On this episode, the Buddies return to their YA roots with Marie Lu's 2011 dystopian novel "Legend". This one had all the elements of a classic YA novel, enemies to lovers, some love triangles, and of course a story that focuses on 15-year-olds that are the smartest people alive, Olympic-level athletes, AND models. The Buddies got to chatting about the difference between sociopath/psychopath/masochist, ChatGPT writing books, and the importance of not wearing jewelry/accessories. So, leave your neckless at home, but practice your Spider-Man climbing skills, and join the other Legends that listen to this pod, better known as Buddies.

Intro/Book Report (0:00-3:01)

Stock Up/Down (3:02-33:21)

Favorite Scene/Character (33:22-38:12)

Love/Hate (38:13-48:11)

Conclusion/Casting (48:12-52:07)

NEXT BOOK: Executive Power by Vince Flynn

The Buddies return with Fredrik Backman's 2025 novel "My Friends," their second dive into Backman's work after "Anxious People." They get to chatting about art snobs, nicknames, train conductor, and how this books first draft was originally was way more depressing. The Buddies try to bring some levity to this one (and some much-needed revenge on specific parents). Like the book this one is filled with a bunch of ups and downs. So, fill out your postcards, imagine you are 14 again (you’ll need it for our sense of humor), and join us along with all of our other Buddies, or as we like to call them “My Friends”.

Intro (0:00-4:11)

Stock Up/Down (4:12-38:32)

Favorite Scene/Character (38:33-42:11)

Love/Hate/Lingering Questions (42:12-53:08)

Conclusion/Casting (53:08-57:26)

NEXT BOOK: Legend by Marie Lu

The Buddies are back for their sixth rodeo with Pierce Brown's "Light Bringer," the final book in the second Red Rising trilogy (before the 7th book). The Buddies needed some cliff notes to remember what happened in this one (it was a lot). The gang discusses Mission Impossible/Scooby-Doo mask reveals, and how Atlas has been playing 4D chess while everyone else was playing checkers. There's also talk of self-help books, Darrow having an identity crisis, and Virginia actually getting to do cool Mustang things instead of just being stuck in meetings. So grab your 35-hour audiobook stamina, practice remembering approximately 847 character names, and join the Buddies as we contemplate life until Red God comes out.

Intro/Book Summary (0:00-5:37)

Stock Up/Down (5:38-32:12)

Favorite Scene/Character (32:13-36:25)

Love/Hate (36:26-50:45)

Conclusion (50:46-55:36)

NEXT BOOK: My Friends by Fredrik Backman

The Buddies are back to continue their "summer saga series" (say that 10 times fast) with Pierce Brown's "Dark Age," the fifth book in the Red Rising universe and second in the Iron Gold trilogy. This new trilogy is basically Game of Thrones in space, but with more creative ways to die. The Buddies got to discussing summer camps, habituation, the Black Knight from Mondy Python, and how this book made the battle of Helm’s deep blush. That and much more. So grab your anti-radiation meds, practice your habituation techniques (you'll need them), and join the Buddies as they navigate a book where Mercury finally gets some respect and literally everyone you like probably dies!

Intro/Book Summary (0:00-4:29)

Stock Up/Down (4:30-44:23)

Favorite Scene/Character (44:24-50:23)

Love/Hate (50:24-58:59)

Conclusion (59:00-1:02:02)

NEXT BOOK: Light Bringer (Red Rising Book 6) by Pierce Brown

The Buddies are back from their extended hiatus (sorry vacations, bats, and constipation got in the way) to tackle Pierce Brown's "Iron Gold," the fourth book in his Red Rising series. The first trilogy currently sits #1 in both Keith and Dman’s rankings, so big expectations for this one. The Buddies got to revisit their old friends Darrow, Severo, Mustang, and many more along with some new friends as well. Did Iron Gold meet the Buddies high standards? Well, you’ll just have to listen to find out. So, grab your razor, practice your "Hail Reaper" salute (but maybe not in public), and join the Buddies as they navigate Pierce Brown's expanded universe of morally questionable heroes and volume-inconsistent narrators!

Intro (0:00-3:13)

Stock Up/Down (3:14-34:25)

Favorite Scene/Character (34:26-41:40)

Love/Hate (41:41-50:36)

Conclusion (50:37-53:25)

NEXT BOOK: Dark Age (Red Rising Book 5) by Pierce Brown

The Buddies tackled Bill Belichick's "The Art of Winning" with the religious devotion only Patriots fans can muster. The Buddies got to chatting about why selfish players are actually fine, the tragic lack of insider Patriots secrets, and whether comparing NFL salary caps to office vlookups should be a crime. They also debated who should play Belichick in a biopic (Dennis Quaid vs. Randy Quaid, depending on how crazy things get). So grab your tattered hoodie, your "I f*cked that up" attitude, and join us as we read through the Greatest Coach of All-Time's new book.

Intro/Book Report (0:00-3:58)

Stock Up/Down (3:59-27:21)

Praise/Lack of acknowledgements (27:22-33:47)

Love/Hate (33:48-40:37)

Casting the Movie/Biopic (40:38-42:35)

Conclusion (42:36-45:00)

NEXT BOOK: Iron Gold by Pierce Brown

The Buddies hit the waves with Taylor Jenkins Reid's "Malibu Rising". If you enjoy family drama with deadbeat dads, cocaine platters, and specialty seafood sandwiches that sound absolutely disgusting, this book is for you! The Buddies got to chatting about sympathizing with terrible fathers (because of diet failures), the economics of therapy vs. longboards, salmon polo shirts, and whether almonds taste like vanilla. So grab your longboard, your three model-looking siblings, and join us as we blaze through Malibu Rising.

Intro/Book Report (0:00-2:50)

Stock Up/Down (2:51-32:49)

Favorite Scene/Character (32:50-40:20)

Love/Hate (40:21-46:44)

Lingering Questions/Casting the Movie (46:45-48:59)

Conclusion (49:00-52:21)

NEXT BOOK: The Art of Winning by Bill Belichick

The Buddies made their way to Brooklyn for Freda McFadden's thriller, "The Housemaid”. If you enjoy psychological thrillers with questionable characters, glaring red flags, and DIY dental work, this book is for you! The Buddies got to chatting about driving a great car (namely a 2011 Nissan Sentra), torture, Family Feud, gaslighting, and much more. So join us as we chat about The Housemaid (coming to theatres this Christmas).

Intro/Book Report (0:00-1:47)

Stock Up/Down (1:48-27:07)

Favorite Scene/Character (27:08-33:42)

Love/Hate (33:43-39:43)

Casting the Movie (39:44-44:46)

Conclusion (44:47-46:50)

NEXT BOOK: Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid