This was not what I expected. This was basically a BTS of their podcast.
Their wasn't much I could take away and apply to myself.

I love books about TV and film, and this one was a great read for fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. This combines memoir with love for the television and how the show eventually changed the authors' lives. I have never listened to their podcast, but I did really enjoy the book and the author's relationship shines through in the writing.

The book focuses on the creation and ongoing run of the authors podcast against the backdrop of the highs and lows of their life. The introduction does give significant "spoilers" (if you an call someone's actual life events spoilers) which I did think did lessen some of the impact of those events and portions when you read them later in the book.

Having never listened to their podcast or hearing of the authors before this book, but being a pretty moderate Buffy fan (I haven't seen every episode, but know the major plot points of the show/characters), I still very much enjoyed this book. As they offer synopsis of each episode discussed, you don't need to have seen Buffy to enjoy this book. If you do want to watch Buffy and don't want spoilers, then you may want to skip until you watch.

Disclosure: I received a free eARC and ALC from Netgalley.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, Jenny Young’s, and Kristin Russo for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I actually had not heard of Buffering the Vampire Slayer prior to hearing about this book. For me allllll of the information was new, I was not a previous fan looking for more details about Kristin and Jenny. That being said, I still highly enjoyed this! They give plenty of background information that someone with nothing is not lost and/or confused by the memoir they are writing. I loved that Jenny and Kristin were and are still able to remain friends after getting a divorce. I also appreciated how open they were in discussing how difficult it was for them at first, and that it took awhile for them to reach a space where they could be friends once more. My main complaint is that we got a decent amount of information about Jenny and Jess, but I feel like Kristin’s new relationship was just brushed past very quickly and I would’ve appreciated just a little more because I feel like she struggled so much it would have been nice to hear about how she moved on and found love!

Buffy has special meaning to me, as she does for so many. She got me through some hard times, and I love hearing from my fellow Scoobies about how much Buffy has meant to them, too. I honestly have never listened to a Buffering podcast because I'm not a huge podcast person so I just picked this up because, well, Buffy. It wasn't fully what I expected, which is on me for just seeing "Buffy" and not reading the description. I was expecting more about the show and less of a memoir-type. I enjoyed it, though, and appreciate the authors for sharing their journeys with readers and listeners.

Thank you Netgalley a for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions written are completely honest and my own.

Although I was not familiar with the podcast until yesterday, I am ready to spend my summer with Jenny and Kristin. I love how they entertained their love with of Buffy with the telling of their story thus far. I feel like I know them and can't wait to hear these songs.

I loved this book. I listened to their whole original podcast and this behind the scenes and info about the community was great.

A memoir that is the story of how two queer women navigated divorce on a very public level and managed to stay in each other's lives through it all. This is a tender, funny, and totally charming novelof love, divorce, and podcasting is as much an ode to queer community. Kristin and Jenny’s marriage started with an ultimatum: to further their relationship, Kristin must watch Jenny's favorite show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. With the terms set, they began a journey that has led them through seven seasons of the beloved genre show, a podcast rewatching the series with their newly minted patrons, unexpected success, and a divorce. Through it all, their love for Buffy and their commitment to their community held them together against the odds. I enjoyed being part of their life It was a tender hearted book that are me wondered what made them somehow remained friends.

Kristin and Jenny explore the evolving of their popular podcast along with their relationship. Despite divorcing during the podcast's production, the two find ways to navigate their changing relationship along with the show and the podcast. At times funny, heartbreaking, and serious, this book was unputdownable and a delight to read.

I will be reading this again, and I am going to start listening to the podcast.

I confess I'm not familiar with the podcast Kristin and Jenny made. But I've always been fascinated by Buffy fans and how united and supportive they are, so I really wanted to see what two women who went through the effort of creating something that spawned a whole community are like.
I was pleasantly surprised at how candid and open they both are about some of the very difficult things they went through in their personal lives. It makes the book a lot more about these two creative women than Buffy, even with the interesting parallels that the episodes sometimes had to what they were going through. Or maybe it's that you can find those parallels so easily in Buffy that explains the show's popularity decades after the last episode aired.
As a book on its own merit, it gives a fascinating glimpse into what goes into making a podcast, even as it puts on display all the trials and tribulations Kristin and Jenny faced as individuals. It benefits from having the association with the show, but I would have found it interesting just from how honest the authors were.
I will say though, that it might be better as an audiobook to get a chance to listen to the many songs that are discussed.

