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The most read Kindle books of 2026 (so far)

Mashable - Sat, 06/20/2026 - 05:00

For my fellow Kindle users, ever wonder what other people are reading on their Kindles? Well, Amazon has some answers.

Each week, Amazon puts out a list of the most read books, which ranks books by the average number of daily Kindle readers and Audible listeners. So unlike a bestseller list, it shows you what titles other Kindle users are actually reading. Because let's be real, we're all guilty of buying a book and letting it sit on the shelf for a little too long.

Now that we're nearly halfway through 2026, it's time reveal the most read books, according to Kindle readers and Audible listeners. We gathered this list using Amazon's Most Read charts, collecting which books (both fiction and non-fiction) spent the most time in the top 10 spots. It's a fun mix of titles, compromised of new releases and old favorites.

So without ado, here are the most read Kindle and Audible books of 2026.

25. Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 'Yesteryear' by Caro Claire Burke $14.99 at Amazon
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You'll find Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke on every lists naming the best books of the year. The tradwife satire was released April 7, 2026 but it's made such a splash that it's already spent seven weeks in the Most Read top 10.

24. The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 'The Psychology of Money' by Morgan Housel $9.46 at Amazon
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First published in September 2020, The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel is still wildly popular. A compilation of 19 short stories, exploring the way we think about money, The Psychology of Money has spent seven weeks on the Most Read list in 2026.

23. London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family's Search for Truth by Patrick Radden Keefe Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 'London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family's Search for Truth' by Patrick Radden Keefe $14.99 at Amazon
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Acclaimed author Patrick Radden Keefe returned with his latest book London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family's Search for Truth, a feat of reporting diving into London's seedy underbelly as a family fights to find the truth behind their son's death. Released April 7, 2026, London Falling has already spent eight weeks on the Most Read list.

22. Famesick by Lena Dunham Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 'Famesick' by Lena Dunham $13.99 at Amazon
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The moment Famesick was released on April 14, 2026, it seemed like everyone was reading it and the Amazon charts confirmed that. Spending nine weeks on the Most Read charts, Dunham's memoir which recounts the decade of her life marked by her HBO show Girls as well as the chronic illness that weighed her down, is a must read among Kindle and Audible readers.

21. Stripped Down by Bunnie XO Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 'Stripped Down' by Bunnie XO $14.99 at Amazon
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Bunnie XO has 2.5 million followers on Instagram and 12 million followers on TikTok all on top of her popular podcast Dumb Blonde. So it's no surprise that her unapologetic memoir, Stripped Down, has spent nine weeks on the Most Read chart. Released, February 17, 2026, Stripped Down details Bunnie XO's rise from the trailer parks of Vegas to the top of the podcast charts.

20. Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 'Dear Debbie' by Freida McFadden $4.99 at Amazon
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Dear Debbie is just one of Frieda McFadden's books to spend weeks on the Most Read chart. Landing on the list for nine weeks, Dear Debbie is a thrilling read about a woman taking justice into her own hands, even if there are killer consequences.

19. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 'The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck' by Mark Manson $13.99 at Amazon
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Kindle and Audible users are all about self-help in 2026. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson has spent nine weeks on the Most Read chart, helping reachers develop a mindset to weather the storm of modern day living.

18. Brimstone by Callie Hart Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 'Brimstone' by Callie Hart $11.99 at Amazon
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Finally, some romantasy on the Most Read charts. Callie Hart's second book in the Fae & Alchemy trilogy, Brimstone, spent nine weeks on the charts. The sequel to Quicksilver dives back to the vampire courts where newly crowned queen Saeris Fan must send Fisher to her homelands, a mission that could kill him.

17. The Housemaid by Freida McFadden Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 'The Housemaid' by Freida McFadden $4.99 at Amazon
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Despite being released in 2022, The Housemaid by Freida McFadden remained one of the most read books of 2026. Interest in The Housemaid hasn't faded thanks to the movie adaptation starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried. With over 3 million Goodreads ratings, if you still haven't read The Housemaid, it begs the question — what are you waiting for?

16. You with the Sad Eyes by Christina Applegate Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 'You with the Sad Eyes' by Christina Applegate $14.99 at Amazon
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Beloved actress Christina Applegate is ready to say it all in her memoir You with the Sad Eyes, that spans her five decade long career, including her Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis in 2021. You with the Sad Eyes, spent 10 weeks on the Most Read charts since its March 3, 2026 release.

15. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' by J.K. Rowling $11.99 at Amazon
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There's this little known series about a boy named Harry Potter. We joke. But it is cool to see the fifth book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix on the Most Read charts 23 years after its release. What's even cooler is that Amazon notes the average reader age of the book is nine, meaning kiddos are still diving in as this book spent 12 weeks on the charts.

14. Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 'Dungeon Crawler Carl' by Matt Dinniman $4.99 at Amazon
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Dungeon Crawler Carl is just the beginning of Matt Dinniman's epic, genre-bending series. First released in 2020, Dungeon Crawler Carl has spent fifteen weeks on the Most Read charts.

13. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban' by J.K. Rowling $11.99 at Amazon
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What's fun about following the Most Read chart from the beginning of the year, is seeing how the books in the Harry Potter flunctuate position on the list as kiddos move through the series. Plenty made their way through the third book, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, which spent 15 weeks on the list.

12. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets' by J.K. Rowling $11.99 at Amazon
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The popularity continues with Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling, which spent 15 weeks on the Most Read list in 2026, even 28 years after its release.

11. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' by J.K. Rowling $11.99 at Amazon
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Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire must be a fan favorite in the series as it spent 16 weeks on Amazon's Most Read chart, letting readers bask in the magic of the Triwizard Tournament.

10. The Correspondent by Virginia Evans Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 'The Correspondent' by Virginia Evans $13.99 at Amazon
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Capturing the life of Sybil Van Antwerp, The Correspondent by Virginia Evans, tells the story of one's life all through the letters she writes. Released in April of 2025, the novel has stayed on the Most Read charts for 17 weeks in 2026.

9. Theo of Golden by Allen Levi Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 'Theo of Golden' by Allen Levi $12.99 at Amazon
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Theo of Golden tells the story of a small town and the power of one stranger who slowly collects the stories of the people there. Allen Levi's book has consistently been on bestseller lists and spent 20 weeks in the top ten most read books on Amazon.

8. Strangers by Belle Burden Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 'Strangers' by Belle Burden $13.99 at Amazon
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Perhaps the most read memoir of 2026 is Belle Burden's Strangers, which unpacks the end of her marriage in the early days of COVID. Already a bestseller, Burden's memoir has spent 21 weeks on the Most Read chart.

7. The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Green Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 'The 48 Laws of Power' by Robert Green $16.99 at Amazon
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A classic can stand the test of time, best evidenced by Robert Greene's The 48 Laws of Power, which was first released in 2000, but has stayed on the Most Read chart for 22 weeks of 2026.

6. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone' by J.K. Rowling $11.99 at Amazon
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Of course the most read Harry Potter book is the first. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone spent 22 weeks on the Most Read chart with readers as young as eight years old enjoying the classic fantasy.

5. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 'Project Hail Mary' by Andy Weir $13.99 at Amazon
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Project Hail Mary topped the box office and the Most Read chart this year. Andy Weir's sci-fi novel was the fifth most read Kindle book of 2026, spending a staggering 23 weeks on the Most Read chart.

4. Nobody's Girl by Virginia Roberts Giuffre Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 'Nobody's Girl' by Virginia Roberts Giuffre $14.99 at Amazon
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Virginia Roberts Giuffre's posthumous memoir details her brave stance against Jeffery Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. The powerful, riveting read has spent 24 weeks among the top 10 Most Read non-fiction books.

3. Atomic Habits by James Clear Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 'Atomic Habits' by James Clear $12.99 at Amazon
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Also in the 24 weeks club is James Clear's Atomic Habits, a guide and framework for changing your habits and your life. Released in 2018, Atomic Habits remains one of the most read Kindle books eight years later.

2. 1929 by Andrew Ross Sorkin Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon '1929' by Andrew Ross Sorkin $18.99 at Amazon
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In his bestselling book Too Big to Fail, Andrew Ross Sorkin details the history of the 2008 banking crisis. In his latest, 1929, Sorkin dives into the infamous 1929 crash that shaped our society today. 1929 has spent 24 weeks on the Most Read chart.

1. The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 'The Let Them Theory' by Mel Robbins $17.99 at Amazon
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Mel Robbins' Let Them Theory has sold millions of copies, so it's no surprise it remains one of the most read books, too. Spending 24 weeks on the Most Read chart, Kindle users are diving into Robbins' bestselling book.

Leviticus ending explainer: What does it all mean?

Mashable - Sat, 06/20/2026 - 05:00

Sure to make our year-end list of the best horror of 2026, Leviticus is an Australian thriller that takes a terrifying look at the evils of conversion therapy — with a supernatural twist.

Since writer/director Adrian Chiarella's feature directorial debut premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, critics have been singing Leviticus' praises. Now that audiences can go to theaters and see what all the buzz is about, a new wave of fans is sure to discover how uniquely scary Leviticus is, thanks to its mysterious monster.

Set in a conservative town in Australia, Leviticus centers on the new kid in town, Naim (Talk to Me's Joe Bird), who's swiftly developing a crush on his classmate Ryan (Stacy Clausen). But not long after the two begin hooking up, a "deliverance healer" performs a ritual on the boys that's meant to stop them from being gay. How? Well, that's spoiler territory.

Let's get into it.

What does the title Leviticus mean?

Leviticus is a book in the Bible. And while it has a lot to say, the most relevant bit in terms of this movie is Leviticus 18:22: "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination."

The movie won't quote it, but the actions of the adults in this Christian community suggest they hold this verse more dear than any of the ones where Jesus called for loving thy neighbor.

What is the monster in Leviticus?

Once the boys have endured the ritual from the deliverance healer, they are followed by something supernatural that tempts them sexually, by appearing as the person they most desire. This creature is not defined within the film as a spirit, devil, or demon — though the religious context provided in the small town suggests one of the latter. The boys stalked by the creature refer to it only as "it."

But let's not get it twisted. The real monster of Leviticus? The parents in this Christian community.

Think of it this way: The shark in Jaws is just being a shark. The mayor who keeps the beaches open because he values money over human lives is the real monster.

Similarly, here, the creature is doing what it does by nature — as suggested by the snake eating the frog in the first scene with Naim and Ryan. The monster/villain of Leviticus is the group of so-called good Christians who unleashed a supernatural tormentor on their own children because they'd rather see their kids dead than queer.

What are the rules around Leviticus' creature? Joe Bird and Stacy Clausen star as two boys in love and trauma in "Leviticus." Credit: Neon

Thrillingly, Chiarella rejects a straightforward approach to explaining the whats and whys of his creature. With the film set firmly from Naim's perspective, the audience only knows as much as he does through what he sees and hears. But much of what he hears is told secondhand, creating an incomplete taxonomy on this troubling creature. Here's what we do know.

The creature is invisible to all but the person it is stalking.

Naim's first encounter with the creature comes before he's endured the ritual, but after Ryan has. So, while spying on Ryan, he sees the blonde teen lead an invisible someone to a secluded photo booth for a hot makeout session. The photo strip from the booth shows only Ryan inside. But when Ryan begins to cry out in pain, Naim pulls back the curtain to see his crush is being strangled. No assailant can be seen, but the indentations of a palm around Ryan's neck can.

Later, when Naim is being stalked by the creature, he asks strangers at a gas station if they can see it. No one can. To all but those afflicted, the boys sound insane.

The creature aims to kill.

These life-and-death stakes are made clear in the cold open, where a lifeguard named Marnie (Tyallah Bullock) unknowingly encounters the creature. In the shower of a public pool, it seduces her and then violently kills her. The same fate will befall the pastor's son Hunter (Jeremy Blewitt) not long after the "deliverance healer" performs the ritual on him.

The creature appears as the person you desire most.

For Ryan, that means it resembles Naim, and for Naim, it looks like Ryan. However, when they meet Jessica, another afflicted queer kid, she warns them its appearance can shift. "It always looks like the person you're the most — you know — into," she explains, "It doesn't matter who it is: best friend, movie star, gym teacher you once had a crush on. It knows."

"It comes for you when you're alone." 

This information doesn't come from Jessica, but Izzy. Hunter's sister relays this info to Ryan and Naim during her brother's funeral, while helping them connect with Jessica, who she once knew from camp. Izzy relays the story of the creature like one might a ghost story around a campfire, with hushed tones and vague but terrifying details. Izzy is also the one who reveals the girl in the beginning died because of the creature, but the parents and the press tell the "dumb story" that Marnie had fatally "slipped."

There's a double meaning there. At face value, you might think she slipped in the shower on slick tile and incurred a deadly concussion. But in the context of the homophobia in this Christian community, it might be seen that Marnie's "slip" back to same-sex lust led to her death. In that sense, the newspaper articles reflect the worldview of the monstrous parents. This, plus the scene where Naim begs the local police for help, reveals the wicked reality of this "shit-hole town." No authority can be trusted to protect these queer kids. Their only allies are each other. And that leads to a curious conundrum at the core of the story.

How can Naim and Ryan trust each other when the creature can look like them? Joe Bird and Stacy Clausen play Naim and Joe in "Leviticus." Credit: Neon

Chiarella expertly brews tension with this setup, because each time Naim sees Ryan, there's a flush of yearning and terror. Ryan is what Naim wants, but his mother's religious influence — compounded by the lusty creature she unleashed on him — makes him fear his homosexual identity. The creature itself speaks to this. Looking like Ryan, it tells Naim, "This is what they wanted, us to be scared of each other."

