Bookwild - Gare's Montreal Mystery Festival Recap and Our Mid-Year Favorite Reads with Gare and Steph

Episode Date: June 6, 2025

This week, Steph and I ask all about Gare's experience as a moderator at the Montreal Mystery Festival, and we all share some of our favorite reads halfway through 2025!Don’t Tell Me How to DieThis Book Will Bury MeThe Paper PalaceJulie Chan is DeadKeep it in the FamilyThe Devil and Mrs. DavenportThe Manor of DreamsNight WatcherThe Secret Lives of Church Ladies 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 

But I checked and there's not a tornado warning. So hopefully that doesn't happen again. Not like it ever stops you. I'm like, where'd she go? Well, the trio is back. It has been, I don't know how many weeks it's been for the listeners because we recorded a bunch of kind of like a month ago. But for us, we kind of haven't talked in like this way in like three or four weeks. Yeah.

Yeah. Virtually face to face. So we have lots to catch up on because Gare was basically a celebrity. Yeah. Montreal. Yeah, I went to the Montreal Mystery Festival. This was their second year doing it. And they asked me to moderate a panel.

And I've like not good with public speaking. And I've never moderated before. I've never even been to like a book event other than like a book signing. But oh my God, it was so much fun. they had some amazing authors there Hank Philippi Ryan was there Vanessa Lilly Katie Talo was there

Nina Lauren there were just so many and it was like really fun it was really really like a fun experience in Montreal too but I got to hang out with some bookish friends I moderated a panel which I was very nervous about public speaking but I powered through

and I will be back next year. So it was basically just like a bunch of like bookworms getting together listening to people talk about writing books buying books, having books signed and then like eating all of the routine that we could find in Montreal

which was amazing. Like I think that's like I was there for I got there Thursday evening and I was there Thursday Friday Saturday and I left Sunday and I think all I had was like puteen and pizza. Yes. And I was like, this is my diet now. This is my diet now.

So is it mostly for like authors to bounce ideas off each other and learn from each other? Or is it more like readers listening to authors talk or both? God, you know, I would say like a little bit of both. So it's basically like you know when you go to like Murder by the Book in Houston. and has a ton of them, but, like, you know when you go to, like, some of the, like, release parties, and there might be another author that's, like, talking to the author before they do the book signing, they're kind of like that. So, like, every panel has, like, a theme. So, like, Vanessa Lilly and Lisa Custle and a couple other authors were on, like, Slay Detectives, and it was, like, queer mysteries.

mine was like the relationships between like mothers and daughters in books so like you kind of talk about like you know you hear them talk about their writing process and like why they enjoy thrillers and like they talk like a little bit about like their like most recent release and like how it connects to like the the theme of like whatever the panel is but it's just like kind of stuff like that and at the end of them they all have like Q&As for the audience nice so it was like really interesting to hear like not only their conversation, but sometimes they would piggyback off from like other panels, you know, and like be like, oh, well, they were talking about the difference between like people who plot and like what they call like a pancer, which is like

somebody who just like writes as they go and they don't really plot things out. There was a lot of discussions about like how people don't care who you kill in a book as long as it's not like an animal. Yes. Which I was like all four. And yeah. It was just like really fun. And then like obviously there's like a meet and greet the night before the panel

star and then there's like a celebratory party like at the end on Saturday night. But it was like so much fun. It was. Sounds fun. It was like I was nervous because I drove and like Montreal. at like 5.30, 6 o'clock at night on a Thursday is not fun. Oh, yeah. So, and it was like pouring down rain.

So I basically checked into my hotel around like 6.30 and like booked it to like the meet and greet. And I walk in and I see all of these faces that I recognize from Instagram. Like Hannah Mary McKinnon, Hank Philippi Ryan. I met like Seneca and Candace and I was like oh my god but like having authors come up to you and be like oh my god I'm so glad you're here like it's so great to meet you I was like no no no like I'm here to meet you you're like my like celebrity so it was just like a really like humbling experience to be like in a room with a bunch of people that you admire who also like admire like your work like Sherry Lapina was.

like I am so happy that like we met because like I've been wanting to meet you for years and years and it just like hasn't been able to happen. And we just like a selfie. But it was fun. So like if you're ever in the Montreal area or like you want to do it, it's definitely one that I recommend. I think it's like a less like it's like a more like quaint version of like Thriller Fest I would imagine. Like it's not like as like booked and busy. But it's really, really, really fun. was there something that was talked about at a panel or like outside of it that was like a surprise to you or like a memorable thing that you either just like heard about or learned um i think just like being able to hear so like what i like took away that was most surprising to me is you know how you read a book and you're like oh this is definitely somebody who like had to plot every single detail and then you like read it some and like they take you in so many different directions that like you like you're like oh like I can see if this person like wrote this like as they were going I felt like everything was the opposite

right so like the authors that I thought would be plotters were pancers and the authors that I thought would be pancers were like major plotters oh interesting um so there was that and then there was like there was one panel that had Clements Michelin who wrote The Quiet Tenet from the Quiet Tenet from the Quiet Tenet. She was on a panel with Samantha M. Bailey and like Samantha M. Bailey was like,

I'm going to read your book and like, I'm terrified of serial killers. But like now I'm so invested in like wanting to read The Quiet Tenet. Oh. And that was interesting to me because I'm like, they're still like human. You know, like authors who like

like we always like talk about how like thriller authors are like the kindest people that write like the darkest shit and i'm like Samantha m bailey wrote literally some pretty dark books you know and she's afraid of like serial killer thrillers but like she's gonna like she's gonna like face her fear so like there was like a lot of things like that um and some of like the writing like will dean was one of the authors there and he was like basically like he like dreams his characters

so like he's like I just have a dream and like this woman is like in this situation and then like I start like writing it and like basically like they're all like dreams or like they're things that he like thinks about like as he's like falling asleep and I thought that was really interesting

that's what Jennifer McMahon says yeah that's how I feel. It's so wild. Yeah. Anytime I have like a good idea, I swear to God, it's like when I'm trying to like fall asleep. And I'm just like and then I get like obsessed with it and it's locked in. Yeah.

So it was really fun. It was really fun. I can't wait to go back next year. But I know. I'm just like. I need to get my passport updated so that I can come next year. Yeah. It would be so much fun.

It was like busy though. Like I was like getting up at like 830 and like taking. off and then like getting home or home back to my hotel at like 11 30 12 o'clock like all three nights but like you're just like running around with like books and like hanging out with authors and like hanging out with like other like readers and like everybody it's just like a big like family almost like everybody's like let's take pictures and like you know most everyone was like really fun. Well, it's like you naturally have at least something in common with everybody, you know, like we love the same types of books. So which is cool. And like for a lot of readers who are like

introverted, it was like interesting to me to like run into people who are like, I have no problem introducing myself to like another reader and being like, oh, I know you from Instagram and like stuff like that. So like I definitely like met like a lot of new people or it was like very interesting to be like, oh my God, here's somebody that I've been. following for years who like I have never met before but like I have DM'd or like I met Sanika from the reading beauty and I met Candace and I've talked to them for years and years and years and it was honestly like we did everything together like the whole time that I was there and like I felt like it wasn't my first time hanging out with them like I felt like we were just

like old friends that like we're getting together for like a reunion. Union or something. And like the conversations and everything just like flowed so naturally. And like we had like such a good time. I met a woman named Aaron who was like girl well read. And I could have swore that like we had been friends for like years and years. Like the four of us like hanging out and doing everything that we could together. And like being around one another. It was just like these are like people that I'll have in my life. life for like a very long time if not forever unless they like take off you know and they're like oh I don't want to hang out with you anymore but I don't think that time is expired but yeah it just felt like a bookish like reunion retreat almost like you know when you go to like you know when you go to like you're like oh I need a break from like life and you go and like get like a massage and like you just have like a hotel and like food and everything it just like felt one of those but I came home with like 15 books. Yes. That's amazing. Yeah. Another good reason to drive. That's the reason I drove because I brought

like 10 books with me to be signed like under signings after. But then like obviously I went to like the big indigo when I was there and I bought like five more books and then like you know how like I'm obsessed with like different covers. So like the Blood Sisters by Vanessa Lily paperback is different than the arc that I have. Yep. So I bought that. And I was like, okay, well, here I am. You know, but yeah, it was really fun.

