What do you think about trad wives? >> [laughter] >> What are your thoughts about the trad wives? >> And they're like, "Oh, I read Jane Austen." [music] And I'm like, "I don't." >> Are you a DNFer? >> Yeah
Honestly, Binding 13 [music] was >> [laughter] >> my favorite
I'm so sorry. >> Shadow Zaddy. >> What the is a shadow? Like, I'm [laughter] sorry
I read the whole book, didn't catch on that. >> Hi angels, welcome to Booked Fun and Busy because the hottest girls read
I'm Olivia Ponton, and today we are joined by the princess of BookTok, Ms
Caitlin Bea
If you don't know her, well, like kind of what are you waiting for? She gives like the best BookTok book recommendations, and as someone who I listen to a lot for book recs, TBH
I'm so excited to have her on
So, Caitlin Bea, welcome to Booked Fun and Busy. >> Thanks for having me. >> Okay, so So, today we're doing a beverage of the day, but instead of a beverage, we're doing dot cake
These are from Butter Field Market
They're like viral on TikTok
I have maybe had them like five times
Um, >> [laughter] >> but we're going to have you take a taste test. >> I am so excited
This is the highlight of my week
Okay. >> So, there's red velvet, vanilla chip, classic white, and chocolate
Chocolate is my favorite
I'm not going to lie. >> Wait, I'm slightly allergic to chocolate, so can I do the vanilla? >> Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. >> [laughter] >> Right
You're allergic to chocolate? >> It's It's an intolerance that I don't abide by all the time
I have to have like a little chocolate cuz like how do we how do you not have chocolate? I mean, Mom's like deathly allergic
I'm like, "Why did you give me the worst allergy ever?" >> Okay, so Oh
It's so good, Rowan
It like tickles the brain
I know. >> Oh my gosh, I've always wanted to do that
As in like the last month
Oh my gosh. >> Life-changing. >> This is beautiful, stunning, gorgeous. >> [snorts] >> Mhm. >> Stop
Oh my god, that's better than I thought. >> Mhm. >> Like >> Oh, it is. >> great
But it's even better
Okay, so now that we have our dog cake I want to introduce to the audience, but like you have to give your own little introduction because when I go on podcast, I hate I hate when they introduce [laughter] me because they're like they like get all extra and I'm like, "Oh my god, I'm right here, babe
Like we don't we don't have to do this." So I'm going >> [laughter] >> have you have you give your own introduction. >> Ooh, okay
So I'm Caitlin Bea and I'm a New York City based content creator
I actually got started in 2010
Okay, so I was one of like the OG beauty girls on YouTube back before it was even a thing like the influencer was not a thing
It wasn't a word
I was just a weird kid doing it in high school for fun
So >> Wait, what did people think of you? >> What? >> What did people think of you in high school? Like was it like judgment or were they just like >> was scared that it would be judgment
So I kept I was I was living a Hannah Montana in my own Minnesota world for 2 years
I didn't tell anybody from sophomore year to my senior year of college or sorry, senior year of high school. >> You didn't tell anyone? >> tell a soul
Like even my sister spilled the beans to my best friend and I was like so embarrassed cuz everything at that age when I was 16 was so embarrassing
I don't I was just like I would turn red at just speaking in front of the class
Like it was crazy
So I was like nobody can know because this is just a weird thing I'm doing
Like I didn't even tell my parents
I would just run home from school, film a little tutorial, like edit it on my MacBook, post it to the ether and I was like, "This is so fun." >> Wow. >> So I and that just purely stemmed from me loving watching >> Mhm. >> beauty videos on YouTube
So that was kind of how I got my start and over the years I've just have shifted my content to anything and everything that I love
So whether that was going to college, I was doing it there and vlogging and food and and beauty fashion and then the pandemic hits and I'm like, "Okay, well, I'm not putting on makeup
I'm not like getting ready like glam to stay >> [laughter] >> in my apartment." So, that's really when I discovered reading and now I'm like a full-time book creator pretty much
I I also do, you know, lifestyle and it's also shifted to hosting and interviewing as well
So, kind of just everything, you know, I love. >> Wow
Okay, so what do you hate? >> What >> [laughter] >> What do you hate? If that's everything you love, what what is something that you actually like you can't get behind? >> Content-wise or like >> Just a content-wise. >> Yeah
I Okay, so I and this isn't like I don't know
I I was a food foodie for a minute
Like I went plant-based back in Oh my gosh, I think 10 years ago now
So, >> You're still? >> I still I'm plant-based, but I am I say plant-based, but like I I will have dairy, you know, I have fish here and there
But, at the time it was like this whole big thing and it was getting to me of like I have to be this perfect like eat a certain way, you know, and it was just it it became a lot and I at the time went to school in Nebraska
So, you're in Nebraska? Um Lincoln, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. >> know where that is
Never mind
I [laughter] was going to There's one I can't remember the city
Omaha? Yes
Those are like the two cities in in Nebraska. >> Pretty much. >> [laughter] >> Lincoln, Omaha. >> Wow, that's crazy
Okay, anyways. >> So, it was it was as you can imagine so hard to be and at that time, too
Like in 2016, it was hard to be vegan there
So, anyway, all this to say, food isn't really necessarily like my jam anymore
I think you could take inspiration from it, but trying to follow someone else's like, you know, protocol can be a little a little crazy
So, >> But, you know, I love watching food food videos like dot cakes, so >> [laughter] >> Give me the dot cakes
Give Give the dot cakes
I will never skip one. >> Honestly, yeah
Me either
When they were first being posted on TikTok, I was like, this has got to be like a joke
Like there's no way that every single New York City influencer is freaking out about this
But then I tried one and I was like >> [laughter] >> It's delicious
Okay, what else is something that's like that people don't really know, but is super defining for you? >> Ooh, just something about me, I guess. >> you don't post online that much. >> Okay, now it's kind of funny
I I don't think I've ever talked about this online
I am a die-hard Sims player
