Do you know what I love about newsletters and why I wanted to start one? I spoke about it briefly in our first issue, and it came up in a convo I had over the weekend so maybe it bears repeating: When I read through a newsletter, I feel like I’m getting a personal note from a friend. It often comes with a vulnerable admission exactly when I need it (like someone talking about their breakouts as my skin is going through it), a good recommendation that I immediately screenshot, or an artsy picture of a candied fruitcake that makes me want to bake (okay, order) a candied fruitcake (no really, this happened the other day).
Another piece worth mentioning is that we're in a time when people want to have ownership over what they create (*raises hand*) and allow it to be as random and free as they want. Some of my favorite newsletters are undefinable; you get a cake recipe with a helpful tip about flower arranging (cut the leaves off your stems so the water doesn’t get smelly), a podcast rec, and an interview with an NYU professor all in your Friday-morning scroll.
Not to compare a thoughtfully prepared newsletter to an Instagram post (both can exist), but the former is simply more substantive. I barely caption my Instagram photos with more than an emoji or a sentence (sorry!), but it’s because I’m not motivated to share there. But as I hope you’ve gathered, this is different. I’m sitting down, thinking, and creating something more meaningful, at least to me. That’s a throughline with many newsletters I subscribe to, people put their “heart and soul” into them (that’s a direct quote from a DM I got from someone who writes one of my favorite newsletters). I’m so happy they do because — and this happens constantly — I read one essay from someone and immediately want to be their friend.
So let’s peek into my inbox, shall we?? These are my favorite newsletters (mostly Substacks) to devour weekly, and I think you’ll love them too. Subscribe, I promise you’ll find something fun, left-of-center, and interesting.
1: a newsletter by Alison Roman
You know I like to cook and bake, but even if I didn’t, I would read Alison Roman’s newsletter. It’s like flipping through a cookbook written by a real human with wit(!), but better because in her newsletters, she gives us videos dispatched from her gorgeous kitchen Upstate. For recipes, I’d recommend starting with the roasted eggplant pasta (11/10).
2: FWD Joy by Chrissy Rutherford
A few months ago, Chrissy enrolled in a popular course at NYU Stern School of Business called Becoming You: Crafting the Authentic Life You Want and Need. For all of us who didn’t get to take the class but wish we could, she shared the notes in her newsletter, FWD Joy. It was fascinating! She interviewed her wise and brilliant professor, Suzy Welch (who coincidentally also has a newsletter and podcast) about how to create an authentic life based on your values, starting with how to find out what yours are (important life work!). As with everything Chrissy self-publishes (fun fact: she used to be the fashion editor at Harper’s Bazaar), it’s rooted in self-investment. We love.
3: After School by Casey Lewis
Like The Skimm but for 20-somethings, After School covers news stories of the day directly impacting young people. While I’m still figuring out how to digest the news (and not just avoiding all of it), I find it super helpful that Casey scrolls through the day’s headlines and pulls out the good stuff applicable to Generation Homebody (I feel seen).
4: thank you, ok by Katie Merchant
Okay (ok?), this is the newsletter/photo essay where I found that cake with sugared fruit I’m obsessed with. In it, I learned that if you search ‘cake’ in your iPhone camera roll, you can see every photo of a cake you’ve ever taken (and in my case, also a pint of Jeni's Gooey Butter Cake ice cream). This is the kind of stuff you learn in newsletters! This one covers a fun gamut of “outfit recipes, micro-utopias, flowers, films, books, beauty, and other delights” (obviously including cake).
5: Scratch Pad by Grace Atwood
I'm obsessed with Grace's voice. She’s casual and to the point, exactly like a friend. I love her weekend reading recommendations, everything from the best thing she read in The Atlantic that week (last week’s was on ‘Why Humility is the Key to Well-Being’), to a great going-out top she found (should I buy this one?), and a story about falling back in love with iPhone photography. See, best recs!
6: Selleb by sisters Chloe and Claire Lee
Chloe and Claire were featured in Casey's After School newsletter and on her podcast, which is how I found them. They’re fun - and got invited to Jenni Kayne’s farmhouse (my dream!). The whole schtick of their newsletter is sharing receipts; they (vulnerably) drop their own and ask other people to share theirs as well. The idea is to “snoop what the COOLEST people on the internet are ACTUALLY(!) buying/loving/consuming.” Receipts = proof.
I’m inspired by everything in À La Carte. This recent Room Recipe was a favorite — it shows that a bathroom can have so much personality! Expect something similar from Beau Society...I might have a home project in the works :)
8: Elevate with Yung Pueblo by Yung Pueblo
I would put this in the ‘life advice’ category. Yung Pueblo (a penname) shares his wisdom about how to get through hard moments and grow in your relationships, and lessons learned through serious meditation (he meditates for two hours daily!). It’s pure, good self-growth content with no intention to sell you anything (except maybe his books).
This post on how to feel good after a string of bad days reminded me so much of our mental health newsletter, which I know you all loved (I did too!). This has some tips I hadn’t considered (like eating more veggies and getting my nails done).
"Nesting, accessorizing, and couch potato-ing my way into a new season" is a quote I pulled from Lucy’s most recent newsletter. Her content is very chic, mostly fashion and home decor, with some travel thrown in there. She’s based in London and has great taste. Case in point: this wooden fish jewelry box she recently wrote about. Soo cool.
11: Window Seat by Tori Simokov
Love the name, obsessed with the niche. I’m always on planes and will gladly take any tips on how to pack better and maximize my efficiency at the airport.
Bonus: The Daily Friday, brought to you by my friends at Friday Beers. They just hit different..
That’s all for now! I hope you found a new sub you’ll love. Spoiler: We’re doing a full Halloween issue next week! Transparently, I’m usually not a Halloween person but this year, I’m leaning into the festivities (you’ll see). Are you a Halloween gal/guy? What are you dressing up as? Tag us in your costume and we’ll repost our Beau Boos ;)
Love,
Hailee (Beau)