As Jessica warned, the creature will only get better and better about mimicking the desired. Sometimes, Naim can recognize it by context, like when it appears at the bus depot while the real Ryan is already on the bus. In some instances, this fake Ryan appears in the clothes he wore the first day they hung out: a blue tank top with orange ribbing and jeans. Other times, it appears in their school uniform: khakis and a white dress shirt. Other times, it appears in an unfamiliar outfit, suggesting its powers are growing.

What powers does the creature have?

On top of invisibility and shape-shifting, it appears to have the ability to probe the thoughts and feelings of its prey. Jessica warns that it knows what they want, and the way it speaks as Ryan in the climactic attack proves this. Beyond that, the creature also has superhuman strength. When attacking Ryan and Hunter, it lifts them off the ground by the throat. At the convenience store, it shows it can interact with other matter, too, chucking a rock at the teen — mimicking the feisty foreplay Hunter and Ryan displayed before the ritual.

Later, the creature will lift a heavy joiner pipe with one hand, the same pipe that the real Ryan and Naim were unable to budge with both hands. As it gets stronger, it can also turn doorknobs and plunge through a wire-mesh door — though not without injury. However, as Naim learns when cornered in his bathroom, piercing damage — be it a nail file or scissors — has no impact on the creature. Only flame can hold it off. But not for long.

Can the creature be killed?

There's nothing to suggest it can. Jessica warned early on that there's no stopping it. And even after Naim set fire to the abandoned warehouse where the creature was trapped inside, he sees it again as he leaves town on the bus.

What does the ending of Leviticus mean? Joe Bird stars in "Leviticus." Credit: Neon

Having survived the night, Naim learns that Ryan has gone missing. He also learns that his mother will be no ally against the creature. "I can't help you," she says, "This thing can't be undone. That's what they told me."

Naim is shocked to realize his widowed mother, who speaks of Jesus' love and God's grace, knowingly damned him. She claims she did it for his own safety, saying, "I won't be around forever. We need fear, Naim. It's how we survive."

He pleads for more information, but she ignores him. This interaction echoes other moments of parental neglect. When his mum realized he's gay, she immediately took him to the deliverance healer. When he was being tormented by the creature and could not be alone, she demanded he get out of her bedroom and told him she'd not be home that night, assuring his isolation. Their conversation outside the burned-out warehouse is the final chance Naim gives his mom to turn her back on him.

He flees to the bus stop with plans to go to a city, where he might start again. At the bus stop, he finds Ryan. They are at first uneasy, not sure if they can trust their eyes. But soon, they are on the bus, sharing a set of headphones and finding comfort in each other's presence. That's when Naim sees it.

Outside, it stands near a ditch by the road. Once more it looks like Ryan from that first hangout. Despite the stabbing, scratches, and fire, it is whole and beautiful once more. And it is still in pursuit.

Can Ryan and Naim outrun Leviticus' creature? Joe Bird and Stacy Clausen play Naim and Joe in "Leviticus." Credit: Neon

There's nothing to suggest they can in the film. However, there are some clues that could suggest hope. While the creature did follow Naim to the hospital an hour away, where they met Jessica, it took it some time. Did it walk there? We only ever see it walking. And while some cuts suggest it can travel alarmingly quickly, they feed more into Michael Myers' tendencies of dedicated stalking than a suggestion that the creature can appear in the blink of an eye. So, while it could follow the bus to the big city, it might take time.

Are Ryan and Naim doomed? I don't think so. For one thing, both are blissful in that final shot, riding off together. They are not at the back of the bus, like at the end of The Graduate. The sense that this escape is just a new trap isn't there.

Instead, I suspect that the farther they get away from this toxic community of hypocrisy and homophobia, the weaker the creature will be. This might be wishful thinking on my part. But having rewatched the film, I was struck by how much of the information they're getting is vague or coming from a possibly tainted source. Izzy tells them some bits of information and leads them to Jessica, but she also sets them up to be ambushed for a hate crime. As a pastor's daughter, her viewpoint is one ingrained in retribution. With her brother dead, she has little incentive to be a true ally to the boys.

As for Jessica, she is spending all her time at a hospital so she won't be alone, forced to face the creature. She's grieving her lost girlfriend, self-harming by snapping a rubber band on her wrist until she bleeds, and exhausted by the efforts of it all. She is a cautionary tale: stuck, stagnant, and miserable. And once Naim's mother makes it clear the parents are monsters not mentors, what else is there to do but run?

Metaphorically, the creature is not the shame of being queer, but the religious trauma that the boys have experienced. The church doctrine that queer lust and joy will lead to doom is played out by the creature, but that fear existed in Naim before he even knew about it. When he and Ryan first made out, he got spooked when he caught his own reflection in the mirror, enraptured in sexual pleasure.

To follow the metaphor, queer people can and do overcome the trauma suffered from religious condemnation, ostracization, conversion therapy, and physical abuse. But the first step is learning to love yourself. In this final scene, we get a glimpse of that journey.

When Naim first kissed Ryan at the warehouse, it was in secret, and even then he was afraid. Later, they kissed on the bus on the way home from the hospital, but were toward the back, away from prying eyes. In this final scene, they're closer to the front and in broad daylight. They are no longer afraid of being seen as gay. Maybe that won't keep the creature away. But if it would, it's not like Naim's mum would tell us.

Leviticus is now in theaters.

The best HBO Max deals and bundles in June 2026

Mashable - Sat, 06/20/2026 - 05:00
The best HBO Max deals and bundles in June 2026: Best HBO Max Annual Deal HBO Max Basic (With Ads) $78.99/year (save $41) Get Deal Best Disney+ Bundle Deal Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle $19.99/month with ads, $32.99/month ad-free Get Deal Best Hulu Bundle Deal Hulu and HBO Max Bundle Add HBO Max from $10.99/month Get Deal Best Student Deal HBO Max Student Save 50% on HBO Max Basic With Ads Get Deal

Looking for some exciting new films or shows to watch this summer? HBO Max is the place to find them. With a brand new season of House of the Dragon dropping this month and Euphoria's third season available to stream, there's plenty to watch right now.

If these have caught your eye, the good news is that HBO Max has a few different bundles available at the moment that are worth checking out, including a popular bundle with Disney+ and Hulu. The streamer is also offering a limited-time deal (until July 15) on its annual plans for your first year, dropping them down 28% from their usual yearly prices and offering 40% in overall savings compared to the monthly prices.

We've broken down that deal and other bundles below, so you can find the best option for you. With streaming prices on the rise, offers like these are a great way to save some cash while accessing your favorite services.

SEE ALSO: The 'Heated Rivalry' Fleece is finally here, and it costs $257 USD

Alongside bundles, we've also broken down HBO Max's standard plans in case you're interested in its service on its own.

