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Welcome to Book Tees.
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I'm your host, Jamie, the sassy Southern mama that likes her fiction filthy.
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Join me each week as we celebrate the power of well-written smud.
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We explore new themes every month, and book titles are revealed before episodes are released.
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So read ahead and treat Book Tees like your own personal, slightly chaotic book club.
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Let's get spicy.
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Welcome to Book Tees.
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I'm your host, Jamie, and this is the podcast that celebrates the power of well-written smud.
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July is our sizzling summer series.
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And we are looking for rom-coms, we're looking for fun, we're looking for, you know, a sizzle.
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And usually this is where I would tell you that this podcast contains spoilers, and I spoil the whole damn book in the episode.
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However, I cannot claim that for this week because I DNF'd this book.
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I'm sorry, y'all.
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Okay, first let me go ahead and tell you what the book is.
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We are supposed to be covering Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez.
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And this book was recommended to me.
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Abby Jimenez, period, has been recommended all over the place, not just personally to me, but if you're a romance reader, you have seen this cover, you have seen her name, you have been told she is the current romance author to read.
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And I and I hadn't read any of her books.
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So I was like beside myself, excited.
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Like, okay, I'm I'm fucking doing it.
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I'm reading an Abbott Jimenez book.
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I can't wait.
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This one was built as witty and perfect beach read for the summer.
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And I was like, perfect for a Civil Zilling summer series, right?
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Here's a few things that people have said about this book just to prove that I'm probably in the wrong camp, I guess.
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I am not in the popular camp.
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Please don't fight me for my feelings on this book.
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I'm not saying it's something you shouldn't read.
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Clearly, clearly, people disagree.
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Clearly, I am the minority here in not liking it.
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And I'm totally gonna get into it.
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I mean, do not fret.
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So this book was named one of the top 10 best summer romance books of all time.
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New this she is a New York Times bestseller.
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This book is a New York Times bestseller, and it is a good morning America book club pick.
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It has been called witty.
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It has been called the ideal beach read.
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But I DNF'd at 51%.
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Actually, 52%.
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Give me that one more percent there.
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I tried, I could not get into it.
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And I know some people are totally against DNFing a book.
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I know that.
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I'm not one of those people.
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Life is way too short.
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And I've said this before on other things.
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Life is entirely too short to do something that does not bring you joy, especially if it's something you don't absolutely have to do.
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I know that there's some things in life you have to do that don't bring you joy.
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I don't get joy from paying taxes, I don't get joy from doing certain chores or from cleaning.
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There are some things you have to do that don't bring you joy.
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Everything else though, like how you spend your downtime, what you do as a pastime, things you don't have to do to bring you money or to survive.
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Those things should bring you joy.
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And if they don't, fucking don't do it.
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Okay, if you don't have to, don't do it.
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That's just my feeling.
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And I really tried to enjoy this book.
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I really did try to see what the fuss was about, but it was boring to me.
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Sorry, I said it.
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It was fucking boring.
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There was drama just for the sake of drama.
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Okay, let me get into what the book's about, the kind of plot line.
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And again, this isn't really a spoiler.
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I will throw some spoilers out there when I get into kind of what I what I didn't like about it, but this is not really a spoiler.
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You can read you can read that this is what this book is about.
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So it's Justin and Emma.
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Emma is a traveling nurse, and she has a very complicated relationship with her mother.
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And then Justin is built us as a very witty boy next door type, and he does like software sales or something, and he posts on a Am I the Asshole Reddit thread, which those are funny.
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Sometimes I like to read them and I'm like, yes, sir, you are the asshole.
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Or not you get a pass for that.
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He posts a thing about Am I the Asshole?
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Uh, my friend Brad, Chad, whatever.
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He fell in love and got with a chick and skipped out on rent for or got out of our lease, and I was left with rent I could not afford.
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And so I moved into another place, and then they have a weird toilet advertisement uh right in my window, but it's cheaper, so that's what I'm doing.
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And so I got an ugly dog and named him right after my friend.
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That's that was what his asshole thread was, in which case I say no.
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Both of you are kind of the asshole, which I guess equals each other out.
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What made the thread go viral and starts this whole book off is that he mentioned he has a curse where whoever he dates ends up finding the love of her life after they break up.
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In fact, Chad Brad's fiance, girlfriend, whatever, that he has to move in with and is totally infatuated with is an ex-girlfriend of Justin.
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Now, they weren't serious.
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They went on a few dates, shared a kiss that wasn't good, and called it quits, but then she met Chad Brad and it was she was Twitter pated, and now they're they're totally in love.
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So that's his his dilemma.
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That's his curse.
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And that seems like a very hilarious premise for a book, especially given that Emma shares the same curse.
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Whoever she dates ends up finding their soulmate after they break up.
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She also doesn't really date a lot, or seriously, considering she's a traveling nurse and she's always in the process of leaving, or she's about to leave.
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So there's also that.
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But her friend kind of nags her into message this guy.
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This sounds funny.
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Like you have the same curse, just see what's up.
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Like, how funny?
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He's so cute, blah, blah, blah.
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And so they do, or she does.
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She slides into his DMs, and then Justin and Emma start this friendly conversations about their curse and just in general, life in general.
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Like she's like, I'm really intrigued by this dude.
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I really like him.
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I think he's adorable.
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He's so much fun to talk to.
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So she decides for her next assignment, she is gonna go to Minnesota to try things out with Justin.
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Especially since Justin's friends, the Chad Grad, Chad Brad group, whatever, talk him into it by saying, Hey, man, she has the same curse that you do.
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If y'all were to date, it would then cancel the curse out.
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Right?
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So she date you, you date her, and whoever y'all's respective curses will work and on each other, and then whoever you date next will be your soulmate.
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And same for her.
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What's it to lose?
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Either that or it'll cancel it out, and it won't be an issue anymore because the magic of the universe will just cancel it out, I guess.
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I don't know the rationale, but he likes her anyway, and she likes him anyway.
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So they're like, well, fuck it, why not?
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Let's just give this a roll.
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So off she goes to Minnesota for the summer, only for the summer, hence the title.
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And it's like a three-month assignment.
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She gets a private island on Lake Minnetonka.
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It's this really tiny island with the house on it, and she's super pumped about it.
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Well, y'all, I can't even because from this all sounds like a really great book, right?
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The plot sounds hilarious.
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There's plenty of room for craziness and misadventures and sexiness and all of the things.
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That's not what we get.
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Okay, I'm just gonna tell you now.
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This is not a rom-com.
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This is not what we get.
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This book, I I cannot.
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Let's let's get into it, y'all.
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Let's get into why I DNF the book.
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I am not a fan of Nicholas Sparks.
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What does that have to do with Abby Jimin, as you may ask?
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Well, quite a bit, actually.
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Both of them write drama for the sake of it, is what I call it.
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It is writing a book to depress your reader, to pull emotion, stuff that's totally improbable, like things happening for the fucking sake of it, like putting your characters through it, man.
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It's like you can't have one scene happen without some shit going down.
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I hate that.
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I am not reading to be depressed.
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I am not reading a book for uh there's enough drama and craziness in real life.