Like I love The Sims. >> Really? >> To the point where 2020 when again, I was like, all my, you know, I was I was mainly beauty and fashion at the time
And again, all basically all of, you know, brand deals work was was on pause
So I was like, okay, what should I do with my time? And that's how I discovered reading, but I was also using my time to play stick up my Sims
I have a Sims computer dedicated to >> Really? >> Yeah, because it it literally was frying my computer
So I was like, I'm just going to keep my old computer >> Why was it frying Why was it frying it? >> Because it take on a laptop, Sims it Sims is kind of meant for like a PC
So there it just takes up so much memory that it it's it's overheating
Like your laptop, it's just it's dying
So I just use [laughter] my old laptop for that
But during the pandemic, I strongly considered becoming a Sims creator
And so it it was kind of a toss-up
I was like, should I go full in and become a Sims creator? Or should I do books? Those were my two like passions at the time. >> [laughter] >> Wildly different things and so random and people were like, what? But I I genuinely I was like, what can I do? I love to to monetize my hobbies, I guess
And so, you know, that's how I I loved makeup
I started doing that and you know, it's been my full-time career always but >> Mhm. it it was a strong toss-up
Sims, books
Honestly, it it it's purely came down to talking to my guy friends about the setup
And I was like, this is a lot
This is a huge commitment to become like a like a live cuz you have to live >> Like a streamer. >> Yep
But I had nothing back but time back then. >> Yeah. >> So, I was like, do I go full send to become a Sims creator? >> Wow. >> Uh cuz I was like, how fun just to just to play Sims all the time
And >> Do you watch streamers? >> You know, I used to be like, that's so strange
Why would why would I want to watch someone play a game instead of me playing it? But I started watching them and I became addicted
I I could not stop
It was like all these challenges and I would I that's all I used to watch for a year
And so >> Wow. >> I don't know what came over me, uh but I was strongly considering that
But thank thankfully books took over and uh cuz now I can't imagine not talking about books
But >> [laughter] >> So, during COVID, where were you? >> I was in Los Angeles
So, I lived there for 8 years. >> Wow. >> And I only moved to New York in 2024. >> So, like a year and a half ago? >> Yeah, I just hit my Yeah, I just hit my 2-year mark in March. >> Wow
What brought you here? >> Yeah. >> I So, I loved LA at the time
I grew up in Minnesota
I always knew I wanted to come out to LA
It was just it was the place to be
All the YouTubers were going out here
It was like Park La Brea, very like The Hills, the good old beach
I just I was like, I need that
It was so magical to me at the time
And I made my way out there with my content creator best friend
We lived together
And again, I lived there for 8 years, moved around, but I was just getting stir-crazy
I I think it's just from, you know, working from home and this line of work, it's just it can be really isolating. >> Yeah. >> And I I was in my home a lot, and I'm a homebody
I love being home, but I found my days getting really redundant and I felt like I was living in The Truman Show for a little bit
I was like, "Every day feels the same
It's sunny every day, which is beautiful and we all romanticize it, but honestly, I I found myself missing the seasons
And I I would step outside, I'm like, "I need some social interaction." And it would be dead
And that that can also be where I lived
I was on the west side, but >> Okay. >> some stimulation and I was getting none
And you know, like I would see my friends, but I felt like we were doing the same things every weekend and just kind of living really repetitively and it it got to the point where I was just viscerally craving change
And I kept coming out to New York for work or for fun and it was like, you know, they say like New York has that kind of energy that's just indescribable and I started feeling that
I was like, "Whoa, this actually feels so different." And I hated New York for a while
Like every time I used to come here cuz I would be put up in like Times Square >> Oh. >> and I thought Times Square was New York
I was like, "How do people like this? This is crazy
This is so over stimulated." And I just never understood
And then my sister's like, "Caitlin, there's more to New York than Times Square
Like get out." And I'm like, "Oh, okay." So, you know, I I explored and I found myself just loving it and I kept flying out and kept flying out and I was like, "Okay, I think there's something to this
I I'm just like really drawn to New York." And I was in, you know, my my late 20s at the time and I'm like, "I feel like this is the time to do it." And so I put myself in storage and I found my friend actually found me a fully furnished apartment
So, it felt, you know, I wasn't tied down and I was like, "I can easily like I'm just going to try it for a year, have fun, see what this is all about and then I can easily move back." And I highly recommend if anyone is ever feeling like that change, you know, it's like calling them, do it
Like you'll never regret doing it
You can always come back
I always say that like LA will always be there for me
You know, I still have such a great group of friends out there, but I like if I ignored that inner calling, like, I think I would have regretted it
I'm still in that apartment 2 years later so >> [laughter] >> Girl, yes
Yeah. >> I love it. >> So, let's go into BookTok because this is my favorite topic of conversation. >> So, how did you start on BookTok? >> So, hi again
It was in the pandemic
I dug up my Kindle cuz I was like, I can't spend all this time just watching TV, playing [snorts] Sims. >> [laughter] >> Like, put the put the family down
So, I dug up my Kindle
I'm like, what do I do with this? It was like ancient
It was an ancient artifact
I had not touched this in years
Um so, I I downloaded some books and it took like I think like two books for me to get into it
But then, like, once I found Verity, it was the first book I downloaded that I was like, "Oh my god, I'm obsessed." Like, with reading like the first line just drew me in
It was like, "Her skull cracked." And I was like, "What is going on?" [laughter] I'm like, "What is happening?" I think that was the first thriller I've really read as well. >> Yeah, that was my first Well, I read one book before that, but then I got introduced into the Colleen Hoover world
