Bookwild - Ensemble Casts We Love

Episode Date: March 31, 2023

This week, we are talking about our favorite books with ensemble casts.Follow us on Instagram:Gare @gareindeedreadsKate @thegirlwiththecookonthecouchBooks We Talked AboutApples Never FallNotes on an ExecutionLook CloserMy Summer DarlingsOne of Us is DeadThe Rule of ThreeIt Could Be AnyoneThe Night ShiftHe Started ItOhioNot a Happy FamilyReal Easy 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 

Hey guys, welcome to the Killing the Tea podcast. This is Gare and Kate. And we are going to be discussing all things, chills, thrills and kills. Kate and I are going to be talking about our favorite books, TV shows and movies that are in the thriller or crime fiction genre, as well as some reading habits and other items related to how we met on Bookstagram that will fit in with this podcast. So, Thank you so much for joining us, and we hope that you have fun and get totally terrified. I don't want to survive. Oh, no, that's how we're opening this one. I don't have the will to live anymore.

I do have kind of a icebreaker related to survival. What? I'm putting my phone on doing it out of disturb. Why isn't it working? Oh, go for it. I don't know. Okay. Speaking of survival.

Speaking of survival. Yes. What, like, subgenre of thriller do you think you would best survive in? Even if you're not the main character, like, even if you're a supplementary, whatever, what do you think you have the best luck surviving in? A psychological thriller, because I'm used to deal. dealing with narcissists and gaslighters. Yeah. Well, I guess he's like my answer, so.

I guess my backup answer is I'd be a good, I'd be a good like guy in the chair type character and a sci-fi book would be my backup answer. But definitely, definitely. No, you want to be it on the auction. Yeah, but I'm not in real life. I know. But the thing is, is that,

you have this, like, aura about you where you're like, I'm an introvert. Like, I'm not like, whatever, but like, when your buttons are, buttons. My buttons. Loose enough your buttons. When your buttons are pushed, I can see you being like a scrappy, dirty fighter that will, like, do whatever it takes to survive. Okay, you're not wrong. I know I'm not wrong.

I'm, like, literally never wrong in any conversation that we ever have. unless you're right. If it's just like in general, I'm usually right, but if it's like us against you. But, yeah. I might sometimes be right. Oh my God, that's so funny. I love that icebreaker.

Yeah, I thought of it yesterday. And I was like, I finally thought of one. Okay, then I'm going to, I'm going to just circle back here and just say like, what type of thriller do you think, like, I'm a dead bitch?

Ooh. Definitely a spy thriller. Okay. Yeah. Same. Or, you know, as much as I love them, I feel like like a serial killer thriller, I'd be fucked. That too. You'd be so curious.

Curious. I would make literally all of the wrong decisions that you make in those situations. Like, I keep watching, like, my comfort movies are like horror movies, like 80s, 90s, 2000 slashers. And my friend Shelley and I. I have been like rewatching some and like coming up with like theories and like discussions. And it's just like very fun to revisit some of these movies that I've loved. But I'm watching them and like we're like joking around like, you know, I would be behind a tree like hook it up with a guy in like a Friday of the 13th sort of situation. Yeah, you would.

Or like there was one time like my house when it gets really windy as I don't know. I don't even know what it is. there's something on like that over there like the front left side of my house. Yeah. That makes a really loud bang when it gets really lengthy. Like I don't know what it is. I'm not investigating it. But like the first time it started doing it, I was completely home by myself and like ran up the stairs and locked myself in the bathroom with no escape to text my friend and be like, um, what?

the hell do you think's going to happen to me locking myself in a bathroom with no window to upstairs upstairs upstairs so serial killer thriller i would be it done so you're right it's always the hot boyfriend or the hot husband so i mean it has to be you so i mean someone's got to take one for the team it's got to be me uh-huh like i remember watching scream. Yeah, I remember watching scream when I was nine years old and Ski-Allrich, I was like,

okay, I'm definitely a homosexual. And then like... This explains a lot. Your sexuality is like built around scream. Yeah, I know. I know.

Anytime, if there's a female actress in a screen movie that I like, she's going to die. Yeah. If there's a man in a screen movie that I'm attracted to, he's the killer. Yeah.

Right. Oh my gosh. That doesn't make for the most fun movie viewing experience. I'm like, oh my God, all my favorite actresses are dead and all I want to do is sleep with murderers. The man who murdered them. Yeah. Just my luck. Yeah.

What would I die in? Probably that too. I don't know. You know how there's like in spy thrillers. Do you know how there's like the girl at the computer who's like, finding your coordinates now, take a laugh to like go here, like jump off this building. The helicopter is going to like save you in 10 seconds. That would be you. I agree.

Do I think that you would really necessarily want to be scaling buildings and not get stressed out by that? No, because you would be like, I need an app. Yeah. Where's my emotional Where's my emotional support water bottle? I broke my pinky nail and you'd be like looking in the window like are my bangs greasy? Like what's going on here? And they would be. But like at home in the air conditioning like running the coordinates.

Yes. Figuring out shit. Yep. What's that called? Research. Yeah. Research. You'd survive it.

You would survive it. Yeah. I don't even know if there's a I don't know if there's like a thriller. trope or subgenre that you wouldn't survive. Aw. I'm pretty unassuming. I think the only one maybe would be like a domestic thriller because you and Tyler have such a good relationship that if he was like a secret killer, you would be like really surprised. My head was going that direction.

And then you started talking. That is crazy. So I agree. Yeah. I think that would be the one that would take me, catch me the most off guard. Yeah, me too, you know. Yeah. I'd be like, Tyler, there's a serial killer.

Let me in. I need to be with you in case. So I'm safe. And he'd like, kill me. And then like, turn around and be like, hey, I'm the killer. And you'd be like, oh, my God. Cut.

Our podcast is going to be quite interesting now that I'm talking to myself. Everyone's going to listen. Thinking of views. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, the podcast could just like literally be. you telling the story of how your husband murdered me over and over again.

I'll be sad, though. I know, but think of the... I know. It would get me some popularity. Like, Ashley Flowers, Who? Right. Yeah. If I do die, that is the only person that I will allow to be your new podcast, like... Oh, that works because she lives in my state.

I love her, and I love you. You too. So if I do get murdered, and I mean, judging from the taste of my men, or not, no, judging from my taste and men, they're not my men, thank God. It's bound to happen. I'll call her up. I'll be like, it was his one dying wish. And she's like, you're there when he died. And I was like, no, like, he was his wish before he died.

Yeah. Oh, no, I would say, like, before I died. I'd be like, Ashley Flowers. And then I'm peacefully going. And the guy's like, what? Yeah. Just don't let the person that embalms me put cheap moisturizer on me before I go into the ground.

