Hey nerds, we are discussing part one of Seven Days in June by Tia Williams. This book is an instant favorite of ours, and we know you will love it too!
Our narrative takes a sharp turn as we unwrap the complex emotions entangling Eva's past and present relationships, her quest for answers, and the tensions that surge when family secrets are on the brink of exposure. Eva's confrontation with her past love, a mystery locked away by her mother's silence, is a raw display of the heartache of unfinished business. We wade through the murky waters of jealousy, sabotage, and the redemptive power of understanding as we trace the steps of Eva and her mother, whose strained bond refracts the longing we've all felt for maternal connection and closure.
We top off this emotional rollercoaster with a glowing review of a spicy tale that's caught Reese Witherspoon's eye—a story of characters clawing their way to redemption, love, and a kiss that's been years in the making. We're not just recounting plot points; we're lauding our favorite lines, basking in the satisfaction of a tale that's every bit deserving of its silver screen buzz.
Summary:
Brooklynite Eva Mercy is a single mom and bestselling erotica writer, who is feeling pressed from all sides. Shane Hall is a reclusive, enigmatic, award-winning literary author who, to everyone's surprise, shows up in New York.
When Shane and Eva meet unexpectedly at a literary event, sparks fly, raising not only their past buried traumas, but the eyebrows of New York's Black literati. What no one knows is that twenty years earlier, teenage Eva and Shane spent one crazy, torrid week madly in love. They may be pretending that everything is fine now, but they can't deny their chemistry - or the fact that they've been secretly writing to each other in their books ever since.
Over the next seven days in the middle of a steamy Brooklyn summer, Eva and Shane reconnect, but Eva's not sure how she can trust the man who broke her heart, and she needs to get him out of New York so that her life can return to normal. But before Shane disappears again, there are a few questions she needs answered...
With its keen observations of Black life and the condition of modern motherhood, as well as the consequences of motherless-ness, Seven Days in June is by turns humorous, warm and deeply sensual.
*Summary from Goodreads*
***Produced by Jen Hardin***
Hey nerds, we are discussing part one of Seven Days in June by Tia Williams. This book is an instant favorite of ours, and we know you will love it too!
Our narrative takes a sharp turn as we unwrap the complex emotions entangling Eva's past and present relationships, her quest for answers, and the tensions that surge when family secrets are on the brink of exposure. Eva's confrontation with her past love, a mystery locked away by her mother's silence, is a raw display of the heartache of unfinished business. We wade through the murky waters of jealousy, sabotage, and the redemptive power of understanding as we trace the steps of Eva and her mother, whose strained bond refracts the longing we've all felt for maternal connection and closure.
We top off this emotional rollercoaster with a glowing review of a spicy tale that's caught Reese Witherspoon's eye—a story of characters clawing their way to redemption, love, and a kiss that's been years in the making. We're not just recounting plot points; we're lauding our favorite lines, basking in the satisfaction of a tale that's every bit deserving of its silver screen buzz.
Summary:
Brooklynite Eva Mercy is a single mom and bestselling erotica writer, who is feeling pressed from all sides. Shane Hall is a reclusive, enigmatic, award-winning literary author who, to everyone's surprise, shows up in New York.
When Shane and Eva meet unexpectedly at a literary event, sparks fly, raising not only their past buried traumas, but the eyebrows of New York's Black literati. What no one knows is that twenty years earlier, teenage Eva and Shane spent one crazy, torrid week madly in love. They may be pretending that everything is fine now, but they can't deny their chemistry - or the fact that they've been secretly writing to each other in their books ever since.
Over the next seven days in the middle of a steamy Brooklyn summer, Eva and Shane reconnect, but Eva's not sure how she can trust the man who broke her heart, and she needs to get him out of New York so that her life can return to normal. But before Shane disappears again, there are a few questions she needs answered...
With its keen observations of Black life and the condition of modern motherhood, as well as the consequences of motherless-ness, Seven Days in June is by turns humorous, warm and deeply sensual.
*Summary from Goodreads*
***Produced by Jen Hardin***
So Eva's voice rises, rose five decibels. Please, I'm not even a real person to you, I'm just a piece of fiction you made up. Nah, your fiction that you made up, which I thought was just like you know, and then can jump down to the next paragraph. I just like this. He put you branded us. You did that there. This isn't just one dangerous person here, there's two.
Speaker 2:We're the same, hi, I'm Chanel.
Speaker 1:Hi, I'm Stacey.
Speaker 2:Hey nerds, this is Ashley and this is Fiction Fanatics. Surprise, surprise, surprise, surprise, surprise. Uh, ashley showed me that, um, I like tiktok, and then that's all anyone would say I was just saying it to her all the time like surprise, surprise we had a lot of surprises when we were traveling.
Speaker 1:Good, and bad, good and bad. What was the best surprise you had traveling? Good or bad? Good, the best good surprise? Um, not the person who died on the train tracks. Like a good surprise, that was a bad surprise.
Speaker 2:It's a bad that was which apparently did actually tell you that that happens a lot. Like a lot of people. They like, um, purposefully die by suicide, they like go onto the train tracks and um, yeah, it happens a lot. Like the guy that was sitting next to us, he's like. What did he say? Like this is the third time.
Speaker 1:Like this month. And then there's like a commercial in one of the Ubers about it, about not doing it. We're just starting this episode off with real what else can we talk? About. Do the good surprise. What's a good surprise? What?
Speaker 2:was a good surprise. I don't know. I feel like I for me a good surprise, which I'm probably just. Ashley has heard this so much is. Afternoon tea was so much better than I thought it was going to be.
Speaker 1:It was my favorite thing about London.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I thought it was going to be a rip off. I'm not going to lie, cause it's. It's expensive at certain places and the food was way better than I thought it was going to be.
Speaker 1:The tea was way better than I thought it was going to be. The tea was way better than I thought it was going to be Like, so I want to do that. So bad yeah.
Speaker 2:Wait, didn't? Ashley said you did it Right, you did a bus.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you did a bus. It was what. It was not good Like. The tea was not good, it was cold. It wasn't like good afternoon tea, it was very touristy, like I wish we would have just spent the money to go because you can do afternoon tea like they have places in new york.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I wish we just would have did that instead like, like a, like a proper tea, like yeah, I want a proper like glass cups.
Speaker 1:They were like little plastic cups.
