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In this episode of In Bed With Books, I’m joined by my friend Michelle Craft for a chat about our recent buddy read, Babel by R.F. Kuang. We start the conversation with a close reading of the full title, Babel, or The Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translator’s Revolution, asking what we can consider violence, and how it builds on itself. Kuang’s commentary on colonialism and empire, its exploration of language as power and the emotional destruction of the ending (yes, there be spoilers), feels like just the beginning of this conversation. Tune in as Michelle and I also take a look at some of the biggest critiques of the book - its over-intellectualized style, as well as the accusation of it being too obvious, and how those things can both exist in the novel. Kuang’s homage to 19th century writing shines in this, and Michelle and I have a blast talking about how that, as well as the choice to write the story through Robin’s eyes, drive home the dark academia vibes and the inevitability of the novel’s conclusion. Whether you loved Babel, were haunted by it, or are on the fence about the delivery of its message, have a listen. You can learn more about Michelle and her work here: https://www.soulhealingwithmichelle.com/ If you have an author, book, or topic you want to hear about on the podcast, then don't hesitate to slide into my DMs on Instagram or shoot me an email! Subscribe to my newsletter to keep up to date on the latest podcast happenings: https://in-bed-with-books.kit.com/76d11f1d51 Where else to find me: IG: @inbedwithbookspod YT: https://www.youtube.com/@InBedWithBooksPod EM: [email protected]

This week on In Bed With Books, I’m joined by author Kait Ballenger to talk about her dark and sexy paranormal romance, Original Sinner. The book follows Charlotte, a budding PR agent for a luxury company in NYC, who finds herself thrust into the middle of her boss’ sibling rivalry. Except that her boss is Lucifer and the siblings are the other 6 deadly sins. Kait and I start the conversation by looking at the books and myths that influenced Charlotte and Lucifer’s story. She let us in on her writing process, explaining why this story makes the most sense as a dark romance, since we get to see them explore their trauma through kink and BDSM dynamics (it’s a spicy one, folks!), letting the dark romance context exist as a space for healing, empowerment, and emotional honesty. Kait also discusses her worldbuilding process, how the idea of the seven deadly sins as billionaires came to be, and how this all helped balance out the emotional side of Charlotte’s healing arc. To round things out, Kait gives us a sneak peek at where we can expect to see our lovers go in books two and three! You’ll see book three on shelves in May of next year! If you’re still trying to scratch the Hades/Persephone itch, love paranormal, dark romance, or a (genuinely!) morally gray love interest, then add Original Sinner to your tbr. For more information on Kait: https://www.kaitballenger.com/ Original Sinner (The Original Sinners #1): https://bookshop.org/a/54661/9781662528873 Wicked Believer (The Original Sinners #2): https://bookshop.org/a/54661/9781662528880 If you have an author, book, or topic you want to hear about on the podcast, then don't hesitate to slide into my DMs on Instagram or shoot me an email! Subscribe to my newsletter to keep up to date on the latest podcast happenings: https://in-bed-with-books.kit.com/76d11f1d51 Where else to find me: IG: @inbedwithbookspod YT: https://www.youtube.com/@InBedWithBooksPod EM: [email protected]

For this week’s episode, I got to sit down with author Margaux Eliot to talk about her nostalgic but dark debut novel, Honeymoon Stage. Set against the early years of celebreality TV in the aughts, Honeymoon Stage is part romance, part chaos, and all sharp commentary on the way we consume women in the media. Margaux shares why she wrote the novel under a pen name (you can also find her under her real name, Julia Fine), how her gothic speculative fiction helped shape this book, and what she learned about reality television and our need to observe the unobservable while researching for this. Together, we unpack isolation as an integral part of celebrity and reality television, the treatment of women like Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson in the media, how those stories shaped a generation’s view of femininity and success, and how that view is changing in just a couple of decades. You can find Honeymoon Stage in bookstores now! Grab a copy here: https://bookshop.org/a/54661/9781662533105 You can learn more about Margaux Eliot here: https://www.julia-fine.com/ If you have an author, book, or topic you want to hear about on the podcast, then don't hesitate to slide into my DMs on Instagram or shoot me an email! Subscribe to my newsletter to keep up to date on the latest podcast happenings: https://in-bed-with-books.kit.com/76d11f1d51 Where else to find me: IG: @inbedwithbookspod YT: https://www.youtube.com/@InBedWithBooksPod EM: [email protected]