And I think I read November 9th first by her
And then I think I read Verity right after that or Ugly Love
It was Those three I read them like back-to-back-to-back. >> Banger after banger. >> Yeah
And yeah, Verity just like immediately immersed me into her world and I was like, "What >> is crazy >> is going on?" Why do you think so many people, I mean, from who I have talked to, so many people get into Colleen Hoover as like their segue author into reading? Why do you think that she's normally the segue author? >> I I recommend her as the author to get into reading
And I know it can be People have things to say about every author, but like they love to, you know, dog on on Colleen Hoover books, but honestly, I feel like like we just got to like peel back the layers, and I always recommend books and and videos
That's how I come up with video ideas is like thinking about what I was looking for as a new reader in the pandemic, and I was looking for just something to get me off of my phone
I was looking for just something like I just want to be entertained
Doesn't need to be this crazy thought-provoking like and you know work of art all the time, you know? I love [snorts] Verity
Not dogging on Verity, but like sometimes like we can relax
It can just be fun and silly goofy
And so, I because Verity was a book that got me into reading, I just [clears throat] and then I I became obsessed
I was like, I need to read more from this author because it's I've never felt this way before
I was only reading like a book a year
It was self-help books
I was like, this and reading is not for me
And then I realized there's so much more to reading. >> I agree. >> And so I feel like and that that led me to reading her entire backlist, and I I always recommend her books to get into reading for new readers cuz I feel like you're just looking for something to get off your phone, something that's going to entertain you
There's just something bingeable about her books that you, you know, the chapter ends and you have to turn the you have to turn the page. >> She's so good at that, where it's like I remember reading her books and staying up at night being like, oh, I'm going to just read to the end of this chapter
And then the chapter happens, and I'm like like Now I got to figure out what happens. >> Especially if you read Do you read on a Kindle? >> No. >> Oh, we got to get you on the Kindle game. >> read my first book I read on Kindle was Binding 13 by Chloe Walsh, and then I read the second book. >> Okay, so you do have a Kindle. >> I do own a Kindle. >> Okay. >> I got one maybe like 6 months ago because I used to lug around like four books in my suitcases, and my bags would always be overweight
I'm like, sorry, man, where are my books? >> Right? Like you're like, I am not leaving [laughter] these behind
That's what That's what's so great about Kindle, especially for the big books
I'm just going to say like Binding 13
It's like it's great to just have it on your Kindle, especially when you don't know like you know, how many pages are left
Sometimes it can be daunting if you're like, "Oh my gosh, this chapter." But with with um Colleen Hoover books, I feel like the chapters are pretty short
They're She hooks you
She like continues
So, you just you have no choice but to just keep going. >> [laughter] >> So, it's it's great for new readers. >> Oh my gosh, yeah
How many Colleen Hoover books have you read? >> Her entire backlist
I've read every single one except for her new book. >> Like Woman Down? >> The Woman Down. >> I haven't read that
I've probably read She's 29 books, I'm pretty sure
I think I've read 22 of them. >> Okay, so basically >> What's your favorite? Or or top? Top one? Cuz it's so hard. >> Yeah. >> [laughter] >> Take that question off me
Um my favorite book by her TBH Verity
Like Like Verity, I recommend that if you need something to like hook you
And you need a book that's just like purely entertaining. >> Yep. >> Ugly Love, I loved
I think it was the first proper book that made me like bawl my eyes out crying. >> Yes. >> Same thing with November 9th
I really liked that. >> It's so good. >> What? I really loved like the Finding Cinderella um the really really tiny books you were talking about. >> I think they're underrated. >> I agree and that I feel like people don't realize that whole world is kind of connected with All Your Perfects and the Cinderellas and going back
There's another book in there as well. >> It's like Finding Some >> I think it's Finding Cinderella. >> And there's Finding Something Else. >> Oh, Hopeless. >> [gasps] >> Did you like Hopeless? >> I love Hopeless and I keep forgetting about Hopeless
Oh my gosh, >> read that one. >> That's kind of the first book in like the interconnected series, like Hopeless, Losing Hope
But I love that book, but definitely like don't go into it blindly
Like look up content warnings because it definitely deals with some deeper topics
So, you know, if you decide to go ahead and read it, >> Tread lightly, please. >> yes
Tread lightly, but beautiful story. >> Wait, so what's your top five favorite Colleen Hoover books? >> Verity, number one for sure
I actually think Hopeless should be second, and I keep forgetting about Hopeless
I'm so glad that we were reminded of Hopeless today
So [laughter] good
Um Ugly Love, >> Yeah. >> that was the book that got me into like spicy books as well
I was like, "What is this genre?" I'm like, "What?" I think that was the book I read directly after Verity, and I was like, >> [gasps] [laughter] >> A whole new world. >> I I was obsessed
And then, November [snorts] 9th, >> Yeah. >> because that's also interconnected with Ugly Love, and I loved that one
Um I think that's four
Oh my gosh, what would my fifth one be? Hm
Okay actually really I think I liked Maybe Someday. >> Mhm. >> Weirdly because of the music aspect
Not necessarily like the trope in it, but I I liked how he was like a songwriter, the music writing stuff
Um >> Did you or did you read Slammed? >> I did
That was actually the I think that was the last book >> Mhm. >> I read by her, because I was going through her entire backlist, and then I was like, "I need to read her first book that she ever wrote." So, that was >> That was the first book >> the first book she ever wrote. >> even know that. >> Yes
And so so I read it last, but I I think after directly reading all of her other works, I could see the writing different I was like, "Oh, I can see like she's improved her writing a lot since then." So, I think if people do read that one to read it near the beginning, just because it I think it gets a lot better. >> Yeah. >> Did you like Slammed? >> I loved Slammed. >> You loved Slammed? >> Similarly, it was one of the last books that I've read by her
