I feel like we should do that thing in High School Musical where—
>> Where it's like, [SOUND]
>> [SOUND] Yeah.
[LAUGH] [SOUND] >> Welcome to our new series called,
Is This Real Life?
[LAUGH]
[MUSIC]
Hey, guys, this is Mitch from Team Epic Reads.
>> And this is Lisa from Team Epic Reads.
>> And this is our new video series.
>> [APPLAUSE] We're so excited to begin this brand new video series
where we talk about all things contemporary and realistic.
Thank you guys so
much for all your enthusiasm in our response to our Instagram story.
We put a call out on our Epic Reads Instagram, asking for some ideas for
a video title name, because ours were not good, catastrophically bad.
>> [LAUGH] So thank you for saving us.
>> We needed your help and you totally came through.
>> Yeah.
>> As you always do.
>> And shout-out to @rosesareprickly, who helped us along.
>> Yes, that's a great name, no wonder they came up with a great title.
>> Yes, I know, I know.
>> Before we start, maybe we should talk about what we think contemporary
realistic fiction means and if they're the same, what are books?
>> What is contemporary fiction, I mean,
I'll talk a little bit about what it means to me.
And if you guys want to write down in the comments what you think it means.
>> What your favorite contemporary fiction books are, let us know that, too.
>> How can you choose?
>> Yeah!
>> But, yes, tell us everything.
>> So yeah, for me, contemporary fiction or realistic fiction,
I use them interchangeably.
It's just anything that could happen IRL, in your real life,
whether it's going to high school or just living your ordinary life.
It’s just for me I love it so much just because I get to walk in someone
else’s shoes in this world that I'm also living in and it’s...
>> Yeah.
>> It's just great to kinda see someone else's viewpoints.
>> Yeah, you're walking through other people's shoes, I like that.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah, I agree, I think that contemporary and realistic fiction,
I also use interchangeably.
I definitely read contemporary in high school.
I liked fantasy books, but I read fantasy when I was younger.
And then maybe in middle school and definitely high school,
I just read a bunch of contemporary like the original John Green, proud fan to say.
>> [LAUGH] >> Like Jenny Han, Sarah Dessen,
Deb Caletti, so many.
So what are some realistic fiction books that you have read recently?
>> Well, this one, What If It's Us?
Yes.
>> I'm actually still reading that right now, it's so good.
>> So this book, it's a meet-cute from Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera.
It is so good.
>> It lives up to the hype, for sure.
>> It does and as a resident New Yorker,
a meet-cute that takes place in a city that sometimes can be [LAUGH] so brutal.
>> Yes.
>> It just gives you hope.
>> It's what we all want.
>> Yeah, Ben and Arthur, they meet at the post office,
which I don't know if they've ever been to New York post office, but they are rough.
The line's usually out the door.
>> People are not friendly.
>> Even when you get there, no, even when you get there at 9 o'clock.
>> [LAUGH] >> So, yeah, this story develops and
it's just about their really adorable relationship and
them trying to make it work and— >> Will they, won’t they?
>> Will they, I don’t know, I don't know.
>> And also, it has a lot of Broadway references.
I mean, even the title, not a spoiler alert, but
it has to do with a very famous Broadway play that I actually haven’t seen.
>> My god, yeah, you gotta.
>> I know, I was listening to the soundtrack right before we started
filming this.
>> [LAUGH] >> And
I was reading that on the subway this morning, it’s so good.
Yeah, you definitely have to read it.
I just read The Field Guide to the North American Teenager by Ben Phillipe.
It is amazing.
This is about Norris Kaplan, who moves from Canada to Austin,
Texas, and Jane, another Team Epic Reads member, she describes
it as a reverse Mean Girls, which I totally agree, Jane, wherever you are.
>> Shout out to Jane.
>> [LAUGH] Yes, Jane, she helped us with this video series.
It's like he enters a high school, an American high school, and
he only knows what to expect from all these movies and TV shows he's watched.
Where everyone is in cliques, everyone is mean or
they're just like one or the other.
They're a mean jock or like a loser, loner, or
things that are just not true in real life.
And then you go through his journey with him, this hilarious journey,
where he learns that sometimes labels are just for soup cans.
And, yes, I just said that.
Okay, I like it [LAUGH].
>> That's my thing.
>> Okay, Campbell's, another book that I just read,
everyone's gonna judge me for this that I just read it.
The Hate U Give, I know, I know, I finally read it,
it's been sitting in my to-be-read pile forever.
