Buckle up for our most brutally honest episode yet as we tackle "In the Dark I See You" by Malika Narayanan—a thriller that had us cranking our audiobook speed to maximum just to reach the finish line.

What starts as a seemingly intriguing premise—a blind woman named Audrey discovers her neighbor Sarah's dead body—quickly devolves into a labyrinth of confusing timelines, meaningless cliffhangers, and plot threads that lead absolutely nowhere. We break down why this particular thriller left us both with matching low star ratings and wondering where the actual thrills were hiding.

The story jumps between "Audrey's perspective" and "Sarah's perspective" across multiple timelines spanning from "present day" to various points in the past. We navigate through neighborhood break-ins, an elaborate embezzlement subplot, mysterious surveillance operations, and supposed romantic entanglements—all while trying to piece together what any of it has to do with the central murder mystery.

Between Audrey's peculiar dirt-eating habit, an inexplicable listening device installed in Sarah's closet, and detectives who seem more interested in proving Audrey guilty than solving the crime, we're left increasingly baffled as the story unfolds. When the major twist finally arrives—that Audrey and Sarah are actually the same person—it's less of an "aha!" moment and more of an exasperated "really?"

Despite our disappointment, we find moments of humor in our shared confusion and even offer our fantasy casting suggestions should anyone dare to adapt this story for the screen. Join us as we demonstrate that even passionate book lovers sometimes encounter reads that just aren't their cup of tea—and that's perfectly okay.

Support the show

Editing done by Connor Luther @clfilms.co
Music by @thundercatlouis
Merch Here

Ever found yourself debating whether listening to an audiobook "counts" as reading? You're not alone. Our latest Book Bites episode dives deep into the fascinating divide between audiobooks and physical reading, revealing how our brains process information in surprisingly different ways.

Susie and Kylee sit on opposite ends of the reading spectrum – one connects more deeply through audiobooks, while the other needs the physical page to truly absorb a story. This fundamental difference leads to a fascinating conversation about how we each uniquely process information.

The discussion covers everything from narrators who make or break audiobooks (with strong opinions on certain Irish accents!), to which genres work better in audio format versus text. Non-fiction and books with extensive character lists often shine as audiobooks, while complex fantasy with intricate worldbuilding might benefit from the ability to flip back pages for reference. Speed listeners will appreciate the debate on whether 1.5x or 2x is the sweet spot for audiobook consumption.

What emerges most clearly? There's no wrong way to enjoy literature. So tell us – are you Team Audiobook, Team Physical Book, or happily enjoying both worlds? Your brain might just be wired for one more than the other!

Support the show

Editing done by Connor Luther @clfilms.co
Music by @thundercatlouis
Merch Here

We dive into "More Than Life" by Bethany Finger, a YA historical fantasy that follows Lady Cordelia Kimball as she loses everything after her father's death and discovers a hidden world of magic, curses, and her own mysterious origins.

• Cordelia (Delia) must adapt to life as a common worker at an inn after losing her status as a lady
• Jazz, a mysterious man with a magical ability that makes him forgettable, is secretly on a mission connected to Delia
• Their growing relationship is complicated by Jazz's curse and Delia's lack of knowledge about her own magical heritage
• The world contains magical elements including Hagens (cursed to be forgotten), Sidons (fish-like people), and demigods
• Delia discovers she has water magic and is connected to an ancient island with an elixir of immortality
• The novel reveals both characters have been living with false histories and are "soul-fated" to each other
• The story ends on a cliffhanger
If you enjoyed this discussion, don't forget to follow us on Instagram where we share more book recommendations and occasionally receive fun items from authors like the bookmark and signed page we got from Bethanie!

Support the show

Editing done by Connor Luther @clfilms.co
Music by @thundercatlouis
Merch Here