Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott

Today I am thrilled to be part of the blog tour for an upcoming release from Simon and Schuster. Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott caught my attention because it offered up a different take on young adult contemporary novels and the romances included within them. It also didn't hurt that I had already seen the trailer for the movie adaptation and was excited to read the book before seeing the movie. You can check out my thoughts about the book below, but please also stop by the other blog tour stops for interviews, other reviews, giveaways, and so much more! 

November 12 – That Artsy Reader Girl

November 13 – Vivacious Bibliophile

November 14 – A Gingerly Review

November 15 – Life of a Simple Reader

November 16 – A Glass of Wine

November 17 – Book is Glee

November 19 – Bumbles and Fairytales

November 20 – Adventures of a Book Junkie

November 21 – Jen Ryland Reviews

November 22 – Joyous Reads

November 23 – Chasing Faerytales

November 24 – Folded Pages Distillery

November 26 – Oh, Hey! Books

November 27 – Book Briefs

November 28 – Novel Knight Book Reviews

November 29 – A Dream within a Dream

November 30 – My Guilty Obsession

The movie adaptation will be released March  22, 2019 so you'll have plenty of time to read the book before you see it. It stars Cole Sprouse and Haley Lu Richardson and the first trailer has already been released!

Don't forget to enter below to win a copy for yourself! It is open to USA residents only,  however and can be found after my review.

Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott
Release Date - November 20, 2018
Publisher Website - Simon and Schuster

Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages -  288 pages
My Rating - 4/5
**received from the publisher for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Can you love someone you can never touch?

Stella Grant likes to be in control—even though her totally out of control lungs have sent her in and out of the hospital most of her life. At this point, what Stella needs to control most is keeping herself away from anyone or anything that might pass along an infection and jeopardize the possibility of a lung transplant. Six feet apart. No exceptions.

The only thing Will Newman wants to be in control of is getting out of this hospital. He couldn’t care less about his treatments, or a fancy new clinical drug trial. Soon, he’ll turn eighteen and then he’ll be able to unplug all these machines and actually go see the world, not just its hospitals.

Will’s exactly what Stella needs to stay away from. If he so much as breathes on Stella she could lose her spot on the transplant list. Either one of them could die. The only way to stay alive is to stay apart. But suddenly six feet doesn’t feel like safety. It feels like punishment.

What if they could steal back just a little bit of the space their broken lungs have stolen from them? Would five feet apart really be so dangerous if it stops their hearts from breaking too?

Those who know about cystic fibrosis are aware of the rule that those who have it must stay six feet apart from others who also have it. It's too easy for bacteria to pass between them which could cause infection. Five Feet Apart takes this element and weaves a touching love story out of it. It's a story where you know the romance is doomed going in but makes you enjoy the journey all the same.

The dual narration worked especially well here. The voices of the characters are distinct and easily definable. I often worry about multiple narrations sounding the same but that was not the case here. Lippincott manages to make both Stella and Will come alive through her words and weaves a story that feels true for those characters.

The romance is going to easily win readers over. Will and Stella have a banter that feels electric from the moment they meet. There is something about the connection that sparks even as they drive each other crazy. Their mutual curiosity about each other deepens into a friendship and finally into the something more that was always under the surface. There is a bit of an 'opposites attract' to their relationship that really works. Stella needs to be in control and takes her treatments very seriously. They are going to be what gives her more time. Will, however, just wants to live his life as fully as possible before that is no longer an option. The relationship works because of what they bring out in each other. The character growth that happens as a result makes the romance feel richer and far more interesting.

The sense of unease that is felt from the moment you read is part of what makes this story work. We know that the romance is not viable. It is medically unhealthy for these two characters to be together. It is a ticking clock that means it is not a question of this relationship ending but instead one of how. The reader is made uneasy because we don't know what will drive them apart. The entire book is spent waiting for that moment and dreading it just as much. I think this is handled incredibly well here. It's something built into the story that adds another layer to it that creates a different sort of urgency.

