Welcome Back And Summer Check-In

Steph 0:22

Step into the lit live. Black girls lit starts now. Black girls at Cell Complex.

Tasha 0:28

Hey Bookish Baddies, and welcome back to another episode of Black Girls Lit Podcast. It's your girl Tasha here with Lex.

Star 0:35

I'm Star.

Tasha 0:36

And it's Steph. Yay, welcome back. This is season two, episode four, July summertime. It's hot. We hot. We out here in these streets. Not really because it'd be a little too hot to be out here in these streets. Okay, not really in these streets.

Star 0:50

I'll be back outside in the fall when the temperatures cool back down.

Steph 0:55

Light bright be out in the street. So I'll be in the street. She just re-referencing herself as like.

Tasha 1:01

She's working on her tan. She's working on her tan, y'all. Jesus. Okay, I will tell y'all. June was June was a busy month. So July, I'm I'm gonna be sitting down in July for real. I'm gonna be I'm gonna be inside in the air condition, sitting down a little bit for July. No big plans. Anybody else got big plans?

Steph 1:22

We celebrating the 250 years.

Lex 1:24

250 years.

Steph 1:26

I'm not gonna do this with her.

Lex 1:27

Okay, I'll be in Utah. Yeah, celebrating my father. Yeah, we we celebrating my cousin's birthday. That's what that's what we do it. All right.

Equiano Rum And Drinking With Purpose

Lex 1:36

There we go.

Tasha 1:37

Okay, cousin with the big six on. Yeah, nice. All right, Lex. Tell the people we are drinking in this month of July.

Lex 1:44

Let's get to the liquor. And I, you know, the liquor we're using today, it is gonna make you feel warm inside. So maybe drink it um when you're in the air conditioner, in the shade, you know, because it's it's rum. So it's gonna get us toasty, right? Okay, so this week on Black Girls Wit, we are sipping with purpose as we dive into the boyfriend by Frida McFadden. Big Frida, as I like to call her, because she is taking the world by storm right now. She just had her movie come out, she just showed her face because no one knew what she looked like until like a month ago. So, yeah, Big Frida, never the little one, you know? Anyways, but back to the liquor. So today we are enjoying Equiano rum. So this is a premium rum made in small batches, so it is exclusive. Every single bottle is exclusive to you. It is a spirit that is rich in history as well as in flavor. Also, Equiano is the world's first African and Caribbean rum. So it is black-owned, I believe.

Tasha 3:02

I hear Afrobeats when she says it.

Lex 3:05

Yes, it's both of those. So Equiano combines both rums from Africa and from the Caribbean islands, creating a smooth, complex profile with notes of dried fruit, caramel, vanilla, and spice. But it has no added sugars. So she's healthy. You know, she's healthy, no additives, she's all natural. Superfoods. So another thing about this rum is that it is named after an abolitionist, Equiano is his name. And so the brand also gives back by supporting equality-focused initiatives while making every sip a nod to both legacy and impact. So there's some purpose to this drink. So, drinking with purpose, no sugar, purposeful superfood.

Steph 4:01

Everything you need, it's part of her cocktail rotation.

Lex 4:06

Cheers, ladies.

Steph 4:07

Good.

Lex 4:08

It's a rum. I like it.

Steph 4:10

I like it. I like it too. You could tell there's no added sugars, but it's still sweet. But you can have a taste of sweetness. No, it is for sure.

Tasha 4:16

I do. I still, I mean, it's browns. I do still got a little burn, you know. No, I don't have the burn. Um I'm gonna need a little ice and a little lime on my little summer.

Star 4:25

Yeah, I I'm not I'm not taking no, I'm not drinking no shots of no warm rum regularly, but I think just chilling on some ice, that'll be cool. If you like it, it's okay, and it has a purpose and no sugar.

Tasha 4:39

So it's a

The Boyfriend Plot Setup

Tasha 4:40

yes for me.

Steph 4:41

No, it's good. I like it. Step in it. All right, step to tell the people what we're reading. So we're reading The Boyfriend by Freedom McFadden. This is a thriller that follows Sydney Shaw, a woman exhausted by New York's awful dating scene, until she meets a man who seems too good to be true. He's attractive, attentive, and a successful doctor. And for the first time, Sydney feels like she's found the perfect partner. At the same time, a series of murders is unfolding. A young woman, young women are being killed by a mysterious man who dates them before murdering them. As the pattern becomes clear, Sydney starts to feel uneasy. Small inconsistencies and gut instincts make her question whether her perfect boyfriend could be hiding something sinister. As her suspicion grows, so does the danger. Someone is watching her, and the closer she gets to the truth, the more she realizes she may already be trapped. The story builds tension around trust, deception, and obsession, leading to a high-stakes revelation about how far someone will go for love and how deadly that obsession can become. Let's get into it. Dun dun dun.

Tasha 5:55

Oh, all right. Yes. Okay, it sounds great. So let's see how

Ratings And The Abrupt Ending Debate

Tasha 6:00

we felt about it, ladies. You know, we're waiting here. We either cheers, sip, babysit, or send it back. And let me kick it off with a big cheers from Tasha. Okay. Surprise, surprise. Is it a drum roll?

Steph 6:13

Is it a drum roll?

Tasha 6:16

What it is is hate. Okay. Let me tell y'all. I don't know why y'all hate because I be loving the books. Um, no, definitely a cheers. It was suspense, and I was tied in like from the beginning. I kept trying to figure out who the person was. I never got it right until the end. I was like, ooh, okay. I definitely was surprised, and I feel like that's what a suspense is supposed to do. So it pulled me in, kept me in. And yes, Frida, you did your big one, as Lex said. Thank you. Frida. All right, Lex.

Star 6:48

How did you feel? I was not rehearsed. Just so y'all know.

Lex 6:54

Never the little one. Never the little one. Okay, so for my rating, I'm gonna pull a Steph because y'all know she is the queen of a 0.5 rating, and that's okay because I didn't even know we could do that until Steph does it. So, you know. Um, so I'm gonna give this book a 3.5. It was a great book. I see all the hype around Frida. I understand it. It was a page turner, definitely was a book that I had to finish to understand what the hell was going on and who the hell done it. Um, so I definitely give it props for that and keeping it interesting. It was not a boring book at all. I think the reason for the 0.5 setting were rating was the end. It was so anticlimatic. Like I just felt like it just ended, like once they figured it out, they're just like, okay, we're leaving now. And it's like, uh what's going on? Like, there has to what? It just seemed very like abrupt. But again, I don't, but also in that same vein, I don't know um how like what I would have thought a satisfactory ending would have been. But it was good though.

