Michelle Obama has announced the release of her new book, simply titled «The Look». In it, the former First Lady of the United States reflects on how her style has evolved from her first public appearance during Barack Obama’s presidential campaign to the present day. She also explores how fashion served as a visual expression of her civic identity.

«The Look» isn’t just about fashion. It’s about confidence. About authenticity. About the power of being yourself. I hope this book sparks conversations and reflection on how we see ourselves and how our society defines beauty», Michelle Obama shared on her Instagram page.

The book will also feature insights and commentary from her longtime stylists, makeup artists, and designers who have worked with her over the years.

«During my family’s time in the White House, my appearance was constantly discussed – what I wore, how I styled my hair. I wanted to reclaim the right to tell that story on my own terms. I’m now at a stage in my life where I can wear what I like and do what feels true to me. And I’m excited to share what I’ve learned along the way», she added.

The book will be released on November 4, but pre-orders are already available at michelleobamabooks.com.

Photo: Instagram @michelleobama

Today, American actress Reese Witherspoon turns 49. She has built a successful film career and produces her own projects, but besides work, she has another passion — books. Reese does not hide her love for reading and even founded her own book club, Reese’s Book Club, a long time ago.

To celebrate the star’s birthday, we have compiled a selection of books recommended by club members and Reese herself. Add these to your bookshelf and read with excitement, just like today’s birthday star!

«The First Lie Wins» by Ashley Elston

Evie Porter is an ordinary girl who was lucky enough to meet a wonderful guy, Ryan, move into his house, and get a job at a gallery. But there’s a catch: this guy didn’t meet her by chance, and she’s not really Miss Porter.

It turns out Ryan is part of a mission she must carry out under orders from the mysterious Mr. Smith. He creates new identities for the young girl and assigns her difficult tasks. However, the enigmatic boss wants to land her in prison. Now Evie must not only deceive her lover but also outwit her boss.

«Yellowface» by Rebecca F. Kuang

Athena Liu and Juniper Hayward are friends who studied together at Yale and took a writing course. However, Athena became a true sensation in the literary world, while hardly anyone knew about Juniper.

Everything changes when Jun witnesses Athena’s sudden death and steals her freshly finished novel about the role of Chinese workers in World War I. The writer edits the manuscript and sends it to an agent as her own work. No one was supposed to know who the real author was, but things don’t go as planned.

«Where the Crawdads Sing» by Delia Owens

Kya has been alone all her life, relying solely on herself. Her only remaining family member is her father, but he couldn’t care less about her. Afraid of being abandoned again, the main character avoids letting anyone get close and hides from her problems, much like the crawdads she loves to watch. One day, however, she realizes she is ready to open up and show her true self.

«The Last Thing He Told Me» by Laura Dave

Before disappearing, Owen Michaels leaves his wife Hannah a note saying, «Protect her,» referring to his sixteen-year-old daughter Bailey. The girl, who tragically lost her mother at an early age, wants nothing to do with her stepmother. Hannah’s attempts to reach Owen fail, his boss gets arrested for fraud, and federal agents start investigating.

Hannah quickly realizes her husband was not who he claimed to be, and Bailey might hold the key to the truth. Together, they set out to uncover the real story behind Owen’s disappearance.

«Daisy Jones & The Six» by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Daisy is a young girl living in Los Angeles in the late sixties. She loves rock and roll more than bars and men, and when she turns twenty, her voice gets noticed, as does a band called The Six. Later, their paths cross, and they decide to create a joint musical project, which could very well become legendary.

«Our Missing Hearts» by Celeste Ng

After an economic crisis, an authoritarian government comes to power in the United States, introducing a pact aimed at «preserving American culture.» In reality, this law allows the state to take children away from dissident parents and raise them in a «proper» environment.

A boy named Bird finds himself at risk due to his appearance. Raised under his father’s strict care, he longs to find out what happened to his mother. When he receives a mysterious letter with a drawing, he sets out to find her.

«Anatomy: A Love Story» by Dana Schwartz

The story centers around Hazel, a future viscountess who dreams of becoming a surgeon rather than getting married. Jack, a body snatcher trying to survive in a harsh city, accidentally meets Hazel, giving her the opportunity to study anatomy hands-on instead of just from books.
However, an epidemic suddenly breaks out, and the authorities ignore the threat.

