BONUS Book Club: Great Big Beautiful Life

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Right then lets do it. Are you staring at me? You are. You're so pretty. Okay. Okay. One. Welcome to the Fill Your Cubs podcast. We're your hosts, Morgan and Bailey. Hello. Welcome to a book club episode. Bonus book club episode. This month's book, well, June's book, but we talked about it in July mm-hmm. Was Emily Henry's newest book. Big, great, big, beautiful wife. Big beautiful life. Yes. Yeah, I always remember that because Morgan, Kurt says the great BBL L Oh yeah. Brazilian Butler. Yes, yes. Yeah. So yeah, so great big, beautiful Life by Emily Henry. I was super excited. Brittany Hole picked this one, and she picked it because it was a Reese, like it was in Reese's book club. Yes. And so I know a lot of you or a lot of people who are readers. Read Emily Henry or read like the Reese's Book, club's. Book, club Club. Mm-hmm. Books.'cause they're just popular and usually very good. Yeah. So I was excited she picked this one because I was in the mood for a romance dude. So was I. Yeah, I really wanted one.'cause I've been in such a slum and romance is not normally my thing, but I was like, I feel like. Like, I really like it. Yeah. Hopefully by next month's episode I will not be talking about this series again.'cause I'll finish it. That's ambitious. Yes. No, I'm in, I'm on the fifth book. I know, but I'm 10% of the way through, which is actually a lot. That is a lot. It's a 1300 page book. So that's like basically its own book. Yeah. 10% of the way through. But I have been reading Stormlight archives. It's Jared's favorite series. I've been reading it really just to connect with him. But because I have been reading that I was really, it's like heavy world building fantasy. Yeah. And I have to think a lot. And then recently I also read the We Were Liars one. Mm. And that one was really sad. Yeah. And really intense and dark. And then I've been doing thrillers as my audiobook, so romance just fell in perfectly at this time for me. Yeah. And so it was just, yeah, it was just a great time for me to be reading a romance. I, I, I loved the book. So did I, I loved it. I almost feel like we should have another voice here of like the ones who didn't like it. Mm-hmm. Because I am shocked and that is how I always know that I loved a book when I feel personally. Like. I feel like I need to personally defend this book kind of thing. When when people have book club talking about how they didn't like it, I'd be like, okay, well then the plot went right over your head. Well, then didn't get it. I mean, it's so funny because when I don't like a book or when I'm like, so, oh. I could totally see all that, but when I love a book, I'm like, you're wrong. Yeah. Your opinion this time is not that one actually. Well, yeah. I loved this book, but I don't feel like I loved it enough that I feel like I need to defend it Uhhuh, because I do. I did see what they were saying. Yeah. And honestly, I think a lot of it was just people that. Don't love romance as their genre. Mm-hmm. Some people who do read romance regularly also kind of gave it some criticisms, but Yeah. But I don't know. I felt like I could see the criticisms. I, they just didn't bother me. Yes. I know that we have a lot of romance readers in our. Book club group and we have a lot of Emily Henry readers specifically. Yes. And I did think it was funny'cause I think that there was only two five stars and it was me and Chloe. Yeah. And, oops, spoiler alert I gave it five stars. But I thought it was funny how all the Emily Henry readers, they all did say like, yeah, I really liked the book. Like most of them gave it th four stars or like. 3.8 or something like that. Yeah. But you, because I would almost lump you into this of being like you guys, yeah. You had all said it was different than other Emily Henry books you had read. Like Yeah. It didn't feel, but was the reason for that, because the love plot line was not like the number one plot line. No. So I did give it four stars and. I ha I love Emily Henry. I will always read Emily Henry mm-hmm. When a new book comes out, but I, I just didn't feel like it was as good as her other ones. Mm-hmm. Like, have you read any of her others? I've read People will Meet on Vacation, but I didn't like it. Okay. Oh, and then I think I read, I think it was Book Lovers and I was like, so, so with it, yeah. I. I love her writing style. Mm-hmm. And I, what people kept saying, which this wasn't necessarily why I gave it four stars, but what people kept saying was that it felt more rushed. Yeah. And she did write it a lot faster. The turnaround time was a lot faster than previous books that she's written. Mm-hmm. So people felt that it was rushed. But I think after we kind of talked about it, there were just a lot of. Not fleshed out concepts in the book. Yeah. Like for instance, her sister gets brought up a lot, but there's not really, there's not really that much detail about that story. Part of the story. Yeah. Or that did feel like a random, like rage bait almost. Except, you know what rage baiting is? No. Okay. Rage baiting is, I, I acted like I did. Uh, it's whenever you say something specifically to piss people off. Mm. So like you might be rage baiting by. I can't think of like a specific example, but it's, it's like a social media thing. Like you make a post or you make a video or a tweet to specifically piss people off. Okay. Like, it's called rage. It's kind of like click bait with the headline. Yeah. But it's specifically to make people angry. Yeah. Specifically to make people angry because then you get a ton of responses. You get