. And the story only gets more terrifying once we realize what it is — and that time is running out.

Image: MIRA.

Sharp Objects
By Gillian Flynn
Released in 2007

There's no better way to recreate the Gone Girl suspense than to go back and reread books by the author who brought us that book. Gillian Flynn has several psychological thrillers under her belt, and this is our second favorite among them.

Sharp Objects tells the story of reporter Camille Preaker, freshly released from a psych ward and on a new assignment: to return to her hometown and cover the murders of two tween girls. But uncovering the mystery behind who killed the girls forces Camille to confront her own family secrets — and inevitably, to fight for her own survival.

Image: Broadway Books.

The Butterfly Garden
By Dot Hutchison
Released June 1, 2016

On the outside, the old, rundown mansion seems sort of romantic — especially when you get a peek at the beautiful garden housed in the expansive space. But look closer and you'll find that, among the flowers, are "butterflies": women who have been captured and tattooed by the Gardener, a twisted man obsessed with ensnaring and preserving his precious beauties.

When the FBI raids the mansion, they find only one survivor, a young woman named Maya who lived to tell the story of what happened at the mansion. But the more secrets unspool, the more it becomes clear that Maya may not be telling the whole truth — and that she might have some secrets of her own to keep buried.

Image: Thomas & Mercer.

Good as Gone
By Amy Gentry
Out July 26, 2016

Julie Whitaker was kidnapped from her childhood bedroom late one night when she was just 13 — and the only witness was her younger sister. Julie's disappearance shattered the family, but they never gave up hope that she was alive.

One night, years later, a young woman who claims to be Julie shows up at the front door. She's welcomed with open arms — except by her mother, who hates to admit that she's not entirely sure that this girl is really her daughter. Partnering with a private eye, she tries to track down the truth. But it's dangerous to seek out secrets you don't really desire to find.

Image: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Before I Go to Sleep
By S.J. Watson
Released in 2012

After a horrible accident, Christine develops amnesia — and every day, she wakes up without knowing anything about her own life. Her husband has been protecting her from the world all this time, but as her memories begin to return, she realizes that there is no one she can trust — and that the only thing that can save her is to remember the truth about what happened the night of the accident.

Image: Harper Paperbacks.

Before the Fall
By Noah Hawley
Released May 31, 2016

One foggy summer night, 11 people depart on a private jet headed from Martha's Vineyard to New York. Less than 20 minutes later, the plane goes down — leaving only two survivors: a painter who didn't quite fit in with the crew, and a 4-year-old boy who is also the sole heir to his dead parents' vast media fortune. As for what happened that sent the aircraft into a tailspin — well, to find out, you have to go far back before the moment of liftoff.

Image: Grand Central Publishing.

The Luckiest Girl Alive
By Jessica Knoll
Released in 2015

As a teenager at a prestigious high school, Ani FaNelli endured a shocking public humiliation — and became hellbent on self-reinvention. Years later, she's got everything she ever wanted: a killer job, an impressive wardrobe, a handsome fiancé. But she also has a secret — something that, if it came to the surface, could destroy her. But staying silent has its own devastating repercussions. Knoll's novel tackles the dark side to "having it all" — and the cost some women might go to achieve it.

Image: Simon & Schuster.

In Cold Blood
By Truman Capote
Released in 1966

On November 15, 1959, in a small Kansas town, four members of the Clutter family were tortured and murdered in their home. There was never a clear motive, and very few clues. In this masterful reported work, Truman Capote retraces the steps that led to what has become one of the most notorious crimes in American history. Both terrifying and thrilling in the same breath, this book is proof that the most bone-chilling stories are often plucked from real life.

Image: Vintage International.

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TV Love Stories We Want In Real Life

August 17, 2017, 9:45 am
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Boy Meets World: Courtesy of Disney. Gilmore Girls: The WB/Photofest. The Mindy Project: Courtesy of Hulu.

We love to immerse ourselves in the stories of star-crossed lovers. We get a kick out of the will-they-or-won't-they teases of a good on-screen friendship tinged with sexual attraction. When it comes down to it, however, those tales aren't exactly the way we'd like our own romantic lives to progress. What a relief, then, that there are also a handful of couples on our favorite TV shows that demonstrate what healthy, uncursed relationships look like.

Some of these pairs fell in love in high school — or even earlier (Hi, Cory and Topanga!) — and as young viewers, we too thought there would be a chance of meeting our one and only before college. Others saw their longtime friendships blossom into something more (and okay, maybe Lorelai and Luke took too long to realize as much). There are the coworkers who turned the spark of rivalry into mutual respect and folks from different walks of life who find they have a lifetime of lessons to learn from each other. Lately, we've also been drawn to watching the longtime marrieds (Coach and Tami Taylor 4-ever!) who have taught us that when you have the right partner, all sorts of daunting challenges are surmountable.

As much as we like to be wrecked by fictional heartbreak once in a while, we're going to take a minute to honor the matches we wouldn't mind emulating in real life.

Ross and Rachel, Friends
First Ross (David Schwimmer) was crushing on Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) and she didn't know; then she was crushing on him, and he was taken. They finally got together, only to go on a break ... with terrible (hilarious) consequences. The will-they-or-won't-they drama went on and on, as only an instant-classic sit-com could handle it. Did we ever doubt that they'd figure it all out by the very end? And beyond, we hope. And, beyond.

Photo: Courtesy of NBC.

Jack & Kate, Lost

Kate was constantly flip-flopping with Jack, the do-gooder doctor, and Sawyer, the long-haired mischievous rogue. Looking back, it's clear Jack and Kate were the real dream team, even if we never know if they were actually together in "real life." What even is real life on Lost, anyway?

Santana and Brittany, Glee
We watched these characters grow from stereotypical cheerleaders in the background to truly complex leads who could admit their love for each other wasn't the stuff of some pervy porn scenario. Santana's (Naya Rivera) mean-girl tendencies softened, Brittany's (Heather Morris) dumb-blonde shtick turned into hidden genius, and against so many odds, they tied the knot in the show's final season. We'll sing to Brittana forever.

Photo Courtesy of: FOX.

Lindsay & Tobias Funke, Arrested Development

Okay, Lindsay and Tobias might have the most bewildering, incompatible, impossible-to-believe marriage in TV history. But since it provided us joy , it makes the cut.

Amy & Rory, Doctor Who

You wouldn't expect a goofy, kind nurse to be able to stand up to the flashy 11th Doctor (Matt Smith) in a battle for a girl's heart — and that's how we know Amy (Karen Gillan) and Rory (Arthur Darvill) are a truly special match. Once Rory's allowed to come along on his girlfriend's adventures with the man everyone assumed was her imaginary friend, their relationship blossoms into the something that can save the world over and over again. Now, would we be able to wait 2,000 years for our true love to be recovered from a stasis after we kind of accidentally became a robot and shot her? Give us this kind of love and we'll test it out.

Luke & June, The Handmaid's Tale

The fact that Luke and June's relationship is so loving, supportive, and believable makes the entire devastating premise of The Handmaid's Tale even harder to handle.