Star 8:06

It's the sign of like she really leaves you wanting more, really. Yeah, and that's what it is. It's like, girl, but what you mean that's it? Like, then what?

Lex 8:14

What happened next? But also it's like, but you you figured it out, like you know what happened, but it's like you know who done it. It's just yeah. So that's the point five. But overall, a very good book, and I definitely recommend for those who want some excitement in their life. So, you know, yeah.

Star 8:31

I agree. This was a very good book. This is my first Frida book that I have actually read. I've seen a couple of the movies that, you know, the they were turned into movies, some of our books were turned into movies. So I have seen a couple of those. So I wasn't, I was surprised by the end, but not so much because that's how they end. But for me, it got a cheers. And that is shocking.

Lex 8:54

Surprise, surprise. Yes, that should have been a drummer, right?

Star 8:59

That is shocking. The reason that I gave it a cheers is because I typically pride myself on being able to figure out what's going on. Like it doesn't matter. Yes, it doesn't take much for me to be like, oh yeah, I know this person. Yeah, it's usually pretty easy. This book literally had me guessing all the way to the very end. To the very end, even when I thought I knew. And I text Tasha and I was like, This is what's going on, right? And she just laughed. I was like, so I must be wrong because she didn't confirm. She didn't deny, but she didn't confirm.

Steph 9:32

But yeah, I don't think she would have either way.

Star 9:34

Yeah, like it kept me guessing to the end, and I was still surprised by the ending, still like even once I had all the information. I was still like, Well, I'll be there. So, yeah, exactly, definitely a cheer for sure. And I and I think I will read more of her books. Oh, for sure, sure. Yeah, I definitely would do. She has a great.

Tasha 9:57

Yeah, my sister likes Frida's her girl. Like, she's the oh, you let me tell you all the ones I've already read. I'm like, girl, okay.

Steph 10:04

Add to the list, add to the list. Definitely. So I'm gonna jump on the bandwagon. I'm between, I'm like where Lex is, where it was like the ending, but I will say that I also gave it a G. The curly is liked. I liked it. It was a page turner. It was for me, I was torn because of the ending because it was just so abrupt, but it told you everything. And as Star said, I'm a true crime girl. So I be I'm in the beginning of the book. Like, you did it, you did it, you did it. And it changes middle, beginning, middle, and it always changes. And even for me, towards the end, I was like, I still got it wrong. And so, but it's okay. That was the purpose of it. It was engaging. She had you you like you analyze all the characters, you start thinking, like, what did they say? Did they say that? Did they say him? You know, was it present tense? Was it past tense? And it just makes you question. So I could appreciate this particular thriller. I'm not a thriller girl because watch, you know, watching a movie, you have to sit there, you could cover your eyes, but when you're reading a book, it's like, do I have to read that sentence? But if you want to know what happened, you gotta read it, Steph, unless you're doing an audio book and then you still in it to win it. But that was for me, it was just a page turn, and I really do appreciate it. It was just the abrupt ending, but I can appreciate it. I got you Frida. Yeah, I got you Frida. Yes.

Tasha 11:27

I think that we can venture to say that BGL gives this one a thumbs up. Sure, Tasha. Why not?

Lex 11:34

BGL

Dirty Mojito And Dating Deal Breakers

Lex 11:35

approved No, it was good.

Tasha 11:37

It was good. Let me see.

Steph 11:39

It was, it was.

Tasha 11:43

Let's see what we did with this Equiano rum, y'all. I'm coming out the gate with a dirty mojito. Now, mojito is my favorite drink, I'm gonna be honest with y'all for real. This is a dirty mojito. So instead of being made with simple syrup, it's made with dark rum and brown sugar, and then with some lime, muddled in with some mint, so a dirty mojito. But I'm actually calling it a dirty dating because dating got really dirty in this book. We'll we'll talk about that. Tell me what you think about my drink first. Cheers. Cheers.

Steph 12:10

You know, Tasha be sensitive about her stuff.

Lex 12:13

She do.

Star 12:13

I'd be so sensitive. And rightfully so. Oh. Because she's on a, she's on, she's on a redemption tour. She's on a comeback tour. Not too. She knows them drinks. We already talked about them. She knows. Let's see, Tasha. I'm gonna be honest with you. Hold on. First of all, it's good. It is good. Thank you. It is good. It is good.

Steph 12:32

Tasha did a good one. I don't do mojitos. I really don't do mojitos. So, but I would order it. Agree, this is good. I would order it.

Lex 12:38

Thank you. Yeah, delicious. It completely cancels out the dirty Shirley. Because there's a theme here of dirty. Dirty, yes. Oh, Tasha, dirty. Yeah. The dirty, the dirty Shirley, disgusting. Very good. Yes.

Star 12:52

Cancel it, completely cancel it out. I don't know. That dirty Shirley was pretty bad. It was, yeah. It was not bad. It was pretty bad. So I don't know about canceling it out completely, but definitely some reasoning. We're moving forward. We're not looking back.

Steph 13:08

That's right. Let's talk about Sydney and Drinking the Dirty Mojito with our dirty dating.

Tasha 13:15

And prepare for this question. Jeez. Okay, okay. So the question is. That's always the E up for me.

Steph 13:27

Sorry, y'all. Sorry. We're coming back. We're coming back.

Tasha 13:31

The question that I have for you ladies, without giving away too much, we're not gonna give away free the book. Y'all gotta read it. We know that Sydney was out here dating, okay? Dating is hard out here in these streets. So I want to know. And again, most of us, you know, we're married, so really I we can start with you, Star. We're gonna have the penis on it too. Okay, what is your like absolute deal breaker for dating, or like what's your rule? Like, hey, this is like a must-have. Either way, so it can be either like, no, if I see this, I'm out, or like, no, what I'm looking for is this.

Star 14:02

So I there's a lot of things, because you know I say no to a lot of things. So I I definitely have a lot of things.

Tasha 14:09

You did have you did say that Jesus had to walk him in.

Star 14:11

Yeah, he got the he got to come in hand in hand with Jesus and the light shining on him, also.

Lex 14:17

Maybe a couple heart.

