%20(1).png)
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
BOOK BITES Books We Wish We Could Read Again For The First Time
Imagine revisiting the magic of your favorite book as if it were the first time. That's exactly what we explore in this episode of Book Bites! Join us, your hosts Kylee and Susie, as we embark on a nostalgic journey with our friends Allysha and Jordan. We kick off with Susie's tear-jerker favorite, "The Things We Leave Unfinished" by Rebecca Yarros, and Allysha melts our hearts with her fond memories of discovering the "Harry Potter" series. Jordan enchants us with the charm of "Remarkably Bright Creatures" by Shelby Van Pelt, while Kylee reminisces about the messy "Magnolia Parks" series and the unforgettable allure of the "Twilight" saga. Together, we relive those first-time reading experiences that left lasting impressions and shaped our literary paths.
But the magic doesn't stop there. We dive into the wild world of unique reads and captivating series that keep us eagerly turning pages. From an unexpected romance with blue aliens to the haunting themes of Stephen Graham Jones's "The Only Good Indians," our discussion is as diverse as it is engaging. We also share our excitement for the next installment in the Empyrean series, which promises rich world-building and important representation. As we swap stories of midnight releases and pre-orders, there's a palpable excitement in the air—a shared anticipation for the next great adventure waiting for us within the pages of a book. So, grab your favorite bookmark and join us for a heartwarming episode celebrating the joy and anticipation of reading.
Editing done by Connor Luther @clfilms.co
Music by @thundercatlouis
Merch Here
Hello, hello everyone, and welcome to another Book Bites episode. I'm Kylie, I'm Susie and we are joined again by our friends Alicia and Jordan. Hi guys, hello, hello. It's so good to see your beautiful faces again. Thank you for coming to our mini episodes. So these are kind of new and it's just kind of mini topics about certain things. It can be all bookish, it can be anything but just a little kind of extra content, essentially. So this episode we decided to do books. We wish we could read again for the first time.
Speaker 1:So I'm kind of this is hard.
Speaker 2:I had a hard time, I know, I know you. Just, you take yourself back to like the moment when you first read just an incredible book and you're like, oh, if I could go over and re-experience that all over again, that would be. That was kind of the premise behind this whole idea, right?
Speaker 1:so I'm excited to hear what you all came up with one of mine is a little bit of a hear me out. Those are the best. Those are my favorite.
Speaker 3:I get more excited about that kind of stuff, when she's like okay, okay, who wants to start? Susie, start Okay.
Speaker 1:I'll make her start.
Speaker 3:Okay, my first book was one that we actually did not too long ago, for let's go one for one.
Speaker 1:Okay, I was about to ask, but do you want me to do all three?
Speaker 3:Perfect, so my first pick was the Things we Leave Unfinished by Rebecca Yarrow. That was my first ugly cry book. I had never like wept. That was my first ugly cry book. I had never like wept. That was bad the way that.
Speaker 2:I.
Speaker 3:Wow, that was such a good book. It's a World War II love story drama and there's like two timelines in it. I remember listening to your guys' episode on it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, do you?
Speaker 1:need a cry, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3:She will deliver. Five out of five stars Loved. Oh my God Wish I could read it again.
Speaker 1:Fair Alicia. What was yours First one?
Speaker 4:So I feel like mine is kind of like a typical answer, but I would say my book is Harry Potter. Oh, nice, yeah, I'm actually rereading um everything right now, like all the books. But um, yeah, I think that because that's what like started, I think for most of us like the journey of reading so um yeah, and just kind of like being a kid and all the fantasy behind it. But then when you get older you like reread it and you re-watch the movies and you could relate to the trauma also. It like hits different, it hits different. So I would definitely say Harry Potter is one for me have you um?
Speaker 1:have you read Manacled? No, it's a Harry Potter fan fiction. I just finished it. I finished it, you guys. It's so long, it's so insanely long. It's pretty good, though, anyway, so if it's not on TV we're going to have to stop reading.
