In this episode, we’re talking People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry — the book and its film adaptation. We get into the friends-to-lovers slow burn, the years of miscommunication, and how nostalgia and timing shape Poppy and Alex’s relationship. We also debate whether this story works better on the page or on screen and how the adaptation handles the emotional buildup.

Links

• Official author website: (https://www.emilyhenrybooks.com/)
• People We Meet On Vacation: (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60581725-people-we-meet-on-vacation)
• Emily Henry on Goodreads: (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13905555.Emily_Henry)

Chapters

• (02:04) - Why Kristy picked this book
• (03:11) - Upcoming books
• (04:20) - Book summary (spoiler-free)
• (05:58) - SPOILER ALERT!
• (06:20) - Alex & Poppy
• (10:31) - A lack of purpose
• (14:15) - The miscommunication trope
• (17:21) - The turning point(s)
• (20:26) - Emotional fairness
• (22:56) - Chasing happiness
• (24:49) - Transition to the film
• (25:06) - The casting
• (27:41) - Chemistry on screen
• (31:03) - The alternating timelines
• (33:04) - Movie miscommunication
• (35:05) - Simplifying something complex
• (36:12) - The big reveal
• (40:35) - Book vs movie ending
• (44:32) - Final thoughts

In this episode, we sift through a classic: Stephen King’s Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption—yes that movie. We talk about what makes this story so enduring, the unforgettable characters, and what it means to stay human in a place designed to break you.

Links

• Official author website: (https://stephenking.com/)
• Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption: (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39664.Rita_Hayworth_and_Shawshank_Redemption)
• Stephen King on Goodreads: (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3389.Stephen_King)

Chapters

• (02:40) - Why Kristy picked this one
• (04:09) - Upcoming books
• (05:09) - Book summary (spoiler free)
• (06:04) - SPOILER ALERT!
• (06:27) - Summary (with spoilers)
• (07:14) - Kristy's review
• (08:04) - Jon's review
• (10:46) - Everything from Red's POV
• (15:09) - Andy's sanity
• (17:56) - I have the power?
• (20:55) - Strength vs shutting down
• (23:19) - What's up with Rita?
• (24:40) - Hope is...
• (27:21) - Transitioning to the film
• (30:21) - The brilliant cast
• (34:03) - The warden
• (37:47) - Visual storytelling vs literary depth
• (40:12) - Institutionalization and its effects
• (44:20) - Comparing endings: book vs film
• (46:43) - Final thoughts

Kicking off season four is The Housemaid — and its brand-new film adaptation. We revisit Millie’s tense, twisted experience working inside the Winchesters’ home before unpacking how the movie brings that psychological tension to the screen. We compare what worked (and what didn’t), talk casting and those jaw-dropping twists, and debate whether the book or the film tells this story best.

Links

• Official author website: (https://www.freidamcfadden.com/)
• The Housemaid: (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60556912-the-housemaid)
• Freida McFadden on Goodreads: (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7244758.Freida_McFadden)

Chapters

• (05:16) - Upcoming books
• (07:33) - Spoiler-free summary
• (09:08) - SPOILER ALERT!
• (09:28) - Summary with spoilers
• (11:03) - Jon's review
• (13:16) - Kristy's review
• (15:12) - Why does Millie stay
• (17:31) - It's all about control
• (19:38) - Oh, Nina...
• (21:34) - Krsity ruined books for Jon
• (23:17) - Handling the sitch differently
• (26:14) - Most memorable scenes
• (28:38) - Reaction to the ending
• (30:31) - Transition to the film
• (30:40) - Did it feel like the same story
• (33:27) - Andrew on screen
• (36:16) - Biggest changes between book and film
• (42:11) - If you were directing...
• (45:13) - Final thoughts

A full season of reading, chaos, arguments, hot takes, and two author interviews—all wrapped in one recap episode. We’re looking back, calling ourselves out, and gearing up for Season Four.

Chapters

• (02:27) - Favorite book of the season
• (04:39) - Least favorite book
• (06:05) - Most unexpected
• (07:55) - Favorite characters
• (10:51) - Who'd you actively avoid?
• (13:07) - The one Jon secretly liked more than he admitted
• (14:40) - The episodes with author guests
• (19:25) - More nervous or relaxed?
• (22:43) - Our biggest learning moment
• (25:34) - The hardest EP to record
• (28:09) - Funniest moment?
• (29:16) - Looking ahead to S4
• (31:31) - TBR for the holiday
• (33:42) - Final thoughts

In this episode, we dive into My Friends by Fredrik Backman—a deeply human story about connection and the messy devotion that holds friendships together. We talk about friendships as a lifeline, the way humor softens heartbreak, and why these characters feel so lived-in. Listen for the themes that hit hardest and if we recommend adding this to your TBR.