Or like pancake makeup. Yeah. I just want to have like a situation where I'm like exhumed like 20 years from now and my skin looks exactly the same. Just completely perfect. Like everything else is like rotted away and I'm just like bones. But like I'm just like. Yes.

flawless, dewy-skinned king. Yeah, it's like, what is that? How you're supposed to, like, slug your face before you go to bed? That's what you'll look like. I'm not, like, I don't know about that. How do you feel about that? I could never. The feeling of having much on my face, I could, like, how do they sleep that way?

There are some moisturizers that I get. Like, I believe in, like, you, I could believe that you can get a heavy moisturizer that's, like, thick and use that and replace that. smell of a night cream. Yeah. But sometimes when I do that, I'm like, I need it to dry because my face being like doy and like a little like sticky and like rolling over on my pillowcase, I'm like, and then my hair sticks to it.

And then I'm like, oh, cool. Or I go to like do something like I like wipe away like something off my little face. And then I'm like, oh my God, my hand. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. What is it that we both use now? The Fab First A Beauty.

That is the first. That is the only one I have found that actually soaks into my face skin. And like, I don't keep feeling it. Okay, I'm going to up you on that one. The moisturizer by the ordinary. Okay. It comes in a pretty like bronze bottle. Okay.

Amazing. And it soaks right in. Oh, that's awesome. There's also one by origins. It's called the mat moisturizer. Ooh, I love mat. And it has like witch hazel in it and it smells so good. And it gives you that matte finish so you don't look like dewy or anything.

but it soaks in so good and so quickly. That's awesome. Yeah. Like when I get ready for my weekly outing on Thursdays with my friends, my last step is putting on my moisturizer. And by the time I'm downstairs getting into my car, you could rub your hand across my face and like you would not feel anything. Oh, I love that.

Yeah. So I'm opening both of them. So the next time I open the internet, I will see them. Yeah. So that was fun. I hope everyone has the good rest of their day. Goodbye. Yes. I hope you all survive. Whatever thriller is your answer. Yeah. Now, so go enjoy the rest of your day and we'll talk to you later. And now we're just going to gossip. Yeah. Oh, boy. Oh, boy.

It's not, oh, girl. Oh, no, there is. Whatever is. So. Oh, we both? Go ahead. You're like, hold on. Speaking of

all of the characters in our lives. All the many characters. There's nothing like a big cast of characters. to suck you into a story. It really does. So the wonderful, the amazing, the survivor, Kate the Great, had a wonderful idea of doing books with an ensemble cast. Yes.

So we were both reading one that had an ensemble cast. I didn't do it. Yes. Oh, my God. such a good choice I honestly I've been in such a reading mood I didn't even

I didn't even relate to I didn't do it by Jamie Lynn Hendrix that's like why you picked it I was just like fuck man that's a bomb ass topic good for you no it was just while I was reading that I like binge the new Joe Goldberg book I binge this like

insane thriller called Not So Perfect Strangers by L.S. Stratton amazing. I'm so excited for that I devoured it. I started it at like three o'clock in the afternoon on a Sunday and like finished it Sunday night. Like, oh, I love that. So good. Um, so yeah, ensemble cast. Like, when I think of ensemble cast, I think of like Quentin Tarantino movies. Yeah. Where it's just like big names, little names, like a whole like shitload of people. Yeah. Excuse me. But then when I looked at it, up, it's apparently like where you have a medium to large cast where like every character

sort of has similar sized roles. Yeah, that's kind of how I was, when you asked me what I thought. I was like, I feel like it means just multiple characters, plots are like almost equally important to the whole plot. Yeah. So like, bringing it back, like scream movies would not be an ensemble cast, like I thought they were, because it's mostly about Nev Campbell or whoever is the main character. Yep. So some of mine are just a little cheating. Well, it's our podcast.

Mine are like ones where each character is either like plays, you know, the definition of ensemble cast. And then some of mine are like, there may be like bigger and smaller. characters, but even the smaller ones are very important to the plot. Yeah. Because that's like Junilina novels are like that. Yeah. Yeah. I didn't pick any of those. Did you? I didn't either. But your description just made me think of them. I thought of it too, but I was like, is that cheating a little too much? But then I went through my good reads. I don't think so. I went through my good reads account. And I was like, damn, I think I did a good job. Nice. So. But there's, but there's, I don't even know if I, no, I replaced it.

There was one that I thought we would both have. There's one that I think we still both. There's two that I think we might both have. Yeah. But there was one that I had that I took off because I was like, I think you're going to choose that one. And I replaced it with another one that I don't talk about very often. Oh, nice. I did that a couple times where there were like, basically I have some that I would,

probably only mention quickly at the end. Okay. Because I've at least talked about them recently enough. Yeah. So that's how I have a bunch. But then I also try to just, I tried to pick somes that I just hadn't talked about, but that's still really fit. Yeah.

And I mean, we can kind of have fun and, you know, be like, I love this book. Da da da da da da. And also be like, this is why I picked it for my ensemble cast pick. So, yeah. Since you had such an amazing idea, do you want to kick us off? Yeah. Yeah, I do want to kick us off. So when I started thinking about this, it was also, we've had a couple conversations about how like gone girl changed, like storytelling and what was possible storytelling in this genre, but also kind of not just in this genre.

And when I started to think about this topic, I was like, big little lies really was like, like, Like, I feel like that was the book that really introduced us even more to how an ensemble cast can be so fun. Yes. So I feel like everyone knows what that one is. But it made me think of that. And I was like, okay, I'll just write that one down. I might say it at the end. But then it reminded me, Leanne Moriarty, the author of Big Little Eyes, she had a book come out in 2021 that also was an ensemble cast that like I actually really, really enjoyed the book.

It was a little bit different than her other ones. I really enjoyed it, but I don't think I've ever talked about it on here. So it's called Apples Never Fall. I can't remember if I said that already. And it is all about the Delaney family, which is the ensemble of characters as the family. Yes. If your mother was missing, would you tell the police, even if the most obvious suspect was your father? This is the dilemma facing the four-grown Delaney citizen.

siblings. The Delaney's are fixtures in their communities. The parents, Stan and Joy are the envy of all of their friends. Their killers on the tennis court. And off it, their chemistry, oh, off the tennis court. I'm smart. And off it, your chemistry is palpable. But after 50 years of marriage, they finally sold their famed tennis academy and are ready to start what should be the golden years of their lives. So why are Stan and Joy so miserable? The four Delaney children, Amy Logan, Troy and Brooke were tennis stars in their own right. Yet, as their father will tell you, none of them had what it took to go all the way. But that's okay now that they're all successful grownups, and there's the wonderful possibility of grandchildren on the horizon.

