Bookwild - Comfort Reads and Watches with Gare and Steph

Episode Date: June 12, 2026

This week, Gare catches Steph and I up on his trip to the Montreal Mystery Festival, and we all share what we gravitate toward in books, movies and TV shows when we need a comfort story! Books We Talked About Verity Hot Girl Murder Club We Used to Live Here Sublimation The Midnight Knock Jar of Hearts The Truth About Melody Browne The Spin TV Shows We Talked About Orphan Black Severance The Vampire Diaries New Girl The Office Parks and Recreation Schitt's Creek Movies We Talked About Basic Instinct Oddity Cape Fear Black Christmas Verity Scream I Know What You Did Last Summer 10 Things I Hate About You   Check Out Author Social Media PackagesCheck out the Bookwild Community on PatreonCheck Out My Stories Are My Religion SubstackGet Bookwild MerchFollow @imbookwild on InstagramOther Co-hosts On Instagram:Gare Billings @gareindeedreadsSteph Lauer @books.in.badgerlandHalley Sutton @halleysutton25Brian Watson @readingwithbrianMacKenzie Green @missusa2mba 

This cover for maximum pleasure looks cool, or maximum pleasure guaranteed. Oh, yeah, so it was both of those. The trailer looks good. It looks really cool. Orch in Black to this day is one of my favorite shows I've ever seen. Like, I am craving sci-fi as good as Orphan Black still. Would you call the Comfort Watch? Bless you. Well, I don't, I don't re-watch, so not in that sense, I wouldn't.

But it fits in my comfort genre. my life would be over if I didn't rewatch. I, like, for me, it's like, there are a couple things. Yeah, like some of it is there's so much else I want to experience books, movies, and TV. The other thing is, like, a guaranteed way for me to probably pick up my phone and be, like, second screen viewing is if I already know it's going to happen. So then I'm not locked in anyway. I am that toxic friend, and I do this with you.

guys, I do this with everyone, so I apologize to everyone for outing myself right now. I am the toxic friend who like, for instance, like just this conversation where I'm like, oh my God, I want to watch that so bad. And it's like, Garrett, you could have already watched it or you could be watching it right now if you weren't rewatching. Oh, yeah, but. Do you know what I mean? Like, if you weren't rewatching, I know you did last summer all this fucking time. It does come down to feeling, though, because it's like if you're enjoying it, then you're enjoying it. You know what else my problem is? I'm realizing I have this like issue and like I had to confront myself about it because

it's like work during the week, whatever. And then it's like Friday and Saturdays I want to watch something really good. Right? Because it's like the weekend. I can watch something. Stay up on my tiki talks. Read my little bug. Have a silly little cigarette and go to bed.

So it's like, oh my God. I want something like for instance. It's like I want something that gives me the same feeling as basic instinct. But like, what else is there out like that? So then I just end up watching basic instinct because I want to watch something I can enjoy or I know I will enjoy. Well, and there are studies that show that like lots of, I feel like more people are rewatch than don't, I think is the vibe that I get. And there are studies that show that the like the familiarity is calming to you. And it you, for some people, they don't feel.

feel anxious because they know what's going to happen. So then like that's, that's a nice experience for them as well. So there are studies. And it's like not totally parisocial. That's like the wrong one. But it's kind of like hanging out with people you know. Yeah. And sometimes it is like something where you, it's a like you know that you're not going to be paying as close of attention. Right. Yeah. It's okay to if you miss. yeah, a few minutes or talk or like get on your phone for a little bit like it's okay that you know you know what I mean. I also feel like I really if I really like something I like to rewatch it because then I can be like picking up on more things like maybe there's like clues or something I have done that before.

Yeah like when I yeah when I interviewed the director of well he is the director of Hocom. but I interviewed him about audity. Definitely did a rewatch just for analytical purposes. Yeah. I'm upset. I do have occasional ones, yeah. Or if it's like really, like there are some. I can't remember.

It might have been Cape Fear that we were talking about last week that made me think about it where it's like if I watched it like 10 plus years ago, like in some ways, I'm like, okay, I could probably enjoy this again. Yeah, I'm like, oh, I don't even know what happens. Yeah, unless it was like, burned in my memory. But I probably won't. It's not my go to though. Yeah.

What about what about shows or like a movie that have like an ambiguous ending where like some people are on one side and some people are on the other side? Like would you ever rewatch that to see? Severance. I did that with Severance. Yeah. A couple episodes.

Yeah. I think when this stuff is airing, that's what I'm noticing is like maybe I watch it that night for fun and then I'll go maybe go through the next day if I'm going to like talk about it. There's um the only reason I ask is because like one of my favorite movies is the original Black Christmas and there are two types of people out there. I'm not going to say anything about the ending because even though it's from 1970 something like I still think that I can get people to watch it. But there are two types of people and like one people, like

one type is like very much like, this is what happens in the end and this is what this means. And then there's other people that are like, no, this is what this means. So like, people argue about the ending to this movie like so much and I find it like fascinating because sometimes I watch it and I'm like, okay, like I'm

team A and then like sometimes like maybe I'm team. I don't know. I get that. Speaking of endings where people can think a certain thing. This is kind of off topic, but kind of not. I went to see The New Devil Where's Prado with some friends, and there was a preview for Verity. They made it seem like a horror movie. Yeah, and I was, and like some of the people I was with were like, oh, I don't know if I could see that.

I'm like, the book is a thriller. Like a lot of things I know you read. Like a domestic thriller. Yeah, like, and it was a group of girls from my thriller book club. So I'm like, you've read, than verity or like more experience but like the preview i'm like what are they going for here i don't know i saw the preview yeah it makes me wonder if it is actually leaning gonna like if it's actually going to lean into horror or if they just thought like toxic relationships will make it seem creepy or something in the trailer psychological i think it leaned into like oh there's that there's that there's a woman in the window. Yeah. Landing there or whatever.

Josh Hartnett. I might have to see it just for that, but I was just like, this is crazy. Yeah. I like that book. I remember, like, I had a DNF, and then I was like, I need something I know I can whip through when I picked up parity. And I was like, all right, check. That's what it was. I read it like second or third week of, like, the pandemic. So it was like, it was one of those things where like it might have been blowing up on TikTok at that point actually or it was making around on TikTok because that's also that was like the same. Yeah, the pandemic was how I really got obsessed with TikTok. Anyway, I was like, oh, this will be fun. And I remember I like read it pretty much in one sitting. Yeah. It was very fast-paced. It is, it's very bingeable. Yeah. And like I had a friend, well, I have a friend who was trying to get me to read like. like Colleen Hoover and I was like I'm not a romance girlie I'm not reading Colleen Hoover and then Verity came out and I was like okay now I can read that yeah that makes

sense there's a little flash in the preview of like the headboard and I was like for those who haven't read it that means something that'll be my especially if it's Josh Hartnett like that'll be my favorite well we kind of got right into talking about TV shows movies and everything but Gare just got back from Montreal. So do you have, I mean, I've heard some things. I've seen your posts, but for those who, you know, don't talk to you on the daily, do you have like a recap? Yeah. I'm obsessed. I love, well, first of all, I love Montreal. It's like the cleanest city. It's like people are like friendly. It's so strange because you feel like you're in one of those like movie cities.

because it seems kind of like New Yorkish, but like it's a lot cleaner and like people are like nice. Like they're not like shoving you out of the way. So I went to the Montreal Mystery Festival. It was my second year, but it's their third one overall. And I met Greg Wands there.

