Life and Lit

This week Sydney and Paige discuss yet another TJR novel with "One True Loves". Emma Blair met the love of her life, Jesse, in high school. Together they made it out of their hometown and travelled the world. On their first wedding anniversary, Jesse is on his way to an assignment when the helicopter goes down. Jesse is presumed dead. Emma goes back to her hometown to piece her life back together where she runs into an old high school friend, Sam. Emma is beginning to wonder if she has a second chance at happiness when she gets a call--Jesse has been found alive. Now Emma must decide what life she wants, and who she wants to spend it with. Join us as we discuss this impossible choice, Paige's existential crisis about indecision, and Sydney's exciting life update!

Paige and Sydney kick off April with a repeat author by discussing "Beartown" by Fredrik Backman. This novel, while seemingly only about the world of junior hockey, isn't really about hockey. It's a novel that will make you laugh, cry, and reflect on life in true Fredrik Backman style.

This week Sydney and Paige discuss the spicy second book in the ACOTAR series "A Court of Mist and Fury" by Sarah J. Maas.  Feyre is coming to terms with what happened under the mountain while trying to make sense of her new life as a High Fae.  Things are rocky between her and Tamlin in the Spring Court while she fulfills the promise she made with Rhysand under the mountain.  When Feyre reaches her breaking point, she has to decide how she wants to spend the rest of her life in her new world.  Tune in for our thoughts on the spice, love triangle, and cliffhanger ending!

This week we cover another page to screen adaptation with "Daisy Jones and the Six" by Taylor Jenkins Reid. This novel about the rise and fall of a '70s rock band has just premiered as a miniseries on Amazon Prime. We cover the book and first episode and give our thoughts on how the series measures up to the book. 

This week Sydney and Paige close out Black History Month with a double feature: "Becoming" by Michele Obama and "The Butler" by Wil Haygood.  Following an unplanned political theme, we discuss inside gossip from the White House, the meaning of celebrity status, how the people behind the scenes make the world go round, and ultimately the inspiring stories of Michele Obama and Eugene Allen.  Tune in to hear our thoughts!

This week, Sydney and Paige celebrate Valentine's Day with a romcom novel, "The Proposal" by Jasmine Guillory. When Nik's hot actor boyfriend proposes to her on a JumboTron in front of thousands of people, things don't exactly go as planned...but it leads her to something even better! This story had the makings of a classic romance novel. Tune in to get in the Valentine's spirit!

This week, Sydney and Paige cover another novel by one of their favorite authors, "The Alice Network" by Kate Quinn. This novel has it all: dual perspectives, war, and tragedy--but it always comes together in the end. 

This week Sydney and Paige discuss the dazzling debut novel from Bonnie Garmus, "Lessons in Chemistry".  Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman.  In fact, she believes there is no such thing as an average woman.  Elizabeth's passion lies in science, and she is all too familiar with the stigmas she has to deal with professionally.  Then one day she meets fellow scientist Calvin Evans and her entire life changes.  Flash forward a few years to find Elizabeth a single mom and the shining star of a cooking show.  Although not where she pictured herself, Elizabeth uses this opportunity to teach women to cook and dare them to challenge the status quo.  With strong female characters, important life lessons, and the dare to defy conformity, there's a reason this book was voted Barnes and Nobles 2022 Book of the Year.