This week we will be discussion Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner Chapter 1 - 8.
Spoiler Warning!!! This post is full of spoilers for Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner.
Trigger/Content Warning!!! Racism
Discussion:
Jacilyn: Hello friends, welcome to the first discussion of Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner. After how heavy My Big Fat Manifesto was, we purposely went for a lighter read this time around. Some people refer to this genre as "chick lit," but all books should be enjoyed by everyone no matter the gender, so we're choosing the term "beach read." Light-hearted, cute, something that makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside. This story features Jo Jones, a child star-turned screenwriter, and her assistant Emma, a film-school drop out, as they’re both thrust into the spotlight with rumors of an affair.
I am really enjoying the contrast between Emma and Jo’s personalities. Emma is earnest, friendly, welcoming, and Jo definitely adopts the “Ice Queen” exterior for most people. Jo almost put me off at first, but I actually totally get why she acts the way she does. I can’t imagine being a child star, much less an Asian-American who has grown into an extremely successful producer. She’s had the media in her life since she was young, and I get wanting to maintain privacy.
Michaela: I won’t lie that for the first little bit of the book I did not like Jo. She seemed almost rude to me. But after getting to know her a little better and learning more about her she really isn’t that way. She’s just protective of herself and doesn’t take any shit from anyone. And for all that I love her character. I love the “Ice Queen with a melting heart” trope, I can’t help it. Fills me with the warm and fuzzies.
I’m really glad we decided to go with a beach read book and in particular this one. I find so much joy in reading this book. I feel like I can’t put it down, not just because I care about what happens but because the whole feel of the book is so nice. It obviously deals with racism, a little bit of homophobia, and other important things. But Jo and Emma are much more of the center of the story and its about their journey in their relationship or non-relationship, rather than the intensity of fighting the negative aspects of society.
Jacilyn: I also don’t want to put it down. When finishing this section, I got disappointed when I reached the end of chapter 8 and realized I needed to stop before our discussion. Part of me really wants them to just kiss and date already, so I’m anxious to finally get to that part (it’s obviously coming.)
Both of their perspectives are so relatable. Neither of them wants to admit they have feelings, even though the connection is clear. They’re both so aware of the other that they know each other’s tells. They clearly work well together, like a well-oiled machine, so much so that it almost makes me sad that they really can’t work together in this capacity if they’re dating. But I think it’s clear that the author is setting Emma up to stay with Innocents while Jo moves on to Agent Silver.
Michaela: I was so disappointed to put it down! I just love it. Honestly surprised at how much I like this book. I’ve never really read a book like this before. If they don’t kiss soon I will throw an actual fit. I’m so impatient. But I do really appreciate how in this story the characters have concrete reasoning for not accepting their feelings. It would intensely complicate their working relationship and Emma’s long term career. Neither of them are wrong in thinking that Emma would be labeled as “sleeping to the top'', because unfortunately that is exactly what our society would label her as even though it’s not true. In a related vein, the way Jo has gone 30 years without ever commenting on her love life to the media. Absolutely amazing and should be done more often, in particular with child stars. Just because someone is famous doesn’t mean we have the right to every aspect of their life. There’s some celebrities coming forward now, Alison Stoner is one I’ve been keeping up with, who have been speaking out against practices in childhood stardom and Jo’s memories remind me of some of the ones I’ve read or listened to recently. It’s a really big problem in the film industry and it needs to be addressed.
I have high hopes for them though. Especially since Jo gets along so well with Emma’s family. When Jo said that Emma and Avery were two of her favorite people….my WHOLE heart exploded! They’re all such badass women. I love them. Also, can we talk about how generous Jo is with her money. Finally someone who is rich and uses her money for good things and not even for attention. She even buys people debts and school loans to pay them off. My WHOLE heart AGAIN. It’s too beautiful for me.
Jacilyn: It’s a breath of fresh air to have book characters look at long-term consequences, to be honest. I feel like I’ve read a lot of books recently where characters act on immediate feelings without thinking things through. I think the way Jo has handled all of the rumors and the tabloids has been level-headed and calm, and I really enjoy that her decisions just make sense with her character. As someone who grew up as a child star, it makes total sense that she would want to keep as much private as possible. It seems like that’s something that’s held her back in some ways, though. I don’t think she lets herself live as authentically as she might have if she wasn’t in the spotlight.
Speaking of the tabloids and the rumors, the article that Emma kinda pushed into creation is a great example of a character not thinking things through completely. Her earnestness is honestly so endearing, but I actually facepalmed when I read that part. She believes in Jo so wholeheartedly and wants to defend her, but she clearly had no idea how intense the media scrutiny would be.
And the leak. I am dying to know who it is. I have my suspicions about Chantal, but I don’t really have any evidence to back that up. Do you have any guesses who it might be?
