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Here’s the answer for “Wordle” #1175 on September 6, as well as a few hints, tips, and clues to help you solve it yourself.

Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.

If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for September 6’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What’s the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.

Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:

A show that airs multiple times.

Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter R appears twice.

Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…

Today’s Wordle starts with the letter R.

The Wordle answer today is…

Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today’s Wordle is…

RERUN.

Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.

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Connections is a New York Times word game that’s all about finding the “common threads between words.” How to solve the puzzle.

Connections is the latest New York Times word game that’s captured the public’s attention. The game is all about finding the “common threads between words.” And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we’ve served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today’s puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for September 6’s Connections solution. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

The NYT‘s latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications’ Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there’s only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Here’s a hint for today’s Connections categories

Want a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

Yellow: Quota

Green: Occurrence

Blue: You got mail

Purple: Synyonms for “spring”

Here are today’s Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today’s connections fall into the following categories:

Yellow: Quantity

Green: Incident

Blue: Things Received in the Mail

Purple: What “Spring” Might Refer To

Looking for Wordle today? Here’s the answer to today’s Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today’s puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today’s Connections #453 is…

What is the answer to Connections today

Quantity: AMOUNT, COUNT, NUMBER, TOTAL

Incident: AFFIAR, EPISODE, EVENT, MATTER

Things Received in the Mail: BILL, CARD, CATALOG, LETTER

What “Spring” Might Refer To: BOUNCE, COIL, GEYSER, SEASON

Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.

If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Connections.

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The NFL 2024–2025 season is here. Here are the best football streaming deals and everything you need to know about how to watch.

It’s that time again. A new NFL season is upon us and with it comes all sorts of new streaming struggles. Notorious gatekeepers of their broadcasts, watching NFL games has become a tangled web of subscriptions — even for those who still have cable. But we’ve sorted out all the complicated details for you. If you’re wanting to watch your favorite teams battle it out this season without cable, here’s everything you need to know — including the cheapest possible way to do so (legally).

How to watch NFL games during the 2024–2025 season

Since no single network owns the rights to every game, watching your favorite teams isn’t as cut and dry in the NFL as it is with other sports. And now with streaming services throwing hats in the ring, even cable TV subscribers will need a few extras to catch every game.

Here’s the general schedule each week for the 2024–2025 season.

Thursday Night Football kicks off the week exclusively on Prime Video (starting week two)

Sunday afternoon games air on CBS for AFC teams and FOX for NFC teams

Sunday Night Football games air on NBC and stream on Peacock

Monday Night Football games air on ESPN and ABC/ESPN+

NFL Network will also broadcast seven different games throughout the season

Netflix is set to broadcast two games on Christmas Day this season

If you don’t have cable, you have an abundance of options for watching games live. If you’re a casual fan, you can simply invest in a digital TV antenna to catch local games and nationally broadcast games live on ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX. Beyond football, a digital antenna will also grant you free access to local news, nationally broadcast events like the Grammys or Oscars, and other network programming. If you’re reasonably close to your local TV stations, you should be able to pick up at least the four main networks. Unfortunately, you probably won’t be able to access ESPN.

You can also sign up for a live TV streaming service to get access to local networks, plus a ton of other channels. Live TV streaming services can be pretty pricey, but you do get a lot of bang for your buck. This option will get you ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, and ESPN in most markets. No need to be close to your local TV stations.

With either option you choose, you’ll still have to sign up for Prime Video if you want to watch Thursday Night Football games. You can also utilize streaming apps like Peacock and Paramount+ to watch many regular season games. It’s all up to you and how many games you want access to. Below, we’ve rounded up the best streaming deals for each streaming service required to watch football games this season.

The best football streaming deals for the 2024–2025 NFL season

The best Prime Video deals for Thursday Night Football

In addition to Thursday Night Football games, Prime Video is also set to stream a playoff game this season during Wildcard weekend. Prime members get access to Prime Video included in their subscription, which runs you $14.99 per month. If you’re new to Prime, you can even score a free 30-day trial before you’ll owe a monthly fee. Here are a few other ways you can save some money.

Best for long-term viewing: Prime Annual (save 22%)

Enjoy the perks of a Prime membership, including access to Prime Video, for an entire year with a Prime Annual subscription. Rather than paying a $14.99 monthly fee, you’ll pay $139 up front. That ends up saving you about 22%, knocking the price down to about $11.59 per month.

Most affordable: Prime Video only (save $6 per month)

If you don’t want all the extra perks of being a Prime member, you can simply subscribe to Prime Video as a standalone service for just $8.99 per month. That’s $6 per month cheaper than a full Prime membership. Naturally, Amazon makes it unnecessarily complicated to sign up for Prime Video alone. When you go to sign up for a subscription, you’ll have to select the option to “see more plans” or “change plans” and navigate to the option for Prime Video on its own. Like a Prime membership, you can still cancel whenever you please with no strings.

