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This is a general discussion about ALL our major series! We open up personally about the start of it all with the Addicted Series and the development of every series thereafter. We also take a look at future series with the Cobalt Empire. We get a little emotional and sappy in this one, but we hope you all enjoy the insight in how the sausage was and is made! Thank you so, so much to everyone who's here. As we said in the podcast, you've impacted our lives in immeasurable ways, and we're forever grateful 🥹💕

P.S. in the Father-Son Bonds podcast, we mentioned "taking a note" for what to talk about in this podcast. We totally forgot to bring up the note we wrote down, so we'll just say the note was about flashbacks! We don't have many flashbacks incorporated throughout the Like Us Series, and it's something we might put on the table to see if it works for the Cobalt Empire series.

SPOILER WARNING: We'd consider this one a spoiler-free podcast for all our books.

RESOURCES: For a complete list of all the podcasts, check out this master list of podcasts

Books Mentioned:

Like Us Series

Addicted Series

The Failed Audition

The Secret Ex-Boyfriend

Dishonestly Yours

The Raging Ones

Files

Comments

Nimasha

So excited to listen to this. I’m doing another reread of the full like us + Patreon scenes chronologically at the moment and I continue to be floored by how much this world of yours has me entire heart. Thank you ❤️

Yasti

I love long podcasts! Can’t wait to listen, thank you 💗

Illyana

This was an awesome pod! Very nostalgic going back and thinking of the times the novels were published back during the 2010s!! I wasn't really online and part of reddit and twitter fandoms when I was a teenager/ in college, so i really have so much nostalgic attachment growing up (much like yourselves!) when it comes to the addicted series! And it's awesome young folks pick up on it now with the boom of tik tok and stuff! I think though that the Like Us has so much buzz for me due to patreon and all the chit chat you cuz provide on the pods which make me reread more of the Like Us stuff. If that makes sense? Addicted I read every now and again but idk, I love Marrow so much and Lunalley and Jack and Oscar and THATCH THE MANDALORIAN (hahaha i swear i'm making this a trope!) I just love the couples and friendship groups in Like Us more in my now late 20s! I did though make a VERY conscious effort at some point to avoid the fandom online, because fandom opinions tend of oversaturate your enjoyment sometimes? I feel that way in X-Men for example! Like I don't really like ship wars and don't really respect arsonistic behaviour, and everyone can have an equal voice online, which, i think maybe is just teenagers just being sensitive, but idk... I def don't want it to reck my enjoyment? I think this happens a lot oonce books tv adapts novels, that's when the fandom reaches peak toxicity and i shy away hard.. But nah... I during quarintine when kbr books started to bloosm (pun intended ;) even more, and I remember watching some tik toks saying that if you ship x and y together, you are literally the worst human alive and you should quote 'k*ll urself* and i'm like OMG?! Like I just wanted to say, doll this is not how you speak to people * . * Or when they dismiss a book launch because it's not 'cobalt boy's book' it's like? Enjoy the era! My goodness..! I LOVEDDD THE INFAMOUS Like Us era! Where the novel and the olympics were synced up like that! I think that was my favourite book launch era thus far with Patron as well synced with all the beautiful artwork! It was all ingenius! Just generally fans need to count blessings of being alive when the best series in the universe with multiple books for each fav loved character(s) and interwining connective bonus chapters are in production! Like? :((( So yeah... Patreon for me is the only place I feel safe to engage in :)) The thing I look forward the most when it comes to the Cobalt Empire is I think as we have all grown and are now tax paying individuals and such (lol cries), I look forward to the serious tone that might come with them! So I will expect that the way they couple up and the way that they decision-make in life has a different timber and beat to the Hales which as I age i find myself growing more towards :P XD. But alas, thank god for Patreon so we won't ever feel like we leave behind the Hales and the Like Us when we enter the Cobalt Empire phase! Anyway, sorry for the rant! Morale: So much to look forward to! And whatever plots develop I am SO excited to see them develop as I know they will be fabulous! I know u feel the that Charlie Cobalt fandom pressure (as you've alluded to over the years on the various pods), but rest assured that they are just projecting their impatience and one day they will thank you in the long run for taking your time creating art, and not caving in. Caving into people's demands means that your not respecting your own and honouring the characters at will! Same goes when u have to delay a launch! It's like ! No guys! That means they're making it with extra extra TLC xx This can only mean good things! And maybe even longer books (we like them thicc ;)) (this message was so long omg)