a ton of like interaction and feedback. Like if, like if you posted something and you were like, Taylor Swift, suck. Exactly. Exactly. That would make a lot of people mad Uhhuh. It would, it would definitely rage bait your followers. Okay. Yeah. Like, yes. So that is kind of, yeah, pretty much. How do you, how do you think the sister, I think, I don't know if it was like Rage Beatty, it was more like emotional baiting of being like, oh my gosh, something really bad happened to her sister. Yeah. And then like you find out her sister's just fine. Yeah. She's in the Peace Corps and like. I really felt like,'cause yes, there was multiple times in the be. This is funny because I, I gave this book a five star and I stand by it, but there were points in the beginning of the book of being like, oh my God. I had to remember like my sister, I. Like, I might not have been able to get there in time for her. Yeah. But I can get there in time for him. So you think that she's like dead? Yeah. Or that something like really, really serious happened. Like she tried to, it, it almost sounds like she, she tried to attempt suicide. Yes. Yes, exactly. And then you find out like she was sick in her childhood, but yeah, they don't really delve or dive into that too much. Yeah. So that was one thing they didn't really flush out. Mm-hmm. And then another thing was that kind of a criticism was Hayden's mom, there was all this. So the whole storyline of them meeting with Margaret was that she just couldn't, she had given up Hayden's mom. Yeah. There are spoilers in this if, if you don't know major. So she It's a book club episode. Yeah. Yeah. So she had given up Hayden's mom and like couldn't resist at, she's kind of like older and toward the end of her life, she couldn't resist. Meeting her grandson. Yeah. And yeah, exploring that life more. Mm-hmm. And so another criticism that like didn't get kind of flesh out in the book was that Margaret, the whole point of this thing is because she gave up this daughter, but then we don't really actually learn much about the daughter. Like that's true. Caden doesn't really. He talks a little bit about her and how she has the health fear, you know? Mm-hmm. But aside, aside from that, we don't really know much else. Yeah, that is true. Whenever it was doing the big reveal of like the Hayden situation Yes. I, I was like, okay, I really gotta turn my brain on. I'm like, I was like, where is this family tree? Where is this all connecting? And I, there was a lot of parts that I was like, who is this? It was kind of confusing, honestly. The book I was talking about, the We Were Liars book that I read. Mm-hmm. It had a family tree at the beginning of the book. Oh, they just go back to help you. Yeah. To help you like remember who were the cousins, who were the siblings, that sort of thing. That's hilarious. And then, and who was married in and who wasn't and whatever. And when I was reading this book, I was like, man, they needed that too. And she even says it in the book, she, she says something like, the Alice says like, I'm gonna need to draw out a family tree. Exactly. Yeah. Yes. On her proposal or whatever. Yes. So yeah, I will say, I. Like those types of things do, do not like things being kind of not totally detailed like that. Yeah. Doesn't keep me from enjoying the book at all. Me either. Ever since the June Faroh book that we did, which I also freaking loved, gave it a five star, I think I came up with the, like the book will tell me what I need to be told. Yeah. I'll understand what I need to understand. And ever since that book, I have really. Stayed true to that. Yeah. Yeah. I agree. I just, yeah. It just doesn't bother me. I, I do think I also, I think I also related to Alice a lot. Mm-hmm. Like I do, I do think that her kind of, I don't know, in some ways too much positive or whatever, uhhuh, like, I think sometimes I can veer toward that. Yeah. Or like, for instance with Hayden, someone said that they really didn't like him'cause he was such a douche. Mm-hmm. And I was like, honestly though, I. When I was reading Alice's interactions with him at the beginning when he was kind of like more stoic and whatever. Yeah. I was like, I could totally see me still trying to Like wanting to win summer. Yes, exactly. Yeah. And not really thinking like it was because they were douchey, just thinking like. They're just a little tougher, you know? Yeah, no, I actually really agree. There was a specific quote in the book that I did highlight that I actually thought of you really, when I read it, I thought of me too, but like a little bit less Uhhuh, but I really thought of you and she says, oh, I try to tick almost. Sorry. Oh, I tried to take almost nothing personally. I tell him I could actually probably afford to take a little more personally. I thought I, when I read that, I was like, oh yeah, that did feel like me. I thought it was so funny. That part. Yes. I, I loved that quote. Yeah. I thought, yeah. Yeah, I thought she was funny. I think that, yeah. Relating to her health. Mm-hmm. Yeah, that is true. I, I thought of myself too. I was like, yeah, I probably could take more, like some, uh, sometimes whenever I don't take something personally and then someone's like, that was actually really rude. I'm like, like, really? Really? Should I have been more upset about that? A new kitchen be like, yeah, it was kind weird. Yeah. I love that. Something I really liked about this book is, and I think I have a problem with romance because things follow such a trope. And things can be really, really cliche. Yeah. So like I feel like this character, she was witty and quirky, but she wasn't too far witty and