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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, podcast for every reader. I'm Molly Geller. I'm still thinking. I know, I'm not the second. Welcome to chapter 27, what do you mean? 27, that's like the first number, so this is gonna be a crushed episode. Wait, what? The first number? Oh, like all the famous people that have died when they were 27? Yeah, yeah. Molly just made a face. It's a lot of people. It's like Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain. Amy Winehouse.
Stephanie (00:06)
I'm Stephanie Blackburn.
Kaitlin (00:08)
And I'm Caitlin Madison. Welcome to Chapter 27. 27, that's like a cursed number, so this better not be a cursed episode.
Stephanie (00:18)
Wait, why is it a cursed number? Oh, yes. Sorry. Yep. Amy Winehouse.
Kaitlin (00:20)
Oh, like all the famous people that have died when they were 27. Yeah. Molly just made a face. It's a lot of people. It's like Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain. Yeah.
Molly Galler (00:31)
Okay, I made that face because many years ago I went on a graffiti tour and there was like a whole side of a building covered in what's called the 27 club and it was all like tributes to all the people that you guys just mentioned.
Kaitlin (00:43)
I think Bob Marley is in there as well. People don't realize that he wasn't that old when he died. I could be wrong about that one. Jimi Hendrix was 27, Mama Cass was 27. Heath might have been 27. I'm not sure about that one, but it's like very unlucky.
Stephanie (00:50)
Was Heath 27 too? Henry Hendrix was 27, Mama Cass was 27. Heath might have been 27. I'm not sure about that one. But it's like very unlucky. Back to the bottom, I just don't know. I really don't see that. Same. I don't.
Molly Galler (01:01)
back to the Bob Marley thing that just reminded me I really want to see that movie One Love
Kaitlin (01:08)
I don't, but I've read, I've read, it's because I've read a lot of books about him. Like, I feel like I know a lot about him already. And so that's not a dig at the movie. It's just like, I don't need to see it.
Molly Galler (01:08)
I don't know. But I've read it. It's because I've been watching it since now. I feel like I know a lot about it already. And so that's kind of digging the movie. It's just like, I don't need to say it. I'm going to use the music. I just want to dance to my feet. I also want to hear the music. And I saw that it's available right now to purchase on Prime Video. So I'll wait until it becomes free.
Stephanie (01:13)
I feel like I know a lot about him already and so that's not a jig at the movie. It's just like I don't need to see it. For me it's the music. I just want to dance in my seat. I also heard music and I saw that. It's available right now to purchase on my YouTube so I'll wait and see.
Kaitlin (01:33)
What's everybody been up to?
Stephanie (01:36)
I don't know, did you guys notice my t-shirt? It's the barn t-shirt. Well, not the barn t-shirt, but the therapy t-shirt. She gave me one today because now I'm official.
Kaitlin (01:39)
No, I did not.
Molly Galler (01:46)
Wait, wait, wait. For those who obviously, yeah, for those who are not here with us, Stephanie is wearing like a hunter green t-shirt and it says Clover physical therapy with a beautiful extension to the cursive R at the end of Clover that has like the stem and then the four leaf clover above.
Kaitlin (01:46)
That is so cute.
Stephanie (02:04)
Today I just discovered that the therapist and the other volunteer are book people. So we got into it about like books, recommendations for each other.
Molly Galler (02:07)
and the other ones here are different people. So we got into it about books, recommendations for each other, and what kind of experiences there is possibly. There's some kind of like, yes to that, but also there's some kind of alliteration that needs to happen about books and barns and barns and books. And books. Yeah. Because that was a good question.
Kaitlin (02:14)
with the beautiful extension of the first of the hard and the first of the hard and the first of the hard and
Stephanie (02:16)
Oh yeah!
and boots because I wore new barn boots today. So yeah.
Kaitlin (02:29)
home.
Molly Galler (02:32)
I'll think on that.
Kaitlin (02:33)
Maybe that's a song that's sung in your book.
Molly Galler (02:37)
Oh my god, yes. If this is the first time that you're listening, Stephanie is working on a book draft that is set in Wyoming and cowboy boots are a pretty big part of the story.
Kaitlin (02:39)
Barn boots and books.
Stephanie (02:45)
working on a book draft that is set as a real-time interview. Thank you.
because they're also a big part of my life.
Kaitlin (02:52)
and singing. And so why wouldn't you have a Shania Twain style song that's called Barn Boots and Books?
Molly Galler (03:01)
You can add our names to the credits.
Stephanie (03:02)
You can add our names to the list. I don't want to like toot my own horn, but that was a great idea.
Kaitlin (03:02)
I don't listen. I don't want to like to my own horn, but that was a great idea.
Molly Galler (03:07)
Yeah.
Kaitlin (03:11)
Um, we also went to Steph's flip house this week. We went to the flip house. Molly documented it beautifully. If people don't realize this, anything that is on our Instagram page is completely curated by Molly and she is like unbelievably good at it. And I just like send her memes all day. And then she like knows how to time it and schedule it and put it out so that everybody is seeing, you know, a steady flow of our content and.
Stephanie (03:14)
Oh yeah, I forgot about that.
Molly Galler (03:27)
unbelievably good at it and I just like sent her memes all day and then she liked them and I was having fun with it and I pulled it and put it out so that everybody is seeing you know a steady flow of that content and um I just I just feel like I go hard for her all day.
Kaitlin (03:41)
Um, I just, I just feel like I bombard her all day with stuff, but she did, she did a really good job doing like documenting Steph's house. And then we went and ate delicious pickle pizza afterwards. And it was just awesome to finally see, like we've seen so many Reels stuff, like we've seen so many photos and so many Reels and we've like lived all of the like housing dilemma projects.
Stephanie (03:43)
I just feel like I've on work all day. Oh me too! She did a really good job doing like document and stuff's house and then we went and ate delicious pickle pizza afterwards. And it was just awesome to finally see like we've seen so many emails set. Like we've seen so many phones and so many emails and we've like lived all the whole 1000 month project.
