August 1, 2025 • 39 mins
🎙️ Welcome to Fictionally UnhingedÂ
Where emotional spirals, unfiltered bookish hot takes, and morally gray obsessions are just part of the plot.
In this first episode, you’ll meet your two chaos-loving co-hosts: Kristina and Marita, We’re diving into how this podcast came to life, what kinds of books we’re obsessed with (spoiler: romantasy owns our souls), and what you can expect from the unhinged ride ahead.
If you’ve ever rage-texted your bestie mid-chapter, mourned a fictional man, or argued about tropes like it’s your full-time job… you're in the right place.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Welcome to Fictionally Unhinged,episode one.
We are so excited and nervous weshouldn't be.
All right.
Who are we?
I'm Marita.
What is up?
I, I don't know.
How much introduction do weneed?
Maybe I should let you go first.
What's your favorite genre?
(00:20):
Ooh, trope.
Um, I don't even know if I havea favorite.
Genre.
'cause I love books that don'thave smut, which I don't like
that word.
So we're just talking about thatSM sounds like a, it sounds like
a bodily fluids.
Imu.
I feel like it just sounds sonaughty, but like spice doesn't
sound so naughty, so I just feelso No, I feel like smut is like
(00:42):
a strip club, but like it soundslike it's filmy.
Yeah, like it's like dirty.
Yeah.
Seedy where spice is just like alittle jalapeno.
But it'll still be dirty, butnot like the icky.
Yeah.
Anyway.
No, so I love books that don'thave spice, but I, I like those
(01:04):
moments.
I mean, I'm sure everyone does,but when like you're like.
Oh my word.
This book just is not exactlywhat I was thinking it was.
'cause I love Freedom McFadden,when I was introduced to that, I
was just like, I've canceledmeetings to read her books.
I'm like, Nope, we're not,someone needs to get my child
from school.
I, she thinks outside of thebox.
Yeah.
Like, that's not, yeah, that'snot things that I would've ever
thought in a book.
So I, that's like, I love,that's why I really like the
(01:26):
inheritance game, even thoughthere was no like, there's like
love ish, but it's good.
Um, but I love, I mean, I lovefantasy.
I've always read fantasy.
I've read thrillers.
Those have been my, my maingo-to.
Yeah.
But your rom comms are your,those are your, that's like the
underlying premise.
Yeah.
Like when we need a break fromall of the brain work and
(01:47):
fantasy.
It's like when you go to aFanny, Fanny fancy restaurant.
And you get that mid, thatsorbet in between your palate
cleanser.
You're a moose.
You're a moose boosh.
Remember we went to thatrestaurant with Nicole for her
anniversary and I was like, oh,the little teeny plate came out
and Marissa's like, what isthis?
I was like, it's an A mooseboosh.
And the guy's like, everyoneenjoy.
(02:07):
You're a moose boosh.
And she's like, I thought youmade that up.
I was like, oh no.
Oh no.
It cleanses your ballot.
And those are the romcoms for me'cause I love them.
I love the hallmark, I love inthere.
They're easy.
They make me laugh.
They like make me feel likeeverything's gonna be okay.
And I like the ones that arelike the 30 somethings that are
starting over in life.
'cause I don't relate to, well,yeah, I don't relate to, I mean,
(02:29):
I do, but like I relate to a20-year-old doing things.
I like them because it's like.
Like when you re watch likefriends or the office, like you
already anticipate the ending.
So it doesn't give you anyanxiety.
It's the, um, what's the word?
The Your comfort show.
Yeah.
It's the comfort books.
(02:49):
Yeah.
But I read Nicholas Sparks whenI was younger.
I loved those.
And that's just, I never readNicholas Sparks.
It's just a non sty, a non s,non sy, spicy nothing.
Just a non, just a love story.
Closed door.
Yeah, that word, whatever,whatever those books are.
Child children's books.
(03:11):
All right, y'all.
I'm Christina.
My favorite genre is definitelylike romantic sea.
Like, I love fantasy, but it hasto have romance in it.
Like Oh, for fantasy books.
Yeah.
You can't.
Mm-hmm.
I love, love, like everythinghas to have love in it, but I do
(03:33):
love the romcoms, like samething.
What got me into'em?
Well, and so that's kind of whatsparked my reading as an adult
was Colleen Hoover was uglyLove, and then I gave it to you.
Mm-hmm.
I had read a couple of herbooks.
I think that's Everyone's like,you see'em on the beach'cause
they're easy to read.
Yeah.
Like that's like the beach book.
You know the, you know, it'sgoing to be a happy ending.
(03:56):
Non verity.
Oh, that book messed me up.
Highly recommend not reading itwhen you were pregnant.
Because I was pregnant.
I didn't know I was pregnant.
I didn't realize how emotional Iwas.
Um, so definitely romantic, butstill those like romance romcoms
(04:16):
definitely in between to give mybrain a ba break from all the
world building.
I do like the thrillers, but Ihave to be in the mood for them.
Like the silent patient was sucha good book.
Christina's a golden retriever,so.
Yeah, that's why like thethrillers, they are not mine.
I have to be in the mood for'em.
(04:37):
And usually around Halloween,like typical if I can't find any
rom-coms that are Halloweenpast.
Yeah.
No, but I love, I do, I love it.
I love the romance too.
I just love, love.
Okay.
How do we become friends?
Do you wanna tell the story?
You tell the story, you wannahear it?
(04:57):
From my point of view, I do.
I feel like we know it from mypoint of view.
I feel like mine's just like thevery generic.
So I moved to Florida when I was26 and I was a teacher, which
I'm no longer a teacher.
Um, so I was teaching, butteachers make crap.
(05:19):
So I also applied to work at arestaurant.
And so there was a bigrestaurant down here, um, called
Twisted Tuna.
It was on the water.
I had just moved here.
Um, and so I needed something tohelp pay the bills
realistically.
And so I started working atTwisted Tuna and met Marita.
(05:40):
Were you training me?
What, what probably did you, Itrained everybody.
You prob Yeah.
So you probably tr you trainedme and helped me take all those
tests because I could notmemorize the menu for the life
of me.
They stopped doing that after awhile.
It was unrealistic, but yeah.
So we met at a restaurant.
Yeah, it was eight years ago,but it was like friend love at
(06:02):
first sight.
Yeah, it was.
I was like, oh my.
It's like the, I don't know, theepitome of like, oh, there you
are.
I've been looking for you.
Because there was no like fadedmates, but with best friends
because there was no awkwardfades.
We just became friends and itwas just like, hi, here you are
(06:25):
at all times.
I was just saying, I think ourfriendship wholeheartedly like
the dynamic of our friendship.
That of Bryce and Danica fromCrescent City.
Like that power, friendship,like ride or die.
Yeah.
Which I pray every single personhas that one person in their
life.
Their friend, soulmate.
Yeah.
(06:46):
Like Mitch was like, he's like,are you never just not talking
to Marita?
And I was like, is that aserious question?
Why?
Why would we not talk to eachother?
Um, no, we talk all the time.
Okay.
Why, why did we start thepodcast?
(07:06):
Okay.
So, um, the amount ofunsolicited book advice I give
out to people is probablyunhealthy.
I'm like, Hey, do you read,like, I know you know how to
read, but do you read?
I mean, don't make assumptions,but I always give someone the
benefit of the doubt.
So anyway, so I just, we lovetalking about books.
We love books and I always say,I'm like, I love that.
(07:28):
I like to walk and.
Because my hobbies are verysedentary and not that of
someone who would have myhealthy lifestyle because
sitting and eating are like myother favorite things to do.
Um, reading and eating.
So we just, we're always talkingabout books.
We're always looking for books.
We like, we just love books andstories and worlds and
(07:50):
characters and, and Christinaone day was like, do you wanna.
A podcast.
Podcast and I don't listen topodcasts.
FYI.
So thank you everyone forlistening in because I do not
return a favor.
I love podcasts.
I do.
I don't listen to any bookpodcasts, but mostly'cause I
(08:13):
have it.
I don't know, I, not that Idon't like other people's
opinions on books, I justhaven't.
I have a, well, we find a lot onInstagram too and like book
talk.
I'm not on TikTok, but I thinkthat's where I've like,'cause I
listen to those kind of things.
Yeah.
And there's people I really loveand then I found a few of their
podcasts, but I don't know, mostof my podcasts are that I listen
(08:33):
to are like nutrition or like,get your freaking mind.
Right.
Good for you.
Because I don't like to readnonfiction, so I listen to it in
some capacity.
I dot neither.
So then no one can come from mefor the fact that I'm reading
spice all the time.
'cause don't you worry becauseI'm also fueling my brain too
mm-hmm.
In so many ways with good stuff.
(08:54):
And the best I'm well-rounded.
Um, yeah.
So I'm excited that we were, westarted this, especially because
thunder, let's set the spookyvibes.
