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- [00:00]
Hannah
Can you believe that this is our last great books on the radar of the year?
- [00:06]
Tina
No, I can. I cannot. Even though I knew that I told you it's, you know, December, November. I kind of forgot that that means yo, it's. This is it.
- [00:16]
Hannah
Wow.
- [00:28]
Tina
Welcome to Book Talk Etc. A podcast bound to grow your t. Tina. I'm Tina from TBR Etc.
- [00:34]
Hannah
And I'm Hannah from Hand Picked Books.
- [00:36]
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 sharing our November and December books on the radar.
- [00:48]
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 lover.
- [01:04]
Tina
Hey, Hannah.
- [01:05]
Hannah
Hey, Tina. How's your day going?
- [01:07]
Tina
Fantastic. I took a day off to organize my books so they. If you're watching us on YouTube, you can see my progress. I've got a whole couch covered of TBR books and then over here they're sort of falling down. But it's. There's a method to my madness. So I'm having a really good day organizing my books. How are you doing?
- [01:27]
Hannah
Hobby project day sounds so fun. I'm so glad you're doing that. I am also great because Poppy now has their holiday drinks out and they have their cre. Cranberry fizz. This is not my loving lately. You just get an extra today.
- [01:40]
Tina
Wow.
- [01:41]
Hannah
But yeah, this is like my favorite soda that they have. It is so good. And I already had my first and only one that I'll have today.
- [01:51]
Tina
But I so good. Two things. One, love that you limit yourself to one Poppy a day. Like relatable. But also I feel a certain kind of way. I know this is our November and December books on the Radar episode and in my head I know that the holidays are coming. Coming.
- [02:08]
Hannah
They're coming. I know, but.
- [02:10]
Tina
But this must be what people feel like when I start drinking pumpkin spice in August. You know what I'm saying? This must be the feeling. Okay.
- [02:17]
Hannah
Yes.
- [02:18]
Tina
I am currently sipping on my favorite beverage, a Canada Dry. But the sugar free ginger ale kinda look at us. Delicious. I don't know. I think it is pretty great. But let's cheers. Oh, I love talk some books.
- [02:31]
Hannah
Cheers. I love Canada Dry, don't you?
- [02:35]
Tina
It's just so good. My lipstick stains are all over it. That's pretty gross.
- [02:38]
Hannah
It's my favorite ginger ale brand. Or, yeah, brand. That's the right word.
- [02:44]
Tina
I didn't, you know, if pressed, I couldn't tell you another Vernors. Oh, I've never been.
- [02:53]
Hannah
You've never been?
- [02:54]
Tina
I've never been.
- [02:55]
Hannah
You've never had?
- [02:56]
Tina
I've never been. I've never had. Don't know. Just. Just this one here.
- [03:03]
Hannah
That'S.
- [03:03]
Tina
Speaking of brands, I have a. My loving light is very silly, but I love it. Okay. It is a new deodorant that I've got right here. It is the Wild Cosmetics deodorant. And apparently it's by Emma Bridgewater. Now, I don't know who that is, but she's right here on the tin. And the story of this is kind of funny. So over the summer, I went to two different bachelorette parties. And for one of them, all the girls were getting ready, listening to music. You know how fun that is when that happens. And one of them was like, hey, does anyone have any deodorant? And we were just talking about how we can't really find deodorants that work really well. And so I saw this same bridesmaid at the, you know, events leading up to the wedding. And she was like, guys, I found the deodorant. I was like, what? She's like, you remember the conversation about how we can't find a good one? I'm like, oh, yes. And so she brought it out and I can confirm that this is a great deodorant. So what's so special about it? It's the Wild Cosmetics cream deodorant. And it is in an aluminum case. So this is refillable. So what you do is you buy this one time, I think it was $17, which, I mean, I know it's a deodorant for $17. That's a lot. But you can buy refills. And it is a aluminum free, paraben free, phthalates free deodorant. And just two swipes is supposed to keep you fresh for 24 hours. I can confirm that that is true. And again, I am a gal who has hyperhidrosis. I have sweaty hands, and it's just, I need a good deodorant. This one works super well. It also has great ingredients. It's got shea butter, coconut oil, and I'm just a big fan. Apparently it's 98% natural. It also smells fantastic. I can't stress enough how good this smells. It's the honey and cactus flower one right now. And I'm holding it. It's in this adorable Bee case.
- [05:01]
Hannah
Yeah, that case is really cute.
- [05:04]
Tina
They also had one, and I don't know if they still do. Someone sent me a photo of a skull case, and I was like, I need that so bad that I didn't buy it because you don't need two of these. But Hannah is wearing a lovely cardigan right now. And I was so jealous. I was like, I want that case so bad, but I have the B case, and I do love it. Anyway, it smells fantastic. You can get your refills in your initial case, if you will, on Amazon. They have other colors. And I am a fan. In the, you know, reviews section, I was looking and a bunch of people were saying that they feel like it uses up quickly. I have had this over a month now, and I'm like, maybe I don't use enough deodorant. I don't know. But I am not finding that it's, like, running out any more or less. Less than any other thing that I would utilize. This one's also Vegan society approved and Leaping Bunny certified. So, anyway, I have been a really big fan of this, and I am delighted to recommend to you my current deodorant. And this is the Wild Cosmetics deodorant. And my fragrance is Honey and Cactus Flower with the B case.
- [06:10]
Hannah
I feel like it is really hard to find a good natural deodorant.
