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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 Galler.
Kaitlin (00:05)
And I'm Caitlin Madison. Welcome to chapter 21. NOISE
Stephanie (00:06)
I'm Stephanie Blackburn.
to reach out.
Molly Galler (00:14)
Anyone.
Kaitlin (00:16)
Pod can drink, yay.
Molly Galler (00:18)
I was gonna say, it's gambling significant.
Stephanie (00:19)
So I...
Kaitlin (00:22)
Um, so I am coming off of a not fun girls weekend, NOISE unfortunately. Had to replace all of my tires and then my friend missed a step and sprained her ankle really badly. So it was just like a lot of, um, not good times. And that's how I started my spring break from school.
Stephanie (00:32)
all my tires and my friend, Nesta Steph and Spring Drink, or La Babli. So it was just like a lot of not good times.
Molly Galler (00:36)
this is that and it's really lovely so it was just like a motto.
Kaitlin (00:49)
But my birthday is this coming weekend and I have plans to hang out with a bunch of people and eat dumplings and drink drinks and then I'm flying to Florida to see my parents. So I think we're on the upswing. I do want to give a special shout out to Delta Dental of Massachusetts. I spent an hour and 15 minutes on hold today.
Molly Galler (00:55)
I do want to give a special shout out to Delta Dental of Massachusetts. I spent an hour and fifteen minutes on goal today from one patient that they said didn't break their tooth enough quote unquote to -
Kaitlin (01:13)
for one patient that they said didn't break their tooth enough, quote unquote, to get the crown covered. No one ever talked to me. It was just time for the workday to end. So I just had to hang up after being on a whole third hour and 15 minutes. And then it took me an hour to get to Watertown from work for absolutely no reason. I thought there was going to be an accident. No, it was just every day people was like driving around in the land of Richard's scary. Everybody was like, NOISE like red lights.
Stephanie (01:13)
one patient that they said did break her tooth on us.
I'm not sure if you can hear me.
Molly Galler (01:23)
I worked at M, so I decided to hang out. NOISE
Stephanie (01:34)
an accident. It was just every day, it was like driving around in the land of Richard's Gary.
Kaitlin (01:43)
where it was ridiculous.
Molly Galler (01:44)
I read those books with my nephew frequently, so I have a very fresh visual of the Richard Scarry village.
Kaitlin (01:48)
So I am so very fresh and busy.
Yeah, so that's just basically been like the last three or so days for me and I'm ready for things to turn upswing.
Molly Galler (02:00)
to turn up for. So it is time.
Stephanie (02:04)
I am two days into tiling. Um, as you guys know, this is usually my hell week. In fact, I, yes. Yes. NOISE A hundred percent. NOISE Um, I, you know, I'm not thrilled that my father went on vacation to go play golf for a week while I'm.
Kaitlin (02:07)
Nightmare. NOISE
Molly Galler (02:10)
Wait, did you just call it a hell week? Which just like conjures images of like football to a day. NOISE
Thank you.
Stephanie (02:32)
breaking my lower back. Somehow bending over is not easy for me anymore. NOISE Don't really want to talk about it. NOISE It has been wonderful and I don't know if it's just a quiet house. Like I'm only in my own head. I'm singing to myself. No one's bothering me. No one's looking over my shoulder. So therefore I'm not stressing when things are not turning out perfectly. Like today there was a slight snafu where I should have cut something at five and three eights.
but I cut it at five and three quarters. Anyways, not important. I didn't get super stressed about it. NOISE And that's not to say that I want my dad to go on vacation in the middle of the next reno. I'm just saying this is not as bad of a week as I had expected it to be. NOISE I could potentially finish both bathrooms tomorrow. Not the floor, just the walls. NOISE I haven't hurt myself. NOISE I just, I've...
Kaitlin (03:04)
Thanks so much for your time.
Molly Galler (03:05)
I do have some questions about it.
expected of me. I could potentially.
Another one, just one.
Kaitlin (03:29)
That's awesome news and we're very glad that you Don't want to die because usually this is like when you're like, why do I even do this? I just want to put this up for sale And every year without failure dad is like not here like there's some point in
Stephanie (03:32)
I'm feeling surprised. NOISE Basically, it's turning out well. NOISE
Yes. Yep. NOISE
Thank you.
Kaitlin (03:55)
February where he teaches ski lessons and there's some point in March where he's just not here and I'm always like, what is going on?
Molly Galler (03:55)
Thank you.
Stephanie (04:02)
Well.
Molly Galler (04:02)
Yeah, I feel like a Scott vacation is part of every Renault schedule. Like, Caitlin and I could probably write the usual schedule for a Blackburn Family Design flip house and there would be minimum one week where like Scott is gone.
Stephanie (04:06)
Yeah. NOISE
Kaitlin (04:08)
Last year he was gone in Florida, he started suffering from his general cancer on his own and then he left for the Rift in France.
Stephanie (04:14)
Last year, he was gone in Florida when it started. So if you remember, I did demo the first week by myself and then he left for a river cruise in France at the end. So then I was finishing up the house by myself. This time it's just golf in Florida. Two years ago, he went out to Utah to ski and ended up in the ER. So at least I'm glad that's not happening. NOISE But like...
Molly Galler (04:26)
And I wish I could finish.
Kaitlin (04:35)
to go to a child to see in a forest.
Stephanie (04:42)
I'm not booking vacations. I'd love to be going on a vacation, but I am here to work until the house is done is all I'm saying.
Kaitlin (04:44)
I love to be here.
Molly Galler (04:50)
When I watch you do the tiling every time, it gives me like so much respect when I see like a beautiful bathroom either in someone's house or in a hotel. I'm like a human being like Stephanie Mae Blackburn laid this tile into this shower that I am now admiring.
Kaitlin (04:53)
So much respect for this beautiful man.
this tile, this shower, and the house and the room. And can I quote you a couple of times?
Stephanie (05:05)
And can I tell you, I go into bathrooms and notice all the things that are incorrect. NOISE
Molly Galler (05:08)
Well, because you know how it's done.
Stephanie (05:14)
Like, for example, you're supposed to caulk the corners, not grout the corners. Do you know how many times I go into a bathroom, even friend's bathrooms? I haven't looked in either of yours, so I'm not saying it's either of yours. NOISE
Kaitlin (05:14)
like, or not like, this is a cost.
Molly Galler (05:26)
I didn't pick this tile, so I don't care. NOISE
Kaitlin (05:28)
I don't own where I live, NOISE so F that B.
Stephanie (05:34)
Anyhow, I'm done talking about tile, but I'm feeling really good about myself. NOISE And today I was like feeling a little proud. Like I just, I looked at what I was doing and was struggling with placement of things, but was like, this is probably my best work. Just the lines are straighter. NOISE
Molly Galler (05:35)
But I just found myself going about my life today with a feeling of proud. I just looked at what I was doing and was struggling with. Places of things.
Kaitlin (05:38)
Bye.
The lip balm that you gave me for my birthday is spicy flavored and it's supposed to make your lips tingle and plump. It's just making my mouth water on the sides. I can't tell if it's gloss or drool in the corners.
Molly Galler (05:51)
I'm feeling a Lizzo good as hell music choice coming on for a future Instagram reel.
Stephanie (05:55)
Yes. NOISE
It's just making my mouth water. NOISE On the side. NOISE
Molly Galler (06:09)
This is like a live, this is a live product review. NOISE
Kaitlin (06:11)
I'm not joking And it's orange it came out of the tube orange like sherpa
Stephanie (06:14)
is for
Molly Galler (06:20)
Wow. Okay.