Best HBO Max deal Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max HBO Max (Annual Plan) $78.99 at HBO Max
$109.99 Save $31   Get Deal Why we like it

Until July 15, new and returning HBO Max subscribers can take advantage of a limited-time deal on annual plans for the first year. Compared to their usual yearly prices, you're saving 28% on each of these plans. However, in comparison to going for a monthly deal — which are priced higher than the plans that lock you in for a whole year — you're actually saving 40%.

Here's the breakdown of the available deals:

Best Disney+ bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max Bundle $19.99/month with ads, $32.99/month ad-free Get Deal Why we like it

The HBO Max, Disney+, and Hulu bundle is a top-tier choice for those looking to have access to some of the biggest streaming services around. Starting at $19.99 per month, this bundle grants you access to Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max's streaming services for a much lower price than what you'd pay for them on their own. If you've already got Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions, this bundle is worth every cent. If you're interested, there are two plan options to choose from:

Best Hulu bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu and HBO Max Bundle Add HBO Max to your Hulu base plan from $10.99 per month Get Deal Why we like it

If you're not interested in the Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max mega bundle, you can just get Hulu and HBO Max together if you already have a Hulu base plan, which starts at $11.99 per month. HBO Max Basic with Ads can be added onto your plan for $10.99 per month, or you can splash out on the HBO Max Standard plan for $18.49 per month.

Best student deal Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max HBO Max Student Discount Students save 50% on HBO Max Basic With Ads Get Deal Why we like it

It's always nice when streaming services have a deal for students, and HBO Max's offer is definitely worth taking advantage of. Students who can verify their status with UNiDAYS are eligible to get the HBO Max Basic With Ads plan for just $5.49 per month. That's a 50% discount off its $10.99 monthly price. After verifying your status, you'll receive a unique code that can be used to redeem the discounted plan on HBO Max.

HBO Max's monthly plans

HBO Max offers a few different subscription plans. If you don't mind having to sit through ads, HBO Max's Basic With Ads plan starts at $10.99 per month or the annual plan runs for $109.99 per year. If you can't stand ads and don't mind throwing down a bit more cash, the Standard plan will cost you $18.49 per month or $184.99 per year. If you really want to go big on an HBO Max plan, you can spring for the fancy Premium plan, which costs $22.99 per month or $229.99 per year.

Below we've broken down what comes with each of these plans, per HBO Max's website, so you can know a bit more before you buy.

Basic With Ads — $10.99 per month, $78.99 per year $109.99 per year (until July 15)

  • Stream on two devices at once

  • Full HD 1080p resolution

Standard (Ad-free) — $18.49 per month, $132.99 per year $184.99 per year (until July 15)

  • Stream on two devices at once

  • Full HD 1080p resolution

  • 30 downloads to watch on the go

Premium (Ad-free) — $22.99 per month, $164.99 per year $229.99 per year (until July 15)

  • Stream on four devices at once

  • 4K Ultra HD video quality (as available)

  • Dolby Atmos immersive audio (as available)

  • 100 downloads to watch on the go

If you're wondering where to start once you've set yourself up with a HBO Max subscription, we've got an excellent selection of recommendations to point you in the right direction. Looking for a great TV show to kickstart your next binge-watching session? Have a look through our roundup of the 20 best TV shows streaming on HBO Max. Or if you prefer movies, we narrowed down the 25 best movies on HBO Max to make your next movie night a spectacular one.

Get lifetime access to Claude, Gemini, and Gemini for just $55 — the lowest price ever

Mashable - Sat, 06/20/2026 - 05:00

TL;DR: Through June 28, ChatPlayground AI’s Unlimited Lifetime Plan is down to its lowest price ever: $54.97 (reg. $619).

Opens in a new window Credit: ChatPlayground AI ChatPlayground AI: Lifetime Subscription (Unlimited Plan) $54.97
$619 Save $564.03   Get Deal

There are plenty of AI tools available today, but very few let you compare the industry’s biggest names in one workspace. A one-time payment of $54.97 isn’t just a good price for ChatPlayground AI — it’s the lowest price anywhere for lifetime access.

That’s a big deal if you’ve been exploring AI tools and finding yourself buried under tabs and subscription fees.

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The platform supports 20+ AI models, including systems built by companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Meta, and others, including ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, DeepSeek, Llama, Perplexity, and more. You can enter one prompt and instantly see how different models respond, which can be useful when you’re writing content, solving technical problems, or experimenting with prompts.

Beyond text prompts, ChatPlayground also supports image generation, coding workflows, and document analysis, including the ability to upload PDFs or images for context-aware responses. It also includes tools designed for people who regularly work with AI, such as prompt engineering tools, saved chat history, and conversation management.

For anyone who’s tired of bouncing between AI platforms all day —and paying for each of them separately — consolidating those tools into a single workspace can make working much smoother.

Get a lifetime of ChatPlayground AI’s Unlimited Plan for a one-time $54.97 payment (reg. $619) through June 28.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Grab no-subscription Microsoft Office apps for only $30, discounted for a limited time

Mashable - Sat, 06/20/2026 - 05:00

TL;DR: Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows is just $29.97 through June 28 — a one-time purchase that gives you lifetime access to essential Office apps with no subscription fees.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License $29.97
$219.99 Save $190.02   Get Deal

Paying for Microsoft 365 every month can add up fast, especially if you mainly use the core desktop apps. During Deal Days, our answer to Prime Day running through June 28, you can get a lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2021 for Windows for $29.97 (86% off), install it once, and keep Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and more permanently with no renewals or ongoing costs.

We know what you’re thinking, but rest assured, this isn’t some stripped-down lite version either. It’s the real deal. Whether you’re writing reports, crunching numbers, building presentations, managing emails, or wrangling databases, the lifetime version of Microsoft Office has you covered.

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It’s a one-time download for one Windows PC, so once it’s yours, it’s yours. The full pro-level toolkit, minus the stress of a subscription. Plus, with instant license delivery and free customer support, getting started is as painless as your new spreadsheet workflow.

No more “trial expired” pop-ups. No more surprise charges. Just the latest versions of Microsoft’s best apps, ready to support all of your work and personal needs.

Download a lifetime license to Microsoft Office for Windows while it’s on sale for $29.97 until June 28 at 11:59 p.m. PT (reg. $219.99). No coupon is needed.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Modernize your PC setup with Windows 11 Pro for less than $10 during Deal Days

Mashable - Sat, 06/20/2026 - 05:00

TL;DR: Windows 11 Pro is $9.97 (reg. $199) through June 28 during Deal Days — a simple PC upgrade for a cleaner UI, stronger security, and smoother multitasking.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Windows 11 Pro $9.97
$199 Save $189.03   Get Deal

Some upgrades just make sense the moment you see them. If your PC has been feeling a bit slow or overdue for a refresh, this is a straightforward way to bring it up to date. During Deal Days, StackSocial’s alternative to Prime Day running through June 28, Windows 11 Pro is available for $9.97 (MSRP $199), making it an easy, low-cost upgrade for a more modern computing experience.

