Besties and the Books Podcast (Besties and the Books)
Explorez tous les épisodes de Besties and the Books Podcast
| Date | Titre | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 05 Mar 2024 | Ep 00 We're Book Besties, Of Course We Started A Podcast Together | 01:09:19 | |
It's a tale as old as time... | |||
| 05 Mar 2024 | Ep 01 "I WAS NOT PREPARED!" HOFAS Scavenger Hunt + Crescent City 1 Recap | 00:50:58 | |
Join Ashley and Liz this week as they haphazardly delve into the complexity that is Crescent City 1: House of Earth and Blood. We break it down into the parts we find interesting, emphasize the importance of vibes (we’re more “sparknotes” and less encyclopedia Britannia for our fellow millennials out there) and introduce you to our new segments: Weekly Faves & Fails, and the classic Smash or Pass. Before our recap of HOEAB, we also take you along on our scavenger hunt to find all the special editions of House of Flame and Shadow, the newest release in the Sarah J. Maas catalog. | |||
| 12 Mar 2024 | Ep 02 Skin Tails & Hook Hands...UNHINGED BOOK QUESTIONS! | 00:59:45 | |
This week, explore the deep and awkward depths of our minds as Ashley and Liz cover ALL the book bases. We start with our faves and fails of the week, move on to a satisfyingly ridiculous barrage of answering unhinged book questions, and end with a smash or pass session us fantasy lovers can all relate to. Is walking the 10,000 steps in the House of Wind worth it when there’s a bat boy prize waiting for you at the top? What would we buy with 100 million dollars? There’s even a couple rounds of the classic: marry, eff, unalive. Hope to see you there! Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday! YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms @BestiesandtheBooksPodcast Liz Instagram | TikTok @TheRealLifeVeganWife Ashley Instagram | TikTok @AshleyEllix Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Ashley is wearing: Daughter of No Worlds Max’s Flower Garden Tee from The Bean Workshop | * https://go.magik.ly/ml/20qel/ Liz is wearing: The Serpent & the Wings of Night Pullover from @willowraehandmadeco_ (unfortunately this shop has closed 😩 all the more reason to shop small businesses when we can so they do not have to go out of business!) 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! | |||
| 02 Mar 2024 | Besties and the Books Podcast Trailer | 00:01:00 | |
We’re Ashley and Liz, two real-life besties who’ve loved books since we first learned to read, so naturally, we started a podcast! We would say the rest is history but in actuality, it's just the beginning. So come join us in the next chapter of our lives as we introduce ourselves, and laugh our way through the world of books with a focus on Fantasy, Romantasy, and Dark Romance. Of course we have love for all book genres, but those are our absolute favorites! | |||
| 19 Mar 2024 | Ep 03 "I just stared into the void"...CRESCENT CITY 2 RECAP! | 00:58:56 | |
This week Ashley and Liz relive House of Sky & Breathe, otherwise known as Crescent City 2, and the ending heard ‘round the world! Join us as we recount our most and least favorite reads of 2023, break down HOSAB with a (not) fine-toothed comb, and tie it together with some good old Sarah J. Maas universe conspiracy theories. Oh, and if you stick around to the end find out whether or not Liz has a thing for Bryaxis (yes, the creature of Cassian’s nightmares) and which Ninja Turtle Ashley wants to take as her new boyfriend… but only if she were also a turtle. Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday! YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms @BestiesandtheBooksPodcast Liz Instagram | TikTok @TheRealLifeVeganWife Ashley Instagram | TikTok @AshleyEllix Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Ashley is wearing: Daughter of No Worlds Max’s Flower Garden Tee from The Bean Workshop | * https://go.magik.ly/ml/20qel/ Liz is wearing: Throne of Glass You Do Not Yield tee from Shop Second Breakfast | * https://go.magik.ly/ml/210zb/ 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 | |||
| 26 Mar 2024 | Ep 04 “It Gives Us The ICK!” Book Trope Edition | 00:55:37 | |
This week Ashley and Liz kick the podcast off with a faves and fails for the ages. If you want to laugh… hard… this might be the most hilarious episode yet. | |||
| 02 Apr 2024 | Ep 05 Idiot Boys Making Rash Decisions! House of Flame & Shadow Book Breakdown | 01:25:17 | |
The moment you all have been waiting for is officially here! This week Ashley and Liz dive into the deep depths of Crescent City 3: House of Flame and Shadow, the third installment in the much anticipated Sarah J. Maas series. We discuss the hype, some conspiracy theories, why we were a bit disappointed by an otherwise excellent book, and the AUDACITY of certain SJM “boys” to keep fumbling the proverbial ball at every twist and turn. The frustration! We also get into our faves and fails of the week which may include a Crescent City themed bestie tattoo, and end it on a smash or pass involving a pirate and a good, old fashioned mech suit. Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday! YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms @BestiesandtheBooksPodcast Liz Instagram | TikTok @TheRealLifeVeganWife Ashley Instagram | TikTok @AshleyEllix Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! 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 | |||
| 09 Apr 2024 | Ep 06 "1 Star...It Shouldn't Exist!" Our STAR RATING System | 01:07:24 | |
This week Ashley and Liz start off with a life or 💀 fave and fail of the week before breaking down the logistics of our five star rating and spice systems. Are we rating books based on vibes and feelings? Or on objective characteristics and markers we look for in good storytelling? The answer: it’s complicated. | |||
| 16 Apr 2024 | Ep 07 “We Courted the Cowboys AND Gargoyles” BOOK ICK FOLLOW UP! | 01:19:23 | |
This week Ashley and Liz kick off the episode with some snow, a sword store, and a haunted Stanley Hotel (aka The Shining Hotel) fave and fail. | |||
| 23 Apr 2024 | Ep 08 “Book Memory Unlocked” BOOKS THAT MADE US ✨ Elementary & Middle School Edition | 00:48:09 | |
This week Ashley and Liz kick off the episode with some serious Millennial nostalgia. We’re talking American Eagle jeans, Warped Tour, and books from the 90’s! | |||
| 30 Apr 2024 | Ep 09 RANKING *All The* THRONE OF GLASS Books by Sarah J Maas!! | 01:01:32 | |
This week Ashley and Liz embark on a nearly impossible task! We rate all eight Throne of Glass books from least liked, to most liked! When we said this was a doozy, we meant it! Especially since all 8 books are easily 4 or 5 star reads for us. | |||
| 07 May 2024 | Ep 10 Favorite BOOK TROPES That DON'T Give Us The ICK! | 01:09:13 | |
WHAT THINGS DO NOT GIVE US THE ICK?! | |||
| 14 May 2024 | Ep 11 "you NEED TO read When the Moon Hatched" + UPDATE! Books That Made Us "The Dark is Rising" Review | 00:55:29 | |
What happens when Ashley and Liz accidentally read different books for an episode?! We thought we were both reading The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper - the middle school nostalgia read we previously picked for this series. HOWEVER… we didn’t. Listen on to find out how that snaphoo occurred, and what we thought about the nostalgia books we DID read. | |||
| 21 May 2024 | Ep 12 AM I THE A HOLE? Reddit Bookish Edition! | 00:55:09 | |
On today’s episode Ashley and Liz respond to AITA Reddit questions with bookish themes. | |||
| 28 May 2024 | Ep 13 A Court of Thorns and Roses (and Teen Heartthrobs?) | BOOK 1 ACOTAR SERIES | 01:14:55 | |
Today is all about the book that started it all: A Court of Thorns & Roses by mother herself, Sarah J. Maas. We take a deep (ish) dive into book one, and kick off our five-part ACOTAR series, because we couldn’t soldier on with this podcast and just skip over such an important part of our book journey! | |||
| 04 Jun 2024 | Ep 14 "Fourth Wing was overhyped!" UNPOPULAR book OPINIONS! | 00:54:16 | |
We love unpopular *book* opinions, yes we do! We love unpopular *book* opinions, how about you?! On today’s episode Ashley and Liz delve into the world of unpopular bookish opinions sent in by you, our listeners and subscribers! Do we cringe when a popular book is being torn up in order to be rebound? Do books set unrealistic expectations for men? Was Fourth Wing overhyped? Is Sarah J Maas just not that impressive? Do we annotate? We respond to all these great questions, share our faves and fails regarding Liz’s husband, the outdoorsman and Aladdin the musical, and end on a classic monster / Disney villian smash or pass! What. A. Journey! Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms Liz Ashley Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Ashley is wearing: Crescent City Bryce Star Shirt from @CaffeineAndCurses | https://caffeineandcurses.com/products/bryce-quinlan-lightweight-shirt-crescent-city-merch Liz is wearing: Throne of Glass You Do Not Yield Shirt from @shopsecondbreakfast | * https://go.magik.ly/ml/22w5y/ 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! | |||
| 11 Jun 2024 | Ep 15 A Court of Mist and Fury (+ Book Bingeing & Blackouts) | BOOK 2 ACOTAR SERIES | 01:19:24 | |
