Jun 6, 2021
Scoob
...Super tiny this time, sohopefully I'm not like way too quiet, but when I listened back itwas fine. So yeah, it should be should be fine.
Krissy
It's okay!
Krissy
We did the we did club sync lasttime, right?
Scoob
Yes we did. It works reallywell.
Krissy
[Happy, delightedsquealing]
Scoob
Episode Two! OfTrash...
Krissy
Episode Two, technically episodeone.
Scoob
Technically episode one. Yeah, Iguess that last episode was episode zero.
Krissy
Yeah it was!
Scoob
Of Trash & Treasures!
Krissy
[More happysquealing]
Scoob
The romance novel-- lesbianromance novel... WLW
Krissy
WLW!
Scoob
Romance media Podcast, wherewe--
Krissy
Ladies loving ladies!
Scoob
Talk about ladies loving ladies,in the best possible way.
Krissy
No trouble only fun. So,Alright, that's right I had notes.
Scoob
You did have notes!
Krissy
As soon as, as soon as I sawyou, I was like, Scoobyyyyy! I knew this would happen too. Icompletely fucking forgot everything I wanted to say.
Scoob
[Laughing]
Krissy
So that is why I took somenotes. Okay, intro better. Oh, yeah, that's right. How the fuck areyou?! How have you been?!
Scoob
Oh, you know what, slowlygetting better every day. I'm Ah, I think I might have mentionedthis. I'm really embracing my beachbum sort of mentality andlifestyle.
Krissy
Yeah?
Scoob
Both in working outside of work.So I'm learning to kind of just roll with life. It only took afamily member dying for me to you know, unlock that. But it'sfine.
Krissy
Sometimes that is what happensis you get a job to system like that.
Scoob
Yeah
Krissy
And my condolences,also.
Scoob
Thank you. It's uhh it's hard.It's the first time I've ever regretted moving abroad,right?
Krissy
Yeah?
Scoob
Is that I couldn't be there withmy family. Right?
Krissy
Yeah.
Scoob
I had to watch the YouTubestream of the service and be facetimed into the grave site. Andlike that was harder than I ever could have imagined. And this isthe first like, big death in my family that I've kind ofexperienced. There's been other deaths and they
Krissy
Like as an adult?
Scoob
As an adult, it is the firstdefinitely. Um...Yeah, that's a good way to put it. Actually, thelast two big ones, I was sort of an unruly teenager in college. Solike it really it did not hit the same. This, you know, this Auntwas the reason I have an education and, you know, sent me toprivate school and enabled me to learn music and enabled me to bethe person I am today, basically [tearing up], so it's it's beenrough I I'm still learning what grieving is like, it's new. It'sweird. It's difficult. Um, I do have random moments, um, I think itwas, it was maybe either Tuesday night or Wednesday night I was inthe shower, and I just broke down out of nowhere. And...
Krissy
Yeah, sometimes it's gonna belike a delayed grief.
Scoob
Yeah!
Krissy
Ya know, nobody mourns the sameway. Have you seen that one infographic of the box and thebutton?
Scoob
I don't think so.
Krissy
Okay, someone once describedgrief as like a box. And in the box is a button. And when thebutton is pressed, you're going to be in pain, and it's going tohurt. And inside the box is a bouncing ball. And for the first fewweeks, it's going to be a huge ball. And it's going to beconstantly pressed up against the button, or it's going to bebouncing around and keep hitting it at random moments. And so overtime, the ball does get smaller, but it never fully goes away. Andevery so often it'll bounce just right and hit thebutton.
Scoob
It's like watching the-- likethe DVD pause screen.
Scoob &Krissy
[Starting to laugh reallyhard]
Krissy
I didn't wanna saythat!
Scoob
Waiting for it to hit thecorners! But like...
Krissy
That's exactly what Ithought.
Scoob
But like in the bad feel way.Not the good feel way. Um, that's a really good visualization forit. Thank you.
Krissy
Yeah!
Scoob
I hadn't thought that way. But,I'm, despite the sad topic--
Krissy
If I find the picture I'll sendit to you.
Scoob
Cool.
Krissy
Someone drew a very simplediagram of what it looks like. But I'm sure it trackedanyway.
Scoob
Yeah, no, I totally did. Andagain, despite the sad topic to start this with, like I'm, I'mdoing okay, it's... I'm an adult, I cope. I have to move on. I haveto you know, do this. She she had a saying that she was known forand she had variations of this but. Aunt Dolly's thing... The thingshe is maybe known for saying is, "Don't put that out in theuniverse", right? "Don't put anything negative out into theuniverse." And so
Krissy
Yeah?
Scoob
I've been kind of, in my mindenvisioning a tattoo in the future that's like space,right?
Krissy
[big gasp]
Scoob
With, with that quote withinthe... the space! Of that tattoo.
Krissy
Yeah, the universe!
Scoob
Yeah, exactly!
Krissy
That would be sick. That wouldbe amazing.
Scoob
I might do that. Eventually,when when it's a little bit safer. I've got my birthday tattoo, uh,scheduled now, but it's not gonna be that.
Krissy
I want another tattoo so fuckingbad.
Scoob
[Laughs]
Krissy
When are you and I going to getmatching tattoos?
Scoob
Uh, One day! We're gonna get thesword and the shield from Queen's Gambit! Duh!
Krissy
[Gasp, scream] Yes! Okay, Ididn't want to be that bitch. But yeah, let's do it.
Scoob
Why not? We only live onelife!
Krissy
Why not?!
Scoob
I'm gonna imagine wife tattooswith you!
Krissy
You are my work wife still in myheart.
Scoob
Always, forever.
Krissy
I remember one time I saw thisTwitter thread where someone was making fun of like, they're like,"I just heard my coworker refer to our other coworker as her workwife. Straight women, just say you have a best friend." And I waslike, hey, random stranger on Twitter I never talked to who is notdirecting this at me. I AM queer. And my work wife is alsoqueer!
Scoob
Shut up! It's different! It isdifferent! You will always be my OG work wife always.
Krissy
Oh my God nooo, that's too much.Weh! Yeah, but um, I really want another tattoo. As soon as it'ssafe. I'm gonna get one. I don't know of what. I'll get. I willliterally just get a fucking smiley face.
Scoob
I'm, uh, for my birthday-- LikeI said scheduled in July 3 at 3pm. I am getting the She-Ra heart.Word on my left wrist.
Krissy
You're such aLesbian.
Scoob
I am the ULTIMATE lesbian! Um!But it's-- ugh, God, I cannot wait. And my tattoo artist. She's theone who's done my last four tattoos here in Stockholm. Because shehas admitted to loving tattooing me. She's like, you have the bestskin to tattoo on this planet. Um, it's--
Krissy
Talk about extremely specificcompliments.
Scoob
It's uh, it's-- Right? Itflusters me every time she says it. And she says every time I get atattoo from her. Um...
Krissy
Oooh Lauren, I love tattooingyour skin.
Scoob
I know, ugh! It's too much. Um.No, we're gonna get matching tattoos one day.
Krissy
Um, Yeah!
Scoob
Pick a spot in theworld.
Krissy
Your next tattoo is going tobe...
Scoob
The heart!
Krissy
The birthday tattoo. So the nexttattoo I get is probably going to be our matchingtattoos.
Scoob
Oh man! Hoo! It's okay, we'llhave sick guns by then.
Krissy
Girl. Okay, it was leg day forthe first day in three months.
Scoob
How did you crawl up the stairsto your apartment?
Krissy
[Laughs] Today I woke up and I'mhobbling around whining constantly poor Aaron has to put up withthat. But um, yeah, we did these like fucking tiptoe exercises formy uh, calves.
Scoob
Did you do toe raisers? Oh mygod toe raisers, calf raisers.
Krissy
I'm in agony.
Scoob
I hate those when my PT makes medo them, cause she will get out one of the step like the step upboxes.
Krissy
Yeah?
Scoob
And she'll make me do it on topof that. So I can't even touch the ground. I have tolike--
Krissy
Oh, and you stand on the edge?!That's what I did, that's what I did!
Scoob
And I stand on the edge. Um, andI want to cry every time but I don't because I'm tough.
Krissy
Oh, I'm not tough at all. Andwhen I was done, I was like, ffffff. Like, I keep I try to keep acivil tongue in my head when I'm in public sometimes. Um... Butwhen I was done with that, I was just like, you know, like and 15and I just kind of like crashed over and shouted, "FUCK! I hatethis shit!" My trainer started laughing his ass off.
Scoob
Oh my gosh. In sweden, the, thealligator is now a sign of resistance in protest in support ofblack lives matter because at the Swedish protests I want to saylast week, um, a blow up alligator because it's summer--it's reallysummer here right now. A blown a blow up alligator like poolfloatie was thrown at the police and they did not take kindly toit. So now the alligator is like the thing.
Krissy
COMRADE ALIGATOR!
Scoob
Comrade, pool floatry alligator.But it's it's been interesting. More and more of my colleagues are,are talking about it. So...
Krissy
It's really amazing howinternational this has become like, overnight.
Scoob
Yes.
Krissy
How it feels like almost everycountry in the world is having a Black Lives Matter movement,because it is a global issue.
Scoob
Yes.
Krissy
And I'm glad that people--Idon't know what flip was switched, but I'm really glad that peopleare waking up.
Scoob
Like obviously this issue hasbeen going on forever. Literally forever.
Krissy
Yeah!
Scoob
But 2020 has been sort of thispressurized can of air, right? And each month and each new thingthat happens has been adding the pressure and the pressure and thepressure and the pressure. And I think it's just finally reachedthat popping point for so many people. And! When people don't haveto work, they can mobilize. That's kind of what's been holding somany people back because they can't miss work, no matter how muchthey care about an issue or are personally affected by an issue,because they will be out on the street.
Krissy
Capitalism is a prison! Andwe're all, you know...
Scoob
Because capitalism is a prison.It's true, though. So the fact that so many people
Krissy
Like, it intentionally isdesigned to keep us drained and keep us from fighting for ourrights, because people as a whole have an inherent sense ofdignity, I feel, an inherent sense of self worth. And when that isdamaged or threatened, we will fight back and we will group upbecause we're pack animals, you know?
Scoob
Yes. Yes, so I think it's justbeen this flashbang of enough.
Krissy
And people can't change whenthey're comfortable.
Scoob
No. Oh, God, no.
Krissy
Look at me and my fucking legsafter going to the gym. You think I'm comfortable rightnow?
Scoob
[Laughs] Today was day 53 in arow of doing yoga. So
Krissy
Hell. Yes. Bitch!
Scoob
Over halfway to my 100 day goal.But...
Krissy
I'm only working out three daysa week. Uhhh. But we'll see how it goes.
Scoob
I hit the gym two days a week.It should be three days a week, but I keep sleeping in because Ithink that's just the grief. Honestly draining me.
Krissy
Yeah!
Scoob
I've never had any waking upearly before. Everyone knows I am a morning person to afault.
Krissy
You have an issue! Like notwaking up.
Scoob
I do!
Krissy
Like, you have anissue.
Scoob
I have issues.
Krissy
Like you're incapable ofsleeping in.
