Podcasts about strong female characters

Send us Fan MailThis deep dive coverage of Light Bringer was the most difficult in this bonus series to film. Pierce Brown… you have unapologetically broken us with this book and we do not know if we can forgive you. Ashley took a whole star away from her spoiler free rating for the pain and suffering. Did Liz feel the same way? Do you? In today's final episode (for now!) in our Red Rising bonus series we will not only be discussing in great detail every aspect of how Light Bringer made us feel, we'll also be revealing our favorite book in the series so far, and how we rank them from “worst” to best.” That way when the series is completed we can jump back in, read the new book (or books), reflect, and do our final rating and ranking. If we've learned anything in these past few months it's that anything can change at any moment. And even when you think you're ready for the pain, you're not. We kicked off Sci-Fi Summer with a full-length episode introducing the genre and setting the scene for a closer analysis of science fiction. Next, we covered the original trilogy in detail, books one and two of the second trilogy and have officially rated every book a resounding five stars. Last week's episode had us truly wondering what Brown was going to pull off next, and he did not disappoint. Can we talk about Hangar 17B?

Send us Fan MailTis' a Dark Age Indeed…

Send us Fan MailPenn Cole returns to Besties and the Books Podcast returns to Besties to prepare us for all things Burn of the EverFlame! The final installation in her New York Times bestselling Kindred's Curse Saga drops EVERYWHERE on September 8th! That means that exactly one short week from today we will all know how Diem and Luther's journey ends… for better or for worse. How high on The Cryometer™ should you expect to get? We'll tell ya! This interview is completely spoiler free so we hope that it gets you excited for book four, and if you're new here, or to this series, that it'll encourage you to go pick it up! We have deep dives on Spark, Glow, AND Heat if you need a refresher, and a previous Penn Cole interview in which we ask her completely different questions than the ones we dive into today! Today we'll talk about how Penn handled the pressure to get this book out, how Burn is different than the previous three books, what the overarching themes and tropes are, and the unexpected POV's! Penn explains how important redemption and growth are to this story and how the heroine's journey often can look very different from the hero's experience, and why this is important. We also get the tea on whether or not this story is truly finished, what's next on Penn's horizon, and… the Hulu adaptation! Stick around for all of this, PLUS an unexpected smash or pass, Penn Cole style. And make sure to follow Penn @authorpenncole and at PennCole.com!

Send us Fan MailAt this point we think most of us are willing to admit that romance and fantasy novels saved publishing. We watched Barnes & Noble come back from the brink of collapse, Target bring back their book section, and movies made from book adaptations like Wuthering Heights and The Housemaid bring people back to theaters. If you don't believe us, maybe you'll believe math - just go look it up. These genres have historically been diminished in seriousness and importance because women not only see themselves in these stories, but experience joy and pleasure from reading and watching this content. And nothing makes the patriarchy more angry than women having a good time and critiquing the system in the process. So today, in that similar vein, we will be talking about serious and not-so-serious things that we've learned from this community and “kinks” we've unlocked because of the books we've read in the fantasy, romance, and romantasy genres. Because of the tenacity, intelligence, perseverance and all out badassery of the women who came before us, we're able to talk about tentacles, flavored “juices,” tactical pants, mafia men, stalkers, and spicy audio on a public platform. WHAT A DAY TO BE ALIVE!And then we take it even further to random pieces of useful information we (and others) have learned from reading these books, and why this community is so important. Everything from the difference between a Wyvern and a dragon, to bodies preserved in bogs, to how to load a canon are on the table, with an overarching theme of: YOU ARE NOT (AND NEVER) ALONE. We promise. This community has taught us that much.Stick around for all of this, a fave and fail movie edition, and a smash or pass upcoming MMC edition. Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes Friday!…)Shop our Merch line | *  https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.comCheck out these narrator interviews? ⬇️Anthony Palmini gives us the lowdown on what it's like to voice act Rhysand, Kingfisher, AND Slade Ravinger! https://youtu.be/zcCyrlZ5Jcc?si=2k7ULbRPgZl_5pUJCheck out these author interviews? ⬇️Penn Cole talks with us about Strong Female Characters, Feminist Themes, and her debut bestselling Spark of the Everflame Series! https://youtu.be/7ukNImyoObw?si=7C3Y9kOUMN4hfcKbWe interviewed Callie Hart all about her NYT Bestseller Quicksilver! Watch it here! https://youtu.be/CED5s7qDBdQ?si=8xtIRO1IzX6Rsld4Check the official Follow Up Author Interview with Lindsay Straube of the Split or Swallow Universe all about Between Two Kings! https://youtu.be/OW1cxXTVcTc?si=oOxVIzbIheET_bNENikki St. Crowe, the queen of spicy fairy tale retellings chats with us about diving into the land of Oz with West of Wicked! https://youtu.be/wwFYSDKcbtE?si=X6iNmUVAE6Xhmv7B____Shop Bookish Merch we are wearing:Ashley is wearing: Discontinued Crescent City NecklaceLiz is wearing : Obey Me Tee from @darkanddisturbed shop | CODE: VEGAN10 https://darkanddisturbedshop.com/products/obey-tee?_pos=2&_sid=259fdc487&_ss=rAny link with an * is an affiliate link through the service Magic Links and is eligible for a commission to us with no extra cost to you. Thank you for helping support our podcast!Support the showYouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms@BestiesandtheBooksPodcast Besties and the Book Club on Fable!https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358Liz Instagram | TikTok@TheRealLifeVeganWife AshleyInstagram | TikTok@AshleyEllix

Send us Fan MailThe Poison Daughter by Sheila Masterson has taken the Romantasy and Dark Fantasy world by storm and as of August 18th will be rereleased and traditionally published by Zando Publishing in hardcover and dual narrated audiobook! We're here to celebrate with none other than Sheila herself, the beautiful, smart, and incredibly talented woman behind one of our favorite books of the year, multiple monthly picks for Besties and the Book Club, and USA bestselling author of The Poison Daughter! You've seen the iconic purple cover everywhere. You've heard about the chronic illness representation, the sister bond that pulls on every reader's heartstrings, the forced marriage between enemy kingdoms, and a badass female assassin who unalives dangerous men with her poison kiss… until one day a certain man proves he's immune.

Send us Fan MailHave you ever had something bookish AND embarrassing happen to you? We're not shy… and apparently we don't embarrass easily (shocking

Send us Fan MailWell...we finished Iron Gold. This is the part in the show notes where we typically include a quippy little one liner from one of our most favorite Red Rising characters or moments. And whoever gets the inside joke, gets it. Then we laugh (

