Bookmarked: A YA Book Podcast

So long Dec 29, 2022

It's the final episode!

The Bookstacked Team reunites for the last time to reflect on some of their favorite memories from running the website and podcast while also diving into what they learned after covering YA books for almost a decade.

Thank you to everyone who's joined us on our journey — whether you were here for a short while or a long time, you've been appreciated. Books are better together.

Book Club: 'Bloodmarked' by Tracy Deonn Dec 23, 2022

It's our final YA book club discussion!

In this episode, Saul and Brigitte return to the world of Tracy Deonn's Legendborn in the exciting sequel, Bloodmarked. We're excited to report that the followup is just as exciting and profound as its predecessor. We dive into how Tracy Deonn uses every aspect of storytelling to reinforce themes of ancestral bonds while also exploring the dark corners of familial and colonial heritage.

This episode is sponsored by Libro.fm. Buy audiobooks while supporting your local bookstore. Libro.fm has a special offer for Bookstacked readers. Get TWO audiobooks for the price of one with your first month of membership when using the code Bookstacked.Click here to get started.

Get In Touch:

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in a future episode!

Book Club: 'Squad' by Maggie Tokuda-Hall (Writer) and Lisa Sterle (Artist) Oct 31, 2022

The YA book club returns with this Halloween-themed graphic novel from author Maggie Tokuda-Hall and artist Lisa Sterle.

When Becca starts at a new school, the last thing she expects is to make friends with a pack of cool-girl werewolves. Entering their vicious world brings confidence and power, but it also sets Becca on a slippery slope that leaves her questioning her decision to join the pack at all.

This episode is sponsored by Libro.fm. Buy audiobooks while supporting your local bookstore. Libro.fm has a special offer for Bookstacked readers. Get TWO audiobooks for the price of one with your first month of membership when using the code Bookstacked.Click here to get started.

Follow the hosts:

Saul Marquez: @SAULMARQ
Spencer Miller: @yacanadabooks
Eleanor Maher: @athenes.owl

Fall 2022: What we're reading Oct 21, 2022

Fall doesn't only provide the best aesthetic (brightly colored leaves! sweaters! ghostly vibes!) but it often provides some of the best reads too.

Bookstacked writers Saul Marquez and Spencer Miller discuss the recent and upcoming novels that have caught their attention. There's plenty to choose from whether it be a spooky Halloween read, fantasy with epic stakes or even cozy a story next to the fire.

Which YA books are you reading this fall?

Get in touch with Saul: saul [at] bookstacked.com.

Related Links:

Follow the hosts:

Saul Marquez: @SAULMARQ
Spencer Miller: @yacanadabooks

Join our Halloween-themed book club! Oct 16, 2022

The podcast might be winding down at the end of the year, but we're still planning to fit in a couple more book club discussions, starting with a special Halloween-themed pick!

This month we're reading a graphic novel: Squad by Maggie Tokuda-Hall, illustrated by Lisa Sterle.

Here's what you need to know from the blurb:

Pretty Little Liars meets Teen Wolf in this sharply funny, and patriarchy-smashing graphic novel from author Maggie Tokuda-Hall and artist Lisa Sterle.

When the new girl is invited to join her high school’s most popular clique, she can’t believe her luck—and she can’t believe their secret, either.

When Becca transfers to a high school in an elite San Francisco suburb, she’s worried she’s not going to fit in. To her surprise, she’s immediately adopted by the most popular girls in school. At first glance, Marley, Arianna, and Mandy are perfect. But at a party under a full moon, Becca learns that they also have a big secret.

Becca’s new friends are werewolves. Their prey? Slimy boys who take advantage of unsuspecting girls. Eager to be accepted, Becca allows her friends to turn her into a werewolf, and finally, for the first time in her life, she feels like she truly belongs.

But then things get complicated. As their pack begins to buckle under the pressure, their moral high ground gets muddier and muddier—and Becca realizes that she might have feelings for one of her new best friends.

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The book club discussion will be released at the end of next week — just in time for the Halloween weekend!

Click here to read Squad's Storygraph entry.

Bookstacked is closing at the end of 2022 Oct 03, 2022

To learn more about the closure of the website and podcast, click here.

To send Saul your questions, email him at: saul [at] bookstacked.com.

Self-love and inspiring the next generation of writers with Kacen Callender ('Lark & Kasim Start a Revolution') Sep 23, 2022

In Kacen Callender's latest, self-love is its own type of revolution. Lark Winters is on the path to being a writer, but when they cover up a social media accident for a past friend, they find themselves under the scrutiny of hordes of online strangers. Finding a way out of this mess is going to require an inner struggle of self-discovery.

Kacen joins Bookstacked writer Spencer Miller to discuss their personal ties to the story and the intersection of shame and accountability.

Get in touch …

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Follow the guest and host:

Kacen Callender: KacenCallender.com
Spencer Miller: @SpencerBMiller (Twitter), @yacanadabooks (Instagram)

Expanding the universe of 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' with F. C. Yee ('The Dawn of Yangchen') Jul 20, 2022

There's no exaggeration in saying that Nickelodeon's 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' is one of the most popular ~~animated~~ shows of all time. For the generations that grew up with the show, it's a great time to be a fan. With more television series and movies on the horizon, there's a massive demand for Avatar content.

YA book author F. C. Yee knows all about it.

Yee has been part of the Avatar universe expansion since 2019, starting with the YA novel The Rise of Kyoshi. He joins us on this episode of the podcast to discuss his third Avatar novel, The Dawn of Yangchen. He shares some behind-the-scenes details about how the books came to be as well as his process of creating the characters and worldbuilding that fill the pages of his books.

Purchase The Dawn of Yangchen

Related Links:

This episode is sponsored by Libro.fm. Buy audiobooks while supporting your local bookstore. Libro.fm has a special offer for Bookstacked readers. Get TWO audiobooks for the price of one with your first month of membership when using the code Bookstacked.Click here to get started.

Get in touch …

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Follow the guest and host …

F. C. Yee: @yeebookauthor (Twitter), @yeebookauthor (Instagram), FCYee.com (Website)
Saul Marquez: @SAULMARQ

Summer camps and whodunnits with Jessica Goodman ('The Counselors') Jun 01, 2022

Jessica Goodman is no stranger to YA thrillers, and with the release of her third novel, The Counselors, it's clear to see that she has cemented her place as a master of the genre. In her latest novel, Jessica tells the story of Goldie as she returns to summer camp with her two best friends. Dark secrets begin to wash up on the shore of Alpine Lake — along with the body of someone from Goldie's very recent past.

Jessica joins us this week to discuss her own history with summer camps, as well as why she is drawn to the thriller genre.

This episode is sponsored by Libro.fm. Buy audiobooks while supporting your local bookstore. Libro.fm has a special offer for Bookstacked readers. Get TWO audiobooks for the price of one with your first month of membership when using the code Bookstacked.Click here to get started.

Get in touch …

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Follow the guest and host …

Jessica Goodman: @jessicagoodman (Instagram)
Michael Burns: @themichaelburns (Instagram)

Book Club: 'All My Rage' by Sabaa Tahir May 27, 2022

We're re-introducing our YA book club!

Sabaa Tahir's latest novel, All My Rage, is the first book we're kicking our 2022 book club off with. This newly-released contemporary might as well be crowned a YA classic. It's easily one of the best books we've read on the show. Exploring the lives of a Pakistani community through the eyes of two young protagonists, this book confronts trauma, grief, family and forgiveness in a way that rings authentic. We love this book!

This episode is sponsored by Libro.fm. Buy audiobooks while supporting your local bookstore. Libro.fm has a special offer for Bookstacked readers. Get TWO audiobooks for the price of one with your first month of membership when using the code Bookstacked.Click here to get started.

Related Links:

Get In Touch:

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in a future episode!

Follow the hosts:

Saul Marquez: @SAULMARQ
Spencer Miller: @SpencerBMiller (Twitter), @yacanadabooks (Instagram)
Eleanor Maher: @words.and.wanderings (Instagram)

Raw and honest storytelling with Candice Iloh ('Break This House') May 24, 2022

Despite their novel, Break This House, being written in prose, Candice Iloh's history of writing poetry is woven into the book's fabric. On top of being beautifully written, Minah's story of confronting her past — almost literally by traveling back to her hometown after learning of a family tragedy — is one that is sure to inspire and encourage young adults everywhere to be open with who they are and how they feel.

We are delighted to welcome Candice onto the show this week to talk about their writing and the inspirations behind Break This House.

This episode is sponsored by Libro.fm. Buy audiobooks while supporting your local bookstore. Libro.fm has a special offer for Bookstacked readers. Get TWO audiobooks for the price of one with your first month of membership when using the code Bookstacked.Click here to get started.

Get in touch …

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Follow the guest and host …

Candice Iloh: @thisiscandiceiloh (Instagram), @candiceiloh (Twitter)
Michael Burns: @themichaelburns (Instagram)

Can we talk about 'Heartstopper'? (Spoilers!) May 13, 2022

Netflix's 'Heartstopper' is taking the YA world by storm — and rightfully so!

The series, based on the popular webcomic-turned-graphic novel by Alice Oseman, is both enlightening and uplifting. The show highlights the love story between Charlie Spring and his classmate Nick Nelson while also diving into their wonderful cast of friends.

This charming show is too good! So the Bookstacked team had to turn on the mics to record a quick episode and geek about all things 'Heartstopper.'

Get in touch …

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Follow the hosts:

Spencer Miller: @SpencerBMiller (Twitter), @yacanadabooks (Instagram)
Eleanor Maher: @words.and.wanderings (Instagram), @words_wanders (Twitter)
Mary Dempsey: @EmKateDee

Long-distance relationships and young romance in YA with Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka ('With and Without You') May 07, 2022

By the time this YA novel begins, Siena and Patrick have already been dating for three years. With college in the near future, Siena is ready to let go and move on — to give herself a chance to grow. But before she can break up with Patrick, he breaks the news that he's moving out of state. Hoping that their relationship will break apart over time, Siena agrees to date long-distance ... which might have her re-thinking her feelings for Patrick altogether.

YA author duo Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka (#Wibbroka) explore the complexities of long-distance dating and young romance in their new YA novel, With and Without You. Being high school sweethearts who survived a long-distance relationship, you could call them experts on the subject!

Wibbroka sits with Chelsea Regan to dive into their latest YA novel in this episode of Bookmarked.

This episode is sponsored by Libro.fm. Buy audiobooks while supporting your local bookstore. Libro.fm has a special offer for Bookstacked readers. Get TWO audiobooks for the price of one with your first month of membership when using the code Bookstacked.Click here to get started.

Get in touch …

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Follow the guests and host …

Emily and Austin: EmilyAndAustinWrite.com
Emily Wibberley: @Wibbs_Ink (Twitter), @wibbs_ink (Instagram)
Austin Siegemund-Broka: @ASiegemundBroka (Twitter), @austins_b (Instagram)
Chelsea Regan: @pluckybookmark (Instagram), @chelsearegan17 (Twitter)

Chronic illness and authenticity with Heather Kamins ('The Moth Girl') Apr 14, 2022

Anna isn't unlike the other girls her age, except for her recent diagnosis: the fictional disease of lepidopsy. Suddenly, the life she once knew begins to drift away — literally. Her disease causes her to physically float, amidst other moth-like symptoms such as craving light. Now Anna is forced to come to terms with her new reality, while still trying to hold onto the life she's always known.

Such is the story found in the new YA novel The Moth Girl by Heather Kamins. Heather drew from her own experience with Lupus to write Anna's story — a story she started writing in 2012. For Heather, staying authentic to the true experiences of chronic illness was front and center of her mind.

Heather joins Bookstacked writer Chelsea Regan to discuss how she approached such an important topic.

This episode is sponsored by Libro.fm. Buy audiobooks while supporting your local bookstore. Libro.fm has a special offer for Bookstacked readers. Get TWO audiobooks for the price of one with your first month of membership when using the code Bookstacked.Click here to get started.

Get in touch …

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Follow the guest and host …

Heather Kamins: HeatherKamins.com, @shakieranthem (Twitter), @shakieranthem (Instagram)
Chelsea Regan: @pluckybookmark (Instagram), @chelsearegan17 (Twitter)

Queer love and boybands with Adib Khorram ('Kiss & Tell') Apr 06, 2022

Author Adib Khorram explores the complexities of being queer in the public eye in his latest YA book, Kiss & Tell. Hunter is a role model for queer teens — a boy band star currently touring North America. But with that stardom comes a lot to juggle, especially when his love life is under the microscope of public pressure.

Adib joins Chelsea Regan to discuss writing his novel and all things boy bands, including the eternal question: NSYNC or Backstreet Boys?

This episode contains an instance of mild swearing.

This episode is sponsored by Libro.fm. Buy audiobooks while supporting your local bookstore. Libro.fm has a special offer for Bookstacked readers. Get TWO audiobooks for the price of one with your first month of membership when using the code Bookstacked.Click here to get started.

