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- [00:00]
A
Foreign. Hi, guys. Welcome back to I'll read what she's reading. I'm Mikaela.
- [00:13]
B
I'm Kennedy.
- [00:13]
C
And I'm Reggie.
- [00:15]
A
Today we're talking about things that were over. Mostly bookish things, of course. Of course. Because this is a book podcast. I'm sure you guys can all relate that sometime in your reading lifespan, you're over something, whether it be a genre, a trope, a certain author. Today we're talking about things were over.
- [00:38]
C
Yeah.
- [00:39]
A
In the bookish space book edition, we're over it.
- [00:44]
C
Yeah. We're heated, real heated.
- [00:47]
A
So we have a bunch of prompts of things that we are saying that we're over. And I have no idea what they're gonna say. I think I might know some things that they might say, but I don't.
- [01:02]
B
I. You never know.
- [01:02]
A
They may. They may surprise me, but let's. Let's jump right into it.
- [01:07]
C
Let's do it. Okay, first one, starting off with a trope that we are over. I have. I could say, like, probably five or six things I'm gonna say.
- [01:19]
B
2.
- [01:20]
C
My first one is miscommunication that could be solved in like, just one simple conversation. Like, literally a sentence. Sometimes I feel like I waste my time on some books because, like, they're really good and then I'm like, wait, you're telling me that you could have just talked about that like five years ago for like two seconds? Sometimes the miscommunication trope is fine, but sometimes when you find out what the miscommunication was, it's like the biggest eye roll. That's my first one. You guys say you can say one mates.
- [01:57]
B
Faded. Mates conform where mate was used.
- [02:00]
C
How many times?
- [02:00]
B
300 and something times. Yeah.
- [02:02]
A
I just want authors to be a little bit more creative with love and relationships. I just think it's so much more romantic to choose each other versus you're fated to be together 100%, you know, choosing, I don't know, just mates. Mates in general. I would love to skip that trope.
- [02:27]
B
Yeah.
- [02:27]
C
I honestly don't think I want to read another book like that again. Yeah. Like, I know that there's some books that or series that I have not finished yet that it's like, I know I'm going to hear about it again. Yeah, it's fine. But if I have to read another new fantasy, like, yeah, that's like, you're my mate.
- [02:44]
B
It was so popular for so long.
- [02:46]
C
Yeah, I can see why it was working, but it just loses the shock
- [02:50]
B
value, becomes a bit repetitive.
- [02:51]
C
Yeah, yeah. It's a great one.
- [02:54]
A
Anyways, that's.
- [02:55]
B
That's my trope that I'm sick of. Over it.
- [03:00]
C
My other. My other one is. And maybe you guys don't get sick of this, but I would just like to see it done differently. A poor girl in a human world finds out she's like a long lost princess.
- [03:12]
B
Oh, the chosen one trope.
- [03:13]
C
Chosen one. And she has powers and you know what I mean? I feel like we see that a ton. Give me a female main character. I don't care if it's someone who doesn't know that they're actually immortal or a princess or something, but give me, like a confident, badass main character that knows she's hot. Because I was like, I'm not pretty. I'm so ugly. But all these fate men are throwing themselves at. You know what I mean? I'm like, give me a confident, mature woman that's like, oh, yeah, this is awesome that I'm a chosen. It's always like, oh, no, I don't want to be a princess. Who doesn't want to be a princess. Be so for real. That's a little intense. Me. But I'm just saying I want something. I just. It just starts to feel a little juvenile the more you hear it. And it's not like the story is bad because it makes for a good story. I would just like to see it done a little bit differently because I feel like I've read enough fantasy books now that I'm like, okay, I can see where this is going from sometimes. The first chapter.
- [04:16]
A
Yeah.
- [04:16]
B
You know, I want to read the exact opposite. I want to read like the villain.
- [04:20]
C
Oh, yeah.
- [04:20]
B
Like the worst villain. And then they turn into. They got to right all their wrongs. Not the chosen one. The unchosen one.
- [04:29]
A
The unchosen one.
- [04:30]
C
Or like the girl is the princess and she's, you know, and it's like a lowly, stable boy that I don't. I don't know. I don't know.
- [04:40]
B
Just something different.
- [04:41]
C
Let's just like, rewrite the narrative a little bit. Yeah, I'm sure there's books out there like that, so if there are, please throw them at me.
- [04:50]
B
Kennedy, what is your over it trope? Um, I think I'm gonna go with the, like, insta lust, insta connection, insta love, where people think it's marketed as not insta love, but it truly is. You know exactly who the love interest is from page one. Yeah, I wanna. I wanna guess. Yeah, I want there to be a few people I can choose from. I want there to be some emotional connection before they just bang it out. I want, you know, a little more substance instead of. I just want to jump your bones immediately. I get that. That happens in real life. You're attracted to someone, but I want more.
- [05:35]
C
Yeah, give me some yearning.
- [05:37]
B
I want the yearning.
- [05:38]
A
Yearning.
- [05:40]
B
Yeah, yeah, let's bring yearning back. That's. That. That's going to be my trope. I mean, I'm sure there's other micro tropes that I'm not obsessed with, but when it comes to mind.
- [05:48]
C
All right, that one's it.
- [05:50]
A
Next one is one. Publishing trend, you're over. Publishing trend, you're over edgy.
- [05:57]
C
Well, to go along the lines of what Kennedy was just saying, I am sick of books being advertised as a certain kind of trope when they actually are not. Please do not tell me this is a slow burn when it's not. If they're kissing on chapter 10 in the first book. In the first book.
