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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.  Harper Steele and Will Ferrell go on a road trip in "Will & Harper." Credit: Netflix

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.  Harper Steele, Will Ferrell, and Will Forte hitchhike in "Will & Harper." Credit: Netflix

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. Harper Steele and Will Ferrell hang out in "Will & Harper." Credit: Netflix

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.

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.

Suspense romance titles that are free today Best romantic suspense title overall 'The Kite' by N.R. Walker $0 at Amazon (save $5.99) Get Deal Best suspense romance book in a series Rocky Mountain Yoga $0 at Amazon (save $2.99) Get Deal Best beach-worthy suspense romance title 'Pretty Little Island' by Rhea Ryan $0 at Amazon (save $4.99) Get Deal

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 Opens in a new window Credit: N.R. Walker Our pick: 'The Kite' by N.R. Walker at Amazon
Get Deal 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 Opens in a new window Credit: Virginia Fox Our pick: 'Rocky Mountain Yoga' by Virginia Fox at Amazon
Get Deal 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 Opens in a new window Credit: Rhea Ryan Our pick: 'Pretty Little Island' by Rhea Ryan at Amazon
Get Deal 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)

Check out the best Amazon deals of the day as of Sept. 5: OUR TOP PICK $50 DoorDash gift card $42.50 at Amazon (save $7.50) Get Deal BEST HEADPHONES DEAL Soundcore Life Q30 hybrid noise-cancelling headphones $55.99 at Amazon (save $24) Get Deal BEST TV DEAL Amazon 50-inch Omni QLED Fire TV $399.99 at Amazon (save $130 with Prime-exclusive on-page coupon) Get Deal BEST SMARTWATCH DEAL Garmin Forerunner 55 $169.99 at Amazon (save $30) Get Deal BEST TABLET DEAL Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE (128GB, WiFi) $339.72 at Amazon (save $110.27) Get Deal

We've made it over the hump this week and deals are flooding the pages of Amazon to lead us into the weekend. We've rounded up the best ones we could find on Sept. 5, with standouts from brands we love — like Samsung, DoorDash, and Garmin.

Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. If none of these speak to you, be sure to check back at our picks from Sept. 3 and Sept. 4. Many of those are still live — including 42% off a 58-inch Hisense TV and a record-low price on our favorite budget-friendly gaming laptop.

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: DoorDash DoorDash gift card $42.50 at Amazon
$50.00 Save $7.50 Get Deal

Whether you're looking for a gift for someone (anyone, really) in your life or you've just got food on your mind, you can score a $50 DoorDash gift card for just $42.50 as of Sept. 5. That's 15% in savings. To redeem it, just login or create an account, select "Credits and Gift Cards" and enter the gift card number to add the $50 balance to your account. Since this is a Lightning deal, once it's 100% claimed, it'll no longer be available. At the time of writing, it's only 13% claimed. Enjoy while you can.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Soundcore Life Q30 hybrid noise-cancelling headphones $55.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $24.00 Get Deal

The Soundcore Life Q30 noise-cancelling headphones are back down to their Prime Day price of $55.99 as of Sept. 5. That's 30% in savings and just a few dollars shy of their record-low price. These headphones pack dual noise-detecting microphones to sense and filter out up to 95 percent of low-frequency ambient sound. You can choose from three different noise-cancelling modes and enjoy up to 40 hours on a single charge (or 60 without ANC turned on). Plus, the hybrid design allows you to connect them using an AUX cable.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 50-inch Omni QLED Fire TV $399.99 at Amazon
$529.99 Save $130.00 with Prime-exclusive on-page coupon Get Deal

If you love the look of Samsung's The Frame TV, but cannot fathom paying $1,000+ for a TV, allow me to introduce Amazon's Omni QLED Fire TV. Basically a more affordable dupe, the Omni QLED Fire TV offers an "Ambient Experience" mode that pulls up artwork, photos from your personal collection, or a selection of handy Alexa widgets. Plus, its QLED display features local dimming, an Adaptive Brightness feature, and support for Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ Adaptive. It's Amazon's best-looking Fire TV with lifelike color, bold contrast, and impressive clarity. The 50-inch option would regularly cost $529.99, but with the Prime-exclusive on-page coupon code 50QLED, you can knock the cost down to just $399.99. That's about 25% in savings. If you're not a Prime member, it'll cost you $419.99, which is still a pretty solid deal.

Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin Forerunner 55 smartwatch $169.99 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $30.00 Get Deal

If you're just getting into running, the Garmin Forerunner 55 makes a great companion. It features top-notch GPS, a heart-rate monitor, specialized coaching and training plans, and stats galore. It suggests workouts based on your previous activities and performance, lets you know how long to rest for effective recovery, gives you GPS-based pace guidance, monitors laps, and can last up to two weeks on a single charge. The Apple Watch could never. As of Sept. 5, you can snag this beginner-friendly running watch on sale for only $169.99. That's 15% in savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE (128GB, WiFi) $339.72 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $110.27 Get Deal

The Galaxy Tab S9 FE is essentially a budget-friendly version of the Galaxy Tab S9. It's not quite as great as the FE+, which has a larger screen and 2GB more of RAM, but it's still a high-quality, reliable device that's great for casual tablet users. It touts the same tough IP68 dust- and water-resistant rating as the S9, a slightly smaller battery capacity (8,000 vs. 8,400 mAh), and the same included S Pen. It's also significantly cheaper. Regularly $449.99, the 128GB version is on sale for just $339.72 at Amazon. That's 25% in savings. For what it's worth, the S9 with the same amount of storage will cost you almost double.

None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.

FREE KINDLE BOOKS: On September 5, celebrate Stuff Your Kindle Day and get thousands of Kindle Books totally free, including plenty of LGBTQ+ romance novels.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Free Kindle books during Stuff Your Kindle Day Get Deal

Readers rejoice! Our time is here.

September 5 marks Stuff Your Kindle Day, an author-driven event where Kindle books (among other e-book platforms) are totally free. Yes, you read that right — free. The best part is, you don't even need to actually own a Kindle (even though we highly recommend the Kindle Paperwhite and Paperwhite Signature Edition). As long as you have the Kindle app, you can read thousands of books.

There are lots of genres to enjoy during Stuff Your Kindle Day, but romance is especially at the forefront. Plus, it's great for diverse reads like LGBTQ+ romances. You can dive into stories of sapphic or gay love to immerse yourself into a world that feels representative of your own identity. The choices are plentiful — here are some of the best LGBTQ+ romance novels to shop during Stuff Your Kindle Day.

Best LGBTQ+ romance to shop during Stuff Your Kindle Day

• Bolt From The Blue by Willow Thomas — $0 $3.99

• Charles: Learning to Love by Con Riley — $0 $5.99

• Double Exposure by Rien Gray — $0 $2.99

• For Keeps by K.C. Everly – $0 $3.99

• A Forbidden Rumspringa by Keira Andrew — $0 $5.99

• Midsummer by Jena Doyle — $0 $3.99

• Mocha for Mateo by Melanie Greene – $0 $0.99

• Monsters within Men by TJ Rose — $0 $4.99

• The Opposite Worlds by Raluca M. Matara — $0 $4.99

• Pictures of You by Leta Blake — $0 $6.99

• Ready For His Close-up by Cyd Sidney — $0 $3.99

• Sophie and the Sea by Cassidy Langue — $0 $0.99

• The Stars in Her Eyes by C.M. Albert — $0 $0.99

• Zombie Daddy by Leslie Ayla — $0 $2.99

Amazon's Stuff Your Kindle Day is here, so be sure to take the time today to download all the titles your device can hold. With thousands of e-book titles available for free, there's a little something for everyone. Check out some of our top picks if you're looking to indulge in spicy romance reads.

Spicy romance titles included in Stuff Your Kindle Day Best overall pick 'Possession' by Jessica Hawkins $0 at Amazon (Save $3.99) Get Deal Best dark spicy romance 'Secret Betrayal' by Meg Shannon $0 (Save $4.99) Get Deal Best fantasy spicy romance 'Muse of Ruin' by Stephanie Hurst $0 at Amazon (Save $4.99) Get Deal

Stuff Your Kindle Day is the perfect time to fill your Kindle with as many new books as you can possibly read. With thousands of free titles available for the taking, you've got so many to choose from that it might make your head spin. This 24-hour event discounts tons of e-books to free or next to nothing, and they're yours to keep once you've downloaded them.

While there are plenty of different genres to choose from, one popular option is the spicy romance novel. "Spicy books" get more than a little hot and heavy, in addition to all the lavish romance you can't get enough of. If that's the type of read you're looking for, there are plenty to choose from during Stuff Your Kindle Day.

If you're looking to indulge in some sexy time in your literature, we've rounded up some picks below that you can start with. But act fast, because these books won't be available long. You're going to want to get to the "stuffing your Kindle" part quickly.

Looking for other genres? Be sure to check out the Stuff Your Kindle Day landing page for more.

Best spicy romance overall Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: 'Possession' by Jessica Hawkins at Amazon
Get Deal Why we like it

Waitress Lola Winters lives a fairly unremarkable life until the day she receives a proposition from billionaire Beau Olivier. He wants her, just for the night. To get her, he approaches her with the offer of a lifetime: making all of her dreams come true. But if he's going to change her life, Lola has to do everything he says for a period of 24 hours. For the next day to the next night, she must submit herself to his control. But what happens after that? Hawkins' sexy romance is all about exploring the result of a night of passion and how it continues onward after that.

