HIDDEN PICTURES- October Book Club

Summary

Podcast Summary: "HIDDEN PICTURES – October Book Club"

Released on November 6, 2024, the "I'll Read What She's Reading" podcast episode delves deep into the October Book Club selection, "Hidden Pictures" by Jason. Hosted by Kennedy, Reggie, and Mikayla, the trio engages in a comprehensive discussion, offering their insights, ratings, and favorite moments from the thriller.

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1. Introduction to the Book

The episode kicks off with the hosts reacquainting listeners with their current book club pick, "Hidden Pictures" by Jason. Mikayla introduces the book, emphasizing its unique blend of thriller elements combined with distinctive illustrations.

2. Book Ratings

The listeners are eager to hear the hosts' evaluations of the book. Each host provides their star rating, accompanied by their reasoning:

• Kennedy: "I went to bed last night and I couldn't sleep because I didn't know what I was gonna rate this book because honestly, it was such a good time. I'm gonna go with four and a half stars." [04:31]

• Mikayla: "I like that. I'll say I'm going to do four." [04:51]

• Reggie: "Stars and I'm gonna go with four stars." [04:55]

Kennedy highlights the book's refreshing approach to the thriller genre, particularly praising its plot twists and foreshadowing elements. Mikayla and Reggie echo similar sentiments, commending the book's pacing and character development.

3. In-Depth Discussion

a. Plot and Themes

The hosts delve into the intricacies of "Hidden Pictures", discussing its blend of mystery, fantasy, and paranormal elements. Kennedy draws parallels to other novels like "The Secret Life of Addie Larue", noting the book's ability to weave complex themes seamlessly.

• Kennedy: "I think it is very rare that in a thriller book where I'm like, wait, what about this?" [05:35]

b. Theories and Predictions

As they navigated the narrative, each host shared their initial theories and how the plot either validated or shattered their expectations.

• Kennedy: "I was completely wrong." [09:18] regarding her initial theory about the protagonist's struggles.

• Reggie: "I was waiting for more plot twists. But Reggie, you can expound on this." [08:44] expressing her anticipation for unfolding events.

Mikayla connects Anya's actions to broader narrative devices, suggesting that minor dialogues set the stage for major plot revelations.

4. Favorite and Least Favorite Moments

a. Favorite Parts

The epilogue emerges as a standout segment for the hosts, particularly Reggie, who found emotional resonance in Flora's happy ending.

• Reggie: "I just could not imagine anything... it made me so happy in the end to see that she was living in a happy place." [17:24]

Kennedy appreciates the paranormal aspects, feeling they added a fresh dimension to the thriller.

b. Least Favorite Parts

Some pacing issues near the book's conclusion were noted, with Kennedy mentioning:

• Kennedy: "The ending was a little bit too fast for me." [36:07]

Reggie and Mikayla pointed out specific scenes that felt abrupt or unsettling, such as Teddy finding Flora in her bed.

5. Scariest Moments

The podcast delves into the elements that heightened the suspense and fear factors within the book:

• Reggie: "When she found him in her bed, freaking me out." [27:35]

• Mikayla: "Her seeing him getting possessed pretty much freaks me out." [32:03]

Kennedy reflects on the use of paranormals, noting that while some elements were intended to scare, they were executed in a manner that maintained suspense without inducing outright fear.

6. Adaptation to Film

The hosts entertain the idea of adapting "Hidden Pictures" into a movie, discussing potential casting choices:

• Kennedy: "Margot Robbie... she could do a pretty good job." [39:14]

• Reggie: "I was thinking of Reese Witherspoon for the babysitter role." [41:08]

They explore how the book's visual elements, especially the illustrations, could translate effectively to the screen, enhancing the storytelling experience.

7. Conclusion and Future Plans

Wrapping up, the hosts express their enthusiasm for the book and extend their recommendation to fellow thriller enthusiasts. They also announce the next month's book club selection:

• Upcoming Book: "The Unmaking of June Pharaoh" by Adrian Young

Additionally, a brief mention is made about releasing new merchandise, signaling continued engagement with their listener community.

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Notable Quotes:

• Kennedy on Plot Twist: "I felt like the plot twist was talked about and foreshadowed without me even picking up on it." [05:00]

• Reggie on Character Complexity: "I loved how complicated all of the characters were, which made it really fun." [07:40]

• Mikayla on Epilogue: "She was in a happy place... the ending was so sweet." [18:41]

• Reggie on Movie Adaptation: "I think it would be such a great movie. It would be so terrifying." [34:00]

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This episode of "I'll Read What She's Reading" offers a thorough exploration of "Hidden Pictures," providing listeners with valuable insights and a compelling argument to dive into Jason's thriller masterpiece.

Transcript

[Mikayla]

Hi, guys. And welcome back to I'll read what she's reading. I'm Mikayla.

[Reggie]

I'm Reggie.

[Kennedy]

And I'm Kennedy.

[Mikayla]

Today we're discussing our October book club book, Hidden Pictures by Jason. By Jason.

[Kennedy]

We love you, Jason.

[Mikayla]

Before we begin, we're going to pick our book club book for November live. Coming from you live.

[Kennedy]

We've got a bowl.

[Reggie]

We really have quite the collection of books in here. What do we have?

[Kennedy]

For those of you who are listening, Mikaela is holding a bowl with a whole bunch of papers in it and she's. She's gonna pick what book?

[Mikayla]

Yes. So let's pick our November book club book.

[Kennedy]

Drum roll, please.

[Reggie]

You're all that. You pick? Yeah, I picked it last time.

[Kennedy]

You're picking it.

[Reggie]

You pick this one.

[Mikayla]

A little nervous. Are you guys nervous?

[Kennedy]

No.

[Mikayla]

You guys get nervous, I get nervous. You want you open it.

