Celebrity Book Matchmaker

Summary

Bad On Paper Podcast – "Celebrity Book Matchmaker"

Hosts: Becca Freeman & Olivia Muenter
Episode Date: July 22, 2026

---

Episode Overview

In this lively, bookish episode, Becca and Olivia dive into a summer tradition—a book matchmaking game involving celebrities! Each host assigns the other a list of celebs, and together, they play “Celebrity Book Matchmaker”, curating personalized reading recommendations for the stars (and explaining their choices with humor and heart). The duo also catch up on personal highs and lows, review their latest reads, and indulge in the type of witty banter fans love.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal Highs and Lows

• Olivia’s High [01:41]: Discovered a heartening interview with Douglas Stuart (“John of John”) on Barnes & Noble’s "Poured Over" podcast. She’s moved by Stuart’s soothing Scottish accent and his thoughtful conversation about grief and writing.

  “He is at once, like, incredibly well spoken when it comes to talking about, you know, grief or life or, of course, writing, but also very down to earth and warm.” – Olivia [02:00]

• Olivia’s Low [06:58]: Fighting a relentless Japanese beetle infestation in her garden, which is destroying her beloved roses despite her efforts.
• Becca’s High [04:26]: Has entered “obsession mode” with her current book project—writing, revising, and feeling creatively energized.
• Becca’s Low [06:04]: Experienced food poisoning during a recent trip to Arizona but has bounced back.

2. Start of the Main Game – Celebrity Book Matchmaker [10:12]

(Becca and Olivia assign each other celebrities to recommend books for, offering reasoning based on public personas or imagined vibes.)

---

Celebrity Book Matchmaker Picks

Glen Powell

• Assigned by Olivia, Book Matched by Becca
• Rationale: No clear record of his reading taste, but a known commitment to his University of Texas degree; connections to Texas and comedic work.
• Recommended Reads:
  • Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey – For the Texas connection and mentorship vibes. [12:04]

    “I think Glen Powell could connect with this on multiple levels.” – Becca [12:17]

  • The Guncle by Steven Rowley – For his humorous style and Glen’s known relationships with younger family members. [13:16]

    “Stephen Rowley is one of the funniest writers currently working.” – Becca

  • The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett – Another comedic, quirky pick. [13:58]
  • The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown – In classic “man book” territory, reflecting Glen's interest in a related film project. [15:33]

Noah Kahan

• Assigned and Matched by Olivia
• Rationale: Known for dark humor, vulnerability about mental health, New England roots.
• Recommended Reads:
  • The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett – For dark humor with a gooey center. [17:00]
  • Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett – Quirky, small-town setting ties to his vibe. [18:36]
  • The Wedding People by Alison Espach – Tackles mental health with wit, matching Kahan’s music and persona. [21:09]
  • Good Material by Dolly Alderton – Relationship stories with humor, relatable to Noah’s “breakup” songs. [22:10]

    “I was skeptical, but you did bring me around.” – Becca [22:42]

Tree Paine (Taylor Swift’s Publicist)

• Assigned and Matched by Becca
• Rationale: No public reading record—selections based on her powerful behind-the-scenes role and need for relaxation.
• Recommended Reads:
  • The Boys’ Club by Erica Katz – Corporate intrigue, “industry” vibes perfect for a woman in a male-dominated field. [24:36]
  • Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn – For the “mastermind behind the mastermind” parallel. [25:13]
  • The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid – Explores fame and legacy; close but not too close to her daily life. [26:03]
  • Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan – A relaxing, competent-protagonist romance. [27:02]

Alicia (Real Housewives of Rhode Island)

• Assigned and Matched by Olivia
• Rationale: Has been underestimated, needs empowering reads, loves fun facts.
• Recommended Reads:
  • Strangers by Bell Burden – Empowers Alicia to understand her worth and independence. [33:07]
  • The Alice Network by Kate Quinn – Fast-paced, female spy story; “gateway” for non-readers. [34:07]
  • Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed – Empathic, approachable advice columns for bite-sized inspiration. [35:51]
  • Little Women by Louisa May Alcott – For universal themes of womanhood and independence. [36:05]
  • Bonus: Dolly All the Time – For the Rhode Island connection, if she wants extra credit. [37:19]

Anne Hathaway

• Assigned and Matched by Becca
• Rationale: Book-to-film queen; loves complex female characters, possibly enjoys historical fiction, but Becca chooses a different direction.
• Recommended Reads:
  • Fame Sick by Lena Dunham – For resonances with fame, Internet hate, and reinvention. [38:40]
  • The Force of Such Beauty by Barbara Borland – “Princess diaries, but darker”; a subversive take on the fairy tale. [39:55]
  • All Fours by Miranda July – Gritty, honest look at midlife; age gap, messiness, and identity. [41:06]
  • Best Offer Wins by Marisa Cascino – “Smooth but a little crazy” protagonist; aligns with Hathaway’s casting choices. [41:49]

    “I do not think that she works for All Fours or her presence in it would ruin it. Sorry, Annie.” – Becca [41:22]

Pedro Pascal

• Assigned and Matched by Olivia
• Rationale: Sensitive, artsy, loves stories about misfits, family, and transformative connections.
• Recommended Reads:
  • Shark Heart by Emily Habeck – Eccentric love story with a theatrical edge. [46:30]

    “Never been more confident in my life that Pedro Pascal would be a fan of Shark Heart by Emily A. Peck.” – Olivia [46:21]

  • John of John by Douglas Stuart – Powerful story of belonging, queerness, family, and identity. [47:42]
  • Talking at Night by Claire Daverley – Slow-burn, emotional romance for the soft-hearted soul. [48:55]

Bonus: Travis Kelce (NFL Player)

• Matched by Olivia
• Recommended Read: Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano – Sports theme, emotional family saga; appeals to his inner softie despite skepticism. [44:06]

  “I made my pitch. I made my pitch. We'll see what happens.” – Olivia [45:58]

---

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Book Assignments:

  “I took it, like, deadly seriously, as if the celebrities are going to listen to this podcast and then read the books that I have assigned them.” – Becca [01:12]

• On Men and “Man Books”:

  “This is a book I kind of refer to as a man book.” – Olivia re: The Boys in the Boat [15:33]

• On Alicia's Reputation:

  “There's an easy play on this where you're like, she's not very smart. She's obviously not going to read. She can't read. Hahaha. I don't think that's true at all.” – Olivia [32:04]

• On Anne Hathaway’s Smoothness:

  “I don't think that she works for All Fours or her presence in it would ruin it. Sorry, Annie.” – Becca [41:22]

• On Pedro Pascal’s Book Taste:

  “It was hard because I was like, okay, so I'm essentially saying that Pedro and I have the same exact book taste, but I really do think that he would just appreciate the longing in this book.” – Olivia [49:00]

• On Book Club Bromances:

  “What a bromance we have created through books.” – Becca [20:37]

---

Other Notable Segments

Fun Game Recommendation: Maptap [50:19]

Becca recommends the online geography game Maptap (maptap.gg), a new daily obsession for her and her friends.