I knew almost nothing about cystic fibrosis before I read this book, and as a result, I cannot speak to how accurately it is depicted within this story. I do, however, feel confident in saying that this book paints a vivid and stark picture of what it would be like to be a teenager dealing with an illness that will significantly lower your life span. The emotion toil it takes on not just them but those around them is palpable. The feeling of not living life as fully as possible before it is too late is in every page. This book does a great job in showcasing that it is different for different people which is important. Each person's experience is going to be unique and Will and Stella signify that.

My only minor quibble about this story is that I wanted so much more from the side characters. Poe, in particular, was so interesting that I wanted to get to know more about him. It's a minor thing, and one that is not even a real issue. It's just me wanting more of some characters that managed to leave a an impression.

I predict this will be a hit with anyone who enjoyed John Green's The Fault In Our Stars. Lippincott's novel offers up a bittersweet ending that manages to make you ache but also leaves you with hope. Those looking for a tear inducing read that also has a plenty of swoon and laughs should pick this one up.

Thank s to Simon and Schuster I have a copy of  Five Feet Apart to give to one lucky winner. To enter fill out the Rafflecopter below. Giveaway is open to USA residents only!

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American Horror Story: Apocalypse - Fire and Reign

The ninth episode of this season, titled Fire and Reign, fills us in on the rest of the missing backstory, explains exactly why Michael thought he killed most of the witches, and tells us exactly who is responsible for the end of the world.

With the usual reminder of spoilers lets break down what happened. 

We open with Jeff testing out a new piece of tech  - a robotic arm that can shoot a gun. It is aimed at his head (but doesn't have bullets in it). Mutt walks in and Jeff immediately goes on a tangent detailing how much people suck. He's not happy that he had to wait five minutes for his coffee, has road rage over some driver not knowing they could turn left on a green light (even without 'a fucking left hand turn arrow' as Jeff states). Jeff is also not a fan of the coffee Mutt hands him. Mutt realizes what is really going on and calls Jeff on it. He's upset about Michael. Jeff gets in a huff and tells Mutt to not mention that name in front of him again. He calls him the 'lost Antichrist'. Mutt is scandalized because he cannot believe that Jeff just disrespected the son of Satan (to which Jeff snarks that Satan may want to get a paternity test). Jeff is upset because Michael hasn't done anything since he got there. He even makes fun of the fact that Michael claims to not know what to do. He wants to burn the world to the ground because he thinks everything is a 'raging clusterfuck'. 

Ms Venable interrupts them to remind them about the meeting with the Cooperative next week. She asks what the Cooperate is and we get our first details about the mysterious organization. They are a group of 'movers and shakers'. This tells me they are basically a group of powerful, influential people. Ms Venable wants more responsibility in her job but Jeff and Mutt brush her off. They want her to book their 'Mile High Escort' service for their flight though. She tells them to go book their own escorts because she is quitting. This exchange inspires Jeff though - he has an idea on how to deal with their Antichrist issues.

I cannot believe these two are responsible for pushing Michael into action and causing the end of the world. Unbelievable that these clowns are what causes it.                

We next see Mallory upstairs at the witches house practicing her magic. She isn't able to revive a dead bird which upsets her. Cordelia tells her that she is trying too hard and she needs to relax. Mallory is anxious because they may not have a lot of time before Michael comes for them. Cordelia tells her that spells and protections are in place so nothing can enter the house that isn't a witch. 

We see that all of the other witches are downstairs preparing another protection spell. As they are chanting we see Dinah outside who is putting a very different spell on the house. She's betrayed the witches and is using her magic to let Michael in. Ugh... I hate her.

Michael walks in and calls their 'mantra' bullshit. A lot of the witches look shocked to see Michael standing there to which he states that they cannot be that surprised to see him. Bubbles McGee snarks back with this gem:

Michael reacts by telling them that he told Cordelia what he was going to do to all of them and using magic to launch all of the little pieces of glass they were using for their spell at them.

