Booked & Bitter

This week, we dive headfirst into The Pumpkin Spice Cafe' by Laurie Gilmore, spill on our current reads, and sprinkle in some personal life updates you didn’t know you needed.

Of course, no episode of ours is complete without a detour into sports chaos, ticket troubles, and a passionate deep dive into complaining. Expect strong opinions, giggling, cussing and a few “did we read the same book?” moments.

We also chat about how tricky book recommendations can be, the highs and lows of emotional reading, and what makes a series truly click. By the end, we’re already planning our next reads and celebrating the joy (and heartbreak) of discovering books together.

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Just a reminder - we are not professionals about much... maybe don't take our advice.

Alright, here’s your snarky, “the ladies wrote it” version — conversational, witty, and a little sharp around the edges:

This episode? Oh, it’s a ride. We dive into Variation by Rebecca Yaros — Hudson and Allie’s emotional circus. We roast, we toast, we cringe, we swoon. Expect some spicy opinions, a few “can you believe this?” moments, and yes — a full-on spoiler zone where nothing and no one is safe.

Somewhere in between, there’s a football break (because apparently, we multitask now), and then we spiral beautifully into mental health, ballet drama, and how the government shutdown is making everyone’s life harder — especially the military families. It’s a mix of laughter, eye rolls, and the occasional rant that could double as free therapy.

We wrap things up with our final thoughts on the book, a bit of venting (because we earned it), and a sneak peek at what we’re reading next. Buckle up, it’s classic us — honest, chaotic, and just the right amount of unfiltered.

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Just a reminder - we are not professionals about much... maybe don't take our advice.

In this episode, the gals dive into Frieda McFadden’s War D—a thriller that plays with your emotions harder than a toxic ex. They call out the plot twists that left them gasping, side-eyeing, and occasionally throwing the book (reader) across the room. While discussing the characters (and dragging the ones who deserved it), they spill personal tea, reflect on the messy intersections of mental health and relationships, and remind us that honesty in reviews isn’t optional.

This convo is equal parts book club, therapy session, and late-night girl talk, where character development gets the spotlight it deserves and thriller chaos reigns supreme. If you like your literary takes sharp, sassy, and sprinkled with real-life reflections, buckle up—because we don’t just read the book, we take it down to the studs and rebuild it with flair.

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Just a reminder - we are not professionals about much... maybe don't take our advice.

In this episode, the ladies kick things off with the kind of hard-hitting journalism you can only get from a podcast: updates about their lives and a spirited debate over—wait for it—hair. From there, they somehow pivot to Emily Henry’s Book Lovers, dissecting themes, characters, and witty banter like they’re literary surgeons who also gossip on the side.

Naturally, the conversation detours into tattoo plans (because nothing says “book club” like needle-based permanent decisions) and Uber horror stories. The hosts keep the vibe interactive, practically begging listeners to chime in, while reminding everyone that friendship is the true protagonist here.

By the end, they deliver their final thoughts on the book, wax poetic about their podcasting journey, and gush about favorite scenes full of romantic tension and dramatic backdrops. Along the way, they dabble in family dynamics and emotional plot twists. Expect discussions of reading habits, star ratings, and the oddly cathartic joy of oversharing personal frustrations into the void.

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Just a reminder - we are not professionals about much... maybe don't take our advice.

In this chaotic episode, the gals delve into the importance of world-building in fantasy literature, character development, and personal preferences regarding different book series. The conversation is lively, filled with humor, and showcases the hosts' unique perspectives on popular series. In this sometimes confusing conversation, Abbey, Bailey and Mandy delve into their favorite and least favorite characters from popular fantasy series like 'Throne of Glass', 'Harry Potter', and 'Twilight'. They explore the nuances of character development, the impact of book-to-movie adaptations, and the complexities of love triangles in literature. The discussion also touches on personal preferences regarding character portrayals and the significance of themes like immortality in fantasy narratives. The episode wraps up with hot takes on various topics, including the acceptance of brightly colored hair and the merits of cruise vacations.

