Bookwild - Messy Relationship Reads for Valentines Day

Episode Date: February 9, 2023

We have tons of messy relationship thrillers for your Valentine's Day reading ❤️ 😈Follow us on Instagram:Gare @gareindeedreadsKate @thegirlwiththecookonthecouchBooks We Talked AboutValentineStone Cold FoxThe WivesOne Little WordThe Snow GardenDaisy Jones & The SixThese Violent DelightsAll the Dangerous ThingsHeartsickAlias EmmaThe ArrangementThe Perfect FamilySeeing Strangers 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. Well, I was trying to think of an icebreaker, and I couldn't think of any. And so then I just Googled one while I was, so I didn't just stare at myself and fixate on my hair. I was like, maybe I'll just Google some icebreakers. And I mean, I kind of think this one is kind of interesting. What would you do first if you were invisible for a day? day. Oh my God. If I was invisible for a day, I'd probably like, what would I do if I were invisible for a day?

Huh. I don't know. I would probably find people that I don't find trustworthy and hang around them and see if they talk shit about me. That's a good one. What would you do? I feel like I would like break in, well, not break in, go into some like bank or financial institution and send myself a shit ton of money. Oh, we can do illegal then. Oh, yeah, of course. Oh, okay. Then yeah, I'd probably do that too. Yeah.

Yeah, I'd probably do that too. Yeah. I would definitely like send myself, not just me, though. I would also be like kind of like a vigilante and like send a bunch of money to like myself. Yeah. And like the people that I love and also like charities. And I was also going to say I would be Robin Hood. I'd go take it for someone who didn't need it.

100%. And probably deserves to lose it. Donald Trump would have no money when I was done with him. There we go. Yeah. We would have like sent it to each other, to ourselves, to our families. Yeah. yeah, I would have sent all of his money to everybody and their mother.

Literally everybody. We also have kind of an announcement corner. Oh yeah, you're right. Because we started off really strong when we started recording the podcast. It was like the end of the August. Okay, we're just going to go with that if we both guessed it. And then, you know, for like three months, we were like, good and then holidays happened and we each started having ailments.

And so there's been like a couple of weeks that we've had to like take off here and there. I apparently now have vertigo, which is super fun and exciting. Better than my like hypochondriac mind convincing myself that I had a brain tumor or a blood clot or like something wrong with my heart. But yeah, I have vertigo. So we took last week off. Yeah. And I was like, what was wrong with? Oh, my hair is what was wrong with me.

You've had, I think we've had to, you had a stomach bug or food poisoning. There was the assassination attempt, as Tyler calls it. Yep. Migraine? Yeah, I've had migraines before, yeah. So. We're just weak little introverts. Occasionally shit happens.

Yeah. Occasionally shit happens when you just try to stay at home and take care of yourself. but basically that's kind of what people are going to notice now is we're only going to be having one episode a week now. Yeah. We'll still be recording. Forever. Yeah. I mean, we're still going to be recording.

I think maybe like the goal or what we're going to be aiming for, who knows if we'll actually do it, is trying to have like one episode a week, but it's going to be a full episode instead of one. one long episode cut into two each week. Mm-hmm. So that way we will be prepared if something else happens. Because it will. Maybe people will be, like, maybe it'll be easier for people to, like, stay up to date, too, with, like, the podcast because, um, it's only once a week. I know, like, sometimes with other ones, too, and I think we're really good at this, but, like, I used

to love like my favorite murder, but they were friends like we are. So they would chit-chat for like an hour sometimes before they got to like their murders and stuff. So sometimes an episode would be like two hours long. And it would take like a week, like if you drive, you know, 20, 30 minutes to work. And that's when you listen to your podcast, then maybe this will be perfect. Yeah. I think so. So learn it, live it, love it. And we need merch now. Speaking of love, I haven't fallen in love. I haven't fallen in love in two weeks, but there is something I want to be, I want to mention on the podcast before it blows up on the internet. Jeffrey Starr has been posting on Twitter that he is dating somebody in the NFL who is six foot six and nobody knows who it is.

But there's a lot of speculation and because I'm a nosy little bitch and I love gossip. It is popping up all over my TikTok. So I just want to mention that we are going to be following this heavily because I love nothing more than a hot NFL player. Well, he also lives in Montana now. Yeah. I remember because he was hanging out with yay, wasn't he? Like a couple of years ago in Montana. I think that was like a rumor.

Okay. So that's what one of the things I would do if I were invisible is I would go through Jeffrey Starr's phone. because I heard him on a podcast and he was like you would not believe some of your favorite celebrities like your favorite rappers and football players and all of this that are sliding into my DMs. I believe it. Now we know. Now we know a not quite illegal thing that we could do.

Go read celebrities' phones. I would send myself money. I mean, I would send myself money, but I'd also be nosy and go through celebrity phones. Yeah. I want to know, I want to know who's behind, or like who all of Taylor Swift songs are about. Oh, good one. So maybe I would. Yeah.

I would make Sarah Michelle Geller and. Yeah. I would make Sarah Michelle Geller and Jacob Alori follow me on Instagram. There you go. That would be even more fun. Now I need my. I guess I would make Mary Stiles follow me. There you go.

That would be a good one. be a really good one. He's been extra extra spicy on TikTok lately. Yes, he has. He's all over my feed. Do you think the song's style by Taylor Swift is about him? Yeah.

She's like, well, it's in the chorus, but I'm like, Taylor, we know you. We don't hear my words. I know. I think it is. Because she also talks about him looking like James Dean. He does have James Dean vibes. I feel like a lot of it matches up. And also out of the woods, the bridge where she says,

remember when you hit the brakes too soon, 20 stitches in the hospital room, apparently that's documented that she and Harry were on a snowmobile, and he hit the brakes too soon and flew over the edge of it and had to get 20 stitches. So apparently out of the woods is about Harry and like he's talked about it even. She makes it seem like it was such a toxic romance. I know. I mean, I guess I could kind of see us. Actually, his are all nice.

Like, Harry and Tom Hiddleston and Taylor Lautner are the three that everyone jokes. Like, they don't get hated on, but all the other ones do. I'm just glad she never dated Jacob Allorty because that would make me sad. I know. I don't think she's going to slow many time soon. No, she'd be like, you can have him care. You and your two weeks of- I've got my London boy.

So, speaking of toxic love. I was going to say we do have another love segue. Yeah. So Valentine's Day is coming up, but we're not going to celebrate like normal people celebrate Valentine's Day. This is not going to be Colleen Hoover Corner, as much as I love Colleen Hoover. Yeah. We were thinking of toxic, twisted love stories.

So thrillers that kind of deal with toxic relationships, messed up relationships, messed up situations, people find themselves in with relationships, stalkers obsession, all of that good stuff. And yeah, how many do you have? How many did you find? Oh, yeah, we didn't even check in. I chose five, but I definitely could have more. so. I have six with an honorable mention.

