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[0:00] Michelle Simone Miller: The Love Hypothesis with Mackenzie Newcomb is a book adaptation of The Love Hypothesis on Amazon Video, which is an incredible book club that has chapters all over the country, has events all over the country, and you read multiple books. I want to hear all about it. This is a specific series for Mentors on the Mic. If you haven't checked it out, we did another one on Off-Campus, but we're really excited to bring back The Love Hypothesis. This is something Mackenzie and I both read a while back, but it is important to think about what stuff did come to mind, even though we haven't read it in so long, that we really wanted to see on the screen. Let's just talk a little bit about you for a second, Mackenzie. Welcome to the podcast. Thank you so much for being here again. What were you doing before Bad Bitch Book Club? Let's set the scene. Before the club started.

[1:11] Mackenzie Newcomb: Oh my gosh. Okay, so this is actually the pivot of the century, because the two are very, very, very, they're not connected at all. So when I started Bad Bitch Book Club, I was working at Petrosian Caviar doing influencer brand and celebrity marketing. So it was the best job ever. The best job ever where I didn't work for myself. The best job ever is obviously working for myself now. But it was a really, really fabulous job. It really was like eating caviar and drinking champagne with Martha Stewart. It was truly fabulous. But I was in charge of the social media stuff for a 100-year-old French company. And so things move very slowly, like glacial pace, when you're trying to move a company that is that old forward.

And not only that old, but also that iconic. They're frequently grouped in with Van Cleef & Arpel or Hermes. This is a really, really renowned global company of artisans. And so I had a lot of free time. And so I've always blogged just for fun since I was in high school. And I started blogging about the books that I was reading, because I was reading a lot of books. And I noticed that people were reading the books that I was suggesting and then tagging me on Instagram. And at this point, I had like 1000 followers. So these were people I knew, right? And so I thought to myself, I'm like, well, what if I started a book club so that we could all read the books that I was reading and then talk about them together.

And so I created Bad Bitch Book Club as a Facebook group at first, and a Gmail newsletter, something really, really simple. I copied and pasted the text into, I had a spreadsheet with all the emails, and I'd copy and paste the text into the body of the email, and then BCC everyone. It was so small. And we would vote on the book of the month. And it was really, it was that it was that. And then over time, a lot of people kept inviting a friend, inviting a friend, inviting a friend. So, you know, by January of 2020, we had 1000 members, and we had a logo and some t-shirts, you know, we had we had a little Wix website, and it was still just a hobby, but it was started, it was clear, at least to some people, specifically my husband that it was not going to be a hobby forever. But yeah, that's my that was my old life was that was marketing caviar.

[3:38] Michelle Simone Miller: I love that we first of all, I'm a huge on pivots. I love hearing about pivots. And that's a big one. I want to ask them about what tools from that first job, you know, with caviar that you brought into developing the book club as it continued, like what skill sets really helped you in developing this business?

[3:56] Mackenzie Newcomb: The job that I had that actually helped the most was working at the front desk at a hotel for several years in college, I worked for four years at a front desk at a hotel. And it was there that I really learned how to thicken my skin. You know, not take anything that anyone says to me personally. That was that was probably and also, you know, learning hospitality skills. I think with Petrosian, the one real major takeaway, I learned from it, and I think it pertains more to our retreats than anything is just how to make people feel really special by giving them a luxury experience and how to be kind of luxury forward. When it comes to what you're delivering, because we really do aim for that when it comes to our retreats, our retreats are a mix of luxury reading retreats that we've just hosted one in Leavenworth, Washington, but we've done, you know, wine tasting retreats in Santa Barbara and the Willamette Valley, you know, we've done some really high end ones.

And then we do some much more casual ones like our big summer camp, but how to actually execute a luxury experience, I learned 100% working at Petrosian. I also very briefly in between Petrosian and Bad Bitch Book Club being my full-time job, I worked for an influencer marketing software company that provided like massive, like mass campaigns for major beauty brands like L'Oreal, Revlon, Ola Hendrickson, Fenty Beauty, Rare Beauty, those kinds of companies. And so I was analyzing data on what was performing well on social media, specifically TikTok at the time, and this is 2019 into 2020. And so I used that information, how people are succeeding on TikTok as a way of marketing myself and my company in the future. So I really have taken a little bit from everything that I've ever done to kind of create this company.

[5:47] Michelle Simone Miller: Love. Oh, so cool. So, so all of these skill sets, including well, yeah, multiple different positions that you've had, I think, like create the person who you are, but also was able like, like helped deliver this company and had it evolve. So now I want to just ask you for someone who's never heard of Bad Bitch Book Club, how would you describe it? You've already talked a little bit about the luxury retreats, but what, what do you think of? What do you want people to think of when they think of Bad Bitch Book Club? What, what does it encompass? It's, it's more than just one thing.

[6:14] Mackenzie Newcomb: Yeah. So Bad Bitch Book Club is a giant community of readers, mostly women. We have about 50,000 members, just over 50,000 members worldwide, mostly in the US and Canada. And we exist in three parallels. So first we have our online book club. So the virtual element is definitely our most accessible three out of four book clubs that we host online are free to attend. So there is just a really, really low cost to entry. And so we run reading groups that are really genre specific. With some exceptions, we do have an LGBTQ group that meets the first Wednesday of every month that spans many genres, but we have a thriller meetup, a horror meetup, a romance meetup, nonfiction, mostly advocacy books that we meet up and discuss.

We have one that's specifically on lit fic, and then we have another one that is reexamining classic novels. And so we have a meetup at least once a week. And so people can kind of look at all of our offerings like a menu and say, oh, I actually would love to discuss The Great Gatsby with a bunch of adults. I'm going to attend, you know, yesterday's meeting, or I'm going to commit to the book of the month because that's a vetted pick. So we have our book of the month and our Patreon pick each month are voted amongst our Patreon members. So our Patreon members have a lot of say on how things go. So we're a democracy. And so they help vote on the books. Of course, I step in a little bit like, well, we will not read The Calamity Club, right?

Like we will not make an Emily Henry book, most likely our book of the month, because people will be reading those books anyways. And so even though we don't totally step away from reading books by popular authors, because, you know, sometimes we like to save people from doing extra homework, we do try to uplift lesser-known authors or authors that are maybe mid-list. I wouldn't say we're only reading debut novels. We are reading a lot of books that you might find at the front of a bookstore, but it might be a debut novel that we're giving, you know, a chance as opposed to that. So we have our online element, Patreon members, they vote on the books and they this is seasonally. So they know every book they're going to be reading for a full season ahead of time.

And then everyone else finds out the first of the month what the offerings are. So that's mostly free. Our Patreon members pay $14 a month. And our Patreon members also have the opportunity to go on retreat. So first element, online book club. Second element, we do in-person meetups all around the US in most major and minor cities. So we have a huge presence in New York, Boston, DC, Chicago, LA is really big for us, Bay Area's building, Denver's building, Houston, Dallas, like we're everywhere. If you're looking for a community in your area, there is a very good chance that we have a chapter that can read with you. So that's a separate thing. And then we have our reading retreats. And our reading retreats are only open to our Patreon members, but they are hosted once a month and they're all over the US.