Molly Galler (03:58)
to finally see like we've seen so many reals like we've seen so many photos and so many reals and they like lived all of like housing dilemma project this didn't come in this is dented this is all outsized that's just been really why didn't I turn off the paint how's it we will definitely link to the house so that if you are listening
Kaitlin (04:10)
This didn't come in. This is dented. This is the wrong size.
Stephanie (04:13)
That just made me realize why didn't I start off by saying the house is listed.
Kaitlin (04:17)
Ding ding ding, it is on the market. Um, are we going to link that on PAB?
Molly Galler (04:27)
you want to move to Harvard, Massachusetts, you can have access to it.
this house is gorgeous. I fell in love with the kitchen. If you've listened to any other episode of this show, you know that I don't cook, but just aesthetically, I was in love with the kitchen. I wanted to sit at that waterfall island and be cooked for it for the rest of my life. And Stephanie also has a gift for picking out light fixtures that look like they belong in the home of millionaires, and in every single room were these like stunning.
Stephanie (04:34)
This house is gorgeous. I fell in love with the kitchen. If you've listened to any other episodes, you know that I don't cook this aesthetically. I wasn't in love with the kitchen. I wanted to sit at that floorful island and be able to work the rest of my life. And Stephanie also has an idea of picking out light fixtures that look like they belong in the home of the homeowners. And in every room where there are these stunning light fixtures, there was a room that I just felt would be like my home office that had
Molly Galler (04:55)
light fixtures. There was a room that I just felt would be like my home office that had gorgeous ceiling beams and so much natural light. It's just, if that's a part of Massachusetts you want to live in, you've got to get to this house and see it. She picked the most exquisite exterior paint color, which looks amazing on the listing. And I hope it goes right quick.
Stephanie (05:02)
gorgeous ceiling beams, so much natural light. It's just, if that's a part of the Massachusetts floral, then you've gotta get to this house and see it. She became an exquisite extra-herb painting color, which looks amazing on the listing. And
Me too. I feel like it's going to, I don't know. I know these are space, but.
Kaitlin (05:16)
I feel like it's going to. I don't know why. I have no basis for this. But um.
Molly Galler (05:19)
really exist with us, but it's just been a really cool house. I've been in a lot of different concepts, and I think that was one of them. And I was really excited. I didn't expect to ask a little more, so I'll leave you with that. It's very nice. It's just really good, like, white, and nice space. Totally agree. And also, while all of you were listening to this,
Kaitlin (05:25)
It's just a really cool house. Like there's a lot of open concept kind of things going on in it. And I just really enjoyed it. And it's like nestled in the woods, like away from the road. It's very, it's just a very nice space. It's just a really good, like light and nice space.
Molly Galler (05:47)
It's a very important day today. A movie that we have been looking forward to for a long time is finally on Amazon Prime Video. And that is the idea of you starring Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galatian, which is the adaptation of the book by the same title, which we covered early on in the Plans Are Booked days. We will reshare in case you're coming upon it for the first time, but we are watching live together.
and then we're gonna record after our viewing. So we are gonna give you a full week to watch on your own and then our episode of our live reaction will debut next week on May 9th. So hop to it, watch the movie, so then you can listen to our full recap. We will spoil things, we will remind people right up top, but if you're into the book and you're as excited about the movie as we are, that is coming your way.
Kaitlin (06:29)
up to it, watch the movie. So
to our full recap. We will spoil things, we will remind people right up now. But if you're into the book and you're excited about the movie as we are, that's coming in. Also, Steph already bought booze for it. So, we're ready to go. We're just ready. We're ready, is what it amounts to. We're just completely ready. And
Stephanie (06:42)
Also, Steph already bought food for it, so... I don't know. Haven't figured out the food. Ready, ready, ready. He's one of the nuts. Everybody's completely ready. And...
Kaitlin (06:53)
I am really looking forward to doing that. I think it's going to be really silly. And I think it's going to be... Yes, I just, I feel like it's going to be hard to not have people see what we look like when we're talking about it. Cause I feel like we're all going to be just like blushing and like sighing and you know, everything that Taylor says in so high school basically. So...
Stephanie (06:56)
It's gonna be really silly. And I think it's going to be... A warm hug. Yes, I just feel like it's going to be hard to not have people see what we look like when we're talking about it. Because I feel like we're all gonna be just blushing, and it's not even... And, you know, everything in the world doesn't supply school this quick. So...
Molly Galler (07:07)
have people seeing what we were talking about. I think we're all just like, flustering and like sighing and you know, everything you see in your system is the high school basically. So I just, I think that it's gonna be a room that we can head to. Well, to people that are on Zoom.
Kaitlin (07:22)
I just, I think that it's gonna be a real good one to tune
Molly Galler (07:28)
tomorrow night after we are live recording this. We're gonna go see Challengers, which if you have somehow been living under a rock and have missed the epic fashion press tour that is Zendaya, first of all, catch up. And second of all, I can't wait for this love triangle. I love tennis, so like I'm just excited that that's the premise. I don't know if I'm gonna leave feeling like exhilarated, terrified, hot and bothered. I just don't know, but I really cannot wait to go.
Kaitlin (07:53)
I don't know if I'm going to be able to exhilarate, clarify the cotton word. I just don't know, but I really cannot wait to go. It's coming to our movie theater now, and I'm got lost, you don't have to go very far. I just, I love seeing a movie in the theater. I've always, one of the things I miss most at the start of the pandemic, I'll never forget my first movie that came out, and it was the set story of the musical. I just, I didn't even. It was all, we, all of us went. Yeah, yes, we went together.
Stephanie (07:53)
I don't know if I'm gonna leave, but like exhorted, terrified, caught in a murder, I just don't know. But I really cannot wait to go. It's coming to our movie theater here in Watertown, God bless. We don't have to go very far. Um, and I just love seeing the movie in the theater. I've always felt that way. It's one of the things I miss the most from the start of the pandemic.
