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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 Tropes We Love & Hate
What makes us turn the page or toss the book? That's the question driving our latest Book Bites mini-episode, where we're pulling back the curtain on the literary devices that either captivate or frustrate us as readers.
Kylee and Susie serve up a deliciously honest conversation about romance novel tropes, revealing their reading preferences with unfiltered enthusiasm. For every "second chance romance" that has us swooning (though we'd never give those second chances in real life), there's a frustrating miscommunication plot that makes us want to scream at fictional characters to just talk to each other already! We dissect why we're suckers for the "he falls first" dynamic, where male protagonists are secretly obsessed while heroines remain oblivious to their affections.
From arranged marriages to workplace romances, royal love stories to found families, we explore what makes these familiar patterns so satisfying when executed well. But we don't hold back on our literary pet peeves either – bully-to-lovers relationships that cross ethical boundaries, love magically "curing" infertility, uncomfortable age gaps, and books that promise romance but deliver nothing spicier than a handshake all make our hit list. And don't get us started on cliffhanger endings without proper epilogues!
Whether you're nodding along in agreement or preparing your counterarguments, this episode celebrates how reading preferences reveal what we value in storytelling. Share your own trope loves and hates with us – we promise we have thick skin (mostly)! After all, the conversation around what makes literature resonate is as fascinating as the books themselves.
Editing done by Connor Luther @clfilms.co
Music by @thundercatlouis
Merch Here
Hi everybody and welcome to our mini episodes, book bites. Book bites is a little bit different every time. I should say uh this time. So for this episode we're doing uh tropes we love or hate. I have a few of each one same. I'm kylie.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, I'm susie if you don't know that already welcome. Um, yeah, so tropes, we love and we hate. Do you want to just go back and forth?
Speaker 1:yeah, okay, uh, first one. I love second chance romance, really Like the one. I'm gonna just drop the episode we did. Go watch our episode. You Deserve Each Other by Sarah. Hoggle. That's fair, I did like that. I'm sorry if I butchered your last name, hoggle. Anyway, I in real life no Like, no second chances. Get wrecked, but in a book. Oh, but he'll change. Yeah, I'm just gonna ignore that anyway.
Speaker 2:Um I wouldn't have guessed that for you. Okay, that's a good one. Uh, my first one is he falls first. Oh, I like when he's more obsessed with her. Yeah, yeah, don't we all? Um, not from a stalking standpoint, uh, like our last one but I do like the he falls first thing, or like, and then she like doesn't know and like she thinks that he doesn't like her, and then he's like his point of view, like oh, she's the most magnificent thing on the world.
Speaker 1:I'm like yes, he's like dear diary. Yeah, there's like dear diary. Yeah, I smell like strawberries today.
Speaker 2:Bring back yearning. Okay, yeah, bridgerton has it right.
Speaker 1:Give me an Anthony.
Speaker 2:That's the best season, anyway, okay, second thing I love Happily ever after oh, I should have put that I didn't Tied up in a bow, yeah Her closure.
Speaker 1:Love it. Oh, I should have put that I didn't Tied up in a bow, yeah.
Speaker 2:Her closure Mm-hmm, ooh, ooh Love it Love me.
Speaker 1:an epilogue.
Speaker 2:I feel, oh, me too. Me too, I used to like literally roll my eyes at them.
Speaker 1:And now, if there isn't one, I want a family. I'm upset, yeah.
Speaker 2:I agree with you. My second one is like any sort of arranged marriage or like a marriage of convenience. Oh yeah, yeah, because then he'll be like, don't talk to my wife like that, and I'm like, yeah, so a lot of mafia romances fall into the arranged marriage. But then there's like marriage of convenience, of like you know, who knows?
Speaker 1:So I love those. The next one fake dating, okay, ah yes, so over complicated and stupid. There's always some kind of miscommunication drama that happens love it eat it up, because then they always fall in love with each other too, while they're like faking it yeah, this isn't real. And then?
Speaker 2:yes, it is, and then they go tell me this isn't real. Yes, yes. My next one is uh, I love a royal romance, or, like anything, celebrity romance. They're kind of doing the same to me. Um, specifically a royal romance I need to read one. I am yeah I I like those a lot.
Speaker 1:I feel like with reading we're I'm Princess Jasmine in this moment and you're like I can show you my world.
