Bookwild - Terrifying Books to Read

Episode Date: November 24, 2022

We are back this week to talk about books that scared the shit out of us.Follow us on Instagram:Garehttps://www.instagram.com/gareindeedreads/Katehttps://www.instagram.com/thegirlwiththebookonthecouch/ Get Bookwild MerchCheck Out My Stories Are My Religion SubstackCheck Out Author Social Media PackagesCheck out the Bookwild Community on PatreonCheck out the Imposter Hour Podcast with Liz and GregFollow @imbookwild on InstagramOther Co-hosts On Instagram:Gare Billings @gareindeedreadsSteph Lauer @books.in.badgerlandHalley Sutton @halleysutton25Brian Watson @readingwithbrian 

Hey guys, welcome to the Killing the Tea podcast. This is Gare and Kate. And we are going to be discussing all things, chills, thrills, and kills. Kate and I are going to be talking about our favorite books, TV shows and movies that are in the thriller or crime fiction genre, as well as some reading habits and other items related to how we met on Bookstagram that will fit in with this podcast. So, Thank you so much for joining us, and we hope that you have fun and get totally terrified. Have there been any books that have totally terrified you, made it hard for you to sleep at night, anything that's really like, whether it's like, oh, this book scared the hell out of me because of X, Y, and Z, or are there any books that, gave you that Ursulina vibe where it was like hard to sleep at night because it was hard for me to sleep at night when I was reading the Ursulina because oh really well I think that if you like if you if you grew up in this area like where I live if you were from this town and they said it was

you know yeah this town in New York in this book it would have been believable right I do live in the middle of nowhere in Indiana. But I'm also, that's intriguing to me because we found like one one little difference finally only took us seven episodes because I was like, why were people saying this was scaring them so much? Because it didn't scare me that much. I just loved it. Like it has a lot of violence in it, but it didn't scare me long term, but I loved the books. That's kind of we found one difference. But I don't live in the woods. Yeah, I don't. Yeah. I don't. Yeah. I have like cornfields across the road from my house. And then I have like a fence and a field and woods behind my house.

Okay. So yeah, you have like that behind you. Yeah. Yeah. And but I also like there's just something scary about the fact that there's so much wooded area around where I live. And with something like this, like it was the same thing that I felt when I watched the Blair Witch Project. Yes. Like I was like, no, not doing it, not doing it. But, but I loved it. But there were times where it creep me out. The thing that I found very interesting is the contrast between a lot of people said, don't read the last 10% at night. Or they mentioned the last 10% a lot. And the contrast between what I realized the last 10% was about. And what I realized the last 10% was about. And what I. was expecting was very different.

I agree. I completely agree. We talked about how we thought it would end and we weren't even close. No, no. What I was expecting was your Hollywood last 10% of a movie, I guess. Face off.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Or like chasing and trying to capture the person you finally know is the problem. Yeah. And it was just a lot different. It was so much different. Scary and it was really heavy.

but it was just like a lot different. But I also like like that it wasn't that like cookie cutter plot where it's like, okay, here's the, here's the lone deputy. He was going to chase the bad guy in the woods with her gun all by herself with no self-problem. She can't. She can't let it go. She cannot let it go. She cannot let it go.

There's only other. There's only other. Oh. I'm frozen in a really nice smile. Okay. I'm going to take a picture of this just because it's funny. Why am I smiling like that? Oh my God. That's hilarious. Okay, let's see. There we go. I'm moving now. I love that. That was a very Cheshire cat smile that you had. I didn't know. I had it in me. Oh, you had nightmares?

You're right. I have to say, you this. I have. have to send you the screenshot of I like asked an author if there was going to be another book in a series. I'm like, I even knew the answer that there was. But I asked her at the end of the podcast and my smile after it is like like spill the tea, girl. Yeah, like, tell me everything. Oh my gosh. That's so funny. It's funny when you edit yourself, you get to see all the little things you do. Oh my God. I know. I bet. You're so good at it, though. So jealous. So yeah.

I'm very curious about by other books. I'm very curious on what frightens you. I have like, I have a list. I'll say like jar of hearts was one that kept me up at night is what's interesting. Kept you up at night because you were afraid.