Speaker 2:Oh, yeah, yeah, because we we saw like a tour bus, like that too, going around, and Ashley was, like Stacey did, one of those in New York and I was like that looks fun. The only thing I was thinking about is the tea was probably sloshing.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean it was cute, don't get me wrong, it was cute, the pictures were cute we took, but it was like, definitely not on level of what a real afternoon tea is. I think, yes, of what a real afternoon tea is. I think, yeah, yes, um, I think I think my favorite surprise was how much I enjoyed the breakfast over there. Scramble eggs and baked beans are my new favorite thing what is it really?
Speaker 1:good. I ate it every morning for like two weeks. It was so good. Basically, we just like the food, the food. I'm not shocked. The food in the us sucks, just like everything else don't get me started on the week of happenings we've had so far in the us. It's been horrendous. Let's go to europe let's do it what are?
Speaker 2:you funny um but real quick.
Speaker 1:I want to let you guys know I finished baby reindeer last night and it is people are obsessed.
Speaker 1:It is so good. It's so good Like it's all the. It's real. That guy's the main. The guy in it is the actual guy, right? Yeah, it's all like true story. I've haven't read a ton of articles yet Cause I didn't want anything to get like necessarily ruined, but people were able to find who the actual stalker is and like what she looks like, and he just does this really incredible monologue in the second to last episode and I was I mean, I'm emotional anyway right now, but I was in bed I just had like tears rolling down down my cheek and it you guys stacy's crying at the drop of a hat right now, like that oh my gosh 10 out of 10, would recommend wow oh, I love that cup universal.
Speaker 1:I got it in florida from universal, from voodoo donuts. There's a hole in the middle and then it says the magic's in the hole get it in the hole. Yes, yeah, we get it play on vagina, so I like it yeah probably, uh, voodoo donuts.
Speaker 2:We in college we took a road trip at like midnight to go to drive from seattle to portland because that was the closest voodoo donuts. Just so that we we were like you know, my friends are just craving voodoo donuts. Like let's go to portland. It's amazing, got the maple bacon one oh, so good isn't.
Speaker 1:Isn't portland the first one? Isn't that where it's? Yeah, that's the original. Yeah, well, we should go.
Speaker 2:Let's go right now yeah, let's, let's do a road trip right now, give birth on this road trip.
Speaker 1:I will, soon as I eat one of them donuts, pop it right out so good um all right guys, should we get into it. Yes, donuts, reindeers, unhappy surprises, let's jump into a good thing this fucking book, yeah I mean this is seriously I was like it's a roller coaster, I don't know what you mean.
Speaker 2:Yeah, All over the place. Um, so we left off with um Shane and Eva. They were like on a date in New York and they had like just been spotted by like some teenage girl that recognized both of them. And actually the next chapter I'm I'm gonna skip it's like a minor little detail and then come back to it about like what happens. But so basically they are like finishing up their like walk around date room, new york city and they come to this place called the dream house, which I'm like have you guys ever heard of this?
Speaker 2:I don't know if it's a real place I didn't actually look it up but like it's this amazing yeah, but also like weird, like I would never go to it, like it's because it's like this place where you can go, I guess, like in between, like on your lunch break or after work or something you can like sleep there. Basically it's a place to like. Basically it's a place to like rest and rejuvenate and restore and, like you, you just like sleep and and they have like calming music and they give you like a blanket and a pillow and a little room and it's like calming and relaxing. But like also I'm like I'm such a germapho and I was like I couldn't. I guess I guess it's like a hotel, I don't know, but like I couldn't sleep at a place where, like, someone else is just napped there. They say they clean the pillows and stuff, but I'm just like I don't know, especially because, okay, so Shane and Eva go in there and they have sex there, people are supposed to nap.
Speaker 1:This is not for sex.
Speaker 2:Okay, this is that's what.
Speaker 2:Well, that's the rules, but clearly like ain't nobody listening yeah, so they like get all cozy with their blankets and pillows and um, eva, she apologizes to um shane, um, mainly because she's, you know, just been kind of cold and like rude to him, um, about you know, being so harsh with the fact that like he had written this book about eight and stuff like that, and so she was just like you know what. I apologize. They get a little bit, a lot closer and, um, and since I've been watching dairy girls, I was like they go for a ride. They get nice and close and go for a ride I was like anxious for them reading.
Speaker 1:I'm like somebody's gonna walk in here. The doors don't lock, I know I. Just I feel like, yeah, I would be too. I act like I'm not a rule follower, but I'm like a rule follower to the T, so I think I just enjoy it. It'd be like someone's coming in here, they can hear us.
Speaker 2:I know, that's all I was thinking. I was so anxious, I'm like because I was listening to the audio book and I'm like someone's going to walk in at any moment, someone's going to walk in at any moment, and okay, I just have like a few quick quotes, let me see. And okay, she was like this is like just at the beginning. She's like Eva had been imprisoned in pain for so long she'd forgotten how good feeling was her entire body roused. Suddenly she was aware of everything her skin, her cells, the bone, bones under her skin, heart fluttering, core throbbing. She was touch starved and I was just like it was probably so hard, like she's kind of describing, you know, just being so alone. Right, she's kind of isolated herself and then, um, you know, reconnecting with, you know, her long lost love and and her friend cece kind of had just described her as being touch starved, and so she's like, you know, everything's coming up at once, literally. And so, yeah, that was that was.
Speaker 1:I love the phrase touch starved.
Speaker 2:I love that for some reason um, and then let me see, uh, they kind of talk about like, um, how, in their writing he was asking like, did you romanticize us? Did you romanticize us, or were we real? And she says, inaudibly, we were real. And he's like just then. And she said, yes, then and now. And so it just kind of like reaffirms that like they're reconnecting and those seven days in June, in the past, were in fact like actually real. And then now, like this is actually happening and they get it on in the dream house In the dream house. Okay.
Speaker 2:So then, going back a chapter, like I said, what I kind of like skipped over was her daughter Audrey this is simultaneously happening is at school, in detention Because, remember, she had just gotten in trouble for that meme that went out.