Best dark spicy romance Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 'Secret Betrayal' by Meg Shannon at Amazon
Get Deal Why we like it

In this "dark mafia" romance, mafia member Nicholas Romano has agreed to forgive one woman's family's debts in exchange for one thing: her hand in marriage. The pair date like a "normal" couple and eventually wed, but it's a marriage that doesn't reflect the romance that was there in the beginning. That's when Nicholas is revealed to be a monstrous man who's cruel and unforgiving. But there's a light at the end of the tunnel: his "bride" will pretend until it's time for the titular betrayal can occur — but things are not all that they seem as you make your way through this steamy, spicy story that continues in two additional volumes.

Best fantasy spicy romance Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 'Muse of Ruin' by Stephanie Hurst at Amazon
Get Deal Why we like it

This extremely dark and steamy enemies-to-lovers tale explores the city of Tartarus and Calliope's plans to kill the infamous Titans. After taking one out, she's made to live with the rest of the Titans while coming to terms with what she's done. Of course, she's stunningly beautiful, with valuable blood, and extremely attractive to Zeus. You can probably figure out where it goes from there — and you can expect plenty of deviously steamy moments.

More spicy romance Kindle titles

• The Stars in Her Eyes by C.M. Albert — $0 $0.99 (save $0.99)

• Never Let You Go by Bella Rivers — $0 $3.99 (save $3.99)

• Wish You Knew by Julie Archer — $0 $3.99 (save $3.99)

• Ruthless by Gillian Archer — $0 $4.99 (save $4.99)

• Sidelined by Sarah Everly — $0 $2.99 (save $2.99)

• The Secret Fiancée by Catharina Maura — $0 $5.99 (save $2.99)

FREE E-BOOKS: On September 5, hundreds of e-books are totally free on Amazon for Stuff Your Kindle Day. Shop these historical romance books for free today.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Free Kindle books on Stuff Your Kindle Day Get Deal

For the voracious reader, there can never be enough books. And while we're big proponents of using your local library, sometimes you want books all your own so you can take your time reading without worrying about due dates. Stuff Your Kindle Day (September 5) is here to refill your library.

Stuff Your Kindle Day is an author-driven event from Amazon when hundreds of e-books drop to $0. You read that right — they're totally free! There are many genres available during Stuff Your Kindle Day, however, romance is at the forefront.

SEE ALSO: Amazon Kindle vs. Kindle Paperwhite: Which one is for you?

And if you are particularly a fan of historical romance, there are plenty of books for you, too. Yes, you can stop rereading (or rewatching) Bridgerton and discover a new story.

Best historical romance to shop during Stuff Your Kindle Day

• A Beguiling Ruse by Laura Beers —$0 $5.99

• A Deal with a Devilish Duke by Tessa Brookman — $0 $0.99

• An Inconvenient Ward by Audrey Harrison — $0 $2.99

• Court of Kisses by Arla Jones — $0 $3.99

• Discerning Grace by Emma Lombard — $0 $0.99

• Don't Judge a Duke By His Cover by Emily EK Murdoch — $0 $0.99

• The Duke's Sword by C.H. Admirand — $0 $0.99

• Highlander Deceived by Jayne Castel — $0 $4.99

• How to Train Your Viscount by Courtney McCaskill — $0 $4.99

• In Want of a Wife by Rebecca Paula — $0 $3.99

• The Man of My Dreams by Daphne Quinn — $0 $0.99

• Midnight Marriage by Lucinda Brant — $0 $5.99

• No Man's Bride by Shana Galen — $0 $0.99

• One Kiss from Ruin by Nancy Yeager — $0 $3.99

• Storm Tossed Rogue by Sandra Sookoo — $0 $2.99

• To Steal a Duke by Maeve Greyson — $0 $0.99

• The Unsinkable Penelope Carnegie by Jorja Rae — $0 $4.49

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.

Contemporary romance titles included in Stuff Your Kindle Day Best overall pick 'The Cottage at Hope Cove' by Hannah Ellis $0 at Amazon (save $0.99) Get Deal Best young adult contemporary romance 'If We Say Goodbye' by Jasmine Little $0 at Amazon (Save $4.99) Get Deal Best contemporary romance book in a series 'Engagement Rate: A Billionaire Office Romance' by Annie Dyer $0 at Amazon (save $2.99) Get Deal

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 Opens in a new window Credit: Hannah Ellis Our pick: 'The Cottage at Hope Cove' by Hannah Ellis at Amazon
Get Deal 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 Opens in a new window Credit: Jamine Little Our pick: 'If We Say Goodbye' by Jasmine Little at Amazon
Get Deal 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 Opens in a new window Credit: Annie Dyer Our pick: 'Engagement Rate: A Billionaire Office Romance' by Annie Dyer at Amazon
Get Deal 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

• Summer at Conwenna Cove by Darcie Boleyn — $0 $3.99 (save $3.99)

• The House that Alice Built by Chris Penhall — $0 $3.99 (save $3.99)

• Beach House Romance by Cora Seton — $0 $4.99 (save $4.99)

• The Wedding Agreement by Annie Dyer — $0 $4.99 (save $4.99)

As the tech landscape evolves, and the public's awareness of digital attacks grows, scammers are harnessing every tool at their disposal — including Google Maps.