George Kraychyk

Jim and Pam, The Office
Watching Jim (John Krasinski) joke through his secret love for engaged administrative assistant Pam (Jenna Fischer) was our way of sublimating our own office crush. We were worried that when they finally got together, the magic would be gone. We should have had more faith — there's plenty of humor to be had in requited office love, too! If ever there's an Office: The Next Generation, though, we'd better find that Jim and Pam's kids are off in creatively fulfilling jobs, far from any paper distribution companies.

Photo: Courtesy of NBC.

Poussey & Soso, Orange is the New Black

Love blossomed between the slightly-loony Soso and the endearing Poussey. Their genuine chemistry made the season's tragic end even more difficult to endure.

Crosby and Jasmine, Parenthood
A quick fling between Dax Shepard's Crosby and Joy Bryant's Jasmine resulted in them joining the show's titular club, though Crosby didn't even know about his son, Jabbar, for years. In lesser hands, their backward, on-and-off love story could have been a cliche, but here it felt real. As far as we're concerned, those vows they took in season 3 were meant to last long beyond this year's series finale.

Photo Courtesy of: NBC.

Juliet and Sawyer, Lost
There were hardly two more unlikely people to get together on the island than the shady con-man from Oceanic Flight 815 and the upstanding fertility researcher for the Others. Especially since it seemed like Sawyer (Josh Holloway) was finally going to win Kate (Evangeline Lilly) away from Jack (Matthew Fox), who was perfect for Juliet (Elizabeth Mitchell). A few shifts in time later, however, and Sawyer and Juliet had built a pretty cozy, not-at-all fake life together in the Dharma Initiative. Whatever that ending really meant, it was at least clear that those two got to head into the afterlife together after all.

Photo: Courtesy of ABC.

Dwayne and Whitley, A Different World
Originally, these were the cartoonish side characters in the story of Denise Huxtable's college life in the Cosby Show spinoff, but nerdy math whiz Dwayne (Kadeem Harrison) and perfect Southern belle Whitley (Jasmine Guy) grew on everyone, and eventually each other. As college romances do, they broke up for a while, and Whitley almost married a politician (as she once seemed destined to do). When last we saw them, however, Whitley and Dwayne were married, expecting a kid, and off to Japan for Dwayne's video game career. The nerds shall inherit the earth and the girl.

Photo: Courtesy of NBC.

Sun and Jin, Lost
Being stranded on an island can either make or break a couple. In the case of Sun and Jin, boy does it make them. Throughout the confusing, confounding, and at times exasperating show that was Lost, Sun and Jin’s love remains a comforting constant. That’s what makes their mutual sacrifice all the more tragic, and all the more beautiful. Til death do them part.

Asher & Michaela, How To Get Away With Murder
Somehow these two bickered their way into one another's hearts and became the couple that made so much sense.

Photo: ABC

Carrie & Sebastian, The Carrie Diaries
Sure, they weren't endgame — Carrie eventually married Mr. Big, duh — but as far as first loves go, these two '80s cuties take the cake.

Tyler & Jules, Sweet/Vicious
Sure, Jules (Eliza Bennett) technically killed Tyler's (Nick Fink) stepbrother. And yeah, she's been lying to him forever about her pursuit for vigilante justice against campus rapists. But the way he looks at her?! It makes you really want these crazy college kids to work it out.

Photo: MTV

Riley & Lucas, Girl Meets World
Cory and Topanga made the list, so it's only fitting that their daughter Riley and her first crush Lucas made it as well. These two have been through a lot (including Riley's best friend having a thing for Lucas as well) but no matter what happens, they remain close friends who happen to also make a cute couple.

Photo: Disney Channel

Stefan & Caroline, The Vampire Diaries
Friends first, friends forever... how all great romances between vampires should be.

Photo: The CW

Rob & Sharon, Catastrophe
Sometimes your love story doesn't start the way you thought it would. Rob and Sharon didn't expect to fall in love after accidentally getting pregnant, but jumping in head first led to one wonderful and hilarious love.

Photo: Channel 4

Hanna & Caleb, Pretty Little Liars
The former high school sweethearts (who finally reunited in season 7!) is proof that true love can take a break, but never truly ends.

Photo: Freeform

Rebecca & Jack, This Is Us
The ultimate mom and dad, and husband and wife. Jack and Rebecca know how to handle life's ups and downs: by having one another's back.

Photo: NBC

Emily & Jack, Revenge
These two have been through the ringer — revenge schemes, arrests, murdered partners, you name it — but despite the chaos of the Hamptons, these childhood friends found their way back to one another.

Greg & Rebecca, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
It was painful watching Rebecca pine for Josh — the man she secretly moved to West Covina for — when Greg, her far better suited match, was asking her to "settle" for him via song. By the time Rebecca finally figured out that she should be with Greg, he was leaving West Covina for business school. Despite their problems, the almost-couple's witty banter and intense chemistry is something we all should aspire to.

Liv & Major, iZombie
Liv and Major were the golden couple — until Liv got turned into a zombie. Liv broke up with Major to save him from her Night of the Living Dead ways, but ultimately they just couldn't stay away from one another. Love conquers all, even a craving of brains.

Phoebe & Mike, Friends
They may not get the attention of Ross and Rachel, but Phoebe and Mike's undeniable chemistry and complete understanding of one another is enviable. He really is her lobster!

Hook & Emma, Once Upon A Time
Forget the Prince — it's the pirate who is the real romantic hero of this fairytale series. Emma and Hook both know what it's like to have difficulty trusting people, but when they're around one another, they simply melt.

Logan & Veronica, Veronica Mars
These Neptune residents were complicated, but always perfect for one another. The snarky duo (who finally reunited in the Veronica Mars movie, yay!) were always there to save the other when things got bad — as they often did in this modern noir universe.

Photo: Warner Bros.

Chuck & Blair, Gossip Girl
The members of Manhattan's elite may be manipulative, class-obsessed schemers, but there's nothing these two wouldn't do for one another. These two are perfectly suited for one another not despite their flaws, but because of them.

Connor & Oliver,
How To Get Away With Murder
The drama is filled with jaw-dropping crimes and lots of legal jargon, but the one thing we can't get enough of are the scenes of Connor and Oliver snuggling in their apartment.

Photo: ABC

Jimmy & Gretchen, You're The Worst
Because nobody's perfect, but this is what happens when you're imperfect together.

Photo: Courtesy of FX.

Lucas & Peyton, One Tree Hill
Because no matter what happened (a school shooting, high-risk pregnancy, multiple car accidents...) these two always found their way back to one another.

Photo: The CW

David & Maddie, Moonlighting
Because everyone has an office crush.

Paul & Jamie, Mad About You
Because they perfectly represented the New York-iest of New Yorkers: tough, witty, and filled with love.

Klaus & Cami, The Originals
Because this kiss is everything.

Booth & Brennan, Bones
Because "Bones" is the best nickname for a significant other.

Dan & Roseanne, Roseanne
Because we all want the kind of relationship where you can hit your S.O. over the head with a frying pan and still laugh about it.

Fran & Maxwell, The Nanny
Because we always want to be the funny one in the relationship.

Elliot & Angela, Mr. Robot
We know, we know. They're just friends. But we've known since the pilot that these two should probably wind up together.

Michael & Nikita, Nikita
Because of this kiss, mainly.

Jerry & Elaine, Seinfeld
Because everyone knows they were in love the whole time.

Kevin Arnold & Winnie Cooper, The Wonder Years
Because these two always give us that warm and cozy summer camp feeling.