Today we continue our ACOTAR Deep Dive Series into book two, A Court of Mist and Fury! Come along this journey with us as we hash out all the major plot points, meet the inner circle, and ask important questions like IS TAMLIN REDEEMABLE? Do you want to discuss these books with us in real time? Find us on Fable @bestiesandthebookclub for more in depth discussion on this series, and all of our podcast, bookclub, and buddy reads! We bring you all of this, a fave and fail edition which includes Liz procrastinating on this read and binging over 300 pages in one day, and a smash or pass with some classic animated friends. Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms @BestiesandtheBooksPodcast Liz Instagram | TikTok @TheRealLifeVeganWife Ashley Instagram | TikTok @AshleyEllix Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Ashley is wearing: “Support Your Local Book Dealer” tee from @ShopWildeshadows | https://www.wildeshadows.com Liz is wearing: “I Still Read Fairytales, Just for the Villians Now” sweatshirt from @shadowboundspines | Use code: VEGAN10 to save! | * https://go.magik.ly/ml/2309r/ 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! | |||
| 18 Jun 2024 | Ep 16 Life-Changing BOOKS THAT MADE US ✨ High School Edition! | 00:53:52 | |
You all know that as proud Millennials, Ashley and Liz like to use this podcast as a way to take us all back. | |||
| 25 Jun 2024 | Ep 17 Book of Azrael was overhyped? | BOOK TROPE PICK UPDATE for Ashley | 01:18:59 | |
Welcome back to the BATB Podcast, where your hosts Liz and Ashley pick books for each other to read based on our most liked and least liked tropes so that we can talk to you about them! Well… sometimes that’s what we do! | |||
| 02 Jul 2024 | Ep 18 Am I The A HOLE, Honestly?! REACTING TO MORE Reddit Book Threads! | 01:12:08 | |
We’re back at it with Part 2 of the popular series where we respond to “Am I The A Hole” Bookish Questions on Reddit, and then pose those same questions to you, our listeners! Do we think getting upset at your coworker who won’t leave you alone about books is okay? Does telling your group of friends at a party that your husband isn’t “well read” make you an a hole? What about reading aloud on a cruise ship for everyone to hear? You hear all of our opinions here first! Including our Tiny-Legged Cartoon and Sunball-themed Smash or Pass, and our recent bookish faves and fails. Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms @BestiesandtheBooksPodcast Liz Instagram | TikTok @TheRealLifeVeganWife Ashley Instagram | TikTok @AshleyEllix Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Ashley is wearing: “Read Books Stay Weird” Tee by @Shopwildeshadows | https://www.wildeshadows.com Liz is wearing: “Feral for Fiction” Crop Tee by @shadowboundspines - Use Code: VEGAN10 to save! | https://shadowboundspines.com/products/feral-for-fiction-cropped-tee?_pos=3&_psq=feral&_ss=e&_v=1.0 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! | |||
| 09 Jul 2024 | Ep 19 Is THE GREAT GATSBY Still Great 100 YEARS LATER?! + Millennial Roman Empires! | 01:26:26 | |
Today we’re back for our fourth installment in our “Books That Made Us” nostalgia series, covering our reread of a classic: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. We venture back to highschool in the early 2000’s to remember all the books that made the deepest impact on us, even if we didn’t realize it then. The themes, the quotes, the characters… everything holds up to make The Great Gatsby more enjoyable and immersive each time we read it. Find out how we rated it, and what we think about the classic Robert Redford 1970’s movie rendition vs. the Leonardo DiCaprio Baz Luhrmann remake. Oh, and as a bonus treat, we take you even FURTHER down nostalgia street with a visit to the 90’s where we discuss our faves and fails: Millennial Roman Empire edition. Think POGS and the Oregon Trail! And don’t fret, we end with our classic unhinged smash or pass featuring messy bit*hes and a classic why choose SNL sketch style. Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms @BestiesandtheBooksPodcast Liz Instagram | TikTok @TheRealLifeVeganWife Ashley Instagram | TikTok @AshleyEllix Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Ashley is wearing: A Crescent City Zip Up Hoodie from @CaffeineAndCurses | * https://caffeineandcurses.com/collections/sarah-j-maas-merch Liz is wearing: The “Fire Breathing Bitch Queen” Throne of Glass Baby Tee by @chaptercatchers | * https://go.magik.ly/ml/23lx5/ 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! | |||
| 16 Jul 2024 | Ep 20 Books That TRAUMATIZED US as kids ✨ BOOKS THAT MADE US SERIES | 01:18:26 | |
Today is the big kick off of our Satanic Panic Series! We laugh, we cry, we use this platform to help heal ourselves, and hopefully you all, by discussing topics that are difficult, but ultimately helped to shape us as people. First and foremost, take care of yourselves. Please be aware of Trigger Warnings, and adjust your listening as necessary. Your mental health comes first. Ashley and Liz discuss 2 books (each) that we read as kids that drastically changed our outlook on life, and that we (as adults) do not think were age appropriate in content or theme. Ultimately, as part one of this series, we hope to provide context for the following episodes that will focus on the “Satanic Panic” book banning of the 1990’s and early 2000’s, and our personal reclamation of that time through our HARRY POTTER BONUS SERIES coming in mid August. Follow along @bestiesandthebookspodcast on Instagram and @bestiesandthebookclub on Fable for all the details. And don’t you worry, we still deal with trauma through humor, so you can count on a fave and fail including a great bathtub fall and a readathon and a smash or pass if you were a mermaid or a duck! Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms @BestiesandtheBooksPodcast Liz Instagram | TikTok @TheRealLifeVeganWife Ashley Instagram | TikTok @AshleyEllix Besties and the Book Club on Fable! https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358 Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Ashley is wearing: “No Rest for the Bookish” Sweater from Shop Wilde Shadows | https://www.wildeshadows.com/products/no-rest-for-the-bookish-crewneck Liz is wearing: Limited Ed. ACOTAR Sweatshirt from Stella Candle Company. https://stellacandleco.com 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! | |||
| 23 Jul 2024 | Ep 21 Should YOU Read "A Touch of Gold and Madness"? | BOOK TROPE UPDATE | 01:26:40 | |
Believe it or not, we’re on our FOURTH installment in our Book Trope Series! Today is all about the book Ashley picked for Liz based on her top five favorite book tropes, and book boyfriend qualities: A Touch of Gold & Madness by K. L. Devore. Did this book cover all of Liz’s bases? Like a morally grey MMC, mutually healing trauma, and enemies to lovers? Or did we uncover “icks” that Liz didn’t even know she had… that involve dancing and musical instruments? Listen on to find out why both of us are giving this book 4 stars, and as usual, you can look forward to a faves and fails “adulting” edition, some deep questions about crows, and a smash or pass with two beloved flying characters. Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms @BestiesandtheBooksPodcast Liz Instagram | TikTok @TheRealLifeVeganWife Ashley Instagram | TikTok @AshleyEllix Besties and the Book Club on Fable! https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358 Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Ashley is wearing: “Max’s Garden T-Shirt” from @thebeanworkshop Use code: BOOKBESTIES10 to save! https://thebeanworkshop.store/products/maxs-garden-t-shirt?_pos=3&_psq=max&_ss=e&_v=1.0 Liz is wearing: “This Barbie Reads Smut” tee from @shopsecondbreakfast. https://secondbreakfast.shop/products/this-barbie-reads-smut?_pos=1&_sid=df0ecebce&_ss=r 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! | |||
| 30 Jul 2024 | Ep 22 Satanic Panic of 90s! Book Bans, Ouija Boards, and Mansons OH MY! | 01:30:14 | |
Today is the day Ashley and Liz take the deep dive. You know us, we’re usually Sparknotes gals… but in order to paint the entire Satanic Panic picture we have to take you back to where it all began…so we did the research! What exactly started our parent’s obsession with the occult, ultimately resulting in them banning us from reading Harry Potter? Was it Charles Manson, Ted Bundy, and the Zodiac Killer? Or could it have been razor blades in Halloween candy, ouija boards and the Tylenol murders? What we discovered is that it was all of the above with a twist of Satanic Rituals, modern day witch trials, and fundamentalist Christian churches pushing their agendas. The extra fun part? We found out we were living in the EPICENTER of satanic panic in the 80’s: Kern County, California!! We even get into the most banned books of the 90’s and early 2000’s, and why they were requested to be banned. But don’t worry, it’s not all fire and brimstone. We’ve got a faves and fails involving a bright red Dodge Charger and the new Twisters movie! And a smash or pass with a charismatic villain and some Targaryens. Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms @BestiesandtheBooksPodcast Liz Instagram | TikTok @TheRealLifeVeganWife Ashley Instagram | TikTok @AshleyEllix Besties and the Book Club on Fable! https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358 Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Ashley is wearing: “The Right Way Isn’t The Only Way” Fourth Wing Sweater from @TheBeanWorkshop (use our affiliate code “BOOKBESTIES10”) | * https://www.thebeanworkshop.store/BOOKBESTIES10 Liz is wearing: The “Expensive ” tee from @darkanddisturbedshop (use our affiliate code “VEGAN10”) | https://darkanddisturbedshop.com/products/expensive-tee?_pos=2&_sid=a2829adfd&_ss=r 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! References: https://www.ala.org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/decade2009 https://bannedbooks.library.cmu.edu/j-k-rowling-the-harry-potter-series/ | |||