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Just a reminder - we are not professionals about much... maybe don't take our advice.

Language and spoilers are the backbone of this episode. That's your warning. 

In this episode, the gals dive into Megan Lally’s thriller That’s Not My Name—a book that’s equal parts suspense and “yeah, I totally saw that coming.” They chat about the characters, the themes, and whether the plot twists are actually, you know, twisty. Along the way, they sprinkle in personal stories that make you laugh, cringe, or question your own life choices.

But it doesn’t stop at book talk. Oh no. The conversation zigzags from playful roasting to chaos, somehow weaving in hot takes on water taste, cereal crimes, and the eternal “college isn’t for everyone” debate. And just when you think they’re done, they wrap it all up with a hearty, slightly bossy PSA: go to therapy—it’s cheaper than bad decisions and more effective than yelling into the void.

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Just a reminder - we are not professionals about much... maybe don't take our advice.

In this episode, the ladies heroically avoid finishing their own book (because deadlines are for other people) and instead gossip about their favorite authors, genres, and those juicy tropes that make them weak in the knees. They confess their chaotic reading habits, debate why authorship matters (spoiler: it does), and celebrate the thrill of stumbling across a new book like it’s literary treasure. Along the way, they tackle the awkward perils of meeting authors in real life (fangirl sweats, anyone?) and dissect the guilty pleasures of romance tropes with the seriousness of Nobel laureates. To top it all off, they wrap things up with a game of Two Truths and a Lie—because nothing says “professional book podcast” like gleefully lying to each other on-air.

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Just a reminder - we are not professionals about much... maybe don't take our advice.

Language warning. Drama warning. Chaos warning. Probably no spoilers this episode though!

In this unapologetically chaotic episode, the ladies are joined by two guests for a wild ride of unfiltered conversation. From debates about the questionable merits of hot dog soda to snarky commentary that spares no one, nothing is off-limits. The Kenny’s make their mark in both expected and unexpected ways, while the group weaves in bits of book talk—though no specific title ever quite takes center stage.

Expect extreme language, off-the-rails tangents, and plenty of technical hiccups that only add to the mayhem. This is podcasting at its most unpolished and entertaining: messy, loud, and thoroughly hilarious. As always, prepare for the chaos. 

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Just a reminder - we are not professionals about much... maybe don't take our advice.

In this episode, the ladies go full deep-dive into Abby Jimenez’s Just for the Summer—a book that somehow manages to juggle trauma, emotional growth, mental health, and still sneak in enough humor to make you snort-laugh in public. They spill their (very different) opinions on the characters and plot, calling out the tearjerker moments, the swoony bits, and the “oh no she didn’t” twists.

Of course, it’s not all sunshine and banter—family baggage, addiction, and messy mental health realities all get airtime too, proving that literature can hit hard while still being wildly relatable. The crew also side-eye society’s judgments, dissect controversial themes, and ask the truly important question: what’s the ideal wiper speed?

Bottom line: three of the four ladies love the book and one is wrong. They all want more Abby Jimenez, and they’ll keep talking until you hit that follow button on every social platform known to humankind.

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Just a reminder - we are not professionals about much... maybe don't take our advice.

Warning: spoilers and bad language may occur!!!!!!

In this episode, the ladies serve up their usual banter before tearing into Born for Silk—a book brimming with alpha males, questionable plot choices, and enough misogyny to power the eye-rolls of the entire group. They roast the flat storytelling, lament the plot’s absence like it’s a missing person case, and debate whether any of the characters deserve saving. 

Favorite and least favorite moments get equal treatment (spoiler: some “favorites” are purely for the drama), and hopes for future books are laced with cautious side-eye. Between book critique and lively tangents on food preferences and current reads, the group proves once again that no bad book is safe—and no opinion is too spicy to share.

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Just a reminder - we are not professionals about much... maybe don't take our advice.