UNDER-HYPED TBR

Summary

Podcast Summary: "UNDER-HYPED TBR"
I'll Read What She's Reading
Release Date: July 9, 2025

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Introduction

In the episode titled "UNDER-HYPED TBR," hosts Reggie, Mikayla, and Kennedy shift the spotlight to lesser-known books that deserve a spot in listeners' To Be Read (TBR) lists. Moving away from mainstream selections, the trio delves into unique and underrated titles across various genres, providing insights and recommendations for avid readers seeking fresh literary adventures.

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Current Reads Update

Kennedy's Selections:

• "Atmosphere" by Taylor Jenkins Reid
  Rating: 5 Stars
  Kennedy praises this book, highlighting its captivating narrative and emotional depth. She shares her enthusiasm, saying, "Pretty fast-paced, but the magic system is really unique" (01:08).

• "Golden Summer" by Carly Fortune
  Rating: 5 Stars
  Described as a perfect summer read, Kennedy relates deeply to the protagonist, Alice, noting, "She's got red hair. I'm a fake redhead. But like, she is me."

• "Truss of the Emerald Sea" by Brandon Sanderson
  Rating: 4.5 Stars
  Although Kennedy acknowledges it’s not her first Brandon Sanderson read, she appreciates its whimsical and fast-paced nature. She remarks, "It's like Princess Bride meets Pirates of the Caribbean" (02:28).

• "Other Side of Now" by Paige Harbison
  Rating: 4.25 - 4.5 Stars
  Kennedy shares a heartfelt connection to the audiobook version, expressing, "I was tearing up multiple times during this book" (06:01).

• "Empire of Storms" and "Bound Worlds" series
  Kennedy fondly recalls her reread of "Throne of Glass" and praises the conclusion of the "Bound Worlds" series, expressing eagerness to revisit these narratives.

Mikayla's Selections:

• "Golden Summer" by Carly Fortune
  Mikayla echoes Kennedy's sentiments, naming it her favorite so far and appreciating its relatable characters.

• "Not Another Love Song" by Julie Soto
  Highlighted for its unique take on romance involving a celloist and violinist in an orchestra, Mikayla finds it refreshingly different.

• "Other Side of Now" by Paige Harbison
  While she enjoyed the book, Mikayla notes moments where she found it hard to relate to the characters.

• "First Time Caller" by BK Borson and "Out of the Woods" by Hannah Bodham Young
  Both received positive ratings, with Mikayla particularly loving "Golden Summer" (05:07).

Reggie's Selections:

• "Other Side of Now" by Paige Harbison
  Reggie shares her emotional journey with the audiobook, stating, "There was like a solid few chapters where I was trying to clean my kitchen and I literally just sat there and just stared at my kitchen counter and just cried."

• "Empire of Storms" and "Bound Worlds" series
  She discusses her appreciation for the series' conclusion and rates them highly.

• "Atmosphere" by Taylor Jenkins Reid
  Reggie reiterates her admiration, mentioning, "It's so good that's me."

• "Throne of Glass"
  Although not currently reading, she mentions her upcoming journey through related books with a mix of excitement and nervousness.

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Under-Hyped TBR Recommendations

1. "Cold Front" by Mackenzie Lee (09:01)
A Dive into the World of Bucky Barnes
Kennedy introduces this Marvel-based novel focusing on the Winter Soldier, Bucky Barnes. Set in 1954, the story explores his origins as the Soviet Union's premier weapon and his subsequent enlistment in the UK Secret Service. Kennedy notes the book's potential connections to the broader Cosmere universe, stating, "It's a great introduction into his writing because it's whimsical, it's fun, it's funny" (10:17).

2. "The Method to Infinite Things" by Madison Boyer (12:25)
A Dystopian Adventure
Reggie expresses her anticipation for this standalone dystopian novel, describing it as a story about a girl thrust into a political conspiracy following a deadly explosion at a fair. She emphasizes its brevity and compelling narrative, mentioning, "It's only 269 pages. So I'm gonna purchase it for my Kindle and support Madison because, you know, love her."

3. "Voice of the Ocean" by Kelsey Impeachy (15:37)
A Siren’s Tale with a Romantic Twist
Mikayla is intrigued by this siren-themed romance, comparing it to a "Little Mermaid" scenario but with a unique twist involving a siren queen's daughter and a siren murderer. She appreciates the book's aesthetic appeal, noting, "I love the color cover it" (16:06).

4. "Dear Future Husband" by Taryn Christine (16:43)
An Emotional Romance
Kennedy highlights this romance novel centered around Maybelle and Trey, where Maybelle wakes from a coma to find Trey by her side. The book delves into themes of love, grief, and personal growth, with Kennedy expressing, "It's gonna be a really emotional read" (18:38).

5. "On His Way Back to Me" by Brittany Basinski (20:16)
A Heart-Wrenching Romance
Reggie introduces this story where a first love warns against marriage before his untimely death. The narrative explores whether true love transcends death, promising an emotional journey for readers seeking a blend of heartbreak and hope.

