May 2024 be a year of gasp-worthy movies, television binges, books you can’t put down and windows down music. Here’s where we think you should start.

What to watch on TV:

“Interview with the Vampire”

The AMC series was already renewed for a second season in Sept. 2022 ahead of its series premiere in Oct. 2022. Based on the novel by author Anne Rice, the story focuses around vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac (played by “Game of Thrones” icon Jacob Anderson) as he retells his life story to journalist Daniel Molloy (played by Eric Bogosian). Due to this year’s SAG-AFTRA strike, the second season premiere was delayed.

However, the show gave viewers an “amuse-bouche” in Oct. 2023 with an exclusive clip of what’s to come in 2024. Featuring plenty of gore, romance, queer representation and levitating sex scenes (not joking), the show has an excited and devoted fanbase. “Sunday is for rest and watching Interview with the Vampire, it says so right there in the Bible,” X user AshiaMonet said in a post.

“House of the Dragon”

Also known as #DemDragons or #DragonsYall by Black Twitter, the HBO series dropped its season two teaser in Dec. 2023, leaving fans ready for what’s to come. “I just remembered how absolutely f****** insufferable I’m about to be this summer when house of the dragon season 2 finally happens mute that s*** now if y’all want to be safe,” X user Qiwi said in a Dec. 2023 post.

Based around the book “Fire and Blood” by author George R.R. Martin, the show takes place 200 years before the events of “Game of Thrones.” The show still has plenty of jaw-dropping moments, sharing the history of the Targaryen civil war and the family drama that ignited it. Time will tell if there is a “Red Wedding: Part Three” this season.

“Bridgerton”

It’s time for more Regency era pop covers. The show released its long-awaited date announcement for its upcoming third season in Dec. 2023. Part one will be released May 16th and part two will be released June 13th. Despite the more than two-year wait, fans of Penelope Featherington (played by actress Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (played by Luke Newton) might finally get their #Polin happily ever after.

According to a Dec. 2023 article about the upcoming season from Netflix’s Tudum, both Penelope and Colin come back to the countryside grown up with new looks. Hopefully this leads to more NSFW scenes for the group chat to dissect.

What to watch in theaters:

“Mean Girls”

A film adaptation of the Broadway musical finally coming to theaters? So fetch. This new version of the classic teen movie “isn’t your mother’s Mean Girls,” pissing off a lot of millennials. The film features a star-studded cast, including actress and singer Reneé Rapp, who played Regina George in the Broadway show, Auliʻi Cravalho (Moana supremacy!), and “The Summer I Turned Pretty” heartthrob Christopher Briney. Bust out an all pink look on premiere night and don’t forget to accessorize.

“Challengers”

Honestly… what can’t Zendaya do? Shedding her Rue hoodie, the actress plays tennis star turned coach Tashi Donaldson in the film. Coaching her husband Art (played by actor Mike Faist) into a tennis superstar as well, he eventually gets into a losing streak. In order to get him back in winning form, Tashi signs Art up for a match against Tashi’s ex-boyfriend (and his ex-best friend) Patrick, who is played by actor Josh O’Connor.

Directed by Luca Guadagnino, who recently directed “Bones and All” with Timothée Chalamet, the movie is finally being released in April after strike delays. With a potential threesome in the first trailer released in June 2023, there’s excitement surrounding seeing a new side to Zendaya. “Psychosexual tennis thriller starring zendaya and tom holland’s variants. oh she’s taking it dot mov,” X user Alex said in a June 2023 post.

“Wicked: Part One”

Also pushed back due to strike delays, the film adaptation of the musical is coming to theaters on Nov. 27, with part two coming out almost exactly a year after. It was announced in Nov. 2021 that actresses and singers Ariana Grande and Cynthia Ervio would be playing Galinda (AKA Glinda the Good) and Elphaba, whose enemies to besties storyline is the heart of the show. More cast announcements revealed that actors such as Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh and Johnathan Bailey would be a part of the movie as well. Despite the “low-lit” first look photos released by Chu in Apr. 2023, the film is already getting props for its inclusion of previous theater actors and new songs. Now it’s time to wait for the trailer.

