Well Read Dames Book Club

We're diving back into the Bright Falls series by Ashley Herring Blake and read Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail this episode! Please see our previous podcast for Delilah Green Doesn't Care if you want to listen to them in order. This book has rom-com vibes along with HGTV vibes which is a very fun element to the story. This book is a delightful sequel and we all really enjoyed Astrid's journey of self discovery. Grab your headphones, your favorite drink/snack combination, and join us for this book club discussion!

Join the Well Read Dames as we read this feminist classic from 1983 by Marion Zimmer Bradley, which turns the tale of Camelot on its head. Told from Morgaine's point of view opposed to Arthur's, Lancelot's, the Merlin's, or any other member of the round table's point of view, this book explores Avalon's side of the Camelot tale. Join us as we discuss the book and the mini series adaptation!

Join the Well Read Dames as we discuss the lovely rom-com Delilah Green Doesn't Care by Ashley Herring Blake! We dig deep in this one to discuss miscommunications, childhood trauma, and of course that embarrassing meet-cute! We love a book that makes us laugh, and grin ear to ear, opposed to cry so please grab your headphones, favorite beverage of choice, and join us for this book club discussion! This episode has been updated because the audio cut-off halfway through the episode. Sorry for that and thank you for listening!

The Well Read Dames are taking a break from book discussion to discuss a show we love as much as our books! Following the season 3 finale, and what might have been the series finale of Apple+ comedy Ted Lasso, we break down our favorite moments, characters, and discuss what we'd like to see in the future if we're gifted with more of this show that we love, including our thoughts on potential spin offs.

Join the Well Read Dames as we continue our favorite series so far of 2023! This episode we are discussing book 2, The Ballad of Never After by the brilliant Stephanie Garber. To recap, Stephanie Garber first brought us the Caraval series, which we read and published our book club episodes of at the end of 2022. This new series takes Jacks, a character from Caraval, and gives him his own series, as a continuation of his story in these books. Our main character, whose POV we get for both books is, Evangeline, who has been teamed up with/stuck with Jacks, aka the Prince of Hearts, since she made a deal with him in Once Upon a Broken Heart to try and save those that she loved. We pick up where we left off in this book and Evangeline struggles to simultaneously not trust Jacks, and to trust him, as her feelings for him grow ever more complicated, as does her life. Evangeline finds herself caught between curses, magical gemstones, and handsome vampires in this book. And there is also the whole ancient prophecy thing going on. Grab your favorite drink, throw on your headphones, and join us as we discuss this book, which in addition to being extremely fun, has one of the craziest cliffhangers we have ever encountered!

Join the Well Read Dames as we embark on our favorite series so far of 2023! We have already bought fan art, and are full of fan theories for what the end of this series will hold, but join us first at the beginning of book 1, Once Upon a Broken Heart by the brilliant Stephanie Garber. Stephanie Garber first brought us the Caraval series, which we read and published out book club episodes of at the end of 2022. This new series takes Jacks, a character from Caraval, and gives him his own series, as a continuation of his story in these books. We are also introduced to one of our favorite main characters, Evangeline, who is not afraid to make a deal with the Prince of Hearts to save those she loves. Grab your favorite drink, throw on your headphones, and join us for this magical ride!

Welcome to this episode where we are discussing the second book in the Crescent City series, House of Sky and Breath written by Sarah J. Maas, or Queen Maas, as I like to call her. This book was a long and fantastic ride, which ended in my favorite cliffhanger of all time, which is saying quite a lot. Join us as we discuss each character's journey this book, our favorite moments, favorite characters, and break down our reactions to the cliffhanger, which left us literally screaming. Since it doesn't look like we're getting CC3 or any other SJM book in 2023, talking about the books we already have out is the next best thing.

Join us as we discuss the conclusion to The Folk Of The Air series by Holly Black! This third book is such a wonderful ride full of confessions, vulnerability, and of course monsters. Without giving it away, we loved this book and hope you did as well!

