This! The hustle culture and the need to constantly be following trends, posting, etc. caused my burnout I think. I just don’t make art like that. I tried and it was not sustainable long term.
@weirdobookclub the burnout is real. Art is also my main thing for having fun, relaxing, or processing emotions so it can create a bit of an issue with doing constant content too. I haven't posted in forever because I've been working so much and now it's even harder to get into it.
Hello, fellow old and medium smart here. The algorithm thought I needed a break from the news and recommended your channel. I'm very happy about that. You rock, and your content is bringing me so much happiness these days. Thanks for putting yourself out there and solidarity in the ADHD/depression battle, keep up the fight friend, you've got this!
Oh my god Credence- Another booktuber that I adore reviewed it and honestly, can't wait for your take on it. I only watch a few booktubers and you all have a special place in my heart for the amount of things you end up reading for us 💗Loved the whole q&a, you did an amazing job. All my love to you and your family
I definitely think the need to know "why" is a neurospicy thing! I feel that in my soul! I also can't just accept "welp, that's just the way it is!" I know we aren't supposed to say it back but I ❤ you (not creepy and respectfully). I don't even read or like romance books but hearing you talk about them is hysterical and a joy in my day. Thank you!
I love your channel and watch every single video and I loved getting to hear more about you! As a 23 year old feminist woman that still wants children one day but wonders where that will fit into my life and my values, you are so inspirational to me. Obviously I don't know you personally, but you seem like such a wonderful friend, mother, partner, and person. I am glad to hear that you are doing okay, but I hope that you have lots of bright days coming in the near future! P.s. I was tearing up at you talking about making the poetry book for your grandmother. Genuinely one of the most heartwarming things I have heard. hang in there
You pass a major milestone and we get a gift?? Amazing - congratulations!! You deserve all of this success and more, thank you for continuing to share such great content with us all ❤❤❤
I’m bad about commenting on here (I always watch you on my tv while cross stitching lol) but I am just so glad my wife found you this past summer. My wife is pregnant and we’re expecting our first and only child in April and I can’t wait to binge more of your rant reviews while hanging with my baby. You’re just very genuine and sweet, and between your advice about being a mom and hearing about your grandpa (I lost my grandma earlier this year) I cried like three times LOL. I had more thoughtful things to say but they’ve all quickly left my brain. Just happy to have your videos in my life!! ❤️❤️❤️
J.R Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood really kickstarted my vampire obsession and to this day it’s the one series I go back to when I’m in a massive rut but want to read
As a fellow bi person, I was extremely called out by the iced oat milk latte comment. Also thank you for the lovely and touching discussion of being bi
Nathalie, I have to say that I really relate to you and also admire you a lot, I deeply feel connected with your taste in books since I love disturbing and weird books but I’ve also struggled with depression all my life and I dropped out of college bc I didn’t bother paying attention and that was probably due to my untreated mental issues. I love that I’ve come across your channel this year since you have no idea how much I relate to you “ I’m medium smart “ that really made me laugh girl😅 you’re an incredible content creator, I never get bored with you and I hope you all of the best for this new year🎉 keep going, you’re incredible!❤
Hot chocolate is really easy to make from scratch: 1 mug of milk (or milk alternative of choice) 2-3 tablespoons of cocoa powder an equal amount of sugar Heat in a pot on the stove and mix until it’s well combined. You can also add vanilla, cinnamon, peppermint, or whatever else you want!
Ohhh I knew it! You ADHD like me. Discovered your channel about two weeks ago and I told myself she's literally me 12 years into the future, I think you very creative and with your energy and enjoyment we can feel that, you really enjoy making content. I'm ADHD bipolar I really feel you I do not have a husband or children so I can imagine what you going through. I'm a writer myself mostly fantasy and I accidentally found here a way to learn how to absolutely not...never ever tell stories, in a fun way this channel became my new hyper fixation ahahhaha got me watching them one hour two hours videos really feeling like I'm gossiping with a friend.
41:38 LMAOO stop this is too relatable. I literally just read ice planet barbarians and the surprise pregnancy made me wanna 💀 but why am I hypocrite because I also lived that trope irl? 🤡
I’m listening to you talk about not having great romances you’ve read and I HIGHLY recommend getting into some queer romances. I hate toxic straight men being glamorized and often I see more equal footing between the leads in queer romance.
