Bad On Paper

We're so excited to chat through a fresh batch of new things. What are our character naming rules? What teachers made an impact on us? Do we still care about the Met Gala? Find out this and more in this week's episode!    Olivia's Things Naming Book Characters Teachers who have made an impact on us Do we still care about the Met Gala?   Becca's Things Famesick by Lena Dunham Author Career Mileston...

This week, we're catching up and going deep on our writing and reading lives, home updates, and what we're looking forward to this summer.   May's Book Club Pick - Into the Blue by Emma Brodie   What we read this week Becca - Famesick by Lena Dunham , Found Time by Caroline Goldstein   Obsession Olivia - Her Crocs Becca -  Ladies of London     Sponsors Quince - Head to Quince.com/bop for free ship...

So excited to dive deep into our April Book Club Pick: Good People by Patmeena Sabit ! We chat about the news story that inspired this novel, its inventive structure, the POVs we connected to the most, the book's (intentionally) vague marketing package, and what we think happened at the end!    For more references for the content in this episode, read more here and here .    May's Book Club Pick -...

  This week, we're diving back into our reading history and pulling out the books we think deserve a little more love. TBR Fillers ahead!    Olivia's Hidden Gem Reads: Fellowship Point by Alice Elliot Dark Vantage Point by Sara Sligar Whale Fall by Elizabeth O'Connell  Sam by Allegra Goodman  The Bombshell by Darrow Farr   Becca's Hidden Gem Reads:  Family Drama by Rebecca Fallon   This Love by Lo...

We are bursting at the seams to talk about our April Things! We're talking juicy reads, sharing some grievances, debunking rumors, discussing book thoughts, and more!    Olivia's Things Strangers by Belle Burden Things that make us irrationally angry Writing and reading sequels    Becca's Things  What constitutes literary fiction? Good Hang with Amy Pohler , specifically the episode with Steve Car...

This week, we chatted with literary agent Alyssa Morris and East City Bookshop Buyer Emilie Sommer about 2026 publishing trends! We pick their brains about customer shopping behavior, what editors are looking for, how they know something is going to hit, and their big bets for the year.    Alyssa's 2026 Picks In Stormy Weather by Chelsea Curto The Poison Daughter by Sheila Masterson One & Only Mau...

How time has FLOWN! Eight years into the podcast, we wanted to look back and re-listen to our first episode with Olivia as a co-host! We reflect on how our lives have changed since 2022, listen back to highs and lows of the time, and revisit the questionnaire we used to break the ice!    April's Book Club Pick - Good People by Patmeena Sabit   Obsession Olivia - Project Hail Mary (The movie!) Becc...

Time is flying—both in this book and you know… in life—and we're clocking back in for another book club! We're excited to discuss this month's pick, So Old, So Young by Grant Ginder ! We chat about why we chose it, its unique structure, the dynamic of friends with vs without kids, and what 5 parties define our adulthood!   If you liked this book, you may like - The Celebrants by Steven Rowley , Th...

SO excited to have bestie of the pod (and co-host emeritus), Grace Atwood, on to talk about what she's been up to lately, specifically the joy of starting to write a novel!    What we read this week Olivia - You Between the Lines by Katie Naymon, Under Story by Chloe Benjamin , Warning Signs by Tracy Sierra , A Visit from the Good Squad by Jennifer Egan Becca - Lake Effect by Cynthia D'Aprix Sween...

New month, new installment of Three Things! We're ready to get introspective, set goals, get random, and more!  Becca's Things Reece Witherspoon's Reel about talent vs. passion. Is contemporary romance dead? How to set writing goals.   Olivia's Things Things from our childhoods that aged poorly (and well). What we're excited about this year. The last internet rabbit hole you fell into.   Obsession...

This week, we're diving into a topic we haven't covered in 8 years of this podcast: Non-fiction! We aren't experts on the genre, so we asked our listeners about their favorites, too, and wow, did they have some books to share!    Becca's Favorites Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert Open Book by Jessica Simpson I'll Have What She's Having: How Nora Ephron's 3 Iconic Films Saved the Romantic Comedy by E...

🚨 Spoilers ahead! 🚨 We're so pumped to dive deep into Olivia's novel, Little One ! Becca asks Olivia all about the book, including the seed of the idea, how real world cults (and other cult novels!) influenced the book, how the book evolved across crafts, her thoughts on her main character's likability, how she perceives the ending, and So! Much! More!    Listen to Little One's companion podcast...

Happy Three Things Day! Reporting live post Becca's move and Olivia's book tour, and we can't wait to dive into bookish topics, pop culture Q's, perfect relaxing solo days, and more!    Becca's Thing What is your all seasons, all moods song? Book Tour 101 The Traitors Dream Casting   Olivia's Things Plans for Becca's new place Restorative + relaxing day off plans Writing Book 3 Approach    Obsessi...

