New Book, New Faction: Veronica Roth Revives the Divergent Universe

Summary

Podcast Summary: "New Book, New Faction: Veronica Roth Revives the Divergent Universe"

Bookmarked by Reese’s Book Club
Host: Danielle Robay
Guest: Veronica Roth
Release Date: April 21, 2026

---

Episode Overview

This episode of Bookmarked celebrates a major literary event: the return of Veronica Roth to the Divergent universe with her forthcoming novel, The Six Faction. Host Danielle Robay sits down with Roth for an in-depth conversation about why she chose to revisit her iconic world, the creative and personal journeys involved, the changing landscape of YA dystopia, and what fans old and new can expect from this reimagined story.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Revisiting Divergent & The Concept of "The Six Faction"

• Premise of the New Book (03:13-03:40):
  The Six Faction is an alternate universe retelling: What if Tris never left home, never jumped, and never joined Dauntless? Instead, this version explores Tris choosing a different faction and challenges the notion of rebellion as the only valid narrative.
• Veronica describes it as both "a personal quest to love Divergent again" and a generative way to heal her relationship with the original trilogy (06:15-07:51).

2. Growing with the Trilogy

• Roth reflects on maturing alongside her audience, noting major personal milestones since Divergent debuted when she was just 22 (05:03-05:26).
• Writing the original as a college senior in forty days—Roth clarifies her university's long winter break (09:13-09:35).

3. Processing Fame and Negativity (06:15-07:51, 25:00-26:26)

• Roth discusses anxieties tied to Divergent's popularity—handling criticism, internalizing negativity, and the importance of therapy in reclaiming pride in her work.
  • “If I hate the series too, then it can’t hurt me that you hate it.” (06:37)
• She describes feeling relief at being able to rewrite and mend her relationship with her famous creation (07:43).

4. The Alternate Universe & Its Resonance

• Exploring the possibility of Tris staying home offers both a new creative challenge and a generational shift.
• “She is… discovering the ways that authorities in her life have failed her and continue to fail her. And I think that just feels like exactly the moment that we're in right now.” (02:34, 12:48)
• Unlike most dystopias that begin with rebellion, The Six Faction asks: What if you stayed, and what does bravery look like when expressed through loyalty and remaining with your family? (11:44-12:14)

5. YA Dystopia as Social Critique (13:20-14:33)

• Roth claims dystopian fiction inevitably reflects its era, but Divergent is "more like a fun thought experiment than an actual social critique."
• “It's not a mirror. It's not reflective. Yeah. It's more like it's an adventure.” (14:33)

6. Authorial Growth & Craft

• Roth talks about improvements in world-building and learning from hard questions—like “how does plumbing work”—courtesy of film director Neil Burger (19:35-20:49).
• Better writing comes from “read[ing] very thoughtfully” and “practice.” (18:48)
• “You just keep it about the people, I guess, is the big piece of advice.” (33:39)

7. Writing Advice for Young Authors (33:39-34:30)

• Focus on play, experimentation, and having fun—don’t rush to finish books at a young age.
• “This world is already hard enough. You should teach yourself to have fun with writing. Because when hard things happen as a writer … what carries you through is a love of the work that you're doing.” (33:58-34:30)

8. Fan Reactions, Theories, and Cultural Impact

• Roth reflects warmly on ongoing fan engagement (16:39-17:02), odd fan theories (27:51), and the enduring, sometimes complicated, relationship with the series’ legacy (17:27-18:00).
• She supports fanfiction as a way for readers to creatively inhabit Divergent’s world (28:11-28:55).

9. Genre & Writer Identity

• Roth’s journey from feeling pressured to write literary fiction towards embracing her natural, “pared down and straightforward” style aligned with genre fiction (29:41-31:13).
• “Divergent was the first time I really let myself be the writer I actually was instead of the one I thought I was supposed to be.” (29:41)

10. Light-Hearted Moments: Collaborative Worldbuilding (44:28-48:40)

• Danielle and Veronica co-create a mock-dystopia run by hot-tubbing zealots, poking fun at the tropes and mechanics of world-building.
• “No peeing in the hot tub. It's really important. Self monitoring behavior.” (45:42-45:49)
• The scene showcases Roth’s process for constructing worlds and the importance (and humor) in systems design.

---

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “I have always hesitated to talk about the bad because I don't want to sound ungrateful … But there is a kind of dark side to it.” — Veronica Roth (06:15)
• “I wanted to heal my relationship with it. … The best way to do that is to make something generative.” — Veronica Roth (07:27)
• “Alternate Universe is so much fun because it introduces things that you're familiar with back to you in different contexts … it feels like discovering a bunch of Easter eggs.” — Veronica Roth (10:57)
• “You want something good and interesting to come out of it. … What do you feel that you didn't get the first time that you want to do this time?” — Veronica Roth on hypothetical film reboots (29:03)
• “Writing should be fun. … It should be experimental. … This world is already hard enough. … You should teach yourself to have fun with writing.” — Veronica Roth (33:58-34:30)

---

Key Timestamps

| Timestamp | Topic | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:34 | What drew Roth to rewrite Divergent for a new generation | | 05:00 | Roth reflects on her growth and changes since publishing Divergent | | 06:15 | How handling Divergent’s legacy was a personal and creative healing process | | 08:07 | The Vermont vacation that inspired her to return to Divergent | | 09:13 | Correcting misconceptions about writing speed and age | | 12:48 | How this new Tris reflects current generational struggles | | 14:33 | Distinction between adventure and direct social critique in Divergent | | 18:48 | Improving world-building and writing through thoughtful reading and repetition | | 20:21 | The “how does plumbing work?” question that shaped her world-building process | | 25:00 | Processing fame, “phenomenon” status, and the Midwest approach to recognition | | 27:51 | Craziest fan theories about Tris’s fate | | 29:41 | Embracing her authentic writer’s voice in Divergent | | 33:31 | Writing craft: keeping stories “about the people” | | 33:45 | Advice to young writers: focus on play and process, not just finishing | | 40:02 | Roth’s obsession with procedural dramas and hint at a possible future genre crossover | | 42:53 | Writing older characters and the increasing nuance of adult figures in the new novel | | 44:28-48:40 | Collaborative, humorous, on-the-fly dystopian world building exercise | | 47:54 | Roth prefers hopeful endings after having “done her dark endings” |

---

Takeaways for Listeners

• The Six Faction is both a gift to long-time fans and an accessible entry point for new readers, offering a familiar narrative with significant, modern differences.
• Roth’s journey as a writer is as much about internal acceptance and growth as about literary success.
• The episode is rich in candid discussion, practical writing advice, and creative play, providing both inspiration and reassurance for aspiring writers and fans of YA fiction.

---

In short:
This episode deep-dives into Veronica Roth’s personal and creative revival of Divergent, explores the emotional and generational context of the new novel, and offers wisdom for writers and readers about change, healing, and the enduring value of stories that help us find ourselves when the world—and the authorities meant to guide us—let us down.