This kills those at the table. Queenie, panicked, questions how Ms Meade is even there (because they burnt her). Ms Meade replies that she was 'made for this' and removes her hand to reveal a gun installed underneath which she uses to shoot Zoey. The fact that Kyle is missing from this season has never been more evident. He would be freaking out about his beloved being murdered. Queenie cuts her own neck making use of her human voodoo doll magic to injure Ms Meade in the same way. It causes white goop to gush out of her neck area. She continues to shoot hitting Queenie multiple times. 

We see Mallory, Cordelia and Myrtle realize what is going on upstairs. Mallory want to go and help but Cordelia puts her foot down.  Cordelia doesn't think she is ready yet and they need to keep her safe.

Back downstairs Dinah walks in and asks Michael if they are good. He assures her they are better than good and that he put in a word with his father and her talk show has been greenlit for thirteen episodes. She sold them out for her television show?! I really hate her now. It seems that Satan has stopped ignoring Michael if he has the ability to get things from him now. We see that all of the witches have been shot. Dinah has a little hit of remorse when she sees all the bodies. Michael and Ms Meade continue to go through the house trying to find Cordelia and the rest of the witches but they've already escaped. This displeases Michael a lot. He's pissed.

Ms Meade reassures him that it is still a victory and reminds him that killing the witches is not going to help fulfill his prophecy. We see that it is actually Mutt and Jeff using Ms Meade to influence Michael. They are making her say whatever they type in. They remind Michael that by ending the world he'll end the witches as well. They encourages him to think bigger. Michael admits he has been thinking of some possible ways to end the world. Michael's big plan? 

Ms Meade (via Mutt and Jeff) remind Michael that he looks like he is twelve and point out that his plan sounds a lot like the plot of the Omen 3 movie. Michael is exasperated and whines that he doesn't know what to do and there are not a lot of reference materials on how to be the Antichrist. Ms Meade tells him to go to the guys who built her for answers. Michael isn't so sure. He thinks they are 'coked out nerds' but he relents (because he trusts Ms Meade). Mutt and Jeff are actually kind of brilliant. Ms Meade is literally the only person Michael trusts at this point.

We next see Michael listing off a bunch of names (including a bunch of world leaders) that are members of the Cooperative. It's revealed that the Cooperative is a code name for the Illuminati. Turns out that everyone in the Illuminati has sold their soul to Satan and that makes them all Michael's army. Michael's response is to basically say that he still isn't sure what he is supposed to do with them to bring about the end of the world. If magic didn't do it he doesn't see how people could. Mutt and Jeff tell him that he doesn't need magic. He just needs science and people. Jeff launches into a tirade about how awful people are (seriously, no wonder Michael thinks humanity is garbage). He thinks people are selfish and can easily be manipulated to starting the apocalypse. They tell Michael that he'll reign for a thousand years of fire because it is prophesied in the Book of Revelations which they hand Michael who magically opens and reads. Michael smirks and asks what's next. They tell him about this nuclear missile program, called Dead Hand, that ensures mutual destruction. All Michael needs to end the world is three people in the right places pressing the right buttons. Michael just wants to know if it'll be enough to kill the witches and he is assured that it is. Michael's child like qualities are showing again. He just wants to kill the witches who wronged him. He doesn't care about the rest of it.