Send us Fan MailToday we have a very special spoiler free author interview episode for you with young adult Romantasy author Autumn Krause! Autumn is the author of four novels (so far): A Dress for the Wicked, Before the Devil Knows You're Here, Grave Flowers, and coming soon…her very timely and extremely important fourth novel The Gods Will Sing Our Song. Out everywhere (including Audible!) on September 1st, The Gods Will Sing Our Song is a magical and tragic story inspired by her own family's experiences in the World War 2 Japanese American Incarceration camps.We met the lovely and beautiful Autumn at Romantasycon LA where we had the privilege of interviewing her for the Gothica panel, chatting all things horror, dark fantasy, and gothic themes and just knew she was an instant bestie with a big message we can't wait to discuss with her, and share with you all today! This episode is here for us to get to know Autumn better and to find out what you'll be getting into when you pick up her new book The Gods Will Sing Our Song… which every single one of you needs to go pre-order immediately! We also talk in depth about what inspired her to write this book, and why conversations about the darkest parts of our history are still SO incredibly important to keep having. We'll also briefly discuss her previous releases so you guys know what to expect if you decide to deep dive into the backlog before we do OUR deep dive coverage of The Gods Will Sing Our Song, coming soon! Autumn Krause is a writer, young adult author, a gothic romantic at heart and loves spinning stories full of macabre magic. She was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, where her morbid imagination ran rampant—so much so that her parents became concerned and told her to stop writing stories where everyone dies at the end. Most often, she can be found in Orange County, California, wearing a black lace dress while spending time with her husband and three children. Other times, she can be found out with lanterns in the tradition of Emily Dickinson, searching for herself and stories.Recently an offering editor at auction described The Gods Will Sing Our Song as a book that changes the way we look at the world. They said that “Books like these have the power to break our hearts and remake them. They open our eyes to injustice and bring a sense of catharsis to those who've encountered its sharp edge. They shout to be seen and heard and remembered - just as we must remember those who came before us, whose joys and scars go on to guide our own life stories. In my opinion, The Gods Will Sing Our Song is exactly such a book.”Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes Friday!…)Shop our Merch line | *  https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.comCheck out these narrator interviews? ⬇️Anthony Palmini gives us the lowdown on what it's like to voice act Rhysand, Kingfisher, AND Slade Ravinger! https://youtu.be/zcCyrlZ5Jcc?si=2k7ULbRPgZl_5pUJCheck out these author interviews? ⬇️Penn Cole talks with us about Strong Female Characters, Feminist Themes, and her debut bestselling Spark of the Everflame Series! https://youtu.be/7ukNImyoObw?si=7C3Y9kOUMN4hfcKbWe interviewed Callie Hart all about her NYT Bestseller Quicksilver! Watch it here! https://youtu.be/CED5s7qDBdQ?si=8xtIRO1IzX6Rsld4Check the official Follow Up Author Interview with Lindsay Straube of the Split or Swallow Universe all about Between Two Kings! https://youtu.be/OW1cxXTVcTc?si=oOxVIzbIheET_bNENikki St. Crowe, the queen of spicy fairy tale retellings chats with us about diving into the land of Oz with West of Wicked! https://youtu.be/wwFYSDKcbtE?si=X6iNmUVAE6Xhmv7B____Shop Bookish Merch we are wearing:Ashley is wearing: a Twilight Vintage style t-shirt from LambComedy | *  https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT9JWeP68q2yk-I0EzA/ Liz is Wearing our Besties and the books beanie: https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.comAny link with an * is an affiliate link through the service Magic Links and is eligible for a commission to us with no extra cost to you. Thank you for helping support our podcast!Support the showYouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms@BestiesandtheBooksPodcast Besties and the Book Club on Fable!https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358Liz Instagram | TikTok@TheRealLifeVeganWife AshleyInstagram | TikTok@AshleyEllix

Send us Fan Mail“Finish the bucket, or get the box!” At this point most of you are fully aware of what you're getting into with this series, so let us officially induct you into our den of Howlers. Just remember two things: “Omnis Vir Lupus

Send us Fan MailTime to deep dive CJ Leede's newest horror book, Headlights!You want horror, we gave you horror. You want horror, give you horror. Ask for horror, you got horror! You asked for horror, you got it! We're even! We're even, besties! We don't know what more you want from us! (IYKYK!

Send us Fan MailListen closely, my goodman, Golden Son ruined our bloody damn lives… and we're here to fill you in on the heartbreak. ☄️We kicked off Sci-Fi Summer with a full-length episode introducing the genre and setting the scene for a closer analysis of science fiction. We discuss who has historically defined and dominated the genre, its subsequent evolution, and how our newest deep dive obsession, the Red Rising series by Pierce Brown fits into it all. Next, we covered book one to see if it lives up to the hype you all have given it. And boy howdy did it exceed our expectations. Today we're diving into book two: Golden Son. We're out of The Institute and tossed into the “real world,” unforgiving and brutal as it is. We're watching The Rising build and The Society break down (not unlike our main character Darrow) in real time, and the stress… is all-consuming (to put it mildly). We can only examine the implications of real or imagined technology and science on society thoroughly, critically, and responsibly through an intersectional lens. Is Pierce Brown doing this responsibly while also keeping us entertained? We bring you our spoiler free reviews, “Five Sentence Summary” and all our faves and least faves, but also discuss sci-fi themes, differences and similarities to fantasy, the romance, genre miscategorization, lore and fun facts, quotes, character growth and relatability, and most importantly… themes. It might be time to bust out the Cryometer™ because no one is safe in this brutal world and we fear the stakes are only going to get higher. Next week we will be covering the “conclusion” to the original trilogy with Morning Star but don't worry, after that we will continue on with the next three…and finish one day with Red God!Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes Friday!…)Shop our Merch line | *  https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.comCheck out these narrator interviews? ⬇️Anthony Palmini gives us the lowdown on what it's like to voice act Rhysand, Kingfisher, AND Slade Ravinger! https://youtu.be/zcCyrlZ5Jcc?si=2k7ULbRPgZl_5pUJCheck out these author interviews? ⬇️Penn Cole talks with us about Strong Female Characters, Feminist Themes, and her debut bestselling Spark of the Everflame Series! https://youtu.be/7ukNImyoObw?si=7C3Y9kOUMN4hfcKbWe interviewed Callie Hart all about her NYT Bestseller Quicksilver! Watch it here! https://youtu.be/CED5s7qDBdQ?si=8xtIRO1IzX6Rsld4Check the official Follow Up Author Interview with Lindsay Straube of the Split or Swallow Universe all about Between Two Kings! https://youtu.be/OW1cxXTVcTc?si=oOxVIzbIheET_bNENikki St. Crowe, the queen of spicy fairy tale retellings chats with us about diving into the land of Oz with West of Wicked! https://youtu.be/wwFYSDKcbtE?si=X6iNmUVAE6Xhmv7B____Shop Bookish Merch we are wearing:Ashley is wearing: A custom Impressive Wingspan tshirt from @DownTheBondofficial | Use Code: BestiesandtheBooks for 15% | https://www.downthebond.comLiz is wearing: an Aedion hoodie from @thebeanworkshop | use our affiliate code “BOOKBESTIES10”)  | * https://www.thebeanworkshop.store/BOOKBESTIES10 Any link with an * is an affiliate link through the service Magic Links and is eligible for a commission to us with no extra cost to you. Thank you for helping support our podcast!Support the showYouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms@BestiesandtheBooksPodcast Besties and the Book Club on Fable!https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358Liz Instagram | TikTok@TheRealLifeVeganWife AshleyInstagram | TikTok@AshleyEllix

Send us Fan MailToday we're bringing you an entirely spoiler free fun bestie chat with the Queen of bookish comedy: Jess @thelostbooksofjess and the host of the podcast  ⁨@fantasyfanreadspod⁩ ! Jess's hilarious reels, polls, and character boards introduced us to her bookstagram years ago, and here we are today yapping about unpopular bookish opinions and pet peeves, ready to get the people goin'! Get to know Jess, the person behind the bookish account and podcast. How did she get started? What are the books that made her? We ask her all about her favorite reads so far this year, her most anticipated release of the fall, what she thinks is the most underrated book series, and what her favorite content to create is. The answers might surprise you! Then we move into the unpopular opinions section with ideas like: “romance doesn't need to have a happily ever after,” and “yes, you CAN like the movie better than the book!” And just when you thought you were safe, we bring you our bookish pet peeves, making it known to the community that we just can't stand more than one epilogue at the end of a book, and useless dust jackets with no summary are the worst! Stick around for even more unpopular opinions and pet peeves we'll have all of you vote on, plus an on-the-spot eff, marry,

Send us Fan MailSci-Fi Summer is here in full force, boyo! Are you prime?

