Fiction Fanatics
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Fiction Fanatics
New Year, New Fanatics!
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Hey Nerds, brace yourselves for a splash of newness with our snazzy rebrand to "Fiction Fanatics," complete with our own candid shots in the logo! The show's evolution promises more than just new visuals; it serves up a heaping helping of comedic genius, heartfelt acknowledgments, and aspirations to delve into future bookish discussions and author interviews. Are supporting characters the unsung heroes of our beloved tales? We're tipping our hats to them, diving into the essence of their wit, and how it intertwines with the fabric of narratives like "You Again" (our January book of the month).
We wrap with a heartfelt shoutout to everyone who's hopped aboard our 2023 podcast train. From the laugh-out-loud moments, to the cherished feedback from folks like Justin, we're traversing this wild literary landscape together. And we can't forget the fanfic throwbacks, our burgeoning romance with rom-coms, and the page-turning tropes that have us all heart-eyes. So, embrace the quirky, the heartfelt, and the sheer joy of story-loving camaraderie as we share our passion for fiction with you, our dear listeners.
***Produced by Jen Hardin***
Follow us at https://instagram.com/fanficfanaticspod?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=, https://www.facebook.com/fanficfanaticspod/, and https://twitter.com/Fanfic_Fanatics.
***Produced by Jen Hardin***
Book Discussion and Rebranding Announcement
Speaker 1I mean, I love a slow burn. I know you do. It's the best. It's like it's the best and the worst at the same time.
Speaker 2It's like you're that frog in the pot that's dying you don't know. They just keep slowly turning the heat up, that Chanel.
Speaker 1I smell something cooking. What's good? It's me.
Speaker 2Am I on fire? My loins are on fire. Hi, I'm Chanel. Hi I'm Stacey. Hey nerds, this is Ashley.
Speaker 1And this is Fiction Fanatics.
Speaker 2And we're live Well, not live Jesus. Sorry, I thought what's that movie where they hit to make the toast and the glass breaks. You know what I'm talking about.
Speaker 1Oh no, I thought you were talking about. She's the man. They're like teetee, teetee, teetee, and then she's like she, like you're holding the secret.
Speaker 2I know you're talking about that, though there's a movie where they went to do a toast and they hit the sun and the glass just breaks. What an idea.
Speaker 1That was not a very intelligent. It almost broke my glass. Hi, everyone, hi.
Speaker 2Happy new year. It's January. I hope it's going great for everyone.
Speaker 1Is it not going great for you?
Speaker 2No, it's been okay so far. Okay, it just makes me think of that Friends episode when he's just like it's just not my year or whatever, and they're like it's January 8th, no Are you, friends, I forget.
Speaker 1Yeah, well, I like it. Yeah, it's like Ross and he comes in, it's January 2nd and he's like and I'm still a loser. Then he comes in because he has like a paste in his like leather pants.
Speaker 2I swear guys, some of the best episodes of television ever. When he's trying to pull him up and it smacks himself in the face, he's like it's forming some kind of paste. That's what it's like to be a woman.
Speaker 1That's why it's funny. You're right, that's like such a funny episode. He's stuck in like his date's bathroom. Yeah, he's like waddle out. How embarrassing.
Speaker 2I can't even imagine.
Speaker 1And like I'm pretty sure it's Joey, that's like coaching him. Yeah, yeah, put some like baby powder down there.
Speaker 2Who's listening to Joey, by the way?
Speaker 1Now put some lotion. It's like why would you think it would come out?
Speaker 2To dry it out and then put the lotion to like, loosen it up or whatever.
Speaker 1It's like also, why would you wear leather pants? That's already like one, like no? This is a tangent. They love New York.
Speaker 2Okay, this will be a short tangent this time because we're not going too long. But I swear, leather pants only look good on select people. I tried to make leather pants happen for me. I bought it there. It's not real leather, it's like faux leather. It looked terrible. I was like how do people wear these? Anyways, I was Ross.
Speaker 1Only if you were like Michael Jackson could you pull that off His size. Yeah, that's what it is.
Speaker 2Anyways, we hope your year isn't like Ross and friends with leather pants pasted in his pants pasted in his pants, oh man.
Speaker 1So our book of the month this month is you Again, by Kate Goldbeck. If you didn't get the memo last episode, we're super excited, I'm super excited, so excited.
Speaker 2Just started it. I have lots of thoughts so can't wait to finish it To talk about it. Ash Chanel, I think, said last episode it gives when Harry Mutt Sally vibes, which Ashley has watched. I have watched.
Speaker 1Now we watched it on New Years I'll have what she's having.
Speaker 2When I tell you so, I've never actually. I mean, I've heard of that scene, obviously, and seen clips of it, but I've never seen the full scene of her faking this orgasm in this restaurant. It's amazing, it's incredible. And Billy Crystal is just staring at her like doesn't know when to do. The movie is amazing.
Speaker 1I think after that scene you were like what? You were like what happened, what? What's going on? It just kept going. And then we were also just like no, no, this is what you said after that scene. You were just like imagine being close people in the restaurant.
Speaker 2Because how did they not laugh? And then would you not be so mad if you were Meg Ryan and somebody was laughing when you're trying to get this done, like this couldn't have been that fun to film, like you know, like it's probably I mean not embarrassing because it's your job or whatever Just like you know.
Speaker 1To like keep in scene. Yeah, yeah, I can't imagine. And even like Billy Crystal, he's just like looking at how is he not laughing?
Speaker 2And it's yeah, that scene Always. Do you guys watch Seinfeld?
