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The Best Road Trip Novels · The Read Carpet Report

• Jack: Welcome to the Red Carpet Report, your backstage pass for celebrity book clubs, book adaptations, and new book releases. I'm Jackie. And I'm Here, Sin. And we're your hosts. Kirsten Baritz: book adaptations, and new book releases. I'm Jackie. And I'm Kirsten. And we're your hosts. Today's episode is a plot twist where we're going to go deep into one fun subgenre of reading. Today's is road trip novels, which coincides with our May reading challenge prompt. Jack: before we get into that, let's do the red carpet report. ⁓ And we have a lot to talk about this week. It's not book adaptation news. ⁓ Kirsten Baritz: But before we get into that, let's do the red carpet report. And we have a lot to talk about this week. It's not all book adaptation news. Now, in fact, the only real book adaptation news we want to talk about because we have some time between now and our next episode is that on May 1st, The Devil Wears Prada 2 comes out starring the original cast, Stanley Tucci, Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, and Emily Blunt. We're very excited for that. but there's too much other news for us to even discuss and we will report back on our thoughts after we see that movie. For now, both Oprah and Reese made some waves this weekend and I think we need to start with Oprah. Yeah, so Oprah had a dinner party last night. Which is funny because we were throwing a dinner party for Jackie's 50th birthday and Jan is in town and she cooked up quite the feast and made all of these like beautiful tablescapes and like. Jack: now yeah yeah so Oprah had a dinner party last night I guess yes ⁓ Kirsten Baritz: She just crushed it. As only Aunt Jan can do. It was stunning and delicious and it was amazing because we did it with our families. love the fact that everyone in our families just love each other so much. I know the kids are playing that game 13 Dead and Dried for like hours which if you don't have this game it's really fun because it's a mansion and you're all trying to like kill each other to win your inheritance. Jack: She just crushed it. As only Aunt Jan can do. It was stunning and delicious and it was amazing because we did it with our families. love the fact that everyone in our families just love each other so much. It's so cute. playing that game, 13 Dead and Dried for hours, which if you don't have that game. You Kirsten Baritz: And there's like, you like push buttons and things fall on your character. So it's just really interactive and tactile and fun. And so the youngest child was 12 and the oldest is 16. 17 now. They played it for hours. Hours. And typically they wouldn't go home until the second game was done. So always a fun one. But while we were having our little dinner party, Jack: He's 17 now. They played it for hours and legitimately they wouldn't go home until the second game was done. Kirsten Baritz: ⁓ Oprah was chatting with Katherine Stockett, whose new book Club comes out May 5th. Virginia Evans. We love Virginia. And the correspondent, ⁓ Alan ⁓ of of Golden Jack: Virginia We love Virginia. ⁓ and Emma Greed who has a non-fiction called Start With Yourself. Kirsten Baritz: And Emma Greed, who a nonfiction called Start With Yourself. ⁓ And they all got and had basically like the dinner party of our dreams. So I mean, ⁓ that's quite the dinner ⁓ I mean, amazing, amazing. invitation got lost in the mail. Clearly, mine did, too. I guess maybe she knew that we already had other plans. Yeah. So it's OK. And like between Jan and Oprah I'm to pick Aunt Jan every time. Every time. Jack: I mean, that's quite the dinner party. I mean, amazing, amazing. My invitation got lost in the mail. Clearly mine did too. I guess maybe she knew that we already had other plans and so it's okay. And like between Jan and O'Brien, we pick Jan every time. Every time. Kirsten Baritz: But the real scoop that we want to chat about is, and we're going to deep dive onto this one, so we're going to take some time here, is the Reese AI situation. Jack: That's the only word. in case you are not sure what we're talking about, Reese put out a video and in her video she said that she was having a book club and in her book club she asked how many of the 10 members were comfortable using AI. three of them said that used it, but only one of them said that she was comfortable ⁓ using it in the way that is intended to be used. ⁓ And ⁓ she made a video said, you want to learn about AI with me? Kirsten Baritz: using AI of them said that they used it, but only one of them said that she was comfortable ⁓ using ⁓ in way that it is intended to be used. she made a video and said, do you want to ⁓ learn AI with me? And this started, ⁓ the broke. It literally broke the internet. I'm going to Jack: And this started the