6. "Cash" by Jessica Peterson (22:08)
A Cowboy Romance with Dual Perspectives
Mikayla recommends this enemies-to-lovers trope set on a cattle ranch, narrated from the male protagonist's perspective. She finds the concept refreshing and engaging, stating, "You can never go wrong with cowboy romance."

7. "Dissolution" by Nicholas Binge (23:52)
A Sci-Fi Mystery Thriller
Kennedy presents this techno-thriller following Maggie Webb's quest to recover her husband's stolen memories. The plot spans continents and centuries, blending mystery with sci-fi elements. She enthusiastically comments, "It's right up my alley."

8. "You've Been Summoned" by Lindsey Lamar (25:23)
An Interactive Murder Mystery
Reggie shares excitement for this unique murder mystery where readers participate in solving the crime. The book combines traditional narrative with interactive elements, offering clues and interviews to engage readers directly in the investigation.

9. "The Lost Kingdom" by Laurel Black (28:22)
A Classic Fantasy Adventure
Mikayla selects this fantasy novel about a lost princess tasked with saving a kingdom in disarray. With high stakes and a captivating map, she is eager to explore its fantastical elements, noting, "The book itself looks really cool."

10. "Long Live Evil" by Sarah Rees Brennan (30:27)
A Meta-Fantasy Battle Against Darkness
Kennedy introduces this novel where the protagonist, Rey, is transported into her favorite fantasy book only to discover she's cast as the villain. Teaming up with other misfits, she aims to defeat the emperor, blending meta-fiction with traditional fantasy tropes.

11. "The Book of Doors" by Gareth Brown (32:38)
Magical Realism Meets Adventure
Reggie recommends this book about a bookshop employee who discovers a magical book that transports her through various doors. Pursued by those seeking the book's secrets, she must navigate different realms to protect her discovery.

12. "While We're Young" by K.L. Walters (35:28)
Summer Romance Inspired by Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Mikayla chooses this romance set in Philadelphia, drawing parallels to the classic film with a group of friends embarking on a senior skip day. She anticipates a fun and lighthearted read, especially with the city's vibrant backdrop.

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Conclusion

"UNDER-HYPED TBR" serves as a treasure trove for listeners seeking novel and underrated reads across diverse genres. Reggie, Mikayla, and Kennedy provide thoughtful recommendations, blending personal insights with detailed synopses to guide their audience's next literary adventures. Whether you're into romance, fantasy, sci-fi, or interactive mysteries, this episode offers a curated list that's sure to inspire your next read.

Listeners are encouraged to share their thoughts on these recommendations and contribute additional under-the-radar books, fostering a vibrant and inclusive book-loving community.

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Note: Timestamps correspond to the moments in the episode where specific topics or quotes are discussed, allowing listeners to reference particular sections of the conversation.

Transcript

[Mikayla]

Foreign.

[Reggie]

Hello and welcome back to I'll Read what she's reading. We're your hosts. I'm Reggie.

[Kennedy]

Mikayla. And I'm Kennedy.

[Reggie]

And today is a different TBR episode from what we've done in the past. We're going to be sharing with you guys our under hyped tbr, meaning books that we haven't heard very much about that we are going to make sure we read sometime this year.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

You know, pretty soon here. So hopefully these are some books that you also haven't heard about. But you may be excited to add to your TBR that you know is probably never ending, just like ours. But I'm excited because I have no idea what books you guys are going to be sharing and maybe I'll have to swap some of my ones on my list with ones that you guys talk about. Before we get into that, though, we're going to give you an update on what we're currently reading and I'm going to pick Kennedy to start us off.

[Mikayla]

Wow.

[Kennedy]

Okay, so I have had a decent reading experience the last few weeks. I'll brush really quickly on to. I'm going to tell you about four books. Okay. First on atmosphere, Taylor Jenkins Reid. So very good if you want to go look at our TikTok. I posted a reaction video of what I did when I finished it. Very, very good. And then I also read one. Golden Summer by Carly Fortune. I was obsessed. I knew you would obsessed. Alice is me. I am Alice. She's got red hair. I'm a fake redhead. But like, she is me. I loved Charlie. And I've been seeing people on TikTok say they didn't like his personality. I loved it. Worked for me. Perfect summer read. I rated it five stars. And that is just further proving my theory that if I would just read romance books instead of listening to them, I would rate them a lot higher. And then I also read Truss of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson. Technically listened to the graphic audio. My bad. Everybody clap for me. Thank you.

[Reggie]

I read another Brandon Sanderson book.

[Kennedy]

It was really, really good. Very fun, very whimsical. We're following Tress. She is obsessed with cups.

[Mikayla]

Okay.

[Kennedy]

She falls in love with this person who mysteriously disappears. Bum, bum, bum. And then she sets off on a journey to find him. Hijinks occurs. Think Princess Bride meets Pirates of the Caribbean.

