Latest / Cait & Court's Cozy Corner: Romance Readers / Let's Talk About: And Now, Back to You by BK Borison
Transcript
- Courtney Richter: Hi. Caitlin Stryker: Executive producers and hosts, Caitlin Stryker and Courtney Richter, producers, Canasia Ngo and Hollie Lobosky Original music, Cassie De Silva. This is a podcast for lovers of romance and romantasy novels who want to go on a deep dive into their favorite genre. Honest discussions and salacious details giving romance books the respect they deserve. We are two friends, actors, moms and romance readers who like a bit of spice and everything nice in their books. Welcome back to Cait and Court's Cozy Corner. Oh my gosh. I am not gonna lie. I'm having this funny little moment because I held back on an impulse. Right when we went on, I wanted to be like, and now back to you. You know the drill. Be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to our podcast. Courtney Richter: Because... Yes! And now back to you. Yes! Caitlin Stryker: That's the book we're talking about by B. K. Borison which is so fun because we did her Christmas book, which was one of my favorite holiday reads of the season. It really, really was. And then I loved getting to read this book now. I love that we're covering it in March. We had intended to do this book in February and it got bumped. I think we had another book or Life Got Bazy was something, which is like slightly too bad because it's such a perfect February book. Courtney: Thanks for tuning in to Cait and Court's Cozy Corner Romance Readers. Courtney Richter: We did. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: Hi, I'm Cait But that being said, if you're keeping up with RTBR and if you've already read this and you're listening to it after you've read it, then like perfect timing. Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. Courtney: And I'm Court. Welcome to Cait and Court's Cozy Corner Romance Readers. Courtney Richter: Exactly. Well, and it did, it did come out at the end of February, which was part of the like ⁓ push for when we were going to deliver it. But with that in mind, like it, I actually read it because look, it takes place in snowstorm. That's the big thing of it. It's very wintry. Cause though, even for me reading it this last week, I'm like, cause right now it's March. I was like, ⁓ I'm surprised this came out as late as it did because it's so winter born, but we are in the West coast. East coast is still very much living this winter storm right now. So they are like, Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. That's why, you know, it's very wintery. Courtney: As we like to say, you don't need spice for a book to be good. Well, you don't need running shoes to run, but they sure do help. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah Yeah. Yes. Yeah. Courtney Richter: fine. But it did, I did feel like, ⁓ maybe this should have been more of a January release personally, because it's very winter. Caitlin Stryker: it should have been January even for the East Coast too, because you're still excited about winter, you're still enjoying winter, you're in it and you want it. Whereas like, ⁓ you know, it coming out towards when it did a little bit later on, you're already getting that winter fatigue, you know, and then you're looking, right? Courtney Richter: Yes. spring. I'm not even wearing a turtleneck for this and it clearly needs a turtleneck. Yes. Caitlin Stryker: this I know it's so fine. Well, this is like one of my summer sweaters, but I went I went on I went on color I went on color for my sweater and I almost didn't wear this because I was like this is a summer sweater but I was like no no I need the bright pink. But um, but I would like I don't know it's very much so a winter read and now once now once we hit March like, you know, we're always a little bit ahead of ourselves like now I'm like we're spring like Courtney Richter: I'm in like my March sweater, got arms out. Yes. fully. We're ready. We're like, the flowers are coming out. We're ready for so yeah, it's a it's a hard time. That being said, it is worth three. Like Cait said, it is a winter break, but it's worth it. It's a fun dive. It's it's a really cute. It's a second book. The first one was called First Time Caller, which Cait has not read. And I read in preparation for this one, because I liked one of us reading both one surprise. And so I take that on and it's which is Aiden and Lucy who are in this book. Obviously, it's their story. Caitlin Stryker: I love this spring book! Yeah, I don't really... ⁓ It's so worth it. Yes, I have not. Yes. Courtney Richter: And you get snippets of Jackson and Delilah in first time caller, but nothing. Yes. Caitlin Stryker: ⁓ you do? Okay. Yeah, just a little there was a little hint that like where we maybe had some because there was there was some talk early in this book. Courtney Richter: because Jackson works with Aiden at the radio station. So the first book is all in the radio station and then this one becomes the newsroom. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, like I was able to, I was able to piece those things together where the first one would have been. And, you know, I also read some comps that like there was comparisons to the first one to Sleepless in Seattle, which I love. It's one of my all time favorite rewatch romcoms. And I was kind of like, ⁓ I'm sort of bummed that I didn't have time to get to it. Cause it definitely sounds like, I probably will. I probably will cause. Courtney Richter: Yes. Yeah, go back and read it. It's really cute. Yeah, it's a cute one. Caitlin Stryker: this and this one was so cute too and it sort of threw me off because then people had done some comps with when Harry met Sally for this one which is my number one ultimate rewatch ⁓ rom-com favorite and I don't see the comp no I see where they it's not so that threw me off because it's very much not there were like Courtney Richter: It was. Yes. And I don't think it's really comparable. No, I don't think it's Harry met Sally. Yes. I mean, she's a lovable like Sally, like she's like a Meg Ryan lovable, but she's not as neurotic as Sally and he's not. He's neurotic. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, but he's... No, he's the neurotic one and he's... he's not even... neither one of them are... it's not friendship. I know, it just... I don't know. It just... it's a bad cop. Courtney Richter: And it's not friendship. No, no, no, I agree. It's not Harry Met Sally. Nope, it's not. It's not that at all. Caitlin Stryker: It's not, it's not. Now I haven't read the first one, first time caller, but I can see where from just a little bit of the storyline that I got on that one, that it's a better comp for Sleepless in Seattle. Exactly, to the radio. ⁓ Courtney Richter: Well, yeah, because the daughter calls in and first time caller and like to the radio to the heartline guy and then Lucy talks to him and they and then she comes on the show and as their cohost trying to find her a boyfriend on the heartline then they two fall for each other is essentially which is roughly a little bit sleep. There's no like moment at the Empire State building by any means. It's just a kid that sets it up. Basically is the tie in of that one. So for that, but this one. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. ⁓ which is... It is. Courtney Richter: It's almost Groundhog Day. Like it's not Groundhog Day, but the like winter storm and falling for the person working on the news through part is the part that I would comp this to without the repetitive Groundhog Day part of it. Caitlin Stryker: Mm hmm. Yes. Totally. Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, it's not a Groundhog Day book. Don't worry. But it, we have, those are no. ⁓ But we, but anyways, it's cute. ⁓ you know what's interesting? It's cute. You mentioned the kid and I'm like, ⁓ so like kids in this one too, they play a really strong. Courtney Richter: Yes, we've learned our lesson on those guys. We've learned our lesson. ⁓ No. Yeah, they're teenagers in this one. He's the like, he's the guardian of his siblings, his sisters. Yes. When she find out in the first book that he is a guardian of his sisters. And so it's I felt like the introduction to that was a little bit buried in this one, but to understand like the girls are his sisters and the mot like it gets to it. But I felt like it was a little buried. If you hadn't read the first one, it was one moment I'm like, Oh, I should ask Cait if it took a second to figure out that he was guardian of his sisters. Caitlin Stryker: Yes, yes. And then in the... It was buried, yeah. It did, it took just a second though. It didn't really throw me off, because it was funny. It didn't feel like he was their dad. It didn't feel like he was old enough to be a dad of a teenager, you know? And so I was like, that's not it. And then once it came, the mom thing, I was like, oh, okay, got it. And then I thought that was a very interesting shared trauma for the two leads of the book, for Zolila and Jack. Courtney Richter: Yeah. Yes. Yes. ⁓ what you would love. We haven't even given the synopsis of the book. I will do that. But in first time caller Lucy and her daughter, Maya, and Maya is like nine. ⁓ and she had her when she was like 16 or 18, like right on with her first boyfriend. And he turns out it was her best friend in the world. And they fooled around and got pregnant and he's actually gay and lives with them. And she's always raised Lucy. Like she's single with Lucy and her best friend and his husband, like they share co-parent and do it. So it's a very healthy, separate raising, but totally different scenario than like his with his. Caitlin Stryker: I always try. Courtney Richter: sisters being in there. ⁓ But yes, the synopsis of the story is Jackson works for the radio show and they share a parking lot with a newsroom in Baltimore. And Delilah is the weather girl turned features of this newsroom and they park Jackson's always had his parking spot. And then two years ago when the newsroom moved in there, Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Okay. Okay. Yes. Courtney Richter: this car keeps putting up and he's been leaving notes on it for a year and a half or two years driving him crazy that they won't move their car and Aiden who's his best friend is always like, why don't you just park somewhere else? And he's like, this is my spot. She needs to learn how to like respect my spot. And he'll leave notes about how to park properly all the time. And they, the newsroom and the radio decided to team up and they're going to send their radio meteorologist, which is Jackson and the newsroom meteorologist, which is Delilah together on this special quest to cover the storm of the century that's coming in a couple hours away in the mountains. Basically is the set up. it's a little enemies lovers because he's like, she's the one that always parks. And she's like, this guy hates me. But like, it's like, yeah, that's the set up of it. They're worried they're not gonna get along. It's like the, yeah. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah, well yeah, you're right, you're right, you're Sorry, my like kind of is to you guys. ⁓ We literally just, we're batch recording, right? We just record an episode about Daggermouth. ⁓ Courtney Richter: ⁓ yes, a true enemies to lovers in Romanticity, which is a real, this is a romance enemies to lovers tape. This is not, switch it back, writing's on the wall. Caitlin Stryker: Switch gears. Switch. Yes, yes. Yes. Courtney Richter: irritating, flirting, I can't have them, so we'll just hate each other. Enemies to lovers in this one. Caitlin Stryker: Not violent. Courtney Richter: You're not shooting each other. ⁓ Caitlin Stryker: shooting each other. ⁓ man. But you know what was fun though? So I, you know, I was reading Dagger Mouth and, and then this book, I was like, I was like, well, how like, you know, reading both and I can do it, I actually can do like a romantic scene of romance at the same time, because they're so different. I couldn't do two romantic scenes at the same time. Anybody who could you are superhero I don't know how you can keep like the names straight and the world straight I love all the memes that are like what book are you reading when you're reading like a romantician the person's person starts with I don't know there's stuff and then stuff and things Courtney Richter: God I've gotten to that point that I'm just like, it's really good. I don't know. And I can tell you if it turned me on or if it like left me thinking or scarring, that's pretty much the vibe of it or made me happy. This one makes you want a crumpet. I have been searching now for a crefin. I am literally going to get off this podcast. not even using hyperverbal and going to get one. I've been planning for it since yesterday because the amount of baked goods in this book that I've had me salivating. Caitlin Stryker: The sugar consumption, the sugar consumption in this book, her candy and her bake book, yes. Courtney Richter: It's like Gilmore Girls style. Like that makes you want it, not gross out. It's like the right amount that you're like, I got you girl. I get it. And now I want it too. Caitlin Stryker: No! Yes, it makes you want it but also I'm like, no, like this is my season when I do not do the sugar and I don't do the baked goods and this is how I like regulate through like how I because I'm a leaver. This is how I like balance my year like if I do the sugar now it's over for me like I need a new wardrobe. I'm not going to fit into anything. Courtney Richter: Yeah, the winter cleanse. Yes. I I'm about to, did an extra workout yesterday. Cause I'm like, I need a crefin. I'm going tomorrow to get a crefin. I've never had one and I'm desperate to try it. Caitlin Stryker: It's just like talking about the baked goods non-stop and like cinnamon buns and croffins and then and candy like crazy and I have decided because I remember good spirits I'm like B. K. Borison has a sweet tooth because in that one as ⁓ Courtney Richter: Yes. 100 % or lives it out through her characters because she has restraint like us and is like, get to have everything. Yes. Caitlin Stryker: Yes, and then and Gilmore girls always gets me like whenever I go back and like being cozy and like rewatching an episode or I remember even watching it back in the day and I'm like, I have got to like, remove like put up a boundary. No, I can't drink three pots of coffee in a day without getting like tracers and feeling ill. And no, I cannot eat like, you know, Chinese takeout for 12 people every single day. Courtney Richter: Yes. I know, I know. Right? With whipped cream on top and Smarties. And I know there is an effect. My body actually needs nutrition now. But when I watch it, I forget. And I'm like, that's, that's right. That's a nice, I