And I definitely recommend. It sounds so fun. Yeah. I miss it. I was actually like, I've never felt this way on like a vacation. But like usually like on day three or four or whenever I leave, I'm like, okay, I'm kind of ready to go home. Like I've done everything like I need to do.

Like I want to hang out with my dog, whatever. And like when I woke up Sunday and I was like packed. up and everything. I was like, I just wish we had like one more day. Yeah. Like even as like busy as it is and like as much as you're like running around like a chicken with your head cut off, I was like, I just don't want to go. I'm not ready to go home yet. Oh, that's really nice. But Murphy was like freaking his freak when I got home. He was like crying and like spinning all around in circle. So it was worth it. That's cute. That's cute. Yeah. That's really cute. So that's my Montreal mystery. I'm glad you had a good time. Yeah.

It was so much fun. I love it. That was my favorite part. Now that I've gone to a few in-person events is what you're saying, like, you don't feel introverted when you're with so much of, like, other introverts. And it's just easier. Not one bet. And even, like, public speaking, like, I was, like, nervous when I was, like, doing my panel.

Mm-hmm. And, like, after, like, when I got done, like, one of the people that runs at, like, the Montreal Ministry Festival. She was like, would you come back next year? And I was like, you absolutely freaking right I would. I don't care how nervous I am about public speaking. I will come and like do this every year. Yeah. It's just like something to look forward to as well. Totally. You know? It's not like one of those vacations where you're like, oh, I have to go like be somewhere with a bunch of strangers. Like here's, here's me and all my book friends. Totally. And authors. And good food. And Food.

Food makes a big difference. Oh yeah. And sure does. Well, I don't have anything cool like that that I did. No. I was trying to, I don't know what I've really done in the last three weeks. But you have a show that you're obsessed with Gare that you recently found, right? overcompensating. Yeah. Oh, I haven't watched it yet. Oh my God. I'm ready for round two. Like,

I'm ready to like watch it again. It's like, to rewatch. Yeah. I just can't. I just can't get enough of it. It gives me the same feelings that I got when I watched like the sex lives of college girls. And but it's like it it's like a guy who's like questioning his sexuality in college where like he can finally like be who he wants to be or like explore things. things and it's just like he meets like all of these like new people and there's like it deals with like self image and like how you want to appear but like how you really are and there was just like the comedy in it is so good so yeah i'm i'm obsessed with connie brittons in it too oh yeah connie brittons in it and i was like sign it me up she's so funny she's so good in it but i'm just like i can't get enough of it i can't get enough of it i can't get

It was a nice break, too, because all I've been watching is, like, the cheesy, like, lifetime movies on Tooby. That was not what I was expecting. What? That's amazing. Yeah, we started watching Pokerface Season 2 is airing right now, and I just love it. So, if you're an author, chances are high that you just want to spend your time writing and maybe reading. not thinking about social media, what to create, and what to post. And the good news is, I have a solution for you.

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check out the link in the description. It is just so uniquely fun. And it just has, like, it's its own, well, I mean, it's, kind of an homage to like 70s who done it's or why done it's almost so you get this like plot structure of like you spend the first third in like a new town with a new character kind of in the lead up to a murder happening and then Natasha Leon's character in the second act you see how she was there the whole time and then in the third act she solves it and it's just like it's so fun they have it and it's um the writer and producer ryan johnson is also who

writes and produces all of the knives out so oh yeah imagine that tone like it's like really funny whodunits too like it's i just love it so much but it's airing weekly right now so i'm surprised you're watching it i am too i know i think because they're contained like there's not much that carries over and also because tyler gets so antsy and i'll be like oh look there's a new episode to pacify him yes i'm like sit down my god that's so funny yeah so i've loved that i loved that and then it when we ran out it recommended bad monkey on apple tv which is like so like i'm a year or two late to to this. It's like a Vince Fawn one where like kind of the same thing though. It's like a

comedy where murder is being solved and it is really good. And based off a Carl Heison novel. Has anyone watched your friends and neighbors yet? Is that the one with John Hans? Yeah. Yeah, we watched it. Did you like it? Yes. I want to watch that next. I like his eyebrows are killing me but I love him so much. whose eyebrows? John Ham's eyebrows are killing me, but I love him so much. They're too much. I want to just trim him, really.

I just love him so much. She's super sexy, yeah. You see it, there's a lot of sex at the beginning. I just keep seeing, there's like a reoccurring clip that I keep seeing on TikTok. My TikTok algorithm right now is like spot, spot on. It is like all dark M.M. romance, like, funny things from like movies. and then like four inch in seam men shorts

ads because I love wearing short shorts so I'm like I'm like I got my like TV wrecks some spicy book recommendations and ads for my horse shorts hell yeah

but there's like a thing with like Olivia Munn where she's like shopping for like skincare oh yeah and the girl's like oh like do you want this and she's like no I know what I want and she's like basically like telling this like pushy sales girl to like fuck off because like the only reason I need to buy these things

is because someone was murdered in my house. Yeah. Yeah. It's amazing. So I'm very excited to watch that. I can't like it is unfair how insanely attractive Olivia Munn is. I know. She's so beautiful. Like. And she's fucking hilarious. I know.

There's that part too. She is gorgeous. No. She's. Happy Pride Month, everyone. She's fucking stunning. Even I, I know, right? Happy Pride Month, but like, I would, I would, I would, I would sleep with Olivia mine. You just love my thing.

That's what I'm saying. I would, I would have, I would be anti-pride month this month. I'd be like, guess who's that or how hot he is? Come home from, come home from Montreal straight. Yes. That's amazing. Oh, boy. Yeah, it's good.

It's, it's really fun. It is fun. I think you'd like it. Um, I will say what I've been watching. She had it all cued up. Um, I am, I do not do for Hilarity TV, but I fucking love Mormon. It converted you. I need to watch this.

I keep seeing ads for it and I want everyone. What, you haven't watched it? Did you see the first season? No. No. Oh. Honestly, there are some moments where I, I, I don't know why. Like, one of my friends for me to try watch it.

like real housewives of Salt Lake and I just like could maybe get like 20 minutes in and I was like I'm just not interested. Yeah. But like there's something about these mom talk girls that I there was and then I started watching it again and like AJ didn't care. I just was like I just need something mindless right now because I just feel like kind of blah and I just want to have something on. Uh huh. Episodes are so cringy but like especially the first season man. Oh yeah. But it's just like so good. all the memes that are like we're witnessing women on reality TV whose frontal lobe hasn't fully developed like that's part of what makes it so good is they're so innocent and they're semi sheltered but then they're also not and they have all these weird like they're like 23 years old with like five kids it's just like there's just so much uniqueness to it and like I think the big difference between real housewives in Salt Lake City which still wild. They know

what a housewife franchise is like all of those women's do. These girls had no concept of what to do and it makes reality TV better. Yeah. I actually think it's like more interesting that I don't really follow them at all

or like do anything in the off season. I just like catch up when I watch it. Yeah. Now it's coming up on my algorithm more. Yeah. Yeah. So that was Like between that and like the John Ham show, hacks. And then like I sometimes weirdly like like sports documentaries more than sports.