What to listen to:

Female rap superstars

In 2023, female rappers continued to create chart-topping hits and set the bar for the culture. From driving to “Pound Town” with Sexxy Red to putting it on the floor with Latto and Cardi B, there is plenty of rap from female MCs to choose from. 2024 will hopefully be the year that long-anticipated projects drop from fan favorites like Cardi. While waiting to see what happens, rappers like Monaleo, Ice Spice, Flo Milli, Lola Brooke and Maiya The Don should also stay on your radar.

Chappell Roan

Opening for Olivia Rodrigo’s 2024 “GUTS World Tour,” singer Chappell Roan is bringing her unique pop music and style on the road. A self-proclaimed “Midwest princess,” Roan signed with Atlantic Records at 16 years old. Now 25 years old, the independent singer released her debut album called “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” in Sept. 2023. With a voice reminiscent of singers like Lana Del Rey and Sia, the openly queer artist provides a safe space for fans to be able to be themselves. “I love that people feel free and accepted and that’s all I could ever ask,” she said in a Dec. 2023 interview with the publication Dork.

Usher’s new album

Just wrapping up his 100-show residency at Las Vegas’ Dolby Live, singing superstar Usher already has a jam-packed 2024. He is the performer at this year’s Super Bowl in Las Vegas (with hopefully a surprise guest or two). His ninth studio album, “Coming Home,” will be released the same day as his halftime performance. On top of all of this, he is allegedly announcing his next world tour during the show as well. OMG.

Rihanna’s new album (please?)

In a recent interview at her Fenty x Puma Creeper Phatty launch party in Dec. 2023, Rihanna dropped some music hints. She told Access Hollywood at the event that “I feel like it’s only fair that my fans get what they’ve been waiting on, which is new music. After that, let’s just, like, blow everything up.” With her last album “Anti” being released in 2016, some fans are tired of being in the “album waiting room.” Nevertheless, a girl can dream.

What to read:

“Martyr!” By Kaveh Akbar

Kaveh Akbar is an Iranian scholar and poet, with his poems appearing in the New York TImes, Paris Review and more. His next novel, “Martyr!” is available on Jan. 23. It shares the journey of a newly orphaned and sober son of Iranian immigrants to discover a family secret that changes everything. According to American poet and essayist Mary Karr, “Kaveh Akbar has given birth to a hilarious marvel of a novel. Rip-roaringly funny. Wise and wise-assed.”

“The Women” by Kristin Hannah

Author Kristin Hannah, best-selling author of more than 20 novels like “The Four Winds,” is releasing her next novel Feb. 6. Titled “The Women,” it tells the story of a young woman during the time of the Vietnam War. Deciding that she wants to be a “hero” like her brother who ships out for the war, she joins the Army Nurse Corps along with him. “The Women is a profoundly emotional, richly drawn story with a memorable heroine whose extraordinary idealism and courage under fire define a generation,” Hannah’s website states about the novel.

“The House of Hidden Meanings” by RuPaul

In his memoir, being released on March 5, international drag icon RuPaul Andre Charles is opening up to the world more than ever. Many know RuPaul from the television staple “RuPaul’s Drag Race” or for his numerous other ventures. From makeup to music, RuPaul has covered it all. However, the memoir will dive deeper into his life before drag and how it made him who he is today. “I’ve always loved to view the world with analytical eyes, examining what lies beneath the surface. Here, the focus is on my own life — as RuPaul Andre Charles,” he said about the memoir.

“The Pairing” by Casey McQuiston

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of the beloved novel “Red White & Royal Blue,” Casey McQuiston has a new novel for fans to obsess over. “The Pairing” will be released on Aug. 6 and makes one love story international. Nicknamed “SLUTS IN EUROPE” by McQuiston with friends, the novel is about “two gloriously slutty bisexual exes having a transformational three-week reunion tour through France, Spain, and Italy.” Sign us up.