Transcript

[Danielle Robay]

This is an iHeart podcast guaranteed human

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

the Autograph Journey credit card from Wells Fargo is built for travel. You can earn rewards wherever you book your favorite hotel site your go to airline and more. You get five times points with hotels, four times with airlines, three times on restaurants and other travel, and one point on other purchases. Whether it's a big vacation or a quick getaway from booking your stay to that first meal when you arrive, you you're turning your trips into rewards with the Autograph Journey card from Wells Fargo. Learn more at Wells Fargo.com autographjourney Terms apply right now I'm super excited for my upcoming trip to Atlanta. I'm taking my mom to celebrate her birthday. She's never been and I'm going to take her to eat all the best food, see the best jazz music and I'm going to have to sneak in a museum or two. If you're planning any upcoming trips, you could be hosting your home on Airbnb. And now with the co host network, you could hire a local co host to handle everything like managing reservations, guest communication and even styling your space. Find a co [e-mail] host Allergy season does not slow down when you are on the move. That's why Kleenex Ultra Soft tissues are ready whenever sneezes strike. Kleenex Ultra Soft tissues are allergist approved and silky soft for up to 100% irritation free skin. And now with the new Kleenex Snap and Go, you can get that same gentle care made for life on the go. Get the Kleenex Ultra Soft tissues you love in a new compact durable package. New Kleenex Snap and Go snaps shut for a clean tissue anytime, anywhere. For whatever happens next, grab Kleenex Snap and Go. A new car is kind of like a new book. It takes you places you never thought you could go. What will you drive into the next chapter of your life? It's fun to dream about your next car. But when you're done dreaming, you need to head to cars.com Cars.com has the tools and expert advice to help you find your dream car. Their advanced search filters allow you to explore 2 million new and used cars so that you can find the perfect car. Start your search with cars.com where to next bookmarked by Reese's Book Club is presented by Apple Books. Hi, I'm Danielle Robaix and welcome to Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club. Today I'm bringing you the hottest piece of news from bookcon. Are you ready? Okay. Drumroll Please. Divergent is back.

[Veronica Roth]

It's kind of like a tryst for a new generation. She is, throughout the course of the new novel, discovering the ways that authorities in her life have failed her and continue to fail her. And I think that just feels like. I don't know. That feels like exactly the moment that we're in right now.

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

Know. So if you need a little refresher or you're discovering it for the first time, here's the world Veronica built. Divergent is a YA dystopia set in a future Chicago where society is divided into factions based on personality traits. But the main character, Tris, doesn't really fit neatly into one box.

[Danielle Robay]

And so her story begins.

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

If you remember, Divergent sold more than 35 million copies worldwide. It was a phenomenon since it came out 15 years ago. And now its author, Veronica Roth, is ready to revisit the trilogy in this alternate universe. Retelling it's called the Six Faction. And it asks this question. What if Tris never actually left home, never took the jump, and never joined Dauntless in the first place? And if we zoom out a little, just like all great dystopian novels and the Six Faction asks a question that feels ripped from right now. What happens when the authorities in your life fail you and you have to figure out who you are without them? It's Tris as you've never seen her in a world that feels very familiar. So if you've ever had to find yourself on the other side of a system that let you down, or if you've ever looked around and thought, who actually has the answers here, you're in the right place. Let's turn the Page with Veronica Roth.

[Danielle Robay]

Veronica, welcome to the club.

[Veronica Roth]

Yeah, thanks for having me.

[Danielle Robay]

I'm so happy to have you here. It is so cool to talk to the author of a phenomenon.

[Veronica Roth]

Well, aw, shucks.

[Danielle Robay]

It has been 15 years since the last Divergent novel was in the hands of teenagers across the country. And I feel like your audience has grown up with you, but I can imagine that you've grown a lot over the last 15 years. So my first question for you is, how are you? What's going on? What's been happening the last 15 years?

[Veronica Roth]

I've just been writing books for the last 15 years. I feel like this is news to people every time I say it. But, yeah, there's been, I think, 12, 13 books altogether. So, you know, I've been busy.

[Danielle Robay]

So almost a book a year.

[Veronica Roth]

Yeah, about.

[Danielle Robay]

And personally, has a lot changed for you? Cause, like, you Grew up. Did you get married?

[Veronica Roth]

Yeah. So before Divergent came out, I was still in college and, you know, had no money and no job and not married. And then, you know, after the series was finished, I was married and stable and had a job. Yeah. So it really was like the transitional moment of my young adulthood, I would say.

[Danielle Robay]

Well, you rocked bookcon with a huge announcement. Divergent is coming back, so you got to give me the deets on the new book.

[Veronica Roth]

So the Six faction is an alternate universe, sort of a retelling, but not really. It's an alternate universe story of Divergent in which Triss makes a different choice of faction. So that's its basic premise.

[Danielle Robay]

How did it feel to make the announcement and put it out into the world?

[Veronica Roth]

I mean, it felt like a relief. I have been working on this for a few years now, so. And it just feels like a really big secret that I've been carrying around. And it's nice to have it finally out in the open so I can talk about what this project has meant to me and, you know, just share it with people, finally.

[Danielle Robay]

Why did you feel like now was the time, all these years later to return to the original character?

[Veronica Roth]

It's a kind of complicated answer to this question, so bear with me. But Divergent did a whole lot in my life, and being honest about it means talking about the good and the bad, Right? But I have always hesitated to talk about the bad because I don't want to sound ungrateful for the tremendous things that it did for me and the opportunities that it gave me. But there is a kind of dark side to it, which is that because I'm an anxious person, I kind of process negativity better than positivity a lot of the time. And the series itself, not just the ending, but the whole series, attracted a lot of negativity because it was so popular, which is great. But I kind of held that in for a long time, and. And I think in order to protect myself from the negativity, I started to agree with it. Because if I hate the series, too, then it can't hurt me that you hate it. Right. Not you, but the general you. And it was only recently, you know, after a lot of therapy, that I realized that I don't need to do that, that I can love the work that I made, even if it's imperfect. And I wanted to heal my relationship with it. And for me, as a creative person, the best way to do that is to make something generative, make it new. And I was searching for ways to kind of mend the way that I feel about Divergent, since it's not going anywhere, which is great. And that's where this project came from. It was just like a personal quest to love Divergent again. And I think it worked, actually, because writing it was like a way of appreciating what I did really well the first time around and acknowledging how much I've grown. Wow.

[Danielle Robay]

First of all, thanks for sharing all of that, because that's not easy, and it's very personal. I can tell the way you're describing it if you're willing to share the moment that you decided you were gonna go down this road, because I can imagine you've been playing with the idea for a while.

[Veronica Roth]

Yes. So I went on vacation with my family in Vermont. It was like a family reunion, kind of. And while I was there, I just. I'd been feeling like it's time to kind of reread or rediscover the books. And I started with Four, which is the collection of short stories told from Tobias perspective. That's kind of the fourth book in the series a little bit, and I just listened to it.