Star 14:18

Like I need I need a sign. That is definitely the full on side. This is him confusion. Because it's tricky out here. There can be no confusion. But that said, I have not dated in a long time. But because I have this expectation that Jesus is gonna deliver my husband to me, I decided that. Well, I guess I do have to talk to people and be, you know, approachable. An effort needs to be made. Yeah. So I'm I'm okay with that. So here recently, I met a gentleman in person, in real life, not on IRL, not on the internet. IRL in real life.

Lex 14:56

And I learned so much on the spot.

Star 15:01

We were talking a couple of phone calls, and then it turned into the text Olympics. And I realized during that experience that that is an absolute no for me. All day, every day. What are you doing? Good morning, how's your day going? Like it was cute at first, but then it was like week two and week three, and then he got blocked. Because what are we talking about right now? Like, I'm not about to tell you, and he was asking me, God, I wish I had prepared and had the text messages unblocked so that I could read you some of the text messages. But it was like these in-depth questions, like, what do you think is your what would you say is your greatest quality? Like, yo, is he getting us off an app or something? Like, what is happening? It was just so yeah, I just don't want to. It was just too much. Because after a while, like, and again, right? We met in person. So that was my thing. So there was this, there didn't need to be this build up to okay, we're getting to know each other first to see if we want to meet in person. We met in person initially. So now you want to go backwards and can we meet every day on? Stuck in the chat for how long though?

Tasha 16:15

Because it was like and where are we going on a date? Like, do you do you have a picnic basket, a blanket?

Star 16:20

Like, what when is our date? Yeah, like it didn't have to be nothing, it didn't have to be nothing major. Like, you want to meet me over here for drinks after work, like we can sit at the bar talking, you know what I'm saying? Like, it has to be nothing. But I'm not gonna be super major with you. I'm not about to texting you all day, every day. Because not that I be busy, super busy at work or nothing, but I don't want to. I don't want to do this.

Tasha 16:40

I don't want to. I think I texted Alvin maybe like two days ago. It probably was like, hey, what do you want for dinner? I don't be doing a whole lot of text. I'm not just be finna sitting up on my phone like that either.

Lex 16:53

Y'all don't even text each other good morning. No, because I'm with him. So I rolled over and be like, good morning. Oh, I guess. My man, he's my man's a paramedic, so he be gone.

Steph 17:03

By the time the sun goes, okay, yeah, then that's their paramedic.

Tasha 17:05

And I will say, I mean, because you know, Alan was in the military, so there's definitely has been times where we weren't like, you know, together all the time. And even when before when he used to work out of town and stuff, and we would communicate more by the phone then, but even after a while, I'd be like, okay, hey. Or like we both, our kids, it'd be times when we like, we're trying to, you know, you gotta keep the communication going. You know, you men working out of town, whatever, you know, you're keeping it going. But then you could tell we both be like, oh, well, my show finna come on. Like, and we both be like, oh, okay, and I'm like, oh, maybe the kids calling me. He like, girl, them kids teenagers, they ain't calling you. I just need to go. Like, you know, like, you're right. So now we we got to a point where we was like, hey, uh, I'm about to watch my show. Oh, me too. All right, talk to you later.

Star 17:44

Talk to you later.

Tasha 17:45

Like, let's just keep it real with each other. Yeah, so I don't, yeah. If you expect me to be sitting there going back and forth, and then don't be quizzing me either. Asking me no million questions about my thoughts and hopes and dreams, like I hate it.

Star 17:57

But no, but I feel like it naturally, but naturally, when you're in person with someone and you're sitting down and having a conversation, right? Like, there's a natural flow and a natural conversation that happens. And via text, it just seemed forced and corny as hell and weird. And then Chat GPT, I just hears my response.

Tasha 18:14

Yeah, and I I didn't like that. But I'm saying, okay, so I'm not gonna give away free the book, but I'll tell you the thing for me automatically, which again, I I've been out of the game for a very, very long time. I probably never really was in the game. I met Alvin when I was 20. Like, I'm gonna keep it a bug for real. Um, but so on one of Sydney's days where she met the guy where she had the side, they went out, somebody from off the app, and she had the side salad, and he had like drinks and a three-course meal, like liquor and a three-course meal. And at the end of it, he was when the um when the bill came, he was like, Oh, let's go half on it. I'm out. I'm out. If you invite me out, if you ask me on a date, I'm sorry, I'm I may be old school, but I expect for you to pay. But I'm not opposed to paying for you either. If I ask you out, I'll buy a man a dick a dinner. Like, I'm cool with that. But if you ask me, I expect for you to pay. And even if we do decide, hey, well, let's go Dutch. I'm not gonna go Dutch if I only had a $5 thing and you had a $55 thing, because I'm just saying I'm That's still a Dutch move because I'm paying my own bill, so I'm only paying for the salad. You're just gonna pay for the side and my dream. We're not going half, I'm gonna pay for my side.

Star 19:17

If we do go and not to the expectation, and you see that I just ordered a salad, then I think that I would expect you to be like, oh no, don't worry about it. I'll get that. Like a $5 salad, absolutely not. If one person had a side salad, it wouldn't. Yes. No. Yeah, that's crazy. Correct.

Lex 19:35

So for me, that'd be a no. That's fair. That's a medicine. Well, Sydney put up with a lot during that day. Like, let's keep it above. Yes.

Steph 19:46

Some of the stuff that man was doing, as soon as he walked in the door and your profile doesn't even meet what you had. I gotta go.

Tasha 19:54

And I was never, I wasn't, I was not part of the online dating crowd. So are people really doing that? They like posting a picture that does not look like them from 10 years ago.

Lex 20:04

10 years ago, or just someone. But how do you expect to get away with that? You don't, because then you stay stuck in the chat.

Steph 20:10

Correct. Or that's how captain she is. Leg said before, you FaceTime. Like if you're gonna have a conversation where you meet somebody, then it's like, okay, it progresses. We go from texting to then, okay, we FaceTime if we have a dialogue, and then it's like, okay, do we move this to an in-person date? But you've never, y'all just talked, text throughout the whole time, never did anything. And then the one time that I meet you, you are 20 years just somebody else, like Star said. And it was just like, no, I don't have time for that. I am an upfront, honest kind of gal. I try, I don't like to play games. You know, it's like, what you want? Oh, you want friends with benefits? Uh, I I might not be that. Uh uh, you could have one and then I could still be your friend. Just have somebody else to be your friends with benefits. But it's just like, but I'd just rather have an open dialogue. You're not looking for something, that's fine. Me either. Like we could talk, and if it progresses to something more, great. I think it's just the expectations. I think with Sydney, you're you're in your mid-30s, so you're giving people chances because you're what frustrated me about Sydney in the beginning, it was like you justified everything. Oh, well, he's just losing a little bit of hair. Oh, he's just a little bit skinny, oh, he's just a little girl.