[Reggie]

I really do want to read that one, but I just feel like maybe I should read that should not be my first Brandon Sanderson.

[Kennedy]

Now, I've been seeing a lot of people Talk about the order to read Brandon Sanderson. And everybody was telling me, don't retrace to the Emerald Sea yet. Don't read Trust with Emerald Sea. Yeah, and I can see why, because I did catch on. There were a few little hints to Mistborn. There's a few little like, this is not a spoiler. Mistborn's magic system has to do with metals. And at one point, the narrator was saying stuff about different metals, and he dropped this one liner. He's like, if you care about that sort of thing. So it was kind of like this little ode to Mistborn. It actually talks about a certain Mistborn character, which I was screaming. And, you know, I think that's a book that I will go back and read after I've read more of the Cosmere. But I do think it's a great introduction into his writing because it's whimsical, it's fun, it's funny, the characters are really interesting. It's pretty fast paced. But the magic system is really unique. I kind of wish I wouldn't have started with Mistborn because it is so slow. I don't know if Mikayla agrees, but his writing style is just very wordy. But it was fun. It was really good. I rated it four and a half stars.

[Mikayla]

So nice.

[Kennedy]

That's my update.

[Reggie]

Wonderful.

[Mikayla]

Oh, am I going?

[Reggie]

Sure. All right, I can go.

[Mikayla]

I don't care.

[Reggie]

Go for it.

[Mikayla]

Well, Flip. Well, I did read one Golden Summer. Also really enjoyed it. My favorite of hers so far. And I also read Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto. And I think it was just really unique on the romance because it has to do with a celloist and a violinist in the same orchestra.

[Reggie]

Okay.

[Kennedy]

Okay.

[Mikayla]

Cute. I don't know. But, like, I don't know. I don't know. It was just something different that I haven't seen before. It's not like my favorite romance book, but it was very interesting. And I really want to find out more about orchestra stuff. And, like, I don't know. It was just cool, guys. I'm realizing I've literally only read romance books.

[Reggie]

That's great.

[Mikayla]

It's summer, it's the time, the Other side of Now. My Paige Harbison. Harbison.

[Reggie]

Harbison.

[Mikayla]

I think it's Harbison Harbison. Very good. Loved it. First Time Caller by BK Borson. Loved that one. Out of the woods by you are.

[Kennedy]

On a Wednesday, Hannah Bodham Young.

[Mikayla]

It was also good, but I found at times hard to relate to the characters, so. But all of those were three star and up and four of them or three. Three of them were four stars. 4.5. Oh, I guess one golden summer. I rated 4.5, but rounded up to five star, so that's awesome. Yeah.

[Reggie]

Cool.

[Mikayla]

I'm just really. I don't know, I just. I've been intimidated to start any fantasy books, so.

[Reggie]

Yeah, Well, I also read the Other side of Now. I loved it. I gave it four stars and maybe even give it like a 4.25 or even 4.5. I went in with like, I didn't even know what expectation I went in with, but I loved it because it's like, it felt like a romance book, but it wasn't a romance book really. It's more just about, like, friendship, grief, finding yourself. I really wish I would have physically read it because I probably would have rated it even higher. But I still love the audiobook. Paige, the author, she narrates it and she did a fantastic job. I was tearing up multiple times during this book. There was like a solid few chapters where I was trying to clean my kitchen and I literally just sat there and just stared at my kitchen counter and just cried. Loved it. It was very sweet and it was also really funny. Just really great vibes. There's so much I loved about it. So I highly recommend. We did that as a book club book on our fable. And it's like a bonus one. And I. Yeah, I just loved it. It was great. I finished Empire of Storms. You know, as you know, eventually I'll stop talking about my Throne a Glass reread, but I gave it a 4.25 rating. Enjoyed it so much more than I did the first time. Surprise, surprise. And I read the last book of the Bound Worlds, which is the Blighted Stars. And it was so good. It was so good. I want to, like, read the books again already. I really liked how things ended up. And I also read Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins. Reid, gave it five stars. It was so good. That's. That's me.

[Kennedy]

I'm.

[Reggie]

That's feeling also intimidated to start any fantasy book. Cause I'm reading Throne of Glass. You know what I mean? It's like I'm going from like Tower of Dawn to Shield a Sparrows. Like, that's what I need to read next. I'm a little nervous, but looking forward to it at the same time. But, yeah, Summer. There's just something about Summer in the romance books, you know, It's a vibe.

[Kennedy]

I also think it's hard because most of the Finnish books I Want to read are not complete. And I'm really tired of having to wait for other books because I feel like in the meantime. Not that I forget, but I forget some details and then I have to go back and you know what I mean?

[Mikayla]

So, yeah.

[Reggie]

Yeah, it's hard. It's really hard. Anyways, that's what we've been reading. So what we've been writing. Here's some reads that you maybe haven't heard about. And we're gonna dive right in. We'll just go on this. Let's. This way. Let's start with Kennedy. All right, what you got?