Send us Fan MailWhat the heck is science fiction and how is it different (or suspiciously similar

Send us Fan MailLive from the Barbeque Hotdog Store… It's Tuesday afternoon! Also known as our annual celebration of everything “American” and our Fourth of July

Send us Fan MailWe're fiiine. Totally fiiine. We hope you're fiiine too! Here's your reminder to go read The Ballad of Falling Dragons by Sarah A Parker. Book two in the Moonfall Series, the follow up to When the Moon Hatched, and what we now know to be the “middle book” in the trilogy hits hard and scores high on our Cry-ometer (IYKYK

Send us Fan MailYou asked for some horror coverage, and that's exactly what you're getting! Today we're here with CJ Leede, THE Queen of horror, to get to know her, introduce her brand new book Headlights and discuss why horror with feminist themes is so important and is resonating on a different level with readers right now. Don't worry, this episode is entirely spoiler free, so if you're horror curious but not sure if it's for you, stick around to find out why we think the thriller and fantasy girlies might just be on track to embrace a new, spookier genre.Headlights is now available everywhere you find your favorite books including Audible (starring audiobook narrator Andrew Eiden who many of you may know as Teddy Hamilton…!). The scream we scrempt when CJ told us that fact should've been recorded - oh wait! It was. What can we say? It was the best possible audiobook surprise. We talk briefly about her previous comedic slasher release Maeve Fly, the USA Today bestseller, winner of the Golden Poppy Octavia E. Butler Award, the Splatterpunk Award for Best Novel, and a Bram Stoker Award nominee, and her second apocalyptic feminist horror novel American Rapture named one of the best horror books of 2024 by Esquire Magazine, a Goodreads and Publisher's Weekly Editor's pick and A Splatterpunk Award finalist. What should you expect when you pick up one of CJ's books? Why are they all wildly different? And how scary is Headlights, really? In addition to being a horror writer, CJ is a hiker and Trekkie, and when she's not driving around the country, she can be found in LA with her boyfriend and rescue dogs. Make sure to go follow her @ceejthemoment for all the latest updates on her book tour! We're bringing you all of this, plus CJ's “Fave & Fail” Headlights edition, and a rapid fire smash or pass with all of our favorite horror movie men. Check out CJ Leede here https://us.macmillan.com/author/cjleedeAnd on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ceejthemoment?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes Friday!…)Shop our Merch line | *  https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.comCheck out these narrator interviews? ⬇️Anthony Palmini gives us the lowdown on what it's like to voice act Rhysand, Kingfisher, AND Slade Ravinger! https://youtu.be/zcCyrlZ5Jcc?si=2k7ULbRPgZl_5pUJCheck out these author interviews? ⬇️Penn Cole talks with us about Strong Female Characters, Feminist Themes, and her debut bestselling Spark of the Everflame Series! https://youtu.be/7ukNImyoObw?si=7C3Y9kOUMN4hfcKbWe interviewed Callie Hart all about her NYT Bestseller Quicksilver! Watch it here! https://youtu.be/CED5s7qDBdQ?si=8xtIRO1IzX6Rsld4Check the official Follow Up Author Interview with Lindsay Straube of the Split or Swallow Universe all about Between Two Kings! https://youtu.be/OW1cxXTVcTc?si=oOxVIzbIheET_bNENikki St. Crowe, the queen of spicy fairy tale retellings chats with us about diving into the land of Oz with West of Wicked! https://youtu.be/wwFYSDKcbtE?si=X6iNmUVAE6Xhmv7B____Shop Bookish Merch we are wearing:Ashley is wearing a wolf hoodie from @killcrew | https://killcrew.co/products/lone-wolf-hoodie-black?srsltid=AfmBOorw2XGvXG1YQi4SGSSR_cI7Sh-x7v3RKVQAWNx6PpTUIvwBuhQCLiz is wearing one of our Besties and the Books Cropped Hoodies | * https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.com/products/cropped-hoodie-besties-anti-social-crowAny link with an * is an affiliate link through the service Magic Links and is eligible for a commission to us with no extra cost to you. Thank you for helping support our podcast!Support the showYouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms@BestiesandtheBooksPodcast Besties and the Book Club on Fable!https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358Liz Instagram | TikTok@TheRealLifeVeganWife AshleyInstagram | TikTok@AshleyEllix

Send us Fan MailSo, here's the thing… Today we're bringing you a spoiler free, homework free, judgement free (kinda) episode where we ruin fantasy books for you by being naysayers. We're bringing light to what we're calling “Fantasy Probs,” aka those things in our favorite books that pull us right out of the story because… well, they're just not realistic. And hey, if you like this go check out our first ruining fantasy episode for more! Believe us, we know this sounds completely insane when we have no problems accepting hidden realms, magical creatures, and hidden powers. But there are just certain things we can't deny that stand out as simply unbelievable. Like, shadow daddies almost never eat… anything other than you know what… or the fact that no one has a day job, inns with one bed exist around every remote corner, and everyone's wielding swords after slashing their palms left and right. Things are just not adding up. We've got spicy time with no showers, MMCs winking and giving us the icks, medieval settings with modern names and phrases, and the undeniable fantasy urge to trust a person in their teens or early twenties to literally save the planet. We're bringing you all of this, plus a weekly fave and fail about a lost diamond and “going into the woods…” and a smash or pass “petty reasons why I dnf-ed a book” edition. Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes Friday!…)Shop our Merch line | *  https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.comCheck out these narrator interviews? ⬇️Anthony Palmini gives us the lowdown on what it's like to voice act Rhysand, Kingfisher, AND Slade Ravinger! https://youtu.be/zcCyrlZ5Jcc?si=2k7ULbRPgZl_5pUJCheck out these author interviews? ⬇️Penn Cole talks with us about Strong Female Characters, Feminist Themes, and her debut bestselling Spark of the Everflame Series! https://youtu.be/7ukNImyoObw?si=7C3Y9kOUMN4hfcKbWe interviewed Callie Hart all about her NYT Bestseller Quicksilver! Watch it here! https://youtu.be/CED5s7qDBdQ?si=8xtIRO1IzX6Rsld4Check the official Follow Up Author Interview with Lindsay Straube of the Split or Swallow Universe all about Between Two Kings! https://youtu.be/OW1cxXTVcTc?si=oOxVIzbIheET_bNENikki St. Crowe, the queen of spicy fairy tale retellings chats with us about diving into the land of Oz with West of Wicked! https://youtu.be/wwFYSDKcbtE?si=X6iNmUVAE6Xhmv7B____Shop Bookish Merch we are wearing:Ashley is wearing a Bryce Starborn Crescent City Shirt from @caffeineandCurses | https://caffeineandcurses.com/collections/crescent-city-merch/products/bryce-quinlan-t-shirt-crescent-city?variant=43137855357128Liz is wearing our Besties Pullover Color Anti Social Crow Design | https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.com/products/pullover-hoodie-besties-color-anti-social-crowAny link with an * is an affiliate link through the service Magic Links and is eligible for a commission to us with no extra cost to you. Thank you for helping support our podcast!Support the showYouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms@BestiesandtheBooksPodcast Besties and the Book Club on Fable!https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358Liz Instagram | TikTok@TheRealLifeVeganWife AshleyInstagram | TikTok@AshleyEllix

Send us Fan MailRites of the Starling, Rites of the Starling, Rites of the Starling…if you say it three times, does The Guardian appear?