Speaker 2:Yes, except like you in the last one, I'll need more of those.
Speaker 1:Can I please, can you just send me a PDF? Categorize them for me.
Speaker 2:Trigger warnings over here. Yeah, the more the merrier. I saw something the other day. It was like uh, my toxic trait is I don't read the trigger warnings, cause I don't like a spoiler.
Speaker 1:And I was like facts, surprise, surprise, yeah. What? What the fuck man? Okay, next one Grumpy slash scary man versus the happy sunshine girl like Beauty and the Beast. Grumpy sunshine, yeah.
Speaker 2:I also like it when it's reversed yes, where he's the sunshine and she's the grumpy. Which I think is like golden retriever black hat Kind of like our flight yeah. My next one is a found family so I love like she has family problems but like she has like friends that help her through things and stuff like that so that she like makes her own family love that that is a very sweet, wholesome thing.
Speaker 1:Yeah, childhood friends to lovers oh yeah, I'm a.
Speaker 2:I'm a big friends to lover. I didn't put it in here, but I do enjoy that okay, and then uh, six workplace romance maybe I'm biased because I met my husband at work, but I'm a sucker like you never know.
Speaker 1:Girls, put that eyeliner on, brush your hair before you go to work you never know or be a troll like me and still get a husband. So it works um, I don't think I've really read much office, not office workplace romances, really I don't think I really have either, but like in movies and stuff, yeah, you like the vibe of it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, um, my last two. The first one is uh toucher and you die. Love that, okay. And uh, my last one is a female killer. But for revenge, love that, love it. I love like a. You know the rules are reversed specifically if you don't know throughout the most of the book and then you find out at the end that, like she's crazy oh yeah I'm thinking of the perfect marriage that was, yeah, same same kind of vibe. Great. Okay, those were our loves, let's move into our hate now things, things we hate.
Speaker 1:Love to talk about things I hate. Oh sure, I'll go first. Yeah, you go first Judy. Oh darn, I'm so bad. Okay, the one I hate the most that's happening in a series that we're reading a lot miscommunication breakups, Like girl, at least know the facts, or vice versa. Either way, people, before you make a really permanent decision, like just make sure you know, Because you'll look like me and for a book and a half or two books you'll just motherfucking hate this person, Not knowing that they've had so much undealt with trauma. Okay.
Speaker 2:Susie and BJ. I know not what you speak of Mine's same tone, so I'll say that one, even though it's later in my list. I mean miscommunication, not so much the breakup, but like where they just can't talk drives me insane, and the breakup aspect of it too. But, in general. Well, so-and-so told me this and then I didn't ask ask him about it, but I just like left the country and I never spoke to him again.
Speaker 1:That shit makes me so angry.
Speaker 2:Huh.
Speaker 1:Yeah, not a fan of that Bully to lovers. I'm not the biggest fan of that, always, just, you know, just don't rip me to shreds and tear me down first before I'm good enough for you.
Speaker 2:I can handle banter, but like don't fucking bully me. So I also have a bully. I don't like to. I don't want you to be mean, like too much I'm also.
Speaker 1:I'm better at being mean, so like, oh, we're being rude. Oh my gosh, I'm going to make you want to end it.
Speaker 2:Let me show you how I grew up. Do not be fucking mean to me, like, don't make me bring that out.
Speaker 1:Oh, I agree, when our maiden name starts coming out and we're like right.
Speaker 2:I grew up in a family of fighters, yeah, so, yes, I agree with the bully, Like specifically, like when he's just like kind of mean to her and I'm like nah, Nah, no, don't like that If he's like obsessed with her, but he's kind of like a little bit rude Snarky, that's okay.
Speaker 2:Yeah, snarky, narcissistic, I will have to say I did have to, like my one exception here is going to be Darius from Zodiac Academy, because he was awful, but all those boys were awful to them. It's different. It's different. He's loud. That's why I was like that will be my one exception. You are the only exception. I have a friend who's reading it and she's like bro, and I was like I know, but just like you know, hear me out, hear me out. She's like they're just really awful to the girls but, like you know, you don't it gets better.
Speaker 1:They say they're sorry, stupid in real life, her husband's sitting on the dishwasher. I'm done with this man for real on the dishwasher, justin and Eric. Now, okay, next one double heart. Okay, justin and Eric now Okay.
