This is a love letter to the Buffy fandom that I didn't know I needed. The connections made with Buffy's influence on various aspects of culture and society was fascinating.

*Slayers, Every One of Us: How One Girl in All the World Showed Us How to Hold On* by Kristin Russo and Jenny Owen Youngs, narrated by the authors themselves, is an interesting listen, but it wasn't quite what I expected. As a huge fan of *Buffy the Vampire Slayer*, I was hoping for a deep dive into how the show has influenced culture, but instead, the audiobook leans more toward a personal narrative about the hosts and their own lives. While I did enjoy learning more about them and their experiences, particularly how they started their podcast and the process behind its production, it didn’t offer the level of analysis or exploration of *Buffy* that I had anticipated.

The hosts also name-dropped Joanna Robinson, one of my favorite podcasters, which was a nice touch. However, the biggest drawback for me was the inclusion of songs throughout the audiobook. It turns out that one of the unique aspects of the podcast is that they write songs about the *Buffy* episodes. While I understand the appeal for some, I found the style of the songs to be overly cliched, reminiscent of a typical coffee shop indie girl with a guitar. After the fourth song, I ended up skipping them entirely.

Overall, while the book provided some personal insights into the hosts and their podcast, it didn’t deepen my knowledge or appreciation for *Buffy* as I had hoped. It wasn’t a total waste of time, though, and for *Buffy* fans or listeners of the podcast, it might still hold value. I would rate this book 3 out of 5 stars. I received an advanced listener copy from NetGalley and MacMillan Audio.

This is a rare book that I would rate the audiobook and the traditional print/digital book differently. This is a book that I heavily recommend be read in the audio format over the print or digital. One hallmark of the podcast that the two authors host (one who is a musician) is that they created original music to go along with the episodes. Each chapter features that music in the audiobook throughout. The inclusion of the music really set the audio apart and punctuated the focus of the Buffy episodes discussed as well as the author's life periods discussed. It honestly pushed past all the small issues I had with the book for this to be a 5 star read!

The only audiobook specific drawback is that it is narrated by authors and while they may be great podcasters in discussion, professional voice actors or narrators, they are not and it is apparent. But it is their story and it's not a deal breaker.

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.

As a listener of Buffering the Vampire Slayer, I really enjoyed and was fascinated by this behind the scenes look at Kristin and Jenny's lives. I have no clue how it would read to someone who was unfamiliar with the podcast, though.

Not at all what I thought it was going to be but enjoyed it nonetheless.
Super interested in checking out the podcast now.
They have fantastic voices. Loved the inclusion of the songs.

I just finished Slayers, Everyone of us - How one girl in all the world showed us how to hold on… From the Podcast Buffering the Vampire Slayer - hosts Kristin Russo and Jenny Owens Youngs.

This is why, going in blind on a book, sometimes… doesn’t go well for me. I thought this book was going to be about them pulling apart and discussing buffy the vampire slayer and yeah… No, that's totally not what it's about.

Both the hosts used to be together and broke up.. They did the podcast together on their shared love of buffy and maybe the podcast has more Buffy the vampire slayer in it but this book was pretty much political. The way they felt when Trump was inaugurated the first time… The fears they had for what that meant for the LGBTQ community.

It’s really hard to rate a book that didn’t match the expectations of the book. It was literally a memoir about a marriage, a divorce, and a podcast about Buffy the Vampire Slayer with both people writing it together. I definitely am not the target audience because I wanted more buffy but If I was a listener… I think this book had some really great aspects about it and you could see how much thought they put into building a podcast from scratch. One of the hosts on the audio didn’t feel like they were as connected, I think it was Jenny that felt like she didn’t really want to be there…

What was my takeaway? That they made the podcast work even after the split and are still friends and that's kinda beautiful. They still support each other, just in a different way and for that, I am glad I listened and read the book. I did immersion reading on this one. First time ever… It was a new experience but I want to thank the hosts and @stmartinspress for including me in this experience.

