Bookwild - Predicting Our 2026 Favorite Books with Gare and Steph

Episode Date: January 30, 2026

This week, Gare and Steph and I attempt to predict which books will be some of our favorite books in 2026!Kate’s BooksDead Beat Alex Stern Leigh BardugoHot Girl Murder Club by Ashley WinsteadThe Caretaker Marcus KliewerHoney by Imani ThompsonQueen of FacesGare’s BooksThe Secret Lives of Murderers Wives by Elizabeth ArnottThis Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany CrumHelpless by Jessica KnollHeather by Caitlin MullenHeart of Glass Jennifer HillierSteph’s BooksIt Could Have Been Her by Lisa JewellCleo Dang Would Rather Be Dead by Mai NguyenForget You Saw Her by Noelle W. IhliGood Joy, Bad Joy by Mikki BrammerLet’s Not Go Overboard Here by Erica Hendry Check Out Author Social Media PackagesCheck out the Bookwild Community on PatreonCheck Out My Stories Are My Religion SubstackGet Bookwild MerchFollow @imbookwild on InstagramOther Co-hosts On Instagram:Gare Billings @gareindeedreadsSteph Lauer @books.in.badgerlandHalley Sutton @halleysutton25Brian Watson @readingwithbrianMacKenzie Green @missusa2mba 

I'm back with Steph and Gare that I always pronounce really specifically. And Gare had a great idea for our topic. Do you want to introduce it? Yeah, sure. Okay. So I, obviously, because it's like in the beginning of the year, I was thinking about how, like, sometimes it's hard to find your top whatever books of the year. Yes.

And there are some that like really, like you're like, well, obviously this has to be on the list. And then there are like others that like you're like, oh, actually that should be too. And I was thinking, I wonder like this time last year what I was like really excited for, you know? So I thought it would be really fun for us to try to be little clairvoyance and guess what are like at least like five of our favorite reads of the year going to be and see like this time next year how accurate we were. It's going to be so fun doing the like whatever, the flashback episode. Yeah, I had so much fun. I had so much fun picking mine. Yeah, me too.

I will say with mine. So I've done like 2026 books I'm excited about with you guys and Hallie and my friend McKenzie. So I was also trying to find ones that I have not talked about. So I kind of, I approached it the way you're saying. Like I think all of these will be five star reads even though like, for example, yesteryear that I can't stop talking about. I feel like that's going to be one of my favorite ones where it's like a trad wife actually wakes up in like 1855 in the life she's been cosplaying.

So I feel like that's going to work for me on multiple levels, but I've talked about it so much. And then I just talked about it again. So, you know, but I tried to pick ones I hadn't talked about. Yeah. Like I thought about like last scene by Christopher Castellani. Like I talked about that our last episode and I was like, I think that's going to be one that like will probably be on my favorites, but like these are five other ones that like, yeah, I haven't talked about because they're like kind of farther out in the year or like, you know, they don't fit the topic. So this way we can just kind of like each do whatever we want. Yeah. Oh yeah. So. And then Steph had an icebreaker idea. Well, well, go ahead. And I would struggle in the moment. But I was like,

like, hey, I think I have one. Mm-hmm. I'm a bookish hot take. Yeah. We love a bookish hot take. Guys, I feel like this is just so outside of what I would normally say. I think that some subgenres of the female rage and revenge subgenre genre itself are a little saturated and don't hit like they used to. And I get that.

It's getting like too much and I can't believe I'm saying that out loud. But I, because I like love the idea. And I love a lot of executions of it. But I'm like, yeah, we've had like the snarky little bitchy, I'm going to fuck men and like save women enough. Not enough. Like it just feels repetitive now and I hate that. I know what you mean.

I hate that. I'm like, they never learn always going to hit. The golden cage always going to hit. And then I've actually, like, I loved Dark Sisters was like a different take on it. Yeah, I agree. I'm like looking forward to different takes on it. Yeah. But at the moment, I'm like, I kind of like bypass a lot of the synopsies because I'm like,

these sound the same that I've read before. Get that. Do you think it's like the plots are all too similar or do you think that they're like, they're like trying to write female characters that are like they're trying too hard. I think a little bit of both. I think the plots are similar. I also think a lot of them are trying to achieve this like voice that's similar. Like a little snarky, like kind of trying to be funny.

And sometimes that lands like cheesy to me. Yeah. And so like there are some, there are still some bangers like i loved like uh joe piazza everyone is lying to you there are some i'm not saying it's not hitting still i'm just saying there's not even like requesting or really like interested in because i feel like i've read it a bunch already yeah that's some of it too is once you've read it it's not a new concept for you is kind of the other part yeah i think that is true and i'm like i don't hate what you're doing yeah i just have read it

before yeah and i don't have read it before yeah and i I'm like, I get where you're coming from. I agree with you. Like, you know, they're just, they come in waves. Like, there are certain sub-genres that just like, like, there's a lot of vacation island locked through mysteries last year for the year before that. And everyone, okay, I think I'm ready to move on. Yeah.

But I'm like, damn it, don't do that to my feet, my revenge. Don't do that. I know. Like, if I feel a little bothered. Like, I get everyone's interested because it's awesome. like, that's my hot take. I feel like it's got to be like a fresh idea though. Like I'm not going to knock somebody for writing a female revenge tale by any means.

No. Especially me being a guy. But like there are some that like land more with me. Yeah. Yep. Because of like, like you said like Joe Piazza, like we're not going to have another good for her trad wife experience without thinking of that book. It's kind of like what people were doing with like the, um, like the alcohol, right?

Like your character was drunk and they forgot and then like eventually like repetitive. And then that guy came out with the one that was like really bad like five years after everyone else did. You know? And then like you're just like, oh, okay. Like let's move on from this. You know? And like does I started feeling that way. Oh, go ahead.

Sorry. It was just like does it suck if like someone came out with it like right before you. Yeah. It's got to be kind of frustrating. I think it depends on the voice, though. Like, I've read, oddly enough. And, like, the plot, like, what uniquely is happening in the plot. Yeah. They're right here.

But, like, I read The X's by Leodora Darlington. And Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke My Heart by Emma Zimmerman. They are both about women whose ex-boyfriends start being murdered. And, like, you're kind of, like, there's, like, journal diary entry kind of aspects to it. But, like, they're both very different. You know, so like, even though it's kind of like the like same idea and like a small bubble, they're both very different. So like I agree with you. Like if it's a fresh idea, like you can either make it fresh with your plot or your character. Oh yeah. I mean like how many times in the last

year did I read a road trip book of like an older younger woman like probably five times. And they were all like one half to five stars. But I was like, but they were all different, right? I'm like, oh, that's one of my favorite like hooks or whatever that's in a book. I'm like, oh, I'll probably pick it up. You know, it's like there's a difference between like things. You're just like, oh, hell yeah, I'm going to pick that up every time. Yeah. I think that's where it helps to read multiple genres too is what I started noticing.

