Broad Ideas with Rachel Bilson & Olivia Allen - The First Lit Broads Book Club with Lea Griffin

Episode Date: November 13, 2025

Rachel and Olivia kick off their first book club with Lea Griffin, diving into their honest thoughts, emotional takeaways, and a few spoilers on Heart the Lover by Lily King.Watch the video of this episode here!Like the show? Rate Broad Ideas 5-Stars on Apple Podcasts and SpotifyAdvertise on Broad Ideas via Gumball.fm See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This is a Headgum podcast. Hax is back for its fifth and final season, and so is The Hacks podcast. Join the Hacks creators and showrunners, Lucia and Yello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky as they unpack the Emmy-winning comedy series. On each episode, here's stories from the set, what goes on in the writer's room,

and how these beloved characters close out their final season. Watch Hax streaming exclusively on HBO Max and listen to The Hax podcast, on HBO Max or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to Broad Ideas, very special bonus edition of Lit Broads. Come on down. This is our special bonus episode covering our book club, Lit Broads and our first book that we picked, Heart the Lover. Leah Grace Griffin will be joining us as well, the third musketeer of the Lit Broad Book Club.

Anything you want to add? You, Olivia, you're in the book club. Oh. You're in the episode. Listen to the episode. Read the books. Yay. Yay. Thanks for making me read that depressing-ass book on my birthday. Well, that's not our fault that it was on your birthday. You had over a month to read it, so that's on you. That part's not your fault, but I was feeling a little resentful at Rachel as I was going to sleep last night. For the book? Yeah. You're acting like I knew what it was about.

You wrote it. I had no idea what it was about, you guys. I'm like in a bad mood today. Yeah. Are we, did we start? Yeah, sick. Well, this is where we let it all out, talking about Cart the Lover, our first book of Lerrin.

And our last. Libraud's book club. I did not see what was coming. So spoiler alert, if you haven't finished... Don't listen to this. Don't read it. No, don't listen to this. No, don't do that.

No, they should read it and then they can come back and watch this and get mad along with us. Yeah. But they should finish reading it. No, of course. I'm joking. Of course they should finish reading it. I finished it in one evening. I mean... It's a very quick read if you have, like, if you just sit down with it.

Don't stand up. Don't stand up. Olivia, you just need to stand yet. It's just the standing up that really doesn't. She loves to stand up. I think that we had no idea what we were getting into. I actually, it was a tough read because it was very emotional. towards the end. It took some unexpected turns.

Well, we can talk about it candidly because anyone who hasn't finished shouldn't listen. So that's your warning. Yeah. I'm having... Yeah, and again, reading it on your birthday, that sucks, but also your fault. Okay, so I'm just being funny, really. I think it was a really great... It was really good. I love books that make me cry and make me feel things. like I actually do. And I did love it because of that. I also hated it because of that, though, because it was so painful to read. Yeah. And it like makes me want to cry just thinking

about it to be hysterical. It's that hit. So it hits so many painful things that we all have to deal with in life at some point or another in so many different ways. So love, you know, sickness, death, children, and all the stuff. Let's start with the most painful, Leah. Go ahead. For me, the most painful is like the death aspect, just like time passing and then death following that time passing,

even her mom, you know, when she talks about losing her mom at the end and when she's holding his hand and she's like, I'm holding my mom's hand. And when she says she didn't want to dream about her mom because it would be painful to see her. I could not relate to that more. My mom, it's very healthy and alive, by the way. But, you know, as you know, we don't want to.

That's something we all have to deal with at some point, and we don't want to. And losing a loved one. I lay in bed sometimes and watch my husband sleep and think what would, if anything were to happen to him. So it just hit. And the fact that her child is sick is just, you know, it's so, I'm bummed that they put that in there almost. I don't know. It's like, did her kid have to be fucking sick? That was too much for me. That's when you lose me because it's too painful. I shut off and I'm like, no, I'm done here. When it comes to kids being sick, I have very, very, very low tolerance.

