5 STAR READS OF 2025

Summary

---

I'll Read What She's Reading

Episode: 5 STAR READS OF 2025

Date: December 31, 2025

Hosts: Reggie, Mikayla, and Kennedy

---

Episode Overview

This New Year’s Eve episode is a celebration and reflection on the hosts' absolute favorite ("five star") reads of 2025. Reggie, Mikayla, and Kennedy reveal which books earned their highest marks this year, what makes a book "five stars," and dig into memorable reading experiences. The conversation blends heartfelt recommendations with their signature unfiltered banter, offering a blend of critical insight and chaotic, relatable book chat.

---

How Many Five Star Reads Did Everyone Have? (00:12 - 02:13)

• The hosts each try to guess the number of five star reads their co-hosts achieved in 2025.
• Final tallies:
  • Kennedy: 15
  • Reggie: 14 (includes rereads)
  • Mikayla: 9
• Surprise at how many five star reads they ended up with, given initial expectations.

Notable Quote:

“Let me just say I had more than I thought. I had more than I thought.”
— Kennedy (00:48)

---

What Makes a Book a "Five Star" Read? (02:33 - 04:45)

• Emotional impact and strong characters are top factors for the hosts.
• Reggie admits: "Would I read it again? If I feel like I would read it again, then I would give it five stars.” (03:42)
• The group references how their criteria have changed over time, and past interviews have influenced their thinking about plot, character, and emotional resonance.

---

Diving into the Hosts’ 2025 Five Star Reads

Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros (02:33 - 04:54)

• Loved for its emotional impact, despite flaws in plot and world-building.
  • Reggie: “Was it a perfect book? No... but the emotional reaction Rebecca got from me, it deserved the five star stamp of approval.” (02:33)
  • Mikayla withheld a fifth star due to plot and world-building issues, especially for a third book in a series.

Lightbringer by Pierce Brown (05:21 - 06:22)

• Kennedy’s first five star of the year. Everything "clicked" for her.
  • “Sometimes you read Red Rising and it hurts your brain. But for some reason I didn't have to think reading that book, it all just made sense.” (05:43)
• Mikayla discusses reading the series over several months, ultimately enjoying a "binge" but wouldn't recommend reading it so quickly.

Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson (06:58 - 08:15)

• Kennedy praises the closure and reveals at the end of the Mistborn trilogy.
  • “Everything tied together so nicely... It was just epic.” (06:58)
  • Advises patience for Sanderson's series for full payoff.

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins (08:31 - 08:54)

• No explanation needed; all are in agreement it’s a five star read.
  • “Do you need me to even say anything about it? ... Five stars. Suzanne Collins, Sunrise on the Reaping.” — Reggie (08:37)

All Roads Lead Here by Mariana Zapata (08:54 - 10:18)

• Mikayla moved her original 4.5 star rating up to five.
• Loved the believable, non-cheesy romance and realistic character interaction.
  • “I feel like the conversations were very realistic... not Hallmark-esque.” — Mikayla (09:18)
• Reggie and Kennedy agree Mr. Rhodes is a favorite Mariana Zapata love interest.

The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros (10:25 - 11:33)

• A deep, emotional romance read for both Reggie and Kennedy.
  • “My review says I would not recommend this book to anyone, but I gave it five stars. And people are like, you’re being sarcastic.” — Reggie (10:50)
• Excitement (and mild wariness) about upcoming film adaptations.

Fearless (13:05 - 14:39)

• Not a perfect book, but intense emotional experience and bingeability factor made it five stars.
  • Nostalgia for the series’ characters, even though the hosts are aware their opinions might change on a re-read.

Golden Summer (14:43 - 15:55)

• Kennedy and Mikayla both praise setting, emotional resonance, and the character of Charlie.
  • “Everything about that book was just perfect for me.” — Kennedy (15:20)
• Reflect on shared reading experiences and upcoming screen adaptations.

Bear Town & The Winners by Fredrik Backman (19:00 - 19:18)

• Kennedy: “Just emotional. I love those characters so much. They felt like family.”

The Blighted Stars by Megan E. O’Keefe (19:44 - 21:55)

• Reggie highlights it as an underrated sci-fi romance, great as a Red Rising alternative.
  • “If you like Romantasy, but you’ve been scared to read Red Rising, I feel like The Blighted Stars is a good little segue...” (21:02)
  • Jokingly calls the genre "science friction" (per Matt Denman) (21:51)

Shield of Sparrows (22:19 - 23:34)

• Mikayla upgrades it to five stars thanks to lasting impact and excitement for the upcoming sequel.
  • “I think when I originally... I said like 4.5. But I think how much I think about it and how excited I am for the next book... Solid five stars.” (22:36)
• Hosts recall a viral TikTok reaction with literal jaw-dropping surprise at the plot.

The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang (23:39 - 24:57)

• Kennedy’s favorite in the Poppy War trilogy, praised for not shying away from war’s brutality and for strong plot twists.

(Rereads) Throne of Glass — Crown of Midnight & Kingdom of Ash (25:05 - 26:16)

• Reggie awards five stars on rereads, acknowledging previous mixed feelings but increased appreciation.
• Side discussion about publication order and dramatization project delays.

Moon Luna by Kelly McNeil (26:44 - 27:23)

• Kennedy and Reggie note its BookTok popularity, with praise for its refreshing, non-cheesy approach to rockstar romance.
  • “That should be a TV show. No, that should be a movie.” — Kennedy (27:10)

Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang (27:28 - 29:58)

• Kennedy initially gave 4.5, bumped up due to lasting thoughts about the book, especially the unique, powerful mom character and emotional punch.
• Acknowledges tough start with world-building but advises patience.

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid (29:59 - 32:25)

• Reggie gushes about the writing, themes, and immersive metaphors.
  • “Within the first 20 pages, I was invested and I was a mess.” (30:25–30:47)
  • Kennedy notes it should “absolutely be a movie.”

The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown (33:38 - 34:18)

• All three hosts give “can’t say much for spoiler reasons,” but rave about the experience and cast of characters, particularly Isaiah Rhodes.
• Brief sidebar on the Windy City series and romance genre representation.

Play Along and Windy City Series by Liz Tomforde (34:19 - 39:12)

• Discuss the collective obsession and personal relatability of the romance and sports themes.
• Anecdotes about access issues with audiobooks (Libby, Hoopla, Spotify), breaking down different hosts' love for specific couples and tropes.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Reread) (41:27 - 42:10)

• Kennedy wraps up her year with a classic.
  • Tied to a family trip to Universal Studios; personal stories about house sorting and the unique wand-selection process at Ollivanders.

The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen (43:13 - 44:59)

• Mikayla gave it 4.5, but rounds up, citing the book’s fun, unique medieval-inspired world, fast pace, and memorable banter.
  • “I just thought it was really fresh and unique... similar-ish vibes to Throne of Glass.”