Out of all the content creators I watch, I think it brings me the most joy to see *you* thrive. I think I just relate to you on so many random personal tidbits you’ve shared about yourself. And I too, am old and medium smart. 🥰
Oh man this is the best video! Congratulations on 25k Megan! Thank you for sharing yourself with us! I have been watching your videos for a while now and I just love you!
Subscribing was a decision born of a few seconds but after watching several of your vids, i put the bell on so I'd see each new one on release ^~^ i only have perhaps a dozen channels belled, maybe a few more that are highly infrequent uploaders, but yeah your work and passion and personality is loved by both me and my partner ❤
I just finished my finals for grad school and this was the perfect post test treat. Your videos have helped keep me sane this semester and I can’t wait to see what you do next! 💕
I TORE through Ghosteaters by Clay McLeod Chapman after seeing your recommendation in this video. I am obsessed. Thank you for being the voice on my second computer monitor making me laugh for this past year! Cheers to all the more success for you in 2025.
46:09 I’m always recommending “Project Hail Mary” by Andy Weir because it 100000% lives up to the hype. I’ve also been getting into John Scalzi books and he writes pretty humorous sci-fi. I’ve heard good things about “Dark Matter” by Blake Crouch as well. If you know the NYC area and like super bizarre sci-fi, I recommend the Great Cities duology by NK Jemisin!
Historical horror fiction that's also dire circumstances in an isolated snowy setting: The Terror by Dan Simmons. I thought it was fantastic although admittedly it's been years since I read it so not sure how it would hold up. And yay, congrats on 25k!!!
Oh my goodness it's SO funny to me that it was the Ravenhood series that got you into this. I read it because I legit thought it was bird omegaverse and I had to know how that worked. Took until the end of the first book to realize that they were just boring human gang members hahah
I'm a Reylo shipper, and I have both read (and written) Reylo fanfic. I'm an AO3 girlie, but it's nice to hear a BookTuber admit to reading some of the fic that's out there!
Can’t recommend it yet but I’m working my way through the Stoker awards and right now I’m reading The Reformatory and Ararat. The Reformatory is historical horror, it’s already got me worried.
I love your vids and i hope Beans can live in comfort for the rest of their days ❤ im transfem enby pan and i love my cat Jenny so much, shes a midnight cat who i had long before i even took up wandcarving and being a witch ^~^ may you and all you love be comfortable and fulfilled 💖✨🌿🌞
When you described what you thought dark romance would be at 27:32 it reminded me of one of my favorite/most tolerable sub-genres of dark romance (which might not even be a real thing but something I like), “revenge plot dark romance”. So the couple isn’t toxic with each other as far as stalking or 🍇. For example Sick Fux by Tillie Cole (uses some Alice in Wonderland themes too), or Mindf*ck by S.T. Abby. They’re both pretty gory and violent, might be fair to call them justifiable horror or something since it’s childhood victims of horrific crime avenging what happened to them. Sick Fux is more gory, probably. The gore literally seeps over in to the shmexy times. However! That Sik Luv by Jescie Hall is trash, it’s in this sub-genre and would make a good rant review. There are religious themes done poorly. The male lead is often compared to Zade and the BookTok girlies went nuts for that book. 🤮
i have to recommend anything by Hailey Piper (shout out to Queen of Teeth and The Worm and its Kings) and Leech by Hiron Ennes! Some of my favorite queer horror❤
What sort of books were on the list that people read to you when you were younger? I have a niece who just turned 1 a few days ago and would be interested in recommendations to read to her :)
I don’t know how much these count as morbid nonfiction (more of just incredible memoirs tbh), but I think you might enjoy Daughter of Gloriaveil by Lilia Tarawa and Sex Cult Nun by Faith Jones. They’re about these women’s experiences being born and raised in the Gloriaveil and Children of God cults respectively. They’re both pretty heavy as you’d expect, but I think Sex Cult Nun is distinctly harder to get through on account of everything Jones went through. Cannot suggest enough though; both Jones and Tarawa are incredible writers
I may have already said this so I apologize, but if you are interested in historical fiction recommendations I really loved Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys.