Lex 21:18

But then turning it around to analyze herself, like, damn, maybe I shouldn't have worn this dress.

Steph 21:22

Hey, he makes one comment. He makes one derogatory comment about you. Let's remember he's not even the person he said he was. And it was like for you to allow that to even seep into your brain, it was like, don't do that. Please don't allow this man to do that to you. So yeah.

Lex 21:39

I will say, because I did meet my husband on the online dating method. So I was deep in the online dating. Like that was uh basically how I like, hey, that's the way people are meeting each other nowadays. So you have to follow suit if that's like how people are meeting, anyways. So Overarchingly, my deal breaker is a liar and a cheater. Don't lie to me, and damn sure don't cheat on me. And that's any version of cheating: emotional, physical, whatever. No, you don't get to play in my face like that. But I think when I was dating online and like trying to find my person and stuff like that, I did like Steph had talked about, like I always had to have a phone call with them or FaceTime them before we even met in person because people are weird. Like they they may text really cool and good, but then when you meet them, they can like barely hold a conversation with you. And like that just makes things awkward. So I always had that stipulation in place. Um what was the other what was the other thing? Oh, that's what it was. The ick. Oh my god. Oh if you give me the ick in any way, anyway, that can be a plethora of things. It's an automatic no. Because some of these men be out here dating like or texting like uncles, and it's weird because I'm not your niece. Don't ask me where my hug is at. That's weird. That's fucking gross. Stop. Don't tell me if I'm telling you, oh, I gotta take a shower real quick. Don't say without me. No. Yeah, that's weird. Stop right there. That's weird. That's icky.

Speaker 4 23:23

So corny.

Lex 23:23

Corny. It does sound corny to me. You're 25 years old. Why is that your line? No.

Tasha 23:30

I don't get that. We've never broken bread. You want to see me make it? Yes. It's disgusting.

Steph 23:36

The dating world is like, let's not date. It's let's just have to condoms and therapy. Condoms and therapy.

Lex 23:42

I don't want to. It's just very icky. And I did not like and they be bypassing the condoms. Literally. Literally. Oh my god. It's disbelieving. So glad.

Tasha 23:56

Maybe we can do a special spin-off series, like just focus on Star out here in the dating world. Can we just follow you around, Star and see? I don't think I want to.

Star 24:04

Like, I'm so discouraged. I'm gonna have to go talk to God again and see what we're gonna do. That's crazy. I don't know in the apps. You gotta find them in the app. That's where they at.

Lex 24:15

I don't want to. It's honestly the luck of the draw. I'm not even gonna say that's where they at. Dating is the luck of the draw.

Tasha 24:21

I don't want to.

Lex 24:22

The more you do it, you increase your odds.

Tasha 24:24

That was sent to say in the book.

Star 24:26

It's a numbers game. It is, it truly is. I don't want to. So listen, if you're out there right now and God is telling you that's her, then just find me and let's let's figure it out. Bring all the signs. Yeah, like now. Listen now. You're gonna have to tell me what he told you because he's gonna tell me what he told you. And if it don't match, then it's a no. You're not just gonna be able to say no, anything, because I talk to God every day. So I'm asking what he said. You better have the right answer.

Tasha 24:56

Oh, I cannot wait to meet this guy. Yeah. She's on YouTube. You can find her. She's on YouTube. Partner. Oh, God.

Steph 25:03

I cannot.

Star 25:04

All right. So. Move us a drink too. Stop moving. We're gonna move right along.

Trust Issues Cocktail And Gut Instincts

Star 25:10

We got some dark rum. We have some organic coconut water. And we have some lawn juice. And a little bit of simple syrup. Here. That's the same. And this is a who what do we call this? We're calling this trust issues.

Lex 25:24

What a perfect segue. Yep.

Star 25:26

We're calling this trust issues.

Lex 25:28

Because people be lying. This is good. Yeah, the ice. Very refreshing.

Star 25:33

Now, if you're not a coconut water fan, then it this has to be cold. Because if that coconut water starts to give room temperature, it's not gonna be a good time. So again, that's dark rum, coconut water, lime juice, and some simple syrup. All right. So the next question is throughout the boyfriend, appearances and first impressions played a huge role in what Sydney trusted. Have you ever had a gut feeling about someone that turned out to be completely right or completely wrong? And how much should we trust intuition when it comes to relationships?

Steph 26:07

Oh, you should trust it. Trust it. Oh, trust it. I've done it, been there, done that.

Speaker 4 26:12

Oh my god.

Steph 26:13

You know what they say when you go snooping, you find something, it's true. If your intuition says there's something to find, you will find it. So, yes, I I agree. If you have an intuition, if you have a gut feeling, you know, and you've never been steered wrong before by that gut feeling, because of course your own judgment. Now, if you've done it a couple of times and you've you've been wrong, then of course, but most cases, if you've done things and the signs are there and your intuition was right, you should go with it.

Tasha 26:45

Let's see, I am super trusting. I think sometimes like to a fault. I'm like, and I I I always move from like I'm like, hey, you know, like I go in believing everything you say until you prove me correct wrong. Because why should I move the thing? I do like and I but I feel like that has been to like the detriment detriment to me sometimes. I mean it's real. Because I mean, but because I'm just like, I take things like I I typically I don't look too deep into stuff. I'm like, hey, you said it, okay. That's that what you're putting forward. I just say everything at face value, just whatever. And Alvin, he's always like, mm-mm, he don't trust nobody, he don't trust nothing. He'd be like, mm-hmm, girl, they lying, mm-mm, they this. And he'd be breaking everything down. I'm like, well, no, because it's probably, you know, whoop. And he's like, mm-mm. And in that voice, too. I can hear you in that voice. I definitely feel like I am too trusting. Luckily, it's not, it has been some issues.

Lex 27:40

I'm so sorry. Listen, slurping down those drains.

Tasha 27:44

Um, I definitely it's it's come up sometimes like in friendships that well, people I thought were friends, and then it turns out that they weren't. But I just I chalk it up to you know like lessons learned and just and move on. Because I feel like I mean the alternative for me is that means if I have to be out here like watching everything and just like looking for, I I don't want to move like that. I just again I'm just hey, what you tell me, I'm gonna take it face back until you prove me. Oh, but now once you show me who you are, I receive I'm also gonna believe that too. Yeah, you know what I'm saying?

