4 STAR READS II

Summary

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Episode Overview

Podcast: I'll Read What She's Reading
Hosts: Reggie, Mikayla, Kennedy
Episode: "4 STAR READS II"
Date: July 29, 2026

This lively episode centers around the trio's favorite recent four star book reads—books that were memorable, impactful, or unique, but just shy of five-star perfection. The hosts discuss a diverse array of genres—from thrillers to fantasy to contemporary romance—unpacking what stood out, why each was worth four stars, and how those books lingered in their minds. The conversation is fast-paced, full of personal anecdotes, nuanced reflections, and their signature bookish camaraderie.

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Key Discussion Points & Book Highlights

1. Wayward Pines (Pines by Blake Crouch)

Shared by: Mikayla
Time: [01:32–05:02]

• Genre: Thriller/Sci-Fi
• Why it's a four star:
  • "Very unlike anything I’ve read... I would have never been able to guess where the book was going. The entire time." —Mikayla [01:32]
  • Set in rural Idaho, which resonated with Mikayla’s background.
  • Story follows an FBI agent investigating a mysterious town where nothing is as it seems, and escape is impossible.
  • Fast-paced, bingeable trilogy, each book ending in cliffhangers.
• Notable moments:
  • Kennedy describes listening to the audiobook while driving in Idaho at night and getting so spooked she had to turn it off [04:07].
  • “It’s just one that I feel like is better if you go in a little blind.” —Kennedy [04:20]
• Additional insight:
  • Hosts recommend this as a less sci-fi-heavy entry into Blake Crouch’s writing compared to "Dark Matter."

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2. Destination Funeral by Paige Harbison

Shared by: Reggie
Time: [05:02–09:02]

• Genre: Contemporary Fiction with Magical Realism
• Why it's a four star:
  • Relatable themes surrounding friendship, family, and personal relationships.
  • Incorporates a Groundhog Day time loop—multiple characters reliving the same day, adding freshness to the trope.
  • "It kept me... turning pages because I was dying to find out what was going to happen." —Reggie [06:04]
  • Balances emotion, comedy, and heart; the author’s note at the end was especially moving.
• Notable quotes:
  • “If you are like an eldest daughter or you know, maybe have some rocky relationships within your family, you might be able to relate to a lot of things in this book.” —Reggie [08:42]
• Extra:
  • Strong recommendation to listen to Reggie's interview with the author, Paige Harbison.

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3. Drive by Kate Stewart

Shared by: Kennedy
Time: [09:02–11:08]

• Genre: Rock Star Romance
• Why it's a four star:
  • Centered on a music journalist and a drummer; 90s/early 2000s vibe with each chapter tied to a period song.
  • "It’s very messy, very toxic ... covers some, like, heavy topics, you know, like alcoholism." —Kennedy [09:33]
  • Admits not enjoying the first half but grew to love it by the end.
• Memorable honesty:
  • “I kind of am eating my words a little bit.” —Kennedy, about disliking then loving the book [09:54]
• Caveat:
  • Mixed opinions among the hosts on Stewart’s writing/style.

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4. The One by John Marrs

Shared by: Mikayla
Time: [11:08–14:03]

• Genre: Techno-Thriller
• Why it's a four star:
  • Premise: DNA company matches people to their biological soulmate.
  • Explores complex implications—relationships, temptations, societal ramifications.
  • "I really enjoyed it because it made me put into perspective, like, what if there was [this technology]..." —Mikayla [11:58]
  • Multiple POVs keep narrative lively and engaging.
• Interesting aside:
  • Connected Netflix adaptation, but none of the hosts have watched the show.

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5. I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman

Shared by: Reggie
Time: [14:15–18:22]

• Genre: Post-apocalyptic/Dystopian Literary Fiction
• Why it's a four star:
  • Left a lingering sense of unease—“the most unsettling book I have ever read.” —Reggie [14:44]
  • Short, but deeply thought-provoking and ambiguous.
  • "I hated it, but I, like, loved it at the same time..." —Reggie [16:37]
• Memorable moment:
  • All three hosts agree it’s more horror than typical dystopian, with no resolution—“If you don’t like those types of things, you probably aren’t gonna like it.” —Kennedy [17:52]
  • Inspired an online deep-dive; hosts chased Reddit theories after finishing.

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6. Yellowface by R. F. Kuang

Shared by: Kennedy
Time: [18:27–20:15]

• Genre: Literary Fiction
• Why it's a four star:
  • Satirical look at the publishing industry, authorship, and cultural appropriation.
  • “I found it to be really interesting just to understand how, you know, that whole process works.” —Kennedy [18:43]
  • Features an extremely unlikable (on purpose) protagonist; interesting perspective on moral ambiguity.
• Insight:
  • Great entry point into RF Kuang’s writing for those wary of her heavier fantasy works.

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7. Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry

Shared by: Mikayla
Time: [20:21–23:41]

• Genre: Western Literary Fiction
• Why it's a four star:
  • Expansive, character-driven “tale” rather than a heavily plotted novel.
  • Simultaneously romanticizes and "unromanticizes" the Old West.
  • “...It’s very blunt, but also flowery at the same time.” —Mikayla [22:03]
• Notable moment:
  • Mikayla reflects on the emotional investment that comes with finishing such a long book—"When you finish a book that’s that long, you’re like, I can’t rate it lower." [23:10]

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8. The Sword of Kaigen by M. L. Wang

Shared by: Reggie
Time: [23:49–27:47]

• Genre: Standalone Fantasy
• Why it's a four star:
  • Features a powerful mother protagonist, unique elemental magic system, and emotionally charged storylines.
  • “Within the first, what, 20%? I was, like, uncontrollably sobbing.” —Reggie [24:31]
  • Fast-paced despite length; rich cultural setting.
  • Only missed five stars due to a (for Reggie) unsatisfying ending, influenced by author's original intention to write more books in the series.
• Additional:
  • Compared to "The Poppy War" by RF Kuang.
  • Standalone, so readers don’t need to commit to a series.