Speaker 1Yes, that scene always. I haven't finished it.
Speaker 2The episode where Elaine tells Jerry that she fakes it all the time.
Speaker 1Oh, yeah, and. Jerry's like the glass ceiling has broke from it, like fake orgasms and he's like did you fake it with me?
Speaker 2And she's like all the time it ruins his life.
Speaker 1I know like it was. It's like what Meg Ryan says when she's like all women, or majority of women, say they fake it and all guys are convinced that no women ever with them has ever ever been so she's like you do the math.
Speaker 2I mean I can safely say that I would say like at least 85% of women in their 20s 100% faked it. Yeah, like there's no way. They didn't Right With these guys. There's no way. And all these guys are so they're like oh, I'm so much. Oh I got the magic dick.
Speaker 1No, we just want to go to sleep.
Speaker 2Personally, for me was like I'm drunk and I want to go to sleep.
Speaker 1Oh my gosh, so funny, anyway, so, anyway.
Speaker 2So this is the book because it's kind of like when Harry met Sally. I've. I've just started at. The banter is great. I love banter like this and books and it's excellent so far and I can't wait to see what happens Now.
Speaker 1You said it's kind of like roles reverse, though right, yeah, because Josh, you'll find out, is like he's like real prickly and stuff like you know in general, but he's a relationship guy. Yeah like Sally is, whereas Ari, who is like, bisexual, she is like this comedian and super funny and outgoing, but she is not a relationship person Like. She just hops from person to person. Yeah, that's all I'm going to say.
Speaker 2I'm so excited I just started.
Speaker 1I'm not very far in, so I will also say that which is kind of like when Harry met Sally. Be on surrounding cast members like the friends and Josh's sister are the fate. Are your like favorite characters like I?
Speaker 2mean, I felt that way with Harry Metzali like their friends were my favorite the wagon wheel coffee table. What about when they're at their wedding, when they're like? Can you imagine if we were even remotely attracted? To them and they're just standing there like that's their toast.
Speaker 1Everyone's like, yeah, so you definitely love them. You obviously love Ari and Josh, the main characters, but like you love their friends and his sister is what and the mom and stuff too. I love a good supporting cast yeah, it can like me.
Speaker 2Well, it makes you think of like, forget me not.
Speaker 1The supporting cast yes, and you know, it was really great too well, we can segue right into that. What are our favorite books? And and fix that we covered, which we covered. Julie Soto's debut novel, forget me not this year, and well wait, well, wait, before we get too far into yeah.
Speaker 2Yeah, we have to make a big announcement. Look, we're so distracted and then we will definitely, but we have to write who wants to announce we should very passionate about our books. Okay. I know because I already have a bunch of like side characters from stories I want to bring up.
Speaker 2But I'll come back to it so our big announcement to all of our listeners out there we have decided to change up our look a little bit. We've always loved our avatar, but we're gonna change our podcast like logo theme and it's actually to be pictures of us. So we're really pumped about it. And then don't want to talk about the name change Chanel so we are gonna now be called fiction fanatics.
Speaker 1If you haven't already seen, on our social media, we're doing just a little bit of rebranding, and so it just means that we're gonna be covering a little bit more of books now instead of just solely covering fan fiction. It doesn't mean that we're totally going away from the fan fiction world we'll still be dabbling in our love of fan fiction, obviously, but we want to focus more on authors and books that we love and doing a little bit more author interviews and stuff like that.
Speaker 2So, yeah, we're fiction fanatics now yeah, we're just growing, changing a little bit, but what did you say earlier? Say see yeah, growth, you're like New Year. Oh yeah, new Year, new, new names, same us same bullshit, but we like it, especially because we love our fan fiction authors. A lot of them have transitioned into published. Yeah, we like having them on and so we just think opening up more just gives us we just hope it's limited.
Speaker 1Yeah, we just don't.
Speaker 2We never want to set the limits we are. We're shooting for the moon here guys and if we miss, we can land amongst the stars wow, you guys are so late a cliche cliche.
Speaker 1I was all over.
Speaker 2I was swear, I was thinking it was all over. Our middle school posters, those, yeah, but I mean because we've already done a couple books and we're like, well, if we're gonna keep doing books and, like Chanel said, we still love our fan fiction, we're still gonna cover some of those, any kind of fiction we love. We just wanted to be able to have more options. Yeah, because who doesn't love options?
Speaker 2this girl likes options, that's right so we can't wait for you guys to see our new logo and our photos that we had taken by our friend Cole, who's amazing, amazing photographer.
Speaker 1So yeah, we're excited we hope you're excited.
Speaker 2Oh, a new music. You cry her music when you started this episode. A nice new intro. I just feel like we're elevated.
Speaker 1That's what it is, that's what it is we're on another level yeah, we're just gonna keep on growing guys.
Speaker 2Yeah, we're glad that you could be here from the beginning, where we couldn't even hear ourselves in the audio to the moon that was literally like two months ago, I mean.
Speaker 1I was talking about last year. Okay, yeah, that was last year. That was last year. It's couple two weeks ago, so yeah that's what's happening.
Speaker 2A little update in our world.
Speaker 1Let us know you think yeah, if you like it or not, or if you hate it let us know I mean don't let me know, I can't take it.
Speaker 2I mean we might cry, and it's staying this way you can let us know that, if it's actually emotional to know if it sucks.
Speaker 1Okay, now now now we're good, we're taking a look back, yes, yes, when we were fanfic and what we did all last year our favorite. We're gonna start with our favorite fanfic slash books that we covered. Okay, what are the ones that you liked, remembered?
