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Welcome to Plans Are Booked, a podcast for every reader, hosted by Molly Galler, Stephanie Blackburn, and Kaitlin Mattison. We're three friends who love to read, swap books, and count down until the film and TV adaptations of our favorites are released. Follow us on Instagram, @plansarebooked, or reach out to us directly at plansarebooked@gmail.com.
Molly Galler (00:01)
Welcome to Plans Are Booked, a podcast for every reader. I'm Molly Geller.
Stephanie (00:06)
Stephanie Blackburn.
Kaitlin (00:08)
And I'm Caitlin Madison. Welcome to chapter 33. Episode 33 is about to be in the books. I can't believe it. I know we're saying this like every episode now, but like 33, like I was at my friend Elise's this weekend and she's like, so how many she's like, I'm not caught up. Like how many episodes are there of plans or books? And I was like 32 and she like choked on her drink. She was like, is it every other week? I was like, it's every week. And she was like,
Molly Galler (00:17)
I know.
Stephanie (00:32)
She was like, is it bad? We don't know. And then, like, no one?
Kaitlin (00:36)
No wonder I'm behind. And I was like, yeah, dude, also I'm like out of bookmarks again. I was giving everybody in Portsmouth. Hopefully we got some new listeners. I just had them in my purse and there's all these like cute shop owners. And I was like buying book themed things for the people at this table and they were like, are you like a reader? Like blah, blah. I'm like, well, pardon me. Let me just take these bookmarks out of my purse. Like a kind of a freak show, but.
Stephanie (00:39)
Also, I was a bookmark fan and I had a bookmark fan for so long. So I completely got the new one. I just had it in my purse and there's all these cute shop leaders and I would like to buy book themed things for the people on the table. And they were like, you're a creator? I was like, well, I'll take a bookmark on my first day. I'm kind of a freak now, but I'm out. So I'm out. I'm out of the way. I'm beating everyone.
Molly Galler (00:47)
There's all these little cute chocolate books. And I was like buying both themed things for the B .P .C. And they were like, are you from here? And I was like, yeah, I'm from New York. Things both are coming first. They were like, we're trying to do a free telltale. I'm out of here. So I'm out of here. I'm beating everybody and I'm pretty sure we're handing out the works because I want to have a shooting that.
Kaitlin (01:03)
I'm out again. So I'm out. I'm out twice. I'm beating everybody at this table. I'm pretty sure with handing out bookmarks because I've gone through two batches so far.
Stephanie (01:08)
you know, I'm going to have to go out there because I have an issue with that so... I don't know. I...
Molly Galler (01:14)
I love that you do that. I had a bunch in my purse during the big two week vacation and like every family member I saw, every friend I saw, I was like, my gosh, I brought this for you. And they were like, you brought this across the ocean? Like, yes, it's that important to me that you rep the podcast.
Stephanie (01:18)
Thank you.
Okay. And then we'll be back in a second. See you all in a little bit.
And meanwhile, I brought an envelope full of them to Chicago that time, a couple of weekends ago. And then as I walked through each bookstore, I started to have guilt about like, are they going to catch me on camera and they're going to think that I'm doing something bad? So then I just didn't stick a bookmark.
Molly Galler (01:45)
Okay, I think of myself as the biggest goody goody of this group, but that is maybe the most goody goody thing you've ever said.
Kaitlin (01:45)
Thank you.
Yeah, no, I have no, I don't care. I'm like, what's the worst thing they're gonna do? Recycle it? Like, I don't care, it's fine. What I...
Molly Galler (02:00)
I also tuck them into the books. I don't let them stick out.
Stephanie (02:01)
No, I wasn't going to, but I just figured I would still be on camera doing something shady and then I would get in trouble with airport security. It just seemed...
Kaitlin (02:03)
Yes.
No.
You're fine. That's fine.
Molly Galler (02:13)
Ma 'am, please stop providing utility to people by adding bookmarks to the books.
Kaitlin (02:19)
It's totally fine. I think what I'm going to do is so to get into the catch up this coming Friday, I will be done teaching. And I think that we should definitely bring bookmarks to my re -retirement party and leave them everywhere we go. Because the seaport is some place that's a place we have not hit up yet in terms of leaving things.
Molly Galler (02:24)
So.
Stephanie (02:25)
to do my practice for Friday. I'm going to be teaching in high school.
Molly Galler (02:28)
You can put me in charge of that and also there is a Porter Square books location in the seaport Correct they have a second very small location I went to a book event there like a few years ago
Stephanie (02:33)
and we don't ever work out because the scene work is something that's a place we have not yet in terms of the events. You can.
yeah.
Kaitlin (02:49)
Wait, what?
A few years ago? I'm just finding out about it now?
Molly Galler (03:01)
Yes, it's near, you know where Streka is? So if you keep walking straight back, it's in that next block.
Kaitlin (03:03)
Yes, of course I do. my lord. Okay, so one of the shop owners, it was actually Gus and Ruby's, which you guys know and love that place. Shout out to stationery stores, my second favorite kind of store below books. The woman, the person that was working, I don't want to say woman because I just gendered her and I'm not, I'm not totally sure, but.
Stephanie (03:15)
Shout out to Stationary Sports, my second viewer friend and supporter below books. The person that wrote this book, working at Best Buy, I talked to this person before the event was there, I think they're a teacher. Actually, like I heard him talking about it, I don't know if you've ever heard of him there? And they were saying, we too...
Kaitlin (03:27)
The person that was working at Gus and Ruby, which I have talked to this person before, they're always there. I think they're a teacher, actually. I feel like I've heard them talking about it. I left a couple of bookmarks there and they were saying, we should go to coffee shops and basically like any place that has a bulletin board, we should just push pin some up. So like, you know how there's like piano lessons and babysitting and lawn mowing and like take one, you know?
Molly Galler (03:31)
Brilliant.
Stephanie (03:41)
coffee shops and basically like any place that has a full newborn, we push them in some way.
So, like, you know, there's like, panelists that maybe say it, and I'm really like, take one, you know? And then I'm just, there's a question, so I frankly shouldn't do that. So, I don't know, if you're looking for someone to do this week's stuff, find a small and simple word, and just chat them up. It will bring joy, I don't think it brings me such joy to give people the work, because no, it's like, no thanks, because it's like, actually useful. Super useful, I think, it's a little shout out to -
Kaitlin (03:56)
That was their suggestion, so I feel like we should do that.
Molly Galler (04:00)
I'm very into that idea.
Kaitlin (04:02)
So I don't know if you're looking for something to do this week stuff, find some bulletin boards, tack them up. It will bring you joy. I'm not kidding. It brings me such joy to give people bookmarks because no one is like, no thanks, because it's like actually useful.
Molly Galler (04:06)
Super useful and also shout out to our designer Jacqueline because they're gorge.
Stephanie (04:20)
and I'm like, I don't know. I'm going to the classes after this one. I'm going to the classes after this one. I'm going to the classes after this one. I'm going to the classes after this one. I'm going to the classes after this one. I'm going to the classes after this one. I'm going to the classes after this one. I'm going to the classes after this one. I'm going to the classes after this one. I'm going to the classes after this one. I'm going to the classes after this one. I'm going to the classes after this one. I'm going to the classes after this one. I'm going to the classes after this one. I'm going to the classes after this one. I'm going to the classes after this one. I'm going to the classes after this one. I'm going to the classes after this one. I'm going to the classes after this one. I'm going to the classes after this one. I'm going to the classes after this one. I'm going to
Kaitlin (04:21)
There's everybody that gets their hands on them is like, this is really nice. And I'm like, I know we only do classy stuff because we're classy people. And this is what I tell them. So, you know, hopefully when you meet these people, they think you're classy. We are talking about. This summer will be different, which is Carly Fortune's third book. We've all read all three of her books. This one just came out in the last month. She's.
Molly Galler (04:37)
We are coming out this month, which is probably much more complicated than we thought.
Stephanie (04:48)
I didn't think you were going to add the summer part. I think she has nailed the summer beach pool whatever read.
Molly Galler (04:48)
She's playing the first game here, it's like the week of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I feel like early function really has now become like an official clamp, clock, whatever you want to call it, on some of her second chance. I just...
Kaitlin (04:49)
Like if Lynn Painter is like the queen of teen rom -coms, I feel like Harley Fortune really has now with her third book, like an official clamp claw, whatever you want to call it on summer second chance.
Molly Galler (05:09)
I am fresh off of three days in Vermont. Two of my Wheaton College besties live up there now.
Kaitlin (05:14)
Obviously we're going to continue our catch up, but I realized that I forgot to mention what the hell this episode was about when I said chapter 33. So I backtracked a little and here we are. We've had some New England travel since the last episode, Maul, kick us off.
Stephanie (05:18)
So, I'm going to stop and get back to you.
