In this episode of Rich Text, we watch the final four episodes of Netflix’s “Sex/Life” (now with 17% more Betty Friedan!). Billie’s journey to figure out whether she’s too horny for marriage continues, and she’s ever more torn between her edgy ex-lover Brad and her clean-cut husband Cooper; meanwhile, Columbia professor and party girl Sasha agreeably devotes all her free time to Scotch-taping together her bestie’s marriage by babysitting Billie’s children on a moment’s notice or pretending to be Brad’s girlfriend to make Cooper less suspicious of him.

As the series draws to a close, flailing efforts are made to make Billie’s desire to have a hot sidepiece into a profoundly feminist act, and we’re left with many questions about what “having it all” means and the feminism of wealthy white women behaving badly. And by the way, why weren’t we into the endless, acrobatic, purple-lit sex scenes? We discuss all of this and more in this recap — hope you enjoy!

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We’ve been reading…

People We Meet On Vacation, by Emily Henry. It’s scratching my itch for rom-com fare. -Emma

Coventry, Rachel Cusk’s 2019 essay collection. I’m currently on my first family vacation since my son’s birth, which involved a long drive upstate, and so it feels fitting that the first two essays are on driving as a metaphor and on narrative control and suspension of disbelief within the family unit — and, of course, they are extraordinarily insightful and crisply written.

Also, my friend Laura Hankin’s gorgeous essay on mourning her mother while planning her wedding, and the return of the cicada swarms to D.C. after 17 years. -Claire

We’ve been listening to…

The latest season of Rom Com Pods. It’s pure, frothy delight. -Emma

A Spotify playlist of various versions of “Baby Shark,” including pop punk and jazz renditions, played on repeat. -Claire

We’ve been buying…

This Charlotte Tilbury Airbush Flawless Setting Spray, which the woman at Sephora told me was “Tik Tok famous.” I used it and it is in fact extremely effective, especially great for New York City humid summers. -Emma

I am being really, really good about my spending fast. -Claire

We’ve been watching…

“The White Lotus” on HBO Max, Mike White’s brilliant examination of privilege via the guests and staffers at a luxury resort in Hawaii. -Emma

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