A new sextortion scam (a form of financial coercion in which bad actors threaten to release personal, explicit images to the public) leverages publicly accessible geomapping data (read: images of your home) to make the threat even more serious.

SEE ALSO: How Big Tech is approaching explicit, nonconsensual deepfakes

As 404 Media reports, the scam begins with an email personally addressed to the target, filled with threatening lines insinuating the scammer has "proof" that the individual has been visiting illegal dark web sites or that they've been collecting illicit nude images, and capped off with images of the target's home address (most likely scrubbed from updated Google Maps street view images or similar databases).

The emails allege the installation of controversial spyware program Pegasus — a fake claim by scammers to up the legitimacy of their sextortion threats — and ask specifically for a ransom in Bitcoin.

Scammers frequently wave around personal information that appears to be hard to get in order to convince targets their threats are real, including previously used passwords and addresses. But this data is actually much easier to steal than the average person may assume, especially if their information has been recently compromised in a site breach. Instead, scammers are betting that people aren't privy to such data breaches, or hoping they're unaware that much of their personal information is easily obtained.

SEE ALSO: National Public Data breach: Do this to find out if your Social Security number has been leaked

Safety and privacy advocates warn that sextortion is still a pressing online issue, especially among young people. According to child safety nonprofit Thorn, an average of 812 reports of sextortion are sent to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) each week in the United States, and platforms for such abusive tactics include social media sites (like Instagram and Snapchat), encrypted messaging apps, and money transfer sites like Cash App.

If you receive a similar email attempting to blackmail you for Bitcoin, the FBI recommends reaching out and reporting the attempt to their office (1-800-CALL-FBI). Security experts urge individuals to never send personal images or money transfers, or click on suspicious links sent to you online. Covering your webcam is never a bad idea, either.

And you may want to just go ahead and blur your house on Google Maps while you're at it.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition is packed with the new Intel Core Ultra 200V series processors set to contend with the show-stopping Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chips.

(The Snapdragon X Elite chip is inside our best Windows laptop of 2024: Microsoft Surface Laptop 7.)

It's not just the new chips, though, that caught my eye with the new ThinkPad X1 Carbon 13. Lenovo calls it "groundbreaking" — and I can't agree more. The Hong Kong-based company unveiled one of the most incredible laptop features I've seen in 2024: Smart Share.

At a recent IFA 2024 showcase, Lenovo showed off how the new ThinkPad can easily receive data from your phone by simply tapping it against the side of the display — and it blew my mind.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition

If there's any time to snatch a Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon series laptop, it's now. As mentioned at the outset, it houses the new Core Ultra 200V series processors, which Intel says can deliver up to 20 hours of battery life (among other things).

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition on a table Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Of course, we'll have to test this ourselves when we get the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 in for review. But that's not the star of the show here. Let's talk about Smart Share.

Smart Share

It doesn't matter whether you own an Android or an iPhone, the AI-powered Smart Share lets you send photos to the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 with your device.

How does it work? There's an Elliptic Labs AI Virtual Sensor placed on the side of the laptop. After you tap your phone against it, the laptop will launch the Smart Share window. Next, you'll be able to drag-and-drop recent photos from your phone to the laptop — and vice versa.

This is huge, particularly for Android users. While sharing between devices is easy when they're from the same ecosystem (e.g., an iPhone and MacBook or a Google Pixel and Chromebook), it can get tricky if you like to mix and match your devices.

Although you can use the likes of Phone Link on Windows, with Smart Share, you can simply tap your phone on the side, and voila, you'll have the opportunity to share photos in a flash.

Smart Modes

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition also features four versatile Smart Modes. You can access them with a simple press of a button on the keyboard.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Here are the modes and what they can do for you:

• Shield Mode: Automatically fires up your preferred VPN when you connect to a public Wi-Fi network, keeping your data safe no matter where you are.

• Attention Mode: Cuts down on distractions with the ability to set timers and mute notifications, helping you focus on your work

• Collaboration Mode: Enhances video calls with options to blur your background or adjust lighting, ensuring you always look your best during virtual meetings.

• Wellness Mode: Get posture reminders and eye fatigue alerts that encourage regular breaks.

• Power Mode: Make quick adjustments to your power settings

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 will support Microsoft's Copilot+ PC features and will reportedly offer up to 18 hours of battery life on a single charge.

The new ThinkPad costs $1,999 and will hit store shelves on Nov. 2024.

