Book Recs For You!

Summary

I'll Read What She's Reading – Book Recs For You!

Date: July 15, 2026
Hosts: Reggie, Mikayla, Kennedy

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Episode Overview

In this energetic and relatable episode, Reggie, Mikayla, and Kennedy transform listener prompts—ranging from vibes, movies, TV shows, and moods—into tailored book recommendations. Leaning into their group-chat-to-book-club charm, the hosts review recent reads, share personal opinions (sometimes unfiltered and a bit chaotic), and provide an extensive, genre-spanning list of recs for all types of readers. Whether you want “twisty,” “yearning,” or a book for your next iced coffee moment, this episode is bursting with ideas to grow your TBR.

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What We’ve Been Reading (00:40–11:55)

Reggie’s Current Reads & Thoughts (00:40)

• A Day Like This by Kelly McNeil
  • "It was not what I was expecting it to be...the second half just kind of lost me a little bit. But then by the end, I was like, oh, I liked how it ended, but the second half really lost me for a second." —Reggie (02:26)
  • “Essentially, it’s about a mom who gets into a car accident, wakes up in the hospital, and is told she never had a daughter.” (01:00)
• The Odyssey (audio, narrated by “the guy that plays Dumbledore”)
  • Reading due to musical/theatrical interests; enjoying the differences from other adaptations (03:24–03:54).
• The Hunger Games reread (Started a Fable group for this, inviting listeners) (04:10)
• Starside by Alex Aster (30–35% in; confused by some plot points but enjoying the magic system) (04:50)
  • “I just have a lot of questions...there’s one element that I’m like, why haven’t we explored this yet?” —Reggie (05:55)

Kennedy’s Reading Update (06:23)

• Admits to a rare reading slump: “I literally have not physically read a book in the last probably two weeks.” (06:23)
• Phoebe Berman’s Gonna Lose It by Brooke Averick
  • Influencer writing a romance about anxiety; “There wasn’t anything super special about it...it was fine. But the anxiety rep was good.” (07:48)
• The Plea by Steve Kavanaugh (Eddie Flynn series, “courtroom drama with mob bosses and lawyer antics,” recommended for Suits fans) (08:40)
• Considering Because I Killed Him (“Great Gatsby vibes, on Kindle Unlimited”) (09:16)

Mikayla’s Book Docket (09:33)

• Fever Dream by Elsie Silver ("Dating show" plot with a Chestnut Springs character; fun and enjoyable) (09:45–10:28)
• The Someday Garden by Ashley Poston ("Not as whimsical as expected, kind of sad, but set in Maine in the summer") (11:01)
• Plug: Summer book club on Fable, with an upcoming romance discussion episode (11:12)

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Listener Book Recommendation Prompts

1. Complete Fantasy Series / Romantasy Trilogy (12:10)

• The War of Lost Hearts series by Carissa Broadbent
  • “He [Max] kind of gives those vibes. He’s just like this little cinnamon roll, and you just love him to death.” —Reggie (13:39)
  • Fresh, underrated romantasy with a kind male lead (12:45–13:59)

2. Twisty Reads (14:07)

• My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney
• The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides (“In the rare chance you have not read it, go read that.” —Mikayla, 14:42)
• Wayward Pines by Blake Crouch
  • “Makes it more twisty for sure if you go in blind.” (15:27)
  • Kennedy originally recommended; full circle moment

3. Yearning & Soulmates (15:34)

• Into the Blue by Emma Brody
  • “You will yearn for the characters. You’ll yearn with the characters.” —Kennedy (16:05)
  • SNL writer & famous actor romance, “so much more than that—sad, funny, visceral reaction to the characters.” (16:39)
  • All three hosts rated it 5 stars, a rare feat for romance (16:24)
  • "It’s almost like their souls are tethered together." (17:04)

4. Page-Turner (not a thriller) (17:21)

• Into the Blue—also fits here due to consuming tension and addictiveness (17:27)
• The Bright Years by Sarah Demoff
  • “Gut punch after gut punch...covers grief, alcoholism, family drama, love, loss.” —Reggie (18:48)
• The Favorites by Lane Fargo
  • “Standalone, messy drama, toxic people, will they/won’t they.” —Mikayla (19:39)

5. Magnolia Parks / Boys of Tommen Vibes (19:54)

• The Favorites by Lane Fargo (see above)

6. New York City Setting (20:17)

• This Book Will Save Your Life by A.M. Homes (Incorrectly named; the podcast refers to “this book made me think of you” by Emily/Libby Page—unclear title) (20:27–21:48)
  • “Her husband arranges for her to receive books every month after he dies; such a beautiful story about love, set in NYC.” (21:25)
• The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin
  • “Maybe right book, wrong time...but literally a love letter to New York City and New Yorkers.” —Kennedy (22:11)
  • “Stranger Things meets Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse...five boroughs, five main characters defending the city.” (22:26–23:15)

7. Easy-to-Read Sci-Fi (Not Dune, More Project Hail Mary) (23:51)

• Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
  • “More accessible than Project Hail Mary, and less sciencey...definitely recommend that one.” —Reggie (25:35)
• Recursion by Blake Crouch (as a backup)