And they really range from taking over a mid-century hotel in Palm Springs to if we're going to Hocking Hills, Ohio, to go to the state park that everyone's obsessed with. Like you never know what it's going to be. And I'm telling you, Michelle, that was my most requested retreat.

[9:25] Michelle Simone Miller: Wow. It was Hocking Hills, Ohio. And so how did it develop from this virtual community to having these people who could like do that? Because you can't go to all of these, obviously. So you have people at all of these areas helping to lead their chapter potentially. How do you get those leaders? How do you find people to help you with retreats or events, et cetera?

[9:45] Mackenzie Newcomb: So slow measured growth. That is the real answer here. You have to be really careful not to grow too quickly or you'll make some serious mistakes. So our community coordinator program, it allows people to there's a big Facebook group for other people who are running regional groups. And so they kind of share advice with each other. We have pretty strict guidelines on what we believe is acceptable as a group. And we release every other month like a newsletter of suggestions for how we can run it. But I will say for those groups that are all around the US, we do try and have loose expectations because it is a volunteer role. And so what we say to them is create the community that you want to exist in your city.

What do you wish existed in Washington, D.C.? And then make it. And so for them, they hosted an ice cream social the other day that was like a book swap and ice cream social. And that's what they wanted to do. In New York, we had our Love Hypothesis screening. We tell people, choose something you think sounds really fun, plan it, and then invite people. But that's it. Just choose something that you think seems fun. But for the retreats, actually, for a long time, I did go to every single one. And I'm working towards not doing that. I have a retreat director who I met on our Santa Barbara retreat back in 2022. And her name is Caitlin. She's amazing. And so she helps plan all of the retreats. And she will go on some without me.

So she'll host Winter Camp West. We have a camp kind of style retreat that we host in Vermont and Idlewild, California. And so she'll do West and I'll do East. And so we divide and conquer that. And then this year, we're starting to experiment with community-led retreats. So these community coordinators who have been with us for a really long time, some people have been with us for like four or five years, that we know really well at this point. We invite them to go on a retreat for free. We teach them how to run them because they are really structured in a specific way. And then they're then invited to host their own, which will be two days long instead of three because our retreats are typically three days.

And we help with the schedule. We help with the payment. We help with pretty much everything. They're just in charge of actually physically hosting it. And so that's something that is relatively new for us. And I am so excited about it because now that my son is in school, it's much, much, much more necessary that I'm not attending a retreat.

[12:13] Michelle Simone Miller: Of course. Yeah. Three years old. That's so difficult, especially if it's every month. Excellent. So someone, and this is the last question about it, but I just wanted to ask, if someone wants to start right now, if they were like, if you were like, Michelle, you're interested in doing this, what would be the first thing you recommend us doing?

[12:28] Mackenzie Newcomb: I would say if you're on Facebook, join the Bad Bitch Book Club Facebook group and then join the Facebook group for your state. They're all listed on our website, so you don't actually have to really search, but it is bad bitches of blank. So, you know, bad bitches of New York, bad bitches of Massachusetts, et cetera, et cetera. And then look for the events that pop up there. Every group is different there. So.

[13:00] Michelle Simone Miller: If you're not on Facebook, which I totally understand. But I think most people are because they want Facebook Marketplace. I think most people don't use Facebook, but they have it. But they have it to go into.

[13:10] Mackenzie Newcomb: Exactly, because they don't want to lose the Facebook Marketplace. The Facebook Marketplace keeps everyone on there. If you're not on Facebook, you can join Patreon, and we share our free stuff on Patreon. But also the paid stuff, which is a lot more robust. You get a lot more information that way. So that's how I would suggest joining. But, you know, if you just follow us on Instagram and casually follow for a while and see if we're doing anything that interests you. We post about all of our local meetups all around the U.S. And you'd be so surprised at the places we have groups. Like, really, like Virginia Beach. Our Virginia Beach group is popping off right now. Like, you never know what it's going to be.

[13:49] Michelle Simone Miller: Yeah, that's how I did it. I followed you on Instagram for quite a while, and then I saw this particular event, which sold out, I think, really quickly.

[13:56] Mackenzie Newcomb: Really quickly, yeah. So I was very fortunate and happy that I was able to go. But, yeah, it was such a fun event, which I guess, you know, is a great transition to thinking about this particular book adaptation we're going to talk about. So it was a great idea to do it. I hosted, like, I don't know, like six friends to watch the other one you were saying.

[14:14] Michelle Simone Miller: People Meet on Vacation.

[14:15] Mackenzie Newcomb: People Meet on Vacation. And there's something really fun about seeing, you know, something that has been adapted with a bunch of people, specifically women in my case. But I think most of the theater was women in this particular case, too.

[14:27] Michelle Simone Miller: Yeah, I think so, too. But, yeah, so what was, I just wanted to, first of all, what was your, like, one word, your immediate reaction to watching the movie?

[14:35] Mackenzie Newcomb: Perfect.

[14:36] Michelle Simone Miller: Ah, love. And then the other thing, which I hear, I'm seeing a lot online, do you prefer the book or do you prefer the movie?

[14:45] Mackenzie Newcomb: I narrowly prefer the movie.

[14:48] Michelle Simone Miller: Which is really rare to say.

[14:50] Mackenzie Newcomb: Like, I think it's really rare. My thing is close to you. So for me, I thought it was a great adaptation. And I think it's about the same. Like, I really enjoyed the book. Like, you know, we talked about it. It's been a little while. But I really enjoyed the book. And I think I've read all of Allie Hazelwood's books, to be honest. I've read a lot of them. Right? And then at the same level, I thought the adaptation was just as good. And I never say stuff like that. So I was really, really happy with how that all went down. So this is exciting. I'm excited to talk to you about this. The first part of this, the first segment is going to be spoiler-free. So if people want to just, like, listen to us talking about the adaptation and what we thought and just a little bit sort of, like, you know, getting you excited maybe about watching it or reading the book, this is for you.

And then I will tell you when we get into, like, the spoiler section. So right now, let's just keep it spoiler-free for people in case they're like, I want to, like, listen to this. And yet I don't want to be spoiled in case I want to read it or watch it.

[15:48] Mackenzie Newcomb: So for someone who hasn't read the book, would you like to do a little setup for it?

[15:53] Michelle Simone Miller: Do you want me to?

[15:54] Mackenzie Newcomb: You can do it. So I would say for those who have read the book, you're probably not a huge romance reader. Or you are someone who doesn't like to read what's super popular because you believe it couldn't possibly live up to the hype. Like, I feel like it's one or the other because The Love Hypothesis is one of the most widely read contemporary romances in the last decade. It is a professor, not his student, but student romance that is RILO fan fiction.

[16:28] Michelle Simone Miller: So, you know, Star Wars. And the particular movie starred Allie Hazelwood.

