Bookwild - Steph Lauer @books.in.bagerland Shares Some of Her Favorite Thrillers

Episode Date: March 1, 2024

This week, Steph Lauer aka @books.in.badgerland shares some of her favorite thrillers, and we discuss our favorite parts of the Bookstagram community!Books We Talked AboutThe Mindf*ck SeriesListen for the LieDon’t Forget the GirlChain Gang All StarsAlmost Surely Dead  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 

This week I'm super excited because we have Steph Lauer with us, who is Books in Badgerland on Instagram. So welcome to the show this week. Thank you. Thanks so much for having me. I'm so excited. Yeah. Me too. So we've talked about books a lot on Instagram for like the last year or so.

And we have a lot of personality traits in common. So we also send so much enneagram stuff to each other, which is great because I had never, like, really met another one in my life. So now I have someone to send all of my enneagram memes, too. But we have a lot of books in common. We have personality in common. We're kind of in the same area of the U.S. So we have some Midwest vibes as well. But I thought it would be fun to have you on and talk about.

about you as a reader and things you read and all of that. Well, thank you. Yeah. Yes, I am excited. I am currently reading a book that I'm convinced that the main character is an enneagram one. And it just makes me a little. And I don't know if anyone else would get it. But he's funny.

Like, he's kind of literal. He's by the book with rules. So if anyone else, I would want, you would get it. Oh, my gosh. What is it? It's called the rebate on that galley by Jess Lowry. Okay. Oh, nice.

Yeah, he's a detective, but, like, he's in a restaurant and he looks back in the cook and he's got, like, a huge beard. He's like, is he wearing a face net? Like, why isn't he wearing a face net? Like, it just, it's just fun. Yeah, now I'm excited for that one. I need to go request it, too. Because it's not, I mean, I'm not trying to say we're so rare, but you don't,

always get the unique, like, personalities of one in books all the time. So that'll be fun. Yeah. So to get to know you just a little bit, were you always a reader? Like, did you read as a kid or when did, like, reading so much that you have a bookstagram start for you? Well, I would say, yes, I was a big reader as a kid. My dad and brother were readers. I would say that getting into high school and college where reading was not as fun, honestly. Like you're not picking what you're reading. It's kind of forced upon you. You really unfortunately made me take a step back because I just didn't enjoy it as much.

I didn't have time for fun books. But then I would say probably almost two years ago, I really got back on the train. I think I was trying to scroll less. But then I read, then she was gone by Lisa Jewell. And I just was like, okay, I found my genre. Like, I need to just see what works and stop trying to think of what I should be reading. And it would make me want to be like on my phone less and read more. And then probably about a year ago in November, I started my bookstagram because I thought it would help me stay accountable.

Like if I'm reviewing my books, I'm going to keep reviewing them and chip away on TBR because I just went ham on buying everything that sounded good. And then I just felt really overwhelmed and pressured. Like, what did I just do? I really need to read these. Yeah. And then it's a common occurrence. Yes. I don't know if it's like the personality type thing, but I was like, well, you can't just have all of these and keep buying them.

like you read them and what I just felt like I was over half it really enjoyed shopping for books and half feeling overwhelmed by what I just did to myself but I guess my favorite parts of bookstagram I've found some in real real life book clubs in person book clubs that I've met some really good friends and then I met some online friends which has been really fun to have people that like just as much as I do so I don't feel like I have no one to talk to about it. it. Right. I know that was, I think I may have talked about it before, but that was definitely my favorite part of getting on bookstagram is like, I don't meet people who like necessarily read thrillers. Like there are a lot of people that read like, I don't know, like general fiction, I think,

is kind of what that's called. Or like, not like self-help, but I guess like nonfiction. I mean, people who read that, but I wasn't like running. into people who read thrillers. And I was like, clearly if the markets are there, these people, these readers exist, but like on the internet, it's just so much easier to find people because you're connected to everywhere. Literally. Yes. Yes. You're so right. It was funny because the first book club I joined in person was in Milwaukee. So it's like right by where my mom lives. I was like, I'll go there. No big deal. But I thought maybe I could find a sort of Madison one. And so I reached out to some other members that I saw were in book clubs around the Madison, Wisconsin area.

And I said, I'm thinking of starting this Thriller's Book Club. And a lot of them were like, that's not really my thing, but hope you have fun. And so it's just challenging. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It is just like a different genre. But like, I even try to read.