Ashley Winstead. Not to brag. On Sophie Jeannot. Olivia Worley was there. Alex Finlay was there. It was a really, really amazing lineup. And we had like a cocktail party on Thursday night. And then like we all went out to dinner.

And I talked about like 90s thrillers with like Onso and Ashley and Ashley's husband. And it was just amazing. Like the panels were so good. Like they had like really fun questions. And like I think like even as a reader like you get more like, I said before we started recording, my bad. I got like a lot of information I didn't know about like adaptations, book covers, titles, stuff like that.

Friday night, my second night there, we went to the big, what? Oh, you were muted for like three seconds. Oh, you said like the second night. That's where it stopped. Yeah, the second night I was there, it was like raining like a monsoon. Like it was going sideways and you could see like sheets of it across the road. It was nuts. So we went to Indigo and like Anso and Ashley and Olivia got to sign their books at like the Indigo store and everything.

So if you listen and you're in Montreal, you can go to Indigo over by McGill and get signed copies. but we like went and like I was wearing khaki shorts my spary boat shoes and like a really light gray like cover up like zip up and so we like went out to dinner and whatnot and then we go to leave and it's like pouring down rain and everybody has an umbrella except for garret of course and so I'm like I'm just going to get an Uber like I'm okay guys go ahead and then like my Uber shows like the little dot where I am and then a dot right here where we're my hotel is. And I was like, okay, so I look it up and it's like a six minute walk. Oh, that's a long time when it's raining. But I was like a six minute walk. Like he literally like, like, I would have probably been in the Uber for 30 seconds. Like I would have been like, I was like, that's kind of embarrassing. So I was like, I'm just going to do it. How bad can six minutes be? Bad. I was like, I was like soaking wet and I like got into the elevator at my hotel. And there was this couple sitting next to me completely dry and like they were dressed so nicely like they must

have been either going to or coming from dinner and like I like I have never felt so embarrassed. I was so quiet. You could hear the water dripping off me hitting the floor of the elevator. And I was like, this is so embarrassing because I'm normally like so much more put together. Like I was outside for six minutes. Literally like I was trying to save gas. Yeah. And then Saturday we had, Ashley and I had our panel. It was just the two of us and it was so much fun. And we got really, really, really good feedback about like how fun our panel was. And people said really nice things about me as like a moderator, interviewer. So that was really cool. And then Saturday night we like had the party, like the final party. And then like I got. got back to my hotel at 11 and I could not believe how quickly Thursday, Friday and Saturday went by. Yeah.

And it was kind of like, when I was going there, I was like, I know I'm going to miss Murphy. And I was like, I'm kind of like wondering if I was going to be like homesick because like three days is a lot if you're just kind of like by yourself. Right. Like I'm not going with a friend or anything like that. But I spent every like minute without. Ashley Winstead. And that was magical. She's so cool. She's so cool and she's so sweet and she's so fucking beautiful. Yeah. Wow. She's gorgeous. What was it all about?

It was literally about Ashley and I. So like they like had like things that were like, um, danger and glamour, I think was one. Um, and then like secret lives and things. like that. So usually there's like a theme. So the panel was supposed to be Ashley Wins said May Cobb and I. And May Cobb actually couldn't make it because she had like other commitments. So they were like it was originally called Garin Friends.

And it was going to be like kind of like a podcast feel to it of like Ashley May and I. And then like they were like, well, we can't say Garin Friends anymore because it's just you and Ashley. So like what do we want to call it? And so I named it Hot Girl Murder Hour. I love that. So that was fun. And we just like talked about like Ashley's like, I was kind of selfish because there were basically questions that I wanted to ask, right?

Like things that I was like, what's your writing process like? And like, you know, I asked her about like different tropes and thrillers and like if she'd ever like explore any that she hasn't explored yet. And like just like kind of like little things like that that I think are really interesting as like a reader. And also like and Ashley Winston. stand. But I think it was like good for other people too because they got to hear about like her wild, wild life that she's lived. Like she's worked in music. She's worked in Hollywood. She's worked in politics. Like all of these things. And so it was just really fun. But then like Sunday I woke up and I was like, I miss Murphy so much. I'm ready to like see his little face.

Yeah. But I also was like it was such a magical like, amazing weekend like zero complaints um but i was also like kind of sad like because i was like i don't know what i'm going to see a lot of these people like in person again but like it's going to be really hard also to like find myself in a position where all of us are in the same room because like Montreal mystery is very intimate yeah what i mean so like when things are done you go to a cocktail hour and it's pretty much all the people that you've been seeing day in and day out and there's like probably like 20 to 50 of you you know like all just like mingling around and it's like not intimidating so it was just kind of like sad but I had a

it was amazing nice I loved it and I tried a new skin care and people were coupled my skin left and right oh my god I'm better I've broken up with Tacha poor Tacha I'm a Nuterium boy now I know what Naturium? Oh, Naturium, yep. Oh, my God. It is magical. I use their cleanser, their vitamin C serum, and then their peptide moisturizer and

like the silver tube. And like, my face does not feel greasy, like, throughout the day at all. Like, it just is magical. And I'm obsessed with the churium. So that's my. Can we get a sponsor? I know. I'm like, come on, guys.

I was like, hmm. that's amazing it's a good feeling when your skin it's so fun like I told an Uber driver that my birthday was yesterday like when I was in Montreal because my birthday was like last Wednesday and he was like oh like how old are you when I was like 39 and he was like

you look like a baby like there's no way that you're 39 and I was like thank you it's Naturaam I know so and it's like I don't really love the sun I know that's half of it for me I think but you know what's weird is that like I also have been curious about um oh my god what is it called uncommon james christen cavillaries skin care line so she has like uncommon james which is like jewelry and like

all of her other stuff but now she does skincare and the thing that i find very interesting about that is i think she looks very young for her age as well but she doesn't believe in sunscreen because of all the harsh chemicals in it i that was an interesting take so i'm like like, huh. And like she's like a sun worshipper, but like also like really hydrates her skin after instead of like just, you know, being out in the sun and getting burnt or whatever. So I think that's really interesting too. Because I don't use since I don't use sunscreen. I'm never outside enough to need it. I'm not usually. I'm not usually either. But if I am, I'm like, oh, well, at least I get a little bit of a tan. I burn so fast. So I have to.

But like I'm literally only O UTS, I-D-E to W-A-L-K the dog, so who are sitting right here. So it's like maybe, maybe two sets of 15 minutes. Yeah. Steph is tan A-F though for anyone who's not watched. Your color is so golden and Gere and I are marshmallows. I think it's like AJ, my husband's in the roofing. industry, so he's like outside constantly. And he wears a hat a lot, but I get like on his behind about sunscreen because I'm like, I know. He'll always be like, he'll say shit, like,

he'll look in the mirror and be like, oh, I have to pay extra for those bags. Like, you know what I mean? Like almost like an airline. Yes. And I'm like, well, make sure that you like take care of your skin because that's like an aging thing. But anyway, he's like way, way tan. So I'm just, I like don't even realize. Yeah. Thanks. Oh my gosh. Something about like a tan when somebody's like blonde and has like blue eyes that like really It's insane. It like really pops out.

