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The Best GMA Book Club Picks · The Read Carpet Report

• Jackie: Welcome to the Red Report, backstage past for book clubs, book adaptations, and new book releases. I'm Jackie. And I'm here ⁓ today. And we're your hosts. Kirsten: to the Red Carpet Report, your backstage pass for celebrity book clubs, book adaptations, and new book releases. I'm Jackie. And I'm Kirsten. And where are hosts? Today we are gonna do a deep dive into Good Morning America, the book club. We are very excited to talk about it, but before that, we've gotta get into the red carpet rundown. Jackie: Forever ⁓ is out on Netflix. So it's the next season ⁓ of the hit series. I don't even know how many books there are in the series at this point. Kirsten: Heartstopper Forever ⁓ coming out on Netflix. So it's the season ⁓ of the Hit series. Yeah, the hit series. I don't even know how many books there are in this series at this point. I don't either. And I know they're graphic novels. I've actually never read them. ⁓ but I've heard really good things, and it was on my list of things for me to watch this this week, but I'm just struggling to watch TV. I know, which is weird, but we did try to watch Five Star Weekend. Right, which we did. We Katie came over, Megan came over. Jackie: I know, which is weird, but we did try to watch Five Star Weekend. Right, which we did with Katie. Kirsten: And we started at ten and we're like, it's okay, we're gonna watch like all the episodes, which in theory would have happened, except that we they say till like three thirty and we got like two and a half episodes done. So we just jabbered the whole time. So stop laughing. I know, it hurts. ⁓ so yeah, I think we still have Jackie: Yes. So stop laughing. ⁓ so yeah, I think we still have like a good three and a half or four and a half episodes. ⁓ yeah, there's a lot of episodes left to watch. But what did you think so far? I thought it was really good. Kirsten: Four and half episodes. ⁓ yeah. There's a lot of episodes for us to watch. But what did you think so far? I thought it was really good. I'm really loving it. I've I read it so long ago I forgot some of the storylines. And I was about to start looking things up, but they've been unveiling it sort of as we go so that watchers are in the know, even if the other characters aren't really aware of what's going on with each person, which I appreciate. Yeah, I think I didn't read it actually. Jackie: Mm-hmm. Yeah, I think I didn't read it actually. And I'm it. has a great flow. I really love the characters. Some of them are really annoying, but I love them anyway. Cause I feel like they're just so annoyingly imperfect. ⁓ And I they did a great job and I love Jennifer Gardner. I think she's ⁓ such a good so Kirsten: Because I feel like they're just so annoyingly imperfect. And think they did a great job, and I love Jennifer Garner. I think she's such a good actress. So and I I was nervous that it was gonna be too sad ⁓ a beachy watchy TV show, but it's really not. It's been like upbeat and fun, and like all the food. ⁓ my god, does that make you hungry? So ⁓ everything she does. Jackie: A B G watching the T V show. ⁓ my god, it's so hungry. Everything she does, I was like, I want that. I know. Although I'm afraid to eat so many fresh fruits and vegetables right now. I ⁓ know. realize twenty twenty ⁓ seven. Kirsten: I know. I'm afraid to eat so many fresh fruits and vegetables right now. I know. Diarrhea lettuce twenty twenty six is true. ⁓ I learned about it that day because you know, is like very aware of foodborne illness and she was like, diarrhea lettuce do not eat any of the fresh fruits that you just bought and we threw them all out. what a wacky thing to have happening in twenty twenty six. I mean, at this point I feel like nothing surprises me. Can I tell you the funniest meme that I saw? I'm not gonna be able to get through it without laughing. Jackie: What a wacky thing to have happening. Yes. I mean, at this point I feel like nothing surprises me. Kirsten: It was like Taco Bell has removed cilantro, pico de callo, guacamole, etc. from its stores until further notice. Taco Bell is leading ⁓ Taco is leading the prevention of diarrhea. Jackie: We needed the prevention of diarrhea. That's like an oxymoron. Kirsten: That's like an oxymoron. I I was dying when I saw that meme. So right. Moving on to the next topic. This is one that I am ⁓ majorly obsessed with. The Odyssey, Christopher Nolan. This is my favorite book of all time. Well, one of them. Jackie: Alright. ⁓ Moving on the next topic. This is one that I am majorly obsessed with. The Odyssey, Christopher Nolan. This is a good. ⁓ Kirsten: ⁓ but the Odyssey is being adapted. Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Tom Holland, Charlie Theron, like you name it, they're in it. My kids are forcing me to wait because we just did that whole cruise and we saw all the like the Greek things and all the mythology. And you're gonna wait. I'm gonna wait. You're not. I am I don't think I could comfortably sit in a movie theater. Actually, I probably could if I went to the right theater with those fun reclining seats. If you wait too long, it's not gonna be in the theater anymore. Jackie: They're on like you name it, they're in it. My kids are forcing me to You're gonna wait. I'm gonna wait. You're not. You totally can. If you wait too long, it's not gonna be in the theater anymore. I know. Maybe Corinne Albow doesn't. Maybe you should just see it twice. Maybe I should. Kirsten: I know. Corey and I will go this weekend. Maybe