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman (46:23 - 47:52)

• Kennedy highlights the emotional resonance and quotability of Backman’s writing, noting a romantic quote she used for her anniversary.
  • “He’s like one of those old grumpy people that you just want to give a hug.” (47:18)

---

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On being less critical in 2026:

  “If you had a really good reading experience and you talk really highly of it and you recommend it to everyone, you probably should rate it five stars.”
  — Mikayla (48:40)

• On what kind of reads they crave next:

  “I need like a new series, like... the Windy City series. I need something like that again.”
  — Reggie (49:16)

• On reading goals and pressure:

  “I went through this phase where I was trying to get through books as fast as I possibly could... So we’re going into 2026 with good vibes.”
  — Kennedy (50:24)

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:12 — Tallying five star reads
• 02:33 — What makes a book five stars?
• 03:56 — Onyx Storm discussion
• 05:21 — Lightbringer praise
• 06:58 — Hero of Ages reflections
• 08:31 — Sunrise on the Reaping
• 08:54 — All Roads Lead Here
• 10:25 — The Last Letter
• 13:05 — Fearless
• 14:43 — Golden Summer
• 19:00 — Bear Town & The Winners
• 19:44 — The Blighted Stars
• 22:19 — Shield of Sparrows
• 23:39 — The Dragon Republic
• 25:05 — Throne of Glass (rereads)
• 26:44 — Moon Luna
• 27:28 — Sword of Kaigen
• 29:59 — Atmosphere
• 33:38 — The Book of Doors
• 34:19 — Play Along/Windy City Series
• 41:27 — Harry Potter (reread)
• 43:13 — The Bridge Kingdom
• 46:23 — A Man Called Ove
• 48:10 - end — Reflections on reading tastes, goals, and looking ahead

---

Recurring Themes

• Emotional connection trumps technical perfection for five star status.
• Evolving criteria for what makes a "best" book: hosts' standards change as their reading lives grow.
• Joy in reading is found not just in books, but in community and conversation.
• Excitement and skepticism about book-to-film/TV adaptations—hope for more quality romance and fantasy on screen.

---

Final Thoughts

The hosts close on a hopeful note, vowing to be less critical and read more for fun in 2026, and inviting listeners to send recommendations for the next bingeable romance series. With plenty of inside jokes, asides about their personal lives, and reflections on why they love reading, this episode is a warm snapshot of book friendship and community.

---

Transcript

[A]

Foreign.

[B]

Hello, everybody, and welcome back to I'll read what she's reading. I'm Reggie.

[A]

I'm Mikayla. And I'm Kennedy.

[B]

Happy New Year's Eve. We are going to be jumping into 26, 2026 tomorrow. And so that means it's time for us to discuss the best reads of 2025. So this is specifically our five star reads we're going to share. I have no ide. I'm so cur. I want to see if I can guess how many five star reads you guys had.

[A]

Well, yeah, that will be fun. I'm not going to guess how many you guys had, but Reggie, go for it. Let me count. I'm going to.

[B]

Why do I feel like even though you guys read significantly more than me.

[A]

Let me just say I had more than I thought I had more than I thought.

[C]

I'm going to guess you had eight. And I'm gonna guess you had eight as well.

[B]

I'm gonna guess Kennedy had nine.

[A]

Wait, wait, hold on, hold on.

[B]

Oh, she's counting.

[A]

Oh my gosh. 15. Yeah, I was surprised.

[B]

Okay, I had 14. How many did you have, Mikayla? I sorry, I didn't guess. Wait, let me guess.

[A]

10.

[C]

Oh, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.

[A]

That's more than you had last year.

[C]

Actually, I think I technically. I think I technically have eight because I screamed so much.

[B]

I need to be a harsher critic. I will say part of my five star reads though are books that I've reread. Like I reread Throne of Glass and I counted those in my 14 five stars, which maybe shouldn't count.

[C]

I needed, I needed to add some because when I screenshotted these, I had. I hadn't read some of the books that I had read.

[A]

Oh, I see.

[C]

So I have. What did I say before?

[A]

Seven.

[C]

I have nine.

[A]

Okay, okay.

[B]

Not bad, not bad.

[A]

I think. Yeah, I had 14. Yeah, more than I thought.

[C]

Oh my gosh. Yeah, you were like twinsies. I haven't read very much. Good book.

[A]

When they were like, we're going to do a five star read episode, I'm like, oh, I didn't read very. I didn't have very many five star reads. Pleasantly surprised.

[B]

How about we review these five star reads which some of these you guys have probably heard us talk about before. But I'm really curious. I don't. I'm having a hard time thinking of some of the books you guys gave five stars.

[A]

I know you guys first book.

[B]

Yeah, we are.

[A]

It's all the same.

[B]

We all have the first book.

[C]

No.

[A]

Yours isn't five stars.

[C]

No, it's not five stars for me. That's right.

[B]

Oh, that's right.

[A]

Reggie, do the honors.

[B]

Onyx Storm. You know, was it a perfect book? No, it was not. But like my reading experience, the emotional reaction Rebecca got from me, it deserved the five star stamp of approval. And I feel like we've talked about this before, but let's maybe reiterate what makes a book five stars.

[A]

You know, when Chris and Mads interviewed us, they had those five categories that they have when they rate books. For me, what really makes a book five stars? And we'll just use Onyx Storm, for example. Emotional impact. And I think characters were my top two. You said plot. I said plot.

[C]

You said plot. That's why I was shocked when you said it, because I was like, you're reading all these Frederick Bachman books, and I feel like they don't. From what you said, they didn't have plot.

[A]

Oh, well, I guess it depends on the time that you ask.

[C]

But you. Your answer can be different now. I was just shocked when you said it last time. But that was, like, months ago. So, like, your.

[A]

Your answer is probably different now. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[B]

Emotional impact's a big thing for me, so that would be mine. I just feel like also, would I read it again? If I feel like I would read it again, then I would give it five stars. Yeah.

[A]

But that's also a book you kind of have to read again if you're gonna continue on in the series.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Mikayla didn't give five stars. Why didn't you give it five stars? Do you remember it had emotional.

[C]

I just feel like the plot wasn't great. I'm a plot person if the plot isn't adding up. And I also think we're like three books deep in a book, like a book series. And the magic system, the world building just was not adding up. Yeah. And I was like, you're three books deep.

[B]

You should.

[C]

You should know it.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

Yeah. So that's why I wasn't like. But I understand why you guys did, because, like, I had an emotional reaction at the end. Like everyone. Most people do. The characters are really likable.

[A]

And so, like, I understand why you.

[C]

Guys did, you know.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

If anything, I was just angry.

[A]

I do think I have higher expectations for the next book than I did for Onyx Storm, unfortunately.

[C]

Yeah. And I also think people were setting me up.

[A]

Like, not people were like.

[C]

I was seeing all these theories.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

And so I think I've just Learned I can't really think too much about theories and like, I can't set myself up for these things to happen when I'm like, no one's in control besides Rebecca. You know what I'm saying? So anyways, so what was your first.

[A]

Five star read of the year then?

[C]

Oh, mine was Lightbringer.

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

Yeah. That might have been my second five star.

[A]

Yeah, that's.

[C]

I don't feel like I gotta say more about that one.