internet broke. Kirsten Baritz: pull up my notebook to come up with all the points that people made in the comments. And then we're going to talk about like some alternate views on that as well. So first of all, people were really upset with the setting because she was like making a smoothie and she was in her kitchen and people thought this was like a trad wife sort of manipulation. People were upset that the way that she was talking about it sounded like an ad and they were all wondering if she invested in AI technology. She mentioned that technology, ⁓ ⁓ learn it from the beginning, you won't keep up with it. And so you're sort of like going to get left behind. And a lot of people were like, that's the point. We want to be left behind. We don't love AI. And they don't love AI because it is horrendous for the environment. studies found that it's really bad for your creativity and especially for like kids able to think critically. ⁓ AI is taking ⁓ jobs ⁓ and ⁓ women are % likely have their jobs taken by AI. And... ⁓ We know that she's this champion of books and there have been so many lawsuits about AI being trained on novels and trying to take over for authors in the industry, but also for ⁓ ⁓ Hollywood. So people were really, really surprised by her stance on this and came at her ⁓ hard, There was vehemence. Yes. Jack: know that she's this champion of books and there have been so many lawsuits about AI being trained on novels ⁓ trying to take over for authors the but also for ⁓ actors ⁓ Hollywood. people were really, really surprised by her. ⁓ stands on this and came at her very hard, There was vehemence. ⁓ Yes. was, was, ⁓ there's anger. ⁓ were ⁓ upset disappointed in ⁓ And ⁓ I understand ⁓ every of those I also where she's coming from. Kirsten Baritz: It was, there was anger, people were upset and disappointed in her. And while I understand every one of those points, I also see where she's coming from. This is definitely a nuanced conversation that the internet is trying to turn into a black and white issue. Yeah, and it's not a black and white issue because even if Jack: Yeah, and it's not a black and white issue because even if I agreed with every single thing that they're saying, and I'm not saying that I agree or disagree with these arguments, yes, it's bad for the environment. I mean, that's not up for debate. AI is not going anywhere. As much as all the reasons that we hate AI, Kirsten Baritz: I agreed with every single thing that they're saying. And I'm not saying that I agree or disagree with these arguments. Yes, it's bad for the environment. mean, that's not up for debate. no. AI is not going anywhere. As much as all the reasons that we hate AI, it is not going anywhere. And so not learning how to use it. Jack: It is not going anywhere. And so not learning how to use it as much as you're taking a stand is going to put people that don't understand it at a disadvantage because we can't stop AI. Kirsten Baritz: as much as you're taking a stand is going to put people that don't understand it at a disadvantage because we can't stop AI. I think this is, ⁓ so interesting. One of the people in the comments was like, okay, men ⁓ drug trafficking and ⁓ slaves better than we do, but does that mean we should like hop on the bandwagon? ⁓ I think it... I view it a little bit more like the industrial revolution, right? Like people used to hand sew their clothes, people used to hand turn their butter, and that doesn't happen anymore. And the jobs adjusted accordingly. And when it first happened, it was horrendous for the environment. There were no guardrails. There were children working in child labor. And so guardrails came up, people were educated on the impact of these factories, and now we live every day with garments made in factories. I mean, that is just... Jack: right. Right. there were no guardrails. were children working in child labor. Right? Right. so guardrails came up. People were educated on the impact of these factories. with garments made in factories. mean, that is just what it is. And even things for our business, where is the line for Right, right. Kirsten Baritz: what it is and even things for our business. Where is the line for AI, right? Because we talked about right before this, we only make so much money in a given year and we can't afford a graphic designer for every single thing ⁓ that we put out on Instagram. And sure, we paid someone to do our website and we paid someone to come up with the graphics and the logo and that's great. Jack: We only make so much money in a given year and we can't afford a graphic designer for every single thing ⁓ that we put out on Instagram. And we paid someone to do our website and we paid someone to come. and that's great, but we use Canva every day and some of these people. Kirsten Baritz: But we use Canva every day and some of these people that