It's revealed that Coco, Madison, Cordelia, Myrtle, and Mallory all took shelter in Misty's house in the swamp. Misty is off with Stevie so we know they're safe. Cordelia is magically attempting to revive Zoey and Queenie by teleportation but their souls disappear. We knew Michael could do this and it explains why they were not with the witches when they showed up at the outpost. Madison reveals this news to Cordelia (about Michael being able to burn souls) which enrages Cordelia. She hits Madison and asks why she didn't say something sooner. Madison yells that she told her that he was the Antichrist and that should have been enough. Myrtle reveals that there may be a way to save them. It a power that is more of a myth than anything else and it involves the ability to go back in time and prevent something from happening. All of the witches who have tried it have died but they think Mallory might be able to pull it off. They want to test it first before trying it out on Michael because they need for him to not see it coming. The test it by having Mallory go back and try to save the Romanov family. Anastasia Romanov was a witch who tried to protect her family they night they were all killed. We see how it really happened in history, and we also see Mallory go back and try to help. It doesn't work though because Mallory cannot stay there long enough to help and everyone still dies which greatly upsets Mallory (who comes back with blood streaming out of her nose and eyes).

My guess is that this is what they'll use to defeat Michael. Mallory will go back and kill Michael before he has a chance to end the world or kill any witches. 

Cordelia and Myrtle have a conversation about Mallory. Cordelia is concerned that Mallory won't be ready until she's dead. She doesn't want to be like her mother who only ever thought about herself. She's not ready to go but she also doesn't trust herself to know what is right anymore. She begs Myrtle to tell her if she ever becomes Fiona. Myrtle assures her that the fact that she is asking these questions proves that she is not Fiona. Cordelia wants to sacrifice herself and allow Mallory to take her powers. Myrtle immediately shuts this down and refuses to let it happen. They need more time and Myrtle has a plan on how they can stall Michael. This plan involves going to see the warlocks who they discover are all dead. Michael paid a visit to them as well and they've all been shot by Ms Meade's arm gun. Michael's arranged the bodies in a pentagram for good measure which is just extra creepy. Pretty sure this means their plan is screwed.

Next, Ms Venable is packing up her desk. Mutt and Jeff approach her and she tells them that she booked the escorts they wanted. They tell her that they cannot accept her resignation. She tells them that she wasn't giving them a choice because she can't work there any longer. They reveal that the company, and the planet, will end within the next year or two. They reveal what the Cooperative actually is. They ask her to be in charge of one of the outposts that they want to start up. They will give her free reign to make her own decisions about how it should be run. They call these places 'sanctuaries' (which is why Michael calls them that too) and that since she kept them out of trouble they think she's a natural choice to lead one of them. So, Ms Venable wasn't lying when she said she was given total control. Interesting.

Michael and Ms Meade are on their way to meet with the member of the Cooperative. Michael is nervous and reveals that he hopes he can distract them from their hot yoga and horse back riding long enough for them to help him. After a pep talk from Ms Meade, who reminds him that all of these people have pledged their souls to serving him, Michael is ready to face the Cooperative. He walks into a dark room lit by small table lamps. All of the members are wearing cloaks and masks. It's all very creepy. Michael introduces himself and reveals his plan: It's time for the apocalypse.

When met with resistance he reminds them who his father is and that they speak with one voice. Michael's demands are those of Satan. Again, since when is Michael on such good terms with Daddy Dearest?  He promises them that they don't have to die though. He has Ms Meade hand out instruction manuals for the construction of the outposts. He also promises that with the price of a hundred million only the worthy will be granted admittance. 

See you next week for the finale! This season has FLOWN by and I am excited to see how our witches are going to fix everything. I am expecting that we'll be saying goodbye to Michael but we'll hopefully get some of our witches back.

The Idea Of You by Robinne Lee

The Idea Of You by Robinne Lee
Release Date - June 13, 2017
Publisher Website - Raincoast Books

Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages -  372 pages
My Rating - 5/5
**received from the publisher for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

When Solène Marchand, the thirty-nine-year-old owner of a prestigious art gallery in Los Angeles, takes her daughter, Isabelle, to meet her favorite boy band, she does so reluctantly and at her ex-husband’s request. The last thing she expects is to make a connection with one of the members of the world-famous August Moon. But Hayes Campbell is clever, winning, confident, and posh, and the attraction is immediate. That he is all of twenty years old further complicates things.