[A]

I mean, it's hot. It's kind of hard. You can't really. I mean, it's the last current book in a series. You can't really say much.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Everything I feel like finally clicked for me in that book for some reason, you know? You know, sometimes you read Red Rising and it hurts your brain. But for some reason I didn't have to think reading that book, it all just made sense.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And I feel like a lot of things worked like were so well done. Like the characters, plot, emotional impact, whatever that may be. It had it. Yeah, it had a little bit of everything.

[A]

Yeah. Chef's Kiss. You read that in.

[C]

Yeah. January. You did?

[A]

Yeah. You breezed through that series. Cause I read it in December of last year. Yeah.

[C]

I think I started the series in October and finished it in January.

[A]

That's crazy. That is crazy.

[C]

You know, I wouldn't suggest that. Yeah, I'm gonna take my time this next time around. Yeah.

[A]

So I also think. Sorry, I talk about Red Rising all the time, but I think that's a book that I'm going to like a lot more the second time around because I think I'm just gonna understand things a lot more.

[B]

Yeah, I'm excited to reread it, like straight up.

[A]

I didn't understand the ending of Golden Sun. I think I had to google it because too much happened and I didn understand what happened. And that's why it's not one of my favorite books. Cuz I was confused.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Anyways.

[C]

Okay.

[A]

What was that your second book?

[B]

Yeah, that was my second book.

[A]

Okay. Mine was Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson, which is the third book in the Mistborn trilogy. It was just epic. You know, I. Everything tied together so nicely. There were a few reveals that really got me in my feels. Unfortunately. I do think Mistborn is kind of a series that you have to be patient until you actually finish the third book, but it was just epic. I can see why a lot of people say that the original Mistborn trilogy is their favorite works of Brandon Sanderson. I can't say more Than that, because it's the third book in a series, so I'm excited for Reggie to read it whenever she does. Just my biggest winter, but spring. My biggest piece of advice for Brandon Sanderson is just be patient. Yeah, it'll pay off. You just gotta ride the slow wave.

[C]

I actually really enjoyed the first book.

[A]

The ending of the first book is really good.

[C]

I feel like it might beat the third book for me.

[A]

Really?

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Well, you have that to look forward.

[C]

To, Reggie, but the third book is still really good. I, for some reason, really loved learning about all the metals and, like, the world. And usually I hate world building. Like, usually I hate it, but for some reason it worked for me.

[A]

It was just unique.

[C]

Yeah, I think that's what it was. Unique.

[A]

Different.

[C]

Because I feel like we were reading all the same crap.

[A]

They're eating coins, eating metal, tossing coins, flying. Yeah, yeah, you're in for a treat.

[C]

Third book. Are we on third book?

[B]

Third or did you already see?

[A]

I think we're just gonna have to go out of order now. So, Reggie, maybe you go and then we'll go back in order.

[B]

I'm not gonna talk about this one. You guys hear me talk about it too much, bud. Sunrise on the Reaping.

[A]

That's one of mine too. So I'll just go ahead and delete that.

[B]

Do you need me to even say anything about it? Because I feel like you guys get enough in other episodes of me talking about it, so. No explanation needed. Five stars. Suzanne Collins, Sunrise on the Reaping. Mikayla, back to you.

[C]

Back to me. All roads lead here.

[A]

Did you bump it to five?

[C]

Yeah, it's been five for a while.

[A]

Oh, okay. You originally rated at 4.5, right?

[C]

Yeah, yeah, I still stand by 4.5, but it's. I rounded up.

[A]

Oh, okay.

[C]

If that makes sense. So I just. I don't know, something about that book worked for me.

[A]

Grumpy.

[C]

Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

Yearning.

[C]

Yeah. And I also just felt like it was not super cheesy. Does that make sense? Not that I don't like a cheesy romance book. Don't get me wrong, sometimes a cheesy romance book hits the spot. But I feel like the conversations were like very realistic conversations to have between characters and not like, you know, Hallmark esque conversations that sometimes happen in romance books. So I don't know, it just worked.

[B]

It just worked.

[A]

I'm trying to remember. She goes back to a town that her and her mom used to visit. Her mom went on a hike. She goes back because of her mom. Right. And Then her mom is missing or like went missing. Okay. Yes. And then she meets Mr. Rhodes, who is her landlord.

[C]

Yeah, I love it. But he's also like a wilderness like.

[A]

Fish and game officer type vibe thing.

[C]

Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

So very Slow burn. Mariana Zapata.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

I've read a few of her books. That's my favorite.

[C]

Same. Yeah, same.

[A]

Oh, it's my turn. Okay. On the romance train, the Last Letter by Rebecca Yaros.

[B]

That was a five star for me too.

[A]

I don't really need to say too much. All you guys have probably heard this, but I did read that on the beach in Hawaii. If you know, you know.

[B]

So what a vibe. Jk. Yeah, that was about. I'll just piggyback off of that. I didn't. It's not like my fourth or whatever.

[A]

But you can share your fourth, though. I also feel like I maybe need.

[B]

To go edit my review because people get or comment all the time on my review and are like, why would you give this book 5 stars based on your review? My review says I would not recommend this book to anyone, but I gave it five stars. And people are like, you're being sarcastic.

[C]

And like.

[B]

Yeah. And people.

[A]

It's funny.

[B]

I even get DMS from people that are like, did you actually like that book? I'm like, read it. The Goodreads rating does not lie.

[A]

Read it and find out.

[C]

So have you heard of a sarcastic.

[B]

Yeah, so anyways. Yeah. Also they're making that into. I'm not going to expand on this, but they are making it into a movie. Did you see that?

[A]

No.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Who's producing it?

[B]

I think it's Amazon.

[A]

Oh, I don't like that.

[B]

I think I could be wrong.

[A]

I don't like that.

[B]

I can fact check that later.

[A]

Weren't they also in the Things we leave unfinished?

[C]

Or variation is variation to Amazon.

[B]

And I know things we leave unfinished.

[C]

I don't know if who it was by. They said who the producer was or like their director was. I can't remember, like what it's for, like what company it was under.

[A]

Get your bag, Rebecca.

[B]

Yeah. Rebecca Yaros last.

[A]

I think we are in for such a treat. I think the rise of romcom in the next 10 years, it's going to make a comeback. Those. Those 90s romcoms that are just nostalgic and we love. I think they have to be done really well. Yes. They can't be cheesy, but I think we're in for a real treat.

[C]

Just know Netflix, Amazon scares me too.

[B]

Amazon scares me about people we meet on vacation.

[A]

No, I think people we meet on vacation. It's going to be good. The actor. The actor and actress for people we meet on vacation. Yeah, it'll be fine.

[C]

It'll be fine. Sorry, I forgot that that was coming up.

[A]

I feel like other.

[B]

It's a hit or miss books have.

[C]

Been like, not good.

[A]

But I mean, then you see like heated rivalry on Netflix though. Prime.

[B]

It's on hbo.

[C]

Hbo.

[A]

That's why that makes sense.

[B]

Did you guys know they filmed that?

[C]

I mean, in 37 days.

[B]

37 days. They shot everything in 37.

[C]

Wow.