Get in touch …

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Follow the guest and host …

Deborah Falaye: AdibKhorram.com, @adibkhorram (Instagram), @adibkhorram (Twitter), @adib.khorram (TikTok)
Chelsea Regan: @pluckybookmark (Instagram), @chelsearegan17 (Twitter)

The power of representation with Deborah Falaye ('Blood Scion') Mar 20, 2022

Deborah Falaye waited years to find a book that represented her culture and identity, but "that never happened," she said. Now she's making it happen.

Bookstacked writers Chelsea Regan and Spencer Miller sit down with Deborah to talk about her fantasy/sci-fi debut, Blood Scion, which follows the harrowing story of fifteen-year-old Sloane, a descendant of the ancient Orisha gods.

Deborah talks about the importance of representation, diversity and her experience entering the YA book community.

This episode is sponsored by Libro.fm. Buy audiobooks while supporting your local bookstore. Libro.fm has a special offer for Bookstacked readers. Get TWO audiobooks for the price of one with your first month of membership when using the code Bookstacked.Click here to get started.

Get in touch …

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Follow the guest and host …

Deborah Falaye: @deborahfalaye (Instagram), @deefalaye (Twitter)
Chelsea Regan: @pluckybookmark (Instagram), @chelsearegan17 (Twitter)
Spencer Miller: @SpencerBMiller (Twitter), @yacanadabooks (Instagram)

Our spring 2022 YA book reads Mar 14, 2022

Are you ready to pack up your heavy coats and scarves? It's time for the weather to warm up, which means we're looking for YA books to read during this springtime season!

The Bookstacked Team shares which books they think are perfect for spring in this panel discussion. We're recommending newer releases as well as some classics, with genres spanning across fantasy, contemporary and even graphic novels.

We want to know what your spring recommendations are too! Drop us a note in the Spotify app and we'll share your recommendations with other listeners. And stay tuned to the end of the episode to catch our first book club pick of the year!

Related Links:

Get in touch …

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Follow the hosts:

Chelsea Regan: @pluckybookmark (Instagram), @chelsearegan17 (Twitter)
Saul Marquez: @SAULMARQ
Spencer Miller: @SpencerBMiller (Twitter), @yacanadabooks (Instagram)
Eleanor Maher: @words.and.wanderings (Instagram)
Mary Dempsey: @EmKateDee (BookTube)

Where crime, court drama and magic meet with Astrid Scholte ('League of Liars') Mar 02, 2022

In League of Liars, 17-year-old Cayder Broduck has sights on becoming a prosecutor. He wants to see illegal magic users punished. What follows is a magical court drama and a process that leaves Cayder rethinking his black and white mindset. Maybe the legal system he knows isn't as clean-cut as he used to believe?

Magical crime. Teenage criminals. Twists and turns!

Astrid Scholte joins us on the podcast to dive into her new YA fantasy novel.

This episode is sponsored by Libro.fm. Buy audiobooks while supporting your local bookstore. Libro.fm has a special offer for Bookstacked readers. Get TWO audiobooks for the price of one with your first month of membership when using the code Bookstacked.Click here to get started.

Get in touch …

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Follow the guest and host …

Astrid Scholte: AstridScholte.com, @AstridScholte (Twitter), @astridscholte (Instagram)
Chelsea Regan: @pluckybookmark (Instagram), @chelsearegan17 (Twitter)

2022 YA book adaptations to keep on your radar Feb 20, 2022

Young adult books are getting something of a renaissance when it comes to film and TV adaptations these days. While the silver screen has seen something of a YA "drought" in recent years, studios are snatching up book rights once again — often for streaming and television — which means there's plenty that should be on your radar!

Bookstacked writer Spencer Miller walks us through some of the YA book adaptations he's looking forward to the most in 2022. There's plenty in the comic and graphic novel space to gush about. And some big titles from Angie Thomas and other popular writers are getting their shot on screen as well.

Which YA book adaptations are you most excited for?

Get in touch …

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Related Links:

Follow the hosts:

Chelsea Regan: @pluckybookmark (Instagram), @chelsearegan17 (Twitter)
Saul Marquez: @SAULMARQ
Spencer Miller: @SpencerBMiller (Twitter), @yacanadabooks (Instagram)

Chasing the Olympic dream with Jennifer Iacopelli ('Finding Her Edge') Feb 14, 2022

Adriana Russo has her eyes set on the Olympics. While that dream is still at least four years away, she's dedicated to ice dancing — a dynamic winter sport where the competition is fierce. But when her skating partner, Brayden, suggests they play up their relationship, a fake-dating plot ensues and threatens to knock Adriana off balance.

Jennifer Iacopelli's novel, Finding Her Edge, is perfect for anyone who loves the world of winter sports and is the perfect novel to pick up if you're chasing those Winter Olympic vibes.

Jennifer joins Chelsea Regan to dive into the ins and outs of writing sports-centric stories and spinning a tale out of the ever-so-classic fake dating trope.

This episode is sponsored by Libro.fm. Buy audiobooks while supporting your local bookstore. Libro.fm has a special offer for Bookstacked readers. Get TWO audiobooks for the price of one with your first month of membership when using the code Bookstacked.Click here to get started.

Get in touch …

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Follow the guest and host …

Jennifer Iacopelli: JenniferIacopelli.com (Website), @jennifercarolyn (Twitter), @jennifercarolyn (Instagram)
Chelsea Regan: @pluckybookmark (Instagram), @chelsearegan17 (Twitter)

Shining a light on the dark corners of history with Ruta Sepetys ('I Must Betray You') Jan 31, 2022

In I Must Betray You, Ruta Sepetys' characters face a dark world of strict obedience. When seventeen-year-old Cristian Florescu is forced to become an informer for the secret police, he risks his life and tries to undermine the dictatorship he lives under. It might sound like another dystopian novel, but this one is set against the backdrop of a real historical period: the dictatorship of Nicolae Ceaușescu.

Ruta Sepetys writes historical fiction. She shares the experience of writing I Must Betray You, and historical fiction in general, on this episode of the podcast.

This episode is sponsored by Libro.fm. Buy audiobooks while supporting your local bookstore. Libro.fm has a special offer for Bookstacked readers. Get TWO audiobooks for the price of one with your first month of membership when using the code Bookstacked.Click here to get started.

Get in touch …

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Follow the guest and host …

Ruta Sepetys: RutaSepetys.com (Website), @RutaSepetys (Twitter), @rutasepetysauthor (Instagram)
Chelsea Regan: @pluckybookmark (Instagram), @chelsearegan17 (Twitter)

Modernizing 'My Fair Lady' with Jennieke Cohen ('My Fine Fellow') Jan 21, 2022

When author Jennieke Cohen sat down to write her new novel, she knew she was going to take inspiration from the classic musical, 'My Fair Lady.' She also knew she wanted to bring the story into the modern age.

Stripping away the misogyny. Crafting British history to make it more inclusive. Adding a gender-swapped twist.

Jennieke gives us insight into how she tackles historical fiction in this episode of the podcast.

This episode is sponsored by Libro.fm. Buy audiobooks while supporting your local bookstore. Libro.fm has a special offer for Bookstacked readers. Get TWO audiobooks for the price of one with your first month of membership when using the code Bookstacked.Click here to get started.

Get in touch …

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Follow the guest and host …

Jennieke Cohen: JenniekeCohen.com, @Jennieke_Cohen (Twitter), @jennieke_cohen (Instagram)
Chelsea Regan: @pluckybookmark (Instagram), @chelsearegan17 (Twitter)

Gender swapped fairytales and combating destiny with Leslie Vedder ('The Bone Spindle') Jan 11, 2022

Fairytale retellings are still going strong in 2022, which is proven by Leslie Vedder's debut, The Bone Spindle. This gender-flipped take on Sleeping Beauty adds so much to the original story readers know and love. From exploring concepts of destiny, to marrying the fairytale genre with exciting elements from favorites like Indiana Jones — this is a YA book to have on your radar this year.

This episode is sponsored by Libro.fm. Buy audiobooks while supporting your local bookstore. Libro.fm has a special offer for Bookstacked readers. Get TWO audiobooks for the price of one with your first month of membership when using the code Bookstacked.Click here to get started.

Get in touch …

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Follow the guest and host …

Leslie Vedder: LeslieVedder.com, @leslievedder (Twitter), @leslie.vedder (Instagram)
Chelsea Regan: @pluckybookmark (Instagram), @chelsearegan17 (Twitter)

Best of 2021 YA Book Recommendations Dec 31, 2021

Happy New Year! It's time to say hello to 2022, but not without a quick retrospective on some of our favorite YA books from 2021.

Join us in this episode as we discuss which YA books from 2021 surprised and delighted us most. We also share some of the upcoming books we can't stop thinking about.

By the way, if you have recommendations for our book club selections next year, let us know! We're looking for books that have been written by authors from underrepresented groups. Check out the links below to reach out.

Get in touch …

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Related Links:

Follow the hosts:

Chelsea Regan: @pluckybookmark (Instagram), @chelsearegan17 (Twitter)
Saul Marquez: @SAULMARQ
Spencer Miller: @SpencerBMiller (Twitter), @yacanadabooks (Instagram)

YA books and activism with Veronica Chambers of The New York Times ('Call and Response') Dec 29, 2021

The summer of 2020 was different. Against the backdrop of the pandemic, millions of individuals from around the world took to the streets to make a statement: Black Lives Matter. In many ways, young adults led the charge.

The history of the Black Lives Matter movement is documented in Call and Response: The Story of Black Lives Matter by Veronica Chambers, an editor at The New York Times. This book is an incredible resource for young readers, teachers, librarians and parents who are looking to better understand the movement and open discussions about the importance of activism.

Veronica joins Saul Marquez and Chelsea Regan to discuss the aims of Call and Response while also diving into how YA books are inspiring a generation of young readers to become activists who are changing the world.

Get in touch …

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Related Links:

Black Surfers Refuse to Be Excluded: ‘I Have a Right to Be on This Wave’ - The New York Times

Follow the guest and hosts …

Veronica Chambers: @vvchambers (Instagram), @vvchambers (Twitter), Author Profile @ The New York Times
Chelsea Regan: @pluckybookmark (Instagram), @chelsearegan17 (Twitter)

Crafting a holiday romance with Tif Marcelo ('The Holiday Switch') Dec 13, 2021

An original romance with a bookish girl in a charming holiday town? Sounds like the perfect winter read.

Author Tif Marcelo joins us for this episode of the podcast to discuss her new novel, The Holiday Switch. There's fangirling, book blogging, a swoony love interest and lots of holiday cheer. You're not going to want to miss this special holiday episode!

This episode is sponsored by Libro.fm. Buy audiobooks while supporting your local bookstore. Libro.fm has a special offer for Bookstacked readers. Get TWO audiobooks for the price of one with your first month of membership when using the code Bookstacked.Click here to get started.

Get in touch …

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Follow the guest and host …

Tif Marcelo: TifMarcelo.com, @tifmarcelo (Instagram)
Chelsea Regan: @pluckybookmark (Instagram), @chelsearegan17 (Twitter)

Book Club: 'Iron Widow' by Xiran Jay Zhao Dec 03, 2021

Are you ready for Bookstacked's final book club discussion of the year?

Xiran Jay Zhao's debut novel, Iron Widow, rocked the YA book world at the beginning of the fall season which gave us plenty of reason to choose it as our third book club pick for 2021. An exciting sci-fi fantasy, this book challenges readers' expectations by adding exciting twists to tired YA tropes while challenging the problematic aspects of today's society, especially where patriarchal systems and misogyny are concerned.

This episode is sponsored by Libro.fm. Buy audiobooks while supporting your local bookstore. Libro.fm has a special offer for Bookstacked readers. Get TWO audiobooks for the price of one with your first month of membership when using the code Bookstacked.Click here to get started.

Related Links:

YA book tropes are lame — but not really

Get In Touch:

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in a future episode!

Follow the hosts:

Saul Marquez: @SAULMARQ
Spencer Miller: @SpencerBMiller (Twitter), @yacanadabooks (Instagram)
Kristy Mauna: @krissssm (Twitter), @krissssm (Instagram)

Meet Adrian, the final Montague sibling, with Mackenzi Lee ('The Nobleman's Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks') Nov 21, 2021

The story that started with Monty's swashbuckling adventure, finally comes to a close, as we meet his little baby brother, all grown up and headed off on a quest of his own. We talk to bestselling author Mackenzi Lee about everything from how she developed her beloved books to how she feels about where she leaves our favorite siblings.

This series finale is both vividly exciting and deeply personal, and we were so excited to get to hear about creating it from this excellent author.

This episode is sponsored by Libro.fm. Buy audiobooks while supporting your local bookstore. Libro.fm has a special offer for Bookstacked readers. Get TWO audiobooks for the price of one with your first month of membership when using the code Bookstacked.Click here to get started.

Get in touch …

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Follow the guest and host …

Mackenzi Lee: http://www.mackenzilee.com/ (website), @themackenzilee (Instagram)
Chelsea Regan: @pluckybookmark (Instagram), @chelsearegan17 (Twitter)

Boys will be held accountable with Carrie McCrossen and Ian McWethy ('Margot Mertz Takes It Down') Nov 14, 2021

This YA detective takes on revenge porn in this debut that's being billed as Veronica Mars meets Moxie!