I try to read outside of it. And it just doesn't always hit for me the way this one is. The pacing, which is something that you and I talk about a lot, actually, too, in books. But I think it's the pacing that, like, because so many thrillers are, like, constantly having things happen. So you're, like, figuring more and more out. And I think I just like the tension of that clearly. But, like, sometimes other books just don't, it doesn't feel like they're, like, things happening. Obviously, it feels that way to other people that love reading it.

But I think I just like having things happening all this. time. Well, yeah, and I've realized as I guess I'll talk about later too when I talk about a few of my but I feel like thrillers can hit a lot of different, satisfy a lot of different needs like they can be really driven. They can be emotional. They can be really fast paced and I don't know, they can be so many things. Yeah. So I think that that's one of my favorite things as I really figure out what my true taste is. Yeah. Do you feel like you're kind of a mood reader? So I used to think I wasn't because I only read thrillers. And then I started to realize like, oh, I am in the mood for certain thrillers at certain times. So do you feel like you do that? Or in your knocking your TBR off, are you just like, I need to knock these off. Well, a little bit of both. I used to make like, these are my X month books.

Yeah. I realize that's not how I want to do it. So I'll notice that if I read like a slower-paced, maybe more serious mystery thriller, that next I'm like, okay, I just need something to like blast through. And so I kind of alternate because I do notice if I'm reading a lot of the like slower-paced stuff in a row, I need a little variety that way. Yeah.

So it's becoming more moody. yes yeah yeah I'm the same way so because sometimes I or like if I just know like if I know that I have a lot to do in the next week or something it's like I know that I'm going to prefer something that is a little bit shorter because it's like probably just getting to the point pretty quickly and then it like matches with my schedule well so sometimes I'm even making decisions just like oh how busy am I yeah yeah yeah or Because it's like hard to think into like a 500 page book if I'm like very busy and you're just like reading like 20 pages a day. And you're like, I feel like nothing has happened. And you're like, I guess it's my fault. And as as time goes on and we get to know more authors, you can kind of you can kind of gauge that of like, oh, I think I need one by this person now. Like for example, when I'm just kind of feeling slumpy, like I know I need a visual book. like that's just kind of it's and I'm like oh that's exactly what I needed perfect so you know I need

go no go ahead oh no I just think I always am trying to figure out like what itch am I trying to scratch right now yeah I want to I want to start doing that with Catherine Ryan Howard is someone who like I haven't read all of hers yet so I need to like add her into that rotation of like what am I feeling like because I always love hers. So I need to get her backlist back in my view or my whatever, my book horizons. That's what I was trying to say. It came out as view. Well, so there was one girl on Bookstagram that then had a podcast.

And I think she's doing like YouTube now, but she for a while was Girl with the Pink Ski Mask. And so I won her things when she would give a book a three or she would call it Honda Civic Reliative. And I just thought that was so well because I'm like there are I mean not that I'm take away the rating out of it but just the name of it. Yeah. There are some authors that I have found to be my like reliable group where yes. You know even if it's not like a five star you know it's going to be good and it's going to be like good enough to feel satisfied.

Yeah. Yeah. It's nice having those. And then like typically there just are enough people that have a backlist. So it's like you can just kind of return to them whenever you end up wanting to. And so mix it up with what's new for the year or two. Yes. So I did ask if you were able to think of a few books, however many.

It didn't have to be any certain number that describe your reading taste. So we can kind of get a picture of that. Do you want to share a couple of those? I'd love to. So the first one, well, we can swear on here, right? Oh, yeah. Okay. The first one that it's, the title is the mind fuck series, but it has like an asterisk in the.

Oh, okay. I don't know. It's a title. So this is actually five books in one. And if you get it on Google, I think it's like they're each may be a hundred. 50 to 200 pages, probably like it, actually. But I love it because my taste is very much female rage and revenge like you. And this is one of my favorite revenge stories.

It is also, I think, considered a dark romance. However, I would say as a person that's read a few romances, it's got like the fun stuff. It's a little spicy, but it's not annoying. Like it doesn't have to break up. It's just, yeah. So there's a girl who something really bad happened to her when she was younger and she works with a friend to try and seek revenge. She ends up falling for an FBI agent, which is a conflict.

