October 16, 2025 • 50 mins
Read my book, A Flair for Trouble (Available on KU).
Books mentioned in this episode:
- Well Actually by Mazey Eddings
- Good Spirits by B.K. Borison
- The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
- The Woman in Suite 11 by Ruth Ware
- Sunday Supper by K. Sinko
- The Trouble With Love and Coaches by Harriet Ashford
- Watch Me by Tahereh Mafi
- Crave by Tracy Wolff
- The Infinite Infinite by M.K. Williams
- Fearless by Lauren Roberts
- Darkness Loves Company by Sarah Blair
- Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
For links to the books discussed in this episode, click the link here to take you to the Google Doc to view the list.
For episode feedback, future reading and author recommendations, you can text the podcast by clicking the "Send us a message button" above.
For more, follow along on Instagram @whereileftoffpod.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_00 (00:08):
Welcome back.
I'm Kristen Balls, and you'relistening to Where I Left Off, a
Bookish Podcast.
And today I am bringing yousomething slightly different.
So technically, this is areading recap, but let me go
into a little bit more of thedetail and you'll see why it's a
little bit different today.
So basically, whenever I wastrying to brainstorm what I was
(00:30):
gonna do for the next episode, Ireally had two problems.
Number one, I am in the middleof what feels like 50 different
books, and I have really notfinished a one.
Over like since the last readingrecap, I have only finished like
two books, which is really badfor me.
(00:52):
Normally I finish a lot more.
Like I said, just in the middleof 50 different ones.
Cannot finish one to save mylife right now.
So there's that.
So I couldn't do a full readingrecap.
Two, I am currently editing thelive panel from Inc and Indy,
which, if you came here from Inkand Indie and you are following
me just for that, trust me, Ipromise I'm working on it.
(01:14):
Uh really, I'm working on it asmuch as a person with a
full-time job and a book and apodcast and a social life and
all that other stuff, you know,can.
So I am working on that episode.
It it will be out soon, but Ineeded something in the
meantime.
Also, all of my guests arescheduled later in this month.
(01:35):
I I'm really scheduling out tolike February, but um all my
guests are not not right thismoment.
So basically, I didn't reallyhave an episode for you today,
and like to get in between whenI'm posting that Ink and Indie
episode.
So I wanted to give yousomething.
So this is this is thatsomething.
(01:56):
And like I said, I finishedabout like two books recently,
so I'm gonna cover those first,and then I'll go into what I'm
currently reading, which is awhole thing in itself.
So that is how it is a readingrecap, but there isn't that much
to recap, so I'm also tellingyou what I am currently reading
as well.
Just got back from Inc.
(02:17):
not that long ago.
Um, and yeah, trying to geteverything ready for the next
round of um of author events andpodcast interviews and all that
stuff.
And I am trying to work on booktwo.
I am almost done with plotting.
I've written a little bit of itand I'm almost done with
plotting.
I feel so much better this timearound.
(02:39):
I feel like I really have a planand I have more of a process,
and I feel like I'm reallyhoning said process.
So it's just taking me a secondbecause this book does require a
little bit more research on somethings.
So yeah, that's kind of whereI'm at.
But I am dying to just get intolike the real writing portion.
Like I have been writing alittle bit of it, but I need to
(03:01):
write more.
Um, but like who has the time?
Who has the time for anything?
I feel like everyone, like Isaid, that I taught, I feel like
I said this, I don't know, anepisode or two ago, but I just
feel like everyone is stressedout right now still.
And I I agree.
So hopefully, hopefully I'll beable to get a handle on
everything and get more of asustainable schedule.
I'm getting there.
Everything's starting to kind oftaper off.
(03:22):
It was really crazy in Augustwhen the book released, and now
it's kind of finally starting totaper off a little bit.
So I'm kind of getting back toeverything.
So in theory, I should be ableto finish some books like by the
next reading recap.
I obviously I'll have to becauseit's a reading recap, but you
know what I mean.
Like, I think this season, thisfall season, I'm finally gonna
(03:45):
maybe be able to start likereally finishing some books
again and getting back on mynormal kind of reading pace,
because I have not been on myreading pace in a bit.
So, with all that said, I'mgonna go into what I recently
read.
Uh, starting up first is WellActually by Maisie Eddings.
This is contemporary romance andit is open door.
(04:07):
You heard me in the last readingrecap episode say that I was in
the middle of this and I had afive-star prediction.
Shocker, I finished the book andI absolutely loved it.
And this is that book, if youdon't remember, that I said that
I read like the blurb, I thinklike six months to a year before
it came out, and I knew I justhad to read it, and I was
(04:27):
waiting, I was waiting for thisbook to come out, so I knew I
was going to buy it.
And like I said, read it, I wasright, it was definitely a
five-star worthy book, and itwas so good.
Anyway, it's about Eva, who is atalk show host, and she has like
this kind of chicken shop datestyle show called Sausage Talk,
(04:52):
and she gets drunk and shedeclares her disdain for her ex,
who is now actually notably likea self-growth expert.
His name is Riley Cooper, andthat's what just like gets her
goat about him, is that he'spreaching, you know, self-growth
and like being a good partnerand all this other stuff when
(05:12):
she knows how he was in collegeand she had the total opposite
experience.
So, in a moment of frustration,she just lets it all out on
social media, doesn't have thatmany followers, and doesn't
think it's gonna go anywhere.
But then of course, itunexpectedly goes viral, and a
bunch of stuff happens, andRiley ends up being a guest on
(05:33):
her show, and basically hestrikes up a deal for him to be
able to like make up hisbehavior in college and take her
on a series of dates and thenlike record it on his podcast
and do like recaps.
So that is that is kind of wherewe're starting out with the
book.
So is there a second chanceavailable for Eva and Riley?
(05:55):
You are gonna have to read tofind out.
I'm not spoiling anything.
Um, I will preface this withbecause I know that this book
has been very popular also onsocial media, so you know
sometimes people love book talkrecommendations, some people do
not.
Um, like I said, I'm not onTikTok, I just will go on
Instagram, Bookstagram, uh, morethan anything.
(06:17):
So it's kind of whatevertrickles down from there.
But anyway, I will preface thiswith the fact that Eva, the main
character, she could beconsidered unlikable.
And I think if you end up notliking this book, it's probably
a lot to do with her because sheis very sarcastic, she's very
prickly, she's ultimately veryguarded.
(06:40):
And you find out why there is areason, a very good reason, uh,
that kind of makes sense of whyshe is the way she is, of
course.
And basically, like her wholeIce Queen status is not just
gonna melt super easily.
It's not like one moment she'ssuper sarcastic and borderline,
kind of really mean slash rudeto Riley, and then she just
(07:02):
magically relents and is like, Ilove you.
Like that that's not that's nothappening in this book.
But I really appreciate how shedidn't like immediately change
herself for Riley, who's theMMC.
Um, I feel like he ultimatelyaccepted her for her, and they
both made each other better, andthey really developed as
(07:24):
characters throughout the book.
So I really appreciated how itwasn't just like an easy pairing
between them.
Their courtship is hard won forsure.
And I really appreciate the factthat she just isn't your like
standard run-of-the-mill FMC,and it really takes them a while
to figure stuff out.
(07:44):
And she is just like very crass,very sarcastic, very prickly.
And I just really appreciate thefact that with romance novels in
general, you can just findanything that you're looking for
if you want to read um like aplus size FMC and MMC uh Olivia
(08:06):
Dade, Second Chance Romance, butyou know, there are also so many
other books.
You can find, you know, um avery quiet female main
character, you can find a superloud one, you can find someone
who's crass, you can findsomeone who's whatever.
Like you, there's just alldifferent personalities.
There's MM, there's Safic.
Like you can find whateveryou're looking for.
(08:28):
It seems like there's a romancenovel for that.
And I really appreciate itbecause especially whenever I
read romance novels with femalemain characters that are outside
of my comfort zone or outsideof, you know, like I don't
necessarily feel like I have alot of personality traits in
common with Eva at all.
Um, I feel like it was veryinteresting to be able to read a
(08:51):
book from her perspective andhear her innermost thoughts.
And I really appreciate thatabout romance.
That even though I may not beable to like specifically relate
to a main character, I can learna lot about them and honestly
kind of learn a little bit aboutmyself by just getting the
viewpoints and perspectives ofdifferent types of people and
(09:13):
different personalities.
So anyway, I'm just throwingthat out there.
I really appreciated that aboutthis book.
Um, I thought it was just veryfresh, very new, very different,
and I loved it.
I really loved it.
Felt like it was really welldone.
So I will definitely be readingmore Maisie Eddings in the
future.
(09:33):
I have not checked out herbacklist, and now I will.
Now I definitely will.
Okay.
Then up next, the other bookthat I have read recently.
Are we shocked?
We are not.
It's a romance.
Uh, again.
So this is Good Spirits by BKBorison.
And if you're listening to thisat this point, depending on what
(09:55):
date it is, you might be going,wait a minute.
It's not October 25th.
This book is not out yet.
You are correct.
I did read an arc of this book.
It is an interesting, somewhatinteresting story of how I got
said arc in my hands.
So I will like tell you a littlebit about it now.
Uh, I do also say it kind of inthe Ink and Indie episode, so
(10:17):
I'm sorry that I'm gonna repeatmyself, but I'm gonna give you
the longer version here.
Okay, so basically, I have afriend that was working at
Barnes Noble at the time, andshe got access to their ARC
shelf, of course, and you know,they want their employees to
read the books, to be able totalk about them, sell them, you
know, come up with displayideas, like all that jazz.
(10:38):
They need them to read thebooks.
So, of course, Barnes and Nobleis going to get sent ARC copies
from publishers.
Again, with an ARC copy, if youdidn't know, again, stands for
advanced reader copy ARCs orARCs.
I've heard of both ways, but Isay ARCs.
Uh, with ARCs, of course, youcannot sell them, they are not a
final copy of the book.
So most bookstores will like putthem in a little free library or
(11:02):
or send them home withemployees, stuff like that,
because you can't do anythingwith them.
They're just like free books tobe able to read.
And a lot of people tend to likeput them in little free
libraries or pass them on tofriends because it's a way to
get other people reading thatbook.
And so, like, the printing costand everything are not going to
waste because you're gettingthat readership and that
(11:25):
audience with the hope that theywill review it, is the main
point of ARCS.
So, um, that is how my friendgot it at Barnes Noble.
The ARC is obviously hers, likeit is her book.
I mean, yeah, it's like her bookto go on her bookshelf, and she
was kind enough to let me readsaid book.
So I got to read Good Spiritsearly, a physical copy too,
(11:46):
which is like insane.
Uh, because you know thatBerkeley is not sending me,
sending me copies.
They have um denied every singleNetGalley request.
And not to brag, but onNetGalley, I haven't done
NetGalley in a while because Ijust can't like read ARCs right
now with everything else for thepodcast, and all of those books
(12:07):
are are getting kind ofoverwhelming, especially if I'm
interviewing an author with aseries.
I obviously have to read all thebooks in their series.
So anyway, I'm very overwhelmedby my TBR and books for future
interviews.
So I have really kind of likeceased doing ARCs, but with ARCs
on NetGalley, because I have thepodcast, I am under um a
(12:31):
journalist.
I get pretty much all access tolike any books.
I get approved for almost everybook that I apply for, even if
they are pretty popular books.