Maybe I am in the mood for athriller.
Um, just because we go back andforth so much and with our voice
(09:16):
memos, I wish we like saved someof them, but there are so many
deep when I tell you like wetalk about everything and
anything, so like probably booksare like a qua, like three
quarters of our conversation.
The other two thirds are equallyas unhinged, just with other
areas.
(09:36):
I think books just, I mean, theyreally help you discover
yourself in a different way, ina nonjudgmental way to be like,
oh, there's other people thatthink these things, or there's
other, I don't know, ways torelate to life.
And it helps you not ah.
It just helps you see yourselffrom a different perspective,
which I think is very helpful.
In a non, they can betherapeutic in a non therapy
(09:59):
setting.
Yeah.
Oh, I get that.
And it just appeals to the soula bit more.
So it's, I like, I'll readbooks, I think things about
myself, and then I'm like,Christina, guess what?
I had a revelation.
And then it just spirals into somany things and that's, I dunno,
they bring you back to yourselfand we're here to share with
you.
(10:21):
Me too.
Hmm.
I had another question and Icompletely blanked on it.
I don't know, but, um, oh, okay.
Now we're gonna get into, well,so since we just talked about
what, what we're starting thepodcast, what you can expect
(10:42):
from us before we do some otherlittle.
Side topics.
Um, so basically just recaps,realizations.
There will be spoilers.
So I spoilers.
Yeah.
Like, I mean, to some extent,like you can't recap a book
without talking about it.
Yeah.
So you're gonna have to.
(11:04):
At some point we will be talkingabout Onyx Storm.
'cause that messed me up andthat was so good.
I cried to you.
Yeah, you did.
And I was like, I read it a fewmonths before, why you need to
read this book so I can mourn mysoul with you.
A huge series at that time.
That's a very toxic trait ofmine.
Like I get people into seriesthat are not finished.
(11:26):
Mm-hmm.
So when I suggest books toChristine and now she's like, is
it a finished series?
I'm like, well.
No, I don't know.
I don't like unfinished series.
There we go.
The cliff.
I have 1, 2, 3, 4.
I have like at least four orfive series in my bookshelf
(11:47):
right now that I refuse to read'cause the third book is coming
out later this year and I wantto read them all together.
I don't like having a break.
That's why completed series likehas my soul except for act
guitar.
Crescent City's theoreticallynot completed.
No, that's not.
But I had to, I had to startthat.
(12:08):
Yeah.
There's things, I love CrescentCity.
It's a beautiful story.
Ugh.
A story for the people who love,love.
I, yeah, but I don't think Bryceis going to end up with Hunt.
Because she never, they, they,yeah.
Sarah J Mass never has the, themain female character with the
(12:28):
first person that she beat.
We have a lose hunt because Ican't, well, like she did lose,
oh, I can't remember his name.
Sam, was it Sam Cortland?
Yeah.
What was his, I think that washis last name.
Now I can't think of that.
But Sam, I thought Sam was infront of class.
Oh, that's what I was thinkingof.
Yeah.
Yeah.
But now I can't remember.
Oh, and she lost, um, Connor.
Part of the pact.
Yeah.
Mm-hmm.
(12:49):
Um, see, I'll do the uncomplete,the Incomplete series, and then
I listen to audio book after, sothen I like really get it
instilled.
That's a good idea.
Audible's having a sale rightnow.
Are they?
Yeah, it's like 4 99, 5 99 and 699 for books.
Different books.
Yeah.
Not sponsored.
We just like audible.
(13:13):
Um, what else can we expect?
Bessy banter.
I had to ask Marita.
I was like, is banter a badthing?
Because you know how some peopleare like, oh yeah, there's a lot
of banter, like in the book andlike, sometimes I feel like it's
usually sarcastic or like in anegative, like,'cause it's a lot
of like enemies to lovers.
So that's why I thought bantermight offend a negative thing.
(13:36):
I don't think so.
Yeah.
I've never heard it in a, anegative light.
No.
Just us being us.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Um, analysis, spirals, tropes,theories.
What's your favorite Trope issuch a weird word.
Makes me think of the circus.
(13:58):
Um, I love enemies to lovers,but I like it where.
The guy really wants the girl.
Like that's why I like the RileyThorn series that I can't ever
stop talking about to people,um, by Lucy score.
And she has another one that Iwas just start reading the
other, so basically where thefemale main character is
(14:19):
A-B-I-T-T-H.
Yeah.
That was the story.
The life one too.
Like the, her new book, thatone, she was like.
More resistant.
She just wanted to like do herown thing.
Mm-hmm.
And live her life.
And he is like, no, I love you.
So we have a problem here.
And I, and I need you to rec it.
I just like when men are like,oh wow, I like her and like I
love her.
I should just pursue that ratherthan putting And they their
emotions.
Yeah.
Yeah.
(14:39):
That's my thought on that one.
Maybe.
'cause that's not real life.
No, I'm just kidding.
But, um, but I, I like that andI do like the grumpy sunshine
'cause that's.
My life.
Sorry.
No, sometimes he takes, I wasgonna say today I was the grump
and he was being very nice.
So, you know, after theyharassed you, they ate too much
(15:03):
sugar at the movies.
Went and saw F1 in two and ahalf hours of just candy and.
They couldn't leave me alone.
Like, I'm gonna get a seat awayfrom you guys next time.
Like, Doy mom, mom, mom, mommy,mom, mom.
Jay does that when I go to puther to bed.
I'm like, it's time for bed.
(15:24):
What's your least favoritetrope?
Hmm.
I don't like fake dating.
Oh, I don't like those.
Or like fake engagements orlike.
I dunno why I'm not a fan ofthose.
I did not fan, like I reallyliked Meghan Quinn's.
Um, not so meet cute.
I liked, I don't think the wayit was wrote, written, written,
(15:47):
wrote, written, written,written.
Good God.
Um, but, um, it was one ofthose, it was like a fake me or
it was a fake fiance thing.
Yeah.
And I thought, oh, you can'tpull that off.
Like why?
I don't know.
Like that's not realistic.
Not that any of our fantasybooks are realistic, but my
brain can't wrap around that.
(16:08):
You can have elemental magic,but you can't be in a fake
relationship.
Plus like, I don't know why yougotta lie to everybody.
Why you gotta lie.
Well, clearly there's a reason.
It just nothing good's gonnacome of that.
Plus, I think they faked apregnancy in that book.
I was like, don't do that.
Like that's not before.
(16:30):
I don't know, just so, anyway,that's my least.
What's your favorite?
My favorite?
I feel like I honestly justdon't really have an absolute
favorite.
I do love enemies to lovers.
I love.
I do have a favorite.
I do, but it's very rare,especially in fantasy, is
(16:50):
friends to lovers, because Ifeel like that dynamic of
friendship, it is a lot deeper.
Mm-hmm.
Because they were friends first,and then they turned into like a
romantic relationship.
So I think that that's myfavorite.
Okay.
I hate that's a, that's a strongword.
Hate, like obviousmiscommunication.
(17:14):
Yeah, it is so annoying.
Frustrating.
It's annoying.
I feel like it's not as bad ifyou're only seeing one point of
view.
Like how in a court Authors andRoses, the first book was just
from Thea's point of view.
Yeah.
So it's like if there'smiscommunication, you don't know
the other side of themiscommunication, that's fine.
(17:34):
But when.
A third person point of viewstorytelling and you know, both
sides.
I just wanna like take bothcharacters and ring their necks
and be like, just sit down andtalk for three minutes and get
your egos outta the way.
So take your Barbies and matchlittle faces together.
But then I also realized therewould not be a book if they just
(17:56):
figured their shit out.
Talked it out.
Fair enough, fair enough.
Um, I'm also not a big fan ofthe one bed tropes.
No, I don't.
'cause I feel like that's alsonot realistic.
Like why are you gonna be in asituation where there's only one
bed, but also none of thesebooks you can take the couch are
realistic.
(18:19):
Like.
Obviously if they're sharing abed, 99% of the time,
something's gonna happen.
Like they're not gonna hold off.
Like that's, I don't know, like,come on people.
Yeah.
I like that enemy.
It's lovers because you get tosee the worst in the person.
Ooh.
And then fall in love with themthrough that, which I guess like
your friends do see, but like,when you don't like someone,
(18:41):
someone, and you're going outtathe, your way to like, I don't
know, burn their clothes off orwhatever, these things are in
these books, you know?
Okay.
Darius.
You know, you really, you,you're like, you know what?
I do love you, even though bye.
You're a heinous creature insidesometimes, which we all can be.
Oh yeah.
Those intrusive thoughts.
(19:01):
It's just Do you react on that?
I said that Jay wanted to dosomething this morning, and I
was like, no baby.
That's an intrusive thought.
We don't do that.
I've had to teach my child aboutthose.
Yeah.
Didn't know I'd have to teach a2-year-old that at this point.