One night, a stranger named Savannah knocks on Stan and Joy's door, bleeding after a fight with her boyfriend. The Delanies are more than happy to give her the small kindness she sorely needs, if only that was all she wanted. later when joy goes missing and Savannah is nowhere to be found, the police question the one person who remains, Stan. But for someone who claims to be innocent, he, like many spouses, seems to have a lot to hide. Two of the Delaney children think their father is innocent, two are not so sure.

But as the two sides square off against each other and perhaps their biggest match ever, all of the Delanis will start to re-examine their shared family history in a very new light. that's that synopsis felt like it went on for a year I feel like some of mine are going to be like that too

so I totally yeah that's a really good choice I really enjoyed it I did too also that's going to be they're turning into a movie well it did get picked up

yeah that's exciting Annette Benny and Sam Neal are going to be the parents Allison Brie is going to be Amy. No. And Jake Lacey from the first season of White Lotus is going to be one of the sons, I think the older one. How did I not know this?

That's so exciting. I know. I know. It's very exciting. Yeah. So mad props to she reads for having me be on the 411 with all of that information. Oh, that's amazing. Yeah.

Yeah. It would be really good. I love Annette Benning. Yeah. Like, even though he's a problematic turd, like, I just love American Beauty and watch it, like, all the time. It's one of my favorites. So. It's just a good movie.

Mm-hmm. I love Apples Never Fall. I really liked it. And it's like, it's definitely very suspends full and mysterious. Mm-hmm. But it's not, like, gory. So if any of our things sound gory to you, this is, like, this is probably his case. close to a cozy-ish mystery as we will get.

Yeah, yeah. I feel like... It's mellower. Yeah, I feel like psychologically and maybe emotionally, some of her books can be a little like heavy, but they're usually not gory or anything too disturbing. Unless there's like a trigger warrant, like, domestic violence is a huge trigger warning for big little lies, but like I can't think of any and apples never fall unless you have like... I don't think so.

Unless you have like a super fucked up family that like never believed in you. Yeah. So that might be that might piss you off but you might enjoy the book. Yeah, I mean, I was thinking about it. I've heard Hannah Burner talks about how hard it is for her to read books with tennis and them because like her relationship with her dad was all about tennis growing up. And so it's like all messed up. So like she won't even read Carrie Soto. So like if you're an athlete where like parents who pushed you hard,

then maybe there's a trigger warning for that too. Quite possibly. As you heard in the synopsis, he reminds his children that none of them made it professionally. Yeah, asshole. So there's that. But it's a really good one.

I really liked the characterization of everyone too. Me too. Me too. It's going to be a great movie. Yes, it is. I hope. Me too. So I don't even,

I'm not even going to say, segue. I'm just going to be like, you know what I'm going to do? Since you felt like it was forever, I'm going to pick the one that I have that the snopsis is going to feel like forever. So I will be done, I will be done reading about this one in 2025. But one of my favorite books in the entire world is on, there's a few books that I consider one of my favorite books in the entire world on this list. And the first one I had to go with was the one that really made me think, like, there can be smaller characters that play such a huge role. But when I think of ensemble cast, I think of notes on an execution by Danya Kukovka. Yes.

I hope I said your last name right. Anyway, I love her. I love her writing. I love this book. But it is literary suspense that deconstructs the story of a serial killer on death row. told primarily through the eyes of the women in his life. Ansel Packer is scheduled to die in 12 hours. He knows what he's done and now awaits execution.

The same chilling fate he forced on those girls years ago. But Ansel doesn't want to die. He wants to be celebrated and understood. He hoped it would end like this. He hoped it wouldn't end like this, not for him. Through a kaleidoscope of women, a mother, a sister, a homicide detective, we learned the story of Ansel's life. We meet his mother, Lavender, a 17-year-old girl, pushed to desperation,

Hazel, twin sister to Ansel's wife, inseparable since birth, forced to watch helplessly as her sister's relationship threatens to devour them all. And finally, Safi. The homicide detective hot on his trail who has devoted herself to bringing bad men to justice but struggles to see her own life clearly. As the clock ticks down, these three women sift through the choices that culminate in tragedy exploring the rippling fissures that such destruction inevitably leaves in its wake. That's a really good example.

Thank you. You're welcome. I had some about, I guess you'll figure it out. It's not like you have to wait a week to figure out what my other choices were. I know. But that was just, you know, the thing is, too, is that I remember reading that one and when I was writing my review, like, casting it. and having a really hard time making my casting collage for it because there were so many characters and they all played such a huge role in the movie or the book.

They do. They do. The movie in my head. Yeah, I would die. Yeah. But I just absolutely, absolutely love that book. Yeah. It was so good. It's so good.

It, like, I want to read it again. It's just, like, it's, like, gut-wrenching. But, like, it's very gut-wrenching. It's very deep. And it looks like my shirt. Yes, yes. I love the cover. My friend Cindy pointed out to me, she's like a cover queen. Like if she likes a book, she will order like different editions. But there is a very cool UK paperback that's like green and it has a fox on it. Yeah. I've seen that. And I'm like, I've been back and forth. I don't have any room. But I'm like, I love this book. much that like I really think that it's time to take the plunge and order that cover. Yes. And I can't remember why the Fox matters, but I remember when I saw that, I was like,

oh, that's cool, but it means something. Same here. I was just thinking that too. And I was just going to say that. I remember at the time I knew what it was, but not now. Do you remember when you had that dream that I, like, didn't know how to turn off my Zoom and you could just like hear everything happening in my life? Yeah. Starting to think that it's happening. Like, we're talking like, I know. Poppy drinks. Yes. Things that I'm thinking that I don't even like get a chance to say out loud and you like beat me to the punch.

I know. Situations that I'm dealing with with people that you've never met and don't really know and you just like pick up on vibes and like will ask me a question. And I'm like, actually, I do have an update on that for you. But the other day when I was Googling what poppy flavors I want. to try and you Marco Poloed me and you were holding a poppy. It's not like you were holding it and was like, oh, like, you mentioned this and I just grabbed one because it sounded good. It was just like, you were like, oh, hey, like, what's up? Like, you didn't mention the poppy whatsoever. And now I just think you're a

fucking mind reader. Only with you and Tyler, though. Kind of you more. I know. That's so crazy. That is so crazy. It's kind of because we're more similar. Yeah, but I also I'm like, I think of like the algorithm with like TikTok and how everyone's like, oh, the algorithm of the TikTok is like spot on. And I'm like the Kate the Great algorithm is even better. Let me tell you what. Just don't tell

Congress. I don't want to have to present in front of them. No, they would probably use you as like a spy or something. I know. Spy thriller. There we go. Yeah. Speak from experience. Mm-hmm. So yeah. Yeah, notes on execution.