[Kennedy]

First one is. Oh, dear.

[Reggie]

Is it gonna be about, like a.

[Kennedy]

No, it's not about a cheese moon. Okay. It's not about a cheese moon. It's very on brand for me. When I tell you guys the title, you're gonna be like, oh, yeah, this makes sense for you. Okay. And I'm, like, a little embarrassed that I'm gonna. That I'm putting this here. And 90% of people who are listening to this podcast probably have zero interest in reading it. But me, I do. And I wanna be realistic about what I'm actually gonna read. And this. I will eat this up. Okay. It is cold.

[Mikayla]

I'm on the edge of my seat.

[Kennedy]

The Winter Soldier. Cold Front by Mackenzie Lee. Yeah, so, you know, it's literally about Winter Soldier. So if you guys don't know who the Winter Soldier is, is it, like, Marvel? Yes, it's literally marvel. It is Bucky Barnes. So it's based in 1954. The Winter Soldier is the Soviet Union's greatest weapon. He's assigned, you know. You know, the story of Bucky Barnes, you know, Freight Car, you know.

[Mikayla]

Anyway. Okay.

[Kennedy]

Anyway, it's basically. It's a backstory about Bucky, and then he. It's literally his backstory, essentially, and it's. And him going on missions.

[Mikayla]

Okay. So you get, like, details of, like.

[Reggie]

And is this.

[Kennedy]

It's not canon. It's not canon.

[Mikayla]

So.

[Reggie]

Okay, so it's not a fan fiction.

[Kennedy]

No, it's like a published book.

[Reggie]

Okay.

[Kennedy]

Yep.

[Mikayla]

Interesting.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

I love this for you.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

I feel like you will really enjoy that.

[Kennedy]

He's. He's enlisting in the UK Secret Service.

[Reggie]

Okay.

[Kennedy]

So you see a little bit of his time with the Soviet Union, and then we go back to regular old Bucky Barnes. He's in the UK Secret Service, and he's grappling with his identity, you know?

[Mikayla]

Huh.

[Reggie]

All right. Yeah, I love it.

[Kennedy]

Thank you.

[Mikayla]

Huh.

[Kennedy]

Yep. Most of you probably have zero interest in reading that. But he. Mackenzie Lee also has. For anybody who is Marvel nerd like me, she also writes other books in within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and I unfortunately do think that they're all ya. So whether or not I'm gonna like this a lot, I'm not sure. But if it involves a Winter Soldier, sign me up. There's also one about Loki, so let me just go through Mackenzie Lee's backlog. Loki, Where Mischief Lies, the Winter Soldier, Cold Front, Gamora and Nebula, Sisters in Arms, Love. She also has some other books that are not Marvel related, but I'm here for it.

[Reggie]

Okay. I know you are.

[Kennedy]

So there you have it. The Crickets. Don't you guys love that?

[Reggie]

I don't have anything else to add. I don't know what to add to it.

[Mikayla]

That's very.

[Reggie]

I'm excited for you and I'm really hoping that you enjoy it.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

So very Kennedy.

[Mikayla]

Very me.

[Reggie]

How did you find that?

[Kennedy]

I don't honestly know. I'm not sure.

[Mikayla]

Would you ever just, like, read the comic books?

[Kennedy]

Yeah, I would. I would read the comics. We actually have a massive. In my vlog that I did where Kyle picked books. He picked books for himself and he bought. I actually don't think I showed this. He bought an encyclopedia, and then he also. We also bought, like, a huge book of, like, a whole bunch of the comics.

[Mikayla]

The comics and stuff like that. That's cool. That is really cool.

[Reggie]

Okay. I brought this up on the podcast once before as something I wanted to read, and I never read it. And I'm feeling bad because.

[Mikayla]

Can I guess what it is?

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

You've been summoned.

[Kennedy]

No. Oh, no.

[Reggie]

But that is one that I do want to read. This one is by someone. I personally. I personally know them, and so I feel like I want to read it because I know who she is. It's called the Method to Infinite Things by. By Madison Boyer. She's like a friend of a family friend, and it's a dystopian adventure, and I think it's a standalone. I think the reason I didn't originally read it is because I was like, there might be another book. And I don't know when that would be coming out. And so I was kind of like, anyways, but I want to read it because I know who she is. And so I'm like, why would I not read it? You know what I mean? And it's a dystopian adventure novel, essentially. It's about a girl who. She just wants to be, like, accepted in society, I think. And she has this like really cool invention that she does at a fair and some deadly explosion happens and she gets put in the middle of this political conspiracy because something. I don't know if her invention goes wrong, but anyways, she's trying to unveil the dark about this conspiracy of who is behind this sinister agenda. And she's kind of, you know, try to save the day. It just sounds interesting to me.

[Kennedy]

You say dystopian and I'm sold.

[Reggie]

So, you know. Yeah, I feel like there's not enough dystopian books out there. So it's also pretty short read. It says it's only 269 pages. So I'm gonna purchase it for my Kindle and support Madison because, you know, love her.

