Bookwild - Winter 2023 Books We Can't Wait to Read

Episode Date: November 10, 2023

This week, we share books we can't wait to read that wil be released in winter of 2023!Follow us on Instagram:Gare @gareindeedreadsKate @thegirlwiththecookonthecouchBooks We Talked AboutLast Night at The Hollywood CanteenDon't Look DownIf You See MeAfter DarkThe Vacation HouseThe Engagement PartyThere Should've Been EightA Curse of Scales and FlameThe Other MothersRisk the Fall 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 

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. Oh, my God. Okay. Your icebreaker. Yes. I'm so pogged. I know.

Books were reading this winter. That was kind of where that was coming from. And in one of them, there's a character who is given a title, and they're told to write a whole, like, you have to write a whole film just based off this title that, we tested with people and people like this title. So just like write a movie about it with like zero context. So I thought it would be fun if we both came up with titles and then the each other tried to come up with the synopsis of said title. Yeah, I'm game. Yeah. Do you want to say your title first or get your title first? whatever you want because this is such a genius idea like i'm just rolling with the punches and like

this is this is your show like i'm just i'm just a fan you just showed up you're the like you're the housewife on stage at bravo con and i'm like the audience like giving a question oh yeah that's a reference right now this is my like this is my mic moment like i hello that is a really good comparison um okay i'll tell you the title i came up with then Okay. My title for you is the means. Ooh. Ooh.

Okay. So now do I come up with like what first comes to mind? Or do I come up with like what I think you would imagine this is about? I guess we could go either way. But I have. Which one should we do? Do you have like an idea of what it's about? Not really.

I didn't think too much about what it was about. out. Okay. So mine would be like, um, a dark academia about like kind of taking a thriller into like mean girl style. And like instead of calling them the mean girls, you would call them like the means because like everybody would just be like, oh my God, they're so mean. Those are the means. Like stay away from them. They're mean, mean, mean. And I would have like some sort of like thriller about like, one of them doing something and having like kind of like an a character like harassing them or like sending them text messages, emails, whatever. And then they would be like, okay, is this person harassing us because they know what we did? Or is this person harassing us because

we're like we did something to them that's unrelated? Yeah. So it probably probably like a psychological thriller where they're like, okay, like, we're kind of like mean little bitches. And I don't know if like when we did something bad that we were trying to cover up, if this person like knows about it or if they're harassing us and threatening us because of something we did to them. That does sound, that sounds really fun. So I didn't have, I didn't like think too far into like characters. But what came to my mind was like a story where, like someone got revenge or did something. And at the beginning of it, you don't understand how you could like that, like that person.

And then by the end you do, because the end justifies the means was what came to mind for me. So it's cool. Like very different interpretations, but I love both of them. Oh my God. That's so fun. Yeah. We know this every week. We probably should.

because people could also send them in. That would be the other funny thing. All right. Are you ready? I'm ready. I thought long and hard. I've been thinking so long and then I was like, I've got to stop psyching myself out. There's like four or five that I'm like, oh my God, no.

So mine, and I will tell you why I pick this title after you tell me your synopsis is mine is lying with strangers. Ooh, I love that. That is such a U title. Okay. So mine was strangers to me, I see like a fancy, like really high end, what are lawyers firms called? Law firm? Law firm? Yeah. Like really high end law firm. And like, I'm trying to think of which. what the main character is doing. The main character, like, finally just started working there. Um, so she's new to it all.

And she can tell that, like, everyone there per use has, like, all of their own established relationships and that they're definitely like some secrets. And I feel like then it's like the culture of like being really good at manipulating things is like really prevalent in law firms. So I'm imagining like really hyper competitive whatever where they like enjoy proving to each other that like they can manipulate themselves into thinking certain things. And then someone dies at the firm and she's trying to keep up definitely a man, definitely a man dies. So then she has to keep up lying with these new strangers that she is working with. to figure out the truth.

I love it. Yeah. I love legal thrillers too, and I haven't read one in a while. Have you read? Okay, I have one for you. That's exciting. I have one for you. It's one of my favorite books.