Steph 28:15

So um received.

Tasha 28:17

But I would say that I am probably too too trusting. And I probably have given, it's probably been some people who I've given too many chances, especially when I was younger. Now I said, at this point, I I don't have a whole lot of time for foolishness. I feel like I, you know, I said life is short, and I I don't have a whole lot of time for too much of anything. So oh no, don't worry about it. We good. No, we yeah, like I'm I'm quick to end stuff now, but which is also why I say I if for whatever reason I found myself out here single, I would just be single because again, I just I I don't have time to be trying to read people, trying to figure stuff out. People probably lying, and I I just I'm too I'm too tired. I just I just want to read my book and drink my drinks and like chill somewhere. I don't have time to be looking deep into what you're saying. And I I don't want to.

Steph 29:04

Oh, your post was a sunlight, it was just a sun. Did that mean something? Like, I don't want to read in between the lines.

Lex 29:10

I don't. I'm an extremely paranoid person. Um not extremely I yeah, I'm very I'm a very paranoid person. Like, but that doesn't mean I'm not nice, doesn't mean I'm not patient, whatever. But I am very paranoid. So I would say with my gut instinct, it's very much a mixed bag because sometimes it just be Lex tripping because Lex is paranoid. Um, but sometimes it's like, yeah, girl, you had a right to be paranoid because this is some crazy stuff. But I will say, because I think when Steph was talking, it brought up something that I remember. I do think though, especially when you're dating, I listened to this podcast, and one of the most insightful things they said was, you don't have to have a reason to end anything with anybody. Especially if, like, you don't owe anybody anything in this world, you don't owe them an explanation, they're not your parent, they're not your husband. Even you just don't have to have a reason. So it's like even if you are, you feel like it's not a good enough reason to stop talking to someone or to stop hanging out with them because it could get worse. No girl, no boy, no person. If you don't want to, you don't have to. You have free will, you don't have to have a reason. It doesn't have to be a glaring red sign. If you don't want to, you don't want to. You know what it feels like when you like somebody, and you know what it feels like when you don't. And if you don't, you just don't. So you can move on. And that is probably the number one advice I'd give anybody. You don't owe anything.

Tasha 30:46

That is true, because we're trying to, oh well, it's it could be worse. It's a no lie. And sometimes you're even trying to convince yourself. Like, I mean, I don't want to, but why? And you're like going back and forth with yourself, you're like, but you're right. It's just a no, lie. And I don't have to explain it to you.

Star 31:03

A lot of times there's pressures, there's outside pressures. So, like, you know, with especially with women, it's the aging and getting married and having kids and all this society, you know, all the pressure that society or family puts on you. So that's that's misfortunate. Um, and I think that plays a role sometimes. But for me, when I was younger, I think I've always trusted my instinct to a degree. It's always been a thing. Making the appropriate decisions and adjustments based on intuition wasn't always a thing, if if that makes sense. So, yes, trust my tuition. My intuition, yes, I know what's going on, I know what's happening, but I don't care, right? So I'm going to choosing to without this is what I want to do, this is you know what I'm doing for the moment, or whatever the case may be. So, whatever consequences come from it, such as life. And there have definitely been some consequences. But now, and not to say that again, I will end any relationship that feels weird, especially with people who really know me. Because if you really know me and you do some weird shit, you're in violation. You know you're in violation, and we both know what the outcome of that is gonna be. So there's no need for it to, there's no need for me to be the one to make the exception. Because you you knew you were doing some weird shit and you knew what it was gonna be. But as far as now, do I trust my intuition 100% do I go with whatever my intuition is telling me? Absolutely. Because what I know now is because y'all know I told y'all I talk to God all the time. So, what I know now is that that's my discernment. That is the discernment that I have. That is the gift that I have been blessed with. There's no reason for me to talk myself out of it or let nobody talk around it. It is what it is, and I can see it coming a mile away, and I'm very big on energy right now and just all the things. So I absolutely 100% trust my intuition now and move accordingly and quickly. Quickly. Okay, very quickly.

Lex 33:20

And this is exactly why none of us would get murdered, none of us would get kidnapped, none of us, because you're weird. Listen, you know.

Star 33:29

I got home today. I got home today, and it was a guy. I'm coming from the grocery store, and it's a guy. I walking up the street looking suspicious. What are you doing? He he don't have no clipboards, he don't have no, where's your car? Like, what are you just out here walking around? Like you just you just going to people's doors for what though? Like who you work for? What are you selling? Where's your clipboard? Where's your bag? Where's your supplies? I don't, it's a no for me.

Steph 33:54

So as the keeps it, no soliciting sign in her frame. Oh, I need to get one. Yes, girl. Don't so great. Don't come knock on this door. A person from working from home, I can't. Don't ring my doorbell. I see you walking to the door. Don't knock on this door.

Tasha 34:07

Oh, for real. Like the ring, um, the ring camera is the best thing ever been. I'm sitting here, I'm licking, I'm on my phone watching you knock on my door. And just, I wonder how long he's gonna stay there, keep knocking.

unknown 34:17

That's all.

Tasha 34:18

Because as long as he can stay there, I'm gonna keep watching. We just watch it. And I know he sees me seeing him through this camera.

Star 34:25

You know, they you know they they see the camera. Oh now, I talked to him through the camera. Well, hello? Who is it?

Lex 34:31

Go ahead and go ahead and turn around. Yeah, not here. Right. I don't even like your outfit today. Go ahead and turn around not today. Not the outfit.

Star 34:39

Also, where's your clipboard? Where is your clipboard? Are you if you're coming to my door on official business, where's your clipboard?

Lex 34:47

Was he a missionary? Did he have a name to him?

Star 34:49

He didn't have nothing. Oh, yeah, suspicious. He didn't have nothing. There was no clipboard, there was no pamphlets, there was nothing.

Tasha 34:57

He had no supplies to be doing.

Star 34:58

He didn't have no supplies to be door knocking. He didn't have no bottled water. Like, would you where's your car? You just out here? Absolutely not. And you and you better move quickly before I call and get a unit out here. Because somebody take you up.

Lex 35:12

Look at that, you're up. I can't.

