Latest / Fated / Book Subscription Boxes and FMK
Transcript
- Tay: Welcome to the podcast where your next favorite story is already written in the stars. April: We're your new book besties, April. Tay: and Tay here to get your book cravings started and satisfied. April: Why? Tay: because around here it's faded. April: So grab your current read, maybe a cozy drink and hide your TBR list because today we're talking about book subscription boxes we have a special edition of Fuck, Marry, Kill with your favorite book boyfriends. ⁓ Tay: it's gonna be a good ⁓ April: How's your week been? Tay: It's been, you know, it's been a week. I'm glad that we are finally back recording and enjoying ourselves. This is one of the more highlights of my week, but I will say I think we have well, I know you haven't been, but I've definitely been on the binge of Off Campus. I personally, myself, did not read the books in their entirety. I read one of the series completely out of order, but heard they're really good. And because of the show, I want to read them now. Though I have heard that the show takes a lot of creative licensing, I try to put that on the back burner because it's a show. And at the end of the day, unless like our author was, you know, leading the ship and was there every day on set, I'm like, yeah, it's going to be different. But I definitely have, I've been really enjoying it. It's been good. There's some cringe moments, but it's giving me like my nineties rom-com vibe. I want you to watch it and then we're going to have like a we're have a conversation about it. That's for sure. April: I'm so excited. I started watching like the first 10 to 15 minutes today and I was hooked. I was like, I'm ready to watch this, which I will say, I feel like with most of these, kind of have to, you do have to step back from it and realize that it's not going to be like a direct adaptation, but I'm excited for it. And I'm here for off campus and I'm ready for this, this ride that I feel like the show is going to be. Tay: Yeah, hockey is huge right now. Everybody is loving the hockey romance. They are really into it. personally, I've only been ⁓ like two Brahma's hockey games and then one star's game. So I'm very low on the like hockey knowledge scale. I remember being cold and there were lots of fights. It was cool. April: aggressive. ⁓ Tay: After that, I think it's maybe a more up north thing. mean, Texas has it, but I feel like people up north and it's kind of getting integrated into Texas. I'm not really sure. April: Yeah, sports romance girlies are living their best lives right now is what I think. Tay: They are. They are. I'm excited just in general for all these book adaptations for movies. So great, you know, kind of hint at maybe what next week might be about. But how's your week been? April: Mm-hmm. My week has been great. I am so ready for summertime and just enjoying the warm weather headed our way. Plus more time to read some books and hopefully watch TV shows. Tay: Yes. Yeah, more time to do things, more time to get out, enjoy the sunshine. I did that today. I went to the zoo with my kid. It was so nice. It was so good. So I'm happy we're here though. I'm glad to be back inside and now here with you today. today we're going to be talking about, and drum roll please. April: I know. Tay: talking about book subscription boxes and all the different ones that we have. So I'll let you lead the way on that. April: Okay, so let me just start by saying I am addicted to book subscription boxes. I've tried several. I think it's really fun just to collect different versions of books, but it's also really sad for my wallet. Like amount of money that I have probably spent on book boxes is probably insane, but I think of it as like I have no other hobbies. Tay: Mm-hmm. April: I'm not really a hobby person. This is my hobby. So it makes it easier to spend the money on the books and it makes me happy inside. Tay: Yeah, it does make me happy. And I love it too, because I'm like, you know, it just gives me something special to look forward to that I'm not just gonna find on like an everyday shelf. Now granted, I still do my book shopping at Barnes & Noble. Heck, I went today, picked up the new Broken Dove by Danny Francis, beautiful. It has foiled edges, I love that. But there's just something about a subscription box when they entice you with these beautiful foilings or they have sprayed edges or they have artwork. on the inside, like anything and all things that they can offer that like a standard would-all publisher does not. I love it. I eat it up. So I'm so grateful that these book subscription boxes exist. There's a good amount all ⁓ all there's a one that I feel like it's pretty new. It's not maybe not even a, maybe not even two years old. I don't think at this rate, ⁓ but it's called probably smut and they're box is so good. It's good every time. It's consistent. Your very first box, now that we're just talking like the base package to where you just get a book a month and then they give you like a journaling each month, but you can also get it with a t-shirt, I believe. Like you can add on and get the ⁓ other tier to that box. But even the basic one of just getting the book and then just getting the inserts for the journaling is phenomenal. They start off with your very first box. get your journal, the inserts and the book of that month. And then after that, you just get the inserts in the book every month after that. I don't use my pages. I love them all the same. I love them all the same. They give you like an annotating bookmark and like they already pre like list out what your annotations should be. So I love that they're thinking ahead for me. April: Same, guilty. Tay: They give you stickers, they give you all the things, and I love those. But I'm just not a great journaler. I know that about myself. I have tried many a times, and I'm just not a person that can journal every day or even talk about a book every day because saw this one girl that was like, only readers understand this, but she had a picture of a book and she held it in three different spots. And the first part was probably that much. And it said, ⁓ is the first ⁓ days of reading a book. And then the middle here, said six months and then the third and it said 24 hours. like, mean, it was like, ⁓ understand it though. There's so many times, I think all of us when we get into like a book rut or like, it's like, you want to finish the book and there's nothing wrong with the book. It's just life and everything else that happens. So it's like, yeah, that's, that's the vibe. So I'm not a journaler. I