At an IFA 2024 showcase, Lenovo unveiled a gaggle of new laptops that feature the shiny new Intel Core Ultra 200V series chips.

The hyped-up Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chips, found inside some of the best laptops of 2024 (e.g., Microsoft Surface Laptop 7), are all the rage, but there's a new sheriff in town.

Intel claims that its Core Ultra 200V series processors can deliver up to 20 hours of battery life. We'll have to test this bold proclamation for ourselves, but these processors can be found inside Lenovo's brand-spankin' new ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition (among other new Lenovo laptops.)

While checking out the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition, however, Lenovo surprised me with a new voice-activated concept laptop called "Lenovo Auto Twist AI PC."

Lenovo Auto Twist AI PC: What can it do?

The Lenovo Auto Twist can respond to the following commands, with "Hi Twist" being the wake word.

"Hi Twist, Close Laptop" The Lenovo Auto Twist in its "closed" state. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable "Hi Twist, Open Laptop" The Lenovo Auto Twist's display. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Hi Twist, Open Tablet Mode Lenovo Auto Twist on its journey to tablet mode. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable "Hi Twist, Dancing Mode" Lenovo's laptop can do a twisty dance to show off the range of its capabiltiies. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

The most jaw-dropping commands were "Hi Twist, Open Tablet Mode" and "Hi Twist, Dancing Mode." From a clamshell state, I watched the Lenovo laptop swivel its display 360-degrees — like The Exorcist — and bend backward into a tablet mode posture. Creepy, but fascinating.

The "Hi Twist, Dancing Mode" command showed off the Lenovo Auto Twist's full range of motion. With a ballerina on the screen, I saw the laptop do 180-degree turns before placing the display in an awkward, unnatural position. (Hey, not every laptop has rhythm; give this one a break.)

The mission behind the Lenovo Auto Twist is accessibility. Some users may benefit from a voice-activated laptop that doesn't require certain handsy maneuvers.

Again, the Lenovo Auto Twist is just a proof-of-concept, so you won't find it on the market anytime soon. But it gives us a peek into the future, giving us insight into what may come our way down the line.

Created by Vertical Meadows, the pilot project aims to bring biodiversity to busy urban areas, while also reimagining how development sites could look.

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

A small but vocal group is forming new funds and taking new approaches to counter the swell of money into venture capital in recent years.

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. 

SEE ALSO: Brandy's mother-in-law is pure horror in A24's 'The Front Room' trailer

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? Credit: A24

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.

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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 Credit: A24

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  Credit: A24

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.

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.

SEE ALSO: 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' Season 2 drops a major Shire lore bomb in episode 4

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.

SEE ALSO: 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' cast on the return of Sauron in Season 2

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?)

Rory Kinnear in "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power." Credit: Ben Rothstein / Prime Video

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?

SEE ALSO: 5 fantasy TV adaptations we'd rather see than a 'Harry Potter' reboot

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.

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.

SEE ALSO: Tom Bombadil's introduction in 'The Rings of Power' is right out of 'Fellowship of the Ring'

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.

SEE ALSO: Did you catch this hint at the Stranger's real name in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' Season 2? What does Sûza-t mean in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power? Tanya Moodie in "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power." Credit: Ross Ferguson / Prime Video

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.

On Thursday, Sept. 5, Shark Ninja officially revealed two new vacuums in its PowerDetect line: the PowerDetect 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop with NeverTouch Pro base and the Clean & Empty cordless vacuum. The robot vacuum will retail for $999.99, while the cordless stick vacuum will retail for $499.99.

Both vacuums are available to order now at Shark's online store, and will be available at retailers including Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart soon.

Opens in a new window Credit: SharkNinja Shark Cordless PowerDetect Clean & Empty System $499.99 at SharkNinja
Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: SharkNinja Shark PowerDetect 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum and Mop with NeverTouch Pro Base $999.99 at SharkNinja
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With these new launches, Shark is targeting the premium end of the vacuum marketplace, where certain bells and whistles have become standard. In the robovac world, the best hybrid robot vacuums and mops (or, at least, the most expensive ones) now feature a cleaning dock that combines self-emptying with self-washing and drying of the mopping pads. And for their premium cordless stick vacs, more brands are introducing docking stations that automatically empty the dustbin.

Both of these new vacuums bring Shark up to date with the competition in these respects, but with a lower price of entry.

Meet the new Shark hybrid robot vacuum and mop. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

Mashable got the chance to preview both vacuums at a recent press event, and our resident robot vacuum expert Leah Stodart is in the process of testing. Ahead of a full review, we've got photos, first impressions, and a few other tidbits to share.

Shark now offers a self-washing 2-in-1

A premium hybrid robot vacuum with self-cleaning features can run you up to $1,500, which is bordering on absurd for a vacuum. For consumers who are skeptical of paying $200 more for self-emptying, all these extra features can feel more gimmicky than boundary-pushing.