[Reggie]

Oh, T. Teamwork over here.

[Kennedy]

And the Unmaking of June Pharaoh by Adrian Young. Oh, you had that off the top of your head.

[Reggie]

I'm impressed.

[Mikayla]

What can I say?

[Reggie]

Told you.

[Kennedy]

This has been on my TBR for a really long time. I actually have the physical copy already. I'm excited.

[Mikayla]

Yeah, I'm excited too. It is a standalone, at least from what I believe. So it is.

[Reggie]

I think it is.

[Mikayla]

So that's exciting.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, I'm very excited. I don't know why for some reason. I don't know if it's the COVID but I feel like it's going to be almost like the Secret Life of Addie Larue.

[Mikayla]

Vibes.

[Reggie]

I was gonna say the same thing.

[Kennedy]

Fantasy, but not.

[Reggie]

It's also not very long. It's only three.

[Kennedy]

What is its genre?

[Mikayla]

Actually, I have no idea. But I have read.

[Kennedy]

You read the other books by her and you liked them?

[Mikayla]

Almost every single book by her.

[Kennedy]

Do you like. And you like her books, right?

[Mikayla]

I really do. They're really good.

[Reggie]

So I don't think I've read any of her books.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, I'm excited. Wait, I'm trying to figure out what it's Mystery, fantasy, fiction, romance, magical realism, time travel. Love it. It's gonna be a good time.

[Mikayla]

Her writing. I really like her writing, so I think it will be good.

[Kennedy]

Yay. Join us in November. Today's episode is sponsored by Ruly. If you're looking for a cute new out profit for your next bookstore run or just to cozy up with your current fall read really is for you.

[Mikayla]

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[Reggie]

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[Kennedy]

Matching sets as we go into fall. One of my favorite fall staple items that I wear almost every single day is the Elvis boots from Ruuly. They are the cutest and they come in a few different colors.

[Mikayla]

I love their selection of Free People items. I'm a big Free People fan and I also love their selection of fall sweaters this season.

[Reggie]

Head over to ruly.com and use code read at checkout to get 15% off. That's code R E A D to get 15% off your entire order. Step into the bookstore or just lounge on your couch in style with the latest items from Ruuy. Now let's get into the spooky chat.

[Mikayla]

The hidden pictures by Jason.

[Kennedy]

That's it.

[Mikayla]

Just by Just Jason.

[Reggie]

I'm really glad we, I mean, I knew we were going to do a thriller for, you know, the season, the spooky season. I'm trying to decide if this book is going to make me want to read. It's kind of making me want to read thrillers again because it's been so long since I've read one. But at the same time I'm also like, I don't think I want to read any more thrillers. I can't decide. But I'm excited to hear what you guys thought of the book and your ratings because we haven't said anything to each other and we only recently finished it.

[Kennedy]

So are we gonna start off with our star rating? Yeah, let's do it.

[Mikayla]

Why are you guys looking at me?

[Kennedy]

Why do I gotta go first? You go first.

[Mikayla]

I went first last time.

[Kennedy]

Okay. This is very nerve wracking. I went to bed last night and I couldn't sleep because I didn't know what I was gonna rate this book because honestly, it was such a good time. I'm gonna go with four and a half stars.

[Mikayla]

I like that. I'll say I'm going to do four.

[Reggie]

Stars and I'm gonna go with four stars.

[Kennedy]

I feel like this was such a refreshing thriller and part of the reason I'm giving it four and a half, not quite five, just because I'll get into that. But I could see myself reading this book again just to see how many times the big plot twist was talked about and foreshadowed without me even picking up on it. So I could see myself reading this Book again. And also just the plot twist. Didn't see it coming at all. So I gotta give credit to where credit's Drew Jason.

[Mikayla]

Great job.

[Reggie]

Well done.

[Mikayla]

I really. Okay. The first picture, you know, that was kind of a jump scare for me.

[Kennedy]

I was like, wait, the first one with the girl?

[Mikayla]

With Anya? Okay, yeah, that was a jump scare. And I was like, I can't read anymore tonight. But after reading that, I feel like it wasn't super scary. I don't know why. It just got, like, less scary to me because I feel like, you know, Anya, you just started figuring out things. So I was like, okay, she's trying to tell something. Like, it's not as scary, but she was terrifying, you know? So I liked that, that it wasn't, like, super scary, but it was just, like, on the edge of being, like, you know, thrilling. And he tied in all, like, everything so neatly into a little bow. And it was so good, at least for me. I can't think of any, like, plot holes. And I feel like it's very rare that in a thriller book where I'm like, wait, what about this? Yes. So that's why I liked it so much. And I was on the edge of my seat, and it was a. It felt like a really quick read with the pictures.

[Kennedy]

Oh, my gosh. At one point, I was reading while my husband was golfing, and one of my husband's friends comes over to me, and he's like, are you reading a picture book? It was the part where they were putting all of the pictures in order. So it had a picture and then text at the bottom. And I was like, no, but it made it way faster because there was pictures.

[Reggie]

Yeah. They're looking at me like it's my turn to say something. I. I agree with you, Michaela. I feel like there weren't really any plot holes. I will say it's so funny because I sent these to Amarco Polo. I can't remember what chapter it was. I think it was the chapter before you find out that he's a she.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

And for some reason, I was just, like, kind of feeling like I was gonna be really disappointed by this book. Like, I think it was because nothing crazy had really happened yet. It was more just like. And it, to me, also didn't feel like there was a ton of buildup. And then it was just bomb drop, the next chapter. And I send them a bit. I'm like, I think I'm gonna be disappointed in this book. I really hope I'm not disappointed. Like, I Don't know. I just. That one chapter, I finally was just like, eh, I don't know. And then the rest of the book, I was flipping pages like you wouldn't believe. So, yeah, I felt like the pacing of it was really well done. I feel like. I hate when thrillers, there's like, way too much backstory. But I felt like it was very great pacing. I also loved how complicated all of the characters were, which made it really fun. I don't know. Do we want to, like, just talk about favorite first or what have we talked about?