But yeah, you can't listen tothose.
But it's good to know like otherpeople have them even at two
(19:23):
years old.
All right.
What was your, that's a goodpoint though.
Like how primal it is just tolike have these like crazy
thoughts that you're like, whoa.
And that's another reason I lovebooks'cause.
I was an only child.
So like you, I didn't have otherpeople to like relate to life
from my point of view, or atleast from my family dynamic.
So it made me feel very, I grewup with Mormons, like the
(19:44):
Mormon, all of my friends wereMormons, so they had like, I
didn't know that.
So in Vegas it's a huge, the LDSis a huge community, but, so
like I lived in a cul-de-sac andthere was like five kids in each
house, and I was gonna sayKohl's.
You said Kohl's.
A Kohl's like the store.
No.
A cult.
Oh no.
(20:04):
I do not think the LDS communityis a cult, nor did we live in
one.
We lived in a cul-de-sac andthere was a bunch of houses and
everyone except two other homeson in that cul, so there was
just so many kids and I waslike, wow, that must be really
cool to have like a team againstlife.
A shame.
I dunno.
It's weird being an only child.
It's like you and adult.
(20:25):
Like, I'm going home with Garyand Linda to have pork chops.
What are you doing tonight?
I, I was kind of brought up, Idon't wanna say as an only
child,'cause I do have twosiblings, but we had such a big
age gap that by the time I waslike 12 ish, my brother and my
sister had already moved out.
Yeah.
Like I had to deal with teenageyears alone.
(20:46):
Mm-hmm.
And that sucked.
That was not fun.
No.
So I get that.
And that's also when I startedlike really diving in and
reading.
Yeah.
That's like the whole Twilightseries and Twilight.
Really?
Mm-hmm.
No, there was a good meme aboutlike Twilight and now how like
we're into aar.
That's why I, I stopped withHarry Potter with the fantasy.
(21:07):
There was like other stuff.
No, but I read like The PrincessDiaries, I got, I read Nicholas
Sparks, I read Stephen King.
I really liked that.
Dean Koontz.
I liked weird.
Adult books'cause I hung outwith two adults all the time.
Makes sense.
Makes sense.
I get that.
Moby Dick was a favorite.
That's super weird.
I read that like at least twicea year.
That is weird.
(21:29):
I've never read it.
It's a really good story.
I can never read it.
Um.
If you were to describe your,describe yourself as a reader in
three words, what would it be?
Oh, my obsessive, sorry.
About strong start out the gate.
Um, I'm there for the plotpoints, like plot, like, I don't
(21:51):
know what that would be in oneword, but like, I'm not a
literary analysis.
AP bio is not, I mean, APEnglish is not my thing.
Mine either.
So if you're here for that,you're not gonna get it.
It'll be a different type oflearning analysis.
I just like don't, I don'tdunno.
Um, like when somebody, theytalked about the ies Yes.
(22:12):
The IES and T guitar and that.
Yeah.
And how that, because that's notyour point of view of something
or that is your point of view.
That's not someone describing, Idon't remember what she said,
but it was like the fact she.
Yeah, figured that out.
I was like, oh, we're not onthat level.
Sorry guys.
Um, but please stay because wehave good stuff for you.
(22:36):
I, um, no, I like Okay, soobsessive.
Yeah, I, I get very obsessive.
I'm there for the plot pointsand it describes me as a reader.
Mm-hmm.
Oh.
I dunno.
Come back to me, pat.
Okay, I'll tag in.
(22:59):
Um, I probably should havethought about this since this
was my question, so I haveabsolutely no idea.
Huh?
I think I'm also obsessive, butI was gonna say emotional.
Yeah.
Because I wholeheartedly willfeel everything.
As it's ugly cry, like, it'slike it's happening to me.
Mm-hmm.
Um, like when car, so one of myreally good friends, Caroline
(23:20):
wrote her first book, yoursAlways, and like the feelings
that she described because it isa closed door romance.
And I do think, and I had thisconversation with her, that with
closed door romance, you have toalmost describe that love even
more because you can't show itat like through.
Actions as much, if that makessense.
(23:40):
And so I just like felt thatbook wholeheartedly and I cried
like multiple times, which ithas to take me a lot to cry in a
book.
But I am very emotional becauseI am very empathetic or
sympathetic Empathetic.
Both you're both those things,but okay.
As a reader, emotional.
(24:01):
Noticeable.
I feel like, like I'll noticeand pick up on little things
that I don't think a lot ofpeople do.
I have a, I can really predictendings in most books.
Mm-hmm.
Even like, like with ZodiacAcademy, I had said something
and I was like, I know this isgonna happen.
(24:24):
I remember that.
15 books later.
But yeah, I'm just kidding.
That was wild.
And that's the thing with, it'ssuch a good series though, if
you're a Kindle reader versuslike a book reader, like you
don't realize what you'regetting yourself into half the
time.
Mm-hmm.
Because my books are this big,this.
Yeah.
That is very true.
The only time that's acceptable.
And then you also can't rememberthe book titles because it, or
(24:47):
the covers?
Yeah, it's just one like 3000page book.
Yeah.
Realistically, I think Kindledoes that.
When you buy the bundle, if youbuy like all the books, it says
like 9,000 pages.
Like The Thrown a Glass.
That happened to me with throwna glass.
That's why I couldn't tandemread.
No, no.
'cause mine's a bundle and Itandem.
Really?
Yeah.
(25:07):
If you haven't read Thrown aGlass, don't.
Read it without tandem readingfor Empire of Storms and Tower
of Dawn.
Mm-hmm.
They're consecutive stories, butone of them is from a
character's point of view thatlike, yeah, he's great and all
but like you don't want a wholebook of him at once without Alan
and what's going on there.
(25:28):
So, hint, hint, I did not tandemread.
Good.
Golly.
I felt like that was the longestmonth of my life in reading
years.
Yeah.
That was rough.
That was rough.
That was really rough.
I was like, I need to take abreak.
It was worth it, but so worthit.
But that was a long series.
I love Alin though.
(25:48):
Ugh.
Okay.
So emotional noticeable.
Hmm.
I don't know.
I'm a highlighter.
I like to highlight.
I don't, I need to start doingthat.
I highlight all kinds of.
Quotes and things and I typelittle notes in the Kindle.
(26:09):
I think I hate typing on theKindle and so that's why I know
they're not like coherent toother people, those notes.
That's why I have my bookjournal, so like I'll write it
down in here.
Um, I don't know.
Well my third one would be ISpy, I Spiral.
(26:30):
Mm-hmm.
I'm definitely emotional.
Just in it.
I'll do, I'll take the dogs on awalk and I'm listening to
audiobook sobbing.
Hope I don't pass anybody.
I love it.
Okay.
(26:52):
The, I feel like we alreadytalked about this, like your
biggest ick in stories.
I feel like that's with likeleast favorite trope.
Which we kind of already talkedabout.
I don't like when there's, yeah,I dunno.
Sometimes I feel like they putstuff in just to put stuff in
(27:14):
and I'm like, where was thatgoing?
And then they like change theirmind on the story.
Or maybe it's never heard ofagain or so.
Yeah.
Or like, and I like love spice.
I love spice, but I don't likewhen it can't flow into a story
when I'm like, I feel like thisis not working.
Yeah, like there's, if there'stoo much spice, I will, like, I
(27:36):
do love spice, but then.
Like, what was that series thatI did not finish?
'cause I was like, good golly,this is too much.
So it was a Peter Pan one.
Oh, the Never King.
That was the Never King.
I couldn't finish that.
That's got like 17 peppers onSpotify's audio books.
No, it's got the most though.
And I was like, that makessense.
(27:57):
That was one of my like firstintroductions into Spice Two and
I was like, you just really dovein headfirst.
What's in these books?
I was like, this was not in PetCemetery or Moby Dick.
You think this was not in withMoby Dick?
Maybe, but no.
And then, yeah, so that was, Icouldn't finish that.
No.
The lady, my aesthetician, whichI haven't seen in a hot minute,
(28:19):
but anyway, um, she like hadrecommended a Lucy Scorebook and
then I, you were like, oh, Iread her and I was like, there.
He's taking his books Penis.
There's like so much.
And I was like, whoa, I didn'tknow that.
Because a lot had happened fromwhen I was like younger and then
kind of stopped reading.
Yeah.
And then came back to reading.
So, but yeah, the Never King wasa lot.
(28:40):
I don't know, I love Peter Panbooks and I like, like I love
Hook and like they can be alittle spicy.
They get dark.
But yeah, that one was hooked ison Audible sale.
Oh.
Sorry, I just bought the specialedition.
It was so pretty.
It sits up on my shelf and wheneveryone walks in, they think,
'cause it's all foiled on thefront that it, it's a light up
book.
(29:00):
That's no.
I wish cool though.
Maybe it though.
Maybe with fairy dust magic.