I'm like on a little like blanche for you guys. Oh my God. Oh yeah. That's exciting here. I'm happy for you. Yeah. It was really exciting. It was really fun.

But like the only thing I'm kind of annoyed about is do you know when you travel and you just can't wait to be like you know when you travel and you have a really good experience and you're like checking out of your hotel the minute i check out of my hotel i want to be i want to be home oh yeah do you know what i mean like even if i'm like i could have say to montreal for like two more days doing everything that we did like i had a blast don't get me wrong so i wasn't like okay but like i knew it was over i knew everybody was like parting ways and going home so the minute i got in my car in that parking garage i was like i want to pull out of this parking garage and just go straight thrown into my driveway.

Yeah. Like, I want to be home. So the only thing that sucks is like, you know, when you're gone, you like miss your bed and you miss your animals and you miss like your own kitchen and like whatever. But like I got home and I'm having my bathroom remodeled. Oh, yeah. So like my skin care is like all over the place. Like my contacts and my contact solution are on my nightstand.

And my toothbrush and toothpaste are in my kitchen. Oh, yeah. My hairbrush and like some of my skincare are at my desk at work so I can like put it on. Like it's just I'm like, I came home and being like, okay, like I'm finally in my piece, but like I have not been in my bathroom since last Wednesday. Yeah. Your own bathroom is clutch. Yeah.

I mean, it'll be great when it's done. Yeah. Yeah, totally. Oh my gosh. Okay. On that note, I was visiting a friend in San Francisco and like on the way home, both flights were delayed, which was like fine only by an hour and like it didn't make me miss a layover. That's my own. I don't want to miss a layover.

But in my layover in Detroit during it, I was, I saw this man with this very tiny little leather backpack that I'm like, how do you fit anything in there? And then I saw him on the phone. And then he, I almost thought he ran into this woman. And she got like so angry. She's like, did you just walk away from me? And then I saw she had the same little tiny backpack, different color. They're a couple. And they were in such a juicy argument.

And like I felt bad for them. Like you don't want to be that couple. But they were in that space where they're like, I don't even, I'm not yelling, but I don't really care if people hear my business because I was like grow away from them and I was like texting AJ because I'm like you would eat this shit up because it was just you could tell like she was thinking he cheated he deleted text messages betrayal blah blah blah and I'm like oh yeah and then they were on your entertainment and they were on my flight to Madison and so like the guy was like AJ's age and AJ just seems to like know everybody sometimes so I like took a picture

and he's like, I don't know who it is, but that guy. Like, you know what I mean? Like, he's somebody. And I was like, I don't know. Maybe he made someone feel something they needed to feel. I don't know. But I was just like, and we had this little tiny flight from Detroit back to Madison. And I saw the woman in like the back of first class.

I don't know if I ever saw the guy get on the plane. Oh. But I was like, damn, that's juicy. Like it made the trip home. Like you said, when you're on the way home, you just kind of want to get there. Yeah. I was like, damn. I don't want to like,

I don't want to like yuck anyone's yum because like whatever. Because we have like Gen Zeev and like, stop wearing skinny jeans and I'm like, shut the fuck up. But like, I also like think it is so funny that you see him and the first thing that you notice. This tiny little leather backpack. And you're like, you're like, how can you fit anything in there? Like I'm still stuck on like, what is this backpack?

All I can picture is this man in this tiny, like, a little leather backpack that's like this big. Just like fucking like screaming. Like losing his mind. I'm like, is this some like fancy Italian little backpack that you like had to have? And then I'm like, you could barely even fit like you couldn't fit a computer. You couldn't really like. I was like, okay, this is dumb. And then when I saw she had one too, I was like, okay, here we are.

And then they're fighting. That's amazing. I know. Because I was like, oh, is this woman just aggressive? like he ran into her on accident like but he was on the phone and so I'm like who are you talking to and she's like I filled all the holes in my head as we do filled all the unbound I was like the only thing that will make this even better is if like somebody else was at the airport and they were filming it and it pops up on our TikTok tonight oh my god I know that's what I manifested

well I was just like envisioning I'm like like, what if he's next to me on the plane and I, like, see his phone and he's, like, texting this woman. You know what I mean? I'm like, I just, I have no idea what the situation was, but you know, you immediately want to, like, go up to him and be like, he's not worth your time. Yes. Get going. Like, I don't know. I was like, I don't know. Maybe she's the problem. She could be. They might both be a problem.

Very well. Maybe they're both the problem. Yeah. I just don't know if they're compatible. Like, you come up with this whole story about it. would have, that's what you should have went up and said. I just don't think you guys are, should. That would be so. I think you should just nip this in the bud now. Like, this is obviously not working for your girlfriend. Like, get out now.

Yeah. You should have went up to her and been like, he is so not worth it. Like, I can't believe he talked to you like that. And then, like, ran over to him and been like, I can't believe she treated you like that. So then you could get both sides and determine, which. I don't know. Like, because I. He was, like, being very open and, like, confronting.

issues not in like a yelling way but just like being very honest he would speak sometimes so it wasn't like he shut down but at the same time he almost gave the impression of like i'm not really sure what the problem is like why would you think that and she's like you deleted messages why would you delete messages or like i don't know it was just interesting other people's lives yeah in the airport like it's a some good people watching place it's so interesting because i've been like angry enough to the point where I'm like I will rip you a new asshole like out of church if I feel like I need to. But like I've also been the kind of person where I'm like if you think that I'm going to argue with you in public and so I'm just like waiting until we get home like you're out of your fucking

like. Yeah. Like I am not going to give these people a show and I'm not going to give you like what you. Because like let's be honest like whether it's a man or a woman like there's always going to be that one person that's like goading you to like lose your shit so they can be like you look crazy. And that's on reactive abuse. oh yeah i think it's like you just want it on your terms right like we all want it on our terms like if we want to like start it in the airport we will but otherwise if it's not on us we're like absolutely not that's so embarrassing in that class i've also been getting like a ton of tictox lately that are like how to rage being a man i love those oh like the questions you ask them yeah like other than

the obvious what would you change about yourself i just saw that too i love that one And I see this, like, woman who, like, did some, like, really toxic things to her ex and, like, I don't know if it's a bit or if she, like, actually did this. But, like, she was like, I got a letter of a restraining order from my ex because, like, I put instant mashed potatoes on his lawn and then, like, did this to his car and, like, all this other stuff. And I'm like, girl, you are amazing. So it's, like, all, like, I'm just, like, good for her. Good for her. I love, like, little shit where it's, like, you didn't really do anything that bad. but it's like super inconvenient

and it's kind of creative I'm like, sounds great. Like she's like, I took his thermostat. Whoa. And I'm like, that's not even like that horrible, but like, what inconvenience. Uh-huh. Yeah. Or like, I don't know.

There were like, dude, someone took my thermostat right now. I would be on this idle. I just had to change the batteries in like two of ours. And I was like, this better not break. we've turned our air. This is an embarrassing story, but like, I feel like Kate is definitely going to be on team gear with this one and stuff would be like, but like, because I feel like stuff doesn't complain about the heat as much as we do.

I did before you got on today. That's true. You did. But like, so I got the, um, the, the wall unit air conditioners. Yeah. So I have one of my living room. I have one of my bedroom. I have one in my bedroom. and I'm obsessed with them. Like I think that they work so well. But like obviously I haven't had to use it in the last year until like very recently. So I turned it on in the living room a few weeks ago and I was like, this does not feel cold.

