Bookwild - 10 Before The End with Gare and Steph

Episode Date: September 28, 2025

This week, we have some chaotic dog interruptions, I recorded int he dark because I couldn't even with the light, AND we broke a record and talked about more than 30 books in one episode!! Enjoy the chaos that is Gare, Steph and my 10 Before the End episode.Kate’s  10 Before the EndWhat We Leave Behind by Wanda Morrishttps://app.thestorygraph.com/books/250326a1-6252-41eb-8fbd-318b3903b56cCamp Damascus by Chuck Tinglehttps://app.thestorygraph.com/books/3e324bb5-9f00-4258-817b-00c69ad824f7The Midnight Knock by John Framhttps://app.thestorygraph.com/books/46ce3210-0707-4b1d-89b7-0c573c72aca8When They Burned the Butterfly by Wen-Yi Leehttps://app.thestorygraph.com/books/e294b55a-9bf5-42cd-a8c2-88aa2f65c91bBoom Town by Nic Stonehttps://app.thestorygraph.com/books/81091a8c-97c2-4037-aaaf-666230289df8The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwoodhttps://app.thestorygraph.com/books/3aaf1dab-83a2-4089-9345-680455651355James by Percival Everetthttps://app.thestorygraph.com/books/cd626fd8-11de-458a-a71a-4b1c64c86ff1Social Creature by Tara Isabella Burtonhttps://app.thestorygraph.com/books/cda69bb3-94a7-4b17-82ef-3036a098d7cdBeautyland by Marie-Helene Bertinohttps://app.thestorygraph.com/books/a5d8c362-9ccc-4bfa-869c-44c8847b17efI, Medusa by Ayana Grayhttps://app.thestorygraph.com/books/e2c48dc1-1ee0-4904-9b6e-d53e3f23712b Gare’s 10 Before the EndForget You Saw Her Noelle W Ihlihttps://app.thestorygraph.com/books/bbd97b5b-38b0-4982-bb5d-60fcee5a243cHaven’t Killed In Years by Amy K. Greenhttps://app.thestorygraph.com/books/70c6f0b5-c572-4689-b5e5-880199ce497cWe Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewerhttps://app.thestorygraph.com/books/49154c03-2e3c-4b00-b63f-1d6a7ef61fdbWatch Us Fall by Christina Kovachttps://app.thestorygraph.com/books/25a51cf8-34f3-41d5-aefa-f4ff20d1159cWith Friends Like These by Alissa Leehttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/224004584-with-friends-like-these?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=9sa6BhhMqr&rank=1The Fix by Mia Sheridanhttps://app.thestorygraph.com/books/7642f03d-53ab-441d-bfc2-c435fde870a1Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashinohttps://app.thestorygraph.com/books/03c6a590-d537-4566-8bb2-0147089b467dIf I Go Missing by Leslie Wolfehttps://app.thestorygraph.com/books/4a5751dd-ce3d-4d23-b7e5-21d8c95028b4The Wives of Hawthorne Lane by Stephanie DeCarolishttps://app.thestorygraph.com/books/345b587e-4541-496e-91d6-9738a1e5534aThe Haunting by Natasha Prestonhttps://app.thestorygraph.com/books/2ebce8b2-c94b-489f-87a4-bcff8591d1d8 Steph’s  10 Before the EndThe Adults by Alison Espachhttps://app.thestorygraph.com/books/b9ebc09a-4c52-4a56-a833-b25b38572ac8The Artist of Blackberry Grange by Paulette Jacksonhttps://app.thestorygraph.com/books/1d352936-217c-4d99-a0a3-8e5167d6c7cfBreakneck Bay by Faith Gardnerhttps://app.thestorygraph.com/books/886205bb-7647-4a28-b688-71c275927c32Still True by Maggie Ginsburghttps://app.thestorygraph.com/books/b2973ace-7b9a-47c8-9bde-faf6b87874e3Heartbroke by Chelsea Biekerhttps://app.thestorygraph.com/books/9ee3902f-6e65-4e7e-992d-cf742c3938efIs This A Cry For Help by Emily Austinhttps://app.thestorygraph.com/books/868d3c84-e887-4075-adea-460a26d5eb79Matchmaking for Psychopaths by Tasha Coryellhttps://app.thestorygraph.com/books/7fe84956-aabb-4e62-9fbb-66813da5b7c5This Girl’s a Killer by Emma C. Wellshttps://app.thestorygraph.com/books/ad549123-76a8-442c-a809-789048a5902aLove You to Death by Christina Dotsonhttps://app.thestorygraph.com/books/4ffd068e-b2da-4108-9e79-409aff0c9a9cThe Lighthouse Witches by C.J. Cookehttps://app.thestorygraph.com/books/bb8fdd23-aaa5-4103-8972-427720e99382 Get Bookwild MerchCheck Out My Stories Are My Religion SubstackCheck Out Author Social Media PackagesCheck out the Bookwild Community on PatreonCheck out the Imposter Hour Podcast with Liz and GregFollow @imbookwild on InstagramOther Co-hosts On Instagram:Gare Billings @gareindeedreadsSteph Lauer @books.in.badgerlandHalley Sutton @halleysutton25Brian Watson @readingwithbrian 

I'm back with Gare and Steph, but I am in the darkness because I can't even with the light. So I look a little different if you're watching on video. Yeah, we will see if I post the video. Who knows? But yeah, I was not going to miss this one because it sounds so fun to do our 10 before the end. 30 bucks for all of you guys. We're going to try to do it. We were like, can we?

And we're like, I think we can. We can. But Gare has icebreakers galore for us. Oh, yeah. Okay. I have one that's book-related and one that's TV show related. Okay. So I guess we'll pop off with the TV show one.

I had to cry somewhere. I have to watch my son, and he's wandering on me. me so um okay so i know that i had asked you guys this before we're like if you could guest star in any tv show of your choice like what would it be and kate was like severance and i said i said tell me lies and step i think you said what did i say it was like something like the office or something close to that yeah maybe but i'm going to switch it up oh oh based on your personality what TV show do you think you should be a character on? Oh, what we think or what our significant others think?

What you think, because I don't have a significant other. Oh, because you're having Murphy. H.J.'s like... Hold on, let me call Jacob All righty really quick. That's who I thought you were talking about when you said that text that said, Kate, my future husband, are going to disagree. I was like, what did Jacob Allorty do? Oh my God, no. He would never.

It ended up being someone else. It's my other future husband. It's my backup. My backup. I'm just trying to, are there any shows that are so much about being like an indoorsy introvert, like that aren't Gilmore girls? Like, Gilmore Girls just sounds so basic. And I can't even remember the last time I watched it. But, like, technically, I would need to be on a show of a homebody.

And there aren't many shows made about homebodies. I don't think that's necessary. Like, I think, like, you could be, like, because of your personality. Like, if I had to pick one for you, I would pick, like, Mr. Robot because you're really, like, tech savvy. And you have, like, a very dry sense of humor. And I feel like your average, like, dialogue would be really well in a show like that. I didn't even know that you'd see an I robot or Mr. Robot. I have it.

Oh. How did you nail it? You're right. Mr. Robot definitely fits my vibes the most. I could just like see you being like, what's that girl with like the black pig tails on like criminal lines or CFO or something? Yeah. Like the one that's like, she's like really cool and she's like snarky and like they're like, what are you doing? Can you hack this computer really quick?

