Book Club: Phantasma – A Dark Fantasy Romance

Summary

Podcast Summary: We're Your Girls – Book Club Episode: Phantasma – A Dark Fantasy Romance

Release Date: June 27, 2025
Host/Author: Good Mess Media

We're Your Girls delivers a vibrant and authentic conversation between two best friends tackling their latest book club pick, Phantasma by Kaylie Smith. This episode dives deep into the intricacies of the novel, exploring its plot, characters, and overall execution. Below is a comprehensive summary capturing all key discussions, insights, and conclusions from the episode.

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1. Introduction to the Book Club and Phantasma

The hosts kick off the episode by introducing Phantasma, emphasizing that it was chosen by Tiffany. They set the stage for an honest and unfiltered discussion, mentioning that neither has shared their thoughts on the book prior to this episode.

Speaker B [03:30]: "Uh. Cause what you not about to do is air me out to dry."

2. Initial Reactions and Overall Impressions

Both hosts express their initial impressions of Phantasma, balancing their appreciation for the story's potential with frustrations regarding its execution.

Speaker A [04:29]: "Overall, this is not badly written. I will say that."

Speaker B [04:24]: "This is her debut and we're ruining her book writing career."

They acknowledge the book's success despite being a debut, noting its substantial number of reviews.

3. Plot Analysis and Key Critiques

The discussion delves into the plot of Phantasma, highlighting significant moments that both intrigued and frustrated the hosts. They dissect various plot points, such as the protagonist Ophelia's journey into a haunted mansion akin to the Hunger Games setting.

Speaker B [05:14]: "I started reading the book before you got to it. And remember I stopped about 15% of the way through. Cause it was getting good and I was like, let me wait."

Both hosts critique the book's ending, expressing confusion over unresolved plot elements and inconsistencies in world-building.

Speaker A [20:01]: "I reread the last two chapters. I reread them because I didn't understand what had transpired."

4. Character Development and Relationships

A significant portion of the conversation focuses on character dynamics, particularly the relationship between Ophelia and the antagonist, Blackwell Salamatris Amastris.

Speaker B [06:48]: "A lot of flowery language used to describe certain situations in romance novels that are usually glanced over."

They discuss the portrayal of consent within the romantic aspects of the novel, appreciating the emphasis on respectful interactions.

Speaker A [07:06]: "We love consent."

However, they express frustration with character behaviors that felt out of place for the historical setting, such as Genevieve's modern language and actions.

Speaker A [32:12]: "She was like, I fucked one guy at a parade. What the hell?"

5. Writing Style and World-Building

The hosts admire Kaylie Smith's creativity in crafting an original fantasy universe but criticize the execution, pointing out inconsistencies that disrupt immersion.

Speaker B [13:25]: "But as readers, we know that in order to believe certain pieces of a relatively unbelievable fantasy, there has to be consistencies in the universe that it's set."

They highlight specific examples where world-building fell short, such as technological anachronisms and underdeveloped magical rules.

Speaker A [14:22]: "Chapter 44. She up and kills a man. Great. This guy was an asshole."

6. Emotional Connection and Character Motives

Ophelia's strong motives and emotional depth resonate with the hosts, making her a relatable and compelling protagonist despite the surrounding narrative flaws.

Speaker B [31:08]: "The feeling of being left out in the cold. Like everyone around her knows the secret that she doesn't know."

They also critique the antagonist's development, feeling that Blackwell's character lacks depth and consistency.

7. Final Impressions and Ratings

After thorough analysis, both hosts provide their final evaluations of Phantasma. While acknowledging the book's strengths in romance and originality, they ultimately rate it below their expectations due to its numerous shortcomings.

Speaker A [29:57]: "I think maybe I have been a little too nitpicky for, you know, just a fun, light, romantic read."

Speaker B [29:54]: "I'm gonna keep it at 6, only because I did love the romance. I will give them that."

They conclude that while Phantasma has admirable elements, the execution issues prevent it from fully realizing its potential.

8. Closing Remarks and Future Plans

The episode wraps up with the hosts deciding to move away from fantasy genres for their next book club selection, opting for a more conventional romance novel without supernatural elements.

Speaker A [46:39]: "Next time, no ghosts. No, no ghosts."

They also touch upon their upcoming travel plans, adding a personal touch to the episode's conclusion.

Speaker B [49:19]: "We're going to Cannes and Saint Tropez, and then I'm going to Miami at the end of this week, which I'm excited about."

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Speaker B [05:14]: "I started reading the book before you got to it. And remember I stopped about 15% of the way through. Cause it was getting good and I was like, let me wait."

• Speaker A [07:06]: "We love consent."

• Speaker A [14:22]: "Chapter 44. She up and kills a man. Great. This guy was an asshole."

• Speaker B [31:08]: "The feeling of being left out in the cold. Like everyone around her knows the secret that she doesn't know."

• Speaker A [29:57]: "I think maybe I have been a little too nitpicky for, you know, just a fun, light, romantic read."

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Conclusion

This We're Your Girls episode offers a candid and in-depth examination of Phantasma – A Dark Fantasy Romance. While the hosts appreciate the book's romantic elements and imaginative premise, they critique its inconsistent world-building and character development. Their thoughtful analysis provides valuable insights for listeners considering this book, balancing praise with constructive criticism.

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For those interested in diverse perspectives and lively discussions on contemporary literature, tune in to We're Your Girls every Friday night on YouTube and your preferred podcast platforms. Join the sisterhood and engage with hosts Tiffany and Kelly as they navigate the messy and magical moments of book club life.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

You can Venmo this or you can Venmo that.

[A]

You can Venmo this or you can Venmo that. You can Vemo. The Venmo MasterCard is issued by the Bancorp bank and a pursuant to license, my MasterCard International, Inc. Card may be used everywhere. MasterCard is accepted. Venmo purchase restrictions apply. Have you ever spotted McDonald's hot crispy fries right as they're being scooped into the carton? And time just stands still? Cause we're your girl? Hey.

[B]

Cause I like how you do. How you doing, girl?

[A]

On my way here, I was on the train. 20 tourists get on. How do I know they're tourists? One, they're all wearing designer everything, top to bottom on the subway.

[B]

Dangerous.

[A]

And it's hot as hell. I'm like, you guys must be sweating. You don't need three layers of supreme.

[B]

Absolutely.

[A]

And they're speaking another language, which I love. I love to see tourists. And they're all. I mean, I can't imagine traveling with 20 of my family members. I'm telling you, I'm not exaggerating. That's how many there are. And they were all together. All. And having fun, taking pictures. I loved it. I personally love to see tourists in New York City. I know that doesn't. Maybe that's a ding on me as a New Yorker, but I think it's great. You hate the tourists in New York City.

[B]

I don't hate them. I just. I'm a fast walker. My legs are so long. I get frustrated by, like, my mom knows this. She's in the studio. Hi, Mom. I get frustrated by indecision on the streets.

[A]

Oh, 100%.

[B]

And tourists are indecisive. So I'm so impatient that I'm like, ow. Like, I just get annoyed 100%.

[A]

Oh, no. We definitely do emerge. And I jump into the fast lane speedway. Absolutely. And I look back like, come on.

[B]

You use your ready pass and you move.

