Episodes
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Today I am chatting with NY Times Bestselling author Jason June! We are going to be chatting about his brand new holiday rom com, Flopping in a Winter Wonderland.
Flopping in a Winter Wonderland is a deliciously fun YA Queer romance set during the Christmas season. It is reminiscent of all your favorite Hallmark Christmas movies, is full of all kinds of holiday antics, boasts a wonderful setting, and will give you all the feels!
Join Jason June and me as we chat about his writing, Jason June's love for Christmas, his inspiration for Flopping in a Winter Wonderland, what it means to be a hopeless romantic, the fantastic characters in this book, the storyline, and so much more!
A little about Flopping in a Winter Wonderland:
All Aaron wants for Christmas is for his brother, Casey, to get over his ex, Raquel. He’d prefer not to be at Winter Wonderland, the island north of Alaska that’s home to a year-round Christmas theme park. But Casey loves Christmas, so here they are. Unfortunately for Aaron, Casey’s determined to do anything to win Raquel back.All Kris wants for Christmas is for his uncle to move back to Winter Wonderland to be the first gay Santa. To make that happen Kris needs to win the Race, his grade’s annual competition to see who can get a guest to fall in love with them first. Winning means a trip to New York, where Kris would be able to plead his uncle’s case to the founder of Winter Wonderland himself.
After some slippery ice sends Aaron and Kris literally flopping into each other, Kris agrees to help Aaron with his plan to keep Casey single. But in all their scheming, both can’t stop thinking about kissing the other, and it’s not just because of the mistletoe around every corner. Too bad true love isn’t on either of their Christmas lists. . . .
I'd like to say a special thank you to Jason June for coming on the podcast and chatting with me today! And a special thank you to Martha Kiley for setting up the interview.
Check out Jason June's website
Follow Jason June on Instagram, and X.com
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Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at [email protected]
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support! -
Today I am chatting with my friend Rebecca about YA magical realism novel, The Stones of Burren Bay, by Emily De Angelis.
Take a listen as Rebecca and I chat about the plot, characters, Irish/Celtic spiritualism, Native American culture and spiritualism, grief/grieving, and more!
The first fifteen minutes are spoiler free!
A little about The Stones of Burren Bay:
In a tragic car accident, 15-year-old Norie loses her deadbeat father while her distant mother is injured. Her prized possession, an antique artist’s box that traveled from Ireland with her great-great-grandmother, is destroyed along with her deep connection to her art.
As Norie grapples with her self-identity, obscured by grief and anger, she and her physically and emotionally fragile mother are forced to relocate. With no other relatives to rely on, they call on the kindness of her mother’s oldest friend Dahlia and her daughter Wil, who run the Jolly Pot Tearoom and Burren Bay Lighthouse Museum on Manitoulin Island.
Dahlia introduces Norie to ancient Irish Celtic spiritualism and opens the thin veil between the past and present where Norie encounters the echo of a century’s old spirit, Oonagh. Through Oonagh’s own story Norie comes to terms with her father’s betrayal and death and rediscovers her passion for art. As her mother’s emotional wounds reach a crisis, Norie realizes they must face their guilt and grief together in order to heal and become reunited as mother and daughter.Send us a text
Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at [email protected]
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support! -
Missing episodes?
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Today I am chatting with YA Heist Thriller author Kavion Lewis! Kavion previously joined me to chat about her debut novel, Thieves' Gambit, and today we are chatting about the second book in that duology, Heist Royale.
Take a listen as Kavion and I chat all about the book, it's characters, the research necessary to write these amazing heists, how her characters have grown since book one, the fact that Thieves' Gambit is getting made into a movie (!!), how Kavion's brother played a small part in this book, and so much more!
This is a super fun episode you won't want to miss! The entire episode is spoiler free!
A little about Heist Royale:
It's been six months since the end of the Gambit. Instead of winning an impossible wish, Ross has the threat of her family’s execution hanging over her head. Devroe, the only person Ross thought she could trust, could wish the Quests into oblivion at any time. Shockingly, despite his betrayal, Devroe is still making a play for Ross’s heart as the two work together pulling jobs for the Organization. But Ross has learned her lesson: A Quest can only trust another Quest.
When Ross finds herself at the center of a power struggle within the Organization, she sees her chance to change her fortunes. As a new deadly Gambit develops for control of the criminal underworld, Ross strikes a risky deal to guarantee protection for herself and her family.