Speaker 2my favorite, my favorite for me personally was forget me. Not by Julie, because what you guys know, I'm not like a yeah.
Speaker 1Well, first of all, she's just her writing.
Speaker 2I'm not a huge rom-com like. I love rom-com movies. I don't know what it is about reading them sometimes. Yeah, romance wrote it, just it's not like my first pick and so when we did that one I knew I'd like it, cuz I love her writing. Yeah, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I thought their banter was hilarious and I like the side characters and a lot which is important to me. So I think that was like one of my most memorable months that we did.
Speaker 1I think you're totally. That's so funny because I feel the same way. Like I am not a romance great like I would. I mean I like it. I don't pick romance books off the shelves, which is funny of why I picked you again as my book, a rom-com. It's a rom-com, but actually I got an arc of it and so I was like you know what, let me just try it. And I was like, anyway, but but I loved, forget me not. Obviously I read it cuz, cuz of Julie and we love the auction, we love, yeah, all the wrong things, the right thing to do, blah, blah. And it was so funny because I mean, clearly she has a romance in all of her fan fix.
Speaker 1But you know Harry Potter's fantasy and everything, but she like transitioned so well to just just romance. Right, that's it's so it's very.
Speaker 2It just shows how talented she is. Yeah, but I think you're right. I think me and Chanel are the same like this. I know we both enjoy fantasy books a lot and I like the romance components we're like they're fantasy.
Speaker 1Romance is what we like. That's what we like and lots of smut yeah uncomfortable amounts sometimes yes, like I just finished fourth wing last night, I'm dying, and so that was like a great mixture of it was fantasy with like a subplot of romance, you know, and so. But I mean, when you do romance just by itself, well, like you said, you have great, a great cast, you have a great plot from A to B and like a good dilemma going on.
Speaker 2Julie just hit the nail in the head and she's yeah and the doughnuts were important part in that book and I love that aspect of it, that scene where she wouldn't, she kisses him and there was peanuts in the doughnut and she, like is having an allergic reaction, like passes out. When I tell you that's one of the favorite things I've read this year, that whole thing, you know, no, no no, no, no, no no no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Speaker 1The best scene is when they have sex on his bench and flowers and dirt are everywhere. That is the scene.
Speaker 2I mean, that is the scene, but funny wise. Oh okay, him on the phone with 911 and be like I killed her. He's like she's a stranger. I know you're in doubt he said I heard I killed her and I was like no, no, no, um, mine is Frostbite, because we covered it this time last year yeah and I love Loki that.
Speaker 1Stacey's he's.
Speaker 2She's wearing it right now that's one of my favorite books that you've found Stacey Chanel's frostbite book I think I was a picture of it. I think it's like the most beautiful one.
Speaker 1I've done for sure um.
Speaker 2I love it. Actually, I loved when we did that one, but ever since I watched the season 2 of Loki, I love it even more now.
Speaker 1Frostbite oh really, I think I'm just more obsessed with Loki's character yeah, yeah his arc in the season 2 of Loki.
Speaker 2It's just like one of the most powerful things that I've watched all year. I think, yeah, so I'm really feeling my my Loki love.
Speaker 1I just love it because it's just like a different side of him, like obviously seeing him in like yoten form and being blue and I want to be a blue dude and I would bang him.
Speaker 2I wish, I wish we were a video recording this and I could see my face. Like what do you even mean? You don't think it'd be cool to make someone who is blue okay? Do you think he's cold?
Speaker 1Okay, this is what's running through my head right now. One it's like paint would be everywhere. Stacy and a blue man for the blue man group. That's what I'm thinking about. I'm just thinking about the mess. Then I'm thinking Stacy, and is it Tobias from Arrested Development, the romantic ex, and him like blue all the time, the never nude, the never nude, and him in his little shorts, his shorts. That's what I was thinking. I'm like, wait, what do you mean? A blue?
Speaker 2dude Like I don't, a tall blue looking alien. What do you think? Pieces of skin blue. He's cold to.
Speaker 1You're like that. I think that's stereotypical. Well, yeah, because he's from Yo-N-D, he's a guy.
Speaker 2He's probably got an accent in his Yo-Tin form too. I don't even know what to say. We need to clip this. I just want to beg a blue dude, clip it. I don't even know what any of this means. You guys, clip it, blue dude. I am cut it out. Full house, that was full house jokes.
Speaker 1You can do that, cut it out, Get it oh. God, that's hilarious Anyway.
Speaker 2Anyway. But yeah, I would agree, frostbite was, like, definitely one of the best aspects we've ever had.
Speaker 1Yeah, I thought it was just such a great storyline. You got to like she built up that world so well and the side characters in that again. Yeah, it was amazing.
Speaker 2You guys are forgetting the best fake that we covered last year.
Speaker 1I know what she's going to say. I know what she's going to say. What am I going to say? Draco Malfoy, the mortified ordeal. I have multiple ones. I have multiple ones.
Speaker 2When I tell you that book, that book. When I tell you if you're ever sad or in a time mood.
Speaker 2Yes, if you read Theo's party chapter the framed the hole in the wall he punched it. There is no way you could be having a bad day and read that passage when they're talking about and be sad. I was at work reading that. For some reason. I forget why I was reading that part, but it was like months after we did that and I was reading it and I was crying, laughing Because her mind is like there seems like there's a lot of aggression and it was. My drink was so pissed so I don't even know how this got brought up at work. But somebody was talking about the dog that his patronus is, and then he gets turned into.