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And yes, you could put drama and craziness in a book, but when every single scene is having something dramatic happen, something heavy happening, something sad or just like, I I can't.
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I cannot do that.
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I do not want to do that.
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I do not want to read a book that's like, oh, they overcome all this, and now she has cancer, which is a very Nicholas Sparks thing.
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And now I wouldn't I honestly wouldn't be surprised if 70% into this book suddenly one of them finds out they they have a terminal illness.
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I wouldn't, I would be like, well, that sounds right because that's what's going on thus far.
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Now we're gonna get into some spoiler territory.
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She has a tumultuous relationship with her mother.
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I've already talked about that very complicated relationship.
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It is a highly complicated relationship, actually.
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Her mother is described as toxic in the book summary.
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She is in she has an undiagnosed mental illness.
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She ignores her largely.
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She forgets she has a daughter sometimes.
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She is almost um bipolar or something.
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I'm not sure what the mental illness is.
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However, she has these high highs and then she just disappears.
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She is very selfish, like narcissistic.
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She just tends to just go off and do her own thing and forget she has a kid.
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She left her alone multiple times as a child with like no money, nothing.
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So Emma was like going hungry, and then she got put in the foster care system, and that's how she met her best friend, who is a traveling nurse and goes around with her.
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Her best friend was one of the foster families.
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Emma is constantly feeling the need to defend and forgive her mother no matter what happens, and she just kind of disappears for long periods of time and then just shows up and demands attention once she does show up, and it's very ridiculous.
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So her mother contacts her out of the nowhere and is like, I found this old stuffed animal that you used to love.
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Give me your address so I can mail it to you.
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Only when Emma gives her the address to her the Minnesota house that she's not even in yet, but that's where she's going to be.
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Her mother randomly shows up.
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She just shows up.
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Oh, I missed you.
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I want to spend some time with you.
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Read as she is in between homes or whatever, and has just remembered she has a daughter, so she wants to show up.
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Anyway, her mother ends up hooking up with what turns out to be Emma's boss for the summer.
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He's a surgeon, really smart surgeon, really up there.
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And anyway, he's known for being an ass.
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However, he is loving Emma's mom and immediately has her move into his house and all the things.
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I know Emma and her friends show up at school at work the next day, and they find out that oh, oh, that guy is actually our boss, and he's known for being a dick, but he's being nice to us, and oh great, as soon as things pop off with mom and she disappears and she fucks up things, we're gonna have to deal with it for the rest of the summer, the rest of the time there.
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Is there a long, oh, a long uh time frame of consequence?
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Not really.
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It's treated like this is the fucking most horrible thing that could happen, but it's really you're just there for three months.
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So even if things go totally sideways, I'm sure they've been in worse situations, being as they're traveling nurses and dealing with people who are high up in the medical field.
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The smarter someone tends to be, especially in a field like that where you're quote unquote playing God.
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They tend to be narcissistic assholes sometimes.
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Not always, but it does happen.
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So I'm sure they've had to deal with this before.
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But we're gonna put that to the side because it is treated like the worst possible thing that can happen, especially given that they are also renting from this man.
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The cottage that they're staying in on that little island all belongs to this man.
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So when her mother randomly shows up and now she's shacking up with this guy and all the things, they're like, Well, shit, he is our landlord and our boss.
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This is probably a bad idea.
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Now Justin has his own shit going on.
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We don't find out exactly what his mother did, but apparently she is going to jail soon.
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They gave her time to get her affairs in order, and then she has to turn herself in on a specific date, and then she's going to jail.
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We find out what she did was she was working for a nonprofit, and after his father died, she, in her depression, I guess, decided to embezzle money from the firm she worked with.
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So now she has to go to jail, which means he has to, Justin has to take custody of his three siblings, ranging in ages from like five to sixteen.
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He's in his 20s.
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So I guess get it, mom.
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She's still having kids.
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Like, I don't know.
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Anyway, his dad died, and that's what his mother did, and now she has to go to jail.
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And so he's dealing with this oh my god, I'm about to have to be a single parent to my siblings, and it's it's a lot.
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And anyway, they are getting closer and closer, but at 51% in the book, the most we've gotten is a forehead kiss, a ton of dramatic conversation, like even their first date was like heavy conversation, trauma dumping, just like, yeah.
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I'm telling you, that sounds like my personal fucking nightmare.
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If I go on a date with a dude and then we end up trauma dumping the whole time and just talking about heavy stuff that's currently going down in our lives, I'm not gonna go on a second date, y'all.
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I am going to nope out.
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I am going to say, I'm so sorry.
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It seems like we both have too much going on in our prospective lives to continue this.
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I am not doing it.
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And maybe that's my own personal baggage, but that just sounds horrible.
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And I don't get why this book is termed as witty when I was getting no wit.
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There was a very little in the book that I was like, oh, and again, only to like 52%.
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Maybe the second half is a fucking riot and I'm just missing out.
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Given how it was written thus far, I don't think that's the case.
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It was very dialogue heavy and very play by play.
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Like she's in a conversation, and it's like, and then I paused, and then I painted my nail as I waited for his response.
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And then I looked up and oh, I don't want to face time because I have a towel.
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I just got out of the I mean, like stuff like that.
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We are going play by play, and it's just like, oh my god.
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Even her friendship with her quote unquote best friend seems very fraught with drama, and her friend is big on the tough love.
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And honestly, I love that in a friendship.
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I think it's needed.
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You need someone who's going to be honest with you no matter what.
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But if that's all y'all got, where is the fun part of the friendship here?
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Like her friend just seemed intense.
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The best part of this book so far at the 52% where I gave up is Justin's mom's big friendship with her best friend Lee.
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They're hilarious, they get drunk.
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Leah's like fully supporting her.
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She's like, I'm gonna show up at prison every other day and rub my boobs on the glass for you.
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We're gonna get through this, babe.
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Like, her friend is awesome.
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And um, that just happens to be Chad Brad's mom, too.
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And so she's giving Justin shit about how he needs to rename his ugly dog.
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I mean, that's a wrap on that.
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I can't, I can't and I won't rate the book.
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I don't think it's fair for me to rate the book because I didn't finish it.
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And considering I didn't finish it, that pretty much gives my opinion, right?
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I was just too bummed out to continue.
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I got to where his mother went to jail.
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I I read about how Emma doesn't want to continue a relationship, really, even though she's really feeling him because he's going to be a single parent.
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She's taking custody of his siblings.
00:19:27.119 --> 00:19:33.200
And how the five-year-old little girl's crying every night for her mom, who just went to jail.
00:19:33.519 --> 00:19:41.119
And how that's a bother to Justin or upsetting Justin because, oh, my life is so changed and I have to deal with this.
00:19:41.279 --> 00:19:42.000
They lost their mom.
00:19:42.319 --> 00:19:44.400
She's the one you need to be concerned about.
00:19:44.559 --> 00:19:50.799
She's five, and she just lost her mom for however long she's gonna be in jail.
00:19:50.960 --> 00:19:52.319
That is traumatizing.
00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:56.880
But you know, I get that you are in your own feelings about the whole situation.
