Handbook Podcast

We did it! We have finished the end of Cocky Surgeon, by Faleena Hopkins. Cockygate is almost at an end! Does Caden get to come back to Atlanta? Does Janet get....what....she....deserves? We discuss how preachy this book gets (there's a lot of preachiness at the end) and even discuss Faleena's 7 tips on writing romance and if they are actually used in this book. And truly, this book gets the ending it deserves in this episode. Follow us on Twitter | Facebook | Facebook Group Music this season: "The Porn King" by The Funky Filter

Have we hit an actual stride of good chapters? We have at least hit some drama and a time jump! Get ready to jump into Chicago's medical world. Does Caden get super cocky and start sleeping with someone new? Does Elizabeth wander around without any purpose? Do we figure out why Janet is the apparent bad guy? Who knows! But we definitely make dick jokes. Follow us on Twitter | Facebook | Facebook Group Music this season: "The Porn King" by The Funky Filter

Meg and Elle are back with several new chapters! We read chapters 19-23 of Cocky Surgeon, which led to so many new observations about Hopkins's writing. Instead of cats, we try to figure out if smirking penises are euphemisms for something, how doctor residencies actually work, and whether or not the author sticks with one theme throughout all 18 books. Chapter 19 - How old are you when you learn your last name? Chapter 20 - weird sex and workout routines Chapter 21 - in which we have an entire chapter dedicated to tetanus shots and stitches Chapter 22 - The author proves she doesn't understand residencies Elle also goes on a rant about Twilight after recently rewatching the series! Follow us on Twitter | Facebook | Facebook Group Music this season: "The Porn King" by The Funky Filter

This week Elle and Meg read chapters 12-15 of Cocky Surgeon! We were going to talk about the court case this episode, but too much ridiculousness happens in this book that we had to talk about these chapters. But you know what doesn't happen? Sex. Elle comes up with the best game to make this book actually interesting, and spoiler: it doesn't involve just drinking more. We also try to remember anything about the Cocker family from week to week and try to make sense of what the plot of this story is. Follow us on Twitter | Facebook | Facebook Group Music this week: "The Porn King" by The Funky Filter

Elle and Meghan are back with some....pretty boring chapters honestly. And when there isn't a lot of sex, they definitely find other things to talk about. And there are still plenty of things to wonder what the heck the author was talking about in these chapters. Discussed this episode: cold brew coffee, breakfast teas, new adult romance/erotica books, healthy relationships, is Janet the hero of this book? Is Dev? and who impregnated Sonic?? Follow us on Twitter | Facebook | Facebook Group Music this week: "The Porn King" by The Funky Filter

Meghan and Elle officially take on #cockygate! And what we realized was the #cockygate is only the small problem of a much larger to do. We read the sample of Cocky Roomie, Meghan complains about Atlanta knowledge, Elle does some dramatically wonderful readings of the book, and we keep repeating the phrases "moist ash" and "lemonade shower." Join us next Thursday as we dive further into the whole #cockygate scandal, including Kindle, #TiffanyGate, and plenty more. Note: The show music has been removed as the owner has requested it not be used in podcasts. We will be putting together new music soon! Follow us on Twitter | Facebook | Facebook Group

Elle and Meghan are back to wrap up A Handbook for Mortals! You think you are sick of it and haven't heard everything? You are very wrong. Elle rewrites a few sentences and makes them beautiful, we talk about word choices throughout the book, the descriptions of Mac and his clothing, and whether or not we should call Las Vegas shows to see if they'll let us audition in front of the entire cast and crew! Join us next Thursday to talk about the second half of this book, and listen to us name the new podcast! Also, go vote for what book we should read next! Note: The show music has been removed as the owner has requested it not be used in podcasts. We will be putting together new music for the new season! Follow us on Twitter | Facebook | Facebook Group

THERE ARE STAR WARS SPOILERS IN THIS EPISODE — SPOILER ALERTS FOR THE LAST JEDI. Meghan and James read the preview of Book 2 that comes with this book. We are immediately thrown into the end of Book 1 (why wasn't this just part of the ending? Who knows.) The preview comes with a side of transphobia or queer-phobia, which leads to a discussion of whether or not Aunt Aldyth is embracing his femininity for witchy reasons or other reasons. We discuss the concept of destiny as a plot device, and what we think will happen in book 2 (if it is actually released.) We also briefly go through the acknowledgment section where James is given a shock, we discuss how this female empowerment book has acknowledgments to a man who has been accused of sexual harassment, and to authors whose names are not worth being spell checked. Also the Oscars speech. We are going to take a week off to regroup and breathe before we start up whatever we are going to read next! So join us when we come back on April 22nd! Follow us on Twitter | Facebook | Facebook Group Thank you to BenSound for our theme music!

We discuss the penultimate episode! Zade is awake, so let's see how life is. Has she picked between Mac and Jackson? Is Jackson still around? Does she ask permission to take memories (man we talk a lot about this.) There's is one more cliffhanger in the last chapter, which we briefly discuss what James thinks is going to happen! Join us on April 1st for the finale chapter! We are going to read the entire chapter on air and give our thoughts. And don't forget to go rate and review our podcast! Follow us on Twitter | Facebook | Facebook Group Thank you to BenSound for our theme music!

Meghan and James are back to discuss chapter 18: The Chariot! We discuss tarot (AGAIN for the love of god), a little about chaos magic, and a LOT about how the relationship between beliefs and magic and magical systems. We discuss a lot about Max's personality, the concept of consent (and how we the podcast hosts are pro-consent even with the book isn't), and how obnoxious this book is about telling things rather than showing, and how to say the word "athame" (which after a google search, has so many options!) Join us on March 19th for Chapter 19! Follow us on Twitter | Facebook | Facebook Group Thank you to BenSound for our theme music!

*Please note that the first 40 minutes are the hosts discussing a recent interview the author of Handbook for Mortals did, as well as the Amazon review scandal. You are welcome to skip over this (to 40:36) as we did say we wouldn't discuss the scandal, and yet we did.* (I also promise it's not me just making groaning sounds for 40 minutes. I will also say that me assuming there are no comics that look like Spider-Man is me getting yell-y and blind sighted.) We discuss chapter 16, Justice, aka the chapter where we have to keep reminding Zade's parents that their child is actually dying. They keep flirting and talking about how much they love each other WHILE THEIR CHILD LAYS DYING. We also discuss that Charles protests too much about his daughter that we just can't quite believe there is nothing going on, James keeps getting grossed out by the book, Meghan tries to explain a "soft no," which leads to James getting even more grossed out! Join us on March 5th for Chapter 17! Follow us on Twitter | Facebook | Facebook Group Thank you to BenSound for our theme music!

While we pretty much agreed on no guests for the first season, we couldn't pass up an opportunity to talk to someone who attended Lani Sarem's panel a few weeks ago! Amanda was amazing enough to come on the show and talk to us about what the author addressed in the panel! While we discuss our thoughts and opinions on the author's stance on a few things, Amanda is incredibly objectable, we loved having her on the podcast! Amanda's Website | Amanda's Twitter Join us on February 12th for a special episode, and February 19th for Chapter 15! Follow us on Twitter | Facebook | Facebook Group Thank you to BenSound for our theme music!

This chapter brings out some BDSM jokes, some discussion of why on earth a boss would get so involved in an employee's relationship — without her knowledge — what tense this book is in, how it's probably not a great idea to date a guy who insults your heritage and religion, and if your knee pops when you kiss a guy.... see a doctor. Join us on February 5th as we discuss Chapter 14! Follow us on Twitter | Facebook | Facebook Group Thank you to BenSound for our theme music!