And like it ran for like three or four hours. And I was like, I'm not hot, but I'm also not as cool as I should be. Right. So I call the guy. who installed them. Like you have to put like, I think it's like free on or something in them. Yeah.

And so he comes and he's like, none of your units need free on. There's nothing blocking them. They should be okay. Maybe you just turned it on like too late in the day and it was already too hot in your house. So it was like fighting to cool it off basically. And I was like,

that kind of makes sense because my, the back of my house is all like windows. So like there's like a ton of light that comes in, it gets hot back there like around 5 o'clock. Okay? I'm like, okay, whatever. So last night, I go to put the air conditioner on.

And my thing pops up and it says CF, which means clean filter. And I was like, oh, okay, like that happens. This morning I went to clean the filter. It was the dirtiest I have ever seen. And he didn't check that?

He didn't check the filter. Huh. Because that's technically like my response. responsibility to clean the filters of them. But like I still feel like if you're like a repair dude let you know you look. Yeah, yeah. But like it also like pops up to tell you. So like basically like you should kind of like. Okay. You should kind of because like it, the filter on it is right on top. So you just pop it out and you like run it underwater and like get the dust off and then once it dries, you pop it back in. Like it's very easy. It was the dirtiest filter. And then like as soon as I cleaned it and like it dried and I

put it back in like it has been so cold in my living room oh and I'm like oh my god that's the best feeling but I'm also like oh like if you would have been like no you just need to clean your filter you fucking idiot right oh my god I was talking about we like at our work we put solar panels on and we just put it on our house in like November and so it's our first like summer having them And like last month our bill was like negative $14. So like I don't know if that just takes it off next month. But I put in like our social media posts. I was like, well, sharing about it.

And I was like, I am an air conditioning girl. So I'm not sure what the next few months will bring. But like I'm sure it'll be better than it would have been without them. But I was like, I am absolutely an air conditioning person. Oh, yes. Oh, yeah. It's like in the we have such strong afternoon sun that I'm like absolutely not. I don't know.

It goes from like, like, when I was in Montreal, they have the same weather as like we have because I'm so close. But like, it was like 65. You know, and like even when it was like sunny, there was like a breeze and then like it was like a fucking monsoon. But like I come home and it's like 65 and then all of a sudden like it's like 83 today. It's like in a matter of a day. Like it would be like and I'm like there's absolutely no way. Like I either have to have air conditioning or central air because like, I am not going to like wiggle things around and try to put in like window units when it's like 85 degrees and I'm sweating my face off. No.

Not sweating full of pots. I hate it. We have like a phone next to us and AJ's like, I like hearing the frogs and I'm like, sorry I will not sleep. And you like hearing the frogs? Play it on your phone. Yeah, I don't know. Yeah, that is literally what they call. That is literally white noise.

That is literally white noise. That is such a white man thing. Like, I like, you hear the frogs when I sleep. I'd be like, well, I like to not fucking sweat my face off when I'm sleeping. Yeah. And I'm not like having, they're not like total blackout, but like room darkening. And I'm like, I'm all blackout. Shut.

Yes. So I'm like, if you want to hear the frogs, they are not. not shut. Yeah. I'm not even that much of a sleep snob, but I would like cool air and no sunshine. Yeah. I think this is why I only like

fall and spring is because like, I could not do like a blackout curtain or like anything like that. Like I love when the days are long and it's like sunny until like 830 at night, but I also want it to be like 60.

Mm-hmm. Yeah. I hate how light it is so long. Yeah. Like in the winter, I'm like, oh, great, it's dark out at five o'clock and like it's the most depressing thing for like months. I love it. I have summer depression. I will say sometimes I'm like, AJ falls asleep so early. I'm like, bro, it is eight. It's like so light out. It makes me feel like I'm so old, but I'm like, it is almost. It is like eight. Like some people do go to bed right now. But in the summer, it's like, this seems weird. That's what I hate about it. Because I'm very much, like, sometimes I'm asleep by 9.30. And I'm like, why the fuck is it bright outside? I just want my cozy dark space. Seriously.

Well, like, I take Murphy out at 930 and I'm like, Murphy, look. You just see this guy. And he's just like, God, Bob! I'm really, like, twitching in bed. Yeah, and it's less scary in your area area, so you don't have to be as worried about people trying to attack you at night. I think it's more scary. Really? He's a little more scared of...

I'm in the middle of nowhere. I'm in the middle of nowhere. So, like, if anything happens, like, it takes, like, at least 20 minutes to get here. But don't... But isn't that one of the reasons you like it light longer? No, I just think it's like better for my mental health. Oh, got it. No. I'm just as scared when it's like light out.

So like here's my thing. It's like in the winter when it's like gets dark super early, I'm like, that man could come kill me at 6.30 and be home for dinner. Right. But like in the summer when it's like warm, I'm like, okay, because like then in the winter I'm like, he could kill me and like go home for like his supper. But then I'm like, okay, it's way too cold for him to be like standing outside stalking me or like waiting for me to like have a more. moment of weakness where he's like ready to attack. So I'm like, it's way too cold for him to do this shit. But then in the summer, I'm like, it's lighter out. But like also like you could just sit in a field or like in the woods behind my house for like four hours and like you're not going to freeze to death. Just wait it out.

No, I just like it. It's like, oh, it's like nice and sunny and I get my vitamin D and it's like good for my mental health. And then I just scroll on TikTok until it's dark enough to go to sleep, which is usually like around. midnight. We've just talked about the most old people shit for a really long time. But when we are sad and depressed, even though it's at different times in the year, what comforts us? Let's go. So we are going to talk about what comforts us. Mine are so unhinged, you guys. I'm going to, I love that about it. That makes it exciting.

Yeah. All, all, all. I'll just, I'll kick it off so that you won't, you will not, you won't have crazy. Because she doesn't rewatch or read anything. So I'm like, I'm curious to be what you're here, what you're answering. Oh, good boy. Yeah. Well, um, okay. So first, when we talked about doing this topic, it reminded me like that same week. I had just, Bruce is coming in to bark right now, right when I'm trying to get to the point. So I had just seen a carousel that talked about why some people find horror comforting. or no, why some people feel better after watching horror movies. And if I saved it, I will link it. But it kind of talks about how you're like, so like, you know how sometimes if you are the kind of person who starts to get how to combat stress into your algorithm.

Sometimes people will talk about like the reason animals literally shake it off is they like actually shake off like the adrenaline after like an intense thing. And then that's even how it evolves into us telling ourselves to like just shake it off. So what that is psychologically or biologically whatever is you're completing your stress cycle. So when you get stressed like your cortisol and possibly your adrenaline go up and sometimes quite literally physically shaking yourself can help you complete the cycle and get back to like neutral. And so there's a theory that horror movies kind of do the same. same thing for people. Like if you're already kind of like, whether it's like angsty, anxious,

a little frustrated or whatever, you like have that heightened feeling. And then like the story falls and whether it's an ambiguous ending or not, it like the story ends. And so it kind of like gets the stressed out of your system in a way that completes the cycle. And I have been having like five really stressful weeks. And so my, my first one is not, my first answer, I guess, secondly, is not a book. But the triad of Hocum, no, there's four.