8. Magical Realism (25:51)

• The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown
  • “She inherits a book that lets her open doors to anywhere; a little dangerous, a fun read.” (27:01)
• Ashley Poston’s novels (magical realism sprinkled in, more romance-heavy than Book of Doors) (27:01–27:36)

9. Walking Dead Vibes (28:12)

• Run by Blake Crouch
  • “Gives off that post-apocalyptic feel—darker, a bit gory and gruesome, maybe you’d call them zombies.” —Kennedy (28:54)
  • “There were times that I had to put it down because I was so physically ill.” (29:37)

10. Romance Subplot in Sci-Fi (not fantasy) (30:29)

• The Blighted Stars by Megan E. O’Keefe (mispronounced as Yoki)
  • “Space opera, printing of people, fascinating romantic subplot; can get confusing but worth it.” —Reggie (32:01–33:56)
  • Recommendation to read physically, not audio (34:05)

11. Standalone Fantasy (34:14)

• Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson
• Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson
  • “Both technically standalones; whimsical, light-hearted, fantastic graphic audios.” (34:45–35:31)
  • "Brandon has about 1500 of them. So take your pick." —Kennedy (35:36)

12. Sipping Iced Coffee on a Porch Swing Vibes (36:00)

• Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi (author’s name not said aloud)
  • Short, sweet, with time-traveling coffee shop premise—some may find writing a bit choppy or juvenile, but very wholesome. (36:17–37:39)
• The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
  • “The feeling of reading this book is the feeling you get when you drink a cup of hot chocolate...sweet, wholesome, feels good when you finish.” (37:40)
  • Comparisons to Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends (90s cartoon) (37:40)

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “Yearning—actually, about 50 million of you said you want yearning.” —Kennedy (15:34)
• “It’s like messy drama, toxic people, standalone, will they/won’t they type vibe.” —Kennedy, describing The Favorites (20:14)
• “I feel like I need to reread something I know I’m gonna love to bring back the spark for reading.” —Kennedy (06:23)
• “If you have a recommendation for me, please give it to me.” —Kennedy, in a reading slump (08:40)
• “It’s like a little cinnamon roll and you just love him to death.” —Reggie, on Max from War of Lost Hearts (13:39)
• “Take your pick. Take your pick.” (Brandon Sanderson standalones) —Mikayla & Kennedy (35:39)

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Episode Structure Timestamps

• 00:40 – Current reads and updates
• 12:10 – Listener recommendation prompts begin
• 13:59 – Complete fantasy/Romantasy series
• 14:07 – Twisty reads
• 15:34 – Yearning & soulmates recs
• 17:21 – Non-thriller page-turners
• 19:54 – Magnolia Parks/Boys of Tommen vibes
• 20:17 – New York City settings
• 23:51 – Accessible sci-fi
• 25:51 – Magical realism
• 28:12 – Walking Dead/post-apocalyptic vibes
• 30:29 – Sci-Fi w/ romance subplot
• 34:14 – Standalone fantasy
• 36:00 – Summery/wholesome “iced coffee on a porch” recs

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Final Thoughts

The hosts expertly pivot between genres, moods, and vibes, leveraging both their own tastes and in-jokes (“messy group chat energy”) to craft personalized book recommendations sure to expand any listener’s TBR. With a focus on relatability and authenticity (and a touch of chaos), this episode is a treasure trove for readers looking for their next obsession, something to reignite a slump, or just a comforting read for a summer afternoon.

Transcript

[A]

Foreign.

[B]

Hi, guys. Welcome back to I'll read what she's reading.

[C]

I'm Mikayla.

[A]

I'm Reggie.

[C]

And I'm Kennedy.

[B]

And today we're recommending books for our listeners. You guys answered in a question box. Some songs. I heard some, I saw. Some songs. I don't know if any of us chose some songs. TV shows, movies, something that feels similar to something. And we're recomm finding a book for you guys. But before we begin, we're going to update you guys on books we've been reading.

[A]

Yeah, Reggie, do you want to go first? Yeah. I have been on top of my summer tbr, which has been great.

[C]

Oh, I completely forgot about that.

[A]

I read. Okay. I read A Day like this by Kelly McNeil. Do you guys remember when I was talking about wanting to read this and May Luna?

[B]