That's funny.
Um, I like spice, but I will attimes, like if it does make me
uncomfortable, I'll just.
Like flip over the pages.
There's books that are spicejust for the sake of spice.
And I get that.
(29:20):
And then there's books that havelike a cool story.
And then I feel like the authorputs spice in just to like add
something.
Yeah.
'cause people want spice.
It'd be like if the inheritancegames had spice in it would be
the same.
It wouldn't sense.
Makes zero sense.
Yeah.
I can see that.
Also, they were children, sothat would make, they were like
18.
So I don't really need to behearing about sex scenes from 18
year olds.
(29:40):
No, no, no.
It's not my vibe.
But I like when they'reintertwined.
Yeah.
Like can they Well written itflows and I think that that is
why though I really love theSarah J Mass universe because I
feel like the plot and fantasyis the problem first and then
(30:01):
the spices added to it.
But it does fit because it'sadded in like because there is
those romance buildingrelationships too.
Yeah.
But she got better with spice.
I'll be, I'll be honest, I'llsay that.
I don't know if that'scontroversial.
Controversial or what?
No.
Throne Glass had no spice.
And then it like, which was herfirst series?
(30:23):
Yeah.
And then like, it got spicierwith aar, but I think Crescent
City had it beautifully put itand so it's almost like it,
she'd really evolved with it.
'cause even like aar the, likeher first book didn't, it was
like, it was like sexualtension, the whole book.
But yeah.
And there was some And thensword of cheating.
Yeah.
And then like cassian, theheadboard.
(30:46):
Put your hands on the headboard.
Yep.
I'll, I'll put them where youtell me too, sir.
But I love how she did CrescentCity, that was like very
beautifully put in the story.
And it was also like sexualtension, the first book too.
Yeah, it was.
There wasn't a lot of, whichmakes you feel all that.
Especially with those graphicaudios.
Whoa.
(31:07):
You're way more into Audiblethan I am trying to get.
When I was younger, I wouldlisten to the radio shows on
tape, like old radio shows fromback in the fifties again.
'cause I was raised with twoadults.
Their names weren't Gary andLinda, but we can call'em that.
It was Mike and Christine,Michael and Christine, Karen and
Linda.
Sounds funnier.
It does.
Listen, Linda.
(31:28):
But yeah, I would listen.
My mom bought me like a thing ofthem, like a cassettes.
I can see that.
I mean, my first like CDcollection was times the best of
1950s, 1950 to 1959.
I was eight.
I was eight, and then I had anElvis themed birthday party that
(31:50):
year.
So, well you did grow up inVegas so that there's any sense
of normalcy out the window.
My neighbor raised peacocks.
Before we moved into suburbia.
Dang.
That is hilarious.
That is so funny.
(32:10):
I'm seeing you in a whole newlight where your colorful
personality came from.
It was the peacocks.
Well, and the array, theassortment of Jamaican nannies
that I had while my mom and dadworked full time.
We had one lady live with usthat had a bird and she would
shower with it on her shoulder.
(32:31):
It's like that's looking back, Iwas like, what was happening?
Where were my parents working?
80 hour weeks.
Anyway, we're we're all talking.
I hope her mom doesn't listen tothis.
It was fun.
I mean, she knew well, clearly,or was she out work?
Didn't know.
I don't know.
(32:51):
Just got so off topic.
Sorry.
Um, all right.
Anything else about the podcast?
Welcome to Fictionally Unhinged.
It's only gonna get better fromhere.
Next week we'll do, I thinkwe're doing a book, so we're
mm-hmm.
We're gonna review The NeverList by Jade Presley, which was
our first Reverse Harem book.
(33:14):
A why choose which I did one,which is very spicy, FYI guys.
It's a real, real kick to thepants for the first one.
I know.
Real kick to the pants.
I think we're also gonna diveinto the, um, male main
characters a little bit.
Yes.
Yeah.
Like our overarching theme.
(33:36):
We're gonna really try to havethese themed out for you, but.
We're also just like flying bythe seat of our pants.
We just wanna talk about booksand life.
Yeah.
What are you currently reading?
We're both currently reading thesame thing.
It's a lot.
Oh yeah.
Never keep, I'm reading, neverKeep, and I'm listening to
Leather and Lurk, the second ofthe Blackbird and Butcher.
I'm not liking the listening ofthis one as much, but again,
(33:58):
it's the first one.
It's the same, like I said, withlights out and caught up.
So the first one was a rom-comand the second one is more of
like a dark romance.
Yeah.
I'm reading.
Never Keep Not, I was listeningto Butcher in Blackbird and I
was about five chapters in anddecided it is a do not finish
for me.
(34:19):
I, Hmm.
It's Stephen King and Lucy'sscore.
Like I get the, I get why youlike it.
Tell me how you really feelbecause of the comedy in it.
(34:41):
I get why you like it.
Um, but I can't, if you can makeme laugh all over.
Look so many things.
Exactly.
It's my red flag.
I think my book Red Flag.
I think you're, yeah, I thinkthat's accurate.
That's a very accuratestatement.
I.
(35:01):
I could not get past.
I think if I read it, itwould've been a lot easier, but
now I do just have a sour tastein my mouth about it because
listening to it and listening tothem describe, I kill people.
Yeah.
That's not ideal.
I was just like, no.
And then when she describedmaggots as orzo, I'm sorry, I
(35:23):
don't even listen to like truepod.
True, true pod.
True.
No, I'm not a big like.
I'm not either.
I used to like, like ID and thatstuff, but then I didn't wanna
fill my spirit with that.
But now I just read because it'scompletely made up.
It's not, yeah, somebody.
So I like that.
And I like that people, well, itgave me like Dexter vibes.
Yeah.
And I did love the show Dexter,but I don't know, there was just
(35:44):
something about listening to it.
And you talk about cutting upeyeballs, that trigger warning
list is long.
Maybe I'll just borrow the bookfrom you and, and actually read
it.
And not listen to it.
And then maybe this little Irishaccent was cute though.
Lemme tell you.
It was, and like I loved liketheir banter.
Mm-hmm.
And like the comedy part of it.
But I was like.
This is rough.
I'm like nursing my baby, tryingto put him to sleep, listening
(36:07):
in my headphones and I'm like,that might be, yeah.
It's like you don't wanna listento Quicksilver and do that.
I mean, I listened toQuicksilver when we drove back
from Ohio.
That kept me awake.
I was gonna say, were theyawake?
No, they weren't.
I had a air hot in.
Oh.
I was like, did he listen tothat?
No, I did just send him thevoice.
The, oh, for the new one sent?
(36:27):
No, the um.
Quicksilver where he is like,I'm gonna introduce you to Oh,
all seven gods.
I sent it to him and he waslike, I was like, yeah, that's
what I was listening to when wewere driving home from Ohio.
That's re sand's voice from thegraphic audio too.
Oh.
So like now some of those quotesfrom the books that you like in
(36:48):
that voice, like, oh, makessense.
That makes sense.
I get it.
I get it.
Yeah.
Um, we just went on tangent.
It's okay.
Oh yeah.
So we're both.
Reading The Never Keep RightNow, which is a spinoff, not a
spinoff, but same world ofZodiac Academy.
Um, it's a little differentthough.
It's, yeah, it is different.
It's rough, but apparentlyyou're not supposed to know
(37:10):
what's going on for the first.
10 chapters like it is supposedto confus So it's a book,
fantasy book.
Yeah.
It's supposed to confuse you.
And it, it's like there'ssupposed to be plot holes and,
and weird things that like theysay that don't make sense later.
I don't know.
I had to like not, I had to lookup spoiler free, like
background, good stuff.
Uh, that makes sense.
Just to help me.
So didn't know what was goingon.
(37:30):
Mm.
I was getting very confused.
I'm only a couple chapters in.
Mm-hmm.
I've just been busy.
That's okay.
That's, that's why I likeaudibles, but I can't start a
book with an audible.
I feel like I have to startreading it first and then I can
switch to the audible.
That makes sense.
(37:51):
Yeah.
I got my daughter.
So here's the thing, if yourkids don't like to read, I got
my daughter into it by readingand listening.
Just a fun fact.
The same thing, just to helpimmerse her a little more.
They do that with the Tony boxesfor the toddlers.
Cool.
I know.
I dunno what that but her littlebox that has like the characters
on it, but hers are all justlike music related right now.
(38:11):
That's cool.
She's in her Disney era.
She's in her other era.
Yeah.
My kid.
Through and through.
Okay.
What are we gonna, well thankyou so much for gang.
Oh.
Oh, I was gonna say, what elseare we gonna leave them with
until next time?
(38:31):
I don't know.
Put your phone down, quitscrolling.
Go read your book.
Go read your book.
Um, let us know.
Definitely send us like messageson Instagram.
If there's anything you reallywant us to dive into though,
like throughout the entirepodcast series, we have no plans
(38:51):
for how long this is gonna be.