And we watched the clubhouse with the Red Sox. And I was like crying. I'm like, okay. Whatever. Like I feel like the same way though. I'd rather watch a doc. Me too. I get more invested.

I'm like, maybe I'll go to a Red Sox game when they come here. I don't know. But they, um, I'll just watch whatever like is on. Do you guys know that when I was like sheltered little Kate that I was like a fantasy football? What? Geek. That's hilarious. You want to talk about like when I look like there's a lot about my childhood as people have heard where I look back and I'm like, oh, that was not me.

Like there's a lot of it. And that is one of them. Like I religiously watched every single fucking NFL game that I could. And I beat a bunch of dudes as a. Good for you. See, I think when women get into sports were better at it. I know. And then I got out of the house and I was able to watch fiction TV. And I was like, oh, this is way better. I'm obsessed with this. Do you know I, so at work, we used to do like March Madness. Mm-hmm. Oh, okay. And I would beat out people who were like sports enthusiasts who like studied this and like,

really like took their time and my two ways of picking my teams for March Madness that got me in like second place is I would look up the teams and be like which of these teams would I rather be locked in a room with if you know what I mean that worked and that would work or I would pick based on what colors I liked better and like their jerseys and like got me to second place didn't watch a game the whole time nope just filled out my bracket handed it in my money And yeah. That's amazing. My boss was like, how did you do this?

I didn't know that you liked basketball. And I was like, I don't. I don't like, I don't even watch it. I just picked how many guys on each team I would sleep with. And that's how I got it. Happy Pride Month. Yeah. Clearly we should have done that as our topic.

Pride month. Oh, yeah. I mean, we have more June ones, though. we have two more in June. Yeah. We definitely do. Did you have an icebreaker stuff? Oh, I did.

Yeah. I'm very excited. So I've read three books now. One was last year and two were very recently that I've noticed a pattern that I really like. And I actually think I saw like this as a, I don't know if like a carousel on Instagram lately of, they said plot devices, but for me it's just like feature. or elements in a book that really that you notice that you love. And like for my example, it's a like sassy grandma.

Like I loved and listened for the lie, the paper palace. And then I just finished a different like kind of just contemporary romance with like I laugh out loud at the grandma. And I'm like, I fucking love sassy grandmas in my books. Yes. They're aspirational. Yeah. I'm like, I'm going to be you.

And I want to. Yes. Like have no filter. Yeah. Oh, I love that. That's definitely one of mine. I do love that in a book. It's like, listen for the lie. There was that. I can't remember if you already said that. Um, something that I, the first one that just came to mind and it's because I'm about to read the second one in the series. But, um, Isabella Maldonado and Jeffrey Dever's fatal intrusion that I read last year. I have like the second one coming up. And I like when it's like their agents, well, okay, when basically when the female main character is like a badass and the male is kind of not. Like bumbling a little bit. Yes, like he's literally the bumbling professor. Like he is not an agent and she is. And their dynamic is so fun. And I'm like, I'm like, oh, yeah, I love this dynamic.

It's so fun. When the guy's like, I'm scared. She's like shooting over his shoulder. That's cool. That's a random one. I think mine is going to be no surprise. I have no idea what it's going to be. Mine is going to be no surprise.

But I think mine are like unapologetically bitchy characters. Oh, yeah. Like I love when like even if like I don't like, unlikable like kiss my ass. I know. But like I just like love like I. was reading The Shadow Girls by Nina Lauren and that deals with like ballerinas like 16 to 17 year old ballerinas who are just like fuck off or like drop dead to like one another and it just makes me like laugh out loud when like people are just like unapologetically like bitchy and like they don't care like when they're like oh like you missed your like beat or whatever your step here and they're like go to fucking hell like drop dead I fucking hate you and I just like you. And I just like. It's something about it, like, even though it's supposed to, like, showcase how they just, like, are supposed to be people that you don't mess with. It just, like, cracks me up.

Like, dialogue like that where, like, somebody is just like, I don't care how mean I am to people, like, screw you. Especially if it's a woman to a man, just makes my heart grow fonder for them. I felt that way about the new Megan Lally book. Yes. That's how I felt about that one. Yeah. Like, delightfully bitchy. called it. Yeah. I just loved it so much. Yeah. That's what we were like talking about. Because I,

Nina Lauren was on my panel for the Montreal Mystery Festival. And like, we were talking about how, like, every character in that book was like scary because like there's like a momager who was like really bitchy. And then there's all these ballerinas and like all the ballerinas are like not very nice. Like kind of scary. And I was like, I just like was reading. your dialogue out loud, but like dying because I was like, I don't even think as a 38 year old that I could pull off some of the things that they say because they were so good at being like, fuck off, Paul. Yeah.

And they're like two-toes. I feel like ballerina is the perfect demographic for that too. Yeah. Yeah. And she said that she went to like some like school or like whatever and met like a bunch. And she was like, they are like made of steel. like physically and emotionally because they have to just be like as tough as they can. Yeah.

So I was like, oh my God. That's freaking crazy. But like, yeah. That also reminds me of like hashtag fashion victim by Amina Akhtar. Yes. That was so bitchy. I love that. Yeah.

Oh my God. Yeah. That's perfect. Or like, um, my God, what is it? It's the Taylor Swift song. Look what you made me do by Elaine Murphy. Yes. Oh, yeah.

With like the one serial killer. and she's like, oh my God, like, take a fucking chill pill. Basically, anybody who Emma Roberts would play. Yeah. Yeah. Right. Like, Emma Roberts in American horror story or scream queens, I loved her in scream queens. Mm-hmm.

Like, anything that Emma Roberts would play where she just, like, is oblivious and mean. She's so little. So good. So good. I'm like, when is there going to be a show about a gay guy who can act like Emma Roberts in? American Horror Story because that would be my starring role. You need to find this show.

Mm-hmm. Or a writer for it. Overcompensating season two. There you go. I am praying. I am praying. Well, we're going to talk about some of our favorites

from the first half of the year. Oh, my Gare. Or Gare has something else to say. I have, it's not even like an icebreaker. I just want to know. I just have a quick, question for you guys because I found out something on um on good reads recently and I did not know this was a feature and you guys spend more time on good reads than me um did you know that there's

an option when you click on the details of a book it'll tell you where it's set sometimes but I don't always see it that's been my experience I'm noticing it lately with all these things I look like I looked up okay Kate's going to get mad at me but I was trying to figure out what to or what to read after I finish the new Peter Swanson book, which I freaking loved, by the way. And I was looking up, we used to live here on good reads. And I saw that it was like setting Oregon. And I was like, oh my God, I've never seen that before. But naturally I went to a prison M.M. Romance instead. Oh, I was just like, oh, my God. I didn't know that they did that. And then I started looking up a

bunch of books on my like TVR and was like, hmm. But does it just say it? Like, so I'm looking at right now the shadow girls because you were talking about it and i don't see it granted i'm on desktop but it's like there's this edition and then there's more information with like book statistics and i just am not seeing it so like when you see it for we used to live here like what heading is it under because i've seen it before and notice it and liked it but i don't know so you know it says like publish date publisher and the i v i sbn number and then like the additions in the language. Yeah.

It's there. So like when you go to like book details. Got it. When I'm on desktop, it's underneath the published date. So like the three that I have pulled up to talk about, only one of them has it. But it's like right underneath the published date on desktop. I wish sometimes with Goodreads that you could like ask or like click something that you could add information because like on other sites you can kind of say like there's missing

information here. Granted, I know Goodreads is like really huge, but. I just noticed that. I like that. That's cool. It is cool. I also have a question. Go on. I want to know your opinion on this.