Nice. So we'll just roll with it. We'll just roll with it. Well, you know what I was thinking is the reason I like kind of came up with this idea is because my honorable mention, I'll just go first and settle last this time. I am so excited to reread the book Valentine by Tom Savage around Valentine's Day on, you know, this month. So I was like, oh, that would be like kind of fun because. it's like a Valentine's Day theme, but it's a thriller. It deals with stalking and obsession and all of this fun stuff.

So I was like, that would be kind of fun if we just were like, hey. Yeah. Here's some of the fucked up love stories we like, you know, because nothing is trickier and dickier than go fashion love. You're not wrong. I'm not wrong. You're not wrong. It's either tricks or dicks, you know? Like, it's either like, oh, here's just one.

Or a little bit of both. A little bit of both. Like, here's like, I'm in a, you know, one night of fueled passion. Or it's like, I'm going to trick you and be like, hey, you know, you might end up with me for the rest of your life. And you're surprised by it. So trickier and dickier than love. That's going to be the episode title. People are going to be like, what?

Tricks and dicks. This is about, like, books normally. I think they. listened enough to know that there's always like some sort of some sort of sexual component or innuendo that's mentioned in at least one episode because listen we talk about books and we have book boyfriends and we have you know the adaptations and everything and there's actors and Harry and Jacob and there's just you know actors and Harry and Jacob I mean what more do you want people yeah I guess we could talk about women maybe that's the one thing

that we don't talk about. I think all women deserve better and are underrated. Because I was actually talking about this with a friend where there's a trope in thrillers right now where it's like if the man cheats, it's kind of like almost like a second chance love story of him to like try to redeem himself and like help the woman put her life back together again. which is so stupid. But if a woman, she either cheats or when she does cheat, it's like she cheated and she's doing something deceitful and horrible that's going to like create a cyclone and a thriller. Or if the man does cheat, it's not like, oh, he's a piece of shit.

It's like, oh, he cheated and he should be forgiven. But the woman that he cheated with is crazy or his wife goes crazy. So all women deserve better, especially in thrillers. You're right. You're right again. Of course. So that's what I have to say about women on the podcast. Be respectful. Show the women in your life, all the love that they deserve. And let's change some of these stereotypes in fiction. So all of your babies that are growing up to be women don't have shitty

people to look up to. Amen. Amen. Period. End of sentence. But if you want to talk about not being stereotypical, I have a really good recommendation. And that is

Stone Cold Fox by Rachel Collarcroft. It doesn't come out until February 14th. So add it to your list for Valentine's Day, but I just recently read the arc and was obsessed with it. And the description is, well, first it says a compelling debut novel about an ambitious woman who, after a lifetime of conning alongside her mother, wants to leave her dark past behind and marry the heir to one of the country's wealthiest families. Like any enterprising woman, B knows what she's worth and is determined to get all she deserves. It just so happens that what she deserves is to marry rich.

After a lifetime of forced instruction in the art of swindling men by her mother, B wants nothing more than to escape her shadow, close the door on their sordid past, and disappear safely into old money domesticity. When B finds her final mark in the perfectly dull blue-blooded Colin, and she's ready to deploy all her tricks one last time. The challenge isn't getting the ring, but rather the approval of Colin's family and everyone else in their tax bracket, particularly his childhood best friend, Gail.

Going toe to toe to toe with Gail isn't a threat to an expert like B, but what begins as an amusing cat and mouse game quickly develops into a dangerous chase, as the truth of B's past threatens to come roaring out, she finds herself racing against the clock to pass the finish line before everything is exposed. and it is so good. It challenges like a lot of our stereotypes about marriage while also kind of pointing out how a lot of people don't even really have fulfilling marriages. And like sometimes they are business deals.

But like it's only okay that it's a business deal if it's between rich people, not a rich person and a less rich person. So it like kind of looks at the wealth divide. It looks at messy relationships with mothers and daughters, and she's just a stone cold fox. I can't wait to read that. I've heard nothing but good things about it. I loved it so much. There were so many moments where I was so sure that like everything was about to fall apart for her.

And so like the suspense and the tension of multiple scenes, you're like, okay, is it about to go wrong? Is it about to go wrong? Uh-huh. It's really good. I also love to read about like messed up relationships because the more I see people ending up in relationships and marriages. Yeah. They can get dark and a lot of people do have messed up relationships and think that they don't know it. Yeah, I'm going to have to agree with you on that one in all kinds of ways.

Yeah, it's the people that, well, the thing that I like about this, too, the synopsis to this is that it's, it seems like, you know, I think with like a lot of like wealthy people, especially in a storyline like that, it's all about appearance. And you will notice that in like any relationship across the board no matter you're like how much money you have in your bank account. But it's always the people that are like posting on Facebook. The people that like don't have to post on social media or like prove to the world how happy they are. are the ones that are like really happy but the ones that like throw it in your face are the ones that are kind of like really fucked up. Compensating. Don't get me wrong. Like if you post something for like an anniversary or something then like fine. But if it's like oh my God,

it's Tuesday and I love my husband like no, you probably just beat him over the head with like a Ryan ban. Or found out he like fucked your neighbor. Your neighbor's husband. Yeah. Hannah Burner, who's one of my favorite podcasters, has this joke about the more sentences there are in the caption of an Instagram post that's just about yourself as a couple, the sooner you're going to break up. And so she, like, said it on her podcast a few months ago.

And now it's happened with a couple of people where we've all been like, look at all these sentences. And then they break up a couple months later. So. Oh, yeah. Like they're trying to, like, convince. Yep. It's not. It's kind of like when you like, I mean, not that you should, now that I'm like pushing people to put themselves in this position, but it's kind of like when you meet a guy and he's like, I never cheat on my wife or I never cheat on like, no.

If they say they never do it, then they do it all the time. And if they don't, like, if they just act nervous and they don't have to tell you that they never do it, then like, obviously there's something about you that makes someone to, you know, venture out of. I would be like, why was not on your mind? Why did that come up for you? Yeah. Like if you're like, oh, he's like, oh, you dropped your purse. I never cheat on my wife. No.

Yeah, exactly. Oh. Wow. That sounds good. It's so good. I can't wait to read it and talk to you about it. I know. And everything.

Speaking of unconventional relationships, though. Nice. And ones that don't even try to appear to be perfect. My first one is The Wives by Taryn Fisher. Because I liked that this wasn't like a cheating thriller and something of that nature. Because this one is actually about a woman who her husband is a polygamist. So Thursday's husband, Seth, has two other wives. She's never met them and she doesn't know anything about them,

but she's the one who agreed to this unusual arrangement because she's crazy about him. Although one day Thursday finds something, something that tells a very different and horrifying story about the man she married. And what follows is a twisted, shocking thriller. Wow. I haven't read that one. It's just on, it's been on my two read list. for who knows how long.