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9. Butcher and Blackbird by Brynne Weaver

Shared by: Kennedy
Time: [27:48–30:26]

• Genre: Dark Romance / Rom-Com
• Why it's a four star:
  • Audiobook highly recommended for sound effects and dual narration.
  • Features two serial killers who fall in love, balancing dark subject matter with comedic moments.
  • “There were just so many moments where my jaw was on the floor because it’s so outrageous. And the dynamic between the characters is so fun...” —Kennedy [29:20]
  • Not for everyone, but a unique take on the "romantic comedy with a dark twist" subgenre.

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10. Serpent & the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent

Shared by: Mikayla
Time: [30:31–34:21]

• Genre: Fantasy Romance
• Why it's a four star:
  • Vampire-adoption, tournament action, and court intrigue.
  • Hosts lament its underrated status versus more hyped fantasy romances.
  • "It's just really fast paced, very unique and different than at least fantasy books that I have read... a little dark, you know, so it just makes it fun." —Mikayla [33:40]
• Reading order tip:
  • Part of a world with interconnected duologies; reading order matters for the best experience.

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11. This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune

Shared by: Reggie
Time: [34:29–37:35]

• Genre: Contemporary Romance
• Why it's a four star:
  • Best friend's brother trope, set on picturesque Prince Edward Island.
  • “He always has a paperback in his back pocket. He loves to travel. He cooks. He recites poetry, he braids. I give Felix a solid five stars.” —Reggie, reading her own review [35:12]
  • Anticipated Netflix adaptation; listeners in PEI are excited for filming.
• Seasonal rec:
  • Perfect for summer reading; setting and vibes described as "immaculate."

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12. Vicious and Vengeful by V.E. Schwab

Shared by: Kennedy
Time: [37:37–40:13]

• Genre: Dark Urban Fantasy / Antihero
• Why it's a four star:
  • Favorite Schwab books of all, featuring a villain origin story, complex friendship/rivalry, and X-Men-esque superpowers.
  • “The whole book is in the gray area. Who's the good guy, who's the bad guy? ... their relationship is just so interesting and complex.” —Kennedy [38:35, 38:50]
  • Recommends ahead of the upcoming series conclusion in October.
• Caveat:
  • Pacing can be slow; best for readers looking for moral ambiguity and depth.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It’s just one that I feel like is better if you go in a little blind.” —Kennedy (re: Wayward Pines) [04:20]
• “If you are like an eldest daughter or you know, maybe have some rocky relationships within your family, you might be able to relate to a lot of things in this book.” —Reggie (Destination Funeral) [08:42]
• “I hated it, but I, like, loved it at the same time because it was just so different.” —Reggie (I Who Have Never Known Men) [16:37]
• "I found it to be really interesting just to understand how, you know, that whole process works." —Kennedy (Yellowface) [18:43]
• “When you finish a book that’s that long, you’re like, I can’t rate it lower.” —Mikayla (Lonesome Dove) [23:10]
• “He always has a paperback in his back pocket. He loves to travel. He cooks. He recites poetry, he braids. I give Felix a solid five stars.” —Reggie (This Summer Will Be Different) [35:12]

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• Wayward Pines: [01:32–05:02]
• Destination Funeral: [05:02–09:02]
• Drive: [09:02–11:08]
• The One: [11:08–14:03]
• I Who Have Never Known Men: [14:15–18:22]
• Yellowface: [18:27–20:15]
• Lonesome Dove: [20:21–23:41]
• The Sword of Kaigen: [23:49–27:47]
• Butcher and Blackbird: [27:48–30:26]
• Serpent & the Wings of Night: [30:31–34:21]
• This Summer Will Be Different: [34:29–37:35]
• Vicious/Vengeful: [37:37–40:13]

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The Hosts’ Dynamic & Additional Insights

• The episode is casual, chaotic, and fun, with plenty of laughter and honest, sometimes contradictory takes—such as loving a book’s second half after nearly DNFing it, or feeling “unsettled” but compelled by an ambiguous ending.
• The hosts encourage reading “blind” for many thrillers to maximize the reading experience.
• There’s a strong focus on the emotional, experiential aspects of reading—not just plot but how a book “sticks” in their minds, whether in terror, fascination, or joy.
• They give thoughtful caveats about difficult or disturbing reads.
• Several times they note how reading in tandem with others or discussing in buddy reads increased their appreciation for certain books.

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Summary

The "4 STAR READS II" episode is a warm, conversational exploration of what makes a four-star book shine. The hosts bring a mix of thrillers, literary fiction, romance, and fantasy to the table. They champion underrated reads, debate genre expectations, and share anecdotes about where and how particular books left their mark. The episode is peppered with candid reflections, funny disclosures (“I am eating my words a little bit”), and a genuine enthusiasm for reading as a community act.

For listeners who want to expand their TBR beyond just the "latest, biggest" titles and discover hidden gems and emotionally resonant reads, this episode is a goldmine of thoughtful recommendations and bookish banter.

Transcript

[Kennedy]

Foreign.

[Reggie]

Hello, everybody. Welcome back to I'll Read what she's reading. I'm Reggie.

[Mikayla]

I'm Mikayla.

[Kennedy]

And I'm Kennedy.

[Reggie]

Today we're chatting all things four star reads. So our four star reads of the year so far.

