My very favorite newsletters
2021 is the year of the Newsletter. And while keeping up with my pleasure reading in an ever expanding inbox isn’t ideal, newsletter’s are more often that not polished blogs and I have lamented again and again how much I miss the “golden age” of blogs. Some of these are big newsletters, some aren’t really newsletters at all but artist Patreon’s that I adore reading and following. Many offer both paid and free content, though it’s sometimes hard to keep track. But these are my favorites, right now.
Anne Helen Petersen’s Culture Study is brilliant. Without the pressures and norms of Buzzfeed, Petersen has been able to do what she does best: deep dive into questions about work, pleasure, popular culture, and even Peloton. There is a free weekly essay, which is always always an enjoyable read. But if you subscribe, you get a roundup of links, extra essays, and access to a discord that may be the nicest, most fun place on the internet. The best part is Petersen is able to offer free subscriptions to the paid version to anyone who asks. My very favorite essay from this year is “The Master’s Trap,” a multi-part series on the exploitative nature of elite, paid, masters degrees.
Girls Night In is an absolute delight. Every week I read it with my coffee like I once religiously read College Fashion. These news letters include everything from product recommendations (which I adore) to movie, music, and fun recommendations. There are links to great articles, suggestions for causes to support, and the overall vibe is just cozy friends. The Gift Guides are out now too, so if you aren’t already overwhelmed with shopping these are fun to browse.
A Little Britt of Fun is a blogger with an instagram presence I adore. But their newsletter, available via Patreon, is next level. Deep dives on pop culture, link round ups (with essential reading starred), and a very fun little gift guide all await you. I particularly love the devotion to Taylor Swift, to activism, and to critiquing Shaun King et al. it’s absolutely worth hitting that subscribe button.
Sweater Weather is amazing, bringing brilliant essays by the author of Real Life and Filthy Animals to your INBOX. Sometimes it’s a pop culture rant or an essay about books or an argument that vibes are catholic. it really can’t be described or contained, just like Taylor’s writing itself. Go hit that button.
I support a ton of artists on Patreon and one of my absolute favorites is Radhia Rahman, a queer artist of color living in New York and making amazing, bright, colorful, and queer art. Subscribing to the Patreon gets you access to adorable printables, videos, audio newsletters, newsletter newsletters, and just Radhia’s brilliant presence (which always features a sea of pink and love for her kitty Kuni.
Summer Brennan’s Patreon, “A Writer’s Notebook,” is just beautiful? Absolutely beautiful? And her writing can fill up your inbox for just ONE DOLLAR. What a deal. Plus sometimes you get beautiful pictures or views of her sketchbook or insight into her life in Paris. Her deep dive on Bad Art Friend was the absolute best take on a very bad discourse, imo.
Do you like skincare? Then I have the newsletter for you! A part of the Gee Thanks I Just Bought It! podcast universe, Hotline Skin is a newsletter written by esthetician in training (and general delight) Jolie De Feis. She answers tons of reader questions about skincare, gives product recs, and does super cool things like interview DENNIS GROSS.
This is literally a tiny tiny sampling of the newsletters I follow and adore, but they are all worth checking out imo.