Best for those under 24: Prime for Young Adults (save 50%)

Amazon’s Prime Student subscription has now evolved into Prime for Young Adults. Those between the ages of 18 and 24, as well as college students of any age, can now score a free six-month trial to Prime. After the trial period is up, it’ll cost just $7.49 per month — that’s 50% in savings. You’ll have to verify your age or student status, but after that, the world of Prime is your oyster.

The best live TV streaming deals for NFL Sunday games

Sunday afternoon games are broadcast on either CBS (for AFC teams) or FOX (for NFC teams). While CBS is accessible without cable through Paramount+, FOX is only accessible through a live TV streaming service like Fubo, YouTube TV, Sling, or Hulu + Live TV. Live TV streaming services are notoriously expensive, but we’ve found a few different deals currently live for the start of the NFL season. Here are our top picks.

Best for AFC games only: Paramount+ Essential annual subscription (save 17%)

Paramount+ is one of the most affordable streaming services at just $7.99 per month with ads. However, you can score it for even cheaper by opting for an annual subscription for $59.99. Slash 17% off when you pay for a year up front. That knocks the monthly cost down to just $5 per month. Just note that Paramount+ only gives you access to in-network AFC games via CBS.

Best for students who want to watch AFC games: Paramount+ for students

Students who want to watch in-network AFC games can score a Paramount+ Essential subscription for only $5.99 per month. That’s 25% cheaper than a typical Paramount+ subscription. You’ll just have to verify your student status to unlock the deal.

Best live TV streaming service deal: Sling Season Pass (save $92)

If you prepay for four months of Sling Orange, Blue, and Sports Extras, you can save $92 with Sling Season Pass. The Blue package gets you access to FOX, NBC, ABC, and NFL Network in local markets, while the Orange package gets you access to ESPN. With the Sports Extras add-on, you’ll also get access to NFL RedZone, where you can see every touchdown that happens on Sunday afternoons. It’ll cost you $199 for four months of Sling Season Pass, which is significantly cheaper than any other live TV streaming service. Just be sure to check your local market to ensure you’ll have access to the channels you need.

Best YouTube TV deal: $64.99/month for your first four months (save $32)

YouTube TV is one of our favorite live TV streaming options. It will give you access to all the networks you need to watch Sunday afternoon games in your network, as well as Sunday night and Monday night games — NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, NFL Network, and ESPN. For a limited time, YouTube TV is offering new users a discount on their first four months of service. Plus, you can kick things off with a free trial. It usually costs $72.99 per month for the base plan, but you’ll pay just $64.99 per month (save $32) for your first four months.

Best bang for your buck: Get Hulu + Live TV, Disney+, and ESPN+ all for $76.99 per month

While other live TV streaming services might be a little cheaper, Hulu + Live TV comes with the most bang for your buck. You’ll pay $76.99 per month and get access to the live TV channels you need to watch NFL games, plus Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ (all with ads). For comparison, YouTube TV is $72.99 per month and includes a similar live TV channel lineup, but no extras. Fubo is $79.99 per month and features a slightly wider channel lineup, but still no extras.

Another live TV streaming deal: Take $30 off your first month of Fubo

Fubo isn’t our first pick for a live TV streaming service, simply because it’s too expensive. However, the streamer is currently offering new subscribers their first month at $30 off. That knocks the Pro plan down to $49.99 for your first month ($79.99 per month thereafter) and the Elite plan with Sports Plus down to $69.99 for your first month ($99.99 per month thereafter).

The best Peacock deals for streaming Sunday Night Football

If you don’t have access to local networks via a live TV streaming service or a digital antenna, you can still tune into Sunday Night Football on NBC by signing up for Peacock. Week One’s game in São Paulo, Brazil, on Friday, Sept. 6 will also be streamed on Peacock. Subscriptions start at just $7.99 per month, but we’ve rounded up a few ways you can save.

Best for long-term viewing: Peacock Premium yearly subscription (save 17%)

Peacock is already pretty affordable at $7.99 per month, but even that can add up quickly on top of every other streaming service. You can knock that price down to just $6.67 per month by paying for an entire year up front. A yearly Peacock Premium subscription is just $79.99 per year, which ends up saving you about 17% overall.

Best for students: Peacock Premium Student Discount (save $6 per month)

Students wanting to tune into Sunday Night Football can score a Peacock Premium subscription for only $1.99 per month for an entire year. That’s $6 cheaper than a typical Peacock subscription. You’ll just have to be able to prove your student status through SheerID.

Best for first responders: Peacock Premium for $1.99 per month

With annual first responder verification through SheerID, first responders (public or private) can get Peacock Premium for just $1.99 per month. Upon verification, you’ll receive a unique promo code to use when subscribing to Peacock. That will knock $6 per month off your total cost for the streaming service.