Do you ever like scroll on TikTok? And it's like, if you like this show, you should read this book. And then it shows like a slide of like five books or whatever. Or like, oh. Oh, like, if you're looking for the next, like, pretty girls, like, here's some five books and it's like five slides or whatever. So I noticed I found this account and it kept recommending for, like, a lot of books that I like and a lot of TV shows I like. I started recommending this book. And I'm not going to say the name of the book in case my theory is correct.

But I noticed, like, I'd never heard of this book before, but I had heard about all of the other very popular titles in this slide. So I looked it up on Goodreads and it has like 200 reviews maybe. and I'm like, huh, it's very interesting that this account is posting about this book every slide. Like, if you like pretty girls, if you like true detective, if you like X, Y and Z, and it's always like something very popular to draw you in. And this book that I've never heard of is always recommended. And the TikTok account is like something about like thriller reads or thriller books or something. I think I know the account you're talking about once you said,

that a book keeps showing up and you're like hmm uh-huh and it has only 200 reviews so I'm like so my question is I my assumption is as I think that this is not a TikTok under the author's name that's what the vibe I got but it is like a book account that just keeps recommending this one book and not saying I'm the author of this book do you think that that's like sneaky in a bad way or do you think it's just like good publicity that is a good question because i had the same gut feeling it's got to be the same account is it always like a an over like it's a top down i'll just show it to if you want oh okay no so there's another one doing that i think because i always see one for like a top down angle i can't i i can't decide

because I've also heard some authors talk about how they feel like there are some authors think you can't leave reviews once you become an author, which is like a whole other weird thing where I'm like, I kind of get it, but I kind of don't. Like you're still allowed to have opinions even if you've published your own book. So I don't know. I don't know where I fall on that. But this one's kind of the same where it's like, it's not like, they're not. like defrauding anyone by like doing this but it does feel deceitful so like it doesn't make me trust

you either right like sometimes if i am like scrolling through or something and i see somebody being like oh my god like i just finished this book it gave me true detective vibes or it gave me pretty girl vibes or whatever and they're like these are what i recommend like i am like oh okay like this is from somebody who like is an avid reader but like i like i'm like i'm like i'm like this is from somebody who like is an avid reader but like i I just feel like because it doesn't list the author's name and because it is like comparing to all of these very popular books to like draw people in, but not saying like, oh, this is my book. I just feel like it's kind of like turning me off from ever wanting to read it because I just feel like it's like, I don't know.

I see like so many other authors on like TikTok and everything and like I almost take those reviews more seriously sometimes because like if there's an author that I really really like like Darby Darby Kane does this like where she like every Saturday will post a book that she's pre-order that she's excited for and I like her recommendations because I like her books. Right. So like sometimes. Jody Pinko does that on TikTok too. Yeah.

Like so good with that. I just think like if you if you're an author and you read a book by somebody that you don't like, just don't talk about it. But if you read a book by somebody that you love. you should be allowed to like review it you know so i just felt like i was like this is this seems like very like sneaky to me but like not in like uh i'm going to promote my book in like uh unique and creative way just like more in like i'm trying to trick people into buying my book i know i agree because yeah it's yeah i don't think i would approach it that way no no no and it just makes me like

because I kept seeing the book and I was like, oh, I've never heard of that one, but I've heard of these other four. Then like, it just keeps showing up all the time and all the time and all the time and I'm like, something fishy is going on here. Mm-hmm. You know. It just seems like a lot of work to have like an extra account. And I'm kind of like, I feel like I would just roll my eyes and like try to. Yeah.

I'd much rather have somebody who like handles their publicity like and their marketing or whatever, like, um, Emma do's who roll. return to midnight. Yeah. I love when she's like, if you like Black Swan and scream or whatever, like, are you looking for your next read that like has like toxic ballerine? Like hers are like very unique, but like it's obviously like from her account. And I, that's why that book. That's why I bought that book.

You know, like, yeah. Yeah. Like that's why I bought it. But like if it was like a random like thriller account that was like, this is like black swan meet scream and like I love it and da da da da da da. And it was like her behind the account but like not stating it was her. I'd be like, that's sketchy. Yeah, I don't know.

It just seems like why. It seems pointless. I don't know, which is I don't get it. And if it's going to be like your best friend or something, just be like, this is my best friend's book and it reminds me of this really good show. Yeah. It just seems weird. It is.

Unless truly you're like, these are my favorite books and I love this book and I recommend it all the time and it's underhyped, then also say that. Like, this is so. under-hyped and I'm going to include it as much as I can. Yeah. It's just weird. Very weird. Book content.

It's just like unnecessary, unnecessarily strange. Yeah. Yeah. I'm just like, something in the buttermilk ain't clean. Yeah. That's what my girl, Fadra says, on Real Housewives of Atlanta. Oh my gosh. I need to watch it.

I'm so behind. I'm behind, like, years and years of Atlanta. I just got really burnt out from, like, housewives. Yeah, I don't watch as much reality TV lately, except for the Mormon wives. To be my next one. So, we are going to talk about some of our favorites since we're halfway through 2025, favorites of the first half. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

So, yeah. Well, my first one. we all loved. And it's don't tell me how to die by Marshall Carp. Nice. I just loved it. I guess I had that one. Oh, no.

Okay. It's okay. Hopefully I don't seal any others. Sucks to not go first. You're not wrong. Sucks that you're not next. Perfect. But yeah, he was on the podcast, too.

So if this sounds good and you guys want to, oh, he's hilarious too. Gare and I interviewed him together. He is just so funny. But yeah, don't tell me how to die. I had it all, a fantastic husband, two great kids, an exciting career. And then at the age of 43, I found out I would be dead before my next birthday. My mother also died at 43. I was 17 and she warned me that women would flock to my suddenly single father like stray cats to an

overturned milk truck. They did. And one absolutely evil woman practically destroyed his life, mine, and my sisters. I am not letting that happen to my family. I have three months. I plan to spend every waking minute searching for the perfect woman to take my place as Alex's wife and mother to Kevin and Katie. You're probably thinking she'll never do it. Did I mention in high school I was voted most likely to kill someone to get what she wants? Yeah. And yeah, I just have to be very vague about it because there's all kinds of cool things that come together. But it's very, like, emotional. It's like very character-driven.

You get to really know the characters. The dialogue is snarky and fun and punchy between the sisters, especially. Yeah, I just loved it. I love that one so much. And I love him. I do too. Very genre-bendie. universally recommendable very good on audio so all those peeps up there

god that was good so good I need like a high like that like chasing like a high yes feel that I'm still looking for my we used to live here hi I know I still haven't found one it's okay it's hard when you love a book to get some comps yeah I know fucking hard. He has a new book coming out in 2026. The caretaker. Okay. Yeah. It's in the same world. What? Oh. Really? Different characters, same universe.

So there's going to be some Easter eggs for sure. And I think he has an idea for three. Cool. In the same. Like, I think there will be one more, if I remember correctly. I have to go watch my video about it. But there's going to be people from the bar, like the restaurant bar. Yeah What bar?

The family runs a bar. No, not Marshall Carp. Oh, wait, who are you talking about? We used to live here. Oh, sorry. That's okay. His name's Marcus. So it's close to Marshall.

Hello. Oh, Marcus. Steph, have you read we used to live here? No, I haven't. But I just had another person that I know, finish it and adore it. I know. there's so much i just want to read like four different genres right now like at the same time same except i don't know i just want to read yeah i just want to read all the time yeah another good thing

about montreal is i came back and i was like i'll never have a reading slump ever again i bet um well speaking of books that we all loved my first pick is this book will bury me by ashley winstead I hope I stole this from somebody. You did. But it makes my day easier. Who's laughing now? No. It makes my choices easier.

So good. I have eight books on my bed. So if anybody likes, you'll say, we're really not. I was like, someone will pick it. We're really not competing. No. We just like to, we just like to he-h-h-he. So this book will be made by Ashley Winstead, probably, like.