Hopefully forever.
Just kidding.
It's in the cloud, so it isforever, but.
That was funny because I'mhilarious.
Just kidding.
Um, all right.
Until next time.
Welcome to Fictionally Unhinged.
(39:14):
We're the ones unhinged.
Welcome to Fictionally Unhinged,episode one.
We are so excited and nervous weshouldn't be.
All right.
Who are we?
I'm Marita.
What is up?
I, I don't know.
How much introduction do weneed?
Maybe I should let you go first.
What's your favorite genre?
(00:20):
Ooh, trope.
Um, I don't even know if I havea favorite.
Genre.
'cause I love books that don'thave smut, which I don't like
that word.
So we're just talking about thatSM sounds like a, it sounds like
a bodily fluids.
Imu.
I feel like it just sounds sonaughty, but like spice doesn't
sound so naughty, so I just feelso No, I feel like smut is like
(00:42):
a strip club, but like it soundslike it's filmy.
Yeah, like it's like dirty.
Yeah.
Seedy where spice is just like alittle jalapeno.
But it'll still be dirty, butnot like the icky.
Yeah.
Anyway.
No, so I love books that don'thave spice, but I, I like those
(01:04):
moments.
I mean, I'm sure everyone does,but when like you're like.
Oh my word.
This book just is not exactlywhat I was thinking it was.
'cause I love Freedom McFadden,when I was introduced to that, I
was just like, I've canceledmeetings to read her books.
I'm like, Nope, we're not,someone needs to get my child
from school.
I, she thinks outside of thebox.
Yeah.
Like, that's not, yeah, that'snot things that I would've ever
thought in a book.
So I, that's like, I love,that's why I really like the
(01:26):
inheritance game, even thoughthere was no like, there's like
love ish, but it's good.
Um, but I love, I mean, I lovefantasy.
I've always read fantasy.
I've read thrillers.
Those have been my, my maingo-to.
Yeah.
But your rom comms are your,those are your, that's like the
underlying premise.
Yeah.
Like when we need a break fromall of the brain work and
(01:47):
fantasy.
It's like when you go to aFanny, Fanny fancy restaurant.
And you get that mid, thatsorbet in between your palate
cleanser.
You're a moose.
You're a moose boosh.
Remember we went to thatrestaurant with Nicole for her
anniversary and I was like, oh,the little teeny plate came out
and Marissa's like, what isthis?
I was like, it's an A mooseboosh.
And the guy's like, everyoneenjoy.
(02:07):
You're a moose boosh.
And she's like, I thought youmade that up.
I was like, oh no.
Oh no.
It cleanses your ballot.
And those are the romcoms for me'cause I love them.
I love the hallmark, I love inthere.
They're easy.
They make me laugh.
They like make me feel likeeverything's gonna be okay.
And I like the ones that arelike the 30 somethings that are
starting over in life.
'cause I don't relate to, well,yeah, I don't relate to, I mean,
(02:29):
I do, but like I relate to a20-year-old doing things.
I like them because it's like.
Like when you re watch likefriends or the office, like you
already anticipate the ending.
So it doesn't give you anyanxiety.
It's the, um, what's the word?
The Your comfort show.
Yeah.
It's the comfort books.
(02:49):
Yeah.
But I read Nicholas Sparks whenI was younger.
I loved those.
And that's just, I never readNicholas Sparks.
It's just a non sty, a non s,non sy, spicy nothing.
Just a non, just a love story.
Closed door.
Yeah, that word, whatever,whatever those books are.
Child children's books.
(03:11):
All right, y'all.
I'm Christina.
My favorite genre is definitelylike romantic sea.
Like, I love fantasy, but it hasto have romance in it.
Like Oh, for fantasy books.
Yeah.
You can't.
Mm-hmm.
I love, love, like everythinghas to have love in it, but I do
(03:33):
love the romcoms, like samething.
What got me into'em?
Well, and so that's kind of whatsparked my reading as an adult
was Colleen Hoover was uglyLove, and then I gave it to you.
Mm-hmm.
I had read a couple of herbooks.
I think that's Everyone's like,you see'em on the beach'cause
they're easy to read.
Yeah.
Like that's like the beach book.
You know the, you know, it'sgoing to be a happy ending.
(03:56):
Non verity.
Oh, that book messed me up.
Highly recommend not reading itwhen you were pregnant.
Because I was pregnant.
I didn't know I was pregnant.
I didn't realize how emotional Iwas.
Um, so definitely romantic, butstill those like romance romcoms
(04:16):
definitely in between to give mybrain a ba break from all the
world building.
I do like the thrillers, but Ihave to be in the mood for them.
Like the silent patient was sucha good book.
Christina's a golden retriever,so.
Yeah, that's why like thethrillers, they are not mine.
I have to be in the mood for'em.
(04:37):
And usually around Halloween,like typical if I can't find any
rom-coms that are Halloweenpast.
Yeah.
No, but I love, I do, I love it.
I love the romance too.
I just love, love.
Okay.
How do we become friends?
Do you wanna tell the story?
You tell the story, you wannahear it?
(04:57):
From my point of view, I do.
I feel like we know it from mypoint of view.
I feel like mine's just like thevery generic.
So I moved to Florida when I was26 and I was a teacher, which
I'm no longer a teacher.
Um, so I was teaching, butteachers make crap.
(05:19):
So I also applied to work at arestaurant.
And so there was a bigrestaurant down here, um, called
Twisted Tuna.
It was on the water.
I had just moved here.
Um, and so I needed something tohelp pay the bills
realistically.
And so I started working atTwisted Tuna and met Marita.
(05:40):
Were you training me?
What, what probably did you, Itrained everybody.
You prob Yeah.
So you probably tr you trainedme and helped me take all those
tests because I could notmemorize the menu for the life
of me.
They stopped doing that after awhile.
It was unrealistic, but yeah.
So we met at a restaurant.
Yeah, it was eight years ago,but it was like friend love at
(06:02):
first sight.
Yeah, it was.
I was like, oh my.
It's like the, I don't know, theepitome of like, oh, there you
are.
I've been looking for you.
Because there was no like fadedmates, but with best friends
because there was no awkwardfades.
We just became friends and itwas just like, hi, here you are
(06:25):
at all times.
I was just saying, I think ourfriendship wholeheartedly like
the dynamic of our friendship.
That of Bryce and Danica fromCrescent City.
Like that power, friendship,like ride or die.
Yeah.
Which I pray every single personhas that one person in their
life.
Their friend, soulmate.
Yeah.
(06:46):
Like Mitch was like, he's like,are you never just not talking
to Marita?
And I was like, is that aserious question?
Why?
Why would we not talk to eachother?
Um, no, we talk all the time.
Okay.
Why, why did we start thepodcast?
(07:06):
Okay.
So, um, the amount ofunsolicited book advice I give
out to people is probablyunhealthy.
I'm like, Hey, do you read,like, I know you know how to
read, but do you read?
I mean, don't make assumptions,but I always give someone the
benefit of the doubt.
So anyway, so I just, we lovetalking about books.
We love books and I always say,I'm like, I love that.
(07:28):
I like to walk and.
Because my hobbies are verysedentary and not that of
someone who would have myhealthy lifestyle because
sitting and eating are like myother favorite things to do.
Um, reading and eating.
So we just, we're always talkingabout books.
We're always looking for books.
We like, we just love books andstories and worlds and
(07:50):
characters and, and Christinaone day was like, do you wanna.
A podcast.
Podcast and I don't listen topodcasts.
FYI.
So thank you everyone forlistening in because I do not
return a favor.
I love podcasts.
I do.
I don't listen to any bookpodcasts, but mostly'cause I
(08:13):
have it.
I don't know, I, not that Idon't like other people's
opinions on books, I justhaven't.
I have a, well, we find a lot onInstagram too and like book
talk.
I'm not on TikTok, but I thinkthat's where I've like,'cause I
listen to those kind of things.
Yeah.
And there's people I really loveand then I found a few of their
podcasts, but I don't know, mostof my podcasts are that I listen
(08:33):
to are like nutrition or like,get your freaking mind.
Right.
Good for you.
Because I don't like to readnonfiction, so I listen to it in
some capacity.
I dot neither.
So then no one can come from mefor the fact that I'm reading
spice all the time.
'cause don't you worry becauseI'm also fueling my brain too
mm-hmm.
In so many ways with good stuff.
(08:54):
And the best I'm well-rounded.
Um, yeah.
So I'm excited that we were, westarted this, especially because
thunder, let's set the spookyvibes.
Maybe I am in the mood for athriller.
Um, just because we go back andforth so much and with our voice
(09:16):
memos, I wish we like saved someof them, but there are so many
deep when I tell you like wetalk about everything and
anything, so like probably booksare like a qua, like three
quarters of our conversation.
The other two thirds are equallyas unhinged, just with other
areas.