It like helps to like just like not even read a story, anything like the last one that you read. Sometimes that helps. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I started my oh sorry yeah you can you can read like the same well I'm like oh I'm sick of thrillers I'll read like hockey romance do you still have variety that's it back to murder or hockey box probably influencer novels is what started to feel like super saturated for me until

which was interesting because I was as you were saying it I was like okay I think influencers are the ones that I started to feel that way about. But then everyone is lying to you, the Joe Piazza one. I was like, oh, this is fantastic. But like, it was, it was like that there were multiple different types of the, like, uh, influencers. So you kind of, you had like range. And her pacing was just incredible. So it was like the plot like was moving so quickly. But sometimes I'm like, another influencer thriller. And I think a lot of the influencer to thrill. And I think a lot of the influencer to I noticed like this one the everyone is lying to you didn't feel like satirical you know like where it's almost like just so over the top like it was more yeah it was more like biting yes and I was like

oh hell yeah and the main character wasn't one I think that kind of helps oh yeah she was more an observer and an outsider yeah yeah yeah so that happened for me the leanne child tradwife book that's the one that's the other one that you've convinced me i'd probably like you would love it i think it also has like the influencer trope but she kind of without spoiling anything she uses the influencer trope to create a twist in the book and i was like that was pretty fucking genius oh i love that so i think you'd like that's interesting i need to like for like a palette cleanser kind of probably. It's like a fun one to listen to.

Yeah. Yeah. Last night at Book Club we were talking about someone brought up, everyone is lying to you. And then someone said, our March book is the Madwife. And they're like, going for like from like Tradwife to Tradwife. And I was like, oh. No. No.

The Madwife is like why we don't want to go back there. Yes. It's the cautionary tale. Yeah. It is like, are you sure? This is what you want to be like showing the world. Right. Yeah.

Do you have a hot take? Yeah. Yeah. What's yours? I feel like you always have a good one. I have two. Oh. But I mean, I'll just pick one.

I just think that there, I'm not even going to say her name, but there is an influencer that's popular on Book Talk right now. because she made a rant video about people that made books like book talk trending and famous. And she's like, I'm never trusting you little book talk bitches ever again. And just like went on this complete rant about like some of these books and like basically like bash them but also like bashed readers. And like it's funny because is this the like, is this the like it's not intellectual enough the books on book talk? Is it in that vein? because I've been seeing that.

It is in that vein. Okay. It's just like her being like, I'm not trusting you guys for saying like this is good and da da da da da da and I'm like as like someone who's an influencer or as somebody who like portrays himself to be like an intellectual reader, you would think that she would understand that like if you are this intellectual that you can read all of these like books and just pick up all of these things on it. And like you're so much better than like these books that are.

Yeah. Okay. So it is that. Yeah. I would think that you would be smart enough to understand that reading is subjective. And what works for other people is not always going to work for you and vice versa. So your taste is not better than anybody. You just sound like an asshole when you are dissing other people.

Because like, there are some people who will read every single day and maybe read more than one book a day. And have the, but there are other people that maybe can only read. only read one book a month because of their lifestyle or, you know, things like that, they might want a freedom McFadden or they might want like something heavy like a little life, you know? And like that's kind of my example because when I saw that, I was like, you are pissing me off so much because somebody who enjoys something that you didn't does not make them less intelligent. Like a little life is one of my favorite books in the entire world. But like I will devour a freedom McFadden tomorrow. And like, right. You can have.

have that range. Yes. So, like, things are popular for a reason. It's kind of like when Gone Girl was like the book everybody was talking about, you know, and it's like, yeah, everybody was talking about it because it did something different. And like these books are doing something different for other people. So my advice and my bookish hot take is that if you are going to diss people on the internet for what they enjoy reading, you should probably shut the fuck up and do a little bit of

reflective work and figure out why you're such an asshole. Amen. The other thing it reminds me of is people who like give two and three stars to so many books and you're like you clearly don't know your own taste very well I'm guess. Like why are you picking these books up? And so it's kind of like why are all these books in your book talk feed that you're complaining about if they don't align. You know what I mean? Like what I see on my version of book talk tends to be books. I know I'm going to be interested in. That's just shitty. It's one of my biggest pet peeves is people who essentially talk down intellectually to other

people. I hate it. It's so weird. There is a girl. I wish every book talker could be modeled after her name's Abby, A.B. I. And she is like, like anytime she is, because I don't usually like when people do negative reviews or like these are the books that don't work for me or whatever because they think

you're like bashing. But she's like, these are the books that like, did not work for me in 2025. And the only reason I'm making this video is because if you have similar taste as me, you might not enjoy these either. If you did like them, tell me why in the comments. Like, tell me what works for you. And I was like, that is such a good way to like spark a conversation without like insulting

people or coming off like an asshole. So I like, and you can give helpful reviews of like, this didn't work for me because I blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And someone might be like, oh, well, I'm fine with that. Yeah. Yeah. Like, this didn't work for me because it's a locked room mystery and I don't like that. Or like, I prefer, like, my characters to be, like, a little unhinged or, like, I like a little more darkness. Like, you can do things like that. But like, yeah, I just, I don't know. It just, like, drives me nuts because I'm like, some people, like, I could pick up something really dense today that, like, I can really spend my time with. And then, like, tomorrow morning I could just wake up

and be like, I want something, I want something like popcorn thriller. Sometimes you need both. Yeah. So I just, I don't know. It just like drives me nuts. But like you also, like you said, you know your reading taste. So like if you're like picking up all of these books that were popular because of book talk that other people loved, like you pretty much already know that you're not going to like it. Yes.

It should be pretty apparent. Yeah. Yeah. So, I don't know. A little blonde asshole. as far as I'm concerned. I might just have to get blocked. I don't blame you.

I say that because like last night what we, what our book club was was in December. We had a blind date with a book exchange. Oh yeah. We read whatever book we picked. And so like there were probably two or three people

that like did not think they would like the book they picked. We used to live here and I just didn't I think I would understand it. Yes. Really liking it. And another woman was like, this is my third time trying this author. I just didn't think it would work for me.

And she ended up giving it a fourth. So it's just like, you never know. Yeah, you really don't. Yeah. That's interesting. Yeah. And like, if you don't like it, just stop reading it and pick up something else. There's so many books you can read.

Like, literally a library. Like, yeah. Right. Oh my gosh. Totally. People are so bored. And also, okay, yesterday, AJ and I were driving in the car. And I forgot what I was like ranting about. But then I was like talking myself through it. And he's like, you just had like a full conversation with yourself. Like you asked yourself questions and answered them. And I was like, I've tried to do that more because otherwise I am really reactive and I get like angry about stuff. But if I ask myself more questions, like, why do I think? that why does it bother me? Like what if this? I was like it actually like calms me down and like yeah reactive and I'm like do you guys like not ever do that that you're just like I'm so mad I'm gonna make a TikTok about this I know I will bitch to my friends right nothing feels better than like bitching about my friend but like I don't know to make uh you also like I don't know whoever like whoever made the algorithm work for TikTok like I hope that you get the best head of your life

the rest of your life. Because like, I blocked, I blocked, I think her name's like Jolie reads or something on TikTok because she was, she's not white. She's a woman and she was mourning Charlie Kirk. And I was like, girl, like the call's coming from inside the house. And so I blocked her because I was like, I'm not going to have a person of color who's also a woman like morning Charlie Kirk on my timeline. Amen. Then I was, like, laughing because I saw somebody's TikTok yesterday and all the comments were, like, has Jolie said anything about Renee Good?

