Hey Nerds, Stacy, Chanel, and Ashley discuss the first part of You, Again by the amazing Kate Goldbeck. We had Kate on last week to discuss this fabulous debut novel! This romcom set in New York City gives us the perfect amount of nostalgia with witty banter. Will Ari and Josh get their happily ever after??
Summary:
Can they stop hating each other long enough to fall in love?
When Ari and Josh first meet, the wrong kind of sparks fly. They hate each other. Instantly.
A free-spirited, struggling comedian who likes to keep things casual, Ari sublets, takes gigs, and she never sleeps over after hooking up. Born-and-bred Manhattanite Josh has ambitious plans: Take the culinary world by storm, find The One, and make her breakfast in his spotless kitchen. They have absolutely nothing in common . . . except that they happen to be sleeping with the same woman.
Ari and Josh never expect their paths to cross again. But years later, as they’re both reeling from ego-bruising breakups, a chance encounter leads to a surprising connection: friendship. Turns out, spending time with your former nemesis is fun when you’re too sad to hate each other—and too sad for hate sex.
As friends-without-benefits, they find comfort in late-night Netflix binges, swiping through each other’s online dating profiles, and bickering across boroughs. It’s better than romance. Until one night, the unspoken boundaries of their platonic relationship begin to blur. . . .
*Summary from Penguin Random House*
***Produced by Jen Hardin***
Hey Nerds, Stacy, Chanel, and Ashley discuss the first part of You, Again by the amazing Kate Goldbeck. We had Kate on last week to discuss this fabulous debut novel! This romcom set in New York City gives us the perfect amount of nostalgia with witty banter. Will Ari and Josh get their happily ever after??
Summary:
Can they stop hating each other long enough to fall in love?
When Ari and Josh first meet, the wrong kind of sparks fly. They hate each other. Instantly.
A free-spirited, struggling comedian who likes to keep things casual, Ari sublets, takes gigs, and she never sleeps over after hooking up. Born-and-bred Manhattanite Josh has ambitious plans: Take the culinary world by storm, find The One, and make her breakfast in his spotless kitchen. They have absolutely nothing in common . . . except that they happen to be sleeping with the same woman.
Ari and Josh never expect their paths to cross again. But years later, as they’re both reeling from ego-bruising breakups, a chance encounter leads to a surprising connection: friendship. Turns out, spending time with your former nemesis is fun when you’re too sad to hate each other—and too sad for hate sex.
As friends-without-benefits, they find comfort in late-night Netflix binges, swiping through each other’s online dating profiles, and bickering across boroughs. It’s better than romance. Until one night, the unspoken boundaries of their platonic relationship begin to blur. . . .
*Summary from Penguin Random House*
***Produced by Jen Hardin***
And so they go to this deli and he gives her lots of all suites.
Speaker 2:I have it. If you want me to read it, go ahead. Actually, I love you this episode. I'm so excited. This book Shneel is right, I'm obsessed with it.
Speaker 1:I could stop reading it. I literally have no emotions for you, because I told you a year ago, a year ago.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you're all hyped about it. I literally could not. I stayed up until like 3 am finishing this the other day.
Speaker 1:So why don't you all right, Next time I tell you to read a book, read it the next week instead of a day.
Speaker 2:I know every time it's an amazing book. I just love this page. It's so cool.
Speaker 1:Hi, I'm Shneel, Hi I'm Stacy, hey, nerds, this is Ashley and this is Fiction Fanatics.
Speaker 2:And we're here.
Speaker 1:Now we have to wait for Stacy.
Speaker 2:I think I would cut a box cutter on hand always Real fast, while Stacy's opening this box of suppression now with the new book series I just have to start this episode out with just real fast. I watched my best friend's wedding last night for the first time in like years, probably because it's on Netflix. I love Julia Roberts movies and I love my best friend's wedding, but as an adult, like in her 30s, watching it now it's so problematic.
Speaker 1:I've never seen it, you know, I don't.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:I already told you this I never seen Julia Roberts movies because you made me watch Notting Hill.
Speaker 2:I never seen that. Notting Hill's always good.
Speaker 1:The only movie I think I'd seen of Julia Roberts was Ocean's 11 and Ocean's 12. And then you made me watch Notting Hill and I was like, oh, she's a pretty good actress.
Speaker 2:Well, like this, the whole point of this movie is, her best friend is a guy and he is getting married to this like 20 year old girl. They're supposed to be 28 or something and Julia Roberts decides that she's in love with him. So she spends four days trying to like sabotage their weddings. But, like, really what's problematic is the guy in this Like I was watching it. He is like full on.
Speaker 1:Is it Patrick Dempsey or who is it? No?
Speaker 2:What's his name? Devin or Dewan?
Speaker 1:or Hold on.
Speaker 2:Let me look it up, because he's in a lot of things.
Speaker 2:He like at one point walks in to Julia Roberts's dressing room when she's changing. She's in a like bra and underwear and he's like, oh well, I was in you much more naked than this. And she's like, yeah, but things are different now. And he's like engaged and he says it. I'd like I think he's the most problematic character, Like he, I don't know it was. It's still good because I, because it's like very nostalgic for me and I love the movie, but it's so problematic.
Speaker 1:Dermot or yeah, Dermot Mulroney.
Speaker 2:Yeah, what an A's and what an A. And Cameron Diaz is in it. It's a great cast. The site well. What really makes it is the side characters. Like her best friend in it is by far the best thing about the movie. And when they sing, I got a little prayer for you, oh my God. I mean I love it, but I was just like watching it. I'm like this is insane. This is so problematic. This guy is the worst. He literally is flirting Like he's leading everybody.
Speaker 2:Yeah, leading her on, I don't know it's. Anyways, I was just like what a different mindset to what, like when you watch it when you're young and then to watch it when you're older, I guess. You know you think the nineties was wild time. Do my things look okay? I feel like they look weird in the. I don't know Good.
Speaker 1:Okay, show us these books. Did you get them open?
Speaker 2:Yes, you remember all I was in the first book and I love it.
