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S2:E3 - The Hating Game by Sally Thorne (2021 Film)
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From hate to love to office shenanigans - it’s time to play “The Hating Game”! What better way to capture February’s month of love than a spicy romantic comedy where workplace competition turns into falling for your grumpy nemesis? In this episode, we break down the similarities and differences between The Hating Game by Sally Thorne and its 2021 film adaptation starring Lucy Hale and Austin Stowell. Get ready for lots of giggling, blushing, melting, heart fluttering, and developing new, unrealistic expectations for romantic relationships!
Hosted by Keri with co-hosts Lindsey and Crystal.
Books & Adaptations Mentioned:
- The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
- The Hating Game (2021 Film)
- The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough
- The Thorn Birds (1983 Mini Series)
- Midnight Poppy Land by Lilydusk
- One Percent of You by Michelle Gross
Discussion of the Episode:
- Recommend a romance book or movie, but describe it using only the tropes in the story.
Share your opinions with us on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube or email us at basedonabookpodcast@gmail.com.
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Intro/Outro Music - Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!)
Thanks for listening to Based on a Book - see you in the next chapter!
Chapters:
(00:00) Introductions
(2:09) Let’s talk book ratings
(8:06) The Hating Game Book vs. Movie Breakdown (SPOILERS)
(1:35:55) Final Verdicts
(1:36:40) Discussion of the Episode
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction & Theme of Love
00:00:07
Speaker
Welcome to Face Center Book in our third episode covering this month's theme of love. Before we begin, let's play the introduction game. I'm Carrie, equal parts stubborn and passionate for romance books. I'm Lindsay and I'm short. But don't call me shortcake. And I'm Crystal. I'm just hateful.
00:00:29
Speaker
As our listeners may already know, based on our hints on social media for this episode, we are covering my pick for our theme of love, which is The Hating Game by Sally Thorne. And it's 2021 film adaptation starring Lucy Hale and Austin Stonewell.
Overview of 'The Hating Game'
00:00:46
Speaker
The Hating Game is a slow burn, enemies to lovers, so workplace, romantic comedy that is all about two coworkers who despise each other, or at least they think they do.
00:00:59
Speaker
Stuck in a constant battle of banter and petty games, their rivalry takes a turn after a promotion and a steamy elevator moment, which is everything. We'll be talking about that.
Impact on Romance Genre
00:01:13
Speaker
Yeah. The Hating Game was also Sally Thorne's debut novel released in 2016, which is insane because it is extremely popular if you are in the romance book community.
00:01:28
Speaker
you've probably heard of this book. Or even outside of the romance book community, you might have heard of this book. It's usually pointed at as something to read as like introduction to rom-coms. It was also a really big thing when people were promoting these like illustrated covers, reading like a little bit of dipping into the spicy romance. A lot of people were promoting this book and she also has currently for four-length novels right now.
First Rom-Com & Spicy Content Discussion
00:02:02
Speaker
So now I really want to get into my most highly anticipated ratings because I feel like, one, I feel like this is the first time we've, I'm pretty sure this is the first time we've ever done a rom-com. Like a real rom-com that's like, this is my genre right here.
00:02:20
Speaker
This is like my genre. This is the first time we've covered anything spicy on the like this, spicy on the podcast, too. I think idea of you was kind of like, yeah, but it was more like leaning towards fiction a little bit more. But this was like pure romance genre, a little bit of spice in there as well. And this is the first time where I feel like I can't even get like a hint on what you guys are feeling about this book or
Lindsay's Rating & Enemies-to-Lovers Trope
00:02:52
Speaker
movie. like I have no clue. I'm like kind of thinking like based on what I know, what you guys read, and what I've given you recommendation-wise before, but I have no idea what your ratings are, and I'm nervous. I want to start with Lindsey. Lindsey. Okay. All right. My rating.
Crystal's View on Contemporary Romance
00:03:12
Speaker
I'm going to give this four serial killer eyes. Oh my God.
00:03:21
Speaker
I just made my whole day. Okay. I love a good enemies to lovers trope. that's That's my thing. I love it. This was so good. I really enjoyed the story. Oh my gosh. Yes. Okay, Crystal. I i don't read contemporary romance. And I'm going to read a little bit about why. Because i I wrote this down so that I could say it correctly.
00:03:51
Speaker
Unlike fantasy and other genres, contemporary romance sets us up for disappointment. It is set so close to reality that we can convince ourselves it could be like that. There is no reason it couldn't be that way. And yet it isn't that way. It's not real. People are not like that. And my heart hurts because of it.
00:04:14
Speaker
Most of these books are supposed to be HEAs, but I'm always left feeling empty because it's too close to real but so far from reality.
Personal Feelings vs. Genre Standards
00:04:25
Speaker
And with that in mind, I had to think really hard about how to rate this book because, like, is it something that I enjoyed?
00:04:36
Speaker
not really. I mean, but it wasn't a bad read. it And so like for the genre, is this a good book? Like I can totally see that. I can see why lots of people really, really loved this. And so do I rate it based on how I feel or rate it based on how I feel it stacks up to other books in that genre? Yeah. And so I was i was really torn. I think I kind of settled somewhere in the middle.
00:05:03
Speaker
I decided to give it three corporate team building retreats. Okay. Yeah. That's totally understandable. I totally get that. I'm just such a cynic. it really like ah and and Maybe it's because you know I've been heartbroken so
Romance as an Escape
00:05:19
Speaker
many times by things that I thought were going to be romantic or things that I hoped were going to be sweet, but legitimately these kind of things tend to just make me reflect on how shitty real life actually is rather than getting lost in the romance of it. I feel like it's easier for me to disconnect when it's very obviously not real because there's fairies or dragons or whatever, sprites. or you know h So it was just hard for me to disconnect from from this a little bit the way I wish I had. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
00:05:53
Speaker
I so this was a reread for me. I read this a really long time ago whenever I was first getting into
Book vs. Movie Adaptation
00:06:01
Speaker
the romance genre. Probably like ah this was when I was reading like Penelope Ward. I was reading like a lot of contemporary romances and I was honestly doing the opposite of what you say, Chris, where I was having a lot of like life things happen and I needed like an escape into something that was completely away from reality that you know this doesn't actually happen in real life. these are People aren't this like
00:06:35
Speaker
you know, guys aren't this great in real life or something like that. So I needed this escape. So and I turned to these romance books in this way. And I specifically remember listening to the audio book during that time in my life and like using it as an escape for what was going on in my current life and relationship.
00:06:59
Speaker
And I always like stick to my original rating most of the time and I give it four pining templements.
00:07:11
Speaker
And I do want to say that the narrator is really really great in this book. I don't know exactly how to pronounce her name. and I don't want to butcher it. I want to say it's Katie Shore. Um, so I apologize if I do butcher that name, but she was an excellent narrator and really like drives the story in an incredible way and makes you fly through the book. Like you don't want to stop listening to the book.
00:07:41
Speaker
in my opinion. No, I agree. I listened to the audio book and I really, really enjoyed it in large part due to the narration. Yeah, she's a great narrator and I definitely recommend listening to it. but So now we're getting into spoilers. So spoiler alert, if you haven't read or watched The Hitting Game, consider this your official warning because we're about to unpack all the details from Paintball Wars to the magic that makes readers lucy love Lucy and Josh's relationship. So at least some, at least some.
00:08:16
Speaker
I didn't hate it. Maybe not all, but at least some. So let the book versus movie showdown begin. And I want to note that also this movie, for some reason, we got a Christmas movie on our hands that was unexpected. OK. Yeah, that was weird. I was like, wait, what? I thought this was like summertime. Like, I don't know, it was. Yeah, the movie was released in December of 2021. So they kind of turned it not saying that this has like
00:08:51
Speaker
the movie has a main theme of Christmas. There's just like Christmas things happening around. Like they're not going to Christmas events or anything. right They're just like, there's Christmas decorations around. Like she happens to be like in the office decorating a Christmas tree or something like that. They're not, and it's snowing outside or something. It just has a general like winter setting going on, but it's not, I wouldn't call it a Christmas movie. No, I don't think so. Or anything like that.
00:09:19
Speaker
But I thought that was interesting. That was like a different element going on. But I kind of forgot about that because it was also a rewatch for me and I was like, oh, hello. OK, we're going to cover this in December. Right.
00:09:34
Speaker
So starting off, we're thrown into the world of Bexley and Gammon, which is two publishing companies that were required to merge together. ah Originally, they were two different companies, Bexley Books and Gammon Publishing. And I'm not I don't remember exactly why they were required to merge. They're just like because the market was sucking. They were both kind of failing. They decided to join forces.
00:10:03
Speaker
Yeah, so I believe in the movie, like correct me if my wrong if I'm wrong, but in the movie, ah Gammon Publishing had to move into Bexley Books. I think it was the other way around.
00:10:20
Speaker
Yeah, one of them had to move in, but in the book, they went to a separate location and moved into a new building. Right. So that it was like completely brand new place. But the other one in the movie, one company had to move into the other company's building. But I think is important, though, because like when they talk about the merger and how the two companies are so diametrically oppose like two completely different vibes as companies that the new building that they move into, there was an argument about how to decorate and what was going to be what and in the book, the new building, the the like executive office, the executive suite is mirrored, like all over the place, very contemporary.
00:11:08
Speaker
mirrored finish which is like brought up in the book repeatedly because they use that as a tool for their hating game. But it's not in the movie and so we kind of lose that. I was so disappointed because I liked the like a strategy of using the mirrors when they were hating each other. I thought it was kind of cute.
