Bad On Paper Podcast – Episode: 2025 Reading Preview Part 2
Hosts: Becca Freeman & Olivia Muenter
Release Date: June 18, 2025
Personal Highs and Lows
Becca Freeman shares a significant personal high at the beginning of the episode:
"[00:55] Becca Freeman: I filed my draft. It is in."
Despite the achievement, Becca expresses feeling mentally exhausted:
"[01:03] Becca Freeman: Honestly, right now I... feel like a zombie."
Olivia Muenter commends Becca's hard work and discusses her own coping mechanism:
"[03:38] Olivia Mentor: ...playing Real Housewives on my phone while showering has become my way to zone out."
However, Becca also opens up about her low point, expressing overwhelming concerns about current world events:
"[04:17] Becca Freeman: Watching footage of the ICE raids... feeling helpless and distraught."
Olivia echoes these sentiments, highlighting the pervasive sense of paralysis in the face of ongoing crises:
"[05:54] Olivia Mentor: It's... like paralysis, you know, it's like this is the worst it's ever been."
Book Recommendations
Olivia Muenter’s Picks
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"What Kind of Paradise" by Janelle Brown
- Synopsis: Follows a teenage girl uncovering the truth about her isolated upbringing.
- Olivia's Insight: Praises its atmospheric setting in Montana and praises it as a perfect summer read.
"[08:48] Olivia Mentor: ...it's set in the wilderness of Montana, so I'm sure that it's beautiful and really atmospheric."
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"The Compound" by Ashlynn Rawl
- Synopsis: Centers on Lily competing in a dystopian reality show with escalating stakes.
- Olivia's Enthusiasm: Excited for its intense competition and disturbing undertones.
"[09:41] Olivia Mentor: ...this sounds like my perfect book in so many ways. I cannot wait to read this."
Lauren Puckett Pope’s Picks
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"Katabasis" by RF Kuang
- Synopsis: Two magic students embarks on a perilous journey to rescue their professor from hell.
- Lauren's Analysis: Highlights the unique blend of logic-based magic and a compelling love story.
"[13:28] Olivia Mentor: ...this is very high on my list."
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"Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil" by V.E. Schwab
- Synopsis: Chronicles the lives of three queer women turned vampires across different historical periods.
- Lauren's Perspective: Appreciates its exploration of identity and ethics through a vampire narrative.
"[19:06] Lauren Puckett Pope: ...it has a lot of tropes that one might expect from the fantasy genre."
Morgan Pager’s Picks
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"El Dorado Drive" by Megan Abbott
- Synopsis: Follows three sisters who join a deceptive pyramid scheme in suburban Detroit.
- Morgan's Anticipation: Excited about Megan Abbott's signature noir style and psychological depth.
"[35:06] Morgan Pager: ...she is really a writer who made me a writer."
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"Kill Your Darlings" by Peter Swanson
- Synopsis: A reverse-told domestic thriller about a wife plotting to kill her husband amidst mysterious past events.
- Morgan's Review: Highlights the book's addictive narrative and excellent prose.
"[37:02] Morgan Pager: ...it's really propulsive. I want to keep reading it."
Morgan’s Upcoming Release: "Our Last Resort"
- Synopsis: A dual-timeline thriller set in a desert hotel where siblings with a cult past face murder suspicions.
- Morgan's Pitch: Emphasizes character-driven storytelling and the challenges of intertwining timelines.
"[39:42] Morgan Pager: ...it's a really interesting exercise to do dual timelines."
Kristin L. Berry’s Picks
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"Plus Size Player" by Danielle Allen
- Synopsis: Follows a woman juggling multiple romantic relationships, challenging the conventional "player" trope.
- Kristin's Insight: Excited about flipping traditional dating narratives and the book's steamy elements.
"[55:57] Kristin L. Berry: ...it's a woman who has a roster of men and who's dating multiple people."
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"The Wilderness" by Angela Flournoy
- Synopsis: Chronicles the lives of five Black women navigating personal and professional landscapes over two decades.
- Kristin's Enthusiasm: Appreciates the focus on female friendships and character development.
