Bookwild - Books as Messy as Reality TV with Audrey Egner

Episode Date: April 9, 2024

This week, Audrey Egner and I share some of our thoughts on this season of Vanderpump Rules and share recommendations for books that are as messy as reality TV!We talk about Vanderpump Rules for the first 20ish minutes, so if you want to get straight to the book recommendations, skip ahead to 23:10.Books We Talked AboutShiverThe Hunting WivesTell Me EverythingThe Hunting PartyUnmissingThe RomanticsThe Real DealThe DaydreamsThe ClubEveryone Who Can Forgive Me Is DeadKill ShowWe Are the Brennans  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 

This week, I'm back with Audrey Egnor to talk about some reality TV stuff. So welcome back, Audrey. Thank you. I'm excited to be here. Excited to be back to talk messy reality drama. Yes. So we discovered that we're both Vanderpump Rules fans or for anyone who is already a Vanderpump rule fan, a VPR fan.

So we've been talking about that a little bit. And then there's a new show called The Valley that's kind of like a, it's not a spin-off. It's just, well, if spinoff means kind of just having some of the same characters it is, then I guess. But I'm over-explanning this at this point. But there's also a show called The Valley that has Jack Taylor and Kristen Doty on it that we've been talking about a little bit in the DMs. But I was like, maybe we'll do a little reality TV catch-up and then talk about some. some books that are like as messy as reality TV. So that's what you guys have to look forward to.

There's so much messiness to look forward to. Yeah. And we are recording. We're recording on a Tuesday. So there will be another Vaynerpump episode that comes out before this airs. But do you have any, do you have any like hot, hot takes right off the bat about how you're feeling about Vayner Pump? Or I could ask you more specific questions.

do. I feel like I'm not at all surprised about how Sandoval is being portrayed this year with like still trying to kind of be on his quasi apology tour, but still not quite hitting the mark with apologizing to people. So I feel like that is as expected. I feel like Lala's the big surprise this season where she's the calming force almost for a change. How about you? That's that's my big thing. that I noticed going into it, I'm like, because I've been listening to her podcast a little bit more in the last year or so. And she's also seemed pretty calm on there. And so then going into the season, I was like, I do kind of have a little bit of a different image of Lala now since I had been like listening to her on the podcast, not just on the show. And I was like,

she seems a little more chill. She seems like she's trying to like have some control of her feelings while still having boundaries. So I was very interested to see how she was going to be this season. And there are some people who are, and I get it, she's been crazy for a very long time. So there's some people who are like, are you kidding me? Like no one can call her the voice of reason. Like we're talking about Wala here. Or they think she's being hypocritical. I kind of feel like she's being very like, so in the episode that aired last week, which I can't do math, but it was at the end of March. Same. I can't I can't do math that goes that direction. She, she had like a conversation with Sandival after he had like this really big emotional release. And she was saying like,

I was so angry at you. Like I did go really hard at you in the reunion. But like that was because like every straight man in this case who's like cheating and disrespecting women is making me. mad about all of my own stuff and I'm trying not to be that way. I'm obviously summarizing that. She's like, I'm trying not to just like have that anger directed everywhere I go. And I don't even think she's trying to be friends with him. And I think she just did mean it that she's like, I'm just not going to be like beating you down for everything anymore. And some people feel like she just shouldn't even be saying that. And I'm like, can't you like, like, it's probably the same people who think it's okay that Tom is getting reintegrated into the group. So like it's people who clearly

believe that you can like be a different person, but they like just don't want to admit that Lala is. But I've been loving Lala this season. Yeah, I enjoy her too. And I enjoy because I also was listening to her podcast a lot. And then like she definitely seems like she's on a different journey and she's having another baby. Like she's definitely taking control of her life. But I also feel like she can look back and say like I demanded that you know like I wasn't going to be friends with Schwartz because he was friends with Randall and like

maybe that wasn't the best thing or like I feel like she has hindsight on stuff and some like she owns it all and some of it like she'll say I stand by the thing I did and other stuff she's like looking back at it now like maybe that wasn't the best approach but like that's how I felt in the moment and that's how I handled it in the moment.

So like a different perspective and obviously yeah that happened And sorry, what? I was going to say she obviously has a lot of hurt, like from what happened to her. So, like, of course you're going to carry your experience into, you know, what other people do. I mean, I feel like there's a lot of human reaction to it. But, I mean, she definitely was like over the top before.

But I do feel like she's turned a corner. Mm-hmm. Yeah, that fight that happened, I don't know how many weeks ago at the astrology reading, I think that's what it was. between her and Katie where Katie's like, I know, poor Ali is like, she's so sweet, but like, to be honest, she doesn't belong on reality TV. No. And she's just like, I want everyone to feel welcome. And we're like, well.

But when, like, when Lala was, like, trying to kind of say, like, it's all about whether she knows going to ever be allowed to be friends with Tom again. And Lala was trying to give perspective. and then Katie like jumped down her throat because she's like you were like that and Lala was like I'm literally trying to like just say that like I don't think I needed to be that way like if Katie let her keep talking I think that would have come across but I don't know I'm I'm I at the beginning of the season it was a little bit slow for sure and I was just like and then it's kind of picked up here well it has picked up here recently and I've been enjoying it more because like like you do get to see such warring perspectives now at this point. Like even when it's not always about Sandoval, they're all like pretty divided right now. And like Katie and Ariana are kind of the two that are tight with each other.

But it's, what's gotten interesting to me as we've gotten farther into the season is like each scene like you are seeing just like different perspectives where you're like, okay, with this person, I do kind of see their point of view or like with this person, I do see their point of view. So I feel like there is a lot of like contrasting experiences happening. And I think that started to make it more interesting here in the middle of the season. Yeah.

And I also feel like some of the beginning stuff because nothing is hidden. Like everything was so out even though they couldn't talk about stuff. It's like we knew what was happening right after they broke up. And like a lot of that was already in the news. So it feels like we're starting to see some things. we didn't know. Yeah. But it's, it's interesting to, like, to see how the dynamic has shifted between all

of them. And I'm just super curious with, like, because you're hearing that, like, other people are fighting now that, like, Lala and Katie aren't friends or that Ariana's having issues, maybe with, like, Sheena or something. So, like, I'm very curious to see how we get from what we're seeing today to where they are today. Yeah. Like what we're seeing on the show today to where they are.

Mm-hmm. Yeah, totally. Yeah, it's going to be interesting. I can't remember how many episodes we have left, but I know, obviously, the reunion's been taped because we've kind of heard stuff about it. And then they just released the reunion looks on Instagram. Oh, I haven't seen it. Oh, I haven't seen it yet. I just thought like an hour ago.