In this final clash, Ross will square off against a ruthless opponent who will stop at nothing to seize power, and in their corner will be not only Devroe but his mother, who wants to destroy the Quests at any cost.
The new Gambit takes Ross and her crew into the intoxicating casinos of Monte Carlo and across treacherous snow-covered slopes in Antarctica as Ross competes against Devroe in a fight for her life. Loyalties will be tested, backs stabbed, hearts broken. May the best thief win.
A special thank you to Kavion Lewis for coming on the podcast today. And a special thank you to Audrey French at TvS Media Group for setting up the interview.
Check out Kavion's website
Follow Kavion on Instagram
Purchase Thieves Gambit & Heist RoyaleSend us a text
Wellness Thru Reading
Greetings and salutations book lovers. Welcome to Wellness Thru Reading. A podcast...Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at [email protected]
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support! -
Today I am chatting with New York Times Bestselling author Ellen Hopkins about her new Young Adult novel, Sync.
Written in verse, Sync is the story of twins Storm and Lake as they are shuffled through the foster care system and kept apart from each other.
In this episode Ellen and I chat about her writing style, what it's been like being the author of multiple banned books, the foster care system, the plot of Sync, her characters, and more.
The entire episode is spoiler free!
A little about Sync:
Seventeen-year-old twins Storm and Lake have always been in perfect sync. They faced the worst a parent could do and survived it together. In the wake of their mother’s rejection, they’ve spent the last five years moving from foster home to foster home—sometimes placed together, sometimes apart.
After being separated from his sister once again, Storm is devastated. He’s the older brother and promised to always take care of Lake. But after a stint in juvie, his newest placement has him feeling almost hopeful. His foster dad is kind, and his girlfriend, Jaidyn, is the first person other than Lake he feels he can trust. But when Jaidyn is sexually assaulted by a violent ex, it pushes Storm over the edge. He retaliates and lands back in lockup—and he fears this time it will be for good. He wishes he could talk to Lake, but he doesn’t know where she is, and he' s now feeling more alone and out of sync than ever before.
Lake, like Storm, has found her own happiness in a relationship with someone new—her fellow foster, Parker. Life with Parker is never boring, but Parker has her own scars. She can be withdrawn and unpredictable, and that can be dangerous, especially after Parker convinces Lake to run away from their Bible-thumping fosters after they are caught in a compromising position. With no money, shelter, or ID, they’re living on the streets. Lake thinks of Storm and his promise to take care of her, and wonders where he could be now.
Told in dual perspectives through unsent letters, at turns heartbreaking and always honest, this latest novel in verse from #1 New York Times bestselling author Ellen Hopkins is a searing and unforgettable account of two teens caught in the teeth of the foster care system, fighting their way out and back to each other.
A special thank you to Ellen Hopkins for coming on the podcast and chatting with me today. And a special thank you to Jenna Smith at Penguin Young Readers for setting up the interview.
Check out Ellen's website
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Wellness Thru Reading
Greetings and salutations book lovers. Welcome to Wellness Thru Reading. A podcast...Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at [email protected]
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support! -
Today I am chatting with award winning author, and fellow Princess Bride lover, Sarah Henning!
Sarah is no stranger to YA Book Chat, as she has been here previously to discuss her Kingdoms of Sand and Sky series (The Princess Will Save You, The Queen Will Betray You, The King Will Kill You), and I have previously reviewed her book Sea Witch.
Take a listen as Sarah and I chat all about her brand new YA standalone supernatural thriller, The Lies We Conjure. Hear about Sarah's writing process for this book, her magic system, what it was like to combine a murder mystery with magic, the fantastic characters and plot line, Sarah and my favorite Renaissance Festival foods (yes, it's applicable!), slow burn romance, and so much more!
The entire episode is spoiler free!
A little about The Lies We Conjure:
Thirteen witches, a locked-room murder, and two non-magical sisters trapped in a deadly game of Clue.Ruby and her sister Wren are normal, middle-class Colorado high school students working a summer job at the local Renaissance Fest to supplement their meager college savings.
So when an eccentric old lady asks them to impersonate her long-absent grandchildren at a fancy dinner party at the jaw-dropping rate of two grand—each—for a single night…Wren insists it’s a no-brainer. Make some cash, have some fun, do a good deed.