It's everything I love in a book. So good. Serial killer thriller. I want to say like, so bleak. I think most of the ones that I picked are bleak. I'm not going to lie to you. I believe it. All of them will make you cry.

It's not too hard to do. Well, you know what? You know what actually is interesting, though? It's really not thrillers that I cry in the most often, which is like, there's like terrible stuff happening to people and people are dying, but it's like Taylor Jenkins Reid talking about a love relationship, and that's what makes me cry. I was just going to say, it's not thrillers that make you cry. No, not normally. You're just like, okay, that was really depressing, and I need something with like a ending that's kind of like, we conquered everything. Yeah,

those are nice every now and then. Not for me. Not for you. Not going to get any from me tonight. No happy endings with you. I know. I know. But I mean, like, okay, in all fairness, in my defense, if you are ever in a situation that reminds you of a plot to your, like, favorite thriller book, you're already fucked. Yeah.

Like, even if, like, all of your friends are murdered by your husband or your husband, like, is, like, a serial killer and, like, you didn't know it. or whatever the case may be, like your life is never going to be the same. Your life is going to be bleak until the day you die. So if you find yourself in one of those situations, don't say it didn't prepare you. True. We're just helping you guys. I'm just going to survive any situation because I'm going to be like,

whatever's happening in my life is not as bleak as what I read. So I'm golden. There is a theory that some of what we like about reading is like preparing ourselves for situations. So there is a theory to that. So bleak endings, serial killer thrillers, and toxic men are what I'm preparing myself for. You are prepared for all of those things to come into your life. I have been preparing my entire life. You've been manifesting it.

I did one of those. I don't do them. Like, I don't post them. But, like, have you ever, you know how you see, like, the filters that people use on? Oh, yeah. Well, one of them was like your future partner. And it's like, my future partner is dot, dot, dot. And I was like, oh.

So I tried it. I mean, I didn't post it because I don't post any TikToks. I just scroll and whatever. Last. I tried it and not even joking. The first thing it picked was like I like hit the thing and it like went like and it was like my future partner is as toxic as bleach. I thought it was going to be a person.

That's even funnier. No, it, like, describes them. That would be, like, a good story. No, and it's like, my future partner is, like, a businessman. I get, like, my future partner is as toxic as bleach. Yeah. I don't get it. Why is it so attractive?

I have no idea. Someone have the answer for us. Do you know what I think it is? I think that when you are in poor friendships or poor relationships or you have situations where you've dealt with narcissists and sociopaths and gaslighters and just horrible things that people do to you mentally, I feel like it, like, attracts you to toxic people because you are still living off from that phase that you went through as, like a teenager or early 20s of the bad boy.

But as you get older, you realize that the bad boys aren't just like the guys that like drink beer under 21 and like break the laws. Like it's the men who like will be narcissists and gaslighters. And then like you, they're toxic because most of the time they're hot because they can get away with that. Like toxic men are fucking psychos. No one's tried them on it. No, toxic men are psychos because they're like.

like, I'm hot, I can do whatever the fuck I want. And it's scary, but it's also very attractive. Exactly. But if you've dealt with like shitty people in your life, a toxic person doesn't seem like a challenge to you because you're already like on guard. It's kind of like training for like a marathon, right? Like you run a couple miles here. Then you're running 14 miles. And then when the time comes, 28 miles doesn't sound like a big deal to you because you've been training for it. Yeah. So you deal with some little like asshole Pipsqueak who just likes to play mind games. And then like one day you're 35 and you find a toxic man who's very tall and will like do whatever you want. But he will also play mind games with you and you're like, I've been training for this my entire life. I'm ready. I was born ready, bitch. Bring it on.

It's like, well, no, you don't watch Batman movies. You do watch Batman movies? Yeah, I do. Yeah, I do. When Bain is like, I was born in the darkness, raised in the darkness. He's like... I think Batman's very toxic. Yeah.

Definitely a lot of repressed anger. Yeah. And like every time he falls in love with somebody, he just like doesn't show them the, him, like, his real self. Oh, that is true. You know, and it's just kind of like, but then he's like always like whining and crying that and none of his relationships work. maybe I'm toxic Like maybe that's why Am I?

I'm not the problem, am I? Am I the drama? No, let's stop me. I can't be the drama. Maybe I'm toxic and I just don't know it. I don't think you are. Maybe. I don't know.

If somebody told me I was, I'd be like, okay, it makes sense. Yeah. Because I'm a firm believer in either like opposites attract or people who have like a lot in common attract. Like there's no like in between. So maybe I'm toxic and I just don't realize that because I'm not toxic to my friends. I'm only toxic to my partners. That's true.

I don't know what it's like to be with you romantically. I know. Should we just give it a shot? Just have like one year, one year of marriage. And then like the end you can tell me if I'm toxic or not. You don't even have to say it. You can just do this. I don't even have to like force the words out of it.

On your way to sign the divorce papers. is just thumbs up or thumbs down. What do you think, Bruce Wayne? Yeah. He's like, you guys are talking about Batman and my ears are hurting up. He threw his bone at me. Go get it. Okay, that'll buy sometime.

He was about to start talking, though. Go boy, get it. Let him talk. Let him talk. Maybe he has something. Maybe he's like, Garrett, you are toxic. He's like, don't. Don't marry him, mom.

Don't do it. He's like in, what does that speak now? When like someone stops the wedding in Taylor Schiff's song, that was Bruce. Oh, yeah. He's like, I don't want him as my stepdad. Oh, he's happy now. Well, speaking of toxic relationships. Hmm.

I'm nervous. I feel like your next pick is one-on-one I picked. Look closer by David Ellis. Oh, it's not. Oh, nice. I didn't think it would be. So when you were so sure, I was like, I don't think you, I don't think this is what you were going to pick, but we did both love it. I loved it so much. So fucking good. Yeah. And it's like, because there are so many points of view, like, it's 450 pages.

So, like, you're, like, really getting into all of the point of view's lives. Yeah. So, Simon and Vicki couldn't seem more normal. A wealthy Chicago couple. He or respected law professor. She an advocate for domestic violence victims. A stable, if unexciting, marriage. But one thing's for sure.

