EP. 34: Rose Hill (Books 3 & 4) by Elsie Silver

On this episode of Read Me Next, Carina and Pili delve into Elsie Silver's Rose Hill series, exploring the characters, plot twists, and behind-the-scenes insights that make this series a must-read. From enemies to lovers to found family, we cover it all and share our favorite moments and character rankings.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:07

Welcome to Rewe Next at Book Club and Make It a Podcast.

SPEAKER_00 0:10

Where we have lots of feelings and no qualifications. What are we reading this week? We're reading the Rose Hill series, books three and four by Elsie Silver. Love. Love. She does it again. I like I like these two a lot. Really? Yep. You like them more than one and two? I think so. Well, I just really didn't like two, right? I mean, I like two. I can't I I just like, you know, didn't love it. That's so funny. But one was really good. Yeah. But I really liked three and four. Really? I think I liked one and two better than these two. Oh my god. It's so funny how different we can be.

SPEAKER_01 0:40

I love it. I really thought we were going to agree on everything. Nope. Love. Alright. Super fun. So book three is Wild Side, and it follows Tabby and Reese, which we kind of got a glimpse in book two about them. Mm-hmm. They absolutely hated each other. They hated each other. There was mad beef. We had no idea what was going on. But then in book two, Reese says, Oh, I'm planning a wedding. And they're like, What? He's like, Yeah, me and Tabby are getting married. We're like, what? And so we kind of have a like a little sneak peek foreshadowing as to what was gonna happen in book three.

SPEAKER_00 1:09

Yeah. Which, but I had no idea, like, that any of book three was gonna happen that way.

SPEAKER_01 1:15

No. No. Okay, so book three is technically a marriage of convenience. That's a trope, and it's also enemies to lovers, like you said, they hated each other.

SPEAKER_00 1:21

Because they in this book they actually hated each other. It wasn't like one of those like they don't get along, but they secretly like each other. No. They like did not like each other.

SPEAKER_01 1:30

I feel like it was a lot more tabby hating him, but yes. Yeah, yeah. But I mean, because he was just keeping a secret. Frickin' Reese. God. God damn it. Alright, so what did you rate it? I would rate this one a full four. Yeah? Yeah. I would give it also like a full four. Yeah. Because I like the other ones more. So the other ones were like almost fives and fives.

SPEAKER_00 1:47

Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, no, no. This one's a full four. Like I really liked it. I did think this one, this book was way spicier than the rest. Yeah? Yeah. I don't know. The way they were talking to each other.

SPEAKER_01 1:59

Well, I think he did mention it at some point in the book because she's like, he's like Tabby is just like so confident and like really into this. Yep, yep. I think book three, I have that written down. Book three is dirty. Really? That's funny. I I gave it four chili peppers. Anyways, so like we mentioned, it follows Tabby and Reese, and essentially what happens at the beginning of the book is Tabby's sister Erica dies. And so she leaves behind Milo, who are three-year-old son, and so the whole dilemma in the book is who's gonna get custody of him because she writes in her will that Reese is gonna be his like sole guardian. And Tabby's like, what? What the fuck? No, that was so crazy.

SPEAKER_00 2:34

That aspect of the book was so like insane, hurtful. Like I was feeling, I think that's why I liked this one a lot. I felt so much in this book. Really? Yeah. About like the whole sister thing. Like when I was reading, oh no, like I was just sobbing in the beginning of the book. And when she was like saying like how she couldn't even say that her sister had died, like out loud, I was like, I can't even just I don't want to read this part. Like, don't we just skim over this? Like, I could not. I didn't really I didn't that part was like that's why I think this like hit so hard was because I was just so emotional the entire time throughout everything.

SPEAKER_01 3:07

So they are just trying to kind of co-parent Milo the entire book and kind of see what the whole dynamic is gonna be.

SPEAKER_00 3:14

Yeah, he's like kind of testing her. Like he can we just get into it? See, yeah, we could go into the spoilers. So basically, Erica sold each of them a different story. The whole situation with Erica and her addiction was really, really unfortunate because like everybody thought she was getting better and she really wasn't. She was like like backtracking. Yeah, she was backtracking the entire time. Yeah, which really, really was sad.

SPEAKER_01 3:37

No, when she let the when she read the freaking like diary in the journals. No, I was sobbing.

SPEAKER_00 3:43

No, that was so fucking sad. No, so fucking sad. So basically, Reese was kind of like testing Tabitha the entire first part of the book because he was like, I heard so much shit about you, and none of it actually looks real. So he was just unsure. And the fact that like he was an orphan and he didn't want the same thing to happen to Milo, yeah. I was like, No, this is so hard.

SPEAKER_01 4:03

This situation was so hard. No, and so they end up getting married because he has like this secret profession that nobody knows about, and he can't be in Canada for longer than six meet uh six months. Yeah, he has like a worker's visa, yeah, something like that. And so they get married so that way he can stay. So that's where the marriage of convenience.

SPEAKER_00 4:21

Yeah, or else he would have to take Milo with him that that time he went back home. Yeah. I thought it was really interesting how Tabitha was the one who bring it up.

SPEAKER_01 4:29

I didn't think that that was gonna be her idea. I know, but I once once they started talking about like how he had to go back to Florida, this and that, I was like, oh, this is where the marriage is gonna come in. That's so funny. But like I didn't think it was gonna be that. Their excuses, like, oh, everything's for Milo. I'm like, okay, sure. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, we get it. Perfect, perfect. Sure, sure, sure, sure, sure. And so it ends up being, so let me tell you. Oh my god. Okay, I I wonder if it's the same thing I was about to say. I'm looking at the cover of this book and I see the little have you seen the cover?

SPEAKER_00 4:59

No.

SPEAKER_01 4:59

Okay, so it's the little wedding people, the little wedding cake topper. Okay, and then there's a luchador mask, and I was like, what the literal fucking? This is before I read the book. I was like, no. Why is there a luchador mask? Because we all know how I feel about weird ass professions. Bro, I was reading the book and I was like, not the fucking clown again, and Peeling's gonna hate this. Thank God he wasn't a clown, he was a wrestler, but I was just like, I'm getting the egg. I don't really like this. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He did kind of turn me around on the whole aspect of good, especially because he was saying like how he was low-key, a little bit embarrassed about it, and like how people make fun of him and stuff. I'm like, Okay, well, that's so fucking mean. Like, I'm just trying to be mean, so I get it. I guess I won't make fun of him because I get reading his feelings literally, but I was just like, uh, I don't know about this, I don't know about wild side. But they were all so into it, and I loved that. That was so cute.

SPEAKER_00 5:53

Yeah, I think that probably helped you a lot when everybody was like loving it. Super into it, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 5:57

And like she was so nice about it, and just the way that she reacted to it.

SPEAKER_00 6:03

Yeah. No, and we forgot to touch on Cora really in the last episode about how she was watching the wrestling, and turns out she is obsessed with Wild Side. She was obsessed with him until she figured out it was him, and she was like, Oh, oh my god.

SPEAKER_01 6:14

So sorry, so embarrassed, so embarrassed. Love Cora. So fucking funny, she was so funny. And so, yeah, so he ends up being in the bowling league. Tabitha just like fucking drops him off. Drops him off, like, take him, you needed one more. Take his ass because I don't want to see him at my house. Oh, and he moves in with her too. Oh, yes, he moves into the basement. So he didn't mention it, but Reese was Erica and Milo's landlord, and they lived the few hours away. And so that's why he ends up moving in with her because he doesn't have a place to stay in Rosehill. And his dynamic was basically that he's Milo's dad. Yeah. Which at the beginning, I I was like, I didn't I didn't know like how they were all gonna be related. I'm like, is he Milo's actual dad?