just low commitment. ⁓ reason why I don't do like a standard book club. We have our book club. April: calling me out. Tay: But I can't do dedicated reading, like meeting every Thursday at certain time and saying you had to finish something stresses me out. And you would think that wouldn't because I am very type A, but I just don't. I like reading to my own rhythm. like talking about it after we've all collectively read it. most of the time ⁓ you've recommended me lot of my book lately. ⁓ You've already read them. But then when I get to a part, I'm like, ⁓ she's already read. So it's no spoiler to her. And I could be like, ⁓ my God, this happened. And then you relate because you're like, ⁓ yeah, yep. but I can't, I can't do it where we read like two chapters and then we're here on Thursday and we talk about it also too. Cause like, what if I am enjoying myself and I want to like binge read it and finish it? Sorry. I'm, you know, probably a lot of people that are like that, but I just, can't journal. So April: you Tay: If you love journaling, probably Smut has a lot of those so you can continue on that ⁓ phase. ⁓ their books are just so beautiful. Like they're really beautiful. Like just one with, it was Shield of Sparrows and Rites of the Starling. Beautiful. The artwork ⁓ is just so And I loved that we had an option of the month to add on the second book. April: 10 out of 10. Tay: as like an add-on to the package. I was like, that's great. Yeah, 10 out of 10, sign me up. Cause I want both copies and I both want them to look the same. And I've had books subscriptions in the past where I've bought the book subscription for that month. And then they said I was going to get the option for buying the other book later. And then like, I never got my link. And so then I have a set that doesn't match. like, it is the worst. It like hurts, hurts my soul. So. April: That's the worst too. Yeah. Tay: The fact that they do it before the book even ships and they're like, we know that you're probably going to want the matching set. So like, let's give you that option. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. April: I know. And another thing that I love about probably Smut is they are on top of like getting your books in monthly. Like I have personally, I've been a member of probably Smut since I joined right before they did fourth wing. So I was really hopeful to get a fourth wing book and I was a month late, but they, I get it like clockwork every single month. And if there's ever like a delay, it's because like the publisher has asked them, like I think what the next book that's coming out for them. Tay: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. April: Next month, they had a note on their email saying, hey, this is coming later because the publisher asked us to hold on to it until later on in the month. It was for the Elsie Silver book that they're doing next. So yay for that for us. We're going cowboy next. But definitely for me, a top tier book subscription box for sure. Tay: Yeah. Yeah, I think that probably a close second for me, and I don't even have a subscription for this box, but you've told me such good things, ⁓ Lilac Library. Books are stunning, like stunning. The shipping, crazy, but the books, beautiful, beautiful. April: Yeah. Yeah, Lilac Library, I like to get some of their special editions. I have the Terror at the Gates by Scarlet St. Clair, is... Seriously. ⁓ Tay: I wish you had it in grab distance. I'd be like, show it right now for our people on YouTube, just so you can see it. It is the most beautiful book I have ever seen with the plain eye. April: It is. It is so pretty, but then I also got their Quicksilver book and I'm talking like I pre-ordered these months and months in advance and then you get them in and it's so nice. And one of my most favorite things I have to like shout them out. My personal experience with Lilac Library. got in my Quicksilver and the way that it had been bound the glue, ⁓ was like it just kind of maybe seeped out a little bit and ended up gluing a little bit of the illustration together. the end pages and it wasn't like anything major. But was just like, ⁓ that's kind of a bummer, know? So like I sent them like a really nice email and I will say really popular, probably old timey saying, gonna show my age here, but you will definitely catch more flies with honey because I sent them a really nice email. And I was like, hey, like, you know, I'm a collector, like not trying to be, you know, sketchy about like wanting to resell it, just a collector. Tay: I agree. April: And I was like, I that my book has this, there any way that I can get a replacement copy? And I was even willing to ship back my copy. they were instantly, they were like, no, it's fine. We're so sorry about your book. And they sent me a new one free of charge, which was really nice. They didn't even make me pay shipping on that. And I was like, ugh, that was so kind. So really, truly customer service is excellent there. Tay: That is, yeah, that is really great to hear. Also great to know that, know, like, and also do as a reminder to our listeners, like these are human beings and things happen. Now, granted we have seen extremes in these book boxes and I don't know if I'm feeling sassy to call out a particular one. You know which one I'm thinking of. but you know, someone that like, buys a book and is willing to just like, know, at least say like, hey, like this is a, you know, and then they're responsive, you know, even if to a point of, if let's say they responded back to you and said like, hey, we only had so many copies or so sorry, but hey, for next month, we're going to give you like a limited off or something like that even. if they couldn't have replaced it, you know, just saying something like that, feels the void of like, ⁓ yeah, like I still want to, but if you email a subscription box, you don't hear anything and then like, or you have a book box and then it's months from getting it. You're like, ⁓ yeah, I just ordered or signed up for the September box and I'm getting it in February. It's kind of like, or years later. Then I don't know if necessarily that should be ⁓ book subscription box of choice, but it does happen. ⁓ we me and AP, April: or years later. Ugh. Tay: say Tread with Caution, try and read reviews, because there are reviews of these book things and find one that is the best for you. But there are a lot of good ones out there. know another one is Fairy Loot. Fairy Loot is extremely popular. Also, their books are also beautiful. If you loved foiled books, if you love, ⁓ they do lot of the major series