quirky. Uhhuh. She wasn't clumsy. She wasn't Oh yeah. Like. Ditzy. Mm-hmm. And I feel like a lot of romances, if the character is witty and quirky, she's also clumsy. Mm-hmm. And ditzy. And, and forgetful. And, and forgetful, yeah. Yes. And like in la la land or, so I really appreciated that. She wasn't like, I really appreciated that she had a lot of depth to her. And that it didn't just feel like she was witty and quirky. Yeah. Like she had a lot going on or for him, for example, like Rudy Grumpy. Mm-hmm. Only nice to her. And that wasn't the case. He just, he just was very, like, knows who he was, but he, he got along with the other townspeople just fine. Yeah. Whereas like. In a normal romance book. I feel like Cecil would've been like, oh yeah, that grump of yours over there. But instead Cecil was like, oh yeah, tell your friend Yeah. Blah, blah, blah. So like they liked each other. Yeah. So I appreciated that a lot, that it didn't just feel like this book went straight into cliches. Yeah. I think Emily Henry does a good job with that. Honestly, I need to go back and maybe reread some of her other books'cause it's been a while. Yeah. I just read them when they come out. So it's been a while. This is obviously the newest one. Yes. I've read a lot of romances since, but I think Book Lovers was my first Emily Henry. You loved that one. I loved it. Mm-hmm. But honestly, it was kind of toward the beginning of my introduction to certain genres and stuff. Yeah. And so I really liked that one. I really, really like when books that are Spicy now. I love a Good smut too. Mm-hmm. But I really like when books. That are romances. Okay. I guess there's like three things here. So I love romances, but I love when the plot is not all about the romance. Yeah. And then I also love whenever the spicy scenes are not the point of the book. Yeah. And there, there's still some like meat, you know, uhhuh beneath it because the spicy scenes were really good. Mm-hmm. And I remember thinking with book lovers, like I really liked the spicy scenes in that, but the, I really liked the. How she, I don't know how she developed their relationship first. Like it wasn't just like, yeah.'cause in a lot of S money books. Smut book. Yeah. They meet and immediately there's hot tension. Yeah. And like, oh my God, I wanna kiss her. And you're like, you just met her. Mm-hmm. Or, or the girl is immediately. No. Like in this book, Alice does notice that Hayden is attractive. Yeah. But she, at first glance, she's not thinking about his, I had to jump his bones. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. No, I actually really like that too. Because it wasn't too much of a slow burn. Yeah, because I hate books. I have too much of a slow burn. Yeah. And then they don't get together until like the last 50 pages of the book because I'm like, uh, and I guess that that is like building tension because me as the reader, I feel this tension of being like, yes, oh my God. Like, yes. But then I do feel like that's also a stereotype of romance books being like, we can't be together. Yeah. Even though we both really wanna be together and all they have to do is have like one conversation. Yeah. And they just never have it. But I don't feel like this book had that. They did. They did like point out that they were really attracted to each other. They did talk about why, they talked about Be Together things pretty early on. They did. Yeah. And. There was like, they had that kiss pretty early on, Uhhuh, and so I feel like this book had the good job of not making it too much of a slow burn, but still not making it all of what the book was about. Yes. Like I did enjoy that. Every time that they were on a scene together, I. I didn't think it was gonna end up with them having sex. Yeah. So I really enjoyed that. Which is so funny because the beginning of my reading journey at like 14 was all smut, and now I, that's crazy. Can't do it. When I realized you were reading that at that age, I was like, oh my God. When I read after. I read after At this age? Yeah. Like as a 29-year-old woman, it was like making me blush and I was like, oh my God, my 14-year-old sister was reading this. Yeah. In her room with a one direction stand up in the corner. I was like, oh my God. I was reading those chapters weekly. It was like, that's so crazy, because it was a fan fiction. So. The chapters came out weekly. It wasn't like all one big book, dude. That's wild. Mm-hmm. Yeah. I wonder if mom ever listens to these episodes and she's like, what? I have no idea's. Funny. Because even if I had told her like, yeah, it's about one direction, she's probably like, oh, okay. Yeah. Like a boy band, but no girl. Yeah. Fan fiction is crazy. This shit was crazy. Yeah, I did not know that. But yeah, I, I really. I really appreciated. I felt like it was subtle and nuanced and, mm-hmm. Yeah. What did you think? We didn't talk, we didn't get into this with book club probably'cause it's too much. Uh, and we can take this out if you want. What did you think of the, like them, the scene where they're not having sex but he's touching, he's holding her hand, having her touch herself. Enjoyed it. I liked it too, but I, but people in book club, they didn't say this specifically about that scene, but people in book club were saying like, it was annoying me. Like that they were basically having sex, but they weren't. But I was kind of like, no, I mean,'cause I can get it like when, yeah, when you have the rule in your head or whatever. Like not no sex to go, yeah, no sex. Like it's easier or I don't know, but you still have that tension. I do think that sex is. Way more intimate and way, like more