This isn’t about chasing trends; it’s more about giving your computer the modern foundation it deserves. Windows 11 Pro brings a sleeker UI, better multitasking, and enhanced security — all in a one-time lifetime license.

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Think of it as the difference between driving a reliable car and suddenly upgrading to one with a smarter dashboard, smoother handling, and built-in security features.

For professionals, creators, and power users, this upgrade also unlocks features like Hyper-V, Windows Sandbox, BitLocker encryption, and seamless Azure AD integration — tools that make a real difference when you’re working across projects or managing sensitive data.

And yes, Windows 11 comes with Copilot, Microsoft’s AI-powered assistant that can summarize pages, change settings, or even help you generate code on the fly. It’s like having a co-pilot (literally) inside your OS.

But you don’t need convincing — you already know a smart upgrade when you see one. Get lifetime access to Windows 11 Pro for just $9.97 (reg. $199) through June 28.

Want to see more deals? Check out the full Deal Days collection.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Get Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini in a single lifetime AI platform for under $70

Mashable - Sat, 06/20/2026 - 05:00

TL;DR: Get lifetime access to the 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan for $69.97 (reg. $540) and access writing, image, PDF, audio, and video AI tools in one platform.

Opens in a new window Credit: 1minAI 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan Lifetime Subscription $69.97
$540 Save $470.03   Get Deal

At a certain point, using AI starts to feel less like trying cool tools and more like managing a chaotic collection of browser tabs, subscriptions, and disconnected workflows. That’s the very problem 1min.AI is trying to solve.

For a one-time $69.97, users can get lifetime access to the 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan instead of paying the regular $540 price. That’s a huge difference for a platform designed to consolidate a huge range of AI tools into one dashboard.

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Instead of bouncing between separate apps for writing, image editing, PDF analysis, transcription, voice tools, and video generation, 1min.AI combines everything into a single workspace powered by multiple top AI models.

Users can access ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Llama, Mistral, and other major models for chat, writing, brainstorming, summarization, and content creation. Beyond text, the platform also includes image generation and editing, PDF interaction tools, audio processing, speech-to-text, voice cloning, YouTube summarization, captions generation, and video creation features.

For marketers, creators, freelancers, agencies, and small-business owners, the all-in-one structure may actually be the most valuable part. One subscription replaces several scattered tools while reducing the issues created when constantly switching platforms.

And because it’s a lifetime plan, you won’t have recurring monthly subscriptions that can snowball over time.

Get lifetime access to 1min.AI’s Advanced Business Plan (with updates) for a one-time payment of just $69.97 (reg. $540).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

I Want Your Sex review: Olivia Wilde dominates in salacious and silly comedy

Mashable - Sat, 06/20/2026 - 05:00

American filmmaker Gregg Araki is so over movies taking sex too seriously. A defining figure of the New Queer Cinema moment of the early '90s, the director of the Teenage Apocalypse film trilogy (Totally F***ed Up, The Doom Generation, and Nowhere) is back with I Want Your Sex, a cheeky comedy that's got a throbbing debate penetrating its raunchy romance.

Written by Araki and Karley Sciortino, I Want Your Sex plays like a spirited "fuck you" to Halina Reijn's Babygirl. That erotic thriller saw a female CEO (Nicole Kidman) risk her comfortable life over a sexual affair with a male intern half her age, who dominated her in a kinky BDSM relationship. By sharp contrast, Araki's latest keeps the May-December BDSM romance, but turns the tables on who's wielding the whip.

SEE ALSO: A beginner's guide to understanding Dom/sub dynamics

In Babygirl, the heroine's desire was transgressive, as she ceded her hard-won power to an impudent younger man in exchange for consensual sexual degradation. In I Want Your Sex, it's the younger man who is the protagonist hungering to be debased and bossed about. What each craves is the freedom of submission in sexual play, a place where they won't be judged for their yearnings. 

But where Babygirl focuses intently on female desire, I Want Your Sex goes the way of After the Hunt, plunging into a curious intergenerational divide on sex and its politics. Yet, the intellectual undercurrent of this comedy doesn't keep the film from being wildly funny and scorchingly entertaining.

I Want Your Sex pokes at Gen Z prudishness through millennial provocation.

Mashable has previously reported on how Gen Z appears to be less interested in sex than millennials. This carnal culture clash is explored through I Want Your Sex's L.A.-set story of boy meets Domme. Post-college, Elliot (Cooper Hoffman) is floundering to find himself in early adulthood. While his stern girlfriend Minerva (a hilariously frigid Charli XCX) is endlessly focused on her grad school work, Elliot is comically distracted by his sexual desires. Even as Minerva stares at him with boredom, he imagines her talking dirty while big, bouncing cartoon breasts spill out of her top, taunting him.

With such an active sexual imagination, it seems like a (wet) dream for Elliot to get a job working under professional artist and notorious provocateur Erika Tracy (Olivia Wilde). The bad bitch of the art world, her work is endlessly centered on sex, lust, and genitals. Thus, she demands a flank of twentysomething lackeys to do her bidding, whether that be answering phones, prepping materials, or satisfying her late-night lust. 

The two are absolute opposites. Where Elliot is rumpled, gawky, and wide-eyed, Erika, who is 14 years his senior, struts with an alluring confidence and L.A. edginess. He wears khakis; she sports leather catsuits. He bungles even small talk. She spits out disdain about the art industry and even her own work with all the passion of making a grocery list. Then, she dares Elliot to agree with her after he's spent all day chewing gum to build a sticky multimedia depiction of a gaping vagina. Where he's an open book, she's a triple-latched diary with a latex cover, slicked with lube. And he's utterly enchanted by this slippery seductress. So when she suggests they have sex with no strings, Elliot is positively giddy.

While their relationship is a HR nightmare, Araki stitches in an undeniable sweetness. Where Elliot's peers consider him cringe, pervy, and too needy, to Erika, he's — to pluck a phrase from the recent BDSM rom-com Pillion — got an aptitude for devotion that she appreciates (in her own stoic way). 

A joyful montage displays Elliot and Erika in various kinky scenarios. He's drop-jawed in delight, accepting a spanking, or handcuffed and bound in leather straps, or crawling around in a skimpy maid's uniform. But when they're not fucking, Erika is mind-snapping in her emotional unavailability, insisting to him that sex is the point and means nothing beyond shared pleasure. As Elliot yearns for more — for her to see him or recognize the connection between them beyond the bondage — things turn gnarly, challenging Erika's carefree-fucking thesis. 

Olivia Wilde is a devilish diva in I Want Your Sex.

