Where I Left Off

Reading Recap 10 - Alexandra Moody, Sarah Adams, Lynn Painter & More!

• Kristen Bahls • Season 3 • Episode 7

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Welcome

SPEAKER_00

Welcome back. I'm Kristen Balls, and you're listening to Where I Left Off, a Bookish Podcast. And today's episode is a reading recap. But before I tell you what I have been reading recently, I wanted to get a little bit chatty about like a bunch of different kind of book and writing related things. So, first of all, um I had my Barnes Noble signing and it was so cool. It was the best experience ever. And it was just, it was amazing. It was really fun. Not only did I have friends that came and visited me and I got to talk to them, but also I got to meet a lot of new readers. I got to give book recommendations and I got to get book recommendations because I could ask people what they had in their uh hands or what they had in their bags. So I got some book recommendations as well. Um people actually asked for pictures, which was cool, and I got to talk to different readers, and it was just the best experience. And I saw some double takes at my cover. So that is always nice. And a lot of people said that they liked my story when I was giving them like the little, you know, pitch, I guess you could call it. But anyway, it was the coolest experience ever. Very glad I did it. And I have a couple copies sitting on the shelf as well. The manager was so nice and he gave me a pop-out, which means the book is like to the side, so it's not just the spine. Um, so I am officially in the mysteries and thriller section. So of course I got like a bunch of pictures of that kind of stuff. Because, you know, when else can you say that? So anyway, it was a really cool experience. I do have another event coming up in June. June 7th, Sunday, it's a Sunday. So Sunday, June 7th from one to three. Uh, I will be doing a Sunday signing at Pearls Books in Fayetteville, Arkansas. And it's funny because I was thinking, like, oh no, it's in another state. Am I gonna be able to, am I gonna see anyone? And is anyone gonna come? And oh no. I think that actually like three of my close, very close friends are gonna get to come to that one. So that that'll be really cool. And one of them I have not even met in person, like ever. So yeah, that will be very exciting. Anyway, again, it's Pearl's bookstore in Fayetteville, Arkansas, June 7th on Sunday. That's a Sunday from one to three. And then I just applied for another event in uh May and another one in August, but I haven't, I like just applied, so I haven't heard back yet. So I will update you if I'm accepted for those, but most likely I'll be having author stuff in May, June, and August. Yes, that had to think there for a second. Uh so it's gonna be crazy busy. Also, speaking of like things that are going on, on the other side of things, like as a reader, for some reason, every author decided to have their tour here. And I had I had to weed out the list. Like I couldn't go to every author, and it was really sad. But yeah, it's it's a drive to go all over, all over to different locations to try to go see all these authors. So I just realized I didn't have that much time and that much like capacity to drive every which way everywhere. So I did have to kind of be a little bit selective, even though it's gonna sound like I was not selective. But as far as author events go, these are the authors that I am seeing this summer. And it's not, there's not an event for every single one. Some of them are on panels and you know, they're in conversation with and stuff like that. But these are all the authors that I get to see this summer. So um I am seeing Chloe Lease, Alexa Martin, Ashley Poston, Kayla Olson, Libby Hart, Chelsea Kurto. Yeah, that's a lot. And I really wanted to see uh Marcus Queller, I think I'm pronouncing that right, Queller. He wrote, We used to live here, which I really enjoyed. And of course, all the other authors I mentioned are romance authors, and he's horror. So, and his book sounds really good, but I just went, oh, it's so close to some of the others. Oh, I left Emma St. Clair off that list. I'm also seeing Emma St. Clair. So I left, um, left her off. But yeah, I wanted to see him, and I'm still debating Sally Hepworth. Uh, she writes thrillers, and I ugh, I don't know, it's just so many authors at once. So, and that's just right now. I know that there are a couple more releases, and I know that there are a couple authors that they just haven't, you know, released their book tour information. So, we'll see. Might be going to even more. And not to switch around, uh, but I did want to say that for any authors that are listening, just a piece of advice that I have, which again, you know, to each their own, you never know what works for each person, may or may not work for you, and especially it's probably pretty genre dependent. But I did want to say if there is a way where you can do an in-person event, I would highly recommend doing an in-person event if possible. For some reason, I get the most traction every time I do one. That's just my best way. And if you don't have a specific local bookstore, just remember you can always do it at a library or a coffee shop. And to this day, the most books that I've sold at one like single event was a coffee shop. I ended up bringing double what I thought I needed and I'm almost sold out. So just throwing that out there, like it doesn't have to be a bookstore if you don't have bookstores um in your area. Again, I will say it kind of with the caveat of um, because I am taking payments like at a coffee shop, I have a DBA and all that stuff. So just keep that in mind. But of course, if you didn't want to take payments uh yourself, then you could always go through a bookstore that's ordering through Ingram. Always check the bookstore's policies because some of them have you supply