When Girls Talk Books
Are you ready for story time? When Girls Talks Books is a podcast with two best friends bonding between the pages. They give comprehensive reviews of books where even if you haven't read the book, you can still enjoy the story. Brace yourselves for a tornado of laughter and literary love! When Girls Talk Books is here.
When Girls Talk Books
Ep.6 Magnolia Parks By Jessa Hastings Ft. Tales Over Tails Podcast
Join us for an electrifying episode of "Girls Talk Books" as we sit down with Jordan and Allysha from "Tails Over Tales" to unravel the tangled web of relationships in Jessa Hastings' "Magnolia Parks." What makes a relationship toxic, yet irresistibly engaging? We kick things off with our wildly different ratings and dive headfirst into the book's compelling allure, from its chaotic romances to the cutting drama that kept us hooked. Whether you're Team Tom or Team BJ or think Magnolia should fly solo, our heated debates will keep you entertained and questioning every twist and turn.
To wrap up, we share our excitement for future collaborations, including the highly anticipated recording of "Daisy Hates," and dive into our fan casting choices for a potential series adaptation. Tune in for an episode filled with laughter, heartfelt discussions, and an unfiltered love for all things bookish!
Editing done by Connor Luther @clfilms.co
Music by @thundercatlouis
MERCH SHOP HERE
Hello, hello everyone, and welcome back to when Girls Talk Books. I'm Kylie, I'm Susie and today we have a special episode. We are joined by Jordan and Alicia from the podcast Tales Over Tales.
Speaker 2:Hello, hello, thank you for having us. Yes, thank you.
Speaker 3:This is exciting. I'm very excited.
Speaker 1:I'm like yay, we have friends. So I will say Jordan was like one of the first people to reach out to us and be like I'm so excited for you, like just warmth, which I think is a little bit hard sometimes, I think you know, sometimes it can be competitive and you don't really feel that. So I was like, oh my gosh. So I was very excited when we started to be like let's collaborate Because you guys were just so kind to us and I was like, oh, I love this.
Speaker 2:Other people believe in us. We can do this Well, thank you. No, that means a lot and I am totally. I am all for making bookish friends and I'm not here to compete at all. We love your guys' content so much and we appreciate the opportunity to dive into this series with you, because it's a roller coaster, that's a dumpster fire for sure, a little bit, a little bit um.
Speaker 1:So this episode we're going to be doing magnolia parks um, by jessa hastings. And this is gossip girl, high High Society, london Drama Toxic Mess 100%.
Speaker 2:Pretty much. If you are here for a moral compass, you may want to look the other way.
Speaker 3:You're not going to find it here. Please don't leave this episode.
Speaker 1:So I think we should start out with kind of our ratings on what we rated the book. I'm going to go last.
Speaker 3:Alisa, why don't you kick us off? Yeah, no, absolutely. So. This was a little tough for me because I enjoyed the book. I really did. Of course, I mean, we'll dive into all of the details of what, of course, irritated us, but I I think I'll give it a solid four. Four out of five. I think that's where I'm at, yeah.
Speaker 2:And that was the same that I gave it to. While, obviously, some of the toxic relationships that we're going to dive into and talk about were obviously frustrating, I personally appreciated the writing. I think that Jessa Hastings is a really good writer. I loved the pining, I loved the banter, I loved the just the dynamics of it. You really could feel like you were in it. She was super descriptive and that's a huge thing to me as a reader, so I gave it four out of five.
Speaker 4:Nice, uh, I I'm a jerk I'm gonna give this a solid three out of five uh three.
Speaker 1:That's higher than I thought.
Speaker 2:I'm not gonna lie I don't think the ending was good. I got to the ending last week.
Speaker 4:Yeah, it took me till like here to like like I was, like I was like I'll push through, like okay, I'm like, don't be a jerk, you don't have to love everything, but yeah, so that's my three out of five. Um, I will give the rest of the series like a shot for sure, because I'm sure it'll just get better you have no choice.
Speaker 1:Yeah, she texted me like does this get any better?
Speaker 2:no, I think alicia did the same thing to me.
Speaker 3:I think as well I did I was like please tell me, there is like a point where this madness just like stops somewhere and it gets better. I want off this ride.
Speaker 4:Well, more like okay, I'm gonna complain like the ride was all right, but I it needed to be messier, like, if you're already gonna be messy like, let's go suzy said go big or go home.
Speaker 1:And exactly, go big um, so this was actually a reread for me. I read this probably a few years ago and when I first read it I was like enthralled in this here's the thing about me I love a toxic, messy book. I just do, okay, I don't want it in my real life, so I want to read about it though yeah, so um even as a reread, I still did rate this five stars.
Speaker 1:Like this is a book, like the vibes are so there, I loved it. I loved everything about it. If we're gonna be honest, um, would I entertain this in real life?
Speaker 2:absolutely not but I want to read about it. This is also why I watch Real Housewives. I'm with you, 100% exactly. If I can watch trash tv, I can read a trash book. It makes me feel a little bit like it makes me it does make me feel a little bit better about myself your life.
Speaker 1:You're like huh, all right, um, and then kind of what you were saying, jordan, my big thing with it was like the tension. Yes, magnolia and BJ like so good like specifically in the beginning it's like, oh, like, oh, there's stuff happening like girls are fighting, you know, like that's kind of what you got are we gonna talk about the found family aspect first, or are we gonna talk about tom england being thrown in the mix first?
Speaker 4:where are we gonna go? I love tom. I'm like we can just talk about tom the whole episode.
Speaker 2:so suzy said tom bumped this rating up for me, tom saved the book.
Speaker 4:If it wasn't for Tom, I would have been struggling. Oh my God.
Speaker 2:No, I can understand. Do we think in real life that, like Magnolia, should have ended up with Tom there's?
Speaker 4:a controversial hot take.
Speaker 3:Absolutely, yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2:I would have chosen Tom in a heartbeat Also very impossible opinion.
Speaker 4:Maybe she should have just ended up alone.
Speaker 1:No, Take a little time grow up a little honey Like Now.
Speaker 4:See if she had just chosen Tom there wouldn't be five books. True.
Speaker 2:So I guess there's that. Yeah, but Alicia, you liked Tom too. Oh yeah, bless that man.