It's so good and it's like such a good like unhinged woman, but like in the best way possible and not like a stereotype. Yes. The synopsis that I got off Goodreads is like a little different than the one that was like pitched to me when it was like red. But basically because that was like very generic. So like to kind of give you a broader outlook without spoiling anything, it's basically like she find like there's like an arrangement where like none of the women like, like,

none of the three wives can really communicate with one another, know who each other is. Like they have like Thursday, Monday, or whatever names. And she finds something that gives her like a clue as to who one of the other women is. And she gets like curious. Like what is she like compared to me? What is their relationship like compared to like when he comes to my apartment every Thursday and stuff like that? so jaw-dropping, shocking, fantastic, and the ending is nuts. So that is nice.

That sounds amazing. It's so good. I loved it. I still, like, remember, like, just not wanting to, um, just not wanting to, like, basically, like, put this book down at any moment when I was, like, reading it. And it was, like, something I read during the week. So, and back when I was in an office. Yeah.

So that was a bummer, but I just absolutely loved that one. That sounds so good. Did you watch Big Love on HBO? I think that I started it, but I like couldn't, like, it didn't start off with like a bang, like the affair does or something. So because it's like more character-driven, I think like at that point when I tried to start watching it, I was like, I don't know if I can really get into this. But yeah, it was fascinating. I remember I watched it like it was like again one of those first shows I binged in college like when I got access to HBO. Yeah.

It was like a show that had all the seasons out already. And it is like so fascinating when you do have the dynamics of multiple people in a relationship with one husband. And it did pick up and it got more fun because it was like the women kind of like Handmaid's Tale. Like you have moments where you're like, oh, they are they. really love the women even like the wives are really close they have their own like personal relationships together and then sometimes in other scenes you're like fuck you i can't believe you did that too or so like so much tension in that show yeah and i think that's kind of what i found interesting about the wives is that it wasn't your typical polygamous relationship um it was almost like in between like

polygamy i don't even know if they call themselves polygamous in the in the book to be honest with you because it's a different, like, it's a different arrangement. But the thing that I liked about it was the fact that, like, these three women do not know, like, how he is when he's with the other women, what their relationships are like. They've never met. They don't know who, you know what I mean? So, like, it's kind of, like, you could be going to the hairdresser and, like, find out years later that your hairdresser is one of his other wives. That's true. just never know it. You know, so it has that, like, a mystery element. And it's almost like an

arrangement of, you know, when you, like, read a thriller or you watch a thriller and it's like someone's cheating and, like, you think that the shit's going to hit the fan. And then you find out that, like, the wife's, like, I've known about his girlfriend for years. Yeah. So it's kind of like one of those. They're not all dating and they're not all like in love or harmonious. But, like, it's like an arrangement like, oh my God, this guy's so hot. I love him. He treats me so well, but, like, I also know they've got, like, two other chicks bouncing around through town, you know. The reason we know it's fiction is because the guy's actually hot. Because in real life, no man who makes these cults are hot.

Well, this isn't a cult, but it's always, like, ugly men that somehow convince multiple women to marry them. Yeah. Yeah. And with this, it's kind of like, I like, I like that it's not, like, that call aspect of poliative. because like it's more believable. Like if Henry Cavill came up to me and was like, okay, like I'm going to see you on Thursday,

Friday, and Saturday, but like I'm going to be with my other bitches and hoes and dudes and bros and all this other shit like the rest of the week. I'd be like, okay, cool. Like makes sense.

Go for it. Fine. You're like, I can have me time. That's exactly. And then I can have us time. I was reading it and I was like, this actually was like,

if somebody approached me with the situation, it would be kind of perfect because like I don't like to feel suffocated by like friends or lovers or anything like if you expect me to spend too much time with you like oh my god get away from me we're overdone block deleted it gives me the egg immediately yes if you're suffocating me like I will it's kind of like when I argue it's the same thing like if you back me into a if you back me into a corner I'm just going to start saying the most nasty things and then meanest things about you to get you like the hell away from me like I will go I will seem unhinged and crazy and it's the same thing if you suffocate me if you suffocate me I will be like master manipulator and like and I everybody knows that and by everybody I mean TikTok because all I get are those things like you like do like all I get on my TikTok are like those hey like is this guy pissing you off you want to be toxic like just say to him something to the effect.

of like, I'm not going to argue with somebody that I lowered my standards to date in the first place. Yes. Yes. I am here for that. So, yeah, that's my peck. Well, I have another one that is kind of unconventional, but definitely still applies to messy relationships.

What happened this time? Are you just laughing? I was just looking at my list and I'm like, all of mine are literally the most unconventional, unconventional fucked up relationships. No shit. You're right. All of them are. So our segue is like going to be the same thing.

No, like I'm saying like we're not just like your typical stalker or like cheating stories. Like all of mine have some sort of like very specific thing in the relationship. So. Yeah. Yeah. Me too. So it is kind of the theme of the night.

But I read this one this year and loved it so much. And it's called One Little Word by Audra McElagay. Allegra Hudson was murdered. An anonymous source drops the note into Madeline Barton's lap exactly when she needs it most. The recently widowed single mother is struggling to make ends me as a freelance reporter. covering the mysterious death of a local best-selling author and legend, Allegra Hudson, could be the career-launching story of her dreams. While working with Allegra's grieving husband, Connor,

Madeline plunges down the rabbit hole of Allegra's privileged life, and the deeper she digs, the more dirt she finds, a conniving best friend, a stalker, ex-boyfriend, and a marriage in shambles. The closer Madeline gets to the truth, the murkier the waters become. Her sources, looming presence and content, Madeline in her investigation, paired with her growing bond with Connor over their shared grief, have blinded her to the facts, but they won't explain why Allegra Hudson's life feels so familiar to her. Only one thing is certain Madeline can trust no one. One little word is a deliciously clever game of cat and mouse with a completely unexpected twist.

So stuff starts to happen with the guy that she is investigating his wife's murder. And she knows it shouldn't start to happen. I added it to my wish list. And I interviewed Audra about it. So I'll link that in the show notes too. Yeah, this sounds really good. I think you would love it. I went to add it to my wish list and it said that they, like she,

her books are compared to like Alfred Hitchcock films. Yes. Yep. Very Hitchcockian. It's so good. Yeah. It sounds really good. I've been through it.

Damn. And she's really sweet. I've never heard of that book either, so, or the author. So. Yeah. She's really sweet. I love her. We still talk a lot on Instagram.

Oh. Okay. I'll have to follow her and then order her book. She has amazing hair and she does her own hair. I love that. Like does dimension highlights on her own. I'm like, you are amazing. That's the best.

Yeah. That is the best. Yeah, it sounds really good. And it's under 300 pages. Yeah, it's really, it's just really fun. And there's no fluff. Just suspense and just sexiness. Rills, chills, kills, and.

Dollar bills. I mean, I'm sure there's money somewhere. Oh my God, we're crazy. I love it. We are. Well, speaking of people that we love and fantastic hair. Hmm. Mm. There's a certain gentleman named Christopher Rice.