(09:36):
I think books just, I mean, theyreally help you discover
yourself in a different way, ina nonjudgmental way to be like,
oh, there's other people thatthink these things, or there's
other, I don't know, ways torelate to life.
And it helps you not ah.
It just helps you see yourselffrom a different perspective,
which I think is very helpful.
In a non, they can betherapeutic in a non therapy
(09:59):
setting.
Yeah.
Oh, I get that.
And it just appeals to the soula bit more.
So it's, I like, I'll readbooks, I think things about
myself, and then I'm like,Christina, guess what?
I had a revelation.
And then it just spirals into somany things and that's, I dunno,
they bring you back to yourselfand we're here to share with
you.
(10:21):
Me too.
Hmm.
I had another question and Icompletely blanked on it.
I don't know, but, um, oh, okay.
Now we're gonna get into, well,so since we just talked about
what, what we're starting thepodcast, what you can expect
(10:42):
from us before we do some otherlittle.
Side topics.
Um, so basically just recaps,realizations.
There will be spoilers.
So I spoilers.
Yeah.
Like, I mean, to some extent,like you can't recap a book
without talking about it.
Yeah.
So you're gonna have to.
(11:04):
At some point we will be talkingabout Onyx Storm.
'cause that messed me up andthat was so good.
I cried to you.
Yeah, you did.
And I was like, I read it a fewmonths before, why you need to
read this book so I can mourn mysoul with you.
A huge series at that time.
That's a very toxic trait ofmine.
Like I get people into seriesthat are not finished.
(11:26):
Mm-hmm.
So when I suggest books toChristine and now she's like, is
it a finished series?
I'm like, well.
No, I don't know.
I don't like unfinished series.
There we go.
The cliff.
I have 1, 2, 3, 4.
I have like at least four orfive series in my bookshelf
(11:47):
right now that I refuse to read'cause the third book is coming
out later this year and I wantto read them all together.
I don't like having a break.
That's why completed series likehas my soul except for act
guitar.
Crescent City's theoreticallynot completed.
No, that's not.
But I had to, I had to startthat.
(12:08):
Yeah.
There's things, I love CrescentCity.
It's a beautiful story.
Ugh.
A story for the people who love,love.
I, yeah, but I don't think Bryceis going to end up with Hunt.
Because she never, they, they,yeah.
Sarah J Mass never has the, themain female character with the
(12:28):
first person that she beat.
We have a lose hunt because Ican't, well, like she did lose,
oh, I can't remember his name.
Sam, was it Sam Cortland?
Yeah.
What was his, I think that washis last name.
Now I can't think of that.
But Sam, I thought Sam was infront of class.
Oh, that's what I was thinkingof.
Yeah.
Yeah.
But now I can't remember.
Oh, and she lost, um, Connor.
Part of the pact.
Yeah.
Mm-hmm.
(12:49):
Um, see, I'll do the uncomplete,the Incomplete series, and then
I listen to audio book after, sothen I like really get it
instilled.
That's a good idea.
Audible's having a sale rightnow.
Are they?
Yeah, it's like 4 99, 5 99 and 699 for books.
Different books.
Yeah.
Not sponsored.
We just like audible.
(13:13):
Um, what else can we expect?
Bessy banter.
I had to ask Marita.
I was like, is banter a badthing?
Because you know how some peopleare like, oh yeah, there's a lot
of banter, like in the book andlike, sometimes I feel like it's
usually sarcastic or like in anegative, like,'cause it's a lot
of like enemies to lovers.
So that's why I thought bantermight offend a negative thing.
(13:36):
I don't think so.
Yeah.
I've never heard it in a, anegative light.
No.
Just us being us.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Um, analysis, spirals, tropes,theories.
What's your favorite Trope issuch a weird word.
Makes me think of the circus.
(13:58):
Um, I love enemies to lovers,but I like it where.
The guy really wants the girl.
Like that's why I like the RileyThorn series that I can't ever
stop talking about to people,um, by Lucy score.
And she has another one that Iwas just start reading the
other, so basically where thefemale main character is
(14:19):
A-B-I-T-T-H.
Yeah.
That was the story.
The life one too.
Like the, her new book, thatone, she was like.
More resistant.
She just wanted to like do herown thing.
Mm-hmm.
And live her life.
And he is like, no, I love you.
So we have a problem here.
And I, and I need you to rec it.
I just like when men are like,oh wow, I like her and like I
love her.
I should just pursue that ratherthan putting And they their
emotions.
Yeah.
Yeah.
(14:39):
That's my thought on that one.
Maybe.
'cause that's not real life.
No, I'm just kidding.
But, um, but I, I like that andI do like the grumpy sunshine
'cause that's.
My life.
Sorry.
No, sometimes he takes, I wasgonna say today I was the grump
and he was being very nice.
So, you know, after theyharassed you, they ate too much
(15:03):
sugar at the movies.
Went and saw F1 in two and ahalf hours of just candy and.
They couldn't leave me alone.
Like, I'm gonna get a seat awayfrom you guys next time.
Like, Doy mom, mom, mom, mommy,mom, mom.
Jay does that when I go to puther to bed.
I'm like, it's time for bed.
(15:24):
What's your least favoritetrope?
Hmm.
I don't like fake dating.
Oh, I don't like those.
Or like fake engagements orlike.
I dunno why I'm not a fan ofthose.
I did not fan, like I reallyliked Meghan Quinn's.
Um, not so meet cute.
I liked, I don't think the wayit was wrote, written, written,
(15:47):
wrote, written, written,written.
Good God.
Um, but, um, it was one ofthose, it was like a fake me or
it was a fake fiance thing.
Yeah.
And I thought, oh, you can'tpull that off.
Like why?
I don't know.
Like that's not realistic.
Not that any of our fantasybooks are realistic, but my
brain can't wrap around that.
(16:08):
You can have elemental magic,but you can't be in a fake
relationship.
Plus like, I don't know why yougotta lie to everybody.
Why you gotta lie.
Well, clearly there's a reason.
It just nothing good's gonnacome of that.
Plus, I think they faked apregnancy in that book.
I was like, don't do that.
Like that's not before.
(16:30):
I don't know, just so, anyway,that's my least.
What's your favorite?
My favorite?
I feel like I honestly justdon't really have an absolute
favorite.
I do love enemies to lovers.
I love.
I do have a favorite.
I do, but it's very rare,especially in fantasy, is
(16:50):
friends to lovers, because Ifeel like that dynamic of
friendship, it is a lot deeper.
Mm-hmm.
Because they were friends first,and then they turned into like a
romantic relationship.
So I think that that's myfavorite.
Okay.
I hate that's a, that's a strongword.
Hate, like obviousmiscommunication.
(17:14):
Yeah, it is so annoying.
Frustrating.
It's annoying.
I feel like it's not as bad ifyou're only seeing one point of
view.
Like how in a court Authors andRoses, the first book was just
from Thea's point of view.
Yeah.
So it's like if there'smiscommunication, you don't know
the other side of themiscommunication, that's fine.
(17:34):
But when.
A third person point of viewstorytelling and you know, both
sides.
I just wanna like take bothcharacters and ring their necks
and be like, just sit down andtalk for three minutes and get
your egos outta the way.
So take your Barbies and matchlittle faces together.
But then I also realized therewould not be a book if they just
(17:56):
figured their shit out.
Talked it out.
Fair enough, fair enough.
Um, I'm also not a big fan ofthe one bed tropes.
No, I don't.
'cause I feel like that's alsonot realistic.
Like why are you gonna be in asituation where there's only one
bed, but also none of thesebooks you can take the couch are
realistic.
(18:19):
Like.
Obviously if they're sharing abed, 99% of the time,
something's gonna happen.
Like they're not gonna hold off.
Like that's, I don't know, like,come on people.
Yeah.
I like that enemy.
It's lovers because you get tosee the worst in the person.
Ooh.
And then fall in love with themthrough that, which I guess like
your friends do see, but like,when you don't like someone,
(18:41):
someone, and you're going outtathe, your way to like, I don't
know, burn their clothes off orwhatever, these things are in
these books, you know?
Okay.
Darius.
You know, you really, you,you're like, you know what?
I do love you, even though bye.
You're a heinous creature insidesometimes, which we all can be.
Oh yeah.
Those intrusive thoughts.
(19:01):
It's just Do you react on that?
I said that Jay wanted to dosomething this morning, and I
was like, no baby.
That's an intrusive thought.
We don't do that.
I've had to teach my child aboutthose.
Yeah.
Didn't know I'd have to teach a2-year-old that at this point.
But yeah, you can't listen tothose.
But it's good to know like otherpeople have them even at two
(19:23):
years old.
All right.
What was your, that's a goodpoint though.
Like how primal it is just tolike have these like crazy
thoughts that you're like, whoa.
And that's another reason I lovebooks'cause.
I was an only child.
