Pergola Worthy

It’s tequila. It’s pergolas. It’s slow burns and snark.

On this episode of Romance on the Rocks, Nicole Danielle and Meghan Leigh dive into two contemporary romantic comedies while attempting to keep their cocktails (and themselves) upright.

Meghan read is It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey. It's a grumpy-sunshine, small-town romance where an LA party girl lands in a Washington fishing town and collides with a stoic boat captain who proves love is shown, not just said. We discuss bar makeovers, sister loyalty, the deeply relatable fear of being someone’s “pot pie,” and why every woman deserves to feel absolutely, undeniably pergola worthy.

Nicole takes us to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina with Book Lovers by Emily Henry — an enemies-to-lovers slow burn between two sharp-tongued publishing pros who may or may not both be the “villain” in someone else’s Hallmark fantasy. Expect banter, ambition, small-town tension, and a quietly intimate fragrance moment that hits harder than you’d think.

Along the way we spiral about:
• Cherry Bounce vs. Manhattans
• Coffee tequila and pickleback decisions
• Audiobooks vs. physical reads
• The art of demonstrative love
• And whether we are, in fact, finally “drunk enough” for the listeners

Oh — and the Boobie Prize? Let’s just say a new podcast record is set. You’ll have to listen to find out how early it happens.

If you love grumpy-sunshine, enemies-to-lovers, slow burns, small-town vibes, sister stories, and cocktails with your book chat, this episode is for you.

Like, subscribe, and follow. We promise chaos, banter, and at least one strong opinion per drink.

Meghan's Book & Beverage: It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey with a shot of Coffee Tequila and a Pickleback (Pickle juice chaser)

Nicole's Book & Beverage:  Book Lovers by Emily Henry with a Cherry Bounce

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Transcript

Nicole:

Hello, I'm Nicole Danielle. 

Meghan:

And I'm Meghan Leigh. And this is Romance on the Rocks, where two bookish biddies imbibe and discuss the romance novels they are currently reading for their pick a number, like Lotto system.  I love it. I love it. And we picked numbers and we got these. 

Nicole:

And what are we drinking this evening, Meghan?  The most important question of them all. 

Meghan:

Oh boy. I'm going to let you go first on this one because mine's a production. 

Nicole:

Oh. Okay.  Well, in my book, Book Lovers by Emily Henry, they start off with a meeting where they have lunch and they drink Manhattans. Um, I'm going to tell you, as much as I like bourbon, I could not bring myself to drink a Manhattan because to me it tastes like an ashtray. 

Meghan:

That was my grandfather's drink of choice, was a Manhattan.  I hate Vermouth. I really, really do. But after my grandpa passed away, what I did to honor him was make myself a nice Manhattan and walk up to Holy Hill and drink a Manhattan at the top to honor him. And…

Nicole:

Which was very nice. 

Meghan:

It was very nice as a thought concept. My tongue did not agree. My taste buds were protesting. Yes. Um, but yeah, okay, so you're not doing a Manhattan. Okay.

Nicole:

And then also in this book, her sister is pregnant and they're in North Carolina for a little adventure. So, I went to the North Carolina section of the ABC store. Because unlike in Wisconsin and other parts of the country, Meghan, you have to go to a separate store to buy your hard liquor here in North Carolina. So, I went to the North Carolina section at the ABC store, and I was like, what do we got? And they had alcoholic pickles. And I was like, well, pregnant girl probably would have been craving some pickles. So, I was like, maybe I'll do something with alcoholic pickles. And then I was like, no. 

Meghan:

Okay, this is a whole lot of what you're not drinking, Nicole. 

Nicole:
 And so, then I was like, you know what? There is nothing more iconic in North Carolina than cheer wine. And there is a special cocktail that we can make with cheer wine or other things here in North Carolina. And it is called the Cherry Bounce.

Meghan:

Oh, yeah, yeah. We do cherry bounce by me as well, because I'm Dor County and we are known for cherries. So cherry bounce is a big thing up here, too.

Nicole:

Here's the problem, Megan. I have already drank all the cheer wine and made all the cheer wine cherry bounces that I was going to drink this evening just from our pre-recording producing things. So now I am drinking my cherry bounce with cherry vodka cherries and also some Dr. Pepper cherry now.

