Latest / Cait & Court's Cozy Corner: Romance Readers / Let's Talk About: Trust Fall by Lynn Painter
Transcript
- Cait: Hi. Court: Hi. Cait: Welcome back to season two of Cait and Court's Cozy Corner: Court: Romance Readers. Cait: Where we only talk about books that we love. And we're bringing you all of our favorite romance and romantasy reads because Court: Mm-hmm. Cait: our motto is Court: When people say that you don't need spice to make a book good, well you don't need running shoes to run, but it helps. Caitlin Stryker: And you know the drill, like and subscribe wherever you listen to our podcasts. Cait: How's it going? We were chatting before Court: it was a minute ago. Hi. Good. Cait: we logged on and we're always like, wait, which book? Names of characters, plot line. Court: Yes. Cait: By the time we record, we're already we've already started it on another book, you know? and Court: Yeah. Yeah. Cait: I've started it on another romantasy book. And so I'm in that beginning zone of a romantic where I'm like, okay, who are these people? What is this world? What's going on? Today we're not talking about a romantic book though. We're talking about a romantasy. We're talking Court: No, opposite. Yes. Cait: about Trustfall by Lynn Painter. Court: Yes, Lynn Lynn Painter's Trust for All, her annual fall teen romantasy that she's been dropping. Last year was fake skating, which we talked about in season one. Cait: Mm. Court: This year's Trustfall, I wanted to have a copy here. I read it early from Net Gallery, got the arc. and I wanted to have a copy, but it sold out so fast because of such an anticipated release, and I hadn't gotten any back in oh my store before we recorded. So Cait: No way. Court: I don't know how a physical copy because I was waiting, but yes, so which is fantastic and great news obviously Cait: Yeah. Court: for the book and for Lynn and yes, it was highly anticipated and you can see why once you read it. This is Cait: Yeah. Court: a you know, for fans of gossip girl, for fans of teen Cait: Mm. Court: drama, like almost boys of Tolman. It's it's that high school super rich world with small town girl plopped in. Cait: Yeah. Now hang on. Court: Julia is from Nebraska. Wow. Cait: You just said almost boys of what? Court: Tonman, you don't know the series, it's okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Cait: Okay. No, that's fine. I just wanted to like clarify for our listeners. I was like, wait, what was that one? I don't know that. No. Court: I was saying it, and then I was like, Kate hasn't read this, so there's no point in going into it. But for those that know, it's Boys of Tome is a very dramatic version, obviously, of this book. It's not, it's a romantasy, but it is a gut-wrenching, heart-hurting romantasy, but it is becoming a series, so it's going to be talked about. Cait: Okay. Court: We will talk about it at some point. But this is like a light version of that. yes, it's Cait: Yes, this was Lynn Painter, right? So Court: Lynn Painters, so. We've got she knows how to write teen books. And I will say this for everyone of all ages. Obviously, it is aimed to teen, but her teen books are definitely adult friendly. They definitely Cait: Yeah. Court: know how to pull you into that nostalgia of high school and relive that time. Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: Like I read her teen books the second they drop. Her adult books, I read them too, but the teen ones are the ones that really get me. They are oh my rereads. They just pull, she's got a talent and a knack. For pulling in all the nostalgia, all the feels, all the experiences you go through as a teenager in high school, and Cait: Yeah. Court: pulling you back into that world in a really like delicious way that's super fun with her love stories. So this is the most recent version of that. It's Julia and Damien. Julia is a small-town Nebraska girl. Her family suddenly finds out they get an inheritance from someone, from this guy named Bernie, who says, This guy's left you his inheritance. Remy, and they've no idea who they are who this guy is. They're like, what? This has to be a mistake. We don't even know that name. Like, there's no way someone left us this. and then as he digs in, they realize it's this guy named Lou that's been like a loyal customer at their grocery store or slash coffee shop that they've invited over for family dinners, and like it started with delivering groceries to him, and they just became really close and like family over the last few years of his life, and he left this to him. So we kind of start in their world, and then we pop over to the New York world, and there's Our lead main male character, Damien, and his family. And he's finding out that his great uncle Lou, his great uncle Remy, who was like a father to him, really raised him because his parents are awful, l left all of his will to this random family in Nebraska. So his Cait: Yeah. Court: family's super mad. He's mad because the brownstone, which I knew you would love because New York is obviously the main setting of this, and we gotta love a New York fall romantasy. Cait: Ugh. They love it. Yeah. Court: And he left the brownstone, which is like the one piece that Damien felt like he had left over me, where they spent all their time together to this family. So at first he's like, who cares if he leaves this money to a family? We have lots of money, like not a big deal. And then he founds out about the brownstone, and then he's like also upset about it. Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: And then the two meet and they have their first meet cute. out in New York. Julia Julia's family moves to New York. At first, they're like, no, we're teachers, we're this, we're that, we're not moving to New York. And then it's millions of dollars. but the stipulation is they have to go move to New York Cait: Yeah. Court: and live in a brownstone for six months and enroll in school there. Cait: Yeah. how hard. Court: That's like what Blue wants for them. How hard. I mean, it's also a little like, really, someone's just gonna le Cait: Yeah. Court: leave you millions of dollars and demand you go move. There is a, you know, there Cait: You know Court: is a moment of suspense of suspension of disbelief that you have to take with this book. Right? Cait: disbelief. I was just like, maybe this is a romantasy book actually Court: Like it does definitely this book. You ha I mean, same with the do-over, which is one of her teen books, that it's like a groundhog day. Like they're Cait: Yeah. Court: always, guys, we're reading a book. We're not reading Cait: Yeah. Court: nonfiction. We are in fiction. We're gonna allow ourselves to pretend that a millionaire has left us millions of dollars and letting us move into a brownstone for six months to get that millions of dollars. That's Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Court: that's the setup. Cait: Yeah. Court: And basically their worlds collide. They go do it. She runs into Damien outside a coffee shop and thinks that he's trying to steal her wallet because he finds it and is trying to see who Cait: Yeah. Court: it belongs to. She thinks he like mugged her without her knowing. and Cait: Yeah. Court: it's a really funny interaction that they both find each other attractive, don't know each other, it's all good. Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: And then he kind of pieces together who she is. when they show up at the high school and it's the same girl in the name from the wallet, like he pieces together, she's the one that's like stealing oh my brownstone essentially. Cait: Yeah. Court: and she has no idea. She doesn't know what the family is that like was supposed to go to this. She's totally living in the dark. Her and her twin brother start going to the Greenwood Academy, I'm gonna say gardenwood. Gardenwood. Cait: Gardenwood. Gardenwood Academy, yeah. Court: Yes, and they are like her brother's super popular, gets along with everyone. She's the super Awkward, like geeky afraid of all the other Cait: Yeah. Court: students. but luckily she finds two really nice ones, the one that starts showing her around the school that she gets in tight with. But basically, she's a fish out of water. that's the trope for this. She does not have the grades that the school needs, and she needs to hire a tutorer. Guess who the tutor is? Damien. Of course. Because Cait: Yeah. Court: listen, Lynn went out of her way with this guy. You have to do in this book, you have to have, he's gotta be attractive. Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: Rich, you know, sp but super popular. But then she also made him super smart and like slutty glasses and don't care, bad boy somehow at the same time, but reads poetry, Cait: Yeah. Court: but like also could be athletic. Like he's kind of an amalgamation of everyone. Again, suspending your amount of suspensive Cait: Yes. Court: disbelief. If you could put a perfect thing, a guy that could be super rich, but then somehow is good enough for our like sweet main female character. She did that. Like if you combine Dan Humphrey and then I can't remember Chase Crawford's character and Gossip Girl, if you made them one person essentially, that's what she did. Cait: Yeah. Totally. Totally. Court: Yeah. He's literally everything. He likes started the poets club. He's also like everyone loves him. He also does his own thing. He also does the glass. Like it's super rich. It's just, it's crazy. I mean, the excuse for that is because he does grow up in this world, have super rich, you know, old money parents and has that expectation. But then Remy, I think the idea is Remy grounded him and really tried to help Cait: Yeah. Court: him, you know, live a normal life. And every chapter starts with a quote from Remy, which is super sweet. Cait: I know I love that. It's really cool. Once Court: I did love that too. Yeah. Cait: I figured out like the first couple chapters, you don't really know that that's what it is. And then once you figure out that's what it is, it's like, this is cute. This is fun. And then it's like a little bit of a Court: Yes. Cait: hint on what's coming in the chapter, like coming ahead. And it's like a really fun, it's a really fun literary device for Court: Yeah. Cait: for the book. It was very cool. Yeah. Court: It is. And true to Lynn Painter, she tends to go with the he falls first trope, which is the trope Kate when the guy notices and Cait: Yeah. Court: like you know the male main male characters into her before she does, and before she fully realizes it, which is super fun because obviously that's always the fantasy, especially as a teen girl. And in life, you're like, it's easier, right? You want them to fall for you first. that helps. Cait: Yeah. Yeah. It is. Yeah, 'cause it's like harder when you fall for them first than you're you're the one in the vulnerable position. You know, you're the one who could be rejected. Court: Yeah. Yeah, exactly. So she always tends to eliminate that option. She goes with him falling first, which is so fun. And that's why you can just escape into this. You know you're in a safe world. Cait: Yeah. Court: and then usually he makes a big mistake, which is also what happens in this book. but before we go into the spoilers of it, yeah, that's the basic setup is they're like enemies to lovers, except she doesn't know they're enemies for like a lot of the story. He does, but then he falls first. Yeah. Cait: That's true. Yeah. Which is a fun take on it as well, because it's kind of nice that like, you know, it's not just like the same thing over. I Court: Yes. Cait: mean, you know what's coming because it's romantasy and it's a YA romantasy and all those things, but but it does, it has some fresh elements and it's just very it's a cozy fall read. You know, it's a cozy fall read. You're in New York in the fall. Court: It's a cozy fall read. It's exactly that. It makes you want to put on your cozy sweater, New York, have a pumpkin spice latte, look at the leaves, and just like Cait: Yeah. Court: enjoy the perfect, which we have, we both are literally living a perfect fall day right now. We were just talking about that. and this book accompanies that so well. It's just you like cuddle up and read. Yeah, it goes back to Nebraska. And it's Cait: Yeah. oh my gosh. It does. Yeah. And it's set in New York and then in Nebraska, you know, like so when you're not in the city or in the countryside, like Court: like beautiful Nebraska, like a lake and a little cabin and boating Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: and very like notebook. Cait: Yeah, yeah. Court: esque and just small town. Like there's a lot of really fun parts to it that you kind of get to jump in these worlds. And I love like similar to when we were reading fake skating. I was like, I read Lynn Painter and all of a sudden I want to be in a garage in the middle of like snowy Minnesota, which I obviously don't, but she like pulls you into that world. This Cait: Right No Yeah. Court: the way she did like there's a party scene that's like a field party and I'm like, I know exactly these parts. Like I went to these parties growing up and Cait: exactly. Yes. Court: she knows how to capture those moments. Like it just lives there Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: in her brain so clearly and pulls you like, yes, the teen at this party, the cop's coming, trying to escape. Like all of the above. Cait: Yeah, all of it. Court: and she gives you the perfect dose of like jealousy from, you know, Julia's ex that broke up with her because she's starting the book Cait: Yeah. Court: heartbroken. Her ex just like totally ghosted her before all this happened. and moved on and like she's and that's also part of what is like the conflict and takes her a while to wrap her brain around Damien or their opportunity because she's been so burnt and hurt from her ex two. Cait: Yeah. Court: which is also what happens in high school and then you're stuck seeing each other and Cait: Yeah. Court: seeing what you're doing every day. And it's its own kind of torture. When you're an adult, it's much easier. I mean it's not easier, but you don't have to see them. You can avoid Cait: Totally. Yeah. Yeah. Court: each other in a much easier way in capacity. Yes. Cait: Exactly. Exactly. but yeah, no, so I think like we'll get into spoilers now. So if you haven't read the book, you know, go read it. It's really sweet. I'm not surprised that it sold out. Court: read it. Yeah, it's super cute. And it it's a it's also you can listen to us and read it. It's okay because, Cait: Yeah. Court: you know, it's a romantasy. We know where it's going. but it's worth the read. It's a super, super cute, cozy fall book. So Cait: Really cute and cozy. I really enjoyed reading it. And also like Lynn Painter, she always has a great playlist that goes along with her books and all that stuff. So you can just like mm-hmm. Yeah. Court: Yes. I loved this playlist. I was listening to it