[Kennedy]

Did you guys have any theories while reading the book? I can start.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Mine was so wrong, I thought. And I've told these two this. So we have discussed the book a tiny bit. For some reason, I was trying to figure out how the fact that she was a recovering addict was going to play a part in the story. And so a part of me was thinking this whole entire situation is just going to be one large trip, and none of this is actually happening. I don't know why I had that theory in my brain, but wow, I was completely wrong. So wrong.

[Reggie]

My theory was that Caroline was involved in that little study that she did, and that was why she picked her because. And so then while I was reading it, I'm like, oh, maybe they don't want her. Her to. Like, they know that there's something going on in the house, and they're trying to have, like, she. They're bringing her in to kind of figure it out, but they're kind of playing dumb. That was my first theory. I had another one. I knew. I had a. I knew in my brain while I was reading it that Caroline and Ted were somehow. One of them was not to be trusted completely. Like, I. One of them had something. Especially when he went and stayed in her room. I was like, maybe Ted is, like, really crazy and Caroline is. Because when she said, like, did he try to make a move on you? I'm like, okay, maybe Ted is, like, orchestrating this whole thing. Some. I don't know, but that wasn't, like, too big of a theory. But I definitely felt like I was kind of picking up on one of them. Is going to. I don't. Maybe that was just really obvious. But I didn't think that in the beginning until. I don't know. I don't know if I had any other crazy theories. I honestly was just guessing the whole time. But I also was trying really hard not to, like, think about it too hard so I could just like, yeah, I don't know.

[Mikayla]

For my theories. I kept thinking that Anya was trying to warn Mallory, which I guess is sort of true. But I kept thinking that the picture was, like, what was going to happen. Oh, yeah, her.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

So, like, as soon as the man got depicted in the picture, I was like, for sure thinking it was Ted for some reason, just because he was so, like, standoffish at the very beginning. And then he just, like, immediate flip was, like, switched. And so I was like, something is so off with him. I didn't really. I really didn't put together, like, the wife, Caroline, and him, like, in it together. But. But then I kept thinking the way Teddy drew, Mallory was with curly hair, and Anya had. Well, like, the girl that was in the picture had, like, straight hair, so. Oh. I was like, well, that doesn't make sense. And I was like, I don't know. I guess I was trying to, like. I thought that Anya was trying to, like, tell her, this is what's gonna happen to you. Not necessarily that it was her, if that makes sense. I like that. But, yeah, Ted was just completely a sus from the beginning.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Well, how about. I don't know why this made me laugh so hard when he comes in and rescues her and he's like, let's go. You're coming with me. I know you got the same feelings for me. I was just like, this man is so completely oblivious. Yeah, it. I just thought that whole sequence of events was hilarious to me. May he rest in peace.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. No, I just. I was like, huh. Where did you think that was getting reciprocated?

[Reggie]

Well, because there was that one. I feel like the only moment they really had. Well, there was, like, them swimming in the pool together. But I was like, maybe that's not that weird. Like, he's just come, you know? But then it was when he gives her that one hug and she, like, makes a comment of how it, like, kind of lingered a little too long, and then she had to bolt it out the door. So I'm like, maybe in that moment, he was like, okay, yeah.

[Mikayla]

Or.

[Reggie]

And maybe even the way she reacted when she saw him in her bed, like, she didn't.

[Kennedy]

She was just very, like, nonchalant.

[Reggie]

Nonchalant about it, even though she was freaking out inside, probably. Yeah. When that scene happened, I was like, this guy, there's. There's something iffy about him. But, yeah, I. I was reading on my Kindle, and I literally dropped it onto the floor and. Yeah. So, yeah.

[Kennedy]

Were we all three surprised by the plot twist?

[Reggie]

Yeah. Okay, well, I even went back to the chapter before, and I was like, did she make any sort of comment that, like, something fell off with him? Because it was like, she figures it out when she goes into the shower because he's trying to tell her, like, he's trying to figure out, like, what's going on with the cops. But, like, I was trying to see if there was anything during her conversation with him that internally, like, she was figuring that out. But I didn't catch that. So that's why, to me, I think if she would have said something, like, had some sort of internal dialogue about. I don't know, she didn't have anything. So I feel like that's what made me. My jaw just dropped to the floor because. Or when she said, like, they'd been lying to me, I knew that the Maxwells have been lying to me.

[Kennedy]

I thought I had to do. I thought I had to do with them not really being in. Where did they say they lived?

[Reggie]

Oh, Barcelona.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, I thought it had to do with that. But then when she confronts them in the kitchen and she straight up is like, teddy's a girl shook.

[Reggie]

I also thought that they're lying to me. Had to deal with. Because I knew Ted was pretty sus. I didn't think they both killed Mitz. Mitzi.

[Kennedy]

Oh, yeah, the neighbor.

[Reggie]

Yeah. I thought it was just one of them. And so I was thinking one of them probably killed her. And so I was thinking that she, like, somehow by talking to the cop, figured out that something didn't add up. So, yeah, I was not thinking that at all. But when she was explaining to herself, like, okay, this is how it makes sense, and she confronts him about it, I was like, I mean, I just never would have thought, like, that's just such a. Yeah.

[Mikayla]

Well, do you guys remember when Teddy asks her about body parts?

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

And him asking if you can see your body parts?

