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Sweetgrass + Q1 Reading Recap | S3Ep6
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This week we recap our time at the Sweetgrass, a romance book signing that took place in Charleston, South Carolina in March of 2024.
We also share our personal Q1 reading journeys and which books are in the running for our top reads of the year so far.
Follow us on instagram @BringYourOwnPod
Follow Brandi @Brandos.Books
Follow Kendra @Kendra.Readz
Follow Kayla @Kaylas.Bookshelf
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Transcript
00:00:09
Speaker
time podcast. I'm for Randy.
00:00:12
Speaker
I'm Kendra. I'm Kayla.
Quarterly Book Reflections
00:00:14
Speaker
And today, as we are approaching the end of quarter one, by the time this episode is live, have just approached it, we thought we'd take a little moment and look back at the beginning of the year so far, look at some of our favorite reads, look forward to some things that we're excited about, what are some disappointing reads, just kind of a little check-in about what we've been up to in the first quarter of the year. Love. But before we do that,
00:00:40
Speaker
Oh my God, did I get to do it this time? Do it, Kayla. What are we reading? What are we drinking? Ooh, that felt weird to say. I mean, you're our yacht police today. Oh my God. Before we got on here, we were like, OK, let's talk about this, this, this Kayla. Um, Kayla loves to keep people in line. Yeah. So she's become my project manager in you. Yeah. She's like, let's, let's move this. Also, she just hates the sound of my voice and like,
00:01:09
Speaker
You see how she's never like, no Kendra, she's just like... Do I need to beat up your ass?
00:01:14
Speaker
I would like you to sometimes. Anyways, what am I reading and drinking right now? I'm currently only listening to an audiobook. I'm doing Cara Bastone's Audible Originals. I've just finished Seatmate, so stinkin' cute and just so well done. And now I'm doing Call Me Maybe. And there is a moment in this audiobook, I have like an hour and 17 minutes left.
00:01:42
Speaker
There was a moment when I went, aw, because the guy is so sweet. And he does something that's so precious. And I was like, what a nice guy. Our friend Brynn said that looking back on this collection, she can see how Shep was born. Because these guys are just she and you and good guys. So yeah, I'm only listening to that right now in between Eyeball Reads. And I am drinking coffee. So. Uh-oh. You're going to have to poop soon.
00:02:11
Speaker
Oh my God, I've been shooting all morning. I've been drinking this coffee since like nine o'clock. I've been shooting all morning. So I think I'm good right now. Like my stomach is okay, but yeah, it started earlier girl, we're okay.
00:02:21
Speaker
Okay, good to know. Brandi, you want to go next?
Current Reads and Drinks
00:02:25
Speaker
Sure. I am drinking a lemon LaCroix as for you. And I just finished Dishonesty Yours last night. And it was, I just had like the best time. I'm so hesitant to say that I want you guys to read it. I'll read it. I would definitely read it.
00:02:45
Speaker
I want you to read it, Kayla. I'm scared Kendra's gonna rip it up. So I don't want her to read it. Because I'm just happy in my bubble. Just kidding. I talk bad about funny story a few times. Now you're like, oh. I am just like a little scared.
00:03:03
Speaker
this is like another one where I'm like I don't think everybody's gonna love it but for me I just had so much fun I was so engaged from the very first interaction between Phoebe and Rocky in chapter one like I just I had so much fun I didn't know it was a cliffhanger though
00:03:19
Speaker
So yeah, I didn't know it was a series. It's a series. It's going to be a series. Yep. Yeah. Um, so my feelings were hurt because I was like, Oh, next. And I was like, Oh, I knew it was going to be a series. Yeah. I knew it was going to be a series, but I maybe thought it was going to be interconnected standalones. But that was silly of me to think that because they don't do that, that they've never done interconnected standalones, which honestly, that's one of my goals is yours to read more books like that. So maybe like, maybe I'll like it. Once a second one coming out.
00:03:45
Speaker
I don't know, because this one doesn't come out till the summer. It's a hot minute away. OK. But I did have a lot of fun. And the bits, it was kind of like addicted in that there's definitely more to do and more to be said for Rocky and Phoebe. But I'm satiated with where they are right now, you know what I mean? With the knowledge that there needs to be more. And then I just started the ex vows. Kayla's shitting her pants. I am literally going to pee myself. I'm so scared.
00:04:15
Speaker
I'm excited. I already really like her writing style just from the beginning. Like it feels very conversational, which I enjoy. And I am listening to an audio arc of Wild Love by Elsie Silver. I have had a hard time with audios this month and
00:04:33
Speaker
I am looking forward to just like really diving in this weekend when I have more free time. Like I just haven't been wanting to spend my free time listening to audiobooks lately. I've been much more interested in eyeball reading in my free time. So, but I'm really excited about this book. So I will be finishing it this weekend. How about you Kayla Anne? I'm drinking a Coke Zero because I'm nothing if not consistent.
00:04:57
Speaker
And I'm currently in between books. I'm not really reading anything. I think I'm just gonna try and not read anything this weekend. Just take it chill vibes. I just finished Wild Love by Elsie Silver. Thank you muscle up audio for the arc.
00:05:14
Speaker
But I'll be curious to know your thoughts, Brandy, as to like where it lands. And since you've also like read all of her backlist, like I have as well. So I'll be curious to know where it lands. I haven't said a lot cause I like don't want to influence other people's opinions. I have purposely not looked at your story graph because I'm like, I'm so easily susceptible to your two opinion. Well, especially like I don't want to like know anything until I formed my own thoughts. Valid, valid, valid. So I, yeah, I won't say anything else.