Happy Sunday and welcome to Cardan's reign as the King of Elfhame! This week The Well Read Dames are discussing The Wicked King, which is the second book in Holly Black's The Folk of the Air series. Jude finds herself in a powerful position but knows it is a matter of time until the other shoe drops, and it drops in a big way! Will Cardan be able to step up from puppet king to the real king that Elfhame needs? Or will he just drink faerie wine as Locke throws lavish revels with the crown's money? Just when you think you know what is going to happen in this series, everything gets turned upside down which is part of what makes it such a joy to read. I wanted to chuck this book across the room at the end, and I loved every minute of it. Join us this week as we break down the second book in this series and prepare yourself for next week when we discuss the third book in the series, Queen of Nothing!

Happy Sunday! The week The Well Read Dames enter the world of Faerie and the Kingdom of Elfhame as they discuss The Cruel Prince by Holly Black. We loved this series, officially titled The Folk of the Air, by Holly Black and are very exited to share our discussion with you. Grab your drink of choice and join us as we discuss Jude and her many actions, our thoughts of Taryn, Locke, and of course Prince Cardan. Our next episode will continue the series next week when we discuss The Wicked King!

Happy February Book Club members! The Well Read Dames are dropping this episode out of order as we discussed the recent holidays at the beginning and I didn't want to cut our banter in case anyone else could relate! This episode we discuss Madeline Miller's book The Song of Achilles! As lovers of all things Ancient Greek, mythology, romance, and LGBTQ friendly, we had high hopes picking up this book and are happy to report it exceeded our expectations! This book is a beautiful tragedy full of young love, war, and heroic acts. I hope you enjoy this episode of the Well Read Dames Book Club and join us next time when we begin The Folk of the Air Series by Holly Black.

Happy New Year everyone and welcome to 2023! Join the Well Read Dames as they embark on a journey with the Eastwood sisters in The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow! This book was a wild ride from the first page to the last and each sister's story was unique, compelling, and frequently frustrating along the way. We thoroughly enjoyed reading it and hope you have fun listening to our book club discussion.

Join us as we discuss Finale, the third and final book in The Caraval Series by Stephanie Garber. This book is written from both Scarlett and Tella's point of views as secrets are discovered and true identities are revealed. This book and episode of our podcast are my personal favorites of the series because it was the first episode in many months that we were able to record in person. The chaos that resulted has mostly been edited out aside from an occasional squeaky chair to some minor pet interruptions. Still, I hope you have as much fun listening to this episode as we did discussing it and I hope this is a series that swept you away and that you truly enjoyed reading.

I hope everyone had a wonderful week and are ready to continue the adventures of Scarlett and Tella as The Well Read Dames discuss Legendary, the second book in Stephanie Garber's Caraval series! Legendary is primarily told from Tella's perspective and nothing is certain as she tries to determine who she can trust while she tries to win the game. The stakes are higher than they have ever been, not for Tella, but for her entire family.

One Sunday, two new episodes?! That's right, today we are back with two new book club podcast episodes! In this episode, the Well Read Dames, head into a new world of magic and mystery as we discuss Caraval, the first book in a series by the same name, written by Stephanie Garber. Join us as we discuss the adventures of Scarlett and Tella while trying to figure out who can be trusted in this exciting book.

And we're back! I apologize for the unexpected hiatus, but please do enjoy this Book Club episode where we are breaking down all the twists and turns of A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas!

Join the well read dames as we discuss one of our favorite books we've ever read, The Midnight Library by Matt Haig! We get in depth during this one and discuss how this book resonated with us on multiple levels. Matt Haig has crafted Nora's story, her journey, into a touching and strangely relatable tale as she evaluates her perceived missteps and missed opportunities and is given the option to see what might have been. Apologies that this episode took so long to be published. I hope that you love it and that it was worth the wait!

Welcome to the Well Read Dames book club discuss of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's gothic horror thriller, Mexican Gothic! Grab a drink and join us as we discuss Noemi's harrowing journey and unlock the mystery and monsters that lurk inside the Doyle mansion. We really enjoyed this book and discussion and look forward to the Hulu adaptation coming at some point in the future!