And I did, I committed like one of the biggest book crimes ever, I think.
>> You committed so many book crimes.
>> I know, I know.
>> That's been on the New York Times bestseller list—
>> I waited so long.
>> For 100 weeks.
>> Yeah, so congrats to this book, I waited so long to read,
it was my first crime.
Second crime was I saw the movie before I read the book.
>> What'd you think of the movie?
>> I, honestly, loved the movie so much.
>> I love the movie, it's so powerful and
it just like I read the book before like you're supposed to.
>> Yes [LAUGH].
>> [LAUGH] And still, it was like watching it was like a first-time experience.
>> If you guys have ever read a book after the movie came out,
let us know in the comments, cuz I wanna see, I wanna see what you think.
Or we can just keep shaming Mitch.
>> Yeah, yeah, you can shame me, too.
>> You should read the book before the movie, like all the time.
>> I guess, my favorite thing is the all the Tupac references, I mean,
come on, so good.
I feel I don't need to keep going on because—
>> [LAUGH]
>> Everyone probably has already read and
knows how amazing it is.
>> You're late to the game, you're late.
>> Yeah, but if you haven't read it, go read it.
>> Another book that I just read is The Astonishing Color of After by
Emily XR Pan, which was amazing.
And okay, before you come at me, I know that it's not,
it has some magical realism.
Which is technically contemporary, but also confusing,
because it has other stuff going on like mothers who might birds [LAUGH].
So we're gonna possibly save that book for a later time when we talk
about contemporary books that have a little extra.
But it was amazing and you guys have to read it, it made me feel a lot
of things that I haven't felt in a while, which is the goal of the book.
>> [LAUGH] Yes.
>> Okay, so another book that actually does fall into completely
contemporary is A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi.
I have a secret, this is also a book crime.
>> [LAUGH] >> I have not read any
Tahereh Mafi before.
>> This book, and I know she's most famous for her Shatter Me series,
her fantasy series, but, of course, being a contemporary book lover.
>> [LAUGH] >> I had to read this standalone first.
It follows Shirin, this 16-year-old Muslim-American girl right after 9/11,
and so she's just, life kinda sucks.
It just sucks, people are really not good to her,
I don't know if I can swear on this video.
>> [LAUGH] >> They're really shitty to her, and
no one puts in the effort to get to know her as a person until Ocean James,
and everything changes.
>> So it's a really beautiful romance, this also made me a feel a lot of things.
I feel like I had to be in the right headspace to read it,
because it was so good, but I just had to take a break.
I was like, my god, I need to cry now, and then I'll go back to it.
So you definitely need to read that book.
>> I think that's always good.
>> It's very important.
>> A book cry is always good.
>> Yeah.
>> Another one that I just finished reading is This is Kind of an Epic Story.
Love story, Kind of an Epic Love Story.
>> It's a love story.
>> This is Kind of an Epic Love Story.
>> It is really [CROSSTALK] >> By Kheryn Callender.
>> Yeah.
>> I mean, the title doesn't let you down, it is an epic love story.
>> And the cover is so beautiful.
>> Yeah, look at this cover.
>> Designers are amazing, I can't do that.
>> Yeah, yeah, shout out to the designers on this one.
It's just such a good story about a childhood crush that comes back.
>> It's not like everyone's doing it.
>> Five years later.
>> Yeah.
>> And they might make it work, they might not, who knows?
And it's just their story,
this aspiring filmmaker and just this artist.
It's just so good.
>> And, what is it, it's kind of that love triangle, because he,
like the main character's childhood crush comes back.
But then the main character's, Nathan Bird,
his best friend was his ex-girlfriend, who's now his best friend again.
And so it's like, well, he get back with his ex-girlfriend, or
his old best friend, or will they get together.
I don't know [LAUGH] so really good.
>> So just read it to find out all the answers to
those burning questions [LAUGH].
>> Yes, we thought today, for our very first episode,
it would be a lot of fun to do a MASH game, YA style.
Hopefully, you guys know what MASH is [LAUGH].
So this is what it looks like and we're just gonna play live, and
then talk about our answers.
>> Yeah.
>> So let's see.
>> Okay.
>> This is where you do that and then you tell me to stop, and then I do that-
>> Yeah, yeah, yeah.
>> [LAUGH] Do I know how to play MASH?
[COUNTDOWN] >> Wait,
am I doing yours or are you doing mine?
>> Ooh, I don't know.
>> Okay. >> It'd be fun if we did each others.