And she's like, yeah. give me five minutes. That would be me too. Yeah. We do have an ongoing joke that I am the guy in the chair trope. So like every superhero movie, there's some like nerd who's like same concept who's like, but in Spider-Man, they actually call in the guy in the chair. Like it's an ongoing joke from a Spider-Man movie from like seven years ago.

Yeah. And so that's what Tyler tells everyone because a lot of people that he meets don't. This happened again. He was filming a party two nights ago and someone came up and she was like, can I give my friend your phone number? And he was like, oh, does she need content too? And she was like, no. And he was like, you know, I'm married, right? And she was like, no, I didn't know.

I didn't know. It was like freaking out. So sometimes people are like, why don't I ever see your wife? And he's like, she's the guy in the chair. She's at home. Yeah. That's amazing. Mm-hmm.

So you're right. that would be a good one for me. Yeah. I'm trying to think of what you would be funny and lots of, I feel like you would fit in different shows. Yeah, what did you think? I feel like depending on, I guess it depends on when you catch me. Yeah.

I could be like a lunatic. Like that would be perfect in euphoria. Or I could be like on my revenge era and be like, tell me lies. But I think like overall, I would love to be a character. And I think that like my sense of humor would fit really well in overcompensating. Oh, yeah. I still need to see that. You have.

Oh, my God. It's so good. I haven't, I'm not trying to say it like that person. I haven't watched TV in so long. Yeah. Well. It's okay. I'm going to get back to it.

Yeah, because the second season of. English teacher's out. English teacher. Yeah. That show is so funny. So it was Platonic on Apple TV. I haven't gotten to the second season, but it's airing. Oh, Platonics is a show? Is that the one with Roseburn? Yeah, and Seth Rogan. Oh, yeah. It's fantastic. I keep seeing clips of it on TikTok. It's about, you know what's kind of funny is actually, I think I started watching it around the time that you and I became friends, really, good friends and the gist of it is like a male and female but obviously it's not the same

dynamics because i guess they're real straight but anyway they these two friends that have been really good friends for a while run into each other straight totally good point i am out and i are actually married and you're so sorry for you i'm sorry for you i lit the candle But yeah, it's like about a really good friendship between a man and a woman that's platonic. So just how you can have BFFs. I keep seeing clips of it on, um, I keep seeing clips of it on TikTok. Yeah. It was really good.

God, my mind is blanking so hard. I feel like stuff would be good on English. her. Really? She would. She'd be funny. Yeah. She's so funny.

Yes. I was thinking about like something funny and then also I like wish I could be really good at like, like, AJ thinks I should be a detective, but I like don't really have that much gumption in me, to be honest. I love that you use that word. I'm too lazy for it, I think. But you know, like on like, you know, like on a detective show, though, there's always the person who's not a detective

that like helps them figure, like put the pieces together in the end. Like whether it's like a friend or a spouse or like, duh. And then they're like, I never thought of it like that. Well, if he was there at noon, he could have made it to this place by two. And then they're like, oh my God,

like, old moment and they run off and go save the day. Yeah. I was also trying. I'm like, I feel like in my head, I'm there's this show with like really good like friendships and I just don't even know like what it is right now. Um, but I think in college I would have been sex lives of college girls or whatever that show is. Oh yeah. I just love their dynamic of like I loved I was constantly like doing things with friends in college and like pulling all nighters and stuff. So that would have been like

my previous life. I'm not really sure about my current life. You know what I almost. most thought of though is you know how people now talk about like mrs doubtfire the movie and they're like you know what now i totally get the mom like everyone thought the mom was like this crabby bee and i'm like no she isn't totally right they say that mom and parent trap too yeah i'm like i would be i'd be like the grumpy rule foul adult to be like no we're not doing that absolutely not She comes home and there's like a zoo in her house. She's like, get that horse on her, and there's like not much you can do, but you're mad and you like totally have a reason to be mad,

but there's not much you can do it. And you're just like, okay, great. And everyone thinks through the buzzkill. Yes. I was like, that's not fun having to be the breaks. Yeah. No. Yeah, personality-wise, that's the person I would be. We were just watching something like that.

And I was like, no, she should be mad. Yeah. It's funny when you watch things like that as like an adult too. Yes, exactly. And you're like, no, she was right. No, can't find. Fuck them kids. Oh.

Yeah. Bruce agrees. Yeah, he's like preach. He's like, I don't, mom doesn't need kids. I am her kid. True. That was a good one. Yeah.

That's a good one. Speaking of shows, did anyone watch, we just watched Black Rabbit. Did anyone watch it with Jason Bateman and Jude Law on Netflix? No. Did you like it? We like it. Yeah. It was like, you know how I say with essay Cosby?

Like, it's not really my typical trope. So like, it's kind of a little more like crimey type of thrill. But it's got that like whole like dreary. vibe. Everything is like gray and black. But like I love Jason Bateman. I think you bought it well. There was some there was a really cool. I think you guys would like it. Like this one

crazy scene was like all in slow-mo. So like they did some cool stuff. Him did some really fucking cool stuff. It's a movie. Oh my God. Tyreek Withers. I was having to text care after I left the theater. I was like, my God.

He is H-I-M. But it is fantastic. The critics that are panning it are fucking idiots who thought it was going to be a football movie. What? It is a horror movie. Like, I feel like even if you just saw the movie poster,

you should be able to tell that it's mostly horror. Yeah. And there are like so many people like, I thought it was going to be about football. I'm like, It's a fucking Jordan Peel. What did you think? Who was going to be? What were you?

you were expecting football action? Like, are you kidding? Like, it's so weird. But it also touches on some subjects that do not surprise me that some people did not engage with very well. So there's that. There is a lot of social commentary about both the way indigenous and black bodies are treated in America. So you could imagine why maybe some people didn't like it as much right now. And why some of us are like, holy fuck, this is amazing.

Yeah. I'm so shocked. Like, you think the person that made Get Out and us is going to make a football movie, like a field for the blind side? Like, what were you thinking? I know. That's how I feel. You watch a fucking preview on.

From Get Out to Varsity Clues. Yeah. Friday night lights, you guys. Get ready. God, people are so stupid. I can't believe. Like, I can believe it, but it's so stupid. Right, exactly.

They did it to themselves. Like, watching us was a, was a vacation movie. Yes. Or like about music. It is just so people know because. Yeah, promising a young woman was a rom-com. Yes. There's a dating movie.

Yeah. Yeah. So it is written and directed by Justin Tipping. It's a Jordan and Peel production. So he produced it. Yeah. The only reason I brought it up is some people are like, then there are these other people who are mad because they're like the movie poster says Jordan Peel up top.

And I'm like, and above Jordan Peel, it says produced by like, chill out guys. He was an active producer of it. And yes, it has Jordan Peel vibes. It's very cool. and aesthetically, outside of the fact that the actor's hot as fuck, aesthetically, the imagery, so beautiful and intentional and just great. So that's what I've watched recently. Yes, and he plays, no, he doesn't.

He does not. He acts his ass off in that role. I heard that he's doing another scary movie and also another white show. Really? White chicks is one of my favorite comedies. Chicks. I've never seen it. You haven't seen it?

