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Jenna Bush Hager Names 'Explosive' Debut Novel as Her April Read With Jenna Book Club Pick
Jenna Bush Hager has named her April 2026 pick for her Read With Jenna Book Club. A stunning debut novel readers call “explosive,” the book is written by Woody Brown, the first nonspeaking autistic student to graduate from UCLA. In honor of Autism Awareness Month, Jenna’s pick is a fiction novel that tells the story of a nonspeaking autistic man inside an adult day care facility in Los Angeles. Pre-readers are giving a round of applause to Jenna’s April book club pick.
Jenna Announces April 2026 Book Club Pick View this post on InstagramOn the April 1 episode of the Today Show, Jenna announced Upward Bound by Woody Brown as her book club pick for the month. In a social media post sharing the announcement, the Today Show shared:
“The April 2026 Read with Jenna selection is "Upward Bound" by Woody Brown! Brown, who is autistic and nonspeaking, wrote his debut novel about Upward Bound, a fictional adult day care in Southern California for individuals with disabilities.
"Upward Bound is available now at your local indie bookstore or wherever you get your books. Grab your copy today and read along with us!”
Early Praise and ReceptionPublished on March 31, 2026, Upward Bound is already earning accolades from readers and other authors alike.
“Implosive and wonderfully inspirational,” shared Booker Prize winner Paul Beatty.
Good Housekeeping calls the book, “A moving, illuminating glimpse into a world we rarely have access to.”
What Upward Bound Is AboutUpward Bound is a fiction novel told through interconnected stories set inside an adult day care facility in Los Angeles. At the heart of the story is Walter, a nonspeaking autistic man whose experiences shape the narrative.
About Author Woody Brown View this post on InstagramMuch like his main character, Woody Brown is nonspeaking and autistic. Brown uses a letter board to communicate, and in order to write Upward Bound, his debut novel, he dictated the book using a letter board while his mother transcribed it.
Related: 2008 Dystopian Novel Was Just Voted the 'Best Book Ever' by Goodreads
Best-Selling Author’s Romance Novel Ranked Among ‘Worst Books of All Time' on Goodreads
Best-selling author E. L. Jamesfound massive success with her romance novel Fifty Shades of Grey—both in its book form and in its film trilogy. But unfortunately, Goodreads users have also ranked it among the "Worst Books of All Time."
Currently, Fifty Shades of Grey—the first book in James' trilogy featuring Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele—sits at No. 5 on the Goodreads list of worst-ever books. (It's right behind Stephenie Meyer's Twilight,Breaking Dawn, New Moon, and Eclipse, in that order.) Meanwhile, 50 Shades Darker, the second book (2012) in James' trilogy, sits at No. 26, and 50 Shades Freed, the third book (also published in 2012), is ranked at No. 34.
Critics of 50 Shades of Grey have called out the book (and series) for normalizing controlling and abusive behavior, as well as problematic portrayals of BDSM, including a lack of consent. Still, the book trilogy managed to sell more than 165 million copies worldwide.
In 2015, James (whose real name is Erika Mitchell) opened up about the success of the trilogy during an interview with Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford on Today. The interview came ahead of the release of the 50 Shades of Grey film starring Jamie Dornan as Christian and Dakota Johnson as Ana.
"I am constantly overwhelmed and shocked by the success of this book," the British author confessed. "[The inspiration] came from lots of places; it came from reading things, it came from my imagination, it came from a little bit of life experience."
Mitchell—who also served as a producer for the film trilogy, which together grossed more than $1 billion—echoed these sentiments in a 2023 column published in the U.K.'s Sunday Times.
“The success of Fifty Shades still confounds me," she admitted. "I was like a rabbit in the headlights. I didn’t expect such a furore and didn’t deal with it well. I couldn’t sleep and was anxious, especially around the time of the movies."
