This episode was recorded the day after the US Midterm elections, so Kris and Tara take a bit of time up top to share their relief and reactions. Kris also explains dermaplaning and Tara celebrates their Halloween milestone of no longer having to take kids out trick-or-treating.
Official Recommendations
From Kris: Girls Like Girls (2026)
Kris’s official recommendation this week is Girls Like Girls, a queer coming-of-age movie based on a book of the same name. Kris felt strongly that this movie captured the emotions and vibes of first love and really thinks you should check it out.
From Tara: Scorpio Season by Maisie Bell
Tara’s official recommendation this week is a debut novel, Scorpio Season by Maisie Bell. A one night till forever that eventually becomes a celebrity romance? Was this book designed in a lab to capture Tara? We think so. Two women hook up one night, only for one of them to show up as the new drummer for a band going to perform across Europe. As the band gains traction, so does their relationship. Tara loved this one and can’t wait for the sequel, coming out next year.
Works/People Discussed
- The Traitors (Peacock)
- The Great British Baking Show (Netflix)
- RuPaul’s Drag Race UK (BBC Three)
- Hello Kitty Island Adventure (Sunblink Entertainment)
- Pokemon GO (Niantic Lab/Scopely Explore)
- Haunted Hotel (Netflix)
Support & Follow the Show
Transcript
>> Tara Scott: Hey, everyone. Welcome to Queerly Recommended, the podcast where we recommend queer books, films, TV shows and more. I’m Tara Scott and I review sapphic fiction, the lesbian review, and smart, trashy books. And this week I am recommending, a recently released Sapphic Romance.
>> Kris Bryant: And I’m Kris Bryant, a contemporary romance writer for Bold Strokes books. And this week I’m recommending a 2026 coming of age romance movie.
>> Tara Scott: Well, okay, so we are recording this on Wednesday, November 4th. So I gotta say, Kris, congratulations.
>> Kris Bryant: Yes. So we did it. We flipped a bunch of red states. And I’m super excited. And I had such a glorious morning at work just walking around in my, my blue hoodie that I had to beg Deb for. I’m like, I don’t own blue. Like, I, I wear black and grays and, you know, earth tones and. And one of my coworkers is like, hey, like one of the three other Democrats in the office, she’s like, hey, wear blue today. I’m like, shit, I don’t have any blue. So I’m like, debbie, give me blue. And so she has like a stack of like blue, royal blue and stuff. So I picked this one and it was kind of in your face and I walked everywhere and I was like,
>> Tara Scott: very good. Yeah, there were some real historic. I mean, and also, can we talk about, like, there was no doom scrolling today. It was all hope scrolling on social media. But, like, honestly, even from here in Canada, because some of the negative types of politics have been happening, has been making its way over here. It was just so hopeful and it was so. I think one of the ones that got me was the way Texas flipped. And, so many things in Texas flipped. I was talking to a co worker who lives there and they said it was one of the best days of their life
>> Kris Bryant: because
>> Tara Scott: they just didn’t think it could happen.
>> Kris Bryant: Yeah. Of all the states, you would not think Texas or Kansas.
>> Tara Scott: Right,
>> Kris Bryant: right.
>> Tara Scott: Kansas.
>> Kris Bryant: After almost 100 years.
>> Tara Scott: Yeah. Yeah. Like that long. And I mean, the fact that in Texas it was like everything flipped. It was governor, it was senator, it was the railroad commissioner, the lieutenant governor, I think, and I think what I love about that one too is Elon Musk dumped so much money into that state and the state said, you, sir.
>> Kris Bryant: I loved it. I loved everything about it. It was funny because, like, last night we’re all watching. I had to. Well, I, didn’t have to. I watched this movie last night because my whole entire life has been a little bit bonkers lately. And we’ll get into that. So I’m like, I can’t watch the politics right now. I have to do. I have to finish this. It’s only an hour left. Like there’s only half an hour left. And. But they were like keeping up on the socials and like sending us this and like it’s gonna happen. Oh my gosh. Iowa. You know, that was a big thing because one of our friends is from Iowa.
>> Tara Scott: Oh yeah.
>> Kris Bryant: And. And she was just super excited too, you know. And then it was just everything. It was so good. It was so good. And one of the ladies I work with, I guess she was crying this morning. She’s the one who. They hired her. She’s a recent hire. I say recent. She’s been there over a year. But we don’t have a big turn turnover at
>> Tara Scott: our
>> Kris Bryant: company. And I went to her profile, like that’s how I do it. I just like social media and. And her back banner on Facebook was like Trump doing that. I’m like, I’m out. I don’t need to know anything about
>> Tara Scott: you.
>> Kris Bryant: I will say good morning to you. And that’s it. I don’t even go in the door where she is like, no, I called her Melissa. That’s not even her name. Like, I don’t know this person. And I have made no effort to get to know this person. So.
>> Tara Scott: M.
>> Kris Bryant: Yeah.
>> Tara Scott: yeah. Sounds like you don’t need to.
>> Kris Bryant: I don’t need to at all. No. So today was glorious. And then there was like a m. Right before a meeting. This one guy was just very upset about it and I just laughed and walked out. I. I wasn’t in the meeting. I just laughed. I was like, too bad. And he stuck in a car with me tomorrow for two hours plus while we’re inspecting equipment. And then the two hours back to the office. So I mean, incredible
>> Tara Scott: in crime. Incredible. Wow. what else do you have going on?
>> Kris Bryant: Okay, so what’s happening is there’s a wedding this weekend.
>> Kris Bryant: So Deb’s youngest daughter is getting married. Basically we have been running around doing everything that needs to be done. Of course, last minute. Because like hello, everything last minute. But we did, we got. I got my hair done.
>> Tara Scott: It looks very nice.
