The Bookish Hour

Budapest Adventures and Summer Reading Escapes

• Jor & Fab • Season 2 • Episode 9

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Two booklovers reunite for a heartfelt conversation spanning European adventures and the surprising power of community reading. 

CATCH UP WITH US: it's been a minute and we are sorry!! (but also not really because life)

Budapest emerges as the unexpected star of the travel segment, with gorgeous thermal baths housed in Art Nouveau buildings and unlimited prosecco cruises along the Danube proving worthy of any travel bucket list. While the city's vast scale might seem intimidating, its walkable streets and convenient electric scooters make three days the perfect timeframe for soaking up its culture, architecture, and surprisingly safe nightlife.

The conversation shifts to a deeper exploration of how physical book clubs are creating meaningful connections in our increasingly digital world. As one host discovers the joy of a local "Beach Read and Bubbly" gathering, we're reminded of what sociologists call "third places" - those vital community spaces beyond home and work that foster authentic human connection. After years of pandemic isolation and virtual interaction, these in-person literary gatherings represent something profoundly important about our fundamental need for community.

Ready to find your own bookish community or add some page-turning summer reads to your collection? Join the conversation by rating, reviewing, and sharing your own book club experiences with us!

Cover Art by: Fabienne and Jordan
Contact email: thebookishhourpod@gmail.com
Intro/Outro music: Season Two: Ramaramaray by Aiyo via Epidemic Sound Season One: Sweet Psycho via TikTok’s Offical Sound Studio on Capcut
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Podcast: @thebookishhourpod
Fabienne: @oxonheart
Jordan: @sipsoffiction

Jordan:

welcome to the bookish hour with joran fob. Fantastic yeah, I was gonna be like, oh, maybe no recording what?

Fabienne:

no recording? Yes, yes, recording. No recording for us. Luckily, he did say recording, so we're good to go, we're good to go, ready for takeoff.

Jordan:

so I want to hear all about Budapest.

Fabienne:

Let's go, oh you know that song like get the fuck up, okay, let's go. Do you know that one Like that house song? Or like that hip hop, I don't even know what genre it is. It's like this girl just saying. It's like I'm turning to a. This doesn't make any sense to you. Wait, I'm gonna, can I? No, no, fuck this.

Jordan:

I'm wait, I'm gonna, can I? No, no, fuck this. I'm gonna talk about buddha fantastic, oh and fucking fantastic.

Fabienne:

Therefore, four whole days, which in hindsight, might have been a bit too enthusiastic, um, really yeah, because like halfway, like around lunchtime on sunday, uh we were like, okay, what are we going to do now? Because I had nothing like on the itinerary. I wanted to see that. And um, also, a few shops were like closed, because sunday is, you know, not everything is like 24, 7, like open and like um, so we were just like hanging out by the river, uh, just, I guess, enjoying the warm weather, and uh, yeah, but it was also just like, okay, we're just waiting until we get, we could get like to the airport. So I want to say, if you are going to is absolutely doable and I think it's also perfect amount of days, three whole days three whole days okay was I cut out, or did you just not hear?

Fabienne:

yeah no, you're cut off. Okay, well, we're just gonna see, uh where this goes and uh, otherwise, there's gonna be a lot editing in this episode. Have fun, gives me something to do. What if you leave and come back?

Jordan:

really what if you leave and come back real quick?

Fabienne:

okay, okay, wait, wait, do not leave without me, okay yeah, no, I'm just gonna.

Jordan:

I'll keep our listeners entertained while you leave and come back okay, perfect, bye here is some elevator music, elevator music, elevator music, elevator music. She's back everybody.

Fabienne:

I was about to ask.

Jordan:

Perfect, I know I could count on you. I should have just let you ask, and then it could have been like oh, you just know me so well.

Fabienne:

Honestly.

Jordan:

But then this way you don't have to edit it out, we just have elevator music nice, nice, you're welcome, um, I know.

Fabienne:

So, yes, three whole days is more than enough, okay, um, and if you want to have like a relaxed day of like, you know, packing your bags, checking out of the hotel or airbnb, whatever you're staying in, and just like go back to the airport, I'd recommend three and a half days. Perfect, because there's, it's a big city. I don't even I don't know if you look at cities in terms of how big they are by the population or just like in actual scale, like in terms of like you know how big it is in terms of like miles, um, but it's really fucking big, like huge. So, um, it has like all these different districts, um, and it's, it's ironically, even though it's so, regardless of it being so big, it is very walkable, wow, walkable. That sounds so strange if I say it like that you can walk.