Steph 35:15

Because she's making she's making the transition very well because it's dark and stormy right now. She's making

Dark And Stormy Then App Culture

Steph 35:20

it very Some people just be dark and dark. Dark and stormy.

Star 35:24

He was definitely giving dark and stormy vibes.

Steph 35:29

So we're gonna go into the third discussion, and while they're getting their cocktails ready, we didn't want it to be watered down. It's called dark and counter. That sounds so crazy.

Tasha 35:36

Like, no, they they did not want a liquid water down. So we didn't.

Steph 35:39

You know, priorities. Tasha, it is a priority. We want to make sure that it stays. And we are black girls lid.

Star 35:46

Like, let's stop playing with it. They see we got all these, we got 16 cocktails on the table. Like, literally how to wait, I'm sorry. Wait, one, two, three. Yeah, one, two, three. And a shot. Yeah, we got 16 cocktails on the table. Y'all know what it is.

Tasha 35:59

We gotta properly taste the cocktail. Right, we have to know where this equal is good in like the sour mixes, the sweet mixes, on its own, like all of the above.

Steph 36:10

Options.

Tasha 36:10

We just here trying to give the people what they need. Correct. With the people as we are here to deliver.

Steph 36:16

Well, we're doing, I'm calling this one dark and stormy, a rum punch. Okay because of Tom and his dark and stormy ways. So with this one, it comes with the what is it, the equano? Equiano. Equiano. Oh, I still messed it up. Equiano rum. You get a little bit of pineapple juice, a little bit of orange juice, you add some lime juice and some grenadine, and you mix it all up. And then you just garnish it with a cherry if you guys would like to add that to your cocktail.

Tasha 36:49

I did, I garnish mine with little cherry.

Lex 36:52

That's yummy. Cheers.

Star 36:53

Cheers. When I think cherries, I'd give flashbacks to the dirty Shirley.

Steph 36:59

Not the dirty Shirley. Stop it. Stop it. Stop bringing up O'Connor.

Tasha 37:02

I thought we were getting like unnecessary shots. Like, what? Pew pew.

Steph 37:12

Let's get into our discussion. Love it, Matt. This is delicious. This is very good.

Star 37:18

This is very good. This is delicious. It's real good.

Tasha 37:21

Okay, Dark and Stormy.

Lex 37:22

This is good.

Star 37:23

Yeah. Yeah.

Lex 37:24

Because it's a good balance of sweet and sour. Yeah. I was like, this feels like sunrise. Not no dark and stormy.

Tasha 37:30

Ain't nothing dark and stormy. It did well like in all these drinks, I do say.

Steph 37:35

I don't know.

unknown 37:36

Okay.

Steph 37:36

So in our discussion, two-part question. Have dating apps and modern dating culture make everyone more suspicious in real life? And what made Sydney such a relatable character in today's dating world?

Tasha 37:50

Ooh, okay. I've never dated on the apps. But I would say that if I had to, I'd I feel like it would make me more suspicious because again, once you like I've I've been like I've sat next to my friends who've been on the apps, and I've been doing like swiping, like it was like a little game, like, ooh, just swiping, you know. But I think, yeah, it made like just like anything that's on the internet. You're like, you're sitting you're like, mm, this ain't real, this ain't real. So you I automatically, everything I saw felt like it probably was not real. So that's like the attitude I went in when I was like, again, swiping on her page. Like I'm again, I didn't know I thought it was a video game. I'm like, girl, ooh, I thought it was a game. She was like, girl, stop. And girl, I was having a good time. Because you was messing up her algorithm. Probably was. I I didn't know what I was doing. Again, I've I've been married a long time, I don't know. Um, but I do think that if you're dating on the app, I do feel like you are more like more suspicious. Like you assume that people, because it just like even as even just not, yeah, people they're putting up.

Steph 38:46

It's like a resume, it's like a LinkedIn, like you're embellishing it to a point. Right.

Tasha 38:50

They're putting their um representatives, yeah. Right. And so, yeah, I think you do have to go in like a little more skeptical. But I mean, as far as Sydney, I feel like she was she was trying to stay hopeful. Like, hey, you know what? She did see herself, you know, she was getting older, she knew she wanted a family, she knew she wanted kids. And so she was just like, hey, I gotta get out of here. Like we, I think we said earlier, like it's a numbers game. Like, you gotta date a certain number, uh, you know, you gotta kiss a certain number of frogs in order to get to your Prince Charming, you know? I agree. And so I think, I mean, so I think that she was, that was like realistically what a lot of people are doing right now. I mean, males, females, everybody. I think like you're like, hey, I just gotta, I gotta meet people, I gotta put myself out there if I am looking for a relationship. It just doesn't seem like a lot of people are just meeting their person in church girls anymore. You're gonna find your person in your church girl, go to find your personality.

Steph 39:42

Everybody's gonna be dating an AI character by the end by an end.

Tasha 39:45

That's what I'm saying.

Steph 39:47

I mean, I hate to say it like that because it goes into the dating apps. So, my question with the dating apps is do you pay a premium price?

Lex 39:55

I wouldn't.

Steph 39:56

Or do you go free? Because my thing does it matter. Does it matter if it's free?

Tasha 40:00

Oh, I don't even know the difference between these.

Lex 40:02

People who start like a higher premium where you pay, and it's like, yeah.

Star 40:07

I have now I have heard that if you want a certain quality, like if you if you want a certain quality of gating pool, that there is a difference between the free apps and the ones that you have to pay for.

Steph 40:22

So do you pay a pre a premium?

Star 40:24

That's the thing, like I think it depends on what you're looking for, though. I think it depends on what you're looking for.

Steph 40:29

Because it eliminates a lot of the people that are playing. Yeah.

Lex 40:35

That are people that are smart. There are bots out here. It eliminates a shower. Yeah, but I will say that's the hopeful, that's the hopeful thing. There is an app. I forgot what Raya.

Steph 40:49

But that's for like celebrity related.

Lex 40:51

Yes, but you have to like you have to be like recommended from somebody to even get your foot in the door to be in the app, and then you gotta like put in an application and they accept you to be in the app. So like there are more. But they still be playing in the y'all said it's called what now?

Steph 41:10

Raya, R-A-Y-A girl.

Lex 41:12

But it's like where all the celebrities go and like all the like ball players and like shit.

Steph 41:17

Because it's a lot more privacy, and yeah, that's how some people are used to.

Lex 41:21

But you don't want to necessarily be in that pool either. A bunch of like Instagram models or like nasty P. Diddy type people. Like things like that.

