Where Your Next Great Escape Begins
Here’s what we’re sipping, reading, and listening to in October 2026
Mark Your Calendar: Our October Book Club meets Thursday, Oct. 29 at 6 p.m. PT
Anatomy of an Alibi by Ashley Elston starts with two women, Aubrey and Camille, who meet by chance and realize they might be able to help each other. Camille suspects her husband is hiding something, so they come up with a plan: swap identities for twelve hours, giving Camille the chance to investigate him while Aubrey provides the perfect alibi. But when the twelve hours are over, Camille’s husband is dead—and suddenly the lie they created to protect themselves could make them both look guilty.
I listened to Elston’s first thriller, First Lie Wins, and really enjoyed the way she played with identity, secrets, and who you can actually trust. I’ve been ready to get lost in another really good mystery, and between the identity swap, a murdered husband, and two women who clearly know more than they’re saying, this feels like exactly the kind of twisty read I’ve been craving.
The Book: Anatomy of an Alibi by Ashley Elston
The Wine: Domaine du Clos du Fief Juliénas
For a book built around false identities and things not being quite what they seem, I wanted a wine that could surprise you, too. Domaine du Clos du Fief Juliénas is a Cru Beaujolais made from Gamay, a light-to-medium-bodied red grape that Pinot Noir drinkers will probably feel right at home with: lots of bright red fruit, good acidity, and plenty of personality without being big or heavy.
Beaujolais has a bit of an underdog reputation, partly because so many people associate the name with Beaujolais Nouveau, the super-young, fruity wine released every November. But Cru Beaujolais is a completely different side of the region. There are 10 designated Crus, each known for producing more distinctive, complex wines, and Juliénas is one of them. This bottle still has that juicy, easy-to-love Gamay fruit, but there’s spice, earthiness, and more structure underneath than you might expect.
Which makes it pretty perfect for Anatomy of an Alibi: approachable at first glance, much more complicated once you get into it, and a good reminder not to underestimate the wine—or anyone in this book.
This might be one of my favorite Novel Pairings playlists yet. It leans rock, witchy, alt, and a little dark, and I’m LOVING it. Inspired by Anatomy of an Alibi, it has the energy of secrets whispered after midnight, bad decisions, hidden motives, and the creeping feeling that something is very, very wrong. Expect smoky vocals, electric guitars, Southern Gothic undertones, and plenty of songs with just the right amount of menace. Put it on while you read, pour a glass of Beaujolais, and settle in for bad omens, false identities, murder, and one very bad plan.
The Tunes
This is YOUR Space
This membership is your invitation to pause, unplug, and pour into yourself. Whether you come for the books, the wine, or the community, you’ll leave feeling a little lighter, a little more fulfilled—and ready to come back for more.