And despite lacking these features, Shark's simpler (and older) Matrix 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop has been a Mashable favorite for years, precisely because of its no-nonsense approach. However, with a retail price of $999.99, the new PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop will cost considerably less than similar offerings from iRobot, Roborock, Ecovacs, and Narwhal.

Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

Shark previously released an upright PowerDetect vacuum, and with these new launches, Shark says PowerDetect and Matrix will be its core vacuum lines moving forward.

The new robot vacuum's best feature

The premium hybrid robovac space is definitely getting crowded, and Julian Levesque, Shark Ninja's senior vice president of product development, told Mashable that with this launch the company is focused on expanding its global footprint. He specifically pointed to markets like France and Germany.

"To me, the coolest part is how the robot lifts up when it goes over a carpet," Levesque told Mashable. "There are others in the space that have various solutions for that, but we lift up the highest.”

When I saw this vacuum at work, it noticeably lifted its mopping pads when approaching carpet. This is a standard feature in premium hybrids, but the vac seemed to lift higher than normal. It was satisfying to watch the vacuum lift its little butt off the carpet, and you can see this lift-up in our pictures from the demo.

Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable Shark now offers a cordless stick vacuum with self-emptying

More brands are bringing self-emptying to cordless stick vacuums. These docks typically use a bag system and HEPA filter to ensure that users never have to deal with allergens and dust. The dock sucks out all the debris when the cleaning is done.

The downside of these stations? You can't shove the vacuum in a closet. For that reason, it's hard to compete with Samsung's Bespoke Jet, which features a modern and attractive emptying station you wouldn't mind putting on display.

SEE ALSO: LG's All-in-One cordless stick vacuum makes cleaning less of a drag, then empties itself

But once again, Shark's version of this technology will cost consumers considerably less. Compare the $499.99 price tag of the PowerDetect Clean & Empty Cordless Vacuum to the $999.99 price tag of the new Samsung Bespoke Jet AI stick vacuum. (Pro tip: Go with the previous-gen Bespoke Jet, which has 99 percent of the features and only costs $549 on sale.)

In a demo, the new PowerDetect vacuum easily sucked up hair. Credit: Shark Ninja

And it goes without saying that Shark's premium vacuum is much cheaper than Dyson's premium vacuum offerings.

This is becoming a trend for Shark: offering lower-priced but still impressive alternatives to premium products like the Dyson Supersonic.

An impressive stick vacuum, less impressive design

So far, no vacuum brand has been able to match the visual appeal of the Samsung Bespoke Jet vacuums. And while Dyson's designs can be a bit clunky, the brand's vacuums have also become something of a status symbol.

To be honest, I just don't love the aesthetics of the Shark Clean & Empty vacuum. At least, not enough to give it permanent real estate in my home.

Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

However, in terms of cleaning abilities, it seems impressive so far. The stick vac bends in the middle to reach below furniture. It also detects floor type to increase/decrease suction, while also sensing edges to get hard-to-reach debris. It seemed to pick up hair really effectively, but we're still in the process of testing for ourselves.

We'll withhold judgment on the robot vacuum until we've tested it.

For now, you can head to Shark to order these new vacuums, which are available now.

You mean to tell me PlayStation could’ve been making games like this the entire time instead of 9,000 photorealistic sad dad simulators?

Astro Bot, which is the third platformer starring Sony’s new unofficial robot mascot — but somehow the first one to be a regular full-priced non-VR game — is a breath of fresh air compared to most of the last decade of PlayStation. It’s not a competent prestige TV knock-off like God of War, or misanthropic edgelord misery like The Last of Us, or a bloated open-world mess like Horizon. 

Rather, this is a colorful, whimsical, mechanically tight, and overall delightful 3D platformer that’s also packed full of references to PlayStation history. While Astro Bot’s reverence for the PlayStation brand occasionally feels forced, and probably can’t sustain itself beyond this game, it’s such a goddamn thrill for the 10 or so hours it takes to finish that I think it’s a must-play for any PS5 owner.

Astro Bot premise What's up, Ratchet? You good? Credit: PlayStation

Astro Bot, from the developers at Team Asobi, isn’t really a game about plot. A PS5-shaped mothership full of little robots encounters some trouble in outer space — and it’s up to one heroic Astro Bot to rebuild the mothership and save all the bots.

While narrative isn’t really something that moves the needle in Astro Bot, it does feed into the game’s main aesthetic gimmick: constant references to PlayStation. Many of the hundreds of stranded bots you need to collect throughout the game’s levels to progress through the game are dressed like classic PlayStation characters, which is carried on from a similar idea in Astro’s Playroom.

When you collect a referential bot, they go back to your hub world and hang out doing little animations related to whatever game they’re from. It’s cute! I got a big kick out of seeing Kazuma Kiryu from Yakuza and Teddie from Persona 4 in there. 