Best Peacock third-party deal: Free Peacock Premium with Instacart+ (save $7.99 per month)

If you subscribe to Instacart+ for free grocery delivery, which costs either $99 per year or $9.99 per month, you’ll get a free Peacock Premium subscription included. Just log in to your Instacart account, select your Instacart+ membership, then “unlock special offers” and activate the Peacock offer. You’ll get redirected to Peacock’s website, where you can sign in or create an account to activate the benefit.

The best ESPN+ deals for Monday Night Football

In order to watch Monday Night Football games on ESPN, you’ll need a live TV streaming service that includes ESPN (see deals above). In order to watch Monday Night Football games on ABC, however, you can use ESPN+. The Week Seven match-up between the Los Angeles Chargers and Arizona Cardinals will also be available exclusively on ESPN+. ESPN+ does not give you access to games broadcast on ESPN. It’s all very confusing, I know. ESPN+ regularly costs $10.99 per month, but here are a couple of ways you can save money on your subscription.

Best for long-term viewing: ESPN+ Annual Plan (save 15%)

Opt into ESPN+ for an entire year and it’ll only cost $109.99 instead of $10.99 per month, which adds up to $131.88. That saves you 15% overall and gives you access to plenty more than just Monday Night Football if you’re a sports fan.

Best bundle deal: ESPN+ with Disney+ and Hulu (save 44%)

If you want more bang for your buck than ESPN+ on its own, you can bundle it with Disney+ and Hulu for just $14.99 per month. That’s just $4 more per month than getting ESPN+ on its own. Sure, that’s a lot to pay for select Monday Night Football games, but it will get you more for your money than most other streaming deals.

What’s the cheapest way to watch the most NFL games this season?

Good question. If you want to watch in-market games and nationally broadcast games mainly, the cheapest way to do so would be to sign up for Sling Orange + Blue (granted your market includes all local networks), Paramount+, and Prime Video for a grand total of $71.98 per month. If your market is included in the Sling packages, this will give you access to FOX, ESPN, NBC, ABC, CBS (via Paramount+), and Prime Video. You could also add Netflix into the mix in December if you want access to those two games for $6.99 (per month). If you add Netflix to the total, December would run you a little more at $78.97.

Here’s the breakdown:

$55 per month for Sling Orange + Blue — Sunday afternoon games on Fox, ESPN, NBC, ABC (check that your market is included)

$7.99 per month for Paramount+  — AFC games on Sunday afternoons

$8.99 per month for Prime Video — Thursday Night Football

$6.99 per month for Netflix — two games in December

For out-of-market games, things get a bit more complicated. And expensive. NFL Sunday Ticket is one of the only ways you can watch every out-of-market game, but it’s outrageously expensive ($429 per year) and we cannot in good faith recommend it. Another option would be to sign up for a VPN and attempt to use a different location with any of the live TV streaming services above. For more information about VPNs and how to watch the NFL 2024–2025 season from other countries (or pretending to), check out this article on bypassing geo-restrictions.

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Will Ferrell and Harper Steele’s road trip buddy comedy is a must-see.

Will & Harper is an extraordinary story of friendship, a documentary portrait of how a relationship can grow and change over time, as we ourselves do. 

For 30 years, Will Ferrell has delighted audiences with his kooky capering and outrageous characters. Behind the scripts of some of his most daring ventures — like the Spanish-language telenovela spoof Casa de mi Padre, the sublime Lifetime movie parody A Deadly Adoption, and the absolutely epic musical comedy Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga — was Ferrell’s long-time friend and collaborator Harper Steele.

The two met back when they were both newbies at Saturday Night Live. But for all those years, Steele was hiding a side of herself, going by a given name and an assigned gender identity that chafed. At 61, she came out as a trans woman, re-introduced herself as Harper, and began to navigate what this would mean for her relationships to friends and to the wider world. When she was male-presenting, she used to go on cross-country trips, happily delving into dive bars, sporting events, and other traditionally macho spaces with relative ease. But would these same spaces still be safe as a trans woman? 

Seeking to reconnect with his friend as she eased into her transition, Will set out with Harper on a 16-day road trip across the U.S., revisiting old haunts and taking on new adventures to deepen their bond. Studded with celebrity cameos and silliness, Will & Harper is a must-see for comedy fans. Beyond that, it’s a brilliant and moving documentary that captures how identity and friendships can change for the better. 

Will & Harper welcomes audiences into a warm and funny friendship. 

Directed by Josh Greenbaum, helmer of the spectacular buddy comedy Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, Will & Harper reflects the defining humor of its subjects with dedication. Initially, Greenbaum employs traditional techniques, like talking head interviews and a montage of TV and movie clips to swiftly establish how Ferrell and Steele came to know each other. But there are details that break up that formality, like Ferrell commenting on the B-roll being shot as he sits down, and then describing his friend as a “a lovable curmudgeon with a super-weird sense of humor” who loves “shitty beer.” 

