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Kennedy
Foreign.
Mikayla
Hi, guys. Welcome back to I'll read what she's reading. I'm Mikayla.
Kennedy
I'm Kennedy.
Reggie
And I am Reggie.
Mikayla
And today is the day where we update you guys on our spring TBR and we tell you our summer tbr. I think we're all a bit nervous for both updating you guys how we did on our spring T and saying our summer tiara because I think we're all a little bit in a reading slump.
Kennedy
Nothing sounds good. Nothing. And if you guys missed it for our summer, like, book club, we're doing three different romance books.
Mikayla
Yeah.
Kennedy
Reggie was talking to me before this and she said, I don't want to put a lot of romance books on my summer tbrx. We're already reading three. And I said, yeah, same. But summer is the time to read romance books. Yeah. But also I'm not in the mood,
Mikayla
so I kind of forgot about that.
Reggie
And guys didn't see the romance books we have picked. And I think there's been a few questions about how we're doing our summer book club. We have three summer books, romance books. We're going to do one each month on our fable. And then when we record the book club episode beforehand, we'll get some feedback from you guys and we're going to talk about each book. I feel like romance books sometimes there's not a ton to discuss. So we're going to talk about each book and then kind of play some games, kind of compare and contrast each book like which who was our favorite book boyfriend of the three? And, you know, I think it'll be some for some fun discussion. But the romance books we picked are the Romance Revival by Christina Lauren, our Perfect Storm by Carly Fortune, and the Someday Garden by Ashley Poston. I'm very excited to do book club this way. I think it's gonna be fun because you need some fun romance, romance reads for summer. So I hope those are gonna be good ones. So, yeah, anyways, I feel like that'll be good spring tbr.
Kennedy
Who would like to go first?
Reggie
I can go first.
Mikayla
Beautiful.
Reggie
First book I had on there was our Perfect Storm, which I did start, but then when we decided to pick it as a summer book club book, I was like, I'm gonna put a pause on that. So it's more fresh in my brain. So I'll be starting that in a week or two. But I didn't want to. I knew that it was one of those books that I would finish within a day or two. So I wanted to give it some Time. So I did start it. Wasn't able to finish it due to book club. The other book I didn't finish, but I did start is Real by Kennedy Ryan. I'm probably like 30 something percent through. It's actually kind of. I forget that Kennedy Ryan's books are kind of longer, but it's about a. A screenwriter and a Broadway star. And so far it's pretty like there's some heavy, like, parts to it, but I am enjoying it so far. I don't really know where things are going quite yet, which I kind of like. So. Yeah, and then the ones I did read. First one is Direbound. I forgot that wasn't my spring tbr. And I talked about that last episode, but I. If you listen to last week's episode I talked about, just felt very similar to Fourth Wing and not in the best way for me. It was really hard to, like, read some of the things in there and not feel like it was taken from Fourth Wing. And I know that there's a lot of similarities that you see in books. You know, there were some other things that I was like, oh, I've seen this before in a fantasy book, but I don't know. I think the similarities all happened so quickly in this book at the same time that I was just kind of like, whoa. Like, it really took me out of the story. But overall, there were some elements to it that I really liked. It's basically Fourth Wing but with wolves. I really liked the romance plot. There was a lot of it that felt similar to other books that I've read. You know, morally gray character, lots of tattoos, he's very dangerous. But there's another element to it that was kind of fun. And there was a plot twist in there. There was quite a few plot twists. Some of them I was like, okay, I'm not even surprised. But there was one of them that I was literally like, you're kidding. So that was fun. And the way it ended has me intrigued for the next book. But then I got a spoiler for said thing. So now I'm kind of like, I don't know if it's worth reading the next one. But that's why I'm really disappointed. Because I picked up Direbound was because the second book came out, like, in May, like, very recently. And so I was like, excited to be able to jump into the next book, but I don't know if I'm very eager to do so. The other book I read was 50 50.
Mikayla
Steve Kavanaugh.
Reggie
Steve Kavanagh and that was. This was like so long ago that I read that. But it's the fifth book of the Eddie Flynn series and since then I've gone back and I've read books one and two. I feel like we kind of sound like a broken record a little bit because we've talked about Eddie Flynn so much on the pod. Like, you guys gotta pick it up. It's so fun. Courtroom dramas. You feel like you're right there in the courtroom. Like, Michaela had an update on one of the books. I don't know which one it was. The second one, the plea, she was like, where's my popcorn? Like, I feel every time a courtroom scene comes on in my ears, I am sat. I'm like. I feel like I am there. Like I'm sweating. I can picture it so clearly. It's so intense. The stories are so outlandish. But I just love them. I love them so much. And the audiobooks are fantastic.
Mikayla
Yeah.
Reggie
So highly recommend those. So I. I did enjoy 50 50. I wish I would have just started from the beginning, but it's. It's fine. I think you could really read them out of order if you wanted to, but they're more fun to read in order.
Mikayla
Yeah.
Reggie
And then my other book was the Bright Ears by Sarah Demoff, which I feel like I've talked about a lot too, because it was just. Is that my most recent five star read? I think that's why I can't stop talking about it. I was sobbing my eyes out, like the entire book. I think within the first. I can't remember what page I was on. I texted Kennedy and I was like, I'm already crying. I think about it and I want to cry. Yeah. And the thing was is, I think when I said this in our spring TBR episode, I was like, I think it's a book that will probably like make me cry. And I can't remember if Kennedy was like, yeah, you will. Or if she was like, eh, maybe you won't.
Kennedy
So I was like. I said, maybe you won't.