[Kennedy]

Oh, my gosh. Yeah, that's right. You know, I saw a few people. Well, there was a few. Like a. Okay. Wow. My thoughts are jumbled. We have a fable for our book club. If you guys aren't a part of it, go join. There was a few people in the fable that felt like that plot twist was completely out of left field and there was nothing leading up to it. But, yeah, this is the reason why if I reread this book, I probably would be able to catch a lot more foreshadowing moments like that. I mean, in the book, they kind of explain, you know, he. Teddy only wants to wear. Or Teddy only wears this purple striped shirt doesn't like to go to the barber.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

I mean, as a, you would think as a nanny. Yeah. It doesn't want to think. Hang out with other boys. And as a nanny, you would think, I mean, maybe not. Reggie, you can expound on this. Like, would you bathe a five year old as a nanny or would they bathe themselves? You know what I mean?

[Reggie]

You know, I actually thought of this at one point because there is like something that Caroline says, like, private parts are private. Yeah. We're just very like, careful with his privacy or whatever. And so I could like understand that. I mean, my first thought was like, okay, only like five years old. He's pretty independent for a five year old, like, you know, doing all that. But in my mind I was just thinking, oh, it's because he's just a little boy and she's new and he just wants to be independent. So I didn't think too much about it, but I did think about it for a second. Like, but it was a good, I.

[Kennedy]

I felt like it was a very good twist that I, like I said, didn't see coming at all. And then after that moment, she has hit the fan.

[Mikayla]

No, literally.

[Reggie]

I am so sad. I didn't look at any of the fable things because there's so many.

[Mikayla]

There are so many.

[Reggie]

There are so many things going on in there. So there's a lot.

[Mikayla]

And I feel like for those people who maybe didn't think that it was just really out of left field, I think those small conversations just feel really insignificant when you're like reading them. You're like, why? Why? You know, because it's like just a little, little kid asking his nanny these weird a questions. Because kids like to ask random questions and they sometimes just don't make sense. So I feel like those moments are probably just like, okay, like reading the next page. Like, let's just get through this. But I feel like sometimes in thrillers especially those little things really, like, set up the scene for the plot twist.

[Kennedy]

So 100%, I thought it was great.

[Mikayla]

Do you guys have any? Did you guys have any other theories?

[Kennedy]

No.

[Mikayla]

Did you guys want to go into.

[Reggie]

Like, really have any, your favorite but parts? I'm trying to think if I had, honestly, the ending, the epilogue, I wouldn't say it was my favorite part, but I will just say I cried.

[Mikayla]

It's really cute.

[Reggie]

I, I just think that, like. Okay, so here's my thing. If you hear, heard me on the podcast, in the past, I haven't been reading Thrillers because, like, things with kids in it. I just. I just can't as a mom, I just can't do thrillers when there's kids involved in it. But I'm just so happy that Flora got this happy ending. And I just could not. I also just. My heart was going out to Anya. I don't know. I don't know if it's just because I'm a mom, but like the. I just cannot imagine anything. Like, I. I can't help but read books and think of what I would be doing in that situation. Like her poor father, the dad. And just kids are learning. They learn so much in such a short amount of time. Like those first, like five years of their lives. And so it just broke my heart for her. But it made me so happy in the end to see that she was living in a happy place. Because for a minute I kind of forgot. I didn't really think about the dad, like who the real dad is, you know, I didn't really think about that at all. So I was like, where is she going to end up? Like, is she gonna. Mallory gonna adopt her somehow? Like, are they just gonna go put her in the system? Like, I was just feeling so nervous for her well being and I was so concerned and so seeing her go back and I was really heartbroken for her when she felt like, you know, she didn't really remember her and everything, but that running up to give her a hug and giving her the picture, oh my gosh, it made me cry. I just thought that that was. I don't feel like you really read thrillers where there's just like this really feel good ending for the most part from what I can remember of books I've read. And I just, I thought that that was so sweet. And I love how it was her writing a letter to her because I feel like the way that she described the whole experience was just very matter of fact, but also, I don't know, like fairly easy for a kid to understand, even though it feels impossible to understand. But I was thinking about it. I'm like, I don't know how old Flora would be reading this letter, but I just thought she wrote it very beautifully just to show that, like, I don't know, I just really like that part. I can stop rambling about it.

[Mikayla]

No, I think it's great. I selfishly wanted them to have her.

[Kennedy]

At the beginning of the letter. I thought that they did.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

It was, I was confused.

[Reggie]

It was worded like your father, whatever. Yeah, yeah.

[Mikayla]

And I was thinking oh, like Adrian.

[Reggie]

She got married selfishly.

[Mikayla]

I really wanted that, but I understand why that could not be the case. And I don't know. I guess I feel like, obviously I am no expert, but maybe she had to, like, completely get rid of anything familiar to kind of let go of that. But then on the other side, I was, like, going through all of that. What if she did have someone familiar? So I. I don't know. I saw, like, both sides of it. I think my favorite part. I think my favorite part was when she confessed everything to Adrian and him just, like, believing her, because I feel like she was having a lot of doubts herself and just, you know, like, with all of the recovery and, like, addict and people saying, like, you were imagining things. And I think it was just so refreshing, especially for her to, like, see someone just, like, believe in her and, like, yeah, let's figure this out together. And so I just thought that was really, really cute. And I loved how much Mallory and Teddy Flora, like, loved each other. I just thought their relationship was really cute.

[Reggie]

Mm.

[Mikayla]

So even with scary on you.

[Kennedy]

I think my favorite part was, like, the paranormal aspect. I've never read a thriller that has as much of a paranormal aspect as this one. And I think that having the pictures. I mean, I've never read a book with pictures in it to begin with as an adult, but having that element really, I feel like, made the story come to life. I think had the pictures not been in the book, I think I would have rated it a lot lower. And I also think that having that paranormal aspect made it so, like, couldn't have guessed what was actually happening, because this story could have been written. Well, kind of. I feel like it could have been written in a different way where there wasn't the paranormal aspect.