From there, Ferrell shares the email Steele sent him in 2021, while he was shooting Spirited, the Ryan Reynolds’–fronted Christmas musical. “I’ll be transitioning to live as a woman,” Steele wrote, admitting now in her own on-screen interview that the email was “really hard to send.” Shared with the audience, this deeply personal letter treats us as if we too are her long-time friend, the doc doc entrusting us with this vulnerability at the 3-minute mark. We also get a taste of the sensibility that has informed the titular twosome’s bond and work together. 

“I doubt being a trans woman will change my personality that much,” Steele reads her email on camera aloud, “Instead of an asshole, I’ll be a bitch.” Beyond this, Steele reflects on what sending the note risked, admitting her fear of coming out as trans: “Will I still be loved?”

For his part, Ferrell wonders in his interview, “OK, where do we go from here?…Will I be making a completely new friend?” And, “Does she still like shitty beer?” 

Tina Fey, Kristen Wiig, Seth Meyers, Will Forte, and more appear and show support. 

The first stop on the duo’s trip is New York City, where they reunite with an array of famous co-stars over dinner. It’s a familiar space — near 30 Rock, where they were once royalty, among people they’ve known and loved for decades. But there’s a tension amid the reverie and jokes, as Steele’s friends worry aloud about her safety in this endeavor.

“My transition might change the way I navigate the country,” she admits, noting she likes “the lowest worst places.” To which Tina Fey chirps with worry, “It’s not safe for you anymore!”

Other SNL cast members pop up later, with Kristen Wiig being conscripted for a special assignment and Will Forte meeting up for some casual hot-air ballooning. But Fey’s fear is reflected in the reactions of Steele’s grown children, one of whom presses as to how Ferrell might protect her parent should things get hostile on the road. Over lunch at a Greek diner, Ferrell makes a joke about being a trained martial artist, a bit that goes over like a lead balloon. But his shield is actually one of privilege. 

Will Ferrell knowingly wields his privilege as a rich and famous white cis-man. 

And it’s often very effective. Without putting too fine a point on it, Ferrell understands that he possesses privilege that Steele does not. As they stride into a Pacers game at a sporting arena or a backroads dive bar or a Texas BBQ place, he knows he’ll be fine because no one will question his place there. The clear expectation is that by being with him, Steele will be shielded, at least a bit. 

At times this works, like when an anti-trans politician bites his tongue about their road-tripping quest, seemingly because he values chatting up a celebrity more than revealing his bigotry. But this event also causes Ferrell to reflect about whether being a shield is enough. Should he have said something and challenged this politician? Should he have weaponized his privilege? The film won’t preach an easy answer, but instead invites us to watch Ferrell and Steele hash that out together. If they could go back, what would have been done differently?

For her part, Steele is no damsel in distress. As she grows more comfortable on the road, she yearns to step outside of Ferrell’s bubble of celebrity protection, going into one seedy joint on her own. And while the crowd there is welcoming — more so when she invites the SNL star inside to join her — another assembly along the way won’t be. To assure those in want of a trigger warning: There’s no violence. But one very public outing results in sneers and bigoted backlash online, in which both Steele and Ferrell are denounced, though Steele more grotesquely. This is the low point in the narrative, one the film asks us to take somberly, which the friends do as well, reflecting on what such reactions mean about America and Steele’s life going forward.

Here, in a Texas BBQ, is the hate and judgment Steele feared for so long, but she got through it. Of course, others in the trans community are not so lucky, as stats point to anti-trans violence being on the rise in the U.S. However, Will & Harper doesn’t pretend to be about all trans experiences. This documentary isn’t meant to be a blanket statement about what it means to be trans in America. As its title suggests, it’s about what it means for Harper to be trans in America, where she enjoys certain privileges that can shield her. But beyond that, it’s about how a specific friendship evolved to help both sides grow more comfortable in their own skin and with each other.

Will & Harper is a story of trans joy.

In the end, that’s what makes Will & Harper so remarkable. Sure, Ferrell will occasionally deflect tension by leaning into a bit, like dressing up as Sherlock Holmes or hiding his famous face behind preposterous glued-on facial hair. But at its core, this is a movie that’s bracingly intimate, allowing us to ride along on a defining road trip.

Whether they’re talking about Pringles flavors, tearful memories, or deep-set anxieties, we’re buckled in with them. Maybe we’ll see ourselves or someone we love in Will or Harper. For some, this movie may be the friend they need to help them better understand trans identity and themselves. Across this road trip, we are invited to awe in the blossoming of Harper, who went from hiding herself away to sharing herself with the world, not without fear, but with inspiring bravery. 

Will & Harper is a resoundingly joyful and moving documentary, resplendent in its openness. It’s their love story, and it’s glorious.

Reviewed out of the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, Will & Harper debuts on Netflix Sept. 27.