What begins as a series of clandestine trysts quickly evolves into a passionate relationship. It is a journey that spans continents as Solène and Hayes navigate each other’s disparate worlds: from stadium tours to international art fairs to secluded hideaways. And for Solène, it is as much a reclaiming of self, as it is a rediscovery of happiness and love. When their romance becomes a viral sensation, and both she and her daughter become the target of rabid fans and an insatiable media, Solène must face how her new status has impacted not only her life, but the lives of those closest to her.

The Idea Of You immediately caught my eye with it's unique premise. A woman dating a much younger man isn't something I routinely see in novels so I was intrigued to see how it would play out. Add to this the extra element of the younger man being a member of one of the world's largest boy bands and I was immediately sold. The Idea Of You ended up being a thought provoking read that extremely well executed.

Robinne Lee's ability to create characters you care about is perhaps one of her strongest talents as a writer. I immediately cared about Solène and her journey. We come to like Hayes and eventually come to care about their love story. This is a story you feel and become engrossed in and it is in large part because of the way the story is crafted.

The cost of fame and how much fame can take from someone is a large aspect of the story being told. We see how your personal life, and personal moments, are no longer personal. We see the toll the constant scrutiny has on the relationships the famous person has with others. The impact isn't just felt by the person who entered the spotlight but all of those who enter their orbit. This novel offers up a fascinating look at how it can easily unravel bonds and twist things to the point that they break.

I was cautious going in about the love story being told. I wasn't sure what an almost forty year old woman would have in common with a twenty year old man. I wasn't sure if the relationship would feel natural and healthy. I mainly wasn't sure what either of them could get from the relationship that would make it interesting and complex. I expected it to be surface level and mostly about the sex. The author adeptly address these concerns by making the characters benefit from each other in a lot of ways. The growth that they both have because of this relationship makes it feel genuine. It also helps that Hayes is shown to be more mature than his years. The logical issues that would naturally exist because of the age gap are addressed in a thought out manner that still manages to make the relationship feel viable. It works for this set of characters because of who they are and great care was taken to have this be the case. You , as a result, end up deeply caring about the romance, achingly so at times.

The romance also works because it builds naturally. What starts out as 'only lunch' turns into something fun and sexy. This morphs into feelings of affection that gradually turn into something deeper and more meaningful. It's a romance filled with memorable moments and a really great initial flirtation that highlights the electricity that is palpable to the reader. Robinne Lee made a relationship  that I wasn't sure would work impact me deeply. It was a relief because if the relationship doesn't resonate with the reader the novel itself wouldn't work.

There is a commentary here about women and how society views them as they age. One of Solène's worries is how the age gap between her and Hayes would look to those on the outside. This type of age gap is more commonly seen with older men dating younger woman and I think it is more easily accepted as well. The idea that Solène is considered less desirable as she ages is a notion that hovers over parts of this story. I like how the author circumvents this by making Solène more confident in herself even as she struggles with her worries. We don't see Solène devaluing herself even as she worries about what others may think. The entire commentary on the way society equates a woman's worth with her beauty is subtly, but effectively, woven in

There is a realism to this love story that is brought home by the inevitable ending. The ending may not necessarily be everything readers want it to be, but it is the most logical one based on the story being told. Those looking for a nicely wrapped up ending will not find that here but I think the book is made all the better because of it.

A story with a surprising amount to say about fame, love, and the aging of women. Fans of novels that make you want to discuss with others will love this one. It's a perfect book club pick because it has so many discussion worthy elements. Robinne Lee has definitely caught my attention as a author to watch out for and I cannot wait to read whatever she writes next (even if I do secretly hope it's a companion novel about one of the other August Moon members).

2019 Most Anticipated Event

It's the most wonderful time of the year! That's right, my annual event showcasing my most anticipated books of the upcoming year is back again this year and it's going to look a little different. I have a ton of books I am anticipating, but there won't be as many Q and A's with authors this year (even though there will be some). I'll be spotlighting book is different ways and including a few posts from publishers and other bloggers as well.