[Mikayla]

Like, there was a logical.

[Reggie]

Yes.

[Mikayla]

Explanation for the pictures and. Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Or, you know, it could have been written in a different way. And I just really liked that part because it just felt so new and fresh to me. I would say that was probably my favorite part outside of what you guys had previously mentioned, because both of those are such heartwarming parts of a thriller that, like, Reggie had said, you don't get that a lot. And Adrian could have easily just dismissed Mallory because she was a recovering addict. I mean, at the time, he didn't know that, but even when he found out, he took his time because anybody would be upset in that situation. And then he came back. He came back.

[Reggie]

He was very patient with her.

[Kennedy]

Yes.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Very sweet.

[Kennedy]

And I liked the epilogue because I. It was A lot. It was realistic because, I mean, think about a child who's gone through all of that. I mean, seeing Mallory for the first time, she's not. Flora's not going to run up and hug her like she wanted. I think it was very. A very realistic portrayal of a situation like that from someone who was not an expert in child psychology. It made sense to me.

[Mikayla]

No, it does.

[Reggie]

Yeah. Well. And just like, kind of to go back with what Michaela said, when I first thought for a second that first sentence of the epilogue, I was like, wait, did Mallory somehow, like, adopt her? I was going to be really mad, actually, if that happened because I just felt like one. It wouldn't make a lot of sense because Mallory's one. Really. Still pretty young and she still has so much to figure out. I just felt like I wouldn't have loved that, but. Yeah, I felt like she just, like, needed a fresh start, but I really loved that. Yeah, she was in. Because they played a lot with, like, farm animals and stuff and that they were kind of on this ranchy. What did they call it? Did they call it, like, it was like a farm? Yeah, they were like, on a farm. Had all the cousins. Like, I felt like that's the kind of environment that a child's going to thrive in, especially when it's like, your family and these people who are not judging you and they just love you unconditionally. So I was really. Yeah, I just felt like Mikaela even said earlier, just tied up in a very perfect bow. I'm trying to think if there's any plot holes and I can't think of any. So I thought it was very. Yeah, Very well done.

[Kennedy]

And it's cool that we all liked it as much as we did. And there really was only one plot twist. There wasn't all these crazy things that were happening 24 7. It was just kind of like I.

[Reggie]

Was waiting for more plot twists. I think that's maybe why when I sent you guys at Marco Polo, I was just, like, waiting for a bomb to be dropped and there just hadn't really been one yet. I mean, there were maybe a few things that were like, oh, Mitzi dies and. But I was waiting for. Yeah, sure, came at once.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. What parts, like, freaked you out, scared you guys the most?

[Reggie]

When she found him in her bed.

[Kennedy]

Oh, my gosh.

[Reggie]

Freaking me out.

[Kennedy]

I mean, I don't feel like I ever got scared reading the book. And that sounds like I didn't get scared. I don't know. I just don't Feel like I ever was super scared, maybe. And it's weird because even when they were using the Ouija board, you know, there's that kind of moment where that's creepy, like a Ouija board. But for some reason, I was never.

[Mikayla]

Like, I don't mess with that stuff.

[Kennedy]

I just never felt like Anya was there to do harm. I never felt like she was this sinister spirit. So I feel like, for me, I wasn't ever really scared, maybe at first. When she first goes into the. Her guest house that she's living in and she feels like she's being watched. I felt like I was being watched while reading that. But other than that, I feel like I was kind of just.

[Reggie]

The baby monitor thing freaked me out a little bit because I'm like, if I were sitting, looking at a baby monitor and then hearing my child speaking to somebody. I mean, my daughter does that a lot. She's three, but she's not talking to spirits or anything. She's just talking to, like, you know, princesses or whatever. Make believe, like kids do. But if I was hearing the things that Teddy was saying, and then to see this weird manic episode of drawing with the wrong hand, eyes rolling back, like, that freaked me out. I was terrified of that.

[Mikayla]

Yeah, that was pretty scary.

[Reggie]

And then she runs in there and then, like, the smell, I would have quit. That was.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, yeah. I would have been like, I'm out of here.

[Reggie]

Thriller books are always so determined to figure things out. But I'm like, if I were in that situation, I would be out of there so fast calling up some sort of, I don't know, ghost hunters. I don't know to help me. But here's a thought I had while I was reading the book. If Anya and I know that they do this, maybe it was just for the factor of it being spooky. But if Anya was the reason that she was being drawn spooky looking, was it for the sake of it to spook us? Or was Teddi was really seeing her like that? I don't know why that kind of bothered me a little bit. I mean, just think that you would. You're seeing your mother as a. I think.

[Mikayla]

I think that's actually how she looked. Yeah. Because Mallory saw her, you remember, but.

[Reggie]

Like, with the scary, like, eyes open and the.

[Mikayla]

Her neck was broken.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

So I don't know. I guess I just think, like ghosts, when they come, they're not like in their dead form.

[Kennedy]

I mean, when you think about the.

[Reggie]

Pictures, I feel like it was for sake of Spookiness when you.

[Kennedy]

I mean, when you think about the pictures. And maybe it's just me that thinks this, because obviously, when Teddy's drawing her, at least in my opinion, when Teddy was drawing her, I was more creeped out by Teddy's drawings, like, okay, the stick figure drawings, than the actual, like, more shaded drawings. Because when it's a stick figure, you know, it's a stick figure, and he's gonna draw big eye. You know what I mean? But as they continued on and they got more advanced, I felt like she just looked like a normal person.

[Reggie]

Yeah. Same.

[Kennedy]

Like, those ones didn't spook me out as much as the beginning.