Speaker 1:Oh, my God yeah.
Speaker 2:Oh wait it's Lurie.
Speaker 1:The Holly Black series, the Folk of Air, yeah, Complete paperback.
Speaker 2:So, it's up to you. I can give it to you like this, or I have this idea to rebind them for hardback for you for Christmas, as a Christmas present. Oh. But it would just take me longer.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I love that idea. I love that idea because so I haven't read any of her books, but I obviously know that they're amazing. And I have the first book, but I haven't read it, I haven't gotten around to reading it. So, first of all, thank you, I love it.
Speaker 2:You don't have it, okay, good.
Speaker 1:Yes, and I obviously haven't read it. And I haven't gotten any of the other books because I was like let me just read the first one and then I'll get the rest of them. So yeah, whatever you want to do, it's a lot of work, I know to rebind.
Speaker 2:Well, I saw this girl on TikTok. She actually took the paperback set and made it one big book.
Speaker 1:Oh, my God.
Speaker 2:But it looks gorgeous, but I don't know if you want to read it.
Speaker 1:It's like a manical style.
Speaker 2:It's like manical style, but I don't know. I mean, it'd be pretty thick. I don't know if you'd want to read it that way or not.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, do whatever you think is best. I appreciate it. Thank you so much. That's a perfect, that's a perfect.
Speaker 2:You know who made the idea was Katie, because I read the first one and I told her to read it and she's read almost all of them now and she's obsessed. And the fan art for it is just like.
Speaker 1:That's a good series, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:It's one of the girl characters. I mean, it's nothing, it's not similar to like you again, but it's one of the characters that first, when you read the girl character, you're like I don't know if I like her, because it's not like the stereotypical heroine. You know what I mean.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, yeah, you eventually come around.
Speaker 2:I'm so glad you like them. Okay, good, I feel better. Thank you. That's a charm.
Speaker 1:I love it. Thank you, I'll take it however you want to give it. That's what she said.
Speaker 2:That's what she said Not usually, though I'm probably going to turn them into hardbacks for you, so Yay, perfect.
Speaker 1:Thank you so much. I appreciate it. Well, let's dive into this. So what I? I know, ashley, you finished it. I don't know where you're at Stacy with this book. I finished it last night you did. Okay, yeah, so I'm just starting out in the morning and deciding to because we're doing part one right now is I read up to chapter 15. There's 31 chapters, but I thought that was a good stopping point. It's everyone who's listening. They should have read it, or at least halfway through.
Speaker 2:Yeah, guys, you should have read it by now. It's such a good fast read yeah.
Speaker 1:It's where they are at the strand and they run into our ex-wife. So I like it's right after that. So I figured that was kind of a good breaking point.
Speaker 2:Let's remind everybody, we're covering you again by K Goldbeck.
Speaker 1:Yes, so you should have all read that guys.
Speaker 2:That was your homework assignment.
Speaker 1:Know what, know what we're talking about. So this is my pick for the month. I'm so excited. Also, if you haven't listened to our episode, we interview this amazing author, kate, so go back and listen to that episode. That was last week's episode. We're super excited about that. And yeah, let's dive in to covering this book Woo, woo, woo.
Speaker 1:We start out and my notes is it's in 2014 and this is, you know, this whole story is. I just love it so much. Obviously it's kind of a gender swapped one. Harry Met Sally, but it's. They start as enemies, then they come friends and they become lovers. Very a la one.
Speaker 1:Harry Met Sally and this beginning scene when they meet in 2014,. I have my notes. I guess it's kind of like this love triangle. They don't, they don't know they're in a love triangle. At first.
Speaker 1:They don't want to be in this kind of love triangle, but it's between Ari and Josh and then, unknowingly, ari's roommate Natalie, I believe, is her name and Josh is dating her and he's, like you know, this is my girlfriend he shows up at at their apartment, ari and Natalie's apartment and he's like planning to like cook her dinner because he's a chef and he's, like you know, trying to pull out the stops because they're kind of in the beginning of their relationship and Ari's there and she like ends up like coming out of the room.
Speaker 1:I think she just had like had sex with her best friend, gabe, like they kind of are on and off, like cooking up or whatever, and she like is so unimpressed with Josh and she like breaks the news that, like one, natalie is not impressed by him. And two, she's like, yeah, like you know, every time after she comes back from a date with you or having sex with you, like we hook up you know how do you mean and he's like piss, like he just turns red and he's so mad. And that's how you find out that, like I said, they're kind of in this weird love triangle, not kind of thing, and also that Ari's obviously bisexual, but anyway, Sorry, I didn't mean to tell you off.
Speaker 2:I was going to say can you imagine thinking, you're like, imagine being Josh and just feeling. Like, imagine being Josh and just feeling so confident in yourself and you're like this is my girlfriend, I'm going to make her this like Michelin star dinner. And then you show up and her like hot roommate is like well, after she hangs out with you, mean her bang, like can you?
Speaker 1:imagine she's like what, like so crazy and but yeah, it's just like you just throw as a wrench and everything. But they kind of also, while they're like because I know Ashley was talking about this great banter that they, they have it's they kind of talk about like their like philosophy with relationships and Ari's just like yeah, I sleep with whoever and I don't do relationships, and Josh is very much like you know, obviously, trying to impress his girlfriend and they talk about these black and white cookies, about like finding their soulmates and you know, and he's like I don't really believe in like soulmates and stuff, and I think you know you can find your person and you know you, if you dedicate and like spend time being with, like putting an effort, I guess that's, you know, the basis of like a good relationship or whatever. So I thought that was just kind of interesting.
Speaker 2:I have a little quote from that, just because I love their banter in this, when they were talking about the black, black and white cookies which. I hope I can even pronounce all of this. So Ari dries her hands on the towel, debating whether to take the bait. Pluto the symposium. Eris, it's, eris, it's not.
Speaker 1:Eris Sottle.