Speaker 4:It was 900-something pages?
Speaker 1:Yeah, it was, and like I read pretty quickly and it was on my Kindle too, it's also being published. It took me like two weeks of nonstop reading, but it is kind of Harry. Potter based.
Speaker 4:So if you like Harry Potter, I would probably read it Okay.
Speaker 2:On my list. So one of mine that I decided to bring I don't know if any of you have read it remarkably bright creatures by shelby van pelt incredible, and it's being made. It's being adapted into a film, I believe with sally fields, which I am like super excited about. Basically, all I'm gonna give you for the setup or the premise, it's the relationship, the very endearing relationship, between an old woman and an octopus, as a matter of fact, it's like, um, it's like the octopus teacher on netflix yeah, it's like in the first person of the octopus yeah, I love those guys oh.
Speaker 4:I know no, jordan, if you liked that book, you would love that documentary. It's about this guy who, like he, goes through life with an octopus and it's so beautiful.
Speaker 2:I I cried because it was so good yeah, so I read this in my local book club and it has stuck with me forever. So if I could reread that, it would be fantastic for the first, I love it yeah that's good.
Speaker 1:um, I'm gonna just just because it feels right with all four of us here. Uh, my first one was magnolia parks the og, really, you would want to reread it for the first time, for the first time, absolutely Like. I literally was, like I am Magnolia Parks after I read it, like I was so consumed with it when I first read it and I've reread it since then and it would still be on my list of like. If I could do that for the first time again, I totally would. Okay, so that was my felt right to put it there.
Speaker 3:Okay, my next one is a series. If I could reread Twilight I don't want to read that, my God. I would wipe my own memory three times just to read those again. I don't care how much time has passed. I'm so excited. I love that.
Speaker 1:I love those books so much. Elkie would be so proud. That's a good one. I'm proud and also, but I think at the same time you had to be like what, 15 or whatever, like I would have to be in that mindset too. Yeah, it'd be you the feel of it, yeah, the first time, yep, when you get to breaking down Like the deep breathing, preparing.
Speaker 2:I have Midnight Sun on my shelf. That's the one from Edward's point of view. I haven't finished yet.
Speaker 3:I never read it.
Speaker 2:Really Uh-uh.
Speaker 4:I don't know, I don't even think.
Speaker 2:I got 100 pages in to be completely honest.
Speaker 3:I act shocked as a girl that didn't read it at all, like whoa, I think it's hard because the friendship just tanked real quick, and I'm just kidding, I think it's hard if you've already Like if you already know the story.
Speaker 2:it's hard to be excited to reread something even if it's just in somebody's point of view. Yeah, yeah. No, I agree with that. I agree with that.
Speaker 4:So funny story about Twilight. My dad works in construction and he actually worked with Stephanie's brother and I, so I got to meet, meet him and I got to meet their mom at one of their picnics. And, um, beautiful family. By the way, it was like, well, yeah, because they live out here, don't?
Speaker 2:they? Doesn't, stephanie Meyer like live in Scottsdale?
Speaker 4:yeah, so they live out here. Yeah, so it was like really cool and um, yeah, we could like we're able to get like her book signed by her too, and it was, it was nice we both the dream.
Speaker 2:What's next?
Speaker 3:you're gonna call that a vacation. I have a hair in my eyeball oh my gosh, that is too funny.
Speaker 4:Um, okay, so for me, I absolutely loved this book. I love the broadway the. The movie just came out, you guys, fair, I, if, if I could, I love this. Just everything about wicked is like so good to me. Yeah, I love it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so I did not know you had read the book yeah, but for you, honestly, this will, this will.
Speaker 4:I don't even know like what number times I have read the book I well, and what's interesting is that the musical is so different. The musical is very, very different from the book. Yeah, exactly, and I love how, um every like broadway show and like every time like there's different cast members, they all do the riffs differently for every song, so it's always a unique experience every time. And then when the movie came out, I cried like a baby and I was like this is just. It's so good you know it was so, so good.