00:05:42
Speaker
Oh, I know her rating. Don't tell me you talked about it. OK. OK. Yeah. Well, I think what I'm actually going to do is because I listen to it, you know, it's so it's so easy to miss things on audio sometimes. And like, you know, if you're reading or you're listening and you're not like physically reading it, too, you can't highlight. So I have I'm going to go back and highlight some of the art just a couple of places. So I kind of just like re-looking at certain bits of the story. So that's what I'm doing.
00:06:11
Speaker
Oh, I didn't. Maybe. I mean, we know she's a gifted woman. So. Just going to go back and highlight. That's all. We know what we know when highlighting. Bookmark a couple of things. But yeah, so that's currently what I'm doing. Nothing, nothing that new over here.
Sweetgrass Weekend Recap
00:06:32
Speaker
So now that we all know what we're reading and drinking, do you guys want to jump in by just kind of talking about our weekend at Sweetgrass last weekend?
00:06:40
Speaker
Yeah, we had so much fun. It was definitely a different experience from book bonanza, which we recapped last year when we went there. But Brandi, Ken and I met up the Thursday before and we got to travel there together, which was so cute, actually.
00:07:00
Speaker
We're so cutie, you guys. We purposely picked like layover flights and like met in Chicago before flying there. Yeah. Yeah. It was, it was a good time. It was a good time. But yeah, we, we got to Charleston that night and like we had such a fun weekend of just like hanging out with friends. The signing itself was.
00:07:16
Speaker
For us, it was pretty chill. I know I think a couple people had different experiences, but we had a great time. So what did you guys think? Yeah, it was so fun. Like even like the first night that we got in, like our friends Chass and Sahara came and picked us up. And we spent a lot of time that weekend with Sam who's at SB Reads and Chass who is at Reads by Chass and Sahara who's at Simply Sahara.
00:07:45
Speaker
Um, simply to her co you're so right. She's a businesswoman period. So, cause we stay in the same hotel as them too. So we were just doing like a lot of like getting places together and all that stuff. We also did get to see some other friends too, that we got dinner with and met up and hung out with, uh, Jayla who's at Jayla's reading, right? Jayla's reads. Jayla is reading. Yeah.
00:08:10
Speaker
and Yuri who's at Yuri's library and Tania who's at Tania's library. Yeah we hung out with them a lot. Friday night we kind of like had a night out on the town and if you didn't see
00:08:25
Speaker
We had a little moment that went viral because of our friend Sam, who made a TikTok. We went to this bar. I'll just say it really quick. We went to this bar after dinner. It was so crowded in there. It was insane. We totally forgot that it was March Madness going on, and Charleston was playing that night. So it was super busy. So we all huddled to the back of this bar.
00:08:50
Speaker
And we're just kind of standing there like trying to figure out what to do. We're kind of blocking the entrance to the bathroom. And this guy comes through our little barreling through our barreling through and obviously drunk. Yeah, there's like 10 of us in this circle. And he just starts talking to us and we're just like, what?
00:09:06
Speaker
Because any time a man approaches a group of women in a bar, your hackles go up. You're like, why are you here? Why would a man be there? Why would a man be there? And he finally starts talking. He's like, I'm here at my bachelor party, blah, blah, blah. And Kendra's like, are you the groom? Yeah, are you the groom? Are you the groom? And he's like, yeah, I'm the groom. Her name is Sam. And of course, one of our friend's names was Sam. He said, she's the love of my life. He was so sweet. She's a photographer. She's the best woman. She's so beautiful.
00:09:36
Speaker
I love her so much and Sam our friend Sam said oh my gosh my name is Sam and he goes you have the best name in the world it was so cute it was so cute you guys yeah we all took a picture with him and then our friend Sam made a tiktok like recapping the event and but she did it where like there's like that trend on tiktok where you're like hey if your name is so and so
00:09:59
Speaker
and you know this person, they were at this place. They're cheating on you. They're cheating on you. They're talking shit about you. But for it to be such a positive ending, it went mega viral. And Sam's video got featured on People and was on this day show. It was everywhere. And it was just so sweet. I look awful in that photo. You do not.
00:10:22
Speaker
You don't. You don't. Oh, so you guys look off all the time. I was just about to say, you don't look like that all the time, but I don't think you look awful. Anyways, it was very, very sweet. I loved our time at Sweetgrass, like you guys were saying, that was such a highlight. And then just getting to see, because a lot of the authors, with the exception of K.A. Tucker, we had already met before.
00:10:46
Speaker
Okay, it's offering Liz Tom Ford. We're the first people we met for the first time. Oh my God, Elsie too. Well, Elsie, I'm like, Elsie and Liz, we had on the podcast. So it was like, it was different. Like me and Elsie, I was like, Oh, like I know this girl.
00:11:01
Speaker
so it was like very chill and very nice and like obviously like they still had some like planning issues like I think any book convention has but once we like got through the like registration and everything we personally had like such a smooth time I think it also worked that we didn't have that many people to see like we only had like yeah five people that I wanted to see but I only had two authors no I
00:11:26
Speaker
Oh yeah, I only had two authors that I wanted books signed for and that was Elsie and Kay Tucker. So it just worked out like really well. Yeah, it was like, we just kept getting so lucky. Like I think we were just hitting lines at the perfect time where we are finding that the people who are running the lines were not being super strict with like who they were letting in. So they were just like, yeah, head on in, like grab, jump in line. I think the longest we waited in anybody's line was like literally five minutes for Elsie.