the books and then some of them, you know, order through Ingram. So just check all that out before. But anyway, I feel like just being in person, whether that's like just me signing, me signing with other people, a kind of convention, like anything like that, those in-person events really, I feel like help gain the most traction and the readers like remember you a little bit better versus when they just download your book on Kindle Unlimited and read it and like it. So just throwing that out there. But I've already talked a lot. But uh what I did want to say was that the books that I chose in this episode are a direct result of this. But anyway, recently I had a bit of a health crisis uh that resulted in surgery. And really, like leading up to that, I I was kind of like in a purgatory state where I was just waiting to find out like how serious it was. And of course, afterward, I was in recovery for a while. So what I needed was just a really, really good rom-com or romance novel. Maybe not even a rom-com, but just some kind of romance novel. That's what I really needed. Just a half happy, happy book. So, oh yeah, don't don't worry about me though. Um, it was really so much better than I thought, and I am doing way better now than I was before. But during that time, all I wanted to read was a romance novel. So today's episode, it's all romance. And if you're going through something difficult and you need something to just kind of help you escape for a second, then this episode is absolutely for you. And of course, I have to quote her, but Katherine Center said it best: romance novels let you experience something good happening in real time, otherwise known as hope. And who couldn't use a little bit of hope right now? So that is this episode. It's all romance. I did finish one of the books for my Lit Vick book club, uh, but I'm I'm pushing that to the next reading recap. So that way this one can stay just all contemporary romance. And some of the books in this episode, I normally typically don't really look at Goodreads reviews or like sometimes I might just kind of skim them, but I don't it doesn't really inform my decision. Some of these books have pretty bad Goodreads reviews, and I just have to wonder if we read the same book because I don't feel that way at all. And I don't know if people just don't like joy or what. Like, I don't know. But anyway, if you end up adding these to your TBR and you look at the Goodreads reviews and you're like, what is this? I know, I don't I don't understand it either. First up on my list, we have Made for Each Other by Lynn Painter, and it's made as an M-A-I-D, made for each other. And this is Contemporary Romance. It is open door, but it was more like an Abbey Himena spice level, so very, very tame. And I absolutely loved it. I loved it. This is actually my first Lynn Painter adult contemporary romance. Normally I have only read her YA up until this point, but obviously I'm going to be reading more of her adult contemporary romance after this as well, just really reading through her entire backlist, which is which is a task because she has a decent amount of books. So, in this, some of the featured tropes, if you are interested, are Billionaire, which I don't think I really ever read Billionaire. So I don't think I have a lot of recommendations for that specific trope. So now I do. Uh also fake dating and forced proximity are pretty prevalent in this one. And okay, if anyone, I was really before I started this, I was heading towards a reading slump. And I should have known that if someone was going to break me out of a reading slump, that was gonna be Lim Painter. I just love this book. Like I said, I was in need of just a rom com with some extra fluff. But there's something about this book. It's like the combination of the banter, it's dual POV, it's very like zany. There are a lot of zany situational plot beeps, and it just it left me laughing. I had such a fun time with this book. So here's what it's about. Billionaire Declan Powell has made up a fake girlfriend named Abby with a Y, that is important, that keeps his parents off his back and helps his image at the company started by his grandmother. When his parents let themselves into his apartment, they find his maid, Abby, with an eye, and an obvious misunderstanding leads to the need for fake dating. But will it stay fake? You are gonna have to read to find out. If you need a hug in a book, just look no further. This was so good. It was so good. And I think, like looking back, it's kind of funny. I'm pretty sure this one actually had like less cussing than Lynn Painter's normal YA books. Um and the banter and the chemistry, though, they were just so, so well done. But yeah, just pointing that out. But the banter and the chemistry were fantastic between the characters, and there's something about Lynn Painter's writing where she she nails dialogue, both internal dialogue within the character's head, of course, or between two characters. Like that, I don't know. The dialogue just seems to be where she shines for me. So I really enjoyed May for Each Other. I would recommend it. Two friends have also read it and they loved it as well. So it's not just me. It's not just me that loved it. Everyone in my life that has read it, uh, who read it before me, loved it as well. So that's what really put this to the top of my list. In fact, I had bought this, I was so excited when it first came out, and I had bought it at like a local bookstore, and I went there specifically for that, and they happened to have it, and I was so excited, and then I didn't read it. And so this was the push I needed to read it. Next up, we have How to Sell a Romance by Alexa Martin. So this is open door, and this one is definitely for Alexa Martin's other books. Um, I've read most of them, but for her other books, I would say that this is definitely on the spicier side. And she herself