of a connection level. Yeah. Than like sexual acts. Yeah. Now I would, I would cons, I don't even know if I consider like a blow job, sex. I don't, I don't think. Yeah. So I do think that them saying, no, we're not gonna have sex, and then not having, they did end up having sex, but I know, I'm like, we're not gonna have sex. And then doing these like fourplay, because to me it's like fourplay, it's, yes. That's how I feel too. Yeah. Okay. I don't, but I, people do have very different opinions. It is great. So I was like, that didn't bother me at all. No. I'm like, Ooh. Yeah. Release some tension. How did you feel about the fact that they did end up having sex before the. I thought it was fine. Me too. I thought it was totally fine. I was like, you know what? Sometimes you set a boundary and then sometimes a boundary comes down as you, as you progress change. Things change. Things change every day, and he had already decided that I think that. I think that he had already decided at that point to like, pull out maybe. Yeah. No way. She wouldn't intended. Um, I do think that he had decided already that she was more important to him than this book, and so maybe that's, maybe that's why he decided like. Let's just do it.'cause it was like the day before, right? Yeah, I think so. And he probably already knew he was going to not like take Exactly. Out his proposal. Exactly. And it was, it was his boundary. She wanted to have sex the whole time. Yeah. Like, she'd be like, are you sure? And he'd be like, yeah, we can't. She'd be like, yeah, okay. That she say. Yeah. So it's like she wanted to, yeah. And it was really him holding back. And then once he, I think that once he had decided that she was more important and that he wasn't gonna get his heart broken because of like. The competition with the book that he was like, okay, I can go here with her. Yeah. Yeah. See, that's something I liked about him is everyone said he was such a dick and he was so douchy, and I'm like, Uhuh. He was a lover boy. Yeah. He, he was just a deep down lover boy. He really was. I just think that, I think that he comes off that way because he is holding secrets. Mm-hmm. Like the secret of being, not seeking Margaret. Yeah. And her seeking him. Mm-hmm. That was a secret that he was keeping, and so he seemed really douchy because he. Assumed that Margaret was gonna go with him, which, yeah, makes sense. Which I would too, once you know that everyone was like, his ego is huge. And I was like, I mean, I totally would. No, I, if I got invited to a job interview and somebody else reached out, I'd be like, Hmm, yeah, I'm probably gonna get it. Yeah. Yeah. Like, yeah. If you, yeah, if you have an in, because your, yeah. Your friend reached out to you, said you'd be great at this job, Uhhuh, and it's way more likely that you're gonna get it. Yeah, I agree. It just is, unless the other person. Is really, really good. Yeah. Which he never said that she wasn't, he never said he, he even complimented her work. Yeah. Yeah. And like whenever she'd be like, oh, you're just like that much more certain that you're that much better than me. He'd be like, well, no, that's not what it is. I don't think I'm better than you. Yeah. I just, he, and he would say, I didn't say that. Yeah. You know, he even made her mom read a piece of her work. Yeah. Which I loved. I did like that. Ooh. That was a part that I really liked of. Whenever it was talking like her and her mom had that. Weird. I guess it wasn't the fight yet, but it was whenever Hayden and Alice went to her mom's house. Mm-hmm. And then afterwards, Alice is really upset and he's like, come on, like, talk to me about it, blah, blah, blah. And she's like, I don't want to, and like she gets really upset with him. Mm-hmm. And she's like, I don't wanna live in a wor world of negativity and like blah, blah, blah. I was like, you know what? I understand that. Like Yeah. Obviously it's not totally healthy, like you should be talking about. These things, even if you don't want to, but I understand it. Yeah. But then I really liked whenever Margaret was saying the same thing and she was like, hold on, now I see why Hayden was so frustrated with me, because this doesn't actually make any sense. Yeah. Like once you're actually hearing somebody else's reasonings, even it's the same ones, it is yours. You're like, actually, I can hear it now. Yeah. So I did like that. Yeah. I don't know why. I didn't like why I disliked it from Margaret so much more than Alice. I hated Margaret. Oh, Margaret was very annoying. But I get it. I feel like, I feel like now it's always just like with moms and stuff, you, I feel like you're not, you're more like sensitive or something else. I know this has nothing to do with the mom thing because I actually, I guess it was really nice that she gave up her baby, but. No, um, no, it's because I get it that if my, if my husband died in this car accident, my, you never showed up. None of my, I mean, I have more than one sister, so if none of you guys reached out to me, if none of you guys asked how I was doing, I would also become a shoe in. And I would also be like, I kind of hate everything about my life. Like, I wish I had never been like this. Yeah. I just felt like there were so many things in her control. Yeah. And she just dec instead she just decided to. Pull up and be like, woe is me. Yeah. And live her life that way. And I'm like, wouldn't you think that like, these are years that your husband didn't get and you get to live. Why are you living like that? Yeah. That's so what a waste of life. Like there are so many other people who don't get to live that long. Mm-hmm. I just don't