Kaitlin (06:20)
Yep. So I don't know. I don't know what she gave me. What's in this stuff? First of all, it's called Viper Bomb. So I should have known, NOISE but oh well. Molly, what have you been up to?
Stephanie (06:21)
I don't know what she means by what's in this stuff. First of all, it's called Phycon, so I shouldn't have known. But, well, Molly wouldn't keep it up, too. I am a flesh -alike.
Molly Galler (06:31)
I am fresh off of my civic duty today. I was called for jury duty today. I have been called exactly once before this when I was 18 years old. I was like fresh meat in the lottery and I got selected. NOISE Today I only had to drive to Woburn, Massachusetts, which is really quite lucky. Sometimes you get like a shit placement and you have to drive very far. NOISE
I was very lucky. I had a very nice woman who was in charge of the jury pool room. NOISE And we were dismissed halfway through the day. They'd never needed to impanel, as they say, a jury for any of the trials that were supposed to happen that day. I was a bit disappointed because I kind of liked the idea of like being off Wi -Fi the entire day. I was like hoping for that. But I did get to read for many hours uninterrupted. NOISE And then because it ended so early, I took myself out to lunch.
Kaitlin (07:04)
And that's just happening through the day.
Thank you.
Stephanie (07:21)
I did a bunch of people on any course that they got. And then I did so early, which was awesome.
Molly Galler (07:28)
before returning to my home. And I just want to share with people who are always like, oh, jury duty, what's that like? Like, what happens? There was one trial that they thought might occur that needed a jury today. And the reason it didn't in the end is because the defendant's wife was the key witness. And at the last minute decided she didn't want to testify. So they had no choice but to postpone it.
Stephanie (07:30)
And I just want to show you a little bit of what you're going to do.
Kaitlin (07:30)
and I just.
Did I ever tell you guys that Karen was on a grand jury?
Stephanie (07:50)
That's right.
Molly Galler (08:00)
But I have had a few people at work who that's happened to and they've been out for like four to six weeks
Kaitlin (08:05)
Oh, she was out for like three months. Like, it started like right after New Year's, and it ended the week before the pandemic started. So she hadn't been going to work for like three months and was going and doing this jury duty situation and making like, whatever the bare minimum they pay you for jurors. So she was like, I'm taking a huge pay cut doing my civic duty right now. She was on it for like, I want to say 10 or 11 weeks.
Stephanie (08:08)
It started like right after New Year's and it ended.
So shoot and.
and making like whatever the bare minimum they pay you for shirt so she was like I'm taking a huge pay cut doing my specific beauty right now she was on it for like I want to say 10 or 11 weeks and she was like the whole process like we all thought this guy was guilty like from the get -go like it was like the evidence they have was like so like damning that she was like we could have done it
Molly Galler (08:33)
And shoot.
Kaitlin (08:35)
And she was like the whole process, like we all thought this guy was guilty, like from the get go. Like it was, we like, the evidence they had was like so like damning that she was like, we could have done it in a day probably. NOISE And basically it was like two homeless guys that got in a fight and one of them killed the other one. Yeah. NOISE And so yeah. I.
Molly Galler (08:40)
was built from the get -go. It was like the evidence that happened. So.
Stephanie (08:51)
And basically it was like two homeless guys that got in a fight.
Molly Galler (08:52)
And basically, it was a whole lot of fun playing on the piano. Whoa. Yeah. And so yeah, it was a lot of fun.
Stephanie (09:00)
And so yeah, it was.
Kaitlin (09:03)
It was, I felt so bad for her. She was like, Oh, so I was free for like a week. It was so bad. It was so, so bad. I felt really bad for her.
Molly Galler (09:08)
Right before the world shut down, she didn't even realize when she was stuck in that jury room what was about to happen. Well, discussing a murder trial feels like a good segue into our topic for today.
Kaitlin (09:19)
Actually, it does. It does. NOISE So we are delving into our first of I hope many mystery books. I love mysteries. NOISE And I don't know, I've never really talked to Molly about mysteries before. So I don't know if she likes them. But I know Steph does because she likes murdery stuff. NOISE
Stephanie (09:21)
For sure.
Molly Galler (09:28)
So my next mystery box. I thought this was a man.
Thank you.
Stephanie (09:40)
Well, I started at a young age with Nancy Drew, as one does.
Molly Galler (09:49)
Thank you.
Stephanie (09:49)
I actually haven't read a ton. I mean, I've read, you know, like the ones that are on the bestseller list from time to time, but...
Kaitlin (09:57)
Did you read Lois Duncan when you were a kid? She wrote, I know what you did last summer. And then she wrote like probably a dozen other like tween mysteries. Basically, it was like you went from Goosebumps and then you graduated to like Lois Duncan. That's the G rated stuff. Yeah. Yeah.
Stephanie (09:59)
No. Oh.
mysteries basically. It was like you went from Goosebumps and then you graduated to like lowest grade. Well I did Boxcar Children and Nancy Drew and like that stuff at like elementary age. NOISE Yeah then I went to R .L. Stein but then I as you guys know I didn't really read in high school or college so.
Molly Galler (10:10)
It was like, who would possibly graduate?
Thank you.
Kaitlin (10:31)
Lois Duncan was hardcore middle school from, it was like grades five to seven probably. I really liked her books because they, like, did you ever read Face on the Milk Carton? Like that series, Caroline B. Cooney? Yeah, I've taught that book before actually. NOISE So I was really into that, which is like, you know, she sees her face on the milk carton and her parents aren't her parents. NOISE And, you know, she's got a boyfriend and she's just got her driver's license. And it's like, some girls were reading the books where like they were like a walk.
Stephanie (10:33)
Five, six, seven, probably.
Molly Galler (10:35)
I really do apologize because it would make you do a very bad job.
Stephanie (10:37)
because they like to do it on a regular basis.
Molly Galler (10:42)
Yes.
Stephanie (10:47)
is related.
Hi, it's me. NOISE
Molly Galler (10:55)
So, folks, we'll be...
Kaitlin (11:00)
remember and like the girl or the guy and the boyfriend girlfriend duo dies. Yeah. So like the Lifetime movie, Cancer Teenage Books, there were those girls stuff. And then there was like me, like, I'm, you know, I'm going to solve this case or whatever. And like, I liked Encyclopedia Brown as a kid. I thought those were great. Nate the Great, those were really popular. I taught some of those actually when I taught elementary school. Kids love solving mysteries. NOISE Absolutely.
Molly Galler (11:04)
Yeah, so like the lifetime.
Stephanie (11:16)
Mm -hmm
Molly Galler (11:18)
I thought it was a rape. Native rape. Those were really tough. They're having a tough time.
Stephanie (11:26)
Kids love solving these problems. NOISE
Kaitlin (11:30)
love it. NOISE I need to do some research on it because the most reluctant readers were like, I had to know what happened. NOISE Because the idea of a cliffhanger at the end of a chapter, kids can't deal. They can't deal. That's why everybody's a binge watcher now. It's like,
Molly Galler (11:32)
I need to do some research on it because it's the most problematic leader.
Stephanie (11:35)
It's the most reluctant reader for like, I have no idea. NOISE Like, because like, I feel like, I feel like I get the job, and like, kids can't deal. They can't deal. That's why I put it in this watcher now. It's like... I would say adults can't deal, because that's how I read pretty much every single book. I have to pause and be like, okay, it's not about the ending, it's about the journey. Calm down, slow down. NOISE Right, so like, again, teaching history is really...