So those just got released. So I'm assuming the reunion is like, we've got to be in the back third of the season. So it'll be interesting. Lala or not Lala Ariana is really standing by the fact that she eviscerated Lala

in the reunion and Lala had some funny things she said on our podcast that I can't remember now at this point but it'll be interesting to see at least how they edit it and if it actually comes across that way but it's tricky

Ariana I wasn't necessarily a fan of her before this I didn't hate her. I wasn't like a fan. And there were a lot of times where like she gave me, I'm not like other girls energy. Like I'm cooler than that. I'm more of a guy and kind of like that way.

So it's interesting because I feel like sometimes people are acting like she can't do anything wrong this season. And I think sometimes she's being a little intense. But she has also been like deified through all of this. I know. And I feel like, I want to say, I don't know if it was like the midseason preview, but it was something where Lala like made a comment about her about like getting over it or like it can't last forever or like, you know, whatever it is. And yeah, I don't know. I mean, what a strange way to get like all these deals and brand deals like for Ariana to like explode over this thing that happened in your personal life. And I feel like, how could you not get caught up in like the. rush and the wave of it all. Like you think about like people who sort of like become instantly famous, you know, where one day you're sort of like you can walk down the street. The next day everyone knows who you are.

Like how do you not get swept up and all of that? Yeah. So who knows? I agree. Yeah, she just got the Love Island hosting gig. So I don't think her, I don't think her offers are slowing down anytime soon, which is fine. Mainly it's like I am not even a Sheena fan, but I'm like,

I feel like Sheena can be allowed to talk to him. Like, the other thing is they all have to film together. Sometimes that's what I see in the comments. And I'm like, that is the weirdest part that it comes down to is like, she's like, no one should talk to him. Meanwhile, all of them have to work together. They're essentially co-workers. So it's not like, it's not like, like there's a chance that Sheena maybe wouldn't see him in other circumstances, but they do have to film together. So it's just messy.

And like, he just keeps running his mouth and saying. not even on the show, even just in present day, just keep saying stuff in interviews where you're like, dude, how are we ever going to kind of like you again? I know, and I've never liked him. So I'm like, I can't get behind like any of this stuff. Yeah, I've been like his apologies. He's always been like, he's a problem.

Mm-hmm. Yeah, he's like the number one guy in the group thing is still like my favorite. and then Jack's like trying to outdo each other but like it definitely seems like he was kind of protected and even now like that Ariana's like let out stuff about what they covered up and they lied about and how she protected him like I will never come around I kind of feel like why does some of you guys want to be friends with him I yeah I agree yeah outside of filming I don't get yeah he's just I know everyone is their own human, but he is just a special version of that.

He's always been that way. He's always just been like, wow, that is like, like the scenes of him in the makeup, when he's like in full drag, like, the episode when he's like saying, George is basically a battered husband. And he's like, he's so emotional, like, so histrionic. Like he's just, he's always been in his feels and like, it's always been like selfish. I know. But then I think about like, I don't know if it was like season one where he's like flat ironing his bangs and like tweez his eyebrows and like putting on like his I don't know if it was like body makeup whatever he was doing like trying to make it in Hollywood. And it's just like all I can think about is that with his flat ironing and his like perfectly plucked eyebrows which I'm like dude, what are you doing? I know. He's obsessive with that stuff for sure. Yeah. And now the nail polish. Yeah, it just, it feels like such a stick.

Like it doesn't feel like he's playing a part. Yeah, and it's always felt like to me. Yeah. Like trying to be outrageous, trying to be over the top. Totally. You mentioned his, his, uh, whatever, season long feud with Jacks about being the number one guy in the group. And we did get an awesome episode where Jacks pops up to. dinner. Yep. And it was hilarious, though. Like, you're reminded that, like, Tom and Jackson

scenes together is pretty amazing, too, because they just pick at each other. And Jacks came in and just with, like, whatever he said about, like, I saw a picture of you man, and I was like, man, he looks terrible. He looks like 50. Like, just out of nowhere. He doesn't care. Yep. Yeah. I know. It reminded me of like, you do miss like the Jack Zingers. Like I missed the Stasi Zingers. I miss that like Jack's element of it. And you're like he did. He did bring some great drama. He did. And then it was really cool. If anyone watched, which I didn't watch it from the beginning, necessarily. I picked it up. I don't know. I feel like I was all in. I binge watched it like four or five years ago. But not from season one. But when they. did air season one since it is vanderpump so it's through lisa vanderpump she was currently on real housewives of beverly hills so the way they introed vanderpump rules was like a kind of crossover at the end of an uh i keep saying r hobbh real housewives of beverly hills episode and um kind of

crossed over in the last few minutes and then went straight into the first episode of vanderpump rules kind of seamlessly. So that's what they did with the Valley. So that is the scene we're talking about with Jacks when he does come in at the end at the end of a Vanderpump episode. And then we kind of transition to the Valley, which is their new show of kind of like you're like 40 somethings, being parents. They're trying to like pitch it. I saw me and they cracked me up about this. They've kind of tried to pitch it as like, we're 40 now. Like we're parents. We need to be calmer. and like in the valley and stuff and like so far that is not what's happening and it looks like it's going to get really really messy actually so it's kind of funny that they were trying to like pitch it's

like we're not vanderpump anymore we're we're older like it's just as much of a mess so jacks you and i talked about it already a little bit but he is just like he is the perfect villain like every time i watch him i am like wow i could not handle being around this person in person. Like it would be so difficult to be around him in person, but he knows how to make good TV. He totally does. And I feel like in the early years, it was so pure what they were doing. Like they were just living their lives, like any reality show. And then he definitely picked up over time, like what he could do and should do to keep it interesting. And that whole first episode of the Valley where he's like needling Kristen about having a baby,

And just keeps telling everyone about it and talking everyone about it, like knows exactly what he's doing, what buttons to push. No, it's going to be great TV. And there's a part of me who's just like, oh, my God, you're so awful. Leave the woman alone. But then you're like, oh, no, this is like the best TV ever. Keep going. I know. The two of them together, too.

The history is just, it's so fun to watch it all. It is. Yeah. He really, I know. He really was just bouncing around everyone in the group in that first episode, like, What do you think about this? What do you think? Like, forcing everyone else to actually talk about it, which again, like, just proving how he just, he does just know how to be on TV. I think I told you already, but I heard someone on a podcast this week talking about like the reason the Valley actually is, like it's actually getting a lot of their views I'm seeing are people surprised by how much they like it where they're like, I didn't know if I would even enjoy it, but I started and it's pretty good. And someone. I wish I could remember so I could give them credit was like it's because they have two vets there. And I was like, oh, yeah.