[Kennedy]

Maybe not all of my four star reads of the year, but.

[Reggie]

But the ones we feel like are worth mentioning.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

Because maybe my most recent ones.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Also I feel like some of mine might actually be from last year as well.

[Reggie]

That's fine.

[Kennedy]

So just four star reads in general.

[Reggie]

Four star reads. Um, before we start though, just wanted to add one more shameless plug for our western romance merch, which is now available at our website. I'll read what she's reading dot com. If you're watching us on YouTube, you can see what we're sporting. Our quarter zip. It's got a denim collar, lots of patches and embroidery. It's really cute.

[Kennedy]

Back is.

[Reggie]

You can see more photos and everything on our website or on our Instagram. Instagram at what she's Reading shop. But yeah, thanks so much for supporting us and all of our merch.

[Mikayla]

It's.

[Reggie]

I.

[Mikayla]

The.

[Kennedy]

Really.

[Reggie]

The podcast would not be possible if it weren't for your guys's support with all of our merch drops and stuff. So we really appreciate it. Anyways, we just love you guys a lot. So thanks for all your support. You guys always blow us away. So go ahead and check that out if you haven't already. But yeah, let's jump into our four star reads as of as of late.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Does anyone want to begin?

[Kennedy]

Mikaela, you go first. Okay, I'll go first.

[Mikayla]

Okay. This is kind of a recent one for me and I've maybe talked about it a little bit, but Wayward Pines, yay. By. Sorry, the first one is called Pines by Blake Crouch and. But the series itself is Wayward Pines. It's a three book series. And I really. It's very unlike anything I've read and I would have never been able to guess where the book was going. The entire time. No, the entire time I was like, oh, okay. So I don't. Pretty much the beginning of the book is there's this character that we follow. He is an FBI agent, if I'm remembering correctly. And he is going to a town called Wayward Pines to find some FBI agents that went missing. And while in the midst of going to this town there, he gets hit. There's like a car accident. Like a truck hits him. He goes to the hospital and has a little bit of amnesia.

[Kennedy]

He's like, where am I?

[Mikayla]

And. Yeah, just kind of from there, it's just really strange. The townspeople are very strange.

[Kennedy]

So they won't let him leave.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Yeah. Because he has a wife and a daughter.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

And he's, like, trying to get back to them and they're like, you can't leave. Sorry. So he's stuck in this town.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

It's also fun because if I'm remembering correctly, it's set in, like, rural Idaho, right?

[Mikayla]

Yeah, kind of like Idaho. I imagine it to be.

[Kennedy]

What's that one lake called? Because I think they even mention it in.

[Mikayla]

I don't know, they meant it's like a very dense forest area. So it's not a real town in Idaho. No, but they mention Boise a lot and Redfish.

[Kennedy]

Don't they mention Redfish Lake?

[Mikayla]

Maybe. I think I didn't catch on to

[Kennedy]

that, but maybe not.

[Mikayla]

It probably does, but. Yeah, it's just very interesting. So I'm from Idaho, born and raised in Lake Boise. So it was really fun to kind of already have the visuals of the surrounding areas and stuff like that. So that was really fun.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, it's. It's a crazy, crazy little trilogy. And they're easy to read, easy to binge, because you finish one and you want to know what happens next because they always end on a cliffhanger.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

I listened to those books driving at night through literally on my way home from Jackson Hole to home. So I'm driving through the forest of Idaho. I had to turn it off because I got so spooked.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

So it's just one that I feel like is better if you go in a little blind.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Because I feel like if you go into too much detail.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. It's just really fast paced. Like, all of the books are fast paced. So I. I binged these, all three of them, in two and a half days.

[Reggie]

Well, I'm excited when I get to those because you guys have talked about them a lot and. Yeah, I have fomo.

[Kennedy]

I think it's a really. I also think it's a really fun place to start with Blake Crouch's writing. Dark Matter is a little bit more sci fi heavy. This is a little bit more thriller.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Than sci fi, I would say.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

So I feel like it's a fun place to start. It's also one of his older books, so.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

I'm glad you read them and liked him. I really did.

[Reggie]

Nice. Well, we'll go down the line. I'll go next. My most recent for Star Read is Destination Funeral by Paige Harbison.

[Mikayla]

Yes.

[Reggie]

It made me even love. Yeah, it made me love her books even more than I did after just getting to talk to her and interview her. She's hilarious and just such a sweet soul. And we talked about her other book, the Other side of now, quite a bit and just like how much we loved it. And anyways, Destination Funeral comes out later this month, so you guys can go and read it. But really highly recommend our interview with Paige. Just putting in a little plug for that for you guys to look forward to next week. Destination Funeral, if you've already read the Other side and now is pretty different from the Other side of now, but it still has that like comedy that the heart and just that like emotional depth to it. Did you either of you guys finish it yet?

[Kennedy]

No, I'm literally like 60 of the way through.

[Reggie]

Okay. Basically the premise of the book is there's this girl who is basically, there's this group of friends that have had a bit of a falling out and they are all at this house for a weekend because there is a funeral that they are all attending. And you're basically trying to figure out all this drama and like, what made them all go their separate ways a bit. And there's some magical realism in this book where they are repeating the same day over and over again. And when I first heard that, I was kind of like turned off at the beginning because I'm just not a big fan of the Groundhog Day trope. But I. It kept me like just the pages turning because I was like dying to find out what was going to happen and how they were going to figure things out. It's a really great read because of just the emotion that Paige packs into it. But there's also comedy the way. Yeah, it's pretty short. And the way that she tied things up in the end was just so well done. It had me crying. Her author's note at the end was so sweet. And especially after listening to her when we recorded our episode with her, I was just like. It made me appreciate the book even more. So it covers a lot of different topics, which I feel like I won't say them because I want you guys to go in as blind as possible. But yeah, if you haven't yet read the Other side of now by her, I think I like that one a lot more than I did Destination Funeral. But Destination Funeral is still a solid four star read for me. And yeah, Paige is just, just awesome. So you're in for a treat with

[Kennedy]

her books, I think. I mean, I obviously haven't finished it, but I think I might like Destination Funeral more.