Absolutely nothing is what it seems. The pair are far from normal and one of them just may be a killer. When the body of a beautiful socialite is found hanging in a mansion in a nearby suburb, Simon and Vicky's secrets begin to unravel. A secret whirlwind affair, a $20 million trust fund about to come due, a decades-long grudge and obsession with revenge. These are just a few of the lies that make up the complex web, and they will have devastating consequences. And while both Vicki and Simon are liars, just who exactly is conning, who. And I'm a sucker for con stories. And then the fact that it was like so many people trying to con each other just made it one of my favorite books ever. Yeah. Yeah. I'm not going to

say it wasn't successful, but I think if more people would have picked up on the good reviews that were coming through with this book, it could have been as epic as like gone girl and girl on the train. because that's what reminded me up when I was reading it. Yeah, and that's what the ending part here says part gone girl, part strangers on a train. It's a wild roller coaster of a read. And I completely agree. Yeah. You never really know who any of the characters are until they reveal their true faces to you.

Yeah. Which I love. And it's so fun when they do. Oh, I know. And it's just their twists. I remember being like shocked by something at 50% and then even just in the last 20% things keep changing.

I remember reading it during like super shitty rainy day and just being like, oh my God, this is so perfect to read on a rainy day and getting lost in it and then eating Chinese food for dinner. I remember just feeling like I needed to read it all at once. Yeah, I read it in a day. Yeah.

I was like, oh, I can't cook. I'll get Chinese food. I don't orange chicken now Oh my God This place makes the best Low Main in the entire world And they make cheese wantons

And they're to die for Oh my gosh Those are the best Yeah I know And I'm just always The thing I love about Chinese food Is that You're like super full

And uncomfortably full For like 10 minutes Yeah And then like 10 minutes after that Like you're back to eating Whereas like anything else If I'm uncomfortably full I'm uncomfortable

dribble the rest of the day. Right. So something magical about it. I know. So good. Mm-hmm. Speaking of toxic men again. We'll keep doing it. I'm just going to, yours was like, okay, speaking of toxic people, I was like, oh, my next one's toxic, too.

Oh, my next two. You know what the thing that's going to be scary to me? is like, when you said look closer, I was like, huh, I never thought of that. I wonder if I'm eventually going to get desensitized to toxic characters because of how much I just love toxic characters and men. That's a good point. But mine is my summer darlings by May Cobb. Is that one of viewers?

No. Oh, that's the one I thought you were going to pick. No, I love that. I didn't think of that. Well, the thing that I love about this is that it's kind of, I don't know if she did this on purpose, but one of my favorite movies is The Witches of Eastwick with Cher and Susan Saranin and Jack Nicholson and Michelle Pfeiffer, where Jack Nicholson, the mysterious enigmatic man rolls into town and all three of these friends are like completely like enamored with him.

And it causes a riff in their friendship. And this is kind of what my summer darlings is like without the magic witchcraft supernatural elements, I guess. Yeah. But basically, with my summer darlings, there is a woman in the forest that thinks she's going to die. She thinks that she knows he is coming back to her or for her. Jen Hanson, Kitty Spears, and Cynthia Nichols have been friends since childhood. They are now approaching 40 and their lives have changed. their insular East Texas

town has not. They stay sane by drinking wine in the afternoons, dishing about other women in the neighborhood, and bonding over the heartache of their own and roaching middle age and raising ungrateful teens. Then Will Harding comes to town, moving into one of the neighborhood's

grandest homes. He's mysterious and charming and seems like the answer to each woman's prayers. He's a source of fascination for Jen Kitty and Cynthia, but none of them are ready for the way Will disrupts their lives. As Will grows closer to each of the women, their fascination twists into obsession, threatening their friendships and their families. When he abruptly pulls away,

each woman scrambles to discover the source of his affection. But what they'll uncover is far more sinister and deadly than any of them could have ever imagined. Yeah, that one, that is such a great example. I've got to you. I loved how you got, I don't know if you got Will's perspective, but I love how it was like all three women's perspective. Yes. And I was like, what do I do with this? Like, who's the main character? Because they're all three equal.

But yeah, I just love that book. I love her. And she keeps getting better and better. She's amazing. I can't wait to read her next one. Oh, my God. A likable woman. A likable woman.

I'm looking at it right now. I don't have it yet. But I could definitely message her and get it. do it. There's no, she's, I mean, she's just so... I love her so much. I do too. She's... She's the biggest sweetie.

So sweet. And her stories are so sinister. And sexy. Oh, my God. Yeah. Consider yourself prepared. This one is so steamy. Good. She writes the best summer thriller.

reads. I'm frozen again. Basically, makeup will always be synonymous with summer. I don't know why it does this. I totally agree. It would tickle in my throat. You're beating that so much. I'll stop being so funny. Oh, good luck. You're hilarious. I know. I guess that's my camera. It's out of my control.

Get it together gear. But yeah, the summer darlings, they are so much fun, all of them. And the paperback comes out in like a month with a new cover. I like that cover. I know. I pre-ordered it. Nice. Because that's support my girls.

Yeah. So yeah. Yeah. So, and especially with summer right around the corner. Yes. It would be the perfect, the perfect pick, if you ask me. Speaking of it. summer picks with lots of women in them. One of us is dead by Geneva Rose was one of my

good one. I know and it really goes well with the one that you just talked about. I know. Really working out here. Good. Yeah. So meet the women of Buckhead. A place of expensive cars. I'm like, Am I frozen? Huge houses and competitive friendships. Shannon was once the Queen Bee of Buckhead, but she's been unceremoniously dumped by Bryce, her politician husband. When Bryce replaces her with a much younger woman,

Shannon sets out to take revenge. Crystal has stepped into Shannon's old shoes, a young, innocent Texan girl. She simply has no idea what she's up against. Olivia has waited years to take Shannon's crown as the unofficial queen of Buckhead. finally her moment has come, but to take her rightful place, she will need to use every backstabbing, manipulative, underhanded trick in the book. Ginny owns Glow, the most exclusive salon in town. Jenny knows all her client's secrets and darkest desires, but will she ever tell?

Who amongst these women will be clever enough to survive Buckhead and who will end up dead? They say that friendships can be complex, but no one said it could ever be this deadly. and they're all suspicious. Suspicious. Suspicious. Suspicious, bishes. Ooh, I love that. Thanks.

You make that a hashtag. Or we'll just title the episode. Cool. That is such a good pick. And I can't believe I never. thought of it because that's another one where I'm like thinking of books with really big cast and yeah multiple POVs and it's just so such a good choice it's fun this might be my favorite episode ever it really I mean I say that every week that's fun picks what I say that every week but I mean

we just keep getting better I love Geneva Rose too she's like kind of like part of that trifecta that can write really snarky people and like really like really like entertaining, like, things. And I think the perfect marriage is going to be a movie soon. I think so. I saw something about the casting. Oh, you did? In a review when I read it a couple months ago.