Molly Galler (11:44)
So, this is the end deal. Thank you.
It's like, I wanna say that.
Kaitlin (11:53)
Right. NOISE So like the so teaching mysteries is really tricky because you have to tell kids like no spoilers. NOISE Like, if you read ahead, that's a choice that you made. Don't blow it for everybody. And like, I had to break up some verbal brawls of kids that like intentionally ruined books for other kids.
Molly Galler (11:57)
So teaching is really important.
If you would have it, it would have been fine.
Stephanie (12:15)
is that like, intentionally, ruin...
Molly Galler (12:15)
I don't like that. I don't like that. I will say we discussed this in like our origin story episode that I was a huge TV person for a really really long time including as a kid I love this show on PBS called Ghostwriter. I don't know if you guys watched it. Okay, so that was like my jam around mysteries as far as like what I was consuming. I don't know if you would call these books I've read as an adult mystery or thriller, but I was into like gone -
Stephanie (12:20)
I don't like that. I will say, we discussed this in the conference.
Oh, yeah. Jillian Flynn. NOISE
Kaitlin (12:30)
That was a good one.
Molly Galler (12:45)
Girl on the Train, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, all the girls. I read all those books and loved them. But I don't know that I would call myself like a mystery reader. I guess that's a better category.
Kaitlin (12:48)
So you like thrillers? They're thrillers. They're thrillers. That's how I would categorize them anyway. They're thrillers. NOISE And also you it sounds like you just really like an unreliable narrator as well. Like all those books. Yeah, I don't like it either. NOISE
Stephanie (12:58)
That's why I was kind of arrested anyway.
Molly Galler (13:05)
I do like when you can tell that the person is a piece of shit right from the beginning.
Stephanie (13:06)
And I hate that. NOISE
Kaitlin (13:16)
Yeah, that doesn't pull me in. NOISE I know enough real life ones I think is maybe what it amounts to.
Molly Galler (13:18)
Thank you. NOISE
I think in Gone Girl specifically, you know, that was like so prolific and everybody read it, even people that don't normally read that kind of book. And there was a plot twist about halfway through where I out loud was like, holy crap. And I feel like that kind of moment is really exciting as a reader. And as much as I am now in like the romance camp or the memoir camp, you just don't get like a, aha, big reveal like that unless.
Stephanie (13:26)
You know, that's so, everything that I've been talking about, I read that book. And then I realized, I'm a plot, this route has to look like a plot.
Kaitlin (13:31)
And then the thoughts of walking so backward and what I can only understand, holy crap. And I feel like that kind of moment is really exciting. As much as I am walking through the room, it's like I'm walking through the room.
Did you read Verity? Yeah, that's a that's a one that I hadn't had a book in a long time that kind of like my jaw dropped. Like I was this time last year, I read it. And I was with my parents in Florida and I was reading it by the pool. And my mom was like, you are tearing through that. She's like, I know that you usually bring two or three books when you come visit us. But like,
Molly Galler (13:52)
reading a thriller or a mystery like you've got to be in those genres to have that kind of like crazy reveal. Sure did.
Stephanie (14:07)
This one was here on Reddit. NOISE
and my mom was like, you are terrible at that. She's like, I know that you usually break two or three.
Molly Galler (14:12)
And she's like, I know you're a freak, you were three talks when you came to visit us, but you were crazy for that. I was like.
Kaitlin (14:20)
you are cruising through that book. And I was like, ah, yeah, there's some really twisted mess up stuff going on and I need to find out what in the world is happening. So basically through Goodreads and maybe TikTok, although I don't vividly remember TikTok specifically steering me in the way of this, but I arrived at this book called The Butcher and the Wren, which is by Elena Urquhart.
Stephanie (14:22)
like, oh yeah.
Molly Galler (14:25)
So basically through three weeks and I really couldn't do this without the help of Dr. Cotter, who is doing this for me. But I have not even dealt with this book called The Book Triangle.
Stephanie (14:28)
in the world is happening. So basically through the leads and...
I am writing down this book called The Bookshelter and the Head, which is by Alina Rukper.
Kaitlin (14:50)
And people might know her because she is one of the hosts of the morbid podcast. Um, and this is her first book and it's been announced that it's going to be a series and then it's going to be optioned to be a movie. Um, and there's already like producers attached to it. So I think like casting is probably happening soon. Like I'm pretty sure once you have producers attached, it means it's like really a go. Um, cause that means they producers are just a nice way of saying people that gave money to it. So.
Stephanie (14:55)
And it's been an accident. It's going to be a series and it's going to be an option to be avoided. And there's already some producers in the past few months. Like, I think that's going to be happening soon. Like, I'm pretty sure once you have producers in the past few months, it's like, really, you know. Because I'm going to say, there is a nice way to start a new world.
Molly Galler (14:59)
that is going to be serious and you can optionally do it. And, I guess, you can ask me that question. Like, I'm asking this probably happens to me, I'm pretty sure. Once you have these.
Thank you.
Kaitlin (15:20)
They're ready to roll, I think. NOISE So it popped up on a couple different spots like, you might like this. And there is like a tagline on the back cover of the book. And it's from Tierney Bricker of E! News, who I have followed on social media for 1 million years. She started off as an intern for Kristen Dos Santos.
Stephanie (15:22)
So it pops in a couple different spots. You might like that.
Molly Galler (15:22)
So.
You might get a S.
Stephanie (15:34)
and it's from Stevie Breaker of E! News who I have followed on social media for one million years. She started off as a...
Molly Galler (15:37)
It was who I followed from India for one year. She started off as a tutor for Kristen Shostentos. After that, she was really off to a spoiler.
Kaitlin (15:47)
Back in the day when she used to do like all of her TV spoiler blogs that I used to read religiously, and I mean back in the day, like Dawson's Creek spoilers and like that era of the WB, she was an intern for her. And she also for a long time was roommates with Karina Adley -McKenzie. And so I have just, those women are my age and they're like in kind of like the TV entertainment realm.
Molly Galler (15:53)
So you can actually play across the street.
She was a big fan of mine. And she also for a long time was in one of the things with Karina after the pencil. And so I had those women in the park right there. And they're in kind of a receiving and entertaining realm. I was a fan of her because I had influence from her now and so was her in the 80s. And Karina has written for the Vampire Titans and she's a fan of mine.
Kaitlin (16:16)
I would say Tierney is like kind of an influencer now and still works for E and Karina has written for the vampire diaries and Roswell and the originals was her big one. And then now she's doing, we were liars with I was going to say Plec, but I couldn't think of her first name, Julie Plec. So anyways, so I,
Stephanie (16:18)
influence her now and still works for E. And Karina has worked for the Van Nuys Highways and Roswell. And now she's doing We Were Low.
Julie Pluck.
Molly Galler (16:37)
I was going to say five, but I've been to a person who's really black to white. So I basically have been volunteering for like one year and I still listen to both.
Stephanie (16:41)
So anyways, so I basically have been volunteering for like one year and I saw this book in the dark and I saw the truth as well as the evil that like Berku felt back and she said, NOISE this cat and mouse thriller will give you Berku's bomb to share with us. That's what I read back in the book. Now, I was just like, oh my god, Jernadie just made it.
