BookTalk with Caitlin Bea

I just want to give you the space to process it, Michael said. Elena paused. I don't think I want to see anybody else. This is the love story of real hinge couple Elena and Michael, written and read by me, Raven Smith. Listen to the free audiobook now. What do you think about trad wives? What do you think about the trad wives? And you're like, oh, I read Jane Austen. And I'm like, I don't. Are you a DNF-er? Yeah. Honestly, Binding 13 was my favorite. I'm so sorry. Shadow zaddy. What the fuck is a shadow? Like, I'm sorry. I read the whole book. Didn't catch on. Hi, angels. Welcome to Booked Flon and Busy Because the Hottest Girls Read. I'm Olivia Ponson. And today we are joined by the princess of book talk, Miss Caitlin B. If you don't know her, well, like, kind of what are you waiting for? She gives, like, the best book talk book recommendations. And as someone who I listen to a lot for book recs, TBH, I'm so excited to have her on. So, Caitlin B., welcome to Booked Flon and Busy. Thanks for having me. Okay. So, today we're doing a beverage of the day. But instead of a beverage, we're doing a dot cake. These are from Butterfield Market. They're, like, viral on TikTok. I have maybe had them, like, five times. But we're going to have you take a taste test. I am. I am so excited. This is the highlight of my week. Okay. So, there's red velvet, vanilla chip, classic white, and chocolate. Chocolate is my favorite. I'm not going to lie. Wait. I'm slightly allergic to chocolate. So, can I do the vanilla? Yeah. Yeah. Amazing. Right. You're allergic to chocolate? It's an intolerance that I don't abide by all the time. I have to have, like, a little chocolate. Yeah. Because, like, how do you not have chocolate? Yeah. And my mom's, like, deathly allergic. I'm like, why did you give me the worst allergy ever? Okay. So, it's so good. It's so good, bro. It, like, tickles the brain. I know. Oh, my gosh. I've always wanted to do that. As in, like, the last month. Oh, my gosh. Life-changing. This is beautiful, stunning, gorgeous. Mm-hmm. Stop. Oh, my God. That's better than I thought. Mm-hmm. Like, it looked great. But it's even better. Okay. Okay. So, now that we had our dog cake, I want to introduce to the audience, but, like, you have to give your own little introduction, because when I go on podcasts, I hate, I hate when they introduce me, because they're like, they, like, get all extra, and I'm like, oh, my God, I'm right here, babe. I'm like, we don't have to do this. You're embarrassing me. So, I want to have you give your own introduction. Ooh. Okay. So, I'm Caitlin B., and I am a New York City-based content creator. I actually got started in 2010. Okay. So, I was one of, like, the OG beauty girls on YouTube back before it was even a thing. Wow. Like, influencer was not a thing. It wasn't a word. I was just a weird kid doing it in high school for fun. So, I loved it. Wait, what did people think of you? What? What did people think of you in high school? Like, was it, like, judgment, or were they just like, okay. Well, I was scared that it would be judgment. So, I kept, I was living in Hannah, Montana, in my own Minnesota world for two years. I didn't tell anybody from sophomore year to my senior year of college, or, sorry, senior year of high school. You didn't tell anyone? I didn't tell a soul. Like, even my sister spilled the beans to my best friend, and I was, like, so embarrassed, because everything at that age, when I was 16, was so embarrassing. I don't, I was just, like, I would turn red at just speaking in front of the class. Like, it was crazy. So, I was, like, nobody can know, because this is just a weird thing I'm doing. Like, I didn't even tell my parents. I would just run home from school, film a little tutorial, like, edit it on my MacBook, post it to the ether, and I was, like, this is so fun. Wow. So, I, and that just purely stemmed from me loving watching beauty videos on YouTube. So, that was kind of how I got my start, and over the years, I've just have shifted my content to anything and everything that I love. So, whether that was going to college, I was doing it there, and vlogging, and food, and beauty, fashion, and then the pandemic hits, and I'm, like, okay, well, I'm not putting on makeup. I'm not, like, getting ready, like, glam to stay in my apartment. So, that's really when I discovered reading, and now I'm, like, a full-time book creator, pretty much. I also do, you know, lifestyle, and it's also shifted to hosting. And interviewing, as well. So, kind of just everything, you know, I love. Wow. Okay. So, what do you hate? What do you hate? If that's everything you love, what's something that you actually, like, you can't get behind? Content-wise, or, like… What's your content-wise? Yeah. Okay. So, I, and this isn't, like, I don't know. I was a food, foodie for a minute. Like, I went plant-based back in, oh, my gosh, I think 10 years ago now. So, I… You're still? I still am. I still am plant-based, but I, I say plant-based, but, like, I will have dairy, you know? Okay. I have fish here and there, but at the time, it was, like, this whole big thing, and it was getting to me of, like, I have to be this perfect, like, eat a certain way, you know? And it was just, it became a lot, and I, at the time, went to school in Nebraska, so… Wait, where in Nebraska? Lincoln, University of Nebraska, Lincoln. I don't know where that is. Never mind. I was going to, there's one, I can't remember the city. Omaha? Yes. Okay. Those are, like, the two cities in Nebraska. Pretty much Lincoln, Omaha. Wow. That's crazy. Okay. Anyways. So, it was, it was, as you can imagine, so hard to be, and at that time, too, like, in 2016, it was hard to be vegan there. So, anyway, all is to say, food isn't really necessarily, like, my jam anymore. I think you could take inspiration from it, but trying to follow someone else's, like, you know, protocol can be a little, a little crazy. So… I agree. But, you know, I love watching food, food videos like… Food videos like dot cakes, so… Give me the dot cakes videos. Give me the dot cakes. I will never skip one. Honestly, yeah. I mean, when they were first being posted on TikTok, I was like, this has got to be, like, a joke. Like, there's no way that every single New York City influencer is freaking out about this. But then I tried one and I was like, okay. It's delicious. Okay. What else is something that's, like, that people don't really know but is super defining for you? Ooh. Just something about me, I guess. That maybe you don't post online