>> Kris Bryant: And like, no blonde. It’s all gone. The blonde’s gone. It’s gone. And it’s shorter. So they cut it, they colored it and then they gave me some highlights. So. A couple of highlights.
>> Kris Bryant: so we’re getting ready for this wedding and have you ever done or had Done. I don’t even know if this is even the right way to say it. Dermaplaning. Have you ever
>> Tara Scott: had
>> Kris Bryant: that done? No,
>> Tara Scott: no. Isn’t that the thing where they poke holes in your face?
>> Kris Bryant: No, no, no. They don’t do that. So what it is, they basically shave you. It’s women shaving women. Like, but so they take. I don’t. I had my eyes closed the whole time, you know, because
>> Tara Scott: so
>> Kris Bryant: what they’re doing is they’re getting rid of the peach fuzz. And you know, the older you get, the more fuzzier you get anyway.
>> Tara Scott: Okay, so it’s just going for that. It’s not going for like layers of skin.
>> Kris Bryant: Well, and they get the dead skin that. It did not hurt at all. I promise you it was not.
>> Tara Scott: Okay, good.
>> Kris Bryant: Actually quite enjoyable. It’s a facial and then they do the dermaplaning. And I was like, what is happening? Because I’m just thinking they’re just doing the fuzzies.
>> Kris Bryant: That’s what I thought. Like, that’s what it is. No, no, no. They go up and they get like up here. Any sort of like, whatever. And it was nice that they did a bunch of things. I was in there for over an hour and it was just. It was nice. And now I’m like, oh my gosh, I hope this doesn’t grow back dark. Because you know, that’s the wife. They’re like, it’s a wives tale. It that’s
>> Tara Scott: not.
>> Kris Bryant: That doesn’t happen. And I’m like, m. Okay. Because I know that if I was a man, I would already have a five o’ clock shadow because I come from a line of hairy people.
>> Tara Scott: yeah. So it’s a concern.
>> Kris Bryant: But then I’m like real shiny. Like they moisturize the hell out of my face. And the next day I was like, oh, I’m still moisturized. And so like the makeup won’t stick because I’m so. And the girls in the office are like, you’re so wet. I’m like, okay, you’re straight. I’ll let it go. But yeah, so. So that’s that. I gotta figure that out before the weekend. Like, hopefully makeup will stay on me. So.
>> Tara Scott: yeah, probably closer too.
>> Kris Bryant: Yeah. So. But it was very interesting. It was, it was a very relaxing experience. And
>> Tara Scott: good.
>> Kris Bryant: Yeah. And so like she was. While they were doing some. The face mask afterwards, she’s like,
>> Tara Scott: well,
>> Kris Bryant: I can either do like a scalp massage or I can do this ice ball drop thing. I’m like, no. Like, nothing cold on me. I guess they put, like, frozen ice thing. I was silver. Absolutely
>> Tara Scott: not.
>> Kris Bryant: no. Balls don’t come around here. No.
>> Tara Scott: Yeah, you don’t. You don’t want balls around your face.
>> Kris Bryant: That is not me. Nope. So I
>> Tara Scott: went with
>> Kris Bryant: the. The little scalp massage that they do. And it was fun. I mean, it was fine. I talked the whole time. Debbie’s like, I didn’t even talk to my person once.
>> Tara Scott: So I thought you meant. There’s a fitness influencer that I follow because she gives, like, really good workout tips, but she also is really into, like, makeup and stuff. And she has this thing, she does it at home and it’s just like. It looks like a little rounder, square thing, but she’s like, basically poking a shitload of holes in her face and then putting serums on. And I’m like, absolutely not. No, thank you.
>> Kris Bryant: No, no, no. That’s. No, no, no, no. There was nothing like that at all. So it’s just like, basically a shave. Like, that sounds terrible. And. But that’s kind of what it was. I just got rid of all the little fuzzies.
>> Tara Scott: That’s all right.
>> Kris Bryant: And it was funny. The human resources manager, we were talking about it, and she’s like, well, you know, I don’t really need it. And I’m like, I can see your peach fuzz from here. And we were like 10ft apart. I’m like, I’m not saying you need it. I’m just saying, like, everybody has it. And,
>> Kris Bryant: you know, I’ve lived with it my whole life.
>> Tara Scott: Yeah.
>> Kris Bryant: Yeah. So anyway, so that we did that the other night, so it’s just been like, non stop. And then we gotta do this, we gotta do that. And it’s a lot of work.
>> Tara Scott: And now you’re here.
>> Kris Bryant: Yes. But here’s. Here’s something today. So I’m living my best life at work as, you know, big day again. All the blue states. And the one new hire,
>> Tara Scott: who
>> Kris Bryant: m. Really has only been there three weeks, comes in wearing a mask after lunch, and I’m like, why is she wearing a mask? Oh, her husband tested positive for Covid.
>> Tara Scott: Go home.
>> Kris Bryant: Listen, I’ve got a wedding this weekend, and we’re watching a toddler while there’s
>> Tara Scott: a.
>> Kris Bryant: I cannot be sick. I cannot be around sick people.
>> Kris Bryant: Like, don’t come in. I don’t care if this is your third week or not. Stay home. I don’t come in. I don’t
>> Tara Scott: know. And also, I mean, thank goodness she at least put On a mask. Because a lot of people wouldn’t even do that much but still
>> Kris Bryant: stay home. Yeah. Or even like mention, oh, my husband has Covid.
>> Kris Bryant: So I have a feeling. Yeah. So I just close my door. And the good news is tomorrow I’ll be out of the office for the. Most of the. Most of the day because I’ll be inspecting equipment. And then Friday have off because I need the calm before the storm.
>> Kris Bryant: Because that’s gonna be a lot of peopling. And I don’t people very well
>> Tara Scott: a lot of peopleing.
>> Kris Bryant: Yeah. That’s. And you know, and then being like. So I have to get pictures taken and it’s just going to be a lot and I just need downtime, you know, I just take the day. So.