too. So if they find out like, you know, the latest and greatest of Romanticie is out there. They'll usually print it in its entirety. So I love that that particular book box like really wants to complete sets they're sending out their books. April: sure. I have the Fairyloot Romanticies subscription and I would say ⁓ it's actually not too too expensive. Probably Smut is definitely on the more affordable side. Fairyloot kind of falls probably in the middle range for some people. But beautiful books. I have never been disappointed in a single design from them and I've had them for a long time. I will say though they do have extremely long wait lists so if it's something that you're interested in definitely get on that wait list because it's going to take a while. Tay: Hmm. Mm-hmm. April: And then I just signed up for the adult one, the wait list for the adult book that Fairyloot is doing. So I'm excited for that. They also do a YA subscription, which I think is really great for like those of us with kids who are in that young adult range where we want them to enjoy special pretty edition of books and also start collections. I think it's great. So yeah, love me some Fairyloot. And I will say I've also had now Fairyloot has reviews on customer service. I feel like some people have had really good experiences. Some people have had really bad experiences. I have never had a bad situation with Fairyloot. Like they have always done a really good job of making sure that if I have like a ⁓ damaged book, now they do have like parameters of like what they'll replace. But I've had a really badly damaged book, which has not been very often, they have replaced it. No issues. So I do appreciate that. But I do know people have had terrible luck with their customer service too and I'm sorry to those book collectors because that stinks. Tay: Yeah, and I mean, we don't know situation or circumstance, but I think we've all been there too. It's very frustrating if you're talking to what feels like a bot, you know, where you're not really getting anything back or it feels very automated. It's like, OK, like I waited months to get on this wait list and I really want to, you know, enjoy this book subscription box. then, like, if I don't hear from anybody, you know, kind of just kind of takes the fun away from it. And I've had. April: Mm-hmm. Tay: that book box that I will remain unmentioned. ⁓ I know, I'm not feeling petty today, I'm feeling petty enough to talk about it. I'm ⁓ not being enough to mention their own name, but I definitely think I've been there and I just, know, hey, at that point, if you're fed up, just cancel. I think that's the nice part about the book boxes is if you don't like it, April: that. Tay: and it's not for you, just cancel and then, know, worst case scenario, try and do the nice email just to be like, hey, hey, ⁓ you know, yeah, it just wasn't for me, now give me my money back. April: And a bonus of Fairyloo is the early access to those series you were talking about how they will go on to publish series. If you received like I had received ⁓ Heavenly Bodies, example, I mean, like over a year ago as a subscription for the Romanticie. And then they gave me first early access to the second book in the series. And I appreciate it about that about them. ⁓ they're awesome at finishing series that they start. And I know that that's a problem for some book boxes is they do a book or two and then that's it. Tay: Yeah, and there's some really good ones, even just, I think, UK-based ones. There's also Owlcrate and LitJoycrate. Like, all of those are based in UK. Other book box options. I saw this girl has a really cool ⁓ tradition. And if I ever get to travel, I would love start that tradition, but she goes, to other countries and she picks up her favorite book in different countries. So for her, it was Seven Wives of Evelyn Hugo. For me, that one's not a favorite of mine, but it was a favorite of hers. And so she was like, I'm gonna go to every country and I'm gonna pick up this book get it in every copy I want. And every copy was so vastly different. And she had like the German copy, the Italian copy, the UK version, like so neat that these options are available. And I think that's kind of what makes it special if you're choosing other book subscription boxes from elsewhere, because they're going to put it like a different spin on it, you know, maybe less Americanized version of it. But are some good ones in the States. I Book of the Month is a huge book subscription company and it's not strictly romance, but people love that one because they can get all kinds of freebies with their book subscription. like, I think like right now they're giving away like, it's like a boat and tote bag where like that LL Bean kind of style tote bag. they'll let ⁓ monogram it with whatever want to say. So people are putting little cutesy sayings on it and stuffing and then getting their book of the month. So I'm like, they're kind of like good about capturing like. April: you Tay: Hey, we have this popular book that's being printed right now, but also you get like a little freebie. And I don't think there's any way either for book of the month. And they're pretty on top of their deliveries as well. April: Yeah, I know you do book of the month, right? So they let you choose from different kinds of books. Like they give you choices and you get to choose one. Tay: Yes, so I tend to choose either like romance or something that I know that I'm more than likely going to read, but every now and then they've had some good like autobiographies and stuff that I've seen that I'm like, ⁓ yeah, I want that one like, you know, added to my collection. But it's nice that they give some options, but it's not strictly, you know, just like a romance based one. So ⁓ if. You're looking for options. are other ones besides here, but we're also a romance podcast. So we're going to talk about those mostly. So sorry, y'all. April: you Yes, yes, which leads me to another newer book subscription box. And I'll be 100 % honest, I only have one book from them and that is Bewitched Pages. got their Fear the Flames book and it is gorgeous. Like the artwork on this book is so pretty. And just the quality, like the book is bound very well. It actually has pretty, I think, in my opinion, like very complex ⁓ sprayed edges. with a full design and it's just so gorgeous. They did such a good job on that book and I wouldn't say it was too too expensive. something I appreciated about them is it sold out really fast like for this exact copy. It's gorgeous. Yes, it is a beautiful book and ⁓ sold out like really