Young Adulting

Today we spoke with Frances Cha, the author of our February book club pick -  If I Had Your Face. Frances is a NYC-based author who splits her time between the US and Seoul. She shares her experiences researching plastic surgery, room salons, and mental health for the book. We discuss the way she developed her characters to each embody a different theme of Korean culture, the journey to finally releasing the book during the pandemic, and what she’s working on now!   More Frances Cha: @franceschawrites on instagram Frances’s Asian Author Book Recs: David Tung Can’t Have a Girlfriend Until He Gets Into an Ivy League College by Ed Lin The Magical Language of Others by E.J Koh Join our FB group for amazing book recs & more! Like and subscribe to RomComPods. Available wherever you listen to podcasts. Visit Grace’s blog, The Stripe. New posts daily! Follow us on Instagram @badonpaperpodcast. Follow Grace on Instagram @graceatwood and Becca @beccamfreeman.

For this month’s book club we read If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha. Just 30 pages into this book, we both knew it had to be our book club pick. Neither of us haven read anything like it before and there is so much to talk about. The story revolves around 4 women who all live in the same apartment building in contemporary Seoul, South Korea. The book explores impossible beauty standards and strict social hierarchies, fangirling over K-POP bands, jealousy, relationships, sex work and room salons. We discuss plastic surgery, the fast-paced Korean Beauty market, the feelings around family and marriage in Korea, and more.  Join us in the  Facebook group and let us know your thoughts on this month’s pick!   Instagram: @theannadelvey Contemporary books about life in other countries: Yolk by Mary H K Choi Anna K by Jenny Lee White Ivy by Susie Yang What We’re Reading: Untamed by Glennon Doyle Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead Too Good to be True by Carola L

One of the things we get asked about most is how to read more. So we tackle that during the first fifteen minutes of this episode. (Spoiler alert: being single and childfree during a pandemic helps!) When we read, the advantages of audiobooks, and how to find books you truly love reading, and more! For the rest of the episode, we dive into our favorite hidden gem books. We each brought our five favorite hidden gem books to the table, peppering them in with recommendations from YOU! So this episode is packed with hidden gems to read. 10 from us, 14 from you… get ready for some amazing recommendations!   Join in the FB group to add your favorites to the conversation!   Becca and Grace’s Recs: The Perfume Collector by Kathleen Tessaro A Sky Painted Gold by Laura Wood Peach Tree Bluff Series Kristy Woodson Harvey Kitchens of The Great Midwest by J Ryan Stradal The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany by Lori Nelson Spielman Who’s That Girl & You Had Me At Hello by Mhairi McFarlane American Predator by Maur

Today we are joined by Caroline Owusu-Ansah, the founder of Luv Scrub! If you have been listening for a while you know that Grace is obsessed with her Luv Scrub—and rightfully so. This exfoliating cloth was awarded Allure’s Best of Beauty Award, leaves your skin baby soft, and replaces your old loofah or pouf - for good! Caroline shares the journey to build her business and her lessons learned, from ways to avoid burnout to finding a mentor to taking care of your mental health.    More Caroline: www.theluvscrub.com @luvscrub    Instagram: @emilyhenrywrites @samsonthedood Obsessions: Giant Wall Calendar: PlanTheThingsco The Birthdate Book Birthdate Candle  Neom candle What We’re Reading: Untamed by Glennon Doyle The Lynching by Laurence Leamur Bird by Bird by Ann Lamott The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon All Girls by Emily Layden The Therapist by B.A. Paris (out in July) The Lost Apothecary  by Sarah Penner February Book  If I Had Your Face by France

With almost a full year of quarantine life under our belts, we’re checking in with each other on how we’re feeling, what’s giving us hope, and how we are staying motivated to do anything more than watching Netflix. Grace shares more about her season of self-improvement and Becca talks about how big projects are giving her quarantine a sense of purpose. We’re also talking about the activities that are keeping us busy (puzzles!) and what we’ve been watching during our nights in.   We want to hear about your quarantine feels (and distractions) in the Facebook group!   TV and Movie Recs:   Bridgerton The Bold Type The Flight Attendant Ted lasso Schitt’s Creek Saved By the Bell reboot Pretend It’s A City (Fran Leibowitz docuseries) The Undoing Lupin Money Heist Ready Player One Crazy Rich Asians   Read in a Day Book recs:   Thrillers: Anything by Megan Miranda, Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen, or Liv Constantine 28 Summers and The Blue Bistro by Elin Hilderbrand The Mall by Megan McCafferty Snowfall of

