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It's time for our A Court of Wings and Ruin reread! In episode 120 of Booktalks Podcast, Kayla and Marisa discuss the third book in Sarah J. Maas's A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) series, and this reread has brought out some HOT takes. We dive into the war against Hybern, Nesta Archeron's character development, Elaine's future, and the complicated Azriel, Elaine, and Gwyn debate. We also discuss whether Tamlin deserves sympathy, why our opinions of Mor have changed, the Inner Circle's flaws, and why Cassian continues to be a favorite. Did we remember all the important plot details? Absolutely not! From forgotten character deaths to unanswered questions about the future of Prythian, we're revisiting the moments that stood out and sharing our predictions for what's next in the ACOTAR universe. Do you agree with our opinions, or are we about to start a fandom war? Listen and let us know your hottest ACOTAR takes! ⚠️ SPOILER WARNING: This episode contains major spoilers for A Court of Wings and Ruin, with discussions of later books in the ACOTAR series, including A Court of Silver Flames. Follow Booktalks Podcast: Instagram: @booktalkspodcast TikTok: @booktalkspodcast YouTube: Book Talks Podcast Join us for more book reviews, fantasy romance discussions, Sarah J. Maas theories, and ACOTAR rereads!

September was a MONTH. We may have been in a reading slump, but that didn't stop us from having A LOT to say. In this episode of BookTalks Podcast, we talk about our September reading, what we're planning to read in October, and some of the biggest bookish conversations happening right now. We have THOUGHTS on Ali Hazelwood's upcoming sequel to The Love Hypothesis, whether authors revisiting beloved books and worlds is becoming more about the money than the story, and the early reactions to the Verity movie. We also get into our VERY mixed feelings about Fourth Wing / Iron Flame, Rebecca Yarros' new Threshing Day novella, and where we think the Empyrean series might be headed. Plus, we're talking about: Our September reads and ratings The books we're taking into October Marisa's spooky season reading challenge Romance recommendations (including some VERY strong ones) Renaissance Fairs and our questionable future career plans Exciting upcoming ARCs, author interviews & BookTalks Podcast updates What do YOU think? Are authors taking sequels and spin-offs too far when a book already has a satisfying ending? And what are your thoughts on the direction of Fourth Wing/Iron Flame? Let us know in the comments! Books & authors mentioned: Ali Hazelwood, Colleen Hoover, Rebecca Yarros, Christina Lauren, Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka, Susanna Clarke, Maggie Gates, Ellen O'Connor, Sarah J. Maas, Wanda M. Hellmann and more. #BookTalksPodcast #BookTube #BookPodcast

Booktalks Podcast episode 118: We’re talking all about The Love Hypothesis movie! Kayla and Marisa break down Ali Hazelwood’s highly anticipated book-to-screen adaptation, comparing the movie to the original novel and discussing the biggest changes from page to screen. ⚠️ SPOILERS AHEAD for both the book and movie! We’re talking Adam and Olive, fake dating, the changes to Tom’s storyline, why Holden being cut from the movie was such a big change, Adam’s different personality on screen, the casting, the rom-com vibes, and whether The Love Hypothesis lived up to the book. We also get into other Ali Hazelwood adaptations, upcoming releases, and plenty of tangents along the way. Did you read The Love Hypothesis before watching the movie? Let us know what you thought of the adaptation! Follow Booktalks Podcast: Instagram: @booktalkspodcast TikTok: @booktalkspodcast YouTube: @chaoticbookgirls Listen, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

We are rereading A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas — and this time, we’re looking at the book with a few more years of reading experience behind us. ACOMAF is one of the most beloved books in the ACOTAR series, but does it still hit the same on a reread? We’re talking Feyre, Rhysand, Tamlin, the Inner Circle, our favorite moments, the things that stood out differently this time, and all of our honest thoughts on the book. Whether you’re an ACOTAR veteran or discovering the series for the first time, come hang out with us for a full reread discussion! ⚠️ SPOILERS FOR A COURT OF MIST AND FURY / ACOTAR SERIES 📚 Join the BookTalks Podcast Book Club on Fable! 🎙️ Subscribe for more book discussions, reviews, rereads, author interviews & BookTube chaos. What did YOU think of ACOMAF on your first read vs. your reread? Tell us in the comments! 👇 #ACOTAR #ACOMAF #SarahJMaas #BookTube #FantasyBooks #Romantasy #BookPodcast #BookDiscussion #BookReview #ACOTARFans

This week on Book Talks Podcast, we're discussing our August Book of the Month: Out on a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young! ⚠️ SPOILER WARNING: This episode contains FULL SPOILERS for the entire book, including the ending! We’re talking all things Win and Bo, the surprise pregnancy trope, disability representation, their relationship, the lack of conflict, the happily-ever-after ending, and all of our thoughts on whether this romance actually worked for us. We also get into a bigger conversation about surprise pregnancy romances and whether you can really say you hate the trope if you've only encountered it in other genres. Plus, we compare Out on a Limb to some of our favorite surprise pregnancy books, including Wild Card, Ready or Not, Forever Undone, and Seven of Hearts. Was Out on a Limb too perfect? Did we need more conflict? Did the epilogue go on too long? And where does this book rank among our favorite surprise pregnancy romances? Let us know what you thought of Out on a Limb and what surprise pregnancy romance we should read next! Follow Book Talks Podcast: Instagram & TikTok: @booktalkspodcast YouTube: @book_talks_podcast Join our book club on Fable: Book Talks Podcast #OutOnALimb #HannahBonamYoung #RomanceBooks #BookClub #BookTalksPodcast