Reggie
So I was like, I don't know if I'll cry. But like, literally I was sobbing throughout the entire book. The ending was just, ugh. I loved it so, so much. Like, it's one of those books that I could read it a million times over and I would still give it five stars. So just so beautifully written. And I can't say enough good things about Sarah Demolf's writing. She's just fantastic. And if you're needing some, a book that Makes you feel a lot of emotion but leaves you feeling, like, uplifted in a way. Great books to pick up.
Kennedy
I really love that one.
Reggie
I've been recommending it to a lot of people and oh, my gosh, gut punch after gut punch. I. I was, yeah. Gasping, sobbing, and I'm not being, like, dramatic when I say that. So, yeah, I literally was reading, like, I couldn't put it down, but I was like, on vacation reading this. Like on the train. On the train. Like, my husband's like, why are you reading this right now? Like, you should read a happier book. I'm like, I can't put this down. I was reading it in line for a restaurant, like, crying, and I was like, I can't read this. Yeah, I loved it. So that was my spring TBR love.
Kennedy
Not bad. Not bad. You got a five star read out of it.
Mikayla
Yeah. Yeah.
Kennedy
More than I can say. Kind of.
Mikayla
Okay. In Her Own League. Was my first one.
Kennedy
Hot.
Mikayla
I read that one. I think that's literally all I put in my review. Hot.
Kennedy
It was good.
Mikayla
Definitely not my favorite of hers. But, um, I love. I love Monty and I just love the dynamic between all of the characters in the series. So it was fun to get a little spin off for a character that I feel like everyone loves but doesn't get to see very much of. So it was fun to see him get his shining moment, you know?
Reggie
I can't wait to see the cast.
Mikayla
Yeah. And then I didn't read the Everlasting by Alex E. Harrow.
Reggie
Harrow.
Mikayla
I couldn't tell you why. Just wasn't in the mood.
Kennedy
Yeah,
Mikayla
I may have shuffled that to my summer anyways.
Kennedy
That's actually on my summer tbr. Right. As of right now, I think I'm debating between two books and I'll let you guys pick between the two.
Mikayla
All right. And then consider Me by Becca Mack. I dnf'd it.
Kennedy
Oh, that's a sports romance, right?
Mikayla
Yes. I imagine the first book in the Windy City series is very similar to this book.
Kennedy
Okay, so are you going to continue?
Mikayla
I don't know. I don't know. I left a bitter taste in my mouth and I. I just don't know. I don't even know how far I made it. I. It was very spicy, so if you like that, you may enjoy it. I don't know.
Kennedy
He just.
Mikayla
He just talked very interesting about women.
Kennedy
Sounds familiar.
Mikayla
Sounds familiar, right?
Kennedy
Yeah. Okay.
Mikayla
And then fourth one was the Night we Met by Abby Jimenez. We actually made that a Patreon Book Club book. I think her. It was just different than her other books. And she did a trope that I think is really hard to do, and I don't think she did it bad. It was just a lot of things at play that maybe isn't usually my cup of tea. But I still love her writing and I still love her and will always be an odd. She will always be an auto buy author for me. I'm very interested to know if I'll
Kennedy
like the next book in the series,
Mikayla
because if you don't know, if you haven't read Abby Jimenez, she writes standalone, interconnected romance books. And this was a start. No, this was a second book in a standalone, interconnected series.
Kennedy
And I think she normally does three. Yeah, in each.
Mikayla
I would say she. Yeah, she normally does three. So there is going to be another one and it's already been confirmed about what character is about, but I won't say.
Kennedy
You could probably gather if you've read the book.
Mikayla
Yeah. And then my last one, I also didn't get to Metal Slinger.
Reggie
Oh, that's right. Because I almost switched Direbound to Metal Slinger.
Mikayla
I think I didn't read it because
Kennedy
the next book, it comes out soon.
Mikayla
It's coming out soon, and I just didn't want to start another series.
Kennedy
That's fair, because I feel like I've
Mikayla
started so many and have not continued or I feel like I can't keep up with the releases.
Kennedy
Yeah, or you read it and then you forget about the next book.
Mikayla
And so I was like, I just don't know if I want to do that to myself. It comes out June 9th, so maybe, I don't know, maybe I'll read it. I just want to see if there's going to be, like, a third book, a fourth book, because if that's the case, I might just wait until, like, the third book is about to come out, you know, just so I can read them all right. In a row and have a better, deeper, immersive experience in a series than, like, waiting a year and a half for the next book to come out.
Kennedy
Yeah, I get that for sure.
Mikayla
So I didn't do very well. I read two of the books, DNF'd one and didn't read two of the other ones. So hopefully the summer's better. But my list, I don't know. I don't know. Anyways, Kennedy, let's hear an update from you.
Kennedy
Okay, so I'll just go in the order that I have it on my notes app. The first one I read was Tuesdays with Mori by Mitch Albom. I actually didn't give this book a rating because I technically, it's a memoir because it's a true story. I would probably rate it five stars. It's just a self help book without being a self help book. You just learn a lot about how to be present, how to, like, live life to the fullest, and how to be grateful. If you're unfamiliar, Mitch is interviewing his old college professor who has als. Als. And it's just Morrie has a very cool perspective on life. And so I just read it at a really good time when I wasn't feeling so great mentally. And so it just kind of reminded me of what's important in life and so highly recommend, literally to anybody to read it. I think it's just a perfect book. So my mom's been trying to get me to read it for years, so she was happy with me. I also read this book, made me think of you by Libby Page. You guys have probably heard me talk about it. What did I rate? This, actually. I think I rated it three and a half, four maybe. Can't remember. But I wish I would have read it and not listened to it. It's not. The audiobook wasn't good. I just think it's one of those books that is a little bit more on the emotional side. And I feel like that's what makes it special. And so if you're listening to it while, you know, doing chores or doing other things, I don't feel like you catch on to all of the good, the goodness of the story. So would recommend that to anybody. Woman's husband dies, he leaves her 12 books for the year, writes her notes on every single one of them to help her grieving process. So very special. I'm halfway through Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson. I'm bored as frick.
