Reading Time: 5 minutes

Weekend Watch & Read

Welcome to Weekend Watch & Read, your Friday guide to what everyone is talking about before the weekend begins.

Every Friday I’ll round up the Top 10 Netflix shows in the United States and the Top 10 in Brazil, giving you a glimpse into what audiences on both sides of the equator are binge-watching. Sometimes the lists will overlap; often they won’t, and that’s part of the fun. It’s a fascinating look at how culture, language, and storytelling shape what captures our attention.

For readers who would rather turn pages than stream episodes, I’ll also feature The New York Times Best Seller lists for both Fiction and Nonfiction. Whether you’re looking for your next thriller, biography, historical account, or thought-provoking read, you’ll find plenty of inspiration for your weekend reading list.

Finally, I’ll share one book from my own bookshelf. It won’t necessarily be a bestseller or the latest release. Sometimes it will be a forgotten classic, a hidden gem, a work of history, or simply a book that made me stop, think, or see the world a little differently. Along with it, you’ll get my honest review and whether I think it’s worth adding to your own reading list.

So pour yourself a cup of coffee, settle into your favorite chair, and see what the rest of the world is watching, what readers are buying, and what one retired American living in Brazil thinks deserves a little more attention. Your weekend entertainment starts here.

Netflix Top 10 United States

1. Outer Banks | Action & Adventure, Mystery | premiered 2020-04-15
2. Tires | Comedy | premiered 2024-05-23
3. Raw | Reality | premiered 1993-01-11
4. Conversations with a Killer: The Charles Manson Tapes | Documentary | premiered 2026-08-12
5. My Life With the Walter Boys | Drama | premiered 2023-12-07
6. My Brilliant Career | Drama, Family | premiered 2026-08-13
7. Danny Go! | Kids | premiered 2019-08-21
8. Blood Sacrifice | Drama, Crime, Mystery | premiered 2026-08-20
9. Ms. Rachel | Kids | premiered 2025-01-27
10. The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare | Documentary, Crime | premiered 2026-07-29

Netflix Top 10 In Brazil

1. Outer Banks | Action & Adventure, Mystery | premiered 2020-04-15
2. Blood Sacrifice | Drama, Crime, Mystery | premiered 2026-08-20
3. Umthetho | Crime, Drama | premiered 2026-08-14
4. My Name Is Farah | Crime, Drama | premiered 2023-03-01
5. Our Sticky Love | Drama, Comedy | premiered 2026-08-07
6. The Mentalist | Crime, Drama, Mystery | premiered 2008-09-23
7. My Brilliant Career | Drama, Family | premiered 2026-08-13
8. My Life With the Walter Boys | Drama | premiered 2023-12-07
9. Spooky in Love | Comedy, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama | premiered 2026-07-18
10. Seal Team | Action & Adventure, Drama, War & Politics | premiered 2017-09-27

NY Times Top 10 Hard Cover Fiction

1. THE POISON DAUGHTER by Sheila Masterson | Fiction | published 2026-08-18
2. THE CALAMITY CLUB by Kathryn Stockett | Fiction | published 2026-04-07
3. YESTERYEAR by Caro Claire Burke | Fiction | published 2026-04-07
4. DELUSIONAL by James Patterson and James O. Born | Fiction | published 2026-08-24
5. WHISTLER by Ann Patchett | Fiction | published 2026-06-02
6. THE DUNGEON ANARCHIST’S COOKBOOK by Matt Dinniman
7. GOD’S COUNTRY by William Kent Krueger | Fiction | published 2026-08-18
8. THE CORRESPONDENT by Virginia Evans | Fiction | published 2025-04-29
9. THE GATE OF THE FERAL GODS by Matt Dinniman | Fiction | published 2025-03-11
10. DUNGEON CRAWLER CARL by Matt Dinniman | Fiction | published 2024-08-27