No. I think I'm going to be so stupid and people love it. It's funny. It is so funny. Oh my God. And I don't even like comedies, but I like will rock with that movie until the day I die. I need to rewatch it. It's been like

a decade probably. I think it's on HBO Max. I want to talk about what we're reading right now because I haven't talked to you guys since so long, but I feel like 10 books is a lot. We can do it pretty quickly. Yeah, I think we can. Okay, so I just recently finished Barry Your Gays. Oh, my God. I loved it so much.

It has so many my favorite tropes in it and kind of like themes. too but some of them I can't tell you because you learn them layer by layer but I'm influencing you gear um uh Gare just did a post today the day that we are recording asking people to influence or de influence him and this was on his list but um it is so much like if you loved the studio if you loved that show there are so many rants about Hollywood that are so similar and the tension between creativity and commerce is very similar. But this is like horror and a queer character as well. It's just so fun.

If you like Hollywood satire and you like kind of quirky horror, like just that's all you need to know. And then I also just started listening to it came through on Libby. anywhere you run by Wanda Wanda Morris She's so good She's so good She's such a talented writer

She's so fantastically talented The narration is amazing I found out after Like I didn't even know when I requested it Adam Lizar White is one of the like He's probably like a 20% character Like he's the third one But the other two are more important

But he's he's narrating as well but it's a story about two sisters and one it's in 195 I think or Jim Crow South and one of the sisters kills a white man who is

assaulting her and she has to like go on the run overnight and she doesn't even tell her sister and the other sister gets pregnant outside of wedlock and so they both have these like crazy events happening and it's kind of about how their lives separate and then come back together but like very thrilling too because she's like on the run so

that's what I'm listening to now I've only read all her little secrets by her yeah me too me too I love that one so good I'm reading the bone thief by Vanessa Lily I'm like You guys, I have like this much left. And so Sid Walker from Blood Sisters is back. And now she is investigating these skeletal remains, but someone stole them. And at the same time that they go missing, a young indigenous girl goes missing as well. And there is a group called the Founder Society, which is a club whose members trace their lineage back to the first colonists and claim their rights to native land. So there's like a ton of like social issues in it, but it's also like a mystery.

And it's also like a little bit of horror tinged, which I can't say why. like there's like two mysteries going on and then there's like it's like it she does a really good job i mean obviously she's indigenous so she does a really good job of like explaining a lot of like indigenous traditions and like some of the things that indigenous people like deal with culturally that like i don't think a lot of times are like covered in a book but it's just it's really really good and it's definitely going to be one of my favorites of the year i'm just nervous for the talented at weaving like history in and writing like action and like the other genres you're saying but like you're just plugged in yeah listening to her talk about this book in Montreal

was like music to my ears like I could listen to her talk about anything for as long as she has wind for because she's so passionate about a lot of it and knows so much she's she's so freaking smart. And she is so kind. And like, she's so down to earth. It's just like she's a perfect person. I remember she was on Imposter Hour before she came on book wild. And when I listened to like edited that episode, I was like, I had that same feeling that

you're talking about where like for me, I love when someone else is so excited about something that it makes me excited about it. She has like that. Kind of like good teachers are like that too. Like she has that vibe. Like I just love her. We like sat next to each other for like a lot of the panels in Montreal. And like we would like joke because she'd always be like, do you want them in?

Like do you want them? And I'm like, are you trying to tell me something? But like we would like joke about that. And like she's just like so down to earth that you can like chit chat with her and then like have like a deep meaningful conversation. And then like out of nowhere like she's like te he heing and like gets up and goes on. this panel and like talks her ass off and is like blowing people away with how smart she is so smart I love that I love her I love her so much I need to reread her first one maybe before I start the second one it's been so long you don't have to they're very it's like a very

different mystery or like story plot connection anything that like happened in blood sisters that you need to know is like kind of referenced enough to read like to spark your memory and and the bone thief yes um i am currently reading the women of wild hill by kirsten miller and it is so cathartic i'm so excited to read it i like don't want it to end and i'm only halfway through oh i have no idea where i'm getting where we're going but i think i'm i'm not i was like so connecting with it emotionally like from the very beginning like there's something about like I'm this is didn't age well but when like do you remember when like Harry Potter came out and people were like I wish I was in this house and like I wish

I got my letter to Hogwarts like yeah I'm like this is how this book is for me I'm like I wish this was real like I wish it was real so badly I feel like a little kid like it's oh oh I love books that make me feel like a little kid again I'm like really sad it's not really please crazy. I'm like, like, little kids are like, but it's real. I'm like, no, I wish it was so much because I think our world would like, just need a couple healing women, you know?

Yeah. And then I started for book club, Bonnie, and I feel like I need to drugs. I'm like, either they're on a lot of drugs or like, I need to take more. Like, I don't know. Or both.

Because I knew it was going to be weird, but like I'm really interested in like the way it's written is also, I'm like, I don't really know what's happening. Like I know what's happening in the room, but is it even real? Like, I don't know. So sometimes there's a difference between like really straightforward, weird and wild and kind of like, I just don't really know. And that's kind of where it is. But I know the new one came out. People are like into it. Like if they are into it, they're into it. Yeah, I've seen people divided on it. Yeah, which is the same as like the first one.

I went to the bookstore in Canada that I go to on last Friday. And I picked up the special edition of that Love Mom book by I Ilya and Xander. Oh, yeah. My friend Taylor was reading it. And I'm obsessed with her. Like Taylor's amazing. And so I was like, I want to read it too. So like I went and picked it up.

And then I found the sprayed edges. of a Rena Kent book that's an MM romance. And so I was like, okay, I'll get this too. And then, like, I went up to the counter to pay and they had like your favorite book club picks of all the books they recommend. And Bunny was there. So I picked that up too. Dude, there are nice. We meet for book club on Monday and I honestly like almost forgot. I was like, oh my God, it's already Monday. And the people, there are like multiple people who read it, but like all of a sudden can't come. And they're like, I'm so upset. I can't come to this discussion. Like, I do not know if they like. I do not know if they like. it but they really want to talk about it yeah they're so excited to talk about it so we'll see

it'll be bumping i'm gonna read funny yes they will yeah well well well i guess i should start us off with my first one yeah um so we are as we mentioned we're doing our 10 before the end so the books we want to read before the end of the year. So my first one is The Midnight Knock by John Fram. And I am super excited for this one for multiple reasons. The plot in general sounds fascinating to me. But I've also seen people like Ashley Winstead calling it a puzzle box, which is one of my favorite kinds of stories.

But in the Midnight Knock at a remote Texas Desert Motel, seven fugitives. is with dark secrets are forced to unmask the killer of a mysterious woman before midnight or face a ravenous supernatural force that thrives in the shadows. Well, we're doing, so we're doing one sentence or like short synopsis today or what are we doing just so I know. Yes, that was my one sentence synopsis. I should have said that too at the beginning. We're going to try to talk about 30 books here.

So we're doing like one sentence synopsis and maybe. what you're most excited about. I'm excited about the puzzle box nature. Yeah. You've really liked at least one of his other books. Yes. Yeah, I really, I liked Brightlands. I loved No Road Home.

And then I'm sure I'll love this one. I loved Brightlands and liked No Road Home. That's so funny. So this is going to be the one. because I'm really excited for it too. Mm-hmm. I love him. I think he's also a kind of kickstarted my like bigger horror obsession last year.

