This week on Paperbacks and Paychecks, we’re talking heroes—on the page, in real life, and in the workplace. From classic literary legends like Elizabeth Bennet and the Count of Monte Cristo to real-world trailblazers like Viola Davis and Lindsay Pollack, we’re celebrating the people who shaped us and stood up when it counted.

We also unpack the recent BookTok drama surrounding Ali Hazelwood, explore why women authors get dragged for harmless opinions, and why parasocial rage is getting out of hand. (Spoiler: it's a book character. Relax.)

Plus, we shout out the workplace MVPs who see us, support us, and say the hard stuff—even when it’s not popular.

✨ In this episode:
– The Hunger Games take that broke BookTok
– Who gets to be a hero (and who gets canceled)
– Literary faves from Anne Shirley to Judy Blume
– Real talk about mentorship, service industry trauma, and male allies at work
– Why calling someone "an aggressive complimenter" might be a compliment

Got a hero? Tell us in the comments. Prefer a villain with a redemption arc? Same. Just don’t @ us about Peeta.