We told ourselves we were going to react calmly. We told ourselves this would be a chill, normal, emotionally stable mini episode. It took approximately seven seconds for that to fall apart.

Welcome to this chaotic little bonus episode of My Sister’s TBR, where we finally sat down to watch the new HBO Harry Potter trailer! (and immediately realized we were not prepared for the emotional damage.)

First Reactions: Immediate Emotional Instability

Before even hitting play, we knew this was dangerous territory.

This isn’t just another adaptation, this is our childhood. The kind of story that shaped how we read, how we imagined, and who we are as book people.

So yes, the stakes were high.

Within seconds we were tearing up.We were overwhelmed.We were already spiraling.

Because somehow, impossibly, this didn’t feel like just another reboot, it felt like coming home.

The Big Question: Does It Feel Like the Books?

Short answer: yes. Immediately.

One of the biggest takeaways from the trailer is that this adaptation feels much closer to the source material than the original films ever could.

We’re getting more of Harry before Hogwarts, more of the magic, and more of the darker reality of his childhood.

And… we have thoughts about that. You’ll want to hear them.

The Tone: Darker, Heavier, More Honest

One thing that stood out immediately is how dark this version feels. Harry’s childhood isn’t quirky or comedic. It’s not “haha, cupboard under the stairs.”

It’s neglect, isolation and cruelty.

This trailer has shifted the entire tone of the series in a way that feels more mature, emotionally grounded and actually more respectful to the story.

Hagrid: The Emotional Breaking Point

Let’s talk about the moment. Yesss, that moment.

When Hagrid appears and we’re done for.

Immediate tears.

We talk about why that moment hits so hard, and also the one tiny detail that has us just a little bit 👀.

Cautiously Optimistic (But Still Nervous)

There are things we’re excited about.There are things we’re side-eyeing.

And yes… we do talk about Snape.

Final Thoughts: Before We Spiral Again

The biggest takeaway is that this adaptation doesn’t feel like it’s trying to replace the movies.

It feels like it’s trying to complete the story.

To give us the details we missed.The depth we wanted.The version we imagined while reading.

🎧 Listen to the full episode for all of our unfiltered reactions, hot takes, and chaotic emotional breakdowns.

Trust us… this is one you don’t want to miss.

Welcome back to My Sister’s TBR, where today we’re diving deep into People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry! AKA the story that had us staring at the wall and emotionally buffering for a minute.

We’re unpacking Poppy + Alex (golden retriever vs black cat vibes), the friendship-to-lovers slow burn, the “no but what if…” tension, and all the moments that live rent-free in our brains. And yes: we’re comparing page vs screen, what the adaptation nailed, what we missed, and why the movie still managed to capture that same giddy-kicking-our-feet feeling.

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This episode is basically a confetti cannon of spoilers, so if you haven’t read/watched yet, pause us, go do that, and come back emotionally prepared (or as close as humanly possible).

What we get into:

* Book vs movie vibe check: how faithful it felt and why it still worked

* Changes we noticed: missing scenes we would’ve paid money to see (hello, Tinder profile moment), plus some “why did they change that?” choices

* The romance moments: what hit harder in the book vs what hit harder on screen (and yes… we discuss the steamy scene)

* Side characters + Sarah discourse: what we lost, what we gained, and why certain choices made us tilt our heads like a confused librarian

* Final verdict: which one we preferred… and why it’s not as simple as “book always wins”

So grab your coffee, wine, or emotional support beverage of choice and come giggle, swoon, and mildly spiral with us.

Don’t forget to follow along on Instagram (@mysisterstbr) so you never miss our posts!