Hot Girls Read Podcast

Ayesha

My most recent book purchase was Sara Cate’s “Eyes On Me” and I’ve finally gotten around to read the sequel in the Salacious Players Club series. If you’ve been with us for some time, you may recall our episode “The One Where We Talk About Spicy Reads” when we buddy read “Praise,” the first book in the series. I really enjoyed “Praise” and finally caved to continue the series.

Synopsis: I’m a voyeur – it means I like to watch. And in my line of work, that’s a gift.

As one of the four owners of the Salacious Players’ Club, I’m comfortable on the sidelines. This is what I was made to do, and I work better alone.

Until the day I stumble on a certain cam girl app and find myself watching the one person I should never have watched—my step-sister. There are three big problems with this. One, Mia and I can’t stand each other. Two, she has no idea I’m the man on the other end of the video. And three…I’m hooked—on the app and on her.

Now, Mia has me wanting and doing things I said I’d never do again, like opening up and getting attached. I’m falling for her, but she’s falling for the mystery man I’m pretending to be.

If I’m going to make this right, then I have to do more than just watch. But how far will I go to keep her eyes on me?

My takes: Up front, I have no issue with the spicy scenes – they honestly help me get through the book. I’ve been in a reading slump and feel like I’ve been reading some duds so a spicy romance is usually a good go-to to help alleviate that. The point of the Salacious Players series is to read about taboo relationships and I had no issue with the “taboo” in “Praise.” I’ve read up on the other books in the series and they all seem fine. I can’t say the same about “Eyes On Me.” I think the step-sibling situation could be ok if their parents married when they were adults (i.e., 18 FMC and 28 MMC). However, Mia was 8 y/o and Garrett was in his mid-20s when their parents married…in my eyes, and in their parents, Mia and Garrett are siblings. I suppose I will have to try and ignore that relationship dynamic but just know I am not a fan.

Julia

I’m trying something new this week and reading a collection of essays: ‘Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant, brilliant, brilliant’, by Joel Golby. One of the genres I have been most interested in over this past year is Creative Non-fiction, and in that sense this book is no departure from my usual interests; however, I don’t believe I have ever really sunk my teeth into a series of essays before.

Aside from the book clearly being part of the Creative Non-fiction category of which I have been so intrigued by lately, what next caught my eye was the title. It seemed to promise me something funny, witty, slightly unhinged, and I was not wrong. Joel Golby is a staff writer for Vice magazine and certainly has a captivating writing style full of wonderfully rambling sentences and a strong voice that comes across as comedic, self deprecating, and slightly annoying. His subject matters are unusual, boldly frank, relatable, but sometimes questionable. I am enjoying his writing, and while I feel as though I am gaining something as a writer looking to another writer for inspiration, as a reader, I am not sure how much I have come away with. 

The story I have found most interesting so far is his ‘24 stories from the middle of the desert’  which is about a camel festival he attended in Saudi Arabia – naturally, because I (both Ayesha and I, as you might know if you have listened to certain of our podcast episodes) grew up in Saudi. There was a sort of emptiness to the essay, which suits the broad desert landscapes in a way, and I did learn a lot about camels. But I think the story was brighter in my mind because I know what to imagine, and I’m not sure that everyone else would. He was pretty spot on about the way people drive there, I’ll definitely give him that.

I suppose the point of essays is to give readers food for thought, and thus far (being almost halfway through) I would say that reading this book is like eating a plate of diner french fries: it hits the spot, is indulgent, but is neither nourishing nor particularly substantial.