I am looking forward to sharing the books that already have me hyped and hearing back from you all about what books you're super excited for.

The event will begin Monday November 26th and will run for about three weeks. Be sure to stop by to see what is included and hear all about the books I think we'll be talking about next year!

A few teases of books that are included:

- a book that is being described as Westworld meets the Serial podcast

- a book that has the First Son falling for the Prince of England

- more than one fairytale retelling

- a book that blends Romeo and Juliet with Wuthering Heights

 I hope some of these have piqued your interest and that you'll check out the event at the end of the month! 

Waiting On Wednesday .... There's Something About Sweetie

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pick is There's Something About Sweetie by Sandhya Menon

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Ashish Patel didn’t know love could be so…sucky. After he’s dumped by his ex-girlfriend, his mojo goes AWOL. Even worse, his parents are annoyingly, smugly confident they could find him a better match. So, in a moment of weakness, Ash challenges them to set him up.

The Patels insist that Ashish date an Indian-American girl—under contract. Per subclause 1(a), he’ll be taking his date on “fun” excursions like visiting the Hindu temple and his eccentric Gita Auntie. Kill him now. How is this ever going to work?

Sweetie Nair is many things: a formidable track athlete who can outrun most people in California, a loyal friend, a shower-singing champion. Oh, and she’s also fat. To Sweetie’s traditional parents, this last detail is the kiss of death.

Sweetie loves her parents, but she’s so tired of being told she’s lacking because she’s fat. She decides it’s time to kick off the Sassy Sweetie Project, where she’ll show the world (and herself) what she’s really made of.

Ashish and Sweetie both have something to prove. But with each date they realize there’s an unexpected magic growing between them. Can they find their true selves without losing each other?

This books cover screams joy to me. Sweetie looks so joyful and the colours are bright and eye catching. This has me hopeful that the story inside it is just as smile inducing as this cover is.

If you haven't read When Dimple Met Rishi you have plenty of time before the May release date of this companion novel.

Expected release date - May 14, 2019

American Horror Story: Apocalypse - Return To Murder House

The eighth episode of this season, titled Sojourn, was perhaps one of the craziest of the season. Michael's dealing with some daddy issues, and we learn the origins of Ms Meade.

With the usual reminder of spoilers lets break down what happened. 

We start this episode off with Michael finding out what happened to his beloved caretaker. He, as predicted, does not take it well at all.

Cordelia interrupts his grief to come and tell him that she knows exactly who he is now. His plan is over, and he's failed. Michael reminds her that he is capable of bringing Miriam back (turns out the lady has the same name as the robot). Cordelia tells him to go ahead and try. She tells him that he can certainly go to hell but he won't find her soul there. Cordelia has hid it and only she knows the location. Cordelia tells him that he is alone to which Michael says that he is not because he has his father. Cordelia questions where 'his father' is now. She offers Michael an olive branch. She sees humanity in him and tells him that he can join her instead of following his father's path. Michael does not react well to this at all.

Eeeep. I am legit worried for some of our witches now as not all of them made it to the outpost. We know that Michael is capable of making people disappear (including their souls) and I anticipate we'll see that again before this season is over (which is in two episodes).

Michael storms off and is spiraling. He needs guidance and decides that his father will be the best one to give it. He draws a big circle in the earth and beseeches his father to tell him what to do. He threatens to not leave the circle until he is told what to do. He tells his father to either tell him or let him die. Michael waits for four days but it doesn't seem like Satan is all that interested in helping out his son. Michael starts hallucinating what looks like little kids who are offering him food and drink and when he declines he starts hallucinating Miriam and Anton LaVey who offering reassuring words. Anton's praise though infuriates Michael who calls him a liar and strangles him. Anton turns into a legit angel however (complete with wings) who tells him that God loves him. Michael next sees a goat who he thinks might be his father but he kills it and snakes slither out of the corpse.

