Fandom Friday: Random Fandom Thoughts #53: 9-1-1 and Laufey

Happy Friday, here are two Fandom Thoughts that have been on my mind:

- It's starting to feel like 9-1-1 might be ending because the show is doing that telltale sign of adding in a kid in the later seasons of the show. It's usually to boost ratings and it's very noticeable how they are already overhyping and focusing so much attention on this new kid being added to the show. Because why is the only thing the showrunner and actors have been doing in the press is hyping up the Evan "Buck" Buckley and sperm donor kid Theo's storyline for the upcoming 10th season. Not to mention the social media accounts have been doing the same thing with overly promoting the kid.

This is a show about first responders dealing with various emergencies and the only thing that seemed to be focused on for the 10th season is this kid and Buck fostering him (until he most likely adopts him). Of course, the show isn't all about emergencies because fans love the show because it also focuses on the main characters and telling their stories. However lately, the writers haven't been doing a good job of balancing the stories and some characters are barely getting any screentime or good stories. And with the new kid they are acting as if this is the first kid to be on this show.

Book of Interest: Bromantasy

I was looking at some of the upcoming new releases when I found Bromantasy by Máire Roche. Reading the description makes it sound like an action adventure fantasy romantic comedy, it just feels like it's going to be a fun story. With Juniper who is lazy accidentally getting him and his best friend Mo in a monster hunting quest. But looks like not all is what it seems with this quest. I really can't wait to read this.

Book: Bromantasy by Máire Roche

Publication: May 26, 2026

Description:

Two heroes. One brain cell.

BROMANTASY is a cozy, queer fantasy about the mortifying ordeal of being known by your totally platonic best friend and the epic quest that might force you to confront the truth.

Fellas, is it gay to kiss your bff while on a quest through the forest you’re unqualified for?

Juniper O'Reilly is good at only two things: demolishing a pint of mead and finding the perfect skincare routine. Everything else—taking care of the farm, bartering for goods, any sort of manual labor—falls to Juniper’s best friend, the absurdly capable, endlessly patient Mo Elmthorn.

But when Juniper accidentally volunteers them both for a quest to kill a fearsome monster, he knows he’s finally gotten in over his head. Juniper hates camping, he hates the dark, and there’s no way all these foraged mushrooms are going to sit well in his stomach. One thing he doesn’t hate? How good Mo’s thighs look in his questing pants—he doesn’t have time to think about that, though, with a monster to hunt and their futures on the line.

But monsters come in all shapes and sizes. When Juniper and Mo realize that the terrifying beast they’ve sworn to kill is just a scared little girl torn from her family, they’re off to find not only the true villain of the story, but maybe even a happy ending.

Happy Mother's Day! (+ a Geeky TV/Movie List)

I want to wish all the moms and caregivers a very Happy Mother's Day and even more so for those who can not spend the day with their mother. So take the time and enjoy the day. I also posted a small Mother's Day list of some fun episodes you might want to watch.

Happy Mother's Day everyone!

Currently Reading: The Gauntlet

I'm continuing with my To Be Read List challenge and right now I'm still picking older books that have been on my shelves for quite some time that I just hadn't gotten around to reading. When I was searching through one of my bookcases, it didn't take me long before I found The Gauntlet by Karuna Riazi. I can't believe it's been eight years since I bought this book.

The Gauntlet is a fantasy adventure book that according to the description has three friends trapped in a board game. Yeah, love that it's described as a steampunk Middle Eastern Jumanji. I remember when I bought this, how I couldn't wait to read it. As I keep saying, it's never too late to read a book. I think this story just seems so interesting.

Book: The Gauntlet (The Gauntlet book #1) by Karuna Riazi

Description:

A trio of friends from New York City find themselves trapped inside a mechanical board game that they must dismantle in order to save themselves and generations of other children in this action-packed debut that’s a steampunk Jumanji with a Middle Eastern flair.

Nothing can prepare you for The Gauntlet…

It didn’t look dangerous, exactly. When twelve-year-old Farah first laid eyes on the old-fashioned board game, she thought it looked…elegant.

It is made of wood, etched with exquisite images—a palace with domes and turrets, lattice-work windows that cast eerie shadows, a large spider—and at the very center of its cover, in broad letters, is written: The Gauntlet of Blood and Sand.

The Gauntlet is more than a game, though. It is the most ancient, the most dangerous kind of magic. It holds worlds inside worlds. And it takes players as prisoners.