I, yeah, Tor, yes, they'veapproved me.
Um Avon, Simon and Schuster,HarperCollins, all those.
HarperCollins and Simon andSchuster will both actually also
send me um widgets of links thatI can read too.
(12:54):
So anyway, all that to say, likeI can pretty much get any book I
request on NetGalley, except forBerkeley.
They are like, nope, absolutelynot.
Every time I try, I have neverbeen accepted for a Berkeley
romance.
So um, all that being said,there was no way that I was
gonna get my hands on an arcunless I was reading um this
(13:17):
physical arc this way.
So that's how I got it.
And well, actually, I just wenton that whole rant for Berkeley,
but good spirits is not evenBerkeley.
I think it is Avon, actually.
Which yes, it's Avon, and Avonis an imprint of HarperCollins.
So I literally went on thatwhole rant about Berkeley, and
(13:38):
it was it was HarperCollins theentire time.
Okay, you know what?
I'm recording this at nightafter I've worked a full day, so
that's gonna just be my excuse,I guess.
Um yeah, sorry for going on thatentire tangent only to realize
wrong publisher genius.
Berkeley is the publisher forBK's Lovelight Farm series, and
(14:02):
wait, I'm pretty sure first timecaller is too.
Hold on, now I'm checking.
Now I'm checking my bookshelf.
Yes, yes, first time caller isalso Berkeley.
I was gonna say, am I wrong?
No, I'm not.
Oh man.
My assumption is because thisbook is a paranormal romance, is
why it's with a differentpublisher versus just uh like
regular contemporary romance.
(14:23):
So, anyway, this is Good Spiritsby BK Borison.
Longest preamble you ever heard,apparently.
Uh, this is open door, spicescale.
Hmm.
Uh, it wasn't that bad.
I'm trying to think of an authorthat uh if you've read honestly,
(14:44):
if you've read the Love LightFarm series by BK Borison,
you're fine.
You're fine.
I feel like I I feel like thespice was maybe a little bit
more in depth in the LovelightFarm series than it is here.
And I feel, yeah.
I think, from what I remember,um, I need to finish the series.
(15:05):
I'm not totally done with LoveLight Farms, but I've read about
half of it.
But anyway, uh yeah, I would saythat it is pretty on par with
those.
Um First Time Caller.
I think, yeah, I think it's kindof all on par with her other
books.
So unfortunately, I am compingher spice to her.
Normally I I comp it to otherauthors, but none are really
(15:29):
ringing a bell.
Maybe kind of closer to AlexaMartin.
Okay, maybe not quite iffy.
Like maybe just under AlexaMartin.
I would say.
Now that I'm thinking about it.
Yeah, I think that's what I'mgonna go with.
I think that's my finaldecision.
Sorry, it's hard to compare.
(15:50):
Um, it's hard to compare that.
So anyway, yeah, it wasn't thatbad.
It really was not not thatintense at all.
Um, it was definitely more aboutthe story, which I personally
appreciate.
Uh, if a book is all spice, I amnot reading that.
I'm going to DNF it.
Uh, that is not why I'm readingthe book.
So that is not my personalpreference.
(16:11):
Um, but everyone has their ownpreference.
So use that as a litmus.
If you want all spice, then thiswould not be the book for you.
But if you don't really carethat much and you're fine with
having some spice in there, thenthis is perfect for you.
So, okay, sorry.
I then proceeded to go on like asecond long preamble, but this
(16:32):
book is about Harriet, the maincharacter, and she, okay, so
it's, I say it's not really aspin-off, it's kind of more like
inspired by a Christmas Carol byCharles Dickens.
So Harriet is drudging throughlife until Nolan, the MMC, he is
also the ghost of Christmaspast, crashes into her living
(16:53):
room.
He's convinced that something inher past needs correcting, and
he is ready to find it so he canmove on, so he can get her to
move on to the ghost ofChristmas present, and he can
get on to his next assignmentlike he's been doing for
hundreds of years since hisdeath, because he is a ghost.
Things don't go as planned, andNolan struggles to find what is
(17:14):
wrong with Harriet.
He can't figure out why he hasbeen sent to her.
He even goes to his boss, who'slike, we don't make mistakes,
and he just can't figure outwhat is actually wrong with
Harriet.
So, can they solve the mysteryof why she is even being visited
by the three ghosts?
And also reconcile theirfeelings that are kind of slowly
(17:39):
coming about for each other.
We'll see if that can all happenbefore Christmas Eve.
You will have to read to findout.
I was about to say somethingthat I thought would spoil it,
and I'm not gonna say it.
But anyway, I did cry a lotwhile reading this book.
I say a lot, maybe like two orthree times.
It's just Harriet.
I feel so bad.
Her past is probably gonna makeyou cry.
(18:00):
It's pretty sad.
It sounds like this sounds likeit's just a fun, fluffy
Christmas book, and it is not.
It has a lot of depth in there,and that's why I cried was the
depth.
It just I don't know, it's hardnot to empathize with Harriet
and her background and how ithas affected the trajectory of
(18:24):
her life, and you can really seethat when they are clearly going
in the past.
So that is a little bit sad,it's a little bit deeper than
maybe you would expect.
Um, but of course, there are alot of funny moments too, so
it's not it's not as if it'slike the most angsty book ever.
It it has a good balance ofhaving that depth, having
character development, someemotion in there, but then also
(18:46):
being like a fun Christmas bookwith a very unique premise.
I have not heard of anythinglike that before, FYI.
Um, so anyway, I personally Irelated to Harriet a lot, and I
do feel like that helped justkind of create like an extra
layer of I loved this book.
And um, if you were everwondering, not that you asked,
(19:09):
but if you were ever wonderingwhat my personality is like in
real life, I would probably saythat I'm like a Harriet in this
book, good spirits, mixed withlike Annie Walker from Practice
Makes Perfect.
I have a lot of Annie, and thenI would say maybe like a touch
of Noelle from You with theView.
(19:31):
That would probably sum up mypersonality, in my opinion.
I would have to ask friends andfamily to see if I'm right.
But anyway, I really liked thisbook.
I thought it was fantastic.
Um, I thought it was reallydifferent, and what a great way
to kick off the first Christmasbook of the season.
So I would recommend GoodSpirits by VK Borison, and this
(19:53):
book releases October 25th.
Now getting into what I amcurrently reading.
So I am unfortunately one ofthose people who's gonna read a
million books at once.
I am not really exaggeratingwhen I say a million, a little
bit.
It feels like that.
So have I ever really read thismany books at once?
(20:14):
No, this is pushing it for me.
It is slightly concerning, and Ifeel like you're going to judge
me a little bit, and you'reprobably gonna be stressed out
hearing just how many books I'min the middle of.
But you know what?
I'm honest, I'm gonna tell youwhat I'm actually reading.
It's a lot.
Hopefully, for all those otherpeople that are in the middle of
(20:35):
other things and in the middleof reading slumps, maybe this
will make you feel a little bitbetter.
But what keeps happening is I'llstart a book knowing that I have
a deadline.
Like I am talking to this personat this point, or we're talking
about this thing, and or I amdiscussing this book with them.
Like, even if they're not theauthor, maybe I'm just
discussing the book with them.
So then I'll read most of it,and then I won't totally finish
(20:59):
it, and I'll start somethingelse.
And then I'll need to talk tothem about the book, won't
totally finish it, and then I'lljust start another one because
I'm like, oh no, that deadline'scoming up too.
Gotta gotta start with that.
So that is a big reason why I'mjuggling so many, but also uh I
just have not had the time toread.
It has been Crazy Town, so Ithink that that also is not
(21:23):
helping me as well.
So there's several reasons whyI'm in the middle of this many
books.
This is not what I try to dotypically.
Um, I mean, I do read multiplebooks at once, but not to this
level.
So try not to be too scared.
Um, I'm sorry now, because thisis gonna be a lot.
But okay, you know what?
I'm a human being.
(21:43):
I'm trying my best to read thebooks that I have before
starting something else.
We'll see if I can actually dothat.
So, anyway, one final thingbefore I get into them.
Do not take the fact that Ihaven't finished these books
into account.
It's me, it's not the books.
It does not mean anythingagainst the books.
I am enjoying them.
(22:03):
Um, it is not the book's fault.
Please do not think that becauseit has taken me forever to
finish a book, that means Idon't like it.
That is totally not the case.
I am just splitting my attentionbetween way too many books.
And that is my like trait.
I am great at focus.
And the fact that I have tosplit my focus amongst so many
books kind of stresses me out atthis point.
(22:24):
Just know that it has nothingagainst the books.
Um, it's really just all metrying to balance reading and
life together.
So, going into that.
First book I'm reading, this isfor book club.
I better get on this one becauseI have book club next week.
This is The Woman in SuiteEleven by Ruth Ware.
And this book is a continuationof The Woman in Cabin 10, which
(22:48):
was actually recently releasedon Netflix.
And this book itself is verynear and dear to my heart.
Or let me rephrase that.
Sorry, The Woman in Cabin 10 isvery near and dear to my heart
because it's what got me intoRuth Ware.
I have read a decent amount ofRuth's backlist, and she's one
of my favorite thriller authors,and so I really try to keep up
(23:08):
with each new release.
Um, and yeah, she she's thebest.
She is in like auto-by-authorterritory.
So whenever this book, wheneverI found out that it was a book
for book club, I was like, yes,please, I would love to have an
excuse to read this.
It's kind of like I keep staringat the newest Riley Sager and
thinking, I'm gonna read thatone day, and then I have not
really been reading thrillers.
(23:29):
So that's about how all that'sgoing.
Same with Megan Miranda.
I'm literally now two behind onher her releases.
Stacy Willingham, behind.
I all my favorite thrillerauthors, I am really behind on.
But that means that I have a lotof good books I can read.
So, I mean, I guess that'salways a bonus.
But anyway, I'm just saying thatI am biased, so I feel like I
(23:49):
needed to point that out first.
That I know I'm gonna like thisbook.
I'm not very far into it, um,but I will say, mmm, slight
spoiler for the woman inCaventin.
It's not really a spoiler whenyou know that there's a second
book.
Mmm.
Okay, I'm just gonna say slightspoiler, and then I'm gonna say
this one thing that really isn'ta spoiler, and then I'm gonna
(24:11):
have like uh what's it called,timestamps in the show notes, so
that way if you, you know,really don't want that many
spoilers that you could totallyfigure out from common sense,
then I'm just putting that inthere just in case, because I
personally hate having booksspoiled for me, so there you go.
Okay.
So obviously, the woman in Cabin10, you know that she's going to
(24:31):
survive because she is in booktwo, the woman in Sweet Eleven,
like the the woman lives.
Shocker.
So that I feel like is kind ofself-explanatory based on the
titles and the fact that it's acontinuation from that.
So the point I was just gonnamake with that was that I think
that it's very interestingbecause normally in thrillers
it's like I upended my entirelife, but it was worth it for
(24:54):
the truth.
Or, you know, I am now in thestate of complete and utter
turmoil, and then the book'sjust like, bye, the ends, we'll
never know what happened to you.
Just, you know, got close tothis character for the entire
time.
Most of it was probably in theirperspective, and now I have no
idea what happened to you.
(25:15):
As soon as the case is closed,the thing happens, they survive
whatever near-death experienceis gonna happen in a thriller,
blah, blah, blah.