are out here in the comments use Canva every day. That's taking the job of a graphic designer and it's made something that would normally be inaccessible because of the cost accessible to people like us that are small business owners. So yes, there is comments for leaving stuff behind, but there is also nuance here because it does open the world Jack: that taking the job of a graphic designer. And it's made something that would normally be inaccessible because of the cost accessible to people like us that are small business owners. yes, there is comments for leaving stuff behind, but there is also nuance here because it does open the world in addition to that, just like The seamstress is, learn how to use a sewing machine. People can learn how to use AI responsibly, right? There are some really great things that AI can do. And I'm not saying to use it as a Google search, but again, we all needed to learn how to use the internet. We all needed to learn how to use Google and how to do a search and how to send. emails if we wanted to continue working and like it or not, I feel like AI is the next step in that tech world. Kirsten Baritz: We all needed to learn how to use Google and how to do a search and how to send emails if we wanted to continue working. And like it or not, I feel like AI is the next step in that tech world. Remember the phones when we had regular phones and then we had cell phones and then we had cell phones that had email? Thank you, Blackberry. I wish we'd stop there. And now we have smartphones. Right. Jack: Right. Kirsten Baritz: And people are making of a little bit because at one point she had like NFTs on there, which like that was, mean, ⁓ she's promoted that before and I think those things are stupid, fine. This is not the same at all. people also said they thought the tone was manipulated, maybe invested in AI. We don't know that, she might be. and the tone they said, you know, ⁓ she's making this. She's in her kitchen and she's making a smoothie and she's being manipulative and using this like trad way thing. No, get out of here with that argument. You know she has a producer and her producer. Jack: And the tone, they said, you know, ⁓ she's making this, she's in her kitchen and she's making a smoothie and she's being manipulative and using this like, tradway thing. No, get out of here with that argument. You know she has a producer, and her producer, for all of her content, told her that this was how she was gonna talk about it. Kirsten Baritz: going to talk about it. Right. Every marketing video we've ever seen that's like, how do you engage in Instagram? It's like quick cuts, be making something so that they can see. I mean, like this is it's Instagram 101. It's keeping eyes on what you're saying. You know what I mean? It's it. Get get rid of that argument. Take that one off the shelf. Jack: Yeah. Be making something so that they can see. mean, like this is it's Instagram 101. Yeah. It's keeping the eyes on what you're saying. You know what I mean? It's it. Get get rid of that argument. Take that off the You know, I think the other argument here that AI is going to be stealing people's jobs and creativity. actually noticed a while ago that the beginning of any audio book specifically says no part of this book may be used to train any AI. think in order to it, we need to understand it. We need to learn how to use it. And I think that, and I've been talking to my son about this because he's in school, I think there's going to be an entire different practice of law concerning creativity and the use of AI and the way that we look at professions that are innately creative. Kirsten Baritz: people didn't learn what AI was doing and learned that they were using books to train it, right? We never would have been able to put the lawsuits out for people to get money back ⁓ to stop AI ⁓ from writing books they're writing really crappy books. ⁓ Really crappy books. if you bury head in the sand and you're not doing anything to fight about it or to learn about it or to learn the nuance about it or to put the guardrails up, Jack: to train it, right? Right. Never would have been able to put the lawsuits out for people to get money back and to stop AI. Really, really crappy books. But if you bury your head in the sand and you're not doing anything to fight about it or to learn about it or to learn the nuance about it or to the guardrails up, that's not helpful either. Isn't it know thy enemy? Yeah. Right? So if you want to fight it and you really want to fight it, you have to learn and you have to learn about it and you have to be able to recognize it. So as much as Kirsten Baritz: That's not helpful either. Isn't it know thy enemy? Yeah. Right. So if you want Jack: It was an issue for people plagiarizing and using AI to write essays. Now they have software that can detect that sort of thing. Now, is