Hazel and Jack must uncover the secrets that the city’s residents and the government are hiding.

«The Sanatorium» by Sarah Pearse

As soon as Elin arrives at a luxury hotel in the Alps at the request of her brother and his fiancée, she senses something is off. The hotel, recently converted from an abandoned sanatorium, makes her uneasy.

The next morning, her brother’s fiancée mysteriously disappears. But it will take a long time for the police to arrive — a snow avalanche has blocked the road. Guests begin to panic, unaware that this is not the first time a woman has gone missing in this place.

«The Giver of Stars» by Jojo Moyes

Alice thought marriage would give her everything she ever wanted. Instead, she finds herself with a husband who follows his father’s every word and a suffocating feeling of being trapped.

Soon, she meets Margery, who refuses to conform to rigid traditions and knows how to be truly happy and free. Alice’s life takes a dramatic turn, and the husband she once adored becomes a stranger as she realizes she loves someone else.

Reese Witherspoon has often expressed her admiration for Jojo Moyes’ work, so it’s no surprise that this book made it to her top list.

Photo: Instagram @reesewitherspoon

Austria’s First Lady, Doris Schmidauer, has published a book titled «Land der Töchter zukunftsreich» (co-authored with Nina Horaczek). In it, the wife of Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen offers a glimpse into her life and biography, while also discussing her work — Schmidauer is actively involved in women’s policy — and the women who have left a lasting impression on her.

Regarding her private life with President Van der Bellen, Doris revealed that her husband has absolutely no cooking skills. She also shared that their dog, Julie, sometimes stays with her, sometimes with her husband at the Hofburg, and enjoys running through the corridors in the morning.

Schmidauer also explained why she does not have children and revealed which TV series she and the President like to watch when they relax. Spoiler: Tatort.

Additionally, Schmidauer commented on her role as a close advisor to her husband. For instance, Austria can at least partly credit its only female Chancellor to her: it was Schmidauer who asked Alexander Van der Bellen whether he would consider offering the position to Brigitte Bierlein.

Photo: Wolfgang Zajc

The memoirs of the late singer and actress Lisa Marie Presley, Out of the Great Unknown, have been published. After her death, the book was prepared for release by her daughter, Riley Keough. In it, the daughter of the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley, recounts her grief over the loss of her son, Benjamin Storm Keough. Page Six obtained an exclusive excerpt.

As is known, Elvis’s daughter from her marriage to musician Danny Keough had two children — Riley and Benjamin. In 2020, Benjamin took his own life, and his grieving mother struggled to accept his death. She couldn’t decide where to bury her son — Hawaii or Graceland Estate (Memphis). It turned out that California law doesn’t specify a timeframe for burial, and Lisa Marie used this loophole. She kept her son’s body for two months. A special room was set up, maintaining a temperature of 12.7°C.

«There is a separate casita in my house, and I kept my son there for two months. In California, there’s no law that forces you to bury someone immediately. I found a very empathetic funeral director… She said, «We’ll bring Ben to you»,— Lisa Marie wrote.

At one point, Riley and Lisa Marie decided to honor Benjamin’s memory by getting tattoos with his name. They also went further, deciding to add special tattoos to his body: writing Riley’s name on his collarbone and Lisa Marie’s on his arm.

A tattoo artist was invited to the house. When he asked if they had any pictures of Benjamin’s tattoos to match the font and placement, Lisa Marie replied: «No, but I can show you».

Lisa Marie knew how unusual this was.

«I think this would have scared the hell out of anyone else, having their son in that condition there. But not me», — she noted.

In her memoir, Riley Keough reflected on this episode:

«Lisa Marie Presley had just asked this poor man to look at her dead son’s body, which was right next to us in the casita. I’ve had a very absurd life, but this moment definitely ranks in the top five».

Elvis Presley’s granddaughter noted that shortly after the tattoos were done, everyone «felt» that Benjamin wanted to be finally laid to rest. The family arranged for Benjamin’s burial at Graceland in Memphis, next to his famous grandfather Elvis. Later, Lisa Marie was also buried there.