Easily Distracted By New Releases + The Joy of Reading Bubblegum Books

Summary

Book Talk, Etc. – Easily Distracted By New Releases + The Joy of Reading Bubblegum Books

Release Date: October 14, 2025
Hosts: Tina (@tbretc) & Hannah (@handpickedbooks)

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Episode Overview

In this lively episode, Tina and Hannah lean into their mutual love of new releases, sharing recent reads that caught their attention—ranging from dark, thought-provoking fiction to light, "bubblegum" books meant purely for enjoyment. They discuss the allure and value of fast, fun reads ("bubblegum books"), debate what counts as such for each of them, and recommend titles across a variety of genres. The episode is peppered with personal stories, notably about office culture and reading habits, all while highlighting the joy of reading for pleasure.

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Main Themes & Purpose

• New Releases: The hosts discuss several new books they’ve read, with a mix of heavier and lighter reads.
• Bubblegum Books: They explore what defines a "bubblegum book"—those quick, compulsively readable novels that may not linger in the mind but deliver pure enjoyment.
• Reading Habits: Reflections on reading for work vs. pleasure, and setting goals to indulge in lighter reads.
• Book Recommendations: A range of book suggestions, from laugh-out-loud workplace satires to intense, challenging fiction.

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Notable Episode Segments & Discussion Points

1. Opening Banter & Sports Talk

[00:00 – 01:26]

• Lighthearted sports banter sets the episode’s warm, conversational tone.
• Tina celebrates the Chicago Cubs’ playoff win, joking about listener reactions.

Memorable Quote:

"If you're listening … and the Cubs end up losing and you decide to troll me, I'm going to cry. So please don't. Just know that I'm very—don't troll me."
—Tina ([00:57])

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2. What We’ve Been Loving Lately

[03:16 – 10:56]

Tina:

• The Curse of America’s Next Top Model (Podcast)
  • Podcast explores the behind-the-scenes reality and controversies of the reality show.
  • Enjoys the host’s voice, storytelling, and commentary on the show’s exploitative elements.
  • Notes heavy advertising load but still recommends.

Notable Quote:

“This show was my bread and butter in college … we would sit in front of the television and watch this program and I just loved it.”
—Tina ([05:35])

• Recommends Brad Mondo’s YouTube reactions as a companion.

Hannah:

• Cocokind Skincare
  • Loving both the postbiotic acne serum and retinol gel.
  • Praises their effectiveness and gentle formulation, as well as eco-friendly focus.
  • Highlights affordability as a plus.

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3. Latest Reads: New Release Spotlights

Tina:

• Discontent by Beatrice Serrano ([10:56])
  • Darkly funny workplace novel about Marissa, a Madrid ad exec spiraling from corporate burnout.
  • Praises the humor, social commentary, and relatability—especially for anyone who’s ever worked in an office.
  • Satisfying ending, recommended for “those a little too familiar with office life.”

Notable Quote:

“She spends her working hours locked in her office, hiding, binging YouTube videos and taking Valium … she’s just right on the brink of absolutely crashing out.”
—Tina ([13:19])

Hannah:

• The Once and Future Me by Melissa Pace ([14:57])
  • Genre-bending thriller set in 1954 about a woman in a psychiatric hospital whose visions suggest a mission to save humankind.
  • Pitched as “Dark Matter meets Girl, Interrupted,” but more in the vein of twisty mystery and adrenaline than deep introspection.
  • Highly recommended as a buddy read.

Memorable Quote:

“When I tell you that we had no idea where this story was going in the best way, I truly mean—this is not the book you want if you are looking for super thoughtful introspection. But if you want a mystery and an adrenaline rush ... you will forget time.”
—Hannah ([17:33])

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4. Book Talk: The Joy and Nature of Bubblegum Books

[19:37 – 30:45]

• Defining "Bubblegum Books":
  • “Bubblegum” or “potato chip” books: quick, addictive, enjoyable, but not necessarily lasting in impact.
  • Both hosts reflect on their tendencies—Tina reads fewer of these, due to reviewing demands, while Hannah enjoys them as palate cleansers.

Notable Discourse:

“I should read more of them ... I should find books that I just read for the love of reading. Sometimes I get very scripted or prescriptive ... But hearing you describe it, the first thing that came to my mind was something like a Frida McFadden book.”
—Tina ([21:07])

• Examples cited include cozy fantasy (like Legends & Lattes), mass-market historical romance, and certain fast-paced thrillers (e.g., Frida McFadden).

Quote:

“There’s something to be said for just reading straight up for pleasure without writing down your thoughts or over-analyzing ...”
—Tina ([22:33])

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5. New Releases, Recommendations, and Bubblegum Book Examples

Tina:

• Several People are Typing by Calvin Kasulke ([31:02])
  • Absurdist workplace satire told entirely through Slack messages—Gerald, a PR worker, becomes trapped in Slack.
  • Very funny, especially if you’ve worked in office culture.
  • Print/ebook recommended (audio doesn’t work for this format).

Quote:

“It was a good time. I call this a bubblegum book because I flew through it in no time at all ... This is where I need a bubblegum book: before bed, because I have one eye open ...”
—Tina ([35:28])

Hannah:

• The Scammer by Tiffany D. Jackson ([36:41])
  • YA suspense about a college freshman drawn into a sinister plot by a charismatic ex-con.
  • Likened to “if Jordan Peele did Legally Blonde” for its blend of campus vibes, social commentary, and a touch of horror.
  • January Lavoy’s audio narration praised.
  • Discusses the realness of quick college friendships and cult-like group dynamics.

Quote:

“My first thought reading the story … was this feels like if Jordan Peele did Legally Blonde.”
—Hannah ([38:48])

• Bubblegum Book Reflection: Legends & Lattes, cozy fantasies, and historical romances are not always “deep” but offer reading pleasure.

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Tina:

• Nobody Knows You’re Here by Bryn Greenwood ([43:55])
  • Intense, harrowing novel about a woman trafficked and forced to care for kidnapped children.
  • Lauds the author’s ability to handle dark subjects sensitively, but cautions it’s not a light read.
  • Calls it “the antithesis of a bubblegum book.”

Quote:

“This was stressful to read and I am really glad that I read it. … It is the opposite, maybe opposite, of a bubblegum book.”
—Tina ([48:35])

• Social Resource: Hannah plugs Thistle Farms ([49:05])—a nonprofit supporting trafficking survivors.

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Hannah:

• Fake Skating by Lynn Painter ([50:30])
  • Sweet YA romance with fake dating tropes, set in competitive high school hockey.
  • Recommends for fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty or To All the Boys I Loved Before.
  • Praises its blend of teen drama without too much angst.

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6. Shelf Additions / Upcoming Reads

[58:26]

Tina:

• Salt Crop by Yumi Kitasei
  • Near-future eco-dystopian novel with themes of sisterhood, ocean journeys, and survival. Drumroll: content warning for cannibalism.
  • Gorgeous print design (Aardvark Pick).

Hannah:

• Bog Queen by Anna North
  • Forensic anthropologist investigates 2,000-year-old Iron Age bog body; blends post-Brexit England and ancient Celtic history.
  • Appeals to her love of archaeology and English settings.