Today we are joined by Elizabeth Gilbert the New York Times best-selling author of Eat, Pray, Love, City of Girls, and (of course!) our January Book Club pick Big Magic. We talk about her decision to write Big Magic and the writing process behind it. She shares her unique perspectives on creativity and how every person can find and grow in that space. She talks about staying actively (and not-so actively) creative during the pandemic, ditching social media for the greater good, and learning how to be kind to yourself. If you have been needing some motivation this is the 2021 pep talk you have been waiting for! More Elizabeth Gilbert: Join the Onward Book Club! Elizabeth Gilbert on Youtube Elizabethgilbert.com February Book    If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha   Sponsor: HBO Max: Use our link (http://hbom.ax/badonpaper) for HBO Max's promo offer where new and returning subscribers can sign up for a limited-time "Prepay and Save Offer" to save 20% when prepaying the first 6 months of an HBO Max subscriptio

We found it fitting that Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert was our first book club of 2021. Becca reads this book every January to jumpstart her year, and we wanted to include you on her tradition. Reading this book is the creativity pep talk we all need so badly right now. Elizabeth approaches creativity with lightness and joy. Even if you don’t consider yourself a creative person, you will take so much away from this book. We touch on each chapter and our biggest takeaways and share our own journeys with creativity. We love this book (can you tell?) and we hope you did too! Tell us your thoughts in the FB group and join us tomorrow for a bonus episode with the author!   If you liked Big Magic:   Daring Greatly by Brenè Brown Nobody Wants to Read Your Shit by Steven Pressfeld Like Brothers by Mark and Jay Duplass Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott   Instagram: @ninetypesco @Jazmynjw Obsessions: Thirteen Lune What We’re Reading: Heavy by Kiese Laymon On Writing by Stephen King If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha

In today’s episode we are joined by Azora Zoe Paknad, the founder of Goldune. Before starting Goldune in the middle of the pandemic (in the short span of 5 months!), Azora Zoe worked for Food52 and before that, she was Grace’s social media intern at BaubleBar! She has worked in the ecommerce and content space for years and when quarantine started she got to work and started her own e-commerce site, selling the best sustainable homewares. Azora Zoe shares the intense process of building a company and her personal journey to this point. We talk about reusable straws, food storage tips, product swaps and shocking recycling facts. Do you know what a soapberry is? Neither did we! We got a crash course in sustainability and we hope this helps you find little ways you can make changes in your everyday life that will work towards a healthier planet.     More Zoe: @goldune.co instagram Goldune.com  Use code BOP for $10 off your first order   Zoe’s Recs:   Kosas Big Clean Mascara Nature First Laundry Pods @pattygo

It’s the time of year where we reflect on past resolutions and create new ones for the new year ahead. As we look back on the insanity of 2020 and the way that it affected our goals and ability to achieve them, we found some silver linings! Although we are definitely cautious as we set our 2021 goals, we’re also optimistic. We talk about our personal, business, and mental and physical health resolutions and the steps we are taking to get there. Whether you like to make resolutions or you just like to wing it, we support it! If we learned anything in 2020, it’s that this year needs to be about being good to yourself.   11 Goal Setting Apps - help keep you on track!   Instagram: @galisonpuzzles @zillowgonewild Obsessions: Ouidad Leave-in Conditioner Bimble - CBD Seltzer code GRACE for 20% off What We’re Reading: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig Perfect on Paper  by Sophie Gonzales (out in April) The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren (out in May) Musical Chairs by Amy Poepple Joyful by Ingrid F

We’re back with our first episode of a brand new year! To kick off 2021 we are joined by Kelley Knight, author of Spells for the Modern Mystic Ritual Guidebook and Spellcasting Kit. Kelley is bringing mysticism into the mainstream, and we are here for it! We chat about her own psychic awakening, building her business, and her freakiest predictions. She does a mini tarot reading for each horoscope sign to see what lies in the year ahead. We also have a bonus January reading for those Virgos and Libras like us! We even learn a quick cleansing spell to clear out the bad the vibes that 2020 left behind.   Don’t know your sun sign or your rising/ascending sign? Visit Astro.com and all you need is birth location, date, and time.    More Kelley Knight: Modernmysticshop.com @modernmystic_shop Modernmystictarot.com Spells for the Modern Mystic Ritual Guidebook and Spellcasting Kit Spells for the Modern Mystic Intensive   Instagram: @sharonsaysso @shitbloggerspost Obsessions: Death to 2020 on Netflix Plant Juic