Book just ends.
So, what I like about this isthat I get a continuation.
I get to see how that happilyever after played out from the
first book, how her life turnsout, what it's like, and then as
she's going into this next book,and it also really sets the
(25:37):
stakes for her.
Like, I haven't finished it, soI have no idea what's gonna
happen in the book or how she'sgonna end up at the end, but I
feel like it really helps buildthe stakes of like, okay, now
she has this life that she wantsto continue living, and she has
something to fight for as she'sgonna have to figure out this
case and have to figure out howto get out of the situation that
(25:59):
she's currently in.
So I haven't gotten very far inthis yet, but I am really liking
it because it is classic RuthWare.
I love her writing style.
She does obviously writethrillers, they are very
suspenseful, they have a lot ofmystery, they have a lot of
intrigue.
But what I like about her booksis that they also have like it's
just it's interesting.
You feel kind of like you'rereading like general fiction
(26:20):
sometimes, like you're gettingsome of her family life and
what's going on in her day.
And it's not just like boom,boom, boom, something's always
happening.
It's like there's a real buildupto whatever is about to happen,
and you really get to know thecharacters, and her characters
are very, very fleshed out andhave a lot of character
development over the course ofher books.
So I really enjoy Ruth Ware'swriting style.
(26:44):
So I am I'm loving this one.
I am loving it.
So thank you, Ruth, for givingme a thriller that I can enjoy.
Then I already told you I justgot back from Inc and Indy not
that long ago.
Um, when I was there, this bookwas already on my radar, and I
met and talked to K5 not only onthe podcast, um, but I got to
(27:06):
talk to her at the event, andshe is an awesome person.
Um, so I would just like topoint that out because for me, I
love following authors who arereally awesome, nice, kind,
humble people.
That's gonna be the differencethat's gonna make me like
auto-buy your books no matterwhat.
Like, I will go hunt out andsearch out a signed copy of your
book if I like you.
(27:28):
That sounds bad, but like it'ssomething about getting to
support someone that you know isa genuinely great person.
So uh when I met Lila Sage, likeall my author friends, I am just
extra stoked to be able to readand enjoy and buy their books.
So I would say that K5definitely falls into that
(27:48):
category now.
So I ended up getting, okay, soI've read some of her books and
I've loved every single one thatI've read.
Um, and now I switched over toher adult contemporary romance
book, and this is a standaloneand is not a series.
So if you're looking for a goodstandalone, and a fall
standalone, Sunday Supper by KaySinko is the way to go.
(28:10):
I am about a hundred pages intothis, so I obviously am not done
with it.
Um and I have actually beenwatching The Bear a little bit.
My friend was like, you gottawatch it.
So I did, I had previouslywatched season one before
reading the book.
So I can confirm that this bookis giving me a very similar
feeling, but in a more likefallish, kind of romantic way,
(28:33):
if that makes sense.
Like there's more of a romanceum element in this plot,
obviously, because it's acontemporary romance novel.
But I was absolutely entrancedwith this book on the plane ride
back from Maryland after I gotmy signed copy in Inc and Indy.
I like crushed a hundred pageswhile on the plane.
That's all I did, was I read.
(28:54):
So it was great.
And I actually had it on myKindle because when we were uh
flying back, it was really earlyin the morning, so it was still
dark.
So I literally had itpre-downloaded on my Kindle.
Um, so I was switching betweenmy Kindle and the physical book
whenever it got lighter.
So anyway, Sunday Supper by KSinko is great.
The banter, the banter, it is sogood.
(29:18):
I am laughing so much.
Oh man, the way he talks to heris great.
And she she snaps right back athim.
I love it, so I cannot wait.
I cannot wait to finish thisbook.
It is great, it is really great.
I'm very entertained.
Okay, speaking of romance books,because you know, I have a
couple, I have a coupledifferent genres here, but
(29:39):
obviously, of course, I haveromance because duh, it's it's
me.
Um, so like I can't, I can't nothave romance books going.
Anyway, so The Trouble with Loveand Coaches by Harriet Ashford
is also the other book I'mreading, and this is open door.
Uh, this is book two in theseries, so this is an
interconnected standaloneseries.
(30:00):
And I actually already had mysecond copy before I went to Ink
and Indie.
It's no secret that Harry and Iare friends.
She is great.
She is so supportive.
She is such a kind human being.
She is hilarious.
And I feel like because she hassuch a fun personality, it
really comes across in herwriting.
Like there's just so muchpersonality characterization,
(30:23):
like her prose.
It's just the way that shewrites.
It feels like you're talking toyour best friend.
So if you want that kind ofbook, you 100% need to get on
Harriet Ashford's books.
Start with the Trouble with Loveand Ink, and then go to the
Trouble with Love and Coaches.
She is writing book three, and Ibelieve her series is gonna have
a total of four books.
(30:43):
I'm pretty sure she's stoppingat four for this particular
series.
So definitely read it, wouldrecommend.
But right now I'm in the middleof book two.
I'm also about a hundred pagesinto this.
So I um I was reading this onthe way down to Maryland on that
plane ride, and then I readSunday Supper on the way back.
So I again I'm about a hundredpages in each.
(31:05):
Clearly, the flight was the samelength.
Um, I read about a page aminute, so I am actually pretty
consistent on based on timepast, I can get pretty much like
the same length in a book.
Um, so yeah.
Anyway, side random fact.
But I feel like with Harriet'sbooks, you literally cannot read
one of them without laughing andsmiling.
(31:26):
Like I'm convinced that it'sjust physically impossible.
She is so funny, and her booksare so funny.
So, also, if you're intorunning, biking, swimming, or
really just anything like IronMan related in general, because
April is trying to compete in anIron Man, then you are going to
absolutely love this book.
And April, the FMC, she evenworks at a triathlon shop.
(31:49):
So you're gonna get a lot oflike behind the scenes of
everything, too.
So, again, if those are yourpassions, then this is really
going to appeal to you becauseshe's helping everyone pick the
right shoes and get the rightgels and all that other kind of
stuff.
And she really explains like alot of the training that's going
into doing something like anIron Man.
(32:10):
And you get a lot of differentlike facets of the race from
different perspectives of thecharacters because there's
pretty much one of hercharacters like at every aspect.
Some are volunteers, some arecompeting, some are the MMC is a
coach.
Gabriel, he's a coach.
But yes, so The Trouble withLove and Coaches by Harriet
Ashford.
I am also reading that.
(32:30):
Next up, I am reading Watch Meby Tehara Moffey.
So I've been reading this for awhile.
This is closed door YA Fantasy.
This is very, very dystopian.
If you have not read the ShatterMe series, all of the books that
she writes that I've read so farare very dystopian, um, which is
not a bad thing at all.
I I love them.
(32:51):
I love YA Dystopian Fantasy, butlike if you don't like
dystopian, then I don't know.
You this may not be for you.
But I loved Shatter Me.
My friend Mac got me intoShatter Me, and I have read all
six books plus six correspondingnovellas.
So, yes, I have read them all.
Let me just also say that, um,okay, so this is a spin-off
(33:14):
series.
The Watch Me is a spin-offseries.
It's book one in the spin-off,and basically, um, I would say
that you don't have to readShatter Me First, you could
start in the spin-off, but ifyou are ever planning to read
the Shatter Me series and youwant to eventually get to it,
then you need to read Shatter MeFirst.
I am so sorry to tell you thatbecause there are massive
(33:36):
spoilers that are even on theblurb for Watch Me.
Um, and some of the explanationsare like big plot point spoilers
um that are in Watch Me.
So if you ever wanted to readShatter Me, you're gonna have to
read that one first.
But if you don't care and youjust want to get into it and you
wanted to start with a book inby her, then I would definitely
(33:58):
you could start here and youwould be fine.
Um, as weird as it is, for itbeing very dystopian, this book
is hilarious.
And James, the main character,he is Adam's little brother in
the Shatter Me series, if youremember, and he is a mixture of
the people that raised him, andso he is kind of like a mix of
(34:20):
an Adam mixed with a Kinji,because you know that Kinji and
him are very close, mixed with aWarner, and it is it is so good.
Her writing just gets me everytime, it is so well done, and he
is hilarious.
And I was just laughing, like Iwas laughing out loud so many
(34:40):
times with this book.
I had to like close it a coupletimes for a second to like laugh
all the way and then go backinto it.
And I am almost done with thisbook.
I have 40 pages left, so I'mvery close.
I won't go into any more becauseum I do plan on eventually
having an episode dedicated tothis book.
So that might be way, way downthe line.
So don't get excited yet becauseyeah, that may be a bit, but um,
(35:04):
me and Mac are planning ontalking about this book in an
episode and covering the wholething.
So because of that, I will notgive you any more details on
this one specifically.
Okay, next up, yeah, I know I'mstill reading more books.
I have four books left.
I know, wait, five.
I have five left.
I'm reading nine.
I think I'm reading nine rightnow, or eight, eight or nine in
(35:25):
that range.
It's bad.
Okay, I am reading Crave byTracy Wolf.
Um, so so far I am not that farinto it.
I'm only a couple chapters in,and this is feeling very okay.
This is why I fantasy, uh, andthis is feeling very like
Twilight-esque.
And for the record, I have readTwilight, but I would in no way
(35:46):
consider myself an expert on thebooks, on the series, so please
do not ask me any questions.
It has been so long since I haveread Twilight.
I cannot remember any actualdetails.
I do not know.
I do not know, but just theoverall feeling that I get when
I read this book, and honestly,the cover is very kind of
(36:07):
Twilight adjacent, is what I'mgetting so far.
But again, haven't gotten thatfar yet.
So later on in the book, I maysay that is absolutely not the
case.
I have no idea, just kind offrom like first impressions of
the first couple chapters.
But basically, her parents die,she's going to a magic boarding
school that her uncle is theheadmaster at.
She doesn't know that it's amagical boarding school.
(36:29):
Think she's about to find out,is what I'm pretty sure is
happening.
Like, I think there arewerewolves and vampires at this
boarding school.
I think these books are huge.
This is like a five-book series.
Um, it is very entertaining sofar, but I have absolutely no
idea what's going on becauseguess what?
My main character doesn't knowwhat's going on.
So I am in her POV and I am justtrying to figure it out along
(36:50):
with her and what is going on atthis like wild boarding school.
So yeah, that's kind of aboutabout where I'm at, is where
she's trying to figureeverything out.
Next up, I am reading TheInfinite Infinite by MK
Williams.
And I also just started thisbook, so I am not that far in.
I have read um Interview withthe Van Lifer by her.
(37:11):
That's a novella, which is agreat book by MK.
I, of course, like again, I'mjust pointing this out.
It's not, I'm gonna enjoy a bookregardless.
I wouldn't talk about books Idon't enjoy, but I also like to
say when someone's my authorfriend, just so that way you
know that like I am extra stokedand extra excited to read their
book because I know that they'rean amazing person and I want to
support them.
(37:32):
So, anyway, that to say, Harrietauthor friend.
K Sinko, now I would consider anauthor friend after meeting her
and talking to her a bunch atInk and Indy, um MK Williams
author friends.
So while I love their writingand I love their books, whether
I knew them or not, I like thema little bit extra because
they're really great people andtheir personalities are
fantastic.
(37:52):
So, anyway, that just pointingthat out again.