[A]

But times like this, I was like, look at them taking the subway for the first time. They don't even know that a man pooped right there probably two hours ago.

[B]

Disgusting.

[A]

So Anyway, but I love that they're having a good time. And then train doors open, and man gets on, puts down a speaker. Boom, boom, boom, ladies and gentlemen. And I was like, they're about to lose their minds.

[B]

Ah. It was the performer.

[A]

It was the performer. The people that were hanging on, hanging on the bars.

[B]

A foot come right this close to your nose.

[A]

He's all scrumped up, scrumped up.

[B]

Rolling around like that.

[A]

He's doing the. He's like sliding around. He's pole dancing. He's doing the.

[B]

That's that one.

[A]

At one point, at a stop, he gets off and he. He's dancing in the window, looking in at the tourists. Oh, my God. They look like they were on the It's a Small World ride at Disneyland. It's Disney.

[B]

Oh.

[A]

It was actually pretty fun to watch. He's so sweet. And then at the very end, they all tipped him. So I was actually really glad that he got his coin. That's good.

[B]

That's sweet. Now I love that the subway performers make me very happy. I remember when I first moved to the city, I was like, waiting with bated breath for my first subway performance. And when I have it on Instagram, I'll find it.

[A]

Did you get one?

[B]

I took a story of it. Like, this is almost a decade ago now. I took a story of it and was like, it finally happened. And all the people from back home were like, yay.

[A]

That's so sweet.

[B]

It's cute. It's cute.

[A]

Welcome to the book club episode. I want to preface this by saying Tiffany chose this book.

[B]

Uh. Cause what you not about to do is air me out to dry.

[A]

It's the truth. Tiffany chose this one. I should have known. I should have known.

[B]

I need to defend myself. I chose this book. Sitting in this chair a month ago. I did not have any pretense for what this book would be. Oh, and we also have to tell you, we have not discussed at all what our thoughts are on the book. So this is my first time hearing Taryn's reactions and vice versa.

[A]

And we've done a good job at not talking about it really at all.

[B]

Mostly because we finished it this morning together.

[A]

Me at two in the morning.

[B]

Me about an hour ago.

[A]

At one point, I put the book down, looked up at the ceiling, and just went, ah. And I kept. Went back to reading because it was so frustrating.

[B]

Ooh, I can't wait to hear that.

[A]

You go first. I actually really want to hear what you think.

[B]

Phantasma by Kaylie Smith.

[A]

Kaylee Girl, keep it up. You know, watch.

[B]

This is her debut and we're ruining her book writing career.

[A]

No, you told me this is like a well reviewed.

[B]

It was, but it still very well could be a debut. We don't know.

[A]

Either way, I don't feel bad saying all this because this book has done very well.

[B]

Yes. So 50,000 reviews on the Zahn alone.

[A]

Overall, this is not badly written. I will say that. Like, I have read some books months that are like, did you use Chat ggb? Did you use Chat gg? For better or for worse, let's jump into book club. This episode.

[B]

Trivediva.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

All right, here's what I think. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it.

[A]

Shocker. There was a ghost sex scene.

[B]

And you know, I like those.

[A]

AC Mascabrium.

[B]

I would say, okay, I started reading the book before you got to it. And remember I stopped about 15% of the way through. Cause it was getting good and I was like, let me wait. We'll see if we catch up.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I gave it a break of two or three weeks in between starting it and then finishing it in this last round. So I was really impressed by how it opened. I think by the end I was like, okay, maybe I lost a bit of the pot, the middle palatable. So I would say overall, I'd give it like a solid 6 out of 10.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

I liked all of the rising action more than I like the ending. I'll say that.

[A]

Okay, so then we're in agreement.

[B]

We're in agreement. And I would also say I can tell a woman wrote it.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Because there were a lot of things that were so.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

You know what I mean?

[A]

I'm right with you.

[B]

A lot of flowery language used to describe certain situations in romance novels that are usually glanced over. Like, the consideration that she takes when dealing with what's the main character, Ophelia's ocd, for example, A man would not have been able, I think, to traverse that as delicately as she did. I would say there were a lot of moments where the men were asking for consent.

[A]

Consent.

[B]

And I was like, this is such a gal.

[A]

Well, there was literally like. Which I love. Like, listen, I love consent.

[B]

We love it.

[A]

Do I necessarily think there is a Satan in this book? A whole demon man, A whole demon devil. And he was like, I have killed men and I'm the most evil person alive.

[B]

But I'll stop if you want.

[A]

You let me know. Are you enjoying this? You good? I love that. Listen, I love that. I love consent. Did I believe any of this. Was I in it in that way? Not really. I was like, what is he evil or good?

[B]

Cause I should are talking specifically the Sinclair part.

[A]

The Sinclair, yes. And he's like, I'm so evil. And then he was like, oh, so how you doing?

[B]

How you doing? To give you background, this scene, he's. We won't give any spoilers, but he's like the big one of the big bad in the book. He's the big bad in the book. And Ophelia, the main character is like, I'll take a ride on the bad side just to piss off the hero in the book.

[A]

Which I'm down for.

[B]

Love that I actually was like, relate to that diva cool. That's a real life situation that I would totally find myself involved in if I was mad at a man. And then I found someone who was kind of. And then we were in the hallway and things happen. I would totally do it also, because why not? And that's exactly what happened. So he leans down to give her head in the hallway, basically. But then he's like, I'll stop if you want me to. And she's like, no, it's okay, keep going.

[A]

And I'm like, oh, what a gentleman. Exactly.

[B]

But it took me out of the ferocity of the scene with a swiftness.

[A]

Sure.

[B]

That was one of those moments where I was like, what the hell?

[A]

Now again, I can't stress this enough. Consent is great.

[B]

We love consent.

[A]

But I will say I think I'm just surprised in certain storylines when it appears. But okay, that's cool with me. That's fine.

[B]

Uh huh.

[A]

I'm gonna read you some.

[B]

Read me some things.

[A]

Read me some things. By the way, if you didn't read this book, and I love the people that still watch book club even if they didn't read the book. This book was like. Do you remember the movie Haunted Mansion with Eddie Murphy?

[B]

You're so right.

[A]

Mixed with the Hunger Games, absolutely. Imagine if they put Hunger Games in the Haunted Mansion and then they expected all of us to be like, whoa, this is crazy. And also at any time you can just be like, I wanna go home.

[B]

I wanna dip out of here.

[A]

And then they grab you and you're like, devil appear.

[B]

First one to say, I'm gone. You're like, wait.

[A]

It would be the first day you and me are in this competition. It's a. It's a deadly game. Okay? So there's only three ways out. You die in one of these really intense, violent games.

[B]

Battle Royale. As they call it absolutely description.

[A]

So you can either be. And you can either be killed by. By one of your opponents or you can be killed by an obstacle. The other way out is that you win. And then the third way out is that you just go, I really want to go home.

[B]

You forfeit. But then if they forfeit, don't they get cursed or something like that? Like, it's not as easy as saying you want to leave.

[A]

You get cursed. No, you only get cursed if you fall in love during the game.

[B]

No, no. Yes, you're right. If they. There was a thing where they have to. It was like a devil's bargain or something. They called it.

[A]

Oh, yes, yes, yes.