00:11:30
Speaker
Yeah, I agree. I think the reason of why it's changed in the movie, because in the movie, like, well, in the book, Bexley Books is described as like the people of Bexley Books are described as like being hard, like they're the numbers people, like that's all they care about. Game and Publishing, they're described as the quote, soft scribbles, and they're much more like... They're much more esoteric. Yeah. like they are They also have like this like artistic like vibe to them and things like that. And I think the reason why they didn't do what you said in the movie is because they were trying to show it more in the movie of these two different groups of people from these two different publishing companies.
00:12:22
Speaker
So I think they did a pretty good job in the movie. Yeah, it wasn't bad by any means, but it was just kind of like I was really waiting for that. Yeah, but yeah definitely. So during the merging of these two companies, these two CEOs, Helen Pascal and Mr. Bexley, are forced to work together. And they come with two executive assistants, which are our two main characters, which are Lucy Hutton, which is Helen's executive assistant, and Joshua Templeman, which is Mr. Bexley's
00:12:59
Speaker
executive assistant i don't know does mr bexley have a first name richard richard richard i was like oh my gosh why can't i remember his first name because she calls him little fat dick through the whole book yeah Yeah. And that is played by Lucy Hale and Austin Stonewell, which I think honestly was a really great casting yeah in my opinion. I think Austin Stonewell did really well for Joshua, kind of like totally fit the perfect vibe for him. And so did Lucy. They had really great chemistry. Apparently they were actually good friends before going into the movie. So they kind of just like played off of each other perfectly.
00:13:42
Speaker
I think they were in another movie together before this too. Yeah, so it worked really well. So Lucy's described, she's like super short. She's got short brown hair, super awkward, quirky. Joshua's like regimented and strict. Like the the way that they are describing like their desk is super funny. Like he has like his pens, like exact, like he only has like three pens on his desk exactly, like lined up. His post is lined up exactly the same, like nothing has changed. And well in the book,
00:14:15
Speaker
Lucy describes how before she would have like all these like cute decorations all over her desk and everything. But then she noticed that Joshua almost called him by the actor's name. Not Austin, Joshua. Joshua has she notices that he has like all of his stuff like super organized and well, and she actually starts like taking away all of her like cute little like knickknacks on her desk and stuff and she doesn't like to keep them up because I mean she keeps some stuff but she doesn't keep everything because she notices that all all of his stuff is like super organized and like he barely has anything on his extras she's kind of like embarrassed of it but in the movie it's not like that at all she has all of her stuff everywhere she has all her decorations like she doesn't care but so they they essentially just sit opposite of each other
00:15:08
Speaker
And as they're sitting across each other, they're rivals just like their bosses, Helen and Richard. And this is also shown where like they're complete opposites where Lucy is a big pushover and Joshua's like kind of like a hard ass. Like he's known as being a hard ass within the whole company. And Lucy is known as being the girl that knows, like she is the personable person. Like she knows everyone. Like she is bringing like a cake for like
00:15:43
Speaker
one of her coworkers because she remembers their birthday. She's like talking to her coworkers about a documentary that she recently watched. And like, she's like, that person, like, Josh was just like, he's got tunnel vision. And he, he's just like getting scared of him. He's kind of a jerk. Yeah.
00:15:59
Speaker
He's like known as the guy who did all the layoffs whenever they first merged together. And you know Lucy also has like a lot of resentment about that too because she lost one of her really close friends. and like Her only close friend. Yeah, yeah. Because she might be a little more extroverted at work, but she's super introverted outside of work. Yeah.
00:16:22
Speaker
So they're complete opposites and right when you start off in the book, you're immediately having like this super funny like banter moments and they're like playing like these petty games. And in my opinion, I think it's hilarious. Like it is my humor.
00:16:43
Speaker
And I i just like love that stuff. like She's immediately being like typing in her password, like, I hate Joshua forever. And like all this stuff. And like she's like making fun of him because she's like, everyone hates him because he doesn't even type out regards in his emails.
00:17:00
Speaker
I just abbreviates it. They really make the enemies part of enemies to lovers really enjoyable. That was really because i'm I'm with Lindsay on that one. That's like one of my all time favorite tropes, like enemies to lovers. I'm probably going to read that. Yeah. And they were they they the way this is written is so.
00:17:23
Speaker
good. It's so juicy. It's so like it like, it definitely had me like grinning like, Oh, they go fall in love. I'm um giggling kicking my feet right now. Like, oh, this is hilarious. And I don't know, like the way it's written.
00:17:41
Speaker
is just like the humor part of it is so funny to me. Absolutely. And the way that they portrayed the humor part of it on screen, I thought they did like a really good job of it, i like back and forth banter. I think the physical part in the movie was actually portrayed well, like just them like cold shouldering each other and you know when he like blocks her going into places or when they're playing the the mirroring game where they're mimicking each other like.
00:18:14
Speaker
They did that so well in the movie that it was easy, even though they had to cut, obviously, like some chunks out. like It was really easy to see. They showed it so well that these two hated each other. I will say, I think one of my biggest complaints about the movie is that I felt like they took all of Lucy's quirkiness and gave it to all of the other characters. Yes. Yes. i Oh, my gosh. Totally agree. I have notes. Yeah.
00:18:41
Speaker
late suddenly Lucy was every person at Gammon, Bexley or whatever, except for Josh and Josh's boss. Like those are the only two that didn't have the like quirky and awkward and goofy and like everybody else was a Lucy. I totally agree with that. Like the Lucy in the book is way funnier, in my opinion, way, way funnier.
00:19:13
Speaker
in this like i like crazy cuckoo way and the best way in the book than in the movie.
00:19:26
Speaker
Like if you want even more than what the movie is giving, read the book because the book is giving way more moments and like crazier moments. And like Joshua loves every second of it. That's why I love this book so much. I have stage five wackadoo. Yes. It's like the type of wackadoo that you love. Yes.
00:19:52
Speaker
it's like not like the it's not like the annoying like i'm just like okay girl you need to chill out and it's all it's like he embraces it in the book she's like this is just how i am this is the way it's gonna be like and he and i just love that he loves every second of it he eats it up like he's just like when she's doing like something like her normal like self that she's doing he's just like so what are you gonna do now like Is so you're going to do this now because he knows like everything that she's going to do next yeahp because he knows her so well. Yep. It's just like, oh, like I just love like the chemistry between these two characters on page. And I think that they did what they could on screen. Like you can't have this every single little part in in the book on screen. But I think they did such a good job. At least for chemistry and things like that, like I was like the best that they could for this little romcom real quick.
00:20:47
Speaker
I think they did a really great job for it. in So Joshua is also very predictable where he wears the same shirts throughout the week. He's got white, off white stripe, cream, pale yellow, mustard, ew, baby blue, Robin's egg blue, dove gray, navy and black. For some reason that's completely changed in the movie. I mean, yeah it is what it is. It's like different colors of blue.
00:21:17
Speaker
And black, I don't remember. And it gets progressively darker blues throughout the week. Yeah. Which I get who wants to wear mustard, pale yellow. No one, no one wants to wear that. But she does say that like, he looks good in every color. She's like, how does he do that? How does, how does he look good in every color, even mustard? Ew. Yeah. Yeah.
00:21:41
Speaker
Like, no. If someone's out here wearing mustard, and you look good in mustard, that's a whole new level. I know people who look good in mustard, and honestly, it just kills me. That's crazy. How are you doing that? How are you doing that?
00:21:57
Speaker
Yeah, and so they these two just like they thrive off the mind games the office pranks They're always playing like the staring game. They're like always making up games. They're like and she especially her she's like and he plays off of it like say today we're playing the staring game or like the copying game or like she's just like making up a game and it's It's literally hilarious. And everyone at their job, like they're creating a hostile work environment at this point. And where everyone knows about their mutual dislike for each other, all their coworkers are aware of it. They have a whole log at HR. Like they're complained to HR all the time for like different, like whether it's maximum things going on or like petty complaints. And like they have- And the one-hour lady is like, you guys are my entire job.
00:22:47
Speaker
Yeah. she's like She's sweating, running back and forth from the office to their desk every day. People call her to come intervene when they see them walking down the hall together. like Exactly. Something's about to go down. like Yeah, and also whenever it starts off like they're playing the staring game and all this stuff and she's getting caught where she has this little fun thing that she does where she collects Murph's and I'm so glad they kept that in the movie. I was afraid they were going to cut that.
00:23:18
Speaker
Yeah, but also in the movie, this is a really weird thing and this happens later and we can just touch on it now because I'm never going to bring it up again. She has a Smurf blog. I know. That's not in the book. and on i But I was really waiting for for that to come up more than once, like Josh to use that against her and be like, I found your blog or whatever, but he never once said it.
00:23:43
Speaker
was waiting for it. In the book, she has like, her big thing is that she collects Smurfs and she has like a whole collection of Smurfs in her house and she and also her parents always give her Smurfs or used to give her Smurfs and stuff. And she like buys them at auctions, like their collectibles and things like that. She has them all set up in like a big cabinet and everything. And in the movie,
00:24:09
Speaker
Like she does get a Smurf, but then later she's like at home. I think it's for Thanksgiving night because it's doing like the whole Christmas thing. And so Thanksgiving night, she's like ah on her blog, like talking about Smurfs on like a Smurf blog. And I was like, okay, that's interesting and different to play out a beastly. Right. I was like, oh we're doing again. Okay.
00:24:31
Speaker
Oh my gosh. but yeah so she like He knows about like her collecting smurfs and kind of like you know gives her crap for it and like laughs. And then she whenever he like gets up,
00:24:47
Speaker
This is a really funny moment where she's like runs over to his desk, like trying to guess his password. And she's like flipping through like his planner, to trying to take a picture of his planner because he has like a bunch of exes and like weird stuff like every single day marking his planner. She's like taking a picture of it. She hears him coming and she runs away and goes, sits at her desk. Chair is still spinning and he walks up, he's looking at it and then he looks at her and he's like, were you just at my desk?
