Latest / The Read Carpet Report / The Best Celebrity Book Club Thrillers

Transcript

The Best Celebrity Book Club Thrillers · The Read Carpet Report

• Jackie: Welcome to the Red Carpet Report, your backstage past for celebrity book clubs, book adaptations, and new book releases. I'm Jackie. And Kirsten. And where are your hosts? Today's episode is a deep Kirsten Baritz: Welcome to the Red Carpet Report, your backstage past for celebrity book clubs, book adaptations, and new book releases. I'm Jackie. And I'm Kirsten. And where are your hosts? Today's episode is a deep dive. And what are we deep diving into? Thriller Celebrity Book Club picks. This is so perfect for the month of October. I'm really excited about this one. Jackie: Thriller celebrity book club picks. This is so perfect for the month of October. I'm really excited about this one. Kirsten Baritz: I am too, but before that, we've got to do the red carpet rundown. So there is a movie that is a book adaptation, The Love Hypothesis by Allie Hazelwood. And we both have finally watched it Jackie: So there is a movie that is a book adaptation, The Love Hypothesis by Allie Hazlewood. And we both have finally watched it. what did you think? Because you've never read an Allie Hazlewood book. I didn't. Kirsten Baritz: What did you think? Because you never read an Ali Pazerwood book. I didn't, and I really loved it. I thought it was really fun. I thought the press tour with Lily Reinhardt was wonderful. I loved the homage to old 90s rom-coms. I don't personally think I need to read Jackie: Read Kirsten Baritz: the book now, but I am looking forward to further adaptations. And she did also just announce there's gonna be a sequel starring the two main characters. Jackie: And she did also just announce there's gonna be a sequel starring the two main characters in both movie book. I'm so excited. I did read the book. I thought they did a fabulous job. I was actually impressed. I felt like there was actually only really one steamy scene. I felt like the book was definitely a lot steamier. Kirsten Baritz: In both movie and book format. I'm so excited. I did read the book. I thought they did a fabulous job. I was actually impressed. I felt like there was actually only really one steamy scene. I felt like the book was definitely a lot steamier. Jackie: and I loved it. I thought the the actors that they chose were Kirsten Baritz: and I loved it. I thought that the actors that they chose were. Jackie: perfect. They did such a good job. It just made me so happy. Kirsten Baritz: Perfect. They did such a good job. It just made me so happy. Now, does it set up like future spin-off? Like w talk to me a little bit about the universe because I I haven't read it, so I don't fully understand it. And I know that she writes a lot of these like stem and a sta novels. Are they interconnected? Is it just like the same school? Jackie: Are they interconnected? Is it just like the same school? Kirsten Baritz: Are these people friends? Like, how does that work? So the Jackie: So the full novels are not connected in any way. but she did write three novellas that are you could buy together in one book. And the three novellas are three different friends and they each appear in each other's stories. Kirsten Baritz: Are not connected in the but she did write three novellas that are you could buy together in one book. And the three novellas are three different friends and they each appear in each other's stories. Got it. Got it. Okay. All right. Which I think those would be Jackie: Which I think those would fabulous adaptations because you could literally create an entire world with these three friends because you can add on all their other friends. Kirsten Baritz: Because you could literally create an entire world with these three friends because you can add on all their other friends. I think this would be really cool to see her expand this universe a little bit. I I do Jackie: Mm-hmm. Kirsten Baritz: think that would be a really fun, kind of in the vein of off campus or heated Jackie: Yeah. Kirsten Baritz: rivalry, which are about sports. Like, why not lean a little bit more into the nerdy side of romance? You know, like I love the idea Jackie: I love the idea. Kirsten Baritz: of science workplace. Romances that is fantastic and I really do hope I know Jackie: Fantastic and I really do hope I know we're Kirsten Baritz: we're doing another movie, but I hope that they expand and do more of her stories. I will say that the sequel, the book is called The Two Body Problem and it is going to be out on February second, twenty twenty seven. Jackie: I will say that the sequel, the book is it is going to