Bookwild - Valentines Day Adjacent Book Recs from Not Quite Romance Readers with Halley Sutton

Episode Date: February 13, 2026

This week, Halley Sutton is back, and we catch up on what we've been reading and watching, as well as our thoughts in Emerald Fennell's upcoming Wuthering Heights adaptation. We also share romance-adjacent book recommendations for Valentine's Day.Kate's BooksA Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia WilliamsHistory Lessons by Zoe E WallbrookThis Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany CrumThe Long Game by Rachel ReidMy Husband by Maud VenturaHalley's BooksEnormous Wings by Laurie FrankelCross My Heart by Megan CollinsCrush by Frederic DardI’m Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself by Glynnis MacNicolThe Bridesmaid by Ruth RendellWe Are Too Many by Hannah Pitard 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 

So I am back with Hallie Sutton and you know we always talk about all kinds of things. So we're going to get into all kinds of stuff, but also some, at least for me, Valentine's Day adjacent recommendations. So yeah, I'm excited that we are together again. Yes. I know. I remember when I first started listening to podcasts and some people probably heard this a lot. But a lot of it started, we did real estate photography for a really long time, which meant like sometimes if I had like four appointments, I might drive for like four hours that day. And I was like, okay. And so literally that's what kind of made me discover podcasts like seven-ish years

ago that I or made me get obsessed. And I remember some people at the end would be like, we really just need to hang out more. And like, we really do just like schedule podcast episodes together to essentially, that we can essentially justify hanging out. And I'd be like, what are they talking about? And now I get it. I know. Yes. Yeah. It's just the best. And I do love, I mean, that is like, especially for the reader episodes, that is what people talk about. They're, like, it just feels like I'm, like, getting to hear friends talk about books. And I'm like, that's the goal. So it works. Well, is there anything? you've read or watched recently that you just like have to talk about first oh yeah yeah oh i love that

yeah mm-hmm yes yeah oh you did see it i didn't end up seeing it okay i've seen that yeah i don't think i will love it now that it's streaming i probably i well it's not streaming yet When it's streaming, I will probably watch it, but I was so sick. He was bronchitis, too, so I was taking my inhaler. I was like, I don't need two and a half hours with an anxious narcissist right now. Yeah. Josh. Josh? No. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Not shocking. Yes, uncut gems. I always hear his name like that. The thing was Safty, Uncut Jams. It's always in my head when I hear Safty. Okay, yeah. Right. It's a choice. Right. I've seen lots of reviews like that too. I've seen I saw quite a few where people were like, I didn't think I was going to like it, but guys, it really is good. And I was like, okay. And then I also saw plenty. I feel like more I saw were what you said, where they were like, there were moments that were very fun. And but it didn't need to be two and a half. hours is kind of like that consensus yeah yes yes okay there's a no yeah yeah i don't think many of the audience will be too angry if you spoil anything about this one okay okay okay a real okay right because it's based off a real dude right yeah it's not even you wouldn't have guessed

or thought that. Oh my gosh. No. Right. I mean, you would almost want, because Marty, in a sense,

is a vampire. So it would almost, I guess, if like, I don't know. It is weird, though, because we all know it's based on a true story. Not that I'm saying vampires couldn't be real.

I mean, maybe they are. You never know. Like, I'm here to, I'm here to stay open-minded if possible. So, okay, well, that's, yeah. Now I really want it to stream just so I can pretend that's the ending that I'm headed toward. Yeah, I will. I know.

I need to look. Like, wait, I went. Um, okay, so I really enjoyed ponies on Peacock. It is, it's like, what was the other really good comparison I had? it's um okay first of all it is a uh like a russian well it takes place in russia but it's like cia wives in russia during the eighties um and both of their husbands die this is literally in the first episode um on a mission together and now they can have nothing to do and the title ponies a p oi is a person of interest and a P.O.

in I, at least in this world, is a person of no interest. So they're ponies. And it's really, it's very women-centered, especially since it's two female leads. I compared it to like the Americans. If the Americans was quirky and had funny moments, there's nothing, the Americans will not make you laugh ever, I don't think.

So I can't remember if I had another comp that I added with it. But one of the big differences, too, though, that it is to women. And there's like so much around that. So they kind of like play up the jokes that like, they're so of no interest because no one's going to think a woman is useful in that time period and especially in Russia. So basically they get ropes into it. And it's actually like an incredible, just like spy story. It like it had even more spy like this the case that unfold. was even more espionage forward than I thought it was going to be at first. But I really enjoyed it.