Out of like, yeah, kind of freaked out by the way the like violence was talked about. I can see that. I'm not, well, I can't remember if that's in the synopsis, but like the way the people were killed was like, yeah, yeah. Yeah. I can see that. I'm going to bounce off your idea then because I have one. So I have like notes. I have like reasons as to why these are some of the ones that just completely scared me. one of them is one that I was not expecting to frighten me because of the fact that I like knew what it was about but it's called Find Her by Lisa Gardner and it's part of the D.D. Warren series but like I started the series

with this book and went on but it's about a woman who they think is a vigilante because she keeps being found around crime scenes where like men are killed who are like bad guys. And then the book goes back and forth with like this police officer, D.D. Warren or detective. And her like being like, okay, is this girl guilty or not? But also realizing that the woman who they suspect is the vigilante, her backstory is her being abducted by a trucker when she was on spring break. in college and being physically and psychologically and sexually abused by this man for over 400 days. Oh, my God.

He had her for 400 days. Like the, I don't even know if this is a spoiler. If this is just something I feel. I mean, I don't think it's a spoiler. So like, we don't have to. It's in the first sentence of the description. Yeah. But like that thing, it just psychologically made me really scared and upset because,

being abducted is one of my biggest fears, but also you have that feeling of, you also think of it from your family and your friends and your loved ones aspect as well, where if somebody's gone for 400 days at that point, you're just waiting to find their body. Yeah, you've accepted most likely. You've accepted that they're dead. Yeah. And while it's miraculous for somebody to survive being taken by somebody of that character for 400 days, you don't, you're, you're not found safe and he's like taken away to jail or killed or

whatever and you just like go back to your normal life. You know, like you are forever changed. And it's almost that like, do you wish that he would have killed you sooner or are you happy that you're still alive? Yeah. Because let's be honest. Go ahead. My last point about this book as to why it's terrifying to me too. There are certain tropes that I wish were more present in thrillers because I feel like at this point they are stereotypes that aren't talked about enough. And if they were done effectively, would be really scary because when you think of a serial killer, you don't expect people like Ted Bundy who are like charming and good looking and

stuff like that. And that's what authors do a lot in their books now. Yeah. The stereotypes for a serial killer would be the deranged trucker. the creepy custodian guy at a high school, some of these other stereotypes, but because they're writing crime fiction and they want to have

some sort of twist where it's somebody that you least expect and things like that, they don't really explore that enough, which is why also this book stuck with me so much because she took a stereotype and still made it something that's like a binge-worthy book. But that book just kept me up that night

because I was like, I don't know what I would do in that woman's situation. If somebody had me. And he's a trucker. So they're going. They're not, he's not keeping her in his basement in one house and one location. Right.

Right. You know. No one's going to, and no one's noticing anything. No one's noticing a thing. Terrifying. Terrifying. That is terrifying.

That reminds me of, now I'll do a TV recommendation based off of that. There's a show on Amazon called Absent. and it the gist of it is I think she's a police officer she's some type of law enforcement who's trying to track down a serial killer and he captures her and keeps her in captivity similarly I think it's more than a year um and like then she manages to escape one time and get back to like you know, where everyone used to be looking for her. And now her husband has like already moved on with another woman and her kid who was like three when she left barely remembers her.

And he remembers this other woman as more of his mom. Oh my God. It is heartbreaking. Like it was hard for me to watch, but it's really good too. But it was so sad to think about exactly what you said. Like if you came back and you like could kind of. of understand that people moved on, but you're still like really sad that they did. What would you do? And that's like the premise of the show. And then she's still trying to catch that guy.

There's one, there's one book that I read that sounds similar to that. It's Minka Kent unmissing. Yeah. Yes. Yes. Where the wife has gone for like 10 years and she comes back and like, the husband's new wife answers the door. It's really good. Um, but yeah, there's something. there's something very psychologically chilling about books like that, which is why they like kind of keep me up at night or like scare me so much because it's kind of like, I think we discussed this like a couple of weeks ago where you always wonder what somebody's like after the crime, like at the end of a horror movie when it's like the final girl and it's like how fucked up is her life after this happened. And that's a book that kind of explores it. There's one book I

read, I won't say what it is because I don't want this to like be a spoiler if people are sensitive about that. But there's one book I read about a woman who survives, um, an abduction. And she's like so terrified that the only place that she can really fall asleep is like in her closet because it's such a confined space that she feels like she's super. Um, so like stuff like that just completely like terrifies me. because it's not just you, like, physically surviving. It's like you're almost a different person when you come out of that experience. You are.

You really, yeah. And I'm a baby. Like, I am a big freaking baby. If I was kidnapped for an hour, I would be a different person for the rest of my life because I'd be like, I don't know. I'd also probably annoy the shit out of them enough that I would be dead within that hour. But if I did survive that one hour of being kidnapped, I would be like, a completely different person. So I would just be like, can you put your phone on airplane mode and let me read?