Steph 41:30

Simone Biles met her husband, I think, on Brian. Oh, really? Yeah.

Lex 41:34

I mean, it's what the celebrities use for sure.

Steph 41:37

Because they can't meet people without it having without it being weird. Yeah, them being celebrities. That makes sense.

Lex 41:43

But I will say, to your point, as far as like, I think the first part of the question was around what was it?

Steph 41:49

It was modern dating, dating, it's about dating apps and modern dating culture make everyone more suspicious in real life.

Lex 41:55

Okay, yeah. I do so obviously I think there's always gonna be those people out here who are just very like, they're they just don't take the proper precautions to keep themselves safe. But I also think there is a growing number, specific, particularly of women, because I know when I was dating, me and my friend group was really big on like, okay, we know that you're dating. Can I have your location? Who are you going on a date with? Can you send me a picture of them? Like, what's their profile? Okay, if you're getting ready to go, like, text me when you're leaving, text me when you're coming back. If shit goes left, if you send this emoji, that means I'm on the way or I'm sending somebody on. So I think that like there's a lot of that going on, especially with women, just to like keep yourself safe because there are creeps and weirdos and like people who want to do things to you out there in the world. And I think this book was a great example of that.

Steph 42:56

Kevin, Kevin went, Kevin kept thinking he had Sydney. It was weird. They were about to walk down the aisle and let Kevin tell it.

Star 43:03

But we did that too. Um, there was, I don't think that's just an app thing, like related to the app. Like that was something that we did before dating apps was a thing, you know, just being mindful. And I think that it it's more about your friend group. Correct.

Steph 43:18

But now you have just being safe. Yeah, you have now you can give them your location. You can share things. It's a little bit more easier than it is back then in the day. But yeah, definitely.

Star 43:27

I gotta make a call for somebody to pull up. I just need you to pull up with the bail money. Like that's oh goodness. Cause yeah.

Lex 43:33

But yeah, as long as you're doing it safely. Me and my friends call, we're always like, I have to watch my Sims every day, and our Sims are us like watching us on our location to see where we're at. Like, where is my Sim at today? Oh, you're at Publix? All right. While you're there, can you get me?

Star 43:49

That's fine.

Lex 43:49

I check my Sims every day to make sure they're where they're supposed to be.

Star 43:53

I know that's what I'm saying.

Tasha 43:54

I do remember like Devin, like when um, you know, when he was in school, him and his friends, they did they all All they all had each other's location. Like they actually, because we, I mean, you know, we had like iPhones. We never, we never did like Life 360. But he was like, Oh no, all my friends, like, no, we all have Life 360. They all knew where they were at at all times, this and that. I was like, oh, okay. All right, you and your friends, we can apply each other.

Star 44:17

And that's that's how same. Like Chris and his

Pressure To Partner Up And Settling

Star 44:20

friends, like they all have each other's locations and stuff. So it's it's funny because it's as the parent, it's like it's not cool.

Steph 44:28

But with your friends.

Star 44:30

But with your friends, it's like a thing.

Steph 44:32

So one of her friends was just like, Where are you? Because she overslept and didn't make it on the bus. And she was like, Why are you still home? And it was just like, I said, they got your location. Yeah, I said, Oh.

Tasha 44:42

As if. Right.

Steph 44:43

Yeah, why wouldn't it?

Tasha 44:45

Because even like, um, even I said one of my friends, like, she had like, um, I don't know what it how it's set up, but every time she takes an Uber or a Lyft, like I get a notification. It's like, I have that was interesting. She only was like one time I had called her because it's like the she picked, she got a lift, and then she canceled, and then she got one, and like it didn't look sketchy. I was like, girl, hello are you? Are you being trained? Are you being done timey right now? It was because it was one of those things again. Her schedule is wild, and again, she travels a lot, so her schedule's wild. And so it was like, I woke up and sit like doing my little workout. I'm like, it was a whole lot of canceled and up and then like, oh, picked up, oh not. And I was like, why is so much training? What girl? Okay. Just are you okay?

Lex 45:30

All right, I can go back to bed. All right then. Like, and that's why you gotta have a code emoji. Because if I send you a peach, that means I need help.

Steph 45:39

All right now.

Lex 45:40

Don't pay attention to the notifications. If I send you a peach, good to know. Okay, that means send somebody, call the police.

Steph 45:50

That's a good one to remember. We're in the Georgia Peach State. Right. There you go.

Tasha 45:54

Now that sends you a peach. That is, I mean, but for real, like you do, I do think instead, whether it's dating or just like in regular life, you do have to have these things. Even like um, because like in my my real estate office, we have certain keywords, whatever stuff. Like there's key things that I can like key phrases, I can either like call, like my um, my our office manager, the head of office, and be like, hey, you know, and it sounds like real regular, like, oh, whoop whoop. And she knows that means, hey, send the police. Or if I send a text, like, oh, hey, and there's like certain key things, and she ain't no questions asked, ain't nothing met, ain't nothing, whatever. And she knows the location I'm at, and she's know, hey, send the police, because you know what I mean again, when you're in real estate, you're out there and you're meeting people, then even if you think that, you know, you, I mean, they're your client, you've met them a couple times, whatever. At the end of the day, you don't really know them. Like you just met them, and have you met your client, you know. And maybe even if y'all been out, there's been people who, like I said, they've been working with the same client, they've gone out, shown them houses three, four, five times, and then on you, I mean, they've been playing all cool, then on the sixth time, and then women been killed, assaulted, all sorts of things, whatever. So I do think whatever whoever you're like with, you do have to, when you're out here dealing in this world, I said where we are, where we're we're like, it's apps and just like the internet, and you're connected to the world in a way that we never were before, you do have to move more cautiously. For sure.

Star 47:16

Yeah. And I think so. For me, the other part of the question was um, what made Sydney such a relatable character in today's dating world? So I think I alluded to it earlier and the fact that there's so many pressures. Like she, I feel like she made a lot of decisions and ignored. I feel like she ignored some red flags because of the pressures that she was giving like her mom. You know what I mean? Like, and and all of that. So there are I and I don't know why it's a thing. Like 34 is geriatric, you know, her mom was a little bit. I think it's getting a little bit better, but it's like this thing that women, like if you if you're not married, if you don't have children, if you know what I mean, like there's like there's something wrong with you as if you don't have the option to just make the choice and just say, like, no, I'm single right now because I want to be. Like, I'm doing this now because I don't want to do that, right? But I think she ignored a lot of red flags because of that pressure to get her mom specifically off of her back. But then too, there's the friends that are, oh, I have a friend that's dating and she's playing the numbers game, the baby showers, the wedding showers, and all the things, and she's happy she found her person. So now I have to find, you know, all this comparison and the judgment and all of that. So I think that was the piece that made her relatable. I agree. Is because you it it's real life, like that's really what's going on out with her.