Right? Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. Author May Luna. It was not what I was expecting it to be. Uh, it's like, I don't even really know what to say about it because I think from the synopsis I was expecting something a lot different. But essentially it's about. So the. The story begins with this mom, and her daughter's sick. And she's gotta hurry and take her to the pediatrician. Cause she's just got like a really high fever. And she's on the phone with her husband who's like across the world on business. And she's like, I. It's like a really bad storm out. Like, I don't know if I'm gonna appointment on time. And she's just like, really stressed, like, really worried about her daughter because she's been really sick. They get in the car. They get in a car accident. And she wakes up from in the hospital and she's like, is my daughter okay? Like, is my daughter okay? And they're like, what are you talking. You don't have a daughter. There was not a girl. There was not a daughter in the car. And she's like, no, I have a daughter. Her name is Hannah. Like, she's telling them everything about her and they're like, sorry, like, you don't have a. You don't have a daughter. And she's like, yes, I do. And then she's like, I need to talk to my husband. And they're like, being really weird about it. Well, then all of a sudden, her husband just like walks in and he's like, being kind of standoffish. Apparently her and her husband have been separated and her life is just like completely turned upside down. And so she's trying to figure out where she goes from here. Because she's like, no, like, I'm married to my husband. We live in this specific house. Like, she can recall so many different details, and some things start to line up where she's like, okay, like, this makes sense. Like you. It was good. I thought I was gonna rate it a lot higher than I did. I gave it three stars, hoping to rate it a little higher. I think the second half just kind of lost me a little bit. But then by the end, I was like, oh, I liked how it ended, but the second half really lost me for a second. I was like, what is going on?

[C]

So, yeah, not like me Luna at all.

[A]

No.

[C]

Is it. It's not romance, is it?

[A]

Is it romance? No. No, not really.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

We love a girl that's got range.

[A]

Yeah, it's. It's something like. I can't even decide if I would say I'd recommend it. I don't know. But if that sounds, like, interesting to you and you're curious, like, oh, it does sound interesting.

[C]

Where does this go?

[A]

Maybe you'd be interested to pick it up. But, yeah, it just wasn't what I was expecting it to be. And what else? I. I'm currently reading three books. Number one, the Odyssey.

[C]

Oh, you guys heard that?

[A]

I'm on my epic the Musical Grind, and it's just been like, the Odyssey is just in my brain. And we got tickets to the movie. I was like, if I can't stop singing these songs and, like, watching all the behind the scenes of the movie, I'm like, let me just dive in a little deeper and, like, actually read the book. So I'm, like, almost halfway through, I'm doing the audiobook. What's his name? The guy that plays Dumbledore is. Narrates it. It's actually pretty good. It's just kind of hard. I think if I had. No. Like, I never read it in high school. I think if I had, like, not very much knowledge of the Odyssey, I'd be really lost. But I think since I'm already pretty familiar with the story, it's been easy for me to, like, follow along. And it's actually been really fascinating because, yeah, just, like, see differences from, like, I don't know, other adaptations that people have done of it or, like, what people say, because there's lots of different retellings of it. So to actually, like, read it and be like, oh, it's been really interesting. So I'm excited for the movie, and then I'm doing my Hunger Games Reread. I started the first book. If anyone. I made my own little fable group, if anyone wants to read along with me. It's been kind of fun. I've got some friends on there reading it with me. And I also started Starside by Alex aster. I'm, like, 35, 30% of the way through. I don't really know how I feel about it yet. I don't. Like, I'm not gonna say anything, really, because I don't know. I'm just kind of like, wait, where is this going? I don't know. But then at the same time, I already have my guesses of how it's gonna end, so we'll see. I'm doing the audiobook and reading it on my Kindle. So, yeah, it's been interesting. I am really looking forward to see. I just, like, keep trying to, like. I'm trying to read it as much as I can because I don't wanna, like. I feel like I need to just kind of binge it. It's interesting. I'm really liking the magic system. It's actually really cool. Like, there's all these, and each sword's, like, kind of a different medal, which was, like, kind of funny to me because I was, like, trying to decide if I read this or Mistborn. But, yeah, I. Yeah, it's been. It's been interesting so far. There's things that I've liked about it and some things where I'm, like, a little confused with, like, I'm like. There's some missing plot points already that I'm kind of like, what in the world? But who knows?

[C]

I've heard some things about it that makes me push it lower in my tbr.

[B]

Really.

[C]

I don't want to say. What?

[A]

Because I don't want to. Like, you know, I've really mostly seen really good things, so my expectations are low. But, I mean, I'm enjoying it.

[C]

I think.

[A]

I just have a lot of questions. Like, I want to. I won't even say, but it's just. It's just been. There's one element to it that I'm like, why haven't we explored this yet? I don't know. It's been interesting, but we'll see.

[B]

So you're a multitasking woman.

[A]

Yeah, I have, like, a lot going on. I. The Odyssey is just one that I turn on when I'm like, don't have a ton of time to, like. You know what I mean?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So, yeah.

[B]

Kennedy, would you like to go?

[C]

Sure. It's been A rough go about. Guys, I really think I'm gonna have to start rereading stuff because I literally have not physically read a book in the last probably two weeks. I've maybe read for an hour. I just. Nothing is really exciting me. And I feel like every book that I'm reading, I'm being overly harsh about it. So I feel like I need to reread something that I know I'm gonna love to like to bring back the spark for reading.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Because it's gone.

[B]

It's gone.

[C]

But I've read some very meh books lately. First one being Phoebe Berman's Gonna Lose it by Brooke Averick. Guys, I literally did not know. I knew of her. I knew her face, but I didn't put together that this was written by an influencer until after I started it. Have you guys seen. Do you know who Brooke is?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah, she has like that podcast.

[C]

I feel like if you saw a picture of her, you know who she is. Let me show you a picture of her. She has a podcast. Do you know who this is?