However, turning references into necessary collectibles for progress does drive home the point that this is the point of Astro Bot. While it’s a great 3D platformer with beautiful visuals and catchy tunes (as we’ll get to in a bit), Astro Bot is a game about basking in all things PlayStation. And at times, it can feel like an incomplete or flawed history of the brand.

For instance, there are a few allusions to things that I either don’t associate with PlayStation at all or are maybe best left in the dustbin of history. There is also at least one major franchise that I extremely associate with PlayStation that isn't represented at all, for what have to be boring rights reasons.

It’s not the norm, thankfully, but a small handful of the references also feel like they were mandated by Sony corporate. I know Detroit: Become Human was a PlayStation exclusive, but we can pretend like it wasn’t. It’ll be fine. 

Astro Bot’s referential nature, despite its occasional missed swings and inconsistencies, is a positive overall. 2024 is the 30th anniversary of the launch of the PlayStation, and if Sony itself as a broader corporate entity isn’t going to do a very good job of celebrating such a historic legacy, I’m glad this game is doing it, at least.

Astro Bot mechanics The dog backpack rules. Credit: PlayStation

If you played Astro’s Playroom (and anyone who owns a PS5 should because it’s free), you know the deal here. Astro Bot is a mechanically simple and straightforward 3D platformer with remarkably tight movement and a generally punchy, chipper feel to its mechanics. You can run, jump, do a little hover move in mid-air, punch enemies, and that’s about it. What more do you need?

Well, there is a little more. Many levels revolve around a series of wearable gadgets that give Astro unique abilities. One of them causes him to absorb bodies of water and become huge, while another gives him a pair of springy, extending boxing gloves. These are a good deal more fun than the vehicles that sucked up so much of Astro’s Playroom runtime, and while a couple of them are motion-controlled, you can thankfully turn that stuff off.

The basic mechanics of Astro Bot are lifted so thoroughly from Playroom that the overall design structure stood out to me more than the moment-to-moment action. This is the most Super Mario Galaxy-ass game that isn’t actually Super Mario Galaxy. Aside from the fact that the levels are literally spread across little solar systems, it also permeates how the levels are designed.

More like God of Snore. Just kidding, those games are fine. Credit: PlayStation

Most of Astro Bot is spent moving linearly from one little floating platformer island to another. Each one will have some tiny challenge to complete — and then you’ll move onto the next, having fun along the way. All of it is paced so tightly, it's remarkable. Astro Bot leaves almost no room for boredom at any point in the process. Astro Bot is a constant firehose of pleasant brain chemicals.

Special mention needs to go to a handful of bigger levels that are themed to specific PlayStation games, giving Astro special costumes and unique abilities sourced from said games. There are distressingly few of these, and too many of them pull from the PS4 era, but one of them made me smile so much that I’m willing to forgive that transgression. 

It almost feels reductive to say “Well, they made a longer version of the great pack-in game, so it’s automatically great.” But that’s pretty much what happened! That said, I’m very glad Astro Bot is as brief as it is. Getting 100 percent completion can be achieved in a weekend, which is hugely refreshing compared to the endless array of live-service forever games and 100-hour RPGs that have flooded the market in 2024. 

Astro Bot graphics You gotta have a casino level in your platformer. Credit: PlayStation

Team Asobi’s penchant for colorful whimsy shines through in Astro Bot, which is one of the prettiest games on PS5. It’s got a relatively simple art style that pulls from a lot of inspirations; some levels straight up look like Mario, while the robotic animals that you fight harken back to classic Sonic. But, at least to me, it never feels like a rip-off. I think this game was just made by people with good taste.

Astro Bot is visually resplendent, but also fully readable, unlike so many modern games that sacrifice legibility for visual density. It’s exactly what a modern 3D platformer should look like.

Astro Bot music and audio

Astro Bot’s music was composed by Kenneth C.M. Young, who did the previous Astro games for Team Asobi, too. Put simply, each tune is eminently hummable and nearly perfect for whatever scenario it was written for. I especially appreciate the constant use of vocoders to produce robotic-sounding vocals. 

The aforementioned themed levels also have fun remixes of songs from the games the levels are based on. Sorry for spoiling one of them (skip to the next section if you really don’t wanna know), but it turns out I’m the exact kind of person who would mark out at a dance remix of the Uncharted 2 title screen music.

Astro Bot difficulty

This isn’t one of those overly masochistic platformers by any means, but Astro Bot’s level of challenge is fair. Astro dies in one hit (except for in the excellent boss fights, where you can take three hits), so careful play is not only rewarded, but necessary.

There are times when enemy numbers can be a little overwhelming and deaths can feel slightly unfair, but checkpoints are frequent and load times are instant, so who cares?

I will say Astro Bot becomes an appreciably and enjoyably more difficult game if you try to 100 percent it. I recommend doing so if you want the full experience.