did say that this one was going to be spicier, and it definitely was. I would say that this is probably more on par with like Stephanie Archer or Rachel and Solomon. So keep that in mind. Just keep it in mind that it's, you know, it's a little bit spicier. It wasn't, it wasn't insane or anything, but it was just, it was more spicy than I normally would expect when I'm reading an Alexa Martin book. And on this one, I'm in between liked it and loved it. I can't decide. I can't decide. I'm very close to loved it, but Nextdoor Nemesis is still my favorite Alexa book. So just remember, if you need, if you want another like fun summary kind of book, Next Door Nemesis is great. Uh, but anyway, this one, How to Sell a Romance, was a ride. So this is what it's about. Emerson is a kindergarten teacher in need of a way to supplement her teaching salary. Fair. And her principal and principal slash friend, they're pretty close, uh, introduces her to Petunia Lemon, which is a skincare MLM. And at a conference for Petunia Lemon, she goes up to the hotel bar and has a run-in with Nick Miller. They end up having a one-night stand, and she finds out the next day that he detests Petunia Lemon because his ex-wife lost their like entire life savings, and he's actually a journalist, and he has made it his mission to take down the company. Then, for just, you know, a little added one-two punch, uh, the school year starts and Emerson ends up being Nick's daughter's teacher. Yeah. So if you want to find out how that whole situation ends, you're gonna have to keep reading. You're gonna have to grab this book and keep reading. So, like I said, um I normally do not typically read good reader views, but I did stumble upon one review that I felt like I had to kind of expound on a little bit. It's not even like it's my book or anything, but it made me mad and I just had to um kind of talk about it because I felt like it was not everyone's experience. You'll understand when I talk about this more. So basically, one reader said that they thought that Emerson was unlikable and that she made really dumb decisions throughout. And for me, when I read it, um, I recognized the glaring teacher burnout that was coursing through Emerson's veins really throughout the entire book. Um, and while my burnout was not as bad as hers, I will say that when I was, she takes it to the extreme. Like I understand that she does take it to the extreme of some of her decisions, but I will say that when I was really like in the midst of my burnout, I spent, you know, all day making 50 decisions and taking care of others. And so taking care of myself was kind of hard. So things like doctor's appointments or just normal like adult things that you have to check up your list, that's what kind of went to the bottom of the barrel. And I would basically put things off until like breaks or sometimes the weekend. A lot of times I was like grading and planning during the weekend. So I wouldn't give myself enough time to do like everything I needed to do. For example, I wouldn't meal prep to the fullest, so then I would have to get something random for dinner or whatever. And that seems like something so small, but when you do that stuff a lot, it really does add up and it does take a toll. So anyway, I really think that most of her decisions were a result of that burnout, and I totally get how it could spiral into what it did based on where she was at. She was in a way worse place than I ever was. And then also I was a high school teacher, so I can't imagine. She's a kindergarten teacher. I cannot imagine how it would be for a kindergarten teacher. Just so, so many decisions, because obviously at that age, they are de very dependent on you. Whereas, like high schoolers, I could kind of train them and make my life a little bit easier. That would be substantially harder as a kindergarten teacher. I do think that ultimately Nick helped her kind of find her way. Um, but Emerson, ultimately, she's burnt out and she's overwhelmed. And all of her decisions really stem from that in a very realistic way. I do think that that's how teacher burnout would manifest, especially at her level. I don't want to give things away and tell you like what it was. I mean, it's not really a big thing. I don't even feel like it'd be a spoiler, but you know, don't want to ruin the book for you because I feel like I gave you a lot in the synopsis. So I know that all of that sounds like really, really heavy, but honestly, I was laughing so hard throughout the entire book. And that's what I always do whenever I read an Alexa Martin book. I cannot stop laughing. It's just something in her writing style. It was really like classic Alexa and her her wit, and that I just know and love. And I was really impressed with her ability to pack so much into one novel. Because you're getting humor, you're getting teaching, you're getting MLMs, you're getting romance. And obviously, she has a lot of sarcasm, um, especially in the character's internal thoughts. And she does have like all of her books have a lot of references to current events. Uh, they're just like an Alexa staple. That's a lot of how she writes. So you get all of that like packed into one book. Felt different. If you're tired of reading like the same trope and you're really looking for something that feels different, this felt different. So I would recommend it if you need something kind of a little bit off the beaten path. But again, I also love next door nemesis if you want more of like a classic kind of rom-com book. So either way, Alexa Martin has something for you. Don't forget, she also has her football series, the playbook series. Um, so you can get sports romance, like, and she has others as well. So anyway, I would highly recommend picking up an Alexa Martin book. I just, I really, I really appreciate her writing, and I have so much fun every time I read one of her books. So