We got tired of reading reality TV memoirs, so instead we read a thinly-veiled reality television novel, L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad. Some of us (Renata) enjoyed it more than others of us (Kait), but we were both thrilled to talk to Helena Greer (@BlumAgainCurios), the author of Season of Love and the upcoming For Never And Always.

Readers advisory: Here.

Candy pairing: Helena says Sour Patch Kids, Kait says a big novelty lollipop, Renata says cotton candy.

Footnotes: Fug Girls Book Club: Lauren Conrad’s L.A. Candy

“Lauren Conrad Is The World’s Most Successful Reality-TV Defector” by Misty White Sidell

Coming up next: Straight by Chuck Tingle.

It’s our 8th anniversary, and Stephenie Meyer has rudely not written anything new for us to read, so instead we decided to take a page from Diana Gabaldon and time travel through our past. We recorded this supersized Origin Stories episode where we answer listener questions, talk about the history of our friendship and our podcast, and only cry a little bit! Thanks for listening to us for 8! years!

Footnotes: Check out our newly revamped and relaunched merch store on TeePublic! Flash sale until 9/28/22!

The Secret: We don’t understand electricity, but we use it

Matthew McConaughey’s Peace Corps ad

Coming up next: L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad.

We were so thrilled to be joined by Bobby Finger, cohost of the Who? Weekly podcast and author of the upcoming book The Old Place! We read How To Be A Boss Bitch by Christine Quinn, the star of Netflix’s Selling Sunset and confirmed Diva Boss Bitch. This book gave Bobby a chance to share his considerable reality television expertise with us, while we summoned all the knowledge of past self-help books to get through this bitchy, yet derivative read. Listen to this episode while lounging on the yacht that you manifested!

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Pre-order The Old Place!

“Christine Quinn, the Breakout Star of Selling Sunset, on Success, Sudden Fame, and Why She Now Wants Her Own Show” by Hattie Collins

“Selling Sunset: The 10 Best Christine Quinn Moments” by Aya Tsintiras

“Selling Sunset’s Christine Quinn Has a Tiger at Her L.A. Home for Security: ‘He Is So Friendly'” by Nicholas Rice

Southlake podcast

The Secret Check From the Universe

Coming up next: Our 8th Anniversary Special!

We are once again returning to the rosy world of The Bachelor with our special guest Rebecca Kim Wells (@RebeccaWriting), Bachelor fan and the author of Shatter The Sky, Storm The Earth, and Briar Girls. This time we had the good sense to read Miss Me With That by Rachel Lindsay, a woman who found love on reality television and then was smart enough to walk away from the franchise.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Episode 159 – The First Time

“Rachel Lindsay and Raven Gates: A Timeline of the ‘Bachelor’ Alums’ Friendship and Falling Out” by Erin Crabtree

“Alexis Is Dolphinitely A Shark On ‘The Bachelor'” by Martha Sorren

‘The Bachelorette’: “Whaboom” Guy Admits He Went on the Show for Fame” by Christina Schoellkopf

Coming up next: How To Be a Boss Bitch by Christine Quinn.

Our sweet Flashback Summer is finally over and we’ve reluctantly returned to the world of modern publishing. Dee Ernst, author of Lucy Checks In, joined us to discuss the certified #BookTok sensation, The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood. We’ll unpack this Star Wars fanfiction turned fake dating romance novel, google Adam Driver’s height, and lament the lack of porgs. Listen to this episode while curing cancer!

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Reddit Thread: The Love Hypothesis, Who is Who?

Reddit Thread: Looking for a Copy of Head over Feet

Meet the Porgs: The Cutest Stars in the Galaxy by Jodi Guglielmi

6 Things You Didn’t Know About Adam Driver by Temi Adebowale

Fanfiction 101

Coming up next: Miss Me With That by Rachel Lindsay.

It’s our 200th episode! Which means we have read approximately 200 books, and therefore we deserve a break. Walt, the professional DM from First Time at the Table (and husband to past podcast guest Annie Cardi), led a delightful Dungeons & Dragons adventure set in the magical world of Duartensia. Kait played as The Rock, Renata played as Wolverine, and past guest Danielle (of Hello World Tarot) played as Angela Weber. Listen now to find out if these chaotic adventurers can restore good literature to the land!

Footnotes: First Time At The Table (use promo code WORSTBEST for 10% off!)

Hello World Tarot (use promo code WORSTBEST for 10% off!)

Wolverine’s Character Sheet

Episode #104 – 4th Anniversary Twilight Spectacular

Coming up next: The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood.

When we asked Chris Collision (cohost of I Don’t Even Own A Television) for his Flashback Summer choice of childhood favorite book, he surprised us with a title we’d never heard of before. And then Diane Duane surprised us with The Door Into Fire, a delightfully queer fantasy novel that was so great, we couldn’t believe we hadn’t heard of it before! Listen to this episode while riding your hot fire horse through the Waste.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Diane Duane’s Door Into Starlight Status Update

The Door Into Fire ebook

Coming up next: 200th Episode Dazzling Spectacular!

Happy Fourth of July! Buy Westing Paper Products! Flashback Summer continues with a book that’s such a stone-cold classic, we strongly advise that you not listen to this episode if you haven’t read The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. Our guest, J.W. Friedman from the I Don’t Even Own a Television podcast, joined us to discuss this iconic mystery that won the 1979 Newbery Medal. Listen to this episode in between checking stock prices on your transistor radio. (But, again, only after you’ve read the book! Please!)

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: “8 Uses for an Asparagus Steamer” by Lindsay-Jean Hard.

Coming up next: The Door Into Fire by Diane Duane.

The day has arrived: Renata read her very first Goosebump novel. Courtney Summers, Best Bestselling author of books like The Project and the upcoming I’m The Girl, joined us to discuss Night of the Living Dummy by R. L. Stine. Please rate this episode 10/10 Splats in the Apple Podcasts store.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes:

Episode #54 – R. L. Stine

Episode #152 – Mallory and the Trouble With Twins

Episode #177 – Baby-Sitters Beware

Slappy the Dummy on Goosebumps Fan Wiki

‘A small corner of the internet is obsessed with ‘Long Furbies’ and the creations are both disturbing and hilarious” by Julie Gerstein

Pangur & Grim

Coming up next: The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin.

As the earth makes another journey around the sun (allegedly), we return to Flashback Summer. Writer Annie Cardi (@AnnieCardi) returned to the show to discuss A Ring of Endless Light by Madeleine L’Engle, a formative read for many 90s children who aspired to be psychic marine biologists. Listen on your way to the beach, and make sure to share it with any dolphins who might want to listen in!

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: “The World” by Henry Vaughn

Depresh Mode #61 – Maggie Smith

“Good Bones” by Maggie Smith

“Try to Praise the Mutilated World” by Adam Zagajewski

Mariah Carey Can Speak Dolphin

Coming up next: Goosebumps #7: Night of the Living Dummy by R.L. Stine.