Fabienne:

Just say city and it's good, but it has like all these scooter mobiles, like the scooter steps. Those are cool, those are cool, those are really fucking cool. I didn't take a picture or like a video of it, which I should have, because it just looks really fun, but it was, it was fantastic. If you're ever gonna come back, like to Europe and you're gonna do like a city trip, like throughout. Please, please, tackle Budapest as well, because it is.

Jordan:

Okay, but like. But if you're saying the city's so big, how did you? Was there just like not that much to do?

Fabienne:

they're just like not that much to do. Um, well, I mean, obviously you have, like your tourist reps, and some of them are actually like worth seeing. Um, I don't know. I this is actually a difficult question. I think, like, what do you do in a city? You just like wander about and just like go into, like weird alleys because you want to see the architecture, you want to see, you know, like, the little nooks and crannies of the city. Basically, um, so what we actually did do?

Fabienne:

We went to this old jugenstil slash, art nouveau like bath house which is technically in the middle of the city because it's like landlocked, right um hungary, and um, it only has this one biggest river flowing through the city, which is called the danube, if I'm correct. Um, so it doesn't have like I don't even know how to pronounce it, it's, you know it is what it is, um, but it doesn't, so it doesn't have like these huge lakes or like these huge, I don't know these waters like, uh, I guess, like connecticut has, uh, also, connecticut is like not landlocked. Obviously it has, like you know, the coastline, but, um, budapest doesn't have that, so you're trying to escape. You know hot temperatures in this bathhouse, but it was packed, it was like sardines, you know, like you, just everything was just like, but you know it was fun. The architecture, like I said, it was beautiful. I took so many great photos, if I do say so myself, ever so humbly.

Fabienne:

Um, the food was really good, like their. Their staple thing is like paprika, um, oh, and it's like very spicy, very like spiceful, like, as in, like very flavorful, flavorsome, but also really spicy, depending on like how mild or, you know, not mild, you want to have it. Um, really good. Um, I would have really loved to try like their staple dish too, like the. I think it's called goulash, it's like a meat type of.

Fabienne:

I think, if you look up, you're like, oh yeah, I know this. I feel like this is like a sausage type of meal, but you know, since I don't eat meat, I could not sausage type of meal. But you know, since I don't eat meat, I could not, um, but it smelled delicious because we went we did go to like a hungarian restaurant and it's and it, like they served it and just like the smell, it was oh so rich so did jay get it like.

Jordan:

Did he like it? Can you like?

Fabienne:

he didn't. He didn't get it. He did try one of those paprika dishes, uh, with a pasta, you know, sort of playing it safe, but really really nice. Um, we also did do this Prosecco tour, which I think you would have loved so much too. Like this was one of the girl, it really was. This was obviously like a tourist trap, but it was a good tourist trap and also worth your money.

Fabienne:

Um, so they have like all these cruise like ships on the river there and you know, like there's tons, basically you know there's tons. And I got on this app, on this app and it said, like, book your unlimited prosecco between brackets or apparel or beer, um tour, um, and you know, do your cruise on on the river. I'm like, oh, my god, you're gonna do this, we are going to do this, and it wasn't even like that expensive. Um, and they really sure, I kid you not they really took the unlimited part very seriously. I was not even like halfway through my glass and they're like can I refill this? Do you want to refill? Do you want to have a refill?

Fabienne:

that's amazing, I think uh that sounds like my kind of cruise honestly, and it was like the right prosecco too, like not too sweet, not too crisp, not too, you know, like too dry, just like. Right in the middle of everything, it was just fantastic. Um, it really was. It really was really was amazing. Um, but that was only on from like that was like an hour and a half, so we still like had to do dinner, but I was so drunk that day, so drunk the way that I could still like find one of those like scooter steps and, just like you know, swerve through the city. It was, uh was a miracle that I didn't hit anybody, but yeah, it was, it was just really good.

Fabienne:

And there were, like all these, uh, farmers markets, uh all these museums that we went to and also which I didn't even uh knew beforehand. Apparently, you know, like we went this weekend, but on saturday they had this night of the museums thing going on, so you could just like get your all, like your all entry ticket, like your all admissions ticket, for like only like seven and a half euros, which is technically seven and a half bucks. And then there were all these museums that you could go to. Like it was a castle, uh, which was transformed into like an art gallery. There was, um, a modern type of museum, the not like the natural history type of museum, and there was also some other palace which was like on the other side of the city that we actually didn't go to because it was fairly late too this was after dinner, um but yeah, I would highly recommend it like it feels also safe. This was actually funny too, too. I say, actually, by the way, a lot Doesn't matter.