Like you know that, but you don't think about it when you think about a show truly starting from the beginning versus having like two of the biggest. Because Kristen's still kind of a villain. Yep. So two kind of reality villains on a show already. Like they are just starting shit. And then in the second episode when he's like, I'm going to invite her X to the party. Yeah. Was that bad?

Yeah. She said I can hang out with him if I want to. Yeah. Like, she's not going to be there. Oh my gosh. He is so sneaky. Totally do. And it sounds like we might see some of the demise of him and Brittany.

But I don't know. I've heard people saying they think she'll go back to him. And I'm like, I kind of agree. Because it doesn't, I mean, I agree that it's probably still on the table. Yeah. It doesn't seem like it's off the table, but it doesn't seem like it's a publicity stunt. Like I know a lot of people said that where they were like, oh, well, because people thought Ariana and Tom were like a publicity stunt, but people were saying, oh, they're just doing it

to get people to tune in to see what's going to happen. But I watched some of those interviews that they did, like publicity interviews. And I think you did too, where it seemed extremely tense between the two of them. Yes. Like it didn't seem. I don't think they're that good of an actor that they could be pulling up. off that this is like all a big fake scam. But yeah. Yeah. No, I agree. I don't think so. I wouldn't be surprised. I sent you that

interview I saw, but like the one where someone asks like, it's basically, uh, Jax and Kristen and then Brittany. So Kristen is having to sit in between them doing press for the show because they're not together right now. And like the interviewer asks like, Jack's like, do you want to get into any of the details? Like, you know, you guys? are separated. We've heard you talk about it. And he's like, I'm not getting into this. Like, this is personal and this is private. And Brittany from like in the middle of the sentence is like, oh, I'll talk about it. She's like, she's like, I'll talk about it. So yeah, I don't, I don't think that's fake because he very much looked like he did not want to talk about it. And she looked like

she was ready. Yeah. And it doesn't seem like it's one thing or like one big, you know, event or something. It wasn't like a Tom. cheating on her kind of a situation. So it'll be interesting to see the dynamic of them since they've been off TV since they had their kid. So also like if that's part of it, like I feel like to go back to Vanderpump,

like the Sheena and Brock with their daughter, like that dynamic in Sheena's concerns like brings a whole different storyline to them, which is kind of interesting to see like how life changes when you have kids. And like when they're not on the same page with you know different things about how to raise her or how to handle certain things so i feel like seeing that with jackson brittany it's not going to be the same jackson brittany that we knew from

vanderpumped so to see them differently whereas christin kind of feels the same yes she just like the same christin yeah yeah her and she's like known that guy for i can't remember i've obviously heard a lot of numbers since i watched it but like known him for like six months. I feel like not a whole year yet. And they're trying to have kids together. And I'm like, I'm sorry, Kristen, but like I'm kind of with Jacks on this one. Like, I feel like a good friend is asking you like, are you sure you want to have a kid with this guy? The problem is Jacks is Jacks. So it doesn't sound the same coming from him. And I feel like if Jacks tells you not to do something, I'm going to want to do that thing. So like the more he's like, yeah, talks down on it. And I feel like if

She wants to have a kid, have a kid. But I mean, like, Lala's doing it. And she's just like, I'm going my own way. I don't need to find a guy to do this. And maybe someday I will. So, yeah, I don't know what Kristen's doing. I don't either. I don't think Kristen always knows what Kristen's doing.

No. And then, like, the ending of last week's episode was just like a cliffhanger of she was running her mouth about something. And I guess we'll find out about it tonight. But it seems like she's also stirring that pot. Yep, she will. They both will. As one does. I'm excited for it. I know. I didn't think I would like it as much. Like, I definitely tuned in for all the obvious reasons, and I'm intrigued by the other couples and the dynamics. And I think one of the other couples does get divorced or is separated now. Jesse, maybe. I don't, I haven't even learned all their names yet. I can remember if it's, is it Jesse and I can even remember. I don't have the other couple's names memorized.

yet. I know. I know what they look like. Yes. Yeah. I don't know. Maybe after this week. Yeah, exactly. It's only been two episodes. Yeah. But a lot's happened. I know. They did. They have packed a lot into episodes. It feels like it's been on a little bit longer. Yeah. But it's definitely. There are a lot of people. So. Yeah. Room for a lot. Messy. Messy dynamics. Yeah. Still boozing. Like you can just the wheels falling off this bus. Mm-hmm. Which is the best for reality TV.

That's why we're doing in. Exactly. Bravo makes good TV. They know what they're doing. Yeah. Yeah. Totally. Well, speaking of messy,

we have some messy books, book recommendations for you. In case you don't watch reality TV, but you want some messy reality vibes. Or if you love reality, TV, you might probably also love these vibes for books. So I'm excited. I didn't realize how many I was

going to have that would actually apply. Like at first I was kind of like, I know I'll have some, but I found quite a few, which is not surprising. Cool. I'm excited. I know. I feel like so many of the books were like, there's a messy character for me is like a real murdery book. And I was trying not to do all real murdery books, but more messy. And maybe. less frequently talked about by me. Yeah, I was doing that too. I think all of mine have at least a murder in them, so I couldn't help myself.

But they're definitely not like murder-heavy. Yeah, okay, I think one of mine doesn't. I think only one doesn't have a murder. We're still like mostly on the same page. Yeah, murder or a death. Yeah. Yeah, that's a good point to you. Well, my first one that I thought of was when I read here recently called Shiver by Allie Reynolds.

Oh, such a good book. So good. I can't believe I didn't hear or like that it took me so long to read it basically. Like it basically this is also, I would also categorize this under my like books that need to be talked about more. But it is an ensemble cast. I also kind of noticed that coming up. We're like, it's an ensemble cast, which is very similar to messy situations on reality TV.

And it is about five friends who are returning to the French Alps. And they were all snowboarding. They were all snowboarding there previously as teens, basically. And one of their friends, Saskia, went missing. I'm trying to remember how many years. What is it 10 years? I think it was like 10 years ago.

Yeah, I think it was like 10 years ago. I feel like it's 10. So basically 10 years ago, she went missing. And they get invited back for a reunion at the like ski resort that they used to be at. And it basically turns into a locked room situation because, without giving away too much other than the synopsis during an icebreaker game, some secrets start to come out and then they realize that they're stuck there. So everyone's kind of suspicious of everyone and you're getting the past and the present timelines.