Yes. And one of my favorite stories. And I'm dying to reread this book. And I have to reread it. Maybe in February for my Twisted Love Marathon. the Snow Garden. Excuse me. The Snow Garden is one of my favorite stories

because it deals with crazy shit college campus and a little bit of a twist when it comes to the love romance aspect and the relationship. I'm going to read all of it because these words are just like the keywords in this synopsis are just fantastic, but the snow garden by Christopher Rice is a shocking death exposes dangerous forces of seduction,

obsession, and vengeance lurking beneath the surface of a prestigious New England University. It is more than just the late November weather that is cast to chill over the campus of Atherton University. When the wife of respected professor Eric Eberman is killed in a tragic accident, his secret student lover, Randall Stone, fears the professor tried to avert career suicide by committing homicide. Or do the dead woman's haunting last words point to an even more damning crime? Fearing the truth, Randall digs into his lover's hidden history, but what he finds draws him and everyone he cares for into a dark dance of sexual manipulation, twisted retribution, and murderous rage where nothing is as it seems.

Bum, bum, bum. I loved that book. That sounds amazing. You've told me about it before. I just haven't read it yet. Yes. It's one of the books that I think, I read it when it came out,

because it's a second book, so I read a density of souls first. And I read this one, and it was completely different than a density of souls. It has that more thriller feel to it. But for a book that came out, and I want to say,

2002, 2003, for a book that came out then to have a book that is a student and their professor in a relationship, but to also have it be a man cheating on his wife with another man who is also his student. To have that aspect would be juicy now, but to do it in like 2002 was unheard of because it was like it's not done for shock value and like the way that he writes the book it's like nope this is actually the normal thing so like the rest of the book is going to be what's like insane but like he was just so much like normalized how much shit like that happens and you know it adds a little juice and a little spice like we've all had a teacher we're got to read Tampa I don't know about that. We've all had a teacher that like if they would have been like stay after class, you would

have been like, I'll be home at eight. I'm trying to think. I went to a very, very, very small high school though, so. I did too. Did you have any in college, even like a teacher's assistant or anything? Yeah, yeah, probably teachers assistant. Yeah. There you go. Same thing. There we go. Probably less risky, actually. know. Yeah. Mine was like in high school and if anybody went to high school with me, they probably have the same. It's probably the same pick. I know who the other girls thought, but it, but you know what? It was, you would have liked him. He was Kyle Chandler-esque. Oh, yes. It was not my, I didn't, it tall and dark hair is not typically my vibe.

Yeah. I don't know why. More for me. Yes, that's why. I've got to leave some for you. Yeah. Yeah, I definitely would have went after the Kyle Chandler vibe. Yeah. Speaking of which, I only have two episodes left of Ginny and Georgia, and then I'm moving on to Bloodline. You're going to love it.

Yeah, I'm super pumped. There's a lot of Kyle in it. Oh, God. There's not in Mayor of Kingsdown, though I stop watching it. Did you watch all of it? Or did you say you did stop? I had to stop. It was too dark for me.

I know. I just haven't. I love Norder to R. Once you said that, I was like, I don't think I'm going to, because like, I don't watch tons of TV right now. And so I was just like, if it was too dark for you, I'm not even going to spend my time on it. Yeah.

Because I typically don't want to just be like sad. It's realistic. So like I'll give them that, which is usually like my defense when a book. book. I know. A little dark, but it's realistic, but, like, it's almost like, I probably could read it if it was a book. But if, like, seeing it on screen, it was, like, just, like, not it for me. Um, especially when it comes to, like, violence against women. And I'm just, like, you know, props to you for showing people, like, this is actually what happens to women and this is what happens to people when you deal with, like, the underbelly of the crime world. But, no. No. not a fan. Yeah. Ginny and George is probably a lot happier overall.

It's like Gilmore Girls, One Tree Hill, and Desper Housewise, all combined. Yeah. Yeah. It sounds great. It's really good. There was just a cliffhanger on the episode that I watched last night, and I was like, I have to go to bed for my sanity. Oh, I hate that.

But I was like, holy shit. So that's what I'm going to be doing. I'm going to be having some. I think they're called Bimaman, but they're like an Asian noodle. It's almost like a ramen noodle, but it's like a sweet and spicy sauce, and you can have it cold or hot. Crops my friend Cindy for sending them to me, but that's what I'm going to do. Nice. That sounds yummy.

I had my cusscus veggie bowl for this. It was good, though. What veggies did you put in it? Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes. Oh, nice. And then it has a tahini maple sauce that you drizzle over it. That really makes it yummy. In the summer, I like to do cherry tomatoes and mozzarella.

Yeah. And do like a caprice. salad because you can have it cold and it's so good it's so good yeah I love mozzarella I love cheese I know I know me too so good that's the problem I could eat it for every meal well in every meal I pretty much do so still don't see the problem I do often yeah it's delicious yeah it's the best cheese speaking of Oh my God. The other one that I just

The other one I just had to talk about because I read it recently is Daisy Jones and the six. Ooh. And there's love all over the place in this one. But a gripping novel about the whirlwind rise of an iconic 1970. rock group and their beautiful lead singer, revealing the mystery behind their infamous breakup. Everyone knows Daisy Jones and the six, but nobody knows the real reason why they split at the

absolute height of their popularity until now. Daisy is a girl coming of age in L.A. in the late 60s, sneaking into clubs on the sunset strip, sleeping with rock stars, and dreaming of singing at the Whiskey Agogo. The sex and drugs are thrilling, but it's the rock and roll she loves the most. By the time She's 20. Her voice is getting noticed, and she has the kind of heedless beauty that makes people do crazy things. Another band getting noticed is the six, led by brooding Billy Dunn. On the eve of their first tour, his girlfriend Camilla, finds out she's pregnant, and with the pressure of impending fatherhood and fame, Billy goes a little wild on the road. Daisy and Billy crossed paths when a producer realizes the key to supercharged success is to put the two together.

What happens next between the two will become the stuff of, legend. There's just there are there a lot of, uh, relationships happening in the book that are, I'm trying to figure out exactly how to say all of this without spoiling anything as well. Um, it, it examines romantic relationships and friendships is kind of what it examines through the entire book and also just has different versions of love and like what it can mean. And then it's also just like, really cool period piece that's loosely inspired by Fleetwood Mac. I love that. And the show comes out in March. Yeah. And if you somehow didn't know that Reese is producing a show for it, it comes out on Amazon on March 3rd. It was so good. I cried in that

one too. Taylor Jenkins is two for two and making me cry. I want to read it in March before the show. Yeah. It's like part of my goal. I'm excited for you to read it. Because I haven't talking about Riley Keough. I know. She was perfect. When you read this book, you'll understand just how perfect she is for this role. I know. She's the only one I'm paying attention to, like with the cast because I don't know if I'm going to do my own cast with it or not. So she's like the only one that I'm like paying attention to because it's hard not to. But yeah, I'm super pumped to watch it because I just I love her and everything she does. She's so cool.

Speaking of whirlwinds. Yes. If you are a fan of Tell Me Lies, but you want something set in 1970s Pittsburgh that's queer and literary, then you should check out these violent delights by Micah Nemer ever. If I broachered your last name, I'm so sorry, but I love you and your book. So this one is Paul and Julian meet as university freshman in early 1970s Pittsburgh and are immediately drawn to one another. As a talented artist, Paul is sensitive and agonizingly insecure. and comprehensible to his working-class family and desolate with grief over his father's recent death.