Meghan:

I was going to vote for you decided to man up and do the Manhattan, or you were going to do something cherry with a pickle in it. So, I mean, whatever.

Nicole:

No, thank you. But if we're talking about drinks that one should drink, if they're going to read Book Lovers by Emily Henry, I would like to just take a quick moment to throw out a few cocktail suggestions for people reading this book. Number one would be Manhattan's, obviously, because that's what they drink. Number two would be the Cherry Bounce. Number three would be, and bear with me, I'll explain it in a hot second. Coors Light, because they drink some Coors Lights during the course of this story. 

However, I'm gonna one-up the coors light and take it to a Carolina level. We have a lovely Carolina beer company here that is in the area vicinity where the majority of this book takes place, up in Asheville, North Carolina, and it is Highland Brewing Company. And since moving here, I have discovered that I love them. And so, I would suggest their golden uh beer, or I would suggest their Gaelic beer. And I think either one would pair appropriately, and I would say it would be a hell of a lot better than Coors. 

Meghan:

Coors feels very college to me. 

Nicole:

There's a reason that they drank it in this book, but I'm gonna say if you're gonna go full North Carolina, full Asheville area, you're gonna want some some Highland Brewing Company. And they have not disappointed me at all. So, what are you drinking?

Meghan:

My book is It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey. And there is a scene in this book where the main character, Piper, it is so cringy…I feel so bad for her…she thinks she's going to a fun party and stops at the bar and gets a tray of shots. And before she even walks into the party, is like doing the shots. And as she walks into the party, she just shouts like shots, everyone! And she's doing these shots. And this party is not what she expected it to be. And it's one of those, if it had been me and I had walked in, I would have left town forever. I mean, it was just brutal. So, in honor of Piper and that brutal moment.

Nicole:

Oh no, don't do a shot. No. Oh no. I how are you still doing it this at our age?

This is a terrible idea. 

Meghan:

Not really. So, here's the problem with this, and this is why it's a production, my friends. Typically, if I do myself a tequila shot, I'm doing a pickleback. For those of you who don't know, a pickleback is then a shot of pickle juice to try and counteract the fact that you just did some tequila. My biggest issue here is the only tequila in the house is the coffee tequila. 

Nicole:

Oh, girl, no! 

Meghan:

So, wish me luck as I am about to embark on a stomach curdling adventure in honor of Piper. 

Nicole:

Why would you do this? 

Meghan:

I really liked this book, and I am gonna put my body on the line. So, my loves, this is the two cups clinking together. This is the coffee tequila, followed by a pickleback. I love you all. Tell my husband that it's been a good time. 

Nicole:

Bury you with Dark of the Moon. 

Meghan:

Bury me with Dark of the Moon.  Wheel me in late. I need to be late for my own funeral. Here we go. Love you all. 

Nicole:

No. No! I oh. 

Meghan:

We done did it, my friends. We'll see how long we're standing. 

Nicole:

Or before your stomach rebels.

Meghan:

Oh yeah. Woo! 

Nicole:

I now feel like I should have done the pregnancy pickle drink. I'm not pregnant, people, by the way…so.

Meghan:

But uh I would have welcomed you with the pickles. Anyway, welcome folks to a place where we drink cocktails and talk about romance novels. If you haven't subscribed, I feel like my little antic there really uh it deserves some subscribes.

Nicole:

Also, we do have a drinking game online too. Just go to our website and sign up. But uh

let's see if Meghan can get through her book because you're up first. I need to see if you can go through this book without yakking at this point.

Meghan:

Yeah, I was also pre-gaming. So, we have the added bonus of the fact that Nicole and I have been already talking for about 45 minutes to an hour prior to this, and I was at a holiday party for a nonprofit that I volunteer for, and alcohol was involved. So, whoop buddy, here we go.

Also, we were told recently by some listeners that we are not drunk enough nearly for these podcast episodes. This episode may change things.

Nicole:

We're just trying to make the listeners happy. That's all we're trying to make. 