Happy Valentine's Day from our twisted brain to yours. It's time for the third annual Obscure Erotica episode 💞 If this series taught us anything, it's that you can make comedy erotica featuring just about anything! Tune in to see what new delights (horrors?) we've brought for you this time. NSFW content ahead!    Becca's Pick - Cold Sweat by Vera Valentine Olivia's Pick - My Macaroni And Cheese...

Surprise! Enjoy this audiobook preview of Olivia's novel LITTLE ONE, available NOW.    Order LITTLE ONE now wherever you get books!   Join our Facebook group for amazing book recs & more!  Buy our Merch ! Join our BFF Group! Preorder Olivia's Book, Little One , and order Such a Bad Influence ! Subscribe to Olivia's Newsletter! O rder Becca's Book, The Christmas Orphans Club! Subscribe to Becca's N...

Highly requested, highly desired, it's TIME for our Heated Rivalry episode! We feel a lot of pressure to adequately express how much we love this show, and we have multiple pages of notes at the ready with all of our thoughts. 🏒   Obsession Olivia - My bed Becca - Splits Extra Salt pretzels   What We Read This Week Becca - The Long Game by Rachel Reid Olivia - Let's Not Go Overboard by Erica Hend...

Time for our first Book Club of the year! Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino was such an exciting read, and we can't wait to discuss!    We talk about how we relate to the house hunting process in this book, what makes an unlikable main character work, and the story's class dynamics, twists, ending, and more!   If you want to read something similar, books that came to mind include A Good Person by...

New year, new additions to our TBR! We spoke with some of our bookish pals about the 2026 releases they're most excited about. Great recommendations ahead!   Olivia's Picks Missing Me by Ayana Lage (Out March 17) Whidbey by T Kira Madden (Out March 10)   Grant Ginder's Picks George Falls Through Time by Ryan Collett (Out January 20) Big Nobody by Alex Kadis (Out March 10)   Brady Lockerby's Picks...

New year, new things! We're so excited to dive into what's been exciting us this month, like romance adaptations, medium joys, events, moving quandaries, and our 2026 mood boards!    Becca's Things Heated Rivalry People We Meet on Vacation When you move, do you bring your condiments with you?   Olivia's Things Dolphins/Medium Joys Book Events (check out Olivia's dates here !) 2026 Moodboards   Obs...

We are so BACK!!! Soak in the new year energy and listen to us break down our 2026 goals. But first, we reflect on what we accomplished in 2025 and share how we're feeling at the start of the new year.    Olivia's Personal Goals Continue strength routine and scale to heavier weights Start a young writers program in the community (or volunteer for one that already exists)  Home projects! Kitchen re...

It's time for us to share our favorite books of 2025! Get your notebooks ready because WE! HAVE! RECS! 📚   Becca's Fave Books The Force of Such Beauty by Barbara Bourland Heart the Lover by Lily King One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley Loved One by Aisha Muharrar Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy  The Safekeep by Yael Van Der Wouden The Road to Tender Hearts by An...

The holidays are (almost) here! We're talking about all the things we're excited about this season, from most anticipated events, white elephant gifts, holiday movie rankings, festive FMK's, and more!   Olivia's Things Most anticipated holiday events Admin Advent calendar Holiday Movie Battle   Becca's Things White elephant gift ideas Festive FMK's Reflecting on the year   Sign up for Olivia's vir...

The year is coming to a close, and you know what that means! It's time to look back at our highs of 2025. We reminisce on work wins, new hobbies, mantras, and more!    Best New Artist Discovery of The Year (Author, Artist, Filmmaker, Dancer, etc.)  Olivia - Allegra Goodman , Joshua Burnside Becca - Francis Featherstone , Anna Kwan , Sarah Martinez , Barbara Bourland   Best Song of The Year  Olivia...

It's time for our final book club episode of 2025! We're discussing a book we've been seeing everywhere, The Correspondent by Virginia Evans . We talk about why we think this book has become so popular, if we've read epistolary novels before, our thoughts on the novelty of the mother/daughter relationship, how it brought up feelings about retirement for us both, and more!   Also, the Wall Street J...

It's time for this year's Bad on Paper Gift Guide! We're so excited to dive into our picks that are very us-coded.    Becca-Coded Picks Gifts for People Who Love NYC  Katie Kime NYC Toile Tea Towels ($58) Chefanie - I Love NY cocktail napkins ($48) All the restaurants prints (5x7 $55) - John Donahue - also Paris, London, DC, Philly, Chicago, Napa W/ Hudson & Mark acrylic frame (A5 size) - Reg $44,...