I'll be totally quiet over here. Yeah, I'd be like, can you turn the air conditioner on? Do we have any snacks? This water is not cold enough. Yeah. I don't have any pajamas. I'm not comfortable. I can't sleep in jeans.

I could not. It would take so long. I can't like live in jeans in general. Oh my God. I wear jeans like on Thursday nights when I go to my hotspot coaches for dinner with my friends. And that's when I wear my jeans. Like even when I grocery shop, I wear like black joggers because they're just like so comfortable. But I'm like, I'm grocery shopping.

Like, who gives a shit? Right. Yeah. My friends would. I think my friends would like intervene. if I was like wearing like basically like sweatpants. So like dinner. They're all coming.

They're all coming from like work where they actually have to like leave their house. And I can't even like put on jeans just to go to dinner for a couple of hours. They'd be like, oh, okay. Oh my gosh. You get rock bottom in your laziness. All my problems when I go to leave. I'm like, but guys, I live in my home and work in my home and I'm comfortable all day. But women can get away with like leggings.

Like if I were a woman, that's like all I live in. Like I wouldn't have jeans. But no. I mean, I guess I. I'm lucky that men's jeans of like the stretchy, like almost like jegging material now because. Yeah. I mean, it's not that bad. Rigid jeans.

Mm-mm. Not a vibe. I need to be able to like cross my leg. I don't stretch. Yes. And they're just like feel like you're wearing burlap. Oh, yeah. Ugh.

Don't get me. I got it. Okay. Or you can't. I'm like, just let, just what. Yeah. What scares you? Jeans and then this one bug.

I think jeans might be scared. What keeps you up later than I thought of jeans not having any stretch material in them? Oh, my God. Yeah. Yeah. Liking to life. Yeah. Anything comfy and stretchy.

Mm-hmm. Oh, life. So I have one. that definitely scared the shit out of me with the ending. And it is her every fear by Peter Swanson. Fuck. That almost made my list.

I thought I was gonna, like there was so much build up. I was like, oh God, is it what he thinks it is? No, I had a geek out. I had a geek out moment with my facial expression because I've been thinking all day, like, if we're going to have any of that are like. I have been too. Similar or the same. one. But yes, her every fear, so good. And I can see that. It scared me. Yeah. It was freaky. Yeah. It's scary. It's like it's the kind of revelation where then you look back on a lot of things that happen in the book and all of a sudden, everything is scary here. I have flashbacks of the imagery in

that book during creepy and frightening scenes. And that definitely would have been. I was thinking about I was thinking about it. And the main character's name is Kate. So there's that. That was so good. That was a really good choice. I could reread that one because I has been a long time since I read that one. I'd like to reread that one.

My review starts with all caps. I love Peter Swanson. That's what the review starts that I wrote. So good. So good. You know, I did a thing where I'm looking for recommendations for what want to see for like my posters that I do on Friday. And somebody was like the kind worth killing. And I was like, okay. And then I was like, oh my God. Like I was like, I haven't done one of those yet.

So I thought you did like for like. I thought I did too. But I guess I didn't. I guess I did not. And I'm really. Wow. I'm glad that somebody was like, oh, do the kind worth killing. But I'm also like, Garrett, you are a huge disappointment. Which brings me to, which brings me to go on. The first one that I ever made for one of my favorite books in the entire world, The Sundown Motel. Yes. Yes.

That book. I heard about it. Wait, are you joking? I'm not joking. I think I might have to do like. I think because it was so, because her stuff's supernatural. I didn't lean into that as much until recently.

Okay. But I don't like supernatural. Okay. And it's so, I'm making you a list. I'm not even joking. Like, I'm like, it's supernatural,

but there's also like actual real crime elements to them because the supernatural is done in like a very small, very believable sort of way. Oh, nice. Okay. So you have, I'm making you your Halloween list. I have three books on it. Two are Simone St. James. And then you have to read the chestnut man. Yes. You have been telling me that one. You have to read it during. You have to read. You have to read in the month of October. Oh yeah. That's what you do need. I do need to know which ones like have to be read right now. You're right. Yes. So this is like you're like, this is what you have to read in the next 20 days. list and when you pick them up, I'm reading them with you. Like, I will reread these books with you

so we can have this experience together. Yeah, I'm down. Okay, good. Very spooky, fun October. I'm okay. And I will like know that I'll love the book. So I want to think about it. If you do not love the sundown motel, it would be heartbreaking because like I in the back of my mind thought that you already read and also loved this book because this is the one that I thought. I know you thought I was kidding. You didn't believe me. I thought this would be on both of our lists because of the fact that it is so good. It is, I mean, okay, so it is a missing person's book. Okay.