[16:34] Mackenzie Newcomb: And what is this guy's name? Well, Allie Hazelwood is the author.

[16:38] Michelle Simone Miller: So you're thinking Lili Reinhart and Tom Bateman.

[16:41] Mackenzie Newcomb: Yes. The movie starred Lili Reinhart and Tom Bateman. And this book that people have been so excited for this adaptation because there was a TikTok that she posted where he...

[16:54] Michelle Simone Miller: I know exactly which one you're talking about.

[16:58] Mackenzie Newcomb: And he lifts her up with one arm. And so everyone has been like, this is it. This is going to be the movie. And for about a year, we have all been just waiting for this. Can we applaud Lili Reinhart and her TikTok marketing while they were filming it? Like, the amount of stuff that she put out during that filming process was something to be studied, actually.

[17:21] Michelle Simone Miller: Because I felt like I know exactly which TikTok you're talking about. Like, it was a trend that she adapted for the movie. And everyone was like, hold on. This is it. This is exactly the casting. I don't have to worry about the movie. I just can't wait to see it. And movies are coming out a lot faster these days. I don't know if you've noticed that, where people will film and then a year later the movie can come out, depending on the hype of it. And I just feel like she did such a good job of putting out really strategic videos that made the audience be like, yes, I can't wait for this. Yes, I can't wait for this. Yes, you read the book. Like, you're our perfect olive. Like, we can't wait. Like, I really, I've been so, so, so, so excited about this adaptation. And I think it's also coming off the heels of people really disappointed with the Emily Henry adaptations.

[18:19] Mackenzie Newcomb: Yes. I will say I liked People Meet on Vacation, but I've heard from so many people that they were disappointed. There was a little bit of like some people loved it, some people really didn't. And people are so upset about a future Emily Henry adaptation. But just based on the casting alone, and like I don't have really strong like awful feelings about it, but I'm not like I'm not feeling the same level of excitement for it at all. And I love the book that they're doing.

[18:49] Michelle Simone Miller: Which one is it?

[18:50] Mackenzie Newcomb: It's Beach Read.

[18:51] Michelle Simone Miller: Yes, exactly. It's Beach Read, which is not my favorite Emily Henry book. But I still like it. But yes, people are not excited about it. And it's for sort of, it's almost like the opposite of what happened with Lily Reinhart and Tom Bateman and their casting. It's like, it doesn't feel as protected. It doesn't feel like it's going to be like, how much do you need it to be accurate? Like book accurate? Like people get really, really like hyped on. Like, is this exactly like the adaptation? I don't personally get that crazy about it. I want the vibe to be there.

[19:23] Mackenzie Newcomb: Yes, the vibe. I was just going to say the heart of it, like the spirit of the story needs to be the same. I do think with People We Meet on Vacation, they notably left out anything from Palm Springs. And I believe that Palm Springs was the crux of that story. And so I think that even though I really liked it as just a Netflix movie or wherever it was, I think it was Netflix. I don't remember. That was noticeably missing. I felt like if you were to watch The Love Hypothesis, you would not, unless you had just read the book, if you had had at least I'd say eight months to a year between when you read the book and when you watched the movie, you would not notice any differences.

[20:01] Michelle Simone Miller: Yes.

[20:02] Mackenzie Newcomb: Because I think that the characters that we remember are there. Key scenes that I think people think of when they think of the book were there. I know you talked a little bit about it, but it was published in September of 2021, which actually I was surprised by. I remember thinking like, oh God, I feel like it's been around for so long, but yeah, 2021 got huge on TikTok again. Like you said, fan fiction for Star Wars, which with the funny part of the casting for that. So it was based on Rey and Kylo Ren from Star Wars. And then the person who plays Rey in real life, I'm blanking on her name, but her real...

[20:30] Michelle Simone Miller: Daisy Ridley.

[20:36] Mackenzie Newcomb: Daisy Ridley. Thank you. Her real-life husband is Tom Bateman. So people loved that connection immediately. Lily Reinhart, you know, is also producing the film. I think this is her first big, big thing that she's producing. I could be wrong. Like at least on this scale. I think she said, I saw in an interview, she said this is the biggest thing she's marketed for outside of Riverdale.

[20:57] Michelle Simone Miller: So she's really been marketing it really well. And she's wearing all these like beautiful romance, like famous, like romance, like comedy, romance, beautiful, like dresses, like the dress from How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and 13 Going On.

[21:14] Mackenzie Newcomb: Laptown Girls.

[21:15] Michelle Simone Miller: Laptown Girls. Yeah, exactly. It's been amazing. So that press tour has been really, really strong. And the red carpet for that has been amazing. But theoretically, like, yeah, people, people watch that and go, yes, they, the characters feel like they're popping out of the books.

[21:28] Mackenzie Newcomb: Right.

[21:29] Michelle Simone Miller: The scenes that we remember are there. Like the important scenes. I felt like the point of all of it, the fake relationship between a Ph.D. student and young professor is there. And what I think is also funny is that like this year, big on fake relationships. Like if you think about off campus and then this, people love that trope. That's a really good entry point trope for people for book romances.

[21:50] Mackenzie Newcomb: Do you think that?

[21:51] Michelle Simone Miller: Oh, absolutely. I love fake dating. Yeah, it's a good one. It's just fun. Like, are there any, are there any tropes for romances you're like, it's just not for me?

[22:00] Mackenzie Newcomb: Ooh. Okay. Actually, this is an unpopular opinion, but I, it takes a lot for me to like an enemies to lovers romance novel because you're towing such a, like a fine line that the reason you hate each other has to be substantial enough that you are enemies, but we need you to be able to get over it. And it has to, it has to be something that I can move on from personally in order for you to be lovers. So I, I struggle sometimes with enemies to lovers, but then sometimes enemies to lovers end up being my absolute favorite book if I feel like that.

[22:34] Michelle Simone Miller: What is there an enemies to lovers that you think of right off the bat that you're like, yes, that worked?

[22:39] Mackenzie Newcomb: Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston.

[22:40] Michelle Simone Miller: Interesting. I hadn't read the book. I just saw the show, but I probably should read the books way better.

[22:45] Mackenzie Newcomb: It's a book's way better one. I rarely read sequels.

[22:51] Michelle Simone Miller: That's fair. Um, but maybe, maybe, maybe I will. If I have the time club decides they want to read it, then I will. But a lot of my reading is assigned to me right now based on, you know, considering the book club is like your career. Like essentially you're, you're just basically having to read the things that it makes a lot of sense.

[23:10] Mackenzie Newcomb: Um, why do you think that this movie or the book resonated so much with people?

[23:15] Michelle Simone Miller: I think it's really accessible. Like, like you said, like an accessible point to romance. Like it reads really, uh, really swiftly. Like it's the kind of book that you truly can't put down. The chemistry is palatable, but I think this book also really appeals to women and people who identify as demisexual. So, um, there's a point in the movie that also happens in the book. I don't remember if it's word for word where, um, oh my gosh, her, her cutie guy friend was the name. Remind me.