Molly Galler (07:58)
It's coming to our movie theater here in Watertown. God bless. We don't even have to go very far. And I just, I love seeing a movie in a theater. I have always felt that way as one of the things I missed most at the start of the pandemic. I will never forget my first movie back in the theater was the West Side Story of the musical. I just, I need, yes, we went together. I just need to see things on the big screen.
Stephanie (08:13)
I'll never forget my first feedback in the theater was that story the music was. I just, I need. It was all, we know all of us. Yeah. Yes, we went together. I just needed this to be the things on the big screen. And I think this month's gonna be awesome. I truly, truly cannot wait. And I've been devouring all of their press interviews, individually,
Molly Galler (08:22)
And I think this one is going to be awesome. I truly, truly cannot wait. And I have been devouring all of their press interviews individually as a threesome. I just can't wait.
Kaitlin (08:34)
Um, I got distracted because it looks like Taylor is rehearsing.
new songs for the Aris tour and that's going to be gripping me for the rest of the evening. Do you think, well, I'm just wondering if she's going to get rid of an arrow to add this in.
Because I don't know if you guys know this, but she already doesn't do her debut album that era does not exist in the airs tour. So like, is she going to have like a close to four hour show or is she going to get rid of an era? What if she gets rid of lover, I will audibly gasp.
Stephanie (09:11)
If she is a good lover, I will follow her down. If I was someone like in Europe who had been looking forward to all the things that they had seen on the internet for the past year, I would be heartbroken to not get to see some of those numbers. Yes.
Kaitlin (09:20)
things I've seen on the internet for the past year. I would be heartbroken not to see some of those numbers. Yes. And I would die. I would. I mean, this is like in my top two albums, I think, if not top three. I would lose my mind. And she sets fire to the Loverhouse in the product like in the errors tour like, I don't know.
Molly Galler (09:39)
I'm in, I lose my mind, and I just set fire to a water house in the air is poor. I don't know. Maybe I'm just starting to like think about it. This is how my brain works when Taylor is out without jitters. Okay but now that you've had a little bit to listen to the Tortured Poets Department, can you tell the people, like, what are your top tracks? What do you think people should be listening to?
Stephanie (09:44)
and she sets fire to the Lover House in the product like in the era's core like I don't know anyways I'm sorry that I didn't first hear everybody from this but this is how my brain works when Taylor is out and about doing things okay but now we have a little bit to listen to the tortured cause cry
Kaitlin (09:50)
Anyways, I'm sorry that I diverted everybody from this, but this is how my brain works when Taylor is out and about doing things.
Um, okay, so she's a genius. Stevie Nicks wrote a poem that's in the CDs and the vinyl, like an entire poem for Taylor, which is like, who else gets that? Nobody. The people that are upset that there aren't any quote unquote bops need to get it together because it's a double breakup album. Like she's not even just singing about Joe. She's also
singing about Maddie Haley because I didn't realize this, but it's basically been a situation ship for a long time. Like after she broke up with Harry, she was kind of with Maddie for a minute and then she broke up with Joe and she was with Maddie for a minute again and tried to make it a real thing and he ghosted her. So if you were coming for the bops, like where have you been? Like her life hasn't been a bop, it just hasn't been. And so out of the 31 songs, I would say that like,
Stephanie (10:39)
After she broke up with Harry, she was kind of a baddie permanent, and then she broke up with Joe, and then baddie broke up again, and tried to make her a bad thing, and he closed her. So, if you were coming through the box, like, you're at the vent, like, her life is in a box, it just hasn't happened. And so, um, baddie was very nice to us, I would say that like, 20 of her girls were like, she was kind of a ridiculous. Um, so, really, right now...
Kaitlin (11:02)
20 of them are good. It's kind of ridiculous. The ones that I'm really into right now are L-O-M-L, guilty as sin, but daddy, I love him. I can do it with broken heart. Oh my God, they're all so good. Fortnite is good, but Fortnite's good in like a, like it's the first song off the album. So you're always gonna think of it as like, that's how it starts out.
And they're all just really, really... Clara Bo is growing on me. That one's really good. She talks about like, in that one, she talks about being compared to other people, Clara Bo, Stevie Nicks. And then she like, the last time she does the chorus, she goes, you look like Taylor Swift in this light. We're loving it. And then, and like, it's just like really interesting how that one kind of like morphs.
Molly Galler (11:33)
They're all just really good. Claire Bowe is probably not much more good. She talks about being compared to other people, Claire Bowe, Steve Nicks, and then she like, the last time she does the chorus, she goes, you look like Taylor Swift in this light, we're loving it. And then, and like, it's just like really interesting how that one kind of like morphs. It's really, really good, but don't come from the bops. He doesn't look like that.
Kaitlin (11:59)
It's really, really
Molly Galler (12:00)
I think one of the greatest albums by a female pop singer of all time is 21 by Adele, which is also a breakup album. She won the most Grammys for that album. Like you have to, I think, appreciate the storytelling and the art. And it's not about like, can you work out to it? Or do you want to like sing along in your car with the windows down? Like the only song that really
Stephanie (12:11)
She won the most Grammys for that album. Like, you have to, I think, appreciate the storytelling and the art, and it's not about, like, can you work out how to do it, or do you want to sing along in your car with the details down? Like, the only song that really made it to the radio off of that album was Rollin' to the Deep, which also was the first track. And it's just not about that. So like, if you need these kinds of songs, you should go to
Kaitlin (12:20)
can you work up to it or do you want to sing along in your car with the windows down? Like the only sound that really made it to the radio off that album is Rollin' in the Deep, which also was the first track. And it's just not about that. So like if you need these kinds of songs, you should go to
Molly Galler (12:24)
made it to the radio off that album was Rolling in the Deep, which also is the first track. And it's just not about that. So like, if you need those kinds of songs, you should go to other eras and let this one be what it is.
Kaitlin (12:38)
I've the one I've been comparing it to is Joni Mitchell's Blue.