For the last book club of 2020, we chose The Cousins by Karen McManus. This is a twisty YA thriller, sans murder - making it kind of the perfect book for both of us! This is the tale of Milly, Aubrey, and Jonah Story: three cousins who barely know each other but are invited to work at their estranged grandmother’s resort. All of their parents have been disinherited and the cousins learn more and more about the dark secrets of their family’s past. We chat about which cousins we relate to most, our theories about the ending, and our interest in the psyche of the adult characters. We both really enjoyed this book and we hope you did too!   Join us in the Facebook group and let us know what you thought!   More Non-Scary YA Thrillers: One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus One of Us is Next by Karen McManus Little White Lies by Jennifer Lynn Barnes Deadly Little Scandals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes They Wish They Were Us by Jessica Goodman All These Beautiful Strangers by Elizabeth Klehfoth   Obsessions: Algeni

2020 is coming to a close and we are not going to let this year end on a negative note. There were really some great things about this year (politics and pandemics aside, of course). In this episode we talk about our biggest professional and personal accomplishments this year and all of our favorite purchases. We reminisce about our favorite episodes of the pod this year, our favorite books, clothing and beauty purchases and all of our favorite ways that we self-cared our way through 2020.   Grace’s Post: I don’t want kids … and that’s okay!    Best Overall Purchase of 2020: Grace’s Dining Chairs - Vintage Marcel Breuer Cesca Chairs via 1st Dibs Brightland Olive Oil Fridge Lazy Susan The SoulCycle Bike   Favorite Clothing Purchases of 2020: Pandemic Pants from Old Navy Aerie corded oversized sweatshirt (Quarter zip version; original is sold out) Eileen Fisher Tunic Sweaters Ralph Lauren Blazer Vuori Joggers Amazon Fleece   Favorite Beauty Purchases of 2020: Dr. Bader Face Cream San Tropez Self Tanner P

How is it possible we’ve never done a holiday episode?! Let’s fix that starting… now! In this episode we talk about our favorite holiday traditions, how we decorate, our fave holiday foods, and, of course, the best movies and books to get you into the holiday spirit. We also share our favorite small businesses that you should know about for gift shopping this holiday season!   Join us in the FB group and tell us your favorite small businesses!   Holiday Movies: Elf The Christmas Contract A Christmas Inheritance A Christmas Prince Love Actually  The Holiday The Holidate The Princess Switch 2 Christmas with a Prince   Holiday Books: One Day in December by Josie Silver We Met in December by Rosie Curtis The 12 Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss Christmas at the Island Hotel by Jenny Colgan   Small Business Recs: Grace: Beauty: Indie Lee, Follain, Klur, Luv Scrub, Woo Me Beauty
 Food: Trufflin Hot Sauce,  Red Clay Hot Sauce Jewelry: Nicola Bathie, Holst + Lee, Candyshop Vintage Clothing: Nightire, Worthy T

Today we are joined by Diksha Basu, the author of our November Book Club pick, Destination Wedding. We are so excited to get the inside scoop on this book! Diksha is an author, former actress, and academic from New Delhi, India, and she now divides her time between New York City and Bombay.    We explore what ‘home’ means to her, and how that influenced this book. She shares her unique writing process, starting with character development before plot. We also talk about our favorite character (Tina, who we want to be our BFF) and our least favorite (Marianne) and the inspiration behind them.    More Diksha: @dikshabasu  on twitter @Diksha_basu on insta Bookshop.org to buy her books  Please send her a message if you liked the book! Favorite Indian Authors: Burnt Sugar by Avni Doshi Favorite Pakistani Authors: Moth Smoke by Moshin Hamid Moni Mohsin Rohinton Mistry Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth   Join our FB group for amazing book recs & more! Like and subscribe to RomComPods. Available wherever you list

For our November Book Club we read Destination Wedding by Diksha Basu. This book is exactly what we needed as we are both missing travel, meeting new people, and big events like weddings! The story follows Tina Das, a Brooklynite who is traveling to India with her divorced parents and her best friend to attend a cousin’s lavish wedding. Both Tina and her father are looking for love while on their trip, with some pretty mixed results. This book was such a fun read that will have you laughing, and, if you’re like us, wanting to be best friends with the main character.   Also tune in Friday for a bonus episode with the author! Join us in the FB group and let us know what you think of the book, and let’s talk about other book characters you’d want to be best friends with!   Instagram: @duexmoi @claudehome Obsessions: Malin + Goetz Cannabis Candle Aerie Loungewear Quarter Zip Sweater Waffle Sweater Dogs wearing sweaters pj bottoms What We’re Reading: The Cousins  by Karen McManus (out Dec 1) Simmer Down b