it perfect? No. However, it is a step. Kirsten Baritz: you have to learn and you have to learn about it and you have to be able to recognize it. So as much as it was an issue for people plagiarizing and using AI to write essays, now they have software that can detect that sort of thing. Now, is it perfect? No. However, it is a step. we have some of this with Grammarly, right? There are We've been using these robot systems for like a while now. And this one just feels really deeply personal because it really goes to that extreme. We got to think about it critically. This is advanced spell check. just, the one thing that will forever make me leery of AI and, you know, hesitant to use it and I only use it very sparingly is the environmental impact. We all know I worked at the zoo. I care a lot about the environment ⁓ and Jack: Yes. This is advanced spell check. Kirsten Baritz: So like willy-nilly, hey, like let me do this cute purse thing and like, let me auto-generate a photo of me. that is like cringey to me. do you understand how much water is being consumed for you to make this like stupid AI photo? it is destroying her environment for silly, foolish things. And I think there's a difference from that and for using it for business or for using it for ⁓ research or for using it for. Jack: cute purse thing and like let me auto-generate a photo of me like that is like yes do you understand how much water is being consumed for you to make this like stupid AI photo right is destroying our environment for for silly foolish fun things and I think there's a difference from that and for using it for business or for using it for research or for using it for really helpful things Kirsten Baritz: really helpful things. is the one thing where I'm like, would like a I would ⁓ like water for my kids. I would like clean water. So gotta figure that one out. ⁓ And the guardrails, that's one of those words like, somebody needs come in and regulate this. Jack: So someone's gotta figure that one out. And the guardrails, that's one of those words like, somebody needs to come in and regulate this. Right, right. And I don't know how they do that. Kirsten Baritz: I don't either. So those are our thoughts. We've tried to sort of lay out all of the arguments, pros and cons, support and dis-support for Reese. This really is a gray area, and so to see it dissolved into like black and white, she's bad or she's not, I don't think that's fair. I don't think that's fair, and I think we're smarter than that and we're better than that. And this is part of the problem of ⁓ threads, you can only write 300 words, right? Like we've been talking about this for 10 minutes, Jack: I don't think that's fair. I don't think that's fair. And I think we're smarter than that and we're better than that. And this is part of the problem like online threads, you can only write 300 words. We've been talking about this for 10 minutes. So. Yeah. I think it's really important for people to have a discussion. This really is a discussion. And it's something like you said, it's incredibly nuanced. It needs to be a discussion. We shouldn't be. cancelling someone because they have an opinion about something and maybe our opinion differs and let's open it up and have a conversation about how this can be done responsibly. Kirsten Baritz: This really is a discussion and it's something like you said, it's incredibly nuanced. It needs to be a discussion. We shouldn't be canceling someone because they have an opinion about something and maybe our opinion differs and let's open it up and have a conversation about how this can be done responsibly. And lawfully and... Right. Jack: Right. Kirsten Baritz: with the least amount of harm. Right. Jack: Right. Kirsten Baritz: Let's switch gears. Let's break it back to the fun of this and let's talk about some road trip books because we need a good old fashioned road trip right about now. I'm so about this. We have so many fun, fun books on this list and we actually have a wide variety of books on this list. So you go first. What's your first pick? Jack: I'm gears. so excited about this. ⁓ We have many fun, fun books on this list and we actually have a wide variety of books on this list. So you go first, what's your first pick? Kirsten Baritz: Before we even get into pics, I wanted to define what a road trip is because I just read the new Mary Kay Andrews and it is called Road Trip. And y'all, there's no road trip in this book. So. Okay, what's a road trip? Here's what a road trip is. We agree on this. A road trip is when you're going from point A to point B and maybe all the way back to point A again in a vehicle for an extended period of time, you're going to multiple locations. Yes. Jack: because I just read the news. Yes. and y'all there's no road trip in this book. Okay, what's a road trip? Here's what a road trip is. We