Speaker 2:No, it's not that, but it kind of looks like that. But anyway, eris Sottle's speech. You'll have to refresh my memory. I went to public school in Arizona. I just think it's so funny because she just does not care at all that Josh comes off like kind of pretentious in this and she's just does not care, and that's and then right after that, that's when he like describes the black and white cookies and stuff like the whole soulmate thing. Yeah, yeah, yes.
Speaker 1:Okay, so then it moves forward. You go to three years later, which is 2017. There's still enemies. Obviously, there were enemies back then and at this point, josh is now running a restaurant. He's the executive chef and he's actually working in the kitchen with Ari's best friend, radia, and he, at this point, has a girlfriend, sophie you don't really get into that yet, but at least he kind of like mentions it and Ari is now working. She's a comedian and she's like making really good money. She's writing, not only like working as a comedian like you know, stand up but she's also making money writing scripts. She's like has this Netflix deal or whatever. So she's doing well. He's doing well.
Speaker 1:But at this restaurant they meet up because at Josh's restaurant, because Ari's coming to see her best friend like you know whatever to hang out after work, and Radia and Josh get into it because she makes this duck dish, which Radia is a really good chef and she thinks she's making it the right way. But Josh is like going crazy because there's a critic in the restaurant and he's like you're making this duck the wrong way, like put it on longer, like blah, blah, blah. And so he like, because he's the executive chef, he like overpowers her and is like, basically, he's like, you're doing it wrong, you're fired. You're not listening to me, you're fired. So he fires her. Radia gets obviously super upset and when she storms out into the restaurant to tell Ari, like we're leaving, ari finds out and, like, throws a drink in Josh's face and like I love it so much that cements their like.
Speaker 2:And like the way I read it, like I know there were some issues in the kitchen, like with people respecting him, but he really seems like he was in the wrong there, Like she cooked the duck.
Speaker 1:She wanted to cook it longer and he said no, so then it was undercooked and he still blamed her, so yeah, so it's like he, he messed up the dish and then when they, when he said, when it was wrong, then he blamed her for his call.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:All because he was obviously freaking out. Like I said, there was a critic, a food critic, in the restaurant, so he's trying to impress him. And then it kind of goes back into like his privilege, because his dad is a restaurant owner in the area. And you find out like he kind of got this job because of connections, right, and Radia is like a woman of color who's had to kind of work her way up in the culinary business and she's like he has all this privilege being a man, being white, being having these connections, and then when he makes a mistake, like he puts it back on me even though I know what I'm doing and it's you know, it's just, it just sucks it kind of just.
Speaker 2:it's like a man Underworld of women.
Speaker 1:What did you say?
Speaker 2:That sounds like a man.
Speaker 1:It sounds like a white, white man in the world.
Speaker 2:Which I love in this book that they bring that up too, like a couple of times. They like joke that in there and I like it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, even Ari calls it like oh, white privilege, like white privilege. So so, yeah, so that's their like second kind of like harsh encounter. And so then you flash forward two years again in the future and it's 2019. There are still enemies, and now they're meeting at a New Year's Eve party, so we get this kind of New Year's Eve theme going and it's Josh and his sister Briar, who I freaking love. I also love that name, yeah.
Speaker 2:I never heard that name before and I loved it and she's a great character.
Speaker 1:She's also an amazing character. She's just this like typical Gen Z who's like connected and just funny and amazing. And so Josh has been kind of absent because he has inherited so his dad passed away, who he's kind of had a contentious relationship with his dad because his dad's kind of an old school restaurant tour, owning this kind of Jewish deli, and Josh is very much new school kind of in this culinary world. He wants to do new eclectic things in his restaurant, chef style kind of, and so they kind of butted heads. So he's inherited his dad's restaurant and and so he's kind of overwhelmed with that and so he's missed out a lot on spending time with his sister. So he decided to take his sister Well, his sister decided to take him out for New Year's.
Speaker 2:Eve Made him come to this party, to this party.
Speaker 1:And it's his sister's teaching assistants. New Year's Eve party, which just so happens to be Ari's wife, is the teaching assistant.
Speaker 2:Her name is Cass she is like problematic from the beginning. I swear to God this character is the worst.
Speaker 1:We love a plot twist. He is the epitome of a narcissist hippie. Well, yeah, I was just going to say like yes, that too. But like this hippie granola, new gen, kind of feminist title feminist kind of, you know, like want to be feminist.
Speaker 2:Exactly yeah.
Speaker 1:And so, yeah, and Ari is married to her and so you're, just when Josh especially meets her again for the whatever time, many times he's like you're married, you shop, you didn't do relationships, and it's just very interesting. And so it's also interesting because or I guess it kind of makes sense because Ari has lost her job. This Netflix deal writing scripts, yeah, she has like no money, like her basically professional career is like down the drain, but I think she kind of says it to her cast as she's like you know, that's fine because your personal life is flourishing and, like you know, we're doing so well They've been like all this stuff and you kind of see Ari like clinging to her, like they are making out, I think, right when Josh like yeah, like in front of everybody, which is fine.
Speaker 2:Which is like essentially like overcompensating yeah exactly that's what I was going to say. Like a lot of times, pda like that, I mean I'm not saying every time, sometimes people get caught up in the moment, but a lot of time when that kind of stuff happens, you think why does this have to happen right now? What do you have in front of us right now? What are you trying to prove?
Speaker 1:Yes, yeah, just based off of my cousin and her wife's deteriorating marriage and there was a lot of overcompensating posting on Instagram and PDA and I'm like, and then they got divorced. Yeah, like, okay, you clearly wasn't all you know rainbows and sunshades, if you have to post every day that you love your significant other.
Speaker 2:I'm like who are you trying to convince?
Speaker 1:Everybody, or yourself, yourself.
Speaker 2:Mostly yourself. I do love you, I do love you, but anyway, but no, I agree with Cass's character, though Like as soon as you meet her you're just like I got like the ick vibe from her. Right, Like you know what I mean Like she's this cool college professor. All the students love her.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, she's hanging out with her students, but that's so weird?
Speaker 2:Why are you hanging out with your students?