- [06:13]
A
Yeah, yeah.
- [06:14]
C
Please, like, do not say slow burn. Or it's like enemies to lovers. And I'm like, no, they're, like, so attracted to each other. They love each other. You know what I mean? It's just like, he's being mean to you because he likes you. No, I want him to actually hate your guts. I want him to. I want your inner dialogue to be like, I want to
- [06:37]
B
be like, I
- [06:38]
C
want to strangle this person. You know what I mean?
- [06:40]
B
Yeah.
- [06:41]
C
To me, that's how enemies lovers. I'm sorry. If you want to try and market your book that way, that's fine. But I get disappointed when I read some books because when it's first marketed to me, it's like, slow burn. Any slowers? And then it's like, I'm not getting that. After a few chapters, I'm like, okay, that's obviously. So then I'm like, naturally let down. I'd rather not know what the trope is. Or I'd rather you just be like, it's a fantasy romance. I don't know.
- [07:08]
B
I want them to get away from marketing with tropes, period. Why can't we just market with the plot with the synopsis? Why are we sitting here? Not only that, but sometimes tropes completely spoil a book, you know? So sit there and tell me that this book is about a warrior princess who meets a stable boy, and together they are trying to find the amulet to save the world. Like, can't you market it that way instead of love it, you know?
- [07:37]
C
Yeah, yeah. Instead of like enemies to lovers or on vibes.
- [07:41]
B
Yeah. My book. You will love my book if you love Pirates of the Caribbean meets Game of Thrones. There's dragons and there's ships and there's pirates.
- [07:51]
A
Yeah.
- [07:52]
B
Love, love, love. So if you guys want to hire
- [07:54]
C
me to, like, you know, advertise your book, I'm free marketing agency, everybody.
- [07:59]
A
I think they should go back to the early 20, 20 years where they were doing, like, pictures and music. Like, this is the vibe.
- [08:12]
B
Run, boy, run. Yeah, let's bring that back.
- [08:14]
C
Yeah. Or, like, I think, too, it's hard because even if a publisher or a author doesn't market their book that way, someone on TikTok is trying to sell a book. Like, sell you on a book that way. So that's what just gets really hard. And I know there's times we've probably said, you guys will love this book. It's a slow burn. Or you'll love this because it's great. Like friends to lovers. Maybe that spoils it for you guys. We try to be careful when we say things, but we know that sometimes you can't help but say that. I get it. But sometimes I think it's just really emphasized on tropes, and I just. It can ruin a book.
- [08:54]
A
Yeah.
- [08:55]
C
Depending on the person. For sure, though. How about you guys?
- [08:59]
A
I think for me, something that I'm over in the publishing industry is book covers looking similar. And I know that publishers are pushing that. And I'm sure the authors love, like, the covers of their books, but they're like, no, your cover needs to look this way, you know? Yeah. I'm just kind of, like, over books looking the same.
- [09:25]
B
I want something different.
- [09:26]
A
I feel like there's usually like, a crown or a dagger with some kind of ivory, like, leaves, viny stuff, a person on it. I don't know, like, you know, it's
- [09:38]
B
just some kind of flower leave.
- [09:41]
C
A cartoon couple. Yeah, yeah.
- [09:45]
B
I just.
- [09:45]
A
I really. There's quite a few that I can think of that are really creative and unique covers, and I love them, and I feel like they stand out that much more because they are.
- [09:55]
B
Yeah. What's ironic is you would think if your book looked the same as everybody else's on a shelf, somebody wouldn't gravitate towards it and pick it up and read the back. Yeah. At a bookstore.
- [10:04]
A
Yeah.
- [10:05]
B
Whereas if it looks unique, that immediately catches someone's eye.
- [10:08]
C
There was a library or. No, there was a bookstore I was at recently. And the romance section. When I tell you every book I picked up Because I was just like trying to, you know, read the back of the books. Check them out. Every single romance book on one certain bookshelf. Like these two bookshelves, they were all the same, like a bright color, a poorly drawn cartoon couple on the front. Honestly, I'd be more likely to pick up sometimes. Like that turns me off from the book.
- [10:35]
B
She wants the Fabio style romance.
- [10:37]
C
It's just going to be a really smutty, cheesy book.
- [10:41]
B
Yeah.
- [10:42]
C
But then I look at some books. Like I remember when a bunch of you listeners recommended me Luna to me, I knew I wanted to read that immediately just from looking at the COVID Not even what it was about because I was like, that's different, that's cool. I don't know. So.
- [10:56]
A
Yeah, yeah, that's, that's my qualm.
- [10:58]
C
Yeah.
- [10:59]
B
Over it. Great qualm. My qualm. I'm over the fast fashion publishing trend. Yes, yes. Now I'm not in publishing, so I don't understand completely how it works, but I think putting pressure on authors to quickly bring out sequels results in poor editing. Just maybe, you know, things aren't completely flesh out. And I know we've talked about this before, it's not always the author's fault when there are, you know, grammatical errors or continuity errors. That's not always the author's fault. And so I would much rather wait an appropriate amount of time with some sort of light at the end of the tunnel, you know, I don't know, like a, a title, maybe like a color of a book or like a year it's going to be published or
- [11:51]
C
call her daddy Episode.
- [11:53]
B
You know, I don't know, just anything, just some sort of date. Instead of fast fashion. You're pumping it out quick. Because I understand also the hype. The, the publishers feel when something's really popular, they need to hop on and keep it, keep the momentum going so that readers still want to read. But also makes me mistrust certain publishers. There's certain publishers out there, you know, after. I'm not going to name names, but there was a string of time where they were just pumping out books and you could tell that the quality wasn't there. So yeah, get your bag.