before we popped on. that is a skill she has and that a lot of authors are doing now. Like they're including that playlist, but she's always done it and Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: early on, even better than movies, when it wasn't a super popular thing to do. There's so much music. You can tell music is a big part Cait: Yeah. Court: of her life and her world because it's always Cait: Yeah. Court: present and not just a playlist, it's like mentioned in her books multiple times. Yeah. Cait: In this in this storyline. Yeah, exactly. Court: It's like it's probably a whole thing and it's done very well. So it's definitely Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: worth listening and accompanying because it puts you in their mindset. You get back, it's like teen angst, what if world? And this one's a little different Cait: Exactly. Exactly. Court: than her other ones, I will say. Like the because she went to the New York and like gossip girl Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: part of it. It's not the same small town, like cozy feel necessarily right away that the other ones. It takes a bit longer, I feel like this book to really. connect with the characters. Like there's just a lot happening Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: that's going on and bullying. And and and there's grief in it. There's a lot of grief in this one. so it it's a different journey than her other ones, but it still in the end comes through and brings you to that same place her other ones do. Yeah. Cait: Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Totally. it was fun. I liked how, you know, I thought it was really sweet, how Julia was the only family member who was really like clued in and excited right away when the will came Court: Mm-hmm. Cait: in. And she was like, Wait a minute, you mean New York? You mean Upper West Side, you mean brownstone? You like, she's like, this is gonna be amazing. Court: Yes. Cait: And then I felt so bad for her when, you know, the whole all the mean girl stuff at school started happening and everything. And her brother's like just doing fine. Court: She I know he stood up to Damien, but I wish he stood up at the school more. Like, I know he's also finding his Cait: Yeah. Court: place, but I do wish he had put in a bit more effort in the day to day for her. Like just as a reader, I Cait: Yeah. Court: was just like, man, you could just say something like a little bit more, I felt like Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Court: for what he came at, you know, and as a twin and like that whole thing. I just felt like there could have been a little more effort knowing how his sister fits in. That was the only part for me. Yeah. Cait: Yeah. A little more mm hmm. A little more protection. A little more effort, a little more protection there, especially with like the girls. but then it it was so funny, certain elements of it, you know, like when she shows up to school the first day and like have this suddenly they have money and everything and she's like, Yeah, and I got these, I don't know if it was like Gucci shoes or a Louis Vuitton bag or whatever that she got. And I just remember reading it and I was like, no, wrong. wrong era. Like that's not that's not cool anymore. Court: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Cait: We're in the quiet luxury era right now, honey. You're gonna get burned on that. Court: Yes, yes. Cait: which was so, you know, but I was very glad that Donovan and the other schoolgirl character were nice because I I was like, I'm not really Court: Yes, me too. Cait: here for like everyone at this school, just being like Court: Just bullying. Cait: mean Court: Yeah. Cait: rich kids. I like, that's kind of boring. Also I don't think that's you know, there's always an element of that. But there's an el the same thing is happening in Nebraska, you know, as it is, Court: Happening right here to I like oh my daughter's tenant is happening to her from the girls, and it's not Cait: Yeah. Court: like a rich kid's school, it's just people are assholes. Like girls, it's regardless. Cait: Yeah, yeah. So Court: And yes, obviously there would be that old there still always is old money, new money in like that version. And I found the bullying like it wasn't too much it's what I expected. I wish there was a bit more pushback and I wish they Cait: Yeah, it's high school. Court: yeah, and I wish that there was more retribution in a way. Like I Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: wish they kind of got the mean girls got a little more consequence, but also that's life in a That's what Cait: Yeah. Court: happens and like it sucks, but it's the truth of it. But I am glad you're right that she Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: had those solid friendships as well because that's what gets you through all that. Yeah. Cait: Yeah, and that they didn't turn also, you know, because it's just kind of like, I don't know, when it's everyone it's a little bit like, okay, you know, but really there's always somebody, you know, there's always a touchstone somewhere. Court: Yeah. We all we all hit it. It's funny, Kate. I was thinking you too, because we both had a similar experience in high school to a degree of like bullying and dealing with that and fitting in in elementary and high school. Cait: Yeah. Court: And oh my daughter's going through it now. It's killing me. Cait: Mm. Court: but I was listening someone was talking about this author's book called Grit and a and he's like, I'm leading oh my parenting this way. And it's like the theory of like if you sign your kid up for 10 soccer lessons, they don't want to do 10. You make them finish all 10. They can change their mind after. But like you make sure they do all 10 because it gives them grit in oh my head. I'm like, that's not what gives them grit. Trust me, I have grit coming out of the wazoo. It's getting bullied and having to face it every day and get through and get out. I'm like, I Cait: Yes It's true. Yeah. Court: went to all oh my soccer games too. That's not what made me full of grit and determination. Cait: No. Court: It was proving myself to all the assholes I grew up with. Like Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: That's what gives your child grit. It's not the like, Cait: It is. Court: you follow through. Like that is a privileged place to look at grit, but I'm tell that's not Cait: huh. Court: what makes you super determined grit. It's the having to prove yourself. So hopefully for Julianne, it does. That's what's gonna help her down the road. That's what I'm telling myself when oh my Cait: Yeah. Yeah. I agree. No, and it will. Court: daughter's going through it, because it just makes you a stronger person and a more determined adult because you get in more power. Cait: Makes you stronger, it makes you more determined, it makes you more adept at navigating political environments, Court: Yes. Cait: like which every single work environment in your entire life will always be. So you need to like figure that out, you know? there's the odd person who's just naturally adept at it and charismatic and like nothing ever hits them. Court: Yes, of course. Cait: And then, you know, then there's the, you know, no, they're not. Court: They're not usually readers, I will say. They're not the ones that usually read romantasy and romanticity. They're not our so we are with you. Cait: They're not they're not usually readers of