Mikayla
Help me.
Kennedy
And I'm even reading. I'm even not reading. I'm listening to the graphic audio. The graphic audio is like 21 hours.
Reggie
Okay. That's not terrible.
Kennedy
No, it's not. And I think I'm just having a bad attitude because it is pretty cool. The Magic Sisters. So for those of you who don't know what Warbreaker is about, it's about two sisters. One of them, if this sounds familiar, one of them has an arranged marriage with this God. And there's two competing kingdoms. The one sister's marrying this God in order to mesh their kingdoms together. Does that sound like any book to you?
Reggie
No.
Mikayla
No.
Kennedy
Okay.
Reggie
What book are you talking About Sheila Sparrows.
Kennedy
Oh. Oh, okay. This happens right at the beginning of the book. There's two sisters. One is supposed to go married to marry this God king, but the king of the other kingdom doesn't want his more equipped daughter to go marry the king, so they send the younger, less equipped daughter to marry him.
Reggie
I see.
Kennedy
Yeah. Their magic system. The magic system is actually very cool. People have what they call breaths, and they can use breaths to reanimate dead people to, like, animate objects. You only have a limited number of breaths, but people can sell their breath to others for money. So the magic system is very cool. I'm just so bored. But I'll continue. I'll continue.
Mikayla
Wishing you well.
Kennedy
Thank you for the rest of your reading journey. Thank you. I appreciate that because I have been listening to music because I don't want to listen to that book. I also read Jade City by Fonda Lee. I think I gave this three stars. It just was not as fantasy driven as I was expecting. I think I was expecting more. Something more similar to the Poppy War that has a lot of fantasy elements. Jade City just doesn't really have that. It's basically a book about competing crime families with, like, a little bit of magic. And so it's very political, character driven. And I just didn't really find myself loving any of the characters. So I don't actually think I'm going to continue, unfortunately. But I know a lot of people say that it gets better. It's just that I haven't been. Yeah, I just haven't been itching to pick up the next one. And I don't think I ever will, unfortunately. And then the last one that I did read was the Women by Kristin Hannah. The thing about this, these TBRs is I do really good for, like, the few weeks after we talk about this, and then I'll forget about them and then realize like a week before that I haven't finished it. And then I try to binge a whole bunch of them. So the Women I read quite a bit ago, but it's about a nurse in the. Which war?
Mikayla
Vietnam.
Kennedy
The Vietnam War. And it's just heartbreaking because they say that there were no women in the Vietnam War. And so, you know, Kristin Hannah tugs at your heartstrings, covers a lot of really important topics. And also she did so much research for this book. You can't. You have to commend her because it's so detailed. So I think I rated that one 4 stars if I didn't say that. So very mixed bag for me. And I don't think my summer.
Mikayla
She did all of them, though, right?
Kennedy
Yes. Halfway through Warbreaker.
Mikayla
Okay.
Reggie
But like I said, I probably read
Kennedy
four out of the five of them within the first month after we recorded the spring tbr, and then I've been putting Warbreaker off for, like, freaking over a year, so I said, finally, I'm gonna start it. And of course, it just. I'm sure it'll be great by the end. That's just Brandon Sanderson for you.
Mikayla
It just was not a good time for you, probably.
Kennedy
I don't think it's a good time
Mikayla
for any Ms. No. Yeah. Oh, man.
Reggie
That's why I'm, like, nervous about my summer tbr because, like, I want to set myself up like, there. There's also nothing that I'm, like, dying to read right now, and so I think it's hard because usually I have something on my TBR where I'm like, yeah, I'm really excited to read this, and I don't know.
Kennedy
I don't think.
Reggie
Who do you want to start with?
Kennedy
I don't think any of these ones. I'm excited. I'm just putting it on there for a list.
Reggie
Okay.
Mikayla
Ooh.
Reggie
I'm gonna start with. Two of my books, actually, are copying books on Kennedy's spring tbr, and I didn't realize this first one I'm gonna do is the Women by Kristin Hannah.
Kennedy
Is this your first Kristin Hannah book?
Reggie
No, I've read the Nightingale.
Kennedy
Oh, yeah, that's right. I knew that.
Reggie
But when Kennedy said, maturing is liking Kristin Hannah books, I said, okay, I'll read another one. I think that. I don't know. I've been hearing so many people talk about how the women is just, like, their favorite Kristen Hannah book, so I'm hoping I don't go in with, like, too high of expectations, but I have been wanting to read one of her, so I'm putting this one on my summer TBR to give me the push to read it.
Kennedy
I feel like everybody talks about the Nightingale, and it is such a great book, but out of the Kristin Hannah books that I've read, I think that's my least favorite, because.
Reggie
Is yours, though. Michaela the Great alone is your favorite?
Mikayla
No, that's.
Reggie
Oh, no, that's yours. Yeah.
Kennedy
So I think yours is the winner, isn't it? Yeah.
Reggie
I just feel like. Yeah. I don't have any romance books on my summer TBR because of our summer book club, so good luck. I felt like that needed to be one to Add to the list not. Not really a summer read.
Kennedy
That's okay. But I think you'll enjoy it. I think the women.
Mikayla
I think you'll like it.
Reggie
Yeah.
Mikayla
First on my list is Spark of the Ever Flame.
Reggie
I saw that on your June. June tbr. I'm excited for you.
Mikayla
Who's that by?
Reggie
Pencole.
Mikayla
Pencole. The only reason I am starting it is because there is a release date for the last one.
Kennedy
When is it? Is it this year?
Mikayla
I don't know.
Reggie
She keeps changing the release date. It's been a little frustrating.