that much. Much. Okay. No, it's kind of funny. I don't think I've ever talked about this online. I am a diehard Sims player. Like, I love the Sims. Really? To the point where in 2020 when, again, I was, like, all my, you know, I was mainly beauty and fashion at the time. And, again, all, basically all of, you know, brand deals work was on pause. So I was like, okay, what should I do with my time? And that's how I discovered reading. But I was also using my time to post. Oh, my Sims. To dig up my Sims. I have a Sims computer dedicated to my Sims. Really? Yeah, because it literally was frying my computer. So I was like, I'm just going to keep my old computer dedicated to my families. Why was it frying it? Because it, on a laptop, Sims, Sims is kind of meant for, like, a PC. Okay. So it just takes up so much memory that it's overheating. Like, your laptop, it's just, it's dying. Right. So I just used my old laptop for that. But during the pandemic, I struggled. I strongly considered becoming a Sims creator. And so it was kind of a toss-up. I was like, should I go full in and become a Sims creator, or should I do books? Those were my two, like, passions at the time. Wildly different things. And so random. And people were like, what? But I genuinely, I was like, what can I do? I love to monetize my hobbies, I guess. And so, you know, that's how I loved makeup. I started doing that. And, you know, it's been my full-time career always. But it was a strong toss-up. Sims, books. Honestly, it purely came down to talking to my guy friends about the setup. And I was like, this is a lot. This is a huge commitment to become, like, a live, because you kind of have to live stream. Like a streamer. Yep. But I had nothing but time back then. Yeah. So I was like, do I go full send to become a Sims creator? Wow. Because I was like, how fun, just to play Sims all the time. Do you watch streamers? You know, I used to be like, that's so strange. Why would I want to watch someone play a game instead of me playing it? But I started watching them, and I became addicted. I could not stop. It was like all these challenges. And I would – that's all I used to watch for a year. And so I don't know what came over me. But I was strongly considering that. But thankfully, books took over. Because now I can't imagine not thinking about books. That's what I'm saying. So during COVID. Where were you? I was in Los Angeles. Okay. So I lived there for eight years. Wow. And I only moved to New York in 2024. So like a year and a half ago? Yeah. I just hit my – yeah, I just hit my two-year mark in March. Wow. What brought you here? It's crazy. Yeah. I – so I loved LA at the time. I grew up in Minnesota. I always knew I wanted to come out to LA. It was just – it was the place to be. Yeah. All the YouTubers were going out here. It was like Park La Brea, very like the hills. We go to beach. I just – I was like, I need that. It was so magical to me at the time. And I made my way out there with my content creator best friend. We lived together. And again, I lived there for eight years, moved around, but I was just getting stir crazy. I think it's just from, you know, working from home and this line of work, it's just – it can be really isolating. Yeah. And I was in my home a lot. And I'm a homebody. I love being home. But I found my days getting really redundant and I felt like I was living in the – in the Truman Show for a little bit. I was like, day feels the same. It's sunny every day, which is beautiful. And we all romanticize it. But honestly, I found myself missing the seasons. And I would step outside. I'm like, I need some social interaction. And it would be dead. And that can also be where I lived. I was on the west side, but I needed some stimulation and I was getting none. And, you know, like I would see my friends, but I felt like we were doing the same things every weekend and just kind of living really repetitively. And it got to the point where I was just viscerally craving change. And I kept coming out to New York for work or for fun. And it was like, you know, they say like New York has that kind of energy that's just indescribable. And I started feeling that. I was like, whoa, this actually feels so different. And I hated New York for a while. Like every time I used to come here, because I would be put up in like Times Square. And I thought Times Square was New York. I was like, how do people like this? This is crazy. This is so overstated. And I just never understood. And then my sister was like, Caitlin, there's more to New York than Times Square. Like, get out. And I'm like, oh, okay. So, you know, I explored and I found myself just loving it. And I kept flying out and kept flying out. And I was like, okay, I think there's something to this. I'm just like really drawn to New York. And I was in, you know, my late 20s at the time. And I'm like, I feel like this is the time to do it. And so I put my stuff in storage and I found my friend actually found me a full furnished apartment. So it felt, you know, I wasn't tied down. And I was like, I can easily, like, I'm just going to try it for a year, have fun, see what this is all about. And then I can easily move back. And I highly recommend if anyone is ever feeling like that change, you know, it's like calling them, do it. Like you'll never regret doing it. You can always come back. I always say that like LA will always be there for me. You know, I still have such a great group of friends out there, but I like, if I ignored that inner calling, like I think I would have been like, I'm still in that apartment two years later. So I want to date with Rawls, Carty says. Rawls? Rucker ass? This is the love story of real hinge couple Carty and Rucker. Written and read by me, Nicola Dinan. Listen to the free audio book now. So let's go into book talk, because this is, my favorite topic of conversation. We love book talk. It's the funnest. So how did you start on book talk? So I, again, it was in the pandemic. I dug up my Kindle because I was like, I can't spend all this time just watching TV, playing Sims. So like put the, put the families down. So I dug up my Kindle and I'm like, what do I do with this? It was like ancient. It was an ancient artifact. I had not touched this in years. So I downloaded some books and it took like, I think like two books for me to get into it. But then like once I found Verity, it was the first book I downloaded that I was like, oh my God, I'm obsessed. Like with reading, like the first line just drew me in. It was like her skull cracked and I was like, what