Hi angels
Welcome back to another episode of Booked and Busy
Today we have an incredible guest
We have my best friend in the whole wide world, Miss Emma Brooks
Hi guys. [music] On our way to [music] the studio, I could see Emma's location on my phone that was like right next to me
So I look out the window and she's >> just walking around. [laughter] So I was like, "Hey yo, >> she did
She cat called me." >> Yeah, I did
And you know, it worked
So >> it it did work
I picked her up. >> Maybe
Let's not recommend [laughter] that. >> Okay
So clearly on Booked and Busy, we're talking about all things books related
So I want you to tell the story from your perspective on how we both got back into reading because I've said it before, but I want it to come from >> the heart. >> The heart
The heart and the soul
Yeah
I got back into reading
What? It was 2021 when we were living together. >> Mhm. >> Yeah
End of 2021. >> That wretched apartment. >> Yeah. [laughter] That was yeah a scary scary place
Um but we were living together and you came home with a humongous book and it was Crave by Tracy Wolf and I don't know you just really got into it like in a very obsessive fashion. >> I felt like it was right after Christmas break because I remember I read it when I had COVID in New York City
So I was locked in my apartment and I couldn't tell you what in my brain was like let's pick up this 500page book and like let me just try reading it again like off rip like had did not read anything else prior to that like this was before you fell in love with Colleen Hoover
Yeah, like you this is the first book like I don't know what what incentivized me but >> and no but you loved it so much and it made me want to love something that much [laughter] but I also I used to I used to love reading especially whenever I was younger and that I fell out of love with it because I feel like it was forced upon me and that made me not want to read as much. >> That was really like the same thing
I just don't like how much teachers did you ever read the giver >> bring up that was like a part of our >> Yeah, that was school
I like that one more cuz it was like a part of that dystopian but it was an older book so it was like a little bit >> more fashion
But I remember reading Silus Marner and like hating my life and it was like forced upon me and I just did not want to I didn't want to read it and it was that one specifically I hate it
That was the way you feel about that book was with me and the giver
Like it was so >> forced and we had to read like a certain amount of pages like every single night for this class >> and I would literally just like skim a page and if they asked me a question I just be like I'm sorry I didn't this is so boring to me
Like I just I couldn't get into it
But I think it's because I hated my teacher so much and anything that they told me to do I was like no. >> Yeah
No, I was also the same
Like I just literally didn't want to do anything that they told me to do >> except out of spite. >> Yeah. >> Sorry
And then um No. >> So then she read all of the books in the Crave series. >> Oh, I devoured those books. >> I think I only read I got to the book before when Jackson and what's the main character of the book again? >> Holden and Grace
Like his his brother Hudson. >> Yeah
Hudson
Oh my god
Where am I getting Jackson from? Her name's Grace. >> Yeah
Gargoyle Grace. >> Yes
Oh my [laughter] god
Okay, I'm not going to lie
Like, looking back on that book, it's not >> I've read other fantasy books that have opened up my um eyes to maybe what No Teen No Shade to Tracy Wolf
There's just there's better world building. >> Yeah. >> And what makes like a good fantasy, like what makes it well-rounded
And like, you know, I'm a diehard Throne of Glass fan >> through and through. >> A moment of silence. [laughter] >> A moment of silence for Throne of Glass
Thank you very much
I mean, I would honestly agree with you because I felt like it was a really good first book for me to read and hopefully for you, too, cuz I feel like that was the first bit of like addiction I got from a book. >> Yeah. >> And then I feel like we went on to feel those exact feelings with like Colleen Hoover, but like that first moment where you're like 100 pages in and you're like, "Wait, I think I I think I like it here." >> I think I'm going to stay here. >> Yeah
Like I think we especially cuz it flew by like 100 pages to 300 pages like then you're done and you're like wait what it's been 2 days. >> But [laughter] no I I remember flying through those books and then >> from there I read I needed to understand the hype behind Colleen Hoover cuz this is whenever she was really blowing up
So I read like five of her books back to back >> Yeah
Yeah
And I remember very very specifically I was on my way home from the New York airport and I called you because I think I had just finished like Ugly Love or November 9th and we like had to talk about it
Both I mean I've read not every book by her but pretty much >> you've read more Colleen Hoover than >> I like read five and like I haven't picked it up since. >> Yeah. >> But I would say the same
I read all of her books and then I haven't really touched one
But I she just came out with a book called Woman Down I think. >> Okay
It's supposed to be like a scary book, like a horror um one
So like Varity is obviously like a little bit more like >> haunted vibes