00:25:15
Speaker
And this is so funny in the movie because it literally is still spinning and he's like literally looking at her like, girl, what are you doing? And she's like, I saw a spider. And he's like, what were you really doing at my desk? She's like, I said I saw a spider.
00:25:33
Speaker
It's just like and then just like the humor in this book is just gets me I know I keep saying this and I'm gonna keep saying it through this entire episode. So you're just gonna have to find me out It's fun. It's a funny look like I have a tab for I think it's like page 16 or something and It's just like, st I mean, this might not be funny out of context, but just like really silly stuff where during that moment where she's like hurrying up, she's like throwing her phone down her pants to like hide it. And she's like, uh,
00:26:08
Speaker
He's like, what are you doing? She's like, nothing, I'm just trying to see if um it's gonna rain this afternoon. I bumped into your chair, sorry. And he she's like, he advances like floating Dracula. And I'm just like picturing that. Like he's just like literally like walking towards her.
00:26:25
Speaker
and It's like the menace is ruined by the sporting goods store bag loudly crinkling behind his leg. It's like, I don't know, just like the funny little comments that are made throughout the book like that just kill me. It's so good. Yeah.
00:26:41
Speaker
so After, you know, we get introduced to all this like really funny moments and then we immediately know their relationship dynamic. And it's just like, it's right off the bat. Like if you like a fast pace, like, if you want the enemies to lovers to immediately start, that's what this book, it's going to be in this book. If that's what you need to eventually get you into the story. It's a slow burn romance overall, but the story is moving.
00:27:11
Speaker
so and So at this point, eventually all the employees have to come together and a new position is up for grabs and it is a chief operating position and Josh and Lucy both want the job. And this becomes a competition between the both of them for the rest of the story, basically.
00:27:32
Speaker
And each of the CEOs, because, you know, Lucy's with Helen, Josh was Richard, are pushing for their person on their job and they have to like prep their own interviews for the job. And this, you know, increases the rivalry between these two. Well, and then they agree that like whoever gets it, the other person is going to have to quit.
00:27:53
Speaker
So they don't have to worry for that person. Yeah, because they just can't even like imagine they're like, whenever they start playing like these games back and forth, and it's like kind of low key, like passive aggressive, they're like, well, when I'm your boss, I'm gonna make you do this. And he's like, well, I'm your boss, I'm gonna make you wear a uniform that actually comes up to everyone's knees, but it really comes to your ankles because you're so short.
00:28:14
Speaker
And it's always about her height. At one point I'm like, okay, this girl's personality, main personality trait is her height. yeah And he always calls her shortcake. Always. I am at least taller than her. So it's okay. Without heels. but Yeah. Without heels. Yeah. He always calls her shortcake and.
00:28:38
Speaker
And there are times whenever their their games back and forth go a little too far. And I love moments like this, whenever, you know, like the enemies to lovers, like the enemies are, you know, they're fighting, they're fighting back and forth. And one of them goes a little too far, you know, and then when one of them gets like, they get emotional over the moment. And then the other one is like, Oh, yeah, no, like, can handle that. and And then something breaks between them and you get to see like, especially when, you know, now I feel like a lot of romance books are written where you get the um two perspectives in the relationship. And whenever you don't get the other person's perspective, you kind of need those little, especially in our enemies to lovers, you kind of need like those little moments where they're breaking a little bit and kind of showing that they kind of do feel for that other person. You don't want them always to be like me.
00:29:35
Speaker
So this is kind of like, there is a moment where he he finds a blog that is of her, and this actually is not in the movie at all. Her parents are not even touched on. I think she has a conversation on the phone with her mom yeah for like a second, and then it's not touched on at all. But there it's like a big deal that her family owns like a strawberry farm. Because she's strawberry shortcake.
00:30:03
Speaker
Yeah, she's Strawberry Shortcake and owns a strawberry farm and she's very homesick, like being away from home. She's very close with her parents and he's like, I found your like family's blog about ah your strawberry farm and then I found this like picture of you when you were younger, like trying to like throw it in her face a little bit, like kind of like laughing about it and shows her the picture and the blog that he found.
00:30:28
Speaker
and She gets really emotional over it because she's super homesick and like he sees that she's like tearing up over this moment and he kind of like Feels a little bad about it and you know those games the games like dot back Yeah, and I love those moments so much I love those little things that happen in these type of world So where are we because there's another moment like this coming up and I i want to talk about it.
00:30:53
Speaker
OK, OK. What moment are you? I'm talking about the bar moment, but we got to get to the bar. Oh, yeah, we're getting we're getting there. We're pushing, we're pushing, and we're pushing. I know exactly what you're talking about, because that's one of my favorite moments, too. And so whenever so we get she gets a sneak peek at the planner, this kind of like the events are like kind of weird lining up with the book and movie, because a lot of things are happening in the book.
00:31:21
Speaker
Like we get more like little moments, but you know, the movie's obviously going to be focusing on like the bigger moments and stuff. But the planter part does happen in the movie as well. um But one of their bigger arguments, he says the quote, I'm going to work you so fucking hard.
00:31:44
Speaker
I, when when that was said i in the book and in the movie, but in the book I was like, oh, this, I know where this is going. And I was like, oh. And this is in the movie as well. And she goes to sleep that night and it triggers her first sex dream of Joshua.
00:32:06
Speaker
It was a good dream. Yeah, she it triggers her first. And she's like, she wakes up and she's like, what the fuck? Like, was that? Like, I never even dreamed of this man like that. This is also after he's made the comment about making her wear a uniform. And she's like, Oh, I'll show you a uniform. And she's decided to wear this kind of short revealing dress. Mm hmm. Yep. So the next day she wakes up after she has the sex dream and she's like, i like you said, Lindsay, she's like, I'm going to wear this dress and I'm going to like mess with his head now. And then on her way there in the book, she's kind of showing, she's like, I regret this immediately. yeah yeah I regret this. This is stupid. This is a bad idea. I've definitely done that.
00:32:56
Speaker
let She's like, y terrible yep, I'm gonna make everyone's head turn and then I get 30 feet out my door and I'm like, I'm gonna turn back around. but yeah She's like, why am I going to work in this dress? This is terrible. And then so she gets to work in this like, super short sexy dress, and I'm pretty sure in the book she says she's wearing fishnets as well. I'm like, okay. Yes. Diamond studded fishnets or like little sparkly studs around these fishnets. Yes. Who wears fishnets to work ever to an audience? Yeah. Please don't do that. Don't do that. No. No. So this is not in the book, but in the movie at this moment when she's walking out of the elevator to see him in this dress, she trips and falls and her bag flies out and her menstrual cup flies out and he sees it and he picks it up. He's like, what is this little shot glass? And she's like, that's my menstrual cup. And he's like, oh, and gives it to her and starts sanitizing his hand.
00:33:59
Speaker
That part killed me. That's good. And honestly, like it was, again, back to her humor, so similar in the book, because she was like, what? They're better for the environment. yeah if She's just like not even going to be embarrassed about it. And I was like, there you go. Own it. Yeah.
00:34:15
Speaker
But I hate that she fell on the way in in the movie because like... Well, she falls in the book too. I think her heel gets caught in the buckle of her coat or something. And she falls in the book too, but it's... But it's not like flat on her face fall. It's more like a stumble. Yeah. Doesn't he come and help her yeah yeah in the book though too? like he In the movie, he just like stares at her. He's like, what the hell are you doing?
00:34:41
Speaker
But he sees her and he's like, sees her outfit. He's like, what, you got a hot date? Like what is going on here? And he's like kind of like a little shook by what she's wearing. And she talks, starts talking. She's like, says that she does have a date for one. And then she starts talking about this. Like, she's like, well, I had a dream last night. Because she's such a weirdo. But like in it like like when i say that when I keep saying that, I mean that in the best way possible. like She's just like she's just super awkward. She's socially awkward and she's owning it. Yeah, she's socially awkward. And she just like says whatever she like is thinking to him. And he just like he's like, OK.
00:35:23
Speaker
So what was the stream about? Well, but even in her inner monologue, when he's like, do you have a hot date? And she's like, yes. Like we get to see her go, that was a mistake. Why did I do that? Yeah. But then she's going to like roll with it. Yeah. And then she's like, yeah, I had a sex dream. And he's like, what was it about? And she's like,
00:35:42
Speaker
Uh, and she's like, just trying to talk about like, she's like, I think she said it was with a ah coworker a coworker. Yeah. And she doesn't like go any more specific than that. And he's like kind of freaking out, but he in his head is thinking that he knows it's about him and.
00:36:00
Speaker
he thinks that she's lying about the date. like he Which she is. She is lying. But then she's like, OK, he knows I'm lying. Because everything's a game with them. every Exactly. Everything is a game. So he's like, i know he knows I'm lying. So I got to go find a date. So she runs away, goes to another coworker. His name is Danny. Danny is a guy that she saw, like, met during a meeting or whatever.