But less than an hour into the evening at the mysterious Hegemony Manor, Ruby is sure she must have lost her mind to have agreed to this.
The hostess is dead, the gates are locked, and a magical curse ensures no one can leave until they solve both her murder and the riddles she left behind—in just three days. Because everyone else at this party is a powerful witch. And if the witches realize Ruby and Wren are imposters? The sisters won’t make it out of Hegemony Manor alive.
Special thanks to Sarah Henning for coming on the podcast and chatting with me today! And special thanks to Giselle Gonzalez at Tor Teen for setting up the interview!
Check out Sarah's website
Follow Sarah on social media: Instagram, Twittter/X
Purchase The Lies We ConjureSend us a text
Wellness Thru Reading
Greetings and salutations book lovers. Welcome to Wellness Thru Reading. A podcast...Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at [email protected]
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support! -
Today I am chatting with author Nancy McCabe about her debut YA novel, Vaulting Through Time, a story that follows a teen gymnast as she travels through time to learn about her family and discover who she is.
Take a listen as Nancy and I chat about her writing style, what it's like being a gymnastics mom, the rules of time travel (we need Marty McFly!), the research that needs to be done for a book that spans multiple decades, adoption, character development, the Olympics, this creative story, and more!
The entire episode is spoiler free!
A little about Vaulting Through Time:
Sixteen-year-old gymnast Elizabeth Arlington doesn't care that her mother is older than the other girls' moms or that she doesn't look anything like her parents. She has too much other stuff to worry about: an embarrassing crush on her ex-best-friend Zach, and changes in her body that affect her center of gravity and make vaulting and tumbling more terrifying than they used to be. But when she makes a discovery that throws her entire identity into question, she turns to Zach, who suggests a way for her to find the answers her mother won't give her: a time machine they found in an abandoned house.As Elizabeth catapults through time, she encounters a mysterious abandoned child, an elite gymnast preparing for Olympic Trials, and an enigmatic woman who seems to know more than she's revealing. Then when a thief makes off with an identical time machine, Elizabeth finds herself on a race to stop the thief before the world as she knows it—and her own future—are destroyed.
A special thank you to Nancy McCabe for coming on the podcast and chatting with me. And a special thank you to Simone Jung at Books Forward PR for setting up the interview.
Check out Nancy's website.
Purchase Vaulting Through Time.Send us a text
Wellness Thru Reading
Greetings and salutations book lovers. Welcome to Wellness Thru Reading. A podcast...Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at [email protected]
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support! -
Today I am chatting with young adult author Rachel A. Greco!
Rachel is no stranger to the podcast, as she has been on previously to discuss her first book, The Gift of Dragons. Today we are chatting about its sequel, The Hope of Dragons.
Take a listen as Rachel and I chat all about her writing process, the complicated characters and their character arcs, world building, creating dragons who have fun personalities, finding hope in the darkness, and more!
Please note: While most of this episode is spoiler free, there is one question where we discuss spoilers from The Gift of Dragons. But you will hear a warning before that happens.
A little about The Hope of Dragons:
In the aftermath of Adelaide's failed attempt to save her people and her beloved man-dragon, Klinhun is left vulnerable and on the brink of war with the neighboring country of Gyndilad. Determined to ensure her people's survival and secure lasting peace, Adelaide embarks on a perilous quest alongside her loyal hawk, Cyr, in search of the legendary dragons.However, the dragons prove to be less cooperative than Adelaide anticipated, placing the fate of Klinhun squarely on her shoulders. With the help of a small group of dragons, Adelaide, Cyr, and their newfound allies must confront the Gyndilians and protect their homeland. Yet, the weight of this responsibility threatens to overwhelm Adelaide, especially as she grapples with her own deadly dragon abilities.
As Adelaide navigates the treacherous landscape of Gyndilad, she discovers a web of secrets that jeopardize everything she holds dear, including her closest friend, Gunter. Trapped amidst his enemies, Gunter must find a way back home while struggling to preserve his identity. Will he reunite with his loved ones, or will he lose himself in the clutches of the enemy?
In the fiery sequel to The Gift of Dragons, Adelaide faces not only the formidable Gyndilians but also her own nagging doubts that threaten to consume her. To save the ones she cherishes, she must conquer her inner turmoil and confront the challenges that lie ahead once and for all.