Speaker 3:Like what man? I know that they had their circumstance, they had like their situation, that they were kind of going along with being in this relationship. But what man would actually stick by a woman that was crazy in love with another man and watching this toxicity just completely unfold in front of his eyes like that? That is why tom just has my heart, because I'm like dude you're so secure yourself.
Speaker 2:I deeply felt for him because he's in love with his brother's widow yeah that I was like what?
Speaker 1:that was a little bit of a red flag there. I was like, in real life, though, can you imagine if, like you met somebody, they're like, yep, old becky over here, yep, she, she was married to my brother, but I want that like absolutely not. Okay, nice to meet. You.
Speaker 2:Have a great day I guess you're right, I got, I don't, I don't know. Can we, can we talk about how rich everyone is?
Speaker 4:oh, I can't relate what did you say yesterday?
Speaker 2:they all got daddy's black credit card and driving around in audis must be nice, yeah how many times was it referenced that everybody has their own plane?
Speaker 4:oh my god, more than the Kardashians talking about theirs and right, I know, and Tom flies his own plane.
Speaker 2:So you know, there's that, that would have had me from the beginning. Does BJ fly his own plane?
Speaker 4:no, no.
Speaker 3:I don't care because he's a little sniveling baby boy no, he's too drunk and too high to fly his own. Yeah, that's, that's where we're at with him.
Speaker 2:I'm not saying that I didn't feel for him like when the whole and I mean maybe this is a little bit of a trigger warning for you listeners like the the drug addiction, the suicidal ideation like I did, I deeply felt for him through all of that as well. And to your point, suzy, though I had the same thought about bj. I was like poor baby boy, like you are making bad decisions.
Speaker 4:Oh, you're suffering consequences.
Speaker 3:Poor thing like but I feel like that's something that they're not like, that's just something that doesn't click in their heads, like when there's a consequence to something they pout and it's like no, you do get consequences for your actions. Like don't pout just because you're a big rich, you know, billionaire or whatever. Like no, you're a person who has struggles and everything, like everyone else, and you just have to deal with it.
Speaker 1:Literally no yeah, not allowed, I'm gonna go to amsterdam. Right, I'm gonna go to amsterdam, get blasted, almost die and come back and act like nothing happened. So what do you?
Speaker 1:mean consequences yeah, yeah, oh, my god so also, bj and magnolia are also obviously the main point. They were together as kids. They broke up because bj cheated on her and she doesn't really know who it is. Throughout the entire book, for the most part, yeah, the book's like way to all the and she thinks it's tara sacks. Yeah, that's her name. I feel so bad for her. She's like so mean to her and then you find it's not her and so it's just like oh, I feel bad for her. Also, magnolia and Christian get together.
Speaker 1:That was Everybody's in love with Magnolia.
Speaker 2:I know I will say I'm excited to learn a little bit more about Christian in the next book and whatnot as well. I want to know a little, I know.
Speaker 4:I'm so curious. I want to know more too.
Speaker 1:I just kind of I don't know. I thought he was kind of a jerk, if we're going to be honest, like he just kept like getting drunk and making snideide comments and I get that's kind of like this crew's whole thing is that everybody give me a second, not tom, true, not julian he's off flying his plane well, like I would have chosen tom in a heartbeat if we're gonna, but we can all agree.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so there's also like the plot line of like bj being really jealous like christian is still around and he makes these comments, or like him and magnolia have like these little moments and that whole thing. I'm like, oh, get over yourself. Like you cheated onolia, so then her and Christian started hanging out because she didn't have any friends really, and then, yeah, things kindled Like you know, the big thing in this was like you no longer get to decide how each other lives their lives, in a way, like you have this relationship, but in all reality you don't, like you're not together.
Speaker 2:You don't get to to like be jealous about this or get pissed off and make a whole scene because christian made one comment about something like, uh, that I really hated, yeah yeah I would have heard if that would have not been in there honestly, there was this sense of the whole like found family thing, and then also, at the same time, they do all seem to be so self-involved, honestly, that like it's like you yeah, you all like went to boarding school together and you bonded and connected. And also, though, too, like you're all, you've all got your own, like you're in it for yourself, you've all got your own self-interest and like I don't know if you actually like each other.
Speaker 1:If we're gonna be totally honest, like I literally was, I was like do you even like each other?
Speaker 4:I feel like it's kind of like a rite of passage almost through that age group, because the age group that the that they're writing about, kind of makes sense though, because that's when you're kind of figuring out who you are, because you're not a teenager anymore, you're learning to be a grown-up. You got family pressure, you got all. So I guess, yeah, not disagreeing, just I'm like, okay, it kind of makes sense why they made it so like this, and I'm glad that if they were going to make it like this, they made the characters really self-centered, kind of immature, because like wise young people that'd be boring and tom is older, so that would make sense that he is a little bit more sophisticated, mature, he's got his stuff together not as emotionally reactive yeah, definitely
Speaker 3:yeah, no, I agree. Yeah, it was just such a weird dynamic with them because they were all like okay with hanging out one minute and then they would get stupid drunk and they were telling each other to like piss off, or they were like fighting and we're like wait, I'm so confused on what's happening with these people. It was yeah, it was definitely such a weird dynamic with everybody and it was hard to tell like who likes who like, who's actually friends with who?
Speaker 2:well, because it also seemed like it would change, like it also seemed like at the drop of a hat right, like at the drop of a dime, I mean, and when you've known each other for several years or you've been such close friends to you, like I mean Kylie and Susie. I know you two have known each other obviously for many, many years. So have Alicia and I. Recently we even went back and looked through our yearbooks and Alicia had written something in my yearbook like I'm sorry for what happened last year. You know, we had a fallout and we're like what each other. I was like what'd you do? What did we do? What did I do? What did what happened? Do you even remember what happened?
Speaker 4:he's like no, that is true. Every female long-term friendship has that like. So we just like didn't talk for a year and like just never we had that like two years ago.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we just like didn't talk, but it was probably the best thing to ever happen to our I grew up so much well and just like the, communication and stuff like that. Like now we have like incredible open communication. Yeah, didn't like that. You know like, hey, if you want to do this, nobody if you can't like yeah, so I think that falling out actually if you can't like, yeah, so I think that falling out actually it like made us stronger, but it's true.