[Danielle Robay]

Why'd you start with Four?

[Veronica Roth]

Because I think it felt a little more distant. I wrote it last, so it was kind of. It was like my most mature Divergent self wrote those stories. And I thought, you know, he's a little less, like, attached to me, you know, she. Tris. I mean, is really close to my heart. So I think I wanted to start at a distance a little bit. And I listened to it while I was walking back and forth between the Airbnb, where I was staying and where my mother was staying with her brothers and sisters. So I think I was really worried, like, am I gonna listen to this and feel embarrassed? Because it's the work that I did when I was really young, and I didn't. And I think that started my thought, like, maybe I could go back to this world. Maybe it would be fun to reunite with these characters again.

[Danielle Robay]

I also feel like it's really important to share with everyone listening, if they're not familiar that you wrote this, the original book, on winter break while you were in college. Winter break is, like, two weeks long.

[Veronica Roth]

No, no, ours is 40 days, because we're on, like, a quarter system. So it was five weeks. It was longer than two weeks. I just want to be clear about that.

[Danielle Robay]

So you were a senior in college, which made you, what, 21 or 22 years old? 22, yeah, 22. You wrote this in 40 days or so.

[Veronica Roth]

Well, I wrote a much shorter version of it in 40 days, so it was. I'm not trying to say that it wasn't like a lot of writing for that time, but I think that when you look at how chunky this book is, it's like, how is that possible? But it was a kind of half as long version of this when I was 22 years old.

[Danielle Robay]

I think it's important because the way you're talking about it is like you were saying, was I gonna be embarrassed going back to it? And when you originally wrote the book, you were just a few years older than the characters you were writing about. And now 15 years later, you're like, I don't know the definition of a generation, but you're kind of like a generation ahead of of them now. So it just. I do think you looked at everything with different eyes.

[Veronica Roth]

Yeah. And I think any work that you do when you're 22 years old, you're going to look back at and be like, oh, God. Okay. I think that's just natural. But when it's the thing that you're the most well known for, it becomes a little complicated. Yeah.

[Danielle Robay]

I can imagine that we're getting this sort of alternate reality version of the story with Tris all over again.

[Veronica Roth]

Yep.

[Danielle Robay]

So what do you think OG readers can expect to get out of the retelling?

[Veronica Roth]

I think Alternate Universe is so much fun because it introduces things that you're familiar with back to you in different contexts. So I think it feels like discovering a bunch of Easter eggs a little bit like, oh, man, is she gonna find a way to incorporate this? Or how will this significant event in the original change because of these choices? So I think it's a little bit like a word search or a crossword puzzle. In addition to being hopefully entertaining and meaningful in the way that every book is, I think it will be a lot of fun for people to read. It was fun for me to write.

[Danielle Robay]

If it was fun to write, it'll be fun to read.

[Veronica Roth]

That's the hope, anyway. Yeah.

[Danielle Robay]

Well, I think most dystopian stories start with a rebel, and yours is asking the opposite. You're asking, what if the protagonist never chose to leave and just stayed home?

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

It's kind of like the anti hero hero journey.

[Veronica Roth]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

What about that?

[Danielle Robay]

What if was so interesting to you?

[Veronica Roth]

Well, when I first proposed it, my agent, who's the only one I would talk to about it for a long time because it was so top secret feeling. And then it was top secret for a while, but she was like, well, how could she choose Abnegation? How will that be interesting? And I was like, oh, just wait. So I think it felt like a new challenge to make this choice. That felt really boring to me originally. You know, when I originally chose for Triss to choose Dauntless, it was like, well, that's the only way that the story can work. And I've said that in quite a few interviews over the last 15 years. Like, the story does not go if she doesn't choose this faction and to walk that back and try and find something interesting in the midst of it, it felt like rediscovering her and who she could be without this defining character. And it's kind of like a tryst for a new generation too, because the struggles of teenagers now are a lot different from when I was a teenager.

[Danielle Robay]

Can you say more about that?

[Veronica Roth]

Yeah, I think I've really connected in the past few years with YA novels that explore kind of loss of innocence or faith in the systems that are supposed to support them. And I think this is an example of that. She is, throughout the course of the new novel, discovering the ways that authorities in her life have failed her and continue to fail her. And I think that just feels like, I don't know, that feels like exactly the moment that we're in right now.

[Danielle Robay]

I always think that dystopian stories reflect where we are in culture.

[Veronica Roth]

Yes. Yeah. Especially like the classic 1984 was supposed to be a critique of, you know, what was going on at the time. And of course now it feels predictive and it feels so scary relevant. But in the moment, it's just supposed to be a social critique of like, what's happening around him at the time that he's writing. So I think since our most famous examples of dystopian fiction that has been, you know, they're just like an exaggeration of what's going on now.

[Danielle Robay]

Do you consider this new novel a social critique?

[Veronica Roth]

I think it's unavoidable to do social critique, especially in dystopian fiction, because you're looking at, you know, what's around you now and trying to exaggerate it or shine a light on it in a new way. But I will say that Divergent, of all the YA dystopias, feels most like fantasy to me. It's not, you know, we're not like on the verge of dividing into five virtue based factions. That feels like more like a fun thought experiment than an actual social critique. So while there's room for that in the story as there is in any story. I wouldn't say that it's like primarily a social critique. No.

[Danielle Robay]

Yeah. It's not a mirror. It's not reflective.

[Veronica Roth]

Yeah, it's more like it's an adventure.

[Danielle Robay]

Was Tris, in the original reflective of you at all?

[Veronica Roth]

I don't think so. I think Tris did what I could never have imagined doing. You know, I was. I'm not. I'm a very reserved person. I'm not a particularly brave person. I have a lot of anxiety, you know, and I am always trying to be considerate of the people around me, even when I'm not able to do so. So I think all those qualities, they're not Tris qualities. She's like a little bit of a dream self. What if I could do all these things that I'm afraid of? And I think writing about her doing things made me feel almost like I was preparing myself to do them, which was fun.

[Danielle Robay]

How did you share her bravery, which is such a defining characteristic for her in this new novel when she's staying at home? And I say that in a very sort of just like colloquial, simplified way.

[Veronica Roth]

She's still brave, she still cares about what's right. And I think focusing on that quality, that commitment to finding some kind of righteous path forward, even if it's difficult, is a quality that she carries over. So that makes her brave even when she's not choosing Dauntless.

[Danielle Robay]

Does her choice to stay at home relate to you more than it did when you were 22 and wrote this originally?

[Veronica Roth]

Yeah, I think this feeling of loyalty to family is really what it's about in that moment. Like, she doesn't want to. She doesn't want to avoid difficult things. She just feels that in that moment, her priority is with family. And I think I relate to that. You know, as someone whose parents are getting older, it feels more important than ever to connect with them and make sure that you make the most of the time you have left. So I think that part of it felt really relevant to where I'm at now. Although it was hard to get back into a 16 year old headspace, I will tell you.