Speaker 2What is it? The Brazilian? Brazilian is the Borzua Borzua Somebody was talking about it Borzua Linguine, linguine, cristal, and I was like, so I just brought the fic back to when they're talking about this dog. And it was a longer fic. I never felt like it was too long. I loved everything about it. I laughed, I cried, I mean, I felt every emotion.
Speaker 1The freaking skull. That's like talking and trying to hit on Draco and stuff.
Speaker 2The nuns, that's the Mary Magdalene I'd want to know. The one who would hit on Draco Malfoy was a skull.
Speaker 1OK.
Speaker 2They have to silence it. It's so good. I loved everything about that fic, but even the chapter titles are great. I went through when I was looking at it, when I read Theo's Party. The chapter titles are great too, and the banter is great. The author notes are great. The author's going to be published. Did you see her announcement? No, I did see.
Speaker 1Because she changed her. We love you Is the self care. She changed her name on Instagram. I was like, oh, something's happening. She put her real name. I would literally read anything that she wrote. I can't even imagine how it's like.
Speaker 2Julie Soto, I would read anything that they wrote, because you know it's going to be very well written, like researched, researched. You know that the relationship, the communication, the banter is going to be on level on par, because just the banter between Hermione and them, everything, even the little parts, I think, when he evaporates, not evaporates but just shows up in her mini Cooper, yeah, and she's like what is this?
Speaker 1She's driving down the road. I know All of her research, everything that she did, all the different holidays that she was going in scavenging and stuff.
Speaker 2Yeah, it was amazing. She brought the Muggle world with Hermione and with Draco being an or, and it all felt very believable and true to the characters that were already there that Hermione would be this overachieving doctor, amazing person and Draco's just this moody or talk-in, top-page shit. Yeah, what about the scene when she's doing yoga and he thinks that something's wrong with her and he busts down the door or something and she's just trying to do this really hard yoga pose or something. I could go on about it forever, but that was my favorite thing that we did last year. That's a great one. I'm sorry, I'm just laughing. Tell your cat, I said the less. Oh, cat, daddy, cat, daddy, cat, daddy. Honorable mention. We didn't cover it and it's really short. What did they call it? Just, it's like a drable almost, but it's like a chapter long right yeah, Did you ever read it?
Speaker 2Chanel. No, I still haven't.
Speaker 1I'm sending it to you again.
Speaker 2I can't believe you ever read Cat Daddy? I know it's all through Instagram post. It's great, yeah, shout out to Danny and her Amazing Farah and Farah, yeah, oh yeah. Those were two great guests we had this year they wrote that together.
Speaker 1Yeah, daddy.
Speaker 2Did you see that Farah launched her clothing stuff and it's beautiful.
Speaker 1Yeah, danny, to order.
Speaker 2I want that crew neck, the one that says not all days are Sunshine, and Five Star reviews she talked about. It's very cute. Danny got her really cute. Love another historical accidents tattoo and it's beautiful. Love you guys. Yeah, I love you, I know.
Speaker 1One of my favorite books was the Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. That was top five read of the year.
Speaker 2Yeah, like outside of the stuff we read for the podcast, just stuff I've been reading, you know, I could go on and on.
Speaker 1I know Especially yeah, like even I know we talked about it like obviously the movie was so good too.
Speaker 2I love the movie it was yeah, I just think it has a special place too because it's very. We get to see each other when we record, but we don't do a lot of stuff, honestly. Yeah, we have a lot of time. Just, you know, ashley's busy with like work and drill. You're busy because you're all over the place with your job and then I have that child, and so the fact that we got to see a movie together this year too was really fun too. Yeah, yeah, and we had Lindsay come with us, which was great. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2That book was great. You know, what's funny is that I was really resistant to reading that book for some reason. When it came out, I remember thinking that I thought maybe it was just a money grab or something for the Hunger Games. I don't know why. I thought that I was just like I'm not going to read it. I'm not joking. It's probably out of the whole Hunger Games series. It's probably my second favorite book in the series. It's like Hunger Game being one, and then I think it would have to be that one. I think it's so well written.
Speaker 1I really liked it I really liked it, so good.
Speaker 2Thank you Corio, you dumbass.
Speaker 1My second. This is like a guest.
Speaker 2We've talked about a few guests, but, like I, favorite guest, but then also my favorite book was Hurricane Wars and then having to pay on to, because that was sorry, Steve she said she'd be back on for her second book though I am so sad I didn't get to. I was like sick when we record. Yeah, I can't wait till we did to have her on again.
Speaker 1She was so great to have on.
Speaker 2Hurricane Wars was epic. Epic Talk about really good banter. Yeah, and really good like world building. Very different kind of world.
Speaker 1That was just such a good book and again coming from the fanfic world, her debut. She obviously stayed more in the fantasy world but I mean still has romance in her.
Speaker 2I think it's the kind of thing where it'll slowly bloom into more romance Sarah J Moss's Aqatar series. It's the kind of thing that was like it's sprinkled in there and then you get towards. Yeah.
Speaker 1Yeah, yeah. Yeah, she was just an amazing debut author that, but it's just like Julie and Ally Hazlewood.
Speaker 2And then if you have read any of the fanfictions, they're incredible. Her Star Wars knowledge and her things are insanely detailed and insanely researched and good. So you just kind of know, if you've read her published stuff, that reading this book is just going to be amazing. Yeah. Anytime I'm in Barnes and Noble and I see like Hurricane Wars there, or even, forgive me, I'm like I know a thing You're my friend, I just stare at the books, even though I own them already.
Speaker 1I'm like.
Speaker 2I know them. These are my friends. People are like sure Sure.
