Hearts & Daggers

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 73: Undead (Dread Nation + Angelika Frankenstein Makes Her Match) Oct 22, 2024

Summary: Grab a bowl of brains and hunker down for a perfect theme for spooky season - the Undead! Today Holly and Devin sink their teeth into these legendary creatures; deceased but actually alive, depicted as everything from vampires, zombies, mummies and skeletons. Whether you vibe with Brendan Frasier in the iconic 1999 film or are a huge fan of The Walking Dead, these beings have captured our imaginations for centuries for a great reason.

Topics Discussed:

The Dagger (3:37): Holly discussed Dread Nation by Justina Ireland, an alternate history novel where the Civil War ended not because of political agreements or military victories, but because the dead begin to rise on the battlefield at Gettysburg, forcing both Union and Confederate forces to confront a new, common enemy: the undead. We follow Jane McKeene as she is trained in the art of combat against the undead (called Shamblers) at Miss Preston’s School of Combat for Negro Girls in Baltimore. Jane becomes increasingly disillusioned with the system and matters escalate when she and her friend are sent to Summerland, a western settlement that harbors dark secrets. Holly’s key takeaways were:

Ireland was inspired to write this book after reading “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies”; it is unlikely that women who didn’t even dress themselves would be zombie fighting machines, and would likely have relied on their ladies’ maids instead. Ireland uses this speculative angle to shed light on the very real history of the United States and the implications of racism both then and now.
The Shamblers are pretty classic zombies: slow-moving, rotting, and relentless in their pursuit of human flesh. They can turn others into shamblers through bites, similar to traditional zombie lore and hoards of shamblers roam the countryside.
Jame is resilient, a master at surviving and must navigate the tricky path of how much one has to compromise their morals in order to survive; she is faced with illusions of safety and the crumbling facade of corruption while holding onto friendships and the trust she shares with her schoolmates.

The Heart (15:55): Devin discussed Angelika Frankenstein Makes Her Match by Sally Thorne, a reimagining of the Mary Shelley classic that follows Victor’s younger sister who has been unlucky in love. A great scientific mind but known as being a bit odd, she’s run out of suitors but strikes upon a solution as she assists her brother with his groundbreaking reanimation experiments; she’ll make her own! A lucky (and gorgeous) corpse lands on her lab table and soon, Will is (re)born. But will the spark of life lead to a spark of love? Devin’s key takeaways were:

This novel was such a fun re-imagining of the Frankenstein story. It keeps all the same creepiness and gothic energy without the moral quandary of hating your creation and instead falling in love with it. Will is a dashing, galant, and not-too-wonky reanimated corpse that any reader will root for.
Angelika as a protagonist is the twist this story needed; Thorne explores the power and powerlessness of women in this era, especially within the scientific community through Angelika and the scrapes her crew gets into.
Whenever you’re reanimating a dead body, you have to wonder if our lives are controlled by fate or by our own choices - is everything a coincidence or is it all meant to be? Throne uses a familiar tale to explore the implications of choice for characters and when love truly does conquer all, including death.

Hot On the Shelf (29:28):

Holly: Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune
Devin: Hot Hex Boyfriend by Carly Bloom

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (33:10):

Holly: The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives on Hulu
Devin: English Teacher on FX/Hulu

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 72: Mediums (Happy Medium + Hazardous Spirits) Oct 08, 2024

Summary: Grab your ouija boards and candlesticks, folks, it’s time to get messages from the other side! Today, Holly and Devin dabble in the world of Mediums! Whether you’ve visited a medium yourself or don’t believe in ghosts, our hosts are leaning into spooky season by discussing books that feature folks who can (well, can they really, though?) commune with the beyond.

Topics Discussed:

The Heart (5:01): Devin discussed Happy Medium by Sarah Adler, a spooky romance following Gretchen Acorn, a grifter who delights and consoles the grieving of DC by “channeling” their dearly departed. When her best (richest) client asks her to speak to a ghost who is making it impossible for her bridge partner to sell his farm, Gretchen reluctantly agrees. When she realizes that a) the bridge partner is NOT an old, crotchety man named Charlie Waybill but a super sexy youthful farmer and b) that the ghost is real and named Everett, Gretchen has to confront that maybe she’s less of a fraud than she thought, and in much bigger trouble than she ever thought possible. Devin’s key takeaways were:

Our protagonist presented as a fraud is a surprise at the start but adds authenticity to the rest of the story. In DC she uses her roommate who works various service jobs and a ton of internet sleuthing about the dead person, but heading to Gilded Creek Goat Farm her facade fades away and all she’s left with is a real ghost and her annoying, growing feelings for a real life man.
Gretchen, Everett and Charlie must all face the gap between who they pretend to be and who they actually are over the course of the book. While Gretchen is a straight up grifter, all three of them have falsehoods and fake parts of their lives (or afterlives) that are holding them back and keeping them from living authentically and, for the living, finding love.
This bucolic setting of Gilded Creek was phenomenal. The old farm with lots of knitted sweaters and afghans, early mornings and willow trees by brooks with weekly farmer’s markets was idyllic and the perfect setting for this slightly spooky, very wholehearted story.

The Dagger (17:30): Holly discussed Hazardous Spirits by Anbara Salam, a psychological historical fiction novel set in 1920s Edinburgh, Scotland that follows Evelyn Hazard as she sprints to her sister’s house to call a doctor for her husband, Robert. He’s started acting strangely and saying he can see spirits, and Evelyn worries he is losing his mind. But is he? Tension mounts as Evelyn grapples with the social and logistical implications of the one person who might reveal what she’s hiding about the death of her sister, Dolores. Holly’s key takeaways were:

This story draws you in from the very start; the narrative is close third person so the reader is only shown part of what is happening and is dropped into the world by following Evelyn around as she’s navigating this new, scary situation.
While yes there is tension and suspense, Salam also explores beautifully the nature of grief; Robert wants to use his gift to help comfort people who have lost loved ones, which is almost everyone because of the recent world war and flu epidemic.
The characterization across the board from protagonists to side characters is fantastic; Evelyn and Robert are super interesting as well as Evelyn’s mother; Salam captures the small, pathetic moments of being human that anyone can relate to while also exploring the supernatural.

Hot On the Shelf (33:23):

Devin: Briefly Perfectly Human by Alua Arthur, Death Doula
Holly: The Empusium by Olga Tocarczuk

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (38:24):

Devin: The Decameron on Netflix
Holly: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Throne of Glass Debrief #9: Kingdom of Ash, Part 2 Oct 01, 2024

Summary: Welcome to Episode 9, our final of the special Throne of Glass series, friends! Aelin, her court, and every character we’ve grown to love (or hate) come together for this epic finale in the heart of Terrassen. Today we explore Kingdom of Ash Part 2, the eighth (or ninth depending on your reading order) book in ToG. With a push to destroy the Wyrdkeys and save their world, Aelin, Dorian, Rowan, Yrene, Manon and other key players must come together to vanquish the united front of Maeve and Erawarn, who are supported by the full might of Morath.