Yeah. Yeah. He's like, yeah, he's definitely good at like writing the kind of stories that like dive a little bit into things that you're not expecting. Mm-hmm. To get you into that horary mood. Yes. Speaking of horror-ish. adjacent.

Mm-hmm. My first one, and probably the one that I'm most excited for, to no one's surprise, is Forget You Saw Her by Noel W. Ely. Um, so this is actually the prequel to ask for Andrea. And,

and it sounds so good. So it's basically about a woman named Sabina and she's the one that gave birth to Andrea. And then she gave her up for adoption. and 17 years later she gets you know informed by the police that Andrea is missing and so she decides to take the investigation into her own hands but as she's doing that she is getting like dreams and she thinks Andrea's like Andrea is like coming to see her to like give her hints as to where she is wow because there are like November 18

maybe I know it's sometime in November. Okay. Sorry I interrupted you. I got really excited. I'm just so excited for it. Because there's like a little bit of supernatural. Yeah. And like ask for Andrea. And Ask for Andrea is being republished with a new cover and sprayed edges.

Again. Yeah. This is the third Ask for Andrea cover. Yeah. Wow. Mm-hmm. That's awesome. Good for her.

And if you need something to do in the meantime, while you wait for the ask for Andrea prequel you can listen to the episode of Operation Fireball on crime junkie because it is one of the craziest episodes of a true crime thing I've ever listened to in my entire life wow it's amazing and I think that this is probably where like the inspiration could have came from that makes sense put anything in her author's notes because she usually references her I think it's one of those things where it's like Operation Fireball is like similar to like the angel shot thing. And then like kind of everybody has their own like different version of basically trying to look out for women as we all should do and protect them.

Yeah. Murphy, we have 28 books to talk about. Come on. Get back. Yes. Okay, hold on. I need to find this and ask for and request the second one. Okay, anyway. My next one, honestly, I only have a few more neck alleys. And then I'm going to try and hopefully be just like a fly by the seat of my pants, girl. But I have the last book by Allison Espa called The Adults that I want to read.

I think it's her first one. I know. I like it too. This one, my one sentence. Her first two books were both five stars for me. So I'm curious about if her first one will be as well. A sharp, funny, and poignant coming-up age story of a teenage girl navigating grief, awkward family dynamics, and first love. I love funny sharp and great awkward family dynamics.

I love the word awkward. I'm wondering what that means. I'm very interesting. Yeah. There are going to be some eccentric characters in that one. bring it maybe it'll be like a i hope it like doesn't go as far as west anderson but like i can take yeah oh good one yeah yeah and you like i think it's the tragic comedy i was talking to tyler about that that that mashup basically where you blend that all together yeah i think there needs to be

like some strong feeling that's like bringing everybody together somehow but like their personalities need to be a little like witty. Yeah. Yeah. Well, my next one is when they burned the butterfly by Wyn Yee Lee. And it is like historical fiction revenge fantasy, which sounds amazing. In 1972, Singapore, a lonely school girl discovers her late mother's secret ties to a vengeful gang of girls devoted to a fire goddess pulling her into a dangerous world of magic, power struggles, and blood-soaked streets.

And I think this is loosely inspired by some badass women. It sounds badass. Damn, it does sound badass. I know. Someone emailed me about it months ago. You saw this on Neck Alley. Yes. Yep, that's where I have it.

Um, and I was like, yeah, that does sound up my alley. When does it come out? October 21st is when it comes out. And I'm interviewing her. So the interview will come out at some point. But yeah, I'm excited. Oh, and it's saphic. If that gets anyone else excited.

You aren't so good at finding these like books that have like a mashup of genres that people wouldn't expect. I've been, I've been getting more mashups. I like it. that's your like superpower. I love the cover and I have usually like covers. I know. The like the flame.

Yeah. Yeah. Sounds good. I'm here for the genre mashups. Um, my next one is not a super. It's not a new genre for me. None of mine are, maybe I have like two or three that are like, oh.

Nobody knows what you're going to read. That's cool. Girl. That's a fair point. I did get into nonfiction lately. Yeah, I'm like, serial killers, hot gay hockey players and like popcorn thrillers. Yes.

So my next one is haven't killed in years by Amy K. Green. And it is about 20 years after his arrest, the daughter of a serial killer with a new name and identity begins to receive threatening messages from someone who claims that they know who she is. This one I requested when you told me about it. I'm excited for it too. I'm so excited for it.

There was like something in the, I mean, I kept my synopsises, synopsies really short. Yeah. But like there was something about like I think that they're going to touch on the toxicity of the true crime community in this one. Or like she's going to be like kind of having to deal with that, which I'm very excited for. Yeah. I love authors who are like calling out how toxic the true crime community can be. Mm-hmm. So I'm really excited for it.

I love that. Yeah, we could talk about that for a while. Yeah. Definitely. I think I'm going to do the artist of Blackberry Green by Paulette Kennedy. So I love you. Oh, yeah. I loved the devil and Mrs. Davenport earlier this year.

I think this is going to be like really different, honestly. It says a lush historical Gothic about a woman uncovering dark secrets and forbidden passions with a mysterious, within a mysterious English estate. I don't know if I'm like, yeah, the cover is fantastic. Like, I don't know if I'm a gothic girl. I don't know, but like, I'm going to give it a price, I really likes your other book, so. Yes. Yeah.

I'm trying to think if there's anything Gothic that I know you've read, but maybe I, maybe there's not. Weathering Heights, or like the favorites kind of is it borrows from the storytelling conventions, but it's not literal. It's not what you like, like Gothic mansions and stuff. Yeah. You know what I wish you could do? Yeah, maybe you haven't.

Can you on like Goodreads or something look through your red books and like I wish you could like search terms like that. That would be nice. You kind of can with story graph, but it depends on how well people have tagged it at the end. Yeah. Yeah, you're right. But yeah, Goodreads has a lot of things they could update. For sure. Was that a little puppy yawn?

No, that was a little puppy wine. Oh, working Don't. He's like, I hate this. Hi, Betty. What are I doing? He's like, stop. You're like, go and chill out.

No, he's like, come on. Well, my next one is, oh my gosh, I'm obsessed with the cover. It's Boomtown by Nick Stone. I think it comes on October as well. I'll check in a second. But when a young dancer vanishes from Atlanta's notorious boomtown strip club, former star lyric is pulled back into its perilous world, uncovering a web of power, privilege, and deadly secrets

that echo her own haunted past. This one just sounds, actually this kind of sounds southern Gothic, too. Yeah. Did you say I stole one of yours gear? Is this his first? My landlines ringing, so I had myself on mute because I didn't want it to be ringing in the background. Okay. But yeah, you stole one of mine.

But I have an alternate. Oh, that's good. Right here. There's a Goodreads giveaway. That's good to know. Wait. What else did Nick Stone write? Oh, dear Mark.

I've read. I hadn't. I think there's a lot of why. I think that usually. Yeah, this is her debut at adult. Gares falling apart. I'm a disaster. I was trying to be the guy that was visual.

So here's, if you're watching on YouTube, here's what hometown looks like. I love it. Jesus Christ, I'm burning in my window. What is happening? That's crazy. The local library just put up this stuff on windows so that birds don't fly into it. And AJ was like, we don't need that. And I'm like, okay, there was a bird on our deck.