agree on this. A road trip is. Yes. ⁓ Kirsten Baritz: Right? You're traveling on a journey and the car is a major element to the journey. Yeah. Or a van. Or a bus. van or a bus. Some kind of a vehicle. But on a road. Mm-hmm. On a road. And that is like you're going from one place to another place. not, which is what this book was, which was, was a delightful book. So I don't want to disparage the book, but. Jack: Yes, or a van, or a bus, but on a road. not, which is this book was, which is it was a delightful book, so I don't want to despair at the book, but it was two sisters and they flew to Ireland and they stayed in an in-Ireland. Kirsten Baritz: It was two sisters and they flew to Ireland and they stayed in an inn in Ireland and there were like windy roads and they would like go research a painting and then they would come back to their hotel in Ireland to stay. There were no other hotels. They were just in a car getting from point A to point That's my everyday life. That's your on vacation. Right. That's not a road trip. That is not a road trip make. So I'm very upset that the Mary Kay Andrews didn't have like a better title that more accurately defines what it is. Cause it's not a road trip book and it's not going on road trip novels. Jack: research, a painting and then would come back to their hotel in Ireland to say there were no other hotels. They were just in a car getting from point A to B. That's my everyday life. That's you're on vacation. Right. That's not a road trip. That is not a road trip. So I'm very upset that the Mary Kate Anders didn't have a better title that more accurately defines what it is. Cause it's not a road trip book and it's not going on road trip novels. Okay. It was great. It was cute. That's not going on road trip novels. Perfect delightful. Kirsten Baritz: So it was great. It was cute. But it's not going on road trip novels. Perfect delightful read. Yeah, it was like two sisters. mom died and she left them a painting and they needed to define the origin of the painting to see if it was one of these great masterworks. So they went back to their great grandmother's homeland in Ireland to research the providence of the painting. Great. Which is lovely. call it like the Irish wish or the Irish something. You know what I mean? Like it just it was not the Irish journey. ⁓ Jack: Yeah, was like two sisters. mom died and she left them a painting and they needed to define the origin of the painting to see if it was one of these great masterworks. So they back to their great-grandmother's homeland in Ireland to research the providence of the painting. Great. Which is lovely. call it like the Irish wish or the ⁓ Irish mother. I love that. Kirsten Baritz: I don't know, the end of spooky arts. don't know. Something that was not road trip. But it was not a road trip novel and it should not be called Road Trip. So I'm putting that one out there. Don't you try to take this as a prompt because I'm going to reject you for it. I'm going to reject you. Okay. Jack: It was not a road trip novel and it should not be called road trip. So I'm putting that one out there. Don't you try to take this as a prompt because I'm going to reject you for it. The end of spooky arts. Was it a ghost painting? Kirsten Baritz: All right. No, there's actually no spooky elements to it. So I'm not really sure why I came up with that one. Jack: love that one. Okay. So what's your first real road trip novel? Kirsten Baritz: So what's your first real road trip novel? So my first real road trip novel actually was a bookmark pick earlier in the year in a different episode. And it's so I met this guy and it's by Alexandra Potter. And essentially a woman in her 40s is swindled out of her life savings by a man who she thought was the love of her life. And he's actually just a swindler and he up and leaves and takes all of her stuff. And a local journalist tracks him down via social media and they hop on a plane, wait for it, where they then go and they wanna track him down. He's on a cruise ship. And so they decide to get in a car and follow the route around the Mediterranean. It's a great summer read as they try to catch him to get her money back. And they form this multi-generational bond and they both have a little soul searching moment ⁓ they are staying. at adorable little hotels along the way and a great road trip novel. ⁓ Jack: Marie as they try to catch him to get her money back. they form this multi generational bond and they both have little soul searching moment. And they are staying at adorable little hotels along the way. it's a great road trip novel. Adorable. So my first pick is a romance by Lauren Connolly and it is P.S. I hate you. And I love this book. It's so cute. It also is a grief novel. So Maddie has lost her brother Josh the ⁓ Josh ⁓ his and his best friend Dominic. travel from place to place to