Michaela: Emma really should have listened to literally everyone around her who said it was a bad idea but then also listened to Jo’s own wishes to say nothing at all. Even secretly getting an article out is still commenting on things. I definitely facepalmed at that article. The frustration level was so high. I think it was so stupid because now it’s going to seem even more like their dating or that Jo is having her assistant make other people say nice things about her. In no way was that an appropriate thing to do no matter the reasoning behind it.
I agree about Chantal being the potential leak. Something about her is off but I don’t know why she would feel the need to do it since she’s already taking over Jo’s job after she leaves. Maybe the leak is the head of the props department for “stealing” Emma away? I really don’t know. If it turns out to be any of Jo or Emma’s families, I might combust. Avery already omitted what seems like weeks of baseball games with Jo from Emma. I don’t think Emma could take it. What were your thoughts on Jo and Avery lying about the baseball games? Personally, I’m hella confused why they both deemed it necessary. Like why? I truly do not understand and I would be just as mad as Emma is or even more upset because she is really handling it like a champ.
Jacilyn: Chantal is definitely acting like she’s suspicious of Emma and Jo’s relationship. Which, I mean…. Everyone can see the spark there. I’m sure people thought that even before the whole red carpet debacle, but that definitely lit the match. If it’s one of their family members….. I don’t even want to talk about that. I would be so heartbroken!
I can kind of understand why neither Avery or Jo said something to Emma, at first. I think they expected the other to say something first, which I get, but neither of them thought to just… ask each other at the baseball games? It makes no sense to me. I absolutely understand Emma being so upset. I’d feel betrayed too. And I know how it feels to feel so hurt by something that many others wouldn’t see as a big deal, unless it happened to them. Honestly, I think Jo should have talked to Emma before investing in All Floured Up, too. Not ask for permission, necessarily, but tell her she was going to do so at least. And now they’re both going back and forth being grumpy with each other and then pretending everything is okay. As I’m reading back and forth between their perspectives I’m just screaming in my brain “JUST HAVE A DISCUSSION!”
Michaela: I just don’t think it would have been as weird as either Jo or Avery thought to just say “Oh I saw Jo/Avery at the baseball game”. Boom, done. I am actually so confused why either of them thought Emma wouldn’t want to know or have the right to know or why it was so weird for then to just bump into each other. Like you live in the same town, it's gonna happen eventually. It’s overly dramatic to me for them to just not say anything, it felt the same as an affair to me. And for no reason. I’m heated about it, clearly. Sorry friends!
Jo should have at least told Emma she was doing it, I totally agree with you. It’s just a common courtesy thing. Again why does it need to be a SECRET? TELL ME WHY! Just TALK to EACH OTHER! This book is literally called Something to TALK About, yet do we see communication? No. Do we see discussion? No. Do we see TALKING? No. Oooooooo if these grown ass hot women don’t have a grown ass hot woman discussion soon, I’ll throw another fit.
I’m far too invested in this book and these characters for it just being the first third of the book. I’m so stressed but it's also such a cozy feeling book, I’m all sorts of confused with my feelings.
Jacilyn: Jo and Avery definitely did something wrong by not telling Emma. I’m glad Avery finally said something. I wasn’t surprised Jo didn’t say anything, but I was kind of surprised that Avery didn’t say something right away, especially with how much shit she gives Emma about her having a crush on Jo. Also, the thought of all three of them hanging out at the games together!? So cute. I can’t handle the cute.
I feel like every single book we read, we’re annoyed at someone for not communicating as well as they should. That really is life, though, isn’t it? I’m definitely guilty of not always communicating as well as I should and sharing my feelings with people, and let’s be honest, most people struggle with that sometimes. It does make for realistic conflict.
You and I both read a lot of books with conflict that tends to lean towards villains committing some sort of violence against innocents, so it’s so nice to read about conflict that’s low stakes and relatable. And, as we’ve mentioned multiple times… the story is just so cute!
Speaking of cute, Jo surprising Emma with Barry Davis coming to the Innocents set was a really sweet gesture. I think if I were Emma, I would have wanted Jo to ask if I was comfortable with that first, though. Someone I look up to a lot in the library field is Sara Zettervall, who helped pioneer “whole person librarianship” which combines the values and methods of librarianship and social work. If my boss surprised me out of the blue with Sara coming to visit so I could shadow her, I would be grateful and excited, without a doubt, but I would be incredibly nervous with that “surprise.” It seems like Emma is just straight excited, though. I like that Jo believes in Emma the same way Emma believes in her.
Well, friends, that’s all for our first discussion. I hope you’re enjoying the story as much as we are. Do you have an inkling who might be the leak? Were you also yelling at Jo and Emma to just have a damn discussion? Let us know!
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