I mean, this is easily in my top three. Like, my ones that I have right here are my top three. I cannot stop thinking about this book. I still think about it often. I still bully people into reading it. I'm a pusher. So after the unexpected death of her father, college student Jane Sharp longs for a distraction from her grief.

She becomes obsessed with the morbid world of true crime, befriending armchair detectives who teach her how to hunt killers from afar. In this dark internet underground, Jane finds friendship, purpose, and even glory. When the shocking deaths of three college students in Delphine, is it Delphine or Delphine? I think Delphine. Delphine. Is it real? I don't know. I actually listened to a true crime something about, isn't there something called like the Delphine Five or a, there's like a crime about that?

But I think it's in a different place. I'm not sure. I thought it was Delphine. Okay, so when shocking deaths of three college students in Delphine, Idaho, capture the world's imagination, Jane and her friends are determined to be everyone racing to solve the case. But the murders turn out to be stranger than anyone expected. Details don't add up. The police are cagey, and there seems to be more media hype and internet theorizing than actual evidence.

When Jane and her sleuths get closer, every answer only begs new questions. They begin to suspect their killer may be smarter and more prolific. than anything they faced before. Placing themselves in the center of the story starts to feel more and more like walking into a trap. Told one year after the astounding events that concluded the case and left the world reeling,

Jane's searing confession of what really happened during the Delphine massacres, including details that change everything the world thinks it knows will either save her from being misjudged by history or be her own final undoing. So good. Yeah. So emotional. Oh my God.

I love the floppiness of the paperback arc. It is just like, that is, if I had to read physical books, I would need all of them to be like that. I love a floppy paperback. Yeah. Not Steph. If I'm going to read a paperback, though, I wanted to be floppy so it doesn't get like, but. Yeah. Yeah.

So I agree. I thought of, I thought of you yesterday because I was reading a physical copy of the new Peter Swanson and I didn't get an arc of it. I got like a hardcover and I was like oh I don't know how stuff does this like I was like loving the book but like the jacket was like flying all over and I was like trying to like yeah I was like I don't know how she does this this is crazy jacket is no boy no um yeah that book is so freaking good and it's like long but it's so much like typed dialogue so it goes so It's also, I think, probably my favorite cover of 2025. Oh, it's so good.

Like, obsessed. So two segways here. One is, it has a snarky grandma. Two, it's a high I'm chasing and probably will chase for a little bit. And also, Garrett got me to read it. Was the Paper Palace. So it's a backlist. Yeah.

I know. You guys, I was speaking up, Bois. I was giggling at the grandma. I was giggling at other people. So I had no idea that this would be such a hit for me. I've like seen it around. And then I was like, holy shit. So, um, from 2021. Before anyone else is awake on a perfect August morning, L. Bishop heads out for a swim in the freshwater pond below. The paper palace is the name of the place. The gently decaying set of cabins in the back woods of Cape Cod where her family has spent every summer for generations.

As she passes the house, Al glances through the screen porch at the uncleared table from the dinner the previous evening. Empty wine glasses, candlewax on the tablecloth, echoes of laughter of family and friends. Then she dives beneath the surface of the pond and recalls what else happened last night. The secret passionate encounter with her childhood soulmate out behind the house. as Elle's husband and mother chatted to the guests inside. So begins a story that unfolds over 24 hours and across 50 years.

As decades of family legacies, love, lies, secrets, and one unspeakable incident from her childhood, lead Elle to the precipice of a life-changing decision. Over the course of this day, Elle will have to decide between the world she has made with her much-loved husband, Peter, and the life she has always imagined would be hers with her childhood love Jonas. if a tragic event has not changed, had not forever changed the course of their lives. That was a really bad reading end, the way I like toned that. Okay. I noticed that the next piece was just like kind of marketing sounding.

I have learned that like, you know how like you see so many reviews of like, I just feel like the characters needed more depth. And like I think I never really noticed until recently I've noticed that in other books where I'm like, I didn't even really get to know this person at all. And I think I love this book so much because it's like almost all memories. Like you get to completely know who these people are the main character is because it's like a lot of flashbacks. Yeah. I agree with that. That was really good.

um did you also find that like the some of the memories and like a backstory was like very much like a thriller uh there was some dark shit and like yeah yeah and like the pacing of like that backstory reminded me of like a thriller yeah because i was just like what the fuck is gonna happen oh i agree there's definitely some mystery and uh yeah I agree. It's so good.

Chasing the high. I've got to read it. Oh my God. It's so good. It's really good. Definitely like I think I've realized that I love a good family drama that kind of has like some of the elements of it's not a thriller. But like if you're a thriller reader, you'll still really enjoy it. But then it has these little like snarky characters that like adds so much.

And I wish there was like a. I don't know. I think Goodreads does an okay job, but also like recommends just like the popular books right now. And I think Storygraph is like getting there but isn't there. And so I'm like, what can what can recommend comps? Like I struggle so much when I find a hit and I cannot find comps. Yeah. So I don't know. We will have to just have such great recommendations. I know.

If anyone wants to bitch about that with me, hop in my DMs. Yeah, if anyone has some. I wanted to interrupt this episode really quickly. I have a goal of monetizing Book Wild, but I would love to do it without having to have ads in the podcast. And one way that I can do that is through my Patreon community. For those who don't know, Patreon is a community platform that allows creators to share what they're creating. kind of paywall. And so that means exclusive content or early releases. The Book Wild

Patreon has two tiers. The first tier is the bookish tier. And at that tier, you get all of the episodes out a day early and you get access to our private community chat where we can talk about anything book related or TV shows or movies. The second tier is the Book Wilde tier. And it includes everything from the first tier, but also Book Wild's Backlist Book Club. So this year I've been wanting to also still read more backlist, even though I read plenty of arcs. And Book Wild's Backlist Book Club felt like the perfect way to do that. We meet on Sundays. We are international right now. So Sundays are the best way to do it. And we meet on Zoom and we all pick a book and we talk about it. And then we talk about everything else we read during the month.

And then we pick another book for the next month. So it's been so much fun so far. and we'd love to have you join the book club. So if you'd like to support the Book Wild podcast, you can go to the Patreon link in the show notes, and you can sign up for whichever tier interests you. And if you're looking for a free way to support the show, if you can like and review it on whichever platform you listen to, that helps so much.

Well, I do not have a segue because mine is quite different. The next one that stood out to me, I love this one so much. is Julie Chan is dead by Leanne Zhang. So fun. I have that on the library. Come on library. Julie Chan has nothing.

Her twin sister has everything except a pulse. Julie Chan, a supermarket cashier with nothing to lose, finds herself thrust into the glamorous yet perilous world of her late twin sister, Chloe Van Hewson, a popular influencer. Separated at a young age, the identical twins were polar opposites and rarely spoke, except for one viral video that Chloe initiated, finding my long-lost twin and buying her a house, hashtag, emotional. When Julie discovers Chloe's lifeless body under mysterious circumstances, she seizes the chance

to live the life she's always envied. Transforming into Chloe is easier than expected. Julie effortlessly adopts Chloe's luxurious influencer life complete with designer clothes, a meticulous skin care routine, and millions of adoring followers. However, Julie soon realizes that Chloe seemingly picture perfect life with anything but. Haunted by Chloe's untimely death and struggling to fit into the privileged influencer circle, Julie faces mounting challenges during a week-long island retreat with Chloe's exclusive group of influencer friends. As events spiral out of control, Julie uncovers the sinister forces that may have led to her sister's demise and realizes she might be the next target.