So I can't remember. It was a little bit ago. Who was casting it except for me? It was, I'm pulling it up. It was on Goodreys. I saw someone talking about who was cast. I don't know I'll look

it wasn't on Instagram don't worry okay good wow I'm gonna cut this out but like it has so many bad reviews why does it have it like Goodreys put like a bunch of the bad reviews first probably because people are assholes I don't normally run into that in the thriller

like I know people leave bad reviews but it never shows up first oh here we go she just commented and said the film will be produced by Patrick Washberger and Ashley Stern. Oh, that didn't say anything about casting. I don't know.

Fingers crossed for Margot Robbie. Oh, for real. Yeah, that would be amazing. And like, Ryan Gosling. Yeah. That would be fun. You'd be a good torture author.

Mm-hmm. He did really good as, like, the nice guy and the shitty husband in that movie All Good Things with Kirsten Dunst. I haven't seen that one. It's really good if you watch it. Nice. If you want to watch it. But yeah.

Well, I'm going to piggyback off yours. Nice. About a group of women dealing with tragedy and a book that I would consider, like, extremely entertaining, but also like a good summer read or spring. if you don't want to be outside when it's hot. Yes. One of my favorites where you have all three perspectives. Well, this one has five.

So you have three women and two detectives. So I love the rule of three by EG Scott. Once a week, three women get together for a book club in Kingsland, a private gated community full of neighbors. looking to do their business away from prying eyes. On the same night, their husbands meet up to play poker where much more is being planned than anyone could guess. But on this particular night, something goes terribly wrong.

When all three men end up dead or hospitalized and the entire town is being questioned, no one seems to be able to answer the only question that really needs asking. What the hell happened? It's a short synopsis, too. I know. I was like, wait, I think he's done. you're like, I don't know, I'm like, well, I know, but I'm not going to tell them. Yeah, no.

When you said the title, I like thought I hadn't read it. And then I was like, I've read that. Yeah, I just fucking loved it so much. I love. I love EG. Scott in general. But I mean, when you have like three women and they're all hiding things and their husbands are hiding things and then you've got these detectives. And it's kind of like they do such a good job with their multiple. multiple perspectives

that you're like I love these detectives and I would normally want them to solve the crime but I also like as bad as these people are kind of want to see them get away with them exactly it makes more tension though because you're like

who am I coming forward yeah and they've done it to me three times now with each book so shout out to them Shout out to EG Scott, her usual. I know. I have one from an author that we always talk about, too.

And it's actually the author who inspired this topic because Jamie Lynn Hendrix has another one with an ensemble cast called It Could Be Anyone. And it's kind of, are we finding out that ensemble cast are summer reads? because this would be another fun summer one or spring. Yeah. My next three I would not consider summer reads. Oh, that's good, maybe. So I'll backtrack us back into winter. You'll balance it out.

Well, in this one, to anyone on their flight out of New York, they appear to be five best friends excited for a destination wedding in Miami. No one would guess that each of them has a reason to want the groom dead. Trevor Vaughn, the groom in question, wooed his bride to be by first becoming close with her friends, which is to say that he learned all of the five's darkest, most dangerous secrets, and blackmailed them into convincing Fiona to say I do. The friends were forced to convince a doubting Fiona to go through with the wedding,

no matter what, and now the charade is set to continue all the way to the altar. Trevor has his own reasons for wanting to marry into Fiona's family and he'll stop at nothing to make his plan reality. But when he dies of an apparent allergic reaction at the wedding, surrounded by such close enemies, the possibility of murder isn't far behind. And for the authorities investigating the case, anyone present could be a suspect. All of her characters are fun. All of her stories are fun. It was just so good. I love everything she does.

And that one. So like my ranking of not like how much I enjoyed them because I loved all of her books, but like I remember reading that one and being like, like I got to the end and I was like, how the hell did I read that so quickly? Like it was just so impossible to put down. And then I didn't do it was my second one that I was like, how the hell did I get that through that one so quickly? Yeah.

Finding Tessa, I felt like I had to, I, I, finding Tessa, I was, because it was her debut, I was like, I really felt like I had to like, pay attention to every single word to see if I could, like, figure out what was going on. But yeah. I'm quickly learning that, oh, how, no matter how much you pay attention to Jamie Lenn Hendricks' books, she's going to trick you anyway. Yeah. She's just going to.

You might as well accept it. Yeah. and deal with it and just go along for the ride because there's nothing you can do to survive. Nothing. Dom, dumb, dumb. But yeah, she's amazing. Fantastic. She's going to be like, you guys just keep talking about me every week and we're like, yeah.

Yeah, we are obsessed with you. Okay, so I have this one. one. I thought of ensemble cast with this one because I was like dual timeline, but there's also like a relatively big cast in each timeline. Yeah. So you're trying to find out what happened. So I picked The Night Shift by Alex Finlay. Ooh, yeah.

Did you read that? I did read it. Yeah. So I love this book. I loved it. So good. So creepy. Yes. So for New Year's Eve, 1999, Y2K is expected to end in chaos.

Planes falling from the sky. Elevators plunging to Earth and the world's markets collapsing. A digital apocalypse, blah, blah, blah, blah. But at Blockbuster Video in Lyndon, New Jersey, 14 girls working the night shift are attacked and only one survives. Glees quickly identify a suspect who flees and has never seen again. Fifteen years later in the same town, four teenage employees working late at night at an ice cream store are attacked, and only one makes it out alive. Both surviving victims recall the killer speaking only a few final words. Good night, pretty girl. Fucking creepy.

So in the aftermath, three lives intersect. The survivor of the blockbuster massacre, who was forced to relive her tragedy. the brother of the original suspect who was convinced the police have the wrong guy and the FBI agent who's determined to solve both cases. So I loved that one and there's like little snippets of like information with like both cases but there's like you have to have a cast, right? Like you have to have in 1999 you have to have specific people who mention people or who have people in their lives that could be responsible for this and see how it's.

It could be connected and interwoven with what happens 15 years later at an ice cream shop where you have just as big of a cast, if not more, because you have police detectives trying to figure this shit out. Yeah. So. And the timing, the way that he like blends the two timelines together at the end, I remember there were like multiple really cool moments where I was like, wow. Yeah. That was really well done. Mm-hmm. So good.

He's great. He is great. I loved every last fear, too. Yes, me too. I loved that one. The night shift is going to be hard to talk for me because of the, it just has it all for me. Yeah. The creepiness of like, good night, pretty girl.

I was so creepy. I remember reading that, being like, oh, I hope I don't have a dream about that. I know. I didn't. I mean, if I had a dream and somebody was like, good night, pretty girl, I'd be like, oh, you think I'm pretty? You'd like, go on. Yeah. What else do you want to call me?