quickly because I was like, ⁓ I'm going to try to get this book because I love that book. I love Fear the Flames. But then it sold out. I was like, ⁓ Tay: Sorry, I am looking up as we speak some of these. ⁓ my gosh, wow. April: That stinks because that was really quick. But then what they did is they actually sent out an email and they're like, hey, if you were interested in this book, we're thinking about printing more of them. You you just had to sign up on a waitlist. So I signed up on the waitlist and they did. They ended up going back and reprinting more of the books, which I really appreciated because it just gets the books in more people's hands. So kudos to them for that service as well, because it was beautiful. Like I would hands down order for them again. Tay: have some really pretty ones. have the Crowns Niaxious books. They have the Night Prince, the Wolf King, Direbound, Furybound, like a lot of popular books right now that I'm looking at on their page. I haven't actually never heard of this one when I saw it on our list for this week. was like, hmm, but I'd rather like get a live reaction and these are some stunning books. April: Mm. Yeah, they are so gorgeous. that also you should look into Moonlight Book Box. So I do not have the subscription yet. I am on their waitlist, like fingers crossed, because they also have gorgeous editions. It looks like they do a lot of like foiling to on the on the font on the books. I really appreciate that for people who have the Moonlight Book Box, please. I'm dying to know, is it worth getting because it looks so pretty, the illustrations that they have? their lies of Lena book. And I've never, I've honestly never read the book myself, but it just looks so pretty. And I've heard good things about them. So that's definitely one that is on my radar to keep in mind in the future Tay: I'm sorry, I always lean a pretty book. And that's something to note. If you're ⁓ a first-time writer out there and do your research as far as up book and what you like and stylizations of but you can learn a lot. One, by just walking around a standard bookstore and or finding maybe more of a mom and pop store so they'll have these special edition books. And then you can kind of walk around and see, and ask to like what tends to sell and what, and then also go in the book and look who the creator was and see if they notate the artist. you can reach out to those people and they can do, illustrations for your novels. you never know what you might find, but ⁓ my gosh, these are so pretty too. April: I know I'm telling you, need real feedback on this book box. I need to know if the quality is good because it looks stunning from the pictures. Tay: It is very stunning and lots of intricate, think more is the word that I'm looking for because there's so many little details on these books. Like ⁓ don't know. ⁓ April: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Tay: there it is. Look at that. That's insane. There's so much going on there, but it would be so pretty on my shelf. April: ⁓ that's so pretty. Yeah. I know, right? A shelf trophy. That's what they are. Tay: They are. Well, then I'm at that point, you know, it's like I have it, I need to read it. But I do treat myself a majority of the time to the hardback when I've read the book. That's usually my good role with them. It's like, I've read it, I get the book. It's like a reward. I know I've liked it and it's worth buying the book. But either way, if I buy it first or if I buy it last, it's getting read at some point. It's just, you know, hierarchy on where that stands. April: Yeah. Exactly. Yes, yes, which leads me to books for days. Great. So this one I actually do have one series from them. I have an LJ Shen series by them that they did and they are beautiful, beautiful books. And I'm so excited. You're going to laugh at me, but they're doing Dagger Brotherhood. OK, so for all my J.R. Ward girlies out there. ⁓ are ready for stunning Black Dagger Brotherhood books, me especially, okay? are doing Black Dagger Brotherhood and I'm so ready for these books. They are going to be my pride and joy on my shelf. Tay: you story please good lord i don't know what this should be okay i have to i have to talk about it i we will have to do an episode okay there is a ⁓ this so off topic but it has to be mentioned because you said black dagger brotherhood but the show i'm thinking of is passion flicks or the subscription company so April: Bye. Tay: Passionflix brings books to life and more on the note of like, you know, than your standard Netflix or your Prime or Hulu, whoever you're watching on your streaming platforms, I would say in terms of like level, they're not there yet. So expect like a Oscar winning performance. It's very, you know, it's just, it's a, I would say it's a middle tier. It's not like your base tier, like somebody filming. It's, you know, and it's not like your Oscar winning show, but it's like in the middle. they bring these books to life and you can enjoy them because there's books that, you know, you love that you want to see brought to film. one of examples of this is the show, Black Dagger Brotherhood. ⁓ And ⁓ very one is the first book, right? The first season is book one. Okay. And April: Snaps for that. Yes. Tay: I hadn't watched this. go over to April's house and she's like, we have to watch this. Mind you, have never had my quote unquote passion flicks cherry popped. So I had not watched anything on passion flicks. So she was also the first for that. So thank you for that. Cause there are some ones I have super enjoyed on there and I now enjoyed this memory that we share. me, April and her husband are starting this episode. we have to give your husband a shout because if anything, we need him as an episode guest one day to side commentary. But he had us laughing so hard while we were watching that show. I couldn't even barely breathe because like the main character, his name is Wrath and he like the black hair and like the sunglasses on and he's mystique. OK. April: You Tay: But like for us and girlies that have read those type of books, like we understand he's going for like mysterious vampire, you know, that's the vibe. April's husband is just like ⁓ the side commentary like, ⁓ yeah, he's here. You know, and I'm like, ⁓ my gosh. then, he's called to this, ⁓ main What's her name? Do you know her name? ⁓ April: Beth. Beth is the main girl. Tay: Okay, so he's called to Beth and like he just shows up and then these two go at it. And I mean, there is no stone left unturned and it is the world's longest scene. And I'm just like. Y'all seeing this? I'm