Meghan:

All right, kids. I had a book called It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey. I pulled this as the second book in our pick a number, and I'm thrilled that I did. I enjoyed this. This is a book that was published in 2021, and here is our premise. Piper Bellinger is a socialite in LA. And at 28 years old, she's made the rounds as a well-known party girl, but she's starting to kind of age out of the scene. Unfortunately for her, she really hasn't had her eye on any other vocation. And at the beginning of the book, I assumed I was going to be highly annoyed with her character.

Um, she seemed vapid and shallow. In fact, a lot of it kind of reminded me, for those of you who are my age, Nicole's age, it kind of reminded me of when Paris Hilton was all the rage. It seemed kind of like that. 

Nicole:

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 

Meghan:

And again, Paris Hilton, lovely woman, but that's not how she was portrayed at the time. 

Nicole:

Yeah. 

Meghan:

So, there you go. I was more than pleasantly surprised to find that her character was written in such a way that I actually found her funny and charming and very sincere. She seemed maybe a little stunted emotionally, like growth-wise, at the beginning of the book, but she definitely grew as the chapters went on, or maybe not even like grew necessarily, but found the space to let her guard down and have her actual strengths show. Initially, she's trying to maintain her socialite crown. On the heels of a very public breakup, she throws this banger of a gathering by breaking into a local ritzy club and throwing an after-hours party at the rooftop pool. Gets wildly out of control with a lot of other wealthy, well-known youngins attending.

Nicole:

I don't see the problem with this. It sounds amazing.

Meghan:

I mean, it sounds like a really good time. And she seemed like she had a great time. So did the people attending. It pulled a lot of attention from all the media of the day. And again, reminds me going back, maybe, you know, E extra. That kind of stuff where they're really focusing on the people who are the scene makers of the time. She quickly gets arrested for this quote unquote prank. Her stepfather, Daniel, is less than pleased with her antics and basically decides to send her off to a small coastal town in Washington State so she can learn a lesson with hard work and to take time away from the spotlight. 

As the story goes, her birth father passed away when she was just a child, leaving behind an older building in Westport, Washington. And in it is a pub. Piper's stepfather Daniel is like, “you need to go and learn work ethic. I have been paying for your lifestyle, and clearly it is not going well.” Daniel basically tells her, “Hey, you don't know this, but there is this building in Westport, Washington. I've been paying a maintenance guy to take care of it for the last couple decades. It's there, it's standing. Go.” And he just kind of shoos her off. He's like, it's yours to deal with now. You need to leave LA. I am not funding this ridiculousness. 

Piper's sister Hannah decides to join her because she hates the thought of Piper going into exile all by herself. So, the two girls end up in Westport, ready to live out three to four months of exile, because Daniel is like, you get the whole summer, learn how to deal by yourself. Their whole thing is, we're gonna get through this, we're gonna get back to LA ASAP, it'll be fine. 

Enter our MMC, Brendan Taggart. Brendan is a local fisherman who owns his own boat, captains a small crew harvesting fish and crabs on the ocean. He is uh stoic, comes across as kind of an asshole at first. In fact, uh Piper's first thought when she meets him is quote, “uh who the fuck even was this douche?” Which, you know, kind of just described their whole interaction. But as we learn more about Brendan, we realize he's had several years to be in mourning, followed by some romantic and personal tragedy. And he's not really ready for somebody as colorful and bright as Piper to come in and hurricane into his life. 

Basically, it's a lovely, grumpy sunshine trope, and you know I love those. 

Guys, I think the pickleback and the tequila are starting to hit. Because I'm kind of like…

All of this culminates in us watching the two of them figure out how to properly communicate, which, spoiler, he's much better at it than she is, and how to grapple with what others expect compared to what the two of them actually want. There's a lot of attention paid to how social media and peer groups and societal pressures can create these fake bubbles that people live in. And this book does a great job of popping that bubble. 

There's stormy seas, there's misconnections, there's a bar makeover, there's grand gestures, and overall, I just really enjoyed this book. 