just throwing that out there. She is definitely one of my auto-book authors. And her next book is a cowboy romance that comes out in May. So she'll have cowboy romance to add to it as well. Okay, up next is Given Our History by Kristen J. Miller. This is a contemporary romance and this is open door, and I liked it. Uh, I started out in the loved it category, but the longer it went on, I was kind of knocked down to the liked it category. Here's what it's about. Claire and Teddy have been friends since they were younger, but they've been estranged for years. And as a history professor working her way up to tenure, she has to share an office with a visiting professor who happens to be none other than Teddy. Their paths cross again and their lives are intertwined one more time. If you want to find out what happens with these old friends and if it ever turns into more, you are going to have to read to find out. Maybe I didn't absolutely love this because it was single POV. I don't know. Which, to be fair, I don't have a problem with single POV. I mean, I prefer dual POV, but like Alicia Thompson and Jessica Joyce, they are absolute masters at single POV. So it's not as if it is a complete deal breaker if it's not dual. But anyway, it just being in Clara's head was a lot, I think ultimately is the deal. But Clara, the FMC, she female main character, she is so pragmatic and so stilted that at times it just it almost kind of felt robotic. That's the best way I can describe it. And it just made the romance seem a little bit clinical at certain points and just a little bit depressing. But again, I don't expect every FMC to be sunshine and roses. I just, I don't know what it was about this, but I just got a little bit I just got a little bit bored. I think is what it was. And here's my rant, my rant at the podcast. Why? Why when we have an alternating timeline and those alternating chapters, why do we have to continue the past timeline when they get together? Just keep us in the present. I feel like so many books have been doing that. Once the couple gets together, I don't care about their past. I just want to read about their future. Anyway, and again, I could probably read a book that would prove this wrong and I go, okay, okay, I see it, I see it. But I feel like I have one more thing to really say about this, and it's gonna make it sound negative. And I don't mean it this way, but it will sound negative for a second. So when people say that they don't like friends to lovers, I really think that they're talking about Claire and Teddy. And the only reason I say that is because this book is a constant will, they won't, they push and pull, and it just leaves you wondering if they actually even love each other and why, why they can't just truly get together, because the obstacles that are stopping them in this book really don't feel like an actual big enough deal to make sense of why they cannot be together. Um, and I could just see readers in general getting frustrated if this isn't your favorite trope. But if you love friends to lovers and you wanted something a little bit less, you know, rom-com, a little bit more like gritty and realistic and pragmatic and stuff, then maybe this would be the perfect book for you. Um, and again, that being said, over the course of the book, these characters, you know, you're seeing them in the past, you're seeing them now. They're growing, they're navigating life in a very messy, realistic way. And I mean, that does bring a depth that you just wouldn't get if everything were completely sunshine and rainbows. So that's not that's not what I'm recommending. But I just felt like some of their backstory, even though we got a lot of past chapters, some of their backstory was kind of glass. And I feel like I didn't really understand like their motivations enough to truly get it. So for me, I liked the book. I enjoyed the reading experience for the most part. It just kind of frustrated me at times because of those things that I listed. So again, I do think this is also a fall-themed book. Uh the cover is very fall. So if that is what you're wanting right now, I think that this book could definitely appeal to a certain reader for sure. Um, so just because it wasn't my favorite, I wanted to tell you why I didn't like it. Because for me, I always love listening to why someone didn't completely love a book, because a lot of times that's why I love it, especially me and one of my friends. We we thought we had the same book taste. We've realized that we kind of have different book taste, and so we constantly tell each other why we liked or didn't like a book, and then the other one's normally like, oh, that sounds perfect for me. Yep, I'm good. So it does not deter us um in the slightest. Anyway, next up I have In Your Dreams by Sarah Adams. This is actually um open door. She used to write closed door books, and now her books are typically open door. Uh, but do not forget that there are modifications in the author's note. Uh, so if you do need a closed door book, but you still want to read Sarah Adams, then check the author's note for the modification chapters of what to skip. But I loved this. I loved it. It was so good. And this is the fourth book in the Win in Rome series. So we are closing out her time in Rome, unfortunately. But Madison, okay, this is sorry, I was just going into it. So this is what In Your Dreams is about. Madison feels that she is the screw up of the family. And so it's really kind of par for the course when she barely passes culinary school and decides that she doesn't want to continue and doesn't really want to be a chef. It seems to her like her life is over, but she ends up having this call with James. And James, the male main character, and Madison, they've kind of always been more like adversaries. But one night Madison accidentally calls James while she's, you know, in New York at culinary school, and