NY Times Top 10 Paperback Fiction

1. THEO OF GOLDEN by Allen Levi | Fiction | published 2025-10-03
2. BRAIN DAMAGE by Freida McFadden | Fiction | published 2026
3. DUNGEON CRAWLER CARL by Matt Dinniman | Fiction | published 2025-12-30
4. PROJECT HAIL MARY by Andy Weir | Fiction | published 2022-10-04
5. THE WEDDING PEOPLE by Alison Espach
6. CARL’S DOOMSDAY SCENARIO by Matt Dinniman | Fiction | published 2026-08-04
7. VERITY by Colleen Hoover | Fiction | published 2026-03-03
8. A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES by Sarah J. Maas
9. ADVERSARY TO THE VILLAIN by Hannah Nicole Maehrer | Fiction | published 2026-08-04
10. RED RISING by Pierce Brown | Fiction | published 2014-07-15

NY Times Top 10 Hard Cover Non-Fiction

1. REGIME CHANGE by Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan
2. THIS IS ME by Hayden Panettiere | Biography & Autobiography | published 2026-05-12
3. THE NERD REICH by Gil Durán | Business & Economics | published 2026-08-18
4. THE DAY AFTER by Brian Tyler Cohen | Philosophy | published 2026-07-14
5. STRANGERS by Belle Burden | Biography & Autobiography | published 2026-01-13
6. NO PROPHETS by Jared Huffman
7. BIOLOGICAL WAR by Annie Jacobsen | Political Science | published 2026-07-28
8. LONDON FALLING by Patrick Radden Keefe | Family & Relationships | published 2026-04-07
9. DOGS, BOYS, AND OTHER THINGS I’VE CRIED ABOUT by Isabel Klee
10. THE ANXIOUS GENERATION by Jonathan Haidt | Psychology | published 2024-03-26

Book Review:

Say Nothing Review: A Gripping Story of the IRA, Murder, and the Troubles in Northern Ireland

By: Patrick Radden Keefe

★★★★★ 5/5 Stars

Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe is an outstanding and deeply informative book. Keefe tells a gripping story about the Irish Republican Army, the conflict in Northern Ireland, and the long and complicated road toward peace in the region. What could easily become overwhelming or confusing is written so clearly and skillfully that it remains easy to follow throughout.

Going into the book, I expected little more than a murder mystery. Instead, I found a fascinating and layered history lesson about Ireland, the division between the north and south, and the decades of violence known as “The Troubles.” The story centers on the unsolved disappearance and murder of a woman in Northern Ireland, but the book ultimately becomes much larger than the mystery itself. It evolves into a powerful examination of the IRA conflict, political ideology, loyalty, betrayal, and the personal cost of war.

Although much of the narrative focuses on the violence of the 1960s and 1970s, the roots of the struggle stretch back far deeper into Irish history. Keefe does an excellent job explaining the historical background behind the conflict, the effort to unify Ireland, and the fragile process of building peace. The detail surrounding the key figures involved in the conflict is especially compelling, showing how individuals evolved over time, the roles they played during the violence, and how some eventually became central figures in the peace process.

One of the most interesting aspects of the book is the unique political and religious dynamic in Northern Ireland. The conflict centered largely around Irish Catholics living in Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom, where Protestants made up the majority population. The ultimate goal of the IRA was the reunification of Ireland into a single independent nation. Keefe presents these tensions with nuance and balance, helping readers understand how deeply rooted the divisions became over generations.

As the story unfolds, the writing places you directly inside the atmosphere of the conflict. The descriptions, interviews, and photographs make the people and events feel immediate and real. Rather than reading like a dry historical account, the book carries the pacing and suspense of a thriller while still delivering meaningful historical context.

If you are Irish or have an interest in Irish history, this is a must-read. Even for readers unfamiliar with the conflict, Say Nothing serves as an accessible and compelling introduction to one of the most turbulent political struggles of the twentieth century. It is informative, emotional, and exceptionally well written.

★★★★★ 5/5 Stars

I used ChatGPT for the critical reception because I could not know what was said when the book came out.

Critical Reception

When Say Nothing was released in 2019, it received widespread critical acclaim and quickly became one of the most praised nonfiction books of the year. Reviewers applauded Patrick Radden Keefe for combining investigative journalism, history, and true crime into a deeply human narrative. The book appeared on numerous “Best Books of the Year” lists and was praised for making the complexities of the Troubles understandable to modern readers while maintaining the tension of a suspense novel.