I will be checking out the podcast now and maybe I will come back to the book once I get to know Jenny and Kristin on a new level.

3.5 stars

This was a super fun listen. I actually never heard of the podcast but have always been a Buffy fan. Loved hearing the songs and personal story of the
Podcasters.

I love Buffy the Vampire Slayer and hadn't listened to this podcast before, but since Buffy is the best, I thought I would try this. I just loved this story. This book was about two queer women who watched Buffy while seeing one their marriage end and a friendship begin. I loved the Buffy moments (I always thought there was a thing between Faith and Buffy and now I feel like there is proof), I loved seeing this relationship die and then resurrect into something new, and I loved all of Jenny's songs. The audiobook was beautiful.

Thank you to the publisher and net galley for copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

I never listened to the podcast Buffering but I absolutely loved this book. I can see how longtime fans of the podcast or even just like mild fans of the podcast. Would absolutely love this book but having no prior knowledge, I still loved this. If you haven’t watched Buffy, but you’ll still like this book but if you care about spoilers for Buffy, you should probably not read this.

I'm an avid Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan, but I'm terrible at podcasts, so I haven't listened to the one by the authors as much as it's been recommended. I hoped this book would be a good substitute or jumping off point to get me into it, but that wasn't what it was at all, and I ended up DNFing. This is the memoir of two women I don't know anything about and ultimately did not find very compelling, with only the briefest of asides about watching Buffy as it relates to their life. Also, I think it suffers from basically having a prologue that summarizes everything the book is going to be about– why do I need to listen to the whole thing when it's already all been laid out in the first five minutes? If you know and love the podcast, this book is probably perfect for you. If you know and love Buffy and are going into this as purely a fan of the show. I wouldn't recommend it. Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC of this to review.

This book follows the experience of two podcast creators through their personal relationship to each other and adapting their podcast to their changing lives. It's particularly targeted at listeners who are familiar with them already through the show, but the writing is good and story is universally human enough that anyone could relate

I didn't realize this was a memoir when I requested it.
I really should start looking into things more.
Ah well.
I had not listened to this podcast before going into the book (I have since started).
I saw that it was Buffy related and said "Oooh yes please!"
I have no regrets.
I loved seeing how the various episodes of the show mirrored the lives of these ladies and how much love they put into each other and the podcast and kept things going when a lot of people probably wouldn't have.
This was a fabulous read and you don't need to know anything going in other than you love Buffy The Vampire Slayer too.
Spoilers for the show if you have been living under a rock and haven't seen the show yet.
Much love to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for my ALC

Ever come across a piece of nonfiction that, after reading, you come away primarily thinking “I just want good things for the people who wrote this?” Because that’s exactly how I felt coming off this charming memoir about the hosts of Buffering, a hugely successful Buffy the Vampire Slayer podcast.

I came to this as someone who had seen Buffy and was aware that it was a show that meant a lot to a lot of people, but with no real personal connection to the show. I was hoping for something that would help me understand the appeal (and maybe inspire me to go back and finally watch it). That’s not really what this book is about, but I think I gained a bit of appreciation for the show anyway.

Mostly this left me feeling appreciative of the community that the show created, and primarily the community created by this podcast for fans of the show. The authors seem like genuinely lovely people who succeeded in doing something very rare, which is to turn their personal fandom into something that creates a safe place for people with a common interest who eventually become something more than sharers of that common interest to one another.

The musical element of this didn’t do a lot for me, but that’s mostly down to sonic preferences, and I loved how creative and multimedia-driven the authors were about how they approached everything from the original podcast to the live meet-up events for listeners to this book itself. Highly recommend listening to this on audiobook, by the way, as I almost always do when the authors are people who you are coming to because of a previous creation where their voices are front and center.

This was tough to read at times, as the authors are pretty forthright about a lot of the personal things they went through while recording the podcast. But ultimately, it’s a feel good, uplifting read that reminds you of how powerful shared interest can be in building an empathetic and supportive community.