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Amazon Stuff Your Kindle Day has dozens of suspense romance titles included. Get thousands of titles free on September 5.

Welcome to Amazon Stuff Your Kindle Day. For today only, you can download thousands of Kindle books for free. If you’re interested in suspense romance titles, here are some great options.

If you’re the friend who’s constantly recommending books, or you read an entire stack each month, Amazon has a pretty awesome day in store for you. Today, September 5, is Stuff Your Kindle Day, which means the mega-retailer has marked down the price of thousands of Kindle-edition books to exactly $0. You read that right: you can grab as many free Kindle books as your heart desires today — and your heart is definitely involved, because this event caters specifically to romance lovers.

If you prefer suspense romance titles, you’re in luck, because we’ve seen plenty included in the sale today. Reading these on a Kindle device is a great way to keep hundreds of books at your fingertips. If you don’t yet own an e-reader, our top pick is the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, but you can’t go wrong with any of the Kindle devices.

Here are some top picks to snag for free today in the category of suspense romance.

Best romantic suspense title overall

Why we like it

The Kite follows the story of two powerful men on different paths in life. Tim “Harry” Harrigan is an ex-Australian special response group leader who’s seen plenty of success with his missions. Asher Garin is a mercenary for hire who shows no loyalty. When their paths cross, the two realize they’re better off sticking together to survive.

This gay romantic title by N.R. Walker is currently free today, taking part in the Stuff Your Kindle Day event.

Best suspense romance book in a series

Why we like it

Turned off by her less-than-wholesome boyfriend, Jasmine grabs her dog and heads off to grandma’s house in Colorado, only to find her vegetarian diet and yoga hobby don’t mesh well with the small mountain town.

Rocky Mountain Yoga by Virginia Fox is included in today’s free event, so you can read up on how Jasmine navigates her new life, which includes the local town sheriff. And when you’re finished with Rocky Mountain Yoga, grab the other nine titles included in the Rocky Mountain Romances series.

Best beach-worthy suspense romance title

Why we like it

The goal was to get into the journalism program, but life had other plans. Torn between two of the school’s hockey players, our main character goes down a path of discovering the truth about a murder that occurred two summers ago. If you’re a fan of suspense romance with plot twists, the Kindle edition of Pretty Little Island by Rhea Ryan is current free today.

More suspense romance titles

Love’s Last Kiss by Sharon Wray — $0 $0.99 (save $0.99)

Trevor’s Redemption by Amber Daulton — $0 $3.99 (save $3.99)

A Perfect Fit by Stephanie Louise — $0 $4.99 (save $4.99)

Deadmen’s Captive by Elizabeth Blackthorne — $0 $4.99 (save $4.99)

Kingdom Fall by A. Zavarelli — $0 $4.99 (save $4.99)

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Thousands of contemporary romance books are free during the Amazon Stuff Your Kindle event

Amazon’s Stuff Your Kindle Day has arrived which means today is the day to download as many titles as you see fit for free. That’s right — thousands of ebook titles are free today. Here are some of our top picks if you’re interested in contemporary romance reads.

It’s not everyday we get treated to free stuff. Amazon, however, is offering every bibliophile a special treat today by offering thousands (genuinely thousands) of Kindle books on sale for exactly $0. The author-led event means you can download as many free titles as you’d like. Today’s event focuses on romance titles, and we’ve seen hundreds of noteworthy contemporary romance titles.

While the name implies you need a Kindle, that’s not entirely accurate. Sure, Kindles are some of the best e-readers around and we’re especially partial to our favorite, the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, but you don’t need to own one to take advantage of these free books.

Anyone is eligible to download these free titles and read them on any e-reader or associated app. That means you can still snag free books if you read on your smartphone or a tablet.

These are some standout contemporary romance titles that are completely free today during the Amazon Stuff Your Kindle event. If you’d like to scan though all included titles, check out the Amazon landing page.

Best overall pick

Why we like it

The Cottage at Hope Cove introduces us to Lizzie Beaumont, who seems to have her life perfectly in order. A successful career, financial stability, and a fiancé with wedding on the horizon. However, her work-driven fiancé pushes Lizzie to spend a week alone at Hope Cove while he works, and someone special comes into her life during her time at the cottage.

Thanks to the Amazon Stuff Your Kindle event, you can follow Lizzie’s story for free. And what’s more, the book is title one of eight in the Hope Cove series, so you’ll have plenty more to enjoy after you finish the first.

Best young adult contemporary romance

Why we like it

By author Jasmine Little, If We Say Goodbye takes on the story of tragic loss, life as a high school teenager, and a relentless neighbor. The relatable story follows a journey of life’s ups and down, sorting through grief, and finding joy.

The title is also a winner of the Next Generation Indie Book Awards of 2024.