Check out Rachel's website
Follow Rachel on social media: Instagram, Facebook
Purchase Rachel's books
A special thank you to Rachel A. Greco for coming on the podcast and chatting with me today!Send us a text
Wellness Thru Reading
Greetings and salutations book lovers. Welcome to Wellness Thru Reading. A podcast...Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at [email protected]
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support! -
Today I'm chatting about a wonderful new YA Rom Com, All Roads Lead to Rome by Sabrina Fedel.
Take a listen as my friend Dani and I chat all about the romance, hot Scottish guys, old Hollywood movies, trips to Italy, tropes we love like "he falls first," "normal girl falls for royalty," "European romance," "fake dating," and so much more!
The first fifteen minutes are spoiler free!
A little about All Roads Lead to Rome:
Introverted, slightly anxious Astoria “Story” Herriot knows everything about Rome—her mom’s an attorney here and the two of them are living la dolce vita… at least until Story’s off to college in the fall.
But when Story is in the wrong gelato shop at the right time, she’s swept up in a fake dating scheme with Scottish heartthrob, Luca Kinnaird, to protect his relationship with a pop princess. There’s something in it for her, too—Luca promises to help fund a scholarship in her dad’s memory. Soon she’s showing Luca the best cafés, sightseeing at the Mouth of Truth, and picnicking at the ruins of the Abbey of Santa Maria del Piano. Story’s travel guide skills are 10/10, but what she knows about being a celebrity—or having feelings for one? Zero.
Pretending to be Luca’s guide—then his girlfriend—gets the paparazzi’s attention . . . and what’s true and what’s fake gets blurry as their different worlds crash together. Sophisticated, hot, rich, and with the most charming accent ever, Luca is full of surprises. And maybe, too, is Story’s perfectly planned future.
It’s a fairy-tale romance in the Eternal City…will it have a fairy tale ending?Send us a text
Wellness Thru Reading
Greetings and salutations book lovers. Welcome to Wellness Thru Reading. A podcast...Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at [email protected]
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support! -
Today I am chatting about The Dangerous Ones by Lauren Blackwood. Joining me to chat about this wonderful YA Historical Fantasy, is first time guest Rebecca Ahola.
You'll want to take a listen to this episode because I have finally found a YA book with vampires in it that I LOVE! Vampires set in the Civil War...and it's sooooo good!
Take a listen as Rebecca and I chat all about the plot, characters, the American civil war, slavery, the fabulous audiobook narrators, Lauren Blackwood's powerful and beautiful writing, gorgeous vampires, a hot power couple, a love for cute little snails, and more!
Trigger warning: This episode does include talk of slavery, rape, death, and graphic visuals that are portrayed in the book.
A little about The Dangerous Ones:
One vampire to kill. Another to love.
War doesn’t scare Jerusalem. She’s a Saint. Thanks to powerful demigod-style reflexes, endurance, and strength, she’s fearless. And she has one goal - revenge.
But she never expects to team up with the handsome, arrogant Alexei to accomplish it. He’s one of those Ancient Vampires. And ever since her family was enslaved and murdered by one, Jerusalem hates vampires.
But in the year they've been fighting alongside one another against the Confederate Army and the vampires who benefitted off slavery, Alexei’s never done anything but prove he’s on the Union’s side and hers. She may know the enemy better, hate the enemy more than anyone in her battalion, but so does he. And she’ll use that to her advantage. Because if she can get her revenge by helping Black people gain freedom and equality without having to steal it for themselves like she had to, then all the better.
Together, she and Alexei set out to change the course of the war, risking their hearts and themselves as they attempt to take down the vampire who destroyed everyone Jerusalem held dear. But for Jerusalem, it’s about more than love and justice.
It's about killing a god.Send us a text
Wellness Thru Reading
Greetings and salutations book lovers. Welcome to Wellness Thru Reading. A podcast...Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at [email protected]
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support! -
Today I am chatting about a fabulous YA Rom Com, The Breakup Artists, by Adriana Mather. Joining me today is my friend Morgan, lover of all things Rom Com.
Take a listen as Morgan and I chat all about the plot, characters (including characters we love to hate), my obsession with the 1996 movie version of Romeo and Juliet, how there is a character with my name in this book, our favorite swoony moments, and so much more!
First fifteen minutes are spoiler free!
