Book Watchers is a podcast where we watch books. By that we mean we dive into the differences between novels and their screen adaptations. In our FIRST EVER EPISODE we had to cover a classic: Jane Austen's beloved Pride & Prejudice. While there have been an abundance of adaptations, none stand quite as tall as the 1995 mini-series or the 2005 film.  Because Ariel has read the book many many times she is our defacto expert for today's episode. Ariel will take Chelsea on a deep dive of all the changes, big and small and discuss whether they worked or not. She will paint the picture of the world of Austen and we will look on in awe and wonder. Chelsea will remain hyper-focused on the hand flex. IYKYK Thank you for meeting us here and we hope you keep coming back. Keep reading. Keep watching.   Just a heads-up - if any similarities exist between our podcast and others seem a little too close for comfort, we promise it’s purely coincidental! We’re just here to discuss something we are passionate about and share our own unique take on the world of adaptations. Any resemblance to other podcasts is absolutely unintentional, we have taken a vow to remain chaste, and by that I mean, we do not consume any content that has even a *whisper* of being close to what we do. And we hope you will enjoy the ride with us!

You never ask, but we always answer. Ariel and Chelsea dissect the men of season 4 to determine who among them is worthy of the shortest courtship known to man.    Insta: areviewforchristmas TikTok: review4xmas YouTube: A Review For Christmas 

When we saw that this movie *briefly* had a higher score on Rotten Tomatoes than the Godfather, we knew it had to be this year's finale. Kathy (Lacey Chabert) is a young widow just trying to get by. She gifts a scarf to a snowman in the square and he magically comes to life as Jack (Dustin Milligan). He streaks, he steals, he is constantly on the verge of melting, and we love him for it. This campy "born hot yesterday" tale takes us on a magical journey through the meaning of love and Christmas, but also ABS. Did we mention the snowman has ABS? If you forget, the movie will find time to remind you, over and over.  Thank you for a magical season 4, and keep your eyes and ears open for the bonus episode: Men I would Marry in 10 Days coming at ya in 2025 YouTube: A Review for Christmas Insta: areviewforchristmas tiktok: review4xmas

Welcome to Christmas 2024. This year, Lifetime made a movie inspired by a very public romance that is barely a year old.  A young, successful popstar and a hot shot football player find romance in this kooky film. Bowyn Sykes (Jessica Lord) and Drew "Gonzo" Gonville (Laith Wallschleger) meet at her concert and he decides to shoot his shot. After a "lowkey" first date, these two decide to date for fun and not for love. The couple faces many challenges; a pesky ex-boyfriend, a quarterback brother who is a huge skeptic, and rude media attention, to name a few. With unending song and football references, Chelsea lapped this up because she is a mindless Swiftie and had to make sure Ariel and anyone else who may listen, knew all the LORE.   Homework: Hot Frosty YouTube: A Review for Christmas Insta: areviewforchristmas TikTok: review4xmas   Round and Round review that proves Chelsea did NOT lose her mind: https://www.autostraddle.com/round-and-round-queer-review/ Additionally, if you want to watch the version of Round and Round that Chelsea watched last year, it can be found on Amazon Prime. We have no idea why Hallmark made a different edit for Philo. It's their world, we just review it. 

Last year, Hallmark gave us a gift and a masterpiece. Today we share that with you. Ever wondered what would happen if Hanukkah and Groundhog Day crossed over? Rachel (Vic Michaelis) is having the worst 7th night of Hanukkah ever, her boyfriend ditches her, the sufganiyot gets ruined, and the house catches fire. After spinning an antique dreidel she then gets to live that day over and over and over. She enlists the help of Zach (Bryan Greenberg) to help her break the time loop she is inexplicably trapped in. Is this movie the BEST holiday romance of all time? Homework: Christmas in the Spotlight Insta: areviewforchristmas tiktok: review4xmas YouTube: A Review for Christmas

2023 Hallmark chose to ask a question not many of us consider..."What if Santa was hot?"  Avery (Italia Ricci) is a budding News Anchor who might have finally gotten her big break. The night before her big Christmas broadcast, Chris (Luke Macfarlane) ends up in her house dressed as Santa. Thinking him a crook, they begin their wacky journey of her trying to save her career and him trying to save Christmas. Be careful, this movie might make you have some very strange feelings about Santa.  Homework: Round and Round Insta: areviewforchristmas YouTube: A Review for Christmas Tik Tok: review4xmas

Blake Shelton meets Christmas (KIND OF) in this weeks film. A businesswoman and country music star find themselves stranded in a storm trying to get home for Christmas. They travel from New York to Tulsa and FALL IN LOVE. Join us as we discuss the blossoming love of Heath (Josh Henderson) and Cara (Megan Park). Homework: Catch Me if You Claus Insta: areviewforchristmas tiktok: review4xmas YouTube: A Review for Christmas

In today's episode we are diving into Christmas Wedding Planner. While trying to plan her cousin's extravagant wedding, Kelsey (Jocelyn Hudon) comes face to face with Connor (Stephen Huszar), a PI who threatens to ruin it all. They team up, Kelsey hoping to prove him wrong but they soon discover that something may be amiss with the husband to be. This Christmas mystery may keep you on the edge of your seat or might not...Only you can decide.  Homework: Time for Me to Come Home for Christmas Insta: areviewforchristmas tiktok: review4xmas YT: A Review for Christmas