Speaker 2:So she's in detention and her, like TA or whoever, some guy who's watching the students in detention is, is a really big fan of her mom's and he's on social media and he sees that fangirl post a picture of Shane and Eva eating their gelato on the side of the road. Then he goes up to Audrey and is, like your mom knows Shane Hall, like you know, he's one of my favorite authors and she's like who's, who's that Like? And he's like yeah, she's, she's like on a date with him right now. And she's like my mom doesn't. My mom doesn't date, like what are you talking about? And he like shows her you know this like picture, this video or whatever, whatever. And Audrey like freaks out. She's like you know why is my mom like lying to me? She's on this date, like I don't know this guy like and or she vaguely knows him and and knows that he is like an alcoholic, has like a DOI or whatever. And so Audrey freaks out at school okay, so then fast forward.
Speaker 2:Um, after you know they have sex, eva like runs away, basically she just takes off she hauls ass and she like leaves shane with the pillows and the blankets, um, and and yeah, just, I mean it's so terrible, um. And so she goes back home and then has this confrontation um with audrey, and so they kind of have this fight where audrey's like you know, I thought you didn't date like who is this guy? You don't really talk about your past, and so they're kind of in this um like treatment where Audrey's not really talking to her and Shane is like blowing up her phone, like hey, can we talk? Like what's going on? And reluctantly Eva invites him over and is like okay, let's like you know, the next day you can come over, let's talk. Well, she doesn't realize that audrey has like the day off from school. So he comes over and audrey's at the house and that's when he meets audrey for the first time and it's actually like a good meeting, like it's so cute they like each other automatically.
Speaker 1:Yeah, like they're so much.
Speaker 2:Yes it's, it's a super cute meeting, like um, he's obviously really good with kids. So he's like talks to her and um, you know, she finds out that they like went to high school together and um, and so, yeah, yeah, it's, yeah, everything like goes fine, even though obviously Eva's really nervous about it. Simultaneously, like you know, right around that time when he's like heading over there, he gets a call from Ty, which is his student back from his previous job, student um, back from his previous job. And Ty is like asking for some money because he wants to like pursue this rap career. And he's like you know, I want to.
Speaker 2:My sister, ty's sister and her boyfriend are like going to. They have this studio that they say they can like hook him up with so that he can record some rap songs, and shane's like I don't think this is a good idea, like I'm not going to give you any money, like don't do this. Like you know that, um, your sister and her boyfriend are like drug addicts, like they seem really shady and um, and so they kind of like ty and and Shane don't leave on a end on a good note, like they end the call. It's not a good note. So after Shane like he goes and meets Audrey and everything goes fine.
Speaker 2:Shane and Eva walk out of like her little like Brooklyn townhouse and they're like on the street kind of talking, and she it's like weird. She like goes from like hot to cold and she's like, you know, this has been really nice, like obviously, like you know, we had a good time. You met my daughter. She's like, but, um, stop like pulling me in, like you know you're making me like fall in love with you again and um, you know, my daughter really likes you and she's like, and this feels like back in the past where you know we had a good time and then you left. Suddenly she's like, and now and now, like I can't guarantee that you're not going to leave again, and she like blows up on him and she's like you left me and I didn't. I woke up and I didn't know where you were and and yeah, it's, it's like, really like harsh.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's all these unanswered questions that she's had for like 15 years that she's had to ask him and she's just been like holding on to, so I think it's finally just bubbling over.
Speaker 2:Yes, and I have some quotes. She's like stop. And he's like stop what? And she's like stop making me fall in love with you again. And she's like, and he's like how am I doing that? And she's like he's like I didn't. He's like I didn't show up to like disturb your peace. And you know, he's like I didn't really do anything on purpose, I had no plan or ulterior motive. He's like I didn't really do anything on purpose, I had no plan or ulterior motive. And he's like I'm just sorry that this happened to you.
Speaker 2:And again, like you said, she just kept saying like where did you go? Where did you go? You just disappeared on me. And you know, again, we don't really know, like, what really happened. Um, but he was saying I didn't leave you, I didn't leave you, I didn't leave you. He's like but did you actually ask any questions? Did you ask your mom what happened? He's like he's like your mom never said anything to you. You're like you need to ask her. And she's like what? What are you talking? He's like talk to your mom and ask her what happened that day. And that's just kind of how he leaves. That's how, like the scene, the chapter ends.
Speaker 1:So the next time I do, okay, well, before you go, can I do? What a quote I liked from this. A whole other fight, yeah, it just like gave me chills. Um, okay, sorry, sorry, hold on, I just lost it. Unacceptable, unacceptable, oh my gosh. Oh okay. Um, so eva's voice rises, rose five decibels, please. I'm not even a real person to you, I'm just a piece of fiction you made up nah, your fiction that you made up, which I thought was just like you know. And then, to jump down to the next um paragraph, I just like this um, he put, you branded us. You did that there. This isn't just one dangerous person here, there's two.
Speaker 1:We're the same, they're the same there's like a lot of like you can just like feel the tension. And those like what? Like three pages where they argue or whatever.
Speaker 2:It's really intense, like there's a lot of hurt, a lot of hurt and, like Ashley said, unanswered questions of what happened, right, and then we find out who has the answers to those questions, which makes me so bad. So immediately, eva calls her mom, lizette, and she finds out the truth, and, of course, her mom.
Speaker 1:I like have a love-hate relationship with her mom because, like this whole chapter that's like dedicated to her mom. Like some of it, I see where she's coming from. And the other part I'm like why are you jealous of your daughter? It's like such a weird weird relationship I feel like to. Are you jealous of your daughter? It's like such a weird, weird relationship I feel like to have with your daughter.
Speaker 2:I don't know. No, I don't see it at all because, like you said, you can't. How can you be jealous of your daughter because she, like she mentions like youth and it's like okay. So you're jealous of her because she was younger than you, because you were getting older, and then she also mentions us, us Mercier women. We can't ever be with her, even though she was clearly going through a tough time and was that clearly didn't have that all of her boyfriend were so transitional. That's what she was jealous of.
Speaker 1:No, I know. I think also, though, like this is more common than we probably know, because I'll never forget somebody at work one time was talking to me about their mom, and she made some comments. She's like, you know, the weird jealousy thing that happens with mom and daughter sometimes, so I feel like a lot of people probably experience this, though, which is wild to me.