Hocum, which was like Irish folklore, came out. And definitely psychological horror too. And then Is God is came out, which is like a Southern Gothic revenge horror. And then obsession came out, which is like domestic psychological in-cell horror and then backrooms came out which is liminal space psychological horror and so i have been like trying to recover from an injury which is just it drives me nuts like i have routines that i cannot stay in still and those help me feel calm

but going to four horror movies in three weeks has really been comforting I love that. I love that too. And so when you suggested the whatever, the topic, I was like, oh my gosh, this is perfect. And sometimes you might not even know that's what you're doing until you realize it makes you feel better. Yeah. I think so too. So that was the first thing I thought of.

Gere, I feel like, I mean, some people could say horror movies being comforting is unhinged. So I don't know if what yours is similar. Right. I, okay, how do I say this? I love the screen movies and I could rewatch them all the time because I think that there are things that I can pick up on every time I watch it. And I like to like theorize when I watch movies. And number three, even though people don't like it as much, is like a huge middle finger to Harvey Weinstein. like I'm obsessed with that.

But my favorite movie over Scream is I know he did that summer. Mm-hmm. And I think it's like without spoiling anything for people that haven't watched it. It's like four teens like hit someone with their car one night

and they like come up with all these reasons as to like why their lives would be completely ruined if like they tell the cops what happens. And then they like dump his body in the water and like try to move on. And a year later they get a know this is like that we did last summer. right, hey, whatever. The thing is, is in the scream movies, the cops know, the parents know, like, everybody knows what's going on when this, like, person in a ghost mask is, like, calling people

and attacking them. I think I know what you did last summer is so much more disturbing, because these are kids that are literally in, like, their freshman year of college, who can't go to the police, who can't go to their parents, like, they literally only have each other and they're, like, 18, 19 years old going through this. But one of my things is, like, I feel like there's like never a happy ending with like anything. Like things might be resolved and you might think like you might be safe, but like you're not going to be happy. So I think it's so comforting to watch that movie because now we have like the sequel

that came out like 28 years later and you find out like what happens to everybody after. And like that's one of my things when I watch a movie is I always want to be like, well, what do they do now? Like, did they have children? Did they get a pet? Did they like, what do they do for a living? Like, I always want to know what happens to everybody's life after a book and a movie. And with this one, you know.

And I just, there's something so odd about a bond, a friendship that literally stands the test of time when there's somebody with a fisherman's hook trying to murder you. So that's mine. That's great with a fisherman hook. And I love Sarah Michelle Geller. Oh, she's totally. And that's like, I think, like, one of her best roles because she's so good in it. Do you know is, I know what you did last summer. Is that like the OG of the trope of we all did something bad and so now we're connected forever?

I think so. Or did that exist? Well, that probably did exist before the book still technically right. The book by Lois Duncan came out in the 70s. So they're probably, I bet there have been. So I think it was like a huge help. Yeah, maybe like the first like contemporary. Yeah.

Not like, like, I'm sure like some of the like mysteries from like the 1800s had to do with something like that. But yeah, it seems like that's kind of the OG of that one in recent times. I didn't realize the book was that much older than the movie. Yeah, the book came out in the 70s and they hit like a kid with their car, I think. like you get on a bicycle and but the problem is lois duncan who wrote the book her daughter was like murdered very like brutally and so when they turned her book into like a slasher movie like she was like not very supportive of it and was like i don't like i don't like i don't like this because obviously yeah yeah that's a little tea on that's rough damn and the guy that wrote scream

wrote i know you did last summer tried to sell i know you you did last summer first and nobody wanted to make that movie and then when scream took off they were like okay we'll make it oh so yeah the successive scream wow caused i know you did last summer to come out because they were written by kevin williamson who also did the vampire diaries and um and blinking but like dawson's creek oh yeah i didn't realize how different it was from the movie then oh it's very different yeah i didn't realize how different it was because even the twist i just probably movie in like college but hadn't read the book i don't think i even knew it was a book at the time wow i watch it all the time actually for my birthday when i wanted to watch something comforting

i watched um the latest i know he did last summer nice because i love madeline klein and tyriek withers tyrieg withers i love him so much um what comforts you step i think since everyone's talking about I'll start with watching things. I'll start with watching things. I think I'll say movies from like the earlier 2000s era. Like I just watched 10 things I hate about you the other day and that was like very comforting and I'm like Cat Stratt and I did the same thing. Cat Swatford's a badass. I love her someone. But I think like so I'm realizing that those are kind of comforting more than I realized before. But I do we rotate like AJ I think is Gen X. But like I'm. I'm so millennial and like new girl the office parks and rec and shitts creek like those four just can go like on repeat at our house like and those are the moments kind of like we were talking about before where like maybe we'll sit down and like watch a show we've like never seen before and like are really into and then like when that's over we just like put on the old oh geez and it's like okay and now it's bedtime. So it's just kind of like usually that's like our progression of the evening. yeah because usually those are all good ones they're so fun

I feel like I see those on lots of like rewatch lists yeah yeah I think that like they all to me have like really great and memorable characters and like you were saying like having that familiarity

is something but they're all like sharp and funny and like sarcastic and so they like I love I love all of that. Like they're not to me like slapsticky funny. That's not comforting to me. They have to have

like a little voice like sharp and kind of sassy. That is comforting. Yeah, I love that. Well, the other thing that came to mind for me is so like obviously I had my whole thing about horror. Then I think with books, I was thinking about how like mind bendy stuff is comforting for me. And then like probably I would also consider that like typically in the genres of like horror thriller specfic. Um, is typically where you're getting that mind bending stuff because the thing for me is like when I need comfort, it tends to be because like something's going on that I don't want to have to. think about um and i just want to like get completely absorbed in a story and so when there's like

when i feel like there's so much i need to be paying attention to um and like figuring out then my brain locks in and that's when i'm not like thinking about anything that happened during the day uh and it's like literally the best feeling in the world when that starts to happen um which actually i kind of felt i wouldn't necessarily call ash girl murder club mind bending but it had so many threads going. And so I felt that way with that one too. Like there's a lot to keep track of. So it just like keeps you focused.

But my most like the books I think of first like that are of course we used to live here. I feel like everyone knows what that book is about. And then as well though, sublimation. Actually it's under my laptop right now. But that was this was the one that. I read here recently, the episode came out last week as of the time that you guys were listening to this. But it's like you cross the border and you split into two different people. So it's very like severance, but with a focus on like identity and immigration. And there's so much to think

about and keep track of because there are, this is the part that's like severance is like the main characters all like Soyang and Yongju. are in Korea, but they both have instances of themselves that live in America, Rose and YJ. And basically, then you're at odds with a version of yourself that is yourself, but isn't yourself. So that one, just like, there's so much to pay attention to. And I loved it. It was so good. But also, like, the other one that I was thinking about is The Midnight Knock by John Fram. I felt that way too, listening to that one. Like, you just had to lock in so much to the attention to things.

So I don't know why that's specific. Well, I guess I do know why it's comforting because I kind of said it. Like, it forces me to, like, pay attention and, you know, just not think about anything else. It's almost like you're escaping because you're like in this world and not in, you're in that world and not in this. Because you have to be in it to like. Yep. Yeah. So that's my

version of escapism with books. Oh yeah. I'm going to piggy back off that. Nice. Because you bring up a really good point. I, listen, I don't care if it's a movie.

