Page Turners: A Bookish Podcast (Amy Watt and Liv Cormack-Widdop)

Out of the Spook-ish books and into the frying pan or something like that... This week we have shed our horror skin for a queer gothic retelling of Edgar Allen Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher. Some of you might argue that we haven't strayed too far from our previous spooky reads and you'd be right, we're bridging that gap before Christmas and we have no regrets! Join us as we record on Halloween night to talk all things mushrooms, guisers and all hallows eve traditions!

"What, you read?" "Oh my god, me too! Have you got a booktok?" The words we all love to hear. This week we're covering the two best places to be on social media and if you want to hear some well thought out arguments and sophisticated debates, that's a shame because you've just got us. Expect the usual expletives and tangents within...

Grab your caving gear, your traitorous husband stealing BFF and your creature killing climbing axe... drop them all at the side of your sofa and snuggle in a blanket as we watch the 2005 creature feature from the director of Dog Soldiers. Amy & Liv continue to travel through the horror annals in an attempt to convert our wimpy chimp co-founder into becoming a real horror savant. Or at the very least, let her husband watch horrors regularly and not only when she's away. Descend (heh) with us this week and arm yourself against the hungry Wendigos and hold each other tight, except that hussy who slept with your now dead husband. Yeah, she can get fucked.

We can't think of anything more horrifying or skin crawling than a bad sequel. Especially when the first one was pretty meh to begin with! We're back in Dream Harbour reading the exploits of a female main character with all the personality of a wet shoe and her romantic partner who gets all the character development and backstory of the FMC. Amy reckons this will be the episode that we lose you all... if that is the case, it's been a hell of a ride but have a listen and try to tell us we're wrong! And while we're very aware that this book isn't considered scary, we'd say try reading it first!

Thankyou again for our spooky opening credits: Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/v-draganov/mystery-box

In a dreaded Book Slump?! Fear not as Liv and Amy are here to help you get right back out of it! Join us for a Minisode to chat all things Book Slumps (from the books that have resulted in our own reading hangovers to intimidating TBRs) and we don't stray off topic at all...

Join us as we discuss this gothic social horror where a group of under appreciated southern housewives in South Carolina take on vicious monsters.. Oh! And a vampire. See what we did there? Enjoy!

Edit: Our very last 30 seconds didn't record so we had to improvise - it sounds a bit weird we know! Hopefully it doesn't impact your enjoyment.

Our first year as a podcast is coming to an end! Join us as we look back at our year of reading and hand out awards to the books we've read. Most are prestigious, though one is a little Razzie. We also reveal our personal favourite reads of 2024 and discuss the ones we're excited for next year!

Thankyou to all of you for your love, encouragement and support over the last year. We love this podcast, each other and you!

Who doesn't love a Christmas film?! Well, this week, we most certainly do! Join us as we discuss two more festive Netflix films which we loved a whole lot more than the other ones! You won't find any questionable wigs or sexy snowmen in these wholesome movies but you might find yourself sniffling into your mulled (wine, gin, guiness)!

Thanks again four our Christmassy Credits;

https://uppbeat.io/t/paul-yudin/magical-christmas

License code: A1GRRULRBH89OEVY

This week we discuss a war time inspired (but with Gods) fantasy as we follow two rivals to lovers, as journalists and war correspondents. Expect some gushing and maybe a little disappointment?

On this, the very first episode, Amy and Liv discuss One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig, a dark fantasy YA novel inspired by the poem, "The Highwayman" by Alfred Noyes.

Up for discussion, characters, their relationships, plot, setting and of course the romance. Here be spoilers!

Exactly one month before the big day they kick off our festive content! Join us, as we begin decking the halls and putting out the stockings over the next month! Starting with The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch, not your average Christmas rom-com, delve into conversations about queer representation, how the book industry has developed and just how well does it work to subvert popular and beloved tropes? We hope you've been good!

Wrapping it all in a big bow this week with our new credits by: #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/paul-yudin/magical-christmas

License code: A1GRRULRBH89OEVY

Oooooh baby! This week we've read not one but two MM sports romance books with spice hot enough to melt the ice! Join us as we slide on in (wink, wink) to the NHL and meet rival ice hockey superstars Shane and Ilya. This one was almost too hot for Spotify so our lovely Patreon besties will also get bonus content where we talk in great detail about the scenes that had us fanning our brows! *insert 10 fire emojis* Enjoy!

For the last of our spook-ish films we have a treat for you! Not only does this one actually stick with Liv but we've welcomed our first (and maybe only) guest for the episode - Laura! (A name that rivals the fame of Cher)

Amy, Liv & Laura talk all things Hereditary in order to piece together what actually happens and together they discover the true meaning of horror films; talking about them to death until they're not scary anymore... that and establishing the fact that Toni Collette is the ultimate girl's girl. Enjoy!