>> Tara Scott: Good plan.
>> Kris Bryant: Yeah. That’s pretty much what I’ve been doing. It’s been a lot. Been a lot. So.
>> Tara Scott: What
>> Kris Bryant: about you? What, what’s new? What’s going on?
>> Tara Scott: Okay. We hit what I think is a very exciting parenting milestone.
>> Kris Bryant: Oh.
>> Tara Scott: Which is that this was our first Halloween where neither of us had to take any kid trick or treating. We both got to stay home.
>> Kris Bryant: So what does that mean? They didn’t go trick or treating. Or
>> Tara Scott: they did. So they did go trick or treating. But my kids each went with their best friend. So oldest went with their best friend, youngest went with their best friend around the neighborhood.
>> Kris Bryant: Nice.
>> Tara Scott: But they’re all. They’re old enough that they can do that they don’t. And it was funny because Neil. Well, we, we kind of thought that was what they would do. And at first our youngest was like, but you always come. And then they realized like, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait,
>> Kris Bryant: wait,
>> Tara Scott: wait. We can just do this. And it was like, yeah, dude, you could absolutely just do this. And we talked about it and it was this. I mean, do we like that? And I said, honestly, I don’t think it’s that different than like letting them walk to the park by themselves.
>> Kris Bryant: Right.
>> Tara Scott: And it really wasn’t. And it’s funny because the. I think, I think our youngest came home first because the kids got cold. So it was fine. It was absolutely fine. So it’s just. Oh, it’s so. It’s so nice. And then the next day we had our anniversary. So we have been married long enough that if our marriage was a human, it could vote. And it could also drink in Alberta.
>> Kris Bryant: Okay.
>> Tara Scott: We were going to go for dinner and I think the. We’re not totally sure what happened. The restaurant canceled. The reservation. But I’m guessing it’s because some of the Canadian provinces, including Alberta, decided we’re not doing the time change anymore. Oh.
>> Tara Scott: and so I think a lot of the like, tech systems kind of just threw up and we’re like, ah, we don’t know who’s throwing up when for what. So what was really sweet was we said something to the kids about, yeah, we’re not going. And our oldest said, well, why don’t you have some food delivered and you can stay on the main floor and we’ll just go stay in our rooms and you can have a date at home. And I was like, how cute are those kids?
>> Kris Bryant: That’s very sweet.
>> Tara Scott: I know. Really, really, thoughtful. And now on Friday when you are having your downtime, your pre gaming, your downtime, we will be going as a family for our vaccines. We have our weekend cleared in case we have side effects. We can just chill out. We’ll probably get popsicles or something and soup and we’ll just like hang out and do nothing all weekend. So it’s not bad.
>> Kris Bryant: Nice. Yes. I’m, I’m glad that I got backs, you know, because like I said, I’m not. So I’m two weeks from now. Sure,
>> Tara Scott: sure.
>> Kris Bryant: But I. These next two weeks are so important. Or week and a half are so important. And it’s just like
>> Tara Scott: rude.
>> Kris Bryant: That’s just rude. Like, oh,
>> Tara Scott: absolutely.
>> Kris Bryant: And days where we don’t have an issue because it’s going to throw a wrench in everything.
>> Tara Scott: Well. And you know, like people are showing up sick all over the place.
>> Kris Bryant: Yeah. It’s like nobody cares anymore. It’s just ridiculous.
>> Tara Scott: No, thank you. All right, Kris, what have you been reading and watching other than election results lately? All
>> Kris Bryant: right, that was amazing. Yeah. So I’ve also been watching Traitors, which, you
>> Tara Scott: know, I’ve been
>> Kris Bryant: talking, about forever. I’m a week behind. So I do like that I, I feel that they’ve got to like, the more I watch it. I hate that. I’m a realist. I hate that. You know, even though I watch these shows, I’m like, okay, how can you like not like crack up? Like if somebody accuses you of something, how do you like, play it
>> Tara Scott: off?
>> Kris Bryant: Like I would be able to tell if somebody was lying. And I’m not just saying that because, oh, I think I’m so good. I’d be great at the game. I just feel it. Like even if you don’t know somebody, like, I think you would just get the Vibe. Like,
>> Tara Scott: you
>> Kris Bryant: know, when people are off, I. I stay away from them. Like if I don’t get a good vibe, if I can tell they’re lying or something’s going on or they’re doing something shady, like I can get a vibe from them. And I just feel like that show just kind of like they have to know. People have to know. And there’s like, don’t say anything, you’ll ruin the show or whatever.
>> Tara Scott: Yeah.
>> Kris Bryant: Ah. Oh, oh. And are you watching the Great British. British. The Great British Baking Show?
>> Kris Bryant: You’re gonna love this. You’re absolutely gonna love this. Okay, so there is a throuple on there.
>> Tara Scott: What?
>> Kris Bryant: Listen, so one of the, one of the contestants is in a throuple, but he doesn’t call it a throuple. He calls it a boy band. I’m in a boy band.
>> Tara Scott: That’s adorable.
>> Kris Bryant: I knew that you would. I knew the whole time. I was like, oh my gosh, Terror’s gonna lose. Oh, yeah.
>> Tara Scott: That’s so cute. But they’re not all competing, right?
>> Kris Bryant: No, it’s just one of the guys. Yeah, he’s. I forgot his name. But it’s kind
>> Tara Scott: of cool,
>> Kris Bryant: like they brought it up, you know, because a lot of
>> Tara Scott: times
>> Kris Bryant: they’ll talk about, once they get a certain amount of, like weeks into the show, they talk about the partner, their family life, their blah, blah, blah. Lives at home with his mother, has a partner, has two partners. And so like, it was just like he, you know, has two partners and, and he’s like,
>> Tara Scott: yeah, we don’t
>> Kris Bryant: call it, you know, we are what people would consider a throuple, but we call ourselves a boy band. And I’m like, that’s adorable. I love that.