- [06:15]
Tina
I never found one that works.
- [06:17]
Hannah
Never.
- [06:17]
Tina
Never.
- [06:17]
Hannah
I have never found one.
- [06:18]
Tina
Never. And I kind of am like you. I'm. I'd rather be a little stinky or I'm gonna have to use a real. You know what I'm saying? So.
- [06:25]
Hannah
Right.
- [06:26]
Tina
Honestly, this is a really good recommendation from recommended it to me, so now I'm recommending it to you guys.
- [06:32]
Hannah
I feel like sometimes those are the best recommendations. And loving lately are those ones that they have. They have to be passed on because they're that good.
- [06:40]
Tina
And you telling a friend, right? You know, like, we're at this party, she's like, I gotta show you my deodorant. And we're like, what? And then she brings it out. I was like, add to cart and the cute case.
- [06:49]
Hannah
Hello.
- [06:51]
Tina
Hello, Hello.
- [06:52]
Hannah
Okay. My loving lately are these candles. And I have had these candles for a long time. They're called novel wicks candles. I have a few of them with me today. And this is an independently owned.
- [07:07]
Tina
What, Live Laugh Lobotomy?
- [07:10]
Hannah
Yeah, that's my candle.
- [07:12]
Tina
I love that. Yeah.
- [07:13]
Hannah
The current candle that I'm holding that Tina's laughing at is. It literally says Live Laugh Lobotomy. On it. But I have, I have a couple other less macabre. Actually I don't really have any less actually more. This one says death by TBR and okay, this one's less macabre. This is brunch and browsing books. This one smells like Dolce de Leche, but novel. Wicks candles are bookish related candles and they are handmade and hand poured. In Little Rock, Arkansas, this is a family run, very, very small business. The woman who runs it, her name is Murphy and she is just the sweetest person and I really have enjoyed working with her, buying from her shop. She's just so nice and her candles are really good quality and they smell so good and I love that they are bookish related and they also have like she has fandom ones as well. For example, I have her Stranger Things candles. This one that I have right here is running up that hill. I also have a Hellfire Club candle that's another Stranger Things themed candle. And all of her candles too have this sparkle on the top of them when you first open. Of course it gets melted off, but it's kind of her signature touch for her candles and I love that they smell really good. They do have a strong fragrance, but I really enjoy the fragrances that she puts into her candles and the artwork is just really cute as well. These make really good shelf decorations as well as candles that you can actually utilize as candles. And if you don't want the nine ounce glass jars, she also has tins. Some are small. Like I think she has a four ounce tin that you can get if you just want something small. This could be a good gift as well if you want to get one of the smaller candles too or a stocking stuffer perhaps. So I, I love these candles. I have a lot of them now at this point. I've been collecting them for a long time and I just really love Murphy and like supporting her shop. And she did give me a code. This is not sponsored by any means. I've always loved her candles but I reached out to her because I told her I'm going to use your candles as a loving lately. Do you have a code that you want to give to our listeners if they want to shop from your store? And she said absolutely. So if you use the code podcast then you will get 10% off your order if you order from Novel Wicks candles. So my loving lately are Novel Wicks candles.
- [10:04]
Tina
Fantastic. And I follow them on Instagram. I was like, I know, I follow their account. Yeah, never like I have to be honest and say, I've never ordered, so I will have to remedy that. Thanks for getting us a code. How exciting is that?
- [10:16]
Hannah
I know. It's always nice to get a little discount.
- [10:19]
Tina
I will buy, I swear to you, even if it's like a 10. You know, I swear to you, if something has a code, even if it's more than I would typically spend on something, I'm like, but I got the discount code. Like, but I got the discount. Like, it is something that. And that's. There's a psychology behind that for sure. But, yeah, I feel like I will more likely to buy if I do have a discount code.
- [10:40]
Hannah
Oh, I will seek out discount codes, too, for people that I know, like, rep certain brands that I really like. I'm like, oh, I know that person gets a discount code. So I'm gonna go. I'm gonna go snag that from their Lincoln bio.
- [10:51]
Tina
Ooh, I know. And then, you know, it's always nice to use somebody's code. I'm like, exactly. A little credit here now and again.
- [10:58]
Hannah
But supporting creators, we love it, right?