I was in Positano very specific two summers ago when I read it, and I was just >> [laughter] >> bawling my eyes out
I was like, "There is just there's just no way." >> There's nothing Nothing like bawling your eyes out on the beach, you know? Like that's what I'm saying
So, what is your favorite thing about BookTok right now? >> I just in general, I love the community aspect of BookTok, especially if you have no one in your life that reads
I feel like I'll get comments all the time being like, "I have nobody to talk to like about this book." And I'm like, "You can talk to me
Like talk to us." And it's so fun like seeing people start conversations and friendships even through it
It's it's so fun
And just always having someone to like you can search probably any book out there and and find people who love the book, hate the book, you know? And it's it's a great way to just to find community
So, >> similarly I I love that
Like when I started reading no one in my life no one in my life read. >> Yes
Who likes this book? I had to find my people cuz I [laughter] was the only one same of my friends >> um during the pandemic I'm like I I and I've successfully turned I think 99% of my friends into readers
But at the time I was like, "You guys >> [laughter] >> get on it because I want to selfishly discuss." >> I think I'm on my way to that
I feel like I've successfully helped maybe like three or four of my friends
But some of them they just don't have the attention span
They're like, "I can't I can't sit down and read this book for 30 minutes." And I was like, >> What about have they tried audiobooks? >> No, but I feel like that's even harder for me to be like, "Oh, listen to this thing." You know [laughter] what I mean? Like it's a little harder. >> If they're like, "You know, I I have ADHD." And so I need like I love putting on an audiobook while I'm doing chores or on the subway on my walk so that I'm actually, you know, I'm like ingesting and and getting into a story but I'm also still doing something else. >> I agree. >> kind of nice cuz sometimes if like they're like sit down, read this book, you know, it can be Yeah, it is daunting
Um what's the worst thing BookTok that you think? Like has BookTok ever ruined anything for you? >> I think it can be with any space, too, I feel like I I will see be like, "Oh, BookTok's become so negative and such a bad place." And I'm like, "I think I've curated, I guess, like, you know, the people I follow or people I seek out like a very intentional overall kind space, which is great, but you know, I'm not like I I still see the negativity
I think what I dislike is, um, there can be it can be pretentious at times of, you know, if you're not reading this the classics, then like you're reading trash and it's not it's not doing anything for the brain or like audiobooks aren't real
Like and and I just think like we just need to again like sit down
Like my goal in BookTok and just talking about books, sharing my reading in general is just to get others excited about reading again because I feel like it's such a such a lost like form for a while and it's truly changed my life and like getting off my phone and doing something for my brain, but also just as an escape and it doesn't have to be like this again crazy like intellectual story that's changing my life, you know, in a certain way and it can just be like fun and it doesn't have to be that serious
And so I feel like the negativity I hate with BookTok is when I I come across that of like if you're not reading this, if you're reading smut, like you're you suck
And I'm like, "No, like you guys, it's fine." Like >> I literally feel the exact same when people try to judge me
Like even in person I deal with this a lot
Like I'll meet a fellow reader and it will not be like at a book related thing
It'll just be someone out in the wild
And they're like, "Oh, I read Jane Austen." And I'm like "I don't." >> [laughter] >> Do you ever forget like every book you've ever read when someone asks you that? Cuz I I'll be out in the wild and they're like, "What?" I did meet someone recently and he was like, yeah, he he was saying all these books of like, you know, I've never heard of before and I was like He was like, "What's the last book you read?" I actually don't know a single book
I've literally never read a book in my entire life
Like >> [laughter] >> I feel the same exact way cuz I feel like I almost disassociate the books to my real life
So, like I go inside like la-di-da-di-da land and then I come back and I'm like Like there's no >> I'm like, "Wait, what?" >> [laughter] >> And and yeah, and I I also tend to read multiple books at the same time, too
So, I'm also forgetting like, "What am I reading right now?" It's a great question
You need to pull up my Goodreads
Okay
But yeah, then I also feel the pressure sometimes with that of feeling like I have to have like a classic under my belt, you know, or something. >> I don't feel pressure >> Like I don't know about a single classic, but [laughter] >> I feel it
I literally feel the same way
So, what do you think about like celebrity book talk or not celebrity book talk? What do you feel about celebrity book clubs versus like book talk creators? Like what is your I think I know your preference, but like what do you What do you consume more of? >> Definitely BookTok I I consume more of, but I also I think as the years have evolved, I can't believe I've been like on BookTok for 6 years now
It's insane cuz I feel like I I just started doing this
But I I loved it as a way especially as a new reader to get into reading, find, you know, like people with you know, like like-minded taste and um finding that community is was life-changing
And I think it helped me just like honestly, for a while I was before I even started creating videos, I was going off of other people's recommendations
Cuz I had no idea what authors were out there
I had literally no idea
So, finding that just like really helped me develop my own taste and I was like, "Okay, I I think I'm liking I only read thrillers for a while." After Verity, I was like thriller after thriller and then I finally, you know, I think Ugly Love helped me
I was like, "Wait." I was like, "I think it I'm onto something here
I actually do like romance." And so, you know, I started going down that path as well