This woman worked at as a night clerk in a motel in the middle of nowhere in upstate New York and completely vanishes. and then like 40 years later, her niece is like kind of into like true crime and stuff and she goes to the town trying to find out what happened to her aunt all 40 years ago and she in her investigation decides to work as the night clerk at the same motel and starts to have similar experiences. So it's dual timeline, dual POV.

There's actual like criminal elements in it, but the setting is fantastic. Like, dark parking lot, the only thing that's like visible. Small town, New York. Yeah, like the neon signs kind of bouncing off the wet pavement vibe.

You're going to be obsessed. You are going to be obsessed. It sounds like it. It sounds like. The spooky supernatural elements in that actually did frighten me a bit because like I said, they're not overly done. Like, it's not like, oh, was that like,

is like my house making noises because it's getting cold or like, it's not like Mr. Ghostman like popping up being like, yes, yes. Hey, Kate, how are your bangs? That's like really scary. That is what a ghost would talk to me about. And then there is one part that I can't tell you because it's a spoiler, but there's also like one aspect of the story

that I was not expecting reading it. That was really scary for me. So, oh my gosh. I'm excited. Yeah, it's not that like I'm against supernatural now. I used to just be a little more narrow. And I think it's because like one of the first books I ever read that had supernatural in it, it was a twist at the end that just like was a convenient way to describe everything.

And so I think like my one experience. made me think like, oh, supernatural ones just like, it's like, oh, a ghost did it. And now I've read some where I'm like, oh, it can actually just be a cool other way to tell a story. So the broken girls and the sundown motel have very similar structure with that where there are supernatural elements, but there's also like believable elements as well. Um, so I think, that you will absolutely love them both and I'm very excited for that because I'm the same way like now that I'm kind of used to it a little bit more not just by Simone St. James but other books as well. Yeah.

I think that because I'm used to it now like I don't mind it in a book if I'm prepared for it. But with hers, like I was told ahead of time like there are supernatural elements in this. so be prepared but like also they're not it doesn't overtake the entire story that's great that's like literally it's kind of like i don't watch any other fantasy but i watched game of thrones because like it's a story about just like fighting for power and shifting alliances and then the fantasy just happens to be there and then i was like oh so in other stuff it could be that way yeah yeah i think that you would like all three of her recent ones.

But the book of cold cases, which is very like true crime inspired, I think that you can read that any time a year, but I think that the broken girls and the sundown motel would definitely, like, hit better in the October months. Nice. Months. October months. I wish it was multiple months.

This is the only reason I pointed it out. Listen, I like to treat September like it's, October Eve, but like we had a very warm September. So I was kind of pissed off and I couldn't like fully immerse myself and embrace it. But I'm living every October day like it is my last because I get it. You got to soak it up. You got to eat all the pumpkin you can. I have so many pumpkin spice cake cups. It's like ridiculous. I'm just like so afraid that one day I'm going to go to the grocery store and they're just not going to be there. And I should be prepared for that. Because like I'm

I should be prepared for it because it literally happens every year, you know? Yeah. Yeah. But I get it. Yeah. I have been on a pumpkin cream cold brew kick, but I have been making it at home. So, you know, I don't think I can do cold brew. I think it would give me an anxiety attack.

I have, I just, I'm careful with my cold brew. Yeah. It is stronger, but like, if I'm having to take Benadryl, cold brew is my best friend. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Mm-hmm. You know, I do have a new habit. You have a new habit?

Yes. Because I have like a couple of cups of coffee and I'm like, okay, that like keeps me good until like about 12, 31 o'clock. So now I'm in the habit of like around two o'clockish having one of the mini cans of Diet Coke for a little caffeine. Nice. I definitely thought it was going to be crazy. And that's just like cool.

I hate so. Oh, really? I'm not a big soda person. I'm not a soda fan. I don't like carbonation. See, I love flavored seltzer waters for like a little like, well, it's, it's a nice little like treat. You know what I mean? Or like if I'm going to somebody's house and like they have their cocktails and whatever, like I'll bring a few of those because it's good to have for like my little moktail. I'm not just like drinking like, you know, aquafina. So. Talk with Fina. It's just something

because I will never, I'll tell you what, I would rather suck the water out of a sidewalk than drink Desani. I think it is the most disgusting water. You're one of those people that hates Desaani. I don't hate it. Whenever, if I like drink it,

I've been desperate before where I'm like, oh my God, I'm going to pass out if I don't drink water. So I'm either going to embarrass myself, or I'm going to have to force to drink DeSani. And like McDonald's, like, I've gone to like McDonald's before. I'm like, can I get a McDonald's before? Can I get a McDonald's? Can I get a McWater?