If you do decide to do a romance thing in search of a five star in 2025 I would suggest Forget Me Not by Julie Soto, Haven by Rebekah Weatherspoon, and Seven Days in June by Tia Williams. Funny enough they’re all BIPOC authors (at least one queer identifying as well). That wasn’t intentional when I chose them. But I wonder if that’s why I liked them, there was something different enough from a lot of the other romance out there.
58:43 my fave number is also 13 bc i was born on the 13th and every time my birthday falls on a Friday i have ✨ extra luck ✨ take that superstition lol
29:35 I don’t know if you would rant or rave about it, but either way I’d love to see a video from you about the book “Butcher and Blackbird”. It certainly has its gross scenes (both main characters are serial killers), but for a dark romance I thought it was steps in the right direction, ESPECIALLY in terms of consent between them both while incorporating bdsm.
There’s nothing wrong with grading things on a scale. I personally have the Schaech scale - Johnathon Schaech is hot and was in the absolute worst movie I’ve ever seen, so all his movies get graded relative to that. Road House 2? Terrible, but not the worst. (Frankly, the only good movie he had a big role in was That Thing You Do, although I have a soft spot for the Doom Generation)
It is actually insane to me that you only have 25k subs bc you’re videos are absolutely unhinged ❤ immaculate content comrade you deserve all the kudos 🫡
TEARS OF TESS BY PEPPER WINTERS. IF YOU WANNA UNCOVER A GOOD DARK ROMANCE WITH A MORALLY GREY CHARACTER NOT BLACK LOL. Consent and a heartbreaking story, real character development and well-handled BDSM dynamics. TEARS OF TESS.
25k well deserved after Haunting and Hunting Adeline. You are the real megalodon
ahhhhhh apex predator of terrible books!
6:40 “I am old and medium smart” PLEASE make that a shirt lmao I am dead
Amending this to add “I love blasphemy” hahahahah
I’m old and medium smart in the front, I love blasphemy in the back!
@ a double whammy, my body is ready 😂
Ooh girl, that untreated ADHD struggle on top of depression is so real! lol I feel that
"life by a thousand joys" is such a beautiful phrase i love it so much!! Literally tearing up at it
Adhd, depression and executive dysfunction gang ✨ I'm a professional illustrator and I hate the having to be consistent with content part of the job.
This! The hustle culture and the need to constantly be following trends, posting, etc. caused my burnout I think. I just don’t make art like that. I tried and it was not sustainable long term.
@weirdobookclub the burnout is real. Art is also my main thing for having fun, relaxing, or processing emotions so it can create a bit of an issue with doing constant content too. I haven't posted in forever because I've been working so much and now it's even harder to get into it.
Hi! I need an illustrator. How can I get in touch with u?
Hello, fellow old and medium smart here. The algorithm thought I needed a break from the news and recommended your channel. I'm very happy about that. You rock, and your content is bringing me so much happiness these days.
Thanks for putting yourself out there and solidarity in the ADHD/depression battle, keep up the fight friend, you've got this!
Oh my god Credence- Another booktuber that I adore reviewed it and honestly, can't wait for your take on it. I only watch a few booktubers and you all have a special place in my heart for the amount of things you end up reading for us 💗Loved the whole q&a, you did an amazing job. All my love to you and your family
Lexi’s review of it?? I am so ready to compare the two reviews lol
@@Meg_Sprite yessss! Lexi’s! I’m in the same boat lol, so excited to see and compare
I definitely think the need to know "why" is a neurospicy thing! I feel that in my soul! I also can't just accept "welp, that's just the way it is!" I know we aren't supposed to say it back but I ❤ you (not creepy and respectfully). I don't even read or like romance books but hearing you talk about them is hysterical and a joy in my day. Thank you!
congrats nat on the 25k, two years definitely go by so fast but im proud of you always 💞
I love your channel and watch every single video and I loved getting to hear more about you! As a 23 year old feminist woman that still wants children one day but wonders where that will fit into my life and my values, you are so inspirational to me. Obviously I don't know you personally, but you seem like such a wonderful friend, mother, partner, and person. I am glad to hear that you are doing okay, but I hope that you have lots of bright days coming in the near future!