Molly Galler (05:37)
So Scout and I got in the car and we drove up there on a Friday afternoon. It was actually beautiful weather. I love what like a sunny summer road trip. There's just something about like windows down, music cranking, like ice cold bev in your hand. I don't know. It's just like great.
Kaitlin (05:53)
I totally had that going on this weekend as well. It felt really nice.
Molly Galler (05:56)
Yeah, mine was peach and apple in case anybody was wondering. We had such a good time. So it used to be in my bestie group of college girls that there are a bunch of us who lived in Boston and the other girls lived in New York. And we've now been redistributed. So I'm the lone wolf here in Boston. There's two girls in Connecticut and two in Vermont. So the tides have turned and I'm now doing a lot of driving these days. But it was great. And I've been up to Burlington now a couple of times and.
Kaitlin (06:00)
We have to do that. So it's a really good time to speak with the college of Western California, and see what the philosophy of this is doing. It was very, very good.
Molly Galler (06:23)
We just had such a fun outing on Saturday. We went out to lunch at this awesome vegetarian place called the Daily Planet. They made a blueberry lavender lemonade. That was just insane. And I took two sips and I turned to my friend Helen and I was like, this needs to be a frozen popsicle, like immediately. So hopefully I can try to recreate that. We did a bunch of shopping. I'm now the proud owner of a green sweatshirt that says Vermont State of Mind.
gonna replace my Lakewood and Basaki sweatshirt that is quite literally hanging by a thread.
Kaitlin (06:51)
I need to pause for one moment. I know that Steph is with me on this, but I probably have 35 sweatshirts. I'd say 25 of them are hoodie style. You're talking about just a single sweatshirt that has to be replaced right now?
Molly Galler (07:00)
I've been clinging to the Lake Winnipesaukee sweatshirt because of its like...
Stephanie (07:06)
Nostalgia.
Kaitlin (07:20)
Is it like the same color? Like, why is it like out with the world all of a sudden?
Molly Galler (07:25)
I just felt like I didn't want to get rid of it because of like the emotional attachment. I got it with my cousins and like, I love it so much, but it's really falling apart. And so...
Kaitlin (07:28)
Okay, I'm with you now I Thought you were saying like you couldn't possibly have one more sweatshirt without getting rid of one and I was like, whoa. Whoa. Whoa Okay, okay, okay I got confused for a second and I was like Molly
Stephanie (07:37)
I'm going to turn it off. And so I thought you were saying that you couldn't possibly have one first question. I wanted to ask a full one. I don't think we can do that. OK. OK. OK. OK. OK.
Molly Galler (07:42)
no, no. I don't have a one in one out policy for apparel. I just, no, no. I just was like, this is such a fun, happy memory now of like getting this Vermont sweatshirt and I'm like having such a wonderful time. I feel like now I'm ready to release the Wendell Basaki sweatshirt. So I'll do that sweatshirt in my closet. And then we just had a bunch of other delicious food outings and my first ever maple creamy.
Stephanie (07:56)
I've never had one.
Kaitlin (08:14)
It's chef's kiss every time.
Molly Galler (08:16)
So I first was like, I said, Helen, what is the difference between this and like classic soft serve? I just don't get it. Is it just that it's like maple tasting? No, the reason they call it a creamy is because the milk fat percentage is higher than traditional soft serve. So not only do you get the maple flavor if that's the one you choose, but you can also get creamy vanilla, creamy chocolate, creamy raspberry. Anyway, I went for the maple because that's like the quintessential thing.
I'm such a die -hard chocolate person. I was like, I bet I'm not gonna like this. I took one lick of that ice cream cone and my eyes rolled into the back of my head. Like it was unbelievable. And then this morning I had a maple frosted donut, equally delightful. I just really dig the food in Vermont.
Kaitlin (08:43)
I'm happy for you that well and I know that I know that your friends brought these for you so that they they had you in mind but most of the times when I come across a maple donut it has
Molly Galler (09:07)
or they have to eat them right? But there's just many swimmers when I can't possibly fill them up and have them eat them. Like, when they can't have them. So I'm very glad that we were able to experience that sans bacon because, for instance, my favorite part of the chop is the square dumplings. Out of all the dumplings that I've had, that's still the favorite place that I've gone to. And although I couldn't have a favorite dumpling, that place is still the best. Can you say something for me? I like can't say a lot.
Kaitlin (09:12)
bacon like candied bacon on it so I'm very glad that you were able to experience that sans bacon because for instance my favorite donut shop is Union Square Donuts out of all the donuts that I've had that's still my favorite place that I've gone to and although I've never had a voodoo donut that place is still on my list.
Stephanie (09:13)
Canes is not up there for you?
Kaitlin (09:35)
I like Canes a lot, but I think Union Square, I've only had Canes once, I think is part of the problem. So I've had like a really epic Funfetti donut from Canes that was like up there as a donut, but I don't know that I can like say with certainty that Canes is up there because I just haven't experienced enough of it. I've probably had Union Square donuts.
Molly Galler (09:37)
But I think humans wear... I only have canes once. I think it's part of the problem. So I've had to do a lot of combed -teeth on my canes. It was like up there as a helmet. But I don't know that I can say certain fetish canes is up there because I just have a shimmy nose stuff there. I've shown you like how canes for dogs. I mean not many times. But I do have that in more pretty pretty ways. And it used to be seasonal and you could fold up the trunks.
Kaitlin (10:00)
I don't even know how many times, but I do get that maple one pretty frequently and it used to be seasonal and people love it so much that now you can get it all the time, which is really nice for me when I want a donut. Blackbird Donuts doesn't do it for me. I hope they don't listen to this, but they don't. They just don't. And there's like more locations of them now. And I'm like, what, people love this. I don't get it. But I will say during Boston Calling,
Stephanie (10:00)
I know you've not heard me talk about this, but I do get that meatball pretty frequently and it used to be seasonal and people loved it so much that now you can get it all the time which is really nice for me when I have a dog. Blackbeard Doggoats doesn't do it for me, I hope they don't listen to this, but they don't, they just don't. And there's more information on that than I have, but people love this, I'll get it. But I will say, during the last part of the video,
Molly Galler (10:06)
and now you can get an all -time, which is really nice for me. You want to feel it. Actors don't do it for me. I hope they don't. So that's a plus. They don't. They just don't. And there's a lot of people who do something now. People want this. I've got it. But I can only say, guys, I'm so proud of you. Somebody who brought me to the front, you should call the pregame front.
Kaitlin (10:28)
Somebody brought, we did a brunch, like a pregame brunch. Somebody brought donuts from Blackbird and they have a new one that is in everything bagel donut. So it is a sweet and savory situation where they cut the bait, the, I'm sorry, they cut the donut in half and put actual whipped cream cheese in the middle. And it is, I can't even totally describe it because it's like,
Molly Galler (10:31)
Somebody got them to marker and they have a rule that is in every single vehicle. So it is a sweet and savory situation where they cut the doughnut in half.
I would be willing to taste this because I love everything bagel as a seasoning. Shout out to the Trader Joe's everything bagel seasoning supreme.
Kaitlin (10:54)
It's got the sweetness of a donut, but then it has all the seasonings and the cream cheese of an everything bagel. It's really, I thought I was going to hate it. I was like, this is foul and it was delicious.
Stephanie (11:08)
everything was a season of charge. So, actually, why not? Because it's a second season, it's Christmastime, why not? Because it's now here at Watertown. And I just think...
Molly Galler (11:14)
I actually really like Blackbird. I'm not prepared to say it's better than Union Square Donuts, because I do think Union Square is amazing, but Blackbird Donuts is now open here in Watertown. And I recently had a coffee glazed one that was like really excellent. I think the thing with donuts is...
Kaitlin (11:17)
But it's not as good as the Vietnamese coffee one from Union Square Donuts in my personal opinion. I don't know if you know this about me, but I'm like pretty into donuts. I'm pretty into donuts. We might have to have a donut off.
Stephanie (11:25)
I would happily drive to Canes.
Molly Galler (11:35)
Are we going to have to do like, and we might have to do an on air head to head tasting of these donuts.
Okay, I'll represent.
Kaitlin (11:48)
I've never been there. I've only had canes that people have brought to like something.
Stephanie (11:52)
Well, it used when I worked downtown, I could walk to that one, but I would drive up to Rovia to get some.
Kaitlin (11:55)
That sounds like a fun thing that we should probably do.
Molly Galler (12:00)
I think we should do this. Steph can represent Team Keynes, I'll represent Team Blackbird, and you can be Team Union Square.
Stephanie (12:04)
You
We each bring like a smorgasbord.
Kaitlin (12:09)
Done. My favorite location. Yeah, my favorite one, my favorite Union Square Donuts location is the one in Brookline because it's like small and like it's, I don't want to say no for alls, but like it's great in there. And then they also have a stall on Timeout Market now. Yeah.