I don't care if it's a book. I don't care if it's a TV show. I don't care if it's a documentary. I find serial killers so fascinating. Like between how they're caught, their like origin as to like why they started the type of victims they choose. Like,

there's like something about it that like I am like walked in right um so for me like a jar of hearts I think is one of my books that I would consider a comfort read and I know I'm like it's very unhinged but it's for the same exact reason like if I'm going through something or I'm like trying to use reading as like a form of escapism I need to be locked in Like I need to be locked in. And I find like there are so many different directions you can go in when it's like a serial killer thriller where it's like, this serial killer stopped killing people 20 years ago. But now a dead body has showed up and it like has the same markings as like the other victims. Things like that fascinate me because you can go in so many different directions.

And that's what I was like with Jar of Hearts. Like I don't even know if I was going through a hard time. I just never remember being that long. in so quickly with a book because there was so much going on and it's like the epitome of being unhinged but like it was not um it was not like stereotypical like you never read a book about the woman who dated the serial killer right so like there were so many things about that book that were like unhinged and disturbing that i was like locked in because i was trying to like solve what was going on

in my own mind but also kind of like giving her the reins and being like I'm just along for the ride so yeah that for me would be like I think is that like one with that book there are so many things

going on and two there are so many wild visceral scenes so like it also just like lingers in your head. Like, it's been years since I read it. And there are, like, three or four things that, like, always pop into my mind. And you're just riveted because you're like, what?

Yeah. And I think, like, that's the thing, too, of, like, with a, like, I just, like, am drawn to, like, darker stories and, like, naturally, like, disturbing, like, things in fiction. But, like, that's also the thing, too, is, like, if there's a law in my mind or I'm using reading to escape, I'm like, okay, I had a shitty week at work, but like I am not being hunted by a serial killer. I am not like a dead body. I'm not the cop who like feels like the entire like city of Seattle safety is on my shoulders. So like maybe it's not that bad. You know.

That's how like historical fiction feels sometimes for me too when it's a story about like one person or a whole group of people having to overcome something. I'm always like, okay, yeah, my day was inconvenient, but I'm going to sit in my bed and read. So my life's pretty good. Yeah. I know. Unlike the book trope note, you guys, okay, two things real quick before that. One, my book club this next Monday is talking about jar of hearts, which will be fun. I'm excited to think.

It was a friendship theme, and someone like nominated that one. I love Whoever nominated that's my fucking hero. I don't know if that person has read it or not. So like I don't know. You are or I don't know. I hope they did it and they were like, whoa. I hope their friend pissed them off and they were like,

yeah. And then secondly, I was reading a book that I don't know if it came out yet. It might have. But it was for a different book club. We all got arcs of it. And I got 30 pages in and I was like, I don't care. And like it takes a lot.

I went to the book club. Three people finished it. Three people did not. And everyone hated it. So I will say more about that later. So I was not alone in like DNFing. But anyway, I stopped that. And I was like, I need like my comfort author is Lisa Jewel for sure.

And so I was like, you know what? I need something like, I'm so far. into her backlist now that like they're not thrillers anymore they're like more like her contemporary but there's usually still like a mystery element so i read like the truth about melody brown and i just like cruise through it because i think her writing style just must like really click for me yeah i was like i know that when i read like a shitty book which is very like i don't really think that way about a lot of books but like something i should say if something is not my taste i know i will be like i need a lisa jule like that so she's

like brings me back to life. Oh, I love that. Yeah. Do you read Andre Amara? Who hasn't read that now. Her new one. Oh. You haven't read it yet? Oh, you should read it. Oh, it is so good. I fucking loved it. Yeah. Oh, I was obsessed. I was, like, this was, okay, so this is actually really, really funny because I talked about this earlier about how like I rewatched a lot because I want something that's really going to hit when I watch TV on like a Friday or Saturday. I feel the same thing about what I read on the weekends. So like if there's something that I'm like, oh, maybe I like, I don't know if I'll be into this or like there's a chance I won't like it. I'll read it during the week. But like on the weekend I like want.

I started that one on like I think a Saturday and it was like midnight and I was like I'm not tired yet. So I like wanted to dive in and I read like 75 pages Saturday night at like midnight because I could not put it down. Well, doesn't that book come out this month? Yeah, it's just June 23rd. Because I had the dark of it and I d-n-fed a different book because I was not into it. And I was like, I need to read Lisa Jewel now.

And that's when I read that one. It was in February because I'm like, I just needed it and it hit like. It fucking hit hard. Yeah. I think it's probably, it's at least in my top three if not my number one. Wow. Yeah. I was like waiting because I was hoping the audio would come on net galley.

Oh, it looks like that's going to happen. Yeah. Oh, it has a full cast. It has nine nared. but it's not a net galley yet. There's a lot of characters. I will probably listen to it. I don't blame you. I have my neck galley down to 12 right now and I'm like let's let's keep it there. I got mine down to 11 right now. I wrote my 12th review today for nine lives by Catherine Stedman. Oh yeah. You've loved that one. I loved it five stars. Okay. I didn't know you hadn't finished it last time we talked. Yeah.

Yeah. Now I'm excited. I will listen to Lisa Jules when it comes out, obviously. Steph, do you read Andrea Mara? I haven't, but I was curious after really enjoying all her fault or whatever that show was called. I loved that book. It should have been you. And like, I kind of feel like her books are comparable to Lisa Jule. Oh, really? So, like, I actually made a list today of, like, her entire backlist. And I think that's going to be, like, my. goal this fall. Yeah, I like that. And I, I think that sometimes just like when you're in a slump or just like needs some escapism, like those really bingy books. Like I think Lisa Jules are. I also just started Faith Gardner's newest one coming out on the spin. I'm like halfway through.

I'm really curious to see how it goes because like it's about like it's based on her grandmother and her grandmother. I believe that's Grenia. But as far as so far, it's like not in her point of view Oh. It's like her husbands and her daughters and her mother-in-law who lives at the house. And so I'm just like really curious how how we love that structure. Sorry. What was that? I tend to love that structure. Oh, yeah, where you're like the main person isn't even the narrator. Like it's true. Yeah. So like bitch jokes like that are comforting or like escapist. That's another one that I was hoping would come to audio on next. But it hasn't yet. And it looks like it comes out next week. Yeah, it just popped up on my neck galley because I don't think she usually keeps hers on neck galley very long. Yeah. Does she, is this one self-pub? Does she self-pub still? Okay. I'm not sure. I've heard neck galley is super expensive. So maybe.

That's what I hear to you. That's what was, that's what made me wonder. Where are you going to stay here? Oh, only from Audible for the audiobook. That break, breakneck bay that you had me. read? That was fucking unhinged and so wild. Yeah. I haven't read that one either. I started. She's reliable for that. Hmm? She's reliable for just like bonkers. Yeah. Yeah. I started the housewife by Natalie Borrelia. Yeah. And it's like, it seems like a popcorn thriller. I'm like, it's like I'm married to a man and his previous wife is dead. And like now I'm starting to wonder maybe he killed her.

And so I was like, well, you know what? I've read this book like 100 times with like other authors, but like it hits all the time. So I'm just going to read it. It the first chapter ends with the most fucking unhinged statement I have ever read. And I was like, this is going to be so unlike all of the other books with this like trope. Whoa. Like I am was like, I was like, you've got to be fucking kidding me. Did she like really just say that?