Scoob
It's true. I am! I am genuinelyincapable of sleeping in unless I'm sick. And since the... thedeath right to bring it back to that real quick. I have slept inalmost every day.
Krissy
Wow. Well, your body'shealing!
Scoob
Yeah, since the funeral,really.
Krissy
Just like when you'resick.
Scoob
So it's uh, it's beenweird.
Krissy
You do need to heal. You areinjured.
Scoob
Yeah.
Krissy
Not to get all poetic, but we doheal our injuries in our sleep. So.
Scoob
That's true. That's true. SoI've been sleeping. Not necessarily like a rock that same night Ihad that breakdown in the shower. I had nightmares, family relatednightmares all night long. And yet my Fitbit was like, "this wasyour best night of sleep yet. 91%!" And I'm like, Fuck you Fitbit!What do you mean that was my best night of sleep yet?!
Krissy
Why are you doing this to me?!Let's see what else I have on my my notes. Oh, yeah. Music I amsorry, sorry to go by like a fucking itinerary. But I will forgetif I don't go by the thing is like I want to talk to Scooby aboutthe shit that's been going on. And I've been making a lot ofmusic.
Scoob
Yes you have!
Krissy
I'm thinking about maybe makinga theme song. I am really excited by the one I gave youlast.
Scoob
I really dig that one. I, I wantto hear like one more iteration from you. Because you know rule ofthree.
Krissy
Yeah, yeah.
Scoob
But.
Krissy
I think it needs a little bitmore tweaking, but honestly like
Scoob
It's super close.
Krissy
That could be ourintro.
Scoob
It easily could! Like I amcontent with that. I would be happy to ship that, to speak as ifI'm at my job.
Krissy
WIGGLES HAPPILY. Happwigglin'!
Scoob
[Laughs] No, your music career,as I'm going to call it from now on anytime we talk, about it iscoming along really nicely. I'm loving every time you send mestuff. I'm like, this is a little bop. I'm bop over here every timeyou send me stuff.
Krissy
That means so much. I guess I'vebeen thinking about music non stop ever since I was a kid. I justhave never had the drive or the time or the materials to make itwith.
Scoob
The means to. Yeah.
Krissy
And I finally realized, youknow, wait, I have a Mac and a Mac has GarageBand, let me playaround with that.
Scoob
Hell yeah!
Krissy
And it's actually a surprisinglypowerful tool.
Scoob
I'm excited.
Krissy
You know, I used to play theguitar. I took singing lessons. I wouldn't say I'm very good ateither of those things. But I do have some music in me. And itwants to come out
Scoob
Hell yeah! No, our theme will begreat.
Krissy
I gotta to learn more aboutmusic theory, but I don't know. I'm really confident aboutthis.
Scoob
You've got time to do it. That'sthe nice thing. Like, that's the nice thing about finding genuinehobbies. I'm gonna jokingly call it your career, but I'm hoping youkeep it as like a thing you love and not a thing,
Krissy
Yeah!
Scoob
You make productive or make, youknow, have to have some sort of monetary value attached to it.Because, like I'm teaching myself to draw. I don't know if I'vetold you that I'm learning to draw for the first time since I was achild and I have no intention of ever like drawing for commissionsGod willing I get good enough to even think about that. But youknow, no, I just I want to have a nice hobby that's separate fromproductivity, you know?
Krissy
Yeah, speaking of escaping theprison and cages of Capitalism. You know, it's all linked. It's alllinked together.
Scoob
It is.
Krissy
We have an office romance totalk about.
Scoob
We do. In fact, Something ToTalk About is the title of the novel. Something To Talk About byMeryl Wilsner, who I want to say, um so I, I looked into Meryl abit after I finished, I'm fairly certain Meryl uses they/thempronouns just for our reference as we as we talk aboutthem.
Krissy
Yeah, they do! In their authornotes and stuff they looked like they had. Yeah,
Scoob
I noticed that at the end,reading... This is the first time this is embarrassing. This is thefirst time I read like the thank you at the end of the novel. Ithink I'm gonna start doing that more.
Krissy
Really?
Scoob
Yeah, I don't know why I just, Idon't know. I felt like I didn't have time to do it in the past. Idon't know. But this novel, I was like,
Krissy
I'm mean, it's not like yourname is gonna be you know!
Scoob
Exactly! But I read it likecover to cover this time, which I really don't do. And that littleThank you section like it overwhelmed me with love and happiness.And so now I'm like, I'm gonna read it every time.
Krissy
That's why I love reading that!Oh my God I read those every single time.
Scoob
I've been missing out! I've beenmissing out. No one-- No one told me they would be so personal andemotional.
Krissy
Yeah they're full of like insidejokes. Meryl, Scoob read this cover to cover for you. Assumingyou're listening to this.
Scoob
For the very first time! Ormaybe we'll tag them and say the, innagural episode of ourpodcast.
Krissy
Hey. Maybe not because now I'membarrassed because I want to say before I say anything else, thatthis book made me feel like a bad person.
Scoob
Oh, no. Okay. Okay. I'm ready todig into that. Here is my short short short mini review. spoilerfree mini review.
Krissy
10 out of 10. Excellent. Happyending. Great sex. Ba-Bam.
Scoob
Very good. That's a good one. Igave it 4.5 out of five.
Krissy
Hell yeah.
Scoob
Tropes that I love in thisMay/December and if you don't know what May/December is, it is anage gap romance, right. It's a younger person and an older person.It is sloooooooooooooooooow burn! It is that slow! Like, I probablyshould have held that even longer. Frankly, it is a slow burnromance. And if you do not enjoy slow burn, I really... I don'tknow what to tell you. I don't know that this would be for you, ifyou do not enjoy slowburn. We've got a Jewish heroine, fucking loveit. Got a Chinese-American heroine, fucking love it! And the sidecharacters and side cast are all amazing. I really enjoyed each andevery side character who had you know, any sort of personality inthe book, even the really not so great characters. I was like, Thismakes perfect sense. The build up was great. And then my littlelike, one two sentence was I stayed up till 1am to get through themajority of this book. It was fantastic. Read it. So there's ourspoiler free, you know, reviews if you if you want to read itwithout any spoilers, and then, you know, tweet at us how much youloved it. After you've read it. Please do, but now we're going togo into the spoilers out and dig deep!
Krissy
I said I would take a bunch ofnotes but I was honestly too enthralled by the book. An hour wouldgo by and I'd be like shit I didn't take any notes at all. I'm justhaving too much fun reading it
Scoob
Kind of similar. I took reallyextensive notes through the beginning hit a certain point and I wasso just deep into it that I didn't stop to take notes. And thentowards the end I was like Oh shit, I forgot to takenotes!
Krissy
That in itself is a glowingreview. Right?
Scoob
It is. It is. And towards theend. I was like, Oh shit, I need to take a few notes. A few morenotes to end this out. So I have 53 notes. I won't read them all,unless you really want me to, um
Krissy
Um, let me just, okay. Yeah, letme just say that. Um, the reason this book made me feel like a badperson is because the age gap is my shit.
Scoob
Yes!
Krissy
And it's an office romance. Soof course when I see that I immediately I'm thinking Devil WearsPrada.
Scoob
Oh, right. Right, right.Yes.
Krissy
I went into this like headbobbing like I'm ready. I'm ready to see this shitty woman be kindof mean to her assistant and get her comeuppance. And then she hasto grovel and we're all gonna love that. We love that, the girlslove it. The girls love a good grovel.
Scoob
This book is notthat.
Krissy
It is not that atall.
Scoob
And you know what? I love it fornot being that, in a way.
Krissy
Yeah!
Scoob
Cause not that that's over. doneWe will read those.
Krissy
Oh, yeah, we're gonna read it.We love shitty women in this household!
Scoob
WE LOVE SHITTY WOMEN IN THISHOUSE. But this book was so--- you said it really well, I think.The first time we kinda gushed before, we tried not to like gushtoo much before this podcast, but you said it very well in thatthis book is so soft.
Krissy
It's so gentle.
Scoob
Yes, yes. And
Krissy
This book is incredibly gentle.And healthy relationship,
Scoob
Yes! Like almost too healthy asa joke! Like, [Laughs]
Krissy
You see, thank-thank you, I waslike, I was like, it does a deep dive into the power dynamics ofdating your boss and how that's not right and yada yadayada
Scoob
Cause frequently in romancenovels, they kind of blur over it, right? They, frequently we don'treally dig deep into what it means in these power dynamic books,which is fine.
Krissy
Yeah!
Scoob
It's about a fantasy of thatthing. But this actually takes the time to unpack the messinessthat surrounds it, which is delicious!
Krissy
Yeah this book is doingwork!
Scoob
It is it is and again, I did popa peek at the Goodreads reviews and I was disappointed in my fellowreaders, because so many of them were like, this book is too slow.Absolutely nothing happens. These characters one dimensional andlike, have none of you ever been in a fandom before? Have, havenone of you ever experienced yearning? Have none-- Have you everyearned for another woman ever in your life? You know? So thisbook--
Krissy
Do you ever yearn? Do you everpine?
Scoob
Sweet Aphrodite has overwhelmedme with longing. I simply cannot weave. You know, like?
Krissy
And as frustrating and asfrustrating as it was when Jo the older woman in this couple, JoJones, Chinese-American millionaire child star turned script writerand director.
Scoob
Yes.
Krissy
Oh I love her!
Scoob
I don't want to mispronounceher, her actual last name because that would be incrediblydisrespectful. But I don't actually know how to say her her lastname.
Krissy
Isn't it Chung?
Scoob
It might be Chung.
Krissy
Yeah!
Scoob
Okay. Jo Chung, aka Jo Jones asshe goes in Hollywood. And all of delicious good things Krissy justsaid about her. Very true. She's shorter than our other heroine andshe is by significant amount shorter. Gotta love that. Thetall/smoll.
Krissy
Yeah, that kept getting me bysurprise because she's the older kind of cool one.
Scoob
She's the older, cool, badassone!
Krissy
So you expect her to be tall.Yeah.
Scoob
Yes! But she's tiny. She's tiny.It's everything you want.
Krissy
Teeny weeny.
Scoob
Yeah. And then our otherheroine. Emma Kaplin. Emma Kaplan. Am I remembering?
Krissy
Emma Kaplin.. MissKaplin.
Scoob
Miss Kaplin! Yes. Emma Kaplin,our Jewish heroine who was like six feet tall or something likethat, if I'm remembering, right?
Krissy
I think she's like averageheight she's just willowy.
Scoob
Is she???
Krissy
And compared to Jo. She'stall.
Scoob
I pictured Emma as being sixfoot tall the whole time. I really indulged myself in this heightdifference. And that's the beauty of books.
Krissy
The fantasy.
Scoob
That's the beauty of books! Itcould have set her at some point on the page doesn't matter in myhead, she's six feet tall. And Jo is like 5'3". Ya know, and like[laughs]
Krissy
Oh I imagined Jo was like fivenothing.
Scoob
Yeah, no, that's also valid. SoEmma, Emma Kaplin, is Jo Jones's personal assistant. Before that,she was--
Krissy
We should probably do, we shouldprobably do like a little actual summary of the book.