Uh, so now some quotes. Quotes, quotes, quotes. Piper and Hannah have just moved into the upper apartment of the bar and have found out it's basically an efficiency with bunk beds. Super not glamorous, and it's disgusting because nobody's lived there in decades. So, it is just covered in dust. Nasty. Hannah, the younger sister, actually spent time cleaning the bathroom. And one of the best quotes was Piper really wanted to make her a special meal as a thank you. And Hannah was trying to say, you don't have to. Piper responds with, “You cleaned the toilet from hell. You've earned dinner and sainthood, as far as I'm concerned.” 

Nicole:

Legit, legit girl. Thank you. 

Meghan:

The younger sister Hannah is super into music and loves collecting records. And the two of them are hanging out. They've had a couple beers and they're just chit-chatting. And Hannah is going off just talking about this local music store she found. Piper's internal monologue. “Leave it to her sister to wax poetic about a record store after too much to drink instead of talking about an ex-boyfriend or a crush.” And I'm like, yep, can relate. 

One of the things I super appreciated about the relationship between Piper and Brendan is I love demonstrative love. Don't tell me that the love is happening. Show me. So, the girls are trying to give this bar a facelift. It's been neglected for decades. And Brendan basically comes in and says, “Hey, in this back garden area, this outdoor space, I think it could really benefit from having a pergola.” And he just comes in one day and starts hauling in wood and starts building it. Just, I think it needs it and he goes for it. 

Nicole:

I love a man of action. 

Meghan:

Yeah. Piper's quote: “This man building her something by hand not only turned her on, but it made her feel coveted, wanted, in a way that wasn't superficial but durable. She was a dusty mess and had been for at least six days. And it didn't seem to matter at all in dirty jogging pants or sequins, she was still pergola worthy.” I was like, that is so great. And I want every woman to feel like she's pergola worthy.

Nicole:

I also just got hugely turned on. I'm like, oh my god, a pergola. 

Meghan:

Right? 

Nicole:

So hot right now.

Meghan:

Pergola worthy. We all need to know that we are pergola worthy.

Nicole:

My god, that was hot. 

Meghan:

Right? 

Nicole:

Plus, a man in sawdust is basically like a man in man glitter.  God, I got super turned on by the…so great. Oh god, I want a man to build me a pergola fuck. 

Meghan:

I'm telling you, I really enjoyed both these characters. Early on, you get a scene where the two of them are having a lunch together. They're out at uh a local restaurant. He ends up with the pot pie. And he even tells her, “I don't know if this is really gonna be my thing. Typically, when I'm here, I order fish and chips.” And so, he orders the pot pie, he has a couple bites, and she can tell he doesn't really love it. It's not what he wishes he ordered, but he keeps going. And she's like, “if you don't really like it, you don't have to keep eating it.” And he's like, “No, no, I got it, so, I'm committed now and I have to keep going.” And later on in the book, she kind of worries, what if she's like that? What if it's like he If she's a pot pie? 

Nicole:

Yeah. 

Meghan:

Yeah. What if he started and now, he feels like, well, I gotta keep going? And she actually says the line, Nicole, what you just said. She goes, “What if I'm pot pie?” I was just like, that is so, first of all, adorable, but also so relatable from a perspective of somebody just going, like, oh my God, I don't, I don't want to be that thing that you feel like you have to deal with. 

Nicole:

Yeah. 

Meghan:

Yeah. What if I'm pot pie? You don't have to finish a pot pie if you don't want to. It's like heavy. So those were my favorite things. Just like, what if I'm pot pie, which was so relatable. And then every woman needs to feel like she's pergola-worthy. I loved it. 

Nicole:

Girl, you have no idea how hot and bothered I got by the pergola. Just saying. Wow. 

Meghan:

So, here's the point where I always say, What do I say, Nicole? 

Nicole:

I don't know. What do you say? 

Meghan:

About my thoughts. 

Nicole:

Oh, you have thoughts. 

Meghan:

Hey, guess what? I don't have thoughts. 

Nicole:

What? 

Meghan:

No, I don't. There's nothing about this book that I was like, I have thoughts. No, nothing. 

Nicole:

I just got you a fucking journal for your thoughts.

And you don't have thoughts?

Meghan:

Not on this one, because I really enjoyed this.

Nicole:

Meghan, for your book, what is the uh spicy Scoville scale unit you would give it?