A little about The Breakup Artists:
August and Valentine, seventeen-year-old best friends, run a business called Summer Love, Inc. They hire themselves out to unhappy parents whose kids are in bad relationships, adopting fake identities and going undercover to break up these relationships by any means necessary.Valentine, the brains of the operation, believes that they're making the world a better place by steering people away from a relationship precipice so they can someday find true love. But for August, every case is personal--another chance to prove that true love doesn't exist. He blames his sister's manipulative boyfriend for her death, and--unlike Valentine--he doesn't believe in soul mates. No, he thinks the idea of falling head over heels is ridiculous at any age.
But then August meets Ella, who suddenly turns everything he thought he believed about love upside down. The problem is that she's their new case, which means that everything he's told her about himself is a lie--including his name.
Send us a text
Wellness Thru Reading
Greetings and salutations book lovers. Welcome to Wellness Thru Reading. A podcast...Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at [email protected]
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support! -
Today I am chatting with debut author Amber Chen about her brand new YA Silkpunk Fantasy novel, Of Jade and Dragons.
Take a listen as Amber and I chat about what it's like being a debut author, her journey from writing for Wattpad to being traditionally published, what Silkpunk fantasy is, the beautiful cover design, the world building, strong characters, plot line, and more!
The entire episode is spoiler free!
A little about Of Jade and Dragons:
Eighteen-year-old Aihui Ying dreams of becoming a world-class engineer like her father, but after his sudden murder, her life falls apart. Left with only a journal of her father’s engineering secrets and a jade pendant snatched from the assassin, a heartbroken Ying follows the trail to the capital and the prestigious Engineers Guild—a place that harbors her father’s hidden past—determined to discover why anyone would threaten a man who ultimately chose a quiet life over fame and fortune.
Disguised as her brother, Ying manages to infiltrate the guild’s male-only apprenticeship trial with the help of an unlikely ally—Aogiya Ye-yang, the taciturn eighth prince of the High Command. With her father’s renown placing a target firmly on her back, Ying must stay one step ahead of her fellow competitors, the jealous guild masters, and the killer still hunting for her father’s journal. Complicating everything is her increasingly tangled relationship with the prince, who may have mysterious plans of his own.
The secrets concealed within the guild can be as deadly as the weapons they build—and with her life and the future of her homeland at stake, Ying doesn’t know who to trust. Can she avenge her father even if it means going against everything he stood for, or will she be next in the mastermind’s line of fire?
A special thank you to Amber Chen for coming on the podcast and chatting with me today. And thank you to Jenna Smith at Penguin Young Readers for setting up the interview.
Follow Amber on social media: Instagram, X, TikTok
Check out Amber's website
Purchase Of Jade and DragonsSend us a text
Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at [email protected]
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support! -
Today I am chatting about The Infinite Noise by Lauren Shippen. This is the first book in her Bright Sessions novels. Joining me today is Priscilla from the Novel Feelings podcast.
Take a listen as Priscilla and I chat all about what it would be like to be an empath who can feel the emotions of everyone around them, the characters, the plot, how I obsessed over a boy when I was in high school (yes, it's related), the friendship and love story between our main characters, and so much more!
The first fifteen minutes are spoiler free!
A little about The Infinite Noise:
Caleb Michaels is a sixteen-year-old champion running back. Other than that his life is pretty normal. But when Caleb starts experiencing mood swings that are out of the ordinary for even a teenager, his life moves beyond “typical.”
Caleb is an Atypical, an individual with enhanced abilities. Which sounds pretty cool except Caleb's ability is extreme empathy―he feels the emotions of everyone around him. Being an empath in high school would be hard enough, but Caleb's life becomes even more complicated when he keeps getting pulled into the emotional orbit of one of his classmates, Adam. Adam's feelings are big and all-consuming, but they fit together with Caleb's feelings in a way that he can't quite understand.
Caleb's therapist, Dr. Bright, encourages Caleb to explore this connection by befriending Adam. As he and Adam grow closer, Caleb learns more about his ability, himself, his therapist―who seems to know a lot more than she lets on―and just how dangerous being an Atypical can be.
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Listen to Novel Feelings PodcastSend us a text
Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at [email protected]
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support! -
Today I am chatting with NY Times Bestselling author Marie Lu! We will be chatting all about her new book, Icon and Inferno; the sequel to Stars and Smoke.