[23:44] Mackenzie Newcomb: Um, uh, is it Malcolm?

[23:47] Michelle Simone Miller: Malcolm?

[23:48] Mackenzie Newcomb: Yeah. Malcolm is like, yeah, like you basically like only want to fuck someone that you love and like that you're in love with. And she was like, isn't, doesn't everyone? He's like, no, you're demisexual. Like, and so a lot of people I know, especially in my book club community where there are a lot of people who are, um, really saw themselves in that. And they were like, oh my gosh, like I'm that way too. Like, I don't just want to sleep with anyone. Like, I only want to be with like the person I truly am in love with. Like, that's not me. That's not my, that's not my team, but I am married. I'm fine. We're good. But that, that's something that resonated with a lot of people. Also, I think, um, you know, our love interest, Dr. Evil, Dr. Carlson, uh, he's clearly like, uh, so it's such a great job.

Do such a great job. And there were some people, I saw reviews of people who didn't catch that. And I'm like, guys, it's so, did he have to spell it? We saw everything out. I think that's clearly what's happening.

[24:47] Michelle Simone Miller: Yeah. It's hard for him to connect with people the way he spoke. I mean, those are things that are not easy to do, especially because like his in real life, he has an accent to see. It's a learn a new accent in this, and then also be able to deliver it in a way that like, it makes sense. I can really felt like he did such a good job being like, it makes sense that he's this grumpy guy who just really, can't connect with people and like, doesn't understand why he doesn't connect with people very well. Like, he just doesn't get it. And over the course of, you know, the movie, you see, oh, like, this is why, and this is what he's doing. Little baby steps. It like felt really like lovely.

[25:22] Mackenzie Newcomb: Well earned, well earned. That's the, that's the best way to put it. Like they, they really feel like they're the perfect pair for each other at the end. And you're like, no, I I'm rooting for them. I'm a hundred percent, which is probably why Allie just announced that there's going to be a sequel to it.

[25:38] Michelle Simone Miller: Right, which is really rare. Which is so funny, Mackenzie, because we were supposed to do this yesterday and that didn't work out, and I kind of was like, it actually worked out because now we could talk about the fact that there's the sequel. So this doesn't happen often, especially with Ali Hazelwood, but she announced yesterday that she's coming out with a new book, right? That's a sequel to her first book. What she said, she fell in love with the characters as they made the movie. Again, she refell in love with them, and she wanted to continue their story, which doesn't happen often. It doesn't happen for her at all. And it hasn't been confirmed if I recall that this is going to be also a movie as well. I think they're waiting to hear a little bit more about whether this is well-received or something. But that would be exciting. It's exciting to enter that world again. I hope, you know, sequels, like you said, it's difficult with sequels.

[26:24] Mackenzie Newcomb: Yes, I think it's gonna be fun. I think I will read that one most likely. I loved "Love Theoretically," which is also part of this series, and that is definitely going to be adapted. I just think that Ali Hazelwood is an author that sells really well. Like, point-blank business-wise, Ali's books are worth banking on. She's getting million-dollar advances, at least a million-dollar advances. And it's very rare for an author to get rich off of writing. She is absolutely rich. I have also heard from a number of people, but specifically we have a mutual friend, Adriana Herrera, the romance author, that she is just such a wonderful person and also that she is very happy with the adaptation. And we love that because there's a lot of authors right now who are very against their adaptation, and it takes a little bit. Yes, we don't have to go into that, but it's a real thing. It's a real thing.

[27:19] Michelle Simone Miller: We can talk about it after, but yes. So, um, and I think just to give people an idea if they're like, "I have no idea how Ali is," what is the author? She writes books with women in STEM, which like I'm not in STEM, but I love reading that. Like, I love reading each one has like a different thing with like a student, like a person who's either has a PhD or is in biology or is like studying stuff that has to do with space. Like there's just like all these different women in STEM roles who like have to learn something else, but they're all intelligent women, and they're all respected for their intelligence over time, or at least by the person that there's other love interest. But I think just in case you're like, "Hey, I want to read about strong, powerful, intelligent women," these are great stories for you.

[28:04] Mackenzie Newcomb: And without getting into spoilers, which we're gonna move into soon, what works particularly for you with the adaptation? What stands out?

[28:16] Mackenzie Newcomb: Okay, I think the friendship between Olive and her friend. I think you, I really, really bought that she would make a sacrifice for her happiness because her friend was her whole world. That I thought was really well done. I thought Malcolm was so, so much fun because the character generally was just really good and really, really funny. And that was like, I thought the scene, I'm not gonna, it's not, I'm not gonna do any spoilers, but I thought the scene at the convention center where he was the speaker was cute. So, so cute, so well done. I just, I really think they got to the heart of the book. Like, I think if you liked the book, you will absolutely like the movie. I think so as well.

[29:07] Michelle Simone Miller: All right. Well, this is a great time to now get into spoilers, right? We're gonna get, so if you haven't read the book or watched the movie and you don't want to know anything about it, this is the part where we leave you. Thank you so much. But let's break down the adaptation. So what were the biggest changes, Mackenzie, from the book to the movie?

[29:25] Mackenzie Newcomb: Okay, so something, okay. So something I've seen, the only thing I've seen about people that people have been complaining about that I thought had some legitimate merit. So Olive in the book is Vietnamese, and in the movie, she's Filipino. And the actress is, I'm so sorry, I do not, I don't remember the actress's name. I don't think I ever knew it. I just, I had it written down to be honest, but I don't want to find, well, actually, I'd find it in my notes. Go on.

[29:50] Michelle Simone Miller: Yes, okay. So Rachel Marsh. Okay, so Rachel Marsh is Filipino. And so when they cast her in this role, they didn't want to kind of like identity or race the actual actress. And so that's why they decided to make her Filipino, but Olive is a Vietnamese name. And so there is definitely some people, mostly, you know, people who I follow who are Vietnamese who are just like, and there are ways to deal with it. Some people have been saying like you could make her half Vietnamese and half Filipino or explain that, or you could just make her fully Filipino. Like there are, and then some people are like, wait, you should have cast a Vietnamese actress. I think Brenda Song might be Vietnamese from what I heard from people online. There she is older, that wouldn't work at all, but if they were, yeah, I agree with that to be honest. But I love Brenda Song. I hope she's in something else.

[30:41] Mackenzie Newcomb: But the point is, is that you're right, like there are ways to deal with that, and maybe just changing her name was one of them. That was a big change from the book to the movie people are complaining about. The other thing is like some people are saying in the book, I'm forgetting the name now, but like in the book, there's supposed to be a character that's Adam's like essentially only friend aside from Tom Bateman, who's like the villain. And this friend has been friends with him for a while, always hated Tom, and ends up developing a relationship with Malcolm over the course of the book. And it's a really lovely sort of addition. I get why they took it out. We could talk about it, but I just feel like that part, people are saying that like this character humanizes Dr. Evil in a way that, you know, like makes him feel like he has a friend.