Mikayla
It is coming out. Is it the fourth one?
Reggie
Yeah.
Mikayla
September 8th. Burn of the Ever Flame.
Reggie
I have all the audiobooks on my audible, I think.
Mikayla
Yeah. I don't. I don't really know quite much about what it's about, but I think I want to go into it blind. Just have no preconceived notions.
Kennedy
I want to go into it blind.
Mikayla
I want to. I bought it a really long time ago. Reggie read it. She has. She said she had a lot of mixed feelings about it.
Reggie
Yeah. I'll just say this. The female main character is pretty annoying. Annoying, great. But I will say, like, without. I know you want to go on to a blind. But, like. So this isn't anything necessarily about the plot, but it's very easy to digest.
Kennedy
Okay.
Reggie
So, like, I feel like it can be really intimidating starting a new fantasy series, but this one is not very intimidating at all. It's very easy to grasp. Like, you get a good hang of the magic system pretty easily. The political system. It doesn't take forever to get into, like, the meat of the story. So that's one reason why I really enjoyed it. So I'm excited to see what you think about it because I read. I feel like it's been so long since I read those, and I've been waiting for the fourth one. So when I decide to read the fourth one, you can kind of help me remember if you decide to go continue.
Mikayla
Yeah.
Reggie
After the first one. So.
Mikayla
So, yeah, that's the first one. It's a bit. It's a bit much.
Reggie
I feel like the first one's not super long, but they get longer with each book.
Mikayla
Yeah.
Kennedy
You only got to read the first one. You don't have to read all the first three. I know.
Mikayla
But I'm committing to the bet because
Reggie
the fourth one is the last one. I'm pretty sure.
Mikayla
Yeah.
Reggie
So probably.
Mikayla
That would probably be more towards the end of summer, so I can just kind of, like, go right into it leading up To. Yeah, I still.
Reggie
There's a lot that I remember from them, so I'm excited for you.
Mikayla
Thanks.
Reggie
Yeah, I did have a love hate relationship with it, but I'm, like, still really excited for the fourth one, so I feel like it means I liked it more than I hated it, so.
Mikayla
All right, Kennedy, what's first on your list?
Kennedy
The Wedding People by Alison Spock. I don't know how to say her last name. I'm so sorry. I'm bad with pronunciat. I wanted to read it in the winter, but it just felt like a summer read for me. So I've literally had the audiobook for. Since, like, November, and I have the physical book as well. So I figure, why the heck not, if you don't know the plot of Wedding People. A girl goes to. She goes on a vacation, I believe, and she's staying at a hotel, but everybody else at the hotel is a part of this wedding. And so she decides to pretend that she is a part of the wedding, and then her and the bride, I think, become really good friends. And it's just kind of a story. I think it's literary fiction. It's not a romance book or anything like that. So. I've heard a very mixed bag of reviews. I feel like people either love it or hate it, and so. I don't know. It just like a summer read. Yeah. And I have it, so I said, let's add it to the tbr.
Reggie
Nice.
Mikayla
Yeah.
Reggie
I've heard very differing views on that book, so.
Kennedy
So we'll see if I like it. I don't know.
Reggie
I'm excited to hear what you think.
Mikayla
Yeah. So.
Reggie
All right. Well, since I'm just, for some reason, stealing books off of Kennedy's spring tbr, I'm gonna read Tuesdays with Mori. I wanted, like, a shorter book, and I've read this one before. I read it in high school. I've been wanting to reread it since then. Um, but I just haven't. I think I'm just worried I'm just gonna cry like a baby. Because ALS is something that I have seen people in my family go through. And so I just feel like I'm gonna read it and it's gonna, like, from what I can remember, I remember it kind of, like, wrecking me in high school. And, like, I loved it so much, but to read it now, like, as an adult with, like, different eyes and different experiences, I'm just. Anyways, it might feel a little more heavy to me, but I feel like I'm At a point in my life where I just need to read it again. So. Yeah.
Mikayla
Love it.
Kennedy
Love.
Mikayla
Second on my TBR is the Hotel Nantucket by Ellen Hildebrand. This will be my first Hildebrand book, and I don't know much about it either. I feel like this is her most popular.
Kennedy
Yeah, I think it's being made into one of her books is being made into a movie, I think.
Mikayla
Yeah. I don't know. It just. It seems more like. I don't know. I feel like from what I have heard about Elaine Hildebrand, is they. It's like fiction, but also has usually some sort of, like, mystery thriller aspect to it.
Kennedy
P S. It's the Perfect Couple on Netflix. That's hers. That's been made.
Mikayla
Been made into it. So, yeah, I'm excited to her. Her covers just very much give off summer.
Kennedy
Oh, yeah, for sure.
Mikayla
And so I'm like. I don't know if it's necessarily summer, but I'm excited to. To read it. See how I like her writing because I see her everywhere. Costco, airport library, airport books. And I just haven't necessarily jumped the gun with her books yet.
Kennedy
I haven't read any either. So I'm excited to see what you think.
Mikayla
Yeah, we shall see.
Kennedy
I forgot that they kind of have a little bit of a mystery to them.
Mikayla
It says in the book description. It says, I think there was a murder in the hotel. And it's like the hotel trying to overcome its bad reputation. Yeah.
Reggie
Because it's not like a couple buys the hotel and they're, like, renovating it or like, maybe I'm making that up.
Mikayla
No.
Reggie
Okay, never mind.
Mikayla
It's a billionaire buys it and renovates it, and then he hires someone as a general manager. Gotcha. I'm assuming there's going to be a subplot of some romance to it. I don't know. So. Yeah.
Reggie
Nice.
Mikayla
Exciting.
Reggie
Very exciting.
Mikayla
We'll report back before we do fall. That makes me want to vomit.