[A]

I have seen interviews where the main blonde guy said that he didn't think anything was gonna come of it. Look at him now.

[B]

The phenomenon, everyone. Cinema, in my opinion.

[A]

Who's next?

[B]

I mean, technically me, but I also get Fearless.

[A]

That's on mine. That's on mine.

[B]

And see, once again, not a perfect book.

[A]

No.

[B]

But if you go watch our YouTube vlog of us reading this, it was. I hadn't read a book in that long. That made me feel so much. It was a lot and it was. I feel like it was pretty fast paced.

[A]

It was really bingeable.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And I felt nostalgic while reading it. Even though it had only been, what, maybe a year and a half or two years since I read the first book. But for some reason, just those characters feel just like home. Like I read about them when I was 12, but I actually was 25. Yeah, 27, 26, 28. I don't remember when it came out last year. Oh, oh, you're talking about the first book. Sorry, sorry.

[B]

I was like, wait a second.

[C]

Yeah, no, it's okay. Yeah. If I went back and reread it, I may not rate it the same.

[A]

Same.

[C]

But I feel like in the moment I'm just obsessed with Kai as her. I just. I don't know, it worked. And I really, I actually really love Paden too. Like, I feel like she's a really likable character. So for me it was the characters in this book and the fast paced of it, if that makes sense.

[A]

And you could almost like turn your brain off a little bit while reading it. It wasn't complex. You didn't have to use a lot of brain power. But yeah, if I read it now. Yeah.

[B]

Probably wouldn't rate it five stars.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

But that's okay. That's okay.

[C]

Yeah. Michaela one Golden Summer.

[A]

That's on mine too.

[B]

It's not on mine.

[C]

Sorry.

[B]

It was really good though.

[C]

Peak reading experience on the beach in Hawaii. That's what you should have been reading.

[A]

Well, I read it on the treadmill. I. I vividly remember reading a lot of that book on the treadmill. And I also remember leaving the gym for some reason at one point because I was crying because I think. So the female main character is a photographer and the way she was talking about her job. I was having a lot of issues and hardships in my job and so it just kind of put me in my feels. I don't know.

[C]

Yeah, it was relatable.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

I just. And also, yeah, the setting, Charlie. Everything about that book was just perfect for me. And I know a lot of people don't like Charlie, but if you listen to our IRWSR awards episode that comes out next week, may or may not have been some of our top book boyfriends. So. Yeah. Yeah. On the beach, though.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

That would have been peak.

[B]

Peak.

[C]

It was also peak because like nine other people were reading at the same time.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

And so that was just like. It's always fun when you're reading books at the same time as someone so you get a chat about it.

[A]

Ironically, I bought that book for the COVID because I didn't like the first book in the series that much.

[C]

Every summer after.

[A]

Yes. And then I bought the book thinking, hey, this will look cute on my shelf. Surprise, surprise. Five star read.

[C]

I'm so excited for that show. Oh, they've come up with the cast, right?

[B]

Yeah. I don't know how I feel about the cast. One of them is High School Musical.

[A]

The musical.

[B]

The series.

[A]

What's every summer after the.

[C]

He is the young, younger brother.

[B]

He's the younger one.

[C]

What's his name?

[A]

So we have Sadie Soverall from Saltburn. She plays Percy. Matt Cornett. Matt from High School Musical to musical is Sam. Sam Michael. Broadway plays Charlie.

[C]

I feel like it's hard because I don't think he's been in a lot besides High School Musical to Musical.

[A]

Well, now I'm looking at Charlie. Oh. What?

[C]

The thing is, I think sometimes actor pictures do them a disservice. But when they're in the moment acting as a little dimple, it will come across better.

[A]

I don't think he looks like how you pictured him. I don't think he looks like Sam at all.

[C]

No, he just.

[A]

The actor that's playing Sam just has a baby face.

[C]

Matt.

[A]

He just looks like a baby.

[C]

Yeah. I'll be interested to know. I feel like being in High School Musical. The Musical has stereotyped him.

[B]

Yeah. Hopefully he makes a name for himself. Outside of.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Do they have a release date for that? Because they've been. They're filming it.

[B]

Yeah, I saw like a Behind the scenes like a while ago. I swear.

[A]

Let's.

[C]

I don't know.

[A]

See, it's supposed to be released in 2026, but they don't have a specific day.

[B]

I'm. I'm feeling a little nervous for some reason.

[A]

But where is it on Amazon? I don't know.

[C]

I don't know. The thing is that I. The issue I have is I see something, I'm like, oh, cool. And I don't do research into it because I'm like, I know it's gonna be a while away.

[A]

Amazon prime, seeing it's so hard because you have.

[C]

It's.

[A]

You never know with Amazon.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Because you have shows like Fallout.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

That are really graphic and adult, but then you have shows like the Summer I Turned Pretty that are a little cheesy.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Don't get me wrong, I love the.

[C]

Summer I Turn Pretty, but those books are incredibly cheesy. Are they like unbelievably cheesy?

[A]

So they did a good job with the show.

[C]

The show's better than the books. Okay.

[B]

All right.

[C]

I would say that's like the one time that would be like the show is better than the books.

[A]

That gives me hope.

[B]

So.

[C]

Yeah. I mean, no one come for me, but I read the books and I was like, I feel like I'm reading a 10 year old book.

[A]

Well, also, I mean, I think they are YA romance, so that's also part of the show.

[C]

Is not.

[A]

Yeah, but I mean every summer after is adult, so maybe it won't be as bad.

[C]

I don't know.

[A]

We'll see.

[C]

We'll see, we'll see, we'll see, we'll see.

[A]

All right, My next one I'm just gonna lump together because it's part of a series. I have Bear Town and the Winners by Fredrik Backman. I also don't feel like I need to really talk about it too much because I think I've talked about it a lot this year. Just emotional. I love those characters so much. They felt like family.

[B]

That's it.

[A]

I just love them.

[B]

So nice.

[C]

How many times has Kennedy Someone want to tally how many times Kennedy's talked.

[A]

About Bear and Red Rice?

[B]

Take a shot.

[A]

That is my personality trait. And another one of my five star books that I've probably talked about 15 million times on the podcast. I had a rough reading here. Okay.

[B]

Hey, 14, five stars. Not too bad.

[A]

Yeah. And then the rest Were all like, two.

[B]

Okay. Mine was the Blinded Stars by Megan E. O'. Keefe. I think that's how you say her name. I don't know if I've talked about it in a while, but it's not talked. Like, I know you probably hear me talk about it all the time, but I literally don't hear anybody else talking about it.

[A]

You want to know what's funny? I actually have seen a handful of.

[B]

TikToks send them to me.

[A]

Like, there was one girl who basically was talking about how the rise of sci fi. There's a rise in sci fi, and a lot of them are male authors, but she mentioned that series as one that was written by a woman.

[C]

So.

[B]

Yeah, it's pretty.

[A]

It's on it. It's on the up and up.