Scoob
Before she became Jo Jones'personal assistant, she was a prop assistant? A productionassistant in props,
Krissy
Yeah
Scoob
For the television showInnocents, which Jo has been writing and directing for like fiveseasons, something like that,
Krissy
Yeah, something like that.Yeah.
Scoob
Emma was the PA for two years.And then she has been Jo's assistant for one year at the start ofthe novel. And it's the next year...
Krissy
Two years at the end.
Scoob
Two years by the end of thenovel.
Krissy
This is the second year, theirrelationship
Scoob
Of their personal assistants andboss relationship. [excited gasp] Boss! Let's talk about nicknames.Krissy is infamous for using nicknames in romance, media andwriting, in a good way, I've only had to make you tone it down. Howmany times we won't count. But
Krissy
Um, you only had to do it forone character.
Scoob
That's true.
Krissy
But for that one character, itwas so much that I learned.
Scoob
[Laughs] It was good, though. Itwas I mean,
Krissy
Yeah.
Scoob
It's, it's not like it was outof character.
Krissy
I was just so excited to writeanother lesbian that I kind of went...bananas.
Scoob
It also wasn't out ofcharacter.
Krissy
And ya know...
Scoob
But Emma!
Krissy
Yeah, yeah!
Scoob
Will call Jo, Miss Jones. Shecalls her Jo very rarely. And then when they are alone, and this isthey say this in the book in text twice, both Emma and Jo causeit's dual POV in the book. They both acknowledge that Emma onlycalls her boss when the two of them are completely alone. So it'snot like a "you got a boss", you know, in front of other people itis it is a nickname that means something to both of them. Andthere's a line right at the end of the book that talks about itthat I have highlighted that I, that we can talk about. So yeah,she calls her Boss when, when it's just the two of them
Krissy
And it's so horny.
Scoob
It's so good every time she doesit. There's a little part of me that just definitely flared inexcitement. So it's a Yeah, it's a great nickname, Jo-
Krissy
Cause you know that things aregoing well between them when she calls her Boss.
Scoob
Yes.
Krissy
When she doesn't call her bossis when she's mad at her or sad.
Scoob
Yes, she will call her MissJones either in an appropriate work situation, right? Obviously,she's not going to, you know, call her just Jo on on the jobfrequently. But the book as it evolves, she starts to only call herMiss Jones when things are not good between them. And Jo does thesame. She calls her Miss Kaplin, more and more when things are notgood. And she'll just call her Emma, when things arefine.
Krissy
They're so in love.
Scoob
They're so in love from thebeginning!
Krissy
And they're so in love and theydon't realize it.
Scoob
I, you know what? Maybe I cangive the reason why I gave it 4.5 out of five, there's one thingthat docked it that little half a point for me. And that is I tookan actual note about this, you can talk while I scroll forit.
Krissy
I just want to say that like thewhole the whole book, I understand the review saying that nothinghappens because it's just them going through their daily routine asboss and, you know, Assistant, and the first and you know, andlike, this actually bothered me the big first conflict they have isso limp comparatively, especially because I was expecting DevilWears Prada level shit.
Scoob
Yes.
Krissy
But it's like, oh no, Jo,spoiler alert, becomes friends with Emma's sister.
Scoob
With Emma's sisterAvery.
Krissy
How dare she become friends withher sister without telling her. And go to soccer games together. Orbaseball, whatever.
Scoob
So at a glance, at a glance,that drama looks so basic, but then you get Emma's point of viewbehind it.
Krissy
It is. No, it is!
Scoob
And it's delicious, Emma's pointof view, like I resonated so vibrantly with it, because Emma, it'slike Avery is successful, and everything she does, and this wholething is that she dropped out of college and she, you know, has thesort of self incredible feelings of self doubt that she's nevergonna be able to make anything of herself. So Jo picking her as herpersonal assistant and like paying attention to her is a big dealin her mind, even if it's subconsciously for so long. So this likebetrayal of Jo, befriending Avery in Emma's eyes, it's like, oh,Avery gets this too. I can't even have this. I was like, Oh! I wasI was loving it every moment.
Krissy
You see, that would have beengreat. But that's not the vibe I got from it at all.
Scoob
Really?!
Krissy
Even when it was in Emma's head.I didn't get the "even Avery ever gets even this". I feel like andI know that I am supposed to use engagement, critical thinkingskills and come to my conclusion like that. But I do wish, I feellike they could have, the author could have made that a little moretextual.
Scoob
That's fair.
Krissy
And I'm sure it's better for theauthor could respond like, how could I make it more textual BecauseI do totally see. And I do it. They do, They did say it just didn'thit. Does that make sense?
Scoob
It didn't hit you the right way.It's, it's like the comments I used to give you of, can yourephrase this? Right.
Krissy
Yeah.
Scoob
It didn't quite land the exactway that would have triggered that emotional response in you. Theway it did for me is the person who has been on the other side andlike, [laughs] written the really watered down version and plotversion.
Krissy
No, yeah, cause I'm super duper,like I'm super duper like, I'm an insecure bitch. I'm like, oh,other people are hanging out without me. And that makes me sad andjealous.
Scoob
Oh mood. Oh moooood.
Krissy
And I don't want the people Ilike to be hanging out with each other because they're supposed tolike me. Emma wasn't insecure enough.
Scoob
Yes. Okay. Yes.
Krissy
That was it.
Scoob
There was a build up to thatpoint because it was a little sudden that she was like because,Avery is Emma's best friend. Right. That is established right fromthe beginning. They are best friend sisters. It's great. No, Itotally see where you're coming from on that. I don'tknow.
Krissy
I wish she had been a littleangrier just a little bit more spice, just a little bit more like,and like acknowledging like, I can't be mad at my sister for this.But then really, really, really feeling it. She's sad about it, butshe immediately forgives her sister and stuff. I feel like it wouldhave hit a little more if she was also mad at Avery forlonger.
Scoob
If it was drawn out just alittle bit more.
Krissy
If it had caused tension betweenher and her sister. That, I think, would have made the bigdifference for me.
Scoob
I think the missing scene or thething that would sort of bandaid that-- me trying to bandaid thisfor you-- is had Emma been mad at both Avery AND Jo when she wentto the baseball game.
Krissy
Yeah.
Scoob
That would have definitely beenhigher stakes higher risk higher emotional turmoil. So I 100% getyou. I found my my highlights of the thing that made me dock pointsoff of this.
Krissy
Okay.
Scoob
So Jo admitted she'd hadfeelings since her father's visit, Emma admitted she wasn't surehers mattered until Calgary. And I my note is literally "Hmm, don'tlove this". [Laughs] Because--
Krissy
What do you mean?
Scoob
I, I don't love that and how forthem, they are so late in realizing their feelings, because fromthe beginning of the fucking book, you can tell they have feelingsfor each other. Even if it's not obvious.
Krissy
Oh really, I loved that! It wasobvious to us the reader that they were in love. But They couldn'ttell! That felt real to me.
Scoob
I mean, it is very real. But Iwas like, What do you mean, you don't realize you were in love withher the SAGs! Like [laughs].
Krissy
The few notes that I took wereall like Jo being incredibly thoughtful. And it was all reallyunderstated. And the author didn't put too much emphasis on it,which I loved it just let you have it, like
Scoob
Casualrepresentation!
Krissy
[Emma] keeps kosher. And sheknows her orders and stuff like that. And at the very end, when shehad a box of Chai,
Scoob
Yes.
Krissy
Ready for her?
Scoob
Yes.
Krissy
Because she knows that Emmadrinks Chai!
Scoob
That Emma drinksChai!
Krissy
And it's such a small thing thatI feel like--
Scoob
Yes.
Krissy
If I had been writing that Iwould have totally lingered on that. And be like, oh, Jo totallypick this up because she knew I was gonna spend the night you know,but they don't. So this author good at what they do. Yeah, becausethis all starts because Jo,
Scoob
The actress slash director, theDecember
Krissy
The December, this all startsbecause she takes Emma, her assistant as her finger quotes "date"to the, for the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Scoob
Jo brought her to be a bufferbecause Jo does not want questions about the movie that she getssigned to write and direct. But it's not known at the start of thebook that that's the case.
Krissy
Yes, Jo is having a transitionfrom TV to film.
Scoob
Yes.
Krissy
And she doesn't want and peopleare speculating about and she doesn't want people to ask her so shebrings Emma as a buffer like, just keep people away fromme.
Scoob
Yes. Don't let them ask me aboutAgent Silver is the name of the
Krissy
Yeah, is the name of themovie.
Scoob
The movie. And so Emma staysaway during the first part of the red carpet entrance to theSAGsand then right towards the she, she stays away. And she doesn'tnotice Jo because she's like, into the actress that's like to tworows in front. So she's watching her until that actress goes away.I remember that note. And then she sees Jo right at the end. Andshe's like, Oh my god, Jo looks so upset. And she goes into allthese details about how she can intimately tell right from that,like two seconds of looking at her that Jo is uncomfortable becausethat smile isn't real. The way she's speaking the tone of her voiceisn't the normal tone of voice or the tone of voice she wouldusually use like, blahblahblah. She knows all these intimatedetails about Jo. And so she without thinking steps over onto thered carpet where like the celebrities are instead of their plusones. And like freezes because she realizes what she does. When shegets there. Jo grabs her wrist, they make a joke about Emma beingan Amazon because she's so tall and how, you know, it makes Emmalaugh and they're looking at each other and I Oh, that's the shotthat all of the paparazzi and the photographers at the SAG Awardsget. And instead of the distraction Jo's entire mindset in bringingEmmawith her was that people would focus, "on Jo is so obsessedwith work she brings her personal assistant with her". And insteadof course, what the media speculates is Jo Jones--
Krissy
This is hergirlfriend.
Scoob
Is dating her young assistant!And oh, my God! From that point on the whole book is you waitingfor them to get together. [Laughs]
Krissy
Because it's so obvious toliterally the entire world that these two are in love just from theway that they're looking at each other. It's so good. So from thenon the tap the other... the tabloids go crazy.
Scoob
The tabloids go crazy. And thepapparazzi goes crazy.
Krissy
And Jo won't make any commenteither denying or confirming it.
Scoob
Because she has never madecomment.
Krissy
She's been in Hollywood actingsince she was like 13 she's never made any kind of comment on herdating life ever. And she feels like if she makes a comment now. Itmight be perceived, weirdly and might be... make her seemhomophobic.
Scoob
And worth noting, Jo has neverbrought a plus one with her to the red carpet since her mother diedbecause she used to bring her mother with her.
Krissy
Yeah.
Scoob
To those events. So it's been Idon't remember how many years she said
Krissy
Several.
Scoob
It's been a while since she'sever even brought a plus one to a carpet event. So in chapter threeafter these tabloids get printed and everyone's like holy shit,what's going on? Jo, I want to say Jo says this, let me doublecheck. Yep. "They think we're in a relationship. She said. Jopressed her lips together. How novel. This is perhaps the firsttime two women seem together weren't labeled gal pals." Um,and--
Krissy
I loved that. I lovedthat.
Scoob
I just, I loved that comment.Can I read my, "I love this dramatic December" note? Like, not to,not to like suddenly pick that out.
Krissy
Yes, please do.