Molly Galler (12:12)
It's like, what's that expression? What's that expression? Pick your fighter. That's what we're going to do.
Yeah, they've expanded in a great way. I will also say the Union Square Donuts founder, Josh, is an epic person. I've had the pleasure of meeting him back from my food blogging days. And he was a co -host of an event that Union Square did with the Boston Wine School. And it was pairings of wine and donuts. I went with my friend, Alyssa. It was so awesome.
Kaitlin (12:38)
and you should do this.
I remember you blogging about it and I was so ripped you didn't invite me. Do you remember me like sending you a scathing text and I was like what the hell Molly?
Stephanie (12:48)
I was like, what the hell?
Molly Galler (12:58)
I apologize that you did not come with me. that was so fun.
Kaitlin (13:03)
Does it still exist, that event?
Molly Galler (13:06)
I'm sure that they're doing other events like that, if not with Boston Wine School, with other partners like that. They're always doing creative tasting, things like that. So if I see it again, I will be sure that you are my first call. Thank you. Steph, what have you been up to while I was in the Green Mountain State?
Stephanie (13:19)
Diddley squat. yesterday I found out that my favorite, I mean, I love scout, but Skylar is my favorite dog.
Kaitlin (13:26)
You just insulted Nemo in like an absolutely major way.
Molly Galler (13:31)
I was like, where are you going with this?
Stephanie (13:36)
I didn't want to insult. But that's different. Nemo's like mine. Yeah, no, sorry. I mean, favorite neighborhood dog. And I found...
Kaitlin (13:44)
Yeah, I mean, we thought you were going to. Yeah, just.
Molly Galler (13:44)
There seem to be different superlatives for each of the dogs.
Kaitlin (13:50)
And I have a little bit of a fear of the word.
Stephanie (13:55)
I found out that she was home alone and so I went over and hung out in the backyard with her and read for a while. I've just been reading, cooking, using my herbs from the front porch. I really, maybe I've been doing stuff. I honestly couldn't tell you. If you asked me what I did on Friday, crickets. I literally don't remember what I did on Friday. Anyway, it's not important.
Kaitlin (14:09)
Now I'm just looking at donut websites. So I had to do a pivot. I was supposed to go to Portland for a couple of days with two of my good friends from college. And one of them,
just has like a lot has like a puppy and a dad that hasn't been well and a renovation in her house and a renovation at our summer house. And it quickly became like Portland's not going to work. So one of the friends lives in Rye, New Hampshire, which is the town next to Portsmouth. And we pivoted to hanging out at her house instead, which is fabulous because I love Portsmouth. I love the shopping. I love the food. I love the vibes. I was telling Steph from.
Stephanie (14:35)
just as a walker. As a puppy and a dap, it has to be a lot of work. A run of teaching in her house and a run of teaching in her summer house. It's just so much more. So one of the things I did was I tried an answer, which is to have an ex -courtship and we ended up hanging out at her house instead. Which is fabulous because I love courtship, I love shopping, I love food, I love the vibe.
Molly Galler (14:41)
and I wanted to kind of comment on how it's been.
to a house instead, which is fabulous because I live in a house instead of a little shop and I have food, I have a lot of things. I was part of staff from, you know, staff was part of the people that entered into the house and the resource and at the start of the week, we had a third house in Fort Smith. It had like three cool houses, cool wood, it was like...
Kaitlin (15:04)
you know, because Steph is one of the people that introduced me to the shop Cinnamon Rainbows. And I was telling her there's like three new surf shops in Portsmouth that have like really cool vibes, cool clothes, like, and Elise was like, I always feel like such a poser when I like buy a Roxy sundress. I was like, don't. I was like, I love this stuff. I've never even touched a surfboard. Who cares?
Molly Galler (15:19)
Wait, the best?
Stephanie (15:19)
Your surfboard adjacent though, so it's fine. You're friends with the surfer.
Kaitlin (15:32)
I don't know what that means, but I'll take it. Yeah, sure. Okay. I mean, does that even count? And you haven't even gone recently, or if you have, you didn't tell me.
Molly Galler (15:44)
The way that Elise said she feels like a poser about the clothes, that's how I feel when Steph and I get in line at the burrito place that's next to the surf shop and people who have been like out on their board for hours are coming into Kenneburrito to refuel and I'm like, I'll have the huge veggie burrito with all the sides from literally just driving there. That's like the exertion.
Kaitlin (15:55)
Mmm.
Right. So news flash, I don't know if you know this, but Cinnamon Rainbows is not in that location anymore. They moved. So they moved and they're not next to the burrito shop anymore.
Stephanie (16:06)
Because it kept flooding. I'm not even sure if secret spots still exist. I have no idea.
Kaitlin (16:19)
I don't know either. I feel like we drove near there. Yeah, I don't think it is. But we did drive past Jenis Beach, I waved at it for you. And Summer Fridays are just about the most glorious thing to ever come into existence. So Elise had herself a Summer Friday, I did too, because it was field day. And since I'm part time, I'm not required to like...
Stephanie (16:20)
I think Elise was saying she didn't think it was still there.
just about the most glorious thing ever to come into existence. So, Elise had her song on Friday. I didn't do it because it was field day, since part -time and not a prior to like hosting a concert or whatever. So, I boogied my way up to the court today. After having heard about the front door, it was not accepted. I boogied up there and, you know, there's like no traffic. I was like,
Kaitlin (16:48)
host the ring toss or whatever. So I boogied my way up to Portsmouth after having put an offer on a house that was not accepted. I boogied up there and you know, there's like no traffic. I was like 11 o 'clock on Friday morning. I got up there. She was like, do you want to go to the beach plum for lunch? I was like, yeah, I do. So we went to the beach plum. Have you guys been there?
Molly Galler (16:56)
Sure have. Yes, it's where we got the milkshakes on the way out of town. You know it.
Stephanie (17:03)
I was talking to a friend, she was like, do you want to go to the beach for lunch? I was like, yeah, I do. So, you want to take a picture of you guys having lunch? Sure. Yes, come on. They have lots and lots of options there. But they have everything from lobster bisque,
Kaitlin (17:16)
They have mall. Well, I'm sure mall can get like a grilled cheese there and some other things, but they have everything from lobster bisque to like, I had a toasted crab meat sandwich, like every kind of seafood, anything that you could possibly imagine. And then they also have like 50 flavors of ice cream. You usually, you usually are in line and waiting for food for a substantial amount of time. If it's the weekend.
Stephanie (17:24)
I had a toasted crab meat sandwich. Like every kind of seafood and anything you could possibly not eat and then they also got like 50 flavors of ice cream. yes, it just came back into my head. You two are involved in food for a substantial amount of items that we have. And also there's some aggressive work and analysis up there. It just gets me nuts though. And we were...
Molly Galler (17:25)
We have been there.
Yeah.
Kaitlin (17:45)
And also as the summer progresses and people are renting houses up there, like it just gets nutso. And we were two of like eight people there because we went at like 145 on a Friday and there was like nobody there and it was glorious. And we just had like this, you know, I had a black raspberry frap. I ate my crab meat sandwich.
Molly Galler (18:06)
I mean, remember in my case, this is how I got to be. She was like, this is great. And so.
Kaitlin (18:10)
Elise got a lobster roll and coleslaw. Then she got a pistachio fry. I mean, we were, and I'm just like, this is how all the Fridays should be. And she was like, this is great. and then we, hung out on her deck and we were drinking Rose and I was like, waiting to find out if I bought a house, which I didn't. And then we went out to dinner and we went downtown to this bar that she has been trying to get us to go to like for years because.
Stephanie (18:23)
a hungar on the cross for Rosetta, and then we went out to dinner and went out to this bar that she is trying to get us to go to later.
Molly Galler (18:33)
far, she has been trying to get us to go to like for years because before all these years we arrived on the other side of town when we were in college and after college so like I know this area really well and we'll be there soon at least but until like three years ago she had been looking for work and then we'd seen so we'll find you back to like basics here like if you're gonna be like you're gonna be spending time in the chat or in the head and you're just going to be like and
Stephanie (18:38)
for years because before Elise moved to Lye, her mom had been there when we were in college and after college. So like I missed her even really badly all because of Elise. But until like three years ago, she had been living in New York and then DC. So we're finally back to like basics here. Like where Elise lived my first matter of life, which is kind of fun. And so she comes to me and is talking about this place called the Gathlete, which is just a hilarious name.
Kaitlin (18:40)
Before Elise moved to Rye, her mom had lived there when we were in college and after college. So like, I know this area really well, all because of Elise, but until like three years ago, she had been living in New York and then DC. So we're finally back to like basics here. Like, okay, this is like where Elise lived when I first met her kind of thing, which is kind of fun. And so she constantly is talking about this place called the Gaslight, which is just a hilarious name for a bar.