| 13 Aug 2024 | Ep 23 Reacting to YOUR Unpopular Book Opinions! | 01:04:45 | |
This episode is exactly what it sounds like! After our last “unpopular opinions” episode, you all sent us your most unpopular bookish opinions so Ashley and Liz can react to them. And we sure had a blast! We start off with some easy ones like: do you dog ear your pages or satisfyingly crack those book spines? Then we move into some more polarizing unpopular opinions about House of Flame & Shadow, H.D. Carlton, and a new popular book about serial killers! Do you like miscommunication? Why is hockey romance a thing? Should fantasy books have technology? And how about this: should spoilers be allowed? Period. We cover faves and fails with a fun concert surprise and Liz’s husband eating… in general. And then wrsp things up with a smash or pass involving a hot dad and a candlestick. (… but not like that… get your minds out of the gutter…) Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms @BestiesandtheBooksPodcast Liz Instagram | TikTok @TheRealLifeVeganWife Ashley Instagram | TikTok @AshleyEllix Besties and the Book Club on Fable! https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358 Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Ashley is wearing: “Crescent City Athalars Gym” Tank from @LionHeartThreads | Use Code LIZ15 to save! https://www.etsy.com/shop/lionheartthreads/?etsrc=sdt&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAabKk8KN8gHlhs_Q7nJHr0v64XQCMGOlAriCVJr3QuKhS7gxcRyxAs4YIG8_aem_zULoML4IPxqB3EhcfKYyCA Liz is wearing: “I like my fictional men tall, dark, and stabby” crewneck from @readbyerin_ | https://shopreadbyerin.com/password 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! | |||
| 16 Aug 2024 | Reading Harry Potter For The First Time As Adults! | Sorcerer's Stone | Bonus Minisode 1 | 00:41:03 | |
Welcome to Ashley & Liz’s first mini episode bonus series, this round featuring Harry Potter! If you’ve been following our “satanic panic” series then you know, we were BANNED from reading Harry Potter as children, so we’re reclaiming that experience for ourselves by reading this series FOR THE FIRST TIME as mid 30’s fantasy obsessed book podcasters. And we’re takin’ you all along for the ride! Episode 1 covers book 1: Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone. The first five-ish minutes are spoiler free with our one sentence rapid star reviews. Then we jam pack this mini episode with an entire plot summary in five sentences, what our faves and fail characters and plot points are, our feelings on if it should've been banned, and end with a fun piece of HP trivia. Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday… and sometimes Friday! YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms Liz Ashley Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! #harrypotter | |||
| 23 Aug 2024 | "I Want What's In THAT Chamber of Secrets!" | Harry Potter Book 2 | Bonus Minisode | 00:33:41 | |
Welcome back to Ashley & Liz’s Harry Potter Minisode series! We were BANNED from reading Harry Potter as kids, so naturally, we’d grow up to read them in our mid 30’s and podcast about it. Episode 2 covers book 2: Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets. The first five-ish minutes are spoiler free with our one sentence rapid star reviews. Then Liz takes us on a poetic journey detailing the entire plot in five sentences or less. Will she succeed or will we have to throw her gold stars in the trash? We talk about what our faves (Tom Riddle) and fail (*cough Lockhart cough*) characters and plot points are, our feelings on if this book should've been banned, and end with a fun piece of HP trivia. Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday… and sometimes Friday! Liz Ashley Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Ashley is wearing: Hocus Pocus tee from Etsy | * https://go.magik.ly/ml/24o0c/ Liz is wearing: “Dark Romance Has My Heart” tee by @darkanddisturbedshop | Use code: VEGAN10 to save! 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! | |||
| 20 Aug 2024 | Ep 24 Recommendations & Warnings! 1 Sentence Rapid Book Reviews! (Jan-June Reads) | 01:28:37 | |
Where did we come from? Where did we go? Where did we come from… Cotten Eye Joe? Today on the pod Ashley and Liz tell you all about our recent Alaska Cruise Vacay, and how much fun it was to buddy read our ARCs of Split or Swallow by Lindsay Straube @oxfordlemon while sailing through fjords and glaciers! It truly was magical. Then we grace your ears with one sentence reviews of every book we read from January until June in our first ever rapid review reading recap episode. And don’t worry, there’s a lot, so we make sure to specifically mention our top three and bottom three reads so you can either avoid them, or run to put them on your TBR! And last but not least, we end with a smash or pass that our HUSBANDS came up with on vacation. So, you’re welcome. Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms Liz Ashley Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Ashley is wearing: “Illyrian Boot Camp” Tank by @lionheartthreads | Use code: LIZ15 to save! | * https://go.magik.ly/ml/24kw8/ Liz is wearing: “My Last Flying F*ck” tee by @darkanddisturbedshop | Use code: VEGAN10 to save! https://darkanddisturbedshop.com 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! | |||
| 27 Aug 2024 | Ep 25 But...AM I THE A HOLE?? | Reacting to MORE AITA Reddit Book Edition | 01:07:52 | |
We’re back in your ears with Part 3 of your favorite silly series where we respond to “Am I The A Hole” Bookish Questions from Reddit, and then pose those same questions to you, our listeners! Do we think that curating your own free little library to NOT include ancient Tom Clancy paperbacks makes you an a hole? What about giving away the book your friend wrote, then gifted to you? Is it wrong to give a book 1⭐️, or to refuse to give back a book someone sold to you on accident? How about writing a book about your friend’s dysfunctional life without their permission? You hear all of our opinions here first! Including MORE PRINTER PROBS, which character from the Wizard of Oz we’d smash. And which version of Hercules we’d prefer. Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms Liz Ashley Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Ashley is wearing: “Starborn Checkered Tee” from @CaitsCurioCorner | https://go.magik.ly/ml/24o71/ Liz is wearing: A discontinued dark romance pullover by @darkanddisturbed shop. | Shop all designs at 10% off with code VEGAN10 https://darkanddisturbedshop.com/ 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! | |||
| 30 Aug 2024 | What’s Up with Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban? | Book 3 | Bonus Minisode | 00:46:10 | |
Here we are in week 3 of Ashley & Liz’s Harry Potter Minisode Series! Yes, we were banned from reading Harry Potter as kids, and yes, we’re reading them for the first time now as elder Millennials. And we wanna talk about them with you! Episode 3 covers book 3: Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban. The first five-ish minutes are spoiler free with our one sentence rapid star reviews. Then Liz takes us on a chaotic journey of run-on sentences detailing the entire plot in five sentences or less. And boy… did this book have A LOT of side quests. Will she succeed or will we throw her in the dumpster of life? 😂 We talk about what our faves and fail characters and plot points are, our feelings on if this book should've been banned, and end with a fun piece of HP trivia. With a BONUS on our biggest monster fears and how we might defeat the Boggart. Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday… and sometimes Friday! YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms Liz Ashley Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Ashley is wearing: The Serpent and the Wings of Night Kejari Sweater from @TheBeanWorkshop | Use code: BOOKBESTIES10 to save! | * https://thebeanworkshop.store/?dt_id=1636083 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! | |||
| 03 Sep 2024 | Ep 26 It’s Serpent Summer with Lindsay Straube! | Split or Swallow Author Interview | 00:57:54 | |
Today’s Episode is BATB Podcast very first author interview! With none other than Lindsay Straube, Amazon BESTSELLING author of her popular love triangle basilisk romance, Split or Swallow. *Author interviews will always be spoiler free so everyone can enjoy them and determine whether or not we want to add these books to our never-ending TBR. So, proceed with absolutely NO caution!* We discuss everything from what inspired Split or Swallow, which of the MMCs Lindsay herself has a crush on, and what’s it like to write a book and have it be seen by people you know in real life. What are the themes and major takeaways of the book? And are there more sequels to come? In true Ashley and Liz fashion, we also include a fave or fail book writing edition, and put Lindsay on the spot for her own smash or pass. Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms Besties and the Book Club on Fable! Liz Ashley Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Ashley is Wearing: “Little Serpent” tee by @thebeanworkshop | BOOKBESTIES10 to save! | * https://thebeanworkshop.store/products/little-serpent-tee-shirt?_pos=2&_sid=de96815e1&_ss=r Liz is wearing: “Aelin Galathynius” tee by @thebeanworkshop | BOOKBESTIES10 to save! | * https://thebeanworkshop.store/products/aelin-galathynius-t-shirt?_pos=1&_sid=54487a620&_ss=r 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! | |||