Okay, it's by Debbie Babbitt. Oh, nice. And the name of it is First Victim. Nice. It's one of my favorite books. I read it a couple years ago and I love, love, loved it because like legal thrillers. Yes, you told me this. I need to read it.

It's so good. You will fucking love it. I'm going to bump this one up. But I always think of like I saw this thing on like Twitter or something about like people who like have a tendency to lie when they're on vacation. Have you ever heard of any of these things? like yeah i it's like trying things on because no one knows you right like like it doesn't matter what you like when you go on vacation or something like you lie to people when you travel because like you're not going to get caught right like that you're going to see that person again so when i thought

of like lying with strangers i thought of like kind of like a basic instinct kind of like sexy thriller um about somebody who like lied to a stranger that they like had a one night stage end with and like didn't think it would be a big deal until that lie comes back to bite them in the ass when there's like a crime committed. Nice. Because you could be like lying with strangers like you're telling a lie or you could be like lying with strangers like you're lying in a bed with strangers. Yes.

Yeah. Yeah. I think that's why I thought of the first one. Yeah. Because I got the lying in bed with them too is in my mind. Yeah. Yeah. But I love when like a title has like a.

a double meaning and like you were just kind of like oh like I thought it meant this but it actually means yeah yes yeah I just really like down because I felt like I was really loud oh it isn't to me but I don't I'm listening through speakers but yeah oh my god that was so much fun that was a lot of fun yeah we'll have to do those again those are fun there's actually a podcast I listen to. I wonder if this influenced it as well. And they are, they're much more theater kid than you and I are, but they do like improv, like they're both improv and comedies like their career as well. But on their podcast, they like always do these like improvs that they call hallmarks and they like just make, try to make up a Hollywood movie or hallmark style movie.

just like with improv by like figuring out who the love interests are. And so I wonder if that kind of came into my mind too. Because I'm like, they just have fun with it. And it's kind of the same thing. We should do an episode where we make up like a book together. Like you know how. Yeah,

that would be fun. You know how Liz and Greg like do like the whole like chapter, chapter thing? Yes. That would be so much fun. That would be really cool. That would be like fun for like before Christmas time. Like this is our present to you.

hear you guys go we wrote a podcast book they're like here's the fucking book that we're never going to get to read that would be fun because we really could approach it kind of like one or two sentences the way they approached like chapters yeah oh my god let's do it yeah I think we need to yeah wouldn't that be crazy wouldn't that be crazy if that's how we got our big break is like that would be

even cooler bouncing off stories and people being like oh my god I can't wait for the next like yes podcast thriller because like nobody does that. Yeah. Improv podcast thriller. I know. It does mash a lot up together. Yeah.

Yeah. That's going to be fun. Speaking of things like four to and then the winner. That's what I was going to say. Well, while we're doing that in December. Yeah. I love your idea. Talk about books that we are excited for.

in November and December. I apologize for my vocal fry. For anyone who hates vocal fry, I'm not trying to sound like a Kardashian. It's just my own. Okay, that's good. I can, like, feel it vibrating in my throat. I just think you always, like,

you and Ashley Winstead have, like, very, like, soothing voices. Like, when I listen to your talk, like, I just, I'm like, it's like, I've taken in, like, a little dream world. I love that. Because I feel like I have a kind of masculine voice, but maybe it's still soothing.

I mean, I am gay, so maybe that's... Oh my God, you're right. That was hilarious. I'm like, talk to me all the time, lady. Oh, my gosh, that is too good. Yeah. Like, oh, maybe that's why. It could be it.

But no, I love this idea of, like, just things that we're anticipating, because it's, like, so much fun to know, like, I think the thing about like upcoming books. Like there are sometimes where like a book will not hit as hard as you wanted it to. But then there's like those hidden gems where you're like, oh, I'm going to give this a shot. Like I don't know if I'm going to love it. And then like you read it and you're just like that was like the best thing ever. Mm-hmm.

