This week, Lola and Gill dive into their ongoing chaos — the awkward moments of jumping on top of each other during the chat, the chaos of our unread TBR, and the bizarre obsession with really real characters. Lola's lament about how fantasy characters are too perfect, while Gill obsesses over the more flawed, more real characters, illustrates why we're all here: craving something authentic in a world full of curated perfection.

And speaking of chaos, our conversation on book boyfriends — from the overrated control freaks to the beloved flawed good guys - revealed a stunning truth: We crave imperfect, real people (or characters) who reflect ourselves, not the idealized heroes the genre sometimes pushes. Lola's disdain for the "perfection" of typical love interests, contrasted with her love for Gibsie’s (from the Boy’s of Tommen series) raw honesty, highlights that genuine humans are way more attractive than flawless fiction.

That brings us to a bigger point: most of us are tired of the perfect and the untouchable.

We want the real, the messy, the flawed.

Whether they're the minor characters who feel like neighbors or the villains who feel too human, it's that authenticity that keeps us hooked.

And yeah, the chaos isn't just in the books, but in how we share thoughts, make jokes, and support each other through the chaos of reading and life. The support from our listeners, the messages about our first episode, remind us why we do this: to connect, to scream about the books we love (or hate), and to be unapologetically ourselves.

Because at the end of the day, what makes Booktok so addictive, chaotic as it is, is the genuine, imperfect love we have for stories and each other.

We hope you enjoy this episode and please get in touch with what you want to hear about.

*you may want to wear headphones while listening to it as there is some swearing!

Ever wondered why some books instantly click and others don't? It's all about connection - and the characters you care about.

Drop a ❤️ if you've ever struggled to finish a book because it just didn't feel real.

We talk about how emotional attachment makes all the difference - and why poorly written scenes can turn you off quicker than you'd expect.

It's not just about the story, but how it's told.

When characters feel real and the writing resonates, books become hard to put down.

But when they don't... well, you know.

Are you picky about what makes it onto your TBR, or do you read anything that sounds good?

Let us know in the comments!

Remember, no book is perfect — but knowing what works for you makes all the difference in loving your reading list.

Love what you read, without the Booktok pressure.