Book Review: Catwoman Novelization

Book: Catwoman by Elizabeth Hand
Screenplay: John Rogers, Mike Ferris and Brancato

Edition: Paperback

Description:

There’s a new Catwoman in town—a feline adventuress unlike any you’ve seen before. Discover all her sizzling secrets as she cracks her whip and sinks her claws into her most petrifying, death-defying adventure yet.

Patience Philips is a shrinking violet, not exactly a career booster at competitive Hedare Beauty, the huge cosmetics corporation where she’s a graphic designer. Self-conscious and easily unnerved, she hasn’t a chance of escaping detection after she uncovers a dirty little secret in Hedare’s top-secret research laboratory. Discovery means death, but the real shocker is what happens afterward.

In the blink of a cat’s eye, the meek designer is gone, replaced—through an ancient twist of fate—by a sleek, self-assured woman with dark, dazzling powers: Catwoman. She has scores to settle, rooftops to roam, and a sinister underworld to prowl, as she stalks her destiny like a feral feline. She also has a good-looking detective on her trail, someone who has fallen for Patience, but is drawn to Catwoman.

As two mighty forces gear up for the ultimate showdown, the fur will fly. . . .

Book of Interest: Audre & Bash Are Just Friends

Audre & Bash Are Just Friends by Tia Williams seems interesting as it follows Audre, a very studious girl, who is looking to add a little more fun to her life. So, she hires the laid back Bash to help her. And I wonder when they will start to have more than friendly feelings about each other? This feels like it's going to be fun and cute story. I see at the bottom of the description that the character Audre appeared in another book, Seven Days in June by Tia Williams. I wonder if I should read that first. You know what, I'll just add both books to my list.

Book: Audre & Bash Are Just Friends by Tia Williams

Description:

Scorching-hot summer. Scorching-hot chemistry. Two teens can’t forget they’re just friends in this sweet, funny, electrifying romance from New York Times bestselling author Tia Williams—perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Nicola Yoon.

Meet Audre. Junior class president. Debate team captain. Unofficial student therapist. Desperately in need of a good time.

Meet Bash. Mysterious new senior. Everybody’s crush. Tall, floppy, great taste in jewelry. King of having a good time.

It’s the last day of school at Cheshire Prep, Brooklyn’s elite academy—and Audre Mercy-Moore’s life is a mess. Her dad cancelled her annual summer visit to his Malibu beach house. Now? She’s stuck in a claustrophobic apartment with her mom, stepdad, and one-year-old sister (aka the Goblin Baby).

Under these conditions, she’ll never finish writing her self-help book—i.e., the key to winning over Stanford’s admissions board.

Cut to Bash Henry! Audre hires him to be her “fun consultant.” His job? To help her complete the Experience Challenge—her list of five wild dares designed to give her juicy book material. She’ll get inspo; he’ll get paid. Everybody wins.

He isn’t boyfriend material. And she’s not looking for one. Can they stay professional despite their obvious connection?

Fun fact: Audre Mercy-Moore first appeared in the New York Times bestseller Seven Days in June and now stars in her own story!

Happy Independent Bookstore Day!

Today, April 25th is Independent Bookstore Day! How are you celebrating the day? In about an hour, I'm going to my favorite independent bookstore and maybe buy me a book (or two) and see what else I might find. If you're looking for ideas, here are a few ways to celebrate:

- Buy a book or other items from your local independent bookstore. If you can't make it out see if the bookstore has a website and maybe buy something from there.
- If you have a favorite independent bookstore, tell your friends about it.
- If the store has events that interest you, try to attend. As well as tell your friends about it.

Don't forget, comic book stores count as independent bookstores! So don't forget about them when you're out there today celebrating and supporting Independent Bookstore Day!

Happy Independent Bookstore Day!

Happy Earth Day!

It's not too late to say Happy Earth Day!

I feel like the focus on the environment is always on us as individuals and what we can do to protect the planet. However, what about all the businesses and corporations? They do the largest amount of damage polluting the Earth. There should be more focus on them and how those businesses are ruining the air, water and ground quality. We as individuals can only do so much when they are actively doing large scale pollution. And not to mention all these AI data centers causing even more environmental problems. I don't even understand this push and desire for AI?

With that said, I still think that we should do whatever we can to help the environment. And it doesn't have to be big things, some little things that we can do are:

- Plant trees
- Shop from thrift stores if possible (I've bought a lot of good books from thrift stores)
- Use up your beauty products before buying more
- Put up a bird feeder (if possible)
- Recycle (if possible)
- Use reusable bottles and tote bags
- Turn off or unplug things you're not using
- Don't waste water
- Go to the library
- Shop your closet (before buying anything new see what you might have in your closet first)

These are just a few things, you can find plenty more by searching online. Happy Earth Day!