What They Read This Week [53:00]

• Olivia:

  • London Falling (Patrick Radden Keefe) – True crime/literary nonfiction; found middle dragging but ending strong.
  • The Children (Melissa Albert) – Literary mystery/horror; beautiful writing but off-the-rails ending for her.

• Becca:

  • Dolly All the Time (Annabelle Monaghan) – Enjoyed its believable fake-dating and standout main character; top five romance of the year.
  • Once Again Always (Amanda Gale) – Amnesia romance with a bully-to-lover twist; highly recommended for fans of “Magnolia Parks.”

Upcoming Book Club Pick

The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff – A family saga about grief, resilience, and rebuilding after a house fire.

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:41] – Highs and Lows
• [10:12] – Start of "Celebrity Book Matchmaker"
• [11:05] – Glen Powell Matchmaking
• [16:56] – Noah Kahan’s Book Picks
• [23:17] – Tree Paine’s Book Picks
• [31:34] – Alicia (Real Housewives of Rhode Island) Book Picks
• [37:33] – Anne Hathaway Book Picks
• [43:39] – Pedro Pascal Book Picks (and bonus for Travis Kelce)
• [50:19] – Maptap (Game Recommendation)
• [53:00] – Recent Reads
• [59:22] – Listener Book Club Pick

---

Tone & Language

Becca and Olivia keep things breezy and self-aware, blending earnest literary enthusiasm with self-deprecating wit. Their recommendations balance the playful with the thoughtful, always considering each celebrity’s (imagined or researched) vibe while poking fun at the speculative nature of their game.

---

Final Note

For those who love creative literary matchmaking, pop culture, and whip-smart book banter, this episode brims with quirky fun—and serves as an excellent resource for putting together your own “If You Like X Celebrity, Read Y” recommendation lists.

Transcript

[A]

Hi, everyone. Welcome back to Baton Paper Podcast. I'm Becca Freeman.

[B]

And I'm Olivia, Mentor.

[A]

And today we are playing a little game. I feel like every summer we have a gameish episode. Like, I feel like we did one year Desert island picks of different categories. One year we did top threes of different categories. So today we have each assigned each other a syllabus of celebrities to select

[B]

books for a normal game, a totally

[A]

normal gals bookish game that I'm sure all of you have played in the past. Celebrity matchmaker.

[B]

We have a few favorite celebrities and a few random ones that are selected based on our interests. So I'm excited for it.

[A]

I had a lot of fun doing the research for this.

[B]

Me too. I tried to get pretty creative with my picks if I could.

[A]

I took it, like, deadly seriously, as if the celebrities are going to listen to this podcast and then read the books that I have assigned them.

[B]

Same. I did, too. I really tried to think both based on what I genuinely recommend and also based on what they seem to need in their life because I know them so well.

[A]

Absolutely. Here is a fan follower person on the Internet.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Okay. Well, I want to get to those, but first tell me your high.

[B]

My high is that I randomly turned on an episode of the podcast Poured over, which is Barnes and Noble's podcast. And I. I've listened to it in the past. I go through phases, but I haven't in a very long time. But I turned it on because I was sort of out of things to listen to. And I ended up pressing play on an interview with Douglas Stewart, who is the author of John of John. And I knew he was Scottish, but I was not prepared for the utter brilliance of this man's accent. It is so beautiful and soothing. And not only that, but he is at once, like, incredibly well spoken when it comes to talking about, you know, grief or life or, of course, writing, but also very down to earth and warm. And he's such a, like, engaged conversation partner. And it was just inspiring and pleasant and lovely to listen to from start to finish. I can't recommend it enough. It's. His voice is just incredible. And of course, he's a phenomenal writer. And I actually just started another one of his books the other day because I love John of John so much. So really recommend that episode for my fellow John of John readers out there or just people who love books, which is you all. So I think you'll like it.

[A]

What did you start? Did you start Shuggie Bane?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Okay. I've Heard that's very sad. I will await your review.

[B]

I did almost cry during the Poured over interview because he talked about grief so eloquently. And I think there are aspects of it that are influenced by him having a pretty rough childhood and his mother, you know, dealing with addiction and dying when he was quite young. So I was, like, moved just hearing him talk about that. So I'm sure I will cry in this book heavily. But he's just so, so talented, and I couldn't just believe how normal he sounded. I was kind of expecting, like, a very philosophical capital L literary, but it was like a person I could just hang out with and feel seen by in some way.

[A]

How old is he?

[B]

And it was, I'm not sure, maybe late 40s, early 50s. Okay, I'm judging that. Not because I know what he looks like, but because he mentioned growing up in the 80s. Okay, so math, you know, not my best subject. But anyway, I really can't recommend it enough. The book or the podcast. Well, what are you. Nope. What I was about to say, what are you obsessed? With? Which I do think fits based on this outline, but what is your high?

[A]

My high is that I found obsession mode with my book, which is basically what I wanted. I said a few weeks ago that I wanted to start just reading more books that had to do with it. I wanted to start watching TV shows that were inspiration for it. Like, I just wanted to kind of give my personal life over to the book too. Like, I wanted to feel that level of being so into it. And I found it. I did go back to the beginning, following up on last episode, and I'm kind of going back through and refining everything. And I was saying to you before, I think both of us have said if I don't start writing earlier in the day, the less likely it gets that it's going to happen. And I already was writing, but I just had a block of calls before this, and I'm like, I can't wait to go back and finish the chapter I'm working on at 5 o' clock after we finish recording.

[B]

What a good feeling.

[A]

It's a really good feeling.

[B]

The best feeling. I'm so happy for you. Is there one thing specifically that is making you feel obsessed that you find yourself just thinking about all the time and getting excited about?

[A]

No, I don't think there's one specific thing. I think rereading it and getting to retread some of the scenes or the funny bits and having more ideas. Like, it's like ideas beget Ideas kind of. I don't know. I don't know how to describe it. It feels a little mystical.

[B]

That's a good thing, too.

[A]

Do you know what's not mystical, though? In case anyone is thinking I'm a little too high on my. My own supply right now.

[B]

Tell us.

[A]

I went to Arizona last weekend to visit my aunt and I got food poisoning.

[B]

Oh, no.

[A]

Yeah, it was.

[B]

No, it was rough.

[A]

I was like, is this the lettuce parasite? Like, what's happening to me? I do.

[B]

Yeah. I don't want to ask the words explosive diarrhea here. We don't need to go there. Maybe. But. Yeah. Do you think it was.

[A]

I don't know. I don't know.

[B]

It was bad. That's all we need to know.

[A]

It was grim.

[B]

I'm sorry you went through that. That is the worst experience.

[A]

Yeah. It wasn't great.

[B]

So have you bounced back, though?

[A]

Yes, I have bounced back, thankfully.

[B]

Was it like a 24 hour thing?

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

A small mercy.

[A]

I mean, I wish I didn't have it to begin with, but I'm glad it's over. Tell me your low.

