Let’s be real, happy endings mean what again? In today’s episode of Bad At Keeping Secrets, I’m sitting down with Rachel Hochhauser, author of Lady Tremaine — a stunning reimagining of Cinderella told through the eyes of the stepmother herself. But this conversation goes so much deeper than a fairy tale retelling. Rachel opens up about becoming a single parent while her husband was ill, how that experience of fierce, consuming maternal love became the beating heart of her book, and why she believes the stories we’ve been told about what it means to be a “good woman” might be doing us more harm than good. We talk about agency, happy endings, the exhausting pressure to always be nice, and what it really looks like to trust your own instincts — as a writer, a mother, and a person. BOOK GIVEAWAY To enter, sign up for Rachel's Substack! Rachel just started a Substack, and to celebrate the book, we're giving away one copy to a lucky reader. Next week, I'll randomly select one person who signed up and email them to get their address — so I can send them my copy of Lady Tremaine! This book is for you if you loved Wuthering Heights, if you're sick of waiting to be saved, or if motherly love changed you in ways you don't like to admit. I loved it. To my core. I hope you will too. Thanks for being here. XO, Carissa PS This podcast is edited by Mark McDonald. The music is by my sister, Casey Goode. And I do this because I LOVE sharing peoples work. I get this joy because you are here. I am so grateful for you! PPS We have a new book out, The Imaginary Atlas, with Candace Cui and People I’ve Loved. It is fantasy related too! It is a journal to help YOU figure out what your fantasies are. Get a copy here: If this email made you feel better in anyway, or introduced you to something you are inspired by, we would love to have you with us. Get full access to BAD AT KEEPING SECRETS at peopleiveloved.substack.com/subscribe