Molly Galler (19:03)
So she constantly is having to use this gas light which is a whole new thing for a matter of now because of the way the batteries are used. So it's basically like three stories. So basically, from what I've heard, it's about...
Kaitlin (19:09)
now because of the way that that phrase is used. But it's basically like three stories. The basement is like, from what I hear, I haven't been down there, kind of a sketchy like pizza joint. The main floor is a restaurant and then the top floor is a club at night. And I think it's only a club Thursday through Sunday maybe. And they have the largest outdoor bar area like out of any Portsmouth bar downtown.
Molly Galler (19:18)
find a special <|it|> <|translate|> <|0.00|> pizza place. The main store is our spot, the popcorn is the club at night. And I think it's only the club Thursdays or Sundays. In fact, the art is out in the market, out of any post -it art .com. And they have the security and quality of your pieces, and the greatness and the variety of art that they have. And I heard...
Stephanie (19:18)
The main floor is the restaurant and then the top floor is the club at night and I think it's only a club on Thursdays or Sundays. And they have these waterpistons out in the water are a recovery at the end of the park, down the mountain. And they have security people with earpieces and you're getting wristbands and we got in there before you had a day of cover and people on my part. And it was just like, the people watching at this place is all me.
Kaitlin (19:36)
And they have like security people with earpieces and like, you're getting wristbands and like, we got in there before you had to pay a cover and like the whole nine yards. And Elise was like, the people watching at this place is always so good. Can we please go to the bar and just like, I'm sorry to say, make fun of people. and I was like, let's do it. So we went and unbeknownst to us, there was a nineties cover band. They were so good.
Stephanie (19:48)
I was like, let's do it. So he left. And I noticed there was a nice cover of it.
They were so good. We were like, they did not look like they were gonna accept. It was four kids, one of them had high school and we were like, this is it. They were all so good. All four of them were in rum and diet clothes, which one of us was going to be for something on the diet clothes. I can't even look. We didn't know what to think. These four guys roll up. They ordered the diet clothes with mom.
Kaitlin (20:03)
We were like, they did not look like they were going to be good. It was four dudes. One of them had a violin and we were like, this isn't going to be good. They came up to the bar. All four of them ordered rum and diet cokes, which once the last time you heard somebody order a rum and diet coke, because I can't, I couldn't remember. They, we didn't know they were the band. These four guys roll up. They ordered the diet cokes with rum. Three of them take their drinks. The fourth guy.
Molly Galler (20:14)
Roman diet folks, which was the most interesting form of diet folks, is I can get back to my house. We didn't know what to think. These four bags roll up. They order about a pot of rum. Three of them take their drink. The fourth bag troughs it and slams the plastic cup on the floor. They then proceed to walk me into the stage area and open the door.
Stephanie (20:28)
Three of her favorite friends, the fourth guy, trumps it and slams the plastic cup on the floor. They then proceed to walk me up to the stage area and I'm like, my god, this is the band. The guy that slammed the wrong guy was the drummer. He was once the head of the band. I was rolling up the floor. He was vigorous. Then a couple of years later, he got married so fast.
Kaitlin (20:30)
chugs it and slams the plastic cup on the floor. They then proceed to walk over to the stage area and I'm like, my God, this is the band. The guy that slammed the rum and Diet Coke is the drummer. He was one of the better musicians in the band. I was rolling on the floor. It was ridiculous. Then a couple who had just gotten married showed up with no guests. It was like the bride and the groom. They were pretty drunk. It was only 930 at night.
Molly Galler (20:39)
This is the band. The guy that slammed from the side was the drummer. He was one of the guys that was in the band. I was rolling on the floor. He was in the band. Then a couple of guys came out in the area and showed up with no hats. It was like a flying group. They were pretty hot. They were all in hot clothes. And they got to the bar and all of a sudden this guy came up and started playing.
Stephanie (20:54)
with no cats. It was a crying bird. It was only 9 -20.
Kaitlin (21:00)
And they got to the bar and Elise is like, this chick might like puke on her own wedding dress. And I was like, there's a chance. They're ordering Tom Collins's at the bar. Nuff said. They get their drinks. And this other couple to the right of me says, we'd like to pay for that couple's drinks that just got married. And they were like, do you know them? Like, can we tell them your names? And they were like, no, we don't know them. We just want to pay for their drinks.
Stephanie (21:03)
They got to the bar and Elisa's like, there's a chance. They're ordering Tom Thomas's. At the bar, Nuff said. They get their drinks and this other couple to the right of me says, we'd like to pay for that couple's drinks that just got married. And they were like, do you know them? Like, can we tell them? And they were like, nope, nope.
Molly Galler (21:08)
and I was like, there's a chance. There are atomic bombs. And I said, no, I said, they get the chance. And this other person, the writer, he says, we'd like to pay for that couple's drinks that just got here. And they were like, gee, they're hungry. But all of you, they're going to get a meal. And we just went.
And I was like, I was swimming. I need to drink some more tea right now. So I was like, I was like, they don't have any beer. So I was like, these people really was carrying too many little gift bags around. They had no friends with them. So they didn't drink at the workhouse tonight. And now it's like, getting all the bars and stuff and people are buying them drinks. Or more people are having a drink.
Kaitlin (21:30)
And I was like, that's so not, I mean, drinks aren't cheap anymore. So like that was, they weren't getting beers, you know what I mean? So I was like, that's really nice. These people, the groom was carrying two little gift bags around. They had no friends with them. So we're like, did they get married at a courthouse tonight? And now they're just like hitting all the bars and expecting people to like buy them drinks.
Stephanie (21:47)
So what did they do? They came to the workhouse today and now they're just like getting all the bars and stuff. I think people were like five in the face. Or were the families causing such drama that they were like, let's just leave? What do you think? I don't know. I don't know what this place is trying to cause. Like, I don't know what's going on at all. But they were there by themselves at 930 on a Friday night in June in court sitting in the answer at the gas station.
Kaitlin (21:58)
Was it a ruse? I don't know. I don't know what this is like some kind of like cosplay. Like I don't know what was going on at all, but they were there by themselves at 930 on a Friday night in June in Portsmouth, New Hampshire at the gaslight. So we were wildly entertained the whole time that we were there. We left before it started getting messy, but like.
Molly Galler (21:58)
I don't know what this is like sometimes, but cause, but like I don't know what was going on at all, but they were here by themselves at 930 on a Friday night in June in Wisconsin, Indiana, for the agglutination. So if you want to know why we came to the area, we left before it's like 10 o 'clock, we saw some people that were getting tired and exhausted, and we saw some people that were trying to get out of their homes.
Stephanie (22:16)
So we worked wild, we left before we started getting a C, but we saw some of the people that were getting carded, and I was like, I think I'm going to give this up. And it was just blast. We just had a great time. I truly felt that it was good. What do you say to that?
Kaitlin (22:23)
We saw some of the people that were getting carded and I looked at Elise and I was like, I think our time is up and we left. And it was just a blast. It was just a, we just had a great time.
Molly Galler (22:28)
I truly cannot remember the last time I went somewhere that tried to cover when you said that I was like,
Stephanie (22:41)
A million dollar cowboy bar last July. I charged a cover. Yeah, I did. I feel like no one had cash. We must have been using a card. I feel like someone probably paid the cover for all of us. Do you think someone did that? Did I do that?
Molly Galler (22:45)
It did?
Kaitlin (22:48)
Okay, tell me this, because I never have cash anymore. Will they take a card for a cover now?
Molly Galler (22:49)
Huh?
Kaitlin (22:59)
yeah, that happens. Yeah. Okay, well now, okay now that you say that, we need to remember to have cash. One of us.
Molly Galler (23:01)
That sounds right, but I wouldn't be.
Stephanie (23:07)
Well, except if you get there by a certain time, because Liv and I walked in one time and it was early enough that there wasn't a cover. It's probably like after eight o 'clock or something.
Kaitlin (23:13)
Well, that's what happened to us. Yeah.
Molly Galler (23:13)
This might be a hallucination, but I feel like they also maybe have an ATM inside. We'll see. We'll fact check it when we get there again.
Stephanie (23:20)
That could be.
Kaitlin (23:25)
Yeah. So anyways, we had a glorious time and then I went to my friends, Mike and Karen had a like farewell to their house party. I think they've lived there 11 years in Southie and they have this absolutely glorious roof deck. And since I was in New Hampshire, did I buy sparklers? Yes, I did. So I brought sparklers and we did like a little farewell toast to.
Stephanie (23:34)
They live there a lot in the airs in South Korea. They have this absolutely glorious roof deck. And since I was in the US, I bought sparklers, yes I did. So I bought sparklers and we did a little farewell toast to our house in South Korea, which has a lot of good memories. And...
Kaitlin (23:53)
their house in Southie, which has a lot of good memories and they're sad about it, but they're also excited because they're like quadrupling their square footage. So it's in the end, it's great, but like they're also moving to the burbs. It's just like a lot of change.