Speaker 2:No, that's a good segue into, uh, the adults in this book, the adult adults, and uh examples, or lack thereof, yeah, none to be found here so we have like magnolia's nanny essentially I wrote her down here Marsali. Marsali.
Speaker 1:Marsali, I kept being like Marsala. Marsa slut with her dad for years I'm sorry.
Speaker 4:I'm not sorry, but I'm not like like all of the stereotypes that they were just like.
Speaker 1:So we've heard that there's like the following stereotypes let's do it and I'm like yeah, so the dad and the nanny have been together for years, right, yeah?
Speaker 2:were we that shocked? Were we that surprised? I, I was, actually, I kind of was, I was too. Yeah, I was a little. I was a little I think I was more shocked by how long it had been going on. Yeah, like, because once I found out it was like, oh okay, yeah, and then Magnolia didn't know anything. But then to find out, like, and then didn't even Magnolia's mom know, no, know anything.
Speaker 1:But then to find out like and then didn't even magnolia's mom know? No, she didn't know. She like packs her bag, she's out, she's not messing around with this guy, no more.
Speaker 4:But they didn't have a very good marriage to begin with, right?
Speaker 3:yeah, because when that whole thing just kind of came out it, it clicked in my head, because I'm like magnolia's in her 20s why is her nanny still around and why is she still? You know, why is she still there? They're all grown like. Even her sister is practically an adult too and then come to find out. That was why I was like oh, that's why she's been hanging around a little too long.
Speaker 1:Yeah I really liked I really I can't understand the sense of betrayal, that magnolia for sure and I'm also like we just kind of like she forgives her not a hundred percent, but she really kind of gets over it kind of fast and just like I mean, she calls her out on the hypocrisy of the situation, because when.
Speaker 2:BJ's on Magnolia and Marcelli is like have nothing to do with him, like cut him out. You can do so much better. And she's literally like okay, but my dad, yeah, like fine, really, you're cut out, you're done, you're done.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you're cut out, you're done, you're done, yeah. I think one of the one of my BJ Magnolia feel moments actually here is when she finds us all out and Tom is there and he like takes her and he takes her to BJ and I'm like see, like even he knows, like he knows that that's what she needs, which is also like Tom is just an amazing person. Even he knows, he knows that.
Speaker 1:That's what she needs, which is also like Tom is just an amazing person, but I'm like, see, they can see it. And then they fly to Greece, because that's what you do when your world is falling apart, right, apparently.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we've got it all wrong. I need Tom's book. I want Tom's book. Yeah, me too. Where's Tom's book?
Speaker 1:Uh, yeah, Me too. Where's Tom's book? I don't know, but I would like it. So then Tom flies them all to Greece and uh, Magnolia invites BJ on a date. Such a weird this was so weird.
Speaker 4:Okay, this whole trip was weird.
Speaker 2:Right in front of Tom this whole thing, I was just like, okay, I had secondhand embarrassment for a book fair yeah, I, this is what you do when you have money, true, I guess I'm past attempting to rationalize it at this point, to be completely to rationalize or justify magnolia and tom are kind of like starting to like each other at this point too like yeah, there's definitely something there.
Speaker 1:It's not, as you know, intense as bj and her, but she's definitely like starting to recognize him, trauma, bonded to tom, yet like as like a comfort blanket is where she says like an oxygen mask at some time, like he's just always there for her. And I'm like when I first read this the first time I was like I want her and tom to get together. I've read a thousand romance books.
Speaker 2:I know this is not how this is gonna go and then I think that that was around the same time, like on that date that bj and magnolia go on, that you're talking about. I think that's around the same time, like she presses him for an answer, like why did you do this? Why did this happen?
Speaker 4:Because I wanted to. Yeah, I shut the book. I'm like I got so mad. I thought this was the worst part too, but no, no.
Speaker 1:I don't think we could ever really understand like his thought process, like I don't get it. You cheat on Magnolia and then you just go on this girl after girl after girl, for years spree and then she, like you guys are finally starting to like rekindle things. And she asked you why it happened, bro, you could have made something up. You could have made something up. But you said, because I wanted to yeah, weasel, such a smarmy.
Speaker 3:And then at the end of the book when we find out who it was with that there's no coming back for me.
Speaker 4:For me, I was like I'm done.
Speaker 2:I I couldn't at that point I I was like okay, but also before we spoil that for listeners because I know that we're going to. Can we visit sexual education corner with Jordan for just a second Emphasize if you're going to have sex with that many people like, please? I don't even know what he was or wasn't doing to take care of himself. That's all I'm saying. I'm just going to put that out there and say like I'm sure he's getting tested on the regular.
Speaker 2:Honestly, that's would you not? I mean, you should be, you absolutely should be. He has to be. We can move on.
Speaker 4:But we are talking about a young man here, so I actually highly doubt he's testing himself, getting tested at all or caring um, then we needed to visit sexual education.
Speaker 2:Quick. We'll just, yeah, yep, yep, we'll pretend we took bj there.
Speaker 1:We had our conversation, did our due diligence, we sat him down like a young man and said listen here, um, so a big thing in the book is like magnolia dates men, so that way she doesn't get back together with bj, but she never sleeps with anybody. She's only ever slept with bj doing other things, specifically with christian, but she never sleeps with anybody. Um, but after this date and after she sees bj like making out with the bartender, her and Tom do sleep together. Like I don't know, I don't know how you could feel good about that, like this was also kind of a thing I kind of thought a little bit differently of Tom, of like you know where she's at emotionally and I get that it was consented, but I'd felt a little icky, you're old enough.
Speaker 1:You're older enough to know better like she came into your arms and she's sobbing and crying about BJ. And then you guys yeah hi yeah.
Speaker 2:I? I don't know if I felt icky about it or not. I mean, I guess maybe a little bit. And to your point, kylie, the issue wasn't consent At that point. It was just more like like, is this really the right decision? Yeah, but again, anybody looking for a book with a strong moral compass need not apply.
Speaker 1:I think she's thinking of bj the entire time goes to see him after.
Speaker 4:I was just like girl wtf, like get it together let's unpack that for a second.
Speaker 2:Why did she tell him?
Speaker 3:huh, my whole thing, the thing that made me ick about this whole scene. When she is doing it with him, what she was thinking about, bj, the entire time she was, she was like recounting his tattoos.