- [11:01]
Tina
We love it. All right, well, I will tell you about my latest read. And my latest read was the perfect book at the perfect time for me. It is the intruder by Frida McFadden. And I am a gal that loves to lightly dunk on Frida McFadden and how many books she lightly dunk on lightly. Listen, I do like her books, right? I think some. Some of them are sillier and some of them come out too much in this and that. But by and large, I do enjoy much of what I have read from her for what it is. And this one is about a. Okay, so this one's about a storm, and right away, I love a storm. I am a book, a girl that will read a book that has a storm in it pretty much at any time. I just love it. And so this one, the setup is you are following a woman named Casey. She lives in a cabin in the wilderness, and hurricane is coming, and it is not built for this type of weather. She knows for sure that her roof is not going to hold during this event. And she's also worried about the shed in the backyard. And so the book opens up with her basically talking to this slum lord that she. That she rents from. She's like, guy, you. You've got to fix this. It's not going to hold. And he's like, well, we're running out of. We ran out of time. The storm's on its way. Meanwhile, I'm thinking, why don't we organize this weeks ago? But at any rate, the hurricane is imminent. It's happening. So she's inside, she's making this pasta sauce. And one thing McFadden does is she will repeat things a lot, which is great if you're, like, listening and doing other things. But she must have talked about the sauce for 10 minutes. I'm like, how complex is this marinara? But anyway, the main character is stirring her marinara, and then she see. Sees light in her shed, and she's like, nobody should be back there. What's going on? The storm is happening. So she decides to investigate. When she's there, she finds a girl just covered in blood, and she has a knife in her hand. And she won't tell her who she is, why she's there, what the deal is, and she basically won't talk. Now, this book is. That's. That's what you're getting. That's what you're being sold on the COVID And I think I've heard very mixed reviews. I enjoyed this, but I didn't really have any expectations going in other than there's a storm. I was like, okay, I know there's a storm coming. That's basically all I needed. This one is a book that has dual point of view, and you're following two characters. You're following a young girl and you're following Casey, and both are. It's not quick back and forth like you're in the chapters for a while, like you're following each character for a minute, and you come to find out that the young girl is living with a hoarder. So her mom is a hoarder and she's treated really poorly. And that, I will admit, was hard to read. It wasn't, you know, overly graphic or anything, but very, very detailed on how she was neglected. And so for that, I was like, oh, gosh, this is terrible. Right? You're going back and forth between Casey and then this other point of view and trying to figure out what's going on with these characters. I would say for this one, it's definitely more character driven than a twisty psychological thriller. I am a known terrible detective, and I did not see the reveals coming. I saw a couple, you know, pieces I had worked out, but I was surprised with some elements to this. Overall, I enjoyed it. It was a great read. It is available on Kindle Unlimited. It's also available on my Hoopla. So if you, you know, have Hoopla, check it over there. And something I appreciated. I don't know if I've noticed this before. In the beginning of this book, McFadden shares her author's note. And I didn't realize this about her books, but what she does is she. She says, even though my books are thrillers, a genre that typically has dark elements, I do my best to keep them as family friendly as I possibly can. You're not going to come across any graphic scenes of violence or sexual. She spells it out mostly because I know my family members will be reading. And then she goes on to say that she created a list of content warnings for all her thrillers on this website and acknowledges that they. That they sometimes are spoilers. Right. But I thought that was really cool that she. I never put it together, but her books aren't dark generally. Like, they're not as dark as they could be or overly graphic, I will say. So a piece of me is wondering, I'm like, huh? I wonder if that's part of why she's so popular. Because folks are interested in that thrilling element, but like not too over the top. So just wanted to include that as well. I liked it. I read it in over the course of maybe two days, over the course of a weekend. So if you are somebody that tends to enjoy Frieda's books, pick it up. I recommend it. And that one is the intruder by Frida McFadden.
- [15:54]
Hannah
I'm glad that you included that about the author's note, because I feel like it's always interesting to know what authors are intentional with in general. And you know, we can make so many assumptions as readers as to why authors are are the way they are or why they do what they do. And it's always interesting to hear about their process or why they do or do not include certain things. I also like that she has that on her website for content warnings, but does mention these could be spoilers.
- [16:19]
Tina
Right.
- [16:19]
Hannah
But if you are a reader who wants these, then you're gonna have to be willing to be spoiled sometimes.
- [16:24]
Tina
So I agree. I always love an author's note. Like I really could have the behind the scenes for the process for every book I read. Like, I just feel like it makes me connect to the author more, which helps me connect with the book more sometime. So love an author's note here.
- [16:39]
Hannah
I agree. I also loved my latest read, and that is A Psalm for the Wild built by Becky Chambers. And I literally finished this last night. I read it over the course of a couple days. It really could be read in one sitting. This is about a little Tea Monk and a robot Centuries before, the robots of Panga gained self awareness, laid down their tools, wandered en masse into the wilderness and were never seen again. They faded into myth and urban legend and humans didn't even know that they still existed. And we are following the life of a non binary tea monk, Dex, who tells the story as they are upended by the arrival of a robot who is trying to honor an old promise that they made by checking in. The robot cannot go back until the question of what do people actually need is answered. But the answer to that question depends on who you ask and how. And this story itself asks In a world where people have what they want, does having more actually matter? This is one of the most pure, kind, thoughtful and cozy science fiction stories I have ever read. People have been trying to get me to read this for ages and for whatever reason I just have not felt compelled to pick it up. I have actually tried picking up this book several times and I'll I had read a couple pages and just hadn't moved forward. Which I just couldn't tell you why because one of the things that I actually really loved about this book was the beautiful writing. It just had such beautiful but not pretentious or overly written writing and I'm so glad that I finally decided to continue on and read this whole thing. And now for whoever out there has been hounding me to read this book, thank you. Because better late than never. I could feel the stress melting off of me as I read this book. Dex and Robot had such thoughtful conversations and there is some of the best dialogue in this book as these two characters navigate some of life's hardest questions such such as what is the point of everything and anything? In a way that felt really safe and wholesome and even delightful even as they were saying hard things. And I had a single tear for sure rolling down my cheek as I finished this one late last night. Yes, I was just like, oh I was so touched. I definitely like took my kindle and held it to my chest.
- [19:22]
Tina
I love that.