Quote:

“I just love an archaeologist component to a story ... also if someone mentions archaeology as part of the mystery plot, that is fascinating to me.”
—Hannah ([60:36])

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On bubblegum books:
  “What a pleasure to read something and not worry about finishing it and just enjoy the experience ... I do remember my experience sitting on the beach ... and really enjoying my time.”
  —Hannah ([28:44])

• On workplace novels:
  “If you are a worker bee like me and like books that explore office culture and office dynamics, you could have fun with it. This book really made me laugh and I enjoyed it.”
  —Tina ([35:28])

• On reading for pleasure vs. reviewing:
  “My problem is I like to work—like I like to read and feel like I’m a little list, ding ding ding. Like it’s a problem in my head. But it does sound nice to just read for the pleasure of it.”
  —Tina ([29:45])

• On friendship and fast connections:
  “I swear to you, instantaneous ... immediately I was like, yes, obviously. So I can see that happening. Now, we weren’t in a cult ... although we were in sororities, so, I mean, very similar.”
  —Tina ([41:09])

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Key Timestamps

• 00:57 – Cubs playoff banter
• 03:16 – Tina’s podcast love: Curse of America's Next Top Model
• 07:43 – Hannah’s skincare favorites
• 10:56 – Tina reviews Discontent
• 14:57 – Hannah reviews The Once and Future Me
• 19:37 – On the Book Talk topic: bubblegum books defined
• 31:02 – Tina’s bubblegum pick: Several People are Typing
• 36:41 – Hannah’s suspense pick: The Scammer
• 43:55 – Tina’s heavy recommendation: Nobody Knows You’re Here
• 50:30 – Hannah’s light YA romance pick: Fake Skating
• 58:26 – Shelf Additions: Salt Crop and Bog Queen

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Final Thoughts & Community Call

• Both hosts resolve to make room for more “just-for-fun” reading in their book lives (“bubblegum books” especially).
• They invite listeners to share their own bubblegum reads and highlight the fun of alliteration—potato chips, bubblegum, popcorn, whatever you call them.
• Toward episode’s end, fun moments abound, including lighthearted Amazon mishaps (“Do I sleep order books on Amazon?”) and aspirations to simply enjoy more commercial fiction.

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For Further Connection

• Books mentioned: Full list in show notes.
• Contact:
  • Email: [e-mail]
  • Instagram: @booktalketc
  • Patreon for bonus content

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“Everything’s better with books.”

Transcript

[Hannah]

I thought that was baseball.

[Tina]

Hannah.

[Hannah]

It'S football season, isn't it?

[Tina]

So I wish we were recording because we just recording. Well, we are now. And I'm going to tell everyone what you just said. I said, oh, good, the Cubs won. Now we can record. Indiana goes. Wait, that's football. I'm like, no, it's. It is baseball. But they're in the playoffs. Okay, okay, they're in the playoffs. But I appreciate that. The first time I was like, the Cubs win. You're like, yay. I'm. So. If you're happy, I'm happy. I love that this is a big deal because they are in the playoffs and they are losing to the brewers. They're down two to one in the series and it's the best of five. So I believe they will again play tomorrow at 8pm and I will be on the edge of my seat with my fingers crossed.

[Hannah]

Me too, girl. Go Cubs, go.

[Tina]

Thank you. There you go. Now listen to me. If you're listening to this podcast and the Cubs end up losing and you decide to troll me, I'm going to cry. So please don't. Just know that I'm very. Don't troll me.

[Hannah]

It's a nice lady.

[Tina]

I am a nice lady. Put that on my tombstone. She was a nice lady.

[Hannah]

Yeah, there you go.

[Tina]

Welcome to Book Talk Etc, A podcast bound to grow your tbr. I'm Tina from TBR Etc.

[Hannah]

And I'm Hannah from Handpicked Books.

[Tina]

This is a conversational podcast about books and more from two Midwest Mood readers who are easily distracted by new releases. And this week we are leaning into new releases and sharing our thoughts on some new titles that we've read.

[Hannah]

If you enjoy listening, we'd love for you to follow us on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app. And if you have a quick minute, please consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or sharing us on social media. It truly helps us connect with other book lovers.

[Tina]

Hi, Hannah.

[Hannah]

Hi, Tina. I would ask how you're doing, but I already know because the Cups just won.

[Tina]

Yes. So I'm doing great. I'm doing fantastic. Listen, they played decent. I'm going to see if I'm going to need to see a few more runs in upcoming games. Let's hope by the time this podcast drops and the are hearing it that they're still.

[Hannah]

They've won again.

[Tina]

Playoffs. Let's hope. Well, yeah, they only play if they lose on Thursday. They're gone. It's best if I listen. Let's just hope they're still in it. So for those of you.

[Hannah]

I believe.

[Tina]

I believe, too. And so for those of you who cannot see us right now, you should know that it is nighttime. It is the nighttime. It's the evening when we're recording this. And so we're going to be maybe a little bit loopier than typical. So just hang with us. I think it'll be a good time. Luckily, we are talking new releases, which, of course, is one of the. One of my favorite episodes to record. Do you have. How were your new releases? Some good. Some misses. You've got some good.

[Hannah]

I had all pretty much winners. One that I. Or two, actually, that I really, really liked and another one that I liked a lot. So.

[Tina]

Good.

[Hannah]

Yeah, I don't have any big bummers. What about you?

[Tina]

Same. No, no big bummers. I actually noticed that I have, like, an odd theme going for at least two of my books, which always. Okay, fun. I'm like, going. I'm like, wow, I must have been in this type of mood. And it's very random, but I will share those with you here in a little bit. But before we do that, of course we're gonna start with what we've been loving lately. And what I have been loving lately is courtesy of a listener named Stephanie, and it is a podcast. And she sent me this podcast because she said that I was the one that introduced her to Scamanda. So she's like, listen, I want to pay it forward. If you've not listened to these yet, I want you to. This is very different than Scamanda, but what it is is the curse of America's Next Top Model. Now, Hannah, I have a feeling you never watched that program and that.

[Hannah]

Oh, no, I did.

[Tina]

You did?

[Hannah]

Yeah, I used to watch it.

[Tina]

Oh, I love.

[Hannah]

Back in the day, love.

[Tina]

Okay, okay. I. Let me tell you about the podcast and then my relationship to the show. So this is basically a breakdown of, as you might guess, from the title, America's Next Top Model, and why wasn't all it's cracked up to be. I think now it's been long enough that some of the models NDAs are expiring, so they feel like they can now speak about what happened during their time on the show. And we're finding that not everything was as it crack was cracked up to be. Now, this podcast, I really like the host. I like her voice. I think she's doing a great job with the setup, and she is talking to some of the models and giving us good context. And this one is essentially the big Teaser they've been teasing for the last or the first few episodes is that one of the seasons somebody wins, but they ended up revoking her win and pretending that this other person won and like, literally showing it. Yeah. And this lady is like, but I was the original winner of this particular season, so I'm still a little bit confused because they're not there yet with this show.

[Hannah]

So they say. I mean, how do we know?

[Tina]

She apparently did. I guess she did. Oh, okay. She really did. And for some reasons, the show essentially stripped her of her crown. But, like, don't talk about it. And I like the podcast. It has so many ads, though, which I find very annoying. I mean, it's probably 10 minutes of ads, maybe more, because I skip them. And granted, everyone, you know, you need to get paid, but like, I'm like, okay, got it. There's like five.

[Hannah]

Even if you skip through, it can be tedious to have to keep skipping.

[Tina]

Yeah, sure. So when I tell you that this show was my bread and butter in college, I loved it for some. For many seasons, I watched every single episode and it was live. Like, obviously we didn't have Netflix then. And it was just literally we'd get takeout, my roommates and I, and we would sit in front of the television and watch this program and I just loved it. I loved it. I love the models, I love the photographs. I even really liked Tyra. She's over the top, but she's beautiful and just sort of this larger than life personality, I think. Now, of course, looking back as you can for a lot of the things in the early aughts, you can look back and be like, wow, yeah, that's really problematic. But at the time it was entertaining.

