The week's bestselling books, May 25
1. The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong (Penguin Press: $30) An unlikely pair develops a life-altering bond.
2. James by Percival Everett (Doubleday: $28) An action-packed reimagining of 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.'
3. Fever Beach by Carl Hiaasen (Knopf: $30) Two Floridians are plunged into a mystery involving dark money and darker motives.
4. My Friends by Fredrik Backman (Atria Books: $30) The bond between a group of teens 25 years earlier has a powerful effect on a budding artist.
5. My Name Is Emilia del Valle by Isabel Allende (Ballantine Books: $30) A young writer in the late 1800s travels to South America to uncover the truth about her father.
6. Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry (Berkley: $29) Two writers compete for the chance to tell the larger-than-life story of an heiress.
7. Anima Rising by Christopher Moore (William Morrow: $30) The tale of a mad scientist, a famous painter and an undead woman's journey of self-discovery.
8. Audition by Katie Kitamura (Riverhead Books: $28) An accomplished actor grapples with the varied roles she plays in her personal life.
9. Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz (Harper: $31) Murder links past and present in a mind-boggling metafictional mystery.
10. The Wedding People by Alison Espach (Henry Holt & Co.: $29) An unexpected wedding guest gets surprise help on her journey to starting anew.
…
1. The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins (Hay House: $30) How to stop wasting energy on things you can't control.
2. Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson (Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster: $30) A call to renew a politics of plenty and abandon the chosen scarcities that have deformed American life.
3. We Can Do Hard Things by Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach and Amanda Doyle (The Dial Press: $34) The guidebook for being alive.
4. Mark Twain by Ron Chernow (Penguin Press: $45) The Pulitzer-winning biographer explores the life of the celebrated American writer.
5. The Book of Alchemy by Suleika Jaouad (Random House: $30) A guide to the art of journaling, with contributions from Jon Batiste, Salman Rushdie, Gloria Steinem and others.
6. Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams (Flatiron Books: $33) An insider's account of working at Facebook.
7. I Regret Almost Everything by Keith McNally (Gallery Books: $30) The restaurateur relates his gritty childhood and rise in the dining scene.
8. Notes to John by Joan Didion (Knopf: $32) Diary entries from the famed writer's journal.
9. Everything Is Tuberculosis by John Green (Crash Course Books: $28) The deeply human story of the fight against the world's deadliest infectious disease.
10. The Creative Act by Rick Rubin (Penguin: $32) The music producer on how to be a creative person.
…
1. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt (Ecco: $20)
2. Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar (Vintage: $18)
3. All Fours by Miranda July (Riverhead Books: $19)
4. Tom Lake by Ann Patchett (Harper Perennial: $19)
5. The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl (Random House Trade Paperbacks: $19)
6. One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune (Berkley: $19)
7. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin (Vintage: $19)
8. The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley (Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster: $19)
9. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (Entangled: Red Tower Books: $21)
10. Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler (Grand Central: $20)
…
1. On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder (Crown: $12)
2. The Wager by David Grann (Vintage: $21)
3. Rich Relationships by Selena Soo (Rich Relationships LLC: $20)
4. All About Love by bell hooks (Morrow: $17)
5. The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan (Knopf: $36)
6. The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion (Vintage: $18)
7. The Art Thief by Michael Finkel (Vintage: $18)
8. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz (Amber-Allen: $13)
9. The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron (TarcherPerigee: $20)
10. The Body Keeps the Score by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk (Penguin: $19)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Kinchley's Tavern, with bar pies and retro charm, an essential North Jersey restaurant
I see a horse on the roof and so I know I'm there: Kinchley's Tavern in Ramsey, the next stop on my journey to the 25 most essential restaurants in North Jersey, as determined by you, dear readers. Many of you recommended Kinchley's, and I've always heard it in conversations about the best bar pie in the state. Yet where one stands in that debate is based on gustatory preferences and personal associations and histories with the establishments that serve them; that is, it's hard to name a winner when so many subjective factors are in play. Nonetheless, with a table full of said pies, a house red ale and some meatballs, I was eager to enter the fray. A fellow diner eyed my spread on his way out and said, "That's an amazing order," and I asked where he'd put these pies in the North Jersey pizza hierarchy. He thought for a moment and said, "Some people think they're overrated, but I've been coming here for 50 years and they've always worked for me." Picking up a wafer-thin slice of Kinchley's fra diavolo bar pie and folding it in half with an audible snap, I wonder: Is this pizza going to be worth all the fuss? But then, I look around the wood-paneled dining room to the tables packed with families. I think of the guy eating lunch here 50 years after his first visit, and the value of familiarity and consistency. I consider the dining's quirky accents collected over nine decades and the totem of the rooftop Clydesdale, and think: Oh, there's much more to Kinchley's than pizza. Kinchley's opened in 1937, making it one of the oldest pizzerias still running in the state. Although it's had three owners in its run, current owner George Margolis says the bar pie recipe hasn't changed since 'Mrs. Kinchley' created it