[Mikayla]

Is that a standalone or is it a series?

[Reggie]

I thought it was originally a series, but I mistaken because it doesn't say that it is. Okay, so I will update you guys, please. And report back. It seems like one I could read in a day, you know.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

And my cousin who's friends with her has read it and she had a lot of good things to say about it. So yeah, I'll report back. The method to infinite things, I just noticed, is now on Kindle Unlimited.

[Kennedy]

Woohoo.

[Reggie]

So I'm stoked about that.

[Mikayla]

Fun. Yeah, that sounds fun. I'm gonna be a little biased and say that this book intrigued me from the COVID and I didn't even know what it was about, but it's called Voice of the Ocean and it seems kind of like a little mermaid scenario, but instead of her being a mermaid, she's a siren. And then, you know, she's the daughter of the siren queen. Classic. And then there's a guy who murders sirens.

[Reggie]

Oh, okay.

[Mikayla]

You know.

[Kennedy]

Okay, so an enemies to lover situation.

[Reggie]

Yeah, Love that.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. You know, I don't know, I think it's kind of like a little mermaid with a little bit of a twist. I don't know. Seems good. And the COVID is just really pretty. I love the color over it.

[Reggie]

Oh yeah, that looks cool.

[Mikayla]

I like the. The COVID a lot and it just kind of seems a little unique. Did you say the author? Oh, I didn't.

[Kennedy]

Let me say that.

[Mikayla]

Voice of the ocean. Kelsey Impeachy. I M P I C C I C E H E. I have no.

[Kennedy]

Idea how you pronounce that, but I think that your pronunciation was great.

[Mikayla]

Impisi. I don't know. That is a really cool last name. Very difficult to pronounce, but yeah, I. I think it looks great from the COVID I was very intrigued. I was judging a book by its cover. And then the book description looked very good as well. So I. I'm hoping to get to that.

[Kennedy]

You like sea stories?

[Mikayla]

I do.

[Kennedy]

Mermaids and pirates.

[Mikayla]

I do. Sirens. I do. Yeah. Sounds just right up my alley. So, big fan of that.

[Reggie]

Cool.

[Kennedy]

We all will have to report back on all these books. Seriously.

[Mikayla]

Yes.

[Kennedy]

My next book is also by someone all three of us know. It's called Dear Future Husband by Taryn Christine. So basically, it's a romance book. So this book is about our two main characters, Maybelle and Trey. And Maybelle ends up getting in a terrible accident, and she is in a coma. And when she wakes up, she finds Trey by her bedside. And Trey is Maybelle's brother's best friend. And while Trey is sitting by her in the coma, he finds her journal that she has made that she wants to give to her future husband. And that is the synopsis of the book.

[Reggie]

Yeah. We love supporting a friend. Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Taryn is such a sweet person. She's. We had a book retreat in Utah last November, and she came to it, and she was so much fun to be around. And I know how much she's gone through trying to release this book. If you have seen her tiktoks, you know, just how passionate she feels about this. And I'm really excited for her to release this book and for. If you guys are interested, reading, interested to read it. Because I'm sure every book that someone puts out as a labor of love, but when you know someone and you've kind of followed their journey throughout trying to get published and having an agent and then losing an agent and then having to self publish, you know, it just is that much sweeter when you get to actually physically read their book. So I think it's gonna be great. And I think you guys should read it too.

[Mikayla]

So. I like the COVID Yeah, it's really cute.

[Kennedy]

It's a really pretty cover.

[Reggie]

So, yeah, I'm so happy.

[Kennedy]

And I know that part of it is based, like, on her life, and I just think it's gonna be a really emotional read. She put on her stories a few days ago. Some of the trigger warnings just like some of the topics that are covered, and it seems like it's going to be a really emotional story. And I love a good romance with emotional subplot that makes me cry. And I think that will be this book.

[Mikayla]

So.

[Reggie]

Yeah. Awesome. All right.

[Taryn]

Well, when you hear Lululemon, you probably think of aligned yoga Pants weightlessly soft, like you're wearing next to nothing. That's why you see them in class, at the grocery store and in the park. But did you know about skirts with built in liner shorts so you can still jump for the Frisbee and tanks and bodysuits with Align's iconic stretch, you won't want to take it off. And with endless style options, you don't have to shop in store or [e-mail].

[Reggie]

My next one I saved a TikTok about this book so long ago and was reminded of it when we decided to do this episode because the concept just. I'm curious what you guys think of this. So your first love calls you before your wedding day and says don't marry him and you didn't listen to him. So you marry this other guy and you end up getting divorced. And then your guy that called you before your wedding day saying don't marry him passes away.

[Mikayla]

Oh, plot twist.

[Reggie]

So this is what the author put as a TikTok that she made. And so then she said so you wrote a book about it to heal and share your story. So then she ends up writing a book kind of about the same kind of idea. Oh. Where it's called On His Way Back to Me.