Ricky & Lucy, I Love Lucy
Because we all want our own Ricky to do the chick-chicky-boom with.

Joey & Pacey, Dawson's Creek
Because we all want that feeling of, "Oh, you've been here all along!"

Claire & Jamie, Outlander
Because we all deserve a wedding night like this.

Jon Snow & Ygritte, Game of Thrones
If you can fall in love while snuggled under a rock north of the wall, you've pretty much beat the odds. These two were (sadly) meant to be. Plus, they gave us, "You know nothing, Jon Snow," which is still our favorite meme.

Jack & Teri Bauer, 24
Because even the toughest of tough guys has a soft spot.

Ezra & Aria, Pretty Little Liars
Yes, haters, there is the whole creepy issue of how underage Aria is when she and Ezra start dating. And, well, throughout most of their relationship. But this is Pretty Little Liars, and if you're a fan, you've most likely put pesky facts like that behind you. And once you do, you are left with the magic soul mate duo that is Ezria.

Meredith & Derek, Grey's Anatomy
Yes, tragedy ensues. But any couple that can magically transform an ER room into a site worthy of romantic dancing is a winner in our eyes.

Damon & Elena, The Vampire Diaries
These days are long gone, but never have we ever rooted more for a couple to date IRL.

Castle & Beckett, Castle
Because this rain-soaked kiss was exactly the moment die hard fans had been waiting for. And because everyone needs to be kissed like this at least once in their life.

Vincent & Catherine, Beauty & The Beast
Because we all want our first kiss to be this thrilling and momentous.

Jessa & Adam, Girls
We know, we know. They are FAR from perfect. But you have to admit: The first moment during season 5 when a Jessa-Adam union seemed possible (especially throughout that scene where he kept trying to sneakily kiss her, and she pretended she didn't want him to) was magical. We're happy to be along for the tumultuous ride.

Photo: Craig Blankenhorn/HBO.

Philip & Elizabeth, The Americans
No, we don't actually want to be Russian spies who have government-sanctioned marital affairs. But we do want to feel so close to someone that we never have to keep a secret from them. We want someone to know all the darkest, dirtiest things we've done and still desire us.

Photo: Patrick Harbron/FX.

Mulder & Scully, The X-Files
Although a lot about old X-Files reruns now looks dated, the chemistry between agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) is as fresh as it was in 1995. Despite years of flirty rapport, palpable sexual chemistry, shared passion for the supernatural and the tendency to end up in dire situations together, the couple didn't even get romantic until the last couple of seasons — making them one of the first and longest-running cases of will-they-or-won't-they TV pairings. This year's reboot kind of went and ruined that, but we still believe.

Zack & Kelly, Saved by the Bell
Envying the on-again-off-again high school romance between a jock and a cheerleader may be cliché, but it's in honor of our own high school dreams. After all, watching Zack (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) pursue Kelly (Tiffani Thiessen) was kind of like witnessing our own school's most popular couple from afar — only this way, we were privy to Zack's innermost thoughts, thanks to his constant asides. As adults, we can appreciate the way they took breaks to be just friends in high school and college, so that by the time they had that Vegas wedding, it was anything but impulsive.

Cory & Topanga, Boy Meets World & Girl Meets World
Moms of toddlers often joke that their kids will one day grow up and marry each other. Do we ever see that happen? Perhaps just in the fictional universe of Boy Meets World, where quirky, earnest tweens Topanga (Danielle Fishel) and Cory (Ben Savage) rekindled their early childhood connection and took it all the way. And now, we have the very rare opportunity to see how awesome they are at married life as a new generation follows their daughter's adventures in Girl Meets World. This is, like, incontrovertible proof that true love exists, right?

Monica & Chandler, Friends
Dating someone from within your core group of friends can turn into an awkward disaster, but who doesn't sometimes dream of it happening? Monica (Courteney Cox) and Chandler (Matthew Perry) have known each other since he was Ross' college roommate, so when they finally hooked up, the only big surprise they had to discover about each other was their wicked sexual chemistry. They also have nicely aligned senses of humor, while their personalities and interests are just different enough to make sure things never get boring. Plus, they never had to go through all the soap opera-style ups and downs Rachel and Ross did. Basically, this is a recipe for a long-lasting marriage.

Miranda & Steve, Sex and the City
On paper, high-powered attorney Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) and low-key bartender Steve (David Eigenberg) could never be more than a fling. And yet, this is the rare instance (Actually, does this ever happen in real life?) where an unplanned pregnancy brings two people together and turns their constant clashing of personality and priorities into the very factors that make them work. They'll never stop learning from each other. If this were our love story, we'd probably like to do without that cheating episode from the movie, but that turned out to be one more challenge that made them stronger.

Seth & Summer, The O.C.
We can't possibly say more than the millions of nostalgic articles, music videos, and Tumblrs devoted to the perfect, popular girl-next-door, Summer (Rachel Bilson), and geeky Seth (Adam Brody), who won her heart in high school after crushing on her his entire life. Questions of popularity, existential crises, and environmental activism got between them, but it was impossible to lose faith in the power of their perfect, never-ending banter. What we'd give to have a sparring partner like that for life!

Luke & Lorelai, Gilmore Girls
Ideally, we wouldn't want to wait five whole seasons for a close friendship to slowly burn into confirmed romance the way Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Luke's (Scott Patterson) did. Nor would we really want to have to throw in a couple of unnecessary marriages to other people. If the eventual outcome, however, is confirmation that the person who gets you the most is someone you can also share a bed with for the rest of your life, the delay may be worth it. Unless there are some horrifying Christopher-like complications coming up in the Netflix revival that we don't know about yet, that is. (Shudders!)

Felicity & Ben, Felicity
At first, we though Felicity (Keri Russell) was nuts for ditching her first-choice school and running off to college in New York to be with Ben (Scott Speedman) just because he wrote something nice in her yearbook. And for years, he didn't deserve her as much as sweet Noel (Scott Foley). In the end, however, his good nature won us over — along with a bit of random witchcraft — and we have to believe they'll both follow each other to the ends of the earth now.

Photo: Courtesy of The WB.

Jim & Pam, The Office
Oh, how we love a good office crush. And oh, how we know (and HR does too!) that we should never, ever act upon one. But the daily promise of flirting and prank planning is what made working at Dunder Mifflin bearable for Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam (Jenna Fischer). The fact that Pam was engaged to someone else for years possibly made everything just a little more deliciously illicit. Of course, there was no guarantee that going from unrequited crush to real coupledom would turn out great — and there were several times when their own personal ambitions threatened to tear them apart — but that adorable spark between the two always remained. Sometimes, work is the best place to meet people, but be very careful before trying this at home.

Lafayette & James, True Blood
After a possessed Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) unwittingly stabbed his previous boyfriend to death in his own home, the Merlotte's cook deserved something good in his life. It was odd that it had to come in the form of baby vamp Jessica's boyfriend, but that's just how things go in Bon Temps. Soulful '60s throwback James (Nathan Parsons) turned out to be one of the first men to appreciate Lafayette's insane style as well as his heart.

Photo Courtesy of: HBO.