[B]

Does this look familiar to you?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Oh, sort of. Yeah.

[C]

Anyways, she's got a podcast. She's an influencer. So I went into it. Not really. I mean, like, I know who she is, but I don't follow her. So I do think if you follow her and know who she is, you probably will like the book a lot more than I did. Basically you're following a almost 30 year old who has extreme romantic anxiety and the whole goal of her of the book is her trying to lose it, you know?

[A]

Oh, I see.

[C]

Yeah. And I did really enjoy the anxiety representation. I could relate a lot to when she would talk about her physical anxiety and just having social anxiety and all the things. So I enjoyed that. But there wasn't really anything super special about it. It just kind of was very cut and dry. Here's your romance book. There was a quote, plot twist that I necessarily didn't see coming, but at the same time was predictable. I know that sounds crazy, but it was fine. I think it's a really easy listen if you're in the mood for a silly little rom com and if you follow Brooke closely, you'll probably really love it. And then I am currently listening to the Plea by Steve Kavanaugh. I think I'm like 30% of the way in. And moral of the story is don't, don't be close to Eddie Flynn. Anyone close to Eddie Flynn just gets screwed over.

[B]

So,

[C]

I mean, we've talked about the Eddie Flynn series. Enough on the podcast. I don't need to get too much into it, but they're nice little courtroom drama with mob bosses and illegal things going on and lawyer antics and law and, you know, it's suits. Yeah, it suits. But seriously, if you guys have a recommendation for me to read, please give it to me. My sister in law actually texted me about the one book that was circulating on Booktok. We talked about it. I think she texted me and she said if you're still in a slump, I really recommend Because I Killed him, the new to the dystopian book. Yeah, she says it's great Gatsby vibes and it's on Kindle Unlimited.

[A]

Yeah, I've heard literally nothing but good

[C]

things, so I might pick that up. But also I gotta read my summer tbr. So anyways, Mikayla, passing the torch to you.

[B]

Passing the torch to me. I read Fever Dream by Elsie Silver. It's Emmett. And if you guys have read the. The billionaire one.

[C]

No, not Chestnut Springs, the other one.

[B]

Chestnut Springs. Oh, if you've read Chestnut Springs, Emmett is the douchey bull rider. Oh yeah, it's about him.

[C]

Oh, I didn't realize that.

[B]

Yeah, so there's like a little bit of callback like with. Because you know, Silva. Theo. Oh yeah, Theo and him like buttheads. So yeah, it's about him.

[C]

I did not realize that's who it was about.

[B]

Yeah, it's kind of fun. It's like the wrong Paris. If anyone has ever watched that on Netflix with Miranda Crossing. It's a dating show.

[C]

What in the world?

[B]

If there's a dating show aspect. Pretty much he needs to save his family's farm from bankruptcy and so they poach him for a dating show and he says yes because he gets a fat check from it. So anyways, it was fun. It was a good time. I really, I really liked it. So. And then I am currently reading the Someday Garden by Ashley Poston. I'm intrigued. So far. I'm not very far into it, but

[C]

one of our summer book clubs. Yeah.

[B]

Yes. Summer book club. It's different. I don't know. Well, you know, obviously there's some magical realism. I haven't quite gotten to that part yet.

[C]

I was just gonna ask you what

[B]

it was, so I don't think I've gotten there so far. Okay. But there is like a pretty like sad plot line and it. It's sad. Actually, I wasn't expecting it to be sad. So.

[C]

So not a summer ready.

[B]

It is a summary. It is a Summer read it is because it takes place in summer in Maine. But anyways, I have. I'm not very far into it, but it is our book club book. So if anyone wants to join on Fable wants to read it with us, we'll have a podcast episode about our three romance books at the end of summer. So, yeah, anyways, that's what I've been up to.

[A]

Nice.

[B]

All right, Are we getting into it?

[A]

Let's get into it.

[B]

Let's recommend some books for our listeners, you guys.

[A]

Let's do it.

[B]

All right, Reggie, do you want to go?

[A]

Yeah. This is one of the most commonly asked ones. I'm going to just answer for you guys because a lot of people were wanting and I'm putting this specific set of books in these three categories. Okay. People were asking for a complete fantasy series. That's. Some of them were saying, want one? A complete series that's not very long or a Romantasy trilogy. All right, okay. So for. If you're looking for any of those three things, I'm going to recommend to you the War of Lost Hearts series.

[C]

I knew where that was going, Carissa

[A]

Broadbent, because one, it's three books.

[C]

It.

[B]

They're.

[A]

They're really great. I feel like it's kind of a nice change of pace from maybe other Romantasy books out there. We posted a TikTok the other day of. I was like, talking in the episode about how I just want something, like, fresh, like I need, like, more of a golden retriever, kind of like male main character in a Romantasy book. And someone commented, and they were like, well, what about Max from War of Lost Hearts? I was like, oh, duh. Like, he's. He kind of gives those vibes. He's just like this little cinnamon roll, and you just love him to death. So if you're looking for something maybe a little bit different, I wouldn't say it's like, super different from Romantasy books out there, but it's one just very underrated, really great characters, very cool plot. And yeah, there's only three books and I just can't sing. It's like, say enough praises for Carissa Broadbent. There's some really iconic moments in those books, and they're just not talked about.

