Reading & Ranting

Reading BookTok Books So You Don’t Have To Part 1

POV: you finally picked up that “FIVE STAR MUST READ” book you’ve seen all over BookTok, and it left you less than satisfied. Well you’re in luck, because today Karly & Mia settle in for a candid conversation separating the overhyped from the underrated. Brace yourselves as they share their unfiltered opinions on which viral reads deserve the hype and which ones might have missed the mark. But they’re not just critiquing—make sure you have your TBR handy for a trove of underhyped book recommendations that deserve more love. 
As summer swings into full gear, so do the pressures around body image. In today’s rant, Karly & Mia are tackling those tough moments when body confidence takes a hit. From the fear of wearing a bikini to bad body image days, they share their personal strategies and insights that help them feel their best in the summer. Just remember, everyone struggles with body image and you are not alone!

Eloise Bridgerton is So Real for Wanting Single Friends

Dearest Gentle Listeners, Karly & Mia are back with their thoughts on Bridgerton Season Three Part Two! To be honest, the girls feel like Part One was all foreplay, and Part Two offered no climax. Some of the most unexpected plot lines stuck with them (Michaela Stirling and Benedict’s random threesome) more than the main attraction of Polin itself. Eloise was once again the realest Bridgerton for wondering why the only thing girls can talk about is their prospects and impending engagements. 
With that being said, today’s rant is all about why you need single girlfriends. As Karly so eloquently puts it, we love our girl friends in relationships, but while they may support the cause, they do not understand trench warfare (AKA, life as a single girly). Whether you want to scheme men at the bar, find someone to drop everything for last-minute plans, or just need some good ol’ advice, single girl friendships are some of the most special and fun parts of singledom.

Hunger Games x Ozempic

Dystopian is so back baby. Karly & Mia’s jaws were on the floor when they heard the news that Suzanne Collins is dropping Sunrise on the Reaping, the fifth installment in the Hunger Games series. 
The girls can’t wait until March 2025, but until then they will have to be content with speculating every fan theory under the sun about the second Quarter Quell, starting with Haymitch’s family and backstory, Maysilee Donner, and for the love of god Suzanne please give us Tigris as a stylist in the games
Suzanne said the question of "real or not real" seems more pressing every single day, and we couldn’t agree more. In a surprise to no one, this past weekend the girls had an interesting encounter at a bar. The question of the hour: can a Harvard-educated man tell the difference between plastic surgery and natural boobs? You’re about to find out. 

Why We’re Gay For The SJM Girlies

Happy Pride Month! In the wise words of Chappell Roan, what we really need is a… femininomenon! And Sarah J. Maas consistently delivers. Today, Karly & Mia dive into their not so secret obsessions with the leading ladies, from Aelin’s sass to Bryce’s body-ody-ody, they break down why these badass ladies have captured their hearts (and fantasies).
Sticking to the theme, Karly & Mia break down the importance of exploring your sexuality, and Mia’s current status as a baby gay. 

Book Wars: Dystopian Edition

Today Karly & Mia are throwing it back to the 2010s YA Dystopian Fiction era and diving into the worlds of "Shatter Me" by Tahereh Mafi and "Uglies" by Scott Westerfeld. In this episode, they provide spoiler-free background insights into both captivating series, exploring the dystopian landscapes and compelling characters that have captured their 10-year old (and now 24-year old) imaginations. Join the girls as they pit these two beloved series against each other to determine which one reigns supreme.
 
Speaking of the 2010s, remember when we all downloaded instagram for the first time and followed anyone within a 10 mile radius? Karly & Mia recently hit a wall and unleashed an Instagram following purge. The girls are ready to rant about how to feel empowered to hit that unfollow button with no second thoughts. If you need any convincing to clear out your following, Karly seriously envisioned her villain arc movie montage and Mia was quite literally giggling and kicking her feet in the aftermath. But actually though, the endless scroll of perfection and supply of engagement pics is exhausting, and no one has time for that in 2024. Happy reading besties!