Marshall & Lily, How I Met Your Mother
Clearly, college sweethearts and best friends Marshall (Jason Segal) and Lily (Alyson Hannigan) are meant to be a foil for Ted's titular search for the Mother. They're the romantic ideal. That's not to say we haven't also been able to learn from their mistakes — mismatched career goals, in-law strife, homeownership, far-off job prospects. This is how you grow into adulthood with the love of your life without losing the kooky qualities that made you love each other in the first place.

Eric & Tami, Friday Night Lights
To some of us, the idea of being the stay-at-home wife of a football coach in small-town Texas is, um, less than ideal. But as we watched Tami Taylor (Connie Britton) embark on her career as a guidance counselor and then school principal while still supporting Eric (Kyle Chandler) in his demanding job, we kind of wanted to be in on what they have. As they watched their teenage girl grow up and (mostly) enjoyed the surprise of a second daughter, they showed us a warts-and-all relationship that could withstand a whole lot of stress. Now, if only someone would show us what their life is like after Eric followed Tami to her dream job in Philadelphia.

Kurt & Blaine, Glee
There's nothing like your first love. At the same time, not everyone would be satisfied being with no one but their high school sweetheart for the rest of their lives. That's why we'd like the compromise presented by Kurt (Chris Colfer) and Blaine (Darren Criss), who broke up after Kurt left for New York. Then, after a bit more growing up and time apart, they rekindled their romance and got married in the spur of the moment. Now, their life together doesn't have to include that "what if?" — though we're sure it does involve a lot of sweet duets at the piano.

Mitch & Cam, Modern Family
Since the show's early days, Mitch (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and Cam (Eric Stonestreet) have been lauded as one of the depictions of gay domestic life that gradually helped swing the country in favor of gay marriage (If Ann Romney enjoys watching them, they must be okay!). On a much less important level, this pairing of a neurotic lawyer and extroverted farm-boy-turned-clown/jock/stay-at-home dad is an opposites-attract scenario that we can really buy into. We particularly admire the way Cam has such a good relationship with Mitch's nutty family. May our own in-law relations fair so well.

Leslie & Ben, Parks & Recreation
Leslie (Amy Poehler) and Ben (Adam Scott) are such genuinely good people and dedicated civil servants, it's kind of amazing that seeing them together doesn't make us sick. Above all, the way they admire and support each other in their work is one of our ultimate #relationshipgoals. Then again, maybe we don't want to have a Ben and Leslie love story, per se; maybe we want Ben and Leslie to be our parents and/or co-leaders of the free world together.

Kristina & Adam, Parenthood
When you realize that Parenthood and Friday Night Lights share executive producer Jason Katims, it makes so much sense that here, too, is another shining example of a team who can conquer anything together — though they'll also have the scars to prove it. From Adam (Peter Krause) and Kristina's (Monica Potter) son's Asperger's diagnosis, to Adam's regrettable kiss with an assistant, to Kristina's breast cancer treatment, we saw them go through a whole lot and thought, Maybe we'd survive that, too, if we had the right partner along the way.

Robert & Cora, Downton Abbey
A couple of years ago, Downton creator Julian Fellowes said he was writing a prequel series about how the young viscount (Hugh Bonneville) and American heiress Cora Levinson (Elizabeth McGovern) met and married. We haven't heard much about it since then, but we'd eat up every tidbit of info on how these two went from a marriage of financial convenience (her cash saved Downton) to true love and respect. Sure, Robert can be a bit of a stubborn ass (when he's not spewing blood) and he was tempted to stray with a young maid that one time. He's got the good grace to know when he's wrong, however, and lets his wise wife guide him through the changing times.

Linda & Bob, Bob's Burgers
Working with your significant other is hard enough — we can't imagine what it's like to own a struggling business together. And yet, Linda (John Roberts) and Bob (H. Jon Benjamin) seem happiest together when they're grinding meat in the basement of their burger joint. Linda clearly admires her husband's drive to make the place succeed, or at least survive; and though he forgets it every once in a while, Bob knows his wife is the glue that holds their restaurant and family together. More than most other animated spouses, these two really act like equals.

Schmidt & Cece, New Girl
When your BFF acquires new friends of the opposite sex, doesn't your mind immediately go to: "Oooh, any prospects there?" Not that gorgeous model Cece (Hannah Simone) could immediately recognize the potential of Jess' (Zooey Deschanel) roommate Schmidt (Max Greenfield) — she was too into dating shallow guys and he seemed too obsessed with his meticulous wardrobe and get-rich-quick plans. But again, the magic of sexual chemistry broke down those walls enough for these two to see they're soul mates. Even if it's taken a few extra love triangles to get there, their engagement makes us feel warm and fuzzy, like we're wrapped in one of Schmidt's kimonos.

Mindy & Danny, The Mindy Project
Okay, so these two are in the middle of a rocky patch as of the midseason finale, but let's concentrate for a moment on the good stuff. Mindy (Mindy Kaling) and Danny (Chris Messina) are so much to each other — brutally honest frenemies, supportive BFFs, colleagues, opposites, and co-parents. They know each other's flaws (her narcissism, his chauvinistic conservatism), so we have hope that they can overcome them for the sake of those gooey looks they give each other. Since both Mindys, Kaling and Lahiri, are obsessed with the kind of rom-coms that end before getting to the complicated stuff of marriage and parenthood, these latter episodes are covering entirely new territory. Let's hope these doctors eventually show us how to do that happily ever after part, too.

Dre & Rainbow, Blackish
Dre's (Anthony Anderson) strict, traditional upbringing could not have been more different from Bow's (Tracee Ellis Ross) hippie-dippy childhood. It shows in their conflicting parenting philosophies as they raise their four kids together. Still, their conflicts never look like deal-breakers. Rather, they keep up a constant, healthy (and, yeah, hilarious) negotiation that keeps their family balanced and pretty darn happy, to boot.

Glenn & Maggie, The Walking Dead
Imagine having so much love for someone that you will gladly let a madman named Negan — swinging a bat wrapped with barbed wire— brutalize your face so your partner can be spared? Yeah, that's what love is like in the zombie apocalypse.

Photo: Courtesy of AMC.

Homer & Marge, The Simpsons
Sure, Homer is not the ideal husband (is there even such a thing?) But one of his most redeeming qualities is the fact that he downright cherishes Marge. He would never hurt her. And she would never judge him for having yet another donut.

Photo: Courtesy of FOX.

Tara & Pam, True Blood

The relationship between the fierce vampire Pam and Tara, her equally fierce progeny, was lined with an edge of sexual tension that occasionally simmered over. For people who stuck with True Blood until the bitter end, this relationship was to us what blood is to a vampire: giving us life.

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Target Just Released More Info On Its New Modern Line & We Can't Wait For The Launch

August 17, 2017, 9:50 am
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It's normal to get a little sad when fall rolls around. After all, it brings cooler weather and more items to check off your to-do list. You're not going to be spending as much time hanging out in your avocado pool floatie, sipping a frosé. (Just us? Well, we need to get it out of our system.)

But there's a silver lining to sweater weather. Every year, the home-decor trends turn from bright and tropical to moody and textured, which gives us an excuse to add a few new items to cozy up our apartments.

This means Target's new Project 62 collection, on which we first reported back in July, couldn't come at a better time. It launches on September 19, 2017 (kind of hard to believe that's in a month), and Target has just released new lookbook photos of the modern offerings, full of jewel tones, copper, and simple, clean lines.