P.s. I was tearing up at you talking about making the poetry book for your grandmother. Genuinely one of the most heartwarming things I have heard.
hang in there
You pass a major milestone and we get a gift?? Amazing - congratulations!! You deserve all of this success and more, thank you for continuing to share such great content with us all ❤❤❤
I’m bad about commenting on here (I always watch you on my tv while cross stitching lol) but I am just so glad my wife found you this past summer. My wife is pregnant and we’re expecting our first and only child in April and I can’t wait to binge more of your rant reviews while hanging with my baby. You’re just very genuine and sweet, and between your advice about being a mom and hearing about your grandpa (I lost my grandma earlier this year) I cried like three times LOL. I had more thoughtful things to say but they’ve all quickly left my brain. Just happy to have your videos in my life!! ❤️❤️❤️
J.R Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood really kickstarted my vampire obsession and to this day it’s the one series I go back to when I’m in a massive rut but want to read
As a fellow bi person, I was extremely called out by the iced oat milk latte comment. Also thank you for the lovely and touching discussion of being bi
Iced oat milk latte supremacy 🏳️🌈🖤
Nathalie, I have to say that I really relate to you and also admire you a lot, I deeply feel connected with your taste in books since I love disturbing and weird books but I’ve also struggled with depression all my life and I dropped out of college bc I didn’t bother paying attention and that was probably due to my untreated mental issues. I love that I’ve come across your channel this year since you have no idea how much I relate to you “ I’m medium smart “ that really made me laugh girl😅 you’re an incredible content creator, I never get bored with you and I hope you all of the best for this new year🎉 keep going, you’re incredible!❤
Hot chocolate is really easy to make from scratch:
1 mug of milk (or milk alternative of choice)
2-3 tablespoons of cocoa powder
an equal amount of sugar
Heat in a pot on the stove and mix until it’s well combined. You can also add vanilla, cinnamon, peppermint, or whatever else you want!
THANK YOU!!! I thought I was the only one who felt that way about The School for Good Mothers. 😂
Ohhh I knew it! You ADHD like me. Discovered your channel about two weeks ago and I told myself she's literally me 12 years into the future, I think you very creative and with your energy and enjoyment we can feel that, you really enjoy making content. I'm ADHD bipolar I really feel you I do not have a husband or children so I can imagine what you going through. I'm a writer myself mostly fantasy and I accidentally found here a way to learn how to absolutely not...never ever tell stories, in a fun way this channel became my new hyper fixation ahahhaha got me watching them one hour two hours videos really feeling like I'm gossiping with a friend.
41:38 LMAOO stop this is too relatable. I literally just read ice planet barbarians and the surprise pregnancy made me wanna 💀 but why am I hypocrite because I also lived that trope irl? 🤡
ME TOO! …twice. Maybe that’s why we don’t like it 💀
I’m listening to you talk about not having great romances you’ve read and I HIGHLY recommend getting into some queer romances. I hate toxic straight men being glamorized and often I see more equal footing between the leads in queer romance.
Out of all the content creators I watch, I think it brings me the most joy to see *you* thrive. I think I just relate to you on so many random personal tidbits you’ve shared about yourself.
And I too, am old and medium smart. 🥰
Old & Medium Smart Folks RISE UP
Oh man this is the best video! Congratulations on 25k Megan! Thank you for sharing yourself with us! I have been watching your videos for a while now and I just love you!
Subscribing was a decision born of a few seconds but after watching several of your vids, i put the bell on so I'd see each new one on release ^~^ i only have perhaps a dozen channels belled, maybe a few more that are highly infrequent uploaders, but yeah your work and passion and personality is loved by both me and my partner ❤
I just finished my finals for grad school and this was the perfect post test treat. Your videos have helped keep me sane this semester and I can’t wait to see what you do next! 💕
On the topic of queer shows and TV recs - Our Flag Means Death. Workplace comedy + queer romcom meets historical pirate dramedy?
I TORE through Ghosteaters by Clay McLeod Chapman after seeing your recommendation in this video. I am obsessed. Thank you for being the voice on my second computer monitor making me laugh for this past year! Cheers to all the more success for you in 2025.
I didn't have the Fear Street books, but my sister and I absolutely devoured Christopher Pike books. Especially the Last Vampire series. Recommend.
I needed that mom pep talk as I sit here watching my 2 yr old pick his nose with a crayon. Thank you ❤
1:07:56 I am going to IMPLODE. 😭🖤THE INTENSITY OF THE ACCENT. THE WAY YOU JUST SOMERSAULTED STRAIGHT OFF THE DAMN BED OMFGGGGG 😭
I’ve always been this girl. Still am!