Meghan:

Jalapeno. And I know we're not doing our romantic reminders, but I would say building shit from scratch, to include a meal or a pergola, memorizing your loved ones' go-to orders. Brendan orders coffee for her exactly the way she wants, and she's kind of shocked that someone paid attention to how she had ordered her coffee. And I thought that was very sweet. And then we talk about scents. There was a night that he was gone and she missed him terribly. And so, she went to his house and slept in his bed so she could smell his pillow. And again, it's that whole thing about just how that scent really brings you closer. So that's what I got. 

Hey, did you read a book? 

Nicole:

Indeed. 

Meghan:

We should talk about it.

Nicole:

Oh lordy. I read Book Lovers by Emily Henry. First, let's talk about the author and NYT, New York Times, number one best seller. She's also written Beach Read, Funny Story, Happy Place, People We Meet on Vacation, and most recently Great Big Beautiful Life. In addition, I think I can safely say that Emily Henry is definitely trending upwards because People We Meet on Vacation is premiering as a movie on Netflix, and Beach Reed is getting a film adaptation by 20th Century Studios Book Lovers is being adapted for the screen by Tango Entertainment. Happy Place is being made into a Netflix series. And Emily Henry is writing the screenplay herself for the film adaptation of Funny Story. So, all I can say is, we're not worthy. 

Meghan:

Seriously. Nice job, lady. 

Nicole:

Yes, Emily Henry crushing. 

So, this particular book, Book Lovers, was published in 2022. If we're talking genres, I'm going to put this in contemporary romance. Romantic. Comedy. Enemies to lovers. And your always favorite Meghan, a slow burn.

Meghan:

I do love a good slow burn.

Nicole:

I know you do. I fucking hate it. But we here we go. 

Meghan:

I love that. 

Nicole:

Main characters. Nora Stevens. She's a literary agent in New York who used to dream of becoming an editor. She's definitely a city girl and a career girl. No problems with that. Her first serious relationship failed on her when her mom died because he couldn't handle the emotions and the feelings.

Ever since that tragic first serious relationship, Nora has had about three or four-ish, I I'm not entirely sure, but three or four more failed relationships that would be comical if they weren't tragic. 

Nora is basically the cursed person that is the girlfriend and or fiancé of the guy that breaks up with uh a big city girlfriend or fiancé whenever they go to a small town and fall in love with a girl and give up their big city life. A la the Hallmark channel. So literally she'll get calls from boyfriends and fiancés, and they're like, I met a girl. 

Meghan:

I met a one. You already have a one, but you're a better one. 

Nicole:

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, uh, this is what we're taught in current society to be like, she's the horrible person. Honestly, I'm like, fucking poor Nora. She just keeps getting these douchebags.

Meghan:

It reminds me of the Door County book that I had… 

Nicole:

Oh, yeah. 

Meghan:

…where I felt so bad for the fiancé because I was like, they are doing Suzanne dirty. This is just not okay. I get it. Poor Nora, because it seems like that same kind of thing.

Nicole:

Yeah, it is kind of bullshit. And if we're gonna summarize that into one of my favorite quotes from the book, it's this. “That's the thing about women. There's no good way to be one where your emotions on your sleeve and you're hysterical. Keep them tucked away where your boyfriend doesn't have to tend to them, and you're a heartless bitch.”  I mean, it's a whole damned if you do, damned if you don't. 

Meghan:

For sure.  She's not wrong.

Nicole:

Exactly. Our next main character is Charlie Lastra. He's an editor in New York. And then we have Libby, Nora's sister, who Nora has basically had to raise herself since their mom died when the girls were teenagers. And Libby is currently pregnant with her third kid. So, plot line. Nora and Charlie have a lunch/slash business meeting with Manhattans in NY, where she would like to try to work with him on a book for an author that she off for that she's representing. Charlie doesn't like the book, and he's kind of a big dick. And if I'm saying kind of a big dick, no, he's a huge asshole about it. And the two of them part ways, and she's like, well, that was a waste of fucking time. Well, the book goes on to be hugely successful. 

Meghan:

Ooh, good for her. 

Nicole:

Alright. And this book is set in Sunshine Falls, North Carolina. Which, by the way, Meghan, is completely fucking fictitious.

