B (2:05)

Did you make it yourself?

A (2:07)

No, I got it from the can that came from the store. One of those like whipped cream looking cans. And I hear you have big news. You tried a pumpkin dip yesterday. Enjoyed it.

B (2:18)

I did. I did try a pumpkin dip yesterday. It was like a Cool whip pumpkin dip that we were dipping like Scooby Doo biscuits, You know, like shiny graham Scooby Doo biscuits or whatever in. Not like dog biscuits.

A (2:33)

Oh, you weren't eating dog biscuits.

B (2:34)

Okay, well, I was like, maybe I should make that clear. But if you don't already know, I am not typically a pumpkin fan. I don't love a lot of pumpkin things. I. I don't really like pumpkin pie or. Or things like that, but. Or pumpkin drinks, like pumpkin spice latte. That's not my jam. But I did enjoy this dip, so it was a big day for me.

A (2:58)

I know. And you messaged me because, you know, I am a certified pumpkin queen. Like, I will eat anything pumpkin. I love it. I want it from September 1st as long as I can get it. Like, I love pumpkin everything. So I laughed when you sent me that message because I was like, good, see, you're coming over to my side.

B (3:14)

I had to text Tina. I was like, I gotta let her.

A (3:16)

Know it's in breaking news. Very important. So I want to know if, you know, I feel like there's two types of people. You like, love pumpkin or you abhor it. Like, you. I don't think there's anybody that's like, yeah, it's fine. Like, if it's there, I'll drink it. Like, I feel like there's two distinct camps.

B (3:32)

Yeah, if it's there, I'm probably not drinking it. I don't know if I would say I abhor it.

A (3:38)

No.

B (3:39)

But I don't like it.

A (3:42)

All right, well, I'm gonna tell you about my loving lately. And this, folks. Okay? It's a good one. It is a new podcast from the creators of Skamanda, and it is called Unicorn Girl. Have you heard of this?

B (3:58)

No, but I'm sat.

A (3:59)

Because you are sat.

B (4:01)

I love podcasts like these too.

A (4:03)

I do, too. And thank you. And I wish I had grabbed the name somebody. One of our listeners DM'd me. She's like, tina, there's a new podcast from the creator of Scamanda you might want to try. And I was like, on it. And I immediately started listening. And Charlie Webster is the woman who is the host. And Unicorn Girl tells the story of Candace Rivera, who is a businesswoman and influencer who presented this flawless public image of a successful mother and entrepreneur while hiding a darker truth that led to her downfall. And it currently has not wrapped yet, at least for non paid subscribers. So if you have Apple TV plus, those subscribers can get access to all the episodes, but non subscribers only get episodes one by one. So right now, as of this recording on episode five, and what's crazy about this, I don't know where it's going. It gets so wild. And you think okay, I've heard this story before. And then there's some travel elements that get involved, and I'm like, what on earth. The gall of this woman? And what's so crazy about this is that it sort of starts in a way that I think book influencers can relate to or people that are in the book community can relate to, because what happened was the. Jen Hatmaker had a Facebook group for one of her books, and they invited this group. You know, a bunch of people applied. However, many got selected, and they're these early readers for one of her previous books, for the Love. And so they call this for the Love Facebook group. And it's fascinating in the beginning because there is this intense, parasocial relationship going on, not between Jen, but between the women in the group. And sometimes it happens like that, where you're in a Facebook group and you're like, oh, oh, I see this person posting all the time. Like, I know this person's name. And so Candace has this very charming, very kind of energetic Persona. And so she would always be posting in the Facebook group over sharing. And, like, people felt like they started to get to know her. And then Jen Hatmaker had this event at her house and invited all these women together to, like, kick off the book launch. And so they got to meet in person. And I say this because these women in this Facebook group become very influential in Candace's life. She sort of uses this as a way to feed her ego and, like, shares all of this stuff. She ends up going live on Facebook, and it's just fascinating. And if you have never been a part of, like, a Facebook group or, like, a book launch, you might be like, how are these people so connected to each other? But it happens. Like, these relationships definitely do happen online, and I just love it. I thought it was so fascinating, that beginning piece. I love Charlie Webster. I think she does a great job as a host. She is British, and I love her narration. It's. I actually was shocked because I Googled the podcast to, you know, prep when I was talking about it for this episode, and some folks were like, I don't like her presentation. It's too glib for what's going on. And I'm like, what? Have you listened to podcasts? Because there's some podcasts that are so bubblegum. They're talking about, like, murder. And they're like, so, so glib about it that. That can turn me off. Yeah, I think Charlie Webster hits a great tone because it is sort of. She's telling you this, and it's engaging, and it's a little bit, like, scandalous. Like, can you believe it? But also, I think it's entertaining, and I don't think it's done in a way that is overly exploitative to anything that's going on with Candace. So I think she's doing a great job. Or also, it feels like she's talking to us, like, we're uncovering things alongside of her. Like, obviously, she knows where this goes, but, like, the way that it's delivered, it's just good. She, I believe, is an investigative journalist. And I love podcasts that are hosted by those types of folks. More so than, like, you and me, who are just two talking heads, right, that can report on something, but we haven't done the investigation. I just. I love the way that this is structured. And they also have an actor who they've hired to do and read Candace's Facebook posts. They're doing a great job. And sometimes those really great on me or, like, if they use AI, I'm like, I'm out. Like, I don't like that. So I like that they. Yes. You can tell they've used an actress to read the post, and it just really brings a lot to the story. I have no idea where this is going to go, although it really can only go one way. I'm like, there's only one way this can end. And also, there's no ads. So I'm like, oh, yeah, fantastic. I listened to this last Friday. I swear to you, I was done by Saturday. And then another came out, I think on Monday. Really, I am very much enjoying this wild ride, and I want you to listen alongside of me. It's a great time. This podcast is called Unicorn Girl. And also, I hate the title, but you do find out why she's called why it's called Unicorn Girl.