Speaker 2:Oh, it totally is. It totally is, whether it's because of age or, you know, because of, like, just men, you know, going after you know like a commitment type thing. You know, like with Lizette, you know, she, she never experienced like true love, right, like I said, all of her boyfriends were very flaky, non-commitment types types. And she sees her daughter and her daughter, you know, is has real love, and now, clearly, you know shane's still back around and so she's like, well, he can't possibly love her, him, and so she almost, like you know, will explain, like sabotages it because well, yeah, she's, he's not gonna stay around, but it's like, well, you never gave him the chance to like to prove that he was gonna stick around, you know, and, um, it's, it's super sad, it's super terrible, and um, why would you do that?
Speaker 1:if you actually like, if this is your daughter and you loved her, like you know what I mean, like anyway, but then she does that thing where she's like training all these other girls because she's trying to get it right, because she got it wrong with her daughter. It's like it's so weird, it's like one minute. It's like you kind of feel bad for her and then actually like, well, you're being an asshole, like I don't know. So I did actually like the chapter because it really made you feel a certain type of way, like it gave the character depth, I guess yes, yes, yes.
Speaker 2:And I mean yeah because, like you said, it's, it's true to real life, like I'm sure there's moms or daughters that have done this and um, have experienced this and um, but I didn't like her yeah, well, she's not a good mom so yes, yes, yes, I wasn't a fan wasn't a fan yes.
Speaker 2:So when eva talks to lizette, she finds out that, um, that, okay, like let me go through that shane had actually called lizette um after a certain the final night, and that Eva wasn't breathing on this night, that she had taken a bunch of like drugs Shane obviously was, you know, passed out drunk. He wakes up, he finds Eva, jean-pierre, and she's covered in blood because she had been like cutting herself. They actually had tattooed themselves, which I'll talk about later, but like the house is a mess with you know bottles of alcohol and you know drugs everywhere. And so when Lisette gets there, she calls the paramedics, she calls the police and then the police call um the owners of the house, which is shane's friend, um, blank out her name, but like the asian girl, korean girl, who, um, like her parents, are the uh ambassadors, and the police take shane away because they think like he almost killed her and stuff. And Lizette tells them that and you find out that Eva went to a mental hospital because you know they find out about like her cutting and stuff.
Speaker 2:But also, like we kind of said, like Lizette like didn't take any of the blame of blaming Shane for all, for all of this, she was like he's the bad guy, like you should blame him, like. And she was like no, he was my friend, like I loved him and um, and she's like you know, you was basically saying like why didn't you tell me all this? Like I thought like he had abandoned me and left me and all this stuff and um. And so she clearly is still mad at her mom for for hiding the, the actual truth, right, like this whole time she just harbored resentment for shane.
Speaker 2:Okay, so she ends the call with her mom. Now she's super upset and shane's clearly left her house. So now she's like I gotta go and apologize to shane because, um, because yeah, so she races over to his house where he's staying um in new york and um, she apologizes to him and is like I'm so sorry, I thought you left me, like I feel so terrible. And he's like, yeah, like I just you know I'm sorry, like I didn't mean to leave you, I like I promised you that I would stay with you and protect you and I like I didn't. And and then they go for ride number two, like multiple times.
Speaker 2:So yes, yeah but um, but yeah, they like obviously reconcile and um, like forgive each other for like leaving, and he was like this is what I came for, you know, is to like make these amends for you and like show you that I'm like here now and I really like this quote. History doesn't repeat itself, but it does, which is.
Speaker 2:I love that too yeah and um, yeah, he was just like. He's like I'm sorry for like not finding you sooner like he clearly was, like I had to like deal with my demons and I um was gonna come and and find you, but he also you find out like the reason that he was like breaking his arm and like he just felt like he never deserved anything good um in his life. Um, he kind of talks about, you know, um his foster parents. He like broke his arm and his foster mom died when he was really young and he felt like he always felt guilty because the reason he broke his arm was, um, Like he always felt guilty because the reason he broke his arm was they were on the way to the to the ER and she died on the way to the ER, and so he's like that's his way of like inflicting pain. He's like I don't, I didn't deserve to have good foster parents, I didn't deserve to have you, so that was so sad to Rhea, so sad.
Speaker 2:They also say I love you to each other during this time. Here I have this quote, which is so cute and he again has a really hard time saying I love you. And she's like just say it. And he's like you know, I've never really said it to anyone before. And so he finally says I love you. And he's like you know, I've never really said it to anyone before. And so he finally says I love you. And he's like dramatically, violently and forever.
Speaker 1:That's what that's like, my favorite quote from the book. It's definitely top tier. It's so good yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I figured you would like that, stacey.
Speaker 1:Well, I feel like me and you are like the same person, because I, what am I? My, I really love that. But my favorite quote is actually on the next page, when they're by the way, I love that they're eating mint gelato because you know, mint ice cream is like my favorite thing. But, um, like this is after they say I love you and they're on the counter talking and doing some other very spicy stuff, and I don't know if I like it so much, because the idea of someone saying this to you as just like the emotional pleasure to hear this, like with the physical, but yeah, like simultaneously.
Speaker 1:Yeah, he says I want to be everything. I want to be the reason you light up. I want to be. I want to make you laugh, make you moan, make you safe. I want to be the thought that lulls you to sleep, the memory that gets you off. I want to be where all your paths end. I want to do everything you do to me.
Speaker 2:I that's so funny Cause I was going to read that, but I was like, oh, that's really intense. No, I was thinking that was a really intense quote. Let me just read the I love you.
Speaker 1:I like the intense quote. I mean, I like I didn't paraphrase it he's like, he's like getting her off, while he's saying this yeah, I mean, it is, it is, it is everything. They're eating ice cream. He's touching her perfectly and then he's saying this in her ear at the same time and I was like I'm sweating right now.
Speaker 2:I'm sweating right now thinking about intense scene. I was like let me just read the sweet scene.
Speaker 1:You're right, not me, and this is why we love men. Written by women.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, Stacey's like let me blush and read this scene.
Speaker 1:But when he says I want to be where all your paths end, that's probably my. I don't know why I love that so much.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's like. It's even better than than like till death. Do us part. You know what I?
Speaker 1:mean, yeah, yes, um the hormones. I'm like sweating stacy, I cannot I love it continue okay.
Speaker 2:So clearly they're reunited, they're like together now, right, and all of a sudden their friend, because I didn't mention this but Cece, her friend and editor, is also the editor slash work partner of Shane as well. So she knows Shane, she throws a party like an author's party and and she invites them both. So they I said like hard launched their relationship at this party and nothing major from like the basement with the little kids and she talks to Shane and I thought this conversation was so sweet and she just kind of talks to him about how to treat her mom and she was just like please be nice to her, she goes it's so sweet, I know I'm going to cry.