Scoob
Okay. It's from chapter seven.Chapter seven. "She looked up when Jo entered and gave her a smallsmile. She hated it. She thought it was awful. This was fine. Jowould just go file it-- or just go fling herself off the nearestbuilding. This one she realized was the nearest. She should turnand head to the elevators." And just went, I love this dramaticDecember.
Krissy
Yes, so what happens after that,that that tabloid mess is that they sort of keep their head down,and they work together. While the rest of the crew basically isdone wrapping up their TV show, Jo starts working on her script forthe movie, and so they become closer while she does that. So she'shaving trouble with a script and she gives it to Emma!!
Scoob
Emma is a mega fan of the AgentSilver comics, franchise, whatever it is, she has loved it sinceshe was a kid.
Krissy
Yeah!
Scoob
So she knows all of these sortof fandom geeky things about Agent Silver that Jo isn't necessarilyaware of. And they don't focus on this too much, admittedly. But itis a bridge that Jo does something, one she's not supposed to. Sheis not supposed to share the script with literallyanybody.
Krissy
Yeah.
Scoob
It is meant to be on that muchof a lockdown. She shares it with Emma to read.
Krissy
Because she lovesher.
Scoob
More than once. Because sheloves her. Because she trusts her.
Krissy
More than once? She does itregularly. She becomes like her, like her beta reader.
Scoob
Yes. Yep. So, sogood.
Krissy
Yeah, but as as much as I lovethat we are skipping something important.
Scoob
What are we skipping?
Krissy
The first kiss.
Scoob
The first kiss! Okay.Yes.
Krissy
So after they're done filmingInnocents, and Jo announces she's working on Agent Silver. Andthey're doing the wrap party that Emma--
Scoob
It's the midseason hiatus, isn'tit?
Krissy
Huh?
Scoob
It's the midseason hiatus isn'tit?
Krissy
Is it? It's some sort of hiatusor finale. There's a wrap party is what's going on. And I rememberthat because Emma was like, it's my first wrap party that I'morganizing. And I'm nervous. And I want Jo to like it. And I wantJo to sing karaoke with me and my sister.
Scoob
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. Yes.I'm scrolling back.
Krissy
Oh, she has her sister cater thedesserts because her sister owns a bakery. And all of the dessertsin this book made me so miserable. Because I wanted to eat themall. But thankfully, I had a slice of cake in the fridge. So when Iwas done with the book, I ate it.
Scoob
I think I had ice cream while Iread.
Krissy
So after the wrap party, Emma'svery drunk and they have cute moments together where they'retalking and Emma's trying to get Jo to sing karaoke.
Scoob
Emma is is verydrunk.
Krissy
Emma gets fucking smashed. Andshe's leaving the party. And as she leaves, she's like, youknow,
Scoob
They hug! They have a littlethey have a little hug.
Krissy
Yes. She's like, She's alsobeing okay. No, it was Jo, who said, "I meant what I said earlier.I wouldn't be here without you." And Emma kind of brushes it off.But then they say good night and Emma goes in for a hug becauseshe's affectionate and drunk. And she tries to kiss Jo's cheek. AndJo pulls back at the wrong moment. And they...
Scoob
And As-- Yes. And they kiss! Andthey kiss and it's not even like a good kiss.
Krissy
They kiss!
Scoob
It's like a sloppy kiss. Uhhh.It's not like it's not-- I won't say it's not a real kiss. But it'snot like intentional kiss. It's an accidental very anime kiss,frankly. And Emma goes, "she could not have just kissed her boss."She doesn't want to believe it. She's so shell shocked atfirst.
Krissy
Mmhmm.
Scoob
And there was one point whereI'm pretty sure Emma was an unreliable narrator. When she getshome. She drinks two full glasses of water before climbing intobed. And the final sentence before she falls asleep. And you know,the scene cuts to new things. "She didn't think about Jo's lipsonce." And my note was just, UNRELIABLE NARRATOR because she'sdrunk! She's drunk during that scene!
Krissy
And of course, this is stressfulbecause it gets out that I don't know if it's here or later. Itgets out that there's a leak on set and someone is sellinginformation about them to the tabloids.
Scoob
I will admit, I'm usually notvery good at figuring out plot twists or plot points, which issurprising to many people but I'm just I don't know I get sowrapped up in the moment of things. I don't always see the clues.To me. It was a little obvious who the leak was the wholetime.
Krissy
That it was Phil.
Scoob
That it was her Phil her friendwho's not really a good person at all. I guess maybe that's partalso contributed like not that I don't enjoy finally knowing athing for once while reading a book but it was a littleobvious.
Krissy
Mmhmm. And then after that isthe upfronts.
Scoob
The upfronts.
Krissy
See, things happen in this book,goodreads reviews. Things happen! They go to theupfronts.
Scoob
Things do happen in this book.And in between these things that happen there's so much yearningand desire and wanting but not realizing what you're wanting likeit is. It is. It is the perfect slow burn in that regard.So.
Krissy
It is slooow, so slow that itwas frustrating at times, because I know if I was writing this, Iwould have had them fuck. Um.
Scoob
You're not a slow burn writer,Krissy. You're just not.
Krissy
Can we talk aboutEvelyn?
Scoob
Evelyn. Jo's best friend Evelyn.Who says aiyahh, and I just I think of Hannah. Every time I readaiyahh in the book, and it made me miss her a lot.[laughs]
Krissy
Evelyn is Jo's best friend fromchildhood.
Scoob
She is a, she is a lawyer. Soshe is lawyered up like a smart director actress would be. And Emmathinks Evelyn is Jo's girlfriend.
Krissy
And it's so good.
Scoob
For upfronts, they're in NewYork, which is where Evelyn lives. As opposed to Hollywood, whichis where they live.
Krissy
And for those who don't know, Idid not know before reading this book. It's evidently like, kind oflike a convention where they go to try and get advertising?Advertisers to notice them.
Scoob
Yes.
Krissy
So it's an important event. Theyneed that money.
Scoob
Yes. But up front, like anyconvention, you've got bad B.O. [body odor], you've got people inway too much perfume. And when they are trying to rush to a panel,they pass someone who is just absolutely washed, cloaked inperfume, and it triggers an asthma attack. And Jo fucking losesit.
Krissy
Yeah, cause it's scary whensomeone you love--
Scoob
Someone youloooooove!
Krissy
Has an asthma attack in front ofyou.
Scoob
Yes, for the first time. She'dnever seen that happen before. And the asthma, the "Do you haveyour inhaler?", it becomes this thing. And Emma even directly callsit out. And one of her choppers which I was very thankfulfor.
Krissy
Yeah, I'm glad that they did,because Jo mentions it. Like, it feels like every other pageafterwards.
Scoob
And it comes back even chapterslater. And Emma eventually towards the end is like Jo mentioningthe inhaler is a flag that she actually wants to talk aboutsomething else
Krissy
That she's worried about herthat she has these deep intense feelings.
Scoob
Yes.
Krissy
As intense as when she thoughtthat Emma was going to die in front of her.
Scoob
Yes, yes. So Emma has thisasthma attack. It's very bad. The tabloids go crazy with it. Ofcourse.
Krissy
Yeah cause Jo like wraps her inher arms and is worried about her and shit.
Scoob
Cause Jo is going ballistic overthis. She calls 911. And even though Emma's like you really don'tneed to do that. Salls. 911 and then Emma was like, you need to goto your panel. Jo doesn't want to and then realize oh wait, Iprobably should.
Krissy
Yeah, I have to get theseadvertisers. I have to be doing my job.
Scoob
I have to be professional. Ican't stay here with my assistant who I am in love with even thoughI can't realize that.
Krissy
[Laughs]
Scoob
So Jo has to spend the day doingthis. Emma gets sent back to her hotel room she's not allowed to doanything the rest of the night. Rest only. She's not supposed to doanything the rest of the trip but she is this foodie. She's kind oflike the secret foodie. It's like a way way way way like D-plot.But uh, that's why Emma get sent back to her hotel room. And she'slike, I guess I'll just order a room service for dinner. I had allthese places I wanted to go but I guess I'll just order roomservice. And she's like still thinking about it. She's still alittle like woozy tired from waking up after resting. And like thephone or there's a knock on the door and she's like, I didn't evenorder yet. How do they know? Which made me laugh out loud.[laughing]
Krissy
That was such a... That was sucha me moment. I would so do that.
Scoob
It was so cute. And so, it's Joat the door. She's got a New York pizza.
Krissy
Emma's adorable.
Scoob
Yes.
Krissy
Emma's fucking cute!
Scoob
She's a great heroine. She'sreally really good. Jo has pizza. She was supposed to be out todinner with Evelyn which is what we're talking about before andinstead is there with pizza with with Emma. And Emma feels thedokis. Oh, oh. And so when Jo first arrives, Emma is embarrassedbecause her room it's not even a mess but like her bra is out ontop of her suitcase and all of this and so Jo leaves to go get likenapkins or ice or something and drinks maybe. So Emma like rushesaround and gets a bra and closes her suitcase and she puts herclothes back on and so you get a little bit more of the scene of Jocoming back and they're talking and the scene ends with Jo going,"Emma, your shirt is on inside out." And it hadn't been before. AndI just like, Oh, I loved that interaction so much.
Krissy
It was very cute.
Scoob
So the next morning... No,sorry. It might be that night or the next morning, I don'tremember. But Emma's like, hey, there's this really great bagelshop. Do you want to get breakfast with me? Do you want to getbrunch with me before we have to get on the plane and fly back toHollywood? And she's so excited because she just spent thenight--not spent the night but you know, she just spent the eveningwith Jo being kind of intimate. Over the pizza. And Joegoes,
Krissy
Mmhmm.
Scoob
No, I have to get breakfast withEvelyn because I had to because I bailed on her last night. Andthat's where it begins of going. Oh, Evelyn is hergirlfriend.
Krissy
Yeah. And she doesn't explainwho Evelyn is she just like
Scoob
No, she doesn't.
Krissy
I have to go deal with Evelyn,sorry. And Emma's, like who's Evelyn who's Evelyn who'sEvelyn?
Scoob
Who's Evelyn?
Krissy
But she doesn't ever...ask.
Scoob
She does not ask cause she feelsit's her business which is fine, I suppose. Um, But yeah, that'sthat's the beginning of that little seed of doubt in her mind thatJo has a girlfriend?
Krissy
Yep. And then we get to hang outwith Evelyn who is the best.
Scoob
She's so good!
Krissy
And I want her to have her ownbook.
Scoob
Oh, that would begood.
Krissy
I want an Evelyn book sobad.
Scoob
That'd be very good.
Krissy
I feel like she would have theopposite problem of Jo, where they would bang immediately and thenspend the rest of the book dealing with and I'm not gonna lie. I'ma little biased towards her because I love Evelyn from League ofLegends. And I have an Evelyn tattoo.
Scoob
Oh my God, you weeb. So fromchapters 13 to 21 I took no notes, because I was so well immersedin it.
Krissy
Wow.
Scoob
So 21 is the first time I havenotes again. 23 is the final chapter. I think if not almost thefinal chapter. Their relationship is slooooow.