[B]

My low is that I am personally at war with a. Yep. With a Japanese beetle infestation that has taken over my garden. And for those that don't know, Japanese beetles destroy roses. Like, absolutely wreck them. And we have been trying multiple methods of getting rid of them. We've had some success to the point where a lot of our roses that were nearly decimated have come back and they were starting to bloom and I was so excited. In particular, I have one right outside my cottage that's this beautiful yellow and I was thrilled to see it blooming. And then I looked and there was beetles everywhere, just eating through each and every bloom that I have waited for. So I'm on the warpath. I will be rid of these even if it takes me years, which I've heard what is maybe the case. Yeah, it's really bad. It's really hard to get rid of them. Anyway, if anyone has any tips that have actually worked, like you have used them and. And they have worked, please share them with me because I'm struggling over here and it makes me angry because, one, these plants are expensive and, you know, I want them to thrive year after year. And this is now the second or third year we've been dealing with this. So, you know, it's fine. They're just living, but I don't want them to.

[A]

Oh, man. I have no tips for you. But I'm sorry for your garden.

[B]

Oh, thank you. At least just the roses. That's the only thing I will say is a a win is it's not everything. Okay, all of our other like native plants and the cone flowers and everything are all thriving. But yeah, I do love roses. So that's my low.

[A]

Okay, I'm sorry about that, but I'm excited for this game, so let's take a quick ad break and get to it.

[B]

This episode is sponsored by Skims. It has been peak summer weather lately. Very hot, very muggy, generally gross. And all I want to wear is the coolest, lightest, most breathable fabrics. And this is why I find myself reaching for my Skims pieces again and again and again. And Skims already makes my favorite everyday T shirt bra, but now they also make some of my other favorite cotton staples. The best cotton boy shorts, for example, and my new favorite rib cotton T shirt, just to name a couple. I wore the rib cotton T shirt under a pair of overall shorts last weekend. Yes, I have added a short summer version of overalls to my wardrobe. No one is surprised. And it was great because the T shirt was this nice smooth base layer under the overalls without feeling tight or constricting or like I couldn't breathe through the fabric. It was just perfect.

[A]

Yeah, I don't think I'd ever tried any of Skim's clothing before, only their bras and underwear, which I love. And I tried their cotton rib tank top and exactly like you said, such a good base layer. Really thin and not warm. I've actually been wearing it as pajamas because it's been so hot here that I love that it feels like wearing nothing.

[B]

Shop Skims Cotton and all of our favorite [e-mail] and after you place your order, be sure to let them know that we sent you Select Podcast in the survey and be sure to select our show Bad on Paper in the dropdown menu that follows. To set the scene for everyone. We have assigned each other a handful of celebrities and then we have chosen ourselves the three that we want to celebrity book Matchmake to steal the series from your sub stack, which is great and everyone should check out. So I think we should start with the first obvious celebrity that that I chose and then you chose for you. That's confusing, but this is one of the ones I gave to you and you did choose to select books for him and I don't think anyone will be shocked that it is the one and only Glen Powell Friend of the

[A]

Podcast Friend of the Podcast Glen Powell Glen Powell Was on a real hot streak for a while, and it feels like he's in a slump. Has he had a movie recently? He has a lot of time to be reading is what I'm getting at.

[B]

He has a new girlfriend. Oh. That's all I know. Yeah, they just went Instagram official.

[A]

So this one is perhaps the one I think I did the worst job for. The first thing I did was look up to see if there are any photos or records of Glen Powell reading and to know what he might like. There is not. We assume he can read. I mean, he's getting his I do really respect about him. I don't know why I know this, but he is very slowly getting his bachelor's degree from University of Texas. Like, he takes one class per semester online. Like, he's very committed to finishing his degree. So I like that he has that commitment to education.

[B]

Yeah. Good. Good for him. Good for Glenn.

[A]

So the first thing that I thought of was that if he hasn't already, he needs to read Matthew McConaughey's memoir, Green Lights. It's about the ups and downs of his acting life. It's about his colorful Texas family. I think Glen Powell could connect with this on multiple levels. I also think Matthew McConaughey is maybe a mentor to him in some ways. So, you know, I think it can also score him some points with Matthew himself.

[B]

Yes. And, like, also, they're both generically attractive white men, so they have that in common.

[A]

From Texas. Yeah.

[B]

Yeah, there you go.

[A]

Yeah. So that was my obvious one that before I did any research, I was

[B]

like, yes, that's a great pick.

[A]

The second one, in my research, it came up that Glen Powell has narrated an audiobook. I think it's an Audible original called the Best Man's Ghostwriter. And it is a comedy. And so I was trying to think of who the funniest authors are that I know. He also starred in that kind of slapsticky spy movie where he was in

[B]

all the different disguises.

[A]

Yes. I couldn't think of anything that slapsticky, but two things came to mind as very comedic that I could picture for him. One is the Gunkle by Stephen Rowley. I think Stephen Rowley is one of the funniest writers currently working. And I know that Glen Powell has very close relationships with his nieces. I believe there might be a nephew in there, too, so I think he could get into the Gunkle.

[B]

Yes. That's a great pick. And didn't the author win an award for humor?

[A]

He won the thurber Prize for humor.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

So it's not just me saying he's funny. He's an award winning humorist.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

The other book I thought of that I think might be a little bit more of a reach for Glenn, but I could see him getting into is the Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett.

[B]

Oh, that's funny. I picked that for someone on my list, too. Oh, wow.

[A]

Okay. So I can't wait to hear who it is so that that person and Glen Powell can start a book club, because they're obviously listening and taking this advice deeply seriously.

[B]

I would attend that book club for no other reason, just to see how that plays out. But I'll be there.

[A]

Cannot wait to hear who it is. So those were two for that angle. And then the other thing I found out about him was that he developed and starred in a movie called Devotion. I don't know what that is. This is from a Variety article, but it says, after reading Adam Mokos's 2017 book, An Epic story of Heroism, Friendship and Sacrifice. So. So I was like, okay, classic man book, nonfiction territory. And so that made me think that he needs to read the Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown, which I have never read, but I have been lectured about in a nice way. I don't mind it by Carly Reardon. I think it's one of her favorite books. This is a nonfiction book about a crew team trying to make it to the Olympics. It starts during the Great Depression and it goes through World War II. And I feel like the kind of like, grit, determination, sports of it all could really appeal to our friend Glenn.

[B]

This is a book I kind of refer to as a man book.

[A]

Yes. Classic man book.

[B]

It's like there are a lot of men that we all know and love, and they've read four books. One of those is this one. The other one is Unbroken, the story about the, you know, the prisoner of war. Yep. And I think Project Telmarius may be entering the space. And anything else you would define as like a man book.

[A]

Andre Agassiz's biography.

[B]

Okay. For those, it's tennis, right? Yeah. That's a solid choice.

[A]

Yeah. So that is my reading list for Glen Powell, friend of the podcast.