is going on? Like what is happening? I think that was the first thriller I've really read as well. Yeah. That was my first, well, I read one book before that, but then I got introduced into the Colleen Hoover world. Yes. And I think I read November, ninth first by her. And then I think I read Verity right after that or Ugly Love. It was those three. I read them like back to back to back. Banger after banger. Yeah. And yeah, Verity just like immediately immersed me into her world. And I was like, what is going on? Why do you think so many people, I mean, from who I've talked to, so many people get into Colleen Hoover as like their segue author into reading. Why do you think that she's normally the segue author? I, I recommend her as the author to, to get into reading. And I know it can be, people have things to say about every author, but like they love to, you know, dog on, on Colleen Hoover books. But honestly, I feel like, like we just got to like peel back the layers and I always recommend books and, and videos. That's how I come up with video ideas. It's like thinking about what I was looking for as a new reader in the pandemic. And I was looking for just something to get me off of my phone. I was looking for just some, like, I just want to be entertained. It doesn't need to be this crazy thought provoking, like, you know, work of art all the time. You know, I love Verity. I'm not talking on Verity, but like sometimes like we can relax. I can just be fun and silly goofy. And so I, because Verity was a book that got me into reading, I just, and then I, I became obsessed. I was like, I need to read more from this author because it's, I've never felt this way before. I was only reading like a book a year. It was self-help books. I was like, this reading is not for me. Then I realized there's so much more to reading. I agree. And so, I feel like, and that, that led me to reading her entire backlist. And I, I always recommend her books to get into reading for new readers because I feel like you're just looking for something to get off your phone, something that's going to entertain you. There's just something bingeable about her books that you, you know, the chapter ends and you have to turn them, you have to turn the page. She's so good at that. So good. Where it's like, I remember reading her books and staying up at night being like, oh, I'm going to just read to the end of this chapter. And then the chapter happens and I'm like, now I got to figure out what happened. Especially if you read, do you read on a Kindle? No. Oh, we need to get you on the Kindle game. I did read, my first book I read on Kindle was Binding 13 by Chloe Walsh. And then I read the second book. Okay. Obviously. So you do have a Kindle? I do own a Kindle. Okay. I got one maybe like six months ago because I used to lug around like four books in my suitcases and my bags would always be overweight. And I'm like, sorry, man, my books. Right? Like, you're like, I am not leaving these behind. That's what, that's what's so great about Kindle, especially for the big books. I was going to say like Binding 13. It's like, it's great to just have it on your Kindle, especially when you don't know like, you know, how many pages are left. Sometimes it can be daunting if you're like, oh my gosh, this chapter. But with, with Colleen Hoover books, I feel like the chapters are pretty short. There, she hooks you, she like continues. So you just, you have no choice, but to just keep going. So it's great for new readers. Oh my gosh. Yeah. How many Colleen Hoover books have you read? Her entire backlist. I've read every single one except for her new book. Late Woman. The Woman Down. I haven't read that. I've probably read, she's 29 books, I'm pretty sure. I think I've read 22 of them. Okay. So basically. What's your favorite? Or, or top? I was going to ask you that question. Because it's so hard. Yeah. Take the question out of your mouth. My favorite book by her, T.B.H. Verity. Yes. Like, like Verity, I recommend that if you need something to like hook you and you need a book that's just like purely interesting. Yeah. I think it was the first proper book that made me like ball my eyes out crying. Same thing with November 9th. I really liked that. It's so good. But I really loved like the Finding Cinderella, the really, really tiny books you were talking about. Yes, the novellas. I think they're underrated. I agree. And that, I feel like people don't realize that whole world is kind of connected with all your perfects and the Cinderella's and going back. There's another book in there as well. It's like finding some… I think it's Finding Cinderella. And there's Finding Something Else. Oh, Hopeless. Did you like Hopeless? I love Hopeless and I keep forgetting about Hopeless. Oh my gosh. I've never read that one. That's kind of the first book in like the interconnected series, like Hopeless, Losing Hope. But I love that book, but definitely like don't go into it blindly. Like look up content warnings because it definitely deals with some deeper topics. So, you know, if you decide to go ahead and read it. Try lightly, please. That's fair. Yes. Try lightly, but beautiful story. Wait, so what's your top five favorite Colleen Hoover books? Verity, number one for sure. I actually think Hopeless should be second and I keep forgetting about Hopeless. I'm so glad that we were reminded of Hopeless today. So good. Ugly Love. Yeah. That was the book that got me into like spicy books as well. I was like, what is this genre? I'm like, what? I think that was the book I read directly after Verity and I was like, the whole new world. I was obsessed. And then November 9th. Yeah. Because that's also interconnected with Ugly Love. And I loved that one. I think that's four. Yeah. Oh my gosh. What would my fifth one be? Hmm. Okay. Actually, really, I think I liked Maybe Someday. Mm-hmm. Weirdly because of the music aspect. Not necessarily like the trope in it, but I liked how he was like a songwriter, the music, writing stuff. Did you read Slammed? I did. That was actually the – I think that was the last book I read by her because I was going through her entire backlist and then I was like, I need to read her first book that she ever wrote. So that was – That was the first book she wrote. That was the first book she ever wrote. I didn't even know that. Yes. And so I read it last, but I think after directly reading all of her other works, I could see the writing different. I was like, oh, I can see like she's improved her writing a lot since then. So I think if people do