place to scatter his ashes they're and driving ⁓ Sometimes they're just taking a trip, but they're doing it little by little. It's not all at the same time So they're doing it over a period of time I can't remember how long and it's a really sweet good romance ⁓ and that is also a trip Kirsten Baritz: Love it. My next one is The Poppy Fields by Nikki Erlich. She wrote The Measure. Right. So this is like a sci-fi, which is not normally a genre that I love, but it's like sci-fi light. Also a grief novel, coincidentally. Essentially, there are these pods. ⁓ They call them the poppy fields because the pods are for Jack: She wrote the measure. Right. So this is like a. Kirsten Baritz: poppies and there's this facility in California where if you're grieving and you want to get through your grief, you are put to sleep like a sort of like a medically induced coma, I guess, to sleep off your grief. Okay. For like months at a time. And then you wake up and you're like healed from your grief. different people are on their way to the poppy fields. They get stranded by a tornado in sort of middle America and they decide to Jack: Interesting. Kirsten Baritz: rent a car and drive right to California. They're there for different reasons. One person has questions about how the pods work ⁓ are upset with someone who went through the pod system. One person wants to be put to sleep ⁓ go through the journey and one person has a different connection to the poppy fields. ⁓ so they're all sort of reflecting over the course. You get like flashbacks as to why they're going. ⁓ Jack: They're there for different reasons. One person has questions about how the pods work and are upset with someone who went through the pod system. One person wants to be put to sleep and go through the journey. And one person has a different connection to Interesting. OK. Okay. You also ⁓ get insight from the person who came up with the poppy field. ⁓ okay. She started her journey. it's sort of four different narratives and they all intertwined and like a scene at the end. it's a lovely little road trip situation. Kirsten Baritz: You also ⁓ get insight from the person who came up with the poppy field and why she started her journey. it's sort of four different narratives and they all intertwine in like a scene at the end, but it's a lovely little road trip situation. Jack: That sounds like ⁓ such a good book. so unique. ⁓ Kirsten Baritz: sounds like ⁓ such a good book. It's so It is a very unique story. Jack: true story of Tanner and Louise by Colleen Oakley. ⁓ love this book, it's so Tanner has gotten in some trouble. Her mom says she can't stay at the house anymore and Louise's daughter thinks that she needs a caregiver. And so somehow Tanner ends up becoming Louise's caregiver and they're perfectly happy to ignore each other. Until all of a sudden Tanner starts to think that Louise is a renowned jewel thief who was never caught. Okay. And so, okay. Kirsten Baritz: daughter thinks that she needs a caregiver. And so somehow Tanner ends up becoming Louise's caregiver and they're perfectly happy to ignore each other. Okay. Okay. Until all of a sudden Tanner starts to think that Louise is a renowned jewel thief who was never caught. that. Okay. And she's like an older woman. Jack: And she's like an older woman. And she is convinced that she's this jewel thief. And then all of a sudden, the two of them end up in a car, like fleeing and going across the country. And it is hilarious and funny and an intergenerational story. is she the jewel thief? Is she not? And it's just so much fun. Kirsten Baritz: and she's convinced that she's this jewel thief. And then all of a sudden the two of them end up in a car like fleeing and going across the country. And it is hilarious and funny and an intergenerational story. is she the jewel thief? Is she not? And it's just so much fun. I love that. That might be the one that I read. because that one sounds really fun and adorable. Jack: It's hilarious, you would love it. Kirsten Baritz: on my list ⁓ a nonfiction road trip novel. This is going to come as no surprise to anybody. No surprise. It's called The Clanlands by Sam Hewin, who's like my favorite, ⁓ Graham McTavish. ⁓ they play ⁓ Jamie on Outlander ⁓ Dougal Mackenzie. ⁓ Mackenzie. Jack: No surprise Jamie on Outlander and Dougal. That's amazing. I actually love the fact that they're friends in real life. Kirsten Baritz: love the fact that they're friends in real I do too. And this was actually, ⁓ there's a stars show that followed them around. So there were cameras for some of this too. But the concept is basically that these two like really good friends get in a van and they drive through Scotland, which they're like associated so deeply with Scotland. They've done so much for Scottish tourism, this show. And go to different places and it talks about Jack: Okay. friend