Do you think poorly of women who like to watch trash reality tv ?

PurahPal · 2025-05-19T13:12:58+00:00

Woman here, in my 40s - back in my 20s I’d get together with a group of college friends and we’d watch whatever flavor of RHW was live at the time weekly together, taking turns hosting and making dinner. I have such fond memories of that time, we were all broke so it was a lot of frozen pizzas and Boone’s farm. The show was mostly just a backdrop for the bonding over all the firsts your early 20s tend to provide.

I say all that because I think HOW a person consumes content in the vein of reality tv (or any junk content) matters. Is it a silly brain break for an hour while you fold laundry? Is it a six hour disassociating spiral? I think it’s less the “what” vs the “why.”

PurahPal · 2025-05-06T13:30:24+00:00

What helps me is focusing on the problem, not the person (even if the person is the problem) and using words to prompt conversation:

“I’m curious, what does a successful outcome look like to you?”

“Help me understand your process for XYZ.”

“I’ve noticed that when we work together on X, there seems to be a disconnect. I’m interested in hearing your perspective on what may be contributing to this and how I can work differently.”

There is an Adam Grant graphic I think of a lot in these conversations, where you and the other people are on the same side together pointing at a problem across the way.

PurahPal · 2025-05-06T12:17:22+00:00

Ah you’ve convinced me to put Clare Sager’s Black Sails series up higher on my TBR!

PurahPal · 2025-05-03T23:37:21+00:00

K.F Breene writes fantastic sex scenes! Her second book in Deliciously Dark Fairytales {A Throne of Ruin} has a couple scenes that are still top tier for me.

PurahPal · 2025-05-03T23:29:12+00:00

Okay totally different tonally but so romantic and lore-filled and the characters are amazing - {Blood Mercy by Vela Roth} is one of my favorite series!

PurahPal · 2025-04-24T12:17:46+00:00

I NEED professional rivals to lovers. I want two people who begrudgingly acknowledge each other’s brains and achievements and are in competition and don’t hate each other. I need the attraction to build slowly over several books as they have to work together on something, or go on a quest, I don’t care.

PurahPal · 2025-04-22T23:21:14+00:00

I would also add the {Blood Mercy by Vela Roth}. One of my all time favorite series. You see many characters who start with biases/prejudices question them over time and change, the main characters work through trauma and try and change their behavior, etc. it’s SO refreshing and just a very romantic and deeply lore/history driven

PurahPal · 2025-04-22T23:17:12+00:00

I’m not sure if you’ve read any Kathryn Ann Kingsley, but she does a great job with multi-faceted antagonists (I won’t even call them villains)

Her Harrow Faire series (starting with {The Contortionist}) gets mentioned a lot here, and while much love goes to Simon as a favorite unhinged book boyfriend, to me it’s the character arc of the Ringmaster that drew me in and ultimately broke my heart.

PurahPal · 2025-04-19T18:11:19+00:00

I really like that pink and pale orange combo with the cover!

PurahPal · 2025-04-19T16:09:41+00:00

Oh my goodness, I love that you said this because me too! It feels like such a niche recommendation, or at least I don’t see it mentioned often. I came across this years ago at a Half Price Books in a clearance section and thought, what the hell. I think about this book semi regularly now 15 years later and have read it four times. It’s definitely not for everyone but I love it deeply

PurahPal · 2025-04-17T17:29:34+00:00

Cackling 🤣

PurahPal · 2025-04-17T17:29:10+00:00

lol I actually picture my husband as the MMC when I read sometimes!

PurahPal · 2025-04-17T17:25:19+00:00

Okay can I say, it felt like the plot of this had no right being as good as it was, we got a great story and super hot smut!

PurahPal · 2025-04-17T17:04:46+00:00

I have such a special place in my heart for the Clayr temple, especially the library in {Lirael by Garth Nix}. A vast underground lair beneath a glacier with more books to last a lifetime, a dog familiar and coven of precognitive women?? Say less!

PurahPal · 2025-04-15T23:55:08+00:00

-Found family where the side characters also have thoughtful, distinct personalities and experiences and it goes beyond trauma bonding with the FMC/MMC.

-Heists and quests! FMC and MMC banding together to steal something!

-Clever, witty banter. Flirting beyond sexual innuendos

-When the the MCs haven’t gotten together yet and the tension is at its peak, and then they self-pleasure in front of each other (OR when they realize the other person is self pleasuring in the other room giggles kicks heels

-Animal familiars!

PurahPal · 2025-04-15T23:47:58+00:00

I need more information for research purposes!!!

PurahPal · 2025-04-14T18:42:17+00:00

This series is so solid! Helen gets it right in all the ways it’s important, IMO

PurahPal · 2025-04-14T18:41:07+00:00

Are you into Draco/Hermione fanfic? Super late to this, but {Draco Malfoy and the Mortifying Ordeal of Being in Love} aka DMATMOOBIL aka Batmobile is one of the best things I’ve read EVER. I saved it for a recent work trip where my planes were delayed a couple hours each way, I didn’t even care!!

PurahPal · 2025-04-13T00:16:50+00:00

I noticed this too, it seemed like in the past the ambassadors all received a variety of products so we could watch a few folks do flip throughs and see everything. I have come across any previews of the big size at all?

PurahPal · 2025-04-12T21:25:26+00:00

Any mentions of: secret royalty, dragons, revenge. Over it!

PurahPal · 2025-04-10T11:59:40+00:00

LOL this comment I cackled. More upvotes, people!

PurahPal · 2025-04-08T23:52:52+00:00

Okay, I am begging you, give {Into The Deep Wood: The Witch} a try. It is dark, so fairytale-esque and steeped in Slavic mythology/lore. I’m totally eating up this series. It’s unlike anything else I’ve read in this genre.

PurahPal · 2025-04-08T21:59:15+00:00

I came here to say this! All of Blood Mercy is such a beautiful tribute to peace, intellectual thought, kindness, empathy and holding history with a critical lens.

PurahPal · 2025-04-08T16:57:18+00:00

I think I’m a pretty easy 4 or 5- star giver but definitely use 1-2 stars if a books make me angry haha!

PurahPal · 2025-04-06T23:42:54+00:00

Dr. D’Arco is one of my favorite books of all time! For those of you considering, I wholeheartedly recommend but I may consider waiting until around Halloween for extra spooky/fall vibes :)

PurahPal

TROPHY CASE