Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club

Episode: Bring Back Partying with Brie Larson and Courtney McBroom

Date: November 11, 2025
Host: Danielle Robay
Guests: Brie Larson, Courtney McBroom

Episode Overview

This episode centers on how the act of gathering—whether at book clubs or parties—builds connection, joy, and vulnerability in our increasingly isolated world. Host Danielle Robay sits down with actress Brie Larson and chef Courtney McBroom, co-authors of the new cookbook Party People, to explore why parties matter, how anyone can be a “party person,” and why inviting people in (even imperfectly) is vital to community and self-expression. The conversation ranges from party philosophy to practical tips, personal revelations, and playful moments.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Meaning of Parties and Gathering

• Parties as Connection: Both parties and book clubs are intentional acts of bringing people together for reflection and release.
• Why the Book: Party People was written as a response to today’s loneliness and isolation; the book is an invitation to gather, connect, and celebrate in any way that feels right.
  • Courtney McBroom: “The whole reason we wrote this book is because we notice how separate the world is feeling right now…” (04:31)
• Parties, Big and Small: Not all parties are wild; they can be gentle, restorative, and intimate—even a party for one.
  • Brie Larson: “That’s why the book is organized…by casual party, fancy party, tiny party…a party that you throw just for yourself.” (07:27)

Party Archetypes & Universality

• Everyone Is a Party Person: The book lists various party guest archetypes, from “party animal” and “party pooper” to “the helper” and “the host,” making it clear there’s a place for every personality.
  • Brie Larson: “Everybody’s invited to the party…even people who think, ‘Oh, I don’t like parties.’ Guess what? You are a party person.” (07:27)
• The Vulnerability of Hosting: Hosting is about vulnerability—inviting people into your space and sharing a piece of yourself, whether that’s through food, conversation, or simply your presence.

Authenticity and Imperfection

• Letting Go of Perfection: Both guests emphasize that real parties (and recipes) are about embracing messiness and imperfection.
  • Courtney McBroom: “Us chefs can be loose and fun too.” (09:37)
• Intention Over Execution: Success is less about flawless execution and more about the memories and connections created.
  • Brie Larson: “The point of the party is to create a memory.” (10:01)

The Cookbook as Invitation & Scrapbook

• Deeper Than Recipes: Party People isn’t just a cookbook; it’s filled with essays, tips, party games, and interactive elements (like a “party person” quiz), designed to feel personal and lived-in.
  • Brie Larson: “We wanted it to feel like a scrapbook of our last 10 years of throwing parties together…now it can be yours.” (40:10)
• Inclusivity: The book is for anyone who’s ever felt not invited—it offers a sense of welcome and belonging regardless of one’s experience or confidence with hosting.
  • Danielle Robay: “When you wrote [the book’s epigraph], were you thinking of a particular experience or just touching on the universality?”
  • Courtney McBroom: “I always feel like I’m not invited…that is universal.” (18:13)

Practical Party Wisdom

• Low-Stress Food: Tips for making gatherings easier, like favoring casseroles and dishes that can be prepared in advance over labor-intensive ones like fried chicken.

  • Brie Larson: “Doing a roast or a casserole…it’s just fundamentally easier than trying to do fried chicken for five people.” (20:16)

• Cozy Book Club Party Ideas:

  • Pizza pockets, jalapeño poppers, casseroles, dips, and plenty of blankets and fuzzy socks for comfort.
  • Soft, atmospheric music and light crafts (blank bookmarks for everyone to decorate). Journals and books encouraged.
  • Drinks: Party punch (spiked or not) and hot cider for a fall vibe.
    (26:01–29:07)

• Recipe Development Vulnerabilities: The hardest part is letting go, knowing others’ ovens and environments will change results. The authors accept imperfection and encourage readers to interact with the book—spill things, make notes, and treat it as a living scrapbook.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On inclusivity:
  “This book is for anyone who’s ever felt like they weren’t invited.”
  — Danielle Robay (17:29)

• On parties as art:
  “All of it is like me making art that’s trying in different angles and in different ways to get people to congregate, gather together, question life and existence, be in communion.”
  — Brie Larson (12:42)

• On vulnerability:
  “If you’re cooking in particular, you’re giving a part of yourself to people…”
  — Courtney McBroom (17:02)

• On embracing imperfection:
  “What is all wisdom if not that?”
  — Brie Larson (20:58)

• On being a host:
  “I joke that this book is really, like, 101 ways to not have small talk at your party…”
  — Brie Larson (11:03)

• On care and creativity:
  “Care an embarrassing amount.”
  — Brie Larson (49:34)

• On literary feasts:
  “I just remember reading, like, Tropic of Cancer…he talks about butter for, like, six pages, and it opened my world.”
  — Brie Larson (56:34)

Fun, Playful Exchanges

• Matching Dishes to Songs (51:09–52:23):

  • “Ritz Crackers?” — “Putting on the Ritz.” (51:33)
  • “Vitamin C salad?” — “Isn’t there a song by Can called Vitamin C?” (51:38)
  • “Cheesy Jenga bread?” — Brie: “I was thinking, like, upside down. Boy, you turn me…” (52:02)
  • “Dueling roast chickens?” — Rocky theme (52:35)

• Party Connection Games:
  Both share creative ways hosts have fostered connection at parties and weddings—“fun fact” card games and personalized conversation starters to break the ice.
  (53:26–55:44)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [04:31] – Why Party People was written; the importance of gathering
• [06:27] – Party archetypes; everyone is a party person
• [09:07] – What parties reveal about the host
• [10:01] – Brie’s party philosophy: games over small talk
• [13:38] – The need for gathering in a lonely world
• [17:29] – Vulnerability in cooking and hosting
• [18:13] – Book’s epigraph about feeling uninvited
• [20:14] – Practical party and recipe tips
• [26:01] – Dream book club party setup
• [34:59] – Hosting as empowerment, not obligation
• [36:05] – Writing the cookbook: voice note process
• [39:28] – Cookbooks as memoir and interactive invitation
• [40:52] – “Bookmarked this week” segment (Ritz Cracker as “America’s croissant”)
• [47:00] – On vulnerability, risk, and caring “an embarrassing amount”
• [51:09] – Playlist game: matching foods to music
• [53:26] – Most connected moments at parties
• [56:21] – Rapid-fire literary questions (Speed Read Game)
• [58:12] – Final thoughts on community and belonging

Recap & Takeaways

• Parties and gatherings (in any form) allow us to celebrate, connect, and be vulnerable—crucial acts in a disconnected time.
• Hosting doesn’t require perfection; the best memories come from authenticity and letting people in, messes and all.
• Party People is more than a cookbook—it’s a scrapbook, life manual, and invitation to anyone who’s ever felt left out.
• True connection flourishes in shared, intentional spaces—over food, games, and meaningful conversation.
• Brie Larson and Courtney McBroom model creative collaboration, open-hearted storytelling, and how to “care an embarrassing amount”—both in parties and on the page.

End of Summary