We have both been reading the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas, a mutual favorite author who we celebrated in a previous LoveFest episode. We have been releasing monthly special episodes in which we debrief on each book as we go throughout the series and have finally come to the end!

We encourage you to read this series and play our 9 published episodes as you go; enjoy our reactions, speculations, and gushing as we explore this fantastical world.

As a reminder, each episode has spoilers for the book being discussed and any of the books we've read previously, with this final episode spoiling the whole dang thing.

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/shop/heartsanddaggerspod (purchases support our work)

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 71: Librarians (How Can I Help You + The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches) Sep 24, 2024

Summary: Welcome to spooky season (nerd edition) friends! Today Holly and Devin explore a joint favorite career through grim and gleeful stories - librarians. While both our hosts fantasized about working in libraries and being able to read all the time surrounded by thousands of books, they’ll settle today for a chat about when librarians can use books for good, or for evil. Listen in to hear how librarians have important roles to play in any genre and are always a worthwhile addition to a good story.

Topics Discussed:

The Dagger (4:21): Holly discussed How Can I Help You by Laura Sims, a psychological suspense novel following Margot, a librarian in a small town public library. No one has any reason to suspect that Margot is in fact Jane, a nurse with a trail of premature deaths in her wake. Enter Patricia, a new reference librarian who starts working with Margot and gets curious about her past. Holly’s key takeaways were:

The suspense and writing of this novel stand out. Sims alternates between staggered timelines from Margot’s and Patricia’s points of view, with Margot’s voice being especially crystal clear and unique.
Sims explores themes of obsession and addiction; Margot is obsessed with and addicted to feeling as if she’s “helping others” (in a very twisted way) and we watch Patricia become obsessed with Margot who acts as her muse (in a very twisted way).
If you enjoy dark, almost so dark it's funny, character-driven suspense stories, especially involving libraries and medical malpractice, this story is for you.

The Heart (14:28): Devin discussed The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna, a novel following Mika Moon, one of the few witches in Britain, as her solitary life is upended by an invitation to tutor three young witches in the remote and mysterious Nowhere House in Norwich. Finding community she’s never had, Mika must also navigate her simmering dynamic with the handsome (if standoffish) librarian of the house, Jamie. Devin’s key takeaways were:

Everything about this book screams “cozy” and sparkles and safety and joy. Even when a dead body is uncovered it’s somehow beautiful. Magic in this book floats around like gold dust and Mika can see it around her; it’s rambunctious and well-meaning but gets up to tomfoolery.
The biggest struggle Mika, Jamie and the other characters in this book must confront is their own loneliness. Mandanna does an incredible job articulating this complicated emotion and how it can impact adults and children alike; it’s a manifesto on the importance of human connection.
Nowhere House has a special collection of very rare books and Jamie presides over this unique and beautiful section of an otherwise chaotic house. The importance of books, reading, and the physical space Jamie guards and protects plays a major role in the story.

Hot On the Shelf (35:23):

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (38:31):

Devin: Veep on HBO Max
Holly: Pachinko season 2

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 70: LoveFest (Practical Magic Series by Alice Hoffman) Sep 10, 2024

Summary: Welcome to Fall, friends, and dive into Spooky Season with Holly and Devin today. Our hosts are launching their favorite season of the year with our 7th LoveFest! We’re diving deep into the Practical Magic series by Alice Hoffman - a four book, multi-generational saga following the Owens witches as they explore, grow, and combat a curse that keeps them all from long-time love. Hoffman’s style is known for its connection to nature, the focus on women, and a bittersweet treatment of life and aging. Whether you read these books in publication or chronological order, you’re in for a witchy treat!

Topics Discussed:

Practical Magic (10:19):

After their parents die, Sally and Gillian are raised by their eccentric aunts, Frances (Franny) and Jet Owens, in an old house filled with the scent of herbs and magic. The aunts openly practice witchcraft, and while this fascinates the girls, it also causes them to be ostracized by the townspeople.
The Owens women are notorious in their Massachusetts town for their magical abilities and are rumored to be cursed in matters of love; any man who falls in love with an Owens woman is doomed to an untimely death.
The sisters have contrasting personalities: Sally is practical, responsible, and yearns for a normal life, while Gillian is wild, impulsive, and eager to escape the confines of her small-town life.

The Rules of Magic (20:50):

Prequel to Practical Magic, going back to tell the story of their aunts from book 1
The novel is set in the 1960s and follows the lives of three siblings: Franny, Jet, and Vincent Owens, who live in New York City. They come from a long line of witches, but their mother, Susanna Owens, forbids them from practicing magic or interacting with the supernatural. Despite their mother’s strict rules, the siblings are irresistibly drawn to magic.

Magic Lessons (27:45):

The story begins in the 1600s in England, where Maria Owens is born under mysterious circumstances. She is abandoned as an infant in a snowy field but is found and raised by Hannah Owens, a healer and practitioner of the “Nameless Art” (magic). From Hannah, Maria learns about herbs, healing, and magic. Hannah also gives her the essential rule that will shape Maria’s life: "Always love someone who will love you back."
Maria is betrayed by the man who once declared his love for her, who she follows to Salem, Massachusetts. Maria's experiences with love lead her to create the infamous Owens family curse: that any man who loves an Owens woman will meet a tragic end. This curse is born out of Maria's heartbreak and becomes a central element in the Owens family's history, affecting generations to come.

The Book of Magic (35:54):

The novel opens with Jet Owens receiving a sign that her time is near. As she nears death, she hears the "deathwatch beetle," a sound that heralds the impending death of an Owens family member. Before she dies, Jet leaves behind a letter revealing the key to breaking the family curse that has plagued the Owens women for centuries.
This novel ties together the stories of multiple generations of the Owens family, focusing on their quest to finally break the family curse and achieve a future where love does not result in tragedy.
Jet’s death deeply affects the family, especially Sally’s daughters, Kylie and Antonia. In the wake of Jet’s passing, Kylie discovers that the curse may have already started affecting her own life. She is in love, but fears for the life of her beloved.