Best contemporary romance title in a series

Why we like it

If your fall season calls for getting wrapped up in a book series, the Callaghan Green series by Annie Dyer could be perfect, and book one, Engagement Rate: A Billionaire Office Romance, is free today.

Set in London, we’re off on an adventure with drama, family dynamics, and the story of what happens when someone gets tangled up in inner-office romance. In total, the series spans 10 already-released books, with the 11th title on its way this coming February.

More contemporary romance Kindle titles

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The second and final season of “Arcane” premieres November on Netflix. Watch the trailer.

The second and final season of “Arcane” premieres November on Netflix. Watch the trailer.

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“The Rings of Power” Season 2, episode 4 introduces the Hobbit-like Stoors and an important new word: Sûza-t. Here’s what it means.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power‘s first season introduced us to the nomadic Hobbit ancestors known as the Harfoots. But in Season 2, episode 4, a new group of Hobbit ancestors join the party — and they’re bringing some major Hobbit lore with them.

These new ancestors are the Stoors, and unlike the nomadic Harfoots, they live in a village. Harfoots Nori Brandyfoot (Markella Kavenagh) and Poppy Proudfellow (Megan Richards) meet them after getting separated from the Stranger (Daniel Weyman) in the land of Rhûn.

Their first moments in the Stoor village get off to a rough start. Not only are Nori and Poppy confused by the very idea of Harfoots living in holes — “It doesn’t seem natural,” Poppy remarks — but Nori also makes the mistake of talking back to Stoor headwoman Gundabale Earthauler (Tanya Moodie). Luckily, though, it’s not long before the Harfoots and Stoors realize they have a lot in common.

The realization comes when Nori mentions Sadoc Burrows (Lenny Henry), the late Harfoot Trailfinder. Gundabale recognizes the name Burrows. Turns out, there’s an ancient legend about a Stoor named Burrows, who dreamed of “a place with endless streams of cold water, and rolling hills so soft, a family could dig a hole and live in it in less than a month.”

Sadoc’s ancestor called this paradise the Sûza-t — a word that will go on to quite literally mean the world for Hobbits.

What does Sûza-t mean in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power?

Sûza-t means “the Shire” in Westron, the Common Speech of Middle-earth during the Third Age. If we’re splitting hairs, “Sûza” by itself means “Shire,” while the “t” at the end creates the definite form.

If we’re splitting more hairs, Westron in the form it takes in J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendarium likely wouldn’t be around by this point in The Rings of Power‘s timeline, as it developed when Númenoreans began trading with the Men of Middle-earth. The interactions between the Númenoreans and Middle-earth Men have only just started in the show, so there’s quite a bit of time for Westron to grow. Still, The Rings of Power is operating with its own timeline and its own version of a common language, so we can just assume it’s a kind of proto-Westron (or Adûnaic, a precursor to Westron).

Language tangent aside — and I think language nerd Tolkien would excuse any language-related tangent — the appearance of the word Sûza-t in The Rings of Power means that, by the show’s canon, a Hobbit ancestor was dreaming of the Shire thousands of years before the Hobbits actually settled it. In fact, Burrows’ dream prompted him to lead an expedition out into the world to find the Sûza-t. No one has heard from him, or his mission, since. It’s likely, then, that the expedition gradually morphed into the Harfoots’ traveling group.

Gundabale wonders whether Nori and Poppy were sent from the Harfoots to lead them to the Sûza-t, to which Nori sadly replies, “We don’t have a home.”

And it seems like the Stoors’ home doesn’t have much staying power left. The Dark Wizard (Ciarán Hinds) and his Gaudrim are just a few muscle cars away from turning Rhûn into a Mad Max-style wasteland. And while the land may once have been green, as Tom Bombadil (Rory Kinnear) tells the Stranger this episode, it’s only grown more inhospitable and dry — perhaps not just because of time, but also because of the rising darkness in Middle-earth. How long until the Stoors are forced to leave their home and strike out for greener pastures? Will they be joining up with the Harfoots in future seasons of The Rings of Power?

And maybe most pressingly: Will The Rings of Power show us the Hobbits settling the Shire? In Tolkien’s work, this doesn’t happen until later in the Third Age, and there’s quite a bit of Hobbit history between Nori’s storyline and now. However, since The Rings of Power is seriously condensing Tolkien’s timeline, I wouldn’t rule it out.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 is now streaming on Prime Video, with a new episode every Thursday.

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Kathryn Hunter’s villain is the hero of this middling — but impressively disgusting — A24 horror film. Film review.

Though it is unquestionably a horror movie, A24’s The Front Room doesn’t feature any blood until late in its second act.

Instead, practically every other bodily fluid appears on screen in copious amounts and numerous hues, with more than one instance evoking actual gagging noises from an entirely grossed-out audience. When regular ol’ blood appeared, I’ve never been so happy to see that red liquid flow as a respite from everything else. In fact, The Front Room should come with a warning: Do not grab anything more than popcorn at the concession stand. This is not the movie for loaded nachos. 