There's like some suspension of disbelief. So you want to go into it like that, but like none of us know what actually being a spy is like. So I think that was kind of easy for me to buy into. It's so fun. And it's Amelia Clark and Haley Lou Richardson. They are fantastic together. So I loved that. Yeah.

Yes. Yeah, we need more people to go watch it because it also, I will warn you, ends on a little bit of a cliffhanger. Like, you do get some answers, but like, not all of them. And so I hope they were feeling confident that they would have a second season. But everybody, please go watch it who likes those shows so that we can get more of those shows. And women-led shows. That was really good. I also watched Wonder Man on, that's Disney Plus.

and I this like Agatha all along I must say I think you would love it too because it is about it is about a man who is trying to be an actor and he takes it like very very very very seriously and then he gets fired from one of the like few jobs he had on set because the one of the best pilots I've seen in a while is a really really really good pilot but he's like taking it all so seriously even though he's like a little bit character but like it's so endearing too and so then he basically needs to like find even more and more auditions to do but also he does have some powers and that's like all you need to know because it doesn't it doesn't even really get it doesn't completely cover where where those powers are leading him I guess is what I'm

going to say um it feels like if um street level hero was mixed with the studio it is so similar to the studio like so many of the things i loved about that i loved in this show too and it's also one of those you know how like agatha has one or two episodes where like it's like it's very much a bottle episode it has this I'll just say there's a black and white bottle episode that's like episode four and anyone who watches it please DM me

because there is endless stuff to talk about from that episode so that's my other it is really really good yeah right totally no

it's really not and I was actually someone I follow Jay Stubes she's one of my favorite like movie TV show reviewers and she was the one who pointed out that like Marvel has like almost needed to have a return to street level which is where I then learned this phrase that I keep saying like everyone who learns a new phrase but I think that's even it's like it's so accessible you do not need to know anything about I don't know if any other superheroes are even really referenced

so you don't need to know Marvel to enjoy it. Yeah. You will love it. Ooh. Mm-hmm. What was it? You literally cut out just when you said the name. Extraordinary. No. Oh, okay. Mm-hmm. Oh, it's like sky high. Oh, is that me? Oh, there you are. You're good. It has 100% on rotten tomatoes. Wow. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Oh, wow. That's creative, yeah. Oh, that sounds good. It's also reminding me, I mean, not exactly, but Wanda Morris has, is that what you leave behind? One of her books, was it her? There's a thriller, basically. I put a marker here since I'm just staring into the void. Someone, I can remember if it's her or, I'll just cut it out. There's a book where there's a thriller someone wrote here recently about an obituary writer on like a small island town, which I don't think it goes the same direction, but it reminded me of it. Now I can't think of what the title was anyway.

And it's not what you leave behind. Yeah. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Oh, yeah. I'm definitely. Obituary isn't 100% on Rotten Tomatoes too. So you just recommended 200% shows.

And yeah, now I know what we're going to be watching. Well, and there's plenty of stuff that isn't 100% that I've enjoyed. So there's that part too. Well, now I know what I'm going to watch at night. I can't remember. I don't think I've seen any movies recently, actually. Just some TV shows. There hasn't been anything in theaters that I've been interested in until.

Yes. Okay. So you haven't seen it or anything, have you? I know there's like always the possibility. Wuthering Heights. Oh, yeah. Oh, nice. Oh, that is so exciting. I'm seeing bad reviews, but that happens. Right. Right. Right. It looks very, uh, like you are stepping into another real world. Yeah. Oh, totally. No. Right. I know. I know. I'm fascinated. I mean, by all of it. Like, there's the part where I'm like, why didn't you just like, write your own erotic historical fiction? I totally understand that perspective because I, even I am still like, Jacob Allured, he's not Heathcliff. But it is. It is. But, you know, we're all. going to be talking we're still going to be talking about it. And I did, I mean, I did. I loved salt burn. I really enjoyed saltburn. I mean, promising young woman also fantastic. Yeah. Yeah. Right. Yeah. And I, I keep thinking of your take too that I agree with. That is, it's not even about the racial part. It's a hard movie to adapt in general. You mentioned that. I don't know the last time we talked and i i have been thinking about it now that i'm seeing like press tours and stuff from like it is what like so much of it is internal like it is such an interior book and like