Kennedy
Literally. My next one, I can't give you too much of a description because I literally don't even think it's on Goodreads. Hold on.
Reggie
Oh, it's.
Kennedy
You're gonna. It's by a very popular author. Hold on one second. Let me see if I can find it. It's January's by Olivey Blake. And the reason I'm choosing this book is because. Because it's a collection of short stories and poems. So my attention span is literally my new right now. So I feel like being able to kind of Open up a book and finish a story from beginning to end in one sitting will be really helpful for me. And so it just sounds really fun. So I'm just going to read you guys kind of the synopsis on Goodreads, because I don't even know what a single story is about in there. So this is what it says. Once upon a time in a land far, far away, the spirit to a magical bridge rapidly approaches burnout. Meanwhile, Congress enacts a complex auditing system designed to unwaste your youth. A banished fairy answers a Craigslist ad. A Victorian orphan gains literacy for her occult situationship. And a multiverse assassin contemplates the one that got away. That sounds like a lot.
Reggie
Yeah.
Kennedy
Escape the slow trudge of immorality with these magical ruminations on life, death, and love that outlasts featuring modified fairy tales, contemporary twists, absurdist poetry, and at least one set of actual wedding vows.
Mikayla
I love me some wedding vows.
Kennedy
I think there's quite a few different little short stories, so. And honestly, that description sounds like Olivey Blake to a T. I feel like
Mikayla
her
Kennedy
synopses are always outrageous. Like, what were you on when you wrote this book? Type of a thing. So. Yeah, that's on my tbr. I don't think it's super long. It's. Yeah. So nice. Love should be pretty easy.
Reggie
I. I'm gonna say this one. I'm gonna have you guys pick for me.
Mikayla
Okie.
Reggie
I am just. I think I'm in just such a rut with reading because it's just. I miss, like, really great fantasy, and I just. I've been burned by, like, some of the newer book talkie kind of books, and sometimes it's, like, hard for me to want to, like, go read older fantasy books that are complete because I get, like, really intimidated. Like, I'm worried I'm not gonna love it. So I'm gonna have you guys pick between two books for me. One is a book I've been meaning to read for a really long time. I've just been intimidated. And the other book is a brand new release because I'm. There's just a lot of hype, and I'm wondering if it will bring back my love for fantasy. You ready? Michaela acts like she knows what I'm gonna say.
Kennedy
I feel like I know what you're gonna say.
Mikayla
I don't know.
Reggie
First is Mistborn.
Mikayla
That's what I thought.
Reggie
By Brandon Sanderson. Other one is Starside by Alex Astor.
Kennedy
Okay. I almost. I tentatively have Starside on mine. As well.
Reggie
I just can't decide if I.
Kennedy
What are you looking for in a fantasy book? Let me ask you that question.
Reggie
I don't know. Like, I think I'm wanting something. I don't know because, like, I'm worried I'm gonna read Starside, and I'm gonna be like, this feels like a lot of fantasy books I've read. But then everyone is just, like, saying how amazing it is, and they haven't felt this about a fantasy book in a long time. And that's how I want to feel. I want to agree with people on that. But then I start. I've been meaning to start Mistborn because I just haven't read Brandon Sanderson, and I feel like what I know about it, I'd probably really like it. I like that it's complete. I don't know. I almost put both of them on my tbr, but I was like, I can't. I don't think I can do both.
Kennedy
They're so different.
Reggie
I know.
Kennedy
Like, I. I feel like if I
Reggie
don't put on my tbr, like, Mistborn on my tbr, I'm, like, never gonna read it. So that's why I kind of want to say Mistborn, but I put it on my TBR before, and I just don't know if, like, I think, oh, I'm just in such a weird space right now.
Mikayla
I wish I had have read both of them because I feel like I can't really say much about Starside. Yeah.
Reggie
Like, it's Brand.
Kennedy
I feel like if you're wanting something that's similar to your feeling when you first started fantasy, like your Acotar or
Mikayla
your Throne of Glass.
Kennedy
Mistborn is not that.
Reggie
Yeah.
Mikayla
Yeah.
Reggie
But I wonder if I'll just, like, really appreciate Mistborn.
Kennedy
I feel like Mistborn is a series that you don't appreciate until you finish all three.
Reggie
Yeah. That's why I. That's why I'm kind of dragging my feet with it.
Mikayla
Just Starseed.
Kennedy
That's what I was gonna say. I think that reading Mistborn right now while you're in a reading slump is going to put you further into a slide.
Reggie
That's fair. It's okay.
Kennedy
I'm not saying it's not good for every. Every Cosmere fan out there, because it is very good.
Mikayla
You.
Kennedy
When you finish the third book, you can really appreciate. And honestly, I feel like that's. Mistborn is a series that I want to reread again because I think I would have an appreciation for it the second time. Around, however, it's so slow paced. I think it's gonna put you in a reading slot.
Reggie
It's so hard. I wish I could just sit down and read more. I just feel like I'm like 90 audiobooks right now.
Kennedy
And maybe Michaela disagrees. Love the audiobook narrator. Like, he's great, but his voice almost like kind of puts you to sleep. Kind of like this older voice.
Mikayla
And just remember.
Reggie
Oh, now that I know that I'm gonna. I'm moving forward with Starside. I'm feeling like a little. A little nervous because I don't think
Kennedy
there's a graphic audio for Mistborn.
Reggie
Is there?
Kennedy
Wish there was.
Reggie
Wish there was. And I will say, like, I know there's a lot of different fantasy books. I could pick, like, I could put pick Metal Slinger or I could pick like, what's the other one I was gonna put. I was trying to choose between anyways. I just. I don't know. Like, I know that I might be waiting a long time for the next book of Alex's, but I don't know.
Kennedy
She pumps those out.