>> Yeah, yeah, okay.
[COUNTDOWN] >> Ta da, we finished.
>> [LAUGH] >> That took so
much longer in real life than it did for you to watch it, but it's okay.
>> Yeah, okay, so do you wanna start?
>> Yeah, I'll tell you about your life.
>> Okay.
>> All right, Mitch.
>> [LAUGH] Yes.
>> Your life is a fun time.
>> [LAUGH] >> So your romantic interest,
you had five options which I'm gonna read you the five options first, and
then I will tell you who is the winner.
>> Perfect.
>> I feel like I'm announcing the Grammies.
>> [LAUGH] >> All right, choice one,
you could have been with Simon Spier from Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda.
Kalil or Chris from The Hate U Give,
because we couldn't choose just one of them, [LAUGH].
Cameron Post from The Miseducation of Cameron Post.
Peter Kavinsky or Josh from To All the Boys I've Loved Before, again,
couldn't pick one.
>> [LAUGH] >> You can pick one in the comments, but
we wanted to include them both.
And then Bo from Dumplin'.
>> Okay.
>> So all these choices are pretty great.
>> Yeah.
>> But the winner is [DRUMROLL] Bo from Dumplin.
>> Okay.
>> Yes. >> I mean, I'll take it [LAUGH].
>> Yeah.
>> Switching the tables to you, so you also had those same options and
you got [DRUMROLL] Cameron Post from The Miseducation of Cameron Post.
>> Yes, I love Cameron Post so much.
>> Yeah, she's great.
>> She's an amazing person and I can't stop talking about that book.
>> [LAUGH] >> And
also the movie was amazing, you should definitely see the movie.
>> Yeah, check it out, Chloe Grace Moritz.
>> Yes, thank you, I'm really bad at.
>> [LAUGH] >> Any pop culture, so thank you.
She is amazing too [LAUGH].
>> Okay, and then just going onto your best friend,
you will also have five options.
>> Okay.
>> So Norris Kaplan from The Field Guide to the North American Teenager.
>> He'd be a funny best friend.
>> Yeah, right?
Jane Fonda and Adam Red Eagle from From The Miseducation of Cameron Post.
Dylan from What If It's Us.
Starr Carter from The Hate U Give.
Or the Secret Society of Outcasts from Heretics Anonymous.
So after narrowing it down, you got Dylan from What If It's Us [LAUGH].
>> Yes, my gosh, that's also amazing, because he can get me free coffee anytime,
like unlimited, that's a real best friend.
>> That is a best friend right there.
>> Meanwhile, you got best friends, plural.
[DRUMROLL] You got the secret, so secret, [LAUGH] Secret Society Of Outcasts.
>> Wow.
>> From Heretics Anonymous.
>> You know what?
I will take as many best friends as I can then, honestly.
>> Yeah, [LAUGH] actually, that sounds amazing, I wanna join that.
Can I just, me and Dylan, wanna join with you guys?
>> Yeah, I'll have a talk with them, they'll have to let you in.
>> For house options, your five choices were The Darcy Mansion in Pride.
The New York apartment in We Are Okay.
A house in the Siberian wilderness- >> [LAUGH]
>> From Notes From My Captivity.
A murder-filled boarding school from Truly Devious.
And a bed and breakfast on the beach- >> From Summer of Salt.
>> Okay, I mean, they all- >> That's sounds really nice, actually.
>> That's sounds nice, yeah, the bed and breakfast.
>> I want to go there right now, but you are going to
be living in a murder filled boarding school from Truly Devious [LAUGH].
>> Okay, I mean, okay, so.
>> You'll be there with your Secret Society of Outcasts and Bo [LAUGH].
>> I mean, they can helo me through it, I guess.
>> Yeah.
>> So for how's this for you, you have the same options and
you got The Darcy Mansion from Pride.
>> Yes, my life is awesome so far!
Yes.
I wanna live there with Cameron and Dillon, and I'm just gonna keep repeating
our names, cuz I wanna remember what my life is gonna be.
Okay, so.
>> Okay, so for pets, I guess?
So you had four options.
So from Turtles All the Way Down,
Tuatara From Audrey Wait, the Fat cat Bendolomena.
>> I love that.
>> [LAUGH] To All the Boys I've Loved Before, Jamie Fox-Pickle.
And all the Harry Potter animals, because why not?
>> Because why not?
We cheated, they're not in contemporary, but we want them in this the same, so
we did it [LAUGH].
>> So after this deliberation [LAUGH] you got
From Turtles All the Way Down, Tuatara.