The collection's name was inspired by Target's history. "1962 was a big year," says Project 62's website. "Modernist design hit its peak and moved into homes across the country. And in Minnesota, Target was born — with the revolutionary idea to celebrate design for all. Project 62 embodies this legacy with a collection of modern pieces new and only at Target."

You'll be able to find the brand in stores and at Target.com very soon — and, yep, we can't wait either. See the new photos, ahead.

Project 62, available in stores and at Target.com on September 19, 2017.

Photo: Courtesy of Target.

Project 62, available in stores and at Target.com on September 19, 2017.

Photo: Courtesy of Target.

Project 62, available in stores and at Target.com on September 19, 2017.

Photo: Courtesy of Target.

Project 62, available in stores and at Target.com on September 19, 2017.

Photo: Courtesy of Target.

Project 62, available in stores and at Target.com on September 19, 2017.

Photo: Courtesy of Target.

Project 62, available in stores and at Target.com on September 19, 2017.

Photo: Courtesy of Target.

Project 62, available in stores and at Target.com on September 19, 2017.

Photo: Courtesy of Target.

Project 62, available in stores and at Target.com on September 19, 2017.

Photo: Courtesy of Target.

Project 62, available in stores and at Target.com on September 19, 2017.

Photo: Courtesy of Target.

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Search

Sometimes We Just Want To Watch People Having Affairs (On Screen)

August 17, 2017, 9:50 am
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Photo: DreamWorks Pictures

Most people find cheating to be a rather icky thing to do. No matter how you feel about monogamy, it's pretty awful to lie to your partner and violate their trust by getting involved with someone behind their back. Of course, while most of us would hate to find ourselves in this romantic situation in real life, movies are a much different story.

Even the most loyal among us sometimes like to indulge in films about affairs. Maybe it's getting lost in a fantasy you know you would hate to fulfill in real life, or just the general excitement that comes from the movie's illicit love (or, often, straight-up sex). No matter what your reason for sitting through a film about a not-so-neat affair, there's more than enough movies to satisfy the urge. Hollywood adores some steamy adultery, so don't feel guilty about enjoying this genre.

So what affair movies are top-notch? These movies range from romances to thrillers, but each one has something in common: They're totally extra (-marital, that is.) Click through to see which ones you should watch when the mood strikes.

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Unfaithful(2002)

Connie's (Diane Lane) perfectly content with her life in Westchester, New York, with a young son and a responsible, if a little distant, husband (Richard Gere). But after meeting, and falling for, a younger French bookseller, Paul (Olivier Martinez), she's reminded of how exciting and thrilling life can be. Unfaithful takes a turn toward the thriller genre after Connie's husband discovers her affair, and takes action.

In the Mood For Love(2000)

This Hong Kong film is about adultery, but it's not about the adulterers. Rather, it's about their betrayed spouses.

Journalist Chow Mo-wan (Tony Leung) and secretary Su Li-Zhen (Maggie Cheung) are next-door neighbors with equally dull lives, and equally distant spouses. After both admit that their respective spouses are cheating on them, the neighbors form a deep, intimate friendship, while refusing to give in the same lustful temptation that their spouses did. Still, they imagine what could have been.

Take This Waltz(2011)

On paper, Margot (Michelle Williams) and her husband, Lou (Seth Rogen), have the perfect life. After five years of marriage, they still love each other, and get along splendidly. But Margot questions her happiness when she meets a charming, freewheeling rickshaw driver named Daniel (Luke Kirby), who's everything Lou is not. In this story of a woman on the fault line between two relationships, no choice is the right one.

Same Time, Next Year(1978)

Each year, George (Alan Alda) and Doris (Ellen Burstyn) reunite at a small California inn to have a one-night affair. The ritual began in 1951, and they haven't missed a meeting, despite marriage and children. Over the years, they develop an intimacy that runs like a current through their personal hardships, and sustains them.

The Descendants(2011)

After Matt King's (George Clooney) wife falls into a coma after a tragic accident, Matt is left to raise their two daughters — and deal with the repercussions of secrets that come tumbling from her past.

Betrayal(1983)

The movie opens in a pub, where ex-lovers Jerry (Jeremy Irons) and Emma (Patricia Hodge) hash out the events of their seven-year-long affair. A literary agent, Jerry was the best friend of Emma's husband, a well-to-do English publisher.

Told in nine segments in reverse chronological order, the film's a careful portrait of the choices we make and the repercussions they have.

American Beauty(1999)

For years, Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey) thought adhering to the capitalist American dream would bring happiness. When he finds he's still empty on the inside, Lester decides to reinvent himself as a responsibility-shirking teenager. Along the way, Lester's pulled into a heavy flirtation with Angela (Mena Suvari), his daughter's seductive best friend. The affair doesn't go places, but Lester's imagination does, including the iconic scene of Angela floating in rose petals.

Y Tu Mama Tambien(2001)

In this steamy Mexican film, a pair of 20-something best friends take a road trip through Italy with a mysterious older woman. Along the way, the boys' loyalties to their girlfriends are tested through the trip's ever-increasing sexual tension. Then, it's revealed that both boys have slept with each other's girlfriends — so all bets for fidelity are off.

Indecent Proposal(1993)

Beware turning your marriage into a money-making scheme. After a financial crisis hits David Murphy (Woody Harrelson) and his wife, Diana (Demi Moore), hard, they turn to Vegas to win big gambling. When, surprise surprise, gambling falls through, the couple is offered one last ray of financial hope through a mysterious billionaire (Robert Redford). He'll give the couple $1 million dollars — if he can spend a night with Diana.

The English Patient (1996)

During the final days of WWII in Italy, a French-Canadian nurse sits with a severely burned patient. Through his intense bandages, the patient begins to weave a story of the great affair, adventure, and tragedy he had while a cartographer in Africa recently. Key takeaway from the gorgeous and ornate film: best wait for the discreetness of a city to start an affair, because it's easy to get caught in a desert.

Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Jake Gyllenhaal and the late great Heath Ledger play ranchers drawn together during long nights on the range. Their love is passionate and bristling with implications. The main characters’ long, brooding glances, palpable chemistry, and societal entrapment make this a truly unforgettable love story. Equally interesting is the film’s portrayal of the repercussions of infidelity, and the specific cracks and fissures that erupt in each man’s marriage.

Match Point (2005)
Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Scarlett Johansson play adulterers in this Woody Allen thriller. Though their romance is peppered with steamy kisses in the rain, ultimately, the film ends...well, not so well for everyone involved.

Swimfan (2002)
At the height of the early-'00s teen melodrama, there was Swimfan, a movie as sexy as it is scary. In the film, reformed bad boy turned swimming superstar Ben (Jesse Bradford) cheats on his lovely girlfriend Amy (Shiri Appleby) with the seductive new girl Madison (Erika Christensen). Turns out, Madison is a bucket of crazy, and attempts to ruin Ben's life (and end it) after he decides to end their affair. At least they'll always have sex in the high school pool...?

Closer (2005)
If you believe in love at first sight, you never stop looking. Such is the premise of Mike Nichols' affair drama, which entangles two couples into one another's lives with devastating consequences. Jude Law, Natalie Portman, Clive Owen, and Julia Roberts give performances that are as excellent as they are heartbreaking.