be out on February 2nd, 2027. I'm very much going to be pre ordering that one. Okay, so our other bookish news is related to the Booker Prize. So they have announced the short list for the Booker Prize this year. Kirsten Baritz: Very much going to be pre-ordering that one. Okay, so our other bookish news is related to the Booker Prize. So they have announced the shortlist for the Booker Prize this year. Jackie: And Kirsten Baritz: And Jackie: I'm not surprised to find one of Oprah's picks this year, John of John by Douglas Stewart, on the shortlist. Kirsten Baritz: I'm not surprised to find one of Oprah's picks this year, John of John by Douglas Stewart, on the shortlist. No, the Booker Prize, for those that maybe don't know, is sort of similar to the Pulitzer. So the Pulitzer, you have to be an American author. It is the highest award or one of the highest, most distinguished awards for literature that you can get. So that's the Pulitzer. The Booker Prize is the same. Jackie: except Kirsten Baritz: Except that it's for the English word, like the English English Jackie: that it's for the English word, like the English Kirsten Baritz: written word. So you Jackie: You can Kirsten Baritz: can be an American and win this book as of I think somewhat Jackie: Think somewhere. Kirsten Baritz: recently. It didn't originally intend to be that way. It is set up in the UK, and it used to be only a UK or Irish Jackie: in the UK and it used to be totally a UK or Irish Kirsten Baritz: author could win this prize. And now it's any book written in English. Yeah, I think since 2014. Yeah. Jackie: Yeah, I think since twenty fourteen. We have Elizabeth Strout also on the shortlist for her most recent book. And again, she was also an Oprah book club pick twice. For Olive again Kirsten Baritz: We have Elizabeth Strout also on the shortlist for her most recent book. And again, she was also an Oprah book club pick twice. Twice over, that's right. Olive again. Jackie: And tell me. And her new book is Things We Never Say. Kirsten Baritz: Tell me. That sounds right. And her new book is Things We Never Say. And this, I think, just solidifies what we've always kind of said that Jackie: Mm-hmm. Kirsten Baritz: Oprah is by far the most literary of the four major book clubs. with Jenna, you know, kind of coming behind her, sort of following in her footsteps. And then GMA and Reese being the more approachable Jackie: Mm-hmm. And then GMA and Reese being the more approachable. this kind of just solidifies it because none of their pics are on this list. Right. So Kirsten Baritz: This kind of just solidifies it because none of their pics are on this list. Right. So That leads us into the main segment, which is we are talking about our Jackie: That leads us into the main segment, which is we are talking about our favorite celebrity book club books that are thrillers. And there are none from Jenna or Oprah on this list. Kirsten Baritz: Favorite celebrity book club books that are thrillers. And there are none from Jenna or Oprah on this list. That's right. Because they just thrillers tend to be a little bit more approachable, a little lighter, a little more fast-paced. Yes. And they don't tend to choose them. Jackie: Yes. And they don't tend to choose them. Kirsten Baritz: I think there was one thriller on Jenna's list that, you know, we Jackie: Yeah, we don't Kirsten Baritz: didn't love. We didn't think it was worthy of a best title. Jackie: And a few on Oprah's backpack list that we never really read. she's had a literary mystery. That's that's not a th not a thriller. Right. Kirsten Baritz: And a few on Oprah's backpack list that we never really read. she's had a literary mystery. That's that's not a not a thriller. Right. And some of these things that they call thrillers, not really suspenseful in some way as like a plot device as opposed to like A total thriller. If you if you're a thriller reader, you know what you're expecting. It's kind of like when the New York Times came out and was like, Here are the 50 thrillers Jackie: It's kinda like when the New York Times came out and was like, Here's the fifteenth brothers of Kirsten Baritz: ever written. And people were like, Hold on, these are not, some of these are not thrillers. Jackie: These are not some of these are not right. Right. Kirsten Baritz: the thriller definition is very wide ranging, but we're talking about the very suspenseful. You're a little bit panicked for the characters. Jackie: the thriller definition is very wide ranging, but we're talking about the very suspenseful. You're a little bit panicked for the the characters, you think something scary is gonna happen. There's that