00:36:25
Speaker
and she sees Danny, and Danny in the movie, he he's an interesting guy. I'm mad about this. I'm so mad. Thank you. He's not what I wanted. Danny in the book was like kind of cool. like He wasn't like- He was. like he was a To me, I took him as more like a grown up frat boy. Does that make sense? so He was a guy's guy. but also like mature enough to be a grown up and like date well and know the social cues and etiquette. And in the movie, he was just so freaking awkward. Yeah. Like physically and socially awkward. Didn't pick up on any social cues at all. It was just I don't know, it was very off, which I think in the book, you know, Danny becomes this whole like
00:37:21
Speaker
he's ah He's a valid option because of him being actually a really great on paper guy. Whereas Danny in the movie was, the I mean, almost set up to be like no one's first choice. Does that make sense? Yep. Whereas Danny in the book was definitely top two material. Yeah. Yeah. There's a TV show called Not Dead Yet.
00:37:45
Speaker
And the main character writes obituaries for a paper. And she meets a guy in the show who also works for the paper. He writes the sports section of the paper. That guy, I can't think of his name right now, but that guy would be Danny in the book. And their relationship is very similar to Lucy and Danny in the book.
00:38:08
Speaker
Okay, I'm gonna have to watch that show already. Yeah, it's pretty good. I think it's on Hulu. Interesting. Taking notes. Yeah, and taking notes. Um, so yeah, she convinces Danny to go on a date with her.
00:38:26
Speaker
that night that night right now yeah now because she's just like i'm just so busy for the rest of my life so this is the only day i'm available and he's like okay and she's like wearing this like crazy outfit so he's just like yeah sure and that's the other different like danny in the book was not like desperate but interested yeah he in the movie was almost learning they get already flirting at that point Danny in the and the movie was very almost desperate. Like this is a date, right? So this is like a real date? Like it was very, I don't know. I feel like it made the love triangle aspect in the book way more believable and a little understand and but more understandable between the like confusion and jealousy that we see later in the movie. It just kind of fell flat. Yeah, I totally agree.
00:39:21
Speaker
So at this point, it's like wrapping up to the end of the day. She's already scheduled a date with Dani and she's like getting ready. It's like 7pm is a date. They're playing that new game where neither one of them can be the first one to leave. Yeah. Which means she's getting later and later and later for this date. And he's also like, where's your date at? And she's like, it's at 7pm at this bar. He's like, oh, weird. I'm going to be there at that bar.
00:39:47
Speaker
at 7 p.m. And she's like, oh, well, I guess I'll see you there. And in his head, he's like, she doesn't have a date, so we're just going to be there together. And in her head, she's like, I got to go find a date, found Danny, and I'm going to be there at 7 p.m. I'll show him. Yeah. So, yeah, they're doing the game where oh who's going to be for it. I love it. but' So good. It was good.
00:40:09
Speaker
And so they're like, it's like hitting it but but all the way at night at this point. And she's like, all right, got to go. And he's like, all right, let's go. And they get in the elevator. And he's like, are you going to like walk there or something? Because at this point, she like doesn't have her car or something to shop. Yeah, and it's always tough. He's like having this moment. and She's like, and they're bickering back and forth. And she's saying he's got his like serial killer eyes on and in the movie i thought this was funnier in the movie a little bit at this point because she was saying that she was going to strangle him and then he presses the emergency stop button she's like chill i wasn't actually going to do that you but in the book she like he presses the emergency stop and she's like i'm he's going to kill me right now he's actually going to kill me at this moment like she's legit scared
00:41:03
Speaker
yeah she's actually scared and then he there's a steamy ass like the way the way that this this hating game book is written it's really as somebody who reads a lot of spicy romance there the spice is like very like it's not super crazy there is total of one sex scene but the tension yeah and just like the little like like the brushing of like Any body part like it makes it's like melting my kindles melting in my hands See electronic music. Yeah, it's not like the spices like Crazy spicy wild kinky. It's not that no Tension it like it's hot the scene itself is like yes
00:41:55
Speaker
Yeah, it's just, it's steamy. It's so steamy. yeah Literally the caption said, cue the sexy electronic music. like like yeah yeah But this elevator scene in the book and in the movie are just just slightly different. Yes, I agree. yeah In the movie, Lucy initiates the kiss.
00:42:17
Speaker
Yep. In the book, Josh initiates the kiss and Lucy is just completely dumbfounded. Like what the fuck is happening? Yeah. She's like so shook that he literally lifts her. I love this part because he goes, he lifts her up and he's like, visit me up here for a second. Yes.
00:42:40
Speaker
Like, okay. Are you kidding me? Are you kidding me? I need to find a really tall man. I'm telling you. That was my thought because I am not a shorty short. I'm five seven two, right? So like,
00:42:52
Speaker
But like the idea of being like manhandled by a man like that is just like, I need someone to pick me up now. I need someone to pick me up now. He said, visit me up here for a sec. And he said, yeet. Yeah.
00:43:07
Speaker
but Popped her but right up on the little bar inside the the elevator. like Like that was literally, you could have had the craziest, kinkiest thing in there. That was the spiciest thing I ever seen in my life. Yep.
00:43:23
Speaker
That was insane. And yeah, I didn't love, like, I didn't love in the movie, in a general aspect that Lucy I mean, I honestly, I don't really care that much, to be honest, but the fact that she does take more charge in the movie in general yes than she does in the book. Yeah, she's definitely more assertive. I will say, though, a few minutes after this in the movie, after the scene, she accuses him of hypnotizing her into kissing him. And so I was kind of like, okay, like,
00:44:01
Speaker
Yeah, he was giving her those serial killer eyes and that's what does it for I guess. yeah Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That whole scene was so good and they have just like this moment and you just got to read it to feel the moment. So good. For real. It's so good. So they get out of the elevator and he's like, okay, let me drive you.
00:44:23
Speaker
to this bar. Because in his head, he's thinking she don't got a date. He's like, I'm her date. And they're heading to the bar. And she's like, I got to go meet Danny. He's like, who the fuck is Danny? Right. Who the fuck is Danny? He's like, she's like, my date. I told you I had a date. And he's like, I thought you were lying. She's like, no, I actually have a date.
00:44:46
Speaker
And he's like, what the hell? In the movie, I don't remember how this plays out in the book. But in the movie, he like, she's like, let me out right now. And she like jumps out of the car in the rain and goes to the bar that she's supposed to meet Danny at. Kind of the same in the book. it's Yeah.
00:45:03
Speaker
they're They're driving down the road and he's like stopped at a light right outside the bar but not parked and she just jumps out. Yeah. And so- And leaves her purse. Yeah, leaves her purse. So she goes and sees Dani there and she has like she's meeting him, talking to him and stuff. And she has this like really big moment with him and this like really hurt me emotionally.
00:45:29
Speaker
where This was the realest moment in this book and I had to stop for a minute. Yeah, Dani tells her that she looks beautiful and she kind of like doesn't like she has a moment where she's just like laughing it off doesn't understand what he's saying and she's like I gotta go like to the bathroom real quick and like freshen up yeah when she goes away she runs into Joshua because he's like you forgot your purse in the car and like is trying to talk to her because she like ran out of the car
00:46:01
Speaker
And she's trying to apologize. He legit is like, I that was wrong of me. I shouldn't have done that. Yeah. And she is like, she confronts him and she's like, a man just told me I'm beautiful and I'm freaking out.
00:46:21
Speaker
Because of you like because I feel like you might be playing a game with me Yeah, like because I feel like someone's yeah like Like you said playing games with me because of like what's been going on with us and I don't believe him basically And like that was so real in the book This is so well done in the book. I it was such an emotional moment and Because I think every woman has had that moment of like, is he just saying that to get what he wants? Or is he being honest with, but or does he really think I'm beautiful? You know, every woman has had that moment. and So like reading it in this book, and then seeing Josh's reaction of just being like, Oh my God, I can't believe I've hurt her that deeply. It like I had to stop reading for a minute and gather myself in the movie, this didn't hit quite the same. It didn't have that oomph because to me, this scene in the book was so e pivotal. It was such a shift in their relationship in the way Josh approached her that I
00:47:32
Speaker
But like it it was, I don't know, I just feel like this this this was the shift in the book, the whole tone shift in the book for Josh. And we don't see that really in the movie is deeply, I felt, of all the scenes that they could have spent a little more time on. I feel like this should have been the one. Yeah, yeah, I definitely,
00:47:57
Speaker
I definitely agree. It didn't, it definitely didn't hit as hard as it could have. So she kind of like comes back from brushing up in the bathroom and then her and Danny like kind of have like these moments where they connect and they relate to each other. Like he, his family has a farm and yeah, her family has a farm and they just like have a whole night together. So next day she goes to work in Joshua or Next morning, she gets roses at her house with a note saying, you're always beautiful. And she thinks they're from Danny.
00:48:36
Speaker
Everybody, even reading the book, no, we all knew, even reading the book, we all knew that name for Danny. Well, it was funny, in the movie, she like does a little text to Danny, she's like, thanks for the roses. And in the movie, for some reason, he's talking about goats parkouring or something. Yes, families farm, they have goats. Yeah. And so he sends like a little meme of a parkour, parkouring goat yeah as a response.
00:49:02
Speaker
And I was like, are you kidding me right now? Well, she didn't say thanks for the roses. She said, thank you. And then three rose emojis. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, you know, I don't know. I was upset. I was upset. So she goes to work um the next day and Joshua's looking a little disheveled. He's had a night. And in the book.
00:49:24
Speaker
Like Joshua is like expressing like his concerns that she's gonna go till she's like it's okay if you need to go to HR because of this kiss in the elevator and all this stuff because the rules that HR is like you can't be having like relationships with and he's legit trying to apologize. Yeah 100% trying to apologize trying to you know, ah she's basically like oh So this is all about you just making sure you're not in trouble. Yeah Like she throws it back at him and he's like, no, I obviously am concerned about you being upset. And she's like, because you want to save your job. Yeah. Yeah. And after this, they kind of like agree to forget that they had this moment in the elevator.