Speaker 1That's so funny. Yeah, those are my top. But then also I mean I know we were talking about Hunger Games I really liked doing Pita's games. Yeah, that was like, I feel, like the best version of his point of view. I'm sure there's a lot of other points of view, but I love Pita so much.
Speaker 2I just forever my Pita era and, like you said, she has the whole set done.
Speaker 1From his point of view, I was going to ask Dushy, I couldn't remember if she. I need to read the whole thing. She did all three, yeah, and that was yeah getting into our Hunger Games.
Exploring Book Series and Tropes
Speaker 2Now she needs to do the ballad of songbirds and snakes from Lucy's point of view, Lucy Grace's point of view. I love that. I really hope that Suzanne Collins writes more books. I think she could write. I guess Lucy wouldn't be in them, but it would still be interesting to see yeah, See, choreos climb to power even more. Or I mean she could come out and say that Lucy's alive, Lucy Grace alive, and she could write more books from her point of view too.
Speaker 1about what happens? Just do like like Tigris, like whatever, yeah her life story or something, I don't know. Just like something, or Sina, there's so much more story there, like that world.
Speaker 2I mean, I loved getting the backstory about where he came from, but there's still so much story about how he became like president from from the student. In college. Now I guess, like I went and I got really invested in some of the capital characters that were there, too, that he knew, so like I want to know more.
Speaker 1Mm-hmm, that like. It's kind of like what you guys do not know, but like the Grisha verse, like Lee Bardugo, she has the three books which I want you to read Shadow and Bone and there's the three Books that she built this whole world. But then my favorite, which is the Six of Crows and the Crooked Kingdom, which is the duology. It's still in the same world but it's like totally new cast of characters. They aren't even kind of related. It's a different time period and it's so well done that Me personally, a lot of people, they like the duology even better than the original series.
Speaker 1I've heard that about that series but because the world is so amazing that she's built from the Shadow and Bone series like original series, like she did such a good job without world building, like she knew that. Oh, I still have something to tell here in this world and like it's kind of like what you were saying, like so it's Suzanne Collins built such an amazing world if she could like done. Did any spin-offs from these?
Speaker 2oh yeah.
Speaker 1Characters, people would read it, you know, even if it's just like a random ass character, yeah, even like district, like Annie or something. Yeah, her character Like people would read about her in Phinic and how they met or something like that. You know, like just randomly, or even Annie giving birth after Phinic dies, like we would read about what happens to them, or so yeah, I don't know I was, yeah, I don't know, I feel like she could really capitalize on me make money, but yeah, I don't know.
Speaker 2I also really enjoyed Reading. This is like away from Hunger Games, different world, but the we did the love hypothesis. Oh yeah, early early last year, like yeah, march I think, and that was. That was really great, great rom-com.
Speaker 1That was. We did a lot of romance.
Speaker 2I'm here for it. I am too. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I loved Adam and that he's great.
Speaker 1Yeah, I was. That was a cute story like that was. I'd never read Ally hazelwood before that and I so looking forward to the bride. I I just ordered it. I'm excited. Exclusive edition which one did you get the?
Speaker 2Barnes and Noble one it looks it's like all cool and shiny.
Speaker 1I know I'm so excited I'm so maybe I'll go and order it with the gift card you gave me for Christmas.
Speaker 2That's what I did. I kind of like.
Speaker 1So, like it, really I'm excited cuz it got me into her, cuz I'd never read her before and obviously she, like I, never even read her fan fix, so that was the first time I read her too.
Speaker 2Yeah, she's really researched in her work too.
Speaker 1Yeah, well, she's a stem. Oh wait, that's right, so yeah she is an expert already. It makes sense which is why I loved it probably just all seemed very authentic right right.
Speaker 2Yeah, she's amazing, she's so brilliant and it's just interesting because I didn't even know what a stem scientist was. And then it's just that whole society thing. I think she had said somewhere that like 80 to 90 percent of stem scientists are male, let alone like any kind of like woman of color in it and stuff.
Speaker 1So it's, yeah, it's great. It just goes to show like and I think maybe you had said this Actually like you can really see it in her, in her writing, just how like, thorough and knowledgeable she is. Like it really comes out, but not like in a like, I don't know, preachy or like it goes out in a passionate way, yeah, but like, also not like like a textbook kind of way.
Speaker 2You know what you mean. Like it's analytical.
Speaker 1Yeah right, right, it's like a very it's still like a book, romance, romance book kind of way, you know. I mean like, so, yeah, it was. Just I thought it was really good and obviously that makes me want to read her other books. So, yeah, yeah, yeah, I liked it. I'm glad we got to read one of her books.
Speaker 2This wasn't really. This wasn't a book that we covered. It was a wreck that I had had this year, though, and this book reminds me of that one, but lessons in chemistry is also. The female character is a chemist, and it's great too, so I just I love reading books like that.
Speaker 1Yeah, you did like that book, did you watch?
Speaker 2the show yet on Apple TV. It's amazing I haven't finished. I have one more episode. It's great to good, but it it's not so much of a love story like love hypothesis is, but it it does show the same, and this takes place like, I think, in the 50s, so it shows the struggle of women and science then and, whereas love hypothesis is current and still struggle Slowly but surely. So funny. We had such a good year, like so many good books and.
Speaker 2Authors and artists and fan fictions, and just thinking about all of this, there's so much it's hard to even, I know I know pinpoint it all down.