"[56:14] Kristin L. Berry: ...it allows you to get so stuck into their lives and invested."
Nenna’s Picks
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"Greenwich" by Kate Broad
- Synopsis: A 17-year-old girl spends summer at her affluent relatives' estate, facing tragic events and personal choices.
- Nenna's Recommendation: Highlights its exploration of wealth, privilege, and identity.
"[47:55] Nenna: ...a dark and propulsive family drama that also explores wealth, privilege, race, and power."
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"It's Different This Time" by Joss Richard
- Synopsis: Reunites former roommates forced to co-own a multimillion-dollar property, rekindling past relationships amidst gossip-driven chaos.
- Nenna's Pitch: Describes it as a cozy fall romance with elements of forced proximity and nostalgia.
"[48:43] Nenna: ...a second chance romance set with autumn vibes."
Guest Highlights
- Lauren Puckett Pope of Elle Magazine discusses her love for grounded fantasy and shares her excitement for RF Kuang's and V.E. Schwab's upcoming releases.
- Morgan Pager introduces her picks and teases her upcoming thriller, emphasizing her admiration for Megan Abbott's work.
- Kristin L. Berry shares her fascination with romance and literary fiction, previewing her recommended titles and her own upcoming novel, "We Don't Talk About Carol."
- Nenna, founder of NYC Book Girl and author of "We Don't Talk About Carol," recommends debut novels that tackle complex social themes and personal growth.
Book Club News
- Upcoming Book Club Selections:
- Next Week: "All the Other Mothers Hate Me" by Sarah Harmon
- Pitch: A single mom former pop star suspects her son in a classmate's disappearance, blending humor with suspense.
- July Pick: "Atmosphere" by Taylor Jenkins Reid
- Pitch: An epic love story set against the 1980s space program, described as "Crazy Rich Asians meets Succession."
- Next Week: "All the Other Mothers Hate Me" by Sarah Harmon
Final Recommendations
Olivia Muenter passionately endorses "We Don't Talk About Carol" by Kristin L. Berry as a compelling and thoughtful thriller that addresses societal issues without being overly disturbing:
"[74:00] Olivia Mentor: It's not gonna haunt you. Yes, scaredy cut approved, right? Yes, exactly."
Becca Freeman emphasizes the warmth and charm of "It's a Love Story" by Annabelle Monaghan, recommending it as the perfect summer read:
"[72:35] Becca Freeman: ...it is so warm, it is so witty, it is so lovely. Like, it is a perfect summer book."
Notable Moments
- Becca's Personal Struggles: Open discussion about mental health, feeling overwhelmed by current events, and personal achievements.
- Book Recommendations: Diverse selections from grounded fantasy to psychological thrillers and romance, catering to a wide range of literary tastes.
- Guest Contributions: Insightful perspectives from industry professionals and authors, enriching the episode's content.
- Book Club Engagement: Announcements of upcoming selections fostering community participation.
Conclusion
This episode of Bad On Paper offers a rich tapestry of book recommendations, personal anecdotes, and engaging discussions. Whether you're a fantasy enthusiast, a thriller aficionado, or a romance lover, Becca and Olivia, along with their insightful guests, provide a spectrum of literary gems to look forward to in the second half of 2025.
Notable Quotes:
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Becca Freeman on Personal Achievement:
"[00:55] Becca Freeman: I filed my draft. It is in."
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Olivia Muenter on Coping Mechanisms:
"[03:38] Olivia Mentor: ...playing Real Housewives on my phone while showering has become my way to zone out."
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Becca Freeman on Feeling Overwhelmed:
"[04:17] Becca Freeman: ...I am feeling very overwhelmed, and I'm also feeling guilty. I haven't done anything."
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Morgan Pager on Megan Abbott’s Impact:
"[35:06] Morgan Pager: ...she is really a writer who made me a writer."
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Olivia Muenter Endorsement of "We Don't Talk About Carol":
"[74:00] Olivia Mentor: It's not gonna haunt you. Yes, scaredy cut approved, right? Yes, exactly."
For more detailed discussions and additional book recommendations, tune into the full episode of Bad On Paper.