Speaker 1:Yeah, I know. So I actually like this because, okay, because again this is I guess another ick factor but like Cass kind of abandons her halfway through the party to like hang out with other people. And this is where you kind of dive a little deeper into Josh's relationship with his girlfriend, sophie, because it's a long distance relationship, because she has this job where she has to travel and be all over the place. I don't even remember, I don't care to remember. And so he's dealing with the loss of his dad, inheriting this restaurant. He's very busy trying to like make it his own kind of restaurant. He's trying to flair on it, whatever, but they like barely talk. He doesn't really tell people about it, but like they're barely communicating, barely seeing each other.
Speaker 1:And so the countdown to New Year's Eve happens and they are, josh and Ari kind of like find themselves in a room together and Josh is like trying to call Sophie, like oh, happy New Year's. She's not answering, and Ari and Josh end up kind of spending the last 30 seconds of the year together. And I just thought it was really interesting because you see them kind of talking to each other but it's them kind of him questioning his relationship. Like this really what I want to be like having a relationship where I'm over the phone, like wishing someone happy New Year's and her kind of being like am I good enough for Cass? She's so amazing. She has a two bedroom apartment in Queens and I'm barely trying to make ends meet and it's both of them kind of reflecting in their heads but also like again the banter coming out, and I just thought it was kind of interesting them having this little moment. Again they're bantering but also, like I said, internally being like not really happy with their relationship. So I also have many years.
Speaker 2:I also loved in their like little banter thing is he doesn't know she's in there at first and he's first of all it's girlfriends, not even, which I'm not judging, but like it's New Year's Eve, you're, you're miles and miles away. His girlfriend's not answering the phone and so he thinks he's alone and he's leaving her like exerting message. And I love it because we get a little a little glimmer of, like his domineering personality.
Speaker 1:He calls her girl.
Speaker 2:I know he calls her a good girl. You know, it's my favorite thing, so I got really close to the mic because I was super excited. But I just love it because Ari is like oh, mr Big, am I your good girl or my big boy? Yeah, yeah, funny.
Speaker 1:It is so funny, okay, and then we flash forward another three years, so it's 2022. And this is where they become friends. So essentially I love this, because now their lives are just in the crapper. Yeah.
Speaker 2:Rock bottom pretty much. Well, they think rock bottom.
Speaker 1:This is why this is here, is why I love this story, because and I have some quotes here like it's why you find love, like or how they find love, it's like when you can love someone at their worst, like that's true love. I think anyone can love someone when they're like Cass and they're like amazing and they're have money and connections and but like if you can find love with someone and you're there, they're at their worst and you're at their worst and I think that's amazing.
Speaker 2:But okay, I think people love someone when they're on like top of the world, like best of their game, kind of thing, you know.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, it's so easy. So Josh reinvented the Broadski the restaurant, his dad's restaurant. It was a failure, basically, he just did too much, too fancy, too quirky, too much and all of these critics just were roasting him either for trying to do too much or they basically were saying like it was you know nepotism and he, you know, only got the restaurant obviously because of his dad and he, you know he should have just stuck to the way his dad did things and you know, he ruined his dad's reputation, blah, blah, blah. So he, before he kind of did the relaunch, he bought an apartment for him and Sophie and she never even moved in.
Speaker 2:You imagine, here's the present, and she's like no, I'm good, I'm going to stay a thousand miles away from you.
Speaker 1:But she moved out of the country, right? She literally took a job out of the country in Dubai and was like no, I'm not moving in with you and so I'm not doing it. So now he's living alone and his career is ruined and he's, like we said, at his worst right now. Personally, professionally, it's going to terrible. I don't think they're officially broken up Like. I think they're still together, but it's like even more long distance than it was.
Speaker 2:Like no, I think they broke up when she went to Dubai.
Speaker 1:Yeah, okay, it was over.
Speaker 2:But I just thought it was funny when he got that up. So he picks this apartment because it's close to a place where she likes to have brunch. He doesn't even like that place. He's so snooty, he's like they can even poach and a blah blah, but she's going to love it.
Speaker 1:Okay, that's the quote I have when he's like, yes, I. There's one thing Josh can't stand it's an improperly poached egg. If he's allowed a second thing, it would be women who take new jobs in Dubai when their boyfriends are in the middle of career implosions.
Speaker 2:I don't think he's-. Kate is a genius with these lines, so petty is.
Speaker 1:I love him so much.
Speaker 2:Josh is my favorite. He's my favorite, josh. I loved him from the beginning.
Speaker 1:I just love him. He's like if there's just a second thing, it's also when you're a girl Friday. He's like not so long. I get the poached egg thing, though it's a poached egg.
Speaker 2:I get it. Nothing ruins it, like nothing ruins a good eggsbending like an improperly poached egg.
Speaker 1:So it makes me think of. I feel like it was the critics choice award. But Hunter Schaefer, she wore a dress and I loved it. It was so beautiful, like shimmery, like kind of like like this sheer kind of thing I'm breaking out on, like the type of fabric it was, but it was like flowy, until someone posted some meme about it. And it was like me when I improperly poached an egg and it was like flowing off of her and it was the funniest meme ever and I was like that's exactly me, because I cannot poach an egg, and it was that's what it made me think of.
Speaker 1:Anyway, okay, so Ari is on the break of divorce because her and Cass which, okay, I'm not going to give my opinions here because I'll probably eat offend people, but they went to an ethical, non-monogamy workshop and Cass was like, yeah, like you know, basically couples' anarchy, like bullshit, was like I just think we need to incorporate threesomes in our relationship and, to Ari's credit, she was like, yeah, let's do it. But of course, then that's when Cass was like, yeah, I just don't have enough love for you, like I essentially want to have other people.
Speaker 2:Here's the issue.
Speaker 1:Here's the issue you can give your opinions, you can give that never.
Speaker 2:No, I won't offend anybody because I think whatever anybody wants to do in the relationship, they should do. Yeah, like the issue, I think, is that I think it's probably and this can be said for any kind of relationship honestly, it's rare and hard to find somebody who's always on the same page as you with what you want and need in a relationship in life.