Krissy
After that Joe and Avery, Emma'ssister, become friends because--
Scoob
Like actual friends. Avery'stwin boy and girl play on a baseball team with Jo's brotherVincent, his son who she dotes on and loves and adores. She lovesher nephew.
Krissy
Yeah, Jo's nephew.
Scoob
She love him more than anythingin this in this world. And
Krissy
Lesbian Aunt! LesbianAunt!
Scoob
Lesbian Aunt!
Krissy
They even callthemselves-
Scoob
They even make that joke. Theyeven make that joke. It's so good.
Krissy
Yeah. And they're like Emma'seven wearing flannel.
Scoob
Yes. So here's, here's the funthing about the baseball games. Jo goes to every single baseballgame, she leaves work early, she is committed to these baseballgames, because she loves her family and she loves her nephew thatmuch. Emma never goes because she's working. So![laughs]
Krissy
Mmhmm. Yeah, that's also, thatprobably
Scoob
It's kind of a runningjoke.
Krissy
Probably why she got so madlater, when she found out that Jo was going to these games and withher sister never told her, okay, now it's...
Scoob
Yes. Yeah. You got to tie thestrings a little bit on your own, but like it's there. It's there.Um, so it's this whole thing. And she gets this great relationshipwith Avery and she ends up investing in Avery's bakery.
Krissy
Yeah.
Scoob
Which is another it's a hugemoment for Emma being like, you're investing in my sister's future,not mine, which is kind of bullshit because like Jo, everything Jois doing is to help Emma become a director one day, Emma, Emmatells Jo that she wants to be a director.
Krissy
Really early on Jo and Emma talkabout Emma's future career. And Jo's like, I'm gonna help you dowhatever you want.
Scoob
Yep.
Krissy
And she does. She puts all herstrings.
Scoob
She really does. That brings usto probably we can talk about the, the most real, maybe part ofthis book if you're taking a slice of looking at Hollywood. Emma'sfavorite Director Barry. I don't remember his last name.
Krissy
Barry Davis.
Scoob
Thank you. Emma's favoriteDirector Berry. Jo pulls all her strings to get Barry to come toset to hopefully direct an episode of Innocents. And we will slap acontent warning here of sexual harassment as it's depicted inHollywood.
Krissy
Yeah, because during all ofthis, the tabloids have still been going crazy saying that Jo issleeping with her extremely young Secretary 14 years younger thanher. And more than that her secretary is like some sort of golddigger, sleeping her way into the industry.
Scoob
So Emma really has this, shedoesn't. She goes back and forth on how for how intensely shethinks about it. But she wants to make her own way in the industrykind of she doesn't want people to think she slept her way into itand Barry visiting is the catalyst of that.
Krissy
Yeah, especially now that Jo ismaking a point of helping Emma's career to become a director. Thelast thing she wants for people to think, yeah.
Scoob
So, Barry is not a good person.Barry sexually harasses Emma, throughout the day, while Emma ismeant to be shadowing him, and it gets to a point where she stopsshadowing him for the day.
Krissy
She snaps at him.
Scoob
And then, and then she goes toset. And she snaps at him in front of everyone because hewants--
Krissy
And this dude is famous. Thisdude's like, yeah,
Scoob
Big, famous, big, big, bigfamous. And she snaps at him because he wants the coming out of thebisexual character on Innocents to be like, tragic and not goodblahblahblah. And Jo had just won an award at the GLAAD awards, andlike, it's this whole thing. And Emma fuckin snaps at him, and thatit's terrible direction. And how could he do that? And Jo hasto-
Krissy
Do you even watch the show? Doyou know these characters?
Scoob
Yeah. Do you know anything aboutthis?
Krissy
Because the thing about Emma, isshe always speaks her mind.
Scoob
Yes, yes she does.
Krissy
She calls Jo out on her shit,which Jo loves. And she's like, not afraid. She's not likesubmissive, like, she's kind and sweet, and thoughtful, and givingand loving.
Scoob
Yes.
Krissy
And she will do everything shecan to help your day be better.
Scoob
Yes.
Krissy
But she's not here for you towalk all over. Like, don't confuse her being a nice person forbeing a fucking doormat. And that's why I love Emma.
Scoob
Yes, yes, she is so good. She'ssuch a good heroine. And so she snaps at him. Andunfortunately,
Krissy
She's amazing.
Scoob
Jo has to sort of--
Krissy
Discipline her.
Scoob
Discipline her kind of publiclywhen this happens, and it's not good. And Jo does not know thatsexual harassment has happened yet, at this point,either.
Krissy
Yeah!
Scoob
So it's bad, Emma's having theworst day possible. Because this man that she idolized is fuckingterrible. And so eventually, Jo calls--does Jo call her into heroffice? They end up in Jo's office, the two of them.
Krissy
Yeah
Scoob
After Barry has gone home, andthey start to get into it a little bit. And Jo admits like ofcourse, Emma was right about that direction being bad. But youcan't just say that to someone of Barry's, you know, standingwithin Hollywood. And then eventually it gets to the point it comesout that he sexually harassed Emma during the day, and
Krissy
And Jo immediately does a180.
Scoob
Yep, Jo drops everything andstarts a war, a very successful war against this man. And sheleaves all of it--
Krissy
Cause she thinks, accurately,that a man like him isn't gonna.. this is, he was too comfortabledoing it.
Scoob
Yes.
Krissy
That this was his first timesexually harassing some young, powerless girl. Woman, I shouldsay.
Scoob
He's been in this industry longenough. This certainly isn't the first time. And one of thepowerful things is she is very gentle in telling Emma, you do nothave to make the statement. You don't have to come forward. But Iwould like to come forward as the director of the show like itwould be coming from me, and it will never be traced back toyou.
Krissy
Yeah!
Scoob
And Emma, I don't know that Emmabelieves her at first. But eventually she does. She has a talk withher Rabbi over the weekend. And we don't get to see that which Iwas a little bummed about. I was I was excited for that. But Ithink it was because the author didn't want to misrepresentanything because I don't believe, I don't know if Meryl is Jewish.I know they had sensitivity readers and things like that, but Idon't know what they are. So maybe that's why they skipped onshowing us that scene? But sfter conversing with her Rabbi, shecomes back and she says no, let's do this. Behind the scenes, whilethat's happening...
Krissy
Yeah.
Scoob
Jo, on her rampage calls aactress, a very well known actress, whose breakout film was withBarry and tells her. She just has this hunch. And she tells herjust so you were aware, I'm going to be doing this and that actresskind of goes, Okay, thank you for letting me know and joins in andgets other actresses to join in.
Krissy
Yup!
Scoob
They all step forward and theybring this man down! And it's so satisfying to see because we don'tget to see it happen enough in real life.
Krissy
And it's so many famous ladiesthat it totally gets swept aside that this all got started becauseBarry harassed someone on the cast of Innocents.
Scoob
Yes!
Krissy
So it can't be traced toEmma.
Scoob
And it is--
Krissy
As the catalyst.
Scoob
Yeah. Yeah, it's sogood.
Krissy
Oh, and by the way, this allhappens after Emma and Jo have their weird fallout over Jo'sspending time with Avery.
Scoob
Like it's this whole cocktail ofmixed emotions.
Krissy
Emma had the worst time. Hercrush, that she's not allowed to, like, see me with your sisterwhile she works and investing in her sister's career. And alsoshe's having a bad time with, you know her job, and she's trying tobecome a director and she's uncertain about this change in herlife. And then she gets to see, meet Barry Davis and Barry Davis isa fucking creep. And then Jo has to dress her down in front ofeverybody.
Scoob
Her time being Jo's personalassistant is coming to an end because when Jo leaves Innocents tobe on Agent Silver, she will not be her personal assistantanymore.
Krissy
Mmhmm.
Scoob
So she also is in the process oftrying to hire her own replacement.
Krissy
Yep.
Scoob
To be Emma's personalassert--no, to be Jo's personal assistant.
Krissy
Her new Emma.
Scoob
But it's not her new Emma, thatcomes up again quite a bit. It is a whole thing. Let me find I waslike, oh is right, here we go. You're hiring my next assistant, Josaid not my next Emma. Oh.
Krissy
And she talks about how great itfeels to be called hers.
Scoob
Yes,
Krissy
Her Emma.
Scoob
Yes. It takes her a while to getto that point. But yes.
Krissy
She does, eventually.
Scoob
Eventually she does. She doeseventually. And that's the good part. So it's this whole there'sdrama. The people who say nothing happens, again, have neverexperienced yearning for another woman have never been in fandom orin fandom before we had like actual lesbian representation infandom.
Krissy
Yeah.
Scoob
Like I don't know what they'redoing. I don't know what they're thinking I get slowburn is noteveryone's jam. To each their own, every time. But to say nothinghappens is blatant misrepresentation of this book, because it hasclear large bookmarks of like, here's a big action point. Then wehave sort of the building drama and the ebbing drama and theflowing drama. Here's another big action point.
Krissy
Yeah but nobody dies. Nothingblows up. But that doesn't mean nothing happens.
Scoob
All this happens. And then it istruly the end of Emma's time as Jo's personal assistant, and theyare going she's going to become the associates producer onInnocents.
Krissy
And we love her!
Scoob
And we love that for her You gogirl! Alongside or underneath of Jo's longtime like co-runner ofthe show, basically, who--
Krissy
Chantal.
Scoob
Chantal! Who at random timesthey're like is she the mole but like it's very obvious she is notthe mole. She's like, maybe a little disapproving at times, butshe's not the mole. [laughs]
Krissy
Yeah, cuz she can totally seethat these two are into each other.
Scoob
Yes.
Krissy
Everyone can see.
Scoob
Everyone can see it, butthem.
Krissy
I knew it wasn't gonna beChantal. Because I felt like this book was too woke to have anygirl break girl code. Does that make sense?
Scoob
Oh Yeah! They were not going tothrow they weren't going to throw anyone, any women under the busin this book. And that's how I approached my own media fictionwriting. So like, same. I agree, it was obvious that that was notgoing to happen. So coming to an end, it is their last businesstrip together with Emma being her personal assistant, but also sortof onboarding her into being the AP.
Krissy
Oh, oh. Oh, isn't this the dadthough? The dad happens.
Scoob
The almost kiss. Yes. Go ahead.Go ahead. That is first. You're right. I will let you handle thisone.
Krissy
So, I don't know where Jo's dadcomes to visit. And he's an asshole.
Scoob
I think because he's been seeingthe tabloids. You also don't see him through the majority of thebook. Like he's, he's non-existent mostly.
Krissy
They don't even mention him.Like I feel like-
Scoob
He's mentioned feel like earlyon. And that's it.
Krissy
Mmhmm. I feel like they reallycould have mentioned him a little more because they're so goodabout foreshadowing literally everything else.
Scoob
Yes.
Krissy
There's so many Chekhov's itemsin this book that if you see something early in the book, it almostalways has a resolution later in the book.
Scoob
Yes.
Krissy
Up to and including Emma andEvelyn having similar names. And Jo has accidentally textedEvelyn.
Scoob
Yes, instead of Emma.
Krissy
When she means to text Emma. AndI'm like,
Scoob
Yes.
Krissy
If they don't follow up withthat, I'm gonna shit myself, okay? [laughs]
Scoob
And they did! They totally did.It was great.