She added, "All I’d done was sit down and write something I’d have wanted to read, an erotic and fun romance. At the heart of my books are the characters and their relationship, which I really care about. End to end bonking would be pretty boring. I have imposter syndrome and knowing I’ve sold 165 million books doesn’t make it easier. I find it depressing that I can’t shift the self-doubt so I’m in therapy now.”
Despite the film trilogy's commercial success, it's worth noting that the first movie also managed to snag five Razzie Awards in 2016.
Next: The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3: All the Differences Between the Book & Show
What Does 'Maundy Thursday' Mean? Find Out More About This Important Day During Holy Week
Easter is just around the corner! Many people began preparing for this religious event on Ash Wednesday and throughout the Lenten season. But before Easter weekend officially begins with Good Friday and Holy Saturday, there's another holy day of observance to consider: Maundy Thursday.
While it's known by a few other names (more on that below), Maundy Thursday is a celebration that consists of Christians commemorating this holy day during Jesus Christ's final week leading up to His crucifixion.
Find out more about how churches observe this special day, what "maundy" actually means and how the date of the observance differs between those who use the Western versus Eastern liturgical calendar.
Related: 80 Best Lent Quotes and Sayings
What Is the Significance of Maundy Thursday?This holy day commemorates the actions Jesus took on the day before his crucifixion, as recorded in the four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. During the Last Supper with his disciples, Jesus took a cloth and stooped down to wash the feet of his followers. Later that evening, they went to the Garden of Gethsemane, where he asked Peter, James and John to join him in praying, eventually leaving them behind to go pray on his own. "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done." Matthew 26:42 (NRSV)
Churches that gather for a Maundy Thursday service might pray, conduct a foot washing service, read scripture, commemorate and participate in Communion and have a time of singing. Some churches offer a morning service where consecration of the holy oils used throughout the year takes place.
When Is Maundy Thursday in 2026?Toward the end of Holy Week, the week commemorating Jesus's last days on Earth, Christians observe Maundy Thursday. It's in the final days of the Lenten season, and along with Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday, form the Easter Triduum.
According to the United Conference of Catholic Bishops' website: "Though chronologically three days, they are liturgically one day unfolding for us the unity of Christ's Paschal Mystery."
In 2026, Maundy Thursday services will be held on the evening of April 2 for those using the Western liturgical calendar. The Orthodox and others using the Eastern liturgical calendar will observe Maundy Thursday on April 9.
Related: What Is Orthodox Easter?
Why Is It Called Maundy Thursday?Photo by John Kevin from Getty Images/Canva
The word "maundy" shares roots with the Latin word "mandatum," which is "commandment." It's a reference to the New Commandment Jesus gave to his followers at the Last Supper. "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another." John 13:34 (NRSV)
The word "mandatum" is also the first word sung in the liturgical ceremony for Maundy Thursday. Our English word "mandate" comes from this word as well.
Related: What Is Palm Sunday and Why Do We Celebrate It?
What Are Some Other Names for Maundy Thursday?Other names for Maundy Thursday include:
- "Holy Thursday" (Catholic and Methodist)
- "Green Thursday" (Germany)
- "Covenant Thursday" (Coptic)
- "Great and Holy Thursday" (Eastern Orthodox)
- "Thursday of Mysteries" (Syriac Orthodox)
Related:You Might Say 'Amen' Without Much Thought, but Here's What the Word Actually Means
What Is the History and Meaning of Maundy Thursday?Photo by RomoloTavani from Getty Images Pro/Canva
Along with the other days of Holy Week, Maundy Thursday has a rich history dating back to the days of the early church. It has held its title, Maundy Thursday, since the 1500s.
In particular, the practice of foot washing was well established by the 5th century. According to Newsweek, "Until 1689, it was customary for the king or queen to wash worshipers' feet in London's Westminster Abbey, in addition to handing out food and clothing in charity."
Related: What Are the 7 'I Am' Statements of Jesus?