Same more. Yeah. Keep complimenting me until I'm like, what the fuck are you doing in my bedroom? Yeah. Well, my next one, I don't think I can really tie it in. No. But, nope, I just can't. I just can't.

But I thought I had hope for a moment. families families are the ones that keep showing up for me in ensembles too so this one is about a very toxic family and it is he started it by Samantha Downing oh good one you aren't killing this shit oh and freezing I was like that was the cutest pose to freeze them though like honestly I know. I'm going to screenshot that one. Yeah, I know. So cute.

That should be your bookseagram profile pick. I probably should. Just like, why not? Yeah. What did I love about this one? Well, I just devoured this one. You know, I haven't read. I don't need to give my review about it yet.

Yeah. Anyway. I'm just going to start reading it and I'll cut to that. Beth, Portia, and Eddie Morgan haven't all been together in years, and for very good reasons. We'll get into those later. But when their wealthy grandfather dies and leaves a cryptic final message in his wake, the siblings and their respective partners must come together for a cross-country road trip to fulfill his final wish, and more importantly, secure their inheritance.

But time with your family can be tough. It is for everyone. It's even harder when you're all keeping secrets. and trying to forget a memory, a missing person, an act of revenge, the man in the black truck who won't stop following your car, and especially when at least one of you is the killer, and there's a body in the trunk, just to name a few reasons. But money is a powerful motivator.

It is for everyone. So many secrets. So many twists. So many, like, characters. And it's just like you can't, you don't guess the ending. You don't guess anything. No. I didn't guess anything about the entire book. I was like, what's going to happen? I loved it. I'm so fucking pumped for her new one, too. A Twisted Love Story?

I heard, well, no, Jamie Lynn Hendricks was talking about how much she loved it. I was like, I wish I had it. I know. I don't have it either. Or Samantha Downing List. It's going to be so good, though. But she's just like fucking... I love her. She's like amazing because it's like darkly comedic, but it's also like, like, like really, really suspenseful. And she, like, rides that way of, like,

exceptionally. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Huge. Yeah. I love that book. And I would like to read that again, too. That's what I was just thinking. Mm-hmm. It was very fun.

I'm just going to be brutally honest with you. My next two, are, I saved the bleakest for last. You're like, I started out with notes on an execution, but I'm ending with some banners. I'm ending with some fucked up shit. But I'm going to the top back. One of my favorite books in the entire world is Ohio by Stephen Markley.

If my house catches on fire, I'm throwing this book out the window first. like I love this story so much. The ending just, I mean, like, when I tell you I was too sad at the end of this book to actually sob, I just sat there for like probably an hour. Just like, I'm too sad to cry right now, but if I could cry, I would be hysterically sobbing. I know what you mean. Like, picture... It's just too intense.

Just picture what it would be like if you had, like, like, You know those commercials where it shows the little child getting a puppy, and you see the puppy and the child grow up together, and the dog starts to get old, and then just picture that child watching a Mack truck run over that dog. Jesus Christ. That's how I felt at the end of this book. Oh, my God. It's so good. It takes place on a sweltering night in 2013. teen. Four former high school. Yeah, it's hot. It's really hot. Of course, it's miserable. Yeah, yeah. And I remember reading it in the summer and I was like, this is not helping because I was like reading it like outside, lounging my little trying to be tan. But read this one outside because you're going to need the vitamin D to help with your depression by the time it's done, basically.

four former high school classmates converge on their hometown in northeastern Ohio. Bill Ashcroft, a passionate drug-abusing young activist whose flailing ambitions have taken him from Cambodia to Zucati Park to post-BP New Orleans and now back home with a mysterious package strapped to the undercarriage of his truck. Stacey Moore, a doctoral candidate, reluctantly confronting her family and the mother, of her best friend and first love, whose disappearance spurs the mystery at the heart of this novel. Dan Eaton, a shy veteran of three tours in Iraq, home for dinner date with the high school sweetheart he tried to desperately forget, and the beautiful, fragile Tina Ross, whose rendezvous with the washed up captain of the football team triggers the novel's shocking climax.

Set over the course of a single evening, Ohio toggles between perspectives of these unforgettable characters as they unearth dark secrets, revisit old regrets, and uncover and compound bitter betrayals. Before the evening is through, these narratives converge masterfully to reveal a mystery so dark and shocking, it'll take your breath away. Yeah. So I usually don't read, yeah, I usually don't read the part where it's like, this is a masterful class act. But like, you just have to know that it's like those different characters, it's almost like, because this book is a chunker, right? So... Yeah. But each character

is almost like a novella. Mm-hmm. So you stick with these characters for 100 pages or more. Right. And then, like, in the next person's perspective and their storyline, it's not only them, but it's like how they relate

to one another. And as you go on, it just gets like bleaker and bleaker and bleaker and bleaker. Oh. I mean, when you take, like, people who somebody who was in Iraq. You have somebody who was like,

who peaked in high school. You have someone who's like returning home because like the person she fell in love with for the first time as a teenager disappeared and was never seen again. There's just so much going on but it's like the definition of a perfect ensemble cast and it's such an,

amazing, amazing book. It's also beautiful. Do you know what I mean? Like, it's like mysterious and like suspenseful and like beautiful, but like really fucking sad. I know. Yeah, every time you talk about it, I'm always like, man, it sounds so good. It's incredible.

And I'm like, I could handle it. And then I end up not reading it. But every time you make me want to. I think it's one of those things where some of the sad parts you will be able to see coming or you kind of have suspicions on. It's just the way that he writes them, that it's like, like it's very character driven. So whenever anything does happen, it's kind of rough.

Yeah, you feel it with him. Yeah. But it's totally worth that. Even if you're like depressed, even if you're depressed for like a week like I was, it's definitely worth the read because it's such a good book. Yeah. I get it. And he's like incredibly handsome.

Well, that always helps. Yeah. I was like, oh my God, are you single? You write the bleakest shit I've ever read in my entire life, and I love the bleakest shit in the world. You're like, I think we might be perfect for each other. Do you just want to tell me like a really sad story every single day to keep our relationship thriving? Like bedtime stories, but yours are sad. Yeah, tell me something you're pressing.

So that you can finally fall asleep. You finally start sleeping for like eight hours a night. What cured your insomnia, Stephen Markley? I'm so depressed. I don't want to wait. I don't want to be alive or awake. Just like how the episode started today. I have no will to live.

That's true. There is a theme. I swear, I'm actually, like, really happy. Me too. Like, in life and life, like, I'm really happy in life. Like, I have, like, great friends that I love. I have all my books. I have my family. Like, everybody's healthy and good. Yeah.