B (8:54)

Oh, see, I like the title.

A (8:55)

You do? Oh, I hate it.

B (8:57)

I'm, like, interested. I'm like, okay, girl, who is this? What?

A (9:00)

Okay, I like that. I like that.

B (9:02)

Okay. My Loving lately is a beauty product that I have been loving, and this is something that my friend Katie recommended to me and I was using when I was staying at her house, and it was recommended to her by someone else. It's like one of those products where it gets, you know, recommended down, and here am I to recommend it to you. And that is the Wonder Ceramide Mochi toner.

A (9:28)

Ooh.

B (9:29)

And this is by far the best toner that I have ever used. This is a Korean beauty product. It doesn't have any artificial fragrance. It doesn't have any synthetic color, no animal based ingredients, and it is. It just has really, really clean ingredients. I will say though, it does smell lovely. So while it doesn't have any artificial fragrance, it smells really, really nice. And that's actually one of the things that I really like about it. But also what I really like about it is I have combination skin that tends toward the oily side and this just helps even that out throughout the day. And when I put this on after cleansing my skin, it also, I have just noticed, makes my makeup set so much nicer. And if you look at the reviews online, so many people have said this also that this just evens your skin tone. And whether you have dry or oily or combined skin, it kind of balances everything out and then makes your makeup sit so nicely. This is extremely moisturizing, again, without making your skin feel oily or weird. I just absolutely love it. And I also tend to have some discoloration in my skin. And Tina even said when I got on today, she was like, you look so great.

A (10:52)

I did, yeah.

B (10:53)

This has really helped even my skin texture, my skin color, et cetera. So I am absolutely loving this. My one complaint is that the bottle is kind of big. For Those watching on YouTube, the bottle is kind of big. So I have some pads that I put this on and use that to apply it. But it's been totally worth it. And I do think that you can buy smaller bottles. But I got the 16 ounce bottle. So that is the Wonder Ceramide Mochi Toner and it will change your life.

A (11:28)

I immediately, obviously, as you're talking, have been going down my little rabbit hole. Where did you purchase yours?

B (11:35)

I just got mine on Amazon. I've seen people talk about this on TikTok Shop too, after I purchased oh my God, Amazon.

A (11:43)

Of course they did. Of course they did.

B (11:45)

Yes. But I haven't. I've seen some of their other products on Amazon too. I haven't tried any of them, but I kind of want to because I love this one. What, what did you research when you were deep diving?

A (11:56)

I am on a website, Tony Moly, and they have it for like $6. That big bottle, I'm like, that is a good price. And actually I think that's a smaller version. Okay, okay, that makes sense. I was gonna say, why is it so cheap? They have it on this website, but now I'm on Tony Moly's website and I'm like, oh, they have this. They're the people that make The Squishmallows. And they have this Squishmallow x Tony Moly Advent calendar. Oh, wait, so they're not the people that make the Squishmallows. But I've heard of Tony Moly before and they have just look, I'm like, looking at their website, I'm like, I could spend my whole paycheck here. They've got skincare bundles. They've got face masks. It's all very cute. Oh, they have this banana hand cream now that I'm looking at. I'm like, I need to close this with this tab so that I could focus and get back to the podcast. But good recommendation. I am always in the market for a new skincare item. You know that.

B (12:49)

Yeah, I know. And I am now looking forward to trying more of their products. So stay tuned.

A (12:56)

Well, stay tuned and stay tuned. I will. I. So, okay, I'm delighted because initially I think we were again doing a different episode. We sort of change behind the scenes a little bit. And you had brought up same. You had brought up let's do a easing into fall reading episode. And I'm like, that is perfect. Because that is how I was reading anyway. So I didn't even have to try to read for this episode because I had already, like, read most of my books. I was like, perfect. This is exactly how I'm reading anyway.

B (13:25)

Yeah. Which is partially why I was like, let's. Could we maybe, like, did our mood reading align with doing this? Because it was kind of naturally what I was finding myself falling into. And I'm so glad that we were on the same page.

A (13:39)

We were on the same page. And we're going to talk in a little bit about what our fall reading looks like and how we ease into fall. Because there's stages, right? In my opinion, like, there are stages. So we'll get into that.

B (13:53)

September is like its own type of fall reading.

A (13:55)