Yeah. Those are the fun ones each year. We'll have to do. We're going to have to do an episode on that too are like hidden gyms of 2023. Oh, yeah. At least we have all the ideas for. the rest of the calendar year. Yeah, right? Oh my god. That's so funny. Yeah, that would be so much fun to do the hidden gems. Yes. Because I know we've talked about it on episodes before about how like it's fun to

find like an indie author or just one that isn't like a major darling on Instagram or whatever. And so it is fun to find them. I'm all about indie authors right now. You are. I am. It's like all I'm reading. That's awesome. What's your first book that you're looking forward to this winter? Well, I'm currently reading it. So I'm going to start off with last night at the Hollywood Canteen. It's by Sarah James. And it is, it takes place in 1943 Hollywood and murder mystery playwright Annie Lawrence,

who's looking for a break in her career. starts networking at the Hollywood canteen, a club exclusively staffed by showbiz personalities for servicemen. However, the glitz and glamour turned dark when despised film critic Fiona Ferris is found dead in the canteen kitchen, prompting Annie to join forces with Fiona's discontented friends known as the Ambassadors Club to uncover the killer among the club's enigmatic volunteers. And I will say right now,

It made me nervous that it's historical fiction because that's what we get nervous about. But I did start it. It just came out two days ago. And the characters don't feel old-timey. And I feel like for me, that's what then makes it just as enjoyable. Like they're also very snarky, which, of course, I'm always going to end up reading that. But, like, you still manage to be in, like, 1940s to Hollywood without, like, reading it. like an old-timey voice in your head is what I'm trying to say and it really does spin.

Yes. Like everything's like and then I'm like, but it is the characters are really, really fun. I'm really, really enjoying them and it kind of has Knives out vibes. That's kind of what it's like. It's like something kind of goes crazy and now there's like five people that are kind of like, I mean, it probably had to be one of us five, right? And so they're all, like, suspicious of each other. And, like, the way the, like, murder mystery playwright main character is kind of solving it. It reminds me of knives out. So I'm excited to see if it kind of ends that

way, too. That is cool. I think it's, like, a really interesting concept to have somebody who's, like, a murder mystery writer. Yeah. Because they're like, okay, it's, like, kind of my job to, like, like, if I were writing this, how would I, like, who would it be kind of thing? So that's really cool. Yeah. And I'm glad that it's not like super historical. It doesn't like I found myself not very aware of it, which was how I felt when I read Evelyn Hugo. And I think it is just like sometimes when the fear sometimes the character still just feel complex enough. And then the other thing that I just am so picky about like sometimes I wish I wasn't is pacing. So like the pacing keeps things going. And I think sometimes historical fiction feels

like the pacing doesn't keep going. Yeah, yeah. It doesn't feel that way with this one. No, it sounds really good. And I'm glad you enjoyed doing it. And I'm glad that like it was one of those things where you're like, I'll give it a shot and it's working out for you. You could say it might be one of my hidden gyms.

Oh my God, maybe it will be. Cheerio. I know. I don't know why I said it that way. We're totally in character. Now we're building our historical murmurry tonight as we speak. I think so. Okay.

Are you going in like order of like pup date? No. Okay. I don't think so. I want to talk about this one because she's an indie author. It's her first MM romance. Ooh. It sounds very ominous.

but like I love like here's the thing about like the MM romances that I've been reading is like some of them are very like they hit you really hard in the chest like there's like things that like happen to the characters that like bring them on a journey and then other times they're just like fun and light and smutty and um if you hear a weird growling it's my dog because now he's like I'm awake and I'm ready to terrorize you boyfriend it's not my boyfriend it's not my boyfriend boyfriend. Rallying at you from the corner. So my first one

I think comes out in the end of December and it's called Don't Look Down by Jessica Anne. Nice. And it's about Landon and Skyler. Landon's one of the first openly bisexual players in the NHL and he

has dealt with men and women alike romantically. And he meets Skyler in a random video game chat. They have an instant connection and like kind of like fall for each other. And they're both kind of like, oh, this is Kismet. Like I never would have thought that this video chat game would have like found me my soulmate, blah blah blah.