Speaker 1Do we have? Do we want to do maybe like our favorite tropes, or do we want to do like what we're looking forward to next year, like is there any tropes that we want to read next year, or is there any book predictions that we want to like Possibly read? Do you want to like throw some stuff out there that you're like this is what I want to read?
Speaker 2well, I Well. I always want to read enemies to lovers always like forever yeah my favorite, and I think I'd said before I've been listening to remain nameless on For me Tia Loco. It's amazing to talk about side characters that you love. This is the first not the first, but like I Feel like a fanfic where Hermione's friends and Draco really kind of like hang out a lot and like kind of become friends and it's so Funny to listen to it and just amazing.
Speaker 2So I guess I would. I like love books like that too that have great side characters in them. So I love that we're doing you again this month because they have strong side characters. I guess it's something that I'm looking forward to. And then I think I had also said that I started the aqatar series finally, so I finished that first book. So here we go with this ride. I did like jump on that. I was gonna say this year I'm looking forward to I just have this too. We're gonna cover a lot more like fantasy driven books. Yeah, different kind of worlds and magic, and so I'm excited about that. Can our fantasy.
Speaker 2Yeah, not to give too much away but we have definite really great fantasy books on the horizon that we've talked about, we wanted to do Even once we're just reading on the side that we want to talk about I've been really into like last year and this year, I love the whole faded mates, faded bonds trope.
Speaker 1That's why I want to read bride. I mean, yeah, it's kind of like in the alpha Omega, kind of yeah, yeah, I love it.
Speaker 2I would like that, because I've never read anything like yeah before, so I would. That would be something fun and new to try next year.
Speaker 1There's this year.
Speaker 2Yeah, there's something about faded mates soulmates, stuff like that I really enjoy more. Love it, yeah, just eat it up. They touch on soulmates in the beginning of this book that we're doing this month you again.
Speaker 1I won't ruin it, but I loved that whole yeah, it was very interesting to hear that in the beginning of you again when they talk about soulmates.
Speaker 2It was yeah, I like that a lot Mm-hmm, the Greek mythology of it all. Mm-hmm, yeah, yeah, yeah. What about you, chanel? Yeah.
Speaker 1I mean, I love a slow burn. I think it's the best. It's like it's the best and the worst, that the same time you're that frog in the pot that's dying.
Speaker 2You don't know if they just keep slowly turning the heat up, that Chanel.
Speaker 1It smells good, it's me.
Speaker 2Am I on fire? My loins are on fire. I'm sorry I've been watching your pulse drag race. They're always like my pussy's on fire.
Speaker 1So that's all I'm thinking about right now.
Speaker 2Keep your pussy on fire. You better step your pussy up. Yeah, that's all the time. That's like a good life motto.
Speaker 1Elevate. So, yeah, I always love Just a slow burn, because even Like again, I'm just gonna put this out there I just read fourth wing and that was like a slow burn enemies to lovers, kind of thing and I'm telling you like I mean it was obviously hot when they got together, but like after they got together I was like, okay, this is just like it's the buildup and pressure there to.
Speaker 2I'm telling you it's, it's, it's the, it's the buildup.
Speaker 1For me, I'm telling you it's all about the buildup. It's what I tell you. It's the looks, it's a touch.
Speaker 2We didn't hear from Chanel for days because she was reading this book.
Speaker 1I know what happened to Chanel Chanel.
Speaker 2Group text. We've been put on red and like like 10 30 on a Wednesday, she's like it was cuz I was texting my friend Sarah.
Speaker 1I would like randomly text her. And then I texted her, but it's midnight.
Speaker 2The other night I texted her, it's for menaces of when she finished me, and it was. She's like I'm crying and it's like 3am.
Speaker 1It was last night. I texted her at midnight. I said oh, this is a spoiler. Sorry if if you haven't read fourth wing, turn this off.
Speaker 2I said oh, actually, hold your ears. Yeah, plug your ears.
Speaker 1Hold on, this is a major spoiler. Hey, I said her brother is a laugh. I Won't page it. I said it was. I said that's literally all I text my friend, and she responded to me. It was like literally.
Speaker 2I like I wish everybody could have seen, like Chanel when she was talking, to hear her. My ears, but she's so excited, she's just like using her hand so much.
Speaker 1I haven't heard from her, like you said, in like days. That's that was my. She knew I finished the book she's like, so you're done.
Speaker 2That's how you know you. It's a good book when you just can't even. Yeah, yeah, it consumes you it consumes me.
Speaker 1So a good slow burn. I want to read more of those. The other thing is I like you know, a good fake dating. We, oh, we haven't done that a while. Yeah, we haven't done. Fake dating is great. I just love some of you think dating was love hypothesis.
Speaker 2Yeah, oh yeah. Bodies reacting Classic. What was that fanfic?
Speaker 1That was another Ray Lowe.
Speaker 2That was a little, yeah, I was like but but they're like it's just body. Well, what that was, such a girl, and that was two years ago was them.
Speaker 1It's like a really long name. They were a fake dating. It was great.
Speaker 2Yeah it's just bodies reacting. I think the author was like. It was like a salad shooter.
Speaker 1Yeah, all the shooter. I was like it was a funny name I could I almost said toss. But yeah, fake dating is another really one betrope yeah another class when they show up the end and there's only one bed so I just want some like good classics like that, and and I mean, I mean, I really just want some good slow burn.
Speaker 2I think that this year is gonna be epic.