But it's very fun and the revenge is really cool. And if anybody is listening that has any comps to this, I would love to hear. hear it because I have not found anything like before. Oh my gosh. I know. I had not heard about it until you posted about it recently. And I was like, I mean, revenge works for me. Yeah. Like the last book is I think called like Paint It Red or something. So it's just because it's there. And I think the funniest thing about it. So it's ST Abby is the author Stabby. I think that was like kind of funny. But unfortunately, so they're not going to have any more books, which, sucks. Yeah. Oh my gosh. That's terrible. You know, but I think the funniest thing about it is when I

read this, like if you can see the font, it looks like it in like Word night or like Windows 95. Yes. Oh my God. That totally is. Yes. And so I think that that kind of like stands on its own. Most people have recommended to also really love it. I don't think that you need to be like a romance fan to love it. To me, it's a with a side of romance, whereas some dark romance fans would maybe call it like a romance with a side of revenge. So I think it can do a few different genres. Yeah. You would like hurt for me. Not that you, or did you read that? I don't think I don't think you did. Um, you just had that on that might. What? Did you just have that author on? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We had her on a few weeks ago. that might be a close comp.

Like there is kind of some, it's not as much revenge. It's kind of there. But I feel like it would be somewhat, somewhat similar vibes. There is revenge though. Yes. I don't need to write that down. I think I have it on my list that I type up. I stopped like immediately buying everything you and gear talked about and started making

the list. I get it. I think it's because I don't, because like I don't read physical. books. I think that's what like, like, I just make the decision, like, when I'm about to read the next one, because it's just like, then you just click it and it shows up. I think that's why I haven't got, like, I don't have like a bought TBR, basically, or like I don't have a TBR that's like, oh, I've spent the money on this. I need to read it. Yeah. So I totally get it, but it might be kind of a cop. I love to hear it. I did read a lot of people. I have a few. I have a few.

We'll say Butcher in Blackbird, which just came out. And that was like good in its own way. It was incredible on audio. Very spicy. Oh, really? Oh, yeah. That's another thing. You listen to a lot of audiobooks is another part of your reading habits.

Yeah. But you have like, for anyone who is like wanting like audio book reviews, you do like talk about. Like when you really like the production of it as well with your review. yeah if i am not into the sample like it will not happen oh that's so smart i forgot that there are samples because that's like sometimes like i normally can listen to nonfiction but then like sometimes someone's voice will ruin it for me like i'm just like i can't even focus because of the voice not that it's their fault it's just like doesn't work for me but i never thought of looking for samples so now I'm going to do that in the future.

Well, I think it's interesting, too, to go from word of mouth as well, because sometimes I'll sit there and I'll listen to the sample, and I'm like, eh, I don't know, I'll leave it in my wish list. Maybe someday I'll pick it up. But if a friend of mine will say it was, then I'm like, okay, I must get, you know, you kind of get used to it as you go on. Yeah. Yes, I do, I'm picky about it, but I do it.

So, I'm speaking of, segue, Speaking of what is, what I've heard is really good on audio, I did not listen to it, is a book that's coming out soon that I know you and I both enjoyed called Listen for the Live. And I would say that this describes my reading taste because it's really fast-paced. It has a podcast element and the main character is just like really sassy and sarcastic that I know we both loved. One has a really short synopsis. it says, what if you thought you murdered your best friend? And if everyone else thought so too. And what if the truth doesn't matter?

That's such a good, like, short version of it. Yes. And I will say I have read a few, like amnesia based books. And I've kind of been able to take it or leave it. But I thought that this was a really great, really great characters, really fast-paced. I have also learned that. I am a sucker for like a really strong female friendship and that was a good well. Yeah, me too.

I think it comes out the first week of March. I think March. I think so. So I highly recommend that. Yep. It is so fun. She's definitely one of my favorite characters. Yes.

So such a memorable character. I also heard that on audio, it's going to be January. January Levoy, who is a really fantastic narrator, if anyone listened to The Change by Kirsten Miller. It's the same person. And I guess, I'm guessing it's the podcaster is her husband in real life. So I think that real that you shared was so cool. I was like, that is so awesome. I know. I was like, when people make it's like more special, I don't know. That's fun. No, I feel the same way because sometimes I know that I end up liking a book more because I like heard the author talk about it before I read it.