you should just see it twice. Maybe I should see it twice. Maybe I should be like, I never saw it. I won't tell. You just don't have to say anything. Live by omission. There we go. ⁓ really, I really do want to see it though. I it's embarrassing how many times I saw the really crappy ⁓ mini series version. Like it's ⁓ embarrassing. True love is you saying you're gonna wait for your Jackie: I won't tell. You just don't have to say anything. Lie by omission. There we go. I want to see it though. I it's embarrassing times I saw the really crappy series version. Like it's I feel like true love is you saying you're gonna wait for your kids. That's very nice. I would say tough luck. You're at camp. I'm enjoying myself. I'm going to the movies. Kirsten: kids. That's very nice. I would say tough luck. You're at Cam. I'm enjoying myself. I'm going to the movies. I know. I really should. I should just go and see it. ⁓ this has been my most anticipated movie of the year. I know. Do it. You're such a bad influence. Such a bad influence. Jackie: This has been my most anticipated movie of the year. I know. Do it. I just want to feel better about the fact that my kids are like, ⁓ will you wait for me? And I'm like, Absolutely not. Now we actually know, now that it was the GMAYA pick, ⁓ and ⁓ ⁓ is the second book in the Immortal Consequence series by Ivy Marie. Kirsten: Now we actually know now that it was the GMAYA pick, ⁓ and ⁓ it the second book in the Immortal Consequence series by Ivy Marie. Ruinous Ends, which ⁓ this interesting me. ⁓ Because remember when we were razzing them a little bit for like you picked the second or the third in a series and you didn't pick the first one? Yes. This is the first time they've picked the sequel of a book after previously having picked the first book in the series. Yeah, which ⁓ if you're gonna Jackie: Yes. Yes. in the series. Yeah, which ⁓ if you're gonna pick the second in the book, I think you should have picked the first one because maybe more people have read it. I like the first one. So I'm hoping that I get a chance to read this one too. Kirsten: You should have picked that first one because maybe more people have I really like the first one. So I'm hoping that I get a chance to read this one too. I saw that the third one is also coming out this year in October. So now I'm wondering if that means we know what the GMAYA October pick is. Like, are they just gonna put their stamp on the whole series? ⁓ I might turn. I know. Jackie: We know what the GMAYA October pick is. Like, are they just gonna put their stamp on the whole series? ⁓ I wonder. I know. That would be really interesting. But it also says something because I'm willing to bet that this second one in a series is good. Yeah. A lot of times when they're picking the second one, the second one's really good. Maybe the first one didn't get as much hype as they thought it should, and so they pick the second one. Kirsten: That would be really interesting. But it also says something because I'm willing to bet that this second one in a series is good. Yeah. A lot of times when they're picking the second one, the second one's really good. Maybe the first one didn't get as much hype as they thought it should. And so they picked the second one. Sometimes the second one in a series for me ends up being like the low light of this series. So I'll be interested to see about this one. Jackie: Sometimes the second one in a series for me ends up being like the lowlight of this series. So I'll be interested to see about this one. Kirsten: Well, this choice and this discussion point in general works really well today because we're deep diving into the Good Morning America book club, our favorite picks, your favorite picks. and I guess the history of the book club. And we should talk about because it frames what you're saying about, you know, maybe it didn't get as much hype. GMA is different from the other groups because it's not one person picking. Now we all know that there are people behind the people. Jackie: Right. Right. Better selecting the books and sending it to, you know, Jenna. Kirsten: That are selecting the books and sending it to you know Jenna or Reese or Oprah to read. but GMA works as like a panel. Right. It's an editorial team, it's some of the news anchors, and they meet with marketing executives, which is different from other book clubs. They meet with publishing houses that are pushing their newest or most anticipated releases. So they choose tend to choose things that are maybe already a little bit hyped. Jackie: ⁓ But GMA works at like a panel. Right. an editorial team, it's some of the news anchors, ⁓ they meet with marketing executives, which is different from other book clubs. They meet with publishing houses that are pushing their newest or most anticipated releases. So they choose tend to choose things that are maybe already a little bit hyped and that we know about. They're not huge on a debut read. Kirsten: And that we know about they're not huge on a debut reader. I guess they are kind of, but they're mo very anticipated debut authors. Yes, and I also think they have Jackie: But they're mo very anticipated. Yes. Yes. And I also think they have the widest variety in the types of books that they choose. So their YA are a lot of fantasy, but they have chosen a few magical realism. They choose some romances and thrillers and some mysteries, historical. So they are really all over the board with. which kind of books they pick, which sometimes could be more accessible for everybody who doesn't necessarily only want to read a female