From three Spider-Man films to Mean Girls, Mare of Easttown, and now leading the rom-com Finding Emily, Angourie Rice has been one of the most quietly compelling actresses of her generation. And she has been doing it since she was six years old. In this chat with Josh, Angourie opens up about what it's really like being a child actor, navigating a world of adults as a child, and the people-pleasing that made it hard to stand up for herself. She talks candidly about body image and costume fittings, why comparison is something she still struggles with and the incredible advice that helped her overcome it.  Angourie also gets into what genuinely frustrates her about the way women are written on screen, why the phrase "strong female character" needs to be retired, and why the responsibility for women's safety shouldn't fall on women. Plus, she tells the story of her grade seven boyfriend ditching her for laser tag, reveals her karaoke go-to, and shares what she learned about British university culture filming in Manchester. 

Send us Fan MailRemember two years ago (almost to the day!) when this new dragon book came onto the Romantasy scene called When The Moon Hatched, we voted for it as a Besties & the Book Club read (going in completely blind), and it took us all by storm?! Well, we do! We're here today to officially deep dive When the Moon Hatched by the amazing Sarah A. Parker to finally do one of our favorite dragon books of all time justice. Hey… it might even be our most favorite dragon book to date. Just sayin'… The world building is insane, the magic system complex, the writing immaculate, and the CHARACTERS?! Don't even get us started on Raeve and Kaan… they are unmatched.However, we understand that this isn't necessarily a book that everyone can digest easily. This was a reread for both of us and as we took notes, looked over the index, and mapped this episode out for you it became increasingly clear exactly how much vital info. we missed the first time. So today is all about recapping, talking our faves and fails dragon edition, sharing lore, speculations, and Easter eggs with you in preparation of the release of book two in the Moonfall Series: The Ballad of Falling Dragons out on May 19th!If you've already read it and you need a refresher, we hope this helps! If you're new to Moonfall and you want our spoiler free reviews at the top of the episode, we've got you! And don't forget to jump into our free Fable book club chat for When the Moon Hatched (book two coming soon!) if you need to debrief and check out our initial reactions to book one at the beginning of episode 11! YES, ELEVEN. Linked below. Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes Friday!…)Shop our Merch line | *  https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.comCheck out these narrator interviews? ⬇️Anthony Palmini gives us the lowdown on what it's like to voice act Rhysand, Kingfisher, AND Slade Ravinger! https://youtu.be/zcCyrlZ5Jcc?si=2k7ULbRPgZl_5pUJCheck out these author interviews? ⬇️Penn Cole talks with us about Strong Female Characters, Feminist Themes, and her debut bestselling Spark of the Everflame Series! https://youtu.be/7ukNImyoObw?si=7C3Y9kOUMN4hfcKbWe interviewed Callie Hart all about her NYT Bestseller Quicksilver! Watch it here! https://youtu.be/CED5s7qDBdQ?si=8xtIRO1IzX6Rsld4____Shop Bookish Merch we are wearing:Ashley is wearing a Fly or Die Dragon T-shirt from @CaffeineandCurses | https://caffeineandcurses.comLiz is wearing “I'm a Book Dragon” Clash of Tides tee from the Author Alivia Maar @livesbookshelf (gifted in PR)Any link with an * is an affiliate link through the service Magic Links and is eligible for a commission to us with no extra cost to you. Thank you for helping support our podcast!Support the showYouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms@BestiesandtheBooksPodcast Besties and the Book Club on Fable!https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358Liz Instagram | TikTok@TheRealLifeVeganWife AshleyInstagram | TikTok@AshleyEllix

Send us Fan MailDid you read The Hunger Games or Divergent and love it with your whole heart but want more adult romance… or maybe even some fantasy? Do you love dystopian shows like The Walking Dead and Fallout but wish the entire time for those main characters to just kiss already!? We know we're not alone in this, and we know that Above the Ashes by K.M. Lister, book one in her Survivors of the Smoke series, will scratch that itch.Today's episode is our follow up deep dive into this dystopian romantasy after our spoiler free author interview! We talk about all things post-apocalyptic and dystopian with one of our favorite indie authors, get to know her story and inspiration, and discuss themes, sequels, characters, and even some fun announcements. So today we're diving into ALL the spoilers, giving our five sentence summary and reviews, and basically convincing you all to read this book!Above the Ashes has multi-pov, found family, hidden identity, witches, fae, a curse, multiple realms, a slowww burn, and all the amazing world building we expect from the first fantasy book in a series! It leaves us with an amazing cliffhanger and the promise that book two will take us to other realms and expand this dystopian hellscape in the most unique ways. And we cannot wait! Stick around for all this, a fave and fail Disney cruise and upcoming reads edition, and a smash or pass with a really big lumberjack selling paper products, and a classic tiger from a childhood classic.Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes Friday!…)Shop our Merch line | *  https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.comCheck out our interview with K M Lister ⬇️https://youtu.be/lgcGfz_NxXY?si=mBNyhs1l8FCC6OS8Check out these author interviews? ⬇️Penn Cole talks with us about Strong Female Characters, Feminist Themes, and her debut bestselling Spark of the Everflame Series! https://youtu.be/7ukNImyoObw?si=7C3Y9kOUMN4hfcKbCheck the official Follow Up Author Interview with Lindsay Straube of the Split or Swallow Universe all about Between Two Kings! https://youtu.be/OW1cxXTVcTc?si=oOxVIzbIheET_bNE____Shop Bookish Merch we are wearing:Ashley is wearing: Besties and the Books merch and a custom jersey made by Etsy account: @CustomJerseyGoodLiz is wearing :  A “Books are Trashy” tank by @darkanddisturbedshop | https://darkanddisturbedshop.com/products/trashy-micro-rib-racer-tank-top?_pos=3&_sid=eccd2768a&_ss=r | Code: VEGAN10Any link with an * is an affiliate link through the service Magic Links and is eligible for a commission to us with no extra cost to you. Thank you for helping support our podcast!Support the showYouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms@BestiesandtheBooksPodcast Besties and the Book Club on Fable!https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358Liz Instagram | TikTok@TheRealLifeVeganWife AshleyInstagram | TikTok@AshleyEllix