And I think now after 6 years, I finally like, okay, sometimes but again, there's pockets of BookTok for everyone
I think the main videos you see can be a lot of redundant recommendations and um, you know, you go into a main bookstore and it's like the same recs, like the BookTok table, which is so crazy that it's >> [laughter and gasps] >> I kind of like that though cuz I'm like, I know like I know what I'm getting kind of like sometimes for me the daunting part of reading is picking up a book and being like no one's ever recommended this to me
I have no idea if it's going to be good or a complete waste of my time. >> Yes. >> And I feel like with BookTok, I have at least some type of okay, there's girls that are my age that like this book
I think I'll be fine. >> Exactly. [laughter] It's like and if you don't, that's okay, too
It's like we don't all have to like love it, but I uh, I do sometimes feel like with the with the celebrity book um, clubs, I just I haven't really like delved into that too much
I heard Dua Lipa has great taste though. >> Me too
I heard that. >> So I'm like, okay, I kind of want to start reading some of her recommendations, but sometimes I feel like I I just need a light escape book and I don't know if they're reading light escape books. >> That's my only thing with it is I feel like Reese Witherspoon, love hers
Like I feel like everything that she does, I'm like, okay, you get the people
Sometimes with Dua's, I feel like like the conversation we're having right now, it's a lot of classics, it's a lot of very mature books with a lot of yeah, with a lot of lessons in them and I'm like, sometimes I just need like a little >> I just want like a little light reading and then call it a day. >> [laughter] >> And then call it a day. >> I agree
So what are you reading right now? >> Ooh, okay
So again, I I have to dabble in every format
So on audiobook, I just started Famous Sick by Lena Dunham cuz there's so much conversation going on about that and I got to hear her speak at an event recently about it
So started the audio
I also love memoirs on audio
I just find I love when the author is cuz the author typically narrates their own book
So, I do love that
I'm also on my Kindle, I'm reading The Unknown by Riley Sager
Have you ever read a Riley Sager book? >> Mhm. >> But I've literally last night Kiera was um recommending >> Talking about it was the only one left because I was like you have to read it. >> one that's like on top of the um >> On a hill? >> Yes
We were literally talking about it. >> So, that book blew my mind. >> You read that one? >> Yes, I've read his entire backlist as well
Obsessed
I um like when I find an author I'm like I will read your backlist
So, I'm reading I don't know if this book is out yet, but I have an advanced copy of The Unknown, but I I finally just started that on my Kindle
And on physical book, oh I just started um the second book of the Magnolia Parks series. >> What's it called again? >> So, I think it's the first book is Magnolia Parks, the second one's Daisy Haites, third one is Magnolia Parks like The Long Way Home, I think. >> Okay. >> So, that's the one I I just like just started
So, I'm like all over the place right now. >> Well, I'm obsessed with Magnolia Parks TBH. >> You haven't read it yet? >> I have and loved hers
Loved the first book
I didn't read the full series though
Okay
But I liked like as someone who like loves fashion, I liked that she it was like a romance kind of toxic story, but it also mixed in like Miu Miu shoes. >> Yes, like all the little details
I was like, wait, and did you ever like look up the pieces cuz I was reading it and >> [laughter] >> I was like, wait, I have to know
I'm like I'm such a visual
I'm like I have to know exactly what she's wearing. >> Perfect. >> I I think that's being adapted as well. >> Really? That would be such a good movie to adapt TBH. >> I I think they might do it as in a series because there's like so many characters they got to build out
I loved Daisy Haites
Like that was I was obsessed and so now going back to Magnolia I'm like, okay, but I'm excited for the Daisy books. >> Yeah
I'm reading I'm listening to Yesteryear right now. >> Do you like it because I I read that last month or I think it was actually two months ago now, but >> What do you think about tradwives? >> [laughter and gasps] >> What are your thoughts about the tradwives? >> I started it because so many people recommended it to me, so I was like, okay, let me just like dabble into this
Started out my audiobook genuinely was like What is going on? >> It's crazy. >> What is going on? It's crazy. >> Do you think like I'm halfway through it right now, so >> Okay. >> Who's the spoilers? >> Yeah. >> But like just give me your thoughts on it
That's where I'm going to start
And then I'm going to I have a lot of questions about it. >> thoughts as someone like especially like early on thoughts
Um I so I tend to not gravitate towards books that have like a influencer or like content creator character
I don't know if it's just like it's too close to home, but I I do find it a little cringey sometimes and I I but I feel like a lot of the time it I don't like when books are a little too online if there's too much like talking about Tik Tok or like Tik Tok lingo
I don't know, there's something that kind of turns me off
I'm like, no. >> [laughter] >> I don't I don't really I don't love this
But so I was hesitant to go into it, but I kept hearing so much buzz about this book and I was like, I I do kind of want in on the conversation and I want to see what this is all about
And I did think the premise was interesting of like, you know, this woman wakes up and, you know, and she's living the the actual tradwife life
And so I was I was so intrigued
I think I did also listen to most of it on audio
I was kind of flipping between both, but um I personally I I love right now an unhinged unlikeable main character
Like I I find it so entertaining
I'm just laughing hysterically
And so I found I believe her name is Natalie, correct? I found her very insufferable
And um >> She's really annoying
I [laughter] don't like it
I'm like get like cuz the the premise of the book in the beginning is that she's like cos playing a trad wife
She's not actually a trad wife because she's the breadwinner in her family and a trad wife and a trad wife doesn't make any money
So it's like that concept to me is like okay, you're cos playing living on this farm and having chickens, but like yet you post your entire life and you're constantly thinking like this would be a good video
This would be a good video