To say that Buffy the Vampire Slayer was formative for me may be an understatement. As someone who was raised as an only child, watching Buffy (live on TV!) with my mom as a kid is something I look back on fondly. Buffy standing the test of time and being a show I keep coming back to is truly special.
So, when I discovered that one of my all-time favorite shows was having a memoir book written by the hosts of one of the most popular Buffy podcasts, I couldn't be more ecstatic.
Imagine my surprise when I discovered that one of the authors was also someone whose prior work I was drawn to quite a bit in my teen years. All of that to say, I went in knowing this book was my cup of tea - and I was not disappointed. I'm a sucker for a good memoir and the use of Buffy as a framing device for the authors journey together and apart, with meaningful tidbits garnered from what I believe to be some of the best media of all-time, was an absolute success.
It's amazing to read or listen (audiobook is expertly narrated by the authors!) to the timeline and breakdown of events of the authors marriage, divorce and the constant of the podcast throughout. A beautiful story interwoven with Buffy tidbits, more about the podcast, and a clear commitment to loving someone beyond a relationship. I loved it.
I hate to admit that I wasn't familiar with their podcast prior to reading, but I'll absolutely be checking it out. If you love a memoir, love Buffy, or just enjoy a good book - pick this one up.

I don’t think I truly understood what this book was when I requested an advance readers copy from NetGalley but I was actually pleasantly surprised. initially, I imagined some sort of social commentary on how Buffy the Vampire Slayer impacted people’s lives outside of being a pop culture phenomenon. Rather, this book is truly a memoir by two ex-girlfriends who happened to host a Buffy the Vampire Slayer recap podcast.

when I learned that the book wasn’t what I expected, I initially wanted to stop reading because I don’t know the authors well enough to be interested in their life story so why would I read it… Or so I thought. Something that the authors did which I thought was incredibly unique was write the story of their relationship and the ending of their relationship as a morphed into a friendship through the episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It’s not something that I’ve ever read before; using significant episodes of a TV show to then tell a story about what was happening in your personal life that on the surface doesn’t seem related, but yet in this context, it works so well.

Now that being said, do I believe that the book is incredible or riveting? No. Not at all. I think the storytelling is the most interesting part of the book because the story itself isn’t super interesting. maybe if I were a fan of these two ladies or their podcast this would be something I would enjoy more, but as is, I feel like their stories, while they are relatable, aren’t super interesting and are the stories of two relatively normal average people dealing with the ups and downs of a relationship through the lens of a fantastic television show.

I had the opportunity to listen to Slayers, Every One of Us: How One Girl in All the World Showed Us How to Hold On by Kristin Russo and Jenny Owen Youngs, thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley. This memoir follows the deeply personal journey of a couple whose lives were profoundly impacted by Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Through themes of love, divorce, miscarriage, and podcasting, the book weaves a touching and honest narrative.

Even though I’ve never seen Buffy, I was drawn in by the heartfelt storytelling and the passion these two incredible individuals have for the show and its central character. Their vulnerability, combined with musical interludes and moments of humor, made this such a refreshing and unexpectedly moving listen. It wasn’t what I anticipated—but I ended up loving it. A truly special audiobook experience.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an audiobook ARC of this title.

Following the journey of Kristin Russo and Jenny Owen Youngs, hosts of the wildly successful Buffering the Vampire Slayer podcast, takes the reader through the seasons of Jenny and Kristin's life and the show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The audiobook includes the authors narrating and singing hit songs from the podcast. It is an incredibly moving story of love, grief, and how to carry on with life after lost love.

I find it hard to rate nonfiction titles since they are someone else's story and arbitrarily applying a star rating feels unjust. However, I would definitely recommend this book to fans of either the podcast or the TV show (although it does contain spoilers, so it's been to have watched all 7 seasons first). I started listening to the Buffering podcast right before the pandemic and my listening habits changed, so I did not continue or know the story between the two hosts. That being said, I still enjoyed this title and definitely think the audiobook with the music adds a lot to the story. The listener gets to hear how certain lyrics were written and thought about and then hear how it all came together. This adds a layer of intrigue that, in my opinion, kept me listening long after I should have gone to bed.