Reggie
Like, she does pump them out really quick. And also, I'd rather read a book that I really enjoy and have to wait for a book than read a book that the other one's coming out. And I'm like, let down by it. Not saying I'll really enjoy Starside. We'll see.
Mikayla
It comes out. The next book comes out in November.
Reggie
Oh, all right.
Kennedy
She pumps those out.
Mikayla
Yeah.
Kennedy
So keep that in mind.
Reggie
All right, I'll keep you guys posted. I'm still afraid. I'm also worried I'm gonna get off
Kennedy
of my TBR and see what you think.
Reggie
Okay. I'm also worried I'm gonna get a spoiler because I've been seeing so much about it and I literally, like, don't even watch the videos when they come on my tick tock. I'm like, swipe past because I don't want to know anything about it.
Mikayla
Yeah.
Reggie
And then where I'm gonna get, like a spoiler.
Kennedy
I feel like I've seen a few
Reggie
things about it anyways.
Mikayla
That's similar esque to Light Lark. Oh, oh, yeah, please. No. Yeah.
Kennedy
Great.
Mikayla
Yeah.
Reggie
Give it a whirl.
Kennedy
Give it a whirl. I'll give myself permission. I just need it for my summer TBR because I want to see what you think about it and then based on what you think about it, I'll add it for a decade.
Reggie
Yeah, I just. I really just miss fantasy. Like, I feel like, the last time I really enjoyed a fantasy book was, like, when I reread Throne of Glass last year. Like, I was just like, I this
Kennedy
close to putting Acotar on my summer tbr. Really?
Reggie
Because, like, I enjoyed Shield of, like, rereading Shield of Sparrows. I did really like Rites of the Starling. But as much as I liked Rights of the Starling, it wasn't like I was obsessed. Like, I just want something to, like, lose sleep over because I, like, want to read it. Like, it's just been so long.
Mikayla
Yeah, Yeah.
Reggie
I feel like. And I just missed that, so maybe that will give it to me. And I hope it does.
Kennedy
I think what's also hard is like, think about the books that you. You did lose Sleepover. I mean, except for I feel like Fourth Wing is one that's kind of the exception. And I know some people say Fourth Wing is terrible, but like Acotar and Throne of Glass. Throne of Glass was complete. So like, you could binge that so fast. And Acotar isn't complete, but at the time that we started reading it, there was four, five books, including the novella. Right. So they were just so much more bingeable. And it's like you had a relationship with these characters because you were able to read five books before having to wait for the next one. Whereas, like Shield of Sparrows, which I love, you still have to continually wait for them. You know what I mean? It's just hard. Or like Red Rising, we had six books that we got to read and now we're waiting for the next one. But it's. Yeah. So.
Reggie
Yeah.
Kennedy
But then I feel like people recommend me complete a fantasy series and like, eh. I don't know what's wrong with me.
Mikayla
Something's very wrong with me. Third one on my list. Funeral Destination by Paige Harbison. Yes. From what I know about it, it's that this comes out in July. It's about a group of friends that have kind of like, gone their separate ways, haven't really talked. And then one of their friends dies and they have this like, Sorry, I'm just pulling it up so I don't. The funeral brings them back together and they, you know, there's tensions and they kind of like, gotta figure things out as like, friends and solve some, like, solve some problems that they had or whatever.
Kennedy
So I'll cry. Okay, cool.
Mikayla
And it's also Groundhog Day.
Kennedy
Oh, I was gonna say, where's the magical realism? There's. There it is.
Mikayla
Yeah. So they have to relive the Day. Over and over again. Like the funeral day.
Kennedy
So this book literally is gonna make me cry.
Mikayla
Cool.
Reggie
I also added that to my summer tv.
Kennedy
Guys, I was going to. Should we just make it like a book?
Mikayla
A book club?
Kennedy
Yeah.
Reggie
Might as well.
Mikayla
Let's do it.
Reggie
We did with last. Last book of pages.
Mikayla
What about the last of August?
Kennedy
Should we just make a little bonus book club book, maybe? Sure.
Mikayla
I don't know.
Kennedy
That sounds really good. Should I change one of mine?
Mikayla
If you want, girly.
Kennedy
Oh, it's my turn.
Reggie
Yeah.
Kennedy
Okay. I'm either gonna do that one or let me read the synopsis of this other one, and then you guys pick between the two.
Reggie
Okay.
Kennedy
This is one that I think Reggie absolutely needs to read.
Mikayla
Like, absolutely.
Reggie
Ooh, I'm intrigued.
Kennedy
And I might completely butcher the title, so if I say something wrong, don't make fun of me. Reggie. Sorry. I'm trying to find it on Goodreads.
Mikayla
What would it be?
Reggie
I don't know.
Mikayla
I'm very intrigued.
Kennedy
Okay. The title is now, once again, I might mispronounce something. Songs in Ursa Major.
Reggie
Yeah.
Kennedy
Did I say it right? Oh, yeah. Okay. Emma Brody.
Reggie
Yeah.
Kennedy
Into the Blue. Do you know the synopsis?
Reggie
No, but, like, I'm a familiar.
Kennedy
Okay.
Reggie
Yeah, just.
Kennedy
The year is 1969, and there's, like, this really famous musician. His name is Jesse Reed. He crashes his motorcycle on the way to one of his shows. Then we have Jane Quinn, who is a local artist, and Jesse's band asks her to play in place of him at their show. She delivers a performance of the lifetime, and it stops Jesse in his. It stops their fans in their tracks. Jesse stays with the band to recover from his accident. Strikes up a friend with Jane, coaching her through her production of her first record, they Fall in love. Let's see.
Mikayla
Given a given.
Reggie
I kind of want you to read that so then you can tell me.