some 80 years ago. The bar pie has racked up accolades over the years; readers have named it their favorite pizza in Bergen County in our annual (201) Magazine Best of Bergen poll each of the last six years. Barstool's Dave Portnoy graded the bar pie a respectable 7.5 upon his 2018 visit, and quick Google search reveals just how popular Kinchley's is for the influencer/pizza bro crowd. Beyond the menu of familiar Italian-American dishes and pub grub, Kinchley's charm is rooted in the marriage between nostalgia and peculiarity. That roof horse is a life-sized Clydesdale replica named Great Scott placed there in the '80s, and Kinchley's does indeed encourage diners to use it as a north star, but it's just the first of many throwback tchotchkes and accents at the tavern. In the dining room, you eat in booths on tables perma-matted with spill-proof red and white checker tabletops. Walls are dark wood panels with the occasional mirror branded with a major American brewery producer — and if you didn't get the hint that you're supposed to drink here, the chandeliers are a hodgepodge of stained-glass fixtures bearing old-school beer logos. You'll also find memorabilia like various cars of an old model train behind a glass display, artifacts from a time when Mountain Dew was just a quirky soda pop from the mountains and not jet fuel for preteen gamers, and placards with quaint, boozy sayings like 'The truth comes out when the spirits go in.' The bar, partitioned off from the dining room, features a long, slim tabletop with TVs and a giant mirror on which the Kinchley's logo — Clydesdales pulling a horse — is displayed. Taplists, drink and food specials and words of wisdom are etched in colorful chalk onto framed boards throughout the space. All of it — the story, the decor, the vibe — primes you for a good experience and echoes the culinary approach: comfort Italian food and pub grub. So much has been said about the bar pies at Kinchley's that I wasn't expecting the bar itself to be notable. My mistake. With so much of the decor heralding Big Beer brands, I was pleasantly surprised that the tap list (which rotates) included some craft bangers: Allagash White, Dogfishhead 60 Minute IPA, Franziskaner Weissbier and their own Red Checkered Ale, brewed by the folks at Toms River Brewing. It's a red ale, which you seldom see these days, and was an excellent representation of the style: malty but crisp with a touch of sweetness. Though the food menu includes burgers, sandwiches and entrees like coconut shrimp and a roast beef platter, I stuck with some Italian American staples and, of course, the bar pies. The meatballs were the best thing I ate at Kinchley's (and, to spoil it a bit, I liked the bar pies). Pillowy soft and oozing with moisture, they're some of the best I've had in recent memory. The sauce helped; chunks of meat in balance with bright tomatoes and a citrus zip to liven everything up. The veal parm sandwich I'd classify as 'fine.' The veal was pounded thin, heavily breaded and topped with mozzarella and sauce; all the components are there, it just didn't move me. The bread, however, was stellar: a halved ciabatta loaf, singed with char spots on the outside. It kept the sub's innards intact and actually added the biggest pop of flavor to each bite. With those out of the way, I headed into the culinary main event at Kinchley's — a bar pie flight of their three most popular pies: original, vodka and fra diavola. People can disagree in good faith about whether they like the crust of Kinchley's bar pies. For some, it might be too thin; for others, there's no such thing as that. I fall into the latter camp, and so I was pleased at how each slice — as thick as maybe a dozen sheets of printer paper — snapped like a cracker. I liked how the crust bubbles made for even thinner, even roastier bites. As for the varieties, the fra diavolo stood apart in large part because of the sauce. This wasn't just marinara with red pepper flakes; Kinchley's manages to extract both the spice and the red fruit flavor from the pepper, so you end up getting a sweet-spice experience, which blends with the bitter char on the crust and the fat and salt from the cheese for a balanced bite. As a counterpoint, the vodka pie was just a little too sweet for my liking. If I were to order it again, I'd cut it with a topping like hot peppers, black olives or maybe anchovies. To round out the meal, I ordered one of Kinchley's New York-style vanilla egg creams. Now, egg creams have never been a part of my life, so you'll have to excuse me that once the server plopped down a full liter glass of frothy white liquid on the table, I stealthily Googled what one was: neither egg nor cream (as I'd assumed), it's made of milk, seltzer water and vanilla syrup. So voluminous was it that I barely finished half of this sweet, creamy, fizzy concoction, but so pleased by the experience was I that I can certainly see a day when I crave it again. I won't weigh in on whether it is indeed the best bar pie in the region; that's a choice for only you and your maker. But I'd certainly go out of my way to get another and would recommend it to those who haven't been. And kudos to Kinchley's for keeping the prices low; everything I mentioned in here totaled to under $70. I left Kinchley's enamored with its charm; its affinity for quirky historical flourishes and its commitment to comfort. It bucks change in the broad sense but it's not stubborn in the details; the quality of the food, the modern taplist and the quick service are testaments to that. But I'm also left thinking there's something unique about North Jersey that fosters the continued presence of old-school restaurants like Kinchley's, Rutt's Hut, Holsten's, Patsy's and others; something in between the notes in every Springsteen song, something earnest, something like: If it ain't broke, don't fix it. In other words, something essential. Go: Kinchley's Tavern. 586 Franklin Turnpike, Ramsey; 201-934-7777, Matt Cortina is a food reporter for Record. If you have recommendations for other essential North Jersey restaurants for him to visit, go here or email him at mcortina@ This article originally appeared on Kinchley's Tavern in Ramsey one of most essential restaurants in NJ