He has a friend who understands and who loves him. It's one of the only people who's closest to him understands that Tom is not a good guy from the get-go and understands that there's a jealousy component to it. So it's not just that he's hitting on Adam Carlson's girlfriend because of that. It's almost like there's something more to it, and people are saying that that was left out and that took away a little bit from Malcolm's story, took a little bit away from Adam's story. I think people are, you know, also understanding that they have to take a book and condense it into a movie, and like that stuff happens. And if they can find a way to show Adam Carlson's character and hurt his development without having to add an extra character, sometimes that stuff happens. What did you think? Did you miss that?

[32:40] Michelle Simone Miller: No, I think having that in there would be a little convoluted. I think Malcolm, as told in the movie, is kind of mature, and so I don't think that a little lost. And so I don't think, unlike Olive, who is incredibly driven and mature and has been through all this trauma and very much is able to self-direct herself towards success, Malcolm is not. And so I think having an older, like kind of a little bit of a power gap relationship would not necessarily have served the Malcolm in the movie. But I do think that Dr. Evil, Dr. Carlson could have had a good friend actually would have softened him a little bit. I think that there were times where he felt a little bit like a caricature of himself as Dr. Evil, as this, you know, socially clueless person.

And so I don't disagree that having a real friend and not just a friend who's a predator would have probably added to his character. So it does look like his only friend is this one guy who ends up turning it like it was back into like, yeah, like he immediately defends his girlfriend to him, and then it feels like, oh wait, does he not have any more friends? Like that was how it was portrayed almost, and I just feel like, yeah, they could have done a little bit more in that regard for him.

[34:05] Mackenzie Newcomb: I think so too. The male loneliness epidemic, it's on screen.

[34:10] Michelle Simone Miller: Anything they changed or added that you thought worked really well?

[34:12] Mackenzie Newcomb: Oh yes, actually. So in the book, Olive is really poorly dressed. Like her outfits, I don't know if you remember this, but she was wearing like galaxy leggings, and she just like very quirky. She was very quirky. I think that maybe it came with the casting. They decorkified her a little bit to make her just a little bit less of like a, "Oh, I'm just so dorky, like look at me," you know, I'm whatever, you know, she's not Mia Thermopolis. She's not getting her glasses taken off and like her, yeah, she's not getting a makeover scene. She just is kind of a normal 20-something in the way that she dresses. Like I don't think that Olive has great style in the movie, but she doesn't have atrocious style. And so I like that they changed that because I don't think in reality as anyone does, as beautiful as Lily Reinhart is, never gonna be that dorky.

[35:10] Mackenzie Newcomb: I also, yes, and also, but I do think that they like, she's so naturally pretty. I think they did a good job of not making that more than it is. Like they really, I think had more natural makeup. They really sort of like, you know, I think the color in her hair wasn't like super, it was a little, not dull, but just a little bit more like not as blonde as I've remembered her in the past. Like she just felt a little bit more like normal and less polished because she's just so naturally pretty that they don't really have to do much to her to like, yes, you know, you don't want her to be like someone who's gonna turn heads every two seconds because she is that level of pretty, to be honest.

[35:48] Michelle Simone Miller: Exactly. I want to add though that I have seen a lot of memes about this where people are like taking pictures of her with the lab coat and like her mini skirt, like she's like a denim miniskirt, and people were like, "No one would ever wear that to a lab." But like, I don't care if you have a lab coat, you would not be wearing that underneath. And so that's a funny thing. And then I think there were also some safety precautions. People were like, "You wouldn't walk into this without like goggles. You wouldn't walk into this without whatever, like glasses." So, but I think that they did a really good job of that too, but that's a good one. I'm sure the scientists have a much longer notes list than we do.

[36:27] Mackenzie Newcomb: I'm like I never got above a C in science, so I'm like...

[36:32] Michelle Simone Miller: But I think a lot of them are also really happy for that representation. So like, yeah, I've seen both. I've seen a lot of scientists be like, "Thank you for this woman in STEM on my screen right now," even if it's not a super 100% accurate.

[36:45] Mackenzie Newcomb: Any adaptation affect your perception of Olive and Adam at all, whether it's their individual characters or their relationship?

[36:47] Mackenzie Newcomb: I liked some even better because there is this kind of joke amongst the romance community that Ali Hazelwood is obsessed with a giant man and a tiny woman. And so anytime I read one of her books and I see another description like that, I'm like, "All right, Ali, we got a big man, tiny woman." You know, it is what it is. But when he lifted her up and I saw it in action, I was like, "All right, it's hot. I give in, you win."

[37:20] Michelle Simone Miller: It's like I liked it too. I liked when he lifted her in one hand. I love this big man. I love this.

[37:29] Mackenzie Newcomb: I thought about that actually. I was like, "Oh," and then there were a couple moments where like they were in the hotel room where like he just is so much bigger and he's like taking her to the wall, and I was like, "What did you think of like everyone had this all this thing for like chapter 16, which is the part where they finally have sex? What did you think about that on screen? Did you like, I, there were so, it's, and that's the thing about seeing it with women. You're always gonna get a couple women who are like talkative during these things, and most of the time it's really funny. But what did you think of with that? Like, what did you think of in terms of, in terms of that scene in particular and how it came to life? Were you satisfied with it?

[38:06] Mackenzie Newcomb: I was satisfied with it. It also, I think a lot of people were questioning because she has another book that is being adapted, "Deep End," which is like a...

[38:27] Mackenzie Newcomb: That was like beginner romance level, like intermediate romance level, expert romance level, where you were trying to like give people things that they've never read. And I caught that the beginning romance, I believe, had *Deep End* by Allie Hazelwood. And I was like, excellent, excellent. And I will say it is it's very steamy for a beginner, but I assume that anyone who's reading romance already read it, like anyone that's like really like, actually like, like actively reading, just even the most popular romance has read it. I strongly recommend. Highly recommend also. Yes, even if the description they're like college students on a swim team doesn't appeal to you, because like, shouldn't appeal to you, right?

Like that should be like, Oh, why do I care about them? Read it anyways. It's that good, but it's being adapted. And so a lot of people have been like, how are they going to adapt this book? Like it's so steamy. And I think the way that they did the sex scene in *The Love Hypothesis*, maybe people will be like, you know, actually, it's gonna be fine. It's gonna work out good. It's not going to be an impossible feat, essentially. So I thought it was great. I thought it was tasteful.

[39:35] Mackenzie Newcomb: Yeah, I thought it was tasteful, too. And then I also felt like the moments were there, like there were moments of very steamy, oh, this is hot. And there were moments of like, oh, like, you know, you don't see a lot of men going down on women on screen. It's not enough, actually. So I think there was that level of like, oh, this is steamy, this works, but it's not like on HBO. We're not like thinking, Oh, wow, okay, this is graphic. I'm seeing this with a bunch of people kind of agreed. So yeah, it was a tasteful thing. And I think it does give away to like, hopefully other adaptations like this to take note, because I thought they did it well. My next question, I think we can already answer, which is that did the movie capture what readers loved about the book?