Can I get a bottle of water? And it's like DeSani and I'm like, oh, but like I swear to God, whenever I've drank DeSani, I feel like you can, you have the mental imagery of them just taking this empty water bottle and filling it with toilet water. Some people, like, there are so many people that are passionate about this on TikTok. The people that have the box where they only have the straws poking out and they can tell you like what. Yeah, like that.

I could pick out, I could pick out the Desani. I believe it. I really believe you. I could pick out Desani and my favorite bottled water is Ascentia. Okay. Yep. That is my, like, I feel like if I have. try it. I don't know if I've ever had it. I've seen it. If I have a few sips of that, it just is so crisp and like it tastes so clean, but it also just makes

me feel like it hydrates me more than like any bottled water does. That's impressive. It just, I love Essentia. But Desani is like straight from Satan. Like Satan made Desani and delivered it from hell. Are you ready to feel like we were never, ever, twins ever? It was my favorite water growing up. I lived for Desani. I haven't had it in forever.

And like we just like I just don't really drink bottled water that often. But when I was in high school, I loved it. So I guess we can in your defense. I guess we can in this podcast. now. This has been fun. Goodbye. Hold on. I got to block you on Instagram really quick. In your defense, I think that there weren't as many bottled water options. That's a good point. So there weren't as many things for you to compare it to. Like that's a really good point. This week or whenever, oh my God, The only other thing I drank was like Nestle, that like shitty Walmart water maybe or something that like the water bottle just crumpled if you like blue on it.

Yep. Yep. I. So yeah, I did. I was I was not having options. I'm going to tell you your best, best day of your life is going to be a crisp Saturday where it's like a little windy and a little chilly and like. if you put your little ear up against the window, you can hear the leaves rustling in the background. And you're going to open, you're going to open your Kindle and read the sundown motel. And you're going to order takeout pizza. And you're going to chug the shit out of a bottle of Ascensia. And you're going to text me the next day and be like, I felt like I just took three antidepressants. Like I'm on top of the world. You fixed me.

Best day of my life. Best day of my life. That sounds amazing. And I'm definitely going to do it when I start that book. That's like my every Saturday. I actually do like when I go get my, I get Duncan for myself on Saturday and Sundays. Otherwise I make my coffee at home like during the work week.

But Saturday and Sundays are like my treat to myself where I'll go to Duncan. And every Saturday I will go and I buy like the huge bottles of essential water for like my like weekend water just as like my treat. Oh, I love that. Yeah. Once I, as you have yours out too, once I went to an emotional support water bottle, I stopped ever drinking bottled water. I do feel better that I only drink bottled water on the weekends. Yeah. Yeah.

Because I love my hydro flask. I do love it. It is amazing. It keeps water nice cold. So cool. Another amazing water is hint. Have you ever had hint water? Oh, is that one?

It has the little. bit of flavor. Just a very small natural tasting hint of some sort of fruit. Yeah. Amazing. The raspberry and the raspberry one is my favorite. The blackberry one is my second favorite. I don't mess around with like the pineapple idea and I'm not big on like the watermelon idea either because I feel like it would taste like fake watermelon flavor normally. So they're not, they don't taste artificial. They taste like the actual fruit. Oh, maybe I would like it then. So the watermelon one is not that bad.

The idea that I had would be that it would be like eating TV static. Yes. Yeah, it is. But like, it's not. It's good. Yeah, I just don't do, I don't do fizzy stuff that well. My stomach gets really, really big and I'm uncomfortable. Now everyone knows.

No, they really wanted to know that. Yeah. No, I can see that where it would. So, like, actually really funny that you say that because, um, I used to get like a sprite on Thursday nights when I'd go out with my friends. And like, like, I found that like, I feel like my friend Tyler got in my head because he was like, I don't like soda. And I was like, I don't like soda either.

But I'm just like having this is like something like other than just water when I'm out, like, you know, hanging out with everybody and they are having their like their cocktails. their wine or whatever and I'm like well I'm going to have a little sprite live on the edge a little bit yes yes I get it but then he's like oh it's just too sweet and I'm like it's not that bad but then as like the more I started to drink Sprite on Thursday nights when we went out the more I was like oh he's right like it is too sweet and I do not like it so now I drink club soda with a splash of cranberry and it's just nice and refreshing but I will say there's something weird about drinking that because I do feel more bloated. And like, I feel like I break the seal easier with that

than like if I had chugged like 14 like vodka club sodas or whatever vodka sodas. Yeah. So, but yeah, I definitely know what you mean like I can only have like a certain amount of like anything fizzy. Otherwise I feel bloated. Yeah. That gross feeling. Um, strawberry lemonade is my favorite thing for someone to have at a restaurant so that I can get that instead of water. It's so good. I do love lemonade. I do love lemonade. Oh, so good.

