Latest / Cait & Court's Cozy Corner: Romance Readers / Let's Talk About: Please Don't Go by E. Salvador
Transcript
- Cait: Hi! Welcome back to Kate and Cord's Cozy Corner. Court: Yes. Cait: Today we are talking about Please Don't Go by E. Salvador. It's a romance. It's a big romance. Court: Yes. And it's a big book. It is it's a romance, but a sad girl romance. Big book. I didn't realize how big because again I read digitally because I read everything on my phone. And then when I actually got the copy, I'm like, it's like hefty. But to me it didn't feel like it when I was reading it. Like I didn't realize other than it took me two days instead of one, I didn't realize how long it was. Cait: Yeah. That's the thing. Like it it everything that's in there needs to be in there because it's dealing Court: Yes. Cait: with very heaver stuff heavy stuff. right out of the gate, total trigger warning. this book Court: Trigger warning. Yes. Cait: deals heavily with suicide ideation. and trauma, Court: PTSD. Cait: PTSD and death, grief. You know, I mean, so full blown Court: Yes. Brief. So nice light summer read. Here we go. As we said in Into the Blue, Sad Girl Summer. This book is right up there. This is the one we were talking about. It dives in. Cait: I know. This is the one we were talking about. It's funny 'cause yeah, this is our this is our last episode, last episode of season one. And we're gonna take a summer break because everybody needs a summer break because we do not subscribe to pushing yourself to the point of burnout, and neither Court: Yes. Cait: should you. Self care is necessary, breaks are necessary and summer's a great time to get out there and en enjoy your people. and read more books. Court: Plus we have a read. We'll have a list of books to read for some of our upcoming falls too. We're gonna post a list Cait: Yes. Court: so you can read and get caught up. And we're gonna drop back our Sarah J Mass Avatar episodes so you can get ready for book six, which is in October. So it's a great time to dive back into those and listen to the episodes as you're reading them. Cait: Or just yeah, listen so you know what the fuck is going on when you get to book six. Court: yeah, just listen so you don't have to read. Yeah, that's the other version. Just listen so you don't have to reread if you don't have time, and then you'll be ready for book six. Cait: I'm in the I don't have time to reread a book ever camp. Court: Yeah. Cait: I will ha however, I'll rewatch a movie. But like I feel like if I'm rewatching a movie, it's like, you know, like I rewatch like Jaws and Dirty Dancing every summer. But that's like at the end, like at the you know, we come back in from a barbecue, it's late and we're like buzzing 'cause we've had fun and my husband are like, which one are we putting on? And we put on whatever like summer rewatchables, Court: Yes. Cait: like 'cause we're no we're not gonna like really like attentively watch a movie. We're just like winding down. But yeah, I I am not in a phase in my life where I have time to reread books. Even though I do have some where I like I would if I Court: Yeah. Cait: could. funnily enough, into the blue, which we just finished, I would like reread that if I had time, but I don't. Court: read all the time, but I don't watch movies anymore. Show so it's become Cait: Yeah. Court: the opposite. Mine is like I now dive into a comfort book because it's all on my phone. So it's very easy. So I just like flick on something Cait: Yeah. Court: I know. It's the same action. I just do it through reading. Cait: It's the same 'cause you're like, you don't have to like go like as in depth, but yeah. Court: Yeah, you can just go to a favorite chapter and just like get that feeling again and tap back out. Yes. Cait: Yeah. Yeah. So all right. So please don't go is I love that we are finishing off the season with it's sad girl lit summer. It is it is it is sad girl lit lit summer even in romance. Cause please don't go Court: a hundred percent is the theme in the romances across the board. Cait: please don't go is very much so a romance novel. It follows all the tropes of romance, it is written like Court: Yes. Yes. Cait: a romance, it paces like a romance. But it is surprisingly heavy. Court: Yeah, it's a heavy it's like here's what I say with please don't go. I think everyone should read into the blue and then please don't go. It's kind of your spicy reward for into the blue. Because and it is still heavy, Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: like because you're already kind of reading in the Summerless, so you have the weight of like into the blue, and then you go into please don't go, and the weight of it doesn't shock you because you've come out of the into the blue weight. So you Cait: That's true. The out Court: can like handle it in your romance. You're not like in the happy farm hot cowboy. Whatever world. Like in you're in Sad Girls Summer. And then please Cait: No, you're not in a happy farm hot cow hot cowboy world at all. You are. Court: don't go is like your delicious treat because it's like a step, you know, a little bit easier to read, more into romance world. It's a heavy light book. It's a heavy light book. The skim milk. Yeah, yeah, Cait: And it's an easy read because it's light. It's that lighter, you know, it's a heavy light, but well, the writing style. So like I Court: yeah. Cait: we've gotten to I've read enough romances now that like there are some where I pick up I read, I'm like, this is this is a romance romance. Like this Court: Yes. Cait: is the exact genre, you know, bears will pick up some other ones. And it and I think it's interesting too, because there's like personality types and like what you like to read, like So I love the ones that are like kind of like lit thick romance. Like those ones I like I love. Like I really, really love. I enjoy the romance books as a lighter, like pick it up and read something and it's like a refresher and like move along. but in the romance romantic genre, like where I really like I love romantic. Like I love the like that's like Court: Yes, romance is much heavier, like deeper dive. Cait: my jam. And then for romance books, I'm more of like I'm on the edge where I like the like the litfic style romance more than I like the romance romance. Court: Yes. Cait: Even though I do really enjoy a lot of we only talk about books we like on this. And I have really enjoyed a lot of the romance books, but I now know when I pick them up and I'm like, this is a romance romance. And they're much faster to read because the sentences are much simpler. They're meant to be. Yeah. Court: They're they're meant to be. Yes. And you start to have a style and you know which one you're gonna like and you know you're like, okay, this is this or it's not like and you fall, you read the traps. It which this one was a refreshing change room. Like I had read a couple in