Send us Fan MailLet's travel back to Oz in this West of Wicked Book! The day we've been waiting for since we started this podcast has come… the day when one of our favorite authors of all time's people pop into OUR inbox to talk with our people (just us) for some crazy reason and invite us to yap about her new book. After we passed away, revived ourselves, and regained composure we immediately sent an email back to let them know that yes… we'd love to have NIKKI ST. CROWE on to promote West of Wicked! Today we're completely fangirling over chatting with originally indie published and now trad published queen of spicy Romantasy reimaginings Nikki St.Crowe! We're here to celebrate her newly released spicy Oz retelling: West of Wicked, book one in The Great and Terrible Land Series!  Think: Oz but Dorothy is badass, there are four witches, and the tinman, scarecrow, lion, and wizard are hot AF… You know, just exactly what all of us fairytale girlies have been fantasizing about our entire lives. Today's episode will be completely spoiler free, so stick around to get to know Nikki better and to find out what you'll be getting into when you pick up West of Wicked, or any of her other spicy fairytales, like her Vicious Lost Boys Series which begins with The Never King. We talk about what inspires her, how the transition from indie to trad publishing has been, themes, strong female characters, her audiobooks being unmatched in the romance genre, and what she has planned for the future.Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making this possible. Follow Nikki on Instagram for the latest updates https://www.instagram.com/nikkistcrowe?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==Get your copy of West of Wicked today! https://go.magik.ly/ml/3pvxs/Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes Friday!…)Check out these author interviews? ⬇️Penn Cole talks with us about Strong Female Characters, Feminist Themes, and her debut bestselling Spark of the Everflame Series! https://youtu.be/7ukNImyoObw?si=7C3Y9kOUMN4hfcKbCheck the official Follow Up Author Interview with Lindsay Straube of the Split or Swallow Universe all about Between Two Kings! https://youtu.be/OW1cxXTVcTc?si=oOxVIzbIheET_bNE____Shop Bookish Merch we are wearing:Ashley is wearing a Wicked OZ shirt from @TrendyStreetCouture but no longer makes this t-shirtLiz is wearing our Besties and the Books Cropped hoodie from our Merch Drop | * https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.com/en-usd/products/cropped-hoodie-besties-anti-social-crowAny link with an * is an affiliate link through the service Magic Links and is eligible for a commission to us with no extra cost to you. Thank you for helping support our podcast!Support the showYouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms@BestiesandtheBooksPodcast Besties and the Book Club on Fable!https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358Liz Instagram | TikTok@TheRealLifeVeganWife AshleyInstagram | TikTok@AshleyEllix

Send us Fan MailYou've heard us scream her praises over and over for the last two years and finally… She's here with a new book and big news to spill! K.M. Lister, the author behind one of our very favorite Romantasy rip-your-heart-out one offs The Shackled Serpent is here to chat with us about her newest release Above the Ashes, a post apocalyptic Romantasy and book one in her Survivors of the Smoke Trilogy. So sit back, get those book orders in, and prep to read with this spoiler free look behind the curtain!Above the Ashes is a dystopian post apocalyptic story about an FMC who cannot touch any living thing without turning it to ash. We have different realms, found family, a perfectly written slow burn, and a bleak landscape inspired by dystopian settings. Think: Fallout, but in K.M.'s version we might get some romance, a magic system, and some compelling world building with our horrific curse-riddled hellscape! We know you all will eat this up just like we did! We know that K.M. is an absolute master at making us feel ALL the feelings, and we can't wait for you all to jump on this bandwagon. We talk about the writing process, self publishing pros and cons, additional works coming down the pipeline, character inspo, deep themes, and drop two BIG pieces of news. One is disguised as a smash or pass, and the other is an exciting announcement you'll hear here first! Follow K M Lister on Instagram @EarthToKace  | https://www.instagram.com/earthtokace?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes Friday!…)Shop our Merch line | *  https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.comCheck out these author interviews? ⬇️Penn Cole talks with us about Strong Female Characters, Feminist Themes, and her debut bestselling Spark of the Everflame Series! https://youtu.be/7ukNImyoObw?si=7C3Y9kOUMN4hfcKbCheck the official Follow Up Author Interview with Lindsay Straube of the Split or Swallow Universe all about Between Two Kings! https://youtu.be/OW1cxXTVcTc?si=oOxVIzbIheET_bNE____Shop Bookish Merch we are wearing:Ashley is wearing:  a Twilight Vintage style t-shirt from LambComedy | * https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT9JWeP68q2yk-I0EzA/ Liz is wearing :  our Besties and the Books branded Cropped Hoodie | * https://besties-and-the-Finding Fantasy ReadsFully narrated fantasy stories to help you find your next favorite fantasy author!Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the showYouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms@BestiesandtheBooksPodcast Besties and the Book Club on Fable!https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358Liz Instagram | TikTok@TheRealLifeVeganWife AshleyInstagram | TikTok@AshleyEllix

Send us Fan MailToday we're taking a deep dive right into book five in The Plated Prisoner Series by Raven Kennedy: Gold. This is the book in the series where the tone completely changes, our main characters are forced to evolve individually,while “side” characters get their legs, and breaking generational curses, healing trauma, and revolution are at the forefront. It's the setup for the epic conclusion, and definitely reads as a “part one…” so how do we feel about that? We give you our spoiler free star and spice ratings and faves and fails, then dive into the five sentence summary (multi POV style), the tea on the audiobook and all our unfiltered thoughts, and then discuss themes, quotes, and why this book might be more difficult for some but is absolutely necessary to build character arcs, and pivotal overall to the series. Did we find Easter eggs? (Yes. Liz found two

Send us Fan MailWell, we finally read our first Jane Austen Novel… and OF COURSE it had to be Pride and Prejudice! We needed to know what the hype was about, and why this book is such a pivotal piece of the romance canon. What is that hand flex all about??!!Welcome to our newest bonus series where we're taking deep dives into some of the most beloved classics of our time. We kicked it off with Wuthering Heights, and today we're moving on to our Jane Austen journey with a cutie little crash course into Pride and Prejudice.We decided that rather than attempt to become overnight experts we would phone a friend! And today Sarah @sarahsliteraryworld is here to give us a little help with Pride and Prejudice as first time readers and helps provide us with the tips and tricks we need to really understand this novel. Sarah breaks down the Bennett family dynamics, the setting and timeline, gives us some background on Jane Austen herself, outlines central themes, and gives us all her advice on how to truly immerse yourself in this story. We hope that you enjoy this bonus mini episode, and will join us for our future deep dive into the novel and movies! And don't forget to go follow @Sarahsliteraryworld | https://www.instagram.com/sarahsliteraryworld/ for some more amazing bookish content! Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes Friday!…)Shop our Merch line | *  https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.comCheck out these narrator interviews? ⬇️Anthony Palmini gives us the lowdown on what it's like to voice act Rhysand, Kingfisher, AND Slade Ravinger! https://youtu.be/zcCyrlZ5Jcc?si=2k7ULbRPgZl_5pUJCheck out these author interviews? ⬇️Penn Cole talks with us about Strong Female Characters, Feminist Themes, and her debut bestselling Spark of the Everflame Series! https://youtu.be/7ukNImyoObw?si=7C3Y9kOUMN4hfcKbWe interviewed Callie Hart all about her NYT Bestseller Quicksilver! Watch it here! https://youtu.be/CED5s7qDBdQ?si=8xtIRO1IzX6Rsld4Check the official Follow Up Author Interview with Lindsay Straube of the Split or Swallow Universe all about Between Two Kings! https://youtu.be/OW1cxXTVcTc?si=oOxVIzbIheET_bNE____Shop Bookish Merch we are wearing:Ashley is wearing our merch:  Black Crop Besties Hoodie Liz is wearing our merch:  Grey Full Zip Besties HoodieShop the collection: https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.comAny link with an * is an affiliate link through the service Magic Links and is eligible for a commission to us with no exSupport the showYouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms@BestiesandtheBooksPodcast Besties and the Book Club on Fable!https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358Liz Instagram | TikTok@TheRealLifeVeganWife AshleyInstagram | TikTok@AshleyEllix

Send a textWhat's it like going to a bookcon? What are some tips and tricks we have to make the most of your romantasycon experience? We'll tell ya! At the beginning of this year we set some podcast goals for 2026 and shared them with you all… and just a week later we were invited to join Fabled Fantasy Events for their 2026 Romantasycon event in LA as media partners! To go to a bookcon in a professional capacity was an absolute dream come true, and a way for us to really see that this is just the beginning! Because of you and all the amazing people we've met in the book world, we hope to do many more events in the future. So THANK YOU for listening. Without our Crow Cult we'd just be two silly ladies yappin' about books… with you, we get to be a MURDER of crows yappin' about books.