Fabienne:

This was very interesting, though, because Yerun was actually the one who said do you notice how quiet it is on the street like late at night? I mean, it was like, you know, like bruising I don't think that's the right expression, but it was like it was. You know, there were a lot like buzzing buzzing is the one. It was like buzzing with people on the street, but it was like a very nice relaxed vibe, like some people were like skating, some people were, I don't know like whatever people do on like fucking squares, though, but it was. It was like it. It didn't make you feel, as a woman, specifically like unsafe.

Fabienne:

I he said, I think if you walked here like around at like 1 30 in the morning and everyone was like still doing this because you know it's a saturday and apparently, like people go out heavily in on the weekends there as well, because there are a lot of clubs, um, you could just walk back home where dark alleyways, no danger, that's. So, yeah, I think it's a. It's a really safe city for women too, also for like solo travelers, um, but also just for, like you know, like a bff city trip, like with your partner, um anniversary trip, you know, in my case, uh, it was really really lovely. Yeah, yeah so when?

Jordan:

when were you there from like Thursday to Monday or Thursday to Tuesday?

Fabienne:

No Thursday to Sunday. Yeah, oh, okay, okay, yeah, I feel like those are actually a pretty, pretty nice days too, like especially like you know, when you go to the city you want to have like some things to do in the evenings too. And Thursdays are like basically, you know, it's Friday Eve, if that makes sense, and then Friday, obviously, and then saturday and sunday is always like nice with brunches. So I feel like those four days are always pretty nice.

Fabienne:

Yeah, yeah, to go, agreed yeah, uh, agreed, yeah, but I would definitely recommend it yeah okay, okay, adding it to the travel list.

Jordan:

Yeah, that's, it's getting longer. Now right, I know, just longer and longer and places are getting farther and farther, unfortunately.

Fabienne:

Unfortunately. Well, it feels actually like you're pretty close to me right now because you know why Trump is in the Netherlands.

Jordan:

Really.

Fabienne:

Yeah, yeah for the NATO or something, something like. They have this big ass meeting with you know, world leaders. It's happening in the hague gosh, yeah so, but I'm not there I want to be there, yeah would have been way more important to anyways, I mean I know would have been way cooler like it's me obviously, obviously, um, but wait, tell me, tell me about things that's been happening, like that's been happening. That sounded really drastic. Tell me something that uh happened, or you know you history? Tell me me history.

Jordan:

I feel like I got nothing. Oh, literally, I don't even know. I feel like, yeah, I don't think I've had anything.

Fabienne:

I do have no oh, I sometimes forget you like to. Actually, they just like jot them down just to make note of it, like during the podcast. That is adorable well.

Jordan:

So like I should have done that, I should have done that. I actually didn't do that, but I was looking at my calendar being like, okay, can I see anything? Oh, did I do anything? Cool? Oh wait, so I my okay. So I feel, like I've told you this before, like I'm in the beach, read and bubbly's like book club, but in rhode island. So it's like like an hour away, which isn't like horrible, but it's like not the best. Well, she opened up more rooms and they opened.

Jordan:

She opened up an eastern connecticut one which is where I am and I told one of my oldest friends about it and she joined her stepsister that she like actually really likes joined.

Jordan:

And we met another person that's like in the same town as us and that first book club happened last week and it was so much fun. So much fun Because you know how, like, as you get older, like life happens, like I, my oldest friend, I like to we don't get to to see each other that often, but like I've known her since like third grade, like we've been friends forever, but just like we could I don't know like we just didn't hang out. We don't hang out as much anymore. But now, like this book club happens, it's going to be like once a month and we already have like our next meeting like set, but I'm so excited it finally happened. Plus, it's like in my town, so it's like we met like outside of town but it was like a 20 minute drive versus like an hour or something you know. So it's like it was just like so nice and I feel like that's my like one exciting thing that is honey.

Fabienne:

That that is exciting. Also you get to see your best friend like way more often. Also you get to talk about books. I mean, what's not to love, you know?

Jordan:

oh, and it's like small too. So like the one in rhode island, which all the girls are super nice there, but there's like 10 to 13 of us. So like I don't really say much during those like meetings because, or the like hanging out because it's just like there's too many and we have side conversations and I'll like talk during that, but like this was so nice because it was only four of us and then as it grows, like at least like I will know everybody you know, like as like as they come it will be like slow introductions, like I still don't even know like half the people's names in the rhode island.

Fabienne:

One I'm like uh, but they're like people your age, like they're women, they're women right.

Jordan:

They're all women but like some of them are like they, I think they range from like 20s to like 40s.

Fabienne:

So like all around our age. Yeah, oh, that's actually pretty nice to have like such a diverse group too, right?

