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Summer and reading go hand in hand. Whether it’s the long, lazy days or the oppressive heat that’s perfect for lying low, I find that I can plow through way more books in the warmer months. Now that it’s August, I’ve found my TBR (to-be-read pile) is getting a little low. And, thankfully, Barnes & Noble just announced the perfect solution: Book Haul is back. Here’s everything you need to know about this rare sale. Barnes & Noble Book Haul 2025 Score your next great read at a discount. Now through September 1, save 50% on select hardcovers during the Barnes & Noble Book Haul event. Shop on Barnes & Noble What is Barnes & Noble Book Haul 2025? Aside from the brand’s after-Christmas sale, Barnes & Noble Book Haul is the best time to stock up. From now until September 1, you can save 50% on hundreds of hardcovers across every genre, including fiction, nonfiction, teens and young adults, kids, cookbooks and more. Plus, these aren’t dusty old tit...

When I boarded Royal Caribbean’s brand-new Star of the Seas for a media preview cruise last week, I knew there would be splashy new features to try: killer waterslides, fresh dining concepts and the Broadway-worthy Back to the Future production show. But one tech upgrade promised to make the cruise experience smoother from the moment I stepped on board , and I was first in line to give it a whirl. Whether you’re a diehard rider of the high seas or just a curious potential cruiser, you’ll want to know what I found out about this exciting perk. I’ll take you through what it is, how you can get it and the pros and cons of using it on your next Royal Caribbean cruise. And you won’t believe what they have in store for later this summer—parents will love it! Keep reading to learn more. Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter  for more travel news, humor, cleaning, tech and fun facts all week long. What is this cool tech feature? It’s the WOW Band, a wearable wristban...

The first time I ever really noticed a pencil was in the fourth grade, when a classmate stabbed me with one that had been freshly sharpened to prison-shiv standards. The “lead” tip snapped off under my skin, leaving a weird purple bump in my leg for weeks until it finally worked its way out. I am still a little mad at Daniel (seriously, what did I do to deserve a pencil stabbing?), but it did get me thinking about pencils in a way I never had before. Would I get lead poisoning? Why are pencils yellow ? Is there a reason they all smell like my grandma’s cedar chest in a way I can still taste ? And would Daniel ever be brought to justice for his unprovoked war crime? Everyone has a pencil memory from their school days . Maybe you sniffed the “chocolatey” goodness of a scented pencil from the school vending machine (and also possibly nibbled it). Or maybe you sharpened your D.A.R.E. “don’t do drugs” pencil down until it just said “do drugs” and laughed about it for hours. At the very le...

Let’s be honest: We sometimes look at a trip to Costco as a family outing. We’re all together (bonding time), getting our steps in (family exercise), grabbing a snack or two (hello, free samples !) and maybe, just maybe, agreeing on what everyone wants for dinner for the next two weeks. Whoever votes for the $4.99 rotisserie chicken is clearly the favorite child. But wait, what about the furriest member of your family—can Fido join you on that Costco run too? Given that the family dog (or dogs) is just as much a part of your household as the humans, it’s perfectly reasonable to want them to tag along. And particularly if you have a small dog, what’s the harm? They’re tiny, and it is a warehouse, after all. Well, your opinions on the matter may differ from Costco’s, so let’s investigate the warehouse club’s policy on four-legged friends. Read on for the final word below. Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter for more Costco news, humor, cleaning, travel, tech and fun...

There’s nothing worse than bringing bread home from the grocery store, only to find out that it’s moldy a few days later. You looked at the best-by date on the package and bought accordingly, so what gives? Instead of a nice buttery piece of toast for breakfast, you’re scrounging in the pantry for an old granola bar that may or may not crack your teeth when you bite into it. It’s disappointing to have to abandon your morning toast or your midday sandwich, but there’s a simple hack that could potentially prevent it from happening again—and everything you need might already be in your refrigerator . To get to the bottom of this nifty little trick, we consulted Brian Chau, a food scientist and systems analyst who founded Chau Time, a consultancy that helps clients navigate R&D, safety and regulatory compliance. Keep reading to learn more. Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter for more food, humor, travel, tech and fun facts all week long. How long should bread last...

Why do schools have homecoming? If you’d asked high school me, she would have said it’s so I could dress up like Goth Barbie and make out with my boyfriend. If you’d asked college me, she would have said it’s so I could dress up like Millennial Barbie and dance with my roommates because the boyfriend was long gone (and good riddance). But if you ask adult me … it’s for the memories. So many iconic school memories center around homecoming week and traditions. But what is homecomin g , really, and how did it get its start? It isn’t actually about school dances or even football—or, at least, it wasn’t originally. “In a time when so many of our civic traditions have faded—from local volunteer clubs to neighborhood gatherings—homecomings remain one of the last great rituals of American community life,” says Raj Vinnakota, an expert on higher education and the president of the Institute of Citizens and Scholars. “You don’t need a kid on the field or a name in the program to belong. Showing...