Podcast Summary: "I'll Read What She's Reading" – Episode: Naughty OR Nice
Release Date: December 11, 2024
Introduction
In the festive episode titled "Naughty OR Nice," hosts Mikayla, Reggie, and Kennedy infuse the Christmas spirit into their usual book-centric discussions. They explore their personal "Naughty and Nice" lists, delving into favorite authors, current readings, and playful critiques of the literary world, all while engaging with their listeners' submissions.
Book Updates
Kennedy's Current Reads
Kennedy shares her ongoing journey through Pierce Brown's Lightbringer series, expressing both excitement and apprehension about its conclusion. She remarks:
"It's exactly what I was expecting. So I'm excited to finish it and see what everybody's been talking about." (02:21)
She's also immersing herself in the Zodiac Academy series, choosing to listen to the graphic audios available on Kindle Unlimited instead of reading them:
"Listening to the graphic audios is making the books a little bit more cringy than they are. […] They're kind of like a trashier version of Harry Potter." (00:43)
Reggie's Current Reads
Reggie discusses her recent reads, highlighting Rebecca Yarros' Variation:
"Rebecca writes... every. Most women can write men very well because, I mean, we know what we want and we know what we like." (03:02)
She also praises Songbird and the Heart of Stone series, rating it five stars and recommending their podcast episode with Chris Broadman for deeper insights:
"It was very good... A five star read for me. And go listen to our episode with Chris Broadman if you haven't already." (05:06)
Mikayla's Current Reads
Mikayla is navigating a reading slump with the second book of the War of Lost Hearts series, while also tackling her winter TBR list:
"I'm on the second book right now. I'm in a little bit of a reading slump... I just started. I'm slowly knocking off my fall TBR as it's getting into December." (08:34)
Naughty or Nice List
Naughty List Highlights
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Pencole (a Fictional Author) Reggie expresses frustration over the delayed release of the next book, landing Pencole on her naughty list:
"I'm sorry. Going on the naughty list for not giving us a date after psyching us out twice." (10:07)
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The Prank Wars (Fictional Series) Mikayla and Kennedy humorously penalize the Zodiac Academy authors for confusing terminology and outdated references:
"If you hear 'feyrari,' I literally rewound. Put it on one time speed. Because I was like, no way did I just hear what I thought I heard." (12:04)
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Spotify's Audiobook Limitations Kennedy vents about Spotify's restrictive audiobook offerings:
"It's really frustrating. I can't understand why they only give us 15 hours." (15:34)
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Dark Romance Genre Both Mikayla and Kennedy place dark romance on their naughty lists, citing a lack of personal interest:
Mikayla: "On my naughty list is dark romance." (20:08)
Kennedy: "I don't like them... It's on my naughty list, but." (20:34) -
Pierce Brown’s Writing Style Kennedy criticizes Pierce Brown for not outlining his books, leading to unexpected plot developments:
"He just writes books as he goes. […] He has a hat, and he writes all of his characters names in a hat." (22:34)
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Authors Sharing Spoilers Hosts condemn listeners who spoil books, vehemently placing them on the naughty list:
Reggie: "Everyone, automatic naughty list for life." (28:01)
Nice List Highlights
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Supportive Listeners Reggie acknowledges their audience for supporting the podcast through social media engagement and participation:
"Anyone who listens to our podcast follows us on our socials... you guys are on the nice list." (31:05)
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Favorite Authors
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Emily Henry: Celebrated for her contributions and upcoming projects:
"She's on the nice list as every single one of her movies comes out. Cause they are gonna be bangers." (33:18)
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Abby Jimenez, Elsie Silver, Sarah J. Maas (SJM), Rebecca Yarros: Recognized for their exceptional writing and impact on the hosts' reading experiences.
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Kindle Unlimited and Libby App Both services receive praise for making books accessible and affordable:
Kennedy: "Libby always and forever will be on my nice list because the amount of books I would have never listened to or read if I didn't have the Libby app." (37:26)
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Goodreads Contributors Reggie appreciates readers who actively update their Goodreads profiles, enhancing community interaction:
"If you update your Goodreads a lot, especially while you're reading the book... it's fun." (37:09)
Audience Interactions and Listener Submissions
The hosts interact with listener-submitted items for their Naughty or Nice lists, sharing both humorous and thoughtful entries. Notable mentions include:
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Cosplaying as Bat Boys: Critiqued for over-the-top fandom expressions:
Kennedy: "Guys who cosplay as bat boys… I get it. You guys are doing your best, but for me personally, it's not it." (24:38)
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Books Mentioned Within Books: Praised for creating an emotional connection:
Kennedy: "I feel like it's such a... amazing to me that an author can take these words of people that are not real and make me have such an emotional connection to them." (28:12)
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Kindle Features: Appreciated for enhancing the reading experience:
"Waterproof Kindles so that they can read in peace in the bathroom." (44:20)
Additional Discussions
Audiobooks vs. Traditional Reading
The hosts debate the validity of audiobooks as a form of reading, ultimately acknowledging their importance:
Reggie: "Audiobooks [have] saved me this year, quite literally." (36:21)
Kennedy: "I count them. Every single last one of them. […] Love Libby. Love the library." (37:10)
Favorite Covers and Authors
A nod to artists and authors who enhance the reading experience through creative book covers and storytelling:
Kennedy: "I love the Easter eggs that they have. The shoe covers. Yes, they're so symbolic." (43:26)
Mikayla: "Sarah J. Moss, for just providing this most epic universe." (35:38)
Podcast Community and Future Plans
The trio expresses gratitude towards their listeners and hints at future interactive episodes:
Reggie: "We just gotta Say thank you. That's very, very nice." (31:41)
Kennedy: "I hope your favorite book in a special edition is brought to you by Santa." (32:35)
Mikayla: "Definitely will probably do something similar next year around Christmas time." (35:30)
Conclusion
Naughty OR Nice successfully blends holiday cheer with insightful literary discussions. The hosts balance playful critiques with heartfelt appreciation for their favorite authors and supportive listeners. As they wrap up, Mikayla, Reggie, and Kennedy extend warm holiday wishes, encouraging everyone to enjoy their reads and embrace the festive season.
Mikayla: "We hope you guys have such a great day and week and we'll see you guys next Wednesday. And Christmas, happy holidays." (45:30)
Notable Quotes:
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Kennedy on Audiobooks:
"Audiobooks... saved me this year, quite literally." (36:21)
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Reggie on Rebecca Yarros:
"She's phenomenal at writing men." (03:02)
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Mikayla on Reading Slump:
"I'm in a little bit of a reading slump... but I actually, I liked the first book a lot." (08:34)
This comprehensive summary encapsulates the essence of the "Naughty OR Nice" episode, providing a detailed overview of the discussions, insights, and the hosts' engaging interactions for both regular listeners and newcomers alike.