Fatal Attraction (1987)
Some hot affairs fizzle out. Others end with your daughter's pet bunny in a pot on the stove. (Ugh, nightmares for days.) While you might not fantasize about this affair, you'll be hooked, and likely terrified, by Glenn Close's portrayal of the obsessed Alex.

Chloe(2003)
This movie, a remake of the 2003 French film Nathalie, features Amanda Seyfried in a role far darker than some of the rom-com heroines she's played. Here, she's a manipulative call girl named Chloe, whom suspicious wife Catherine (Julianne Moore) hires to tempt her husband (Liam Neeson) to see if he has been unfaithful. Things get more complicated when Catherine is seduced herself.

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Did You Know That Jenna Dewan & Channing Tatum Are Into Crystals?

August 17, 2017, 9:55 am
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Everywhere we look celebrities are gushing about the effectiveness of healing crystals. Reality show OG and professional troublemaker Spencer Pratt even created a handy guide to different crystal meanings. Aside from being beautiful, the little rocks boast spiritual properties that can benefit your life. You probably know all that. In fact, the trend is so popular that you probably even own a crystal or two. But what you might not have known (or guessed) is that Jenna Dewan Tatum and her husband Channing Tatum are total crystal people.

Looking back, there were signs. When the couple got married in 2009, they handed crystals out to guests, in keeping with their fairy tale theme. Crystals still play a big role in their life today. And when I say "big," I mean it literally.

Think I went a little crazy at the crystal store today

A post shared by Jenna Dewan Tatum (@jennadewan) on

Dewan Tatum posted this photo to Instagram on Wednesday, showcasing her latest find. We know she's a fit woman, but how heavy must that crystal be? The experts in the comment section identified the rock as rose quartz. According to crystal experts, raw rose quartz heals the heart and opens it up to love. The new addition is only going to amplify the love in the Tatum household. Just last month, Jenna and Channing celebrated their eighth wedding anniversary. The couple took the the wilderness to attend a remote camp with their 4-year-old daughter, Everly.

For those who believe in the healing power of crystals, the Tatums are an awesome celebrity example. And for non-believers, like Jennifer Lawrence, you might want to think twice before messing with them. She ignored warnings and ended up with a flooded house.

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Paris Jackson's Beetlejuice Costume Is Giving Us (After)Life

August 17, 2017, 10:00 am
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If you're going to throw an '80s-themed birthday party, getting the King of Pop's daughter to show up is a bit of a coup. And if you're going to attend an '80s-themed birthday party, wearing a costume that pays homage to one of the greatest films of the decade is a no-brainer —especially when your sparkly glove and red leather jacket are at the dry cleaner.

Major props to Paris Jackson, who made a major effort for her pal (and self-proclaimed psychic medium) Riz Mirza's "totally awesome '80s birthday bash" this weekend. As documented in her Instagram Stories, the 19-year-old model and actress eschewed the predictable Michael Jackson tribute in favor of an iconic Winona Ryder role: Lydia Deetz from the 1988 Tim Burton classic, Beetlejuice.

call me ms deetz 👻

A post shared by Paris-Michael K. Jackson (@parisjackson) on

Despite being born 10 years after the Michael Keaton comedy was released, Jackson had every last detail down when it came to embodying the gloomy, monochromatic teen photographer. Her all-black ensemble included a wide-brimmed hat with a veil, ripped stockings, and a camera swinging from her neck. Red eye shadow created an especially ghoulish effect, while Lydia's gel-coated spiky hair was recreated to perfection.

Of course, it can take more than clothes to really get into character. Though she stopped short of calling out "Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice" — one can't be too careful, kids — M.J.'s pride and joy couldn't resist swaying to the calypso beats of Deetz's favorite dance tune from the film, Harry Belafonte's "Jump in the Line (Shake Señora)." She's still working on that floating above the staircase thing.

Jackson also cranked up Danny Elfman's Beetlejuice theme en route to the party, which involved Rubik's Cube props and a Doc Brown impersonator emerging from a real DeLorean.

Stars... they're just like us. Sometimes.

*deep inhale* hmm smells like the 1980's

A post shared by Paris-Michael K. Jackson (@parisjackson) on

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The Best Beach Reads Of 2017

August 17, 2017, 10:00 am
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Some of us are beach people. Others are beach reads people. While your friends play frisbee or thrash about in the waves, you're happiest sprawled out on a towel, propped up on your elbows, completely entranced by a book.

Choosing the best beach read is a delicate art. First, you must consider the tone and the subject matter. Do you want to rush through an addictive thriller, or devote a chunk of reading time to Crime and Punishment? Then, there are more material concerns. Do you really want to lug a 500-page hardcover along with all your beach supplies? Or ruin an expensive book with water and sand?

Everyone's idea of fun is different, and so are our ideas of beach reads. So, we've chosen a beach read to suit every desire. While most of the books on this list are from this year, we've snuck in a few tired, true, and everlasting beach reads for your reading pleasure.

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If you wish you wish The Great Gatsby were a literary thriller

The Party by Elizabeth Day

By page one of this devious, witty, thrilling book, you'll be as haplessly seduced by Ben Fitzmaurice's glamorous lifestyle as his old classmate, Martin Gilmour, is. Whereas Martin attended boarding school on scholarship, Ben has always been immersed in the wealth of 80s Tory Britain. Martin arrives with his wife, Lucy, to Ben's dinner party, and over the course of the evening, discover themselves orbiting a dark crime. Martin, who narrates the book, isn't entirely trustworthy himself.

If your friends are the most interesting people you know

Conversations With Friends by Sally Rooney (2017)

The two 20-something protagonists in Sally Rooney's debut novel are facing adulthood without much direction — but with spectacular wit and conversation. Frances is the cool, calm, detached half of her friendship with the wilder Bobbi (whom she also previously dated). After Frances and Bobbi befriend an older couple, Frances finds herself drawn to the couple's husband, Nick. Just as quickly, she finds herself embroiled in an affair, and the first really messy emotional experience of her life.

If you've already read every dystopian cult book in the library

Gather the Daughters by Jennie Melamed (2017)

17-year-old Janey Solomon doesn't want to become a woman, and if you were a part of her post-apocalyptic society, you might not, either. Janey lives on a desolate island controlled by the Wanderers, a group of men who have descended from the island's original founders. Only they have any contact with the outside world.

The rest, like Janey, live according to a strict reproduction calendar. Upon reaching puberty, the daughters of the Wanderers get married and begin having children. In the summer season, while adults are busy reproducing, the children of the island run free — to some devastating results.

At 17, Janey's not convinced that this is the right way to live. She starves herself to stave off her period, and attempts to incite an uprising of the island's girls.

If you like epic books that build up to a sweeping crescendo of coincidences

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (2014)

In short, alternating chapters, Doerr weaves together the lives of two children coming of age under the shadow of WWII. Before the war, the blind Marie-Laure spends her days exploring her father's workplace, the Museum of Natural History, and learning to navigate Paris. When she and her father have to flee for the coastal town of Saint-Malo with a precious jewel in tow, she feels entirely trapped in an unfamiliar setting.

For the brilliant orphan Werner, the German war effort gives him an opportunity to leave his orphanage and escape from a life working in the mines. He lands a spot at the academy for Hitler Youth, a place far more brutal than he could've known. His journey, like Marie-Laure's, ends in Saint-Malo.