[Hannah]

And she was like a goddess.

[Tina]

What we knew so far for this podcast, there are only four episodes and already there's been a lot of craziness. And it seems that ANTM is more insidious than I originally thought. And you can tell this, the podcast host is really building her case and is showing how the show clearly exploited these young women's dreams of stardom for entertainment. And I gotta say, I'm finding this breakdown very interesting. I'm excited to see where the rest of the podcast goes and kind of a companion thing. If you've. If you're a fan of this show, you've got to look up Brad Mondo and his reactions to the models makeovers. It is so funny. Brad Mondo is a Internet personality and a hairstylist, and he basically reacts to some of the models makeovers because they were so insane. Like, and they do talk about this, too. They. The host of this podcast is black, and she is sharing, you know, some of her experiences with hair care and how some of the models on the show, like, they totally did not know how to handle their hair. And, like. And she was just explaining, like, Tyra experienced the same thing when she was starting out. She's openly talked about that. So she's sort of wondering, like, is, is she doing that to actually prepare the models for what it's really like when you're going on set, or is she kind of just hazing them? Anyway, I think this is a very interesting podcast. It's not a tough listen or anything like that, like, some of the ones I recommend, but so far, very much enjoying it. And that's the podcast the Curse of America's Next Top Model.

[Hannah]

Yeah, that sounds really good. That sounds like something I will be listening to over the weekend while I'm continuing to pack everything up and move to the new place. So thanks for that recommendation. Yes, I am bringing a couple of beauty products that are. One is an empty for me and which rarely happens for me, and the other one, I've made it a little over halfway through, and they're both from the same brand, which is Cocokind or Cocokind. I don't know if you know how to pronounce it, but I like the way Cococan sounds better, so I guess we'll go with that. But the first one is this postbiotic acne serum, and I tend to get breakouts, like, in my jawline area and up by my, like, upper cheekbones and stuff. And so that is where I use this the most. But you just put a couple drops on your face. This is a treatment. So this is step three in the process. I started using this in my PM routine every other night to start, and it's honestly done wonders. I really have hardly broken out when I have been using this, so I can tell that it's working. I have sensitive skin and I'm prone to acne, so this has been a wonderful product. And then I liked that so much that I decided to try their retinol gel. And this is a 0.1. And so far, so good. I haven't had any irritation, and I really can tell that it's helping with just some, you know, very minimal aging. I'm really not. Don't have, like, very aging skin yet. But, you know, I have the worry lines on my forehead and stuff, and I do feel like it is helping with those. And overall just feels really good on my skin. So this is the Cocokind retinol gel and the Coco Kind postbiotic acne serum. And I have been loving them.

[Tina]

Look at you. Just like a full skincare regime, girl.

[Hannah]

Although I had a hard time talking about those because, you know, I was like, everything that I'm saying sounds so silly.

[Tina]

But no, I mean, I think you, you did a great job. In fact, I'm looking at their page. I pulled up Amazon and I'm just looking at their page and it looks like they have some good stuff. I really like their packaging, which, you know, I do too. Isn't necessarily a great reason to purchase skin care.

[Hannah]

No, they're packaging other things, but really nice. And yes, I like, I like their brand too. I think that their products look really nice and hey, it is a big deal. And I will say I'm pretty sure they are an eco friendly company as well and they use a lot of plant products and things like that. So we love to see all of that.

[Tina]

It just looks gentle. It really does. It looks like it would be just like a gentle product or group of products. But yep. Anyway, thanks for your experience. Yes, love, always. Love a good skincare recommendation. They're affordable and they're affordable. Yes, you're not breaking the bank over here. And that's always nice too, where you can try different things like, oh, maybe I would like this. So.

[Hannah]

Yep, cool.

[Tina]

I love it. Well, I will get us right into our latest reads and I am picking or I'm bringing Discontent by Beatrice Serrano. So this book here, Discontent, first of all, I did not end up bringing it to our September Books on the Radar. But I thought about it because I remember thinking, this cover is insane. It's a woman who, there's two chairs stacked on top of each other. She is in business casual wear. She's wearing slingback heels. And I don't know how to describe it. She's like slumped over the back of her chair facing the wrong way and her butt is poking out. She's kind of just like over it. One of those women lounging on cover moments. And this was a Book of the Month pick for last month. And what I thought was interesting, I was looking it up. They placed it as a part of their series called the Collection. And they only have three of them so far, but apparently they intend to have books in this series called the Collection that are from independent and international imprints that are a bit further afield than their typical selections, which I thought was interesting and they call these books unexpected, nuanced, and even provocative. And I would totally agree with how. With that describing discontent. Because this book is about Marissa, who on the surface looks to have an enviable life. She lives in a beautiful apartment in the center of Madrid. She has a hot neighbor who she sleeps with with no strings attached. And she's rapidly risen through the ranks at an advertising agency. And yet she is drowning in a dark hole of existential dread induced by the expectations of corporate life. Marissa hates her job and everyone in it. She spends her working hours locked in her office, hiding, binging YouTube videos and taking Valium. And when she does have time, she escapes to her favorite museum where she contemplates the meaning of life and tries to get hit by a car so she can go on disability. And I'm smiling because this is funny. Like, it really is a funny book that says the quiet like, that says things that I just was not expecting. And she, in this book keeps. She doesn't want to rise up the ranks at this advertising firm. She just can't help it. They keep promoting her and she's like, my God, why are you doing this? And so now she has college interns beneath her, and she basically gives them her projects and passes it off as her own. And now she is forced to go on her company's annual team building retreat. They're going on this retreat, it's in the Spanish Mountains, and she's just not into it. Like, she hates again all of her co workers. And she is finding that she's very haunted by a past co worker. And she's starting to have these remembrances of this woman that she used to work with, and it's kind of messing her up a little bit. And she's like, the entire book, this whole book, she's right on the brink of absolutely crashing out. Like, she's just right there the whole time. And you're like, what are you gonna do with this? I have worked in an office for my entire adult life, so I could resonate with a lot of this. This is darkly funny. And although at times I just wanted to shake Marissa, I could understand where she was coming from. Because what is it all for at the end of the day? You know how, like, sometimes you're paying attention to the news and what's going on in the world and you're like, well, back to click clacking. Like, it just feels like, okay. It's just so silly sometimes. And I swear that's what this book unpacks. This had a great balance of social commentary, sincerity, and a lot of humor. But I will say there's some serious elements that are brought up and introduced, so just know that. But there's also this retreat that takes place at the very end and I the ending really satisfied me. We'll just leave that there. I think this one will appeal to those that are maybe a little too familiar with office life. Overall, I do recommend it and I enjoyed my time with it. This was Discontent by Beatrice Serrano.