Book Recommendations and New Year Goals
Speaker 1I think every, every year is gonna get better and better for us Mm-hmm, it's books and all the things in the horizon and but yeah, I like that word diving into like a little bit of like fantasy, like Maybe that I know science fiction II maybe a. I don't even know what else we're gonna do, but we'll have a variety of things for this palette. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2And if you guys, have anything that you want to hear a lot of snow any good books that everybody's read. If you anyone needs any handball recommendations, let me know, so you say. I hope that you have no one needs that I. Love that. You know that's it, but I don't know, like the eating people, I just don't know how I feel about it. I mean, I know how I feel about it, I don't know how I feel about reading it.
Speaker 1You know, I mean, I feel, how do you feel about it? I don't think it's good.
Speaker 2I don't think it's gonna freak me out. I still have nightmares about Hannibal, the movie. What it was sexy you can do that thing that he does, that I can't do it.
Speaker 1You didn't do what he does, that actually eats people. No, he doesn't. The movie.
Speaker 2That dude again in the movie. Oh yeah, he's like yeah yeah, through the, through the mask.
Speaker 1Yeah, yeah, yeah sorry, I thought this is. I was like, wait, he like it slurps up a person. When does Mads do that? Yeah?
Speaker 2I'm so confused. That's a good one, but I love that. You love it. You got to read what you like. That's my catchphrase. That's Stacey's goal for 2024 to make that into every episode. It is going to be in every episode. It's my catchphrase. Oh my god, I was thinking of that today, that Stacey has made this her catchphrase and I tried to say, you know, like Haydnert's a lot and I was thinking of Chanel and like Whatever the heck, that's what it is.
Speaker 2Like her catchphrase is whatever the heck. And I couldn't figure out how I was making this post, I couldn't figure out how to put it in your post, but I really wanted to feel like it's your catchphrase, it's perfect. Because you were like I don't say that. And then you asked your other friend. They're like yes. I remember when you said that I was like am I crazy? I swear to God. She says it so much.
Speaker 1It just comes out.
Speaker 2I love it so much. Whatever the heck, I say it now.
Speaker 1Yeah, I do too.
Speaker 2I say it all the time Copyrighted, copyrighted. This is Chanel. This year's going to be great with you guys. Oh yeah, I know.
Speaker 1I'm excited. Do you guys have like book New Year's resolutions, like not for the podcast, but do you guys have like just in general for yourself, like, oh, I want to read like 20 books for the year or something like that, just personal ones for yourself? If you don't, it's fine. I just was curious.
Speaker 2My main goal is to, because outside of the, especially last year, I mainly just read what we were reading for the podcast. And I want to read more outside of that and watch less reality TV. That's a great goal.
Speaker 1Seriously, that is.
Speaker 2I just constantly watch, like RuPaul's Drag Race or like something on Bravo, and I'm like I could be reading instead of. I can just watch one episode and then read instead of watching. Then, jane, three episodes in a row instead of I know. So that's.
Speaker 1it's not really like a number I watch so much too, but it's nice to just have one in the background.
Speaker 2I have it on a lot and then I then I just get sucked in, but Vanderpump rules start soon, oh God, anyways, anyways, that's my goal. What about?
Speaker 1you guys.
Speaker 2Michael, I don't like a set number of books to read. I want to finish all Sarah J Mass's books that are out this year. That's like on my to-do list. That's so many what have you read so far? I am on Queen of Shadows on Throne of Last Year, so I have four books left in that and then Crescent City will have three books out by then. So, that's like my main goals. I want to read all those. I think Nice, I see why people love her writing. Yeah, that guitar was amazing.
Speaker 1Amazing, you're all done. You liked it.
Speaker 2Skyler kept trying to talk to me. I'm like listen, I got 10 pages left for this book. You got to stop talking to me Like I cannot concentrate.
Speaker 1It shows the kind of person where so much happens.
Speaker 2Yeah like the last, like 20 pages. It's like the most exciting part of the book. Oh my god, I'm not going to ruin anything, but the end of it I was like I know, I know the whole book is highlighted. I'll say that. Oh my god, you've got to be taking notes. That's so funny. Wait till you start.
Speaker 1I know everybody says it, the Port of Mr.
Speaker 2Fury. Is that the third one? That's the second one.
Speaker 1People swear it's the best book of the series Mike hasn't said the third one is when it gets steamy. She's on the third one.
Speaker 2The third one, I don't know. I heard the second one is steamy. Where's the smut? Because I felt misled in Aqatar because there was like one scene of smut. I knew the first one had nothing, all the smuts and the last book was out in the series. The last book in the series.
Speaker 1There's a decent amount.
Speaker 2And three, and there's a decent amount in the one you're going to read, but none in two, two, oh, I'm like I'm being misled again.
Speaker 1Why don't you?
Speaker 2chill over there. Why don't you take a chill pill? Slow burn, OK Good.
Speaker 1I'm not. This is why I'm not even like. This is why I never rush to read it, because I'm like it's not even finished the series is not even finished.
Speaker 2Why isn't finished, chanel? How many books are going to be in Aqatar? We don't know.
Speaker 1Because it's not finished. It's not finished Is Cressen Siddy. Is that the last one of the series?
Speaker 2No, Are any of her series complete? Throw in a glass.
Speaker 1Which is why we should have started.
Speaker 2But everyone says you start Aqatar and then throw in a glass. I heard the opposite. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Whatever, I'm not the authority on this.
Speaker 1Also, I got to stop.
Speaker 2I got to get off the book talk thing because the whole series is almost ruined for me because I can't stop watching it when people are making things, I'm like I got to stop.