This week’s episode is part two of my chat with Kristin, and we’re continuing our chat on Harry Potter but from a slightly different angle. In the second half of our conversation, we’re (at times unseriously) looking at one of the biggest and most complicated conversations in the book world right now: the Alchemised controversy and what it says about fanfiction, publishing, and existing IP. In this episode, we dig into whether the art and the artist can be separated in cases like this, and we bring up some of our favorite examples – Fifty Shades of Gray, The Love Hypothesis, Dead Romantics. But we also look at the bigger picture about how fandom culture shapes publishing, and how we can answer questions about ownership and moral responsibility when AI has also entered the chat. Of course, it wouldn't be a Kristin chat without several tangents, so tune in for additional conversation on our recent reads (including some dark romance), taboos, and where we draw the line when reading these. Question: Do you think the art and the artist can be separated? Tell us in the comments below. If you have an author, book, or topic you want to hear about on the podcast, then don't hesitate to slide into my DMs on Instagram or shoot me an email! Subscribe to my newsletter to keep up to date on the latest podcast happenings: https://in-bed-with-books.kit.com/76d11f1d51 Where else to find me: IG: @inbedwithbookspod YT: https://www.youtube.com/@InBedWithBooksPod EM: [email protected]

In this week’s episode, I’m reviewing a recent read, Four Ruined Realms by Mai Corland, the second book in the Broken Blades Trilogy. After the fallout of Aeri’s betrayal in book one, Four Ruined Realms takes things to an whole new level. I unpack how Corland’s writing has evolved, the deeper emotional arcs of Aeri, Royo, Mikhail, Sora, and TiYoung, and what makes this book such a powerful exploration of morality, regret, and survival in a world built on power and control. To round things out, I throw around a few theories for where I expect book three to go. Grab your drink, settle in, and join me for a cozy, spoiler-filled book review about power, love, and what it really means to change the game when the rules are already broken. Tell me in the comments, how do you think Four Ruined Realms compares to Five Broken Blades? If you have an author, book, or topic you want to hear about on the podcast, then don't hesitate to slide into my DMs on Instagram or shoot me an email! Subscribe to my newsletter to keep up to date on the latest podcast happenings: https://in-bed-with-books.kit.com/76d11f1d51 Where else to find me: IG: @inbedwithbookspod YT: https://www.youtube.com/@InBedWithBooksPod EM: [email protected]

In this episode, we take on one of the biggest discussions in the book world right now: the controversy around Alchemised, the book igniting conversations about people’s (lack of) support for Harry Potter and its related fanfiction in 2025. Kristin is back on the podcast! Our conversation starts with thoughts on the recent trailer for “Wuthering Heights” (2026) before we jump into the messy intersection of nostalgia, fandom, and accountability. Why do we still feel connected to certain stories? How do we handle authors whose beliefs don’t align with ours? Is it actually possible to separate the art from the artist? What does reading looking like in 2025, and how can fandoms reckon with their roots? Grab your tea, get comfy, and join us for a candid, thoughtful chat about the complicated joy of loving stories that don’t always love you back. Tell me in the comments: Do you think it’s possible to separate art from the artist? If you have an author, book, or topic you want to hear about on the podcast, then don't hesitate to slide into my DMs on Instagram or shoot me an email! Subscribe to my newsletter to keep up to date on the latest podcast happenings: https://in-bed-with-books.kit.com/76d11f1d51 Where else to find me: IG: @inbedwithbookspod YT: https://www.youtube.com/@InBedWithBooksPod EM: [email protected]