Krissy
So Jo's father comes up. He's anasshole.
Scoob
You're throwing everything awayfor this slut?
Krissy
Yeah, he's upset that she calledout Barry Davis and hurt her career over some-
Scoob
Yes.
Krissy
And he's like, he probably canalso tell that he's, that she's in love with Emma.
Scoob
Yes.
Krissy
Because everyone can.
Scoob
Cause everybody can!
Krissy
Just a fact of theuniverse.
Scoob
Yeah.
Krissy
Except them.
Scoob
Except them.
Krissy
Jo never stands up to him or isfirm with him. But the second he starts insulting Emma being like,You're ruining your reputation on this slut.
Scoob
And he says that in--
Krissy
Cantonese.
Scoob
Cantonese. Thank you. So Emmadoesn't know what he's saying. Right. And Jo?
Krissy
Loses it.
Scoob
We thought she lost it andupfronts-
Krissy
With the asthma attack. This isbeyond that.
Scoob
Yeah. This is way beyond that.This is Jo final form Jo like could probably destroy a city,Jo.
Krissy
And Jo's always so like, cool,like, composed.
Scoob
Yes.
Krissy
She has to be strong. She has tokeep control because she's a woman in the public eye. She can't letpeople know how deeply she feels because they will use that to hurther. So this is one of very few times where Jo lets down all of herbarriers and just allows herself to feel and feel rage.
Scoob
So good.
Krissy
Rage. As a woman. It's apowerful thing. And she tells her dad, Shut the fuck up.
Scoob
Yeah, actually like literallythat.
Krissy
As our resident person of coloron the cast. "Ah, um, Kristen, white people also have respect fortheir fathers." Yeah, whatever. You know what I mean?
Scoob
[Lasughts] It'sdifferent!
Krissy
I was just like [BIG GASP] it'sdifferent!
Scoob
She banishes her dad.
Krissy
She banishes her dad and she hasa breakdown.
Scoob
Yep.
Krissy
And Emma's, like, never seen herlike this. And she's just like, what can I do? [laughs]
Scoob
What can I do? I would doanything for you. Basically, it's kind of what comes out of hermouth. Not exactly. But, close to that.
Krissy
Yeah! What can I do?
Scoob
And they lean into each other.And they are--
Krissy
A breath away!
Scoob
This. Close. And the phone ringsand it's the security guy telling her, "Don't worry, Miss Jones,you dad is gone for good." And it's like, FUUUUCK[laughing].
Krissy
I almost threw my phone to theground.
Scoob
[Laughs] It's, and, and theyboth-- it is the most sobering cold blast of air for either ofthem, and then neither of them can stop thinking about the almostkiss for several chapters. And Jo--
Krissy
And this is my first note in along time, is afterwards Emma's point of view. She very quicklyrealizes, oh, I do like Jo. And she's like, last time I almostkissed her. I felt so embarrassed. But this time, I just feel...want.
Scoob
So good.
Krissy
And my note there is, I amoverwhelmed with pure girl lust. [laughs]
Scoob
Very good. That's a goodnote.
Krissy
And oh, yeah, boy, we in itnow!
Scoob &Krissy
[laughing]
Scoob
Accurate, very accurate. Uh, sothey almost kiss. And it is Jo feels so much guilt over this and Ilove it. It's delicious. Because she's looking at this like, okay,Emma was nearly...
Krissy
Sexually assaulted.
Scoob
She was sexually harassed. Shewas nearly sexually assaulted on the job by someone in a prettymuch the exact same position as Jo is. How could she possibly dothis to her? Like how so like, Jo puts all of it on herself, evenwhen--
Krissy
Emma pretty much is like, Hey, Iwas into it. It's fine.
Scoob
Yep. Emma says, "I wantedthat."
Krissy
And I guess Jo is just so deepin-
Scoob
Jo is so deep in the guilt, andshe pushes her away. And it's very tragic for a little while. Lotsof emotion, both of them. Not feeling so hot. And so Jo gets reallyfucking drunk. And...
Krissy
And that's when we get Chekhov'stext message.
Scoob
And that's when we Chekhov'stext message, it finally pays off. She tries to text Emma, that shemeant-
Krissy
"I meant what I said last-- Imeant what I said yesterday. You are magnificent."
Scoob
Yes.
Krissy
Cause Jo's always telling Emmayou're the best. I can't do this without you.
Scoob
And she's dramaticDecember.
Krissy
But she doesn't usually --sorry!
Scoob
And guess who she's textsinstead.
Krissy
Go go go go go
Scoob
And guess who she texts instead.She texts that to Evelyn instead of Emma and Evelyn just straightup, calls her it's 3am in New York.
Krissy
And Jo's like, what are youdoing awake? And Evelyn is like my best friend texted me that I'mMagnificent.
Scoob &Krissy
[laughing]
Scoob
So she also threatens that shewill fly out there if Jo can't get her shit together,basically.
Krissy
And she's never been to LA.She's never come to visit Jo.
Scoob
Never. Not once.
Krissy
I mean, I think they used tolive in LA together?
Scoob
Yes. But
Krissy
Then she moved to New York andhas not returned.
Scoob
She moved to New York. Yeah, shemoved to New York. And then Evelyn's parents also moved to NewYork. So she doesn't really have a reason to come back to LA otherthan Jo being her best friend. So she hasn't! And then... So shethreatens this. And we go like two days later, it's nearly Jo'sbirthday. And guess who shows up out of nowhere?
Scoob &Krissy
Evelyn.
Krissy
The best character.
Scoob
Guess who sees this and goes, Ohmy god, I almost kissed her. And then she flew her girlfriend in toremind me that she is taken. That's how Emma sees it. And thedrama. And Jo being a fucking idiot the whole time. It is-- Oh,it's so good. It shows that no matter how old you are, you canstill be the dumb ass in the relationship sometimes. She spends awhole week with Evelyn.
Krissy
Her best friend and it's socute.
Scoob
It's so good. They are the bestfriends like I mean shit, Krissy you flew out for me for a weekright before I moved away like
Krissy
Yeah!
Scoob
It's real. It's a thing you dofor your best friend when you love them. And Evelyn kind of startsto talk Jo into like waking the fuck up.
Krissy
Mmhmm.
Scoob
She doesn't push it too hard.But she she she's pretty stern with her. And every-
Krissy
She also has a thing where shepretends to be madly in lust with Jo's former childstar.
Scoob
Yes.
Krissy
Co-star.
Scoob
Yes.
Krissy
There's no reason. I justthought that was cute.
Scoob
It is cute. And the three ofthem go out to dinner and the paparazzi think that Jo has- isdating this former co star who is a man and
Krissy
Emma...
Scoob
The paparazzi has been kind ofstalking Emma as well.
Krissy
Mmhmm.
Scoob
And so Emma having the shittiesttime of her life because she almost kissed her boss and then herboss flew in the person who she's "dating" quote, unquote, to rubin the fact that she's not available and Emma was sexually harassedand like, shit pile of things have happened to Emma. And then thepaparazzi catch her after she's been crying all night. And lookingterrible leaving her apartment. Because Oh, man, they'vesplit
Krissy
This famous celebrity couple hassplit.
Scoob
It's It's such a wild ride. It'sso good. That drama doesn't really resolve neatly or quickly. Ittakes a little time
Krissy
But for the while the tabloidsthink that they've broken up.
Scoob
Yes. And eventually they'relike, this is a good thing. Actually.
Krissy
My next note is that Jo eats acupcake that Emma brought her for her birthday.
Scoob
Yes. Happy birthday MissJones.
Krissy
She almost starts crying overit. [laughs]
Scoob
Yes, it's that good?
Krissy
No, no, it's she starts cryingbecause she sees the cupcake and it makes her think about how Emmais so perfect and has always been perfect.
Scoob
That's right. Oh my god, Jo, youhopeless lesbian.
Krissy
Jo ate the cupcake Emma broughther and inexplicably felt like crying. My note is girl I've beenthere.
Scoob
[laughs] Yeah, it's it's real.That's the thing.
Krissy
Later, Emma says Happy birthday.And Jo wanted to tell her that she loved her. [laughs]
Scoob
Yes. Yes, it was sogood.
Krissy
So relatable.
Scoob
Like, insanely good. I was sobad at taking notes after a certain point. [laughs]
Krissy
After that, Emma, we find outwho's been leaking shit to the tabloids.
Scoob
It was Phil! Surprising noone!
Krissy
Because Emma and Jo -- randomNPC Phil, we don't care about. Jo talks to Evelyn Emma talks toAvery, the both separately come together about their feelings. Andthey both know that they probably should be honest. But they decideno um, Emma is going to be moving on.
Scoob
So they go to Calgary is Emma'slast assignment as a personal assistant before she takes over asassociate producer. They go and get lunch or dinner. I think it'slunch. That's when Jo says something about it. Like pretty much.You know the transition happening. It's going to be over whateverfuture, blah blah blah.
Krissy
Mmhmm.
Scoob
And like Emma gets steamrolledby her emotions in that moment. And she runs away to the bathroom.And that's when she has her big realization of, Oh, I am maybe alittle in love with her.
Krissy
Wow.
Scoob
And nothing will ever feel asgood as this. She She talks to Avery after that she doesn't tellAvery about it.
Krissy
I mean, to be fair, she's alwaystalking to Avery about Jo.
Scoob
Yes, Yes, that'strue.
Krissy
It's one of the many times shetalks Avery.
Scoob
Because... Because she's in lovewith her.
Krissy
And this is also when Jo says--yeah, this is also when, and Jo says Oh, Evelyn's my bestfriend, not my girlfriend.
Scoob
Yes. Calgary is-
Krissy
So that'ssteamrolled.
Scoob
Yes, it's like the perfect finalbusiness trip together. And it's so neat and they leave thisluncheon.
Krissy
[silly laugh]
Scoob
And Jo leans in and Calgary,it's like winter time. And Jo leans in and adjusts Emma's scarf,and they so desperately want to lean in and kiss each other andthey don't they get in the taxi to go to the airport, they get tothe airport. And guess what their flight's delayed. So they get alittle drunk.
Krissy
But they get to hangout.
Scoob
And they hang out.
Krissy
And Emma falls asleep on hershoulder.
Scoob
She falls asleep on hershoulder! It's so good. And Jo wakes up and Emma notices that she'slike clenching her hands because she was losing circulation. Butshe didn't want to wake Emma up. And ugh, that entire sequence andso they fly back, Jo sleeps that time instead of Emma on theflight. Well, we don't see much of that. We learn that it's goingto be Emma's birthday, the Sunday after their trip, and they'remeant to fly back Saturday. By the time they get back. I wouldimagine it's close to it's like midnight, Sunday.
Krissy
It's a little aftermidnight.
Scoob
Yeah, so it's her birthday.Officially, they've both had this realization of their feelingsseparately. They've had these moments since leaving the luncheon,multiple moments.
Krissy
And the air is clear that Jo isa lesbian.
Scoob
Yes.
Krissy
And that Evelyn is not hergirlfriend and officially after this Emma's like not her assistantanymore.