If you should be so lucky to have problems like these

Rich People Problems by Kevin Kwan (2017)

In the third installment of Kwan's wickedly fun books, family members gather around the deathbed of the family matriarch not to offer support, but to nab a spot on her will.

If this romp about an extremely wealthy Singaporean family isn't sufficiently packed with intrigue, larger-than-life characters, and and wild affairs, then you're in luck — there are two other books in the series to go back on.

If you're living at home

Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong (2017)

After her fiancé discards her like a used towel, 30-year-old Ruth quits her job and moves home. But she's not returning to the life of her childhood. Her father is losing his memory, and Ruth and her mother, Annie, are forced to watch him change into a different man before their eyes. While a bleak premise, this novel of family and love and grief (aka, the stuff of life) manages to inject humor and tenderness amidst all the sad stuff. This quirky novel is a must-read for anyone who's looking to start over in her own life.

If you like your historical novels so alive they practically hiss

The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry (2017)

It's the tail end of the 19th-century, and rumors of mythical serpents plaguing English marshes are alive and well. Cora Seaborne, a famous naturalist, is determined to hunt out the so-called "serpent," hoping that it's actually proof of a new species. When she moves to the Essex town of Aldwinter, Cora finds herself drawn to the local vicar, whose reaction to the serpent rumors isn't one of fascination but rather of panic. He's concerned that his parish is succumbing to fear.

This Victorian-era love story is detailed, rich, and will have you looking for serpents when you go swimming.

If you're a fiend for true crime

See What I Have Done by Sarah Schmidt (2017)

On August 4, 1892, Lizzie Borden may or may not have murdered her father and stepmother with an ax. In this gory, addictive novel, Schmidt brings to life one of the most unexpected and fascinating crimes in American history.

If you're a mother by day, budding criminal mastermind by night

The Misfortune of Marion Palm by Emily Culliton (2017)

Marion Palm has a problem, but it's not her two kids in an expensive Brooklyn private school, or her crumbling apartment, or her husband's laziness. Marion Palm's problem is that she has embezzled $180,000 from her children's school, and an auditor has begun to sniff around. Told through the perspectives of Marion and her family members, The Misfortunes of Marion Palm features the sly, wily woman antihero you'll be rooting for all summer.

If you want to cry behind your sunglasses

The Salt House by Lisa Duffy (2017)

Exactly one year ago, Hope Kelly's daughter took a nap and never woke up. Life has gone on in Hope's Maine coastal town since the tragic event, but her family's lives haven't. Told in alternating perspectives, we see how grief has radically shifted the world of Hope, Jack, and their two kids. When Jack's rival encroaches upon his fishing territory, the Kelly family will be forced to make another big change — this time, though, perhaps it'll be towards a new start.

If you’re aching to relive your college years

The Idiot by Elif Batuman (2017)

Over the course of her first year at Harvard, Selin scrambles through heady coursework, has deep and aimless conversations with friends, and is consumed by endless existential quandaries. Most of the novel focuses on Selin's semi-romance with Ivan, an evasive senior studying mathematics. It's 1995, so Selin and Ivan's "romance" is carried out through a strange new technology: Email.

Odds are, Selin's serious, curious and rambling mind will remind you of your younger self, in the best way.

Courtesy of Penguin Press

If you have a poetic sensibility and/or are a Lena Dunham groupie

Sour Heart by Jenny Zhang (2017)

From Lenny, Lena Dunham's imprint at Random House, comes Sour Heart, a collection of seven stories narrated by the daughters of Chinese immigrants. Originally a poet, Zhang brings sparkling sentences to these stories of family, history, and makin' it in Flushing, Queens.

Courtesy of Lenny Books

If you want to revel in the heart’s strange contortions

Made for Love by Alissa Nutting (2017)

After leaving her tech-mogul husband, Hazel moves into a senior home with her father and his lifelike sex doll, Diane. For years, Hazel had been stuck on her husband's secluded compound at Gogol Industries, a Google-esque company intent on integrating technology in daily life. As Hazel acclimates to her new environment, her husband, Byron, becomes more intent on winning her back — and resorts to sinister methods to do so.

This is the raunchy, absurd, intelligent romp you've been looking for.

If you've been shaken by The Handmaid’s Tale

The Book of Joan by Lidia Yuknavitch (2017)

The surface of the earth is irrevocably scorched. Society's remaining elite orbit the earth aboard the CIEL, a spaceship slowly draining the few remaining resources. On the ground, roving populations struggle to survive. As a result of nuclear fallout and changing atmospheric conditions, people on CIEL and on the earth's bodies have changed, rendering them incapable of fertility. Humanity's only hope is in Joan, a child warrior who's able to communicate with the earth and make things heal. Like Atwood, Yuknavitch has written a feminist dystopia that examines women's bodies in fascinating ways.

Courtesy of HarperCollins

If you’re addicted to Starz’ American Gods

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman (2017)

Many of Neil Gaiman's novels incorporate elements of mythology, like his novel American Gods, an exhilarating take of new gods and old gods struggling to make it in America. In Norse Mythology, the author ventures to the source of his inspiration: The Norse tales themselves. After each classic myth in Norse Mythology passes through the Gaiman Charm Machine, it emerges sharp, witty, and utterly new.

Courtesy of W. W. Norton

If you want to be swept away

The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy

20 years after her debut novel was published to critical acclaim, Roy is finally back with a second novel, expected to be equally epic. In The Ministry of Utmost Happiness, Roy weave together the lives of characters set throughout India, from the mountains of Kashmir to the alleys of New Delhi.

If you want a new American classic

Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Warn

Move over, Faulkner. Here's the new epic novel of family bonds in the American South. When her children's father is finally released from prison, Leonie and her kids drive through Mississippi to the State Penitentiary. But the road trip becomes an odyssey when the spirit of a dead inmate, who carries the history of the South with him, joins them in the car. Sing, Unburied, Sing is a journey through America's uglier truths.

Courtesy of Scribner

If you want to get ahead on a book-to-film adaptation

Call My By Your Name by Andre Aciman (2007)

On the Italian Riviera, a budding teenager discovers lust, love, and the aches of the heart when his family hosts a 24-year-old American scholar at their villa. With its descriptions of long Mediterranean days and even longer nights, Call Me By Your Name reeks of summer.

The gorgeous film adaptation, starring Armie Hammer, got rave reviews at Sundance. It's set to hit theaters on November 24, 2017, so be sure to read the book by then.

Courtesy of Picador

If you’re a pop culture junkie

All The Lives I Want: Essays About My Best Friends Who Happen To Be Famous Strangers by Alana Massey (2017)

We define who we are by what we like. In this collection of essays, Massey takes an incisive look to the pop culture figures who defined her own sense of self. With essays on violence against women, body image, and romance, this collection especially focuses on the way women are affected by the pop culture machine. Get ready to hear the "Winona vs. Gwyneth" argument verbalized like never before.

If you’re helplessly plugged in

Startup by Doree Shafrir (2017)

Move over, Silicon Valley. Shafrir's satirical novel is set in the New York tech scene, where a cast of characters are swept into the rise (and viral fall) of a mindfulness app called TakeOff. A tech writer herself, Shafrir makes incisive, astute, and all too real observations on the idiosyncrasies of the industry. This a fun, breezy, utterly millennial read.

