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.

This is a book for fans of not only Buffy the Vampire Slayer but specifically of the podcast Buffering the Vampire Slayer. I haven't watched Buffy and didn't know this podcast existed until seeing this book was coming out. There wasn't a nostalgia factor for me here but even given that, I teared up multiple times from their story, be it the divorce and how each of them were hurting or how amazingly supportive the Scoobies were.

I laughed. I cried. And I felt so happy about queer community by the end. I am so happy to have the chance to listen to this audiobook as a huge fan of the Buffering podcast. About halfway through, I found myself texting my friends who aren't fans of it or Buffy to keep an eye out of this book because there is a lot of great details here for anyone.

While Kirstin Russo and Jenny Owen Youngs walk us through some Buffy love and behind the scenes details about Buffering, they also discuss a vulnerable part of their lives about what it is like to be a queer couple struggling with pregnancy and a miscarriage. I found myself sobbing in this part not because of loss but also the individuals within their queer community who came together. They also discussed what it's like to go through a very public divorce while trying to keep everything together not necessarily for their audience but the queer community they brought together.

There is so much love here, I had to tell everyone about it. I also love all things Buffy and am glad I got a little extra out of my favorite podcast with some Buffy takes in this memoir.

I watched Buffy back in the day (with my Superfan mom of all people), but I haven’t watched in 20 years and I definitely haven’t listened to this podcast. I am, though, a huge fan of basically any memoir and this book is an excellent revisiting of these two formerly-married, Buffy-superfan podcast hosts and their lives throughout the creating of what appears to have been a hit.
The audio version of this book is especially important since the hosts wrote songs for every episode and preform quite a few of them throughout the narration. And even having no familiarity with these two women, I related so much to their passion for a TV show, for each other, for the political climate in the past years, and their cross-country moves throughout adulthood.
I’m sure anyone who listened to this podcast will fully love this book. It makes me sad that I wasn’t a part of this community while it was active, but I’m happy for the joy I can feel radiating throughout this book.

slayers

This is absolutely for fans of Buffy! if you haven’t watched or read any Buffy, i don’t think you would enjoy this as much. it would still be a great time though!

this audio read to me like a podcast (they have one) and it was great! listening to the authors read this book was truly a great experience. i have never listened to their podcast.

i love all things Buffy, so i immediately requested this book because of that. i will say it is on me and not the authors for how this read. i should have read more about it before requesting. i was thinking it was a cute YA about slayers, but I was wrong. if that’s what you are looking for, this is not for you!

thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an audio ARC of this book

Recommended for any fans of Buffering. This book (narrated by our beloved Kristin and Jenny) dives deeper into their personal lives, relationship, divorce, and podcast-making. It's a sometimes heart-wrenching look behind the scenes of my personal favorite podcast. Always a delight to spend time with these women. I respect their vulnerability and honesty in telling their story - grateful they shared it with us.

Thank you MacMillan audio and St Martins Press for the review copies of Slayers, every one of us. I am a long term, watched the show when it was originally on. Buffy fan so this was a big treat for me! I will say it might have resonated more if I was familiar with the podcast, so readers consider your level of buffy familiarity and/or podcast engagement, but once I got into the Buffy focus this was really fun and reminded me why this show is an enduring favorite, and why it matters to many. I pause now to go rewatch the show AGAIN for at least a fifth or sixth time. :)

SLAYERS, EVERY ONE OF US was a fantastic audiobook and I loved getting to know more about Kristin and Jenny, their relationship, and all things Buffy. I can't give enough kudos to Kristin and Jenny for sharing their story with the world. My husband kept popping in to listen with me and asking questions about what was happening, haha. "They got divorced?! And they still hosted the podcast together?! Whaaaa?" I have had BUFFERING songs stuck in my head for days and am not mad about it.

4 out of 5 Stars

A great nonfiction listen for fans of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer universe. Ten out of ten would recommend.