00:50:07
Speaker
So then we, the team, there's like another, they go, at ah Joshua and Lucy kind of go head to head because their team needs to go do like a team building exercise and they decide to go with Joshua's idea, which is paintballing. I would have not. Like, don't get me wrong, as much as I would love to shoot my coworkers,
00:50:29
Speaker
i' I'm just- Paintballing hurts. I don't know if anyone's paintballed, but it's so painful. It's so painful. No. It hurts so bad. That's the thing is like my coworkers would also shoot me and I'm not okay with that. I was like, oh my gosh, this is horrible. The one time I went paintballing, I wasn't even playing and I got shot in the temple.
00:50:50
Speaker
Oh my gosh. Yeah. I remember I was covered like head to toe, except one spot. And it was right here on my neck, like in the back of my neck. And that's where I was shot at was the back of my neck. I was like, okay, I'm done. You're all done and I'm done. I'm going home. I like sat on the bus, like arms crossed. Wait, I'm waiting till everybody's done. It's so painful. It's so much physical activity too. Like running around, like no.
00:51:20
Speaker
Yeah. ah So they all go paintballing for this team building exercise. And honestly, this entire sequence to me is so hilarious. Like it just keeps being so freaking funny. me Why is it so funny? It's so much better in the book than in the movie. 1000%. Like in the in the book, like every single thing Like every little moment, like I can't, I know I keep trying. This episode is going to be so long. Oh my God. Oh my God. Okay. So every single moment, because I'm just like, I'm fangirling right now because I'm just excited to talk about this stuff. But like even the little moments in the book.
00:52:01
Speaker
where they're like collecting the money as everyone's getting on the bus and he's like people are like rushing in to get on the bus and she's like kind of getting squished against the bus because she's like so small and he's like, ah don't like squish like shortcake or whatever and he's like helping like pull her out. but he still doesn't like her like he's still like well like quote doesn't like her but we all know he likes her right but and he's looking out for her hardcore always always whether it's on the bus or during the actual paintball he is always looking out for her and danny's like you we're gonna be on the same team right and josh was like um the teams have already been made and she's on my team
00:52:41
Speaker
And I'm like, I can't. I can't. It's so good. It's so good. And he's just like, yeah, she's on my team. And they're like, OK. And she's looking through the list of when the team switch up. And Joshua put her on his team every single time. Every single time. Didn't even try to hide it every time. And Danny just walks by. He's on the other side of the field. And Joshua just shoots him with the paintball because he's just pissed off that he's there.
00:53:11
Speaker
I'm like, oh my gosh. And so at this point, while they're paintballing, um Lucy is like, everyone's getting real dramatic with the paintball. I think this is me. I'm this guy where he gets shot with the paintball. He's laying on the ground. He's like, go save her. he's like And then he's like, I'm going to go get cake. And you that's me. That's going to be me. I feel like they got Diet Coke in there. I'm out. Yeah. Yeah.
00:53:41
Speaker
So at this point, Lucy is like looking a little rough for some reason. like She's got like starting to sweat. She's getting a little nauseous.
00:53:52
Speaker
And so Josh is like, you're looking a little rough. Like you look like you need to go home. And he even on the bus, he was like on the way there. He was like, he had touched her and he was like, you feel a little warm. And she was like, don't touch me. Like, yeah. Yeah. And so right before, you know, paintballs over and they have like this moment where she's like, it's so dramatic where she like jumps in front of him to block the paintballs and he like jumps in front of her. And it's like so extra and it's hilarious. And it was not done properly in the movie. No, it wasn't. This whole paintball scene is way better in the book. Read it in the book. he never thought Did you ever think you were going to say that sentence? The whole paintball scene was better in the book.
00:54:32
Speaker
no Definitely not. I was. So she's growing up in the bathroom and she's like, everyone just needs to go like, just leave me here. That'd be me. Just leave me here to die. Go on without me. like I can't be on a school bus on the way home throwing up. So but ah Josh is like, takes take care. He's like, just come on. Let's get on the bus and all this stuff. He's like basically like having her lean against him. OK, and then here we go.
00:55:04
Speaker
We got the caretaking trope everyone. One of the best tropes in romance history. This makes me so angry. Why? Because it's not even close to real life. There's not a man out there that does this shit. Oh yeah, yeah.
00:55:23
Speaker
That's facts. That's facts. And I want there to be. I want there to be. Everyone wants someone that will take care of them in these vulnerable moments, their most weakened vulnerable state. And it never fucking happens. So I get real mad about it. So I was definitely, I will say those, super romantical. And I enjoyed this part in the book.
00:55:45
Speaker
Yeah. This part, like a caretaking trope in a romance book will get me every freaking time. Every time. Like, I will fall in love with you. I will fall in love with you. Absolutely.
00:55:59
Speaker
and like ah That's what I knew Risand was the good guy in Akatar. Spoiler, yeah sorry. But that's what I knew when they were under the mountain and she's all busted to hell after fighting the worm and he's all like, I guess I can fix you up. and that like I was just like, damn it, he's the good guy.
00:56:18
Speaker
please Yeah, and so she's like super sick has the flu she's throwing up and this is him in the Movie she like throws up on him like on his shirt and that doesn't happen in the book, but he takes her home and like all the way inside her apartment and Stays in her apartment. She's had she's like sick delirious. She's like having conversations with him while she was like literally completely out of it And he's just so obsessed with her. He's still changing her clothes your clothes changing your sheets and He's like it was like just like little moments. He's like taking your temperature. He he went out to the store got a thermometer and came back taking her temperature and she's like talking to him he's like don't he's like yep he's like don't chew on the thermometer yep yeah i know yep and he's like oh temperature's 102 time to lay back down here's your medicine i'll be right back with all the other stuff and i'm like oh my god like literally i'm in love and then calls in a house call like yes
00:57:28
Speaker
she yeah she's so sick to the point that uh josh brings reinforcements and she wakes up and there's a doctor there checking on her and it's actually josh's brother who's a doctor isn so helps her get better and okay so in the movie this is like he's just like checking on her and he's like she's like oh you're kind of cute blah blah blah but in the book this is way more like romantic like things like he josh like Joshua grabs her and is like holding her like cradling. her Yeah Wow, because she's like really like super sick high fever Yeah, like a hundred like they pretty sure they said that 105 105 point six. Yeah what it got up to and that's why she called or he called the doctor season Yeah, to keep you under on in four. Yeah, but it got over that so he called the doctor and Yeah. So he's like cradling her while they're like checking, while he's checking her and all this stuff, like holding her. She's leaning into him and she's like saying like, I hate you.
00:58:31
Speaker
Yeah. And he like is like holding even tighter, like he's like, i never she trust yes. And he, his brother's like talking and you can tell there's a lot of tension between him and his brother. Like the relationship's not great. And so Joshua gets up whenever everything's done and like kind of walks his brother out and Lucy kind of overhears that like his brother's like being like, you need your RSVP bro.
00:58:57
Speaker
Yeah, we're waiting for your ah RSVP for our my wedding like are you coming? What's going on? And then you know, eventually she can't hear him anymore and he leaves so next morning Lucy is finally kind of like recovering from being sick sick and she's so annoying She makes me so angry. So she's thanking him and but then asking him to not use her being sick against her in the interviews for the position she's about to have. So he was just there cleaning up her puke, cleaning up her house. And like he was even saying that he was kind of like looking... This is kind of shown in the movie too. He's like looking around her house and like looking at all of her stuff and things like that.
00:59:40
Speaker
She's like, don't use this against me in my interviews. like He's here like cleaning up all your stuff, changing your sheets, changing your clothes, all these things. All weekend. All weekend. And this is how this the first thing you say to him? But this goes back to the trust issues that they've created with each other with all these stupid games. The games.
01:00:05
Speaker
yeah She just doesn't like being vulnerable. She doesn't like being vulnerable with him and it's really hard for her to be vulnerable with him. Yeah. I feel that. Yeah. So, you know, we're going to grow. We're going to grow. We're going to get there. Right. But like he leaves and he she, like we even hear her inner monologue is all like, I should have, I should have gone after him. I should have told him to stay. I should apologize, you know. Yeah.
01:00:27
Speaker
She's like upset with herself. And so Danny comes to pick her up and I'm like, dude, this man just did all this stuff. Screw Danny. Danny needs to go. But Danny comes to pick her up.
01:00:41
Speaker
In the movie, he doesn't come pick her up. He like shows up at her job because Danny actually left and went and got like a new job. Or like he did his own freelance. Yeah. But so Danny comes pick her up and he um brings her flowers. And she notices it's not roses. It's different flowers. And so brings her all the way to work.
01:01:02
Speaker
And all the way to her desk and Danny knows something's going on with Joshua because Joshua has been real rude to him. All this stuff. Super possessive during paintball. Super possessive about when she was sick. Even Danny was like, do you need help? And he was like, I got it. Like, you kept trying to call Lucy's phone and and Josh kept answering.
01:01:23
Speaker
Yeah, exactly. And so Danny goes all the way to the desk and there is a rose sitting on the desk from Joshua. And she's over here walking in with Danny. And a bunch of daisies.
01:01:41
Speaker
crappy daisies. How dare you? I don't remember. I do like daisies. I don't remember this in the book, but in the movie, she comes in and there is also strawberry juice. Yeah. Because she says how much strawberry juice helped her. Which I think is weird. Because in the book, she was like, my mom always gave me lemonade when I was sick to take my medicine. And so it was lemonade. I don't know why they changed it to strawberry juice.