[B]

So if you left, you basically had to make a dangerous bargain. You would have to give something up that you could.

[A]

Devil's bargain. If you couldn't complete the mission or the thing, but you wanted to stay in the game so you could be like, I wanna stay and I can't complete this mission, but I'll give you 15 years of my life.

[B]

Give me the bargain.

[A]

Boom. And to be fair, the main character, Ophelia, she makes a bargain. Not a devil's bargain, but she makes a bargain with a phantom who ends up being her boyfriend, who ends up.

[B]

Being the prince of Satan. Like, what? And this all happened in the last 15 pages.

[A]

Okay, here we go.

[B]

Go ahead, get into your quote. Mm.

[A]

This is my Note from page 296. Oh, I wrote this at 1 in the morning.

[B]

Mm.

[A]

You're telling me this ghost is going to come in her mouth? We have strayed so far from the path of righteousness.

[B]

Wait, what sex scene was that?

[A]

It was like when he was like, ew. It's like, not even like that. I just was like, that's fine. It was just so, like. I'm like, I can't get over the fact that he's a ghost. Like, you know what I mean? They're like, doing the deed. And he's like, in and out of. He was like, I'm not gonna. And she's like, oh, yeah. And then I'm like, hold on. He's a ghost.

[B]

He's a ghost. Did that make sense? Well, you know me, I like a ghost romance. So I overlooked that detail thoroughly.

[A]

You were like, that's fine. I'm cool with that. And then it cracked me up. And then, okay, here was another thing, another gripe that I had. So immediately we start to get a sense of the time period, which I enjoyed. So, like, we jump in and she said, I wouldn't buy. We opened with her mom's funeral.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And she comments that her mom would never want it. Yeah.

[B]

Very interesting.

[A]

A great writing choice. Totally thought that was interesting.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And she was like, my mother would never want to be buried in a corset. Immediately, I'm like, great. I love that she set the scene without being annoying or monotonous about telling us the year is 1875. We live in New Orleans. So she did a great job of setting up the scene of New Orleans and stuff, but then didn't stick to any one era.

[B]

Nope. I was going to say, admittedly, it took me a little too long to realize where they were. I could not grasp it. I may have overlooked the corset detail, but I was like, are they driving? No, there's carriages. Wait. There's. There's lamps, though. But wait, they also have candlesticks.

[A]

Exactly.

[B]

What?

[A]

Exactly. And, like, I get it. Okay. There were cars in the early 20th century, late 1800s, so I can accept car. There are quite a few cars where it's like, jumping in taxis and cars all the time.

[B]

But then they also took carriages.

[A]

They also took carriages. And then. Exactly. Not only that, at one point. Now, this is me coming from. You also love a good. What is it? A bodice ripper. So it's like. Oh, yeah, they're. What are they called?

[B]

Bodice rippers. Yeah. Historical romance.

[A]

Historical romance. Thank you.

[B]

If you can imagine, they come in, like, books, and they're really tiny, and I have a shelf full of them.

[A]

You read them at the beach when your mom's not looking.

[B]

Absolutely.

[A]

What do you want me to say?

[B]

What do you want me to say?

[A]

Sorry, Lanita. She's here.

[B]

Sorry, Mom. She's like, well, do you want to. Lanita, Tiffany's mom's in the room, not me. Learning things about my mom every day.

[A]

I'm gonna pick this plan up.

[B]

I'm gonna throw it out your head.

[A]

You get out.

[B]

Well, her diva. Go ahead and read on. Read on, Rita.

[A]

So one thing. Now I love a historical romance. I got quite excited when I realized that we were going to get some history in here.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Did not respect any of the boundaries of the universe.

[B]

None that I like.

[A]

So at one point, she's like. And then my panties came off. You have panties on.

[B]

What happened to pantaloon?

[A]

Oh, did you just go. Did you run over to Victoria's Secret and grab those? Why were you wearing. Like. She was like, he took all my skirts off. My corset was unlaced. And then, like, my Thong. I'm like, what?

[B]

It's funny you would say that. I caught that detail too, and was like, huh?

[A]

This is really. I said, you're really pissing me off.

[B]

It's like, she set it up well. And then by the end of the book, it was. Because even, like, the. The text or the dialogue during the sex scene started off historical in a way, but by the end, it was like. I think I took an example too.

[A]

But yeah, girl, pull up your notes. Because I. I certainly highlighted a couple where I'm like, this is what I'm talking about. I like. If you're. And I know what you're thinking, you're like, well, Taryn, how accurate does a book based in a Hunger Games haunted mansion where the main love interest is a ghost? How accurate does it really have to be? But as readers, we know that in order to believe certain pieces of a relatively unbelievable fantasy, there has to be consistencies in the universe that you set. At least for me to enjoy it.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

You know what I mean?

[B]

Yes. Especially because we're storytellers. Because we like those parts of story. We like world building. When it's not too much.

[A]

When it's not too much. Yeah.

[B]

How you find these things.

[A]

Okay, I wrote something. I wrote. What the hell? I wrote, what the helly.

[B]

I just came across a.

[A]

Why another thing that I disliked strongly about the inconsistencies in the world building.

[B]

What?

[A]

Chapter 44. She up and kills a man. Great. This guy was an asshole.

[B]

He was terrible.

[A]

He deserved it. Ophelia's. Let's see. Ophelia's flesh pebbled as a strange vibration of energy ran through her, making her blood sing with power. Yeah, in italics. So she's thinking, this. Cade's life force. She realized she had stolen it. Recharged. She had stolen it and recharged herself.

[B]

That never comes back.

[A]

New power unlocked.

[B]

And they never talk about it again.

[A]

They never talk about it again. And then she uses that power.

[B]

What does she do?

[A]

Someone else tries to get her after that, and she goes, zoo. And she gets him with Kade's life.

[B]

Where is that from?

[A]

This is Yu Gi Oh. Or something. Yu Gi oh. This is one of them.

[B]

Naruto.

[A]

Naruto. She gets him with Kate's life force. And then she's like.

[B]

And then the life force is gone. I wonder if that'll come back. He died too easy. He was horrible. A horrible character. And then she just killed him in one scene. I think he's gonna haunt her in the next book or something.

[A]

Well, in the next book, it's based on her sister. Ah.

[B]

So this is the end of their story.

[A]

Thank God, I guess.

[B]

But, my God, there's no button that ended terribly.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

The only redeeming thing for me was, oh, there's book two. We'll find out more.

[A]

No, the whole thing is based on her sister, Genevieve, and her story, who I hated. Lol. I actually thought Genevieve was a really funny character, but she is annoying. Because Genevieve is the whole reason we're in this mess. We spend half the book trying to find her irresponsible little sister who runs off to the haunted mansion Hunger Games.

[B]

But it was never confirmed that she was there, so I was bad as hell reading this. Cause I'm like, you don't even know she's there. She's there, and you're risking your life.

[A]

And having ghost sex and also your magical boyfriend who's all knowing the ghost who can disappear and appear at will on the other side. You can't just ask him. Hey, you seen my little sis?

[B]

Is she around?

[A]

Have you let her. Have you let her know? We finally find Genevieve, and it's the most anticlimactic. What are you doing here?

[B]

To set the scene. Ophelia and the main character are having dirty, raunchy, nasty sex. I was reading that scene right after.