But then it says that tragedy leaves Skyler broken and he wants to know if Landon can remind him how to spread his wings again and sore. and Landon is saying that life slams Skyler into the boards and shatters the man that he loves. He has to face his greatest fear of all and drag him out of the depths of despair. So I love when there's like, I don't love tragedy, but like I kind of do. I love when like, I love when it says that there's some sort of tragedy or there's something that happens that's going to like, I'm just going to like take the entire story and like flip it all around. Yeah. But I love that like you, you don't know what it is. You know what I mean? Like sometimes you read a synopsis and it's like when, you know, so-and-so's like family passes away or like, give it to get into a car accident. Yeah. Oh, God. Oh, God. Dark and twisty. But I love that like you don't know what it is. So you're like kind of going into it blind. But like you're going to have that like.

anxiety of being like, oh my God, like, I know something's happening or like going to happen. Yeah. So it sounds like it's very sweet. And at the end, a couple of the things that you were saying, I thought we're about to be sexual, like in the synopsis, like slams the boards against or something. And then it just kept turning out to be really sweet stuff. And I was like, okay, okay, it's a sweet book. Yeah.

Yeah. I mean, I'll see if there. I'm sure there's going to be steam in it. but I kind of like the synopsis because it like it's very popular in MM romances to have like dual perspective. So even when they write out the plot, it's like you're reading you're reading the synopsis from like each character's perspective. Okay. So I like the one that's like the NHL character being like when life slams the man that I love into the boards like a hockey reference. So yes.

But yeah. And it says it's going to be the first in a series. I didn't know that was a hockey reference. Oh, yeah. Like, if you're, like, playing hockey and then, like, one player, like, slams the other one into, like, the boards to, like, get the puck from him. Uh-huh. That makes sense.

It's, like, kind of, like, you don't want to be that hockey player that gets, like, smashed up against the Plexigast, you know? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I know it's pretty violent. Mm-hmm. A violent, full contact sport. I love a hockey player.

You're like, I know all the hockey things now. This podcast took a turn. Oh, man. Well, that sounds really good and exciting. Yeah, I'm excited. I'm excited. I think there's going to be a cover reveal soon, too. Ooh, those are always fun.

I love seeing covers. Even if books I don't always read. There's a little Murphy. He's just peeking in. He's like, hey, guys. I read books with dad. Oh, that is so cute. He always hangs over there and he's like,

Hey, Oh my gosh. If any of you are listening, you should technically go watch Murphy on YouTube because that was pretty cute. He's just going to hang. He wants to hear my book recommendations. Yeah. Yeah.

He's like, well, he has this game now that it's snowing. Oh, he wants to go outside and play in the snow every half hour. So he took him outside to go pee before we recorded. So we wouldn't have an accident. But now he's like,

well, it's kind of dark and scary outside. And I want to play in the snow. But I'm just not going to get my wife. Yeah, not right now. He's just going to stare at the door. Yeah, he's just going to stare at the wall and just pray that somebody shakes them outside to play in the snow. Eventually, Murphy. Eventually. We'll get to you. We'll get to you, Murph. Well, I have an indie author as well that has a book release. Is it in November or December? It's December. December 5th called If You See Me by Audra And it is about when Leighton Marx is abducted at a festival, her husband, Owen, and ex-best friend

Marnie questioned the official explanation of random human trafficking. Marnie, with the help of Sarah, discovers discrepancies in Leighton's disappearance, leading her to a complex web of secrets faced with threats from conflicting parties. Marnie must decide whether to risk everything to unveil the truth about Leighton or if it might be safer for everyone if the twisted reality remains hidden. And it is like, I have read this one. And it is so fun and it's super twisty, like so many twists at the end of it. And Audra just like writes the like just the most kind of like a mercy.

psychological thrillers. Like, I'm always so in the heads of her characters and that's so fun. I'm so excited. I ordered her first book. Yes. I ordered her first book. Yes. Based on your recommendation.

And she is another indie author. So we love that. She's so nice. She actually told me how much she loves our podcast and offered to send me a copy of her book. Yeah. Which I politely declined because I am all about like supporting indie author. So like if you're an indie author and you offer me a copy of your book, I'm going to say no,

but I'm going to, it's because I'm ordering it to support it for you. Right. So I'm very excited for that one and I can't wait to order my copy. It's so good. I'm also really excited slash nervous about a book that deals with like human trafficking because that's one of my biggest fears. Oh, yeah. especially like, especially being as close as I am to the Canadian border. That's a lot.

