The summer is almost over and with it, the free time that many of us enjoy in the hottest months of the year. Fall feels more productive, more busy. I’m savoring those last few moments of summer as I begin teaching and wrapping up all my summer projects. 

That being said, there’s a lot of great media floating around at the end of summer, so here are five things you could be doing as summer wraps up:

1. The Righteous Gemstones

While fans have paid a lot of attention to HBO’s other big show, Succession, The Righteous Gemstones (which is the latest offering from Danny McBride) features a different sort of powerful family: a group of evangelical Christians. Starring John Goodman as the sad, widower patriarch of the Gemstone family, the first two episodes aim to show the dark side of big-business Christianity. I, for one, am super-excited to see where the series goes as the Gemstone siblings attempt to navigate blackmailing, murder, and corruption throughout the rest of the season. 

2. Hustlers

This movie, starring Jennifer Lopez and a fantastic crew of boss-babes, technically isn’t out yet, but it comes out soon enough that I feel fine including it. Think of it as an end of summer/beginning of fall treat. This film follows a group of former strippers as they navigate forming a business of their own: manipulating their former clients. Personally, I’m excited to see SO MANY awesome actresses featured in the same film, including music personalities like Cardi B and Lizzo (have I mentioned how much I love Lizzo, well I will in a minute). 

3. Life is Strange 2

After the breakout success of the choice-based narrative game Life is Strange, Dontnod Entertainment got to work on the second installment of the series, which is slightly connected to the first. You don’t need to play the first game to enjoy the second, though, and it has an entirely different appeal than the first game. Life is Strange 2 follows two brothers as they run from the law and figure out the youngest brothers strange and mysterious powers. I like this game because, even at its slowest, the game gives players a sense that they’re in control of the narrative.

4. Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Games

Z-Man games (the people behind the popular board game Pandemic) has reinvented the popular Choose-Your-Own-Adventure novels of the 1980s as board games. Board games are a wonderful way to wind down with friends, but sometimes people feel too competitive and things get wild. The two Choose-Your-Own-Adventure games that Z-Man has released so far are cooperative, and encourage players to work together to achieve a common goal. This sort of collaborative gameplay is my personal favorite. It’s relaxing, exciting, and a good way to spend a Friday or Saturday night with friends, escaping a haunted house together! 

5. Watch everything Lizzo

Hot Girl Summer is almost over but self-confidence is perfect for all seasons, and watching Lizzo will give you a boost of self-confidence and happiness. Though Lizzo has been working in the music industry and putting out albums for years, but she really hit her stride when she released Coconut Oil, her 2016 EP. Now, she’s released Cuz I Love You, and fans have been bopping to it all summer. With jams like “Truth Hurts” and “Juice,” it’s hard not to. The album is an injection of love, though, and Lizzo spends several tracks encouraging listeners to love themselves and stating that everyone is “worth it.” I really love Lizzo’s message (and her music), and am happy to see others jumping on the Lizzo bandwagon! 

What are YOU enjoying as summer wraps up? Let us know!