Because I have her blocked. I have her blocked. And, like, it was all the people that were like, I have her blocked. Does anybody who, like, doesn't have her blocked? Tell me if she, like, said anything about Renee Good? And everyone's like, nope, she hasn't. I'm sure the only thing she would have said was justifying what happened to her. Yeah.

I love that. It is weird. Comes up all the other people that blocked her. Yeah. I was like my algorithm is on point. My algorithm is on point. Dude, I get pissed off because like there are certain words I have tried blocking on multiple platforms.

And it just like doesn't work. I think because it's not necessarily in the comment. Oh, the caption. And so I'm like, I'm trying to save myself. I didn't even know you could do that. Yeah, you can block the cards. Yeah. But it doesn't always work.

But it's a little better. Yeah. Yeah, I'm warning that dude is a, it's a choice. Yeah. It's a choice. I've even tried blocking shelter because I cannot save all the dogs. And so it makes me. Oh, yeah.

I like, I cannot watch shelter videos. I know. Like, so sad to me. And so I was just like, but then all of a sudden they started coming back and I'm like, you bitches. I the only thing that like I wish I could block is there's like two things with dogs

where it's like a video of a dog and it's like sad music in the background and it's like do this for your dog because it's their first time living to and I like always cry and it's like something like crazy like bring your dog to home goods like they should have to dog and I'm like oh my God I've ever taken I'm the same way or it's like this is what I imagine

my dog sounding like and it shows a dog running around. You can hear like a child laughing. Mm-hmm. And I'm like, oh my God, I hope Murphy's happy. I know. And he's like, dad. Dog stuff will make me weep.

Dog stuff will make me like. My friend McKinsey sent me one a couple days ago that was like, it was like long and it was talking about like dogs celebrate everything. Like you come home, they celebrate you like you. you switch rooms they celebrate like just going through all these little things they celebrate and the inn said said because that's the magic of dogs they know that life is wonderful even when it's not perfect and I was like oh that is such a beautiful sentence I saw an AI video yesterday that was them like they were pretending like they were interviewing a golden doodle and they were like do you ever get upset knowing that

humans live longer than dogs. Oh, that is brutal. The dog was like, I don't get upset because humans have to learn how to love and dogs are born already knowing how to love. Wow, that's really beautiful. I was like,

stop. Yeah. So our TikTok dog algorithms are just making us. Then the next video is like a bunch of kids getting hurt and I'm like laughing my ass on. Yeah, that's like it's own. account, isn't it? Mm-hmm.

Yeah. Well, we'll try to pivot out of sad dog stuff. Yeah. Do you have a bookish hot take? Did you do yours? Yeah, mine was influencers. I got to a point where I wasn't reading influencer books that often. Yeah. It was kind of

adjacent to hers. Lily has opinions for us. Steff's cat is being very cute on video right now. fell off my pants and she like grabs on my jeans. It's fine. Little cat,

cat things. Are you home stuff? Mm-hmm. You wear jeans at home? I was running late. Oh. I told her she could go change. I didn't wear like stretch.

Yeah. Yeah. I don't wear jeans a lot, but when it's really cold, they keep me warm. I'll wear I'm like, ow. But like, I'm not relaxing in my home. I don't wear hard pants at home. No. So I was like, oh my God, girl.

Are you wild? Is this like one of those things we're finding out about stuff that she like relaxes in jeans? No one else is my hot take is I wear low-rise pants. I wear low-rise jeans. Well, do you because they don't. I don't have an hourglass. I have like a rectangle shape. So like high-rise like kills my midsection. Like it feels like I'm choking. I'm like I just like to like 2005 floor. Good for you. Not that uncomfortable. Yeah.

I literally only like my legs, so I still wear skinny jeans. Oh, nice. Even though all these like Gen Z ears are like, why like only? And I'm like, girl. I also was looking at new jeans. And then they said that skinny is back already. Oh, it came back. I don't know.

It was like that one fucking guy in upstate New York would not let it go. So let's just bring it back. Yeah. I was like, no. Let's leave it. Just leave it. Like all the, all the millennials are upset, so just leave it. Yeah.

Yeah. I'm pretty much. Sorry. Leggings again. Leggings all the time. Oh, yeah. And I've started getting it. Oh, I saw this video the other day that was like a guy being like, oh, my like wife used to look cute.

Now she looks like Adam Sandler. And I sent it to ageing. It's like straight baggy sweatpants. leggings are like special. vacation pass. Yes. Yes. That is me. I learned that if I do it in girl colors, you can pull off Adamson. More frequently if you just buy pink and purple everything. As we know, as we know, I have a lot of pink. That's genius. It is smart. Oh, God, I can't believe we started talking almost an hour ago. We haven't even talked about a book.

Yeah. Well, you know, I get us started. Speaking of hot girl shit. Yeah. I might have stolen one, but it was the right segue. So Ashley Winstead has a thriller and I'm listening to the Future Saints right now because I did wait for the audiobook. The audiobook's fantastic for anyone who was wondering. But she has Hot Girl Murder Club coming out this year. And it is about 10 years after her sister's mysterious death, which is fascinating because her sister's, dies in the future states too. Yeah. She's just killing sisters this year. A rising pop star becomes Hollywood's most infamous murder suspects and must unravel a buried legacy of violence, linking her family, the industry, and a long silenced reign of terror before it destroys her for good. So we've got thriller elements.

We have a murder element. We have Hollywood elements and Ashley Wend's dead. so I don't know how I could not like this book. Her books are also like usually very timely. Yeah. So like you kind of like can already tell like what direction this is going to go in. But like I love how she can like make her books really twisty too. Yeah.

I agree. Yeah. That was one of mine. I thought it might be but it was so perfect. It was a perfect segue. I know. I don't blame you. Yeah.

Hopefully you have a backup. I do. I have three actually. Oh, nice. okay we're set because I did I did mine in like um pub date order oh that's smart so then I was like when I was typing up my synopsis for like Ashley Winston I was like son of a bitch I know that somebody is going to take this yeah so I had like three little other ones so I can do one of those stay flexible um but speaking of women and murder and banning together to take down the man

Yeah. Fuck yeah. The secret live of murderers wives. Oh, yeah. By Elizabeth Arna. Comes out March 3rd. I am so excited for this. It has everything that I want in it.