Wilde exudes thundering sensuality in a dazzling array of kinky clothes, including boldly alluring office attire that would make the office siren girlies faint. Her Erika is not a three-dimensional woman but an art piece of her own making — slick, sexy, and enigmatic. Fitting, then, that Araki begins his film with a nod to an early icon of problematic, unknowable but fabulous film divas: Norma Desmond, played by Gloria Swanson in Sunset Boulevard.

Like Billy Wilder's phenomenal classic dark comedy from 1950, I Want Your Sex begins with a doomed figure, floating dead in a sparkling swimming pool, the glow of a posh home shining down on the scene. But this time, it's not the brash American man who toyed with the heart of a deranged female artist who's bobbing in the waters. It's the artist herself. 

How did Erika wind up here? And why is Elliot freaking out while wearing a matching pink satin bra and panties? That's the gleefully tawdry question that Araki poses with his intro. From there, every stilettoed step that Wilde takes in the journey of this deliciously mad baddie plays like a clue.

While Hoffman offers a goofy, guileless smile and willing flesh for the stomping, Wilde is a thigh-high boot in human form. She is shimmering and seductive, but with a threat of pain. To his clown, she is not just an eyebrow-arching straight man but a smirking tyrant, impossibly cool even when behaving like a hot mess, the kind juicy exposés thrive on.

With baby bangs and a chic mullet, Wilde presents L.A.'s art scene as a ruthlessly superficial space where sex sells, and it's easier to plead ignorance than it is to ask for consent. She is a caricature of a cynical millennial, attracted to Gen Z's eagerness but bored by their purity politics. Her give-no-fucks façade is as enchanting as it is shallow.

Araki builds out her world with a scowling business partner (an amusingly seething Daveed Diggs). Meanwhile, Elliot's is filled with friends like Zap, his eye-rolling work bestie (Mason Gooding in sassy mode), his flummoxed roommate Apple (a crackling Chase Sui Wonders), and foes like the two frustrated cops (Margaret Cho and Johnny Knoxville) interviewing him about Erika's pivotal last swim. Through all these collisions of colorful characters, Araki is able to explore the central sexual politics with plenty of verve and saucy while silly dialogue.

These contrary viewpoints on sex and relationships are bound to collide dramatically. Thankfully, the pool scene climax is just as juicy and twisted as you might hope for in a Araki spin on Billy Wilder. However, in the film's overlong resolution, the daring filmmaker who won the first-ever Queer Palm at the Cannes Film Festival takes his foot off the gas. This give-no-fucks romp about the beauty of making mistakes in lust and love falters in its daring. Its propulsive pace sputters in search of a happy ending that feels so jarring in tone that it feels almost like another one of Elliot's fantasies — minus the cartoony flare.

Still, even with a conclusion that loses its nerve, I Want Your Sex is an exuberantly entertaining comedy, alive with sexual vigor, earnest humanity, and biting humor. 


I Want Your Sex was reviewed out of NewFest; the movie opens in theaters on July 31.

Hurdle hints and answers for June 20, 2026

Mashable - Sat, 06/20/2026 - 00:00

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

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If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

Muncher.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

EATER

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Gathering.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for June 20, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

EVENT

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Hurdle Word 3 hint

To chuck.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for June 20 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for June 20, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

THROW

Hurdle Word 4 hint

To glorify.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

EXTOL

Final Hurdle hint

Water-related.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

HYDRA

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

Moon phase today: What the Moon will look like on June 20

Mashable - Sat, 06/20/2026 - 00:00

The Moon continues to get more illuminated each night as we work through the lunar cycle. Can you see anything tonight? Keep reading to find out what you might see.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Saturday, June 20, the Moon phase is Waxing Crescent. Tonight, 44% of the moon will be be lit up, according to NASA's Daily Moon Guide.

With just your naked eye, tonight you'll be able to see the Mares Fecunditatis, Serenitatis and Crisium. With binoculars, you'll also catch a glimpse of the Endymion Crater, Posidonius Crater, and the Mare Nectaris.. If you have a telescope, this will help you see all this plus the Apollo 17 landing spot, the Descartes Highlands, and the Rupes Altai.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on June 29.

What are Moon phases?

According to NASA, the Moon completes one orbit around Earth in about 29.5 days, moving through eight recognised phases along the way. While the same side of the Moon always faces our planet, the amount of its surface lit by the Sun changes as it travels around Earth. As a result, we see the Moon appear in different shapes over the course of a month, from slender crescents and half moons to a bright Full Moon. This repeating sequence of phases is known as the lunar cycle.

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for June 20, 2026

Mashable - Fri, 06/19/2026 - 22:00

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're an athlete.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games 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 today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable 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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for June 20, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

  • Yellow: Partitions

  • Green: Cold sports

  • Blue: Reduce, reuse

  • Purple: A gust

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Here are today's Connections categories

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

  • Yellow: Dividing structures

  • Green: Participate in some winter Olympics

  • Blue: Common recyclables

  • Purple: What "Draft" 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 #1105 is...

What is the answer to Connections today
  • Dividing structures: FENCE, GATE, HEDGE, WALL

  • Participate in some winter Olympics: CURL, LUGE, SKATE, SKI

  • Common recyclables: BOTTLE, BOX, CAN, NEWSPAPER

  • What "Draft" might refer to: BREEZE, ON TAP, RECRUIT, SKETCH

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for June 20, 2026

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

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.

NYT Strands hints, answers for June 20, 2026

Mashable - Fri, 06/19/2026 - 22:00

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're a sports fan.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for June 20, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Knicks knack

The words are related to basketball.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe baskeball champions.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Garden Party.

NYT Strands word list for June 20
  • Courtside

  • Garden Party

  • Chant

  • Bleachers

  • Marquee

  • Rafters

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and 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 Strands.

Wordle today: Answer, hints for June 20, 2026

Mashable - Fri, 06/19/2026 - 22:00

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're a Hip Hop fan.

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.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for June 20, 2026 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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for June 20, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A Canadian rapper.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter D.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. 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...

DRAKE

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.

Microsoft Office for Mac is on sale for a one-time $40 for a limited time

Mashable - Fri, 06/19/2026 - 18:00

TL;DR: Through June 28, Deal Days shoppers can get a lifetime license for Microsoft Office Home & Business 2021 for Mac for just $39.97 (reg. $219).

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Home & Business for Mac 2021: Lifetime License $39.97
$219 Save $179.03   Get Deal

Subscriptions have their place, but productivity software doesn’t really need to be one of them — especially when it’s something as familiar and widely used as Microsoft Office. Somewhere along the way, there must have been a glitch in the matrix, because buying software turned into renting it forever.

Thankfully, Microsoft Office Home & Business 2021 for Mac skips that model entirely. Its lifetime license is currently on sale for $39.97 (regularly $219) during this Deal Days sales event, running through June 28.