Illyana

ALSO! In 2023! What are the fandoms on reddit that YOU most look up! Actually that would be a dope pod for all the like us characters too... omg!

Arrow

This was great. Perfect for listening while making Saturday morning pancakes. Now I’m really excited for all the upcoming books. The Cobalt Empire books sound really fun. I sort of think of them as a family of Chuck Basses with more heart. And, marketing aside, a series where the HEAs aren’t resolved until later books is a sure way to keep me reading, even through characters I’m not as excited about (although I am excited about all the Cobalts).

Andrea

MARIAS BOOK!!! so glad that’s on your radar, i know it might be a while but the fact that that and more AE books are on your short term list is amazing to hear 💖

Arrow

Also - shameless plug - I’m available if you ever need any NYC-based readers to do ARCs!

Zeynep

The Cobalt Empire plans sounds so interesting can't wait! 💙

Andrea

Omg cannot imagine just 1 book for each couple, especially when some characters got 3 & 4. Love that you go beyond the “traditional” HEA where most other authors would stop. I remember when I first read your books way back in 2014 I was like “this is such a weird format but I’m obsessed??” More than 1 book give us the chance to see so many friendships and familial relationships beyond just the main romantic relationship. Also…. Why do I think Eliot is first omg I’m so convinced it’ll be him 😂 at the end idc who goes first cause I’m looking forward to everyone but I just think it’s him

Zeynep

And her me, I'm convinced it's Beckett😭

Andrea

Please I gasped at the POV tease. I kind of love it? It was like when you sprinkled Banks POV in Sinful when no one expected it. Honestly the series seems chaotic but I 💯 am here for it. Like you said, it’s something new and fun and I love the unpredictability of it all. Love to see something new and fresh 🥰 As long as I get all the HEAs by the end of the series I’m golden (which I know you’ll deliver 😂) 💕

Andrea

Honestly maybe him too! I mostly think Eliot but a small part thinks Beckett. I just know it probably won’t be Charlie lol

Lucia

Loved the podcast, thank you so much :) Also, as Cobalts love bets I'm gonna leave mine here... I think their series is gonna start with Eliot's romance 😏.

Lucia

Yesss I think it's gonna be Eliot as well!! At first I thought it would be Beckett as him and Jo are the ones who have been teased the most (Leo is still a question mark). But I feel like he would focus way too much on ballet and wouldn't be that good to introduce the world and the family. I just think Eliot would be perfect as the drama with the Rochesters hasn't been dealt with yet and would affect him a lot, which would also be useful to show all the while Hale, meadows and cobalt family dynamics.

ann.nonymous

Honestly this is probably one of my favorite podcasts! I really like the casual convo and unscripted feel to it. All the little future hints also were fun to hear too! When you guys were talking bout the Cobalt Empire series and the potential format/plot, it reminded me a lot of Elle Kennedy’s Prep series. In that series, she has each book focus on one couple (with both leads’ POV as the main POVs of the book) but she sprinkles in other important characters POV throughout the book as well. And while each book focuses on one main couple, the series as a whole is continuous and doesn’t end on HEAs all the time. I feel like that format is kind of similar to what y’all are aiming to do with the Cobalt Empire as of rn so it might help to look into how Elle Kennedy’s team marketed that series. I’m not an expert or anything but it’s just something I noticed 🙃🙃 Side note: is Cobalt Empire the official name or just a temporary one right now?