both kind of wonder like, wait a minute, there's a shift here. Could this be a different relationship? And James opens this restaurant in Rome, Kentucky on his farm. And he actually asked Madison to run it when she graduates. So that's kind of where this book starts out. And both need to both need this restaurant to work. Like they both need it to work for different reasons. And can they make that happen? You are going to have to read to find out. I loved being back in this world. And there are just some things that I never knew I needed. Um, all of the MMCs from the previous books getting coffee together was so sweet. And it was so funny and fun to read. And just all of the people in the town, like Phil and Mabel, they they are definitely there. And it it was great. And Will, uh Will Griffin convinces James to take up running, and it was really fun because they become running buddies. Um, and so anyway, I really like how in this book it seems like the characters are truly building friendships. It's not just like, hey, random cameos for the characters, like they are truly building friendships with each other. Um, and I like how that didn't go to the back burner just because it's a romance novel. You also get the friendships and the town and a lot of those other things that I think make this book in this series very special. And of course, I still love Practice Makes Perfect the best, but this one is actually my second favorite. It's my second favorite in the series, so it was really good. And oh, I did, you know, I said that there was some will. Add this to the list of things that I never knew I needed until I read it. But Will was trying to get in on the Walker sibling group chat, and it's just it was so perfect and so sweet. And honestly, when I think of Book Boyfriend, I think of Will Griffin. He is my favorite. He is in Practice Makes Perfect, which I just said was one of my favorite books, really, I think almost of all time. Um, but anyway, Practice Makes Perfect, just throwing it out there, you can read it as a standalone. You don't have to read the first book first. But if you haven't read it, then you haven't met Will. So I'm just gonna describe him to you. This is why he's my favorite. He is really just so kind and funny and thoughtful, and he is a great listener. He's very supportive, and he is never condescending, which of course just makes him like the perfect fictional man. So anyway, Will is just my favorite book boyfriend, and he's great. This is not Will and Annie's story. I know that. So back to Madison and James, the couple that is actually featured in In Your Dreams. James was great. He was so thoughtful, and he literally builds an entire restaurant for Madison that she'll have when she comes back home. And there's just really a lot of heart in this book. I can tell that Sarah put her heart and soul in this book. And when I read it, I was like, oh, she's back. She's back. I really enjoyed Beg Barrower Steel, but it to me, for some reason, it didn't feel like Sarah's normal writing style, and it might, and it might just have been the character that was different, you know. I think that Emily was just a very different character and had a different personality from the others. So maybe that's why it didn't feel as much like her normal writing style. Whereas this, this felt like classic Sarah Adams to me. So I I loved it. Like I said, there was so much heart. And Madison, she really has to come to terms with her biggest insecurities and her place in the family and get through a lot of things. Um, much like Annie and Practice Makes Perfect, all these characters are really taking a big leap. Not only, of course, are they finding their love interest, but they have to jump over a lot of personal hurdles to kind of open themselves up to the love that they deserve to receive. So, and same with Emily. Honestly, all of them. Like Amelia has a lot of things. Yeah, all the characters in all the books, they really go through an emotional journey and they grow a lot before they get to the end of the book. So if those are the kind of things you're wanting, if you want to hug in a book, Sarah Adams is always a great choice. I do really love her writing style. Up next, I have Rival Darling by Alexandria Moody. And this book, so A, this is a Mac rec. And if you don't know, Mac was on an episode with me. Uh, we did a whole like closed door sports romance episode. It was great. I love having her on the uh on the podcast and just talking to her in real life. Anyway, she like she is the one that our book taste is literally almost exactly the same. If she loves a book, I end up loving a book. If she doesn't love a book, I honestly I typically take it off my TBR. That is how close we are in like book recs. So I knew that she loved this one. With Max Rex, um, I've actually got, I think I've gone through almost all of her recs. Not all, but almost all. And so I save them for when I'm about to be in a reading slump or I just really need a good book and I can actually like enjoy and read it. I didn't want to just, I didn't want to fly through this one just for the sake of, you know, adding another book to my reading tracker or whatever. So that's why I was saving this. I had bought a copy way, way, way back. And actually, funny enough, me and another friend, we we went book shopping and there was only one of this one left, and there was only one of the second book, Grumpy Darling left, and we like fought over it. Like I snatched this one up. I was like, yes, and she was like, I want that one. I'm like, no, I want it. So anyway, I ended up with it and she got the second one. So she had it. So anyway, multiple friends. Um, she loved it too. Wait, no, she hasn't read this one. She's read Grumpy Darling and loved that one. Anyway, multiple friends love this series. It is technically a YA series, but it does not feel YA, if that makes sense. I feel like