Jordan:

Right, but I'm just like so excited about this like southeastern connecticut one, because I feel like it's closer, we can do like more things. It's smaller so we can all chat and then, yeah, as it gets bigger, I'm only like learning like new people, like once at a time, yeah, instead of like 10 to 13 people at once yeah, yeah, you kind of can.

Fabienne:

You know, you sort of like disappear, not you specifically, but like in a group like that big too, and then you actually have to, you know, participate. You feel like sometimes you disappear in a group that big, um, so it's nicer to have like a more intimate group where you actually, you know, like pull out of your shell to actually partake. So, yeah, I guess that's nice. What, what? What is the book that you're reading now for that book club?

Jordan:

Okay. So actually we did the whole. We're not going to read this, this, this. So everybody wrote something down, but since it was only four of us, but like mine one, so like I've been trying to go through my physical TBR so I wrote down a book that I had but haven't read, so wild love by Elsie Silver one.

Fabienne:

So that's like our July book of the month, but I'm like it is so nice I'm I'm kind of like envious I guess is the right term that you have a book club, like physically, that you go to. That is so fun I know like I.

Jordan:

So I loved like the whole idea of it and I really wanted one. So I tried to make I. So I loved like the whole idea of it and I really wanted one. So I tried to be like michelle obama's like memoir, you know, and I like beach read and bubbly because, like I think everybody that goes to follow her they're they're people that like smutty books, they're people that like thrillers, they're people that like the literary fiction.

Jordan:

So it's like, and I think that we're not gonna read is great, because then everybody can put a book in and you feel like you have input. But then it's like whatever book is picked is like the one we read. But like knowing that every person there likes a spicy book is nice because it's like, and then, like I think everybody put down like a summer vibe book, which was great. So it's like I don't know like I really like it and I like that this one's also closer and I don't know like I feel like I just I've always wanted a book club. I just wanted a book club that I could go see, like even if all my friends joined it, but I just wanted one where it's like, okay, we're held accountable, like we're meeting once a month.

Jordan:

We're gonna talk about this book and we're also just gonna talk and then we'll decide the next book, the next meeting, and then it just like because I feel like once a month is an easy commitment oh it is right, yeah, and so it's like to stick to too exactly, and I think like, and I'm so excited to be able to like see this friend too, like once a month, where I normally don't get to see her that often. So I'm like so excited, I'm glad you can.

Fabienne:

Yeah, it feels like, I think, the reason why I guess then you and I, specifically in this case, love book clubs, like physical book clubs. So much is that. Also, have you heard about, um, I guess, the concept of third places? Have you ever heard of that? No, so, back in the 90s, in the 80s, like the, the zeros and whatnot, before, internet was like such a hit, basically like especially before social media, because everything happens online now, right, like you had like you had like your online chat rooms and like your forums and everything.

Fabienne:

But back in the day you used to go like outside to meet up with people, to hang out with people, to just like socialize. Third places could be like it's like outside of house and outside of like your workspace. So it was like after school it was hanging out on like the parking lot with kids where you would play basketball. You know, as a weird example, it's you going to your friend's house on your bike. It's hanging out in front of the supermarket. It's going to just like the park.

Fabienne:

It's meeting up with people in cafes and like bookstores, maybe even as an example here, it's where you would actually meet people outside to go to a place, and I think people I've seen this on, ironically, I've seen it on Instagram but people commenting on how the world is going socially, how the world is going to like such, you know, it's going spiraling downwards, basically because we don't have these third places as much as any, like as we used to. Um, and I think now the I guess up march is maybe not the right word of describing it, but like the march of, like you know, the upcoming of physical book clubs, you know people actually coming together to parks to meet up again is it's what gonna saves us in the end between air quotes, um, no, and I kind of agree with that because I feel like, especially like with COVID, which I totally understand.

Jordan:

With COVID, I think it's really cool that, like a bunch of people met through Bookstagram and BookTok and they started these like online Zoom book clubs, which I think was very nice in those settings where you can still get the interaction with somebody else, when we couldn't leave and we couldn't go to these places because everything was closed. But and I know there's so many people that do virtual book clubs, which is so nice and so cool. But, like I was, I wanted that getting out of the house, I wanted that third place, that third like spot to go to. So it's so nice, like I love that this Beach Read and Bubbly started this like book club and people like go and like follow and it's. It's interesting too because, like I think, especially for southeastern Connecticut, I think there's about 15 people in the Geneva chat room for it, but only four of us showed up. So it's like I feel like a lot of people.