Zeynep

I just think she wasn't introduced as much as Jo has been (and even Leo) and Beckett has the most middle ground look towards his family... but we shall see :)

ann.nonymous

Honestly same! I feel like starting with Elliot’s would be so fun and if his love story is really going to be a Romeo/Juliet type with Winnifred, that would be so fitting for the Cobalts (although this is just my speculation and not confirmed yet)

Andrea

This is true, but we also have 2 Luna books left to see more of Eliot and his love interest potentially. I will say, since they’ve teased the Cobalt series I thought Eliot would start it because they’ve more or less said it wouldn’t be Charlie as he’s the most anticipated and since Beckett is maybe in a triad it would be risky to kick start a series with him and his unconventional romance. So it left Eliot.. but with this podcast and them saying the series will be unconventional and risky I’m really not sure of anything anymore 😂 Watch them just start it with Ben who know is thinking about right now 😭

G

I understand why you guys would be worried to go back to the circus is family series but I would be so happy if you did! I know it would probably be a while if you did go back to them but do you think you would ever do any bonus scenes or a podcast on them and what they are up to? I just miss this family so much and it would be a great way to open up to roxanne’s family dynamic ❤️

Angelina (Charlies version) ♟️

Ive always thought they would write Becketts first because they seemed so interested in him and his prospective love interests and then when they wrote that bonus scene where he argues with Leo I was convinced lol

Angelina (Charlies version) ♟️

This is actually valid but im not sure Eliots antics are very entertaining though so maybe we’ll find out at some point lol

Angelina (Charlies version) ♟️

I think doing the Cobalt Empire the way you guys want to do it would be AMAZING it just fits them so well and I would love it so much 🫠🫠

Angelina (Charlies version) ♟️

no I completely agree on the fandom thing I hate when people dismiss book releases because its ‘not charlies book’ or its not a ‘cobalt brothers book’ like yeah we all wanna see that but as you said ENJOY THE ERA!!! Luna and Donnelly are one of my favorite couples of all time and the fact people would dismiss them and be ignorant about it genuinely boils my blood I stay away from the fandom mostly but on instagram the fandom ive found isnt all that toxic so thats a plus but I definitely agree on the fact that Patreon is the only completely safe place!! I cant wait for the Cobalt Empire series because COBALT BOYS!!!!! like so excited oh my god I cant wait for the (maybe) more serious and in depth tone of Cobalt Empire either!! I think people who have the audacity to demand things loose the right to request anything as soon as its a demand because thats first of all rude and second of all its not your book youre not writing it so back off yk? YES when they push back release dates its not an invitation to hate its better that way because theyre giving it the time it deserves!! Also we most definitely like them thick if they wrote a 1000 page book about all the characters doing mundane life things id read the entire thing no hesitation HAHAHAH like I wouldn’t even care how long it was because it wouldn’t matter I want as much as I can get!!!

Illyana

Angelina! (Btw lovely lovely name!) I'm deeply humbled u took the time to reply to my comment and wrote ur lovely message! I agree with every word you said <3 And I'm SO thrilled you found a online insta sub community to celebrate the kbr books on! That's the best! I used to be part of the book community on instagram (i even had a dedicated book instagram) but then... covid happened... and... i got working and that consumes all my time! I don't even have a facebook anymore because i cringe anytime i log on and see people just push MLM products... LOL! I only have a couple hours a night left and so social media wise I just reply to my personal whatsapp messages, hop on here and see if there's any new pod or bonus chapter or chatter to engage in and I think that maxes out most of my online socialising with the cheeky occasional reddit subgroup discussing how bad the current spider-man run is and see people simp of Pedro as the Mandalorian (yes i'm still obsessed haha). But yeah! People always want the next thing and are never satisfied when thy do get it. I remember people were literally pushing and throwing fits on the booktok community bashing the triad saying its not Lunalley, but then now that we have Lunanelly its not good enough and it should be X and Y and you can really never satisfy anyone! But bless 'em i was an impatient youngling as well once being all woe is me where's the new Vampire Diaries season dropping so i get it! I just think with social media bridging the gap between consumers and creators, it get very toxic very quickly. And they ruin the safe space and fandom experience Not just for the creators but also spectators seeing active people only throw such ad hominus attacks between each other! And this is prevalent though, not just within KBR but every pop culture fandom i'm a part of! Star Wars being the literal worst! I remember it was literal Civil War when I was at University when the sequel trilogy came out! Just enjoy the ride, keep sweet and positive and enjoy the era we're in right? That's why my fav pods never tend to be the ones voted that are all based on "easter eggs" about so and so couple forming, or psycho-analysing a certain couple when it's not even their era yet! I would much rather giggle and discuss what each currently already had book member's fav skin care routine is, and how each character would react to a current real-time event like the Last of Us property! Enjoy the now, Krista and Becca are the best, put expectations and egos aside and enjoy the ride... This is the Way :D <3 Anyway doll, May the Force be with you and have a lovely rest of ur saturday *fist bump and hunger games salutations back to you*