[Mikayla]

Really? Me too.

[Kennedy]

When I finish it, I think I'm gonna like it more. But also I did listen to the Other side of now, so I feel like I usually tend to like books that I read more in general. But there's just something about this book that I really enjoy and it's so interesting to me.

[Mikayla]

The.

[Kennedy]

Also, the nice thing about the Groundhog Day trope is the fact that there's several main characters. So it's not just one character that's experiencing this one day repeating, there's several. So that also helps play into the excitement of the day repeating rather than one person reliving the same day over and over.

[Mikayla]

Yeah, so that's true. I didn't think about it because usually

[Kennedy]

it's only like one person. One person that's experiencing the grand one day. Yeah, that's a good.

[Reggie]

If you are like an eldest daughter or you know, maybe have some rocky relationships within your family, you might be able to relate to a lot of things in this book. So I'll leave it at that. But that's. Destination Funeral by Paige Harbison comes out

[Kennedy]

on July 21, so I think that's a few days after this comes out. Yeah, but pre order it on Audible, on Kindle, on wherever you buy your books because I think you guys will really like it. So. Okay. My first four star read that I'm going to talk about is also a recent four star read for me. It's funny because I posted on our Instagram a screenshot of me listening to this book and I said something like, can you tell how I'm not enjoying this book? Or something like that. And I was listening to it at three times speed, which is crazy. But the funny thing is, is when I finished the book, I actually really ended up liking it. The book is Drive by Kate Stewart. Essentially. Reggie, you'll like this. It is a music journalist and a drummer. So there's a little bit of a rock star romance going on. And that's all I can really say because I feel like if I say anything else, it's going to give it away. It's very messy, very toxic. It covers some, like, heavy topics, you know, like alcoholism. I mean, you know, they're a band in I think the 90s, because every chapter starts with a song from like the 90s, early 2000s, which is really fun. When you finish the book, you can go listen to the playlist. Yeah, it's just, it's been A long time since I've had such a visceral, visceral reaction to a romance book. And I can't say why, but I feel like once you get into it, you'll probably understand why I did not enjoy the first half of the book, but I liked the second half so much more. So definitely still give it a chance, even if you saw me complain about it on Instagram, because I kind of am eating my words a little bit. But yeah, I liked it. I don't know if I'm obsessed with Kate Stewart's writing, so I don't know if I'll read the second book in the series or her other series because I know, Michaela, you didn't love it.

[Mikayla]

Yeah, I didn't finish the first one,

[Kennedy]

but this was fun. I had a good time. So, yeah, drive by Kate Stewart. Give it a shot if you haven't already.

[Mikayla]

This one is the one by John Mars. And have you watched the show? No, I haven't either.

[Kennedy]

I don't think I will.

[Reggie]

I didn't know there was a show.

[Kennedy]

It's on Netflix for some reason.

[Mikayla]

I really like this one. I like the Passengers too, but I think I like this one for some reason more. Don't ask me why, I don't know. But pretty much it is about a company that made like a. A DNA test where like you legit get matched up with one person DNA wise.

[Kennedy]

Like it's like your DNA. Soulmate. Like biologically.

[Mikayla]

Yeah, yeah, biologically. That's a good word.

[Kennedy]

Soulmate.

[Mikayla]

And it's just like a story about, I think five characters having to do with this company. And it's just like messy, kind of twisty. And I really enjoyed it because it made me put into perspective, like, what if there was.

[Kennedy]

Because you obviously can choose if you

[Mikayla]

want to take the test or not. And I think it was just really interesting because there are some people that are like already a couple and they decide to take the test and it varies. Mm. For the couples and stuff like that. So I, it. I was just like, it was really interesting to see how their reasoning of wanting to take it, but I was like, if something like that came out, I wouldn't care to.

[Kennedy]

I wouldn't either. You know what I'm saying?

[Mikayla]

So, like, it just, I don't know, it just made me like think a little bit if something was like, like that out there. Just like how people are different with like, stuff like that. So it was just fun. I love how it had a bunch of different POVs that made it really Fun for me. Just like the different POVs.

[Kennedy]

I don't think it would have been

[Mikayla]

as good if it was just like one or two.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, I agree.

[Mikayla]

So yeah. Good, Good stuff.

[Kennedy]

That little series is fun. It's kind of like techno thrillers are fun to an extent because honestly one day that literally might be a thing. Yeah, it's kind of scary when you read something that could possibly happen that whole series. I think I've read the first three and I do think the one is the best one I've read so far. But if you are interested in reading this series, I think it's called the, my. What is the series called?

[Mikayla]

Mind Dark Future.

[Kennedy]

Dark Future series. Make sure you read them in order because if you read them out of order you'll get spoilers for the book prior.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

I've heard some people say that you can read them standalone and technically yes, that's true. But

[Mikayla]

yeah, it's, it's just like in the future. Yeah.

[Kennedy]

So like the Passengers book, which is the second one. We'll talk about things that happened from the one.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

And so it'll just kind of spoil things for you. But it's a pretty crazy book.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Kennedy]

That's a crazy.

[Mikayla]

No, I have not watched the show yet. I don't know.

[Kennedy]

I feel like it would be really a really cheesy show.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. I don't know. So maybe I'll give it a whirl. Maybe I won't. I don't know.