But I just started this.
Um, I had already read, like Isaid, I'd read Van Lifer and I
really liked that book as well.
So, okay, I feel like this wouldbe a book for you.
This is a sci-fi thriller, and Ithink that you would like it if
you liked Dark Matter by BlakeCrouch.
Definitely check out TheInfinite Infinite by MK
(38:14):
Williams.
Just saying.
So this has time travel in it.
It is the first book in aseries.
Um, like I just said, it was asci-fi thriller, and we're
starting off with a bang.
She basically like wakes up inan alternate reality, and that's
about as far as I've gotten.
Like, she's trying to figure outwhat's going on and what is
happening, and that is where I'mat.
(38:34):
And I am very intrigued.
Um, I cannot wait.
I cannot wait to get to the restof this book.
And yeah, I have no idea howshe's gonna get herself out of
this, how she's gonna figure outwhat's going on.
Like, uh mm-mm, I don't read alot of sci-fi, so the fact that
this is like a sci-fi thrilleris what made me feel like it was
more approachable from like asci-fi standpoint.
(38:55):
So, anyway, I am enjoyingreading a book out of my comfort
zone that feels reallydigestible, easy to read, but
still like strong world buildingand stuff, if that makes sense.
Like, I don't know, it's itstrikes a good balance.
It's kind of like I feel likeit's kind of like a sci-fi
equivalent of Mistborn, wherelike, yes, Mistborn is epic
(39:19):
fantasy that sounds really scaryto read, or like, yes, the
infinite infinite is a sci-fithriller, which kind of sounds
scary not in my comfort zone.
But the way that, you know, theway that they write it makes it
really approachable.
It's not as if it's like easy orlike, you know, super short
prose or anything.
It's just the way that they doit makes it make sense and makes
(39:40):
their world come to life withlike minimal, I don't know, like
I'm not having to draw a map ortry to figure out exactly what's
going on.
It's really easy to follow.
So anyway, just throwing thatout there as well.
Can't wait to get to the rest ofThe Infinite Infinite by MK
Williams.
Next up, I am on the like thelast three books now, so there
(40:01):
you go.
Next up is Fearless by LaurenRoberts.
Okay.
Okay.
This is YA.
This is YA fantasy, really YAromanticy.
Um, just for the record, I andI'm just telling you all this
because I want to let you knowmy reading preferences.
I if yours are different, that'stotally fine.
(40:22):
But I feel like it helps whenyou're trying to decide if a
book is for you or is not foryou when you know, like kind of
what my litmus is, basically,and then you can gauge it off of
me, whether you're the same ordifferent.
So with romanticy, um, I tend tolike YA romanticy or YA fantasy
better than adult fantasy oradult romanticy because adult
(40:46):
fantasy typically has too muchworld building for me, and I
just I don't know, I get boredand lost with that.
Um, again, I say typically,that's not always there's some
great series like the Play toPrisoner series, that's an adult
romanticy one that I reallyenjoy, you know, but by and
large, it's not really my genre.
Same with adult romanticy, likeI was just saying, it typically,
(41:09):
you know, it has a lot of spicein it, and I I don't know.
It's just not, I don't know,it's just not my thing.
Like I can't, I feel like I'veread adult romanticy and I like
like the books okay, but Ihaven't loved a lot of them.
Played a prisoner is really kindof my exception, to be honest.
Um, but all that being said,this is YA.
(41:32):
It is closed door so far.
I mean, I haven't finishedFearless, but so far this entire
series has been closed door.
So if you're looking for aclosed door Y romanticy series,
Powerless could be for you.
I loved Powerless, I love thefirst book.
The second book, Reckless, waslike pretty good.
I mean, I just enjoyed my timewith the characters, so I was
happy.
(41:52):
But then we're coming up onFearless.
So Fearless is the last book.
There is a novella in betweenPowerful, which, and she's
coming out with a new novella,but I haven't read those yet.
I have them.
I even have signed copies fromwhen I went to the teen book
festival, but I just haven'tread them yet.
So, anywho, I am on the thirdbook, and I need them to get off
(42:14):
this pirate ship.
I really need them to get offthe pirate ship.
I am so bored.
I'm so bored.
And I loved the first book.
Like I said, the second book waseh.
Third book, I'm just uh and Ireally just want to finish it at
this point.
I feel like the reason that I'mfinishing it is so I don't get
(42:35):
it spoiled for me because I'vealready seen a few spoilers.
And yeah, but basically, I needsomething to happen that isn't
them staring at each other ortalking about the ring.
Like I I need, I need it to notbe one of those two things that
has been this entire book sofar.
And I'm also not a huge fan oflove triangles, so that it's
just starting to get on mynerves a little bit.
(42:57):
And I need to finish this book.
I don't know.
I think I'm like on page 300.
I don't know, somewhere inthere.
It's a hefty one.
Uh I just need to finish it.
I think that it'll pick uptowards the end, but right now,
this whole pirateship thing islike I had to put it down for a
second and come back to it, andI just haven't yet.
(43:17):
And I there were parts where I'mlike, this, this is what I loved
about Powerless.
So excited to read it.
And then there were other timeswhere I'm like, why is this
dragging on so much?
So I don't know.
Could just be me.
There's so many metaphors inthis book.
It just feels like we're sayingthe same thing over and over
again.
Um, again, it may just be me.
It may be because the first twobooks were just so like out of
(43:42):
the park that this one is justnot hitting for me personally.
But again, I've heard people saythat this is their favorite book
in the series.
So just because it may not befor me does not mean that it's
not for you.
And like the series as a whole,I've enjoyed.
I literally went to an event forthis book.
I have it signed by Lauren.
My copy is signed by Lauren.
(44:02):
Um, we didn't have a signingline for that one, but we met um
at Barnes and Noble to hear hertalk about it.
So, and I literally havecharacter art.
I have a Kai sticker.
I have a Kai sticker, and uh soI'm not saying that I'm not a
fan of this series, but I don'tknow what it is about this third
book, but I just have not gotteninto it yet, and I think I'm
almost on like page 300.
I'll have to look up when thepirate ship thing is.
(44:24):
I haven't opened the book in awhile, so I don't even know.
But yeah, I'm just gettingthrough it a little bit right
now.
Then I have Darkness LovesCompany by Sarah Blair.
So Darkness Loves Company isactually the prequel to one of
my favorite fantasy books oflast year, which is called
Darkness Shifting.
So you can start with theprequel, you can start with
Darkness Shifting, you can readthem in the order that you want
(44:47):
to.
I really enjoyed starting withDarkness Shifting, and I'm
enjoying getting like some ofthe background now from the
prequel.
So do what you will, but I'mliking it that way.
And this is actually a buddyread with Randa, and I will link
her account uh in the shownotes.
She recently changed her name,so I am drawing a blank.
I'm doing a buddy read with her.
(45:08):
We both have like abandoned itfor a couple months because
she's so nice and she's like,whenever you want to get back to
it, and I just have not gottenback to it yet.
So I do definitely plan to, andI got to a really good part.
And because Sarah, again,Sarah's one of my author
friends, um, she told me, like,oh, this is where it's about to
get really good.
So I'm very excited.
And I I really love Sarah'swriting.
(45:30):
That's so entertaining.
It is so entertaining.
I don't know how Sarah does it.
She really mixes like referencesand humor and you know, the
like, this is urban fantasy, soshe does really take that like
urban fantasy elements, but thenshe also has a little bit of
like a side plot of romance.
And anyway, she's able to craftso many different things at
(45:52):
once, but make it really funnyand really interesting.
So I'm about 75% done with it,and I cannot wait to continue
this book.
And uh, oh, so ultimately, okay,so this series, it is three
books and a novella, and soDarkness Shifting, like I said,
is what I would recommendstarting with, but you could
start with the prequel, which iswhat I'm reading right now,
(46:14):
Darkness Loves Company.
So, anyway, it's got humor, it'sgot a lot of like detective
slash like kind of buddy copbanter because Sydney and her
entire crew are trying to, youknow, figure out what's going
on.
They're trying to solve like aparanormal mystery of uh demon
(46:34):
koalas in this book.
So it is very interesting.
So you have that kind of likedetective buddy cop thing going
on with a lot of humor, and thenyou have the urban fantasy
elements, and then you havefound family that is a huge
thing in the series, very foundfamily-esque, which is probably
one of the reasons I like it.
I've noticed that the fantasybooks that I do really enjoy
have a very strong found familyelement to them.
(46:56):
I feel like that really roundsout the fantasy part for me.
And then there is also a side uhside plot, subplot, subplot of
romance in this as well.
So I love Sarah's books.
I think she's a bill I thinkshe's a brilliant author, and I
cannot wait to finish this oneas well.
(47:17):
Just every book has jumped infront of this one.
I don't I don't know what mydeal is.
Same with Mistborn by BrandonSanderson.
That is the last book I amreading.
So, of course, this is EpicFantasy.
Um, I have annotated this bookwithin an inch of its life.
Like I've written all over themargins, I've highlighted, I
have extensive notes in thebook.
I'm about 50 pages into thisone.
(47:40):
Um, and it was recommended to meas like a must-read by a very
enthusiastic Brandon Sandersonfan of my life.
So anyway, they were like, youhave got to read this, and I
said, Okay, and then proceededto read it for probably have I
been reading it for like a year,probably, but I am enjoying it.
It's my first epic fantasy, um,and I'm very new to that side of
(48:04):
the genre.
Have mainly read like YA orRomance C, so I have not read
any epic fantasy.
Well, no, that is a lie.
I did read The Hobbit for class,and I'm pretty sure that that
counts because Lord of the Ringscounts as epic fantasy, but I
have not read anything else thatwould fall in that category.
So this is one of my first inthat genre, and Brandon
(48:26):
Sanderson's awesome, obviously.
I listen to his like lecturesand all that other stuff, so I
really appreciate him, andgetting to read his work is
really cool, and I am enjoyingit.
He definitely has a style thatmakes it more relatable and it
makes it easy to understandwhat's going on.
Um, so basically, this is notreally a spoiler because it and
if you haven't read it, you willhave no idea what I'm talking
(48:47):
about.
It's so brief.
So where I'm at is where KelseyR has basically gone all like,
I'm the captain now, and he's incharge of Vin's like Army of
Thieves, and that's where I'mat.
So I'm still about like 50 pagesin, super duper early.
But I am really enjoying thebook.
I definitely see why everyoneloves Brandon Sanderson, well
deserved, and I love listeningto his lectures.
(49:09):
So of course, like of course,I'm gonna like his books.
So I just need to keep readinghis books, um, and yeah, just
reading more of Mistborn.
I even have the other two booksin the original trilogy, so
yeah.
I will get to them one day.
I will get to all these booksone day.
I'm hoping to maybe kind of makea push towards the end of the
(49:31):
year to like finish up some ofthe books that I feel like I've
just been reading forever, justso that way I can start off with
a clean slate at the beginningof the new year.
All the books are great, youknow that.
Um, yeah, I I wouldn't I wouldnot waste my time on books I
didn't like.
I would just DNF it or give itaway or put it in a little free
library.
So even though I'm slow progresson them, I'm reading all these
(49:52):
books because I want to bereading these books.
So that was my currentlyreading.
This reading recap was reallydifferent.
Thank you for sticking with methrough almost an hour of me
talking about what I'm currentlyreading.
