Side Bar on good books and Goodreads, how we move on from burnout, whether there can ever be nuance in the Trad Wives conversation, and of course, there's a little bit of astrology

Bad Sisters is back! Season Two of this dark comedy hit from the genius brain of Sharon Horgan returns, and while we are so thrilled to have this incredible cast of actresses back on our screens in the beautiful Irish setting, we definitely have some questions about that devastating twist and where the season is going. Listen now to our recap of Episodes 1 & 2!

On our new episode we’re discussing the Apple TV+ limited series, Disclaimer, and specifically, the gut punch twist heard round the world. Based on a book by Renee Knight and created for TV by famed director Alfonso Cuaron, Disclaimer’s multiple perspective storytelling technique is meant to ultimately make audiences confront their own judgements about what is real and what we’ve just assumed to be the truth. One thing is clear: we as a society are willing to believe the worst of a woman,...

In our latest episode we are chatting about another cultural flashback pilot episode inspired by Nobody Wants This…Gossip Girl. Adam Brody and Kristen Bell have reminded us all that they’re national treasures and their beginnings in 2000s teen dramas were worth coming back to. We’ve covered the pilot episode of The O.C., Veronica Mars, and now Gossip Girl, a show in which wealthy, privileged Upper East Siders take on high school as the anonymous “Gossip Girl” (voiced by Kristen Bell) reveals...

On this episode of Debut Discussions, romance author Alyssa Jarrett shares her journey from a passionate reader to a published writer of a four-part series. She discusses her second installment, Love on the Rocks, an opposites-attract rom-com that proves love is the most exciting adventure of all. Blending Silicon Valley satire with romantic comedy, Love On The Rocks explores themes of anxiety, trust, and personal growth. Alyssa chats with us about the importance of relatable characters and...

In today’s episode we’re discussing the Netflix documentary on Martha Stewart, a model turned stockbroker turned domestic goddess and CEO, the “original influencer,” the first self-made female billionaire, and an expert at reinventing her brand and doing it on her own terms. The Martha documentary explores the price of her quest for perfection, but it’s her imperfections — including her inability to accept them — that make her most interesting. Perhaps the OG “unlikable woman,” Martha...

We’re back with another Sidebar conversation where we let you in on our lives and what we’re obsessing over in pop culture. In this episode, we chat about what we’re watching (and why) - Anatomy of Lies and Disclaimer; the smoldering flirtationship between Amelia Dimoldenberg, comedian and host of Chicken Shop Date, and Andrew Garfield (listen to this clip!); book recommendations; and celebrating yeses from the Universe! The PFW Sidebar is now in session!

We’re continuing our theme of cultural flashback TV pilots inspired by Nobody Wants This … delving into Veronica Mars, Kristen Bell’s cult classic series in which she plays a seventeen-year-old anti-establishment high school student and private detective. We were surprised by the complexities of the show, its dark themes, character motivations, and intricate storytelling. The show is a unique blend of teen drama and neo-noir elements, with a healthy dose of mommy issues, class warfare, sexual...

On this episode of Complicated Conversations we welcome New York Times bestselling author, Alison Espach, to discuss her Read With Jenna Book Club pick, The Wedding People, a propulsive and uncommonly wise novel about one unexpected wedding guest and the surprising people who help us start anew. We chat with Alison about her development of the two complex women at the heart of this novel, Phoebe and Lila; the importance of honesty for human connection; her exploration of themes of grief,...

On today’s episode we’re discussing Woman Of The Hour, a new Netflix movie based on the true story of a serial killer who appeared on the popular 70s TV show, The Dating Game. Directed by and starring Anna Kendrick, the movie is a true crime drama that - thankfully - isn’t focused on the killer. This subtly subversive film is a story about women’s violence that has so much space for women’s emotions.  It is the kind of movie that, as we approach our five year anniversary, reminds us why we...

We’re back with another Sidebar conversation where we let you in on our lives and what we’re obsessing over in pop culture. In this episode, we talk about being stuck in the middle, early aughts stripped down covers, Kelsea Ballerini's patterns and some of our own. On this clip we invite you into our very own therapy session, complete with muddled guidance from the tarot about navigating the messy middle.  Send help - because the wisdom from the “tea typewriter” was not strong enough! The...