Right, like that's arguably her best album. No bops on it. She's completely heartbroken. She and Graham Nash had ended a very lengthy, I mean, they were practically married, but they weren't. So yeah, I think that whatever, you know what though? I'm fine with hurting the crowd, like, heard them out. Like they can go back to their midnights and their whatever. But when this, if she does.
Stephanie (13:03)
I've heard that they can go back to their mid-race and they won't have to. But if she does a tour of this former TTP team specifically, she better not die. Because, I mean, you just have to learn that. Rapidation is probably meant to figure out, did I do that for? No, I didn't. Why didn't I? It wasn't for me. That tour wasn't for me. And I watched it on Netflix, because she made it to work,
Kaitlin (13:10)
a tour that's for TTPD specifically, you better get out of my way. Because I mean, you sat here and complained about it. Okay, bye. Reputation, probably my least favorite album. Did I go to that tour? No, I did not. Why didn't I go? It wasn't for me. That tour wasn't for me. And I've watched it on Netflix, like because she made a tour, like movie out of it. And I was like, no, I wouldn't have liked this very much. And it was like the right choice.
Molly Galler (13:32)
I was like, no, I wouldn't want this very much. And it was the right choice. So don't, I'm serious.
Stephanie (13:34)
But no, I would point out that I'm not quite sure if this is the right choice. So don't focus on
Kaitlin (13:38)
so don't hog the seats.
Should we get into our book?
Stephanie (13:44)
You shouldn't go into it too much. Let's do it. I'm forced to go into this book to find out what it is called. I
Kaitlin (13:44)
I force fed this book to Steph and Molly. I can't wait to find out what they thought of it.
Stephanie (13:48)
to figure out how this book is built and how to go about this.
Kaitlin (13:48)
I made them literally stop what they were doing. And I was like, we will be doing an episode about this because I just read it. I mean, I think this is our fastest turnover of a book. I read it in the last month.
Molly Galler (13:52)
I mean, I think this is our fastest turn over of the book. I read it in the last month. And
Stephanie (13:54)
I mean, this is where classes turn over at the end of IELTS in the last month. And
was pretty awesome. So, Q&A is my first question.
Kaitlin (14:00)
Yeah. So, She Rides Shotgun is by Jordan Harper. This was his second book. He's written three and he is known for gritty Los Angeles based California based stories. And he just really packs a punch in his writing. Like, it's very vivid. It's very.
concise, his books aren't that long. And Zeebo, who gave us the nameplans are booked for our podcast, asked me if I had read this book like a couple years ago. And I was like, No, I haven't read it. And he was like, It's so good. You have to read it. I haven't read anything like it before. And I and Zeebo reads a ton. And I was like, you haven't read anything like it before. Like, that's so funny. Like, and then my brother read it because they're friends.
Stephanie (14:35)
And I took him to our class and asked if I had read this book, like a couple of years ago. He said, no, I haven't read it. He said, so good. I have read it. I haven't read anything like it before. And I feel so much haunted. I was like, I'm going to go to the library and read it. And then my brother said, because there was a book. And he was like,
Kaitlin (14:56)
And he was like, this was excellent. Like it was so, so good. And I was like, huh. So then I ended up reading Everybody Knows First, which is his third book. And that one's about a Hollywood cleanup firm. So like a firm that like when famous people screw up, like, you know, Lindsay Lohan's got four people blacked out with coke on their noses in her hotel room and she needs like a cleanup. Like you call this firm and they come and they...
do all your dirty work and then you come out smelling like roses. That one's like a total mystery because right from the go, somebody from that firm is found murdered. There are other people in the firm that want to find out what's going on and kind of right the wrongs that they are having their Jerry Maguire moment where they're like, I can't do this anymore. My conscience can't handle it.
Stephanie (15:32)
That was like a total mystery because right from the start somebody from that firm is found at Berkeley and so there are other people from the firm that want to find out what's going on and kind of write the problems that they have and they're just like, I can't do this anymore, I just can't handle it. So that's the first part I wrote that I really liked it.
Kaitlin (15:55)
So that's the first book I read by him and I really liked it. And Zeebo was like, she writes shotgun is way better. Like you need to get on that. So I finally found, Steph and I were at Barnes and Noble and they, I had been looking in bookstores to get it because I didn't want to order it from Amazon. Finally found it in Barnes and Noble. They had, it was, they didn't even have his newer book. That was the only book they had by him like on this display. I read it in two days. It is.
Stephanie (16:07)
And they had to find folks words to get it, and it was like, they finally found it, it was hard to tell, but they didn't depend on this book. That was the only thing that happened, and that's why I read it. It is.
Kaitlin (16:28)
I love when there is an adult and a kid that are main characters. I really like that dynamic in movies. I really like that dynamic in books. It's just very compelling when you have two people in two very different age groups who aren't necessarily related to each other or don't know each other that well, and you throw them into a situation. That's what happens in She Rides Shotgun.
Stephanie (16:28)
I love when there is an adult and a kid that are being characters. I really love that I get to do this. I really love that I get to write new books. It's just very compelling when you have two people, two very important groups, who aren't necessarily related to each other, but you do have a background and you throw them in the situation. And that's what happens when she writes a problem.
Kaitlin (16:55)
a dad who gets out of jail who is for all intents and purposes, like a pretty bad dude. He served time. He got out on good behavior. It's very complex. I'm not going to get into all the nitty gritty details because you should read the book, but he has really ticked off like a white supremacy group that is active within prison and outside of prison.
they find out he has a daughter and they basically say like, basically there's a reward on her head for like whoever gets to her first and takes her out to get back at this guy, Nate. And that's like the premise of the entire book. Like that happens within five pages. It's just like right off the bat. And this girl doesn't know her dad because she's, she's been not in prison and he has been. And she basically goes on this like,
Stephanie (17:35)
And that's the premise of the entire book. Like, that one has been live-streamed, because it's just like right off the bat. And then the girl doesn't know that because she's been, she's been doctors, I think she has been. And she basically wrote something like, she's buying revenge for, of like, keeping her safety down to the full, the full.