a row of like known romance authors, I'm like, okay, this is their new book. Like it's good, but it's not like what their last one was. This Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: one is a romance, but it's look, it starts with her, with the main character, Josephine, trying to commit suicide. Christmas Day, Cait: Yeah. Court: she's at a cliff about to jump. And this man comes up behind her, Danny, our main male character, and he's like, Please don't go, essentially, the name of the book. And Cait: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Court: right. Back. So she's so she's on a cliff, the book. And and I should say as we're diving into what this book is, this book was published independently like a year or two ago and became so popular that it became traditionally published now. So E Salvador had written this. She's been around and she's now getting her flowers and her due because she's a great author. I Cait: Yes. Court: one thing I love about this book, as we're going into it, is she has a lot of parts that are in Spanish and even Italian, and she doesn't give you the translation. And I actually love that. There's no like an Cait: Mm. I do too. Court: annotation at the end that you have like read and see what it is. The like you translate it yourself. And I think that's really cool. And I actually really loved that part of this book. and it I Cait: Yeah. Court: love that it's not spoon fed to you that you have to dig a little bit and she's not shying away from who she is as an author or her girls or who she I I just think it's really cool. So and I believe they are both Latina so because they both she has a no yes yes they are yeah because Cait: Yep, they're both Hispanic. They're both Hispanic. Court: her mom had come up there. Yes. So Anyways, he basically he's trying to talk her off the cliff, literally off the ledge, and she still like is about to go and he grabs her around the waist and pulls her back and they walk together and they have this intense first meeting and he saves her life essentially and tells her please don't go and he takes her back home and they have this crazy thing and then he basically goes back to that spot every night up until New Year's in case she comes again, in case he sees her again. Cait: Yes. 'Cause he just got did he get her name and he gave her his name? But they didn't get any other information. Yes. Court: He got her name he gave he gave her his number. He gave her his number, but he has no info. I don't even think he has her name yet. He might Yeah, and so Cait: I don't think he has her name yet. He knows her favorite color is yellow. Court: Yeah, that's all he knows. His favorite colour is yellow. Cait: He doesn't know her name 'cause I remember later on when he gets her name. And they were saying, Court: Yes, yeah. Cait: like, yeah, people call her Wednesday, but she's Josephine. Like she's very you know, like she's she is yeah. Court: They go to the same college. They did go to the same college. She's currently kind of not because her mom died. So that's like Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: what's led to this. Her mom has just died. She's been left as her mom is this legendary swimmer that trained her, but her mom was very emotionally shallow, her mom distant. And Cait: Distant. Yeah. Court: she's now processing the grief of her mom dying and also mourning the relationship they never got to have. Which is something that actually happens to a lot of people. I know love. Like you always think there's time or you're gonna get to have. fix that relationship or have what you imagined in your head. And then when they're gone, there's like a secondary mourning that happens of like what could have been or what it wasn't. that she captures really well on this. Cait: Yeah. And she does it really well on both sides. Like she really she really Court: Yeah. Cait: dives into grief. you know, because Daniel Court: Yes. Cait: he loses his brother when the he lost his brother when they were young, and that has caused a family rift for him. It takes a very long time until you get Court: Yes, which you only kinda get pieces of. It takes like a while to get his full story. Cait: his full story, but you know that he's got a thing as well. So these are two, Court: He says something. Cait: you know, traumatized people who come together and they both have a lot of grief and they both have a lot that they're dealing with. She is op quite openly depressed in all of these things. Court: Yes. Cait: He is covering like crazy and trying to be okay for everyone else all the time. Court: And he's the one everyone likes. The guy that smiles, he's the captain of the baseball. So he's a college baseball player on the verge of getting drafted. Come on. I mean, it she Cait: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Court: does give us our sexy like sports romance Cait: yeah. Court: in there with him. but it's not even his main point. So it's kind of like a background thing, which I really liked about it. Like it's him and her, and he happens Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Court: to also going to that he's going to be a professional baseball player. And she it was an Olympian swimmer. She's an athlete too. Like she is a killer. Swimmer, stranger of life. so she is also an athlete, and her own, right? An Olympic swimmer. Amazing. and so she's been asked now. The coach at her team at her school asks her to come on as like a student. Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: Coach, which is a really prestigious position to get, but she's like not willing Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Court: to right now. She's not willing to go back in the pool. She's not willing to have anything to do with swimming. She's hiding away in her house. She's filthy, rich, wants nothing to do with money. She's just like in this house and kind of surviving right now, day by day. And he becomes this light to her. He finds her. He leaves her notes on her doorstep, I believe, because he still doesn't know her, just saying, I'm so glad you're here. Post-it notes. Cait: Post it notes. He leaves her Yeah. I'm so glad you're here. Like he really is her knight in shining armor. And he really Court: Yes. Cait: because because he has his own internal knowledge of like where she is and like that, like, you know, needing to be tethered to life, I think. he Court: Mm-hmm. Cait: goes above and beyond for her in that way, you know? Court: Yes. Cait: yeah, so he's always doing that. Court: The author was working through her own grief with these two characters. Like she writes about that. It's literally how Cait: You can tell yeah. Court: she dealt with their grief, which is why it does dive so deeply. And as you're saying, we Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: find out for him, like his twin or younger brother, but his best friend brother, they