[B]

Yeah. I would love to see more TikToks of it because I literally have only seen the one that I saw that got me to read the book. Basically. It's like a stranded on a planet with his bodyguard, who's not actually his bodyguard, it's actually his mortal enemy. We'll just leave it at that. It's great. And three books. Yeah, there's three books. I think if I were to reread them, I would probably give the third one five stars. I didn't, but I think I would because I think about the ending of that book a lot. Yeah, it's great. It's like I said this in a TikTok video.

[C]

No.

[B]

In my Patreon vlog, that if you're wanting, like, I know a lot of people message us and they're a little intimidated to start Red Rising because they haven't read sci fi or they know it's just really heavy or whatever. I'm not comparing this to Red Rising, but if you're. You, like Romantasy, but you've been scared to read Red Rising, I feel like the Blighted Stars is a good little segue into, like, some space fun to kind of get you. I don't know. I know they're not the same thing. They're not. I'm not comparing them.

[A]

Well, the way I'm interpreting that is it's kind of like a mesh between romantasy and sci fi. Yeah. Basically romantic sci fi.

[B]

Yeah. What did. Oh, didn't Matt Denman say a dragon steal? Didn't he call it something?

[A]

Yes, and it was really funny, but I can't remember what he said.

[B]

Science friction.

[A]

Yes, that's right.

[B]

That's right.

[A]

Yeah. It's science friction, everybody.

[B]

Super Spicy?

[C]

No, not.

[B]

It's not spicy. I don't think the first book is spicy at all. No.

[A]

Oh, I forgot that you read it.

[C]

Oh, yeah, I've read it. Just the first. Yep.

[B]

I can't remember. I don't remember it being really like spicy, but like, there's romance there.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

Sort of.

[B]

Just keep chugging along. Anyways, I'll be done with that. So.

[A]

You'Re up.

[C]

Oh, Shield of Sparrows.

[A]

I think I rated it 4 stars. I think. I can't remember.

[B]

4.5. But I would change it to 5 now.

[C]

I actually didn't read it.

[A]

I don't think I did either. I. I haven't gone back.

[C]

Yeah, I haven't gone back and rated it. I'm rating it five stars because I think about it so much. I think when I originally, like. Because it was a book club book, when we originally talked about it, I said like 4.5. But I think how much I think about it and how excited I am for the next book, I'm just gonna say it. Five stars. Solid five stars.

[A]

I think I was a little hypercritical of our fantasy picks for book club this year. When I think about it, I'm like, why was I so harsh? That is a good book. I'm excited for the second one.

[C]

Yeah, I'm excited.

[B]

I gotta give it a 5 star based off of just how my jaw was.

[A]

Literally.

[B]

If you see the TikTok video of me, literally, my jaw is like detached from my face. I was like at the end. And it's not like it's anything like.

[C]

I feel like a lot of us felt like it was predictable.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

But I feel like it was just fun.

[B]

There was just so much going on.

[C]

I was like, yeah. What? I feel like it was just a. A fun time.

[B]

The second book better not disappoint us.

[A]

I know it's going to be good. I think it's going to be good.

[B]

I'm excited.

[A]

Okay. My next five star read is the Dragon Republic by R.F. kuang, the second book in the Poppy War trilogy. We picked the Poppy War as a book club book and I think that was my first Asian inspired fantasy. And then I kind of went on a spiral this year and read quite a few. The second book in the Poppy War trilogy is my favorite in the trilogy. It just had a few plot twists that I didn't. That felt predictable but also at the same time didn't. And also it just was really refreshing to me because it's such a brutal war and RF Kong doesn't Pull punches. As far as what it feels like to be in war, I think if you like Alchemized, maybe try the Poppy War, because I feel like they're both brutal in that aspect as far as war is concerned. So.

[B]

Love that book.

[A]

I remember where I was when I finished it.

[C]

That was a good book. Once again, you're really good at remembering where you were when you finished.

[A]

It's weird because sometimes I don't even remember the plot, but I remember where I was when I finished it. Didn't. Wasn't obsessed with the ending of the third of the trilogy.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Second book is the best book for sure. Which is not the case with a lot of trilogies, so.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Because I feel like usually the second's the worst.

[C]

Yeah, Usually everyone hates the second.

[A]

Yeah. This one was just epic. Lots of action, lots of character dynamics. Really loved it.

[B]

Nice. Well, I'm gonna lump these together because I reread Throne of Glass.

[A]

She's eating her words. She's eaten her words.

[B]

So I gave five stars to Crown of Midnight. Erum. Crown of Midnight. Just Kingdom of Vashj. I think those are the only ones. I gave five stars too. I mean, all the other ones are still so great, but to me, those two are my favorites and deserve a five star rating in my opinion.

[A]

Not Air of Fire. I've always wondered when I go back and reread, if I would rate that higher than I did.

[B]

Yeah, I rated it higher than I.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Yeah. So I don't feel like I need to expand, but you're following. It's Thrown a Glass, a Warrior. It's great. I think you should know about it by now if you listen to this podcast. If you don't, you must be new here.

[A]

Hello. Also, we are an Assassin's Blade first podcast. Thank you.

[C]

Thank you. Rest our case. I'm really upset that the dramatized version got pushed back because it was supposed to release at the end of 2025, and it got pushed back to 2026. I don't think they have a date.

[A]

Are they doing Throne of Glass first?

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. So Audible, apparently, is the Throne of Glass first.

[C]

Yeah. Well, I'm sure if Sarah had any say in it.

[A]

Well, I am pretty sure that's publication order too, right?

[C]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's fine. Is it me? Okay, My next one is me Luna. I won't talk much about this, but it's by Kelly McNeil.

[A]

That took book Talk by storm for a second.

[C]

You know what's crazy? I never saw anything about it unless you Guys said something.

[A]

Oh yeah.

[B]

I haven't seen anything.

[A]

I think it's because I want to say Larry read it. Oh. And then. Was it Larry? I think it was Larry.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Seriously Good one. That's a. That's a really good romance book. That feels different.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Not cheesy.

[B]

So good.

[A]

That should be a TV show. No, that should be a movie.

[C]

Oh yes.

[A]

It would be so good.

[B]

I will direct it. It would be so good.

[A]

Higher tribute if you guys don't know anything about it. It's like rockstar romance. But it's so much more than that.

[C]

So much more.

[A]

So much more.

[C]

I love Mar.

[A]

Sword of Kaigen by Emma Wong. I told you guys I wanted an Asian inspired fantasy deep dive and I rated that five stars. Originally I rated it four and a half, but then I continually started to think about it and so I bumped.

[B]

It up to five stars.

[A]

Unfortunately. I think she had intentions of writing more books in within that world because the ending doesn't really feel flushed. But she never did. I don't know if she has plans to. I want to say she did. I. I don't know how I saw a TikTok and I don't know how true it was. But one of the coolest female main characters I've ever read about is in that book.

[B]

She's just.

[A]

She's a mom and you don't read all about a lot of bad a moms in fantasy books. She's really cool.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Very cool.

[B]

I don't think I would give. I thought I would give that five stars. I didn't. Unfortunately. I think it's just the ending really. Mm.