Speaker 1Yeah, that's why I say I'm on Bookstagram, but whenever people post stuff thankfully Fourth Wing has not been wasn't spoiled for me at all. I didn't know anything, because every time I saw stuff I was like scroll fast and then I don't know anything about it. I just know the characters from Aqatar. I've heard of Nesta and Fairy or whatever. Pharah, pharah, whatever the fuck her name is, I've ruined.
Speaker 2Throw in a Glass in parts for me and I think it's fine.
Speaker 1I was already three books into Throw in a Glass so I knew she's. Whoever she is.
Speaker 2Don't ruin it. I've read it. You're going to read those eight books. Yeah, I am. Eight massive books. I got a list.
Speaker 1I got a list. Yeah, you ain't going to do it. Oh, you're going to watch RuPaul.
Speaker 2I'm new season started on Wednesday.
Speaker 1New season.
Speaker 2Oh yeah, you're not, I haven't watched it yet, but I'm going to. You're not going to do it?
Speaker 1RuPaul's so good.
Speaker 2I can't. You're funny, you're funny. Anyways, anyways, yeah. So cheers to 2023. And 2024 is going to be amazing, yeah we're excited, I mean for us. Maybe not for the world, but book-wise it's going to be great.
Speaker 1And you need to make some good books out. I'm excited New year New us.
Speaker 2No, no, yeah, that's what you said New year, new us Same bullshit, yeah, same bullshit. Ok.
Speaker 1Chanel doesn't like it. Chanel is not a thing. Oh, I just think you guys are funny. Let's do kudos.
Speaker 2I'm going first. Ok, I call it so you guys, because I'm doing like a year kudos.
Speaker 1OK, well, I did wrap up Kudos last episode, so you're behind.
Speaker 2Yeah, you did. I know we kind of did, but anyways, well, first I have to start with you guys, because we're the podcast and you made 2023 amazing for me and, like we've talked about before, what's nice about this podcast is that Stacey, she literally just randomly headbutted her mic for no reason, I don't know why. I think it's because I didn't touch it. The whole episode Go ahead.
Speaker 1Oh, so she's got to get a touch in 2024.
Speaker 2I don't know what I was saying.
Speaker 1Oh, you guys, I love you guys.
Speaker 2We have to hang out because we've got to record and it makes me so happy. All of the guests that we had on were just truly amazing and like took time out of their schedules to hang out with us A bunch of weirdos, which is so nice. And then our friends and family that have been really supportive. Like Stacey's got all these people from work listening to it. Like our friend Justin I didn't think he actually listened to it. He doesn't read any of this stuff. No, he actually listens to our podcast and takes notes. It's amazing. He's an amazing person and then tells us what he thinks, what could be better, tips and tricks and stuff. It's like maybe I say like a little too much like and I need to cut it out. Oh my god. So just everybody has been so supportive and I love it and yeah, just we have the best support, I feel like, for this podcast. I totally agree with you.
Speaker 1I'm going to piggyback off that because I, yeah, all of our friends who have been guests on the show, like this past year, and even our people who have been on, who have been guests, who aren't our friends, like the great authors or artists, and I mean we've had so many great guests and people who, like you said, have just supported us and have, you know, helped make this podcast what it is. It's just all the people in the fanfic community, in the book community and, yeah, and people who have listened. So thank you for listening. So that is my first kudo. Like you said, everyone who's just made this podcast what it is. My second kudo is obviously to you guys, because you make this podcast what it is as well. So I just appreciate everything that you guys have done this past year, whether it's just coming to record or bounce ideas off of, or, yeah, just like bring your energy and your knowledge of fanfics and books, and I love making this with you guys. So so, yeah, yeah, thank you. This year has been great and the unhinged energy.
Speaker 2That's like a big yeah yeah, we've been a little unhinged this last year. We're going to rain it in a little bit. I'm not elevate, elevate it. I'm going to elevate it, but I ain't raining it in what is it. Um, what does Rapal say? This pussy's on fire. Is that what?
Speaker 1he says Step your pussy.
Speaker 2Step your pussy. I swear he said she definitely confused this girl's on fire and RuPaul with step your pussy. At least she keeps it. Be proud, she's been on the show. I know she always. Yeah, my kudos. As far as support systems that we've had, they've been epic. All these authors, you guys Fucking lucky. I love you. So he's like I gave my long kudos last episode.
Speaker 1Can you?
Speaker 2just listen to that. Um, can you please go back and listen, but also, but no, seriously, like, like, like, sorry, justin, I'll stop by, but yeah, just like people who've been listening. She said it.
Speaker 1I know I need to.
Speaker 2Um, but Jen our producer producer this year she's been so supportive, yeah Cole with his photos and being so great taking them of us and oh, miguel watching here, but we got to get them back on too for that. Miguel, introducing us to Lindsay.
Speaker 1Yeah, Even when we went to like Comic Con, like oh yeah, think about like that was in January.
Speaker 2Yeah, and Miguel went to that. Yeah, he's so supportive.
Speaker 1Amber, like they all came out, like they didn't have to come to that. You know, Ashley was there, right, amber was there, amber, and.
Speaker 2Ashlyn were both there. Ashlyn was not pushing. Yeah, yes, at Comic Con. Wait, it was just Amber. No, it was just you. But Ashlyn, like the next week, was on an episode with us. That's what it was. That's what it was.
Speaker 1I was like, okay, so many people on, but um, but yeah, it's just, it's just been great.
Speaker 2Just been great. That's just what we're going to keep saying. It's just been great, yeah, so like you said. So get ready for this year. Yeah, and don't forget to read what you like. We have to be able not to laugh.
Speaker 1Don't laugh at them.
Speaker 2Okay.
Speaker 1Bye.