It is about Beverly, Elsie, and Margot, who have one thing in common. They are all wives of convicted murderers. Forming an unlikely friendship in the summer of 1966, they find themselves on a new path after their husband's are either dead or behind bars. Beverly tries to keep control over life. Elsie wants to make a name for herself in the newsroom and Margot refuses to let what happened

take away from her glamorous of being lifestyle. When a string of local killings hit the news, three women are determined to solve the case. Who better did not solve a string of murders than the women who lived with a killer? This one looks so fun. March 3rd. Where is it?

Both covers are really cool. Yeah. Did you see the blue? One with the lot with the beach shares. I think I might like that one even more. You do. I do love a vintage cover. I think I don't have tons of March books.

Maybe I can request it. I think it's like, I think it may take place in California. Okay. I don't know if I just invented. I don't know if I invented that in my head. No, it's your mopsis. Yeah, it says California. Yeah, California's most infamous serial killers.

well here's the cover if anyone I love that people I love here comes Gare with historical fiction I know 1966 you want to know something too I think it's because of you stuff because you're the one that really convinced me

to read Madwoman and that I would absolutely love it and then I did read it and I did love it and then I was like you know what I think that I could read more books that take place and like the 50s, 60s or 70s if they have a plot that like really speaks to me. So like if the plot, if the plot were to take place in present day and I would read it,

but it takes place 40, 50 years ago, like now I'm like, you know what, I'm going to give it a shot. I love that. Way back. Did you read the devil in Mrs. Davenport? No. Oh, I think you would love that one. Yeah. Yeah.

That one's really good. I need to check that one out. That's on my like wish list, but I actually went even farther back. because there's a book out by Harriet Fox, and it's about three women who are trying to take down Jack the Ripper. So it's, like, kind of fictional, like, what Jessica Null

did with, like, bright young women. Yes. And, but it's Jack the Ripper in, like, the 1800s. And it's on the way. I think you said that to me last week or recently. Yeah. Nice. Hold on. What's that one called?

Let me scroll up, because I think you texted it to me. Let me see Oh no All that sisterhood above all looks really good too The Women in the Shadows By Harriet Fox Yeah That one sounded good

It says like cover to be revealed I think that it's already out In like the UK or something Maybe it'll be coming out in the US later Yeah it says Interesting October That must have been UK I ordered it on Amazon though

and it's on the way so that's exciting no oh it says the women of white chapel i know i saw that too that's where that's where jack the ripper took place so it might have been an alternate title at some point i'm in and yeah butt club butt club butt club oh i love that okay one one man book club. Oh, I like. I love that. I like a lot. Christmas present from my ma'am.

From your man? Well, my ma'am. My mom. Oh, okay. I do not have a man. I do not have a man. I don't care what you guys,

I don't care what you guys say about me, but do not spread a nasty rumor like that. I don't have a man. How dare you? That is the worst thing you could say about it. No. Jacob will already, Jacob will already bought me this.

Seriously. Oh. Okay. I'm just going to go with my synopsis. Oh. Mine isn't coming out until June, July. So I've been, this one was a little tougher for me because I've been trying to fly by the seat of my pants.

But I've also been trying to be pickier at net galley. Yeah. I think the one pick for net galley hopefully are going to be good. Yeah. And I couldn't not request my girl Lisa Jewel. Ooh. Yeah. One coming out called it could have been her and the covers.

Very cool. I love a deep cover. I love that cover. I don't even know what it's about. I just assume I'll like it, but I'll read. I might. It's not. When a lost little white dog turns up on Jane Trevelli's quiet country walk,

it pulls her back toward a London house she hoped never to see again. The missing teenage girl, the dog's uneasy owner, and a woman watching silently from inside the house all point to something deeply wrong beneath the surface. As past and present collide, Jane realizes this household answers to secrets that were buried years ago and no longer willing to stay that way. Hers are always good. So good. I will say, I don't know if it's something you have to read.

but Jane was in, don't let him in. So I don't know if this is a spin-off. Yeah, I don't know if this is a spin-off of that or if there's going to be anything connected, but I know that Jane was in, don't let him in. So I'm kind of excited to see if there's like, if that's like something that could be read as a standalone

or if it's something that like has Easter eggs. Yeah, that's a good point. So in the, in the synopsis, it does not talk about don't let him in. Yeah, I don't see it. Which would be weird if she said if it was like connected a lot.

Yeah. I'm wondering if there's going to be yesterday. I have to remember who Jane is. Was Jane one of the wives? I think so. I just, you know, all of her books to me are like at least a four because I just like love her style

and like I can cruise through it so quickly. Like, really love her writing. Yeah, I do too. It would take a lot for me to be like, yeah. There's only a couple of hers that I just like that weren't for me, but like we're still good and that like other people love. It's just like a me problem. But yeah, I say like overall like a lot of her books work really well for me too.

Yeah. Yeah. And there's one that I don't remember liking that much that everyone else really liked. So I feel like I should read it. I was like. Me too. it was like one i don't really i'm awful with titles too but like there's like one like on paper like when you read the synopsis i'm like this would be perfect for me and it sounds so good and then like i read it and i was

like oh i didn't really care for this and i and then but everybody else loved it and i'm like am i the problem yeah am i the problem is simply it is clearly it is yeah well an author that I am obsessed with. Also has the book coming out. And it's the caretaker by Marcus Clywer. And because Gare's amazing, he connected me to his publicist and I am interviewing him. What? Yes.

Yes. Okay. I want you to make him listen to your podcast and be like, do all the things I list that I thought meant something actually means something. Can you please fact check my two-hour episode about your book? I know, I know. I'm going to want to ask him so many because the caretaker takes place in the same universe, but it's not a sequel. So like I am going to, I'm going to want to ask questions. But I'm also interviewing him. I reached out back in December. It comes out in April, but he's really busy. So I'm interviewing him on February 7th, but then it won't come out until like April. So if you guys listen to the episode in the future. That's why it will feel like it's a little not in the right time period. But this one, the story is drawn to a strange three-day caretaker job in the Oregon wilderness. A desperate young woman discovers an ancient unspeakable evil and realizes she may be the only thing standing between it and the rest of the world. So I don't even totally know. I have no clue what that means because it was the same thing with you. We used to live here. Like there's way more that happens than the synopsis. So we'll see.

But I'm so excited to return to that universe. And I'm going to read it soon since I'm interviewing him in like two weeks. Oh, you have an art. Yeah. Nice. Aren't they turning it into a movie? We used to live here is, yeah. I think they're turning the caretaker into a movie with Sidney.

Oh, really? why could could be recast they could recast it the other unfortunate thing is we used to live here was going to be with blake lively how do we have the problematic white blonde it's just like there have to be more people available when we used to live here the same people I there's not a single character that I think Blake lively should have been playing and not one like I'm relatively certain that the main character like has a brown or brunette pixie cut. Yeah.

