Bustle says this novel is 'a twisty thriller in the vein of The Girl on the Train.' Check out our wine, food, and music pairings for this psychological tale.
Seraphina Nova Glass’s Santa Fe-set thriller, The Vacancy in Room 10, is just the kind of over-the-top wild ride we want when we haven’t read a good thriller in a while.
At the nucleus of the novel is Cass. She’s down on her luck, recently dumped and left broke, spending her days at The Sycamores, a run-down motel-turned-apartment-complex as the handy-ma’am. She works in exchange for a crummy room, unclogging drains, troubleshooting mouse problems, and making small talk with her motley crew of very near and not-so-dear neighbors. She’s obsessed with her ex’s new life, and nearly out of faith in humanity, which leaves her making a few questionable cash-quick decisions. When one of her moves backfires, a sequence of events featuring a murder, a lineup of suspects, and an ill-timed gala appearance is set off.
The Vacancy in Room 10 has no lack of suspense and shock. It’s the perfect novel to lose yourself in, letting yourself get swept up in one outrageous moment after another.
The Vacancy in Room 10
by Seraphina Nova Glass
 |  |
| Venturini Baldini Marchese Manodori Lambrusco | Umani Ronchi CaSal di Serra Verdicchio |
| Hot days call for chilled reds. There’s little better than a perfect Lambrusco, when paired with a pool and some kebabs. Try this Venturini Baldini Marchese Manodori Lambrusco for a perfectly effervescent bottle of what would surely be the hit of the evening — yes, even when sipped from a Solo cup. | Though the residents of The Sycamores tend toward beer and booze, we imagine that a bottle of this easy-drinking Umani Ronchi CaSal di Serra Verdicchio would be just as welcome. It doesn’t sacrifice complexity in its smoothness, pulling in a pleasing blend of acidity and fruit. |
Lemony Grilled Chicken Kabobs
The Feel Good Foodie Cookbook
by Yumna Jawad
All the good stuff goes down well before dusk at The Sycamores, but we’re living for those days that turn into barbecue evenings, with the ragtag residents convivially convening poolside as they fire up the grill. Most of what we come across are of the hot dog and cheeseburger ilk, but we could imagine someone getting a bit fancier one eve and popping on a few of these lemony grilled chicken kabobs from the fabulous new cookbook, The Feel Good Foodie Cookbook by Yumna Jawad. Pro tip: If you don’t have a grill, roast these kabobs in a four-hundred-degree oven, turning them once, until browned and cooked through, twenty-five to thirty minutes.
INGREDIENTS
|
STEPS 1. In a large bowl, whisk the lemon zest, lemon juice, oil, garlic, paprika, turmeric, cumin, salt, and pepper. Add the chicken and toss to combine. Cover and marinate in the fridge for 30 minutes. 2. Meanwhile, set up your work station with a baking sheet and eight metal or wooden skewers. If you’re using wooden skewers and you’re grilling outside, soak them in cold water for at least 30 minutes before cooking. Heat a grill to medium-high heat. 3. Thread the chicken pieces onto one skewer, leaving about 1 inch at the bottom and top of the skewer and ensuring that there is an inch of space between each piece. Set the finished skewer on the baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining chicken and skewers. 4. Grill the chicken kabobs, turning every 5 minutes, until they’re cooked through and golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes total. Transfer the skewers to a serving platter and serve. |
| Used with permission of Rodale Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House. Copyright (c) 2024 by Yumna Jawad. Photographs (c) 2024 by Doaa Elkady. |
Though there’s an argument to be made that Cass’s most essential tool is her smartphone — and its recording feature — we’re stuck on her tools. As a handy ma’am, they’re what enables her to keep her job, and keep above water. Back when she was still with her ex, she was also the tool bearer in their relationship. In our opinion, every home needs a toolset. Need a starter one? Consider this sweet set of pieces from Home Depot. Even the New York Times thinks it’s the best basic tool starter kit.
Get the tools.
Those impromptu poolside parties that seem to materialize on the regular at the Sycamores without a doubt have someone’s bluetooth speaker tucked into a corner of the patio. What better to provide the soundtrack than some of the best and best-known summertime jams.
Listen on Spotify