were both going through baseball together. They were Cait: Yeah. Court: supposed to be drafted together, everything together. He drowned and Daniels felt responsible and hasn't returned to the water since that happened. He doesn't know how to swim. Cait: He basically doesn't really know how to swim because it happened when they were kids, and so then she's gonna Court: And happen their kids. Cait: give him swimming lessons. Court: They agree she's gonna start there's like an agreement. She's gonna give him swimming lessons Cait: There's an agreement. Court: and he'll take swimming lessons if she will my gosh, I've forgotten what she agrees to do for him. Cait: I just remember she he really had to convince her to teach him 'cause she was like, I don't teach like guys like your age. Like she they all come like, I want swimming Court: Yeah, but he get there's something coming Cait: lessons, you know. And then there is something about like her like Court: There's an agreement. Cait: connecting with the world and he winds up living in her place and everything too. Yeah. Court: very quickly also, by the way, like he's living with all these guys from the baseball and like she's like, I have this space, you can move in here so Cait: Yeah. Court: that we can work on your swimming lessons and I I genuinely drawing a blank as to what the point was. Cait: I am too. I don't remember what she was agreeing to because maybe she didn't hold up her end of the or maybe it was just that she was gonna engage in life. Like, because she was very much so not she was not hanging out with any friends, she was not, you know, Court: Well, he starts taking care of her. He shows up to the house, he starts taking care of her, he's cooking her meals, like he's basically trying to bring her back to life. That's like Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: his goal. And yes, there is this thing of like other guys have tried to like meet her. He finds out about her after they have that meeting, and it's like she's known as Wednesday, she stays to herself. she dated someone on his team. The same someone that his girlfriend, yes, Bryson, and his ex girlfriend, Amanda. Cait: Bryson He's a dick. Yeah. Court: They cheated on them on Josmine and Danny together and made like a sex Cait: Yeah. Court: tape, which I will say one thing in this. Those two are wild, like Cait: Yeah. Court: they not only cheated on their boyfriend and girlfriend, they made a sex tape and shared it and then have Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Court: the audacity, audacity to be like, I want you back. That was a mistake. Like, what? What world? What world? Cait: Yeah, then they both like Amanda and Bryson are around for so long. Like texting like Court: And they're both so set on like getting their exes back. Like Brezhnev wants Josephine back so Cait: Yeah. Court: badly. And he blames basically her depression over her mom dying as to why he needed to seek out this man chick. And she's like me attention. I can't remember. Cait: І за дик, лек хі є сучен ас. Court: He's an asshole. She is crazy. Like it's Cait: She's crazy. Court: she that ownership and she gets so upset when he's playing with Josie and like thinks he's she's owns it and they'll get back together. Like it's actually insane, their ex's behavior. Cait: Yeah. Yeah. The whole book, that's it kept throwing me off. I was like, how is Brayson Court: And it lasts the whole time, which is really funny. But to me, I'm like, Yes. Cait: still around? Like I I just don't understand that no Danny punches him Court: And still getting punched out and still causing problems. Cait: so many times and like it he was not ever any good for for for Josie like at all. Like he was such an ass. Court: She realizes after, like he was just such a dick. And it wasn't like once especially when she has sex with Cait: She was just settling. Court: Danny, she's like, god, what was I doing? Like that was horrible. He was horrible Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Court: in bed. He was horrible. Like he never gave up orgasms. He didn't eat it. Like so many things that you Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Court: realize after like that you've been gaslighted and been with an asshole and you were just settling. But I just Cait: Yes. Court: I can't believe how much the their exes believe they have a right to get back with them or be forgiven. Like it's beyond just like, whoops, we slept together. Like it's so much. Cait: Yeah. Court: Further than that, they're like, What? Who would ever take someone back after that? Cait: I know. Amanda and even the first time Amanda shows up, like when Danny's talking to Josie at the party, and then she like shows up and like starts like hugging him. And it's like they're not even together. Court: Mm-hmm. Cait: She just does this, like, and you know what? Like when you're young and everything, like people do do that. Like I know that it it's behavior that happens with young people, but I'm it was Court: Yes. Cait: like it was so aggressive and strange and so off-putting Court: So weird. Cait: that I was like, what the heck? And then, you know, I mean, like Danny and Josie have enough to like try to get together in the first place. Court: Yeah. Our life's pretty traumatic. Cait: Without these two, like, you know, just causing problems. not left, right, and center. Court: And Bryson's such an asshole. Like Danny is the guy that he keeps his cool. He's the captain of the team. He does not step over it, Cait: Yeah. Court: except when Bryson runs his mouth about Josie and calls her a sled and a whore and all these things. And he loses it and punches him. Cait: I know, and then he's trying to get back with her. This is the weird part. Like he says horrible things about her to the point where Danny, who's like a totally decent guy, punches him in the locker room and then has the audacity, like the next page to be like, I wanna get back together with you, Josie. And it's like Court: And tells Josie it was about Amanda. Like he lies to Josie. He's like, he Cait: Yeah. Court: still loves his ex-girlfriend. He punched me out because of what happened. Like, you can't believe him. He's not into you, blah, blah, blah. Cait: Yeah. Court: Which honestly is a trait of a narcissist. Like a hundred percent. He's totally a narcissist. Like, yes, that was realistic. Like all this stuff he did. Cait: It I was gonna say, this is just that like toxic, gaslighting, narcissistic guy. Like, yeah. Yep. Yes. Court: I just kept thinking, I'm like, what are these two gonna do? Like, is there some plot thing? Which I actually like she didn't do. They just are around and they're horrible people. And Cait: Hm. Yeah. Court: That's also life, like you do still have these exits and these outside things, especially in college, 'cause you can't get away. Cait: They sometimes especi yeah. Especially in college