[B]

No, they're not at all.

[A]

And I just think they're incredible. So that would be my recommendation for any of you looking for any of those three things.

[B]

So love nose. Great. Someone put something twisty. So I have three suggestions.

[C]

Oh, three.

[B]

I'm going above and beyond for you, My husband's wife by Alice Feeney. Feeney. Silent Patient by Alex Michelides or something. Yeah. In the rare trance you have not read it. Rare chance. Some people I talk to about stuff and I'm like, have you read the Silent Patient? They're like, no. I'm like, what are you doing?

[C]

It's one of those books that if you weren't on booktok three or four years ago, it's not talked about anymore.

[B]

Yeah. So in their off chance that you haven't read Silent Patient, go read that. And Wayward Pines.

[A]

Ah.

[B]

By Blake Crouch.

[C]

I literally had that on my note, and then I erased it because I

[B]

figured you would say that. Sorry. No, that's great. Didn't mean to take you away. Kennedy read it first. Okay.

[C]

That's not what I was trying to get at. That's not what I was trying to

[B]

get out of the. She recommended it. All praises go to Kennedy for.

[C]

No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

[A]

For real.

[B]

I won't go into much because I went into bl. Into these books very blind, and I suggest you do the same. If you want something twisty, just want to pick up a book. Not really know much about it.

[A]

Makes it more twisty. For sure.

[B]

Yeah. So that's all I'm going to say about those books.

[C]

Take Michaela's word for it.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yep. Yeah.

[C]

Yeah. Someone said they want yearning. Actually, about 50 million of you said you want urinary.

[B]

That was the highest put prompt, I

[C]

would say, on the entire question box. We did. I'm only giving one book because it's one that we recently read for our Patreon. So if you read it and then want to sign up for Patreon to see our discussion, by all means, go for it. Into the Blue by Emma Brody. I would say that's got some good yearning. You will yearn for the characters. You'll yearn with the characters. It's just one of the most unique romance books I've read in a really long time. Like Michaela said, on the off chance you haven't read it yet, because I feel like it's very, very prevalent on social media right now. But all of us rated it five stars. Yes.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

All of us rated it five stars, which. That doesn't happen a lot with romance books. For us, for fantasy, I'd say that's pretty common.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Romance, not so much. SNL writer and famous actor. But it's so much more than that.

[B]

So much more.

[C]

So much more. It's. It's Sad. It's funny, you know, I just had a really visceral reaction to the characters and the choices that they made. I would scream at them. I would slam my book down. It's just everything you could want in a romance book. I feel like it's got. It's got everything.

[B]

That's a great suggestion for yearning. I love it.

[A]

Great.

[C]

Yearning slash soulmates.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

Oh. Also, it has one of the most interesting ways that I've ever heard love written about, because truly, it's almost like their souls are tethered together. That's the best way I can describe it. It's so good.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

The hype. It is worth the hype, in my opinion.

[B]

Yeah. So 100. Okay.

[A]

My turn. Paige Turner. That's not a thriller.

[C]

Mm.

[A]

And I maybe sound like such a broken record, but this was just like a page turning book for me. And maybe this is not what you guys would think I would say, but one of them is into the Blue. Because I just felt like I was just like, where is this gonna go? Like, there was just. The yearning just had me. I was rooting for them so hard. I just needed to know what was happening. So I feel like if you're looking for kind of like a romance book that's like a page turner, that one to me felt like a page turner. It might not for everybody, but I'm gonna say into the Blue. But I'm also gonna say the Bright Years by Sarah Demoff. It's pretty short, but, like. And I can't really say why it's a page turner, but I remember, like, I turn a page and I'd be like. I'd be like, like what? You're kidding. There were just so many. It was like a gut punch after gut punch. You just know it's an emotional read. If you've heard me talk about it, you know what? Why? There's just, like, a lot. It covers a lot of themes about, you know, grief and alcoholism. Just family drama and. Yeah. Love, loss, all the things. And I finished that book so fast, I could not put it down because I just was sucked in. I felt like I knew these people in real life and, you know, like, when someone's like, I got to spill the tea. I was like, no, like, tell me more. I. I couldn't put it down. Not saying that you might feel the same way when you read it, but I feel like with how short it is and the emotional impact that it had on me and certain things I won't say about the plot that just had Me dying to know where things were gonna go. I'm gonna recommend that. Maybe not what you were anticipating, but

[C]

I'm gonna say they did say not a thriller.

[A]

Yeah, it's not a thriller, but that's. I was trying to think of, like, the most recent books I've read that I couldn't put down, and those were the two that came. Great.

[C]

Great.

[A]

I don't know if you guys have any that you can think of.

[C]

I didn't have anything for that prompt.

[B]

Now that you say I feel like the favorites.

[A]

Ooh.

[B]

As I'm looking at it.

[A]

Yeah. Lane Fargo.