watching this with my best friends and her husband. It's crazy! April: Put out a 10. Tay: It was like watching with my parents. was great. I loved it. It so good. ⁓ did proceed. ⁓ proceeded to finish the entire series because I had to watch it. was ⁓ good not to finish. ⁓ finished, so did I. April: love me some black dagger brotherhood. You Shout out to Kevin for joining us on that adventure. Tay: Yeah, it was great. Thanks, Kevin. That was beautiful. I will never forget. sorry to go off to the big. Yeah. Yes, for sure. And maybe recording it, because that might be a fun episode. But definitely, I do want to read the books, though. You've mentioned time and time again that they're so, good. And it's an older series, right? So I think the hardest part about that for me April: We will be repeating that experience whatever season two comes out. Yeah. Tay: and remembering is because it's not in like, I can't walk into Barnes and I'll be like, hey, can I have that? And they're like, it's not, because they really kind of like cycle out of stuff. ⁓ I really need to go and like to half price and like find like the book series, because I would love to start it. Or if anything, I'll just get it going on Kindle and start it there. But there's how many books to ⁓ this So many, OK. ⁓ April: Seriously, so many, I don't even know. Yeah, major fans are gonna tear me up for not knowing the exact number, but it's because there's like spin-off series on top of spin-off series, but either way. Tay: ⁓ That's the way I feel about the Suki Stackhouse books. I don't know if anybody else has read the Suki Stackhouse novels with like Charlene Harris, but that also feels like a dedication. And I don't know the exact number of the books that are quote unquote with those. But I read all of them like crack? Yes, I did. I read all of them. I ate that up. So I'm sure that is your Suki Stackhouse I need to watch it, I read it, I need to read it. And then that way, I don't know, maybe I could get through at least book two before the next season. I bet I could do it. April: bit so. But shout out to Books for Days Crate for representing my Black Dagger Brotherhood. I'm ready for it. I'm here. I'm so ready. Tay: that I'm ready. Show me all the shows. would be the next character? Who's the rage? Okay. April: Rage, Rage is the next one. Yeah, I'm not going to spoil for anybody who doesn't know, but got to go read those books. Yes, and I think that last book subscription box that we need to talk about before we pull out some FMK is bookish box. Tay: Okay. All right. Thank you. Mm-hmm. April: And we all have mixed feelings about bookish box. I have thoughts. Tay: I I'll let you the way on this one. April: Okay, so was a long time subscriber to bookish box. I used to do their just regular bookish box and then they came out with darkly and I did darkly for a while. But then I getting books. ⁓ It was like would go by months would go by and I wouldn't get books and I will say kind of not in their defense because absolutely not. But I will say I have now that I canceled my subscription. do not actively subscribe to bookish box anymore, which makes me sad because I do feel like they do have good quality of books and I do enjoy the designs that they come out with. But ⁓ the ⁓ I did eventually I think they were catching up when I canceled. I actually canceled back in February. I think I got my last subscription book box from them maybe March or April. and that was about back on track. So I'm hopeful for them that they've gone through like, I guess like a huge warehouse change. Maybe it's more streamlined now for people who currently subscribe. Let us know, is it better? Should I resubscribe? Because I do love their books, but I will say customer service, yikes. Tay: Yeah, that is something that I hope and hope and cross my fingers for for them. I did go to their bookstore because bookish box and shop is a bookstore out in Arizona. I went last month, actually just by happenstance did not know it was in the area and I was there on work training and the girls I was doing training with shout out to them because I know they've been listening. Thank you to our listeners out in Casa Grande, Arizona. April: Yes. ⁓ Tay: ⁓ told they were like, yeah, the bookish shop is around here. And then I was like, is this the like, they said bookish shop. But I'm like, you know, sometimes people use bookish, know, but I was like, I don't know if that's trademarked or so I'm like looking it up and I'm like, no, that is like the book box place. Okay, okay, we're gonna see what this is all about. ⁓ And it a very nice bookstore. It was, it has like a coffee shop. The vibes were right. I sent you a picture. They had a Black Dekker Brotherhood cup koozie. I was like, ⁓ was like, okay, this place is cute. ⁓ want that book box to continued, to try and pick itself up. ⁓ was in a pretty big hole for a while. ⁓ I would say ⁓ reason, I sympathize for them in some ways is because publishers paper COVID all the things, things that happened that were totally external things that you can't kind of like hold that book box in its entirety accountable. Cause there was a lot of things that they're probably sitting there like, ⁓ my gosh, like are people want their books? I'm like, how do I like, know, and like, you know, probably the method of what they thought was all hands off. just, maybe if we just not mention it, you know, April: Yeah. Tay: But then it was like, no, no, no, now needed to talk about it. like, so then it was like a lot of emails saying like, so sorry, we're trying to get our books from overseas and they're publishers and they're not coming. And, you know, they're stuck on all these crates and on these boats and you know, et cetera. So I feel when you're having ⁓ importing of products, especially for books, cause you don't, I mean, it's kind of a hit or miss. You just don't know. You're just like crossing your fingers that that's going to be here and on time. But I would say there's their book boxes were far and in between. There was a big gap in distancing. So hopefully they've mined the gap a little bit and it's finally starting to catch up or finding someone internal where they don't have to have as many overseas books if it's not a consistent publisher. April: That's true. Yeah, let us know if it's better and worth resubscribing to because I do enjoy their additions Tay: Yes, yes. Please leave a comment and let us know. But as of now, I had been a subscriber and I am no longer a subscriber. So I have been burned. So I just stay back. And then if y'all say better things, I might entice myself to resubscribe. April: That's true. That's true. Yeah. Tay: But as a wrap up, we'll kind of lead into something a little more fun because, you know, we just love to torture ourselves in ways. ⁓ But one is I think we want to go on a fun note and play a little game. So ⁓ what you think about playing a game? April: I am here for it. I'm ready to play. Tay: Yay. Okay. Okay. Okay. We are going to fuck, Mary kill our favorite book boyfriends. Okay. So I am going to give you three and you let me know your picks. So we're going to start off super chaotic because we have a friend who of course wanted to throw us into this one. So three book boyfriends. Here we go. Tamlin hunt and kale. April: Yes. Tay: Fuck Mary Gill. April: Okay, SJM girlies are gonna murder me or something for this. This is rough. Okay. ⁓ of all, I feel like I should have looked at this beforehand to make my choice. Okay. ⁓ Tay: Cheers! I feel like I know your answer. ⁓ April: I am gonna throw us for a loop, okay? am going to fuck okay? This is, okay, I am not a Hunt sympathizer for people who know you know, I am not a Hunt sympathizer, okay? Fuck Hunt. I'm going to, God, it hurts me. ⁓ I'm to marry Kale and I'm gonna kill Tamlin. ⁓ Tay: Yeah, yeah, okay. Mm-hmm. April: But I have to know. Tay: Okay. could get the rationale. really can because, know, like, ⁓ just, ⁓ so hard. don't, ⁓ honestly, I think I'm alongside with you because I sit there and I'm trying to like rationale, like I could get through Tamlyn probably like on ⁓ in between, ⁓ if it was like, if this was Kiss Mary Kill, I probably would kiss Tamlyn. April: It's so hard. Tay: Kill Hunt and Mary Gale. Cause I, y'all I hate Hunt. I do. I'm so sorry. S.J.M. ladies, I'm so sorry. I love her writing, I'll do, but like, I just don't like Hunt. And I think it's like the frat boy vibe. Like the back, yeah, I just can't. Like it just, ugh, like my internal body just like curls within itself. So I just can't. It rejects. And then too, I think we all love Tamlin. April: Yes, it is. Rejects him. Yeah Tay: in the first start of a thorns and roses, but you know, slowly we realized his true colors ⁓ by the end of this series, I don't necessarily hate him. ⁓ my gosh. All the ladies are going to come like, but I don't necessarily hate him by the end of the books. just like preferred not to have him on the page. so I probably, I'll probably, I'll agree with you, but like, Because there's no kiss in this one because I just don't want to I don't want to touch that I don't mess with that. So we're we'll go I'll go with what you said I will F hunt and I say that lightly cuz I'm like no And then I'll marry kale. I think kale is the safe bet. He's a he's a he's a family man at the end of the day Yeah, granted he had his issues and granted. I think we all struggled through his like his only book April: That's how I felt. Tay: ⁓ But ⁓ marry him. I don't think there's anything wrong with him. So we'll just, ⁓ marry him and call it good. April: For sure, for sure. Okay, next one. We're still Sarah J. Masper's, okay? Rhysand, Cassian, Asriel. Tay: Okay, this goes totally opposite in some ways because their one felt a little more like visceral, like I had a reaction to. This one I'm like, it's just wrong because we love all of them. How do I do this? And how do I do this without people absolutely savaging me? But we're gonna do it. know what, ⁓ on right now, because I have no context, no whatever. April: Okay. Yes, this is pre next books. Yeah. Tay: Yeah, pre next book, because I have no idea what is coming out and, you know, changed my mind, but I know nothing about this mysterious shadow daddy. So I'm going to kill him as real. I'm so sorry. That feels so bad. But I ⁓ know anything about him. Like, I think he's great and very attractive, but we're going to kill him. I'm so sorry. We're going to fuck Cassian because. He's a gym bro, okay? I loved ⁓ him this vibe with Nesta and the way he messed with her. like, yes. And then I'm gonna marry Rhysand. Like there's no other option there. Like he has to be married. He is up forever. So ⁓ that mine. What about yours? April: Honestly, kind of feel, okay, yes, Mary Reesand. And I know some people like him, some people don't. I like him, sorry. Next one though. I think I would flip it. I think I would kill Cassian. And I know, I know. And like, as real because, okay, I love Cassian as a character. Love him, love him, love him. I think he would annoy the piss out of me. I really do. I think he would annoy me. Tay: He's got golden retriever vibes for sure. like totally like follows or yeah, I could see it. I could see it. Yeah. April: Yes. Yeah, so sorry about that one, but that's probably what I would do. Asriel would not annoy me at all. We would be great. Tay: Yeah, he's quiet and mysterious. April: Yeah, I don't need to know more than that. Tay: my gosh, I love it. That's fine. That's great. think, you know, and then keeping on with the same theme, because she's had three major series, we decided to take all three of our leading men and put them in one of these. So we're going to go re-sand, hunt, ⁓ and in. April: Yeah, sorry. Every time I hear his name, I'm like, ugh. Hi, sorry, you're out. even a question in my mind. ⁓ betrayed her. I don't care what anybody says. I'm sorry, I can't do it. Ooh, I do love Rowan. That's the thing. I am a Rowan girlie. So I would probably fuck Rue Sand and marry Rowan. Like, ⁓ good. Okay. ⁓ Tay: dead. I wholeheartedly. You're lining up. Yeah, 10 out of 10. And I say that to people that haven't read Throne of Glass and I'm like, no, no, no. Like even though it's YA, let me tell you, just the way he, one puts her in her place, but also seeks her in her best self. It's like, you know, he's giving her every opportunity to like flourish and figure out what she needs and all of those things. And I just love that about Rowan. Like he lets Alyn, you know, kind of do what she wants to do. And he's like, you know, is that's a good decision. Great. If it's not a good decision, you'll learn from it. Like he's totally letting her lead the ship on that. ⁓ but also too, he's not going to take anything either. Like their first initial thing, they like get into an altercation. I think they like punch one another in the face. Like it was like, what a way to meet your love. ⁓ just get into a fist fight the very first time you'll meet. I just, think he is. April: Yeah. stories. Tay: the better, more stable option. I love Resand. I really do. But I just, can't, I can't dis Rowan. We're just, we're just going to have to go with that. If it's a choice between the two. Sorry. Yeah. He wins every time. Next one we're going to