Then she's one named Laya. [gasps] >> I honestly didn't finish it because I lost the book in IA and then I never bought it again
But I read the first like three quarters and it was basically like a couple got lived in this house and she was in love with the man but a ghost started communicating to her and then I think she starts falling in love with the ghost
It was really weird, but it w it was like creepy but not creepy to the point where I couldn't read it. >> Yeah, >> it was just like odd at some point
So, I was like, "Okay, >> she's an interesting one." >> Yeah. >> And then So, I think Woman Down is like in that same >> field because I think Varity performed so well. >> Yeah, Varity was really good
I actually will say I enjoyed it now
Like I think like November 9th was like my favorite for a while, >> but then it was like so I read five Colleen Hoover books and then I read Taylor Jenkins Reed and that's whenever I was like oh this is good writing [laughter] and I was like okay I'm in I'm back into reading
I read like Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Malibu Rising and uh Daisy Jones and the Six back to back to back. >> I couldn't do Daisy Jones and I told you this when cuz I love Evelyn Hugo
That was like in my opinion like a six-st star book
Like incredible. >> Yeah, I loved it. >> And it was just like good
Like at the time of my life, I felt like I could relate to the characters in like a weird kind of parallel universe
And then I read Malibu Rising and I thought I was going to love it because it's Malibu and it's surfing and it's like so me
I'm like, okay
And then I think I equally got like three4s done. >> I remember you not like finished it. >> I I don't think you did cuz I remember you >> I couldn't get I couldn't get into it. >> Yeah, I remember you not being able to get into it
I think I read that one last and I loved it because I thought it was fun that there was like crossovers from like the universes
Like it did have seven like Evelyn Hugo crossover and the Daisy Jones crossover
I believe it's been so long since I've read it, but >> no, those were th those were like the stages of me getting back >> into reading
Um, >> what' you read after that then? >> After that cuz I remember that time
It was right when I moved into the apartment that I live in now cuz I was reading Evelyn Hugo and I remember posting it >> and people being like I feel like that was also when book talk was like really getting on my for you page and like I was finally talking about books with other people than just you because I feel like for like a year and a half you're the only person I talked to about books with. >> Yeah. >> Cuz you're the only person that in my life that read which you still kind of are
And Sabrina Sabrina reads too. >> Yes
Yes, she does
No, after that I read I was getting into like different romances
Now the books that I read I it's very different like I read Spanish Love Deception Book Lovers
That's the only Emily
Yeah, that's the only What do you think about Book Lovers? >> I loved it really
I'm I'm looking at my looking at my review right now on good readads at Emma Brooks
No, it's Emma Books. >> We That's really cute. >> That's my That's my username. >> Let's see
What did I say? This book was so fun to read
The character de development is amazing and what you think happens actually doesn't happen, which in my opinion is a win
This is so funny
Like plot twist. >> Being unpredictable can sometimes be hard with romance novels
Also, the romance between Charlie and Nora never made me cringe
Their chemistry was very enjoyable
This book is definitely for anyone looking for a good romcom read
Did you laugh out loud reading it? >> I think so
I think there was a couple points
And then I read Normal People and Conversations with Friends back toback and had a manic episode because of it. >> Yay. [laughter] >> It was really, >> you know what? >> It literally made me spiral
I remember being I was in New York actually and I was sitting on the sidewalk with on the phone with my therapist like rocking back and forth crying being like [gasps] and I was like, "Damn you, Sally Rooney
I'm Are you [laughter] me?" >> No
And you know what? I feel like that is why I like reading so much because I feel like it can give you emotions that like nothing else really can because yes, you'll have like a manic episode about it, but then you can come back to Earth and be like, "This isn't real." Oh 100%. >> And I feel like that's what I like I read If He had Been with me
I don't remember the author, but it was like a book talk book
No, I remember I remember that. >> Yeah
And I read it I was in Columbia with my family for Christmas. >> Yes. >> Yeah
Uh, and there was guys six people in one a one-bedroom apartment and me, my dad, my sister, it was a lot, but I didn't really have anything to do
So, I read this gut-wrenching book and it was so cute
It was the love story
I was like, "Oh, this is going to be adorable
Like, I love this book." [gasps] And then the ending happened and I woke everyone up from how loudly I was crying at night
And they were like, "What?" My mom literally thought like something really traumatic happened to me and I was like, "My book." And she's like, "Bro, are you kidding me? like, wait, I want to cry