Carrie McCrossen and Ian McWethy introduce readers to Margot Mertz in their debut YA book, Margot Mertz Takes It Down. Margot is known for hunting down and erasing embarrassing digital content that others don't want online. When Margot discovers a secret revenge porn site, she makes it her mission to "take it down."

The authors join us in this episode to dish out how they brought Margot to life.

Purchase Margot Mertz Takes It Down!

This episode is sponsored by Libro.fm. Buy audiobooks while supporting your local bookstore. Libro.fm has a special offer for Bookstacked readers. Get TWO audiobooks for the price of one with your first month of membership when using the code Bookstacked.Click here to get started.

Get in touch …

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Follow the guest and host …

Margot Mertz: @MargotMertz (Twitter), @margotmertztakesitdown (Instagram)
Carrie McCrossen: @CarrieMcCrossen (Twitter), @misscarrielynne (Instagram)
Ian McWethy: @IanMcWethy (Twitter)
Chelsea Regan: @pluckybookmark (Instagram), @chelsearegan17 (Twitter)

Living with grief and developing film with Kate Sweeney ('Catch the Light') Nov 08, 2021

Kate Sweeney's debut novel, Catch the Light, is a YA contemporary that explores grief and love — and the ways they can change a person. After the death of her father, Marigold and her family move across the country. For Marigold, this means leaving everything she knows behind and starting a new life. How will she reconcile the change?

Memory. Photography. Grief. Love. Kate Sweeney takes us behind the scenes of her novel.

This episode is sponsored by Libro.fm. Buy audiobooks while supporting your local bookstore. Libro.fm has a special offer for Bookstacked readers. Get TWO audiobooks for the price of one with your first month of membership when using the code Bookstacked.Click here to get started.

Get in touch …

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Follow the guest and host …

Kate Sweeney: KateSweeneyWrites.com (Website), @katesweeneywrites (Instagram), @ksweeneywrites (Twitter)
Chelsea Regan: @pluckybookmark (Instagram), @chelsearegan17 (Twitter)

NaNoReeeeeRyeMo Oct 30, 2021

Every year thousands of writers around the world challenge themselves to write a 50,000-word novel in a month. This event, National Novel Writing Month (or NaNoWriMo), is a favorite of ours!

Bookstacked writer Chelsea Regan took on the challenge last year, blogging about her experience for Bookstacked. Fellow team members Michael Burns and Saul Marquez have also attempted the challenge.

We hope you don't mind if we turn our focus to writing instead of reading this month, as we discuss some of the challenges and benefits of participating in NaNoWriMo!

This episode is sponsored by Libro.fm. Buy audiobooks while supporting your local bookstore. Libro.fm has a special offer for Bookstacked readers. Get TWO audiobooks for the price of one with your first month of membership when using the code Bookstacked.Click here to get started.

Related Linkage:

Get in touch …

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Follow the hosts …

Chelsea Regan: @pluckybookmark
Michael Burns: @themichaelburns
Saul Marquez: @SAULMARQ

And our final book club pick of the year is … Oct 26, 2021

We're closing out the year with a final book club pick: Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao.

As with all our book club picks, we're focusing on books that highlight underrepresented authors, characters and issues. We've already read two powerful books in 2021: Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas and Legendborn by Tracy Deonn.

We're excited to continue with this science-fiction YA novel from a debut author.

About Iron Widow:

The boys of Huaxia dream of pairing up with girls to pilot Chrysalises, giant transforming robots that can battle the mecha aliens that lurk beyond the Great Wall. It doesn't matter that the girls often die from the mental strain.

When 18-year-old Zetian offers herself up as a concubine-pilot, it's to assassinate the ace male pilot responsible for her sister's death. But she gets her vengeance in a way nobody expected—she kills him through the psychic link between pilots and emerges from the cockpit unscathed. She is labeled an Iron Widow, a much-feared and much-silenced kind of female pilot who can sacrifice boys to power up Chrysalises instead.

To tame her unnerving yet invaluable mental strength, she is paired up with Li Shimin, the strongest and most controversial male pilot in Huaxia. But now that Zetian has had a taste of power, she will not cower so easily. She will miss no opportunity to leverage their combined might and infamy to survive attempt after attempt on her life, until she can figure out exactly why the pilot system works in its misogynist way—and stop more girls from being sacrificed.

Bringing reality TV to YA with Sarah J. Schmitt ('Where There's a Whisk') Oct 13, 2021

Have you ever wondered what it'd be like to compete in a reality TV show? Sarah J. Schmitt's new release, Where There's a Whisk, introduces readers to Peyton Sinclaire, a young waitress who gets the opportunity of a lifetime when she becomes a competitor of a teen reality TV show. If Peyton wants to win a scholarship to her dream culinary school, she'll need to navigate through harsh judges, aggressive competitors — and even a love triangle.

Sarah J. Schmitt joins Chelsea Regan and takes us behind the scenes of Where There's a Whisk.

Purchase Where There's a Whisk

This episode is sponsored by Libro.fm. Buy audiobooks while supporting your local bookstore. Libro.fm has a special offer for Bookstacked readers. Get TWO audiobooks for the price of one with your first month of membership when using the code Bookstacked.Click here to get started.

Get in touch …

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Follow the guest and host …

Sarah J. Schmitt: SarahJSchmitt.com, @sarahjschmitt (Instagram), @SJSchmitt (Twitter)
Chelsea Regan: @pluckybookmark (Instagram), @chelsearegan17 (Twitter)

Exploring female friendships with Hayley Krischer ('The Falling Girls') Oct 05, 2021

What happens when you fall out of sync with your best friend — the person you've shared everything with? Friendships evolve over time, and Hayley Krischer's latest novel, The Falling Girls, doesn't shy away from this reality. In The Falling Girls, best friends Shade and Jadis drift apart when Shade takes on cheerleading and finds new friendships within the squad. Things only become tenser when one of the cheerleaders dies under mysterious circumstances.

Hayley Krischer joins us to discuss this thriller and her take on writing female friendships.

Purchase The Falling Girls

This episode is sponsored by Libro.fm. Buy audiobooks while supporting your local bookstore. Libro.fm has a special offer for Bookstacked readers. Get TWO audiobooks for the price of one with your first month of membership when using the code Bookstacked.Click here to get started.

Get in touch …

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Follow the guest and host …

Hayley Krischer: HayleyKrischer.net, @hayleykrischer (Instagram), @hayleykrischer (Twitter)
Chelsea Regan: @pluckybookmark (Instagram), @chelsearegan17 (Twitter)

Do audiobooks count as reading? Sep 29, 2021

We're bringing the great debate to our podcast and asking the question, do audiobooks count as reading? Bookstacked writer Michael Burns dived into the history and culture around audiobooks in a recent article, and we decided to dissect it on the show.

When's the best time to listen to audiobooks? Is the audiobook ever better than the book itself? How much of an impact does a narrator have on an audiobook? What audiobook recommendations do we have? There's plenty to discuss in this episode!

This episode is sponsored by Libro.fm. Buy audiobooks while supporting your local bookstore. Libro.fm has a special offer for Bookstacked readers. Get TWO audiobooks for the price of one with your first month of membership when using the code Bookstacked.Click here to get started.

Get in touch …

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Follow the hosts …

Chelsea Regan: @pluckybookmark
Spencer Miller: @yacanadabooks
Michael Burns: @themichaelburns
Saul Marquez: @SAULMARQ

Gender bending in King Arthur’s Court with Robyn Schneider ('The Other Merlin') Sep 20, 2021

Robyn Schneider is best known for her contemporary novels like The Beginning of Everything and Extraordinary Means. Now she's venturing into the realm of young adult fantasy in her latest book, The Other Merlin — a feminist retelling of King Arthur with a couple of twists up its sleeve.

We welcome Robyn to the podcast where she gives us all the details on her newest book and explores what it's like to write in the vein of YA fantasy and King Arthur lore.

Purchase The Other Merlin

This episode is sponsored by Libro.fm. Buy audiobooks while supporting your local bookstore. Libro.fm has a special offer for Bookstacked readers. Get TWO audiobooks for the price of one with your first month of membership when using the code Bookstacked.Click here to get started.

Get in touch …

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Follow the guest and host …

Robyn Schneider: @robynschneider (Instagram), @realrobynschneider (TikTok)
Chelsea Regan: @pluckybookmark (Instagram), @chelsearegan17 (Twitter)

A Conversation with Lemony Snicket ('Poison for Breakfast') Sep 06, 2021

The story of the Baudelaire orphans has been explored in books, a television show and even a movie. While the final pages of A Series of Unfortunate Events were penned years ago, the story of Lemony Snicket continues in his latest book, Poison for Breakfast.

In this episode, Bookstacked writer Chelsea Regan chats with author Daniel Handler—the man behind Lemony Snicket—to dive into his writing approach and the inspiration behind his latest novel.

Purchase Poison for Breakfast

This episode is sponsored by Libro.fm. Buy audiobooks while supporting your local bookstore. Libro.fm has a special offer for Bookstacked readers. Get TWO audiobooks for the price of one with your first month of membership when using the code Bookstacked.Click here to get started.

Get in touch …

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Follow the guest and host …

Daniel Handler: @authordanielhandler (Instagram)
Chelsea Regan: @pluckybookmark (Instagram), @chelsearegan17 (Twitter)

It's time for back to school fall-ish book recommendations Aug 30, 2021

Freshly sharped pencils, old and new faces, sweater weather and — of course — lots and lots of books. It's time to jump into fall, and what better way than with some great reads to dive into?

From old and new releases, there are several books on our mind that strike us as perfect for the season, whether you're actually returning to school or not. This year, we're digging strong female friendships, finding love at university and thrilling mysteries.

This episode is sponsored by Libro.fm. Buy audiobooks while supporting your local bookstore. Libro.fm has a special offer for Bookstacked readers. Get TWO audiobooks for the price of one with your first month of membership when using the code Bookstacked.Click here to get started.

Get in touch …

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Follow the hosts …

Chelsea Regan: @pluckybookmark
Eleanor Maher: @wordsinstars (BookTube)
Mary Dempsey: @EmKateDee (BookTube)

Book Club: 'Legendborn' by Tracy Deonn Aug 04, 2021

Bookmarked's YA Book Club is back, and this time we're venturing headfirst into one of last year's biggest fantasy novels: Legendborn by Tracy Deonn.

Legendborn has been at the top of numerous best-of lists and we're happy to report that the hype is real. This layered story breathes new air into Arthurian lore. With twists and turns at every corner, it's no wonder the book was a hit among the Bookstacked Team.

This episode is sponsored by Libro.fm. Buy audiobooks while supporting your local bookstore. Libro.fm has a special offer for Bookstacked readers. Get TWO audiobooks for the price of one with your first month of membership when using the code Bookstacked.Click here to get started.

Related Links:

REVIEW: ‘Legendborn’ by Tracy Deonn captivated the whole team

Get In Touch:

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in a future episode!

Follow the hosts:

Chelsea Regan: @pluckybookmark
Saul Marquez: @SAULMARQ
Brigitte Herron: @bookandthebone

YA book recs for your Summer TBR Jun 28, 2021

Bust out the sunglasses, beach towels and books!

With summer well underway, we sat down to discuss some of our favorite YA book reads for the season. We hit on new and old titles, discussing why each should be on your TBR (we apologize in advance for adding to it).

This episode is sponsored by Libro.fm. Buy audiobooks while supporting your local bookstore. Libro.fm has a special offer for Bookstacked readers. Get TWO audiobooks for the price of one with your first month of membership when using the code Bookstacked.Click here to get started.

Get in touch …

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Follow the hosts …

Chelsea Regan: @pluckybookmark
Saul Marquez: @SAULMARQ
Spencer Miller: @SpencerBMiller (Instagram)
Brigitte Herron: @bookandthebone

Introducing our Summer YA book club pick Jun 23, 2021

By way of information, we want to announce to our readers and listeners that we are continuing the Bookmarked YA Book Club we started earlier this year!

In February, we read Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas. We posted our status updates on Twitter and Instagram and then got members of the Bookstacked Team together to discuss the book on our podcast, Bookmarked. The podcast will continue as the home of the book club. We've settled on selecting four book club picks every year — one for each season. We missed out on Spring this year, but we're excited to jump into Summer with a new book club pick.

For the month of July, our book club pick is Legendborn by Tracy Deonn.

Here's how it works:

Members of the Bookstacked Team are already reading Legendborn. They'll be sharing their thoughts on the book via social media posts using #BookmarkedYA.
If you want to join our conversations, you can also post on Twitter and Instagram using #BookmarkedYA.
At the end of July, we'll drop a book club discussion episode in the Bookmarked podcast feed. #BookmarkedYA comments and posts from listeners and readers will be incorporated in the discussion (so be sure to post if you want your voice included in the episode!)

We'll see you in July!

About Legendborn:

After her mother dies in an accident, sixteen-year-old Bree Matthews wants nothing to do with her family memories or childhood home. A residential program for bright high schoolers at UNC–Chapel Hill seems like the perfect escape—until Bree witnesses a magical attack her very first night on campus.