| 06 Sep 2024 | There Ain’t Nothin’ in that Goblet of Fire...Snooze Fest Harry Potter | Book 4 | Bonus Minisode | 00:50:22 | |
It’s week 4 of Ashley and Liz’s Harry Potter journey and BOY do we have some things to say about this 752 page book. Shockingly… Yes, we were banned from reading Harry Potter as kids, so we are spending these 8 weeks discovering everything for the first time… with you! Episode 4 covers book 4: Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire. The first five-ish minutes are spoiler free with our one sentence rapid star reviews. Then Liz attempts to detail the entire plot in five sentences or less. Normally this is the most difficult part of the episode planning process, but in a book where nothing happens until the last three chapters, it should be a piece of cake! Right? 🤷♀️ We talk about what our faves and fail characters and plot points are (this book got DARK real quick), our feelings on if this book should've been banned, and end with a fun piece of HP trivia. Check out our FIRST Author Interview! https://youtu.be/fknhocSNIKM Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday… and sometimes Friday! YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms Liz Ashley Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! 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! | |||
| 10 Sep 2024 | Ep 27 🎃 5 Fall Book Recommendations + Halloween Hopefuls! | 01:02:46 | |
Let’s talk about fall, bay-bee. Let’s talk about Hall-O-Ween. Cuz we are fall girlies over here at the BATB Podcast! And we think a lot of you are too. Today we’re bringing you a full episode of spooky season reads. Ashley and Liz count down five book suggestions (EACH) that we think will put you in the cozy Halloween mood, and that you definitely should add to your TBR! Then we list our top 5 (EACH) fall season hopefuls. That’s TWENTY reads to get you in the mood to put up those skelly decorations, light that candle from Target, and watch the leaves fall while drinking your Starbies drink of choice. We cover everything from classics by Stephen King to indie authors you may never have heard of. We even make sure to include classic horror, slasher, body horror, dark romance, and Hallmark Halloween vibes so there’s something for everyone! And don’t worry, we’ve got faves and fails including Liz’s bad luck at the DMV, and a smash or pass fall drink, masked man, and nostalgic nerd edition. Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms Besties and the Book Club on Fable! Liz Ashley Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Liz is wearing: “Hot Ghoul Crewneck” from @darkanddisturbedshop | https://darkanddisturbedshop.com/products/hot-ghoul-crewneck-2 Code: VEGAN10 to save. 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! | |||
| 13 Sep 2024 | The Order of the Phoenix (and the triangle) | Harry Potter Book 5 | Bonus Minisode | 00:42:28 | |
It’s week 5 over here in this crazy Harry Potter whirlwind of a miniseries! Join Ashley and Liz as they read the entire HP series for the first time as full grown adults! Do you want our commentary? How about our thoughts on whether or not it’s controversial enough for our parents to BAN us from reading it as kids? We give you all of our opinions. Episode 5 covers book 5: Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix. The first five-ish minutes are spoiler free with our one sentence rapid star reviews. Then Liz attempts to detail the entire plot in five sentences or less. Which after reading this entire book in less than two days was an ADVENTURE, to say the least. But Ashley gives our ears an even more satisfying treat from the Chamber of Secrets to celebrate Liz’s unlikely success! We talk about what our faves and fail characters and plot points are, our feelings on if this book should've been banned, if we have any unanswered questions (*cough* Sirius *cough*) and end with a fun piece of sinister and spooky HP trivia. Check out our FIRST Author Interview! https://youtu.be/fknhocSNIKM Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday… and sometimes Friday! Besties and the Book Club on Fable! Liz Ashley Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Liz is wearing: “Bat Sh*t Crazy” Crewneck by @darkanddisturbedshop | Use code: VEGAN10 to save! | * https://darkanddisturbedshop.com/products/bat-shit-crewneck 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! | |||
| 17 Sep 2024 | Ep 28 Going Deep into Split or Swallow by Lindsay Straube | 01:13:24 | |
Did you hear?! A couple of weeks ago we did our very first author interview with Lindsay Straube | @oxfordlemon and talked to her all about her new Amazon bestselling debut love triangle romance book, Split or Swallow. So what are we doing today? We’re taking our deep dive into the plot, so this one if for all the girlies who’ve read it, and who have been DYING to discuss it. Are you team Leo or Team Caspen? What did we think of the ritual? Are you a Bastian Stan? Are you into snakes now? Let’s spend the next hour at the virtual water cooler discussing monster smut together. Because why not? Oh, and don’t worry, we’ve got a faves and fails Molly Moonplume, Harry Potter, horror movie edition, and a smash or pass with a classic bald man, and some of our most beloved furry footed friends. Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes, Friday!) Check the official Author Interview with Lindsay Straube of Split or Swallow! https://youtu.be/fknhocSNIKM YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms Liz Ashley Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Ashley is wearing: “To the Stars Who Listen” tee by @thebeanworkshop | CODE: BOOKBESTIES10 | * https://thebeanworkshop.store/products/to-the-stars-who-listen-and-the-dreams-are-answered-tee-shirt?_pos=9&_sid=823f6afe6&_ss=r Liz is wearing: “Fire Breathing Bit*h Queen” tee from @chaptercatchers | https://go.magik.ly/ml/25a94/ 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! | |||
| 20 Sep 2024 | Felt Nothing…Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince | Book 6 | Bonus Minisode | 00:38:15 | |
It’s week 6 over here in our Besties & the Books Harry Potter Mini Episode Marathon! Today we’re discussing the second to last book! The finale eve, if you will. And truly… we felt nothing. So we need to know. Is it just us and our hollow tin chests? 😂 Or did you need to be 12 to get attached to these characters?! Join Ashley and Liz as they read the entire HP series for the first time as full grown adults! Do you want our commentary? How about our thoughts on whether or not it’s controversial enough for our parents to BAN us from reading it as kids? We give you all of our opinions. Episode 6 covers book 6: Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince. The first five-ish minutes are spoiler free with our one sentence rapid star reviews. Then Liz attempts to detail the entire plot in five sentences or less. And don’t worry… the triangle is now our mascot and is definitely here to stay. We talk about what our faves and fail characters and plot points are, if we have any unanswered questions (*cough* Dumbledore *cough*) and end with a fun piece of Ron and Hermoine trivia! Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday… and sometimes Friday! YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms Besties and the Book Club on Fable! Liz Ashley Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Liz is wearing: 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! | |||
| 24 Sep 2024 | Ep 29 We Read HOCKEY ROMANCE Books So You Don’t Have To! | 01:15:03 | |
So… we did it… for science. During one of our unpopular opinion episodes, you guys asked: “Why does hockey romance exist?” And because neither of us had read one, we did our best to answer, but knew we had to soldier on and do more research. So here we are. Ashley read the viral bestseller Icebreaker by Hannah Grace, and Liz read Consider Me, the popular first installment in the Playing for Keeps series by Becka Mack. Then we compared notes. And things got roast-y. Do we “get” hockey romance now? Do we have crushes on fictional hockey players? Will we read more of this micro-trope in the future? Listen on to find out. And as usual, we’ve got a faves and fails covering everything from heat stroke and horror movie sets to Halloween decor, with a fitting Canadian and monster-adjacent smash or pass. Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes, Friday!) Check the official Author Interview with Lindsay Straube of Split or Swallow! https://youtu.be/fknhocSNIKM YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms Liz Ashley Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Ashley is wearing: Crescent City Zip Up Hoodie from @caffieneandcurses | https://caffeineandcurses.com/products/crescent-city-alumini-zip-hoodie-crescent-city-merch Liz is wearing: “Spice Girl” Crewneck from a local (and now closed) boutique store. | |||
| 27 Sep 2024 | Deathly Hallows? More like deathly HOLLOW! | Harry Potter Book 7 | Bonus Minisode | 00:41:29 | |