So sometimes they're just like extra stuff that makes you like it even more just because you have like context. Yes, I 100% agree. There's books that I've read that the authors have even been on Killing the T. Like I think May Cobbles on, right? And I decided to read a lot of. likable woman right after and I think it enhanced my experience a lot. Yeah. Yeah, I feel that way. That's cool. Her, have you seen the cover for her next one, the Hollywood assistant? Yes, I'm excited.

That cover is so cool. And she's a short chapter queen. I will say one of the listen for the lie and makeup books are if I see really long chapters, I'm like, I don't know. I know. Yes. And honestly, that's one of the, for me, if it has really long chapters, that might be like, this is probably an audio option. Yeah. Yes. I probably would make it easier. Layla, no. My animals are just, you know, how it is on this show. It's okay. But always looking for the sunshine spot.

Oh, yeah. What was I going to say? What were you just saying? Oh, just saying. Oh, Helen Hendricks. She is the other one who has such short chapters, and I'm about to read. Hers is like really close in my,

basically on my what I'm reading next, a lovely lie that comes out in May. So I'm about to read hers. And hers are always so short, and they all like kind of have like cliffhangers at the end. Or like, there's always like some reveal where you're like, okay, got to get to the next page.

Yes, I have that pre-ordered and I'm very excited. I've seen reviews that it's a lot of people's favorite one yet, and I am really looking really good. That is awesome. I hadn't seen that yet, but I love the concept. And the concept could be kind of revengey, too. So we'll see. And the cover is hot pink, which we both.

And the cover is pinks and purple, so I'm told. I was dropping Tyler off at the airport a couple days ago, and there was this, like, cute little lady in, like, her 70s wearing a completely purple outfit with her pink luggage. And I was like, oh, my gosh, that's going to be me. Oh, my gosh. It was so cute. Oh, that's amazing. I know. She was adorable. I love that so much. I hope I'm cool. One of my own. Yes. I know. No. I mean, I'll be like comfortable, cool. Yes. Yes. Oh, my gosh. Well, my last one, well, oh, I have a few that I might talk about. But the one that I just finished and just gave five stars is called Don't Forget the Girl.

And it's got a really cool cornfield on the cover. It takes place in Iowa. But this synopsis is 12 years ago, 18-year-old University of Iowa freshman Abby Hartman disappeared. Now, John Allen Blue, the serial killer suspected of her murder, is about to be executed. Abby's best friends, Bree and Chelsea, watches Abby's memory is unearthed and overshadowed by Blue and his flashier crimes. The Friends, estranged in the wake of Abby's disappearance and suffering from years of unvoiced resentments, must reunite when a high-profile podcast dedicates its next season to Blue's murders. Tense and introspective, don't forget the girl is an astonishing debut thriller that minds the complexities of friendship. and the secrets between us that may take us to the,

we may take to the grave. That is not so good. I can't believe I haven't read it yet. I forgot when it came out. I think within the last year, it's a debut. Yeah. Yeah, it's a debut. And I will say it was a little on the slower-paced.

I mean, medium to slower-paced. It did also have a podcast like so many books do now. Yeah. Oh, man, it had some sharp commentary to it. like and I don't know that so much. I think that you would choose. Some of the mixed media, like there would be parts of a podcast or an article from somewhere kind of put in the middle or like Reddit thread. And just the commentary of how true crime is thought of and how this girl Abby, one of the main characters, like how she, they don't really know.

what happened to her, but it gets overtaken by all these different things and her two friends are kind of trying to figure out how they feel about that, trying to do her justice. So once again, really strong female friendships, but also just some interesting things. And one of them is, it has like a little bit of, one of the friends becomes a priest. And so it has not a lot, but like a little bit of like how religion can fit into it and what that means everybody. And I that always interests me. So I think there's a lot of cool aspects to it. Yeah, it sounds like there's a lot of character development going on.

Yes. Yes. Which is always so great. Yes. I know. Me too. I never thought I would. Like, to me, I used to think, like, character-driven stories meant slow.