[Hannah]

Yeah, that sounds really good and I'm glad that you picked that up to tell us about it. It's definitely one that I've been seeing rolling around on social media and stuff. My latest read is a new release. Also, I'm bringing all new releases today. This one is the Once and Future Me by Melissa Pace and this book takes place in Virginia in 1954, and we start off with a young woman who wakes up agitated and confused on a patient transport bus bound for Hanover State Psychiatric Hospital. She does not remember anything of her life before that moment, none of the dark things that she must have seen or done to become such an apparent skilled and cunning fighter, because she gives this team at the hospital a run for their money when she first arrives. Once she is restrained, doctors tell her that she is Dorothy Frazier, a paranoid schizophrenic committed by the state for treatment to curb her violent and grandiose delusions. She is positive that they are wrong until vivid visions begin to seep into her mind. But she remembers them so vividly when she is having these visions, and what she's envisioning is a dystopian future where desperate scientists are begging her to complete the mission and save humankind. She becomes convinced that Hanover, the psychiatric hospital, the people there are causing these hallucinations, and so she keeps quiet and she focuses on escape. I am going to stop it there because I think that the synopsis on Goodreads gives a little bit more away. But this is all I want to give you, and I think that you should avoid looking at the official synopsis because the ride that this book will take you on is it is so much fun, it is full of twists, and I never knew what was going to happen next. When I was reading this, I kept thinking, why does this book remind me of Dark Matter? And then I realized that a lot of people have comped it to Dark Matter, including its March marketing team. It is pitched as Dark Matter meets Girl Interrupted. And while I see it, I don't think that Girl Interrupted is quite as apt. But I do see what they were trying to say there. I buddy read this with my friend Emma and I highly recommend this as a buddy read. It was really fun to share. Theories and spoiler. We didn't really not an actual spoiler, but we didn't actually have any theories because the story is bananas and Emma and I are both. Both extremely hyper, vigilant, anxious readers who are constantly hypothesizing. And when I tell you that we had no idea where this story was going in the best way, I truly mean is not the book you want if you are looking for super thoughtful introspection. But if you want a mystery and an adrenaline rush and a truly creative psychological thriller with a fascinating plot, you will forget time while reading this exciting and original story. And that is the Once and Future Me by Melissa Pace.

[Tina]

Nice. I knew you were reading this. I did not think you liked it for no reason other than I wasn't sure where you were going to land. But I'm so excited to hear that you enjoyed it.

[Hannah]

I did. I really liked it and I was just as surprised as you.

[Tina]

Yes. I love the COVID of that one. It's very striking.

[Hannah]

Me too. Yeah, it's really fun. It's kind of of just like pop, I don't know. Pop what? Pop something.

[Tina]

What is that called? Yeah, pop art. Is it you know, like comic book art?

[Hannah]

Comic book art, yes. It does look like a comic book. Yes.

[Tina]

Modern pop art.

[Hannah]

Okay. Is that actually what it's called?

[Tina]

I think so.

[Hannah]

Okay.

[Tina]

I think.

[Hannah]

Well, I like it. Whatever it's got going, I like it.

[Tina]

Comic pop art. Yeah, it's really cool. It's a great cover. Was that one a book of the month pick too? Or was that Aardvark?

[Hannah]

You know, I actually. Oh, Aardvark. I don't know, actually. Oh, I got it from the publisher. Thank you, Henry Holt.

[Tina]

Thank you, Henry Holt. Okay. Yeah, it doesn't matter. But I am happy to hear that that one worked for you. Now I want you to tell me about booktok today because you have put this one out in our little planning spreadsheet. And thank you for doing all of that because you sort gave us guidelines on maybe potential book talk topics. And I love how we're always like, I don't know, potential topics and then it almost always ends up being what we choose because, like, why not? Right?

[Hannah]

Why not?

[Tina]

So this one though, probably isn't an area in which I read a lot of. So tell us what we want to talk about today for book talk.

[Hannah]

Well, I think that Everybody has a book that is what I would call a bubble gum book, which is what we're talking about today. And there have been a lot of other descriptors for these types of books. I think the most popular, as I've heard people say, like potato chip books, where, you know, they are really easy to eat and you just keep eating them, but they don't offer a lot of nutritional value per se. But first of all, I like alliteration, so I like the sound of bubblegum books. And also, I do feel like with bubblegum, it's one of those things where you are eating it or you're chewing it and you're really enjoying it, but the flavor doesn't always last. And I think that there is something to reading a book like that that is just propulsive and easy to read and fun. Even though it might not have any lasting impact, I think that those books are still worthwhile. And we all kind of have that genre, maybe, or type of book or even trope that we tend to turn to when we're looking for something like that. So with that intro in mind, I guess my question is, given that description, what are the first things that come to your mind when you think of, for you, a bubblegum book?

[Tina]

Like, for Tina, I thought, I don't read those. I don't read bubblegum books. I was like, I don't have a. And I say that not as a brag. I say that as I should read more of them. I should find books that I just read for the love of reading. Sometimes I get very scripted or prescriptive with the books that I'm reading. What I mean by that is I'm thinking, okay, does it fit a theme? I'm thinking, okay, is the audience, whatever audience I'm thinking of, going to want to hear about this book? I get very, I guess, in my head about that. But hearing you describe it, the first thing that came to my mind was something like a Freedom McFadden book where I'm not necessarily gonna be blown away, and maybe I will be, but most of the time I'm just like, okay, I'm breezing right through this. I'm with you. I'm in, and then I'm out. And then it's sort of something that you're just doing to do. And I really do need to read more of these because I think there's something to be said for just reading straight up for pleasure without writing down your thoughts or over analyzing some of the, you know, deeper themes. And I. I really do like doing that. But I probably read books, or I should say maybe force myself to finish books that are not as entertaining as they could be. You know what I'm saying? Because I'm like, oh, I want to review this one. I might finish it, even though maybe I'm not loving it. So I don't know if that's a great answer or not. But hey, that's what I've got for you. No, tell me more about what you consider bubblegum reading.

[Hannah]

Yeah, I think that that is a great answer and it also makes sense with you and your reading life and kind of how you even choose the books that you're going to read next and things like that. I think for me, when I think of a bubblegum book, I'm thinking of not even just a genre because so like romance, for example, is definitely something that I reach for if I want to consume something quickly. But oftentimes with romance books, I will remember those for a long time. I love them. They'll be five star reads for me. That often happens. But if I am wanting something maybe a little bit more light or not heavy or even something that I don't have to pay super close attention to, I think of like a cozy fantasy romance like Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldry. I really enjoyed that book. I remember bits and pieces of it. There was an ogre and another magical creature and they fell in love and it was Sapphic and I'm pretty sure there was like a little mouse creature that was kind of cute. I don't know if it was a mouse. My point is the details are fuzzy.

[Tina]

Yeah, yeah.

[Hannah]

But I remember it being cozy and wonderful and it's one that I really enjoy recommending. But it didn't stick with me. It wasn't like a five star favorite or anything like that.

[Tina]

I swear to you. I, I, okay, I'm excited because I do have one today. I'm really pumped because, and I didn't even pick it on purpose, but I realized when I was putting together my notes, I was like, oh my gosh, I have an example of what I would consider this. So I bet you I just hadn't considered this previously. And so now I'm going to look back at the books that I have finished because it's not like I'm sitting here reading all, you know, literary masterpieces. And I don't, I don't even think, like you said, it's all about the, how well constructed it is because I think there are books that can be poorly constructed that are bubblegum books, but also really well constructed that are bubblegum books that just don't really have that staying power. And it's. That's not its intent. That's not the intent of the book.

[Hannah]

I do think that Frida McFadden is a perfect example as someone who's a thriller writer. And not all thrillers are like that. But I do feel like Frida is the perfect example of a bubblegum type thriller.

[Tina]

Yes.

[Hannah]

They are just so easy to read. There is something so addictive about her books. You can't stop reading. And whether you love them or hate them, you're going to read those in a day or two. You just can't stop.

[Tina]

That's going to be my goal as we finish out the year. I want to turn to more bubblegum books that are just fun to read and, you know, just you reading for the entertainment value.

[Hannah]

Yes.

[Tina]

I'm like looking. I'm down in July and I'm like, nope, haven't read a bubblegum book yet. Here's one. Okay. The Retirement Plan by Sue Hinsenbergs. I would consider maybe a bubblegum book. We did that for our in person book club and I didn't even bring it to the show because I didn't have much to say about it. I was like, it was fine. You know, I. There were some high drinks. Okay, that's a good example. Okay. Because there are some hijinks and like the wives try and kill their husbands, but the husbands don't know it and they're trying to. Whatever. I can't even tell you what it's about, but I know that I rated it 3 1/2 stars and I was fine when I was reading it. I had a good time, but I didn't even bring it to the show because I was like, I don't want to recommend this because I don't necessarily have much to say.