even like the amount of characters like you there's so much you're going to have to pick and choose no matter if you cast it correctly or not right right yeah right right yes mm-hmm yeah Mm-hmm. Yes. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yes. Yes. Yes. Right. Right. Yeah. Yeah. I kept thinking of that because I think it is, it's a good point. Even like, and then that was making me think, even with Hunger Games, I remember I went and actually I hadn't read the series. I saw the books or saw the, I saw the movies. I actually. saw the movies first just a timing thing really um and then when i read the books i remember being like the stark difference is how much interiority you get with catness where uh kind of to your point where she may seem kind of unlikable and there's all kinds of reasons also because she's a female acting that way but in the book you are experiencing like it's so much easier when you're in her inner world to be like

you're fighting to the death like you're not going to be trusting you're going to be paranoid you're going to be angry like you get more of that yes but she doesn't smile enough for you and she won't she won't like commit to pita the same way he does to her like come on guys But that's, I mean, we're talking about people who also just think Hunger Games was the left triangle. So, yeah, I think we talked about the Great Catsby dinner the last time or at least two times ago. We know that they're doing. We're realizing that the American dream is all a facade. They're like, wait, what?

Maybe we shouldn't worship it. Yeah. Yeah, we're fun. guys. I mean, we are. Oh, boy. Yeah, at some point, at some point. Yeah, we don't have our tickets now. What I am, what I'm the most excited for is Project Hail Mary in March. Like, oh, my God. It's one too, though. People are starting to be like, it is a masterpiece. And I'm like, oh, no, like, it makes me so nervous when people actually start saying that because you're like, I hope it's that great.

But also, I can't imagine this source material plus Ryan Gosling budget, not doing really well. So, like, I'm sure it will be great. But that's the one that I'm the most excited for right now. So we'll see that too. But yeah, I haven't seen many movies. I think those, I watched some. Oh, no. I think I did watch something before Pony's, but now I can't think of it.

It might have just been Wonder Man. that I was thinking of. I have been reading quite a bit, though, thankfully. Yes. So I did end up reading and this one was like so out of order, but I was so excited for yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke. Oh, it's absolutely like I would give it six stars if I could. Like it was one of those books that I am notorious. I give a lot of fours and a lot of fives. It's some of, I know it's all preference. Like everybody kind of rates differently anyway, but I just do for whatever reason. I'm like most of the books I pick I enjoy at a four level at least. But this was one of those books where I'm like, now I understand the people who are stingier with their fives because now I'm like,

well, this was above some other books. So was that fantastic? If you've been listening to the podcast, you've heard me talk about it a lot. But a woman who, is very much cosplaying, like, a trad wife in the terms of, like, 1800s kind of level stuff. She gets really popular, really influential, really wealthy doing that on Instagram. Then she wakes up one morning in the 1800s and is like, wait, this is not like a set that I can walk on and off of. So that is the like short thing to get you into it. What I will say is the synopsis does not cover just how much it's really about how white women evangelicals hold up the evangelical patriarchy. Like it really like skewers that whole.

I was just saying it to someone yesterday. It's like, this is like Ballerina Farms and Erica Kirk altogether. And so it's also one when we talk about unlikable characters, I've even been doing the caveat. I'm like, this is the most unlikable character I've ever read. And I don't even mean it in a like, ha ha, she's a serial killer who kills bad men. No, you don't like her ever. And it's, but you can't stop reading. So it's, it doesn't come out until April, but I got it and I just had to read it.

So that was fantastic. Mm-hmm. Yes. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Using time travel for that. It did remind me of Kindred in a couple of spots. What was the other one that really?