[Danielle Robay]

I can imagine. But I think also the fans of the book originally are now in their 30s, so it'll find a new set of fans. And also I think these 30 something year olds will be really excited to connect with a new version of her.

[Veronica Roth]

Yes. And then I will also note that there are still people finding these books and I know that because they'll send me direct Messages on Instagram or wherever. They'll be like, I'm in the middle of a legion. I love this series. And I'll be like, oh, no. Good luck.

[Danielle Robay]

Well, actually, how do you feel when people write you if you had such a fraught relationship with the series for so long?

[Veronica Roth]

Well, the part of me that has a fraught relationship with it is it's not about the readers and it never has been. They've always been wonderful, even when they're yelling at me. I love that anyone connects to my work and that they continue to connect with it is kind of like a miracle. So I'm always happy when people reach out. My complex feelings are more about, like, you know, creative work and, and trying to grow and all that stuff. So it's separate from them.

[Danielle Robay]

So it wasn't about the stories, it was about you wanting to do something else?

[Veronica Roth]

No, I think it's more about wanting to know that you can grow as a creative person and people will let you. So when people keep referring to the work that you started your career with, I think it's natural to feel a little complicated about that because you're like, okay, but I'm still working and I would love the freedom to do the things that I'm excited about now and not just have to stick with what I did when I was 22 for the rest of my life. So I think that's the complicated part that's a little hard to explain to people.

[Danielle Robay]

I get that.

[Veronica Roth]

Yeah. And there's just things that I wish I'd done better in the original, obviously, because it's a 15 year old work. So if I wasn't realizing what I would have done differently then I'm not growing.

[Danielle Robay]

Did you make those corrections, so to speak, in this new version?

[Veronica Roth]

I did, yeah. And that was kind of a relief to do. It's like popping a pimple or something. It was like, yes, I can finally just make this sturdier. I feel like the world building for me, what I most wanted to correct was just to make everything feel like a better built structure. So maybe readers will care about it and maybe they won't. But for me, it was a relief.

[Danielle Robay]

How do you feel like you got better at world building over the last 15 years? Is it like, did you take classes? Did you read other people's work? How did that happen?

[Veronica Roth]

Yeah, well, to get better at writing, there's two things you need to do. And one is read books. And not just read them because you can kind of passively absorb something without learning from it. But to read it really thoughtfully and to look at how it's constructed and to make note of the things that you admire. And the other thing is just to practice. So the more stories you write, the better you'll get at the art of writing. So I think just through repetition, I've gotten better, and I know what kind of questions to ask myself. And I've observed more about the world around us, so it's easier to, like, extrapolate from there. And, you know, time is a useful teacher.

[Danielle Robay]

Are there any questions that you could share that you specifically ask yourself when you write? I think that would be so helpful to hear.

[Veronica Roth]

This is gonna sound silly, but I promise it's bigger than it sounds. But when Neil Berger, the director of the first Divergent movie, was trying to plan, he called me and he asked me how the plumbing works. And I was like, neil, I don't know. I actually don't know how the plumbing works in this city. Like, who's doing it? Where is it? Who's running the water filtration center? Anyway? So there's a little bit of a nod to that. In the six faction, there is an answer to that question, Neil, if you're listening. And I think it's. That's a kind of bigger question. So it's more about, like, who are the people who are doing the thankless work in this world? And, you know, how do we. How do we explore that and at least have an answer to those questions about, like, how the clock ticks, basically. So I'm glad he asked me that question.

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

I would have never thought of that.

[Veronica Roth]

I know. And I was like, what about currency, Neil, Stop asking me things. Still don't. Definitely.

[Danielle Robay]

Don't ask me about money.

[Veronica Roth]

Yeah. Like, I didn't build. I. You just. There's so many systems that make the world run. And I think now that I'm older, I just have encountered more of them. You know, when I wrote this original book, I hadn't paid taxes, so.

[Danielle Robay]

Or.

[Veronica Roth]

Or rent, like, because I was living in a dorm. So it's just, you know, it was a growing.

[Danielle Robay]

You probably had a debit card.

[Veronica Roth]

I did. I had a debit card with all of $100 on it at any given time, which actually was. You know, that can go a long way in college.

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

Right now. I'm super excited for my upcoming trip to Atlanta. I'm taking my mom to celebrate her birthday. She's never been. And I'm gonna take her to eat all the best food, see the best jazz music, and I'm gonna have to sneak in a museum or two. Trips like that are truly unforgettable. And what makes it even better is staying at a place on Airbnb. Now if you're planning any upcoming trips, you could be hosting your home on Airbnb. And with Airbnb co host network, you could hire a local co host to handle everything like creating your listing, managing reservations, guest communication on site support, and even styling your space. So while you're making your own memories, your home can be helping another family make theirs and earning you extra cash. Find a co [e-mail] host when you're planning a trip, it helps to have a credit card that rewards you no matter where you like to book. That's the Autograph Journey credit card from Wells Fargo. What makes a difference is how flexible it is. You can earn rewards where you like to book travel. If you like going straight to the airline or hunting down a deal on a hotel site, this card is designed to keep rewarding you. Here's how the points stack up. You get five times points with hotels, four times with airlines, three times on restaurants and other travel, and one point on other purchases. So picture booking that hotel in the neighborhood you've always wanted to stay in, that's earning points. Grabbing flights for a last minute getaway, that's earning sitting down for that first dinner when you land, still earning. Even the everyday stuff between trips can help toward your next journey. The autographed Journey card from Wells Fargo helps turn the way you already travel, eat and explore into rewards. Learn more@wells fargo.com autographjourney terms apply. Apple Books is the best place to read, listen to or discover the books you love without a subscription right on your iPhone. And now there's a very exciting heads up for listeners. Apple Books is the official audiobook and ebook home for Reese's Book Club, so it's easier than ever to explore each monthly book pick, plus author curated collections and more all in one place. Open the Apple Books app to explore a world of books and audiobooks. You can set goals and track your reading progress. Get great recommendations for your next read or listen and enjoy it all on the go wherever you are. You can even share your books with up to five family members at no cost. Again, no subscription required. Visit Apple Co reeseapplebooks to find out more. That's Apple co reeseapplebooks and read or listen to Reese's current Pick and browse past selections today on Apple Books. Today's episode is brought to you by Cotton. We spend a lot of time with stories, hours curled up with dynamic plots and with characters who feel like friends. What if the story isn't just in your hands, but also in the world around you, in the fabric that's holding you close? Cotton is that timeless companion. Soft sheets for lazy weekend mornings with a book. Breezy dresses for afternoons spent reading in the backyard. It's the fabric that can be tossed in the wash without fuss. It's about ease, comfort, and caring for yourself and the planet. Just like the books we cherish, cotton weaves meaning into our everyday moments. Moments like following four adult daughters as they navigate love, loss, and the legacy in the Most Fun We Ever had by Claire Lombardo, all while curled up in soft cotton joggers. Or sinking into the island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak. A story that spans generations. Forbidden love and a fig tree that remembers everything. Wrapped in a hand stitched quilt, each thread holding its own kind of memory. Next time you settle in for a chapter, slip into something cotton. Not just to read the story, but to feel it. Cotton, the fabric of our lives. Learn [e-mail]

[Danielle Robay]

okay, I have a question about the phenomenon of it all. Because when we opened our conversation and I called it a phenomenon, you winced.