[B]

Lane Fargo. That was a Paige Turner.

[A]

That was a Paige Turner.

[B]

I was very invested in what was going to happen, so I need that

[A]

as like a Amazon Prime.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

You want to know what show someone asked for? And I didn't have write this down as a prompt, but basically someone was like, I want something that feels like Magnolia Parks slash the Boys of Tom and series. And this is a very loose suggestion. The favorites, because it's like messy drama, toxic people, standalone, will they, won't they type vibe.

[A]

Yeah, that's a good one.

[C]

Similar vibe. Now that you say the favorites, but yeah. Anyways.

[B]

Okay. This was so niche, but it says New York City setting.

[A]

Oh, my gosh.

[B]

I have one for this too.

[A]

You go first.

[B]

This book made me think of you.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

By. Oh, my gosh, I should know this. Emily by Libby Page.

[C]

Oh, that was close. Not even. I know I wasn't.

[B]

You. If you have been a long time listener, you have heard us talk about this a little bit. But it's about. I forget her name. It's about this character that her husband dies and he, before he dies, arranges with this bookstore that she's gonna receive a book for each month the next year just to help her deal with all of the emotions and all the feelings that she is feeling. And it takes place in New York, right? I think so.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

I'm pretty positive.

[C]

I pictured it being in New York.

[B]

I'm pretty. I'm like almost 100% positive it's in New York. So anyways, that one was just beautiful, in my opinion. Just like such a beautiful book. And I. The setting of New York makes it fun too. So that's my recommendation for you.

[C]

Such a good story about love.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Set in New York City.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Mine is almost the complete opposite of Michaela's. Not really. Okay. And I'm recommending this because it's almost like a love letter to New York City. I particularly did not enjoy this book. So I probably haven't talked about this on the podcast, actually, but the City we became by N.K. jemisin. Have you guys ever heard me talk about this?

[A]

No.

[B]

No.

[C]

Okay. I rated it. Want to have stars. Oh. So it's not a glowing recommendation. However, I do think that maybe right book, wrong time, but also it was pitched to me as Stranger Things meets Spider Man. Into the spider verse.

[B]

Whoa.

[C]

So when you hear those. Right. My thoughts exactly.

[B]

Wow. Whoa.

[C]

Yeah, sure. It's, like, adjacent to that. Basically, I'll just read you the synopsis because it's really short. It says, five New Yorkers must come together in order to defend their city. Every city has a soul. Some are ancient as myths, and others are as new and destructive as children. New York City, she's got five. But every city also has a dark side. A roiling ancient evil stirs beneath the earth, threatening to destroy the city and her five protectors unless they can come together and stop it once and for all. So it's like sci fi fantasy. Your five main characters have, like, superpowers, essentially, if I'm remembering correctly. And they each represent one of the five main burrows. So, I mean, I can't remember the five main. But what you got? Brooklyn, Manhattan, Staten Island.

[B]

I don't know.

[C]

I'm not from New York, but the entire time I read this book, I just was like, this is literally a love letter to New York City and New Yorkers and fun fact, I am a New York City hater.

[A]

But we're going to New York City.

[C]

We're going to New York. So maybe they'll convince me to like New York, but really unique premise just missed the mark for me. Yeah, Maybe that wasn't exactly what you were wanting as a recommendation, but it's

[B]

New York, New York, man, you gotta park the car.

[C]

All right, Reggie. Okay.

[A]

Someone said, easy to read sci fi. That's not. They said specifically Project Hail Mary. Like, similar to Project Hail Mary, but not like Dune. That, like.

[C]

Yeah, yeah. They liked Project Hail Mary but didn't like Dune.

[A]

Yeah, yeah. So I have two recommendations for you. Or should I just do one? Because I'm saying. I'm saying the other book for a different one than just one. Okay. My recommendation for you would just be something by Blake Crouch, whether it be pro. I'd first recommend Dark Matter because it's. It is kind of thriller. E. Ish. But it's definitely like, kind of sci fi, but not. Yeah, it's sci fi. Very easy to understand. I feel like there's probably things that Are talked about that go. You're kind of like, wait, what? I don't understand what that means.

[C]

It's not important.

[A]

It's not that important. I feel like Project Hail Mary is a lot more sciencey than Dark Matter.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Would you guys agree?

[C]

I remember Dark Matter at the beginning being hard to get through because he talks a lot about. Is he a physics. Physics professor or something? He's some sort of professor and he goes really into detail about whatever he's the professor of, but it's not.

[A]

Not that important. And yeah, Project Telemarry is a lot more dense with sciencey stuff. So I'd be surprised if you haven't read that already. And you like kinda sci fi books, but definitely recommend that one. If you've read that one, you could read Recursion by Blake Crouch. I like Dark Matter a lot better, but that would be my recommendation for you is Dark Matter. If. If we haven't convinced you to read that book yet. What you doing?

[B]

What are you doing?

[A]

Yeah, that's a great.

[C]

It is a really good recommendation.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And then you can watch the show after because season two is coming out soon.

[B]

Yeah. Okay. Someone said magical realism.

[C]

I don't know if this is considered.