Kaitlin (16:45)
basically have been following Tierney for like one million years and I saw this book in Target, I think. And I saw that she was one of the people that like reviewed it on the back and she said, this cat and mouse thriller will give you your goosebumps chills. NOISE That's her tagline on the back of the book. Now, I was just like, oh my God, Tierney has made it. Like she is on a blurb on a book in Target, like...
and I was like really happy for her and I was like and wait a minute I love a good mystery like I would be very into this because I love murdery stuff. I swear to god it's because I started watching Six Feet Under in high school when it was on tv and I never looked back. Give me the most twisted dark messed up I still put up with all the Gillian Flynn movies and books because I do like a twisted woman. I think they're fascinating and then Meredith Grey I feel like there was a big come -up with like
Stephanie (17:19)
because I'm learning stuff. I swear to God, it's because I've learned a lot from six to nine of them.
Molly Galler (17:22)
I swear about it, because I just had a lot of sex with another woman, and I just wanted to be with her. Give me the most wishy -dark message. I still love the book, but I can't fill in the movies and books because I feel like it was a moment. I think they're fascinating. And then you could pray. I feel like this is a big cup. It's like women are wishy -dark and having, you know,
Stephanie (17:29)
He's the most twisted, dark -
because I feel like it was a moment I think that was fascinating. And then third of gray, I feel like it was a big moment. It was like women's art was supposed to be like having, you know, a problem, you know, lacking in very much like accepted truth and also like...
Kaitlin (17:43)
women being dark and twisty and like having, you know, generational and childhood trauma. And like, you know, that became very much like an accepted trope and also like, I think more accepted in society, like let it out, like you're dark and twisty. We don't have to be like fluffy blondes and Barbies all the time. NOISE And so I think that Elena Urquhart is a very cool person in real life. I'm just,
like, you know, that became very much like an accepted trope and also like, I think more accepted in society, NOISE like let it out, like you're dark and twisty, we don't have to be like fluffy blondes and Barbies all the time. NOISE And so I think that Elena Urquhart is a very cool person in real life. I'm just, I just think that that's the truth. Like, I think that she's very interesting. I think she's totally herself.
Molly Galler (17:49)
you know, that would be a very culturally accepted approach. And also, like,
you're not going to see, you don't have to see like fluffy moths or the fart is almost gone. So I think that a later report is...
Stephanie (18:02)
So I think that Elena Erfler is...
I just think that's the truth. Like I think she's right.
Kaitlin (18:18)
There's not a lot of people I know that would be like, yeah, I do autopsy reports. I'm an autopsy technician and I'm going to make a podcast called Morbid and I'm going to talk about dead bodies and weird deaths and investigating creepy, crawly, crappy stuff and whatever. NOISE Then I'm going to write a book where there's an autopsy detective person who essentially is on the hunt.
Stephanie (18:20)
I'm going to talk about dead bodies, spirit deaths, investing, food, crawlies, crappy stuff, and whatever. And then I'm going to bring it to a certain level where there's autopsy, like detection.
Molly Galler (18:29)
dead bodies, bearded cats, and investigating creepy crawlies for every stop and what if. And I'm afraid of hope that where there's a possibility like the tactical person who essentially is on the hunt for a spree on the front of the field.
Kaitlin (18:48)
for a serial killer who is basically acting like it's a game. NOISE And I'm going to put it in a really cool setting and also like I'm going to make it a series while I'm at it because why not? It's fine. It's not creepy at all. NOISE So that's what the butcher in the Wren is and Wren is the main character. She's like the heroine and butcher is...
Stephanie (18:56)
And I'm gonna write from the perspective of the serial killer. NOISE
Molly Galler (18:57)
Oh, that's cool. I'm going to make a series while I'm at it.
That's fine. It's not that difficult. So, after the quick drive event, and then making out with things like that, and what you're looking at is basically a serial.
Stephanie (19:12)
and trust in the state.
is a serious problem because he is brutal and a murderous evil. And it's just kind of hurting his role as a criminal in it because it's very, very vivid and that is not a good way to go about it.
Kaitlin (19:18)
basically the nickname that the serial killer gets because he is brutal in the way that he murders people. NOISE And it's just kind of like your heart's in your throat the whole time you're reading it because it's very, very vivid and you get inside the head of like somebody that gets their kicks from murdering.
Molly Galler (19:27)
It's just trying to like, carve it out.
Stephanie (19:38)
It's also that every single chapter ends with a oh well I need to keep going because what the heck you know NOISE
Molly Galler (19:38)
front.
Kaitlin (19:45)
I just love that she is a podcast host turned author because I think Steph is sitting here and like she's gonna be one. Also did you know she has another podcast called the rewatcher? It's about rewatching Buffy the vampire slayer and it's also very popular. She has she has a successful podcast host twofold on top of just right
Molly Galler (19:46)
because what, you know, I just thought that you were going to say.
Stephanie (20:08)
successful conference.
Kaitlin (20:14)
series, it's going to be a movie now.
Molly Galler (20:15)
I also agree that Steph will be a podcaster slash author.
I want to say a couple of things. One, I think this is an amazing title. It's very catchy, NOISE like to the eyeballs on the shelf. But also when you say it out loud, it just sounds like something you want to know more about. NOISE I know it's going to totally, I know it's getting adapted as it should. Um, and I think hopefully they'll keep the same name.
Stephanie (20:25)
It's very catchy to the eyes.
Kaitlin (20:31)
Like it sounds like a true crime doc or something.
Stephanie (20:33)
more about it. I know it's a completely different kind of doc. I know it's kind of 2003. And I think hopefully...
Molly Galler (20:44)
If you will pass me the book, I actually wanted to go back to what you said about the vivid writing. There was one beginning of a chapter. It's the first page of chapter 16. This doesn't give anything away, but it's like a sampling of what you were talking about, the writing. This is from the perspective of Wren, actually not from the butcher. All at once, like an unpredictable hemorrhage, Wren can smell it. NOISE It's subtle, so subtle that she wonders if it's just an olfactory hallucination or results of too many morgue hours. NOISE
Kaitlin (20:50)
the first book of chapter 16. So we're going to go through some of the same things that we're going to do in the other reading. This is kind of like this, you know, the head -to -head project. All of this, like, you have the concept of the book, and then you have this title. It's so simple that you want this, it's just a book that's made with this image of the book, and it's a truly dark place to adopt a true purpose. It could spell out the best one, or it could just be the next one, or it could be the next one.
Stephanie (20:50)
beginning of chapter one.
And so some of the people with this question.
Molly Galler (21:13)
train nose. It could smell like a foul plate of festival food or a street bean experiment gone awry, but red nose, it's unmistakably the stench of early decomposition in a stifling hot weather." I could go on, but like her word choice is so intentional. It conjures very specific imagery and also like you get every, all five senses in that one paragraph. And I think that she, yes, is an
Stephanie (21:14)
smell of the totally confessible food for a speedy experiment on a red nose.
is so effective that it conjures you to every single...
And I think she is. Yes, it's an expert in fuel, which is obvious.
Molly Galler (21:42)
in the field, which is obvious from the way that this was written, but she does try to really bring you into every element of living this experience from Ren's perspective and then also from the Butcher's perspective. I didn't love this, but I think it's because I've been spending so much time in happier genres that this is such a detour. And the jumping back and forth between the two perspectives, NOISE wow, like a very common s -
Stephanie (21:48)
every element of living in the six canyons from Ren's perspective and also from the Vodger's perspective. I did not love this, but I think it's because I've been spending so much time and happy...