Speaker 2:Next one H-H-H Double H Okay.
Speaker 1:Too slow of a slow burn. Okay, do not If a book is this thick. If I still haven't had a hookup or a kiss and I'm this far, I'm never picking up one of your books again. That's fair, like, get it together and be a reasonable person.
Speaker 2:I'll give you 50% Halfway. I need you, thank you. Okay, okay, two each their own.
Speaker 1:You're entitled to your opinion.
Speaker 2:There's nothing wrong with that man. You were like pulling your hair out in Powerless then I was too a little bit. Honestly, I'm hoisting up an octave.
Speaker 1:I don't think I can read that next one because it's gonna kill me. Yes, do something.
Speaker 2:Go on, do something. That's pretty good one. I gave it halfway. I have like a halfway. Give me something, give me even a. Who did this to you? Give me a ripping up the dress. So powerless did feed you, just they didn't give you a buffet yeah, they just.
Speaker 1:It was like the Atkins time you're eating but you're never full. You a buffet? Yeah, they just. It was like the Atkins type You're eating, but you're never full, you're never satisfied and you're always asking for more.
Speaker 2:But you're working too. I'm laughing so hard, I'm crying, I'm crying. We're filming at night. If anyone couldn't guess, it's been a long day of sitting around.
Speaker 1:Oh gosh, oh no, okay, keep going.
Speaker 2:I'll let you have a moment. Yeah, thank you, I knew it was coming like five minutes ago.
Speaker 1:You didn't even see it. I kept trying to be cool. Couldn't be cool, okay.
Speaker 2:Okay, I've talked about this before. I hate the alcoholic detective that has a personal tie to the case, and this time is going to be different Ruin his career. He's probably divorced.
Speaker 1:He lost his wife because he's so dedicated to the job.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but he couldn't put down the bottle and that's probably divorced. He lost his wife because he's so dedicated to the job. Yeah, but like he couldn't put down the bottle and like you know, that's her problem.
Speaker 1:Can't do it, cannot Immediate. A book we read last year makes a little more sense now. You were a little bit like at the main character. Yeah, I was like we're not usually this like no, I can't handle it 90% of the time, I will not read a detective book.
Speaker 2:I know where it's going and I don't like. I'm so over it. I need it to not be a thing I can't. Okay, I won't read it. I won't read any detective book at this point because I'm not dealing with it.
Speaker 1:You know that's very fair, that's very fair.
Speaker 2:I have a million other books I can read. I don't need to read. Well, I was going to say the same one over and over, but like I do that, so yeah, that's okay.
Speaker 1:Next, character separation. In the way I don't like it when you're in a book and these two people are, like they're the main characters, and then somebody has to take a trip or somebody gets taken whatever it's going to be. And then you have to read two separate books for the rest of the book until they can come back together. And then you want me to put these stories. I'm bored and tired, I agree.
Speaker 2:I'm here for them, yeah. I'm not here for yay Side quest yeah, no, not on the side quest. That was yeah, I'm not in for yay or nay Side quest. Yeah, no, not on the side quest. Oh, that was funny. My next one, and I've read this a few times and I can't stand it. Love curing infertility Dude. I'm so glad you two are annoyed by that I thought I couldn't get pregnant, but Okay, and I think it's very insensitive, honestly.
Speaker 1:I'm glad that you said that. Because yeah, I agree, it wasn't on my list, but now that I think about it, I'm like yeah, actually, yeah, screw that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, screw them. I agree. I agree with my own statement. Thank you, I'm tired. Yeah, I don't like it. I think it's icky. I think if you know a girl has talked about fertility problems the entire time, she should probably not be able to have kids. Maybe they adopt or something like that. But Be realistic. Yeah, I don't like it of like oh well, now it's a miracle.
Speaker 1:And then she goes on to have seven kids or whatever.
Speaker 2:Yeah, not a fan. That was probably a really lovely sound for you to hear. Sorry.
Speaker 1:As if my hyena. I feel like I laugh like a hyena.
Speaker 2:Remember when you first started and I said do I laugh like a hyena? Because?
Speaker 1:I feel like I do. Anyway. Number five Of all the things I hate in this world. We wouldn too long of an episode anyway. Number five no spice. Okay, when there's not even a smooch or a makeout or nothing. If I wanted a boring book, I'd read the bible again, like I don't need to it makes me mad.