I think I need I think I need another book that will cry that hard. >> Yeah, that book made me ball my eyes out
Um, A Thousand Boy Kisses >> made me Oh my god, I was not I was not okay after that book
And then I just read Enemy of Time
Oh my god, I I didn't know that was going to be a sad book either until I got to the end and then I was literally >> one of sounds intriguing. >> Um, okay
Okay, so now we're going to go back into the Crave series because I want to know from your perspective, why do you think it was a good book for you to get into and segue into reading? I think it was really good for me because it's just it's fantasy is so easy to enjoy if you like love that realm anyway
Like especially like I love I enjoy those kinds of movies
I already whenever I was younger, I really was a big Hunger Games girl
So like that era of time where like Mazerunner like Divergent I was literally gonna ask you
I was like if you had to pick a a movie between Divergent Hunger Games and Mazer Runner which would be your favorite movies? >> Hunger Games. >> Really? >> Catching Fire specifically. >> Best one
Like the actual adaptation of it is so good
And >> wait, you read them? >> Yeah, I read all of them
I was a Hunger Games girl
Like I had the side braid and everything. [laughter] >> I actually really want to see a picture of that
Okay, I need to find out
I am like my childhood best friend
Her name was Alex and she um she was like my Katniss Everdine. >> Truly, she was Peta. [laughter] I >> I was a gale
I was just attracted to Liam Hemsworth whenever I was a kid
But when I I know I know I'm an adult because PETA is obviously the be the best man out there, >> but whenever I was younger, those thick eyebrows really got me. >> Are you serious? I think I also like him and like Miley were together and like I just like loved them. >> But no, >> Gail sucked so bad
Stop whining
God damn. >> Anyway, what were you? >> I was You give Divergent? >> Yeah
Like I I would say it's in between Divergent and Hunger Games, but I love I found Mazer Runner a little bit later in life
Like I didn't watch them >> Dylan O'Brien
So, I think I remember watching the first Maze Runner movie
I think I was in like seventh grade because I remember being at my childhood friends Claire Daniel's house and we watched it and I was like, "What are what's up with these walls moving? What is going on?" I was so confused
And then I feel like I watched Divergent and that actually changed the way that I looked at life
I really, really, really wanted to be a part of Divergent
I wanted it to be a real thing
I was like, "Oh my gosh." Like, what would which of the four would you be? I think I would want to be Dauntless, but like I feel like I'd go into law probably. >> Really? >> Law maybe
Maybe I'm just saying >> I would see like Abnigation or isn't Abnigation? Isn't the woman like in the fields? >> Oh, that's like you think I'm a farmer. >> I could kind of see you like I would love a peaceful life like that. >> Yeah
Like I don't really I'm trying to remember all of them
I know I'm not the one where they're like no mistiffs
Yeah
No fears. >> What are you talking about? I like looking at myself. >> [laughter] >> No
Yeah. >> Um I wouldn't be that one
I probably would be. >> What would I be? >> You You'd probably be a lawyer. >> You think? >> Yeah. >> Wow
You're like, >> "Would you think I would be with the government that they you know, remember like the whole preface of do of divergent is like the government versus the people?" And she's like, >> "Well, yeah, cuz like >> would I be with them or would I be a part of the rebels?" >> Well, I feel like I would hope in the world that we would be a part of the rebels. >> We would be rebels
Did you read Conform by Ariel Sullivan? >> No, I did not. >> It's like really similar to Divergent. >> Oh. >> And it's like really really really really really good. >> There's I want to put this out into the to the internet because I have been looking for this book series that I read whenever I was in middle school
I'm curious if you know I don't know the name of it, but it's a series. >> Okay. >> It's young adult. >> Mhm
And it's like five teenagers in this like beachside town
There's like really there's like the really rich kids and there's like one girl who's like not so rich >> but like one of she has like >> kind of getting bullied but like dating one of the guys and there's like a murder. >> Oh, >> and it's like a murder mystery kind of >> thriller
Ya
It was like existing around the Pretty Little Liars, >> okay, >> of the world at that time
And if anyone knows what it is, >> what it is, please comment. >> Please leave it. >> I've gone I've been looking for two years to find this book
But me saying all of this to say already loving dystopian books whenever I was younger
I had never really read I had never read Twilight whenever I was younger, which I regret, >> but I still haven't read it
I actually would love to read that
But I had never tapped into fantasy
So when you read it, I was like, "Oh, like I loved these books when I was younger. maybe I'll enjoy it >> as an adult and I thoroughly did >> to open the opened the door to Throne of Glass. >> Yeah, Acatar was a disco like once I discovered Acatar which you know I know everyone's read it
I know how popular it is and I loved it as I was reading it