If you wish you could laugh at your family more

Priestdaddy: A Memoir by Patricia Lockwood (2017)

After an unexpected series of financial setbacks, the poet Patricia Lockwood and her husband move back into her childhood home. Very early on, we see Lockwood’s family is something extraordinary. For one, her father is a married Catholic priest who lounges in boxers and plays electric guitar. Though she’s used to her crazy family, her husband isn’t — so part of Priestdaddy’s charm is watching Lockwood try to create a space of “normalcy” amidst her chaotic and hilarious relatives.

Courtesy of Riverhead

If you're just starting out

The Futures by Anna Pitoniak (2017)

After graduating from Yale in 2008, Julia and Evan move to New York City to begin their bright life together. After Evan starts working a hedge fund, he's pulled into a secret and glamorous world. Bored at her nonprofit job, Julia feels left out from Evan's life. But it's 2008, so Julia shouldn't worry too much: Everything's about to come crashing once the financial crisis hits.

Lee Boudreaux Books

If you wished your big city was more like a small town

Anything Is Possible by Elizabeth Strout (2017)

In nine linked stories, Strout peers into the lives of characters in small town America. By the end, the stories have interconnected to form a wholly heartening patchwork. These struggling outcasts all get a shot at redemption. Strout reminds us that there’s always the potential for grace, for love, and for connection.

If you want to stay up all night reading

Before the Fall by Noah Hawley (2016)

A small plane leaving Martha's Vineyard crashes. There are two survivors: A young boy, and the painter who miraculously swims amidst shark-infested Atlantic water and carries them both to safety. Delving into the stories of each passenger aboard the plane, Before the Fall is a story of grief, suspense and bravery. It'll have you hooked.

If you're tired of online dating

The Answers by Catherine Lacey (2017)

Mary's found a way to solve her financial issues. As part of his "Girlfriend Experiment," famous actor Kurt Sky's Intimacy Team assigns different roles to the many different women in his life, including Anger Girlfriend, Intellectual Girlfriend, and Maternal Girlfriend. Mary's cast to play the part of "Emotional Girlfriend," which has its own set of challenges.

Courtesy of FSG

If you're searching for a smart literary thriller

The Destroyers by Christopher Bollen (2017)

After his father disinherits him, Ian Bledsoe's only hope is to visit his wealthy childhood friend, Charlie, and ask for help. After Ian arrives to Charlie's island paradise in Patmos, Greece, Charlie's all too eager to lend a hand. But while money can buy luxury, Ian soon finds that Charlie's wealth comes with a few (dangerous) strings attached. Here's the perfect literary thriller set under the Grecian sun.

Courtesy of HarperCollins

If your "home friends" are your best friends

From Rockaway by Jill Eisenstadt (2017)

Before Alex manages to get into a posh New England college, her life consisted of lifeguarding and drinking beer with her friends on the beach in Rockaway, New York. After a year of school, Alex returns for summer vacation with her old gang with an utterly new perspective. In this bleak '80s landscape, Alex realizes her friends aren't ever going to escape "Rotaway" — will she?

Courtesy of Knopf

If you love mysteries with "girl" in the title

Girl in Snow by Danya Kukafka (2017)

When high schooler Lucinda Hayes is found murdered, three peers in her Colorado town must look inward to piece together what happened.

Courtesy of Simon & Schuster

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How Every Skin Type Should Be Using Face Oils

August 17, 2017, 10:00 am
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Illustrated by Mallory Heyer.

Oils aren't going anywhere, it seems. In fact, every time we scan the Sephora shelves, new, innovative versions have popped up. We're all for 'em, but sifting through the many little jars holding essences of rosehip, safflower seed, jojoba, lavender, argan, coconut, and more can be confusing.

First, it’s important to understand your skin type and your concerns in order to find the oils that will be most beneficial for you specifically, then it's best to use them at night, says skin-care professional Reneé Rouleau, so the ingredients can work while you sleep to repair any damage.

Ahead, the oils you should be using to wake up to your brightest, softest skin.

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For Dry Skin

Rouleau tells us that when treating dry skin, it's important not to skip moisturizer, or put oil on before it. Our skin needs both oil and water, and the moisturizer provides the latter. Further, it's important to note that when using a moisturizer directly over the oil, the active, beneficial ingredients in the moisturizer are unable to penetrate through the oil barrier.

Rouleau suggests cleansing and toning the skin before applying an evening oil. "Mix 4-6 drops of the oil directly in with your nighttime moisturizer and apply to both the face and neck," Rouleau recommends. "You can also use 4-5 drops applied over your moisturizer, which will provide a protective barrier to prevent dry air from pulling moisture out from the skin."

Caudalie Vinosource Overnight Recovery Oil, $52, available at Caudalie.

For Normal Skin

Those with normal skin should follow the same protocol as with dry skin, avoiding oil application directly on the skin or in place of moisturizer. Because normal skin needs a like less oil than dry skin, Rouleau advises mixing in only 2-3 drops of treatment oil.

"Although many normal skin types experience the occasional breakout, if you start to notice frequency in breakouts occurring after you've begun using a treatment oil, you might consider dialing down the frequency and only applying the skin oil on days when your face is exposed to harsh winds and cold temperatures," Rouleau recommends.

Reneé Rouleau Pro Remedy Oil, $68.50, available at Reneé Rouleau.

For Oily/Combination & Blemish-Prone Skin

There's often fear in applying oil to already-oily skin — but, when used sparingly, oils can actually benefit acne-prone skin. "People with oily skin types can safely use treatment oils, especially if you are located in an extremely dry climate; however, it's important to use them sparingly and only when skin is feeling particularly tight and dry," Rouleau says. "You don't want to overuse a treatment oil because it will create a layer over the top of the surface, which then creates more heat to be trapped within the skin. Heat will cause more oil production and allow for bacteria to grow more quickly, ultimately resulting in a potential for increased acne."

To do it right, Rouleau recommends applying a lightweight oil-free moisturizer first. "You want your moisturizer's ingredients to absorb into the skin first to avoid any potential blocking or clogging of the pores," she says. "After you've moisturized as you normally would, you can add a protective layer of oil (sparingly, 1-2 drops) over your moisturizer to prevent water loss."

Sunday Riley U.F.O Ultra-Clarifying Face Oil, $80, available at Sephora.

For Airplane Travel (All Skin Types)

We know that sitting on an airplane for even just a few hours can suck moisture out of the skin. Rouleau cautions that pre-flight, oil should be applied only once, or not at all. But once in-flight, to protect your skin from the drying cabin air, Rouleau recommends applying 1-2 drops over moisturizer every hour of your trip.

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate, $46, available at Bergdorf Goodman.

For Daytime Use

"Apply oil over daytime sunscreen and before makeup," Rouleau advises. "In the morning after cleansing, toning with an alcohol-free toner (left damp on the skin for extra hydration), and using a vitamin C antioxidant serum followed by a moisturizer with sunscreen, massage a few drops of oil onto the skin." Layering a treatment oil over your sunscreen will add a protective skin barrier, and prevent any moisture evaporation. The skin expert cautions against mixing oil and moisturizer, as it alters the sunscreen's original formula, which may result in less effective SPF skin protection.

Clinique Smart Treatment Oil, $44, available at Clinique.

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