Literally the tone, the voice alone is a reason to read this one. Like so sardonic and satirical and amazing. And Leanne was also very cool to talk with. So yeah. I also like love like I don't know this is kind of like circling back to like what stuff was talking about um with the icebreaker is like there's like something about somebody like who doesn't have a lot in their life infiltrating somebody else's world and like all of a sudden having access to like all of this stuff that like is so entertaining for me to read same like somebody who's like getting like PR packages of like all of this skin care and clothes and like has like all of this like high tech stuff. I don't know. I was just like I think that was like my favorite part of the book.

I was just like, oh my God, like living vicariously. I would have never gotten caught. I would have been like. Not me. In my element. You want to give me free shit and like have me like be in this little like penthouse or whatever just get me a golden doodle and I'm sat. I'll keep my mouth shut until the day I die.

Like I'll never speak again. I agree I could totally live that life yeah my gosh can we pause for just a second I think someone's coming home and I just want to make sure it's quiet

sure thank you thank you I am like could not be more comfortable and relaxed right now I was just telling Tyler I should try to

or I should look at like getting a setup where I could sit on the couch because it would be so comfy. Oh my god. I love when I see like the YouTube or TikTok clips of like people recording their podcast and they're like in like super plush chairs like in really comfy clothes. Yes. It's a vibe.

It is such a vibe. Comfort is the most important. Oh my God. I wore jeans in Montreal and I was like, oh. It's the only thing I did not like about Montreal. was wearing jeans. I was like, oh, God. I definitely haven't worn jeans in a while.

I was like, it wasn't like chill enough for me to wear like joggers. Yeah. Which is like normally what I would like wear when I like run errands or whatever. But I was like, oh my God, I have to wear jeans. Mm-hmm. I don't even like full pants. Oh, she bought. I'm back.

Were you talking about it in Montreal? Yeah. Yes. I just like. jeans. I was like, oh my God, jeans. Well, I'm hoping I can pull off joggers and leggings for throw-off. I think it's, you 100% can. I'm not moderating anything either. You 100% can. It's easier for a woman to pull off, like, leggings than it is for a man to pull off joggers. Totally. Totally. Because, like, joggers, like, or like, women have, like, cute joggers and, like, cute leggings that you can, like,

dress up or dress down or whatever. But like if I put on joggers to go anywhere, I feel like people are just like you look like, like it's like a weird outfit of like a mullet, right? Like you look like you look like nice up top, but you look like you're going to like exercise weights down. Yeah. Which would be a fool. Either about to get in bed or exercise.

Which would be a fool because everybody knows that. I do not like exercising. Yeah. These joggers are just to go grocery shopping. oh yeah so yeah yours would be next me okay um one of mine is a back list oh so i thought that was interesting because i was like am i cheating a little bit but like i can't shut up about this book and i can't stop thinking about it yeah um keep it in the family by john mars oh i am obsessed i read you killed me first absolutely loved it didn't think to myself like how's he gonna top this

because like this is like the book was like perfect for me. And now I'm purchasing and collecting and buying his entire backlist, all physical copies because even his speculative thrillers because I'm like, this man knows how to tell a story. Wow. Yeah. Yeah. I bought one of them in Montreal actually. I bought the one. Mm-hmm. Which I think is the one where they like something like tells you who your soulmate is. Yeah. Yeah. Which I'm very interested to read because all I learned this year. There's a Netflix adaptation.

There is? Mm-hmm. yes I have to go I have to go bye I just hang up Are you supposed to read the speculative ones in a certain order

Or are they just in the same universe Dude people debate that heavily Oh really? Oh did not have I saw I have something saved on Instagram That he posted Yeah

That was like What the hell is it? Oh fuck Yeah, he has a post that's kind of like, you don't have to, but if you were going to this order. Yeah. It says for speculative throws, all standalone books that in the same world can be read separately, but prefer to start with the one. And then he does like oldest to newest. So that's the, that's the direction I'm going to go in.

Yeah. I didn't realize you hadn't read his other books before. I had read The Good Samaritan years ago. remember really loving it, but I don't remember anything about it. So there's three, actually just to get on my little soapbox here, I have a wish list, and there's three books of his. When You Disappeared The Good Samaritan and Her Last Move, they're all being republished on July 8th with bonus material, like bonus chapters and stuff like that, and new covers.

Damn. So I've collected what I could. and then I'm just waiting for those three. And then once I have all of his psychological thrillers, then I'll move on to collecting his speculative thrillers because I am a binger now. I loved binging Lucinda and Frida. So John is my next one.

I really like it. It's the one with the yellow windows on the cover. What lies between us? Mm-hmm. That one I love. Yes. I have that one. I haven't read that one yet.

But this puppy, I started it and like was fighting with myself to like go to sleep. Like I was like I know I need to sleep but like I couldn't. I was so good. Um, did you hear a buzzing?

Mm-hmm. Was it me? I don't know, but I heard it. My door is open. So there's like a like a cicada sounding buzz. Oh, that's nice. It might be mine. Do you want me to shut it?

No. Oh, it's like all kinds of creatures going wild right now. I love a, I love a, I love a buzzer. I love a buzzer. sound from somewhere else. That's not wrong. I'm a good point.

So this one, keep it in the family, is about Mia and Finn, who are busy turning a derelict house into their dream home when Mia unexpectedly falls pregnant. Just when they think the house is ready, Mia discovers a shocking message scored into a skirting board.

I will save them from the attic. Following the clue up to the eaves, the couple make a gruesome discovery. Their home was once a real-life murder house with the evidence still concealed within the four walls. In the wake of their traumatic discovery, the baby arrives and Mia can't shake her fixation with the monstrous crimes that happened right above them. Tormented by the terrible things she saw, she's desperate to dig into the past to find answers.

Secrecy shrouds the mystery of the attic, but when shards of a dark truth start to emerge, she realizes the danger is terrifyingly present. She's prepared to do anything to protect her family, but will the murderous figures from the past stop her from discovering their secret. This book is so freaking dark. Mm-hmm. Like one of the darkest books I've read.

Yeah. I feel like I've been craving dark lately, so. That is dark. Which is like, why does darkness, like, get me so attached? But it just does. There's something about, like, really dark ones where you're like, whoa. That is my entire personality. I know.

That is my entire personality. I'm like, oh, my God. And the like, I don't know if it's like the last chapter, if it's the epilogue or whatever, but what's the epilogue was jaw dropping. Like I was like, I was like, that just fucked me up. Because the whole book is dark and you're just like, oh my God. Yeah. It was actually so dark that I kept thinking to myself, there's got to be some, there's got to be something that's going to happen where it's not as dark as I think it is. and like some of this stuff like isn't happening but no no can you text me on the side and remind

me how it ends because i don't remember yeah okay i don't want to ruin it for kate but i don't remember you i want to know i am reading so j m cannon blood oranges flash girls uh all of those um is writing so she considers that her like crime fiction. And so she's writing under the name Jordan Cannon because she's written her first psychological thriller. And I'm like right smack dab in the middle of it like right at 50%. And it's one of those where like something is off with everybody, including the main character. And you you just can like you feel so much how much you don't know. And you can. And you can. can like tell that it's something terrible.

Even though you don't know what it is and I'm just like preparing, I really hope I can like get some answers tonight because it feels like it's going to like be a similar feeling of darkness. Damn. Yeah. And it's a blue and yellow cover. Yes, it is. They always hit.

They really do. Like when she sent it in the mail, I hadn't seen the cover yet. And it was right after we recorded that episode and I was like, oh my gosh. But yeah, it's very shining. The perfect neighbors. Oh, and it's another floppy. It's a floppy. Your books are all really perfectly floppy.

The good flop ratio. Yeah. Oh, that's cool. Dark, dark, dark is good. I don't know the last time I read a really dark one. I have to look back. That's a good point. If you need a recommendation.