Hello and welcome to the Well Read Dames everyone! I apologize this episode has taken so long to come out but it was a doozy of an editing process and a heck of a year so far. But I am excited to present our book club discussion on Winter, the Fourth and final book (aside from some spin offs) in the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer! We loved this series and enjoyed discussing Winter. We're not afraid to be critical of some plot points here and there but a book isn't exciting unless it sparks conversation! Winter is a snow white retelling, brining us one of our favorite characters that our main compliant was that we wanted more of her in the series although that wouldn't have exactly worked! Put on your headphones, grab your drink and join us as we discuss the final book in this epic saga!

Join the Well Read Dames as we discuss Cress, the third book in The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer. This Rapunzel retelling may be my favorite book of the series and we have a fantastic time breaking it down in a whole new way. Grab a drink of your choice and join us as we follow our new protagonist Cress, and the notorious Captain Carswell Thorne as they find their way through an adventure neither of them was prepared for!

We're back and breaking it all down in this one! Grab a drink and join us as we put on our red cloaks and pour ourselves a glass of wine for this Red Riding Hood inspired story! Scarlet is a spitfire, Wolf is a hot head and their story is full of excitement and adventure. Speaking of adventure, Cinder is having a bit of her own as she searches for answers with fellow most wanted criminal Captain Carswell Thorne! Marissa Meyer knocks it out of the park with this sequel and leaves us excited for what is next in The Lunar Chronicles!

This episode I have the privilege of speaking with best-selling author Maria Ann Green!  We discuss her latest thriller release, Edge of Darkness, which is book three in her Darkness series, her romance novels, what she loves about each different genre and what she has planned for future books and genres to come!  In addition to being a stellar writer and wonderful person to talk to, Maria has 9 books self-published and she is kind enough to share writing tips she has learned throughout her journey with us less experienced and first time writers that can help us get organized and be more successful.  Thank you to Maria for speaking with me and I hope everyone enjoys this author highlight!

Grab a drink and join us as we dive into Cinder, the first book in the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer! Cinder is a futuristic, sci-fi retelling of Cinderella, a tale we all felt we knew so well prior to reading this book. Marissa Meyer has transformed it into a story so creative and at times heart wrenching we were not able to put it down and on this podcast episode we are doing a thorough book breakdown as we discuss the twists and turns that unravel in this first book of the Lunar Chronicles!

We are back and recording virtually for the second episode of 2020! This episode of The Well Read Dames Book Club, we break down Sarah J. Maas' new book Crescent City, House of Earth and Blood. This is the first Maas book we've read besides the A Court of Thorns and Roses series which we loved and we found ourselves quickly immersed in this new fae world! Set in more modern times, with modern characters suffering from modern problems, we really enjoyed this book and the new world that Maas has created. Without giving the game away, this book kept us wanting more from the characters as we theorized future plot points and character arcs for the next book in the series! Since it is quarantine, grab your wine or drink of choice, put on your favorite sweatpants and join us for this book club discussion!

It is 2020 and the Dames are back and ready to read! Join us this episode as we do our best to discuss Kurt Vonnegut's masterpiece Slaughterhouse Five in all of its non-linear glory. We really enjoyed this book and hope we did it justice in our discussion of it. Susie and I had read it originally back in November whereas Alicia finished reading the book the day we recorded so she is really running the show on this one. So it goes...

Join me as I speak with author Melissa Frey regarding all things writing and her fantastic adventure debut novel The Secret of the Codex! The Secret of the Codex is filled with travel to remote locations and strange archeological mysteries. In this podcast episode we discuss her inspirations for these ideas, her character's drives and influences and where book two might take us. Literally! Speaking with Melissa was a delight and I cannot think of a better first episode to kick off the New Year!