Speaker 4:It was amazing, yeah, so that's my second pick very, very good choice.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I like it okay.
Speaker 2:I like it. Okay, so I was introduced to Abby Jimenez this year just for the summer Last year, last year. You're right, we're in 2025 now. Hello honey, it takes a long time for me to get adjusted.
Speaker 3:I usually don't figure it out until like May.
Speaker 2:But just for the summer by Abby Jimenez was phenomenal. If I could go back to reread this for the first time, it's just incredible. Um, basically, these two like star-crossed lovers, if you will, justin and amy. They've always been emma, they've always been unlucky in love, right like. They're always the one that like, ends up they, they end up with you before you find your person. And so justin and emma realize that they both are kind of this. They have this like curse, if you will. So they're like what if we just dated each other and broke each other's curses and it was really good?
Speaker 1:it's really yeah I'm glad that's on your list because she's one of the authors I want to check out this year. I have that book from book of the month actually, specifically, but I have a couple of her others and I just haven't read them and I know that people really, really like her.
Speaker 2:So I would, and that's the first of hers that I've read. That's the first one of hers that I've read. I've read two other one of hers that I've read. I've read two other ones now since then. So highly recommend starting with it, because she's so good. Okay, she's hesitating. Susie, why is she hesitating?
Speaker 3:I'm scared. I peeked at the notes and I'm like she doesn't need to hesitate. These are amazing. Did you see? Yeah, I did. I'm sorry.
Speaker 1:So my first, hear me out if you've never heard of this. This is actually kind of my only like here hear me out. Um, if you've never heard of this, I apologize in advance. Um, but I think it's a experience that you maybe just have to experience. So it's going to be Ice Planet Barbarians.
Speaker 3:I didn't see that I saw under it. I thought you were so worried about that. I was like girl, but okay, now I understand.
Speaker 1:Have you ever heard of Ice Planet Barbarians? It's Ice Planet Barbarians. Ah, ah, it's Ice Planet Barbarians. No, okay, well, um, it's an incredible story, one of a kind. It's one of a kind. So essentially, it's um, everyone look away so she can discover. I'm looking up, it's fine, it's. She said don't look there. It's about aliens and humans, and this group of humans is captured by a different set of aliens that does like trafficking, but then the ship gets wrecked on a I can't look you, claire. But then the ship gets wrecked on a different planet with these very hunky blue aliens and their race is dying. We get giant Costco-sized.
Speaker 2:Smurfs okay, Thunder from down under with Smurfs. You had me through the trafficking, just try it out. I can get down with some aliens, yeah, but I'm uh, it's just an experience.
Speaker 3:I never in a million years expected you to put that on there. I really didn't.
Speaker 1:Well, I think it's one of those things that, like I don't know, like it's just so different from everything, where you're just like it's so enjoyable to be, like what is even happening, right?
Speaker 2:you know what you don't, hey, you don't have to defend or justify your choices. That is that is all.
Speaker 3:We are much more tame about it than I expected us to be hold on.
Speaker 1:Yes, ma'am okay, wait.
Speaker 4:Yes, I mean, you know, I I feel like just accept it. Yeah, I think that's just kind of where I'm at. I'm like wait, hold on. So what I heard, like blue hung alien, and I was like wait, where is this going? I was like hold on. So, um, okay, well, I need you to put this in the group chat because I'm not going to remember. Um, but I feel like I need to read this, um, because now I'm intrigued and I'm also really scared so you have to promise you'll still talk to me if I it's just look, it's like a 22 book series.
Speaker 1:You don't have to read them all. Did I read like the first three? Yeah, yeah, I did.
Speaker 3:Okay, whatever, but it's just, I thought you were going to say the first 13.