>> Tara Scott: I love that.
>> Kris Bryant: Yeah. And
>> Tara Scott: I’m
>> Kris Bryant: watching a lot of football. Like football is in full swing. We’re almost half a season. Like, how is that possible? Like,
>> Tara Scott: I know it’s gone by really quickly.
>> Kris Bryant: Like, I knew this was going to happen. I lost to my writers Fantasy football league. I lost two games in. Or lost two weeks in a row. I knew, I knew this would happen. I always start
>> Tara Scott: off
>> Kris Bryant: strong and then I like, peter out. So it’s like terrible. But yeah, so that’s, that’s what I’ve been watching and doing. What about you? What have you been reading, watching, playing, doing.
>> Tara Scott: All right. So, Drag Race UK season eight is nearly over. I think it’s been one of the weirder seasons. I think it’s a really strong top four. But also they just sent home. Somebody that, like, from the first episode, I was like, oh, yeah, that person is going to be in top four. So I don’t know who I’m cheering for because there’s one person there who’s like, incredibly talented and has done very, very well. But also two other people from her drag family have won before. So that seems kind of strange. Like, out of eight seasons, two have already won. Are we gonna have a third? but there’s somebody else who’s also very, very young but very, very promising. So that should be good. I don’t know. We’ll see. And then Canada’s Drag Race starts soon. So I’m. Yeah, I’m looking forward to that one and seeing who’s on my adventures on hello Kitty Island. Adventure continues on the Nintendo. It really is like a super chill game. Like you can pick it up and play it for five minutes. You could play for an hour or two if you wanted. You can just pick it up for five or 10 minutes and then put it down and walk away. And so it’s a really nice low pressure. You just run around an island or maybe swimming around to a different island and you’re collecting shells and stuff.
>> Kris Bryant: I thought Pokemon Go was going to be like that for me. I
>> Tara Scott: really
>> Kris Bryant: did. It’s like, oh, I’ll just catch some Pokemon and. Oh, no, no, no. Now people are inviting me into challenges. Weekly challenges.
>> Tara Scott: Oh, no. It’s turning into a job.
>> Kris Bryant: It is now. It is now a competition. And, I get pulled into these things. Like this last week it was catch 500 Pokemon and it’s you and two or three other people. So it’s like a four and it could be like, you can be in a random group with people you don’t even know and. Oh, that was one of the things I did. Sorry, I’m like jumping over. I did my first in person raid.
>> Tara Scott: How was that?
>> Kris Bryant: So, like I went to a park where there was like a, like 16 people. They brought cookies. I. They like. It was a whole thing.
>> Tara Scott: So cute.
>> Kris Bryant: Like you became friends with them. It was like a whole thing. And like half of the people were dressed up for Halloween and half the people were dressed up because they were playing Pokemon. It was great. I nerded out.
>> Tara Scott: That’s so cute. Finding community through Pokemon,
>> Kris Bryant: right? And so, yeah, so anyway, so like it. So then it became a competition and these people like invited me and it was like non stop. I was like, debbie, you have to drive me around. I have to find these Pokemon. I have to get this, this
>> Kris Bryant: we hit it. We hit the final, like, a day later. I mean, we got the. You get a week to do the challenges. And I couldn’t. I did over. I had, like, 374 Pokemon out of that 100. I’m terrible. Like, I can’t do. Think competition and me fierce. Anyway, I interrupted. Tell me about. Hello?
>> Tara Scott: No, it’s just. It’s a very chill, very sweet game.
>> Kris Bryant: I should probably do that then. There’s no competition.
>> Tara Scott: No. Done. Do you have Nintendo?
>> Kris Bryant: I do. I have a Nintendo, but I have the original Nintendo. This is probably like,
>> Tara Scott: oh, do you have a Nintendo Switch?
>> Kris Bryant: No, I don’t have a Switch.
>> Tara Scott: it might be on other systems. I don’t actually know. I haven’t looked into it. I just. I find it easier to play things on Nintendo, so. And I’m planning on picking up a couple of other games because they have a big sale on RPGs happening right now. I have no idea if it’ll still be on when people are listening. But we have. At work, we have this really cool thing we can do in Slack, because Slack is our messaging system.
>> Kris Bryant: Okay. Yeah,
>> Tara Scott: it’s kind of silly, but it’s a thing called hey, Taco. And the idea is we each get five tacos a day and we can give them to other people. And it’s typically a way to, like, thank people or acknowledge them. And each taco equals $1 that you can put towards a gift card of some kind. And so I’ve gotten a lot of Sephora gift cards. Like when I was doing skincare a few years ago, Amazon, I’ve done a lot of. And then one of my best friends who. Oh, my God. I’ve known him for years and years. I worked with him at another company. And he came back and he was like, you think we could get the Nintendo Store added? Because I’ve seen that the, whoever does. The provider, I’ve seen that they have. And I was like, I don’t know. And I reached out to our HR person. I was like, hey, can we get that into her at it? And she was like, yeah. And did it immediately.
>> Kris Bryant: Wow.
>> Tara Scott: And so I can get RPGs with my taco money, so I don’t even have to pull out of my spending money.
>> Kris Bryant: That’s amazing.
>> Tara Scott: I’m very excited. So I want to get Octopath Traveler Zero. I don’t understand why it’s called zero when there’s a one. Well, there’s just Octopath Traveler, then there’s Octopath Traveler. Two. And typically, you don’t go from two to zero. You go from two to three.
>> Kris Bryant: It’s always ground zero, patient zero, how it all starts.