[Hannah]

But you got through it quickly and it was kind of fun and you don't regret reading it.

[Tina]

Right? Right. It wasn't like a non recommendation.

[Hannah]

Yeah.

[Tina]

God. Poor poolside reading. Poor me. All I read are books that, that are like weird and just intense and messed up that are going to mess with your psyche or. Yeah, there's some in here that I'm looking now that I'm quickly looking through that. I'm like, okay, maybe that.

[Hannah]

Do you enjoy your reading life?

[Tina]

Oh, of course I do. Are you joking? I'll read anything, babe. I'll read. And I'm happy as long as I'm reading. So that's how I read.

[Hannah]

There you go. I don't think there's anything wrong with what you're reading.

[Tina]

No. But I do think I would like to include maybe more commercial fiction now and again. Meaning. Okay. That I know are going to have wide appeal. Like I know that I'm going to. And it's almost one of those where I know it when I see it. Maybe picking up a book where I'm like, okay, I know somebody reads, you know, maybe 10 books a year, but I would think if they grabbed this one that they would enjoy it, that they would enjoy the reading experience. But they don't take it as seriously as you and I do in terms of their reading life.

[Hannah]

Yeah.

[Tina]

Fascinating. Do you have any other authors that you would consider that you maybe turn to or any authors that are, you know, sort of in that range? Gosh.

[Hannah]

I'm trying to think. The one that I. I thought of before coming into this episode was Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldry, which I already mentioned. I think just anything kind of in that cozy fantasy, real. I think something. This is again in the romance space, but a historical romance. I just really enjoy reading them. I think they're fun. Like the mass market paperbacks, sometimes even the really, really old ones. I've taken those to the beach before and they're the kinds of books that I genuinely enjoy reading them while I am reading them. But I have so many just half finished ones that I've taken to the beach some days. And what a pleasure to read something and not worry about finishing it and just enjoy the experience while you're reading it. And I don't even remember all of those books, but I do remember my experience sitting on the beach with the paperback in my hand and really enjoying my time. So that is a genre where I am like totally free with. I will pick those up and put those down willy nilly. And I really enjoy my time.

[Tina]

The horror. I love the sound of that though. I do. I love the sound. The horror. The sound. I love the sound of reading just for this love of it and not being worried about like reviewing a book. It's been literally years and years since I've done that.

[Hannah]

10 plus years for us.

[Tina]

10 plus years. It's been a really long time.

[Hannah]

Wouldn't trade it.

[Tina]

No, not for a moment. But yeah. So it's interesting. I am curious. I've never heard this phrase bubblegum books before. So to the listeners, if you have examples of bubblegum books, books, what comes to mind? You know, is it romance? Is it A popcorn thriller. Because initially that's what I was thinking is a popcorn thriller. And I do think some of those can fit the bill for this. That's one of my goals, though, I think as we finish out this year is I want to find more books that I'm just reading for pleasure and not necessarily for you guys, the listeners. You know, just find some books that I'm enjoying.

[Hannah]

We have some time off coming up around the holidays, so you could spend that time just enjoying yourself.

[Tina]

Okay.

[Hannah]

Not that you don't.

[Tina]

I do enjoy myself. My problem is I like to work like I like to read and feel like I'm like a little list. Ding, ding, ding. Like it's like a problem in my head. But it is. It does sound nice to just, you know, read for the pleasure of it. Now listen, though, I don't mean to freak you out, I don't mean to freak you out, but we literally only have, I mean, after six weeks left. No, we. Yes. So we literally only have two more episodes that are theme based. And then after they're either books on the radar or easily distracted by new releases or our end of the year.

[Hannah]

And end of year content.

[Tina]

We only have.

[Hannah]

It's exciting, guys.

[Tina]

More themed episodes for the rest of 2025.

[Hannah]

I'm actually honestly excited. I'm ready for this year to be over.

[Tina]

Keep it moving. I feel you. No, listen, nothing wrong with that. It's just freaking me out how quick it's gone. At any rate, like I said, let us know what your bubblegum books are. And I do love an alliteration like you said, that is like, love that.

[Hannah]

Whether it's potato chips or bubble gum. You let us know.

[Tina]

You let us know. You let us know. All right, so let's get in to the list. Now, my first book, I do think would fall into the genre of bubblegum book.

[Hannah]

Okay.

[Tina]

Okay. Yeah. Okay, tell me about it. Right.

[Hannah]

Tell me.

[Tina]

Would you like to know about it?

[Hannah]

Okay, I do.

[Tina]

So unique. It is called Several People are Typing by Calvin Kosulki. Do you know this one?

[Hannah]

Okay, I do know this one, but I have never read it. But I have had so many of my friends tell me about it. I cannot wait to hear what you have to say.

[Tina]

Yes. So this is unlike anything I've ever read. It is another workplace novel and I certainly did not mean to bring two.

[Hannah]

Oh, funny.

[Tina]

But this one is a workplace novel told entirely through Slack messages. Now, I know Hannah is familiar with Slack, but in case you are not, Slack is essentially an intern messaging system that Many companies use. You've also maybe heard of Microsoft Teams or whatever. If you're old school, think AOL America Online, you know, imming people. Except it's company wide and you could have different channels and different groups also similar to Discord. So if you are online at all in any of these sort of virtual spaces, you might enjoy this. But it is about Gerald. And Gerald is a mid level employee of a New York based public relations firm and somehow he has been uploaded into the company's internal Slack channels. That's right, his consciousness now is in the Slack server while his body is still at the house. And he just keeps saying, hey guys, I'm stuck in the Slack channel at the beginning. And everyone's like okay, whatever Gerald. Like just go be Gerald.

[Hannah]

You know, who would believe that?

[Tina]

Who would believe that? What do you mean? He keeps saying it and they're like, I don't know what you're talking about. However, the his colleagues are like, okay, you're just trying to exploit our new work from home policy and you're ruining it for the rest of us. But Gerald's productivity is through the roof because guess what, he doesn't need to sleep because he's no longer in a body. And so his bosses are like, awesome, you're doing great Gerald. Keep up the creativity. Work wherever you want to. And so he is naturally freaking out and he enlists the help of his co worker Pradeep. And Pradeep, he gets him to believe him basically. And he sort of, you know, is like, hey, just do me a favor if you think I'm crazy, go to my house and see if I'm there. He does. The body's there and Gerald's still slacking. And he's like, what the hell dude? And so he ends up getting Pradeep to believe him. But then the longer he stays in, I mean this isn't just like overnight, he's there for several days, if not longer, and he sort of starts to lose it. So this is a book that is absurd. It's surprising but oddly relatable, especially again if you've worked in an office or have some of these office cultures, office rituals. So one of the things this book does and do not do this on audio, by the way, this will not at all work on audio. Just do print. I did the ebook or the print book, either would be fine because you'll see, I mean if you did the audio it would be like, like Gerald, blah blah blah, Prudy, blah blah blah. Like you would have to hear their names over and over, whereas my eyes were able to just skim over that because I'm used to reading messages in that way. And they also use a lot of emojis in this book, and one of them was called Dusty Stick. I was like, what does this mean? And they do explain in the book why or how they use dusty stick. And I'm like, is this real? So Hannah and Jonathan and I use Slack to, you know, communicate about the podcast. And so I was like, let me just see. And I typed it in there. Dusty Stick. And wouldn't you know it, Dusty Stick is one of the emojis or emoticons that you can use in Slack. So this book is really clever. I think the author did some very interesting things, and I was shocked at how heartfelt he was able to make this book because truly I'm like, what do you. What do you mean? Right? This guy gets uploaded into the Slack server. It sounds pretty ridiculous. And to be fair, it is ridiculous, but it's also very heartwarming. And it was a good time. I call this a bubblegum book because I flew through it in no time at all. It was one of those books that I. This is where I've just figured it out. This is my time to shine. This is where I need a bubblegum book is before bed, because I have one eye open and I have to have my phone in my hand. I fall with my phone and my little book in my hand every single night. You know, I got one eye open. But this one, I was actually able to. Some of them don't work.