[B]

If he needs it, it's here for him. Yeah.

[A]

If he finds himself at the beach this summer with no scripts to read, he can bring a book.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

I would love to get his feedback on this.

[B]

I think he would like it. To me, it seems very on brand, and I think it's also great if you Have a guy in your life that's like Glen Powell in some way. We've just given you a lot of picks.

[A]

Yeah, you can try getting them into fiction. You can give them a memoir. You can give them a classic man book selection. All right, Olivia, I would like to know from the list I gave you, who's going to be in Glen Powell's book club reading the Road to Tender Hearts? I have.

[B]

It's gonna be Noah Kahn.

[A]

That is not who I expected. Okay.

[B]

Who did you think it was?

[A]

I'll let you know when we get there.

[B]

Okay. So this was the first book I thought of for him for a few reasons.

[A]

I was really excited to hear you recommend things for Noah Khan because I could picture having done no research, you and Noah Khan having similar tastes. Like, who's a celebrity? Who would be into books about survival at sea? Noah Khan.

[B]

I have to say, I actually, I did picks for. I ended up somehow with five people. But I'm just going to talk about three. Okay. But it was Noah Khan and one other person that just ended up being a lot of books I really like. But so I'm like. I don't know if I'm trying to say something about myself here, but, I mean, you can only fully recommend books that you, you know, you deeply love with your whole chest. But the reason I thought that the Road to Tender Hearts would be great for Noah Khan is that when I think of Noah Khan, I think about darkness and darkness and pigtail French braids. And so also Pepe Longstocking on the list. Yes. I think he is very dark. He loves dark humor, but he seems to always have this softness to him underneath everything. And I think, you know, the Road to Tender Hearts is pitched by the author or this is how she thought about when she wrote it, as like trying to fit as many horrible bad things into one book as possible and have it not be sad. And I think she achieves that. And also, Annie Hartnett is from a small New England town, if I'm remembering correctly.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

So I feel like this tie in would be good. And I think that if Noah Khan did or didn't like the Road to Tender Hearts, he may also enjoy Unlikely Animals, which is set in a small New England town and is also by Annie Hartnett. And it's a little bit funky. You know, it's a little bit weird. For those that haven't read it, it's about. Gosh, I haven't read this in so long, so I'm gonna try to pitch it. Well, it's about a. Gosh. Can you pitch this succinctly?

[A]

The Road to Tender Hearts.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. So the Road to Tender Hearts is about a. Oh, yeah. I didn't tell you what it was about in mine. So it's about a man in his 60s, he's divorced, he's an alcoholic, and he's at his court also kind of like has a real gooey center. And he ends up inheriting these two kids after a tragedy who are his wards, basically. And he brings them on a cross country road trip to grand gesture his high school sweetheart after the death of her husband. And so Tender Hearts is a retirement community. And so they're on a cross country road trip also with his semi estranged daughter to go to, I think, Arizona.

[B]

Yes. Perfect. You got it. Thank you for the assist there. But yes, there's a lot happening. It's quirky, it's a little weird. There's a lot of animals. Something about it spoke to me with Noah Khan and his dark, dark heart. Dark but tender heart.

[A]

I could see that really working for him. I would love to go to this book club with Noah Kahn and Glen Powell and us.

[B]

Yep. I'll have my hair in pigtails as well. Just to be part of the vibe.

[A]

I do feel like Noah Khan would take it more seriously than Glenn. Like, he would show up with notes and thoughts, and Glenn would be like, oh, I thought we were just drinking wine.

[B]

Oh, you know what? I actually think Noah Khan is extremely goofy. And I think he would just kind of be making very dark jokes the entire time drinking beer.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

So it might work out okay. You know, maybe they can drink beer together.

[A]

What a bromance we have created through books.

[B]

Yeah. If you guys have never thought of hanging out, it's just a nice idea.

[A]

If you're here listening to this podcast with our five male listeners and we're somehow recommending books to random male celebrities.

[B]

It's exactly what people come for. Okay, but the next book. The next book is kind of, when you think of it immediately, you might be like, I don't think that seems like Noah Khan, but let me pitch it. So the next one is the Wedding People by Allison Sbach.

[A]

No, I can see that.

[B]

Okay, good. Because Noah Khan has been so open about mental health struggles, about depression, about the very, very hard parts of life. But he is very goofy and he is very funny, and he does have this dark sense of humor. And I think something the Wedding People does so well is that it wraps all of that up into one package. And while there are Themes of mental health and depression and, you know, suicidal ideation and all these things. It doesn't hit you over the head, you know, it doesn't feel like an after school special. And I think that's what I think of when I think of Noah Khan, too. Like, yes, he is writing and talking about mental health, but not in a way that feels, like, preachy and always with a sense of humor. And I think that's what this book does so well.

[A]

I totally agree. I can totally see this being his jam.

[B]

And finally, good material by Dolly Alderton.

[A]

Tell me more.

[B]

So I get the sense that Noah has been maybe through a breakup or two from his situationship or two as well from his songs, haven't We All. And this book, I think, writes about the human experience of being with someone, of not being with someone, of dealing with the time in between where with, again, an immense amount of humor. It's from a man's point of view, although written by a woman, which I think Noah would appreciate, actually. And I just think he would laugh, and that's what I want for him.

[A]

I was skeptical, but you did bring me around.

[B]

Oh, great. I'm so glad. I think what all of these maybe have in common is a deep sense of slightly dark humor. And that's what Noah Kahn is to me and the pigtails and the woods. So, yeah, I hope he's happy, you know, with this, with what I've brought for him.

[A]

Yeah. Noah, report back after you've read all of these books with all of your free time.

[B]

Yes. If you thought we're just gonna do the celebrities you're expecting, though, we are taking some twists and turns. And so tell us about the next person on your list that you're choosing books for.

[A]

Who do you want that to be?

[B]

I think let's go with Tree Payne.

[A]

Okay. Tree Payne, for anyone who doesn't know, is Taylor Swift's longtime publicist. I would love Tree Payne to write a book. Frankly, I don't want her reading books. I want her writing books.

[B]

I would buy that book. Yeah.

[A]

So I had a few different directions, obviously, as kind of not the celebrity herself. There is no information on Tree Payne's reading history online, so I'm really going to on Vibes. So the first thing I thought she could enjoy is a story about corporate intrigue that maybe she could relate to that. So I thought of the Boys Club by Erica Katz, which is from probably going on five years ago now. And this is about a woman who gets a job at a white shoe law Firm and kind of gets sucked into the mostly male workplace drama. It reminds me a lot of the TV show industry, honestly. And so I thought that maybe Tree Pain could be into that because I think at some point, if you rise high enough, most industries are boys clubs, so I'm sure that's true of the music industry as well. So it's not too close to home and that it's not set in the music industry. But I thought she could maybe be into that.

[B]

I could see that in a weird way. Tree, paint and industry, there is an overlap there. I, I don't quite understand. I don't know if it's just the, like the well fitting chic business wear of it all or like the very good hair and the cutthroat sort of vibe, but. Yeah, I can see that.