mean, listen, I'll still take a bag of chips for dinner. If I'm going popcorn, like there's my dinner. And I, I'm okay. I accept that about myself that I will find that balance. But I do, when I watch it, I am so easily persuaded that like that is what I need to eat. Caitlin Stryker: not feel ill like yeah forget and it's like you know what Yeah. Yes. I know and that's like this book you guys this book is so cozy when I was getting to so I I listened to a lot of it as as a as a an audiobook while I was driving around because I have a lot on the go these days and and in the car a lot and everything and I was like, you know Courtney Richter: It does it, it's so cozy. Right. Caitlin Stryker: courts always like, well, you know, could you read it on the bus? And I'm like, fuck, I wish I had a bus commute or a subway commute going on right now. I'm stuck in the fucking car. But so it was so much fun as an audio book. felt like I was Yes, I felt like I was driving my car listening to a rom-com. It was such a treat. I was no longer like pissed off in traffic. You know what I mean? I was just like, it just would be the best move. Yes, because I Yes, yes. Courtney Richter: Is it? So good. ⁓ I'm so glad. That's why you want to say and now back to you because you heard them using their radio voices. That's hilarious. It's probably a great one for audio. I mean, they're newscasters. Like it's probably set up for audio very well. Caitlin Stryker: Yes, the transition between chapters, ⁓ it's like perfect as an audiobook because it has these little transitions where they do like their newscast thing ⁓ in between each chapter. It's just brilliant. It's really, really fun as an audiobook. And I did read some chapters, you know, like how you can go in between. And now they have like the page match ⁓ feature, which is really cool. Courtney Richter: ⁓ yes, that makes sense. Yeah. Yes. Went back and forth. ⁓ I didn't know that. Okay. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, yeah, it's pretty awesome actually. but yeah, this is a hug. It is a romcom in a book. It is so delightful and sweet and cute. No, but which I Courtney Richter: It is a hug. and cute. They still at least it is not heavy on the spice but the kisses are so sweet and like hot and like they do have that slow but that it has the true the true romance like romance readers light hearted cozy spice slow burn like still making you into it makes you want to like find your partner and like cuddle up and Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I mean, it's like speaking of course and always like this is she like emily henry level is that I think so Okay Courtney Richter: think so because I've only read the three, but, ⁓ but I think that's her vibe. Like I think she's cozy. Emily Henry is a little different and that it's always good. Like they're both always good. They're good. That's why I we needed to cover this book. Cause I'm like, it's a B. K Boris. We gotta, we gotta read it, ⁓ hers are cozier. I would say that Emily Henry for sure. She's still Emily Henry lives in fiction. It's it is romance, but it's in fiction. But I B. K Boris. And it's just like, she's got the cozy fiction down. Yeah. Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. A little more cozy, little more, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, that makes sense. I was thinking more spice level when I made that comparison. Yeah, yeah, yeah, because not super spicy, mean enough, but barely. No. Courtney Richter: ⁓ yeah, I'd say there's similar spice level. Yeah, yeah. But barely there's like one scene. It's not a spice book for sure. It's like, but it's a cute, it's like a cute spice. It'll still like get you like in the mood maybe when you get to it, but it's not like I'm watching my language. gets you in the mood. just doesn't leave you like soaking. I don't know how else to say it. It's like, it's the foreplay. It's the foreplay. It switches the light on. It's the warmup. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah! It does, it actually does get you the move when you're getting to it. It does. Totally. Yeah, no, you're not soaked. But you're kind of like, I'm feeling am I? Yeah, you're sort of like, ⁓ am I kind of but like there would still be foreplay and work work required work would be required. Unlike sometimes you'll be reading like a spicy romance and you're like, Okay, well, here we go. It is time to just like, hop on board. Yeah, yeah. And the foreplay has been done by the book. Courtney Richter: You're fine on the bus. Yeah. Yes. You can read the whole thing on the bus. Yeah. Find my partner or a toy. Yeah. This is, yeah. A hundred percent. Yes, I had to like come down actually to switch to this book from Daggermouth and not because of the foreplay, but because Daggermouth is so intense. And then this is so light cozy, like I needed a brain swap. And so I reread Mate in between, like I was just going to go read the good chapters. And then it's Mate by Ali Hazel. It pulled me in again. And once again, side note, so spicy and delicious that book. It's so good. It was like such a nice like palate cleanser from Daggermouth. Caitlin Stryker: ⁓ That is not the case. Mm-hmm. Yeah. ⁓ Yeah. ⁓ my- Yeah. Yeah, that's like crazy spicy. That's one of the spiciest books that we've read that doesn't have multiples in there. Like that book is off the hinge. Courtney Richter: It was a great palette glenser into this book, into the cozy. It's like a good in between worlds. It's a perfect. Caitlin Stryker: It would be because they're kind of like in a cabin and like having a bit of a battle and then this is yeah. Courtney Richter: And it lives in romance, even though it's a romanticie. It's a romance book, technically. So it's the perfect jump from like dystopian to like that kind of heat to then get into cozy and be like, okay, I can focus. Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, this is Snooper. This book is Snooper cozy. ⁓ This book, you know what? There were a couple parts where I was just like, and I had to keep like checking myself. was like, think of the character, think of their backstory, think where they are. There were a couple of times at Delilah where I was like, girl, feel better about yourself. you know, like, like just like, you know, be stronger. Come on, like be believe in yourself more. Courtney Richter: Yeah. She's one of those she's strong for other people. That's the thing and that is a common thing that happens She's very strong for other people. She'll stand up for her grandfather. She would be for do anything Jackson. It's her self-belief Yes Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. You know, it wasn't that it was when we were it was when we were in her self-talk in hers in her head and I was like don't you talk to yourself like ⁓ Yes, and that's what I kept reminding myself he's a villain he's a villain Courtney Richter: I know she's 20. Like that's that's an especially the boss like Keith because he's such an at her boss is a nightmare guys. He's a villain. He treats her like crap. He walks over he's took her off weather and try to put her on features. He's trying to force her to quit. And he's an awful human being. Caitlin Stryker: Awful, I he's a straight up villain. He's a straight up villain. Courtney Richter: straight out and she's like literally like the best, like she is just a kind hearted, the city loves her, people love her. Her grandfather who raised her ⁓ has Alzheimer's and she's just like doing all this for him to see him, see her every day on the news and like she loves weather genuinely. Like these, I've never read a book that's so fun and interesting about two people that actually love the weather this much and still be into them. Like they are at their core, like these geeky people that are like weather nerds. Caitlin Stryker: Great. Yes. Huge weather nerds. Courtney Richter: and get off on it, but it's so good. And Jackson, can we talk about Jackson? I love him. And I love that like the world started loving, they saw my camera like this guy's hot and he is this like anxious and depressed and OCD guy, which clearly is a type of mine because I'm married to that. ⁓ But I loved him and his endearing his way of like working through him with her and his worries about being a good older brother and dad to the girls and the protective. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. He's very sweet, yeah. Courtney Richter: level he had for Delilah and taking care of her. I loved him so much. I loved both of them. They were so sweet. I'm so happy that they're a couple together. And I really loved their bluntness right away. Like right away when he's just like, I like you. I think and I didn't realize she's like, yeah, me too. And they didn't beat around that part. Like the knowing they didn't action it right away, but they did just like, announce it like they're in there like, oh, no, I actually feelings for you. That's what this feeling is. And it's like, yes, me too. And that was so refreshing. Caitlin Stryker: ⁓ yeah. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Because he was like, was at first he's just so irritated by her and then he realizes like, ⁓ I like you. Courtney Richter: It's so refreshing. I remember that literally with Jake once we totally ship in feelings and he came the next day. I him at my house and he's like, I was really looking forward to seeing you today. And it's like, who just tells people that? You're just like being honest about how you feel. Caitlin Stryker: ⁓ my Courtney Richter: Whoa, whoa. I don't have to like, file through this conversation with my best friend after and figure out what all this meant. We're just like saying it. Caitlin Stryker: Right? Okay. So that was some of what I had to like, I had to bring myself back to like Delilah's age a couple of times reading this book. There were a couple of things. You don't have the same sort of like self-knowledge and self-worth and self-belief and everything when you are in your twenties. And, and I had to remind myself of that a couple of times because I did start to get a little bit annoyed with her. And then I was like, ⁓ right. Think back to like where she is. Courtney Richter: Right, it's important because it's different. don't have the same. self-belief and worth. Plus, dagger mouth, the women are so strong. So it's a little bit like, you're like, right. Yeah, that's why I needed that in between. Yes, you need like a palate cleanser because it is a place. Caitlin Stryker: and where she's at. Yeah. Going between those two was a little dangerous. That's probably what was happening with me as well. Yeah. And then also where I am in my life, miles. Courtney Richter: Finally, in our own life. Yes, yes. Caitlin Stryker: You know like the things that yeah, yeah Yeah, personally the things that I'm doing and what I'm dealing with and like where I'm having to level up and then reading this character being in this place I'm like no, but which is also really good as a self-realization thing too where you go like ⁓ right like You know I'm listening this character talk down about herself in her own head. Well who hasn't done that you know all way too much ⁓ and then I was like just just stop it, you are worth so much more. And then I also, really found like, you know, because she is, she's so whimsical and fun and wonderful. And I really resonated with how she was made to feel bad about that. Courtney Richter: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yes. Caitlin Stryker: and like that wasn't professional and like there was something wrong with her because you know, or like she had to fix it or like squash all of that down to be taken seriously to move forward in her career. Not the case at all. Literally just dealing with an actual villain who's a total piece of shit and when she finally calls him out and is like, why are you so mean? He's like, because everybody else loves you. Like just, he's just a dick. Like he's just, yeah. Courtney Richter: He's just a dick. He's just unhappy and isn't having his own life. So he wants, he doesn't like seeing people that are, and he doesn't know how to like control it. It's 101. Yes. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah! Exactly. you know, and instead of her going like, it's him, not me, she's spending the whole time you like, what's wrong with me? You know, we're like, ⁓ I'm just seen as this like, manic pixie dream girl. And then you're like, you know what, like, fuck that statement as well of the manic pixie dream girl. Like, why? Why does the girl or the woman who's like whimsical and fun and all these things and maybe like has like these like spikes of like, ⁓ Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. Yes. Caitlin Stryker: then is so quickly labeled in a way that's like takes all of the power that she has by enjoying her femininity, ⁓ strips it away from her, throws her in the garbage and is like you're just manic and crazy. You know what I mean? And there's like if you're not if you're not buttoned down and wearing beige and black, then you're not serious and you don't matter. And it's like Courtney Richter: Yeah. It's what Taylor Swift has been like fighting against for a long time. And it's like a funny but it is it's that thing like so you're get mad at people for liking glitter and having fun like we cannot we also have opinions about the world very serious things but the things we find fun and enjoy or like romance readers always being like the cheesy area like when we can just feel empowered and that it's okay to also like this stuff and that you don't it doesn't it doesn't take away from who you are or for some reason there's this like stigma that liking Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, totally! Yeah, exactly. you Courtney Richter: glitter and being girly and like enjoying frilly things or liking romance or like whatever your thing is that it somehow takes away from your value or worth like it lowers you as opposed to elevates you and like appreciating anyone that's more true to themselves and knows what they like and will like grab it. They're actually the happiest people that is the way to live live life. Like Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Like I love when she's, he's like, when she sets the alarm, he's like, where are you going? You know what I mean? And she's like, sledding. ⁓ It's like, like ultimately it's like, you're going to go sledding. It's like, well, I looked at the amount of snow that was coming. It'll be too deep to go sledding later. And I really want to go sledding in the snow. ⁓ Courtney Richter: And she's like, that's not weird. I brought a sled. I would be irresponsible if I didn't look up the snow conditions. Caitlin Stryker: love love love love so much yeah Courtney Richter: He said, do you have a sled? And she's like, of course I do. I'm