Hot On the Shelf (45:59):

Holly: The Book of Witching by CJ Cooke
Devin: The Art of Catching Feelings by Alicia Thompson

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (49:10):

Holly: Playing piano again
Devin: Experiencing live music at the Dillon Amphitheater

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Throne of Glass Debrief #8: Kingdom of Ash, Part 1 Sep 03, 2024

Summary: Welcome to Episode 8 of our special Throne of Glass series, friends! Aelin is being tortured and held inside an iron coffin by Maeve and her lackey, Cairn. Lysandra plays her at the front, Rowan will stop at nothing to find her, and things are looking very grim for our heroes. Today we explore Kingdom of Ash Part 1, the seventh (or eighth depending on your reading order) book in ToG. As Maeve and Erawan begin to make their final moves, the grand tapestry of friends, allies and lovers across continents must come together and find a way to overcome horrible odds and an existential evil.

We have both been reading the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas, a mutual favorite author who we celebrated in a previous LoveFest episode. We will be releasing monthly special episodes in which we debrief on each book as we go throughout the series.

We encourage you to read along with us throughout the year–or at whatever point you’re jumping into these episodes–and enjoy our reactions, speculations, and gushing as we explore this new fantastical world.

As a reminder, each episode will have spoilers for the book being discussed and any of the books we've read previously, but we won't give spoilers beyond that point. Episodes will continue to drop each month until we finish the series.

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/shop/heartsanddaggerspod (purchases support our work)

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 69: Washington State (Written in the Stars + The Return of Ellie Black) Aug 27, 2024

Summary: Welcome to the final stop on our Summer Road Trip Series, friends! Today, Holly and Devin sip some tea while sheltering from the Seattle rain in Washington State. With cozy vibes that can quickly turn sinister, this state is ripe with potential for stories in either wheelhouse for our hosts. Culturally and literally this state is rooted in nature and the natural world, which can highlight the most epic loves or the darkest, chilling terrors. We’re so delighted you joined us for our road trip and are excited to dive into Spooky Season with you next!

Topics Discussed:

The Heart (4:08): Devin discussed Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur, a sapphic romance following Darcy Lowell and Elle Jones after a disastrous first date turns into a fake-dating relationship of convenience. Both trying to escape pressures from family, the no-nonsense actuary Darcy and the earnest astrologer Elle agree to play the part of lovers through the holiday season, but fate (and the stars?) have a different plan for them. Devin’s key takeaways are:

This novel takes place in Seattle and everything about it from the location descriptions to the characters themselves speak to that quirky, offbeat but sincere culture. Things are a bit slower, the rain creates a vibe, and everyone is more in-tune with their feelings in this neck of the woods.
Astrology is a major player in the entire trilogy by Bellefleur. The book has fun astrological tidbits woven throughout (what song are you based on your astrological sign, etc.) and is a huge part of Elle’s career, life etc. and how Darcy ends up authentically connecting with her.
This story was one of Devin’s favorite “opposites attract” and “fake dating” trope stories she’s run into for the last several years. Elle and Darcy are both so authentic, their issues so valid and their situation so feasible feeling that it’s impossible not to buy in.

The Dagger (16:27): Holly discussed The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean, a crime fiction story centered around Ellie Black - a 19 year-old who stumbles out of the Washington State woods and back into the world from which she disappeared when she was kidnapped two years prior. Detective Casey Calhoun works with Ellie and is determined to get to the bottom of what happened to her, but has a hard time getting straight answers. With personal investment in uncovering the truth, Calhoun must discern if it’s trauma or if Ellie is hiding something. Holly’s key takeaways were:

The concept and tropes in this book aren’t groundbreaking–disappearing girls, seasoned detective determined to solve it–but somehow Jean made the story feel fresh with fantastic execution. Jean deeply established the characters themselves, which balanced well with the story that unravels in alternating POVs and timelines.
Jean examines themes like misogyny and misplaced affection; Ellie’s perspective is told as though she’s speaking to someone, although we’re not sure who, if it’s the detective or someone else. It goes back and walks the reader through what she experienced while kidnapped, which is pretty chilling.
There was a decent sense of place as being in the Pacific Northwest, especially when experiencing the vastness of the woods that Ellie is held within and from which she emerges.

Hot On the Shelf (31:40):

Holly: The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
Devin: A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (37:13):

Holly: Frasier
Devin: Getting creative with a glass blowing class!

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 68: California (Good Rich People + The Rom-Commers) Aug 13, 2024

Summary: Holly would like to welcome you to her state! On this stop of their Summer Road Trip Series, Holly and Devin discuss books set in the sunny, lovely California. Whether you’re basking in the glitz and glam of Hollywood in LA, sipping wine in Napa Valley or dancing in the queer energy of San Francisco, this state truly has it all. That applies to books as well - from serial killers to rich people behaving badly to epic romances, Holly and Devin feel like they’d never run out of Cali stories to enjoy.

Topics Discussed:

The Dagger (4:52): Holly discussed Good Rich People by Eliza Jane Brazier, a psychological thriller following Lyla, her husband Graham and his mother Margo as they play “The Game” i.e. inviting people to live in their guesthouse under the pretense of helping them, only to secretly manipulate and destroy their lives. Enter Demi, an unhoused woman who has jumped at the chance to better her own lot in life and will absolutely not go down without a fight. Holly’s key takeaways were:

The sense of place wasn’t a huge part of the book but the story utilized specific aspects of Los Angeles specifically in a way that felt real-to-life and effective. No other city is as well positioned to tell a story like this, contrasting great wealth against great poverty.
This book highlights a huge issue that a lot of the country is facing, and which cities like Los Angeles in particular face: the wealth gap and housing crisis. The contrast of Demi’s life compared to Lyla and Graham’s highlights the callousness and cruelty that can arise from extreme privilege. It questions the morality of the wealthy and the lengths they will go to maintain their status.
Brazier takes on a satirical tone and creates unlikeable characters in Good Rich People; the sharp way Brazier writes in Lyla’s voice, for example, expressing her disdain for the less-than-wealthy, had Holly laughing out loud because it was so gross and so spot-on. The depiction of rich people is extreme and requires some suspension of disbelief; the reader can easily question if very wealthy people are quite this overtly awful and criminal.

The Heart (19:26): Devin discussed The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center, a novel following Emma Wheeler as she gets the chance of a lifetime to collaborate on a romantic comedy film script with the world-famous and award winning Charlie Yeates. Having lived in Houston, TX her entire life caring for her disabled father after a rock climbing accent when she was young, Emma’s leap to LA is in crisis right away when she realizes Charlie didn’t know she was coming and does not want a collaborator. Stuck in his mansion together, can these enemies find common, rom-com ground? Devin’s key takeaways were:

This book had big Hollywood energy; Meryl Streep is featured as well as several fictitious stars and as Charlie takes Emma around the city we as the reader get to experience the glitz, glam, and privilege of the area. There’s heavy industry talk and focus for film and screenwriting which is enjoyable to delve into.
While yes, this is a romance, our protagonists’ journeys center more than anything on their careers. What does aspiration look like when you’ve dealt with so much trauma? How does one advocate for themselves in their career authentically? Emma and Charlie must face each other’s divergent paths as well as their trajectories in order to heal and grow together.
If you’re into trauma porn, this book is for you. Devin struggled a bit with just how many different threads of trauma exist for Emma and Charlie and how the book piles even more on as it goes. It was a bit of a miss here; a little less volume of trauma would have made the core trauma more emotionally gratifying.