Thankyou again for our spooky opening credits: Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):⁠⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/v-draganov/mystery-box

Who doesn’t love an origin story?! We certainly do and so we invite you to listen to our bookish origins! With a lot less radioactive spiders and a lot more Biff, Chip and Kipper and summoning Beelzebub, join us on a journey down memory lane that essentially descends into a Twilight appreciation episode - you’re welcome!

Now for something a little bit different. Amy & Liv reread one of their favourite series - part 1 will cover Book 1, The Cruel Prince, so expect plenty of gushing over pointy, rude, cake-starved men and relentless, strong and yet self-hating women. Part 2 will drop next week, covering The Wicked King and The Queen of Nothing. Strap in as we take a flight over the ocean to Faerieland.

This week we are stuffing your stocking with not one but two saucy Christmas Crackers!! Settle in and sip some hot chocolate as we discuss if these went off with a bang or were a couple of damp squibs!

This week we're delving into a "Sci-Fi" - we mean, Fantasy epic which has everything, crow Gods, romance and vengeful bloody murder. All yours and our favourite things! Let us know what you think and tell us what we should be reading.

The festive period is almost upon us and we are gearing up to bring you lots of sparkly, Christmas content! However, before we can dig out the tinsel and pour the mulled wine, we're discussing a heartwrenching story of love, gore and more mysterious mushrooms! Enjoy :)

Remaining very much in our combined comfort zone, this week, we're back with a new episode discussing A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L Jensen. As huge lovers of The Bridge Kingdom Series, did Danielle's latest viking offering live up to our extremely high expectations?! Jump on in and find out!

"Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government…" Tell that to this bunch of country club racists! Liv and Amy discuss their love of Legendborn, a YA Arthurian inspired fantasy! They do their best at discussing the representation of young black women, whether the themes in the book are relatable to a YA audience and who Liv sees when she's reading about our main love interest!

What's that over there?! IT'S A MASSIVE RED FLAG!! or is it...? This week, we ask ourselves that question and many others including can a kitchen knife be sexy and would the Batman voice still do it for us if it was asking us how we like ours eggs cooked?!

This episode contains sensitive subject matter so please listen to the trigger warnings before deciding if it's for you x

This week we immerse ourselves in a stunning world as we take our first foray into the writing of Sue Lynn Tan. The stakes are high (and our hopes are higher) in this romantic - fantasy standalone but does it meet our expectations?! Listen to find out if our fence-sitting comes to an end!

oOoOoOoOooOO!! We kicked off our new series last week with a horror movie but this time we're back doing what we (like to think) we do best....talking about books! We've chosen a monster-filled offering for our first Spook-ish read of the season, The Luminaries by Susan Dennard. Join us as we delve into the forest of Hemlock Falls and ponder over the mind-bending mystery, just who is the werewolf that is causing all the chaos?! *cough Jay Friday cough*

We're baaaacckkk! Missed us? Well, we have certainly missed you! After a slightly longer than planned hiatus, we are back with a bang and discussing the TikTok phenomenon that is Powerless by Lauren Roberts. It's a fantasy-romance trope-a-palooza but were we all over it or just over it (see what we did there?) Listen to find out!

Good Morrow! This week we discuss witches, demons and the true horror - puritanical societies! Also, Liv has been at a wedding and Amy made friends with a sloth. Don't skip the end as we have a very exciting annoucment related to our upcoming Spooky Season Grand Finale!

Reading Dystopian Fiction? That's so 2008-2011, well we're bringing it back with this banger. Totally stuffed full (as you can tell by the length of it) of really terrifying real-life comparisons, theories that'll blow you away and as always more tangents than you can shake a dystopian stick at!

This week we're back to delve into the newest offering from Grady Hendrix, Witchcraft for Wayward Girls. It's a chilling, devastating and rage-inducing story that certainly provided us with plenty to talk about. This book contains potentially triggering content so please research this before listening x

We're soaring... flyying, straight into 2025 with the Romantasy sensation - Fourth Wing. The day before the third instalment (Onyx Storm) is due out we'll take you back through everything you loved (or hated) about the first book.

Join us as Amy and I discuss whether or not anything we've read recently has been real enemies to lovers and whether sex scenes have lost their shine due to try hard authors attempting to be interesting and taboo.

Great to be back and happy new year!

Boo! Kicking off a separate spooky section of the Pod, get it? Spook-ish? Tough crowd. Anyway, Amy is tempting Liv into the world of Horror films. Bi-weekly watchings will be reported throughout the season of the witch with a softer start before pushing us off the cliff straight into pants-shitting waters. And we can all listen together as Liv slips slowly into insomnia. So, turn up the lights, leave the curtains open or you may never sleep again!

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/v-draganov/mystery-box

Beware of the things that go bump in the night, especially with this book - goodness knows where it will end up! Join us as we finish off our fun Valentines Love Feature with some good old Monster Romance. We rank the monster men on offer, consider whether this book is a feminist, sex positive romp and Amy does a top tier "Edward Hyde" impression.