- [12:27]
C
Like you got to make money.
- [12:29]
B
Quality over quantity.
- [12:31]
A
Absolutely.
- [12:33]
B
You know.
- [12:34]
A
All right, next topic to talk about that we're over is one book talk trend.
- [12:41]
C
You're over. I think my book talk thing I'm over is I just can't believe we're in the year 2026 and people are so like up in arms and so angry and will leave the meanest comments over your review of a book. I know that sometimes people can be really brutal and really mean, and sometimes it's not always warranted. They take it a little too far. I feel like there's a difference between, like, a book review and actually reviewing the book and just kind of being a bully. But I. And it's not because I see this in our comments. I see this on people's TikTok videos all the time. But it's like, you know what the. The, like, what do they call it on TikTok? The bean theory, the bean soup theory or something. Have you guys not heard that?
- [13:30]
B
No.
- [13:30]
A
No.
- [13:31]
C
I don't know if that's what it's called. But, like, someone will get on and be like, here's my recipe for bean soup. And then someone comments and they're like, I hate beans. And it's like, why are you watching
- [13:42]
B
a recipe for beans?
- [13:43]
C
Why did you feel the need to comment? It's like that in books a lot. I feel like, where you can say, I really wanted to enjoy this book, but I just didn't. I. And here's what I didn't like about it. And someone will comment and be like,
- [13:57]
B
you are so stupid for not like.
- [13:59]
C
Like, I can't believe this. This book was a masterpiece. And like, be a bully about it and be mean about it. And I'm like, just move on. Just keep scrolling. Yeah, I think it's great to have discussions. Like, I feel like we've had a lot of really positive discussions between us as friends on the podcast, when maybe we disagree on certain things on a book because we get it. Everybody's different.
- [14:21]
B
Yeah.
- [14:22]
C
How many times do we need to say reading is subjective. It just is. I just don't understand the. Or, like, I'll even see book talk creators get on and be like, if you did not like this book, I don't know. Sometimes they can see why. It's like clickbaity and there's.
- [14:38]
A
They're rage baiting everyone.
- [14:40]
C
Yeah, there's rage bait. I get that. I just think that it just. And it's. It's more. Not like I'm even that upset about it. I just am. Like, it's just silly to me because I'm like, who cares if someone absolutely loves Fourth Wing and loves the Empyrean series and thinks it's the best thing ever written, you can disagree and that's okay. Like, don't yuck someone else's yum.
- [15:04]
A
Yup.
- [15:04]
C
Book Talks a. It's a great place to be. I just am really over the amount of comments I see on Book Talk that are just like, straight up. Like the bean there. It's like, I hate pirates. I'm like, okay, then you won't like this book.
- [15:19]
A
Yeah. You're like, yeah.
- [15:22]
C
And I don't know, maybe that's not, like, super specific enough. And maybe that's just like. Or maybe it's being too specific.
- [15:27]
B
But no.
- [15:28]
A
Well said.
- [15:29]
C
I just. It's just funny to me.
- [15:32]
A
Well said.
- [15:32]
C
I'd rather just see everyone in peace and harmony being like, oh, my gosh, I'm so sorry you didn't love this book. I loved it.
- [15:39]
B
And then move on. Yeah, Move on. So you know that perfect moment where you have a good book but nowhere to be.
- [15:46]
C
Yeah.
- [15:47]
B
That right there, that is my happy place.
- [15:49]
A
And lately we've been spending it wrapped up in our Minky Couture blankets.
- [15:54]
C
Whether I'm reading late into the night or just pretending to read while I'm scrolling, Book Talk, my Minky keeps me cozy through it all.
- [16:01]
B
The best part is they come in the most pretty colors and they make the best gift for any reader in your life. Or, honestly, for yourself.
- [16:10]
A
So if you're ready to make your reading experience even cozier, head to the link below and use our code readers R E A D E R S at checkout for 50% off.
- [16:21]
C
Because every good reader deserves the best blanket.
- [16:24]
A
Yeah, no, that was well said. Well said. I also agree with that.
- [16:26]
C
I concur.
- [16:29]
A
This is being really nitpicky. People fan casting old people.
- [16:35]
C
Oh, that's a great one.
- [16:36]
B
Or fan casting the same people over and over.
- [16:38]
A
Or the same people over and over and over. I think it just really bugs me when they're like, a very specific age. And I get it if you can't help but picture that person like, you can't help it. But when you're like, this is who I would fan cast and the character is 18 years old, and you're fan casting someone who's 45, Henry Cavill. I'm like, that doesn't really add up nor make sense. I guess it's a fan cast, but just for some reason, it really irks me.
- [17:07]
B
I think it's a pain point for you because you're a big movie buff is all I was trying to say. Yeah, yeah.
- [17:11]
C
No, we want it to be realistic. Like, I understand a fan cast is like a fan cast, but some people will be like, no. Like, if this person is not cast as Zaden I'm going to die. And I'm like, that person's literally 35 years old.
- [17:28]
B
Yeah.
- [17:29]
A
And I get it. Some people do play, like, younger or older characters, but that's what I'm over. I'm over because I, like, I get excited to look at other people's fan casts, but I'm like, what the heck? This character is 18. You're casting a younger Brad Pitt. I'm like, that will never happen.
- [17:47]
C
Or like, they're a short character and then they're like, Jacob Elordi.