Illyana

I utterly agree doll! (P.S. I replied to your lovely message under my comment, I just don't know how notifications work, so in case you don't see that one ill flag it up here to) xx

Marie

this was one of my favourite podcasts you guys did!! also love love the idea of the cobalt empire being more of a contemporary NA with a romance aspect i think with their interpersonal relationships and how intertwined they are as a family it makes the most sense! also i find the pov idea interesting i honestly thought cobalt empire would go more in a calloway sisters series release type with like brother #1 then brother #2 brother #1 brother #2 etc style but what you guys are thinking about makes more sense actually! really excited to see where it goes

Marie

also surprised some kind of perfect wasnt a big success it’ll always hold a special place in my heart & will always be my fav book in the series i started reading addicted/calloway sisters sometime before its release so it’ll always be that special book to me 💗

Illyana

I agree with you Erin! And OMG! Drop the sat morning pancakes recipe! heheh!

Arrow

Hungry man boxed mix with mini chocolate chips. Only the best. Ha!

Sioned

🥳It’s totally going to be chaotic with a capital C but isn’t that not perfect for the cobalts!?

Sioned

OHHH you make a good point about Beckett being too focused on ballet to “properly” introduce everyone to the series 😌 Eliots also very big on family and loyalty and seems to what to be in the know! He’s also such a gossip so if he opens it we’d get tons of stories from him

a

yess please do the cobalt empire seriesas a contemporary but please we need the love intrests pov too!

Anastassia Archibald

omg I totally totally agree with what you said about the Infamous era!! Moffy and Farrow and Jack and Oscar have an extra special place in my heart but I absolutely LOVED the entire experience of the release and reading Infamous Like Us, so much so, that I think it actually may be my fav from the series (but honestly my fav book changes by the day lol). Also totally agree with the toxicity of fandoms especially on tiktok honestly I just avoid it at all cost and stick to getting my fandom fill from Patreon

Teresa

Hello Ladies, great podcast, iam really curious on what format you end up with when writing the cobalt empire series. I have read books where the two main couples POVs are central but a few other povs are sprinkled in sometimes it works if only a sprinkle not a new pov every couple of chapters, it makes the books longer and takes away from the main couple that you want to read about. Iam not entirely sure iam clear on this so I will ase in the Fizz hangout but the brothers love interests will get a POV right. I also thought like M that you would write one book for one brother the next book a different brother then go back to the other brother etc. That way it's all in the same timeline and the story keeps moving forward.