Join me as I speak with the talented Lacey Dailey about her latest YA release Alma Underwood Is Not A Kleptomaniac! We speak about her book's influences, from locations to characters to the beauty of Michigan! As an indie writer with many books under her belt, she shares her insights on writing different types of characters, the self publishing process itself, the importance of beta readers, her favorite parts of writing and her love for the wonderful Instagram writing community. I loved Alma Underwood Is Not A Kleptomaniac and I had a great time discussing all things Alma and Rumor with Lacey! Enjoy and happy holidays!

The Dames are back to close out The All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness in their last book club discussion of 2019! This series has been a wild ride and it has saved so much for this last and final book. Join us while we navigate the multiple storylines, plot points and discuss our final thoughts on the saga of Matthew De Claremont and Diana Bishop!

The Dames are back and diving into The Shadow Of Night, the second book by Deborah Harkness in her All Souls Trilogy. Join us as we assess Diana and Matthew's journey through Matthew's complicated and often dangerous past as they search for the answers they need to take on their future. We discuss our thoughts on character growth, new character additions and what awaits them back home in Sept-Tours. Next episode we will discuss the final book in the trilogy, The Book of Life! 

Join the Well Read Dames as we dive into the world witches, vampires and daemons in the first book in The All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness. Susie, Alicia and Ashley each have strong opinions on several aspects of the story from character motivations, plot devices and where we think the series is headed next. Grab your drink, throw on your headphones and prepare to be entertained as we break down this book and prepare for the second in the series!

This episode The Well Read Dames Ashley, Susie and Alicia discuss A Court Of Frost and Starlight, a novella and the fourth and most recently published book in the A Court Of Thorns and Roses series. As this is the last published book in the series but we are getting more books, possibly spin offs, in the future we also discuss where we would like to see the series go next. We get into the heavily debated Nessian relationship. Are we too hard on Nesta? Maybe. Probably. Does she have a long journey ahead of her in the upcoming novels? Absolutely. Are we here for it? 100% And what about all of our other characters and their unfinished storylines? Whats next for our inner circle and our favorite members of the Court Of Dreams? Grab a drink, kick back and join us as we discuss all this and more in this episode of The Well Read Dames Podcast!

Join your favorite Well Read Dames, Ashley, Susie and Alicia as they discuss A Court of Wings and Ruin, the third book in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Mass! This book follows Feyre's journey beginning once again in The Spring Court where she is no longer just a huntress and a thief but now also a spy. Lets join the Court Of Dreams as they do their best to rally Prythian forces against the oncoming war against King Hybern. Will the High Lords learn to trust each other long enough to work together? Will Nesta have a redeeming moment? Will Feyre's two realms be saved from this faebane soaked danger? Will Feyre make friends with monsters? Read the book to find out if you haven't already and join us for this Book Club Discussion where we break it all down with a lot of laughs and a lot of wine... well technically margaritas in this episode! 

Ashley, Susie and Alicia dive into the second book in The Court Of Thorns and Roses Series and discuss Ashley's favorite, A Court of Mist and Fury! We continue our adventure in Prythian and see whats next in Feyre's journey. Is she living her happily ever out in The Spring Court as a newly made fae? What happens if her life is more thorns than roses? What about her deal with Rhys in the Night Court? Who are her true friends and allies and who amongst her cannot be trusted? Many fans consider the first book a very long prologue that leads to ACOMAF as this is truly where our series becomes extraordinarily wonderful and addicting. Throw on your headphones and meet us in the Spring Court. We've got a lot of ground to cover! 

Join Ashley, Susie and Alicia as we discuss our new favorite series on the Well Read Dames Podcast! This is the first of four podcast episodes where we drink wine and make our way through Prythian one book at a time! Originally we were just going to read and discuss the first book in the series but by the cauldron these books are so good we had to read them straight through! This episode we discuss the first book in Feyre's journey. Grab a drink, put on your headphones and join us north of the wall!