- [19:23]
Hannah
Yes, me too. And I will say this book wasn't just talking and philosophical conversations. I mean, the story starts out with sibling Dex launching into a new adventure, turning away from the life they've always known in attempt to find themselves. And then along the way they have tea with strangers and visit vendors in the village and travel around Panga. So there is some adventure in this one as well. I can't think of a single person that I would not recommend this book to. If you want a Good reminder of why it is enough. Just exist and wonder at the beauty that we are here and connected to one another. Pick this up, read it, and be reminded that your purpose in life could possibly be to just marvel at the birds. And that is a psalm for the wild built by Becky Chambers.
- [20:14]
Tina
I mean, obviously I'm adding this to tbr. That sounds so fantastic.
- [20:18]
Hannah
So good.
- [20:20]
Tina
Oh, my gosh. I think we all could use a book like this. Yes. Now, so. Yes, I'm happy to hear that. Gosh, what a juxtaposition. You know, a little intrusion, a little intruder, a little intrusion, you know, and then like a little tea monk philosophy. Now, what is a tea monk?
- [20:37]
Hannah
A person that gives you tea based on what you need. So someone would come up to them and be like, I just am really stressed out and I really need to feel calm. And this tea monk would give them the proper tea to help with whatever they need and what they're dealing with.
- [20:58]
Tina
Okay, I like that. I'm glad I asked because I was like, don't know what that means, but it sounds nice.
- [21:03]
Hannah
Yeah, I didn't either, but it was just so cozy and wonderful.
- [21:05]
Tina
Ah, okay. Sounds good. Now, this is our Books on the Radar episode. We do group together November and December, typically, because there's not as many releases in these months. Although I'm sitting next to six books and I didn't even try. I could have brought many more, I'm sure. So we probably could break out these months. But for now, we have doubled up, so we're doing November and December. Yes.
- [21:30]
Hannah
I am excited to get into all of the books. Do you want to kick us off?
- [21:34]
Tina
I sure will. And I'm debating because I brought six, because one, I was excited for all of these, but then I'm like, I wonder if we'll have overlap. Overlap. So I have six.
- [21:43]
Hannah
It's quite possible.
- [21:44]
Tina
Yeah. So they may not be in order of publication date. So hopefully that is okay with you all. My first one literally is hot off the press. I just got it seconds before I started recording. It's called 59 Minutes by Holly Seddon. This one comes out on November 18th, and I'm so pumped about it because that. Well, first of all, I wasn't sure about the COVID I was like, huh, I don't know that I love it. It is showing a hourglass that's breaking and it looks like London in of it. And I was like, I don't know about this cover. What is this about? And it says, Carrie is on her way home from work. It's an ordinary evening and she is looking forward to seeing her family. Then her phone blares. Severe alert. Nuclear missile threat to South England. 59 minutes until impact. Seek immediate shelter. And this is not a test. I mean, what would you do? So of course chaos erupts around her. Her spouse and child, who are normally just a few minutes away on her commute, might as well be on Mars for all the chances she feels like she has of seeing them again. Another character, Frankie, is with her fiance and they get the terrifying alert and they are on their way to a country retreat. Frankie is newly pregnant, but her joy is shattered by the realization that there might not be a world to bring her baby into. You've got Mrs. Dab, who's already spiraling because her 13 year old daughter is missing. She of course wants to track her down. Three women, three families, one last chance to be together before the end and all they have is 59 minutes. I think this sounds really good. It could go cheesy though. I will say it sounds like one of those maybe sort of action movies. I'm going to try not to. I don't want to skim and ruin anything for myself. But it does look like it has very short chapters and then you have these breaks in between. For example, it says 21 minutes until impact. So it looks like this will be a very fast paced and sort of counting down those 59 minutes. I like this drama structure of this and I am hopeful that this will be an entertaining good time. So this book is 59 Minutes by Holly Seddon.
- [23:47]
Hannah
Yeah, I agree. That one was a Simon title for audiobooks that we had access to and I definitely looked at that and was intrigued. I didn't end up picking it up. But if you wanted to do it.
- [24:00]
Tina
On audio now I'm like, oh, goodbye.
- [24:05]
Hannah
Let me open it. Okay. My first pick is the Sunshine man by Emma Stonex. And this is one that I believe Renee has brought a book by this author before, the Lamplighters. I want to say I bought the Lamplighters because of Renee, but this particular book comes out on November 4th. This is a story about Birdie Keller who wakes one freezing January morning to the news that she has been waiting 18 years to hear, which is that Jimmy McGuire, the man who killed her sister, has been freed from jail. He's been released and she leaves for London with a plan which is to find this man and make him pay. But every story has two sides. Jimmy can sense that he is being hunted and he knew Birdie a long time ago in a life that she would sooner forget. And he isn't the only one with something to hide. And the two circle each other in a heart stopping game of cat and mouse and plunge into the murky world of family secrets, betrayals and unsolved mysteries. I love a revenge story. I can't wait to figure out what Birdie Keller is hiding personally. And this just sounds like a fun cat and mouse thriller. I tend to like thrillers like that, so I am excited to give this one a try. That is the Sunshine man by Emma Stonex and it comes out on November 4th.
- [25:30]
Tina
I too love a revenge story. And especially when I hear that a person who killed somebody else is coming out of jail and like the person is trying to make them pay and get a lot of their own retribution. I think that sounds really compelling.
- [25:46]
Hannah
Very interesting. I'm already wondering, I'm like, well, does she want to kill this guy to avenge her sister or does she want to kill this guy because she's hiding something that he knows and he's going to tell everyone?
- [25:57]
Tina
Maybe. Okay, well, I'm already trying to figure it out.
- [25:59]
Hannah
So.