Speaker 2:I know she's like you know my mom has a disability. She's like I know you probably know that. But, um, you know you have to learn her triggers. Just be patient with her. Um, sometimes she has to lie down for a long time and you might feel bored or lonely or even rejected, but she just can't help being sick and my mom, she really feels guilty about who she is. So make her feel happy about herself. And he says Shane just nodded but kept his mouth shut. Words escaped him. She can't put on lipstick because her hands shake too much from pain, but she put it on today for you. And he's like I hear you. Shane managed his words. A broken croak, I get it. And then she goes are you crying, mr hall?
Speaker 2:and he's like no, squeezing his eyes shut and I just no, I was gonna say, I just was, it was just. It made me cry.
Speaker 1:Well, this little girl is an old soul like she's like an adult in this little eight-year-old body. Seriously, you know she is from the next line when she says this is destigmatizing male vulnerability is the first step towards rebuilding the absolute ruin that straight men have left the world in. Because he's like bawling and he's like I'm bawling and yes, yeah, seriously like.
Speaker 2:Okay, you're like a guy can't cry without being embarrassed about it, you know, but that's what I'm saying.
Speaker 1:Her daughter's probably my favorite character. Yeah, seriously, so funny, so much depth to a kid character. You don't see that a lot in books, where they give so much depth to side characters like that. You know what I mean. Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 2:But I just thought it was so great to have that heart to heart because In which he already clearly knew from from when they were kids, like he knew and had learned about, you know, her disability or chronic illness. But you know she doesn't know that, right, she's like you need to take care of her, you need to have patience with her and, um, and some people they don't know that or they don't get kind of a prep talk. You know, before entering into a relationship with someone who, um, who does kind of need to be told, right, um, so I thought it was, it was very cute and very, um, very sweet that she did that. Okay, so the next chapter, I I say I cried, but like on all the other chapters, but like this was the actual chapter that I cried in the book.
Speaker 2:So the next chapter is Ty um, shane's former student, and he actually goes to this recording studio, which is really just a sketchy house that his sister's boyfriend set up for him, saying you know I can help you record to become rap artists.
Speaker 2:That's what he wants to do to get out of, you know, his bad living situation. So he goes there, he has this money to pay them to record and all of a sudden he has like bad, bad, a bad feeling and right before he like goes into this house, he tries calling shane. Um, and shane doesn't answer and that's how that chapter ends. Um, and simultaneously it like it goes back to um, to shane, and he is with eva and audrey and they're they're hanging out and they invite him to this very special brunch that they go to Like right before, like, the end of the year. They, the two of them, usually have a brunch like to send off Audrey before she goes to spend the summer with her dad, and it's like just the two of them to like say goodbye. But they invited Shane and it was like a really big deal Because, right like, he's not part of the family, like he's, and it's usually just them two.
Speaker 2:Yes, so he was like super honored and they're like hugging and having a good time and he ignores his phone which is ringing in his pocket, which we know is Ty um. So, yes, then it like flash forwards to like the next day or whatever, two days later or something, and they're at brunch, eva and Audrey, and, excuse me, they're like waiting for like an hour or two and Shane like never shows up, right, and Eva's super crushed and Audrey's like she's really crushed too. She's trying not to show it. You know like where's Shane? He like doesn't call, doesn't answer texts, like nothing, no response, basically.
Speaker 2:So Eva's actually like really hurt. She's like like I thought we were starting this relationship off and like it's um, it's history repeating itself. Basically like he's not showing up, he's um, he's just disappeared. So, um, all of a sudden she's like I'm gonna put him out of my mind, I'm gonna move on, and and we kind of had talked about last episode she really wanted to start fresh and with a new book, writing a new book.
Speaker 2:And so she deep dives into her family history, talks to her mom about, you know, her grandma and her great grandma, and she like gets this inspiration to start writing a new book not the cursed series that she's like known for and she like writes this new book and, um, and yeah, that's like really her main focus, to like take her mind off of shane, um, so by the end of the week there is these litty awards, which, um, really, this was what shane was in town for, um, because he was supposed to be receiving this like lifetime achievement award and so, and at the same time, um eva's also getting nominated for like this erotic romance um award. So she shows up at these awards, um, and uh, and you know, all these other romance authors are there, blah, blah, um, and she goes out into the lobby and shane shows up and it's like you know, obviously, they haven't seen each other for like almost a week, a few days or whatever, and he starts apologizing and he's like I'm so sorry and she's, you know, doesn't want to forgive him, right?
Speaker 1:she's like I think this all happened in a day, though, like this is a day like the party brunch was the next day, she didn't hear from him, and then that that night is the lydia words from brunch, so like, okay, it's so bizarre when it's happening.
Speaker 2:Yeah, like it's. I mean, I guess you're right, it literally is it's, it's um, it's repeating the week of yeah, it's the same week in june, right, you're right, um.
Speaker 2:And so he apologizes and he's like you know, I'm so sorry that, uh, I missed brunch, you know, and she's like you, you know, let me down, but you also let audrey down and you know, he's like I'm sorry, but then she like sees that he's like been crying and she's like you know what's what's going on, like you know where have you been and what's going on. Basically, he explains that ty got shot at that house, um, and he was, you know, um, on like a ventilator and he he didn't make it. Basically like he had to um, take him off life support and he didn't have anyone, like he didn't have any family, um, and so he was the only person there for him when I tell you that I was crying because I didn't see him dying, like I thought, like the phone call thing, I was like, oh, something bad's probably gonna happen.
Speaker 1:I didn't think they were gonna kill off this child, and no, by getting shot. And then I'm like, how much can this guy take shame? Like, yeah, foster family. Now this kid that he loved has died and he's gonna feel like it's his fault forever. I'm like, oh, my god, it was just a lot.
Speaker 2:I did a lot sorry you're like, I didn't think they'd kill off this tia williams. We didn't kill this child.
Speaker 1:My emotions couldn't take this roller coaster. I was crying seriously, I was texting chanel. I'm like ty's dead, I don't know Cause. You really really like Ty, like you're rooting for him and he's not in the book a whole lot, but you're just always kind of in the background rooting for him and you really like his character.