really anything. Like they might read the bit of nonfiction, but like they're yeah. No, no. And I feel it's not anybody listening to this either, right? Like everybody is but it does Court: coasters that we all wish, but that's not us. We have to work for it. No. Cait: it does make you actually I think it it does, like you said, like set you up way better in the long run for life, Court: Yeah. Cait: experiencing some hardship and stuff when you're younger, instead of just kind of coasting along Court: Because you can take it Cait: always. Court: when it really counts when you're an adult and you need to keep rolling and keep being able to bounce Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: back and do things. It it puts that skill. I mean, for us, even as actors, like obviously rejection, all that. It doesn't we can Cait: Yeah. Court: deal with it or we did deal with it because we were learned how to as kids. Cait: Yeah. Court: but it also helps with intimidate. Like, I don't get intimidated by anyone anymore. Like, I just don't. Cait: No. Court: And probably that's also being 40 and a woman and like coming into a certain age, but I really don't. No one intimidates me anymore. I don't care. Like Cait: Yeah. No. Yeah, that's what it is. Court: You can't do anything to me. There's no you don't have power over me. Like Cait: Yeah, it's like it's all been done. And and I bounce back. Yeah. Yeah. Court: Yeah, it's fine. It's fine. I may still hate the people from elementary school, but you don't get to have power on me. Cait: Totally. No. Exactly. Yeah. And so then when you read these books and even like even for me, you know, I mean, I live in New York in New York now and everything too. And I and it was one of those things where it was like, okay, well, sometimes they get a little annoyed with like the the the trope in the in all these books is like, and they went to the big city and it was so hard that they ran back home to the country and that's where everything is always great. You know, and I'm like, that's also bullshit. Court: Yeah, it's not always yes. It's not always the grass is greener. Yeah, absolutely. Cait: You know, like it could be the reverse. Yeah. Court: And it does become the reverse for her. Like, and they keep both. So because I do feel Cait: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Court: like I am meant to live in a city. I tried, you know, a couple of years ago to move oh my family to a smaller town and be closer to family and have that life because I grew up in that. When I was growing up in it, all I wanted to do was get out of it. And then Cait: Yeah. Court: I did. And then I tried to go back. I'm like, nope, just not me. However, I Cait: Yeah. Court: do love escaping to a cottage, escaping to the getaway Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: in the small I love it and I still always Cait: Yeah. Court: want that part. Like they end up with a cabin in Nebraska that they get to keep because he gets inherits Cait: Yeah. Court: that from Remy at the end, which is like the perfect balance, I feel like. Cait: Totally. Court: but I think it's important to also, you know, recognize those characters that do love to go back to their small town and can build it. Cause I see that too. Like people have very, you know, meaningful, valuable lives and they're never leaving their hometown. But it's not always the answer. Cait: Which is great. But I feel like we get a lot. Like I feel like we get a lot of that in romantasy books. And I'm like, Court: Yes. Cait: actually sometimes and for some of us, like the big city is a better environment, you know? Like it's a more fun. Court: Yeah. And especially if you have that boyfriend that burned you and is stuck in that small town. You're like, I'm getting out of here. I'm getting past you and Cait: Yes, yeah. Court: your friends. I am not coming back. Like that was me. Cait: Right. Court: I couldn't wait to escape. I just I was like I left at 17 to get out of oh my town and never really moved back. Like I didn't I love oh my family. I'd I have great Cait: Same. Yeah. Yeah. Court: parents and siblings, but I just never wanted to stay in that town. I didn't want to be in that town anymore. And I did rediscover make myself and I had better life every step of the way after. Like you just sometimes Cait: Yeah. Court: need to break those shackles, break free and get to start over. Unfortunately, Cait: Mm-hmm. Exactly. Court: she had the bully version of that. I did it for college. So it was a little easier in college to like find yourself. Cait: Yeah. It is easier in college 'cause there's just more Yeah. It's a bigger, you know, there's not like one group that rules everything 'cause it's just such a large environment with so many options that Court: But Kate, how fun. I just realized for our listeners that have been along for the ride, like last year when we were talking about Cait: Yeah. Court: fake skating, last year when we talked to Joss about it's different this time, Kate. You were talking about, Cait: Yeah. Court: you know, New York apartment porn and how much you loved all the New York of the books then. And one Cait: Yes. Court: year later, like you're living there. You are you it's like manifestation from this podcast, Cait: I know. Right? Court: it's coming true. You are now in New York. You were living this life that a year ago we were like, Cait: Yeah. Court: ugh. Par and pour and we love it so much in fall New York and Cait: Right. Court: Bobby and Spice, how cozy. And you literally just spent the day walking the perfect New York fall day that we talked about a year ago. So that's amazing. Kudos to you. Cait: I did. I did. Yeah. It's amazing. It's so fun. I absolutely love it. And like it's fun reading the book and everything too, because like there's like certain things, like places they go. And I'm like, Court: Yeah. Cait: yes, that is awesome. Or I'm like, but you know. Court: Yes, yes. Cait: I will say La Masseria, which is a gr it's a a fabulous Italian restaurant, if especially if you're like going to see a show. And you're in like Court: Mm-hmm. Cait: Times Square and stuff, you know, like Broadway, like the theater area. that's a is a really good Italian restaurant in that area, if you're looking Court: So there you go. Cait: for a spot. yeah, it's expensive because everything is really expensive in that area, but it's actually delicious. So, Court: Yeah, of course. Tour Sarah. Cait: you know, yeah. Court: Tip if you go to see a show, go to that restaurant. Yeah. Cait: Yeah, go to La Massaria from Trustfall. It's actually awesome. and then Riverside Park is like wonderful. You know, like way up over there on the Upper West Side, which is not where I live. but Court: Right. We wish. That would be the next year. Next year. Cait: Part of right, I know. It's funny 'cause like part of me wishes and then the other part of me like, I but it might be a little quiet for me. Like I might be a Court: Right, yeah. Cait: little more like going on. and meanwhile oh my husband is like, you couldn't pay me to live on the upper west side Court: Fair enough. Yeah. Cait: And I'm like, okay, fine. That'll be with the next husband. I'll just like live out those rom com dreams elsewhere. totally. Yeah, Court: Princess Dream, it's all like upperwise all the same, yeah. Cait: yeah. Same kind of thing, but like it's actually not that exciting. but it's very pretty to walk through and like Court: Yeah, yeah, exactly. Mm-hmm. Cait: hang out in. also, and