feeling in your heart of like suspense. Do you know what I'm saying? They also happen to be Kirsten Baritz: You think something scary is gonna happen. There's that feeling in your heart of like suspense. Do you know what I'm saying? And some of the books that we have here are some of the best, best thrillers that we've ever read. They also happen to be Jackie: celebrity book club pick. So Kirsten Baritz: celebrity book club picks. So Jackie: I love that Reese and GMA have a wider variety of genres to choose from. If you're not into that, that's totally fine. Kirsten Baritz: I love that Reese and GMA have a wider variety of genres to choose from. If you're not into that, that's totally fine. Yep. But we are talking about thrillers. So we're really just focusing on Reese and GMA this week. But we are also going to expand it and talk about their YA picks too. yeah. They each have a fabulous YA pick. Okay, so let's let's get into who should we do first? Do you wanna do Reese? Yeah, let's do Reese. Jackie: yeah, they each have a fabulous Y pick. Okay, so let's let's get into who should we do first? Do you wanna do Reese? Yeah, let's do Reese. Okay. I'll start. Kirsten Baritz: I'll start and I wanna start with the guest list. Now I should say that Reza was really hard because that first year that she really launched her book club, she had a lot of amazing thrillers like The Last Mrs. Parish and Something in the Water. Like she Jackie: the guest list. Now I should say that Reesa was really hard because that first year that she really launched her book club, she had a lot of amazing thrillers. Yes. Last Mrs. Parish and Yeah. Something in the Water. Like she really Kirsten Baritz: really went hard on thrillers in the beginning. So it's hard to find one that I really wanted to narrow down. And we're totally teasing you by only giving you one. Jackie: Just one and we're totally teasing you by only giving you one. Kirsten Baritz: Right. We're only giving you one. Jackie: But I'm choosing the gas list by Lucy. Kirsten Baritz: But I'm choosing The Guestless by Lucy Foley because that book introduced me to Lucy Foley as a thriller writer, and she has become one of my absolute go-tos. I just read her most recent one, that's a Miss Jackie: That book introduced me to Lucy Foley as a writer and she has become one of my absolute go-tos. I just read her most recent one, that's in this Kirsten Baritz: Marple retelling kind of thing. Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel. Yes. And I just think that she, Jackie: murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel? Yes. And I just think that she Kirsten Baritz: every single one of her thrillers has really been incredible. Where some of the other ones, they've been a little more hit or miss the previous authors. Jackie: Been incredible, or some of been a little more hit or miss the pretty solid. What I like about her thrillers are she really takes the time to build the story. So if you are looking for action from page one, she is not your girl. She takes time to build the story, which means by the time you get to the end, it's that much more powerful. Totally. And this one is set. Kirsten Baritz: She really takes the time to build the story. So if you are looking for action from page one, she is not your girl. She takes time to build the story, which means by the time you get to the end, it's that much more powerful. Totally. And this one is set during a storm at a wedding on an isolated island, and it opens with a murder. And the entire time you're trying to figure out who the dead body is. And Jackie: And who Kirsten Baritz: Who was the potential killer. And so you kind of open with them finding a body, and then you go back in time to the beginning of the weekend and slowly build your way forward to the point that starts the book. I love it when I don't know who is killed. Right? I love it so much because it's two things for me to figure out. Yep. It's very hard to figure out who the murderer is if you don't even know who's dead. I know. And and she. Jackie: Time to the beginning of the weekend and slowly that starts the day. I love it when I don't know who was killed. I love it so much because it's two things for me to figure out. It's very hard to figure out who the murderer is if you don't even know who's dead. I know. I love that. And she, I think this Kirsten Baritz: I think this might have been one of the very first books that I had ever read with that kind of a plot device. And so it just really endeared me to Lucy. And Jackie: And so it just really endeared me to Lucy and Kirsten Baritz: I just I adore her writing. So that is my personal favorite Reese pick. So