00:11:54
Speaker
No, we waited for Liz. I forgot. Yeah. Her line was just really long. I will say we like almost hit a snag when it came to Liz because she like.
00:12:06
Speaker
I don't know what that line leader was doing. I mean, bless all the line people, like all the volunteers. They were volunteering. We love you. Thank you so much. But the volunteer lady for Liz's line, I don't know if she like wasn't checking in with people when they got in line because we just got in line because like nobody was saying anything. So we just like stood in the line. And then by the time we got to like a certain point in the line where we caught up to this line volunteer, she's like, wait,
00:12:33
Speaker
Do you have your wristbands? By this time we had been in line for like 10 minutes already. She hadn't said anything, checked anything. And she's like, Oh, you're really not supposed to be in here yet. Blah, blah, blah. But then she let, she did let us stay, but she cut off the line right after us. She made them leave. And I was like, Oh my God. Like I felt kind of bad, but
00:12:51
Speaker
But that's the kind of luck we were having at every single station. Elsie's line was her wristbands went out the fastest because this was her first big signing in the US especially. So her wristbands went immediately, but we went up to the lady at the perfect time where she was like, oh yeah, there's not a ton of people here. Just hop in. That kind of stuff just kept
00:13:12
Speaker
happening to us. Like when we went to Lauren's line, it was so early that people are still running around getting wristbands. So there was quite literally zero people in her line. So they were just like, yeah, go for it. And we were like, yay, it sounds great. Yeah, that was so nice.
Excitement for Future Book Events
00:13:25
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. So yeah, we saw like really five main people. Um, but we had such a great time with like each of them and each of them, even like Kay Tucker, who we had never met, like,
00:13:37
Speaker
Recognize. She knew us. Yeah, it was so cool. So and I'm like, obviously, like with Elsie and Liz, we had interviewed them before we hadn't like physically met them. But I don't know. I don't know how you guys felt. But like, for me, I was not expecting them to like. Right. I don't like expect these people to recognize my face because like we chatted with them once for, you know, an hour. And, you know, they meet so many people. I don't expect them to recognize me. You know, I don't expect that. It'd be cool, but I don't expect it.
00:14:06
Speaker
So when they did, I was like, Oh my God. Hi. It was actually like so fun because when we got up to Elsie's lunch, she went, Oh, it's my pregnancy girlies. Because if you listen to our episode with Elsie, like there was at one point where we're all like, we are big pregnancy girlies here. We love the pregnancy trope. So it was, it was so sweet for her to not only like recognize our faces, but remember the conversation we had. She was so nice. She was so nice.
00:14:31
Speaker
I am excited for steamy lit now. Kendra, what about readers take Denver? Aren't you so excited? Oh. Oh. So, Brandi and I are going to readers take Denver. We got free tickets. Yeah, we got free tickets. I feel like I have to note that every single time. I did not pay $300. Oh, we did not. $400, Brandi. Our friends, Kimi and Cash, are also coming. They got tickets.
00:14:59
Speaker
My expectations for readers take Denver are so low on the floor. To be honest, they don't exist. I'm going for vibes. Yeah, I'm going for vibes. I'm excited to see Kimi and Cash. I'm excited to see Jasmine. Yeah, so. But, Stevie, I am really pumped for her.
00:15:19
Speaker
we get to like go to Disney and like we get to hang out with um we are like in a big group chat with the girls that we all hung out with at book bonanza and like we talk in that group chat like all the time um and we're all going to see me lit together and so I think just being with that group again will be so much fun yeah and that's the one thing I do love about these book signing is that now we're like two for two where we go we go as like our own little group but then we always like merge with like
00:15:46
Speaker
yeah another group and then we just formed one big group because there was like the day of the signing we all went out to eat and like got chilies and like there was like 10 11 of us yeah it was like but it was like so much fun and like
00:16:00
Speaker
It's just cool to talk about what we love in person and make other connections that you might not pick up one through Instagram. So I just feel so much closer to so many people that I would just only be like DM with. And now we're friends, so that felt nice. Yeah, it's such a special experience that it's hard to describe to people. Because all my coworkers, when I came back, were like, how was it? And I was like, it was so fun.
00:16:28
Speaker
It's hard to like explain like what it feels like to have friends online for so long like we have and be able to like actually spend time together. Yeah. Yeah. It was a special thing.
First Quarter Reading Stats
00:16:40
Speaker
Yeah. A good way to close out sort of Q1 too because we had so like we were just talking about like so many books that we had read this year so
00:16:48
Speaker
I'm, I'm so interested to with like steamy like because like okay signings like sweet grass, even sometimes like book bonanza really, this isn't 100% the case but I feel like signings like those sweet grass and talking about are mostly indie authors are like bloom authors they're not like big.
00:17:07
Speaker
or authors under the big five. Um, and so Stimulate has a lot of those like authors under the big five, like they got Allie Hazelwood, they got Christina Lauren, they got T. Williams, Penny Ryan, Abby Jimenez, you know, like a ton of really large names. And so I, I like that I'm able to kind of
00:17:27
Speaker
tap my feet in both because I do love a lot of indie authors or authors that aren't under those huge publishing names like if you're under Bloom or something like Lauren and LCR, right? And then Stimulate where I can also see traditionally published authors. And so it's, I love both. I love them all. I'm just excited.
00:17:49
Speaker
I'm excited, yeah. But now that we've kind of just chatted a little bit about that, we just kind of want to do like a quarter one recap. So should we start with some Storygraph stats? Yeah, let's do it. Who here has read the most books this year? I think probably me. I think Kayla as well. Because probably you guys, because I know that you guys have had a little bit of a slower march. I've just been trucking on. I've read 41 books.