[A]

She killed a man. Another thing that bothers me generally in romance novels is, like, when you do something awful to someone, and then they're immediately like, let's go have a little whoopsie whip.

[B]

A little romp in the sand.

[A]

A little romp in the head.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

And I'm like, that would be the last thing on my mind.

[B]

It just doesn't make any sense. But I understand why they do it. It's to move the plot, I guess. But it doesn't make sense.

[A]

There are other ways to move plots, guys.

[B]

Not in this way. So she's moving the plot, all right.

[A]

Moving the plot on up to the east side.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

And then she's in a deluxe apartment in the sky.

[B]

They're having sex. And as she's about to, the author is setting it up to be this, like, wonderful, amazing, brilliant, beautiful climax. And then it's like.

[A]

And he's gonna say he loves her.

[B]

Exactly.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And then there's a knock on the door, and Genevieve's like, ophelia, question mark. And then the whole reunion, basically. It's just the silliest thing. Like, it was so anticlimactic how they, one, encountered each other, but two, the conversation that ensued. It was like a Fade to black. I'm like, we want details. Aren't you mad at your sister?

[A]

Aren't you? Exactly. Don't you have more feelings? And then one more chapter we have together where they bumble around the castle for a while, looking for a thing that's never going to be found. And then she goes, well, now that I found you, you forfeit. I'm gonna finish this thing.

[B]

Yeah. And Genevieve goes, okay, I think I highlighted that. Cause I was like.

[A]

She literally goes, all right. I, Genevieve Grimm, give up.

[B]

She goes home.

[A]

Which would totally be me.

[B]

It would be.

[A]

I'd be like, you gonna finish this? My brothers all came to get me. I'd be like, thank God. I'd be getting haunted every day.

[B]

This sucked.

[A]

And it turns out I have a lot of deep, dark fears that they've been throwing at me.

[B]

That would be the part that would get me taken out immediately. A room full of roaches.

[A]

A room full of possums hissing at me and rats. Rats. I immediately. I, Taryn Delaney Smith, surrender to fantasma.

[B]

You're there for 30 seconds.

[A]

I've got to go. Thank God my brothers came. 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 a line'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] savor every last drop of summer with Starbucks. From bold refreshers to rich cold brews, the sunniest season only gets better with a handcrafted ice beverage in your hands. Available for a limited time. Your summer favorites are ready at Starbucks. Not only that, speaking of the entire ending.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So she goes. And now we're like, okay, I can get behind this. I'm like, go and win this thing, Ophelia.

[B]

Sorry, I found one that made.

[A]

Read it, please.

[B]

It was during this scene, during the reunion scene for Ophelia and Genevieve. And Genevieve's like. Ophelia goes, so you mean we own a home that's not Grim Manor? Ophelia asks. Genevieve nodded. She made sure their mother to have it warded by extremely powerful magic, so our father wouldn't be able to pay a witch or seer to look for us anymore. The only problem is that she died before she was able to tell us about it. And I never found out where it was located. What the hell?

[A]

And then we all move on.

[B]

I wrote don't piss me off.

[A]

Are you kidding?

[B]

This whole bomb. The reason why she enters this competition is to save the house. The house? There's another house?

[A]

There's another house that we could have moved to?

[B]

Correct.

[A]

Wait, hang on. You're telling me we had to save Grim Manor when we have secret real estate in San Tropez?

[B]

Exactly. That we never knew about.

[A]

You're gonna tell me we have a house in Calabasas?

[B]

I was so mad reading that.

[A]

What the hell?

[B]

And then it never gets brought up again. But then in the end, maybe you can explain it to me. Cause I was peacing out by this point.

[A]

I understand. Me, too.

[B]

I was very, very confused by the end.

[A]

Was confusing.

[B]

It was confusing.

[A]

I reread the last two chapters. I reread them because I didn't understand what had transpired.

[B]

So now you can help crazy. Do they return to Grim Manor? Was that the house? Yes, that was clear.

[A]

No, it wasn't clear. And I agree with you. I had to reread the chapters, which made me mad, because this is, at best, a high school reading level.

[B]

Absolutely.

[A]

And I at least read out of Freshman in College, so I can't believe I had to go back, waste my time to understand this. I'm sorry if you're. It's very unlikely the author's ever gonna watch this, but if she does, I feel awful. I'm embarrassed. Here's some feedback for you. Don't do that again.

[B]

Don't do that.

[A]

I will read more of your books because I can tell you have a very great imagination.

[B]

She does.

[A]

It was great.

[B]

This is an original concept, which in these days and times, hard to find.

[A]

Hard to find, but maybe a little too original, maybe a little too underdeveloped. And I do feel. I mean, part of me. The idea of even watching this makes me like, oh, God. But then I'm like, no, we're allowed to leave a review for something that's out there. So I'm putting it out there. I'm just gonna say it.

[B]

Hell, any random person on Goodreads would be ten times harder than. I mean, Goodreads is the Wild, Wild West. They're crazy out there. So this is tame in comparison to what people understand.

[A]

Because I'm still gonna give it a 6 out of 10. That's right. Like, I still was like, okay, I'm in the world. I was in the world. There were just certain things that just grinded my gears.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So then, let me see.

[B]

Keep going.

[A]

At the very end. Tiffany. And this is what I had to reread twice. But I did figure it out. Okay, so we get to the end and we're like, let's go. Ophelia's gonna go win this thing. I could get behind that.

[B]

Hell, yeah.

[A]

Girl power. She was an underdog. Love that.

[B]

Yeah. Spicy.

[A]

She's got the power of Cade's life force absolutely in her hands now. Let's go. She gets to the level where she walks in the big bomb. Is that Genevieve. We're not sure if Genevieve has been captured.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

And so she has to choose the right one.

[B]

All of that made sense.

[A]

I saw that coming a mile away. I was like, I bet her mom died suddenly and unexpectedly. And it had to do with phantasma that she was in the game.

[B]

Oh.

[A]

See, I thought her mom's death was gonna be caused by. She gave 10 years of her life force to frigging the ghost. I digress.

[B]

Didn't even think about that. Also, 1. His name. I'm sorry, I have to interrupt. Cause this was crazy. Blackwell Salamatris Amastris Blackwell, Wide receiver, Louisiana. I read that and said absolutely not.

[A]

Wide receiver, Louisiana University.

[B]

Like, why Salamatris? I can't even say it. Salamatris Erasmus Blackwell.

[A]

Salamander. Ooh. There were so many things that bothered me. I feel like I'm being negative. I'm sorry.

[B]

Keep going. It's okay. It's okay. You were saying?

[A]

So we find out. So she's like, I'm not gonna even go to the final level. I'm gonna skip right to going to get my prize.

[B]

Which. How?

[A]

How? If I was one of the competitors, I'm like, get back here, bitch. Finish what we started.

[B]

We gotta finish.

[A]

We got a big game. Ooh, Uno.

[B]

Cause what's her big?

[A]

Uno. And guns.

[B]

Like, who knows?

[A]

Reverse cow. That would be me. I always have a gat on me in this house. Reverse.

[B]

Blowing people away.

[A]

You have a throwing star on you.