It’s week 7… and the epic? … book conclusion of our Harry Potter mini episode series over here on Besties & the Books Podcast has officially happened… So let's discuss The Deathly Hallows. This series is over 3,500 pages of kid wizards, quittich, teen crushes, bullies, and magical probs. Was it worth our time? Was the finale epic and worth all the hype this franchise has implanted in our brains for the last 20+ years?! Listen on to find out. Join Ashley and Liz as they read the entire HP series for the first time as full grown adults! Do you want our commentary? How about our thoughts on whether or not it’s controversial enough for our parents to BAN us from reading it as kids? We give you all of our opinions. And discuss whether or not we think it’s worth the read as women in our mid 30’s. Episode 7 covers book 7: Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows. The first five-ish minutes are spoiler free with our one sentence rapid star reviews. Then Liz attempts to detail the entire plot in five sentences or less. With the infamous triangle to motivate us all! We talk about what our faves and fail characters and plot points are, if we’re satisfied with the ending of this highly regarded kid’s fantasy series, and end with a fun piece of Voldemort trivia! And make sure to stick around until the end to hear what book series our next bonus minisodes will cover! Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday… and sometimes Friday! YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms Besties and the Book Club on Fable! Liz Ashley Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Ashley is wearing: 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! | |||
| 01 Oct 2024 | Ep 30 ACO-WHAT?! A Court of Wings and Ruin was wild! | BOOK 3 ACOTAR SERIES | 01:09:56 | |
Here we are, on episode 3 of our ACOTAR reread series with A Court of Wings and Ruin, by the Romantasy queen, Sarah J. Maas. And this go around, we’re doing things a little differently! Instead of doing a plot play-by-play for ACOWAR, because let’s be honest, there are better and more detailed channels for that, we incorporate the triangle, and our infamous plot outline in five sentences or less! Then we react to our favorite tropes, least favorite tropes, talk about these amazing characters, and discuss why we think these books are just so dang popular. We get into quotes that stood out, how we would rate the spice, and share some hilarious low reviews, and validating high reviews! And don’t you worry, we’ve got a faves and fails of the week all about Lord of the Rings, fellow book lovers out in the wild, and nails catching on fire! And a smash or pass Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes, Friday!) YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms Besties and the Book Club on Fable! Liz Ashley Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Ashley is wearing: “Illyrian Warrior Tank” from @Lionheartthreads | Use Code: LIZ15 to save! | * https://go.magik.ly/ml/25oe8/ Liz is wearing: “Conscription Day” Pullover by @thebeanworkshop | Use code: BOOKBESTIES10 to save! | * https://thebeanworkshop.store/products/to-the-stars-who-listen-and-the-dreams-are-answered-tee-shirt?_pos=9&_sid=823f6afe6&_ss=r 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! | |||
| 04 Oct 2024 | we READ all the Harry Potter Books for the first time and THE FANDOM IS PISSED | Bonus Minisode | 00:54:26 | |
Today we’re here for the FINAL installment of our Harry Potter Mini Episode series. We laughed (sorta), we cried (not really), and some of you guys in the fandom came for us in the comments! Truly, it was a roller coaster over the last couple of months, and we’re just happy we came out of it relatively unscathed. In this episode we rate the Harry Potter book series as a whole, talk about our least and most favorite parts and characters, if we think this series was overhyped, and what we thought of the overall experience reading these insanely popular books for the first time as adults. We discuss our thoughts on the movies, and then address the fandom in general… and its response to our book assessments and reading style. If accuracy and hard-hitting journalism is what you’re in the mood for, perhaps a pass on us is the way to go. Just sayin…it’s fiction! 😉 We’re here for a good time, and not the fact checking kind. So if that interests you, make sure to stick around for our next bonus minisode series: Twilight! Which we’re also newbies to. Holy Crow! We hope to see you there. Check out our FIRST Author Interview! https://youtu.be/fknhocSNIKM Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday… and sometimes Friday! YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms Besties and the Book Club on Fable! Liz Ashley Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Ashley is wearing: Liz is wearing: 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! | |||
| 08 Oct 2024 | Ep 31 Totally Very Important UNHINGED QUESTIONS Answered! | 00:48:27 | |
Today on the podcast, we’re having a silly, good time. We asked you guys for unhinged book questions, and boy did you deliver. Ashley and Liz sit down and answer all of the things that you guys want to know, but let’s be honest, most of the questions are just about who we would smash because you all are thirsty girlies, and we love you for it. We also dive into some questions we came up with for each other, of the unhinged book edition category. So if you’d like to know if we would smash our favorite book boyfriends, even if they had our biggest “icks,” who we would marry, f and 💀 in regards to the Sanderson sisters, and if we would choose to stay in a fairy realm if it turns out, we had no powers and no Fae Lord to call husband, stick around! We’ve got those, several more, a good old faves and fails ancient technology and new puppy edition, and of course a smash or pass with a classic tall gentleman, and a little blue man. Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes, Friday!) YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms Besties and the Book Club on Fable! Liz Ashley Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Ashley is wearing: “Once Upon a Broken Heart” sweater from @thebeanworkshop | BOOKBESTIES10 to save! | * https://www.thebeanworkshop.store/BOOKBESTIES10 Liz is wearing: “Sinner” Crewneck by @darkanddisturbedshop | Use Code: VEGAN10 to save! | https://darkanddisturbedshop.com/products/sinner-crewneck?_pos=3&_sid=015be78f1&_ss=r 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! | |||
| 15 Oct 2024 | Ep 32 Is A Court of Frost and Starlight ACTUALLY Important to Read? | BOOK 4 ACOTAR SERIES | 01:02:57 | |
Today on the pod, Ashley and Liz discuss A Court of Frost and Starlight, book four in the ACOTAR series by Sarah J. Maas, and a “sweet little Christmas special” of a novella to some. Is this book skipable? Is it full of Easter eggs and setup for book 5? Our differing opinions may surprise you! In our new deep dive episode style we react to our least and most favorite parts, tropes, and characters. Share unpopular and popular reviews and quotes, and include our fan favorite: plot in 5 sentences or less, with Ashley on the triangle for authentic sound effects and just plain old comedic timing. This week we’ve got a faves and fails about Halloween, sickness, and the bane of Liz’s existence, the landline. And a smash or pass with morally grey men and a morally squeaky clean dog. Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes, Friday!) Watch our full ACOTAR playlist! https://youtu.be/nyMG3JtoZyY?si=CSZT_YGUe3_Tfv3C YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms Besties and the Book Club on Fable! Liz Ashley Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Ashley is wearing: “The Suriel Tee” from Amazon | * https://amzn.to/4h2v5im Liz is wearing: “ACOTAR Family” Crewneck by @stellacandleco | https://stellacandleco.com 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! | |||
| 22 Oct 2024 | Ep 33 Why VAMPIRES? Vampires in Literature, Pop Culture, and Digital Media | 01:00:23 | |
Today on the Besties & the Books Podcast Ashley and Liz discuss some of our favorite monsters: Vampires, and attempt to understand why these undead, blood sucking creatures have dominated spooky lore, art, and literature throughout the ages… as a way to set the scene for our TWILIGHT Mini Episode Series launching THIS FRIDAY! Where did the idea of vampires come from? Depending on the geographical location and culture, it varies. Could it be as simple as a way for humans to rationalize horrible things like plague and the unfortunately somewhat frequent occurrence of being buried alive? Or maybe vampires symbolize the manifestation of denied desires, or women refusing to conform. Did the idea of the modern vampire originate with Bram Stoker’s Dracula? Or is there more to the story dating back hundreds more years to Lilith? We answer these questions and also discuss the presence of vampire lore in our own lives. And of course, we’ve got a vampire themed fave and fail of the week, and a spooky smash or pass. Edward.. here… we… come! Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes, Friday!) YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms Besties and the Book Club on Fable! Liz Ashley Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Ashley is wearing: “The Right Way Isn’t The Only Way” Sweater from @thebeanworkshop | Use Code: BOOKBESTIES10 to save! Liz is wearing: “Always Lilith, Never Eve” Crop Hoodie from @darkanddisturbedshop | Use Code: VEGAN10 to save! 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! | |||
| 25 Oct 2024 | Reading TWILIGHT for the First Time! | Twilight Saga Book 1 | Bonus Minisode | 00:49:20 | |