[Reggie]

This was one. I was so I was scrolling through my Goodreads and when I was looking at my rating of this book I was like, I only gave this book three stars and I feel like I need to bump it up to four stars because I haven't stopped thinking about it since I read it. And so I feel like that warrants an extra star because I feel like usually like my three star reads I'm kind of like eh. Like I don't really think about them.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

You know what I mean?

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

So this one is I who have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman. What did you rate this book?

[Kennedy]

I think I did.

[Reggie]

I know you've read it. Four stars.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

It was the most unsettling book I have ever read. And the thing is I knew from the beginning I wasn't going to like how it ended, even though I wasn't sure where it was going.

[Mikayla]

Yeah, it, I, I.

[Reggie]

The one word I can say is unsettled. But I do think that it is a very thought provoking book. I wouldn't recommend it to everyone, but it's almost like I feel like everyone should read it at the same time.

[Kennedy]

It's also very short.

[Reggie]

It's very short. So if you're trying to catch up on your reading goal. A great book to read. I did the audiobook. I thought the audiobook was pretty good. Essentially it's this story about, like, I don't even know how you describe this book. Basically it starts off with this girl who. She's in this bunker with 39 other women or something like that. 40. There's like 40 of them. And none of the women know how they got there. And she is the young. The girl whose point of view you're getting is the youngest of all of the women there. And they're just trying to figure out how they got there, why they're there, and something. I don't know if this is like

[Kennedy]

Maze Runner kind of.

[Reggie]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, but more horror. But more like kind of horror vibe. Yeah. And they're trying to figure out how they got there, and basically something happens. I don't know if I should say what. And they're basically on this journey to figure out where they're going and still, like, how they got there. That's all I can really say. And it is the most frustrating book, but it had so many elements to it that just really got me thinking and had me just questioning. I don't even know how to, like, there's just really not words to explain how I felt after I finished this book. I hated it, but I, like, loved it at the same time because it was just so different. It's a very frustrating read and I don't want that to, like, turn you off from reading it because some people really enjoy it. Like, I remember, like, running to Reddit to, like, see people more, like, in depth thoughts that people had about it and like, theories and stuff. And. Yeah, it's just kind of crazy. I feel like there's not much else I can say, but if you're in the mood for something that's going to get your mind spinning and maybe get you a little frustrated and like a quick, interesting read, I definitely recommend it. But I know it's like, not for everyone. Like, I finished it and I was like, I hated that. I hated every minute of this, but I can't stop thinking about it. And the way that it's written, though, is so well done that it's like kind of a genius book.

[Kennedy]

So takes you on a very crazy journey for the amount of pages that. Yeah, it is. I Always. Because I've read this book too. People described it as a dystopian book and I don't necessarily love that because I feel like because I was going in with these preconceived notions of a dystopian novel, I rated it lower. Yes, it's dystopian because it's post apocalyptic. Sure. But it definitely edges more. I feel like on the horror aspect almost a little bit like I don't

[Reggie]

know how to describe it because of how unsettling.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, it's really unsettling. And also like you'll leave, you'll finish the book and you'll have more questions than when you started it. So it'. Ambiguous. It's unsettling. There's no resolution. And so if you don't like those types of things, you probably aren't gonna like I who have Never Known Men. But if you're okay with something that, yeah, is thought provoking, leaves you with more questions, and has you think about certain things in life, you'll probably like it.

[Reggie]

Yeah, that's a good way to put it. So, yeah, I who have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Jacqueline Hartman.

[Kennedy]

Shout out to Brady Lockerbie. I never would have read the book without her.

[Reggie]

So very quick read too.

[Kennedy]

So, okay, I'm going to talk about a book that I think I've talked about maybe before on the podcast. I'm not sure. It's been quite some time. It's been a long time since I've read it. So I'm going to refresh your you guys brains on if you haven't read it. So yellowface by R.F.

[Mikayla]

kuang.

[Kennedy]

And it's funny because this is completely and totally different than all of her other books. So this is a little bit more literary fiction than it is fantasy. And basically the. The premise of the story is that you are following a person who takes another person's story and pretends like it's hers. So it's a really interesting. It pulls the curtain back on the publishing industry a lot. And as a reader, I found it to be really interesting just to understand how, you know, that whole process works. I also have found that I really enjoy books where the main character is very unlikable. I don't know what it but I did not like this main character at all and I wanted her to fail the entire book. But I think that's kind of the whole point because the premise is so sinister. Like this person's literally trying to steal this other writer's book as their own. And yeah, it's Just different from anything I've read in a while, and I really enjoyed it. So if you like RF Kuang's writing and you haven't tried Yellowface, I'd be really surprised. But this was the first RF Kuang book that I read, and I think I'm glad it was my first book, because her fantasy novels are a lot to take in. So there's a little bit more complex, and this is a lot more simple because it's based in the real world and we're at least somewhat familiar with the publishing industry to some extent.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

So I would try it out.

[Mikayla]

Try it out. I've heard good things about it. Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Yellowface, R.F.

[Mikayla]

kuang.

[Kennedy]

And I read that before I even liked literary fiction, so it was a good time.

[Mikayla]

All right, it's me. This is coming out a surprise for me. I've talked about this on the podcast, but I feel like the more that time has passed since finishing it, I think about it quite often, and that's Lonesome dove by Larry McCarthy. And I've told you guys this, that there's not really a plot to this story. It's just more like an a tale. Does that make sense? A tale of these characters going across the Midwest and stuff like that, doing a little cattle. Cattle run. Cattle. Something. Cattle. Cattle drive. That's what it's called. Cow drive. Anyways, I just. It's funny because this author wanted to unromanticize the West.