read that one to read it – Near the beginning, just because I think it gets a lot better. Yeah. Did you like Slammed? I loved Slammed. You love Slammed? Similarly, it was one of the last books that I read by her. I was in Positano very specific two summers ago when I read it. Yes. And I was just bawling. Yeah. Bawling my eyes out. I was like, there's just no way. There's nothing about – nothing like bawling your eyes out on the beach, you know? So what is your favorite thing about book talking? talk right now? Just in general, I love the community. aspect of book talk, especially if you have no one in your life that reads. I feel like I'll get comments all the time being like, I have nobody to talk to about this book. And I'm like, you can talk to me. Talk to us. And it's so fun seeing people start conversations and friendships even through it. It's so fun. And just always having someone – like you can search probably any book out there and find people who love the book, hate the book, you know. And it's a great way to just to find community. I would say similarly, I love that. Like when I started reading, no one in my life read. Yes. So I would just go – Who likes this book? I had to find my people because I was the only one – same of my friends during the pandemic. I'm like – and I've successfully turned I think 99% of my friends into readers. Really? But at the time I was like, you guys. Get on it because I want to selfishly discuss. I feel like I'm on my way to that. I feel like I've successfully helped maybe like three or four of my friends. But some of them, they just don't have the attention span. They don't. They're like, I can't. I can't sit down and read this book for 30 minutes. And I was like – What about have they tried audiobooks? No. But I feel like that's even harder for me to be like, oh, listen to this thing. You know what I mean? Like it's a little harder. If they're like, you know, I have ADHD and so I need like – I love putting on audiobooks. I love putting on audiobooks. I love an audiobook while I'm doing chores or on the subway on my walk so that I'm actually – you know, I'm like ingesting and getting into a story, but I'm also still doing something else. Yeah. I agree. So it's kind of nice because sometimes if like they're like, sit down, read this book, you know, it can be hard. Yeah. It's daunting. What's the worst thing about BookTok that you think? Like has BookTok ever ruined anything for you? I think it can be with any space too. I feel like I will see like, oh, BookTok has become so negative and such a bad place. And I'm like, I think I've curated, I guess, like, you know, the people I follow or people I seek out like a very intentional overall kind space, which is great. But, you know, I'm not like – I still see the negativity. I think what I dislike is there can be – it can be pretentious at times of, you know, if you're not reading this, the classics, then like you're reading trash and it's not – it's not doing anything good. Or like audiobooks aren't real. And I just think like we just need to, again, like sit down. Like my goal in BookTok and just talking about books, sharing my reading in general is just to like get others excited about reading again because I feel like it's such a lost like form for a while. And it's truly changed my life and like getting off my phone and doing something for my brain, but also just as an escape. And it doesn't have to be like this, again, crazy like intellectual story that's changing my life, you know, in a certain way. And it can just be like fun. And it doesn't have to be that serious. And so I feel like the negativity I hate with BookTok is when I come across that of like, if you're not reading this, if you're reading smut, like you're – you suck. And I'm like, no, like you guys, it's fun. Like – I literally feel the exact same when people try to judge me. Like even in person, I deal with this a lot. Like I'll meet a fellow reader and it will not be like at a book related thing. It would just be someone out in the wild. And they're like, oh, I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't read Jane Austen. Do you ever forget like every book you've ever read when someone asks you that? Because I'll be out in the wild and they're like, what? I did meet someone recently and he was like, yeah. He was saying all these books of like, you know, I've never heard it before. And I was like, what's the last book? I'm like, I actually don't know a single book. I've literally never read a book in my entire life. Like what? I feel the same exact way because I feel like I almost disassociate the books to my real life. So like I go into my like la-di-da-di-da land and then I come back and I'm like, oh, I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't like it. There's no. I'm like, wait, what? And yeah. And I also tend to read multiple books at the same time too. So I'm also forgetting like, what am I reading right now? It's a great question. I need to pull up my Goodreads. Okay. But yeah. Then I also feel the pressure sometimes with that of feeling like I have to have like a classic under my belt, you know, or something. Not me. I don't feel pressure. I'm like, I don't have a single classic, but. I feel it. I really feel the same way. So what do you think about like celebrity book talk or not celebrity book talk? What do you feel about celebrity book clubs versus like book talk creators? Like what is your, I think I know your preference, but like, what do you, what do you consume more of? Definitely book talk. I consume more of, but I also, I think as the years have evolved, I can't believe I've been like on book talk for six years now. It's insane. Cause I feel like I just started doing this, but I, I loved it as a way, especially as a new reader to get into reading, find, you know, like people with, you know, like like-minded taste and finding that community is, was life-changing. And I think it helped me just like, honestly, for a while I was, before I even started creating videos, I was going off of other people's recommendations. So I had no idea what authors were out there. I had literally no idea. So finding that just like really helped me develop my own taste. And I was like, okay, I think I'm liking, I only read thrillers for a while. After Verity, I was like thriller, thriller, thriller. And then I finally, you know, I think Ugly Love helped me. I was like, wait, I was like, I think I'm onto something here. I actually do like romance. And so, you know, I started going down that path as well. And I think now