00:19:57.039 --> 00:19:58.240
But I mean, my God.
00:19:58.480 --> 00:20:01.200
Christine, Justin's mom, and Lee are hilarious, though.
00:20:01.279 --> 00:20:07.200
They get drunk the night before she has to go to jail and they like rescue some raccoons and get banned from Uber.
00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:08.640
I mean, they're great.
00:20:08.880 --> 00:20:10.480
That's the best part of the book.
00:20:10.720 --> 00:20:11.039
Yeah.
00:20:11.200 --> 00:20:17.279
I I'm assuming, considering this is supposed to be a wonderful romance novel, that they overcome all the dramas.
00:20:17.440 --> 00:20:22.799
There's probably more dramas, but they overcome enough to have this very meaningful relationship and blah blah blah.
00:20:22.880 --> 00:20:24.240
And maybe they actually kiss.
00:20:24.400 --> 00:20:25.440
Fuck if I know.
00:20:25.839 --> 00:20:30.400
I know 52% in, and y'all are just he just kissed you on the forehead.
00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:32.960
You can fucking miss me with that, okay?
00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:34.240
I'm sorry.
00:20:34.400 --> 00:20:38.400
So I will rate the spice as a solid nun.
00:20:39.920 --> 00:20:42.079
At least 52% in.
00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:48.640
We have a big fat zero of a spice, so I don't have a ton of favorite quotes either.
00:20:48.880 --> 00:20:50.319
52% in.
00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:56.400
I will say Emma has a favorite quote that she says constantly.
00:20:56.480 --> 00:21:00.880
And again, halfway into the book, we've heard this same quote multiple times.
00:21:01.119 --> 00:21:12.400
It's how she lives her life, how she justifies constantly forgiving her mother, how she has dealt with all of the traumas in her past.
00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:18.960
And her favorite quote is if you can choose anger or empathy, always choose empathy.
00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:21.359
I don't necessarily agree, Emma.
00:21:21.680 --> 00:21:24.160
I feel like you need to choose yourself occasionally.
00:21:24.319 --> 00:21:26.160
Do not be a doormat to your mother.
00:21:26.400 --> 00:21:27.920
She has a mental illness.
00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:33.279
Obviously, she is not even attempting to be a good mother half of the time.
00:21:33.440 --> 00:21:41.359
You can protect your own sanity and your own peace by not engaging or setting boundaries.
00:21:41.519 --> 00:21:44.640
And she doesn't set boundaries at all with her mom.
00:21:44.720 --> 00:21:46.880
And instead, she's like, I'm choosing empathy.
00:21:46.960 --> 00:21:51.839
I'm choosing like there could be any reason, any reason why this happened.
00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:55.039
But you need to set boundaries and protect yourself.
00:21:55.680 --> 00:21:58.319
And halfway into the book, that is not the case.
00:21:58.480 --> 00:21:59.759
She is just standing by this.
00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:02.240
I need to choose empathy over anger.
00:22:02.400 --> 00:22:02.720
Great.
00:22:02.880 --> 00:22:04.240
Choose empathy over anger.
00:22:04.400 --> 00:22:16.640
I'm not saying you have to be angry, but you do have to set boundaries and protect yourself and not constantly engage with someone who is a danger to your mental health.
00:22:16.799 --> 00:22:19.200
You can't put yourself last all the time.
00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:22.640
So I don't agree, Emma, but she says that.
00:22:22.880 --> 00:22:32.480
And that line helps Justin kind of forgive his mom for embezzling and stuff like that.
00:22:32.799 --> 00:22:38.640
So he's less angry and is able to kind of make amends before she goes to jail, which is good.
00:22:38.880 --> 00:22:44.319
It's good because the way this book goes, for all I know, she's gonna get a terminal illness and die in jail.
00:22:44.480 --> 00:22:46.319
I wouldn't be surprised, y'all.
00:22:46.480 --> 00:22:49.680
That's kind of the nature of the constant drama.
00:22:49.920 --> 00:22:54.880
Here's a funny quote, and this is Lee, uh Brad Chad's mom, whatever.
00:22:54.960 --> 00:23:00.480
And this is when she gets wasted face with Justin's mom the night before she has to go to jail.
00:23:00.640 --> 00:23:02.799
And this was funny, okay?
00:23:03.119 --> 00:23:10.720
Lee says, Good lord, these hot flashes let me know I can't go to hell because I cannot take the heat.
00:23:11.359 --> 00:23:12.640
Preach, lady.
00:23:12.799 --> 00:23:17.359
I'm in that paramenopause age where I'm getting the hot flashes every now and then.
00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:21.519
And I'm telling you, I'm not looking forward to full-blown menopause.
00:23:21.680 --> 00:23:28.319
So preachy, Emma does give Justin shit for just doing a forehead kiss.
00:23:28.720 --> 00:23:34.319
So she gives him a kiss on the forehead right before I decided I was done with the book.
00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:36.160
I was like, I'm I'm just I'm over it.
00:23:36.400 --> 00:23:40.160
But she does say the line, I hear forehead kisses are all the rage.
00:23:40.319 --> 00:23:41.359
Just to give them a mess.
00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:45.680
So I will say, right before I quit the book, they did finally kiss.
00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:50.720
It was closed mouth kiss, but it melted her legs, she said.
00:23:50.880 --> 00:23:51.920
So we'll take it.
00:23:52.079 --> 00:23:53.680
I did cast the book though.
00:23:53.839 --> 00:23:58.319
And I feel like even my casting was a bit sarcastic for this book.
00:23:58.640 --> 00:24:05.839
Emma is described as beautiful, brunette, girl next door looking.
00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:15.839
And Justin makes the comment that she looks like an actress playing a nurse more than she looks like an actual nurse.
00:24:16.160 --> 00:24:21.680
My brain immediately casts Nina De Brev from Vampire Diaries.
00:24:22.160 --> 00:24:23.839
And there was no turning back.
00:24:24.079 --> 00:24:25.519
I cannot be swayed.
00:24:25.759 --> 00:24:27.519
That's what she is to me.
00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:32.079
And especially given the amount of drama, I'm going with Nina.
00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:33.200
Perfect.
00:24:33.519 --> 00:25:05.440
And then since my brain was already in the world of vampire diaries, and Justin is described as looking like the sweet, wholesome football playing boyfriend in a rom-com that the heroine dates and then breaks up with because they're going to separate colleges, and then she ends up meeting the love of her life and the true like hero of the story.
00:25:05.599 --> 00:25:09.599
He just looks like this wholesome football playing guy.
00:25:10.559 --> 00:25:11.279
I guess.
00:25:11.599 --> 00:25:14.720
Like that's his look, boy next door type.
00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:21.759
So I'm going with Zach Rovrig from Vampire Diaries.
00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:22.960
It's Matt.
00:25:23.200 --> 00:25:40.640
And he was, he was, he was Elena's sweet high school boyfriend that they broke up before she got with the Salvatore brothers and spurred the whole vampire diaries.
00:25:40.880 --> 00:25:44.319
So I think that tracks, seems perfect.
00:25:44.480 --> 00:25:49.119
And again, I'm gonna just end this with I do not feel guilty for DNFing the book.