- [26:00]
Tina
You are a good, you're a way better detective than I am. I'm like, don't know. Something, something's up. I'm sure it's.
- [26:06]
Hannah
We'll find out when we murder.
- [26:08]
Tina
Exactly. All right. This next one I am so excited by. It is called Son of the Morning by Akwaeke Emezi. And they are the author of many books that I've enjoyed. This author might be the most diverse author in terms of genre that I can think of. They write in ya. They've written in like contemporary messy romance. They've written literary fiction, fantasy. I mean it kind of goes across many different genre. My favorite of theirs is the Death of Vivek Oji. That one's more, I would say literary fiction. But this one is a steamy paranormal romance set in the black South. I'm like, excuse me. Okay, tell me more. And it is about, stay with me here. I'm going to do my best. You know, I'm not typically a fantasy person, but it says tender Hearted Gaily was raised by the Kincaid's, a formidable clan of black women sequestered deep in the weeping willows and dark rushing creeks of their land. Gaily has always known that she's different. That there's an old and a noble secret around her very existence. It's been a hollow ache since her childhood. Something she assumes she will always have to live with until she Meets Lucifer. Hello. He's fronting as the head of security for her wealthy friend's family, protecting a mysterious ancient artifact. But from the moment she lays eyes on him, she knows he's not human. From their first touch, Lucifer knows something that Gailey herself doesn't even know, that she isn't human either. So neither one of them are humans and they, like, suss the other person out. Enter Leviathan. As Lucifer's most trusted prince of Hell, Levi is ruthless and determined to eliminate the intolerable danger that is Gaily before she brings death and disaster to those he loves. While unseen battles rage between Heaven, Hell and Earth, Lucifer and Gailey's attractions threatens to bring all of the structures of their existence crashing down. Listen, that's all you need to know. It is a journey of magic and fantasy that will take you to the very depths of Hell itself. So I don't know if this sounds like it's your bag.
- [28:17]
Hannah
I don't know.
- [28:19]
Tina
I don't know. Hey, sounds good to me. This one comes out on November 25 and the title of this is Son of the Morning by Akwaeke Emezi.
- [28:28]
Hannah
Yeah, I mean, we trust Akwaeke Emezi, so yeah, exactly. Whatever they do, it's worth a shot.
- [28:36]
Tina
I am into it.
- [28:38]
Hannah
Okay, my next pick is an author I've never read from before. And that is that's Not How It Happened by Craig Thomas. This comes out on November 4th from Hanover Square Press. And this is about Paige, who never planned on being a stay at home mom. But when her husband Rob's screenwriting career suddenly takes off and their son Emmett is born, the decision is made for her. And years later, with her kids nearly grown and wondering what comes next, she decides to write a memoir about the challenges and joys of raising her child with a disability. And she never expects Hollywood to come knocking, eager to turn her inspiring story into a movie. And she is shocked, excited, and maybe a little bit terrified as well. For Rob, though, this might be the big break that he has been waiting for. His screenwriting career has stalled and who better to adapt his wife's memoir than him? Meanwhile, Emmett can't quite understand why everyone is so obsessed with the fact that he has down syndrome. But all of this attention somehow helps him meet Idol and he is feeling all in. Their daughter Darcy, on the other hand, could not care less. She is barely mentioned in the book after all, and she is the so called normal kid. So she is feeling more invisible than ever. While her love life implodes and college decisions are hanging over her head. But as Hollywood sinks its teeth into their story, twisting, glamorizing, and selling their lives back to them, old wounds resurface and new betrayals emerge. And soon the family has to wonder, will this, this so called feel good movie bring them together or will it be the thing that finally tears them apart? I think this one sounds really interesting. It sounds like it deals with some really complicated family dynamics and also just putting things in the spotlight that probably shouldn't be put in the spotlight and the complications with Hollywood and glamorizing just human experiences that are private family matters. So I like books that explore complicated things like that. And this sounds really interesting. So that is. That's not How It Happened by Craig Thomas.
- [30:50]
Tina
I think that sounds really good. And as you were describing that, I was looking it up. Just to follow. Just to follow along. The audiobook is going to be narrated in part by Colby Smulders, who played Robin in How I Met yout Mother.
- [31:04]
Hannah
Oh, interesting.
- [31:05]
Tina
I didn't know that she did audiobooks.
- [31:07]
Hannah
I think is Craig Thomas does. Do they have to do with How I Met your mother, the author?
- [31:15]
Tina
Sure. He sure is. He's a creator. Yeah, he's a co creator of How I Met yout Mother. Okay, that would make sense. How fun is it that Robin is narrating for him?
- [31:25]
Hannah
Yeah, and it makes sense with the Hollywood tie in and the show and. Yeah, really interesting. So.
- [31:31]
Tina
Well, who's Josh Radner now? See, I don't know who these I don't know people's names. He is. He knew it. He's freaking How I Met yout Mother guy. He's the guy.
- [31:41]
Hannah
Oh, he is the guy.
- [31:42]
Tina
He's the guy. What's his name?
- [31:45]
Hannah
I don't know.
- [31:46]
Tina
Ted.
- [31:47]
Hannah
Ted.
- [31:48]
Tina
Ted Mosby. So, Ted, I never watched that show.
- [31:51]
Hannah
Like from start to finish. I've seen it. I've seen lots of episodes, but I've never watched it start to finish.