Like, just because I love bleak things and self-deprecating humor, like, I don't want anybody to call, like, a hotline. Don't close to the side hot. line. He's okay. Because the paramedics would like literally show up and I'd be like jamming out to like Renaissance by Beyonce and they're like he seems fine. They're like we think he's okay. Like sorry for the troubles guys but do you want like a really depressing book? You're like I have some book recommendations for you. Yeah. I can imagine you guys don't get a lot of calls around my area. So here's a couple of copies of Ohio by Stephen Markley. I mean this seems

It's just going to happen now. It's got to be even Stephen. Hopefully it'll be hot ENTs. I don't know why I just nicknamed him even Stephen, but it's going to be either Stephen Markley or Jacob Allority. There is no in between. Yeah. Yeah. Or Drake.

Or Drake. Yeah. Just because I've been trying to manifest that. since like 2012. You're like, that's my longest manifestation. It has been. Well, probably we cut to footage one day, and you're like, remember when I, like, didn't know Drake?

Could you imagine? Yeah. Like, my wedding to Stephen Markley, like, Jacob Allorty lands in, like, a helicopter, and he's like, don't do it. You're supposed to be with me. That would be your dream. And like Drake comes and like your jocles Stephen Markley. And he's like, guys, stop it.

And he's like Toronto. Toronto for life. Don't fight over me. And speak now is playing in the background to bring this full circle. Oh my God. Or vigilante ship. or vigilante shit that would probably be more appropriate

or like look what you made me do or that and if Jacob wins gorgeous can be your song or Drake I don't know Stephen Markley is gorgeous oh well then

he's just it just will be your wedding song yeah it's one of them is the victor whoever who ever win Yes. Who ruins my heart?

Well, if your theme has been being depressed and looking for toxic men tonight, I think my theme has been not a happy family

my child Filipino. It's very odd brand with us. I know. When you said that earlier, I was like, oh my God. It was too perfect of a set up.

And like, fuck nice guys. And you're like, fuck happy families. I'm like, families aren't happy. Yeah, what fuck wants to read about that? Well, it is a really good on top of cast. And like I said already. I know, like we're sticking to the topic here. Families like to make a good ensemble.

Yeah. And Shari, I think it's Shari. do you know i think it's shari not sherry let's go with sherry then sherry lapina basically writes all she writes so many good thrillers yeah

you agree bruceway bruceway says he agrees i'm almost done talking about books almost like how come there's no dogs in these books mom he's like why isn't dad back yet can you see can you see when he's gonna get home where's uh he has a meeting a dinner

He's getting drinks with a friend. Oh. I know. So back to not happy families. Okay. We're going to talk in a little bit. I'll just have to, I'll just get bruised in my lap and he'll listen.

I want Tyler to like stumble and drunk in the middle of you reading the synopsis. That would just fucking make my day. would be, he'd be like, are you trying to say something? Do we need to talk? Yeah. I'm like, baby. Just keep him on his toes. This family keeps each other on their toes.

Because in this family, everyone is keeping secrets, even the dead. Bruce just burped behind me, and I couldn't not acknowledge that he just burped on me. I did not hear it, but he's like, I hate Easter. I know. Just let me talk about it. In this family, everyone is keeping secrets, especially the dead. Breckenhill and upstate New York is an expensive place to live.

You have to be rich to have a house there, and they don't come much richer than Fred and Sheila Merton. But even all their money can't protect them when a killer comes to call. The Burtons are brutally murdered the night after Easter dinner with their three adult kids who, of course, are devastated? Or are they? They each stand to inherit millions. They were never a happy family, thanks to their capricious father and neglectful mother, but perhaps one of them is more disturbed than anyone knew. Did one of them snap after that dreadful evening, or was it someone else that night who crept in with the

worst of intentions? It must be. After all, if one of your siblings was a psychopath, you would know. Wouldn't you? Can't trust anyone. Ask my sister. Ask my brother. Do you think Gera is a psychopath? And she would be like, no. And I'd be like, little do you know.

Whoa. Yeah, I love a domestic suspense about a fucked up family. So, yes. I also love, there's something. very intriguing to me about a group of people who have, like, grown up under the same roof and, like, are still able to hide things from one another. I know. And that they all, like, even though they have the same parents, they, and this book especially does a good job of showing how you can grow up in the same place and take away different things or, like, have different problems with your parents than your sibling. Mm-hmm. Yep.

It's like a fucked up family. It's just always going to keep secrets. Yeah. Any family that looks too good on the outside is full of bullshit. I tend to be very suspicious of. Same. I know some people are just great, but. No, no, they're not.

It's like kind of like what we were saying like months ago about the people who like glow on Facebook about their partners. Yes. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Your husband... It's very performative. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Your husband's the one... Yeah. Lowering his standards on a Sunday afternoon at a dive bar with some flusy. Yep.

Mm-hmm. Speaking of fucked up families. Ooh, go on. I have my last one. I'm... It's really a stretch when it comes to a family, per se. But the cast feels family-ish because it's about a strip club. So it's real easy by Marie Rakowski. But there's just the dynamics remind me of like a family because all of these women and like some of like the bouncers and like the owner. Like it just feels very familial. Yeah.

So 1999. Samantha has danced for years at the lovely lady strip club. She's not used to mixing work and friendship after all. Between her jealous boyfriend and his young daughter, she has enough on her plate. But the newest dancer is so clueless that Samantha feels compelled to help her learn the hustle and drama of the club. How to Sweet Talk the Boss, fit in with the other women, and make good money. One night when the new girl needs a ride home, Samantha agrees to drive,

a simple decision that turns deadly. Georgia, another dancer drawn to the ensuing man. murder and missing person investigation, gathers information for Holly, a grieving detective determined to solve the case. Georgia just wants to help, but her involvement makes her a target. As Holly and Georgia round up their suspects, the story's point of view shifts between dancers, detectives, children, club patrons, and the killer. Drawing in their experience as a former dancer, Marie Rukoski, immerses us in a captivating world of the club. So

that has that's an insane ensemble cast. Yeah. I know what. Yeah. Dancers, detectives, the killer. I think one of the perspectives is a very young child as well. That's what I remember hearing. I haven't read it.

You didn't? Oh. No now. Yeah. I will read it with you. Yeah. I'll read this in Ohio with you. I will be your like emotional support friend. I will read that. It sounds like. Yeah, you're going to need it for both of them. All right. It's okay. I still, I always end up loving a powerful story even if it makes me cry. Yeah. After I've read it, I'm always like, oh, I'm so glad I read that. But sometimes I just need to be pushed to start it.

Yeah. I'll push you. Yeah. Thanks.