It is. It is. Right. And. But first, I will tell you about one of the best thrillers I have ever read. Point blank period. It is Look Closer by David Ellis. And I am not unique in this opinion because I've been told for ages to read this. It has 132,000 reviews on Goodreads and a 4.16 overall rating. So this is the real deal. I love this book. And okay, fun fact about David Ellis. He is a judge in Cook county and I got to vote for him during the last election and I had not read him yet, but I recognized his name from the ballot and I was like, is this the same David Ellis? Indeed it is. So I feel extra connected. Also, this book is set in Chicago and it's very much set in Chicago. He's talking streets, he's talking neighborhoods. It's great. It is about Simon and Vicki, and they're a normal Chicago couple. They're wealthy, they're stable, and their marriage is a little bit unexciting, but they are solid. But with these two, absolutely nothing is what it seems. When a beautiful socialite is found hanging in a mansion in a nearby suburb, Simon and Vicki's complex web of secrets begins to unravel. A whirlwind affair, a $20 million trust fund about to come due. Decades old grudge in an obsession with revenge. Both Vicki and Simon are liars. But just who exactly is conning who? Prepare to question everything you think you know in this wickedly clever novel of greed, revenge, obsession, and quite possibly the perfect murder. This book is fabulous for this time of year because the murderer that opens the book took place on Halloween. Could there be a freaking better setup for that? So the murder took place on Halloween and you, the entire book are working toward Halloween and trying to figure out what happened. This book has short chapters, you know, and it has alternating points of view. Don't flip through and look and see because it'll have some spoilers in there because I'm looking and seeing that now. But just get this book and enjoy the ride. I have nothing negative to say about it. I think this author crafted this fantastic story that has so many layers and it's one of those where you're like, okay, I think I know where this is going. Right? I got it, I got it. And then there's this thing that's revealed and then you're like, maybe not. Then you get another reveal. And then you can tell that he understands the law with this book. But it's also. It didn't get lost in the minutiae of the legal system. He, the main character on this one is a law professor, so you have a little bit of. He is working at a university and some of the university politics, which I personally very much enjoy reading about. And on the surface, he seems to be this brilliant, laid back guy, but as we know, things aren't always as they seem. I'm reading my raw notes as I'm reviewing this for you. And it'll be like, I think her name is Vicki. No, wait. And like, you can see that I'm like sort of processing as I'm talking into my phone about this. I'm not 100% sure. Okay, blah, blah, blah. All you need to know is that all of the loose ends get tied up. And there. This is a book that comes with a very satisfying conclusion. I have already recommended in real life this book three separate times to three different people because a lot of people obviously say, oh, what's. What are you reading? What's your latest, you know, read? I keep recommending this again and again. I can't wait to read more by this author. I'm a little sad because I'm like, wait, how many more books does he have? Because I need more because this, again, I said it. This is a flawless thriller. And his book, the Best Lies, I am going to try and read as soon as possible. So I just looked in the beginning of his book. There's more. I thought he just had, like, one other book, but it looks like he had several. I think.

B (18:07)

I think he came out with one, like, recently.

A (18:09)

I think. I think that's the one that I want to read next. Okay, look closer. No, I keep getting the titles wrong because they. Nothing stands out to me about it. So I'm like, the best line.

B (18:21)

Classic thriller titles.

A (18:23)

Classic thriller title. Exactly. You know, I'm paying attention to titles more and more now because of our more recent discussion. Anyway, this is a Look Closer by David Ellis.

B (18:33)

I love that you've been able to recommend it in real life. I love books like that that are so universally recommendable. It's always so fun because that is a question that people ask readers and they know that you read a lot. They're like, so what should I read? And it's so hard, I feel like, to answer that question, even though you're always reading something, but, like, do you recommend it or what? If I'm reading, like, this really obscure title, it's always nice to have that canned response. That book that you keep in your pocket, you can recommend.

A (19:04)

This is a book podcast episode. Because now I'm thinking, you are 100% on the money. Because I'm thinking, okay, what are the books I would recommend to somebody who reads 10 books a year?

B (19:14)

Right?

A (19:15)

Because if you're reading 10 books a year, I'm not going. I might, like. I might be glad that I spent time here because I read 150. You know, there's a lot. But if you're only reading 10 because it's not your main hobby, what books.

B (19:27)

They got to be the winners. The. They gotta be the star Bangers.

A (19:31)

That's right. Exactly.

B (19:33)

Okay. My latest read kind of fits into our fall theme and fits into the mood that I am feeling as we ease into fall reading. And that is One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig. This is the first book in a duology by the same author who wrote the Night and the Moth, which I read earlier this year and loved. This is about Elspeth, who lives in a misty, cursed kingdom where survival takes more than just luck, it takes a monster. Luckily, she has one living right inside her head and the nightmare? A dark spirit who protects her, but at a cost. When she crosses paths with a masked highwayman who's not only the king's nephew but also wanted for treason, she is pulled into a dangerous quest to save their land and its people. To succeed, they will need to collect 12 magical providence cards, all while battling dark magic, deception, and a growing attraction toward one another. The only problem is that Elspeth's nightmare isn't just protecting her anymore, it is slowly taking over. I really loved the magic in this one. The magic system with these Providence cards was really unique, almost like a tarot card magic system a little bit, and I really, really enjoyed that. While I could tell the similarities between this one and the Night in the Moth that I read earlier this year, it was also very distinct in its character development and the magical world, which I really appreciated. It was fun to be back in a world that she created, but having it be so distinctly different. I feel that this book really focused on moving forward in the plot. We are really focused on finding these Providence cards and the romance between Elspeth and the Captain gets built and formed alongside of that plot development. I really like it when that happens in romance, specifically Romantasy. It makes it feel natural and organic as opposed to this romance feeling almost separate from the other events that are happening where you know you'll have the magic in the plot but then you have the couple who always go off and then their romance is built in separate contexts. I don't like that as well in this one. Their romance and their relationship is built alongside these events that they're experiencing together in the book. Elspeth's character was also really unique as she is haunted by this nightmare creature who fuels a lot of her actions and he is this inner voice and dialogue that is honestly torturing her and haunting her and I really felt for her character as she was battling these inner demons but also suffering to be a good and honest person. Regardless of that, I just loved her character so much. I think that this is a perfect segue into fall type of read. It was dark and mysterious, but Also very fun and engaging. And if you like Romantasy that is a little bit heavier on the fantasy, has minimal spice, but does have a great love story in it. In it. Then I definitely think that you will enjoy this book. And I'm excited to read the second one in the series. I stand by it. A duology is like the best number for me because oftentimes I want more of the story, but I don't want to be committed to a 10 book series or even a three or four book series. So I love that it's a duology that is One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig.

A (23:06)

And I also feel like with a trilogy, you're. The middle book is kind of the bridge book and it's sloggier.

B (23:13)

Yeah, I agree.

A (23:14)

Yeah. So duology is perfect. I love it.

B (23:17)

It really is.

A (23:18)

I know you loved the Night in the Moth, that's like one of your books for the year.

B (23:22)

Yes.

A (23:23)

And I'm so glad that this author has more for you to enjoy. Yeah, I guess I didn't realize it.

B (23:29)

And the second book is out now, so I can go ahead and finish that up while we wait for the second book in the Night in the Moth, which is also just going to be a duology. So.

A (23:37)

So she's. She's onto something here with us.

B (23:39)

I know she is.

A (23:41)

All right, we are easing into fall and I have to open this book Talk section of the podcast with a comment I got on a YouTube video that I made that made me so happy. It is from Jordan. And they say, well, it's meteorological fall, so we'll count it. And I said, what? Excuse me? So I googled it. Obviously, meteorological fall is a three month period used by meteorologists for consistency in data and record keeping, running from September 1st to November 30th. So it's fall. It is fall, according to the meteorologists, and I trust them, you know, and it's because on their annual temperature cycle, with September, October, November being the transition months from summer's heat to winter cold, it makes sense.

B (24:26)

It does make sense. And also, you know, technically, by the calendar, fall doesn't start until September 20th or something like that. And then it goes all the way until like December 20th or something like that. But that's not, that's not accurate.

A (24:39)

It's not fall. Right.

B (24:40)

Because December is winter. I'm sorry, I agree.

A (24:42)

And that's what I was saying in my YouTube video and why Jordan commented. I was saying I'm very specific with how I view fall. It's September 1st for me, September 1st through, I would say the week of Thanksgiving is when I'm thinking in my head, totally. You can even bring it through Thanksgiving till Black Friday. Black Friday is the kickoff.

B (25:01)

Love the specificity.

A (25:02)

Winter, yes. This is how my brain works and my reading aligns with, with that too. So for me, when we're talking, what are we reading, what is a transition into fall, and what are we reading for fall? I have a very specific way that I think about it in September. I'm looking for books that are lightly spooky. I'm talking books that are kind of tongue in cheek and a little creepy, but nothing that you'll want to put in the freezer. These are books that I'm like, okay, I could recommend pretty widely. Like, you're not going to think I'm a total creep if I recommend this book to you. This. These are books that are, I think, just sort of more atmospheric than anything else, but do have some of those fall elements. I also, of course, you know, I want to read my thrillers. That's pretty consistent year round, but I especially feel in the fall, I want to read some of those just popcorn thrillers, like ones that I could just gobble up in a day or two. I'm also thinking, because I'm a content creator, I'm thinking about the Goodreads Choice Awards and I want to read all of the allegedly best thrillers of 2025. So I'm looking at those titles, thinking, what do I think will be on the Goodreads Choice thrillers? I also. You didn't even. I'll keep going. I mean, I'm on a roll here. Okay, come to me. I also want to read one or two big boy books toward, I would say end of mid to end October, early November is when I want to read my big boy book. Like, and I'm talking a chunker, six to 800 pages. Maybe. That's what I'm looking at. And then as I'm rounding out the end of October, of course, that's when I'm going for some of my really creepy, scary, scary books. Full horror. Full horror.

B (26:44)

And horror is so hard to say.

A (26:45)

It's so hard to say. And someone speaking of YouTube was like, oh my God, you need to fix the way you say horror. And that's all they said. And I was like. And then I listened to myself and I was like, it's not that bad. Because I'm not gonna say, because that's a different word.

B (27:03)

Because that's a different word.

A (27:04)

So I try to be very articulate. Like, I tried to enunciate the word horror, but apparently that is not great for some people. And that's okay. But.

B (27:11)

And it's hard to say. It's hard to not like really enunciate it. Like, it's hard to barely enunciate it, you know?

A (27:17)

Right.

B (27:18)

Because sometimes you end up saying horror.

A (27:20)

Horror, horror, depending on where you're from. If you're from Maine, that's where they say. And I can't, because I'm not from Maine, but har. Yeah, they say it really different. I think it's Maine. At any rate, there's a lot of different ways to say that word. But I do keep on my phone a list of horror books that I'm. That I want to read. And I could read them year round. I do read horror year round, but specifically in October. I take a book or two from that list. I'll stop, I'll take a breath. I just am very passionate about this topic. Do you have a system, Hannah, as to how you approach your fall reading?

B (27:55)

Well, not as much, but no. But I love that you kicked us off because. And that's why I kind of wanted you to start and keep going because you're such goal driven reader. And I think it's helpful almost for me to kind of listen to you talk about what you're reaching for, what you're thinking, kind of the goals that you have with your fall reading, especially as it pertains to the Goodreads Choice Awards. I didn't even think about that. But now with you mentioning it, I'm like, oh, that's such a good idea. Like, maybe I could do that with Romantasy, Because I feel like what I'm reaching for is definitely something more atmospheric. Something like that maybe has like haunting vibes and like Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. You know, like a haunt, but not a scare.

A (28:44)

And not a scare.

B (28:47)

Yes. But maybe even has some romance in it or something like that. Like, I just need that little twinge of like dash of happy, a little dash. And. And so that's what I'm feeling. But I think for me, so often I will just reach for what I'm reaching for. And then I'll have to wait until I've read a few books and then be like, okay, what is similar about these? That is what I'm reaching for in this season. And that is something that I've noticed, which is why I even reached out to you. And I was like, hey, could we maybe do this episode on just easing into full reading because. Because everything that I'm reaching for kind of has this fall vibe that I am reaching for right now. So that is how I think about it.

A (29:39)

I love it.