01:02:09
Speaker
in the movie. like They just haven't really brought up the whole strawberry farm thing as much in the movie. Yeah. I think so. Maybe just to like emphasize the strawberry shortcake thing. Yeah, I guess. I don't really know. So basically at this moment, it's like Josh and Danny and butting heads and all this stuff at this moment. And Josh is pissed.
01:02:31
Speaker
And like Lucy's like kind of trying to fix it. She's trying to me like make amends with Josh for like what she said. And she's like even being like, I'll like do anything. like I'll even like be your date at this wedding. And she's like he's like, how do you know about this wedding? He's like, I overheard like your brother talking about it. And she's like, you can even be like drink whatever you want. And I'll even clean up your vomit because you cleaned up mine. And so she's like trying to like make up for it. And then they have The closet scene. The closet scene. Then they have another little tension-filled scene where they go. Nothing happens, but it's so hot. Yes, it is so, so, so hot. She pulls him into a closet because she's just so frustrated because he's not listening. And she pulls him into a closet at work, at work. Right, but they had heard someone coming down the hall, and she wanted to be able to have this conversation. So she was like, get in here.
01:03:31
Speaker
so takes him into a closet and is like telling him like to like listen to her and stuff and The tent like I cannot physically express The tension and the chemistry in this scene and the things that this man says He says she's like I want you to put your hands on me and he goes Put them on yourself this is What? What did you just say to me? I was over here like, okay. She said I grabbed his hand and put it on my ass. Bitch.
01:04:13
Speaker
to yellow Are you kidding me? I'm actually gonna lose my freaking mind. And they like don't even do anything. Like, they literally, they don't even do anything.
01:04:26
Speaker
And he's just like barely even like brushing lips at this point. And I'm actually going to pass out. Mm hmm. Mm hmm. And I think at this point in the book, this is not in the movie, but in the book, she kind of hints at that she just wants them to have like this one hookup and then it'll like break the tension between them and then it'll be good. Right. She's like, let's just one time we'll call it the yeah you know, they named the game. It's a new game they're going to play or whatever.
01:04:56
Speaker
And this happens, this is brought up a little bit later in the movie, but in the book, that's when that happens. And I love this about Joshua, okay? This is what I love about Joshua, is that he's like, I know your game and I know you. I'll play this game with you because that's not what's actually gonna happen here.
01:05:18
Speaker
You know, like you can say that all you want is like, fine, you want to play this game that we're just going to hook up, then I'll do you one better. I want you to go on that date with Danny and I want you to kiss him and tell me if it's better than me. If it's not better than me, then I want you to come to me after. Mm hmm. Because you always be wanting the nice guys and you keep saying that you want a nice guy.
01:05:48
Speaker
So if he's better than me, then I want you to go away with Danny. But if he's not, then you can come to me. And I'm not going to lay a hand on you until you tell me that nobody kisses me like I do. Nope. So Danny and Lucy go on this date and it sucks. Trash.
01:06:07
Speaker
Actually, it was a good date. like She talks about it. was it like In the book, it was an okay date. like it was It was nice. It was pleasant. I had the movie once stuck in my head at this point. The movie was a trash date. Oh, yeah. Garbage. Well, in both the book and the movie, he gives his business card to her and she even says that someone next to her like looks at him like he's a total- a business card. Yeah.
01:06:29
Speaker
because he's like trying to make connections because he's a freelance person now. Right. So they have a kiss, chemistry is garbage. And even Danny realizes that. In the movie he doesn't see, in the book he realizes it. He's like, I think we should just be friends. And she's like, yeah, I think so too. Yeah. And so and also At this point, I think in the book, this is not the same in the movie. I don't remember in the movie how she got Josh's address, but in the book, she has- He gave it to her. He texted it to her. Okay.
01:07:07
Speaker
in the book, Lucy has Joshua's address because they already make plans to be the going to the wedding together. She's supposed to pick him up for the wedding. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So I love, love, love this part in the book, because she's like, I have this address She's like, her crazy's coming out. I was like, I have this address. And you know, like, I don't know what to do. She's like pacing her house. She's like, I have this address. This is when I wrote the stage five wackadoo note. Yeah. Okay. So I have a quote. I know. Oh my God. We're running over so much, but I just don't care. I don't care because honestly, this is like, this quote is too good. Okay. She's like running around with this address and she's like,
01:07:51
Speaker
I call the GPS woman the worst names I can think of. I beg her to stop, but she doesn't like a total bitch. She directs me to Josh's apartment building and she's just like goes. She's like, has it.
01:08:05
Speaker
address like and she goes and ah at to his apartment and she's just pacing around, pacing around the apartment. She's going into one lap around the building and then I'm going to leave. Yeah. and She's just like doing that and Joshua comes out, like walks out like he's going to go find her because he hasn't heard from her regarding whether the kiss was good or not. and Then she like sees him and she's like i'm not she says something. like She's like, I'm stalking you.
01:08:34
Speaker
i'm stalking you and then she's like saying it she's like it sounds like a threat and he he just like he loves her crazy and i think that's why i love it so much and she goes inside of his apartment and she is just like I love this part so much. She's just like going through all of her all of his stuff, like just like going through everything. She's opening drawers and cabinets. He loves it. He loves it, which is amazing. Also, when they when she goes into the apartment, she notices that he was just in the middle of watching TV when he was just like, oh my God, I've got to know where she is. And he just like left the apartment in the middle of what he was doing to go find her.
01:09:20
Speaker
Yeah, and yet it was like yeah ER r was still on or something. And he, she's just like going through all of his things. And she's, she like grabs onto one of like, the like toy cars that he has, like, mess yeah, the matchbox car that he was had sitting on the shelf. And she's just like holding on to it for like dear life. And she's just like walking around shes like crazy eyes on, like looking at everything and taking everything in.
01:09:49
Speaker
And at this point in the movie, this doesn't feel so dramatic. And I really wish it did feel like I wanted her crazy eyes. Like the crazy was there. Yeah, I wanted more crazy. Yeah, Lucy's crazy is not nearly as apparent in the movie as it is in the book. Yeah. And specifically, everybody talks about how Lucy explodes when things don't go her way or when they don't work out the way she thought they would.
01:10:19
Speaker
We never see that happen in the movie. It's kind of sad. I was waiting for it. like Yeah. And his room is also Robin's egg blue. In the movie, it's green. Yeah. She has green eyes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So like, is this your favorite color? He's like. So in the movie,
01:10:47
Speaker
This is where she reveals, like I said before, that she wants to have just like a night together and he gets kind of pissed off and he kicks her out. This does not happen in the book. No. No, he mentions in the book that he's like, I don't want you for just a night, Lucy. Yeah. He's kind of like. Yeah.
01:11:08
Speaker
but he is much more patient about the entire so situation. He's like, I know this game and we're just going to play this out or whatever. He even says like this whole story about how he used to like, he was able to like, uh,
01:11:26
Speaker
be like super patient like eating whenever he was a kid he would like with the Easter eggs with this like piece of chocolate like his brother would like gorge himself on like this piece of chocolate and he was able to like keep it for so long and like slowly eat it for like a long period of time or something like that and he uses that in reference to Lucy like he's like well I'll like make this last forever kind of thing like I'm not just gonna do this right away and But in the book, this is becomes like a big misunderstanding to the point that they like don't really talk and stuff like that. And they immediately like she gets kicked out of his apartment, basically. And that doesn't happen in the book. So next day, Lucy is showing like a presentation to Helen because we're having this interview for this position. And she's working that that happens in the movie as well. And Josh is not at work. Yeah, Josh is not at work.
01:12:25
Speaker
And she's like very disturbed by it. Like she hates it. Like in the book, she literally hates it so much that she like is desperate to go back to his house. And she's just like, we're like, she really wants to go back to his apartment. And he's like at the gym or something. She sends him flowers because she's figured out the roses were from him. Yeah, yeah. So then she decides to send him flowers.
01:12:51
Speaker
Yeah and then she realizes that he's at the gym at one point and she's like wants to go to his house and he's like give me an hour or whatever and she's like I'm on my way right now and she's like she's like trying to race him there and she's like she's like I'm like she's like laughing crazily like wow she's like driving there and then she gets there she's like I win because everything was a game everything is a competition of these two yes And she like jumps on him and he's just like walking around like doing stuff and she's just holding on to him all the like little things like that. I'm just like, little tight but monkey like I'm 43 years old and single. But if there's like some six foot five, you know, handsome single man out there that wants to carry me around like that, like I'm available. We're here for it.
01:13:40
Speaker
So Josh reveals that he's also like his whole family. He's got like a family of doctors and he was going to be a doctor but couldn't because he just he got sick seeing someone open on the table and he just couldn't be a doctor. The day at the morgue ruined it. Yeah. Yeah. but So there's just like the There's a lot of resentment from his father, pressure from his family that he feels like he just like couldn't live up to. That's kind of like why there's a lot of tension in regards to seeing his family, talking to his family. And like she sees that there's like a lot of like medical books at his apartment and stuff like that.
01:14:21
Speaker
So like she sees him again. There's just like so much sexual tension. I actually I highlighted this for some reason this phrase I thought it was said like a million times. I thought the terms nipples pinched was said like a hundred times and I went and said it was only said twice.
01:14:41
Speaker
i Like there's no way I swear I read that a hundred times. I swear I kept reading that that her nipples pinched like a hundred times Just twice. saying It's still only twice. It was once too many yeah but say One time too many um So There is a moment where at this point in the book that Lucy overhears a conversation with mr. Bexley where Josh says he'll have no problem beating her and But this actually happens way later in the movie and they kind of have like another moment where they're like fighting again. Yeah, this next kind of sequence of events is out of order in the movie. Yeah, yeah. But I think it it was still kind of okay. Yeah.
