The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on Amazon Prime

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel takes place in 1958 in Upper West Side, New York. The story is based on the perfect Midge Maisel, who is married to the man of her dreams with two kids. However, it all goes downhill when her husband Joel leaves her for another woman. A heartbroken Midge accidentally stumbles onto the stage at a comedy club and discovers her own comedic skills. In the process, she goes on her journey of self-discovery.  

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is a stand up comedy sitcom that I've had the pleasure of sitting down for. The wit is impeccable and it's no surprise that Rachael Brosnahan, the actress for Midge, was nominated at the Golden Globe Awards 2018 for Best Actress in a Television Series Musical or Comedy. Besides Midge herself, each and every character is crafted so perfectly, none exempt from flaws. 

You will find yourself laughing from beginning to end and sympathizing with them, most importantly the lead, throughout each and every season. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is a show I love, my mother loves, and my sister loves, bringing generations of people together with a wonderful, character-driven story.

Legend by Marie Lu

 

15-year-old June is an exceptionally gifted prodigy, who is being groomed to become a military star. But when her brother is senselessly murdered, she embarks upon a mission to find his killer and discovers that all signs point towards Day, a notorious criminal who is already wanted by the Republic. 

In Marie Lu's dystopian first installment of a trilogy, the author takes an unorthodox route for this genre—character-driven rather than plot—and executes it near flawlessly. The pace moves quickly, and Lu points readers toward her characters and their chemistry rather than the dramatic events unfolding around them. Her characterization is heartfelt and enjoyable, and readers will quickly fall in love with Day, June, and the harmony and dissonance between them. 

One drawback was the lack of explanation for a large portion of the politics (government vs people AKA the standard YA conflict, though the why behind the government's evilness was not touched upon); additionally, many times both Day and June are not as relatable as one might hope, accomplishing Olympic-level feats of athleticism and demonstrating Einstein-esque intelligence on a daily basis despite being mere, mostly ordinary teenagers. However, you won't find yourself craving more political explanation with the complex character dynamics and multi-faceted personalities. 

Overall, I would rate Marie Lu's Legend four out of five stars; with entertaining action sequences and plenty of banter to satisfy your YA needs, Legend is a quick, fun read.