[Kennedy]

So are we gonna have a you reached Sam type moment?

[Reggie]

I. I don't know. I don't know. It's a gorgeously romantic story that's gonna keep you on the edge of your seat. So does basically the synopsis kind of is asking the question of does true love really ever die? So a lot of the reviews are saying that it's just like a very interesting like feel good, but like also really heartbreaking romance. So I have no idea what to expect going into this because I'm like, you know what I mean? So especially where it's based off of like real life experiences where I feel like it's gotta be. It might be a little gut wrenching, but I'm here for it. So that's On His Way Back to Be by Brittany Basinski, I believe is how you say her name.

[Kennedy]

Sounds wonderful. So sometimes you just need to go cry. It kind of sounds like it's going to take you on the same emotional journey that the other side of now did.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Yeah. Maybe with like an open ended ending. I don't know.

[Reggie]

Yeah. Okay.

[Mikayla]

The next one on my list is called Cash by Jessica Peterson and it's a series in Lucky River Ranch.

[Kennedy]

Yee Hawk know where this going?

[Mikayla]

It's enemies to lovers, Grumpy to sun sign, grumpy sunshine, small town cowboy. And I'm pretty sure it's from the perspective of the male. Interesting because it says, my dad and I have been estranged for years, but as his only living relative, I inherit a massive cattle ranch when he dies.

[Reggie]

Ooh.

[Mikayla]

Huh. I don't know if it's dual point of view, but I think unless the.

[Kennedy]

Girl inherits the cattle ranch.

[Mikayla]

No, it's Cash. Oh, it's Cash the guy. So I think it's from the perspective of the male, which is very interesting. Anyways, I just thought it would be like a fun cowboy romance book.

[Kennedy]

One that from the perspective of the.

[Mikayla]

Male, I'm pretty sure. But there's obviously a female in it because it talks about a female.

[Kennedy]

A city girl, of course, City girl, country boy, city girl.

[Mikayla]

So I don't know, the COVID just looks fun. And I'm pretty sure one of the people I follow on Goodreads marked it as want to read? And I was like, I've never seen this before. And so I marked it as one to read. So.

[Reggie]

Yeah, exciting.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

You can never go wrong with cowboy romance.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Okay. My next book, honestly, I feel like most of the non or most of the underhyped books I think that are on my Goodreads TBR are literally sci fi books. So I tried to find ones that weren't sci fi. This one is like a techno thriller. So we're kind of going back to the sci fi.

[Mikayla]

Love it.

[Kennedy]

Sci fi roots. Now, if you've heard of this author, please don't come for me. I apparently, I guess he may or may not be in New York Times bestselling author. But you know what? I've never heard of him. And I've never heard of this book. So we're counting it as underhyped. It's called Dissolution by Nicholas Binge. And the plot is following Maggie Webb. And she's lived the last decade caring for her elderly husband who has had memory loss. So think you know, you're caring for your husband.

[Reggie]

All of their.

[Kennedy]

All of your memories together are gone. He doesn't remember you. He doesn't remember your love story. Doesn't remember anything. Okay, well, knock, knock, knock at the door. We have a mysterious stranger coming to say that, hey, actually, your husband isn't actually losing his memories. Someone's taking them away from her, from him. So now she goes on this journey with the stranger to find the person who's stealing her husband's memory so that she can get her husband back.

[Reggie]

Interesting.

[Kennedy]

Says the deeper that she dives. She unravels mystery after a mystery spanning continents and centuries, and no one can. No one can be trusted. Apparently her husband did something a lot of years ago, and that's why this person is taking away his memories.

[Reggie]

Ooh. So, yeah, I feel like that's something you would like.

[Kennedy]

100%.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Right up my alley.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

For sure. Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Nice.

[Reggie]

All right, well, Mikayla mentioned. Guessed that I would talk about this book in the beginning. Maybe I should have said it then. Sorry, but you've been summoned by Lindsey Lamar. I had this on my fall TBR last year, and I just wasn't able to get to it. And I wanted to. I still wanted to read it, but I wanted to, like, save it around fall time because it's like a murder mystery type of vibe. And I just feel like I thrive in the fall reading books like this. I just have a hard time enjoying them when it's not in a cozy setting.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

So, yeah, it's. Oh, I believe it's on Kindle Unlimited. I'll fact check that in a second. So this book, you. It's like you are. It's not a murder mystery party, I believe that takes place for reals. It's just like a costume party that turns into this murder mystery for reals. She finds her sister's body at the party, and you as the reader, are trying to play detective and figure out what happened. So.

[Kennedy]

So is it like a choose your.

[Reggie]

Own adventure kind of. It says you're giving clues and, like, interviews to analyze, and you, as the reader, must make a case in this whodunit novel turned criminal investigation. So it sounds really cool. So it's like you're reading like. Like, oh, you're wondering who did it, but you're also have to, like, I don't know. I'm curious how it wraps up because based off the synopsis, I'm like, I.