B (29:41)

One other thing that I will mention that you also mentioned is that I do want to make time for some longer books over the summer. I said that I really wanted to be intentional about reading longer books, but, you know, life happens and I really want to transfer that into my fall reading because I didn't really get a chance to do that as much as I wanted to this summer.

A (30:05)

I agree. It's sort of one of those things, especially when you're on this cycle that we are for reading. You have to really work it in. They. So I was looking. I will share if anyone's curious about my full fall TBR, we can link to my YouTube video where I go through it and I share the specific titles that I'm going to hopefully read this fall. I will tell you, though, what my big boy one is and it's very specific because I plan to read Lonesome dove by Larry McMurdy. Yes. Have you read it?

B (30:36)

No, I haven't, but I really want to.

A (30:38)

I got a bug about this because I was thinking of trying it for our five plus star Reads episode and then I realized how long it was and I was like, there's no way I'm going to be able to get to it because I have like a week or so to to finish it.

B (30:52)

But I was like, you might need some time, like over, like in between your reads or something.

A (30:56)

Yeah. Oh, I'm ahead. I can spit this in now. But I was like, okay, I want to read this. And while I was looking at this, I discovered that they're actually redoing the audiobook for Lonesome Dove. And Will Patton is going to be the narrator. And Will Patton does a lot of Stephen King's books and I love his narration. This new audiobook or re recorded audiobook is coming on September 23rd. So if you want to read with me or if you're also interested, get that on September 23rd. I'm excited. I'm gonna. I'm gonna use a credit. One of my stored credits.

B (31:33)

Wow, look at you.

A (31:34)

I know, right?

B (31:35)

I know. I need to force myself to use some of my stored credits as well. Maybe I will for some fall books that I can actually just reach for whatever I want, even if that means using a credit.

A (31:48)

I know. And I know that you are working on a lot of organization this weekend, so I Encourage you to get that fall. Use that credit, girl.

B (31:58)

I'm going to.

A (31:59)

How many credits do you have on Libro? I need to know.

B (32:01)

21.

A (32:03)

Hannah Grace.

B (32:05)

21. I am supporting my local indie. Every.

A (32:08)

You are supporting your local indie? That stresses me out so bad, I can't even believe it. 21 credits.

B (32:14)

Maybe I'll make a goal. I realize how this sounds, so forgive me. Maybe I'll make a goal to get down to 10 credits by the end of the year.

A (32:24)

I mean, that's okay. That would be impressive. That would be impressive. No, but I'm actually so curious. I'm honestly so curious, because I. I need to know the psychology behind this. I wonder why you've not been using them. Are you just saving them for a rainy day when you need something and you can't find it anywhere else?

B (32:41)

Partially scarcity mindset.

A (32:43)

Yes.

B (32:44)

I think that. Yeah, I'm like, well, what if one day I need to use five? But even if one day I needed to use five, I would still have plenty.

A (32:52)

Sixteen left. Yeah.

B (32:53)

But I also think that I try to be, like, wise, like, like, false wisdom about how I'm using my credits because we have access to, you know, the PRH audio app, and a lot of books are Penguin Random House, and so I try to never use a Penguin Random House book for my audio credit. And I have, like, all of these fake rules in my head, and then when I go to get it, I'm like, what if I don't like it? Or what if this isn't just a good use of this credit? Maybe I should just see if I could use my library and I'll talk myself out of it, when in reality, I don't need to. I have the credits, even if it was available at my library. But then I'll think, maybe I should just save it for my favorite book so that I have it in a library somewhere. And if I ever wanted to re listen, that would be a good use for my credits. But then I just end up not using them. So I clearly need to, you know, make a change. Just go ahead, girl.

A (33:52)

Be brave and use that credit, girl. No. And I. I'm laughing. I only have one credit on Libro, but same thing. I am very stingy with how I'm also a part of Simon and Schuster's audiobook, like, alc. Thank you so much to both publishers for granting us those because it is so helpful. But I'm like, oh, I don't want to use those. Because I'm like, well, what if, you know, What? I mean, like, I, I usually wait until the end of the month because I'm like, well, what if I hear about a new book and then I'm sad because I've used my credit. It is, are we gonna ever have an episode where, where we don't deep dive on a niche reader problem? I don't know. I don't know.

B (34:28)

But we wouldn't be us if we didn't, so.

A (34:29)

That's right. You said it.

B (34:31)

It.

A (34:31)

All right. I will transition into the book list, though, and I. I feel like these two are the perfect recommendations for what we are doing today, if I do say so myself. My first book that I read for transitioning into fall reading is Spread Me by Sarah Gailey. Have you ever read Sarah Gailey before?

B (34:51)

I have. I read her book. I think it's called Just Like Home, the, the pink cover with like the bleeding house. It's a haunted house serial killer story. Yes, I've read Sarah Gailey before.

A (35:03)

Yes, I want to read that one. So I definitely want to read more Sarah Gailey after having read this book, Spread Me. I hate the title, actually. I like it.

B (35:13)

It's such an alarming title.

A (35:14)

I like it very much. I do, because it is a double entendre. And you know, I like that in a title absolutely get this too. The first sentence says, it is a darkly seductive tale of survival after a routine probe at a research station turns deadly when the team discovers a strange specimen in search of a warm place to stay.

B (35:35)

Gross.