[Veronica Roth]

I mean, I think this is the Midwest jumping out, right? I'm just like, oh God, I so get it.

[Danielle Robay]

We have a built in humility.

[Veronica Roth]

Yeah. I think it's kind of encouraged culturally to be like a salt of the earth kind of person. And so when people describe your work as a phenomenon, imagine if I was like, yeah, it really is, isn't it? Like that would feel. It would feel inauthentic, let's put it that way.

[Danielle Robay]

Well, I want to ask about it only because you had sort of this meteoric rise. And not only is that rare in general, it's rare for authors. I'm so curious to hear what you felt unprepared for.

[Veronica Roth]

I think just the sheer amount of eyes was shocking. I just, I don't like to be perceived, you know, I'm an author, so I volunteered to spend years at a time alone in a room with my own thoughts. That's what writing books is, you know. So to ask someone with that personality to go to a movie premiere is like a really. That's a big ask. And I tried to rise to the occasion and I think I did a pretty good job. But I. It was just like, it was a lot. And I was unmedicated at that time, so I have rectified that since then,

[Danielle Robay]

did you have, like, I cannot believe this is my life. Like a moment where you felt that way?

[Veronica Roth]

Yeah, I had. I mean, I had so many of those moments, but I think the most memorable one is probably stepping on set for the first time because. I don't know, I had never. You know, I never thought I would see a movie set and for it to be. It was in Chicago. So we just kind of drove there, me and. And it felt like walking into my own brain in the weirdest way possible. Because some parts of the Divergent movie are very different from what I thought they would look like. But a lot of them are very similar, especially the fighting arenas. The whole Dauntless compound is very similar. So that's where I went the first day. And it was unreal. It was. I mean, I also had, like, panic bladder. I was like, oh, no, where do I go in this warehouse?

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

I cannot imagine what that was like

[Danielle Robay]

to see step onto a set.

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

And you had imagined all of this in your brain.

[Veronica Roth]

Yeah. And they were. The Chicago Teamsters Union was hard on me occasionally. They were like, why did you do this? Yeah, only in a fun way. But they had to reconstruct an L train car from scratch.

[Danielle Robay]

Speaking of revisiting your work, you did something very few stories do. You killed your main character in a first person death scene. What was the craziest fan theory that you saw come out of the trilogy?

[Veronica Roth]

I think the craziest one is that Triss was pregnant when she was killed. And I'm like, that's just so dark. For no reason. It's already dark. We don't need to make it darker. Yeah, but there's also the, like, oh, was it all a dream? You know, it's all a simulation. That fan theory is pretty funny, too.

[Danielle Robay]

I read that one.

[Veronica Roth]

I mean, people should write all the fanfic. I support it.

[Danielle Robay]

You're into it. Yeah. Do you read through all of it?

[Veronica Roth]

No, I think it's really not. It's not my space. Like, it's not for me, but I love that it's happening. I feel like it's very similar to what I ended up doing with the Six Faction. It's just like, people like to take the framework that exists and play with it. And that's the wonderful thing about fanfiction is that you get to use someone else's sandbox. So there's some things that are already developed so you don't have to do every piece of work with world building, but you get to make the characters more flexible and Adjust the world building. And I've seen. I don't know, I've seen some really amazing stuff come out of fanfiction, so it's great, too.

[Danielle Robay]

If a producer called tomorrow and said they wanted to reboot the film series of Divergent, what would you say?

[Veronica Roth]

I don't know. I mean, I think movie adaptations, even when they're not faithful to the source material, are good for authors. So at a strictly practical business level, it gives you a reach that you will never get without it. So it's really hard to say no to it. And I have experienced that firsthand, so I don't think I would say no. But you want something good and interesting to come out of it. I think I'd want them to have a new take. You know, what. What do you feel that you didn't get the first time that you want to do this time?

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

I love this quote that I read

[Danielle Robay]

from you in an interview with Slate. Divergent was the first time I really let myself be the writer I actually was instead of the one I thought I was supposed to be.

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

Who did you think you were supposed to be?

[Veronica Roth]

Well, I came from the creative writing program at Northwestern University, which is a very prestigious writing program that I'm super grateful to have been accepted into. And it taught me so much. But what it trains you to do is to be an author or a writer of literary fiction, which is. I mean, I still read literary fiction and I love it, but it was just not what I was interested in writing because I'm such a committed science fiction and fantasy reader and writer. And so I think I felt like, I don't know, I had to write something, I don't know, more lyrical, more poetic. And my actual style is pretty pared down and straightforward. It's grown since then. But, you know, if you read Divergent, you'll see it at its peak form. It's just like really spare writing. And so I think I just. When I wrote Divergent, I kind of freed myself to have that kind of voice and to like, you know, all the quote, unquote, silly genre things that I liked. I've since gone back to Northwestern to talk to my professors, and I think it's become more flexible in the years since I attended. So that's really exciting. I mean, there's ways to do genre fiction that are still very literary, so. So I'm glad that students in the program now are exploring that a little more. But when I was there, I felt. I think a lot of it was self imposed, like, oh, in Order to be serious. I can't write about these things.

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

How would you describe yourself as a writer today?

[Veronica Roth]

I think I'm a thoughtful writer. I'm very, very concerned with the emotional inner lives of my characters. I think I'm an emotional writer too. The world building is great. I love it. I love, like, engaging the puzzle solving part of my brain, which I think is what is active when you're building a world. It's like, okay, how do all these pieces fit together and how do I answer all of these questions and make this feel like it a machine that works? So I like that. But I think for me, it will always be in service to the emotional lives of the characters and, you know, what they're doing moving forward.

[Danielle Robay]

I have a question about the puzzle piece. So I've heard you describe your writing as pared down and straightforward. And I think dystopia is such a huge genre. Like, how do you write small inside of a big world?

[Veronica Roth]

I think you have to focus on the intimacy between the characters. So I think this is done with mixed success in the Divergent series. In some ways, it got way too big for me. And because I think when I was writing it, it had changed so much about my life that I felt like the story needed to take up as much space as possible because it took up so much space for me. And that's why in the last book, it's so much world building and such big moments and big character beats and, you know, just as big as possible in some ways. But what actually works about Allegiance still is the Tobias Evelyn storyline. So that's an intimate mother son growth arc, like, the way that they deal with each other. I feel still emotional about it when I reread it. And so I look back at that and think, like, oh, if only you had understood that keeping things small is a way of making them feel big. And you see that with, like, the Pit, right? Like, the Pit takes place over the TV show. In case anyone is confused about the Pit at this point. TV show takes place over 15 hours. So that's a really small story. Like, it's. But because you care so much about everybody involved in it, like, you don't need, you know, big, huge swells of music and, like, heroic character death in order to. For the story to feel important. So I think I've learned that over the last 15 years.