Meghan:

I kind of am okay with that, given the fact that I keep reading books that are set in places I know, and it is so distracting.

Nicole:

Honestly, it was kind of disappointing that it was fictitious. I live in North Carolina now, and I'm like, I wanted a real place.

Meghan:

Hmmm.  It's so funny. You and I'm so opposite in so many ways on these books. 

Nicole:

I know. But um, for my North Carolinians, or for anyone who gives a shit, um, so basically, this is giving like Asheville Boone vibes. But um, this fictitious town of Sunshine Falls is way less cool, if I'm being honest, than Boone in Asheville. Because I'm gonna tell you, we went to Boone and we went into a friggin' charcuterie place with like the best hot chocolate and bourbon of our lives. 

So, this town, Sunshine Falls, is not that town. It's not Boone, it's not that cool because they frequently joke about like they just throw up some spammy ham up in the salads and like call it what whatever. And I was like, that is not the treatment we got in Boone. So, I don't know where this little Sunshine Falls is, but it ain't Boone.

So no, no, thank you. I don't want Spammy Ham. 

Meghan:

No? I love Spam. 

Nicole:

Don't get me wrong. I do love Spam. I'm sorry, guys. 

Meghan:

Good fried spam.

Nicole:

I don't want Spammy Ham. 

Anyway, Libby, Nora's sister, is pregnant and wants to take a trip to Sunshine Falls with Nora to rekindle their sister relationship and get a little escape and R before baby number three arrives. Okay. Fine, I guess. 

Meghan:

Is it though?

Nicole:

I mean, it sounds sweet. Doesn't mean it is.

Nora's gonna work remotely during the weekdays, and then they'll spend the rest of their time together bonding as sisters do. Where they now, upon arrival into Sunshine Falls, run into none other than Charlie Lastra. Turns out, Meghan, Charlie is from Sunshine Falls, and he is there to help the family bookstore while working remotely. If that does not sound like a Hallmark setup, I don't know what. 

Meghan:

I love that though.

Nicole:

I don't know. 

Meghan:

If I were a book editor, I would love to retreat to my tiny little hometown to help in the bookstore. It sounds nice.

Nicole:
 For him, yes. Um until it doesn't. But Charlie ended up having to collaborate on a project together. And the rest, they say, is history. There are some steamy moments, including Meghan, some skinny dippings. 

Meghan:

Ooh. 

Nicole:

Yeah, and we've definitely had skinny dippings in my books. 

Meghan:

Definitely I remember bathing. Lots of bathing.

Nicole:

And while there are some intimate scenes, there's nothing wild or overly delved into, and it is definitely a slow burn. Meghan, I think you would have greatly loved and enjoyed this novel because this seems like a Meghan book to me. 

Meghan:

I can see that. It sounds like a Meghan book. 

Nicole:

So, things that I loved. I really appreciated the dialogue. I found the banter between Nora and Charlie Lastra to be especially fabulous. I loved both their sarcasm and wit, but I particularly loved and appreciated Charlie's snark. Well, he is definitely not my physical type based on the description in the book. I found him to be a fucking joy and a treat and someone I would genuinely love to hang out with and just be friends with. I mean, if things led to more beyond that, I guess I'd allow it. But the snark was so amazing. I was like, yes. There were some nice little heated moments that happened in the second half-ish of the book. I guess two, two-thirds half-ish of the book, which I very much appreciated. For the most part, I found the storyline plausible, which is always appreciated. 

My challenges with the book, Meghan: Reading and getting through this book, I started reading the physical book on my birthday on December 22nd, and I was like, this is fun. I'm liking this. And I was so excited and then loving every moment. Then honestly, the holidays hit and life happened, and it seemed like every time that I tried to continue the book, I couldn't get any further on it. And it wasn't honestly for some reason drawing me in anymore. And I don't know if that's because of the holidays or what was going on. And so, I used one of my audible credits and I got the audiobook, and you and I talked about this. 

Meghan:

Yeah. 

Nicole:

And then Meghan, as you know, that was almost worse.

Meghan:

Risk management. You played me a couple little excerpts of that book. It sounded like it might be not the easiest to get through audio-wise. 

