YA Book Club: The Taking of Jake Livingston by Ryan Douglass

July 31, 2021 Mary & Emily

Hello, YA Book Club-ers! It’s time for some back-to-school reading! This month, we’ve tackled The Taking of Jake Livingston by Ryan Douglass. The novel follows Jake, a high school student blessed (or cursed?) with the ability to see spirits. He’s made peace with his life as a medium, but when the ghost of Sawyer Doon, a school shooter, begins following him around town, things get dicey fast. This novel is about coping with personal trauma, finding yourself, and learning how to make the most of what you’ve got.

We’re going to spoil stuff from here on out! CW: This book discusses suicide, sexuality, and sexual abuse.

The Bachelorette S17E8: Your Opinion is Wrong

July 30, 2021 Susan & Emily

It’s that time of the season! It’s the MEN TELL ALL! That episode where the men tell some things, yell at each other, and remind us of who they are before we see them again on the beaches in Bachelor in Paradise. Are you ready for this?

Well, you gotta wait. Because first we have to deal with some Michael drama.

Gossip Girl S1E3: Lies Wide Shut

July 28, 2021 Kelli & Emily

Hey, purveyors of the world wide web—Gossip Girl here. What do you get when you mix the romantic lives of rich parents and the premiere of a Jeremy O. Harris play? Mess. That’s what. Read on for our thoughts on last week’s episode, but don’t forget: no eating, speaking, or direct eye contact will be tolerated.

Othersode #56: Uber for Rooms / WeWork: Or the Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn

July 26, 2021 The Squad

MV5BMzQ0YmM2NGEtYWUzYS00NDc1LTk4NWUtMmY2ZWMyM2FmN2FiXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMDM2NDM2MQ@@._V1_.jpg — Othersode #56: Uber for Rooms / *WeWork: Or the Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn*

It’s time to work till you drop! Just kidding, we’re not about that life. But we are all about discussing the new documentary *WeWork: Or the Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn.* We are joined by special guest “Nicole,” who has some real-life experience with WeWork, to talk about hustle culture, cult-like workplaces, toxic positivity, and the many things that went wrong with WeWork. Next we get into some listener feedback and catch up with what’s on the blog, including Bachelorette recaps, Gossip Girl recaps, and more. Read along with us for our next Bookpisode on *Malibu Rising* by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Then watch Dev Patel in *The Green Knight* for our next Othersode, featuring special guests Mac and Zoe from *The Maniculum* podcast! Don’t forget to rate, review, subscribe, and send us your feedback on this or any other episode!

Click through for summary, table of contents, and show notes!

The Bachelorette S17E7: Eating My Way to Her Heart

July 25, 2021 Susan & Emily

It’s getting real, people. Hometowns are next week, which means all these dudes’ families are quarantining nearby. Will Greg’s second one-on-one seal his fate as the frontrunner? Will Mike P. cuddle his way into Katie’s heart before it’s too late? Will Blake insult an artist’s self portrait of her vagina right to her face? Read on to find out!

Gossip Girl S1E2: She's Having a Maybe

July 21, 2021 Kelli & Emily

SPOTTED: A group of high school teachers who look to be the same age as their students, if not younger. It’s parent-teacher conference time, Upper East Siders. And for some reason I, Gossip Girl, care about parent-teacher conferences. Could it be because I am a teacher? That’s one secret I’ll never tell. You know you love me. XOXO Kate Keller. I mean Gossip Girl.

Emily: So as we get into the second episode of this Gossip Girl reboot, I think we’re getting a better idea of what this show is and isn’t going to be. And that would be a great thing to explore this week on the blog. The first episode sets up the show, its characters, and the storylines. But the second episode starts to set our expectations. We’re learning the rules of this world and how the characters are going to exist in it. We’re learning about what’s important to these people. I for one feel like I have a firmer grasp on the show’s trajectory. At least for now. If this series is anything like the original, it will go off the rails sooner rather than later.

Survive the Book: Mary and Emily Read Riley Sager

July 20, 2021 Mary & Emily

Wow, do we have a treat for readers today. On a recent road trip (to see the rest of the Squad!), Emily and Mary listened to the new book by Riley Sager, Survive the Night. The novel focuses on Charlie Jordan, who needs to get out of town as quickly as possible following the death of her roommate and best friend, Maddie. Charlie uses a rideshare bulletin board (oh yeah, it’s 1991) to find Josh, a lonely college student looking for a companion on a road trip of his own. Charlie quickly begins to question if Josh could be the infamous Campus Killer as she plots her escape.

(Spoilers for Survive the Night to follow.)

The Bachelorette S17E6: Operation WOWO

July 15, 2021 Susan & Emily

What’s hotter than a day in the New Mexican desert? Trying not to touch yourself for a whole week while you live in close quarters with 10 other people! Oh, and a “roast”—those are heated too, right? Read on to find out if this week’s episode had us all hot and bothered or just left us feeling like we need to throw up in the middle of a group date. Let’s go!

Gossip Girl S1E1: Just Another Girl on the MTA

July 14, 2021 Kelli & Emily

these outfits are a collective crime against humanity

Hey Upper Eastsiders. Gossip Girl here. You thought I was gone, didn’t you? Well… I’m back. And I’m now publishing exclusively on BSG. It’s where all of the cool rich teens hang out. It’s basically the Dumbo of the internet.

Just kidding. We know that was a really convincing impression of the voice and general essence of THE Gossip Girl, but it’s actually just Emily and Kelli here to provide you with recaps of HBO Max’s Gossip Girl, a reboot of/sequel to the original show, which aired on the CW from 2007 to 2012 for six godforsaken seasons. If you’re thinking, there’s a Gossip Girl reboot/refresh/sequel?, fear not. We’re here to get you all caught up.

(Spoilers for episode one to follow, as well as spoilers for the original GG.)