Jordan:

I think sometimes, too, it was like this was our first one ever people. I think sometimes, too, it was like this was our first one ever, like I can understand, maybe not everybody going to it, totally fine, but like, I think it's like it's great for the people that want to get out and like they don't want to, like I almost I feel like now, because of like I think I agree with you, like everybody was, it was going downhill. Not downhill, but like going through virtually everything with chat rooms. Like you're saying that I think, especially after having locked down, a lot of people want that in-person physical interaction, and so it's like doing these book clubs again. I feel like like is great and it's like maybe I should start looking for a book club too. You totally should, I bet you. I'm. I'm curious if a Beach Read and Bubbly actually already has an Amsterdam one, not saying that you need to join hers, but like oh, man, I could.

Fabienne:

I mean if like the platform is there not?

Jordan:

yeah yeah, I'm gonna look really quick because like I, that's okay because she has like there's a uk one, there's an australia one, but those are like clearly like the big cities, because mostly in yeah sure, let me just book a ticket quickly to australia and go to a book club.

Fabienne:

I know super quick. Honestly, honestly, if I generally had the chance and I had the money to spend on it right now, I would splurge on a fucking ticket and just go to the connecticut one oh, yes, please oh yeah, no, there's like a no, there's a bunch of um canada then there, but there's dublin, ireland, germany, france, mexico, australia, scotland and vienna.

Jordan:

Wow, she's like international girls going places, literally yes, well, and the thing is too like there's actually two book club rooms now because she's gotten so big in geneva only allows for so many rooms. Yeah, but like, the thing is kind of cool, like you just go like, and that's how I started. My Southeastern Connecticut is basically um, I asked her to create a Southeastern Connecticut chat room and then everybody in Southeastern connecticut could go join it and that's how we like created it and I think members yeah, there's literally 15 of us in this chat, in this like southeastern connecticut now grant granted not clearly not everybody like it's so easy to just join and then you just don't do anything, but it's like cool, that, like it's a possibility, that like you can, I don't know.

Jordan:

Yeah, I think you should totally join one in Amsterdam if you can and want to Highly recommend. Well, I definitely want to.

Fabienne:

I feel like maybe sometimes I might be Okay, hypothetically speaking, if I were to join one. I think I might be too awkward for one as well. I don't know why. I think that because I could actually be really outgoing and I could just, like you know, overcome myself in that sense. But sometimes I'm like what if? What if I am? What if I don't like the people? What if I don't like the book? What if I don't like the space where it is happening.

Jordan:

I feel like I'm going to be. I would be so awkward. How, how was like the? How was the first physical meeting for you? Like how, oh my god, so fucking intimidating nick actually came with me because he's like I don't know these people.

Jordan:

So he, literally, we met at a restaurant, which is nice because we met at a restaurant, so you eat, so I think. And when there's more than one other person, when you don't know them, I feel like it's less intimidating because you don't have to talk all the time, which is helpful for me, like when I have to be on. That's what stresses me and tires me out. But, like, if you have at least three people, I think it makes a difference. At least three, but more is better. But like, we literally met at a restaurant. Nick sat at the bar because he was like I don't know these people.

Fabienne:

He, like, sat at the bar because he was like I don't know these people. He like sat at the bar and he had like a drink, adorable actually, right. But then I felt sorry but then he was there.

Jordan:

We were there for like two hours so he like I felt bad but I didn't know it was gonna be like a two-hour thing.

Jordan:

I thought it was just gonna be like an hour but and then it like but it was nice too in the sense that like there were so many girls there that I didn't I think I said like a total of like 10 words that first meeting, because I also was right I was like shy and I didn't know what to say. And I think too, like once you start knowing the, the people, you're asking more about their like everyday lives and maybe the book was like 50% of the time, but then the other 50% it was just like everybody catching up because they haven't seen each other in a week where this Southeastern Connecticut one was really nice because it was basically all book talk, because we didn't know like everybody well, it was, you know. So it was like nice in that way that it was mostly like, and, granted, like 50 was probably the book we picked, but then the other 50 was just chatting about other books in general. So it was still focused on books, but that was like kind of nice, because then I think, as we start to get to know everybody, then it will be like oh so, like how we heard we knew that you were out of town for work this week.

Jordan:

Like how was it? You know what I mean.

Jordan:

Or like how's your family doing, actually engaging with these people, yeah yeah, but I do have to say it like makes a difference when there's just more than one other person. If you don't like know them, no, I get that.

Fabienne:

So you don't have to be like, uh, oh, the way you put it. Actually, you don't like know them. No, I get that. So you don't have to be like, uh, oh, the way you put it. Actually you don't have to like be on all the time. Yeah, so now you're reading, then wild Hi.

Jordan:

Side Love, wild love. They haven't. You were close, you were close. You're behind schedule, girl. Well, technically it's not until the end of Jan, july, january, end of July, yeah but well along those lines. What are you currently reading?