Kaitlin (17:52)
wild revenge tour of like keeping her safe, dodging people, eliminating people, tricking people, swindling people. It's got a little bit of everything and their relationship is building throughout the book and she is like starting to learn more about him. And she's also starting to learn that she's a lot like him for better or worse.
I absolutely loved it. I thought it was so, I thought it was so well done. I thought it was the perfect length. I found everybody so compelling. It's like an anti-hero book where you're like rooting for people that like shouldn't really be rooted for. It's got all sorts of delicious things going on. Did you guys like?
Stephanie (18:28)
I've heard it's like anti-culture, where you're like moving the people that you've been working for. It's got all sorts of delicious things going on. Did you guys like that? I first want to read a little bit to the listeners, okay? Just to give you a sense of the writing style. This is from the beginning. Not the very beginning, but from the beginning, so I won't give anything away.
Molly Galler (18:40)
I first want to read a little to the listeners. Sure. Just to give you a sense of the writing style. This is from the beginning. Not the very beginning, but from the beginning. I won't give it any more time. She walks into the store. She realizes she needed to pee, bad. She gets what she needed to for a while, but has a too worried nose.
Kaitlin (18:45)
Sure.
Stephanie (18:57)
She watched him walk into the store. She realized she needed to pee, bad. She guessed she needed to for a while but had been too worried to notice. She chewed on her thumb, found a nub of flesh close to the nail, sunk her teeth in, tugged it loose with a red jolt of pain. She kicked her feet against the dashboard, thud, thud. She dug into her backpack, found her new library books. She found one on UFOs. Polly liked reading about outer space, which made sense.
seeing how she was from Venus. I don't think I've read a book that is so blunt, short, and doesn't use any flowery language whatsoever. I think that's why I liked this book, because it was kind of refreshing to not have like, over edited, analyzed metaphors and extra flowery language. It felt like, here's the story, here's what's happening.
Kaitlin (19:52)
Here's the story, here's what's happening. Painting a clear picture, not an extra cloth, which also makes me feel a little bit more empowered. Ready? I'm Jada's mom, and I'm building a child's home. I'm building a child's home.
Stephanie (19:55)
painting a clear picture, not adding in any extra fluff, which also makes me feel a little critical of my own writing. I too love an adult-child relationship. There were some moments where I felt maybe she was given a little too much credit or, I mean, I was around a nine-year-old last week. I know she's supposed to be 11 and I...
Kaitlin (20:13)
where I felt like she was getting a little too much credit for, I mean, I was running around with her for the first week, I know she was supposed to be 11, and I think at the time I was really thinking, would she have said something like that? But then there's a little bit of a tether asking how it felt, feeling, instead of actually saying what she's feeling, so. Which is such a trauma response. Like.
Stephanie (20:24)
think at the time I was reading it thinking, would she have said stuff like that? But then there's the whole teddy bear acting out all of her feelings instead of actually saying what she's feeling. So yes, I loved that.
Kaitlin (20:41)
She has a teddy bear and she's 11 and she has it act out what she's feeling because she can't always communicate it.
Stephanie (20:47)
Well, I liked that like it has a sons of anarchy feel, which I loved. So there's like this violence happening, but then there's a child who is having her puppety bear wave and high five and you know.
Molly Galler (20:55)
Having her puppety hair, and I thought it, and you know, make like a poo look at her, it's a nice type of feeling. It's a question. I mean, there's a child, but sometimes she's a little bit out of it, but it was organic. I loved it.
Stephanie (21:07)
make like poo motions and whatever. It's a nice dichotomy and also a constant reminder this is a child, even though sometimes she's saying stuff that's a little bit more adult than I felt was organic. I loved it. I also think that the ending worked. I was worried about like, where is this going? Is this going to wrap up in a way that makes me feel like this wasn't worth it and it didn't fit? I think it did really well.
Um, yeah.
Molly Galler (21:39)
I liked this book a lot. This is not something I ever would have picked up myself, ever, ever in a bookstore, or even if it was on the, sometimes I like to read the staff picks on the shelves in the independent bookstores. I do like mystery thriller books, but this isn't one I would have picked up. So I was glad that we decided to read it as a group, because I wouldn't have otherwise. I...
Stephanie (21:47)
Same.
Kaitlin (21:54)
I do like history of my friends, but this is not what I would do. So I was kind of interested in just doing this and then trying to do it otherwise. I have said many times on this podcast that I'm not doing that, but I feel like I'm just
Molly Galler (22:01)
I've said many times on this podcast that I love reading on a plane. I feel like it like I'm just like dialed in and I'm very focused on whatever I'm doing.
This is an excellent plane book. And the reason that I feel that way is that every single chapter ends on kind of like an oh shit moment and you want to know what's going to happen next.
I also like that it alternates perspectives, not just between Nate the dad and Polly the daughter. More people get introduced as the book goes on. So let's say they show up at somebody's doorstep and you're like, oh, who is this? All of a sudden the next chapter is from the perspective of the person on the other side of the door. Or like they encounter, let's say a police officer or a detective. And then all of a sudden that person's perspective comes in and I just wasn't expecting that. I thought it was maybe gonna go.
just back and forth between Nate and Polly, but I was pleasantly surprised every time another person's point of view came in. I actually think that's really hard to do and do successfully, but I think he did a great job. I agree about Polly and the teddy bear. I was like, this is so specific. And if it wasn't this detailed and so constant throughout the story, it might just seem like a strange.
detail or something that he maybe meant to flesh out more and didn't quite know how, but it becomes like a central part of the story. I wish I could know where he came up with that and why he decided to include that. I also have to say that I couldn't not notice that anytime they talked about a television, like a TV in a hotel room, or it was spelled T-E-E-V-E-E, one word. I have never seen that in a book. I don't know if that was a stylistic choice or something an editor suggested, but I was like, wow, this is like...
Stephanie (23:31)
I noticed that too.
