Hi Deadliners

We hope you enjoy this latest edition of Reading Between Deadlines.

This episode’s pick:HALF HIS AGE – a supposedly funny story about sex, power, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive. The story is about Waldo, a teenaged girl who becomes obsessed with her teacher. It’s the debut novel by Jennette McCurdy, child star, now writer, filmmaker and more. Although this is her first novel, her memoir, GLAD MY MOM DIED, was a massive hit!

We hope you enjoy our deep dive into this hyped book.

Happy Listening and Love lots,Rach and Anthea

PS. If you want to watch rather than listen, scroll down.

💋 And, of course, we rate it: Kiss, Kill, or Marry.

⏰ Timestamps

0:05 — Welcome to the Pod!

1:18 — Rach entering witness protection to avoid socialising with Anthea (understandable!)

4:55 — We read Half His Age by Jeanette McCurdy…but why?

6:05 — Hype – has it tricked us again?

8:00 — Blurb – a tale as old as time (or if not time, as old as that creepy Russian book..)

9:38 — Author bio – Fancy enough for ya?

11:50 — Goodreads – Rach gets forensic…

13:01 — So – how did it sell? Rach runs the figures – Anthea is impressed!

13:20 — Kiss, Kill, Marry! The rules…

14:15 — Judging, but in a nice way..

14:47 — Rach reports back on her time with Waldo and her creepy boyfriend

15:47 — Rach is over stories with older male love interests. (Ageist!) (and she says something about character growth..?)

16:11 — Is the older man plot too creepy to enjoy? (Anthea feels bad about Harrison Ford, but not THAT bad..)

18:02 — Does anything shock us anymore? Anthea can’t remember..

18:17 — Anthea and Rach discuss period sex/bloody penis play – hot or not? (NOT!!!)

19:31 — Anthea on kissing Waldo.. (not just after the bloody penis bit, obvs..)

21:52 — What makes a good book? Anthea is still confused.

24:43 — What makes a book successful? (no, really??!)

26:03 — Is Waldo SUPER mature? Or just really into menopause?

30:57 — Waldo – lumbered with a middle-aged man. #goals

32:55 — Family dinner with a rando kid – weird? Or massively cosy and appropriate?

35:06 — Is Jeanette ok? A tough childhood on the page.

41:42 — What’s coming next on the podcast (Anthea writes things down..) And we add Yesteryear to the menu…(Anthea thinks it’s about her..)

44:15 — Bye!

📖 Coming up next:

👉Next Ep we’re chatting to Sara Foster about The Hand That First Held Mine by Maggie O’Farrell.

In June, we’re diving into Theo of Golden by Allen Levi and chatting to Kate Solly about The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde.

For what we’re up to after that, click here.

🛍️ Do you read between deadlines too? Grab the merch

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit readingbetweendeadlines.substack.com/subscribe