And I think, yeah, I think 100% yes. And I think most people would agree to that. And I think that's what I kind of want to like really like emphasize is that it's really difficult sometimes to adapt a book. We've talked about this before. I think we kind of like hinted at it, but I've talked about it on the other adaptation episode, which is that, you know, the best part of a studio adapting a book that's really popular is that there's already built in community built in IP, where people are like, we're going to be the ones who are definitely going to try to see it. We'll tell our friends, hey, that was good. You might not have read the book, but like, you should, you should see this. This was very cute.

People post online. That's kind of how it builds. But you already have an audience that's already going to do it. And they need that stuff right now. There's just, you know, book adaptations are a real thing. It's happening more and more and more, which is very exciting for people like you and me who love books. But I think that in order to do it well, there are certain things that need to be hit. And I think Lili Reinhart did a really good job as executive producer to go, okay, what parts of the book need to be like done? Well, what are the things we need to make sure? Obviously, the casting is huge. Obviously, you know, maybe the friendship between her and her friend on super, super important, maybe, you know, there's certain scenes that need to be hit, right?

Like, I really loved the college scene where they're all having a party. And you have this, like, teacher who's kind of awkward, but he's starting to see these people as humans. And I just for me, that felt like a really important part. I think something I loved that the high versus drunk group. I don't remember that thing. That was so good. That was such a great ad and so good for the development of the story. And like one thing people have to remember, like the people who are like, well, I really wanted everything to be very book related. I want my book to come alive on screen. I remember Lily Reinhart saying every adaptation is a diff is our this is our adaptation of the book. It doesn't mean that it's going to be everything in the book.

Because we just can't do that just storyline wise, just time wise, like there's so many reasons why, when we adapt, we have to change it a little bit. And there's people who make those choices. And there's, you know, if you want the real original adaptation, you have the book, you have that original IP. But you know, it's an interesting thing to think about, like, it's a visual medium, there are things that they need to add, or that they need to make sure they have that you can see stuff that you wouldn't be able to when you read, right? Like, we don't know, you know, what's going on all the time in in Olive's brain, because we're not in the book with her. Like we're not when you're reading it, you get way more information about thoughts and about feelings, you have to see all of that. So I thought they did a really good job adding that one scene to show Adams like development.

[43:00] Mackenzie Newcomb: One thing I thought say one more thing about scenes specifically. Yeah. So I think a lot of people struggle with power dynamic romances that play with different power dynamics, and especially with age gaps. And I think a scene like that really is important because so many people who would be honest in real life age gap relationships, a lot of times you either have the older person in the couple, usually the man treats his spouse or girlfriend's family like friends, like they are nieces and nephews, that they're not that they're not their peers, essentially, that they they talk about them like they are an intern, you know, they're not they're not intellectual equals. And I think that this showing in particular, this scene showed Adam being able to be like, Oh, I'm actually gonna play with these people.

And we're gonna have some fun together. And like the fact that he was able to have fun with his students like that showed him kind of putting himself on their level for an evening, and that he is able to do that, like him bringing coffee to Malcolm while he was studying it was it was a good show of just like, Oh, you're friends with all of well, then you're my friend too like, we're all gonna be friends here, even if I need to, you know, kick you off my team or whatever. And like, you know, we're all we're all gonna be friends here, in a way that I think really softens that power dynamic relationship to the people surrounding them.

[44:29] Mackenzie Newcomb: Yeah, and I think him kicking off kicking Malcolm off his team was actually a really cool moment, too, because it was almost like, you see this development of Adam being a nicer guy, giving people second chances. And then he still did that. And there's an element of like, but he still has to do his job. He can't change 100% for his girl like that. That wouldn't feel right, either. Like he did what he thought was best, after giving what he felt was a few different chances to Malcolm. And it ended up being for the best. And we saw that Malcolm was like, actually, this might be a good thing for me that this happened. And obviously, I didn't treat it well. And I didn't take it seriously. But I liked the fact that you saw that Adam, while changing doesn't have to change 100%.

So that part, I really liked, you know, what I didn't love, you know, it wasn't super satisfying for me, is I didn't feel like her. I don't know what I call it. Like, there's always a little montage moment, you know, in these type of movies where you get like, like quick scenes where you show that the main character, the actress has learned like something, and she's able to do this on her own a little bit, right. And like, I think of *Legally Blonde*, where like, all of a sudden, you have a song, come on, she buys the computer, she's doing all this stuff, this is all her, you know, there's a little bit of that. And so Lily Reinhart has this, and I don't feel like it was satisfying enough, I felt like it was very quick, or like, maybe they edited some things out.

But like, she went to that other professor, and she asked her, hey, I need a money, I don't want to go to Harvard with this awful guy. Doesn't say it like that doesn't throw Tom Bateman under the bus, but implies that there was someone there that she doesn't want to do it with. And she's like, and I need funding, can I present this to you? And on one hand, badass. On the other hand, it didn't feel satisfying enough for me, A, because there wasn't as much to build up to that moment. And B, like, you know, she had been struggling so hard with public speaking. I felt like, yes, there's a moment of like, she feels more confident in her ability to present, which is why she could present really quickly to this woman.

But I just I didn't feel like there was enough of that, that development that like, you know, those scenes wrapped together, where it shows that she's become a stronger version of herself over the course of the movie. And she's now using that to be able to like, ask for things she never could ask for before.

[46:45] Michelle Simone Miller: I love that you're completely right. And like, maybe there should have been, you know, a building of their relationship earlier on and like throughout the course of the movie. So we could see like, oh, this is actually someone that is not crazy. She's asking for a favor from, yeah, I mean, of course, we know she's the best student in the class, blah, blah, blah, whatever. But like, just showing a little more involvement from her. Yeah, made a more much more satisfying. Like I remember thinking, why doesn't she ask it? Like, why does she need to go to Harvard so much? Why can't she ask anyone else there? And so when it happens in the book, I just remember being like, yes, like you could, you could have asked her, but they felt like there was more of a build up in that relationship or something.

And I just felt like it wasn't the same. Yes. In the movie. And that was the only thing that I was like, all right, like, I mean, if I'm going to be a little nitpicky, I would have loved that to be a bit more satisfying.

[47:36] Mackenzie Newcomb: Yes. Because Stanford was an option in the book. Stanford was an option in the book. And it wasn't an option in the movie until it suddenly became an option. And it's like, oh, I'll just go to Stanford. Like, that's not a saying Stanford, I guess. But like, you know, and maybe part of it was that she didn't explain like, I think in the book, they explained I mean, again, it was a while ago, but I think in the book, they explained more of that, like the background of like, there's not many places that would fund her type of research. There's not a lot of places that like, specialize in that very specific form of cancer. And I think that that was the part of the reason why she had so much pressure that it had to be that program.