Send a textToday we're taking a DEEP dive right into book four in The Plated Prisoner Series by Raven Kennedy: Glow. What happens after the FMC realizes her power and lets her feminine rage free? And how does our MMC navigate that? This book is all about that transition… but just when we thought we could relax a little we're thrown another major curveball and the rug is pulled out from under us (and every character) once again.

#428 Half a Melted KitKat - Richard reveals that he is (according to the press) boycotting the Edinburgh Fringe, but that doesn't mean the end of podcasts from the Festival necessarily. His guest is Taskmaster songstress and sausage painter, Fern Brady. They mainly talk about her remarkable new book Strong Female Character, detailing her life, career and discovery that she is autistic, how the media is weighted against the working class, how TV fails to depict the truth about strip clubs, how comedy was a world where she suddenly fitted in, why Taskmaster was a TV show where she also fitted in, why would anyone get married, unsettling Alex Horn and are your relatives coming back in bird form?Buy Fern's book - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Audible-Strong-Female-Character/dp/B0BJ2SXTQF/Come and see us live http://richardherring.com/rhlstpSUPPORT THE SHOW!See details of the RHLSTP LIVE DATES Watch our TWITCH CHANNELBecome a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE Buy DVDs and books from GO FASTER STRIPE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No longer the damsels in distress waiting in the castle to be rescued, women and girls in geek culture have grown strong, independent, and, frankly, bad-ass over the years, and we love them all the more for it.Whether Princess Peach is powerhousing through koopas, Donna Noble is sparring brilliantly with both Doctor and Dalek, or Molly Weasley is making Chuck Norris eat his vegetables, each has uniquely feminine traits stronger than any man!Today's root beer is Slice.Intro and Outro music by Stockmusic331 on Pond5Send a text

Send a textToday is for the real MVPs. Just when you thought things over here at Besties and the Books Podcast couldn't get any weirder… may we present to you our 100th episode filmed from our hotel room at Romantasycon Los Angeles 2026, slumber party style! We'll be bringing you a full recap video of RomantasyCon Bookcon in all of its glory, but before then, please enjoy this “after dark” gardening

Send a textFamous last words: “We can cover Wuthering Heights in one episode. It'll be fine.”

Send a textToday we're diving right into book three in The Plated Prisoner Series by Raven Kennedy: Gleam. This book has one of the most satisfying character arcs we've ever read, culminating in an ending we never saw coming. If you enjoy a good feminine rage story, prepare yourself to experience one of the most impactful instances of that trope in any Romantasy we've read to date! We give you our spoiler free star and spice ratings and faves and fails, then dive into the five sentence summary, the tea on the audiobook and all our unfiltered thoughts, and then discuss why and how fantasy books can help us process hard things and inspire us to believe in our inner strength and ability to grow into the powerful beings we're meant to be. Did we find Easter eggs? Do we have unanswered questions? What about plot holes? Are we excited to read the next one? We dive into all this and more, plus a fave and fail about Wuthering Heights, Lord of the Rings, and Molly Moonplume.Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes Friday!…)Shop our Merch line | *  https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.comCheck out these narrator interviews? ⬇️Anthony Palmini gives us the lowdown on what it's like to voice act Rhysand, Kingfisher, AND Slade Ravinger! https://youtu.be/zcCyrlZ5Jcc?si=2k7ULbRPgZl_5pUJCheck out these author interviews? ⬇️Penn Cole talks with us about Strong Female Characters, Feminist Themes, and her debut bestselling Spark of the Everflame Series! https://youtu.be/7ukNImyoObw?si=7C3Y9kOUMN4hfcKbWe interviewed Callie Hart all about her NYT Bestseller Quicksilver! Watch it here! https://youtu.be/CED5s7qDBdQ?si=8xtIRO1IzX6Rsld4Check the official Follow Up Author Interview with Lindsay Straube of the Split or Swallow Universe all about Between Two Kings! https://youtu.be/OW1cxXTVcTc?si=oOxVIzbIheET_bNE____Shop Bookish Merch we are wearing:Ashley is wearing: The Last Bookstore sweater from @TheLastBookstore in LALiz is wearing :  A Feminine Rage Crewneck by @darkanddisturbedshop | Code: VEGAN10 | https://darkanddisturbedshop.com/products/rage-crewneck?_pos=2&_sid=221487d37&_ss=rAny link with an * is an affiliate link through the service Magic Links and is eligible for a commission to us with no extra cost to you. Thank you for helping support our podcast!Support the showYouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms@BestiesandtheBooksPodcast Besties and the Book Club on Fable!https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358Liz Instagram | TikTok@TheRealLifeVeganWife AshleyInstagram | TikTok@AshleyEllix

Send a textWe're fantasy readers! You can get us to believe anything! Almost… Today we're unpacking all those things in fantasy and romance books that have us thinking…

Send a textHave you officially jumped on the Wuthering Heights bandwagon yet? If you're anything like us, reading this classic novel by Emily Brontë for the first time, you may find yourself thinking “WTF!?” on every other page, confused about the point of view, the narrator, the timelines, and the ghosts…? And we get it! So do not fret; we've got you! Welcome to our newest bonus series where we're taking deep dives into some of the most beloved classics of our time, kicking it off with Wuthering Heights! We're just in time for the new and controversial movie written and directed by Emerald Fennell… starring Margo Robbie and Jacob Elordi and marketed as “the greatest love story of all time.”

Send a textToday we're diving right into book two in The Plated Prisoner Series by Raven Kennedy: Glint. This book is the perfect journey story (both literal and figurative), and follow up to the polarizing book one. If you weren't hooked by the end of Gild, we hope you're hooked now, because these books have A LOT of important things to say. We give you our spoiler free star and spice ratings and faves and fails, then dive into the five sentence summary, the tea on the audiobook and all our unfiltered thoughts, and then discuss why and how fantasy books can help us process hard things like abuse and trauma in a safe, neutral space. And why Romantasy (and in particular Raven Kennedy) does that so well. Did we find Easter eggs? Do we have unanswered questions? What about plot holes? Are we excited to read the next one? We dive into all this and more, plus a smash or pass with our favorite treasure hoarder, and a luchador with a heart of gold. Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes Friday!…)Shop our Merch line | *  https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.comCheck out these narrator interviews? ⬇️Anthony Palmini gives us the lowdown on what it's like to voice act Rhysand, Kingfisher, AND Slade Ravinger! https://youtu.be/zcCyrlZ5Jcc?si=2k7ULbRPgZl_5pUJCheck out these author interviews? ⬇️Penn Cole talks with us about Strong Female Characters, Feminist Themes, and her debut bestselling Spark of the Everflame Series! https://youtu.be/7ukNImyoObw?si=7C3Y9kOUMN4hfcKbWe interviewed Callie Hart all about her NYT Bestseller Quicksilver! Watch it here! https://youtu.be/CED5s7qDBdQ?si=8xtIRO1IzX6Rsld4Check the official Follow Up Author Interview with Lindsay Straube of the Split or Swallow Universe all about Between Two Kings! https://youtu.be/OW1cxXTVcTc?si=oOxVIzbIheET_bNE____Shop Bookish Merch we are wearing!Ashley is wearing: Tye Dye Skeleton Hoodie | * https://go.magik.ly/ml/3hgv9/Liz is wearing :  Our Crop Besties & the Books Anti Social Book Club Hoodie | * https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.com/en-usd/products/cropped-hoodie-besties-anti-social-crowAny link with an * is an affiliate link through the service Magic Links and is eligible for a commission to us with no extra cost to you. Thank you for helping support our podcast!Support the showYouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms@BestiesandtheBooksPodcast Besties and the Book Club on Fable!https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358Liz Instagram | TikTok@TheRealLifeVeganWife AshleyInstagram | TikTok@AshleyEllix