have a lot of sympathy for people that choose to spend their lives. In a way that is, that they hate. Yeah. Because I'm like, you have the power to change that. Yeah. So it just frustrates me. But I really didn't like Margaret, but I loved, I loved that I didn't like her. Mm-hmm. I thought she was well written. I really like whenever she's not a villain, but I really like when an author does a good job of. Making a character that is unlikeable. Yeah. Without it just being that they're, like you were saying like with the brooding guy or something. Without it just being A trope or a kind of a caricature type of Yeah. Person where their, their personality traits are so unlikeable mm-hmm. That you're like, okay, ob, that's so scary, obviously. Yeah. Obviously they're telling me don't like this person. Yeah. Whereas Margaret, I felt like she was complex. Mm-hmm. But I just, I did not like her. Yeah. She felt like a very confused character. Yeah. I actually had a lot of notes. Like in quotes that she had said specifically really that at the time I really liked the quote, but then now as we're talking about it, I'm like, wait, that is funny. So at one point she says, I like taking away the element of decision wherever I can. And it's like, yeah, she would. Mm-hmm. Because she doesn't, she wants to think that things are outta her control. Yes. And so, yeah, that would make sense. Or she says at some point. Um, Alice says this about Margaret. Maybe it's a kind of comfort to her to believe that she was never the one in the driver's seat. So like, there you go. Right? Yeah. Again, yeah. Um, there was also one that I really liked where Alice says, do you believe that, that your family is cursed? And Margaret says, no, honey, the flash of a smile doesn't reach her once sparkling eyes. Family is the curse. Is the curse. The curse? Mm-hmm. Yeah. I'm like, that's so, no, you're like, grow up. No. You have the power to change your life. You, yes. I do think that her life was hard growing up. Like I will say, having the cameras on you all the time and that sort of thing. Obviously I can't relate to that. Yeah. So I'm sure that that was hard in a different way, and it's why you see celebrities all the time have such a hard time because yeah. They'cause they are watched by everybody and everybody does assume. That was something Alice said, said a lot like where she was like, oh, I want to like touch her hand. But then she's like, but I chose not to because I don't want her to think that I'm assuming that I know her when I don't. You know, and so I liked that about Alice. Yeah. I always say that she was so considerate. She was. I always say that about celebrities where I'm like, if I was to meet a celebrity in real life, I wouldn't act like I knew they were celebrity. I totally would. I'm like, I'd be cool. Yeah. Talk collected like you're normal. It's fine. Yeah. And then I would be with you and you'd be like, you. We embarra you stop and run. Taylor Swift quit. I'd be like, hello Swift. Yeah. And I'd be like, Martin, keep it cool. So she'll invite us to her party. Yeah. Yeah. And then we can lose our minds. Well, good for you and Alice. But yeah, I just, I, yeah, I just, mm-hmm. I, I do think that Margaret went through a lot of hurt things. Mm-hmm. But I just felt like, God, you spent so much of your life not talking to your sister. I mean, I know there was a lot of weird stuff there. That was crazy. Her sister is the cults, and I loved all of that. Yeah. I was like, oh my God. It felt like, oh yeah, it felt like she would give us pieces at a time, then it would be like, yeah, what the, uh, like this just gets weirder and weirder. Uhhuh, it gave me, um, Charles Manson vibes a lot. He, he was a cult leader and he had his cult members basically like, go and kill, like Sharon Tate. Have you ever heard of her? Or, you know, that movie? Um. The once, once upon a, I think it's called Once Upon a Time, but it's got like Brad Pitt in it and I wanna say, I don't know, but Ocean's 11, no state actor. No. All of this, all of this stuff is ringing a bell. I just couldn't. Yeah. It was a big I. Yeah. It's like when, when people think, when people say cults they Yes. Will really think of like Charles Manson. Yeah. But I think stuff like that, I like choose, maybe I'm like Margaret, I just like choose not to uhhuh. Remember it. You don't really have that fascination with like true crime. Yeah. Or just, which is kind of nice or just, I don't know. I feel like I removed. Knowledge about like outside events? Yeah. No, I don't think it's a good thing. I like removed that because like from my brain, Uhhuh, because I want my brain to absorb other things, I guess. Yeah, no, I like it. That makes sense. But yeah, yeah, that stuff was crazy and I felt really bad for her sister and. I was like, man, this is intense. And obviously it would ruin a, I could see how it would ruin a relationship or something like that, but, but it wasn't the cult that ruined it. No. No. Mm-hmm. Well, wait, what ruined it? What ruined it is that after her husband died, her sister never reached out. Her sister was never there for her. Yeah. Ever. That, that would ruin something for me. I think if Mason died and he never reached out to me for sure. I'd be like, um. Did we find out if there was a reason? I think it was just because she was trying to heal and she didn't Oh, she didn't wanna be back in the spotlight so bad. Oh yeah. Yeah. That's, and I'm like, that's horrible. Yeah. That's shitty. Yeah. I'm like, I don't really care. I don't really care. Yeah. You show up for your people. So yeah. That's why I, I'm pretty sure, if I remember correctly, that's why she decided