But then I discovered like reading Throne of Glass >> was such an all-encompassing experience because it's just such a commitment and it's she does such a good job with doing great world building but not too much
Like I feel like the problem with Acatar was there was so much world building
That was my problem with it is >> I felt like I went from reading Fourth Wing >> and I think I tried reading Acatar like pretty much directly after it because I was like oh I love this like fantasy world like let me try this next and comparatively to Fourth Wing the world building was like times 4 and I was like is anything going to happen any fights any sex like what's going on? It took me I think it took me two to three tries to get through the first book >> and then once I got to a court of miss and fury I was like okay I'm understanding
See mine was the opposite
I really got into acitar and then by a court of miss and fury whatever it is I would say furry but it's just not furry. >> You also used to say a court of represents [laughter] >> it's like but I love it though
I think it's cute and endearing whenever you do that things. >> But I got like halfway through the second book and I was just like I think I remember texting you and being like does anything happen because like holy crap I felt like I've spent the past month reading this book and I'm still not to something that is like attention grabbing. >> Yeah. >> So I gave up. >> No
And that's that's so fair
But >> what was your favorite part of Throne of Glass? Like if you could say like three, I don't know, like a theme or like something that was like reoccurring or like a love dynamic
Spoiler alert, we will be talking about this. >> I think Ailen >> Galathnia is why >> crazy name by the way. >> Crazy name
I love the name Alen
But no, she is probably one of my favorite protagonists
I mean, I love how in fantasy books are like her tiny skinny little waist and her curves and her bouncy curly hair
I'm like Jesus Christ
But she's one of the I don't know
Sometimes I find that like some writers make their protagonist like purposefully aggressive or like purposefully like really annoying and you kind of like hate them a little bit
She >> had secrets but like with good purpose and I really thought that there was always these full circle moments happening throughout the series like things were always tying in together constantly. >> It was like a ven diagram throughout each book >> connected to one another
I loved the tandem read
Mhm. >> I actually really enjoyed the tandem read by the At first I was like, "Holy [ __ ] reading two books at the same time is really a commitment and this is crazy." >> And the size of them, too. >> Yeah, because they were both like what 600 pages
So, it's like you're reading a 12,200 page book, but whatever. >> But whatever
Whatever
It's fine
And by the time I finished, I was like, "Wow, I'm so glad that I did this." And then the last book being a thousand pages, >> which Kingdom of Ash is I think about it every other day
And that book made me cry like so like I was like four pages in and four chapters in and I was like really >> but I loved her and her dynamic with um it was enemies to lovers which is my favorite trope. >> Really? >> Enemies to lover. >> See I feel like you would not like enemies to lovers. >> Oh I love it
I love it so much
What's your favorite trope? I got asked this question a few weeks ago and I like didn't really know what to say cuz I'm like I love like this isn't a trope but like I love a massive plot twist
Like preferably if the book can have like three plot twists, that's like my golden ticket
But like a trope maybe
I love like a protector of some sort and then like she's in trouble and like he needs to save her. >> Yeah
He's like cuz then that brings action into it. >> Don't touch her. >> Yeah
Sometimes when I'm reading that I'm like enough
No one cares. >> But that's why I'm like whenever it's so impressive whenever you can write something >> like that and like not make me want to crawl out of my skin
And that's probably why like I'm so bad at reading regular romance novels now
Yeah
I read problematic Italian summer. >> Oh, I thought it was one Italian summer
Problematic. >> No, it was like problematic something
It's by Alli Hazlewood, the girl that >> Oh, okay
Okay. >> Problematic something summer
Anyway, and that was like the first time I read a normal >> romantic >> romance that wasn't like a fantasy
It was good
I don't know
Fantasy romance just hits different because I'm like, "Yeah, you're in trouble. the world is ending, everything is [ __ ] and it's not real
Like, it's just not real
No
Um, >> it's not real in any capacity. >> Yeah
And all of the romance novels just Maybe this is me being a pessimist, but they all feel unrealistic to me. >> And I would agree with that
Like my last episode was For The Deal by L
Kennedy, and like while I was talking about it, it's a cute story, but like it's a little cringe
And like everyone knows that and everyone agrees with that because it's so unrealistic because like why would you ever fake date in real life? >> Yeah. >> You know what I mean? Like I get like having like a guy best friend and them being like oh let me like hang out with you more so like this guy gets jealous but like to a certain degree I'm like question mark. >> I know
I'm like it's just not real
And I think like I enjoy the reality that fantasy is set in cuz I'm like oh okay like I know this isn't real. >> I don't know