you can't get away. Like what was great is all the other friends. I thought what that was what Court: Yes. Cait: I really liked. Like her friends, one of them's like a mermaid. Like like which is so fun. Yeah. Court: Love that. So Penelope, who is actually Danny's sister, becomes one of Josie has no friends. Like she's very isolated at the beginning of the book, obviously, in command suicide. Cait: Yeah. Court: And she becomes friends with Danny's sister before even connecting. I think that they're siblings. They just like connect Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: on something. I can't remember what it is, but they connect and they become friends and then they realize that's his sister. Cait: Wasn't it the tire? It's the popped tire on the road. Isn't it Penelope who rescues her? Court: yes, yes, yes, yes, I think so. Cait: And then Danny shows up again and that's how Danny finally connects with Court: yeah, she's like, Josie gets yes, pulls the other side of the road, pop tire. Penelops and is like, my god, are you okay? And she's Yeah, I'm fine. And when she's like, No, I'm not leaving a woman on the side of the road. Like, we have to look out for each other. My brother will come fix Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Court: this, but like, let's move out of your car. Like, this isn't safe. And like convinces Cait: Yeah. Court: Josie her first steps to like save your life. Cause Josie, there's still a part of her brain that's like, So what if I get hit on this road? Like she has she doesn't totally value her life yet. Penelop saves Cait: Exactly. She's no. Court: her, and the brother that shows up is Danny. And that's when he learns her name is Josie. Like Cait: Danny. Court: It's such a fun Cait: Yeah. Court: secondary meet cue. Like it really it was done in a really sweet way and it's exciting as the reader, like, yay, they're gonna connect again and it kinda like starts their friendship. Cait: It is. Yeah. And then you get like you get Penelope and you get Angel and you get like who's Danny's friend who like you start to meet all these other characters. Yes. Yes. Court: And then Vivian is the mermaid, right? Vivian was like her yes, they used to swim and now Vivi and Vivian has a dead mom as well. She's like, You're in the dead mom's club, kind of Grace Cait: Yeah. Court: Anatomy. And she's like, We're friends. You don't get to push me away, you don't shut down. Sorry. We're both know what this is, this grief. She's like, We're you're stuck with me. End of story. And it like forces yourself to be her friend, which is so wonderful. Cait: Yeah. Which is kind of great as well because, you know, because again, like the author is working through her own grief like while she's writing this book. So you get some real, some really wonderful real representations that like it's different for everyone. Everyone is going to have Court: Yes. Mm-hmm. Cait: their own experience with grief on whatever level they're going through it, you know, and any time and all of that. And and that's one of the things that I love about this book is I think we need Places and spaces where we're having these discussions and people can feel seen. Even when it comes to suicide ideation, it's like this Court: Mm-hmm. Cait: is a part of being alive and being human, you know. So like pretending that it's not only isolates somebody further who's having a hard time, versus Court: Yes. Yeah. Cait: when we have books or movies or conversations, or even us talking about this book on the podcast and really talking about it, you know, like that's necessary. So that people Court: Yeah. Cait: can feel seen in these moments, Court: Yes. Cait: in these areas of life that none of us really want to look at 'cause we do, you know, we all want to be happy all the time, like having bonbons. And then the reality is like it's there. Court: It's always under the surface. We all know there's always there's a taste in most people. Most people have had moments in their life where they could at least see where that turn could happen and empathize with it. And it is something you're Cait: Yes, yes, yes. Yeah. Court: right that we avoid. But when it's done, especially in the way of like a book like this, that you get the serious tone, you get the serious conversations, but it's also in the world of a romance. It's a really smart way to bring Cait: Hmm. In the world of a romance, which is great. Court: it, you know, to mainstream. And I think it's really great. Like it's yeah, Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Court: exactly like you said. can set up perfectly. It's it's a wonderful way to present it. And these two characters really and the friends, everyone's perspective on it and like when people find out and the ones that do know like Angel knows from the beginning because Danny had told him. And they kind of check Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: in on each other and when Danny's not there, Angel's still looking out for her. And basically Cait: Yeah. Court: he brings her back to life. They at first she doesn't want to have feelings for him, doesn't want to care, doesn't want to Like slowly it grows. He moves in with her and everyone, all his buddies are like, you're totally fucking. And he's We're not fucking. They try a bet, and he's Cait: And they're not. Court: You don't like, and they're not, they're truly being friends for each other. Even though they're both like super into each other. Yeah. Like, fully. This is the slow burn. Yes. Yes. Cait: I mean, yeah. Because this is our slow burn, right? This is our force proximity slow burn that we have to have. Yeah. Court: But it's building, and then when they finally do come together, when it finally happens, that's almost when like Now Danny splinters apart. Like they hit that. They finally Cait: It's true. It's when he Court: and then he gets drunk. And what did happen that set that off? he gets drafted and he avoids the drafted call. And that's what was supposed to be for him and his brother. And then he like loses it, gets hammered. Cait: Yeah. And yeah, 'cause he yeah. Yeah. And then there's that time when he gets pushed in the pool and then that's like he didn't ever want to see anyone see him. It's a c it's a cavalcade of events. Yeah. Court: yeah, that said it off too. He got pushed in the pool from Bryson. Yes, Bryson and the drunk and the draft. It all happens. And then he has this huge Cait: Yeah. Court: speech with her about how messed up and how he's tried to kill himself and still thinks it. And she has like a moment of like, I can't do this. Like I'm not well enough to be the support. And he pushes her away in that time when he's drunk too. Like, you shouldn't be with me. I'm bad for you. You need something else. And like he basically pushes her away. And then heartbreaking, and I'm so glad she did this, but like He wakes up the next morning having no