00:25:49.279 --> 00:25:51.200
I know a lot of people don't like it.
00:25:51.359 --> 00:25:54.880
And it's okay, even if it is the most popular book.
00:25:55.039 --> 00:25:58.160
If you don't like it, your opinion is valid.
00:25:58.480 --> 00:26:00.000
Your feelings are valid.
00:26:00.319 --> 00:26:03.680
I don't know if you need to hear that, but I'm here to tell you.
00:26:03.839 --> 00:26:05.680
Your opinions are totally valid.
00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:09.359
If you don't like something, you don't have to like it.
00:26:09.519 --> 00:26:11.279
You can just stop reading it.
00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:14.160
Nothing's gonna happen for me not reading this book.
00:26:14.319 --> 00:26:18.079
I mean, the world's gonna continue, hopefully.
00:26:18.319 --> 00:26:20.720
And that's it for this episode of Book Tease.
00:26:20.880 --> 00:26:24.640
If you like this episode, please like and subscribe, rate and review.
00:26:24.799 --> 00:26:26.319
Let me know if you like the book.
00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:28.559
I'm really, I'm really curious.
00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:30.640
Um, did I miss anything?
00:26:30.880 --> 00:26:32.240
Should I have continued?
00:26:32.559 --> 00:26:34.960
What do you feel about DNFing a book?
00:26:35.119 --> 00:26:42.240
Is it like a hard no, or do you too feel like you shouldn't have to finish something if you're not enjoying it?
00:26:42.319 --> 00:26:46.319
I mean, life's too short for books you don't like or coffee that's gross.
00:26:46.559 --> 00:26:47.759
It's kind of how I feel.
00:26:47.920 --> 00:26:53.519
And and I'm gonna stand by it, but I am so interested to hear what everyone else has to say.
00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:57.920
So thank you so much, and until next time, stay spicy.
00:26:58.720 --> 00:27:00.640
That's it for this episode of Book Tease.
00:27:00.880 --> 00:27:06.480
Book and theme reveals and episode commentary can be found in TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook at Book Tease Pod.
00:27:06.799 --> 00:27:10.000
Each episode can also be found on YouTube at Book Tease Pod.
00:27:10.319 --> 00:27:14.319
Theme music is Bob Scraps, and until next time, stay spicy.
00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:05.280
Welcome to Book Tees.
00:00:05.360 --> 00:00:09.199
I'm your host, Jamie, the sassy Southern mama that likes her fiction filthy.
00:00:09.439 --> 00:00:12.960
Join me each week as we celebrate the power of well-written smud.
00:00:13.279 --> 00:00:18.160
We explore new themes every month, and book titles are revealed before episodes are released.
00:00:18.320 --> 00:00:23.600
So read ahead and treat Book Tees like your own personal, slightly chaotic book club.
00:00:23.679 --> 00:00:25.199
Let's get spicy.
00:00:26.719 --> 00:00:28.079
Welcome to Book Tees.
00:00:28.160 --> 00:00:32.320
I'm your host, Jamie, and this is the podcast that celebrates the power of well-written smud.
00:00:32.719 --> 00:00:35.679
July is our sizzling summer series.
00:00:35.840 --> 00:00:42.399
And we are looking for rom-coms, we're looking for fun, we're looking for, you know, a sizzle.
00:00:42.560 --> 00:00:52.320
And usually this is where I would tell you that this podcast contains spoilers, and I spoil the whole damn book in the episode.
00:00:52.560 --> 00:00:57.759
However, I cannot claim that for this week because I DNF'd this book.
00:00:58.000 --> 00:00:59.200
I'm sorry, y'all.
00:00:59.359 --> 00:01:03.280
Okay, first let me go ahead and tell you what the book is.
00:01:03.600 --> 00:01:08.000
We are supposed to be covering Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez.
00:01:08.319 --> 00:01:10.239
And this book was recommended to me.
00:01:10.400 --> 00:01:30.239
Abby Jimenez, period, has been recommended all over the place, not just personally to me, but if you're a romance reader, you have seen this cover, you have seen her name, you have been told she is the current romance author to read.
00:01:30.400 --> 00:01:32.480
And I and I hadn't read any of her books.
00:01:32.560 --> 00:01:35.359
So I was like beside myself, excited.
00:01:35.519 --> 00:01:37.760
Like, okay, I'm I'm fucking doing it.
00:01:37.840 --> 00:01:40.079
I'm reading an Abbott Jimenez book.
00:01:40.239 --> 00:01:41.120
I can't wait.
00:01:41.359 --> 00:01:46.879
This one was built as witty and perfect beach read for the summer.
00:01:46.959 --> 00:01:50.879
And I was like, perfect for a Civil Zilling summer series, right?
00:01:51.040 --> 00:01:58.560
Here's a few things that people have said about this book just to prove that I'm probably in the wrong camp, I guess.
00:01:58.719 --> 00:02:00.640
I am not in the popular camp.
00:02:00.799 --> 00:02:04.319
Please don't fight me for my feelings on this book.
00:02:04.640 --> 00:02:08.000
I'm not saying it's something you shouldn't read.
00:02:08.159 --> 00:02:12.000
Clearly, clearly, people disagree.
00:02:12.159 --> 00:02:16.479
Clearly, I am the minority here in not liking it.
00:02:16.639 --> 00:02:18.560
And I'm totally gonna get into it.
00:02:18.639 --> 00:02:20.479
I mean, do not fret.
00:02:20.800 --> 00:02:26.800
So this book was named one of the top 10 best summer romance books of all time.
00:02:27.439 --> 00:02:30.240
New this she is a New York Times bestseller.
00:02:30.560 --> 00:02:36.879
This book is a New York Times bestseller, and it is a good morning America book club pick.
00:02:37.039 --> 00:02:38.240
It has been called witty.
00:02:38.400 --> 00:02:40.560
It has been called the ideal beach read.
00:02:40.800 --> 00:02:43.919
But I DNF'd at 51%.
00:02:44.719 --> 00:02:45.759
Actually, 52%.
00:02:46.240 --> 00:02:48.479
Give me that one more percent there.
00:02:49.120 --> 00:02:52.960
I tried, I could not get into it.
00:02:53.280 --> 00:02:57.520
And I know some people are totally against DNFing a book.
00:02:57.680 --> 00:02:58.639
I know that.
00:02:58.879 --> 00:03:00.400
I'm not one of those people.
00:03:00.639 --> 00:03:02.400
Life is way too short.
00:03:02.560 --> 00:03:05.039
And I've said this before on other things.
00:03:05.280 --> 00:03:15.680
Life is entirely too short to do something that does not bring you joy, especially if it's something you don't absolutely have to do.
00:03:15.840 --> 00:03:19.280
I know that there's some things in life you have to do that don't bring you joy.
00:03:19.439 --> 00:03:29.039
I don't get joy from paying taxes, I don't get joy from doing certain chores or from cleaning.
00:03:29.280 --> 00:03:32.800
There are some things you have to do that don't bring you joy.
00:03:33.039 --> 00:03:47.039
Everything else though, like how you spend your downtime, what you do as a pastime, things you don't have to do to bring you money or to survive.