my favorite Reese pick is one of my favorite thrillers of all time. It is Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister. This is another unique, very unique premise. So unique. So there is a Jackie: Personal favorite Reese pick. So my favorite Reese pick is one of my favorite thrillers of all time. It is Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister. This is another unique, very unique credit. So unique. So there is a woman who goes outside on Halloween and sees her son kill somebody. Kirsten Baritz: Who goes outside on Halloween and sees her son kill somebody Jackie: She cannot fathom how her son came to this because this is not in his personality. She goes to sleep, she wakes up and it's the day before. So the murder has not happened. And she keeps going to sleep and waking up and going back in time, trying to trace how it happened. And so we are learning about the story, but we're learning about it backwards. Kirsten Baritz: She cannot fathom how her son came to this because this is not in his personality. She goes to sleep, she wakes up, and it's the day before. So the murder has not happened. And she keeps going to sleep and waking up and going back in time. trying to trace how it happened. And so we are learning about the story, but we're learning about it backwards. Jackie: It was fantastic. Kirsten Baritz: It was fantastic. That is another really clever one. It was so smart. It's it's hard to be Jackie: Was so smart. It's it's hard to be Kirsten Baritz: both suspenseful and clever, I find. Jackie: Mm-hmm. A lot of the suspense is sometimes takes away from the cleverness and with both of these, they're insanely clever. Kirsten Baritz: A lot of the suspense is sometimes takes away from the cleverness. And with both of these, they're insanely clever. Jackie: Yes. So I adore that. I always Kirsten Baritz: So I adore that. I always Jackie: am a a marvel about how people can write a story moving forward going back in time. I just Kirsten Baritz: About how people can write a story moving forward, going back in time. I just you seem to like the hat understory, Chloe Benjamin. Very similar going backwards. Because it hurts my brain and I couldn't do it. And so I'm in awe of anybody that can. Jackie: Yes, yes. Because it hurts my brain and I couldn't do it and so I'm in awe of anybody that can. Kirsten Baritz: Well, my final one is my YA pick for Reese. So we've each chosen one YA pick. You chose a GMA Jackie: Mm-hmm. Kirsten Baritz: one, I chose a Reese one. My Reese one is recent. It's the January. It's the very first Sonny Reeds pick. It is Beth is Dead by Katie Burnett, Jackie: It's the January's very first Sunny Reads pick. Yeah. It is Beth is Dead by Katie Burkina. Kirsten Baritz: and it is a retelling of Little Women in Jackie: Yeah. Kirsten Baritz: the modern day, in which Beth has been murdered. And so you're trying to figure out what happened. There's some flashbacks. it is very hard to stick the landing Jackie: were trying to figure out what happened. There's some flashbacks. it is very hard to stick the land. Kirsten Baritz: of a classic retelling, but it was stuck very well. Jackie: bad. We give it a ten. And Kirsten Baritz: We give it a 10. And I just thought it was a really interesting take on this particular story. I listened to it, I thought it was great on audio. and it did not feel like a YA book. It felt like something anybody could enjoy. Yeah, I loved it. I love when you're reading a YA that doesn't feel like it was written for a 14-year-old. Jackie: I listened to it. I thought it was great for audio. and it did not feel like a YA book. It felt like something anybody could enjoy. Yeah, I loved it. I love when you're reading a YA that doesn't feel like it was written for 14-year-old. Right? Because YA is generally 14 to 18, but that doesn't mean that a 14 to 18-year-old can't enjoy. Kirsten Baritz: Right, because YA is generally fourteen to eighteen. But that doesn't mean that a fourteen to eighteen year old can't enjoy Jackie: sophisticated writing and this was really good. Kirsten Baritz: sophisticated writing. Right. And this was really good. Yeah, it was really it was a great, it was one of the best thrillers of the year, is one of the best retellings I've ever read. So solid choice. But now we're gonna move on to GMA. Do you wanna start us Jackie: Now we're gonna move on to GMA. Do you wanna start us? Kirsten Baritz: off with that one? Jackie: So listen for the lie. Kirsten Baritz: Listen for the lie. you stole this one from me. I forgot you stole this one from me. Okay. It was a 2024 pick. Okay. This was one of the smartest, best thrillers I've ever read. If you have