[B]

With, like, terrible accuracy, though. You're constantly cornered for no reason. No one's cornering you ever.

[A]

They're always doing. The ghosts are haunting. When I'm shooting at ghosts. So they're just bullets on through all the walls.

[B]

I'm in another room. What is that you shooting at? Nothing.

[A]

Sorry. I Come the next morning, you look like you slept terribly. And they were sitting those possums on me and I.

[B]

Your room is peppered in bullet holes. Oh, that's crazy.

[A]

It was Reba McEntire in a spaghetti costume. And you know, I'm scared of Reba, so I was scared. I was trying to make it stop. Didn't sleep all night, but. On to level eight.

[B]

Let's go.

[A]

Here we go. So she skips the last level, which.

[B]

That's what I was confused about. How'd she do that?

[A]

She realizes she can summon the final door.

[B]

The Whispering room, or whatever it was called.

[A]

Yeah. This magical door. She's like, I'm gonna go through this door. And she turns back to her. Blackwell, Blackwell, Blackwell.

[B]

Louisiana State wide receiver.

[A]

She's like, I'm in every lifetime. I'm going to get back with you. She's like, yeah. And I'm. I'm anticipating the ending. I already knew she wanted. She was going to try to make a bargain and, like, sacrifice herself to set him free. I'm into that.

[B]

I saw that.

[A]

Great. That's great. She goes in, and who does she meet on the other side of the.

[B]

Door but him, but in his full devil form.

[A]

And he was like, oopsies, yeah, you got me. But he was basically like, yeah, this is my punishment to, like, forever be locked in this dance. I run the game. The other version of me on the other side of the door doesn't remember who I am and that I'm running the game. That's why I couldn't tell you. But I. But I love you and you're free to go. And then she's like, no, I'm in love with you.

[B]

And he was like, you don't come multiple times. He's like slapping his hand over.

[A]

Yeah. He's like, don't say that.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So we were like, okay, he does love her. And it turns out she was his love from five centuries ago. Reincarnate.

[B]

Yes. And her soul was living in the necklace.

[A]

And if you're listening to this, thinking, what the fuck?

[B]

We don't know either.

[A]

That's exactly what I said. If I can't clearly explain a book.

[B]

If you haven't taught.

[A]

This is giving me a stroke. And I am very mad.

[B]

That made me very mad.

[A]

This kind of sounds like something a 7 year old would do in a creative writing class. We know when they're like. And then what if maybe in the sky he had a block it. And then Ish at the end. And then maybe the locket was her. And then. And then she was the final character. And then maybe they fall in love. And then you're free and you're like. You're like. And then you're like, you know what, buddy? Keep writing.

[B]

Keep writing. You're like, keep writing.

[A]

You're like, hey, buddy, write it down. We'll fix it in post. You know what I mean?

[B]

Write it down.

[A]

It's just. It was so complicated. It did read, like, for a short.

[B]

Romance, read 400 pages. There was a lot going on.

[A]

God bless you, girl.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You had a great idea. We were a little bit shaky on the execution, but overall, I enjoyed it.

[B]

Here we are. Wait, but you were still explaining the end. Because I was very confused.

[A]

What are you confused? What are you most confused by?

[B]

How does she get out of the portal world? The Whispering Door era.

[A]

That's the best thing, is that she. She goes, the locket, I realize now, is the key that you've been looking for this whole all along. I'm like, okay, that's pretty good.

[B]

Solid. Yeah, that was good.

[A]

He goes, great. Takes it off her. She dies.

[B]

Yes. Because it was her life force.

[A]

It's her actual heart.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

She's like, oh, damn. Oh, shit. You and me on the other side of the port. Oh, great. He just finished the job for us.

[B]

And then we're left.

[A]

Let's keep it moving.

[B]

So we have to kill each other.

[A]

Oh, shit. Damn.

[B]

Our ultimate plan never worked.

[A]

Who's gonna forfeit anyway? She dies. And then he's like, no, don't die. But also he's like, but thank you, because I'm free now.

[B]

It was definitely giving that.

[A]

He goes, how about this idea time?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Now that I'm super powerful, I'm just gonna do a devil's bargain with you. Cause I'm a devil now.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And you could just. You'll be immortal with me, and we're gonna be immortal forever together. How does that sound? She goes, no, I couldn't bother.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Cause she was like, I can't make a devil's bargain. Making a deal with the devil's bad.

[B]

Cause her mom told her that was really bad.

[A]

Well, I agree. I would understand. And then he's like, okay, is this or die? And she was like, wow, twist my arm.

[B]

But then he was also like, eternity's a long time it's been together. Cause they have to merge their souls or no, she would be stuck with him for E. You're totally right. Yeah. And she was like, well.

[A]

And then he's also like. But also, babe, like, we could be eternally merged and, like, live separately if you want to do, like, an open relationship. An open kind of thing.

[B]

If you Want to do an open thing?

[A]

And I'm like, so you're telling me we're floating around in a magical fog world.

[B]

Meanwhile, my finger's turning purple because I can't breathe anymore.

[A]

I'm dying.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And meanwhile. Meanwhile, this is all I could think about. He tells us that because he's free, the game of phantasma is falling apart behind him.

[B]

The house is.

[A]

And I'm thinking of you and me. And they're like, oh, damn.

[B]

What happened?

[A]

Is this one of the challenges? We gotta survive this. I'm shooting at the fond debris. Damn it.

[B]

A. And that's how we perish.

[A]

And that's how we perish. It just cracks me up that there was, like, two other competitors left and we never hear about what happened.

[B]

You're right. Her name was like, B or something. Or Charlotte.

[A]

Charlotte and Amand. And, man, we don't ever learn.

[B]

And you never. Yeah, okay. That was confusing to me too. That is why I assumed that there would be a sequel. There were so many loose ends, Tiffany.

[A]

And you gave it a six.

[B]

Maybe we can lower it.

[A]

Let's give it generous. I'm a five. I'm going to give it a solid five. This was. This book made me want to write hate mail to my kindergarten, first, and second grade teachers for teaching me how to read.

[B]

Oh, damn.

[A]

I.

[B]

That was a lot.

[A]

I was at times.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Like, there were times that I was so frustrated by this book's writing. And you know what? The thing is, though, is the only reason I'm this frustrated is because I see the potential. Like, I actually liked the story.

[B]

I see.

[A]

To a degree. I was like, no, I'm in this. If it had just been bad all the way around, I could have laughed about. Yeah, I think it's infuriating when you're like, no, I'm actually liking the story and the characters, but you're losing me, and I don't want you to lose me.

[B]

Mm.

[A]

So.

[B]

So you're demoting her five.

[A]

Five or a six?

[B]

I'm gonna keep it at six.

[A]

Okay, good. I think you should.

[B]

I'm gonna keep it at 6, only because I did love the romance. I will give them that. To me, it was believable up to a certain point. Towards the end, it was kind of crazy with him. Like, I'd move the universe for you, and it's only been four days. Like, that was a lot.

[A]

It was a very insta love.

[B]

Very insta love. But I loved the flowery language.

[A]

I did love that too.

[B]

I love it.

[A]

I Thought it was. I thought again, the potential. I think there was a lot of beautiful writing. Again, extremely creative plot, which I have to give her props for.

[B]

Totally. It's hard to come by original things.