[B]

You guys tell me what you think. Okay. The Book of Doors. Do you consider that magical realism?

[A]

Yeah, well, yeah, I mean. Yeah, yeah. It's more magical realism than I'd say it is fantasy.

[C]

I don't know. Because some books give them like straight up powers.

[B]

Yeah, well that's. I would say because it takes place in modern world.

[A]

Yeah. But I guess if you like.

[C]

But then you could take like any dystopian.

[B]

I don't know.

[A]

But I feel like it's adjacent. So like, I think if they like magical realism, they'd probably really like the Book of Doors.

[C]

Book Doors by Garth Gareth Brown. As long as anybody's talking about it, I don't care what you classify it as. So

[B]

I, I have two also Ashley Poston, her books have magical realism. Definitely a lot less than the Book of Doors.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Ashley Poston is a little romance heavy. Book of Doors is.

[C]

I don't even know what adventure heavy

[A]

stakes.

[C]

Yeah. Book of Doors is more like fantasy adjacent. Ashley Poston is more romance adjacent.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Both of those are great recommendations.

[B]

Yeah. So the Book of Doors. Sorry, what I'm trying to say is that there is this main character that you're following. She inherits this book from one of her like old friend neighbors and it has an ability to open doors anywhere in the world. There's obviously more that goes into it, but her having this book is a little. It's a little dangerous. Yeah. You know, with any magic ability, magic object, you know, there's. There's always going to be someone trying to come get it. I think it was really fun. It was a fun, fun book. So. And then Ashley Poston sprinkle a little that. Sprinkle a little this. It's always pretty good. She's really good at sprinkling in the magical realism without it letting it distract from like the romance plot and like it always is put together pretty nicely with the magical realism. So recommend both of those options if you're looking for something in that realm. Yeah.

[C]

Both great recommendations for that for sure. All right. I feel like this is kind of a niche someone wanted. Yeah, this is kind of a niche want someone wanted. Something that gives off the Walking Dead vibes. Oh, I'm gonna tell you to read. Sorry. Blake Crouch is so prevalent in this episode, but I'm gonna tell you to read Run by Blake Crouch for a few different reasons. Gives off kind of that post apocalyptic feel that obviously the Walking Dead has. It's got kind darker. The darker feel that the Walking Dead has. It's a little bit gory and gruesome. Like the Walking Dead. There are. Well, maybe you'd consider them zombies.

[B]

I don't know.

[C]

The plot of the book is that there is a like a. I don't want to say intercom, but you know, when you get. What are they called? Like a special announcement. Not an amber. Amber alert, but like there's an announcement over the news.

[B]

An emergency.

[C]

Yeah, an emergency broad.

[B]

Thank you.

[C]

Wow. Emergency broadcast. Yes, there's an emergency broadcast that goes over radios, TVs. Can't remember the exact detail, but essentially it lists a name of people. Our main character is one of them. And then they're trying to kill him. So he's literally on the run from these people who are trying to kill him. Whether or not they're brainwashed zombies, who knows? But it's a crazy story. There were times that I read the book that I had to put it down because I was so physically ill.

[B]

So.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

Fantastic.

[C]

Blake Crouch's earlier works definitely are a lot more gory, gruesome, eerie.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And then his later works are definitely more sci fi. So there's kind of like a branch in time for him, at least from what I've experienced. But if you like what the Walking

[B]

Dead, try it out.

[C]

It's kind of crazy.

[B]

I think I've literally only watched One episode of the Walking Dead and it scared me. Yeah.

[A]

I watched the first episode and I couldn't do it.

[C]

I was into it for a while. I think I watched maybe the first two seasons and then I stopped. But, yeah, I don't know what it

[B]

was in the first episode, but something scared me. I don't know if it's a jump scare.

[A]

I feel like it was like the first 10 minutes, I remember being like, whoa.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

I mean, it's pretty scary.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

For a TV show. Yeah.

[C]

Yeah. But it took over the world, so that's great.

[B]

I've never read or watched either of those, but I could see how those could correlate. Yeah. So fantastic wreck.

[A]

All right. I just haven't talked about these books in so long, so this is just my excuse to talk about them. Someone asked. Romance subplot that isn't fantasy. The first thing that came to my brain was the Blighted Stars by Megan Yoki. I haven't talked about these books in a while. I feel like there's three of them. It's called the Devoured World Series. Yeah. Three books. And if you haven't heard me talk about it in the past, essentially the first book follows. There's this guy named Tarquin and he's like an heir to. It takes place in the galaxy. Okay. So it's like space opera kind of vibe. He's like in an air. And he has this bodyguard and they end up on Stranded on this Planet. And his bodyguard, who is a female. There's this element to the plot where you can. What I'm trying to like, think of the right word. You can put your mind into someone else's body and his enemy is put into his bodyguards.

[C]

Body.

[A]

It sounds so weird. Is that. Is that how you.

[C]

Bodyguard.

[B]

It's like a chip, right?

[A]

Kind of. Yeah. Yeah. I don't. It's kind of a confusing.

[B]

They can reprint.