Do you know who Jane Levy is? I doesn't sound familiar, but no. She was in the movie Don't Breathe where like the kids break into the house. I think she would be excellent in that movie or in that movie. And I also think Georgina Campbell who was

she was in Barbarian. She was the character and Barbarian. I think she would be really good as the girlfriend. I think so too. I like that casting. Those are my picks. Thank you. Everybody who's I involves in that product or project, please listen to gear. I love Jane Levy. I think she's beautiful. She's beautiful. She's in Hollywood. She looks like someone if not. She looks like the colored hair. She looks like she kind of looks like the girl that everybody confuses for Margot Robbie. Oh, okay.

Yeah. Okay. Got it. A couple of these pictures of her, I'm like, is it? Yeah, I think she'd be great. Yeah. So I want to read The Caretaker. I have a copy of it.

Nice. What does the cover look like? What does I say? I have it on my phone. It's right here. Oh. Who is in the world? I love a moody PNW.

I know. It was in the window. Yes, in the circles. I'm like, what are the circles about? Yeah. I just have it on my phone, on my Kindle app. I'm like, I hope this isn't another one where I'm like, I don't know what to do.

I will be your guide. Man, I just can't speak today. I'm sure I will read it before you do. There's a note from the. author in the beginning of it that's a little intimidating oh about yeah i'm i'm that's i'm gonna be fan-girling i'm gonna have to like keep my shit together i know i'm gonna wake up the day that i have to interview and i'm gonna be like oh my god i'm nervous and tyler would be like it'll be fine i'm like i know but we have your back i tend to be nervous just any time as a completely new person

though it's just like you never know what's gonna happen um if any anybody's interested in a story about a podcaster who finds herself in a situation she wasn't anticipating i have one oh that's probably what to be the fucking fucking yeah that's probably probably going to be the craziest segue ever crazyest um coming out of my life um coming out on march 30th is a book called this story might save your life by tiffany crumb oh damn you took one of mine It is fantastic. I am so excited for this. It's about Joy and Benny,

who had one of the most popular podcasts about survival, and then the podcast took off from episode one, and Joy's experience with severe narcolepsy, and they have built an empire with the help from Joy's husband, Zander. Things take a turn for the worst when Benny shows up to record at Joy and Zander's house, but the couple has disappeared leaving behind one clue. Joy's first draft of her memoir. As the please zero in on

Benny as the main suspect, he must prove his innocence to find out what happened to the couple by unfolding their secrets one by one. If you're an audiobook listener, it's fantastic. Like, and I didn't listen. You comp. You comped it's my favorite books.

What is? Sorry. What? He comped it to like three of my favorite books. So I'm like, obviously, it's probably going to be so good. Yeah. It reminded me. What were the combs? I comped it to

None of this is true by Lisa Jewel. Listen for the lie by Amy Tintara and tell me what you did by Carter Wilson. I love a moody sunset. And like this cover just like... I love and the words like go in between like the trees. Yeah. I love it.

It was like the character work is really great. Like you just get so attached to the characters. too. Yeah. I'm just so excited for it. Yeah. I've heard such good thing so far. It is. I can't believe it's her debut. It was wild. Oh, wow. Wow. I'm just like, man, that one has when I saw your post, I was like, where have I been? I had like, it had just popped up on that galley.

Because I checked the audio book section every day. There's so many like books that they're like, it's like a wild time because there are so many books that are like being popularized before they've even come out so like the anticipation is like building even more which i think is exciting it is i'm also never going to be able to top that um segue that segue that segue ever i know that was the best one i even when i was reading it even there were some like little things where i was like yep that is what it's like producing a podcast so that's even was even fun funnier about it. I was like, this is the life of editing yourself. I don't have a segue. I don't think. Maybe it's just a little pinkish. There's always a segue here. Actually, I have a question. Well, I have pink. But I've had this one, I requested this

one so long ago, and I'm excited to read it because it's not coming out until maybe April or something. It's called Cleo Dang would rather be dead. And it is a, I do love a heavy topic with some dark humor. Yes. Some fun. Let's see. Cleo Dang's life shatters when her best friend brings a baby home from the hospital and she doesn't. So Cleo doesn't bring one home her friend does.

That was weird. completely untethered by grief and quietly falling apart. Cleo takes an unexpected job at a funeral home, where funeral home, period, where dark humor, awkward moments, and other people's losses begin to crack her open again. It's a tender, sharp, and quietly a book about friendship, motherhood, and learning how to live after everything goes wrong.

That kind of sounds like six feet under. Yeah, you know, I like, I've learned in 2025. One thing I really enjoy reading about is like books that talk. about like death in a not scary way or like maybe people are like uncomfortable but like they're around it more and like deal with it more and it isn't as scary and so I think I might have another one here too but I was like I'm so into this yeah that covers very cute too it sounds really good I can imagine losing a baby 4.5 on good reads yeah I don't know if She lost it or is it her friend had a baby and she wishes she had a baby?

I think her friend has a baby and she wishes she dead. No, it says now her grieving Cleo must navigate life after losing her baby. So it must be hers. Oh. But her friend has a baby. Okay. Her friend has a baby and she doesn't. I wonder if it's like a stillborn or something.

Yeah, sad. Revolving around a cast of bereaved love. locals discovers the power of confronting grief. I'm, I'm like, and I'll take a cast of bereaved locals. It looks like. I don't know. Give me a community full of weirdos in like the best way and I'm like I get that. It looks like they, the two best friends go through their pregnancies together and they both go into the hospital and something goes wrong during birth. And Paloma, the friend, comes with a baby and Cleo does not. Got it. That's heavy.

So she must lose her baby and childbirth. It is. Yeah. I can, like coming back from really hard things while there's also kind of like some normalcy of like weird daily shit happening to you that like you can't help. I'm like, I eat that shit up. Yeah. Right. Yeah.

That sounds really. good. Well, my best segue in this case is to say that I was giggling during Seth's hot take because bring it on. I legit was like, this reminds me if they never learn. So this one's called, oh wait, it's called Honey by Imani Thompson and the cover is dramatic and amazing. But this like literally sounds like they never learn. bored with academia and fed up with misogyny, a disaffected PhD student discovers a deadly sense of purpose in killing sexist men until her righteous rage and long-buried family secrets threatened to consume her. So, I mean, it sounds up my alley. The cover is beautiful and dramatic and amazing.

I think it's her debut, too. I think. I'm curious if it's going to go to the direction. direction of like she never learn she never learn or like sugar by I need to read sugar which is like campy and tucked up like I wonder what direction

I do too but yeah I have that one I have a digital copy of that one so it comes out in May so I probably won't read it until it says it includes British style dry humor that is also right up my alley oh that's awesome

yeah I like that yeah yeah this is her debut you know what i love listening to you sometimes is like a british a british dry humor yes like you know what i mean i wonder how it'll go yeah some of the alice phoenix dry i loved the narrator belle powley for my husband's wife and there were definitely some british humor moments oh my god i see her tomorrow night alice viny Gosh, Alice Feeney. I know. This Wildgeese bookshop is just making Indiana the coolest place to live if you're a reader.