❥ Cait (The Carraway’s #1 fan)

Hehe I think it’s going to be Tom!! He’s the most Luka-esque of the Hells Kitchen boys (in terms of being the unexpected choice)🥳🥳🥳

Angelina (Charlies version) ♟️

I literally love you 🥹🥹 I have a booksta too im very dedicated but atleast 60% of my account is KBR related HAHAHA I CANT HELP IT!! and I so feel you about not having time!! I obsessively check if theres anything new posted I probably check atleast 5 times a day everyday I KNOW im certifiably obsessed 🫠 Pedro Pascal is literally everything!! YES EXACTLY you can never please those types of people and honestly I’m young and very impatient and im not over here hating on everything so tbh I don’t get it 😭 I don’t think I ever will like god stop complaining and enjoy what you have they’re humans just like you are!! No I literally remember the civil WAR online when all too well the 10 minute version was released and everyone was attacking Jake Gylanhall (aka he who shall not be named) and SAME I want my first experience with a couple/era to be ON PAGE!! so I can form my own relationship with the couple if that makes sense lol I would so much rather we discuss fun things like what would be their favourite Taylor Swift albums (I think about this FAR too much 😂) or how they’d react to so and so happening because im already thinking about it LOL definitely enjoy the now!! Ive been on a Krista and Becca binge and im now convinced they could write a math textbook and it would be amazing HAHA I feel like making expectations for things that haven’t happened is just you setting yourself up for disappointment (except for Charlies books because I definitely have expectations) I apologize in advance for the person I will become when I get to read a Charlie POV or any Cobalt boy tbh HAHA I hope YOU have a lovely rest of your whatever day you’re reading this!! *Vulcan Salute and the biggest hug back to you!!*

Angelina (Charlies version) ♟️

Im so excited for the Cobalt Boys era that I feel like I might go into cardiac arrest as soon as one comes out HAHAHAHA like I might pass out from excitement 😂😂

Angelina (Charlies version) ♟️

One more thing I forgot to say lol its so fun having convos about it with other people who aren’t like horrible HAHAH anddd thank you very much for notifying me on my other comment because I didn’t see your reply until that comment!!🖖

Chrissy

Not relevant to the podcast but I’m wondering if you guys can talk to Kindle/Audible? The audio doesn’t sync right in Thrive so it takes you to the first chapter but reads the prologue over it so the whole book is off. I love that feature because sometimes my vision goes out unexpectedly and the page blurs and this makes it so I can keep going until it comes back. Love all of your work ladies.

Sioned

Agreed!

Sioned

Slightly controversial opinion coming.. I feel like I’m dreading reading Charlie’s PoV because I/the fandom I’m part of has hyped it up so much. Don’t get me wrong I’m REALLY exited for his book but I’m thinking “what if we’ve read him all wrong.” “What if he isn’t like that at all.” Etc. I’m trying to really rid myself of all my expectations because it’ll just be my downfall 🤦‍♀️ I know the book will be great just a little scared that I’ll have created Charlie into something entirely not “him” in my head. Can anyone get that? xxx

Meaghan Wilson

I love the idea you ladies have with the Cobalt Empire. It’s different and gives us all the boys thoughts and feelings. I like that a relationship could potentially be “dragged out” instead of just being confined to “their books”. It could make for some drama, heartbreak, as well as those warm fuzzy feelings. Also I think we know that Beckett will have some strong feelings on Charlie and Roxanne since he already voiced his desire for Charlie to stay away from anyone he works with. So to be able to read about that from his POV would be so much more! Just wanted to comment that so far you girls have done no wrong with your books and keep it up!

Alexandra

This podcast got me really emotional! I read Addicted to You many years ago and I don't know why I just stopped there. Then in 2022 I discovered Damaged Like Us. While reading it Lily and Lo's addictions sounded really familiar, and then it clicked. I went back finished the Core 6 books, and afterwards I finished the Like Us Series. And here we all are in 2023. It's insane!😻

Sioned

That’s very cool and I’ve totally had the same thing we’re I read a book ages ago and then pick it up and think “uhhh this sounds like something I’ve read🤔” and then want to smack myself for not carrying on! 😂

space babe

i LOVE the concept of getting several povs, i read a lot of paranormal romance and it's pretty common for side characters (that will eventually have their main book) to have their plotline and build up their romance. nalini singh and kresley cole do that a lot!! it would be like having Lunnelly's experiment scene in Jane's book from their pov, right? or the Roxanne charlie first meeting in sulli's book from their pov?