So that that's interesting.
But anyway, thank you.
That's it for today on where Ileft off a bookish podcast.
Don't forget, you can alwaysleave a review on the podcast
(50:14):
platform of your choice.
It would be greatly appreciated.
Um, and you can always hit thesend us a text button if you
want to give me more book recsor talk about a specific book.
I do love to geek out aboutbooks.
So thank you for listening, andI'll see you next time.
Welcome back.
I'm Kristen Balls, and you'relistening to Where I Left Off, a
Bookish Podcast.
And today I am bringing yousomething slightly different.
So technically, this is areading recap, but let me go
into a little bit more of thedetail and you'll see why it's a
little bit different today.
So basically, whenever I wastrying to brainstorm what I was
(00:30):
gonna do for the next episode, Ireally had two problems.
Number one, I am in the middleof what feels like 50 different
books, and I have really notfinished a one.
Over like since the last readingrecap, I have only finished like
two books, which is really badfor me.
(00:52):
Normally I finish a lot more.
Like I said, just in the middleof 50 different ones.
Cannot finish one to save mylife right now.
So there's that.
So I couldn't do a full readingrecap.
Two, I am currently editing thelive panel from Inc and Indy,
which, if you came here from Inkand Indie and you are following
me just for that, trust me, Ipromise I'm working on it.
(01:14):
Uh really, I'm working on it asmuch as a person with a
full-time job and a book and apodcast and a social life and
all that other stuff, you know,can.
So I am working on that episode.
It it will be out soon, but Ineeded something in the
meantime.
Also, all of my guests arescheduled later in this month.
(01:35):
I I'm really scheduling out tolike February, but um all my
guests are not not right thismoment.
So basically, I didn't reallyhave an episode for you today,
and like to get in between whenI'm posting that Ink and Indie
episode.
So I wanted to give yousomething.
So this is this is thatsomething.
(01:56):
And like I said, I finishedabout like two books recently,
so I'm gonna cover those first,and then I'll go into what I'm
currently reading, which is awhole thing in itself.
So that is how it is a readingrecap, but there isn't that much
to recap, so I'm also tellingyou what I am currently reading
as well.
Just got back from Inc.
(02:17):
not that long ago.
Um, and yeah, trying to geteverything ready for the next
round of um of author events andpodcast interviews and all that
stuff.
And I am trying to work on booktwo.
I am almost done with plotting.
I've written a little bit of itand I'm almost done with
plotting.
I feel so much better this timearound.
(02:39):
I feel like I really have a planand I have more of a process,
and I feel like I'm reallyhoning said process.
So it's just taking me a secondbecause this book does require a
little bit more research on somethings.
So yeah, that's kind of whereI'm at.
But I am dying to just get intolike the real writing portion.
Like I have been writing alittle bit of it, but I need to
(03:01):
write more.
Um, but like who has the time?
Who has the time for anything?
I feel like everyone, like Isaid, that I taught, I feel like
I said this, I don't know, anepisode or two ago, but I just
feel like everyone is stressedout right now still.
And I I agree.
So hopefully, hopefully I'll beable to get a handle on
everything and get more of asustainable schedule.
I'm getting there.
Everything's starting to kind oftaper off.
(03:22):
It was really crazy in Augustwhen the book released, and now
it's kind of finally starting totaper off a little bit.
So I'm kind of getting back toeverything.
So in theory, I should be ableto finish some books like by the
next reading recap.
I obviously I'll have to becauseit's a reading recap, but you
know what I mean.
Like, I think this season, thisfall season, I'm finally gonna
(03:45):
maybe be able to start likereally finishing some books
again and getting back on mynormal kind of reading pace,
because I have not been on myreading pace in a bit.
So, with all that said, I'mgonna go into what I recently
read.
Uh, starting up first is WellActually by Maisie Eddings.
This is contemporary romance andit is open door.
(04:07):
You heard me in the last readingrecap episode say that I was in
the middle of this and I had afive-star prediction.
Shocker, I finished the book andI absolutely loved it.
And this is that book, if youdon't remember, that I said that
I read like the blurb, I thinklike six months to a year before
it came out, and I knew I justhad to read it, and I was
(04:27):
waiting, I was waiting for thisbook to come out, so I knew I
was going to buy it.
And like I said, read it, I wasright, it was definitely a
five-star worthy book, and itwas so good.
Anyway, it's about Eva, who is atalk show host, and she has like
this kind of chicken shop datestyle show called Sausage Talk,
(04:52):
and she gets drunk and shedeclares her disdain for her ex,
who is now actually notably likea self-growth expert.
His name is Riley Cooper, andthat's what just like gets her
goat about him, is that he'spreaching, you know, self-growth
and like being a good partnerand all this other stuff when
(05:12):
she knows how he was in collegeand she had the total opposite
experience.
So, in a moment of frustration,she just lets it all out on
social media, doesn't have thatmany followers, and doesn't
think it's gonna go anywhere.
But then of course, itunexpectedly goes viral, and a
bunch of stuff happens, andRiley ends up being a guest on
(05:33):
her show, and basically hestrikes up a deal for him to be
able to like make up hisbehavior in college and take her
on a series of dates and thenlike record it on his podcast
and do like recaps.
So that is that is kind of wherewe're starting out with the
book.
So is there a second chanceavailable for Eva and Riley?
(05:55):
You are gonna have to read tofind out.
I'm not spoiling anything.
Um, I will preface this withbecause I know that this book
has been very popular also onsocial media, so you know
sometimes people love book talkrecommendations, some people do
not.
Um, like I said, I'm not onTikTok, I just will go on
Instagram, Bookstagram, uh, morethan anything.
(06:17):
So it's kind of whatevertrickles down from there.
But anyway, I will preface thiswith the fact that Eva, the main
character, she could beconsidered unlikable.
And I think if you end up notliking this book, it's probably
a lot to do with her because sheis very sarcastic, she's very
prickly, she's ultimately veryguarded.
(06:40):
And you find out why there is areason, a very good reason, uh,
that kind of makes sense of whyshe is the way she is, of
course.
And basically, like her wholeIce Queen status is not just
gonna melt super easily.
It's not like one moment she'ssuper sarcastic and borderline,
kind of really mean slash rudeto Riley, and then she just
(07:02):
magically relents and is like, Ilove you.
Like that that's not that's nothappening in this book.
But I really appreciate how shedidn't like immediately change
herself for Riley, who's theMMC.
Um, I feel like he ultimatelyaccepted her for her, and they
both made each other better, andthey really developed as
(07:24):
characters throughout the book.
So I really appreciated how itwasn't just like an easy pairing
between them.
Their courtship is hard won forsure.
And I really appreciate the factthat she just isn't your like
standard run-of-the-mill FMC,and it really takes them a while
to figure stuff out.
(07:44):
And she is just like very crass,very sarcastic, very prickly.
And I just really appreciate thefact that with romance novels in
general, you can just findanything that you're looking for
if you want to read um like aplus size FMC and MMC uh Olivia
(08:06):
Dade, Second Chance Romance, butyou know, there are also so many
other books.
You can find, you know, um avery quiet female main
character, you can find a superloud one, you can find someone
who's crass, you can findsomeone who's whatever.
Like you, there's just alldifferent personalities.
There's MM, there's Safic.
Like you can find whateveryou're looking for.
(08:28):
It seems like there's a romancenovel for that.
And I really appreciate itbecause especially whenever I
read romance novels with femalemain characters that are outside
of my comfort zone or outsideof, you know, like I don't
necessarily feel like I have alot of personality traits in
common with Eva at all.
Um, I feel like it was veryinteresting to be able to read a
(08:51):
book from her perspective andhear her innermost thoughts.
And I really appreciate thatabout romance.
That even though I may not beable to like specifically relate
to a main character, I can learna lot about them and honestly
kind of learn a little bit aboutmyself by just getting the
viewpoints and perspectives ofdifferent types of people and
(09:13):
different personalities.
So anyway, I'm just throwingthat out there.
I really appreciated that aboutthis book.
Um, I thought it was just veryfresh, very new, very different,
and I loved it.
I really loved it.
Felt like it was really welldone.
So I will definitely be readingmore Maisie Eddings in the
future.
(09:33):
I have not checked out herbacklist, and now I will.
Now I definitely will.
Okay.
Then up next, the other bookthat I have read recently.
Are we shocked?
We are not.
It's a romance.
Uh, again.
So this is Good Spirits by BKBorison.
And if you're listening to thisat this point, depending on what
(09:55):
date it is, you might be going,wait a minute.
It's not October 25th.
This book is not out yet.
You are correct.
I did read an arc of this book.
It is an interesting, somewhatinteresting story of how I got
said arc in my hands.
So I will like tell you a littlebit about it now.
Uh, I do also say it kind of inthe Ink and Indie episode, so
(10:17):
I'm sorry that I'm gonna repeatmyself, but I'm gonna give you
the longer version here.
Okay, so basically, I have afriend that was working at
Barnes Noble at the time, andshe got access to their ARC
shelf, of course, and you know,they want their employees to
read the books, to be able totalk about them, sell them, you
know, come up with displayideas, like all that jazz.
(10:38):
They need them to read thebooks.
So, of course, Barnes and Nobleis going to get sent ARC copies
from publishers.
Again, with an ARC copy, if youdidn't know, again, stands for
advanced reader copy ARCs orARCs.
I've heard of both ways, but Isay ARCs.
Uh, with ARCs, of course, youcannot sell them, they are not a
final copy of the book.
So most bookstores will like putthem in a little free library or
(11:02):
or send them home withemployees, stuff like that,
because you can't do anythingwith them.
They're just like free books tobe able to read.
And a lot of people tend to likeput them in little free
libraries or pass them on tofriends because it's a way to
get other people reading thatbook.
And so, like, the printing costand everything are not going to
waste because you're gettingthat readership and that
(11:25):
audience with the hope that theywill review it, is the main
point of ARCS.
So, um, that is how my friendgot it at Barnes Noble.
The ARC is obviously hers, likeit is her book.
I mean, yeah, it's like her bookto go on her bookshelf, and she
was kind enough to let me readsaid book.
So I got to read Good Spiritsearly, a physical copy too,
(11:46):
which is like insane.
Uh, because you know thatBerkeley is not sending me,
sending me copies.
They have um denied every singleNetGalley request.
And not to brag, but onNetGalley, I haven't done
NetGalley in a while because Ijust can't like read ARCs right
now with everything else for thepodcast, and all of those books
(12:07):
are are getting kind ofoverwhelming, especially if I'm
interviewing an author with aseries.
I obviously have to read all thebooks in their series.
So anyway, I'm very overwhelmedby my TBR and books for future
interviews.
So I have really kind of likeceased doing ARCs, but with ARCs
on NetGalley, because I have thepodcast, I am under um a
(12:31):
journalist.
I get pretty much all access tolike any books.
I get approved for almost everybook that I apply for, even if
they are pretty popular books.
I, yeah, Tor, yes, they'veapproved me.
Um Avon, Simon and Schuster,HarperCollins, all those.
HarperCollins and Simon andSchuster will both actually also
send me um widgets of links thatI can read too.
(12:54):
So anyway, all that to say, likeI can pretty much get any book I
request on NetGalley, except forBerkeley.
They are like, nope, absolutelynot.