it's another area that can be like tricky to find, like a really, a truly good restaurant. you do Court: Mm-hmm. Cait: need to do a little bit of research. Court: There. Cait: yeah. But it's beautiful. And like yesterday we were in Central Park and I absolutely love the park. I'm obsessed with walking through Central Park. It's, you can't beat it. Court: it's so you know, I was watching a movie with the kids the other, I can't remember which one, but you could tell they really shot in Central Park, which we always used to do, but obviously it's changed a bit now. Locations pretend to be locations. And there Cait: Mm. Yeah. Yeah. Court: really is nothing like seeing you're like, this is actually Central Park, and this is actually Cait: It's act you can tell. Court: the pond, and this is actually and because I've been there once, but I loved Cait: Yeah. Court: it and felt the magic that is Central Park. It truly is a magical place Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: in the middle of a crazy amazing city. Cait: Yeah. Court: and when you feel that, when you're back in that real world of it, there's there's nothing Cait: Yeah. Court: like that. And that is the only thing I would say, which I know more steps coming to New York, but I do appreciate the reallocation shots that we Cait: I do too. Court: used to get. Cait: Yeah. You can always tell. And thankfully, actually, there's a ton more filming here now, which is like part of the reason Court: Yes. Cait: for our move, like with oh my husband's work and everything. but so there's so much on location in New York now, which is awesome. Because I agree, like when I'm watching something, I'm like I wanna see the real place and you can tell the light's different, you know, and like the energy is just different. Court: Mm-hmm. Yeah. It's a different feel. Cait: and like we're in spooky season right now. Like, who isn't about to rewatch Ghostbusters or has already rewatched Ghostbusters? And Court: Right. Cait: that's set in New York, and you can tell, you can feel it, you know. Court: Yes. Cait: And you know they sh they like it cost them nothing for all of those locations back in the day. Yeah. Yeah. Court: When back then, yes. Yeah. And now like, yeah, it's just changed everything. I mean, like so many of these books that are becoming movies, like fake skating, Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: things we leave behind, icebreakers, all these amazing romantasy books are all so many are being shot here in Vancouver as these other places, because I've seen them and I'm Cait: So many. Yeah. Court: seeing the auditions of breakdowns. and it's funny because if I look at the different locales of all these places, they're all over the states and all over, but they're all being Cait: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. Court: here. and Cait: Yeah. Court: I'm just keep getting different regional accents to throw. Cait: Which is hilarious because they're like so subtle. Court: And it's all gonna be in like Maple View, BC. Maple Ridge, thank you. oh my gosh, yes, Maple Ridge, sorry. Maple View's them all. Yeah. Cait: Yeah. Maple Ridge. Yeah. Like which is like fills in for a small town anywhere. yeah. And so but well, Court: Hmm. Cait: and I thought that was interesting too, like the in the book, the the play between being in the city and being back in Nebraska and how Court: Mm-hmm. Cait: how she sort of weighed that out. I appreciated how it was done in this one. Again, because Court: Mm-hmm. Cait: I was like, I'm not gonna enjoy this book if like New York City is the bad guy and Nebraska is the good guy. Like I'm just kind of whatever. Like, you know, because it's like that's the r it's the reverse for me in oh my life. Like Court: Yeah. Yeah. Yes. Because that's not true to us. Yes. Cait: I don't find that to be like true in reality. and so I liked that neither place was really the bad guy or the good guy. It was just totally a transition, you know? And Julia was so Court: Yeah, I agree. Cait: excited to move to New York, and then she was there and she had a tough time in the school, which is not surprising. yeah. Yeah. Court: Moving in high school's not ideal regardless of where you live. It's not the like easiest transition. Cait: It's not. It's just, it's a tough time, right? And so, and then because you're really trying to figure out who you are. And it's like you kind of need to figure that out before you go out into the world. But it also again, if you do, so self-conscious. Yeah. Court: And everyone's so self-conscious. Everyone's a teen. Everyone just puts their own fears on you and judges you for whatever they worry about because they're just figuring it out too. Like you're being a teen is so messed up. So Cait: Yeah. It is. But again, and that's the thing too, like for anyone who's a parent, like there's probably like a lot of people more our age read like listening to this and stuff. Like, and if you do have to move your kid, like they will be fine. And like we were talking about earlier in this in this episode here, like, and stronger because of it in the long run, you know? and a more interesting person and just able to adapt to different environments and stuff much better. But For the purpose of like discussing this novel, we're not surprised she has a tough time with mean girls at the rich school. Court: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Cait: and then the Damien element of it was so interesting because he's, you know, he winds up being her tutor. He's so mad because the house means something to him because of how much Remy meant to him. He's not really concerned about the money. no, but there's this total Court: No, he's not. He never is. That part, so it's fine. Cait: sort of miscommunication thing going on. you know, between the two of them. And Court: Mm-hmm. Cait: it was just very interesting, like I found his character so tr I hated the way he called her honey, obviously. Like Court: I hate honey. Stop. Stop. I know even in Taylor Swift's song, made it okay when it's the person you love. But like I hate it in books. I Cait: It's the worst. Court: hate it so much. Can we please stop calling people honey? Teens don't call each other honey or sweetheart. They don't. And it's I Cait: They don't. They don't. Court: that's oh my what I agree. I hate honey. I I maybe we're wrong. Cait: Yeah. It just like Court: Maybe that's what they say now. I think now they just say bro or bruh. or but I hate it. Cait: Yeah. It drove me insane. It was like the one thing in this book I was like, ugh. But then I kind of thought, like, well, you know, he's really trying to be like an adult ahead of his time because he has all Court: It's like Cait: this money and all this stuff. And so he's doing it wrong. But it was so cringe. And other than that, like he was really, yeah. Yeah. Court: It is cringe. It icks me out every time. Yeah. Cait: Outside of that, like he was hot and he was super cool and everything. But that kept I just kept being like Court: His grief that he went through whenever he's at the house too, like she wrote in Cait: Yeah. Court: a way that you could side with him, even though it was wrong that he didn't tell her. And I do wish he told her a little bit sooner. but obviously it would take away from the conflict of the book. So it had to happen when it Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Court: happened. But you could feel it. Like you knew it was coming from the right place. It wasn't