SPEAKER_02 6:50

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_01 6:51

I was like, is this Erica's baby daddy? Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 6:53

But it wasn't, thank God. Thank God, because like it was already something in between them that like Erica was like obsessed over Reese for a little bit. Yeah. So I'm sure that was really weird for Tabitha too.

SPEAKER_01 7:03

And Reese asking about Tabitha to Erica, and Erica was just like so mad at me. I was like, that's so fucked up.

SPEAKER_00 7:09

No, so fucked up. She was like, Tabby gets everything she wants, she's the golden child. No, and here Tabby is giving up everything for her. No, but I feel like Elsie Silver wrote those journals very well how her like persona would think.

SPEAKER_01 7:21

Yeah, and like how she like started changing. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_00 7:24

Because she was like happy and like yes, and so then she started like twisting things about how th how she wanted to to think about them. Yeah, no, I didn't like that. No. I like how in the beginning she like mentions that. She's like, uh, this book speaks about addiction, but I did talk to people about it to make sure I wrote about it correctly. I love that. I love when books have that. Yeah, like they're going that extra step. The author's like Yeah, to talk about something sensitive.

SPEAKER_01 7:46

Are doing their due diligence. Yeah, they're doing their due diligence exactly. But no, I I liked it. The whole luchador thing was funny to me.

SPEAKER_00 7:54

I really liked Tabitha. Tabitha was such a strong character. I feel like she was just so cool. She didn't give a fuck about anybody or what anybody said. She was always like putting everybody else above her. Yeah, you know, it's tough sometimes. But she was a good cook, everybody loved her cooking. Loved that. That was like her love language. Yeah. I loved that. No, when she would cook for him, she's the one time she heard her his stomach growl, she's like, I'm never gonna let him go hungry again.

SPEAKER_01 8:17

No, and like even she was so pissed off him, she's like, I made you fucking Carbonara. Yep. Bye, bye, bitch. So good. Fucking left it there. Yeah, no, it was literally like he was a grumpy MMC and she was black cat. So it was like it was a funny dynamic because they were both kind of like grumpies, grumpies. Okay, so a couple of my annotations. So this was funny talking about like Tabby and how she's so fucking sarcastic. It's right at the beginning when he's kind of seen like how she interacts with Milo, how her parents interact, because her parents were estranged with Erica, and so Reese was like, Oh, like I didn't know like they would hang out with Milo or anything. Yeah. And so it's so funny because they drop Milo off at at her parents' house, and he's like, Do they have a car seat? And she goes, No, they just strap him to the roof of the Subaru like a canoe. And he's like, That's not funny. She was hilarious, she was so funny. Like her sarcasm, I was eating up so good. I loved her. I actually didn't think this book was that funny, but all my annotations are like me laughing. You see? Yeah, you did like this book. So, like you mentioned, she's a chef, and so she's like getting ready for work, and he's like, Why are you dressed like that? And she's like, Because I have to go to work. And he goes, Right now, she's like, No, I just like to play dress up in my free time. Like, bro, when she was mad at him at the like when she hated him at the beginning, she was so snappy. The amount of snark that she gave this man, so fucking funny. I was cracking up, hilarious. Eat it up. Okay, so I put this my annotation was giving Theo vibes, right? And so he's talking to Anthony. Anthony was his boss. Oh, fuck Anthony. Fuck Anthony. They're saying how Monday night he's gonna open. And Tabitha calls him, I guess, and so the light draws Anthony's attention. Tabby, she's cute. That's what he says. Oh, and so he, it's so it's Reese's chapter, right? And so he goes, something inside me snarls at him for using her nickname. It feels too personal, and I don't like it one bit. Her name is Tabitha, not that you need to know, because you, you're gonna keep my wife's name out of your fucking mouth. I said, Zoom, love, eat it up, eat that up.

SPEAKER_00 10:11

Love, freaking love that shit. I know. He was not having it. No, he was Anthony for real. Anthony was the worst. Oh my god, no, you know what? A part that I loved? Of course, we hate Stretch. We know this. So when they all met up at the bar and Stretch comes up to Tabby and is like trying to flirt with her, and what does she say? She's like, is that the one blowjob you've ever gotten in 10th grade or something? Yeah. And I was like, oh my goodness. And of course, Reese, he was he he saw the interaction, just got up anyways. He had no idea what's happening. And he just like immediately just puts his hand on him and was like, What are you doing? And go away. He's like, take a walk, take a fucking walk, Stretch. Oh, eat it up. I loved that part. Yeah, that was a good part. Yeah. Love. And he fucking hated Strudge. No, all hate stretch. I mean stretch. He was the worst. I don't know why we hate Strudge so bad, but we fucking hate him.

SPEAKER_01 10:58

We hate him. The town loser. He he is the town loser. Poor guy. Peaked in high school. No, and so like the whole marriage of convenience, they get married and then they go to the supermarket and they see Strudge again.

SPEAKER_00 11:08

Oh yes.

SPEAKER_01 11:09

And they just he's just like plants one on her right in front of him.

SPEAKER_00 11:13

It was so good. I love that.

SPEAKER_01 11:15

That was funny.

SPEAKER_00 11:15

And she's like, I wonder why he was being so touchy touchy while we're out. Fucking stretch. Fucking stretch.

SPEAKER_01 11:21

This is so funny. This is the part with Cora. So he's telling all of the friends. He finally comes out to all of the friends that he is a wrestler. And West being hilarious. He's like, like a WPW type thing. And he goes, Yeah, actually WPW. And he goes, Holy fuck, that's so cool. Agreed. You can totally see it. West adds, uh, what's your wrestler name? I'm going to watch now. Cora, you watch right. And so he goes, one glance at Ford, and I see him zeroed in on the couch behind us. Reese turns to look just in time for Cora to turn the color of the world's ripest cherry. She stares at Reese and then she mutters, fuck my life, and leaves the living room without looking up from the floor.

SPEAKER_00 11:57

Poor girly. No, Cora in this book was hilarious. It was so the whole wide wild side thing. She was just like, she was a big potty mouth, that one. She was so funny. She's cursing the entire time.

SPEAKER_01 12:08

I know. That's why I love the way she writes these people.

SPEAKER_00 12:10

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 12:10

And so this is another Tabby being sarcastic. And so he goes, Hey, Tabby. And he's she's like, Yeah. And he's like, I might be in love with you. And she goes, Oh wow, you might be. How special. Let me know when you decide. He's like, No, not might be. I am. I am. I have been for a while. Yes.

SPEAKER_00 12:25

This is why another reason why I really like this book is because Tabitha was like real, I don't know, mature, the right word. I don't know. She was very upfront and knew what she wanted. Yeah. So when he got hurt, right? So this is the third act breakdown. Go ahead. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So when he got hurt in that one wrestling move, that was terrifying. I did not expect that to happen. No. No. But I liked that when he she went to go talk to him and he, you know, he was giving her that big fucking attitude, which I'm sure as people do when they're going through a life crisis like that. I like that she walked out and was like, let me take a breath. And the nurse even like solidified that for her that, like, hey, people say like the darndest things when they're going through something. Yeah. Just letting you know. And she's like, Yeah, okay. I'm gonna go kick his ass. Yeah, I'm gonna go kick his ass. And she walks right back in there and was like, I'm not leaving. So shut up. Stop being so stubborn and I'm gonna sit here in my corner. I love that. I really did like that a lot. I love that there was no like, I gotta get her back again. This and that. No. It was very like obviously it was terrifying, like you know, somebody getting hurt, whatever. But she was really like dry. Like, no, we're doing this. No funny business. Yeah, no funny business. Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 13:30

So I really like that. I do like that. I like that a lot when the authors do that, when it's not like she storms out and then it's like four weeks have passed and the week you still have no. Like she's like, okay, I'm gonna go take a lap and then come back. And you can be broody and annoying and stubborn all you want, but I'm not fucking leaving. Literally. And I loved love that Ford like got the private jet for her and was with her. And like I really, I I put I love the found family in that. Yeah. That he was like, Oh no, stop. I'm gonna tell you exactly the part because I was just like, Ford, I love you. Ford has like come together in every book. So so cute. Ford goes with her to the hospital because he was like a few hours away doing the fucking Monday night or whatever. And so she's like, You don't need to be here, you know. Ford says, I know. She goes, honestly, Ford, you've done enough. He goes, You know what? You and I have in common, Tabitha. And she's like, aside from our good looks.