I think I did too. And then I'm, I don't know if I'm getting older or what, but I'm like, wow, this is actually, like, the quality of it. when you get a good one. Yeah. Incredible. It's more memorable. And I feel like for me, it tends to feel more real, which could just be because, like, if they're thinking about character development, they're really creating a character. So, like, that could be why it just feels more real, because it's like, you can tell

they've, like, spent time creating the whole person. Yes. And also, I think it helps readers give the characters more. grace because I think about when people talk about unlikable characters and I think that some of the decisions that these women make could be considered unlikable but since we're so in their head you're like would I do the same thing like well this is my friend I would forgive my friend you know what I mean like you get just more nuance I guess in it yeah there was we saw American fiction which is a movie

here recently. But it's about an author. So there's like all kinds of conversations about like the publishing industry and just like writing as a career and an art form. And someone was like talking about how authors have to be empathetic and kind of like sensitive because the good authors write characters that make mistakes, but they still love the character, basically. So like talking about you're you're so empathetic that you're able to write a character that has flaws, but like there's like also a reason that you like them or you still you still care about them. And so that comes across. I feel like that matches up with what you just said.

Even in the theaters when we heard that line, Tyler and are like, damn. That's a good word. That's a great way to explain it. Tab that. Yes. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yes.

I mean, and I think that's one of the coolest things about reading. like as I've been doing it more, I kind of reflect on it more. And there's these moments when you read quotes like that or when you read characters like this that I think can translate into how you treat other people in real life. Like what I do in that situation? Like you look at things from other lenses and I think that's such a these days, just such a important skill. And I think it's like a muscle that we worked and practice.

So it's really interesting. Yeah, you can't. You do get to experience, like, other ways of thinking, which is, like, so fascinating because you're in a character's mind or multiple for a whole book. And so, which is, like, then the bigger conversation, which is also an American fiction is then, like, why representation matters, like, representing, like, a wide variety of experiences matters, because then even just with, like, reading, it brings you. you like closer to a perspective that you may never live. Same thing with watching show or movies. Like it matters everywhere. But yeah, it is cool how you can have a range of experiences. Yes. That's really interesting that you brought that up because one of the books I was like waffling on um, like I'm talking about because so this was a book that was kind of big last year was changing all-stars

and I'll be honest I wasn't sure if I would like it because it's set near future it's really action-packed but I was like you know what I think I'm going to give it a try

and all right bear with me it's a longer synops Yeah. Loretta Thurwar and Hamara Hurricane Stacker are the stars of the chain gang all-stars, the cornerstone of Cape or criminal action penal entertainment. A highly popular, highly controversial profit-raising program in America's increasingly dominant private prison industry. It's the return of the gladiators and the prisoners are competing for the ultimate prize, their freedom. So side note, a lot of people said this is.

similar to hunger games in their mind. Right. Like that. And I know that you just recently were... I don't believe I didn't hear about this. Like, this sounds so good. I didn't even hear about it. Yeah.

So that's kind of the basis. And it was interesting reading this book because as I would get a couple chapters in, I would almost get tired. And at first, I thought to myself, am I not liking this? But then I realized there was so much. packed in to each chapter that I needed to like take a step back and just absorb it. Right. Because it has a lot of commentary.

There's even like footnotes which some people don't like, but I thought it was cool. Yeah. And like I was crying at the end. Like you know what I mean? And I just thought. Yeah. Her games made me cry. Yeah.

And so it's the one thing and another thing that was a little hard. was there's a few different like multiple characters and storylines that you might get only every five chapters or so so you kind of get back like oh who was that what what was going on in their world but if you just kind of take it for what it is and keep going like the points there right and yeah i feel like handmade tale is like that uh as a tv show like sometimes you go into like someone's story and you're like, do I remember everything I need to remember, but then like, it makes sense once you just like watch it or read it in this case. Yes. And I think it relates to what you were just saying about being in other people's experiences. And yeah, because I, I guess that one of the

reasons I picked it is because I really do, I guess when I'm in the mood, like to challenge my way of thinking. Yep. How do I behave? What are my knee-jerk reactions to things? I have more compassionate empathy with that. So it's just a really, like that book hit a lot of points. And it's like action-packed.

Yeah. Yeah, this sounds, there's, well, there are a couple things. There's a Black Mirror episode about basically like, some type of like battling your way out to like either like relieve debts that were like unfairly yours or something related to being in prison um so that's like always fascinating as a concept and then you tend there tends to be i'm sure since this is like basically the private prison industry is mentioned in the synopsis i'm sure there's all kinds of like uh like insight on the strangeness of the fact that we have privatized prisons and all of that.