We’re back for Season 9, and we’re kicking things off with something a little different: a full-on chat about Banned Books Week 2025. The theme this year is “Censorship Is So 1984.” Which, honestly… yeah, that tracks. I’m joined once again by my friend, and academic, Michael Pons, who’s currently deep in his PhD studies. Together, we dive into what book bans really mean for readers, for kids, and for the stories that shape how we see the world. We talk about The Giver, Homegoing, Their Eyes Were Watching God, and Perks of Being a Wallflower, all books that changed us, and all books that, somehow, keep ending up on banned lists. We also get into the bigger picture: what censorship looks like in media, the weird double standards around “protecting the children,” and why discomfort in reading (and in general) is actually a good thing. It’s one of those conversations that reminds me why I started this podcast in the first place — because stories matter. And because banning books doesn’t protect anyone; it just limits what we get to imagine. So grab a blanket, grab a banned book, and settle in for the start of Season 9. Happy Banned Books Week, and happy reading. To check out Michael’s podcast: https://m.soundcloud.com/aychpodcast/sets/the-instruction-booklet?fbclid=PAT01DUANRSs9leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABp4Rt4vUOXi_VYnCR1b7F_gV28Nu-gA-Knw7F1VStsqPUnMIMz80uHw8k3WZR_aem_bJOcZPxyFiZZqGh7zPahWA If you have an author, book, or topic you want to hear about on the podcast, then don't hesitate to slide into my DMs on Instagram or shoot me an email! Subscribe to my newsletter to keep up to date on the latest podcast happenings: https://in-bed-with-books.kit.com/76d11f1d51 Where else to find me: IG: @inbedwithbookspod YT: https://www.youtube.com/@InBedWithBooksPod EM: [email protected]

Join me and author Noel Stark for episode 86 of the podcast, where we talk about her debut novel, Love, Camera, Action, a workplace romance set on a modern television set between Cali, the director, and Jory, the director of photography. We discuss the enemies-to-lovers arc that the leads follow, the themes of creative tension in their love story, and the elements of realism that Stark was able to intertwine, as someone who’s worked in television herself! Stark discusses what the transition from scriptwriting to novel writing looked like, and how her writing process has shifted as she moves into new projects. We round out the chat by talking about Stark’s reading tastes, and the advice of aspiring writers. Love, Camera, Action is out now! If you have an author, book, or topic you want to hear about on the podcast, then don't hesitate to slide into my DMs on Instagram or shoot me an email! Where else to find me: IG: @inbedwithbookspod YT: https://www.youtube.com/@InBedWithBooksPod EM: [email protected]

In episode 85, I’m giving a review of Analeigh Sbrana’s, “Lore of the Wilds,” a romantasy novel set in a world where generations ago, Lore Alemeyu’s ancestors fell into a magical world ruled by fae. Now, Lore’s village is held prisoner by the reigning kingdom, subject to the cruelty of the sentries and whims of the royals. I have my qualms with the book, but it was a great debut. From the brooding dark fae love interest, to a mysterious magical book, and the betrayal in the end, and I cannot wait to see what Lore gets up to in the sequel, “Lore of the Tides.” As with all of my book reviews, there are spoilers! If you have an author, book, or topic you want to hear about on the podcast, then don't hesitate to slide into my DMs on Instagram or shoot me an email! Where else to find me: IG: @inbedwithbookspod YT: https://www.youtube.com/@InBedWithBooksPod EM: [email protected]

In episode 84, I was joined by author Jade Presley to talk about her new book, The Never List! It was a joy to have Jade on to talk about her writing process, how she found the why-choose genre, and how a healthy dose of delusion can be great on the road to publication. The Never List follows Rylee, a woman on a quest to save her sister who gets a little side-tracked trying to save her kingdom. The why-choose romantasy hits shelves April 8, 2025! If you have an author, book, or topic you want to hear about on the podcast, then don't hesitate to slide into my DMs on Instagram or shoot me an email! Where else to find me: IG: @inbedwithbookspod YT: https://www.youtube.com/@InBedWithBooksPod EM: [email protected]

