BOOK

Usually when I read or watch rom-coms, I can easily swoon over the love story and am happy for the two leads when they eventually end up together, but this was probably the first time I thought, ugh, I wish that were me. It’s the summer before college when Dimple and Rishi meet at Insomnia Con, a web development program at SFSU. Only, he’s gone under the impression that they’re arranged to be married and she is only there to get her app up and running. Focused solely on her passion, marriage is the farthest thing from her mind. But as Dimple gets to know Rishi through their friendship, something better blossoms.

FILMS

Classic: Life is Beautiful (Hulu)

I get it, you are probably thinking a Holocaust movie is the last thing you need right now: COVID, the murder hornet, and the re-emergence of low-rise jeans. But this film is more than just another WWII film. It’s about love, dreams, and humor in the midst of inhumanity. Roberto Benigni directed, co-wrote and starred as Guido, a hotel waiter in Italy in the 1930s. Through his Chaplin-like adventures, we can’t help but smile through the tears.

Comedy: I Love You, Man (Amazon)

When I first saw this movie, I couldn’t decide if I could ever possibly watch it again. I get terrible second hand embarrassment and Paul Rudd is a walking tongue-twister that tries desperately to make guy friends. He’s wonderful with the ladies and even scored his wife-to-be Rashida Jones. With his wedding fast approaching, Paul Rudd embarks on a journey to find a best man and meets Jason Segel, a dude’s dude. This is the duo I never thought I needed and will never stop watching. Laters on the menjay.

Sci-Fi: Star Wars: A New Hope (Disney+)

In honor of May the 4th, during which I hope the force was with you, we had to shout out the best one of them all. You can argue all you want, but my feet are planted on this hill. It’s got Luke, Leia, R2D2, Darth (Vader), all your OG faves that got the whole franchise up and running. If you want to pretend you’re at Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge, like I am, take this one for a ride.

Coming of Age: The Half of It (Netflix)

I’m pretty sure there have been more Cyrano de Bergerac adaptations than Romeo & Juliet ones. But, Alice Wu’s The Half of It might be the best one to date. It’s smart, tender, witty, and just so enjoyable to watch. While it’s based off of Cyrano, it ultimately isn’t your typical romance. It’s a love story, don’t get me wrong, but Wu ultimately shows us that love comes in all sorts of forms.

TV SERIES

Upload (Amazon)

If you like Black Mirror and The Good Place, dive into this. I recommend this as a gift, from me to you. The year is 2033 and Robbie Amell is uploaded into a digital afterlife where he meets his “angel”, Andy Allo. Andy helps him acclimate to death and uncover the truth behind his missing memories that reveal whether or not he was murdered, who may have done the job, and why they wanted him out of the picture.

The Vampire Diaries (Netflix)

Every week is vampire week on The Bridge! I’m kidding, but not really. In honor of Stephenie Meyer blessing 2020 with the release of the much anticipated Midnight Sun, it’s time to start watching Vampire Diaries again. I feel like towards the end, the series kind of goes off the rails, but the first couple of seasons are *chef’s kiss.* The romance, the mystery, the TEEN ANGST. If you thought the Twilight baseball scene was great, just wait until you watch Paul Wesley play vampire football.

PODCASTS

BBC Obsessed With… Normal People

A TV companion podcast for anyone who wants to dive deeper into their favorite British TV show. Once you’ve finished crying your eyes out watching Normal People, do yourself a favor and listen to Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood) and fellow podcaster Riyadh Khalaf discuss the series from beginning to end, mental health, and sex. The perfect podcast if your housemates are tired of hearing you talk about how much you loved the show.