Kennedy
Says it's shot through with the lyrics, the icons, the lore, the adrenaline of the early, early 70s music scene. Songs in Ursa Major pulses with romantic longing. Longing and ask the question so many female artists must face. What are we willing to sacrifice for our dreams?
Reggie
Wow. I kind of want to make you. I feel like you're going to read Destination Funeral regardless. So I selfishly want you to read that one so you can tell me how you like it.
Kennedy
I can't decide.
Mikayla
I'm going to let Reggie pick.
Kennedy
I feel like you got to read that eventually.
Reggie
I know. I feel like I probably do.
Kennedy
But you know what? I'm changing it to the Patriarchal one. Oh.
Reggie
All right, do it.
Kennedy
I love Emma. Switch up. I love Emma Brody to death. I love into the Blue so much, and I feel like that's a book for you, Reggie. I feel like into the Blue was a book for me. Okay, so depending on if you like Emma Brody's writing, which I feel like you will, you should read.
Reggie
I know. I need to start that asap, so into the Blue.
Kennedy
Oh, I'm so excited. Wait, where did that Destination Funeral go?
Reggie
Yeah, I love the COVID so that's exciting.
Mikayla
If you follow all of us on Goodreads, you can tell when we're together and recording.
Kennedy
We all add the same books. I feel good about that decision. That was my iffy book. And I feel good about my decision to change it to Paige's book.
Reggie
Okay, well, since I already said Destination Funeral, this one's my last one on my spring tbr. Because we do five, right? I bet you guys can't guess what I'm wanting to read this summer. And it's just the first book, the Hunger Games. It was a safe one. I needed a safe one on my summer TBR because I'm just like, ah. I'm just in such a slump. I have not picked up the very og first Hunger Games book since I was in, like, junior high. So I love this adventure for you. I'm so excited. And I actually, like. I don't want to listen to them. I want to read them. You guys should see the copy I have of the Hunger Games.
Kennedy
It's haggard.
Reggie
It is haggard. Like, I have read that book. I read it. Like, I. It's funny to me as a reader now, because looking back at me as a kid, I'm like, I can't believe I reread that so many times.
Kennedy
I really have.
Reggie
It's looking really rough, but I am
Kennedy
going to read it from my old
Reggie
little cute Falling Apart hardcover. And I did post something on my stories once, asking if anyone else is wanting to reread all the Hunger Games books before Sunrise on the Reaping comes out. A lot of you said you did, so I might be making a little fable group for myself if anyone wants to read along with me. Because I'm going to start it for June Hunger Games, and then June, July, August, September, October. Yeah, reread all the books before Sunrise on the Raping comes up. So you guys can follow along with me if you want, because I just think that sounds so fun. So I'm very excited. And then my husband, he. So I've been wanting him to read Sunrise on the Repeat. And he's like, I'll read it. I'll read it before the movie and then I'll show him like, Hunger Games edits. Because I, like, have a new one that I'm obsessed with every day. And I make him watch it and he's like, I don't get it. And I'm like, remember in like Catching Fire when Bubble? And he's like, I don't remember that. He, like, cannot remember the movies. And he's read the books.
Kennedy
Never watched or seen all the movies.
Reggie
Yeah, he's read the books, but he, like, just has no memory of the books. And then he's like. He's like, I'm a little fuzzy on the details. He's like, I don't even think I watched the last Mockingjay movie. I'm like, are you serious? So after I finish each book, I'm gonna watch the movies with him because he's like, I don't think I can reread all the books because he's got to start Iron Gold soon. So
Mikayla
Kyle hasn't even started out.
Reggie
He's got, well, my brother in laws. Did I tell you guys? I have started a cult. I have. I got both my brother in laws to read the first three. And they just started Iron Gold and then their friends are all reading it and it's like they've started these little book clubs. And I'm just like. My father in law's like, oh, yeah, get me the first book. I'll start it. I'm like, okay. So anyways, that was a tangent, but I'm gonna watch all the movies with my husband after I finish each book.
Kennedy
So that'll be fun.
Reggie
I'm excited. That's something I have to look forward to this summer.
Kennedy
So
Mikayla
number four for me. Sorry. Because I know everyone jumped on the funeral destination bandwagon.
Reggie
Sorry.
Mikayla
No, it's okay. I think it will be fun. The Shippers by Katherine Center. Yeah. I want. Yeah. We have talked about this in a previous episode. I think you did.
Reggie
You brought it up.
Mikayla
It's about these two people on a cruise ship and they're working it. Or they just.
Reggie
I remember they're like there for like an event. I couldn't tell by the synopsis, but
Mikayla
let me pull it up. Oh, It's a destination wedding.
Kennedy
Oh. Oh.
Mikayla
And she is determined to solve her intimacy issues. Oh, okay. That's gonna be very different for K Catherine Center.
Kennedy
Okay. Because I feel like. But I guess intimacy issues could be like a whole host of different things.
Mikayla
That's true.
Kennedy
But the first thing you think of is that.
Mikayla
Yeah.
Kennedy
You going to have an off campus situation going on here.
Mikayla
Oh, it. It's her first crush and first kiss and who just happens to be a newly divorced wedding guest.
Reggie
Oh, love it.
Mikayla
Yeah. Love.
Kennedy
Heck yeah.
Mikayla
That's it. My fourth one.
Kennedy
I love that. My fourth one is here. One moment by Leanne Moriarty. Is that how you say her last name? Guys don't know who I'm talking about.
Mikayla
It's chill here. One moment.
Kennedy
This is a pick I had seen. I've heard of the author before. I've never read any of her books, but I was browsing around a Barnes and Noble. Oh, jk, I read Big Little Lies. Oh yeah. Same author.
Reggie
That is the same. Yeah.