And look what just happened to Gare. Yeah. Look what just happened to Gare. They're just. It's so sad. It is sad. When they're just dying on the ground, you're like, my dad picks them up and rubs them and will help them like come back that's really sweet like he brings it back to life yeah so like a lot of them like unless they break their neck a lot of them what happens is they go into shock when they hit the ground and they're just like they're just like laying there and he'll like pick them up and like rub their little like belly and like hold them in his hand and then like all of a sudden he'll be like this and they fly away

So freaking cute. Your dad is so precious. Yeah. Well, he ain't here now, so that one's, I ain't doing it. Nope. Wrong time, bird. Long time, bird. Let me remove Boomtown from my list.

That's so funny. I was like, there's no way we're all going to, we're going to have any in common. Well, my next one is we used to live here by Marcus Clive. were. Wow. I don't know yet either. Kate recommended this to me. Everyone's recommended it to me.

Everyone keeps telling me that I'll love it. And I just don't know why I'm like so nervous to read it. But I'm finally going to do it in October. So it is about a young queer couple who is flipping an old house and a man in his family show up claiming to have once lived there. Once the family enters the home, weird things begin to happen. Damn. That sums it up as much as it can.

And that's all I know. Yes. It is a wild ride. It has so many things. It has so many cool things going on. So I might have to skim my video so I can talk to you about it again. And also it is okay if you don't like it. Totally.

Oh, I know. I just, I feel like there's so many people. Like I know that when I post on Instagram, I don't want to be like that like person, but like, I just know when I post on Instagram, like my statistics are going to like skyrocket and people are going to be DMing me. Like, what did you think? What did you think? Like, what did you think of this part?

And so like I need to like make sure that I have notes and I know exactly what's going on in this book because the amount of people that have been telling me to read this are insane. Yeah. So many people have. read it. That's what's crazy. It was like when I listened to Project Hail Mary and like everyone was like, it's the best audio book in the world. And it is. But it is. That's like the fun part. Like obviously, I love reading like lesser known books too and like debut authors obviously. But there is that like added fun sometimes with the like mainstream is you can talk to so many different people about it.

Yeah, yeah, I'm really excited for it. Agree. My next one I really do need to get to because the author so graciously sent me a copy. My next one is Breakneck Bay by Faith Gardner, a moody, propulsive mystery about a woman grappling with grief who becomes entangled in the disappearance of a local child. and it takes place in a looks like a water park so oh yeah that's a new one

I thought it was when you said it at first I thought it was Bay like B-A-E Hey Bay yeah I keep seeing that all over TikToks I'm really I haven't seen a ton of her bucks on TikTok She is prolific. She to me is like the

I don't want to say popcorn, but kind of like you just want to like cruise through a book that's kind of wild. Yeah. My person. Would you say she's like a popcorn thriller? To me, kind of. Because it's just like to me like the entertainment value is just like

I don't know. Because it's just kind of like, wow, that was fucking nuts. And I just like blew through it. I don't know if there's a lot of, like, extra themes or anything, but... Yeah. She also has really digestible, like, speculative fiction thrillers. Yeah. Like, the sci-fi is not sci-fi-sying.

Totally. It's kind of like, what if Amazon, like, when it will be far. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, I don't know. I'm excited for that one. I haven't read anything that took place in a waterpark.

And I think it's kind of like a dual timeline, which I always love. Yeah. Well, my next one is also another author that I love, so I want to read more of his books. But I want to read Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle. In the seemingly wholesome town of Neverton, Montana, the sinister Camp Damascus hides a dark and unholy secret behind its reputation as the nation's most effective gay conversion camp. Ew. Talk about social horror. Yeah, really. But, like, everyone who loves all of his books, and, like, Barry Your Gaze was my first one of his. Everyone is, like, the way he can write about really dark stuff and, like, also still be really funny is super impressive.

So I can only imagine how this one will be, too. Yeah, authors that can do that are really special. And some people are, of course, like, critique, like, well, this is really actually traumatic and tragic. And I'm like, yeah, and everyone deals with that differently. So. But like, what is not traumatic and tragic about a thriller? Right. Or horror. You know what I mean?

Yeah. Like, how dare we have some fun. Any, like, you know what I mean? Yeah. Like, everything about it is traumatic. Well, if you read that book and you're like, ooh, I wish there was a movie like this. There's a movie called They Them that is on Peacock with Kevin Bacon in it. And it is a queer show.

slasher um that takes place at a conversion camp i heard cooper coch is in it cooper coach i don't know cooper from the menendez brother myself because i'm taking care of my dogs but when you said that i was like oh my gosh yeah yeah i thought it was a really fun movie and cooper whatever his face is so dreamy in it what's his last name i'm looking at it's it's like c-o-c-h i don't know how you pronounce it either because some people with the last name pronounce it differently. Yeah.

So I'm like, I don't know. Oh, is he in the Menendez brothers? Yeah. Yes. That's what like all the pictures are from. Yeah. Kind of reminds me of that guy that was in How to Get Away with Murder a little bit.

I don't know if you guys know what I'm talking about. But like it did like... Less? Kind of. Yeah, I can see that. The one that's a little like, I don't know anybody's naming that show anymore. Yeah, it was a while ago. Well, my next one, please be good.

My next one is called Watch Us Fall by Christina Kovac. And it is about four young post-grad women who nicknamed themselves the Sweeties. funny fans so they live in a home together in Georgetown and one of their boyfriends who thought he was going to uncover something politically goes missing and then they decide that the four of them are going to find out

what really happened to him I got this one on NetGalley I've read a book by her she had a book come out like God I would say like at least seven or eight years ago and it was like a thriller that had political elements in it, but like I wouldn't really necessarily say as a political thriller.

And I really enjoy that. Like I thought that her storytelling was really, really good. And so I'm so excited for this one. Okay. Correction. It was Connor, who I'm thinking about from how to talk. Oh, yes. Okay. Okay. Next one. So my next one is by a local author that I think a lot. And to Madison, who I think a lot of people that I like are in some of my book club circles really liked and it's called Still True by Maggie Ginsberg. And I'll be honest, one of the things that I'm waiting for is for my Libby Hold to come in for audio because the chapters are pretty long. A Midwestern novel about tangled family ties, small town truths, and what happens when

hidden lives collide. I love all of those things. You're like, this was just a. big yes. Yeah, all around. I'm into it. Someone wrote on the cover, I could stay in this story for years.

I love books like that. I want to not finish. So we'll see. Yeah. Go. Still true. Well, I'm just going to walk while I talking about this one. We will probably just not use the video because I'm all over the place.

So my next one, this is one that I just I want to make myself fit it in, but I know that it's slow at first and then has a huge payoff. And also, we were just watching Margaret Atwood's Masterclass. I'm smiling at Murphy, chomping on food. It's very cute. If I give him a little peanut butter pretzel, he'll shut up. Yeah.

So you guys definitely know how. obsessed with like meta fiction I am like books within books and Margaret Atwood has one called the blind assassin that apparently has like four layers of meta fiction going on and I was like that sounds interesting but it's like it's like a 19 hour book like 600 pages and it's slow to start but like I want to read it so I will um that was more than one sentence but a woman's mysterious 1945 death unfolds through her sister's memories

in a novel within a novel weaving together family secrets forbidden love and layered storytelling that culminates in a shocking twist. So like I just feel it's like one of those like I have to eventually read this book books. Yeah.