00:18:18
Speaker
I'm at 38. Okay. Not too, not, not at all that far. Can I guess, can I guess? Yeah. Uh, 30 or 29. You just called me so slow. Yeah. Well, wait, you read a cat and draw, read a fuck ton of books in January. Oh, you're so right. You read a lot more than I did. 33. No, no way. Let me talk 43. Seriously? Yes. Oh my God.
00:18:47
Speaker
No way. No way. Oh, sorry. No, it's just because like you're like, I've had such a slow march. I was like, Oh, I'm going to catch up. I read 19 but close. I read a lot too in February. No, that's I read like 13 in January. So I did not read nearly as much in January. Yeah, I'm at 43. I'll probably be at 44 once I finish the care of a stone audio tonight. So yeah.
00:19:17
Speaker
all right sorry sorry i didn't know your game you read like two books this year like oh my god you sorry i forgot how much you read in january i've just been like moving at a steady pace of like 13 12 13 a month and and i had and i forgot that you like started super super strong you haven't even like slowed down since then but i just forgot how much you read anyway sorry oh my god okay
00:19:42
Speaker
Anyway, that I beat you. It's not a competition, but Brady thought that Brady thought it was me, too. So I don't want to hear. That's all. Oh, so you both think I'm slow.
00:19:52
Speaker
I did. I said I just saw that she read the most. Oh, my God. I last year, I'm not surprised because last year, whenever we did these check ins, we were all within like two books of each other. And still right now we're in within five. So it's when summer hits. That's when like we'll start to like. Yeah, that's when we'll go out work in the summer.
00:20:16
Speaker
Let me get ahead now.
Favorite Books of the Year
00:20:18
Speaker
Get ahead while you can. All right. So of your books that you've read this year, how many are five stars? Ooh. Okay. I have four. Oh my God. Damn. I don't know what it is, but like I've been so strict with my five stars lately. Like maybe I need to be a bit more lenient, but like I'm sometimes I just get so hesitant to rate things five stars. I don't know why, but I've only got four. I've got a lot of 4.75 and four and a half though. So.
00:20:46
Speaker
I have six five-star reads. I haven't counted. One of them is love unwritten. I haven't counted that on Storygraph yet, because like when I read it, like the it wasn't up, I think, yet on Storygraph. So I just need to go back and add it. But that would be six, including that one. I have seven, but two are rereads. So five. Oh, I forgot. Yeah, one of mine is a reread. So I guess three. Yeah. So then just five new reads for me that are five stars. Yeah. OK, cool. Yeah.
00:21:15
Speaker
And what's the percentage that's audio? Cause I feel like obviously that that's the most, but mine is at 60% audio. I'm at 64% audio and 36% digital and zero physical. I am at 63% audio and 37% digital, zero physical. Nice.
00:21:38
Speaker
Oh, who's y'all's most read author this year so far? Mine is Abby Jimenez, followed by Cara Bastone. Who's yours, Kayla? You're gonna love this. Mine too. Cassandra Clare. Cassandra Clare. Mine too.
00:21:53
Speaker
Um, I'm at three books from her this year, but I know that when I, I'm doing shadow hunters soon. And so I know that, um, at the end, not sure I'm doing mortal instruments. Um, at the end of the year, she will be my most read author. Like there's just no way someone's going to catch up to her. Yeah. I've done three Cassandra Clare and three Emily Henry. So they're tied for both of my done three Cassandra Clare, three Abby.
00:22:16
Speaker
Yeah, I was I'm at for Abby three care about stone. What are your for Abby? She really likes me short. Yeah. And then I also did her Audible original. Yeah, not audible. The yeah, Amazon original. Yeah, that one was I really like worst worst wing manner. What is it? We're sweet.
00:22:34
Speaker
Yeah, I read it. Yeah, it was cute. Like, I would love for that to have been like something full because like the way it ends, I'm like, Oh, like, I want to see like how it goes. And then I have three Carissa broadband books. So slay. Yeah. And then Gianna Darling, I'm at three books to what three Gianna Darling books did I read this year? You only read one, didn't you? No, I read I'm so stupid. I did her mafia series. And then I also did Serpentine Valentine. So that makes me right. You got a lot of threes. I know. Interesting. All right.
00:23:05
Speaker
Love that. What are, okay. We're all going to go through now and list our favorite books of the year. Originally we had five. I was like, all right, guys, we're just going to name five. And then can I name seven? Can I name seven? Please, please, please, Kayla. They're like begging me. I'm like the executive who is like making the decision. Yeah. I can call from the Yap police. Anyway, who wants to go in a Yap forced to shut up. Oh, please.
00:23:34
Speaker
Do you want to round rob in it or do you like list? Yeah, you just go through your list. It's not like super long. So go ahead. Okay, guys. Here we go. Timers starting now. So I have seven books right now that I would say like if I had to make a top 10, I don't have like a solid top 10, but I have a solid like seven right now. These are my particular order. Yeah. And no particular order, but I will say like, um, I'm going to work my way up from like
00:24:02
Speaker
from like, not Lee's syndrome, cause I love all these books, but like, I'm gonna go from like, yeah, like I'm still trying to explain it. Like it goes from like, like from like, um, lower in your top 10, the lower, yeah, lower in my top 10. Yeah. Low end to high end. Let's sorry.