go is we're going to go a little more towards the dragons. I can't remember if Silver Elite has dragons. I don't think it does, but anyways, we're going to go. April: He wins. Yeah. Mix it up a little. Tay: Kingfisher, Zayden, and then Crossreddin. So for our listeners, Kingfisher is from the ⁓ and then we have Zayden Ryerson from Fourthwing, and then we have Crossreddin from Silver Elite. So these three like main male characters. April: Quicksilver. okay, I've never read silver elite. I'm sure I would love it. I was a dystopian girly. So I do need to read it. It's on my list. So unfortunately, cross I'm sorry, I don't know you. I have no attachment to you. ⁓ got to go. honestly, ⁓ ooh, gets really hard because I love Zayden and I love Kingfisher. We're gonna him Kingfisher here. Okay, first of all, we're forgetting Tay: Mm. Yep. Yeah. Gotta go. Gotta go. April: about naming and brimstone. We're rolling with Kingfisher at this point. So I would probably fuck Kingfisher, Mary Zayden. I think that Zayden screams husband material to me. What about you? Tay: Mm-hmm. Bye. Kind of agree, kind of don't. So I agree with marrying Zayden. I do. I would marry him for sure, hands down. I think ⁓ my gosh, that's so hard. I don't wanna kill King Fisher, but I feel like I would. And the only reason is my reasoning is I think he would annoy me. I think there's things that he does that are kind of like frustrating in a mailman character. April: This is good one. Tay: So I find myself half the time in the book like, ugh, like, why are you doing that? Or, you know, like when he comes back and he drags like her non-brother ⁓ into the new and it's actually, gosh, now I'm not gonna remember his name. The other side character who anyways, he's like Mr. Funny and you find out he's like a prince, et cetera, but they bring him and he totally like gets mad at her and I'm like, brother, like, And then he gets mad because the only reason he smelled like her is because they used to do it. So I'm like, that was your mistake, not hers. Like, ⁓ you have a bad nose. I don't know. Like, don't pick up guys that are not the wrong. So like, he just annoys me in some regards. So that's why I'd have to kill Kingfisher and then cross Redden. There is just something about like in books for me when it's like kind of like how Zayden was where it's like. male main character who's like over a group and he's like the leader of the pack kind of. And I think Crossreddin has that same vibe in Silver Elite where, you know, his dad is you know, high up in ⁓ And so he has to do the high end and right thing. And he's Mr. grumpy pants. But then she gets it out of him if we're like, you know, they combat one another. And I really love that. So ⁓ I would definitely and Mary Zayden, Kill King Fisher. Yeah. April: That's fair, that's fair. Okay, the next one. I know you're gonna have big feels over. We have Ryan Shea from Windy City. Okay, we have Jamison Miles from the Miles High Series and we have Vicious from LJ Shen. Oof, that's a line up. Tay: Going off of, so awful, but going, let's cut the books because the books are amazing. I'm now having to disassociate and they're just people. I fuck Jamison Miles, because I feel like he knows what he's doing. He's older. Yeah. I would. Kill Vicious. I hate doing that. He's so trauma and I just don't want to, but like honestly, that is a lot of baggage. So kill him. And too, he is inherently mean. he is so mean in a book. I remember reading his character and I like, God, why is he so mean? Like, why is he so mean? April: You Tay: like, ⁓ like, of course, by the end of the book, you love him, but like, I'm just thinking of him as the person and like him as the person I would kill. And then Ryan Shea, I would marry. He is totally marry material. He has the penthouse. He has all the things. I would marry him. April: Okay, I knew you were gonna marry Ryan Shea. would probably be disowned by our friend group if you didn't. Tay: you Yeah, no, he is I just can't speak to like, he saw someone at her lowest low and just continued to love and give her that support. he's just overall a good guy. his book is the second book in that series. And it is my favorite out that whole series. But I would just say he's just, you know, overall good guy. And I'm like, if I'm going to be married to someone, I wanted that my whole life. April: Yeah, for sure. For sure. No, I would also marry Ryan Che. kind of like mean in the beginning, but it's not like a true mean. Like Vicious is an absolute jerk in the book named him, Vicious. But I would flip it. Okay. I would kill Jameson Miles. I'm sorry. I would. I this is not friends probably after this, but I would kill him and I would fuck I love a mean guy. I'm sorry. There's probably something wrong with me, but Mean male characters get me every single time. So sorry. ⁓ Tay: Yeah. I understand it, it's fine. Like I sat there and I was like, I could, you know, I could kill Jameson, you know, but I, for me, I couldn't, cause the stopover for me is like a top tier, but also like vicious. just had to like, just go off of, could I be around that personality 24 seven? No, I could not. And that was my reasoning, but like, you know, you know you best. And so if Jameson got to go, he got to go. I'm so sorry. ⁓ April: That's right. You gotta go. Tay: Our next group, I feel like is going to be hard for you because we just talked about this, ⁓ okay. So this is Evren. ⁓ is from the Kingdom of Stars and Shadows by Holly Renee. Then we have Rath from kingdom of the And then we have Desmond. So from the bargainer series. April: from the Bargainer series. Okay. Wow. This is actually harder than I thought it was gonna be. Okay. I would, ⁓ God. I love them all three for very different reasons. Okay. Fuck Everin because he can do that with a book. We know it's good. Wrath. ⁓ Tay: Thank Amen, sister. April: I would kill Rath and that makes me really sad because I love him but I also feel like we would have two clashing personalities. Desmond, I would marry. He's marriage material to me for sure. Tay: Yeah, okay, I agree. that's probably surprising, but I do agree. ⁓ because I think that, I don't know, Raph, I loved in the book, but it was definitely a slow burn. And I want to guess to right to the chase. So ⁓ that's reason we're going to kill him just because it just took too long in the book. I'm like, you know, yeah, he needs to get in there fast. Yep. We're going to go with Evren, like you said, with the book and then Desmond, we're going to. April: Yeah. He needs to get in there fast. Yeah. Tay: we're gonna marry, because he just knows what he's doing and