not psychotic. I live in a snowy place. Of course I have a sled. he's, yes, yes, 100%. I even thought of you with that sign with the snow. Like, of course I do. And then when he called it, he's like, that's an inner tube. It's not a sled. It's just like, that's what you're hung up on. Caitlin Stryker: Like I would do that. do, you know what I mean? I'm that, I'm like, ⁓ my God. It is also like, you know how fucking fast that inner tube is going to go down? Like it's going to work way better. amazing. So good. Only issue if you hit a bump and you go down, you go flying and then it will pop because it, can't withstand the pressure with this. ⁓ Courtney Richter: It's amazing. A donut inner tube. Yes. You do go flying. Yeah. There is a pop concern with inner tube snow devices. Yes. High risk, high risk, high reward. High risk, high reward, you know? Caitlin Stryker: You might only get one ride. But you know, and you know the other sled that works incredibly well is just the old school crazy carpet. Like that sucker. Courtney Richter: ⁓ yeah, crazy carpets are the best. They do not have cushion though. As an adult, you hop on one of those, you are sore the next day. Caitlin Stryker: No. Yeah, you have to like really kind of sort of hold yourself. Courtney Richter: Yeah. I still loved, I was a big fan of the GT when I was a kid. The GT, I loved them. Racer over the jumps, the control. It sucked pulling them up the hill. Magic Carpets were much easier. You needed a good yellow rope on the GT Racer. Get it up that hill. And pick us. Cause you got exhausted. It was a good workout. Caitlin Stryker: I love the GT racer. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You did. You really did. And you only took it for like a few runs and then you switched the crazy carpet because you're like, that's it. I can't do it anymore. It really was. Those things were amazing though. ⁓ my gosh. They were such a big deal when they first came out. You don't really see them around as much anymore, but they were, they were legend. Yeah. They were. Yeah. Courtney Richter: ⁓ my God, a huge. No, I don't know if there's still a thing, but I loved them. Loved them. I remember that Christmas morning, three GTs under the tree for all three of us. like, we lived down the street from a big hill. Yeah. Yeah. I just all brought it back. Caitlin Stryker: crazy cool. Yeah, they were amazing. I remember that. I remember that. I remember that that too. I remember then like when the dads all got on them and like took off, you know, I mean, these things were Courtney Richter: Yeah, and you can partner on them and you try to like, if you got tired of the rope, you try to carry it over your shoulders around and shoot it like get up a bit faster. You could only, like you said, three to five max, because it just wasn't efficient carrying device, but super fast. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, no, didn't work. Yeah, yeah. Not at all, not at all. I know, but I loved it. That you could see, so this is this book. It's just like really, really sweet. Like it makes you, it's winter. It is, they're cold. How did you, ⁓ my gosh, this makes me think of you. How did you handle it? You hate being cold. Courtney Richter: This is this book. It's nostalgic. It's is winter though. It's winter nostalgic. A super winter book. They are in a snowstorm. I I did think that when she was so cold and he's like you're shivering. It's like what else am I supposed to do? Yes, I am Caitlin Stryker: It was a lot of shivering. I love how long it took them to be like skin to skin contact. I was like, come on guys, like, I knew how to warm you up. ⁓ it's so cold. Courtney Richter: I know. And I did, I'm like, oh my God, your feet would be so cold. I mean I still now in the winter it's like you want to have sex you're all teamed up But then you're so cold and you're like want to get naked but be under the covers immediately Yeah, you have to warm up enough yeah Caitlin Stryker: ⁓ yeah. No, make, I like, I, yes, I make Brad hold me. I'm like, okay, now you just have to hold me for a bit because I think and he'll start trying stuff. I'm like, no, no, no, I'm still frozen. Courtney Richter: Not yet, not yet. No, no. I'm not ready to remove the socks yet. Like, just give me a second. Caitlin Stryker: make a move in the covers lift and then it like cold air comes and it's like AHHHH NOOOO Like I'm putting all my pajamas on. Courtney Richter: But you have to get there. ⁓ Caitlin Stryker: It's really a thing! ⁓ my gosh! Courtney Richter: It is a thing is very true and hard to like, easiest would be in the new early eight time like that would be the quickest way to get warm. Like that excitement of the like new person going like would warm you up quite quick. But yes, I at first when they were so cold the room I'm like, ⁓ no, this is a horrible setting for this to happen. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yes. Yeah, I was like shoot. When the power goes. Courtney Richter: Yeah, yeah, no, they're going to too bundled like Sam. She really teased that because then they also have their first heavy duty make out in the snow and a storm when they're sledding and you're like, well, you can't you can't do it. Ask the Canadians, you can't you got to get inside. You can't. It doesn't work. It's not fun. Even if you try and then you're like, oh, fuck it, we still got to go inside. It doesn't work. It's too cold. Not fun. Caitlin Stryker: I know. Yeah, so many clothes are on. It's... Yeah. ⁓ gosh. ⁓ no, it's too cold. The moment your bits are exposed, that's it. It's ice. Like everything freezes over. It's done. It's over. Yeah. Courtney Richter: disaster. And it's literally snowing. like, she really pushed that line of like, you had to wait a while to get to the main event with them, you really get a lot of cold in the way. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, you really did. And then they have that first, I gotta come up with a name for this. Maybe there is when there's a name for all these tropes. But you know how they can't have sex right away. They have to have this, it's sex but non-penetrative. Courtney Richter: You non-penetrative orgasm with things that I'm like the amount of people that has actually happened with like I don't know Caitlin Stryker: I mean by the time we get Courtney Richter: Why not keep going who's the let's just finger as adults who as adult is finger banging and going to bed I don't know at that point like No, That's a warm-up and then and they know what they did then I think he like jerked himself off onto her tummy like why did at least and he's like I can't do it you're like what Caitlin Stryker: Let's just go all the way. Who is stopping with like... Yeah, come on. Come, I'm not buying it. I am not buying it. We've entered fantasy land. He like jerks off on her so she gets the worst part. Like I still am not like thrilled about being jizzed on, you know? Courtney Richter: Yes. Caitlin Stryker: And that's it with no... Courtney Richter: That's all you get from them. Just, ⁓ and on the stomach list, I don't mind it. I really don't. I actually can find it quite hot at right time, but not on my stomach. Like I need it like at least in my boobs and like Caitlin Stryker: That's what I mean on the back or the, but like, just like a, like it, I don't know. Courtney Richter: But no, that wasn't a good set. I didn't understand why then she wasn't at least jerking him out. Like it was a weird, I never understand that. They're like, ⁓ but I just want to make it about you and your, but this is so early. Why is it about her right now? Like, why isn't it about both of you? This is your first time exploring. I didn't quite get that either. I have to say that was like, ⁓ okay. Like at least, I don't know. Cause she wanted to, she was like into it. She wanted to like reciprocate. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, why was he Yeah. No. It wasn't that hot. It was not. The other thing why is she not like and also like he just like finger like stuff like a lot of times now like you know in these books he will go down on her and then like you know, maybe she'll do a little job or maybe she'll like give him a hand job I'm like, okay, that's cool. But this one is like he fingers her and then he jacks off on her stomach. I was like Courtney Richter: Yes. Yeah. in like a million layers of, yeah, I agree. It was a weird for me. First people might love it, but I just thought it could use a little more. can even understand them not having sex at that point because honestly he probably would have been so amped up. would have been two seconds. Like let's be real. That would not have lasted long for your first time. So like the blow job or something would make sense. And then like coming back at it. But that part at least have her jerk him off. I don't know. I were getting very detailed, but it is true. was like, why? I didn't feel like there was a good enough. Caitlin Stryker: It was weird. Right. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It bumped me, it bumped me. I really loved these two. No, I loved these two. The book was really cute. I loved it. That particular sex scene spicy moment, I was like, we got to address this. And then we, it fizzled. Yeah. Yeah. I wasn't pleased. Courtney Richter: I didn't feel like there was a good enough reason. I loved them. Loved the book. I didn't get that moment. I think it felt like we were building somewhere and then it just like shortstopped, like chugged. And you're like, what? What? That's it? Okay. I agree. I felt that too. I was not, that did not satisfy me in that moment. It's like, ⁓ wing in a mist. Caitlin Stryker: No, no, I and I've been satisfied in those moments before when it hasn't been like full sex. I've been like, ⁓ that was hot. Maybe you should try that instead of sex. You know, instead of penetrative sex sometimes. Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. recent Farah had a fingering like really sexy fingering scene before but it was hot exactly it worked this just I Didn't understand the second part of it Even if it had been leaving him alone and going to bed like not me tonight doing but it was just the just him jerking off under so well She played she did play with her tits. So like there was a bit of like sexiness there, but I just didn't I didn't get it Yeah, you know, it's okay the books still great Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, but it was hot. It was crazy hot. Yeah. No. And then and then I love how the book is so great. The book is so great. So then we get there we get there with them eventually. But then I love them like then after that they kept trying to do this like, but we're just friends and co workers things I was like, I, I feel like they've crossed the line already. Like I got a little Courtney Richter: Just not that soon. Yeah, yeah, we get there. didn't understand that hang up either. Like there was no real issue in this book. They tried to pretend that it's like she thinks when they get back, they're not going to be together. But he's very clear that from the get-go is like, we're going to be together. This is not a cat. And he doesn't seem like a casual person. When she's saying, I trust him? Like, what do you mean? I've never met someone more in my life that I would assume is all in if he's in. Caitlin Stryker: That's what it was. Yeah. Yeah, so that for me, that bumped me. No. was like he's yeah yeah like this guy is not he doesn't have like an ulterior motive he's he yeah yeah and that i think was where with her i kept that was my thing with her i was like what are you and then you know again i was like okay go back to the age and then go to the fact that she is being ⁓ like actually like kind of like abused by her boss you know like so Courtney Richter: He's been very blunt and honest. abused by your boss, it's true, who really deflates all of her self-confidence. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, yeah. So like, I was like, she needs to get out of this working environment. And then the mom thing and then that that was the other thank you. That was the other story point with it where I was like, where it is earned where we are talking about it is still a good book. And you should read this because because that once you pull in all those layers, it's like, ⁓ right, this is what she's up against, like. ⁓ And then also what he's up against, like they both of them, their moms basically abandoned them now in different ways. And like, Courtney Richter: and has abandonment issues from her mom and like, yeah. Yes. Caitlin Stryker: I mean, her mom's right. actually really I totally understood it. You know, like, it's it's it's sad. And it's a it's a bummer. But it's also that kind of thing where like Courtney Richter: Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: So her mom is a world-class violinist. Was it violin or a musician? Anyway, and literally like spent her whole life, like her childhood, everything working towards like having a seat in a major orchestra. And we talked about like working to like these, this level of musicianship is, it is monastic, know, like, like people, people who achieve that level of success in, in, the orchestra world. is, there is nothing else in their lives, you know, like it really demands everything. Courtney Richter: Yes. working. Yeah. Yes. an accident they got pregnant. Caitlin Stryker: And accidentally got pregnant right when she was gonna go off. I'm thinking like, girl, you're lucky you're alive. know, like she because totally 100%. Courtney Richter: Yeah, plan B would have been my plan in that situation. it would like, she's like, got to that point. And then she was going to give up for adoption and her father convinced her to let him raise her instead. And I get, because that is still a close relationship. So that's a weird, I think as a kid, like that'd be a harder thing mentally to work out. Like my mom is still in your life. Like, as opposed to just being adopted, it's a harder to not feel abandoned, but I agree with you. And listen, this might not be the popular thing that, that you're supposed to say, but Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. right? Yeah, but gone. Courtney Richter: motherhood is the hardest thing you can ever do in your life. It's not for everyone. And I think it takes a tremendous, tremendous amount of courage for women to be able to say like, No, this isn't actually what I want. And given you can say different things like she could have important people are against abortion, she had to be even get for adoption. Now she's not being good mom because she gave it up for adoption or she gave to her dad who wanted to love it like there's no win there's no right move for her but I think her actually recognizing that right away and Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. No. Yeah, I agree with you. Yeah, there's no win. Courtney Richter: knowing that this was best for her and her daughter, there is a power to that. And it doesn't change how the kid feels. I'm not saying that she's suddenly fixed from all her issues. But I think it's actually incredibly powerful that the mom was right able to recognize that and live and it's not like she gets to go guilt free either. She'll still be carrying that that's the thing people get like that weight, you carry it with you. But it's totally different also to even Jackson's mom, which she is clearly bipolar and has a different issue and abandonment. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. No. I do too. No. Yes. Yeah. That's a difference, right? Yeah. Yeah. Courtney Richter: And so like as much as she can understand and get along with the sisters, it's not the same situation. It's a different choice. And I agree with you. I think it's important to point out like what that mom chose was the right thing for her and motherhood's not for everyone. Caitlin Stryker: No. I really think so. Yeah, and I just I I'm, we're so on the same page on this court. And it's just like, it's kind of one those things that I will say until I'm blue in the face and that I think is really important that's out there because like all of you know, patriarchal society goes against it and says that women can't make that choice and be empowered in it. And I think that women can and should be empowered in it and should be celebrated for it, even though it is difficult and even though it is, you know, very complex and everything, because like, the default setting shouldn't be that you have kids. Courtney Richter: Yes. Yeah, yeah, exactly. I agree with you. Caitlin Stryker: You know, it's, it's just, it's so hard. It's so all consuming. It does take away your personal identity for like, you know, and then then like completely change it. And I don't think that everybody should have every woman should have to do it be expected to do it, or have to follow through with it if it's not what they want, you know, like, we did as a, yeah, as a society, we do not look down on men. Courtney Richter: No. Yeah, and choosing their career instead. Caitlin Stryker: for walking away or for choosing career over family or kids or whatever. So I think we really have to stop looking down on women for doing the same thing. ⁓ Now, how it affects the child, that's a different story. But like the actual individual who's alive first, you know, and yeah. Courtney Richter: Exactly. Yes. Yeah, they still get us they get a say well and like Jackson's mom, she doesn't make the clean break. She comes back and forth and then makes promises and breaks and that's just being a shitty person like that. Delilah's mom is very cut and dry. She chose her career. She did not want to raise a child. She was giving up her adoption like that is like we're saying that is a valid choice. That is something people should be empowered to do the way that Jackson's mom just floats in and out and gets hopes up and then like disappears and going that's not cool and that is not the same thing at all that we're talking about. To be clear. It's funny though. Caitlin Stryker: No. Yeah, is not cool. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. There's a distinct difference. Courtney Richter: you know, we're talking about the difference between your 20s versus now and how well we know ourselves. was thinking this the other day because you know, I was thinking about that chapter closing having kids and I'm like, I actually feel like the first this is the first time in my life that I'm ready to have a baby. have to I'm not having it but I feel like the mental state I'm finally in is where I'm like, oh, now I could do this like I'm not mourning my old life like I had to go through when I had my baby in my early 30s and like that adjustment and change like I'm actually settled because I have kids I could like Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Yeah Yeah, yeah, you're like, ⁓ Courtney Richter: handle it now in very different way than I could. Caitlin Stryker: But is that because you're kind of through, cause how old is Rory now? He's six. Yeah. So you're just, you're just ⁓ through like your matressin period. Yes. You're, you're. Courtney Richter: Yes. Yeah. You know the light comes at the end of the tunnel. Like you know what happens. Caitlin Stryker: But your youngest child is six. So you're just kind of coming back into yourself now. Like there's this whole theory of matressens, which I think I've told you about before. it's, you reset each time you have a kid and it's another six to seven years of like, you know, this journey of like finding yourself again. ⁓ And. Courtney Richter: Yes. Yes. Caitlin Stryker: And so I think on the one side, think a lot of people think like, oh, if I were to wait until I'm 40 and have a kid and everything's set up and then I'm good and I'll do it. But then imagine court if you hadn't had a kid until now. And so instead of it being like until you're 30, because we both had our kids at 30. So you're like mourning like we I remember we talked a lot about it, you know, you and I when our kids were babies and we were like, I miss like just being able to go party and all that stuff. And there were still a lot of people around us who were because for our age group and economic bracket, we were almost Courtney Richter: Yeah. Yes. Caitlin Stryker: when we had our kids. ⁓ But flip side, when I see girlfriends now who are having their first at like 40, I'm like, ⁓ my God, your world is gonna be rocked. Cause it's been steady for longer. Like you've had a longer period of like building your own thing. And no matter how you slice it, a baby shows up and it is just a bomb. Courtney Richter: Yes. Yes. You've really built that. Yeah. I don't even mean from the start. I wouldn't want to start now. mean, I can see why people add later in life because it's an easier add-on now than it was yes. No, no. If I was now, I would never bother now. No, God, no. If I made it to now without any, my life would be amazing. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Right. ⁓ adding on another one now, not starting out. Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I get what you're saying. Yeah, yeah, yeah. ⁓ Yeah, like in the other way like our lives are amazing because our kids are great and you get all of that said and note we both Wanted to be mothers, you know what I mean? Like it was something we knew we wanted to do ⁓ but ⁓ Courtney Richter: In the other way! Yes, no, I find it's great. Yes, yes. Caitlin Stryker: But no, when we were like, my life would be amazing, you do think, I'm like, ⁓ God, we would have such nice stuff and be such good professionals and be like so, I mean, I have friends who don't get, and they have kettles that set to a certain temperature and they do their pour over coffee and they do their thing. I'm like, nothing in my life gets that kind of attention to detail. Courtney Richter: ⁓ my gosh, Routine, so productive. ⁓ my God. They probably have matching glassware. That's not just broken like mason jars. Caitlin Stryker: They probably didn't use like I still I still have Becketts like cartoon like like toddler spoons. He's 10 I gotta throw this way, but I'm like still stirring my coffee with them in the morning. It's like the available spoon Courtney Richter: ⁓ my gosh. Right? You have, you do, you like, I have like my cat food spoon now. It's like the toddler's spoon. Yes. It's like. Yes. Caitlin Stryker: be so much more organized and like, you know, like that kind of idealistic sort of like pulled together yuppie lifestyle. See, there you go that even now Delilah is like, if I could just like we all still look out at that. Everybody has it more together. Courtney Richter: it still naked. We all do it. But I think that's the important part, right? It's the grass is always greener isn't true. The grass like the grass is greenest, where you nurture it where you water it. So like wherever you are, if you went wrote a mom or you went without it or what you're doing right now, like, as long as you honor that and stay true to that, that's where the happiness will be. But it is true. I don't think would be talked about a lot that Cait and I are both like we Caitlin Stryker: No. Yes, yes. Yeah. Yes. Courtney Richter: Agree with the violinist mom. that was, seems like the right path for her. And I think that's. Yeah. Me too. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. And I just I'm so glad that that came up as we were talking about this book, because I just really think that like, that was a really like that. I was important. It became a person that really put an opinion on either way in it. But like, as a reader, I was like, I stand by that choice. And then versus Jackson's mom, where I was like, lady, you know, Courtney Richter: No, she did. Yeah, you gotta go. Caitlin Stryker: you got it you're too selfish like you her weirdly she was selfish and damaging her children in the way that she was just not recognizing their needs and like if you can't really be there for that like then be over here and don't pop in and out and not show up when you say you're going to yeah Courtney Richter: Yes. She's textbook bipolar, off meds, personality. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, and you know, and that's also very clearly and well written out by B. K as well and B. K doesn't even put that judgment on it and I think as much as we're like, she's the bad one. She's not all she's also not the bad one, but she's ⁓ yeah, but it really sucks and it's it and you can see how hits Jackson and his younger sisters ⁓ differently and gives them a lot more to try and figure out. ⁓ Courtney Richter: Yeah. No. It's not her fault, she has a mental illness, but it sucks. Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: And then also that was the other thing with Jackson where you can sort of see like where his all of his quirks and his kind of ⁓ like control issues and things come up. And even maybe, yeah, even maybe where he's a little wary of his attraction to Delilah because like, is she too much like his mom? You know, like, and then. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It was interesting. Courtney Richter: Yes. Yeah. It makes sense. The rigidity that he has. Right, the free spirit ones that like push you out of your comfort zone. Yeah, yeah, totally. It's well, like we said, it's a great book. It's a great book. It's definitely worth the read. Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, because you think about all these things as you're reading it and I really like that B. K did not answer these things for you. They were just sort of like character things and they felt fully rounded and in a romance novel, which you know, is cool and a very cozy one. Courtney Richter: Yeah. Yeah. And for me, honestly, I liked it. I think I liked this better than the first which almost never happens. But I really did love Jackson. And I just loved them and think they're so cute. And I would just watch them or listen to them do this over and over. It's just so sweet. Caitlin Stryker: There you go. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. to how through it like as much as she didn't see herself and her value and she started to get it more towards the end but I love how everyone around her saw her value and you know outside of Keith but everyone else was like and the radio station was like we will pay you a fortune to come over here like you're amazing and the whole city of Baltimore is like we love you you're amazing and so all this time that she's like I'm so silly and everyone thinks I'm ridiculous it was like no only you and Keith but I think you're ridiculous everybody else thinks you are amazing Courtney Richter: Yes, exactly. Yes. Yeah, everyone was behind her except for him. Caitlin Stryker: ⁓ Which was pretty which was which was really fun and cool, too Yeah ⁓ We didn't do it well we kind of did we but not really okay. I well I mean it's a one and a half It's a one and a half it doesn't get to two no it's a one and a half I think we got it like adjust because sometimes like these books are gonna have say I mean if we put Daggermouth at like a two two and a half This is a one Courtney Richter: Yes. Yeah. It's a great book. I would read it. All right, Cait, what are we writing it? Did we do the spice reading? No, we didn't. Yeah. Yeah, one and a half to, guess, because it has sex, but yeah. Yeah, you're right. ⁓ 100%. I think that's where the scales go because if you're reading a teen, like that's only ever going to be a one because it's like a kiss. So I always think a two is sex when I'm reading it, but this is very much like a one and a half. Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, no, I think I think two and a half to three is that this is a one and a half because yeah, they have sex but it's No, yeah. Yeah, it's not as Courtney Richter: It's not described. just like happens. Yeah. Yeah. When I have to, I also don't think daggerments do enough. I think daggerment is three, but yeah. Caitlin Stryker: I know, because you kind of forget. was, Kenasia might've been doing chili peppers. She might've been, wait, this is the pumpkin spice. Yeah, that's where I was at with it. I was like, ⁓ Callum and Lyre, that takes it to a three. but this one's a two, but like a cozy, it's a cozy two. Also, I know, I kind of want to, I wonder, I wonder how people feel about like the weird, awkward sort of first, Courtney Richter: Yeah. Chilies, on our pumpkin spice. I'm going to say dagger mouth is a three and this one is a two. Yeah. It's, yeah. It's Cozy 2. It's a Cozy 2. It's a B. K 2. Yeah. Yeah, let us know what you think of that. Yeah, let us know what think of that. If you like, if you're into it. Yeah. And no judgment. Like I hope you think it's on. Yeah. Yes. Caitlin Stryker: Excellent. Let us know what you think if you think it's hotter if you were also like, yeah No, no, I Just think like there's an interesting discussion there on like, you know, cuz these romance books they all kind of do that that like the stepping stone to sex and sometimes I'm like I buy it and then other times I'm like, come on Courtney Richter: There is for sure. Yeah, which one works. You're in a hotel room with literally a snowstorm and nothing else going on. What was the stutter? Agreed. But yes. Yeah, it's all there. But yes, love this B. K. Borison Cozy read. It is very wintery as a forewarning when you're in spring, but worth the read. It's really cute. ⁓ Caitlin Stryker: I mean, you've seen your bits at this point, but yeah. Yeah, absolutely. All right, well that is it for today's episode of Cait and Court's Cozy Corner. Thanks for joining us. We'll be talking about more books with you again soon. Bye. Courtney Richter: Yes. Bye!