Do you have McAllister's? Is that a national chain or is that Indiana? I might be Indiana. They have the best strawberry lemonade. Really? I don't know. I don't know what like, the only thing I can think of is like Minutemade. yeah i really like that oh i was talking about a restaurant even oh no i don't think that we have it

i don't think so yeah oh it's from mississippi well we just went everywhere speaking of small towns and things like that um i have two more books to recommend to you. Go for it. These scare me based on atmosphere alone. Nice. I like that. Pure atmosphere.

Because they're not necessarily books that you would read and think that would make you afraid, but the way the atmosphere is written in them. And they're both very similar, but I couldn't choose between the two. Hello Transcriber by Hannah Morrissey. We were just talking. I just asked you about her this week. that's why I'm shocked because I just added that to my list. Yeah.

Amazing. Amazing. I have to read it. I just added it to my list this week. One scene in that book, you're going to be like cartwheeling because it's so creepy. Is it worth reading in the fall, too? Yes. Okay.

Cool. Yes. And Trace of Evil by Alice Blanchard. Atmosphere. I never read that one either. it's part of the Natalie Lockhart series. What I thought it was really, yeah. Yeah.

Nice. And I love both of those. It's the first one. I love both of those. Oh yeah. You're going to be obsessed. I love both of them for what they are in crime fiction, especially like, well, I mean, both of them.

I can't say like especially one or the other because they're both like fantastic. But the way that they both capture the atmosphere is very similar to Ursulina. but like in their own very specific way. So those are my recommendations for you for fall as well because I know that you're a big atmosphere person and imagery and stuff. So I was like thinking of just some of these books that have different aspects of the storyline that could like scare somebody or creep you out or make you like have a hard time sleeping.

But also be like, oh, hot damn. Like this is. intense. My jam. Oh, this is my gym. I'm so funny. The funniest.

Funniest. Yeah. So you're, yeah, your TPR is going to be full for October. I don't think you're going to be full. Thank God all these books are going to scare the shit out of you because you're not going to be able to sleep the whole month of October anyway. Yes.

I'm just going to be, I'm going to have like bags in her. I'm going to be like a lead, a female lead in a horror movie. were like I get progressively more and more tired looking by the end of the month. Like Nancy and a nightmare in Elm Street. Yes. Oh my God.

By the end of the month, you're going to have like the gray streak. Remember she got so afraid of your hair. I think I found one the other day. I do turn 30 in like less than a week. It's time to get old now. 35. It's not old. I think you're still 29.

Yeah. When's your birthday? As of right now. the 17th so six days oh little beam the air pods oh my god yeah I'm gonna have to get so you're gonna give me gray hair in my birth month

I'm down for it I can color it welcome to your dirty flirty terrified all night 30s I love that That was good. Dude, I am so excited to watch this absentia show. It's really good. Like, it made me sad, but it's really good.

Is it dubbed? Is it, like, from another country? No. I'm just really surprised I haven't heard of it. Huh? I think it's two seasons. There might be a third that I haven't watched. I don't know.

It might balance out everything really well, because right now I'm binging, um, bling empire. And I'm completely obsessed of that. That sounded good. That sounded good. I really.

I needed something like that. So last night, like I DNFed my third book this week. And I was like, I'm not going to bother because I don't know if it's my mood. Right. Like, I don't know if it's like my mood. But like I had justification for why the three books weren't working for me. Like one of them, I was like, I'm not going to bother with this anymore. And then the other two I were like, maybe, maybe just my mood right now.

maybe I'll pick these up at a later time. I had one that was like that. And I was like, maybe it's because I'm getting frustrated. Yeah. So I was like, I'm not. I'm making pasta for dinner. And I'm going to fill up my hydro flask and stay hydrated and watch TV. And you know what?

It kind of felt good. As much as I didn't. I don't ever feel the pressure to read. I never feel like I'm forcing myself to read. I just, I really do love it. I think sometimes my long TBR list and all of the things that I want to read kind of make me feel like I should read as much as humanly possible. But I think that it's also like this is your PSA sometimes no matter how much you love reading. It is okay to take a break if you do not feel like reading.