Speaker 2:I'm going to get choked up thinking about it and I think it's just like he was so close is what I felt like like so close to getting out of his situation and stuff, and it was just right, so heart-wrenching I know, and also you felt like um, after, especially after talking with shane, he was um, like making improvements, like, yeah, he was focusing on school, he had like a girlfriend, he was staying out of trouble, and so, like you, were like, oh, his life is improving. And um, he, like you said, was so close to like being better, doing better and like make like getting out of his situation, getting out of um where he had been at, maybe stuck and um, and in like one instant it's gone. You know, and um, I think that was was what really got me so terrible.
Speaker 1:I know. It shows how great of a writer tia williams is, though, because, yeah, you're so invested in these characters and it's not like this is a super, super long book, but you're invested so quickly into these characters. It's really, it's awesome uh-huh, it's sad it's sad when I tell you that I could barely read from pages 304 to 306. I couldn't even like their whole conversation in the lobby.
Speaker 1:I was just like and then you're like you guys are being idiots, just be there for each other I know it was off the rails for me, like what happened in this lobby, like it, I don't know, it's just like are you?
Speaker 2:serious right now okay, so let's address it so simultaneously.
Speaker 1:So he's apologizing, he's explaining what happened to ty and simultaneously you hear through the lobby doors that um, eva is winning the best erotic romance award, but she's not even like paying attention to that she'll give a shit, because she is essentially they're breaking up, basically, like I mean, if they, weren't I realized that a little late to the conversation, I was like oh my god because he is not in a good place, right like mentally um has he ever been?
Speaker 2:no, yes, but kind of like ashley said, like did he experience anything more? Like it was just almost the final blow, like he had some shane, had some happiness, and then it went, bam, gone, um, so yeah, um, let me, let me read what's what's happening, um, and so yeah, so she's winning. And then, uh, okay, here's a thought, don't make me cry, here's a thought, maybe we work better. As a flashback oh, eva said you know, meet once every 15 years for seven days in june, make some memories and move on no, no, disagree.
Speaker 1:That that's the line, chanel. That that's the line that like started the tears the life, the life-altering tears, yeah, yes and so okay.
Speaker 2:So what they essentially talk about and decide is that she is going to go to louisiana, she's going to research her family history, finish up this book that she's kind of started, um, that she, you, she, you know really wants to write about and and, um, and and publish, and he needs some space. He's like I gotta work on myself, I'm not, I'm not ready, like I'm not in any capacity, and she checks in with him, which is good's. Like you know, are you gonna drink, are you gonna hurt yourself? Like how are you feeling? And he, he's like nothing hurts worse than this miss williams, could you not?
Speaker 2:she's about to cry um I am so after they kind of conclude their conversation in the lobby, they go back in, she gets her award and then she announces that she's not writing any more books and I freaking love one of the one of her fans like screams and like faints screams and like fates.
Speaker 1:That would have been me because, honestly, like I was like good for her. She's writing what she wants to. But as somebody who loves a good wrap-up on a series, I was like she's really not gonna finish a book for this series. She's just gonna leave this book like series with no ending. And she is like she makes it very clear in the book she's not writing any more books and this love story like isn't gonna have an ending or something. And so part of me was like good for eva, but the other part of me was like what the heck?
Speaker 1:like I would want to know, as a fan, how the series is ending a selfish fan.
Speaker 2:It was so dramatic. It just said, like a guy in the background, like screamed and fainted loved it but um, but yeah.
Speaker 2:So she's like I'm writing a new book, it's not going to be part of the series. And then, um, and then shane gets his langston hughes lifetime achievement award and so the ladies are officially over. And then we go to the epilogue and you kind of through a series of like text messages, you see that they've been keeping in touch with each other. She's in Louisiana, like I said, like meeting her relatives and writing her book slowly, like getting research and stuff. And Shane has checked into AA, like he's back, kind of just, you know, just making sure he's back on track. He also has moved into her house in Brooklyn, um, which is is cute, just because it also just kind of gives them an excuse to talk to each other just about house plants and how things are going in in New York and stuff. But they, they keep in regular contact, whether it's every couple of days, every day, and um, and yeah, then at the end of the book they're both tricked by their friend Cece, the editor the real MVP of this story is Cece.
Speaker 1:I want to be Cece, like, like. When I was reading this I'm like. Cece is who I inspire to be one day. Just like fancy ass. Like Brownstone in New York. She throws these fancy parties that nobody ever wants to miss. You get an eight hour window to be there and everybody comes Like she just can I be her.
Speaker 2:She sounds amazing that is so true, so true. Anyways, her friends love her. Yes, fashionable, that's, that is so true, so true. She, anyways, her friends love her. Like yes, fashionable, that's, you're right, that's who I aspire to be. Um, but she like tricks them and like has them meet in atlanta and for different reasons, like a book conference and like a party or something and basically sets them up on a blind date. And it's just the two of them at this, like restaurant and um, and they're of course shocked, like oh, why are you here, why are you? And, and yeah, they like meet again, even though obviously they've been talking. And so then I have obviously some quotes for them reuniting, after you know, it's been whatever.
Speaker 1:I think it's been like a year or something no, it's the summer because audrey's still at her dad's. It's only been like a couple weeks yeah, it's like not damn time.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I know it feels longer, but it's not.
Speaker 1:It does feel longer, yeah I felt that way until audrey was in that in the epilogue and she's talking and audrey is still at her dad's for the summer. So it's only been a couple weeks a couple months maybe, if that if that, because I think the summer is only like two months, so yeah, you're right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, wow, um, okay. So some quotes. Okay, what did okay? Basically, she was just asking, like, would you have come to Louisiana? And he's like, yes, I have a bag pack, I'm just waiting for the word. And she's like I think we were wrong to end this. And he goes. It never ends, does it? Loving you never ends, Whether you're Jean Vieve or Eva, whether I lose you for years or wake up to your face in the morning, I love you. You're my home and I want you forever.
Speaker 1:I love it. It's so sweet. I love it so sweet.
Speaker 2:And then this is for you, stacey Then they obviously like get together and like physically kiss, and the final sentence is they kissed and they restarted right where they stood and chef's kiss, perfect.
Speaker 1:And thank god, because I was really concerned on the last chapter that this wasn't going to be a happy ending and I was like I was gonna be. Like damn it, chanel, I was gonna be.