00:24:24
Speaker
so i just finished an arc of a book that comes out in december i didn't know it came out in december until i looked up like that like yeah it's on it's on netgalley um it's called definitely better now it's a debut i didn't give this book five stars i gave it 4.75 stars um just because i thought it ended a little too abruptly but holy shit you guys it took like two weeks for me to read this book just because i was taking my time but i'm so glad i did i think it was just
00:24:50
Speaker
so well written. And I loved the main character so much. And like, her arc is so it went in a direction that like, I was not expecting. But in a way that I'm like, of course, like, of course, this is what had to have happened. But yeah, it's about a 26 year old navigating her she just completed one year of sobriety. So now she's trying to like, navigate her life and like her relationship with her father who is also
00:25:16
Speaker
I'm an alcoholic, but like he doesn't want to admit it. Very much giving like Lowe's dad where he's like, I'm not drunk. Like, but you're drunk all the time. And then she like, there's like a romance in it too. It's very cute. But I wouldn't call this a romance book. Definitely like women's fiction, literary fiction. And then Into the Dark, MPU. Yeah. What more is there to say? Yeah, what more is there to say? But we're going to do a whole lot. But you know, yeah, please over here. Oh my god.
00:25:45
Speaker
and then but we were talking earlier like I don't know if Into the Dark would make it into like my final top 10 of the year it will for me yeah I just like I don't know right now just because like that book just holds like it's we were talking before the episode that it's just like in a league of its own and like I just feel so satisfied with it to where like I'm not I don't know it's like in a different space in my brain to where like it's not taking up a lot of space like these other books are
00:26:09
Speaker
Yeah, but still loved it. Oh my god, five stars old enough by Haley Jacobson. I cried so much reading this book and I felt so seen and like I think that she's like just such a talented writer, Kayla, and I gotten a little tussle about this book, but it's okay. But yeah, I think if you are
00:26:29
Speaker
queer, especially if you're bisexual, like me, I think you would love this book. And if you experience college hookup culture in any capacity, I think you'd also really love this book. And if you like reading about survivors and seeing them overcome, I think you would also really like that book.
00:26:47
Speaker
Just for the Summer, Abby Jimenez, which just came out as of this episode when this episode comes out. Love Just for the Summer. We want to do an Abby Jimenez deep dive, and I think we're going to do that very soon. So I just can't wait to talk about it more. I said this yesterday to someone, and I've said it to y'all a lot, but I was like, Abby Jimenez is a student who keeps getting better and better. I think she really understands who her audience is now and has just grown so much as a writer, and I love that for her.
00:27:17
Speaker
and then Ready or Not, Cara Bastone. So for those of you who don't know, I love that book so, so, so much. And then Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell, which doesn't come out until July. I would argue that Ready or Not and Slow Dance are the best written books that I've read this year, especially Slow Dance, just like
00:27:42
Speaker
I would just, how that book is like structured. Yeah. Like how that book is like structured, how it's written. Like, yeah, I have not stopped thinking about that book. I revisit it all the time. I, when Beyonce's album came out, Cowboy Carter go stream it. Um, I texted Brandy and I sent her a song. I won't say it cause I don't want Kayla to know cause she hasn't read it yet. But I was like,
00:28:07
Speaker
they listen, they read this book, this one specific line, and then they sat down and they wrote this song. And yeah, I just think that book is like, just such like a good, like a breath of fresh air in the romance genre. Because I think I've been kind of stalling in that book was like, Oh, no, bitch, like there's we still got some legs here. And that book is great. Like, yeah. Anyways, those are my top seven. Sorry, Kayla, I went over
00:28:36
Speaker
Wow. That's crazy. So I'm also going to do seven and I'm going to end on what is my currently my top book of the year. Um, so the rest of them are in no particular order, but I do have one that's like solidly in first place. So business casual by BK Boris and loved that book so much easily. Her best book. Like I just think it is so well done. Miss them. Funny story by Emily Henry.
00:29:05
Speaker
I feel like that Abby Lee Miller gif. Tune in next week to hear Kendra and I box over Funny Story just for the summer by Abby Jimenez. Magnolia Parks, Into the Dark, same thing. I also feel like it exists in a different category in my brain.
00:29:25
Speaker
It just feels very different. I am going to put dishonestly yours on there. I just like I and it might just be because I finished it last night and I'm still like basking in the high. Like I gave this one 4.75 stars. Like it's not on my like my five star book, but like
00:29:40
Speaker
I just had the best time and I think they're like as far as like corniness goes there is so little of that like KBR classic cornball-ness in this book compared to like the Addicted series. I also have Ready or Not on my list and my top book of the year currently is Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell. I keep waiting for a book to like push it off its throat and it's not happening so it's so good.
00:30:11
Speaker
Yeah, I just like that feeling of reading that book is why I love reading. Like that is the feeling I'm hoping for every single time I read a book. And when I don't get that feeling, it's like it's almost like an addiction. I'm like, OK, well, then I'm going to try and find it, you know, somewhere else. But it's so, so good. And we both went into it blind. Like I had read the
00:30:37
Speaker
she had like a brief synopsis on her instagram that doesn't even like match like what's on the amazon listing but like you got to go into it blind too brandy and like i think that just like was also very fun and like it's one of those books where i was like you just have to trust the process of like what she's gonna do and it was just so i i can't wait for all three of us to be able to talk about it because i keep having like dissertations in my head about it i'm like
00:31:03
Speaker
it had to be done like this is this because like oh my god i love it so much and like every song i listen to is about them like literally every single song but especially hot and heavy by lucy dakis that has been sitting at the top of my on repeat playlist on spotify since i read that book because i'm like that's literally their song i love them so much
00:31:28
Speaker
But those are my seven, a lot of commonalities. And I bet Kayla is going to have a lot of similar ones on her list. Well, yeah, I have several. I mean, I have several that are the same. I.