I know who to call. I know. Out to prison. Audio listeners, the audience has gotten into dark male-male romance in prison. So he was showing the cover. Dude, I know who to call if I need something dark, dark bitchy or bleak

yes yes oh my gosh my like this one my next one isn't that dark but it was rage inducing which I don't know why I like books that make me mad but

my next one is the devil and Mrs. Davenport and it has a lot of boxes that were checked for me the first day of autumn brought the fever and with the fever came the voices Missouri, 1955. Loretta Davenport has led an isolated life as a young mother and a wife to Pete, an ambitious assistant professor at a Bible college. They're the picture of domestic tranquility until a local girl is murdered and Loretta begins receiving messages from beyond.

Pete dismisses them as delusions of a fevered female imagination. Loretta knows they're real and frightening. Defying Pete's demands, Loretta finds an encouraging supporter in Paris, psychologist Dr. Curtis Hansen. He sees a woman with a rare gift, more blessing than curse. With Dr. Hansen's help, Loretta's life opens up to an empowering new purpose. But for Pete, the God-fearing image he's worked so hard to cultivate is under threat. No longer in control of his dutiful wife, he sees the devil at work. As Loretta's powers grow stronger and the pleading spirits beckon, Pete is determined to deliver his wife from evil. To solve the mysteries of the dead, Loretta must first save herself.

Bruce is ready. He's like, I want to read. He's into it? No. He's into it. That book was so good. Yeah, I love like clairvoyance a little bit. No, email rage, a little bit of like anti-institution.

Yes. It was crazy because I read it at the same time that I was listening to Jesus and John Wayne, which was like all about how like right in that. that time period, 40s and the 50s, the way that politicians latched on to Christianity as a way to broadcast mass messages but also control people. So it was crazy listening to nonfiction about that while I read that book where like all of it is like, you good Christian woman. She's like, no. What was the one?

Wasn't there a Just Lowry book that was like set in that time frame too? It was like in like a cul-de-sac or something. I think Bloodlines was one of them where she was like she was a reporter. Yes. Yeah. Back to the family's house and this like idyllic little. I will never call that book anything other than bonkers. Like what that?

No. Like I have to read that one too because every time you guys talk about it, I'm like, what is it? Yeah. Yeah, you will not guess. Oh my gosh. I don't know. I need to convince my fabulous book club to read it. It's so good.

Every Jess Lowry book like hits for like so many like like unspeakable things was just like dark and like twisted. And I was like, oh my God. Like when there's like kids involved like holy shit. Yeah. Quarry Girls was like one of the darkest things I've ever read. And like there's like a scene that's like emblazing in my mind. and then like bloodlines is just like bat shit crazy yeah oh my god it's so weird like you i remember being like on vacation when i was reading it and i just like was like what

yeah and i will say like usually weird doesn't really work for me i and it it i liked it weird doesn't usually shock me yeah but i was like what the fuck is she doing i love her there's a similar okay if we're talking about some there's a similar element to the community in um one of the steinbeck and read books her series so i'm like she doesn't like it she just like always has those weird elements that's on my tbr this month is the the the reaping and then she's she actually DM me and asked me if i wanted her to send me a copy of her new one the laughing dead nice yeah i need to it when it comes out i need to get it signed oh she's i said most of her signed i think kate you will love her yeah got to read some easily really like so bingeable and dark yeah so bingeable and dark

everything let me love stop requesting stuff on that gallery i know i honestly was going to ask one of you guys to change my password and then i just so that's amazing i'm like so can i tell you so moody. I've been so moody. I'm like, here's my review, post it, here's the links. I'm out. And you guys do it. And then I'm like, Kate's busy. I can't do that to her. Oh my gosh. Can I just tell you this is so funny too? Because literally yesterday I received a D or maybe two days ago, a D.M from someone who said, can you help me? What do you do when you get overwhelmed by your net galley shelf? Oh. And I was like, oh, girl. I was like, you have. just start getting proactive. You've got to stop requesting stuff.

Oh, net galley. There's enough backlist that I want to read. I was, like, looking, and I was like, oh, like, my net galley is down to... I think I'm down to 28. I'm down to 12. I mean, these go into January of next year, so that's why it doesn't freak me out. and I'm almost done with June. So, yeah, but it's a lot.

I got mine down to 12, but then I was like, I also probably have like 20 to 25 like physical arcs on top of that. Like 12 would be like, I'd be like, yeah, but like here I am. I have like 40 arcs in total that I have to read. And I'm like, I'm going to read all of John Mars like backlists. And I'm going to read this prison romance series, which every book is 450 pages. Whoa. Well, in defense of NetGalley, the next one I'm going to talk about, I did get on Net Cali this year. So this is why the cycle continues because I loved this one so much. And it's called The Manor of Dreams by Christina Lee. Okay. Vivian Yin is dead. The first Chinese actress to win

an Oscar. The trailblazing ingenue rose to fame in the 80s, only to disappear from the spotlight at the height of her career and live out the rest of her life as a recluse. Now her remaining family members are gathered for the reading of her will, and her daughters expect to inherit their childhood home. It's missing a word. Vivian's grand sprawling Southern California Garden Estate. But due to a last minute change to the will, the house is passed on to another family instead,

one that has suddenly returned after decades of estrangement. In hopes of staking their claim, both families move into the mansion. Amidst the grief and paranoia of the family's unhappy reunion, Vivian's daughters race to peace together what happened in the last weeks of their mother's life, only to realize they are being haunted by something much more sinister and vengeful than their regrets. After so many years of silence, will the families finally confront the painful truth about the last fateful summer they spent in the house, or will they cling to their secrets until it's too late? And this one is like horror. It is, gothic it is Hollywood related it's a mystery it's intergenerational and probably the comps I never thought I would have together and I've said it before so sorry if you guys have already heard it but it was like what happened to kitty car meets no road home by john fram so it was like those being two of my favorites but also never getting a genre mashup like that this one was just so fun.

Wow. Yeah. The character work is really cool and like the Gothic horror element is like very aesthetic and not the main focus really until the like final act. So also if you're like I don't totally love horror, this one's not like what you think of when you think of horror. She's like you well now. Pretty much.

That was like the meme I shared of page being like, and I love that for you. I was like, this is Stephigare with my really niche random books. That sounds like a cake book. I'm not one to talk because like I have never got that like, you know, when you see like memes and stuff where like people are like, oh and like the romance. But when like they finally like make eye contact or they kiss and you're like, I'm kicking my feet over here. I'm like, I like literally kick my feet to like the darkest, like crazyest, most violent shit in a book. Yes.

Not in real life, thankfully, but. Speaking of that, this book reminded me of a horror movie. And I can't stop thinking about it and it scared the shit out of me. I was actually, I actually made one of my parents watch me take Murphy outside to go pee before he went to bed because I was afraid that somebody was going to going to come out of the woods and murder me. Oh my God. So, um, if you want the shit scared out of you,

Nightwatcher by Daphne and Wolfentroft. Yes. Is one of my favorite, like, I, like, savored this. Like, I did not let myself rush through it. I, like, put myself in, like, time out at times.

It was like, you're only going to read 50 more pages, and then you take a break because it is so freaking good. Um, she is the host of going west, which is a true crime podcast. And I will say that all of the years of doing a true crime podcast, I think really, like, made her show up with this.