it's kind of more like Lynn Painter YA, like along that line. So if that is what you like, then you need to read this one. And even whenever I was buying uh the second book, because of course I picked it up immediately, I was buying the second book at Barnes and Noble, and the one of the employees, the booksellers, was like, Oh my gosh, I need to read this series. And I was like, You really need to read this series. So anyway, and the next book, the third book in the series, comes out, I think it's called Wild Darling. It comes out April 7th, so literally right around the corner. All that to say, you can probably tell by all of that that I loved it. I loved it. And this is closed door. Again, it is technically YA, um, and it is closed door. I absolutely loved this book. It was so good. Okay, so you might be going, like, why darling? And what's the deal with it? And this is hockey romance. I forgot to say, this is hockey romance. So each book covers the story of a different darling brother. Their last name is Darling, and um their hockey team is called the Devils, so they're called the Darling Devils. Like that is their nickname uh for any of the brothers, because of course all the all three brothers are on the hockey team, and then they have a sister that uh does figure skating. I think peer skating specifically. But anyway, so each book covers the story of a different darling brother. So this is what this particular book, Rival Darling, is about. Violet moves to town, and while getting acclimated, she starts dating the hockey captain. And one night she's on her way to this party. She really didn't want to go, it's not her thing, but she's going because her boyfriend's gonna be there and gets a flat tire on the way there. Of course, her boyfriend's not answering his phone, but this random boy who's jogging by just happens to stop and help her. And come to find out he's actually the captain of the rival hockey team. So, as you can imagine, that's gonna go over really well. There is a huge rivalry between these two towns. So I don't want to give away anymore because I feel like I'm gonna start accidentally giving you spoilers. So to find out how this whole thing is gonna shake out, you are just gonna have to read it. But oh my gosh, I these books, the banter is so cute and it's wholesome and it's just a delight to read. Like it's a delight. It sounds kind of like, oh, she's on her way to a party, and like, is this a college book? No, no, no. It it's really um, it's very tame, like the way that she does it. Everything is very tame. I would say that yeah, a high school kid could read this, maybe a mature eighth grader. I don't know. Depends on if they had parent approval, but I think that this was just so fun, and readers of all ages would really enjoy this one. But okay, the mailman character Reed, he is sold from like almost day one, and he's so patient and he's so kind to Violet, and there's fake dating in this one, and he uses their fake dating to show her that he is boyfriend material, and it is just it was so good. It was so good. Yeah, if you're looking for hockey romance, if you want something closed door, even if you don't, like I again, kind of like Glimpainter, I think you would like this even if you read open door books. I I don't know, it just had the pacing, the just kind of everything. Like it was just really well done. I never got bored. I enjoyed it. I tore through this book. Uh, this was the first in the series. This is also my favorite in the series, and I can't wait for her to keep coming out with books because this was so good. I highly recommend it. I've loved it. Like I said, all my friends that have read it have loved it. This was a Mac rec. She loved it. She's the one that told me about these books in the first place. So yeah, power to her. And Mac told me about these books when they were still um self-published. So before they're even in like Barnes Noble and Target and Walmart and stuff, because now they are traditionally published. So props to Mac as always. But this was a fantastic book. That is it for now. I do actually have some other books that I've read, but I didn't want to put too many in one episode. So I'm saving, saving Grumpy Darling, and I'm saving uh the book club book that was our last one that I just finished, uh, To the Lighthouse by Virginia Wolf. So totally different from all the books that I just talked about. So I am both of those are going on the next episode. But anyway, oh, I did want to say that uh last reading recap, I said I was currently reading What We Can Know by Amy Kewen. And I ended up DNFing that one. That's the first uh book club book that I've DNF'd. And granted, the book club is great. They always tell us, like, if we don't like a book, we can DNF it and then we can just come to the meeting and be like, I DNF'd it and here's why. There is no, you're not being forced. And basically, um, with Virginia Wolf, a lot of us were like, oh man, this is so dense. This is so difficult. Like, am I dumb? And what really struck me was he said, if everyone can realize that no one's too dumb to read a book, uh, then like I've done my job at foot club. So that's the kind of environment that I'm in. So it's totally okay for us to DNF books or skip a month or whatever. So anyway, all that to say, I DNF's what we can know. It just really was not for me. It was very hard. And I tried and I bought this book with the gift card and I was so excited. And I got 60 pages in, and I was like, I can't do this anymore. I tried so hard to keep reading. But so I just felt that there was such blatant misogyny from all of the characters, and it just was a bit much. And I know, I know, especially in lip fic and really thrillers, a bunch of books, even in romance. I know that you're not always going to like every character. I know everything's not gonna be roses and daisies and sunshine. Um, and again, I know that they're