Scoob
Yes. And that was her thoughtalso was once she's not her assistant, maybe then something? Andshe kind of tries to field this idea to Jo in a really not obviousway and Jo shuts it down because she's dealing with that guilt. Andso Emma's like, Oh, it's never happening, and then she gets washedover with feelings, blah, blah. It's her birthday.
Krissy
Yeah!
Scoob
She gets out of the personalcar, which the driver had the partition up the entire time. Thankyou Beyonce um, and
Scoob &Krissy
[giggling]
Scoob
And!
Krissy
I thought that too.
Scoob
Thank you. And so, Emma'sstanding on the sidewalk, and Jo tells her happybirthday.
Krissy
I hope it's a goodone.
Scoob
And Emma. I hope it's a goodone. Thank you. And Emma has the perfect protagonist moment. Shesteps forward to the car where Jo has rolled down the window. Sheleans in, and they kiss. And it is such a good kiss. It is nothinglike the kiss after the wrap party. It is soft and sweet andgood.
Krissy
It's a romance novelkiss!
Scoob
It's a romance novel kiss, it isthe perfect kiss, and she pulls back. And she says-- Do you have itnoted?
Krissy
I should have because it wasfucking incredible.
Scoob
I don't think I have itverbatim. But I have where
Krissy
Okay, I have it. I have it. Ihave it. I have it. Happy birthday, Miss Kaplin, Jo said, I hopeit's a good one. And then they kiss and Emma pulls back. And shesays, "It's pretty good so far."
Scoob
Mind you, it is maybe like threeminutes past midnight. Right? Like [laughs]
Krissy
That was the smoothest shit I'veever read.
Scoob
And! This is what I highlighted.She retells- she recalls this entire story to Avery for the mostpart. And Emma says I kissed her. She said again. And she kissedback. And it wasn't even that big of a kiss. But it was amazing.Avery, gosh, it was so good. She kissed me back. And then I justpulled back and said my birthday had been pretty good so far. Andthen I came inside. Avery clicked her tongue, Damn, my sistersmooth. highlighted that one line because I had said the exact samething like!
Krissy
Right?
Scoob
Good job Emma!
Krissy
My note. The note I took wasactually a little earlier when they're still in Calgary and havingdinner. And it says that Emma has a moment of panic when Jo eats abite of her tiramisu and goes like, mmmm. [laughs]
Scoob
Oh, yes, yes, of course. you'venoted that moment.
Krissy
And my note is in all caps, JUTSFUCK ALREADY!
Scoob &Krissy
[laughing]
Scoob
Very good.
Krissy
And this is how I know I have ahard time doing slow burn, because they would have fucked beforegoing out.
Scoob
And that defeats the point.That's not slow burn!
Krissy
Before, before. Even Emma beforeeven Jo tells Emma that Evelyn's not her girlfriend, and it's justlike super angsty in her office. Right? That's what I would havedone.
Scoob
Yes. Oh my gosh, of course youwould've. I would have guessed that also, but that's not slowburn,Krissy! [laughs]
Krissy
I know, I know.
Scoob
After this-
Krissy
And I'm not saying that I didn'tenjoy this because I did. I'm just saying like,
Scoob
Yes, how you wouldda doneit.
Krissy
I am not strong enough to writeslow burn.
Scoob
[laughs] Slow burn is hard. Ittakes so much willpower. But so after this the kiss. There's oneweek left of the assistant, the personal assistant job. And Ooh,boy, it's an interesting one. But they finally get backtogether.
Krissy
They get blackmailed.
Scoob
Oh, that's right, they do. Sothere's paparazzi outside of Emma's apartment still and
Krissy
They catch their firstkiss!
Scoob
Some papo, catches their firstkiss. And one of Emma's things is that she just wants Jo totell. Like that's also part of the drama with Jo and Averybeing friends and blah, blah, blah like Emma doesn't want to beleft out of these conversations.
Krissy
And Jo keeps everything so closeto her chest, because she has.
Scoob
Yes, um. So she makes-- theymake huge progress with the whole Barry incident. And you know, Jobeing very like we take this at your pace, I will do this. I'mtelling you, I'm doing this. They're making good progress. And thenwith the perazzi, Jo does not tell her until after it has beentaken care of so the first day back to the office, uh, Jo ends upavoiding her the entire day.
Krissy
Mmhmm.
Scoob
And Emma was like excited. Shewas like, Oh man, this is gonna be great.
Krissy
We had kissed!
Scoob
And then just fuckin shotdown.
Krissy
Yep, blocked out.
Scoob
Thinks it's gonna beterrible.
Krissy
And of course she just thinkslike, oh, Jo regrets the kiss.
Scoob
Yes. And so Jo gets Evelyn onthe phone the second, she finds out about the blackmail. And Evelyngoes into super lawyer mode, draws up an NDA. And if thisphotographer ever shares anything, Jo will own his entire fuckingsoul...
Scoob &Krissy
And his dog!
Scoob
And his dog, for a little bit ofextra petty. Pays him a ludicrous amount of money, takes care ofit
Krissy
Cause Jo is rich asfuck.
Scoob
Eventually-- because Jo is superrich. They make no secret of that the entire book. Her Money makesmoney is something she says at one point.
Krissy
Mmhmm.
Scoob
So which God I wish I wish! Comesweep me off my feet older rich woman.
Krissy
Older rich lesbians. I am freethis Friday.
Scoob
If you're hearing this, I'mavailable. No, I'm not.
Krissy
I'm not either. I'm like, assoon as I wanted to make the joke, I felt guilty.
Scoob
I only make the joke because Imade that same joke about Jesse Rasbery Final Fantasy SevenRemake.
Krissy
Yeah.
Scoob
And my girlfriend is aware ofit. Um, so
Krissy
So basically, let'ssee.
Scoob
I have no notes until the finalchapter now basically. So I...
Krissy
Wait, okay, so what happens isthey have a little fight. And
Scoob
Yes, over this.
Krissy
Yes, and Emma storms off. Yeah.Emma storms off. And Jo's like, Okay, that's it. It's over forevernow.
Scoob
I'll never see heragain.
Krissy
And Evelyn basically tells her,Are you really gonna let this happen? And Jo's like.
Scoob
Evelyn says, you wouldn't becalling me if you want it to be talked out of it. Which is truebest friend.
Krissy
Jo's like, I gotta go. And sheruns after Emma basically, and goes to her apartment. And has thismoment when she's like, I'm sorry. You know?
Scoob
And, It is
Krissy
She's like losing itagain.
Scoob
Yes.
Krissy
All her barriers are down. She'slike, stammering and stuttering and she can't sayanything.
Scoob
It's so good.
Krissy
And she's like. You're tooyoung. I'm too old. I don't know how to be in a relationship. Youwork for me. And Emma's like, Oh, so this is you officially tellingme that it's over? Huh? Emma you're so fucking stupid.
Scoob &Krissy
[laughs]
Scoob
I love stupid Heroines. Somuch!
Krissy
And Jo's like, No. And she grabsher by the wrist.
Scoob
Which is their thing! Againcoming full circle. She grabs her by the wrist at the SAGs, shegrabs her by the wrist now.
Krissy
And she asks, Can I kiss youagain?
Scoob
Oh, that floored me when I readit. So they uh, they get together.
Krissy
Yeah, that's it.
Scoob
Except not yet, because theydon't want the paparazzi getting up in their business. So theydecide to wait, they decide they can't really be seen together. Sothey have to go like for more than four weeks without seeing eachother! After seeing each other every single day. When you'resomeone's personal assistant, you see them every day. And nowsuddenly they have to go this block of time we get a cute littleHanukkah scene where Emma's with her family and Jo calls her on thefirst night of Hanukkah and Emma like sneaks away to the laundryroom take this phone call, it's so cute.
Krissy
And she's like, I feel like ateenager again. That was me.
Scoob
And her family before that waslike, Why didn't you bring your girlfriend with you? And theyhaven't like agreed to call each other that yet and she takes thecall and it's so sweet and then they decide to makeplans-
Krissy
For New Year's!
Scoob
For New Year's! And initially,Emma's, it's like, we should go out! And it's like, there's cameraseverywhere on New Year's are stupid?! And uh,
Krissy
Then you should comehere.
Scoob
Yes! Come to my house instead orI'll go to yours. I don't remember who suggests that but they makeplans. Emma will go to Jo's house for New Year's and this is wherewe get all the payoff you wait the entire book for. My, my friends,my loves, you finally get a VERY good sex scene at the end of thisbook.
Krissy
Halle-fucking-lujah!
Scoob
It is-- I was so afraid the sexscene would not pay off because that happens but no, this sex scenewas great. Jo is in her casual wear, she's in these skinny jeansand a T shirt which- great lesbian look
Krissy
Very relatable WLWactivity,
Scoob
Yes.
Krissy
When Emma is like knockedbreathless by the side of her collarbones
Scoob
Yes, uh, I read that off like ohmy god this book was written for Krissy! Collarbone appreciation.And so when they finally get so they they start to watch the preshow from the ball drop and then they start making out on thecouch. Jo is straddling Emma, and it is so good. The makeout sceneis really well written like the tension is building all your fangirl hype is starting to get aroused. And Jo is like we're going tothe bedroom and, there's a moment where it's like--
Krissy
I mean, she says, she says itvery consensually. She's like should we move to thebedroom?
Scoob
She does, she does.I-
Krissy
Jo still is sort of aware of thepower imbalance and it's very cute.
Scoob
It's, Yes it is. Allconsensual.
Krissy
And Emma's like hey, can you getover yourself and just fuck me already.
Scoob
There's like one fleeting momentwhere they're like,
Krissy
Stop being gentle,Jo!
Scoob
There's one fleeting momentwhere they're like we're gonna miss the ball drop and then it'slike, I don't fucking care. [laughs] So they start stripping andEmma is once again just absolutely breathtaking. And she starts totake Jo's jeans off and she ends up taking her jeans and herunderwear off at once and she is just like knocked cold. She'sknocked dead by doing this and it is--ugh! You have to read thissex scene, it's so good.
Krissy
And she calls herBoss.
Scoob
She called her Boss I have ithighlighted. It's my turn first. Jo said this time it wasintentional when Emma said, Yes boss, lightning flashed throughJo's eyes-
Krissy
Cause earlier, she had calledher Boss on instinct and they were no longer. You know,
Scoob
They're no longer boss andemployee.
Krissy
Yeah. But she called her Boss onimpulse because it's her pet name for her.
Scoob
Yes. Lightning flashedthrough Jo's eyes--
Krissy
And so now. Sorry can you readthat line again?
Scoob
I will read it all again.happily. It's my turn first. Jo said this time it was intentionalwhen Emma said Yes, Boss. Lightning flash through Jo's eyes, Emmatucked that knowledge away for later use.
Krissy
[SCREAMING]
Scoob
And then she has uh, Later usebecause she would get to do this again. And again. It barely feltreal that she got to do this. Now. The sex scene is so good! Youhave to read this book if you like slowburn. If anything we'vetalked about up to this point sounds good. This sex scene is agreat, great, great end to this book. It is a very well done sexscene. I've skipped over one of my favorite notes actually. So I'mgoing to read that now. A little bit earlier in that same chapterbecause they're kind of dancing around the whole like, are wegirlfriends are we, what are we have we put a label on thisrelationship?