- [17:52]
A
Yeah.
- [17:53]
B
Maybe it's just in the verbiage they use. Maybe instead of saying fancast, they say, this is who I pictured.
- [17:58]
C
Yeah.
- [17:59]
B
You know? Yeah. Instead of fan cast. But that's also just nitpicky, I suppose.
- [18:04]
A
Yeah.
- [18:04]
C
Yeah.
- [18:04]
A
Well, I think, also, I think people underestimate the power of TikTok too. And I bet you casting really do actually look at what people put, and if you're not doing it good or correctly, you're gonna be like, okay, I
- [18:20]
C
wanna say Emily Henry said in an interview, I could be wrong, but she said something about that. Like, we. We heard you guys. We've. I've heard you guys. I see what you guys are posting for your fan cast.
- [18:31]
A
So. So, yeah, give it, like a realistic answer, because then that. That could actually happen. Could actually be a thing, you know? So that's. Sorry, that's, like, really freaking nitpicky.
- [18:44]
B
But that's what.
- [18:45]
C
I'm over. That's okay. I'm over, too.
- [18:48]
B
I think my what I'm over on booktok is very similar to Reggie's. And once again, I get that it's clickbaity, but I don't love the videos that say, I don't trust your taste.
- [19:02]
C
If you like X, Y and Z.
- [19:04]
B
If you like this book or this book or this book.
- [19:08]
A
Because
- [19:11]
B
just because someone liked one specific book doesn't mean that they wouldn't like a book that you liked. Does that make sense?
- [19:17]
C
Yeah.
- [19:17]
B
Or you don't know someone's circumstances when they read that book. And obviously, as we've said a lot of times on the podcast, your reading experience, the time in your life, I mean, the time in your cycle, like what you ate that day. There's so much that goes into whether or not you like a book. And so just to completely write off someone else's opinion because they liked a specific book really turns me away from their accounts. But once again, I understand the clickbaitiness. Rage bait. It gets you comments, but it just comes off In a way that's kind of mean. Almost just mean girl vibes.
- [19:50]
A
Yeah. Or mean boy vibes.
- [19:52]
B
And obviously, you know, we've posted things where it's like, books I won't read and why. Or, you know, you can say think reasons why you wouldn't read a book, but once again, to completely write off someone else's book taste just because they connected with a book.
- [20:06]
C
Yeah.
- [20:08]
B
Rubs me the wrong way. So if I ever do that, cancel her. Just kidding. Unfollow us. Write me hate mail my addresses. I'm just kidding.
- [20:20]
A
Well, I feel like a good example is we have some book talk friends of books that they have recommended to like their followers, and we've read them and, like, really liked them. And the same note, they recommend a book, and we read them and we do not like them. Like, I don't think, like, everyone is different. And like you said, just because they liked or didn't like a certain book does not mean that they wouldn't like another book they recommend or say.
- [20:47]
C
Yeah.
- [20:49]
B
And also in the same breath, just because. Kind of like what Reggie said, Just because someone enjoys Fourth wing but you enjoy the Way of Kings, whatever, or Lord of the Rings or Dune doesn't mean that you're a better reader than
- [21:03]
C
someone else or you have better taste. Yeah. Yeah.
- [21:06]
B
Or just because you read classics and someone's reading smut doesn't make one reader better than the other because there's a book out there for everyone.
- [21:15]
A
Yeah.
- [21:15]
B
As long as you can read, it's a win. In my book, I don't care if you're reading a comic, a label. You know, I don't. I don't know. Put that on your goodreads. I read. I read the label the back of my cereal box.
- [21:30]
C
I'm a reader.
- [21:32]
B
I read today. I read back my cereal box.
- [21:38]
A
Like, how this is reading.
- [21:40]
C
I'm gonna start counting the books I read to my kids. If that's the case, I surpassed my reading goal this year. Why not?
- [21:47]
A
I read some text messages.
- [21:52]
B
Okay. What? Are we done? Yeah, I'm done. I'm done.
- [21:57]
A
Okay.
- [21:58]
C
Next one's like a reading habit that we are over. For me, I'm gonna say I have two that come to mind. The first one, I would say is a habit I'm over is like, reading what's trending versus, like, what I actually want to read. Because sometimes I just get such fomo. Like, right now, for example, my entire TikTok is everyone reading Daggermouth. And you want to know what I want to read? It Pretty dang bad. I'm like, oh, like everyone's selling me on this and I want to read it. But what do I know? That there's a huge cliffhanger at the
- [22:33]
B
end of the book.
- [22:33]
C
I know that. I know I could read that right now. But then here's what's going to happen. This is the story of my life. Someone recommend. Everyone on booktok talks about a book. I get excited to read it, I pick it up. I love it either. Sometimes I don't like it, but if I love it, I'm foaming at the mouth for the next book. Look up when the next book comes out. Not for two more years. What do I do? I spiral. I think about it nonstop for months. I'm like, oh, I need that other book. Then I kind of forget about it a little bit. Two years rolls around and then what happens? I forgot everything that happened in the first book. I gotta read it again and it's just like a never ending cycle.
- [23:09]
B
Yeah.