There was something I was reading recently. And she was like, yeah, Kendrid did. Oh, Junie. Aaron Crosby, Eckstein, said Kindred even really inspired her book too. So, yeah. I am a fan of that. too yeah yes oh of course you did wow mm-hmm yeah yes that's a claim yeah I know it's a claim yeah that's a big blanket statement so cute so I can't I just can't help it I do

think if there was the 4.5 available on Goodreads because unfortunately that just still is the biggest one. I do use Storygraph and you can't do four. You can there. I think if it was more common on like the review tracking apps, I would have a lot more 4.5s and that would probably be what would help me

because it's like, I think I may have talked about this before but it's at least been a while. Like a six for a movie is like, feels like, different to me than a three for a book. Like, three just feels so low for a book. Even though I know it's not. So, like, there's also that weird part where, like, I don't say many movies are 10 out of 10. Like, even some of my favorite, I'm probably saying are, like, nines. So it's like, I also know that I, like, this is what my OCD mind thinks about on dog walks is like, man, like, you don't,

you don't review movies as tens, though. But I'm like, I don't know what to do about it. Yeah, yeah. Anyone who sees my reviews anyway can always ask me for clarification. So I'm like, this is not something I need to be stressing about. But it's okay too. But yeah, yesteryear, it's the other thing I keep saying, it's, it was way darker than I expected it was too. But I think when you say that, sometimes people think like lots of murder or like in a thriller sense, it's a lot more sinister than I was expecting. That's more what it is. is where you're like, oh, God. I know. And if anybody knows her or knows her publicist and wants to help a girl out, I have DM'd her. I have tagged her in multiple things. And I've emailed her publicist. And no one's reaching back out. And it's completely okay. But if anyone listening is like, she would be perfect for Book Wild and I can connect to them. Please do. That's my PSA. Yeah. But the other one that I just finished, actually,

fits our Valentine's Day focus or idea. So I guess I could just transition into that one. Most of mine are going to be like Valentine's Day if you're not a romantic reader. So like it's adjacent. But this one really does count. Yeah, this one really would count though because actually, like I just said, I came off of yesteryear, and I was also reading nonfiction that's the trouble with white women, which is, and then like the subtitle is basically a counter history of feminism. And it is fantastic. But reading both of those, I was like, I need to go hardcore the other direction because this was so bleak and I just needed something. And I, my, one of my friends had recommended a love song for Ricky Wild by Tia Williams. And it had actually, I think it's still on sale. If you're listening this week, I think it's $4.99 on Libro FM. So I had just gotten it in a sale and I knew my friend really recommended it. And I loved it.

It's a really good audiobook. But here's like the short synopsis in a leap year, February, that feels touched by magic. Impulsive Atlanta heiress, Ricky Wilde, leaves her powerful family behind to chase independence in Harlem, where she opens a flower shop and finds herself immersed in the lingering spirit of the Harlem Renaissance. When she meets a mysterious stranger whose presence feels faded, Ricky is drawn into a love story that intertwines art, history, and destiny in ways that will change her life forever. It is like, it's like very emotional. It's what I have now learned about romance is that just like every single genre, there are subgenres.

And so, like, this is kind of even more a coming of age for even like both characters. And I'm learning that something that I tend to like to where it's like they're on their own personal journeys as well. I think that like gives me some more plot to hang on to basically. But there's also, as you could hear in the description, there's a lot of historical details in there as well. It's one of those that like name drops actual like Harlem Renaissance. people from history. I don't know. I couldn't think of the word people. And it's very fun. If you listen to my episode about the Super Bowl and now you're listening to this, you're going to hear me say it again. But Ricky Wilde is who Lily Bloom thought she was. So there's also that. And the audio is fantastic.

So that's my, I actually did listen to romance here recently. Also like contemporary fiction. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Mm. Nice. This is amazing.

Yeah. That sounds really cool. Oh, I love that. That also sounds like one that I need to tell stuff about. I feel like that is up her alley, especially lately. I'm going to have to try to listen to this one, I think, when it comes out. I know I have a lot in general in May, so that maybe I'll listen to. to it though. Oh, it's adorable. Yes. Well, it's making me think of and I can't think of what the name is,

but the show on Netflix with Ted Danson, man on the inside. Yeah. And we really enjoyed the first season, but we haven't seen, I know there's a new one that came out kind of in the last couple months. Kind of reminds me of that. Yes. Mainly the you appreciate life part. I think. think is what made me think of that show instead. Well, that's cool. I love how unique it is. That's like, I also think the longer you read, not that there aren't plenty of tropes, I will probably always read too. It's sometimes they're just fun when they're completely unique. Like even if it's not something you typically read, but it's like, well, I've never read anything like that. And like that makes it interesting too.