[Kennedy]

I mean, it is very romanticized, so. Yeah.

[Reggie]

And.

[Mikayla]

But the thing is, is I think it also, like, kind of makes you romanticize at the same time. I don't know how. Like, they're very, like, contradicting things, but I feel like they happen at the same time in this book. Does that make sense? I don't know. I don't know. I just. It's such a long book, but if you're ever feeling like you want something different and very unique, the writing is very unique. It's very blunt, but also flowery at the same time. I don't know. Like, I feel like he somehow does things at the same time. Like, opposites attract.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

But he does them together, you know? I don't know. So, anyways, that's Lonesome dove by Larry McCarthy.

[Kennedy]

Did you watch the Western?

[Mikayla]

I have not watched it yet, but I have been waiting to. I'm very curious to see who they cast for these characters, because.

[Kennedy]

When was the book published? Oh, is the series.

[Mikayla]

Yeah, it is.

[Kennedy]

Oh.

[Mikayla]

Oh.

[Kennedy]

There's like, four. Four books.

[Mikayla]

They're not I sadly will not be continuing because they're just so long.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

But it is just different and fun.

[Kennedy]

I'm so confused right now because it must have been a republish because it said it was published October 1, 1999, and the movie came out 1989.

[Mikayla]

It might have been.

[Kennedy]

No. Yeah, okay. It was republished.

[Mikayla]

For sure.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, for sure, for sure. So it's rated really highly on Goodreads, so.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Sounds fun.

[Mikayla]

I feel like also, like, when you put that much time and effort into a book, you can't help but rate it highly.

[Kennedy]

For sure.

[Mikayla]

You know what I'm saying? When you finish a book that's that long, you're like, I put so much time and effort, I can't read it lower. That's how I feel. I like lower than a four star.

[Kennedy]

But also, I do think, for anyone listening, that is a book my husband would 100% read. Like fun that you and Cole were able to read that together. And my husband grew up on westerns, loves westerns, doesn't watch many more anymore. But also, like, that probably impacted your rating too, the fact that you were able to read it with your husband and talk about it and have that fun experience.

[Mikayla]

Yeah, I have the book.

[Kennedy]

I also have it on audiobook. It's just. That's when you have to definitely be in the mood for.

[Mikayla]

Yeah, a hundred percent.

[Reggie]

Nice. All right. Well, this one was one I read at the very end of last year, but I felt like it was worth bringing up again because it's been a while. The Sword of Kaigen by ML Wong. This is technically a standalone fantasy book. And the reason I was sold on it was because, well, Kennedy told me to read it. But it is about a. It's. It's kind of like a good change of pace because it's not really. It's not romantasy. It's. It's about a badass mom who has these really cool powers.

[Kennedy]

It's elemental magic, right?

[Reggie]

Yes. And I was like, within the first, what, 20%? I was like, uncontrollably sobbing. It put me in my feels, this whole book. It was quite the ride, but just very unique. And the magic system is really, really cool. I had a hard time understanding it at times, but it's really, really cool. And I just really enjoyed Masaki. That's her name, right? Masaki. That's the main character. Her story. Yeah. There was just. The relationships in this book were really interesting to me. Very different from other fantasy books that I had read. The only reason I didn't rate it. 5 stars was just because of the ending and I think it's because there's not much I can say about it. But originally, and we've said this on the podcast before, ML Wong was supposed to write continue the story and then she decided not to. So that's why it's a standalone. So I think I was just a little disappointed because I was like, wait, that's how we're ending it and we're not continuing on? But I do think if I were to read it again, I'd probably appreciate. Appreciate the ending a lot more. So definitely a fun, very. I felt like it was pretty fast paced story. It's kind of a longer book, but it didn't feel like that long.

[Kennedy]

It does take a second to get a grasp because I don't know if she was inspired by Asian culture and Asian languages. I don't know if it's inspired by it or if it's an actual like language that is spoken. But they use certain, if I'm remembering correctly, they use certain words and you have to go to a glossary to figure out what they're saying. Eventually you kind of catch on because they're used throughout the entire book. But I remember that being really hard. But it's, it's really cool. There's so many different plot devices she uses. She uses multiple POVs. There's time jumps. The magic system's really cool and unique. The way she describes things is very vivid. But yeah, very different. If you like Poppy War, you'll probably like Sword of Kaigen.

[Reggie]

Yeah, yeah, definitely. It's one that I look forward to reading again when I've kind of forgotten a lot about it because it was just really interesting and yeah. Brought out a lot of emotions which I wasn't anticipating.

[Kennedy]

So I knew, I knew it would bring out your emotion.

[Reggie]

Yeah, I just wasn't expecting that. I was just kind of like, okay, cool. Like this, this family. Let's. Let's get into it. But it's pretty. Yeah, high stakes and very exciting.

[Mikayla]

So it is nice that it's a standalone.

[Reggie]

Yeah, you don't get a lot of those.

[Mikayla]

So.

[Reggie]

Yeah, that's the sort of Kaigen by Emma Wong. If you're curious how many pages it is. It is 651 pages, but you don't have to read a full series.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, it was on. It was on Kindle Unlimited when I read it. I don't know if it still is, but it was.

[Reggie]

Yeah, it was when I read it too.

[Mikayla]

So I'd still be.

[Reggie]

All right.

[Kennedy]

My next one is one that I haven't talked about in a while, and this would be a great read. You can read it right now or you can read it in October. Whatever it has been picked up. I do believe that it's actually happening. I think they have a script. I think the author posts about it pretty frequently, and these two haven't read it yet. They've heard me talk about it, though. And I don't know if you guys ever will read it, but I kind of want you to. Okay. It's Butcher and Blackbird by Brynn Weaver.