- [23:09]
C
Or I have to watch a three hour YouTube recap of what happened in the first book. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Okay, I get it. Like we just said, take your time publishing your book, like writing, editing, publishing, whatever. But I fall into the trap sometimes of what's trending and what I want to read. And I have fomo and then I kick myself in the foot because I'm like, I probably should have just waited because I probably would still enjoy it just as much if I just gave it some time. And I think sometimes it will hurt my reading experience because then I'm pushing back other books that I really want to read but maybe aren't as like they're not trending at the moment. And so I don't know. I'd rather. I need to remember to read books I want to read in the sense of like what I'm needing in my life and think of like, okay, I really want a book. Like, I want a pirate book. Give me. You know what I mean? But then I'm like, oh, but everyone's talking about direbound and I really want to know what everyone's talking about, you know, so then I don't know. And then sometimes I read the book and it doesn't hit and I'm like, why did I read that? Yeah, so that was, that was great. Thanks. Sorry. I feel like I went really off.
- [24:23]
A
Reggie feels passionate about did you have two or did you have one?
- [24:27]
C
Um, I mean, I had another one, which was just like sometimes forcing myself to read a book. When I should just dnf it. Mm, yeah, sometimes, you know, yeah, it's a book club book or something, and I'm like, okay, if I'm not loving this, I'm gonna do it for the sake of the podcast or something. But if it's not anything in that realm, sometimes I just need to be like, you know what? Yes, I spent this much time reading this already, but if it's not serving me, I need to just put it down. Because there's so many books and so little time. I need to not waste time on books that aren't serving me.
- [25:04]
B
Yeah. Does this bring you joy? Does it bring you joy?
- [25:07]
C
I need to ask myself, look in the mirror and ask yourself, does this
- [25:10]
B
book bring you joy?
- [25:11]
C
Bring me joy. But sometimes I like books that, you know, emotionally destroy me. But if it's like, eh, I'm not feeling it, I need to just toss it aside.
- [25:20]
A
Yep, yep, yep, yep. A reading habit that I'm over specifically for me is I have a really bad habit of falling asleep when reading a book.
- [25:36]
B
And it's just because I'm, like, really
- [25:37]
A
cozy and comfy and, like, I got a book and, you know, sometimes just, like, reading know brings you to sleep.
- [25:44]
B
And I hate that.
- [25:45]
A
I'm over it. I'm over that habit. But I feel like when I'm listening to a book, I'm actively, like, doing other things. And so, like, there's no room for me to fall asleep, like, when I'm folding laundry, you know, that's just a habit I'm over for myself and I need to figure out how to.
- [26:04]
C
No. Like, literally saying, last night I was finishing the Strength of the Few. I got snuggled up on the couch, my fireplace was on link, it cozy. And the night before, I had done the same thing and had fallen asleep. And my husband just let me keep sleeping. And then finally he's like, we should go to bed. And I'm like, I needed to read, like, three chapters before I went to bed, and I couldn't. I was, like, so behind on reading. And so what did I do? I got up and I literally was walking around my kitchen reading for a minute. I was like, I have to keep myself awake. And then when I wanted to sit down, I put my headphones on and was blasting, like, a playlist to keep me awake. Or I had to, like, listen to my book for a second while I, like, got up and did something because I've. I've been doing the same thing.
- [26:50]
A
I don't know what it is. Like, I don't know, maybe I'm a tired girl. I'm also trying not to drink caffeine.
- [26:55]
B
Yes, very much. And so I think that's a really effective thing.
- [26:58]
C
Well, and I think you can have like a really long day. Yeah. I was messaging someone about this recently because they were saying they're like, how do you ever, like, wind down at night to read a book? Because, like, I get so tired with my kids by the end of the day that, like, I get in bed to read and I just want to go to sleep. And I was like, you know what, that's a good point. Because I do the same thing. I think just sometimes we're so busy during the day doing who knows what, when you finally get to actually sit down and read. Because I think we're all kind of on an audiobook grind.
- [27:25]
A
Yeah.
- [27:25]
C
You're like, oh, this is what it feels like to feel relaxed. And then it's just like lights out.
- [27:32]
A
It was bad. I. I was supposed to be reading.
- [27:34]
C
Yeah, I really took that one.
- [27:35]
A
I took like a 40 minute nap and I was like, crap. I was supposed to be reading.
- [27:39]
C
Oopsies. Anyways, I like that one. Yeah, thank you.
- [27:46]
B
I'm gonna go with. I have a really bad habit of, like not being able to stop in the middle of a chapter, but I'm gonna change that.
- [27:52]
C
I don't think it's a bad habit
- [27:54]
B
to have, but it would be nice to be able to like stop in the middle of a chapter. Sometimes it's bad. Especially with the strength of the view. I would like. I also need to turn off on my Kindle. I need to switch it to page number or time left in the book or something else. Because when I would finish a chapter and It'd be like 45 minutes left in the chapter, I'd be like, yeah, I'm done for the day.
- [28:11]
A
Yeah.
- [28:12]
B
So I think you just need to be okay with read a little bit more.
- [28:15]
C
You'd probably read a little bit more
- [28:18]
A
if I didn't have that.
- [28:19]
C
Yeah, yeah.
- [28:19]
B
If I would just stop in the middle. It's the ocd. I just gotta, like, get over that a little bit.
- [28:23]
C
No, it's hard, though, especially for the
- [28:25]
A
strength of the few, which we just finished. Because especially if you were doing like audiobook and physically reading it, you have to stop at the chapters to, like, know where you're at.
- [28:37]
B
Yeah, I get it.
- [28:40]
C
That's a habit.
- [28:41]
A
I. I want to report back on that.
- [28:43]
C
See if you can do it.
- [28:44]
B
Okay. Just gonna scratch an itch in my brain.
- [28:47]
C
Yeah.
- [28:47]
B
Our next one is a debate in the book world that we're over. Mine's gonna be mic drop. Audiobooks count as reading.