author. Kirsten: doesn't necessarily only want to read a female author. Right. Or a debut author or a very depressing book, Oprah. They ⁓ were the final of the big four book clubs to launch. They launched in October of twenty nineteen most in direct competition for Jenna's, because Jenna presents hers on the Today Show, which is obviously ⁓ Good Morning like Jackie: Mm. Yes. Exactly. Kirsten: Biggest competitor for ratings. So it makes sense that they went after it. Their approach is a little bit different. but yeah, I I've traditionally really liked the GMA picks. Me too. I had a hard time picking with these ones. Also, because, like I said, there's so many different types of genres to choose from. If you don't like one month. Jackie: Right. So it makes sense that they went after it. But yeah, I I've traditionally really liked the GMA picks. Me too. I had a hard time picking with these ones. Also because, like I said, there's so many different types of genres to choose from. If you don't like one month, chances are next month is gonna be something completely different, so you can go for it. Kirsten: Chances are next month it's gonna be something completely different, so you can go for it. Now, when I was looking through, this is what I realized. GMA used to be Kirsten Territory. And it is so firmly now Jackie Territory. that I was looking through 2026, I've read one book from GMA. I read the YA Pick Change of Plants by Sarah Desson. ⁓ no way. And every other GMA pick, like, Jackie: No way. Change of Plans by Sarah Depp. ⁓ no way. Every other GMA pick, like you've read almost all of them. I think so. And that was also the same in 2025. So something happened, and I was looking through it where like 2021, 22, 23 were my like peak GMA book loving years, and that's where the majority of my picks are from. And then it shifted. Interesting. And it's now a Jackie book loving. Interesting. Kirsten: You've read almost all of them. I think so. And that was also the same in 2025. So something happened and I was looking through what were like 2021, 22, 23 were my like peak GMA book loving years, and that's where the majority of my picks are from. And then it shifted and it's interesting. And it's now a Jackie book loving. Interesting. And I had a hard time choosing between them, but I was looking through and I was like, wow, this is a thriller. This is a rock. Jackie: And I had a hard time choosing between them, but I was looking through and I was like, wow, this is a thriller, this is a romance, this is a mystery, this is historical, like it was all over the place. And I had a hard time narrowing it down. Kirsten: This is historical. Like it was all over the place. And I had a hard time narrowing it down. I think I want to get into it then. Okay. And I bet you were going to have some of the same. Yeah, a hundred percent. ⁓ I will say that just for for what it's worth, they launched with Dominicana by Angie Cruz, ⁓ ⁓ were only 38,000 ratings for this book. Jackie: Okay, and I bet you we're gonna have some of the same. Yeah, a hundred percent. Kirsten: On Goodreads. So it took a little bit of time, I think, for GMA to really hit its stride and hit some of these major blockbusters. The first of which is the one that I'm gonna say. I know exactly what it is. We could probably do it in in unison. Okay. One, two, three. Lessons in chemistry. I thought Long Bright River was before Lessons in Chemistry. It was, but I thought but I think Lessons in Chemistry is what put them on the map. ⁓ okay. I think Long Bright River was a sleeper pick and it was great and it is on my list. Jackie: really hit its stride and hit some of these major blockbusters, the which is the one that I'm gonna say. I know exactly what it is. It's gonna probably do it in in unison. Okay. One, two, three. Long bright chemists do I thought Long Bright River was before lessons in chemistry. ⁓ okay. ⁓ that's okay. ⁓ a hundred Now we've ⁓ hit a million. This is their two where the products think. Got it. Kirsten: But Lessons in Chemistry is the one that was like, now we've hit a million. This is their equivalent to where the crawdads sing. And it was really in that time frame that they like did their thing. lessons in chemistry though, everyone's read it. Everyone's read it. I don't need to say more about that. Is that on your list? A hundred percent. Okay. And I guess we should talk about Long Bright River too. Because it's also on my list. Yeah. Jackie: Got it. Did their thing. ⁓ lessons in chemistry though, everyone's it. Everyone's read it. Obviously. A hundred percent. Okay. I we should talk about Long Great River too. Because it's also on my list. Yeah. Kirsten: we started Long Bright River and my husband also was like, Yeah, I can't I can't watch this one. It was a great book. It's fantastic. It's it's the show's really dark. I'm sh I'm sure that the the book was dark. In in case anyone hasn't read it, it's about the opioid crisis ⁓ and ⁓ a police her is a an ⁓ addict and And it place here in Philly. It's in Kensington, which is like ⁓ it's a real ⁓ Jackie: It was a great book. It's fantastic. It's it's very disturbing, I'm sh I'm sure. But the the book was dark. In in case anyone hasn't read it, it's about the opioid crisis and a police and her sister is a an in Philadelphia. Yes. Yes. Which is like it's a real It's a problem and it was like a little too close. Yeah, yeah. I couldn't I couldn't do it. Kirsten: It was like a little too close to home. I c I just couldn't I couldn't do I had a few other ones that I'm were favorites. So kind skipped those and took those out. And then