So I'm sure there's a lot to think about with it. And I love the Hunger Games. Yes. Well, I think the thing about the Hunger Games is, or the piece that might be similar in that especially is the fandom of people that are fighting, like battling to the death, like Gladiator, like, yeah, computer games,

I've only watched it, like one, what the first movie of that, but the fact that they have these super fans, and there's like one storyline where this wife is kind of trying to get into it because her husband's really into it and she binges, like shows. And it's,

it's like kind of gross, but like we think about that. We have justified people, athletes, whatever. So it's fascinating. And we just build them, yeah,

even when it's not stakes like that. we love to like build people up just to like tear them down like just get the high off of it i mean i watch reality tv so i'm guilty of it i'm just as guilty but that's kind of the fun of it yeah and the confusing part of it yes and i will say that there are some people who like sign up for it but then there are some like in other situations where they like stumble into it or it's like their best option potentially. Yeah. Yeah. It's heavy, but it's,

it's fascinating. Yeah. I knew when I looked on it, I would remember it fondly. Yeah. Those are always good ones. And that was how I thought when I just was like, you know what? I am going to read the Hunger Games trilogy

back in December. I was like, I think I have enough time to do it. And then it was like one of my favorite reading experience. So sometimes you've got to go for it. Isn't it exciting when you can get pleasantly surprised by it? I mean, it can go away, but that's the best. Yeah.

Yeah. Sometimes it doesn't, but when you do get a window like that, it's so fun. Yes. So yeah. The last book that I had was one that you've talked about, but I thought it was really great, was almost surely dead by Amina Ocktar. I don't know if I said that exactly correctly. You did.

Oh, perfect. So I know that you've talked about it, and I know she's been on your other podcast. I think it has some reasons I like it are similar to listen for the lie, like very fast-paced chapters podcast element. But the reason that I put it on this list today was because sometimes I do really enjoy like paranormal light. Yes, that's a good way to put it. Yeah. Like it's not a horror necessarily. but and I also like to learn about a different cultures, I guess you could say lore with like the gins and what that means and there's so many different kinds and how it affects the main character.

So I think that I've noticed lately that I really do enjoy that. Even though I'm not a horror person, I kind of like it on a light scale. Yep. So. Yeah, I'm with you. I was trying to think if I've read another one recently that was like, maybe not maybe it just was that one almost really did well it was fantastic I love it oh yeah I mean I almost did put um a step past darkness because that is kind of

yeah too um it is interesting though I think with that one you weren't really sure but I kind of like to know ahead of time if it's for sure component of the book yeah whether it is or not so you can kind of prepare yourself for like what minds that you're going to be in. Yeah. Yeah, because every now and then when it's just like a part of a big twist at the end in like the last 8%, and sometimes if I didn't know, it feels like, oh, this was just like a way to like break the rules of like time and space for the sake of like, oh, there's actually none of these people that you thought it was. It's a ghost. So that's always strange when it's like just in the last like 5%, 10%, whatever.

I get that way with kind of like some really obscure, like, conditions that people all of a sudden have to. Like, it's like some sickness that like 0.003% of anyone could ever get. I know if that happens, but every once in a while I'm like, oh, okay. Right. This is a solution, I guess. Not what I thought was going to happen here, but I guess it explains all the weird twists or weird twists or,

weird one-off situations that happened. Yeah. Oh my gosh. I was reading one. I won't say what it was here recently. Where like I was afraid that that was about to happen or like that it was just going to be like a ghost basically explained a lot of stuff. But instead it was way scarier, at least some more satisfying, but it was way scarier. and it was that someone was in the literal walls of the house. Like there were like secret passageways. And so it was like someone was in the house with her the whole time. And I was like, that is more terrifying, but at least it wasn't ghosts.

And then like Tyler was gone and I was like, every sound I hear tonight, I'm going to think someone's in the house with me. Perfect. Perfect time. Yes. And it's like wasn't expected from the book. I like kind of chose it because I was like, oh, this one doesn't sound like it's like. it's like a scary thriller and it was like in the last 20 percent you're like oh my god it's only like the scariest kind there could possibly be because maybe there's some type of yeah slight hole in my

siding or something or someone could come in right yeah no oh my gosh yeah especially now that like every now and then that happens yeah when we become homeowners it's like oh god like when i lived in an apartment they had like three entrances and every single one required a key Yeah, that's true. That's a good point. Have you read, did you read Night Watching? I can't remember if I've seen you post about it or not. No, but I've heard,

I've heard a lot, especially from my friends that have kids, that it's just like so creepy. Unsettling. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, because Audrey Chapters and Converses on Instagram, she posted about it and, like, tagged us in it because Gare mentioned it on the podcast. And she was saying how much she loved it last week.