01:15:28
Speaker
So now let' we're getting to wedding time because at this point in the movie, they had like a misunderstanding and then he shows up to her house into her apartment. She's like decorating a Christmas tree because it's Christmas time. It shows up at to her apartment. He's like, remember when you said that you're going to be my wedding date? Yeah, we're going to do that right now, which is like my worst freaking nightmare. Like, don't show up to my house the last minute and say I have to be a wedding date for a whole weekend. Yeah, no, I don't have a dress.
01:15:57
Speaker
I I'm a planner like I got a pack. Yeah, like two seconds and you're waiting outside in the car. Like I'm actually I got heartburn right now. Just thinking about it. So and so Josh makes her go to the wedding as a state to make up for her being sick. And we get to this and he's like really stressed about it, you know, and she's thinking maybe he's stressed about like seeing his family knowing the whole situation, but she don't know everything.
01:16:26
Speaker
And we see that going into it. But it was so, and in the book, it starts to be obvious. I think I figured it out pretty quickly. Yeah, totally. The fact that she didn't figure it out, I just wanted to shake her. I knew when the brother was at her house when she was sick and he was like, when are you going to RSVP to the wedding? I was like, oh, there's something wrong with the wedding. I already know. ye Yep. Yep. Yep. So classic one bed trope here.
01:16:53
Speaker
getting going to the wedding. There's only one room available, not two. So you got to share a bed. We love to see it. We love to see it. That's a good one. That's a good one. So he does reveal as they're like getting ready that he had an ex, like the last person he did, like he's kind of like slowly like revealing like his past and the last ex that he had is like the complete opposite of Lucy.
01:17:18
Speaker
And that kind of like, you know, brings a little bit of like insecurities to her and stuff. And she's just like, Oh, okay. And I also want to bring up that this Lucy continues to tell him how hot he is and how amazing his body is and how sexy he is. And she just wants to touch him. And he talks about how like his ex seem to really only like him for his body and how he's a little sensitive about that. As like, she basically his ex was basically like your personality just isn't right for me. I don't like your personality at all. But like, let's keep being together kind of thing.
01:17:57
Speaker
and how it just he really is touchy about that. And she was like, I'm so sorry. I didn't know. I will make an effort to you know not focus on your body so much. And then continues to focus on his body for the entire rest of the book.
01:18:11
Speaker
and I'm like, girl, you've you just you failed. It's the one insecurity he mentions, the one in the whole book. And you were all like, I will respect that. And then you absolutely did not. Totally. That's when she sent him the flowers and because she keeps the matchbox car from his house or his apartment and she sends the flowers and she says, I love or I like you for more than just your body. I also like your matchbox cars or something. Right.
01:18:42
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. But then continues to just be like, let me touch you. Yeah. I just want to like, I just want to touch the body. Yeah, totally. Okay. Don't be wrong. Me too. But also back off. i Yeah. So in the movie, he's like,
01:19:02
Speaker
So it's like the first night they had to go to like a rehearsal dinner and he's like, we have 30 minutes to get ready. Second nightmare, nightmare number two. 30 minutes? Yeah.
Frustration Over Time Constraints
01:19:11
Speaker
He says we have 30 minutes to get ready. Do you want the first shower? And I'm like, do you think I'm going to be able to shower and be ready in 30 minutes? So I got to shower. To meet your family for the first time. So you made me pack last minute.
01:19:27
Speaker
get a wedding outfit last minute. And now I got a shower in 30 minutes. What do you think this is? It's never going to happen. This is never ready in 30 minutes. I don't think so. So in the movie, they literally have this, this was good in the movie. This was good in the movie. So they have like, he comes out of the shower and she's getting ready and he has a towel on and He's like, we got 30 minutes to go. I'm like, how do we still have 30 minutes when both of you guys had a shower and you're getting ready? But okay. And, um, she rips that towel off and they have sex right there. Yeah. Oh my God. And she said, she said, put your, put your body on me or something or put your weight on me. ah yeah I'll crush you. And she was like, then I'll die happy yeah and I'll die happy. She was trying to recreate the dream back.
01:20:26
Speaker
That's, but that does not happen in the book. It does not. They actually, so he leaves in the book, he leaves and like helps his mom with something in regards to the wedding. Bringing the arrangements. Yeah. And so she like falls asleep in the room and this actually like really touched me is, it's just like something really small, but she wakes up and she sees it's like 12 in the afternoon the next day. And she's like, they both slept in.
01:20:55
Speaker
And she's like looking at him and they're like, Oh my gosh, we both slept in. And she she wakes him up. She's like, it's 12 in the afternoon. The next day. And he's shocked that they both slept in. It's like you were both so comfortable. Like you finally reached this extreme, like comfortable part with each other that you could like finally relax and just like take a deep breath and just sleep. And like your body needed it because you were like, could do that with each other.
01:21:22
Speaker
And it it was just like a little tiny moment that you could just like tell it was like a little thing written in there. i It was really wonderful. So they go to this wedding.
Wedding Tension & Joshua's Past
01:21:32
Speaker
And ah this is honestly a worst nightmare to me where everyone's talking about something and you're the only person that does not know. Right. What everybody's talking about. And so she's at this wedding and everyone's kind of like looking at Joshua like they're like, oh, is he like, oh, is he OK? Like, is everything OK? Like, not necessarily looking at him like it's a bad thing, like more like sympathizing with him, kind of waiting to see if he's going to say yeah something or yeah. yeah
01:22:00
Speaker
Yeah. So, you know, his brother marries a woman named Mindy and we find out that Joshua used to date Mindy and she finds out through... Not used to date.
01:22:16
Speaker
They were in a relationship. oh yeah They were in like a full boat. That was like the ex that he was talking about before. Like, and she worked together for a year, a whole year. Yeah. She even asked him, she's like, is there any like weird thing I need to know about before going in so I don't like bring it up or something like anything crazy? And he's like, no.
01:22:39
Speaker
And then like repeatedly throughout in the book, like throughout the the evening, she's like, why is everyone staring at you? yeah like What is going on? Please tell me what's happening. Well, not only that, they're sitting on the front row during the wedding before she even finds all of this out. She's sitting next to his mom and they're both just crying.
01:23:01
Speaker
at this wedding and how beautiful the bride is. Lucy doesn't even know anybody there. is She is crying. yep And then she's like, oh, that's your ex-girlfriend. Okay. i wouldn't think Oh my God. The things I would be, I can't even express. Lucy's better than me because yeah honestly, the things I would be doing not Not good. I'll tell you that. Not good. It would not make me look good. I think I could calmly walk out, but that would I would be gone. I'd be like, you'd never see me again. Pretty much. pretty much like literally You would literally never see me again whatsoever.
01:23:44
Speaker
Everyone's in Block City at that point. For real. The mom, the dad, the random cousin in the back, like you literally, no one, you'd never see me again. Yep.
Family Tension & Career Choices
01:23:57
Speaker
So when Lucy finds out in the book, also she meets like his mom. His mom's great. His dad absolutely terrible sucks because he you know loves the son that became a doctor, doesn't love Joshua because he didn't become a doctor. Things that Joshua just gets coffee for his boss, basically. Lick stamps and gets coffee. Yeah. So when Lucy finds- Who licks stamps anymore? Nobody.
01:24:25
Speaker
So when Lucy finds out, I'm just kidding. Maybe somebody does. I really don't know. Nobody does. They're self-rehesive. Don't lick those. Yeah. When Lucy finds out in the book, it's a much bigger deal than it is in the movie. In the movie, it's she's like, wow, that must have been really hard for you. Yeah. I can understand why that was upsetting. Are you okay? Are we still going to do this together? Okay, let's go back in.
01:24:55
Speaker
Like what? Yeah. What? In the movie it's probably like healthier maybe, but in the book I feel it's a little more realistic. For real. Like I would be so limited if this happened to me. And even like his mom is like, don't be too mad at him, Lucy. Like he really does. I think he cares for you a lot more than you think. I'd be like, sorry, shut up. Yeah. I would be like, go away. This is between me and your son. Like Yeah, it would not be pretty. So in the book, she kind of like threatens to leave and she buys a bus ticket. Yeah, she's like ready to go. She's like, I'm not dealing with this now. And they kind of have like this moment. Having like this heart to heart moment. And she calls Danny too. Yeah, yeah, she calls Danny. Now, Danny's left a ton of messages. He's helping her with this whole proposal project. Yeah.
01:25:50
Speaker
she yeah nice Josh doesn't know that Danny is helping her with the proposal project because that's supposed to be secret because he's her competition. yeah yeah so and then Again, in the book, this is a little bit more spelled out and because Danny is more of a contender in the book, the fact that he is still talking to Lucy and Lucy is still actively reaching out to him,
01:26:12
Speaker
is a little rough for Josh to swallow. Yeah, it's a much bigger deal. And so eventually they kind of work through this whole moment and the tension finally breaks between these two.
01:26:28
Speaker
And we get a good spicy scene in here, which is really, really good. Mm hmm. Loved it. And it's the only main like big spicy scene in here. And it's not like super crazy. It's pretty mild. um I think it's for a good like introductory to a spicy romance, in my opinion. Yeah. Yeah. So pretty mild on the spicy scene here. I won't go into too many details because you just have to read it for yourself.
01:26:57
Speaker
And then the next day, Lucy um and Josh have to have like breakfast with his family before they leave or something like that. And she has a moment with Josh's dad and because Josh's dad is just making all these. And in the book or in the movie,
01:27:18
Speaker
They actually do this during the wedding. This is like happening during the wedding. But in the book, this is happening during like the next day at like breakfast or something where she goes off on Josh's dad because he is having all these like small little comments basically belittling Joshua and his job.