That's something that happens here very often is people disappear and they question if it's, you know, because we're so close to the Canadian border if they were trafficked into Canada. Right. Stuff. So and I go get my groceries in Canada and my take out pizza because I'm a little boozy shit. Your foodie. I am. Oh, my God.

I turned in such a foodie. Oh, yeah. But yeah, that sounds so good. and I can't wait to read that one. I know. You're going to love it. I know. I know.

I have full faith and I'm going to love it. He's just so listening. So destructive. I'm going to love it. He's like, I can't wait, Dad. I can't wait. He's like, talk about a thriller next. You've been reading a lot of romance.

So my next one is called After Dark by Ninka Kent, who is also an indie author. And I'm really excited. I think she's like very bingeworthy. I've loved all of her stories that I've read. I hope I say this name right. A-F-T-O-N. Afton, Afton, Afton, Afton, Teachout has been an outcast in a small town for 20 years. Murphy.

Stop it. Afton T. Chow has been an outcast in her town for 20 years. Ever since she was accused of murdering her mother's lover in a black outfit of rage. That is, if one believes the malicious lies. So living with her grandmother, working in a hotel night shift,

and relying on pills to get a day sleep, Afton is due a little luck. And it comes in the form of an unexpected financial windfall. Afton sets out a secret plan in motion to help her only friend flee a toxic husband. The best intention soon spent out of control and Afton is getting unsettling calls from a restricted number and someone has been lingering outside her home. So as her friend's troubled marriage comes into focus, so does Afton's past. That sounds excited for that. I love like.

It has a lot of things going on. Yeah, yeah. I love like her having like a secret past and like you like did she or did she not kill her mother's like lover. I love like her secret starting to come out. I love like the whole like anonymous like person harassing her. Trying to help her friend flee an abusive husband. Like there's just like a lot of things that are like female driven thrillers that I've read in the past that like seem like they're going to be in this book. Right. He's chasing his tail. If he's barking. Okay. Okay. I didn't know.

That's why I like stopped in the middle of like reading the synopsis to that one because I didn't know if you could hear him barking. No. At the same time that that was happening, my. My Alexa heard thought we said that name and it started talking to me. Okay. Okay. So we had both of those things happening at the same time.

He was like barking and I was like, Murphy, stop. But yeah, I love me. I can. So I think that'll be a really fun one. And I think I'm going to be reading that one very soon because it comes out on the 14th, I believe. Oh, nice. Yeah. Well, I don't have a segue. But my next one is called The Vacation House by Jane Shemilt. S-H-E-M-I-L-T. Okay, so this one has like a longer description because it's in two times. timelines. And the first part says Paxos Greece. The vacation house is the luxury getaway for a wealthy English family. Windows open to sun and the sea, a sparkling swimming pool, and a verdant

garden. One hot summer night while the parents and their friends drink wine and amuse themselves, a young woman, the teenage daughter of the Greek caretaker, ventures for a walk on their private beach. Her life will never be the same again. So then. London, England 10 years later. Julia is the perfect spouse and mother, slender, blonde, expensively dressed. She's the classic yummy mummy of high cook organizer, arm candy, and speech writer to her influential husband. I know how to speak. But behind her winning smile is a stifled woman trapped in a gilded cage stricken with anxiety and perfectionism. When Julia meets Laurel, a therapist who promises to help her find fulfillment, Julia opens herself up to the hope of a

different future. What happened in Greece all those years ago that binds these two women together and will uncovering the truth destroy everything or set them free? It says it's a crackling novel of psychological suspense. I kind of like when it's like two things that you don't understand how they're related is always fun watching them come together. Yeah. And I love like, I love like a vacatione like grease or something. Yeah. There's something like a little isolating about being on vacation and so having something like that happen or not like in your typical element.

I'm sorry. Yeah. He's chasing his tail and it's just like getting so pissed off. I can just hear his little like toenails clicking like he's running somewhere, but he's just like in the same spot. He's not going anywhere. He's not going anywhere. But no, that sounds really good.

I've read a book by her before. I'm not sure which one it was. I think it's like the one about about a daughter that went missing. Daughter? The daughter. Yep. Or daughter. Yeah. And I gave it a five star. Oh, nice. I'm excited.