SPEAKER_00 14:18

And he goes, Her always trying to like diffuse the situation, literally with sarcasm.

SPEAKER_01 14:21

And Ford rolls his eyes. Sorry, I fall back on dumb humor when I'm stressed. Literally. And so he's like, We're both willing to do anything for the people we love for family. And so she's like, You love Reese? And he goes, I mean, we're on the same bowling team, bonded by humiliation of having to wear those shirts West designed uh in a mutual hatred for fucking stretch. And he says, And you, Rosie loves you, and I love Rosie. And so she goes, You love me by one degree of separation. I guess that means I love you back, which is so cute. Like, I love that. So fucking cute. So cute. Ford really is that guy. Literally. She says, One day I'll weep over his steady, supportive brand of kindness. But right now I just feed off the big swinging dick energy and cool, calm, and collected demeanor. Yep. Literally, so love Ford. Literally amazing.

SPEAKER_00 15:04

He then he pretty much he wiggles his toes, right? And then four years later, he's like having his last match. Oh my god, no, you know who we didn't mention? Bill, million-dollar bill. I thought that was so funny how everybody like would hate him in the freaking show, but he was actually a good person. Yeah, and he was like so distraught about him getting injured. Literally, and he mentions that he's like, it was really tough for him to get back in the ring, and I was like, God damn, like that's so tough. You know what I mean? Like to feel like you ended somebody's life or their career. Like, I'm sure that I was feeling real empathetic for Bill. Yeah, poor Bill. And no, and Tabby's like, no nonsense. Literally she's like trying to like make sure this is not his fault because she went through that with Erica. So fucking cute.

SPEAKER_01 15:46

So cute.

SPEAKER_00 15:46

I cannot. So whatever. Four years later, he's at his last match and against Bill. Against Bill as Super Toby. Yeah. Honestly. Let you know, let it happen the right way. And freaking Tabby pulls off the mask for him. So cute. Really cute. Yeah. So that was a fun one. Yeah, I like that one a lot. Definitely the WPW thing was funny. That shit was so funny.

SPEAKER_01 16:09

I don't know about it. The wrestler. I don't know about that. I mean, it was better than clown. Oh, so much better than clown.

SPEAKER_00 16:15

I thought you would have had a mutual appreciation for for the double for the WWE people.

SPEAKER_01 16:21

Yeah, I don't know. I guess. Because No, I did. I will say, as a WWE watcher, like it was fun getting his uh like his POB during the matches and stuff and like during the shows because it really is like that, which is so funny. Or like when the crowd would chant this is awesome, like they'd really be doing that. It's so fucking funny. It's it it is like entertaining that you do get into the storylines of the wrestlers, but I don't know, I don't know why I thought I was like, I don't know about this. Like, I think what was throwing me off was like that he was like the masked one. It was like this whole like persona that he was wild side. Wild side.

SPEAKER_00 16:54

No, and then and her, but then then then they had sex with the mask on. Yeah, yeah. So that was so funny. So funny. That's what I'm talking about. Like, she's such a bad bitch. Like, she knows what she wants. She's like, You're gonna fuck me with this mask, uh I want to fuck Wild Side.

SPEAKER_01 17:07

So funny. Okay, and then the fourth book, the last book in the series is Wild Card. Wild card. This is so funny. So I'm reading Wild Side, right? And I'm like, two thoughts pop into my head. One of them being, are we not gonna get Violet Eaton in the series? Bro. Me the entire series, like, when are we getting Violet's book? The Eaton sister from Chestnut Springs, Rose Hill was her, was her, was about her. Yeah, it wasn't about her. She's in the other one. She's in Gold Rush Ranch or whatever. I was like, I'm unbelievable. This entire time I'm thinking, we're gonna get Violet, we're gonna get Violet, we're gonna get Violet. And then all of a sudden, uh Doris in book three uh introduces Gwen. And I'm like, who the fuck is Gwen? I'm like, is there gonna be a love triangle with Violet, Gwen, and Dash? Turns out Violet's just not in the series at all. Violet just doesn't appear. No, she's not in the series. So I was just like, that is so freaking funny. I could have sworn that this was the series about her and her friends. I ended up going back to the Chason Springs book, and no, Violet and all of her friends are not these people, which makes sense because we already read this series, but it was like four different girls, and I was like, oh that is so funny because we uh could have read this because of Violet. So funny. I'm like, we're dumb as fuck. So now we have to read Gold Rush. So now we have to read the the third series of Elsie Silver. That is so funny, so funny, but not only that, that's classic us, honestly. Do you expect anything else? No, we're just having a good time besides literally not only that, but then I'm remembering, I'm like, I know this series has a ex-boyfriend's dad trope. And I'm like, what is going on? I'm like, who is the ex-boyfriend's dad? And then I swear to God, like the next chapter, they were all like, Oh, so you and Gwen, you and Gwen. And Bash is like, that's my son's ex-girlfriend. And I was like, oh, I'm like, okay, we're good.

SPEAKER_00 18:58

Okay, we continue. Oh my god. I yeah, so this one is ex-boyfriend's dad. Yep, yep, yep. And it's an age gap. You love those. Eat it up, eat it up. Love. I was like so like starting this book. I don't think I've ever read one of those. Ex-boyfriend's dad. No, me neither. Like, I was like nervous to see if I was gonna like it, how it was gonna go. But the way they did it was very interesting. I'm like interested to see if like I read another one, if it's gonna be similar to this or it's gonna make me feel funny. This is like one of those taboo ones.

SPEAKER_01 19:27

This is taboo one. It does make sense though, because uh the family dynamic in this one was that he didn't know that he had a son when he was like 15 or 16. He found out when he was 40, bash, or MMC. And so he's like an estranged father, unknowingly. Unknowingly, which sucks. Sucks. And so he meets Gwen, the FMC, at the airport. Same week he met his son, the same week he meets his son. They have this entire cutie little meet cue. They got stranded at the airport. Limes and tequila. Limes and tequila, getting wasted at the airport. He gives him her number, and unfortunately, he just puts it in his phone wrong. Yeah, because they were pulling a freaking old nighter, and he's old. And he's old as fuck. No, I'm just kidding. And so it was so unfortunate. So he's like all hot and bothered because she never texted him back. She's all hot and bothered because he never actually texted her to begin with. Turns out it was just miscommunication, and then a year later they meet each other at the boyfriend's slash son's birthday. Yep. And it turns out he's a fucking douchebag. He's a douche, so I totally understand the aspect of like we're reading for Bash because the son is a douche. Trump sucked. Exactly. He fucking sucked. Yeah. All right. So I wonder if like other ex-boyfriend dad tropes, it's gonna be like the son sucks.

