11 summer shorts | ‘Picky bits’ recipes | Solid fragrances | New French Connection home buys

Plus, the new month-long pop-up that's bringing festival vibes to central London

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VIEW IN BROWSER 3 'picky bits' recipes for when you can't be bothered to cook a whole meal get the recipes Everyone's worst dating nightmare comes true in this new rom-com novel a twist Imagine inadvertently running into an ex. And then the same thing happening the next night, and the next – it's the kind of thing that you'd chalk up as a bizarre (and largely unwelcome) coincidence. This is the premise of cult American writer and New York Times bestselling author Sloane Crosley's second novel Cult Classic, which follows Lola – a 30-something New Yorker who's unsure about her upcoming nuptials to her perfectly nice fiancé Boots – as she keeps bumping into her Rolodex of ex-boyfriends. But when it turns out to be less of a coincidence than she first thought, old feelings, questions and insecurities are brought to the surface as she confronts her past to figure out her present.  "Described as Sex And The City meets The Good Place, Cult Classic also has a little of A Christmas Carol thrown in – if Ebenezer Scrooge was visited by the ghosts of all his former love interests, that is," says Stylist Loves deputy editor Annie Simpson. "A spin on the classic rom-com – with just a touch of mystical, sci-fi energy – Crosley masterfully captures the messy emotional minefield that is dating in a big city. Whatever your relationship status, the home truths dished out as a result of Lola's self-scrutinising narrative are sure to strike a chord, especially with those who have a tendency to dwell on the 'what-ifs' of life." £16.98, Bookshop.org 3 pre-batch cocktails to upgrade your next summer gathering Embrace the long summer evenings with these delicious ready to pour cocktails from Batch & Bottle – no shaker required… Brought to you by Batch & Bottle BATCH & BOTTLE / £22 Monkey Shoulder Lazy Old Fashioned Smoky and sweet, this lazy old fashioned is best served over ice and with your favourite summer playlist BUY NOW BATCH & BOTTLE / £22 Hendrick's Gin Martini Distilled with cucumber and rose, a crisp gin martini is the perfect pre-dinner tipple. Serve chilled BUY NOW BATCH & BOTTLE / £22 Reyka Passionfruit Martini A passionfuit martini should be in every summer repertoire. Serve in a vintage coupe glass BUY NOW 11 best shorts for summer, from casual boxers to baggy Bermudas find out more

Missed out on summer festivals? Soak up the atmosphere at Somerset House's latest pop-up Between holiday plans, work schedules and a little thing known as our bank balance, it's not always realistic to attend every summer festival that we dreamt of all winter. But whether you're still mourning your time at Worthy Farm or can't make it to Wilderness this weekend, Somerset House's new month-long cultural event is transporting the festival atmosphere to our doorsteps. Curated by British fashion designer Gareth Pugh and his creative director husband Carson McColl, This Bright Land aims to bring joyous summer vibes to the centre of the capital. By day, expect to find a food market by Black Eats LDN and a Bombay Sapphire gin bar spotlighting its newly-launched Citron Pressé flavour (perfect for next week's mini-heatwave), as well as beauty pop-ups by MAC, Jo Malone and Bobbi Brown (we recommend the latter's free 15-minute glow-ups), movie screenings and even a 35-metre observation wheel (and a cacophony of kids, thanks to school holidays) – but it's in the evenings where the famous courtyard takes on a life of its own. Along with the Friday night line-ups of live DJs and performers and Sunday Street Parties hosted by drag collective Drag Syndrome, get ready to channel Netflix's Pose with Vogue Rites-hosted Vogue Balls every Saturday night – the finale of which aims to be the largest open-air Vogue Ball in UK history. No tent or wet wipes required. Until 29 August; free-£22.50; Strand, London WC2R

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11 of the best new homeware pieces from French Connection read more   9 long-lasting solid fragrances to get you through airport security with ease read more

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