But like, you're right, there were more options. And like, I think the issue was that she wasn't confident enough to like ask for those options or to advocate for herself. And it just fell into her. I don't know. So that was something I thought of. So let's quickly, if you don't mind, if you have a couple minutes, I just want to quickly do something called the Adaptation Awards. I'm just going to give you a couple categories. And we're going to answer about like, what we think was the I mean, we kind of already done it, but I've tried to come up with ones that we haven't kind of gone over a little bit. So what was the best translation from the book to the screen that could be a scene a character relationship? What do you think was the best translation from book to screen?

[48:50] Mackenzie Newcomb: So I actually think it was a joke when they're at the after she presents, and she like sees Adam in the audience, and she's like, Oh, how was the keynote like speech? And then she looks down and sees that he has that he was the keynote speaker. And he's like, she's like, you're the keynote speaker. Why are you here? And he's like, I keynote spoke. So good. I talk fast. Yeah, I talk fast. I think that was a good sort of like running line throughout the whole thing, which is this idea fast, like you, she was speaking too fast. And then he was like, well, like, I gave you the advice not to speak too fast, but I'm going to speak faster. Like it's in order to get to you.

[49:30] Mackenzie Newcomb: And that's how she spoke fast to get her to get her to get into Stanford. Yeah, but also to get her funding for the thing. She's like, I only have 20 minutes. She's like, I can talk fast. Yeah. So I thought that I thought that was a really good job, too. What was the Lost in Translation Award? What did you feel like you were like, this was felt a little like it didn't quite hit the mark. Mine was what I said before, which is I wanted more of a build up for that emotional arc of like her going, I can advocate for myself in this way.

[49:57] Mackenzie Newcomb: Yeah, I agree with you. But self confidence from all of herself, especially since if she believes in herself that she can get into Harvard, like, whereas like, that has to come from somewhere, right? So why aren't we seeing more of that? That's what yes, agreed. Best performance. This is a little hard, but what would you say is the best performance? Malcolm, I thought he was so good. Like, I thought he added just this like comic relief, but also he just was so authentically someone in their mid 20s to me, like on and all of our both like super self serious, like and like, their friendship was so cute, their female friendship, like, as good as it gets. But Malcolm is just truly like a little bit of a dirtbag.

Like he was the perfect example of like, someone who kind of fumbled their way into a PhD program. And I know a lot of PhDs from my work at Bad Bitch Book Club. And there's definitely something you're like, you had to do a PhD. Are you sure? But really? It's funny, too. I was great. I once had a client who told me that he was like, he just finished his PhD. I think he finished his PhD a little later than some people just like, like, maybe early 30s or something. And he was saying that he now had experienced like almost like a regression, he said, where...

[51:16] Mackenzie Newcomb: Like, he was like, I didn't go out in my 20s, because I was studying and working all the time. And now that I'm done with my PhD, I now want to go out clubbing all the time. And I was like, okay, so I that would be another fun dynamic to play around with. But yes, I think that there's definitely people you're like, you just stumbled into this. I don't know how but like, you don't take it seriously. Yes, I thought yes, I thought Jaboukie Young White plays Malcolm and also Rachel March, I think both really stood out for me, which I felt a little sad saying, because obviously, I thought Tom Bateman and Lionheart did an amazing job. But I just felt like both Rachel March and Jaboukie Young White like lifted the film and provided so much comedy.

And I just felt like I really enjoyed them. It was a well casted movie. Yes. What was the biggest? Where was this moment? Like for me, it was that not having the friend of Tom Bateman. Like I remember like turning to my friend in the middle of the screening going like, isn't he supposed to have a friend that Malcolm falls in love with? Like, doesn't that help a little bit that like an ease Malcolm's like discomfort about the fact that he's dating, she's dating his professor, it's that, you know, dating his professor led him to find someone he loved. Like there was something about that, that I felt like, oh, man, I missed that.

[52:33] Mackenzie Newcomb: There was not anything like that for me. But I will say this goes with my personal policy. I refuse to read a book right before the adaptation comes out. You'll never catch me rereading. I love when I read it in 2021. I read it in September 2021. I read it the week it came out. So I read it literally five years ago. And that is my that is perfect for me. I'm excited to watch Verity soon because I also read that in 20 other than 2019. So like, I love having this big gap of time because I think it makes the movie so much better. So I didn't even I didn't notice a thing. Also keep in mind I have a toddler so I work at 10% brain capacity. I don't know. I don't remember anything what I do yesterday for breakfast. You can name me what your kid ate for breakfast, maybe but not you. Okay, cool. And then what was the best group reaction moment when we saw this in theaters with everyone at Bad Bitch Book Club?

[53:30] Mackenzie Newcomb: Oh, okay. I'm curious about yours. But mine was absolutely the lift because the all night long TikTok lift trend was just a TikTok trend. Like it was not from the movie. But it is the thing that got everyone excited for the movie. And so when he lifted her with one arm on their way back from the conference, like, everyone in the audience was like, this is what we have been waiting for. But I know there's one other big squeal moment. What was it?

[54:02] Mackenzie Newcomb: So I think it was I mean, I definitely people were like chapter 16. I heard people be like, as soon as that love scene came around, people were like, chapter 16, chapter 16. Like, like, let's see it. But I think it's the Thomas, the Tom Benton part where like, the guy like starts threatening Lily Reinhart's character. And people like that's when I started hearing people vocally being like, like, you asshole, like, there was just an element of like, collective, like slight outrage of like, how deep he went into being the awful guy. Like he just kept going. Like he had this like monologue of just like, again and again being like, well, if you do if you tell Adam, I'm going to do this, I'm going to take away your, your, what's it called your your idea that you said, everything, I'm gonna rip off for you, unless you fuck me.

So this is inevitable. Like he just kept being a douche for a little while. And I think collectively, I felt like people really started to like get upset and get like, you know, girly, like, and yeah, that was powerful.

[55:02] Mackenzie Newcomb: Yes. So I don't know if that was the moment you were thinking of, but that's what stuck out to me. I was in the back, I was sitting in the back. So I had maybe a different sort of level.

[55:10] Michelle Simone Miller: No, I think that I think that that was a big one. There was also when he told her that no one's ever looked better in that shirt. Like for Chapter 16, everyone was like, yeah.

[55:19] Mackenzie Newcomb: That's right.

[55:20] Mackenzie Newcomb: And they went, they panned down her to her socks were the same socks from the book, I believe. Like, do you remember that were like, they panned down to her socks that went all the way up to like, her almost her knees and people were like, Oh, my God. Okay, so overall, do you give this the Bad Bitch Book Club seal of approval?

[55:40] Mackenzie Newcomb: 100% 100% This is the best adaptation I've seen in a really, really, really, really long time.

[55:48] Mackenzie Newcomb: Did you like off campus? Did you read them? And did you like? Yes, I thought that was a great. That was a great adaptation. Like, no, it's perfect. But I mean, for a movie, the other like, another adaptation, I thought was amazing that no one got no credit whatsoever. So I just want to give it a shout out. It's not a romance. Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson. The adaptation came out first saw amazing books. The adaptation came out on Hulu. Visually stunning, like so so so it has a absolutely stacked cast. It came out during the writer's strike and so we weren't allowed to post on social media about what we were watching. And so it was an adaptation that was completely snubbed by any award shows.