00:03:47.199 --> 00:03:48.719
Those things should bring you joy.
00:03:48.800 --> 00:03:51.199
And if they don't, fucking don't do it.
00:03:51.439 --> 00:03:53.680
Okay, if you don't have to, don't do it.
00:03:53.919 --> 00:03:55.280
That's just my feeling.
00:03:55.520 --> 00:03:58.560
And I really tried to enjoy this book.
00:03:58.719 --> 00:04:05.759
I really did try to see what the fuss was about, but it was boring to me.
00:04:05.919 --> 00:04:07.360
Sorry, I said it.
00:04:07.599 --> 00:04:09.280
It was fucking boring.
00:04:09.439 --> 00:04:12.159
There was drama just for the sake of drama.
00:04:12.319 --> 00:04:17.199
Okay, let me get into what the book's about, the kind of plot line.
00:04:17.279 --> 00:04:20.160
And again, this isn't really a spoiler.
00:04:20.480 --> 00:04:28.959
I will throw some spoilers out there when I get into kind of what I what I didn't like about it, but this is not really a spoiler.
00:04:29.040 --> 00:04:31.759
You can read you can read that this is what this book is about.
00:04:31.839 --> 00:04:33.759
So it's Justin and Emma.
00:04:34.079 --> 00:04:42.160
Emma is a traveling nurse, and she has a very complicated relationship with her mother.
00:04:42.399 --> 00:04:59.120
And then Justin is built us as a very witty boy next door type, and he does like software sales or something, and he posts on a Am I the Asshole Reddit thread, which those are funny.
00:04:59.279 --> 00:05:02.560
Sometimes I like to read them and I'm like, yes, sir, you are the asshole.
00:05:02.720 --> 00:05:05.360
Or not you get a pass for that.
00:05:05.680 --> 00:05:09.040
He posts a thing about Am I the Asshole?
00:05:09.199 --> 00:05:12.879
Uh, my friend Brad, Chad, whatever.
00:05:13.199 --> 00:05:23.279
He fell in love and got with a chick and skipped out on rent for or got out of our lease, and I was left with rent I could not afford.
00:05:23.519 --> 00:05:33.439
And so I moved into another place, and then they have a weird toilet advertisement uh right in my window, but it's cheaper, so that's what I'm doing.
00:05:33.600 --> 00:05:37.120
And so I got an ugly dog and named him right after my friend.
00:05:37.360 --> 00:05:42.240
That's that was what his asshole thread was, in which case I say no.
00:05:42.399 --> 00:05:46.959
Both of you are kind of the asshole, which I guess equals each other out.
00:05:47.199 --> 00:06:04.160
What made the thread go viral and starts this whole book off is that he mentioned he has a curse where whoever he dates ends up finding the love of her life after they break up.
00:06:04.399 --> 00:06:14.480
In fact, Chad Brad's fiance, girlfriend, whatever, that he has to move in with and is totally infatuated with is an ex-girlfriend of Justin.
00:06:14.639 --> 00:06:16.399
Now, they weren't serious.
00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:27.519
They went on a few dates, shared a kiss that wasn't good, and called it quits, but then she met Chad Brad and it was she was Twitter pated, and now they're they're totally in love.
00:06:27.839 --> 00:06:30.319
So that's his his dilemma.
00:06:30.480 --> 00:06:32.079
That's his curse.
00:06:32.240 --> 00:06:38.639
And that seems like a very hilarious premise for a book, especially given that Emma shares the same curse.
00:06:38.879 --> 00:06:43.839
Whoever she dates ends up finding their soulmate after they break up.
00:06:44.000 --> 00:06:53.759
She also doesn't really date a lot, or seriously, considering she's a traveling nurse and she's always in the process of leaving, or she's about to leave.
00:06:54.079 --> 00:06:56.399
So there's also that.
00:06:56.800 --> 00:07:03.199
But her friend kind of nags her into message this guy.
00:07:03.279 --> 00:07:04.160
This sounds funny.
00:07:04.240 --> 00:07:06.480
Like you have the same curse, just see what's up.
00:07:06.560 --> 00:07:07.360
Like, how funny?
00:07:07.439 --> 00:07:08.879
He's so cute, blah, blah, blah.
00:07:09.040 --> 00:07:11.360
And so they do, or she does.
00:07:11.519 --> 00:07:22.480
She slides into his DMs, and then Justin and Emma start this friendly conversations about their curse and just in general, life in general.
00:07:22.720 --> 00:07:25.199
Like she's like, I'm really intrigued by this dude.
00:07:25.360 --> 00:07:26.160
I really like him.
00:07:26.319 --> 00:07:27.600
I think he's adorable.
00:07:27.759 --> 00:07:29.759
He's so much fun to talk to.
00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:37.519
So she decides for her next assignment, she is gonna go to Minnesota to try things out with Justin.
00:07:37.920 --> 00:07:49.519
Especially since Justin's friends, the Chad Grad, Chad Brad group, whatever, talk him into it by saying, Hey, man, she has the same curse that you do.
00:07:49.680 --> 00:07:55.040
If y'all were to date, it would then cancel the curse out.
00:07:55.680 --> 00:07:56.240
Right?
00:07:56.560 --> 00:08:10.639
So she date you, you date her, and whoever y'all's respective curses will work and on each other, and then whoever you date next will be your soulmate.
00:08:10.879 --> 00:08:11.839
And same for her.
00:08:12.240 --> 00:08:13.360
What's it to lose?
00:08:13.519 --> 00:08:20.959
Either that or it'll cancel it out, and it won't be an issue anymore because the magic of the universe will just cancel it out, I guess.
00:08:21.040 --> 00:08:25.680
I don't know the rationale, but he likes her anyway, and she likes him anyway.
00:08:25.839 --> 00:08:27.759
So they're like, well, fuck it, why not?
00:08:27.839 --> 00:08:29.040
Let's just give this a roll.
00:08:29.199 --> 00:08:35.440
So off she goes to Minnesota for the summer, only for the summer, hence the title.
00:08:35.919 --> 00:08:39.600
And it's like a three-month assignment.
00:08:39.840 --> 00:08:44.159
She gets a private island on Lake Minnetonka.
00:08:44.559 --> 00:08:48.879
It's this really tiny island with the house on it, and she's super pumped about it.
00:08:49.120 --> 00:08:55.279
Well, y'all, I can't even because from this all sounds like a really great book, right?
00:08:55.519 --> 00:08:57.279
The plot sounds hilarious.
00:08:57.679 --> 00:09:04.080
There's plenty of room for craziness and misadventures and sexiness and all of the things.
00:09:04.240 --> 00:09:05.840
That's not what we get.
00:09:06.080 --> 00:09:08.000
Okay, I'm just gonna tell you now.
00:09:08.159 --> 00:09:09.519
This is not a rom-com.
00:09:09.919 --> 00:09:11.200
This is not what we get.
00:09:11.440 --> 00:09:14.399
This book, I I cannot.
00:09:14.559 --> 00:09:16.399
Let's let's get into it, y'all.
00:09:16.559 --> 00:09:19.279
Let's get into why I DNF the book.