not to ever reach out,'cause she didn't wanna be back in the spotlight. Mm-hmm. And then Margaret was gonna go to her and be like, what the fuck? But she didn't. Trying. Wants to bring the spotlight. Yeah. She was trying to respect the boundary that she put up. Yeah. Yeah. That's so messed up. Yeah, it is. I don't know. The thing with Margaret, I just. I feel like, okay, you act like you're powerless, you're not. Mm-hmm. Then also, I just thought it was so effed up what she was doing to Alice.'cause I felt like she just took so much advantage of her. She manipulated her. Oh, for sure. She was never interested in her. Mm-hmm. And she literally used her to get Hayden to come to town and like meet her and stuff. Mm-hmm. And then strung her along for like a month. And I just think that that is so mean. It is mean. It is mean. I, Margaret's definitely a manipulative character. Yeah. Very manipulative and very, like she's still, she's still a celebrity and still powerful. Yeah. And so she just thinks she can do whatever she wants. Yeah. I feel like she just, unfortunately she did. Yeah. I hated that they named. The child, Laura Grace. Me too. I hated that. I also hated that. I was like, that feels like me naming my child, Britney Spears. Like what? Yes, exactly. And especially since the whole book they're talking about, like the whole point is like Margaret, everybody assumes they know her and blah, blah, blah. And I'm like, you just did the same thing. Yeah, yeah. It's so weird. And from their point of view, they're like, oh, we do know her. Yeah. Which they do. I. They do better than others, I guess. Mm-hmm. But it's still, I just felt like it defeated the whole, that whole purpose. Yeah. Like that whole point. The only saving grace that I think that that had,'cause I hated that and was like complaining about it, is someone said like, well, it was technically a family name, like it was his family. Yeah. And I'm like, yeah, but he didn't have any real ties to it or like mm-hmm. Any real connection. If anything, they should have named her Nicolette. Yeah. Like, that's why I thought that they would name her. Yeah. That would've been cute too. That would that, yeah. That's kind of a cute name. It's kind of cute. Yeah. I like it. It it reminded me of in Harry Potter when he names all like three of his kids after like So Albas. Yeah. Yeah. And then he's also got like Lily Rose, I think is her name or something like that. James. Yeah. I saw something one time that was like, that was like, oh, wow. Imagine being Ginny and being like, oh, we can name it after my brother who passed away, or, oh, like, let's name it after my mom who fought in the order and who saved my life. No. And instead, we're gonna name it after Alvis double door. Yeah. I thought thats, yeah. Yeah. I thought that was, and my parents. Yes. I thought that was really funny, and that's like really what it reminded me of. Yeah. Um, I just, that is, no, that is funny. Yeah. Mm-hmm. I just thought it, Laura Grace is a cute name. It's cute. I just, I just didn't, I was like, why, why would you? Mm-hmm. Name it after her. Mm-hmm. But whatever I, it also made me mad that Margaret and Laura only ended up getting like six months together. That just made me, it just, I think sister stuff especially, I don't have a tolerance for Yeah.'cause I love you guys so much. Yeah. And I feel like we are really intentional with each other and it's not easy all the time. Yeah. Like we definitely could easily just be like. Gripe at each other, or like Yeah, take things personally that other, other ones do or don't do, or say or don't say, or things like that. It would be really, really easy because we, we know each other in and out, so we could just be like, oh, well, Bailey's just always like this, or whatever, you know? Um, and like kind of take past annoyances or whatever. Mm-hmm. Into mm-hmm.'cause you just do that with people that you love and care about. Yeah, but I'm like, I just don't have, I'm like, no, it's not easy to. Necessarily like keep good relationships with your sisters all the time. Yeah. I feel like it is now. Mm-hmm. But, but you still have to do it like, yeah. I don't know. I just, no, I actually really agree with that. I always really hate the people who let things from their childhood Yeah. Dictate their entire lives. Yeah. And I'm not talking about things that happened to you. I'm more talking about like. It would be so easy for us to be like, oh yeah, we had these fights as kids. I hate her. Yeah. Like, uh, and it's like, or say things like, it's been 20 years. Yes. Like you don't think they're a different person than they were when they were 14. Yes. Like, I've heard adults, I've heard adults say things like, oh yeah, well my sister's just always been spoiled, or something like that. Yeah. I'm like, um, okay. That's weird. Yes. Like you guys are 30. Like, yes, that's. I dunno. I'm just like, if your sister was spoiled growing up, like sorry that that bothered you so much, but get over it. I feel like that all the time. I'm like, get over it. Yeah. Oh my God. Yeah. Or like, we talk about this a lot with. People from high school just pretending that you still know exactly who they are. Yes. And it's like, you don't think anything has changed. Yeah. I'm like, haven't you changed a lot? A lot? Yes. And like, wouldn't you want people to not remember you for who you were for four years in high school? Yes. And so, no. I, I think about that a lot. Yeah. I'm like, guys, why can't we just move on? I mean, I, I get it. If people aren't best friends with their siblings Yeah, I do get it. It makes me sad for them. Yeah. But I do get it. I'm not saying that