Sarah Says

Another month gone? How can it be? I’ve gone on vacation, Gemini season has started, I’ve turned 33 and that means my birthday month is officially coming to a close! Time to get into all the things May had - only 2 Hallmark movies this month, Baby It’s Cold Inside and Sweet Carolina. Hallmark, how ya doing? We should really talk soon. The May book club pick The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren got a solid 8/10 rating and it’s another CL book heading into June. Then it’s time to talk about the book I could shout from the rooftops about - Man Enough by Justin Baldoni. It’s so good I’m only halfway through because I have to constantly stop and sit in the validation of finally being heard and understood by a man trying to help other men. Rounding it out, I recap the other books I made it through this month including two historical romance books by Martha Waters; To Have and To Hoax and it’s sequel To Love and To Loathe. Rachel Lynn Solomon’s The Ex-Talk was a solid debut out of YA and finally, it’s so good to be back online British Author land with In Case You Missed It by Lindsey Kelk. Just...read that book. So much goodness - let’s get into it all!

It’s my birthday week and before officially turning 33 in a few days, I wanted to take a look back at my 20s and why I was so happy to leave them in the dust. If only I had learned some of these lessons before I was 29 and miserable. But it’s okay - as one of my favorite quotes goes, “Your journey has molded you for the greater good.” So, if you’re in your 20s or beyond - just know that comparison is the thief of joy. Your journey is exactly what it needed to be and now is right on time. (Oh and, it’s playoff hockey time *I recorded this to distract me from Game 3 of the Caps/Bruins - but...LETS GO CAPS). Oh and one last thing - please excuse the crying. It’s not normally my thing. It’s a 7 trait for sure.

If you followed along last week on Instagram then you already know - STAY ON PROPERTY. I go all in on the nightmare AirBNB house saga and give my absolute Disney must haves for your next trip (especially if it’s in the summer months during this Panda Express.) Essential number 1? The fan necklace (iykyk). So what are you waiting for? Let’s go to Disney!

It’s already that time again! Where is 2021 going?! I dig into the rest of 2021’s Hallmark Spring Fling movie lineup: One Perfect Wedding (ugh), As Luck Would Have It (meh), Right In Front of Me (cute), and a Bonus Original - Hearts Down Under (SO CUTE I BETTER GET A SEQUEL!) Then it was time to move into all the books I read in April (I actually didn’t talk about 4 of them) including our April Book Club pick - The Cul-De-Sac War by Melissa Ferguson, and a look ahead at May’s pick, The UnHoneymooners by Christina Lauren. Hear me absolutely gush over two of the best written books (in my opinion) of all time, The Royal We and it’s sequel The Heir Affair by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan, a new author I would read again, Sophie Sullivan with Ten Rules For Faking It, and a quick extra book I somehow snuck in, Shipped by Angie Hockman. Rounding it out, I officially finished the Bridgerton children stories by reading Hyacinth and Gregory’s stories - spoiler alert - I now feel very bereft to be done with a 27 year span of family stories! So, what are you waiting for? Get those book lists out and the popcorn ready - this is a good one!

This week I go all in on why I’m happy I started my shop on Etsy, and also why in 2021 I absolutely would not advise anyone to open a new shop through their platform. Take a look back at how Sock Bun Studios was formed - spoiler alert, I knew the name 4 years before I even opened the shop! I give my fair credit to them for helping launch Scrunchies to the stratosphere - while then also helping crash them into the ground. Also, I go all in on all the other scrunchie shops that have copied directly on my items. You know you want to hear about that! So what are you waiting for? Let’s go!

It’s time to marry off three of the Bridgerton’s in this part 2 of the deep dive into Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, To Sir Phillip With Love, and When He Was Wicked. Julia Quinn really released three books all within the same two months. London 1824 doesn’t know what hit it. Also please ignore the several times I cry in this podcast - it’s just SO. GOOD. Let’s get to it!

1824! What a season! Ah dear listeners, it is I, your faithful podcaster here with the chronological rundown of how Colin, Eloise, and Francesca’s storylines all intersect in the season of 1824. On the heels of Netflix’s announcement that there shall be seasons 3 and 4 of the show, this serves as a nice companion of what could easily be season 4. There’s just so much goodness to be found in Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, To Sir Phillip with Love, and When He Was Wicked that we had to have not one but 2 parts! Come back later this week for part 2 where we conclude Colin and Francesca and talk about Eloise’s own story as well. Ah! So many things. So. Many. Things. What are you waiting for?

It’s time to get into Benedict Bridgerton’s book An Offer From a Gentleman this week. Why he is super sweet and also kind of the worst. Did the script writers for A Cinderella Story consult Julia Quinn?? I think they might have....oh and we still stan Violet Bridgerton in this house. She is the best. Colin’s Matchmaking Services merch coming soon....cause seriously... ”just marry the girl” is his tag line. What are you waiting for? Make sure to follow along on all the social media sites @sockbunstudios and check out the Bridgerton line already in stock at www.sockbunstudios.com

Where on Earth did March go?? I’m not exactly upset but 2021 is speeding by. I’m here to give a quick Corona Vaccine update, recap the three Hallmark movies from this month, and get into ALLLLL the books. I read 5 this month! That’s a new record for me. A League of Extraordinary Women novels by Evie Dunmore, Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade, Francesca’s story When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn and our March book club pick Love Your Life by Sophie Kinsella. They were all SO GOOD you need to read them all. Oh, and if you haven’t watched Derry Girls yet - catch yourself on! Get to it! What are you waiting for? Let’s get into all of this!

Ah Dear Listeners, it is I, your exalted Scrunchie CEO and historical romance book lover back again with a deep dive look at Anthony Bridgerton and what will be season 2 of Bridgerton: The Viscount Who Loved Me. I tried to keep it under an hour but...I guess there’s always next time. I hit on the key points from Anthony’s book - the things that BETTER be in season 2 (are they ever going to start filming?!) and why enemies to lovers might be my favorite story setting.