Send us a textOur 2025 Reading Wrap Up 2.0 is here in all of its spoiler free glory! We're giving you our one sentence star and spice rating for every book we read from July to December of last year, so get your pad and pencil out to add to your TBR… or to cross some things off… depending on how you look at it. We're bringing you over 100 book reviews and then going over our yearly bookish goal recap from 2025 and reset for 2026.First and foremost, we want to thank each and every one of you for coming along with us on this amazing podcast journey. As we go over our bookish goals of 2025, we realize that we were able to cross SO MANY off the list because of you, like interviewing dream authors, reaching 1k on YouTube, and doing four bonus series! We've already accomplished one big one of 2026: moderating author panels at RomantasyCon! We hope to meet even more of our reading and podcast goals this year so we can continue bringing you fun content, and we know we will because of our book besties.

Send us a textDo you love Audiobooks? Well, hold onto your buttz! Today we have a very special completely spoiler free interview episode for you. We're bringing you something (someone?) new and exciting to go along with our deep dive series for the Plated Prisoner books by Raven Kenneny, going on now! We're chatting with none other than the man behind our favorite voices…including THE Slade Ravinger… Anthony Palmini! Yes, you heard that right: he's the voice of some of our most treasured MMC's like Kingfisher from the Fae and Alchemy series by Callie Hart and Rhysand in the dramatized adaptation of A Court of Thorns & Roses by Sarah J Maas… and we want to know… how did he get here? He has a corner on the Romantasy shadow daddy market, and we need to know what that's like? No pressure at all! And maybe if we're extra lucky he might just show off his talents a little and answer some listener submitted questions! Anthony has over 10 years in the professional voice acting field, doing everything from voice overs for commercials, to audiobooks, to composing music for independent films. He does video editing and directing, writing for online production companies, video editing for brand names and television studios, and has even been part of a comedy troupe. We think it's safe to say that he knows his stuff, and that's the reason why he has become such a vital and beloved member of the book community. 

Send us a textJust in case you haven't heard… our first full length deep dive series for 2026 is none other than THE Plated Prisoner by Raven Kennedy! Today we're kicking off this (at least) six-book, and seven-part journey with book one: Gild.We know that this series can be triggering, controversial, or even so slow to start (for some

Send us a textWe're baaaaAAAk! And we're bringing you a very special episode to kick off the new year! Something we've never done in a standalone episode before… it's a book versus movie showdown with a deep dive into The Housemaid by Freida McFadden and a comparison deep dive into the 2025 movie adaptation starring Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney. Which was better the book or the movie?Thrillers are a genre that we historically haven't covered much here on the podcast, but the hype surrounding this story encouraged us to go down the rabbit hole… and boy howdy a new type of episode was born. We give you the five sentence summary with a "Did that happen in the movie?!” twist, and an on the spot “Which was better?” We give star and spice ratings for both (spoiler free!) and then go over the tropes, reviews, the characters, and our favorite book vs. movie moments.Do we understand the hype and fandom surrounding The Housemaid after doing the research? Are we reading more Freida McFadden books? And do we have unanswered questions… that only sequels can answer? Stick around for our yap sesh all about fem rage and what we hope movies like his can do for the film industry as a whole. But not before a new year's goal fave and fail and a smash or pass with a follow up and a… punk rock turtle? Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes Friday!…)Shop our Merch line | *  https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.comCheck out these author interviews? ⬇️Penn Cole talks with us about Strong Female Characters, Feminist Themes, and her debut bestselling Spark of the Everflame Series! https://youtu.be/7ukNImyoObw?si=7C3Y9kOUMN4hfcKbWe interviewed Callie Hart all about her NYT Bestseller Quicksilver! Watch it here! https://youtu.be/CED5s7qDBdQ?si=8xtIRO1IzX6Rsld4Check the official Follow Up Author Interview with Lindsay Straube of the Split or Swallow Universe all about Between Two Kings! https://youtu.be/OW1cxXTVcTc?si=oOxVIzbIheET_bNE____Shop Bookish Merch we are wearing:Ashley is wearing: A Kejari embroidered sweater from @TheBeanWorkshop (use our affiliate code “BOOKBESTIES10”)  | * https://www.thebeanworkshop.store/BOOKBESTIES10 Liz is wearing : Our Besties And The BooSpeculative Fiction Writing Made Simple: Write, Edit, and Publish Your Debut NovelMost writing podcasts just inspire. This one teaches the craft skills that hook readers.Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the showYouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms@BestiesandtheBooksPodcast Besties and the Book Club on Fable!https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358Liz Instagram | TikTok@TheRealLifeVeganWife AshleyInstagram | TikTok@AshleyEllix

Send us a textIt's the most wonderful time… of the year? Happy Holidays from us to you! We hope you're surviving the chaos, insanity, and general family drama. So in true Besties & the Books fashion, we're here to bring you some distraction and laughs to help carry you through the madness, and to remind you that you're not alone… because “It's Christmas and we're all in misery!” (As the famous Clark Griswold would say.)In our last episode of the year, we've got everything from stripper discrimination, college-level microwave mac and cheese Christmas dinner, and DIY gift complaints… to the classics like absentee fathers, unconventional food choices… and headwear requests? Come with us on this journey to determine who the holiday a holes really are. Plus, we start with a fave and fail Christmas treat edition, give some holiday book recommendations, and end on a high note with a classical unhinged smash or pass.Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes Friday!…)Shop our Merch line | * https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.comCheck out these author interviews? ⬇️Need more Halloween reads in your life? Find out if “Halloweentown for adults” with Gilmore Girls vibes might be for you with our Haven Ever After Hazel Mack Interview! https://youtu.be/-kDxchCTysw?si=KpEbcsCHAniU-JTSPenn Cole talks with us about Strong Female Characters, Feminist Themes, and her debut bestselling Spark of the Everflame Series! https://youtu.be/7ukNImyoObw?si=7C3Y9kOUMN4hfcKbWe interviewed Callie Hart all about her NYT Bestseller Quicksilver! Watch it here! https://youtu.be/CED5s7qDBdQ?si=8xtIRO1IzX6Rsld4Check the official Follow Up Author Interview with Lindsay Straube of the Split or Swallow Universe all about Between Two Kings! https://youtu.be/OW1cxXTVcTc?si=oOxVIzbIheET_bNE____Shop Bookish Merch we are wearing:Ashley is wearing: A Velaris T-shirt from @TheBeanWorkshop (use our affiliate code “BOOKBESTIES10”)  | * https://www.thebeanworkshop.store/BOOKBESTIES10 Liz is wearing : “The Season” Crewneck by @darkanddisturbedshop (use our affiliate code “VEGAN10”) | https://darkanddisturbedshop.com/products/the-season-crewneckWe are both wearing a 2 PACK of ridiculous Santa hats from @ Amazon | * https://amzn.to/3MR6janAny link with an * is an affiliate link through the service Magic Links and is eligible for a commission to us with no extra cost to you. Thank you for helping support our podcast!Support the showYouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms@BestiesandtheBooksPodcast Besties and the Book Club on Fable!https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358Liz Instagram | TikTok@TheRealLifeVeganWife AshleyInstagram | TikTok@AshleyEllix

Send us a textToday we FINISH our coverage of the entire Wicked universe and close our bonus “Are Books Political” series! And is Wicked Worth Reading?Wicked: For Good has officially been out for three weeks, and we are ready to yap about it with all of you. Which is better? The movies? The book series? Or the Broadway musical? We rank everything in the universe, give you our number one overall pick, and talk about all of the movie moments we thought were faves, and the ones that were fails.We discuss the completely different ending the books take and how that choice truly changed the tone of the entire story, if we have unanswered questions or “hot takes,” and if we think there's more to come. If you've stuck around this long, enjoy a special treat at the end of the episode where we spill the beans on our next bonus series coming in February of 2026! We'll give you two hints… Margo Robbie and Jacob Elordi may have inspired our choices.