Hot On the Shelf (38:12):

Devin: Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood
Holly: The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (41:09):

Devin: The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris
Holly: House of the Dragon Season 2

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 67: Colorado (The Gamble + No Exit) Jul 30, 2024

Summary: Devin would like to welcome you all to her state! On this stop of their Summer Road Trip, Holly and Devin discuss books set in the Rocky Mountain state. Even though we’re all battling heat waves, both their books feature blizzards, being snowed in, and close quarters tension. In every other way, though, the plots differ drastically. Known for its outdoor culture, snow skiing, and craft beer this state has a lot to offer those seeking an adrenaline rush like our hosts!

Topics Discussed:

The Heart (5:21): Devin discussed The Gamble by Kristen Ashley, a second-chances romance that follows Nina Sheridan, a visitor to the mountain town of Gnaw Bone, as she finds herself stuck in a gorgeous A-frame home with the homeowner, Holden “Max” Maxwell due to a rental mixup. Escaping to Colorado to think about her future and her neglectful fiancé back in the UK, Nina was hoping for peace and quiet but Max brings anything but; can she withstand the allure of this sexy mountain man? Devin’s key takeaways were:

This is a quintessential Colorado book. Very strong sense of place, small town with resort energy on the sides and picturesque with the start of a blizzard and lots of good views, mountains, valleys, dive bars. Devin spent a good chunk of it wondering if it was modeled after the town she lives in specifically.
There are trigger warnings for sexual abuse and violence, physical violence and threats. This book has heavy trauma, for every single character; it classifies as trauma porn in a lot of ways. If you like watching people who have suffered and then work to support, grow, and love each other this book will work great for you.
There is a simmering tension between Max and Nina right from the start and while some of the build up is the annoying “interrupted” trope, it is a blast to read and experience. The book takes its time building everything and the side characters/town play a huge part, but the care, chemistry and overall vibes between our protagonists carry you through.

The Dagger (21:08): Holly discussed No Exit by Taylor Adams, a psychological thriller that follows college student Darby Thorne on her frantic drive home to Utah to see her dying mother. In the mountains of Colorado, a blizzard forces her to stop at a remote highway rest stop. Trying to find cell service in the parking lot, Darby discovers a little girl locked in an animal crate in the van near her car; the situation becomes increasingly dangerous from there. Holly’s key takeaways were:

The novel explores themes of survival as Darby must use her wits, courage, and resourcefulness to navigate the life-threatening situation and protect herself and the kidnapped girl. Adams underlines the moral choices characters make in extreme circumstances for good or evil; Darby’s determination to save the girl contrasts sharply with the kidnapper’s sinister motives.
We aren’t seeing broader life in Colorado, but the book uses the wintry elements to great effect to increase the tension and stakes in the story. The setting of the remote, snowed-in rest stop amplifies themes of isolation and vulnerability. The characters are cut off from the outside world, heightening the sense of danger and urgency.
No Exit has various twists and a nail-biting pace, even some horror elements. It reminded Holly a bit of The Shining just in the way of feeling trapped and isolated in a wintry wasteland. The reader feels the intensity of trying to survive as Darby uses her wits, courage, and resourcefulness to navigate the life-threatening situation.

Hot On the Shelf (35:54):

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (39:07):

Devin: Bob’s Burgers
Holly: New rescue dog, Toki!

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 66: Chicago (The Fourth Monkey + Love at First) Jul 16, 2024

Summary: Grab a book and a slide of deep dish pizza, it’s time to visit Chicago folks! Today Holly and Devin discuss books set in the iconic city that brought us greats like The Bean and Al Capone. While neither host has a lot of experience in the midwest or in Chicago itself, they both think it’s a great setting for a book - especially in Holly’s darker wheelhouse. Stick around after the end credits for a spoiler-y romp through some horrifying details on her book today!

Topics Discussed:

The Dagger (3:05): Holly discussed The Fourth Monkey by J.D. Barker, a crime thriller that follows Detective Sam Porter as a bus accident that killed a man quickly turns into a hunt for the not-yet-murdered final victim of the Fourth Monkey Killer. He had been crossing the street to mail a package containing a human ear when the bus struck him down, but Sam’s work isn’t anywhere near over. Holly’s key takeaways were:

This book may be the most horrifying and messed up book Holly has ever read. Dual storylines follow the content of a diary the killer had on his person when he died and the current, real-time hunt for his final victim and both are deeply disturbing.
The novel explores the blurred lines between good and evil, as the 4MK sees himself as a punisher of wrongdoers rather than a mere killer. This moral ambiguity challenges readers to question what constitutes true justice and whether taking the law into one's own hands can ever be justified.
There isn’t a strong sense of Chicago, with the focus resting much more on action and the characters involved. The investigation roves around the city but without too much detail on place, and the diary feels more suburban family life vibes and the tone of it is very midwest, stilted 60s tone.

The Heart (19:09): Devin discussed Love at First by Kate Clayborn, a second-chances romance following Will Sterling and Nora Clarke after Will inherits an apartment from his uncle Donny. As the leader of the HOA in a six-unit building that has barely changed in decades, a new presence (especially one who wants to convert the unit for short-term renters) is a threat to everything Nora fights for. Feuding and at loggerheads, Will and Nora can’t help but notice there’s an undercurrent of something else in their fights and attempts to undermine each other. Devin’s key takeaways were:

The sense of place isn’t super strong in this book because the focal point is a single apartment building in Chicago. Will works at a hospital near the south shore and Nora is much further north. Later in the book there are more scenes set in popular Chicago, but otherwise it’s really a character driven story.
The tenants in the apartment building that acts as our focal point is a chosen, messy family. Both protagonists struggle with their own biological families and the trauma they got from their parents, but they also both seek found family in their community as it evolves.
The primary trope in this novel is enemies to lovers, but even that element is subtle and infused with a lot of emotional intelligence on both parts. It diffuses a lot of tension in the book; Devin was never stressed out or unsure about our protagonists even though it technically followed our classic arc. Alternating between Nora and Will’s perspectives, we go deep on who they are and their interior perspectives.