Speaker 2:You know, whatever the issue it seems like is that, cassy, it's like one thing if both people are wanting this open relationship. When you come into it that way, it's discussed and stuff. They came into it as a monogamous relationship and it seems like the way that it's portrayed is that Cassy really just wants to hook up with other people, which is fine if her wife is on the same page as that. But to me, and the way that it reads, it's Ari didn't want that.
Speaker 2:She wanted to stay with Cass, so she said she was okay with it. So like that's really the issue is like when the couple they're not on the same page and the other one is just doing it to try to stay in the relationship with the other one, it's just going to blow up on both sides.
Speaker 1:And that was my quote, like that was my opinion, because I've seen in real life a lot I would say probably almost a handful of my couple friends. One of the partners in their relationship have wanted this, where they've wanted to be non monogamous, and the other person got on board with it and then ended their marriage or ended their relationship. And it's like you needed to have had this discussion and maybe that person didn't know, but like you needed to have had discussion before you got into this monogamous relationship because now this other person is compromising their values is the right word, but like they're not believes their feelings, I guess, because if they're just doing it to make their partner happy, it's going to crash and burn eventually.
Speaker 2:Yeah, in my opinion.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and so it just hard.
Speaker 2:People grow and they change, and I'm not. I'm not saying it's wrong that, if I mean if Cassie said that's what she wanted with her life, I'm not saying that's wrong, it's just obviously like that's why this didn't work out, is because I think that's really what Ari wanted.
Speaker 1:So yeah, yeah, clearly not, and yeah, it's just, it stinks, because I feel like that ruins a lot of relationships and it's obviously becoming more popular now.
Speaker 2:You know I was listening to this book, though Do you guys listen to Jay Shetty at all?
Speaker 1:He like has a Every now and then if he has a good person on.
Speaker 2:So he has this book that came out called the eight rules of love and I've been listening to the audio book just because I really love him and I was just curious about this book in general and I'm only like a quarter of the way through it. He touches briefly on non monogamous relationships and it is on the rise but statistically it's still when the Times is doing a freaking article about it.
Speaker 2:I'm like that's yeah, it's still less than like I think he said. It was like less than two or four percent of couples are actually doing it. I think or it's like successfully happening or something. So, it is on the rise. I think also it's just like people are just realizing like other relationships are important to I think not one person can meet all of these needs for you and that's like the most realistic expectation to go into any kind of relationship, even friend wise, like you know yeah you have different friends for different things.
Speaker 2:And yeah anyways it just. He kind of touched on it. I thought it was interesting, because he did say it was on the rise. It's still kind of low though.
Speaker 1:But yeah, yeah it's definitely becoming more like talked about you know, I mean yeah.
Speaker 1:Okay, so, so obviously Josh is unemployed. He's living in this apartment which is it's basically filled with like stuff from the restaurant because the restaurant's not doing good. Ari is I mean she's not doing well with her comedy stand up, but she's writing like comedy speeches, like eulogies and like best man speeches. I made speech just to like make money, because cast was like the breadwinner and she. But she hasn't moved out of this apartment because she's wallowing in this, this divorce right Like sleeping on an air mattress.
Speaker 2:Yes, she's just laying in the rock bottom, she is.
Speaker 1:So they're soaking it in both, not doing well Also just speaks of Cass's character.
Speaker 2:She literally just was like I want to divorce and up and left just was like you stay here by peace, I know.
Speaker 1:See ya, so yeah. So this is they end up running into each other. There I had a vibrator store.
Speaker 2:I love it so much.
Speaker 1:Ari is there with Radia and Briar, for some reason, takes Josh to one. I think Chloe Seveni Seveni, however you say her name was supposed to have gone there. It's a hot place and she took.
Speaker 1:I want to go there and he like sees her and she like breaks down crying Ari does, and he's like he he's like do you want to like get a drink? Essentially, and like they like end up talking and like venting to each other and and you know, she's like you know I'm getting a divorce and he's like you know, my restaurant, you know, went under and all this stuff. And they've essentially agreed to be friends. You know, this is like the start of them being friends and I also like this because this is again kind of a nod to when Harry met Sally. They start watching movies together, not like together, but like yeah, she's at her place, he's at his place, and they like call each other. Well, she tries to text and he calls and they and they like watch Netflix films together and and yeah, it's just super cute. And they like talk about them and like shit, talk them and stuff.
Speaker 2:And I have. I have a quote from when they first met and I just thought this was important because a relationship that spread out through the whole thing in this book is Josh and his dad, even though his dad has passed away from most of this book, and so right after they leave the vibrator store, this is the quote that I have At this moment. He employs the only useful piece of wisdom, danny Kitsenberg, is that how they say their last name, kestonberg. Kestonberg. Ever imparted on a son? Anytime you're standing on a street corner with another person at a and at a loss for what to do next, there is one valid suggestion Want to grab a slice? And I just think it's important because his dad gets brought up a lot, but it seems to only be when Ari is around, and I think it's because, even subconsciously, that's when he's comfortable, is around her, and really to me, I think that's one of the most important relationships in this book is him and his dad, because it feels so much of his whole character.
Speaker 2:I just loved when they started being friends, that, like he's thinking of his dad the first time they hang out and that's when they start being friends after that. I just thought it was cool yeah.
Speaker 1:That's true.
Speaker 2:And then also, it's so funny that you say that, because when they're venting, when they're like getting a drink and stuff, one of the things he says is like you know, before he took over his dad's restaurant he was like I was on chopped, I was being asked to go on all these, like I can't shop.