[A]

You can reprint. Yes.

[B]

Bodies. And I'm pretty sure it's like a chip that it downloads all of your memories, all of your stuff and they just like put it in, right?

[A]

Yeah. Yeah. So basically he's the heir to the dynasty. And he's so basically disguised as his bodyguard is his arch nemesis. And so they're trying to figure out how they're going to get this planet, but he doesn't know that his bodyguard is actually Naira is her name.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

And so they're trying to figure out how they're going to get off of this planet. And meanwhile something's kind of. There's. There Is this like romantic subplot between the two of them? So very fun trilogy. I've never read anything quite like it and I think it is just because it is sci fi and the whole printing of people is very different from anything I've read before. It can get a little confusing at times and I feel like that's the only gripe I had with the three books was that it felt a little redundant and was kind of hard to keep track of, like who is who and who is where and who's and what. Like, yeah, it can get really confusing at times. But that's like, like the only gripe I really had with the books. By the third, I finished the third one and I was like a sobbing, blubbery mess. I loved how it ended. And yeah, there's some characters in there that I can't wait to reread those books again because there's this one specific character that I just didn't appreciate enough in the beginning that I just want to go back for him. So yeah, it's a fun series. I literally have not heard anybody else talk about. So yeah, I need to read it.

[C]

I'll get there eventually.

[A]

I think maybe I'll get you out of your reading slump.

[B]

Just kidding. I think I want to reread it physically.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

So you listen to it.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Okay, so don't listen to it.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I feel like the audiobook narrator is good because he does different voices for the people, but it almost makes it confused.

[B]

Yeah. Okay. I feel like also a lot of people asked about standalone fantasy books and I have two that if you're wanting something a little bit more whimsical is Trust of the Emerald Sea and Yumi and the Nightmare Painter. Both of those are technically standalones. Obviously if you know Brandon Sanderson, they everything is like in a universe.

[C]

They're all mirror called the Cosmere.

[B]

The Cosmere. You know,

[A]

like everything.

[B]

There's like cameos in every book from, you know. Anyways. Hoid. Hoid. But highly recommend those if you're wanting to enter into the world of Brandon Sanderson but don't want to quite commit to any of the series. They're very fun, light hearted, fantastic graphic audios, really recommend. I think they'd be just as fun reading too. But I feel like the graphic audios are make it really fun. Yeah, those are just some that I would recommend that it's not common committing to really that much.

[C]

So yeah, standalone fantasies are hard to come by.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And Brandon has about 1500 of them. So Take your pick.

[B]

Take your pick.

[C]

Take your pick. Okay, all right. Someone asked for. This is also very specific, which I kind of like. It's kind of fun. A book that gives. Sipping on iced coffee on a porch swing. Oh, love that. So in my head, this is, this is why I'm choosing. I have two books. It's just kind of like a sweet, wholesome read that's light hearted. Nothing that's like too crazy, makes you feel good, you know, that's the vibe I'm getting from like sitting, sipping iced coffee. Ironically, one of them is called before the Coffee Gets Cold. And I'm not going to attempt to say the name of the author because I will butcher it, but just search

[B]

before the Coffee Gets gold on Goodreads

[C]

Fable, wherever it'll pop up. Basically, we're following four different storylines and the premise of the book is that you enter into this magical coffee shop and you drink coffee and it transports you to another time of your life. But you have to come back before the coffee gets cold, otherwise you're stuck, basically. So it's really wholesome. It's very light hearted and fun and cute. Some people, like, go back, if I'm remembering correctly, someone goes back to visit their mom who's passed away. It's just wholesome. It's so short. Biggest thing though is the writing does feel a little bit choppy and it feels very juvenile. So kind of be aware of that. Some of the reviews on this book will say that it feels it reads almost more like a children's book than an adult book. But it's very short, wholesome, light hearted read and has to do with iced coffee kind of. And then the other one is the House of the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune. I think I said that title correctly. The House in the Cerulean Sea. My bad by T.J. klune. My review for this book, it's the feeling of reading this book is the feeling that you get when you drink

[B]

a cup of hot chocolate.

[C]

It's like almost sickeningly sweet, you know, and you, I hate to say you get sick of it after a while, but kind of, if you are a 90s cartoon network baby like me, it gives off the similar vibe of House Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends. We're following a social worker, if I'm remembering correctly, who goes to this house that is housing all of these quote, misfit children who have magical powers. And he's trying to see if this home is a good fit for these kids and it's so sweet, and it's wholesome, and it just makes you feel good when you finish it. So those are my two recommendations for that prompt.

[B]

I love that. Love it.

[A]

Amazing. We need to do more episodes like these.

[B]

I know. It's fun.

[A]

It gets my brain working.

[B]

Yeah. And I also think it makes me think about some older books. I'm like, oh, yeah. I really did like that. Thanks so much. You guys will definitely be doing this in the future. I hope you guys enjoy our recommendations for you guys. You guys can shop our merch@allreadwhatshe's reading.com and you guys can follow us on social media at what she's reading shop or what she's ring pod on all platforms. And. And we'll see you guys next week.

[A]

Bye.