We’re sitting down with romance author Maggie Gates to talk about what really makes a romance story feel fresh—even when it uses familiar tropes. Maggie shares her “tropes are ingredients” philosophy, how real life inspires her characters, why she cries while writing, and how writing helped her process some of her most personal experiences. We also talk about negative reviews, plotting vs. pantsing, emotional scenes, her interconnected book universe, and (of course!) her upcoming romance, BLUE JEAN SUMMER, releasing September 15. Maggie’s rapid-fire trope answers are also VERY revealing—including why she’d choose one horse over one bed. ABOUT BLUE JEAN SUMMER: Marriage of convenience • Age gap • Childhood friends • Billionaire hero • Broke heroine • Cowboys • Ranch romance If you love romance books, author interviews, bookish conversations, and getting a behind-the-scenes look at how your favorite stories are created, make sure to subscribe to BookTalks Podcast! #BookTalksPodcast #MaggieGates #BlueJeanSummer

Booktalks Podcast Episode 114: We’re rereading A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas! 📚✨ We’re going back to the beginning of the ACOTAR series and looking at the first book with everything we know now. Does A Court of Thorns and Roses hold up on a reread? Are Feyre and Tamlin really the love story we remembered? And how much more obvious are the Rhysand clues when you already know where the series is headed? We’re talking about Feyre’s character, Tamlin and Feyre’s relationship, Rhysand’s role in the story, the riddle, Feyre’s time Under the Mountain, the trials, the ending, and all the little details we noticed differently this time around. We also discuss why ACOTAR became such a beloved series despite the first book being slower and more of a setup for the larger story, and why A Court of Mist and Fury is the book we really remember making the series special. If you’re an ACOTAR fan, Sarah J. Maas reader, or rereading the series before the next book, come listen as we revisit where it all began! 📱 Follow Booktalks Podcast: Instagram: @booktalkspodcast TikTok: @booktalkspodcast YouTube: @book_talks_podcast 📚 Join our Fable Book Club: Search for Booktalks Podcast Book Club on Fable and read along with us! ⚠️ SPOILER WARNING: This episode discusses the first ACOTAR book and includes discussion of events and character developments from later books in the series. #BooktalksPodcast #ACOTAR #ACOTARReread #ACOTARBookClub #SarahJMaas #ACourtOfThornsAndRoses #BookPodcast #BookTube

Booktalks Podcast Episode 113: We’re wrapping up our August reading and looking ahead to our September TBR! 📚 August was a rough reading month for both of us, with busy work schedules, life updates, and a very hyped fantasy book sending Kayla into a reading slump. We’re talking about the books we finished, our ratings, a few DNFs, romance reads, our August Book Club pick, and the books we’re planning to tackle in September. We’re also getting back into Sarah J. Maas with A Court of Mist and Fury, continuing Avatar, starting new romance series, discussing Maggie Gates, hockey romances, cowboy romances, and more. Plus, we’re chatting about the upcoming Sarah J. Maas release, new ACOTAR covers and fan theories, book-to-TV adaptations, The Summer I Turned Pretty, Sterling Point, and what’s happening in the book world. And, as always, we’re trying to figure out what our Booktalks Podcast Book Club should read next! Follow along with Booktalks Podcast: Instagram: @booktalkspodcast TikTok: @booktalkspodcast YouTube: @book_talks_podcast #BooktalksPodcast #ReadingWrapUp #SeptemberTBR #BookPodcast #BookRecommendations

Booktalks Podcast Episode 112: We’re wrapping up July with everything we read this month and looking ahead to our August TBR! 📚 Kayla read an impressive 13 books, including a major Maggie Gates and Jay Salmon binge, while Marisa shares her July reads including Wild Card, Poker Face, Elle Kennedy’s The Mistake, This Story Might Save Your Life, and more. We’re talking romance, surprise pregnancy tropes, thrillers, fantasy, books we loved, books we’re unhauling, and the books that just didn’t quite work for us. Then we’re planning our August reading, including our Fable Book of the Month, Out on a Limb, Star Side, Blood Bound, Morningstar, and an upcoming Avatar reread. Plus, we may have officially discovered our niche: surprise pregnancy books. 😂 Follow Book Talks Podcast: Instagram & TikTok: @booktalkspodcast YouTube: @book_talks_podcast Join our Fable book club and come read with us! #BookTalksPodcast #JulyWrapUp #AugustTBR #BookRecommendations #RomanceBooks #BookClub