Stephanie (23:58)
But also like who wants to be like 40s and 50s and Southie surrounded by like 22 year olds.
Kaitlin (24:15)
so they live in a condo that has three other condos and everybody is their age or older. So I think that's been like the secret to their success for being able to stay as long as they did. But I will say like the last couple of years of St. Patrick's Day parades, they've just been like, I mean, you can like literally sit in their house and look out the window at people like peeing in their driveway. Like it's bad. So.
Molly Galler (24:15)
So they have a condo that has three other condos and everybody is their age or older. So I think that's been the secret to their success for me to stay as long as they did. But I will say, the last couple years, they've been great. They've been great. I'm really grateful to be able to sit in the house and look at what people are doing and driving and get the bathroom.
So yeah, it was fun. It was fun, but still, it was really cool. Yeah, it was fun at the same time. So I'm excited. I will say I felt like the weather this weekend really moved me into the summer state of mind. Obviously, I was away the previous two weeks, so I didn't get to feel all the 80 degree days that you guys had. But I just was like, yeah, summer is here. I'm feeling it.
Kaitlin (24:44)
Yeah, it was time. It was time, but it's still bittersweet and all of that. But yeah, it was a really, I would say a really nice summer weekend.
Yeah, I'm feeling it too. And now we're going to talk about a summary book. Okay, so this summer will be different. Carly Fortune's third book, she is a Canadian author. We've talked about her before because we do love her books. And when we started the podcast in November, she was one of the few authors that all three of us had already read both of her books. So we were like, she's a front runner for an early episode because
Stephanie (25:09)
Yeah, I'm feeling like it too. And now we're talking about some great books. Woo hoo! Okay, so this company will be different. Probably Fortune's third book. She is a Canadian author. We've talked about her before. We have to do other books. And we started podcasting Nova where she was one of the few authors that all three of us had already read both of her books. So we were like, she's a fun book to put on the episode because, you know, the comments are not very good at all.
Molly Galler (25:15)
This one will be different. Harley Fortune's third of, she is a Canadian copter. We've talked about four.
Kaitlin (25:35)
you know, the common denominator is we all have to have read the book for us to be able to talk about it. So she was one of our earlier episodes. And when this book was coming out,
Stephanie (25:38)
I think it was the book boyfriend episode wasn't it?
Kaitlin (25:50)
sure. I don't know.
Stephanie (25:52)
I think you had every summer after as a book, am I making this up? Am I misremembering? Isn't that how we mentioned her?
Molly Galler (25:59)
You're combining, you're not misremembering, you're combining, I think, we spoke about Every Summer After and Love in Other Words in the same episode. And Caitlin did talk about Love in Other Words as one of her favorite book boyfriend characters.
Stephanie (26:18)
I'm remembering now, continue.
Kaitlin (26:19)
Yeah, because what's his name with the crazy Greek last name in the dentist? Dad is like the one of the best book boyfriends of all time. What's his name? His last name, something like Stephanopoulos, basically. Yeah, close enough, close enough. OK, anywho, so we're back at Carly Fortune again because we love her and every summer after was her first book, which we adored.
Stephanie (26:22)
I think it's like Petropolis.
Molly Galler (26:27)
Once it's named, it's lost its purpose. I'm not listening to it. I'm using it as a tool. Hold on, I'll look it up. So we're back to part four for the answer to the question. And that is so after it was her first book, which we've worked. And that's it, actually. We've played many all three on that.
Kaitlin (26:48)
And we beat that's like the one to beat like that. We've all agreed on that. Like that her, her debut book is like the one to beat.
Stephanie (26:52)
like that, but currently it's like more of a D. I'm sorry, it's a drug. One of the drugs is an allergen control. I was gonna say E .Y. So I was right. Yeah.
Molly Galler (26:54)
I'm sorry, I'm just interrupting. Love another words, his name was Elliot Petropoulos.
Kaitlin (26:59)
I was gonna say Eli. Yeah, you were right. It's my book boyfriend and stuff knows his name. So this summer will be different. All of her books take place in Canada, but this is the first one that takes place in Prince Edward Island. And this is like, it's sort of a second chance romance. And I say sort of because the way that this book rolls out.
Stephanie (27:08)
So, this is a little different from all the folks who live in Canada, but this is a place that I would often go to. And this is like the sort of side of the chair that I use. And I think sort of...
Molly Galler (27:13)
and I say sorta because the way this whole couch is, we've got two female puppies, Lucy and Bridget, and they...
Kaitlin (27:29)
is we've got two female besties, Lucy and Bridget, and they become super close, like in their early 20s, and then they become roommates. And Bridget is from Prince Edward Island originally, so she's like...
You know, one of those kids that like would have a bumper sticker that's like your vacation is my hometown or what? You know what I mean? She's like one of those and she has a lot of pride about it. And she comes from like a great family and they've got a cool, funky house. And she has this brother that everybody calls Wolf, but his real name is Felix. And she takes Lucy home to Prince Edward Island.
Molly Galler (28:07)
as well as Felix. And she takes mostly home for example, with the first five pages of the book, and there's all the love for example, they're talking about Whiskers, Monster Box, they're talking about seafood, and the peach, and just like the culture there, people, and it sounds like a more old -fashioned approach to God pretty much. And I didn't really know what to talk about for the second half, but I just said it.
Kaitlin (28:14)
like within the first five pages of the book and Lucy falls in love with Prince Edward Island. Like they talk about oysters nonstop. They talk about seafood and the beach and just like the culture there and the people. And it's like, it sounds like a more LL Bean version of like Cape Cod pretty much. And I didn't really know anything about Prince Edward Island. I've never been there before. And so this was like a fun book to like immerse yourself in, like when you're reading it and it's like.
You know, it's always fun when you're like, I'm jealous of this best friendship and whatnot, what have you. And basically within the first five pages, Lucy finds herself an oyster shucking, you know, book boyfriend, basically, who she like has a one night stand with. And, you know, within a day finds out that this is her best friend's brother and that she's really like goofed up. because her best friend Bridget has made a rule about.
Molly Galler (29:07)
because her best friend, Bridget, has made a rule about you're not to talk with my brother. And I don't think this has given anything away, but Bridget has established this rule because of something that's already happened. And so she was like, yeah, we're great brothers, but, like, stay away from him. And so...
Kaitlin (29:13)
you're not to fall in love with my brother. And I don't think this is giving anything away. But like Bridget has established this rule because of something that's already happened with one of her friends and her brother. And so she's already been burned. And so she's like, Yeah, my brother's great. But but like, stay away from him in that way. And so that's kind of the seed that gets planted at the beginning of the book. And the reason that I say
Stephanie (29:19)
that would originally establish this rule because of something that aren't happening at all in the world. She's not a fun. And so she's like, yeah, I think it's great, but, but, like, stay away from him and Papa. And so.
Kaitlin (29:42)
I hesitate to call it a second chance romance is because it's like, they never date. They have this one night stand that really sparked something and then they're both hands off from each other for years because they both care so much about Bridget that they're like, we're not going to chance this. This could really goof a lot of things up and it's just not worth it. Then slowly we get the like, well, is it maybe worth it? I don't know.
Stephanie (30:06)
And then as long as we get the like, so it's working, no. So that's kind of like third and second chance. But it's hard to call it a second chance because they don't actually make it. It's not like the best would work out. It's like, in every trip I make, I wouldn't have if you had known what it was from the go. So that's my thought for this.
Kaitlin (30:11)
And so that's kind of like the burn and the second chance. But it's hard to call it a second chance because they don't actually date. It's not like it doesn't work out. It's like it never should have happened and it wouldn't have if she had known who he was from the go.
So that's my synopsis.
Stephanie (30:30)
One of my ways of dealing with stress is that I plan vacations that I'm not necessarily going to take. It's just like a mental escape. And I went online and immediately looked at flights to PEI because Nova Scotia and PEI is where my relatives emigrated to from Scotland. My great great grandmother did. And so.
Molly Galler (30:34)
not necessarily machine -travelling, but method escape. And I'm going to end with a light here because there was a lot of feedback.
Stephanie (30:55)
My grandmother used to go up there all the time for vacations and I have heard about it as a sort of like magical place for so long and it's not a far place from Boston and yet I've never been. So maybe I need to add this to the list because it just sounded so lovely and magical. Also, I've never heard of vino verde but apparently I need to start drinking that. Have I? Green wine? Have I had it?
Molly Galler (31:02)
What? Yes, you have. Definitely. It's a yes. Yes. I'm sure that we've had it in restaurants. I
Stephanie (31:24)
Have you had me had it?
Molly Galler (31:31)
discovered it when I was studying abroad in Spain. It's very popular Spain and Portugal for sure. For sure you've had it before.
