The Weekender: Casting ‘The Traitors’, life with an A.I. robot and the secret to happiness
Plus, how ultrarich people travel.
The Weekender
February 14, 2026

Welcome back to The Weekender, where you’ll find a batch of the week’s top stories about culture and the way we live today.

Happy Valentine’s Day! Jennifer Harlan, an editor at The Book Review, made a gift for all of us: a complete guide to the language of romance novels. Do you know what “stern brunch daddies” are? Or what “OTP” stands for? Jen gives us delightful definitions for 101 of these terms, and the best part is that each entry includes a set of related book recommendations you can save to your reading list.

Also in this edition, we meet a 20-year-old who goes to extremes in his pursuit of an ideal of male beauty and an 85-year-old who lives alone with her A.I. robot. But first, let’s get started with a new theory about what really makes us happy, or at least in romance world, “HFN” — happy for now.

Until next weekend(er),

— Farah

An illustration of a two figures smelling a large bouquet of flowers being held by one central figure.

Oyow

SOCIAL SKILLS

What’s the secret to happiness? These researchers have a theory. →

A woman sits in a bathtub in front of a large plate glass window, looking out over the city of Barcelona.

Nobu Hotel Barcelona

THE HIGH END

Get a glimpse at how the ultrarich travel. →

A portrait of Pat McGrath posing against a background of images of makeup. She is dressed in all black.

Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com, via Shutterstock

BEHIND THE MAKEUP

How did this beauty mogul go from billion-dollar brand to bankruptcy? →

A collage including Wicked Good slippers, Omnilux, and sheets.

NYT Wirecutter

SLEEP ESSENTIALS FOR LESS

Wirecutter has rounded up this weekend’s best sales on mattresses, bedding and more. →

Braden Peters, holding his chin in his hand, wearing a navy short-sleeve polo and a silver watch.

Cassidy Araiza for The New York Times

LOOKSMAXXING

He’s 20 years old, has legions of fans and is aiming to be handsome at any cost. →

An illustration of a wide-eyed tabby cat sitting among several screens displaying animals, birds and a “Next Episode” button.

Julia Rothman

TV, NOT JUST FOR HUMANS

Videos aimed at pets are drawing millions of views. But who’s actually watching? →

A collage of three contestants on the Traitors. Donna Kelce (top left), Rob Rausch (bottom left) and Candiace Dillard Bassett (right).

Getty Images; Bravo; Peacock

A MAD MIX

The casting executives behind “The Traitors” reveal how they build a reality TV dream team. →

Article Image

Ruth Fremson/The New York Times

SMART HOUSE

To stay in her home, Jan Worrell let in an A.I. robot. →

An illustration of a couple peering through a keyhole to a sheep on a cloud.

Nicolas Ortega

SEX, LOVE AND REAL ESTATE

Here’s how to actually sleep with other people. →

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Illustration by Millie von Platen

FROM A TO Z

So, do you speak romance? →

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Maggie Shannon for The New York Times

RESTAURANT REVIEW

Momofuku enters its dad era with Super Peach. →

A box of popcorn with a face on it takes a sip of a straw from a cup with a face on it, and small doodles of moons, hearts, flowers, broken hearts, rain clouds and stars surround them.

Illustration by Orfeo Tagiuri

WHAT TO WATCH

Do you love or hate Valentine’s Day? Make your choice, and we’ll tell you what to watch this weekend. →

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This edition of The Weekender was edited by Farah Miller and Kellina Moore. Reach our team at weekender@nytimes.com.

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