[A]

So the second angle I thought about here was I think Tree is usually positioned as kind of the mastermind behind the mastermind.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

This sub mastermind being Taylor Swift.

[B]

Right.

[A]

So I was thinking, if she hasn't already, because she's been busy the last decade and maybe she missed it, I think she should read Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, because you know who's a mastermind? Amy.

[B]

Amy? Yeah. Amy Dunn. Yep, Amy Dunn.

[A]

So if you don't know the pitch for Gone Girl, watch the movie. Yeah, but that was, that was one I thought. Then I was like, okay, maybe she wants to read about fame as a theme. So I was thinking instead of contemporary fame, which might hit too close to home, I was thinking that Treepane could enjoy the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, which is largely set in the studio system of kind of the golden age of Hollywood.

[B]

So I thought, that's very smart.

[A]

Yeah, I thought that maybe there could be something there for her. It's a dual timeline. It's about a woman who gets called in to do an interview with this very reclusive older woman celebrity who is notoriously not press friendly. Like almost could be Taylor Swift in her. In her later years. And she starts telling the interviewer about kind of all of her past relationships. The seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. So yeah, I thought that could be interesting for Tree.

[B]

That's a good pick. Cause you're right. I imagine reading about something contemporary would either feel like, oh, this is so not what it's really like, or this is too reminiscent of what I deal with day to day. But this is slightly different while touching on the same theme. So that's a great pick.

[A]

And the last angle I thought of for Tree Pain is that maybe she just needs to fucking relax. Like, maybe she is so stressed that she just needs to put her brain in a bubble bath, which I would understand.

[B]

Like, I don't know anything about her same, but I know of her. I have power.

[A]

So if she just wants to have a good time and relax, I think that she could really appreciate an Annabelle Monaghan novel. And I specifically am going to recommend Dolly all the Time, which, spoiler is one of the books that I read this past week and I loved it. And I think that Tree would have a very short fuse for some of the messier female protagonists that one can find in a romance novel. I think she would just be like, get it together. And so I like that Dolly, the main character in this book, is like hyper competent. She is the caregiver. She is the one who has it all together. And so the book is about a single mom who goes down to Rhode island for the summer to help out her dad and her brother. And she ends up getting into this high jinxy situation where she is fake dating kind of the town's millionaire founder. So it's fake dating romance. It's very fun, but she's a workaday woman and I think Tre Payne would respect that.

[B]

I think so too. And also, I don't know how old Tree Pain is, but I think most of the characters, if not all of them in Annabelle Monahan's book tend to be midlife or have lived a lot of life, have had experiences, marriages, all these different things. And I think that makes them more dynamic and I think Treepane would appreciate that.

[A]

Yes, I agree. I agree. Not knowing anything about her.

[B]

Do we think she has time to read?

[A]

No.

[B]

I mean, Taylor Swift is out here listening to all audiobooks, so. Yeah.

[A]

But I think Taylor Swift has a creative brain that needs to be nurtured versus Tree Pain is like a firefighter military general who needs to just constantly be on her email.

[B]

That's. It's a lot of emailing, I'm sure.

[A]

So as with Glenn and Noah Tree, you let us know. Let us know how these work.

[B]

Tell us how.

[A]

We did leave us a voicemail.

[B]

We can present you with other options. Send us that email. We're open to feedback. Emailing. God, or whoever it is, just shoot us one.

[A]

All right, let's take an ad break and then I want to hear there is one celebrity in particular on your list that I gotta hear.

[B]

Yeah, you're not expecting it. Guys, I guarantee you that. This episode is sponsored by Caraway Home. I currently come to you from week seven or so of not having a kitchen. And one good thing I can report is, honestly, who even feels like using the stove or the oven in the summer anyway? I certainly do not. And even if you do have air conditioning, it can be so difficult to have the energy to spend hours in the kitchen when it is this hot and humid outside. And this is why keeping easy fresh ingredients stored in your fridge and pantry at all times is so key. You can easily just throw together a veggie plate or charcuterie board, no appliances required. And when you use Caraway's food storage sets, you're that much more likely to use the ingredients you have because they look that much better in your fridge or your pantry. And have you ever tried to fish a baby carrot out of a half opened plastic bag and it's all wet and gross? It's not great, but when you put them in an airtight food storage set with a beautiful glass lid that you can see through, it's just a lot better. You'll eat them, I promise. I do.

[A]

So we both love our Caraway pots and pans, but the brand has so much more than just that. There's the mixing bowl set, which is perfect for overnight marinating and prepping fresh meals. Personally, I have been on a pasta salad kick and this would be perfect because the mixing bowls also come with glass lids. And if you're more into hosting than cooking, Caraway's complete bar set is perfect for smoother pours on your summer mocktail or cocktail of choice.

[B]

Right now you can save up to $230 on the 12 piece cookware set versus buying the products individually. And you can find even more set savings when you shop Caraway's full kitchenware collection. Plus, for a limited time, every doll spend on clean kitchenware gets you closer to your Dream Kitchen or $100,000 cash. Visit CarawayHome.com BoP to take an additional 10% off your next purchase. This deal is exclusive for our listeners, so visit carawayhome.com BOP or use code BOP at checkout.

[A]

Okay, Olivia, I'm thrilled that you chose this person from my broader list that I gave you. I need to know what you are assigning to Alicia from the Real Housewives of Rhode Island. She's who I thought you were going to say the road to tender hearts

[B]

was for what Alicia love a cracker. That we're talking thinking of the same person.

[A]

Yeah, I don't know. I thought you were gonna say that it was like light and entertaining and I don't know.

[B]

No, I'm actually, I'm taking a different angle here.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

I feel like maybe this is my chance to do some good in the world. I feel very strongly that at some point in Alicia's life, someone has told her that she's not very smart or she, like, can't figure things out.

[A]

I think there's probably a lot of people in her comment section telling her that right now.

[B]

Yes, exactly. And so there's an easy play on this where you're like, she's not very smart. She's obviously not going to read. She can't read. Hahaha. I don't think that's true at all. I think she's just been told a narrative and she has believed it. And I think she gets laughs from saying silly things and like, she's followed that. And there. For those that don't watch Real Housewives of Rhode island, there is a big subplot this season about Alicia wanting basically to have ownership in these businesses that she helped develop with her husband, to have her name on the house. Like they're not married, they've been engaged for a decade or something. And so she's just not very protected in any way financially. And so I think it would be a good idea for Alicia to read Strangers by Bell Burden.

[A]

Oh, okay. Yeah, I like this.

[B]

Yeah. I think Alicia needs to be empowered. I think her husband seems lovely. I'm not saying that he is this character, but I think she needs to understand that, who knows, one day there may be a world where she is independent and on her own and she needs to understand those implications now, not after the fact, for herself, for her daughter. So I think Strangers by Bellburden is my first one.

[A]

This is an unexpected and excellent recommendation.