I have watched Buffy since the last century. And I have listened to the Buffering Podcast since the beginning. While I was not an active part of the community that Kristin and Jenny "accidentally" created, it still took me through good and bad times.
And Buffy, let's be honest, is a show I will never stop watching.
This audiobook, narrated by the authors/hosts themselves, is a deep insight into their lives since the first thought of doing a podcast about this show. And while Buffy fought, won, lost, died and came back, so did they (kinda, they not literally died of course) .
Kristin and Jenny don't hold back telling us about their life, from standing in the sun to the abyss of the Hellmouth itself.
It really moved me, and I found myself uncontrollably sobbing at one point (the part with the phrase that gave the book its name).
Thank you for always fighting and not crumbling in the face of demons.

4/5 stars

Thank you @netgalley and @macmillan.audio and @bufferingcast for the eARC!

#SlayersEveryOneOfUs #Buffy #Netgalley #Bookstagram

Slayers Every one of Us by Kristin Russo and Jenny Owen Youngs
Audio Version
Overall Grade: A-
Information: A-
Writing/Organization: B+
Narration: AB+
Best Aspect: Equal parts memoir of the authors and conversations on Buffy the Vampire Slayer were enjoyed.
Worst Aspect: I could have used more Buffy and I had never heard their podcast so I couldn’t relate to it when mentioned.
Recommend: Yes.

I chose to read this mostly because I’m watching Buffy for the first time (I didn’t watch much tv when I was a kid!). I didn’t listen to the podcast, but I want to even though it’s over.

This book was just wonderful. I loved how she tied Buffy in with the ways life takes us, the great, the bad, the ugly. I felt so connected with the author, and just had sooo many feelings.

Even if you’ve never watched Buffy or listened to the pod, I’m sure you’ll love this book.

PS - love the mention of Lagusta’s Luscious chocolate as a New Paltzer… it is indeed the best chocolate. :)

Entertaining and engaging. A recommended purchase for collections where pop culture and memoir are popular.

When I first seen the cover and the title Slayers I had to know what this was about. I was fortunate enough to get an ebook and audiobook arc for this. I really enjoyed this memoir. I had never heard of this podcast before and I absolutely will be checking it out after this. I liked that they were able to connect episodes of Buffy to their life events. Also, in the narration they included their original songs and the production were fantastic. Def check it out if you're a fan of memoirs.

Thank you @macmillan.audio @netgalley @stmartinspress for the gifted arcs.-Ash

Although I've known about this podcast, Buffering, I hadn't listened to it yet. After reading this book I have moved it up way up on my to-be-listened list.

I came into the Buffy fandom in my early twenties once it was streaming on Netflix and I was immediately hooked -- like I dressed up as Buffy for Halloween that year.

I loved revisiting Buffy through the lens of Jenny and Kristin and learning about their personal lives. You two had NO right making me tear up so many times. And because I hadn't listened to the podcast before, I didn't know there were songs. Buffy themed songs!!! They are incredible and I instantly added it to my Spotify list.

If you have the chance of listening to the audio it is for sure the way to go. It's narrated by Jenny and Kristin and some of the songs are included.
The physical copy has some super cute doodle and chord sheets (which I believe is also available as a pdf with the audio)

Buffering the Vampire Slayer, the podcast that this book surrounds, has been one of my favorite podcasts for the past six years. I can remember specific moments so vividly via listening to it: the author's divorce? I was laying in the bed at my apartment in disbelief, the first time I heard Prophecy Girl? At my old job trying very hard not to cry. They are still in my ears with their new podcast adventure the eX-Files. Yet, despite loving this podcasting duo, I wouldn't say I'm a die hard fan, I don't subscribe to the Patreon, go to live events, or even follow them on socials. Hell, I don't listen to any of Youngs's other music outside what she writes for the podcast. Despite all this, and much to my surprise, I loved this. I mean I knew I would like it, but I didn't expect to be sobbing while listening to it. Not only did it tug on my heart strings, but it was incredibly well written. I saw a few reviews that rated it low due to it not focusing enough on Buffy proper, but I thought it was fairly evident that this was a recounting of what the show meant to these women through the context of their podcast; So I thought that was a pretty unfair critic. This is a love letter to their community, and I for one felt the love.
The audiobook format is the superior way to experience this book due to them being podcasters, and I loved all the song elements that were included. It’s a fun way to make the audiobook experience special and different from the physical book experience.