July 2026 Pop Culture Roundup

Books

My Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady Hendrix – An 80s throwback ode to exorcist stories. The story was suitably creepy and unsettling, and the core friendship was really well-developed.
Super Gay Poems by Stephanie Burt – A collection of poems by LGBTQ+ poets with accompanying essays that gives analysis on each. It’s a really good introduction to the history of LGBTQ+ issues and art from Stonewall onward.
I’m Sad and Horny by Haley Lu Richardson – This poetry collection is very honest, and often very funny.
Coffee Days Whiskey Nights by Parker Lee – “Poetry” that reads more like pithy wisdom or short self pep talks. Skip this one.
How to Fly (In Ten Thousand Easy Steps) by Barbara Kingsolver – Poetry that pulls from small everyday moments and lives known and loved.

Movies

Ready or Not 2: Here I Come – Our protagonist survived a violent game of hide and seek…and now has to do it again with raised stakes, and with her sister. This was as entertaining as the first one.
Obsession – A guy makes a wish that the girl he likes loves him “more than anyone else in the whole world,” and everything goes really, really wrong. It’s well done, and incredibly disturbing.
Masters of the Universe – True to the source material, able to laugh at itself, and great action sequences. It was everything that I hoped for.

TV Shows

The Bear – The final season was frantic in a different way: it follows a single night of service as the restaurant is in danger of running out of food, but there’s much less yelling and chaos. It gave the characters breathing room to reflect on how far they’ve come and where they’re going next.
Ride or Die – Hannah Waddingham and Octavia Spencer play best friends who get caught up in an adventure across Europe because it turns out that Waddingham’s character is a secret assassin. Very charming, funny, and full of mystery.

Albums (favorites in bold)

My 2026 playlist so far (new songs added regularly)

Published by Jeff Nelson