Beyond the juices, those who recognize the last name of twin writer-directors Max and Sam Eggers alongside the imprimatur of the A24 logo may think they’re in for a film along the lines of their brother Robert’s The Witch. But they will be disappointed.The Front Room is a wild, nausea-inducing ride that is not so much good as it is effective. The Eggers are capable enough directors, but other than a sickly hue and some fun canted-angle shots, there’s not a lot of style here. Instead, they get to coast on the work of the talented Kathryn Hunter (Poor Things), whose performance and physicality threatens to upstage the whole film.

What is The Front Room about?

The Front Room begins benignly enough. Belinda (Brandy Norwood) is a Black professor married to Norman (Andrew Burnap), a white public defender with a complicated family history unbeknownst to his wife. She is nearing full term with her pregnancy and stressing about money when his estranged, ultra-religious stepmother Solange (Hunter) promises them all her wealth — if they will take her into their home. 

Norman hesitates given the trauma he experienced with Solange and her personal Christian religious practices as a child. Belinda is willing to turn the other cheek and give her mother-in-law a chance, especially with the baby coming. But Solange’s moving in serves as a warning for anyone who would try to do anything out of the goodness of their heart — or the desire to pay their mortgage more quickly. It is never worth it.

For an R-rated horror film, The Front Room is relatively light on physical violence and is far more freighted with its emotional counterpart. It all begins with microaggressions (Solange constantly mispronounces Belinda’s name) and the types of insults daughters-in-law often have to shrug off (Solange insults Belinda’s cooking). But soon (way too soon), the insults escalate into unquestionable racism and shocking cruelty, and Belinda struggles to endure indignity after indignity from Solange, who seems to want to make their home her own. Belinda exists in white spaces; for most of the running time, she is the only Black person on screen and she lacks an ally, even in her husband, to help defend herself from Solange’s diabolical behavior. 

As the mother-in-law from hell, Kathryn Hunter is devilishly good

The role of Solange is a challenging one, requiring a bonkers level of physicality and an utter lack of vanity. Hunter is a longtime theater actress who caught broader attention with her critically lauded role as the witches in Joel Coen’s The Tragedy of Macbeth. However, in The Front Room, she’s somehow even more haunting, contorting her body into a hunch, laughing a terrifying cackle, and saying some truly messed-up shit. The aforementioned bodily fluids are disturbing, but her dialogue causes actual distress — especially when it’s said with an impish twinkle. The Front Room barely works, but it owes it all to Hunter who is simply everything as she smirks, snarls, and simpers.

Burnap is fine as the non-entity white husband. Meanwhile, Norwood is good and pretty funny at times in her relatable frustration, she’s not working at the same level as Hunter. (Though who is?) 

The Front Room refuses to go more than skin-deep with its social commentary 

The Eggers’ movie hinges on that wonderfully unhinged performance from Hunter, and The Front Room is extremely, admirably gross with a hefty dose of camp. Unfortunately, that’s all there is here. That result would be fine, but the Eggers are aiming higher by their attempts to address more serious themes amidst all the effluvia. Adapted from Susan Hill’s short story, The Front Room deals with race, religion, and gender, but always on a surface level; it never delves too deeply into ideas about any of these topics or offers any cogent thoughts beyond “racism bad” and “Pentecostalism scary.”

After watching The Front Room, a lot of viewers are going to have to unpack the shit their in-laws make them go through with their therapists, but something is validating in the idea that your experience probably isn’t going to be as traumatic as what Belinda goes through. Yet the movie itself often feels like a grueling ordeal, as you wonder exactly what shade and type of ooze will show up next or what terrible thing is going to come out of Solange’s mouth — and the answer is always somehow worse than you thought it would be. It’s a good enough bad time, worth it for Hunter’s performance alone if you can stomach the rest. 

How to watch: The Front Room hits cinemas Sept. 6.

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“The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” introduces Tom Bombadil (Rory Kinnear) with the help of some direct Tolkien quotes.

It’s official: Tom Bombadil has finally made it to an onscreen adaptation of The Lord of the Rings. And it only took, what, 70 years?

Season 2, episode 4 of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power introduces the somewhat polarizing character of Tom (Rory Kinnear), a merry, ancient being who, in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring, hosts Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin on the early stages of their quest to destroy the One Ring. Opinions on Tom range from “what a lovely, helpful man” to “why is this guy even in the story again?” The latter may explain why both Peter Jackson and Ralph Bakshi cut Tom from their film adaptations entirely. But will Tom Bombadil have a larger impact on the narrative of The Rings of Power? Based on his introduction, it certainly seems like it.