Stephanie (31:31)
Okay, well I've definitely never had it with oysters and also do I also need to start drinking ryan peanuts which sounds horrible to me except in the interview that Carly did god why can't I think of what podcast what podcast was she on?
Kaitlin (31:47)
In the interview, they probably did a podcast. What podcast was she on? I want to sign it. Okay, maybe it was. It sounds like you need to experience this. So I crumbly peed on it. I was just like, I don't know. I was on a plane ticket. Maybe you're just sitting there.
Molly Galler (31:54)
I want to say it was Kate Kennedy Be There in Five.
Stephanie (31:55)
Kate Kennedy? Okay, maybe it was. And it sounds like that's a thing you need to experience is the rye and the crumbly peanuts, which is just like, I don't know, doesn't sound appealing to me, but like, maybe when you're sitting there in your like sweater and shorts on the beach in PEI, that's like part of the whole scene.
Kaitlin (32:13)
And that's other instruments on the beach and PB files, like part of all the scene. I'm not interested at all. Okay, when he was producing the fish, there was a lot of this stuff. This house was so good. And I mean that in a different way. The way he just went into the snow or was really into the cute little trucks at the house. They take out all these complaints, but it's really bad.
Molly Galler (32:23)
What I was gonna say is one of my favorite things about this book is how specific it is and I mean that in every way the way she describes the smell of these blankets that they keep in trunks at the house They take out on those cold nights where they want to go down to the beach But it's a bit too chilly the description of drinking rye and eating peanuts There's so many descriptions of this oyster shocking contest which for me as someone who doesn't eat oysters. I was like, okay, I get it but her
Stephanie (32:27)
And I mean, the way she describes the smell of these blankets that they keep in the trunks of the house. They take out those cold plates, put them on the window, dump them in the kitchen, and it's a bit chilly. The description of drinking rye and eating peanuts. There's so many descriptions of this oyster, I think, from the desert period. It's one of the desert -created oysters, not something to any of us. But her specificity, one makes it so.
Kaitlin (32:38)
it's been too chilly, the description of drinking water, there's no descriptions of this oyster, so you can't just attribute it as something that doesn't make you stress the pain. But her specificity in the game says so, like, who we are, and I don't know.
Molly Galler (32:53)
specificity is what makes it so like real and vivid. And I don't know if we're a bit biased because we know the Cape so well and we know that idea of the summer ritual and the getaway place and the joy of being back at the beach. It does feel so reminiscent of the New England summer. And even when they talk about going in the off season for Thanksgiving or the dead of winter, I was like, I can picture, even though I've never been.
to Prince Edward Island, I can picture it. And I put a little sticky in this book on something that she says in the acknowledgement. So it's just, there's a big debate about whether or not it should be on PEI or in PEI, which is like, people say down the Cape, on the Cape. I don't say in the Cape. Right. So I was like, this also feels highly relatable because that is just an ongoing.
Stephanie (33:23)
and I'm so glad that I'm here. And I'm so glad that I'm here. And I'm so glad that I'm here. And I'm so glad that I'm here. And I'm so glad that I'm here. And I'm so glad that I'm here. And I'm so glad that I'm here. And I'm so glad that I'm here. And I'm so glad that I'm here. And I'm so glad that I'm here. And I'm so glad that I'm here. And I'm so glad that I'm here. And I'm so glad that I'm here. And I'm so glad that I'm here. And I'm so glad that I'm here. And I'm so glad that I'm here. And I'm so glad that I'm here. And I'm so glad that I'm here. And I'm so glad that I'm here. And I'm so glad that I'm here. And I'm so glad that I'm here. And I'm so glad that I'm here. And I'm so
Kaitlin (33:32)
I say at the Cape a lot.
Stephanie (33:43)
I don't say that, I say that a lot. Right? So, I'm, because also, I'm, because that is just a common debate about the students, so that's the correct way to say it. I also have to say to me, of all the students, this was actually the most, like, this, canvassing, was bloody, but it's spicier. I'm not sure how you would say it.
Molly Galler (33:51)
debate amongst New Englanders if that's the correct way to say it. I also felt like to me, of all three of her books, this was the sexiest one. Like this chemistry between Lucy and Felix was many peppers spicier than anything we read in the previous two books, like, like far and away.
Kaitlin (33:59)
This is the sexiest one. Like, in this. Mm! Can this be the most gross? Because many of you have said this is the spiciest. I mean, most of you have said this. I was like, most of you are in it. I mean, you're not in it. How long? I mean, most of you really thought that was the most gross. So it's like, I've arrived.
Stephanie (34:12)
I'm in the bathroom mirror scene? Hello?
Molly Galler (34:15)
I almost texted the two of you when I got to that part, but it was very late at night. And I was like, I've arrived on Felix. Like I get it now because these gals asked me last week when I had just started this, if I had fallen in love with Felix yet. And I was on page like 48 and I was like, no. And then I got to that bathroom scene and I was like, I'm here for it.
Stephanie (34:22)
Because these are the ones that do it faster.
Kaitlin (34:23)
Yeah, yeah, he yeah, he's a he's a good one. And I just feel like she did some really good character building with Felix. Well, with all the characters, but I felt like
Stephanie (34:35)
Yeah, yeah. He's a good one. And I just feel like she did some really good character building. I feel like I'm close with all the characters, but I felt like he was passionate about Yuna and what he was about Yuna. That he was like for real. There wasn't going to be a moment where he like flaked. Like it was, and like if she had done that, everything would have been fine.
Kaitlin (34:51)
You knew what he was passionate about. You knew what he was about. You knew that he was like for real. There wasn't going to be a moment where he like flaked. Like it was, and like if she had done that, I would have been like, really? Like, are you kidding me? You had to ruin him with this like whatever twist that you had to do. And that just did not happen, which I was really glad about. I saw.
on Instagram, but I don't know like, under what circumstances, but Carly Fortune and her best friend went on a trip to Prince Edward Island when the book came out.
Stephanie (35:22)
circumstances but Carly's fortune and her best friend went on a trip to Prince Edward Island when the book came out. She talks about it in the podcast with Kate Kennedy which also maybe that's when I was first before having read this I was like do I need to add this to my list of places to go?
Molly Galler (35:33)
Which also became the first of what I'm interested in. Yeah, two other things I wanted to call out about the story. The first one is at some point, Lucy and Felix start corresponding by mail. I'm not going to say anything more than that because I don't want to ruin anything. Snail mail is my love language. And I was like, I would fall apart if somebody did this to me, like in a good way. I would be so moved to be like receiving this kind of
Kaitlin (35:39)
Yeah.
Stephanie (35:57)
In a good way, I would say that it's good to be able to receive it this way. I also want to say that even if there's not enough attention, that tends to give away attention to everything else. In this story, there is a big tension between the person and the person. And for real, after 80 % of the plot, you do not know what it is.
Molly Galler (36:02)
back and forth. I also want to say that even though there's always the romantic tension and like that tends to keep my attention more than anything else, in this story there is a big tension between Lucy and Bridget and really for like 80 % of the book you do not know what it is.
Okay. Stephanie's about to say she knew what it was going to be, but.
Kaitlin (36:23)
Okay, so I did not, I never figured it out.
Stephanie (36:26)
about 20 % and I knew there were context clues.
Molly Galler (36:31)
Okay, but I -
Kaitlin (36:33)
I think with this kind of book, I'm not as close of a reader as I am with like books that are like literary fiction as opposed to like romcoms or romances or whatever you want to call this genre. Even though Carly Fortune is in the literary fiction section of bookstores usually. I kind of like
I kind of like drift a little bit. Yeah, because I don't want it to I'm it's not the kind of book where I'm trying to figure it out. Whereas if like I know a book's a mystery, I'm like, okay, I am looking for clues.
Molly Galler (36:55)
I just felt like it kept you all the way in because at least for me Steph apparently knew what it was but I was like what is it that she is refusing to tell her? Why is she sort of dancing around this and unwilling to say what it is that's bothering her and
Stephanie (36:55)
you read it loser?
Molly Galler (37:25)
It's driving the wedge between them even more than it needs to be because she just keeps almost telling her and then not telling her. And I wasn't even sure if we would get a resolution. I just didn't kind of know where it was going. And I will say there's a point in the romance between Lucy and Felix where it seems like everything's going to tie up with the bow. And I am no dumb dumb. There were still like 65 pages left in this book. And I was like, something bad is going to happen.
Kaitlin (37:30)
Can I see those?
Stephanie (37:36)
Can I say though that having figured it out, it didn't ruin it for me because I was still like along the ride of like, they're both keeping secrets. Both of them eventually have to tell and even if I knew what it was, it didn't deter.
Kaitlin (37:53)
Having figured it out, it didn't ruin it for me because I was feeling a lot more grounded of like, they're both keeping secrets. Both of them eventually start to fall apart. Even if I knew that one of them didn't start from the buildup of tension, I also just remembered, I didn't know. I don't wanna give stuff away about the relationship between the heart and the soul. I don't know, there's so many things about it.