Hot On the Shelf (37:11):

Holly: Kingdom of Copper by S.A Chakraborty
Devin: A Darker Shade of Magic by VE Schwab

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (39:47):

Holly: Presumed Innocent on Apple TV+
Devin: We Are Lady Parts on Peacock

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Throne of Glass Debrief #7: Tower of Dawn Jul 09, 2024

Summary: Welcome to Episode 7 of our special Throne of Glass series, friends! Leaving Aelin and her court behind this time, we follow Chaol and Nesryn as they visit a new part of the world and embark on their own adventures. Today we explore Tower of Dawn, the sixth (or seventh depending on your reading order) book in ToG. Chaol and Nesryn have traveled to Antica to achieve two goals: benefitting from their world-class healers to help Chaol walk again and secure the support of the Khagan in the war. Both become more complicated and more important and sooner than later we realize that no matter the physical distance, everything they do connects to Aelin and her struggle to overthrow the evil in Erilea.

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/shop/heartsanddaggerspod (purchases support our work)

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 65: Texas (Pumpkin + Bluebird Bluebird) Jul 02, 2024

Summary: Howdy, partners! Stop number three on our road trip this summer is the Lone Star state - Texas! Join Holly and Devin as they take a romp around the second largest state in the union. It’s huge, it’s hot and as Holly underlines, tensions tend to run high. A melting pot of the West, the South, American and Mexican influences, Texas really does have it all. Holly and Devin share the ends of the spectrum with their books today.

Topics Discussed:

The Heart (3:55): Devin discussed Pumpkin by Julie Murphy, a novel that follows Waylon Russell Brewer as his private, quiet drag aspirations are exploded into the public sphere after his audition tape for Fiercest of Them All (a drag show à la RuPaul’s Drag Race) is released. As a cruel joke, he and his twin sister’s girlfriend Hannah Perez are nominated as Prom Queen and King respectively. Instead of caving to the bullies, Waylon and Hannah decide to play to win. Devin’s key takeaways were:

This is such a gay book; it’s amazing, it’s flamboyant, it’s loud and proud and includes so much drag. Waylon and his twin Clementine are both gay and we meet a myriad of other queer characters throughout. Whether some characters are already out or not, this book vibrates with positive energy for the queer community.
When you hear about a queer book set in Texas, you go in assuming a central tension will be community rejection of the queer character but that was not the case in this book. Waylon’s parents accept him and his sister right away and there’s a Prism group of fully out high school students - most people aren’t repressed and even one character comes out during the book. Yes there’s bullying and vitriol but the school supports LGBTQ students and the tone overall is uplifting and supportive.
As a high school story, this book explores the evolving sense of self we all remember from that age. While the focus is on Waylon with a first-person narrative structure, we see every character in the book evolve who they believe they are into who they can be.

The Dagger (15:47): Holly discussed Bluebird Bluebird by Attica Locke, a literary mystery set in East Texas in 2016. We follow Darren Matthews, a Texas Ranger who has recently been suspended and is called over to Shelby County to help investigate two bodies, one of which recently washed up on the shore of a local woman’s back yard. Holly’s key takeaways were:

Racial tensions abound in this novel. The bodies found were a Black man from Chicago and a local white woman. Darren also struggles with his own identity as a Black man and having to balance being a Texas Ranger with wanting to do right by his community, including the Black community that congregates at Geneva’s.
Locke underlines the importance and value of community, particularly how the Black community in the town has had to find joy and safety where they can. How places like Geneva’s serve as a haven for locals or anyone passing through.
Darren’s career has put strain on his relationship w his wife Lisa, so he’s also navigating being recently kicked out and wanting to go back, while also not wanting to give up his purpose or turn down cases like these.

Hot On the Shelf (34:25):

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (38:12):

Devin: Riding a horse!
Holly: X-Men 97

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Minisode: Stephen King Summer with Laura Tremaine Jun 25, 2024

Summary: Today Holly is joined by a special guest - Laura Tremaine, the host of the 10 Things To Tell You podcast and author of The Life Council: 10 Friends Every Woman Needs and Share Your Stuff, I’ll Go First. Laura has been sharing her life online for over a decade. She writes about friendship, anxiety, motherhood, and marriage. Her posts and podcast episodes resonate with women looking for ways to connect more deeply with others as they transform from one era of life into another.

Laura’s favorite author is Stephen King, a masterful storyteller and a mutual favorite of Holly’s. She advocates for more women to read King and the value of owning that we love to be scared! Her 2024 Stephen King Summer Book Club began on June 1st; learn more about it during today’s episode and hear why Laura loves to add spooky to summer.

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod / @laura.tremaine / @10thingstotellyou

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 64: The Carolinas (Decent People + Late Bloomer) Jun 18, 2024

Episode 64: The Carolinas

Summary: Welcome to stop two of our summer road trip around the United states - the Carolinas! Holly and Devin both have connections to these southern states (Holly’s bachelorette was in Charleston, SC!) but the books they brought today made them feel even closer to the region. Whether you’re curling up to read a sapphic romance or buckling up for a character-driven murder mystery, our hosts have something for you today!

Topics Discussed:

The Dagger (4:04): Holly discussed Decent People by De’Shawn Charles Winslow, a historical mystery set in the segregated town of West Mills in 1976. Josephine (Jo) Wright has returned back to her small hometown to marry her childhood sweetheart, Olympus “Lymp” Seymour. When the bodies of Lym’s three half-siblings are found, though, Lymp becomes the lead suspect and Jo must fight for her love and her community to uncover the truth. Holly’s key takeaways were:

This book explores shame in all its forms; the characters struggle with shame around their station in life, race, heritage and sexuality. It motivates certain people to hide and others to act, as Jo uncovers as she untangles the knots of relationships in her community.
As Joe begins to investigate those who might know the most about the deaths of her fiancés half-siblings, she uncovers darker secrets than she ever imagined. Winslow paints for the reader a slow story pivoting between townspeople connected to the victims; a pattern of cover-ups, racial incidents, homophobia and medical misuse.
Read this book if you enjoy character-driven mysteries, small town secrets and drama, a historical 1970s setting. North Carolina as a setting strikes a great backdrop for the themes Winslow explores.