And so then I was like, ooh, I need to bump this one up. And she was like, don't read it alone. And Tyler's gone all week. So I chose not to read that one because everyone talks about how terrifying it is. And I'm like, I need to be able to still sleep a little bit this week. Yeah. But I want to read it because everyone's like raving about it. Yeah.

Yeah. And the few critiques I've heard, I think it's just taste. I mean, I don't think it's. Yeah, it's nothing really about like the book itself. It's just like, it wasn't for me, but it wasn't, you know. Yeah. So I think that it is like something like. The flashback structure is like the only thing I've heard.

And I'm like, I typically do. So. Yeah. I'm like, oh, well, I love multiple timelines. I'm like, that's like a selling point for me. Yeah. Yeah. Sometimes when I see critiques.

of that stuff. I'm like, well, it sounds perfect for me. So sorry that didn't know. I used to, I used to talk about that how sometimes like when you're looking through reviews, even like a negative review can tell you that you're going to like it based on like what the negative part is. Or you're like, oh, you didn't like it because of that reason. That's my favorite thing in books. And so then you're like, it doesn't matter that they have bad reviews. Sometimes you just like know that you're going to like it anyway. Well, on that note, it's interesting. Because when I was writing my review for Don't Forget the Girl, I happened to look when I was putting my review on Goodreads of what some of the critiques were. And people were like, well, I don't really think it's a thriller.

It was not very fast-paced or twisty. And so I made sure to just address that. I'm like, this is more like notes on an execution, bright young women. Like it's not a flash-paced twisty reveal. Right. It's its own, like it's different. And so I think sometimes setting people's expectations helps. Yes. Yeah, I agree.

Because I'm like, if I recommended that to someone and then they said they were upset because it wasn't that, I was like, oh, I'd be so sad. I know. I know. I try to share like as much information as I can come up with or like, it reminds me of this and this. I know. Yeah. I was doing that on my recent one because the recent one I read, it reads like kind of, kind of. of just like a mystery for the first like 50%, but like a good one, but it's not like

thriller pacing. And then it's like a thriller for the last like 40%, which my math doesn't add up there. But it is one. I was like, so if you're like looking for this, you're going to expect this for the first part. But then it did totally change and was like so fast paced all the way to the end. So some of those are like it wasn't quite a slow burn. But it was like worth it to just get all of the like complex relationships set up. Yes. And then it made the like back half really fast. Yes.

Sometimes I can't help it. I have to say everything about the book. Yes. Well, and then I have a friend in one of my book clubs who like, if someone says a book is slow, she's like, I'm putting it on my TVR. I'm probably going to love it. Like she just knows it. That's awesome.

And I just think it's so funny because people will be like, oh my God, it dragged. She's like, sounds great. I'm into it. Yes. Oh my gosh. My sister-in-law reads. like sad. She's kind of like that with like sad and like World War II or one. I don't know. She reads a lot of like war period pieces. And then sometimes though, she's like, I think I'm depressed

because I keep reading these sad books. And I'm like, yeah, I mean, that could happen. Yeah. Sorry. Yeah. Yeah, I agree. I used to really love reading World War II books. and I and just like some topics that I used to you like they had like Y a versions of whatever and I'm like am I okay because I just these these uh settings where and subject matters where it's like are you sad but I don't know sometimes they're still so good they're just emotional maybe that's what you're trying to yeah but yeah I just can't get into historical fiction so sometimes sometimes because I wish I did, but I also have plenty to read, so I don't need to be too worried about it. One of my book clubs that I'm running is a thriller-based book club, but a lot of the people in it don't read a lot of thrillers, and they do read a lot of historical fiction, so I've tried to, like, find a few years to combine it, and it was so hard. So if anyone has any good suggestions, please feel free to DM me because it is yeah it's tough I just saw well this doesn't come out until

June but there's an author they're a team Ellery Lloyd so I read what did I read if there's last the club there was like kind of a like kind of like a competition reality TV show vibe for that one that came out looks like 2022 yeah but they just announced one called the final act of Juliette Willoughby. And so it is a historical fiction mystery about it looks like it takes place in 1938 and in 1991. Story of love and madness of obsession and revenge. Oh, hell yeah. Okay. So maybe that, I mean, it's not out until June, but I literally just saw that and I was debating if I was going to request it or not. Oh, really? Yeah. It's Yeah.