Speaker 2:So mad at you, same same so mad well you can't be mad at me, I just randomly I can't be mad, I knew it was. I guess I knew I I picked it after I'd read it. But, like when I originally picked this book, I just I just picked the book, like I was like let me just go into this blind. But um but no, I had a happy reese. Reese witherspoon picked this book, so you know it's gonna be good, you knew it was gonna be good, I hope they make it a movie that's what I hope.
Speaker 2:I hope it's yeah, they are, they are they are yeah, yeah, she just announced that they are. Um, I can't remember if it was a, if it's a tv show or a movie, but it would be a good limited series, for sure, for sure they could really deep dive into.
Speaker 1:I can't remember if it's a TV show or a movie.
Speaker 2:It would be a good limited series, for sure, for sure. They could really deep dive into it. You know, yeah, yeah, yeah, but no, they are, because you know her other book that was super popular called the Perfect Find, which I haven't read but I had heard a bunch about. She mentioned actually some of the characters in this book Because they're obviously in the same universe. It is a movie on Netflix with Gabrielle Union and that was her first book that got like picked up which I need to read and watch. But yeah, this is her second one and it just got picked up literally like maybe a few months ago.
Speaker 1:So, yeah, I'm so excited. Then we got to got picked up literally like maybe a few months ago, so, yeah, I'm so excited. Then we got to watch. I can't wait to see who they cast in it, I know.
Speaker 2:I know it's going to be interesting. They haven't cast anyone yet, but yeah, so we're done. Wrapped it up. Stacey, you got some stars for us.
Speaker 1:Yeah, what's your spice and story rating? So the story obviously is five out of five for me. It was, I mean, and I, I, I feel like if a book can physically make me cry, I mean, I know, I'm whatever, I'm hormonal, emotional at the best of points and I can be dramatic, but no like legitimate tears, at least two different times when I was um reading this book. So the story is everything and I give the spice a solid four because the gelato counter boxer scene alone with confessions of love, was it? Yeah?
Speaker 2:yeah, I think you're right because I thought the first seat, the first dream house scene, was spicy. But then, yeah, you're right, when it it's um, it's like sentimental plus spice, that's when it's uh, it's got some heat yeah, and I love all kinds of different like spice and books and stuff.
Speaker 1:but when you can have a book that the story is so compelling and emotional and then so clearly the main purpose which is fine when books the main purpose is like really good, smut or whatever. That's not like necessarily the main purpose of this book but it still has like a Latin impression. With the emotional elements it she's like perfect for me. Yeah.
Speaker 2:I think, yeah, I think you're right, yeah.
Speaker 1:So Shane sounds gorgeous, so yeah For me.
Speaker 2:I know, which is why I'm like who are they gonna cast? I know I don't know it's, it'll be interesting like, yeah, I don't know, I don't know even like, who would they, who would play like eva, interesting, interesting. But so we'll have to like, we'll have to think of some good fan casts and we'll have to do an episode when the miniseries or movie comes out.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, for sure. Yeah, talk about it yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, um, but yeah, yeah, yeah, any other final thoughts? Or? Oh wait, you got to pick a book.
Speaker 1:Yeah, actually, we're all on the edge of our seat because she has no idea what she's. Okay, so so may is my pick, and well, so I guess let me just tell all the listeners I I was torn between, technically, three books, but one of the books that I really really want to do, which is weight of blood I think it's more of a fall book or like closer to um halloween and just like more because it's kind of carrie-esque.
Speaker 1:So I feel it would be a great October pick just saying maybe we should do it for October, because it's a new book Whosever month, that is.
Speaker 2:I guess that's what we're doing, that's what we're doing because the book is amazing.
Speaker 1:So I was like, oh no, not that. And then I've just been torn. And then I was like torn between two other books and I'm still torn and I told Stacey and Chanel that I would know by the end of this recording which book I want to do. You don't know, she doesn't know, dude, Because I love it's eeny meeny, miny moe.
Speaker 2:They're both good, they're both like, they're both going to be amazing, so yeah.
Speaker 1:Okay, well, I feel like the book, I'm going to pick it it. So my book of the month is going to be the second akatar book, a court of mist and fury. Because I'm reading the third one right now, and now it's all I'm thinking about. So, oh, I'm here for it, I'm here for it it's kind of a long one, so everybody get ready it might have to be a three-parter, maybe, yeah, so that's actually not a bad idea.
Speaker 1:And I'm listening to the third one on audiobook and the audiobook is really good does that one have like the dramatic. I know some of the audiobooks have like dramatic readings, like where it's acted out. Is that I know the first or second one does? I don't know. I think the second one does because chanel danny's listening first or second one does I don't know?
Speaker 1:I think the second one does, because Chanel Danny's listening to the second one on audiobook. Did you know he's listening to these right now? No so Danny's listening to them and the second we must be listening to different ones, because this the he's listening to a court of mist and fury right now and it's like acting in it and he's just laughing because, like you know, there's some spicy scenes in it and he's like I don't, it's like I don't know. I guess it's just funny for him listening to it.
Speaker 2:So well, you, you know, my cousin hannah, that was on for akatar. She said like she like, recommended it to all of her friends, all of her friends, they listened. I, I think, like you were saying to the um, the acting audio book, and they were like, hannah, this is really like um extra, like they were like the extra moaning and the extra like and like tamlin, like, uh, roaring, like I guess that's a big thing, like this actor is actually like making this like animal sound.
Speaker 1:They were a little turned off by the audio book, so maybe if there's one that's not as spicy I don't know- the one that I and again, it's not the second one, cause I I physically read the second book and I took notes in it but the third book I'm listening to an audio book but it doesn't. It's kind of read how, um seven days in June, the audio book is like it's a little like acting, but it's not like. There's nobody moaning.
Speaker 1:It's like yeah it's not like, so it's gotta be something different. I'm listening to it on Spotify, so okay, yeah, yeah, maybe it's got to be something different. I'm listening to it on Spotify, so.
Speaker 2:Okay, yeah, yeah, maybe it's just different, maybe it's just the second one.
Speaker 1:I know Danny talked about it the other day when I was at work and I was laughing, but I've heard other people say that listening to the second book with a dramatic reading is an experience. Aren't you surprised that Danny's listening to it, though, Like he's already on the second book?