@@weirdobookclub congrats on growing up to be that tall! live your dreams queen ✨🖤
I can only compare your videos to sitting by the fire in a cosy blanket with a cup of hot chocolate
Congrats on 25k!!! Life by a thousand joys is my new favorite phrase 😭🩷 I loved this Q&A
Yeah BANKS!!!!!
46:09 I’m always recommending “Project Hail Mary” by Andy Weir because it 100000% lives up to the hype. I’ve also been getting into John Scalzi books and he writes pretty humorous sci-fi. I’ve heard good things about “Dark Matter” by Blake Crouch as well. If you know the NYC area and like super bizarre sci-fi, I recommend the Great Cities duology by NK Jemisin!
happy 25k diva i hope we can get a november 9 review in the future i think that would be hilarious
Congratulations!!! 🫶🫶🫶
Historical horror fiction that's also dire circumstances in an isolated snowy setting: The Terror by Dan Simmons. I thought it was fantastic although admittedly it's been years since I read it so not sure how it would hold up.
And yay, congrats on 25k!!!
Oh my goodness it's SO funny to me that it was the Ravenhood series that got you into this. I read it because I legit thought it was bird omegaverse and I had to know how that worked. Took until the end of the first book to realize that they were just boring human gang members hahah
You hoping it was bird omegaverse is killing me omfg 😂
Congrats, Natalie! I'm so happy for you omg ❤
Thank you so freaking much 🥹
I'm a Reylo shipper, and I have both read (and written) Reylo fanfic. I'm an AO3 girlie, but it's nice to hear a BookTuber admit to reading some of the fic that's out there!
25k!!!!! SO EXCITING!
I can't believe it!
NM - Is there anything you need to help Beans? Poor baby is too snuggly to be hurting. 😢
I did make a little wishlist for him just in case anyone wanted to send him something fun. www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/34EGHX7C30D0B?ref_=wl_share
fear street gang let's gooooo
ADHD and struggling to find a mic that works well but is not complicated is too weirdly close to home 😂 Congrats on 25k!!!
20:37 the book behind right behind you HAHAHAH omg I feel so seen
Can’t recommend it yet but I’m working my way through the Stoker awards and right now I’m reading The Reformatory and Ararat.
The Reformatory is historical horror, it’s already got me worried.
I love your vids and i hope Beans can live in comfort for the rest of their days ❤ im transfem enby pan and i love my cat Jenny so much, shes a midnight cat who i had long before i even took up wandcarving and being a witch ^~^ may you and all you love be comfortable and fulfilled 💖✨🌿🌞
Congrats on 25k!! Also loving that you said you started booktube on accident 😂
I stumble into these things, it’s wild. Thank youuuuu
Slewfoot my beloved ❤
49:11 You should read the book “Where Are Your Boys Tonight?” that is an oral history of emo music! I learned a lot.
I loved the "Megan movies" 😂 ❤
U r spectacular n make me laugh! I'm a pansexual mother of a few Siamese. Our artistic queer communities are the best! Keep up the good work
When you described what you thought dark romance would be at 27:32 it reminded me of one of my favorite/most tolerable sub-genres of dark romance (which might not even be a real thing but something I like), “revenge plot dark romance”. So the couple isn’t toxic with each other as far as stalking or 🍇. For example Sick Fux by Tillie Cole (uses some Alice in Wonderland themes too), or Mindf*ck by S.T. Abby. They’re both pretty gory and violent, might be fair to call them justifiable horror or something since it’s childhood victims of horrific crime avenging what happened to them. Sick Fux is more gory, probably. The gore literally seeps over in to the shmexy times.
However! That Sik Luv by Jescie Hall is trash, it’s in this sub-genre and would make a good rant review. There are religious themes done poorly. The male lead is often compared to Zade and the BookTok girlies went nuts for that book. 🤮
When I'm having a particularly bad day, and I have time to, I take a nice 30-minute nap.