[Mikayla]

Well, Teddy was drawing her at the beginning, and then she was drawing.

[Kennedy]

Right.

[Mikayla]

The story.

[Kennedy]

Right.

[Mikayla]

So that's what she actually looked like.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

Before. Yeah.

[Reggie]

Yeah. I don't know. I was just, like, thinking the whole time, I'm like, is she, like, appearing to Teddy as. I don't know. You just, like, think that that would scare you. Like, you'd be. Because he didn't seem scared of Anya.

[Mikayla]

Seems like an all, like, scary.

[Reggie]

I don't know.

[Kennedy]

The kids never are.

[Mikayla]

The kids are never scared.

[Kennedy]

Yeah. My friends.

[Reggie]

I don't know. I just kept thinking of that the whole time. I'm like, yeah, I would just be.

[Mikayla]

At the end of my book, there is, like, a bonus section talking about all the drawings.

[Kennedy]

Oh, I like the illustrators. The. The author interviews the illustrators.

[Reggie]

Oh, I didn't check that out.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, I'll have to go do that. Michaela, what part scared you the most?

[Mikayla]

I'm trying to think what scared me. Oh, I was. I was getting really nervous about the raccoon. Was it the raccoon? The possum.

[Reggie]

I was like, why is it going on?

[Kennedy]

A hand's gonna come up through the floorboard.

[Mikayla]

There was something else that the. Him. Like, her seeing him getting, like, possessed pretty much freaks me out. And then also, I wasn't, like, scared, but this was wild when Teddy jumped out of the tree.

[Kennedy]

Oh, yeah.

[Mikayla]

And I was like, that. That's terrifying.

[Kennedy]

Superhuman strength.

[Mikayla]

Just. Yeah, that was that. I was like, oh, my gosh. Yeah.

[Reggie]

And then she just straight up is like, I did it.

[Mikayla]

Well, yeah. She wants to protect.

[Reggie]

Yeah. And then she walks away.

[Kennedy]

Well, that's how it ends. And then you see the epilogue. It just ends with her saying, I did it. And then it goes to the epilogue.

[Reggie]

Yeah. So I was like, if she would have gone, there's no way she would have gone to jail for that, because they probably must have Just.

[Kennedy]

She explained it in the epilogue. Yeah, it's explained in the epilogue, but I can't remember how.

[Reggie]

Oh. Because she kind of told the story of what happens.

[Kennedy]

I think it was self defense.

[Mikayla]

She left out the paranormal.

[Kennedy]

Yeah. I think they. They found it as self defense.

[Reggie]

Yeah. Because I think she was basing off of their lies, like, they never went to Barcelona. And then that checked out and they never. Yeah.

[Mikayla]

And then Teddy was actually Laura, and she shot her husband. She had a gun.

[Kennedy]

You know, I feel like with every book I read, I just think that it would be. They would be such great movies, but I really think this one would be such a great movie.

[Reggie]

So good.

[Kennedy]

It would be so terrified, I'd be.

[Reggie]

More scared to watch it than I.

[Kennedy]

Would to read it.

[Reggie]

That's how I am.

[Kennedy]

Oh, for sure.

[Mikayla]

But it would be good.

[Kennedy]

It would be good.

[Mikayla]

I feel like the drawings in the beginning would be good because I don't think they would ever show her the spirit. Yeah. Probably not until the end when she.

[Kennedy]

Like, goes away until the end when Mallory is dead.

[Reggie]

Sorry, it's just dead. It came to my brain. How about, like, Ted kind of saving the day by, like, putting baby powder instead of.

[Kennedy]

Okay, but here's my question. I'm not a medical person. I guess this is how in the world diluted baby power injected into your vein would be okay.

[Mikayla]

The he. Yeah. I don't know. Well, they. I don't know.

[Kennedy]

I mean, I'm not a mess, and.

[Reggie]

I'm just assuming it, like, just melts down.

[Kennedy]

I don't know.

[Reggie]

I don't know.

[Mikayla]

Well, she said it smelled differently. Right? How can you. I don't know.

[Reggie]

Yeah, I just thought that. Well, then she was, like, still, like, kind of hallucinating a little bit, but. What, did they put something in her tea? Yes, because he kept trying to, like, get her to drink the tea, but she didn't.

[Mikayla]

Right.

[Reggie]

Yeah, I feel like they were trying to. Cause he kind of kept being like, oh, you should really try it. And then she was saying how bad it smelled, and she didn't want to taste it because it's. And he's like, really? You should just, like, relax and have a drink. And I'm like, are they about to drug her? But I don't think she ever drank the tea. So I was like, is she kind of feeling all loopy like that because of the tea, or is it because of the baby powder? Or is she just.

[Kennedy]

I mean, she also visited.

[Mikayla]

Yeah, she did.

[Reggie]

Yeah. I don't know.

[Kennedy]

So she could be having Like a concussion induced.

[Mikayla]

It honestly also made me really nervous. When she drank the coffee at Mitzi's and she started going through the cabinet, I was like, don't, don't do it, don't do it, don't do it. I'm so glad I didn't. But yeah, she just got. She got in the crossfire.

[Kennedy]

Yeah. Poor Mitzi.

[Reggie]

That sucks.

[Kennedy]

Do you guys have a least favorite part or a part that you didn't love? I can go first if you guys want me to. I think part of the reason why I didn't rate this five stars is. And I understand why it was this way, but the last like 30 pages were so quick and so fast. I don't know why. I just feel like I wanted more. I don't know how they could have given me more. But the ending, the pacing of the book was really good. But I will say it was like evenly paced. And then at the very end, it was just so fast. Kind of almost like whiplash, just a little bit. And that for me, I think is one of the reasons why I didn't rate it 5 stars. Other than that, I can't. I don't think I found as I was reading, there wasn't anything that I was picking apart. It was just kind of. That the ending was a little bit too fast for me.