Our next one is the Frozen River, which has gotten a ton of good reviews. It's mostly historical fiction, but someone said at the end, like the revenge and like the female empowerment is like pretty sweet. So we'll take it. It's a little longer. I think it has some, it's about like a midwife from a meeting and a long, long time ago. I think like 1700s maybe. Yeah, so 1789. Yeah.

I think it's like mystery more than thriller. However, I've heard that it's got some parts that revenge lovers will appreciate. So I was like, let's do it. Nice. Yeah. Yeah. I've definitely seen that cover on book talk a few times. Like I recognized the cover when I looked it up.

Yeah. So it would be interesting. I got like a few years ago, I got really into, what is that, Outlander? but the TV show, not the books. And that I got very hooked, but I think that's, that might be the 1700s. I think it's the only time I've gone into, I can't remember what time period that's in. I guess I could literally Google it like everything else I've been doing. Yeah, it's, I mean, at the end, there's been, 1743.

1743. Yeah. Allander's kind of like a romance, uh, adventure, maybe sometimes you could say thriller series. I got into the TV show, but there are books too. Oh. Yeah, I'm kind of just bookmarking everything that could kind of fit that. But now it's kind of crazy, like what some things are being considered for historical fiction are like, feel really recent to me.

Some like 80s. I know, like, yeah, that's where Gere and I saw one that it was like in 1980s. we were like, what? Yeah. Historical fiction. And then there's times where people say, well, does historical fiction, does it count as historical fiction if it just takes place at that point in time or if they really talk about like what's going on in the world at that point in time?

I was like, I don't have the energy to decide that. Like, I just. Yeah, that's really granular. Yes. So, I mean, I guess. that was my genre of choice it would maybe make more sense but it's probably like how they are people with thrillers are like well I can't believe that was marketed as a thriller and I somehow remove myself from that conversation because I know I don't know yeah people are getting

kind of dramatic and I just like then just post it what the books you like that's how I feel like I sometimes like I benefit from seeing other people's negative reviews but like I just can't bring myself to share my negative reviews. I'm just going to share the books that I like. It's also so subjective. That's why I don't want to like go hard on like a book I didn't like. Like some people might love it. Right. Totally. I agree. I think like lately I've made, I've made the decision, I think probably in 2024 and I didn't really mean to, but I used to put reviews up of everything and now I'm just doing like fours and fives because personal choice that I just want to to share ones I really like. But I do agree that there are benefits to seeing what people,

like the reason they gave, they say what they said. So I mean, I don't know. I don't mean to like get into the weeds about it. But I'd rather hear like, like, productive. Like, if you like this, you maybe would like it. Yes. Yes. Because you can typically tell, even if it's something you don't like, you're like, yeah, but if you like this, you probably will. You can get to that point. Yes, I've noticed, too, like with my own reading, that I'm kind of burnt out on certain, like, types of serial killer tropes. Yeah. But if people are into it, I'm like, this would be really great for you. I'm just kind of like, I need to.

I know. It doesn't always do it. Serial killers just don't always, don't always do it for me. Sometimes there's not enough other stuff happening or, I don't know. It's not like the main draw drawer for me anymore either. Yeah. I can't remember the last, well, actually, I can, but I didn't really love it. So I'm not going to talk about it.

I think both of it is, is if it's included with a book that has a lot of other qualities. Like, oh, it was character-driven and I really enjoyed X, Y, Z about it. Like, I don't even think of it as that's the trope, but someone. Right. I agree. Yeah. So anyway, it's interesting to really refine what your tastes are as you read more and also like they can be fluid too. So I think that's really an interesting thing about reading.

I agree. Because it's like, yeah, you just do like find different things every year because there was a the real deal that I read here recently was like just marketed as contemporary fiction. It was like mainly it, but I ended up enjoying it so much, and it still, like, felt like thriller paced to me. Even though it was not a thriller, you were like in the past and the present, you're trying to figure out, like, what happened in the past that made the present the way that it is. So even just that setup, I think always works for me, but like, I didn't think I would ever randomly read contemporary fiction.

Right. Yeah. But I did. And then you're like, ooh. And then you're like, oh. And then you're like chasing the hive. Like, is there something else out there that I'm missing? I know.

I know. So many books, so little time.