Kaitlin (21:50)
experience from my perspective and also from the literature's perspective. I didn't want this, but I think it's because I've been spending so much time in happier genres that this is such a detour.
Stephanie (22:06)
and the jumping back and forth between the two perspectives involved a very common set of criminal books.
Kaitlin (22:09)
It's a very fun set up for many books.
Molly Galler (22:11)
for many books.
I either just wanted to watch him be hunted by her or I wanted to watch him do the hunting. It was a lot for me, the back and forth.
Kaitlin (22:13)
either just wanted to watch him be hunted by her or I wanted to watch him do the hunting. It was a lot from the back and forth.
Stephanie (22:23)
I will say that I too didn't love it, but it's because I am in a stressful work thing right now. I mean, this is my jam. You know, I binged all of Criminal Minds in what, two months? It was unhealthy. NOISE Marissa calls it my screaming shows. She's...
Kaitlin (22:27)
I'm like two years in and I've only done five seasons because I have to take breaks because it's disturbing.
Molly Galler (22:29)
I am a stressful workaholic. I just have to tell you, you know, that all of your life has been what? Two nights. It was a...
Stephanie (22:49)
oh, you're watching one of your screaming shows again. Like this is the stuff that I very much enjoy. And I think if I was not working on a house right now and I was just like fostering dogs or whatever, NOISE and you know, I would have been in a different mindset and absolutely loved it. And instead, what normally wouldn't gross me out, like the scene where she's doing the autopsy, I felt like I was gonna vomit. NOISE Yeah. NOISE
Kaitlin (23:01)
I've been in a different mindset and absolutely loved it and instead what normally wouldn't work for me now is like the same or she's doing the autopsy.
Molly Galler (23:10)
I was nauseous a lot. A lot.
Kaitlin (23:15)
That's how you know it's good. NOISE See, I love that stuff. And I also work in a dental office, which is pretty gross on a regular basis. Like if there's like blood anywhere, it's like that came from some of these gums. NOISE Like that's the worst kind of blood in my opinion. NOISE
Stephanie (23:19)
See, I love that stuff. And I also want a dental office, which is a good choice.
Molly Galler (23:25)
Yeah, there I should say to my comment earlier there is a big reveal in this similar to what I was saying about gone girl There is a moment here where like oh crap. Yes, and I think you guys probably sensed it long
Stephanie (23:30)
I will say I loved the unraveling of the story. I did figure it out, NOISE but listen, that's just. NOISE Yes. Like three quarters.
Kaitlin (23:38)
I think you guys have already sensed it well.
Stephanie (23:54)
I feel like it picks up the intensity.
Molly Galler (23:54)
where I did just because you read a lot of stories like this and you listen to a lot of murdery podcasts, but it probably took me longer than it took you to realize what was going to happen. But once it did, I feel like it picks up the intensity like immediately once that pivot happens and you become sort of even more invested in her ability to find this person. I will say I afterward, I was like, I wonder why like I didn't.
Kaitlin (24:19)
I didn't want to say that there are places in other similar text stories that people need to check in order to read.
Stephanie (24:20)
I didn't love this book, and I'd love some other similar stories and I'd like to go to the reads to check out the reviews. There are a ton of one -stop reviews on this book, a ton, like dozens and dozens.
Molly Galler (24:27)
star reviews on this book, a ton, like dozens and dozens and dozens. Many of them are from people who listen to her podcast and love it and decided to read the book because of that and said that they felt it read more like
Kaitlin (24:28)
like it doesn't exist, it doesn't exist, it doesn't exist.
Stephanie (24:33)
Oh. NOISE
Molly Galler (24:42)
that they could see it on screen but they didn't love it in this format which is kind of like a backhanded compliment and then some people said it read like a rough draft that wasn't fully polished and fully sort of finalized which I could also see her expertise is the thing that makes it great I do think parts of the story are like a little rough around the edges or like Steph and I were talking about it changes tenses in certain parts but it's kind of sloppy.
Kaitlin (24:54)
for you to sort of finalize.
Stephanie (25:01)
I do think parts of the story are a little rough.
is kind of sloppy, but I think when it comes to the screen.
Molly Galler (25:11)
but I think when it comes to the screen, it will be great. NOISE
Stephanie (25:15)
and I'll watch it, screaming and all. NOISE
Kaitlin (25:17)
And I think that the other thing is, Molly, when you read that excerpt about like the pungent smell when she's at the like festival, the carnival, whatever it is, I think that a lot of people that haven't worked in that world would just be like, and there was a rancid smell. And she really dives into it where you're like, I can taste how bad this smells. And so I think that she has a lot of potential.
Stephanie (25:27)
I think that a lot of people that haven't worked in that world would just be like, there was a rancid smell. And she really...
Molly Galler (25:38)
I can taste how bad it smells. And so I think it has a lot of potential. And I think the one thing I felt was pretty young at the time, I feel like the pace of it feels like, like I get like, this is where you live. The pace of it acts as a noddle. There's a lot of information in it. There's a lot of scissors. There's a lot of detail about the body.
Stephanie (25:40)
taste how bad it smells. NOISE And so I think that she has a lot of potential. Yes.
Kaitlin (25:45)
And I was like, you know what, for a first book, this is pretty darn good. And I do feel like the pace of it feels like a movie. Like I get why people are like, this is screenplay ish. The pace of it is fast. It's not a long book and there's a lot of information in it. Like there's a lot of twists and turns. There's a lot of detail in like about the bodies and about hunting the bodies and all of that. NOISE And so it definitely packs a punch.
Stephanie (25:48)
I can't really feel like the pace of it feels moving. Like I can't like throw it. It's a spring play. The pace of it is fast. It's not a long...
There's a lot of twists and turns. There's a lot of detail.
something in the bodies and all that. So it definitely has a punch. Wait, this just made me realize ever since reading this, this was what? Like two weeks ago that I read this, there's a scene about a basement window and how easy it is to crawl in. And I have been basically like going around making sure that my home is secure. NOISE Yeah. NOISE
Molly Galler (26:07)
that. So definitely, I think, the way this was made, I've heard people say this before, and I'm still sure. There's a theme about a, uh, basically,
Kaitlin (26:21)
Basically, my goal is to help Zia crawl in. And then I come in, basically like on track to check on my voice. NOISE
Molly Galler (26:27)
There were a lot of moments in the book that freaked me out in that way. I felt that same way about the basement window scene, but there were other moments around home break -ins, NOISE surveillance of people, where I was like, oh my God, I live on the first floor. There's just a lot of things where I was like, oh my God, oh my God, oh my God.
Stephanie (26:36)
other things around food and surveillance of people and persons. NOISE
Kaitlin (26:47)
So there is another book that's out by another podcaster that I think you guys should read stuff I think you have it's actually my brother's copy he read it first and then I read it and I think I gave it to you I'm pretty sure it's called all good people here by Ashley Flowers Okay, so this is the cover mall so I think that NOISE
Stephanie (26:48)
So there is a number of this out by the entire cluster that I should bring to the side.
Molly Galler (27:00)
I'm pretty sure a lot of people here buy action flowers. NOISE So I read these books basically back to back until I got addicted to and this was my action flowers and she does, is she my favorite? You know she is. Oh sugar.