Yeah. I honestly for me, the biggest takeaway was how important it is to be present and being in the moment and with the people you love and the things you do and your children and everything. And I think that was the biggest takeaway for me. But, you know, I read it at the beginning of the month and very, very quickly. So I've had time where it's not as fresh on my mind as it is for, well, you read it last night, Leah and Olivia, you just finished it. But thank God I didn't read it now because I lost a loved one within this last week. And it's just the whole death process is I watched my grandfather. pass away slowly like that where you're waiting for them to kind of slip away and they finally do and it just shed such a light on that and I was hysterical like reading that book at like hysterical

I woke up in the morning my eyes were completely swollen um but I really appreciated the book yet the kid thing I the kid thing is always hard especially as a mother like your kid going through anything and That was, yeah. And I don't know. And I think it's something maybe I should have researched. I don't know what's taken from Lily King, the author, if there's any personal ties to some of the things that happened. I want to say there is some truth to some of it, I think. But you know what? It's also a harsh reality. Children get sick, you know? And it's like, of course we don't want to read about that because it's so frigging painful. And it's like you don't want to have to think. about something like that ever but it's a reality so it's like you know people are going to write about it whether they've experienced or not i don't know if she's had to experience there isn't there like in the beginning or something doesn't she say something like i would always write this story um i do i would write our story i thought that was to yeah yeah but i'm but i'm saying like so there's i think there's truth to some some right got it got it yeah yeah yeah yes yeah maybe i mean i think that for me

The, like, at the end, and it was, I finished it last night. And when she, oh, I see, I can't talk about this. It's just like too much. Just do it. You have to. It's hard. I know. I can't.

You have to. That's why we're here. Just like when she goes home to her husband and the kids and they're sleeping. I know. And she can smell there's when she's like, but it smells. I know. I like went in the room and like watched Shepard and Elliott sleeping and I know that's just like. I was like, oh my God, that is totally agree.

What like what a beautiful like a tribute to the writer like writing. No, she did a remarkable job of hitting so many relatable moments. Even like her little Chipotle burrito at the airport. I was like, you know what I mean? It was just so specific and like she couldn't eat and it was like there. And, you know, I think having been in the hospital with Shepard a few times, there's something that, like, when you have a kid that has any ailment, it's hard, it's a hard, like, line to, like, protect yourself from the fears and to be present and to be in reality, right? And reading that book, I'm like, and Jeff gets annoyed at me all the time for this because if he wants to talk about anything difficult, sometimes I flee. And I'm like, I can't even, he'll be like, I can't even imagine.

I don't want to talk about that. Like, what's, what are we doing tomorrow? And he'll be like, I need you to like be here with me with this for a second. And it's like, I can't even let myself imagine it or I feel like I'll fall off at. a cliff there's no end to. Does that make sense? So at certain points during the book, I literally would put the book down and be like, nope, not doing that. Like, I'm just not doing that. But you did do it. I fucking did it. And that's why I was resentful at you, Rachel. Because I wrote the book. No, but no, it's just, but then also it's like, I would have an

easier time, I think, if it was a real story, because then I'd be like, this mom deserves me to read this. Like she had to go through this. Like the least I could do is read it. But the fact that it wasn't a true story was hard for me or maybe it was. How do I know? Oh, we don't know. I feel like a lot of authors do pull from their real life books, you know. So there's possibility. But there is a mom that is going through that right now or has.

I know. You know, so whether it's true or not. I mean, there is. I know. In a sense, I guess, you know, because. people are going through that, which is... We have moms in our lives that are currently facing those kind of choices. Yeah.

And it's just a bit much, you know? Yeah, for sure. It got heavy. But on a lighter note... Yeah, let's go back to the love triangle. In the beginning, more towards the beginning of the book, when how relatable, like, how her first boyfriend was with her? What's his name?

Sam. Sam. Yeah. I, again, everyone knows my memory. I read at the beginning of the month, so names. He reminds me of one of my first boyfriend. Like, I'm not going to say who, but you guys. I'm not going to say the name.

I know, but give hints. How old are you? I was about 19. Okay. Yeah. No. No. Uh-uh.

No. I know. I was like it couldn't be, but that age. No, right before that. I guys. Oh. Okay. And a sterile.

Got it. We had a stripper at his house. Correct. What? Okay. What? We did have strippers at someone's house. Okay.

No recollection. One stripper. Was I there? No. I don't know, but I think Leah and Erica made out. What? Barely. Yeah.

Really. We played spin the bottle. I was not there. You weren't there. No, you weren't. Anyways, yes, very relatable. You're welcome, everybody. the hell are you guys talking about?

We're talking about a good time is what we're talking about. What are you doing? Getting blamed for a book I didn't write. I know. I'm not blaming you. I was just really mad at you. It was a good choice for it. It was a good first book club book, I think.

You know. Here's what I want to know from you guys is that when you were reading it, was there a person that was your yash? And did you think about like if that was happening? right now would you be going to their bedside and or because part of me goes god that was like a lifetime ago like would i really go be by that person's bedside like would they even want me there anymore it's been so long huh do you get what i'm asking yeah yeah i know you're yash i'm trying to think of rachel's i don't really have one yeah you do what you're yash oh I mean, this is super cryptic, you guys, and not probably.