I have next one. What's your what's your next one? Well gave two already. So you go. Jackie: Alright, I had a few other ones that I'm sure were favorites. So I kind of skipped those and took those out. And then I have my next one. What's your what's your next one? Well I gave two already. ⁓ okay. Frozen River, Ariel Lahan. I knew Kirsten: Frozen River, Ariel Lahan. I knew you were gonna pick that one. I knew it. I knew it. I knew it. I love her so much. She is the most brilliant historical fiction writer. They're really ⁓ biographical fiction. Mm-hmm. And they're phenomenal. So this one is a bit of a mystery. It's it's about a midwife and it's phenomenal. And how excited are you that she has a new one coming out this year? I'm so Jackie: I love her so much. She is the most brilliant historical fiction writer. They're really ⁓ biographical fiction and they're phenomenal. So this one is a bit of a mystery. It's it's about a a midwife and it's phenomenal. She has a new one coming. ⁓ I'm so excited. I'm I'm what is that? The Pirate Queen? I'm dying to read this book. I haven't read as many pirate books as you have. I love a pirate book. You love a pirate book. But I think I'd read anything that she wrote. I'm gonna choose. Kirsten: In like a month and a half. I'm I'm what is it? The Pirate Queen? I'm dying to read this book. I I haven't read as many pirate books as you have. I love a pirate book. You love a pirate book. But I think I'd read anything that she wrote. I'm gonna choose one that was a book club pick for us Beyond the Bookends Book Club. ⁓ Participant Angie Kim, Happiness Falls. We read it for Book Club. We all loved it for Book Club. ⁓ she was a phenomenal author to come in and talk about this book because wow, the layers. ⁓ but that one is that's a favorite. Yes, and I knew you were going to pick it, which is why you left it off. Yeah, because it's so good. Okay, so what do you got? ⁓ I have listed. Jackie: Yes. Yes, I know I knew you were going to pick it, which is why I didn't. Yeah, because it's so good. Okay, so what do you got? ⁓ I have listened for the lie. I had that on. You did it off. Kirsten: Took it off. I took it off because it's a thriller, it's about podcasts. Yes. Mult full cast, excellent, great choice. But so many people had read it that I wanted to highlight an underreviewed book instead. I'm sure. I'm sure. This is Amy Tintera, and it was one of our favorites of the year. ⁓ yeah. ⁓ yeah. One of the best thrillers like ever written. Jackie: Yes. Phenomenal. I'm sure, I'm sure. This is Amy Tintera and it was one of our favorites of the year. ⁓ yeah. ⁓ for that year. What one of like ever written. Ever. It was twenty I think so. ⁓ it's phenomenal. I think it was twenty four because twenty five wasn't so great for thrillers. Right, right. I think I think it was coming down off the high of thrillers like that that made twenty twenty five like Yeah, not the best. Well Kirsten: Twenty twenty four, twenty five, something in there. It's phenomenal. I think it was twenty four because twenty five wasn't so great for thrillers. Right, right. I think it was twenty four too. Yeah, not the best. Not the best. Well, I will say that the one that I replaced it with, okay, which is my underreviewed. So underreviewed is, you know, some of these books take out lessons in chemistry because millions of people have reviewed that. In general, for GMA, it seemed like 70, 80, 90,000 reviews is considered like a very popular book. And anything under that is pretty low. This only had thirty two thousand reviews. River Sing Me Home by Eleanor Shearer. Jackie: In general for GMA, it seems like 70, 80, 90,000 reviews is considered like a very popular book. And anything under that is pretty well. This only has 32,000 reviews. ⁓ River Sing Me Home. ⁓ yeah. is about ⁓ a ⁓ woman, a who the plantations in the Caribbean were emancipated. Kirsten: It is about ⁓ ⁓ woman, a ⁓ when the plantations the Caribbean were emancipated, she goes out to try to find each of her children that has been sold in slavery. ⁓ wow. It and like where they are, where did they end up? ⁓ It is so powerful so incredibly written. And I'm very sad that more people didn't read it. Well, maybe now they will. Jackie: She goes to find each ⁓ of her children that has been sold in slavery. ⁓ wow. And like where they are, where do they end up? It is so powerful so incredibly written. And I'm very sad that more people didn't read it. But maybe now they will. And like we were say, look at the difference ⁓ in genres, right? For this historical fiction is gonna rip your heart out. Right. Kirsten: And again, like we were say look at the difference. I know. I'm like, let me cross up this crazy pop culture thriller for this historical fiction that is gonna rip your heart out. Right. Jackie: We're gonna do another 180 from that to a romance with Love of My Afterlife by Christy Greenwood. You love her stuff. ⁓ my god. You do stuff. This book had me cracking up. I was laughing so hard. It's h it's hilarious. This woman Okay, that shouldn't sound funny, but it is ⁓ Kirsten: We're gonna do another 180 from that to a romance with Love of My Afterlife by Christy Greenwood. You love her stuff. You do love her stuff. This book had me cracking up. I was laughing so hard. It's h it's hilarious. This woman Okay, that shouldn't sound funny, but it is. Jackie: Because she goes into like this afterlife holding area and they give her a chance to come back and ⁓ find someone to love her, or else she has to be dead again. And it the way that she wrote it, it's completely hilarious. She's a great, great