If you’re watching this episode and you think we’re being held hostage, put down the phone. We moved into a new Joop studio, and we brought our commentary on The Gift of the Magi with us. We’re back from Florida with the bee stings, sunburns, and good retirement vibes to prove it. We delve into what we consumed on our various plane rides. Molly read two new romantasies, Arcana Academy by Elise Kova and Dire Bound by Sable Sorensen (sure). Claire finally watched Fever Pitch and The Social Network. We also met a new AI frenemy at writing class.

This episode features Ireland as a silent third host. We read St. Patrick’s day short stories we’ve written, inspired by the Emerald Isle herself, and are generally pale and freckled. We show unbelievable restraint with accents, mostly deployed to mock the English. And, as always, we catch up on recent culture and content consumption, including the Traitors finale, Bridgerton part two, Square Waves by Alexandra Romanoff, and School Spirits season 3.

First of all, head to YouTube to see Molly’s latest hat. She may be auditioning for the next season of White Lotus, or the next adaptation of Clueless. This week, we clock in on various casting announcements, including Beach Read and Every Year After. We also roast the hairstyling on Traitors and a troubling trend we’re noticing at boutique fitness classes. Finally, we workshop passages from our drafts and try to find the magic of Christmas.