Entertainment
It’s Sexy Book Season


When it comes to books, I usually veer towards a party mix of thrillers, depressing sagas, weird little novels, and short stories. But I like to read in high contrast, so after a long intense story, I wanted something light and flirty. A friend recommended a popular romance series, and I dove right in.
I started with the massively bestselling A Court of Thorns and Roses — aka the sexy fairy books. The first one kept me turning 200 pages in anticipation of the big cross-species hookup, but I was ready to call it a day when it was over. Then a friend said YOU HAVE TO KEEP GOING, so I did, and the second book was 500 percent hotter. I was reading it on the beach last summer when I saw a woman floating in an inner tube reading the same bright teal book, her kids screaming at each other in the sand. She didn’t seem to notice.
After a few chaste novels and The Shining for Halloween (hell yeah), I peppered in another romance, then another. A good romance novel can make you feel teenage butterflies in your stomach, a lusty crush, an attraction to the idea of a motorcycle, and the first few floaty months of falling in love — even if it’s all in your head.
I loved Emily Henry’s sharply told Funny Story, which took place in a Michigan lake town not unlike the one I was reading it in, Traverse City. I devoured Rochelle Bilow’s food-loving book, Ruby Spencer’s Whisky Year. I adored Casey McQuiston’s Red, White & Royal Blue, which transported me to a land of rich people in the way Crazy Rich Asians had — and it was funny, too. My book club read the timeline-hopping The Seven-Year Slip, which was a cute weekend fling with a gentle nod to Auntie Mame.
I couldn’t help but wonder a few things. Am I reading these books to satisfy some unsatisfied part of my life? Or is reading romance just helping sustain the long game that is female libido? Many of us need build-up. We need imagination. I was glad these books got me thinking about it all. On Reddit’s r/RomanceBooks I saw a reader ask another if the book being discussed was “HEA” (“happily ever after”). The reader wanted to ensure she was in for a good time, no strings attached.
My question to my book club was, “What is the most romantic book you’ve ever read?” That means a love story that haunts you decades after reading. Mine was Waiting by Ha Jin, tied with Annie Proulx’s Brokeback Mountain. Not HEA, but I learned more about the nature of love, and felt the deepest pangs, from those novels than any other. Why not read them all?
Alex Beggs is a writer and copywriter who lives with her partner in Michigan. Her articles have appeared in Bon Appetit, Elle Decor, and The New York Times. She has also written for Cup of Jo about her dad’s meatloaf, cold cake, and (very) bad hair days.
P.S. Ashley Ford’s favorite romance novels and 12 great reader comments on books.
(Photo by Guille Faingold/Stocksy.)
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love

Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121

TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
Mashable Deals
Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025

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 today’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 was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
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:
Gibberish.
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Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
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…
TRIPE.
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.