>> Tara Scott: So I gotta find out. And then the other thing is, in the lead up to Halloween, I think I forgot to talk about this in a previous episode, but a show that my youngest and I bonded over. Was it probably a little early to show this kid? Maybe, but this kid has always been into creepy stuff. It’s like a comedy animated series on Netflix called Haunted Hotel. And it’s a woman who. It’s about, like, this woman who. Her brother died. He left her his hotel, which is very, very haunted. And it’s also haunted by him. It’s like all these other ghosts, but he’s there too. He’s voiced by Will Forte, and he’s wonderful. Kristen Schaal plays her daughter. And it’s just. It’s very, very fun. Very funny. It surprised me in a lot of ways in the first season, and it actually has, like, some really. A couple really poignant episodes near the end of the first season. So the second season dropped, and, yeah, my kid and I blasted through it in a day.
>> Kris Bryant: Wow. We
>> Tara Scott: had a good time.
>> Kris Bryant: Short episodes. Yeah. Small episodes.
>> Tara Scott: Yeah. They’re only like 25 minutes, so it’s super short. You can definitely do it quickly if you have time in the inclination. So. Yeah,
>> Kris Bryant: well, you know, Friday, I will be horizontal. I say that, but I. You know what’s gonna happen? I’m gonna get dragged out to do a bunch of things.
>> Tara Scott: Say, no. Go rent a hotel room to be horizontal.
>> Kris Bryant: That would be nice. I gotta go to
>> Tara Scott: work.
>> Kris Bryant: My location’s on. I can be found. Why are you at this hotel? That could. That would be worse to explain.
>> Tara Scott: That would be so much worse to explain. Oh, my God. That’s where you would have to, like, flip on your FaceTime and just say, let me give you a tour of this empty hotel room.
>> Kris Bryant: Right. I’ll even check. Yeah, check in the door of the hallway. Look, there’s nobody here. Yeah, I don’t know that that’s the greatest
>> Tara Scott: idea. so funny. All right, Kris, it’s that time. What is your official recommendation today?
>> Kris Bryant: Okay, so my official recommendation is very interesting, and people are kind of like. They’ll kind of know a little bit what I’m talking about. So it’s a 2026 film, girls like Girls. And so it all started. It’s by Haley Kiyoko, who is a pop singer, who’s a very popular pop singer right now. I don’t listen to pop music except for Taylor Swift.
>> Kris Bryant: So I don’t really know her music but like my editor is like really into her and always talking about her. So she did a song and then she made this song into a video and she loved it. She loved directing this video. So then she decided to write a book about it. And really it’s kind of her story of coming out. And then she made this movie and she directed this movie.
>> Tara Scott: M
>> Kris Bryant: so like she’s super involved in the whole entire process. And so I’m like, okay, great. And here’s the connection that we all have. She actually submitted her book. This book, Girls Like Girls.
>> Tara Scott: She write the book?
>> Kris Bryant: Yeah, she wrote. Well, I mean that’s what she says.
>> Tara Scott: Okay, so maybe somebody ghost wrote it. I mean, I
>> Kris Bryant: believe her, but
>> Tara Scott: her name is on the COVID
>> Kris Bryant: Her name’s on the COVID I believe that she wrote it. I. I really do. But she won a Goldie Golden Crown. Literary society gave her
>> Tara Scott: a Goldie. Did she show up?
>> Kris Bryant: Yeah,
>> Tara Scott: I feel like I would have known if she did.
>> Kris Bryant: No, she didn’t. She didn’t show up. She did not show up. She was not there. So then when I saw that the movie was available, like, I don’t even know where I saw it. It was just. I talked into the magic remote and there it was. So let me read you like the little blurbing set over the course of a sun drenched summer. And I think it’s like in the summer of 2006. Like it was just filmed this year, but it was, it takes place in 2006. The film follows 17 year old Coley and her name is Nicole, but she goes by Coley, who moves to a small town in Oregon to live with her father after the loss of her mother. And she hadn’t seen her father in years. So it’s one of those like really awkward situations. Struggling to start over, Coley is drawn into the world of popular, confident local girl named Sonja. As a mutual attraction develops, the two navigate the intense emotions, anxieties and self discovery of first love while dealing with contrasting personal hurdles and family pressures. Side note, like, Zach Braff is her dad in this movie.
>> Tara Scott: Oh no, way.
>> Kris Bryant: I love him. I love him. So I had to bring that up because you know how I am about like sidekicks and other people, like casts members and stuff. So. And I love him. So that
>> Tara Scott: was
>> Kris Bryant: good. So what I like about this, and here’s what I, I wrote this down. So I was taking notes last night and I wrote down like this feels like it’s very authentic, like when you have a crush. And then later I was like, okay, I need to make sure I’m pronouncing her name correctly. So I jumped on like YouTube or something where she was talking and I am, I was pronouncing it correctly. But she said, she goes, I wanted to make this as authentic as possible when you have your first crush. I was like, that’s exactly what I said. That’s exactly what comes through in the movie. Truly. It’s like you can tell there’s like some sort of. Obviously you like each other and these girls are like girls, you know, you hug, you hold hands and things like that. It’s not, you know what I mean? Like with your friends, you know, like link arms or whatever. Girls are a lot closer and more touchy feely than, than boys are. And so they’re like, they get really close really fast and you could tell there’s like, like they’re getting closer physically and just like small touches and stuff like that. And she really focuses, when she’s directing, she really focuses on the small touches and you know, the hair, touching the hair and, and you know, there’s that line you’re gonna cross and you get right up to that line and like, you just see who’s gonna. Is this really gonna happen for us or not? And, and it just, it was portrayed so well and I just, I absolutely appreciate it so much the way she did it. And it was like, it felt like how I felt with my first girlfriend. Like, just that it brought it all back to me and I
>> Tara Scott: was like, I remember that,
>> Kris Bryant: being scared to take that first step and who was gonna push the line and, and then after it happens, like, how do you pull apart? How do you go back to that, you know, if you’re not ready for it, you know, and these, these girls are, you know, 17 years old and, and you know, 2006 wasn’t like a pride. Flags everywhere, you know. It was 20 years ago. Right?