If you’re a Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan like me, chances are you’ll grab anything Buffy-adjacent the moment you see it. That’s exactly how I ended up reading Slayers, Every One of Us. I didn’t know what to expect—I hadn’t listened to the Buffering the Vampire Slayer podcast, and at first, I felt like I was walking into someone else’s inside joke. But instead of feeling left out, I felt like I’d found a long-lost group of friends.

Kristin and Jenny built a community around their love for Buffy—and somehow, they made room for the rest of us too. Their story, which starts with a relationship ultimatum and winds through marriage, podcasting, divorce, and deep friendship, is more than just a memoir. It’s a tribute to chosen family, queer love, and the kind of fandom that helps you feel seen.

What surprised me most is how their personal lives seemed to mirror what was happening in the episodes they were covering. It was like real life and fiction were tangled together in the best way. Even though the book doesn’t walk through each episode, it’s packed with behind-the-scenes stories, interviews, and touching moments that brought back all the feelings I had watching Buffy as a teen.

This book reminded me that it’s okay to still love the things we did growing up. It’s okay to care deeply, to geek out, and to find connection in unexpected places. If you’ve ever felt like you had to hide the things you love, this book might just be the permission slip you didn’t know you needed.

I don’t normally listen to podcasts, so when I requested this audiobook, I was unfamiliar with the authors and their Buffering the Vampire Slayer podcast. I am a Buffy fan though, and I read a lot of memoirs. I think this book will be fun for Buffy fans, or at least people familiar with the show and with fandom. (There are major spoilers if you haven’t watched the entire Buffy series.) The appendices are not to be missed.

As a memoir, it sometimes left me wanting more, although I enjoyed listening to the authors talk about writing music and making a podcast together and how their fans became such a tight-knit, supportive community. I also appreciated the discussion of their attempt to get pregnant and have a baby.

The audiobook production was good, and the authors did a fine job with narration. I particularly enjoyed the music they included from the podcast. I enjoyed this audiobook enough that I intend to check out the podcast.

I received a free advanced review copy of the audiobook through NetGalley. I volunteered to provide an honest review.

Slayers, Every One of Us details podcasters Jenny Owen Youngs and Kristin Russo’s lives together—and apart—over the various seasons of their podcast, Buffering the Vampire Slayer. From marriage to a cross-country move to divorce, additional moves, and coparenting the podcast through a new marriage, the memoir follows the highs and lows of their lives together, what was happening in the country throughout the course of their podcast, and the symbolism and analyses of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes they shared along the way and built an entire community around.

When I picked this up, I hadn’t listened to Buffering the Vampire Slayer yet but instead was drawn in from the premise of the memoir. I started watching Buffy in college with a friend and then got all the DVD sets so I could return to my favorite episodes whenever I wanted. Now, after reading segments of what Kristin and Jenny discussed on the podcast as part of the book, I want to go back and listen to the Buffering episodes (and the episodes from their podcast about Angel, too).

I was initially drawn to this book for the nostalgia factor but appreciated the funny, touching, heartbreakingly emotional backstory to the podcast as well.

Since I hadn’t listened to them before, it did take me a couple of chapters to learn to differentiate when Kristin or Jenny was speaking in the audiobook. The audiobook includes clips from some of the Buffy-themed songs they performed for their podcast—those were especially fun to listen to—and the print version includes photos. (You can download those as a PDF with the audiobook version.)

There are some appendices included after the main arc of the memoir—fun vignettes that would be easily consumed in either print or audio and tips for playing some of the podcast songs, which may be easier to follow with the audio accompaniment.

This would be a good pick for fans of their podcasts or devoted Buffy the Vampire fans looking for a nonfiction read.

3.5⭐️

I received an advance copy of the book from St. Martin’s Press and an advance copy of the audiobook from Macmillan Audio. All review opinions are my own.