you have to be, but just if, if it's, if you're not having a good relationship with your sibling,'cause you're hanging on to past grievances from when you were a little child Yeah. Then, or teenager or whatever. Mm-hmm. I, I just think that's silly. I completely agree. Now I. If they are continuing the behavior as an adult and like, then that's fine. Then you can then at that point you dislike them as an adult. Yeah. Not as the children that you guys were. Yeah. Yeah. I don't know. I do think that's something silly. Something I really liked about the book. Yeah. We kind got off there. Sorry. No, that's good. I have been thinking about this and I said it at Book club, but I really liked the perspective whenever they were talking about paparazzi and Margaret's life, Uhhuh, and they were like Margaret never. Did anything simple to the paparazzi, like when Margaret wore an outfit, it wasn't that she was wearing the outfit, it was that she was showing off the outfit. Mm. Or when Margaret left a room, she was storming out. She wasn't just mm-hmm. Exiting a room. Mm-hmm. And I really liked that because I was like, wow, that is. That is like how clip bait goes. Mm-hmm. And you don't wanna just hear like, oh, Kim Kardashian leaves, wore a dress. Yeah. Wore a dress. It's gotta be like, oh, showed off all of her curbs. Mm-hmm. You know, and I, I really liked that. So I was like, oh, that's really true. And whenever they were talking about the wedding pictures. Of Margaret being like, yeah, everyone said it looked like I was marching into his death. Ugh. Whereas in reality, that's not what happened at all. Mm-hmm. He was so excited and taking her in and she's like, okay. And I did enjoy that and I did appreciate that aspect of it. The perspective. Yeah. Because we really never know what's going on in a photo and mm-hmm. Yeah. Or what's really going on in people's lives. Yeah, definitely. Mm-hmm. I do think a, a big. I, I liked that too. I feel like a big criticism. What of this book was that? It was kind of close to other books with celebrities, so specifically seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, which is such a good book. So good. And I don't, I didn't feel like this book was ripping off of it, but there were elements that were similar, specifically the interview. And then there's a big reveal about a family member at the end and a connection which you know is gonna happen. Like, I don't even remember the connection in Evelyn Hugo. So the interviewer Evelyn Hugo, there was like a car crash that killed the interviewer's dad, I think. Ah. And it was somehow related to Evelyn Hugo. Okay. I couldn't remember. So. So there was like a big, it was a similar structure, I guess. Mm-hmm. And a lot of the drama and elements and whatnot were similar. I felt like it was different enough. Like at the beginning I was like, oh, the premise is very similar. But I felt like it was told so differently that it didn't bother me. Yeah. But I did, it did also kind of remind me of Daisy Jones in the six. Mm-hmm. Is that what it's called? Yeah, j Jones the sixth. Okay. And I, it also reminded me of that just again, because of the celebrities and the interviews and stuff like that. Mm-hmm. And so I do think that, I still think this one was well done, but it wasn't like my favorite celebrity focus, celebrity centered book. Yeah. I think I love this book so much because I loved. Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones on six. So much, and I've never been able to find another book like it. Mm. I've never, and like I want Taylor Jenkin Reed to stop writing these other books and to only write within this universe. Ah. And like I have to know more. Yeah. I have to, and like Malibu Rising was my universe, for example. Yes. I loved that book. Yeah. Like I love whenever books do that where they're not. They're not like sequels or Yeah. A part of a series, but they have to do with each other. I agree. Like it's all the big line. I really like that. And I think that this book gave me what I've been missing from those books and like I've never been able to find another book like that. Yeah. And so I loved it. Nice. And I was like, I would love a book about Cosmo, Margaret. Yeah. And I would love a book about, I liked the backstory of the great grandfather, although I couldn't remember if it was great, I liked it, or great grandfather. I think she started with great, great. And then it was her great, great, great. Yeah. Okay. I couldn't remember who it was like Lawrence and, but yeah, when she started. Yeah. I liked that too. It didn't bother me at all. Mm-hmm. I was, I said in book club, it reminded me of when you ask, when you ask your grandparent a really simple question, Uhhuh, and then they have to tell you every, they're like, they have to tell you Jim's height, who they knew in high school. And you're like, what are you talking about? Yep. You know? And I felt like it. It felt true of what I would expect, you know? Mm-hmm. And whenever you know that Margaret really wasn't there to tell her story. Mm-hmm. So I'm like, maybe she was just stalling for time. Like maybe that's what it was. Mm-hmm. But I did think like the great, great grandfather's story is what I believe the sister was gonna use as the black male.'cause it came from his diaries. Nobody else knew that. And that was all in his diaries. And yeah, I'm like, so I never really understood what secrets she was. Like the blackmail, like what secrets was she getting? Sure. I think it was gonna be that like her great-great-grandfather cut what's his face out of the deal and ended up buying the literal paper so nothing could be told about it. Yeah, I think