[Mikayla]

Oh, okay.

[Kennedy]

Yeah. Now, I am fully confident in saying that this is one that should be listened to, not read, because the audiobook production was so fantastic. It's dual narration. If I'm remembering correctly, there is sound effects.

[Reggie]

Ooh.

[Kennedy]

Which I don't know if you like this because it's two serial killers who are, like, falling in love, essentially. It's a rom com, and I just remember listening to this, thinking I wasn't gonna really enjoy it, but there were times where I actually laughed out loud. I was listening to it on a plane and I had to cover my mouth because I was embarrassed because I was laughing. Now it's cheesy. It's a rom com, so it's not. Maybe you'll think it's so stupid and not funny, but there were just so many moments where my jaw was on the floor because it's so outrageous. And the dynamic between the characters is so fun, because if I'm remembering correctly, what happens is they're both serial killers, but they kill bad people, and they almost have a competition of who can kill the person first.

[Mikayla]

Interesting.

[Kennedy]

Sounds horrible, but out of all the dark, like, romances or dark rom coms I've read, this is my favorite. The rest are very meh. I didn't love the rest in the series, but this one's really, really fun. So if you're in the mood for something that's maybe a little bit more sinister because they're serial killers, but yet fun and lighthearted at the same time, pick this up. If you need a good audiobook, try this out. It was fun.

[Mikayla]

They just.

[Kennedy]

There's some really outrageous moments in this book. I want you guys to try it. I want you guys to read it.

[Mikayla]

All right, I'll try it just for you, Kennedy.

[Kennedy]

It's a good audiobook.

[Mikayla]

Reggie's just smiling.

[Reggie]

I don't know. I can't decide.

[Kennedy]

It would be a really good.

[Reggie]

Like, I'd have to Give it a couple chapters to know if I'm gonna read it or not. Like, I could see myself being like, this isn't for me. But, like, I could also see myself loving it.

[Kennedy]

Now, I'm not saying you guys are gonna rate it really very high, but, you know, you'd maybe give it like, two and a half. I don't feel like you would finish it and be like, I'm so annoyed that I listened to that. I think you'd finish it and be like, okay, yeah, that was fun, but it was so stupid. And I'll, like, never read another book like that again.

[Mikayla]

Yeah, it's just a good.

[Kennedy]

It's just a good, cheesy time. All right. With some action.

[Mikayla]

Love it. Love. I'm throwing it back way far, way, way back, way, way back to Serpents in the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbrand. I feel she doesn't get enough hype.

[Reggie]

She really doesn't. It's actually quite sad. Like, it makes me, with how much I love that book, to hear everyone just still talking about 4th Wing and ACOTAR, and I'm just like, okay.

[Kennedy]

But.

[Reggie]

Yeah, I know that, though. But I know that those. But it's like one of those things where I'm like. Or there's like, newer releases that come out that are just like. Like, show the sparrows. You know what I mean? Like, that's got so much hype, and I'm just, like, surfing. The Wings of the Night deserves to be.

[Mikayla]

Yeah, it deserves to be up there for sure. So pretty much it is. How do I even explain. This is. We follow our main character, Arya, and she is human. And when she. This isn't give it away, right?

[Reggie]

No.

[Mikayla]

Okay. When she's young, like, baby, like.

[Reggie]

Yeah, very young.

[Mikayla]

Very young. She gets adopted pretty much by this vampire man.

[Reggie]

He's a king.

[Mikayla]

And she kind of becomes a princess and has had to adapt in this world where there are vampires.

[Kennedy]

I know.

[Mikayla]

It sounds so cheesy. It's not Twilight vampires. It's fantasy.

[Reggie]

It's like, vampire. Yeah. It's very dark.

[Mikayla]

Yes. Like, and there's like, a game element competition esque thing. And it's just so fun. I really enjoyed the little duology. And then obviously, if you haven't heard us talk about six scorched roses, that can be read in between it. Or is it after it?

[Kennedy]

Technically, I think it's in between.

[Mikayla]

I think it's in between. So there's. It's a duology, but then there's a novella in between the first and second book. If you're looking for something that's just like a little bit of a shorter. There are continuous series, but they're not technically.

[Kennedy]

They're like interconnected. So they're all duologies, but they're set within the same world. And characters from the second duology have appeared in the first duology. So you have to read them in order.

[Mikayla]

Yeah, but six scorch roses.

[Reggie]

You. Technically, you don't have to.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, you can take a decent break between each duology because there's like a clean break.

[Mikayla]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. You could read the first duology and.

[Kennedy]

And stop if you wanted.

[Mikayla]

And stop if you wanted. So highly recommend if you're wanting something like fantasy. Not a super big commitment of a series. Obviously you can commit more with the duology and stuff, but I just, it's really fast paced, very unique and different than at least fantasy books that I have read. And I just love how, like, it's a little dark, you know, so it's

[Kennedy]

just makes it fun.

[Reggie]

I think I'm going to have to reread those first two before, like, I. I literally love them so much. I need. I think I need to reread them before the next book comes out this fall. Not that I need to reread them to like read the next book that comes out, but I just love them so much. Like, I just. I just miss them.

[Mikayla]

You just miss them?

[Reggie]

I miss them. I need to go back and read it. I had like such a fun reading experience with those. So.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, that was a good.

[Mikayla]

We read those. I feel like such a long time ago. Yeah.

[Reggie]

More people need to talk about that. It was like one of our book

[Mikayla]

club books, wasn't it?

[Kennedy]

I think so, yeah.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

So good. So good.

[Mikayla]

Anyways, just wanted to throw it back.