[Mikayla]

Want to know if you, like, figured it out.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, I want to know what, like, the layout.

[Reggie]

It's like one of the reviews says it's definitely an interactive mystery novel.

[Mikayla]

That sounds so fun.

[Reggie]

So it says it's like a murder mystery party for introverted people to me. So, yeah, I'm going to download a.

[Kennedy]

Sample right now because I'm curious what it looks like.

[Mikayla]

Hold on.

[Kennedy]

Like, please hold.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. On the pages.

[Kennedy]

Yes.

[Mikayla]

So let's see here.

[Reggie]

Someone said, I applaud the author for taking the risk on this concept. Totally paid off. So I am excited to see how this book plays out because ever since I saw you know one TikTok about it, I'm like, I am so intrigued by this. So I will be reading that for sure. I promised myself I would. And I'm really looking forward to it. So it just sounds fun.

[Mikayla]

Yeah, it does sound really fun. I love a good thriller, murder mystery.

[Kennedy]

They're very hit or miss for me. Sometimes they work, and other times I'm like, oh, that's who the murderer was.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

So I hope this one knocks your socks off.

[Reggie]

Yeah, I hope so too. Love, Miquella Oki. Makala.

[Mikayla]

Makala. Okay, so this was a book that was given as an arc to us a long time ago, like, when we very first started this podcast. And I just haven't gotten to it, but I have been very interested in reading it. I just haven't had time to, like, read because it doesn't have an audiobook. And I tend to listen to books that have audiobooks, like, faster, and I get those done quicker. But it's called the Lost Kingdom by Laurel Black. And it's. You know, I feel like it's like your classic fantasy book. You know, the kingdom is at a disarray, and there's only one person who can save it. The lost princess. The lost princess. Anyways, there is pretty much the first line, which is I find very intriguing, is trusting him is the only way to save the kingdom.

[Reggie]

Hmm.

[Mikayla]

Oh, this is very interesting. So, like, they have to form an alliance to, like, save the kingdom or whatever, but if he doesn't return at a certain day, his betroth will be executed, so he's betrothed to someone else.

[Reggie]

Ooh.

[Kennedy]

Okay.

[Mikayla]

And so love triangle, maybe. Yeah.

[Reggie]

Interesting stakes.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. So, you know, I feel like it'll probably be a pretty classic romantasy book, but I feel like I gotta give it a chance because the map looks really cool. The book itself looks really cool. So we'll see how I like it. And all it doesn't have a ton of reviews or ratings, but everyone who has read it has liked it. So why not give it a little? Give it a little whirl?

[Kennedy]

Yeah, why not? Okay. My last book is something I. I would consider. Consider under Hyped. I've never heard anybody talk about it. It only has 4,500 reviews on Goodreads. But I guess some people could say maybe it's overhyped because it does have a blurb from Leigh Bardugo.

[Mikayla]

I don't know.

[Kennedy]

This is. I just consider it underhyped. Okay. So I saw this book in Barnes and Noble around the time it was released so almost a year ago, August 27th of 2024. And I wanted to buy it so bad. It sounded so interesting. But then I realized, well, I thought it was a standalone. Not a standalone. It's in a series. And there was no release date for the second book. So I put it back. I said, I have already too many fantasy series on my shelf that are not complete. I'm not adding another one. But the second book releases in February of next year, so I feel confident in saying that I can read this now. The book is Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan. And the synopsis is about our female main character, Rey. She's dying, but she gets a second chance by going to live in her favorite fantasy book.

[Reggie]

Heck yeah.

[Kennedy]

She's transported into her favorite fantasy book, but plot twist, she's actually the villain. So the book is about her banding together with all the other villains in the book to defeat the emperor.

[Reggie]

Ooh, that sounds really interesting. I want that. I want that on my tbr.

[Kennedy]

So it says that she bands together with a rogue of villains, including an axe wielding maid, a shining knight with mood. With moods, a homicidal bodyguard, a playboy spymaster with a filthy reputation. So it sounded so good at Barnes and Noble. You know when you go on bookstore trips and you just kind of meander. There might have been a Barnes Noble employee that put a blurb, I'm not sure. Picked it up, wanted to buy, was not the time. But now it is the time. All right, so Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan.

[Reggie]

All right, sounds cool.

[Mikayla]

Interesting.

[Reggie]

That does sound very interesting. I like that concept a lot. Okay, so for my last one. Okay, so I'm gonna say the Book of Doors. Kennedy says she's seen this a lot on her tick tock.

[Kennedy]

But it might not be anybody else's for you page. Okay.

[Reggie]

But I have heard nothing about it until one of my friends, she, like Margot, pulled me. She's like, reggie, you.

[Kennedy]

You will love this book.