No, if you read the book, everybody's thinking right now of their yash. Right. Okay. Yeah. You know? Yes. It feels like, who's my yash? Tell me after.

Why are you looking at me like that? She's trying to telepathically tell you who your yash is, I'm guessing. Okay. Anyway, we want to know from everyone. Who's your yash? We want to know your thoughts. on the book choice Are you ending this?

No, I'm just trying to, you know, make it She does this all the time She pulls out Where are you going? She hasn't made sure you're finished Before she pulls out Where are you going? What do we think of that?

Thinking of a lot of people's ashes. Okay, back to the question. Yeah, would you go? Would you go? Would you leave? Would you? Would you? daughter at home and whatever.

Leave your husband at home. I don't think I have someone as significant as Yash was. Sure. Yash was to her. Would you guys do that, though? Like, would you leave your family if you had a Yash like that? Would you leave your family, go to their bedside? I mean, they had unfinished business, to be fair, is.

Yeah, I was not a fan of how he. She had, sorry, not aborted. She had given up their baby for. Oh yeah, let's talk about that. Oh, yeah. I forgot about that part. Yeah, I know. It's kind of like it's lost a little on the shuffle, but that I think is mainly why she does go back.

Oh, my God, I forgot about that. And then she tells him. And he feels better leaving the world knowing that. That she's there in the world. Oh, God. I forgot about that. Oh, oh. The part when he, no.

What? What? What? When he said, please let me. I can't. You have to. Please don't know that I loved her. No, fuck that.

That's simple. That I'm rooting for her. That kills me. Why? Because it's one thing to be like, I love you. But like to think of like a dad in heaven like rooting for you. Well, you can, I mean, I hope my dad's rooting. Did you say you what?

I hope my dad's rooting for me. You do. So. It doesn't feel like it. No, I disagree. I feel like I feel like our dads are. I know. I'm just saying like there's something about that that if that child ever hears it is more powerful than I love you in a sense.

Yeah. Yeah. Not like there's anything more powerful than love, but there is a sense like, I don't know. There's something powerful about that. I think that was also a message that I got from it is like how insanely powerful love is in all aspects. Like with him, with how Sam and him love each other. Yeah. Oh, yeah.

That's hardcore. Her relationship with her husband, how much her husband loves her and lets her go, leave their family. I know. I was thinking about that. Well, my husband would not let me do that probably. So not let me, but he wouldn't be happy about it. He wouldn't be supportive. Like Silas was very like, he was clearly an evolved man.

So love was like a huge message. Being present and also how important love is like at the end of the day. That's like, you know, when you're dying. What else matter? And also communication. I did wonder like how I would feel if I was in that situation where someone had my baby and didn't tell me. That's really tough. That's tough.

I was trying to think like he almost died when she told him. Yeah. I think that is a question like. Right? Yeah. How would you feel, you know? Not you because you're not a dude, but. But I did put myself in that situation.

I'm like, I would have wanted to know much sooner. But it was probably the perfect moment because he could leave the world. Like knowing, you know what I mean? If you would have known sooner, what would have happened? Like, go find her. You know what I mean? Like, I don't know. Timing is everything.

I know. Deep thoughts. I'm lucky my mom got to meet her son. Yeah. Well, I'm not lucky. She is. You're really lucky. I'm so lucky.

But, I mean, I think she was in a similar situation, in a sense. The men didn't know. They had a son. The men? Oh, sorry. The multiple men that were the father to the son. The man. I don't think anyone's going to want to listen to us talking about this book.

Why would you say that? Why would you say that? You don't know. You want to just be more technical about the book? Let's go. No, I don't want to be technical about the book. Also, like, anger, holding on to anger. Don't look back.

You know what? He was so angry at him. Was interesting for me in this is that she felt like a lone wolf as opposed to the way we are with each other as friends. Like there wasn't. She had the one friend. Oh, she had that friend. She showed up at her door when she was pregnant. Yeah.

The one who made the hat for her son. It didn't feel as like not many people have that. I was thinking that too about at the hospital. I'm like, wow, he had like a family that showed up and so many people were there. Like, so many people do not have that. That's really sad. I know. Well, he created his own family, much like we have done as well, a lot of us, even though we have families.

Like, he created a family of friends and their children. I've done that. You know, I don't have kids. So your kids are my kids, right? He did that with his. So I related to that. actually, like his relationships with the children and how much they loved him. Because all your children love me.