Yeah. Sounds really good. Yeah. It definitely sounds like I don't know Margaret Atwood just seems like a duh for you. You know what I mean? Like somebody that like you would really enjoy. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

I agree. My next one is called With Friends Like These by Alyssa Lee. And I think this comes out in December. No. So it's about a group of first. Eat that and go away. 20 years after a tragedy at Harvard, five friends reunite for a secret tradition

that includes a harmless, elimination game, which causes secrets to be revealed and friends to turn on one another. Ooh. I think I have that one on NetGalley, too. I have the arc of that. I think I almost included it. I'm very excited because I think it's like, I don't know. I don't know if I made this off in my head, but it seems like it's like a hide and go seek

kind of game. Ooh. Throughout New York City. And hopefully none of my, none of my. hopefully neither one of my parents hear this but when I was in college there were a group of us that would play hide and go seek throughout the town and our cars like you would be like okay you're at and then like you would have to drive somewhere and like you could only sit somewhere for a certain amount of time and like the other cars would have to try to find out like where you were hiding and then like when they spotted you then like you have to go find them no one died though in each other yeah It was a small little, like, college town, so it wasn't, like, too bad, you know? I was really good at hiding middle because I have a lead foot and I knew the area pretty well. Nice.

That's crazy. It's a wild child. It's a novella. It must be really short. It looks really short. I have an arc of that. And it's, like, pretty thin. But, um, well, um,

And another round of, I've read this author's other books. I have one left is Heartbroke by Chelsea Beaker. Loved Madwoman. Godshot was wild. So this is a fierce, tender short story collection set in California's Central Valley portraying love, desperation, and resilience in overlooked lives. So I am, I love the way she. like observes the world

so I'm really interested to see how her short story collection is I agree I need to read that one in the last line of the synopsis it says something about a golden yet gothic world of longing

so maybe that's my next step and my reading journey is Gothic I don't know I wish I could get into more short stories I do too yeah I feel like it just really if I just pick them up. It's not even like anything that

I used to love them when I was little. Like scary stories to tell in the dark. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah, I agree. I know. I think it's just like you just pick up a book because it sounds good like to have multiple stories just like don't get the same

kind of like synopsis. Like what am I in for? There's one that Vanessa Lilly recommended. It's like don't whistle at night and it's all like indigenous authors, short stories. I've seen it at bookstores a ton. Mm-hmm. I keep seeing it all over.

Yeah. I really want to do it. Yeah, the cover for that one is so pretty. Mm-hmm. It reminds me of that one you recently read Kate that you comped to at like the push. Yeah, and then she fell. Yeah. Oh, yeah.

The covers are similar. Yeah. Mm-hmm. My next one is actually because I am loving anywhere you run by Wanda Morris, I want to read what we leave behind by Wanda Morris. After returning to her Georgia hometown to rebuild her shattered life, Dina Wood becomes entangled in a dangerous web of land grabs, corruption, and community betrayal when a reclusive widower vanishes. and his family's property is suddenly at risk, which is very vague and I don't know much more about it, but I trust Wanda. Sometimes you don't need to know more, right?

Yeah. There's like, I trust you. Yeah, sounds good. Blind. I don't, I just, I just don't want to know most of the time. Right. Yeah. Yeah.

Look at that. Um, my next one is called The Fix by Mia Sheridan. Oh. Um, I read a book by Mia Sheridan called something and I loved it. Um, her thrillers are very good and they're a little dark bad mom, bad mom or bad mother. Yeah, okay. But it was so good and I really enjoyed it. So I'm really looking forward to this one.

Um, 11 years. years ago, Cammy's mother and sister died in a violent home invasion. And now Cammy's trying to rebuild a new life, but she gets a disturbing phone call and receives a video of a boy trapped inside of a room with only four days to find him. Whoa. So that sounds really good. I kind of like, that sounds really good. Yeah. I love the Race Against Time kind of books. I used to love like race against time kind of books. I used to love like race against time kind of movies.

But they're always men trying to save the day. When in reality, like you know that a woman's going to do it better. So yes, I'm all for this book. That sounds really good. It does sound good. Mm-hmm.

I love when Reese Whitherspoon said that during some like speech, she was like, I don't understand why in all these movies everyone asks the men like what should we do yeah like no we do I love that yeah so good um I am going to do it is for 2026 but I typically read my arcs a month ahead of time ish um brag or anything I know I read my arcs like a week before it depends it depends but I usually try and like clear my shelf um this author is I'm like

Austin who wrote, I think it was called Every One in This Room Will Someday Be Dead or something? Yes, Laura in our book club talked about that book. Like, just this Sunday. She loved it. Yeah, I liked it a lot too. And this one is called Is This a Cry for Help? And it's a librarian who's just recovered from a breakdown returns to work

only to Facebook band's ex-girlfriend grief and a fight for her own agency. So I'm excited for that one. That sounds good. Yeah. It does sound really good. It's anything like the last one. There's not really chapters, but there's just like breaks. Oh, really?

Kind of. And then it's like pretty short or the last one is short. So like if you're not going to give me chapters, give me some page breaks, we're good. Yeah. Yeah. You need a place to pause. It's like so funny how much I love reading. But like when there's like a page break, I'm like, oh my God, this is like a little like treat.

Because it's almost like you feel like, okay, I can fit this in. But like if I see on my Kindle or like look at a physical book, I'm like, oh, there's no way I can do this right now. I have to come back when I have like time to dedicate. Yeah. Right. Well, since I'm running on borrowed dog time, my next one is James by Percival Everett, which another one, that like almost everyone has read. So it'll be fun to talk to people about.

But it is a reimagining of the adventures of Huckleberry Finn that centers Jim's voice, portraying his escape from enslavement with greater agency and humanity as he and Huck embark on their perilous raft journey down the Mississippi. I've heard about this one for so long. I've heard about that. You can't walk into a bookstore without seeing it too. And I'm like, I do, I do want to hear. a retelling of

this story he's also just like all of his interviews he is wise yeah I also want to read trees I do too it sounds heartbreaking of course

but very relevant you love heartbreaking yeah bleak bear yeah weak billy I don't have a segue, but... It's okay. It's a very niche one.

I will say, though, this is... So I have one left on my list that is an arc. It comes out in November, and it's called The Best Offer Wins by Marissa Cashino, K-A-S-H-I-N-O. And it is about Margot, who is looking for the perfect house to buy, and she's not having really good luck. So she ends up hearing about the perfect home that's going to be for sale in a month. And she ends up becoming obsessed with it and stalks the current owners to try to infiltrate her way into their lives so she can get the house.

It sounds so like, okay, but like everyone is freaking out about it. I love a stalker. Yeah, that's true. And I love when somebody knows something and they're trying to like infiltrate. their way into someone else's life and the other person's like oblivious to it. So I'm, I'm ready. And it has 4.19 on Goodreads. Wow.

That's impressive. Dennis of Scarce Straight Reeds said that it was bad shit crazy and a whole lot of fun. Yeah, I'm really fascinated. He said it's going to be one of his top five of the year. I'm going to request it, you guys. I wasn't going to request anymore. I'm going to request it. I requested it too.