[Reggie]

Yeah. I don't think there's anything about the actual book overall that I like, disliked. And I don't really think I disliked anything about the story. But I don't know what it was that I was just like, oh, I can't give this five stars. Maybe it's the same, like the pacing kind of thing. I don't know. I really, really enjoyed it. Like, I will recommend this thriller to anyone who likes thrillers, so that's very good.

[Mikayla]

I think the. Where she found him in her bed was probably like my least favorite part.

[Kennedy]

With the tissues.

[Reggie]

Yeah. And the bra. And the bra stuff.

[Mikayla]

Yeah, girl. How are you not.

[Reggie]

Why? That's the point. When I would have been like, I'm out of here.

[Mikayla]

There's a lot of points I would have been.

[Reggie]

Especially. It's like, because they have a key. Like, I would just not feel very. I'd feel more unsafe in that cottage after that whole moment. Because it's like, obviously he has a key and he can get in there whenever he wants. And him sleeping in your bed, just. Yeah, that whole.

[Mikayla]

In the security camera.

[Kennedy]

Yeah. How about the reveal? Yeah. When she feels like she's being watched. It's actually him.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. The thing is that I don't understand. Maybe this is kind of like a plot. Maybe he was so Delulu, but he had to have seen that Adrian was with her a lot and, like, man was unwell. Well, also, maybe he only watched that night and he was never there overnight, right?

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

I don't know.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

I don't know. I think he was just in his own world.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

He was unhappy. His wife made him bury some woman's body. Their child wasn't really theirs. You know, he was mentally ill. Yeah.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. That book was crazy. It's crazy.

[Reggie]

I was crazy.

[Mikayla]

I liked a lot.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, that was a good pick. That was a good pick.

[Mikayla]

Go into our fan cast.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

I feel like.

[Kennedy]

Who do you guys have?

[Reggie]

I don't really like mine, but I'll. I'll tell you guys. I mean, there's. There's a million people I could say. Let's start with our main. Our main.

[Mikayla]

Our main galaxy.

[Kennedy]

Okay.

[Reggie]

With Mallory, I'll go first.

[Kennedy]

I cast. What's her name? Margaret Qualley. She's from the Maid. I think part of the reason why I cast her is because I don't know about you guys, but on my tick tock for you page, for, like, three days straight, all I was getting was the substance. Tick tocks. And so maybe it's because she was in my brain. I don't know. I also think that she could do a pretty good job. Yeah, I feel like she's got range, and I feel like she fits the bid of, like, this runner, young gal. So that's my cast for Mallory.

[Mikayla]

I like it. From Mallory, I had Ella Purnell. I like that fallout. I don't know what else she's been in. That's just, like, the most recent thing that I can think of.

[Kennedy]

She would be good.

[Mikayla]

And she's in a new show called Sweet Pea.

[Kennedy]

That's the one where she kills people, right?

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Yeah. Based on that trailer, she'd do this.

[Reggie]

Pretty well, I think.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, she'd be good. I don't know.

[Mikayla]

I think there's actually quite a few people that I feel like could pull us off. So she's not like, I will die if she's not it.

[Kennedy]

But she's an option.

[Mikayla]

She's just one of the options that I thought would do good.

[Kennedy]

I like it.

[Reggie]

I don't even want to say mine because it wasn't very good. It was just kind of the first person I saw. So let's hear it, your guys, let's hear it. I don't Know why? I think I. I can't see her really, in the, like, spooky element of this book, but in, like, the fun babysitter and maybe the Haley Lou Richardson, she's the girl in Five Feet Apart.

[Mikayla]

Okay.

[Reggie]

In that movie Split.

[Kennedy]

You say split?

[Mikayla]

Split, yeah.

[Kennedy]

Split's horror.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Yeah. She just miss one of the friends. I don't know. I would. I just was thinking of her, like, as, like, the fun, young babysitter with, like, some past trauma, you know? But I can't. I don't know if I can see her in, like. I think she would do well if they were to cast her, but, like, I can't see it a ton. I don't know. I don't think it's bad as, like, the fun babysitter.

[Mikayla]

Yeah, I like it.

[Reggie]

I don't think it's bad, but, yeah.

[Mikayla]

I like it a lot.

[Kennedy]

Okay, let's do Caroline. I'll go first. Okay. My Caroline and my Ted. I wouldn't say they're good. It's just like Reggie said, the first person I saw. So I said, yeah, sure. Margot Robbie.

[Mikayla]

Oh, I don't know.

[Kennedy]

She's got. She's great. She's just great. So Margot Robbie.

[Mikayla]

I like it. The person I would cast is Brienne Howie. She's from. Oh, okay. She's from Ginny in Georgia. She's the mom.

[Kennedy]

Looks like she was also in the Exorcist, so she's got horror under her belt.

[Mikayla]

Yep. She was in the Exorcist. Just a blonde Southern bale.

[Kennedy]

I think she could work.

[Mikayla]

I like it.

[Reggie]

I thought it was funny because these two people came to my mind, and I'm like. The first person that came to my mind was Amanda Seyfried.

[Mikayla]

That's what I said.

[Reggie]

But then I was thinking, you know, she's already got a thriller movie in the books right now that she's working on. Then I also thought, just be. I don't know why. And then I thought of, like, Reese Witherspoon, the classic, you know. But I feel like that's just a.

[Kennedy]

Little too on the nose.

[Reggie]

On the nose? I don't know.

[Kennedy]

I mean, any of these people could do it.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Yeah. Any of these people just, you know.

[Reggie]

Sometimes you just gotta go with the basic answer. I don't know.