Every time I try, I have neverbeen accepted for a Berkeley
romance.
So um, all that being said,there was no way that I was
gonna get my hands on an arcunless I was reading um this
(13:17):
physical arc this way.
So that's how I got it.
And well, actually, I just wenton that whole rant for Berkeley,
but good spirits is not evenBerkeley.
I think it is Avon, actually.
Which yes, it's Avon, and Avonis an imprint of HarperCollins.
So I literally went on thatwhole rant about Berkeley, and
(13:38):
it was it was HarperCollins theentire time.
Okay, you know what?
I'm recording this at nightafter I've worked a full day, so
that's gonna just be my excuse,I guess.
Um yeah, sorry for going on thatentire tangent only to realize
wrong publisher genius.
Berkeley is the publisher forBK's Lovelight Farm series, and
(14:02):
wait, I'm pretty sure first timecaller is too.
Hold on, now I'm checking.
Now I'm checking my bookshelf.
Yes, yes, first time caller isalso Berkeley.
I was gonna say, am I wrong?
No, I'm not.
Oh man.
My assumption is because thisbook is a paranormal romance, is
why it's with a differentpublisher versus just uh like
regular contemporary romance.
(14:23):
So, anyway, this is Good Spiritsby BK Borison.
Longest preamble you ever heard,apparently.
Uh, this is open door, spicescale.
Hmm.
Uh, it wasn't that bad.
I'm trying to think of an authorthat uh if you've read honestly,
(14:44):
if you've read the Love LightFarm series by BK Borison,
you're fine.
You're fine.
I feel like I I feel like thespice was maybe a little bit
more in depth in the LovelightFarm series than it is here.
And I feel, yeah.
I think, from what I remember,um, I need to finish the series.
(15:05):
I'm not totally done with LoveLight Farms, but I've read about
half of it.
But anyway, uh yeah, I would saythat it is pretty on par with
those.
Um First Time Caller.
I think, yeah, I think it's kindof all on par with her other
books.
So unfortunately, I am compingher spice to her.
Normally I I comp it to otherauthors, but none are really
(15:29):
ringing a bell.
Maybe kind of closer to AlexaMartin.
Okay, maybe not quite iffy.
Like maybe just under AlexaMartin.
I would say.
Now that I'm thinking about it.
Yeah, I think that's what I'mgonna go with.
I think that's my finaldecision.
Sorry, it's hard to compare.
(15:50):
Um, it's hard to compare that.
So anyway, yeah, it wasn't thatbad.
It really was not not thatintense at all.
Um, it was definitely more aboutthe story, which I personally
appreciate.
Uh, if a book is all spice, I amnot reading that.
I'm going to DNF it.
Uh, that is not why I'm readingthe book.
So that is not my personalpreference.
(16:11):
Um, but everyone has their ownpreference.
So use that as a litmus.
If you want all spice, then thiswould not be the book for you.
But if you don't really carethat much and you're fine with
having some spice in there, thenthis is perfect for you.
So, okay, sorry.
I then proceeded to go on like asecond long preamble, but this
(16:32):
book is about Harriet, the maincharacter, and she, okay, so
it's, I say it's not really aspin-off, it's kind of more like
inspired by a Christmas Carol byCharles Dickens.
So Harriet is drudging throughlife until Nolan, the MMC, he is
also the ghost of Christmaspast, crashes into her living
(16:53):
room.
He's convinced that something inher past needs correcting, and
he is ready to find it so he canmove on, so he can get her to
move on to the ghost ofChristmas present, and he can
get on to his next assignmentlike he's been doing for
hundreds of years since hisdeath, because he is a ghost.
Things don't go as planned, andNolan struggles to find what is
(17:14):
wrong with Harriet.
He can't figure out why he hasbeen sent to her.
He even goes to his boss, who'slike, we don't make mistakes,
and he just can't figure outwhat is actually wrong with
Harriet.
So, can they solve the mysteryof why she is even being visited
by the three ghosts?
And also reconcile theirfeelings that are kind of slowly
(17:39):
coming about for each other.
We'll see if that can all happenbefore Christmas Eve.
You will have to read to findout.
I was about to say somethingthat I thought would spoil it,
and I'm not gonna say it.
But anyway, I did cry a lotwhile reading this book.
I say a lot, maybe like two orthree times.
It's just Harriet.
I feel so bad.
Her past is probably gonna makeyou cry.
(18:00):
It's pretty sad.
It sounds like this sounds likeit's just a fun, fluffy
Christmas book, and it is not.
It has a lot of depth in there,and that's why I cried was the
depth.
It just I don't know, it's hardnot to empathize with Harriet
and her background and how ithas affected the trajectory of
(18:24):
her life, and you can really seethat when they are clearly going
in the past.
So that is a little bit sad,it's a little bit deeper than
maybe you would expect.
Um, but of course, there are alot of funny moments too, so
it's not it's not as if it'slike the most angsty book ever.
It it has a good balance ofhaving that depth, having
character development, someemotion in there, but then also
(18:46):
being like a fun Christmas bookwith a very unique premise.
I have not heard of anythinglike that before, FYI.
Um, so anyway, I personally Irelated to Harriet a lot, and I
do feel like that helped justkind of create like an extra
layer of I loved this book.
And um, if you were everwondering, not that you asked,
(19:09):
but if you were ever wonderingwhat my personality is like in
real life, I would probably saythat I'm like a Harriet in this
book, good spirits, mixed withlike Annie Walker from Practice
Makes Perfect.
I have a lot of Annie, and thenI would say maybe like a touch
of Noelle from You with theView.
(19:31):
That would probably sum up mypersonality, in my opinion.
I would have to ask friends andfamily to see if I'm right.
But anyway, I really liked thisbook.
I thought it was fantastic.
Um, I thought it was reallydifferent, and what a great way
to kick off the first Christmasbook of the season.
So I would recommend GoodSpirits by VK Borison, and this
(19:53):
book releases October 25th.
Now getting into what I amcurrently reading.
So I am unfortunately one ofthose people who's gonna read a
million books at once.
I am not really exaggeratingwhen I say a million, a little
bit.
It feels like that.
So have I ever really read thismany books at once?
(20:14):
No, this is pushing it for me.
It is slightly concerning, and Ifeel like you're going to judge
me a little bit, and you'reprobably gonna be stressed out
hearing just how many books I'min the middle of.
But you know what?
I'm honest, I'm gonna tell youwhat I'm actually reading.
It's a lot.
Hopefully, for all those otherpeople that are in the middle of
(20:35):
other things and in the middleof reading slumps, maybe this
will make you feel a little bitbetter.
But what keeps happening is I'llstart a book knowing that I have
a deadline.
Like I am talking to this personat this point, or we're talking
about this thing, and or I amdiscussing this book with them.
Like, even if they're not theauthor, maybe I'm just
discussing the book with them.
So then I'll read most of it,and then I won't totally finish
(20:59):
it, and I'll start somethingelse.
And then I'll need to talk tothem about the book, won't
totally finish it, and then I'lljust start another one because
I'm like, oh no, that deadline'scoming up too.
Gotta gotta start with that.
So that is a big reason why I'mjuggling so many, but also uh I
just have not had the time toread.
It has been Crazy Town, so Ithink that that also is not
(21:23):
helping me as well.
So there's several reasons whyI'm in the middle of this many
books.
This is not what I try to dotypically.
Um, I mean, I do read multiplebooks at once, but not to this
level.
So try not to be too scared.
Um, I'm sorry now, because thisis gonna be a lot.
But okay, you know what?
I'm a human being.
(21:43):
I'm trying my best to read thebooks that I have before
starting something else.
We'll see if I can actually dothat.
So, anyway, one final thingbefore I get into them.
Do not take the fact that Ihaven't finished these books
into account.
It's me, it's not the books.
It does not mean anythingagainst the books.
I am enjoying them.
(22:03):
Um, it is not the book's fault.
Please do not think that becauseit has taken me forever to
finish a book, that means Idon't like it.
That is totally not the case.
I am just splitting my attentionbetween way too many books.
And that is my like trait.
I am great at focus.
And the fact that I have tosplit my focus amongst so many
books kind of stresses me out atthis point.
(22:24):
Just know that it has nothingagainst the books.
Um, it's really just all metrying to balance reading and
life together.
So, going into that.
First book I'm reading, this isfor book club.
I better get on this one becauseI have book club next week.
This is The Woman in SuiteEleven by Ruth Ware.
And this book is a continuationof The Woman in Cabin 10, which
(22:48):
was actually recently releasedon Netflix.
And this book itself is verynear and dear to my heart.
Or let me rephrase that.
Sorry, The Woman in Cabin 10 isvery near and dear to my heart
because it's what got me intoRuth Ware.
I have read a decent amount ofRuth's backlist, and she's one
of my favorite thriller authors,and so I really try to keep up
(23:08):
with each new release.
Um, and yeah, she she's thebest.
She is in like auto-by-authorterritory.
So whenever this book, wheneverI found out that it was a book
for book club, I was like, yes,please, I would love to have an
excuse to read this.
It's kind of like I keep staringat the newest Riley Sager and
thinking, I'm gonna read thatone day, and then I have not
really been reading thrillers.
(23:29):
So that's about how all that'sgoing.
Same with Megan Miranda.
I'm literally now two behind onher her releases.
Stacy Willingham, behind.
I all my favorite thrillerauthors, I am really behind on.
But that means that I have a lotof good books I can read.
So, I mean, I guess that'salways a bonus.
But anyway, I'm just saying thatI am biased, so I feel like I
(23:49):
needed to point that out first.
That I know I'm gonna like thisbook.
I'm not very far into it, um,but I will say, mmm, slight
spoiler for the woman inCaventin.
It's not really a spoiler whenyou know that there's a second
book.
Mmm.
Okay, I'm just gonna say slightspoiler, and then I'm gonna say
this one thing that really isn'ta spoiler, and then I'm gonna
(24:11):
have like uh what's it called,timestamps in the show notes, so
that way if you, you know,really don't want that many
spoilers that you could totallyfigure out from common sense,
then I'm just putting that inthere just in case, because I
personally hate having booksspoiled for me, so there you go.
Okay.
So obviously, the woman in Cabin10, you know that she's going to
(24:31):
survive because she is in booktwo, the woman in Sweet Eleven,
like the the woman lives.
Shocker.
So that I feel like is kind ofself-explanatory based on the
titles and the fact that it's acontinuation from that.
So the point I was just gonnamake with that was that I think
that it's very interestingbecause normally in thrillers
it's like I upended my entirelife, but it was worth it for
(24:54):
the truth.
Or, you know, I am now in thestate of complete and utter
turmoil, and then the book'sjust like, bye, the ends, we'll
never know what happened to you.
Just, you know, got close tothis character for the entire
time.
Most of it was probably in theirperspective, and now I have no
idea what happened to you.
(25:15):
As soon as the case is closed,the thing happens, they survive
whatever near-death experienceis gonna happen in a thriller,
blah, blah, blah.
Book just ends.
So, what I like about this isthat I get a continuation.
I get to see how that happilyever after played out from the
first book, how her life turnsout, what it's like, and then as
she's going into this next book,and it also really sets the
(25:37):
stakes for her.