he's just always looking out for his girls. So, yep, I love that man. So hit me with it. April: is too sweet. Okay, this one we're going back a little bit. We're going back a few a decade or so. Okay, maybe more. I don't even know. This is I'm old. I don't remember how old these books are. Mr. Grey from Fifty Shades of Grey. Cullen from Twilight ⁓ we all know everybody probably an Edward girl. Okay. And Bill Compton from Sookie Stackhouse. True Blood. Tay: Yeah, that. You I know and I wish Eric was in there too but it's fine. ⁓ Eric yeah yeah there's just nothing like Anna going Bill the vampire is nothing more unsexy where's my my vampire boyfriend at Bill April: Eric could win. OK, hands down. I don't even care. Alexander Skarzard can get it. haha Tay: we're gonna start off with a bang. We're gonna kill Bill. We'll Billing for sure. He should have died ⁓ way on in the series than when he should have. ⁓ I you Charlene. I do if you're listening to this Charlene Harris, I love you. There's a whole story I could tell you about missing you at a bookstore ⁓ But I quite literally showed up to bookstore the day after it happened ⁓ and I went. April: We're kill billing. Tay: Grand Prairie Public Library, I go and I'm like, I'm here for the book event tonight and they're like, ⁓ honey, that was yesterday. I wanted to die. So I love your books. I really do. But Bill's got to go. So he's dead. We're going to fuck Mr. Gray, because honestly, I got to know. April: Wow. Tay: I gotta know. I gotta see the red room of pain. I gotta see it all its entirety and then go, ⁓ dog, I'm out. But gotta see it. And then marry Edward. I feel like he's the safe bet. All three of Less trauma. I mean, ⁓ for vampire. But marry Edward. April: Got it now. But do you? But alive hundreds of years, but somehow still less trauma. Tay: Yeah, somehow still less trauma than Bill Compton or like, which Bill Compton is like a vampire from like the Civil War. So like the most dramatic. like, no. Gray, like ⁓ his like mommy issues, just so like, ⁓ go with Edward, safe bet. Marry What about you? April: Honestly, I agree 100%. I feel like Mr. Gray's a little bit too intense for me. Okay, Christian, you're little too intense for me. But Edward's broken a bed before. Tay: the carousel once, but yeah, no, there is some I saw. I don't know if I said it to y'all or something, but it was like a like a whole like just like montage of clips of him. And it said there's just something about Edward in Breaking Dawn. And let me tell you, that is so accurate because Breaking Dawn, Edward, part two ran. like. or part one so we could like run in the other books because like he smiles more, he's funny, he breaks beds. Like, I mean, that guy was like, yeah, because all the other ones awkward. I think he was so done ⁓ Rob Pattinson and like his vibe. He was so done. He was like, I want to get the heck out of here. I want to get that bag. And so kind of he broke his character, I think. And was like the perfect Edward was like. April: He grew up. Tay: Wait, you finally found him. Like that is Edward. He's so fun, charismatic. But like the first couple were like, we're digging for a personality. We're like, where is it? We found it. We found it. And so that's why we'll marry him. We will marry him. April: everybody. Yes, I like it. All right, our last one. Tay: ⁓ This one is, okay, so will be kind of like who read the book, who like watched the show, but we're gonna go with an off-campus to end it out. And we're gonna go with Garrett. So he's the main male lead in this current season, Dean and Logan. they're all three the off-campus ⁓ series. And each one of them are the first three books in the series as well. So who are you choosing? April: Okay, so I read the books. So somebody who read the books but has not really watched the show yet, I will say Garrett was my favorite book. So I'm gonna marry Garrett. Okay, I do not really, I'm not really vibing with like the Playboy turned thing, which I know is opposite of what a lot of people are gonna feel. Gotta get canceled here, but I'm gonna kill Dean. Tay: Mm-hmm. April: And I'm going to fuck John Logan, which I know missed opportunities there. Dean could probably show me some things. Tay: Yep. I, I'm going to go totally off on this one. Okay. We're going to go, we're going to go off the rails a little bit, but, I am going to fuck Dean. Nope. Yep. Yep. Yep. Okay. We're going to fuck Dean. I had to think about it for a second. Yes. We're going to fuck Dean because he knows what he's doing. We're going to marry John Logan. Yeah. April: That's fair. okay. Tay: then we're going to kill Garrett. ⁓ reasonings ⁓ ⁓ reasonings are, and I just watched the show. ⁓ I mean, like I'll granted, like I don't like killing Gary cause I, you know, think he's a sweetheart, but I also love a save me moment. And that's the moment I'm giving for John Logan. is that, you know, he's kind of in a bad situation. He really needs that for his hockey career and et cetera. And I just, I'm really attaching myself to him in terms of now based on a little bit of the show as well, but not like the actual actor, but like the sense of the character, if that makes sense. But we're gonna, we're gonna kill Garrett, unfortunately. And probably some people are gonna be mad at me, but please don't be mad at me. This was just going off of like, Feelings and what I typically like in books and in real life. So we're gonna go with John Logan because I think like he would make good husband material and like once he gets there he's gonna be like so like just You know in love with that person and not like wishy-washy like Garrett kind of is ⁓ they break up they get back together kind of back and forth the whole time and then Dean just knows what he's doing. So we're just gonna hit it and bye Bye bye April: Yeah. Bye. I agree. I can see that. That's good rationale. I like it. ⁓ Tay: Yeah, so I think we did good job. We got to ourselves in the back for that one because that was hard. That was actually and it was such a chaotic order. you know, but it was great. It was great. Good for us. April: We do. really truly. That was fun, but right besties, that's it for today's episode. Tay: Make sure to follow, download and share our podcast socials with other book besties. We would love to hear about your favorite book subscription boxes and ones that you recommend. Please leave a comment on your favorite platform letting us know. April: and join us next week where we talk about book to movie or show adaptations and dream casting our favorite book boyfriends. We're glad you're here because. Tay: And remember... It's faded.