00:31:41
Speaker
I don't know what my top favorite is this year yet. Like I've had to pick a number one. So the ones that I'm about to name are in no particular order, but starting- Oh, I forgot one. Oh, okay. Go ahead. No, sorry. No, go ahead. I forgot to say 11 written. Oh. Cause I did six. I listed six and not seven, 11 written, but I can't say anything about it. So I just want to put that out there. That, that honestly top three, sodium, 11 written.
00:32:09
Speaker
ready or not those are my top three books of the year so far okay okay kayla sorry oh my god what i was talking you it mom can you pick me up they're fighting at this point i have to keep committing to the bit so like i can't not get annoyed at this point you know even though i'm not actually annoyed just to be so clear okay
00:32:31
Speaker
Moving on. Again, in no particular order, although I guess this one would probably be like at the bottom. I have The Duke It's Even by Joanna Shoop. I just had the best time with this book. I read it in the day. I'm telling you, it was so much fun. Like it was I believe you. Okay. I know because you DNF'd the first book in that series. So you're like, well, mostly just because like,
00:32:56
Speaker
I feel like slightly vindicated because when I went on my historical romance binge, I was like, you guys should read these. And you guys were like, no, thank you. But then when you did start reading them, you didn't even come to me for Rex. You went elsewhere. I'm so sorry. It's fine. I'm so sorry. I'm just surprised that it was in your top list. I'm happy for you. Thank you. And I will get to Lisa Clapas too, because I know you love her. OK, so that one I just had a really great time with. That's it. That's all.
00:33:24
Speaker
Then I have business casual by BK Boris and I really love that book. Charlie Nova are the best couple hands down in that series. It's the best book in that series. Hands down. Kendra's side-eyeing both of us right now. That's crazy. If you like it, I love it.
00:33:41
Speaker
Okay, then I have as long as the lemon trees grow by Zulfa Cateau, which was a very heavy read, but it was still really good. It was super well written. It was very
00:33:57
Speaker
It was just an emotional read. It was a really heavy one, but it was a really great one. So really good. I also have, I'm scared to say this one. I have the X-Files by Jessica Joyce. Cause I love that book so much. I love that woman so much. I, all the books that I have said so far, I did not actually rate five stars, but everything that I have on this list is four and a half stars or above. Um, I rated the X-Files four and a half stars, but I just love it. And then got mad at me for also rating it four and a half stars.
00:34:28
Speaker
Yep. It's just because I get so nervous about this book if just or Jessica Joyce in general with Kendra especially and now Brandi since it's her first Jessica Joyce book like I get nervous because I just I don't know why I have such an attachment to to her books but I do and I just I want to see her succeed and I want my friends to like them so that's all.
00:34:57
Speaker
I loved X-Files. I thought it was really good. Thank you. I'm so glad. Yeah. And I mean that sincerely. I'm not joking about that. OK. Anyway, and then I do have Magnolia Parks Into the Dark on here. I see what you guys are saying about like it being in a different space. But for me, I don't 100 percent feel that way only because the series isn't finished yet, even though it is the end to Magnolia BJ story. I know that there's still more story to tell.
00:35:27
Speaker
So I think that's why I don't like 100% see it in the same way that you guys do because, you know, some kind of perfect was an epilogue for everybody. Yeah. And this wasn't that way because we're still left with so many questions after this book for other characters, you know. So that's why I think it's going to stay there for me, or at least like in my top 10, I mean, probably. And then just similar to Brandy and Kendra, I do have Ruddy or not. And just for the summer on here as well. So those are my seven.
00:35:55
Speaker
Bro, ready or not, yeah. I'm going to be happy, yeah. Kayla, what I think is so interesting you saying that with Magnolia Parks, like because it's the series isn't finished. I also think that's why it's in a different category for me in my brain. Cause I'm just like, BJ Magnolia, they're done. I shut them out. And then like, I think I've just been avoiding thinking about anything she's going to do like moving forward. Like I, and like also knowing that like Daisy hates
00:36:24
Speaker
three is just sitting in her brain and not being drafted. Yeah. So I miss another time just like, okay, into the dark, like, because in my head, I think I'm like, this could be the last thing we get. I would not hold it against her. She was like, fuck y'all. I'm not writing anything else in this series. We're only gonna get never books from now on. I would hold it against her. Yeah, what do you mean? Of course I would hold it against her. What did I say? Did I not? I would not.
00:36:53
Speaker
Oh, you wouldn't put it past her is what you're saying. I wouldn't put it past her is what I was trying to say. I wouldn't put it past her if she was like, I'm done. Like, yeah. Because she's so like, yeah, that scares me. Yeah, so I think that's why Into the Dark. I'm just like, I'm so happy, though, like with what I got. And like, that was just such a great, truly a great book. So yeah.
00:37:21
Speaker
I can't wait to revisit it someday and like go slow because the way I fucking all three of us ran through that 800 page book is crazy. I know. Yeah, but it was fun. Yeah. Okay. It was a good time.
Least Favorite Books Discussed
00:37:39
Speaker
Now that we've shared our favorite books of the year, do you guys have like a least favorite book of the year or a book like you really didn't like because
00:37:45
Speaker
I do. I know which one you're gonna say, Brandi, because I remember you talking about it. Um, the lowest rated book that I currently have on my storygraph is three stars, which really isn't like that bad. But it is and I hate to say this because I love this person. She's so kind to me. She's so nice. But I also think I just not read it at not a great time is loving Romeo by Laura Pavlov, which hurts me to say
00:38:12
Speaker
I just, it wasn't my favorite. It was just a little insta-lovey for me. They fell too hard, too fast. And that's it. I love Laura Pavlov though. She is so nice to me. She's always been so kind. Her PR packages are amazing. Thank you so much. But loving Romeo just unfortunately wasn't for me. And that's it.