Speaker 2:I can't shop Dude me too. It's one of my favorite shows. It's on HBO Max, anyway, oh my God. But just like listing all this amazing stuff he was doing, asking to cook at different restaurants and like all this stuff. And then, you know, he finally takes over his dad's restaurant after he passes away, and then like he just crashes and burns because you know so. To me it was just like but the whole time he's thinking about it, he's thinking about his dad and like trying not necessarily like trying to do better, but like he's always trying to prove himself in some way. You know what I mean. Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I know, and yeah, I just like I used to that connection of just like he's vulnerable enough to talk to her about his dad too. That's, yeah, very, very interesting. So, okay, like I said, she already writes speeches to make money and and so a lot of the times when she they're either talking on the phone or hanging out together, she's, she's, you know, pausing to write these speeches or like kind of running ideas by Josh. And this kind of goes back to what we're talking about of them being just like both very jaded and with their like love lives and their current situations in life. And one of my favorite quotes is Ari is writing. I believe it's a best man speech, I think so I can't remember Anyway it's the best manner.
Speaker 2:It's the father of the father of the.
Speaker 1:Right, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:Some. It's what you're about to say.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I love it because she's she's like saying this out loud or running it by Josh and and she starts out and she's like imagine hiring someone who failed at marriage and grew up without a dad to write a toast for your daughter's wedding. Here we go. He probably really hates the girl. And so this is her saying, like Rachel, the imitation of an older man's voice. If you indulge this 55 year old, twice divorced man for just a few minutes, I'm going to offer some advice. And then Josh cuts in and he's like happiness is bullshit. And then she's like oh, my God, you know this poor Caleb guy. And he's like Josh goes, no one should marry the person who makes them happy. Marry the person you want by your side at your absolute lowest.
Speaker 1:And I just thought like that was so interesting. She goes on and she's not serious at all and she's not really taking what he's saying kind of serious because she's just Ari. But I was just like he's being kind of vulnerable right now with her and I thought it was just so true when it comes up at the end and we'll kind of talk about it in one of the last scenes, but again it goes back to what we were saying it's so true, like you don't want someone and he's kind of fluffed up speeches to talk about. I love you. Like, remember that time we made all this money and we had, like you, I want you to be there for me when I had the flu and you were there and we won't get into it, but like you brought me matzabal soup and you know, like you were.
Speaker 2:Which by the way I never had matzabal soup, but I would like to try it yes.
Speaker 1:It's good. It's so funny. I didn't tell Kate this because I probably was creeping her out so much, but like I tried so much Jewish food, after this one, I went to this it's literally one of my favorite places, this Jewish deli downtown and I tried black and white cookies, I tried latkes and I tried the matzabal soup.
Speaker 2:Did you get a Shapiro's? Where'd you go?
Speaker 1:I went to Shapiro's. I freaking love Shapiro's. How was the soup You've never had lunch at?
Speaker 2:Shapiro's Stacey.
Speaker 1:Oh my.
Speaker 2:God, we have to go. It's so good I'm just staple, I ended up picking my dad there too.
Speaker 1:This was probably maybe a month ago, because we would go to Jewish delis all the time in Chicago because there's Jewish delis all over Chicago but there's not that many here in Indy, which is like one that I know of, yeah. And so I was like dad, there's a Jewish deli here. So I took him and he was like I love this place. So, but it was just so funny because I would always get the same thing whenever I go to Jewish delis, and so I was like I need to expand my palate and try other stuff. So now I've tried all the Jewish delices.
Speaker 2:It's like two minutes from my house. It's so close, oh nice Really.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, I literally I order lunch there all the time now.
Speaker 2:I don't think Kate would be creeped out. I think she'd be proud.
Speaker 1:Yeah, maybe she would be.
Speaker 2:We're best friends now remember.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, creep out your best friends, but yeah, so I was like, ooh, need to try this, need to try this, need to try this, okay, so, okay. So the other thing is, ari has been keeping her friendship with Josh a secret this whole time because clearly, radia is not the biggest fan of Josh's. He got her fired.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's interesting we can't blame her.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean she's gotten. She's working in another really great restaurant. I mean that was a traumatic experience. So she ends up finding out. I think Ari, she bullies it out of Ari and Ari's like you know, I have another friend. Because she's like why didn't you go to Ikea with me? She's like I went with someone else and she's like is it a boy? And she's like it's a friend.
Speaker 2:She had her. Ari had her phone connected to her Alexa or something and Josh kept calling her and it was like his full name. And so I know I will say I know Ari's going through a lot, but I feel like she's not the best kind of friend in this book to her.
Speaker 1:Yeah, because Radia's gone through a divorce. Went through a divorce, just got fired is like she's going through stuff too.
Speaker 2:Yeah and she's always there for Ari and I just feel like her character seems like she would be pretty supportive of Ari if she, like, was upfront about this stuff and the fact that she keeps hiding stuff from her. Yeah, yeah, I know Ari's going through a lot and I really like Ari's character, but I just felt like she's. She's lucky, she has great people in her life that still understand her and, you know, stay there for but yeah, yeah, that's a good point because like Radia was justified in like icing her out a bit.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And it took a while for her to like come around and yeah. So then they so that's essentially what happens Radia kind of ices her out and yeah, and yeah. So so then Josh and Ari both kind of start dating. They kind of like each of them kind of like kind of encourages each other to like start looking around, they start going on apps and stuff. But at the same time, internally because you go back and forth between their points of view you hear both of them kind of like slowly start thinking a little bit jealous of like each other. Like you know Ari's like oh, he's probably dating the Lauren and they're probably going to go push their little two year old in Central Park in the fall and get you know Apple Cider. You know and you know and like and then which? We won't go into this, but like he goes on a date and she like crashes it and like pretends to be his wife.
Speaker 2:And I have that highlighted, if you want to hear it, because I guess it's one of my favorite scenes, one of my favorite scenes. It's so funny, it's such a funny scene, but it's just like it's a big scene, and it's it doesn't add a lot much, so I didn't get into it, but go ahead.
Speaker 2:Josh turns around expecting to see some bizarre, only in New York event unfolding in front of a crowd around Broadway. But there's only one person standing there and inch from the window. Her face contorted an outrage what the fuck, joshua? Ari? Yells from the insulated glass, creating a cloud of condensation on the window. Josh freezes, racking his brain for an explanation. Do you know her? Maddie asks, sitting up straighter. Before he can say anything, a blur of Pico appears at the periphery of his vision. I knew it. Ari burst through the door and passed a host and liar Like she, like causes this full out scene at this nice restaurant, like screaming, and nobody does anything. They're just like man.