Like, I haven't finished it, soI have no idea what's gonna
happen in the book or how she'sgonna end up at the end, but I
feel like it really helps buildthe stakes of like, okay, now
she has this life that she wantsto continue living, and she has
something to fight for as she'sgonna have to figure out this
case and have to figure out howto get out of the situation that
(25:59):
she's currently in.
So I haven't gotten very far inthis yet, but I am really liking
it because it is classic RuthWare.
I love her writing style.
She does obviously writethrillers, they are very
suspenseful, they have a lot ofmystery, they have a lot of
intrigue.
But what I like about her booksis that they also have like it's
just it's interesting.
You feel kind of like you'rereading like general fiction
(26:20):
sometimes, like you're gettingsome of her family life and
what's going on in her day.
And it's not just like boom,boom, boom, something's always
happening.
It's like there's a real buildupto whatever is about to happen,
and you really get to know thecharacters, and her characters
are very, very fleshed out andhave a lot of character
development over the course ofher books.
So I really enjoy Ruth Ware'swriting style.
(26:44):
So I am I'm loving this one.
I am loving it.
So thank you, Ruth, for givingme a thriller that I can enjoy.
Then I already told you I justgot back from Inc and Indy not
that long ago.
Um, when I was there, this bookwas already on my radar, and I
met and talked to K5 not only onthe podcast, um, but I got to
(27:06):
talk to her at the event, andshe is an awesome person.
Um, so I would just like topoint that out because for me, I
love following authors who arereally awesome, nice, kind,
humble people.
That's gonna be the differencethat's gonna make me like
auto-buy your books no matterwhat.
Like, I will go hunt out andsearch out a signed copy of your
book if I like you.
(27:28):
That sounds bad, but like it'ssomething about getting to
support someone that you know isa genuinely great person.
So uh when I met Lila Sage, likeall my author friends, I am just
extra stoked to be able to readand enjoy and buy their books.
So I would say that K5definitely falls into that
(27:48):
category now.
So I ended up getting, okay, soI've read some of her books and
I've loved every single one thatI've read.
Um, and now I switched over toher adult contemporary romance
book, and this is a standaloneand is not a series.
So if you're looking for a goodstandalone, and a fall
standalone, Sunday Supper by KaySinko is the way to go.
(28:10):
I am about a hundred pages intothis, so I obviously am not done
with it.
Um and I have actually beenwatching The Bear a little bit.
My friend was like, you gottawatch it.
So I did, I had previouslywatched season one before
reading the book.
So I can confirm that this bookis giving me a very similar
feeling, but in a more likefallish, kind of romantic way,
(28:33):
if that makes sense.
Like there's more of a romanceum element in this plot,
obviously, because it's acontemporary romance novel.
But I was absolutely entrancedwith this book on the plane ride
back from Maryland after I gotmy signed copy in Inc and Indy.
I like crushed a hundred pageswhile on the plane.
That's all I did, was I read.
(28:54):
So it was great.
And I actually had it on myKindle because when we were uh
flying back, it was really earlyin the morning, so it was still
dark.
So I literally had itpre-downloaded on my Kindle.
Um, so I was switching betweenmy Kindle and the physical book
whenever it got lighter.
So anyway, Sunday Supper by KSinko is great.
The banter, the banter, it is sogood.
(29:18):
I am laughing so much.
Oh man, the way he talks to heris great.
And she she snaps right back athim.
I love it, so I cannot wait.
I cannot wait to finish thisbook.
It is great, it is really great.
I'm very entertained.
Okay, speaking of romance books,because you know, I have a
couple, I have a coupledifferent genres here, but
(29:39):
obviously, of course, I haveromance because duh, it's it's
me.
Um, so like I can't, I can't nothave romance books going.
Anyway, so The Trouble with Loveand Coaches by Harriet Ashford
is also the other book I'mreading, and this is open door.
Uh, this is book two in theseries, so this is an
interconnected standaloneseries.
(30:00):
And I actually already had mysecond copy before I went to Ink
and Indie.
It's no secret that Harry and Iare friends.
She is great.
She is so supportive.
She is such a kind human being.
She is hilarious.
And I feel like because she hassuch a fun personality, it
really comes across in herwriting.
Like there's just so muchpersonality characterization,
(30:23):
like her prose.
It's just the way that shewrites.
It feels like you're talking toyour best friend.
So if you want that kind ofbook, you 100% need to get on
Harriet Ashford's books.
Start with the Trouble with Loveand Ink, and then go to the
Trouble with Love and Coaches.
She is writing book three, and Ibelieve her series is gonna have
a total of four books.
(30:43):
I'm pretty sure she's stoppingat four for this particular
series.
So definitely read it, wouldrecommend.
But right now I'm in the middleof book two.
I'm also about a hundred pagesinto this.
So I um I was reading this onthe way down to Maryland on that
plane ride, and then I readSunday Supper on the way back.
So I again I'm about a hundredpages in each.
(31:05):
Clearly, the flight was the samelength.
Um, I read about a page aminute, so I am actually pretty
consistent on based on timepast, I can get pretty much like
the same length in a book.
Um, so yeah.
Anyway, side random fact.
But I feel like with Harriet'sbooks, you literally cannot read
one of them without laughing andsmiling.
(31:26):
Like I'm convinced that it'sjust physically impossible.
She is so funny, and her booksare so funny.
So, also, if you're intorunning, biking, swimming, or
really just anything like IronMan related in general, because
April is trying to compete in anIron Man, then you are going to
absolutely love this book.
And April, the FMC, she evenworks at a triathlon shop.
(31:49):
So you're gonna get a lot oflike behind the scenes of
everything, too.
So, again, if those are yourpassions, then this is really
going to appeal to you becauseshe's helping everyone pick the
right shoes and get the rightgels and all that other kind of
stuff.
And she really explains like alot of the training that's going
into doing something like anIron Man.
(32:10):
And you get a lot of differentlike facets of the race from
different perspectives of thecharacters because there's
pretty much one of hercharacters like at every aspect.
Some are volunteers, some arecompeting, some are the MMC is a
coach.
Gabriel, he's a coach.
But yes, so The Trouble withLove and Coaches by Harriet
Ashford.
I am also reading that.
(32:30):
Next up, I am reading Watch Meby Tehara Moffey.
So I've been reading this for awhile.
This is closed door YA Fantasy.
This is very, very dystopian.
If you have not read the ShatterMe series, all of the books that
she writes that I've read so farare very dystopian, um, which is
not a bad thing at all.
I I love them.
(32:51):
I love YA Dystopian Fantasy, butlike if you don't like
dystopian, then I don't know.
You this may not be for you.
But I loved Shatter Me.
My friend Mac got me intoShatter Me, and I have read all
six books plus six correspondingnovellas.
So, yes, I have read them all.
Let me just also say that, um,okay, so this is a spin-off
(33:14):
series.
The Watch Me is a spin-offseries.
It's book one in the spin-off,and basically, um, I would say
that you don't have to readShatter Me First, you could
start in the spin-off, but ifyou are ever planning to read
the Shatter Me series and youwant to eventually get to it,
then you need to read Shatter MeFirst.
I am so sorry to tell you thatbecause there are massive
(33:36):
spoilers that are even on theblurb for Watch Me.
Um, and some of the explanationsare like big plot point spoilers
um that are in Watch Me.
So if you ever wanted to readShatter Me, you're gonna have to
read that one first.
But if you don't care and youjust want to get into it and you
wanted to start with a book inby her, then I would definitely
(33:58):
you could start here and youwould be fine.
Um, as weird as it is, for itbeing very dystopian, this book
is hilarious.
And James, the main character,he is Adam's little brother in
the Shatter Me series, if youremember, and he is a mixture of
the people that raised him, andso he is kind of like a mix of
(34:20):
an Adam mixed with a Kinji,because you know that Kinji and
him are very close, mixed with aWarner, and it is it is so good.
Her writing just gets me everytime, it is so well done, and he
is hilarious.
And I was just laughing, like Iwas laughing out loud so many
(34:40):
times with this book.
I had to like close it a coupletimes for a second to like laugh
all the way and then go backinto it.
And I am almost done with thisbook.
I have 40 pages left, so I'mvery close.
I won't go into any more becauseum I do plan on eventually
having an episode dedicated tothis book.
So that might be way, way downthe line.
So don't get excited yet becauseyeah, that may be a bit, but um,
(35:04):
me and Mac are planning ontalking about this book in an
episode and covering the wholething.
So because of that, I will notgive you any more details on
this one specifically.
Okay, next up, yeah, I know I'mstill reading more books.
I have four books left.
I know, wait, five.
I have five left.
I'm reading nine.
I think I'm reading nine rightnow, or eight, eight or nine in
(35:25):
that range.
It's bad.
Okay, I am reading Crave byTracy Wolf.
Um, so so far I am not that farinto it.
I'm only a couple chapters in,and this is feeling very okay.
This is why I fantasy, uh, andthis is feeling very like
Twilight-esque.
And for the record, I have readTwilight, but I would in no way
(35:46):
consider myself an expert on thebooks, on the series, so please
do not ask me any questions.
It has been so long since I haveread Twilight.
I cannot remember any actualdetails.
I do not know.
I do not know, but just theoverall feeling that I get when
I read this book, and honestly,the cover is very kind of
(36:07):
Twilight adjacent, is what I'mgetting so far.
But again, haven't gotten thatfar yet.
So later on in the book, I maysay that is absolutely not the
case.
I have no idea, just kind offrom like first impressions of
the first couple chapters.
But basically, her parents die,she's going to a magic boarding
school that her uncle is theheadmaster at.
She doesn't know that it's amagical boarding school.
(36:29):
Think she's about to find out,is what I'm pretty sure is
happening.
Like, I think there arewerewolves and vampires at this
boarding school.
I think these books are huge.
This is like a five-book series.
Um, it is very entertaining sofar, but I have absolutely no
idea what's going on becauseguess what?
My main character doesn't knowwhat's going on.
So I am in her POV and I am justtrying to figure it out along
(36:50):
with her and what is going on atthis like wild boarding school.
So yeah, that's kind of aboutabout where I'm at, is where
she's trying to figureeverything out.
Next up, I am reading TheInfinite Infinite by MK
Williams.
And I also just started thisbook, so I am not that far in.
I have read um Interview withthe Van Lifer by her.
(37:11):
That's a novella, which is agreat book by MK.
I, of course, like again, I'mjust pointing this out.
It's not, I'm gonna enjoy a bookregardless.
I wouldn't talk about books Idon't enjoy, but I also like to
say when someone's my authorfriend, just so that way you
know that like I am extra stokedand extra excited to read their
book because I know that they'rean amazing person and I want to
support them.
(37:32):
So, anyway, that to say, Harrietauthor friend.
K Sinko, now I would consider anauthor friend after meeting her
and talking to her a bunch atInk and Indy, um MK Williams
author friends.
So while I love their writingand I love their books, whether
I knew them or not, I like thema little bit extra because
they're really great people andtheir personalities are
fantastic.
(37:52):
So, anyway, that just pointingthat out again.
But I just started this.
Um, I had already read, like Isaid, I'd read Van Lifer and I
really liked that book as well.
So, okay, I feel like this wouldbe a book for you.
This is a sci-fi thriller, and Ithink that you would like it if
you liked Dark Matter by BlakeCrouch.
Definitely check out TheInfinite Infinite by MK
(38:14):
Williams.
Just saying.
So this has time travel in it.
It is the first book in aseries.