[Hannah]

Work.

[Tina]

Some books don't work well in that format. This one worked really, really well. If you've never used Slack, I don't think this book would work for you. But again, if you are a worker bee like me and like books that explore office culture and office dynamics, you could have fun with it. This book really made me laugh and I enjoyed it. That one is Several People are Typing by Calvin Kosuke.

[Hannah]

Okay. I knew that this book was strange and different, but I don't think I knew quite to the extent that it was. It sounds like, almost goofy, like, but not.

[Tina]

It's. But it is. It is.

[Hannah]

You know, you're just like, what?

[Tina]

I'm like, what do you mean? You're in the server and some of it.

[Hannah]

Can you imagine a friend being like, I need you to go to my house and find my body while you're slacking me. I mean, can you imagine?

[Tina]

Right? And that's what I like about it, because I'm like, how is this person? He was able to take this story that sounds so absolutely ridiculous and make it believable enough to where you're like, yeah, sure, yeah, he was stuck in the Slack server. I don't know. Sounds good to me. So it was a good time.

[Hannah]

Sure. Okay, well, I don't have any clever segue into my next one because it is pretty different. And it is the Scammer by Tiffany D. Jackson.

[Tina]

So jealous. Tell me everything.

[Hannah]

Okay, so Jordan is finally out from under her overprotective parents and she is ready to crush it in pre law at a prestigious historically black University in Washington D.C. but her first semester takes a wild turn when her roommate's brother, who is fresh out of prison, ends up showing up on their dorm room sofa. And devonte says that he just needs a place to stay while he gets back on his feet. And Jordan is hesitant to say no because this roommate is a new best friend and she wants to keep things cool with her roommates. Devonte is older, he's smart, he's ridiculously charming, he's handsome. The kind of guy who seems to have advice for everyone. But the more that Jordan gets to know him, the more she suspects that something darker is hiding beneath his easy charisma and growing influence on campus. And when one of her roommates disappears, Jordan teams up with the university's lone white student to uncover what is really going on before she gets caught in a web of lies that is far more dangerous than she ever imagined. I was surprised by just loving the campus setting of this one. It seems like such a dark and sinister novel, so I wasn't really expecting that like, ah, like campus setting. But you totally feel that at the beginning of this novel and I loved that. For this time of year, early fall, this is such an ideal October read. It is not too heavy, even though it has again, some darker themes. But it carries that perfect, just a little bit spoopy or creepy vibe without being super scary. It is narrated by January Lavoy and she does a fantastic job bringing the story to life. Did I say something bad?

[Tina]

Spoopy.

[Hannah]

Spoopy. Yeah, it's like, it's like less scary than spooky.

[Tina]

Oh, spoopy.

[Hannah]

Spoopy.

[Tina]

Sorry.

[Hannah]

No, that's okay. You made a face. I was like, did I say anything inappropriate?

[Tina]

Spoopy.

[Hannah]

Okay. My first thought reading the story that I put into my live reading notes was this feels like if Jordan Peele did Legally Blonde. The narrative, yes, fantastic. The narrative captures that really unique blend of Horror and satire, making it both engaging and fun, but also reflective. One thing I noted while I was reading that I appreciated was the protagonist, this self connection to the villain. We often, I think, can see ourselves in the villains or the antagonists, either to relieve our own guilt or because we think that we're somehow inherently flawed. And this theme really underscores the need for self reflection. And I don't know if this was wholly intentional, but I did pick up on this, especially in the beginning with our main character, Jordan, and I just thought that it was interesting. The villain Devante is really well done. He comes off as insp. Inspiring with really powerful messages. Yet there is a difference between saying the right things and actually being a good person. And devante has this way of twisting true narratives to suit his own agenda, making him both compelling and really dangerous. And with that, this book does a good job underscoring how vital it feels to belong to something larger than yourself. Villains often leverage this sense of belonging to build movements and gain followers. And you definitely see that here. One interesting aspect was how quickly the dorm residents became a family in like two weeks. And it raises the question, do cults are really tight knit? Groups really form this quickly? While it was a book, the fast paced development was quite noticeable. So I was like, I wonder if that was intentional where these people just like all of a sudden got really, really close or if that was just something weird that I noticed and maybe I shouldn't have put so much focus on it. But overall, this book offers a unique mix of suspense and social commentary and character study. And I thought it was a perfect read for fall. And that is the Scammer by Tiffany D. Jackson.

[Tina]

I need to read that asap. I love Tiffany D. Jackson, and I think it sounds. I love the setup of this.

[Hannah]

I listened to it in a day. Super easy, I'm sure.

[Tina]

And I love January Lavoie too, as an audiobook narrator. Yes, now you asked the question, you know, did they basically bond this quickly? And I just. Jonathan and I over the weekend had dinner with my college roommate and our dear friends from college. And one of them, her name is Nina. She was one of the first people I met other than my roommate. And we literally walked up to each other at orientation and I was like, like, hi. And Tina. And she's like, hi, I'm Nina. And we just like immediately were like, are we best friends? And we, everyone would just say our names together because they just rhyme. And it was just a thing. And I swear to you, instantaneous, like just immediately I was like, yes, obviously. So I can see that happening now. We weren't in a cult, you know, needless to. Although we were in sororities, so, I mean, very similar. Very similar to cults, but not exactly the same, I don't think. Yeah.

[Hannah]

And this is not what I would call, like, a cult book. You know, you just have this antagonist who is a speaker, and he's, like, bringing people in, and, you know, he's an influential character. So it's not a cult, per se, but it definitely has those notes, if you will.

[Tina]

No, I feel you. And now, was this heavy? Would you say this was heavy?

[Hannah]

Yeah, but. But not too heavy? I would say that it's almost thematically heavy, but there wasn't anything that happened on page that felt really heavy. I don't know if it's officially young adult, though.

[Tina]

Oh, that's good for me. I think it is the kid. And that's why I was not sure.

[Hannah]

If I wanted college. So it's like new adult, I would say. And I don't know if I would want to give this book to, like, maybe my older teenager, but not my younger teenager. There's definitely insinuations of, like, assault and things like that. There's definitely, like, drug and alcohol usage.

[Tina]

Gotcha.

[Hannah]

And things like that. So.

[Tina]

Okay. Okay.

[Hannah]

You know, there's. There's stuff like that that happens, but it's not graphic, gratuitous, or heavy. Maybe heavy thematically.

[Tina]

Got it. Okay. Because Tiffany D. Jackson can write some heavy books. Like, yeah, in Grown, I'm thinking allegedly. But it sounds like this one's not quite that to that.

[Hannah]

Yeah, I don't think that it was. I have read Grown, and I would say that that one is heavier for sure.

[Tina]

Yeah. Okay. Okay, perfect. Well, thanks for your review on that one. Speaking of heavy, I read Nobody knows you're here by Bryn Greenwood.

[Hannah]

From what I know of this author, that seems right.