Very happy thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the interesting read.

Honestly, I loved the story but I am a sucker for anything Buffy the Vampire Slayer. There is nothing I wouldn't read given the chance about this. If it's a retelling, an alternative story, folks who love Buffy like Jenny. Anything! I had a great time with this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book! :)

It was ok.
I didn’t appreciate the Buffy the Vampire Slayer spoilers. That was annoying. Not everything has to be spoiled. Yes, the show came out years ago but why ruin an experience for a new generation?
Also, I found myself getting bored learning about how they started their podcast, felt a little repetitive to me.
If you like their podcast then this is for you.

Not for me. Not at all cool with exploiting a fandom and the queer community just to rehash the demise of a relationship. Marriages end and grieving them is normal. Framing that ending as some sort of collective trauma just because you had a popular podcast and some of your listeners were overly emotionally invested in you as a couple does not a retelling worthy of a memoir make.

If you are fans of the podcast Buffering the Vampire Slayer you'll love this book. If you're just discovering them this book is for you. It gives a lot of background information on the podcasters ( Kristin and Jenny), their podcast and the love they have for Buffy!

Buffering the Vampire Slayer started off with Kristen watching Jenny's favorite show Buffy The Vampire Slayer and analyzing it. It was meant to enhance their relationship and while the podcast becomes a success their personal life becomes complicated. Their romantic relationship and marriage falls apart but they manage to remain committed to their audience, fans and show by producing episodes and Buffy events.

This book will spoil episodes so don't read it if you haven't seen Buffy! One of the most interesting things about the book is how it's disclosed that their relationship was mirroring Buffy episodes they were watching/discussing.

This is an interesting read. If you want to listen or revisit the podcast now is a good time to start because they Kristen and Jenny are going thru all the episodes again this time with spoilers!

I am not sure what I was expecting when I read this book but I didn't think the main focus would be about Jenny and Kristens relationship with Buffy as an afterthought. This doesn't mean it wasn't a good read because it was but I wanted more Buffy.

Not at all what I thought it was going to be but enjoyed it nonetheless.
Super interested in checking out the podcast now.
Loved the inclusion of the songs, definitely recommend paring this with the audiobook at the same time

An unedited look at the journey these two women made to be together and then stay friends after their divorce. It includes all of the love and confusion inherit in any relationship, setting an excellent example for those struggling with themselves. It really makes no difference whether you're gay or straight, it takes two committed people to come out on the other side and still be friends/ family.

I grew up on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as well as Jenny Owen Young’s music, but I never listened to the podcast so I wasn’t sure if I’d like this book. I gave it a chance anyway & I’m glad I did. While this does talk about the podcast it’s more about their relationship (and breakup). I loved how honest it was sharing both sides of the relationship, breakup & afterwards. There were times I was crying over these two people I don’t really know.

This was an interesting memoir and well-structured. It felt well-paced and easy to read. I liked that it had both the author's perspectives and was very clear about when it shifted between them. The drawings inserted throughout added to the read, too. I did wish there was a little more about Buffy in there, but I'm glad the summary was upfront that the show was not the main focus of the book.

I love Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but had never listened to this podcast so I don't feel like I was the intended audience. I really enjoyed this book for what it is, which is more of a memoir of the authors lives while making the podcast. It definitely made me interested in listening to the podcast!

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Loved every second of this book. I highly recommend this book to everyone that loves a good memoir. Also Buffy The Vampire Slayer the end.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

While I am not a Buffy fan (never watched it - it was a bit before my time) I was eager to read this book. I am all about anything pop culture-related, and I can absolutely understand the impact Buffy has had on the scene.

I loved the community that Jenny and Kristin built, that alone was enough for me to want to continue reading. I actually listened to the audio of this book as well, and I highly recommend that version so everyone can hear the beautiful music throughout the book.

As I mentioned before, I have not seen Buffy, but I think I've been influenced to try!

Thank you again for the ARC!