Stephanie (27:02)
Wait, can you show me the cover show me the cover? NOISE Yes, I have it in my bedroom No, she is not
Kaitlin (27:17)
I read these books basically back to back. NOISE And so like, I kind of compared the two and this one's by Ashley Flowers and she does, is she my favorite murder maybe? NOISE Sugar, now I'm gonna have to look it up. Hold on. NOISE This one is like a literary version of that. NOISE Not there's nobody being hunted. It's not two perspectives, but it's like a small town. And there are a lot of suspects and NOISE
Stephanie (27:32)
One is like a literal version of that. Not, there's no proof of it, it's not super factless, but it's like a small town and there are a lot of suspects and you like, you find yourself like, I don't really know if this is gonna fit like -
Molly Galler (27:41)
and you will break them in time.
Kaitlin (27:45)
you like the whole time you're kind of like, I don't really know who this is gonna be. Like, it's very well set up and you have to do a little more like, I would say mind work. But I don't think that the butcher in the run was meant to be mind work. Like, I don't think that she was really setting out to like trick anybody. I think she wanted to be like, this is what bodies are like. This is what messed up serial killer people are like. And these are the people that like have the patience to try and find them.
Molly Galler (27:49)
It's very well set up. You have to do a lot of work. I would say my work. But I think that the butcher in the west is meant to be my work. Like I'm not an excuse for this anymore. I mean, it's pretty. I mean, I think it's more to be like, this is what the ice is like. This is what makes this drill work. And these are the people that have the patience to try and find me. And that's what she wanted it to be. And so I think it kind of depends on what you're in the mood for. But I think that you should.
Stephanie (27:56)
I don't think that the picture on the left is meant to be my character. Like, I don't think the picture is really set in a way to like, frick anybody. I think she wanted it to be like, this is my body line. This is what this person is driven by to me. And these are the people that have the patience to try and find one. And not push one into fate. And so I think it kind of depends on what you're up to move for. But I think that we should do an episode about this other book because it's like, I'm like, a killer.
Kaitlin (28:11)
And that's what she wanted it to be. And so I think it kind of depends on what you're in the mood for. But I think that we should do an episode about this other book because it's like a mix of like a Jillian Flynn and this. Hold on, I want to find out which podcast she is. Yes, I know she's an American podcaster. What is her podcast? Oh, Crime Junkie. Yeah, so she's one of the co -hosts of
Stephanie (28:25)
Okay. Oh yeah.
Kaitlin (28:39)
crime junkie and then she wrote this book. This book came out after The Butcher and the Wren. NOISE But I'm glad that you both sort of liked it.
Molly Galler (28:49)
I'm glad I read it. I feel like I do sometimes become obsessed with books in this genre. NOISE Also, she's from Boston, which has automatically made me want to support her because as everyone at this table knows, it's very hard to get a book published. And I was just like, this is a local gal that's like doing it. She has a great podcast. She got this book out into the world. It's being optioned. Like, I just want to support that.
Kaitlin (29:08)
This is it.
Stephanie (29:15)
I just want to support that. And even though I was unconscious in the morning, NOISE I do think that we can include on Zoom. And so I'm not going to have to set up a base on any one of the points, which is great. NOISE Do you want to talk about what we're talking about? We're going to get to that now. Well, I think we're going to move on to the next question. The change that has worked. I know how difficult it is to be more tentative when we wish about human beings being content, but it may even not be that hard. But yeah.
Molly Galler (29:16)
And even though I was nauseous a lot, I do think it's going to be great on film. And so I'm glad to have this as like the baseline before it comes to the screen. Let's do it.
Kaitlin (29:30)
are reading right now. What people moved on to after the chase and the murder. I mean, I'm not going to lie to people. If you are going to get squeamish about human beings being hunted, maybe don't read that book. NOISE But if you're like, I'm fascinated by criminal profiling and how twisted people's brains actually are, dive right in.
Stephanie (29:52)
Mm -hmm. Yes, well said. NOISE So you both know that after we finished recording the last episode, I ended up having to take my sister to the ER, and for those listening, she is fine. NOISE But it was an emergency, and as the eldest child in the family, I have taken many a family member to the ER, so I had the forethought, bring a book. NOISE The book I read, NOISE well, started. I'm not going to even mention. Here's what I will say.
Kaitlin (30:03)
But it was a courtesy and as we all know, this trial is now complete.
Molly Galler (30:09)
and then we can mess it up into the two yards.
Here's one.
Stephanie (30:22)
nothing to do with being in the ER because I gave it a fair shot after I got home a different day. I started it. I've read a couple books by this author. NOISE I wanted to love it because it takes place in Wyoming and Utah and there's horses and there's second chance love. NOISE But I got to a page 130, I think it was, NOISE and someone got killed and it just didn't feel...
Kaitlin (30:31)
I'm going to talk about it because it takes place in...
Did you DNF this book? NOISE
Molly Galler (30:50)
Didn't feel like I was reading the book, I thought it was reading.
Stephanie (30:51)
Like I was reading the novel I thought I was reading? NOISE Correct. NOISE Wait, what was the first one? What was the first?
Kaitlin (30:59)
Is this the second book ever that you haven't finished? There was another one. I feel like you just mentioned it on the pod.
Stephanie (31:07)
Oh, there was a romance book that I did not finish recently too, but I don't even remember that one was called. Anyways. Well, I don't own this.
Kaitlin (31:13)
This is big growth people. NOISE Steph used to think that she needed to finish every freaking book and I was like the world is too, like we got one life here. Get rid of the book.
Stephanie (31:25)
Yeah. NOISE I just, I was sitting in bed, not loving it, like very much the opposite of loving it and was thinking to myself, I could be better using my time by editing my own manuscript. And so I stopped. NOISE
Kaitlin (31:39)
That also takes place in Wyoming. NOISE
Molly Galler (31:43)
I love how nice you're being about like not saying what the book is.
Stephanie (31:46)
I feel bad putting the negative energy out there. And maybe if I was in the right mindset and finished it, I'd be like, oh, I'm glad that I read that. NOISE But the thing that happened just felt so out of place and it changed the story completely.
Kaitlin (31:53)
Okay, so it's my book I own it I read 80 pages of it and ditched it and I gave it to Steph and said I ditched this book that takes place in Wyoming because Your book is better And so I don't need to read this one because I have a better one in my Google Docs right now so
Stephanie (32:02)
Yes. NOISE
I'm going to end it with a few says more because I think that's better than a few says more. NOISE
Molly Galler (32:20)
So, I will.
Kaitlin (32:21)
I gave up on it. You made it a little further. I do not know the event of which you speak because I didn't make it that far. But based on what I did read, the fact that anyone dies within that many pages is insane. There's no way that she could have worked up to that. NOISE I'm proud of you for not finishing it. NOISE
Stephanie (32:24)
I still am going to pass it on to Molly because maybe you would enjoy it. I don't know. I don't think so, but.
Kaitlin (32:48)
Right, NOISE I know. NOISE Well, I do want you to start it. NOISE No, I do want you to just at least start it just to see, just to understand. I don't think I have, I don't think it is. If anybody is dying to know how to save their time by not reading this book, you can message us and we will let you know what it is so that you don't read it. NOISE But.
Molly Galler (32:48)
What a rave review from the two of you. NOISE You only get one life. Read this book we both hated. NOISE
Stephanie (32:52)
Yeah, like maybe it's just us maybe NOISE
Kaitlin (33:14)
The people I know that are our friends that listen to this podcast, I don't even think that they read books by this person. I don't know that many that would have. I don't think that people would come across it maybe that easily.