I kinda want a rant review for blood of hercules 🤭
I have been watching the buzz around this one 👀
i have to recommend anything by Hailey Piper (shout out to Queen of Teeth and The Worm and its Kings) and Leech by Hiron Ennes! Some of my favorite queer horror❤
One of my 2025 goals is to not add any more books to my overflowing To Read list...I've already added 3 from this video 😂
Okay but I NEED the Megan = Poison shirt 😂😂
FACE ON THE MILK CARTON AAAH YES
❤❤🎉❤❤
catching fire IS the best thg book - i think that book should've been the two-part movie, not mockingjay!
What sort of books were on the list that people read to you when you were younger? I have a niece who just turned 1 a few days ago and would be interested in recommendations to read to her :)
I don’t know how much these count as morbid nonfiction (more of just incredible memoirs tbh), but I think you might enjoy Daughter of Gloriaveil by Lilia Tarawa and Sex Cult Nun by Faith Jones. They’re about these women’s experiences being born and raised in the Gloriaveil and Children of God cults respectively. They’re both pretty heavy as you’d expect, but I think Sex Cult Nun is distinctly harder to get through on account of everything Jones went through. Cannot suggest enough though; both Jones and Tarawa are incredible writers
Congrats!
Now I need a vampire book recommendation. I am also trash for vampire anything
So a book that I am eagerly awaiting its release is Hungerstone by Kat Dunn. It publishes in February!
@ I just looked it up and sapphic + carmilla inspiration? 👀 Sign me up! Thank you for the rec 🫶
Please make a "I'm the megaladon" shirt. Maybe with jaws on it??
Oh no, look out. It's the Natalie Meagaladon!
Hey! Idk if I’m just not seeing it, but Ive scanned the description like 5 times and cant find the donation link?
Here it is but I should let you know… WE REACHED THE GOAL! ❤️ spot.fund/xmnmgsc
@ HELL YEAH OMGGG
I may have already said this so I apologize, but if you are interested in historical fiction recommendations I really loved Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys.
Ooh adding to the TBR. Thank you!
If you do decide to do a romance thing in search of a five star in 2025 I would suggest Forget Me Not by Julie Soto, Haven by Rebekah Weatherspoon, and Seven Days in June by Tia Williams. Funny enough they’re all BIPOC authors (at least one queer identifying as well). That wasn’t intentional when I chose them. But I wonder if that’s why I liked them, there was something different enough from a lot of the other romance out there.
what's the name/brand of your nail polish in this video? it looks great!
Sally Hanson Insta-Dri in the color “Slick Slate” 🖤
It looks darker online than it is irl btw 😋
@@weirdobookclub thank you!! 💖💖💖
58:43 my fave number is also 13 bc i was born on the 13th and every time my birthday falls on a Friday i have ✨ extra luck ✨ take that superstition lol
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep is a great sci-fi novel!
29:35 I don’t know if you would rant or rave about it, but either way I’d love to see a video from you about the book “Butcher and Blackbird”. It certainly has its gross scenes (both main characters are serial killers), but for a dark romance I thought it was steps in the right direction, ESPECIALLY in terms of consent between them both while incorporating bdsm.
I asume you read Bride and graded on a curve, how's it rank? 😂
I started it twice and never finished so TBD
Who cut your hair when you were a toddler and why were they in love with Joe Dirt?
LAWL it was my grandmother and I have no answers for you haha
Unplanned pregnancy needs to goooo. So does the 'one time and it sticks' trope. Especially when that is the FMC's 1st time. 🤢🤢🤢
There’s nothing wrong with grading things on a scale. I personally have the Schaech scale - Johnathon Schaech is hot and was in the absolute worst movie I’ve ever seen, so all his movies get graded relative to that. Road House 2? Terrible, but not the worst. (Frankly, the only good movie he had a big role in was That Thing You Do, although I have a soft spot for the Doom Generation)
Have you ever read the "Black Dagger Brotherhood" series by J.R Ward? If you love vampires you will LOVE this series! ❤️
It is actually insane to me that you only have 25k subs bc you’re videos are absolutely unhinged ❤ immaculate content comrade you deserve all the kudos 🫡
TEARS OF TESS BY PEPPER WINTERS. IF YOU WANNA UNCOVER A GOOD DARK ROMANCE WITH A MORALLY GREY CHARACTER NOT BLACK LOL. Consent and a heartbreaking story, real character development and well-handled BDSM dynamics. TEARS OF TESS.