Movies, Music and Books to Boost Your Homebody Vibes
In a world where content is constant and choice can feel overwhelming, finding what’s truly worth your time becomes its own kind of luxury. Enter your ultimate Apple entertainment guide – a carefully curated Apple edit from #HelloRecommends, where melodies meet meaning, movies become moments and manuscripts transport you beyond the everyday. Plan B never looked so good.
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Melodies to Listen to
As you ease into a slow morning, drive through golden-lit streets or unwind after a long day, the right soundtrack has the power to transform the ordinary into something melodic and meaningful. This #HelloRecommends selection brings together a trio of local sounds, each offering its own rhythm, resonance and reason to press play this season.
Ben Rodrigues Hazel Eyes
Delving into the genre of indie pop, and with a voice that feels both intimate and expansive, Ben Rodrigues delivers a track that lingers long after the final note. Hazel Eyes, released in February 2026, is soft yet stirring, perfect for reflective autumn moments. His latest single blends emotive lyricism with a contemporary pop sensibility that speaks to love, memory and quiet longing. In a conversation with this author, he also teases his first album release in the last quarter of 2026.
Amy Tjasink & Mango Groove Feels Like Mzansi
In a recently released celebration of sound and heritage, Feels Like Mzansi merges the soulful vocals of Amy Tjasink and the unmistakable energy of Mango Groove. The result is a feel-good anthem infused with local flavour: vibrant, nostalgic and great for lifting spirits on even the chilliest of mornings. It was released towards the end of 2025 and is now gaining traction amongst South African musos.
Relebogile Mabotja Still Me - Live EP
Known for her multifaceted presence in entertainment, Relebogile Mabotja steps into a more personal space with her EP, Still Me - Live. The headline track is introspective and empowering, layered with honesty and strength, making it an ideal listen for moments of self-reflection as the season gently encourages us inward. Listen to You’re the Only One (Live), I Feel Nothing (Live) and Mmamogoai’s Prayer - Medley of Hymns (Live) too.
Movies to Watch
Come See Me in the Good Light
Directed by Ryan White, Come See Me in the Good Light (2025) is a tender, deeply human story that lingers in the soft spaces between memory and meaning. Anchored by a moving performance from Megan Falley and Andrea Gibson, the film has earned a 2026 Oscar nomination for Best Documentary Feature, probably because of its powerful storytelling. It’s the kind of reflective, emotionally rich watch that pairs perfectly with slow autumn evenings, where you cry alongside two poets trying to come to terms with a terminal diagnosis.
Blink Twice
Directed by Zoë Kravitz, Blink Twice (2024) is a sleek, slow-burning thriller that leans into the tension between luxury and unease. Starring Channing Tatum, the film follows cocktail waitress Frida, whose chance encounter with a tech billionaire leads to an invitation she can’t refuse: a dream escape to a private island. What begins as a sun-drenched fantasy of wild nights and effortless indulgence soon unravels into something far more sinister, as strange occurrences force Frida to question everything and everyone around her. Released in August 2024, this is the kind of gripping, glossy watch that keeps you hooked from first sip to final twist, no matter how many years later.
Echo Valley
Directed by Michael Pearce, Echo Valley (2025) is a tense, emotionally charged thriller that explores the limits of maternal instinct and moral compromise. Led by powerhouse performances from Julianne Moore, Sydney Sweeney, and Domhnall Gleeson, the film follows Kate, whose quiet, secluded life is shattered when her troubled daughter arrives home terrified and covered in someone else’s blood. As the truth slowly unravels, so too does the line between protection and peril, in a story that asks just how far a mother will go for her child. Released in June 2025, it’s a gripping, slow-burn watch made for autumn nights when you’re in the mood for something dark, layered, and deeply compelling.
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Manuscripts to Read
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
First published in 1847, Wuthering Heights remains one of literature’s most haunting and enduring romances. With a new film adaptation currently capturing global attention, the novel has found its way back into the spotlight, reminding readers why its tale of passion, obsession and the wild Yorkshire moors continues to resonate so powerfully. Dark, atmospheric and deeply emotive, it’s the most iconic classic to revisit this autumn before heading to the cinema to watch Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi on the big screen.
The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes
Originally released in 2013, The Shining Girls is a genre-defying thriller that blends time travel with a gripping serial killer narrative. Johannesburg-born Beukes crafts a story that’s as intellectually sharp as it is suspenseful, earning international acclaim and a devoted readership years after its initial release. It’s a compelling, edge-of-your-seat read, ideal for cooler evenings when you’re in the mood for something a little darker.
Timeless South African by Ilse van der Merwe
Released in 2024, Timeless South African is a celebration of heritage, flavour and the stories woven into our culinary traditions. Known for her evocative approach to food and storytelling, Ilse van der Merwe brings together recipes and reflections that feel both nostalgic and beautifully modern. It’s a comforting, richly layered read – perfect for slow autumn afternoons spent in the kitchen.
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