Nicole:

The narrator was fine, just not necessarily my cup of tea.

For some reason, I just did not like the narrator's voice, and it was solo narration, aka single narrator for our audible and audiobook friends. And her narration was um slower than I prefer. 

Meghan:

Slower.

Nicole:

I think I think that is what I noticed was it was definitely a different pace than I was expecting.

And even when I sped it up, it still, it still took forever to get through. To be fair, this was a girthy book, as I pointed out to you. So, I get that it took some more time, but I would like to see that I was talking to some of the other ladies in the cul-de-sac quite recently - shout out to Casey, Brooke, Caitlin, Crystal, Daniela, and Majey - and they are some of the ones who listen to romance audiobooks quite regularly. And most of them pretty much agreed with me that they like to hear separate male and female voices. And this is what I personally think I need.

Meghan:

One of the conversations you and I had was really just meeting the book where you are. So, at the time, you knew that you had gotten through a certain portion of this book as a paperback and physical, and it just was not hitting for you. You couldn't continue that way. So, moving on to the audiobook, which just created a different space for you to find that book and try and continue on. And I do think that even though in this case it wasn't maybe the sound you were hoping for, it's still something to encourage people out there. Like, you may not feel like you have the moment or the time or the whatever to invest in sitting down with a physical novel. However, there are options to do an audiobook on your commute to work. Do an audiobook while you're cleaning the bathroom, do an audiobook while you're making lunches for the kids in the morning. There's a lot of different ways to soak in literature, and none of them are wrong. And it's okay to start a book one way, finish it another, or even just abandon it midway if it's not meeting your needs. So, I just think that's a really important conversation to have as well.

Nicole:

I also love how you think I personally can abandon a book and not finish it.

Meghan:

I don't know, honey. Like you've had a couple that you've been like, “this was the closest I've gotten.”

Nicole:

Um, I'm trying genuinely not to be negative. I'm just realizing what my preferences are. I will note, however, that my husband, Bob, was subject to listening to huge chunks of the book with me, and he agreed that maybe it was quite wordy. That's all I'm gonna say about that, because I don't want to insult people, but he just thought it was quite wordy, and I could not disagree with him. 

Final thoughts, obviously. Emily Henry is a notable best-selling author who is getting massive attention right now and absolutely deserves that attention, and I really truly mean that. She's clearly an excellent writer who knows how to create fabulous dialogue between characters. And if you love a slow burn romance and or enemies to lovers, and you prefer a moderately, and I emphasize moderately spicy book, then I definitely recommend book lovers. 

Meghan:

All right.

Nicole:

All right.

Meghan:

All right. 

Nicole:

So, if I were, and I know we're not really doing romantic reminders, but we said if we found one, we would. 

So, my romantic reminder for this episode would be take a trip to North Carolina, my friends. We are romantic AF down here, and it is beautiful. 

If we're talking scents, I don't remember the exact page or the exact quote because I had to switch to the audio version. It's a little harder to keep track of that. But I do remember Nora realized at a certain point she and Charlie wear literally the same fragrance. 

Meghan:

Oh. Interesting. 

Nicole:

It's discontinued fragrance, it's kind of like a unisex thing. 

Meghan:

Yeah. 

Nicole:

And it's very citrusy earthy type of vibe. 

Meghan:

Yeah, that's my vibe. 

Nicole:

She recognizes that that's what Charlie is wearing, and it's the exact same thing that she wears, and they never discuss it, but the fact that she knows it is like low-key kind of hot. 

Meghan:

I like that.

Nicole:

So, Meghan, booby prize.

Meghan:

I win the world. That's all. I win the world. 

I know that the last couple episodes, I thought that I had some sort of record. Cause I'm like, I have page four, I have page six. 

I win the world. Nobody can beat me. You ready for this? 

Nicole:

Yes. 

Meghan:

Page one! 

Niole:

Oh my god.

Meghan:

I'm so - yes. “She swiped the tape holding up her boobs while backstage at a runway show in Milan during fashion week. We're talking the holy grail of tit tape. And those puppies were on point.”

Nicole:

God, that's a maze balls. 

