This book was part memoir, part cultural analysis and poignant and timely release, considering that nearly the entire first chapter is devoted to their feelings around the 2016 election. The fact that this book is getting released so soon after the re-election of the administration feels like too much of a coincidence. There are a lot of people out there who will need the messages shared in that opening chapter.

Anytime you love a show like Buffy, people can easily dismiss it as frivolous. This book explains why people have such strong attachments to these shows and how they can help people as they go through hard times. I felt for the authors as they described they way Buffy carried them through their losses.

I also recommend anyone who wants to read this book goes for the audiobook. It is read by both of the authors, and having their voices added to their respective perspectives on different scenarios personalized the whole thing. Also, this book is dotted with songs from the podcast, and listening to a recorded version has a stronger impact than just reading printed lyrics.

This one was a DNF for me, which I hardly ever do. I went into this thinking that there would actually be substantial talk about my favorite show. Whether that be commentary on the show itself, fan theories, or talk about the actors themselves. The first forty minutes of this was just them covering politics, which gives me major ick no matter what side you choose to vote on. A whole forty minutes spent on talking and comparing a presidential election to Buffy fighting the Master. Which is such a far fetched comparison. I'm not political at all, though I do vote on the left side of things, and I hate when books are so watered down with that topic. That was the absolute wrong way to start off a book on such a prolific and beloved show. The next little bit was their personal lives and finding more far fetched ways to compare a teacher seducing and eating teen boys to their own personal struggles. The random interludes of singing was also a little off putting. I'm sure for fans of their podcast that this is going to have some great reviews. But it just wasn't for me. I wanted talk on the show itself and a different perspective. If I would have realized that it was basically just a memoir of two divorcees using the Buffy the Vampire Slayer name to entice people into buying/reading this, I never would have requested it.

I have absolutely no idea how Slayers, Every One of Us will play for people who don't listen to Buffering and haven't spent years getting to know Kristin and Jenny via audio, but I had a great time with it. I kept getting teary and having all these sad small cries that were over in like five seconds*. I started keeping track of them and had about six by the end of the book. As of fan of their podcast from literally day one (I have no memory where I heard about it; probably someone on gay Twitter), this was both like stepping back in time as they relived the early days, and seeing behind the curtain.

*I mostly cried at the way they talked about Buffy and what stories can mean in everyday life, but there were certain real life moments for Kristin and Jenny that made get choked up, too.

An important warning: Absolutely do not read this book unless you don't care about being spoiled for the entire plot of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (it's beyond me why you would want to read this book with no interest in Buffy, but hey, you do you). The whole point of the book is that their podcast journey through the TV show eerily mirrored Buffy's journey, so they talk about it all.

I think if you like audio, the audiobook is the way to go, because a good part of this book is spent on talking about the songs Kristin and Jenny wrote for the podcast, in various contexts, and clips from the songs (and sometimes the entire song) are included in the audiobook. A lot more fun than reading lyrics in a book. Kristin and Jenny read the audio themselves, in an almost duet fashion, and I actually listened to an audiobook on 1.0x speed for the first time in forever because I'm used to hearing them speak at a certain speed and it was really throwing me off to have them at 1.25x or 1.5x. Presumably this won't be a problem other people have. Even listening on a slower speed, I managed to listen to this whole thing in one day.

I do have a hard copy of this book coming, which I'm glad for, because I think they included exclusive content in each format, and I want to look at the pictueres.

Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for an early audiobook copy of Slayers, Every One of Us! 💖
This book was really interesting! it had a combination of pop culture from Buffy the Vampire Slayer mixed with political issues, relationship changes (romantic to friends), and music.
Although, I will say, this book was not what I expected... This book was 100% memoir. While it had some aspects of Buffy, it was more about the narrators/creators of the Buffering the Vampire Slayer podcast who were the authors and narrators of this book. BUT I did think it was really cool that the musical aspect from the podcast was included in the audiobook! (buttttt this was also a pro and a con because if you listen to the audiobook at any speed other than 1X, the audio gets really distorted and lets just say, it sounds pretty funny)! Also, there's a lot of references to an included PDF that kind of stops the story but they do a pretty good job of making the story work and flow even without that information!
This book was good and would be great for those who wanted this memoir and not necessarily a "what we learned from Buffy" style book! This was a very interesting insight into a podcasting duo and their story!

Though I got the audio and the ebook from NetGalley, the audio is the only version I did. Music by Jenny Owen Young’s was included which really added to the overall feel of the audiobook. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook.

I was familiar with Kristin Russo and Jenny Owen Young’s as I listened to the 5 years later updated podcast of Kristin’s (with Joanna Robinson), The Boiler Room. KR and JOY’s Buffering podcast was referenced so I was aware it existed and who the hosts are. I hadn’t listened though so I didn’t know some details. Being a Buffy fan, though not a diehard like my sister, I was familiar with many of the references and enjoyed learning about Kristin and Jenny’s relationship.

This book is definitely not for you if you don’t know Buffy. I’m also on the fence about recommending if it you truly don’t care to learn about Kristin and Jenny. If you don’t know them but are a Buffy fan, I think you’d enjoy it.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ALC for review.

As a life long loved of Buffy, I was excited for this book! It was beautifully written and great story. I loved the inclusion of the music. I can't wait to dig into the podcast!

I thought that I would enjoy this book more but I couldn't get into it at all and I LOVE Buffy! Unfortunately I couldn't get interested in it.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

I received a free copy of the audiobook, Slayers, Every One of Us by Kristin Russo and Jenny Owen Youngs, from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. It felt like jumping into a time machine and landing right back in my Buffy-obsessed teenage years — but with even more heart, humor, and friendship. You can feel the love and fun they had creating this audiobook in every moment, and it’s absolutely infectious. Kristin and Jenny’s chemistry is undeniable, making it feel less like you’re listening to a production and more like you’re right there with them on this wild and nostalgic adventure.

This wasn’t just an audiobook — it was a journey. The way they intertwined the Buffyverse with their own personal connections to the show made me feel like I was reliving my own Buffy memories alongside them. There were so many moments that tugged at my heartstrings, made me laugh out loud, and left me feeling deeply connected — not only to the story but to Kristin and Jenny themselves.

If you’ve ever loved Buffy the Vampire Slayer or simply adore storytelling that’s rich with passion, nostalgia, and genuine joy — this audiobook is a must-listen. It’s like a love letter to the fandom and a reminder of the power stories have to bring us together. I didn’t just listen; I felt it. Every single one of us.