Speaker 1:I just feel like it should be like to. If you've never like you guys just witnessed it. Like, what are you talking about? Like to have that while you're reading of like, hold on what. I think it's a reading experience You've been where, with who?
Speaker 2:Okay moving on.
Speaker 1:So anyway.
Speaker 2:All right, what about you, susie? What's your next?
Speaker 3:one. My last pick was again one that we did an episode on, because I wasn't a super reader before this podcast, so like there was some Okay, yeah, I mean I read, but not like I do now. So anyway, my last one is the Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones.
Speaker 3:I like how we both have very like fucked up books for our children, but like this one was my first like horror book. That wasn't a Stephen King book, because I suffered through a few Stephen Kings before I realized that like he's incredible, but just not what I'm.
Speaker 2:The book lover that I am, if you can believe it, I've never picked up Stephen King.
Speaker 3:Me neither I like. I enjoyed a couple, but then I was suffering. I have several that are unfinished Cause I was just like broski I get it. It's broski, I get it, it's a brick road anyway. So, uh, this book is about like people that made a really bad choice a long time ago and karma's coming back for you. Mixed, dabbled in with a little bit of, uh, native american, like mythology and culture all it was.
Speaker 1:It was a a mind trip, for sure it sounds like a mind.
Speaker 3:Yeah, really I might read it again. I'm not really a big, I won't really usually read a book twice, but this one I typically do not either. Actually I'll re-watch a movie like 17 times, but I don't know what. I guess my, my brain's like so much work. We just pictured everything all right what about you.
Speaker 4:Um, so my last one is a series. Um, just because, oh gosh, it was just so good and the third book is coming out this month. Um, so the Empyrean series, fourth wing, loved it. I loved it so much. Um, it made my list too.
Speaker 4:Yes, I know I'm so excited. I know I am too. Um, yeah, it was just like, you know, my first intro to the world building, to the dragons, you know, to, um, characters that are part of, like, the disabled community and you know, just kind of, uh, appreciating their strength and what they go through with their you know, with what they, um, um, go through in life and everything. Um, but, yeah, fourth wing, iron flame beautiful. Uh, I'm so excited for onyx I'm I'm excited for onyx storm. I'm scared. Same for onyx storm. Um, there's high expectations there's, there really is. Yeah, so I will be at Barnes and Noble for the midnight release and I will probably be up for a few hours after I get the book and read it, cause I need it in my life, I need to know what's going to happen, so, so, there's that.
Speaker 1:I have mine on pre-order, Mine's on pre-order. It'll come to the house. I'm not. I'm not going to go.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, mine's on pre-order. It'll come to the house, I'm not. I'm not gonna go. Oh yeah, no same. But so when? No, but when iron flame came out this is funny story when iron flame did come out, ally actually did hook a girl up because I was waiting and waiting all day. Yep, and she got me a copy and I, like, raced over and met her over at Barnes and Noble and like I saw something she would do, she'd be, like hey, I got you the copy because the line is fucking ridiculous.
Speaker 4:So yeah, you want to go get some tea boil, and then we'll go home and read exactly.
Speaker 2:No, I'm so glad that you did that yeah, yeah.
Speaker 4:It was just funny too, because when iron flame had came out, I was at work and I told my boss like listen, I love my job, but priorities, I need to run a barnes and noble and get a book. And he was like, yeah, like go ahead and whatever. But he didn't know it was going to be gone for so long. I'm like sorry, I was like I brought you back ice cream. So you know, there's my compromise no issues here.
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah, that's really. I love that oh, okay.
Speaker 2:Well, I'll wrap up my selection then. Since she included fourth wing, I would absolutely reread this series for the first time if I could. I am obsessed and love but my last book I was going to bring for books. I wish I could reread this series for the first time.
Speaker 4:If I could, I am obsessed and love.