get in a van and they drive through Scotland which they're like associated so deeply with Scotland they've done so for this show they go to different places and it talks about what it's like to travel together Kirsten Baritz: what it's like to travel together and these really fun things that they learn about Scotland. Like they go and they learn to make whiskey. They go and they participate in like, how do you make the tartan? Like whatever, it's just like, it's an ode to Scotland. And the setting is just as important as the friendships in between because you're really learning about this country. And it's just, it was really enjoyable. I actually listened to it and they narrate it. ⁓ And it's funny. It's really funny. I think this has to be mine. ⁓ you will love it. Jack: I don't know why. ⁓ okay. I think this has to be mine. And I think I have to listen because I love them. Kirsten Baritz: because I love them. You can picture them in a bus going through this whole thing. And I've been to Scotland. So this to me is fantastic. Okay. And I have one more. ⁓ And I mean, this isn't going to surprise to anybody. ⁓ I chose the road to tender hearts Annie Hartnett. And this is actually our book club pick for ⁓ our Jack: And I've been to Scotland, so this to me is fantastic. Okay, and I have one more and I mean, this isn't gonna be a surprise to anybody. I chose The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett. And this is actually our book club pick for our book club members. Kirsten Baritz: book club members. And in order to be a book club member, it's $10 a month or $100 a year. And it allows you to read the book along with us. You get a reading guide, you have a book club discussion at the end of the month, and then the author comes on and joins us. You can ask any questions like really deeply into the story about why they made the choices that they made. There's also other benefits like our monthly Looking Beyonds where we tell you what to read and what not. Jack: Mm-hmm. Kirsten Baritz: to read for the next four weeks ahead. But I will say that we get amazing insight. There are spoilers allowed because everybody's read the book. So we get some really juicy gossip. ⁓ yeah, Claire Leslie Hall told us about the alternate ending for her book. ⁓ Jack: But I will say that we get amazing insight. There are spoilers allowed because everybody's read the book. So we get some really juicy gossip. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Gail Foreman told us about books that she has coming out in 2027. Kirsten Baritz: Virginia Evans told us the origin story of how she got published Jack: it is so much fun. It's on Zoom. So you could watch it no matter where you are. ⁓ we have it all recorded. So you can even watch it after if you can't make the Zoom live. The best. ⁓ Kirsten Baritz: it is so much fun. It's on Zoom. So you could watch it no matter where you are. ⁓ we have it all recorded. So you can even watch it after if you can't make it through Zoom live. And our book club members are the best. I look forward to these events ⁓ month long. So The Road to Tender Hearts is a story that really feels like when I tell people about it, everyone's like, what are you talking about? And then everybody has loved this book. Jack: So, The Road to Tender Hearts is a story that really feels like when I tell people about it, everyone's like, what are you talking about? And then everybody has loved this book. PJ ⁓ this ⁓ guy, we love him, but he has some issues. So, his ex-wife has married his best friend. They are going on a trip, they're going to Alaska. and they didn't invite him, go figure. also can't drive because he is a recovering alcoholic ⁓ he doesn't have a license. ⁓ he decides he is gonna go on a road trip across the country. He's going to define the first girl that he ever had a crush on. He's gonna see what's going on with her. ⁓ in order to get across the country, since he can't drive, he needs to ask his estranged daughter to come with him. and in the car ends up being a cat that can predict death and some orphan children. one of the ⁓ most books I've read. It's so unique. It is a story that when you tell it, it sounds like it just shouldn't go together. And it does in such ⁓ a Kirsten Baritz: most hilarious books. It's so different. It's so unique. It is a story that when you tell it, it sounds like it just shouldn't go together. And it does in such a wonderful way. There's character development. You come to love all the characters. It's just fantastic. Jack: a wonderful way there's character development, you come to love all the characters, it's just fantastic. Kirsten Baritz: I am looking forward to our with Annie at the end of May. Jack: So now we have our bookmark and that's on you this week. What book did you choose? Kirsten Baritz: It is on me and I have a really fun beach read that's coming