kind of magical realism ⁓ romance writer. Kirsten: Because she goes into like this afterlife holding area and they give her a chance to come back and ⁓ find someone to love her or else she has to be dead again. Sorry. And it the way that she wrote it, it's completely hilarious. She's a great, great kind of magical realism ⁓ romance writer. Yeah. all right. So you chose I'm I'm gonna go with different magical realism. Okay. And one that isn't quite underreviewed, but one that I was shocked that only like sixty-six thousand people have read. ⁓ it's The Change by Kirsten Miller. Right. Which is about women when they go through perimetopause like get or menopause to get a magical power essentially, ⁓ they're gonna take down some billionaires that are doing bad things to women. Jackie: Okay. And it's The Change by Kirsten Miller. Right. Mm-hmm. Kirsten: It's related to the book that I read this year, The Women of Watch Hill. Yes. like a lesser version of that, which becomes like a much bigger world-expanding novel. And I thought that this book was everywhere, and in my social circles it was, and I feel like in our book life it was very much discussed. But it didn't, I guess, really break out of the book culture, which is kind of shocking to me because it was so good and so different. And what's interesting to me about Jackie: Yes. it's like a lesser version of which makes it a much bigger world expansion. Mm-hmm. ⁓ Interesting. And what's interesting to me about her is that she writes these phenomenal kind of magical realism books. And then she writes Lula Dean's little library of band books, is that which is completely opposite, but also fantastic. And that book was everywhere. So ⁓ Kirsten: band books is that yeah which is completely opposite but also fantastic and that book was everywhere. So I know it's she's she's a great writer. You all should be reading that book. Jackie: Okay, so ⁓ next book is A Song Drown Rivers. And it's Han Liang. I loved this book. Now ⁓ they build it as a fantasy, but it's not really a It's more mythology. Okay. ⁓ It was so beautifully written. It's like ⁓ heartbreaking and Kirsten: Okay, so my book ⁓ is A Song Drown Rivers. ⁓ And it's ⁓ Liang. I loved this book. Now ⁓ they build it as a fantasy, but it's not really fantasy. It's more mythology. ⁓ right. I remember you telling me about this It was so beautifully written. It's like heartbreaking and Jackie: Powerful and the writing is absolutely gorgeous. And it was also a little bit underreviewed with about 40,000 reviews. And I can't understand why. It's so, and it may be because they called it a fantasy and people were expecting like fantastical elements. in my mind it's not really. Kirsten: powerful and the writing is absolutely gorgeous and it was also a little bit underreviewed with about 40,000 reviews. And really I can't understand why. That's wild. So and it may be because they called it a fantasy and people were expecting like fantastical elements. Right. because in my mind it's not really Jackie: a fantasy, it's it's mythology, so and there is a difference. Kirsten: My next one I'm gonna go with is Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson. Love, love a family saga. I love ⁓ like nasty siblings that are like just mean to each other and don't really understand each other and like trying to fit in in a family dynamic when you are, you know, you marry into a family. ⁓ Obviously, I loved her book, The Shampoo Effect, which is the current Jackie: Mm. Obviously I loved her book, The Shampoo Effect, which is the current genetics. Yes. ⁓ which she's one of a few authors now that have been featured by both one book clubs. Yep. but yeah, that I just really I love book. ⁓ is a pretty popular one though. A lot of read high. Yeah, I think Kirsten: Jenna Pick. Yes. ⁓ which she's one of a few authors now that have been featured by both or more than one book club. but the I just really I love this book. This is a pretty popular one though. A lot of people read Pineapple Street. Jackie: my next one was also ⁓ this is a fantasy. it is Book of Lost Hours by ⁓ Haley Gelfuso, I think that's how you pronounce her last name. ⁓ I had read it, I loved it, and I was like, wow. Kirsten: My next one was also this this is a fantasy. it the Book of Lost Hours by ⁓ Hayley Gelfuso, I think that's how you pronounce her last name. ⁓ I had read it, I loved it, and I was like, well, not gonna be a good book club pick, and then ⁓ Jackie: It's not gonna be a good book club pick. And then it was a book club pick. So this one took me by surprise. It is about a woman who can basically go into the memories of books for in in a library. And it it it's similar, I think, to anyone who loves the midlight library, which was also ⁓ a pick. Kirsten: It was a book club pick. So this one took me by surprise. It is about a woman who can basically go into the memories of books for in in a library. ⁓ got it. Right, right. I remember this one. It's similar, I think, to anyone who loves Midnight Library, which was also ⁓ that's right. That's right. But Jackie: But ⁓ I loved this. It was historical fiction just found it really emotional, really moving, like a very well written ⁓ book that ⁓ magic ⁓ to story. It's magical realism rather than creating like a whole new magic system. So Kirsten: I don't have any magic left. I have a thriller. Conspiracy, Brendan Schlockham. ⁓ yeah, that was a great book. It was so good. It's about a man who is this world-renowned violinist and someone steals his Stradivarius and he's like trying to find it and and get it back. ⁓ so hard, I think, to get