Molly Galler (23:44)
I just can't not notice it because it like my eye kind of like tripped up on it every time. Not a pro or a con, just a thing that I noticed. I think the book moves super quickly. Like if you had like a rainy Saturday or Sunday afternoon to sit with this thing, you could do it in a day. It's 257 pages. It flies like easily a day, a day and a half. And it did make me want to read more of his writing. And I agree with Steph.
Stephanie (23:46)
I just can't not do this because my eye tripped up on it. I mean, not a problem. I'm just kind of like, I think book is super important. Like if you have a reading disorder, and they have a reading disorder, then you could do it in a day. It's 200 days after you get it. It flies easily into hate and it didn't want to be in the lower of his rating.
Molly Galler (24:14)
just like brevity was actually really like moving in a way, even though he was describing things with the less words, it made it feel more intentional. And I also found in the beginning, it took me a little bit to get into the rhythm. Like I was having to reread certain bits and then finally I got into the cadence of his writing and I was like, okay, I'm in, I get it, I'm good.
Stephanie (24:14)
and I just have the, just like the revenue was actually really like moving in, right? Even though I was describing these as the last words, it made it feel more intentional. And I also had a beginning to realize to get into the rhythm. Like I was having to read these events and then finally I got into the game
Kaitlin (24:21)
like moving in a way even when he was describing these are the last words that made it feel more intentional. And I also found in the beginning to get into the rhythm like I was wondering, and then finally I got into the
I get it. He, I don't know what his background is that he's able to
Stephanie (24:39)
I don't know if it's because of the fact that I'm able to write California and like, criminal soap. I know I'm the only person who's written one of those other books, but there, I'm able to say, is on the interleaders, it's like, unborniness and like, the no-bullshit awareness of how the people that...
Kaitlin (24:46)
criminals so well. I know I'm the only person that's read one of his other books, but there, I get why you said it's like Sons of Anarchy. There's just like a grittiness and like a no bullshit awareness of how people that kind of lack of conscience or have kind of lived as an outlaw their whole lives or just an alternative lifestyle or like
Stephanie (25:12)
or just an alternative lifestyle, or like crooked people, like he just really knows how to fight them, and I don't know if he knows somebody in his personal life that he's like either an immigrant, or some kind of professional criminal, or like he's friends with cops, or like, if I found out that his best friend was someone that went under cover, that would be full of sense to me, like somebody that kind of like,
Kaitlin (25:16)
crooked people, like he just really knows how to write them. And I don't know if he knows somebody in his personal life that has like either been in prison or been some kind of professional criminal or like if he's friends with cops or like it would, if I found out that his best friend was somebody that went undercover, that would make total sense to me. Like somebody that kind of like straddles both sides of the law.
I could totally see that he just seems like he's in the know. It feels like he really knows what the heck's going on. I don't know how you are able to fake that unless you are involved with it somehow. I would love for this to be a movie. I think this could be a really good movie. I didn't really have anybody in mind.
Stephanie (25:44)
I can only see that he just seems like he's in love with you. He's been missing you for the last one month. And I don't know how you are able to face that unless you are like involved with it somehow. I would love for this to be a movie. I think this would be a really good movie. I'm definitely kind of in the blinds right now tonight.
Kaitlin (26:11)
was thinking about it being a movie, but I just feel like there's so much action, the characters are so interesting. It seems really like possible, even though like it's kind of crazy, like based on like documentaries and other shows that I've watched about prison, it really doesn't seem that outlandish. Like it's all about like honor and loyalty and owing people things and making deals and all sorts of stuff. And
I just, I feel like that it would be really good in a movie.
Stephanie (26:44)
I also want to say that Nate could have... I was waiting when it started for him. He hasn't seen her in five years and she's a tiny child. Jordan Harper could have made it almost like syrupy and had him...
you know, be very like gentle and fatherly with her and that doesn't happen. And that makes more sense. If it had gone that way, I don't think I would have liked it. Instead, he's teaching her how to take a punch and, you know, not sugar coating anything. And I just am really appreciative of him keeping it real. I hate saying that, but like, he didn't try to do something.
to make the story a certain way. He made it seem, he did basically what would happen in real life, you know? Cause someone coming out of prison wouldn't be like, you know, buck up kiddo, like we're gonna go on an adventure. Instead it's like, this is how it is, it's gonna be hard,
Molly Galler (27:50)
he's not a good guy. And you just have to be all in on that he's not a good guy and accept that means like he's not a great dad and he's exposing her to all kinds of like messed up stuff. And you just have to accept that that's the nature of their relationship. If you're going to follow along on the story. And there is a, this isn't giving anything away, but there's a line when he first gets released from prison.
Stephanie (27:53)
Is that? Yeah.
And you just have to accept that that's a major contingency if you're gonna follow the story. And that's a, this isn't gonna be a big way because there's a line, first you have to reach from prison, you know, it's a close and so on.
Molly Galler (28:13)
You know, he gets like clothes and some money and whatever and he leaves and within 18 minutes of exiting the prison, he breaks into a car, steals it and drives away. And it's like, yep, he broke the law on the way out. Like, I think Jordan Harper sets it up right away to be like, this dude's not messing around. Like he's a rough and tumble person and like, it's going to be like this all the way through. So just buckle up.
Stephanie (28:20)
within 18 minutes of exiting the building, he breaks into a car, and he drives away. And it's like, yep, he broke the wall. The wall, like, I think Jordan Hart was the one to knock him right away. This dude's not messing around, like, he's a rough and tender person, and like, it's gonna be like
Kaitlin (28:28)
I think Jordan Hartford speaks it up right away. The students are
humble person and it's going to be like this all the way through. So just talk a lot. I also, when I was reading it, was thinking about the show and video game The Last of Us because Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey have that dad-daughter relationship even though they're not dad and daughter.
Stephanie (28:40)
I also was thinking about the show The Last of Us. It was a major, last-dialogue development. They have that dad and daughter, which is a non-dad and daughter. And they're both in the book and the show. They're both in survival. So both of the dads are looking for themselves and they're distracted. But usually, they're not in style. And I'm looking for the mirror.