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There’s no need to explain why an Office license still matters. Most people have been using Microsoft Office long before cloud apps and browser-based alternatives became the norm. With this deal, you can install the full Office suite on a single device for lifetime use — at home or at work — without worrying about monthly renewals, annual price hikes, or surprise charges down the line.

This license includes all the core apps most people actually rely on: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and OneNote. That means drafting documents, crunching numbers, building presentations, managing email, and organizing notes using the full desktop versions of each app.

Unlike free alternatives or web-based tools, you get access to the complete feature sets, which makes a difference when you’re working on longer documents, detailed spreadsheets, or presentation-heavy projects.

Once you purchase, your license key and download links are delivered instantly, so there’s no waiting around to get started. Microsoft also includes lifetime customer support, which can be helpful if you ever need assistance with installation or troubleshooting.

Instead of committing to yet another recurring subscription, this one-time purchase lets you get software you’ll likely keep using for years.

Grab Microsoft Office Home & Business 2021 for Mac for just $39.97 (reg. $219) through June 28.

Click here to view more of the Deal Days collection.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Infowars is returning with Tim Heidecker at the helm. Heres what it’ll look like.

Mashable - Fri, 06/19/2026 - 13:14

After satirical paper The Onion bought right-wing conspiracy site Infowars, it faced legal obstacles — but now the people behind it say they're launching a new Infowars and sidestepping the courts.

The founder of Infowars, Alex Jones, declared bankruptcy in 2022 following defamation lawsuits from families of the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting, which Jones claimed was a hoax. He was ordered to pay them $1.3 billion in damages, and The Onion won an auction bid for Infowars in 2024 — but a judge swiftly blocked the sale.

SEE ALSO: Chat, are we cooked? A guide to internet slang in 2026.

Then, in April 2026, The Onion announced a new way to buy the outlet: a licensing deal that would allow The Onion to publish on Infowars' site and start paying the Sandy Hook families. But that has faced legal challenges too, MS NOW reported, and The Onion has decided not to wait for the courts to relaunch the website.

"Alex is holding Infowars.com hostage," CEO of The Onion, Ben Collins, told MS NOW. "He's trying to intentionally degrade the assets so these families can never sell them, and the courts have largely obliged. We're tired of waiting around."

The refreshed Infowars is now set to launch on July 2 with original programming, with comedian Tim Heidecker as creative director. Heidecker, who's known for Adult Swim shows such as Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! with his creative partner Eric Wareheim, will host a parody of Jones's old Infowars show. An "emergency" statement from Heidecker (doing a Jones impression) has already been published on YouTube.

Other shows coming to Infowars this summer, according to MS NOW, are The Jim Haggerty Show and a documentary-style film called Birth of a Nation, which has the same name as the racist 1915 film featuring the Ku Klux Klan.

In an April interview with TIME, Heidecker said there will be a "transition phase" of doing Onion-style parody, and he eventually wants to turn Infowars into a "destination for good comedy — a new streaming site, a new comedy platform." He also stated that the team hopes this will be profitable and "provide nice, healthy budgets for young creators to make interesting things for the world."

He reiterated this in a June interview with WIRED, stating that "there will be a sense of curation" of comedy coming out of Infowars, "the same way Adult Swim was a brand."

This is your last chance to get the Aiper Scuba X1 cordless pool robot for $550 off

Mashable - Fri, 06/19/2026 - 11:58

SAVE 37%: As of June 19, you can get the Aiper Scuba X1 for $949.99, down from $1,499.99 at Amazon. That's a 37% discount or $550 savings.

Aiper Scuba X1 $949.99 at Amazon
$1,499.99 Save $550   Get Deal at Amazon

It's nearly Prime Day, and Amazon's sneaking in little discounts here and there to keep us interested. From robot vacuums to kitchen appliances to TVs and headphones, we're already seeing some impressive price cuts, but the outdoor and backyard gear is getting some of the most practical markdowns.

Right now, you can get the Aiper Scuba X1 cordless pool robot for $949.99 at Amazon, down from $1,499.99. That's a 37% discount or $550 savings. It's also the lowest price we've tracked for this model. But you'd better hurry: Amazon's got a clock running on this one, and it's almost over.

SEE ALSO: Prime Day is almost here: We found 50+ early deals already live on Apple, Sony, and Lego favorites

This little robot runs for 185 minutes on a single charge. Instead of drifting around aimlessly, it uses smart navigation to map out your pool and dodge obstacles on its own. When it's done, just pop it onto the included wireless charging dock.

As for the actual cleaning, its dual jets clear out everything from fine sand to stray pebbles, while the filtration system catches the tiny debris you can't even see. It also scrubs along the horizontal waterline to get rid of scum buildup. Essentially, it handles all the real manual labor so you don’t have to.

How the electronic World Cup ball is already impacting games

Mashable - Fri, 06/19/2026 - 11:39

The official World Cup ball now has something in common with a phone, a smartwatch, and nearly every other piece of modern tech: it needs to be charged.

Adidas’ Trionda, the match ball being used at the 2026 World Cup, is more than just a four-panel soccer ball with a red, green, and blue design meant to nod to the United States, Mexico, and Canada. It is also a connected device. Inside the ball is a small motion sensor that tracks its movement hundreds of times per second and sends data to the VAR room in real time.

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That may sound like a strange detail for a sport still built around feet, grass, bodies, and instinct. But during Sweden’s win over Tunisia, the ball already proved its worth, as the internal sensor helped decide whether a record-setting goal should count.

SEE ALSO: World Cup tourists are obsessed with everyday America

In the 84th minute of Sweden’s win over Tunisia on Sunday, June 14, midfielder Mattias Svanberg came off the bench and scored with his first touch, just 12 seconds after entering the match. The goal would make him the fastest substitute ever to score at a World Cup, but it was initially ruled out for offside.

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The review came down to one hard-to-see detail: whether Sweden forward Alexander Isak had made a slight touch on the ball before it reached Svanberg. If he had not touched it, Svanberg would remain offside. If he had, the phase of play would reset, and the goal could count.

According to an ESPN VAR review of the incident, officials used Adidas’ connected ball tracking technology to determine that Isak had indeed made contact. The touch was so slight that it was difficult, if not impossible, to judge clearly with the naked eye...but the sensor registered it. VAR overturned the original offside decision. Svanberg’s record-setting goal stood.

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Connected ball technology is not new to the World Cup. Adidas first used a sensor-equipped match ball at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. For 2026, the technology has been updated, though, with a side-mounted 500Hz chip inside one of Trionda’s four panels, allowing the ball to send real-time, three-dimensional movement and touch data to VAR.

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In a World Cup increasingly shaped by technology, the smallest touch can now be enough to make history.

SpaceX stock price drops after Cursor purchase. How low could it go?