SPEAKER_00 20:39

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 20:39

Because if they don't suck, then that's like weird. Yeah. But anyways, so getting into it. So getting into it, so Bash is obviously this grump. Gwen is this like sunshiny yoga instructor, and she moves to uh Rose Hill. She moves from place to place.

SPEAKER_00 20:51

Yeah, she's kind of like a dad. Exactly. I thought it was funny because she remembered the road that he lived in Rose Hill. So she kind of like low-key when looking for him.

SPEAKER_01 21:00

100%.

SPEAKER_00 21:01

When she took that job there. Yeah. Which I thought was kind of funny.

SPEAKER_01 21:04

Yeah. So she became a yoga instructor at one of the studios in Rose Hill. And a very important character in this book is Crazy Clyde.

SPEAKER_00 21:11

I love Crazy Clyde. I did too. When I when you were saying that she writes these supporting characters so beautifully, Crazy Clyde had my heart. Yep, I agree. Like he was one of the best supporting characters. Yeah, him and Cora, yep, like we're really doing it. But I loved Crazy Clyde. Like I was like itching for the scenes with Crazy Clyde.

SPEAKER_01 21:31

Yeah, he was so funny. So Crazy Clyde is this like random town, crazy Looney Tune guy. Yeah. He's this old man who basically doesn't have anybody. And he he was part of the bowling league with the guys until he had some health issues and he needed a kidney. Yep. And so Bash donated his kidney to him. Yeah, Bash kind of feels like he's like a father figure to him. So Bash had told Crazy Clyde about this woman he met at the airport, and she was amazing, and it was this whole thing. And then he also told him that she goes to him. And everything like that. Yep. And so when she moves into the town, Clyde is like, Oh, I'm going to the yoga studio to go meet this woman. Yep. And so that's how he meets Gwen.

SPEAKER_00 22:09

Yeah. Gwen has a private lesson with him. And I thought that was so sweet that he was just literally feeling better because of the yoga. So cute. Because he went there truly to fuck around and like get Gwen's attention for bash. Yeah. But he was actually going and feeling much better. I love that. Yeah, that was so sweet. And it just like went to show like Gwen knew what she was doing. Exactly. Each and every time they mentioned the yoga, like Gwen knew exactly what she was doing all the time. I loved that. Like it made me want to start yoga.

SPEAKER_01 22:35

Me too. I'm like, let me Google something. A YouTube. Yeah, yoga instructors near me. I was like so into it. The whole chakras and this, that, and everything. I'm like, this is so peaceful. It's like mindfulness, stretching. Crazy Clyde. He was like, Your chakra's fucked. Yeah. And he's like, Bash, you need to fucking check your chakra. It sucks. She's like, it's blocked. It was funny.

SPEAKER_00 22:55

I love that. It was so funny. So then Clyde ends up convincing Gwen and be like, I actually need help at home. You know, I can't be by myself, you know, with a mountain. So, you know, but I have somewhere to live. Can you just come over? Yeah. And then Bash walks in, and of course, Bash was the one who gave the kidney. So he is also, you know, under the weather a little bit. But he's gonna take care of Clyde because Clyde is gonna move in with him. So he's saying all this stuff. He's like, come on, let's go, because we gotta figure this out so we don't have to hire anybody. And Clyde, of course, the way Elsie writes is so funny because she's like, the way she explained how Clyde didn't even look at her because it's like a puppy that knew didn't do something right or something. He's like, Well, I actually hired somebody. And then it's like Gwen is like when is the ball gonna drop?

SPEAKER_01 23:40

What's going on? Literally, and then it was Gwen, of course.

SPEAKER_00 23:43

So Gwen moved in with Bash.

SPEAKER_01 23:45

Yeah, but the entire time Bash is like very self-deprecating, like, no, I can't go out with her. She's my son's like girlfriend, this and that. Well, shut up, bash. Definitely, definitely a little depressing.

SPEAKER_00 23:56

Stop being all high and mighty, just yeah, fuck her. Yeah, literally, just fuck her. Come on, you know you don't want to. And Gwen was really like transparent throughout the book. Loved her. She's like, me and Trip were nothing. Bro, and Tripp showing up and was like, I want to be with you, Gwen. I was like, shut the fuck up.

SPEAKER_01 24:12

Trip was giving such immature loser.

SPEAKER_00 24:14

Immature fucking loser. Literally. He was such a loser. No, the first scene where we met him and he was like careful, eating that much food, like something like that. No. No, and bash hated him. Oh my god. Immediately. Immediately. Uh-uh. And then finding out that Trip is telling everybody that he was a deadbeat. No, literally, Trip was the worst. Trip was the fucking worst.

SPEAKER_01 24:36

No, I'm like, why are we like so focused on Trip? Like, bye.

SPEAKER_00 24:39

Yeah. I don't need you. Like, either say something to him and let him leave, let him choose. I don't know, but do something because he is not a good person. No, and he just like, no. When he gave her he went on her birthday to give her the fucking flowers and the Tiffany bracelet. Literally. She's like, You don't know me. You don't know me, motherfucker. And then he stayed for her party. That pissed me off. No. So bad. No. I literally hated that guy. You know, I also hated Cecilia. Yeah, fuck that bitch. Fuck that bitch. No, I hate her. That was because she's mom. She literally was all still to this day high and mighty over Bash.

SPEAKER_01 25:14

Yeah, like a fucking instigator. Like, oh no, I saw him creeping on your girlfriend in the bathroom.

SPEAKER_00 25:20

Get the fuck out of here. No, and telling Trip, that's that he was a deadbeat, where she's a fucking liar. Oh no, I hated her. But anyways, uh, you know what? I kept on trying to figure out during that book though, what where Trip was gonna come in, like at if we've met him before since he was a hockey player. Like I was like, uh do we know him from somewhere? Like Jasper's teammate. I was like, is he something? But like it never really like clued into anything. So I was like, all right, maybe we just don't know him.

SPEAKER_01 25:48

No. Well, the cameo we did get was Emmett.

SPEAKER_00 25:52

Literally loved and Bo. Oh, and Bo. I know Boys like that. That was me. I loved Emmett's cameo. Don't get me wrong. Love Emmett. But when Bo, motherfucking Eaton showed up and he saves her from the fire. I was like, no. No, no, no.

SPEAKER_01 26:12

When I saw Bo, I was like, I'm dead.

SPEAKER_00 26:15

I was literally call it, call it right there. I'm dead. Because I was like, a fucking chorus. And it's so funny because like Bo's book was whatever.

SPEAKER_01 26:23

But the fact that Bo Eaton was there, no, I loved Bo Eaton's book. And so when I saw Bo, I said, My heart is full. I I was not expecting that cameo.

SPEAKER_00 26:32

No, but it made so much sense because of the whole fire rescue and everything. Literally. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 26:37

And they were like, oh, we're just like, we're on standby for the other like cities and provinces around.

SPEAKER_00 26:42

I was like, oh my God, I love this. Literally. No, he's like, I just heard somebody on the radio going fucking crazy over his girls. I had to come out.

SPEAKER_01 26:50

No, I cannot believe I forgot Bo was in this. I'm so happy you mentioned him. Yes. Because that was my cameo that I was like a thousand percent. No, no, no. When I I my annotation is Bo in big capital letters, because I was like, this is amazing. Yep, yep, yep. But then also Emmett, Emmett, we're getting his book at the end of the month. Fever Dream. It's about Emmett. Oh my god, yes. Yeah, so that's gonna be so exciting. Did you see if we can see this? It's still on me.

SPEAKER_00 27:17

I scraped my scrabbit.