>> Tara Scott: Holy shit. Why did you have no idea 20 years ago?
>> Kris Bryant: Oh, sorry. I was a baby. But you were a baby.
>> Tara Scott: I was a baby.
>> Kris Bryant: So there wasn’t a lot, you know, that it wasn’t like. I don’t know, I don’t know. Anyway, I, it wasn’t as accepted as it is now, even though we still fight the fight. You know what I mean?
>> Tara Scott: Yeah, I mean, it’s hard for me to have an objective view on what it was like, cuz I was still a Christian then.
>> Kris Bryant: That’s right.
>> Tara Scott: I was still an evangelical. That bad time.
>> Kris Bryant: Big E word. It was just. It was so good because first of all, like, Coley has so much going on. So she. Her mother passes.
>> Tara Scott: M.
>> Kris Bryant: So I mean that added weight to this whole thing for me. Her mother passes
>> Tara Scott: and
>> Kris Bryant: she has to go live with her dad who she doesn’t even know. Like.
>> Kris Bryant: He was never really in her life. And like they kind of had a heart to heart talk that they needed to have and it was just. It was handled very well, I think. And she just had so much going on. She had like. She was in a new place, you know, and she was trying to fit in and she wasn’t fitting in. And I don’t know where she moved. Where she was originally. Like, she moved to Oregon. Like this little tiny town in Oregon.
>> Tara Scott: No.
>> Kris Bryant: Yeah. And like. And of course, you know, the boy. The teenage boys are just jerks. They’re just jerks in this. You know, the popular girl, Sonia, she has a boyfriend but like she’s like super close to, you know, to Coley. And it’s just they, they did a really good job of. She. Haley. Haley did a really good job of directing this whole thing. Like just trying to deal with. With trauma and. And trying to deal with like new things and
>> Tara Scott: new
>> Kris Bryant: changes and. And emotions. Like the emotions you have like when somebody you love passes and then all of a sudden you have like a. Just a swarm of new emotions. Like you’re overload. Like that is some overload shit right there. And so I really enjoyed how the character got through that.
>> Kris Bryant: And there’s a point in the story where they have to separate just because of one of the. Well, Sonja has to go to a dance camp. Dance camp. And during that time that’s when Coley does some self reflection and she takes the time to talk to her dad and learn more about her dad. You know, before she was so anti dad. And then they started developing their relationship during this time, you know, and then she was branching out and meeting different people. And then at the end of the story, I mean it was funny because as an adult I was like, oh, I just did an eye roll at the
>> Tara Scott: end. It
>> Kris Bryant: was still a good ending and everything. But as a teenage kid I was like, I loved it.
>> Tara Scott: That’s amazing.
>> Kris Bryant: So I really thought this was a. It was a quick. It’s an hour and a half. It’s very, very quick. It’s free. We just have to look it up. I don’t remember if it was like on, I say free. It’s on one of the streaming services that’s free to me. So I don’t know if it’s like Amazon prime or if it’s even boss. What is it called? Awesome Fossum. Like
>> Tara Scott: what that.
>> Kris Bryant: That holds her. There’s like a whole LGBTQ queer streaming service, and I think it’s called Fossum.
>> Tara Scott: Anyway, it sounds like you m. Made it up,
>> Kris Bryant: so you should watch it because let’s support queer directors. Women directors. Like, let’s do that. And, and, and remember I flipped it when I was trying to figure out how to pronounce her name correctly. I watched this little snippet of this interview and she’s like, I’m very proud and honored to be like, in the 5% of Hollywood where I’m m. A female. I’m a woman director in a category with a bunch of different other women directors. But then she’s queer on top of it. So that even narrows it down even more. So support queer directors and watch this. Watch this. Really cute.
>> Tara Scott: Is this one that could be watched with teenagers?
>> Kris Bryant: Yes, with teenagers. Yes. There’s nothing. There’s no, like, sex in it or anything like that. There’s. There’s implication of touching, but not like you wouldn’t feel uncomfortable. Like, I wouldn’t feel uncomfortable watching it with my parents.
>> Tara Scott: Nice. Okay, good.
>> Kris Bryant: Yeah. So that is my official recommendation. Girls like girls. And what about you, Tara? What is your official recommendation?
>> Tara Scott: Okay, so mine is a novel called Scorpio Season by Maisie Bell. And so I wanted to make sure to watch it because it is Scorpio season now. And I know this.
>> Kris Bryant: Yes, yes,
>> Tara Scott: I know this because it was my aunt’s birthday yesterday and she is a loud and proud Scorpio. She loves being a Scorpio. So my hope is that it’s still Scorpio season when this episode drops. Although I can’t remember how that goes. So the story starts with a one night stand. So, you know, we. And it’s, from the perspective of Florence. She, is in a band. She got some kind of interesting, very exciting information that her favorite spirit singer has selected their band or one of her favorite singers, Juno, I forgot her last name. Has selected Scorpio Season, that’s the name of her band, to come on the European leg of her tour. Now there is a problem. They need a drummer, but that’s okay because she’s, you know, kind of on cloud nine. They’ll figure it out. They’re only leaving in a few Weeks. Holy. But like, they will figure this out. And it’s really important to her. Like she really, really wants to make it as a musician because her dad is a rock star who kind of bounced out of her life when he was 7 or when she was 7 or 8. And like he’ll do the obligatory once or twice a year phone call, but he’s kind of a piece of shit.
>> Kris Bryant: Oh yeah.