Take a listen as Marie and I chat about her writing process, what inspired her to take a break from writing fantasy and write a thriller instead (it'll surprise you!), the research she did for these two books, how Starbucks gift cards can be used as spy tech, the romance between Sydney and Winter, what's up next for Marie, and more!
The entire episode is spoiler FREE!
A little about Icon and Inferno:
A year has passed since superstar Winter Young last saw secret agent Sydney Cossette. After barely surviving their first assignment together in London -- and their intense chemistry – the two haven’t spoken at all. Though they’re never far from the other’s thoughts, or fantasies.
So when Syndey shows up at Winter’s studio one day with a new mission from Panacea, he has no choice but to accept. With the clock ticking, the duo prepares to head to Singapore to rescue an operative in danger -- only to learn he’s none other than Sydney's ex, a rogue agent known as the Arsonist.
Of course, nothing is ever simple when it comes to Winter and Sydney. Especially not with the glamorous Gavi Ginsburg, a globe-trotting socialite and Winter’s one-time girlfriend, in the mix. Is she back for Winter’s heart – or does she have her eye on another prize?
The smoldering sequel to New York Times bestselling Stars and Smoke follows Winter and Sydney on yet another treacherous mission that grows more sinister with each twist and turn. To make it out alive, they'll have to figure out how to be partners again -- and if they can resist the burn of something more.
Thank you so much to Marie Lu for being my guest today and thank you also to Tatiana Merced-Zarou at Macmillan for setting up the interview. Lastly, thank you to Macmillan audio for both the Stars and Smoke and Icon and Inferno audiobooks!
Check out Marie Lu's website.
Follow Marie Lu on social media: Instagram, Facebook, X
Purchase Icon and Inferno.Send us a text
Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at [email protected]
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support! -
Today I am chatting with debut author Trish Lundy about her brand new YA thriller, The One That Got Away With Murder.
Join us as Trish and I chat all about our hometown of Rochester, NY, (Yes! We grew up in the same place!), what it's been like for Trish as a debut author, her writing process for writing a thriller/murder mystery, our main characters with a troubled past, and more!
The entire episode is spoiler free!
A little about The One That Got Away With Murder:
Robbie and Trevor Cresmont have a body count―the killer kind. Handsome and privileged, the Crestmont brothers have enough wealth to ensure they’ll never be found guilty of any wrongdoing, even if all of Happy Valley believes they're behind the deaths of their ex-girlfriends. First there was soccer star Victoria Moreno, Robbie’s ex, who mysteriously drowned at the family lake house. Then, a year later, Trevor’s girlfriend died of a suspicious overdose.
But the Crestmonts aren’t the only ones with secrets. Lauren O'Brian might be the new girl at school, but she's never been a good girl. With a dark past of her own, she's desperate for a fresh start. Except when she starts a no-strings-attached relationship with Robbie, her chance is put in jeopardy. During what’s meant to be their last weekend together, Lauren stumbles across shocking evidence that just might implicate Robbie.
With danger closing in, Lauren doesn't know who to trust. And after a third death rocks the town, she must decide whether to end things with Robbie or risk becoming another cautionary tale.
Check out Trish's website!
Follow Trish on Instagram!
Purchase the book!
A special thank you to Trish for chatting with me today! And thank you to Tatiana Merced-Zarou at Macmillan for setting up the interview!Send us a text
Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at [email protected]
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support! -
Today I am chatting with my friend Dani about Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross.
Divine Rivals is a beautiful fantasy set in an old fashioned war-torn world where two journalistic rivals form a connection that will be tried and tested. This book is a sweet enemies/rivals to lovers romance where are main characters are drawn together through writing letters. It's a book that could be considered Greek Mythology meets You've Got Mail, meets a Hallmark movie. It's sweet and timeless and will give you ALL the feels!
Take a listen as Dani and I chat all about the plot, characters, Greek mythology, how men shouldn't start a war in order to get a woman's attention, and more! We might even discuss a little of the sequel, Ruthless Vows...just maybe...
First 15 minutes are spoiler free!
A little about Divine Rivals:
After centuries of sleep, the gods are warring again. But eighteen-year-old Iris Winnow just wants to hold her family together. Her mother is suffering from addiction and her brother is missing from the front lines. Her best bet is to win the columnist promotion at the Oath Gazette.
