Holiday Rush is a 2019 Netlix Christmas movie that I must have missed last year when I was doing my first annual roundup of Christmas movies. And after watching it, I can see why. There’s nothing wrong with this movie at all, really. It’s just… boring AF. And yet in spite of that, I feel like this one is going to end up ranking high on the Christmas scale. Why, you ask? Well, let’s just run it through and see what happens.
Read more12 Days of Christmas Movies, Day 6: Jingle Jangle
You know, I love a good musical. And I love Keegan-Michael Key. So I went into Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Story cautiously optimistic. Especially because the images I’d seen from this movie were really beautiful and vibrant and just screamed Christmas joy to me. And who doesn’t need a bit of Christmas joy this year? I need a bucket of it. Where is it? Is it in this movie?
Let’s find out…
Read moreYA Book Club: A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow
Mary: AT LONG LAST we have read A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow, and we’re prepared to talk about it. This is Morrow’s debut YA novel, and it’s tackling a lot of big issues, including racism, misogynoir, and the difficulty of being different. The book follows Tavia, a young siren in hiding, and Effie, her sister and best friend who also has some magical associations, including an event that led to the loss of her mother.
Read moreOthersode #48: IN CONCLUSION / Our 2020 Pop Culture Faves
Othersode #48: IN CONCLUSION / Our 2020 Pop Culture Faves
It’s the MOST wonderful time of the year! (Which isn’t saying much because, you know, this year was 2020.) It’s time for our annual Best of the Year episode. Join us for some much-needed happy talk as we talk about our favorite pop culture things of the year, from books to TV shows to podcasts to music. Some of this year’s podcast guests “stop by” to share their faves as well! Then it’s time for “Secret” Santa gifts! The Squad exchanges Christmas/Hanukkah gifts (prepare for delightful squeals!). Next, we get into some listener feedback for Lovecraft Country and check in on the #BookSquadBlog, which is full of great TV recaps and Emily’s 12 Days of Christmas Movies series. Our next #Bookpisode will be our final episode of the year! We’re covering The Paper Wasp by Lauren Acampora on 12/28. Then we’ll kick off 2021 with an #Othersode on Wonder Woman 1984 on 1/11! Please send us YOUR favorite things of 2020 by emailing thesquad@booksquadgoals.com or sending us a DM on social media! We can’t wait to hear from you!
Click through for summary, table of contents, and show notes!
Read moreThe Bachelorette S16E9: Tic Tacs and Polygraphs
How are we doing, Bachelor Nation/Goalies? Before we get into this episode, we just want to give a brief content warning. This episode includes a frank and honest discussion of depression, suicide, and suicidal thoughts. While ABC did not give this content warning before the episode, it is in there, and it’s a lot. If you are triggered by this type of conversation, you might want to skip this episode and this recap.
Here’s link with information and a guide to suicide prevention/help resources. We hope you’re taking care of yourselves, and we truly care about your mental health!
Now with that, on with the recap.
Read moreHis Dark Materials S2E4: The Bearer of the Subtle Knife
Ooooh… things are getting good, friends. We’re already down to only three more episodes of His Dark Materials (after this one). And we’ve finally got the subtle knife!
I’m pretty dang excited, so let’s just hop right in to the recap.
Read more12 Days of Christmas Movies, Day 5: Operation Christmas Drop
As the Christmas train keeps chugging along towards December 25, we’re also chugging along with our 12 days of Christmas movies, and we’re nearly to the halfway point already. Can you believe it? Today, we’re talking about a little Netflix Christmas movie called Operation Christmas Drop, starring Kat Graham and Alexander Ludwig, directed by Martin Wood.
This 2020 movie is based on the real-life U.S. Air Force humanitarian mission (which is also called Operation Christmas Drop). I know you might be thinking, wow, that sounds like a dumb idea for a movie.
And you would be right.
Read more12 Days of Christmas Movies, Day 4: Dash & Lily's Book of Dares
On the 4th Day of Christmas Movies, we’re breaking all the rules. That’s right. Because Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares isn’t a Christmas movie. It’s a Christmas tv show. Or rather, it’s a Christmas mini-series on Netflix. But I feel like this still counts. Plus, I’ve actually read the young adult novel that this show is based on. Not that I have a lot of insight into the show based on what I read because I can’t really remember the book that well. All I know is it was a delightful YA holiday story. Will the mini-series be the same?
Let’s run it through the Christmas-o-meter and see!
Read moreThe Bachelorette S16E8: I Crush Life Under Pressure
Susan and Emily are reunited this week for their one-on-one recap, and it feels so good. This episode had some ups and downs, some emotional conversations and some “teenage boy drama, some art projects and some...haunted hotel rooms? Anyway, let’s get to it.
Read moreQueer Girl Book Club: Plain Bad Heroines
We’re back for the 3rd ever QUEER GIRL BOOK CLUB, friends! And this time, we’re reviewing Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth. This book is described as: “A highly imaginative and original horror-comedy centered around a cursed New England boarding school for girls—a wickedly whimsical celebration of the art of storytelling, sapphic love, and the rebellious female spirit.” Yes. 1,000 times yes.
Please know that spoilers will follow after the cut, and because we compare the narrator of this book to Gossip Girl (xoxo), we will be using Gossip Girl gifs to help us narrate our review. Please enjoy! Sort of like we know you’re enjoying this image of a little kitten next to a big book.
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