out on Tuesday. It's Nicola Harrison's The Island Club, and it's set on Balboa Island in 1956. There is something about like the 50s and 60s that I just really gravitate towards. Any kind of a woman's story ⁓ ⁓ is really the time when like women went from being housewives to being more than housewives. ⁓ I love reading about these trailblazers. So ⁓ this really sweet island, think of like ⁓ Beach, ⁓ on the West Coast, ⁓ are three women. Jack: Okay There are three women Millie who has just moved to Baboa Island in the hopes of saving her marriage her husband's like a big league okay and she's thinking that getting them out of the Hollywood scene is gonna be better okay their marriage there's Sylvia whose husband owns the Island Club so the country okay Kirsten Baritz: Millie, who has just moved to Balboa Island in the hopes of saving her marriage. Her husband's like a big league in Hollywood and she's thinking that getting them out of the Hollywood scene is going to be better for their marriage. There's Sylvia, whose husband owns the Island Club. So the country club on on Island. They're like the well-known families and they're having some financial troubles. then there's Amelia, who is a former tennis prodigy who's undercover on the island. ⁓ no way. And the three of them together are gonna kind of change the island's makeup, work out what's going on in their individual personal lives. And really their friendship is the basis for this whole novel. ⁓ And of course, there can't be like a novel like this with just that. So it happens to also take place the majority of it during bow week, I think they call it. Jack: And then there's Amelia, who ⁓ is former tennis prodigy who's undercover on the island. ⁓ no way. ⁓ And three of them together are going to kind of change the island's makeup. Okay, work out what's going on in their individual personalized and really their friendship is the basis for this whole novel. ⁓ And course, there can't be like a novel like this with just just that. So ⁓ take place the majority of it during Val week, think they call it. Which is when all the college kids. Oh my goodness. Kirsten Baritz: which is when all the college kids descend on the island to celebrate the revelry and enjoy the end of their studies. So sort of like a spring breaky kind of vibe in May. And it's great. There's a bathing beauty contest and picture Atlantic City in the 1950s. And that's what you've got here. it's- I've great, great things about- Jack: it's great. There's like a baby beauty contest and like picture Atlanta City in the 1950s. ⁓ So it's I've heard great, great things about this book. Kirsten Baritz: Yeah, it's just a historical fiction that I just really enjoyed. It was like an easy read. It was enjoyable to read poolside. There was something about it that I just couldn't stop reading. I just was really rooting for all three women. And I loved, I just loved picturing this like sort of time period and all the cute bathing suits and just all that. It was just fun. I just really enjoyed it. That's good. I wasn't alive in the 60s. Jack: I didn't stop reading, I just was really rooting for all three women and I loved, I just love picturing this like sort of time period and all the cute bathing suits and just all the, it was just fun. I just really enjoyed it. That's good. I wasn't alive in the 60s, FYI. Kirsten Baritz: Well, this was in the 50s, so you definitely weren't alive. No, In case there was any question about the decade of my birth. I'm never, ever gonna live that one down, am I? No. No. No. But this episode comes out on your birthday, so happy 50th birthday, Jackie! Jack: No, no, in case there was any question about the decade of my birth. No. No. But this episode comes out on your birthday. ⁓ it does. So, ⁓ I'm not ready emotionally. don't feel like I'm 50 and I don't know how my kids are getting so old because other than the fact that everything hurts, I feel like I should still be 30. Well, you look like yourself. Oh, thank you. I love you. So not true. Okay. So our reader question of the week is what are your predictions for the Celebrity Book Club picks? So we will be back in Kirsten Baritz: feel like I'm 50. I don't know how my kids are getting so old. Because other than the fact that everything hurts, I feel like I should still be 30. Well, you look like you're still 30. Thank you. I love you. So not true. Okay. So our reader question of the week is what are your predictions for the celebrity book picks? So we will be back in May. We have no episode next week just as a reminder. Although Aunt Jan is here today and we are probably gonna do a little something. So stay tuned because there might be like a surprise that pops up in the next few weeks. Jack: follow, subscribe, and thank you for watching. Kirsten Baritz: Like, follow, subscribe, and thank you for watching. Happy reading.