No one was allowed to talk about it like and book creators are really like morally driven people and like I mean that in like a good way. But they're not going to break a strike like they're not gonna they're not going to cross a picket line. And so unfortunately, that meant that this this adaptation got absolutely no love whatsoever. So if you read Black Cake and you didn't hear there was an adaptation, that was a best selling book, then my recommendation would be to go watch it on Hulu. That's the last time I watched an adaptation I thought was this good. And that was two years ago.

[57:00] Michelle Simone Miller: Are you is there is there any adaptation that you're specifically looking forward to?

[57:04] Mackenzie Newcomb: Oh, a few. I am. I just heard Atmosphere is going to be adapted. Oh, number one. Number one is my girl Kennedy Ryan. Before I let go is being adapted. That's my one of my favorite romance novels of all time. She's my favorite author. So we'll definitely be doing a screening for the like first episode of that. No question. She also is having the Hoop series adapted. That surprised me a little bit. But I do think that it's going because it's pretty intense and features a lot of themes of domestic violence. But I do think that that's going to be will make a really good show. I think it'll be a better show than book. The book was not bad, but I do think it would be a better show. So those two are I'm really excited for.

The Nightingale is finally coming out. That took a while. Oh, my gosh. Like, nothing has ever taken longer than I kept hearing about it. And I was like, wait, is this not? Well, because that's and that's why I brought up the fact that the love hypothesis they were like posting about it like last year. And then it came out this year. Like that's getting like it's getting quicker and quicker. But then there's certain projects we were like, I feel like I've been hearing about this forever. Evelyn Hugo someday. Someday we're gonna get that someday. Someday I'll be, you know, dead. But, you know, someday like I saw an interview with Anna Kendrick and she's like, it's really exciting. I do have your evidence. They can't say anything. And it's like, so you know, it's like a long time now.

[58:28] Mackenzie Newcomb: I'm really good. I'm excited about Fourth Wing's adaptation.

[58:32] Michelle Simone Miller: Is that happening? What is that happening?

[58:32] Mackenzie Newcomb: So they are certain they are currently I think they've casted the Violet and Zayden. They haven't announced it yet. But I think the rumors are like there was a breakdown of an actor. There was a breakdown with like a fake name, but it definitely was that. So they had definitely been like seeing a bunch of unknowns as well. And the rumor is that those characters have been cast, but they haven't announced it yet. But Michael B. Jordan. I hope it's a high budget production.

[58:57] Mackenzie Newcomb: Yeah, Michael. It has to be. Like dragons, like those are so hard to do. It has to be, right? If you think of Game of Thrones, most of their budget went into the three dragons that weren't even in every episode. Like, I don't know how they're going to do that, but I'm so.

[59:09] Mackenzie Newcomb: Maybe they need to borrow some dragons.

[59:11] Michelle Simone Miller: I'd ask you. All these people have dragons.

[59:13] Mackenzie Newcomb: I just hope they don't rely on AI because that could get, because it would be really easy for them to do that. But I hope that that's a high budget production. I hope that it comes out in a timely manner because I know that so many people were really looking forward to the Akatar production. That's never going to, that's never going to happen. I'm not a big fantasy reader. So like my heart is my, I'm fine. But I know a lot of people would love to see those books come to life. There is Claire and the Son is being adapted this year. I think that that's a pretty exciting one. There's a lot. I definitely want to go see Verity. I've heard it's okay. I was hoping for it to be great because the cast is so great.

So we'll see. But, you know, I am really happy for the book community. One thing I will say is why is this not in theaters? Why is the Love Hypothesis not in theaters? Because even if it was limited theaters because it's prime, Saltburn was prime and that was in theaters. Why? I really think that they made a huge mistake, quite frankly, not betting on women because that's what this is, right? Like not putting the Love Hypothesis in theaters is them not being willing to bet on women. Like why were you willing to bet on a rom-com with Glenn Powell and Sidney Sweeney that ended up selling really well that's not based on any kind of IP that people are attached to, but you won't bank on this, which is, I mean, how many copies of the Love Hypothesis have sold?

Millions, like millions. And so I think that they made a huge mistake with that. I really do. I think that this would have been a movie that girls would be, like, you know, women would be taking their friends to for weeks and weeks to come. So I think not having this movie in theaters was stupid.

[1:01:01] Michelle Simone Miller: I think it's a really great point. And I think your event showed that. Like there were only certain events that were showing it as a screening. Like I was looking online when yours sold out. I was like looking around going like, is there anything else like this? And there were a couple, but they were also sold out. There were a lot that were in different cities. And I just felt like I think you're right in a way that it's a missed opportunity because people would have, I think, taken their friends and family and like loved ones to go see it.

[1:01:24] Mackenzie Newcomb: Yeah, I don't know what the choice behind that was, to be honest. It's hard to say. And the only people that know are Lili Reinhart and, you know, producers or whatever. But I do think I appreciate that she is at least giving it the love and care that she would if it was, you know, a big screen movie with, you know, the press tour and everything like that. And I think that she's proving herself. I know that she wants to do, it seems like she wants to do the V.E. Schwab book, Midnight Soil. Oh my gosh, the lesbian vampire book. Yes. Yeah, she mentioned that. So I hope she's able to like do more projects that she wants to as a result of this. And I hope that we, you know, we keep winning book adaptations.

Keep winning. Thank you so much for just chatting with me about this. This has been so fun. It was such a great time. Thank you for putting that event together. And thank you for team putting that event together. And yes, I'm going to put on in the show notes all the stuff about how people can find your Facebook group and the website and the Patreon and people can find you on socials. Can you share your socials as well?

[1:02:37] Mackenzie Newcomb: Absolutely. So Bad Bitch Book Club is at badbitchbookclub on Instagram and at badbitch underscore book club on TikTok. You can also find us on Facebook or badbitchbookclub. If you're looking for me, I have a pretty cute page to share, you know, books I'm reading. And I'm at Mackenstyle, M-A-C-K-I-N-S-T-Y-L-E. And I share mostly toddler outfit inspiration, art books, things like all sorts of things like that.

[1:03:07] Michelle Simone Miller: Well, thank you so much. Thank you so much for listening to Mentors on the Mic. If you enjoyed the episode, please share it with a friend in entertainment you know would love it. Let me know what you've learned or what stayed with you on our Instagram at Mentors on the Mic. I love reading your messages. You can also find me at MichelleSimoneMiller on Instagram. On both accounts, I'll be sharing even more information about our mentors. Talk to someone about what you learned today who would really appreciate it and send them the episode. Also, if you love the show, please go ahead and leave us a rating and review on iTunes. It really makes a huge difference in growing this. It makes it easier for people to find our podcast, and I love reading your reviews. So thank you so much, and I'll see you next week.