A flying demon feeding on human energies.

A secret society of so called “Legendborn” students that hunt the creatures down.

And a mysterious teenage mage who calls himself a “Merlin” and who attempts—and fails—to wipe Bree’s memory of everything she saw.

The mage’s failure unlocks Bree’s own unique magic and a buried memory with a hidden connection: the night her mother died, another Merlin was at the hospital. Now that Bree knows there’s more to her mother’s death than what’s on the police report, she’ll do whatever it takes to find out the truth, even if that means infiltrating the Legendborn as one of their initiates.

She recruits Nick, a self-exiled Legendborn with his own grudge against the group, and their reluctant partnership pulls them deeper into the society’s secrets—and closer to each other. But when the Legendborn reveal themselves as the descendants of King Arthur’s knights and explain that a magical war is coming, Bree has to decide how far she’ll go for the truth and whether she should use her magic to take the society down—or join the fight.

Finding the perfect blend of magic and humor with Natalie Mae ('The Cruelest Mercy') Jun 13, 2021

The Kinder Poison was an unforgettable race across the desert, complete with rival rulers, inventive magic and a very relatable, potential human sacrifice. Now, all the characters you fell in love with are back in the sequel, The Cruelest Mercy.

This episode includes minor spoilers for The Kinder Poison and The Cruelest Mercy!

We talked to Natalie about everything from how she adds humor to the most unlikely situations, to her surprise and delight at the rise of the #TeamKasta movement. Come listen in, as we dive deep into the magic and intrigue of her fantastic fantasy series.

Purchase a copy of The Cruelest Mercy.(http://bit.ly/cruelestmercybookshop)

This episode is sponsored by Libro.fm. Buy audiobooks while supporting your local bookstore. Libro.fm has a special offer for Bookstacked readers. Get TWO audiobooks for the price of one with your first month of membership when using the code Bookstacked.Click here to get started. (http://bit.ly/librofmbkstckd)

Get in touch …

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Record and send us a voice message! (http://bit.ly/bkmrkdvoice)
Follow and talk to us through Twitter! (http://bit.ly/bkmrkdtwttr)
Send us an old-fashioned email! (http://bit.ly/bkmrkdemail)

Follow the guest and host …

Natalie Mae: @bynataliemae (Instagram), nataliemaebooks.com (Website)
Chelsea Regan: @pluckybookmark (Instagram), @chelsearegan17 (Twitter)

I'd like you to meet my fake girlfriend — with Misa Sugiura ('Love and Other Natural Disasters') Jun 06, 2021

Misa Sugiura's new novel Love and Other Natural Disasters isn't just a great twist on the fake dating trope, it's also a great novel to kick off Pride Month. Misa joins us for a bonus episode of Bookmarked to talk about her new novel and how she's offering a refreshing twist on the YA book rom-com.

Purchase a copy of Love and Other Natural Disasters.(http://bit.ly/laondbookshop)

This episode is sponsored by Libro.fm. Buy audiobooks while supporting your local bookstore. Libro.fm has a special offer for Bookstacked readers. Get TWO audiobooks for the price of one with your first month of membership when using the code Bookstacked.Click here to get started. (http://bit.ly/librofmbkstckd)

Get in touch …

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Record and send us a voice message! (http://bit.ly/bkmrkdvoice)
Follow and talk to us through Twitter! (http://bit.ly/bkmrkdtwttr)
Send us an old-fashioned email! (http://bit.ly/bkmrkdemail)

Follow the hosts …

Misa Sugiura: MisaSugiura.com (Website), @misallaneous1 (Twitter)
Chelsea Regan: @pluckybookmark (Instagram)

Is Netflix's 'Shadow and Bone' better than the book? (Shadow and Bone Review) May 20, 2021

Netflix's adaptation of 'Shadow and Bone' might be one of those rare occasions where the show turned out to be better than the book. *GASP!* We know, we know — it's blasphemy! But we still appreciated many of the changes to the source material, especially when those changes mean more screen time for our favorite Crows.

In this super-packed episode, we unravel all our feelings about 'Shadow and Bone.'

This episode is sponsored by Libro.fm. Buy audiobooks while supporting your local bookstore. Libro.fm has a special offer for Bookstacked readers. Get TWO audiobooks for the price of one with your first month of membership when using the code Bookstacked.Click here to get started. (bookstacked.com/librofm)

Related Links:

Kristy sits down with author Joan He to discuss The Ones We're Meant to Find
A Guide to the Grishaverse
10 Years: Remembering Veronica Roth's Divergent
Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard is very good
Some Twitter threads that dive deeper into the problematic aspects of the show's racial commentary: Thread 1, Thread 2, Thread 3

Get in touch …

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Follow the hosts …

Saul Marquez: @SAULMARQ
Britani Overman: @mrsbs713
Chelsea Regan: @pluckybookmark
Spencer Miller: @SpencerBMiller (Instagram)
Kristy Mauna: @krissssm

YA dystopia and climate change with Joan He ('The Ones We're Meant to Find') Apr 30, 2021

This episode is sponsored by Libro.fm. Buy audiobooks while supporting your local bookstore. Libro.fm has a special offer for Bookstacked readers. Get TWO audiobooks for the price of one with your first month of membership when using the code Bookstacked. Click here to get started.

Joan He's captivating novel, The Ones We're Meant to Find, is a story of sisters against the backdrop of a world shaped and transformed by climate change. The book, which releases May 4, is already one of the top selections in YA this year. We're super excited to welcome author Joan He to the podcast to discuss the ins and outs of her captivating book.

PURCHASE The Ones We're Meant to Find

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Follow the guest and host ...

Joan He: Twitter, Instagram, Website
Kristy Mauna: Twitter, Instagram

Rebellion, romance and dragon riding with Rosaria Munda ('Flamefall') Mar 19, 2021

SPOILER WARNING: This episode includes minor spoilers for 'Fireborne' and 'Flamefall'!

In 2019, Fireborne introduced us to Lee and Annie, two young dragon riders struggling to come to terms with their pasts as they competed to see who would lead their newly rebuilt society.

Now, their story continues in Flamefall, where the political intrigue gets messier, the alliances become murkier and a brand new group of riders flies off the page. This is the book Fireborne fans have been waiting for and it does not disappoint.

Come listen in, as we talk to author Rosaria Munda about expanding her world, building complicated moral dilemmas and plotting the course for her incredible cast of characters.

Get in touch …

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Follow the guest and host …

Rosaria Munda: @RosariaMunda (Website)
Chelsea Regan: @pluckybookmark

Book Club: 'Concrete Rose' by Angie Thomas Feb 26, 2021

Concrete Rose is Bookstacked's first YA book club pick — and we all agree it was a good one. Angie Thomas' Concrete Rose is an emotional journey that packs a punch. It's a relevant and needed book in today's world, one that further explores what it means to be Black in America while also being so relatable to absolutely anyone who picks it up.

In this episode of the podcast, we sit down to discuss what's sure to be one of our favorite books of the year.

Related Links:

Get In Touch:

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in a future episode!

Follow the hosts:

Saul Marquez: @SAULMARQ
Michael Burns: @_michaelburns
Chelsea Regan: @pluckybookmark
Spencer Miller: @SpencerBMiller (Instagram)
Britani Overman: @mrsbs713
Eleanor Maher: @wordsinstars (BookTube)

Introducing the Bookmarked YA Book Club Jan 12, 2021

We’re excited to announce the launch of the Bookmarked YA Book Club, which will be a new addition to our flagship podcast, Bookmarked.

The Bookstacked Team already meets monthly to discuss the bookish life alongside the latest news and updates in YA as part of our podcast. We figured we should throw some actual reading into the mix!

Our book club selection is Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

Here's How It Works

The Bookstacked Team will be discussing the book on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #BookmarkedYA — you're welcome to join us by using this hashtag!
In about month, we'll release a special episode discussing the book. Posts made using the #BookmarkedYA hashtag will be featured in the show!

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in a future episode!

The biggest YA book takeaways from 2020 Dec 31, 2020

There's a lot to say about 2020. Like every other industry, publishing wasn't spared from the pandemic. Readers and authors around the world reckoned with the current events that shaped our lives.

As we say goodbye to 2020, we look back at some of the biggest changes and themes we saw in YA books and publishing as a whole. One thing is for certain: things definitely changed this year.

Support Us: You can support our show and website when you buy your YA books from our Bookshop storefront.

In this episode:

Thank you for the kind reviews and comments we've received in recent months!
Are we seeing less YA book movie adaptations? Are television adaptations the new endgame?
Book marketing has really transformed this year. There are some upsides and downsides.
Authors seem more accessible to international readers.
This was a tough year for anyone who loved BookCon and BookExpo. Will we ever see book conventions like these again?
Readers have been holding authors and publishers accountable — but that was even more true this year.
Everyone should reflect on the books they choose to promote and give prominence to.

Related Links:

Get In Touch:

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in a future episode!

Follow the hosts:

Saul Marquez: @SAULMARQ
Chelsea Regan: @ChelseaRegan17
Spencer Miller: @SpencerBMiller (Instagram)
Mary Dempsey: @EmKateDee (BookTube)

Retelling Cinderella ... but with Quidditch, with Anna Meriano ('This is How We Fly') Dec 11, 2020

Quidditch is a real thing ... sort of. It might not be the magical experience many know, but athletes across the world have transformed the once-fictional activity into a real and authentic sport. It's behind that backdrop that author Anna Meriano has penned her young adult novel, This Is How We Fly.

Meriano sits down with Bookstacked writer Chelsea Regan to discuss her new book in this special bonus episode of the podcast. There's lots of talk about Quidditch (including how the Harry Potter fandom has evolved beyond J.K. Rowling) as well as the importance of self-discovery in YA and themes of gender inequality and identity.

Buy It: This Is How We Fly hits shelves Dec. 15, 2020. If you're interested in purchasing the book, consider stopping by our Bookshop storefront, where you can buy a copy while supporting indie bookstores and our website.

Click here for more information about Anna's virtual book launch.

Get in touch …

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Follow the hosts …

Anna Meriano: @AnnaMisboring (Website)
Chelsea Regan: @ChelseaRegan17

'Midnight Sun' — the good and the bad (SPOILERS!) Oct 28, 2020

After so many incredibly long years of waiting (seriously, if you don't know the history behind this book, you need to read up on it), Twihards have finally consumed Stephenie Meyer's Midnight Sun — and we're finally up to talking about it on this podcast.

The new Twilight novel offers new perspectives on many of Meyer's iconic characters, most of all Edward Cullen. In this episode of the podcast, we share our thoughts on Midnight Sun and talk about the good and the bad that's come from Twilight since its publication 15 years ago.

SPOILERS AHEAD!

Bookstacked is donating 100% of its podcast ad earnings from the months of September and October to the Move to Higher Ground campaign in support of the Quileute tribe. Click here to learn how you can help.

In this episode:

We say hi to Chelsea Regan, who joins us for the first time on the show!
Michael didn't finish reading the book ... We ask him why.
Midnight Sun completely changed the way we see Bella Swan.
Is Edward too uppity when it comes to the mortals in this book?
Should Stephenie Meyer have tried to rectify some of the mistakes she's made regarding the Quileute tribe?
Let's not forget: Twilight helped pave the way for today's YA.

Related Reading:

Brigitte's Review: 'Midnight Sun' by Stephenie Meyer is a hit of Nostalgia
Michael's article: 'Twilight' was published 15 years ago. No, it wasn't the best book ever written — but that's OK.

Get In Touch:

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in a future episode!

Follow the hosts:

Saul Marquez: @SAULMARQ
Michael Burns: @_michaelburns
Brigitte Herron: @bookandthebone
Chelsea Regan: @ChelseaRegan17

Fierce feminism with author Sarah Henning (‘The Princess Will Save You’) Jul 10, 2020

Why does the prince always save the princess? That's the question author Sarah Henning asked herself when she penned her latest novel, The Princess Will Save You, a story that turns the tired damsel-in-distress trope on its head.

We spoke with Sarah about her new book as well as her approach to feminism in YA. She even shared a bit about her career as a journalist!

The Princess Will Save You is now available in bookstores. Purchase a copy!

Get in touch …

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Follow the hosts …

Sarah Henning: @shhenning (Twitter), sarahhenningwrites.com
Eleanor Maher: @wordsinstars (BookTube)

'The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes' — let's discuss Jun 23, 2020

Everyone's been talking about it — and now we can too! The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes kicked off the summer in YA books. The reception has been mostly mixed throughout the community, but we were surprised to find that most of us enjoyed it in some way! While it's certainly very different from the previous Hunger Games books, the story of Coriolanus Snow has a lot to offer and teach us.

As part of our initiative to do more, we're donating 100% of our ad earnings from the month of June to the Trevor Project. We donated 100% of our earnings from May to Black Lives Matter. Learn more about why here.

In this episode:

Is The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes too long of a book?
What kind of origin story did Suzanne Collins give us?
We look at nature vs. nurture.
Does Coriolanus ever really love Lucy Gray?
It's hard to understate Lucy Gray's impact.
Are the games better in the earlier days or during Katniss' days?
Do all the connections to the Hunger Games trilogy ruin the original books?
Sejanus definitely couldn't have survived during the age of Katniss.