[Danielle Robay]

It just seems like it'd be particularly hard to do in the genre that you write. It's really amazing.

[Veronica Roth]

Well, thanks. Yeah, yeah. I mean, you just keep it Keep it about the people, I guess, is the big piece of advice.

[Danielle Robay]

Can I ask you what other advice you would share with young writers who are looking to find their voice?

[Veronica Roth]

Well, I think for young writers specifically, they put a lot of pressure on themselves to finish. And I don't know. My main piece of advice is to focus on school. Sorry.

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

Okay, Mom.

[Veronica Roth]

No, I mean, writing should be fun. It should be a release. It should be playful. It should be experimental. And that's, like, what's going to carry you through the rest of your life. It's not getting a book done. If you want to do that, then great. But I just don't think young people should be putting all this pressure on themselves. This world is already hard enough. You should teach yourself to have fun with writing. Because when hard things happen as a writer, and they happen to us all, eventually, what carries you through is a love of the work that you're doing. So if you can learn that early, then you'll be set.

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

Do you think that there's a way

[Danielle Robay]

to tell that you've found your voice? Does something click

[Veronica Roth]

for me in the writing program at Northwestern, I had to do nonfiction because everyone does poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. I got a piece back that was a nonfiction piece, and my teacher circled a paragraph in it, and she was like, this is the good writing in the piece. Just pretty straightforward. I mean, it was kind of a devastating thing to see, but she was right. And it was more like the divergent voice. It was just very, like, very crisp and clear. And I started to focus on clarity at that point, because clarity is hard.

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

Really hard.

[Veronica Roth]

Yes. So I think people underestimate that in writing, but I think that kind of moment, like, aha, she's right. This is the best writing. And what if I could do that more? So I hope. I don't know how it works for other people. Maybe they have those little aha moments themselves, but that's how it worked for me.

[Danielle Robay]

That's cool to hear, because I love to write, and I think there's probably a lot of listeners who love to write, and it's really hard to think about getting better without a program. So I love hearing that.

[Veronica Roth]

No, you don't. You don't need school to become better at writing. You heard it here first. One of my best writer friends is Courtney Summers, and she did not. I think she got her ged maybe. I don't know if she finished high school. She's an amazing writer. She's just a student of the written word.

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

Right now. I'm super excited for my upcoming trip to Atlanta. I'm taking my mom to celebrate her birthday. She's never been and I'm gonna take her to eat all the best food, see the best jazz music, and I'm gonna have to sneak in a museum or two. Trips like that are truly unforgettable and what makes it even better is staying at a place on Airbnb. It's now if you're planning any upcoming trips, you could be hosting your home on Airbnb. And with Airbnb co host network you could hire a local co host to handle everything like creating your listing, managing reservations, guest communication on site support, and even styling your space. So while you're making your own memories, your home can be helping another family make theirs and earning you extra cash. Find a co [e-mail] host when you're planning a trip, it helps to have a credit card that rewards you no matter where you like to book. That's the Autograph Journey credit card from Wells Fargo. What makes a difference is how flexible it is. You can earn rewards where you like to book travel. If you like going straight to the airline or hunting down a deal on a hotel site, this card is designed to keep rewarding you. Here's how the points stack up. You get five times points with hotels, four times with airlines, three times on restaurants and other travel, and one point on other purchases. So picture booking that hotel in the neighborhood you've always wanted to stay in, that's earning points. Grabbing flights for a last minute getaway, that's earning sitting down for that first dinner when you land. Still earning. Even the everyday stuff between trips can help toward your next journey. The Autograph Journey card from Wells Fargo helps turn the way you already travel, eat and explore into rewards. Learn more at Wells Fargo.com autographjourney Terms apply. Apple Books is the best place to read, listen to or discover the books you love without a subscription right on your iPhone. And now there's a very exciting heads up for listeners. Apple Books is the official audiobook and ebook home for Reese's Book Club, so it's easier than ever to explore each monthly book pick, plus author curated collections and more all in one place. Open the Apple Books app to explore a world of books and audiobooks. You can set goals and track your reading progress, get great recommendations for your next read, or listen and enjoy it all on the go, wherever you are. You can even share your books with up to five family members at no cost. Again, no subscription required. Visit Apple Co ReeseAppleBooks to find out more, that's Apple Co ReeseAppleBooks and read or listen to Reese's current pick and browse past selections today on Apple Books. Today's episode is brought to you by Cotton we spend a lot of time with stories, hours curled up with dynamic plots and with characters who feel like friends. What if the story isn't just in your hands but also in the world around you? In the fabric that's holding you close? Cotton is that timeless companion. Soft sheets for lazy weekend mornings with a book. Breezy dresses for afternoons spent reading in the backyard. It's the fabric that can be tossed in the wash without fuss. It's about ease, comfort and caring for yourself and the planet. Just like the books we cherish, cotton weaves meaning into our everyday moments. Moments like following four adult daughters as they navigate love, loss and the legacy in the Most Fun We Ever had by Claire Lombardo, all while curled up in soft cotton joggers. Or sinking into the island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak. A story that spans generations. Forbidden love and a fig tree that remembers everything wrapped in a hand stitched quilt, each thread holding its own kind of memory. Next time you settle in for a chapter, slip into something cotton. Not just to read the story, but to feel it. Cotton the fabric of our lives. Learn [e-mail] what are you so obsessed

[Danielle Robay]

with right now that you could write a book about it?

[Veronica Roth]

You know what I am noticing I love is procedurals. So police procedurals, yes, but medical procedurals. And I'm just like, clearly you're destined to write a mystery or some kind of crime solving. Like, I just. It has to happen eventually.

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

Yes.

[Danielle Robay]

We need a Veronica Roth mystery.

[Veronica Roth]

Yeah, I dipped a toe before, but I think, I don't know, I'm figuring out, you know, you have to pay attention to what you're obsessed with as a writer because it's going to come up eventually.

[Danielle Robay]

So like besides the pit, are you. You're watching svu? Like, what are you obsessing over?

[Veronica Roth]

Well, I told a joke online recently that you can tell where I'm at emotionally by which crime drama I am currently rewatching. And I think it was most recently was the Good Wife and that's a good place to be. For me. The Good Wife is a.

[Danielle Robay]

Well, first of all, we love the Chicago. Like you really stay true to your roots.

[Veronica Roth]

I know. I do love my Sineads.

[Danielle Robay]

Me too. I love that about you. I interviewed Julianne Margulies and I was

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

like how the hell did you memorize all those words?

[Veronica Roth]

I mean, first of all, what did you do? I mean, just looking at her, I'm like, wow, what a face.

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

I know.

[Veronica Roth]

Can't even pay attention. She's so special.

[Danielle Robay]

So when you imagine new teenagers finding this new version of Divergent, what are you hoping that they feel and take away from the book?