So like you, I didn't have otherpeople to like relate to life
from my point of view, or atleast from my family dynamic.
So it made me feel very, I grewup with Mormons, like the
(19:44):
Mormon, all of my friends wereMormons, so they had like, I
didn't know that.
So in Vegas it's a huge, the LDSis a huge community, but, so
like I lived in a cul-de-sac andthere was like five kids in each
house, and I was gonna sayKohl's.
You said Kohl's.
A Kohl's like the store.
No.
A cult.
Oh no.
(20:04):
I do not think the LDS communityis a cult, nor did we live in
one.
We lived in a cul-de-sac andthere was a bunch of houses and
everyone except two other homeson in that cul, so there was
just so many kids and I waslike, wow, that must be really
cool to have like a team againstlife.
A shame.
I dunno.
It's weird being an only child.
It's like you and adult.
(20:25):
Like, I'm going home with Garyand Linda to have pork chops.
What are you doing tonight?
I, I was kind of brought up, Idon't wanna say as an only
child,'cause I do have twosiblings, but we had such a big
age gap that by the time I waslike 12 ish, my brother and my
sister had already moved out.
Yeah.
Like I had to deal with teenageyears alone.
(20:46):
Mm-hmm.
And that sucked.
That was not fun.
No.
So I get that.
And that's also when I startedlike really diving in and
reading.
Yeah.
That's like the whole Twilightseries and Twilight.
Really?
Mm-hmm.
No, there was a good meme aboutlike Twilight and now how like
we're into aar.
That's why I, I stopped withHarry Potter with the fantasy.
(21:07):
There was like other stuff.
No, but I read like The PrincessDiaries, I got, I read Nicholas
Sparks, I read Stephen King.
I really liked that.
Dean Koontz.
I liked weird.
Adult books'cause I hung outwith two adults all the time.
Makes sense.
Makes sense.
I get that.
Moby Dick was a favorite.
That's super weird.
I read that like at least twicea year.
That is weird.
(21:29):
I've never read it.
It's a really good story.
I can never read it.
Um.
If you were to describe your,describe yourself as a reader in
three words, what would it be?
Oh, my obsessive, sorry.
About strong start out the gate.
Um, I'm there for the plotpoints, like plot, like, I don't
(21:51):
know what that would be in oneword, but like, I'm not a
literary analysis.
AP bio is not, I mean, APEnglish is not my thing.
Mine either.
So if you're here for that,you're not gonna get it.
It'll be a different type oflearning analysis.
I just like don't, I don'tdunno.
Um, like when somebody, theytalked about the ies Yes.
(22:12):
The IES and T guitar and that.
Yeah.
And how that, because that's notyour point of view of something
or that is your point of view.
That's not someone describing, Idon't remember what she said,
but it was like the fact she.
Yeah, figured that out.
I was like, oh, we're not onthat level.
Sorry guys.
Um, but please stay because wehave good stuff for you.
(22:36):
I, um, no, I like Okay, soobsessive.
Yeah, I, I get very obsessive.
I'm there for the plot pointsand it describes me as a reader.
Mm-hmm.
Oh.
I dunno.
Come back to me, pat.
Okay, I'll tag in.
(22:59):
Um, I probably should havethought about this since this
was my question, so I haveabsolutely no idea.
Huh?
I think I'm also obsessive, butI was gonna say emotional.
Yeah.
Because I wholeheartedly willfeel everything.
As it's ugly cry, like, it'slike it's happening to me.
Mm-hmm.
Um, like when car, so one of myreally good friends, Caroline
(23:20):
wrote her first book, yoursAlways, and like the feelings
that she described because it isa closed door romance.
And I do think, and I had thisconversation with her, that with
closed door romance, you have toalmost describe that love even
more because you can't show itat like through.
Actions as much, if that makessense.
(23:40):
And so I just like felt thatbook wholeheartedly and I cried
like multiple times, which ithas to take me a lot to cry in a
book.
But I am very emotional becauseI am very empathetic or
sympathetic Empathetic.
Both you're both those things,but okay.
As a reader, emotional.
(24:01):
Noticeable.
I feel like, like I'll noticeand pick up on little things
that I don't think a lot ofpeople do.
I have a, I can really predictendings in most books.
Mm-hmm.
Even like, like with ZodiacAcademy, I had said something
and I was like, I know this isgonna happen.
(24:24):
I remember that.
15 books later.
But yeah, I'm just kidding.
That was wild.
And that's the thing with, it'ssuch a good series though, if
you're a Kindle reader versuslike a book reader, like you
don't realize what you'regetting yourself into half the
time.
Mm-hmm.
Because my books are this big,this.
Yeah.
That is very true.
The only time that's acceptable.
And then you also can't rememberthe book titles because it, or
(24:47):
the covers?
Yeah, it's just one like 3000page book.
Yeah.
Realistically, I think Kindledoes that.
When you buy the bundle, if youbuy like all the books, it says
like 9,000 pages.
Like The Thrown a Glass.
That happened to me with throwna glass.
That's why I couldn't tandemread.
No, no.
'cause mine's a bundle and Itandem.
Really?
Yeah.
(25:07):
If you haven't read Thrown aGlass, don't.
Read it without tandem readingfor Empire of Storms and Tower
of Dawn.
Mm-hmm.
They're consecutive stories, butone of them is from a
character's point of view thatlike, yeah, he's great and all
but like you don't want a wholebook of him at once without Alan
and what's going on there.
(25:28):
So, hint, hint, I did not tandemread.
Good.
Golly.
I felt like that was the longestmonth of my life in reading
years.
Yeah.
That was rough.
That was rough.
That was really rough.
I was like, I need to take abreak.
It was worth it, but so worthit.
But that was a long series.
I love Alin though.
(25:48):
Ugh.
Okay.
So emotional noticeable.
Hmm.
I don't know.
I'm a highlighter.
I like to highlight.
I don't, I need to start doingthat.
I highlight all kinds of.
Quotes and things and I typelittle notes in the Kindle.
(26:09):
I think I hate typing on theKindle and so that's why I know
they're not like coherent toother people, those notes.
That's why I have my bookjournal, so like I'll write it
down in here.
Um, I don't know.
Well my third one would be ISpy, I Spiral.
(26:30):
Mm-hmm.
I'm definitely emotional.
Just in it.
I'll do, I'll take the dogs on awalk and I'm listening to
audiobook sobbing.
Hope I don't pass anybody.
I love it.
Okay.
(26:52):
The, I feel like we alreadytalked about this, like your
biggest ick in stories.
I feel like that's with likeleast favorite trope.
Which we kind of already talkedabout.
I don't like when there's, yeah,I dunno.
Sometimes I feel like they putstuff in just to put stuff in
(27:14):
and I'm like, where was thatgoing?
And then they like change theirmind on the story.
Or maybe it's never heard ofagain or so.
Yeah.
Or like, and I like love spice.
I love spice, but I don't likewhen it can't flow into a story
when I'm like, I feel like thisis not working.
Yeah, like there's, if there'stoo much spice, I will, like, I
(27:36):
do love spice, but then.
Like, what was that series thatI did not finish?
'cause I was like, good golly,this is too much.
So it was a Peter Pan one.
Oh, the Never King.
That was the Never King.
I couldn't finish that.
That's got like 17 peppers onSpotify's audio books.
No, it's got the most though.
And I was like, that makessense.
(27:57):
That was one of my like firstintroductions into Spice Two and
I was like, you just really dovein headfirst.
What's in these books?
I was like, this was not in PetCemetery or Moby Dick.
You think this was not in withMoby Dick?
Maybe, but no.
And then, yeah, so that was, Icouldn't finish that.
No.
The lady, my aesthetician, whichI haven't seen in a hot minute,
(28:19):
but anyway, um, she like hadrecommended a Lucy Scorebook and
then I, you were like, oh, Iread her and I was like, there.
He's taking his books Penis.
There's like so much.
And I was like, whoa, I didn'tknow that.
Because a lot had happened fromwhen I was like younger and then
kind of stopped reading.
Yeah.
And then came back to reading.
So, but yeah, the Never King wasa lot.
(28:40):
I don't know, I love Peter Panbooks and I like, like I love
Hook and like they can be alittle spicy.
They get dark.
But yeah, that one was hooked ison Audible sale.
Oh.
Sorry, I just bought the specialedition.
It was so pretty.
It sits up on my shelf and wheneveryone walks in, they think,
'cause it's all foiled on thefront that it, it's a light up
book.
(29:00):
That's no.
I wish cool though.
Maybe it though.
Maybe with fairy dust magic.
That's funny.
Um, I like spice, but I will attimes, like if it does make me
uncomfortable, I'll just.
Like flip over the pages.
There's books that are spicejust for the sake of spice.
And I get that.
(29:20):
And then there's books that havelike a cool story.
And then I feel like the authorputs spice in just to like add
something.