Um, like I just said, it was asci-fi thriller, and we're
starting off with a bang.
She basically like wakes up inan alternate reality, and that's
about as far as I've gotten.
Like, she's trying to figure outwhat's going on and what is
happening, and that is where I'mat.
(38:34):
And I am very intrigued.
Um, I cannot wait.
I cannot wait to get to the restof this book.
And yeah, I have no idea howshe's gonna get herself out of
this, how she's gonna figure outwhat's going on.
Like, uh mm-mm, I don't read alot of sci-fi, so the fact that
this is like a sci-fi thrilleris what made me feel like it was
more approachable from like asci-fi standpoint.
(38:55):
So, anyway, I am enjoyingreading a book out of my comfort
zone that feels reallydigestible, easy to read, but
still like strong world buildingand stuff, if that makes sense.
Like, I don't know, it's itstrikes a good balance.
It's kind of like I feel likeit's kind of like a sci-fi
equivalent of Mistborn, wherelike, yes, Mistborn is epic
(39:19):
fantasy that sounds really scaryto read, or like, yes, the
infinite infinite is a sci-fithriller, which kind of sounds
scary not in my comfort zone.
But the way that, you know, theway that they write it makes it
really approachable.
It's not as if it's like easy orlike, you know, super short
prose or anything.
It's just the way that they doit makes it make sense and makes
(39:40):
their world come to life withlike minimal, I don't know, like
I'm not having to draw a map ortry to figure out exactly what's
going on.
It's really easy to follow.
So anyway, just throwing thatout there as well.
Can't wait to get to the rest ofThe Infinite Infinite by MK
Williams.
Next up, I am on the like thelast three books now, so there
(40:01):
you go.
Next up is Fearless by LaurenRoberts.
Okay.
Okay.
This is YA.
This is YA fantasy, really YAromanticy.
Um, just for the record, I andI'm just telling you all this
because I want to let you knowmy reading preferences.
I if yours are different, that'stotally fine.
(40:22):
But I feel like it helps whenyou're trying to decide if a
book is for you or is not foryou when you know, like kind of
what my litmus is, basically,and then you can gauge it off of
me, whether you're the same ordifferent.
So with romanticy, um, I tend tolike YA romanticy or YA fantasy
better than adult fantasy oradult romanticy because adult
(40:46):
fantasy typically has too muchworld building for me, and I
just I don't know, I get boredand lost with that.
Um, again, I say typically,that's not always there's some
great series like the Play toPrisoner series, that's an adult
romanticy one that I reallyenjoy, you know, but by and
large, it's not really my genre.
Same with adult romanticy, likeI was just saying, it typically,
(41:09):
you know, it has a lot of spicein it, and I I don't know.
It's just not, I don't know,it's just not my thing.
Like I can't, I feel like I'veread adult romanticy and I like
like the books okay, but Ihaven't loved a lot of them.
Played a prisoner is really kindof my exception, to be honest.
Um, but all that being said,this is YA.
(41:32):
It is closed door so far.
I mean, I haven't finishedFearless, but so far this entire
series has been closed door.
So if you're looking for aclosed door Y romanticy series,
Powerless could be for you.
I loved Powerless, I love thefirst book.
The second book, Reckless, waslike pretty good.
I mean, I just enjoyed my timewith the characters, so I was
happy.
(41:52):
But then we're coming up onFearless.
So Fearless is the last book.
There is a novella in betweenPowerful, which, and she's
coming out with a new novella,but I haven't read those yet.
I have them.
I even have signed copies fromwhen I went to the teen book
festival, but I just haven'tread them yet.
So, anywho, I am on the thirdbook, and I need them to get off
(42:14):
this pirate ship.
I really need them to get offthe pirate ship.
I am so bored.
I'm so bored.
And I loved the first book.
Like I said, the second book waseh.
Third book, I'm just uh and Ireally just want to finish it at
this point.
I feel like the reason that I'mfinishing it is so I don't get
(42:35):
it spoiled for me because I'vealready seen a few spoilers.
And yeah, but basically, I needsomething to happen that isn't
them staring at each other ortalking about the ring.
Like I I need, I need it to notbe one of those two things that
has been this entire book sofar.
And I'm also not a huge fan oflove triangles, so that it's
just starting to get on mynerves a little bit.
(42:57):
And I need to finish this book.
I don't know.
I think I'm like on page 300.
I don't know, somewhere inthere.
It's a hefty one.
Uh I just need to finish it.
I think that it'll pick uptowards the end, but right now,
this whole pirateship thing islike I had to put it down for a
second and come back to it, andI just haven't yet.
(43:17):
And I there were parts where I'mlike, this, this is what I loved
about Powerless.
So excited to read it.
And then there were other timeswhere I'm like, why is this
dragging on so much?
So I don't know.
Could just be me.
There's so many metaphors inthis book.
It just feels like we're sayingthe same thing over and over
again.
Um, again, it may just be me.
It may be because the first twobooks were just so like out of
(43:42):
the park that this one is justnot hitting for me personally.
But again, I've heard people saythat this is their favorite book
in the series.
So just because it may not befor me does not mean that it's
not for you.
And like the series as a whole,I've enjoyed.
I literally went to an event forthis book.
I have it signed by Lauren.
My copy is signed by Lauren.
(44:02):
Um, we didn't have a signingline for that one, but we met um
at Barnes and Noble to hear hertalk about it.
So, and I literally havecharacter art.
I have a Kai sticker.
I have a Kai sticker, and uh soI'm not saying that I'm not a
fan of this series, but I don'tknow what it is about this third
book, but I just have not gotteninto it yet, and I think I'm
almost on like page 300.
I'll have to look up when thepirate ship thing is.
(44:24):
I haven't opened the book in awhile, so I don't even know.
But yeah, I'm just gettingthrough it a little bit right
now.
Then I have Darkness LovesCompany by Sarah Blair.
So Darkness Loves Company isactually the prequel to one of
my favorite fantasy books oflast year, which is called
Darkness Shifting.
So you can start with theprequel, you can start with
Darkness Shifting, you can readthem in the order that you want
(44:47):
to.
I really enjoyed starting withDarkness Shifting, and I'm
enjoying getting like some ofthe background now from the
prequel.
So do what you will, but I'mliking it that way.
And this is actually a buddyread with Randa, and I will link
her account uh in the shownotes.
She recently changed her name,so I am drawing a blank.
I'm doing a buddy read with her.
(45:08):
We both have like abandoned itfor a couple months because
she's so nice and she's like,whenever you want to get back to
it, and I just have not gottenback to it yet.
So I do definitely plan to, andI got to a really good part.
And because Sarah, again,Sarah's one of my author
friends, um, she told me, like,oh, this is where it's about to
get really good.
So I'm very excited.
And I I really love Sarah'swriting.
(45:30):
That's so entertaining.
It is so entertaining.
I don't know how Sarah does it.
She really mixes like referencesand humor and you know, the
like, this is urban fantasy, soshe does really take that like
urban fantasy elements, but thenshe also has a little bit of
like a side plot of romance.
And anyway, she's able to craftso many different things at
(45:52):
once, but make it really funnyand really interesting.
So I'm about 75% done with it,and I cannot wait to continue
this book.
And uh, oh, so ultimately, okay,so this series, it is three
books and a novella, and soDarkness Shifting, like I said,
is what I would recommendstarting with, but you could
start with the prequel, which iswhat I'm reading right now,
(46:14):
Darkness Loves Company.
So, anyway, it's got humor, it'sgot a lot of like detective
slash like kind of buddy copbanter because Sydney and her
entire crew are trying to, youknow, figure out what's going
on.
They're trying to solve like aparanormal mystery of uh demon
(46:34):
koalas in this book.
So it is very interesting.
So you have that kind of likedetective buddy cop thing going
on with a lot of humor, and thenyou have the urban fantasy
elements, and then you havefound family that is a huge
thing in the series, very foundfamily-esque, which is probably
one of the reasons I like it.
I've noticed that the fantasybooks that I do really enjoy
have a very strong found familyelement to them.
(46:56):
I feel like that really roundsout the fantasy part for me.
And then there is also a side uhside plot, subplot, subplot of
romance in this as well.
So I love Sarah's books.
I think she's a bill I thinkshe's a brilliant author, and I
cannot wait to finish this oneas well.
(47:17):
Just every book has jumped infront of this one.
I don't I don't know what mydeal is.
Same with Mistborn by BrandonSanderson.
That is the last book I amreading.
So, of course, this is EpicFantasy.
Um, I have annotated this bookwithin an inch of its life.
Like I've written all over themargins, I've highlighted, I
have extensive notes in thebook.
I'm about 50 pages into thisone.
(47:40):
Um, and it was recommended to meas like a must-read by a very
enthusiastic Brandon Sandersonfan of my life.
So anyway, they were like, youhave got to read this, and I
said, Okay, and then proceededto read it for probably have I
been reading it for like a year,probably, but I am enjoying it.
It's my first epic fantasy, um,and I'm very new to that side of
(48:04):
the genre.
Have mainly read like YA orRomance C, so I have not read
any epic fantasy.
Well, no, that is a lie.
I did read The Hobbit for class,and I'm pretty sure that that
counts because Lord of the Ringscounts as epic fantasy, but I
have not read anything else thatwould fall in that category.
So this is one of my first inthat genre, and Brandon
(48:26):
Sanderson's awesome, obviously.
I listen to his like lecturesand all that other stuff, so I
really appreciate him, andgetting to read his work is
really cool, and I am enjoyingit.
He definitely has a style thatmakes it more relatable and it
makes it easy to understandwhat's going on.
Um, so basically, this is notreally a spoiler because it and
if you haven't read it, you willhave no idea what I'm talking
(48:47):
about.
It's so brief.
So where I'm at is where KelseyR has basically gone all like,
I'm the captain now, and he's incharge of Vin's like Army of
Thieves, and that's where I'mat.
So I'm still about like 50 pagesin, super duper early.
But I am really enjoying thebook.
I definitely see why everyoneloves Brandon Sanderson, well
deserved, and I love listeningto his lectures.
(49:09):
So of course, like of course,I'm gonna like his books.
So I just need to keep readinghis books, um, and yeah, just
reading more of Mistborn.
I even have the other two booksin the original trilogy, so
yeah.
I will get to them one day.
I will get to all these booksone day.
I'm hoping to maybe kind of makea push towards the end of the
(49:31):
year to like finish up some ofthe books that I feel like I've
just been reading forever, justso that way I can start off with
a clean slate at the beginningof the new year.
All the books are great, youknow that.
Um, yeah, I I wouldn't I wouldnot waste my time on books I
didn't like.
I would just DNF it or give itaway or put it in a little free
library.
So even though I'm slow progresson them, I'm reading all these
(49:52):
books because I want to bereading these books.
So that was my currentlyreading.
This reading recap was reallydifferent.
Thank you for sticking with methrough almost an hour of me
talking about what I'm currentlyreading.
So that that's interesting.
But anyway, thank you.
That's it for today on where Ileft off a bookish podcast.
Don't forget, you can alwaysleave a review on the podcast
(50:14):
platform of your choice.
It would be greatly appreciated.
Um, and you can always hit thesend us a text button if you
want to give me more book recsor talk about a specific book.
I do love to geek out aboutbooks.
So thank you for listening, andI'll see you next time.
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