[Tina]

Yes. Okay. So nobody knows you're here. If you're not familiar with this, you.

[Hannah]

Have no words right now.

[Tina]

Well, because I don't know how I'm going to review this book. It is about Beatrice, and Beatrice is our main character. She is very much down on her luck at the very beginning of the book. She is about to lose her home. She's. The relationship she was in for years that she, like, forewent a bunch of opportunities to stay in is crumbling or has crumbled, and she literally has nothing. And so she goes to the coffee shop to steal their WI Fi and they kick her out she's like, my God, can I do anything? And then this woman comes up to her and is like, you look like you need some coffee. She's an older woman, and she's like, can I buy you a latte? Or whatever. So she's like, great, great, please. That would be wonderful. And when she does, she. This woman takes Beatrice, you know, into her car, it's raining, whatever, and she's like, you know, I also know somebody that has this job. XYZ cut to Beatrice being trafficked. And she wakes up under lock and key in an isolated mansion in the woods. And the setup for that sounds like it's going to be horror. This is horrifying. But it's not a horror story. Like, it's not a fantasy thing. This very much felt real and is, I think, really what happens to some people. They are working now, or working is not the right word, but they are under a criminal organization. And Beatrice has been put in charge of taking care of the children that they're taking. So they're like kidnapping and taking children. Essentially. There's only in the beginning with two. And then, you know, whatever things go from there. She's locked in. They are rural. There's no way to get out. She's literally locked in the top floor of this place. So all she can do is take care of the kids. And then the situation, as months and years pass, become more dire. And so basically it's about whether or not she can escape and take everybody with her. I don't think I realized that she was going to spend so much time there. Like, I didn't. I thought this was going to be a couple weeks, max. No, no, you're a couple years in this place. I mean, this book spans many years, I should say. I thought it was going to be like a short period of time, but it's not. Which I like. Actually, I like that very much. This is. Boy, oh, boy. Okay. This is a story about. For this Beatrice and how whether or not you vibe with her is going to hinge on how much you like the story. I think Beatrice is such a character to root for. I had my heart in my throat so many different times reading this. And I want to say that I said trafficking and yes, that is, you know, one of the themes in this novel. But I think the author was very intentional with what she shared and what she didn't share. And she also, at the end of the book, talks about how there are people that, you know, many times folks that are trafficked are taken to be Caretakers to take care of. I think you think one thing when you hear that word, but there's actually a lot of people that are abducted for caretaking roles or to take care of the land and etc. I will say the author did a very. I think she covered a very intense, horrible topic in the most respectful way possible. There are some upsetting things that happen on the page and you won't want to keep reading, but you're going to keep reading because you're going to want to know what happens. I mean, this is a page turner. The beginning, it was a little slower for me to get into it because again, I kept thinking, do I want to keep going? I knew I was going to, but I was like, oh, gosh, this is heavy. But after a certain point in time I'm like, got it. Okay, I'm locked in. I've got to finish. And then I did probably 200 pages in a day because I was just so into this book. It's haunting, it's thought provoking, it's at times overwhelming, it's horrifying, but also very human and just a very, very much a book that I feel like Bryn Greenwood could only write. She takes these topics that are just taboo and hard and upsetting and like, why would you share this type of story? And makes you care about it and makes you look deeper and makes you think about it. But this was stressful to read and I am really glad that I read it. I think it's really a. It's a book that will stick with you. It is the opposite, maybe opposite of a bubble gum book. The antithesis of a bubble gum book. So if that sounds good to you, I certainly needed a bubblegum book after this. But sure, a palate cleanser, if you will. And if you do read this and want to discuss, feel free to reach out to me. This one was nobody knows you're here by Brynn Greenwood.

[Hannah]

Yeah, that sounds like a powerful but really good and well done book. It reminded me of, and I'm going to plug it here and I will link it in our notes. A company or an organization, I guess I should say, called Thistle Farms. And it's a really cool nonprofit social enterprise that is dedicated to helping women and people survive and recover from trafficking and addiction. And they do this by providing a safe place to live, a meaningful job, and a lifelong sisterhood and community of support. But they have really wonderful products and candles and mugs and things like that that are made and developed by these women and wonderful people. So Anyway, if that's something you want to look into and support, I'm gonna link it in our show notes, but you brought it up so I'm going to go ahead and plug that.

[Tina]

I am so glad you did. Yeah, I'm on their website now and it looks wonderful.

[Hannah]

Yes, I randomly actually funny enough met some of the people who co founded and initially kind of jump started this organization when I was visiting Nashville a very, very long time ago, but it still has a close place to my heart.

[Tina]

My gosh, how wonderful. Thanks for. I'm glad that we can end with.

[Hannah]

Hey, here's some support and something helpful.

[Tina]

Exactly. Exactly.

[Hannah]

Yeah, definitely. Okay. Well, I am going to take us in a lighter direction and I am going to talk about Fake Skating by Lynn Painter this is a new release. It came out on September 30th. This is about two high school students, Danny and Alec, who from play dates on the playground to sneaking into movie theaters, were inseparable as kids. But then Danny moved away and years later Danny is now back in Minnesota and excited to reconnect. But teenage Alec is not like the person and the boy that she remembers from childhood. He is now this big hockey star in a town where players are very highly esteemed and valued and he seems to really enjoy the spotlight when one thing leads to another. Dani and Alec find themselves thrown together and there's definitely a fake dating situation that happens here and they are playing the role of boyfriend and girlfriend and complicated becomes an understatement in this Minnesota town. Hockey may rule, but romance may or may not just take its place. Lynn Painter, I think just crushes it at young adult romance. She does such a good job really making you feel for these teenagers who have these really rich and great emotional lives and emotional depth to their character. I loved how there was definitely some real teenage turmoil in this one, but it didn't feel too immature or angsty, which is not something that I like. This is truly the ideal book to pick up if you are trying to shake off that the Summer I Turned Pretty Hangover. It really seems like she wrote it, knowing exactly what fans of that vibe would be craving. After the Ship Show's finale, it hits all of those really familiar comfort read notes. You've got the childhood best friends to lovers trope and the moms are best friends. There's the drama of a troublesome and manipulative father, adding conflict and more emotional depth to the story. And of course the central story of these two people who eventually fall for each other. It also has that really Sweet energy that reminded me of the to all the Boys I Loved before trilogy. Another Jenny Han Han plug. I love Jenny Han. And Lynn Painter's books are reminiscent of her work, I think, especially because this hero is an athlete who is a little bit more of a cinnamon roll than a brooding, sad boy, which was a great blend of familiar tropes. If you like a young adult romance that has a third act breakup that actually feels necessary instead of forced, this is a must read. Basically, if you are looking for a perfectly packaged, comforting romance centered on childhood friends, you should grab this. And that is Fake Skating by Lynn Painter.

[Tina]

Oh, that sounds perfect. Again, delightful. Like something I need. And so of course, as one does, I can't just sit and enjoy myself and listen to you. I was like, well, I need a romance book. And I'm like, what romance authors have I enjoyed before? And I remembered Kennedy Ryan exists. And I was like, wow, I really like Kennedy Ryan. I loved Real. That one I gave five stars. And I'm like, oh, what other books does she have? And then it's it. Apparently my Amazon tells me that I ordered a book called Longshot, a forbidden basketball standalone romance, in January of 2023. Do I do this when I'm like drunk or something? Or sleepwalking? Do I sleep order books on Amazon? Because this is now the second time this has happened where a book appears.

[Hannah]

You do it with your one eye open.

[Tina]

I never books on Amazon. I literally don't. But apparently I do.

[Hannah]

Well, because you dropped your prime membership.