Stephanie (38:07)
from the buildup of tension. I also just remembered I cried in this book. I don't want to give stuff away, but the relationship between the aunt, I don't know, there's something for me about relationships that are not with your actual parents, but it feels as close as a parent that just gets me more somehow than an actual parent.
Kaitlin (38:18)
Did either of you think that Lucy's parents were dead at the beginning of the book because of the way she talked about her relationship with her aunt? I thought I forget at what point.
Molly Galler (38:21)
It's a gradual experience that feels as close as a parent that just gets me. Somehow I feel like an actual parent. Did I ever think that Lucy's parents were dead because of the book? Because of what you said about the relationship with the book? I feel like, though, I feel like at one point, I think Bridget at some point says something like, yeah, we were parents, we had to care about it. We did. I was really shocked. And I was like, I was just, hold on.
Stephanie (38:34)
Yeah, I think so.
I think Bridget at some point says, yeah, well, if your parents actually hear about it, they'd be in a comfortable spot. And I was like, she's not in a couple? Because being raised on the island is kind of a bad luck. And then I was like, I miss them, too. And it's just not revealed until then. She has 20 parents. Yeah. It seemed like, I would probably just.
Kaitlin (38:41)
I think Bridget at some point says something like, yeah, well, if your parents actually cared about anything you did, blah, blah, blah, blah. And I put the book down and I was like, hold up, she's not an orphan that's being raised by the aunt that adores her? Wait a minute, what? And then I was like, did I miss something? And it's just not revealed until then that she has cruddy parents.
Molly Galler (38:50)
Yeah, it was definitely, it seemed like the aunt was the primary parental figure in her life. And then when the parents appeared later on, I was like, huh, okay. It's not that it didn't work. I was just like, okay, I guess this is also part of what's going on. And then there's a bit around.
Stephanie (39:07)
Thanks.
work. Okay, and yes, this is also right up on the spot. There's a bit of a high, losing the coolness of the earth, which is obviously a bit crazy, so I'm going to go ahead and say hello to you. Okay?
Molly Galler (39:19)
Lucy not wanting her mom to call her a certain nickname that felt like crazy specific. And I was like, OK. So I don't know. There were bits certainly that I felt like was this a bigger part of the story before. And it got trimmed in the editing process, especially as it related to Lucy's parents. But I thought the relationship between Lucy and Bridget and Lucy and Felix were both so strong and really just like kept me reeled in. And it is such a fun read during the summer just because of the setting and.
Stephanie (39:26)
So I think it's a certain bit about how this is a bigger story for the country. But how do you get past this discussion as a growing excuse to say that it's not a good thing to see in Virginia or in the US? So it's about the real psychicality, the real thing that people don't see. I don't know if you could direct this, or just as a study of this group, or as a whole group of people who are trying to make a difference in the world.
Molly Galler (39:49)
all the summer rituals and you can't help but be like, I'm gonna die on an outdoor patio right now.
Stephanie (39:55)
I think if anyone comes to me and asks for a summer recommendation, I think this would probably be my current number one. It's a great book. Yeah.
Kaitlin (40:03)
If they haven't read Every Summer After. Yeah, obviously. That's still our numero uno.
Stephanie (40:11)
Well, I mean, I would say read both of them. If you're going on vacation, pack both.
Kaitlin (40:14)
That's true. can we ask people on Instagram, I'm saying this out loud to Molly, because I'll forget to ask her later. Can we put on the gram that we want suggestions of books that take place during the summer because we are going on vacation together. And I would love to have some books packed that take place during the summer. I mean, if they take place in Wyoming, I mean, that's like a bonus, but
Stephanie (40:40)
Well, I mean, I think we're probably someone's going to bring Swift and Saddled and we'll just pass that around because that'll be like. Yeah. So you have homework.
Kaitlin (40:47)
I haven't read Dun and Dusted yet. Is that the first one? Okay. So funny story, funny story. I was telling Elise when we were at the gaslight about our trip to Wyoming and she was like, man. She's like, she was like, are you guys going to read some like saucy Westerns before you go? And I was like, please hold. And I pulled up Dun and Dusted, like the cover on my phone and she goes, wait.
Molly Galler (41:00)
And she was like, my god. She was like, are you guys like saucy investors? And I pulled up and adjusted the cover and I was like, wait, this is probably true right now because like I've been saying this like the last few years, there's already a second one. And she was like, I just want something and steal whatever I want.
Kaitlin (41:15)
This was published like right now. And I was like, yeah, this is like in the last two years. And there's like already a second one called Swift and Saddled, like blah, blah, blah, blah. And she was like, I was thinking like some Danielle Steele, like whatever. And I was like, no, we've advanced Elise. Like we're, it's more, I mean, it's still a little on the smutty side, but like we were, we have new things to pick from where people actually have cell phones and stuff.
Stephanie (41:20)
in the last year.
Molly Galler (41:31)
So good. And yes, I already own Swift and Saddles. I haven't read it yet because we've been passing around books that we knew we wanted to.
Stephanie (41:38)
We have to take a photo of you actually, I feel like this is tough. She was out there just playing the entire time. So, yes, we're just going to take a photo of you.
Kaitlin (41:46)
she was really amused by the entire thing.
okay. So like, let's put it on the gram that we need some suggestions of books that take place in the summer. I will tell you right now, there are two things that made me a summer book girlie. One was at a very young age. One was in the last 10 years.
Stephanie (41:55)
save it for the airplane and then we can just pass it around over there.
Molly Galler (41:58)
I did read Dun and Dustin in one flight, so perhaps I can replicate that with Swift and Saddle.
Great one.
Stephanie (42:19)
Yeah.
Kaitlin (42:24)
The first one is Summer Sisters by Judy Blume.
Incredible. I think I don't, I might have been in high school when I read it. but I just remember being like, this is totally Cape Cod coded. Like this is going to be me one day. Like I'm going to meet these boys at a carousel and it's like going to be a whole thing. And like, you know, whatever it, that never happened to me. But, but just like, that book was so good. I should reread it.
Molly Galler (42:37)
being like, this is totally being product -moded. This is going to be made in the context that I'm going to need these boys to care about. It's going to be a long day. Whatever. I think that is happening to me. But just like, good luck. I'm so good. I should do it again. I'm just going to do it again.
Stephanie (42:48)
I think I probably have it on a shelf over there.
Kaitlin (42:59)
you do? Okay. I just remember reading it. And then I also remember my mom reading it. And then and I had read it first. And I was still at that age where I was like, we don't talk about sex. Like we're not. This is not a topic that we like to bring up. And so she knew I had read it and I was like, my God, please don't ask to talk to me about this book. And I just remember her being like that Judy Blume got real saucy after fudge mania. And I was like, yep. And so.
Molly Galler (43:02)
I was like, we are both just excellent. This is not a talk that we like to bring up. It's for sure why I don't constantly want to talk to you guys and talk to you about this book. And I just remember her being like, how do you know about real sassy after fudging the air? And so that was the first one. And then the second one was The Summer of True Pretty. And even though,
Stephanie (43:06)
And I was still sad to hear from, like, we don't have it on text, like, we're not, this is not top of the line, right now, it's for shooting, I'm glad it's outside of the box.
And I just had another reader, I was like, Judy, I'm real sassy, I have a bunch of people that I'm gonna kill. And so that was the first one. And then the second one was the Summer Adventure. I'm sorry, I'm gonna pause. Even though the books are definitely not the most beautifully written books I've ever seen in my life, they definitely fulfill a certain, like... As some people have, maybe they're...
Kaitlin (43:28)
That was the first one. And then the second one was The Summer I Turned Pretty. And even though, I'm sorry, Jenny Han, even though those books are definitely not the most beautifully written books I've ever seen in my life, they definitely fulfill a certain... As somebody who had a very long -term crush on a co -camp counselor, I can say that feeling of...
summer being like when I felt alive, like, I totally understand that feeling. And there were definitely people in my life that I knew like, on a daily basis for eight weeks straight, and we would hang we would I mean, I would like blow my high school friends off because I'd be like, it's camp time, I have to be with my camp people, and I will get back to you when camp is over. And everyone felt that way. And it was just this like,
I can't even describe it. I've never experienced anything like it. I was talking to a girl that is from my camp life. She is 38. I'm 39. We worked together from when we were like 18 to 28. And she was talking about how there are some things that she's like, I just have to text a summer friend friend because like nobody else will understand what it is that I'm talking about.
Molly Galler (44:27)
that is a company from a place. She is 38, our kid is nine. We work together from one point like 18 to 28. And she was talking about how there are some things that she was like, I just have to text with some of my friends because I'm not sure what it is I'm talking about. And it's really something very easy to talk about. So you know, it's not something that's like only some of them.