The Heart (18:42): Devin discussed Late Bloomer by Mazey Eddings, a floral sapphic romance set in Asheville, NC. Opal Devlin, a woman dressed as an ice cream cone and used to being taken advantage of by everyone she knows, finds the opportunity to achieve her dreams when she wins the lottery and purchases a flower farm where she envisions becoming an artist. Little does she know that Pepper Smith, an angry, gorgeous farmer, is waiting for her and sees herself as the rightful owner of Thistle and Bloom Farms. Enemies to roommates to… well. Devin’s key takeaways were:

This book is perfect for Pride Month! Opal is enthusiastically bisexual and has had a lot of experience with myriad genders, often with a lot of negative ones with cis men (see: her crappy ex Miles who keeps trying to get some of her winnings). Pepper identifies as a lesbian but has never felt like she can trust anyone enough to open up and actually have an intimate experience.
Opal moves from Charlotte to Asheville and the sense of place is strong in this novel; The Thistle and Bloom Farm is vivid, vibrant, and a microcosm of the rich culture in North Carolina. Pepper has never known any home outside of the farm and Opal is working on a new beginning herself, all couched inside of the verdant region.
Pepper has been diagnosed as on the autism spectrum. Opal is undiagnosed but knows that she is likely on the spectrum as well as having ADHD. They have both struggled in their lives with being taken advantage of by people who were supposed to love them and their neurodivergent experience bonds them and aligns with the way they each seek to build, finally, a safe space in which to thrive.

Hot On the Shelf (35:16):

Devin: Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez
Holly: Middle of the Night by Riley Sager

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (38:59):

Devin: Pride Month and being out and proudly bisexual
Holly: Challengers with Zendaya

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Keywords: Literature, Books, Reading, Bookish, Pop-culture, Thriller, Romance, North Carolina, South Carolina, The Carolinas, Summer Roadtrip, Decent People, De’Shawn Charles Winslow, Late Bloomer, Mazey Eddings, Just for the Summer, Abby Jimenez, Middle of the Night, Riley Sager, Pride Month, Challengers, Zendaya

Throne of Glass Debrief #6: Empire of Storms Jun 11, 2024

Summary: Welcome to Episode 6 of our special Throne of Glass series, friends! Aelin is on the move to build an army after being rejected from her rightful throne in Terrassen. Today we explore Empire of Storms, the fifth (or sixth depending on your reading order) book in ToG. Aelin’s court has just come together and is immediately at risk for being torn asunder. With monsters threatening from sea and air, within and without their group, Aelin must decide who she is and what she’s willing to sacrifice to save the world.

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/shop/heartsanddaggerspod (purchases support our work)

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 63: Maine (Evvie Drake Starts Over + Granite Harbor) Jun 04, 2024

Summary: We’re choosing the scenic route this summer as we travel around the United States book by book. Join Holly and Devin on their first stop today - Maine! Known for its lobsters, gruff people, rocky shores and gorgeous landscapes this state is the easternmost state of the 50. While the vibes skew much more toward Holly’s wheelhouse, we’re reminded that love can happen anywhere with Devin’s book.

Topics Discussed:

The Heart (4:01): Devin discussed Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes, a novel following Eveleth “Evvie” Drake as she becomes a recluse after the untimely death of her husband. Dean Tenney, former MLB pitcher whose career tanked after a case of the yips, seeks to find solace and escape by moving into Evvie’s spare apartment. They agree at the start - Dean doesn’t ask Evvie about her husband, and Evvie doesn’t ask Dean about his baseball career. As their rocky friendship solidifies into something more, though, they risk letting everything into the light. Devin’s key takeaways were:

Known as a very culturally New England, isolated place, Maine can also be a safe haven once you find your people. This state as the backdrop of this romance is perfect - there is pain, grief, and isolation but there’s also connection and building something sustainable out of the bedrock of the shoes of the region.
Both through the more traditional grief of losing someone and through the grief of losing the life you thought you’d live, Evvie and Dean work to recover together and the reader gets to see how people come back to themselves through the help of others.
While the premise is heavy, Holmes breathes this novel full of life, joy, and romantic connection. While not the steamiest book Devin has ever read, love is at the forefront as both the most challenging and the most healing thing our protagonists can do.

The Dagger (15:29): Holly discussed Granite Harbor by Peter Nichols, a novel that opens on three teenage boys skateboarding after dark and quickly turns even darker when a boy’s body is found at the historic settlement in Granite Harbor. We follow Alex, former writer and now detective in town as he investigates first one murder and then escalates as more bodies are found and the parents in town realize none of their teens are safe. Holly’s key takeaways were:

Both literally as well as within the history that lingers in Maine - its violence, its folklore and traditions, the need for survival in a harsh climate - all resonate throughout the book and serve to heighten the tension at every turn.
Nichols really packs a punch when it comes to gore and gruesome scenes (though it isn’t overdone). There are some gross, unsettling scenes in the story and Holly shares trigger warnings for animal cruelty and gore/violence.
A lot of this book explores the anxiety of parenting teens. We see characters like Isabel, who has just started working at the Granite Harbor Living History Settlement, struggle to navigate keeping her teenage son Ethan safe while often feeling helpless. Nichols highlights the tenacity with which parents will fight for their kids even when they’re almost grown themselves.

Hot On the Shelf (38:16):

Holly: The Mantis by Kotaro Isaka
Devin: A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (41:10):

Holly: Ripley on Netflix
Devin: Anyone But You on Netflix

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Minisode: Genre Fiction & Dark Literature with Sara Hildreth @FictionMatters May 28, 2024

Summary: Today Holly is joined by a special guest - Sara Hildreth, the creator behind FictionMatters - a literary Instagram account, newsletter, and book club focused on putting thought-provoking books into the hands of adventurous readers. Sara also co-hosts Novel Pairings, a podcast dedicated to making the classics readable, relevant, and fun. As a former English teacher, Sara’s literary knowledge and thoughtfulness has greatly enriched the reading lives of thousands, including Holly’s.

Keep an eye out for Sara’s Paperback Summer Reading Guide 2024 and the Novel Pairings summer readalong of Les Miserables by Victor Hugo!

Topics Discussed:

Genre Fiction (2:03):

For Sara, Genre Fiction signals to the reader that it will be following certain templates, patterns, and tropes. There are expectations set through the genre, which is why some genre fiction is the most disappointing for readers because of those expectations.
No genre or designation is mutually exclusive - romances and mysteries can also be literary. Sara underlines that a lot of genre designations are more about marketing the books than they are about the actual content.
Genre fiction is important; to be a good reader of literary fiction you should know a lot about genre fiction. Genre fiction is a playground for tropes and knowing and understanding them can help readers recognize when authors are doing things with those tropes.

Dark Literature (15:37):

When Sara thinks of “Dark Literature,” she thinks of darker themes that explore those aspects of human nature and relationships. It can also describe the atmosphere of a book - think dark academia, for example. However, for Sara this remains loosely defined and really targets the “vibe” more than a hard definition.
Sara divides books in her mind between Light and Dark and Cold and Warm. Less of a fan of Light books, Sara does appreciate Warm and Cold books that have more or less heart and emotional depth. There can be aesthetic darkness without being psychologically bleak, and a lot of readers are drawn to subgenres like “cozy horror” that fit in different places in the quadrants.
Gothic Literature is often hallmarked by a heroine in a creepy house as she explores her own psychology. Sara extends the definition to books that play with the interior vs. exterior trust and reliability of a protagonist and macabre settings with a sprinkling of horror tropes to explore human motivation and psychology.