Is Maundy Thursday Only a Catholic Thing?Although not all churches hold specific services, Maundy Thursday is a holy day for all Christians. Those churches that closely observe the liturgical calendar (i.e., Methodist, Anglican, Episcopalian, Lutheran, Catholic and Orthodox) will gather on Maundy Thursday. It's quite common for all Christians to at least read about the actions Jesus took on each day of his last week on Earth, including the events that transpired on Thursday.
Related:When Is Lent?
Is Maundy Thursday in the Bible?As mentioned, the Latin term that shares roots with "maundy" is "commandment," which we do find in scripture. We read accounts of the actions Jesus took on the Thursday before his crucifixion in all four gospels. While the observances among our churches vary, the events of Maundy Thursday—the final Passover meal, the washing of feet, the time of prayer and arrest at the Garden of Gethsemane—are all scriptural.
1976 No. 1 Soft Rock Classic Became a Timeless Heartbreak Anthem—And Marked a Turning Point for Iconic Band
It took Chicago 10 albums to get their first No. 1 hit. In 1976, the Chicago-based “rock band with horns” topped the charts with “If You Leave Me Now.”
The song hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on October 23, 1976, and remained there for two weeks. “If You Leave Me Now” appeared on Chicago’s eighth studio album and 10th album overall, Chicago X. At the time of its release, a 1976 ad in Cashbox described the song as “one of the most requested Chicago cuts in history.”
Written by Peter Cetera, “If You Leave Me Now” marked a turning point for the band previously known for harder rockin’ songs such as ”25 or 6 to 4” and "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" With its pre-breakup lyrics—the singer begs his love, “Ooh-ooh-ooh, no Baby, please don't go” – “If You Leave Me Now” became a heartbreak anthem, winning Chicago a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus in 1977.
But the song was actually a last-minute add-on to Chicago X, spearheaded by Cetera, who ultimately left the band in 1985.
"That was one of those magical 'Jeez, guys, we need one more song' [situations]," Cetera recalled in the Chicago box set liner notes. “In order to get everybody involved in it, I suggested that… [Jimmy Guercio] should play acoustic guitar, and then we'd let Terry[Kath] play bass, Bobby[Lamm] would play piano and Danny [Seraphine] would play drums and I would sing, and we would do it all together. And I said, 'And I'll tell you what, I'll even kind of do it like a lounge singer. I'll take a mic and kind of walk around and show you guys where we're going with the song.’”
At first, Lamm wasn’t impressed. According to Rhino, the keyboardist once said, “When Peter wrote this song, we gave it our all, even though we thought it wasn't anything special. Shows how little we knew.”
The song paved the way for future balladsThe success of “If You Leave Me Now’ changed Chicago’s course. They became known as a ballad-driven band. after releasing subsequent, sentimental power ballads such as “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” and “You’re the Inspiration.”
“It was decided for us that ballads were our niche,” Chicago founding member and horn player Lee Loughlane told Classic Rock magazine in an interview.
The change wasn’t immediately embraced by the bandmates.
“If you listened to the previous nine Chicago albums, you wouldn’t have heard anything similar,” Lamm told the outlet of “If You Leave Me Now.”
“It didn’t show the band as we thought we were, nor indeed in its best light,” he added. “When it became as successful as it did, everybody was surprised. Some of us resented it because… well, because it just wasn’t cool – certainly it was beautiful, but in our young minds it just wasn’t a cool song.”
Over time, Lamm changed his tune on the song that changed Chicago’s direction.
“[Peter] had a hard time getting that song on the album,” he told The New York Post in 2023. “We were rocking and jazzing, and then that song was the softest, most beautiful ballad that you could think of. It went No. 1 around the world, and we never could get over that [sound].”
Per Chicago's official website, the band has released 38 albums and sold over 100 million records, making them one of the most successful bands in rock history.