And the past one specifically so messy. Like just thinking about a bunch of really competitive, athletic, hot teenagers all living near each other and competing with each other and it definitely gets messy and I loved the book so much. It's one of my favorites. Me too. Yeah. I loved it so much more than I expected to because I was kind of like, I don't really know anything about snowboarding.

Like it's not something I would gravitate to. I was so sucked into that book. I thought it was amazing. Yeah. I was like like when my dog, this was the kind of book that when my dog would wake me up at like two in the morning to go outside. I'd be like, oh, and then I'd be like, I could sneak in like an hour of reading. It was ruining my sleep.

Yeah, that's the line of a fantastic book. Yeah, I loved it. And same, like, both timelines were really good. Like, it wasn't, you know, like, sometimes you read a book and you're like, oh, I'm in that timeline again. Like, I want to get back to the other one. I was so hooked for, like, all the secrets and the messiness and all of it. Yeah. Yeah.

So good. good. I loved it. Yeah, big fan. So my first book, I picked The Hunting Lives by May Cobb, which to me feels very like real housewives meets like desperate housewives was like how I thought about when I read this book. So also this is like a group of, I want to say they're like 40-ish, like in or around 40 years old women in Texas. And I mean, they just like drink too much, make really bad decisions full of secrets. And it's one of those books where like it opens and like you know something has gone horribly wrong and then we go back in time to find out. So it's like kind of this like rich neighborhood, all the neighbors, someone who's like new in town, one of the housewives that comes in and gets pulled into this group of.

poorly behaving ladies who have teenage kids and husbands and I was totally hooked by this. This was the first makeup book that I read, but it totally reminded me of that, like, messy housewives vibe to all of it. Yeah, that one is so, that's a great one. I can't believe I didn't think of it. When you folded up, I was like, oh, my gosh. That's so true, my years. Because she is filming. he is filming a TV series for it right now.

I know. And not that I would have seen her, but that business trip I was on was in Charlotte. And then I got home when she was posting, like all these things, they're all in Charlotte. And like Katie Lowe's, who's one of the actresses in it,

she was like posing in the airport. I'm like, when did this happen? Oh my God. I could have seen them all. I'm sure they're like in some suburb, but I was like, I was there. Yeah. That's awesome.

I mean, you're close. You were close to the action. Yeah. I can't remember. I can't remember if I know which platform it's coming on. But basically, it's going to be on, it's going to be a TV series here soon. Yeah. They are in the production.

It looks so good. Yeah. Yeah. That one's very fun. I'm such a fan. Yeah. I'm such a fan of her just like dark humor and just. I just love rich people behaving badly.

I really, really do. I know. It's very fun. I have one that kind of is rich people behaving badly in that. This one, well, this one's called Tell Me Everything by Cambria Brockman. And it's kind of like a wealthy girl goes to college with some other wealthy kids. So it's another ensemble cast in that sense where basically, a really tight-knit group of friends have like a bunch of messy endeavors together as they're in college.

And it does, it does span like freshman to senior year. Like you're getting bits and pieces from all of it. But on senior day, someone goes missing or someone dead just to be sure. Yeah, because another one, yeah, where it opens and then we go. back in time. I love that. Yes. Framework. Okay. So yeah, it is that on senior day, like,

they find out how certain missteps set in motion of devastating chain of events that ends in a murder. So basically, it's very dark academia. Obviously, it's all takes place at college. But Malin, the main character, just feels a little bit different for everyone throughout all of it. And so she's a little bit more of an observer. And then some events just really, really, really, really escalate.

And the ending is very messy and it's very twisty too, like, shocks you multiple times. So that one's just so fun too. I know. I love those college dynamics and like they all moved into the house together and just all the messiness. I'll talk about this one next. Yeah. I love, like, seeing books we have, like, the development of the friendships, like, in my dreams

for, like, you saw all four years and how everybody gets to know everyone and, like, how all the dynamics change. I love that versus just, like, sometimes it's fun just to see, like, one snippet in time of them, but I always love those, like, Ben and Now kind of books. So in a similar but different vein, I have the Hunting Party by Lucy Foley. So this is also like privileged people behaving badly. So this is like a group of friends who knew each other from Oxford and now they're in their 30s. And they spend New Year's Eve like weekend or days together.

They go on a trip. So I want to say, yeah, they're in the Scottish Highlands, get together and then wind up getting the blizzard. They get snowed in. And again, we know sort of out of the gate that something really bad has happened. And then we go back a couple of days and see the whole weekend unfold. It's kind of, I feel like Lucy's fully, Lucy Foley's signature of how she writes her books. But we see such messy dynamics between the friend group. Again, they're like drinking too much.

Secrets are coming out. Making really poor choices. Obviously, you know, something terrible has happened. And then we have like the two people who work at the resort also. So they are just stranded and it's like everything starts to go. wrong. And it's one of those where like, yeah, it's like the years of history are what kind of, you're getting like reveals as you go along just because like they've all been around each other for so long. It is fun. And that whole dynamic of like how you were in college and how some people

don't change and some people do change and how your relationships change and not everybody will see each other the same way, like one except that people have changed, like that whole dynamic i just love that and kind of to your point how sometimes like being around the people from your past makes you act differently than like your current self because you like fall into those patterns exactly you're literally isolated because it's kind of another locked room situation like they are isolated totally there um then it's like all the old dynamics come back up that one was so good i i think i read that one right that one right i think i read that one right after because the guest list was the first one of hers that I read, which would also qualify

for this topic. Yep. Very messy. Yeah. So I read the guest list by her and then I read the hunting party and I was like, wow, those were very fun. Like so many layers, so many people. But like all the people still feel real. Sometimes I think occasionally you like get really big casts.

And so then like some people start to feel flat. But you really like feel all of her characters. I know. And I was talking about this in like a video that I did recently where I was like, bear with me. Like I know it's a murder book, but there are degrees of relatability to it. And I feel like degrees of relatability to the characters. So not that I have necessarily done all the bad things they have, but there might be like moments or pieces of all the characters that you can relate to. But I feel like those little inroads can make such a difference with enjoying the characters too, when you can see a piece of yourself for better or for worse, like in a person or in character.