Related Reading:

Get In Touch:

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in a future episode!

Follow the hosts:

Saul Marquez: @SAULMARQ
Britani Overman: @Bri_tani92
Michael Burns: @_michaelburns
Spencer Miller: @SpencerBMiller
Eleanor Maher: @wordsinstars (BookTube)

Bookmarked is brought to you by Audible.com! You can get a FREE audiobook when you sign up for a 30-day free trial membership. Click here for more info!

We freak out about 'Midnight Sun' and Percy Jackson on Disney Plus May 22, 2020

You can go ahead and say it: it's a great time to be a YA fan ... especially if you have a longing for nostalgic days.

Two massive news stories dropped in May: Stephenie Meyer is releasing Midnight Sun (finally!) and Rick Riordan has somehow convinced the "powers-that-be" (aka Disney Plus) to adapt the Percy Jackson novels as a TV show.

Naturally, we had to sit down and discuss the new developments in this impromptu Bookmarked bonus episode!

Note: Our promised Harry Potter discussion is still coming. Look for it in your feeds next week!

Get in Touch …

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Bookmarked is brought to you by Audible.com! You can get a FREE audiobook when you sign up for a 30-day free trial membership. Click here for more info!

Why 'Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes' has some of us worried May 14, 2020

There's been so much hype leading up to Suzanne Collins' Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes — but has a lot of the hype already died down?

Since the revelations about President Snow have hit the web, many fans are unsure about their feelings toward the upcoming Hunger Games prequel. Browsing the social media channels, many just don't seem eager to see President Snow cast as a hero.

We talk about our feelings toward the book and the controversy in this quick Bookmarked bonus episode!

Related Linkage:

Is the Hunger Games prequel doomed to be the next ‘Joker’?

Follow us on our brand new Twitter account: @BookmarkedYA

Get in Touch …

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Bookmarked is brought to you by Audible.com! You can get a FREE audiobook when you sign up for a 30-day free trial membership. Click here for more info!

Episode Produced by Michael Burns

Let's talk about adults reading YA Apr 23, 2020

While it's sometimes a touchy subject, we can all at least agree that adults have a massive impact on how YA is written and discussed. All of us at Bookstacked started reading YA books as teenagers but now that we're adults, we ask ourselves why we're still reading YA? In this episode, we dive into the good and the bad when it comes to adults reading YA.

In this episode:

So why are so many adults reading YA anyway?
Most of us started reading YA when we were teenagers. What's kept us tied to YA books after all these years?
Does the fact that so many adults read YA ruin reading for teens?
Where does New Adult fit into all of this?
Could New Adult be the solution to some of the confusion around YA?
We discuss how some young adult authors approach writing adult fiction.
Let’s make the case FOR adults reading YA!

Related Reading:

Get In Touch:

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in a future episode!

Follow the hosts:

Saul Marquez: @SAULMARQ
Mary Dempsey: @EmKateDee (BookTube)
Spencer Miller: @SpencerBMiller
Eleanor Maher: @wordsinstars (Bookstagram)

Bookmarked is brought to you by Audible.com! You can get a FREE audiobook when you sign up for a 30-day free trial membership. Click here for more info!

Nora Shalaway Carpenter on writing mental health in YA Mar 20, 2020

Nora Shalaway Carpenter, author of the Kirkus starred YA debut The Edge of Anything, joins us this week to talk about her book, her experiences, and the struggles faced by those experiencing issues with mental health. We also talk about the importance of friendships and of having people around who you can turn to for help.

In this episode …

Michael takes over hosting duties, but don’t worry, it’s only for this week!
Nora shares some frightening statistics about mental health in teens.
We’d love to see more sports in YA books.
Do close friendships get lost in the middle of young adults looking for The One?
What’s wrong with boys reading books about girls?
Look out for Nora’s next project, a mixed-genre anthology about rural America!
We get all Marvel Cinematic Universe with our credits…

We’d like to once again sincerely thank Nora for coming onto the show to talk so openly and honestly about some of her struggles, and to talk about The Edge of Anything. If anyone feels like they may need to seek out help, or for anyone looking to research more into ways that they can be the help someone might need, links to all of the resources Nora mentioned are listed below.

International OCD Foundation
The Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator For Kids & Teens
Treatment Referral Helpline of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): 1800-662-HELP
The National Alliance on Mental Illness
Anxiety and Depression Association of America
Beyond OCD
Mind (UK)

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Follow Us:

Michael Burns: @_michaelburns
Nora Shalaway Carpenter: @norawritesbooks (Twitter), @noracarpenterwrites (Instagram), noracarpenterwrites.com

The biggest young adult book takeaways from the last decade Mar 01, 2020

A decade has closed on YA. Recent years saw young adult books grow in leaps and bounds. In our latest episode, we explore some of the ways YA books surprised us. We also talk about what we think YA has in store for us in the next 10 years.

In this episode ...

We're changing the format of the show (again)
What were some of the biggest surprises from the last decade?
Is it just us or was nostalgia huge?
Were there too many reboots?
The past decade saw the rise and fall off the big YA blockbusters
Do some genres stand the test of time?
Politics took a front seat
What are our predictions for the next decade?
Should vampires make a comeback?
Where does diversity fit into all of this?

Get in touch ...

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Follow the hosts ...

Saul Marquez: @SAULMARQ
Michael Burns: @_michaelburns
Mary Dempsey: @EmKateDee (BookTube)
Spencer Miller: @SpencerBMiller

Bookmarked is brought to you by Audible.com! You can get a FREE audiobook when you sign up for a 30-day free trial membership. Click here for more info!

When you dislike (but actually love) romance in YA books Feb 14, 2020

Ok, real talk: Romance in YA isn't great ... but actually it is.

In our first bonus podcast episode ever, we sit down in the spirit of Valentines to hash out our feelings about romance in YA books! We talk what doesn't work but also the romantic tropes we absolutely adore and love.

This one's for all of you romantics out there!

Follow us on our brand new Twitter account: @BookmarkedYA

Get in Touch ...

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Bookmarked is brought to you by Audible.com! You can get a FREE audiobook when you sign up for a 30-day free trial membership. Click here for more info!

2019 End of the Year Book Tag! Jan 06, 2020

2019 has come and gone which means we’re in total reflection mode in this episode of the podcast. We talk about our favorite reads from 2019, the state of YA adaptations and also what we have to look forward to in 2020!

Follow us on our brand new Twitter account: @BookmarkedYA

First thing’s first: We’ve been gone for a while but hope to get back into the swing of things this year!
Luna Lovegood gave Saul a haircut (sort of).
We welcome Spencer to the podcast!
Michael is brave enough to begin The Wheel of Time series and we cheer him on.
We reminisce about Stephenie Meyer’s The Host and … Twilight.
Saul sings praises for The Rise of Kyoshi.
What were the big YA movie and TV adaptations of 2019?
TV was big for books last year. But is television the best medium for adaptations?
We anticipate the Hunger Games prequel to big a massive event this year!

Get In Touch…

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Bookmarked is brought to you by Audible.com! You can get a FREE audiobook when you sign up for a 30-day free trial membership. Click here for more info!

Everything we know about The Hunger Games prequel Jul 12, 2019

A Hunger Games prequel? It's happening! And naturally, we've got a lot to say about it. We dive into everything we know about Suzanne Collins' upcoming prequel and explore a couple of theories circulating the YA book community. We also take a look at what this means for the series as a whole and how Lionsgate may be in the background pulling some of the strings.

Follow us on our brand new Twitter account: @BookmarkedYA

Also, if you're wanting to listen to that Writing Excuses episode suggested by Saul, you can check it out here.

In this episode...

It's possible that we have psychic powers.
Wasn't Suzanne Collins done writing The Hunger Games? A look back at what she's said in the past.
Why has Suzanne Collins decided to return to Panem?
It looks like we'll be exploring the reconstruction period of Panem.
How similar will this world be to the world Katniss lives in?
IS THIS A MAGS BOOK!? We review the evidence.
We're crossing our fingers and hoping that this stays a single book.
What role did Lionsgate play in making this happen?
We remember that there's a Hunger Games theme park.
It sounds like there's going to be a Hunger Games prequel movie too.

In the headlines...

Get In Touch…

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Bookmarked is brought to you by Audible.com! You can get a FREE audiobook when you sign up for a 30-day free trial membership. Click here for more info!

Is 'Eleanor & Park' racist? And more YA book news Jun 12, 2019

Controversy struck the YA community with the announcement of the 'Eleanor & Park' movie, based on the popular novel by Rainbow Rowell. Does the book perpetuate harmful and racist stereotypes and ideas? We dive into the discussion surrounding the announcement in this latest episode while also asking how authors should approach inclusivity in YA books.

Follow us on our brand new Twitter account: @BookmarkedYA

In this episode...

We're making changes to our show and we want your feedback!
We've got a mini book review of Broken Throne by Victoria Aveyard in this month's segment of 'What Are You Reading?'
Would a book like Eleanor & Park be publishable today?
Where did Rainbow Rowell go wrong?
Dear authors: please research!
What books get inclusivity and representation right?
A friendly reminder: Let's try to be patient with each other.

In the headlines...

Get In Touch...

Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode!

Bookmarked is brought to you by Audible.com! You can get a FREE audiobook when you sign up for a 30-day free trial membership. Click here for more info!

If you like the show, please RATE AND REVIEW it on Apple Podcasts!

How to thrive in YA through indie publishing with bestselling author Aileen Erin Apr 30, 2019

Independent publishing is changing the game and people like USA Today bestselling author Aileen Erin are part of that wave. In this episode, Aileen -- who writes fantasy and sci-fi YA novels -- sits down with Michael and Saul to share her experiences with independent publishing and how the freedom to be her own publisher has allowed her to thrive in the YA book market. She also talks about the fluctuating trends in the market and how they can both be a blessing and a curse for authors.

In this episode...

Aileen shares her story about how she got published.
Do YA trends make it hard for some authors to get their books published -- or can they help?
There's a lot to juggle when it comes to independent publishing. How does one balance everything?
What are some of the upsides of independent publishing?
Aileen shares her tips for being successful in indie publishing.
We spend a little time talking about writing MFA's.

Learn more about Aileen Erin:

Check out our new podcast, About the Author with Saul Marquez!

Bookmarked is brought to you by Audible.com! You can get a FREE audiobook when you sign up for a 30-day free trial membership. Click here for more info!

If you like the show, please RATE AND REVIEW it on Apple Podcasts!

Do spin-offs add to or ruin a good book series? Mar 20, 2019

It seems to be that just about every book series is getting a spin-off these days -- that includes modern classics like Harry Potter all the way down to YA mega franchises like the Shadowhunters Chronicles. We love some of them. Others make us upset. And we thought it'd be relevant to discuss the dangers (and upsides) of adding too much to an already established world. Keep in mind, we recorded this episode before the J.K. Rowling controversy hit the internet earlier this week. It just goes to show you that this is on everyone's mind.

In this episode...

Yay or nay to spin-offs? What's everyone's reaction to when spin-offs are announced?
Are spin-offs ever necessary? We talk Cassandra Clare's Shadowhunters Chronicles.
Is there a certain budget when it comes to spin-offs? Can a writer add too much?
Where does J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World fit into all this?

In the headlines...

There's a new Harry Potter mobile game coming from the makers of Pokémon Go.
We've got our first look at the illustrated edition of Goblet of Fire!
We're learning more and more about Amazon's 'Lord of the Rings'
Shadowhunters is on its final season.
Children of Blood and Bone's sequel is getting a later release date.

Bookmarked is brought to you by Audible.com! You can get a FREE audiobook when you sign up for a 30-day free trial membership. (Hint: It might help you with that reader burnout you’re feeling!) Click here for more info!

How do you overcome reader burnout? Feb 28, 2019

Do you ever feel like you're in a reading slump? It's the sort of terrible feeling where you want to read books but it feels like homework or doing chores. It sucks and we suspect it's something a lot of people in the YA community feel from time to time -- we know we do! So what causes reader burnout and how do we combat it? We dive into that discussion in this month's episode of Bookmarked. We've also got some big news developments to cover, including some not-so-great Fantastic Beasts 3 news and some exciting updates in the world of book-to-film adaptations!

Want to join the Bookstacked Team? We’re looking for new voices to contribute to our website. We have openings in news, feature articles and book reviews. Click here for more details.

In this episode...

Angie Thomas's new book. On the Come Up, is out! Michael's reading it and shares his thoughts.
We discuss Reading/Book burnout in this episode and how we've all felt it.
Does Goodreads actually make it worse?
Michael has a Goodreads Challenge hack that might help with reader burnout.
Is part of the problem that YA repeats itself too much?
So, what's the solution to book burnout?
Michael gives us his quick take on 'Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald'.
Production on Fantastic Beasts 3 has been delayed. Is this a troubling sign for Potterheads?
Netflix bought Grishaverse...
We're getting new books from Marie Lu and Veronica Roth!
YallWest and BookExpo are coming up and we are SO EXCITED.