Aranza

OMG!!! I am so exited for the Cobalt empire series. I love the idea you guys have about writing each block with the perspectives of all cobalt brothers!! It would be like Some kind of perfect and that is my absolute favorite book ever. I love you guys so much. Thanks to you I found my safe place which is the addicted universe. 😭🫶🏻

Shelby Keating

I’m dyinggggg, who’s gonna be the first cobalt boy?

Shelby Keating

It’s definitely either tom or elliot since they are Luna’s besties. I could see it being either, elliot seems more of a predictable choice but since the cobalts are so chaotic, theres no way of truly knowing.

Sioned

dying with you because we have absolutely no idea 🫠🫠

Sarah

I’m confused. Sorry guys. So is it Like the Cobalt Empire, a Xander standalone, and then the girl squad?

Lanie

OMG Maria's book!! I'll be dreaming about this from now on

Megan

I agree with a comment someone else posted, I think I like the multiple POVs idea as long as the love interest isn't left out. It would be harder to get really invested in a romance if we're only getting one side and it sounded like the love interest's POV would be very limited (that's how I interpreted it anyway)

C✨💞

Omg I LOVE the concept for the cobalt empire!! Defo makes sense and something different 🫶🏻

Katerina Warner

i am so curious to read maria’s book. her life is so different than the other kids. ahhhh makes me so excited just thinking about it

Krista & Becca Ritchie

Ooh that'd be a fun podcast topic!!! I think the biggest fandoms we're on reddit/listening to podcasts for are actually reality tv shows: Survivor & The Challenge! They've just been life-long tv shows for us! ~ B

Krista & Becca Ritchie

Cobalt Empire is likely to be the official series name, but we haven't confirmed or announced anything just yet

Krista & Becca Ritchie

We'll make a note of this! We're not sure how much we can do on our end (we might've already let them know of the issue in the past -- I'll have to doublecheck with Krista), but it wouldn't hurt to remind them again.

Krista & Becca Ritchie

Yes, it'd be a lot like having Luna or Donnelly POV's pop in during that moment in Tangle Like Us -- that's the initial idea anyway! When we write, anything might change shape depending on what feels right to us ☺️

Krista & Becca Ritchie

We're totally in the idea stage of everything, so nothing is set in stone until we start writing. We haven't really settled on Xander, whether it'd be a series or standalone, or whether the girl squad would be a series of standalones. In this podcast, we're just talking about different options for what could happen.

space babe

that is so cool!! i hope you can make it work!! fingers crossed 🤞🤞🤞 you've got this!💖💖

hannah

Just read the Circus is Family books, they were SO GOOD! Can’t wait for what comes next, love the ideas y’all threw around for the future! Cobalt Empire, A Like Us Catch up book intertwined, more circus is family, etc… I’ll take them all! ❤️

hannah

The more I listen about your ideas for Cobalt Empire, the more I love them!! It sounds like a fun way to read about them and their lives/loves! That style would be so interesting to read together!

Rachael

I love Long Way Down, it is one of my go to addicted/Calloway sisters reread!

linzifer13

Pleaseeee write more in the circus is family series! I adore these books so much and would love to read more about all the characters. Especially Timo, Katya and Camila!

Phoebe

OMG ME TOO! Starting today, hopefully will be finished by NLU

Rachel

I'm still SO CONFUSED when you talk about people not liking Long Way Down 💀💀 that was maybe my fave book in the whole Addicted Series, I LOVED it !!!

Flicka

Somehow I missed this podcast back in 2023 but I think this might be my favorite 🥹

Flicka

When you guys said the addicted characters wanted a better life for their kids and when you started LU you feel like you got that too 🥹

Flicka

Honestly this is a lot better than a General Discussion this is your origin story! If you guys ever make a ‘get to know us’ folder for new Patreons I feel like you should include this 💕💕💕