Speaker 2:But my last book I was gonna bring for books I wish I could reread for the first time was Kristin Hannah. Yeah, she is hands-down, just my favorite author. I'm actually in the middle of listening to one of her books on audible right now and I and I'm I'm obsessed. I love everything that she writes. So if I could experience every single one of her books for the first time, every single time I read it, that would be my choice, that one in particular. This one is really good and essentially it's about a woman that is a nurse in Vietnam that goes to Vietnam during the war. Yep.
Speaker 1:I don't think I could put myself through the emotional state of that book again Like as soon as you picked that up my heart hurt and I was like oh, that's the risk you take with every Christian Emotional damage. I'm not kidding, I finished that, or I wasn't even finished with it. I was reading it on my Kindle and I had the blanket and I was just ugly crying in the middle of the night and Justin's like sound asleep by me, so I'm like trying to be quiet. Oh, that yeah.
Speaker 2:I know, I know, I know so good Her writing is so beautiful, yeah so, I know, I know, but it's just so good, her writing is so beautiful, yeah so.
Speaker 3:I agree, I love it. I love it.
Speaker 2:I love it.
Speaker 1:Okay, well, I have two more. I'll just quickly go through. Yes, please, okay. So one is a series and that's Zodiac Academy.
Speaker 2:If I could read that for the first time, I totally would. She's got me into it. I'm happy Really. I haven't started yet, but friends keep telling me that I need to. Oh yeah, it's so good.
Speaker 3:It's that good.
Speaker 4:I, I, I just started it. I got the first book and I'm I mean, I just I have so much going on right now and I'm trying to read it. Yeah, I'm hooked.
Speaker 1:I already want the rest of them, and I think what's so great about it is there's so much going on at all times that you never like you don't feel like there's any wasted time, like things are just constantly happening, and then at the end of every one, it's like like it's just so intense, it it's just yeah, yeah, so yeah, that series. Okay, another series, and this is by SC Abbey and it's called the Mindfuck series and there's five different books in it. It's so good.
Speaker 2:I haven't started it yet. I think I had actually heard of this one. It's pretty dark.
Speaker 1:It's pretty dark's pretty dark, I will say that. But and it's definitely like there's some parts that probably are gonna make you feel a little squeezy, but it's like it kind of has like a revenge plot to it. It doesn't kind of it is kind of a revenge plot in a whole, but like it was. So I love the story, I love the revenge aspect. I love the revenge aspect. I love like a girl kind of serial killer, if we're going to be honest. Yes, like I love that when she has like a purpose and like she's getting revenge on these men.
Speaker 2:I'm thinking is it like that show Revenge? Do you remember that show?
Speaker 1:I never watched it.
Speaker 2:Okay, I didn't really either, but I mean, I always heard really good things.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And that's what it made me think of.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so I love a plot like that, where it's like a woman who's like getting revenge against people who did her wrong. Love it, love it. It was so good. It's so sad and heartbreaking at the same time, but I read probably the whole thing in a few days and I cried at the end of it. It was really good. You have a copy of this. I gave it to you.
Speaker 2:Kylie says don't worry, I got you covered, yeah.
Speaker 1:I gave it to her like randomly.
Speaker 3:Yep, she'll be like look, just read it sometime, like you'll just have it. So it's sitting next to my bed like let me Read me, you'll just have it.
Speaker 1:So it's sitting next to my bed like Mommy, read me, I love it. Oh my gosh, all right. Well, there we have it. Books we wish we could reread for the first time. I know Book bite it's fun little thingy-so.
Speaker 4:Yeah, I love it.
Speaker 2:A little book bite. You call it a book bite? Yeah, I don't, that's.
Speaker 3:It took everything in me this whole time not to be like, like, don't be weird.
Speaker 1:Me. Oh, ladies do.
Speaker 3:Oh my gosh, so much fun.
Speaker 1:Well, thank you guys for coming. We appreciate you and we'll see you next time.
Speaker 4:Yep, yes, all right Sounds good, all righty, bye, bye.