Paul sees the wealthy, effortlessly charming Julian as his sole intellectual equal, an ally against the conventional world he finds so suffocating. He idolizes his friends for his magnetic confidence, but as charismatic as he can choose to be, Julian is also volatile and cruel. So as the friendship spirals into an all-consuming intimacy, Paul is dust. to protect their precarious bond, even as it becomes clear that pressures from the outside world are nothing compared to the brutality. They are capable of inflicting on one another. That cover is beautiful. Covers beautiful. The book is amazing. And it said this comparison of the bottom says the secret history meets call me by your name.

Yes. That's a pretty exciting com. Yeah. Yeah. And I also like would compare it to tell me lies because, Because do you remember when we were talking about it? And, like, the book, it's like she kind of doesn't know, like, why she's, like, so drawn to him. Mm-hmm. And it's, like, this, like, really, like, back and forth toxic romance. Like, that's kind of, like, what this is, but, like, you see the charm.

So it's kind of, like, as a reader, you're watching and you're like, okay, get your shit together. Like, yes, he's hot. Yes, he's charming. But, like, he's also, like, a little dangerous and, like, horrible for you. And I feel like everybody like either had a crush or a relationship or something like where you kind of took that risk and it didn't work out because you're young and stupid and you think that you can change the bad boy or the guy who's like an asshole and a sociopath and a narcissist. Why does it have to be so alluring? I fall for it all the time. Yeah.

I think I dated more toxic people and like had relations with more toxic people than I had like non-toxic people. So it's like when like a non-toxic guy came into my life, which I can only think of two people that I dated or like had some sort of relationship with. I honestly can only think of two. And it was in with like in the span of like a year. Oh, wow. So it was like douchebag, douchebag, douchebag, super nice guy. We broke up. I moved to Boston.

Super nice guy. We broke up. I moved back to New York. Dush, douche, douche, douche, douche. In that specific order. In that specific order. Oh. So unless you were the person that I dated before I went to Boston or the person that I dated

in Boston and you hear this, you're one of those douchebags. You're the other ones. It's you. You're the problem. It's you. Goodbye. It's not me. No, it's not. The only problem I have is like shitty taste and men.

This would make me feel a lot more. I had two very weird relationships. And then I've been married most of my, all of them. I was married it. That's a good question. I think I was 21 or 22. So. That's like proof, though.

Because like a lot of people are like, don't get married young, like live your life. Like the right one will come along and like you got married at 21 because you like, yeah, you know, like sometimes you just know and you know. Yeah. And a lot happened in the first two years that we were together. And we had started therapy together and like I felt confident in the ability to communicate basically. And I feel like sometimes that's like if you know you're attracted to the person, you know you like hanging out with them.

And then you're like, oh, oh, wow, we know how to communicate without like being shitty with each other. It was all of those things together that made it an easier decision. But there were, we went through a lot at the beginning. Yeah. But that's good though. Yeah. I think as tough as it was in the beginning of your relationship, it shows like how much

you like feel for one another and how strongly you feel that bond. Because a lot of people like start off in that honeymoon phase and then they have issues later on that they either don't deal with or they like, sweep under the rug or can cause their relationship to like blow up and like end. And you were just kind of like, hey, listen. Yeah. Let's get some of the shit out of the way and just like live our best lives together forever.

And Tyler was like, okay, before we do that, let me get a little latte here. Yes. That definitely would have been happening. What do you have today? Was it a teddy gram latte? So it's like I could like Crackers and honey and chocolate.

It looks so good. It was it. I still got iced coffee because I'm a hot bitch. Oh yeah. But I got a honeybee latte, which is honey and cinnamon. And it's honey and cinnamon were meant to be an iced coffee.

Really? Yeah. I'm not a huge. cinnamon person. But now that I don't drink anymore, I'm starting to notice that, like, I don't mind if it's in other things. Because I probably traumatized myself with, like, cinnamon whiskey. Yeah.

That one is easy to traumatize yourself. Or, like, I just, I guess I don't mind cinnamon if it's with something else. But, like, if you're like, oh, do you want this, like, cinnamon candy? I'll, like, spit it out and hit you in the forehead with it. Would you eat a cinnamon roll? Well, yeah. Okay, I didn't know. Well, I mean, yeah, because it has like frosting and like other things.

No, I agree. I wouldn't eat a cinnamon candy though. So do you mean like red hots? Yeah, or not necessarily red hots because I think I do. I don't think I would mind red hots now that I don't drink anymore because I don't have that temptation of like cinnamon whiskey. I would probably enjoy a red hot every now and then. I'm a sucker for Mike and Ike's, like any flavor. Oh, yeah.

Except for, like, the original, because now I think the original is boring compared to everything else they have. But all I'm thinking of is I don't know, like, where you would get them or where you would see them. Probably, like, the doctor's office or something, therapy, I don't know, wherever you would go. But they used to have these, like, they looked like a mint, but it was cinnamon. And, like, even the cellophane that was wrapped in was, yes. and then like the red would melt and then it was jagged and would cut your tongue or that's just me. Okay. So those are the ones that are like white with the red pinwheel.

They used to give those out at Pizza Hut. That's how I remember those. I was like when Pizza Hut was like the shit. Okay. The ones I'm thinking of are almost like all like they're all red and it's like a cinnamon hard candy. But even like the cellophane that it was like wrapped in. or like the candy wrapper was like a red color too. I always thought like I would enjoy one of those.

And then every time I put it in my mouth, I regret it. These. Yep. Yeah, these look terrible. They are. They ruin everything, including life. Including life.

Yeah, I would not eat them. No. But like, so I don't like that kind of cinnamon. I might try it again now that. So like when I was having my did. spells and I didn't know what was going on with me. Like I didn't know if it was vertigo because in my mind it was a blood clot or a brain tumor or something like tragic.

But when I was doing that, I was drinking the Green Mountain K cups that are half decaf and half regular. Yeah. But before that I was drinking the vanilla cinnamon K cups from Good and Gather, which is like the Target brand. Nice. Oh my God. It was such good coffee and it smelled so good. That's what, because cinnamon and vanilla are really good together. Yeah. I think you probably would like honey and cinnamon in an ice coffee.

All I can think of right now is a cinnamon roll, honestly. Oh my gosh. I make some of the best cinnamon rolls. Do you? I'll send you the recipe just in case you want it. Yeah. I'll do it. During COVID, I found a recipe that like, like, Like, you can pretty much cook it in an hour and a half, which is pretty fast. But they're amazing. Like, Tyler, when I make them, if he, like, comes downstairs, he's like, I'm going to eat all of these today. And I'm like, I know. That's fine.

Do it. Yeah. It's like, you'll survive somehow. I actually still have the chocolate chip cookie recipe, too, that I need to try. Oh, my gosh. I made those this weekend. Did you? I wish I could just drive this over to gear.