Stephanie (33:22)
But I don't think it's totally co -processing.
I feel like I've seen it a lot recently in bookstores. NOISE Yeah. NOISE
Kaitlin (33:29)
Really? Maybe for Valentine's Day?
Molly Galler (33:31)
Let's leave it at this. If you want to know what it is, listeners, you can DM us, you can email us. We'll tell you what it is. Steph is really taking the high road right now and I'm trying really hard not to just say what it is.
Stephanie (33:35)
It's it's that I would be mortified if I was the author hearing, you know NOISE
Molly Galler (33:48)
Totally. I know this is also why Stephanie stopped reading books on Goodreads because she didn't want to hurt anybody's feelings. Whereas I smash that like one star, two star button with no reservations. NOISE And then I write a review.
Kaitlin (33:54)
Same. I don't care. I'm like, the people need to know. I don't want to spend money on something that stinks.
Stephanie (33:59)
Okay, NOISE but I believe in karma and when my book comes out, just putting it out there, NOISE I will not be able to look at Goodreads ever because I'm going to be horrified, nervous, you know? Fine. Fine. NOISE Yeah. NOISE
Molly Galler (34:07)
Yeah, verbally stated goal.
Kaitlin (34:09)
When my father comes out. Yeah.
Molly Galler (34:15)
Thank you.
Okay, well I'm gonna read all the reviews on your book and I'll screenshot you the five star one.
Kaitlin (34:21)
Oh yeah, yeah, I mean that's what you have friends for is you have to call it, you know? NOISE I am still reading Seven Days in June, August, what is it called? Seven Days in June. I'm sorry, I knew it was a summer month. It really doesn't have a lot to do with the actual book.
Stephanie (34:29)
June. NOISE True.
Molly Galler (34:30)
still really sad it's been June August and it was a really sad year. I'm sorry I'm doing this so it really
That's true.
Kaitlin (34:43)
I would have rather have been the characters names because that's really who it's about. NOISE
Stephanie (34:49)
We're going to discuss it in a coming episode.
Kaitlin (34:51)
Yeah, I'm not going to say anything. It's good so far. I'm enjoying it. It's definitely like juicy. The characters are real and likable. NOISE And I am looking forward to finishing it so that we can do our next step on it. And then I just took the book counterfeit off of Steph's to be read pile. NOISE It was almost an avalanche situation trying to get that book from where it was, but I got it.
Stephanie (35:08)
it off of steps to the right of the rail. It was always sort of a clap motion for sure. I don't know if you know it, but I thought it. And so that helped me get this. That's how good it was to be covered at the time of the day before I was here. So kind of a...
Kaitlin (35:18)
And so that's probably going to be on my list at some point because I'm going to be done with seven days really soon. NOISE So, and I'm going to Florida and I usually bring like three books. NOISE So, although counterfeits a hardcover, we'll have to see if it makes the cut.
Molly Galler (35:32)
Counterfeit is a book, that's my copy, is a book I impulse purchased in Target because it has an amazing cover. We'll take a picture of it and share it with all of you. NOISE So after I finished The Butcher and The Wren and got over my wave of nausea, I was like, I need to go back to romance land. I can't take this like scary ville. So I went over to my TBR pile, which is also teetering, and I took out this book called The Kiss Quotient, which is not new.
Kaitlin (35:40)
It does.
I was like, why are you making that joke? I can't do this, it's scary though. So I'm trying to find out what you're doing, and I'm so scared. And we took a couple of kiss quotients, which is not a big myth. I've read this book, especially because I don't think it's really a good thing. It's been like a favorite for many years. That's not happening now. I think it was the day of the podcast, but I hope it's not the one where I read it. She was on podcast, wasn't it? Correct.
Molly Galler (36:01)
Many people have read this book, especially in the romance reader community. This has been like a fave for many years. It's by Helen Huang. I actually listened to a podcast interview with her about writing this book long before I ever read it. NOISE She... Forever 35. Yeah. NOISE I can share the link if folks are interested. It's hosted by Dory Shaffir and Kate Spencer, who are also authors. NOISE So the Kiss Quotient is about...
Kaitlin (36:18)
Oh, okay, I'll look it up.
Molly Galler (36:29)
a woman who is on the autism spectrum who has gotten some harsh feedback from previous lovers and decides that she needs to hire someone to basically teach her to learn how to be romantic and be in a relationship. So she hires an escort. I loved this book so much. I could not put it down. I read it over like a day and a half. I stayed up until midnight after the Oscars to finish it. Cause I had to know what was going to happen.
Stephanie (36:43)
We don't have the second one. That's why I didn't give you.
Molly Galler (36:56)
And then I quickly moved on to another one of her books that Stephanie also gave to me. NOISE Yeah. So the second book is called the bride test, which, um, we don't have access to at the moment. The third book is called the heart principle. And I am now on page 250 of the heart principle. I will probably finish it tonight. And I am obsessed with these books. Like I just feel like it's a really.
fresh perspective and a different type of story than you typically read in these romancey tropes. Like it feels a little bit outside of enemies to lovers or like force proximity. It's just like kind of in its own universe. I did put a tag in here, but why? Hold on, hold on people, stay with me. Oh, because so in her acknowledgments for the kiss quotient, Jenny Howe was one of her early readers who wrote, NOISE
Stephanie (37:52)
Oh.
Molly Galler (37:54)
On the plus side, NOISE and Steph and I went to that event with her at Belmont Books and I was like, yes, the makeup test, thank you, her other book. I just didn't even know that they knew each other, like amazing. And then also, in the acknowledgments for the heart principle, I didn't know that this book was delayed over a year. Like it had an announced publication date and then it did not come out on time. And she writes, hold on, hold on.
Stephanie (37:58)
the makeup test.
Yeah.
Wait, wait, wait. Do you go to the very back and read the acknowledgments before you start the book? NOISE
Molly Galler (38:24)
Sometimes, NOISE sometimes. She said, when I was struggling fiercely to write this book, Julia Quinn, aka the author of the Bridgerton books, advised me to give myself time to take a year off if I could let myself slowly rediscover my love of writing. It was precisely the advice I needed, but more than that, I felt seen and understood and unspeakably touched that someone like her would even speak to me. It was a small thing for her to do, but she positively impacted my life. Thank you, JQ.
Stephanie (38:41)
Huh. NOISE
Kaitlin (38:55)
So I'm very excited to say that I think the reason you're having a hard time naming what
Molly Galler (38:55)
this just how relatable is that that's that she looked at another author and said that someone like that would even speak to me I feel like that is how we feel when people like repost our content or respond to our messages like it just made me feel like she's one of us like a person who wrote a draft and hoped it would get out into the world and in her case had some success and then like faltered big time the book was a year and a half late
Stephanie (39:15)
Big time. The book is a key element for me. NOISE So I'm very excited to say that I think the reason why I've been working hard to make the book closer to the delvian health health books is because there's new folks happening where it's like, you know, a lot of research. Yeah. So like, Loving Factor is a super popular show. Roger is a great writer. He does his favorite job. And he's a guy who I've got in my heart. NOISE
Kaitlin (39:25)
tropes are being dealt with in Helen Hong books is because there's a new trope that's happening where it's like, you know, NOISE yes, so like Love on the Spectrum is like a super popular show. Bradley Cooper in an interview just said it's his favorite show. And he's like, I just got into it. NOISE But Helen herself got diagnosed as having Asperger's, which they don't really use that term anymore because he was a problematic person. NOISE
Molly Galler (39:32)
Neurodivergent.