- [28:54]
A
Thank you.
- [28:55]
C
Nice.
- [28:56]
B
That is a good one.
- [28:57]
A
I think debate I'm kind of over is, like, where to read Assassin's Blade.
- [29:07]
C
That's what I was going to say.
- [29:08]
B
Oh, my gosh. Yeah, I just freaking read it. Whenever you want.
- [29:10]
A
Yeah, just do it whenever you want.
- [29:12]
C
Okay.
- [29:13]
B
I love the DMS that you guys send us, asking which order to read it in. Sometimes I wonder. I'm like, okay, are you asking? I think we've made it very clear where we prefer.
- [29:24]
A
Yeah, I don't mind people asking. I just think. I hate the debate of it.
- [29:29]
C
Like, yeah, people will be like, you're ruining your entire reading experience if you read it first or third or. Yeah, yeah, that's what I was gonna say, too.
- [29:38]
A
I don't know why. That's just like.
- [29:39]
B
I feel like that's the thing that
- [29:40]
A
is debated actually the most and the longest. For the longest period of time. I feel like, yeah, I don't mind if people DM us and be like,
- [29:49]
C
where do you prefer?
- [29:50]
A
Or like, what order do you guys think? I feel honored that you trust us to, like, answer that question for you guys. But I think when people are like, that's so dumb. Why would you do that? Why would you do that? You know?
- [30:02]
B
So anyways.
- [30:04]
C
But I also.
- [30:05]
B
Audiobooks do count as reading 100%.
- [30:10]
A
I mean, I'm retaining the same information
- [30:14]
B
just in a different way. People get stuck on the verbiage of the way thing is said.
- [30:18]
A
Yeah.
- [30:18]
B
I think if you said, my books I consumed. People get stuck on the word reading. I know the definition of reading is not listening, but if you really sit down and think about it, I also would love to. I'm sure there's some sort of study somewhere. And I am sure there's different, like, synapses that are firing in your brain versus reading and listening and whatever. But if you sat someone down and you said, okay, can you summarize this book for me? And they listened to it and they read it, they would be able to relay the same exact information.
- [30:46]
A
Yeah, I know.
- [30:47]
C
Like, for example, if someone said, did, have you read Project Hail Mary? What am I supposed to say? No, if I only listen to the audiobook and I didn't. You know what I mean? Yeah. No, I haven't read it.
- [30:55]
B
I listened to it.
- [30:56]
C
I think that I just am like, why does it matter? Yeah. Why does it.
- [31:02]
A
You know, when you're really into a book and the last thing you want to do is stop and make food. That's been us a time or two.
- [31:09]
C
So we've been keeping G2G bars around because they're just an easy on the go snack. They're really high in protein. They're made with simple ingredients and honestly perfect when you need something quick but don't want to interrupt a reading binge.
- [31:21]
B
I've been grabbing one right before I leave for a walk with my dogs while listening to an audiobook. It's just the easiest snack to throw in my bag.
- [31:28]
A
If you want to try them, you can grab them at g2gbar.com and use code readers R E A D E R s for a 15% off discount.
- [31:40]
C
Hit your protein goal and your reading goal with G2G bar.
- [31:43]
A
Next one is a personality trait and main characters that we're over.
- [31:49]
B
I'm so small.
- [31:51]
C
Yeah.
- [31:51]
B
I'm so ugly. I'm just so tiny. And I have such weak.
- [31:56]
C
I'm so weak. And then it's like the next chapter, they're like freaking dominating in a war. And I don't know if it's just because maybe the main characters just don't have any self confidence. And I get it. I'm insecure a lot of the time. But like.
- [32:11]
B
But would you be insecure if you were like that?
- [32:15]
A
If you could. If you're a porn alive, would you be reading that?
- [32:23]
B
Would you be.
- [32:24]
C
Yeah, but I think no one wants to read about, like a cocky character.
- [32:29]
B
I think it would be kind of fun, actually.
- [32:31]
C
I mean, think about for.
- [32:32]
B
Some of my favorite characters are very cocky.
- [32:34]
C
I know, but I can think of some characters that I didn't like that were maybe were a little cocky. Like Bryce.
- [32:40]
B
Yeah.
- [32:40]
C
You know what I mean? I feel like.
- [32:41]
B
But did you not like her because she was cocky or did you not like her for another reason? You know what I mean?
- [32:46]
C
Yeah.
- [32:46]
A
Like, I feel like Selena is a very cocky person.
- [32:49]
C
Yeah. I didn't like her at first because I'm not gonna lie.
- [32:52]
A
Oh, I loved it.
- [32:53]
B
I loved it.
- [32:54]
C
Yeah, That's a good one. I just, I feel like. Because like I was saying at the beginning of the episode, you kind of have a similar narrative in books and a lot of the time it's in the first person. I feel like sometimes I'm like, I've been in this person's brain before. Like, I know what you're thinking because I've seen this film before.
- [33:14]
B
I'm also over for males. The mean. The mean male character. You know, it's not true. Just because someone, like, kicks you at preschool recess, it means that you have a crush on you, you know? Like, I don't want to.
- [33:28]
C
They're really, really hot.
- [33:29]
B
Yeah.
- [33:29]
C
I don't mean. But, like, that's the only personality I don't want.
- [33:32]
B
I don't want someone mean. I. We've said this before. I want a funny male main character, please.
- [33:39]
C
Yeah.
- [33:40]
B
Give me a ridic. A. What's a guy in quicksilver? What's his name?
- [33:45]
A
I have no idea.