I never thought I'd ever say that. That's crazy. We just finished his and hers. And like I only remembered nothing and maybe like one scene that I think they changed. But now AJ was kind of like, oh, like just how twisty it was. And I was so now he's listening to rack paper scissors. And I was like, attention because she's a shitty bitch in the best way. Yeah.

No falling asleep. The twists and turns in my husband's wife were like, diabolically. There were multiple times where I was like, how is she going to write her way out of this? And then she did. Yeah. I was like, how in the hell? Like, you are terrifying. I know.

Yeah, it's a really fun one. And I'm just like here for it. And this is, in case anyone is listening, who knows Bell Pauley, please get her to narrate more audiobooks. She's fantastic. Belle Pauley was in the morning show, wasn't she? And is she? I was trying to figure out of something else I watched her in as well.

But yes, that is what most people know her from. What else did I see her in? I can't remember. Sounds good. I don't watch this stuff, but I haven't really heard of my mom. There was definitely like a British mystery that I watched, Tran, but I can't remember which one. Some of them look pretty dramatic.

Mm-hmm. Well, speaking of beautiful. Ooh. Ooh. I don't know where it is, though. Oh, no. I have to talk about this one before somebody else steals that, because if you guys would have stolen this one from me,

I would have been. Oh, no. I don't think anyone's going to have it. coming out July 7th is I was like, Gere, we'll talk about this one. Oh my God. It sounds so good,

but I'm also like, the synopsis is so like vague in this way that like makes you really curious, but like also like doesn't give away too much as to like why this is considered a thriller. And I think that Jessica Knoll actually said that it's considered in a real thriller. Oh, I didn't know that.

which makes me even more excited because like I love like erotic thrillers for like the 90s like the movie so I'm like please give me the vibes and she was writing this one in Lake Placid which is like an hour and a half so yeah I'm hoping that some of that like scenery maybe in the book but um 12 years ago Fay Heron broke her college boyfriend's heart when a former and beloved college professor suddenly passes away Faye is now face to face with Henry Spalding again for the first time in 12 years. Both have their own separate lives and partners, but the spark is still there. An innocent drink ends up with Henry drugging and kidnapping Faye holding her hostage in his mountain. Wow.

I know. This could go so many directions like you're saying. I know that like, yeah. Well, there's like, so the thing that's really interesting to me about this that I would find that I would need to read it even if it wasn't by just. is the main character and her husband are like Hollywood producers and they crafted a show that is kind of based on her experience with this guy in college. So it's almost like I'm in my mind thinking this could be the fictional Megan Oppenheimer. Yes. Right? Like maybe this was a very tumultuous relationship in college and she did like a tell me like.

eyes kind of show and like this is pissed that sounds fun you know so like that's what it's like very intriguing to me yeah yeah yeah because it would be really sexy would be like that right yeah yeah right oh boy so i haven't even look at the first page i was gonna ask i like i have an arc of that it's i i have an arc of it it's like my most like guarded possession right now but i will not i will not I think I even look at the first page until I'm ready. Yeah, I did get approved for it. It's actually my far list out book that I have on NetGalley. I just entered the Good Rates giveaway.

That's good to know. It does. Steph's like, I'm trying to be picky. Yeah. I just added it to my, well, okay, two things just happened. I just added that to my giveaways slash I want to read it list.

But then also, have you guys heard of this book called Hysterical by No. No. I just popped up on my neck galley even though it came out in December. Oh, yes it is.

So cool. And it's got a really short synopsis about like final girls and she's writing the script and I'm like, wait, wow. open what is it what's the name again hysterical by amber it's it's amazing bad ass it's got a

stick yeah yeah it's like to be cool looking sick yeah um yeah oh my isn't that dramatic i know yeah and i just was like okay so and it's like boy part slash um what was the other thing I just saw it was compared to. Mayfly, which I haven't read, but I've heard as good. Same. I don't know. Oh, my God. This one review says the word nonchalant simply does not exist in her vocabulary.

I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't that insane, graphic, filthy and beautifully bananas. Wow. Oh. Hysterical is a hysterical sweaty, coke-dusted NYC spiral that starts as sex work, survival math, and ends as a love story told with knives, teeth,

and devotional level of bad decisions. We like all need to read this one. Now I need a cigarette. I was just like where the F was this like when I was randomly perusing. It's on Kendall Unlimited for anyone who has that. So that's good news. Sorry, that was not a book I picked. It just happened to stumble into our.

Did you guys ever use that website that stumble upon? I haven't in years. No. It was when I was like a TV. But I love that verb. Yeah. I stumbled upon this. It was pretty great.

Okay, well, I have another pink cover one. I actually think I've talked about this one maybe recently, but I'm going to talk about it again because I would be bummed if it's not one of my favorites in 2026 is, forget you saw her. The prequel of Ask for Andrea. hold on, I need to show my door people just came home. That book makes me fucking. Oh my gosh. I know.

I like, oh, okay. 17 years after placing her newborn daughter up for adoption, Sabina's carefully contained grief shatters when police informed her that Andrea is missing. As she searches for answers, reality begins to blur with unsettling dreams that feel less like memories and more like warnings, pulling her deeper into a truth she may not survive. Inspired by true events, it's haunting emotionally driven suspense about motherhood guilt

and what refuses to stay buried. It's so fucking sad. One of her stuff is inspired by real events, which is so crazy. It's so good too. I loved, I loved ask for Andrea. I think I cried at the end because I always cry when there's like helpers.

And you know. I don't think I. cried during Ask for Andrea and I was like okay this is like very sad obviously like you have three dead women from like the hands of like a fucking monster that's known as a man this is like

times 10 like I was like this is one of the most depressing but like beautiful but also like very substantial things I've ever read I'm so excited like it is just a fucking banger she's so good she's so good

oh my god I love her. I gear up for that one, but I'm forward to it. Yeah. I love this so much. What's that? Three or four? Yeah.

Three. Well, my fourth one is, okay, there's not even a synopsis for this, but Deadbeat is the third Alex Stern book, which is like nine house if you haven't thought of Alex Stern in a while.

I still remember like it was like near the beginning of Gare and I doing killing the tea. And he like texted me because Helbin came out and he was like, I didn't know if I would like this book. And then you, I think you read Ninth House and Helbert like in the same time period, right? I think. I don't know. Yeah. So you texted me and you're like, I think you'd actually like this.

And I had not really ventured into dark academic. me a fantasy yet and I was obsessed like they I even they were like some of my first book of the month's books that I got because they are they've been on my shelf for forever but the third one's called deadbeat it's by leave our do go and literally there's still not even a synopsis or a book cover and it comes out in September so if you don't know what they generally are about is it's Alex Stern the main character ends up going to this school where there are kind of like frat houses, but I can't remember what they're actually called, that all will kind of practice different versions of magic.