after six years, I finally like, okay, sometimes, but again, there's pockets of book talk for everyone. I think the main videos you see, it can be a lot of redundant recommendations. And, um, you know, you go into a main bookstore and it's like the same recs, like a book talk table, which is so crazy that it's because- Getting. Yeah. Kind of like, sometimes for me, the daunting part of reading is picking up a book and being like, no one's ever recommended this to me. I have no idea if it's going to be good or a complete waste of my time. Yes. And I feel like with book talk, I have at least some type of, okay, there's girls that are my age that like this book. I think I'll be fine. Exactly. It's like, and if you don't, that's okay too. It's like, we don't all have to like love it. But I agree. I, uh, I do sometimes feel like with the, with the, the celebrity book, um, clubs, I just, I haven't really like delved into that too much. I heard Dua Lipa has great taste though. Me too. I've heard that. So I'm like, okay, I kind of want to start reading some of her recommendations, but sometimes I feel like I just need a light escape book. And I don't know if they're reading light escape books. That's my only thing with it is I feel like Reese Witherspoon love hers. Like I feel like everything that she does, I'm like, okay, you get the people. Yes. Sometimes with Dua's, I feel like, like the conversation we're having right now, it's a lot of classics. So it's a lot of very mature books with a lot of, yeah, with a lot of lessons in them. And I'm like, sometimes I just need like a little, I just want like a little fantasy book, you know, and then call it a day. I agree. So what are you reading right now? Ooh. Okay. So again, I, I have to dabble in every format. So on audio book, I just started Famesick by Lena Dunham. There's so much conversation going on about that. And I got to hear her speak at an event recently about it. So started the audio. I also love, I love memoirs on audio. I just find, I love when the author is, because the author typically narrates their own book. So I do love that. I'm also on my Kindle. I'm reading The Unknown by Riley Sager. Have you ever read a Riley Sager book? But I've literally last night, Kira was recommending. Oh, I bet it was the only one left because I was like, you have to read this. Is that the one that's like on top of the- On a hill? Yes. We were literally talking about that. So that book blew my mind. You read that one? Yes. I've read it. Kira Backless as well. I'm obsessed. When I find an author, I'm like, I will read your Backless. So I'm reading, I don't know if this book is out yet, but I have an advanced copy of The Unknown, but I finally just started that on my Kindle. And on physical book, oh, I just started the second book of the Magnolia Parks series. What's it called again? So I think it's, the first book is Magnolia Parks. The second one's Daisy Hates. Yes. Third one is Magnolia Parks, like The Long Way Home, I think. Okay. So that's the one I just like, just started. So I'm like all over the place right now. Well, I love Magnolia Parks TVH. You haven't read it yet? No, I have. I loved hers. Loved the first book. I didn't read the full series though. Okay. But I liked, like as someone who like loves fashion, I liked that she, it was like a romance kind of toxic story, but it also mixed in like Miu Miu's shoes. Yes, like all the little details. I was like, wait, and did you ever like look up the pieces? No. Because I was reading it out. I was like, wait, I have to know. But they were so exciting. It's such a visual. I'm like, I have to know exactly what she's wearing. It's perfect. I think that's being adapted as well. Really? I think so. That would be such a good movie to adapt to TVH. I think they might do it in a series because there's like so many characters they got to build out. I loved Daisy Hates. Like that was, I was obsessed. And so now going back to Magnolia, I'm like, okay, but I'm excited for the Daisy books. Yeah. I'm reading, I'm listening to Yesteryear right now. Do you like it? Because I read that last month. Or I think it was actually two months ago now, but. What are your thoughts about the Trad Wives? I started it because so many people recommended it to me. So I was like, okay, let me just like dabble into this. Started out my audio book. Genuinely was like. Should she say that about the kisses? Is that weird? She doesn't care. She presses send. This is the love story of real hinge couple, Daniel and Roisin. Written and read by me. Rufy Thorpe. what is going on. It's crazy. Do you think like I'm halfway through it right now. So okay. Here's some spoilers. Yeah. But like, just give me your thoughts on it. That's where I'm going to start. Yeah. And then I'm going to, I have a lot of questions about it. Spoiler free thoughts as someone like, especially like early on thoughts. Um, I, so I tend to not gravitate towards books that have like an influencer or like content creator character. I don't know if it's just like, it's too close to home, but I do find it a little cringy sometimes. And I, I, but I feel like a lot of the time I don't like when books are a little too online. If there's too much like talking about Tik TOK or like Tik TOK lingo, I don't know. There's something that kind of turns me off. I'm like, no, I don't really, I don't love this. But so I was hesitant to go into it, but I kept hearing so much buzz about this book. And I was like, I do kind of want in on the conversation and I want to see what this is all about. Yeah. And I did think the premise was interesting of like, you know, this woman. Wakes up and, you know, and she's living the actual trad wife life. And so I was, I was so intrigued. I think I did also listen to most of it on audio. I was kind of flipping between both, but, um, I personally, I, I love right now an unhinged, unlikable main character. Like I, I find it so entertaining. I'm just laughing hysterically. And so I found, I believe her name is Natalie, correct? I found her very insufferable and, um, she's really annoying. Yeah. I don't like it. I'm like, like, cause the, the premise of the book in the beginning is that she's like cosplaying a trad wife. She's not actually a trad wife because she's the breadwinner in her family and a trad wife and a trad wife doesn't make any money. So it's like that concept to me is like, okay, you're cosplaying living on this farm and having chickens, but like, yet you post your entire life and you're constantly thinking like, this would be a good video. This isn't