Off Book - Our First Mailbag Episode!
- genredpodcast
- 10 hours ago
- 4 min read
Welcome back to Genre’d: Off Book, where the books are optional but the opinions are not. This week, we’re doing our very first mailbag episode, meaning you sent us your most unhinged and heartfelt questions and we answered them with zero prep and full sister confidence.
We pulled 10 questions out of a bowl at random and covered everything from apocalypse survival logic (our eyesight is… a liability) to book trend predictions for 2026. Then we brought in a very special guest, our little sister Amanda, for a lightning round of “who’s most likely to…” questions with our trusty Dancing With the Stars paddles.
This episode is chaotic. It is personal. It is deeply us.
Spoiler warning
No book plot spoilers in this one. Just vibes, opinions, and sibling allegations.
We have things to say
Before we even get to your questions, the vibe is: sisters talking over each other, laughing at our own jokes, and accidentally revealing way too much about how we function as humans.
Also, we would like to formally apologize to anyone who thought “mailbag” would be calm and structured. It will not be.
What we cover in this Off Book episode
The mailbag questions
We answer 10 listener questions, including:
Planner vs vibes only
We officially confirm who is the spreadsheet sister and who is the “wait I forgot I had plans” sister.
Who would die first in a dystopian universe
Our biggest obstacle is not the zombies. It is our contact lenses. If society collapses and our last contact falls out, it is curtains. (Our father survives, obviously.)
Book trend predictions for 2026
We talk about why dystopian and speculative fiction feels like it is circling back, plus the idea of “science friction,” aka sci-fi with heavier romance energy. We also rant a bit about rom-coms wanting to make a comeback in film and TV.
Book opinions that would get us side-eyed on BookTok and Bookstagram
If you love unlikable characters, this section might hurt your feelings. We said what we said.
If we could live in one book world
We debate modern magic worlds vs pure escapist fantasy, and whether the goal is “cell phones but make it magical” or “please let me live in a world where I do not answer emails.”
Sister habits that drive us insane
Crunchy chewing. Taking forever to get ready. Not trying outfits on until you are already fully glam and then deciding you hate everything. You know, classic sister crimes.
Audiobooks and Kindle Unlimited absolutely count as reading
We are not entertaining the elitism. If you are consuming the story, you are reading. Full stop.
Why are we so obsessed with 2016
We unpack millennial nostalgia, the “pre-pandemic” time warp, and why that year keeps coming back like an ex who still has your hoodie.
Where do you guys actually live
We explain our NYC and Delaware split, why we are constantly in transit, and why even we sometimes do not know what state we are in.
Favorite places to buy books
Used bookstores, local gems, and the simple joy of a book with a library card still inside it. Also, climbing ladders at the bookstore is a personality trait.
Lightning round with our sister Amanda
The second half of the episode features Amanda as our moderator and chaos conductor, asking “who’s most likely to…” questions with paddle answers and immediate sibling exposure.
Some highlights:
Who would die first in a horror novel
Who forgets the title but remembers the vibes
Who reads on their phone instead of physical books
Who would read smut in public and act unbothered
Who judges someone based on their bookshelf
Who stays up all night to finish a book
Who is sweet in public and naughty at home
Who would go on a spontaneous vacation
Who silently reads the group chat and never responds
Who starts a new hobby and goes all in
This segment is basically family group chat energy, but with microphones.
Mentions in this episode
We name-drop a bunch of book worlds, authors, and cultural references, including:
Crescent City
Harry Potter
Bridgerton
Succession
Yellowstone
The Handmaid's Tale
Maid in Manhattan
Sleepless in Seattle
The Strand
McNally Jackson Books
We also talk generally about BookTok and Bookstagram culture, romance gatekeeping, and why reading does not need to be a purity test.
Join the conversation
If you listened to this episode, we need answers:
Are you the planner or the vibes only sister
What book opinion would get you publicly booed online
Do you judge someone based on their bookshelf, be honest
What do you think the biggest book trend of 2026 will be
Send us more mailbag questions too. We did not even get to all of them, and yes, we will absolutely do this again.
Listen and follow along
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Fast Facts
Episode type: Off Book mailbag + lightning round
Format: Listener Q and A, then “most likely to” with Amanda
Vibes: Sister chaos, bookish hot takes, NYC and Delaware life, friendly arguments
Spoilers: None
Core message: Audiobooks count, Kindle Unlimited counts, and your reading life is valid
Mini FAQ
Is this episode spoiler-free
Yes. No plot breakdowns, just opinions and vibes.
Do audiobooks count as reading
Yes. You are consuming the story. That is reading.
Does Kindle Unlimited count as reading
Yes. Also it is one of the best ways to read a ton affordably, and we will not be shaming anyone for it.
Will you do another mailbag episode
Yes. Keep sending questions. We had more in the bowl.
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