SPEAKER_01 27:23

I'm going to need to scrub it. Not my Norwegian accent coming out. Oh my god. Anyways. Um so this part was when Emmett appears. So he reminds me of my friend Emmett, a professional bull rider with a WBRF circuit. He travels a lot, so we don't see each other often, but when we do, we just pick up where we left off. So we literally get Emmett and we're gonna get his book at the end of this month. I'm so excited for that. I know. So I love that cameo.

SPEAKER_00 28:01

I was like, I love the bull rider. Like that as a, I don't know, a mini trope, but that as a character. Yeah. The entire thing. Love that. As an occupation, we love it. As an occupation, we love that.

SPEAKER_01 28:14

Oh, I'm so excited.

SPEAKER_00 28:15

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 28:15

No, but literally, yeah, that and Bo were iconic.

SPEAKER_00 28:18

Iconic. I loved Bo. Bo, just Bo being Bo. Being a savior, being a hero, as he should be and always will be.

SPEAKER_01 28:28

Love. Oh, that was so so fun.

SPEAKER_00 28:31

So, anyways, the entire print book is like going back and forth about telling Trip, not telling Trip, being okay with it, and not. Is that why you didn't love this one?

SPEAKER_01 28:38

You know, I don't really know why I didn't love it. I think maybe it was the aspect of, yeah, like the back and forth, going a little back and forth. Because I really did like her and I liked him. I think I'm just leaning more towards the golden retrievers and the grumpies. And Bash was a grump. He was a grump, but like a depressed one. No, like literally. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 28:57

Like he was actually fucking sad.

SPEAKER_01 28:58

But no, I really, I really did like Gwen a lot.

SPEAKER_00 29:00

Me too. No, but I love towards the end how he was like a very, I don't know if acts of service is the right word to say, but like he was definitely showing his affection to her towards the end. Like with the whole raccoon charcuterie reward, which I thought was hilarious. It was so fucking funny. I don't know. I just felt like he kept backpedaling a lot.

SPEAKER_01 29:16

It was like, come on, Bass, just go for it. Yeah. Okay, come on.

SPEAKER_00 29:20

Yeah, I can see that. Like, and she definitely put her foot forward in having that chat with Trip and all that.

SPEAKER_01 29:26

A thousand percent.

SPEAKER_00 29:27

Yeah. I thought it was nice how Trip at the end like showed up for everybody and was like, I figured like I'm still in town, I know everybody needs help. Literally. So I I did like that turn of events, but he still sucked pretty much, which is whatever. What I do want to say though, the camaraderie at the end, bro, I was like crying so hard. So we didn't say what actually happens in the end.

SPEAKER_01 29:52

Go ahead, sorry about that. She's a yoga instructor and he's a fire pilot. And so where they live, I guess, there's a lot of fires going on. So when it's in season, he's like on call pretty much to go fight the fires. Yeah. So they were had a really bad one in in the town. And he had just fought with Gwen about trip. No fucking shit.

SPEAKER_00 30:08

He says some real hurtful things like, Oh, I guess you really don't stay in one place, huh?

SPEAKER_01 30:11

I know.

SPEAKER_00 30:12

Fucking loser, whatever.

SPEAKER_01 30:13

So everybody gets the alert. The guys are at bowling, the girls are at trivia night. And so Wes is like, holy shit, my horses. Ford is like, okay, I'll do whatever I can. That was stressing me out. Bash is calling Emmett, saying, like, hey, bro, like, come, because uh Emmett also has a farm and he has trailers to come and get the horses.

SPEAKER_00 30:29

Tabitha's like, I'm gonna open my bistro so that people can come sit and eat if they need to. Uh no, it's this whole thing.

SPEAKER_01 30:34

Gwen is like, Clyde is gonna lose his house. I have to go to Clyde's house and like get his shit. So everybody, it really is like camaraderie. Like everything was going down. But Gwen ends up like getting stranded at Clyde's house because the fire just picked up. Yeah, no service, no service, nothing.

SPEAKER_00 30:50

Clyde calling Bash, and like his they the voice actor really did that here because his voice cracked when he was doing Clyde's voice, and I was like, not Crazy Clyde. If crazy, like literally, my sentiment was bashes. Like, if if if Crazy Clyde is crying, I'm gonna cry too. I could not I was like so distraught over the situation.

SPEAKER_01 31:12

No, it was awful. And like literally a natural disaster like that is so awful. Awful in a fire? No, literally, like it destroys everything. My fear, no, horrible. So bash is on call and he finds Gwen finally.

SPEAKER_00 31:23

No, but going through on the airplane, he's like, I'm gonna fucking find this bitch in this house because I have a plane. He's like, This is not what I'm supposed to do, this is not the responsible way to do it. But if I don't find Gwen, nothing is worth it anyways. Yeah, nothing matters. Oh finally, finally one now. Like, so when he obviously found her, and I love the part where she like puts her hand up and like sees him. She's like, I know it's bash. I know it's bash, and it was fucking bash. It was bash, so I love that. No, and her just like doing everything that she could of anyways to save the land. Like she turned on all the sprinklers, she hosed everything down, so cute, like trying to save everything sentimental to him.

SPEAKER_01 31:58

And she's like, I'm so sorry, but I tried my best, and he's like, You saved his house. I was like, love, so so cute. So fucking cute. Yeah, the camaraderie was really cute at that epic.

SPEAKER_00 32:06

No, Bo being like, Um, do you have marijuana plants in your truck? I love that.

SPEAKER_01 32:11

She's like, but I couldn't leave them behind. Yeah. Oh my god. Her babies. Her babies, so cute. And so an an iconic Clyde part was when they're playing strip poker. No, I'm dead. So Bash was like throwing all my fucks out the window, like, fuck it, we're playing strip poker. So she starts playing, then she's like acting like she doesn't know how to play poker. Love. And so she loses the first couple rounds, and she's like, fuck this. And then he's like taking all his clothes off until he's in just his boxers, I think. Love. And so it goes, Gwen's opposite hand lands on my waistband of my boxers. I still latched to mine like I hung the moon, but look at you. And then it goes, you know what I hate? Clyde's voice filters down from the hall. And I was like, bro, Clyde, Clyde, I'm blocked. You're so annoying. I was like, the intention. I'm like, yes, in heat reading this, and then it's fucking Clyde, the voice actor, was so funny.

SPEAKER_00 33:03

The audio was perfect.

SPEAKER_01 33:03

You know what I hate?

SPEAKER_00 33:04

Shut the fuck up, Clyde. Get the fuck out of here. Oh my god. No, and right after he's like, Why are your socks over here? Literally, and what she said was so funny. She was just like, we started to play strip poker and he got upset and left. And he ran away. No, it was so funny. No, Clyde threw out that was like a another one of Elsie's bits. That Clyde was witnessing every one of their big moments when like they were spying on them. They died literally when they had their argument and he was like, Oh, somebody's in the doghouse.

unknown 33:33

Like Clyde.

SPEAKER_00 33:35

Bro, it was so funny. Iconic, I swear. I fucking love Crazy Clyde. I literally was reading that book and I was like, this motherfucker better not fucking die. I was like, no, if Crazy Clyde dies, no, else he wouldn't do that to us.

SPEAKER_01 33:48

Clyde is alive and well. That's fine. It's fine. I was so nervous for a while. So this is another part, right? This is another tensionary part. So he goes, careful, Gwen. And she goes, or what? You might man up and take something for yourself for once. And he goes, I snap. I take something for myself for once. Do you know what? Fuck it, I mutter. And then I kiss her. I said, Finally, bro, come on now. What percent was that? Bro, 47%. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 34:11

You know what I will say? Really in I really like how in these books they didn't fuck right away.