Classic + Modern Dark/Literary Books (24:49):

Classic:

Modern:

Hot on the Shelf (41:51):

Sara: This Strange Eventful History by Claire Messud

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (44:21):

Sara: Top Chef on Bravo

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 62: Babysitters (Hidden Pictures + Life's Too Short) May 21, 2024

Summary: We left money by the phone for pizza, listeners! The parents are out to dinner tonight while Holly and Devin discuss books featuring babysitting. Whether you made pocket money as a teenager or lived your best life as an Au Pair in Europe, most of us have experience babysitting and certainly being babysat. Books that explore the power, social, and logistical dynamics of babysitters with their employers and children usually go one of two ways, and Holly and Devin are the resident experts for both. Grab a slice of greasy cheese and get excited to hear them break it down.

Topics Discussed:

The Dagger (4:29): Holly discussed Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak, a supernatural thriller that inspires nightmares. Mallory Quinn is fighting for a new beginning after leaving rehab and lands a full time nanny position watching five year-old Teddy for the Maxwell family. Finding the stability she’s always craved and bonding with Teddy, Mallory thinks she’s found the solution to her future until Teddy’s adorable drawings take a sinister turn; Mallory must decipher the images and save Teddy before it’s too late. Holly’s key takeaways were:

A major theme of this thriller is second chances when all seems hopeless. Mallory’s struggle with addiction not only underlines the triumph of her new beginning but throws her into self-doubt; can she trust her recollections and experiences as Teddy’s drawings reveal what should be unbelievable?
The pictures add a unique and engaging twist to this story; Rekulak builds tension well by including the actual images of Teddy’s drawings in the book. The reader will be turning pages seeing normal stick figures of a kid, a bunny, the sun—and then unveil something super creepy.
Mallory’s relationship with the Maxwell family underlines the class and power dynamics often at play for babysitters; she moves into a well-to-do suburban setting, in drastic contrast to Mallory’s upbringing and her life recently as an addict on the Philly streets.

The Heart (23:06): Devin discussed Life’s Too Short by Abby Jimenez, a romance following Vanessa Price (YouTube sensation and world traveler) and her next door neighbor Adrian Copeland (a workaholic criminal defense attorney) as they are thrown together in order to care for Grace, Vanessa’s half-sister’s baby after the child is left on Vanessa’s doorstep with no warning. As friendship blossoms into something more, both Vanessa and Adrian must acknowledge that the last thing either could just be the thing they need most. Devin’s key takeaways were:

Adrian and Vanessa are on the opposite ends of the risk tolerance spectrum but for similar reasons. Trauma and fear drive them both to do what they do; for Adrian it's to do nothing at all and work nonstop. For Vanessa it's to experience as much as she can all the time, with no consistency or roots. Thrown together, the sparks fly as these polar opposites clash and connect.
Vanessa already lost her mother and sister to ALS, and she has a 50% chance of getting it herself. She lives with the assumption that she won’t make it past 30 years old. What do we do when we think right now is all we have? Does it make us love harder or avoid it? Jimenez interrogates this with her polar opposite protagonists.
In the physical form of baby Grace, both Vanessa and Adrian must confront their relationships with responsibility. Vanessa has spent her life avoiding real responsibility, obligations and deep connections because she doesn’t want to leave anyone heartbroken after her expected, untimely death. The reader examines with our protagonists the point at which love and responsibility meet.

Hot On the Shelf (40:13):

Holly: The Sleepwalkers by Scarlett Thomas
Devin: Outlive by Peter Attia, MD

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (44:06):

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Throne of Glass Debrief #5: Queen of Shadows May 14, 2024

Summary: Welcome to Episode 5 of our special Throne of Glass series, friends! Aelin is back in Rifthold and ready to break hearts, faces, and rules in order to tee up the future she and her fledgling court are fighting for. Today we explore Queen of Shadows, the fourth (or fifth depending on your reading order) book in ToG. Now that Celaena has let go of her assassin pretenses and stepped into her true identity as Aelin Galathynius, she and her team return to Adarlan to confront old and new enemies alike with an eye toward claiming her throne in Terrasen and winning the larger war.

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/shop/heartsanddaggerspod (purchases support our work)

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 61: Rural (Maggie Moves On + Bad Cree) May 07, 2024

Summary: From horror to Hallmark, a small town setting is ripe for intrigue for Holly and Devin this week. Join our hosts as they break down books set as far from a city as possible. Living in a town of 3,000 people, Devin feels right at home with a rural community and Holly brings the creepiness and the connections of more isolated regions via her book. Both hosts agree that rural settings turn up the heat in their respective wheelhouses, but with wildly different outcomes (you know, bonking vs. butchering).

Topics Discussed:

The Heart (3:59): Devin discussed Maggie Moves On by Lucy Score, a novel following Maggie Nichols as she takes on her most audacious flip project yet in the tiny town of Kinship, Idaho. With a goal of renovating the famed Victorian mansion in less than 4 months and hitting one million subscribers on YouTube, Maggie has no time for the flirtatious and talented landscaper Silas Wright, until he shows her that maybe he and the town are the exact things she should be focused on. Devin’s key takeaways were:

The tiny town of Kinship is the opposite of everything Maggie has ever known and is what makes Silas who he is. Silas cannot imagine living somewhere outside of Kinship and has a big, boisterous family that he sees 2-3 times / month in a group setting. Maggie has been on her own since 21 and only lives in the same place for 3 months at a time. The setting plays a huge role in how they develop as a couple and individually.
When do we need people, when do we want people, and how often should life be done alone? Maggie and Silas are diametrically opposed at the start of the book; Silas loves being vulnerable and trusting his gut, and Maggie can’t do anything without a spreadsheet. Score explores vulnerability and how we grow best through our protagonists’ differing viewpoints.
With references to YouTube comments, gifs, viewership, editing, posting, etc. as well as choices for each room and a whole team of people working on the house and landscaping, this book was an HGTV lover's dream. It was fun to hear about this mansion-sized undertaking and some interior decor subplots.