Speaker 2:Oh my God aren't you surprised that danny's listening to it, though like he's already on the second book? Oh, my god, I am, but I'm not. He's just trying to fit in with you guys, because you all talk about it we might have to have him on for it.
Speaker 1:We haven't had danny on yet.
Speaker 2:Right, we might have to do it I feel like he would be so embarrassed talking about it that's what's gonna make it so great we could have him on. I mean, I would love to have him on, but I feel like we're gonna be talking about these sex scenes and he's gonna be like the uncomfortableness of it all. I know I would love it the uncomfortableness of being Danny let's really just deep dive into these sex scenes can we please though?
Speaker 1:Okay, so that's going to be the book. I love it. I'm excited, I'm excited, I'm excited too.
Speaker 2:Because I need to read it. Like I was talking to some girls at work and they're like have you read the second book? I'm like, no, not yet. There's so many books I know. So, this will force me to read it.
Speaker 1:I will say I'm not joking. I love the second book from the first two pages.
Speaker 2:Like I don't know what it is.
Speaker 1:It's I don't know if it's just your you know more about Feyre and you just become a bigger and bigger fan of her as the series goes on. But I just loved this book from the beginning, so hopefully you do too. I'm excited. Yes, so hopefully you do too. I'm excited. Yeah, yes, yes, should we do some kudos? Yes, I'm going first, okay, um, well, actually my kudos is going to be the same, like from last week, though. So my kudos is like for you guys, first of all, because I love that we're finally kind of getting back like on our schedule. Um, because I just miss doing this regularly with you. And then my other kudos is specifically for Stacey, because she's getting ready to have a baby. Like we don't even know, the next time we record there could be an IV out here. We don't know, we don't know. Chanel In the world.
Speaker 1:Isn't that wild Like. So listeners just be ready. It might just be me and Chanel next time Stacey might be in labor. We don listeners just be ready. It might just be me and chanel next time stacy might be in labor, we don't know.
Speaker 2:So I just start recording from labor. I'm like it's fine. I literally rolled in, was like give me this epidural. I gotta record.
Speaker 1:Oh my god, I can't imagine yeah, me neither. Dude for you for being this pregnant and still working. You should see stacy at work. She's so pregnant and she's just at work. I feel so bad and I'm so kind to everyone. I know that you can believe that. So I see you are. I was down there the other day and you're so kind to that man your patient I was when I was helping you out with that was like two seconds when you left then.
Speaker 1:I'm only sweet to the ones who deserve it. So he was a sweet, sweet demented old man and he got he got really nice top tier care. He got top tier, yes, nurse stacy care. Oh my god, that's so funny I don't know why.
Speaker 2:And then the next patient came in. It was just a bitch and you were like I'm matching this attitude, a match of this energy actually just witnesses so much whiplash for me.
Speaker 1:She sees that like I make her get blankets and tuck them in, and then the next patient I have is, like you know, some a-hole drunk guy and I'm like, sir, you need to set down right now and stop yelling.
Speaker 2:I'll give you something to yell about oh my, I love it, oh my gosh. Well, I my kudos is first for my coworker, emily, who I don't think she listens to the podcast, but um, she's been a rock star helping me this week at work and um, so, yeah, kudos to you, emily. Um, also just for you guys, cause I love you, and um, also just for you guys because I love you. And um, I know I just I miss you guys and I haven't seen you, um, and for stacy, forever, I need to see you.
Speaker 1:And also I just I miss you, ashley, and so I love you guys it's great, it's sorry, I was gonna say it's weird um traveling so long together and then like so basically living together for two weeks, and then now I haven't seen you since then I'm like what's life, what's happening?
Speaker 2:why are you around?
Speaker 1:every day miss you guys. I miss you guys. I mean, obviously my kudos are for you guys. I was so pumped when you I mean I thought you guys were on your trip I was so excited when you came back, just so I could, um, like physically talk to you guys more. And we haven't got to record in person yet, but I know we will soon.
Speaker 2:I know and um.
Speaker 1:So, yeah, I just love you guys. You, uh, this is probably like my main like social outlet. I feel like we're going to talk about stuff right now that isn't necessarily based on like not that it's bad, but like not based on babies and work and stuff. So so, definitely kudos to my two favorite girls. And then things you actually like yeah, yeah, things, books, books and you guys, that's about it, and toby stacy speak it real fast of books. You need to take photos of your new bookshelf and post them soon, because they're amazing oh, yeah, I I finally.
Speaker 1:I love that I got the nesting instinct and I did nothing for the baby's room and completely reorganized all my bookshelves. He was like, wow, that's really, I'm gonna be selfish it's really great shellfish shellfish your books look wonderful, but that's all I did. Okay, sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you.
Speaker 2:I keep interrupting everybody.
Speaker 1:But speaking of Theo, my other kudos is to Theo and his dad, because they came and redid our deck and all this stuff. I keep cutting you off. I have to tell a story, though, because I went over to your house and they were fixing the deck and so they were taking boards out and replacing them and they were making the dog stay in the yard. So they weren't walking on the deck and I distracted them. One of the dogs came up and like instantly went through the deck, like the whole, and I was like oh, this is why you wanted to keep the dogs in the grass. Anyways, it was funny. The dog was fine. It wasn't her, obviously, but it was funny, it was Stitch. You know he's, his level of intelligence is average at best. Anyway, sorry, cece, I keep interrupting you. You're not interrupting me, I'm just winded. So I'm winded because I've been talking so much, so I have to pause, and it sounds like I'm pausing for you, but I'm not.
Speaker 2:But I'm not. I forgot this point in your pregnancy you can't breathe. Oh my God, this baby needs to come.
Speaker 1:I literally this is going to be TMI for our listeners, but I was at the doctor yesterday because I'm at weekly appointments now, because I'm so far along and she's like how are you doing? They're so sweet and I'm like I want this baby out of me right now, like I'm done, I'm done. You're like, I'm not glowing, I just am sweating, I just sweat, I just sweat and I can't breathe and I complain. So that's about it.
Speaker 2:Oh my god, sounds terrible.
Speaker 1:Well, stacey, you want to lead us out of here. Yes, we hope you guys have a great week. We love talking about this book and sorry I got winded again. I was like are you pausing for dramatic effect? No, I can't breathe, okay? Well, you guys have a great week. Um, stay safe and make sure that you read what you like. Bye.