Trailer: Big Mistakes TV Series

I love finding random shows and Big Mistakes looks like it's going to be a fun and ridiculous show about two hapless siblings somehow becoming criminals. How did they get themselves involved in this? From watching the trailer it looks like the sister Morgan is most likely the one that brought all this trouble to them.

Since it's the first season, I'm sure they won't be able to get themselves out of this mess. But hopefully if the series continues (and is not cancelled by Netflix after one season), they will find a way out. There's eight episodes in this first season of Big Mistakes which premiered earlier this month on April 9th. During this hiatus, I've been trying to find different shows to watch and this crime comedy just looks like a fun watch.


Big Mistakes (Netflix)

Starring: Dan Levy, Taylor Ortega, Laurie Metcalf, Boran Kuzum, Abby Quinn, Jack Innanen, Jacob Gutierrez and more

Creators: Dan Levy and Rachel Sennott

Description:

Blackmailed into working for gangsters, two deeply incapable siblings become the most disorganized duo in organized crime.

Quote: Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander (Heated Rivalry)

Ilya: Is someone chasing you?

Shane: I'm standing in the hallway like an idiot. Scott Hunter is right next door.

Ilya: (laughing quietly)

Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander, Heated Rivalry season 1 episode 1: Rookies

This scene always makes me laugh because not only was Shane quickly knocking on Ilya's hotel room door, he rushed in as soon as Ilya opened the door. No wonder Ilya asked Shane "Is someone chasing you?", because he was acting as if someone was. But I understand, Shane was nervous and didn't want anyone to know that they were hooking up. And not to mention fellow hockey player Scott Hunter had a room right next to Ilya. And he would have easily realized what they were up to if he had seen Shane waiting outside Ilya's door. And at this point, Shane definitely wasn't ready for anyone to know him and Ilya were hooking up. But nervous or not, that didn't stop him from wanting to be with Ilya.

(Heated Rivalry season 1 episode 1: Rookies)

Trailer: You, Me & Tuscany

As much as I wanted to, I wasn't able to go to the movies over the weekend. I really want to see You, Me & Tuscany, so I'm going to go on Tuesday to see it. The movie just looks like such a fun, cute and romantic story. So many romantic comedies center around some sort of a misunderstanding and this one seems to hinge on Anna not getting caught being in an Italian villa by pretending to be Marco's fiance. I know once the truth is out, it's going to be a big mess especially since she's most likely fallen for Michael. It's going to be a total mess.

I just love romantic comedies and there just doesn't seem to be a lot of them on the big screen as they used to be. Which is why I can't wait to see You, Me & Tuscany.


You, Me & Tuscany

Starring: Halle Bailey, Regé-Jean Page, Lorenzo de Moor, Nia Vardalos, Lorenzo de Moor, Isabella Ferrari, Marco Calvani and more

Director: Kat Coiro

Writers: Ryan Engle and Kristin Engle

Description:

When a woman crashes at an empty Italian villa, posing as the owner's fiancée, she discovers an unexpected romance that could transform her life.

Book Nerd Problem: I Need to Finish Reading "To All The Boys I've Loved Before" Book Series

Happy Saturday!

I was watching the trailer for the new third season of XO, Kitty and it made me realize that not only I have not watched any season of XO, Kitty but I also haven't finished watching the To All the Boys I've Loved Before movie trilogy (I watched the first movie). My book nerd problem is that I want to finish reading the To All the Boys I've Loved Before book series by Jenny Han (I read the first book) before I finish watching the rest of the movies and the XO, Kitty TV series. It's been a while since I've finished a book series, which is why I'm so motivated to finish reading the last two books in the series. I'm not sure if I'll read the second book P.S. I Still Love You after I finish reading the Catwoman novelization by Elizabeth Hand. But I will be reading it soon.

Happy Easter!

It's never too late to wish everyone a Happy Easter or a Happy Sunday if you don't celebrate.

How are you celebrating the holiday or enjoying your Sunday? Are you relaxing at home or visiting your family and friends? Are you planning on enjoying some holiday sales? There are some DVDs that are on sale that I was thinking of getting and two books that I saw. I'm not sure I'm going to buy anything but I'll see. As of now I have been doing nothing except for lounging around. I've already watched It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown and I'll either start reading my book today or watch a movie or catch up on a few shows.

With that said, Happy Easter or Happy Sunday Everyone!