Fabienne:

I am currently going through a summer reads type of TBR that I saw Genesis actually put online. Genesis Subways from Chapters. Ever since I read Hayley Christ, Allie Hazelwood's problematic summer romance, I'm like I need the summer vibes, I need the contemporary sweet romances. So, yeah, I am now reading, and because I am so bad with titles, because I literally picked it up this morning, something, something. And Dante I think it's called Lizzie Lissy and Dante by Mary Bly.

Fabienne:

Do you know? Do you know this? Um, I don't know the blurb. I just looked at the cover. It was like, wow, if this does scream like Italy, I don't know what does. I'm going to send you a screenshot real quick. Okay, Wait, yeah, Like I need to see it now. You know, like, when you think of Italy and like the coast and like the, you know, like those summer shots, like on Pinterest, you imagine like these huge town, like not huge, but like these huge rocks, and then like a town is basically like superimposed on those rocks, basically like the town is like in, like on the. This is. I can't explain for shit, can I? No, I can't wait, I'll show it.

Jordan:

I'll show you just a picture okay, I feel like I need to.

Fabienne:

I need to see yeah, okay, this one, um, I'm not even sure if it like came out recently, yes or no, but I just saw the picture and I was like, oh yeah yeah, this is it. This is hitting the spot yeah, but like the cover is so good, I oh wait I'm kind of obsessed, right. This cover is amazing um, but it is a contemporary romance, so so you know summer and Italy. So I was like fuck, yes, I'm going to do this, Sorry me too, Well, because I saw, sorry, you go.

Fabienne:

No, no, no you go. How far are you? No, you go.

Jordan:

No, because this.

Fabienne:

How far am I? Well, like I said literally this morning, so two pages, I like it.

Jordan:

I like it. I can't say anything about it yet because I was going to say you just finished like Carly Fortuna's. Yes, that was my last read.

Fabienne:

Yes, I have been obsessed with her writing ever since. I read One Golden Summer when I went to Dublin. Her writing is just quick, it's witty.

Jordan:

It's actually pretty similar to Allie Henselwood so I know that you're gonna love it. I want to read one golden summer so freaking badly, so freaking badly and I need to read it.

Fabienne:

It's like it's it's fantastic and like I love her covers too, like pretty. I don't know what is up with. I feel like there is a theme going on here, like there is a lot of handwritten fonts, or like are you tired, Jordan? Are you or are you just bored of me? No, I could never be bored of you. What was it gone for? I don't know it.

Jordan:

Just it came out all of a sudden, and I was. I couldn't stop it. There was no stopping it.

Fabienne:

Back, stopping it. Um. Back to the book. No kidding, but this one was actually so good, so good. And remember when I texted you like how I love her books because of slow burn, there's like yearning and and then this book happened right away, it's all that. But it also like they bang a lot, like in every single flashback, but it's, but it's very tastefully written. It's not like, oh, his dick went inside of her, you know.

Jordan:

It's like not like the dark type of smut, it's just like I don't know why I'm picturing that when you like said that, but I was like trying to get the audio to pick that up.

Fabienne:

Yeah, yes, uh-huh, I can't, I have to hold my mic like yes but it's so good and also the man are fucking swoon worthy. I, oh yeah, love that this. A no-brainer five stars Really. Yeah, yeah, want to go in the summer. A no-brainer five stars too, I did. I also read Meet Me at the Lake.

Jordan:

I heard that one's not good. I heard a lot of people did not like that one.

Fabienne:

Oh okay, no, no no, they are onto something those people Cause. I liked it but you didn't love it. Okay, wait, let me rephrase that, because the leg is maybe too strong to work too. I uh, finished it was. It was an okay book. You read it. I'm not mad that I read it. I, I, I even went as far to actually finish the book like I did not dnf it, which is also like did she know? It's a milestone for me anyways, nowadays, but every time I like it what about that one?

Fabienne:

I haven't read that one yet I haven't read that one yet. I heard that one's like yeah but you can read those basically in no order, because they're all. They're not like yeah, yeah, maybe, maybe actually that one, okay, so here's the thing. So I read one golden summer, first, yeah, and then I actually I, I did read the Acknowledgement, I don't know what was happening to me.

Fabienne:

So I know I know Huge, you know huge thing. But then I read Every Summer After where this other couple who makes a presence in One Golden Summer, like oh fuck, did I read this all backwards again? Did I start with like like book number two in a series of whatever? Um, but I think actually like everything can just like be read like separately.

Jordan:

there's no interconnectedness, no, okay okay cool, because I'm gonna start with one golden summer, because that's a book club pick for the other book club so, so, so good, so good.