Kennedy
This book, there is a whole bunch of people on a plane and there's this woman who predicts, I can't remember how many people, but she predicts how they will. When and how they will die. And then it just. The first person in the synopsis, the first person dies when and how she said. The second person dies when and how she said so then it follows all of these other people with this knowing of their mortality and how it goes.
Mikayla
This sounds very interesting.
Kennedy
Not really a summer read, but I've had the book and that sounds interesting. It sounds interesting.
Mikayla
Yeah.
Kennedy
I didn't love Big Little Lies, so I'm a little concerned.
Reggie
Did you watch the TV show? No, I didn't read the book, but I watched the TV show and I really liked the TV show.
Mikayla
Big Little.
Kennedy
I read.
Mikayla
I remember.
Kennedy
It's funny because I know I say
Mikayla
this all the time.
Kennedy
I remember exactly where I was when I was reading it.
Mikayla
I was sitting on my couch.
Kennedy
Don't remember the plot, but I remember not really loving it. But I know that that was the beginning of my reading journey. And at that time I was reading, I. I liked a lot different books. So I'm feeling like I'll like it. It sounds interesting. Unique, but I guess we'll see. That sounds very interesting.
Reggie
So yeah, I remember I like binged the TV show within like two days. It was intense.
Kennedy
I think I started.
Reggie
It's got a great cast too. You got like Reese Witherspoon, Zoe Kravitz. Okay, Shailene Woodley.
Kennedy
What is her freaking name? The AMC chick. Nicole Kidman.
Reggie
Yeah, Nicole Kidman.
Mikayla
Anyway, you are done with your list, correct?
Reggie
I am done with my list. Go ahead, Michaela, take it away.
Mikayla
Well, I just bumped down the Everlasting by Alex E. Haro this is also on mine.
Kennedy
So Michaela, take it away.
Reggie
I'll read what she's reading.
Kennedy
It's a standalone, right?
Mikayla
It from what I can see, because
Kennedy
that's the reason I put it on there. It's a fantasy standalone.
Mikayla
Yes. Okay. It's like a lady night.
Reggie
Sick.
Mikayla
And the only reason I re added it from spring to summer is because I read some of the reviews to give me kind of like motivation. And all it says is truly painful and agonizing yearning.
Kennedy
Oh, yeah, I need that in my life.
Mikayla
And someone said, no one speak to me for 10 business days. All right, So I am a sucker for yearning and I want that desperately. So that's why I was like, yeah, I'm gonna keep that on my list so I make sure I get to it.
Kennedy
Honestly, maybe I'll read that next. Yeah, I feel, I feel good about my decision to.
Reggie
To. Yeah.
Kennedy
I grappled with maybe the idea of doing a reread of like Crescent City or. Honestly, I've been dying to reread Red Rising.
Mikayla
However, just waiting for a release date. I think it's spring 2027.
Kennedy
I just want to feel something.
Mikayla
Okay.
Kennedy
I guess I did tell my sister in law, I said, because she went through acotar, she told me she was never going to read Crescent City. So I said, no, I'm sorry, you have to. She's finally reading Crescent City. I said, throne of Glass is the best series by her. I said, when you read it, I will read it with you.
Mikayla
That's a great, great, yeah.
Reggie
Rereading that was such a move for me. Yeah.
Mikayla
Oh, I can't wait to re, re re read it. That will be my. I really just can't wait for the graphic audio. Anyways, that's the story for another day. Anyways, we hope you enjoyed our summer tbr. Let us know if you read any of these. Add any of them to your TBR for the summer. We always love to hear what you guys read and what you think and feel about it. You guys can follow us on social media, what she's reading, Pod for TikTok, Instagram, Facebook. I think that's all we got. Oh, YouTube. That's all the socials. And you can get our merch. I'll read what she's reading dot com. If this is your first time listening. Our merch isn't just I'll read what she's reading merch. We just have merch that isn't exclusively branded to us. They're just cool designs, fun things. So go check it out, if you haven't already. We got Kindle cases, totes sweatshirts, T shirts, crop tees, hats, all the fun stuff. Also, if you haven't heard and you're living under a rock, I'm just teasing. I'm just joking. We just really want you guys to join us on Our Readers Retreat, October 1st through 4th in Park City, Utah. The past two years, we've had so much fun doing it, and we can't wait to make it fun for the third year.
Reggie
It's gonna be so. It's gonna be so beautiful. Like, we moved it up.
Kennedy
Normally it's in November, but we moved it up because we wanted all y' all out of towners to experience Utah prime fall. Yeah, it's insane.
Mikayla
Yeah. So come join us. And spots are flying. We got a few spots left, so if you're really interested, let us know. And we're really excited about it. Anyways, we'll see you guys next week.
Reggie
Bye.
Hosts: Reggie, Mikayla, Kennedy
Date: June 17, 2026
In this episode, the hosts share updates on their Spring TBRs—what they read, didn’t read, or DNF’d—and reveal their new Summer 2026 To-Be-Read (TBR) lists. The tone is casual and honest, with confessions about reading slumps and candid commentary about current reading moods. The group also gives details on their Summer Book Club picks (all romances), debates fantasy reading struggles, and organically helps each other build more motivating TBRs for summer. There’s ample playful banter, book recommendations, and relatable struggles of keeping up with series and BookTok hype.
Timestamps: 02:08 – 18:54
Timestamps: 19:18 – end
The trio’s conversation is lively, unfiltered, and full of camaraderie and self-deprecation about reading slumps. There’s a recurring sentiment of longing for a magical, addictive reading experience—especially in the fantasy genre. The group is candid about DNF-ing or shelving books, wary of overhyped BookTok reads, and honest about “putting things on the TBR just to have a list.” Banter abounds, making the discussion approachable and validating for listeners with ever-growing, ever-shifting TBRs.