Welcome to Ashley & Liz’s spooky mini episode bonus series: Twilight! If you’ve been following along and watched our “Why Vampires” episode then you know we’re fascinated with the lore and needed to be a part of this fandom! Just for the inside jokes alone… As late high school and early college age gals, we missed the boat in exchange for studying, partying, and working, so we’re reading these FOR THE FIRST TIME as mid 30’s fantasy obsessed book podcasters. And we’re takin’ you all along for the ride! Episode 1 covers book 1: Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. The first five-ish minutes are spoiler free with our one sentence rapid star reviews. Then we jam pack this mini episode with an entire plot summary in five sentences, what our faves and fail characters and plot points are, our feelings, notable quotes, and end with a fun piece of Twilight Saga trivia. Join our Virtual Book Club & Buddy Read on Fable! | https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358 Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday… and sometimes Friday! YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms Liz Ashley Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Ashley is wearing: “Undead Readers Book Club” tee from @bookbabedesigns | https://bookbabedesigns.com Liz is wearing: Scream Tee from Spirit Halloween 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! | |||
| 29 Oct 2024 | Ep 34 🎃 1st Annual Halloween Special! AITA, Smash or Pass, and Nostalgic Favorites | 01:28:51 | |
Happy Halloween Book Besties! Today’s episode is all about one of our favorite holidays, and everything Liz and Ashley love about the spooky fall season! We decided to put together the perfect taster episode of all your favorite treats, but made it Halloween themed… and we did it in silly wigs. Just because we can! We answer a series of spooky questions like what our fave scary book, movie, Halloween treat, and costumes have been over the years so we can all get to know each other better. Then we do a fun series of reacting to Am I the A Hole Halloween themed Reddit threads, and end on an extended spooky rapid fire smash or pass session. We hope you enjoy it, and have a Haaaaappyyy Halloweeeeeen! 🐦⬛ Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes, Friday!) YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms Besties and the Book Club on Fable! Liz Ashley Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Ashley is wearing: Dancing & Reading Skelly tee from @BookBabeDesigns | https://bookbabedesigns.com Liz is wearing: “My Last Flying Fu*k” tee from @darkanddisturbedshop | Use Code: VEGAN10 to save! 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! | |||
| 01 Nov 2024 | New Moon…Where You Been Loca? | Twilight Saga Book 2 | Bonus Minisode | 00:52:32 | |
Welcome back to Ashley & Liz’s vibey, angsty, fall-girl mini episode bonus series all about our FIRST TIME reading Twilight. Episode 2 covers book 2: New Moon by Stephenie Meyer. The first five-ish minutes are spoiler free with our one sentence rapid star reviews. Then we jam pack this mini episode with an entire plot summary in five sentences, what our faves and fail characters and plot points are, our feelings, notable quotes, and end with a fun piece of Twilight Saga trivia. Will Bella survive this trying time with Jacob’s help? Riding motorcycles, cliff diving, and collapsing in the woods… oh my! It truly is a excellently dramatic time and we can’t wait to discuss! Join our Virtual Book Club & Buddy Read on Fable! | https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358 Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday… and sometimes Friday! YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms Liz Ashley Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Ashley & Liz are both wearing Book Dragon tees gifted to us by the lovely author Alivia Maar @livsbookshelf | Check out her new fantasy book A Clash of Tides! 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! | |||
| 05 Nov 2024 | Ep 35 Reacting to Bookish HOT TAKES from the dregs of Reddit & Threads! | 01:15:00 | |
Ashley and Liz just got back from the When We Were Young fest and boy do we have some good faves and fails of the week, including Gerard Way’s sexy hair swoop heard ‘round the world. After we hash THAT out for all of our collective enjoyment, we get into our hot takes. We’ve got some from Reddit, we’ve got some from Threads… and we need to know. Do you agree or disagree? Should you count a book as “read” toward your goal if you DNFed it? Can something be overrated? Or is it just good? Do books need more than good twists to make them good? Was Fourth Wing actually BAD? We’ve got these and so many more. And don’t worry, we’ve got a smash or pass with a dragon with no teeth and a man with no head. Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes, Friday!) YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms @BestiesandtheBooksPodcast Besties and the Book Club on Fable! Liz Ashley Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Ashley is wearing: WWWY 2024 Souvenir Tee Liz is wearing: “Rise Above the BS” tee from Spirit Halloween 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! | |||
| 09 Nov 2024 | Eclipse…and the Forced Love Triangle | Twilight Saga Book 3 | Bonus Minisode | 00:40:06 | |
Today Ashley and Liz are discussing the problematic and rage-inducing “love triangle?!” that is the bulk of the content in Eclipse. Find out why we think imprinting and kissing women against their will is wrong to do! And why we think Jacob and Charlie can go kick rocks. Episode 3 covers book 3: Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer. The first five-ish minutes are spoiler free with our one sentence rapid star reviews. Then we jam pack this mini episode with an entire plot summary in five sentences, what our faves and fail characters and plot points are, our feelings, notable quotes, and end with a fun piece of Twilight Saga trivia. We hope you’re enjoying our first time reading Twilight and will follow along with us for the rest of the series! We’ve got the epic book conclusion AND a movie episode coming soon… Join our Virtual Book Club & Buddy Read on Fable! | https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358 Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday… and sometimes Friday! YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms Liz Ashley Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Ashley is wearing: “No Rest for the Bookish” Sweater by @shopwildeshadows | https://www.wildeshadows.com/products/no-rest-for-the-bookish-crewneck Liz is wearing: “Read or Die” Zip Hoodie by @darkanddisturbedshop | Use Code: VEGAN10 to save! | https://darkanddisturbedshop.com 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! | |||
| 12 Nov 2024 | Ep 36 A VERY CRINGY THANKSGIVING READ!! 🤪 🦃 😆 | 00:58:42 | |
Have you ever wondered what smutty Thanksgiving themed novella books are out there on Kindle Unlimited? Are you wondering what holiday themed kinkz this very specific genre may unlock for you? Well, wonder no more. Ashley and Liz did the research for you and now we’re presenting the evidence. It’s just science. We read Full Sack by Layla Fae and Three Times the Fun by Blythe Reid. We’ve got a little bit of Thanksgiving magic involving a turkey, a MMC named Racoon, and expanding… sacks. And a holiday reverse harem. Were they cringy or actually pretty good? We’ll dish out the details after a fave and fail involving a sprained jaw and Will Ferrell and before a smash or pass involving our favorite pastry mascot and a villain determined to destroy the environment. Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes, Friday!) Check the official Author Interview with Lindsay Straube of Split or Swallow! https://youtu.be/fknhocSNIKM YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms Besties and the Book Club on Fable! Liz Ashley Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Ashley is wearing: Embroidered Pumpkin Book Sweater from @BookBabeDesigns | https://bookbabedesigns.com Liz is wearing: “Kejari” tee from @shopsecondbreakfast | https://secondbreakfast.shop 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! | |||
| 15 Nov 2024 | Breaking Dawn was…anticlimactic? | Twilight Saga Book 4 | Bonus Minisode | 00:43:14 | |
Here we are! Ashley and Liz discuss the epic book conclusion of the Twilight Saga. We seriously need to sort some things out with y’all. Like: why is imprinting a thing? It’s so disturbing. How is there a team Edward vs. team Jacob rivalry when CLEARLY Jacob is trash? And how do we feel about all of that buildup leading us to THAT particular ending? We’ve got unanswered questions. Episode 4 covers book 4: Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer. The first five-ish minutes are spoiler free with our one sentence rapid star reviews. Then we jam pack this mini episode with an entire plot summary in five sentences, what our faves and fail characters and plot points are, our feelings, notable quotes, and end with a fun piece of Twilight Saga trivia featuring all the book spinoffs! We hope you’ve enjoyed following along with us on our maiden Twilight voyage! Check in next week for mini episode five where we rate the series overall, and chat about the movies. Because let’s be real… what in the actual heck happened there?! Join our Virtual Book Club & Buddy Read on Fable! | https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358 Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday… and sometimes Friday! YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms Liz Ashley Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Ashley is wearing: Crescent City Zip Up Hoodie from @CaffeineandCurses | https://caffeineandcurses.com Liz is wearing: “And So the Lion…” Twilight Crop Tee from @twiheartmerch | https://go.magik.ly/ml/2750r/ 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! | |||