>> Tara Scott: And he’s kind of also one of those. It’s interesting he’s set up as one of those, like, oh yeah, he was big in the 90s, but he’s on like, I don’t know, whatever the equivalent of American Idol is. And he’s kind of a dick and he’s kind of. But there’s still that
>> Kris Bryant: like,
>> Tara Scott: you know, wanting to sort of chase the approval sort of. But also want to surpass and. And Scorpio Season is. It’s all women. They write their own songs, they do their own music a la the Go Go’s. Because the Go Gos is also kind of the most famous like all women rock band. The only difference is that Scorpio Season is also all queen queer. And so it’s just this, like,
>> Kris Bryant: I went to Spice Girls in my head.
>> Tara Scott: No, this is more. I pictured more like the
>> Kris Bryant: Joan Jet. Joan Jett. I’m thinking of all the women rock bands.
>> Tara Scott: I mean, maybe I was also imagining. I don’t know if she counts as rock, but I was also imagining Florence in the Machine. Although maybe that’s just because her name is Florence, like the lead singer. But so again she’s like just floating on out of there. It’s very exciting. She’s waiting at a bus stop because it’s also, they all have day jobs, right? Like this is not a career for them yet, but they’ve been like busting their asses working in bars and clubs and stuff. And it takes place, there from London and at a bus stop she meets this like super hot mask girl and they go back to the masked girl’s apartment and they have a great night. Also surprising there was the use of a dental dam. I was like, have I seen one?
>> Kris Bryant: Oh, I
>> Tara Scott: see one of these.
>> Kris Bryant: I think you have. This is, I think because we, we talk about this a lot and I think that there was one before.
>> Tara Scott: Yeah, maybe, maybe because usually safer sex stuff is around, like having a conversation. I’ve been tested recently, but it was, I was like, okay,
>> Kris Bryant: interesting.
>> Tara Scott: They have a great night or they have a great time and then she leaves. They don’t Exchange numbers because she’s going on European tour. Like, how can she,
>> Tara Scott: embark on something? And then the, you know, the next day somebody kind of takes the number from the flyer and says, hey, I’m a drummer. I’d like to try out. Who is it? But the person she had the one night stand with. So Luca is the other character. She has adhd. She dropped out of university because it was just too much. She works at a coffee shop and she’s been drumming since she was 9. Like, she’s very, very, very good. And so somebody from the band, obviously not Florence, puts a flyer up in the coffee shop the next day, takes the number, goes for it. And you know, when. When Lucas shows up, she and Florence have this like, oh, no moment. But they have a conversation where it’s like, no, no, no, let’s just. Let’s make this about the music. Yes, we had a great time, but, like, we really need to focus on this tour. We want to do well and we do. And so most of the book is actually the whole band, like being on tour and them building kind of a friendship throughout it. But it’s like as they gain followers and people notice. People notice the chemistry because, you know, like now there’s like footage of that people record on their phones and they put on social media and they have this one show where it’s like really, really hot. Like temperature wise. Like it’s crazy hot sort of in the venue. And she’s like making sure Luca gets a drink. And there’s just something about the way she does and the way she pours it that everybody starts shipping them and people write fanfic about them. And so it’s kind of that like, okay, sure, yes, it’s about the music, but are they going to be real with each other and where this should be going? So I got this on NetGalley and here’s. Here’s the thing. I am a notorious cover hater. I have been known,
>> Kris Bryant: yes,
>> Tara Scott: say shitty things about many covers and
>> Kris Bryant: mine included.
>> Tara Scott: Not all of your covers.
>> Kris Bryant: Okay. no, not all my covers. It’s okay. I. I’m good. We’re good.
>> Tara Scott: I. Okay. Yeah. I’m not gonna relitigate my. I really like some of your other cover.
>> Kris Bryant: Yeah, you do, you do.
>> Tara Scott: But in this case, the COVID really drew me in because even though it’s illustrated, it also looks like a band poster.
>> Kris Bryant: now I gotta look at it. It’s
>> Tara Scott: called Scorpio Season by Maisy Bell. And I think that’s really clever when you’re doing a book about a band going on tour to have it look like a concert poster with.
>> Kris Bryant: Yeah, that’s
>> Tara Scott: on it. I don’t think I’ve seen anything like that before.
>> Kris Bryant: Okay, got it right here. Well, I don’t have it right here, but images
>> Tara Scott: close enough.
>> Kris Bryant: Oh yeah, yeah, yeah.
>> Tara Scott: It’s cute, right? no, no, you found the one for the sequel.
>> Kris Bryant: Oh, that’s
>> Tara Scott: okay. We’re gonna get there. We’re going to get there.
>> Kris Bryant: Oh, there’s, there’s a lot going on
>> Tara Scott: here.
>> Kris Bryant: Scorpio. So Scorpio
>> Tara Scott: season.
>> Kris Bryant: Season. Okay, so it’s this
>> Tara Scott: one. Yes. And even though here’s the thing, she looks nothing like Stevie Nicks, it still sort of a little bit gave me like the, a little bit of the witchy vibes.
>> Kris Bryant: Yeah, yeah, yeah, I see that.
>> Tara Scott: Which also absolutely fits like with the story. So I really like that. I thought that was really well done. It sucked me in. It brought the story kind of higher up the pile than a lot of other books that I would have read. I also thought this is a really fun take on one night to forever because usually when I read them it’s a situation with a power imbalance. Like a boss and an employee.
>> Kris Bryant: Right.
>> Tara Scott: Or a professor and a student. And even there was that one. Harper listed one where it was like a young woman and then the, the next door neighbor who was also friends with her mom. And it’s like, it’s not a power imbalance, but it is this like hell
>> Kris Bryant: yeah.