Meghan:

Page one, my friends. I think that literally does win the world. 

Nicole:

It wins the world. 

Meghan:

And uh that is the third paragraph. Page one. 

Nicole:

Oh god, love it.  Okay. Uh win the world. Without question. An all-time podcast record. 

Meghan:

Now, moving forward, we have to see if somebody can get it under third paragraph. 

Nicole:

Oh my god. I don't think I don't think we can beat it.

Meghan:

I don't think so either. Thank you, Tessa Bailey. You have totally made my year. This is, this is the best. I'm so excited.

Nicole:

Can we just have a moment of snaps for Tessa Bailey? 

Meghan:
 Oh yeah. 

Nicle:

Uh my boobie prize, no nowhere near, but I frankly felt like as far as this book was concerned, it happened at a reasonable place. Okay. Page 106 slash 107, because the sentence started on 106, but the actual boobs were not mentioned until 107. “My hands scrape through his coarse, rain-soaked hair, and he lets out a low groan. His hand trailing to my chest, fingers brushing over my nipple.”

Meghan:

I acted it out. I don't know if you saw that, but I did a great job. 

Nicole:

You win the world today. Yours 100% wins. 

Meghan:

So, Meghan, what do you have coming up on the next episode of the podcast?

Nicole:

I have Sinner, which you know, based on the back of the book, will prove to be perhaps challenging for me, but I am very excited about some of the premises in here. So here we go. “Sean Bell is not a good man, and he's never pretended to be. He doesn't believe in goodness, God, or any happy ending that isn't paid for in advance. There are words for men like him: Playboy, womanizer, skirt chaser, sinner. When he meets a gorgeous college girl at a fundraiser, he has no problems telling her exactly what filthy things he wants to do to her. Until he realizes she's his best friend's little sister. Zenobia ‘Zenny’ Iverson. All grown up. And worse than that, she is also to become a nun. 

Zenny, though, isn't looking to play it safe during her final month of freedom. She wants to make sure that choosing God is the right path. And to do that, she propositions Sean to show her every carnal temptation that she is leaving behind. Unable to refuse, Sean finds himself falling for her, body and soul, and questioning not just the morals he's dodged for years, but his relationship with the god Zenny has pledged herself to. The only problem is what if Sean wants Zenny to choose him instead of Him?” Like Capital H.

Nicole:

Mm-hmm.

Capital H!

Meghan:

Capital H. 

Nicole:

I'm sorry, I shouldn't laugh. 

I have every version of you by Sloane Spencer, who we met in person in Milwaukee. “What happens when a romance book-loving woman on a journey of self-discovery has her whole world altered when she finds her childhood best friend got her pregnant by accident? Lots of hormones, role-playing, banter, and angst. Angie Johansson is the oldest of five siblings and has been taking care of her family since she was a child. Now she puts her personal experience to professional use as a children's therapist. But encouraging her patients to talk about feelings is much easier than admitting she has them for her best friend and new roommate. Eight-man and CFO Rafael Jimenez is a goofy, playlist-making, salsa dancing rugby player for Philadelphia's D1 team with his eyes set on Bachelorhood. But when he moves back to the city and his curvy best friend needs a place to live, he offers up his spare bedroom, just like old times. However, when the tequila starts flowing at his house worming party, and Raphael wakes up in bed with Angie, the sister to three of his teammates, will Bachelorhood be as appealing as it once was? Can he rediscover his teenage crush?” 

Alright, that's what we have coming up on the next episode of the podcast. We are still doing pick a number. It's getting wild. It's getting crazy. Reading random things on our TBR list.

Meghan:

Thank you for sticking with us. I feel like tonight Nicole and I were spiraling.  We are tired. 

Nicole:

Not wanted drunkers. 

Meghan:

We are drunk. 

Nicole:

We are drunk. 

Meghan:

It's not for the best, my friend.

Thanks for joining us today for Romance on the Rocks. Please like, subscribe, and follow. And if you are a hopelessly romantic, bookish biddie like we are, think about giving us a review on Apple iTunes, Spotify, YouTube… Until the next time. Just know that your support really truly means the world to us. Stay safe and know that you are loved.