[B]

Thank you. I put a joke recommendation on this list, by the way. I just. Because I wanted to just start with it like as if I was serious and get your reaction. And it was going to be all fours, but I have.

[A]

Okay, I have that to recommend to somebody else on my list.

[B]

Oh, oh, I know who it is. And perfect. Anyway, so I think all fours would actually send Alicia into like a comatose state.

[A]

I don't think she'd make it past page five.

[B]

No. But something I do think that Alicia might enjoy that's a little bit lighter, but also goes with the female empowerment theme is the Alice Network by Kate Quinn, which I have not read in years.

[A]

That is a very big gateway reading book, I feel like.

[B]

Exactly. It's very readable, it's very fast paced, There's a romance. If I Remember correctly, which I think she would enjoy. But ultimately it is about these women who are working as spies in something called the Alice Network in France during World War I. Honestly, I think Alicia in a weird way could be a good spy because no one would suspect her. But I think she just. I want her to read stories about women doing cool shit on their own.

[A]

Also, I feel like Alicia seems like the type of person who would love a fun fact. And so if she knew about this all female spy network, I feel like that would be a good conversation fodder for her to be like, did you know about this?

[B]

Exactly. I totally agree. And then I. I actually have two more picks. Please. One I think Alicia might get into a little bit more easily. And that is Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed, which is an essay collection. It's a collection of essays or advice columns that are all about empathy and big life moments and changes. And it's just very wise and compassionate. And I find Cheryl Strayed's writing to be really approachable but really impactful no matter what your reading style is. So I think she would like this. Also bite sized. So she's not a big reader, which I don't know, maybe she is. I feel like sometimes like an advice column format is easier to approach.

[A]

I agree. I think the bite sizedness of this and like the real life problems could really work for Alicia.

[B]

And finally, who knows if she would go for this. But Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.

[A]

Tell me about her.

[B]

Well, I think every woman can read this book and at one point or another in your life, relate to one of the sisters or the other. You know, you can switch like one time you can be a Joe, then you could be an Amy. And I just think there's something universal about it. There's something about being a woman. I don't know if she has sisters, but maybe that would appeal to her.

[A]

I think she's an only child.

[B]

Okay, maybe not then. But she seems surrounded by women a lot. So I just think everyone should read Little Women. I think every woman should read Little Women. And I don't know, I just think it would be. It would be something that would appeal to her, weirdly. Oh, also, I don't know, the dolls, it just kind of seems. Yeah, the dolls of it all. Like maybe there are dolls for the sisters.

[A]

She could probably get into an American Girl doll book too.

[B]

Yes, yes, I totally agree. Anyway, so bottom line, I want Alicia to find empowerment, financial, spiritual, all of that through novels, which I think is totally possible. And I just Want her to be uplifted. You know, I don't want her to feel like she can't ask for what she needs or she's not smart enough to do so. And I think sometimes it feels like she's been told that.

[A]

I also feel like if she wants some extra credit, she could also read Dolly all the Time by Annabelle Monaghan because it is a romance set in a fictional town in Rhode Island.

[B]

Oh, perfect. Well, tell me about who got all fours.

[A]

Okay, so my last one is Anne Hathaway, who I feel like is very adjacently involved in the book world. She starred in the Idea of you. She is producing and starring in Yesteryear. She has Verity coming out later this year. The Devil Wears Prada started as a book, so I feel like she is a very book adjacent celebrity. But again, I could not find much about what she likes to read. I did find somewhere that she's a historical fiction reader. I'm not the right recommender for that, so I want a different angle. So the first thing before we get to all fours, the first thing I think Anne Hathaway needs to read, and I would not be surprised to learn she has read is Fame Sick by Lena Dunham. I think that Anne Hathaway was also kind of unfairly the recipient of a lot of Internet hate. And I think reading Lena Dunham's memoir and seeing the redemption arc that she's gone through, that this memoir has been very well received, I think would be very cathartic for Anne Hathaway.

[B]

Yeah, I agree. I agree. That's a really smart one. I can see her loving that.

[A]

Me too. Me too. The second book I chose for her is because of the Princess Diaries connection. Also a book I think Anne Hathaway needs to read. The Force of Such Beauty by Barbara Borland. This is the book that I have been just pitching left, right and center to anyone. So Glen Powell, you too? This is the book about a South African marathoner who has a career ending injury, meets a guy in her rehab hospital who turns out to be the prince of a small European principality. They get together and she becomes a princess. And it is very dark and very not the same as Anne Hathaway being the princess of Genovia.

[B]

Mm. Yes, she would love this. I am so convinced.

[A]

Yes. And I think it's a very like the other side of the coin of the light portrayal of Princess Hood that she acted in.

[B]

Yeah, I think so.

[A]

I think she's drawn to darkness. I mean, yesteryear is very dark. Verity is very dark.

[B]

Mother Mary. Yeah.

[A]

I think this book also has a theme of fame or being in the spotlight and kind of it not being everything it's cracked up to be. I think this book would work so well for Anne Hathaway.

[B]

I'm with you. I'm with you 100%.

[A]

Thank you. Okay, next. All Fours by Miranda July. All Fours is a very controversial book from, I think two years ago about a woman who embarks on a cross country road trip. She makes it, I don't know, 45 miles from her house, checks into a motel, redecorates. It, starts having an affair with a younger man, makes some unhinged decisions. It's very much about perimenopause and middle age and motherhood and marital relationships. And I just think that Anne Hathaway, I have to assume that she has an interest in underrepresented portrayals of being in your 40s and what that means because she was interested in the idea of you. And this is obviously much grittier and weirder, but I could see this working for Anne Hathaway also has an age gap relationship.

[B]

Very true. Okay, so I'm assuming that most of these are being adapted in some form or another already, but let's pretend none of them have been claimed. What version? TV version, movie version. Would you like to see Anne Hathaway involved in? Obviously. Fame 6. A little complicated, but I don't think

[A]

that I would find her believable in All Fours. I think she is too smooth. Yes, smooth is the perfect word. Smooth is the perfect word. I do not think that she works for All Fours or her presence in it would ruin it. Sorry, Annie. I think she might be slightly too old for the force of such beauty because I think that character is in her late 20s or early 30s.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

I have one more recommendation for her based on Verity. Ethnicity wise, it doesn't line up. I think that is the adaptation that I can most see her in. And that is, I would also recommend to Anne Hathaway. Best Offer Wins by Marisa Cascino. So it's about this woman who is trying to get pregnant and simultaneously trying to buy a house with her husband. And neither is going well. And she gets a tip about a house that is about to hit the market. And this is all set in the D.C. area. And she decides it is her dream home and insinuates herself into the lives of the couple that currently lives there and is selling the house. And the character in the book is Asian American. And I think Greta Lee is on board to adapt and star in this book adaptation. So it's not the right role for Anne Hathaway, but that is the place where I think her smoothness but being a little crazy would actually work perfectly.