[Veronica Roth]

I mean, mostly when people read my work, what I hope is that they're entertained by it because, I mean, that sounds like a small thing, but especially teenagers just need a break. That's what I remember about being an adolescent in general is that I just needed moments of respite. So I hope that it is primarily a good time, but I hope they feel seen by it too. I really reflected a lot on what they're dealing with generationally right now as I was writing it and tried to keep it true to what an actual 16 year old would do and how they would act. So I don't know. Yeah, I hope it resonates with them.

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

If I put $5 million on the

[Danielle Robay]

table right now and I said, you can have this if you go back to being 16, would you do it?

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

No.

[Veronica Roth]

No, absolutely not.

[Danielle Robay]

Me neither.

[Veronica Roth]

Yeah.

[Danielle Robay]

Being 16 was so hard.

[Veronica Roth]

It was roug.

[Danielle Robay]

I had no tools to get through it either.

[Veronica Roth]

You feel so grown up, but you don't know anything. That's a terrible place to be. It's delusional.

[Danielle Robay]

Yeah. That is the epitome of DELULU is being 16.

[Veronica Roth]

I know, but it's unavoidable. It's just how it is to be that age. So God bless them. I do love teenagers a lot. I miss doing school visits and talking to them more.

[Danielle Robay]

Did you find yourself drawn to anything new while you were writing this one? Because I feel like the genre requires a slice of reality too. Even though it's dystopian fiction.

[Veronica Roth]

I think I was drawn a lot more to the adult characters and what they're planning. And of course that makes perfect sense because I'm older now and I'm like. But it always has to be in relation to our young characters, otherwise it's not really ya. So I try to keep the focus on them, but I was much more interested in especially mother figures in the 6 faction. So it's not just Triss's mom, but other women in the city who are very important and whose, you know, whose manipulations affect her.

[Danielle Robay]

Can I ask you why?

[Veronica Roth]

I don't know. I think it comes from. Because it's a much more of a mother daughter story than the original series. Because in the original series, her mom by necessity has to like disappear for a lot of it. But in the new one, she stays in her faction for a while, so they just have to interact more. And I think you get to know her a lot better. And so it kind of comes from that.

[Danielle Robay]

Is there anything from the original that returned that? Yeah. You're smiling. Yes.

[Veronica Roth]

I just think people probably be worried, does she have a different love interest because she doesn't join Dauntless, you know, but no, she doesn't.

[Danielle Robay]

Wait. That's very exciting to learn.

[Veronica Roth]

Yeah. I just found a different way for them. Yeah.

[Danielle Robay]

To a different meet cute.

[Veronica Roth]

Oh, yeah. You just wait.

[Danielle Robay]

Is it a meet cute or is it a. Is it a meat hopelessness or.

[Veronica Roth]

Hard to say. I think it's a meat tense. Great word. In a hot way.

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

That's exciting.

[Danielle Robay]

I'm really happy you shared that. Thank you. I'm hoping and wondering if you're willing to create a world with me today.

[Veronica Roth]

Oh, God. Okay. Yeah, sure.

[Danielle Robay]

We're gonna do it together. Okay.

[Veronica Roth]

Okay.

[Danielle Robay]

So we're gonna write a dystopian novel. What do you think the time and setting is? What's the world we're in?

[Veronica Roth]

I mean, okay, so timeline is like my. Is my. The bane of my existence because I don't feel like I understand how long it takes to do anything.

[Danielle Robay]

Okay, I'll do this one.

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

Yeah. I'll do time. The time is year 3000.

[Danielle Robay]

Okay, who's in charge? Who's the regime?

[Veronica Roth]

Well, I always start by building a system. So that's like an educational system, a government, a religion. And I in college almost majored in religious studies, which is the secular study of religion at Northwestern. So I feel like we should have a weird religion have taken over. But what are they? What are they into?

[Danielle Robay]

What are they into? They're into hot tubbing.

[Veronica Roth]

Hot tubbing. Okay.

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

Yeah.

[Veronica Roth]

Pro hot tubbing. Yeah. So have they then settled on all of the hot springs of the planet? Yes, for energy conservation purposes.

[Danielle Robay]

And what is the central rule that they must obey?

[Veronica Roth]

No peeing in the hot tub. It's really important. Self monitoring behavior.

[Danielle Robay]

Yes.

[Veronica Roth]

Shower before you know.

[Danielle Robay]

Yeah. And if you pee, it turns bright purple. Everyone knows public shaming.

[Veronica Roth]

Yes. Public shaming is a big part of the hot tubbing people's lifestyle. Oh, God.

[Danielle Robay]

Who is our main character? Who are we following?

[Veronica Roth]

I think we need someone who for some reason cannot or does not want to engage with the hot tubbing. So maybe they're like.

[Danielle Robay]

They melt.

[Veronica Roth]

Yeah. Or they're like allergic to water. They can't fit in, you know?

[Danielle Robay]

Right.

[Veronica Roth]

Can't participate in the religion of the hot tubists.

[Danielle Robay]

Yeah. The hot tub hotties. How old are they?

[Veronica Roth]

I mean, 16. This is the prime hot tubbing time. That's the most hot tubbing I ever did was when I was 16. Especially in Chicago, you know, with the snow falling. Like, someone has a cabin somewhere. That's the dream.

[Danielle Robay]

What's the moment that cracks their world open? What's our inciting incident?

[Veronica Roth]

Well, it's gotta be some kind of conspiracy.

[Danielle Robay]

Yeah.

[Veronica Roth]

So what's. What's a hot tub conspiracy? Maybe it's been. They've been exaggerating the health benefits of the hot tub.

[Danielle Robay]

That's great.

[Veronica Roth]

Yeah. And this character thinks that's bullshit and goes on a quest to discover the truth, which is that there's no health benefits. And in fact, you know, they're bacteria cesspools.

[Danielle Robay]

Right. And they discovered a lie. What is our emotional core? What is the story really all about?

[Veronica Roth]

It feels like it's about fitting in. Right? Yeah.

[Danielle Robay]

Belonging.

[Veronica Roth]

Belonging to where do I belong? The central question of YA in general.

[Danielle Robay]

What's the climax? What's our final showdown?

[Veronica Roth]

I think it's. You gotta, like, unplug all the hot tubs or something. Like, force people to live without them.

[Danielle Robay]

Everyone freaks out.

[Veronica Roth]

Yeah. It's like that. Which season of Mr. Robot did they, like, end? The Internet, basically, or. Oh, they ended, like currency.

[Danielle Robay]

Yeah. That was Y2K, where we ended. The Internet.

[Veronica Roth]

Yeah. Remember? Yeah. Oh, my gosh. We were so worried.

[Danielle Robay]

I had so much bottled water in my basement.

[Veronica Roth]

Did you? Man, I don't even remember. I don't think I did anything. I was like, I'm just gonna lay down and see what happens.

[Danielle Robay]

Okay. What's our ending? Are we hopeful? Are we bittersweet? Does the revolution succeed?