[A]

It really is. Not a single fairy, were or werewolf in sight, which is rare.

[B]

That's fair.

[A]

I kept waiting. Do you know how many words she came up with the word. How many words she found for the word ghost? Ghost, specter, phantom, apparition. Apparition.

[B]

There was another one.

[A]

A heebie jeebie.

[B]

One of them.

[A]

She was like, I just figured something out. Gung, gung, gung, gung, gung. Our dad was a heebie jeebie ghoul.

[B]

Yes. Because he was a spectre.

[A]

Is that why I'm able to appear and disappear? I wasn't going to tell you this, even though I've held onto the secret for, like, the last three days, but I knew your father, and he was a heebie jeebie ghoul. Yeah.

[B]

And he killed your mama on accident.

[A]

Sorry.

[B]

And your sister's also a specter. What I felt emotionally for Ophelia, like, the feeling of being left out in the cold. Like everyone around her knows the secret that she doesn't know. And that she thought she was closer to her sister than she actually was. And the OCD emotionally. Maybe that's why I like it more. I connected with Ophelia a lot. Not saying that I relate to her personal experience, but I understood her motives as a character made sense to me, which made it easier to read the book.

[A]

I agree. She had a really strong motive. The only reason anybody would make sense for her to go into a haunted mansion Hunger Games would be to save her sister and continue on with this obligation she feels towards.

[B]

And she never strayed from that.

[A]

She never strayed from that. And that was really, really good.

[B]

And meanwhile, I guess that's why Genevieve pissed me off. Cause she was just selfish the whole time. I was like, you're just a raging asshole to me.

[A]

Yeah. Yeah.

[B]

She People here for you and you dipping like, it just. She pissed me off. I did not like her at all. I hated her character, actually.

[A]

You hated Genevieve.

[B]

I can say that with a full chest.

[A]

I thought she was another thing. Sorry, I'm like. I'm, like, tearing this apart.

[B]

Get in there, diva. Do what you've got to do.

[A]

Another thing is that we're in the 1800s, right? And yet Genevieve is, like, literally using this language. So I'm quoting you. Oh, I fucked him and I fucked 11 guys. She's like, I Fucked one guy at a parade. What the hell?

[B]

That was bananas.

[A]

Not me. Not to be a prude. I think everyone in the room knows I'm not a prude. It's the 1800s, ma' am. You would be scandalized.

[B]

You wouldn't speak that way.

[A]

Have some decorum, Genevieve, please. Stop it. And then Ophelia herself, she's like, yeah, I had a little tryst with this guy who stayed over at the mansion. I'm like, oh, yeah. I guess I'm just like. I was hoping for there to be some.

[B]

To be more of a period piece.

[A]

A period piece.

[B]

I guess I didn't have that expectation of it. Cause it's never alluded to either in the bio, that it's supposed to be historically anything but.

[A]

We're all wearing corsets and gowns all the time now.

[B]

I will say this. I thought of you during this.

[A]

She did.

[B]

Yes. Yes. She wore gowns. She was a badass. Kicking ass in gowns and corsets.

[A]

And corsets. I actually appreciated that a lot. So I gotta give you that. I know you did that just for me. Sorry that I. All over your mouth. Because that was really fun. But there was multiple times when she was like, I was in an ornate ball gown.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And everyone else was in pants. And I'm dodging rain and knives.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And she's like, the gown was kind of slowing me down.

[B]

I was like, yeah, no shit.

[A]

What was your plan?

[B]

What was the scariest level to you?

[A]

That's a good question.

[B]

I will say. Also, I read this book at night mostly. So I was really scared reading. Yeah. I was spooked.

[A]

I actually thought it was gonna be the really physical trials where they were like. Because there was one trial where she had to climb up a mountainside other or be dropped into lava. And she was like, ripping.

[B]

And they were in the cages off her fingers. Yeah.

[A]

And I was like, that just sounds horrible. I think I'd give up and be like, drop me into the lava. I don't want to do anything. On my way Send me on my way all my way. That's me, Gordon. On my way. I'm not. My way. There's so many things that don't make sense. I'm sorry. Keep going, keep going. Also the fact that you can forfeit at any time and safely just disappear out of the game.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You would think right before you die or plunge into lava, you would have just gone, I turned out, I want to get out of Phantasma.

[B]

But do you remember someone tried it but they were so made up and they couldn't get the word. Like, you have to say the exact words. And the person was fumbling with the words, and then they died.

[A]

I think the scariest one, though, was the truth. True or false.

[B]

We have the same one.

[A]

That one was a really good one because I like that the characters didn't even know if it was true or false for them. So they weren't sure what the.

[B]

Yeah. If they would die. So to give background, all of the levels of competition and phantasma are associated with one of the seven deadly sins. And so this particular challenge was associated with. And so the challenge. A sin.

[A]

A sin.

[B]

And so the challenge was that everyone at the table was offered up, basically the ability to press truth or dare on their button based off of true or false. True or false?

[A]

Truth or dare.

[B]

A deadly game of truth or dare.

[A]

We got our guns at the table. Ooh, dare me to shoot this guy.

[B]

A deadly game of truth or false. True or false.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Truth or false.

[A]

Oh, I think it's true or false.

[B]

True or false.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Okay. Anyway, so Taryn and I are sitting at the table. Taryn would be given a scenario, and we would all have to guess if that was actually true to her or not.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

And then based off of your guess, you could die.

[A]

And you realized very quickly that you prick your finger and the word comes up and it goes, taryn is colorblind. And then the. Everyone agreed, like, so we can all just get through the level. Let's all tell each other whether or not it's true.

[B]

Correct.

[A]

So the guy goes, oh, I'm not colorblind. And everybody starts to hit false. And then one of the other contestants goes, wait, what color is her dress? And he gets it wrong.

[B]

And he's like, well, I don't know, actually.

[A]

And they're like, you are colorblind. And he goes, oh, I never. I hit my head a couple months ago, and I didn't even.

[B]

Not that you mentioned it.

[A]

Now that you mentioned it, things have been a little fuzzy. And I didn't know I was colored by. Which would happen to us. It would. We'd be like, oh, crap. Now that you mentioned it, Tiffany left her curling iron on. I definitely did not do that. Wait, Tiffany.

[B]

Well, hold on now. How do we know I curl my hair?

[A]

When I walk up the house, people are just crying, boulders hanging above us. Well, because something happened. Because I remember the smell when I left. It definitely smelled like burnt hair.

[B]

It did, but I can't guarantee it.

[A]

But, you know What? I have a conair which turns off by itself. It does. Therefore it must be off. False rock. Go. You're dead.

[B]

I hate it that I laughed during those parts. But I did.

[A]

You crushed me. And my little gun is laughing. Just crumpled, holding my little pistol.

[B]

I will say that whole scene read like scary movie or something. Like it was giving. It was meant to be funny. It wasn't meant to be funny, but it could be funny.

[A]

It could be.

[B]

I was horrified, but I also laughed.

[A]

Yeah, that was horrifying. And I kept thinking, God, if I was in a situation, I would crumble. That's awful.

[B]

And that's when the main character, the crazy man Cade, broke also. So that was a very humanizing experience for them all, which I liked. He then died right after, so.