Jane Austen meets Holiday Romance in this charming tale of an event planner and a billionaire falling in love. Elizabeth Bennet (Jessica Lowndes) teams up with William Darcy (Michael Rady) to throw a town Christmas festival at his up-for-sale Manor. Between Lizzie's charm and Darcy's unflinching eye contact, we were hooked.  Homework: Christmas Wedding Planner Insta: areviewforchristmas YouTube: A Review For Christmas Tik Tok: review4xmas

WE ARE FINALLY TALKING ABOUT JONATHAN BENNET!! Spoiled Luce (Lexi Giovanni) is walking a neighbor's dog for some extra cash when she meets Dean, (Jonathan Bennet) a handsome local dogwalker & veterinary student. The dog park is in danger of being turned into a Spa and Luce's boss is the developer in charge! Dean works hard to convince Luce to save the dog park which will somehow save the town and probably Christmas.  Insta: areviewforchristmas titok: review4xmas YouTube: A Review for Christmas Homework: Christmas at Pemberly Manor

WE'RE BACK BABY! For the third and (hopefully) final installment of the Christmas Prince series. Amber(Rose McIver) and Richard(Ben Lamb) are parents to be but there are BIGGER ISSUES! A royal treaty that has been signed before Christmas every hundred years is up for renewal. Between Amber's inability to act like a royal and the treaty going missing, chaos ensues.  Insta: areviewforchristmas tiktok:review4xmas YouTube: A Review for Christmas   Homework: A Dogwalkers Christmas Tale

After a whirlwind year, Amber (Rose McIver) and Richard (Ben Lamb) are finally set to be wed. With the hustle and bustle of planning, the over the top wedding planner Sahil (Raj Bajaj), and the never ending judgement of Ms. Averill (Sarah Douglas), Amber is beginning to feel like this life may not be for her. Can Amber and the Prince figure out how to make their two worlds work? Will Sahil create the wedding of the century? Will the dad make Chelsea stick forks in her eyes? All this and more coming up. Homework: A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby Insta: areviewforchristmas tiktok: areview4xmas YouTube: A Review for Christmas

In 2017, Netflix dipped it's toes into the Christmas romance game with the surprise hit "A Christmas Prince". Today we discuss this I C O N I C film and the absolute disaster that it is. Amber (Rose McIver), is a young editor and is sent off to Aldovia to see if playboy Prince Richard (Ben Lamb) will choose to rule the land or abdicate the throne. A case of mistaken identity ensues where she goes "undercover" and causes chaos and finds love all in the name of finding the truth. Join us as Ariel takes us on this journey of absolute hijinks, confusing accents, broken ming vases, secret trysts, and ridiculous lies. Homework: A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding (Netflix) Insta: areviewforchristmas YouTube: areviewforchristmas TikTok: review4xmas  

Hallmark’s gatekeeping has FINALLY come to end and we are here to regale you with all the gory details. Naomi (Janel Parrish) and Liz (Pascal Lamonthe-Kipnes) are two best friend trying to change the world one app at a time. They are heading home for Christmas and there they reconnect with high school heartthrob Chris Silver (Tyler Hines). From there you are expected to believe a love triangle occurs but we are here to tell you the TRUTH. So please buckle up, and eat a whole bucket of Halloween candy while Chelsea breaks down her most awaited film of the season.

You've heard us discuss and tease this episode for a while now, it's finally here! Ariel and Chelsea unpack THREE SEASONS worth of love interests and discuss if they worth getting engaged to within 10 days or less. Grab your hot cocoa, take a seat, and maybe buckle up, cause this is one doozy of a chat.    Insta: areviewforchristmas tiktok: reiew4xmas

No foolin' here, it's another BONUS EPISODE. Today we cover Easter Under Wraps; Erin Cavendish (Fiona Gubelmann) goes undercover at the family chocolate factory to see if handmade or automation is what is best. She meets the head chocolatier, Brian Bailey (Brendan Penny) and together they solves some factory issues, eat chocolate, and maybe fall in love? Insta: areviewforchristmas tiktok: review4xmas

Fáilte to the bonus episode! Today we take you to magical Ireland where Maddie (Lindsay Lohan) is watching the love of her life marry another. After making a wish she finds that she is now marrying Paul Kennedy (Alexander Vlahos) BUT has she been given what she wants, or what she needs? These questions start to arise as she travels around Ireland with James Thomas (Ed Speleers), a handsome stranger she met before she even made her wish. Shenanigans ensue and chaos is all around. Insta: areviewforchristmas tiktok: review4xmas 

SURPRISE!!! Happy Valentine's y'all!!!! Today we bring you: My Secret Valentine: A young woman takes advice from the chalkboard notes that her mysterious tenant leaves when a slick sales rep arrives with plans to buy her family's prized winery. - This is the first description of this movie when you google it...and it's....kind of accurate? "Advice" is generous, but we digress, enjoy the first ever bonus episode Insta: areviewforchristmas tiktok: review4xmas

The Season Finale is upon us and so is another Snow Globe story. Meg is a high powered producer that is akin to Scrooge. When a snow globe hits her in the head she is transported to an alternate life where her guide, Sal, will not let her leave. In this life she is married to her high school sweetheart, showtunes Ted. Will Meg learn how to be a better person or will she sleep with the mayor and sell off the whole town??? Insta: areviewforchristmas tiktok: review4xmas

Angela longs for a perfect Christmas. When she receives a mysterious Snowglobe in the mail she is transported to a land where it is always Christmas and the people there are always full of cheer. Will she choose Douglas, the town shoveler, or Eddie, a charming man who doesn't live in a Snowglobe? Homework: A Snow Globe Christmas Insta: areviewforchristmas tiktok: review4xmas