not read it, I highly recommend it on audio because it is a full cast. Jackie: Amy Tintera. It was a 2024 pick. This was one of the smartest, best thrillers I've ever read. If you have not read it, I highly recommend it on audio because it is a full cast narration situation. Kirsten Baritz: narration situation Jackie: With a podcast that sounds like a podcast. I mean, this is a full audio production. Yes, it's an experience best listened to. So this is a story about a woman who is not quite sure if she killed her best friend. Kirsten Baritz: with a podcast that sounds like a podcast. I mean this is a full audio production. Yes, it's an experience best listened to. So this is a story about a woman who is not quite sure if she killed her best friend. Love how you put that. It's a yes, it's an amnesia Jackie: It's a yes, it's an amnesia. Kirsten Baritz: plot line. Jackie: So she lost her friend. She has no memory of that night. She really wants to find out what happened to her friend. And so she goes to a true crime podcaster and wants him to help her investigate what happened with the caveat that if she killed her friend, she wants to know she thinks she should go to jail for killing her friend. It Kirsten Baritz: She really wants to find out what happened to her friend. And so she goes to a true crime podcaster and wants him to help her investigate what happened with the caveat that if she killed her friend, she wants to know she thinks she should go to jail for killing her friend. It Jackie: goes down some rabbit holes. It was so fantastic. I didn't predict it and I loved the way this was done. This was one of my Kirsten Baritz: goes down some rabbit hole. It was so fantastic. It really was. I didn't predict it. And I loved the way this was done. This was one of my Jackie: favorite thrillers of all time. I think she has a new book coming out and I this Kirsten Baritz: Favorite thrillers of all time. I think she has a new book coming out and I this is one of those situations where I wanna read it so badly, but also like you guys To kind of climb because it was one of the best, I am with Jackie: Because it it was one of the best. Kirsten Baritz: you, best thrillers I've ever, ever read. Which Jackie: Red. Kirsten Baritz: coincidentally, mine is also the same, the same kind of bar of one Jackie: same the same kind of bar. Kirsten Baritz: of the best thrillers I've ever read that I think about routinely. I think it came out in 2021. I know what you're gonna say. Jackie: I know what you're gonna say. Kirsten Baritz: It's the push by Ashley Audrain. And Jackie: And this Kirsten Baritz: This is a psychological thriller because the suspense is almost in the mother's head. It's essentially the story of a mom who is kind of going through a divorce and she has partial custody of her daughter. It's kind of shared a custody situation. And she's not sure if she just doesn't Jackie: And she has partial custody of her daughter. It's kind of shared custody situation and she's not sure if she just doesn't Kirsten Baritz: like her daughter or if her daughter is actually a sociopath, but she's like five. Jackie: But she's like five. So it's kind of like what is going on here? Right. So we don't know if she's just the worst mom in the world or there's something actually wrong with her daughter. Kirsten Baritz: So it's kind of like what is going on here? Right. So we don't know if she's just the worst mom in the world. Or there's something actually wrong with her dog. Right. Or that there's like an emotional fallout from a divorce. Or there's, Jackie: Right. Right. Kirsten Baritz: you know, there's all these different dominoes and there's all these different things that happen. and I don't want to tell you like the catalyst for some of the thoughts around here, but it Jackie: It I think about Kirsten Baritz: I think about it all the time. It like really is it's a messed up one. And she also has a new one coming out and I'm also scared to Jackie: She also has a new one coming out and I'm also scared to Kirsten Baritz: read it because I'm I'm nervous that it's not gonna be able to like live up to that one. Jackie: that one. It sounded fantastic. It sounded fantastic. It's coming out January 2027 and the name is escaping me right now. Well we can Kirsten Baritz: It's sounding fantastic. It's coming out January twenty twenty seven. Okay. The name is escaping me right now. Well, we can look at the list. We can link that below so you can see it. okay, so what is your YA pick? Because your YA pick is from the GMA book club list. It is. It's the grandest game and it's Jennifer Lynn Barnes. Yes. And I loved this. It's in the Hawthorne Brothers. Jackie: It is. It's the grandest game and it's Jennifer Lynn Barnes. And I loved this. It's in the Hawthorne Brothers Kirsten Baritz: universe. Jackie: universe. Kirsten Baritz: Yes, the inheritance games, all of that. Yep. So this one it has Avery, it has the brothers. Okay. And it is almost like a year later after after the inheritance games okay and they are holding a contest that is the grandest game to give someone else an opportunity to win money. Jackie: So this one, it has Avery, it has the brothers, and it is almost like a year later, after after the Inheritance Game series, and they are holding a contest that is the grandest game to give someone else an opportunity to win money. So it's a thriller, there's puzzles, there's games, it's just very smart and very well done like all of her books are. Kirsten Baritz: It's a thriller, there's puzzles, there's games, it's just very smart and very well done, like all of her books are. I love a smart thriller. Jackie: think they're hard to pull off, and she pulls them off so well. I mean, she must be an absolutely brilliant human being to be able to leave the twist that she does with puzzles. over a series, right? I know. It's impressive. Anytime I see someone do that, I wonder what their preparation is and how much time they spend doing their own like sudoku or or like Kirsten Baritz: I think they're hard to pull off and she pulls them off so well. I mean, she must be an absolutely brilliant human being to be able to weave the twists that she does with these puzzles over a series, right? It's it's impressive. Anytime I see someone do that, I wonder what their preparation is and how much time they spend doing their own like sudoku's or I know like Jackie: Myrtles or Kirsten Baritz: myrtles. Yeah. Yep. To like come up with all these clues. It's It's something. It's something. And that's a solid series. It's another one that is YA but just feels like I enjoy that whole series. I know you do too. It's just Yeah. And my daughter. Yeah. My daughter, she's fourteen and she loves them too. I don't feel like I'm being talked down to, but they also don't feel like they're too much. It's like the perfect in between, enjoyable thriller. Jackie: I enjoy that whole thing. know you do too. It's just Yeah, and my daughter. Yeah. Who my daughter, she's fourteen, and she loves them too. They don't feel like I'm being talked down to, but they also don't feel like they're too much. It's like the perfect in-between, enjoyable thriller. Kirsten Baritz: I like them because this is a a heart pounding but it's not like scary. Like I'm I can go to sleep after Jackie: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Kirsten Baritz: I read this book or in the middle of reading this book. It's not like a horror. Jackie: Right, right. It's not like a horror. No, Well Kirsten Baritz: Well, that's those are our favorites. We do Jackie: We do. Kirsten Baritz: have a list of the best of each of these that we will link in the show notes. So if you want to go in and take a further look at other thriller recommendations or our other favorites from the list, you can absolutely do so. But I think now it's time Jackie: so but I think now it's time for the Kirsten Baritz: for the bookmark, and I do believe it is yours this week, my dear. I'm so excited. My bookmark this week is The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances by Jackie: I am so excited. My bookmark this week is The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances by Glenn Kirsten Baritz: Glenn Dixon. And I love this book. It is about a little Roomba who it's in the future. And this Roomba is essentially the housekeeper who goes around and cleans everything in the house. Like Rosie from the Jetsons? I love that. Okay. Jackie: Dixon. And I love this book. It is about a little Roomba who it's in the future. And this Roomba is essentially the housekeeper who goes around and cleans everything in the house. Like Rosie from the desert? A hundred percent. Kirsten Baritz: Okay. Jackie: Okay, except that she's looks like a Roomba and she has named herself Scout after to kill a Mockingbird. Stop it right now. I I I kid you not. Okay. How does she know how to kill a mocking bird? Well, that's the thing. So the she lives in a house with a man and his wife. His wife is sick, and the man has collected books and he's collected rare editions of books. Kirsten Baritz: She has named herself Scout after to kill a Mockingbird. Stop it right now. I I I kid you not, okay? How does she know about to kill a mocking bird? Well, that's the thing. So the she lives in a house with a man and his wife. His wife is sick, and the man has collected