Michael is completely weakened and lost. He stumbles around until he finds a building with an upside down cross on it and approaches the door. The doorman asks if he is lost to which Michael can only kind of shrug in reply.

The building holds a church of sorts. It one where the people who attend praise Satan and are doing their best to usher in the end of the world. Hannah (Sandra Bernhard) is the priestess and is, as Michael walks in, giving an impassioned speech asking everyone what sins they have committed to help bring in the apocalypse. Their sins range from cheating on their spouses, to stealing petty cash from work which does not impress the priestess nor Michael who gets more and more devastated as he hears the sins of the group, at one point even covering his face with his hands. 

This entire church scene both offers a commentary on religion and gives us insight into Michael's head space. He is grappling with his father ignoring him. He's having a hard time living up to the expectations his father (and others) have placed on him.

He is approached by a kindly Satan worshiper named Madelyn who offers him food and a place to stay after the service. Michael tells her that is very kind of her to which she replies that nobody is perfect. This lady sure is sweet for being someone who praises the devil.

They two eat and share details about their lives. Michael reveals that his father abandoned him and that his mother tried to kill him. This is why Michael is so lost. You have to have some sympathy for this young man who is just trying to find his place in the world and is being rejected by everyone who should love him. 

Madelyn reveals that she sold her soul to the devil. The perks of this transaction apparently include a lazyboy, the ability to do all of the heroin she wants (without consequences), as well as weekly sex dates with both Brad Pitt (on Wednesdays) and Ryan Reynolds (who comes on Friday). Seems like Madelyn has it made. This does not comfort Michael though. He expresses dismay that all Satan offers is carnal pleasure. Madelyn tries to ease his mind by telling him that the son of Satan is coming and that his son will plunge them into darkness. Michael tells her that she is waiting in vain because he is the one she is waiting for. This makes Madelyn try to kill him as she views what he just said as blasphemy as she doesn't believe it. Michael shows her the '666' branding behind his ear which causes her to immediately bow in respect. 

She drags Michael back to the church so that everyone can bask in the glory of the Antichrist. The church is holding their sacrificial offering to Satan by murdering two do gooders. Michael gets to take over and complete the sacrifice as the guest of honour. It's kind of funny that everyone immediately believes Michael is the Antichrist because of his branding. 

After the sacrifice they have a pot luck (seriously, these Satan worshipers are ridiculous). Everyone is eager for Michael to like the food they brought and are crowded around him watching him eat. Madelyn chases them off. As Michael is eating she asks him what comes next. She wants to know how he intends to usher in the end times. Michael admits he doesn't know what to do. Madelyn is confused. How could he not know what to do, he is the Antichrist after all. Michael's response to being reminded of this fact is to lash out. 

Michael is, obviously, having difficulty with the pressure that is being put on him and I predict being ignored by his father isn't helping matters. Michael brings up Miriam and how he feels alone now that she is gone.This inspires Madelyn to give him a pep talk. She reminds him that there is no one and nothing that he can't have. I mean, she's not wrong. 

Michael's mood makes Madelyn decide to introduce him to some other 'true believers' who she insists will help him. She praises Michael some more during the ride and tells her that he is still the same guy she met at the church. Michael is humble here and it is the duality he showcases that makes his character work so well. They arrive and say goodbye. Madelyn asks him to put in a good word with Satan for her. He promises her that he'll see what he can do.

 This final exchange between them is perhaps my favourite of this episode:

Her exuberant 'Hail Satan' and Michael's smirk (along with cute reminder for her to keep it quiet) works for me here. Madelyn reminds me of a more stable Miriam and I think that is what Michael needs (a mother figure). 

The building she has dropped Michael off at is home to a tech business, the brains of which are Jeff (Evan Peters in a ridiculous bowl hair cut and his fourth role this season) and Mutt (Billy Eichner). These two are super rich tech designers who are working on sex robots. They also happened to be addicted to cocaine and overseen by Ms Venable. These guys are surely the Cooperative. No wonder Michael has so much high-tech stuff at his disposal. 

