Bad On Paper

We had the pleasure of recording a bonus episode with Katie Kitamura, the author of our May Book Club Pick, Audition ! We ask her about the book's inspiration, the writing process of such an experimental novel, what's ~actually~ going on in the plot, and the origins of the scenes that have stuck with us the most.  This Month's Book Club Pick - All the Other Mothers Hate Me by Sarah Harman (have th...

We're SO excited to discuss Audition by Katie Kitamura ! While this book may be hard to recap (uh, what actually happened??), we can't wait to dive into theories and themes.   We share our feelings about the ambiguous plot and discuss the theme of performance throughout the book. We also explore overlaps with two other past pieces of favorite content.   And get ready, we'll have a bonus episode ou...

  This week, we're chatting about the ins and outs of writing Young Adult Fiction with Jessica Goodman! We talk with her about getting started in the genre, the challenges of writing YA, how she gets inspiration for her books, and more!    Read more from Jessica in The Meadowbrook Murders, The Counselors, The Legacies, They'll Never Catch Us, and They Wish They Were Us.   Obsessions Olivia -  Ocea...

Whether you're a library reader, a used bookstore connoisseur, or just buy books faster than you read 'em, this episode is for you! We're chatting about the backlist books (AKA books released over 1 year ago) on our TBR.    Olivia's List Saint X by Alexis Schaitkin (2020) Seawife by Amity Gaige (2020) Godshot by Chelsea Bieker (2020) The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai (2018) Parable of the Sowe...

It's Three Things time! We're covering topics from Olivia's family parasocial obsession, spin-off books, sleep routines, party snacks, and more!    Olivia's Things Standout Book Covers of 2025 The Today Show Hosts' Impact on Boomers What snacks would you be excited to find at a party?   Becca's Things What book characters do you want to read a spinoff about? Glennon Doyle's week on Substack Sleep...

So excited to talk about our April Book Club Pick, Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy ! We went into this book without much context and loved experiencing this literary mystery. We discuss what genre this book falls in, our feelings on climate fiction, the real-life inspirations behind this books, and of course the many twists and turns of the mystery plotline.   Obsessions Becca - Wegmans Can...

We thought it was time for a good ol' catch-up! We have much to cover, including (but not limited to) writing updates, new journaling habits, career developments, travel plans, spring hobbies, and MORE!    Highly recommend reading What is Glitter by Caity Weaver in the New York Times   Obsessions Becca - Soeos White Peach Candy Olivia - He Wasn't Man Enough by Toni Braxton   What we read this week...

This week, we're talking about rejection, failure, and how two guests dealt with them! First, we're talking to New York Times best-selling author Andrea Bartz about navigating rejection on submission, and the daily rejections entailed in living a creative life. Then, we're talking to Azora Zoe Paknad about shuttering her business and going back to the corporate world.    You can read more from And...

Long time, no things! We're excited to dive into the random topics on our minds lately, from shows we're watching, movie news, the celebrity quiz we're positive you didn't see coming, and more!   Becca's Things Casual Viewing Content (inspired by this N+1 Article ), specifically The Night Agent and Running Point Applying body lotion (Olivia thinks the Necessaire Body Serum is worth a try!) Are you...

Have you ever wondered how a bookstore runs? We think about it all the time, and we are so thrilled to get the scoop from the owner of Liz's Book Bar in Brooklyn , and author of Acts of Forgiveness, Maura Cheeks!   We chat with Maura about her dreams of opening a bookstore, what the opening process entails, how Liz's Book Bar stands out, the book selection process, and how she published her first...

It's time to discuss our March book club pick: Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley! We talk about which timeline we gravitated toward most through the story's 8-year span, the unique relationship dynamic between Percy and Joe, what makes a romance literary, and more!   More Literary Romances Talking at Night by Claire Daverley  Shark Heart by Emily Habeck Normal People by Sally Rooney Beautiful World, Whe...

Music is on our minds (especially with our music-focused March book club pick, Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley ) and so today we're discussing our musical references from different eras of our lives!    You can listen to the full playlist of all of our favorites here .    Obsessions Becca - Duolingo Max Olivia - Jackie and Shadow    What we read this week Olivia - The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark , The...

This week, we asked listeners in our Facebook Group for categories to share our top 3 rankings! We cover (almost) everything, from food to books to pop culture and more!   Food Trader Joe's products Becca - taco seasoning; hold the cone; pastry pups Olivia (Costco remix) - Rotisserie chicken, Costco Pizza, Carbonara Buldak Ramen, Built Bars Fast food orders Becca -McDonald's (Chicken Selects), Sha...