Speaker 2:Kylie was that the part of it that was giving ick too. I can see that now you're reminding me and now I'm like maybe I did feel a little minor ick about it.
Speaker 3:I was like because I was listening to this. Mind you, I was at work when I was listening to this, but anyway.
Speaker 2:Should you be saying that on a recording?
Speaker 3:And I was like, do I fast forward this, Like I don't know if I can deal with this while I'm at work.
Speaker 1:30 seconds, 30 seconds, still going 30 seconds.
Speaker 2:Still going on 30 seconds.
Speaker 1:Yeah. The tattoo thing got me. I'm like okay, all right, sure, yeah, good. But yeah like okay, all right, sure, yeah, I'm good.
Speaker 2:But, yeah.
Speaker 1:Then she goes to BJ's room and she's like crying, I'm so sorry, and he's like what happened? And then he like smells Tom on her or whatever, and it's like, oh, I just can't. And then she's like apologizing to BJ. Did we not forget what happened?
Speaker 4:He's beating her down so well that there she is apologizing for the behavior that he thinks should be excused for himself.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I was like, and then the bartender comes out of his room and she's like you never touch me again.
Speaker 4:I'm so surprised this absolute POS cheater is being a POS cheater.
Speaker 1:Shock, shock, sorry. Absolute pos cheater is being a pos cheater. Shock, all aboard the bj train. I'm not on the bj train. I have conflicted feelings, but I've also read enough romance to know where this is gonna go, okay.
Speaker 2:He's going to have his redemption tour.
Speaker 1:Let's be real. Magnolia is going to have the front seat. We all know where this is going. Let's be for real Now. I'm sad there's a bunch of in-between.
Speaker 3:Oh my goodness.
Speaker 1:You got to give him a little break. So after that, magnolia and Tom say yes, I like you, I like you too, and tom says I'm gonna throw my hat in the ring then.
Speaker 2:and I'm like I did like that and don't bj and tom even have a conversation too.
Speaker 1:Yeah, like, and then kind of like a may the best man win sort of situation and like the big thing with them is like bj has to respect Tom in some way, like and Tom is just a very respectful person so he kind of gives BJ that same courtesy. But like BJ is hot shit within his age group but Tom is like the the bigger bad, the bigger good, I guess you could say like he's even more than bj is, so he can't even like be threatened really, because he's like I get it, like hey, yeah, I get it. Um, but then jonah and bj have a conversation and he tells BJ just to kiss Magnolia yeah, which that felt like it was out of nowhere, but okay that felt like such a high school.
Speaker 3:I don't even know. It was just such a childish way for him to be like oh, if you want her back, just kiss her, yeah, and you know like it'll be fine, and then you guys will figure everything out yeah and I was like okay, because they've been sleeping in the bed together for the past couple years, but not actually like doing anything.
Speaker 4:I will never believe that unhealthy attachments there's no way they snuggle.
Speaker 1:Um, so that was uh a really weird thing. I was like, okay, and then he does like they have this whole thing in the dressing room while she's like getting out clothes yep, yep.
Speaker 4:At that point I was like okay, she definitely just like loves the attention like there's this is. She just doesn't want to have to choose and knows she doesn't have to, so like okay because there's so many men.
Speaker 1:There's so many men. There's bj, there's christian, there's tom, there's julian.
Speaker 2:Realistically, I think that she also, at the end of the day, wants to be chosen herself. Definitely, though, and based off of everything that bj has done, has done throughout their relationship since cheating on her, she doesn't feel chosen by the one person that she wants to feel chosen by and then you have to think she's definitely got like some parent issues, like her parents are not really around.
Speaker 1:She was raised by the nanny. Like her mom is kind of absent.
Speaker 2:Her dad is literally like not there most of the time because he does movies there's a story about how, when they were in boarding school and and they didn't even call her on her 16th birthday.
Speaker 1:Yeah. But so they go to a dinner and then there's like this whole scene with Christian and Daisy and you find out that Christian is still in love with Magnolia and then BJ does his BJ thing and he like flies off the handle and then they have a conversation and Christian is like I have to tell, I have to talk to Magnolia, tell, I have to talk to magnolia, I have to talk to her because she's there. It's a, you know, it's a whole scene.
Speaker 1:Another dramatic effect yep, and then daisy is like I'm not gonna be like your placeholder for her, essentially, and I was like okay, so then, because this book and daisyades like coincide together, they're like happening at the same time, oh, oh I didn't realize that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, okay, cochran.
Speaker 3:Yeah, because you'll be reading the book and then you'll realize that there are some parts in Daisy Hades that happen in Magnolia Parks already. You just get Daisy's or Christian's like point of view from it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, okay, okay, cool so that that I'm pretty interested in as far as, like there's definitely little things that you get from Daisy Hades. So you're like, oh, oh, okay, like that makes more sense. So then Christian does go and him and Magnolia have a conversation about it, and it's essentially like Christian's like I need to be done with you. You know I'm in love with you and she's like I loved you too at some point and she needs to let me.
Speaker 1:He's like not the same way and so he's like you need to like not call me for things like if you wouldn't call I think it was jonah if you wouldn't call jonah, don't call me, like yeah, yeah yeah, and then BJ's using again because he has zero emotional regulation and so he's like Christian's in love with Magnolia.
Speaker 3:I'm gonna do drugs again, right yeah normal, normal response um, can we just talk about really quick, because I feel like he's not brought up in this conversation. I feel so bad. Bad for Henry. Oh, I love.
Speaker 2:Henry, oh my gosh, yeah, that's his brother, right yeah his little brother.
Speaker 3:Yeah, because him and Magnolia were friends first. Yeah, they were the best of friends. And he has to watch this turmoil. You know, he has to like pick his battles. He either has to take Magnolia's side on some things or bjs, and then he has to watch his brother like go through this turmoil with his addiction with the drinking and the drugs, and magnolia is like his addiction too, yeah. And so we have to like kind of we get bits and pieces of his side of all of this too, and my heart just totally breaks for him. I feel, oh my gosh, I couldn't, I don't know. You're so right. Justice for Henry.
Speaker 1:Yeah, seriously yeah he's probably the one like majorly sane character character in all of this that tries to like not only keep the peace but remain super like switzerland neutral yeah like her side, I see his side, I'm trying to like I do think a lot of times because, to be totally honest, a lot of stuff is bj's fault, honestly yeah I do think he kind of tries to keep bj in place when it comes to magnolia like when he's going too far. I think he's the one to kind of be like you have to stop, like relax, you know so yeah henry, I know, but so then magnolia and bj have this whole fight again.