Tell Me Lies Season 2 Finale (and Eps 6&7). Another incredible season of @tellmelieshulu comes to end and we are yet again going out with Mr. Brightside by The Killers (this one an incredible cover by Cat Missal, the actress who plays Bree!). We recap episodes 6-8, marveling at how these writers can create consistently complicated, three-dimensional characters, ramp up the tension and toxicity, surprise and shock us, and leave us wanting more (immediately!). Nothing but the highest...

The O.C.: Cultural Flashback Moments from TV, inspired by Nobody Wants This We just can’t ignore the resurgence of early 2000s heartthrobs like Joshua Jackson and Adam Brody so we’re taking it back to 2003 and doing a recap of the pilot episode of The O.C.! We chat about the nostalgia surrounding the show, its influence and impact on subsequent teen dramas, the significance of its soundtrack, and the young stars whose careers were launched by the show. This pilot is as entertaining now as...

On this episode of Debut Discussions Asha Elias discusses her debut novel, Pink Glass Houses, a seductive social satire about the wealthy PTA moms of an elite elementary school in Miami Beach.  Asha chats with Carinn about the unexpected joys of launching a book; her journey to becoming a writer; the themes explored in her novel; character development; the writing process; and how her column for the Miami New Times influences her fiction. Asha also touches on her second book (out in...

In today’s episode we’re discussing Nobody Wants This on Netflix, which based on our feelings and the general reception, should actually be called EVERYBODY Wants This! This utterly bingeable romcom starring Kristen Bell and Adam Brody has all the hallmarks of a great romcom…undeniable chemistry between the two leads, a stellar ensemble cast, high stakes tension, characters working through their damage, and laugh out loud humor. We discuss creator Erin Foster and her real life inspo for the...

Side bar about being "too much", today's astrology, Nobody Wants This, The Wedding People, and Sally Rooney

On this episode of Debut Discussions, Jamie Harrow shares her journey from a sports-loving child to a lawyer and finally to a debut novelist with her book 'One on One'. The conversation explores her reading and writing evolution, the development of her characters, and the themes of trust and connection in her work. Jamie discusses the impact of sports on personal relationships, her experiences with reality TV, and the publishing process. She also touches on her interest in astrology and...

In this conversation, Carinn and Kate delve into the intricacies of the show 'Tell Me Lies', exploring character dynamics, relationship complexities, and the impact of past traumas. The conversation highlights the importance of friendship, loyalty, and the consequences of accusations, while also making predictions about the future of the characters. They discuss the thrill of forming theories about the plot, the portrayal of female characters, and the power struggles within relationships.

In this conversation, Carinn and Kate delve into the intricacies of the show 'Tell Me Lies', exploring character dynamics, relationship complexities, and the impact of past traumas. The conversation highlights the importance of friendship, loyalty, and the consequences of accusations, while also making predictions about the future of the characters. They discuss the thrill of forming theories about the plot, the portrayal of female characters, and the power struggles within relationships.

On this episode of Complicated Conversations, we welcome Stephanie Wrobel to discuss her suspenseful new novel, The Hitchcock Hotel, a story about a Hitchcock fanatic with an agenda who invites old friends for a weekend stay at his secluded themed hotel. As the past is revealed, tensions rise, loyalties break down, and chaos ensues. Stephanie chats with Carinn about her inspiration for the book and how she incorporated Hitchcockian elements into the story, her *very cool* approach to writing...

In this episode of Complicated Conversations we welcome Marissa Stapley, the author of New York Times bestseller and Reese’s Book Club pick Lucky, to discuss her new novel, The Lightning Bottles, a story about grunge-era musician Jane Pyre’s journey to find out what really happened to her husband and partner in music, who abruptly disappeared years earlier. We chat with Marissa about the personal and musical inspirations behind this novel (which she calls the “book of her heart”); her...

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On this episode of Complicated Conversations we welcome Laura Dave, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Last Thing He Told Me, to discuss her new novel, The Night We Lost Him, another riveting page-turner about estranged siblings who discover their father has been keeping a secret for more than fifty years, one that may have been fatal… We chat with Laura about defining her own genre of soulful suspense and family drama that you just can’t put down; her inspiration for the...

In this episode of Complicated Conversations we welcome back Kimberly McCreight to discuss her new novel, Like Mother, Like Daughter, an emotional mystery about a mother's disappearance and the journey of a daughter trying to find her.  We chat with Kimberly about the complexities of motherhood and our shared parenting challenges; the inspiration for this novel; her orchestral form of storytelling (which includes flashbacks, journal entries, therapy transcripts and legal documents); the...