Happy Three Things Day! We missed Three Things in February, and we have some long-overdue topics to discuss. Including our visions for spring, huge book franchises (and the mental toll on their authors), AI, Severance theories, and more!    Olivia's Things Spring Goals  Is Fourth Wing Harry Potter for Adults? What's going on with the White Lotus?    Becca's Things Chat GBT and AI Assistants Rebecc...

February has flown, and it's time for book club! We're excited to discuss Isola by Allegra Goodman , a polarizing pick within the pod. We're covering our expectations before reading, the pacing, how we'd handle the scenarios the characters found themselves in, and more!   Obsessions Becca  - Leopard Adidas x Wales Bonner sneakers   What we read this week Olivia - Saint X by Alexis Schaitkin , Good...

This week, we were inspired by a thread in our Facebook group and are looking back on season 1 of the TV show Younger ! This is Olivia's first watch and a rewatch for Becca, and we're very excited to break down how it reflects the publishing industry, discuss how it portrays authors, talk about the fashion, share if we are on Team Josh or Team Charles, and more!   Obsessions Olivia - Severance Sea...

We're thrilled to interview Chelsea Handler this week! We talk about her forthcoming book: I'll Have What She's Having, coming out on her 50th birthday. She tells us about her reading life (and how she could never date someone who doesn't read), thoughts on aging, and why Jane Fonda gave her notes on one chapter in her book.   Chelsea's book, I'll Have What She's Having is out February 25th and is...

Valentine's Day is around the corner! Romance is in the air! So, we obviously had to find some obscure erotica to get in the spirit. And boy did we find some gems. (Horrors?) Weirdness and NSFW content ahead! (Also, sorry in advance)   Olivia's Pick - Garden Knome Sex Party by Fanny Tucker   Becca's Pick - The Deviled Egg Made Me Do It by Holly Wilde    Obsessions Olivia - My Old Ass Becca - Varia...

It's our first Book Club episode of the year! As tradition dictates, we're starting 2025 with a nonfiction book, Stolen Focus by Johann Hari .    We discuss our overall thoughts on the book, its major themes, how it connects to current events, and our evolving relationships to social media, reading, multitasking, focus, and more! We also ponder if we would go on a 3-month trip without using intern...

Get ready to build up your 2025 TBR because we're chatting with some of our bookish friends about the upcoming releases they're excited to read this year!    Alyssa Morris's picks - The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig , Misdirected by Lucy Parker | Her newsletter is Romancing the Phone   Michelle Martin's picks - The Colony by Annika Norlin (out 3/25), The Antidote by Karen Russell (out 3/11)...

It's been a while since our last Three Things episode! We can't wait to discuss what's been on our minds lately, from pop culture to books to productivity.    Olivia's Things Best of 2024 Fave TV Shows - The Diplomat , Nobody Wants This Best Song - The Bolter by Taylor Swift , Right Back to It by Waxahatchee Best Trip - Maine, Portland and Chicago Best Days - Maine and SABI release day Best Purcha...

Happy 2025! We're back from our break and we're so excited about this fresh start, and with fresh starts come fresh goals! This week, we're reflecting on our 2024 goals and share our personal and professional goals for 2025.    Obsessions Oliva: The Lullaby Club Becca: Settlers of Catan   What we read this week Olivia - Sweet Fury by Sash Bischoff, Blob: A Love Story by Maggie Su (Out Jan 28), The...

As 2024 comes to a close, we're excited to celebrate with our best books of the year episode! We share our top 10 lists, and listen to voicemails about your favorite books of the year. See ya in 2025!    Olivia Sharkheart by Emily Habeck Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra  Long Bright River by Liz Moore The God of the Woods by Liz Moore The Husbands by Holly Gramazio Good Material by Dolly Alderton Mad...

We weren't sure what to get you for the holidays this year, so we thought we'd gift you the best present in our sack (ha), a holiday-themed edition of obscure erotica. We scoured Kindle Unlimited to find the absolute most unhinged smut for your enjoyment—there are sexy Santas, engorged elves, and so many female protagonists named Holly. Get in the sleigh, we're going somewhere absolutely unhinged!...

It's our last book club of 2024! We're so excited to discuss Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten . It was the comfort read we needed this month, and we were surprised by how much we didn't know about her!    Obsessions Becca - The Nanny on Peacock Olivia - Disclaimer on Apple TV   What we read this week Becca -  The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V E Schwab , Cruel Winter With You by Al...