In this episode, I’m talking about my reading goals for 2025! As a devotee of SMART goals for many years, my reading goals are really more intentions than milestones I’m looking to achieve. This year, I’m really trying to find the joy in reading again, without the pressure that super defined goals can bring. This year is about me reinforcing reading’s role in my downtime and escape, and it really came down to the question “What kind of reader do I want to be?” If you have an author, book, or topic you want to hear about on the podcast, then don't hesitate to slide into my DMs on Instagram or shoot me an email! Where else to find me: IG: @inbedwithbookspod YT: https://www.youtube.com/@InBedWithBooksPod EM: [email protected]

In episode 82, I’m giving a review of the latest book from The Hollows series by Kim Harrison, “Demon’s Bluff,” an urban fantasy novel set in an alternate world where magic and modern sensibilities coexist. As always, I was so excited to talk about this book and this series, since I’ve been such a big fan of Rachel Morgan and her adventures as a witch in Cincinnati for so long. Join me as discussing Harrison’s grasp on each of her characters, falling back into reading about [SPOILER], and the care that Rachel uses in proving (once again) that she is That Witch. As with all of my book reviews, there are spoilers! If you have an author, book, or topic you want to hear about on the podcast, then don't hesitate to slide into my DMs on Instagram or shoot me an email! Where else to find me: IG: @inbedwithbookspod YT: https://www.youtube.com/@InBedWithBooksPod EM: [email protected]

In this episode of In Bed With Books, I sit down with J.K. Kennedy, author of Clumsy Beauty, a beautifully illustrated collection of bite-sized poems filled with warmth, wit, and a dash of irreverence. Clumsy Beauty is a celebration of life’s imperfections, offering inspiration for embracing our quirks, stumbles, and unique journeys. J.K. and I discuss the joy of self-acceptance and finding beauty in everyday moments, even when they’re messy. Tune in to hear her insights on vulnerability, creativity, and what it means to live authentically in a world obsessed with perfection. Clumsy Beauty is available now! So run to your nearest bookstore or library and grab your copy! Jodie can be found on instagram @/jkkennedywrites Cover Artist for Clumsy Beauty: Jessica Benhar @/harkenback If you have an author, book, or topic you want to hear about on the podcast, then don't hesitate to slide into my DMs on Instagram or shoot me an email! Where else to find me: IG: @inbedwithbookspod YT: https://www.youtube.com/@InBedWithBooksPod EM: [email protected]

In episode 80 of In Bed With Books, I dive into What the River Knows by Isabel Ibanez, a captivating historical fantasy romance. Join me as I explore Inez’s thrilling adventure to uncover the truth behind her parents' deaths and the mysterious gifts they left behind, including the dreamy but closed-off Whitford Hayes. With book two, Where the Library Hides, coming soon, this is the perfect time to revisit or discover this awesome tale. If you have an author, book, or topic you want to hear about on the podcast, then don't hesitate to slide into my DMs on Instagram or shoot me an email! Where else to find me: IG: @inbedwithbookspod YT: https://www.youtube.com/@InBedWithBooksPod EM: [email protected]

Join me and author Lyndsay Rush in conversation about her new book, A Bit Much. Her book is a collection of poems that explore all of the big feelings that we experience as women today - from love and rage, to impassioned or doubtful. Rush’s poems are a confident look at how life could feel if we let ourselves take up more space than we’ve been allowed. A Bit Much is available now! So run to your nearest bookstore or library and grab your copy! You can find Lyndsay on Instagram @maryoliversdrunkcousin or at thebread.net If you have an author, book, or topic you want to hear about on the podcast, then don't hesitate to slide into my DMs on Instagram or shoot me an email! Where else to find me: IG: @inbedwithbookspod YT: https://www.youtube.com/@InBedWithBooksPod EM: [email protected]