[Tina]

I did, but this was in 2023 when I had it. But I'm so. Oh, I'm a. Okay. It was zero dollars. Okay. Gonna shut up now. What an interesting story. You guys. I told you, it's late. It's 8:37 Central Standard Time and I can't. I turn into a pumpkin after 5pm okay, so I'll buy a free book. But I was so perplexed because I was like, how did this land in my Kindle? But apparently this is my sign that I'm going to need to read this book. This will be my one eye open book. Read now. Don't mind if I do. Anyway, I'm trying to think if I've.

[Hannah]

Read a Kennedy Ryan book and I really, I swear I have. Did she write. She wrote the Kingmaker series, right?

[Tina]

That sounds familiar.

[Hannah]

Yes, the Kingmaker. All the King's Men series. Okay, I've read that and I really enjoyed it.

[Tina]

It. Oh my gosh, yes. She's really good. I remember though. I did before I let go. Also loved that book, five stars. But I can't do audio with her books. I mean, I blush listening because. Oh, because they're too fast forward. Where's that fast forward button? They're too spicy. I don't want to hear somebody reading that.

[Hannah]

Spicy. That's the word I was looking for.

[Tina]

Spicy.

[Hannah]

What word do I say?

[Tina]

Anyway, okay, so back to a very, I don't know, probably heavy book. It is Salt Crack by Yumi Kassi.

[Hannah]

I'm excited about this one.

[Tina]

Oh my God, is this book beautiful. So this was an aardvark pick for the month of October and I grabbed it. It is stunning. I'm holding it now. Aardvark's books are so soft. They are just so soft and lovely. Look at the in cover here. Beautiful purple. And I just. These. This is the softest thing I've ever felt. Truly. Anyway, nobody cares about that. So I will tell you. I will tell you about the book though. It I put promise. Okay, so this one is called Salt Crop as I mentioned and it is set in Earth's not too distant future. Seas consume coastal cities, highways disintegrate underwater and mutant fish lurk in pirate controlled depths. Told you it was heavy. You're following Skipper, who is a skilled sailor and the youngest of three sisters. And she earns money skimming and reselling plastic from the ocean to care for their ailing grandmother. But then their eldest sister named Nora goes missing. Nora left home a decade ago in pursuit of a cure for failing crops. And then Skipper and her other sister Carmen receive a cryptic plea for help and they are estranged. But they decide to go ahead and put aside their differences and set out across the sea to find her. They are taking a voyage through a dying world, both beautiful and strange, and learn more about their sister's work and the corporations that want what she discovered. The further they go, the more uncertain their mission becomes. What dangerous attention did Nora attract? And how well do Skipper and Carmen really know their sister? Or each other? Thus begins their epic journey that spans oceans and continents and whist. And it's a wistful rumination on sisterhood, friendship and ecological disaster. Could there be a book that sounds more like something I would enjoy? Probably not. What really pushed me over the edge though? Please don't judge me, listeners. Is it. This has a content warning for cannibalism and I said great, say less now fully invest.

[Hannah]

That's the kicker.

[Tina]

That's the. That's the thing that pushed me over the edge. This one is 366 pages long, so it doesn't look, you know, incredibly complex. And I will say I'm enjoying looking through these pages because at the beginning of each chapter, there's a little illustration of the waves in the ocean. And it looks like a lot of care went into this book. I love a book set on the water in the ocean because I don't like to go in water myself, so I like to read about it. I also thought this sounded a little bit like migrations if the main character had sisters, you know, I can see that this book is Salt Crop by Yumi Kitassi.

[Hannah]

Yeah, that one sounds really good to me too. So I can't wait for you to potentially read it and tell us about it it soon. My shelf edition is a book that I actually plan on reading this month as a buddy read. And so I just acquired it and it is called Bog Queen by Anna North. Okay. Wait, have you read this one?

[Tina]

No, but I saw. I have books that are earmarked for you in my mind. I do this all the time, subconsciously, and I earmarked this for you. Yes, Yes. I don't know why I do. I just am like, got it. This might be a Hannah. I don't know.

[Hannah]

Oh, earmarked it like. Like, you note it like, Hannah will probably read that and bring that to the show.

[Tina]

No, that. But I just think Hannah would like this. And then I. Yeah, you know, keep it moving.

[Hannah]

No, I do that too. With you all the time. Or like, even when I'm book shopping, I'll be shopping for things. And I'm like, oh, that's a Tina book.

[Tina]

Should we share it with each other instead of just thinking this in our head? Head.

[Hannah]

We probably should, but it's. Sometimes it's so hard to, like, get your phone out. It's just fast.

[Tina]

Yeah, it's just fleeting. I'm like, oh, Hannah. Anyway, moving on.

[Hannah]

The one time that I did do it with you, and then I promise I'll tell you about the book. The one time I did do it.

[Tina]

With you, it was torment you.

[Hannah]

So listen, I'm a youngest daughter. I can't help it. I'm. I'm a. I was gonna say a bully. I'm not a bully, but you're trolling your troll. Okay, well, let me tell you about the Bog Queen by Anna North. This book starts out when a perfectly preserved body is discovered in a bog in Northwest England, and American forensic anthropologist Agnes is called to investigate. The bones date back over 2000 years, drawing her into the mystery of an Iron Age woman whose story feels eerily connected to her own. Agnes ends up navigating tensions between activists and the land itself, and she is forced to confront her beliefs about identity and purpose. Moving between post Brexit England and ancient Celtic Europe, Bog Queen explores the link between two women, centuries apart, who are bound by the power and mystery of the earth. I just love an archaeologist component to a story that cannibalism too do for me for sure. But also if someone mentions like archaeology as a part of the mystery plot, that is fascinating to me. This is coming from someone who watched the show Bones from start to finish also, so I don't know. And I also love that this is taking place in England and has a Celtic vibe to it also. All of that just sounds really good to me and I am excited to pick that up this month. And that is the Bog Queen by Anna North.

[Tina]

That sounds really good. And I don't think I knew what it was about other than I was like, oh, I didn't know all those nuances. Yes, I was gonna say other than oh, there's a bog. But obviously. Anyway, I do think it's time for me hang up the mic for tonight. I think we gotta go. I think we gotta go. I think we did. We crushed it like hand says. But that is it for today. We thank you for spending a part of your day with us. Links to all the books mentioned can be found in the show notes and if you enjoyed today's episode, you can help us by following wherever you listen and by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps us get our show out to new listeners and grows our audience. And don't forget, if you'd like access to exclusive bonus content and community, you can join us for $5 a month on Patreon.com if you'd like to connect.

[Hannah]

With us, you can email us@booktalk etcmail.com you can also connect with us both at booktok Etc. On Instagram and on YouTube. You can find Tinabrec and Hannah at handpickedbooks. Talk to you next week. And in the meantime, remember, everything's better with books. Did you know that you can doordash from Barnes and Noble now?

[Tina]

Why'd you tell me that?

[Hannah]

I'm just saying I want that. Found that out.

[Tina]

Can somebody hire me just to doordash.

[Hannah]

Because you get to just deliver. You get to deliver.

[Tina]

Shop their books. Two people.

[Hannah]

You can shop their books.

[Tina]

Wait, I feel like I would just.

[Hannah]

Want to go rogue so often.

[Tina]

I know, but I don't think you should pick up this book here. Why don't you try instead of another? Why don't we try instead of that.

[Hannah]

Why don't you read something?

[Tina]

A forbidden basketball romance.

[Hannah]

Tiffany D. Jackson. Same vibe. Come on. Love, terror. What's the difference?

[Tina]

Not much. I'm excited.