Bookmarked is brought to you by Audible.com! You can get a FREE audiobook when you sign up for a 30-day free trial membership. (Hint: It might help you with that reader burnout you're feeling!) Click here for more info!

The shocking and polarizing 'Crimes of Grindelwald' (Crimes of Grindelwald Review) Dec 31, 2018

There’s a lot to be said about this movie and we’re diving right in! The twists and turns, as well as that shocking ending, has made this a polarizing film for fans of J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World. As far as the Bookstacked podcast crew is concerned, most of us loved it — but one of us hated it.

In this episode…

Saul decides that ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ is better than ‘Crimes of Grindelwald.’
Did Newt have a proper character arc in this movie?
What role will the blood pact play in future movies?
We all agree: the romance was great (and hilarious!)
Tina and Newt make a good match!
Jude Law as Dumbledore — yay or nay?
We read some listener mail!
Did Rita Skeeter reveal the end of the Fantastic Beasts series in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows?
After everything that led up to this movie — how do we feel about Johnny Depp as Grindelwald?
We’re here for Jacob’s comedic relief.
Queenie elicited some strong emotions.
Were some of the World War II references inappropriate?
We finally got Leta Lestrange — did we like how her character was handled?
Is Credence really a Dumbledore?
Nifflers. ‘Nuff said.

Check out our new podcast, About the Author with Saul Marquez!

Bookmarked is brought to you by Audible.com! You can get a FREE audiobook (including any of Lexa’s books) when you sign up for a 30-day free trial membership. Click here for more info!

If you like the show, please RATE AND REVIEW it on Apple Podcasts!

Editor's Note: J.K. Rowling's film series prominently stars actor Johnny Depp who was accused of domestic violence by his ex-wife. We feel it's important for our readers to be aware of these allegations. For more information on how Bookstacked covers alleged abusers in the publishing and film industry, please click here.

Why 'The Hate U Give' movie and book are important today (Hate U Give Movie Review) Nov 10, 2018

Angie Thomas's The Hate U Give has been a powerhouse from the moment of its publication and in many ways, it's marked a significant change in the books we see being published today. And the passion behind Hate U Give only seems to keep growing, especially now that its movie adaptation has hit theaters. In this episode, we look at the movie and how it stacks up to the book. We also talk about why the book and movie have struck a chord with so many readers.

THIS EPISODE CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR BOTH THE BOOK AND MOVIE.

Want to join the Bookstacked Team? We're looking for new voices to contribute to our website. We have openings in news, feature articles and book reviews. Click here for more details.

In this episode...

Our contact form works again! If you were having trouble, check back on the site. It should be working now.
We're looking for new people to join our team!
It was harder than we thought to find a screening of 'The Hate U Give'. Were there many showings in your area?
There's something incredibly authentic about Angie Thomas's characters.
Does 'The Hate U Give' deserve an Oscar?
Let's all agree that Amandla Stenberg is perfect, ok?
There were some 'Hate U Give' movie vs book changes.
Should they have changed the ending? Why should they have stayed in Garden Heights?
Is it just us our have the book-to-movie adaptations been really good this year?
We talk about why The Hate U Give has been so significant for the YA book industry and what it's come to mean for so many people.
We love the Harry Potter references in The Hate U Give!

Check out our new podcast, About the Author with Saul Marquez!

Bookmarked is brought to you by Audible.com! You can get a FREE audiobook (including any of Lexa’s books) when you sign up for a 30-day free trial membership. Click here for more info!

If you like the show, please RATE AND REVIEW it on Apple Podcasts!

Lexa Hillyer on YA Books and Publishing (Author Interview) Sep 23, 2018

The YA book industry has grown and grown over the years -- and YA author Lexa Hillyer has been along for the ride since 2003! An editor and book entrepreneur, Lexa's knowledge of the industry is expansive and insightful. We had the opportunity to pick her brain about the behind-the-scenes happenings of the books we love to read. In this episode, Lexa shares how she got her start in the industry, how she became a YA author herself and the state of YA today.

In this episode...

We learn some of the ins and outs of the publishing world from Lexa.
Lexa talks about meeting author Lauren Oliver and how they started a business together.
We discuss the roles of an editor in the creative process behind book writing and publishing.
Lexa shares her experiences writing YA books and we talk about the importance of female relationships.
Lexa shares how young adult books have broken barriers.
We discuss the current state of YA and where it's headed.
Are YA books shifting from fantasy to contemporary?

Learn more about Lexa Hillyer:

Check out our new podcast, About the Author with Saul Marquez!

Bookmarked is brought to you by Audible.com! You can get a FREE audiobook (including any of Lexa's books) when you sign up for a 30-day free trial membership. Click here for more info!

If you like the show, please RATE AND REVIEW it on Apple Podcasts!

Crimes of Grindelwald Trailer Review Aug 09, 2018

There's a brand new Crimes of Grindelwald trailer out -- and we're diving in to learn everything we can about J.K. Rowling's upcoming movie!

In this episode...

A friendly reminder: Don't pirate your books!
The new trailer brings back all the Harry Potter feels!
There are a lot of Harry Potter easter eggs in this trailer.
People blew the whole Dumbledore-Defense Against the Dark Arts thing waaaay out of proportion.
Why does Dumbledore specifically choose Newt to go after Grindelwald?
WHAT IS GRINDELWALD DOING IN THE MIRROR OF ERISED!?! (Okay, we know what he's doing. We're just surprised to see him!)
We talk a bit about Johnny Depp.
We catch our first glimpse of Nicholas Flamel.
We talk the Nagini theory that's been circulating online.
The trailer introduced a lot of new fantastic beasts!
Veronica Roth is writing a new book!
We're excited for The Darkest Minds movie.

Check out our new podcast, About the Author with Saul Marquez!

Bookmarked is brought to you by Audible.com! You can get a FREE audiobook (including any of the Harry Potter books) when you sign up for a 30-day free trial membership. Click here for more info!

If you like the show, please RATE AND REVIEW it on Apple Podcasts!

Book Cons, Shadowhunters Canceled, and Children of Blood and Bone! Jul 01, 2018

It's been a while, but we've been busy! We had the chance to check out YallWest, BookExpo, and BookCon this year. We share and compare our experience with books cons in this episode. We also tackle the latest piece of news: Freeform canceling Shadowhunters. Did anyone expect the show to last this long?

In this episode...

Saul talks about his new podcast, About the Author.
Addie gives us a review of The Harry Potter Studios tour, Butterbeer, and YallWest!
Saul shares his experience at BookExpo and BookCon.
We lament that there aren't more book conventions near us.
Saul somehow got tickets to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway and he gives us his quick review.
We dive into why Shadowhunters was canceled.
Where are all the YA franchises?
The Red Queen series is over -- how was the series as a whole?
Children of Blood and Bone is on the rise!!
There's a new Fantastic Beasts trailer!
The Darkest Minds has a trailer!

Check out our new podcast, About the Author with Saul Marquez!

Bookmarked is brought to you by Audible.com! You can get a FREE audiobook (including any of the Harry Potter books) when you sign up for a 30-day free trial membership. Click here for more info!

If you like the show, please RATE AND REVIEW it on Apple Podcasts!

The Death Cure Movie Review Feb 01, 2018

That's it for Thomas and his friends! The Maze Runner movie trilogy has come to a close and we have a lot of thoughts about the closing chapter, The Death Cure. Saul, Kristy and Michael sit down to discuss what they loved about the movie and also what they felt it was lacking. The ending of the Maze Runner franchise also begs the question: Is this the end of blockbuster YA film adaptations? We discuss it all in this latest episode of Bookmarked.

What to expect in this episode:

This movie is action, action, action!
Did the new Minho storyline work?
What are some of the big differences between the Death Cure movie and the book?
Newt's letter was so much nicer than the note he wrote Thomas in the book.
Would it have been better if Newt survived?
We've gotta talk about that bus.
James Dashner totally has a cameo in the Death Cure movie!
Is the movie lacking substance and meaning? Does it matter?
They made a major change when it comes to Brenda and WCKD.
Was Death Cure what Allegiant was supposed to be?
Does Maze Runner mark the end of YA dystopia films?
We're going to miss the Maze Runner cast. :(

If you like the show, please RATE AND REVIEW it on Apple Podcasts!

The One That Was Really Late Jan 30, 2018

This episode is late (like, really late). It was recorded in November. But rather than trashing the episode, we're releasing it because we had some good discussion. We share our thoughts on the final Maze Runner movie (before its release), our thoughts on Nicholas Flamel in Fantastic Beasts, a Pokemon Go-style Harry Potter game and whether or not the Red Queen movie is still happening. So while it's late, we hope you'll enjoy this episode of Bookmarked!

What to expect in this episode...

We say hello to Bookstacked writer Britani, who's joining the show for the first time!
Does the 'Maze Runner: Death Cure' movie look good?
What's the future of YA movie franchises? It's looking bleak.
Is the Red Queen Movie still happening? We haven't heard anything about the movie for a year.
We share our experiences trying to buy tickets to 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child' in New York City.
Nicholas Flamel is going to be in Fantastic Beasts! What's he up to in this movie?
Apparently, you need to play The Sims to get into a J.K. Rowling movie.
Harry Potter GO!
Nostalgia attack! Remember the old Harry Potter computer games?
What would make a perfect Harry Potter game?
Michael shares his quick thoughts on John Green's Turtles All the Way Down.

Don't miss our Death Cure movie review, coming out in just a couple days!

That Harry Potter Podcast, Part 2 Jul 31, 2017

Harry Potter again? We saw some big developments in the Wizarding World this last month. The folks at Warner Bros. unveiled many new details concerning Fantastic Beasts 2 -- and we're here to dissect and discuss everything we've learned. On top of that, June marked the 20 year anniversary of the release of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the beginning of the Harry Potter series. July marked the 10 year anniversary of the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the end of the Harry Potter series. We reminisce on what Harry Potter has meant to us.

What you'll find in this episode...

Bookstacked writer Alice joins us for this special Wizarding World episode!
Michael is reading Alexandra Bracken's upcoming book, and Addie is deep into baking recipes.
Alice recommends not watching the Outlander television show with your mother.
There was a MASSIVE Fantastic Beasts news dump this last month!
Grindelwald will be making his big escape. What will his goal be in this movie?
Will we be seeing Dumbledore flashbacks in Fantastic Beasts 2?
Saul re-shares his Philosopher's Stone/Fantastic Beasts 2 theory.
We speculate how the magical circus might come into play.
Dumbledore will apparently be tracking Grindelwald down -- why is he reaching out to Newt for help?
How long will Newt stay relevant to the series?
Tina, Queenie, Jacob and Credence are all coming back!
Will we ever see Ilvermorny?
Fantastic Beasts Illustrated editions are on their way!
We share how we discovered Harry Potter, in honor of the 20th anniversary of Philosopher's Stone and the 10th anniversary of Deathly Hallows.
In not-Harry Potter news, John Green announced his next book, Turtles All the Way Down!
We geek out about the 'Ready Player One' trailer.

Related Linkage:

Sarah Dessen on 'Once and For All' and YA Jun 08, 2017

It's a first for Bookmarked! We sit down with New York Times Bestselling author Sarah Dessen to talk about her experience writing her latest book. We've brought on Bookstacked writer Amicha to conduct the interview and talk about Once and For All, writing, and -- of course -- YA!

What to expect in this episode...

Sarah Dessen joins us to talk about her latest novel, Once and For All.
We learn about some of the inspiration behind Sarah's book.
What are some of the challenges of writing 13 novels?
How does Sarah approach some of the darker themes of her novels?
Should YA books explore more of the darker themes behind teenage years?
What role does the "happily ever after" play in YA contemporary romance?
Sarah tells us how YA has changed since she started writing.
We're seeing so much more diversity in YA!
Would Sarah consider writing a book series?
What's next for Sarah? Will she be writing for an older audience in the future?

About Sarah Dessen: Sarah Dessen is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of over a dozen novels for teens, which have received numerous awards and rave reviews. Her books have been published in over thirty countries and have sold millions of copies worldwide. She is the recipient of the 2017 Margaret A. Edwards Award from the American Library Association for outstanding contribution to young adult literature for her novels: Keeping the Moon, Dreamland, This Lullaby, The Truth about Forever, Just Listen, Along for the Ride, and What Happened to Goodbye. An NC native, she currently lives in Chapel Hill with her family. (Courtesy: Sarah Dessen)

About Once and For All: Is it really better to have loved and lost? Louna’s summer job is to help brides plan their perfect day, even though she stopped believing in happily-ever-after when her first love ended tragically. But charming girl-magnet Ambrose isn’t about to be discouraged now that he’s met the one he really wants. Maybe Louna’s second chance is standing right in front of her. Sarah Dessen’s many fans will adore this latest novel, a richly satisfying, enormously entertaining story with humor, romance, and an ending that is so much more than happily-ever-after.

If you like the show, please RATE AND REVIEW it on Apple Podcasts!