Kaitlin (28:54)
And in both the book and the show, they're both in survival mode. So both of the dad figures are like, okay, pick yourself up from your bootstraps or you literally will just die and I will leave you here. And it's that kind of blinded, one-mission attitude that is just, I think, really refreshing and makes it more exciting because I'm like, these people don't think.
Stephanie (29:09)
And it's not like blind with one particular attitude that it's just like, I think, really refreshing. Makes more excited because these people don't think these people just do. And this is a book that it's all about the bottom two. And it doesn't stop. I know that a lot of people don't think they're not supposed to know about this, but the ability to do this on their own grief
Kaitlin (29:23)
these people just do. And this is a book that is full of a lot of do, and it doesn't stop. I know that Molly's usually the person that talks about the acknowledgements, but the acknowledgements in this book are so brief and the last line is so remarkable, I would say. So his acknowledgements are seven sentences. He does not thank a lot of specific people at all. And his last line references Polly's...
Stephanie (29:44)
So, one more. He does not think that at all. And his last line is, apologies Teddy Bear for outspoken.
Kaitlin (29:53)
Teddy Bear from throughout the story.
Stephanie (29:55)
So the last one that he did not just say, thanks to the bear, it isn't real, but is true.
Kaitlin (29:55)
So the last line of his acknowledgement says, thanks to the bear who isn't real, but is true.
Stephanie (30:04)
So I just know between me and my you know, probably in his life and as he may say,
Kaitlin (30:04)
So I don't know, which made me think like, did he have trauma in his life? And is he basing, is that why he knows how to write gritty so well? Like, I just have a lot of questions. It's a very mysterious acknowledgement. It's a little bit haunting, to be honest with you. And I just, I, he really does leave me wanting to know more.
Molly Galler (30:26)
I was like, oh damn, like part of this is about him, something that he experienced or something that he wanted to communicate with people or maybe it's someone he knows, like you were saying before,
If you thought the bear thing was weird and you weren't sure what was happening, it actually really matters to me. To only have a fourth of a page as your acknowledgments and have that be the ending, it does. It feels like an Easter egg in some weird way.
Stephanie (30:43)
saying if you thought the bear thing was weird and you were like, no, it actually really matters. Like, just once you have a form of the page as your accomplishments and how bad could be the
Kaitlin (30:56)
um, everyone should read this book and message us about it because clearly we all really liked it, which is really nice because we just came off of an episode where we all hated the book. So I feel like this was a real win. I feel victorious. We will be reading more Jordan Harper. You all should be reading all of the Jordan Harper. We're big Jordan Harper fans now. Um, Jordan Harper, if you're listening to this, we would like you to come on our podcast and talk about the bear. Please. And thank you. Um,
Stephanie (30:58)
Everyone should be able to send us messages about it. That's a very important thing. We all really want to know. Which is really nice, because you just came up with that idea of how to get around. So I hope you enjoy this. I really hope you enjoy it. We are.
all for Jordan and Martha. We're very glad that everybody has come out. Jordan, I'm not sure what's going to happen to this. We'd like to have a talk with us and talk about it there. Thank you. What are the great things that you've done? Um.
Kaitlin (31:26)
What are people reading?
Molly Galler (31:29)
Oh my god, why did you just make that sound? You just rolled your own eyes at yourself.
Stephanie (31:34)
Okay. Let me go back. Last summer I started the Akatar series. I read for people who maybe haven't read the series, well I haven't read the whole series, I read the first four books I want to say in like two weeks. I had Zozo at the time, I was fostering a little Chihuahua, she had attachment issues. We sat on the couch every day and I just read all day long. So that's how I got through.
Kaitlin (31:36)
Oh, I know why. I know why. I was with her when she bought this book.
Stephanie (32:02)
four books where I think three of them are over 500 pages. The first book, A Court of Thorns and Roses, is basically a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Would I recommend it? I don't know. If you're into fairies and you're into sauce, yes. I mean... Okay,
Molly Galler (32:06)
What are the consequences? I don't know. If it's serious, anybody can talk to us. I'm excited. Okay, so.
Kaitlin (32:19)
Okay.
Molly Galler (32:20)
so hard. Continue.
Stephanie (32:21)
I'm going to go get some water.
Kaitlin (32:23)
Yes, it's Beauty and the Beast and Fairies and like a love romance situation between a beast and a beauty. And I read five pages. I lasted five pages, Molly.
Stephanie (32:30)
A fairy. Listen, I don't regret reading them because I did enjoy them at the time. They're not for everyone. But anyways, the sauce was good and some of the storytelling was fantastic. So I went to Barnes & Noble. She has two other series. I feel like right now I want to dive into a world and not come up for a number of books.
Molly Galler (32:41)
And some of the stories don't even end up. So I'm going to learn some of the other stories, and I want to just, I feel like a great help for those who want to dive into the world and not come out.
Stephanie (32:59)
I want to love the characters enough that I'm like, yes, I'll read another thousand pages about these characters.
Kaitlin (33:04)
You could go back to Shatter Me then. Cause you liked that one, I thought. No, okay, nevermind. Nevermind!
Stephanie (33:08)
Yeah, but that was why I just I wanted I think I wanted more intrigue or action right now. So the so right now I'm reading Sarah J. Mass's throne of glass, which when I went up to the register, the helpful cashier was like, just want to give you a heads up. It's written like a 15 year old wrote it. And I was like, Okay, cool. Like I just kind of didn't really care.
Kaitlin (33:34)
She had already brought up trigger warnings in the book. So she started with, do you know the trigger warnings? Which I also had a book that had trigger warnings in that I'm pretty sure she said that and she's like, and as an aside, it's not written well because it's supposed to be a teenage girl.
Stephanie (33:37)
So she starts with a few different comments, which I'm not going to go into that in this video. No, I don't think there's trigger warnings in this one. So, I'm going to go ahead and start with a few different comments, which I'm not going
And as a sign, it's not good, well, because it's supposed to be a school girl. Here's the thing. I couldn't really tell you what this is about, because to me, it feels I'm. You're so good. It's not a good sign. No, I can. I'm 160 pages in. It just, I can't tell you. It's about a fictional world where this girl has been living in a prison camp working in mines.