- [33:46]
C
It starts this.
- [33:47]
B
Fisher. Carrion.
- [33:48]
C
No, Carrion.
- [33:50]
B
That's right.
- [33:50]
C
Carrion.
- [33:51]
B
Give me a. Like, kind of a more healthy, hygienic version of Severo. Like, give me someone funny.
- [33:57]
C
Yeah. I feel like it's pretty common to have the. The male main character of a fantasy romance.
- [34:03]
A
Yeah.
- [34:03]
C
Broody, morally gray.
- [34:05]
B
Yeah.
- [34:06]
A
Well, I feel.
- [34:07]
C
I don't mind.
- [34:07]
B
Yeah.
- [34:08]
C
If it's done.
- [34:08]
A
Well, I'd rather have intense instead of mean.
- [34:13]
C
Oh, yeah.
- [34:14]
A
Like, in, like, for most fantasy worlds, they have to be intense, but I feel like you can be intense without being, like, straight up, like, punching the female main characters.
- [34:25]
B
Ironic that you say that was. If I had a nickel for every time that happened in a fantasy book, I have one nickel.
- [34:38]
C
I can think of another one.
- [34:40]
B
One that comes to mind.
- [34:43]
A
That was a joke. Because
- [34:47]
B
if you know, you know. Okay. If you know, you know. If you know, you know.
- [34:54]
C
I'm sorry.
- [34:54]
A
I can't get over it.
- [34:56]
C
I get where you're going at, though.
- [34:58]
B
Yeah.
- [34:58]
C
I get it.
- [34:59]
B
Yeah. Give me a golden retriever. I don't. I don't know how that works in a fantasy book. Someone out there can make it happen.
- [35:06]
C
Mm, no, I agree.
- [35:07]
A
I don't know if I can think of anything right now. Besides, the thing that came to my brain was more so the chosen one, but that's more like a trope.
- [35:15]
C
Yeah. I guess one that I'm kind of thinking of is, like, when the character just feels really immature, even though they're, like, 35. Yeah.
- [35:24]
B
Inform. Oh, sorry.
- [35:27]
A
What'd you say?
- [35:28]
B
Good form.
- [35:29]
C
Oh, good.
- [35:30]
B
So sorry.
- [35:31]
C
I had a problem because sometimes it's like, I don't know, like, they don't act like it feels like a teenager wrote the book.
- [35:39]
B
There's also a difference between naive and immature.
- [35:42]
C
Yes. Yeah.
- [35:44]
B
You know for sure.
- [35:45]
C
For sure.
- [35:46]
B
You can be naive and mature.
- [35:47]
A
Absolutely.
- [35:48]
B
You know.
- [35:49]
C
All right, last one. Last one. One thing now that will never be over Something. This is more. Leave it on a positive. I can just think of a bunch of little things, like, for Me an actual well done enemies to lovers.
- [36:09]
A
Give it to me.
- [36:10]
C
Yeah, actually well done. Not saying that if it's marketed as an enemies to lovers and they are enemies to lovers, you know what I'm saying? But one where you're like, it's not like this. There's. I feel like a lot of books to me that I am thinking of that are marketed as enemies to lovers. It's more of a insta love rivals to lovers. Like insta lust kind of a thing. Give me one where they like actually hate each other's guts and they fall in love.
- [36:39]
B
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [36:42]
C
I will love that every single time. I can't tell you. I. I can only think of like, I can't think of too many that I would say are like done super well.
- [36:51]
B
So can you give one wreck. I want to hear one wreck that gives enemies to lovers. Very well.
- [36:58]
C
Okay. I can think of a book but I'm not going to say what it is. If, you know, you know, I think if, you know, you listen to the pod, you know, if you've read the book, you know. But I don't want to say it because it could potentially be a spoiler and I know some people don't finish said book because they know that it's romantic and they are kind of turned off by it in the beginning. Is that okay for me to say? Yeah. Yeah. I also think it depends on what kind of enemies to lovers book you read first. I also feel like I can't say this one because it could potentially be a spoiler. So I don't know. I'm going to say Acotar because like that's one of the first Romantasy books I read and it's not a true enemies to lovers, but some people say that it is interesting. I don't know.
- [37:45]
B
Yeah.
- [37:46]
C
I don't know. I'm not gonna. I feel like I can't really say.
- [37:48]
A
Those were the. The stepping.
- [37:52]
C
Yeah. Anyways, that's kind of.
- [37:53]
A
I'm trying to think of like a
- [37:55]
B
true, true enemies to lovers. I mean, I truly think fourth wing is an enemies to lovers.
- [38:02]
A
Yeah.
- [38:04]
B
Did they get together in the first book? Okay. But that doesn't mean they're not enemies to lovers. That's true. They are true enemies to lovers.
- [38:11]
A
But.
- [38:11]
C
Yeah. Yeah. But is he.
- [38:12]
A
But he's not.
- [38:13]
C
He's not really though. You think he is, but he's.
- [38:16]
B
I mean, I don't know.
- [38:18]
C
Yeah. But like hard to nail pinpoint an enemy's to lovers. I don't know.
- [38:22]
B
I genuinely Like I'm really sitting here thinking, true enemies to lovers.
- [38:26]
A
Like, true.
- [38:27]
C
I mean, I only have one wreck. I only have one wreck. But I feel like I. If you really want me to tell you DM me.
- [38:35]
B
But also at the same time, I don't feel like the point of that story is a romance. That's what's hard is like, you can mark. I think if you market it as an enemies to lovers, you miss the point of the story. Skip ahead.