Astro Bot performance

I did not think the technical performance of Astro Bot would be a source of disappointment, but here we are.

While the game looks amazing visually and runs at a solid 60 frames per second (as far as I can tell without an on-screen frame counter), it’s got this constant, every-few-seconds stutter that I noticed right away. It lasted throughout my entire time with the game, and I was playing on the latest patch. I was able to quickly get used to it and enjoy the game regardless, but it can be seriously distracting if you think about it too much.

I assume this is something that can and will be patched out of the game, but for now, Astro Bot’s gotta lose some points. 

Is Astro Bot worth getting? Sucks for that guy. Credit: PlayStation

Hell yeah, Astro Bot is worth getting! 

While I assume some folks will not feel great about spending $60 for a game you can wipe out in a few days, the experience itself is more than worth it. Team Asobi has made what might be the most purely fun PS5 exclusive yet — and it’s easily one of the best games on that saddeningly short list. 

Its referential nature works overall, even with some slight misgivings. I don’t think Asobi can keep that aspect of these games up if Sony commissions more Astro platformers, but for one game, it’s cool. Between that, its gorgeous visuals, catchy music, and excellent platforming mechanics, Astro Bot is one of the best games on the PS5.

Opens in a new window Credit: PlayStation Astro Bot $59.99 at Amazon
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Things didn't really go to plan for Scotland at Euro 2024, but Poland weren't exactly great either. Both sides will be looking to improve in the UEFA Nations League, and a positive result in the first round of fixtures would help to create some positive momentum.

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Scotland vs. Poland in the UEFA Nations League kicks off at 7:45 p.m. BST on Sept. 5. This fixture takes place at Hampden Park.

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In an effort to curb teens from watching potentially harmful videos on YouTube, the streaming platform announced Thursday it will expand its limitation of repeated recommendations of videos that idealise specific body weights, types, and fitness levels for teenagers in Europe and the UK.

It's an extension of the same move by YouTube in 2023 for U.S. teens, with the company's latest blog post using identical language as its first announcement, just extending the geographical reach.

As it has done for U.S. teens, YouTube said it will limit repeated recommendations of videos in particular categories including "content that compares physical features and idealizes some types over others, idealizes specific fitness levels or body weights, or displays social aggression in the form of non-contact fights and intimidation."

YouTube has identified these content categories as the type "that may be innocuous as a single video, but could be problematic for some teens if viewed repetitively."

SEE ALSO: Young people feel conflicted about the internet and their well-being

The post was written by Dr. Garth Graham, director and head of YouTube Health and James Beser, director of product management, YouTube Youth. The recommendations came from YouTube's youth and families advisory committee, a group formed in 2018, made up of independent experts in children's media, digital learning, and development. Their role is to advise on issues like online content and its impact on teens, who remain heavy social media users, especially on YouTube.

"One insight [of the advisory committee] is that teens are more likely than adults to form negative beliefs about themselves when seeing repeated messages about ideal standards in content they consume online," Graham and Beser wrote.

A 2019 survey by the UK's Mental Health Foundation found that 37 percent of teens felt "upset" and 31 percent felt "ashamed" about their body image. The report also said four in 10 teenagers said images on social media had caused them to worry about body image. A 2022 report by the UK Parliament's Health and Social Care Committee also unpacked the many avenues that contribute to body image issues, including online spaces. "The advent of social media and rise in online advertising have both increased exposure to certain idealised body types," the report found.

SEE ALSO: What parents of tweens and teens need to know about BookTok

YouTube will add these limitations for recommended videos on top of its existing means of restricting certain content from teen viewers per YouTube's Community Guidelines, including videos sharing personal testimonials about eating disorders. A study by UK eating disorder charity Beat found that 91 percent of people who had experienced eating disorders had encountered "content which was harmful in the context of their eating disorder," adding, "People with lived experience of eating disorders described being 'bombarded' with triggering content, imagery and advertisements which could 'fuel' eating disorder thoughts and behaviours."

"A higher frequency of content that idealizes unhealthy standards or behaviors can emphasize potentially problematic messages— and those messages can impact how some teens see themselves," Clinician, researcher, and YouTube advisory committee member Allison Briscoe-Smith said in a statement. "Guardrails can help teens maintain healthy patterns as they naturally compare themselves to others and size up how they want to show up in the world."

Though it's not specified by YouTube as being in compliance, the company's extended guardrails are being announced not long after the implementation of Europe's Digital Services Act and the UK's Online Safety Act that requires tech and social media companies protect users' safety on their platforms and prevent children from accessing harmful and age-inappropriate content.

For more on teens' and children's safety online, Mashable has you covered.

If you feel like you’d like to talk to someone about your eating behavior, text "NEDA" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected with a trained volunteer or visit the National Eating Disorder Association website for more information.