Molly Galler (33:50)
Here's the thing, I can really tell you something about the community of peace. I'm, you're so good at it, I can't tell you anything. I am. No, I can't. I'm on a different page of it. But you know what? That's what I can tell you. It's about the general world where this girl is in a prison camp working in properties for
Kaitlin (33:57)
You're so far into it and you can't tell me what it's about.
But you don't know what it's about?
Stephanie (34:15)
for the past year because she was raised as an assassin and she was like the number one assassin in the land, but she's a teenage girl. And she has now been picked to be a competitor in this competition that we don't really know why it's happening, but it's basically all criminals and thieves who are competing to basically be the champion of the king. Yes.
Kaitlin (34:41)
So a convict Hunger Games. Yes. But nothing is really happening. You know, if you just think about it, two or three competitions are just going to be able to die. It doesn't feel... I don't know if I'm being a little bit of a
Stephanie (34:44)
But nothing has really happened in the 160 pages. They've had, I think, two or three competitions at this point. Two people have died. But it doesn't feel... I don't know if I'm being overly critical because I am exhausted and stressed, but it doesn't feel like anything.
Kaitlin (35:02)
Hmm. Well, yeah. And also if it's a whole series, why would you read the next one if there's like nothing happening? Is there a romance happening?
Stephanie (35:03)
And I want action.
Maybe not yet, but I know that it's like world building. Like I'm having to like understand all the different players and yeah.
Kaitlin (35:18)
Yeah, but you know what? There are plenty of books that world build and get a lot done in 160 pages. Divergent is like that. Hunger Games is like that. Fourth Wing is like that. Harry Potter is like that.
Stephanie (35:28)
Mm-hmm. Yeah.
Kaitlin (35:31)
Well, maybe this wasn't the one. I don't know. I'm going to go, I'm going to go back and say what I've been saying for like six months, you should read ninth house because the second one's already out and I have it and that is of the world that's built there is fascinating.
Stephanie (35:33)
Yeah.
Yeah. I don't know, or could redeem itself.
Yeah, I will.
Okay.
there is fascinating. Okay.
Kaitlin (35:52)
More?
Molly Galler (35:53)
I just finished, she read Shotgun at like midnight last night. So I had that fun moment where I was like, oh, I get to pick something new from the TBR. I didn't yet start this book, but I am excited to. It is called BFF, a memoir of friendship lost and found. I saw this book when I was at the Beacon Hill bookstore a couple of weeks ago. Truly just like an impulse thing. I saw it on a table and I was like, oh.
What's that? It's written by Christy Tate. Her previous book, which is called group, was a Reese's book club book. So I was like, oh, a vote of confidence. Um, that book is fiction. This book is not, but I do love a memoir. So I'm hopeful I'm going to start it tonight and I'll report back.
Stephanie (36:33)
not that it's fiction, as far as it's not, but I do remember, so I'm on the phone with her and
to talk to her. I was so excited to have this whole new state of awareness because I had to do this with my sister, and it didn't quite come in. He had a brother come on the deck with him and he was like, he would because he has famous parents. Which I was like, I'm probably gonna have to talk to him because he...
Kaitlin (36:39)
I'm still finishing this Golden State. A romance has been added into the mix that I'm really enjoying. Yeah, didn't see it coming. And it's got like a little red, white and royal blue flavor to it because he has famous parents, which I think is going to become a problem for her because they're going to be seen together and there's going to be photographs and her parents are probably going to freak out. These are all my predictions. So that's been a nice layer. And then after that...
Stephanie (36:58)
They're going to be seen together, they're going to be photographed together, probably to keep out, because these are all my predictions. So that's been the layer, and then after that, I'm going to start spraying.
Kaitlin (37:09)
I'm going to start Bright Young Women because that's going to be, I think, our next episode. And that one's by Jessica Knoll. I didn't like her other book, so I'm hoping that this one is better because Steph says it is.
Stephanie (37:12)
because that's going to be an after-part of the episode. And no one's gonna just ignore me. I like my underpants, so I'm hoping this one is better because it's a step-step base, so there. I'm telling you, you're going to love it because it redeems. And it sounds like it's got like that TNT of the country, tailoring something like the eight-five, where it seems like based on a spiritual, but kind of fictionalized.
Molly Galler (37:26)
And it seems like it's not like you're not seeing that much of a tiller to the blade either. It's like based on people who are in the prison for us. Yeah. I know why you're, yeah. It's part
Kaitlin (37:28)
And it sounds like it's got like a, what's her name? Taylor Jenkins read vibe where it's like based on a true story, but kind of fictionalized.
Molly Galler (37:39)
it does feel similar and that it is like based off of events. We all know and can recall quite easily, but it's definitely way darker than anything Taylor Jenkins read. This was my first Jessica Nobok will talk about it more, but, um, I, after the first chapter, I was like, Oh, I'll be addicted to this.
Kaitlin (38:02)
I would love to, I mean, it's indie bookstore weekend coming up and I just, I want to be in, I want to be in the throes of it. I've got the next Jordan Harper coming. I'm sorry, Jordan Harper, but it's coming from Amazon. I've got the next, I can't find it anywhere. I've looked at five regular bookstores.
Stephanie (38:07)
I can't wait. I'm gonna put a list together.
Kaitlin (38:20)
The second dot shows up, I'm probably going to drop everything and stay up all night and read it because that's who he is. Hope he's working on his fourth one.
Molly Galler (38:27)
If you want to follow along on everything that we're reading and to see all of the stuff we're doing for Indie Book Store Day and otherwise, you can follow us on Instagram at PlansAreBooked. If you want to suggest a book you'd like us to chat about, you can write to us at PlansAreBooked at gmail.com.
Kaitlin (38:44)
And until next time, our plans are booked.