Mashable - Fri, 06/19/2026 - 11:24

Following SpaceX's IPO on June 12 — the biggest in history, which made Elon Musk a trillionaire — the stock price dipped just days later when the company announced the acquisition of AI coding agent Cursor.

The initial price was $135, and reached over $170 the same day, Mashable reported. By Tuesday, June 16, it hit a high above $225, according to Forbes, but some of those gains were lost by Wednesday.

The $60 billion deal between SpaceX and Anysphere, the startup behind Cursor, was announced on Tuesday. The next day, the price fell five percent, CNBC reported, and dropped another 3.75 percent on Thursday.

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk seemingly found the cheat code for capitalism. The SpaceX IPO proves it.

The markets are closed today, June 19, with SpaceX's current share price at $185 at the time of this writing. It's dropped slightly today, but it's still well above its IPO share price.

But how low will it go? Investor research firm Morningstar reported that SpaceX is wildly overvalued, with its fair value estimate at $62 a share, and a best-case scenario would price shares at $169. That would be lower than today's price, but still higher than its IPO.

Not everyone believes SpaceX is overvalued, though. Investment bank Oppenheimer and Co. raised its projection for SpaceX stock from $190 to $250 following the acquisition disclosure. Analyst Timothy Horan said that SpaceX "owns every layer of the AI stack, giving it cost and quality advantages," and that Cursor is a major component of that.

So it remains to be seen whether the stock will dip much lower — and unless it dips below $138, Musk remains a trillionaire.

Amazon hides its Prime Day sex toy deals — so I found the best alternatives

Mashable - Fri, 06/19/2026 - 11:20
Best early Prime Day sex toy deals so far: Best licking toy deal Tracy's Dog OG Lick $29.99 (save $10) Get Deal Best suction toy deal Hello Nancy Lem $89 (save $70) Get Deal Best rabbit vibrator deal bellesa G-Stroking Rabbit $79 (save $40) Get Deal

Prime Day is just a few days away (yes, Amazon bumped the official sale up to June this year), and it's my pleasure, and journalistic duty, to give you the deets on where to find the best sex toy deals.

As I've noted in years past, buying sex toys on Amazon is a gamble. If you don't know what to look for, you could end up with something that does more harm than good (think porous jelly materials or chemical-laden vibrators). On top of that, Amazon isn't allowed to promote sex toys on Prime Day the way it does for TVs and air fryers, which means you have to dig to find the discounts.

SEE ALSO: I've tested 100+ sex toys. Here are the 15 most mind-blowing toys I've ever owned.

Luckily, you have me to do the research for you. To be transparent, there aren't a ton of early sex toy deals live on Amazon just yet, but I expect a lot more to drop when the official sale kicks off next week. Below, I've rounded up the best early discounts — including a few Amazon finds that are already marked down, the toys I'm betting will go on sale next week, and deals from outside brands running their own sales. Happy shopping!

Best Amazon Prime Day sex toy deal so far Tracy's Dog OG Lick $29.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $10.00   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

A lot of the toys I usually hype up on Prime Day aren't on sale yet (I've listed those below), but Tracy's Dog is almost always marked down. It is one of my favorite sex toy brands for people who crave intense clitoral stimulation but aren't willing to pay more than $50. This is one of the only times I feel confident saying you'll get more bang for your buck.

Right now, you can get Tracy's Dog OG Lick for $29.99 at Amazon (it's basically just a newer version of the OG Sucking Vibrator, which I have and love). It's only 13% off on the Tracy's Dog website, so this is a good deal.

The OG Lick includes a remote and has seven licking modes and 10 vibration patterns. It's also waterproof and super easy to use hands-free (I actually love using mine while I'm giving my partner head; it's fun for everyone involved). Note: This is a "licking" vibrator; if you want suction, I recommend buying the OG Sucking Vibrator (which isn't available on Amazon for some reason).

More early Prime Day deals hiding on Amazon The toys I'm betting will go on sale next week All the sex toy deals you can shop right now

The 5 best gaming deals Id buy before Prime Day — Asus gaming laptops and Samsung monitors on sale

Mashable - Fri, 06/19/2026 - 10:47
Best early Prime Day gaming deals at a glance: Best gaming monitor deal 32-inch Samsung Odyssey G5 $189.99 (save $140) Get Deal Best gaming-worthy TV deal 65-inch TCL ClassQM6K QLED TV $527.99 (save $272) Get Deal Best gaming mouse deal Logitech G305 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming Mouse $30.99 (save $18.96) Get Deal Best gaming keyboard deal Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro Wired Mechanical Gaming Keyboard $182.99 (save $47) Get Deal Best gaming speakers deal Klipsch Reference R-40PM Bookshelf Speakers $316.99 (save $232.01) Get Deal

We're just days away from one of the biggest shopping events of the year.

This year, Amazon decided to launch into Prime Day a bit early, and we're in for big savings between June 23 and 26. But I've been covering Prime Day deals for nearly five years now, and I can tell you with certainty those dates are merely suggestions. You can find plenty of great deals before the sale starts, and other linger on into the days after the sale.

SEE ALSO: Shop the best Nintendo Switch deals ahead of Prime Day 2026

Anyone who's looking for gaming upgrades is likely in for some treats from Amazon. Before the sale starts, I've spotted some excellent gaming deals that are already live. Since I'm not one to enjoy strong mid-day summer sun, you can find me inside gaming until it's time for a dinner in the backyard.

If you're shopping ahead of the sale, these are the top gaming deals to grab before Prime Day hits.

Best gaming monitor deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung 32-inch Samsung Odyssey G5 $189.99 at Amazon
$329.99 Save $140   Get Deal Why we like it

A gaming monitor has the power to change the whole gaming experience. Go curved, and you'll never go back to a dull flat screen. Lucky for us, the 32-inch Samsung Odyssey G5 has a 1000R curve, and it's on sale for a massive 42% off ahead of Prime Day, coming in at just under $190 instead of the list price of $329.99. It's also worth noting the 27-inch model is on sale for about $200 which makes the cheaper price on the 32-inch model a fantastic snag.

The Samsung Odyssey G5 come with game-worthy specs like a 165Hz refresh rate, AMD Radeon FreeSync, and a glare-free display.

Best gaming-worthy TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 65-inch ClassQM6K QLED TV $527.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $272   Get Deal Why we like it

We often think of gaming as an expensive hobby, but it doesn't have to be if gaming items are multi-functional. For example. the 65-inch TCL ClassQM6K QLED TV can serve as your gaming display as well as your TV. Pair this with the sale price of $527.99, and things are looking a lot more realistic, price wise.

The TCL has a native refresh rate of up to 144Hz for crisp and quick gaming. The refresh rate is also excellent if you'll be sitting down to enjoy watching World Cup games this summer. TCL has the list price for the 65-inch ClassQM6K QLED TV set at $799.99, but Amazon's early Prime Day sale takes 33% off.

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