[A]

And also I feel like it takes a good hundred pages to get into the story. It's also really hard to read because obviously fantasy books use different words that you're not familiar with sometimes. But I think. I don't know if it's a language that she uses for some of the. The words in the book. But there is a glossary. And I remember when I first started I was having to flip back and forth on my Kindle to the glossary because I couldn't remember what certain words meant. And I remember Marco Poloing these two when I was reading it and telling them about it. But very emotional. Brutal war. The powers were really cool.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

The magic's really cool, isn't it?

[A]

The elements, they control the elements.

[C]

Like Avatar. Sick.

[B]

That's really cool.

[A]

Definitely a book I think that everyone should have on their radar. I don't think it's something you need to run out and read right now, but I think it's very different. It's a really unique fantasy world and the characters are really. They have a lot of depth. Flashbacks. Flash forward. Anyways, the ending just really.

[B]

Yeah. I sent Kennedy a message. I was like, wait.

[A]

Because I think she intended to write more. Yeah.

[B]

Like, I feel like I can't really say anything else without. Because I don't want to, like, set people up for. I don't. I don't know. Anyways, I. Yeah.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

But like, incredible book.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

So my next five Star Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I love Taylor Jenkins Reid. I'm not obsessed with every book she's written, but I've loved a good chunk of them. They just feel very fresh and new to me. They're not like rom comy, but they're not strictly fiction. It's.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And specifically with Atmosphere, I kind of went in with like, low expectations. I know. I knew. I love Taylor Jenkins Reid's books, but I was like, I just didn't know. All I knew was a woman in space. I was just kind of like, cool, let's. Let's go for it. And within, like the first 20 pages, I was. I was invested and I was a mess.

[A]

So.

[B]

It's just very beautifully written too. I think it's the prologue or her author's note before or something. She kind of talks about, like, how much research he did for the book and like studying stars and the galaxy and stuff. And there were just so many metaphors within the books that just were so beautiful to me and I loved it. So it's very good.

[A]

Another one that I think should be a movie.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

The vibes, they. If you know how they're filming. I don't know if it's in the 80s, but you know what I'm talking about. Have you seen that trailer for that? Is it a 24?

[A]

A.

[B]

What's it called?

[A]

824.

[B]

Why did I just feel like that wasn't correct with the rock and what's her bucket?

[A]

My twin.

[B]

Your twin.

[A]

John Krasinski's wife. Yeah, yeah.

[B]

You know how, like their film. I don't know what time, like what decade.

[A]

He's a wrestler. Yeah, yeah.

[B]

But like you film it in this, like, 80s, like it looks like it came out of. You could put it in a VHS tape. Also, I've seen some insane casting choices. Anyways.

[A]

I'd be surprised if it doesn't get picked up. I'd be very surprised also, like, where.

[B]

Is the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo? It's been talked about for years. We got nothing.

[A]

Anyways, you want to know what's funny is I think if I reread. I'm trying to remember what I gave Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, but one book that I really want to reread because I do think I actually would rate it higher now. Think I would rate Carrie Sodo's back higher. Yeah, I don't know.

[B]

I would too.

[A]

Anyways, Michaela, Sorry.

[C]

They're talking about books I haven't read yet.

[A]

I mean, I. Do you think you'll ever read another Taylor Jenkins read? Maybe.

[B]

I know you said you haven't, but maybe you've changed your mind.

[C]

Never say never.

[A]

I feel like that those are books you could listen to if, like, you needed a book to listen to. I feel like you should listen to Carrie Soto is back next.

[C]

Okay.

[A]

I don't know why. Competitive tennis player. I don't know. Did you like. You didn't really like the favorites. No, I did maybe try it. 4 kind of reminded me of the favorites.

[C]

I don't know. I think Red, Not Red Rising, Malibu Rising really just turned me away.

[A]

That's, I think my least favorite book by her.

[C]

Yeah, I really did not like that. Yeah, that was our.

[A]

A book club book for LA 2024.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Alchemized. I won't say anymore because I feel like we have talked about it so much.

[A]

They can go listen to the book club episode too. There's a whole lovely book club episode.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah, that was my next one too. I had to scroll for a while to get to a five star read.

[A]

I missed one that I didn't screenshot. Sorry, I'll get to it. I did not mean to take that away.

[C]

Oh.

[A]

Anything else?

[C]

No, that's great.

[A]

I also don't need to say a lot about this next one. The book of Doors by Gareth Brown. Reggie, go ahead.

[B]

Play along.

[A]

Liz.

[B]

Tom, 40.

[C]

That's also my next one.

[A]

Wait, is that.

[B]

That's the one you just finished that you loved?

[A]

Yeah, I didn't screenshot that one.

[C]

And I loved that book so much, you guys. I loved it so much. Why didn't you screenshot it? I don't know why it wasn't on my list.

[B]

Oh, man.

[C]

Oh, Isaiah Rhodes.

[B]

I love him. So good. I feel like we can't say much about this book because if you. You could give the plot of it, but it makes the second. The end of the second book feel a little more fun and exciting. Don't you, Phil?

[C]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[B]

Like I would just say go Start the series if you want to skip Mile High.

[A]

Skip Mile High for all the love and holy.

[B]

You know, we weren't big fans of Mile High, except we posted a dancing video, and we chose Mile High for one of the books. And we didn't really dance, and a few people were like, what? Okay, here's.

[A]

Here's the thing.

[C]

I didn't read it.

[A]

Here's the thing. Okay. I will say that by the end of the book, Xander does have a lot of personality. Like, he has a lot of character development. Okay. But I'm not kidding you. The first three hours of the book, it's really hard to be in his head.

[B]

Oh, I.

[A]

That's why I so hard.

[B]

I could not handle him.

[A]

So, to me, I have a really hard time dnfing books. So I said, I'm just gonna persevere. And by the end, I did kind of like him. And everybody told me, you'll like him a lot more in the other books. And I agree. Yeah, I do love him. I don't like being in his mind. I probably would have liked the book a lot more if it was just Stevie's point of view, but actually, I don't even know then.

[B]

Yeah. So the other books are.

[A]

So try it. Try it. Get through 30% of it, and if you still can't stand it, DNF it. But please, for all that is holy, continue, continue. Because I remember telling these two, I don't know if I'm gonna read the rest of the series because I don't know if I like her writing.

[B]

And I'm so glad I DNF'd mile high. And I was turned off by just the first few chapters. I read that. I was like, I'm not gonna continue this. And people thought I was crazy.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And I was.

[A]

You know, the amount of times I have eaten my words on this podcast.

[B]

You know, that's fine. We live and we learn.

[A]

Everyone's like, no, Kennedy, you have to.

[B]

You have to.

[A]

And I'm like. And then randomly, I'll just get access to. On the Libby app, and I'll say, okay. And then I eat my words.

[B]

But the way we've been cruising through my. I'm excited for you guys to read the next one, too.

[A]

Also, if you're listening, I think you.

[B]

Guys will, like, play along.

[A]

We will have an episode where we recap all of the Windy City series. So all you Windy City fans out.

[B]

There for you soon, for the month of. We're doing in February, so you have plenty of time, plenty of time to read them all. Honestly, like, I was binging them. I couldn't get enough.