[A]

So it's interesting. It's different, you know, it's different than my usual read overall. What did you guys think of Fantasma? Am I being too harsh? You can tell me if I am. I think maybe I have been a little too. I'll give you this. I could be too nitpicky for, you know, just a fun, light, romantic read. I may have standards that are a little too high.

[B]

No.

[A]

But I think generally I'm pretty easy on a lot of the books that we read.

[B]

I think so.

[A]

You know, So I would say this one. Sorry about it. Did you guys like it? What did you like? Or did you feel that it had holes?

[B]

It definitely had holes.

[A]

Well, we read about a lot of the holes.

[B]

We did read about some of the holes, unfortunately.

[A]

Ghost holes.

[B]

Wait, who did you cast? I know you said you didn't do your usual run through.

[A]

This is the weird one. So immediately I couldn't imagine any man being super handsome or attractive with the way they described him as having like super stark white hair and being almost invisible.

[B]

Oh, I missed that detail also.

[A]

So I kind of glazed over that because I was like, I can't imagine him looking like Danny Phantom. Although I do love Danny Phantom because.

[B]

He was a cutie. Gotta catch him all Gotta catch em all Gotta catch him Danny Phantom. Yeah.

[A]

So I imagined him as he realized.

[B]

He had snow white hair and glowing green eyes. He could walk through walls and dump.

[A]

And disappear and fly.

[B]

He was much more unique than the other guys.

[A]

It was then that he knew what he had to do.

[B]

He had to stop all the ghosts.

[A]

That were coming through.

[B]

He's here to fight for me and.

[A]

You gotta catch em all Cause he's Danny Phantom Gonna catch em all Cause he's Danny Phantom. Yep, we had the same childhood. I'm glad.

[B]

Absolutely.

[A]

I'm a couple years older than her.

[B]

As I just found out.

[A]

Just a few. Just a few.

[B]

I got Taryn's age wrong right before we started recording. I didn't mean to. I'm bad with birthdays. Who did you cast?

[A]

Who did you cast? I like your casting. I always liked your casting.

[B]

I didn't come up with the casting until literally, maybe the last three chapters in. I struggled the whole way through. Could not pin it.

[A]

Me too. Me too.

[B]

Admittedly, though, did miss the detail of the white hair. I think I read it and kind of forgot about it.

[A]

Is it really that important?

[B]

No. So because of that, he's definitely like a dark, dark brunette to me. I was like, he has to be really tall. He kind of has to be a little evil. Because I was sensing there was something more to the. What's his name? Blackwell. To Blackwell's character. Like, he wasn't all good. Meaning he had some nefarious intent that we just didn't know about. Sure. So I was like, okay, he has to read is a little snaky throughout.

[A]

Yeah. Well, he definitely made her give him 10 years off her lifespan. From the jump.

[B]

From the jump.

[A]

So I agree.

[B]

Correct. And I had to picture him in period clothing. So I came up with. I don't know the actor's real name, but you'll know who this is. Cole from Charmed.

[A]

Everyone stop. Everyone stop. Everyone stop recording. Everyone stop recording. Everyone's. We have never talked about Charmed ever in our friendship. Like, we've both acknowledged that we've watched it.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Cole. Cole.

[B]

Cole. Cold. Cold. Charmed. In the Singleton household, I was Phoebe, you fool. And Phoebe ended up being Ophelia for me in the end because I wanted someone who was, like, hot, like, sexy. What's his name? Julian. Julian McMahon was the pri. Or Cole was the Primordial man.

[A]

Julian McMy man. Sorry. It was right there. I love you, honey.

[B]

And that's a good one.

[A]

Ignore my. My husband doesn't watch this.

[B]

You said ignore my husband.

[A]

Ignore my husband.

[B]

Ignore my husband. Ignore my husband.

[A]

He's just holding my purse over there.

[B]

I absolutely imagine him.

[A]

His name was Julian McMahon.

[B]

McMahon name.

[A]

You know, he's Australian.

[B]

What is he really? So you agree with it? Well, you didn't read the book, but you can imagine a hottie mchot Hot.

[A]

Oh, gonna catch him all Cause he daddy a half.

[B]

He's good evil. He played the. What? He wasn't called the devil. What was he called in the show? What Was his Cole.

[A]

He was just Balthazar. Balthazar.

[B]

So charmed in the Singleton household. We're Christians. Southern Christian people. For the most part. We love us some paranormal ish. Charmed is on constant repeat and has been for decades in the Singleton household. This man. Once I got it cast, I said, oh, yeah, I could reread the book and see if you can.

[A]

You should have at least sent me your casting so I could enjoy it myself.

[B]

I didn't come up with it until three hours ago. Gotta let's call.

[A]

Cause he's Julian McMahon.

[B]

Cause he would sometimes wear period clothing in the show. So I was like, absolutely, yeah. He was like, hot and sexy and.

[A]

Mysterious and remember that one episode where Phoebe goes downstairs and he's working out in the basement?

[B]

Oh, yeah, yeah. Oh, and Phoebe and her tiny little tops and her breast implants. Yes. She was so fabulous. I wanted to be Phoebe. I see Ophelia as Phoebe, so it makes it fun to, like, imagine them in love. And kind of it was giving Phoebe.

[A]

Oh, bien soo. I didn't even think of this. This is so good. I don't even want to say my casting. It's not even good.

[B]

No, say it. But I will say that made the reading more enjoyable. Once I figured that out, I was like, okay.

[A]

I struggled through my casting for the female character for Blackwell. Thank you, Blackwell. Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice. Beetlejuice.

[B]

That made me laugh.

[A]

Also, I had him as Brad Pitt, but specifically from the movie Meet Joe Black.

[B]

Yeah. Oh, wait. Meet Joe Black. Yes.

[A]

We just had a. Ooh. In the studio. Yeah, we all know that was prime Delicious Brad.

[B]

Yes. And his hair was, like, short, but a little spiky.

[A]

Whoa. Sorry. Yeah. Meet Joe Black. Brad Pitt. I don't know. That's the best I could do. He played a character for me, and I think he. In my mind, it made sense that he has these angelic good looks, but a dark side.

[B]

That's great.

[A]

Works for me. And he was lighter, he's fairer, which made sense. And then for the female character, originally, I'll show you. Sometimes I will have to go into Photoshop and create my characters. I'll merge actors to get that. I'm like, I just need the perfect person.

[B]

How do you do that? So interesting.

[A]

Don't worry about my methods. I love how serious you do. So I first started. I don't usually have a feeling towards this actress one way or the other than, like, I think she's sweet. I think she just seems really nice. Rachel Zegler is My God. My God.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Because. Because everyone pay attention. Yeah, she can do the gothic thing.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Like, I think really well. She reminds me of, like, somebody that could do, like, a. Yeah, she's not.

[B]

Who plays Wednesday.

[A]

No, no, no.

[B]

Are they twins?

[A]

They look really similar. That's Jenna Ortega.

[B]

Ortiz.

[A]

Ortiz.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

Ortega.

[B]

No, it's Ortega. You're right.

[A]

Ortega.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

Okay, Ms. Ortega. And Zegler. Look. And I might be saying her name wrong.

[B]

I'm so sorry. And Zegler, too.