SPEAKER_01 34:17

Really? Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 34:18

I kind of wanted one of them to fuck right away.

SPEAKER_01 34:20

You yeah? Yeah. Not gonna lie. That's fine. Like I felt like they all had like a one big makeout scene, then they would have sex. And I was like, come on now, just somebody have sex. Just do it. No, like and I thought I really thought it was gonna be Reese Tabby on the stairs. Mm-hmm. And then he's like, Are you sure? And she stopped. And I was like, throwing tomatoes at Reese. Why'd you ask? Why'd you fucking ask? Do her. This is the part with Trip. She goes, I can't accept this trip. It's for the for her birthday. And so he's like, Sure you can. It's perfect for you. A fucking idiot. And so she goes, Trip, that's not perfect for me. That right there is proof that you don't know me at all. You're telling me to keep my shoes at your party is proof that you don't know me at all. You think there could be anything between us at all? Now that I know your stories about your dad being a deadbeat are not true, is proof that you don't know me at all. Fucking weasel. And then when he starts getting fucking mad at her, he's like, You're lucky to And Bash is like, fuck, take it outside. Like, get the fuck out of here. She goes, You're the one who shows up unannounced, putting me on the spot and forcing the issue with other people around. Please, for both our sakes, just stop. And he's like, and you won't even give me a fucking chance to. And then it's Bash and he goes, You know what? I cut him off. That's enough, Trip. Take a walk cool off. Go put your feet in the sand or something. We have somewhere to be, and the clock is ticking. And he's like, We? She's like, Yep, it's her birthday. Pick a different day to do this. Or better yet, don't. Want me to walk you outside. Oof. Unfucking believable, both of you. Shut the fuck up, Trip. Get out of here.

SPEAKER_00 35:45

I mean, it did suck how he found out. He saw him slap her ass. That sucks. But was that what happened? Yeah, I'm pretty sure. He went they were in the yoga suit after she sucked his dick. First of all, pet ass. They literally walked up to the front and he slapped her ass. And he was like, What? He's like, hey dad, what's up? Literally, him all of a sudden throwing dad around. I'm like, fucking like such a como se dice like a manipulator. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 36:09

Get out of here. Like mother like son. For her birthday, he took her on the plane. So cute. So so cute. Love that. I like that they had sex on the plane. That was a lot of fun. I like that too. While they were grounded, guys. When they got back. Same on the ground. Yes, yes, yes. So this is when when Trip finds out when we were just saying, Bash goes, like Bash's whole argument was that he met Gwen first, right? And so he's like, We met months before you knew who she was. In fact, the same week I that I met you for the first time. And so Tripp says, Oh, that's very convenient for you, Bash. Nice try. And Gwen's like, that's it's true. What he's telling you is the truth. And so Tripp says, Oh, well, how cute for you, Gwen? Bouncing from dick to dig, ticking off the family tree like a shopping list. And then it's Bash. And he goes, I see red. Every excuse for his behavior flies out the window the minute he spews that venom at her. I reach for him, but Gwen pulls me back. I was like, Oh my gosh, he's gonna punch him in the face. Literally, though, like, fuck Trip. Fuck Trip. He was so rude. And so he goes, finish that sentence, and I swear to God, not a single thing will stop me from teaching you a fucking lesson, Trip.

unknown 37:12

What?

SPEAKER_01 37:13

He should have beat the shit out of him. He should have, because like he needed it. He needs it. He's like, oh, a lesson, Dad? You already taught me that you'll pick some random chick over your own son. So I can't wait to see what you'll come up with. Shut up, bro. No, that's that was a good line.

SPEAKER_00 37:28

Like, that was like a blow.

SPEAKER_01 37:30

100%.

SPEAKER_00 37:31

Like, but obviously you suck trip. Like, now you're gonna pick to call him dad and like fuck you. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 37:37

I did like that he saw when he w he went with Bash when when they went to rescue her, and he saw like the love that they had.

SPEAKER_00 37:44

He saw that he was like just distraught over not being able to find her. I did like that too. I like that he was there. But he's like, I'm never gonna call you mom. That was kind of funny. That was funny.

SPEAKER_01 37:53

And we're like, all right, Trip. Funny moment. Emmett actually shows up in the book also, like we said, when the fire happens. And so Bash calls him and he's like, Yeah, unfortunately, his trailer only hauls six, talking about Wes's trailer. And Emmett's like, shit, well, I've got an eight-horse and I can be there in four hours. Send me the address. And he's like, You just said five. He's like, Oh no, that's with the trailer full. Empty trailer, middle of the night, I'll be fast. And I was like, I love that. I'm like, I'm excited for Emmett's because from the Chestnut Springs, he was like such an asshole. And so then we get the epilogue. So cute. So cute. The bowling league. They win the bowling league finally. And he's like, what do we win? A shitty trophy, a hundred dollar gift card to the bar, and bragging rights, which is really what I'm after, if I'm being honest. I'm like, oh, I love that they won the bowling league.

SPEAKER_00 38:35

No, I love how he was like, yeah, everybody's celebrating, but you see Reese in the corner just looking at stretch. Reese is like, that was so satisfying. Literally. Stretch the little baby tantrum.

SPEAKER_01 38:44

The little baby tantrum. No, it was so good. I love that. Yeah, I really like that. Okay, so in true fashion of the podcast, we have to rank the men and the women of the series. But we decided that we're going to do it combined. A little bit different this time.

SPEAKER_00 38:56

Yeah. We're gonna do it together. Yeah, do it together and see if we see if we can like persuade. Yeah. What if I can convince you that Skylar does suck? You know you might. You might be able to. I don't know. Who knows? I'm very, I'm very gullible. Thank you. So let's do the women first. Okay. Okay. So last, Skylar. Really? I hate her. Oh my god. I feel like I can't say I hate her. Sorry, Skylar. So fucking dramatic. No. Yeah. But I pick her last.

SPEAKER_01 39:21

Yeah? Yeah. Hmm.

SPEAKER_00 39:23

Who did you? Who is you? Who was your like off the top of your head that you thought was last that you didn't like?

SPEAKER_01 39:28

I think it's hard for me to separate characters from the books themselves. Yeah. And Wild Side was not my favorite one. I do really like Tabby, but she was just like, I felt like the other girls were giving me a little bit more personality. Like the whole black cat aspect of her, like it was good. I don't know. I don't know. I because I did like Tabby a lot. I think the girls is harder for me than the guys. Because the guys, I I do have like a certain ranking. The girls, I really liked all of them.

SPEAKER_00 39:54

There wasn't one I hated like Skylar. Like Skylar? That's so funny. I think I liked Tabitha first. Like I think she was my favorite girl. That is so funny. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 40:03

Because this is literally like the opposite of Chestnut Springs when I thought that I loved Winter. She was a bitch. That's so funny. I really like Tabitha. Alright, we could put Skylar last. That's fine. Cool, cool, cool. I don't mind.

SPEAKER_00 40:15

Okay. So then I what about between Gwen and Rosie? Rosie.

SPEAKER_01 40:19

No, I really liked Rosie.

SPEAKER_00 40:21

I did too. I think Gwen and Rosie like both, like you're saying, like I can't really pick one over the other. I think they're both really sweet girls.

SPEAKER_01 40:29

No, I think out of both of their personalities, I think I saw more of Rosie, like the spontaneous, outgoing, little snippy, funny snippy, sarcastic one. I think Gwen was like a little more chill. She was a little more empathetic. She was more like patient with Bash. So I personally, Rosie was my favorite out of all of them.