Welcome to our holiday gift guide episode with Caroline Moss. Caroline is the host of “Gee Thanks, Just Bought it,” a podcast about all things shopping. Her podcast explores the fun things she and her guests have found on the internet, bought, and loved. We are big fans and think you’ll like it too! We talk about what we’re eyeing on Black Friday, plus gift ideas for moms, best friends, kids, and the office secret santa. We hope this episode gives you some great gift ideas (we certainly checked a few people off our list while recording!).   Mom or Mother in-law Gift Recs: The Revlon One Step Volumizer Barefoot Dreams Cardigan CBD Bath Soaks from Equilibria or Lord Jones Four Seasons Hotel Robe Dr. Bader Face Cream Night Pillow (use code BOP30 for 30% off in November) 10 Foot Phone Charger Mophie Battery   Sister or Best Friend Recs: Olive & June manicure and pedicure full sets Natori Shangri La Robe and Print Fresh Robes Byredo Tree house Candle Le Labo Santal 26 Candle  Brooklyn Candle Company Maison

Elizabeth Holmes, the author of HRH: So Many Thoughts on Royal Style joins us to talk about royal fashion moments and her new book. Elizabeth shares the analytical lens she uses to observe and report on royal style, thinking about the message behind the clothes just as much as their glamour. We dig into the writing process, photo selection, and her favorite royal outfits (and missteps!). She also shares how recent conversations around race and racism have impacted how she covers Meghan and royal style overall.    More Elizabeth: @eholmes HRH: So Many Thoughts on Royal Style Instagram: @dannypeligrino @threebirdsrennovations Obsessions: Alice Chicolini The Undoing on HBO Ilia Mascara What We’re Reading: Just Mercy by Brian Stevenson Joyful by Ingrid Fetell Lee Anxious People by Fredrick Backman Take a Hint, Dani Brown byTalia Hibbert In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren Pretty Things  by Janelle Brown November Book Club: Destination Wedding by Diksha Basu Sponsor: Night: Grab the Black Friday Sale ear

For today’s episode, in honor of the cooler temps coming our way, we are sharing our favorite TV shows and movies. Hopefully this list will make your winter quarantine a little more entertaining! We have both found that being inside more has led us both to watching a lot more TV than movies. We still stick to our fav genres- Becca almost exclusively watches Rom Coms, and Grace likes anything with secret agents or lawyers, and of course documentaries!  Differences aside, we can both agree that we really do love an old person romance… especially when Nancy Meyers is behind it. We have found a lot of joy in watching our favorite shows from childhood, college, and now to help beat the blues of being stuck inside.   Favorite Childhood Shows: Anne of Green Gables Avonlea Saved by the Bell Gilmore Girls Dawson’s Creek 90210   What we are watching in quarantine: The Politician Love Life Dr. Foster The Morning Show White Collar New Girl Episodes Dead to Me Scandal Never Have I Ever
   Grace’s All Time Favorites: Gilmo

Alexis Daria is a native New Yorker, award winning author, celeb sighting specialist, who wrote our October Book Club pick, You Had Me at Hola. We get the inside scoop on her choice to write about the world of telenovelas and the ways that her own family mirrors the characters in the story. We learn more about the changes happening in the Romance genre from both the publishing and the consumer side. We get a peek into her writing process and how she writes such steamy sex scenes! We also get her favorite open door sex scene book recs, LatinX romance recs, and more.  More Alexis: @alexisdaria  on twitter  @alexisdaria on Instagram alexisdaria.com newsletter sign up on her website The Dance Off Series by Alexis Daria Favorite Open Door Sex Scene Book Recs: The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa Uptown Girl Series by Joanna Shupe Girl Meets Duke Series by Tessa Dare Toxic Desire by Robin Lovett  LatinX Romance Writer Recs: Priscilla Oliveras  Mia Sosa Adriana Herrera Zoey Castille Sabrina Sol Sponsor: Hello Fres

For this month’s book club, we read  You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria. This is the story of Jasmine Lin Rodriguez, the lead actress of the telenovela “Carmen in Charge.” She plans to swear off men and follow her Leading Lady Plan, but her plan is compromised when she falls for her co-star, Ashton Suarez. They want to keep things private, but the paparazzi makes this impossible, causing a lot of strain on their budding relationship. This was essentially a RomCom about a RomCom (peak Becca genre), and we had a lot to talk about! This book is steamy in all the right places, while still tackling some more serious issues (LatinX underrepresentation in the film/TV world, consent). Though both characters make some arguably bad decisions, and kept some big secrets, we stood by them til the end and really enjoyed this book. We loved this book, and hope you did too, let’s talk more in the FB group! And come back tomorrow for a special bonus episode with the author. Obsessions: Mifa & Co Shower Gel Mifa & Co