memory of this happening. He's just looking Cait: Yeah. Court: for it. Like Joe's, Josie, like he doesn't remember the drunk blackout conversation, which happens and isn't represented very often. And it really like Cait: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Court: struck a chord for me that she did that and how much he was just like, No, where's Josie? Where is she? And then like losing his mind, and then his friend has to break it to him, like, you said some stuff. And Cait: Yeah. Court: like basically hit every vulnerability she has, especially for how well he knows her and is the only person that really knows that side of her. Cait: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Court: And she's gone, basically. She's done. You have to move out like and fix yourself. Cait: Yeah. And you know what's interesting as we like, you know, as we're like, here it is, girl summer, have fun. that kind of happens. You know, well you know something's gonna yes, Court: Yes. And what makes it a romance romance? Because you know that moment's coming. You know something's gonna break them up after they get their happy moment. Cait: but you also know it also is that thing because it also happens in into the blue where it's like the person Who like knows you most and loves you, those who are closest to you can hit you the hardest with like the things they will say, like the most vicious, right? And in Court: Yes. Cait: this book and in that book, and it, you know, things are said that are really hard to come back through in from in a romantic pairing. And, you know, like Court, you and I have both been married for years, and like you know the thing you could say, but like you just fucking don't. Like you won't. Or like, and you get right close to it. Sometimes you do, but like. Court: You know the moment. Yes. And sometimes you do. Like, sometimes you do too. And you know instantly, like, fuck. This is gonna take like weeks of graveling, of getting out of this. Dylan, this is gonna haunt me for a long time. You know it instantly. Yeah, you're like, it wasn't worth it. You got it off your chest for a moment. Cait: You're like, I'm so fucked. This is gonna take a long time. You're like, I'm not coming back from that. And you're like, ooh. Court: You have like a moment of elation, and then you're like, Cait: A moment. You're so fucked. You can even s you can see the couples therapy bills coming like Yeah. You can like Court: You know, you know. And I mean that is one good thing with age, is you can control it a little bit. Cait: catch it on the way out and swallow it back in better as you get older. This is true. Court: I mean, perimenopause affects that, I will say. Our filter's been slightly lifted again. But compared to Cait: Yeah. Yeah. And you know, I mean Court: 20s, like I've had those drunken screaming at excessful, Cait: Я Court: like embarrassing when I think back. I'm like, God. Like, I'm so glad Jake Cait: Yeah. Court: didn't have that. I mean, he had some of that person, but the Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: the Corny that my 20s boyfriends got, especially drinking Cait: Yeah. Court: Corny, that I'm like, my God. You really got the like Yeah, no wonder we it didn't last forever. It's your shit. Yes. Cait: Yeah. Doozy. Cause it's your own because it's your own shit, right? It's your own shit that's like boiling up, but then you want to like lash it out at somebody else so that like it hurts them instead Court: You gotta put it at someone. Cait: of you. And it's just so and like, you know, this book, this moment, and then he doesn't rem and it's like and it's such a like they do both then have to build up on their own. But I think that's important as well because they are both so, so Court: It is you need to fix yourself first. Like he needs to confront his demons without her. Cait: The Yeah. Yeah. And she needs some time. Like he's revived her enough. And now she needs some time kind of on that level to like really get on the level where it's not totally dependent on him. Like your Court: Mm-hmm. Cait: personal, you know, level of happiness and okayness and everything, like it can't be dependent on anything outside of you. It can't be dependent on your job, your career identification, your family, your partner. Like it really has to be built Court: Yes. Cait: up from within. you know, for for the long term. And it's hard and we're always rebuilding it, but like Court: It's hard. There's there's an amazing quote with that, Kate, that Jos Richards in her new book says there's a quote that says, you know, if a rel if an relationship ending would destroy your whole life, Cait: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Court: that's not right either. There's something wrong with that. Like if you Cait: Yeah. Court: literally everything would crumble and you'd lose yourself if this relationship ended, then that isn't right. It's too codependent. But it should hurt. It's like it's that balance. Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Court: Right? Like you should it should be depth, Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Court: it should hurt to end a relationship, but it should never be your whole world and life will crumble. And that's Cait: Yeah. Court: what I think you meet. Like you can't put all the eggs in one basket and they were kind of in that they were doing they had that codependency with each other until this happened. Yeah. Cait: You can't. They were heading that way, inevitably because they were both so broken. Like they needed each other to get to a point. And then they do need this part. They need this time apart. And that's why it comes out the vitriol, right? When he's like been drinking. Court: Yes. Cait: Because he would not have let it out any other way. And they probably Court: No Cait: would have carried on and it would but it always would have been an unsteady foundation. And so and it that's what's like Hard about this book is you're dealing with all these things and it's all very real and it's like it's sad, but it feels good because it's real. And then it's also feels good because Court: Yeah. Cait: it's a romance, and there's great smuddy spice in this one. I think we can go there now. This is I Court: There's some great sp spice in this one. Some hot smotty listen, Danny is hot, guys. Danny is fucking hot. Cait: think this is a four on the spice level for me. Four pumpkin. Court: yeah, I agree. It's a four pumpkin. It's listen, when you're like, I want something with depth, but Cait: Yeah. Court: I want like still that spice. It's still a summer read. It's still a vacation read. It's still there. It brings you back up. You're on Cait: yeah. yeah. Court: that roller coaster and the fun smut spice that happened when you get to Smut Street, as my sign that fell. Worth it. It like I said, it's your tasty little treat after Into the Blue Cait: Worth