books and he's collected rare editions of books. Jackie: because books were so important to him. Kirsten Baritz: because books were so important to him. Jackie: And so it's very interesting. It really calls into question AI and the role that AI has because you could see the little roomba, and the roomba talks to the fridge, who talks to watch, and watch is what controls. Kirsten Baritz: And so it's very interesting. It really calls into question AI and the role that AI has because you could see the little Roomba, and the Roomba talks to the fridge, who talks to Watch. And watch is what controls Jackie: The whole house and tells fridge what to order, and the deliveries come, and the cars automatically drive, and they can sense when you're going outside and the doors lock behind you, and the Kirsten Baritz: the whole house and tells fridge what to order and the deliveries come and the cars automatically drive and they can sense when you're going outside and the doors lock behind you. Jackie: cars take you where you need to go. we start to question how much control AI has over our lives and whether, you know, in Kirsten Baritz: Cars take you where you need to go. we start to question how much control AI has over our lives and whether you know in the future we just kind of let it go. There's so many Jackie: the future we just kind of let it go. There's so many. Kirsten Baritz: different components to this. You feel for these this little robot who is not a person that doesn't have feelings, and yet I feel like it has. Jackie: Different components to this you feel for these this little robot who is not a person, it doesn't have feelings and yet I feel like it has has feelings. This Kirsten Baritz: has feelings. This is very Jackie: This is very Kirsten Baritz: brave little toaster coded. If you are a Disney fan, that's what this cover reminded me of it. The description kind of sounds like it, but much more timely and AI heavy in general. Yeah. Jackie: Mm yeah. And you feel for the characters, but also the, you know, these AI and Scout is questioning does she have feelings? Can she feel just because she's a robot? It was such a good book. I I loved it. It is very accessible read for someone who doesn't usually do like a Kirsten Baritz: and you feel for the characters, but also the, you know, these AI and Scout is questioning, does she have feelings? Can she feel just because she's a robot? It was such a good book. I I loved it. it is very accessible read for someone who doesn't usually do like a Jackie: Like a sci-fi. So it's speculative fiction? Yes. It yes. It's it's speculative fiction. which I guess speculative fiction does encompass like every what if scenario. But for our purposes, I like to think of it as like a light sci-fi. Okay. Yeah, approachable sci-fi. Approachable Kirsten Baritz: Like a sci-fi. which is me. So it's speculative fiction, is that what we would call this? Yes. Okay. It's it's speculative fiction. which I guess speculative fiction does encompass like everyone if scenario. Right. But for our purposes, I like to think of it as like a light sci fi. Okay. Yeah, approachable sci fi. Approachable Jackie: sci-fi that is not Kirsten Baritz: sci fi that is not Jackie: full on like The Martian or Project Hail Mary or which are thinking the Terminator because we're talking about it. What which are phenomenal books. Some people might put them in the same category. I don't. Kirsten Baritz: Full on like The Martian or Project Hell Mary or which I was thinking The Terminator because we're talking about AI, but which are phenomenal books. Some people might put them in the same category. I don't. Okay, fair. Well, that was a very fun book, Mark. What is our episode for next week at this point? I'm trying to think about it. I know, but what is it? Jackie: Know what it is. We are talking about our favorite nonfiction books. Kirsten Baritz: Favorite nonfiction books. That's right, for the reading challenge. I forgot about that. It's a plot twist episode. Okay. Jackie: Yes. Kirsten Baritz: Okay, so that would mean that the reader question is what are your favorite nonfiction novels? Please let us know. I mean non-fiction novels, that's not a thing. Nonfiction books, what are your favorite nonfiction books? And next week we will be announcing who our pick for book club is. Jackie: Favorite nonfiction books. And next week we will be announcing who our pick for book club is. Kirsten Baritz: Yes. And it's a new release and it's so good. It's so good. Outstanding. Jackie: And it's outstanding. Outstanding. Kirsten Baritz: Well that's it from us. So like, follow and subscribe. And happy reading. Jackie: And happy reading.