I think I just enjoy that kind of romance more
But sometimes I'll like tap in just to be like, do I enjoy this? I was talking about it at the book swap that we did for Coach
We do what we do in the dark, which is like >> sometimes I like the love story like that, which is like a sappic >> story um that is set between a student and who has an affair with her professor. >> I know. >> And it's like not like one of those like, oh, this is like a hehaha romance
This is like a oh wait, that's not Wait, that's [ __ ] up
But like it's real. at le I'm like wait this is real I was able to relate to it I felt very seen in different ways and it was just like fascinating and like that's more interesting to me and also like I try not to read just fantasy or like stick to one genre just so I can like expand my mind a little bit um and not get sucked into the world of Prththeon or >> Well that was my thing is like I feel like so many times I've read like the same genre for like 3 weeks straight or like three books back to back and I feel like by the time I get to the third book in that same genre, it just doesn't hit the same because I'm like so used to those same emotions
So like recently I've been trying to do like if I read a fantasy book, I can't read fantasy for like one or two more books
I have to like go into something else
And I feel like that's been kind of good for me
Like like I read The Butcher and the Blackbird and that's kind of like romance x like gory horror almost. >> Wa
It's like kind of disturbing but like in a good way if that makes any sense. >> Is that like a dark romance? >> No, because there's not like >> romance. >> No, because I I actually I did I did read one and I stopped reading because once the guns came out I was like let's not do this
I can't do this
Yeah, I can't even talk about it
I hate that self
Um yeah, I had to put that down
I was in Hawaii and I was like reading on the beach and I was like this is just not a book that you pick up on the beach first of all
But it's kind of like a horror mixed with like there two serial killers who like fall in love, >> but they're serial killers that kill other ser serial killers. >> Wo. >> So it's like a it's like a I think honestly you would probably >> wait
No, I would love that. >> Yeah
So it's like you go along with them on their like journeys to kill people
Sorry, that's like kind of gruesome to say out loud
But then they also kind of like realize that they really enjoy each other's presence and like that they understand each other because they're both like these like I mean you got to be a little insane to be able to do that for your job. >> So I don't know
I read that and that was kind of like a genre I never tapped into it
And then I read The Enemy of Time which oh my god [gasps] I was really not okay after that one
I was really really really cry that one. >> Yeah
And then I read Guild by Raven Kennedy
Have you heard of that? >> Yeah. >> It's like a white cover with like gold text on it. >> Read that and it felt like the tip of an iceberg if that makes any sense. >> Because the book was very short
It was only like 250 pages or 300 pages and normally fantasy book is like six or seven. [laughter] >> Right
Anyways, I felt like it was a perfect book to end off in so you can start the second book
But I don't have the second book
So I was like, well now I'm just stuck on the this cliffhanger
And then I I'm reading Mile High by Liz Tom Ford
It's a part of like her Windy City series, if you know what I'm talking about
I feel like I've heard of it
I haven't read it or anything
You know what was really good was the book that you got me, the Quicksilver book
I actually really enjoyed that book. >> Want to tell talk about it? >> Yeah
Liv and I did a book swap for Christmas and she gave me this book, Quicksilver, which has a second book, Brimstone, that I really want to read
I'm reading Hemingway right now
So that's the sun also rises
I was like, "Let me expand my mind a little bit more." >> It's good so far
Really? >> Yeah
There
It's old
It's an older book, so it's just like takes me a second. >> Yeah
Um, no, but it's good
And I'll probably treat myself to Brimstone maybe after
Okay
So, now we're going to go into like self-care with books because for me at least, it is a part of my self-care routine because if you don't like set time to read every day, you don't read
And I feel like in my brain, the only time I have to read is when I'm not doing like work or hanging out with friends and stuff like that
So my >> my brain self-care because that's the only way I can validate it
So tell me your favorite self-care routine or like day that includes reading
Ideally, I'm reading in like a third space
So like whether it's like a coffee shop, a library, like a really like >> I mean there's so many libraries in New York, um a park, I ideally outside is best case scenario if we're talking dream world, like a spa, but like reading in a third space where like I'm like truly and like alone because I live alone time and I'm just like with my book and I'm either drinking tea or wine
Pick your poison. um very comfy clothes, whether it's like a robe or just like loose trousers and like a t-shirt like and I'm just comfortable
I like to listen to like um like a playlist that matches my book. >> Yeah. >> You're one of those people? Oh my god