| 19 Nov 2024 | Ep 37 Let’s Play WOULD YOU RATHER! (Bookish edition) | 00:48:06 | |
Every Friday is “Bestie Card Friday” with Ashley and Liz over on the good old Instagram. We pick some cards, we answer an unhinged “would you rather” question, and you guys vote on what YOU would rather do. We’ve been doing that for almost eight months! And you guys wanted more. So here we are, playing “would you rather” for an entire episode. Would we rather live in Velaris or Terrasen? Would we rather only read hockey romance or watch Harry Potter movies forever? Choose between Aragorn and Rhysand, physical books or Kindle? The choices! Stick around for a spoiler free episode of hard choices with a Disney themed fave and fail and a smash or pass… if you were a lion! … or a dark lord! Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes, Friday!) Check the official Author Interview with Lindsay Straube of Split or Swallow! Now a Barnes & Noble & Amazon best seller titled: Kiss of the Basilisk! https://youtu.be/fknhocSNIKM Besties and the Book Club on Fable! Liz Ashley Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Ashley is wearing: “Support Your Local Book Dealer” tee from @ShopWildeshadows | https://www.wildeshadows.com Liz is wearing: “Rivendell” Sweatshirt from @chaptercatchers | 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! | |||
| 22 Nov 2024 | we READ AND WATCHED the entire Twilight Saga for the First Time…was it worth it? | Bonus Minisode Wrap Up! | 00:58:42 | |
It’s truly the end of an era. Our Twilight virgin era. We read all the books for the very first time, and rewatched all the movies since our original jump scare years ago, and now we’re here. We’re Ashley and Liz, new Twilight fans and just girls, ready to talk to you all about our innermost thoughts in regards to this fandom. We rate the book series as a whole, and then we choose which movie was our most loved and most hated, and which book we liked least and most. We go through each movie and book and choose which is better. And then we discuss the fandom in its entirety. Did you all welcome us with open arms? Or were we shunned for our critiques? Overall, we are so happy we went on this journey and cannot wait for our next episode miniseries dropping early next year! Listen on to find out which popular book series (and new release!) we have our sights set on for 2025! Join our Virtual Book Club & Buddy Read on Fable! | https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358 Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday… and sometimes Friday! YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms Liz Ashley Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Ashley is wearing: Ashley is wearing “Will Ghost You For Books” tee from @shadowboundspines | https://shadowboundspines.com/products/i-will-ghost-you-for-books-tee?_pos=14&_sid=9e47e4d40&_ss=r Liz is wearing: “Empty Inside” tee from @darkanddisturbedshop | Use Code: VEGAN10 to save! | https://darkanddisturbedshop.com and “Freddy” Double Pom Beanie from @charlieandlunaco | https://www.charlieandlunaco.com 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! | |||
| 26 Nov 2024 | Ep 38 🦃 1st Annual Thanksgiving Special! AITA, Smash or Pass, and more! | 01:18:45 | |
Happy Thanksgiving Book Besties! Today Liz and Ashley are here to discuss all things even remotely related to Turkey Day, in all its glory… and we do it in special hats. You’re welcome. First, we’ll ask each other a series of Thanksgiving related questions like what our favorite memory is, our Thanksgiving family traditions, and what we like to eat and watch. Next, we bring the DRAMA with AITA Reddit threads dedicated to Thanksgiving family issues with things like ex-girlfriends stealing your seat at the table, kicking all the unhelpful men out, and not wanting to eat your mother in law’s food. Last, we rapid fire a list of “smash or passes” related to Thanksgiving. Do YOU like stuffing? What about Patrick Dempsey as a villain? And… what… are… giblets?! 😂😭 Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes, Friday!) Check the official Author Interview with Lindsay Straube of Split or Swallow! Now a Barnes & Noble & Amazon best seller titled: Kiss of the Basilisk! https://youtu.be/fknhocSNIKM YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms Liz Ashley Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Turkey Hats on Amazon | * https://amzn.to/3OocgZP Ashley is wearing: “Pumpkin Book Sweater” by @bookbabedesigns | https://bookbabedesigns.com/ Liz is wearing: Scream Tee from Spirit Halloween 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! | |||
| 03 Dec 2024 | Ep 39 A VERY (unhinged) & CRINGY CHRISTMAS READ! 💚 ❤️ | 01:13:43 | |
It’s officially Christmas season over here on the BATB Pod and Ashley and Liz are kicking off December with two “cringy” Christmas novellas that double as unhinged! | |||
| 10 Dec 2024 | Ep 40 we NEED to talk about WICKED & our 2025 Bookish Goals! | 01:41:25 | |
We’re nearing the end of 2024. So naturally, Liz and Ashley are reflecting on the important things in life. Our goals, our hopes, our dreams… and of course, the most important thing of 2024: WICKED, Part 1 (and Jonathan Bailey). Let’s chat about Wicked in all of its glory! The movie, the play, and the books… and how they tie into our goals for the podcast in 2025! We discuss if bookish goals are useful and positive. Then move on to our individual and joint goals moving forward, including everything from books read, to reviews, to works in progress, book conventions and events, and upcoming mini series and author interviews. We’ve only been doing this for a little over nine months and it’s already a dream. 2025 is going to be such a fun year, besties! And don’t worry, we have a bookish 2024 themed fave and fail and a WICKED smash or pass. Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes, Friday!) Check out these Indie Authors Mentioned: A Clash of Tides by Alivia R Maar @livsbookshelf Priestess by Kara Reynolds @karaneedstoread Beyond the Fallen Realm by T J Lundin @tjlundinbooks Seeking the Fallen Realm by T J Lundin @tjlundinbooks The Deer and the Dragon by Piper CJ @piper_cj A Touch of Gold and Madness by K L Devore @authrokldevore The Embrace of Steel and Sorrow by K L Devore @authrokldevore YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms Besties and the Book Club on Fable! Liz Ashley Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Ashley is wearing: Green “Women of Maas” Tee by @caffeineandcurses | https://caffeineandcurses.com/products/maasverse-throne-of-glass-merch Liz is wearing: “I Still Read Fairytales. Just For the Villians Now” Pullover by @shadowboundspines | https://shadowboundspines.com/products/i-still-read-fairytales-just-for-the-villains-now-crewneck?_pos=2&_sid=5621c721a&_ss=r 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! | |||
| 17 Dec 2024 | Ep 41 It’s Time to Talk Broken Bounty with Ember Nicole! | Live For Me Author Interview | 00:55:44 | |
Today we have a very special interview* with dark romance indie author and the queen of heartbreaking cliffhangers herself, Ember Nicole. We chat all things Broken Bounty series to celebrate the release of Live For Me, book three in this emotional rollercoaster which is the bounty hunter romance she created. *Author interviews will always be spoiler free so everyone can enjoy them and determine whether or not we want to add these books to our never-ending TBR. So, proceed with absolutely NO caution!* Pick up your paperback copy or kindle download of Live For Me (And the rest of the Broken Bounty Series) now @ Amazon! | * https://amzn.to/3ZVrLPj We discuss everything from what inspired Ember to write a completely unique dark romance series about bounty hunters, how she remains completely anonymous even though she’s constantly in the public eye, which of the MMCs Ember herself would choose, and what’s it like to write a book that takes you to your emotional brink. What are the themes and major takeaways of the book? How do books 1 and 2 differ from book 3? And are there more sequels to come? And because Ember gets us, we also include a fave or fail book writing edition, and put her on the spot for her own character smash or pass. Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes Friday!…) _____ Ember Nicole’s Books: Break For Me Survie For Me Live For Me My Brother’s Problem My Sister’s Solution Check Out the Other Authors Mentioned: Elle Mitchell @ellemitchellbooks (Small Town “sadness”) Rose Cedar @rosecedarwrites (College Hockey) Emily Catlow @catlow_books (Motorcycle Romance) ____ YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms Besties and the Book Club on Fable! Liz Ashley Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Ashley is Wearing: “Undead Readers Book Club tee from @bookbabedesigns | https://bookbabedesigns.com Liz is wearing: “I like My Fictional Men Tall, Dark, and Stabby” Crew Neck Pullover by @readbyerin_ 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! | |||
| 24 Dec 2024 | Ep 42 AITA Christmas Special! + Holiday Smash or Pass and ULTIMATE XMAS Q & A | 01:44:05 | |