00:38:36
Speaker
yeah um i have two so one is next door nemesis by alexa martin that book pissed me off so bad i did an audio and like the narrator wasn't bad either which like it sucks when like you have like a decent narrator and a shit story because that's how you know the book is like bad because like they couldn't even save it um
00:38:58
Speaker
i read one alexa martin book it was her women's fiction book called mom jeans and other mistakes and i remember really enjoying that so i'm thinking that like maybe romance her romance books and i don't buy because i dnf'd the travis kelsey inspired because i thought that book was not i thought i don't think she writes like assholes but like not in a good way you know like like but
00:39:24
Speaker
Anyways, and then so I gave that 2.5 stars. My second least favorite book of the year was a book called guys girl, which I talked about I think last week on the pod. My book also really pissed me off, because like, I love women and like my female friendships and that was just like,
00:39:46
Speaker
That book just, I don't know. It just made me hate guys, girls. I think that's what happened. Like, I thought it was going to be like commentary on like, Oh, as a woman, like you need sisterhood, like you need this, but that just was not the case. So yeah.
00:40:05
Speaker
My favorite book of the year is The Spy and I by Tiana Smith. This book pissed me off so much. I have DNF'd like three or four books this year just because I have not been vibing with them. And this one, the only reason I didn't DNF it was because I had a raging migraine and it was like 6pm and I was already in bed. So I wasn't ready to like try and sleep it off yet. So I just like put on my headphones, put my phone,
00:40:33
Speaker
on the other side of the room, because if I look at light when I have a migraine, it fucks me up. So my phone was too far away to like reach over and try and find a new audio book. And so I just like rage listened to it. And it was just so this is like one of those books where I'm like, how did this get through all the hands at Berkeley?
00:40:55
Speaker
and get published, which sounds like so fucking critical and I'm so sorry, but like genuinely I was just like, like the spy plot wasn't even like fun, let alone believable. You know how like, obviously it's the spy plot. It's not gonna be like crazy believable, but like I couldn't even buy in in a fictional setting for it. And the romance was insane. Like she almost got murdered and then they're making out against the wall 10 minutes later. Like I'm like, you,
00:41:26
Speaker
Be so real. Like I don't know why this book needed to take place over the course of three days. It could have been three months, you know? Oh wow. How many books have you DNF? I have to DNF to two. You guys, that's, that's good for me. I only DNF to one all of last year. I did DNF to this year so far though. Storygraph won't let you do it by year. So I can't tell like how many I've done this year, but I DNF like quite a bit this year too. And that's been freeing.
00:41:52
Speaker
But it'll tell you how many like you've DNF'd like on Storygraph period at 25 books since I've been on Storygraph. So I've DNF'd 5 since I've been on Storygraph. Let's get that number up. I didn't use Storygraph to track my DNF's last year. So this year I've DNF'd 6. Yeah, like I just DNF'd Ashley Poston's new book. I got an ARC of it. I said, Oh, no, I can't do this, which made me really sad because I love Seven Year Slip.
00:42:21
Speaker
with this book, I was like to her, like what happened? And then our friend Selena read it and said that it was like a three-star read for her. So I felt very like validated that I didn't finish it. So that's a fun feeling. Yeah. Community and being a hater. Yeah. Look. Full circle, baby. Yeah.
Anticipated Upcoming Reads
00:42:42
Speaker
But to end on a positive note, what are some books that you guys are looking forward to either coming out in quarter two or reading in quarter two?
00:42:50
Speaker
I'm gonna be starting Mortal Instruments very soon, like probably within the next few days, I'm gonna start the first audio books. I'm very excited for that, especially just cause Cassandra Clare has so many good narrators. So like, I just know I'm gonna have a blast just like listening to them. Mae Whitman does the first book and I love Mae Whitman, like Katara, Slay. I wanna do Gold Rose Ranch by Elsie Silver. I am tired of like being left out. And one of the books is on my friend's TBR cause Selena wants me to read it. I forget which one though.
00:43:18
Speaker
a false start a false start which is the last one so you got to read all the rest to get to that one oh god um but i'm excited i'm excited like you know i'm in my cowboy carter era like i keep picturing myself like on a horse and like i just want to like feel like a little country cowboy like
00:43:40
Speaker
And then Primetime Romance by Kate Rob. I have an arc of that that I'm going to be starting soon. I really liked The Spell's Love. I think she's a good writer. So excited to see what she does with this one because all her books have some sort of like magical realism, yeah, magical element to the contemporary romance of it all. So I like that. And then I'm going to do The Ones We Hate by Katie Golightly, which I think Katie Golightly
00:44:04
Speaker
if she plays her cards right could be a really successful author. Her first book was not the best, but I saw, I saw the vision. Yeah. And I really liked the story. So I'm like, Oh, okay. Like she's got, I think she'll get better. So I'm excited for the second book in that series. And then I want to do not another love song by what's that girl's name? Julie Soto.
00:44:26
Speaker
Julie, so too. Other than that, I feel like I'm just kind of going based off of vibes the rest of the year. I don't think I have a lot of like, because I've already read so many arcs this year. So I would like to complete Cara Bastone's backlist too. So I think that'll be a mission of mine in Q2, Q3 maybe.