Speaker 1:she's done with. It's like in the street or something, I don't know.
Speaker 2:Yeah, oh, my God.
Speaker 1:They have these little like screaming matches at each other, and I can like picture it so vividly. I know Like they're screaming matches of like I'm done with you and tears are going. And then, oh, tom punches BJ during this part.
Speaker 2:I love this part and I'm like, oh he's coming, he's gonna hit him yeah well, and you know, like tom was itching like, oh yeah, even even in that conversation where they're like all right, like may the best man win, you got to know, in the back of their minds both of them are thinking like oh, I'm just waiting for you to step a toe out of line.
Speaker 2:And the moment you do, like I'm coming after you, I think at the same time, like it had to be Tom, because I could never see BJ like trying to punch Tom, because he's such a man like BJ's a little bit of a boy, really tall and stuff, and it looks like I can imagine BJ being like I'm gonna punch you if I can reach you well, and I think that BJ respects Tom too much yeah, he looks up to him too much that there's also like this pride thing of like, oh, no, like, and there's even a couple of parts from BJ's perspective where he's literally like Magnolia should choose Tom, magnolia should be with Tom, like he's a much better choice and you're like, you know, yep, so yeah so you're right so there are some synapses in their firing. Okay, good, only a few. Yeah, kylie says only a few.
Speaker 1:Um. Okay, so they meet. Magnolia and bj meet at the her devon house or whatever, the same time every single year and it's a special day. I never caught on to like what that actually meant, are we?
Speaker 2:talking about the um. Oh my gosh, yeah, what was that special day I?
Speaker 1:never understood it like I got that. They kind of like pulled around under a tree or whatever my. But then it was like and BJ says like this is always a hard day for me, or something like that, and I never really like understood why this was a thing like I maybe.
Speaker 4:I missed it. I kind of missed it too. I was confused at first. I was like is it like that?
Speaker 1:kind of anniversary and I was like is it because we hear that story? Oh, that's true, so it's not. Yeah, I don. And I was like, is it, but it's not?
Speaker 4:because we hear that story. Oh, that's true, so it's not yeah.
Speaker 2:I don't really get it either. Do you remember Alicia?
Speaker 3:No, I know I was in the same boat as you guys. I'm like what day are they talking about? Did someone die that we missed? Like was it, but I have no idea. Like was, I have no idea. Like was it when they first got together? Was it just like?
Speaker 1:a memory that they had, like I have.
Speaker 3:I have no idea viewers.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm glad, I'm not the only one, because I was like huh, okay, sure, like so. Then this brings them back together because they're not done with each other as much as they would like to say, um, and then they get like together together. So then they get like together together.
Speaker 4:So then they're like we're going to do this thing, and she breaks up with Tom the whole time, the whole time, I'm like no, no, I have put up with so much in this book and I was finally going to get like a shred of happiness. And then of course she breaks up with him, and then of course he's really sweet about it and of course he's really fucking.
Speaker 2:What is it he was right. So if, susie, I have a question for you. Yes, if Magnolia had chosen Tom, would this be a four or five star book for you?
Speaker 1:instead of a three seven, nine forty four like but she's like bring the drama to a ten though, yeah, so I'm like I hope tom comes back like.
Speaker 4:I hope this isn't the last of him um, I hope it's not.
Speaker 1:And he says he's gonna hurt you again. Yeah, like he's gonna do this again that's right. You're right, tom okay yeah are we ready for the bombshell, I know alicia, would you like? To tell us the bombshell that we find out at the end of the book oh my god alicia.
Speaker 3:So we find out. Oh my gosh, I was so mad again. I was listening to this while I was at work. Okay, I was committed to just like finishing this book at this point. I was listening to it at work and I threw my phone, which, yeah, I do that quite often. I will say I will throw my phone, but it turns out I think I like chucked it behind me.
Speaker 1:I was like, like that turns off your audio book but then we find out it's her best
Speaker 4:friend Paley unforgivable again never coming back for BJ and I was like, and the fact that he really thought he was just gonna get away with never saying it and there's no reason, there's no action.
Speaker 1:It literally is because he wanted to. They were like at a party and she like fell on top of him and that friend that is a next level.
Speaker 3:I mean exactly and below the gutter she was like, yeah, and for the fact that this whole time she was like consoling her friend oh, but to make matters worse, jonah knew yes jonah knew and he said we're never gonna talk about this.
Speaker 1:If anybody else asked like me and Pally hooked up, you did like you at home, or whatever. He said I don't know. But he like came up with this master plan and BJ's like I have to tell her. I have to tell her and he's like you're not gonna say anything, like you can tell her it happened, but you can't tell her like what it was.
Speaker 2:Yeah did you lose a little bit of respect for jonah when that happened? Because I, up until that point I was like jonah's cool I don't mind, jonah, I didn't really like him.
Speaker 4:It's like none of them are. None of them are her friend. Like none of them.
Speaker 3:No, they're not and so here's my question. So, obviously, after everything happened, b did go to Magnolia to tell her that he slept with someone else, and we know that he he's not really a mature person. Do you think that? I know, we're shopping, I know, but do we think that if it wasn't for her going completely ballistic which of course, was definitely like okay, we get it do you think he would have told her, though, if she would have?
Speaker 1:I do. I do because they have a thing about lying to each other. So I don't think he, I think he would have told her if jonah had never said, like we're not saying anything about this Because, like, the guilt does kind of eat him alive in a way and that's like why he's doing all these things. Granted, these were his actions and they chose to do it, Both of them. They chose to do this and it was good.
Speaker 4:So I do, I like to think that he would have told her From my own experience, they never will tell you, until they are threatened by the other person that knows.
Speaker 2:Like they're not going to tell you, and especially not a piece of trash like BJ, like no, yeah, yeah, I don't know. I I would like to think that, yeah, maybe Jonah just had too strong of a hold on BJ that he like convinced him not to. But to Alicia's point as well and to your point, kylie like they had this thing about not lying to each other right and like and he doesn't lie the whole book.
Speaker 1:No, he never lies, he never. He doesn't tell her who it is, but he never lies to her.