suspense and your heart pounding over something that's not a murder death plot. Jackie: ⁓ yeah, that was a great book. Mm-hmm. Get like spent and like sounding over something that's not a murder death plot. Yes. And this was like you. Kirsten: Yes. And this was like you felt for this guy. You're like, ⁓ my God, is this guy gonna get his violin? Like it was so suspenseful and so stress-inducing and so different. yeah, I love that one. I love that book also. I feel like I want this to be made into a movie. I could see it. I could see it if if it was shot in the right way with the right kind of lighting and the right kind of vibes. This could really be a good movie. Well, did you ever see the movie The Red Violin with Sammy? Jackie: Yes. So suspenseful and so Yeah, I love that book. I love that book also. I feel like I want this to be made into a movie. I could see it. I could see it if Well, did you ever see the movie The Red Violin with Samuel L. Jackson? It kind of gives off the same vibes. That was really, really good. I feel like a good violin mystery thriller. I don't know. I'm all for it. Okay. going to say, I I knew 100% you were gonna choose this one Kirsten: It kind of gives off the same vibes. That was really, really good. I feel like a good violence dream. Here we go. I don't know. I'm all for it. Okay. going to say, I I knew a hundred percent you were gonna choose this one Jackie: Sisters in the Wind by Angeline Blue. Kirsten: Sisters of the Wind by Angeline. ⁓ obviously. Obviously. knew that. I did know that. I did know that. You knew that. That's like your favorite go-to writer. Angeline Poulet, she writes these incredibly powerful books. And this ⁓ one is Jackie: You you knew that. Angeline Boulet, she writes these incredibly powerful books, and this one is about whatever. So this is about a woman who ⁓ people try murder She ends up in the hospital. come and ⁓ Now she finds out her heritage, which is that she was she's Native American and she grew up in the foster care system. So it's a bit of a mystery, a bit of a thriller, and it is so well written and it touches on so many different, like heavy topics without being too heavy-handed with it. So I absolutely love this pic. Kirsten: Okay, I'm gonna go with a thriller then too. Okay. Which is it's kind of a thriller. It's Best Offer Winds by Marissa because she's it is so funny. love a psychotic narrator. Like I love someone who is out there doing crazy things and justifying it in their head, and you're in their head and you're like, you know what? ⁓ Go it. Go ahead, girl. Like, she wants to get this house and she's gonna do anything to stalk and get this house. ⁓ And ⁓ Jackie: Okay. ⁓ you loved this book. So funny. Kirsten: It's hilarious. It's it's so fun. It's just it's a really fun, very different story. Okay. So if you want to talk about a psychotic narrator, what do you got? Yesteryear by Carol Claire Burke. Okay. Okay. I mean, do I need to say anything else about this book? She is absolutely a complete and total like psychotic lunatic. And this is the book of the year. That is the book of the year. So Jackie: And there. It's hilarious. It's it's so fun. It's just it's a really fun, very different story. Okay, so if you want to talk about a psychotic narrator, what do you got? Yesteryear by Carol Claire Burke. I mean, do I need to say anything else about this book? She is absolutely a complete and total like psychotic lunatic. And this is the book of the year. That is the book of the year. So everyone's heard of it. I don't need to explain it. Baker, ⁓ which is kind of Kirsten: Everyone's heard of it. I don't need to explain it. So the husband, Chandler Baker, which is kind of similar. It's day Stepford husbands instead of Stepford wives. ⁓ And ⁓ I just think it has a whole lot to with in general for her. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Okay. I only have one left. Me too. Okay. This ⁓ one, I'm actually super excited that it Jackie: Instead of separate wives. Yes. And I just think it has a whole lot to discuss with marriage for her. Yeah. Okay. I only have one left. Me too. Okay. This one, I'm actually super excited that it already has 60,000 reviews because it's only from last month. ⁓ It is Jolly All the Time, Annabelle Monaghan. Kirsten: Already has 60,000 reviews because it's only from last month. it is Jolly All the Time, Annabelle Monaghan. I adored this book so much. I'm just so glad that it was chosen. I'm so glad that it's getting all the hype that it is because I just think it was delightful. It's delightful in every way. It's like so feel good. It gives a little bit like pretty woman vibes. Like I just Jackie: I adored this book so much. I'm just so glad that it was chosen. I'm so glad that it's getting all the hype that it is because I just think it was delightful. It's delightful in every way. It's like so feel good. It gives a little bit like pretty woman vibes. Like I just adored it. Kirsten: Adored it. Well, I'm glad that your last one was one that you absolutely adored because mine is one that I absolutely adored and it is under reviewed and I always sing about it from the hilltops and no one ever reads it. And it's devastating to me that they don't. Jackie: Okay, what I don't why do I not know what book you're gonna say? Kirsten: Why do I not know what book we're gonna do? ⁓ you do. The second I say the first letter, Dava. ⁓ yes. Dava Shastri's last day. I am sorry. How no one has read this. It is a woman, she's a billionaire. She gets her family onto her compound. Release she's gonna kill herself. She's like dying of something. So