I know what you mean. That was how I was feeling this weekend because I was so disappointed. I just didn't want to start another one. but I was like, but there's so many other ones. And I was like, I don't think I should even start them right now. No, no. And I mean, that's okay because look what happened. I watched Bling Empire last night. I ate pasta. I went to bed at a decent time. And I woke up today and decided that I was going to pick up in a deep, deep snow. And now I'm 30% into it. And it was the decision. I cannot wait to read. I probably am going to have bad sleep tonight.

It's a little It's very interesting It's very different than Ursulina Yeah even the opening that I read I was like this is a very different tone The pacing is a lot slower So I think where I'm at right now If I don't pick it back up tonight

Which I don't think I will Just because I ended in a good Reading a third of a book in a day for me is good Like I'm not gonna yeah but the pacing is a lot slower to the point that it's like I think it's going to be easier for me to take breaks with this one than it was with the Ursulina which I'm completely fine with because it is a different story. So I am I am completely fine with waiting for you to catch up to 30% because I probably won't be able to pick it up again until tomorrow when I get done

with my day job. Yeah. I just want to get like into it. Like I want to like be in the kind of past the exposition. I'm still in that exposition part. Yeah. Yeah. I think you'll get into it.

And like it is very interesting. And I like the direction it's going in. And I like the different like little like plots on the side as well. But I think that you'll definitely enjoy it. But I don't think it'll I don't think it'll be hard for us to like be like, oh, okay, like let's stop here and like this. Yeah. Yeah.

Obviously now. we're probably from the Ursulina out going to find ourselves in a position where we're reading more things together because we have a lot. Yeah, it seems like it. Definitely in October. Yeah, because like sometimes buddy reads are hard, but in the same sense, like with you, it's like, you mentioned a book and I'm like, let me know when you start it. I want to read it with you. And it's like, I mentioned a book and you're like, I'm going to start it when you do. So like, it's just very easy. And we read at similar paces. So. Yeah. And now I really want to watch. Given the choice we like to get through a third of a book during the weekdays. Yeah. And you know, I want to read or I want to read. I want to watch this show that you recommended. Yeah. It's really good. Did you have anything else on your list? Did you have four? I did have, I had the turn of the key by Ruth Ware is like a really good like you kind of feel isolated because the main character is like the outsider coming into someone else's house. And then it's like, it's just like scary the whole time because you don't know the explanation for like a lot of creepy shit that's happening. And it was one where I was alone at home that week when I was reading it. So it was one that like if it was night, I would just like stop reading it because I was like, I don't need to be worried about what's happening downstairs if I hear a sound. So that one's really good.

That's a really good one too. I almost listed that one. Yeah. I almost listed that one because I have been meaning to tell you this. There was like, I don't know if it was last November or the November before that, but there was one November that I realized I was behind on two Ruth Warebooks. Whoa. And I had one week where I binged the death of Mrs. Westaway and the turn of the keep back to back.

And it was just so much fun because. Yeah. She's somebody like right now I'm making this list that I told you about earlier tonight about like these series that I want to read because I feel like binging something like that. It would be so much fun to binge read all of her books. Like as a new reader as somebody who's never read her before like that would be such. I love her books so much. Except for one that I would skip. Yeah. I think there's one I didn't. Yeah. I think we talked about. that. Uh-huh. Yeah. The woman in cabin 10, the woman in cabin 10 is the one, I enjoyed that. I would read it during the summer, but I just feel like it has such a different, because the setting is like a cruise ship, it has like such a different vibe than her, like the rest of them. It does. Yeah. I still gave it five stars. So when I read it, I absolutely loved it. But I just think, like, I would not want to be binge reading that in like October, November. No, no. I agree. if the death is a westway and the turn of the key together, that would have been amazing.

Yeah, I think it was like November because I remember like. That's perfect. It was cold enough that I like felt like I really want. I remember like reading one in like a hot bathtub because like that's my jam. That's perfect. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, because my last one, my last recommendation is just the one that scared me because the

plot is terrifying as stalker by Lars Cap Boy. Yeah, that's on my TBR too. I'm going to warn you. I'm going to warn everybody that's listening. This is not done on purpose. Like, I am not sponsored by Lars Kepler in the least it. Right, right. But I will at any time in my life find a way to include them in any conversation because of how

obsessed with the series I am. No, I have to read one. They can be read as standalones. for everybody listening, you can read Stalker as a standalone. Kate, you are different. You have to start with the Sandman. You have specific rules. You are not allowed to read them as standalons.

You have to start them with Book 4, which is the Sandman, because I know that I have full faith in myself and our relationship to know that when I tell you, you are going to start with the Sandman and you're going to read everything after that, I have full faith. I know that you're going to love them. I know that you're going to like them. I believe it. I know that about you. Everybody else who's listening that I don't know as well as I know you.