it. Yeah. Court: and after all the saga going. It's a delicious Cait: Yeah. Court: treat that you're like, Ugh and you can get lost in it and you can just enjoy it. Cait: Yeah, because it's a fast, it's long, but it's a fast read. And the cause it's easy. And the smut Court: It is. Yes. Cait: element is fire. I mean, they're like Court: Yes. Cait: you guys, she's teaching him how to swim in a pool. Like we're just that alone. That premise alone. He's six foot five Court: Yes, the bathing suits, the bodies beside each other, like Ugh. Cait: and ripped and like this hot Hispanic guy, baseball player. Like Court: baseball professional player, dark hair, Cait: And he speaks to her in Court: daggers. Cait: Spanish and in Italian, which she doesn't understand. Court: Yes! Cait: So, like, I mean, it's Court: Ugh, she goes through it, we're going through. It's so good. And it's Cait: It's hot. Court: as you were saying, it is not to get away from the hot because we'll go right back to but that he is exactly that representation of the person that seems like they have it all together, the happy go-lucky, making everyone around him happy, and then is the one that then secretly reveals he thinks about committing suicide still and is still in that world. And like that's Cait: Yeah. Court: what's always so shocking a lot of the time for people is they don't see it. And they're like, how did I not see it? And that's part of her thing is like, how did I not see it? She has this guilt of not seeing that he and I they set it up, honestly, I thought it might come out that like he's the one that hit his her mom. Like there was like a weird you weren't you weren't quite sure what the reveal was gonna be between her and mom's like death and him. And it's not. They don't have anything to do with each other. But they really hide his issue for a while. Yeah. Cait: Yeah, I was like, that can't happen. They hid it for a while, but I was like, no, that can't be it, because like that's too much. You know what I mean? Like that's like because of his because of his part because Court: Yeah. Yeah, that'd be th no, you can't get over that. Like that I'm glad they didn't go there. Cait: of his brother as well, like having drowned. I was like, that's good, like then that would be just another layer of like that's one thing you can't like bounce back from that many things, you know. Court: It's a lot. and his parents. He has a horrible relationship with his parents because he thinks they blamed him. His dad did Cait: Well with his dad. Court: say it after it happened that it's his fault that he wasn't out there with his brother when his brother drowned. So he's had this like relationship Cait: Yeah. Court: with his parents his whole life too in his family, and he stayed away from them, except for Penelope, who's also Josie's Cait: Yeah. Court: sister, and like brings her in. And when they break up for a bit, like Penelope is against Josie, but she apologizes. She like it all works Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: out. Cait: And it's nice when he has that conversation with his dad too. Like there's Court: Really well. It hits the tropes, it hits the moments. Yeah. Cait: that coming back around together. And that's a really nice moment between two male characters. Actually, I think like there's a lot of and the baseball team guys and everything, like Court: Yes. Cait: the guys are are well fleshed out and and Court: Yes. Cait: they have their own whole like, you know, storyline and everything in this and and a lot of fun characters. I think this is this is book one of like what's gonna be a few, right? Romance, like Court: Think so. Cait: I think we Court: right. Because you just reminded me, I'd forgotten. So when they break up, after that happens, like Danny goes like into comatose. He's not leaving his bed. He, the boys Cait: He goes super chromatose depressed, yeah. Court: are there. They're still like sweetly angel that's still coming to check on her. Like they're still taking care of her. But this is why, this Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Court: is why his sister like stops talking to her for a bit because her brother's devastated. Even though she doesn't know what really happened. Like, he's devastated, not leaving bed, not eating, not drinking. Like he's just done. He's in his darkest dark. And Angel, who's his best friend and checks on Josie and take care of her, is like, don't come unless you're staying. Like, don't because Cait: Yeah. Court: she wants to check and they're like, that'd be too hard for him. Like, don't unless you're gonna be here. And she finally Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Court: decides something happens that she's like, okay, I I I wanna help them. I'm strong enough. I can help him through this. I wanna be there. And when she shows up at the house, he's gone. He's gone to his parents. And that's like another thing to her. And the friend says to her, like, he said he doesn't want. To talk to you. That is better. Like he wants Cait: Yeah. Court: space while he's gone to his parents, which is really a miscommunication, which is kind of annoying. But Cait: Yeah. Court: he's like, he realizes after and he's Angel's like, Well, you told me you didn't want to talk. And he's No, I didn't mean it was just in a moment. And he finds out after again a few weeks or a week or something with his parents that she had come. He didn't even know that she had shown up and what that Cait: Yeah. Court: would have helped in like helping him heal that much faster. But basically, there's a slight miscommunication that keeps them apart longer. And he has this convo with his dad. He starts healing, he starts realizing he can do this. Cait: Maybe. Court: Like it he sets him on his path. And she's already known this. And then they have this coming back together at the aquarium that she's just kind Cait: Yeah. Court: of talking to, I think, jellyfish or nocturist and saying that she misses him. And then he responds. Cait: Yeah. Court: And it's a really sweet moment that Cait: It is, but Court: I loved because it didn't make it too big or too much in conflict. They're both, it's almost like a breath. It's almost like they're both like. Cait: It's not too big, it's a soft coming back together. Yeah. Court: Yes, this is what we should both be. Like they didn't have to like, yes, Cait: Yes. Court: he said, she said, fight it, or like, I can't, I don't why, even though, and then you're hearing in their head, even though this is all I want to do. Cait: No. Cause that wasn't even Court: Like they just both accepted. And Cait: Yeah. Court: it was so, like you're saying, like, yeah, it was a soft coming back together that felt earned and worked Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Court: really well for this book. Cait: Works really well for this book. And then you know, you get through the end and like