I really like the way that she tells a story. I remember loving that. I think that was one of the first ones I read when I joined Bookstagram. Oh, nice. That's cool. She's right before maybe. Maybe right before? I don't know. Let's see.

Speaking of an island, perhaps. My next one is called the engagement party by Darby Kane. I love her stories. She's so good. Yeah. I keep seeing it. She's so good.

and I just got my copy from the publisher. So I'm really excited for that one. It comes out, I believe, December 5th. Nice. So sometime early December. But it takes place on a private island in Maine. And it says, Emily Hunt went missing from her affluent liberal art school

on graduation weekend. Her body was found floating in a river and a quiet loner who most people on campus really didn't know committed suicide. A tenuous link, one text bound the two dead students together and was enough for law enforcement to close the case. But they got it wrong and now someone's determined to get it right. Twelve years later, college friends gathered to celebrate an engagement over a long overdue getaway on a swanky private island in Maine with only one way in and one way out. Sierra Prescott invited as a guest and unconnected to past events is the only person who soon senses not all is what it seems.

the tension in the air is ignited when they find a dead man in the trunk of a car with a note saying it's time to tell them through. Things get only worse as a torrential storm strands them together. Oh my God. So much. I love dual timeline. I love, I love shitty cops. Like, I love that like this. Yeah.

Do you hear very high pitch squeaking? Mm-mm. Okay, thank God. because now he's got his little purple purple elephant he's like I'm going to get attention one way or another but I love when like I love when there's like shitty cops and somebody's like okay like I have to be the armchair detective that's going to like do your job for you so the fact that like this girl was found floating in the river and like this other loner had committed suicide and they're like oh must be murder suicide like let's just close the book on this but I also really love when there's like an interwoven friendship group and then you have the outcast that's coming in being like something's like a little fucked up about this friend group.

Yes. What is that Shakespeare quote? There's like something's off in Denmark or something. I should not be trusted for my Shakespeare quotes. the only one I can think of is hell is empty all the devils are here that's a good one and I will always remember that because of one tree hell oh my gosh yes you're so right oh I was I was right it's a line from Hamlet something is rotten in the state of Denmark is means an outsider saw that something was not right with this. So, maybe you're ready for if we were villains now.

Now that you're quoting the ambulance. Oh, no. Yeah, technically. It's waiting for you to just hang up. Yeah. I just can't even. No. So also, I have all of Derby Kane's books like on my want to read. And I have not read a single one. of them is what I just learned. So I have a lot of catching up to do. I don't need if we were villains. I don't. I'm awful with remembering titles today for some reason, but stop it. Pretty little wife. It's like one of my like all-time favorites. It's so good. My gosh. Okay, that's good to know. Murphy, get off the kitchen table. Murphy.

that dude is hopping around well I have one about a friend group not an outsider called there should have been eight by Nalini Singh I'm hoping in A-L-I-N-I so I'm assuming Nalini

and it is about as you could imagine a group of eight teenagers They met when they were teenagers. Now they're adults and time has been kind to some and unkind to others. None more so than to be the one they lost nine years ago. They've gathered to reminisce at B's family estate on one's glorious mansion straight out of a gothic novel. Best friends, old flames, secret enemies, and new lovers are all under one roof.

But when the weather turns and they're snowed in at the edge of eternity, at the edge of eternity, it's dramatic. there's nowhere left to hide from their shared history. As the walls close in, the pretense of normality gives way to long-buried grief, bitterness, and rage. Underneath it all, there's the nagging feeling that bees' shocking death wasn't what it was claimed to be. And before the weekend is through, the truth will be unleashed no matter the cost. Sounds good. I love a snowstorm. I know it sounds fun. I'm going to add that. I just saw

Who did I just see? Dennis just read it I think Oh did he? I think he just posted about it Like literally yesterday maybe And he liked it He's always right

I always like I always like when like The past and the present Are intertwined And I'm not like It's not like I'm obsessed with locked room I love the cover But I do enjoy it

When it's like like boiling the pressure up on people. So like the whole storm coming in, they're basically all stuck. Yeah. It looks like she's like, uh, she's written a lot and like fantasy too. Whoa, that's interesting. So that's very interesting. Wow. Yeah. It's like a ton. I think it is so cool when people can do multiple genres. Oh my God. I know. I know. I know. So cool. I want to check that out. that sounds really good yeah speaking of fantasy oh I like I see what you did there

I don't even know how that like that's like true kissment right there because I was like I don't know like this is like the one that I was like I'm not gonna have a segue for this book like there's no way right um you found one my boy Max Walker who writes so like amazing romantic thrillers um has his first male-male-male romantic fantasy coming out.