Speaker 4:But that's still being dishonest. But I get it like politician wise, it's not a lie, it's withholding the truth.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's dishonesty on both of them.
Speaker 4:The other friend girl could have come forward, and she never did either, and like magnolia, on her too would never guess it would be her best friend.
Speaker 1:So she's not like was it pally? I think if she would have asked him that, he would have told her. He would have said yes, and it would have been this whole thing. And I get that. But like he, he does never lie to her, he just says it wasn't Tara, you know, it happened at a party.
Speaker 4:I was drunk and I wanted to do it and they all clearly like don't respect her at all because they're hanging out and going into doing stuff and both of them are there all the time. I'm like you two literally have no soul like they're together all the time, yeah, all the time around.
Speaker 1:Magnolia they're watching these things happen. That girl. She gets no redemption she like to sit with Magnolia after this happens and to like cry with her and console her and like all this and you so. Then you start to like go back and think about like the conversations they had together and how Pally is always like you know, bj does love you. Da, da, da, da and it's like you could not.
Speaker 3:That makes sense, though. Why, like whenever Magnolia goes to her and they're both crying is because she feels guilty, I think she. I think she feels so guilty, but she can't just tell her because they're like sworn to the secrecy, but it's like that jonah came up with yeah, that if rolls were, if rolls were reversed, they would have drug her through the streets back the bus right back over her, there would have been no grace.
Speaker 4:I mean, she multiple times BJ, calls her a slut and I was like you're so done.
Speaker 3:You have no room to talk about that. Yeah because if it was her and Henry, for an example, like if something happened there and they found out that her and Henry had slept together, she would have been disgraced, she probably would have been booted from this friend group thing. She would have been you know, yeah, but BJ and Molly just get a pass oh my gosh, you're so right.
Speaker 1:So not only and Christian can't get together, but you can sleep with her best friend and lie about it.
Speaker 2:It's so hypocritical.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I know, and then I also think back to like the moments of like Jonah saying shit. Okay, I don't like Jonah. I'm going to put it out there. I think I don't like him, me neither. I don't either His little snide comments to Magnolia, when he's the one that came up with this master plan, where we can't tell Magnolia what happened. But then you're gonna sit here and be like, oh cause, you're here with Tom England, that's why he's all upset and going back to some of our other episodes.
Speaker 4:Another jaw name, that just so happens to be trash.
Speaker 2:I know, I know it's definitely not like it's. It's so funny, right like I don't know if you got like I was totally brought up and raised with that whole like treat others the way that you want to be treated I used to have to say that before school every day. This is not no yeah none of you are obviously doing that yeah, trash, trash, trash, trash, trash seriously, because now she has to reflect on, like, who her actual friends are, because it's her friend. Her sister is her friend.
Speaker 3:I love her too.
Speaker 1:She's amazing, but she's also has a relationship with BJ, like she's also really close with BJ. So even there, like you, would feel a little bit different. Like this betrayal is kind of another level.
Speaker 2:I view bridget and henry very similarly. They both really attempt to be voices of reason. Yeah in a lot of like bridget even comes out and is like you need therapy that was a great quote, like Because I agree, yeah, completely. So I don't I don't know. I don't dismiss her for having a connection and for having a friendship with BJ, because I think that she's also Bridget is empathetic enough of a person that, like she, sees his need for connection, for relationship, and she will be your friend.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you know, I just feel like if it were you, like I would have a hard time, like this would never happen. But like if, if you were like hanging out with someone that cheated on me, I would feel differently about this. Yep, like, yeah, I just know that's valid.
Speaker 2:That's valid. And I do think that Magnolia gives Bridget a little bit of a hard time, like she doesn't. She doesn't like that Bridget and BJ have a friendship. Yeah, but I mean also like bringing it back to the whole like found family idea to like they they sleep in the same bed together. Like her parents are at the breakfast table or at the dinner table. Where's bj? Like yeah, is he coming for dinner?
Speaker 4:they encourage the toxic environment because they themselves are toxic it's a yeah, um.
Speaker 1:Can we talk about henry at the end? Because, yeah, like. So they're like fighting in the street, of course, screaming at each other. She's like you're never gonna touch me again and he like goes to grab her and henry like stops him and is like you need to stop, or what.
Speaker 3:I don't even know what he says, um it's like how you all pull out your books.
Speaker 2:I love it we're like wait a second, let me see if I can find it. Um well, because I mean she's, she is literally having a panic attack.
Speaker 1:He goes to grab her and then he says no, and then he says you stay the fuck away from her, and I'm like oh yeah yeah, yeah, yeah and then he says magnolia, what do you need? Like, and he's like in my mind, like kind of like shadowing her from bj and like what do you need? Like, what do you need he's being a brother.
Speaker 3:he's being her brother at this point and I feel like that's just so. Oh my gosh. That's why I love him so much, because he's her best friend, he's her brother brother, he's her protector and he's like what do you need? Do you need to get out of here? Like you know, tell me what you want me to do, and she, he's just like her person that she really needs at that point because his brother.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, yeah, should we also for talk for a second, as we're wrapping up, about julian? Um, because julian kind of scares me a little bit he scares you just smudge, just why I'm like I know, me too, I'm like oh, okay, I'm, I'm not going to. Am I intrigued? Of course I'm intrigued.
Speaker 1:I'm also like ooh, but he's so. So they meet one night. They end up hanging out, going back to his place, and then she starts crying.
Speaker 2:Remind me Julian's connection again Christian's Older brother. Okay, I couldn't remember if it was older brother or who it was.
Speaker 1:Okay, yeah, so christian's older brother yeah, and he is like um mafia man essentially yes, he's like the underground london crime lord or whatever.
Speaker 1:So there's also this underlying plot of christian and joan are not. Yeah, I think joan is involved and um, julian are like in this drug lord type thing. Okay, sprinkle that in there. So they meet and then he like goes, they go home together and then she starts crying about bj and then he's like they just like sit and talk and he makes her breakfast the next morning and sends her on away. So when they meet again at his birthday party, he like gives her his number and it's like if you need anything you, you can always call me. Let me know if you ever need anything.
Speaker 2:And BJ's like and I love how everybody in this found family is right, right, they're all like do you know how dangerous he is? Why would you do that? That, yes, you're all you are all dangerous and destructive yourselves. Who are you?