going to work. And I'm like, and then she wakes up. I'm at the point where she's just woken up and she like hates her kids. Oh, I'm really confused. I'm like, yeah. She like, doesn't like her husband, which is Caleb. She keeps being like, Caleb is, I mean, she's not actually saying Caleb's annoying, but like the verbiage she's using, I'm like, okay. So I'm a little bit like she's annoying. What's going to happen right now? Yes. Okay. That's very fair. But also I feel like the book is really controversial. Like some people loved it and like understand the hype. And then some people were like, I genuinely don't understand. So I'm curious when you're done with it because there's twists and turns. Yeah. So I'm waiting for the twist. Yeah. I'm excited. I was just like, what is happening? Like I was kind of eating it up, honestly. Um, but I need to know when you're done. You have to let me know. Yeah. So what would be three books that you'd recommend to someone watching like right now? Ooh. Okay. I love like tailoring it to different people. So I'm going to give a couple of different recs because just depending on what you like. So if you're looking for just like a fun summer retreat, like romance, just to make you swoon. I loved One Golden Summer by Carly Fortune. It's so good. We could talk about Carly Fortune all night. How much time do you have? Love. Yeah. Okay. I'm not going to love. That one was my favorite of, of all of her books that I've read from her. Loved One Golden Summer. Um, especially just like reading it out in the summer. It's just a vibe because the setting feels like a character in itself. I also, um, if you're looking for something, Ooh, okay. If you're into audiobooks, I loved The Favorites by Lane Fargo. And this is also a great physical book to read because it personally got me out of a reading slump. It's fast paced. It's kind of, um, it's kind of like Keri Soto is back mixed with, but it's, uh, it's, it's amazing. It's short chapters, but the audio book has so many different characters and it's like Olympic, um, figure skaters, but there's also a romance and it's very toxic. I have heard of this now that you're speaking about it. Okay. It's like every time something's about to go right. It goes wrong. And I, I personally, some people were like, it's too much drama for me. And I was like, no, I loved it. Especially if you like Daisy hates and that kind of series, I feel like you would like the drama aspect of this one, but I ate that book up. It's also being adapted. And Oh, and if you like thrillers, okay. I mean, the only one left by Riley Sager. I have to like two people in 24 hours have recommended it to me. I got a favorite of his entire backlist. It's insane. Like you hit, it's one of those books. So I think at like the, 70% mark is when the first twist hits. Cause you're like, but it's so much buildup, but then you cannot, you're going to get whiplash from the amount of twists that happen. And it's amazing. You're like, well, your mind will be like, what did I just read? It's crazy. Oh, I love that feeling though. Say my three recommendations. I'm curious if you've read them. So binding 13, obviously. Okay. Have you read it? I did read it, but it put me in the, okay. So I was listening to it mostly. Okay. And I don't know, this is the issue though. I, sometimes I don't know if I didn't love a book because I'm just like the time I'm reading it or like what I just read and like what I'm looking for. I'm such a mood reader, but I found it, it was so long. And it was like, I feel like he kept just being like saying the same things like Shannon, like whatever. And I was like, Oh my God, like we need to move the plot along. Like we're just, how are we still, how do I still have 80% left in this book? I've been reading this for like a year and a half. Like I think it took me two months to read. So just like not. I read it in seven days. I was, I was addicted to it. I, well, so one of my best friends, Ella, shout out Ella. She, it is her favorite series of all time. She's read it twice. Oh my God. She's addicted. And she's a hardcore reader, like reads all the same books as I do. So when she recommends something, I'm normally like, okay, I'll try it. So I downloaded it before I went to Tahiti and I didn't want to be on my little Kindle before I go to sleep every night. Yes. Obsessed. The yearning. I'm sorry. There is a lot of yearning. I have never read a book like that, that there was, I thought she did a perfect job of building up the yearning and not being like annoying. I normally really like books where stuff is happening 24 seven. It is the only book that I've ever read. I've ever read that nothing is happening, but I'm still addicted to it. Okay. Yeah. So I always say, and I get, you know, when I hear people like what their taste is, like after reading some books, if they liked it or not like it, I kind of put them in two categories of like, you're either a plot person or a character person, like plot driven books or character driven. And so that series is very character driven. Like you said, like nothing's really happening. Kind of like, um, like a Sally Rooney book or, you know, certain books are just like, what, what just happened in that book? But I have friends are like, no, that was the best book I've ever read. And I don't feel like I didn't need anything to happen because the characters were so interesting. I think that might be also why I I'm typically a plot person where I'm like, Oh, I just want to be like entertained. Give me some crazy, like, you know, so many twists and turns. And some people are like, that was so unrealistic. That was insane. I'm like, I know. See, I feel like I'm a plot twist. I'm a plot driven person until it came to that, those books. And then I'm like, okay, give it to me. I don't, I don't know what's going on. Keeping 13. Did you read keeping? No, I, you don't have to, you don't have to do like, if you didn't love finding 13, then I don't think you'll like keeping 13. It's 10 times more and nothing really happens. It's just all build up for the next four books in the series, which apparently the next it's a, it's a large series because there's these two books are about Shannon and Shannon, Shannon, Johnny. And then so the first two books, and then it's about Shannon's older brother and his girlfriend. And then it goes on to Gibby and Claire. Okay. I feel like I liked Gibby. Yeah. And then Lizzie and Huey, I think is coming out eventually. Okay. So it's like two books about each character. Okay. That's fun though. Anyways, then Conformed