[A]

They look similar. But I ended up choosing her. And then I went into Photoshop. Not because I wanted to change this beautiful person's face so I could make her match the character. I made her hair raven black, and I made her eyes a creepy blue.

[B]

How did you do these? That's so good.

[A]

Did it in the. In post.

[B]

This is amazing.

[A]

So that's what I was kind of seeing for the character show the cam show, the camera. Actually, I can send it to Trace and she can put it on the Instagram.

[B]

Put her right there. Wow.

[A]

So I was like, can I see it? Yeah, absolutely. Also, obviously, she's completely stunning. I mean, she's also stunning without any of that.

[B]

Ah, the blue eye is really fun.

[A]

Yeah. I just thought it would be fun.

[B]

That's great.

[A]

So I'm a total dork, and that's what I did. And then she just kept on not matching the character, though. Yeah. Cause I also see Rachel is so sweet and, like, soft and Ophelia, and as the book progresses, becomes her teeth. She gets her teeth. She's like G.I.

[B]

Joe, killing people and killing folk.

[A]

Get to the chopper. I've got to get out of here. Where's my sister? So then she ended up just being Arnold Schwartz and angry. So then she morphed so much that I really had a hard time getting my arms around the character and what I think she should look like. So she morphed a lot.

[B]

That's why Phoebe was so good to me, because she starts really soft in the show and she's the younger sister, and she's like, you know, whatever. And then by the end, she's married to Balthazar and having a hell child.

[A]

Queen of Underworld.

[B]

Correct.

[A]

That show really went off the rails. But I loved every single one.

[B]

Oh, it was so good. We had them on dvd. All of them.

[A]

You did?

[B]

Absolutely.

[A]

I love that.

[B]

Absolutely. Who did you. Did you cast Genevieve? I didn't make it that far.

[A]

Genevieve. I loved my mind. Her voice was the same voice as in Princess and the Frog, the blonde friend. Oh, I gotta get me some of that, man.

[B]

And what is the saying that she says. Oh, God, I used to say it all the time. It'll never come to me. Keep going. But yes, Charlotte is her character.

[A]

Charlotte. Yeah. I had her. She was kind of in my mind playing that. Okay. Jasper, one of the devils. And he was basically described as a. He had. His skin was described as brown or darker.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I literally imagined him as the man from Princess and the Frog with the big voodoo man. The souvier every time. And it cracked me up because it was all real people. And then when he would show up in the scene, my brain made him a cartoon in anime. Like, how y' all doing?

[B]

And I'm like, Jasper, come on, Jasper.

[A]

Come on, Jasper.

[B]

There's a man in death becomes her. And I'm only bringing it up because I've seen the show multiple times in a month. And he plays like a narrator in the show, but he's this beautiful dark black man. Muscles. His muscles have muscles. And they're all in like very scantily clad jumpsuits and things. And he stands like this and he's like, darling. And he's like black and bald.

[A]

Obsessed.

[B]

That is how I imagine Jasper.

[A]

Okay, well, overall, we will choose eventually another book for book club. I don't think we're prepared today. Next time, no ghosts. No, no ghosts.

[B]

We should do like a proper, normal smut.

[A]

New rule. No ghosts.

[B]

No ghost. Sorry, no more ghosts.

[A]

I couldn't get into it. Love you, though. We can do a non fantasy smut next.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Did you cast yourself as anyone in this book?

[B]

Shockingly, no.

[A]

You didn't feel that you fit anyone's?

[B]

Not a single character. Because usually I cast myself as the. The heroine.

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

But it didn't feel right.

[A]

It didn't feel right. This time wasn't me.

[B]

Yeah. Next time we definitely have to do a normal smut. We've got some recommendations.

[A]

We've done enough fantasies. Although they do crack me up.

[B]

They do.

[A]

Is it about time for church announcements?

[B]

It's about time for church announcements. Give me a little organ sound to cue me in.

[A]

I gotta really work on this impression.

[B]

That's so good. That's it. Sister Shirley is back outside with fish fry this week. Make sure, like we said, to have your utensils ready because she hates to give it out. Y' all didn't listen to that last week and she ran out again. So if y' all want your fish, make sure you're out there early with your stuff. Next week, do not bring your babies into the sanctuary. We had an issue with Them running around. This is all stuff that I've heard in church. Like, you can't make this happen. Don't bring babies your into the sanctuary. They was running around last week. Aunt Mary hurt her hip falling over Darius. Now she in a chair up front. What was that?

[A]

Okay, sorry, I'm back on. My, my.

[B]

So lead them kids in children's church where they belong. And lastly, what was the announcement?

[A]

We have an episode next week.

[B]

And lastly, there will be an episode next week. All the links will be where they supposed to be. Y' all know where it's at. And if you don't, an usher at the door will be able to guide you towards that. Make sure you leave your fan on the seat. It's summer, so we need those for next week. Y' all have a good week now. And with that, my dad pulling me.

[A]

Down because we have to get to IHOP before everybody else or the line.

[B]

That is a very real experience.

[A]

He gets so mad at us if we're moving slowly. But he also didn't want to be seen leaving too early. So we'd be standing at the door and then he'd be like, come on.

[B]

It's a delicate balance. You can't be the first to leave. But you can't wait either.

[A]

Anyway, that was great. I love you so much.

[B]

I love church announcements. And I love you.

[A]

I love you. I'm so glad that we did this week. Two weeks in a row, vibing. But you, Tiffany, I will say, though, enjoy these episodes, guys, because Tiffany's got some travel travels. I'm traveling, she's traveling. Where are you going? Do you feel comfortable saying?

[B]

I can say, but Kelly, plug your ears. We're going to Cannes and Saint Tropez, and then I'm going to Miami at the end of this week, which I'm excited about.

[A]

Oh, I have so much fun. I'm really gonna miss you. If you're wondering, I'm not going on any of those trips. I'm gonna be at my house.

[B]

But you were invited to one of them.

[A]

I was invited to one of them.

[B]

She didn't want to go, so I don't know, whatever.

[A]

But we didn't want to go.

[B]

But next time. I love that. Well, you know, we like to plan a little last minute giddy. We do, we do.

[A]

We do.

[B]

We do it with a couple weeks.

[A]

We're doing something.

[B]

It's usually at the end of the year. We have a good time.

[A]

You, me, Chuck E. Cheese in Omaha. Can't wait. Be a quick trip. No big deal.

[B]

Quick and easy. It'll be populous.

[A]

Keep it within budget.

[B]

I think we can make it happen.

[A]

Well, divas, we love you. We'll talk to you as soon as we can. As soon as she's back from her holiday and I'm back from waiting for her to come back from her holiday.

[B]

Don't make it sound so sad.

[A]

What do you do when I'm at work? Wait for you to come back.

[B]

That's literally us. When either one of us leaves town, though. It's true.

[A]

All right.

[B]

What can I say?

[A]

I love you. I hope you're doing well. And remember, we're your girls. Cause we're your girls. Hey.

[B]

Cause I like how you do wear.

[A]

Your girl is hosted and executive produced by davyne delany Smith and her friend Tiffany singleton management by social media produced good best media. Tiffany, do the next part.

[B]

Do I do it in a gaming voice?

[A]

Nah, just do it in a normal voice.

[B]

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