And it was so funny. Yeah. Oh my gosh, you guys. Can we take a really quick break? I drink too much water. Yeah, go for it. I'm glad you're hydrated. Yeah. I'm just pre-ordering audiobooks over here now. I only have, I have two more, but I feel like I can't pick between them. You can talk about both of them.

I'll be really quick when I do. It's fine. Because I want to hear what books Steph hated. I do too in the whole book club. And I also want to tell you guys about a book that was pitched to me that I think. think would be like perfect for all three of us. Ooh. Yeah.

It sounds really good. I'm like pulling up her book clubs page. What is it called books? I can't I think of. Is it? It's thrilled by the books. I don't know. I'm sure she'll tell us too, obviously.

And thrills and fishes with gills. Oh my gosh. I think you're going to really enjoy Widows Bay when you when you get to it. Well, right now I'm finishing up your friends and neighbors. Oh, yeah. Because I think the finale is Friday. Nice.

And Carmel texted me like a few weeks ago and was like, oh, my God, did you watch the new episode? I was like, no. Because I don't think the second season is like as good as the first one. Yeah. And I was like, no. And he's like, oh, my God, it's so fucking crazy. So like now I'm like, oh. Interesting.

I agree. I feel like it's kind of disconnected from what it was originally. That's what I've been seeing. Yeah. But I feel like James Marsden. Like he's perfect for the character he plays. Yeah. He always plays that character. Yeah.

I'm charming, but also like, am I? A douchebag and rich? Yeah. Have you ever watched the movie gossip with James Marsden? I haven't. No. Is it older? Yeah, it's like from like 2000.

It's like James Marsden. Norman Reidus Lena Hetty Kate Hudson and Joshua Jackson Wow And it's like Part of like a social experiment or for school

Yes Yeah so like Norman Reattis And James Marsden and Lena Hetty are like BFS And as part of their like sociology class or whatever They come up with like a room about Kate Hudson and it like spirals out of control and like the it turns into like a thriller. It's so fucking good.

I should watch it. I loved him in the 2000s in the sugar and spice where like the cheerleaders robbed the banks. I want to watch that tonight. Oh, I would. I might. I want to watch that and I want to watch Drop Dead gorgeous. Amber, you can't quit the pageant. Your mom threw the house like a goddamn lawn dart.

Grabbed your tap shoes. The woman watering her garden that I sent you on TikTok. Yeah. Where she just like repeats lines from it like all day. I'm obsessed. Obsessed. Oh. Oh, gosh.

Is it my turn? Yeah. Yeah. Lisa Jewel is who we talked about. Okay. Well, my next one, I kind of said it with like how historical fiction sometimes makes me feel better. but I just had categories come to my mind for this clearly because memoirs came to mind. Obviously there's like a vast like a version of that.

But like I just finished Lena Dunham's famesick which lover or hate her. She's fascinating. And the way she writes is just like I think she's so talented the way that she is able to like kind of talk about the human condition. Is she an unreliable narrator? Probably. Are we all probably? Yeah, right.

Exactly. Which actually, anyone who's read it and wants to discuss it with me, there is something in like the final chapter that I think she even kind of speaks to how reliable can we be like with like little details. Like do we get every detail right even when we go back and try to write a memoir basically? So anyway, but the other thing is she has, she has hypermobility as well, much more extreme than mine is, thankfully. But the, like, getting to hear someone else talk about how frustrating it is to, like, have all of these goals and feel very ambitious and want to do so many things. And then your body just sometimes is like, no.

Or is like, you're going to do it, but you're going to be in pain the whole time. So like if you've ever been through like medical gas lighting especially as a female, that was like the other thing that stood out to me too. Like we still struggle so much with even sometimes female, uh, healthcare providers like listening to women talk about their bodies and stuff. Now, there's also a bunch of salacious gossip in it. Like not really even gossip. Like it's her side of the story. There's definitely that. But for me, I thought it was very, it was very, it was.

inspiring hearing like again even like a woman who's like I love working and I love like expressing myself and I love stories but then also to have to like eventually you have to listen to your body sometimes and how frustrating that can be so it was a really power I cried so many times listening to that book and was not expecting that going into it but she also has PCOS issues which I do too So it was just like there's a lot of stuff that I related to. And then there's a lot of stuff I can't. I did not write an HBO show in my 20s. But it was really good.

I really loved it. But it was another one where it was like she's looking back on how she kind of got so obsessed with fame that she was ignoring her body and thus became fame sick like a lot of people do. So it was also inspiring to hear someone like reflecting. and then also she's in a better place now. And she like does know how to kind of live in a way that that works for her, but she still feels fulfilled. So like it was inspiring in that sense.

So I think I've been thinking about memoirs and how much I get from them. I talked about this one a lot last year, but matriarch by Miss Tina Knowles is so powerful. But you're also like hearing how a woman was literally born in the gym Crow South. And now she's right. her memoir in her 70s and is the mother of Beyonce and Salonge like who like that is such a range and it's hard to call it inspirational because like you don't want anyone to have like been born and grown up in the Jim Crow South but she has overcome so many things and so I

remember when I finished that too you just like get the perspective that like you can get through hard things in life and like you don't just want to think that you can't win because like you can and you can find ways sometimes to win. But the other one that made me cry as much as fame. I think FAMSick maybe got me a few more times. But FAMSick was reminding me how much I loved finding me by Viola Davis, which is another fantastic memoir. Same thing.

She didn't grow up in Jim Crow South, but like the racism was still there. There's a lot she was up against. And also the reason I thought of it, she also had a lot of like reproductive health issues as well that I even really related to when she was like why is my period getting so bad basically but she she's overcome way more way way more than me as well but it was another experience where once I got to the end of it I was like it is possible to like still get the life that you want so memoirs are very comforting sometimes

even when they're sad. Yeah. Typically they're both. Like there's sadness and happiness. Typically is the whole range. Otherwise, why are you writing a memoir? No offense.

Yeah. They're both on, not, not, um, Beyonce's mother, but the other two were on good hang with Amy Polar recently.

Viola Davis. Oh, yeah. Lena Dunham. Yes. I listened to the Lena Dunham one. And I, it was a great.

conversation too. And biological. There's a few months of you. That's a good one. Yeah. I'm really curious about the Lena Dunham one. It's also like grow it like she's so close to our my age too. So it was like all of the millennialness of it.

And I forgot like girls was also one of those first like girls started airing just as as I was getting to college. So the way same way that like the kind worth killing was like the first book I got to like choose away from my religious choices of books. Girls was the first TV show where I was like, holy shit. Yeah, I can imagine. They're having sex. Oh, wow. So it was cool hearing. I also love behind the scenes. So it was cool hearing behind the scenes from someone who's really close to my age. Gosh, I've never watched that show. Oh, it's so good. It's good. I need to watch it. Yeah. Yeah, it's good. Yeah, that's me.