A (35:35)

And yeah, yeah, gross, but really good and very apt for the book. Kinsey is the lead at this research station and she has a perfect job. She's the team lead. She's very stoic. She's a woman that has her stuff together and she loves the solitude. And the fact that she is these researchers boss sort of keeps her at arm's length and she likes it that way. And she also likes working in the desert because she doesn't have to see a lot of people. And it keeps her away from the temptations teeming out in the civilian world. Teeming again, another word I hate. But also very apt for this story. And then again, her crew discovers a mysterious specimen buried deep in the sand. And Kinsey does something she's not supposed to do and breaks quarantine and brings it into the lab. Don't do that. Because guess what? Now that it's inside, things are going to go off the rails. And off the rails they do. One by one, Kinsey's team realizes the thing they're Studying is in search of a new host. And one of them is the perfect candidate. So this book is a book that has a contagion, which I love. It is a book that has. It is a book that starts off very normal, very okay. They're at a research station and you're just unsettled. Just even by looking at the COVID you are unsettled. You're like, this isn't going to end well. I don't like where this is going. And then once Kinsey brings the specimen into the lab, all hell breaks loose. And I love when I found out what was going to happen and the reason why Kinsey likes being away from people. I was clapping. I was laughing and clapping because I'm like, what do you mean? It's so weird to me. And just so on brand for who I understand this author to be. This book is similar to. I've seen some reviews and you know, I don't watch movies, but I understand that it's similar to the Thing movie. Do you know that movie?

B (37:36)

I don't. I. I'm not super into horror movies. Yeah, I. I struggle with horror movies.

A (37:44)

Same. I don't. I will not watch.

B (37:46)

I'll read horror books. But I am very visually impacted, so I tend to stray away.

A (37:52)

Agreed. Hardcore. And so it's the same idea. And instead of being set in the Antarctic like the movie, the thing is this one's of course is set in the desert, but it still has that feeling of something is unright. There's something among us that is not good. This is one of those. It's also. This book is also very short. It's 200 pages. And so. And so things progress pretty quickly. And you're like, oh God, here we go. You know that things can't go well for these researchers. And maybe they do, maybe they don't. I loved this book. I had a really good time reading it. I gave it four and a half stars. I think it's excellent. It's also narrated by Exy Sands, who is a great audiobook narrator. I love them and I highly recommend this book. It also has great representation. There are a lot of discussions of identity and sexuality. And I just thought, thought this author packed a lot into a horror slash science fiction novel and did it in such a thoughtful way. I really enjoyed this. That book is Spread Me by Sarah Gailey.

B (38:54)

I want to read more. Sarah Gailey for sure. And I also love a Contagion novel. So this one sounds interesting. You know, I love a 200 page book.

A (39:05)

Yes.

B (39:06)

Okay. My first read is totally different, but I feel like perfect for how I am feeling getting into fall reading a little bit of a longer book and again just very atmospheric, albeit in a different way and you'll see why. But I am bringing the the Secret History of Murder in Mississippi by Wright Thompson and this book is technically classified as true crime, but it's also definitely American history, I would say. So it's kind of a more historical true crime novel that deals with social justice. This book digs into the murder of Emmett Till, exposing how the truth was hidden for decades and how forces far beyond Mississippi shaped this particular crime and murder. The story is written by journalist Wright Thompson, whose family farm was just miles away from where Till had been brutally murdered. This account uncovers long buried facts, including where the torture actually happened and exactly how many people were involved. At its heart, the Barn is about power, money and the legacy of racial violence in America and why facing the full truth of Emmett Till's murder is essential if we are ever going to heal. So overall I was really impressed with this book and really glad that I read it. It felt very necessary to frame this moment in history that Wright is dissecting as a moment in American history as a whole. And this gives the story the weight and urgency I think that it deserves. This is written by a white man from Mississippi, which at first I didn't understand why, but as the story moves forward, you understand that this man is really reckoning and confronting with the violent past of his home state. And while that perspective was unexpected, it ultimately makes the whole story, once it kind of comes to fruition at the end, make sense and actually have a more powerful impact. I really like that Thompson takes us deep into the reasoning behind this hate crime. When things like these happen, it's never just one moment in time. Everything that happens, especially in history, shapes what happens next. Context matters, past matters. And Thompson was able to go far back into American history to show us the full scope of what happened here in a way that felt really pertinent. I think that he's really talented in his writing. At the same time, I think he gets a little carried away with himself in his storytelling and the points that he's trying to make when he starts a section off. But his writing overall was very beautiful. I bookmarked a lot of sections in the audiobook that I'm eager to go back in my print book and highlight because I remember them being so striking. I also will say I do think that this book was a little bit long, but it's it's also hard to say that because he did provide a ton of historical context that I do think overall really impacted the story in a powerful way. And maybe it was his writing style that made it seem a little too long, but I do wish that it had found a way to trim it down just a little bit while still kind of providing that historical context. I think that this book asks really big questions. I think that it doesn't always land perfectly, but I do think that this book is worth the read, especially if you enjoy nonfiction, true crime, social justice. But you want something that's going to be really impactful along those lines. And that was the the Secret History of Murder in Mississippi by Wright Thompson.

A (42:57)

I have never heard of that. I think that sounds like a great recommendation.

B (43:02)

Yes. I don't think that it is a perfect work of journalistic nonfiction, but I think that it does do a really, really good job. And it made me research this part in American history that I don't know if I would have before. And I think that more stories coming out like this one of people, of black men and women and people in America that have had these atrocities happen to them that are shaping and we only get like kind of the highlight reel. And if that. And that's why I think that the context that he provided in this book was so important. I mean, he goes back to pre Civil War in some sections of the book that build up on each other and lead us to this hate crime that happened. And I think it's so important for us to reckon with those things. And I think he did a good job at shining a light on those things.