When I was reading Throne of Glass, like I was playing >> Oh, yeah
Like I was like listening to like music scorings while I was like reading my book because I cuz it felt like a movie. >> Like literally there was Oh my god, I'm going to sound like a crazy person
Okay, whatever
They were on the battlefield and like the like the when the perfect song starts playing and like a scene is playing out in a book
Oh my god, it just feels like so serendipitous
It's so awesome
And it's fun
Like it's so fun to like have something like that happen
And I've only done that
I think it was with FourthWing and I listened to like the ambian music from the playlist, but I know some books have like a curated playlist for it, but I can't listen to music that has words in it
Me neither. >> While I'm reading, so I normally listen to like anti-anxiety frequencies
I have like one very specific playlist on Spotify that I listen to literally every single day. >> Oh. >> And I just listen to my free time, too, because it calms me down. >> No, I I love listening to frequencies, especially if I'm walking
But now I want to do I want to do audio books while I read
Like for example, the book that I'm reading right now
Um like I said, it's a little bit harder for me to just like sit down and read
Once honestly though, once I started reading it in like a transatlantic accent, >> it made it a lot easier to read cuz I was like, I'm understanding the tone
I was not getting the tone
I was reading it in my voice and I was like, what the are you saying? I'd love to hear you you narrate an audio book for me. >> Oh, I would love that's my dream
I want to I would love to narrate a book. >> I know
Wouldn't that be fun? I've also always talked about that
I'm like, that would just be like cuz I had Julia Wheeling on who's literally narrated like 700 audio books and I'm like, what's that like? And she's like, I read a lot and I read books two or three times
And I'm like, okay, I don't know about reading a book like twice in a like she used to read it and I'm like, I just don't want to one
But have you listened to any other books on audiobook or is that would that be your first one? >> This would be my first one. >> Interesting. >> So I'm trying to Yeah, I want to >> I have some words to say about that
So you know Sterling I went to a Spotify the Spotify did you go to that? >> No I wasn't able to. >> Okay at the event
So Harlon Cobin per uh gave a speech
Do you know who that is? He's like the author of like you know all those crazy Oh I don't know if you watch those types of movies
I love them
They're like a limited series on Netflix
His most recent one that just came out is called Missing You and it's about like a missing person
I've probably watched four of them
So, there's ones called Stay Close, Missing You, Lazarus, The Woods
They're all on Netflix. >> Okay, I'll have to look it up. >> But I'm a huge fan of it
But anyways, Spotify just came out with this new feature that you can scan your physical book and then it will pick up the audio book version of it
My biggest thing with audio books is I hate having to find exactly where I cuz I like to go back and forth
So if I'm like cleaning one day, I want to listen to the audio book, but then I'm going to read later that night
My kryptonite is like trying to find where I left off in between
But now you can just scan the book and it will go vice versa
So if you're listening to audiobook, you scan your book and like you're going to have to flip a few pages, but then it will tell you the exact sentence that it left off on and what page that's going to be on. >> Amazing. >> So it's really nice
So that was what you miss with the Spotify thing
I feel like it'll help with reading books that are a little bit like harder, like the classics, you know, like the classics are not easy
Yeah
I'm just not one of I'm just I want I want to be one of those people
I want to be >> I'm just a fourthwing girl at heart
I don't know what to tell you. >> No. >> Have you read Pride and Prejudice? >> Um I have read a fourth of it. >> Okay
And then I also have like like I have like Weathering Heights for Dummies, which haven't read yet. >> Oh, there's one for dummies. like they it's like a well I don't know if you did this in high school but when we were doing Shakespeare >> like there's like something called Shakespeare for dummies and it like will have the play on one side and then a modern translation on the other side >> so it's just like easier to understand >> um if you're dumb [laughter] you are not dumb >> but I just think like anyone that's why I've always been so daunted by like the older classes >> it's intimidating it's intimidating I just don't talk like that
And for me to sit down and log into a book, like I just I have to be able to read it in like a timely manner because if I spend more than like 3 weeks on a book, it's like I'm done
I'm not doing this anymore
That was actually my 2026 resolution is that if a book took me longer than 3 weeks to read, I'm just going to I'm done. >> Yeah. >> Unless of course it's like a thousand page book, but if it's like 200 pages and I haven't touched it in 4 days, it's like well >> yeah, I'm not going I never force myself to finish anything
Mhm
Okay
