*i love a judy garland movie almost as much as i love a fred asaire film. here: a still from the internet of* *EASTER PARADE* *(1948). but to be fair, my fave judy pic is either* *SUMMER STOCK* *(1950) or* OZ (1939), of course.

we love a bonnet parade— almost as much as we love stories! please enjoy the collected weekly reading book review videos of april (as they happen each monday morning this month). along with links to bookshop.org (unless otherwise indicated) where you can learn more about each title that intrigues you!

hoppy reading!!

xo,

*hallie :)

✨✏️ weekly reading book review april 2026: episode one!! ✏️✨

here were the stories (books, plays, & audiobooks!) of the week:

✨ AUDITION by michael shurtleff

(just like the most-together writing-for-publication craft book you need is BEFORE & AFTER THE BOOK DEAL by courtney maum , this one is the ONE book you fer sure need about acting!!)

p.s. i'm finding it IndREDiBLe how much acting and writing are "the same!" character development, backstory, tension, subplot, etc etc...!!

✨ RUMORS by neil simon (script)

✨ THE GRIMOIRE GRAMMAR SCHOOL PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION by caitlin rozakis

(also love her book DREADFUL!!)

✨ DEEP WORK by cal newport

(agree with the sentiment, but so far making me mad; could be ‘cause of format? someone please tell me in the comments not to DNF?!)

✨ THE GREAT GATSBY (touring broadway company at the peace center!)

https://broadwaygatsby.com/tour

https://www.peacecenter.org

✨ THE MOUNTAINTOP by katori hall at the warehouse theatre

(goooooo seeeee it!!!!! & get your tx before they sell out the run!!!)

the script: https://bookshop.org/a/5254/9781472587718

the show: https://warehousetheatre.com/shows/mountaintop

miiiiiight read next:

✨ THE SECOND LIFE OF SNAP by erin entrada kelley

(out in may from green willow books !! thanks for the ARC, harper collins childrens books!! )

✨ SOUNDS LIKE LOVE by ashley poston

✨ PERFECT LITTLE WORLD by kevin wilson

(it was three lives bookstore i was trying to think of in the west village, nyc!)

✨ AN ARTIST’S LIFE by mary whyte

what stories are you loving right now?!?

my substack goes out tomorrow with crayon box happy mail links + fave march reads + recent theatre blog links… plus i’m acting and revising a pb dummy this week…! yay!!

my monthly marker re*cap (substack newsletter): https://halthegalstoryart.substack.com

the crayon box (monthly sticker mail + more!!): https://www.patreon.com/halthegal

my theatre, travel, & otherwise blog on my website: https://www.halthegal.art/artist-blog

✏️

with all my hollow-chocolate ears heart,