Ms Venable fires another assistant when she is late bringing in the newest shipment of cocaine. The assistant complains about the treatment she is receiving and threatens to go to Human Resources. Ms Venable's reply to this is everything:

Basically Ms Venable was always Ms Venable. She always loved purple and she was always a bit of a bitch. 

We learn that Jeff really likes easy listening music (including the song The Morning After which played in the outpost). It helps him focus even though Mutt hates it. Ms Venable delivers their cocaine and it is enough to distract Mutt from the blow job another assistant is giving him from under his desk. Ms Venable informs them that the dog poop they sent Mark Zuckerberg is on its way, Rihanna has confirmed that she'll be available to them all weekend, and the island they wanted has been purchased. She also tells them that the gentleman who they are expecting has arrived. They tell her to send him up the private elevator. 

Michael walks in and the guys immediately start off on the wrong foot. They are kind of insulting about his name and Michael immediately turns around to leave. They panic and call him back and apolgoize. They want proof Michael is the Antichrist is all. They are not swayed by the branding so Michael burns one of their assistants. This gets their attention and they immediately bow and offer up a 'Hail Satan'. 

They take Michael for lunch outside and tell him their story. They worked for a bunch of start up companies but never got any recognition or any advancement so they sold their souls as well. They now own a robotics company worth billions, they can do as much cocaine as they wish, and they also have weekly sex dates with Ryan Reynolds and some Victoria Secret supermodels.  They offer up their services to Michael in any capacity that he needs. Michael wants them to bring Miriam back for him. We see them building Miriam and they bicker over the details. They want her to be perfect because the son of Satan is their customer. 

They remind Michael that she won't be exactly as he remembers Miriam, not at least at first. It is going to take time. A relationship has to be built. They power her up and the first thing she does upon opening her eyes is to sit up and tell Michael how much she missed him.

See you next week where we'll probably find out exactly how the apocalypse was actually caused by Michael and why he thinks he killed all the witches. Eeeep!

Weekly Obsessions

The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every Saturday.

BOOK

Cover of Finale by Stephanie Garber (goodreads)

The final book in Stephanie's series was recently revealed by Entertainment Weekly and it is just as amazing as I was hoping it would be.

It is so eye catching and matches the other two perfectly. It is hard to believe that the end of this series is so close. It's bittersweet. 

Cover of There's Something About Sweetie by Sandhya Menon (goodreads)

Sandhya Menon always has really fun, bright covers that immediately catch your eye and her newest is no exception to that. She has a brand and I love that all of her covers compliment each other. 

Sweetie looks great on the cover and I love how joyful she looks! It makes me think the book is going to be just as joyful.

MOVIE / TELEVISION

Isn't It Romantic Trailer

Trailers for the early part of 2019 have started to come out and this really charming one caught my eye. I am tentatively optimistic but this type of movie has the potential to be pretty cringe inducing.

This trailer seems to indicate that this is partly a satire of the rom-com while still being a rom-com. I laughed at a few moments (I loved the PG-13 part of the trailer) and it could be a good Valentine's Day hit.

Five Feet Apart Trailer

This is based off an upcoming YA release (it releases Nov 20th) that will be released on this blog a little later this month. I was immediately curious about the trailer and now that I have seen it I am totally going to see this movie when it is released.

It seems like a movie that is going to make me cry but it also looks like it'll be good. I think this movie (and the book) may end up proving more popular than people think simply because it is reminding me a little bit of The Fault In Our Stars.

OTHER

TBTBSanta

If you've followed me for awhile you'll know about The Broke and Bookish Santa Swap that happens yearly. It's an amazing way to spread some holiday cheer and I highly recommend signing up if you are able. It's really heartwarming to see all the excited tweets as people shop and send/receive their packages.

What are you obsessed with this week? Let me know in the comments.