Krissy
Mmhmm?
Scoob
And it's after she does the bossmistake. Um, she says no boss, and come on. It was cute. It was notcute. You're not my boss anymore. You're my, my-- and she panicsbecause she's not sure what she's supposed to call Jo anymore. AndJo goes, You can call me your girlfriend, Jo said quietly if that'ssomething you want to do. And I love that line because to me thatline encapsulated every ounce of the gentleness and the softness ofthis book that one line where she confirms like if that's what youwant to do. So.
Krissy
This book is sogentle.
Scoob
Yes, it is. Not like fate. Notlike they didn't have a choice. But like in 1000 differentuniverses, they would always make the choices that led them here.Like Gentle, gentle, gentle, gentle, gentle!
Krissy
Oh, and if we're talking aboutfavorite lines now mine is the next morning after they finally bangit out. Emma thinks she'll get up and make Jo coffee as like sweetthing.
Scoob
I also have that linehighlithed!
Krissy
And Jo's like No, she's like noand she like cuddles closer. Don't get up and Emma's like I wasgonna make you coffee. And Jo goes, I like this more than I likecoffee. Emma says you must like this a lot. And Jo says, I lovethis.
Scoob
Yes, I that is the last line Ihave highlighted so I yes, we both clutch to the same final partingthing.
Krissy
So good. And then you know,there's another moment where Jo reveals her quiet thoughtfulness.She has a box of unopened Chai concentrate in her refrigerator cuzEmma likes Chai better than coffee.
Scoob
Yes. And that's that's pointedout throughout the whole book is mo picks up Jo's coffee everymorning. And on some mornings, Jo will order a chai for Emma to gowith that order and like to go with that pickup. So it's, ugh. Thisbook was great! Something To Talk About is a really great read. Ifyou love slowburn if, if you love interesting power dynamics, ifyou love May/December, like Krissy and I do it is such a solidread!
Krissy
It's solid rep, too!
Scoob
Yes, the representation is bothcasual and meaningful all at once, it is... I'm really happy withhow well done it is. I am hoping that some of my Jewish friendswill read this and kind of tell me if I'm wrong in thinking thatthis representation is good. Which I hope I hope it's not-- I hopethat's not the case. I hope this is good representation. I'm notJewish. So I can't speak to that. But I was so-
Krissy
Yeah and neither of us areChinese either.
Scoob
And neither of us are Chinese! Iloved so much of this book. You've heard my two qualms,really.
Krissy
Yeah because that's basicallythe end.
Scoob
That's the end!
Krissy
After that it's--
Scoob
They get the happily everafter!!
Krissy
After that is an epilogue wherethey go to one last award show together. But this time they go as acouple.
Scoob
Yes. Is it at the SAGsagain?
Krissy
Yeah.
Scoob
yeah, they go to the SAGs. Andthis time, it's actually a date.
Krissy
The end. It's so good. This bookis really good.
Scoob
Happily ever after for Jo andEmma. As it should be. In all good romance media. Give us a sequelwith Evelyn!
Krissy
Yeah, I think Evelyn wassupposed to be straight? Bi? I don't know, but I want her to bebisexual like me. Yeah, I don't think it's ever like cannonconfirmed that Emma's bisexual. The way it is confirmedthat,
Scoob
Yeah, I don't know that Emmasays I'm bisexual.
Krissy
Jo is a lesbian. Yeah. But I'mcool. I'm not mad at that.
Scoob
I interpreted it. I read it asher being bisexual the whole time. And Jo being alesbian.
Krissy
I, I read it as both beinglesbians and Emma might have been dating men in the past, but like,that's just comphet for you.
Scoob
Yeah, I mean, that's a thing. SoI recommend this book. Um, I, I really enjoyed it. I hope whoeverlistens to this podcast will also give it a shot.
Krissy
Yeah, if you want a nice, Iguess I keep saying this, healthy because it is veryhealthy.
Scoob
It's so healthy!
Krissy
It's so good. And like pure andlike-
Scoob
Soft.
Krissy
And am I was afraid. Afraid is aweird word to say. But I was afraid that they wouldn't have sex andI'm like, WLW romances can be good and healthy and pure. And not betotally neutered.
Scoob
And still have sex! Yes, becausethat is a thing. That is that is such a thing where people onlywant the good pure UWU, Let's hold hands and be soft. And you canbe both you can be all of it. You don't have to be, there's nothingwrong with that. But you also
Krissy
Yeah there's nothing wrong withnot wanting sex, obviously.
Scoob
Yeah not at all, obviously! Butwhen the majority of your representation in media takes that away,it starts to villainize the sex and the sexy and sort of the darkerenticing themes you could get into and that's not okay. It's notokay to completely villainize an entire aspect of love and romanceand sexuality in that way for a specific group ofpeople.
Krissy
Yeah! Like we're whole entirepeople.
Scoob
Whole ass people.
Krissy
Adults. Yeah.
Scoob
Whole ass adults!
Krissy
Whole ass adult. Butyeah!
Scoob
So 4.5 out of five forme!
Krissy
Yes. 10 out of 10 for me, Imean, I don't have a actual grading system. I just likedit.
Scoob
I started this format of the oneto five scale so I stick with it but like if you want to break itdown into the do I recommend this or do I not? I wholeheartedlyrecommend this.
Krissy
If you want a May/December, ifyou want to slow burn contemporary. Yeah, the slowestburn.
Scoob
[clears throat]Slooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow burn! I couldhave gone longer. I wasn't gonna put you through that though,Krissy.
Krissy
That was extra hysterical,because I didn't hear any of it.
Scoob &Krissy
[laughing]
Krissy
I'm looking at your camera. So Iknew what you were saying. But
Scoob
[laughing] That's gonna be atreat for you when you listen to my audio file. So Trash &Treasures does recommend Something To Talk About by Meryl Wilsner!Amazing casual representation of so much within thisnovel.
Krissy
Yeah, it didn't feel like-- Ihate to say this word, but it didn't feel cringy.
Scoob
It didn't feel... Yeah, no, Iagree. I can't even think of a better word than that.
Krissy
It felt good.Organic.
Scoob
It felt real.
Krissy
It felt real.
Scoob
Free range. [laughs] Sorry, yousaid organic and that's all I could think of.
Krissy
Free range. organic. Locallysourced. Hand harvested with pride. Hey, and it is pride month whenwe're recording this. So while we're recording, happypride!
Scoob
It is pride month while we'rerecording. Happy pride. Pride was a riot.
Krissy
Donate to a black translesbian!
Scoob
Helloooo Trash & Treasureslisteners! Each podcast episode comes with a beautiful piece of artcommissioned by me and Krissy to illustrate our favorite scenes ofeach novel we read!
This week's piece is abreathtaking commission from one of my personal favorite artists,Alice! I've been a fan of their's for quite some time now, and justknew we needed to reach out to them for the very first bookillustration. You can find them on their social platforms ofTwitter, Tumblr, and Instagram @ItsBabyPears, and you can supportthem at Patreon.com/babypears or buy from their print shop atsociety6.com/babypears.
We will of course link toall of Alice's channels where you can find their artwork below, inour platform posts, and in our episode transcript.
Scoob
https://itsbabypears.com/
Scoob
https://twitter.com/itsbabypears
Scoob
https://ko-fi.com/babypears
Scoob
https://www.instagram.com/itsbabypears/
Scoob
https://www.patreon.com/babypears
Scoob
Do you have book suggestions forus? Wanna gush about your favorite scene in a book we've reviewed?Reach out to us on social media @WLWTAT, WLW TAT or hit up ouremail inbox at wlwtreasures@gmail.com. Again that's,
W as in Whiskey, L as inLima, W as in Whiskey, T as in Tango, A as in Alfa, and T as inTango again. So, WLWTAT on Twitter and Instagram
orwlwtreasures@gmail.com.
Scoob
Our next book that we're goingto be diving into, if I may, Krissy, unless you want to introduceit?
Krissy
Yeah go ahead!
Scoob
Is, Once Ghosted, Twice Shy aReluctant Royals novella by the legendary Alyssa Cole.
Krissy
God, I fucking loveher.
Scoob
I have not read this. AlyssaCole is phenomenal. I have not read this. I've not read any of theReluctant Royals series. But that's the beautiful thing.
Krissy
I've read all of them exceptthis one, which is weird because I like girls. So.
Scoob
Yeah! So thankfully, myunderstanding is that you can read this without any realunderstanding of the rest of the series, which is my favorites kindof novella. That's a lot of novellas I read, because I don't havethe time frequently to read big long series. So that'll be our nextread. We really want to try and focus on more than just whiteauthors.
Krissy
Yeah.
Scoob
Especially right now. So, thisfelt like...
Krissy
Considering what was goingon,
Scoob
Considering theworld.
Krissy
Like, we were already, like,we've been talking about this for a while, and we were alreadylike,
Scoob
Yes.
Krissy
We got to do more than whiteromance cause I'm fucking sick of it. I'm sick!
Scoob
Yeah!
Krissy
I was sick before this all wentdown.
Scoob
Yes. And I have actually, I'veowned this book for a very long time. I want to say, if I didn'tbuy it right after the Romantic Times Convention, Las Vegas, tt wasnot shortly after. So, I've owned it for a long time, and I haven'thad a chance to read it. So this is perfect. This is perfect timeto do so.
Krissy
Well, I can't wait to read thisnovella. I can't wait to yell again with you. It'll probably beshorter. We've been recording for two hours.
Scoob
Oops. We have a lot of feelings,it's a slow burn!
Krissy
Uh, I. It's a slow burn, we hadto talk about it. And I have to be kind of quiet because I don'tknow when Aaron's gonna start his meeting. But yeah? I had so muchfun!
Scoob
I had so much fun. I can't waitto continue this podcast. Hopefully my audio is much clearerquality this time.
Krissy
Hopefuly mine is, cause I knowI'm close to my mic as well. And it's way louder this time. Sowe'll see.
Scoob
We'll see. We'll flip flop Shallwe? Shall we sign off?
Scoob &Krissy
[giggles]
Krissy
Let's sign off. We didn't evensign on! I'm Krissy, you know me on the internet as actual Tumblrusers xekstrin. You can find me on Twitter@KepMakingWords
Scoob
And I'm Lauren, but you'll neverhear me called that on this podcast. I'm Scooby. And you can findme @SailorScooby... pretty much everywhere on theinternet.
Krissy
You are Scooby. We were at aprofessional meeting once and I, we were in a group chat with abunch of other co workers and out loud I said, "Hello.......Lauren.:" [strained, then laughing]
Scoob
It was so strained. It was solike, you could tell it was the most unnatural thing Krissy hasever said in her life. And I think even my coworker picked up onit. Because the moment after I went, you can call me Scooby. It'sfine.
Krissy
You are Scooby.
Scoob
Yep. It's true.
Krissy
Anyway, it was so much funtalking to you. Bye!
Scoob
Bye!
![Trash & Treasures: [TRANSCRIPT] Episode 1: Something To Talk About (2025)](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mP8/h8AAvMB+NzmkbcAAAAASUVORK5CYII=)