[A]

If you have hoopla, the first two are on there. They all used to be on there, but then for some reason they just disappeared. Ugh.

[B]

Ouch.

[C]

Don't talk to me about it. I'm really annoyed about it, actually.

[A]

I don't know why that happened. They're not even on Libby. They're literally not even on Libby.

[C]

I wonder if she's going to, like, exclusively audible.

[A]

Rude.

[B]

She has another book coming out soon.

[A]

Rude.

[C]

Pissing me off. You were like, how did you listen to.

[A]

I was like, what do you mean?

[C]

Went and checked. I was like, it's gone.

[B]

I had literally just finished another book. Like, that's crazy.

[A]

So then I had to pay for them on audible because it was only you guys.

[C]

I didn't tell you the story.

[A]

So I go on on Spotify to look for.

[C]

Play along.

[A]

Okay. I'm like, it's got to be on Spotify. I have Spotify hours. It was not. You had to buy it on Spotify and it was cheaper on Spotify than on Audible. And so I bought it, started it.

[C]

Is it different freaking language. Can you return it?

[A]

Yes.

[C]

I had to contact Spotify's, like, customer.

[A]

Service, but they did return my money. Started in a completely different language.

[C]

I was like, what the heck?

[B]

Hoopla gets me with this.

[C]

Probably.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I always am like, oh, my gosh. An Elsie Silver book on hoopla. I can't wait to listen to it.

[A]

And then I'm like, guess we better start learning German.

[B]

German, yeah.

[A]

All right. Duolingo.

[C]

Yeah, let's just exclusively read books in German anyway.

[A]

You want to know what, too? Some of the, like, non US editions of books are prettier anyways, so maybe I should learn a different language to.

[B]

Piggyback off of that one, though. My other five star read was Rewind It Back, which is the fifth book. And I'm just letting you guys know the reason I rated it 5 stars. I saw a lot of my own relationship in this book, so I don't want you guys to think it's like, I do think I enjoyed Play along more. It was just a lot more fun. But Rewind it back. There's a certain element to the story. I was like, wait. Me and my husband do the exact same thing. I was like, this is weird. Yeah. There were just lots of elements to.

[C]

It that I was like during the spicy scenes too.

[B]

Yeah, definitely. It was definitely the spicy scenes. I was like, yeah.

[A]

You guys want to know what about Play Along? That would have been my love story if I wouldn't have met my husband. 100%.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And her name is Kennedy.

[A]

My dream. My dream in high school before I met my husband was to literally be an athletic trainer for a professional.

[C]

And the exact way it started, too.

[B]

The exact way.

[C]

The exact way.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. For sure, for sure, for sure.

[B]

Oh, so good, you guys. Oh, yeah. So anyways, that's my last five star grade.

[C]

Yeah. Sorry.

[A]

Not to go back to Play Along.

[B]

Well, that's fine.

[C]

We'll have a whole episode about it, but let's keep going. No, I'll stop. I'll stop.

[A]

No, you gotta go.

[C]

No, because I was just telling Cole, my husband, about it because he loves baseball. He loves baseball. And I was blasting the song, you know, the iconic song. Yeah. And I was like. He's like, why do you keep listening to this?

[A]

And I was like, look, there's a book I'm reading.

[C]

Or I finished. It's about baseball player. This is his walkout song. He's like, for real? I was like, yeah.

[A]

Do they do that in the mlb? Yeah. They have walkout songs in the mlb?

[C]

Yeah. Shohei Ohtani is I'm Feeling Good by Michael Buble. And I'm feeling.

[A]

I've been to a professional.

[C]

I've been to an MLB game.

[A]

How did I not notice?

[C]

It's really short.

[A]

It's really short. Okay.

[C]

It's not like a huge thing. So I'm curious what part of the song.

[A]

Yeah, it was.

[B]

I need. I need.

[A]

We got. We got an interview. We gotta interview Liz.

[B]

And it means Kirby and hbo.

[C]

Anyways, Serious.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

I was.

[C]

Yeah. And I was just talking about how cool it is. And it makes more sense to me how quickly athletes can recover because they literally have people at their beck and call 24 7. Like, just, like taking care of their body.

[A]

And also they're just the medical equipment they have access to.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

My dream. I would love to work for a professional team.

[C]

No, I literally. Yeah. Anyways, I love the book because of what it was, but also I was like, wow, this is really insightful.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

Guys, I need.

[A]

I need a book for a team photographer and an athlete.

[C]

We should write that.

[A]

All right.

[C]

Write that.

[B]

We're gonna write that new pen name.

[C]

Wrap that. It's gonna be under Ken regimen after this.

[B]

We gotta record a dancing video to that song.

[C]

Love it.

[A]

Love it.

[B]

Like books, Tyler. Anyways.

[A]

Love it.

[B]

Yeah. That's my last five star. My most recent five star read. So unless we count My parenting book I just finished that changed my life. But I don't rate self help books.

[A]

Do you have any more?

[C]

I have one.

[A]

I have two.

[C]

You go.

[A]

Oh, I'll go then you go, then I'll go.

[C]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Harry Potter and the Death of you Hollows. So okay, that doesn't need explanation.

[C]

Oh, sorry, I don't remember what I was saying.

[B]

Oh, your book.

[A]

Yeah, your book.

[C]

Sorry, yeah, I was gonna comment on the deathly huddles, but I can't remember what I was gonna say. You also went to Universal.

[A]

I went to Universal. I finished the book.

[C]

Right.

[A]

On an air. On the airplane to go to Universal and then I. I went to Hogwart.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Come to find out I am Hufflepuff.

[B]

Do they have like a quiz there for you?

[A]

No, I've just taken one since and I'm Hufflepuff, apparently so.

[C]

The coolest thing though is.

[A]

No, wait, no, no. I'm Ravenclaw.

[C]

Yeah, I just like Cedric is Raven.

[A]

No, what's Cedric?

[C]

Cedric is Hufflepuff.

[A]

I'm Hufflepuff.

[C]

Yeah. The coolest thing that happened was we went into Ollivanders.

[A]

Oh yeah.

[C]

And the worker picks your wand for you based on like your personality.

[B]

Wait, did you guys all come home with one?

[A]

No, I never went back and got my wand. We got it. We got.

[C]

I took pictures of them. But we had her pick out our wands for us and it was just a really fun experience.

[A]

They were all very different.

[C]

All very different ones.

[A]

She put me on the spot and was like, can you give me some attributes of your husband? And I froze up.

[C]

And Cole goes cocky. Does he say that? Yes. I don't remember that. It's okay. She didn't even have to ask what attributes my husband had. She was like, I want for you. She's like, you're Slytherin, aren't you? What's your last book anyways? Last book? Sorry, that was an off. I'm feeling a little spacey today. Okay. I technically rated this 4.5, but I did rate it up. Like round it up. I have a problem committing to five stars.

[A]

I guess I've noticed that about you.

[C]

I have commitment issues, I guess. I don't know. The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen.

[A]

It was so. You love those.

[C]

I haven't. I've only finished the first one. Oh.

[A]

Oh, I thought you. Are you reading the second one?