[Kennedy]

Okay. My Ted, I don't think it's very good. Just the first person that I saw that, I was like, okay, yeah, sure. Oscar Isaac.

[Mikayla]

I like it.

[Reggie]

I think he would be so handsome.

[Mikayla]

He is a handsome man.

[Kennedy]

He is handsome.

[Mikayla]

Love Oscar Isaac. Mine is a little far fetched.

[Kennedy]

Chris Evans, I mean, if he was older. Yeah.

[Mikayla]

Well, I mean he is 40s.

[Kennedy]

Yeah. But Ted is old, like 50s.

[Reggie]

Is he think I remember it specifically. It says he's 52. And she like makes a comment about. Because like they talk about how it took them so long to get pregnant and she married an older guy.

[Kennedy]

But you want to know what my favorite thing is to see Chris Evans play an evil character? Because he played someone wholesome for so long. It's nice to see him be someone that's just like really good at it. He's so good at it. If you.

[Reggie]

Yeah, if.

[Kennedy]

I mean if they either made these people younger. If it took 10 years for this to be made a movie. Love that.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. I just think. Well, because they said like he's got some sort of like handsomeness about him.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

For being like an older. And I just think Chris Evans is just handsome. So. Okay.

[Reggie]

I did kind of picture this guy while I was reading the book and I think it's just because of his character that he also plays in another show. Charles Easton or Eston.

[Kennedy]

Will you show me him?

[Reggie]

Outer Banks. Oh, Nashville.

[Mikayla]

Outer Banks.

[Reggie]

59. But he still looks like. He doesn't look 59. He looks young. He's handsome.

[Kennedy]

He could do it.

[Reggie]

And he plays like, you know, like, think of like Outer Banks. Yeah, he plays this cool family man guy. Good looking. And then he has also this other kind of side to him. So that's who I was thinking of.

[Mikayla]

I like it a lot.

[Kennedy]

Honestly. I think all of those were pretty great.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

And it wasn't, you know, our basic.

[Reggie]

What is his name? What is his name?

[Kennedy]

The Witcher.

[Mikayla]

Oh, oh, what is his name? It wasn't Henry Cavill, guys.

[Kennedy]

So sorry.

[Mikayla]

Actually I changed my answer.

[Kennedy]

I mean he could do it.

[Mikayla]

I'm just using.

[Reggie]

He could do it.

[Mikayla]

I don't have anyone else, so if you guys have.

[Kennedy]

That's it for me.

[Mikayla]

Yeah, I know there's a lot of really important people, but I think there's just a lot of people that could totally, totally do it and fit the mark. So I feel like those were like the three main people.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

So do you guys have anything else? Any other comments?

[Kennedy]

I don't think so. That was a great pick for October.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Pat ourselves on the back for that one.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

Very proud we picked that without you guys.

[Kennedy]

But I will say I didn't know about this book till Michaela told me about it. So really it's all thanks to Michaela.

[Reggie]

Really? Yeah.

[Kennedy]

I didn't hear about it. You talked about it last October, and then I added it on my Goodreads.

[Reggie]

Yeah. And then we talked to Mercedes. She had told us about it on that episode. I think that's when I was like, okay.

[Mikayla]

I think I was looking up, like, interactive.

[Reggie]

Oh, yeah.

[Mikayla]

Kind of thrillery books. That's kind of one that I think popped up. I liked it that had, you know, it had that element of pictures and stuff. So I think it was great.

[Reggie]

We hope you guys enjoyed it.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. Well, we hope you guys join us for the unmaking of June Pharaoh by Adrian Young. That will be for November, and the episode will come out the first week in December.

[Reggie]

Also, we failed to mention this in the beginning, but tomorrow, if you are listening this, the day comes out on November 6th. Tomorrow is November 7th, and we are releasing some new merch. So we're really excited about this. I'm assuming I can say what it is.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Well, I've had to post things. We have a new hat. I should have worn it. Sitting right behind.

[Kennedy]

Hold on, let me go get it.

[Reggie]

All right. Kennedy's behind me. If you're watching on YouTube wearing our hat, it's a trucker hat. It says, talk to me about my books. It's very cute. Cream and black. And then we have a matching sweat set, which was highly requested. It's in forest green. And I don't really know how to explain. It says. What does it say? The Readers.

[Mikayla]

The Readers Club.

[Reggie]

The Readers Club. It's very cute. Is it that?

[Kennedy]

Yeah. The Readers Book Club, I think is what it's called.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Yeah. It's very cute. And we're excited for you guys to get your hands on it. Treat yourself to, you know, some cozy, bogus merch this Christmas.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

I'm gonna match with your bestie all Christmas.

[Reggie]

So.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Yes.

[Mikayla]

So.

[Reggie]

So, yeah.

[Kennedy]

If you made it to the end. If you made it to the end of this episode, you get. You got rewarded because now you know about the merch.

[Mikayla]

Now you know.

[Reggie]

Okay, thanks for tuning in.

[Kennedy]

See you guys next week.

[Reggie]

Bye.

[Kennedy]

Bye. Today's episode is sponsored by Ruly. If you're looking for a cute new outfit for your next bookstore run or just to cozy up with your current fall read, Ruly is for you is.

[Mikayla]

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[Reggie]

I am almost always wearing something from Rouly. They have so many staple items. And I'm currently loving their selection of cozy matching sets as we go into fall.

[Kennedy]

One of my favorite fall staple items that I wear almost every single day is the Elvis boots from Rouly. They are the cutest and they come in a few different colors.

[Mikayla]

I love their selection of Free People items. I'm a big Free People fan and I also love their selection of fall sweaters this season.

[Reggie]

Head over to ruly.com and use code READ at checkout to get 15 off. That's code RE A D. To get 15 off your entire order, step into the bookstore or just lounge on your couch in style with the latest items from ruu.