Merry Christmas Book Besties! Today Liz and Ashley are here to discuss all things even remotely related to this glorious holiday… and we do it in special light up Christmas Tree hats. You’re welcome. First, we’ll ask each other a series of Christmas related questions like what our best and worst gifts have been, our family traditions, favorite music, and what we like to eat and watch. Next, we bring the DRAMA with AITA Reddit threads dedicated to Christmas family issues with things like a new family member initiation with lots of coal, a husband who sleeps through everything… including Christmas? And a family who puts all their undies in a bowl. Last, we rapid fire a list of “smash or passes” related to Christmas. Like who’s the hottest Santa? Are you into… Christmas cookies? Matching PJs? Christmas lights? Oh and… do you keep butter in the cupboard? 😂😭 Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes, Friday!) Check the official Author Interview with Lindsay Straube of Split or Swallow! Now a Barnes & Noble & Amazon best seller titled: Kiss of the Basilisk! https://youtu.be/fknhocSNIKM YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms Besties and the Book Club on Fable! Liz Ashley Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Tree Hats on Amazon | * https://amzn.to/3ZKqvgO What We Are Wearing: Coordinated Christmas Vacations T Shirts from Etsy | * https://go.magik.ly/ml/28m07/ 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! | |||
| 14 Jan 2025 | Ep 43 These Books Ripped Our Hearts Out! Break For Me, Survive For Me, LIVE FOR ME Summary and review!!!! | 01:10:02 | |
Liz and Ashley are back from their holiday hibernation, ready to talk about everything Broken Bounty Series by Ember Nicole. Today’s episode is the spoiler-y follow up to our spoiler FREE author interview that dropped in December. We discuss the major differences between the first two books and book three, Live For Me, the newest release in this dark romance rollercoaster of a series. We talk about what makes this storyline so unique, why it ripped our hearts and souls out, and the expert character development we just cannot get enough of. We also give mini summaries of each book, drop some favorite quotes, and discuss our favorite and least favorite plot points and characters. And, as per usual, we’ve got a holiday faves and fails edition to catch y’all up on what we’ve been doing, with a special section to shout out spicy Christmas novellas! And a smash or pass animated dad / Skarsgard monster edition. Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes, Friday!) Other Books Mentioned: A Very Stalker Christmas by @laylafaeauthor A Perfect Gift by @clioevansauthor Dance, Sugarplum: A Dark Nutcracker Christmas Extravaganza by @aureliaknightauthor and @amyoliveira.author Whiteout by @graciewilliamsauthor Watch our Author Interview with Ember Nicole here | https://youtu.be/tHV9rXSTBpY?si=OwxdMVfPmtFkcYu6 Check out Ember Nicole’s Broken Bounty Series, available now on Kindle and Amazon! | * https://amzn.to/3ZVrLPj Want MORE author interviews? ⬇️ Check the official Author Interview with Lindsay Straube of Split or Swallow! Now a Barnes & Noble & Amazon best seller titled: Kiss of the Basilisk! https://youtu.be/fknhocSNIKM YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms Besties and the Book Club on Fable! Liz Ashley Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Ashley is Wearing: “Support Your Local Book Dealer” tee from @ShopWildeshadows | https://www.wildeshadows.com Liz is Wearing: “Good Girls Love Smut” Crewneck, Discontinued. 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! | |||
| 21 Jan 2025 | Ep 44 A Court of Silver Flames and STRONG OPINIONS! aka ACOSF...ASO | 01:08:14 | |
Today is the day we all do our best to take it…seriously. All the girthy 784 pages of this big boy must be discussed. And as the longest of the bunch (according to some) all we can do is grab onto that headboard and just like Nesta, “climb [that] mountain.” | |||
| 28 Jan 2025 | Ep 45 Callie Hart Quicksilver Tell All! | Author Interview | 01:11:50 | |
We’ve been keeping a BIG secret from you… our book besties… and today is finally the day we get to reveal it! We interviewed Callie Hart!! *Insert happy screaming here.* We are SO excited to share this SPOILER FREE author interview with you, so stick around if you’re interested in listening to us chat with the one and only Callie Hart, author of the New York Times bestselling romantasy book: Quicksilver! This amazing book is officially available on Paperback and Kindle now, with hardback copies dropping in August! Quicksilver is book one in the Fae and Alchemy trilogy with book 2 slated to come out on November 18th of this year. Oh and did we mention Netflix is making a movie or TV series adaptation of this book?! Callie is an Amazon, USA Today, and New York Times bestselling author, and Quicksilver is also currently a Goodreads Choice and best of Booktok pick. Callie has historically written many dark romance books in the academia, motorcycle club, and mafia realms but we're so glad she decided to dive into fantasy! We get the behind the scenes 411 into Callie’s writing process, the history and creation of Kingfisher, what’s on the horizon with Netflix and future books, and why it’s so important to never give up. We also share a fave and fail Quicksilver edition, and find out which characters Callie herself would smash or pass! Preorder the Hardcover here | * https://amzn.to/42BwuHE Preorder Quicksilver 2 here | * https://amzn.to/4gn0I4M Callie’s Other Published Books | https://calliehart.com Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes, Friday!) Want MORE author interviews? ⬇️ Check the official Author Interview with Lindsay Straube of Split or Swallow! Now a Barnes & Noble & Amazon best seller titled: Kiss of the Basilisk! https://youtu.be/fknhocSNIKM Watch our Author Interview with Indie Dark Romance Author Ember Nicole here | https://youtu.be/tHV9rXSTBpY?si=OwxdMVfPmtFkcYu6 YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms Besties and the Book Club on Fable! Liz Ashley Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Ashley is Wearing: “Read Books Stay Weird” Tee by @shopwildeshadows | https://www.wildeshadows.com Liz is Wearing: “Good Girl” Pullover by @readbyerin_ | https://shopreadbyerin.com/collections/sweatshirt-collection 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! | |||
| 04 Feb 2025 | Ep 46 “Am I The A**HOLE for Reading Romance Books?” 🩷 AITA VALENTINES DAY EDITION! | 01:25:43 | |
Today is all about romance. We’re gearing up for Valentine’s Day over here at Besties & the Books Podcast and what exactly does that mean (you might be wondering)? Well, it means we’re going to be diving back into the Reddit realms to bring you romance book and V-Day themed Am I the A Hole questions! | |||
| 11 Feb 2025 | Ep 47 ONYX STORM *HONEST REVIEW* cuz we NEED to talk about this!!! | 01:44:03 | |
Well, sh*t. 😂 Some of you are going to be screaming at your screen / headphones, upset at us that Onyx Storm just wasn’t it for us. And that’s okay! That’s what we absolutely love about reading. There’s something for everyone. And if this 3⭐️ / 2🌶️ romantasy jumble is your thing… we will listen and not judge. Promise! We just hope you can do the same for us. Today is all about breaking down this plot line. That ending? The 10,000 unnecessary characters? Ashley and Liz cannot help it… we may have ranted for an hour about everything we found confusing, unnecessary, or problematic in Empyrean, book three, and we’re not ashamed! We know that some of you have to feel this same way about this extremely hyped series! So let’s dish. We also make sure to give credit where credit is due and discuss how Fourth Wing brought us all together at the water cooler of the future for that collective experience. And even though we feel personally victimized by Onyx Storm (the preorder, the shadow “daddy” the plot…), we understand the importance of valuing Romantasy as a genre and taking books written by women seriously- since they’re saving publishing!! So to Rebecca Yarros: we may not agree with everything you’ve written, but we respect you as an author. Truly. And don’t worry, we’ve got an Empyrean smash or pass to wrap it all up and bring us back together! Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes, Friday!) Check out these author interviews? ⬇️ We interviewed Callie Hart all about her NYT Bestseller Quicksilver! Watch it here! Ep 45 Callie Hart Quicksilver Tell All! | Author Interview Check the official Author Interview with Lindsay Straube of Split or Swallow! Now a Barnes & Noble & Amazon best seller titled: Kiss of the Basilisk! https://youtu.be/fknhocSNIKM Watch our Author Interview with Indie Dark Romance Author Ember Nicole here | https://youtu.be/tHV9rXSTBpY?si=OwxdMVfPmtFkcYu6 YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms @BestiesandtheBooksPodcast Besties and the Book Club on Fable! https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358 Liz Instagram | TikTok @TheRealLifeVeganWife Ashley Instagram | TikTok @AshleyEllix Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode! Ashley is Wearing: Fourth Wing Dragon T Shirt “Fly or D!e” from @caffeineandcurses | https://caffeineandcurses.com Liz is Wearing: “Read Responsibly” Crewneck by @darkanddisturbedshop | Use Code: VEGAN10 to save! | https://darkanddisturbedshop.com/products/read-responsibly-crewneck?_pos=2&_sid=cd787180e&_ss=r 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! | |||