A (44:00)

Well, I can't transition very well into my next one because my next one is just so different. Maybe a good palette cleanser. I actually do think this book is a great palette cleanser for a lot of reading experiences. Believe it or not, this book is Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison. And I'm in a Rachel Harrison mood. So I've been sort of picking up the books of hers that I have not read yet. This one I was pretty surprised by. So this one is a werewolf novel, as you may have guessed from the COVID here and from the title. I mean, no spoilers there. This is about a woman named Rory who moves back to her hometown. And she is. She works as like a consultant in Manhattan, loves her job, but has a twin sister and her twin sister is pregnant and she is now breaking up with her partner. And she's like becoming a single mom and sort of freaking out about that so Rory takes a temporary leave from work to be with her sister. And she's not happy about this. She's glad to be there for her sister, but she does not want to be back in this hometown because, of course, you know, there's a lot of complicated feelings that go along with that. And she has some bad memories. One night at a bar, she runs into an almost old flame, so kind of like the one that got away a little bit. And then she ends up hitting a large animal with her car. And when she gets out to investigate what happened, she gets attacked by this animal. And it happens right in the beginning. And Rory survives miraculously, but things in her life begin to look and feel different. She is unnaturally strong. She suddenly has an aversion to silver, and she has recently become very obsessed with the moon. And she is changing into someone else or something else, maybe even a monster. But does that mean she's putting those close to her in danger? Or is embracing the wildness inside of her the key to acceptance? And I'm so glad they added this last piece because it says, this is a darkly comedic love story, brilliantly layered with trauma, rage, and vulnerability. And I think that's extremely accurate because this book is a little silly, but also a little heartfelt and silly in a way that's not dumb. It's darkly comedic. I'm like, what do you mean these things are happening to you? Like, what do you mean? Right. I had a great time with this. It is very easy to read. I sort of flew through. Through this one. This is a friendship story. It's a story of family. It's a story of werewolves, and it's a story about a homet. You know, just hometown drama and things. You know, you. You grow up with these people in this small town and how you find yourselves again and again at different points in your life inextricably intertwined with these people. That's what you're getting with this story. Sorry, I thought it was perfectly atmospheric. I thought it did actually a really good job of unpacking the werewolves and, like, werewolf lore. I'm not totally into werewolves. I'm not against them, but, you know, really, I haven't thought about werewolves since probably Twilight. And now this year, I've happened to read two books that feature werewolves, the other one being, of course, when the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy. Loved that one. And I just feel like this is a book about finding yourself. This is a book about finding, sort of reimagining the life that you thought about yourself. I actually brought this as a loving lately. I think this book would pair really well with the series Wolf Like Me that was released on Peacock, because it's about a woman that turns into a werewolf and she has this little, you know, maybe love story. I think those two pair really well together. If you want something that's, like, funny and a little silly and a little bit tender, I say grab it. I had a very good time with this. This book was such sharp teeth by Rachel Harrison.

B (47:54)

I. Something I love. And you worded it so perfectly with Rachel Harrison, where I forget exactly how you worded it, but where she really blends like satire. But also, is this serious? And it is serious, but it also is satirical, but not in a way that feels gimmicky or like, it feels tender. Also.

A (48:15)

It does. It's like, what if you turned into a wolf? I don't know. What would I do? You know? I really think she does a good job with that. And I love how she always plays on a different monster or a different horror trope each year, each fall.

B (48:28)

Yeah, I do feel like werewolves and vampires are making a big comeback. And I don't hate it. I don't always love a vampire book, but I don't hate that that is coming back. In general.

A (48:38)

I love a vampire book book. So much so that I've added my. One of my fall books for later on this fall is Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice.

B (48:49)

Wait, you added that to your fall tbr.

A (48:51)

Yeah.

B (48:51)

Look at you and your classic.

A (48:53)

Classic. So they sent it to me last year, and it's been on my shelf, and I'm like, you know what? I'm gonna give this a whirl. Maybe I'll hate it. Maybe I'll love it.

B (49:00)

Who's to say I love that? Okay. Okay. My next read, I think, pairs actually pretty well with yours, and that is Earth Eater by Dolores Reyes. And this also has, like, some magical. I say it pair as well because it has this magical realism element. This is a translated novel, though it's translated by Julia Sanchez from the Spanish. This is set in an unnamed, impoverished neighborhood in contemporary Argentina, and it is the story of a young woman who finds herself drawn to eating the earth. And this is a compulsion that gives her visions of broken and lost lives from before. When she first tastes the dirt, she learns the horrifying truth of her mother's death, and she is really disturbed by what she witnesses and keeps her visions to herself because of that. But when Earth Eater begins an unlikely relationship with a withdrawn police officer, Word of her ability begins to spread into the neighborhood, and soon desperate members of her community are begging her for help to learn about the past of their loved ones. And they're anxious to uncover the truth about the people in their life that they love. It is rare that I think a novella should have been a fully fleshed out novel, but with this one I kind of do feel like it should have been a whole novel. That said, I still really enjoyed it and I think that what it was and I think that it did what it set out to do with the time that it had to do it. I was fully captivated by the beginning of this book. It was haunting and atmospheric, definitely kind of the mood that I am feeling right now. And I was also just really interested in our unnamed narrator, this young woman who is eating earth and simultaneously dealing with grief and poverty and hardship. This story ultimately opened up a conversation about violence against women in Latin American countries and the fact that little to nothing is ever done about it. These unknown victims that we are reading about are gone, but their pain is still living in the earth. And I really liked the metaphorical symbolism in that. It was poetic without being pretentious. She took this idea of the past shaping the present and made a really beautiful magical realism story about it. And I really loved that our main character was able to bring that pain out in a beautiful way and bring their memory to the surface of these people who loved the victims of these horrible crimes. While I think that this is a beautiful story, it did lose me a little bit in the plot toward the middle and a little bit bit toward the end. It also doesn't have a super neat and tidy ending, which I don't always need. But again, I feel like with this one, I think I just enjoyed it so much that I was like, I would have loved to have seen this developed a little bit more. However, I would recommend this one. Thought it was a beautiful story and sheds a light on a really meaningful topic and theme. And yeah, overall I would say pick this one up if you want something atmospheric but also poignant and a great, great fall read. This is also available on Kindle Unlimited, and that is Earth Eater by Dolores Reyes, Translated by Julia Sanchez.