Cait: Yes. Court: like he wasn't doing her dirty, like he really did love Remy and he really was painful for me. He really was going through the grief process and trying to accept and understand what the house and like Like i it just it made sense and like and then especially how a teen might handle that. And then when he realizes he's Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: falling for Julia and then they are officially a couple and together and he still hasn't told her. Cait: Yeah. Court: And look, the big reveal that happens is his parents obviously at a ball or some big thing serve her parents with papers when they've been like fitting in and like having great ideas and finally at that like moment of like things are coming together, Cait: Yeah. Court: of course things everything falls apart. and it does, and she finds out and finds out because they had just done a trip to Nebraska together and she had told them all about Lou and he was emotional in Lou's cabin and seeing, and she thought it was just like because he empathized for her, and then she Cait: Yeah. Court: realized it was his own grief and his own experience, and like that obviously was the time to tell her. Like Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: when they were alone in Nebraska and crying about this Lou guy and be like, I know he was like, and you could have talked it through, and that like Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Court: there was literally on a pedestal for you, like. Here is the moment that you've been waiting for. Cait: Yes, yeah. Court: but he didn't. And that made everything way worse. Cait: No Yep. Court: but we all have those moments in life that we're like should have, could have, would have. And that was Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: obviously for him. And then he does get it back. But that also, I have to say, his redemption. So basically the whole book, his dad wants him to go to Cornwall and or Dartmouth and study business so he can take it over. And he's always had a dream. Cait: Take over, yeah. Court: Being a vet, going to school in Colorado and being a vet. That's like what him and Remy talked about. And Remy gave him money for it and was like gonna support him. But his parents have always been like, no, no, no, you're going here. His dad's gonna get him in as an alumni, anyways. Like, you're going here, you're gonna take business, take this over. And basically, he agrees to go to school and study business with his dad for his dad and not complain if his dad will drop the lawsuit against her family. And that's the agreement they come to, but in this little bit his dad gives is like, Well, you could go to Cornell instead of Dartmouth because they also have a good vet program. And you still have to take business and take your place in our family business, but you can like study animal medicine on the side. And that's what makes Cait: Yeah. Court: it happen. Now I'm still like, that sucks. Like, you Cait: Yeah. Court: have more money than God, and you're kidding, and he desperately wants to be a vet. And the like compromise form, which is a big deal, it doesn't compromise, is like you can take a few classes about being a vet and still go to business school and take over our business. Like Cait: Yeah. Court: that's Cait: Yeah. Court: insane to me and it's not like oh my veterinarian makes nothing either. Like that Cait: Right. Court: part I was like, really? Like the ego is so big. And I'm not saying that's not how it would go down either. And like, you know, I always have a hard time books in books when parents are super strict and have super rules. But I do see people and I can understand how it happens because I see the people that Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: have, you know, a horrible parent and they and when their parents and people in oh my life and their parents have passed, they still want that relationship so bad they're still always trying to prove Cait: Yeah. Court: themselves and and get that acceptance from their parents because even when it's not a great parent, there's like this part of you that's always hopes it'll fix or be something else. So I do understand, Cait: Yes. Court: even though oh my instinct would be to rebel against that, that's from a place of Cait: Right. Court: privilege because I did have a very supportive and loving family and and parents. And Cait: Yeah. Court: I would just be like, no, and go do oh my own thing if I had that Cait: Ya. Court: like there's no way. but I think that becomes because I've always been loved and had that support. So I Cait: Yeah. Court: can see how it'd go, but I was like, man, that sucks. Like, that's rough. Like he had to Cait: I know I it was Court: and he signed a contract, even had him sign it. Like he's fully bound to Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Court: like do this path. It's kind of insane Cait: Yeah. Court: to me that he has to do that. Like Cait: It's so you're so right. And it's it's a combo of ego on the dad side and then that Court: Mm-hmm. Cait: fear that like extreme p wealth, like people with extreme wealth are terrified. Like I feel like they just are so afraid of the rest of the world because like they're they're terrified of like falling to like our level in life. They're like, oh my god. Court: Losing their power. Yeah, and well. Cait: What if I had to fly economy? Like, is that actually like tenable? You know? Court: status and legacy, right? Like they need it to continue and still be this thing. Cait: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Court: Like oh my son continues it and your son doesn't like we keep this legacy, we keep this power because then it means it was worth it. This like no life Cait: Yeah. Court: that we had to do this job and this business. Like it's just it's insane. Cait: Yeah. It's weird. It's weird. and it's definitely also it's a cliche, but listen, cliches to an Court: Mm. Cait: extent exist for a reason. Like, so there's there's some Court: Always. Cait: reality there. for someone, it's someone's reality. And that's the part that makes Damien you know, it's his redeemable thing Court: Yeah. Cait: in there. because without it, it's like, is he an Court: Yeah. Cait: Is he nice enough or is he too self absorbed, right? whereas, oh my god, which kinda killed me. So there's a character in this book named Beckett. Court: Yes, yes. Of course, which is Damien's best friend. And Liam's friend, Cait: Yeah, which Court: yeah. Cait: is oh my son's name. So it was so funny. Like Rena was like, Court: Yes. Cait: oh my God. that the kid named Beckett is actually like just such a genuinely nice kid, you know? Court: Yes. Cait: and yeah. And then even Julia's brother Liam is just so like genuinely nice and interesting and and cool, you know. And like we said, I mean, thank goodness when he gives Damien a hard time, because you do kind of think Court: Yes. Cait: What's the point in having a twin brother if he or an older brother if he's not gonna help you at all? Court: Yeah, 'cause it doesn't do enough before that. Yeah, exactly. Cait: so that was like very satisfying. Like when they had the fight at the basketball court, I was like, okay, Court: Yeah. Cait: like punches needed to be thrown. You know, like this really went Court: Yes. Cait: too far for too long. And then it was, then it was kind of always. Court: We're always crow punching. it on here they ha I feel like they partially have to for publicity. And