it's supposed to be implied that he killed them. Oh. I think, I don't know hundred percent, but Oh yeah, because he was they, because they said that, that he was the only one in the room or whatever. Yeah. And yeah, something like that, which is another thing that was not fully fledged out. Right. Yeah. And that's why I'm like, rat that I'll read that one called The Wild, wild West of. Mining and I'll read it. Oh my gosh. Yeah. Well I love this book. I did understand the criticism. They just didn't get in my way. Yeah. But yeah, I gave it four stars. I liked it a lot. It kind of makes me want to try to read another Emily Henry Uhhuh because I'm like, okay, maybe my taste is changing.'cause I'm actually really not wanting to read a single thriller right now. And that was all I wanted to read before. Yeah. So I'm like, okay. And also that was a fun realization I had while reading this book, because I always say I'm not a romance reader, but both you and other Morgan were like, what are you talking about? You love romance. Yeah. And, but I like, I really think, I don't, if it's too cliche and too stereotype, I do not like it. Mm-hmm. But if it's got more other or like other elements in it, then I really like it. Yeah. I mean, I just think that's a good book though. Like I, that's true. I think that any, if a thriller was cliche, you wouldn't like that one either. You know? That's true. So I, yeah, I just, I just feel like it has a lot to do, not just for you, but especially for you, but that it has a lot to do with what you've been reading, what you Yeah. Like what vibe you're in. Even what season, like what I like to read in the summer is different than the winter. Absolutely. You know, and so Absolutely. Time and place is everything. Yeah. And I, I do think that's maybe why I love this book so much is'cause the time and place was perfect for me. Yeah. Mm-hmm. And energy and just, you know, your energy for. Having the energy for a fantasy book is different than the energy for a romance or a thrill, you know? So I just feel like it really just depends on where you're at and what yeah, what vibe you need. I need to figure out what kind of genre I'm like wanting to read because I feel like romance is too broad. And then I feel like if I read romance books, I'll get into the books I don't like, yeah. But I'm like, I need to, I need to find a book where there is like a romantic element, but there's also. More plot going on. Yeah. Like a coming of age romance or something. I dunno. Maybe maybe people who are watching this Yeah. Or listening will share some of those books. Yeah. Tell me what I'll like Yeah, please. Or gimme some suggestions because I really, I wanna start reading again. I have like got kind of the kick for it. Mm-hmm. I really wanna start again, but I just don't know where to start. Yeah. I don't think, yeah. I have finished two books. Last month. Yeah. Yeah. And we didn't have to invite a guest on this one because you finished the book called I did. Yay. It's been a minute. I think I hadn't finished the book since the measure. Oh, wow. Which might have only been like two, three. Yeah, that was like May I thought. Yeah. So that, yeah, that that was it. Only just, it was just We write upon six. Yeah. Yeah. I was gonna say, so our next book. Is, so the book that we are reading in July, but talking about in August, is Girl with a Pearl Earring. Mm-hmm. And it is by Tracy Shevalier. Yeah. It looks very odd to me, but. It looks cool. I actually did start it. Um Oh, okay. Just like as an audio book. And I think that I have potential to like it'cause it's supposed to be. The backstory behind the girl with the Pearl Earring, which is a painting. Oh, okay. Yeah. So that's like an actual painting. And in real life, nobody knows who it's inspired by. Oh, okay. Mm-hmm. And I only know that because I was like, what am I, what am I gonna be reading? I wanted to make sure I wasn't gonna be reading like a piece of history. Oh, huh. Because I was like, I don't, it is historical fiction. It's, but I think I could get behind it Nice. Of being, I, I kind of like historical fiction where we make up stories about. These real life people that we don't actually know. Uhhuh the stories. Yeah. Because I'm like, oh, I think that's like a fun way to imagine it. Yeah. Yeah. Uh, Danielle picked this book and she loves historical fiction, so Yeah. And honestly, I really loved, the last book she picked was Marjorie Post The, yeah. Something Life of Mar Amazing Life of Marjorie Post. Something like that. Yeah. And that was historical fiction. And it was historical fiction. I really liked that book. Yeah. So I, that was one I didn't read. Oh really? I think it was the first book, club one. I didn't read. And I remember not going to book club because I wanted to read the book, but then I never got around to it. Oh yeah, you started it. Yeah. But you were like, I really wanna finish it without spoilers, and you never did. I know. I think that was like the one book club episode we didn't do too. Oh, that's funny. I never got around to it. That is so funny. Oh my God. No. I had a big stack at that point. Yeah, we might not have been doing book club episodes at that time. Oh wait, we've always been doing them. Yeah. Nevermind. Um, well anyway, girl with the pro layering next month. Also tell Bailey what she needs to read. Yeah, help me out. Gimme some suggestions. Anything else about Great BBL? I don't think so. Alright. I think that was everything. I loved it. Five stars. Nice. Well, gave it four and I gave it four. Yeah. There we go. So well, we'll see you next time then. Yep. See you for Girl with Pro Inc. Yeah. Cheers. Cheers.