Speaker 1:talking and they're all also like how do you two know each other? Like because he invited magnolia specifically to his birthday and they're all like okay, yeah, I know I have no idea so at the end of the book she says to the cab driver to take her to Heathrow yeah, the airport.
Speaker 2:I was like, well, alright, she's getting out of there and where's she going from there? We have no idea she's gonna meet Tom in Greece. I know right, susie, I'll read that book. I think you'll like Julian.
Speaker 3:Okay, no, I think she's going to go meet Tom somewhere. She's going to go find Tom, I mean that's a good theory.
Speaker 2:Maybe she's going to meet Tom at the end of the book, but also her mom just left.
Speaker 3:I don't know where her mom went I don't think her mom went far, though, but she's no, because she shows up in like and she is leaving. I think she's gonna go see tom. She's going to find him.
Speaker 4:She knows where he's at, hey but he warned her I'm not gonna be here when I may not be here, when you come back after he hurts you and I'm like, yeah, tom, honestly good for you, like yeah I do also know more about the series than she's like.
Speaker 3:I'm trying not to ruin it I probably should yeah, you're like, I know, I know I know.
Speaker 2:I'm excited to read more of this. With all of you, I feel like we are each other's emotional support through this.
Speaker 1:I hate bj me too. Yeah, me too. Yeah, the tattoos. Are you kidding?
Speaker 2:me, we went so far as to make a t-shirt listener. If you are not watching on YouTube, Alicia is wearing a t-shirt.
Speaker 4:Kylie designed. Oh my God, this is so weird.
Speaker 3:It's great, it's wonderful, it's just beautiful. Oh, and then we got gotta show the back. Hold on, there's the back. Oh, you got it done.
Speaker 2:We love it.
Speaker 1:Oh my goodness so do we have any final thoughts before we get into fan cast?
Speaker 3:I'm just excited to see where this is going to go and I'm wondering if we're ever going to say, you know what bj gets a redemption arc, because at this point I'm not seeing it.
Speaker 4:Yet I'm not seeing it alicia and suzy need a super strong redemption he would have to like save puppies out of a burning building and then donate his kidney to Tom.
Speaker 1:I'll write a man fiction for you and then at that point Save us some squirrels.
Speaker 2:Revive a grandma.
Speaker 3:I don't know.
Speaker 2:Yeah, exactly, final thoughts, gosh I. Yeah, exactly um final thoughts, gosh I. It's so mixed for me because, like I liked it more than I thought I would, for sure, and then also at the same time, because like we were talking, I mean I, I can appreciate all of the dysfunction and the chaos. That makes me feel a little bit better about my own life, for real um but there is a part of it too that's like.
Speaker 2:I mean, listener, we were also talking before we started recording and it was like oh, have any of us like moved on to the next? Like, and some of us here, have some of us haven't? I'm very much like, okay, I know that I'm like super deeply invested in a story, in a series, especially when I can't wait to get to the next one, and the fact that, like, I've been able to put this book down, read others and like not really think about it, like that tells me like, okay, it's, yes, it's a series worth reading and I'm committed to like seeing it to the end, but I also yeah, I will. I don't, I don't know, I'm such a mix, I don't know. Do you have any final thoughts, alicia?
Speaker 3:No, I, I couldn't wait to dive in. Yeah, because you have, you've, you're reading. Yep, I'm already listening. I'm listening to um in on auto, um, audible, and I'm about like halfway through and I, you, oh, oh, my gosh, I can't wait for you guys to read because Alicia's like buckle up, buckle up. No, seriously, because it's like a different vibe too.
Speaker 1:It's a different vibe entirely, okay it is, it is.
Speaker 3:It's so different. Do you like it better or not as much? I like it better because you you also get a different perspective outside of this whole magnolia bj bubble, um, from like other point of views, and I just kind of appreciate that. But yeah, just wait until you get into it because, oh boy, yeah, exactly yeah final, final thoughts.
Speaker 4:For me it I'm glad there's more like. I'm glad this is a series, because if this was just I would be so frustrated.
Speaker 1:So honestly like I'm glad it's a series.
Speaker 4:This series so far to me is like when I try to get people to like game of thrones, like just get through the first season, it's important. Like just power through, keep going, it gets better.
Speaker 2:So so there you go, there you go um, I am a messy gal.
Speaker 1:I'm a fan. Give me all the drama. I love the tension in it. So, like I said, it was five star for me, but I like that. I like a book that's just like are you joking me? Like you know, and especially because I definitely skip around genre wise and like different stories and things like that. So going from like something about finding Cleopatra's tomb to like this is like a really good mix-up for me there you go there, you go so. I like it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I like it, I like it all right, shall we go into fan cast go?
Speaker 2:for it. Who do we? Who do we picture I, full disclosure, I was outside of potentially zendaya as magnolia parks. I pretty much pictured the entire cast of gossip girl outside of that.
Speaker 1:That was pretty much it for me I almost did zendaya, but zendaya is way too much of a bad bitch to be treated like.
Speaker 2:I was like true I get where you're going, 110 though kylie's like she wouldn't put up with that though no, she'd bye, okay.
Speaker 1:Um so zendaya, and then the gossip girl cast cast.
Speaker 2:Pretty much Like I literally was. Like is Chuck Bass BJ? Yeah, oh my.
Speaker 4:God, yes, he is, that is so wow, I hadn't, I had like wow, Okay, I'm having a light bulb here, 100% that was.
Speaker 2:I can't even remember what his name is. What is his name? The actor that played Chuck Bass?
Speaker 3:I would tell you, but I threw my phone. It's back there somewhere. So I, I don't know.
Speaker 1:Fair, fair.
Speaker 3:No, I was the same way, though I just thought gossip girl cast.
Speaker 1:And that was just where my head cannon went to.
Speaker 4:So, oh my gosh, I have specific people. Do you want, yes, please? Uh, yeah for me. For Magnolia I had Sabrina Carpenter Because everybody kept talking about how beautiful and doe-eyed she is Just picturesque feminine cute.
Speaker 2:Is she too, but also I mean Magnolia. Is Sabrina Carpenter dark enough?
Speaker 4:No, I don't Okay.
Speaker 2:Okay, because I was going to say Magnolia is black. But yes, I could see that too.