They do. And I think some of what is, I were false lashes. And I just, I just read them today. And it just like stuck to the bottom of my lash. So all of a sudden, I couldn't get my eye open. I was like, wait, I don't think I can smooth my way through this. Oh, some of the fun of reading is also, like, kind of fantasizing about, like, acting out on, like, when you're really angry, the things you wish you could do. So I think that's sometimes what's fun is, like, if you can relate to why a character is, like, wanting the revenge that they want, or why they're angry about something or why they murder someone even. sometimes it is the like fun of like getting to just play out the fantasy like you know you're never going to do it but it's like gratifying to fantasize about it through a book definitely enjoy i don't know what it says about me but that's my take i'm with you

well i finally have one that isn't dark academia not that i don't love dark academia obviously. But this one is kind of a little bit more of like a domestic thriller and it is Unmissing by Minka Kent. And level of messy from the get-go is this woman Merritt and her husband Luca like basically have their dream life. And then one night when Merritt is home and Luca is gone for work. Someone knocks on the door and Mary answers and it is a woman claiming to be Luca's first wife

who disappeared 10 years ago and had been declared dead since. So she kind of based, Marit's like, no, there's no way this is her. But like she's been out of their lives for 10 years at this point. And so she doesn't want to believe it,

But now it's like starting to look like it really is her. And she feels kind of guilty. But she's also like, I don't know, I'm with your husband now. And then some other thrillery things start to come up about like, why was Lydia gone for so long? And how did she escape? And what actually happened in those 10 years that changed her? So you also bounce between Merritt and Lydia's perspective. So you have the woman who has been missing for 10 years, did not want to give away.

She has been missing. And the woman who's now like, oh, my husband's first wife, who I never met, just showed up on the doorstep. So it is very nasty and complicated. She's probably like, I'd rather she still be missing and not here. She's kind of like, I don't want her here. So she's pregnant as well. The wife is the second wife is pregnant. So she's like, I don't want my life messed up.

God, I hope she doesn't live with them. I know. You'll just have to see. It's Kendall and Linda for anyone who is an e-reader, so that's always good news. But Minka writes some, like, crazy books. Oh, I haven't read her. She has quite a few. Yeah, yeah.

I know her name. And then she's also just written a lot. So I still haven't even read all of hers. Wow. That's an interesting premise. I do like the... It just got picked up for something. I can't remember if it was a movie or a TV show. Yeah. Nice. Mm-hmm.

Interesting. Okay. My book could not be... It's 250 pages. So it's like fast. Yeah. I don't say I feel like this book is short, too. This is like less than 300 pages.

Couldn't be more different than what you just talked about. So this is the Romantics by Galt-Meterhofer. I feel like this is one of those books that it's older that like never I shouldn't say never gets talked about because I don't want to I don't know maybe it doesn't I'm like when is it I get it I said that too yeah 2008 so it's like decently decently old and I read it way I've read it multiple times this is like my obsession level with books but it's also about a group of friends who went to college together but we meet them over the wedding weekend of two of the people in the group so it's it takes place over like, I don't know if it's like 36 or 48 hours, but it's like Laura and Lila. Yeah, I know. So it's like all the drama gets packed in. And they're at, I want to say like Lila's family has like this big estate. So they're all at the estate where her family is. But Laura and Lila were like best friends in college, tight group of friends. But now Lila is marrying Laura's ex-boyfriend, Tom. So she gets to be at the wedding of her ex and her former best friend, kind of still

best friend, because of course we're all still friends. You know, like the weird interdating dynamic of friendship groups. I loved this book. Like, so much manages to come out over the course of like, it's the rehearsal dinner. And then they all like stay up and party that entire night, like into the wedding day. So we get to see everything that happens. But this got made into a movie with Katie Holmes and Josh Dumel was Tom. He was like, like love him. And Adam Brody was in it, Malin Ackerman. Oh, wow.

I'm blanking on who was the lead character in True Blood, that actress. I always blank on her name. Anna Pacquin? Yeah. No. Yes. No. Yeah?

I think it was her. Diaries. No, that was Nina Dobrov. Oh no, you're right. You're right. So yeah, I was, yeah. Yeah, I think it's Anna Hackman. Yeah, yeah. And then, and then I want to say Candace Bergen plays her mom, which doesn't even matter. But like, it's so well done. So I feel like anyone who has like that group of friends from college and like this like incestuous friendship dynamic that goes on between everyone. We're like everyone's dated everyone and everyone's been in love with everyone. And now it's the wedding. So I just love. this book so much. It is messy.

Oh, I bet. Yeah. Sounds like it has big potential for it. And also like boozing too much and all the secrets come out. It's like I feel like that's my theme. Messy and drunk people mostly. I mean, it fits. Like we started from Vanderpump rules and like that's the whole vibe for them. Exactly. Exactly.

It fits. It's drinking too much. Yeah. Vanderpump. Yeah. good. It is. That sounds good though. Now you're tempting me to read it and then watch the movie. Watch the movie. Yeah. And the movie probably came out not long after the book. So it's like all of them. Like they look so much younger obviously in their prime. I love Katie homes. Like all. And then Josh

Dumel. I just love to pieces. So. Yes. Yeah. We started the gentleman with Theo James. and that's my Theo James is my current obsession right now. Did you watch White Lewis? I don't know who that is. I did. Did you watch the second season? So he was for lack, I mean, like the hottest guy there, I guess is the best way to say it. The one who had the nude scene with Aubrey Plaza, where she like walks in on him.

He was married to their friend. Mm-hmm. right i'm blanking on her name the girl from the bold type yeah i'm blanking on her name yes okay he was best friends with audrey clause's husband yeah yeah yeah he's in

the gentleman on Netflix and he's very attractive in that so that's why that's my current guy of the moment it's a good reason to watch um so my next one

is directly related to realities TV actually. And it's one that I read here at the beginning of the year called The Real Deal by Caitlin Devlin. And so she even on TikTok basically promotes it as like dance moms as like, yeah, for the premise, essentially. Because it's about a girl named Bell Simon, who when she was 12 years old, basically insert. program like that with someone called Donna Mayfair where like she promises to like take these girls and like teach them how to dance and sing and be actresses and like just break into the industry in some way and so that was when they were all like 12 years old is when it started she and five other girls um but then when bell's 26 she gets invited to come back for a

reunion special and she's kind of like you know what i guess i should do this so the the show previously um ended in a very shocking way between her and donna mayfair so that's why knowing even could tell if she was going to come back for the reunion because of this vague explosive finale of the show that had to do with her and the the leading woman basically. So she just decides that she will go back. And as she goes back, all of the stuff gets kicked up from the past and like all of the

complexities of like competing with these five other girls. But they're also like your only friends and the only people you're seeing. So like all of that gets up. It's kind of it is told and past and present. So you're like learning what happened to her as she's trying to like get through the reunion and no murder in this one this one's considered contemporary fiction um but i always tell people it's paced like a thriller like it has the kind of with the then and now and like you're trying to figure out what terrible thing happened to that shut the show down

so um that part feels like you're reading a thriller like you are kind of trying to solve something as you read it and i loved it interesting i haven't read that but it's totally reminding me of this book The Daydreams by Laura Hanken, which was not on my list for today. Have you read that? I haven't read it. I remember seeing stuff about it last year. It's like a group of, I want to say it's four people and they were on like a Mickey Mouse show type of show.