Oh, my God. Okay, so I'm going to try to make them this weekend because it's supposed to get down to 30 to 45 below zero here with the wind chill. That's terrible. What a crock of shit. I know. I'm still going to get takeout on Saturday. I don't care. I have been craving this like local place, like upstate New Yorkers who are by my area.

If you ever listen to this, because I don't think anybody listens to it, I know, but Magic Mikes is where it's at. well i mean with a name like that oh my god it's so good so good i was like oh this is the best but yeah that's our tangent how can you relate that to your next book with that's what i was like speaking of cinnamon rolls this woman reminded me of cinnamon rolls and magic mike no i have no segue and i was really just staring into the the void thinking about food. So that's right. I know. I know. I feel like not the vegetables that I ate. Oh well. Oh, well. How would I? Yeah, I mean, I don't, I don't have a segue. But

this one is definitely a very confusing relationship in all the dangerous things by Stacey Willingham. One year ago, Isabel Drake's life changed forever. Her toddler son, Mason, was taken out of his crib in the middle of the night while she and her husband were asleep in the next room. With little evidence and few leads for the police to chase, the case quickly went cold. However, Isabel can't rest until Mason has returned to her, literally. Except for the occasional catnap or small blackout where she loses track of time, she hasn't slept in a year. Her entire existence now revolves around finding him, but she knows she can't go on this way forever. In hopes of jarring loose a new witness or buried clue, she agrees to be interviewed.

viewed by a true crime podcaster, but his interest in Isabel's past makes her nervous. His incestant questioning paired with her severe insomnia has brought up uncomfortable memories from her own childhood, making Isabel start to... I was like, do I see something moving? That's going to be hilarious to look back and see. I thought... You're going to die when you... You're going to try when you go back to edit that because I was literally like trying to be like Vanna White with a book

because it was literally like it's the book that's like sitting on my desk right here so when you said it I like picked it up and I was like doing this but you didn't notice ever so I was like I kept thinking something was reflecting off my glasses and then I was like no I swear something's moving

well but you were like and that In her childhood, it was like getting caught by like the strict teacher, like, cut your shit out. And actually, like, I was like thinking I was distracting myself. I was like, hey, get it together, focus. Like, I was reprimating myself. Oh, my God, that's so funny.

She starts doubting her recollection of the night of Mason's disappearance, as well as second-guessing who she can trust, including herself. But she's determined to figure out the truth no matter where it leads. So the description doesn't say anything about it, but it's not a spoiler to say that she and her husband have differing views on what happened to their son. and it makes their relationship really complicated. Yeah, I definitely don't think that's a spoiler. I recently read this and loved it.

But I don't think that's a spoiler. I mean, so many true crime documentaries and things like that, when it comes to a missing child or a murdered child or anything like that, it's bound to weasel its way. into your relationship and how, you know, sometimes it brings people together more who were already, like, kind of drifting apart. And sometimes it causes them drift apart. But you don't know with this one. You don't know. You not know what's happening in this one. I love that book. It was very good. I think it's going to be one of my favorite ones.

A reading slump or whatever I'm supposed to, whatever it is. I'd had multiple basketball. ones in herb meh ones in a row. This one was amazing. I really enjoyed that. I also, I mean, I loved everything about it. I love the podcast aspect. I love the insomnia aspect. We've talked about this before, but I mean, having the woman who drinks too much

be an unreliable narrator is annoying as shit at this point. I don't want to read any more books about that. So having your unreliable narrator be somebody who's dealing with insomnia and having like a legitimate excuse as to why. Yeah. It was incredible. It was so good. Really good. And it's like that wasn't this.

It's also still not a spoiler to know it's like it's a problem. She's always had sleep issues. So it's also not just like, oh, something bad happens and she becomes an unreliable narrator. Like, she's always dealt with it. So it's just something she's always living with, kind of. A lot of layers in that plot and in that character. I know. I'm so good.

Yes. Yeah, I really enjoyed that one. And it's a new, a newish release. Very new. Yep. So mad props to Sealing Him. I can't wait to see what her next book is like. I know. because I thought this one was completely different than her first one.

Because it's always exciting when you find a debut author that you like and then you read their second book to see if it's like going to be like as good or like what their, you know, like their vibe is going to be. If they're a one trick pony basically. One trick pony or sometimes some people get formulaic with their plots and it's like, okay, I know that like so and so is going to do. this and like whatever percentage in. Yes. It's just a different setting and a different character name sometimes. Yeah. Yeah.

But speaking of very interesting plots that you don't see every day in thrillers. I have one that I read. I've never stopped thinking about this book. and I don't know if I've ever talked about it on the podcast, so I'm very excited. I read this book in, like, college, maybe, maybe high school. I'm not sure. And I thought about it and I thought about it and I thought about it and how good it would be as like a TV show and how twisted it is and how like I've never seen this in a thriller before. But the book is called Heart Sick by Chelsea Kane.

Damaged Portland detective Archie Sheridan spent 10 years tracking Gretchen Knoll. Gretchen Lull. I'm just thinking of Jessica Null because I love her so much, probably. It probably is what it is. Yeah, I think it is because her next book announcement is going to be out soon, like cover, title, all that. So Jessica, I love you. But Archie Sheridan is tracking Gretchen Loll a beautiful serial character. but in the end, she was the one who caught him.

Two years ago, Gretchen kidnapped Archie and tortured him for ten days, but instead of killing him, she mysteriously decided to let him go. She turned herself in, and now Gretchen has been locked away for the rest of her life while Archie is in a prison of another kind, addicted to pain pills, unable to return to his own life, powerless to get those ten horrific days off his mind. Archie's a different person. his estranged wife says and knows that she's right. He continues to visit Gretchen in prison once a week,

saying that he can only get her to confess the whereabouts of more of her victims, but even he knows the truth. He can't stay away. When another killer begins snatching teenage girls off the streets of Portland, Archie has to pull himself together enough to lead the new task force investigating the murders.

A hungry young newspaper reporter, Susan Ward, begins profiling Archie and the investigation, which sparks a deadly game between Archie, Susan, the new killer, and even Gretchen. They need to catch a killer, and maybe somehow then Archie can free himself from Gretchen once and for all. I can't believe who never talked about this. It sounds so good. It's so good.

I don't... So there's like a little... I don't know. I don't know if this is like a spoiler or not, but I just really loved how she was... I mean, it says it in here, like, she was the serial killer that he was tracking. But they were kind of seeing one another. Like, he was cheating on his wife. This book's old, whatever.

Like, if you read it, you love it. But he was, he was cheating on his wife with this woman because she was, like, the psychologist, working on the task force, hunting a serial killer. And he's, like, the hot shot detective. So not only was he having an affair on his wife, with the psychologist of the task force hunting a serial killer. but then, like, finds out, like, she's the serial killer they've been hunting. And, like, she infiltrated her way into the task force to, like, lead them in a different direction so they wouldn't, like, catch when that it was her. It's kind of dextery.