SPEAKER_00 40:48

Interesting. So yours is Rosie. Mine is Tabitha. Like I want to say my second is Rosie, but I really did love how empathetic Gwen was also. Rosie was just so funny. She was so funny. Yeah. Okay. So I'm going to go Tabitha, Rosie, Gwen, and Skylar.

SPEAKER_01 41:07

So we'll put Tabby first. I'm still putting Tabby first. Come on now. What kind of compromise is this? I put Skylar last for you. I mean, what was it about Tabby that you were just so into it?

SPEAKER_00 41:19

She was just so strong. Like she was such a strong woman. Like the way she was running the bistro by herself because she loved it. She started cooking when she was a child. You know what I mean? And she put her that that foot forward to do what she wanted to do.

SPEAKER_01 41:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 41:32

And it was just like, I don't know, I think it's like the empathy in me again because she really was her own support. Yeah. You know what I mean? Even how Reese put it during the book, like she's getting married to a man that they had just met, and they were like, woo. Her parents. You know what I mean? I just like felt for her and she just took everything in stride and still put everybody else first. This is so funny.

SPEAKER_01 41:53

Like, even with the whole Where was this winter? Where was this winter support when you were slandering my girl Winter? She was a bitch. No. She was a bitch. She was, but she was iconic.

SPEAKER_00 42:02

Yeah. I can say she was iconic. Where was the support for Winter? No, because she was an actual bitch. Like she was mean. In the way that she thought she was being nice, she was a fucking bitch. Anyways, I see, you know, she has her reasons. She sides with Winter. But yeah, the whole camaraderie thing when she was just like opening the bistro, I was like, Alright. Tabby. Tabby love. Okay. Alright, fine. That's why personally. Okay. Rosie was hilarious. I do have to say that. Is there any other reasons why you think Rosie should go first?

SPEAKER_01 42:31

Well, I just really liked her dynamic with Cora too. Like I thought that was very, very cute. Very motherly of her. Yeah. I did too. But it's fine. We can put Tabby one, Rosie 2, Gwen 3, Skylar last.

SPEAKER_00 42:45

Alright.

SPEAKER_01 42:46

Alright. Those are our rankings for the women.

SPEAKER_00 42:48

Now for the men.

SPEAKER_01 42:50

I'm intrigued to see what you think.

SPEAKER_00 42:51

No, I have to put Wes first. No, let's go last. Gotcha.

SPEAKER_01 42:55

Of course Wes first.

SPEAKER_00 42:56

Yeah, the first. When you were saying that, I was like, no, no, no, I gotta put Wes first still.

SPEAKER_01 43:00

I know who my last is.

SPEAKER_00 43:02

Okay. Hear me out. God. What are you gonna say? I'm not gonna say anything. Don't piss me off. You just have to think think with me, okay? Okay. Think with me. Alright. So obviously the last two are Reese and Bash. Agreed. Okay. Okay, thank you. We could start there. Thank you. I'm just trying to debate which one should go last. We know like the WPW wasn't your favorite. No. I know that. But also Bash was like a little like self-deprecating. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_01 43:31

I'm sure he was giving man child a little bit.

SPEAKER_00 43:33

He was giving a little man child and he was 40. Like I think you're a little too old to give man child. Okay. So I'm having like a little bit of a hard I because I did love Bash, but you're when you were talking about it during the your review, of course, of during this podcast. Of course. I kind of started agreeing with you that he was giving too much like baby, you know, too Wang Wang Cry Baby, and I don't like those.

SPEAKER_01 43:54

I know you don't like a Wa Wang Crybaby. So I th But now but my thing is I feel like personality, like I think Reese was just so serious. Like he was grumpy but serious. He was. I felt like Bash, sometimes like you would get a little, you know, banter in there. A little banter. And like, especially like even like the bowling scenes, that like Reese was just like such like a stoic man, like no emotion. Yeah. Even though he had like a lot of emotion with Milo, he was super fucking cute. And with Tabby, he also opened up, which was really cute.

SPEAKER_00 44:27

But I don't know. I don't know. Because Reese also put everybody before him, too, when it came with Milo and Tabby.

SPEAKER_01 44:33

That's true. Like personality, I don't know about Reese, but also like the acts of service of this man was insane. Yep. Like he just did everything for Milo and Tabby. Exactly. So I I'm okay with wherever you put him.

SPEAKER_00 44:44

All right. As we think about those, obviously our first is West.

SPEAKER_01 44:48

Come on, West and Belmont King. He was so fucking funny. So good. Like he was just he was it. I'm so sad that he ended up with Skylar. But anyways. No, it sucks you didn't like her. Yeah. Because I feel like what makes the man even more iconic is when the FMC is so iconic. Yeah. You know? Exactly. It wasn't like a Theo Winter, okay, Willa for you. Yeah, exactly. I really did like Skylar Skyler, so I wasn't mad about it. Skylar. So I wasn't mad about it. But also, like, man, if the FMC was like insane, it would have been like crazy. Yeah. I don't know. I think But West himself was just amazing. With the horses, with the kids, with Skylar. Like he was just giving dad protective, obsessive, yeah, hot tattooed. I just loved him. I loved him. I did too. I really liked him a lot too.

SPEAKER_00 45:36

The way that he was not afraid to go help anybody ever.

SPEAKER_01 45:40

No.

SPEAKER_00 45:40

You know? Like he literally saved her from the fucking bear. He didn't know her. Like, amazing.

SPEAKER_01 45:45

And even like you said, like, and he just thought, you know, like everybody leaves him. Which was such a like a sad point of view to have. Yeah. No, yes. Wes definitely first. Ford second.

SPEAKER_00 45:54

I mean crazy that we put a billionaire second.

SPEAKER_01 45:57

Come on now. He'd do that, but no. Just Wes' personality just really was like, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 46:01

I do love Ford though.

SPEAKER_01 46:03

Like I really like Ford too. Because Ford was also giving Grumpy but banter exactly. Banter as fuck.

SPEAKER_00 46:08

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Our dick manager.

SPEAKER_01 46:10

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_00 46:11

Yeah, I don't really know where to put Bash and Reese. I think I would just put Reese probably third because of Tabitha. Like because I like Tabitha more.

SPEAKER_01 46:18

Alright. That's fine. So Reese three and Bash four.

SPEAKER_00 46:21

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 46:21

That's fine.

SPEAKER_00 46:22

Ah, but I loved Bash too.

SPEAKER_01 46:23

Bash was great.

SPEAKER_00 46:24

Yeah, I don't know. That's hard. I think by like the nick of the something.

SPEAKER_01 46:28

Yeah, whatever that's saying is.

SPEAKER_00 46:29

Whatever that's saying is, you know it.

SPEAKER_01 46:31

You know it. But yeah, I don't know. An age gap, yummy. 40-year-old, yummy.

SPEAKER_00 46:37

I love when like she would mention like his white hairs. Silver box. Silverfox. All right. I like that. Yeah, that was fun. That was fun. I liked like trying to persuade you to like see my point of view. I love that. How I'm correct. Yeah, of course. I'm just here for the ride. Okay. So we're gonna do some good reads. Four stars. Listen, if Elsie Silver writes it, I'm absolutely devouring it like my last meal on the planet. So no surprise, I love this book and read it in a day. Grumpy single daddy supremacy. No, guys, like I have a problem. I'm a single dad addict. Send help. Enemies to lover, fake marriage. God, this was so good. Grumpy MMC and Black Cat FMC. The dynamic between these two was everything. The tension, the banter, the mouth on this man by passing away. That's what I'm saying. This guy was fucking dirty.