To combat her worries, Iris writes letters to her brother and slips them beneath her wardrobe door, where they vanish―into the hands of Roman Kitt, her cold and handsome rival at the paper. When he anonymously writes Iris back, the two of them forge a connection that will follow Iris all the way to the front lines of battle: for her brother, the fate of mankind, and love.Send us a text
Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at [email protected]
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support! -
Today I am chatting with NY Times Bestselling author of fiction for all ages, Jennifer Donnelly!
Today Jennifer and I are chatting about her brand new fairy tale retelling, a gender swapped reimagining of Beauty and the Beast, Beastly Beauty. Beastly Beauty is Jennifer's third fairy tale retelling. Her others are Stepsister and Poisoned, which tell the tales of Cinderella's "ugly" stepsister, and Snow White.
Take a listen as Jennifer and I chat all about her writing style, her inspiration for these fairy tale reimagining's, the messages society sends young women and how we can combat them, pulling inspiration from Grimm's fairy tales, and so much more!
You won't want to miss it!
A little about Beastly Beauty:
What makes a girl "beastly?" Is it having too much ambition? Being too proud? Taking up too much space? Or is it just wanting something, anything, too badly?That's the problem Arabella faces when she makes her debut in society. Her parents want her to be sweet and compliant so she can marry well, but try as she might, Arabella can't extinguish the fire burning inside her -- the source of her deepest wishes, her wildest dreams.
When an attempt to suppress her emotions tragically backfires, a mysterious figure punishes Arabella with a curse, dooming her and everyone she cares about, trapping them in the castle. As the years pass, Arabella abandons hope. The curse is her fault -- after all, there's nothing more "beastly" than a girl who expresses her anger -- and the only way to break it is to find a boy who loves her for her true self: a cruel task for a girl who's been told she's impossible to love.
When a handsome thief named Beau makes his way into the castle, the captive servants are thrilled, convinced he is the one to break the curse. But Beau -- spooked by the castle's strange and forbidding ladies-in-waiting, and by the malevolent presence that stalks its corridors at night -- only wants to escape. He learned long ago that love is only an illusion. If Beau and Arabella have any hope of breaking the curse, they must learn to trust their wounded hearts, and realize that the cruelest prisons of all are the ones we build for ourselves.
A special thank you to Jennifer Donnelly for coming on the podcast and chatting with me today! And a special thank you to Amanda Trautmann at Scholastic, Inc. for setting up the interview!Send us a text
Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at [email protected]
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Today I am chatting with New York Times Bestselling author F. T. Lukens.
Take a listen as F. T. and I chat all about their latest queer speculative fiction young adult novel, Otherworldly. You'll hear us chat not just about this fantastic supernatural story, but about F. T. Lukens' writing process, what it would be like to live in a never ending winter for five years, mythology, meet cutes vs. meet disasters, how M. Night Shyamalan scared the heck out of both of us, and how both F. T. and I worked as dish washers at one point (just like our main character, Ellery).
Otherworldly is a sweet cozy fantasy filled with magic, mythology, supernatural characters, and more! You'll travel into Ellery and Knox's worlds, discover their found family, hope along with them as they go on this incredible journey. And, while there are definitely creepy magical moments in this book, Otherworldly will leave you feeling like you just received a warm hug. This is one young adult fantasy you don't want to miss!
About Otherworldly:
Seventeen-year-old Ellery is a non-believer in a region where people swear the supernatural is real. Sure, they’ve been stuck in a five-year winter, but there’s got to be a scientific explanation. If goddesses were real, they wouldn’t abandon their charges like this, leaving farmers like Ellery’s family to scrape by.
Knox is a familiar from the Other World, a magical assistant sent to help humans who have made crossroads bargains. But it’s been years since he heard from his queen, and Knox is getting nervous about what he might find once he returns home. When the crossroads demons come to collect Knox, he panics and runs. A chance encounter down an alley finds Ellery coming to Knox’s rescue, successfully fending off his would-be abductors.
Ellery can’t quite believe what they’ve seen. And they definitely don’t believe the nonsense this unnervingly attractive guy spews about his paranormal origins. But Knox needs to make a deal with a human who can tether him to this realm, and Ellery needs to figure out how to stop this winter to help their family. Once their bargain is struck, there’s no backing out, and the growing connection between the two might just change everything.
Thank you to F. T. Lukens for coming on the podcast and chatting with me today! And a special thank you to Alex Kelleher at Simon and Schuster for setting up the interview.