And he's like, I chose the right one. But how would you resolve that? I mean, I haven't asked her. I don't think she's ever done too much work. I would say she was probably her first time.
Stephanie (39:45)
But.
Kaitlin (39:54)
but she's on the spectrum and she found out when she was 34 and she's now in her early 40s. And so I think that we are going to start to see more books where there are characters who have social struggles that are trying to navigate being in a relationship. And I just read Tilly and Technicolor, which dealt with two people that were neurodivergent. I just gave that to Steph. She's gonna, you're gonna...
Stephanie (40:15)
I'm actually in it right now. NOISE
Kaitlin (40:23)
Oh, you are. Yeah, it's I read it in like two sittings, I think. But I think that this is, I don't want to call it a trope. That sounds like so cheap for what it is. But I think we're going to see more characters like this. And we're going to have a harder time, we're going to be like, this is a romance novel, and I don't know how to label it. And I think that that's okay, that we don't need to have a label for it.
Stephanie (40:42)
That's okay. Don't be down to label for it. Totally. And it felt like to have these in both pieces of both these books as the star, not like the side, or like the cousin, or the end there. The stars in the book, they find them all.
Molly Galler (40:45)
Totally. And it felt like to have these women in both cases of both these books as the star, not like the sidekick or like the cousin or like, I mean, they are like the stars of the book. They find love. They have these meaningful, deep relationships. They also have like sensory overload and they need to remove themselves from situations or they have a hard time making friends at work. There's like many things that are covered, but they are really like
Stephanie (41:01)
They have these meaningful relationships. They also have like sensory appeal to remove the sensitive situations where they have a hard time making friends and partners. Like many things that are covered, but they are really like a whole lot of characters in a way that are really enjoying themselves. I'm sure that the potential side will finally be able to get the practice because that is the right. Because I'm the president of the law of the country. So.
Molly Galler (41:15)
whole characters in a way that I'm really enjoying. So I'm sure that when I finish this, I will find a way to get the Bride test, even if that means I have to buy it, because I'm now president of the Helen Wong fan club.
Kaitlin (41:28)
So I just want to tell you that... So I own... Those are both mine. And I own both of them. And I purposely did not buy the third one because it... Oh, well, I'm sorry. The second book in the series, if you will, it's kind of similar to the Angeline Bully books where it's like one character is a cousin of another cousin and that's how the books are like loosely connected.
Stephanie (41:30)
The second one. NOISE
Kaitlin (41:53)
The second one is about a person who is on the spectrum and they're being involved in an arranged marriage and they get sent to Asia to meet this. NOISE I was like, I don't think this is for me. I don't think that I'm... And I read some reviews of it and it was like, this was tough. I see what they were trying to get at, but it wasn't so great. And so I just skipped it because I read that you don't have to read them in order.
Stephanie (42:04)
to me this like, oh yeah, I was like, oh, this is funny, I don't like that. And I wrote some reviews on it and like, this was tough, like I knew what they were trying to get at. Like, it wasn't so great, so I just skipped it because I read that you don't have to read the word. And so I was like, I'll just read the other one. And that's what I did.
Kaitlin (42:22)
And so I was like, I'll just read the other one. And that's what I did.
Molly Galler (42:23)
And so I was like, I'll just look at the other one. And that was it. I didn't know that. But also in this third one, NOISE when I was in Belmont Books very recently, one of the booksellers was telling me how the heart principle, the third one was her favorite because it brings back a character from book one. And she was like, if you loved Kwan, Michael's cousin, you're going to love this. And I was like, OK, well, Audrey's her name. Shout out Audrey.
Stephanie (42:32)
I'm just gonna read this third one. One of the things that I was explaining to you, one of the books that I was telling you about the heart needs of Elizabeth, one of her favorites, because we're gonna be back with her, and she's gonna love one. Just if you want one, it's coming. You know, I was talking about Audrey's, and I had a hundred. NOISE And I don't know if I can say which one I like better. I have a few, which I don't have to be the first, we have like the most significant ones, which is like the one that we made to that.
Molly Galler (42:51)
Um, that's very good taste in books. NOISE And I don't know if I can say which one I liked better. I always feel like whichever one you read first, you have like the most like affinity for it because it just like opened you to that person or that category. Um, but this is just so delightful. And there's nothing better than like binge reading a book. It's just the best feeling.
Kaitlin (43:05)
I will say that I know that the kiss quotient also got optioned, but it was in 2018, so I don't think anything's happening with it. I know, I know.
Stephanie (43:05)
Oh NOISE
Molly Galler (43:14)
Oh lordy. I feel like there are a lot like that so when we went to the romance author event Jasmine Guillory was talking about how many of her books have been optioned and we shared on our Instagram that her most recent book Drunk on Love was just optioned and now has writers attached who are the sisters Tembi and Attica Locke who wrote from scratch. It's gonna be probably amazing. NOISE But her
Kaitlin (43:45)
Attica Locke also writes mystery books that I've read. And she did, what was that TV show on Fox with the guy that faked his arrest? Oh my God. NOISE Yeah, you know it. It was like all black cast. They were music producers. I think Taraji P. Henson was in it.
Molly Galler (43:45)
Earlier books. Yes, thank you for saying that. NOISE
Stephanie (43:45)
Yeah. NOISE
Molly Galler (43:57)
Oh no.
Stephanie (43:59)
Oh, NOISE oh my god. NOISE
Kaitlin (44:09)
Empire Empire. NOISE Yeah, I think Attica Locke was a writer for Empire too. I'm pretty sure
Molly Galler (44:10)
Empire? NOISE Oh, I didn't know that. So what I mean to say is that Jasmine Guillory has had like multiple things optioned over many years. And for some reason, this newest one is the one that's like actually moving forward at like a fast clip, even though the other ones already had deals. And my understanding is having heard her speak now and read a bunch of interviews with her, I guess your book can be optioned before it's even published. Like sometimes that's part of the -
Stephanie (44:18)
Martian? Was that what it was called? NOISE
Molly Galler (44:40)
process before they even know if it sells well or it's going to be a book club pick or whatever.
Stephanie (44:48)
the book with um yeah that was optioned before it even got traditionally published yeah i don't understand how hollywood works so
Kaitlin (44:50)
The one that he self published? Empire. Yep, I'm right. Oh, she was a producer on that too.
Molly Galler (44:50)
That became the Matt Damon movie? Interesting.
I love vampire. NOISE Cookie lion is one of the greatest characters that has ever existed on TV. That's Taraji Pease character who has an incredible wardrobe. NOISE Anyway, y 'all, if you wanted to know what we're reading, all this TV film adaptation that we're talking about, give us a follow on Instagram at Plans are Both. That's where we're sharing all this stuff in real time. NOISE Every Thursday when the new episode drops, we share all kinds of behind the scenes photos, video.
Stephanie (45:09)
Thank you.
Kaitlin (45:21)
Until next time, our plans are booked. NOISE
Molly Galler (45:32)
Give us a follow there. You can write to us at plansorbook .gmail .com. Tell us what you're reading, what you want to hear us talk about. If you want to know what this book is that Stephanie did not reveal, you can also write to us. We love hearing from you.
Stephanie (45:35)
on the phone, that's where you really want to make the most out of it. If you want to make the most out of it, step into the real world and start doing it. Until next time. Heartstrings are the best.