Speaker 2:Pardon, that makes sense for you. Yeah, that shakes out, I'm bored. Next, I'm like no thriller books, okay, Not anymore. I don't I get where you're coming from, but I think once you got into a thriller it'd be fine.
Speaker 1:Maybe I just burned out from the no spice books.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I spent so long, yeah well, but you're like just getting into spicy books. So so now you're having this newfound freedom of all these chocolate cheesecake.
Speaker 1:Oh my god, yep, that makes sense I'm finally off the adkins diet.
Speaker 2:I can taste it and it tastes like chocolate. Okay, my next one is uncomfy age gaps. Hear me out. Yep, she's 18.
Speaker 1:And he's 40.
Speaker 2:Honey, yeah, I can't, I cannot, I can't do it, I'm sorry.
Speaker 1:I need an age gap like under 18 years, like I don't, she can't do it, I'm sorry. I need an age gap like under 18 years. She can't be 18. She can't be 18.
Speaker 2:Bottom line If she's 18, I feel weird about it because she was 17 yesterday, you know, like just Now, to be clear, if she's 18 and he's a 500-year-old Faye, you know, hey, that's a different story.
Speaker 1:I was literally about to ask. I was like so what we actually meant is, if it's it needs, the age gap cannot be your dad More than 20. But also, if it's more than 20, it must be over 100.
Speaker 2:Then we can rediscuss.
Speaker 1:You know, hey, edward Bella, it was fine, it's not his fault that he had to wait 140 years for his soulmate.
Speaker 2:And Bella was an old soul and if that gets brought up, bring it up. She almost spat all over it. Oh God, Do they get it together If that gets brought up.
Speaker 1:Okay, I'm not going to laugh so hard, I cry. I'm not going to laugh so hard, I cry, Get it together.
Speaker 2:With an uncomfy age gap, and then he goes. But she's an old soul, yeah, god, mm-hmm. Okay, got it.
Speaker 1:Age gap, and then he goes but she's an old soul, yeah, yeah, okay, got it.
Speaker 2:Uh, next cliffhangers and no epilogue what if you read the next book?
Speaker 1:well, I was. I was acting as I was pretending.
Speaker 2:It's a standalone like oh, you give me cliffhanger, no epilogue and, if it Like so, if you give me cliffhanger, no epilogue.
Speaker 1:And if it's a series and you do a cliffhanger and I gotta wait years for you to write the next one.
Speaker 2:That's a problem. Yeah, I would agree on the extent of if things are kind of left like up for interpretation. Mm-hmm that I Look at us, we're both like like up for interpretation.
Speaker 1:That I.
Speaker 2:I read the Cabin at the End of the World, which is now based on the movie Knock at the Cabin. I finished that book and it is left up for interpretation and I never read another one of his. I was pissed. I want to know if this is happening or if it's not, if it's all made up and like a crazy person is like coming to the thing you know that would drive me insane.
Speaker 1:And not to give me a there's when movies end like that, I'm like, all right, I'm watching for that director name and I'm never I'm not doing this again.
Speaker 2:Again. I agree A hundred percent. Mentioned this in the last one. The chemistry is just so strong and blah, blah, blah. Okay, I can't. I knew it was him because of the chemistry Shut up.
Speaker 1:No, you didn't Shut up.
Speaker 2:No, can't, can't do that, I don't like it.
Speaker 1:As to go back to the book we just read is it chemistry or a personality disorder?
Speaker 2:Maybe both. Yeah, yeah, I'm not a fan of that, or like not this book, but like, if someone's like masked or in disguise and they're like I knew it was him because I could feel the chemistry between us, I think it's that word that I just really don't like Okay, whatever, Get on with your bad self. Yeah, Not a fan of that.
Speaker 1:Like here in the real world, we just call it vibes. But sure, chemistry.
Speaker 2:Yeah, like it, just Okay. Whatever Patricia Like moving on yeah, not a fan.
Speaker 1:All Patricia Like moving on yeah, not a fan, all right, well let us know, tell us the things you love and hate about books.
Speaker 2:Yeah, all the tropes, and if you agree or if you disagree, mm-hmm, we got thick skin.
Speaker 1:She's got a ton of it.
Speaker 2:Okay, that'll be it for Book Bites. Bye, bye, bye.