[Veronica Roth]

I think you need a hopeful ending. You don't need it, but I like a hopeful ending. I've already done my dark endings. I think I was gonna say I've had my fill.

[Danielle Robay]

Do we have a sequel? Hook. What is the lingering threat that makes readers desperate for book two?

[Veronica Roth]

You know what I want to see? A love triangle. I know it's controversial, but I miss them. I want them back. Team Edward, Team Jacob. Give it to me. I love it. Yeah.

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

And where better than in a hot tub?

[Veronica Roth]

Exactly. And I feel like it's always a choice between identity, you know? So it's like, who do I want to be? Do I want to be a rebel hot tub person, or do I want to maybe like investigate the status quo so like maybe there's dream hot tub guy. This is getting sillier the more I think about it.

[Danielle Robay]

First of all, I ruined it by calling out the hot tub people. But Veronica, thank you. Thank you for joining us. You've been so fun.

[Veronica Roth]

Thanks for having me.

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

Okay, friends, before we wrap today's episode, I'm bringing back our monthly comfort segment from Cotton called the Book Nook. This is where we explore the rituals that make reading feel just right. And with spring officially here, it feels like the perfect time to talk about those fresh air reading moments, the ones where you can finally take your book outside and soak it all in. As you know, cotton is at the heart of so many of those everyday comforts. Whether it's your softest worn in tea, a breathable sundress, or a lightweight blanket you could stretch out in the grass, cotton helps keep us cool, comfortable and grounded, which makes it the perfect companion

[Danielle Robay]

for a good book.

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

Let's hear from another bookmarked listener sharing their ideal reading setup.

[Maddie (Listener)]

Hi Bookmarked. Hi Danielle. This is Maddie calling in from Cleveland, Ohio. My favorite reading setup is a little seasonal, but I love going over to my parents house and they live in a more rural part of Ohio and they have a huge backyard garden. And I love in like the early spring, early summer before it gets too hot, laying out on a big blanket on the grass next to the garden and reading. I love feeling the sun on my face as well. I finish a new chapter. I love hearing all of the tiny little sounds of nature around me and I love when what's going on around me and what's going on in the page sort of blend and blur together. So I have a lot of memories of finishing a book or finishing a chapter with all of that happening. It makes it feel really visceral, which totally makes sense because the best kind of writing jumps off the page and really transports you.

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

Maddie, this is so beautiful. That early spring light, the quiet hum of a garden waking up and a blanket stretched out under you. It's the kind of setting that turns reading into a full sensory experience. I love how you describe the blur

[Danielle Robay]

between the world around you and the

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

story in your hands. That's exactly the magic we're all chasing, isn't it? And there's something so special about those in between seasons when the air is soft, the sun isn't too strong, and you can settle in comfortably, maybe in your favorite cotton tee and just get

[Danielle Robay]

lost in a book.

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

It feels like a reset in the very best way. So friends, keep your ideal reading setups coming. What are you wearing? What's around you? Are you stretched out in the sunshine? Curled up by an open window under a cotton throw? Are your coziest layers? Take me right into your perfect reading ritual. Leave me a voicemail at 501-291-3379 or email me a voice memo to bookmarked@reese's bookclub.com thanks to Cotton for bringing this segment to life and reminding us that comfort and style can go hand in hand. Don't forget to check the tag for Cotton. And if you want to learn more, head to thefabricofourlives.com. That's it for this episode of Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club. Our phone line is now open, so

[Danielle Robay]

if you want to go 90s on

[Podcast Host/Announcer]

us and give us a call at 1-501-291-3379. That's 1-501-291-33790. Share your literary hot takes, your book recommendations, questions about the monthly pick, or let us know what you think about the episode you just heard. And who knows, you might just hear yourself in our next episode. So don't overthink it. Give us a ring and if you want more, come hang with us. Reese's Book Club is on Instagram serving up books, good vibes and all the behind the scenes stuff you love. And I'm R O B A Y so come say hi and please seriously DM me because I actually read them and I love hearing what you think about the episodes. And don't forget to follow. Bookmarked by Reese's Book club on the iHeartRadio app. Apple Podcasts are wherever you listen. We'll see you in the next chapter. Bookmarked is a production of Hello Sunshine and iHeart Podcasts, executive produced by Reese Witherspoon and me, Danielle Robay production by Acast Creative Studios. Our producers are Matty Foley, Brittany Martinez and Sarah Schlied. Our editor is Carmen Borca Carillo. Our production assistant is Avery Loftus. Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rutter are executive producers for Acast Crew Creative Studios. Maureen Polo and Reese Witherspoon are executive producers for hello Sunshine. Olga Kaminwa, Kristin Perla, Ashley Rapaport and Sarah Kernerman are associate producers for Reese's Book Club and Ali Perry is executive producer for iHeart Podcasts. Today's episode is brought to you by Cotton. We spend a lot of time with stories, hours curled up with dynamic plots and characters who feel like friends. What if the story isn't just in your hands but also in the world around you, in the fabric that's holding you close? Cotton is that timeless companion. Soft sheets for a lazy weekend morning with a book. Breezy dresses for afternoons spent reading in the backyard. It's the fabric that can be tossed in the wash without fuss. It's about ease, comfort and caring for yourself and the planet. Just like books we cherish, cotton leaves meaning into everyday moments. Next time you settle in for a chapter, slip into something cotton not just to read the story, but to feel it. Cotton the fabric of our lives. Learn more at thefabricofourlives.com the autograph journey Credit Card from Wells Fargo is built for travel. You can earn rewards wherever you book your favorite hotel site your go to airline and more. You get five times points with hotels, four times with airlines, three times on restaurants and other travel, and one point on other purchases. Whether it's a big vacation or a quick getaway from booking your stay to that first meal when you arrive, you're turning your trips into rewards with the Autograph Journey Card from Wells Fargo. Learn more at Wells Fargo.com autographjourney Terms apply. Apple Books is the best way to read or listen to the books you love without a subscription right on your iPhone and a heads up for listeners. Apple Books is the official audiobook and ebook home for Reese's Book Club so you can discover every exciting pick, plus author curated collections and more all in one place. Open the Apple Books app to explore a world of books and audiobooks. You can set and track your reading goals and get great recommendations for your next read or listen again. No subscription required. Visit Apple Co Reese. That's R E E S E Applebooks to find out more. I'm partnering with Simple Mills and I have now found a new go to reading snack. Simple Mills Almond Flour Crackers Think of this as a quick book style review because these crackers deserve it. The premise? A snack that feels light, not heavy. Made with almond flour, sunflower seeds and flaxseeds. Nutrient dense ingredients your body can use, not empty carbs and the taste crunchy classic flavors that leave you feeling energized. For a good plot twist, try Popums. Cheesy, airy, poppable crackers packed with veggies. Final Verdict these are a shelf staple. Find simple meals at your grocery store.

[Danielle Robay]

This is an Iheart podcast. Guaranteed human.