But this is, I think we've talked about it before. It's like it incorporates thriller elements, mystery elements, magic, fantasy, dark academia. It has so many of my favorite things. Yeah, supernatural. It's just a fantastic series. So if you like, especially like. What I kind of sometimes call for the sake of, like, quickly describing it, like, an R or X-rated, like Harry Potter. Like, it's, like, kind of that vibe, like, dark stuff happening at a school.

Oh. Lily's face. I think she just knocked something over and she's just staring us down. Oh, it was you. I was trying to put my AirPods in a night. She gave you a kiss. She was like, it's okay, mom. Hey, girlie.

She's like, did you hear that? She's so cute. So yeah, if you haven't read that series yet. I didn't know the third one was coming out. But she has not released the cover yet. Or the synopsis. Hellbent, the second one, they actually end up having to go into hell to fight demons or something magical. So it's like, I'm sure we're picking back up from there, but that's all I know.

Catabassist. So it's Mindhouse, Hellbent, and Wall. What's this one? It was ninth house. Deadbeat is the third one coming out. Deadbeat. It's been years. She like finished.

She wrote in other series for a little bit. Yeah. And a standalone. It's great. Yeah. So good. Oh, yeah. Was your standalone a book of the online?

I think it was. Or was it on art? I think it's kind of historical fiction. I remember having like a, a quill. Did it have a quill on the front? I think so Oh yeah I know

familiar actually This one is called right after you said familiar I saw it Perfect Oh that is too funny We're having some good moments

No it's just a hand No quill I don't know why I thought a quill Maybe you thought their quill Yeah The magic part of it Yeah this says The invisible quill

It comes a highly Anticipated Historical Fantasy set during the Spanish golden age. So I don't really even know. I should try it out, but I haven't yet. I think my fourth one might have a most supernatural to it.

Oh. I don't know. I have to read the full synopsis because I didn't get to type one because I'm replacing Ashley Winstead. But June 9th, everybody knows how much I am obsessed with. please see us and the author of please see us Caitlin Mullen has a new book coming out June 9th called Heather

I did not know that the covers gorgey gorge gorge gorge gorge yeah it sounds really good yeah it sounds really good so in 1994 in the myth-riddled woods of the New Jersey Pine Barrens 16 year old Annabel Riley's twin sister Sabrina has been having an affair with a mysterious older man and Annabella is determined to uncover what's going on. Then inexplicably, both sisters disappear. In the same town years

later, newly instated police chief, Callie Hauser makes an arrest that unexpectedly resurrects details from the heartbreaking cold case. As she digs deeper, the past and the present collide, challenging everything Callie believes about right and wrong, who she is and about the town

she's always called home. Wow. Damn. Yeah. It's sounds so good, so good. And I'm obsessed with that cover. That cover is so cool. And also like major shout out to Caitlin Mullen, who sent me a copy of Heather with like the loveliest know about how much I've been with a champion for Please See Us for the past like however many years that I've. And it was like one of the sweetest things. Oh, I love that. is so cool. Yeah, it was like, it was like,

I bet. It made me a little emotion. Yeah. To be like having somebody, like, I'm just like, I'm talking about it because I love it so much. And like, even if you were not a kind person, I would still be cushing about your book because I love it so much. But yeah, so she's just very kind. Yeah, I, every, I've had a few authors. No.

Write me like thank you notes after podcast episodes. So I have a little shelf over there. And I'm the same way. I'm always like, oh. Yeah. I would put them up there on top of that one. Yeah. They don't really fit on top of that one.

But yeah. I'm excited for Heather. I am. Have you ever seen like those like little like sticky frames that you can put in like different? That would be cool. That would be cool if you had like a wall. Yeah. With all of your.

That's a really good idea. I even had one author. She sent me a pin. That would be so fun. So this is like. when I send out merch I now use this pen. I know, sweet.

I love that. Some people are thoughtful and nice because it's like not really my strength is like thinking of like writing notes or gifts or like sometimes thoughtful things. And I'm just like always so shocked when people like, oh, I thought of you or they're like thoughtful and really nice like gifts and cards. Mm-hmm. So cool. Oh, Heather's.

Heather's, Heather's. Well, I will segue that by saying this as also like a sophomore to a novel I already liked. That was a debut. Ooh, good segue. Similar to one of my previous picks, I really enjoyed the book, The Collected Regrets of Clover by Nikki Brammer, where the main figure was a death dula. and it was just like so unique. So good. She has a new book coming out called Good Joy, Bad Joy.

And after a lifetime of playing by the rules, Joy Bridport is shaken awake when she learns her best friend Hazel is dying and completely at peace with her choices. Determined not to waste what time they have left, they start saying yes to things she never would have before, including a little rule breaking that snowballs faster than expected. It's warm, funny, and quietly emotional, emotional of a friendship, legacy, and realizing it's never too late to choose yourself. So I'll probably cry a little. Yes. Yeah.

I didn't watch it, but it reminds me of that show on Hulu. I love about. Who are the two actors in it? And she, like, she, like, explores her sexuality. Yes. Michelle Williams? Yep. I've seen clips from that show.

for sex. I think so. Yeah. I know. That's a true story. Because her, there's this clip that keeps popping up for me where like the nurse comes in and like explains what's going to happen to her. And she's like so interested in her friend and her mom are like. Yeah. And the nurse is just like, this is a part of life. This is a lot. Yeah. So into it. It got such great reviews. Yeah. She's like it's so natural. Yeah. It was exactly. Yeah. I was. I've heard it was really. that's where it was. I was never in the mood when it came out to cry. I know. When are you? Yeah. Like you know it's good, but it's going to be. Well, sometimes I cry and it's still like happy. This one I was like, this is going to, this is going to actually be like sad. Like heated rivalry makes me cry. Even just clips of it now. But mostly in a positive way where you're like, oh my God. I got a little, I got more emotional watching it for the second time.

I once the first time. There are most of all scenes that get me. Yeah. I've been feeling that way with euphoria. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Makes me cry the second time more like some of the little moment that like build.

And I'm like, wow, this whole episode is like the theme of it. Like I get it more now than I did before. I get that. And I was like, man, this is. Well, my last one. My last one, I've kind of talked about it. And I just interviewed the. author today, actually. But I know it's going to be one of my favorites of the year. It's called

Queen of Faces by Petro Lord. And it is Dark Academia Fantasy. Dying in, so in a world where bodies can be bought and swapped, Anna is dying in a stolen body and forced into servitude by the ruthless magical elite. A desperate, oh, I did not write this. synopsis very well maybe I'll just explain it but you basically the rich can swap bodies like obviously poor people are not going to have the money to do that in a world like that and Anna really wants to get into the magic school to be able to have access to a better body like it's kind of out of desperation but something goes wrong when she does try to get into the school and so then she's told like you can either be my assassin and I will tell you who you need to

go kill or I'm going to kill you so those are her choices so she basically becomes a magical assassin and there is so much commentary on the trans experience on gender identity or like gender fluidity as well as classism colonialism and imperialism you know the things i just can't stop talking about so it's just it's amazing and i'm I found out she's hoping that it'll be a four book series, but it might be three. And she's already written the second one. So I'm super excited because I need the second one right now. But thankfully, it will be out in like a year.