That's what's nice. Okay. Well, I'm. going to segue off of that because this is another one. I thought of this in the middle of something. Well, it's because you recommended this one to me, actually. But history lessons by Zoe B. Walbrook is also my version of like very funny and also what you were saying with voice. Like, I think I could follow Daphne anywhere, basically. But this one, a college history professor must solve her superstar colleague's murder before she becomes the next target. And then it says in this funny debut romantic mystery. And it's, it's so cute. It feels like a love letter to really bookish people too. That's like something I always, that there's a trope I'll read until I die.

But also the like the romance again is on the side. Like it's not a romance book, but there is romance and it's with i remember the clip i have of zoe talking about it is so funny because she was like who knew turns out all the girl girls gays and days needed was like a man who had actually read books was like the gist of it because he even owns he owns a bookstore owns a bookstore yes so if you love bookish men you'll also love it it is yes yes yes I know. Yes. Yes. Amen. Yes. Yeah. I remember that was one of the quotes I pulled too from her where she was like, Daphne's not just like the, she's not just the racist way people interpret her. Like what you were saying. She was like, she's like a really fun, joyful, quirky French history professor. It does. It has. has the same energy. She is. There is like she was working on the next one. So everybody, please go read this book too. Yeah. But that one was so fun. You were the one who told me about it

the first time. Yeah. Yes. There you go. Oh, yes. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. It's another one, like such a unique premise where you're like, yes, let's try the, uh, what was that? The movie that's like that with Mini Driver. It's just left my brain. It's that but thriller. And now I can't think of it. Yeah, Hart movie. Return to me. Okay. It is, oh wow, it's literally from the year 2000. Not any other number. I know. Oh, well. Yeah, it's another, the cover. So I'm, of course, I love the cover of this purple and pink book. And she's the best. I love it. Yes. And the glow from the laptop. Okay. So I couldn't decide if I was going to do any that hadn't come out yet, but since you did as well, again, This is romance adjacent.

But this story might save your life by Tiffany Crum. It is so fun. The short, short summary, podcasting duo, Benny Abbott and Joy Moore have built a wildly successful brand around surviving the unthinkable until Joy and her husband mysteriously vanished, leaving behind shattered glass in a cryptic drafts of Joy's memoir. As suspicion falls on Benny, long-buried secrets begin to surface, revealing that the story their millions of fans thought they knew maybe the most dangerous illusion of all it is so fun I comps it to like all of my favorite podcast thrillers it's very listen for the lie why can't I remember my other two favorite podcast thrillers um I don't know but I can't but yeah it's really fun and again the romance is like

15 to 20% of it possibly. So yeah, it's romance adjacent. It's really good. Oh, it comes out March 10th. And I listen to the audio, which is fantastic. Oh, none of this is true is what I comped it to. Similar to that, the podcast parts are produced. So it sounds like you're listening to a real podcast.

So it's very fun. Mm-hmm. Oh, yeah. That's okay. Oh, yeah. So, follow a question. Do you speak any French? Okay.

But will you read in English? Okay. I was just realizing, because I know we've talked about French enough that I was like, maybe she can. So I just had to ask. Okay. Okay.

Nice. Oh, that's cool. Yeah. Do you have like the purple cover for Crush? Okay. That is a really, I love a sultry tale of suspense and murder. Oh, yeah. Most of the time I do, I have had like, I was about to say, I was like, that either makes me really love a book or every now and then.

I'm like, we didn't need a fifth one. But I think it's like probably the cases where it's not the fifth one. It's just like one or two. that's what step and i have been talking about that a little bit like some we've talked about it too some thrillers it's like you didn't have to do that much yeah yeah i think so oh my goodness great reference for right now though yes oh can we we should um so speaking of olympics and romance uh Lane Fargo just announced, I think that's what it is, because I couldn't find on Goodreads, but she outs on her substack and on her Instagram that her next book is called the Ice Queens and it, and the

rivals and women. I know. I was just realizing this are in her substack article. But, I mean, that is all the general, the general public needs to and gets to know right now. But I'm like, the time I'm so excited I meant to text for this even and then I just keep forgetting or email whatever is like the timing feels so amazing because there have been so many people asking for a lesbian version of what we got with heated rivalry which I think it didn't have to even literally be ice related but this is this is so perfect yeah no yeah yes yes I agree I don't think it's like the same thing, but when I had like seen so many people being like, can we have females who were rivals?