>> Tara Scott: And in this case they’re on a much more even playing field because they’re bandmates. It just so happens that Florence really wants to focus on the music because she really cares about the success of the band. The other thing that was different for me is at this point in my life I’m not typically reading romances where both of the leads are in their early twenties. Like I want. I, I prefer reading romances where people are like established adults. And if at least one of them are over 40, that’s even better because I’m in my 40s. But there was just something about this that called to me and I really enjoyed it. And I think it’s a couple of things. One of them is the character work I thought was very good. And the other one is we’re following them on their European tour and so their concerns for the most part are different than lot of other new adult romances. Like they’re similar but it’s in a different place literally. And it just sort of worked and so with Florence, she has this tendency to keep everyone at arms length, you know, because she’s just focused on the band and their success. And maybe it’s like too much therapy. But it also makes sense because she probably has a weird attachment style thanks to her dad bailing. Like, she has some abandonment stuff. And. And also it’s interesting because, like, her dad bailed and isn’t involved in her life. Her mother is a professor at Oxford University, which is also this, like, oh, okay, so she has a very successful but kind of washed up and definitely a shithead dad who ends up with, like, this scandal for saying something homophobic. And then she has a mom who’s incredibly high performing and is this professor at Oxford. And so Florence is this, like, how does she navigate that? What is it that she wants? Who does she want to be? What does she want to do? Which the whole, like, who do I want to be and what do I want to do? Very common in New adult, but you don’t typically see them figuring it out while they’re going from city to city in Europe, hanging out with their friends. And, like, there is a really good. The rest of the band is definitely, like, they’re there, they’re characters, they’re part of the mix. And then with Luca, you know, as somebody who came to adhd, like, understanding I have it later in my life, I was really happy to see how realistic the ADHD representation is. Like, she really struggles.
>> Kris Bryant: Oh, good.
>> Tara Scott: Yeah. like, she really struggles with executive function, with focus, even her energy management. It’s a real thing on the page that she’s trying to figure out what to do. And it’s not just like a little bit of. Of gloss over it. We also see her fake. You know, like, she’s worried about how her family’s going to react that she’s dropped out of university. And so for her, it was great to see her grow and the self confidence that came out of being in the band and how she and Florence find their way. So with this particular one, it’s interesting because it doesn’t start out feeling like a celebrity romance. It feels kind of celebrity adjacent. But they grow in public awareness over the course of the book. We see them as they go from, like, almost no followers to, like, well over 100,000 followers. Right. So it kind of turns into a celebrity romance along the way. And here’s the thing. I love this book. I absolutely recommend it. Like we just discussed, there is a sequel coming.
>> Kris Bryant: Oh, yeah. Like, I messed up.
>> Tara Scott: No, no, no, you did Absolutely fine. You teed it up very well. When I saw the premise for the sequel, if it was available, I would have dropped everything. Not just, but everything in my life, I would have dropped to read it. So the lead guitarist from the band has her romance where.
>> Kris Bryant: Oh, nice.
>> Tara Scott: She. So. And it’s set up in this book and it’s actually not a spoiler because it’s in the blurb for the second book. So just as she’s like sort of in the middle of the tour, her girlfriend breaks up with her. She says, you have a week to get your shit out of my house because she has the lease on the apartment. And so she’s trying to figure it out. And Juno, that singer that they’re on tour with, is like, I have a spare room.
>> Kris Bryant: Of course you do.
>> Tara Scott: Yep. and she’s like, you know, I’ve had artists stay with me before. As long as my daughter is okay with it, because she has a teenage daughter, you can move in. And it’s. So it’s an age gap. There’s.
>> Kris Bryant: I was gonna say that’s age
>> Tara Scott: gap. Absolutely. The guitarist is like very closed off. So I don’t know if it counts as Ice Queen. We’re going to find out. But I think it might be, if not Ice Queen. Ice Queen adjacent. And at one point there’s like a photo taken of them and there’s this like assumption that they’re together and they’re like, let’s lean in on the fake relationship thing. So celebrity age gap, maybe Ice queen, fake relationship, somebody.
>> Kris Bryant: It’s everything.
>> Tara Scott: Everything. Somebody wrote a book for me and I get to check in on this couple that I love.
>> Kris Bryant: M. When does the book come out?
>> Tara Scott: May of 2027.
>> Tara Scott: I am beyond excited. And here’s. Here’s the absolute kicker on all of it. Scorpio Season is a debut novel.
>> Kris Bryant: Wow.
>> Tara Scott: I did not know going into it. This is the first book by Maisie Bell. She is an author from Germany, which I also think is very cool. It just, it was so good. This is one of the best debuts I’ve read. This is probably the best debut I’ve read since Carrie Bird’s first book came out.
>> Kris Bryant: Oh yeah, yeah, yeah.
>> Tara Scott: so yes, go read Scorpio Season by Maisie Bell and then maybe we can all. You can all get excited and ready with me to read Scorpio Rising next year when it comes out.
>> Kris Bryant: Nice.
>> Kris Bryant: Nice.
>> Tara Scott: I know, I know. You can tell I loved it because I gushed and gushed and gushed and gushed.
>> Kris Bryant: It was. Yeah, I mean, you had me blue. And I love, I love musicians, you know, I love a good musician story. Yeah,
>> Tara Scott: I think I, think you would enjoy this one and I do think it’s really cool because there is something really unique there about a band of all women. They’re all queer. They’re all, they’re doing their own instruments there. It’s called playing. They’re playing, not doing. They’re playing their own instruments, they’re writing their own music.
>> Kris Bryant: They’re writing, they’re
>> Tara Scott: working together. it was just so good. Anyway, anyway, that is all for this episode. Thank you so much for joining us. If you’ve enjoyed it and you haven’t not subscribed yet on your podcast app, please make sure you do. If you have a friend that you think would like the show, please tell them about it. And if you think they would be interested in any of our recommendations or anything else we talked about, please make sure to tell them to check it out. If you want to support us, we have links on our show notes to our Ko Fi and if you want to connect with us on your favorite social media sites, we’re on most of them. We’re just not on the hell site that is, formerly known as Twitter. So search for us there or email us@podcastqueerlyrecommended.com www. Bye everybody.
>> Kris Bryant: Bye. Sam.