- [31:56]
Tina
I did watch it back in the day and I enjoyed it. My goodness. 2005 to 2014. It's been a minute. So wow. But yeah, okay, so Ted and Robin are narrating. Very excited.
- [32:06]
Hannah
Well, that's a fun side tangent.
- [32:08]
Tina
Fun side tangent. Not to overshadow Craig in his novel, but think that's pretty fun.
- [32:13]
Hannah
That is fun.
- [32:14]
Tina
Your book, they were talking about how, you know, living in Hollywood or that sort of lifestyle can be glamorized. My book is a little bit similar, except it's royalty. It's called the Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage. This one comes out on December 2nd. And I have the author's note here. And she's talking about what was her inspiration for this? And she started thinking about this, you know, way back in 2018. She was working as a television, television producer. And she was watching the Wedding of Harry and Megan. And as she was watching this, she was like, is something wrong with Harry? Like, he obviously is very thrilled to be marrying Megan, but he, she couldn't shake the sense that he was also carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. And so she started to think about what would it be like if you're born royal but you're not sure if you want it? Because oftentimes that's like, you know, little girls want to be a princess when they grow up. Like, that's the goal and like, what happens if that is your reality, but you don't want it. And that is how this novel was born. It starts off on New Year's Day in Tasmania, and the life that Lexi has carefully built is working out nicely. She's in the second year of medical school. She lives on a beautiful farm with her two best friends. And she's about to finally become more than friendly with Jack when a helicopter abruptly lands and out steps her grandmother's right hand man with the tragic news that her father and older brother have been killed in a skiing accident. Lexi's grandma just happens to be the Queen of England. So in addition to grieving them, she must accept the reality that she is suddenly next in line for the throne, a role she's publicly disavowed. So she now has to move back to London and be the heir apparent, Princess Alexandrina. And she is greeted by a skeptical public not ready to forgive her for her past grieving sister in law and a scheming uncle. And yada, yada, yada, that's how this book is set up. And it basically follows her as she decides to embrace this lifestyle or not. And what she decides to her grandma basically is giving her one year to decide. Would you like to claim your birthright or do you want to disavow it? And we're gonna find out. This is, I believe, a love story. So I think there's going to be a little romance in here. I like the sound of it. I do enjoy a novel with royalty in it, believe it or not. I don't often read them, but I've been known to enjoy a royal novel or two. And I'm excited for this. It's called the Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage.
- [34:49]
Hannah
Yeah, that sounds really good. And. And from what we know now, it sounds like her suspicions of Harry were potentially true.
- [34:58]
Tina
Oh, yes, yes, I know. I wonder how much of that is like, oh, you know, what is that? Monday morning quarterbacking? Like, see, I knew it. Or if like, in the moment she like, had written that down or something. I don't know. Either way, I could see the parallel.
- [35:10]
Hannah
Totally. Okay, my next pick is Palaver by Brian Washington and this comes out on November 4th from FSG. And this is an author that I have never read before, but I have always wanted to. I have several of Washington's books on my TBR on my shelves behind me. I have always wanted to read Memorial and Family Meal. I think that he's a most known for his short story collection lot. And I don't read a ton of short story collections, so that one is not one that I'm super eager to pick up. But I do know that a lot of people love that short story collection. He's just a really beloved author and this new one coming out in November sounds really great. In Tokyo, a young man spends his days working as an English tutor and his nights drinking with friends at the gay bar. He is in a messy relationship with a married man and has built a chosen family in Japan, but he is still estranged from his real family back in Houston. His relationship with his mother has always been complicated, especially since she favored his troubled, homophobic brother Chris, and it's been 10 years since they've all seen each other until she suddenly shows up at his doorstep right before Christmas. From the start, tension fills the apartment. Only the son's cat, Tarot, stands between them. The mother is haunted by her past in Jamaica and memories of her own brother, and is trying to make peace with all of her mistakes.
- [36:45]
Tina
Breaks.
- [36:46]
Hannah
The son, meanwhile, isn't sure that he can forgive her. But as life pulls them both in unexpected directions, she strikes up a gentle friendship with a local bistro owner. And he begins to connect with a new regular at the bar. And they start to see each other in a new light. Through shared meals, quiet conversations, and an unforgettable trip to Nara, they begin to redefine what home means and whether it might might still include one another. It says that this one is told with warmth, wit, and deep compassion, and that this is a tender exploration of family and forgiveness and the ways that love can cross continents, generations, and all of the messy spaces in between. I love a messy family story. This one does just sound really tender, but also hard. Deals with really messy, complicated things and I am curious to see how all of it gets tackled. And that's Palaver by Brian Washington.
- [37:45]
Tina
Yes. This one is on my TBR as well. And I also have never read him. He's back here somewhere on the TBR shelf. But I have not read them. I need to. We need to change that.
- [37:55]
Hannah
Yeah, just one of those authors that every time they come out with a new book, I'm like, I want to read that. And then the books have. Have sat there. But maybe this time.
- [38:05]
Tina
Maybe today's the day or now's the time.
- [38:07]
Hannah
Maybe now's the time.