Check out F. T. Lukens website
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Purchase OtherworldlySend us a text
Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at [email protected]
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support! -
Today I am chatting about These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong. Joining me as my guest is Rachel from the Barely Bookish podcast.
If you love the story of Romeo and Juliet, you will love this re-imagining of Shakespeare's classic story. Chloe Gong takes the story of Romeo and Juliet and plunges it into 1926 Shanghai. This story has it all; warring gangster families, a forbidden romance, war in the city, and a monster who wants to destroy them all. And in the midst of it all, is the classic star-crossed lovers story of Romeo and Juliet, complete with a vast amount of Easter eggs from Shakespeare's original story.
Join Rachel and me as we chat all about the story, characters, Romeo and Juliet Easter eggs, 1926 Shanghai and U.S. fashion, monsters, and more!
A little about These Violent Delights:
The year is 1926, and Shanghai hums to the tune of debauchery.
A blood feud between two gangs runs the streets red, leaving the city helpless in the grip of chaos. At the heart of it all is eighteen-year-old Juliette Cai, a former flapper who has returned to assume her role as the proud heir of the Scarlet Gang—a network of criminals far above the law. Their only rivals in power are the White Flowers, who have fought the Scarlets for generations. And behind every move is their heir, Roma Montagov, Juliette’s first love…and first betrayal.
But when gangsters on both sides show signs of instability culminating in clawing their own throats out, the people start to whisper. Of a contagion, a madness. Of a monster in the shadows. As the deaths stack up, Juliette and Roma must set their guns—and grudges—aside and work together, for if they can’t stop this mayhem, then there will be no city left for either to rule.Send us a text
Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at [email protected]
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support! -
Today I am joined by debut author Emily Locker to chat about her YA Rom Com, Running Mates!
Take a listen as Emily and I chat about her journey to becoming a traditionally published author, romance novels, our love for independent bookstores, the fantastic characters and plot line, our swoony cinnamon role love interest, youth activism, star-crossed love, and more!
The entire episode is spoiler free!
A little about Running Mates:
In the quaint yet politically charged town of Edgartown, North Carolina, two worlds are about to collide. Meet Annabelle Morningstar, an impassioned, quirky high school activist raised by her news anchor and surgeon mothers, both champions of progressive ideals. Across town, there's Gabe Delgado, the quintessential all-American boy, molded by his conservative, Cuban senator father. Edgartown is a town literally divided―the Liberal East and the Conservative North coexisting as neighbors but rarely as friends. But what happens when the two sides meet in the least likely of places: a local bookstore?When employees at Annabelle's favorite literary haven decide to unionize, she finds her path unexpectedly crossing with Gabe's. And then they're tossed together weekly as they get special training help for their beloved cross-country competitions. With their worlds thrown into disarray, the two high schoolers must navigate their complex feelings for each other while wrestling with their polarized upbringings. Can love bloom in the crossfire of political discord?
A special thank you to Emily for coming on the podcast today. And a special thank you to Kathleen Carter at Kathleen Carter Communications for setting up the interview.
Check out Emily's website
Follow Emily on Instagram
Purchase Running MatesSend us a text
Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at [email protected]
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support! -
Today I am joined by YA Indy author Abigail Morrison to chat about her YA adventure fantasy novel, The Yochni's Eye.
Abigail is a self-published author, who has worked hard to create this amazing adventure story full of incredible world building, creatures, and important themes that explore revenge and redemption. Take a listen as Abigail and I chat all about the self-publishing world, her character creation, plot devices, writing style, world building, and so much more!
Entire episode is spoiler free!
A little about The Yochni's Eye:
Every six hundred years, the yochni blinks, changing one thing about the world based on the wish of the last creature it sees. Sixteen-year-old dwarven champion Mira Goldfist wants nothing more than to wish the bogeys—the giant, dog-like race that has enslaved her people—out of existence. But when Kraven Monteyeaux, a magical arbiter and reluctant medic, forces Mira and Atlan Qierce, the high prince and heir to the bogey empire, into a magical contract to reach the yochni together, all three will have to overcome their prejudices and pride to stop an even deadlier wish.
Check out Abigail's website.
Purchase The Yochni's Eye.
A special thank you to Abigail for coming on the podcast and chatting with me today.Send us a text
Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at [email protected]
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support! - Show more