I'm going to say this is probably the most unhinged because it's not like me at all, but like the show overcompensating. Oh yeah. That stars and is like created by Benito Skinner. It is like basically like this guy who's like questioning his sexuality and like thinks he might be gay and he goes to college and like has the opportunity to like explore his sexuality and like make new friends and kind of like reinvent himself but it's like it's done so funny and like so relatable and like I just thought it was like so good I watched it when it came out and then I watched

it in the fall and then I rewatched it like a few weeks ago and it just like hits every time and there's something about like watching a silly show yeah that's like not something that I have to like think a lot about or like if I'm just like oh my god I just don't even want to think anymore if I had a rough day at work like there's something like about that show that just like I know I'm gonna laugh and I know I'm gonna have like a really good time with that but like I also know that there's like something like kind of relatable about like trying to reinvent yourself at college or any time in your life that's like a big deal and I just think it's so good and I'm really excited for season two so that's mine because I remember you talking about it before

and then it must have slipped my mind but yeah it looks really good it's so good. And the episodes are like a half hour each. Like you just fly through them. But it's just like, it reminds me of like the sex lights of college girls. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Like Megan Fox is in it. Oh, nice. But she plays herself.

Oh, that's funny. Like she's like, because obviously he's like a football bro who like goes to college. So like his dorm has a Megan Fox poster on it. And like he like talks to her and she'll be like, Benito, I don't know. No, maybe we should.

Like, she's just like, it's so funny. I love that. She's so funny. Like, a new girl, I love her. Like, she was on a few episodes as, like, somebody's girl, as Nick's girlfriend. And, like, she's so funny. Like, I was just like, I didn't really, I didn't really know what to. I don't watch that any movies or shows with her.

And so I didn't really know what to expect. And she was, like, so dry. And I was like, yeah, my favorite type of humor. Yeah, she's fucking good. Yeah. She even with, what was her? NGK? I'm pretty sure they separated.

I think they're done so. Because he cheated again. I think while she was pregnant. Great. Yeah. So gross. Yeah. Really.

Except you care. I have my moments. Mom, man. I'm in. My. one that I think brought up this topic was I've never really like reread books but in the last probably six months I have um in the past on this show I've brought up my love for Annie Hartnett and I've now listened to Road to Tender Hearts twice and I'm on my third of unlikely

animals and I like just read them for the first time last year so like I there's something about not only the stories but like the narrator that just like the combination of the two is like I just want to listen to you tell this story you know what I mean and I'm like it's so like contemporary a little bit of like maybe some magical realism like really charming kind of quirky just the right amount of weird for me like not I'm not like super weird person like for books but uh just the right amount um there's something about like a great narrator and a great story combination that really works um and i actually just went back to it because speaking of um i my liby hold came in for james patterson and viola davis um judge judge stone and so my audio

came in so i'm like i will pause my like first comfort read for like a definite comfort voice, which is hers. And I thought that that was a great listen as well. So I think there's something like cathartic about a really nice voice. That's how I felt because I just thought that Adam was our white is co-narrating Rachel Housel Hall's new serial killer. I think it's called, no one will find you. And I was so excited when I saw who was narrating it.

Yeah. I feel like JJ has listened to almost all of S.A. Cosby's books because he loves the narrator. I love his voice. Adam Luzar White and Angel Pine are just my favorites. Yeah. I love them. No one knows you're here. It comes out June 30th.

I'm so excited for that fucking book. It sounds really good. It sounds a little bit more like, like toxic things. I think that's the only one I've read by her. I think it's based on a true story too. Really? I didn't know that part. There was, I can't remember what his name was,

but there was a serial killer and I believe the 80s or 90s who was targeting, I don't know if they were all black. I think they were all black, but they, were black sex workers in South Los Angeles. And I think that's actually the serial killer that Ivy Potota based these women on. Oh. Oh, wow. And I read the, I read a, like, a true crime book about it, and I can't think of what the name was.

It has, like, a yellow cover and it has a car on it. Good luck. But it was real, the, the, um, the, um, the, the, true crime book was really, really good. Oh, and speaking of narratives, we love, January Levoy is one of the narrators for Heart of Glass for Jennifer Hillier. Wow. I'm staring at my copy of that right now. Yeah, the audio hit this week on NetGalley, so I requested that. Have you read it yet, Gere? No, I have

I have a vacation at the end of this month. Oh, nice. So I have, like, off like four days before, like, the Fourth of July weekend, and that's what I'm saving it for because I don't want to I want to be like I have days and days and days to read this like to savor it I've actually okay here's my

I'm not being completely honest there's a transcript in the very beginning of heart of glass between I think it's like a journalist and the serial killer and I read it about three times to get me like pumped for the book

I read it on like the the like web version of NetGalley. Oh yeah. Well, I don't really have another one, but Gare, I know you have another one. You should. I have a silly little one. It's, there's a book called Valentine by Tom Savage. And it is so 90s.

It has not aged well. Not in a problematic way, but just in the way of like, it feels like a book of the that is set in the 90s and it's very 90s. I read it every Valentine's Day. It's one of my favorite books. It's one of my favorite twists. Like, even if I read it, I was like, oh, my God, this is corny. Like, I would always, like, love the twist.

And I just feel like it's so comforting to read something that's, like, a little bit of a thriller. Well, a lot of a bit of a thriller. With, like, some tropes that, like, have, like, aged out of thrillers, but, like, still. Oh, yeah. And, yeah, it's like a. anti-love book on Valentine's Day and I just think it's so comforting to like get lost in the 90s with this like serial killer targeting an author and like stalker vibes and it's just I don't know it's so comfortable.

It's up your alley. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Like I just realized that when watching like, well, I was on the plane and I watched how to lose a guy in 10 days.

I was like still laughing at even though I didn't know if I would and I kind of forgot some of the insane things that Kay Hudson does and I loved it so much. And I was like, oh, I think I'm like really comforted by this like era of movies. I think there's like nostalgia and, you know, so like we are talking about with that book. Yeah. I think so too, especially with like Kate Hudson. Like I just like, I love her. Amazing. And, um, the funny thing is, is that like there was one point in my life where I was addicted to Emily Giffin books. Oh. I don't know if I've read anybody.

Like something borrowed. Oh. Okay. Okay. Yep. She wrote that. She writes like contemporary fiction that is like, has like the pacing of a thriller, but like. Never would have pegged you for these. No. No. And I ate those. I fucking ate them up. Like the pastel colors are covers with like one little thing. Yeah. Bada proof was so good.

Something Blue, which is the sequel to Something Borrowed. Phenomenal. Wow. Yeah. No, they were so fucking good. She looks like Erica Kurt. I think she got canceled. Oh.

Because she was like, she was doing like really good. And then I remember something happened. And I was like, well, why Emily Giffin? Well, you know. She happens. But that was a different point in my life. Sometimes you can't choose a book by the outside. I've also like,

I've gone through. I've gone through weird stages. I've gone through weird stages. I remember when I lived in Boston when I was in my like early 20s. I was always reading an Emily Giffin, a pretty little liar's book. And then I binge like the 50 Shades of Grey trilogy and like a week. I want to know what library hold I just got. I brought it down for you. Here, look what I got. Oh, it's the secret lies of murderers wise. I was not watching. I was on like, 20 plus um oh i love i prefer that cover it's always by my i love that cover yeah i like that one more i don't know what it is i don't know i love it this is phenomenal oh my fucking god i'm so excited it's so good i have to finish the spin and then i'll start this but my last book it took me three weeks to read three weeks happens we'll see and i didn't even it was a four star i didn't

even not like it i guess if i would have not liked it i would have dnapped but right