Links

• My Friends:(https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217163697-my-friends)
• Fredrik Backman on Goodreads: (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6485178.Fredrik_Backman)

Chapters

• (01:49) - Why Kristy picked it
• (03:21) - Calling all listeners!
• (04:20) - Book summary (spoiler-free)
• (05:50) - SPOILER ALERT!
• (06:10) - Kristy's review
• (08:23) - Jon's review
• (10:10) - Finding your people
• (13:23) - Louisa
• (16:10) - The struggle was real
• (19:54) - So much trauma
• (21:36) - A slight divergence...
• (23:36) - Back to the question...
• (25:20) - Who did Kimkim love?
• (27:57) - Christian
• (30:20) - Meaning of the pier
• (32:13) - Unpacking the ending
• (36:29) - Final thoughts

In this episode, we dissect The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood—the STEM rom-com packed with fake dating and grumpy/sunshine chemistry. We talk about what felt rom-com convenient, power dynamics inside academia, and whether the resolution sticks the landing—professionally and romantically. Join us for our favorite laugh-out-loud moments!

Links

• Official author website: (https://alihazelwood.com/)
• The Love Hypothesis: (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56732449-the-love-hypothesis)
• Ali Hazelwood on Goodreads: (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21098177.Ali_Hazelwood)

Chapters

• (01:27) - Announcing contest winner
• (04:41) - Book summary (spoiler-free)
• (06:24) - SPOILER ALERT!
• (06:44) - Jon's review
• (07:44) - Kristy's review
• (09:41) - The academic setting
• (12:51) - Olive
• (16:57) - Adam
• (21:36) - All the tropes
• (23:58) - Protecting a friend’s happiness
• (26:06) - Bad reputation (Adam's version)
• (30:30) - F-ing Greg
• (32:37) - The "conference"
• (38:58) - How Olive handled "the situation"
• (43:47) - Final thoughts

In this episode, author Paige Harbison joins us to unpack The Other Side of Now—a grief-tinged “what if” that drops a woman into an alternate version of her life. We talk about how loss reshapes identity, the fault lines in friendships when reality shifts, and why the book’s timeline jump works without leaning heavy into sci-fi.

Links

• Official author website: (https://www.paigeharbison.com/)
• The Other Side of Now: (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217388211-the-other-side-of-now)
• Paige Harbison on Goodreads: (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4130856.Paige_Harbison)

Chapters

• (01:57) - Why Kristy picked it
• (05:22) - Book summary (spoiler-free)
• (07:18) - SPOILER ALERT!
• (07:36) - Kristy's review
• (09:37) - Jon's review
• (11:44) - What about the 'what if'
• (16:17) - Reshaping choices, values, and relationships
• (23:16) - Fame and identity
• (25:55) - The reveal
• (29:34) - You're not the person I know!
• (33:40) - What would your alternate reality look like?
• (35:25) - Interview with the author
• (01:06:27) - Wrapping up

For this episode, Kristy made Jon read Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson—a thriller where a 27-year-old, given one week to live after a Halloween attack, decides to investigate her own impending murder. We talk about the impending tension and who to trust when everyone’s a suspect. Listen for our takes on character choices, twists, and whether the premise sticks the landing.

Links

• Not Quite Dead Yet (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/220223963-not-quite-dead-yet)
• Holly Jackson on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18229614.Holly_Jackson)

Chapters

• (03:20) - Book summary (spoiler-free)
• (04:18) - SPOILER ALERT!
• (04:41) - Jon's review
• (06:15) - Kristy's review
• (08:26) - Jet as a narrator
• (13:04) - A few days left to live
• (16:50) - Police inadequacies
• (20:01) - Who did Jon suspect
• (25:55) - Trust Luke?
• (27:30) - Good & evil
• (29:43) - The final chapters
• (34:39) - Reaction to Luke's decision
• (37:22) - Did it feel YA to Jon?
• (39:19) - Final thoughts