She's so sure of herself over there. Yeah, so confident. She acts like she runs a book club. I read. Yeah, when you're pressured that you have to. I'm just kidding. I know. I should have read it sooner, but I read it.

Yeah. I'm really thought I did. I think everyone should read it. It's a great, it's like I would tell people to read it for sure, even though the writing, Olivia and I were talking about, the writing was a little choppy. It can be like a little hard to follow sometimes because the way she writes in like present tense kind of as it's happening.

It's because she's focusing on being in the present. Totally, which I agree. It's totally true. But sometimes that can be a little hard to follow like with dialogue and stuff I felt like. I'd have to go back and be like, wait, who's talking about? It would make me, I was like, oh, is this a trick? Not a trick, but like, you have to kind of go back and be like, wait, who's talking right now? Where, like, I don't know.

That was a little tricky for me. And then knowing, like, right when she started speaking in past tense, you're like, oh, he died. So it's like you knew he died right at the beginning. You didn't? I didn't know. I didn't know. When did you know he died? I knew he died right when she said right at the beginning.

of the second part. Yeah. What part? He died. Part two? What does it say? I'm looking. That's part three.

I know. Part two. I knew. Because she said, you came down the stairs. You did this. I was like, oh, she's talking to someone on their deathbed. Why would she be telling him what he did? When he met Silas and when he met the kids,

She's like, you asked for a cup of tea or however she put it. She's narrating to him what he did in that meeting. I don't, I'm not following. Yeah, I'm not following either. How does that mean that? I knew the only reason you do that is if someone's unconscious and you're reminding them or narrating to them what happened. Otherwise, why would you be telling someone, you came to my house, you went outside. like what other circumstance would you be in?

Yeah. I see what you're saying, but I definitely didn't think that at the time when I was reading it. Okay, I did. I was like, oh, he died. And now we're going to have to figure out how, how. But it's still very probably you look at me and laugh. Why is she saying that to him?

She's not. She's saying it to the herself, like the whole time that she's speaking. it's in like present tense. It's not. I don't. I never felt like she was talking. It switched. It never was like that in the whole first part of the book.

It's definitely not something I picked up on. But then once it switched to part two, she started speaking in past tense. Like you looked at me. So it's like, oh, she's not you looked at me. It's you look at me. Okay. Well, she's still talking. Boys get up.

I mean, that's present tense. She's still talking in present tense. intense. I wait for you to speak. Like, she's not saying, I waited for you. The boys got up. Yeah, but she's talking to him as if he wasn't there. Okay. I didn't get that, but I can see why you would think that. What? I mean. Why? I did. Yeah. I don't know what to say. I got it. Yeah. Yeah, like right away. I was like, I didn't pick up on that. No. Yeah, guys. He died. Well, he. Spoiler alert. It's funny because I recommended this book, you know, and then I read it.

And there's certain people who like a good friend who lost their dad to cancer within the past couple years. And I was like, are you sure you want to read this? You know, because it's so potent, like that whole experience and going through that with someone. Yeah. But it can be cathartic, you know. And I don't know. She doesn't make you feel like you're there when she's writing about it, when you're, when she's going, you feel like you can picture, I mean, everything. I wonder if they're going to make it a

movie. I feel like they will. I love the little food details. Yeah. Like I took the Lorna Dunes off of the tray. Yeah. I'm like, now I'm in the hospital. I'm with you. You got me. I'm there with you. You know what I mean? Like the little packet, like, yeah. Because those are the things that like, even when she's like, they ordered this, but I ate a sandwich. I'm like, it was that plain turkey sandwich on cold wheat bread from the hospital. Like those little things to me put me in the present. Yeah, totally. And make it really relatable.

I want to learn the card game. I don't. What card game? Heart the lover. What are you talking about? Oh. I was like, what? Got it.

What was the, it's called like, I got a look in the book to see. I can't. Hinnacom. Hinnacom? I don't know. The book, yeah, the card game they play.

Okay. What? Let's play a little game. Oh, boy. What did they look like to you? And we don't find out her name to the end. And very end. What did she look like to you?

What did Yash look like to you? And what did Sam look like to you? Who would play them in the movie? I had a hard time placing Yash because it was so specific. And I was like, you know? Yes. Because his dad was Indian. His mom was Souther.

Yeah. Yeah. So, yeah. That it was just kind of like because you like to play, you know, casting the characters. I know I was trying to think of that as well. It was hard. I mean, I like picture him the way she describes them. You know, you obviously paint them in your mind.