But it was a couple weeks ago, so I don't know. We'll see if I get it. It's okay if I don't, obviously. I didn't get something from a publisher that I usually get stuff from, and I'm kind of like, excuse me? I know. I think I have a couple like that, and I'm like, well. I have one like that right now, and I am human. You have so many.

Well, well, well, I guess my next one is a friend actually gifted me this. And the cover's real cute. Matchmaking for psychopaths. Oh, dear, loves it. I love that book so much. I thought you read it, but I couldn't remember what you thought about it. So I'm just like, I think these little like Hummel dolls on the front are like so adorable. Like, they're so grandma-y.

by Tasha Coriel, a quirky dark comedy where a young woman enters an eccentric dating experiment and finds the hazards of love hilariously amplified. Two people love that one. I actually love that one more than I loved love letter to serial killers. Oh, it's the same author? Yeah. Yeah. And whatever she does next, I will love to. I'm sure of it. But like that book is so freaking good. It's like unhinged and snarky and I think

you're going to freaking eat it right up. Nice. Because you know, I am a little skeptical sometimes when something says it's like funny. And so I'm kind of like, I certainly hope I mash with it or mesh with it. It's like dart, sarcastic, satirical kind of comedy. There we go. I think you'll, I think you'll just love it. Love it. A nice little, that was so nice when people are like, I got, I saw this amazing cover and a thriller book that says it's snarky and I thought of you. Like, what? Yeah. That's one of the best book gifts you'll ever get to.

Okay. Because you're going to love it. I love it. Woo. Well, my next one is called Social Creature by Tara Isabella Burton. after a chance meeting struggling writer Louise is drawn into a glittering of a toxic friendship with the privileged Lavinia in a modern tale of obsession, envy, and fatal clamor. I had a friend who just read Julie Chin is not dead or Julie Chin is dead. Yeah.

Yeah. And she was like, this. reminding me of a lot of the things I liked about social creature. And I was like, well, now I want to read this book. I haven't had like a, I haven't read like a really social media, like toxic female friendship one in a little bit. So I'm excited to see what you think of this one. Have you read it? Ooh, good to know. July, July 2018, I read it. Wow. Yeah. So I just like looked it up. but it's very yeah it's really dark. Ooh, I am intrigued.

I think you'll really enjoy it. Yeah, I see a lot of people that I follow have read it like in 2018. It was one of the like it was one of the like big arcs in 2018. Like a lot of people wanted to read it. I suddenly knew the cover like when she mentioned it to me and I was like, I don't know what book this is. And then when I searched it, I was like, oh, I do see this every now and then still. Yeah. It is something like a buzzy.

A buzzy book. Mm-hmm. Speaking of buzzy, I found this one on social media on TikTok. So I'm really excited for it because I don't think I've heard, like, I don't know if I know anybody that's read it. But it's called If I Go Missing by Leslie Wolfe. Oh. And it's about a woman who writes in her, if I go missing binder, which is basically. Basically, like, you write down your passwords and stuff.

And, like, if you have, like, any, like, enemies or, like, whatever. Like, you just, like, basically give clues to people if you were to ever go missing. They can open this binder and, like, help solve whatever happened to you. Yeah. But basically, she writes in her binder because she fears that someone could know a dark secret she's hiding that could demolish the perfect life she lives. Ooh. And that's, like, really all I know. But I'm really excited for it.

miss enough. Like, that's kind of all you want to know. Yeah. And it's one of those, like, synopsis where it's like, I put down my binder and like, I look at my lavish home and like, it's like written in like that kind of format. But there is, um, there's like a to be original movie that's called If I Go Missing. And I thought that was a really fun movie. It's corny and cheesy, but it's like a fun little like thriller to watch if you're like, I don't want to use my had. Oh, my God. Did you guys

know? So I, like, watched Unknown Number The Wild. Yeah. Fishing. I told my friend about it,

and she's like, are you talking about that Lifetime movie? And I was like, no, it's a new thing on Netflix. It's a documentary. I did not know

that last year a lifetime movie came out about the same story as Unknown Number. So she already knew like what the reveal was. And I was like, Oh, and I kind of like pretended I didn't know if it was the same thing, but I like obviously knew it was.

And I'm like, how did no one talk about this? It's Lisa Rina. Yeah. It's bonkers. And she sent me this thing of like clips from it and it is redonculus. But I was just like I might need to watch it when I'm just like having a lazy Saturday because it looks ridiculous. Oh my gosh. I did not know that. When people kept talking about that, like, oh, you're never going to guess the ending to this like documentary. I was like, I wonder if it's the mom,

because I remember, like, hearing about the Lisa Rina movie because, like, people were like, this isn't a very far role for Lisa Rina to play

because they, like, are assuming that she, like, would be somebody to bully her daughters. Right. I think they couldn't get over

some of the dialogue in the lifetime movie that they played that, like, is not anything close to as bad as what happened in real life. But, like,

it was just, it was, like, it was, like, comical, almost. Yeah. Like,

you know, that I'm so embarrassed about the birthmark on my leg and you're talking about it. And I'm like, is, it's for a good. Oh, my gosh. And Lisa Renna's like, this will get me an Emmy. Don't it. How, Rippie? Oh, is it my turn? Yeah. All right. Um, this one I think I've talked about like last time we did this, but I still haven't read it. Is, um, the lighthouse wishes, which is by C.J. Cook. Yes. I read another book by her that I really like, and I'm really into witches right now.

Oh, look at this. A gothic mystery spanning generations where a cursed Scottish island and its lighthouse hold eerie secrets of missing children and witch trials. See, Jay Cook has been really fun. Both made me want to read that one. I have not read it yet. All of their books are really fun. Oh. Yeah.

So many books. I know. So what about it? Well, I have no segue but this I can't remember. Oh, I've seen a couple of people talking about this one. And I kept seeing it in bookstores. But Beauty Land by

Marie Helene Bertino sounds very unique, but my friend McKinsey said it reminded her of like the neurodivergent experience. where like you sometimes feel like an outsider. So I'm very interested, even though I hear it's not plot heavy. But born the same day, Voyager 1 launched, Adina Giorno, Adina Giorno, Adina Girono, grows up sensing she is connected to another planet,

secretly transmitting reports on humanity's wonders and horrors, until a friend challenges her to reveal her cosmic messages to the world. Whoa. Damn. Yeah. And it was, I listened to like the first chapter on Spotify and I was like very, it was very fascinating. Like it, it feels like someone who is just like looking at human experiences and some of the like silly stuff we do. And I did.