YA Books Galore at YallWest! May 05, 2017

It's safe to say that YallWest 2017 was a huge success! The YA book festival, taking place in Santa Monica, CA, was filled with great authors and interesting panels. We had the opportunity to attend the festival, and there's so much good to say about it! We give you our recap of our experience at YallWest, including the authors we did (and didn't) meet as well as some of our favorite highlights from the weekend.

What you'll find in this episode:

YALLWEST does not believe in free tacos (but that's okay).
Saul shares his experience at Fierce Friday and his poor ability to recognize authors.
We share our sad story about trying to meet Veronica Roth at the festival.
Cassandra Clare might have heard us talking about that time Michael threw his book at her...
Lindsay Cummings and other authors talked about writing a book series in a panel Saul attended.
Addie shares her thoughts from the I Ship It: Fandoms panel and shares a funny story from Marie Lu.
Addie gives Saul a lesson in fandom.
Authors talk about the blending of dystopia and reality at the Alt Facts, Alt Futures panel.
Benjamin Alire Sáenz blew us away with his wisdom.
Victoria Aveyard and other authors talk about writing politics.
Alexandra Bracken, Victoria Aveyard and Danielle Paige KILLED it at The Persisters panel.
We discuss our favorite moments from the YALLWEST finale: Smackdown!
Check in on the site for upcoming giveaways!

If you like the show, please RATE AND REVIEW it on Apple Podcasts!

Series of Unfortunate Goodreads Wormholes Mar 18, 2017

We're back -- and spoiler free! Bookmarked is two years old and we're heading into the year looking forward to new books to read and more Divergent drama to tackle. In this episode, we share our thoughts on Netflix's 'A Series of Unfortunate Events' as well as Veronica Roth's latest stories, Carve the Mark and We Can Be Mended.

Saul can't tell time and tells everyone it's our three year anniversary when it's actually our two year anniversary.
Addie is stuck in a never-ending Goodreads wormhole. pls send help.
We talk Netflix's A Series of Unfortunate Events. Was it good? Was it just OK?
Veronica Roth's Carve the Mark hit shelves. It's her first work since Divergent. Did it live up to our expectations?
Prepare for a brief Star Wars tangent. (It's a trap!)
Is Carve the Mark more of a fantasy novel rather than science-fiction?
Addie gives us the rundown on Veronica Roth's We Can Be Mended, the Divergent Epilogue.
In other book releases, Victoria Aveyard's King's Cage is out! We have yet to read it...
In case you're wondering, there will be a Red Queen Book 4! We have all the details in the links below.
Random Twilight tangent. (Sorry!)
We reach out #Divergentgate Update!
The actors have officially dropped out of 'Ascendant'. Nobody's surprised.
Where does Divergent go next? Will Lionsgate drop the project?
There aren't many 2017 YA book to movie adaptations and we're kind of sad about it.
Things to look forward to this year: Netflix's 'Thirteen Reasons Why', Fantastic Beasts audiobook, YallWest and BookCon!

If you like the show, please RATE AND REVIEW it on iTunes!

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Review Nov 22, 2016

Fantastic Beasts! After years of waiting, we've finally seen it! J.K. Rowling's 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' roared into theaters this last weekend and we sat down to talk about all the amazingness in our 18th episode. Join us as we share our favorite characters, beasts and scenes in the film. We also hit on some of the things the movie could have done better and we -- of course -- throw a bit of speculation in as well. After the many months of anticipation, there's no denying it: this is one episode we looked forward to recording for a very long time!

In this episode...

We jump right into the Fantastic Beasts discussion!
Did we like the movie? Did we love the movie?
Everyone in Arizona loves Frank the Thunderbird.
Saul is once again the downer of the show.
Was Newt the Hufflepuff hero the world needed?
We also love Credence, Queenie and Jacob!
Some people haven't reacted to Tina very well, but we think she's great!
THE NIFFLER!!
Dat suitcase tho.
Some things weren't very well developed.
We get to that big reveal at the end. Addie wasn't very happy.
We share Bookstacked writers Ally's and Mary's comments on the film!
We quickly list some theories and developments about future films.
How will Jacob get his memories back in Fantastic Beasts 2? We might have an idea...

If you like the show, please RATE AND REVIEW it on iTunes!

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Pre-Show! Nov 11, 2016

We're a week away from J.K. Rowling's 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' and we are EXCITED! (Also a bit nervous, but mostly excited). With our strong love of Harry Potter, we couldn't help but sit down and discuss our feelings leading up to next week's big reveal. In this episode we talk about the things we're excited to see, we ask what some of the largest news items could mean for the future of the series and we hearken back to the good old days of Harry Potter speculation.

In this episode...

We open up with What Are You Reading? In doing so we're reminded how hard it is to read books these days.
Saul confesses his book sins.
We're all very excited for the new movie, but we're admittedly a little nervous...
Addie gives us a run down on the Fantastic Beasts fan event that she covered on the site!
Addie also got to see the first 10 minutes of the film.
The Fantastic Beasts series will be made of five films. Is this a good or a bad thing? What does it mean?
It sounds like Grindelwald is going to be the big bad villain of this series.
We talk about the Johnny Depp controversy.
We also learned that 'Fantastic Beasts 2' will be taking place in Paris, France!
Will the movies be taking place in large cities?
Saul shares his theory about Nicholas Flamel...
Prepare for our next episode where we share our 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' movie review!

If you like the show, please RATE AND REVIEW it on iTunes!

#Divergentgate Oct 22, 2016

It's no secret that we've had a love-hate relationship with the Divergent movies. While fans of the books, we've been sorely disappointed with the last couple of installments in the film franchise, and we let that all out in this episode. A lot has happened since we last discussed Divergent and there appears to be a lot of drama behind the scenes. All of this has left fans wondering if they'll see the conclusion to Tris's story on screen at all?

SPOILER WARNING! We talk details about the Divergent series in this episode, this includes the ending to Allegiant!

In this episode...

We pick up on what we're reading. We all agree that Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom are some of the most beautiful books printed!
We're talking about #Divergentgate!
Addie gives us a very thorough backstory on all the drama surrounding the Divergent movies.
Does Shailene Woodley even want to continue the Divergent series? We have an answer.
Lionsgate's considering a Divergent TV show... Does anyone really want this?
What has the cast said about the drama? Are they planning on moving forward with the series?
Where did it all go wrong? How big of an impact did Robert Schwentke have on the series?
Can we just talk about that stupid box?
Veronica Roth has employed the help of Dumbledore to express her feelings.
In other news: The Throne of Glass series is coming to TV!
Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda has found its movie director!
Disney is launching a Rick Riordan imprint -- and it looks like it's all about diversity!
New books coming out in October: Magnus Chase! Crooked Kingdom! Chamber of Secrets illustrated!

If you like the show, please RATE AND REVIEW it on iTunes!

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Review (Spoilers!) Aug 08, 2016

The eighth Harry Potter story has been released! Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is now open to the public and millions of readers around the world have already devoured and studied the play's script. There's a lot to be said about this installment in the Harry Potter series and we're throwing our hat into the ring! From the experience of reading it to all of its flaws, we talk Cursed Child -- the good, the bad and the ugly -- during this special episode of Bookmarked.

SPOILERS: Be warned, this episode of the podcast is LOADED with spoilers! If you haven't already read the script or seen the play, we advise doing so before listening!

In this episode...

Midnight release parties are pretty cool... when they're cool.
Did we like Cursed Child? We discuss the ratings we'd give it on Goodreads.
Scorpius. Scorpius. Scorpius. Scorpius. SCORPIUS!
Yay for Slytherin representation!
What was up with Rose?
How far removed is Cursed Child from the original books in terms of themes and ideas?
If you're going to join Pokemon Go, be sure to remember "For Voldemort and VALOR!"
Those alternate realities threw us for a loop.
Dad-Ron.
Also, apparently, don't piss of Cedric Diggory.
Did the writers steal the plot from A Very Potter Sequel!?
So... Delphi.
What did we think about Harry and Draco?
Did Cursed Child need to happen?
Was Hagrid dead? #WheresHagrid
Next time on the podcast: #Divergentgate2016

If you like the show, please RATE AND REVIEW it on iTunes!

Fantastic Beasts Trailer! May 06, 2016

(Note: This episode was recorded a few weeks ago! Sorry for taking so long to get it to you! -Saul)

The 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' trailer has dropped and we're BEYOND excited about it! The trailer has us theorizing about what we might see in J.K. Rowling's upcoming film (we feel like we're in 2007 again!) On top of that, we talk Shadowhunters and give our final thoughts on how Season 1 went. Was it everything fans hoped for or was it another dud?

Also, cats.

In this episode...

We get back at "What Are You Reading!?" Addie's choice is very appropriate for the episode...
Confession time: who did and didn't get through Shadowhunters Season 1? (Spoiler: Saul never got past the pilot).
Some of the panel thinks that the Mortal Instruments movie might have been better than the show.
How exactly did Shadowhunters get a second season order? We're shocked!
Michael confesses why he watched the Shadowhunters TV show. *coughpolandbananasBOOKScough*
Which Shadowhunters episodes were the best?
Did Addie, Mary, and Michael convince Saul to watch Shadowhunters?
Mary has to leave early. :(
Michael fills us in on the newest Shadowhunters book, Lady Midnight
Michael's cat nearly falls out the window.
Michael tells us about meeting Cassandra Clare and we ask the important question: What do you say to an author when you meet them?
Eddie Redmayne and J.K. "Rouw-ling"
The Fantastic Beasts trailer brought feels.
We talk briefly about how Fantastic Beasts might tie into J.K. Rowling's 'Magic in North America'
Why is Newt expelled from Hogwarts!? Doesn't the book say he graduates Hogwarts? (We're too scared to ask J.K. Rowling about this.)
We touch on Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and J.K. Rowling's new behind-the-scenes video.
Will it be possible to avoid Cursed Child spoilers?
Addie's cat makes a cameo appearance.

Bookmarked is brought to you by Audible.com! You can get a FREE audiobook of Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queenor Glass Sword when you sign up for a 30-day free trial membership. Click here for more info!

If you like the show, please RATE AND REVIEW it on iTunes!

Allegiant Movie Review Mar 26, 2016

Bookmarked is a YA Book podcast brought to you by Bookstacked.com.

SPOILER WARNING: There are Allegiant Movie AND BOOK spoilers in this episode! You have been warned!

After months of speculation, rumors, trailers, and talk the 'Allegiant' movie finally hit theaters! And was it good? Well, that's what we're talking about in this episode! All in all, the movie left a bad taste in everyone's mouth and it's got us wondering about the final movie in the series, 'Ascendant'.

You might also be interested in:

In this episode...

We've OFFICIALLY reached a full year of podcasting!
To make up for missing our Red Queen podcast, we share our brief thoughts about Victoria Aveyard's Glass Sword.
We give an update on the books we're reading.
Michael couldn't be on the show, but he left us with his thoughts on the movie!
Overall, we weren't very impressed with the movie.
Kristy and Addie enjoyed a number of the actors.
We all agree that Four's action scene was pretty cool.
What was up with those creepy showers?
Where was Matt Damon?
Speaking of Matt Damon, what was up with the Martian landscape?
It felt like they dumbed-down Tris in this movie.
Did the movie split well?
What will 'Ascendant' be about?
Where was Uriah?
That ending scene was... weird.

It's safe to say that we were weirded out by the movie. In fact, we say the word "weird" over 30 times in this episode. We probably used the words "awkward" and "strange" just as many times in this review.

Bookmarked is brought to you by Audible.com! You can get a FREE audiobook of Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen or Glass Sword when you sign up for a 30-day free trial membership. Click here for more info!

If you like the show, please RATE AND REVIEW it on iTunes!

That Harry Potter Podcast Feb 18, 2016

Bookmarked is brought to you by Bookstacked.com.

We've got two GIANT news stories to talk about this month and it kicks off with the increasingly controversial 'Allegiant' and 'Ascendant' movies--just what is going on over there at Summit/Lionsgate?! But even more importantly, Pottermore announced the publication of the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child script! We're ridiculously excited about this and (be warned) once we start talking Potter, we can't stop talking Potter.

What you'll find in this episode:

'Insurgent' and 'Allegiant' director Robert Robert Schwentke is leaving the series!
We ask ourselves why the director's dropping out: does it have to do with fan reaction?
Will fans ultimately accept or be disappointed by the changes in Allegiant and Ascendant?
Addie does some investigative works and reveals the TRUE reason why the director is leaving!
We talk about the big news: HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD!
The play will be bound in a book. We're excited but nervous.
Harry Potter makes us all crazy... we have a hard time focusing.
Will there be a Harry Potter encyclopedia?
Could Harry Potter and the Cursed Child become the ninth Harry Potter movie?
Cursed Child is supposed to be EPIC! (But what does that mean?)
In other news, HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS ILLUSTRATED EDITION!!
...and also more editions of Philosopher's Stone.
Harry Potter makes us feel old.
New wizarding schools!
Harry Potter. Harry Potter. Harry Potter. Harry Potter. Harry Potter. Harry Potter. Harry Potter.
We love Harry Potter.

Also, be sure to join us next week for our mini-episode where we review Victoria Aveyard's Glass Sword!