New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
Jessica Pegula blasts ‘delusional' bettors after revealing death threats she received after French Open exit
American tennis star Jessica Pegula shared a taste of the heinous comments she's received on social media following her shocking exit from the French Open in a series of Instagram Stories she posted on her account on Wednesday. Pegula, daughter of billionaire Bills and Sabres owners Terry and Kim Pegula and ranked No. 3 in the world in tennis, called out the bettors she said sent her the disturbing and abusive comments, which ranged from wishing her firstborn child be a stillbirth to wishing death to her. Pegula lost the French Open in the fourth round to wild card Lois Boisson, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. Advertisement 8 Jessica Pegula reacts in frustration during her fourth-round French Open oss to Lois Boisson at Roland Garros Stadium. Susan Mullane-Imagn Images 'These [bettors] are insane and delusional,' Pegula wrote on her Instagram Story. 'And I don't allow dms and try to remember when to shut my comments off during tournament weeks but they always find a way to my timeline. This stuff has never really bothered me much but does any other sport deal with this to our level? I'd love to know because it seems to be [predominantly] tennis?? It's so disturbing.' Before the comment, Pegula shared a handful of images highlighting the bonkers messages she's received from people on her page. Advertisement In one image, it showed several comments that included calling her a 'trash can' and another that told her to 'just quit playing tennis and enjoy your father's money! You are literally the most useless top 10 player ever.' Warning: disturbing images 8 Jessica Pegula posted to her Instagram story some of the messages she received after her French Open exit. jpegula/Instagram 8 Jessica Pegula posted to her Instagram story some of the messages she received after her French Open exit. jpegula/Instagram Advertisement 8 Jessica Pegula posted to her Instagram story some of the messages she received after her French Open exit. jpegula/Instagram Another commenter wrote under an Instagram post about the passing of Pegula's dog, Tucker, that she 'sold' a match 'on purpose.' 'Can't wait until Karma spends the block back on you. Hopefully your first born child will be a still birth,' one disturbed comment read. Another person made a crass comment about her deceased dog, telling Pegula, 'Tucker is better off without this loser.' Advertisement 8 Jessica Pegula posted to her Instagram story some of the messages she received after her French Open exit. jpegula/Instagram A separate image showed a user posting a picture of a playing card that read 'You Die' on it. 'Every person on tour deals with it. It's so bad. Those are just really small snippets. I get told my family should get cancer and die from people on here on a regular basis. Absolutely crazy,' she wrote. 8 Jessica Pegula posted to her Instagram story some of the messages she received after her French Open exit. jpegula/Instagram 8 Jessica Pegula posted to her Instagram story some of the messages she received after her French Open exit. jpegula/Instagram 8 Jessica Pegula posted to her Instagram story some of the messages she received after her French Open exit. jpegula/Instagram 'I've seen stories of comments/threats/stalking making headlines in other sports… well news flash I can guarantee it's 100 times worse. These comments are nonstop for us. Win or lose – it's whatever they bet on.' Sadly, the abuse has become such a part of the tennis star's life that when the NHL had alerted her to threats to her, she was barely phased by them. Advertisement 'My response was 'oh that's it? I get those all the time' that is so messed up that that is my response. Normalizing death threats!' she added. Threats to athletes have become an increasingly visible topic recently, and Houston Police revealed earlier this week that an overseas sports bettor had been the culprit of death threats made toward Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. and his family.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
LeBron James Had No Words for Exciting News on Wednesday
LeBron James Had No Words for Exciting News on Wednesday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. LeBron James had another successful season with the Los Angeles Lakers, capping off his 22nd year in the league. Advertisement James led the Lakers to the postseason before they suffered a loss in the first round. Los Angeles lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves, despite entering the postseason as the No. 3 team in the West. After the season, when James and the rest of his teammates had time to vacation and get their minds off the game, the Lakers star promoted his Lobos 1707 tequila and mezcal. James posted a big announcement regarding Lobos, mentioning that the brand has now been recognized at the 2025 New York International Spirits Competitions in one of the highest regards. "First released as a limited expression," posted the official social media account of LeBron James' Lobos account. "Chosen to stay. Now recognized at the 2025 New York International Spirits Competition in one of the highest regards - Double Gold. Crafted with patience, finished in Pedro Ximénez sherry wine barrels, our Añejo carries the depth of its journey in every sip. To the judges - thank you for the recognition. To our community - this moment is shared with you." LeBron James, Instagram LeBron James, Instagram LeBron James partnered with Lobos 1707 in 2020, serving as a major investor in the company in the same year the brand was founded. Advertisement He's also involved in other business ventures, including Beats by Dre, Liverpool FC and Blaze Pizza. Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23).© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Last season with the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James posted 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game. Related: LeBron James Had No Words for Luka Doncic Announcement on Saturday Related: Jason Kelce Turns Heads With Personal Announcement on Wednesday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
