The Book Lisp with Jon Ryan & Sarah Colonna

Episode Title: Writer Wrong
Date: October 6, 2025
Hosts: Jon Ryan & Sarah Colonna

Episode Overview

In this lively and candid book club episode, Jon and Sarah dive into the October book pick, The Good Lie by AR Tori. While avoiding spoilers, they share their thoughts on discovering new authors, authentic depictions in fiction (particularly about cats!), compulsive true crime consumption, and amusing personal anecdotes. The episode brims with the couple’s signature banter, bookish nitpicks, and relatable reflections on both literature and life.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Book Club Logistics & Upcoming Picks

• Main book for October: The Good Lie by AR Tori
• No spoilers until week 4; early discussions focus on themes, not plot reveals ([00:29])
• November book: 12 Days of Christmas by Debbie Macomber—Jon’s pick shifts the club from thrillers to romance, in time for the holidays ([01:51])
• Short Story for October (Patreon): The Situationship by Abby Jimenez ([03:09])

2. Author Gender and Writing Perspective

• Sarah’s introduction to AR Tori: New author for her, enjoyed the "page-turner" aspect ([06:21])
• Jon’s insight: He claims he can tell a book’s gendered perspective based on how it depicts sex, particularly masturbation scenes ([07:45])
  • "I could tell that it was a female author, by the way she writes about sex scenes, especially about masturbation. Female masturbation. You can tell." – Jon ([07:45])
• Discussion: Sarah is surprised by Jon's observation and reflects on how men and women depict sex scenes differently. Jon elaborates on stylized tropes and matter-of-factness in female-written versus male-written romance. ([08:16])

3. True Crime Consumption – Why Are We All Obsessed?

• Connection to the book: Main character Gwen is a psychiatrist who treats people with murder fantasies; prompts discussion on the pervasiveness of true crime documentaries ([10:08])
• Personal habits: Both Jon and Sarah admit to bingeing true crime series before bed, despite Sarah’s anxious tendencies ([12:31])
• Speculating about the societal fascination:
  • "Have we become numb to murder?" (Sarah, [13:19])
  • Jon suggests we're seeking answers, understanding, or maybe just entertainment, not inspiration ([14:19])
  • Both are most drawn in by the "how they caught the killer" element of these shows ([15:42])
• The ‘Staircase’ case anecdote:
  • Jon recounts his obsession with the unresolved Michael Peterson case ([16:47])
  • Setting up a "Michael Peterson camera" in their home as a joke/precaution ([18:51])
  • Sarah’s take: “It’s these conversations where husbands are putting up cameras just to make sure they don’t get accused of something... But smart, to be honest, because you never know.” ([21:17])

4. Everyday Life Tangents

• Cat Rescue: The couple’s ongoing stray cat rescue efforts; elaboration on backyard cameras (“cat camera”) and raccoon-proofing feeders ([24:04])
• Pet authenticity in books:
  • Sarah highlights The Good Lie's questionable cat details—e.g., an outdoor cat in LA, a black cat named "Clementine" (which she feels suits orange cats), and lilies toxic to cats appearing in the home ([24:45], [28:30])
  • "Strike one on the cat... you just don't write about cat if you don't know..." – Sarah ([27:11])
• Researching AR Tori: Short side exploration into the author’s career, bibliography, and speculation about whether she’s a real-life cat owner ([29:24])

5. Southern California Realism & Personal Anecdotes

• Book’s setting: Several LA and Beverly Hills locations familiar to Sarah and Jon ([34:11])
• Funny sports story: Jon’s struggle to find usable football fields in LA, even as a pro—“I’ve been kicked off of more football fields than people would have any clue. I’ve had police come…and I’m just trying to kick a football…” ([35:25])
• COVID era: Describing their “pandemic room” and Jon’s inventive (sometimes illicit) training spots ([37:24])

6. People’s Tells, Lying, and Poker Faces

• In the book: The protagonist’s mom recognizes her son’s “tell” when he lies. ([38:53])
• Real life: Jon applies this to poker games; Sarah reflects on eye contact and diversion tactics as signs of dishonesty ([39:36])
  • “I feel like I can tell when someone's not being honest…they usually won’t look you in the eye. Certain things like that…” – Sarah ([40:34])
• Banter: Sarah jokingly accuses Jon of lying as he scratches his neck (implied “tell”) ([42:05])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Author Gender and Sex Scenes:

  • Jon: “A man tries to write about it…almost gentle, like it’s a sensual thing. Women write about it very matter of factly—‘I went and knocked one out.’ Which I think is great because that's how people talk about it. Women do it.” ([08:16])
  • Sarah: “Tell us what you think…for some reason never occurred to me to even realize that.” ([10:06])

• On Watching True Crime:

  • Jon: “I think we just want to know about it—the same reason we watch the news. There’s nothing we can do to stop it…But it’s fascinating how they paint a story and how that person got caught.” ([14:19], [15:42])
  • Sarah on her own anxieties: “I always think I’m gonna get murdered…Nervous person. So I don't know how I can relax and watch Dateline…and then sleep like a baby.” ([12:31])

• On the ‘Michael Peterson Camera’:

  • Jon: “So I put in a surveillance camera called the Michael Peterson camera…to make sure…if Sarah ever falls down these stairs…they would know I didn’t push her.” ([18:51])

• On Writing About Cats Without Knowing Them:

  • Sarah: “You just don’t write about cat if you don’t know, because A, she did that... B, she named her cat Clementine and then it’s a black cat. Clementine is an orange cat name.” ([27:11])
  • Jon: “Why does it have to be [orange]?”
  • Sarah: “Because clementines are orange!” ([27:28])

• On Parenting & Poker Tells:

  • Jon: “Whenever [my poker buddy] was really weak, he’d slam his chips down…acting strong when he was weak... That’s a poker thing.” ([40:20])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Opening, Book Club Update: [00:28–02:28]
• The Good Lie - First impressions, AR Tori as a new author: [06:21–10:09]
• Gendered writing styles & sex in fiction: [07:45–10:08]
• True crime in pop culture, personal obsession: [10:08–16:47]
• The ‘Staircase’ & home surveillance joke: [16:47–19:48]
• Cats, critiquing realism in books: [24:04–28:30]
• AR Tori bibliography & speculation: [29:24–30:53]
• LA settings, Jon’s sports field struggles, COVID anecdotes: [34:11–37:24]
• Spotting lies in real life and fiction: [38:53–42:14]

Tone & Style

• Conversational, lighthearted, and irreverent
• A blend of book club discussion, couple banter, pop culture references, and everyday life
• Often moves from serious subjects (true crime, psychological thrillers) to playful personal anecdotes

Final Notes

The episode is characteristic of The Book Lisp: comedically honest, sometimes tangential, and always rooted in the personal chemistry between Jon and Sarah. For book club regulars and newcomers alike, this episode is an engaging blend of literary commentary and the couple’s hilarious real-life asides.

Next up: Group reads, more unfiltered discussions, and the eternal debate—what makes a good cat name?