Bookmarked is brought to you by Audible.com! You can get a FREE audiobook of Victoria Aveyard's Red Queen or Glass Sword when you sign up for a 30-day free trial membership. Click here for more info!

If you like the show, please help us out and RATE AND REVIEW it on iTunes!

The 5th Wave Movie Review Jan 30, 2016

Wavers have been counting down to the release of The 5th Wave Movie, the film based on the novel of the same name by Rick Yancey! It's no secret that we love The 5th Wave and so we were extra excited to see the movie hit theaters! But did we like the movie? That's the question we ask (among many others) in this episode of Bookmarked!

What you'll find in this episode:

It's a smaller panel this time!
Addie--as someone who has never read the books--joins the show to give us her take on the movie.
Chloe Grace Moretz is amazing.
So is Zackary Arthur.
How was the casting? Did the actors bring the characters to life?
That first half-hour was its own wave of feels.
Did they make the plot twists too obvious?
Did Dumbo make a cross-country trip before joining Squad 53?
Old people love The 5th Wave.
Will there be an Infinite Sea movie?
We suddenly talk Red Queen at the very end. #Random

Bookmarked is now brought to you by Audible.com! You can get a FREE audiobook from the Harry Potter series when you sign up for a 30-day free trial membership. Click here for more info!

If you like the show, please RATE AND REVIEW it on iTunes!

Shadowhunters Review Jan 19, 2016

Mortal Instrument fans have been given a second chance! Cassandra Clare's popular YA book series The Mortal Instruments hit the screen for the second time on ~~ABC Family~~ Freeform. But just how was the pilot episode? Some fans loved the show while others were left feeling disappointed. Our own reactions range from loving it to meh--and that's exactly what we sat down to discuss in our TENTH episode of Bookmarked!

In this episode:

We made it to our tenth episode ever! (It only took a year...)
We have a full panel of Bookstacked writers to talk about the show. We all vary in our feelings toward the book series as well as the TV show.
We mostly all agree that we loved the casting of the show.
Some of us weren't digging the visual effects too much.
Was some of the writing kind of bad?
Jace might have been slightly disappointing, but we still like him anyway because Taylor Swift.
We say goodbye to Alan Rickman.

We're also happy to announce our new 2016 release schedule! From now on, we'll be recording an episode the second Saturday of each month and the episode will be released the following Tuesday. We'll have more details as they come, but we're at least going to start being more consistent!

Bookmarked is now brought to you by Audible.com! You can get a FREE audiobook from the Harry Potter series when you sign up for a 30-day free trial membership. Click here for more info!

If you like the show, please RATE AND REVIEW it on iTunes!

Mockingjay, Part 2 Review - Goodbye, Hunger Games! (SPOILERS) Nov 24, 2015

SPOILER WARNING: We're talking in detail about 'Mockingjay, Part 2' in this episode! So if you haven't seen the movie or read the book, then you might want to come back later!

It's over! After nearly four years of movies, we've reached the ending of The Hunger Games franchise. We've loved the books and we've been incredibly impressed with the movies. So we can say that our excitement for the final movie, 'Mockingjay, Part 2', was definitely over-the-top. But how was the movie itself? In this episode of Bookmarked, we sit down and discuss how the movie stacks up against the book. We also talk about our favorite (and potentially not so favorite) scenes from the film.

What to expect in this episode:

Bookstacked writer and book blogger Kristy joins us for the first time in this episode!
Saul is ridiculously confused over how to feel about the movie.
We all agree that Josh Hutcherson was uhmazing.
What was the best scene in the movie?
Should the book have been split into two parts, or would it have done better as a single film?
President Coin is definitely a diva/drama queen.
This movie has probably mentally scarred little childrens for weeks.
We rank all the Hunger Games movies from our least favorite to most favorite.
Goodbye, Hunger Games! We'll miss you!
Will The Hunger Games fandom continue?
Would a Hunger Games spin-off movie work?
Where do we go from here? What's the next "big thing?"

Bookmarked is now brought to you by Audible.com! You can get Allegiant by Veronica Roth FOR FREE as an audiobook when you sign up for a 30-day free trial membership. Click here for more info!

If you like the show, please RATE AND REVIEW it on iTunes!

Divergent to Allegiant to Ascendant Sep 15, 2015

SPOILER WARNING: There are obviously major spoilers of Veronica Roth's Allegiant, the final book in the Divergent trilogy.

Everyone likes surprises, right? Heh. No. Lionsgate and Summit pulled a fast one on Divergent fans last week when they announced that the final Divergent movie, originally 'Allegiant, Part 2' is being renamed as 'Ascendant'. When they made the announcement, the world basically blew up. It was both splendid and horrifying. And we decided--hey, why not talk about this? So that's what we did. In this episode of Bookmarked, we talk about what the name "Ascendant" is supposed to mean for Tris and the rest of the characters in Divergent. We also wonder about what other changes might be coming, especially considering the drastic changes in 'Insurgent' and the fact that they're splitting Allegiant into two parts.

What to expect in this episode:

Bookstacked writer Mary makes her podcasting debut and joins us for this episode!
Saul remembered to hit the record button.
Everybody is confused. Why Ascendant?
Will the name of the movie confuse people by making them think that there's a fifth book named Ascendant?
Addie thinks that Tris will be taking an intergalactic journey into space.
Saul wonders whether the title is alluding to the ending of the book?
The Hunger Games movies are better.
Veronica Roth posted a response about the title change on her blog.
Did the film makers tell Veronica that this was happening, or did she learn about it with everyone else?
Is the Divergent franchise doomed?
Will Zuko ever find his mother?

Emotions are high and the stakes are even higher! The drama in these show notes are out of control! Ahhh!!

We hope you like it.

Bookmarked is now brought to you by Audible.com! You can get Allegiant by Veronica Roth FOR FREE as an audiobook when you sign up for a 30-day free trial membership. Click here for more info!

If you like the show, please RATE AND REVIEW it on iTunes!

That 5th Wave Podcast Sep 03, 2015

SPOILER WARNING: This episode contains spoilers for The 5th Wave and The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey, as well as some allusions to a major spoiler in Allegiant by Veronica Roth.

The 5th Wave movie trailer was leaked a couple of days ago and now everybody's seen it... Except for those of us in this episode. A few days before the leak, we got together to talk about the movie trailer and what we hoped to see in it. But fear not! This entire episode didn't go to waste! We also sat down and talked about our first impressions from when we read The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey. We also take some time to share our thoughts about The Infinite Sea and some of our predictions for the final book, The Last Star.

This is a short episode but it's jammed pack full of stuff for the Wavers!

What to expect in this episode:

Saul forgot to hit record and lost the first several minutes of the show... (sorry).
We all agree that Cassie is the bomb.
We have some mixed feelings about The Infinite Sea.
What did Vosch mean when he was talking to Ringer?
Ariana and Eleanor think that a fan favorite is doomed to die in The Last Star.
Saul hopes another fan favorite dies.
Now that the trailer is out, you'll notice that our predictions about The 5th Wave movie trailer are kind of accurate...
Has Sony made a mistake by waiting too long to share things from the movie?
Will The Infinite Sea ever see the big screen?
Can The 5th Wave movie reach Hunger Games heights?
Speaking of Hunger Games, we try to convince Eleanor to give the movies another chance.

Bookmarked is now brought to you by Audible.com! You can get The 5th Wave or The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey FOR FREE as an audiobook when you sign up for a 30-day free trial membership. Click here for more details!

Go Set a Mockingjay at Comic-Con Jul 24, 2015

SPOILER WARNING: Some Go Set a Watchman, Scorch Trials, and Mockingjay book details are discussed in this episode!

We're back and more excited than ever! With all of the recent buzz surrounding Comic-Con, we sit down and talk about the newest development in The Maze Runner and Mockingjay worlds! While none of us were present for Comic-Con, we couldn't help but feel the hype surrounding our favorite book-to-film adaptations. From the awesome new posters to the brand new trailers that were screened at the convention, we're getting more and more eager to see these movies!

(Note: This episode was recorded before the actual release of the Mockingjay and Scorch Trials trailers, which are out now.)

Also in this episode...

7th Page is now Bookstacked! We discuss the reasons behind the name change and what we hope it'll do for the site in the future.
Harper Lee's Go Set a Watchman came out. It was met with both excitement and controversy.
Michael has read Go Set a Watchman. He tells us what he thought about the book and he criticism it's received.
The first 30 minutes of 'The Scorch Trials' movie was shown at Comic-Con. There will apparently be changes between the book and the movie.
Rebeca and Saul are excited to see the cranks in 'The Scorch Trials' movie!
The new Mockingjay posters look cheesy and cool... but we want our own versions featuring ourselves.
Michael has internet problems.

If you liked the show, please RATE AND REVIEW it on iTunes!

That Shadowhunters Podcast May 21, 2015

SPOILER WARNING: Mortal Instruments and Allegiant spoilers are briefly discussed in this episode. Listen at your own risk!

Shadowhunters fans are abuzz with the latest casting announcements of The Mortal Instruments television show! In our fourth episode, we talk about the hype surrounding the show and our thoughts and feelings about each cast member (this was recorded before the actress for Jocelyn was announced). We also go into the controversy surrounding some of the casting choices and talk about the diversity crisis seen in YA books.

Also in this episode...

Addie attended YALLWEST and tells us whether or not Veronica Roth had You-Know-Who's (not Voldy's) death planned from the beginning.
J.K. Rowling is apologizing for the deaths she forced us to endure in the Harry Potter books... It might take her a while (but not as long as George R.R. Martin).
Promotion is underway for the Scorch Trials movie!
Eoin Colfer says that the Artemis Fowl movie is almost good to go. We're hoping this is true.
The Mortal Instruments and Infernal Devices series got new book covers! Do we like them? And just why do publishers always republish their books with new covers anyway?
We want Scabbers to play Simon in the first season of Shadowhunters!
Emeraude Toubia is perfect as Isabelle because of her hair. It's all in the conditioner.
Luke is on a horse.
We play a round of "Who Said It: Dumbledore or Gandalf?" and Ariana drops a bomb shell on us.

7th Page features writer Michael also shows up on the panel! It's a packed episode filled with all sorts of good stuff! If you're following the Shadowhunters updates then you're definitely going to want to listen to this episode.

CHECK OUT SHADOWHUNTERS HQ - A BRAND NEW SHADOWHUNTERS FAN SITE!

The Thrills and Woes of Book Recommendations Apr 30, 2015

Book recommendations. Anyone who loves books deals with these things on a near daily basis. Whether you're recommending books or receiving book recommendations, we've all had experiences with recommendations. In this episode, we sit down and talk about where we get most of our recommendations and how things like BookTube are changing the ways we used to learn about new books. Also discussed in this episode...

Ariana is back and she gives us her review of 'Insurgent'!
Veronica Roth has a new book series coming out that's said to be like Star Wars! Is this the beginning of a science fiction trend in YA?
The Death Cure movie gets a release date and it WON'T be split into two parts! We are happy.
The first 'Mockingjay: Part 2' trailer was released.
'Paper Towns' trailer was released.
J.K. Rowling's third Cormoran Strike novel was announced.

The winner of our Four: A Divergent Collection giveaway is announced at the end of the show!

Insurgent's Divergent Storyline ('Insurgent' Movie Review) Mar 26, 2015

Warning: This episode contains major spoilers of the 'Insurgent' movie as well as several Allegiant spoilers. We advise you watch 'Insurgent' and read Allegiant before listening. The ENTIRE EPISODE is devoted to the latest Divergent movie! It's been a week since 'Insurgent' hit theaters and we've got a lot to say about it! We sit down and talk about the book to movie differences and how they either made the story better or worse.

Discussed in this episode...

Did we like the movie? One of us says yes, another says no, and someone's not so sure.
We talk about the changes--and yes, the speshul box.
Was this movie more violent than the first one, and maybe even the book?
Where does this movie leave us for parts one and two of the 'Allegiant' movies?

Hosts: Addie (writer at 7thPage.com), Lucy (writer at 5thWave.net), and Saul (writer at 7thPage.com).

Jeanine's Special Box Mar 05, 2015

Book-to-film adaptations. You either love them, or you hate them. You’ve got masterpieces like ‘Catching Fire’, and then you’ve got headaches like ‘The Mortal Instruments’. In this episode, we take time to share our thoughts on book-to-film adaptations. What makes a good adaptation? What makes a bad one? We share a few experiences concerning our favorite adaptations and learn that getting into a premiere screening is harder than you think… and that Saul says “adaptions” over “adaptations.”

Also discussed in this episode…

The Last Star, the title of the third 5th Wave book was leaked! What/who is the Last Star?
Veronica Roth shares her review of ‘Insurgent’ Everyone is worried about “the box.”

Hosts: Addie (writer at 7thPage.com), Ariana (manager of @T5W_fans), Lucy (writer at 5thWave.net), and Saul (writer at 7thPage.com).

Note: We had a sound error while recording. Because of this, there’s a noticeable echo behind some of the voices. We’ll be sure to correct this next time! Also, there are (super) minor spoilers for Allegiant and The Infinite Sea.

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