Yeah.
'cause people want spice.
It'd be like if the inheritancegames had spice in it would be
the same.
It wouldn't sense.
Makes zero sense.
Yeah.
I can see that.
Also, they were children, sothat would make, they were like
18.
So I don't really need to behearing about sex scenes from 18
year olds.
(29:40):
No, no, no.
It's not my vibe.
But I like when they'reintertwined.
Yeah.
Like can they Well written itflows and I think that that is
why though I really love theSarah J Mass universe because I
feel like the plot and fantasyis the problem first and then
(30:01):
the spices added to it.
But it does fit because it'sadded in like because there is
those romance buildingrelationships too.
Yeah.
But she got better with spice.
I'll be, I'll be honest, I'llsay that.
I don't know if that'scontroversial.
Controversial or what?
No.
Throne Glass had no spice.
And then it like, which was herfirst series?
(30:23):
Yeah.
And then like, it got spicierwith aar, but I think Crescent
City had it beautifully put itand so it's almost like it,
she'd really evolved with it.
'cause even like aar the, likeher first book didn't, it was
like, it was like sexualtension, the whole book.
But yeah.
And there was some And thensword of cheating.
Yeah.
And then like cassian, theheadboard.
(30:46):
Put your hands on the headboard.
Yep.
I'll, I'll put them where youtell me too, sir.
But I love how she did CrescentCity, that was like very
beautifully put in the story.
And it was also like sexualtension, the first book too.
Yeah, it was.
There wasn't a lot of, whichmakes you feel all that.
Especially with those graphicaudios.
Whoa.
(31:07):
You're way more into Audiblethan I am trying to get.
When I was younger, I wouldlisten to the radio shows on
tape, like old radio shows fromback in the fifties again.
'cause I was raised with twoadults.
Their names weren't Gary andLinda, but we can call'em that.
It was Mike and Christine,Michael and Christine, Karen and
Linda.
Sounds funnier.
It does.
Listen, Linda.
(31:28):
But yeah, I would listen.
My mom bought me like a thing ofthem, like a cassettes.
I can see that.
I mean, my first like CDcollection was times the best of
1950s, 1950 to 1959.
I was eight.
I was eight, and then I had anElvis themed birthday party that
(31:50):
year.
So, well you did grow up inVegas so that there's any sense
of normalcy out the window.
My neighbor raised peacocks.
Before we moved into suburbia.
Dang.
That is hilarious.
That is so funny.
(32:10):
I'm seeing you in a whole newlight where your colorful
personality came from.
It was the peacocks.
Well, and the array, theassortment of Jamaican nannies
that I had while my mom and dadworked full time.
We had one lady live with usthat had a bird and she would
shower with it on her shoulder.
(32:31):
It's like that's looking back, Iwas like, what was happening?
Where were my parents working?
80 hour weeks.
Anyway, we're we're all talking.
I hope her mom doesn't listen tothis.
It was fun.
I mean, she knew well, clearly,or was she out work?
Didn't know.
I don't know.
(32:51):
Just got so off topic.
Sorry.
Um, all right.
Anything else about the podcast?
Welcome to Fictionally Unhinged.
It's only gonna get better fromhere.
Next week we'll do, I thinkwe're doing a book, so we're
mm-hmm.
We're gonna review The NeverList by Jade Presley, which was
our first Reverse Harem book.
(33:14):
A why choose which I did one,which is very spicy, FYI guys.
It's a real, real kick to thepants for the first one.
I know.
Real kick to the pants.
I think we're also gonna diveinto the, um, male main
characters a little bit.
Yes.
Yeah.
Like our overarching theme.
(33:36):
We're gonna really try to havethese themed out for you, but.
We're also just like flying bythe seat of our pants.
We just wanna talk about booksand life.
Yeah.
What are you currently reading?
We're both currently reading thesame thing.
It's a lot.
Oh yeah.
Never keep, I'm reading, neverKeep, and I'm listening to
Leather and Lurk, the second ofthe Blackbird and Butcher.
I'm not liking the listening ofthis one as much, but again,
(33:58):
it's the first one.
It's the same, like I said, withlights out and caught up.
So the first one was a rom-comand the second one is more of
like a dark romance.
Yeah.
I'm reading.
Never Keep Not, I was listeningto Butcher in Blackbird and I
was about five chapters in anddecided it is a do not finish
for me.
(34:19):
I, Hmm.
It's Stephen King and Lucy'sscore.
Like I get the, I get why youlike it.
Tell me how you really feelbecause of the comedy in it.
(34:41):
I get why you like it.
Um, but I can't, if you can makeme laugh all over.
Look so many things.
Exactly.
It's my red flag.
I think my book Red Flag.
I think you're, yeah, I thinkthat's accurate.
That's a very accuratestatement.
I.
(35:01):
I could not get past.
I think if I read it, itwould've been a lot easier, but
now I do just have a sour tastein my mouth about it because
listening to it and listening tothem describe, I kill people.
Yeah.
That's not ideal.
I was just like, no.
And then when she describedmaggots as orzo, I'm sorry, I
(35:23):
don't even listen to like truepod.
True, true pod.
True.
No, I'm not a big like.
I'm not either.
I used to like, like ID and thatstuff, but then I didn't wanna
fill my spirit with that.
But now I just read because it'scompletely made up.
It's not, yeah, somebody.
So I like that.
And I like that people, well, itgave me like Dexter vibes.
Yeah.
And I did love the show Dexter,but I don't know, there was just
(35:44):
something about listening to it.
And you talk about cutting upeyeballs, that trigger warning
list is long.
Maybe I'll just borrow the bookfrom you and, and actually read
it.
And not listen to it.
And then maybe this little Irishaccent was cute though.
Lemme tell you.
It was, and like I loved liketheir banter.
Mm-hmm.
And like the comedy part of it.
But I was like.
This is rough.
I'm like nursing my baby, tryingto put him to sleep, listening
(36:07):
in my headphones and I'm like,that might be, yeah.
It's like you don't wanna listento Quicksilver and do that.
I mean, I listened toQuicksilver when we drove back
from Ohio.
That kept me awake.
I was gonna say, were theyawake?
No, they weren't.
I had a air hot in.
Oh.
I was like, did he listen tothat?
No, I did just send him thevoice.
The, oh, for the new one sent?
(36:27):
No, the um.
Quicksilver where he is like,I'm gonna introduce you to Oh,
all seven gods.
I sent it to him and he waslike, I was like, yeah, that's
what I was listening to when wewere driving home from Ohio.
That's re sand's voice from thegraphic audio too.
Oh.
So like now some of those quotesfrom the books that you like in
(36:48):
that voice, like, oh, makessense.
That makes sense.
I get it.
I get it.
Yeah.
Um, we just went on tangent.
It's okay.
Oh yeah.
So we're both.
Reading The Never Keep RightNow, which is a spinoff, not a
spinoff, but same world ofZodiac Academy.
Um, it's a little differentthough.
It's, yeah, it is different.
It's rough, but apparentlyyou're not supposed to know
(37:10):
what's going on for the first.
10 chapters like it is supposedto confus So it's a book,
fantasy book.
Yeah.
It's supposed to confuse you.
And it, it's like there'ssupposed to be plot holes and,
and weird things that like theysay that don't make sense later.
I don't know.
I had to like not, I had to lookup spoiler free, like
background, good stuff.
Uh, that makes sense.
Just to help me.
So didn't know what was goingon.
(37:30):
Mm.
I was getting very confused.
I'm only a couple chapters in.
Mm-hmm.
I've just been busy.
That's okay.
That's, that's why I likeaudibles, but I can't start a
book with an audible.
I feel like I have to startreading it first and then I can
switch to the audible.
That makes sense.
(37:51):
Yeah.
I got my daughter.
So here's the thing, if yourkids don't like to read, I got
my daughter into it by readingand listening.
Just a fun fact.
The same thing, just to helpimmerse her a little more.
They do that with the Tony boxesfor the toddlers.
Cool.
I know.
I dunno what that but her littlebox that has like the characters
on it, but hers are all justlike music related right now.
(38:11):
That's cool.
She's in her Disney era.
She's in her other era.
Yeah.
My kid.
Through and through.
Okay.
What are we gonna, well thankyou so much for gang.
Oh.
Oh, I was gonna say, what elseare we gonna leave them with
until next time?
(38:31):
I don't know.
Put your phone down, quitscrolling.
Go read your book.
Go read your book.
Um, let us know.
Definitely send us like messageson Instagram.
If there's anything you reallywant us to dive into though,
like throughout the entirepodcast series, we have no plans
(38:51):
for how long this is gonna be.
Hopefully forever.
Just kidding.
It's in the cloud, so it isforever, but.
That was funny because I'mhilarious.
Just kidding.
Um, all right.
Until next time.
Welcome to Fictionally Unhinged.
(39:14):
We're the ones unhinged.
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Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.