[B]

Yeah, I think so. I think she hasn't. I mean, maybe Verity is this. But like, I picture Anne Hathaway having a sort of Gone Girl esque movie, and I don't know if she's had that yet. Exactly. Like Unhinged.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

Maybe Mother Mary. I didn't watch it, so I'm not sure. But also, like, someone who's trying to put on that they're perfect, but because I think so many people, especially now, associate Anne Hathaway with, again, this, like, smooth perfection. But, like, I want to see her get very messy, you know? Yes.

[A]

Yeah. I think that might be Verity. We'll see.

[B]

Yeah. Mm, that seems right.

[A]

Okay, moving on to your last one. I think from this list, it is looking like you have chosen Pedro Pascal as your last recommendee.

[B]

I have full disclosure. Another option was Taylor and bonus pick Travis, and I also did that, but I think I feel more called for Pedro. But I can also. I can tell you. I can tell you my Travis pick as a bonus if you're interested.

[A]

Yeah, I. I am interested.

[B]

I don't think it's what you're expecting.

[A]

Is it a sports novel?

[B]

No, but there are sports.

[A]

Huh. Okay, I got nothing. What is it?

[B]

Oh, it is. Hello, Beautiful by Anne Napolitano. Wow.

[A]

I don't think Travis is making it through that.

[B]

I'm gonna tell you why I think. Why I think it could work.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

You could give him a man book. You could give him Project Hail Mary, and I think he'd be fine. But hello, Beautiful has a couple things. One, there's a heavy through line of sports. It's basketball, but, like, it starts from a place of sports. I think it would hook him enough. There's also a lot of stuff about being tall. He's tall.

[A]

That's true.

[B]

So we've got. We've got two things going right then. The other thing is that I think ultimately Travis is a big softie. I think he's more emotional maybe than we realize. And I think he would appreciate the emotional arc of the story. I'm gonna say he probably wouldn't get through it, but I think he would enjoy it if he did.

[A]

I don't disagree with the reasons for your recommendation, but I gotta say I'm picturing Travis Kelce as a pace guy. I know that book is not a pace book.

[B]

It's true. But, I mean, I also think it has four nieces, and it's about four sisters, so maybe that would grab him.

[A]

Everything you're saying is true, and yet.

[B]

Well, just wait till we see next paparazzi photo. He's coming out of the PJ White fluffy dog, leash in one hand. Hello, beautiful. And the other.

[A]

What a boon for Anne Napolitano. Just getting into that sports fan audience that I don't think she really got. With the first very large wave of success that that book had. I don't think the Oprah audience and the Chiefs Nation. What is it? Chief's Kingdom?

[B]

I don't know. Something.

[A]

I don't think there's a huge overlap there.

[B]

I made my pitch. I made my pitch. We'll see what happens. Just if. If you need something, Travis, if you

[A]

need a different pick, you. Well, we're happy to curate, but get.

[B]

Okay, back to Pedro. Moving back to Pedro. Always great. I. I probably have all of my picks and all of my celebrities. This is the one. I feel like if Pedro was actually a friend of mine, he came over, we stood in the library. I was like, you will love this.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

I'm confident he would. First one. Never been more confident in my life that Pedro Pascal would be a fan of Shark Heart by Emily a. Peck.

[A]

Absolutely.

[B]

100%. In my core, I believe that he is meant to be in the fan club with us, who love this book.

[A]

I haven't read it. I have it downloaded on my Kindle, But I feel like knowing what it is about. Yes, absolutely.

[B]

Yes. For those that don't know, it is about a couple, and the man starts slowly turning into a great white shark. But it's ultimately a love story. It's so sweet and moving and sad and beautiful and weird. The other thing is that this author, I think, has a history in theater. Oh. I want to say that she was a playwright, perhaps. Definitely theater, though. And I think Sharka makes more and more sense to me when I consider that. But I think Pedro would appreciate that tie in. It just seems like a sort of artsy, weird, beautiful love story that he would be moved by.

[A]

Could you see him playing the husband in a movie?

[B]

I haven't read it in a couple years, but yeah, I think so. Okay. I can see him as a shark, I guess. Okay. So this next one I also feel very sure of.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And that is John of John by Douglas Stuart, which, speaking of Oprah's Book Club pick, I'm just over here as an arm doing pr. Not that he needs it. I don't want to give anything away, but this book is largely about trying to fit in in a place where there doesn't seem to be a place for you. And there's also a lot of themes of queerness. And I just feel like as much as I've seen Pedro advocate for, like, trans rights and for queer people, I just think that it's such a beautiful story about. I don't know what to do when who you are doesn't make sense within the world that you're in, but you still want to be there. I don't want to give anything away about the pitch, but it's on a Scottish island in the 90s. This young adult man goes home to the island where he grew up and him and his father have a very complicated relationship. But it's about family, it's about belonging to. It's about being a little bit of a misfit. I just know Pedro would love it. I know he would adore it.

[A]

I can see this.

[B]

And finally, Talking at Night by Claire Daverly.

[A]

Is this a plea to be in a book club with Pedro Pascal?

[B]

It was hard because I was like, okay, so I'm essentially saying that Pedro and I have the same exact book taste, but I really do think that he would just appreciate the longing in this book. He just seems like a really emotional, romantic person and it's sad, but beautiful. And yeah, I think he would like it. I really do.

[A]

I don't disagree.

[B]

But yeah, I would like to be on a book club with him as well, especially for Sharkheart, because I just think he would maybe get an adaptation in the works that was like very interesting and strange and great. It's a hard thing to adapt. But yeah, those are my picks for Pedro.

[A]

This was a very fun game. I could see us doing this again next summer.

[B]

Oh, yeah. The more I started thinking about it, the more I wanted to just keep ideating. Well, next summer.

[A]

Next summer. And you know, just stay tuned for the follow up when we tell you what all of these celebrities called in and told us about these recommendations.

[B]

Right? Yeah, we'll be sharing their feedback as soon as we have it, which should be anytime within anytime seconds of this going live.

[A]

I think none of them have anything going on right now.

[B]

Well, let's get into some n matter. What are you obsessed with?

[A]

I'm obsessed with this kind of janky daily game. Think of it akin to like a wordle or something like that. And it's called Maptap and my friend Jess introduced me to it. She plays it Every morning with her friend and her friend's husband, and it gives you five cities in increasing difficulty that you have to tap where they are on a world map.

[B]

Oh, boy. That does sound kind of fun, though.

[A]

It's so fun. I've played it every morning since she introduced me to it. I send the scores to her, and then I send it to another group chat that I've gotten into it. It's so fun. The other day, there was a country I have never even heard of on it.

[B]

What country?

[A]

I can't remember. It was one of those little islands in the South Pacific that I had literally never heard of.

[B]

You're learning a lot.

[A]

Then that's useful, and it's fun. I really like it. So it's just. You go to maptap. GG is the website, and you just play it on your browser.

[B]

Ooh, I'm going right now.

[A]

I'll send you my score after we finish so you can send me yours back.

[B]

The globe is turning. Open a map tab. Try. Okay, I rotated it.