It's like a variety show with singing and stuff like that. And there was like a live finale and something went wrong and there's like some secret in the past. And now they're doing a reunion together. everybody back together again. I don't know if it's like 10 or 15 years later. Everybody's moved on, but they get back together and they're going to do like a live reunion special. And it's kind of like very similar. You see the past and present timelines. There's no murder. But you see the dynamic between them and you like build up exactly to like what happened then. So kind of a very similar premise. Yeah, it was a good book. I really enjoyed it. Nice. I love that. And it was like 90s. Yeah, like a 90s past

timeline, which I always. it in the list because that one definitely sounds like yeah especially for just people who are interested in reality TV in books yeah yeah this one was very good i remember like obsessively reading it to get to the end so that's probably why reminded me of a thriller yeah and like yeah same like it doesn't have to be a thriller to be page tourney so i love it when you're reading non-thrillers that still have that same compulsive pace and feel to it yeah i agree i'd add that to my list cool and she's so sweet i interviewed her about it and she's

she like wrote it when she was 22 and i was like i feel old interviewing i know anytime i hear that she was so sweet i know i was like what was i doing at 22 not that i was doing this at 22 Right.

With having messy friend relationships. Yes. That's what I was doing. Yeah, exactly. Not to Vanderpump level, but it could get messy. No, it's probably why I like the messy. Oh, yeah. The next book I did legitimately think of is The Club by Ellery Lloyd,

which gave me below deck but not on a boat vibes. So it's like this like ultra exclusive club that opens up on like islands around the world and all these rich famous people come to it. But the book is told from the point of view of all the people who work there

so you see it from like the staff perspective. I loved below deck. I don't watch it anymore, but those like original like heyday seasons of it. I was totally in And I feel like because, like, I used to work in commercial real estate. So we ran the building.

We did the events. Like, we were the people who put on the stuff. And then all the rich, drunk people behaving badly would be out and about, like, at the venue. And we were all just like, you're the worst. Like, you're the living worst. And we have to clean it up and deal with it and take care of it. And it was like such a different perspective when you're like the behind the scenes person. So I totally related to the staff in the club where they were just.

like these people, like these totally entitled crazy people. I loved it. And it's like the island where when the tide comes in, you can't get in, you can't get off. We know somebody's going to be dead. And then it's like the dual timelines and all the multiple POVs and really, really like deplorable people behaving badly. Oh, yeah. It was really like your people on an isolated island stuff. Yeah.

doing all the worst things. Yeah. It was so good. I loved it so much. And I wanted to, because it's a writing duo. I wanted to interview them so badly after I read that book, but it just didn't come together. But I loved it because it kind of reminded me of big brother, even though there wasn't cameras too. But it kind of was just like everyone stuck in a location.

And then it was such a unique take to have like the staff like, for. finding stuff in bedrooms and like that's helping you understand what happened it was very cool which maybe that's why it also feels like big brothers kind of like it's the behind the scenes people who are like like yeah catching it all the behind the scenes yeah yeah i was that was one of those books below deck oh no but it's just one i've never gotten into but i keep hearing about it so i might need to. I really, I like, I don't even know if I started watching maybe like season two or season three.

Like I watched it early on. And I loved the earlier seasons because it's some, like a lot of times you'll get a repeat character from season to season. So you'll kind of get like maybe the same captain, but like one crew member. So kind of like not a spinoff, but a through line. So then you get to see them with like different people on the crew. But they are also like such a. a mess, talk about living in tight quarters with each other. So intense. And then when they go out

to like blow off steam, it's like all bets are off. It's crazy. I bet. Yeah. It was good. Those first, I don't even know if it was like five or six seasons. I feel like it's one of those shows like Dancing with the Stars that's had like 20 seasons or something like that. But right. It's good. Yeah. If you're looking for some good drama and messiness. And then the people who are on the boats obviously you have to agree to be filmed in all of this and some of them are so ridiculous and obnoxious that you're like why did you agree to be filmed because you people are so inappropriately behaved and some of them are like super nice but it's fun to watch the guess yeah it's good nice i'm gonna have to add when you're looking for something yeah

like nighttime my going to sleep tv it'll be perfect for that And Captain Lee was like the original one and he just has like no patience for any of it. He's so funny. He's really, really good. I know every now and then I like hear, I'll see the memes of like certain captains being like hilarious or what just funny memes. I've seen memes. Yeah. Captain Lee and Captain Sandy.

I feel like we're the best. But they pop up on Bravo stuff every once in a while. Yeah. It's such a cool universe, the Bravoverse. I know. a lot of people well my next one is

it's not like below deck but it's called everyone who can forgive me is dead by Ginny Hollander so yeah I loved this one so much and I feel like I haven't talked about it a ton so I was like definitely want to include this one

but the main character Charlie basically now she's a journalist but nine years ago um there were there was an event at her elite graduate school on christmas eve that became known as scarlet christmas and um basically she was a witness to something terrible that happened and she just like fled the scene um and we know that Charlie knows so much more than what she told the police. So that's not a spoiler. That's in the synopsis.

And so basically from there, she rebuilt her life. She became the editor-in-chief of a major magazine. But then one of her former classmates starts to make a film that is based on the Scarlet Christmas. And so now everything that she's done to, like, get away from her past is, like, forced back into her life. And so in trying to kind of maybe stop it from happening, she ends up finding out more than she even knew about that night. So that's my initial spin for it. But you do get past and it's not literal past timelines, I don't think.

I think some of it is like you get it in her therapy sessions, I feel like is what I'm remembering. Right. But it basically you are, you're in her journey of college with her and like the friend group that like their dynamics and like what went wrong with them that led to them being involved in this thing called the Scarlet Christmas. So it's another one where like messy friend dynamics lead to death. Yeah. Lead to death. It's a cautionary tale. Yeah.

Yeah. There were so many. The last part is very best. Mm-hmm. And I feel like it did a great job of really leaving you guessing about what was happening or like what really happened in the past. Like such a great breadcrumb drop the whole way. Yeah. Because I.