00:44:47
Speaker
Not another love song is at the top of my list as well. I think I'll be reading that one very soon since forever blessed us with an e-arc of that. I do want to read caution to the wind. I was initially waiting for the audiobook to read it, but I don't love the narrators that they chose, so I think I'll read it physically.
00:45:06
Speaker
The ex-mouse was on my list, so I'm reading that right now. I also have the friendship study on my list. I want to do that one on audio because it's on Hoopla and Kayla really enjoyed it. So I'm thinking I'm going to add that one. I was also thinking about trying Lotus by Jennifer Hartman because a bunch of our mutuals are massive, massive Jennifer Hartman stans. So I asked Tanya her favorite and she said, Lotus.
00:45:32
Speaker
I think I will try and do that one. Also there was a like a hockey romance series that Jasmine just read and like was obsessed with and the audios are coming out soon so I might try and add those to my like audio list. I can't remember the name, I'm sorry. All right so for mine, I also have not another love song so I will probably be reading that this month.
00:45:54
Speaker
I really also want to read how to end a love story by which comes out in just a couple days. So I am really excited to read that. I already put a hold on it on Libby. So I have like three physicals. Do you want one? Three physicals. Because they sent me the ARC and then they sent me two finished copies.
00:46:19
Speaker
And then yeah, I can Yeah, I will take thank you so much. There's a couple PRH audios that I'd like to get to one of them is the kiss countdown, which I think will be my next book by edit Easton. I'm not sure if this is her debut. I think it is.
00:46:39
Speaker
Oh, cute. Yeah, he's like an astronaut and they're fake dating. So I am excited for that one. And I will be reading slow dance this month. Finally, but I'm really scared. Part of me hopes you hate it so we can do it. Defend a book. No, no, no, no, no, no. No, I'm not going up against you to no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. No, no, no. Spit me out. It's like you don't take notes like
00:47:09
Speaker
just take notes if you if you don't like something and you feel strongly about it tell us why but also be prepared for opposition i'm not good at confrontation you guys uh anyway we do have to do a definitive book where i'm not by myself though so hmm
00:47:30
Speaker
So that's like some of the stuff that I'm really looking forward to. I mean, obviously at this point, I will probably have finished or be close to finishing the Just For The Summer audiobook by the time this episode comes out. So five stars already. I like, I already know. I'm so excited you guys. I don't even have to, I don't even have to listen to know as soon as it's like, you know, that meme that it's like a video of like a person just places one second of a song and then they stop for the like, Oh my God. Yeah.
00:47:58
Speaker
That'll be me with his audiobook. Like, Brandy, you know how you're like you picture Julia Weyland's voice whenever you're reading? I do that with Christine Lakin and Christine Lakin, Brittany Presley and Chris Evacker. Like I just like I pick the personality and I'm like, who's gonna fit it most? But fucking getting Christine Lakin back. I'm like, oh, thank you, Abby. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much. I love that she cares about her audiobooks. I love that. Because she could have easily been like, oh, like, let's just go ahead and then book Julia Weyland for like
00:48:27
Speaker
You know, everyone, everyone. Yeah. Because that's what she does with
Personal Plans and Events
00:48:31
Speaker
Zach. I mean, obviously she's going to do it with Zachary. But then I was like, oh, she's never going to write a man of color because she wants to keep Zachary.
00:48:40
Speaker
Also, Abby is credited in Audible. If you pre-order the Audible book right now, she's credited. She does do the author's note this time, but she hasn't done them previously, I don't think. So this time, she's actually credited. Oh, that makes me so happy. Yeah. Yeah, because it says Zach Weber, Christine Lincoln, and Abby Jimenez on the narrated by. So love that for her. That's good.
00:49:05
Speaker
Yeah, so those are some of the books I'm really looking forward to. And I mean, obviously, like, while love is coming out soon, funny stories coming out soon. You guys aren't getting the hardcover? No, no. Well, I don't have to ask you, Kendra, Randy, you're not.
00:49:22
Speaker
No, I think they're stupid for doing hardcovers for her books. So I shall be waiting. I do like the spine though. It's cute. Yeah. Like I didn't even buy the Happy Place paperback because I was like, why? Like why? I talked myself out of it because I was like, I don't even like this book. All right. I don't like it. Yeah. I will be buying the paperback a year from now. Um,
00:49:46
Speaker
Yeah, I'm getting the, like, Illumicrate hardcover because I have all of her books on that Illumicrate hardcover, so that'll satiate me for having it on my shelf until the paperback comes out. That's good.
00:49:59
Speaker
I do really like the UK version of Funny Story, like the cover for that one. I do. I think it's a really good cover. Yeah. All right. Anything else we're looking forward to in the next quarter, guys? Finishing school. I'll be turning 26. You're going to stream 26 by Paramore?
00:50:20
Speaker
Honestly, yeah, like what else am I looking forward to? Yeah, I'm just like weather getting warmer weather getting warmer My friend Haley is gonna come out and visit me in June Madison's gonna come out here in July Kayla and I'm planning to go see you during the summer June or July one of those months I'm going to Canada this spring so I'm excited I'm gonna bam
00:50:47
Speaker
No, not BAMF. I'm going to Vancouver. Elsie. Elsie, call me up. You should tell her. Be like, I'll be in. Hey, Gurley. Yeah, I've been there. I've been there before, but we're going with back with some friends. So I'm really excited. So it's so much fun. Yeah. Q3, I'm going to Tahoe.
00:51:04
Speaker
Yeah, I'm excited so it's I have like enough stuff Yeah, my parents are coming out over the summer Bailey's coming out over the summer Good job on q1 guys. Yeah