- [38:47]
C
Ready? You can skip ahead if you don't want to hear.
- [38:49]
B
I think at this point, if people
- [38:50]
C
don't know it's alchemized.
- [38:51]
B
Yeah, people don't know about this book.
- [38:52]
C
You know it's alchemized. And here's the rule. If you haven't read Alchemized and you're like, ooh, enemies to lovers. You have to read at least 50% of the book before you say, I don't know if. For the romantic element.
- [39:09]
B
Do not think it is a romance.
- [39:10]
C
It's not a romance book. No, it's not a romance book. But it doesn't mean it's not an
- [39:15]
B
enemy romance in it.
- [39:16]
C
Yeah.
- [39:18]
B
But I think people, if they do go in thinking because I guess you could say it is a fantasy romance. Not a romantic fantasy. Because when you go in thinking it's a romantic fantasy, the romance is the driving force of the plot.
- [39:31]
A
Yeah.
- [39:31]
B
That is not the driving force of the plot. But is it?
- [39:36]
A
It is.
- [39:41]
B
I just really. I just really struggle with alchemize.
- [39:43]
A
I can't lie.
- [39:44]
B
It's okay.
- [39:46]
A
It's okay.
- [39:47]
B
Anywho, anyways, why did we get so off topic? I'm sorry. I asked for an enemy to lovers wreck. That was my bad.
- [39:54]
C
Anyways, a well done enemies to lovers. You know, I'm just waiting for that. I'll never be over it because there's one that I read that was really done pretty perfectly and I just need another one. The other thing I was gonna say this is just a quick one. Emotional love confessions or monologues in the rain shows up at the door. It's pouring rain. I'll never get sick of that. I will actually never be sick of that. You know when it's like I hear a knock at my door, it's raining outside. I'm like, yeah, Screaming every single time.
- [40:28]
B
I'll take any love straight up. Any love confession.
- [40:30]
A
Love confession.
- [40:31]
C
A good one written by Sir.
- [40:33]
A
Something I'll never get over is short chapters.
- [40:40]
B
Short chapters. You will get over that real quick because it's short. I'M sorry.
- [40:48]
A
No, that was good.
- [40:50]
C
Little knee slapper.
- [40:51]
A
A little dad joke for you. Love confessions.
- [40:55]
B
I'll never be over who did this to you. I'll never be over attending wound scene.
- [40:59]
A
Yeah.
- [41:00]
C
I'll also never be over a book that just can actually make me sob my ass.
- [41:03]
B
Forced proximity.
- [41:04]
C
Whoa.
- [41:05]
B
Sorry.
- [41:06]
A
Whoa.
- [41:06]
C
That just came to my brain.
- [41:09]
A
I will never get over forced proximity.
- [41:12]
C
A round of applause. Force proximity. Everyone, like.
- [41:15]
A
And that can happen in any situation. Like, they're forced to share a room. They're forced to. You know, forced to be in a jail cell together. Love that one.
- [41:24]
C
Literally attached with handcuffs. Handcuffs.
- [41:28]
B
Anyways, poor.
- [41:30]
A
That came to my brain.
- [41:31]
C
Sorry I interrupted. I'm just saying, a book that makes me sob uncontrollably. Like. Yeah. I mean, do I like when books rip my heart out? Sometimes I get mad about it, but for the most part, if you can make me sob, round of applause to you. Almost like an instant five star for me. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Any others?
- [41:59]
B
I mean, you guys said a lot of great ones. I'm gonna get sappy for two seconds. I will be never. I will never get over the fact that we're still doing this. Three years. Three years and we're still here.
- [42:09]
A
The fact.
- [42:10]
B
The fact that we. You guys still listen to us even though I know we're unhinged. I know we aren't the most prepared podcast. I know we're not the most intelligent people in the book space, but just the fact that you guys are here and you support us in whatever capacity that might be, whether it's a follow, you buy our merch, you subscribe to the Patreon, you watch on YouTube, you listen to the podcast, you DM us, whatever capacity that is. I just will never be over the fact that this is actually a thing and that people actually care about the books that we read and they want us to recommend books to them because that's a lot of time for you guys to take out of your lives to listen to read a book that we recommend to you. And no, we don't take that light. We don't take that lightly. And I just can't get over the fact that I was going back through all of our text messages for a TikTok trend and just go back and see just the inner beginnings of this podcast. Never in ever, ever, ever would I have expected it to become what it is and that we would still be doing this. That's freaking crazy.
- [43:18]
C
I know it to end.
- [43:19]
B
Oh, we love you guys.
- [43:21]
A
Tender.
- [43:22]
C
You're gonna cry.
- [43:24]
B
I'M so savvy.
- [43:25]
A
Sappy girl. This was really fun.
- [43:29]
C
We hope you enjoyed.
- [43:30]
B
Yeah, I. I don't leave any mean comments.
- [43:32]
C
I'm sorry. I got a little intense.
- [43:35]
A
She feels really passionate about sweaty over things.
- [43:39]
B
Yeah.
- [43:39]
A
I hope you guys enjoyed the chaos of this episode. And if you don't already, follow us on Instagram TikTok. It's what she's reading. Pod. And we have merch. And we have a Patreon. If you have not joined our Patreon, we have lots of fun. And we've had some really cute girls leave some really cute comments about how fun the Patreon is. And I just love that that's our ultimate goal, is to make the Patreon a fun and good time. Anyways, we'll see you guys next week.
- [44:10]
C
Bye.
- [44:11]
A
Bye.