I liked the tone. And then Libro FM had a buy one get one credits and Beauty Land was one of them. I was like, all right. I want to listen. It's like, it's a short one too. So I'm intrigued. is Libro FM Is that like

A subscription It can be Or is it like an audio book library It's a subscription To audiobooks But you also could just buy bundles instead of Or like bundles of credits I used to buy a subscription

Or I think you can buy like whatever Until Kate started talking about it I just bought it in bundles and bought like the subscription but when like and I never really paid attention to the emails but when Kate was like oh this was X dollars on Libra I guess I should shop the sales because I yeah they have really good sales where like that's like like the Kristen Ritter one I think was the one I texted you about retreat I paid like 399 because it was during a sale yeah so they have sales every now and then and they have like buy one get one free but then it's like a select amount of books but yeah i'm

also compared to like audible like uh kindle where it's like typically pretty like standard book price but you can get them pretty cheap there um i got a an arc of a nonfiction book it's called like the the art of true crime or like the vanishing of true crime or something it's like a true crime kind of one where like this guy tells like three or four different stories of imprisoned men and there's a free audiobook with it with the art so I was like maybe this will be my like venture into audiobook world nonfiction and lucinda yeah and lucinda so I'm gonna really focus on though because I like have read her chapters more than once a few times oh yeah just diving into audio with a thriller is not easy depends yeah person I

guess, but. But I do have this one. It's called the Wives of Hawthorne Lane by Stephanie DeCarrulous. And this is the one I'm going to talk about since Kate stole one of mine. Oh. Four neighbors become the prime suspects in a murder investigation that reveals the sinister underside of their picture perfect community. I'm seeing people love this one.

Yeah. Yeah. Dennis, again. who is always right when it comes to recommending books to me, was saying that, like, he's like, I think he'll eat this shit up. Like, I just love a desperate housewives kind of, like, murder. I love, like, murder and disturbia and suburbia. And, you know, just like catty housewives wondering who's next.

Yes. Sign me. Yes. Sign me all the way up. I love that it's an upgrade from blue and yellow to purple and yellow. Yeah. I just love that there's always like, there's always like these picture perfect little homes. Yes.

And the street light that's like ominous. Yes. It's fall there, Kate. It looks like it's fall. Yeah. Oh, God. Give me. Hopefully there's.

It's cool weather. I'm a setting. I know. Oh, my last. My last one, you guys. All right, I'm going to do... By the way, I've only done nine. I haven't done ten.

I have one more. Okay. Oh, you do. Okay, for some reason I thought we're our last one. Okay, well, that makes sense. Well, then I'm going to do... Because I know Kate's read both of these. This one, Gares read too, and I still haven't read it, which is dumb.

But this girl's a killer. Oh, fun. It's so good. I still need to read, a darkly witty, fast-paced thriller about a young woman with a deadly streak. navigating secrets, survival, and self-discovery. It's so good. That's how I learned that Gare was almost named Cordelia. Do I remember that correct?

Yeah. Yeah. Yes. Yep. When my mom was pregnant, my dad wanted to name me Cordelia. It's such a specific name, man. I'll never forget that. My sister's name is Aurora.

So, like, I feel like. I feel like if my name were like Sarah, you know what I mean? Like it would have been like Aurora and Sarah. So like I was like because I love Cordelia in Buffy. Yeah. And so like when that was on like my dad would be like, oh like I wanted to name you Cordelia. And my mom was like I wanted to name you Ashley. And I was like.

I love that your dad picked Cordelia. I know. We're just learning all kinds of things about his dad tonight. Yeah. He's a bird savior. Just all the things. Yeah, when they left to go on their trip, my parents are in Vermont for three days. And they left today.

When they left to go on the trip, my dad looked at Murphy and was like, I'm going to miss my baby so much. And then it was like, well, Garrett, have a good few days. You'll be fine. You'll make it. I was like, well, I was your baby. Yeah. A little monster. Well, speaking of monsters.

And I don't mean that, I do not mean the main characters. for this book. But I am so excited. I've had this book for a while, but it doesn't come out until November, so I hadn't read it yet. But it is called I Medusa by Iyana Gray. And it literally

yesterday was announced that she's coming to Indiana, so I'm going to go see her in November. And you have to look at the cover. The cover has amazing sprayed edges. But it's a retelling of Medusa's story where a forgotten daughter

of minor gods seizes the chance to serve Athena only to be betrayed by Poseidon and cursed into monstrosity, forcing her to reclaim her power and reshape her destiny as myth and martyr. Damn. Damn. I haven't. People say it's like so dark, but also like, I think revengey and a little redemptive. Yeah. So I am excited. Excluding with rage, heartbreak, and love. Oh, Murphy. He says he has a lot of rage, heartbreak, and love. The only reason he has rage, heartbreak, and love is because he literally is such a lunatic

that he knows that it's 605 here and he eats dinner at six o'clock. Oh, Murphy, Murph. We're so close. We're so close. My next one is called Murphy's Revenge. About a dog who kills his owner because dinner is five minutes. my last one. I actually think that I'm going to pick this up this weekend. So I'm very excited because if I really like this, this is going to be my next author

who's backlist I binge. And it's called The Haunting by Natasha Preston. Okay. A year after her boyfriend Nash's father is arrested and revealed to be a brutal serial killer, Penny is trying to move on after her parents force her to break up with him. but then she ends up finding a victim of a stabbing and wonders if there is a copycat killer to blame. Ooh. That cover is creepy. Yeah.

Yeah. And I guess the discourse with this one is that like the cover kind of make, the cover and the title kind of make it look like there going to be something paranormal about it. And I guess it's like not paranormal whatsoever. So like going. Yeah, it just says dark, mysterious tints. yeah yeah but like I think between like the sheet in the window and like the title of the haunting that like people are assuming that it's paranormal and I guess that it's not it's like a straight up thriller so if you get this recommendation off from this episode of this podcast and you get it from me

and you decide to read this book and there's no ghost or haunting or anything don't come from me because I warn you sometimes it is not literal haunting yeah sometimes it's just haunted by memories or your boyfriend's serial killer father niche. Yeah. I also love all of these stories where it's not necessarily the serial killer, but it's like somebody related to them. Like whether it's like a son or a daughter or like a daughter of a victim or like whatever. I just think that's like such an interesting way to like tell a serial killer story.

I agree. So I'm really excited for it. I'm interested to see like and I think I think regardless how you feel about this one, you should read two by her. just to see if you're like... I have so many that even if I hate all of them, I'm just going to read the ones that I have. There you go. Here you go.

My last one is one that I know Kate's read for sure. And that is Love You to Death by Christina Dafflin. This is a chilling psychological thriller about obsession, toxic relationships, and how love can turn fatally dainting. I actually saw a review of this one that was like, I, they're like, I think this would make an even better like movie or TV show than a bus. Oh, I love books like that. I've also heard from every single person who has listened to it that the audiobook is like godly good. Oh, really?

Yeah, it made me wish I could have listened to it, but I read it. well that's good because i just feel like i feel like lately i've had like neck galleys or i just want to go to the library so my like physical tbr just has kind of been like sitting here it's not that it's like way better than it once was um but yeah it's nice to know when something is like worth doing in a different format right like i really want i really want um this girl's a killer to i need to keep an eye on it as like an e-book because I'd really like to read it on my Kindle, I think. It's kind of a chunky paperback.

Yeah, it's like 400 pages. Yeah. It's longer. Yeah. If you love or you like this girl's a killer and you like the starky, like bitchy side of Cordelia's personality, I think you would really like, look, what you made me do by Elaine Murphy. Mm-hmm. Oh, yeah. I agree.

I love that book so much. Mm-hmm. Yeah. That one's really fun. It's very fun. I do love a little snark. Me too. We did it.

We did more than 30 books because we also talked at the beginning. So we did more than 30 books in one episode. I'm impressed with us. We did like 33 if we include our like what we're reading. Yeah. So you've got lots to choose from.