Hi everyone! Sorry for the delay on this episode! Join your favorite Well Read Dames as we discuss Liv Constantine's phenomenal book The Last Mrs. Parrish. When Amber meets Daphne, their newfound friendships changes both of their lives in unexpected ways. We discuss this dark friendship's twists and turns while discovering what it means to be The Last Mrs. Parrish!

Join me as I speak with author Rachel J. Good about her lovely Amish romances novels! We speak about her experiences as an Englisch (non-Amish person) with the Amish community, challenges they face in an ever evolving world and how they have inspired her novels. We also discuss her experiences as a published author, her book The Amish Teachers Gift, which I loved, her separate line of children's books and the growing demand for cleaner romance novels. You can find Rachel's current novels and stay up to date with her upcoming work on her website www.racheljgood.com or through her social media platforms of Facebook which she is the most active, Instagram @rachelj.good and Twitter @RachelJGood1 . Her current works of the Sisters and Friends series and the Love and Promises series can be found on Amazon, christianbooks.com , Barnes and Noble, iBooks, Google Play, Kobo, ebooks.com, Book Depository, Indie Bound, and more! I loved speaking with Rachel and I hope you love this episode!

Join me as I chat with author James S. Peet and discuss his Corps of Discovery Series, upcoming works, travel and his love of science fiction! His Corps of Discovery Series can be found on Amazon as well as Kobo retailers worldwide! You can follow him on his author Facebook page and keep up with him on his website http://www.jamespeet.com !

Happy Holidays! Join us Dames while we discuss our FAVORITE book so far on the book club edition of the Podcast while we discuss Becky Albertalli's breakout novel Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda along with our special guest, Justin! We had so much fun reading this book and discussing it during our podcast. I hope you love it and have a wonderful holiday season!

Join me as I chat with author Michelle Ham about her knock out debut novel Sway! Sway is a coming of age story which follows protagonist Saskia as she navigates the complicated transition from adolescence to adulthood while capturing the essence of being a bit insecure. Just like growing up it is painful, cringe-worthy, hilarious, controversial and full of love. Sway can be found on Amazon in paperback and E-Book and Michelle can be found on Instagram @michellehamwriter ! This episode was so much fun, Michelle is lovely to talk to, but unfortunately, due to a technology snafu a bit of the audio got cut off at the end but it is still a full episode. There is more to discuss and hopefully, we'll be able to chat again soon!

This episode I chat with the brilliant Craig Martelle who was kind enough to chat with me and share his wonderful insight on writing and how he has found success. We discuss everything from his many published and upcoming books, to his work with the 20 Books to 50k Conferences and our love of science fiction and Chinese food. You can find more information on Craig's work at his website https://craigmartelle.com This is a great episode and I hope you really enjoy it!

Have your drink at the ready and join your favorite book club as we discuss Maria Hummel's book Still Lives! What will Maggie do when an artist goes missing from the opening night of her museum's art exhibit? Join us Dames as we discuss the characters, plots and misdirection of this who dun it on this episode of the Well Read Dames Book Club!

New Segment Alert! This episode I chat with the talented author of the Paranormal Institute series Lora Edwards! We discuss everything from her books and writing processes to travel goals and her current favorite Netflix show! We had so much fun recording this segment and I think you're going to love it! You can find more information on Lora's work through her Instagram page @loraedwardsauthor_ , find her books on Amazon and follow her on Goodreads!

Join us as we discuss Stephenie Meyer's latest best seller The Chemist!! Let us know your thoughts on the book!

Join us as your favorite Dames discuss Lucy Christopher's novel Stolen! Wine, alcoholic chocolate balls and a great book are up for discussion! We really had a lot of opinions on this one so enjoy and let us know your thoughts!

Grab your drink of choice and join us as we discuss Ruth Ware's suspense thriller novel In A Dark Dark Wood!

Episode 1 of the Well Read Dames Podcast! Join us listen and enjoy! If you haven't read the book yet - SPOILERS ABOUND - this episode is a full breakdown of the plots and characters along with our thoughts and commentary! Disclaimer: There are curse words used in case you are easily offended or listening with children around.

Well Read Dames Teaser