So I comps it to, it reminded me a lot of like Academy for Liars that I really loved. And also, if you happen to read the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld, I, that was like some of my favorite books I read my entire child. childhood and it's it's why a so it reminded me of that one too because the premise there is like you hit 16 and then you get the option to become pretty and like they do plastic surgery all over your entire body and then you go get to go live with the pretty people if you have enough money so it reminded me of that if you really like that oh my god yeah oh and I listen to it yeah it was so up my alley yeah it does

That's the one that has like the special edition that's like really details. The edges are sprayed. Yeah. And the covers I just love the cover so much. But yeah, she was so cool. I really love talking with her. It was like one of those really fun interviews where you're like, this is why I do it. Yeah.

Oh, that's so cool. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah, I just thought she posted about it. entered. She literally got so into this project during the pandemic in 2020 when she was living at home with her parents that she wrote 2,000 pages and it had nerve damage in her shoulder and then had had to cut it down to like 400 pages. Yeah. That episode comes out February 3rd for anyone who is like, when are we going to hear this? The book comes out February 3rd and the episode will too.

And the audiobook's great. That's exciting. Yeah. You talk to her today? Yeah. She basically rewrote the book with dictation software because her arm was just completely out of commission. Yeah. It's wild.

Like, it was such a cool interview. Damn. Yeah. And she recommended two dark academia fantasies to me. I might even try to dive into. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah.

It was cool. Yes, she is. We're losing stuff to her hoodie. Oh, I'm trying not to lean on my hand. Oh, I, because I was freaking out. I think that actually matters. For a long time, then I realize when I got to edit myself, then my chin is like bright red.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. When I go to bed at night, I have my hand under my pillow. Mm-hmm. And when I wake up in the morning, it's like this on my cheek and I'm like why are you touching my face? Stop it. Yeah I know.

Like don't touch your face. I don't have a segue but this one is not going to be Kate's exploring her dark academia fantasy life and I am still stuck in my I want to read a book about

serial killers but this is probably going to be my favorite book of the year. Everything about it clicks with me and I have to wait until August to read it, August 25th and it is Heart of Glass

by Jennifer Hillier. I can't believe I forgot she has one coming out. This sounds incredible. Like I'm foaming up the mouth for this and like I just can't believe how good it sounds. Seaside is a small coastal town known for its amusement park.

Yes. So coastal town amusement park, sign me up. Yeah. Check. Check. Check. Check. Check.

Check. 25 years ago, a serial killer, check. Named the carnival killer. Confessed to murdering a local high school girl named Lorelei. Barb and Nicolette's best friend. So now 25 years ago, the three girls met a guy at the amusement park. And then a few days afterward, Lorelei's body was found in a crambley's body was found in a cranberry bog.

Now Barb's dreams of leaving seaside are fading quickly as she writes anonymously about celebrities for a gossip website, including the trophy wives reality show. Nicolette married rich and changed her name to Cole Lennox and is the star of the trophy wives. When it's announced the amusement park is ready to reopen, the carnival killer recants the two decade old confession and the body of a young one. There's a lot of cool elements there. like there's so yeah there's so much going on like I love I love a serial killer

a creepy carty sign me up like yeah it's kind of giving like jar it's like wonderland right like I love that whatever happened in this friendship uh huh yeah yeah and like I'm kind of also loving this like dynamic between the two surviving friends and how like one of them writes about like a gossip website. Yeah. Probably bashing the show and the other friend is like the star of the show. So I just think it's like, I don't know. When there's like a murder and somebody's like, I actually didn't do it years later and then like it's fascinating.

I'm like, oh my God. Like this is like, yes. Heaven to me. I'm like more dead bodies. Sounds like heaven. It just like sounds so good and I just love. We need to try to get her home this year. I think that it's going to be probably my favorite book the year.

You should. Because when was her last one? 22. Things we do in the dark. I think 22. First started reading again. So she actually didn't, she wasn't able to go to Montreal Mystery Festival last year because she was on such a tight deadline. So I'm like, I was so bummed and I was like, oh my God, I really wanted to meet her so bad.

But now that I like know what the book you're like thank you for your service. It is fine. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Like I fully understand now. Oh my gosh.

Well. Okay. So another, my last book, I feel like it could go either way. I'll be honest. But I'm hoping for the. Yes. The high. It has a lot.

of things that I enjoy. They call it, which I've not watched this show, but they said it's the wedding people and traitors. Wow. That's an interesting comedy. I know, I know. So pop culture is super fan. Oh, sorry, it's called, where is it?

I just had put the synopsis in. It's called Let's Not Go Overboard here by Erica Hendry. And it says, pop culture super fan Melanie Hoffman boards a luxury yacht in Greece, hoping reality TV vibes will distract her from the grief she's been refusing to deal with. One of glamorous fellow passenger vanishes overnight and no one seems remotely concerned, Mel's true crime instincts kick in hard, turning the trip into an obsessive, increasingly unhinged investigation. Funny sharp and surprisingly tender, this is a twisty mystery about grief fixation and what happens when escapism turns into something much deeper and messier. So it could be crazy in the bad way, but I hope it's crazy in the best way.

Yeah. Sounds like it's going to be a winner. Traders is very, very, very, very fun. Because I was like, I love the wedding people. I've heard people just told me about it last night. I've never really heard much about it until I saw some clip that Donna Kelsey went. It is an eclected group of people this year. I'm not watching.

That was the only thing I don't necessarily. I have so many. books that I've got to stay on schedule with. But I got into it last year. And I watched like the first season. And then I did watch the one that was airing last year. And it is fun. It's like it's like if Clue was a reality game show.

I think you'll love it. I don't think it's going to be. We'll see. Because I do like don't like parts of Clue like in a like is in a locked room setting book. Isn't always my favorite. I think this is more that she's there for like fun weeks and is wondering who did it. So probably not the locked room part as much. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. It sounds like it could have some like dark humor in it too. Yeah. That's what I'm thinking. And I like when, like there might be like some dark humor, but it's because they're like actually going through shit, you know? Dark humor is just. The titles, I mean, if the title is any indication, I think it's.

Yeah. Let's not go overboard here, you guys. Dark humor is what makes it all bearable. I know. So we'll see. This is a story about. Yeah. This on the cover it says, this is a story about a definitely dead girl, a possibly dead girl,

a living dead girl, all on board. And I'm like, I love when people are like, I'm dead. It's a living dead girl. And I definitely I like to have been so picky But something about it made me click requests So

Sounds like it's going to be one nice Yeah I know Sometimes I'm like What the fudge was I thinking? And other times I was like Oh yeah, good job stuff It depends on how much mood you wake up in when you need to read it Yes

Yeah when the due dates coming up Well I mean we've got some range for everybody so oh yeah add take it take your pick to add to your own tvr