- [38:09]
Tina
Maybe now's the time. This episode, I feel like I've done books that are outside of my comfort zone. And I almost didn't bring this one because I'm like, I don't know if this is a me book, but I feel like maybe it could be fun for readers. It is called Love Me, Stalk Me by Laura Bishop. This is a dark romance, but I hear it is not as dark as some of the really, really dark romances. It's not as disturbing. This one comes out on December 2, and it is about Izzy Russo, and she works at a department store. She's the manager, and she is overworked, frankly. And she, to entertain herself, downloads an AI boyfriend app to fill the emotional void left by her inattentive real boyfriend. And she thinks she's just venting to a harmless chatbot named Caleb. But in reality, she's been pouring her deepest, dirtiest fantasies into the ears of Callahan Knight, her store's brooding new head of security. So it's set in a department store. She thinks it's an AI bot, and it's actually somebody she knows in real life. And he has been listening. The moment he saw her, he knew she was his. Did he hack her phone? Absolutely. But who could blame him? A woman like Izzy deserves to be cherished by someone who truly knows her worth. And he'll do anything to be that man. So when Izzy finally sees her boyfriend for who he really is and the danger she's unknowingly been caught up in, Cal is ready to protect her, no matter the cost, even if it means revealing the truth. So this is a dark romance with very questionable ethics. However, it has good early reviews. It's got a 4.1 rating and 276 reviews so far, and it's, you know, not out yet. And folks are saying that it's pretty good. It also, I saw, was comped to you. You know how a bit of a. Anytime I see that, I'm like, well, maybe. And I think this is one that could be perfect for the time of year when you're busy with holiday plans and family things and you just need a book to escape and you want to see a little yearning. So I thought I would bring it. This one is Love Me, Stalk Me by Laura Bishop.
- [40:23]
Hannah
A little yearning, a little questionable ethics, you know, perfect for the holiday. Need to escape.
- [40:31]
Tina
Exactly. It's a dark romantic comedy. So there you have it.
- [40:35]
Hannah
I'm loving the variety of your picks today.
- [40:37]
Tina
You know what? I'll end with a normal thriller, don't worry.
- [40:40]
Hannah
No, I think you should end with whatever your heart desires. Okay, my next pick is the Emergency by George Packer. This comes out on November 11. This is also from FSG, which is a indie publisher that I do typically really like their books and so just I'm noting that I have a couple of their books on my November radar. This is about an empire that has collapsed from boredom and loss of faith in itself and in the emergency that follows, youth rebellions embrace radical new ideas of humanity. We have Dr. Hugo Rustin, who is the chief surgeon at the Imperial College Hospital and is increasingly estranged from his city and his family, from his wife Annabelle, who finds fulfillment in their changed community, and especially from his teenage daughter, Selva, who has turned against her father's values completely. When an incident at the hospital leads to Rustin's disgrace, he seeks redemption in a quixotic and dangerous journey into the countryside with Selva as his companion just as the conflict between the burghers and the yeoman is reaching a crisis. The Emergency is a novel of ideas and it's a taught page turner. It asks what we owe each other across divided generations and classes. What common human bonds will end up remaining after a society falls apart. And this is said to create a vividly imagined world and takes us deep into the heart of troubled moments in time. I am very curious about this emergency and I like books that explore disasters like this and conflicts between people and rebellions. It just sounds unique and interesting. The COVID of this one is really unique, so this one's a little bit of a wild card. This is one of those ones where I'm not sure, this could be a little bit weird, but it also could be exciting and fun. So we will see one way or another. But that is the Emergency by George Packer and it comes out on November 11th.
- [42:53]
Tina
Excellent. Yes, I was doing a little light googling when you were talking about him. He is an American journalist too, so he writes for the Atlantic and he has written quite a bit of nonfiction so that I was like, do I have the right person? And then I was like, okay, this makes sense given what the book is about.
- [43:10]
Hannah
And I like the Atlantic.
- [43:11]
Tina
So yeah. All right. I will wrap things up with my. My safe place, my fun thrillers. It's called Watch us Fall by Christina Kovac. And I wanted a copy of this one because I read her years ago. I want to say I read her debut and she is a former D.C. broadcast news producer and her debut was called the Cutaway. And that was a book that I enjoyed and I was like, I'm excited to see that she's got more coming out. This one is about Lucy and her three best friends who share a glamorous but decaying house in the heart of Georgetown. They call themselves the Sweeties. Just go with it. And live an idyllic post grad lifestyle, complete with exciting jobs, dramatic love lives, and more importantly, each other. But when Addie, the group's queen bee, discovers that her ex boyfriend Josh has gone missing, their world is turned upside down. Before he disappeared, Josh, he is a star investigative journalist from a prominent political family. He had been behaving erratically and Lucy's determined to find out why. All four friends upend their lives to search for him. But detectives on Josh's case begin to suspect that they might know more than they're letting on. And as the investigation unfolds, Lucy's obsession with the case reaches a boiling point. And with it, her own troubling secrets begin bubbling to the surface of her carefully curated life. So this is a book about lies and delusions that lurk beneath beneath cloistered groups of female friends and the sinister realities of celebrity. So I'm intrigued. I like a psychological thriller and I think the premise of this super does not match the COVID like you would not have. This looks like a thriller, but like the Sweeties, like I, I did not think we were getting something that sounds a little bit, I don't know, juvenile, given this cover. Like this. Looks like a serious cover to me. Me. But we will have to see how this goes. And this book is Watch us Fall by Christina Kovac.
- [45:06]
Hannah
Yeah, that sounds interesting. That one wasn't on my radar, so I'm glad that you brought it.
- [45:10]
Tina
Yay.