they're together and they're doing all these things and and they're gonna have these lovely careers and then you get the the epilogue. Which is so yummy. Court: Yes, that we think is Angel and the sister, right? The friend that has a kid. Like I think I think that's what that is. It is. Yes. Cait: I think so, but it's very hidden from us because there's gonna be more books. it's very hidden on purpose, but we get the epilogue of Danny and Josie and you know, and they're married and they're living in Seattle and yeah, it's five, five or eight, five or five years later. Court: Several years later. Like five years later? Yeah. Five or s eight. It's it's a chunk of time. Cait: It's a large chunk of time. Like he's a professional Court: Yes. Cait: baseball player, she has her like job, they've they had it, they're married, they're together. They don't have kids yet. And then she's like, Court: No. Cait: I want to take you somewhere special. They go back to Carmel by the Sea, which is where this is all like sort of set Monterey, like Northern Cali Central California shore. And then she takes them back to the spot where he saved her life at the beginning of the book. And then reveals a positive pregnancy test, which is like, it's what we want from a romance. Court: Yeah. That she's pregnant. It's so sweet and perfect full circle. Yes. And even they described like we they tell everything that happened. Like she stayed when he first got drafted to this other team. I can't remember which one. And then she did this coaching. Yeah. And they Cait: Yeah. She finished up school and did everything and did the coaching. Yeah. Court: did it through distance. And then they came together. And then he proposed after she she wouldn't have been ready, which I do there was this part of me that was like, I felt like this probably would have been a faster proposal. I don't know, you might have Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: I don't know how you saw it, but I did that was the only part that I'm like, mm, I think they would have been engaged a little bit quicker than what they said in the epilogue. Not my Cait: I did too. Court: story, I'm obviously wrong, but it felt like it would have been a quicker engagement than what the epilogue said. That was my only catch. I'm like, I don't think so. Cait: Yeah. I agree. But then it was like the epilogue was kind of like they still took a little more time to work through a lot of their stuff before they it's was what was but like I also felt like Yeah. Court: Yes. I feel like they would have had a long engagement. Like I think they would have gotten engaged fast and then maybe had a longer engagement working through stuff, but I still feel like with the two Cait: Yeah. Court: of them and the way their fires and how certain they were and what they bonded on, Cait: Yeah. Court: that part I feel like would have come fast. Especially when you're trauma bonding. Like when you've been through it and you find that person, I just think they would have Cait: No. But I think that's why she didn't because she wanted it to be more than a trauma bond. But I agree with you. Like I was I Court: Yeah. Cait: had that feeling as well. I knew what the author was going for, but I was also kind of like, mm, I still I mean, they still have a trauma bond. Like that's not gone away, you know? and that yeah. Court: Yeah. Doesn't mean they have to instantly get married, but I do think they would have committed. Especially with him. He moved in with her after like a week. Like they became instant Cait: Yeah. Court: roommates. And as soon as they got back together, they moved back into like they've never wanted to be apart. Even and especially Cait: No. Court: doing distance, I feel like they would have she and he he would have wanted that comfort of the engagement. Even though they knew and they knew in their hearts. But I feel like Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Court: again, I just I I think I'm not the author, but I do think they would have been engaged sooner. It's my only note. Cait: I agree. I agree. The I the I was Court: I think they would have done it. Cait: surprised when I read that in the epilogue. I was like, this is not an easy these two just don't have an easy road. Court: Yeah, exactly. Like I thought that part was finally earned. Like they got there. We went through Cait: Yeah. Court: five hundred pages, which is so funny to me how big this book was. Because I didn't I didn't notice and I'm not one Cait: Yes It's a big romance book. Court: I find it interesting because I work in a bookstore how often people look at a book and they're like, no, it's like five hundred like they look at the page count and they automatically say, No. I genuinely have never considered a page count. It's never something that goes through my mind when I look at a book. It's just not Cait: Right. Court: in my world. I don't ever look at a book and think too big or too small. I mean look at Alchemize. It's just not even a concept Cait: Yeah, yeah. Court: to me of choosing a book. Were you do you do did you do that before? I mean now you're you're a fast reader anyways too, but is that something you'd look at? Cait: No. No. Maybe, maybe if I was specifically looking for a quick summer read, that might Court: Okay. Cait: be when I would be like, I'll save a thicker tome for, Court: Mm-hmm. Cait: you know, when I'm gonna have more time to sit and read. Cause I've a, you know, when you have young kids in summer, it's like, Yeah, I'm reading, I'm reading by the pool. My sister and I laugh about that all the time. Or like not reading by Court: Yes. Cait: the pool. I'm watching my kid do the same fucking jump over and over and over again. Because if I don't look up for the watch me, you know, I'm terrified they're gonna become a heroin addict when they're a teenager because they won't have felt enough Court: Yes, the mom tick. Cait: love in their life or whatever. Yeah. So so like for a beach read, I would look at this one and I'd be like, no. But because it's a romance, Court: Yeah, but I would it does read fast. Cait: it reads fast. Court: Yeah, don't let the pages on this one. That's why I brought this up. Like, don't let it scare you. It's not, it's not a slog fest. You're not even Cait: Yeah. Don't let it scare you. No. Court: even with the heavy topics that we've talked about. It really is a romance. It's so good, you guys. It's so good. I loved it. I was tickled. Yes. It just Cait: I know, even with that, it's a romance and the friends are super fun. Yeah. It's a really fun summer read romance. And I mean, I think all we're hitting on here is like just get ready for like you even in romance this summer, you're not getting away from Zaggirl. You're gonna have to go through it. That's the theme. Court: No. But it's the best. Listen, Into the Blue is one of the best books I've read in a very long time. It's one of my top