Sam, I can picture like I think of people I know, you know. And then what about her blonde hair, brown hair, red hair? Lighter. Black hair. I pictured her lighter. I pictured her lighter. Interesting. Yeah, like Jennifer Lawrence-esque, probably. Deep Brunette. Really? Yeah. I pictured her like the girl, like who I would cast her, is the girl from White Lotus, the daughter that played Parker Posey's daughter. Oh, I could see that. Oh, wait, Parker Posey's daughter.

She's the one with the dark hair. I was thinking the first White Lotus, the girl, that actress went with the brown hair or the second. I can't remember which one I was. The one where she marries the rich guy. Who's that actress? Oh, no, no, no. The girl that plays Parker Posey's daughter, like, dark hair, fair kind of skin. I didn't see that season. What? You didn't watch the last season of White Bowers?

No, I don't only watch TV shows, guys, unless I'm on an airplane. I know, but that one's a good one. Yeah. I read. I pictured her lighter, green eyes, light eyes, white eyes. blue eyes and like later hair. Fab. I did it.

Is that weird? Two against one. And then what about Sam? Sam, I think she referred to him as a ginger. She did. Yeah, so I pictured that. Almost like, you know what I pictured is like from Happy Days? Ron Howard.

Oh, really? A little bit. I could see that. A little bit. Hmm. Yeah. I was picturing. my friend Caitlin's boyfriend because he is a little ginger.

Yeah, it's like we think of people we know. Yeah. I didn't think of anyone I knew. You don't know any ginger's. He didn't say that. Why are you from the name of ginger? Yeah, what ginger do you know? Prince Harry.

That's a good one. That was quick. That's good. He's a perfect Sam. Yeah, he would be a perfect. He would be a perfect Sam. So, Terry, I know you're listening.

If you want the rights to this book and play Sam. We're just recapping, guys. Yeah, we're recapping. All right, let's give like a review in two sentences each or a sentence or whatever. Go ahead. Oh.

A beautifully heart-wrenching tale of coming to age, life, its hurdles, it's heartbreak, but most importantly, how important it is to be present. Damn, she wants a job. I know, that's a job and a half. She wants to get hired. The only reason for this podcast. Girl.

All right, Leah. Oh, I see. You're making me go. Yeah. I mean, that's hard. I have to have a thought into it. And I can't, I just finish it. It's still, like, fresh in my.

She's, I would, Rachel's been dying for someone to ask that question. So I asked it. She's like, I got it. I got it. Let me answer. People wrote this somewhere. It's on her palm. The only reason I started this book club? No, it was good. I know, I know. I love, um, I would say that, you know, I, I think people should read it. And I think that it's, it's very, um, it's very heavy. It's not a light book. It's a very heavy book, even though it is, it's a very heavy book. even though it is technically I like how much it taught about literature too

sorry yeah I was like that there was a lot of intelligence like they were obviously smart and well read of obviously you know because she's a writer and everything but um I don't know I don't know honestly I don't know I would say

read it and weep oh read it and weep that's good read them and weep okay literally what you got I got it's a a beautiful journey of love, loss, and life on life's terms. There you go. Quote, end quote.

Sometimes there's terms that great. Yeah. You know. They're not great. A lot of life's terms aren't great. That's the reality. That's why it's life on life's terms. Yeah.

Being present is a huge one. I mean, that is a huge lift from this book for sure. just being present, which is so hard. And we have to remind ourselves every moment. Even right now, I am reminding myself to be present in this moment. Same. It's very hard. It was nice being present with you guys. You are present. Life is a present. Our friendship is a present. Oh, I have a present for you, because it was your great thing. Oh, so do what? You do? Even though you don't get us presents, that's okay. It's fine. It's fine. All right. We get them free. We hope you guys enjoyed. We're from a love language.

I'm just kidding. We hope everyone enjoyed reading this book, and it's hard to say enjoyed because it was very heavy, but also a very, very good read. Oh, and let's announce our next book. Yeah. Well, this is going to come out after we've already announced it, but we'll announce it here as well. Yeah. If you're listening, our November book pick. we're taking it back it's a revisit um sweet bitter look at lea's news to lea too you're welcome thanks for telling me on a text before this call olivia just threw it in there because it's not my fault part of this the club sweet bitter it's called i like the name okay and thanks for dealing with our um our hurdles are a little bumpy rollout But yeah, where we're here, we're in effect, it's all.

That's right. And this isn't going to be a type A perfect book club. This is going to be a read with us and cry with us. And eventually we're going to figure out how to take you into it more with us. So we're planning something. Yeah. Okay. Thanks, everyone.

See yeah. Bye. Do I just hang up now or are you talking about? That was a headgum podcast. Thank you.