And I'm like And then she wakes up
I'm at the point where she has just woken up and she like hates her kids
I'm really confused
I'm like She like doesn't like her husband, which is Caleb
She keeps being like Caleb is I mean she's not actually saying Caleb's annoying, but like The verbage she's using I'm like, okay
So I'm a little bit like she's annoying
What's going to happen right now? >> Okay, that's very fair
But also I feel like the book is really controversial
Like some people loved it and like understand the hype and then some people are like I I genuinely don't understand
So I'm curious when you're done with it because >> If it will fulfill my satisfaction. >> There's twists and turns. >> Yeah, so I'm waiting for the twist. >> Yeah, I'm excited
I was just like what is happening? Like I was kind of eating it up honestly
Um but I I need to know when you're done
You have to let me know. >> Yes
So what would be three books that you'd recommend to someone watching like right now? >> Ooh, okay
I love like tailoring it to different people
So I'm going to give a couple different wrecks because just depending on what you like
So if you're looking for just like a fun summer beach read like romance just to make you swoon
I loved One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune
It's so good. >> We could talk about Carley Fortune all night. >> [laughter] >> You're like how much how much time do you have? >> I love Yeah, okay
I'm not going to interrupt. >> That one was my favorite of of all of her books that I've read from her
Loved One Golden Summer
Um especially just like reading it out in the summer it's just a vibe cuz the setting feels like a character in itself
I also um if you're looking for something Ooh, okay
If you're into audiobooks, I loved The Favorites by Lane Fargo
And this is also a great physical book to read because it personally got me out of a reading slump
It's fast-paced
It's kind of kind of like Carrie Soto is back mixed with but it's a it's it's amazing
It's short chapters, but the audiobook has so many different characters and it's like Olympic figure skaters, but there's also a romance and it's very toxic. >> I have heard of this now that you're speaking of it
Okay, okay. >> It's like anytime something's about to go right, it goes wrong
And I I personally So some people were like, "It's too much drama for me." And I was like, "No, I loved it." Especially if you like Daisy Hates and and that kind of series, I feel like you would like the drama aspect of this one, but I ate that book up
It's also being adopted and Oh, and if you like thrillers, okay, I mean, The Only One Left by Riley Sager. >> I have to
Like not two people in 24 hours have recommended it to me. >> favorite of his entire backlist
It's insane
Like you hit It's one of those books, though, I think at like the 70% mark is when the first twist hits cuz you're like, but it's so much build-up. >> [clears throat] >> But then >> It's like back-to-back. >> You're going to get whiplash from the amount of twists that happen and it's it's amazing
You're like, "What?" Your mind will be like, "What did I just read?" It's crazy
Oh, I love that feeling though. >> So my three recommendations, I'm going to I'm curious if you read them
So Binding 13, obviously. >> Okay. >> [laughter] >> I thought >> Have you read it? >> I did read it, but it put me in the Okay, so I was listening to it mostly and I don't know This is the issue, though
I Sometimes I don't know if I didn't love a book because I'm just like the time I'm reading it or like what I just read and like what I'm looking for
I'm such a mood reader, but I found it it was so long and it was like I think I feel like he kept just being like saying the same things
Like, "Shannon." Like whatever
And I I like, "Oh my god, like we need to move the plot along, like we're how are we still How do we still have 80% left in this book? I've been reading this for I think it took me 2 months to read
So, which is like not normal
I read it in 7 days. >> 7 days? >> I was a I was addicted to it
I Well, so one of my best friends, Ella, shout out Ella, she It is her favorite series of all time
She's read it twice. >> Oh my god. >> She's addicted
And she's a hardcore reader, like reads all the same books as I do
So, when she recommends something, I'm normally like, >> Okay
You'll like >> I'll I'll try it
So, I downloaded it before I went to Tahiti
And I didn't want to be on my phone this week, so I was like, let me just read my little Kindle before I go to sleep every night. >> Yes. >> Obsessed. >> [laughter] >> The yearning? I'm sorry. >> is a lot of yearning. >> I have never read a book like that that there was I thought she did a perfect job of building up the yearning and not being like annoying
I normally really like books where stuff is happening 24/7
It is the only book that I've ever read I've ever read that nothing is happening, but I'm still addicted to it. >> Okay, yeah
So, I always say and I get, you know, when I hear people like what their taste is, like after reading some books if they liked it or not like it, I I kind of put them in two categories of like, you're either a plot person or a character person, like plot-driven books or character-driven
And so, that series is very character-driven
Like you said, like nothing's really happening
Kind of like like a Sally Rooney book or, you know, certain books are just like What What just happened in that book? But I was supposed to like, no, that was a >> best book I've ever read
And I don't feel like I didn't need anything to happen because the characters were so interesting. >> Mhm. >> I think that might be also why I'm typically a plot person where I'm like, oh, I just want to be like entertained
Give me some crazy like, you know, so many twists and turns
And some people are like, that was so unrealistic
That was insane. [laughter] I'm like, I know, but it was >> like I'm a plot twist I'm I'm a plot-driven person until it came to that those books
And then I'm like, okay, give it to me
I don't I don't know what's going on
Keeping 13, did you read Keeping? >> No. >> I You don't have to
It's okay. >> [laughter] >> You don't have to do it
Like if you didn't love Binding 13, then I don't think you'll like Keeping 13
It's 10 times more slow, and nothing really happens
It's just all build-up for the next four books in the series
Which apparently the next It's a It's a large series
Cuz there's These two books are about Shannon and um Shannon I'm going to miss Shannon and Johnny. [laughter] And then the first two books, and then it's about um Shannon's older brother and his girlfriend