Target's 'Super Soft' 5-Piece Reversible Comforter Set Is Now $27 and Comes in Dozens of Vibrant Prints
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Nothing quite reminds you that it's time to change your bedding than a night spent tossing and turning under covers that feel just a bit too warm. Now that it's spring, it's the perfect opportunity to give your bed a quick makeover. A few new pieces can make all the difference, adding some fresh colors to the space while helping you sleep more comfortably.
Right now Target has some amazing options available, including the Lux Decor Collection Comforter Set. Available in a variety of colors and prints, the reversible five-piece set is currently a jaw-dropping deal. While the queen size typically retails for $90, it's on sale starting at just $27 for the Aztec blue print. Other colors and sizes are also available, and all are marked down.
Lux Decor Collection Comforter Set, From $27 (was $90) at Target Shop at TargetThe beauty of the set is that it gives you almost everything that you need to refresh your bed in one bag. You'll get a lofty comforter, two pillow shams, a bed skirt, and a decorative pillow sham. The print is bold and vivid, featuring a mosaic of intricate scrolls and medallions in complementary tones. If you prefer something more subtle, simply flip it over to show off the solid color instead. You're basically getting two looks for 69% off!
Made from 100% polyester, the microfiber pieces exude a soft and smooth feel. No matter how many times you toss it in the washing machine, the set will maintain its texture and color. While the comforter is plump, it's not overly heavy. That mid-weight makes it perfect for spring when you may not want to deal with more weighty winter bedding. You can easily layer it over a blanket when fall hits, maximizing the set's value even more.
Related: Walmart's 'Beautiful' $60 Fluted Cabinet Is a Great Space-Saver That ‘Looks so Expensive’
Everything coordinates beautifully, so you can play around to create a stylized bed look that you love. Let the comforter's print do all of the work by matching it with the solid side of the pillowcases, or vice versa. Fold over the top of the comforter to allow a peek of that attractive contrast. The advantage of the matching set is that it gives your bed an instantly pulled together appearance with minimal effort.
Nearly all reviewers mentioned the downy feel as a major plus point. One person commented that it's "super soft and comfortable," while another mentioned that it's "super cute" and has a "good weight."
Shop More Deals- Becky Cameron Sheet Set, $50 (was $83) at Target
- Fcnios Cooling Pillow Set, $40 (was $80) at Target
- Costway Storage Tower Cabinet, $80 (was $240) at Target
Such high-quality bedding rarely comes at such an incredible price, making the Lux Decor Collection Comforter Set a major standout. If you've been looking for a way to improve your nights and bring new life to your bedroom, this five-piece collection makes the ideal choice. The sale is only good for a few days, so pick it up while your preferred size and color are in stock!
Don’t miss future deals! Sign up for Parade Picks to receive our commerce team’s curated selection of discounts and sales, twice a week.
1972 Country Rock Gem Took 3 Years to Become an Unforgettable Hit
In 1972, a country-rock gem was recorded, but it took three years to become an unforgettable hit and a namesake anthem for a generation of young women.
Pure Prairie League recorded "Amie" in 1972 for their LP Bustin' Out. The song didn't initially hit the Billboard charts until 1975, becoming the band's signature single after gaining popularity as an album cut.
Pure Prairie League's singer and songwriter, Craig Fuller, shared the story behind “Amie” in a 2016 interview with The Tennessean. The tender tale of hesitation, heartbreak, and the girl who moved on was a lightning-in-a-bottle moment.
The band was initially signed by RCA Records and recorded Bustin’ Out. However, they were unceremoniously dropped by the label, reported The Tennessean. Several years later, "Amie" began to get airplay on the radio, the label re-signed the band and released the song as a single.
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The song became wildly popular and eventually reached No. 27 on the Billboard charts, where it remained for 13 weeks. "Amie" had such a moment that many listeners wondered whether it was about a woman important to someone in Pure Prairie League.
RELATED: 1970s Country Classic Earns Spot Among the Best Songs of the Decade
Fuller put that rumor to rest. He told The Tennessean that the tune was "Just a song I wrote. Just an exercise in song craftsmanship. All I was doing was stringing words and music together."