by Ariel Sullivan. Have you read that? No. Is it a series or a book? No, it's going to be a nine book series. It's like ACOTAR, TVH, but the books are way smaller. Oh my God. Is it fantasy? Yes. It's like, it's like Divergent with, oh my gosh. It's kind of like Divergent, but like mixed. And you've, have you read Red Queen by Victoria Avery? No. Okay. I just got her new book Tempest. I'm so excited. Read Red Queen. I've read the best things. I've also met her and she's incredible and amazing. She's the sweetest. She's literally the sweetest. So it's, I mean, frick, you haven't read that, but it's like those two books kind of had a baby. The dynamic is there's like the, elite and then there's the non-elite. There's a word for it, but I can't remember. And I can't, I guess I can kind of explain it. The non-elite are used to mate with the elite. So they don't live a life. They just are trying to be the perfect, uh, I'm not going to say wife, but the perfect like surrogate moms. Like they don't do anything. They just take like medication. They work very basic jobs, like all the females do. So that way when the alum, like, or with the, um, to give birth, they're like in perfect condition. It's kind of handmaid's tale vibes a little bit. Honestly. Yeah. I've never read it, but I've watched a little bit of the TV show, kind of similar vibes, but like, yeah, then there's like rebels. Like it's like that kind of vibe. And it's a short book, so you can read it pretty quick. I don't always necessarily love a super long fantasy book because it feels like a big commitment. They're all so long and I, you got to keep me entertained. Yeah. Yeah. Cause there's sometimes with fantasy, they lose me a little bit. but like, okay, we're getting like, I need things. to be happening. It's way for seven. I agree. And then my last book rec is The Fine Art of Lying by Alexander Andrews. Have you read it? Wait, what was it? The Fine Art of Lying. Oh, no. I think I have this. It just came out. Okay. Or I think. And it's like a murder mystery with like affairs and like it's all based in New York City and me, I love any book that's based in New York City. I love a New York City Facebook. Yeah. Wait, okay. I need to read that. I really recommend. Oh, I will eat that up. I love a murder mystery. Literally. What's the last book that you DNF that you didn't finish? I have a problem not DNF. I wish I could DNF a book but I will like I will suffer through the entire book before because I have this like I'm like, but what if it's something at the 80% mark it changes my perspective and I missed out and I judged the book without finishing it and that's a problem I need to actually overcome. But I will say one that comes to mind that I didn't love was the Academy by Ellen Hildebrand and it's it's it was kind of like a boarding school book and I was really excited about that setting because I feel like there was just it's fun. There's so many characters and I think that's where it lost me a little bit was there's so many characters to keep up with and storylines that I felt like I didn't get deep enough into each person's storyline. It was like base level. Yes, I'm like oh, I want more because this could be interesting but I do think it's going to be a series so maybe they're going to get you know, more in but I was like it was dragging for me a little bit and I was like I kind of want to but I couldn't I couldn't. Oh, you finished it. I did finish it. Okay. I don't have you are you a DNF-er? Yeah. Yeah, like yes. I just got into mood reading like actually three weeks ago because I used to be like serial monogamous where I would start a book and I'd have to finish it start it have to finish it. Just one at a time? Yes. Okay. One at a time and then I downloaded like four different books on my Kindle and I kind of just bounced back in between the two like if I got bored with one but I still wanted to read more but it was just a little bored I'd go to this one and then I'd kind of go back and forth and then I came back to New York City and then I started reading a book like I love a physical copy. There's just I know. Nothing like it in my opinion. Bending the paperback. Yeah. I'm a spine breaker too. Me too. I'm like okay. Me too. People are like can't do it. And I dog you the entire time. The entire thing. I'm like I don't care. I'm doggier. Like I will throw it. Like I love it. I agree. So that was probably or I read Loathing You by Amina Khan I think is how you pronounce it and it's like a lesbian love story between like the cheerleader and like the nerd. Love that trope. Sign me up. Sign me up. But like I didn't I haven't finished it yet. I don't think I'm not going to finish it point blank. I think I just need to come back at it. When you're ready. It was a lot. Like it was a lot of I don't know. um emotions for me that i could strongly relate to that was just like am i gonna open this up right now you know it's funny sometimes when you're like like i want to relate to a character but if it if it hits a little too on the nose you're like oh is this inspired by me like this is play about us this is play about us so i was like let me just give it a second and then i was reading that book and in good company by kat singleton which is like a uh guy in the hamptons falls in love with his chef. And like also, I was just reading them both back and forth, but I haven't touched my Kindle in like a week since I came home to New York. So it's not like I didn't finish them. Yes. But we put a pin in it. Yeah, I put a pin in it. Okay. Well, we're going to play this game. It's book talk court, like a court of thorns and roses. So basically I'm going to read, I'm going to give you some hot takes from book talk and we're going to judge them true or false. Ooh, okay. So the first one is there's nothing sexy about faded love, like mating, like bonds. Yeah, that's so false. It's so cute. I'm obsessed. I love it because then they have to be together. No, they have to. Otherwise, what's the point of this entire thing? I agree. No, I agree. I go feral. Enemies to lovers is just toxic love. You know what? I think false. Because I do think it depends on how it's done. It absolutely depends. Like I, if I'm reading an enemies to lovers and if it gets over the enemy too fast, I'm like, well, you weren't actually enemies. You just had a little, a tiff. I'm like, that doesn't count. But then on the other hand, it can be extremely toxic where it's, it's bullying and like horrific. I'm like, who, why would you ever want to be with this person? Like, it's crazy. That's