And then it goes on to Gibby and Claire. >> Okay, I feel like I liked Gibby
Gibby's fine right? >> And then Lizzie and Huey I think is coming out eventually
So there's it's like two books about each um character. >> Okay, that's fun though. >> Anyways. [sighs and gasps] Then it could form by Elle Kennedy Sullivan
Have you read that? >> No. >> Ugh. >> Is it a series or a book? >> No, it's a It's going to be a nine-book series
It's like Avatar, TBH
But the books are way smaller. >> Oh my god, is it fantasy? >> Yes
It's like It's like Divergent mixed with >> [laughter] >> Oh my gosh
It's kind of like Divergent, but like mixed and you Have you read Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard? >> No. >> Okay. >> I just got her new book Tempest, so I'm so excited. >> Um read Red Queen Read Red Queen on that. >> things
I've also met her, and she's incredible, and amazing. >> She's the sweetest
She's one of the sweetest
So it's I I mean, freak you haven't read that
But it's like those two books kind of had a baby
The dynamic is there's like the elite, and then there's the non-elite
Yeah
There's There's a word for it, but I can't remember
And I can't I guess I can kind of explain it
The non-elite are used to mate with the elite, so they they live a life
They just are trying to be the perfect uh I'm not going to say wife, but the perfect like surrogate almost
Like they don't do anything
They just take like medication
They work very basic jobs like all the females do
So that way when the alum like are with the when the elite choose them to give birth, they're like in perfect condition. >> It's kind of Handmaid's Tale vibes a little bit. >> Honestly, yeah
I've never read it, but I've watched a little bit of the TV show
Kind of similar vibes
But like yeah, then there's like rebels
Like it's like that kind of vibe
I And it's a short book, so you can read it pretty quick
I don't always necessarily love a super long fantasy book because it feels like a big commitment. >> They're all so long and I You got to keep me entertained
Yeah, cuz there's sometimes with fantasy they lose me a little bit
I agree
Like okay, we're getting like I need things to be happening. >> 24/7. [laughter] I agree
And then my last book rec is The Final Art of Lying by Alexandra Andrews. >> Wait, what was it? The Final >> The Final Art of Lying. >> Oh, no
I think I have to read that. >> Okay. >> Or I think
And it's like a murder mystery
With like affairs and like it's all based in New York City and me I love any book that's based in New York City. >> I love New York City based books. >> Yeah. >> Wait, okay
I need to read that. >> I really recommend. >> Oh, I'm I will eat that up
I love a murder mystery. >> Literally, what's the last book that you DNF? That you didn't finish? >> I have a problem not DNF
I wish I could DNF a book
But I can I will like I will suffer through the entire book before because I have this like like but what if >> It's something happens. >> 80% mark it it changes my perspective and I missed out and I judged the book by it without finishing it
And that's probably I I need to actually overcome
But I will say one that comes to mind that I didn't love was The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand
And it's it's a it was kind of like a boarding school book and I was really excited about that setting cuz I feel like there was just it's fun
There's so many characters and I think that's where it lost me a little bit was there's so many characters to keep up with and storylines that I felt like I didn't get deep enough into each person's storyline. >> It was like base level. >> Yes, I'm like oh I want more cuz this could be interesting
But I do think it's going to be a series
So >> Okay. >> maybe they're going to get, you know, more in but I was like >> it was dragging for me a little bit and I was like I should I kind of want to but I like I couldn't I couldn't. >> Oh, you finished it? >> I did finish it. >> Okay. >> I don't Have you Are you a DNF'er? >> Yeah. >> Yeah, like yes. >> I just got into mood reading like actually 3 weeks ago because I used to be like serial monogamous where I would start a book and I'd have to finish it
Start it, have to finish it
Yes, one at a time
And >> then I downloaded like four different books on my Kindle and I kind of just bounce back in between the two
Like if I got bored with one but I still wanted to read more but it was just a little bored, I'd go to this one and then I kind of go back and forth
And then I came back to New York City and then I started reading a book
Like I love a physical copy. >> I know. >> [snorts] >> Nothing like it in my opinion. >> Bending the paperback just >> Yeah, [clears throat] it's >> I'm a I'm a I'm a spine breaker too
I'm like okay. >> Me, too. >> You're like can't do it like no. >> ear the entire thing
I'm like I don't care. >> ear like I'm I will throw it like I love it. >> [laughter] >> I agree
So that was probably or I read Loathing You by Amina Khan, I think is how you pronounce it
And it's like a lesbian love story between like the cheerleader and like the nerd. >> Love that trope. >> Sign me up to >> [laughter] >> But like I didn't I haven't finished it yet
I don't think I'm not going to finish it point blank
I think I just need to come back at it
It was a lot
Like it was a lot of emotions for me that I could strongly relate to that was just like am I going to open this up right now? You know? >> Isn't it funny sometimes when you're like, like I want to relate to a character but if it if it hits a little too on the nose, you're like, oh. >> [laughter] >> Was this inspired by me? Like >> Is this playing on us? >> Is this playing on us? >> So I was like, let me just give it a second
And then I was reading that book and In Good Company by Kate Singleton, which is like a guy in the Hamptons falls in love with his chef. >> Yeah. >> And like also I was just reading them book back and forth but I haven't touched my Kindle in like a week since I came home to New York. >> So you're not letting it finish them? >> Yes. >> But >> We just we put a pin in it. >> Yeah, I put a pin in it. >> Okay
Well, we're going to play this game
It's BookTok Court. >> Like A Court of Thorns and Roses. >> Um [laughter] so basically I'm going to read >> I'm going to give you some hot takes from BookTok and we're going to judge them true or false. >> Ooh, okay. >> Basically
So the first one is there's nothing sexy about faded love, like mating, like bonds. >> I say false. >> Yeah, that's that's so false