she's gonna do like assisted suicide. Okay. And she gets her whole family there. And the press release goes out that she's dead. Jackie: ⁓ yes. Release she's gonna kill herself. She's like dying of something. So she's gonna do like a suicide, okay. And Kirsten: But she hasn't died yet. So she has like two extra days and she kind of ties up all these loose ends with her family and it's her life story. And each of her very her children are like living this life of wealth and leisure and they have to like grapple with some things. It is so addictively good. And no one and when people read it, they love it, but no one reads it. And I don't understand. I don't understand. Read this book. Please read this book. ⁓ Jackie: No one reads and I don't understand. I don't understand. Read this book. Please read this book. And it sounds a little not as dark as like I'm gonna pretend that I'm dead and then see what my family does to see who's getting the inheritance. No. Okay. Kirsten: I'm gonna pretend that I'm dead and then see what my family does to see who's getting the inheritance. No, exactly. It's like I am doing this. Let's all grieve it together. Come to accept my decision. But also there's all these like back secrets that are coming out. There's all kinds of other things that are com it is, it's like chocolate. I couldn't I couldn't stop. I consumed it so quickly and I loved it and it's set during a blizzard and it's like a whole fun thing. A book like chocolate. I just loved it. It was it was just so different and fun. Jackie: It's like chocolate, I couldn't I couldn't stop because so quickly and I just loved it. It was it was just so different. Kirsten: And I and that doesn't sound like those should go together based on the fact that this woman's about to like ⁓ But it is. It sounds fantastic. It's so good. So good. Read it. Okay, so what Jackie: ⁓ it sounds it sounds fantastic. It's so good. So good, we get okay. So what about other people's picks? What were other people's favorites? All right team. Kirsten: Alright, team. Alright, team. This is what your favorites were. Dolly. ⁓ I'm so glad. Jackie: ⁓ I'm so glad about that. I I'm so happy about that. I mean, if you haven't read it yet, I feel like it's the best romance of this summer. Love of my afterlife. We talked about it. Again, there we go. Atmosphere, Taylor Jenkins. Mm-hmm. No surprise there. No. Lessons in chemistry. I mean, no surprise. The final one, Dead Romantics, came up. That was on my list, but I was like Kirsten: If you haven't read it yet, I feel like it's the best romance of the summer. Love of my afterlife. We talked about that. There we go. Atmosphere, Taylor Jenkins Read. No surprise there. Lessons in chemistry. Again. No surprises. The final one, Dead Romantics, came up. That was on my list, but I was like, I feel like everyone's gonna say that, so I took it. Jackie: I feel like everyone's gonna say that, so I took it off my list so that we could talk about that one too. Rebecca said it Kirsten: Off my list so that we could talk about that one. Well, Rebecca said it has good magical realism. It's the perfect mix of thoughtful, sad, and hopeful. ⁓ I love that one. She's right. That was very succinct. She's right. Yeah. okay, so those are the those are the favorites. I mean, ⁓ this this book club is it's a good one. They're always choosing good stuff. They really are always choosing. Jackie: ⁓ I love that. What a great that was very succinct. What a great Yeah. okay. Kirsten: Excellent books that even if you don't like the topic or the subject, they're so well written. They choose really, really good writers. Yes, that aren't necessarily literary fiction. Which I love that because sometimes some literary fiction can be a little unapproachable? Yes. That's the the perfect word. Jackie: The topic or subject, they're so well written. They choose really, really good writers. Yes, that aren't necessarily literary fiction. Which I love that because sometimes some literary fiction can be a little Unapproachable? Yes. That's the the perfect word. And all of these are very approachable. Yes. Every. Kirsten: And all of these are very approachable. Yes. There are so many that we didn't talk about too, like the vanishing half. What a book. Th there was it was really hard to choose. I know. I was going through and I easily could have had twenty five books this list. I know. This is this is maybe my favorite. Although in recent years I need to I think I just need to swoop in and read them before you read them because it's only one of us can read them usually. And like Jackie: That we didn't talk about too, like the vanishing half. I know. What book. Th there was it was really hard to choose. I was going through and I easily could have had twenty five books on this list. I know. This I know but you swoop in and you take before had you. I know, and then you have read the Jennas. I have. Which used to be your switch. Yes, we did a a swapperoni. We we good stuff. All right. Should we move on to the bookmark? We should. We a hundred percent should go on to the book cloud because I'm stealing it. She Kirsten: I feel like you swoop in and you take it before I have a chance to take it. And then you have read the Jennas. I have. Which used to be your Yes. We've like switched. Yes, we did a a swapperoni. We we did switch. we move on to the bookmark? We should. We a hundred percent. What's this yours? What's it called? Because I'm stealing it. She right, right. What's it called? ⁓ It is Dominion. ⁓ Jackie: It is Dominion by Gene Quok. Kirsten: She was a former celebrity book club pick