not always gonna be upstanding citizens. Sometimes that is related to the plot and growth and you know, their environment and all that kind of stuff. But this book just I felt like I was suffering for the sake of suffering, and it was really hard to read. So I I just couldn't, I couldn't go there. It was just so blatant. It was just too much to the point where it was getting in the way of my reading experience for me personally. So that yeah, I just I had had to DNF. And you know, life, especially like I said, with all the health stuff and waiting to hear and all that kind of stuff, I realized like life is just too short to be reading books that you really don't like. So I I DNF'd happily. Like it is just it's done. Wasn't my thing. But that's the cool thing, is that I get to decide, you know, what authors I like and what authors I don't like. And if I don't read them, I'm never gonna know. So there you go. Last but not least, what I'm currently reading right now, that was what I DNF'd from the last time. This is what I'm currently reading. So the first one is podcast research, and I try not to talk about podcast research, but I am currently reading it, so I did want to say like one thing about it. Um, I am reading right now The Friendship Fling by Georgia Stone. So I do have an arc of her latest book, The Roommate Rule, I think. No, it's on my bookshelf. I cannot read that from here because I have all my lights off except for my lamp. Um I believe it's called The Roommate Rule, and it is book two, and so I wanted to start with book one. That is a thing. If I am reading if I am interviewing an author about a book that is in a series, I always try to read the entire series. Luckily I'm catching this one at book two. So, pure joy. Pure joy. I was expecting to like it, of course, but I opened it and from like page one, I was laughing and just having the best time. It just so good. It's just so good. So everything else I'm currently reading has to live up to that. Um, but it is so, so good. So if you want, if you want a romance novel, and that was the last one at Barnes Noble. I got the last book that they had. I ended up having to call and like reserve it, and I had the last copy. So it was a hard one to find. But um, that is the romance book I'm reading, The Friendship Flying by Georgia Stone. I also have an insane amount of arcs um for future episodes coming up that I will be reading as well because I forget it is publishing season, and everyone is sending me a bunch of emails for pitches for guests. So that's yeah, I'm getting a bunch, a bunch of pitches, and I'm booked out for the next several months. So you have a lot of great authors to look forward to, and mainly romance, but there are some different genres mixed in there as well. And also, um, I am listening on audiobook, thanks to hoopla, to Dear Debbie by Frida McFadden. This was for a book club, FYI. I said I was not gonna listen to Frida anymore. I have not loved any of her books that I've read. And I I was pretty much like, okay, maybe her writing style just isn't for me, you know? Maybe, maybe that's the thing. Um, I did start listening to Dear Debbie. I am enjoying it so far. I'm not that far into the book. It is wild. Um, or she's an advice columnist that I'm assuming is gonna have some kind of like downfall or break or something. I don't know. But yeah, she has an advice column. And it's not funny, but it's shocking, kind of outlandish, but in a slightly funny way, that she'll like in the draft folder of her advice column, she'll just give you like actual advice. And then the second breath is basically like how to torture someone for that same issue. And I I'm like, oh, and she just she just types it with it, like, oh, and if they still don't listen, then you can do like this, this, this, and this. And it is wild. I I did laugh the first time because I was caught so off guard, like, wait, what? Did she what? Excuse me. So it is a lot. It is the most interested I've been in a free to make fatten book thus far. So I I have good um good hopes, high hopes for this one. So I am listening to Dear Debbie. I will probably finish this. Um, I think my dang it, I think it already returned, so I'm gonna have to use another hoopla save. I had wasted almost all my um downloads or saves or whatever for the month because I could not find an audiobook that I liked. I think I tried like four or five and I was just like, nope, nope, nope. Whether it was the book or the narrator or whatever, like I I don't know, or the story, just wasn't into it. Was having a really hard time finding an audiobook. So glad I found Dear Debbie. And then last but not least, in the most random, because it's the most like random assortment of currently reading ever. But the last book that I am currently reading is uh called Brawler by Lauren Groff. And this is my literary fiction book club book for the next month. It's a collection of short stories, which I don't think I've ever read a collection of short stories. I've read collections of poems, but I don't know that I've read collections of short stories. So something different for me. And I'm gonna signed copy, which was cool. The bookstore just happened to have signed copies. Um, so that's always nice whenever you can get a signed copy. And then for my other book clubs, I don't know that we've announced what the books are yet, so I can't even tell you what my other book club books are for the month. Actually, I don't know Wow. Well, this is a good realization. Um that I don't know almost any of the books next, actually. Wow, for any of them. And even for my library one, I don't know what genre we have. Huh. Okay. Well that's something. So I have absolutely no idea what other books I will be reading for book club, but of course I will um I'll tell ya once I read them. For reference, I am in. Okay, I'm in. Granted, remember, I do not go to all of these book club