Speaker 1:I know I mean it's like okay. And then this girl is just like your wife. Do you want to explain what's going on?
Speaker 2:I just love that the girl stays. She stays, she stays, and then Ari kind of like hits on her a little bit.
Speaker 1:I know.
Speaker 2:And she's like I just wanted to explore and like try some new things and I was like, oh really, it's so funny.
Speaker 1:The girl's cuckoo. Okay, sorry, I just want to backpedal really quick because I have a good quote that I love Again. You guys are all into the funny bits and I'm into the super sad bits.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we know, but this is about Radia kind of going off and she doesn't understand why Ari would be friends with Josh, because she's like he's evil, he's mean the white man. And Ari is, like you know, in the heat of the moment, obviously, but she's trying to explain and I just love this explanation of why, again, they're like at rock bottom and she's like he gets me, like you, which okay, again, I feel like Radia would understand, because it's not like Radia is doing amazing with her life, but like yeah, but Ari's like he just gets me, like that's why we're friends. And so this is her explanation, ari's, of why her and Josh are friends and kind of connecting right now. And she's like I got, I got pushed into the water. It's not a nice heated pool, there's no shallow end. I got shoved over the railing of the Titanic.
Speaker 1:And Rodney is, like you know, stop, like cash, cash pushed. You stop using past a passive voice. And she's like I've been treading water, I'm so exhausted and I can't bring myself to like wave my hands and shout for help. And Rodia, which kind of, like you said Ashley, she's like I'm right here, I'm offering help and you're waiting for Kestenberg to rescue you. And Ari's like no, he's in the water too. We're both clinging to the same shitty piece of debris. And again, she's like we're both at the bottom, like I. That's why we connect, that's why we're the same. And then I started. Then this is kind of funny. And she's like Rod. You're like, according to that metaphor, you're drowning in open water with someone who shoved my head underwater and never look back. So don't be the Leo in this situation. Don't let him hog that fucking door. And she's like she still can't see that.
Speaker 2:She's yeah, but and while I love Ari's explanation in that and I think it's Sorry, these dogs are out of control and I think it's great, I still feel bad for her friend though, because she just wants to be there. So badly for her and it just must be so hard for her to see your friends struggling and you're supposed to be your best friend and want to help and like, yeah, it seems like she wants somebody else. But I get her explanation that it's like she doesn't really want help, she just wants to be around somebody who's also just not okay.
Speaker 1:She doesn't want to help right now? Yeah, that's fair. She has to just wallow, yeah.
Speaker 2:But I do get why, you know, rodney would be upset, because if it was me I would be sad, if I was wanting to help my friend and I couldn't, and they were hanging out with this guy instead.
Speaker 1:So I like the dynamic here.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, but also we love a Titanic reference. Yes, we do I know yes we do.
Speaker 1:Don't let them hog that fucking door. I know it's amazing. Yeah, did she end up? Did Kate pick the Titanic? Oh yeah, it was over revolution. Oh, sorry, okay. So then this final scene, final scene here is God, back to fucking Cass. They go to the Strand and it was Ari. She was like this is an amazing place to have a first date, she's like. So it's her and Josh going to the Strand and they walk in and I think they were going to like go pick up some books or something. And of course, they run into Cass and her new fiance, who I believe she left them, ari, for she brought her into their relationship and then left her.
Speaker 1:So Ari and Josh are like they're like meet up, like they're like on an elevator and like the doors open, and it's like Cass and Katya.
Speaker 2:Even the name is sexy.
Speaker 1:It's sexy and evil, and if there's any Katya's out there, we're sorry.
Speaker 2:And that's a compliment, yeah. Yeah, it definitely is From us. It's definitely a compliment.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's like this, it's like the evil Russian villain in like a James Bond game, you know.
Speaker 2:That everyone wants to bang yeah. One of my favorite drag queens. His name is Katya. Oh really, anyways, anyways yeah.
Speaker 1:And so, yeah, it's like face to face with Josh, ari and Katya and Cass, and they're like she's like Ari, she's like oh, and like she's like oh, you're with Josh. And she's like, no, we're not together. And she's like, oh well, this is my fiance. And she's like you know, are you going to move out? Like are you going to talk to my lawyer or whatever, and move out. And she's like, yeah, yeah, I'm getting to it. And then she's like you know, trying all sympathetic, like you know, oh, you know, maybe you should stop like sending me nude, sending me nude pictures. And Josh is like she's fine, she's like it's okay, leave her alone.
Speaker 2:Yeah, leave her alone.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and he's like well, defensive and protective and stuff, and she's like okay. And then she like says some like some snarky comment about like going down on to Josh, like like something about, like it's not like a warm up activity, it should be the main event, josh, you know, like the main event, or something Like giving him a tip.
Speaker 2:It doesn't take three minutes.
Speaker 1:It's not supposed to take three minutes, it's like yeah yeah, be like the main course or something like that, and he's just like he's like speechless.
Speaker 2:Literally he's been destroyed.
Speaker 1:And then they, and then they leave, and then Ari gets mad at Josh. I think obviously she just needed some place to like place her anger. But she's like you don't need to defend me, you don't need to.
Speaker 2:I found it. You want me to read it real fast Sorry. Yeah, yeah, she just says because this is so ridiculous. Oh and Josh, I'll give you a tip being pussy should be the main event, not a three minute warm up. Yeah, I can. When I read that I was like, oh my God, anyway, sorry, go ahead, my drop. My drop Like he's destroyed and Ari's destroyed.
Speaker 1:It's like Oppenheimer, like boom, this explosion, and but yeah. So Ari just gets mad at Josh Like you don't need to defend me, you don't need to make you look weak and all this stuff, and she's just, and he's like me and I'm just, he's like I care about you, I just want you to like move on from her and all this stuff. And you know it's just displaced anger at him because she's, you know, she's like seeing her ex move on and be happy and she was just like. You know how can she just move on that fast from our marriage and, you know, be engaged to someone else? And it's just, it's so sad. And so they go to this, this deli, and he gives her lots of all sues.