Now, we're going to ask Q&A's, which I feel like is basically what I've been doing, but these are more like niche specific questions that I came up with myself that I was like, "Yeah, what am I curious about with Brooks?" >> So, first question, if you could reread a book for the first time, which book would you reread? >> Oh my god, that's such a good question
My first answer was The Alchemist cuz that book, I read it in high school, but it really like kind of changed my philosophy on life. just like changed my way of thinking
It was so good
I really wish I could rediscover that book for the first time
And then the indulgent side of me wishes I could read uh Kingdom of Ash for the first time
I would do anything. >> I've never read either of those books. >> Alchemist is really amazing. >> It's a short book, too. >> It's a short book
It's just it's so it's so good. >> I was recommended like when I first started reading, like right after I think I read the Crave series, and I bought it
I had two of them
Just never touched it
Favorite place to read at your house? >> My town couch that I have >> in the corner. >> Can you explain this couch? >> Yeah
So, I have a couch
I It's my f I have couch
Um I got it when I first move like when I first moved to LA
I thrifted it for like 90 bucks. >> It's an amazing couch and I've literally dragged it with me from like wherever [clears throat] I I have lived. >> Okay. for 6 years
We need to preface the Korea Town apartment. >> Yeah. >> So, basically, when Emma and I first met, it was in Los Angeles
Right when Tik Tok started, there was like these crazy Snapchat >> group chats. >> Group chats
Yeah
Where it would just be like anyone that was even remotely on the app, we would get added into these like I'm talking like 20 plus people in these Snapchat group chats and we would just talk 24/7 all day long
And a lot of those people are so in my life
Like literally that's this is how I was introduced to Emma
What did I post? Because you swiped up on it
You posted something about either signing to Willamina or going to college to like your dream school >> and I slid up on your story about you modeling. >> And then you told me that you were moving to LA
And then I told her I was moving to LA because I was doing an internship out there
And she was like, "Oh, like we should be friends
Like I don't know anyone." And I was like, I don't know anyone at all
Like I know actually zero people
That is how we initially became friends
And then we started hanging out and going on hikes all the time
And she was like my health active friend
And then I dragged her of health. [laughter] >> I dragged her into the dark side
And then we started just like going out a lot
I remember so specifically
I was at a party in Malibu and it was like 4:00 in the freaking morning and no Ubers were connecting and this was like an Oscars party or something like that. >> Yeah. crazy crazy night and I couldn't get an Uber
I'd been trying for like 2 plus hours
So I called Emma at like literally 3:00 in the morning and I was like, "Can you come pick me up?" She drove from Korea Town to I'm talking deep Malibu
Like it had to have been like an hour or two drive, picks me up and then takes me back to my house in Calabasas and I think you went back home after that. >> I did. >> Like how And that's when I was like, "Wow." And >> I went to work the next day. >> That's crazy
Yeah. >> Yeah. >> She's always been like that. very protective, which I love in a >> very protective over my friends
But yeah, that's how we met
But I was living in this like really >> I was a broke 18year-old
I had to live in LA
Like I lived in like a really >> dodgy place for a little bit, but that's where Liv and I met
And that's where this couch came in
And now it's like but it's so comfortable
It's like one solid cushion like a love seat
And I love to like huddle into the corner
It's like molded to my body now at this point
So that's my favorite place to read. >> It was just a meme
That couch went with you every single place that you went and you were like, "Can't forget the Ktown couch." >> No, it's the one thing and I'm a very sentimental person and it's like one of the only pieces I have from that >> time and it was I don't know that apartment is so important to me
So I just was like >> I'm going to keep you forever
And like even my mom, my mom now is like, "If you ever want to get rid of that couch, like please give it to me
I'll keep it." And I was like, "Okay, that's actually really sentimental." >> Yeah, I like that. >> Going back to the Q&A, what is one destination from one of the books that you've read, like any of the magical islands, like any that which one would you travel to? Mine would be Lightark
The island of Lightark from Lightark by Alex Aster. >> I want to read that book
I really recommend
I think as a fantasy girl you would it's a perfect mixture of like world building and action
Okay. >> In my opinion, >> I would go to where Acatar is. >> Um >> I don't know how to pronounce that either
I would go there because it just >> like the night court sounds so magical to me. >> Spring Court sounds nice. >> Spring Court is definitely your vibe
I like love I think the night court is like my dream. >> Be able to go there
I would go to where guild is taking place because the king turns everything into gold
So your entire living quarters are like the entire castle is made out of gold because everything he touches it turns gold