Like, she was like, this is going to be my first book, but like, you are going to be begging for another one from me because, like, Mama brought out all the tricks. So, Nola Strait is being watched again. After an encounter with the notorious serial killer in the Pacific Northwest as a child, Nola has grown up and tried her best to forget her traumatizing night with the hiding man. She installed security cameras outside her Oregon home, never spoke of her experience, and now hosts Nightwatch, a popular radio call-in show her semi-famous father used to run. When coincidences lead Nola to believe that she's being stalked and a caller on the night watch is in a live incident with an intruder in the caller's home, the description of whom is chillingly familiar, Nola's convinced that the killer has resurfaced and is coming. for her. With a mysterious

next door neighbor lurking in the shadows, more people getting hurt, the police not taking her concern seriously, and evidence pointing toward her own father, Nola decides to become, like her listeners, a night watcher herself, and uncover the monster hiding behind the hiding man's

mask. I want to read this so badly. It is what, like there were probably three or four scenes that like actually petrified me. Dude, the top review on Goodreach right now says, oh my gosh, the beginning of the book

was absolutely terrifying. I couldn't sleep. Yeah. Yeah. There were, I would say there were three or four scenes in the book where I was like, all right, like, I want to know what's going on, but like for my own mental health, like, I'm putting this down because I will not be able to sleep. Yeah.

Wow. The flashback with her. encounter with the serial killer was scarier to me than stalker by Lars Kepler. Yeah, you mentioned that to me. Oh my gosh. Yeah. Yeah. She brought it out. And like I also feel like there were a lot of elements in this book that are very like feminist forward and like dealing with like not being listened to by police and like just how some things are more. like scary for women and how women are in more danger in situations like this and like men are.

So, but her character is a badass. She's a bad bitch. And I'm obsessed. I can't stop thinking about it. I want to relive that experience all over again. I just want to read it. Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Gere, did you ever watch that one? I love the name Nola too. Hmm? I love the name Nola. Yeah. I do too. And she's a fucking badass. Bad ass.

If they make this into a movie, Nola has to be Mika Monroe. Oh, that would be so good. Like, if you think of Mika Monroe and like Night Watcher or Not The Watcher and long legs and you combine them, that's Nola straight. Oh my God, balloons. Yeah. Your computer agrees with you. Like them and roll for a knife

Yeah I love her Did you ever watch that one with Anna Kendrick That you weren't sure if you would like gear Yeah I fucking loved it Did you? Mm-hmm The way you just talked about like the feminine Feminist forward stuff

Like really reminded me of that Yeah I'm listening my audio book right now It's called Q the Sun And it's a history of reality TV In America And it touches on that really because that was like one of the first like dating games and I was like oh yeah

this guy is creepy Ashley Flowers did a really really good job with the episode of crime junkie that she did with that case good to know yeah there was the ending to that movie was so satisfying with like the contrast between like what happened in the finale with him and, like, showing what he had done to some of the women. I was like, fuck, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I don't want to, like, talk about it too much in case people haven't watched it. But I was, like, on the edge of my seat, like, is it going to, is she going to?

Mm-hmm. Oh, man. Yeah, it was really good. And it made me not dislike Anna Kendrick as much as I did before watching. Oh, yeah. That was what you were all done. it's not hard though sometimes when you're like there's I mean not that I really have strong feelings about um celebrities that often but I was just like when you were excited about the concept of a movie

or if it's going to be a book you like is going to be a movie or show or something and then you're like oh that's who they picked oh okay like I was not always a huge fan of Anna Can camp but i'm watching the new season of you and i'm like obsessed with her she's amazing i'm obsessed with her she's actually going to be in screen seven and now i'm like super pumped to see her in the new screen movie fingers crossed she's the killer because if she's the killer in it she'd be like one of the ghost faces that i was rooting for like i love her like anna kendry or anicamp can do no wrong now yeah she's so good there was one and i was like I feel maybe this is a little bit controversial, but I think there's a book that I like that's getting made into a movie.

And I was like, oh, really? I will admit it, I'm not like a huge Dakota Johnson fan. I know. I am basically Dakota Johnson. I are not. Why? Oh, why do you think that? literally she would be like she's who I say if someone's like who would pay you play you in a biopic really

look at her hair oh I love her personality unlike like like Jimmy Fallon oh she cracks me up I don't and it's like not even anything to do with that I maybe it's just like been the movies that she's been in that I just have like it's probably just like the characters that I really haven't cared for you know what I mean Oh my god What's the first name of it? Sorry. Have you watched? It's okay.

Did you watch the one that she was in with Olivia Coleman? Yeah, the something daughter. Yeah, what the? It was really, I really liked that. I think that would change your mind about Dakota Johnson. It's on Netflix. I'm trying to find the name of it. Lost daughter?

Yes. Somebody sexy is that. Yeah, it's really. really good. Oh, Maggie Jalenhall. It was the director. Oh, she was? I didn't know that. If it's Olivia Coleman and Dakota Johnson, yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. Oh, my God. Maybe I just need to... I mean, to be fair, like, I don't like 50 shades of gray, so... And Madam Webb was notoriously a flop. The most popular things.

Oliver Jackson-Cohens in it. That's the sexy sexy too. Um, yeah, yeah, no, I,

I kind of get it with, I did not like Dakota Johnson when she was in 50 shades of gray. And, um, really became, I love the movie How to Be Single. That was good. Um,

I thought that was so funny. Um, and then she did Suspira. Yes. And I love her and that. And then I love the lost daughter. The Lost Daughter. I'm excited to see her in Verity.

Oh, bad times at the El Royale. That's what I love to her in. Oh, that's not coming up on this list. I always kind of wanted to see that. I think that's what I, I'm not like, I think that that was the one that I was just like, who's going to be in Verity?

And I was just like, oh, I think that's kind of how I felt. I just didn't picture it. I felt that way when they cast Anne Hathaway as Verity. yeah I think like the other girl was just like oh I thought they could have like amplified someone else I think I pictured maybe like

I don't know just I mean nobody was excited about gloriously and that did not turn out like the good choice they thought it might be true true

But yeah. I don't know what to talk about from my last one. I'll talk about one I haven't talked about yet because I really liked it and it kind of surprised me. I never really read like short story books, but I really liked the secret lives of church ladies. It's like this itty-bitty baby book and it's like very short. But I just really impressed me because some of the book or some of the stories were only like 10. or 20 pages, and I was like in it immediately. I felt like I was reading someone's diary, which, I mean, that's fun and juicy.

True. Yeah. The secret lives of church ladies explores the raw and tender places where black women and girls dare to follow their desires and pursue a momentary reprieve from being good. The nine stories in this collection feature four generations of characters grappling with who they want to be in the world, caught as they are between the church's double standards and their own needs and passions. There's 14-year-old jail who has a crush on the preacher's wife. At 42, Lira, Lira, realizes that her

discomfort with her own body stands between her and a new love. As Y2K looms, Caroletta's same time next year, arrangement with her childhood best friend is tenuous. A serial mistress lays down the ground rules for her married lovers. In the dark shadows of a hospice parking lot, grieving strangers find comfort in each other. With their secret longings, new love and forbidden affairs. These church ladies are as seductive as they want to be, as vulnerable as they need to be, as unfaithful and unrepentant as they care to be, and as free as they deserve to be. And I was just like, this is not what I anticipated, and I love it, and it's juicy. This is probably my next audiobook. I just saw that there is an audiobook version of it.

Yeah, it's probably really short, too. But I just... Yeah, it says four hours. It's so raw. It's just kind of like what it was just describing these stories of these people that like they maybe have like a connection to their church or like their mom is like really like a traditional religious person. But they're like, yeah, I'm not or like I'm still struggling and like have, you know, desire. It's good. Now I want to get a. I've never been like a short story person, but I really want to read that now.

And there's one called Never Whistle at Night. that Vanessa Lilly recommended and it's like all like indigenous short stories. And I'm really curious about that one now too. So maybe I will go from prison romance to short stories. I keep seeing never whistle night too. I've seen it so many times and I've never. I love the cover. I love the cover too.

Picked it up. It's so pretty. Yeah. Well, I think that's all we got for you guys today.