And then she announced that. And I was like, this will at least be something you could recommend for sure. I'm so excited. But yeah, I'll put her, I'll put the links to her substack in this too. So you guys can all go read what she wrote about it before we can all read it. So when I was thinking about that today, I was like, oh, that's actually kind of adjacent to Valentine's Day books, too. And actually, that's a segue. I did read my first hockey romance.

I was like, I guess it's not my, I read the sequel to Heated Rivalry because I was obsessed with them. It was like my entire feed. And then I was like, oh, I just have to read knowing that there's more going on. So it's called The Long Game, is why Rachel Reed. And it's like their sequel. After 10 years of secretly dating hockey superstars, Shane and Ilya are at a breaking point. Shane fears that going public could destroy his career while Elia is exhausted from hiding. Forced to choose between protecting their peace in the league or finally living honestly,

they must decide whether hockey or love matters more. That is a really good description. But this, again, for me, was another thing where, like, there's, like, a large focus on mental health and depression and also, like, clinical depression. Like, Ilya's mom was really depressed, too, and then he struggles with it, too. So this was also one where, like, there's the tension that both of them want to approach it differently. So, like, that's there. but then separately they're also still growing as people which is what I'm learning is something that I just actually enjoy in my in romance when I read it but I also I Aalio will be one of my

favorite characters of all time for a long time so so many great asses it's insane I saw an interview where he said he does I know I I saw an interview where he said he did elevated squats, and I'm doing elevated squats now. They have both said that's not happening, but I do see the rumors. So I don't know. I don't know. I get, like, choked up every time I think about it. And it's actually so similar to the Super Bowl.

It was something where, like, it matters to be heard, even if you're not always understood. Like, it matters so much. Yes. Mm-hmm. Yeah. And just like Shane witnessing it is what made him feel less alone, even though he knew he wouldn't get all of it. I loved that scene. I mean, there are multiple scenes I thought were so powerful.

But that one and then also Shane and his mom in episode, I mean, I feel like most people have watched it by now. But when she finds out, I just, I basically, I think I just cried for the last 20 minutes of that episode. just like couldn't, couldn't stop. Oh, I'm so good. But yeah. Yeah. Heated rivalry. It had me reading

male-male romance for the first time. Well, no, it wasn't my first. I'd read thrillers with male-male romance, but not just all of a sudden I'm like, hey guys, I've read about gay people before. I think people know that. Anyway. Yeah.

Go for it. Ooh. Okay. And it has the really fun cover style lately that is, oh, she does. Okay. It's oil painting with neon. And I love it. I think it's so eye-catching.

That's so cool. But she writes about it like referentially. Okay. I love that. Okay. just expanding my expand something just fell downstairs but it's not my problem um yeah that i like this i love this idea i'm going to be reading about going to paris and getting pregnant at 77 there's some good range there really i thought i had a fifth one but i don't so if you have another one

Okay, go for it and I will like find another one. That sounds really fun. 250 pages. Okay. Nice. Well, I did find another one. This is another one that you recommended to me actually too. And then my friend Justine really enjoyed it called My Husband by Mod Ventura.

So this is like toxic love now is what we've completely. moved to. Like, the shortest way is to be able to explain it is there's a woman in a marriage and they've been together for 15 years and she is like obsessive with everything she does to try to make sure her husband loves her. Like you hear my husband, my husband, my husband and my husband

and my husband like so many times in this book. But it's all very thought-provoking. the things that she feels the need to control. So even though you're kind of like, girl, you're also like, well, I kind of get it. And then the ending, I can't say anything about. You will want to reach out to us, though, if you read it and get to the ending, is what I will say. Yes. Yes.

It's so unique. Yes. It is very much a stream of consciousness book, too, for anyone who doesn't like that. Like, now you know. And it's a very, like, you even feel how anxious it is. You're, like, she's so anxious.

Yes. Yeah. It really is. And I, did you read her one that came out, make me famous? Because my friend Justine, who really loves my husband, she also said it's like wild and then another wild ending. So I need to listen to that one too, because I think it's another short-ish one. Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. I do want to listen to it here soon. So, yeah. At least I found another one. Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Okay. Yeah. Well, now I need to read four memoirs. Is that what you're telling me? I know that I will once I start. Wow. Yes. Well, it's hard to look at the news and not feel that way.