00:09:19.440 --> 00:09:22.639
I am not a fan of Nicholas Sparks.
00:09:22.960 --> 00:09:26.559
What does that have to do with Abby Jimin, as you may ask?
00:09:26.879 --> 00:09:29.279
Well, quite a bit, actually.
00:09:29.440 --> 00:09:33.679
Both of them write drama for the sake of it, is what I call it.
00:09:34.000 --> 00:09:51.759
It is writing a book to depress your reader, to pull emotion, stuff that's totally improbable, like things happening for the fucking sake of it, like putting your characters through it, man.
00:09:51.919 --> 00:09:57.840
It's like you can't have one scene happen without some shit going down.
00:09:58.559 --> 00:09:59.840
I hate that.
00:10:00.320 --> 00:10:02.639
I am not reading to be depressed.
00:10:02.879 --> 00:10:08.080
I am not reading a book for uh there's enough drama and craziness in real life.
00:10:08.240 --> 00:10:23.440
And yes, you could put drama and craziness in a book, but when every single scene is having something dramatic happen, something heavy happening, something sad or just like, I I can't.
00:10:23.759 --> 00:10:25.120
I cannot do that.
00:10:25.279 --> 00:10:26.879
I do not want to do that.
00:10:27.039 --> 00:10:35.759
I do not want to read a book that's like, oh, they overcome all this, and now she has cancer, which is a very Nicholas Sparks thing.
00:10:35.840 --> 00:10:44.159
And now I wouldn't I honestly wouldn't be surprised if 70% into this book suddenly one of them finds out they they have a terminal illness.
00:10:44.399 --> 00:10:49.120
I wouldn't, I would be like, well, that sounds right because that's what's going on thus far.
00:10:49.360 --> 00:10:51.840
Now we're gonna get into some spoiler territory.
00:10:52.080 --> 00:10:55.840
She has a tumultuous relationship with her mother.
00:10:55.919 --> 00:10:58.720
I've already talked about that very complicated relationship.
00:10:58.960 --> 00:11:01.600
It is a highly complicated relationship, actually.
00:11:01.759 --> 00:11:06.480
Her mother is described as toxic in the book summary.
00:11:06.879 --> 00:11:11.200
She is in she has an undiagnosed mental illness.
00:11:11.440 --> 00:11:13.440
She ignores her largely.
00:11:13.600 --> 00:11:15.519
She forgets she has a daughter sometimes.
00:11:15.679 --> 00:11:18.639
She is almost um bipolar or something.
00:11:18.720 --> 00:11:21.360
I'm not sure what the mental illness is.
00:11:21.519 --> 00:11:25.279
However, she has these high highs and then she just disappears.
00:11:25.600 --> 00:11:30.480
She is very selfish, like narcissistic.
00:11:30.720 --> 00:11:36.240
She just tends to just go off and do her own thing and forget she has a kid.
00:11:36.559 --> 00:11:42.159
She left her alone multiple times as a child with like no money, nothing.
00:11:42.320 --> 00:11:52.480
So Emma was like going hungry, and then she got put in the foster care system, and that's how she met her best friend, who is a traveling nurse and goes around with her.
00:11:52.799 --> 00:11:55.759
Her best friend was one of the foster families.
00:11:56.000 --> 00:12:13.919
Emma is constantly feeling the need to defend and forgive her mother no matter what happens, and she just kind of disappears for long periods of time and then just shows up and demands attention once she does show up, and it's very ridiculous.
00:12:14.080 --> 00:12:21.120
So her mother contacts her out of the nowhere and is like, I found this old stuffed animal that you used to love.
00:12:21.600 --> 00:12:25.360
Give me your address so I can mail it to you.
00:12:25.679 --> 00:12:36.320
Only when Emma gives her the address to her the Minnesota house that she's not even in yet, but that's where she's going to be.
00:12:36.559 --> 00:12:38.320
Her mother randomly shows up.
00:12:39.120 --> 00:12:40.159
She just shows up.
00:12:40.720 --> 00:12:41.600
Oh, I missed you.
00:12:41.679 --> 00:12:43.440
I want to spend some time with you.
00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:51.679
Read as she is in between homes or whatever, and has just remembered she has a daughter, so she wants to show up.
00:12:51.919 --> 00:12:58.799
Anyway, her mother ends up hooking up with what turns out to be Emma's boss for the summer.
00:12:59.039 --> 00:13:04.559
He's a surgeon, really smart surgeon, really up there.
00:13:04.799 --> 00:13:08.480
And anyway, he's known for being an ass.
00:13:08.879 --> 00:13:19.840
However, he is loving Emma's mom and immediately has her move into his house and all the things.
00:13:20.080 --> 00:13:42.399
I know Emma and her friends show up at school at work the next day, and they find out that oh, oh, that guy is actually our boss, and he's known for being a dick, but he's being nice to us, and oh great, as soon as things pop off with mom and she disappears and she fucks up things, we're gonna have to deal with it for the rest of the summer, the rest of the time there.
00:13:42.639 --> 00:13:48.639
Is there a long, oh, a long uh time frame of consequence?
00:13:48.799 --> 00:13:49.519
Not really.
00:13:49.759 --> 00:13:57.759
It's treated like this is the fucking most horrible thing that could happen, but it's really you're just there for three months.
00:13:58.080 --> 00:14:11.840
So even if things go totally sideways, I'm sure they've been in worse situations, being as they're traveling nurses and dealing with people who are high up in the medical field.
00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:18.639
The smarter someone tends to be, especially in a field like that where you're quote unquote playing God.
00:14:18.799 --> 00:14:21.759
They tend to be narcissistic assholes sometimes.
00:14:21.919 --> 00:14:24.000
Not always, but it does happen.
00:14:24.080 --> 00:14:26.159
So I'm sure they've had to deal with this before.
00:14:26.320 --> 00:14:35.679
But we're gonna put that to the side because it is treated like the worst possible thing that can happen, especially given that they are also renting from this man.
00:14:36.399 --> 00:14:43.679
The cottage that they're staying in on that little island all belongs to this man.
00:14:44.080 --> 00:14:52.639
So when her mother randomly shows up and now she's shacking up with this guy and all the things, they're like, Well, shit, he is our landlord and our boss.
00:14:52.799 --> 00:14:54.480
This is probably a bad idea.
00:14:54.639 --> 00:14:58.000
Now Justin has his own shit going on.
00:14:58.240 --> 00:15:04.159
We don't find out exactly what his mother did, but apparently she is going to jail soon.
00:15:04.320 --> 00:15:10.480
They gave her time to get her affairs in order, and then she has to turn herself in on a specific date, and then she's going to jail.
00:15:10.799 --> 00:15:25.200
We find out what she did was she was working for a nonprofit, and after his father died, she, in her depression, I guess, decided to embezzle money from the firm she worked with.
00:15:25.679 --> 00:15:42.480
So now she has to go to jail, which means he has to, Justin has to take custody of his three siblings, ranging in ages from like five to sixteen.
00:15:43.200 --> 00:15:44.960
He's in his 20s.
00:15:45.279 --> 00:15:47.200
So I guess get it, mom.