Steph 48:45

You make more concessions for the person that you're trying to get to know, even though the figs were saying, don't do it. And but because of her being at her age, the societal pressure. It's like, oh, well, maybe I can overlook that.

Star 48:59

And you're maybe this isn't, maybe it isn't that bad. Maybe I can compromise on this, maybe I can nah, can't do that. And it is bad.

Tasha 49:06

And there is like a lot of those, like I said, societal pressure, because it is like so women, oh, well, when are you getting married? When are you getting married? And then you get married, and then immediately it's like, oh, when y'all having peas. And I remember I do, I remember when I'm like, when you have one baby, then it's like, when do you have another? Right. I do, I like to do this. Is that what the kids doing y'all out here?

Steph 49:24

They're doing that to me, curves. Burner dead, my mom, my mom. And I'd be like telling my mom, I'm not because kids are forever, right? I tell my mom, don't do that. Everybody gets married. She's like, Are they gonna have a baby? I said, Mama, why does everybody have to have a baby? Not everybody should be a parent. Not everybody should be re procreating. Period. So for me, I've I think I've taught my mom to ease up on those questions because it's always the oh, you're getting married, okay. When are you gonna have kids? Did you buy a house? Or when are you gonna have another kid? And it was like, okay, that was y'all in 1902, but in 2026, they said we don't have to, or I could freeze my eggs.

Tasha 50:12

Or if you get pregnant, they'd be like, Well, we we don't get married. Well, turns out I really like them. Like, hey, we we done had the baby, but I just don't like it like this for real. We're gonna raise this baby together, but I no, I'm not gonna marry him like for better or worse.

Star 50:33

Sickness and health, I'm I'm not feeling it.

Tasha 50:35

Right.

Steph 50:35

But we're gonna have this, we're gonna have this child together.

Tasha 50:37

But it was a time when that was a thing. Oh, we all you got married. Y'all better get married. You gotta stick like you had a baby, yeah.

Star 50:43

Like, no, I and everybody just unhappy cheating and lying, right?

Lex 50:46

Lying, lying and cheats, deceivers, all of that. But I will say though, I this maybe probably is an unpopular opinion. So nail me to the wall if y'all don't agree. It's all right. But I think another thing that made Sydney relatable to me is that so in my experience when I was dating, yes, there was this era of like urgency, like you need to find somebody, you're getting older, whatever, blah zé blah. But also there was this energy of like you shouldn't want to find companionship. So, like, for example, you hear a lot of girls saying, like, oh, love comes when you least expect it, like, you want it too badly, like, just calm down, and that's when you'll find your person. So, it's almost like this shame of like wanting to find somebody in order to marry and in order to date. Like, it's almost like you're coming off as desperate. And I feel like for Sydney, that's where I related to her because I don't think you hear a lot about the like what it's like to be a woman that actually wants to date and want and without being shamed for like wanting to do that, or without being painted as being desperate because you want a man and you want family. Like, there's nothing wrong with that. Absolutely. And that's completely normal. Like, God made us for companionship.

Speaker 4 52:13

Yeah.

Lex 52:13

And so I know that was something that I struggled with when I was dating because it was almost like, well, Lex, you want it too much. Like you're such a nurturer. You're so like you just need to calm down, and that's when you'll find your man. And it's like, well, that's because they out here, that's because they out here, Cardi B and Megan Estallion are their um dancing.

Star 52:31

Right, and it's like, no, that's not true.

Lex 52:33

There's nothing wrong with wanting that for yourself and putting yourself in the position to get that, whether that's right, you finding a matchmaker, or you going on blind dates, or you whatever. So it was refreshing to see like someone going through that internal struggle of like, damn, I really do want this, but like there's all of this going on, or even the dang, my friend is getting engaged right in front of me, and I'm so happy for her, but also I'm jealous as fuck because I want that to be me. And I feel like there was a lot of that in that book, and I really appreciated it.

Tasha 53:07

No, that buzz good. Okay, but I mean, and again, I'm not gonna give away free the book, but a little bit like uh Sydney Mama being like, hey, well, you know, like Ruth in the Bible, she had a baby. That was crazy as hell. You know, Ruth had a baby at 99. Okay, okay, that's it.

Star 53:25

Yeah, start start wrapping something. I tell you about them old judgmental, them old ass judgmental people. Like, girlby. Get off my phone.

Tasha 53:33

Is you is you put in scripture on this girl? Mommy, get off my phone.

Star 53:37

Get off my phone.

Lit Challenge And Closing Toast

Star 53:40

Oh my god. Anyway, y'all. Before we close, you know the vibe we always save space for something to sit with, sip on, or carry into your week. A lit challenge to move you, a top for thought to ground you, or a memorable quote from the book that lingers like a good sip. In this episode, we explore the dark side of modern dating through the boyfriend, where charm chemistry, and first impressions can hide something much more dangerous. We talked about trusting intuition, the realities of dating culture, and how easily red flags can be overlooked when you want to believe in someone. This week's Lit Challenge. Pay attention to your intuition. Think about a time you ignored a gut feeling or trusted one, and we're glad you did. Ask yourself are your instincts usually right or shaped by past experiences? Because that's a thing too. Sometimes it's intuition, but sometimes it's trauma, right? That is that's guiding us, right? But in any event, that's the lit challenge. So get into it. That's it for this episode of Black Girls Lit Podcast, where fine women, fine literature, and fine libations always meet. So the words that found you, the poor that held you, and the version of you that showed up to listen. Remember to share us on your favorite social media platforms, including YouTube, if you like, and make room for someone else at the table. We'll be back next time with Cinderella is dead. All right. So excited for this. Kaylin, Kaylin Baron? Byron? Baron, Byron, we're gonna get you right. We'll figure it out by the time we get to the episode. Expect, yes, it is a feminist fantasy. So expect rebellion, twisted royal traditions, and a heroine determined to rewrite the story she was told to accept. Okay. Until then, read boldly and step slowly. Cheers.

Tasha 55:31

Bye, y'all. Bye.