Send us a textListen…Brimstone is here. Are we obsessed with the Fae & Alchemy series by Callie Hart? GUILTY. AS. CHARGED. Not to give anything away (including our spoiler free star and spice ratings) but we think it's safe to say that there's nothing better than Kingfisher in our eyes and ears, Onyx the perfect animal sidekick companion, and a one horse scene starring none other than Carrion… our favorite scoundrel. Take a deep dive into book two: Brimstone as we follow up our Quicksilver episode, and our interview with Callie Hart! We discuss how this book performed as a “middle book” in a series, if there are plot holes, unanswered questions, or theories we need to know more about as we anxiously anticipate book three! Was it chaotic like some middle books can be? Or do we feel satisfied with the ending it left us on? We have all of our favorite and least favorite parts, characters, tropes, quotes, and we even dive into the audiobook narration, our faves and fails of the week, and a very important smash or pass (for the official record). Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes Friday!…)Shop our Merch line | *  https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.comCheck out these author interviews? ⬇️Need more Halloween reads in your life? Find out if “Halloweentown for adults” with Gilmore Girls vibes might be for you with our Haven Ever After Hazel Mack Interview! https://youtu.be/-kDxchCTysw?si=KpEbcsCHAniU-JTSPenn Cole talks with us about Strong Female Characters, Feminist Themes, and her debut bestselling Spark of the Everflame Series! https://youtu.be/7ukNImyoObw?si=7C3Y9kOUMN4hfcKbWe interviewed Callie Hart all about her NYT Bestseller Quicksilver! Watch it here! https://youtu.be/CED5s7qDBdQ?si=8xtIRO1IzX6Rsld4Check the official Follow Up Author Interview with Lindsay Straube of the Split or Swallow Universe all about Between Two Kings! https://youtu.be/OW1cxXTVcTc?si=oOxVIzbIheET_bNE____Shop Bookish Merch we are wearing:Ashley is wearing: our Besties and the Books Zip Hoodie | * https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.com/products/zip-hoodie-grey-besties-anti-social-crowLiz is wearing : A “Light It Up” Crescent City T-shirt from @TheBeanWorkShop | * https://www.thebeanworkshop.store/BOOKBESTIES10And use our affiliate code “BOOKBESTIES10” for a discount!+ an exclusive Besties and the Books Beanie DM us to be added to release list Any link with an * is an affiliate link through the service Magic Links and is eligible for a commissionSupport the showYouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms@BestiesandtheBooksPodcast Besties and the Book Club on Fable!https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358Liz Instagram | TikTok@TheRealLifeVeganWife AshleyInstagram | TikTok@AshleyEllix

Send us a textLiterally what in the actual heck is this episode? It's all of us having a great time at the water cooler of the future, that's what! Thank you so much to everyone who submitted unhinged bookish (and random!) questions for us to answer. It was truly a blast, and we hope you got to know us a little bit better. We got to know ourselves better, that's for sure!

Send us a textThis episode is chalk full of all the magical things we hope to receive this holiday season, including but not limited to: revenge on abusive fiances via honeyed ham cleaver, several foot long Krampus tongues, monster cages, Christmas tree farms, skiing sessions, and double penetration involving a college hottie and his… step dad?

Moving slightly away from spooky season and weird folklore, the dragons are clocking in with a writing episode. At the moment, Romantasy is the biggest whale splashing around in the sea of fantasy, partially drowning out other subgenres (at least temporarily). While romantasy is a lot of fun, it's caused further changes in the 'strong female character' trope which are less fun. This week, Jules and Madeleine revisit the subject, looking at what really defines 'strength' in character terms and how to best write your own female character, even with Romantasy putting a thumb on the scales. Under the microscope this week - Jane Eyre, Anne of Green Gables, The Hunger Games and many more.   Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Send us a textIt's that time again, where we ask and answer “Am I The A Hole” but this time its Thanksgiving Reddit Stories! In yet another installation of our fan fave series “Am I the A hole?!” holiday edition, we're tackling Thanksgiving Day and all the completely unhinged problems that arise when friends and family get together to “give thanks.” And then as a bonus, we're sharing our most favorite fall book recommendations and some hopefuls! If nothing else, we hope that listening to other peoples' holiday family drama can help you relax and laugh amidst the chaos, and remind all of us that we're not the only weird ones with crazy families. In short… you are not alone.

Send us a textIn this thought-provoking episode of Living the Dream with Curveball, we are joined by author Rodney Phillips, who delves into the complexities of human conflict and communication through his debut novel, "Dissension: A Disagreement that Leads to Discord." Rodney shares his journey from writing his book in childhood to its recent publication, discussing the powerful themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the moral dilemmas faced by his characters. Set against the backdrop of rival drug cartels, the story follows a young woman caught in the crossfire, highlighting the importance of communication amidst chaos. Rodney reflects on his experiences coaching youth sports and how they influenced his writing, emphasizing the significance of teamwork and resilience. Join us for an engaging conversation that inspires listeners to pursue their dreams, no matter how long they may be on hold. Discover more about Rodney and his work at www.rodneyphillipsauthor.com and get ready for his upcoming sequel!

Send us a textToday we're bringing you our reviews and unhinged deeeep dives on two of the most “cringy” sounding Thanksgiving themed romance novellas we could find on Kindle Unlimited. As we continue this time honored tradition of bringing you the holiday smut, we want you to know that even if we don't love it (but hey, we might though…) we're happy if you do. Because there truly is something for everyone, even if that something is three turkey basters with the capability to impregnate you with their… juices.

In this searingly funny and deeply affecting live conversation, Elizabeth speaks to stand-up comedian, author and Taskmaster favourite Fern Brady about her autism diagnosis, her working-class roots, and the failures that shaped her award-winning memoir Strong Female Character. Fern opens up about late diagnosis, social masking, and stripping to fund her education - all delivered with the brutal honesty and whip-smart humour that's made her one of the most exciting voices in comedy today. A powerful exploration of identity, feminism, and finding your voice. What stood out for you in this episode? Leave us a comment.  ✨ IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Intro 01:58 Autism Diagnosis and Masking 04:40 Experiences on Taskmaster 11:40 University Struggles and Stripping 17:33 Challenges of Writing a Memoir 20:03 Reflections on Edinburgh 21:49 Struggles with Mental Health and Misdiagnosis 22:35 University Challenges and Autistic Shutdowns 23:25 Extreme Stress and Physical Symptoms 24:34 Breaking into Comedy and Facing Limitations 26:05 Overcoming Self-Limiting Beliefs 27:55 Navigating the Comedy Industry 34:02 Rejecting Mainstream Entertainment 37:21 Celebrity Bakeoff Experience