A (52:34)

I have never heard of that one, but I love a good Kindle Unlimited novella recommendation.

B (52:41)

Yes, and it, it has a really striking cover. I don't know if I like it or not, but you know what I mean. Like I'm looking at it, I'm like, do I like this? I don't know, but it's Striking. I think I like it.

A (52:54)

Let me google it. Oh, I like it.

B (52:57)

Yeah.

A (52:58)

I think it's. It's like a painting of.

B (53:00)

But it also doesn't.

A (53:01)

Flowers that are kind of melting. Well, yeah, I don't know if it would having not read it, but it's so interesting. I know.

B (53:10)

I just always think cover choices are. Are interesting.

A (53:14)

Fascinating. And you know what? I'm gonna wrap it up with the book that I plan to read probably this weekend. It is a thriller. It's also a thriller that I think has the possibility of being on Goodreads choices Best thrillers of the year nomination. It's Sheri Lapena's. Didn't see it coming. I fun fact. Have never read this author because she is one of Renee's favorites and Renee reads all of her books. I then avoided her because I'm like, well, I'm not going to bring it to the show. I know Renee's going to bring it to the show. So now I. I'm embracing. And I also have heard really good things about this one. It also has a 4.0 rating with 27,000 ratings. And it just was published in July, so I feel like I've got a chance at really liking this. It says, when a beloved wife and mother disappears, a luxurious condo building transforms into a potential crime scene and the investigation begins. Can the detectives find her before it's too late? So the main characters are Bryden and Sam, and they have it all. This sounds like every thriller start to every thriller synopsis ever. But I love that.

B (54:25)

Who cares? We love it.

A (54:26)

Who cares? I love it. They have thriving careers, a smart apartment in a luxury condominium, supportive friends, and a cherished daughter. The perfect life for the perfect couple. Then receives a call at his office. Bryden, working from home that day, has failed to collect their daughter from daycare. Arriving home with their little girl, he finds his wife's car in the underground garage upstairs in their apartment. Her laptop is open on the table and her cell phone is nearby with their keys in their usual place. Except Brighton is nowhere to be seen. It's if she just walked out. The end. That's all the synopsis has. And I'm like, well, I want to know what happened to her. I have literally no clue. One thing I'm gonna do is find out. One thing I'm not gonna do is figure it out before the author tells me because I never see it coming. But this book is called she Didn't See It Coming by Sherri Lapine. Tina.

B (55:16)

I've never read anything by that author either.

A (55:19)

I don't think so many books. My friend Angela was she's the one that posted it and she was like I said oh, I haven't read her. She's like how have you not read this author? I said listen, I didn't want to bring duplicate.

B (55:31)

Now's the time.

A (55:31)

Now's the time.

B (55:33)

Is this her newest?

A (55:34)

Oh, I'm a liar too. Oh my goodness. I read the Couple Next Door so forgive everything I just said, but I read that back in.

B (55:40)

It came out a while ago.

A (55:41)

Yeah, I read that out in 2017. I was gonna say I gave it three stars. I didn't love it but I hopefully this one is a closer to a five star.

B (55:51)

Okay, nice. My shelf edition is one far into the future. This one doesn't have a pub date until May 12, 2026 but I just got it on netgalley. It literally popped in my account this morning. So it is my hot on the press in my hands shelf edition. It's called the Pillager's Guide to Arctic Pianos, which I just love that title.

A (56:19)

Yeah, interesting.

B (56:20)

By Kendra Langford Shaw. And it says that this one is perfect for readers of Karen Russell and Eowyn Ivey. So I'm automatically sold. Love both of those authors. Or at least I've only read one book by Eowyn Ivey. But I loved it and I've read a couple of Karen Russell books and I I really like her as well. This book is a wildly imaginative family saga set in the remote Arctic where the Spahr family is barely scraping by in their off the grid home. Their luck changes when a neighbor pulls a centuries old piano from the icy waters, a relic from a doomed homesteading expedition. Suddenly, piano hunting becomes the new gold rush and the Spars dive headfirst into it. This book spans generations and it blends eccentric characters, history and environmental change into a story about survival, family, and what it means to call a place home. I don't know, that just sounds very weird. But interesting. I love a family story. And this cover is also really pretty. And I don't know, the title sounds interesting. That's the Pillager's Guide to Arctic Pianos by Kendra Langford. She Shaw.

A (57:35)

I mean, bonus points for creativity because you're not going to find another book called that. I mean, anyway, that's pretty cool. I know. I can't believe we're already Some of my fantasy fantastic fiction recommendations have been coming to my email for authors I follow. And it's like this doesn't come out until July 2026. I'm like, great.

B (57:54)

Crazy.

A (57:55)

Add it to my list, right? All righty. Well, that is it for today, and we're 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 booktalk etc.

B (58:25)

If you'd like like to connect with us, you can email us atbooktalk etc.mail.com you can also connect with us both at Booktok etc. On Instagram and YouTube. You can find Tina at TBR Etc. And Hannah at HandpickedBooks. Talk to you next week.

A (58:39)

And in the meantime, remember, everything's better with books.

B (58:47)

My gosh. Yeah, we did that. So fast and furious.

A (58:49)

Fast and furious. But also entertaining. Also good, good.