for Read with Jenna. Searching for Sylvia Lee. Thank you. I knew you were, I knew you would have it in you to remember that. This better be good because it's supposed to be my turn. So break it down for me, girl. Why what is your reasoning behind using your steel? Jackie: Thank you. I knew you were I knew you would have it in you to remember that. This better be good because it's supposed to be my Break it down for me, girl. What what is your reasoning behind stealing your steal? Kirsten: Justify yourself. Jackie: I shall. Okay. I am going to say this is the best fantasy book I have read this year. I gave it five stars. I have six five-star books this year. This is number six. Kirsten: Gave it five stars. Okay. Six five-star books this year. This is number six. Alright, fine. It justifies the steal. I loved it so much. I can't wait for the next one. It's the first in a series. Why are you? Always a first in a series. Always the first in a series. It's out Jackie: I loved it so much. I can't wait for the next one. It's the first in a series. Why do you do this? It's always the first in a series. So it's out now already, yes? Yes. It out on Tuesday. This is ⁓ Kirsten: So it's out now already, yes? Yes, it came out on Tuesday. This ⁓ is fourth wing, but instead of dragons, we have tigers. ⁓ Are you me that I can live out my Princess Jasmine dreams this book? ⁓ A hundred shut ⁓ up. Are you serious? Jackie: Fourth wing, but instead of dragons we have tigers. A hundred percent. Are you serious? I'm so serious. It's so good. I I don't want to give any more than that because I don't wanna I don't wanna spoil it, but ⁓ shape this Kirsten: I'm like shaking. Are you kidding me? Do you know that I used to pretend that I was like the little mermaid in the pool? Or when I was out of the pool, I pretended I was Princess Jajman with Raja. Like all I wanted was to have my own tiger. Jackie: Judgment would run to like all I wanted was to have my own time. Then you need to read this book. I actually think this is a fantasy that you would love. It's there is a romance component. It's a great magical system that isn't complex. There's not so many characters that you're like, who are we talking about? What's going on? It you can just sit back and enjoy. It is so well written. The story is so good. You get to the end, you're like, No, ⁓ my God, I can't believe it's over. I was like literally my heart like s sunk because I was like, the book is now over and I have to wait like a year for the next one. How many pages are we talking about? Is she a chunker? I'm not I'm not sure. Is like regular or is it like I don't know. I listened to it, it was twelve hours, so what's that? It's like Kirsten: heart like sunk because I was like the book is now over and I have to wait like a year for the next one. How many pages are we talking about? Is she a chonker? I'm not I'm not sure. Is it like 304 or is it like a I don't know, I listened to it it was 12 hours. So what Okay, that's not okay. That's approachable. I can do that. Jackie: I think it's approachable. I think it's around five four to five hundred pages. It it but it flies by. Dominion, Gene Quok. is out already. You had me at Tiger. You had me at Tiger. Magical magical tigers. I mean ⁓ Kirsten: now. Dominion, Quak, it is out already. You had me at Tiger. You had me at Tiger. Magical magical tigers. I mean ⁓ magical tigers? They're magic? ⁓ she could communicate with tiger via telepathy. They talk Jackie: She can communicate with her tiger via telepathy. They talk to each other. They're the this is like like and they're powerful and they're warriors and they fight with their tigers and it's it's it's i if if you instead of a dragon, if you had a tiger, it's fantastic. So good. I can't wait to read this book. ⁓ I cannot wait to read it. Kirsten: And they fight with the tigers, and it's it's it's if if if you instead of a dragon, if you had a tiger, it's fantastic. ⁓ my god, I can't wait to read this book. ⁓ I cannot wait to read it. Wow, great choice. Yes. I I approve. You got the approval. She justified the steal. I justified the steal. Fantastic. Jackie: Yes! I I approve. She justified the steal. Yes. Fantastic. Kirsten: Okay. Do you want to know what the reader question is this week? Because I'm excited for next week. Yes, I do want to know. Next week's a plot twist, which means we're gonna be talking the August book club like ⁓ reading prompt. Mm-hmm. Books set in tropical locations. Fantastic. I mean, what could be better? What could be better? We're gonna give you a thriller, fantasy. ⁓ Jackie: Okay. Do you wanna know what the reading question is this week? Because I'm excited next week. Yes, I do wanna know. Next week's applied twist, which means we're gonna be talking about the August book like yes reading prompt. Mm-hmm. Books set in tropical locations. Fantastic. I mean what could be better? What Kirsten: Mystery, historical fiction. Like we'll we'll give you something from every genre that we like. ⁓ and we'll obviously announce who our our person is. Yes. Who our author is gonna be in the book that we're gonna be reading. but we'd like to know from you what are your favorite novels set in tropical locations? Jackie: Who our our is. Yes. What do you think the book's gonna be? No peaking on the website. Yeah, don't look. Don't peek. Don't look. Just take a guess. All right. So like, follow, subscribe. ⁓ Kirsten: What do you think the book's gonna be? No peeking on the website. Yeah, don't look. Don't peek. Don't look. Just take a guess. Yeah. All right. So like, follow, subscribe. And happy reading.