I'm a set. >> I love it cuz then they're like they have to be together. >> No, they have to
Like otherwise what's the point of this entire thing? >> I agree. >> No, I >> I agree. >> I go feral. >> [laughter] >> Enemies to lovers is just toxic love. >> [sighs] >> You know what? I think I think false because I do think it it it depends on how it's done. >> Okay. >> It it absolutely depends
Like I if I'm reading an enemies to lovers and if it gets over the enemy too fast, I'm like, what was the You don't You weren't actually enemies
You just had a little a tiff
Like that doesn't count
But then on the other hand it can be extremely toxic where it's it's bullying and like horrific
I'm like, who Why would you ever want to be with this person? Like it's crazy. >> That's what like my Loathing You book, the um woman love woman woman love woman uh they're just bullying
It's an enemies to It's It's an but they're just bullying each other and there's some points where I have to put it down and I'm like, you're just mean
You're just mean and that's it. >> Go to [laughter] therapy
Like get some help because Yikes. >> The next one is um yeah
So, what are we saying true or false for that? >> Uh, I think I think false because it depends. >> It depends
Well, false but it depends
Um, the next one is twists are overdone. >> Oh, false
I love a twist
Give me 80 twists. >> I agree
Um, [clears throat] too many books are written in first person. >> Oh
False
I love first person. >> Yeah. >> I hate third person
I feel like a bird looking into their life
I want to be >> No, I want to be in your brain
Like what Yeah, no
So, absolutely false. >> Um I won't buy a book if the cover's ugly. >> [sighs and gasps] >> Okay, true
It's true. >> I judge a book by its cover. >> absolutely do
I actually illustrated a book cover this year
That was my like It was It was a dust jacket but I For that reason I'm like, I pick up a book because like Carley Fortune's books are painted >> Yeah. >> an artist
Like it is a work of art and I love it
I think they're so beautiful
I look forward to it every single year
Will I read a book if it has an ugly cover? Yes, on my Kindle
That's why I don't want to buy it. >> So, don't want to see it? >> Yeah, this man's face in my ruining my bookshelf
But >> I judge 100% if the cover's ugly, I'm not reading it
I don't care
I won't buy it on my Kindle either
I'll be like, no
I'm just nope
It was a bad taste in my mouth
I'm done. [laughter] Um, tropes are written are tropes are ruining how books are being written. >> Oh
Kind of true. >> I think when the trope is the entire book and there's nothing else adding into it, it's sometimes a little hard for me to read because I'm like, "Okay, they're in love
Then what?" >> Yeah. >> Like, "And what?" >> Yes. >> Unless it's a straight-up romance book, then I can understand it. >> I do My reasoning that I do think this is true is because I feel like I feel like this is pressure honestly on authors
I don't know if it's it's the because BookTok and reading in general like it's gotten big over the past few years, which is amazing, but I think authors are feeling after talking to some authors they feel the pressure to be producing more than one book a year
Like two, three like the it's a lot
And so I think publishing they're like, "We want a very specific like enemies-to-lovers is doing great
Let's we want more of those
We want you know, fantasy, romancy." And so I think like sometimes they have to they're being feeling like they have to tailor their books and write a book for [snorts] the audience versus like it coming from themselves
So. >> Does BookTok viral mean that the book is going to be good? >> Hell no
No. >> What book from BookTok have you read that you're like not a fan of? >> [sighs and gasps] >> Honestly, Binding 13
I was >> [laughter] >> favorite
I'm so sorry. >> [gasps] >> I'm so sorry
But again, but there That's why I love BookTok is there's something for everybody. >> I agree. >> You know, like there's always something. >> [laughter] >> I'm trying to think of another one that I didn't But I'm honestly, I'm pretty easy to please
Like I it takes a lot for me to be like dragging or like not But again, sometimes it's just the mood I'm in, you know? >> I wasn't a huge fan of ACOTAR. >> Ooh, I feel like that's kind of a hot take. >> Yeah, I give it some pretty heat
I feel like you either love it or you either hate it
There's no one that is in between. >> That's so valid
I read the first book a long time ago and then with friends as like a buddy read
Never [clears throat] continued it. >> buddy read. >> Yeah, I never continued the series though
So I I kind of I am having a little film on with it of just seeing what it's about because the new book is coming out I think in October. >> Yeah. >> So I might have to pick it up, but I do feel like people like Throne of Glass more
Which have you Have you read? >> No. >> You haven't read that one either. >> I haven't really entered the Sarah J
Maas world. >> Yeah, I haven't either
Have you read Fourth Wing? >> Yes. >> Did you like that one? Okay
Shadow Daddy
What the is a shadow? Like I'm sorry. [laughter] I read the whole book didn't catch on that
Didn't I read both books by the way
Didn't Didn't catch on that
Everyone keeps talking about it and I'm just like >> It's like his power, you know, like darkness creep just make it all dark. [laughter] >> I did not clearly catch on that one even though I read the whole book
I did a complete deep dive to it
I saw so many people talking about it and I was like >> That's me with every >> Did I miss out on something? >> That's me with so many books especially that series though
I will watch like deep dive theories after and I'm like how does your brain think? Like I literally missed half of this
So >> Yeah
I did a deep dive on it and I found out so many different conspiracies about the book and like the Violet's father, um why Xaden did this, why Dain acted this way, why the mom is so rude
Like I know way too much about >> I will I like don't pick up on any of those things when I read it
Like I have no I'm like how what? Like what? Like how did you pick up People are so smart
I love it
Thank god for them. >> Literally me. >> Okay angels, that is everything for today
Caitlin, thank you so much for being on Books Fun and Busy this week
I honestly loved hearing all the book recommendations and thanks for watching and don't forget to subscribe to the Patreon where we go way more in depth about all the books that we read
I love you
Bye. >> [music] >> Mhm.