SPEAKER_01 47:22

I know you did say that.

SPEAKER_00 47:23

Now now, hear me out, okay? This dropped from five stars to four stars because I fear I fear for me personally the wrestling plot line was a major ick. Like I had to skip over all the scenes of his acting. Guys, I'm sorry. I just couldn't do it. I just kept picturing Hulk Hogan, even though I know that wasn't the insto at all. I couldn't help it. Also, in comparison to the first two in the series, Reese didn't come close to Daddy Ford and West, but I still did love this book. The first two in the series just made the composition tough. Mm-hmm. Agree with that. Yeah. Four and a half star. As a WWE Monday Night Raw watcher growing up, this was everything to me. Ha ha. That's funny. That's really funny. This is five stars. I can't function properly. Reese, the man that you are. I'm also crying. I cried twice during this book. No joke. This is hands down my favorite Elsie Silver book. I'm not kidding. I thought Willa and Cade were my favorite, but nope, Reese and Tabby are now. They were real, they were passionate. They were raw, honest, and best of all, they felt tangible. Cute. I like that. Yeah, Wild Side is it. It is now my all-time favorite Elsie Silver book, and I will accept no criticism on it whatsoever. My ears are closed. That's funny. I like that. Three stars. The way I thought this was gonna be one of my favorite Elsie Silver books, but it didn't deliver as hard as I thought it would. Cade and Theo stay undefeated in single dad department. By the way, is the single dad trope in the room with us? That's crazy. Each book in this series is supposed to be about single dads, but I wouldn't count Reese as one. And then it goes on to say, I think a major part of my problem with this book was Reese's profession as a wrestler. I'm really sorry, but I couldn't take it serious. Reese acting as wild side in front of the camera gave me the ick and made me cringe with a mask in his line. Just everything about that wrestling show was not it for me. That's so funny. That's literally me with the clown girl. Literally you with the clown girl. That's so funny. Two-star. The relationship was cute, but oh my god, wrestling is like the least sexy sport ever. The whole him having a wrestling character and trying to be all mysterious gave me the ick. I truly don't know why the author chose wrestling when there's so many other martial arts other than this ick, which is just a me problem. It was good. A lot of people, that's so funny. Apparently, not just a you problem, my girl. Thank you. All right, we're on wildcard. Four stars. Ex-boyfriend's daddy will get me every single time. Listen, I'm biased at this point. If Elsie Silver writes it, I'm reading it and devouring it, no questions asked. My comfort author forever. Was this my favorite of her books? No. Was Bash a bit of a man child? Yes. Funny. Did I still giggle and kick my feet the entire time and read it in 24 hours? Absolutely. I decay what it is about her writing, but she just puts a crack, but she just puts crack in her books. I also loved Gwen. Bash is such a grumpy sad boy, and I fear his mouth made me fold like a lawn chair. That's so funny. That's four stars. Slade, I'm not gonna lie though, I did feel bad for his son, Elameo. My god! I usually don't in this trope, but Trip just wasn't that bad in my humble opinion. Like, I can fuck you better than him is wild. That is your son, my guy. Stop beefing with him. Regardless, I loved it. I need Emmett's book, ASAP. True.

SPEAKER_01 50:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 50:10

That's so funny.

SPEAKER_01 50:11

I can fuck you better than he can.

SPEAKER_00 50:12

It was actually crazy. That was actually crazy. Insane. But at least he didn't say that out loud.

SPEAKER_01 50:17

Yes, he did. He said that to her. Did he not?

SPEAKER_00 50:20

Well, I mean to him. Oh, yeah. No. Yeah, that would have been bad. Alright, this is a five star. Now what? I'm not ready to let the series go that I'm mad at myself for flying through it. But when I tell you I couldn't stop reading, Elsie's writing, the atmosphere, the vibes, and all her books is just pure comfort. I get lost in her universe so easily. Let's not forget credit where credit is due. Her MMCs, oh my heart. I wouldn't be able to rank even if my life depends on it, especially Rose Hill series. But let me tell you, she put her all in the finale. I mean, she didn't stop at age gap, but also ex-boyfriend's dad, aka firepilot. I ate that shit up. I love them so, so much. The chemistry, the tension, the dialogues, that one scene. One of the best book. Yeah, literally, one of the best age gap ex-boyfriend dad books. Okay, four star. In true Elsie fashion, this was another banger. Always so true. Banger. Ex-boyfriend's daddy, yes, please. In a firefighter, I never stood a chance, guys. Love that dynamic between Bash and Gwen, and I appreciated how their age gap wasn't shoved into our face every 10 pages. Agreed. Also, I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of this story. Some of Gwen's little motivational speeches, I was like, saving for later. And Crazy Clyde, there's a reason he's my fave character of the series, and he delivered tin the taint to your heart's desire. And I better have a spot in your bunker. Oh, that's so cute. That's so funny. Love Crazy Clyde. Okay, five star. Definitely one of my new favorite Elsie Silver books. From the start, I was obsessed with the man that Bash was. The way he stood for no disrespect when it came to Gwen, swoon. He literally found her crying and immediately was like, Who are you? I love the emotions this man felt, even though he was a grumpy character and just how much love he had to offer. Clyde's character was the best in this one, and the dynamic between these three as they lived together and took care of Clyde after surgery was so fun to watch. I literally didn't want this book to end and just loved being in this world with these characters. I'm so sad the series is over, but I absolutely can't wait for what's to come next. Yep. So good. So good. I completely agree with the Clyde thing. Like, I miss that. Like I would have read this book over just for Clyde.

SPEAKER_01 52:14

Literally, like their their little roommate situation was so fun. So much fun. He was so funny.

SPEAKER_00 52:19

Yeah. I like that.

SPEAKER_01 52:20

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 52:21

Definitely Chestnut Springs still tops this for me.

SPEAKER_01 52:25

I agree. But this was so fun. Like getting back into the Elsie Silver universe, the small town romance. Like I was just ugh.

SPEAKER_00 52:32

Yeah. I just love these like outdoorsy romance.

SPEAKER_01 52:36

These like found families are so fun. These dynamics that she's writing.

SPEAKER_00 52:40

But Elsie also just writes so beautifully. She's just so good at what she does. Thank you. Yeah, it's like very effortless. It's so fun to read. Exactly. That's exactly the word. It's an effortless read to have fun.

SPEAKER_01 52:50

Oh, I'm so excited for Fever Dream. Yeah. Emma and Julia, here we come. And we know we're gonna get a cameo from Theo there. So I'm so excited. Oh, I can't wait. And we got a cameo from Bo. And it was iconic.

SPEAKER_00 53:03

No. When I was like because you know, you know me, it takes me like a second sometimes. So when it was like the name tag says Eaton, and then he goes, I'm Bo.

SPEAKER_01 53:13

No, I couldn't. I almost started crying. Literally, I was like, this is so amazing.

SPEAKER_00 53:18

No, it was freaking beautiful. Loved it. Loved. So happy. Perfect. Love. I'm so happy we read this. Now we have to read Gold Rush and I guess wait for Fever Dream. I'm kind of sad that I don't get to read about Crazy Clyde again.

SPEAKER_01 53:28

But anyways, maybe he'll show up in Fever Dream. Maybe he'll be a cameo. Come on, Elsie. Throw him in Fever Dream 4. Literally, or Scotty the Mouse. Sweet Scotty. And then Ford during the fire went to go get Scotty the Mouse. Bro, he was pissed. He was like, I'm here for this fucking mouse. It took me like three hours to come get the catch this thing. That was cute. So cute. Love Ford.

SPEAKER_00 53:46

All right, guys, read responsibly. Or don't