what like my loathing you book, the, um, woman love woman, woman love woman. Uh, they're just bullying. It's an, I mean, so it's, it's an enemies to lovers, but they're just bullying each other. And there's some points where I have to put it down and I'm like, you're just mean. You're just mean and that's it. Go to therapy, like get some help because yikes. The next one is, um, yeah. So what are we saying? True or false for that? Uh, I think, I think false because it depends. It depends. Well, it's a false, but it depends. Um, the next one is twists are overdone. Oh, false. I love a twist. Give me 80 twists. I agree. Um, too many books are written in first person. Oh, false. I love first person. Yeah. I hate third person. Yeah. I feel like a bird looking into their life. I want to be, no, I want to be in your brain. Like what? Yeah, no. So absolutely false. Um, Oh, buy a book if the cover's ugly. Okay. True. It's true. It's true. I judge a book by its cover. No, I absolutely do. I actually illustrated a book cover this year. That was my, like, it was, it was a dust jacket, but I, for this reason, I'm like, I pick up a book because like Carly Fortune's books are painted. Yeah. An artist, like it is a work of art and I love it. I agree. I think they're so beautiful. I look forward to it every single year. Will I read a book? Because if it has an ugly cover, I'm like, I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't cover. Yes. On my Kindle. That's why I don't want to buy it. I don't want to see it. Yeah. This man's face in my ruining my bookshelf, but I judge a hundred percent. If the cover is ugly, I'm not reading it. I don't care. I won't buy it on my Kindle either. I'll be like, nope. It is a bad taste in my mouth. I'm done. I'm done. Tropes are written. Our tropes are ruining how books are being written. Oh, kind of true. I think when the trope is the entire book and there's nothing else adding into it, it's sometimes a little hard for me to read because I'm like, okay, they're in love. Then what? Yeah. Like, and what? Yes. Unless it's a straight up romance book, then I can understand it. I do. My reasoning that I do think this is true is because I feel like, I feel like this is pressure, honestly, on authors. I don't know if it's, it's the, because book talk and reading in general, like it's gotten big over the past year. I don't know if it's the, I don't know which is amazing, but I think authors are feeling, after talking to some authors, they feel the pressure to be producing more than one book a year, like two, three, like it's a lot. And so I think publishing, they're like, we want a very specific, like Enemies to Lovers is doing great. Let's, we want more of those. We want, you know, fantasy, romanacy. And so I think like sometimes they have to, they're being, feeling like they have to tailor their books and write a book for the audience it coming from themselves. So does book talk viral mean that the book is going to be good? Hell no. No. What book from book talk have you read that you're like, not a fan of? I just want to give you the space to process it. Michael said, Elena paused. This is the love story of real hinge couple, Elena and Michael written and read by me, Raven Smith. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. But again, but that's why I love book talk is there's something for everybody. I agree. You know, like there's always something. I'm trying to think of another one that I didn't, but I'm honestly, I'm pretty easy to please. Like I, it takes a lot for me to be like dragging or like not, but again, sometimes it's just the mood I'm in, you know? I wasn't a huge fan of ACOTAR. Oh, I feel like that's kind of a hot take. Yeah. I get into some pretty heated, I feel like you either love it or you either hate it. There's no one that is in between. That's so valid. I read the first book a long time ago. And then with friends as like a buddy read, never continued. That one might be better. Buddy read. Yeah. I never continued the series though. So I kind of, I am having a little FOMO with it of just seeing what it's about because the new book is coming, I think in October. So I might have to throw in a glass more, which have you, have you read? No. You haven't read that one either. I haven't really entered the Sarah J Maas world. Yeah. I haven't either. Have you read Fourth Wing? Yes. Did you like that one? Okay. Shadow Zaddy. What the is a shadow? Like, I'm sorry. Didn't catch on that. Didn't, I read both the books, by the way. Didn't, didn't catch on it. Everyone keeps talking about it. And I'm just like, it's like his power, you know, like darkness creep, just. Make it all dark. I did not clearly catch on that one, even though I read the whole book. I did a complete deep dive to it. I saw so many people talking about it and I was like, that's me with every. Did I miss something? That's me with so many books, especially. that series though i will watch like deep dive theories after and i'm like how does your brain think like i literally missed half of this so yeah i did a deep dive on it and i found out so many different conspiracies about the book and like the violet's father um why zayden did this why dane acted this way why the mom is so rude like i know i skip i will i like don't pick up on any of those that's when i read it like i have no i'm like what like what like how did you pick up people are so smart i love it i thank god for them literally okay angels that is everything for today caitlin thank you so much for being on books fun and busy this week i honestly loved hearing all the book recommendations and thanks for watching and don't forget to subscribe to the patreon where we go way more in depth about all the books that we read i love you bye i just want to give you the space to process it michael said elena paused i don't think i want to see anybody else this is the love story of real hinge couple elena and michael written and read by me raven smith listen to the free audiobook now on any journey using uber it helps to know your getting into the right car pin verification adds an extra step to make sure your ride is your ride before the trip begins your app gives you a unique pin just tell it to your driver and they'll enter it in their app before the ride can start hey what's your pin 2538 that way you know you're in the right car taking the right trip and your driver knows you're the right passenger make sure your ride is your ride with pin verification from uber one more way uber is putting safety at every turn learn more on the uber app