all-time books is gonna be there. This book for Cait: Very long time. Yeah. Court: me, and what I've been saying to people in my store, this is my top romance that I've read in a long time, actually. It's like my recurring my number one romance. It was so good and so much weight. Cait: Yeah, yes. And that's yeah. Yeah. Cause it does because it's a romance, but it does so many cool things. Like I love what it does with the I love the themes that it touches on in a really great way. But it's still a romance. No, it is a romance. Court: Yes, yes, but it's still a romance, like a true romance. It's not a B romance. It's a romance. And it's hard to find one in that balance. And like we said, we know you're going through there's a there's a blueprint, so to speak, for romances. But this flips Cait: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Court: the blueprint on its head while still fall. It's like an upside down version, but still works. And you you know Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Court: what you're in for and you're safe, but you get to experience it. Cait: And all your feelings, all your sad feelings are like good sad feelings, like you're gonna be okay in the end. As long as the trigger warnings on this which Court: Yes, and they get taken care of. You're never stuck in it. Cait: are real are not too triggering for you. Like in that case, stay away. But Court: Yes. Yeah, yeah. Cait: but as long as that's not gonna hit you too hard. And then depending, you know, like if you you know, someone is going through grief, like sometimes it's nice to read something that that speaks to it. depends on where you're at. Really spicy. Court: Yeah. And then get a little spicy treat on top of it. You know, have some grief and have a really hot guy. Cait: Yeah. Court: Like someone after and give a good punch. Listen, we're we don't condone vol violence, we've said this, but occasionally it's earned. And again, friends and brothers, Cait: I'm starting. Court: people, he's earned it. He's you're like cheering for Danny. You're like, yeah, you should punch him out. Absolutely. Some people just deserve Cait: Yeah, more than once. Court: to get punched in the face. I it's just life. Some people you're like. Cait: And in this case which is like satisfying about this book too. There's something satisfying Court: Ugh. It is. Cait: about that. Like we sometimes because we know we can't burn bridges like that in life in the same way, it's really satisfying when you get to read it. Like, my god, this just reminded me when they slash his tires. You know? Court: Yeah. Finally happened. Yes, that's one of the first things they do, right? Early on, they go and they slash the tires of Bryson. That's Cait: And I was like, is this actually happening? Court: like their first hijinks they do together. And they get away with it, Cait: Yes. Court: which is so nice because you feel like those moments happen and then something bad comes, but it's not. It's just like hijinks that Danny Cait: Yeah. Court: and Josie get to bond over. And it's so Cait: Yeah. Court: even how she starts teaching him lessons, like the baseball, we Cait: Yeah. Court: kind of skimmed over this, but like at the baseball players, we're all talking about the hot Wednesday. And it's he's like, I've Cait: Yeah. Court: been reaching out to her, trying to get her to give me lessons. She full like flat out refuses. And it's like a thing. But then he gets her to give him lessons, and Cait: Yeah. Court: it's like this honor and shows how much she's into him and cares about him. And that's part of what sends a friends. Cait: Yeah. Court: But it's a really sweet way. Like it's just, yeah. They're a great couple. They're it's adorable. And she Cait: It's fine. It's fine. Court: doesn't give it up easy. It's a chase. But it's a again, an earned slow burn. It's not a slow burn Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: that you're like, come on, just like get it together. You're already there. It's not the will they won't Cait: No. Yeah. Court: they. It's just like an earned again, two we've had two great books in our summer, sad girl summer that keeps going. I'll give more recommendations to read over the time because it really is the theme of the summer. But it's so good. So good. Cait: Yeah. When done well, it's great. And you're you know, with with this one you're in good hands. Court: Yes, yes. It's nothing worse than a bad one. Like a bad, sad book that you're just like, my god, like why am I in this world and reading this? No one wants that. Yeah. Cait: Yeah. No, torture. Life's too short, especially not in the summer. Court: Yeah. Not in the summer. Not in the summer. This is a four-spice pumpkin fun romance read with a heavier storyline that lets you feel Good about your reading. Do you know what I mean? Like it's almost it gives Cait: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Court: you a satisfaction that you're reading something real and romance. It gives you both. Because there's nothing wrong with reading romance. Love it. Our fluff, our light, our getting away. That's what we're all about. But it gives you that balance that romanticies give you. Like I often go romance, romanticy, romance, romanticy. And I've been in a Cait: Yes. Yeah. Court: straight romance for a bit because I'm reading some for another thing. And so These ones really balance that out. Like I've had such a great Cait: Hm. Court: ride with the romances I've been reading because there's so many good sad girl summer romances right now. I'm Cait: Yeah. Court: getting the balance I usually need romantic for, which is amazing. Cait: Yeah. Yeah. It's great. Anyways, all right. So Court: Yes. Cait: that is it for today's episode of Kate and Court's Cozy Corner talking about please don't go by El Salvador. A romance, Court: So good. Cait: a true romance, true to the genre, but a heavier one. Like Court: Mm-hmm. Cait: I said, it's, you know, it's you got your sad girl summer vibes going on, but you're gonna have a good time. And you get four pumpkin spice with this one as well. Like it is, it's hot. yeah, yeah. Court: Yes. Go read it. Enjoy. Enjoy the rest of your summer. We can't wait to come back and see you in the fall. Yeah. It's a there's so many great books. Cait: Yeah. Yeah. So we will have like Court said she's gonna be dropping different recommendations on our socials. because she's reading a ton of them right now. I'll drop a Court: Mm-hmm. Cait: couple too, you know, some will be like some fun short ones, some good ones, whatever. And we'll be back with so much more this fall for season two of Kate and Court's Cozy Corner. Court: Yes. Can't wait. Cait: Lots of fun changes, lots of fun things coming your way. Still like us chatting books, but just more fun. Exactly. So on that note, have a great summer. See you soon. Court: Yeah. Times two. yes. Have a great summer. Bye. Cait: Bye.