[Reggie]

You have to read this book. I need to talk to somebody about it. And when she was telling me about it, I was like, yeah, I would love this book. So it's interesting that you've seen so much about it because I hadn't heard anything until she called me up and told me to read it. Um, but this girl that works in a bookshop. Bookshop. And one day one of her customers just like dies right in front of her. And she's like, super devastated because she just loves this customer so much. And the only thing that she can remember her customer buys the last book that he was reading. And it wasn't just like this ordinary book. She like opens it and there's all these drawings and any door is every door. I don't really understand what that means, but you just have to figure out how to open them. So basically, she's traveling through all of these doors. Okay. So she's. She's being hunted by these people who know about this book. So now that she has it, from what I'm understanding, some people are trying to come after her because she has this book now. And so she has to like, use these magic things in this book to go through all these different doors. So the way my friend described it to me, she's like, the reason you're really gonna love it is because I love to travel and I love to read. And so she's like, it's just putting those two things together. Like you're using these different books to travel to all these different places. And so it's like got that fantas element to it. It's got like a travel element to it. She's like, I absolutely loved it and I think that you would too. So if you guys have been seeing a lot about it on TikTok, let me know if you think that I would like it. I haven't seen anything about it.

[Kennedy]

So Kristen and Maddie both gave it five stars.

[Reggie]

All right.

[Kennedy]

See, I have a ton of people.

[Reggie]

That I've follow that have read it. That's so funny, because all my goodreads, it just shows that my one friend has read it and I have two friends that have marked it as maybe as a want to read. So it just kind of everybody like, yeah, not everyone's. For you, pages are the same.

[Kennedy]

And the thing is, is once again, I feel like you have to have a caveat of the underhyped, because it might be underhyped for you, but it could be hyped for other people. Like, I remember the first time we ever did an underhyped episode. I talked about dark Matter and someone came for us in the comments and was like, dark Matter and Blake Crouch are a very well known author, but for me, I never heard anybody talk about it. So for you, nobody's talked about it. It's under hyped to you. That's all that matters. And chances are, most people listening probably haven't heard about it either.

[Reggie]

Yeah. So the Book of Doors.

[Kennedy]

I'm chronically online.

[Reggie]

The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown.

[Mikayla]

Book of Doors. Sounds very interesting. Okay. I chose this book because I'm going to the place where it takes place and so I thought it would be fun to read a book. It's While We're Young by K.L. walther, and it's the Summer of Broken Rules.

[Reggie]

Author.

[Mikayla]

Maybe she is hyped. I feel like that's her most popular book. But this one just came out not that long ago and it doesn't have very many ratings or reviews on it. So I was like, I should read it. It's like a feelers. Wait, what is it called? Sorry, I gotta go to my.

[Kennedy]

It's a.

[Mikayla]

No. Ferris Bueller's Day off, but set in Philadelphia. Have you ever seen Ferris Bueller's Day Off? Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Okay.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. And I just think it would be a fun thing to kind of read about Philadelphia. And it's about like group of friends that are doing like a senior skip day in Philadelphia. So.

[Reggie]

Okay. Fun.

[Mikayla]

Yeah, I thought it would be like a fun, fun little read.

[Kennedy]

So is it fiction or is it romance?

[Mikayla]

It says. It says romance.

[Kennedy]

It says romance.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. A world I give up on. Speaking a whirlwind romance inspired by Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

[Reggie]

Okay, cool.

[Mikayla]

So I think that one would be cute.

[Reggie]

And if I could get my husband to read romance, maybe he would like it because his favorite movie is Ferris Bueller's Day off and he loves Philadelphia. Yeah, he'd never read it, but that sounds fun.

[Mikayla]

Yeah, I'm excited.

[Reggie]

Yeah. You've never been to Philly before, have you? No, it's fun.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

We're going September, so it's a fun vibe.

[Mikayla]

We. Maybe they'll have some like blurbs about certain places that maybe I need to go.

[Reggie]

I know they covered us of the book.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

So I think it will be a fun read and I hopefully can get to it before we go in September, so yay. I think that's it.

[Reggie]

Cool. Well, we're really curious to know if there's any of these books that we talked about that you guys have read. We you thought of them, so please let us know and hopefully you have some books to add to your tbr. Thanks so much for listening. We appreciate you. Love you lots. And we will see you next Wednesday. Bye.

[Kennedy]

Bye.

[Charlotte]

Welcome to Sky Talkers. I'm your host, Charlotte.

[Caitlyn]

Hey, everyone, I'm your other host, Caitlyn. From interviews with the cast of the latest show on Disney, to in depth discussions about themes in Star wars, to deep dives into the behind the scenes of Lucasfilm, we hope that when you tune into Skytalkers, you feel like you're a part of the conversation.

[Charlotte]

Our goal from the beginning of Skytalkers was to create a space where we could talk about Star wars in the way we wanted to. Caitlyn and I are lifelong best friends who love Star wars and have been podcasting about the galaxy far, far away since 2017.

[Caitlyn]

Join us with weekly in laughing, obsessing, and exploring all the parts of our favorite galaxy. Whether you've been a fan for over 40 years or just a few months.

[Charlotte]

Listen to new episodes of Sky Talkers every Thursday. Wherever you get your podcasts.