It's called A Curse of Scales and Flame. And it comes out on the 10th of November. So tomorrow. And it's about Danian Blackthorn. Apparently dragons are dying. And all over the world, a curse was taking them out one by one. nobody knew how to stop it. So Damian watched his mother burn, watched his little brother fall sick,

and he didn't want anyone else to die. So he was determined to figure out how to stop the dragonfall. And that's when he meets Robbie with his big brown eyes and charming smile. And Robbie is being hunted by vampires. So after saving him twice from a certain death, they soon come to realize that there's a reason that he is being hunted. and the reason may be the answer to solving all of the problems. But also a whole new set of problems.

So we've got vampires and dragons and hot, fiery man-on-man action. And I am so excited. I feel like it's going to be your most adventurous book. It is. It is. In the way that fantasy is adventure. Yeah. Right, right.

Well, when I was in, I will never forget this. but like when I was in, I think it was my freshman year of high school. We used to have that like, I think it was like Fridays. Like you would just read for the whole English period. And our English teacher is like one of my biggest influences as to why I became a reader. Because her, she was just amazing. She was my favorite teacher that I've ever had. But she would go around and just like kind of talk to people and be like, oh, like, that looks really good or whatever.

And she, I remember her coming over to my teacher. desk and I was reading interview with a vampire by Anne Rice. And she was like, do you say elementary school? I was a freshman, a freshman in high school. Freshman. Okay, why did I? Okay, go on. She was like, do you, she's like, you're reading Anne Rice? And I was like, yeah, like, I'm like, I'm like really into this. And like, I was like, I'm not usually big on like vampires and werewolves and all of that stuff, like in a book. Like, I'll watch it in a movie. But she was like, this is like very advanced for you. Like, are you like, like, you know what's going on and like it's not. And I was like, oh, no, I totally get it.

And I like told her what it was about. And she was just like, this is really impressive. And I can't wait to hear what you think of like the rest of them. But yeah. So other than that, like I have not read, I never read Twilight, you know, but I haven't read anything like vampirey, wherewolf. I've never read fantasy. So I'm really excited that this is my like first one.

I know. Murphy. So yeah. Yeah, I think sometimes when like it's fantasy plus something, then you like are like, oh, well, I love this so much that I'll like enjoy reading a version of that and just like a new genre. Yeah. If I can find. I'm really excited. He just needs to be a part of the podcast.

He just is like, I want to play dad. You've been working. Like I'm on to you. now like I know that you're fake working. Yeah. He's like, this isn't real. You're doing your, you're doing your podcast and this is not working. So. Oh my gosh.

Well, for the sake of poor board Murphy, I will just jump to my last one. The other mothers by Catherine Faulkner. That was almost on my list. That's so exciting because I actually have a copy of it for you. Oh, I have an extra coffee. That's super exciting because I'm probably going to interview her like 10 days from now. Okay, I'll send it out. I don't know.

I'll send out tomorrow. Oh, Roof. Murphy wants to interview her too. So yeah, I'm excited about, okay. I'm going to mute my mic while you talk about it until, so he doesn't interrupt. So Mr. Sir has his moment. I get it. Yeah.

excited for this one because I really enjoyed her one from last year as well, Greenwich Park. I really just like I loved the way she wrote her characters and everything. So this one is called The Other Mothers and it is about Tash. And when a young nanny dies under a serious circumstances near new mom Tash's home, she is certain that this could be the story to relaunch her journalism career. Meanwhile, she also needs to find a local playgroup for her son. Nearby is the gorgeous neighborhood filled with wealthy and friendly families, stunning houses, and lavish playdates. But when another young woman is found dead, it's clear there's much more to the community than meets the eye, and the more Tash investigates the more she's led uncomfortably close to the mothers in her son's play group.