Stephanie (44:36)
And she was talking about how there are some things that she's like, I just have to text with someone I'm friends with because like, you know, the parents won't understand what it is that I'm talking about. And it's really like something really interesting about like, hot boxes. It's not something that's like, only some of them are updated. It can be like a lot of different things, but it was just like a time and a place. And I just feel like every time I'm talking to her, I'm like,
Kaitlin (44:47)
And it can be like something really basic about like hot dogs or something. You know what I mean? It's like not something that's like only summer fen related. It can be like a lot of different things, but it was just like a time and a place. And I just feel like ever since Summer Sisters and The Summer I Turn Pretty, I'm just like chasing that high all the time with books. And I'm also very strict about, I won't read a summer book in the winter.
And some people are like, I like the escape. And especially if I'm going on a tropical vacation or whatever. And I'm like, it has to be timely. It has to like, put me in the mood, you know, like, and I'm not going to watch the summer. I turned pretty in January. Like, I'm just not going to do that's torture. Why would I do that to myself? That is straight up torture. That is me pining for something that is not possible at that point in the year. so that's one, that's my summer.
Stephanie (45:18)
And some people are like, I love these skates, especially when they're quite soft and they can eat them whenever they want. It has to be timely. It has to put me in the mood. And I'm not going to watch this on my own free in January. I'm just not going to say, that's torture. Why would I do that to myself? That is straight up torture. That is the finest thing that I can do to not watch the walk.
I can't think of them when I'm put on the spot. I'll think of it later.
Kaitlin (45:48)
summer book. Do you guys have any favorites that you're like?
Molly Galler (45:56)
Yeah, we'll put up the question box and we'll see what folks say. And then I'm sure that that'll spark more of our past fans and we can share with everybody what gets submitted and then both the stuff that we resurfaced that we loved.
Kaitlin (46:04)
In terms of what we're reading now, I just put a bookmark in the seven -year slip. I have not started it yet, but some seven -year slip is my next read that I will be doing.
Stephanie (46:12)
So it's all on me. All right. So I recently reunited with a family that I babysat for in my late 20s, early 30s, and they were like in...
Molly Galler (46:23)
And I just finished The Summer Will Be Different, mere moments before walking over here to record. So I have not begun something new. So Steph, bring us home, gal.
Stephanie (46:41)
intricate part of my life. Lucia, I think she was five or six months old when I started babysitting. She's now finishing her freshman year of high school and she lives a mile from me, we discovered. So yeah, way to make me feel old. I met up for coffee and a walk with her mom. that's what I did on Friday. It's all coming back. And we were talking at the end about books.
Kaitlin (46:53)
I'm not a fan of the story. So yeah, my name is Gold. I am a mom. But that's what I'm gonna say. I'm not coming back. And we'll talk about it in the next one. What Lucy did for lunch.
Stephanie (47:10)
what Lucy has been reading. She's into cozy mysteries or whatever, because she was obviously at school while this was happening. And her mom said that she had loved the smile series by Raina Telgemeier. Apologies if that is not how to pronounce it. So I went to Belmont Books first thing Saturday morning. Also shout out to the barista who told me I looked really cute in my overalls. Thank you. So this is a graphic novel. I only bought the book.
Kaitlin (47:13)
Did you give the barista a bookmark after that?
Stephanie (47:39)
I didn't have any on my person. Sorry.
Kaitlin (47:42)
I hope people can hear my eye roll.
Stephanie (47:46)
I feel like we should just drop some off for the employees because they've been wonderful to us. Anyway, so this is a middle grade YA graphic novel based on the true story of Reyna's important years where it starts off, she is coming home from Girl Scouts, racing to her front door, trips and falls, and loses a front tooth.
Molly Galler (48:02)
I don't think you actually ever have talked about that on the pod.
Kaitlin (48:02)
You know, in the 14th year, where the first off -shoe is coming from girl scouts, race shoes and board, toes and balls, and loses the front shoe, and the other front shoe is lodged into her gut. As someone who has had a lack of facial defecation injury, that was a real journey. I really do actually have a broken jaw, but it's fine. okay.
Stephanie (48:14)
and the other front tooth gets lodged into her gums. As someone who has had a traumatic facial dental injury, that was a little triggering for me.
no, I haven't. Yeah, I mean, granted I knocked myself unconscious. So I mean, like part of the memory is just all the after stuff. So I mean, this book, it takes place over the course of years where she is, she's dealing with a flipper, which was like the bane of my existence. Some people may or may not know that I lost it once, excuse me, twice on a dance floor in a club downtown. And one of my girlfriends dove into...
Kaitlin (48:33)
Yeah, I mean, Grant, you had a lot of stuff as well. So, I've heard that it's just all after. I mean, it takes a year for her to get it.
Stephanie (49:00)
the sea of people dancing to pick it up because flippers are not cheap. And then since I was in the middle of the dance floor, I just dunked it. This is so inappropriate. Dunked it in my booze because doesn't alcohol get rid of germs? Anyways, I don't know why I'm telling you.
Kaitlin (49:19)
I want to puke in my mouth thinking about this story and I've already heard it before and I was not there and if I had been there I would have left immediately.
Molly Galler (49:29)
It just felt like my story. But if it happened in the form of it, then I would cry myself to the ground. And she's like, first we try to hold so that... If I can't do it right, I'm not going to try to do it right. So, I can't do it right. So, I can't do it right. So, I can't do it right. So, I can't do it right. So, I can't do it right. So, I can't do it right. So, I can't do it right. So, I can't do it right. So, I can't do it right. So, I can't do it right. So, I can't do it right. So, I can't do it right. So, I can't do it right. So, I can't do it right. So, I can't do it right. So, I can't do it right. So, I can't do it right. So, I can't do it right. So, I can
Stephanie (49:29)
It just felt like my story, but if it had happened in your formative years when you're like trying to figure out crushes on boys and she's dealing with first they tried to pull. So if I tell everything, it doesn't really matter because you should still read it. It's a fantastic YA middle grade book, but basically at the beginning, the orthodontist decides to
Molly Galler (49:58)
to try to hold out the truth that the audience will hear from and instead of her introducing a car leak out here, she went to the doctor, who had an earring, and broke it and tied it up in her flippers. And it's a difficult to process just for her to get the spine back in her confidence, but it's more than that. It's about confidence and being brave and not just really afraid and finding new friends, and passion, and being able to...
Stephanie (49:59)
try and pull down the tooth that has gone into her jaw and instead her front two teeth are like up here. So she's like, I look like a vampire. So then there's like braces trying to make it work and then flippers and it's, it's a multi -year process just for her to get her smile back and her confidence. But it's more than that. It's about friendships and being bullied by friends and realizing those aren't really your friends and finding new friends and finding passions and.
Also, it takes place in our childhood years. So there's no cell phones or none of social media or any of that stuff. I loved it. I read it in like two hours. I'm going to give it to Caitlin. You can either stick it in your library or have it at the dental office. I don't know. It was a lovely story. I don't know that I need to read the next one, although I don't know what the next one is about. It could just be a different part of her life. But yeah, it was a good read.
Molly Galler (50:57)
I kind of love the idea of it at the dental office.
Kaitlin (50:57)
I will gladly take that off your hands.
And that's it.
Stephanie (51:04)
And also she does all the illustrations herself. The whole thing is her.
Molly Galler (51:07)
God.
Kaitlin (51:07)
Do you, does she like her dentist? Is it a positive dental story? Cause I'm not going to put it in the office. If she's like this dentist tortured me and like, it was a horrible experience. Yeah. Okay. That's fair.
Stephanie (51:19)
I'm going to have you read it first. There's like multiple, there's like an endodontist, an orthodontist, a dent, multiple dentists. It's like, you know, the whole process. If anyone ever wants to talk about dental work and what it's like to lose teeth dramatically, I'm here to talk about it.
Kaitlin (51:27)
You know, don't hold.
And I'm noticing now that I'm looking at it and won the Will Eisner Award, which is.
Stephanie (51:43)
you should read the Goodreads reviews. Like the top one was like, I've read this book 10 times and love it.
Kaitlin (51:46)
Well, I didn't know that there was a Will Eisner award. And if people don't know Will Eisner, he was like the head honcho at Disney for eight million years. And I now want to look up what other books have won that award. I'm fascinated. Maybe it has to do with visuals. Maybe it has to be a graphic novel. I don't know. I don't know the criteria for it. I've never heard of the award before.
Molly Galler (52:04)
Well, if you want to follow along with everything that we're reading and considering reading, and if you want to shout out some of the summer books that you've absolutely loved, please follow us on Instagram. We are at Plans Are Booked. If you have suggestions for books you'd like us to cover in the future, we always want to hear from you. You can write to us at plansarebooked at gmail .com.
Kaitlin (52:32)
And until next time, our plans are booked.