Fabienne:

And then this one too, please, so good and I want to read every summer. After I think I just need to buy them all maybe you don't necessarily need to buy meet me at the lake. Maybe you can just like kindle unlimited, that one, but the okay, the covers are pretty okay.

Jordan:

So maybe if you want to have the question and that one's really pink girl, that one's pink, and I think I'm in, like, my pink era, even though I'm not wearing any pink whatsoever.

Fabienne:

No, but your candle like your cover and then your mug.

Jordan:

I know like. I think I'm just like I want to be. I was never a pink girly, or like my glitter girly, and I'm now trying to be. Question Answer.

Fabienne:

Hopefully, when you were a kid, were you like a girly girl or like somewhere in between girl, not necessarily tomboy not necessarily girly pop, like leaning towards a tomboy.

Jordan:

Yes, so now I'm like making up for lost time. Give me the fucking glitter, give me the pink. My favorite color is still blue. But like, give me the pink, give me the sparkles, give me yeah, that, yeah, honestly same.

Fabienne:

I feel like I feel like this is maybe like a universal thing, because see a lot of other girls like do that too. Like you know, I wear a little bit more. You know jewelry too. I started wearing like eyeliner sometimes, which my fortune, but pretty with it I paint my nails like you know, I'm getting my nails done all the time.

Jordan:

I'm like I was never here for it, though I wear like lace skirts, Jordan, for Christ's sake. I love it, lace, lace, I loves it.

Fabienne:

So, yeah, you get the girl, you get that pink cover, you get that pink cover.

Jordan:

Thank you, thank you, I will. Maybe I'll make a reel out of it. Let's pick up. Well, maybe I should read one of her books and then be like loved it. Let me go get everything.

Fabienne:

I'm going to get it in every color like your cats.

Jordan:

Yes, I like it, so I get another color. I like it, so I get another color. Okay, but I want to talk about mine. I'm reading because I feel like I can go real deep. I'm currently reading the Windy City series and I am loving it so much.

Jordan:

Windy City series, and I am loving it so much and I understand the hype of like why the series gets so much hype, because it's like a fun, like romance, but it's also pretty deep, like each thing has. Each book has like something pretty heavy in it, like for whatever it could be. So like I started Mile High and I was like obsessed, and then I read the Right Move and, oh my God, ryan Shay is like on top, love him, love me, like a man, and his quiet love Caught Up. Okay, not my fave, which I just finished last night, but I think so.

Jordan:

Oh, what's also great about this is it's a sports romance, but you know how, like normally sports romances, it's usually like a team, so it's all like one team, but it's usually one sport and they make their way through like each player and it could be like this group of friends on like a hockey team. You know what I'm saying yeah, yeah, yeah, a lot of them tend to be this. What's so cool about this is it's the windy city City, so they're all Chicago teams, but like the first one's hockey, the second one is basketball, but they're all Chicago-based teams. The third one is baseball and then the fourth one is also baseball and then I think the fifth one goes back to hockey. But I like that. They're all different teams, but they're all different teams, but they're all like Chicago based teams.

Fabienne:

So anyway right.

Jordan:

So the third one caught up is Kai Rhodes, which he's a pitcher on, like the Chicago baseball team, whatever it's called, but I don't love that. I couldn't Okay. So like wait, why don't you love it?

Fabienne:

Like, you don't like the sports, or you don't like that he's a pitcher you gotta hold on, hold on.

Jordan:

So, okay, holding on deep picture. She like described him as a clark kent, so glasses pitcher. But in my head all I could picture was this guy that used to pitch for the college team, like at the college I was at, oh no, and he wasn't very good looking, oh no. So all I could picture was him as Kai Rhodes and I was like, hmm, hmm, oh no, hmm. And then okay, and so you make him a single daddy, which typically I love a single daddy. You give me heartless daddy Cade all the way.

Jordan:

As soon as you say daddy in the motherfucking bedroom cringe ick, ew, no, absolutely not, absolutely motherfucking not the three.

Jordan:

Cs like cringe something, something and quick like cringe, uh, something, something and uh, quick, but like, actually like the biggest ick of my life when she was like he was, he was inside her and she called him daddy and I was like, no, so as soon as that's like gross, yeah, but like, but like the thing is is like I love a, like he could be daddy kai all the way when referring to his like son or like in the way of like how there's daddy kade, like willow would be like daddy kade, or I'm saying daddy kade because he has a little boy. So I would, would have used the same thing for Kai. But then she would call him Baseball Daddy, which didn't totally love that, but I could handle it as a joke. Like she's referring to him as Baseball Daddy because he has a kid. But then, as soon as in the motherfucking bedroom, I was like he's balls deep inside you and you're calling him Daddy.