And then having to like film made of it in the present time is like, messy as well like thinking about having someone like make a movie about like your most traumatic night basically so that part's pretty crazy too yeah that was a good one

so good but I think it just came out in February right yeah February yeah I definitely read it this year so I know it's a newer one and also had that stunning yeah it was a debut you. It's crazy.

It gets me too. I know. Shiver was a debut also, which also blew me away in Lally Reynolds' book. Yeah. Every now and then people just come out swinging. Mm-hmm. I know.

It's impressive. It's impressive. I don't think that, I was like, I don't know, I don't think this is a debut. The next book I picked is Kill Show by Daniel Swerin Becker. I don't know if you read this one.

This one came out. I feel like maybe. fall of last year. That's kind of what I was thinking. Yeah, I think that's what it is. So this is, so for like the reality TV show literal vibe, so this was a girl went missing and this woman who was a producer on a TV show is kind of like trying to make her mark. So she decides to do like a reality show true crime.

So they fly to the area and start kind of like broadcasting. live and creating a reality show of this girl's disappearance. So it's not like a documentary that's done later. But the book itself is told 10 years later about what happened back then. So it's all in transcripts. So they're going back and interviewing everyone who was involved and like, you know, something went terribly wrong and starts to piece together everything. So it's like you're seeing the past through the transcripts,

but the entire book is in transcript. and that's how you're figuring out what happened back then. But rather than doing, it's like a, it's like when podcasts are like being done in the moment as crimes are unfolding. So it's like a reality show as this crime is unfolding and as they're looking for this girl and it's like this teenager who went missing and this shady producer convinces her parents, you know, to do a reality show to try and get more attention to help find their daughter. Wow.

And it's messy. messy messy. I remember seeing the cover and then I just like or I remember seeing it like on bookstagram a bunch and then I didn't end up reading it and how I really wanted to read it. Yeah, it was good and it's quick

and again I love anything where it's all transcripts like the Janice Hallett books where she does like text messages and emails like everything feels like you're doing the investigation alongside them. Yeah. So I really liked it and how

like you're getting like everybody's perspective So it'll be like, you know, oh, like we created this amazing show and the next person's like, she created a total nightmare when she decided to make that show. So like you're seeing everybody's perspective on each other and on what happened. So you're getting like all the different points of view on what happened back then. So I thought it was great. Yeah. That's cool.

Did you have. And I said it wrong. Sarah's the one who went missing. Yes. That was another one where like at first reading it all in transcripts was like, Like, it was just, when you're when you're just not used to it, it's kind of jarring at first. And you're like, oh, this is very different. And then like, once you settled into it, you're like, oh, I see like, you can so, like,

succinctly put contrasting perspectives by, like, just cutting in and out of their interviews, like you're saying. Or, like, one chapter you're hearing this and, like, Daisy is saying it, like, it's fact. and then the next one, like someone is like has a total other interpretation of the experience. It is cool doing it in a different like medium. Yeah, I think that was the first book I read that was like that. And I wound up, I want to say I started reading it. And then people were talking about the audio book.

So I wound up getting the audio book and like reading it while I listened to it. So it was like all the voices going through it, which was. Amazing. And that was definitely the first audiobook I listened to that was a full cast. Yeah. That's really cool. I haven't even thought of that. I know that a lot of people do say the audio book for it is really good. Oh, it's so good. So many good people in it. And it was like, so Jennifer Beals does Daisy's voice. So when they were gearing up to do the TV show, I was like, how is Jennifer Beals going to be like 20 years old? Like, how are we going to do this? Like, it has. to be her voice because that's like I'm picturing like flash dance Jennifer Beals as like young Daisy and like current day Jennifer Beals as current day Daisy it took me a long time to like get past it that it wasn't going to be her yeah yeah like I guess I like Riley Keogh

I guess she's okay she's just totally amazing yes oh my gosh I loved her in that it was I wish I could like I mean I know I can rewatch it but I wish I could rewatch it after like forgetting it basically. I know. I know. New for another time. I know. Yeah, that was so well done. I can't remember if Netflix has Evelyn Hugo.

Someone in a half, Evelyn Hugo has been trapped in whatever that is. Just kind of like the purgatory of no one has completely committed to starting to film it, I think. but I think that one's going to be a movie. I don't know if you read that book, though. I did. Yeah, I've read all of her books. Nice. I went,

I read Evelyn Hugo first and then I went berserk. Me too. And, like, read her whole backlist and then read things as they came out. Yeah. Same. Well, I've read her big, big four is what's actually correct. I haven't read her, like, kind of romances, right? This is kind of what she had.

Yeah. Yeah. I liked them because it's still like that same complicated characters, like romance, relationships, like mother, daughter, sisters. Like, it's still that same complicated. And I feel like there's always, I'm trying to think if it's like forever interrupted. I'm going to get like the titles mixed up. But one of them is like a woman and her husband are married and they decide to just like take a break for a year. It's like they don't want to get divorced, but they decide to just like live separate lives.

and you see like them living separately, but you get like the backstory of them together. Like I just feel like she takes like creative. That's what turns. I'm like I'm going to blank on like all the names of them. One of them is like this woman and her childhood sweetheart are married and he's like an adventurer and he goes out on this helicopter and disappears. And it was like one of the books that you talked about gets declared dead. She went moving back to her hometown and like getting together with somebody else and then her husband comes

back oh that's one to love so it's like which one are you with it's like your husband or like your new guy that you're with so i feel like she always poses these very interesting block questions yeah they're so good she is really good at that i'm interested to see what she writes next because i saw some quote about like how like carrie soto evelyn daisy and malibu rising were all about like she was saying were all about like powerful females in the context of fame and that was kind of her obsession for those books and she said that she wants to go a different direction in her next one so i'm like very interested to see what's next i know and i know hulu had malibu rising and i don't know

if that is still happening or if that came to an end and then i want to i want to say it was one true love is the one with her husband. That got made into a movie like Taylor and her husband. I don't know if they wrote it and produced it or they just produced it, but that actually got made into a movie. Yeah, I remember seeing people posting about the movie. I haven't seen them either. Yeah, I haven't watched it.

Honestly, that idea scares me to think of having moved on and then someone goes back. I'm like, I don't know what I would do. I know. Like, it's such a moral dilemma. And it's like, I feel like it's one of those books where you're like, like you can see both sides. Like she has another book that's kind of like a sliding doors where like in one, in one thread she stays at the bar with the guy that she meets and another thread

she leaves the bar and is like going to call him tomorrow. And then you see the two different paths her life could take. And it's sort of like which one would you rather have or like which decision would you have rather made because we see where it goes. Yeah. Like she's such a genius. Like, I just can't with her. But, yeah, I would say they're worth reading.