>> Yes!
My gosh.
>> Is that how you say it, Tuatara?
>> I don't know, it looks like Tuatara, John Green.
>> John Green, let us know.
>> What did your research say?
I actually looked these up if they were real things and they are,
not that I thought you would make it up but, you know, I was wondering.
That is what I wanted out of this list, actually.
Actually, no, I lied.
Because actually, you get what I wanted, which is all the Harry Potter animals.
That's the best [CROSSTALK], come on.
>> And it makes sense for them to be in a murdered,
>> [LAUGH]
>> Boarding school.
>> Maybe Hedwig can help you out.
>> Yeah.
>> Buckbeak flies you away, Buckbeak,
I never said that, I never messed up his name.
I know my Harry Potter [LAUGH].
>> Don't knock her.
>> Don't do it, okay, and then for jobs, you had seven or eight options.
We'd like to have a lot of options over here at Epic Reads.
So you could have been an actor from Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss.
An aspiring filmmaker from This Kind of an Epic Love Story.
A mermaid at a water park from Like Water.
A hip hop star from On the Come Up.
A chef from With the Fire on High.
An anonymous creator of a super popular web comic from Eliza and Her Monsters.
A photographer from Sorry for Your Loss.
Or a private eye from the Charlotte Holmes series.
>> And, you know what,
you got a private eye which will help you in your murder-filled boarding school.
>> Well, just you know, I just call me Nancy Drew, this is my life now,
Max's mode of transportation.
>> Wait what's my job?
>> Excuse me, I need a job.
>> Sorry.
>> I mean, I don't need one, I'm in a Darcy mansion.
>> I know, you truly don't, okay, so for a job you have the same options and
you got a photographer from Sorry For Your Loss.
>> I like that.
>> So a photographer living in the Darcy mansion with Cameron Post and Dylan.
>> Yes, I'm gonna photograph them and all of the stuff in that mansion,
because I probably won't leave it, okay- >> And then now, so
wait mode of transportation, okay.
So we had five options for this one.
A train from A Lite Too Bright.
Mia Thermopolis's [LAUGH] scooter from The Princess Diaries.
Ari's red pick up truck from Aristotle and
Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe.
Evan's 94 Toyota from The Dangerous Art of Blending In.
And a stolen convertible from Hello Girls.
>> [LAUGH] >> So
you ended you ended up getting the stolen convertible from Hello Girls.
>> Yes, yes, I don't know why I needed a stolen convertible,
because I live in the Darcy Mansion, but I will take it.
>> [LAUGH] >> But I still need it.
>> You do.
>> That's exciting, all right, well, meanwhile you got, Ari's red pickup truck.
>> Okay, that's a pretty- >> Straight from the desert into your
murder-filled boarding school.
>> [LAUGH] >> I just love saying that whole sentence.
>> [LAUGH] You know what?
I'll need it to get away from the school.
>> [LAUGH] Yeah.
>> I'll take the chips on [SOUND] the desert [LAUGH].
>> [LAUGH] >> I've actually always wanted a pickup
truck, so you know what?
That's the best- >> It's fate, I mean,
you have a pretty good life aside from avoiding murders all the time, whatever.
>> [LAUGH] Yeah.
>> And then, our last option is your next TVR book.
So we're really excited for this, because we're picking each other's, which is fun.
And maybe we would have picked it before, maybe we wouldn't have.
So let's see, for you, you got The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender.
>> I was going to read this next, so.
>> Which I wanted to read next,
it actually has a little magical realism which we might talk about later.
>> Yeah.
>> So that's fun.
>> So stay tuned for that.
>> Yeah.
>> And so, your next TVR book is This Time Will be Different.
[SOUND] >> Actually I really wanna read that one.
>> Yeah.
>> I'm so excited for that, and the cover is so beautiful.
Just seeing that cover and
all the illustrated covers that are popular now, just makes me so happy.
>> [LAUGH] >> So
not that you should judge a book by its cover, but you should-
>> In this case.
>> Because- >> Yeah, [LAUGH].
>> It's beautiful, that's great.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah, thank you guys so much for watching.
This was so fun and we hope you had as much fun watching as we had filming it.
So come back next time.
>> Yeah, and like and subscribe and leave us a comment and
be sure to follow Epic Reads on all of our social channels.
>> All of them.
>> All right.
>> Cuz we're epic.
>> We're epic.
>> All right, see you next time.
>> All right, bye.
[MUSIC]