The songwriter joked about the song's influence on a generation. "I’ve had mothers come up and say, “I named my daughter Amie — and she named her daughter Amie."
However, does Fuller ever wonder what happened to the relationship between the song's lead male character and "Amie?" Fuller revealed, "Amie is just a song, so I get along with Amie really well. I suppose the protagonist of the song is just laying it out, and then it’s up to her."
RELATED: 49 Years Ago, a Single-Word Country Hit Broke Hearts and Conquered the Charts
According to American Songwriter, Fuller left Pure Prairie League in 1973 due to the military draft. Future country music giant Vince Gill replaced him in 1979, and he played with Pure Prairie League until 1981.
“Amie” has been covered by several artists over the years, including Lonestar (1997), Travis Tritt (1998), Counting Crows (2012), and Garth Brooks (2013). The band’s former singer, Vince Gill, has also performed the song in his live sets.
Pure Prairie League continues to tour today, with dates scheduled through May 2026.
NEXT: 1980 Heartbreak Country Ballad Became an Unforgettable No. 1 Hit
This Boutique Cruise Line Just Launched a 'River-to-Ocean' Combo That Changes Everything
If you’ve ever loved the intimate, city-center access of a river cruise but wished the ship didn't have to stop where the river meets the sea, Windstar Cruises has just designed your dream trip. The small-ship leader is officially launching a brand-new category: river-to-ocean cruising. The star of this new era is the Star Explorer, an all-suite yacht launching in December 2026.
Because it’s smaller than your average ocean liner but more rugged than a traditional river boat, it can do something most ships can't: sail directly into the heart of a city via a river, then seamlessly transition to the open ocean to reach remote islands and coastal gems. It’s the ultimate "best of both worlds" for travelers who want to see the D-Day beaches of Normandy and the skyline of London without ever packing a suitcase or switching vessels.
"River cruising’s popularity is reaching exponential growth," says Stewart Chiron, also known as The Cruise Guy, who has seen the trend explode as even major ocean brands like Celebrity enter the market with "viral" sailings that have sold out in mere minutes. Chiron notes that small ships have the unique capability to offer itineraries with a depth that massive vessels simply can’t reach. "Small ship operators are highlighting their size and ability to sail both oceans and rivers, and Windstar Cruises is a prime example," he says. "Many travelers are now willing to pay a premium to sail on these smaller ships for the chance to experience these differing, more intimate itineraries."
Related: Celebrity Announces New River Cruises to Debut Excursions Unlike Any Before
View this post on InstagramFor the 2027 season, the itineraries are a masterclass in "deeper" travel. One standout is the Impressionist France voyage, which takes you from Bordeaux to London, spending overnights in Paris/Rouen and St. Malo. If you’ve already checked the Danube and the Rhine off your list, this is the logical "what’s next." You get the same 84-degree "yacht-style" warmth Windstar is known for, but with the ability to navigate the Guadalquivir into Seville or the Scheldt into Antwerp—ports that are usually off-limits to anything but the smallest vessels.
Onboard, the experience is strictly "luxury without the ego." The Star Explorer carries just 224 guests, and almost every suite features a private veranda or a floor-to-ceiling infinity window. You’ll find new dining concepts like Basil + Bamboo (a Mediterranean-Asian fusion) alongside Windstar favorites like the Amphora dining room and the signature watersports platform that lets you jump right into the blue from the back of the ship.
Whether you’re eyeing a 14-night adventure through the ancient wonders of Vietnam or a 10-night circumnavigation of Ireland’s rugged cliffs, this new category is a game-changer for the "cult-favorite" cruiser. It’s a way to keep that intimate, river-style connection to a destination while finally having the horizon wide open.
Related: The Most Anticipated River Ship of 2026 Launches in March—and It’s a Creative Masterpiece