Are these women really her friends, or is there another more dangerous reason why she has been accepted into their exclusive world? who exactly is investigating who. Oh, why do I look like that? Sounds good. You paused when you were reading the synopsis. And I thought that was why. And I was like, I was like, she's frozen and that little, that little thumbs up bubble came up.

I don't know what that is. I am right there with you. I loved her book that she wrote last year. Yeah. And. Murphy loved it too. She really loved it. He was not born then.

He was not alive. But I really loved that one. And I will say like out of everyone I've read that like have been compared to like the girl on the train and Paula Hawkins like she's probably the closest one. Like Catherine Walker is probably the closest one to like if you love girl on a train. If you love Paula Hawkins then like this is your jam. Yeah, that's a really, I agree with that. That's a really good point. Yeah, I love that one. I like devoured it last year. Me too. And I got a cool tone. You got a, oh, that's cool. I got a cool tote from them and I get compliments on it when I go grocery shopping. Oh my gosh. That is so cool. That was her debut, right? I think it was. Yeah. Yeah. So I'm really excited for this one. But I'll send out the arc to you tomorrow. Nice. Because I kept, I kept meaning to like, I kept meaning to like, mention. to you that I had it. And I kept meaning to mention to you that I had it, but we like, we always go off on tangents when we talk. Like, we don't talk about the same thing for very long.

So, like, I was like, oh, like, I have to keep remembering to tell her this. And then when you said it, I was like, that's awesome. So, yeah. Another coincidence. So I will send that out to you tomorrow so you have it for your Thank you. So my last one is a male male romance. I did a very even, even split this time. And it's called Risk the Fall. And it's about, I don't know if it's Riven or Riven, but I'm going to say Riven.

Riven says that he's never been great at letting people in and life is easier if he just buries his feelings. People tend to let him down, which is only proven when his best friend Rex accidentally kills a man and Riven takes the fall for it. So when he gets out of prison, the last thing he wants to do is go back to Clayton, Oregon, where his grandma lives. But grandma's the only one that's had his back. So there he goes. So his plan is to like kind of go back and live like a quiet lifestyle, like knocking into trouble, whatever. And leave town for good. But then he meets Parrish, who wants nothing to do with his family and their illegal activities.

And when Riven returns, he thinks that their things are going to get worse. Um, so Parrish is Rex's brother. So the guy who killed the man. Um, so he kind of finds out what his brother did and like Riven went to prison for something that Rex did. Um, and then they end up like seeing each other a little differently. Um, so I think there's going to be a little bit. romance between Riven and his ex-best friend's brother.

But it says that it is an ex-best-friend's brother romance that contains violence, drug use, crime, and the death of a non-main character. So I kind of like that this is like a darker storyline without being like a thriller. Yeah. And it just seems like it's going to be very character-driven and like

super, super... dark. Yeah. I kind of always like when people are like relationships where one person's like on the wrong side of the law. But you just can't help yourself. That was in one of the like noirs I read recently this year. And I was like, oh, we love each other so much and have known each other since we were kids. but his parents are part of the mom.

Yeah, yeah. I also kind of like the whole like, I went to prison for something that like my best friend did. And like coming out and being like, like, that's like something I really like in movies. Like there's, I know that we're like anti Justin Timberlake right now. But he had a movie come out called Palmer.

Yeah. Which is like where he gets out of prison and tries to lead like a little like, low-key lifestyle and it was so good and it was so sweet and I just like absolutely watched it I see it on Apple TV every now and then it's so good it's so good I highly recommend it to everyone I mean he's acting so hopefully even if Justin Timber like makes you mad right now he's being a different character yeah so even if you like don't like him it also does deal with like identity in like the LGBT community because there's like a little boy in the movie who like loves to wear dresses and is like I don't understand why people say I can't be a princess for Halloween.

So it's really good and it's really cute. Murphy loved it. Two paws up, buddy. Two paws up. That's like the highest rating ever. Yeah. Yeah. He's like, it was so good.

I can't get enough. He's just flying around. Oh my God. He's just. Well, I think Murphy is here to tell us that those are our picks. And that's all. That's all she wrote. Murphy says go pre-order your copies now and play in the snow.

Yes.