00:15:47.440 --> 00:15:48.559
She's still having kids.
00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:49.600
Like, I don't know.
00:15:49.840 --> 00:15:55.120
Anyway, his dad died, and that's what his mother did, and now she has to go to jail.
00:15:55.200 --> 00:16:02.720
And so he's dealing with this oh my god, I'm about to have to be a single parent to my siblings, and it's it's a lot.
00:16:02.960 --> 00:16:23.360
And anyway, they are getting closer and closer, but at 51% in the book, the most we've gotten is a forehead kiss, a ton of dramatic conversation, like even their first date was like heavy conversation, trauma dumping, just like, yeah.
00:16:23.679 --> 00:16:27.759
I'm telling you, that sounds like my personal fucking nightmare.
00:16:27.919 --> 00:16:39.600
If I go on a date with a dude and then we end up trauma dumping the whole time and just talking about heavy stuff that's currently going down in our lives, I'm not gonna go on a second date, y'all.
00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:41.440
I am going to nope out.
00:16:41.600 --> 00:16:43.679
I am going to say, I'm so sorry.
00:16:43.840 --> 00:16:49.200
It seems like we both have too much going on in our prospective lives to continue this.
00:16:49.440 --> 00:16:51.440
I am not doing it.
00:16:51.600 --> 00:16:57.120
And maybe that's my own personal baggage, but that just sounds horrible.
00:16:57.440 --> 00:17:03.600
And I don't get why this book is termed as witty when I was getting no wit.
00:17:03.759 --> 00:17:09.279
There was a very little in the book that I was like, oh, and again, only to like 52%.
00:17:09.839 --> 00:17:13.599
Maybe the second half is a fucking riot and I'm just missing out.
00:17:13.839 --> 00:17:17.440
Given how it was written thus far, I don't think that's the case.
00:17:17.680 --> 00:17:23.519
It was very dialogue heavy and very play by play.
00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:32.319
Like she's in a conversation, and it's like, and then I paused, and then I painted my nail as I waited for his response.
00:17:32.480 --> 00:17:36.640
And then I looked up and oh, I don't want to face time because I have a towel.
00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:39.200
I just got out of the I mean, like stuff like that.
00:17:39.440 --> 00:17:43.359
We are going play by play, and it's just like, oh my god.
00:17:43.519 --> 00:17:53.279
Even her friendship with her quote unquote best friend seems very fraught with drama, and her friend is big on the tough love.
00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:56.640
And honestly, I love that in a friendship.
00:17:56.720 --> 00:17:57.759
I think it's needed.
00:17:57.839 --> 00:18:01.039
You need someone who's going to be honest with you no matter what.
00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:07.039
But if that's all y'all got, where is the fun part of the friendship here?
00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:09.440
Like her friend just seemed intense.
00:18:09.920 --> 00:18:23.359
The best part of this book so far at the 52% where I gave up is Justin's mom's big friendship with her best friend Lee.
00:18:23.599 --> 00:18:25.599
They're hilarious, they get drunk.
00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:27.599
Leah's like fully supporting her.
00:18:27.680 --> 00:18:31.920
She's like, I'm gonna show up at prison every other day and rub my boobs on the glass for you.
00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:33.599
We're gonna get through this, babe.
00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:36.000
Like, her friend is awesome.
00:18:36.319 --> 00:18:40.880
And um, that just happens to be Chad Brad's mom, too.
00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:47.119
And so she's giving Justin shit about how he needs to rename his ugly dog.
00:18:47.440 --> 00:18:49.119
I mean, that's a wrap on that.
00:18:49.279 --> 00:18:54.960
I can't, I can't and I won't rate the book.
00:18:55.599 --> 00:18:59.920
I don't think it's fair for me to rate the book because I didn't finish it.
00:19:00.400 --> 00:19:06.960
And considering I didn't finish it, that pretty much gives my opinion, right?
00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:09.680
I was just too bummed out to continue.
00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:12.880
I got to where his mother went to jail.
00:19:13.039 --> 00:19:23.519
I I read about how Emma doesn't want to continue a relationship, really, even though she's really feeling him because he's going to be a single parent.
00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:26.720
She's taking custody of his siblings.
00:19:27.119 --> 00:19:33.200
And how the five-year-old little girl's crying every night for her mom, who just went to jail.
00:19:33.519 --> 00:19:41.119
And how that's a bother to Justin or upsetting Justin because, oh, my life is so changed and I have to deal with this.
00:19:41.279 --> 00:19:42.000
They lost their mom.
00:19:42.319 --> 00:19:44.400
She's the one you need to be concerned about.
00:19:44.559 --> 00:19:50.799
She's five, and she just lost her mom for however long she's gonna be in jail.
00:19:50.960 --> 00:19:52.319
That is traumatizing.
00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:56.880
But you know, I get that you are in your own feelings about the whole situation.
00:19:57.039 --> 00:19:58.240
But I mean, my God.
00:19:58.480 --> 00:20:01.200
Christine, Justin's mom, and Lee are hilarious, though.
00:20:01.279 --> 00:20:07.200
They get drunk the night before she has to go to jail and they like rescue some raccoons and get banned from Uber.
00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:08.640
I mean, they're great.
00:20:08.880 --> 00:20:10.480
That's the best part of the book.
00:20:10.720 --> 00:20:11.039
Yeah.
00:20:11.200 --> 00:20:17.279
I I'm assuming, considering this is supposed to be a wonderful romance novel, that they overcome all the dramas.
00:20:17.440 --> 00:20:22.799
There's probably more dramas, but they overcome enough to have this very meaningful relationship and blah blah blah.
00:20:22.880 --> 00:20:24.240
And maybe they actually kiss.
00:20:24.400 --> 00:20:25.440
Fuck if I know.
00:20:25.839 --> 00:20:30.400
I know 52% in, and y'all are just he just kissed you on the forehead.
00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:32.960
You can fucking miss me with that, okay?
00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:34.240
I'm sorry.
00:20:34.400 --> 00:20:38.400
So I will rate the spice as a solid nun.
00:20:39.920 --> 00:20:42.079
At least 52% in.
00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:48.640
We have a big fat zero of a spice, so I don't have a ton of favorite quotes either.
00:20:48.880 --> 00:20:50.319
52% in.
00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:56.400
I will say Emma has a favorite quote that she says constantly.
00:20:56.480 --> 00:21:00.880
And again, halfway into the book, we've heard this same quote multiple times.
00:21:01.119 --> 00:21:12.400
It's how she lives her life, how she justifies constantly forgiving her mother, how she has dealt with all of the traumas in her past.
00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:18.960
And her favorite quote is if you can choose anger or empathy, always choose empathy.
00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:21.359
I don't necessarily agree, Emma.
00:21:21.680 --> 00:21:24.160
I feel like you need to choose yourself occasionally.
00:21:24.319 --> 00:21:26.160
Do not be a doormat to your mother.
00:21:26.400 --> 00:21:27.920
She has a mental illness.
00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:33.279
Obviously, she is not even attempting to be a good mother half of the time.
00:21:33.440 --> 00:21:41.359
You can protect your own sanity and your own peace by not engaging or setting boundaries.