[A]

It's gonna give you a practice one that's a practice one to just figure out how to play the game.

[B]

Okay, I got a 98 on New York City.

[A]

Yeah, that's kind of embarrassing. I think you should do better than that.

[B]

Oh, sorry. I didn't realize San Diego. This is gonna go even worse because I know nothing about. Oh, God. Oh, boy. It's 85. I got an 85.

[A]

I didn't do as well as I would have hoped on San Diego either. I. I got a. I got a 93.

[B]

What'd you get on New York City?

[A]

That doesn't show me that one because it only shows it the first time you play.

[B]

Hanover, Germany. This is not gonna go well for Olivia, let me tell you. I couldn't. Okay, there's Italy. There's France.

[A]

Also for the listeners, there are no lines on this map, so it's just a topography map.

[B]

You can zoom in.

[A]

You can.

[B]

Oh, well, I think when you consider that. I think that.

[A]

Oh, are you doing on your browser?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Oh, I do it on my phone. I think my New York score, you can pinch in.

[B]

You can pinch on your browser. I just didn't realize. Germany, this. We're just gonna go YOLO. Oh, I got a 93.

[A]

Good for you.

[B]

Okay. I see it. This is addictive.

[A]

It's fun.

[B]

Okay, I'm gonna stop the listeners. You're like, please, please let us be free of you doing this game.

[A]

I'll send you my score tomorrow morning so we can play well, maybe this

[B]

is my new obsession because I don't have one this week.

[A]

But you do have books. What did you read this week?

[B]

Yes. We'll start with. I finished London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe, which I had been listening to for months. I think at this point I discovered something about myself with audiobooks, which is that I can enjoy them, but I have to be doing a singular task. Like, I was painting the exterior of our house for, like, three hours, and I was able to get through a lot of this. I did find the middle very boring, if I'm totally honest. But I think it came together in the end. I like this. It's hard because it's this true story about this mysterious death of this teenager in London who was pretending to be a Russian oligarch's son. And it's all about the investigation and the sort of underbelly of London and all of these, like, weird, shady business dealings that happen there. People are fanatical about this book and how much they love it.

[A]

All of his.

[B]

I like it. Yeah, yeah, I liked it, but the middle was tough for me.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Okay. So the next book I read was the Children by Melissa Albert, which was Jenna's book club pick. Recently. It was a book of the month pick. From what I understand, this author has been a really successful YA and or children's author.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And this is her adult debut. It is about a pair of siblings who grow up as the children of a very, very famous, sort of J.K. rowling esque children's book author. And in this series of books, there's two children in them, and they're based on her children. Even to the names, like, they're named after them. People think that they're really the characters. It gets very murky. And so it's a dual timeline story where you learn about their childhood and then you see them in adulthood. They're estranged from one another. Their parents died in a mysterious fire. Basically every element here was ticking a box for me. I was like, yes, this is something I would love. This is exactly the type of literary mystery I can get into. The writing is gorgeous. Like, there are sentences in here that, like, brought me to my knees with how beautiful they are. And I was really into this in the beginning. For me, it went off the rails at the end. I did not understand what was happening. Oh, I didn't get it. And I think. I think maybe it just comes down to, like, the. The marketing for it that hit me was more of the, like, bookish mystery kind of thing. And I was like, yes, I'm in dark bookish mystery, yes. But then the more I read about it, the more I realized that it was actually shelved as like horror or magical realism. Both of things are not really my vibe. So I think maybe that's how it went off the rails for me at the end a little. But if you like either of those things, I think still worth checking it out. And if you're just interested in like being inspired by prosecutors, no matter what kind of genres you like, definitely check it out for sure. But for me, I was just. By the end I was like, I don't know what is happening, but maybe that's just me.

[A]

I'm gonna take your word for it. Horror is whatever the anti of a buzzword is for me.

[B]

It wasn't scary for me. But I do understand why it was supposed to be. Also, weirdly, if you've seen I know you haven't slash, you shouldn't. But this scary movie that's out right now called Backrooms, very strangely, there are a lot of parallels with this book. And that movie didn't work for me either. But a lot of people love it. So if you're one of those people, the book's right there. What have you read?

[A]

So I mentioned that I read Dolly all the Time by Annabelle Monaghan. I absolutely loved is such a fantastic romance. I don't dislike a fake dating romance, but a fake dating romance is hard because you're either so out there that it's just a silly book that I don't believe. But I think she did this in a really believable way, which I appreciated. I thought this was so good. I think this is maybe one of the best drawn romance main characters I've read in a while. I loved Dolly. Oh my gosh, this book was so great. Definitely a top five of the year for me. The other book that I read was such a wild card that I also loved. And that is a book called Once Again Always by Amanda Gale. And this comes out on October 6th. And I'll be honest with you that I read it because it comes out the same month as my book. It has such amazing Goodreads ratings and it already has over a thousand ratings. And I was just really curious about it. It's a romance. It has one of those kind of. I don't know what the style is like. It's like a computery photorealistic cartoon cover. I did no research before starting to read this because I don't think I would have read it if I had read the pitch for it. So this is a romance about a woman who wakes up in the hospital and has amnesia. I'm not an amnesia plot person. Generally speaking, she wakes up in the hospital, she has amnesia, and she is married to her high school rival slash bully, and she gets discharged from the hospital and she's trying to piece together, she thinks in her mind the last thing she remembers is when she's 21 and she's 28 now, and she's trying to piece together what happened and how she fell in love with this person that she hated. And this romance was so good. Oh, my God, it was so good. I feel like I've been asked more than once, what do I recommend? If somebody loved Magnolia Parks, and it is this, this book, they're prep school friends and they have a kind of large, rich, colorful social circle. I loved the romance. I loved the friend group here. It was a very blonde male main character that I was somehow so rooting for by the end. Oh, my God, I loved this.

[B]

What a review. Wow. Two wins. I'm glad.

[A]

Two not even wins. Two five star, like hard five star books.

[B]

Amazing. Amazing. Well, if none of those sound good to you, you could read the Burning side by Sarah Damoff with us, which is our July listener Book Club pick. And this is a pretty poignant family saga and it follows a couple named April and Leo who are on the brink of divorce when they are forced to reevaluate their lives after their house burns down in the middle of the night. And this has been pitched by our listeners. It's been chosen by our listeners, and it seems like people love these characters. They love the plot. It's very emotional and I'm excited to discuss.

[A]

Can't wait for that. In the meantime, you can also find us on Instagram atonpaper Podcast. We have the Facebook group under batonpaper Podcast. We have our BFF group under Baton Paper Podcast. So Glenn, Noah, Annie, any of those places you can find us to give us your reviews?

[B]

Tree pain.

[A]

Tree pain. I'm on Instagram ecamfreeman and my newsletter is eccafreeman.substack.com I have my new book back where we started coming out on October 13th and I would love you to consider pre ordering it.

[B]

And I am on all the places on the Internet at Olivia Mentor and

[A]

we'll see you next week. Bye.