Dearest Gentle Reader, Bumble Fumbled

What’s that song playing in the background? Oh… no… it’s actually just the carriage scene with classical Pitbull in the background. Brace yourselves, ladies and gentlemen, as Mia & Karly are swooning over the Polin in the air. The girls were giggling and kicking their feet binge watching Bridgerton Season Three Part One, but fear Netflix must make haste to drop Part Two. But the true scandal (which we just know Lady Whistledown would have written about) is Bumble's latest campaign, which quite literally feels like it could be a relic from the Regency era. Being called a nun by a dating app was not on the 2024 bingo card, but here we are once again shaming women for their sex lives. Celibate or not, your favorite podcast hosts are just here to say that with our vibrators and our gals around us, we don’t see an issue. But thanks for asking Bumble!

What Makes a Five-Star Read and Our Biggest Flops

Have you ever wondered what makes a book a 5 star read? Although it varies from person to person (see also: “I didn’t say it was a GOOD book, I said I ENJOYED it”), the girls have some thoughts. 
Karly & Mia weigh the importance of character depth, world-building, romance tropes, pacing, and the rare book (or Dramione fanfic in Karly’s case) that is such an emotional rollercoaster we are left staring at the ceiling with a book hangover that lasts for days. 
Per usual, your favorite podcast co-hosts aren’t afraid to laugh at themselves. The girls share their most infamous flops including hitting on uninterested guys, a limbo competition gone wrong, and one terrible period horror story in Diplo’s bathroom (yes, really.)
If possible, please take a moment to rate and review our podcast wherever you’re listening! Happy reading besties!

Funny Story

Emily Henry has done it again folks! Join the girls as they dissect Funny Story, arguably their first 5-star read of 2024!
With forced proximity, friends to lovers, and fake dating tropes all packaged into a small-town whirlwind summer romance with a sexy Nick Miller coded tatted bartender, what’s not to like? While Karly & Mia haven’t experienced any of this IRL, Emily Henry’s writing is so good they truly felt like they lived in Waning Bay, Michigan.
But let’s be honest, what they have experienced is struggling with the fear of being unlovable, boyfriend sickness, and rediscovering yourself after a breakup. So sit back, relax, and dig into the world of Daphne and Miles with your favorite podcast cohosts.

Rules for Hot Girl Summer

While Karly & Mia’s relationship status has remained firmly single in the dating world, their relationship status with reading has taken a turn, and it’s complicated. 
 
Dare they say they have hit a Romantasy overload. The girls are ready to branch out a little, and you know they already have reads lined up. Plus, a little treat in the spirit of revisiting the 2010s era books… Mia shares an excerpt of her famous Gallagher Girls fanfiction with Karly for the first time ever. 
 
But most importantly, this couldn’t come at a better time as the girls are preparing for Hot Girl Summer. This summer we’re building rosters while prioritizing the girlies, all while sipping a spritz on a rooftop. So grab your SPF, craft your Nuuly orders, and enter your say yes mentality.

Psychoanalyzing Rhysand

It was all over when Karly & Mia realized Rhys is pronounced Reese, and therefore Rhysand is not, in fact, pronounced Rice-and. In this episode, Karly & Mia unravel the inner world of Rhysand from ACOTAR (A Court of Thorns and Roses) by Sarah J. Maas. From his initial introduction as a mysterious villain figure to his transformation into a beloved character, the girls put on their detective hats and break out the magnifying glass to explore Rhysand's complexities, decode his every move, and uncover his motivations.
As they delve into Rhysand's journey, Karly & Mia also take a moment for a mental health check-in. Winter blues? New therapist struggles? Join the club, girlies. But the good news is, you’re not alone!
Beware of spoilers for the entirety of the ACOTAR series in our reading section, and extra spoilers for House of Flame and Shadow from 13:46-17:30. Happy reading besties!