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

It was so freaking fun. So fun. The first chapter is insane.

[A]

What is like the magic like, what is it like? So Listen, there's no fairies.

[C]

There's not any magic. Oh. If that makes sense.

[A]

It's like, medieval.

[C]

Yeah, sort of. So pretty much a bridge kingdom is literally what the title is. A bridge kingdom. It's a kingdom on a bridge. And everyone wants to, like, rule it. And so people are like, constantly attacking the bridge kingdom. And it's like, raised up, if that makes sense. Like, it's not accessible by just like, you know, having a boat come up to it and stuff like that.

[A]

They're gonna, like, climate, like.

[C]

Yeah, they gotta climb, like, Rapunzel's castle. There's a. There's literally a map of it at the beginning. And it helps a lot with it, but it's really long. It's connected by little islands. It's so cool. I just thought it was really fresh and unique.

[A]

That's one of those books that I feel like.

[C]

Yeah. Yes. Yeah.

[A]

That's one of those books I feel like was talked about a lot on book talk. Yeah. And now it's older. Ish. Right?

[C]

Yeah. Like, she's released a lot of newer books.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

It gives Throne of Glass esque vibes. Not remotely the same, but similar. Ish vibes.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

I could see, like. Well, I haven't read the book, but I can see the comparison.

[C]

But I think. Yeah, I think they're. I. Yeah. Anyways, it's. I think it's funny. It has, like, good banter. Characters are funny. But also, I don't know if it was just like, this is the first book I, like, sat down, read in a long, long time. Like, there's not any audiobook available for free. So, like, I was forced to, like, sit down and read it. So maybe that's why I rated it higher.

[A]

You want to know what someone told me? And this clicked in my brain. I don't know why I'm going off on this tangent, but I was sitting, talking to this guy and girl, and she basically was asking me and this guy because he reads. And she said, how do you guys read? I have a really hard time focusing. And he said something that I've. I'm sure I've heard someone else say it sometime, but he basically said that reading is like learning running a mile. Because we were at the gym when he was talking about it, and he just said, you just have to commit to running one mile. And then it gets easier and easier the more you do it. And I feel like that's been part of my problem lately is I haven't wanted to read, but I just need to commit to sitting down and just focusing on my book for 15, 20 minutes. Because once I've sat down and focused on my book for that long, I'm invested in the story and then I can keep reading. I just haven't done that in a really long time.

[B]

I like that.

[A]

So anyways, nice. Okay, I guess we're ending on this one. Sorry everyone. This was. Nope, it wasn't my last five star read. My last five star read for 2025 would have been Play along but we already talked about it. So I did give a man called Uwe 5 stars by Frederick Bachman.

[B]

Kennedy Fred. Frederick Bachman or like this.

[A]

Yeah, if we can interview him, that would be great. I don't know, he just. No, I don't. I haven't read all of his books. Five stars. But I think that just the way he writes about life in general, he just has so many quotable things. I actually. So it was my husband and I as this was actually really cute. So I was reading this book as I was making this magazine for my husband and I's 10 year anniversary and strangely enough this book is really romantic for a reason. I don't really want to say because if you. I think Mikayla knows kind of about the plot. I don't know if you know about the plot. I didn't know anything about the plot.

[B]

Grumpy man.

[A]

I think he is so grumpy, but I love him so much. He's like one of those old grumpy people that you just want to give a hug.

[B]

I love him.

[A]

Anyways, he has this quote. I can't remember what it is about love. About like loving someone for a really long time. And I put the quote in this thing that I made my husband and he read it and the first thing he said to me, he was like, I really loved that quote that you put in there. So I just love Fredrik Backman. He just really hits me in my feels. And I haven't seen the movie but I watched the trailer and the movie doesn't look as good as the book.

[B]

So that's it. Amazing. That's our five star reads.

[C]

Five stars.

[B]

Can't wait to see what five star reads. Come for 2026.

[C]

Hopefully more for me.

[B]

Hopefully more.

[A]

Hopefully more five star fantasy reads.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

You know, this year I feel like I can't remember what month it was between October and now. I think I've had like four or five star reads because I was like, why am I being so freaking harsh? Why am I being so like critical? I'm like, if I had a good time, I just need to, like, read it five stars. I need to commit to it. So I'm trying to not be as critical because I. I think there's a time and place to be critical on books. But I'm also like, if you had a really good reading experience and you talk really highly of it and you recommend it to everyone, I'm like, you probably should rate it five stars.

[B]

Yeah, sorry, I was saying, you guys.

[A]

Yeah, well, no, no, yeah, yeah.

[B]

I get that everyone rates theirs differently, but I feel like for the most part, we all kind of have a similar way we create.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Like a five star read.

[A]

But I think next year I'm just going to go into fantasy books specifically, being less of a hater.

[B]

Just read it for the vibe.

[A]

Yeah, just read it for the fun and just read it.

[C]

Just read it.

[A]

Just read it.

[C]

I just want to see.

[B]

Here's what I'm hoping to see this next year. Okay. I want to see more sci fi and I want to see more. I need like a. A new series, like, like the Windy City series. I need something like that again. Like, I'm gonna need that at some point next year.

[A]

But here's the thing. You. We were all very fortunate with the Windy City series because so many of them had been out and we were.

[B]

Able to finish them.

[C]

Exactly.

[A]

I can't think of another romance series. So here we're coming to you guys. Please give us another romance, interconnected standalone series, like Windy City series, Chestnut Springs. That'd be great.

[B]

Yeah. I'm excited to see where this next year takes us with books and hopefully it's good. I feel like this year just felt weird for some reason. I can't even put like my finger on what it was. Maybe it's the fact that I probably listened to 80% of my books.

[A]

I think Michaela said, she said this. I can't remember when on Marco Polo, but she said something like, I need to read for fun again. Yeah, I just. I don't know. I don't think I've been reading for fun. It's almost felt like a chore lately. I'm definitely lowering my reading goal for 20, 26.

[C]

I'm not gonna. I'm not gonna make it.

[B]

I'm kind of anti reading goal.

[A]

I'm gonna lower it to like 100. And then if I pass it, great. I think I just. Yeah, I went. I went through this phase where I was trying to get through books as fast as I possibly could. And I think that's why I didn't rate a lot of them very high. So we're going into 2026 with good vibes.

[B]

Can't wait.

[A]

Happy New Year.

[B]

Happy New Year, guys. Hope it's a good Hope you had a great year, great year of reading and we will see you guys next week, next year. Sorry, see you next year. As a reminder, you can follow us on Instagram and tick tock at what she's reading pod. We also have a Patreon if you want more content from us that you can go check out with more book club stuff, monthly vlogs and live discussions. And we also are going to be getting in a better habit of posting on our Instagram stories. Basically a upcoming events calendar so you guys can prepare for future episodes. Like we talked about Windy City series. We're also going to be doing a People we meet on Vacation Book versus Movie episode here very soon. So. So yeah, stay up to date for all that stuff on our Instagram and we're excited for some of the fun stuff we have coming for this next year. So we will see you guys next year next week.

[C]

Bye.