Yeah. They're definitely worth reading. Nice. Well, those are kind of messy, too. Those kind of count. Yeah. Yeah, there's messy dynamics for sure. Yeah, she's got some messy doing on.

Yeah. Totally. Well, do you have any more? I don't have any more. I had one more. So it's We Are the Brennan's. by Tracy Lang. I've read this one.

I've heard of it. I've never read it. This is kind of like family drama, I would say. Okay. So it's about this Irish Catholic family and all sorts of great secrets come out. But the daughter's name is Sunday. And she wakes up, so she's 29. She wakes up in L.A.

She is bruised and battered after a drunk driving accident. And her older brother comes out to get her and brings her back to New York and back to the family to heal and to get better. And we find out that five years earlier, she left New York and kind of fled for a reason. So we get to find out why she fled, what all the family secrets are. We get multiple points of view. And it's like this tight-knit family, this tight-knit community. They own a bar.

They've got all sorts of fun secrets and things between them. And I loved it. it. So this was another debut. This came out a couple of years ago. This was another book that I would say, like, reads like a thriller in the sense that I compulsively read this book and just loved it. Loved it, loved it, loved it, loved it. It kind of sounds like apples never fall, which I keep hearing about because it's a TV show now. But that's like the same thing where it's like intense family dynamics. And like you're saying in this one they have a bar, this is like they turned tennis into their lives and got really competitive with tennis and have like a tennis

academy and all of that but then like all these family secrets come out throughout the whole story yeah and messy relationships between them and like her ex-boyfriend and the dynamic with them and her brothers and i loved it i absolutely loved it i was obsessed when this came out that sounds really good yeah i had a fun time with it i would highly recommend it Yeah, it is cool when they're like, like you were saying at one point, like page turners, even though they're not thrillers. Mm-hmm. So that's the main thing for me. I just like the pacing to feel fast and interesting.

Of course, it's easy to say you want something to be interesting, but keeping things going keeps me interested. Yeah, it's hard. Like, I can do a slow burn book, but if it's... a sloggy book like that's where it loses me like if i know it's slow burn going into it and i'm in the mood for that i don't like you can i feel like it can still be page tourney even though things are happening slowly it's more of when you feel like you're plotting through it that it's a no-go yeah i agree same i'm all about the pacing for the most part late at least lately that's what I've learned about myself.

Maybe it'll change too. But lately I'm like, I think things to be happening. That's how I told you. I'm reading Listen for the Lie. I know. I'm like I need like a fast-paced and like the book that where I told you, I'm like, I kind of want to blow off work today so I can read my book. Like it's like that kind of a book.

And that's how I felt was shiver. Like I definitely remember like sneak in time while I was working to read that book a thousand percent. it's supposed a past job so it's fine that I'm saying it now oh there you are oh there you are I lost you for a second I think we're good oh okay yeah shiver was like that for me for sure and yeah those are the best those feel the best but listen for the lie is so good I love it yeah I'm totally yeah if I could have stayed awake last night I would have read more but I definitely was like doing the head bob and i'm like i gotta go that's what i've been running into i'm not getting much reading

in at night and i'm like oh like i tried to and then i'm asleep and i'm like okay well i just started a book it does i can't remember it comes out in july called where are you echo glue and i feel like you were talking about that with hally sutton right yes it was what i was i was Um, it would qualify for messy as well. It comes out July 16th though. So I have it on net galley. But this is one that's coming up about basically a child star from the 90s goes missing. Um, when she's like, I feel like she's like 19 or older. She's kind of an adult, but goes missing. Um, I'm still at the very beginning of it. And, uh, but there's a journalist who gets really obsessed with figuring out. out where she is because everyone's like, oh, she's just OD'd again. And she's like, I don't know. I'm going to figure out what happened. So you get the journalist's perspective and you get Echo Blues perspective of her past, like starting her career in Hollywood as a kid. So I, again,

I'm still at the very beginning of it, but it's one where I've been wanting to like, yeah, just like shirk my responsibilities and read. Yep. It sounds really. good. I hadn't heard of that. I wrote it down when I was listening to that podcast. I was like, that is a list. I can remember who I saw a post about it, but someone posted, uh, someone posted about it. And one of the comps was Evelyn Hugo, which always grabs my attention. Um, yep, sometimes that plays out for me and works out well. And sometimes it's like, hey, you're kind of stretching. But then I saw that this one, this one's a thriller too and that like someone's missing. And I was like if this one is kind of like Evelyn and is a thriller with a missing person, I'm pretty

excited about it. Yeah, I love a Hollywood angle to things. I definitely gravitate towards that. And I think, I want to say a book just came out today. I think it's called Nothing Without Me. Yes, I saw you post about it. Right? Right. Yeah, nothing without me. I kept saying it like, nothing without you. But yeah, it's like a female director and she goes to the home of her Starlit to go to an award show and finds her, like, dead in the pool and is convinced to just, like, leave it for somebody else to find and goes to the award show. And then they come back to, like, check on the dead body and it's gone. Like, then it becomes, like, what happened? Like, what's going on here? Where is she? Oh, my gosh. And then I'm sure just, like, goes from there. I know.

Talk about, like, messy. I love the idea of, like, we're just going to deal with this later. we have a BAFTA to get to. So, yeah, we're up for an award. We'll just deal with the dead body later. I immediately was like, I need to read this book. I know. Like, the kind of person you have to be to think like, as whatever.

She'll be here when we get back. Like, where is she going to go? Who cares? Yeah, we'll go claim our award and then we'll come back. I really want to read that one too. I had like seen it a couple weeks ago. But I hadn't read like the synopsis. this and then I saw you posted about it and I was like oh this is sounding interesting to me now too

I can't keep up there's way too many books mm-hmm you're so good about reading your neck-alley books and reading ahead yeah somewhat yeah I have I do yeah because I think I'm caught up on my April ones because now it's like May and June oh my God but I went out of order for where are you echo blue this one's July but I was like I just have to read it. Yeah, it sounds really good. I know I have books that I've tempted to read, but I'm like, let me, I need it to read lessons a lie.

I was like, it already killed me that like I didn't read it as soon as I got it because I was in the middle of something else. So I was like, I got to read this one now. Yeah, it's worth it. It totally is. Yeah. Well, we probably added to everyone's TBR significantly as we say here at the end. Like, oh my gosh, there's so much.

So many books. I know. Yeah. Yeah. So hopefully everybody loved some of these recommendations. And if anyone has their own messy, not even thrillers, just books. Comment on wherever you're listening or on YouTube or wherever.