Like I can't say the same thing. I can tell you what I recommend. So, you know, if there's people out there that don't want to listen to me when it comes to this, then you don't have to. You can read Stalker as a standalone. And if you decide you like it, you can go back and forth. Kate, no, no, you have. I am starting with the sand man. You have a specific set of rules.

You did tell me that. to start with that one. Yeah, yeah, because I'm, I have a little, I don't even want to say it's a secret. I don't even know why I would say that. I have a little bit of a plan. Yeah, mysterious. I have a secret. I have a secret.

No, everyone's going to hear it and they're going to be like, who gives a shit? My, like, plan is to catch up on my arcs between October. in December of this year by the end of November because I want to reread the Lars Kepler books starting with the Sandman on like I want to reread them in the month of December. All right. So I guess I'm reading them in December. You can read them whenever you want because I know. I will.

This is my plan B, but like because I know damn well, like if you text me at like one o'clock in the morning tonight and you're like I started the Sandman like I know when I wake up tomorrow, I'm going to be starting the Sandman. So like you do not have to wait until December. We'll see. We'll see. We use your October books anyway. So.

Yeah. Yeah. You've got, yeah, you've got some. You've got some. I've got some work to do. Yeah. Yeah. You definitely do.

I'm still doing it right now because I'm like, hmm. I'm excited. I think I've labeled it your Halloween TBR just because like that's perfect. But I think I think Hello Transcriber could wait until November or December because it's more of like a wintery one. But but yeah, I'm getting ready and sending it now. I'm going to keep it in my notes too because that way I don't forget. I can stay on top of you. Check in on me.

Check in. Or maybe I'll just keep it on my notes so that I can, like, I can do a little checkmark when you, but yes, any of these books, any of these books, I will, I will read them with you. I will read them with you. Nice. I'm so excited. Yeah.

Especially after reading meh ones this weekend. Oh, these are going to be like top tier. Like certified. This is going to make up for your shitty weekend. This is going to make up for your shitty weekend. That's how I feel. That's how I'm feeling. I almost did that.

If I read Saturday, I read a three star. Started off really good. And then I realized that the plot could have been shortened up a bit. Like it didn't have to be 375 pages. It could have been about 300 and been like perfect. Yes, yes. And the cast of characters all were like, none of them had personalities that differentiated them for me. Oh, I hate that.

But the plot was good. And there were some really creepy moments. But like if I would not have picked up that book and stuck with it Saturday and had like a DNF situation, I would have picked up the chestnut man. You are the chestnut man promoter, but you're not. You're not promoting it, but you are obsessed. I will promote it. I do. Yes.

It has some terrifying kill scenes that are very like slasher-esque. Nice. And it deals with one of my favorite tropes in a thriller. So anybody who like has not read it yet, it's basically about the police. I think it's Sweden. Mm-hmm. Scandinavian. Yeah. Is that Scandinavia or is that Sweden? I don't know, something like that. I don't know. But the Scandinavian police, they report to a crime scene. And at the crime scene, there is a little figurine made of matchsticks and chestnuts. And when they like bring it in for analysis, they find fingerprints of it on it from a prime minister's.

daughter who went missing and was assumed dead like years before and they're like they just assume that she had been murdered right and like this guy like they were like you know she was murdered we never found her body why are her fingerprints showing up on these chestnut men found at this crime scene and then the crimes continue more chestnut men found with each crime scene but then it gets to the point where like I think the slogan of the book is like when you see one, it's too late because like there are some moments where people see a chestnut man and you, as the reader will realize, Dunzo. It says if you find one, he's already found you.

Oh, yeah, that's what it is. So good. So good. I'm obsessed. I have the U.S. paperback and I have the Canadian paperback. Nice. So I am ready.

And I will read, I mean, like I said, every book that I've sent you, I will read with you. Like, these are books that are perfect to reread. So I am. Nice. 100% game. I know that you would, I know that you will love this. I know. It does sound, that sounds really good.

And I know that if anybody loves, it reminds me of like a horror movie in the sense of like Silence of the Lambs kind of or like seven. but also like the man who wrote the book is the creator of the Scandinavian version of the show The Killing. Yeah, that's what I was just reading. Yeah, which I was a huge fan of the killing, the U.S. remake. So this is just the best. Hey, guys, I hope you enjoyed the episode. Be sure to follow us on Instagram.

so that you can keep up with everything we're reading and talking about. You can follow Garrett at Garrett Indeed reads, and you can follow me, Kate, at The Girl with a Book on the couch.