00:21:41.519 --> 00:21:44.640
And she doesn't set boundaries at all with her mom.
00:21:44.720 --> 00:21:46.880
And instead, she's like, I'm choosing empathy.
00:21:46.960 --> 00:21:51.839
I'm choosing like there could be any reason, any reason why this happened.
00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:55.039
But you need to set boundaries and protect yourself.
00:21:55.680 --> 00:21:58.319
And halfway into the book, that is not the case.
00:21:58.480 --> 00:21:59.759
She is just standing by this.
00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:02.240
I need to choose empathy over anger.
00:22:02.400 --> 00:22:02.720
Great.
00:22:02.880 --> 00:22:04.240
Choose empathy over anger.
00:22:04.400 --> 00:22:16.640
I'm not saying you have to be angry, but you do have to set boundaries and protect yourself and not constantly engage with someone who is a danger to your mental health.
00:22:16.799 --> 00:22:19.200
You can't put yourself last all the time.
00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:22.640
So I don't agree, Emma, but she says that.
00:22:22.880 --> 00:22:32.480
And that line helps Justin kind of forgive his mom for embezzling and stuff like that.
00:22:32.799 --> 00:22:38.640
So he's less angry and is able to kind of make amends before she goes to jail, which is good.
00:22:38.880 --> 00:22:44.319
It's good because the way this book goes, for all I know, she's gonna get a terminal illness and die in jail.
00:22:44.480 --> 00:22:46.319
I wouldn't be surprised, y'all.
00:22:46.480 --> 00:22:49.680
That's kind of the nature of the constant drama.
00:22:49.920 --> 00:22:54.880
Here's a funny quote, and this is Lee, uh Brad Chad's mom, whatever.
00:22:54.960 --> 00:23:00.480
And this is when she gets wasted face with Justin's mom the night before she has to go to jail.
00:23:00.640 --> 00:23:02.799
And this was funny, okay?
00:23:03.119 --> 00:23:10.720
Lee says, Good lord, these hot flashes let me know I can't go to hell because I cannot take the heat.
00:23:11.359 --> 00:23:12.640
Preach, lady.
00:23:12.799 --> 00:23:17.359
I'm in that paramenopause age where I'm getting the hot flashes every now and then.
00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:21.519
And I'm telling you, I'm not looking forward to full-blown menopause.
00:23:21.680 --> 00:23:28.319
So preachy, Emma does give Justin shit for just doing a forehead kiss.
00:23:28.720 --> 00:23:34.319
So she gives him a kiss on the forehead right before I decided I was done with the book.
00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:36.160
I was like, I'm I'm just I'm over it.
00:23:36.400 --> 00:23:40.160
But she does say the line, I hear forehead kisses are all the rage.
00:23:40.319 --> 00:23:41.359
Just to give them a mess.
00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:45.680
So I will say, right before I quit the book, they did finally kiss.
00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:50.720
It was closed mouth kiss, but it melted her legs, she said.
00:23:50.880 --> 00:23:51.920
So we'll take it.
00:23:52.079 --> 00:23:53.680
I did cast the book though.
00:23:53.839 --> 00:23:58.319
And I feel like even my casting was a bit sarcastic for this book.
00:23:58.640 --> 00:24:05.839
Emma is described as beautiful, brunette, girl next door looking.
00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:15.839
And Justin makes the comment that she looks like an actress playing a nurse more than she looks like an actual nurse.
00:24:16.160 --> 00:24:21.680
My brain immediately casts Nina De Brev from Vampire Diaries.
00:24:22.160 --> 00:24:23.839
And there was no turning back.
00:24:24.079 --> 00:24:25.519
I cannot be swayed.
00:24:25.759 --> 00:24:27.519
That's what she is to me.
00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:32.079
And especially given the amount of drama, I'm going with Nina.
00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:33.200
Perfect.
00:24:33.519 --> 00:25:05.440
And then since my brain was already in the world of vampire diaries, and Justin is described as looking like the sweet, wholesome football playing boyfriend in a rom-com that the heroine dates and then breaks up with because they're going to separate colleges, and then she ends up meeting the love of her life and the true like hero of the story.
00:25:05.599 --> 00:25:09.599
He just looks like this wholesome football playing guy.
00:25:10.559 --> 00:25:11.279
I guess.
00:25:11.599 --> 00:25:14.720
Like that's his look, boy next door type.
00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:21.759
So I'm going with Zach Rovrig from Vampire Diaries.
00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:22.960
It's Matt.
00:25:23.200 --> 00:25:40.640
And he was, he was, he was Elena's sweet high school boyfriend that they broke up before she got with the Salvatore brothers and spurred the whole vampire diaries.
00:25:40.880 --> 00:25:44.319
So I think that tracks, seems perfect.
00:25:44.480 --> 00:25:49.119
And again, I'm gonna just end this with I do not feel guilty for DNFing the book.
00:25:49.279 --> 00:25:51.200
I know a lot of people don't like it.
00:25:51.359 --> 00:25:54.880
And it's okay, even if it is the most popular book.
00:25:55.039 --> 00:25:58.160
If you don't like it, your opinion is valid.
00:25:58.480 --> 00:26:00.000
Your feelings are valid.
00:26:00.319 --> 00:26:03.680
I don't know if you need to hear that, but I'm here to tell you.
00:26:03.839 --> 00:26:05.680
Your opinions are totally valid.
00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:09.359
If you don't like something, you don't have to like it.
00:26:09.519 --> 00:26:11.279
You can just stop reading it.
00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:14.160
Nothing's gonna happen for me not reading this book.
00:26:14.319 --> 00:26:18.079
I mean, the world's gonna continue, hopefully.
00:26:18.319 --> 00:26:20.720
And that's it for this episode of Book Tease.
00:26:20.880 --> 00:26:24.640
If you like this episode, please like and subscribe, rate and review.
00:26:24.799 --> 00:26:26.319
Let me know if you like the book.
00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:28.559
I'm really, I'm really curious.
00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:30.640
Um, did I miss anything?
00:26:30.880 --> 00:26:32.240
Should I have continued?
00:26:32.559 --> 00:26:34.960
What do you feel about DNFing a book?
00:26:35.119 --> 00:26:42.240
Is it like a hard no, or do you too feel like you shouldn't have to finish something if you're not enjoying it?
00:26:42.319 --> 00:26:46.319
I mean, life's too short for books you don't like or coffee that's gross.
00:26:46.559 --> 00:26:47.759
It's kind of how I feel.
00:26:47.920 --> 00:26:53.519
And and I'm gonna stand by it, but I am so interested to hear what everyone else has to say.
00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:57.920
So thank you so much, and until next time, stay spicy.
00:26:58.720 --> 00:27:00.640
That's it for this episode of Book Tease.
00:27:00.880 --> 00:27:06.480
Book and theme reveals and episode commentary can be found in TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook at Book Tease Pod.
00:27:06.799 --> 00:27:10.000
Each episode can also be found on YouTube at Book Tease Pod.
00:27:10.319 --> 00:27:14.319
Theme music is Bob Scraps, and until next time, stay spicy.