meetings every month because I A cannot read this many books in a month. Like, I could read this many books in a month, but I need a break. I need to read what I want to read. I can't always have book homework, if that makes sense. Like any book that I have to read for the podcast, I have a deadline and I have to. Read it. So it's book homework. Any book that I have to read for book club that we're going to be talking about has a deadline and it's book homework. And for both of those, I have to focus more on what I'm reading and like really, really, really pay attention. So that way I can make points and ask questions and all the other stuff. It's not just like reading for fun. Um, it is fun. Like I do enjoy a lot of the books, but it's not the same as just reading to read for fun because you like the book. So um I try to give myself a break from endless book homework. So uh just remember that I don't go to every book club every month. I kind of skip around and jump, jump around. So Dear Debbie is one, brawler is another, and then my other one, the fantasy one or romantic technically, I don't know. I need to check our Discord because we voted and I can't remember what was voted on. And then what was the other one? Um, oh gosh, like I said, I don't know in my library what genre it is. I think Dystopian was the last time, so now I can't remember what this month is. I have not gone to that book club in a second. And then, oh yes, that other book club that is with my friends, we are going to be reading for April the book that I chose. And it is Geneva Rose. I know you're shocked. Uh, she is typically a thriller author, but she will dip into different genres. And I think this is kind of like a romance, but it I don't know if it's contemporary romance, I don't know if it's paranormal romance, I don't know the specifics of the book, uh, because I only know like the general kind of synopsis, so probably not paranormal romance, actually. Uh, there are zombies in there, but it's not she doesn't fall in love with a zombie, I don't think, as far as I know. But it is called dating at the end of the world. Um, and it's basically like, I think she said, okay, I'm pretty sure this is a premise that her dad is a doomsday prepper, and she is just, you know, done with him. So they're kind of estranged for years, and then the end of the world actually does happen, and there is a zombie apocalypse, and then she needs to go back to her dad because he's the only one that can help her. And of course, who's helping him is like I think her ex- or like her nemesis, who I think is someone from high school, I'm pretty sure. And so now they basically have to like save the world together and like put a stop to this or survive or something like that. So, anyway, that is dating at the end of the world. Um, I've had multiple people that have really loved it, and I love Geneva Rose, so that's why I recommended it for book club. Um, but there's that one, and then oh, page to screen adaptation book club. Yeah, I don't know what that next month is. So yeah, that that was a lot of book clubs. Again, do not go to them all every month. Half the time I just pick two, maybe three, mostly two. Um, and then just kind of switch around. And I know that sounds somewhat silly. I have been going to lip book club most of the time now, though, pretty much every month. Um, just because I don't know, I feel like reading the literary fiction books really puts me outside of my comfort zone. And so then it stretches my like reading ability and stuff. So that's why I've been consistently going to that one. But most of the others I will skip around as needed, or if I like the book, sometimes that's sometimes it's as simple as that. Like I am so sad that on the page to screen adaptation book club that I didn't get to read Project Hail Mary, but I just did not have time. I had it on my list. I still do want to read it at some point before I see the movie. That's another thing about me is I simply must read the book before I see the movie. I if I see the movie, I do not want to read the book. I cannot watch the movie or TV show and then go back and read the book. Mm-mm. It's too similar, and then I get really bored with the book and I don't want to continue the book. So I can watch the movie without having read the book, but I cannot like I have to read the book if I'm going to want to read it and watch the movie or TV show or whatever. So I do want to still read Project Hail Mary. It just it wasn't happening at this point. Everything has just been a lot, and work has been kind of stressful. And yeah, I the I barely have time to read, let alone I have to be kind of selective with what I'm reading right now. So yeah, I I only read what I want to read at this point and what I have time to read and what I think I can. Um so Project Helmaria will definitely get to it at some point. I do want to read it, but I'm just not quite there yet. So anyway, that's those are my thoughts. Those are my thoughts. Please, someone get me in or let me run a romance book club, and I could do that and have read half these books. Um, but anyway, that that really is just a lot of rambling at the end. So apologies. But yes, I'm currently reading The Friendship Fling by Georgia Stone, listening to Dear Debbie by Frieda McFadden, and then reading Brawler by Lord Groff. So those are all the books that I'm currently reading. I will see you on the next episode. And I have so many fun author episodes coming up. I do have some bookish friends coming on as well. Just have a whole variety for you. And I'm really looking forward to producing the stuff, you know, editing the stuff, all that. So you get to listen to it. And yeah, let me know. Um, you can always click the send us a text button and let me know if there is a specific book or genre or anything or author that you would like me to talk to, and I can always try to make that happen.