Jordan:

I'm like he's balls deep inside you and you're calling him daddy. I'm like he's balls deep, yeah, no, yeah. And I was just like fuck my life. And so many people were like this one's my favorite and I'm like, but, but I do, I still overall, like enjoyed that story, like yeah, there were just a couple of X. I still overall like enjoyed that story, like, yeah, there were just a couple icks now play along is his brother, isaiah. I might be in love are you he's?

Jordan:

not a daddy is it.

Fabienne:

No, he is not a daddy, but I kind of like the name too, aseya.

Jordan:

Oh, that's actually pretty, pretty, darn sexy and like he's, it's like it's the one of those. It's always been. You like he met her and he was like that's going to be my wife, that's my wife. I love that, but she was engaged. Love it even better right right.

Jordan:

All is fair in love and war sort of and I just so, I think I love one of those. It's always been you like he. He fell first and I'm only like on chapter five, but I'm already obsessed now, does he I? Currently ryan shay is up here, though, so like will he surpass ryan shay? I don't know, because I'm only on chapter five, but I am in love. He might, he might, he might, he might. I hear, I hear there's a very strong possibility it's it really is.

Fabienne:

It's funny because I thought the first one's mile high. Yeah, I always thought for some reason that this was like uh, I don't even know if it is a genre, but like an airplane series. So then we were talking about pilots because of the mile high well, okay, you're not wrong.

Jordan:

So she is a flight attendant for the hockey team, so that's like she worked for, like flying, the flying the hockey team privately, so like that's how they met, which explains the mile high. And then the right move is like she's a flight attendant for the hockey team, but like technically. So the first one is Xander's and Z V V, z and V V. What's her name? Fuck, but her brother is Ryan Shea V. What's her name? Fuck, but her brother is Ryan Shea.

Jordan:

So then it's like her best friend and her brother. And then the next one is like Ryan Shea knows Kai Rhodes.

Fabienne:

Okay, so there are like connections between, like all these couples.

Jordan:

It's like a big found family, because all these guys are like a family, but like they definitely weren't a family before. But like Xander's was obsessed with V who's like. Ryan's sister and like, yeah, so they're now all becoming like a found family, which I love that.

Fabienne:

I love found family as a trope. It's such a good like old school trope, but it always works so well it just hits yes.

Jordan:

Oh my God, yes, so like that's. The thing is like I wanted to leave, caught up, like I came for the single daddy but I stayed for the baseball found family, because the whole team stands behind him as being this like single dad, him as being this like single dad, and so like uh, max, which is the little boy, literally starts walking and everybody like, and he was there in front of the whole team and they're all like like cheering for max, just for his like first, like steps, and I was like dying on the inside. Yeah, like that's cute, that's adorable, so stinking cute.

Fabienne:

Yeah, so, currently reading these and obsessing, so my takeaway is that I should read this too. Yes, okay, okay. Well, seeing as I'm in my contemporary romance era, probably yeah, I mean, why not? Why not? Indeed, so is this like your current read?

Jordan:

slash previous read yeah, because I technically just finished caught up, which is the third one, and then I started play along and play along is the last one in the series no, so this is the second to last one, so then it's play along and then it's rewind it. Back is the last one okay.

Fabienne:

So then my next question is going to be already answered, because what are you going to read next? This one, yeah, yeah, okay. I don't have anything lined up for what I want to read next.

Jordan:

I overall wouldn't.

Fabienne:

Maybe I should what.

Jordan:

If I didn't have this series? I wouldn't either, but maybe you add Mile High. The thing is, I liked Mile mile high, but then I loved the right move and do I need to read those in order?

Jordan:

I mean they are interconnected standalones. But it's kind of nice because you get like, especially the first two, like you get, because indy and V are like best friends, they meet, so you get like I don't, I mean I guess not technically, maybe some conversation probably won't make sense because things have happened in a previous book, you know, come back indirectly in a second.

Jordan:

She does explain things, like when things do come back. But like I say, like give Mile High a shot. Okay, I will Give you the real appreciation for the right move, but I gotta pat.

Fabienne:

Well, not necessarily power through is probably too strong, but you know read my, I did enjoy joy, okay, fair. Yeah. Well, now I have one more added to my tbr. Nice, what's one more? You know what's one more death by tbr? You know there's there's worse ways to go. I think there really is. Yeah, there really is. Yeah. Oh wait, you wanted to talk about like there was something like drama, like drama happening, or is it not meant like worth mentioning right now?

Fabienne:

not worth mentioning oh, fuck it okay. Yeah, out of time possibly. Okay, cool, another time, another time.

Jordan:

Thank you so much for listening and please don't forget to rate and review wherever you can find us, so catch you next time bye.