Right. This sounds so messy and I'm so intrigued. This is like I saw someone it's reminding me of and I need to still listen to it. I bought it when it was on sale and audible. But Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria. I can't totally remember the author's name right now. but it is about like how messy like a big part of it is how messy w e b de boise was um and then i just saw a ticot last night from someone who is saying and it's on net galley now it's called the harlem

wedding and so both of these are fiction that are like still loosely inspired or not even loosely kind of very inspired by people but then it's from the perspective of the wife who who was cheated on, essentially. So I was also like, this is, I was like, it's kind of fun because she was like saying you should read these books almost like right after each other. And I'm like, it's like doing messy research. And that's what this one feels like, too. Now I want to listen to the mess of that now, too.

Yeah. Oh, you're right. Okay. Kind of like, is that called scenes from a marriage? Like where you're jumping. yeah yeah yeah I love it all Bruce just threw his tennis ball at me hey buddy I you said did you say you had did you talk about movie recommendations that you had okay oh yeah probably okay I love that and

Josh O'Connor. We've already established this is a stand podcast for him. So, yeah, I don't even, I don't think I have any, no, I don't have any romance movies. I mean, that's a good question. I also just haven't seen many. Now that I think about it, I'm like, what was even, okay, so like, in some ways, though, like, I remember what I grew up with, like, that we had DVDs. of so that's kind of definitely how I could answer it.

I was obsessed with Sweet Home Alabama for a while. It's just so cute and perfect. And not that I don't get McDreamy, but I can't think of who that is, but that guy's always, the guy she ends up with is more my type anyway. Yes. So that always worked. He wasn't evil. Yeah.

Yes. I agree. exactly i did i liked that because yeah even comes back to the house with her parents it's just a cute movie so that's one i just can't think of many i've watched in my adult life is what i'm also really starting to realize like which surprises me i guess i know do you have a favorite or favorites oh wow wow wow i have that effect Wow. Uh-huh.

Oh, that's amazing. I was going to say, we know you're going to be vocal at Wuthering Heights. Do you think it's going to at least probably have a similar atmosphere, like, that you'd probably be with the right people? Oh, my God. I don't believe you. Right? Something about that. Oh, no, it was how very swoony it was in the finale of Daisy Jones and the sixth.

So that's definitely a TV show, not a movie, obviously. But there's also so much about all kinds of love in that book is what book and TV adaptation. But that like final, the finale episode, the way they brought those conflicting feelings together for TV, I was, I just remember being shocked for the whole episode. Like it was just one of the best adaptations I've seen. So that might be. Yes. Yes. Mm-mm.

And it was, and they, that is the similar theme. They both had things they needed to like grow through. Well, all of them, not both. There's all kinds of dynamics going on. Oh. Yes. Yeah. Well, and that's what I loved about Evelyn Hugo, too.

I like, I don't think it surely enough. people have read that book right now too but even like the love between her and the lavender marriage part because was he her agent that's what i couldn't totally remember he like kind of helped her get into the industry in some way and like even their relationship was so complex across the whole its whole time or its whole lifetime she just writes some really good shocking bestseller taylor Taylor Jenkins read is good is good at writing. That's the headline from this episode. My sister-in-law literally just finished Carrie Soto and she was like, how does she like, she was literally saying she was like she doesn't even use like fancy language, but like what is it that feels so real?

And I'm like, it just does. And she does a lot of research. Carrie Soto is your favorite. I loved it. And like the way that, it explores being an unlikable woman or even just how inherent it is to be considered more likely to be considered unlikely if you're a woman um i think the thing for like they're tied i cannot pick kerry evelyn or daisy jones like i can't almost all of them i think affected me like emotionally on the same way um but she also said that those three and then malibu rising and they're all McRiva is unfortunately the character in all of them. But she has said that was like her four books of she wanted to write about extremely ambitious women in different areas of life and like

what that meant. And I'm like that is probably why I like three of them. I enjoyed Malibu Rising but truly the other three I think I loved them all just as much. Yeah. There were some fantastic moments at the end, especially, about confronting and, like, individuating and becoming your own person. And I did enjoy that part. But yeah, hers, a lot of hers would count for Valentine's Day, too. Okay, I'm going to stop so that we can talk about my husband. It sounds like I...