Speaker 2:I have it if you want me to read it Go ahead. Actually, I love you in this episode. I'm so excited. This book Chanel is right. I'm obsessed.
Speaker 1:I can stop reading. I literally have no emotions for you, because I told you a year ago A year ago.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you're all hyped about it. I literally could not. I say it until like 3am. Finishing this is the other day.
Speaker 1:So why are you all right Next time I tell you to read a book? Read it the next week instead of a day.
Speaker 2:Every time it's an amazing book. I just love the banter in this so much, so they're both annoyed with each other about this whole thing at this and they're at this deli. And then Josh gets even more mad because she, like, orders a salad to eat.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:He's just like so offended by it. I love it so much. But then, okay, slowly he slides his bowl of matzah ball soup across the table in front of her. When Ari lifts her head, she's right in the face, cheek stamp what's left of her eyeliner streaking across her temples. Her brow furrows like she's confused about why he's still there. But she sucks in a breath, picks up the spoon and bisects the matzah ball soup. Thank you, she mutters, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. He passes her a stack of napkins. Don't be nice to me. She blows her nose. It's making me feel worse. You're the only person I'm nice to. If you weren't around, I'd have no redeeming qualities. Don't make me cry.
Speaker 1:And.
Speaker 2:I was just like I love Josh, so so much in this.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean, that's like I said that's what you do when someone's out there. Worse, he's like I'm going to give you some matzah ball soup and make you feel better.
Speaker 2:But I just love Ari's. Like don't be nice to me. It's making me feel worse? Yeah, because she was not kind to him after they like. Chanel said it was displaced anger.
Speaker 1:But yeah, yeah it was Because right before that they almost were about to kiss. They were in this elevator and he like, it's like where you're at this coat, you're so cold. He's like buttoning her up kind of, and they're like about to kiss they almost kiss. Yeah, they. That's why she also was yelling you were about to kiss me and he's like what? So? So there was like the sexual tension, and then the doors open and then she just forgets about Josh and is you know?
Speaker 1:and also no, I was just like. There was just a lot of emotions, that happened.
Speaker 2:I would like to say also it sucks, because Ari mentions like she's just like not dressed super well that day, like she just hasn't. You know, she's just feeling down, so like hair is kind of mess, sweats and all this stuff, and like Cassie and her new fiance like look impeccable and like of course, you're running into your ex when you like feel like shit, look like shit. It's just like that's how the universe is and I was just like, oh, Ari can't catch a break.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's, that's how it is, that's how it is. So, yeah, that's what we're going to end. We're going to pick up with chapter 15.
Speaker 2:I can't wait for part two.
Speaker 1:That's a good way for part two.
Speaker 2:I know, part two is amazing.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so if you haven't read it, you can finish reading the second half, but you should have already read it, listeners. So, yeah, yeah, we're super excited and let's wrap this up and do some kudos. Okay, I'll actually cut that dead air out. It was like two seconds. I'm not cutting that out, I'm just kidding, I'm just kidding.
Speaker 1:Well, so my kudos is for one. Again I'm going to kudos. My friend Bob, I'm just staying at his house this week. I'm dog sitting, but him and his husband Mark are just so kind because even though I'm like dog sitting, they like got me all this food and a whole bunch of stuff to like make me comfortable staying at their house. So it's always fun. And again, just kudos. Kate Goldbeck I like it was so great to talk to her last week and so fun. And so, yeah, I love this book. And yeah, yeah, my other kudos goes to Stacy, thank you. I haven't read it yet, but thank you for this late Christmas present. I'm so excited, and I guess Ashley too.
Speaker 2:I'm okay, wrinkle her in. Yes, wrinkle her in there. Last minute edition, she's okay. She's okay. My kudos has to be to my friend, Ellie, who was on the show For me. I'm part two. We love her and I think she is. If anyone is a fiction fanatic, it's her. But I got to go to her house and I don't know if we've said this on the podcast, but I am currently pregnant and she let me have all kinds of baby clothes, girl baby clothes, like a lot, like I don't have to buy anything. It's incredible and she's just very kind and I had a great time at her house and she's a great person. So I love you and I want to take credit. She used to not hug anyone, but I forced her to hug me a million times and now she hugs me.
Speaker 1:So even even around the baby bump she's like yes, she's like please no. Squish the baby.
Speaker 2:Squish the baby, so and then, yeah, so props to great people, and obviously you two keep me sane, so yeah, yeah, we're okay, yeah, you're okay. Mostly Ashley's okay, you know, yeah. So my first kudos is for Kate Goldbeck, because she's amazing. This book is amazing. Please write something else so I can read it. Please, please write something else so I can read it now. And she was just so much fun to have on and I was just like telling people at work about her just how great of an author she is no one cares.
Speaker 2:I'm telling them anyways, like everybody's listening to me, I don't care. My second kudos is for our fan club vice president, ashley, who I've kudos before. I just love her so much and yeah, she's just amazing and just wanted to know that I've been thinking about her. And then my last one, I guess, is for you guys. I'll make it Luke warm, since mine was Luke warm. I guess you guys are okay, I'm just kidding. I love you guys so much and I'm glad that you guys decided to do this on zoom with me today. Sorry that I'm a little under the weather, but you guys are the best.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, I'm on the struggle bus today. All the sniffles. Something's going on.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, we love you, we just pretend like we don't.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we just pretend, because we love you so much.
Speaker 1:I have creepy-beast.
Speaker 2:I tell people all the time if I'm nice to you, I don't like you that much. I got to if I'm giving you a hard time I really love you.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's true. That's actually true. When you're nice to someone, it's a lie.
Speaker 2:It's a lie. What do you think, stacy? You want to wrap it up for us. Yes, thanks for listening. This week we were so pumped to talk about part one. We love you, kate Goldbeck. We can't wait to get to part two and make sure you read what you like.