Speaker 4:Just my brain had, like Kylie and I have had discussions before but like Kylie usually picks a blonde for a character and it's starting to happen to me and I'm like, oh no, it's happening.
Speaker 2:No, but I could, absolutely, I do like. Oh no, it's happening no but I could, absolutely.
Speaker 4:I do like that. I like Sabrina Carpenter, okay. Okay, I didn't actually have anyone picked for BJ. It literally just says insert generic self-absorbed douche.
Speaker 1:Jacob Elordi yeah, did you say Jacob Elordi?
Speaker 2:yes, okay, okay, yeah, because honestly, what's his name? Again, chuck bass might be a little too old now for bj, yeah I had a hard time. Age wise, yeah could he be tom, could he be tom?
Speaker 4:no, no, because tom hiddleston is tom dreamy, tall, perfect, sweet was that your tom.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's funny.
Speaker 4:I wasn't sure how many characters we were doing because I casted pally the you know, yep um cheating best friend for uh selling sunset. There's a character on or not selling sunset, selling oc on netflix. Uh, polly, because honestly I could kind of see it.
Speaker 1:And then for Gus.
Speaker 4:I had Gio from Selling Sunset. Just personality-wise, his personality is quick-witted, kind of sarcastic. I didn't cast him Okay, but that's it.
Speaker 1:That's all I had.
Speaker 2:I like it, I like it.
Speaker 1:I got the crew here. So for Magnolia I did Laura Harrier and she was from um. I can show you stunning. She's um, yes, from spider-man beautiful um, yes, she's very pretty I love that. Yes, I can see that um, so BJ, I actually have two, so, and I screenshotted these last night on Pinterest. So his name is Thomas. I'm going to pronounce this so wrong Doherty, don Hardy, like that is.
Speaker 4:BJ, that's Tom Hardy. That's really good, that's really good. Oh no, she's good at this, but he does a very.
Speaker 1:He does a very clean look most of the time, but I'm like, no, specifically, his hair is missy. That is that is who he is.
Speaker 3:Yep um, if you haven't watched the invitation with him I have not, and I need to get on that now. Okay, then.
Speaker 1:But I had a second one for him, so I know he's not blonde, but have you guys watched One Day on Netflix?
Speaker 2:Yes, I've seen clips. I haven't gotten to watch all of it, but I've seen clips.
Speaker 3:I have seen it and I know exactly where you're going.
Speaker 1:The main guy Yep.
Speaker 2:I could absolutely see that could also be jay.
Speaker 1:yes, um tom, I did glenn powell. I don't think I need to bring him. What a good choice that is so good um christian. I know him from top gun. He was just in the movie with uh syweeney.
Speaker 2:Oh, that's Tom, yeah, mm-hmm.
Speaker 3:Oh.
Speaker 1:Jordan, she's like oh, yes, and then I might need to take my jacket off again.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we're all like Are you just kidding? It's already home studio you know where it is.
Speaker 1:Huh For Christian, I did Austin Butler, yeah, that's a good one I did Austin Butler.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's a good one. I did love him as Elvis.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I had a really hard time with Henry because I couldn't find I really couldn't find somebody that I was really committed to. So I did go with Cole Sprouse. I wrote down a Sprouse for this. Give him some glasses.
Speaker 2:Yep, call it a day. Yeah, well, and if you've got someone, if you've got someone like austin butler, like I could see, I could see the relatability a little bit yeah, yes, well, henry and bj are related, so yes, sorry yeah, okay, sorry, sorry.
Speaker 4:Sorry, I'm visualizing them wrong, but um okay and then jonah I usually can never keep characters straight, even like halfway through a book. I'll be like wait oh, I've known about her the whole time.
Speaker 1:Whoops okay, this is jonah. His name is matthew neskoza pronunciation god damn.
Speaker 4:So that's jonah, because, like him and austin butler, oh yes, I don't ever want to pick fancast again mine's like yours are so good for pally.
Speaker 2:I did madeline klein from outer banks yeah, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, I could see that too for perry I did g Gavin Casalegno from the Summer I Turned Pretty oh okay, I love that.
Speaker 1:For Bridget I did Storm Reid and she's from Euphoria. She's the younger sister of Zendaya Okay. And then Daisy, I did Madison Beer, which might change, but that was my initial.
Speaker 3:No, madison Beer is a good one. No, I like that. That's really good. Usually I'm not detailed, but I was just like I said with the cast, that was like my headcanon.
Speaker 1:So I took an hour on that last night.
Speaker 2:I would absolutely watch this if it were a show, though I think I would. Oh, yeah, 100% I a show, though oh, yeah, I think I would oh yeah, 100%, I'd be tuning in.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, all right. Well, I think that's probably the end.
Speaker 2:I'm so excited to keep going, though. Me too, I ran out of my Prosecco, but I'll go get more for the next book.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, seriously, prosecco, but I'll go get more for the next book. Yeah, seriously, I say so for the next one. We'll be over on Tales, over Tales. So Daisy Hades yes over there.
Speaker 2:So, listener, if you are as interested in this series as we have been, be sure you're following both podcasts, be sure that you're watching, subscribing, and we will continue diving into the destruction and dysfunction also, if it's a rage read, that's fine.
Speaker 1:It can be a rage read, you can still come and try. I will always be angry with somebody, I'm always.
Speaker 4:If you want someone to be mad about something with you, call me. I will get so much more pissed than you could ever be. She'll hype you up.
Speaker 2:Well, we are so honored to get to be a part of your show today, so thank you so much for having us and, yes, we look forward to having you on ours when we get to record for Daisy Hates. It'll be so much fun. I hope that you guys have a really, really great rest of your day and thank you so so much. This was so much fun.
Speaker 1:Yeah, thank you for coming.
Speaker 4:We don't know what to do with compliments. I'm just going to shut down.
Speaker 2:I'm just going to go hide. If you're not watching this, Susie's like rocking back.
Speaker 1:All right. Well, I think that's it from us. Yes, like subscribe comment. Go over to Tales on Tales.
Speaker 4:Make sure you're subscribed for that Follow them.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yes, please, we love it, we love, love it and until next time we will see you guys then. 3, 2, 1.
Speaker 1:Okay, you can't say anything.
Speaker 2:I'm sorry, I'm putting myself on mute. Okay, okay, I'm muting, okay that's good.