they always have to be like, not that we condone violence 'cause it has to be balanced 'cause obviously violence is bad and we're always like, No, they deserve to get punched. Cait: Yeah, I'm like, no, I've like and at least like if I'm reading this book and I'm like, we're in the fantasy world of, you know, a millionaire is leaving you a brownstone, then we can also live in the fantasy world of like, we're gonna solve this with violence. Thank you very much. Court: Well, and maybe there's some small town way too 'cause like, look, watching an actual fight in Adson's is terrifying. It's awful. But there is a part of me which means there's something about like someone just getting punched in the face. And then when I hear after, like, and then they're charging them, I'm like, Loser. Like Cait: Yeah. You don't charge them. You just like walk away and like tag it up. Like Court: Suck it up and walk away. It's not the right attack. And not what I tell oh my kids by any means. I'm not telling them to go punch someone. But there is still that small tall girl in oh my head somewhere that goes that has that reaction. Sucker punching is different. Sucker punching's different, but if it's like a deserved thing. Cait: Yeah. Yes. Also, you know, it was always a little exciting when there was a fight in the parking lot at high school. Like everybody ran towards it. I was shit, it's a real fight. And then it ends and you're like, okay. You know, as long as everybody's still Court: Yeah. Yeah. Cait: alive in the end, it's not that big of a deal. Court: Yeah, exactly. What it's not someone trying to actually kill someone, it's like getting out I don't know, something. Yeah. Cait: Yeah. Anger. Yeah. Just, you know. it's exciting. It's like f it's like hockey fights, right? It's like they make the game more exciting. Everybody's like, oh my god, Court: Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly. It's that kind of feel. Yeah, yeah. Cait: I can't believe it's part of it. It's like, well, it's part of the game. Court: Yeah, that's it's it's the important part. Cait: Yeah. We don't have official enforcers anymore. Okay. Calm down. Court: Yeah, exactly. Cait: I miss that. Court: Ha ha Cait: but yeah, like that part of the book I was like, okay, thank you. And then Court: Mm-hmm. Cait: how did we feel? I don't I don't I still don't know how it landed for me that like she went totally off theme with her dress for the ball. I was like, is it does Court: Liked it. Cait: it fit in any way? Like is it completely like just Court: think there was no she knew the theme and what her mom had originally intended with it and then his mom had made it like Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: pulled that away and made it into something it wasn't, right? Like intentionally it was supposed to be about the book. She made it about the movie and the costume design of the movie and like went the wrong way of theme. And I think what I really liked about it for Julia, she was like, I'm not gonna fit in no matter what I do. So Cait: Yeah. Court: instead I'm just gonna do what it truly means to me, which was the book instead of the movie, and make Cait: Yeah. Court: myself feel good. So I don't know if she truly would have had the balls to do it. Like the the I don't know. Cait: Right. Court: But in this she did. So yeah I thought it was great and I love that he supported her and just like went along with it with her. Cait: Yeah. It was really cute. Yeah. Court: but it is a ballsy thing to do for sure. What's the female version of that? I Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: just realized I'm keep saying balls are ballsy but we don't have them. the like Cait: Yeah. Court: but we need a female word for that like the Cait: No, we've never really found one. I don't think. I mean, Court: Yeah. Cait: there's like tits up, but it's not the same. Court: But that's different. That's not like that's like get ready for the day. Like set your Cait: Yeah. Court: shoulders back and take on the world, like a chin up but Cait: Yeah. Court: but Baldy is more like courage in doing that, which is maybe it's just femininity Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: and its own. We're always full of courage, but it could be Cait: Yeah. Court: I'm gonna think on this and come back with some kind of term we can coin. Cait: Right? Mm-hmm. Court: but yes, it was a great move. I love that she did it. yeah. Yeah, she yeah. It was. Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Right? It was cute. It was cute. It's a really cute book, but it's not just cute. Like it was it was enjoyable. I enjoyed reading this. Court: There's more to this one. There it wasn't just I mean, it's not there's more to each of them. But I Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: do feel like she you it went deeper in terms of emotion, like a bit with the grief in a sense and the different worlds. Like I think for her regular fans, it might have taken a moment longer to get into this one. Like for teens, I Cait: Mm. Court: think, particularly from stuff I was doing, but it's definitely worth the trip and the ride. Like it's just Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: and it leaves you feeling good and they redeem Cait: Yeah. Court: themselves and it Other than I wish he could have just been left alone to be a vet. Cait: Yeah. Right. Court: It's a fun escape. You get to go live through Gossip Girl again and it's super fun read. Cait: You too. Yeah. It was also interesting when when the parents were like, Angelia, like, you know, what is your plan for school? And she was like, I don't really know. And they're like, How could you not know? Like what your plans are? It was. Court: Yes, that was nice and refreshing to also have that. Like I'm not sure what oh my plans are. I'm not sure what I want. because not everyone does know. And s at the Cait: Yeah. Court: older I get, the more that I'm like, thinking you're supposed to know your career at 18 is insane. Like Cait: Yeah. Court: go to university, go to college, get some kind of general degree of something, like study, because I also think college time in life is just such an important part of life. Cait: It's so important. Yeah. Court: Just for the experience, the life experience, the meeting new people, the finding yourself moving Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: from your hometown, or if you can afford to, like Cait: Yeah. Court: just immersing yourself in people that aren't who you grew up with, that are in the same Cait: Yeah. Court: stage while also still learning and taking Cait: Yeah. Court: in new information, keeping your brain going, keeping that stimulus. But Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: having to career focus it at 18 actually is kind of insane because like who I was then and Cait: But I have Court: now and what I wanted, like you're just the pressure to feel like you have to know is Cait: Yeah. It's so much. It's so it Court: So much. yes. Cait: always has been so strange to me. It was so strange to me back then. Now isn't that on like it's still really strange? I'm like, it can shift Court: Yes. Cait: all over the place. But I agree with you. I'm like, but I do think having that college experience is so wonderful. Like if you can, if you can do it. Yeah. Court: Yes. Yeah. If you can do it, it's amazing. But it doesn't have to be because it means you're now doing this. Like, and I do think even Cait: No, I think you can get more out of studying the humanities and just getting a general BA than you can Court: Yes. And just learning. Cait: out of like being totally career focused, you know, especially in today's environment. Court: Yeah. And it's good to have like jobs. Look, going forward jobs, you're gonna need like you need that university degree or gotta degree minimum for most things. So at least set yourself up so that Cait: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Court: you're not like behind. But then you can specialize later. Like that doesn't have to be yeah. Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Get some more experience first. And then then, Court: Yes, yes. Cait: you know, and even for her, I think it's worth noting as well. Like she needed tutoring in math because that wasn't her strong suit. But she was actually she excelled in Court: Yeah. Cait: in the humanities and in like literature and everything, even at the school. So it was just bringing her math studies up and then study like tutoring specifically with Damien. got her above and beyond where she needed to be there, you know? Court: Yes. And it's because the school has a level you have to sit at for their own again, kind of ego to like put keep Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Court: themselves to this prestigious school. Everyone has to have a certain level. Cait: Well, yeah, because if they if they don't, then you know, how can they convince people to pay the undoubtedly egregious Court: Exactly. P the people need to be willing to pay money. Cait: fee for the school? Court: Yes. Cait: Like if every child from that school is not excelling and winding up in an Ivy League, then why are people paying, you know, two hundred Court: Yeah. Cait: thousand dollars or whatever it is a year for high school? so yeah, Court: Yes. Cait: they have to keep the bar set at a certain level. yeah. Which, you know, all of it, like all of it totally tracked in the book, which I enjoyed. I wasn't, you know, I kept thinking it was gonna go too far this way or too far that way, and it just kept like balancing out really nicely. which I liked. Like I thought it was gonna go too far into like rich mean kids and then it didn't, it like balanced out there. And then I thought it was gonna go too far into Nebraska's better than New York, and it didn't, and it balanced out there. And I was like, okay. This is cool. Yeah, yeah, she does. Court: Yeah, she knows what she's doing, that Lin painter. She knows how to keep it right on the like balanced even plane, so it's just enjoyable for all without going too far. Cait: Yeah. And even like her one of the things too that I think works really well with her YA books is like they're not too young and cutesy, you know? Court: No, that's what I mean. Adults, I love her books. Like, I get more excited Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: for her teen books than her adult ones, which is not oh my experience across the board by any means. But whenever Cait: Yeah. Court: I have a mom come in with her teen and they're looking at the Lynn Painter books for their daughter, I'm always like, Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: you should read these two. Like they are good. And again, Cait: Yeah, I agree. Yeah. Court: it's that version, it's almost like when you read it. When you watch Gilmore Girls as a teen and you connect with Rory and then you watch it as a mom and you connect with Lorla. Like I think when you read Cait: Yeah. Court: this as a teen, you're in it and it makes you like picture what can happen at your school and like what you could do with the boy. Like it just kind of gives you that kind of daydream. And then when you Cait: Yeah. Court: read it as an adult, it just pulls you back to that and kind of makes you relive Cait: It does. Court: and like gives you that own fun fancy of like, yeah, Cait: Yeah. Court: I did this or what if this had happened? Like it really just pulls Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: the nostalgia for adults and then it gives the like daydream escape for teens. So it's a really fun balance that I think both Cait: Yeah. Yeah. Really fun balance. And Court: Should read, yes. Cait: like on the pumpkin like on the spice mater, on the pumpkin spice meter, it's a one. Like it's a light always, but it's still but it still has an appeal. You know, like it still has like yeah. Court: it's the one pumpkin. It's kissing. It always is. Yeah. It's always just kissing. But it's spicy. Yeah. She writes that's what's fun. She somehow writes teen kissing in a way that doesn't make you feel like a perv reading it as an adult. Like it's just it's Cait: Y yeah. Yeah. Court: which is a skill, honestly, because that could play into it, but it's just so sweet. Cait: It is. Yeah. Court: But then like it's means a lot to them. And she keeps Cait: Yeah. Court: the weight on it that it feels like when you're a teen. Cait: Yes. Court: But then still keeps it interesting and fun enough for an adult, which is an a Cait: Mm-hmm. Court: really hard balance to do actually. So Cait: I think it's like really, really hard to do. Yeah. And I think Court: Yeah. Cait: it's why we're such fans of Lynn Painter, because we're like, it's fun to enjoy some good YA stuff, you know, like even as Court: Yes. Cait: an adult. But it can be really hard sometimes when you pick something up and you're like, this is not for me. I'm too old for this. And you're just like, okay. Court: No, this is too yes. This is too cutesy. I can't Cait: Yeah. Yeah. And so Court: Yeah. Cait: it's always like, that's why I get excited about her book. And I was so excited about this one because it's so quintessential full. because I was like, it's all oh my favorite things. And it was just a delight. It was just like a really fun, yummy read. I think if you've already read it, I hope you're enjoying our conversation and the things that came up for us from reading it. And then if you haven't read it yet, you know, go Court: Go read it. Cait: run, don't walk to get the book if you can. There's a reason it's sold out, because Court: Yes. If you can. They sell it fast. Yes. Cait: it is the perfect cozy fall read when you just Court: Yes. Cait: It's such a busy time of year and everything too and everyone's lives that it's just such a nice like respite to like go into this book and be like just it was like simple and fast Court: Yes. Cait: and fun and didn't feel like a heavy lift at all, but just did an enjoyable read. Court: Yeah, it's the pumpkin spice latte version of a book for the fall. Like Necessary. Cait: Yeah, yep, totally. Court: The fall Lynn Painter teen release is just part of should be part of your fall ritual that you do every year. Yeah. Cait: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Exactly. There you go. All right. Well, on that note, that is it for today's episode of Kate and Court's Cozy Corner, talking about Trustfall by Lynn Painter. Thanks for Court: Yeah. Cait: joining us, and we'll be back to talk with you again soon about more fun books. So many books. All right. Bye. Court: Lots so many to read right now. Yes. All right. Bye. Caitlin Stryker: You know the drill. Be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to our podcast. Courtney: Thanks for tuning in to Cait and Court's Cozy Corner Romance Readers. Caitlin Stryker: Executive producers and hosts, Caitlin Stryker and Courtney Richter, Producers, Canasia Ngo and Hollie Lobosky. Original music, Cassie De Silva.