It's so dark. Without her killing bad people, maybe. But she's, like, a hot serial killer. And even after she tortures him for 10 days, he's, like, visiting her in prison because, like, he's still in love with her. And it's, like, Portland. Is it, like, third person or is it written from either of their points of view? I believe it's third person. Okay. And did you read the series? Have you read all of them? I read the series. Nice.

I loved all of them. All of them? Mm-hmm. Wow. That's a lot. There are six of them. for anyone wondering. Yes. I loved them to the point that a couple years ago, I re-read Heart Sick because it's one of those books that I'm always like,

this was like so freaking complex and twisting and cool. And I reread it on my Kindle and I was like, I wish I had all six of them in like paperback because like that would be like a fun thing to like binge one month or like one week that I had on vacation or something. Yeah. But yes, I loved like, Chelsea Cain did not

like I think that she had six ideas in her mind this was not like a let's keep this series going because we're selling a lot of it or because you know oh like this one sold a ton like can you do a sequel or like you know how they do with like movies and books and everything like that TV shows and whatnot but like I think that she had like six

solid ideas as to where she could take these characters because they're very well developed. Wow. So she was like, yeah, it was such a good book and it's so twisty. One of my favorite tropes is like a copycat killer or wondering if it's a copycat killer or an accomplice or whatnot. So like when you have a setting like Portland, like it's just like gritty and kind of like what we say about like San Francisco. But yeah, it's just really good. And it's like a hidden gem, I think, if you will, because they're like older.

But yeah, they're really good. I love them. I have to read that. That sounds so... I'll read it with you. Intriguing. Yeah. Yeah.

Like when you pick it up. It's honestly, it's such a good book club pick, too. Oh, I bet. I'm not part of any book club. Like, you're my book club. So, I say book club isn't like, oh my God, it would be such a good buddy read for us. But like it would also be like really good for like a book club or a buddy read with your bestie or whatever. But yeah, it's definitely like if you like the movie basic instincts and you like this.

I still need to watch that too. Oh my God. I know. I know. Well, this has been fun. Go watch it. You're like, I'm going to go finish Jenny and Georgia. I'm going to go, oh my God, I know.

Yeah, I might watch BASA and Sing this weekend. Maybe I will too. And then start Harsack. Oh, my God. Oh, my God, I'm sold. Cool. Let's do it. Let's do it.

I've plenty of time to read Ninth House. Oh, yeah. Yeah. I need to pick out my next read. Yeah, I have 10 pages left of Finley Donovan. I'm still like, 18 pages in. So, like, I'm still not, like, into it, but...

Of ninth house? Yeah. I think I was between page 50 and 100 before I was like... Yeah. Like, there's a lot that I have, like, no clue what's happening yet. And I'm just trying to remember everything. The beginning is very confusing with... It's like...

It just throws you in there. So, like, the grays, like, you know what a gray is, right? Yeah. But they don't tell you until after they've already... talked about them. Yes. Yeah. So like once like that happened, it was like easier for me. But yeah, as you, it's just a little literary in the beginning. Yeah. And I didn't know what a, not a lot's going on. Lost a nation. I can't even remember what that weird P word is. See, I don't even remember that. But I like, they cut people open and like move their organs around. There's like a big P word for it.

And I was like, I don't know what this word is yet. That was only in the beginning. You don't have to deal without the rest of the book. That's really good because I was the same way. Was like I was I'm having just like more like mucus. So then I wake up and my stomach will be a little bit upset from the drainage. So I was trying to read it this morning. And it was like all this gross like body descriptions and stuff. And I was like I really hope this doesn't happen a lot in the book. And because like I was almost like shit. Is this not a good book for me? So I actually am excited to hear that that doesn't keep happening. there's definitely some more like gory stuff understandably but no there's not anything else like that no that's good that's good to know no ma'am no ma'am this the second book cover is like so creepy looking and i was like oh boy but i think i like it i think i'm really like it i really love them i think that it's just that thing of i really love it but i don't i can't really tell you a whole ton of what I know like a general idea as to what happened, but yeah.

No. No, that's what a lot of people's reviews are like about it. So yeah. Finish that up and then we can get heart sick. My last one is actually part of a series too. Ooh. Well, and the second one comes out this summer, basically. So it hasn't come out, but it's on its way.

Okay. But it is Alias Emma by Ava Glass. which definitely talked about before. Emma Makepeace is about to spend the longest night in her life. She's on her first operation with a shadowy organization known only as the agency assigned to track down and save an innocent man wanted by the Russian government. All Emma has to do is bring him in to MI6 before sunrise and before an assassination team gets to him first.

But the Russians have hacked to the city's CCTV cameras. there are spies all over London searching for the two of them and her target Michael Primalov doesn't want to be rescued as London sleeps a battle is taking place on its streets as Emma fights to keep Michael alive but what sort of reception await them if and when they get to MI6. Also not really spoiler to say that she kind of starts to like she and Michael start to like each other. It's a very fun spy novel and then it's also fun that the gender roles are flipped. So it's like he has no clue how to survive and she's like teaching him how to like go through the tunnels of London and like beating people up to protect him and he's just like wide-eyed.

But then they get really close to each other and it's, um, It literally the whole book takes place in like 16 hours overnight. That's cool. I like that. And it's just like it's, I would say so I know like kind of what you don't end up liking about spy thrillers is like politics and that stuff. I would say this is just like a really fun like almost feel like more like a race against the clock action book. because there are and it's mainly her like she's she and michael are the main characters so like you're

also not keeping track of multiple people you're just like trying to escape across london with them and i think they might be my favorite book relationship ever i don't know why but i loved it i thought i just loved them and we don't know if they're ever going to see each other again based on the ending, but there is a second book coming out in August. And it's definitely one of my most anticipated reads this year. Dang. The cover is gorgeous. I looked it up. There are, and there are two because it's like the UK covers a little different and both. Okay. So yeah, action-packed. And then there's like just enough of a little love interest that I remembered it from an action-packed book.

Sold. Yeah. If you think you could be mildly interested in a spy book. This would be the one to try out. I like that. Yeah. I also like when, like you said, like the roles are like reversed. Mm-hmm. I think you would like that book 11 by Kylie Brandt.

Oh, really? My lights just flickered. Yes, I think you would really like the book 11 by Kylie Brandt because there's a lot of action in the beginning. Oh, okay. Was that the one you DNFed though? Mm-hmm. Okay. It wasn't, it wasn't like, based on the synopsis, like what I was reading was not what I was in the mood for.

I was in the mood for more what the book was based on the synopsis and what the book was based on what the book was. But I think you will really enjoy that. Because there is like action and I can kind of, I think there might be more to it. that would be more up your alley than mine. Yeah. That makes sense. She's a lot nicer than what I said to my friend Cindy once because I was like reading a book. I didn't mean for it to come off this bitchy, but she still makes fun of me to this day.