Thornbird by Elle Kennedy surprised us… because this wasn’t the romance book we expected. In this BookTalks Podcast episode, Kayla and Marissa discuss their July book club pick, Thornbird by Elle Kennedy, and why they think it works best as a thriller with a romance subplot rather than a romance trying to become a thriller. We break down: Ryan’s complicated journey as the daughter of a serial killer Chase and why the broody love interest completely won us over The thriller elements, twists, pacing, and character development How the podcast storyline adds a unique layer to the book Why this could be the perfect “bridge book” for romance readers wanting to try thrillers We also compare it to books like A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder and discuss whether the twists landed, which characters frustrated us, and what we’re reading next. Plus, stick around for our next Book Club poll picks: Cowboy Casual Rights of the Starling Killing Floor Out on a Limb What did you think of Thornbird by Elle Kennedy? Was it more thriller or romance? Let us know in the comments! Don’t forget to subscribe for more book reviews, book club discussions, author chats, and chaotic bookish conversations from BookTalks Podcast. #Thornbird #ElleKennedy #BookReview #BookTube #BookClub #ThrillerBooks #RomanceBooks #MysteryBooks #BookDiscussion #BookRecommendations #BookPodcast

We’re halfway through 2026, so it’s time to check in on our reading lives! We’re looking back at the goals we set in January, sharing how many books we’ve read, and revealing the stories that surprised, disappointed, and completely consumed us. We discuss our unexpected Maggie Gates obsession, whether the Fourth Wing series deserves its hype, our plans to continue Red Rising and Shield of Sparrows, and why mood reading has helped both of us read more than ever. We also weigh in on the BookTok debate about whether creators are actually reading every book they claim to finish. Then, we reveal our favorite books of 2026 so far—including Project Hail Mary, The Night We Met, Our Perfect Storm, You Deserve to Know, and Alchemized—along with our biggest disappointments, such as The Shippers, How to Kill a Guy in 10 Dates, and The Night Circus. Plus, Kayla has a major personal update: she’s engaged! Hear the full story of Tom’s Central Park proposal and how he managed to surprise her after a morning filled with suspicious hints. We close out the episode with our reading and podcast goals for the rest of 2026, including finishing several series, tackling our physical TBRs, returning to fantasy reading this fall, and working toward 500 YouTube subscribers. What are your best and worst books of 2026 so far? Share them with us on Instagram or TikTok at @booktalkspodcast.

Did Amazon stay true to Carly Fortune's bestselling romance? In this spoiler-filled episode, we compare Every Year After to Every Summer After, discussing the biggest changes, what worked, what didn't, and why so many fans are disappointed with the adaptation. We also chat about One Golden Summer, successful adaptations like Off Campus, and finish with a recommendation for Maggie Gates' Beaufort Poker Club series. Follow BookTalks Podcast for weekly book reviews, adaptation discussions, and romance recommendations.

In Booktalks Podcast Episode 108, we're sharing everything we read in June and the books we're hoping to tackle in July! Kayla wraps up an incredible month of reading 11 books, including a deep dive into Maggie Gates' romance universe, while Marisa gives an update on her physical TBR challenge and shares her latest thriller and romance reads. We also discuss Every Summer After, The Deal, The Someday Garden, The Silent Patient, Deep End, upcoming ARCs, Kindle Unlimited favorites, and the books we're most excited to read this month. Whether you're looking for your next romance, thriller, fantasy, or beach read, we've got plenty of recommendations to add to your TBR. Follow Book Talks Podcast on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for more book reviews, reading vlogs, author interviews, and weekly bookish content. Don't forget to join our Fable Book Club and read along with us each month!

Booktalks Podcast Episode 107 reviews Every Summer After by Carley Fortune before watching the TV adaptation. This is Part 1 of our Every Summer After series! We discuss Percy and Sam's relationship, Charlie, the alternating timelines, our favorite moments, what worked, what didn't, and whether the TV show has a chance of living up to the book. ⚠️ Full spoilers for the novel. Next week we'll be back with Part 2 after we've watched the TV adaptation to compare the show with the book. Follow us: Instagram: @booktalkspodcast TikTok: @booktalkspodcast YouTube: @book_talks_podcast If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast and leave us a rating—it really helps other readers discover Booktalks Podcast!

We watched Amazon’s Off Campus series… and we have THOUGHTS. In this episode of Booktalks Podcast, we’re comparing the Off Campus TV show to Elle Kennedy’s book The Deal! We break down what changed, what was left out, the biggest storyline differences, and whether the adaptation actually improved the original story. Did the show stay true to the book? Did the changes work? Were there moments we missed from the novel? We discuss it all! Plus, we end with a hilarious hockey romance game where we draft our perfect hockey boyfriend… and discover Kayla is looking for a golden retriever friends-to-lovers hero while Marisa apparently needs a brooding, moody enemies-to-lovers man Let us know: Did you prefer the book or the show? Who would be your perfect hockey boyfriend? Subscribe for more book reviews, adaptations, fantasy, romance, thrillers, and chaotic bookish conversations! #BooktalksPodcast #OffCampus #TheDeal