[Reggie]

Oh, that's. When you bring that up, it just makes me like my heart just like swells because I just love it.

[Mikayla]

Oh, yeah.

[Reggie]

Okay. I'm gonna actually throw it way back too, because when I was looking at all my other four star reads from this year, I'm like, I have talked about these so much on the podcast. Like Emma Lyon, Steve Kavanaugh. I'm like Sarah Deboff. I'm like, let's, let's scroll back. And I feel like this is a good book to recommend because of a certain adaptation that was just put out on Amazon prime and that is Carly Fortune. Okay. I don't know. We talked in a previous episode about the adaptation of every year after we weren't huge fans of it. But we did, like, One Golden Summer, which will be season two.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

So much so. Yeah. We were a little disappointed by the adaptation, but this movie is. Or this book is being picked up. I want to say it's by Netflix and it's going to be turned into a movie. And that is this Summer Will Be different by Carly Fortune. I gave this book four stars. I'm going to read you my review because it was just making me giggle. So my review says he always has a paperback in his back pocket. He loves to travel. He cooks. He recites poetry, he braids. I give Felix a solid five stars. So that's, like, in reference to the male main character. He also shucks clams.

[Kennedy]

Oh, yeah, Oysters.

[Reggie]

Sorry? Oysters. He shucks oysters. There was just something about him. I just loved him so much. And I think this was one of my first or if not only tropes I've read of A Best Friend's Brother. There was just something about it that I just ate up. And also, because it's still summer, I feel like it's a good wreck for. Yeah, a good summer read because the vibes. It's set on Saint what's the. The island? Saint Ellis. Ellis. What is it? Prince Edward Island. The vibes are actually immaculate. I feel like Harley Fortune is really good at just the overall vibe and setting of her books, and it makes me want to go there so badly. And I cannot wait to see. I want to say one of our listeners messaged us and was saying that she's from Prince Edward island and they've already started, like, doing some stuff. I don't know what. Cause I'm like, I don't think we have a cast for it yet. But I'm, like, so excited for her because she was, like, messaging us saying how exciting it was that their town is, like, so, like, this island is so excited that they get to have, like, a movie there. So I'm just really excited to see what they do with the movie and who they cast because there's still moments from that book that, like, I still remember that just, like, make me giddy when I think about it. So I'm really looking forward to that adaptation. Very fun summer romance read. And yeah, if you haven't read that one and you've read any of the other Carly Fortune or if you liked the TV show and haven't read the books, it's a great one to read because of the adaptation. And it's just a solid, solid, solid read.

[Mikayla]

So. Dang.

[Kennedy]

Shout out Carly Fortune.

[Mikayla]

Shout out Carly.

[Kennedy]

Carly Fortune. My last book I'm going to talk about is. I'm pretty sure I talked about it a few episodes ago. I read it three years ago, then also reread it this year because the new book is coming out. Vicious and Vengeful by V E Schwab. And I'm saying this because I feel like when people talk about V E Schwab, they never mention these books. And in my opinion, these are her best.

[Mikayla]

Are her best books.

[Kennedy]

So if you read the Secret Life of Addie Larue, if you've let read

[Mikayla]

A Darker Shade of Magic, Darker Shade

[Kennedy]

of Magic, if you've read what's the other one? Barrier Bones, Barrier Bones and Midnight Soil, these are her best books. If you loved any of those, chances are you'll really like these books.

[Mikayla]

I just think that.

[Kennedy]

Let me tell you the premise. You have two best friends, Victor and Eli, who are geniuses, okay. They're going to school. One's going to school to be a doctor, one's going to school for some science related thing. Can't remember.

[Mikayla]

And.

[Kennedy]

And essentially they find out that if people have an event where they die for a certain amount of time and then come back to life, they can come back as extraordinary humans and they have superpowers. Sounds like my dream, honestly. Anyways, so it's kind of their journey to figure out how to become extraordinary humans. And there's some drama that goes on. It's also an anti hero story, It's a villain origin story. It's very much the whole book is in the gray area. Who's the good guy, who's the bad guy? You don't really know. And Victor and Eli's relationship is just so interesting and complex to me that I find it very interesting. So I just feel like I don't hear people talk about those books when it comes to Ve Schwab. But according to her at least I'm pretty sure they're her favorite books she's ever written. Like, they're her kind of like passion projects, if I can remember correctly. So. And with the new book coming out in October, it's a great time to start it because it will be a finished trilogy. And it's just, it's just really interesting. If you like X Men, you'll probably like it because it gives similar vibes. My biggest complaint with the books is just sometimes Ve Schwab's pacing is a little bit weird. And so read this when you're in the mood for something that's really unique with really great characters. Um, if you want some, if you don't know who to, if you want to not know who to root for and if you're in the mood for something that's maybe a little bit more slower paced than a typical fantasy book. So Vicious and Vengeful by V E Schwab. I love it.

[Mikayla]

Love it.

[Reggie]

Wonderful. Well, hopefully you guys got some good recommendations for some books added to your tbr. And you know, I feel like we love to talk about our five star reads. We don't always get to talk about or four star rates, you know, so we hope you enjoyed. As a reminder, you can go shop our merch. I'll read what she's reading dot com, you can follow us at what she's reading pod on TikTok and Instagram and you can join our Patreon, which is linked in the show notes below if you're wanting some extra bonus content. We each upload a vlog every month and depending on which tier you sign up for, we do a live every month discussing our book club and we also do just fun little like games with each other, talk about what's going on in the bookish world and just do a little live kind of FaceTime chat with our Patreon members each month. And it is so much fun. And that's everything we have for you this week. But we will see you guys next Wednesday. Bye.