Like the character we meet in the novel, The Rings of Power‘s Tom Bombadil is a merry fellow who’s prone to singing, helping people in need, and telling stories. Of course, this version of Tom is also a tad different from Fellowship of the Ring‘s, just by virtue to the series taking place in the Second Age of Middle-earth as opposed to the Third Age. The show’s Tom lives out in Rhûn, instead of on the edge of the Old Forest near the Shire. He also doesn’t appear to live with his wife Goldberry — although we do hear a smidge of her voice (courtesy of Raya Yarbrough) in his house. Finally, and most importantly, he doesn’t take in any Hobbits. Instead, he hosts the Stranger (Daniel Weyman), providing him with a preview of the hospitality Frodo and his friends will experience thousands of years in the future.

In some cases, though, it’s less of a “preview” and more of a carbon copy. That’s because many aspects of the Stranger’s initial encounter with Tom Bombadil are lifted directly from The Fellowship of the Ring itself.

Take the moment right after the two meet, when the Stranger’s map of Rhûn flies off onto a tree branch. When the Stranger tries to take said branch to make a staff, the indignant tree swallows him whole — exactly how Old Man Willow traps Merry and Pippin in his trunk in “The Old Forest” chapter of The Fellowship of the Ring. And, just like in Fellowship, who should come along to save him but Old Tom?

Both the novel and the show’s Tom tame the offending tree by repeating the same phrases, word for word: “You should not be waking. Eat earth! Dig deep! Go to sleep!” In both cases, it works like a charm. (Later, we learn that the tree that swallowed the Stranger is named “Old Man Ironrod.” A cousin of Old Man Willow, perhaps?)

This isn’t the first time The Rings of Power has directly quoted a prior version of The Lord of the Rings. Heck, a direct quote from Jackson’s The Fellowship of the Ring all but confirmed the Stranger was Gandalf in the Season 1 finale. But Tom’s exact wording here doesn’t feel like a mere callback, or a fan theory-confirming quote. Instead, it establishes a connection between the Tom of the Second Age and the Tom of the Third Age, showing that he has been speaking to and calming trees for millennia. There’s a sense of routine here, one only possible thanks to a deep-seeded knowledge of Middle-earth.

As The Rings of Power‘s Tom tells the Stranger, that knowledge comes from the fact that he is “Eldest” of all things in Middle-earth. “Tom was here before the river and the trees; Tom remembers the first raindrop and the first acorn,” he tells the Stranger. “He knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless.”

And wouldn’t you know it, these lines also come right from The Fellowship of the Ring! There are a few other lines in Tom’s speech in the book, which raises the question: Does Tom have an introductory speech he’s rehearsed over the centuries, just so he can perform it to the people passing through his bed and breakfast?

In all seriousness, these direct quotations appearing in various takes on Lord of the Rings add an interesting depth to Tom Bombadil as a historical figure. His repetition of various lines and actions across time — such as saving both Merry and Pippin and the Stranger from various trees — creates a kind of cyclicality, one that rhymes with the rise of Sauron (Charlies Vickers) in both the Second and Third Age. Both times we’ve seen Tom, he’s helping people who may just save Middle-earth from the spreading darkness, making him the guiding figure for heroes in multiple Ages. That the Stranger is most likely Gandalf makes the connection even more powerful, as the Hobbit-loving wizard is unknowingly going through the same experience that his friends will down the line.

Notably, Tom is also a greater lover of stories and storytelling. So while he might not always participate directly in the grand narrative of Middle-earth — seeming more at ease observing the rise of darkness than stopping it outright — he’s still nudging people in the right direction, and likely recognizing the same types of stories as they reappear across time.

But the love for Tom Bombadil in this episode doesn’t just stop with his appearance. Instead, we also get the first onscreen adaptation of Middle-earth’s nightmarish Barrow-wights, who face off with Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) and Elrond’s (Robert Aramayo) Elven company. Tom’s not actually in this scene, so what’s the connection here?

Well, in The Fellowship of the Ring, Frodo and his companions are captured by Barrow-wights not long after leaving Tom’s house. Frodo calls upon Tom to save them, and he does — with the power of song! Sure, Galadriel and her crew don’t do any singing in their fight against the Barrow-wights, but the fact that we get their introduction in the same episode as Tom Bombadil’s is no coincidence.

Like Tom and Old Man Willow, the Barrow-wights were omitted from Jackson and Bakshi’s adaptations of The Lord of the Rings. Putting them and Tom (and the Old Man Ironrod scene) in the same episode creates a conversation between the characters, reminding us of their roles in The Fellowship of the Ring, and the fact that they were cut from subsequent film adaptations. Now, these elements of Middle-earth finally get their day in the sun in a Tolkien adaptation. Thanks to their inclusion, The Rings of Power Season 2, episode 4 becomes a nonstop love letter to The Fellowship of the Ring — and a portion of Tolkien’s work that has never really been seen onscreen until now.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 is now streaming on Prime Video, with a new episode every Thursday.

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