01:27:43
Speaker
And she's just like, you don't know like the things that he does. And like all every people are afraid of him because he's just so like meticulous in the things that he does for his job. like This company wouldn't be running if it wasn't for the things that he does. And if you took a moment to get to know your son at all, you would know that. Yeah. Basically calls him out for being a shit dad and not knowing Jack about the publishing industry. Yeah. And it made me so emotional because especially like whenever his dad like has this moment where he like stands up and does the speech for his other son talking about how great his other son is and like basically I like he only has one son yep and like he's like and the only woman like I can imagine with this like with Mindy and things like that I'm just like this
Confrontation with Joshua's Dad
01:28:30
Speaker
is horrible like i yeah this is terrible he's just a shit dad yeah it was it was bad but this whole Lucy speech is another reason why this book was just like people don't do that
01:28:42
Speaker
Like that's not that that would never happen in real life. I liked it though. I liked it. I enjoyed it. But there was another part that just left me empty because people should be doing that in real life. People should be standing up for each other in real life and not letting other people just walk all over each other. But they don't. And it's really sad. Yeah. So in the book, it wraps up with a lot of reveals like,
01:29:09
Speaker
she asked what the marks are in the planner and he's like all the times like he has all like the X's and the D and all that stuff and she's like he says those marks are the times you wore a dress or the times I wanted to kiss you and which is like super sweet we also have like similar reveals in the movie but I love this part and how it's done.
Emotional Impact of Romantic Gesture
01:29:35
Speaker
And I want to say, I watched this movie with my parents because, and my sister, because my sister had never seen it before. And we always loved watching movies together. And my dad was watching this with me and he is an emotional guy when it comes to movies. And this man cried at this scene. He's going to kill me for saying this. oh He cried.
01:30:03
Speaker
at whenever Joshua put her in front of the mirror in hat in the movie, put her in front of the mirror and said like, what do you see? And she's like, well, I just seem like myself, blah, blah, blah. And he's like, no, what do you see? And she's like, oh, my dress like matches the walls.
01:30:24
Speaker
And he's like, yeah, the dress that matches your eyes. And she realizes that he painted the walls to match her eyes. And my dad, look over my dad, he's crying. And whenever they're like playing the game of like introducing each other again, like pretending to introduce each other again. And he's like, I'm gonna call you shortcake and it's gonna be a dead giveaway that I love you. Joshua says that to Lucy.
01:30:53
Speaker
And I look over again, my dad's crying again. Aww. Oh my god, she's gonna kill me for saying this, but I don't care.
01:31:04
Speaker
yeah always He always he loves he loves a rom-com like ah we have a family book club if you see My personal Instagram ah reading salt we always post um on my story Our family book club picks and he if you notice his ratings on a rom-com are always like a four or five star He loves a rom-com ah weird see rom com me don't care I swear I need to come hang out with you guys and and legit just hang out with your parents. I feel like we need to be besties. I'm probably closer in age to them than i you guys. Oh my gosh. No.
01:31:43
Speaker
so Watch me best friends with your parents. you guys like We'll start our own podcast. That would be hilarious. That would be so funny.
01:31:53
Speaker
um so after that That's how it almost wraps up in the book. In the book, everything kind of ties up in a bow. like Josh announces that like he's leaving the company, the promotion is hers. She's like, what? and He was like, yeah, the day off that I took, I went on my interview and I got the job.
01:32:11
Speaker
yeah and And she's like, oh my gosh, so we don't have to compete. And and he was like, no, but there is a non-compete clause so we can't talk about work. And she was like, okay. And like everything just kind of like nice neat little package right there in his bedroom.
01:32:26
Speaker
Yeah. so But in the movie, they bring in this random third act conflict.
Resolution Through Job Change & PDA
01:32:31
Speaker
And they where she overhears, like kind of this was brought in before in the book, but she overhears in this moment, Bexley and Josh talking before, like how it was before, where she's he's like, i I'll have no problem beating her. And it creates this big misunderstanding. And it's like he says other like crude things, Bexley does. Bexley says some crude things about her, and Josh doesn't really correct him. Yeah, he doesn't he just like kind of like doesn't say anything about it and it's eventually revealed during that time. It's like it's really quick like and also after he says like that whole like all these things like um I'm gonna call you shortcake is a dead giveaway that I love you and like they all will say I love you after that this misunderstanding happens and then she goes running to Danny and
01:33:19
Speaker
to talk to him about everything in the movie. And Joshua sees her with Danny, and she acts all like rude to him and all this stuff. like they didn't have They weren't telling each other that they loved each other. Just have a conversation. yeah It was so awkward. I hated that so much. And you could just see like he was so broken by it. He was so broken.
01:33:43
Speaker
It was horrible. It hurt my heart. She was broken to hear what he said. 100%. And so it was just like, yeah. And then she kind of indicate like says the words that Bexley said. And he, Joshua realizes that she overheard the conversation. And that she misunderstood what was being said. Yeah. sad So then they have the, she has the interview.
01:34:05
Speaker
And later she finds out, you know, the ending of it is that Joshua got a new job and she got the position. And yeah, and she's all like, oh my gosh, that's what you meant when you were in his office, at Bexley's office. Yeah. And he's like, yeah, but i I was sworn to secrecy. I couldn't say anything. I couldn't tell you. And she was like, oh, OK. And they make out in front of everyone.
01:34:32
Speaker
Yeah, in front of all the employees. I was like, okay, that that was not necessary. but It was different. It was a choice. In the book, I loved it before they left for the wedding. They were at the office and they were leaving from the office to go to the wedding. And and everybody kind of knows.
01:34:51
Speaker
Everybody already knows because Josh has already turned in his notice everybody He's quitting and his one goal is to make Lucy fall in love with him with the time He has left at the company and as they're leaving the office He's carrying her coat and her bag and stuff and her boss is watching them leave together and she's like freaking out She's like they're gonna see us and everybody already knows there's like a timer. He's gonna fall in love Yeah, and and it was like whenever he he's like having a meeting in the book with like all the people and stuff and ah HR goes in there and she's like, what's going on in there? And HR comes out and she's like laughing, looking at Lucy and she's just like, I can't believe it or something like that.
Different Endings in Book vs. Movie
01:35:33
Speaker
And that's like, I think that's also like part of the moment that he's like having that conversation and it's super funny.
01:35:41
Speaker
But yeah, that wraps it up basically of the breakdown between the book and the movie. So final verdict, which one did you guys like better, book or movie? Definitely liked the book better.
01:35:54
Speaker
Definitely like the book better, but I would say the movie is worth watching. Yeah, I thought the movie was pretty good considering. I mean, I think it was a great adaptation of the book. I definitely think the book is worth the read, as in like you'll get a lot of extra, but it's a lot of extra funny parts. It's a bingeable read, too. It's not it's not one of those that's like ah it's not a Sarah J. Mass three month investment in finishing a series. It's a one off and it's really good.
01:36:24
Speaker
and Sarah J. Mass is so fresh in our minds because we're actively reading Sarah J. Mass books. where Everybody is because there's so many and they're so freaking long. yeah yeah um So now since we talked about a lot about tropes in this episode, for our question today, which is a little different than our usual,
01:36:44
Speaker
I want each of us to recommend a romance book or movie, but convince each other and our listeners to check it out by only giving away the tropes. For example, if I were to recommend The Hating Game, I would try to convince other people to read it by saying it has hate to love, secret pining, forced proximity, workplace romance, caretaking, and a webbend trope. So,
01:37:15
Speaker
Who wants to go first? I will. OK, go. I will. I have a couple, but I there's i think I'm going to go with The Thornbirds by Colleen McCullough. There's also a television miniseries that you can find. I think you have to pay for it at Amazon Prime. I don't think it's streaming that I know of anywhere, but it's worth watching. But it's definitely worth reading an incredibly long book Sarah J Maas levels of long but generational. The tropes are forbidden love, age gap, clingy jealous woman, evil matriarch, if you if I can't have you know what he will, rags to riches, broken vows not marriage vows just
01:38:10
Speaker
vows. Hot for preacher, damsel in distress, secret baby, and can't confess. Oh my gosh. Goodness. That's a good one. Goodness. It's a very long book. It's very, very, very, very freaking long.
01:38:27
Speaker
Interesting. Okay, Lindsey, you go. So I went in a little bit of a different direction. I chose a webtoon comic called Midnight Poppy Land by Lily Dusk. And its tropes include mafia romance, forced proximity, bad boy, opposites attract, and grump and sunshine.
01:38:57
Speaker
Where's my pen? Let's say Midnight Poppieland. Is that what you said? Yeah. Midnight Done and done. Noted. OK. So mine does a spicy romance. OK. Shocking. So mine is One Percent of You by Michelle Gross. Single parent.
01:39:27
Speaker
dislike to love forced proximity neighbors tattooed hero not his baby oh oh so female main character is pregnant when she meets the male main character okay okay and that is all So if you all want more wrecks like the ones we just did based on the tropes, check out our bonus episode that we'll be releasing soon after this one because that's a wrap on The Hating Game, the longest
01:40:10
Speaker
rom-com episode ever. but Don't forget to subscribe to us on podcast platforms like Apple or Spotify and feel free to rate and review if you enjoyed the
Listener Engagement & Subscription Encouragement
01:40:21
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show. If you want to keep the conversation going, we are available on Blue Sky, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok at Based on a Book Podcast.
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You will find clips, polls, fun, bookish and movie debates and hints of our future episodes and monthly themes. Thank you for listening and continuing through this journey of romance with us. See you in the next chapter, Shortcake! Bye!