Thanks for tuning in and thanks to all our new followers! Welcome and we hope you stick with us going forward!

When a cold wind blows it chills you, chills you to the bone...

But there's nothing in nature that freezes your heart like rounding off the year with a classic literature read. Who do we think we are? Join us as we attempt to pick apart this much beloved highbrow classic and resist the temptation to stoop into a lowbrow state of mind.

We also have to issue you an apology because of course we were wrong and the book sold exceedingly well and was not viewed as unpopular by anyone! More research about the book and less about A Muppet's Christmas Carol it seems....

We hope you have a warm and safe Christmas - only one episode left to go for the year!

This weeks episode slips down as easy as a dose of poison, though the effects are far less messy, we hope. It appears that Amy & Liv have woken on the wrong side of the bed this episode as nothing seems to be good enough. Belladonna is a gothic, mystery romance where the villain FOR SURE has a sexy face and a male appendage ... we just never get to see it. Maybe in the sequel?

Hey! 2005 called, it wants its podcast episode back! Yes, that's right we promised and now we have delivered! This week we are discussing the noughties phenomenon Twilight to end our spookish special with a bang! Join us to chat dodgy wigs, problematic themes and the age old question, Team Edward or Team Jacob??

In our sixth episode, Amy forces Liv to read a crime thriller and she's less than thrilled about it. A copycat killer is seemingly fixated on the daughter of a serial killer twenty years after the first murders but who could it be? We'll be delving into all of the Crime tropes and discussing a little about how this could look on TV with it being produced by Emma Stone. Also, stay tuned a fun little announcement at the end as well as talking about next week's book!

We're back in our respective comfort zones this week with another fantasy romance offering by Carissa Broadbent. Join us as we discuss her lesser known series The War of Lost Hearts. The plot is plotting with this one so we wash it down with several glasses of red wine. Will this make us any less critical?! Listen and find out!

Love is in the air and we are in your ears kicking off our three week Valentines special with a heart-warming sapphic Sherwood adventure! Expect lacklustre reactions to Dan Brown's new book and some soap box rants from Liv (it wouldn't be an epsiode without those ey?). AND, we finally reveal all that happened on Donny day!

Carrying on from last week, Amy and Liv discuss The Wicked King and The Queen of Nothing, wrapping up this much beloved series. Whilst you can't see it, we can guarantee you there's plenty of leg kicking and so much character bashing of a certain twin sister. From the 55 minute mark there is some interference for a few minutes, for which we apologise, but if you've listened that far, please do persevere!

ALSO; next week we'll be reading Heated Rivalry and the Long Game by Rachel Reid, so get your skates on for this M/M Ice hockey romance!

Did you miss our scathing and cut-throat commentary?! Well buckle in as we're back this week with another episode where we do NOT hold back! This week we delve into the murkey world of dark romance and ponder over society's biggest questions including if there any limits as to what can be used as a sex toy... If you hadn't already guessed, this one is explicit and the book itself has a looong list of trigger warnings so please read these before jumping in. Love yas x

Who's that peering through the keyhole? Oh, it's just Amy & Liv here to inspect the secret attic room you've got that locks from the outside and your inability to stop speaking Spanish to the Italian gardener... all key plots that are discussed in this episode all about the TikTok thriller sensation, The Housemaid. Will this be a hit with the hosts or will they be ordering themselves some salmon un baguette to go?

Is the third instalment in the Dream Harbour series a Christmas cracker, or an inconvenient Partridge in a pear tree that you've just got no space for? Join us for another yuletide episode where Amy begrudgingly ranks the trilogy and Liv (yet again) climbs atop her sex scene soap box. Will we ever be sick of the conversation the world of Dream Harbour can conjure? Probably not. We could end up kicked off the nice list for some of these opinions though ... surely not 16 days before Father Christmas comes?

Thanks again four our Christmassy Credits;

https://uppbeat.io/t/paul-yudin/magical-christmas

License code: A1GRRULRBH89OEVY

Boo! What's more scary than technical difficulties? Well, nothing in our opinion! This episode, some pesky spooks have been haunting our files and made one disappear entirely! Apologies the ep ends rather abruptly although you do only miss our final thoughts which as you know is a rambling summary of the prevous discussion!

Next ep we will be chatting about Slewfoot by Brom. Please join us then for the penultimate Spook-ish offering x

SPLASH!

Grab your goggles and a pool float if you need it as this week we're diving into a kink-filled sports romance! This one had us giggling, kicking our feet and even pacing at the time, but following our discussion does it still get a gold medal from us or was it a bit of a belly flop?

Click play and find out!

Get yourself a big fantasy hug this week as we take on Gods of all kinds with a badass FMC by our side! Please excuse the utter chaos that is this episode, we're clearly very excited to talk about this book! (And it's too early in the morning for Liv)