- [45:11]
Hannah
My next one is from an author that I have read before and that is the place where they buried your heart by Christina Henry. This comes out on November 4th. This is a Berkeley title and the books that I have read from Christina Henry before she writes a Lot of retellings. I read the Girl in Red, which is a Little Red Riding Hood retelling. She also has a series called Alice, which is an Alice in Wonderland retelling. I think she has a Peter Pan one about Hook. She just writes really, really interesting kind of darker retelling fiction. And that leans a little bit more on the horror side. So this one is set on an otherwise ordinary street in Chicago. And there is a house, an abandoned house, where once upon a time, terrible things have happened. The children who live on this block are told by their parents to stay away from the house. But of course, children never listen. And children think that it's fun to be scared and to dare each other to go inside. Jessie did what many older sisters do and dared her little brother, Paul. But unlike all the other kids who went inside the abandoned house, Paul never returned. His two friends, Jake and Richie, said that the house ate Paul up. Of course, the adults didn't believe that. Adults never believe what kids say. After all, they thought someone kidnapped Paul or otherwise hurt him and took him away. They thought that Paul had disappeared in a way that was ordinary and explainable. The disappearance of her little brother broke Jesse's family apart in a way that could never be repaired. And Jesse grew up, had a child of her own, and she kept living on the same street where the house that ate her brother sat crouched and waiting. Darkness seemed to spread out of the house and it was a darkness that was alive and it was still hungry. So sounds creepy. I am hit or miss if I'm honest on haunted house stories. But this has a disappearance element to it. And I don't know. I'm curious what the answers are for this already. I know that I like Christina Henry and I'm curious what she's going to do with a story like this one. And that is the place where they buried you'd Heart by Christina Henry.
- [47:26]
Tina
I am a haunted house girl, so I do like the sound of that one. I've also never. I actually have not read this author though I feel like I've had a couple of her books on my radar but have never quite gotten there. I will wrap with what I'm currently reading and I am reading a book in anticipation of our book talk, et cetera, community read chat next week week. So our book that we've chosen is Heart the Lover by Lily King. And some of our patrons were saying that you really should read Writers and Lovers by Lily King first to really get the full appreciation. And I was so sure. I was so sure that I owned that book somewhere. I can't find it. So I do have the audio though. And so that is what I've been listening to the entire time I've been working on this. I am 47% of the way through the audiobook book and I'm only four hours in, so it's quite. It's like an eight hour audiobook. So nothing too crazy, not too long. I have to be honest and say, though, I'm not loving it, it is a book that I DNF initially. I'm coming back to it. I'm trying to have an open mind, but there is a lot of medical trauma or medical talk in this one, as well as debt.
- [48:34]
Hannah
Both of those things are literally your two triggers.
- [48:36]
Tina
My two triggers. I'm like, I don't like to read about it, but she's winning me back because it's set in Boston, which I love, and it's set in a restaurant, which I also love. So I am sort of just going along for the ride and I'm hopeful that things are going to work out. I do believe I see the inklings of a love triangle happening, so I'm intrigued. But the book that I'm currently reading is Writers and Lovers by Lily King.
- [49:01]
Hannah
I am currently reading one that I have already mentioned that I was reading and then I had to pause it to read a couple other things and now I am returning back to it to finish it up. I only have about, I don't know, 50 pages or so left and that's the Bog Wife by K. Chronister and I'm really loving it. I have a feeling this is going to be at least a 4.5 read. This is an Appalachian gothic family, like eco horror. I don't know if I would say horror, but it's definitely like an ecological historical family saga. And it is told from all of these siblings perspectives. We get a little piece of each sibling and I'm really enjoying each of their POVs, which doesn't always happen when you're reading from multiple points of view. So I am really loving it and I am very excited to bring it to the show when I finish it because I think it will be a glowing review. And that is the Bog Wife by Kay Chronister.
- [50:04]
Tina
Now you told us a story at Mood Reader Happy hour, but is the Bog Wife the book you were supposed to read for your buddy read or is this the other one?
- [50:14]
Hannah
This is the book that I was supposed to be reading for my buddy read.
- [50:18]
Tina
Got you. But you initially read a different one or started a different one.
- [50:22]
Hannah
Yeah, I brought and. Sorry, I was thinking about something else and I got distracted. The book that I brought as a shelf edition was the Bog Queen by Anna north. And I do still really want to read that one. One.
- [50:33]
Tina
That's what it is. Yeah. Yes, yes, yes, they are. Yeah, we were talking about, like, okay, you know, fair amount of bogs. And I keep track of them in.
- [50:42]
Hannah
Yeah. And I technically did. I technically did finish the Bog Wife in on audio, but I did not remember the end. And I was like, you know what? I want to go back and read the last 50 pages. Yeah, that's what I'm doing.
- [50:55]
Tina
Let me see what they had to say because I don't remember.
- [50:57]
Hannah
Okay, let's see what they have to say.
- [50:59]
Tina
But fair. All right, well, that is it for today, folks. 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 give 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 patreon.com booktalk etc.
- [51:27]
Hannah
If you'd like to connect with us, you can email us@booktalk etcmail.com you can also connect with us both at BookTok Etc. On Instagram and Tinabrec and Hannah at HandpickedBooks. Talk to you next week. And in the meantime, remember, everything's better with books.
- [51:45]
Tina
So I am a psycho and I love to try and read books, books that I think are going to have a chance of being on my best of the year list. Like, I'm very, like, my best of the year list is very important to me and I feel like I have to make sure that I'm reading the 2025 releases that I think stand a chance at being on my best up.