That feels so overwhelming
It could be, but it could also be cool, you know? Love to go
Love to try it out. >> Um, who's your favorite author? If you could pick like literally one, like if you could sit down and talk to one of them, I would probably be RF Quang who or RF Kuang
She wrote Babel. >> Oh. >> Which was one of my favorite books of 2024 >> that I've read
And I think that she would just be very interesting to talk to
Like that book >> truly for an entire for like the rest of the year, I was just talking to everyone about translation and customization
I just find it so fascinating and like I think she'd be someone who's really interesting to talk to her or Otessa Moshve. >> Yeah
I just want I'm like you fascinate me
Where the >> did you come up with this? Reading Lapona >> was the craziest experience of my life
Like what do you the grape scene? >> I don't know what you're talking about
I don't want to know what you're talking about
I'm scared about it
You don't even want to know
You wouldn't like it
It's so gnarly
So, I think Otessa is someone who I would like love to talk to and like I I haven't read Eileen, but I got my girlfriend Eileen for her birthday and she read it and she loved it
I just like find her mind fascinating like my year of rest and relaxation
Like there's just so many
I remember you reading me your good readads for my year of rush isolation and I was just like >> I like I whenever I do write a review I you know I'm not a critic and I'm not >> you know I write for fun >> I'm not a critic
I'm just a [ __ ] >> writing that it's the longest review that I have because I was like what the is like is going on
So those are two people I mean and then for fun like Miss Moss of course because I'm just like Sarah J
Moss
Sorry. >> Okay. >> My girl like where when getting more books from you. >> I'm pretty sure she you're she's coming out with three this year. >> But are they all I don't know what they're a part of. >> Which also Crescent City is like a good one actually
I really enjoy all of her books
So >> okay
So then this kind of ties into my other question cuz I think I know what you're going to say, but if you could be casted in a book adaptation, what character would you want to be casted for? >> No, White Horn. >> Wait, what? [laughter] The main character from uh the main character from Throne of Glass. >> Oh, okay
So then I was going to say before before you really had that locked and loaded in there. >> Sorry, sorry, sorry
I was going to do like, okay, divide it into like fantasy and then romanty. >> Okay. because I feel like that's two different genres
I was going to say romance, but I just don't really feel like you're giving you want to be in a romance. >> I mean, I I think for film, >> yes. >> Okay
So, then throw that genre in there. >> Actually, I know exactly
I know exactly what I would want to be
I would want to be in a dark and drowning tide, >> which is interesting. >> Dark acade sappic dark academia >> kind of minor bits of fantasy. >> Okay
Um, it's actually more about it's more like alchemy. >> So, the next segment we're going to do is if you could recommend me one book from what we've talked about today, which would you recommend me? And I'm going to do the same for you. >> I would recommend you I actually wrote down I actually wrote down three. >> Okay
While she looks at those, I would recommend you Conformed by Ariel Sullivan
Just from like hearing your movie preferences and the fact that you love a dystopian world
That is like the perfect dystopian world and it's not too long of a book
I think it's like 400ish and the next book comes out I think in March
So if you like read it kind of soonish then you could go right into the next book which could be >> I think you would really really really if you liked Quicksilver I feel like I kind of have a good power
So I think that would be good. >> I think that you would really like since you're kind of reading different things now
I think the last thing he told me >> was a really good Laura Dave
It was actually turned into a show um or a movie, but I read it in one sitting on a plane and it's like >> it's like a mystery thriller about this >> woman looking for her husband and I just think that since you're like kind of switching up your genres like that would be a really good >> interesting >> one for you
And then I wrote Every Summer
I've been recommending Every Summer After to you for a second now by >> You think I would really like it? >> I just think it's like sweet
It's like a good like when you go to the beach like when you're when it's summertime again and not miserable
I think like that's a really great beach read for you
It's really sweet. >> So I think One Golden Summer is the sequel to Every Summer After
Oh, >> I could be so wrong
I don't know
I don't know the books that well
But well, that is kind of the end of the episode
I feel like we talked about kind of a plethora of things and book recommendations, self-care, how our love for reading kind of started
We've wanted to do this for a while because I felt like Booked and Busy kind of was planted from when we both started reading and she was the only person that I talked to about reading and I was like, I need more people to talk to about this
So now we're here and yeah, that's my best friend
That's my best friend
Okay, thanks for watching
Love you. [music] >> [music]