But I was like, I think I'm in a DNF this book, but it's probably right. Like, it's probably up your alley or like something to that effect. Like I was like, I'm not going to finish this, but I think you'll love it as I think what I said. Yeah. And she was just like, that sounds so bitchy, even though I know what I know exactly. what you mean. But I was like, I'm in a DNF, this, but you'll probably love it. Like, oh, this isn't good enough for me, but it'll probably be perfect for you. That's what I'm always, like, my, I talk to my sister-in-law about that sometimes, though, because, like, she would never read anything

I read and, like, I would never read anything she would. And so, like, sometimes we both, she'll be like, what I like, that TV show. And I'm like, no, I loved it, but it's not for you. And then I'm, so I'm like, I don't mean it to sound mean. And she's like, no, it doesn't sound mean. but like I could see how with the wrong person, it like sounds like you're like, you would like it, but it's just knowing what people like. Yeah, I mean, it's kind of like when you take thrillers, like if you have like a spy one or like political vibes or cults or things like that, like that's definitely like your vibe. And like with me, it's like serial killers, police procedural, romantic suspense.

Oh my God, I know. Love and monsters. As a genre itself. Yeah, yeah. So I like a little steam with my thrillers, whether it's like in the plot or, you know, if it's just sexy, sexy. Yes. Speaking of.

Nice. You want a little steam in your thriller and an unconventional storyline that I would say could be like a thriller remake of Pretty Woman. We're talking about the arrangement by Robin Harding, one of my favorite women in thrillers. I love her. Natalie is a young art student in New York City who is struggling to pay her bills when her friend makes a suggestion. Why not go online and find a sugar daddy? A wealthy older man who will pay her for dates and even give her a monthly allowance. Lots of girls do it, Nat learns.

All that's required is to look pretty and hang on to his every word. Sexual favor is optional. Though more than 30 years her senior, Gabe, a handsome, corporate finance attorney seems like the perfect candidate, and within a month they are madly in love. Well, at least Nat is. Gabe already has a family whom he has no intention of leaving, so when he abruptly ends things, Nat can't let go. She begins drinking heavily and stalking him, watching him at work, spying on his wife, even befriending his daughter, who is not much younger than she is. But Gabe's not about to let his sugar baby destroy his perfect life. What was supposed to be a mutually beneficial

arrangement devolves into a nightmare of deception, obsession, and when a body is found near Gabe's posh Upper East Side Apartment, Murder. I haven't read that one. It's so good. That sounds amazing, too. It's so good. So, so, so good. Yes.

All Robin Harding books are fantastic. I have a lot of books. I had a lot of books today that I did not that I've never talked about. Yeah. I... Could you imagine if I was like jar of hearts? Oh my gosh. I almost made a joke when you introed heart sick and you were like,

this is one I actually haven't talked about at all on the podcast. I think I was about to be like, the woman inside. I think it's like the woman inside jar of hearts. Yeah. I'm trying to think if there's like a third one that I like talk about all the time. Maybe not. Lucky's girl alive. Kismet and the Paradox Hotel a lot.

I think you'll like the Robin Hardy. Yeah. Robin Harding takes like, you know when you watch like a lifetime movie and you're like, ooh, this sounds really good. And then you watch it and you're like, the synopsis sounded better than what I got. when I watched the movie. It's like Robin Harding takes those plots of like, you know, things that you don't usually see in a thriller, but like they're really fucking good. Yeah.

Like she exceeds your expectations based on what the synopsis is instead of like lets you down. Yes. I have still only read one of hers. Her pretty face. And then I have her pretty face on my list. We loved the swap. We talked about her last.

But I did not have. the arrangement on my list. So I need to go on a Robin Harding. Oh, you will not regret it. I think she's really good for like spring and summer. Okay. Yeah. I remember the swap having very summery vibes. Yeah. I love the swap. I love the arrangement. I love her pretty face. The perfect family. That one's good too. So good. I hear read them all. And her new one comes out this summer. I know. I requested that one. We'll see. my art came in this week. That's so exciting.

She told her publisher, like, send him one. Oh, that's awesome. She's amazing. Yeah, you will love, love, love her books. I'm excited for, because there's some reason that just reminded me

that Samantha Downing's next one is actually called a twisted love story. It'd be good for our theme too. But, yeah, major shout out to Samantha Downing's. She does really fucked up relationships really well. Yes, she does.

I know. That's where I was like, I can't say my lovely wife. Like, I think we've talked about it two weeks in a row. Right, right. I'll just also use this to plug seeing strangers by Sebastian J. Plata because that's another one that has like, it deals with an open marriage. But they're getting ready to close their marriage because these two men are, they're going to have. have a baby. So like the surrogates like ready to pop and like, you know, the one man says to the other man like once this baby comes, no more this. Like it's just you with me and our baby. So the other

guy's like, I'm going to fuck as many people in New York City as I can before this baby comes. And it's like, be careful who you let in your bedroom. Yeah. Yep. Sometimes things get a little dangerous when you are putting the booty on duty. You are full of the best rhymes tonight. Dicking and tricking is how we started it off. Tricks and decks. Booty on duty.

Yeah. Yeah. That one's on my list too because you make me want to read it every time you talk about it. That was going to be my icebreaker. But I guess it could be my like... Ice Ender. Iceender. Yeah.

Is that, do you only keep track of your TBR digitally through good reads or do you have like lists on your phone or anything like that? Just good reads. Just good reads? That's amazing. I want to try to do that. I have lists everywhere on my phone. Yeah. I'm psycho.

Any of the times we've talked about like reading certain ones, I'll probably keep a list of that. But otherwise, no, I don't have any other lists. Oh my God. My list is crazy. I'm like I I use it in the notes app on my iPhone oh okay and it's like series I want to read authors I want to check out and then there's the crazy crazy crazy Crossway series everything I have on NetGalley and when the like deadline is like before they archive it yep thank you then I have like things that I want to read in January that I didn't get to yet. So like those will be like now backlist. February. I have planned out March. And then I have all of my arcs. Male romance. Heterosexual romance. Books that I bought on my Kindle that were just like a good

deal. You do have good deals. And then like, a bunch of like authors and a bunch of backlist things and then all of the arcs that I got in 2022 that I like wasn't in the mood for but decided to like go back to at a later date. Yeah, I don't, you don't plan that far ahead. Psycho. Mostly it's like if I have net galleys, I'm paying attention when those are going to come out and then I read it like a monthish before or sooner. but I have thought about making more shelves on good reads

so that I could have some more organization especially because I don't read much nonfiction either so if I do it's because I'm like oh that was a topic I was interested in or like oh maybe that audio book will be good but I just I would say like 5% of what I read each year is nonfiction and I only listen to it. So I need just a separate list for when I'm like, oh, what was that

audio book I thought I might listen to? So I haven't thinking about making more shelves. Ooh, I like that idea. And then I can make a gear shelf. Yeah, and then there could be like a gear buddy read shelf. Yeah. Because like sometimes we'll be like, oh, I really want to read this book and you're like, well, I have it on that galley. And I'm like, I do too. And we'll be like, let's read it together or we'll be like, I'll recommend a book to you and be like, oh my God, I love this book so much. And you're like, I want to read it. And I'm like, I'll read it with you. Like, I'll read it again

when you read it. So yeah, that'd be fun.