The Dagger (20:07): Holly discussed Bad Cree by Jessica Johns, a literary horror book following Mackenzie, a young Cree woman who has moved to Vancouver to avoid facing her sister Sabrina’s untimely death. In the last few weeks she’s been followed everywhere by crows and her nightmares featuring crows, a frozen lake, and her sister’s body have been intensifying. Soon enough, Mackenzie and the reader reckon with the fact that something is going on after she dreams she falls through ice into the lake; Mackenzie wakes up drenched and her phone is broken - the last location of which is showing at the lake hundreds of miles away. Holly’s key takeaways were:

Mack has fled to Vancouver but returns home to learn to embrace her roots again and not run from pain. At home things are much more in the open: the community is small, people’s actions are visible, the land itself is very visible with the plains and farmland. The area has suffered both from companies coming in to frack and extract resources from the land and then abandon the community once they took what was valuable; the community grapples with generational and recent traumas.
Grief plays a huge role throughout this story; not only is Mackenzie navigating the death of her sister Sabrina; the whole family is also still reeling from the loss of their matriarch, Kokum, several years before.
Ultimately even though there are classic horror elements, family and community play a huge role in Bad Cree. The characters are so close and play specific roles within their larger community; knowledge is passed around and sought out from the elders, there are traditions of late night card games and poker. The theme of crows throughout is a metaphor for sticking together, for mourning our dead, for watching each others’ backs.

Hot On the Shelf (38:42):

Holly: The Miracles of the Namiya General Store by Keigo Higashino
Devin: The Prospects by KT Hoffman

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (42:31):

Holly: Dodgers Baseball
Devin: Spring Skiing

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 60: LoveFest (V.E. Schwab) Apr 23, 2024

Summary: Welcome to LoveFest number six, where Holly and Devin gush about the acclaimed fantasy author V.E. Schwab. Every ten episodes our hosts come together to highlight where their tastes intersect. While you may think of V.E. Schwab as being squarely in Holly’s wheelhouse, this author is more similar to Neil Gaiman and infuses empathy, care, and creativity into plots so that even the most sensitive romance reader can find something to love.

Topics Discussed:

Author Background (4:04):

Completing her first work at the age of 19, V.E. Schwab (pronouns she/they) has since published more than twenty works for YA and adults. Publishing under the monikers Victoria Schwab and V.E. Schwab, this author is best known for fantasy series that blend with reality and creepy, ghost-filled plots. Highlights for Holly and Devin generally are her monthly newsletter and her almost poetic, haunting style.

Series (10:25):

Cassidy Blake Series

Shades of Magic Series

Villains Series

Vicious
Vengeful
Victorious (pub date TBD)

Standalones (34:01):

Hot On the Shelf (55:05):

Devin: Bride by Ali Hazelwood
Holly: James by Percival Everett

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (59:45):

Devin: Season 2 of Extraordinary on Hulu
Holly: Perfect Days, Japanese film

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 59: Visual Artists (The Mill House Murders + Hello, Stranger) Apr 09, 2024

Summary: Grab your brushes and palettes, friends - we’re talking Visual Artists today! Join Holly and Devin as they discuss the role of art in their own lives and books in their wheelhouses. Whether you grew up drawing horses and chickens like Holly or unable to even master stick figures like Devin, a splash of color from artists (or blood) will be just what you need to get your hearts racing.

Topics Discussed:

The Dagger (5:28): Holly discussed The Mill House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji, a puzzle game mystery novel set in 1985. On a long, stormy night a woman fell from the house’s tower, a painting disappeared, and a man vanished under what seemed to be impossible circumstances. Soon after, the group of six left in (alive) in the home discover a body burning in the basement incinerator. After that chill opener, the novel unfolds in two threads: this disastrous night and the same night one year later when the group gathers with more questions than ever. Holly’s key takeaways were:

Fujinuma Kiichi, wheelchair-bound after a horrific car accident, is the son of renowned artist Fujinuma Issei and lives in Mill House with all of his father’s paintings and his 20-years-younger wife who is kept isolated in the tower. The group we meet gathers annually for a viewing of the portraits, but this year goes sideways - fast.
The role of art is woven through the novel in an impactful way: the absent but looming artist father, the desire and greed the visitors feel for his work, art as a motivation for crimes and even a secret, final painting that Fujinuma Kiichi won’t let anyone see.
The overall structure and puzzle element to the mystery really resonated with Holly; you have to pay close attention as a reader and the plot can get a little convoluted but it all comes together in the end very effectively.

The Heart (24:14): Devin discussed Hello, Stranger by Katherine Center, a novel following Sadie Montgomery as she almost simultaneously discovers she is a finalist in a national portrait competition that would revolutionize her career prospects as an artist and that she was rendered face-blind after a surgery to remove a blood clot from her brain. Sadie must rediscover herself and the people in her life as she navigates her face-blindness and works to uncover how someone who can’t see faces could paint an award-winning portrait. Devin’s key takeaways were:

Center loves to weave new and old trauma through her romances and this book is no exception. Sadie has to deal not only with her mother’s death, her father’s apathy, her step mother and sister’s horrible treatment, but also the trials and struggles of navigating friendships with other priorities while she fights against her face blindness.
Post-surgery, Sadie must confront and work her way through the fact that her portraiture might be ruined. She fights hard to overcome her handicap and still render photo-realistic portraits for the competition, but is ultimately unable to do so and has to question her artistic identity and her personal identity through the process.
Never has Devin ever dealt with a love triangle this fun or unusual. To only have the male protagonists described in the most vague, weird ways (their vibe, their torsos, the blob of their face and hair) was an absolute blast and the potential lover character arcs were phenomenal to follow.

Hot On the Shelf (44:17):

Holly: Those Beyond the Wall by Micaiah Johnson
Devin: A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (48:06):

Holly: The Legend of Korra on Netflix
Devin: A wheel throwing pottery class

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Throne of Glass Debrief #4: Heir of Fire Apr 02, 2024

Summary: Welcome to Episode 4 of our special Throne of Glass series, friends! The universe we understand in this series explodes with new characters, new places, new faces, and new challenges. Today we explore Heir of Fire, the third (or fourth depending on your reading order) book in ToG. After the crushing events of Crown of Midnight, Celaena travels under the guise of an ordered assassination to Wendlyn. Once there, she is brought face-to-face with her history, her future, and who she needs to become.

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/shop/heartsanddaggerspod (purchases support our work)

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 58: Space (A Cosmic Kind of Love + Station Eternity) Mar 26, 2024

Summary: You’re out of this world, listener! Join Holly and Devin today as they discuss books set in or featuring outer space. Devin has always been obsessed with space exploration and studied it in college, whereas Holly only really wants to read about this subject in her books. Whether you have a passion for astronomy or astrology, whether you dream of flying to the moon or are glad your feet are firmly planted on earth, these books have something for you!

Topics Discussed:

The Heart (3:41): Devin discussed A Cosmic Kind of Love by Samantha Young, a unique romance following event planner Hallie Goodman and NASA astronaut Christopher Ortiz as they orbit each other and then collide. After discovering his video diaries from the ISS (International Space Station), Hallie develops a crush on the charismatic astronaut and starts to send her own recordings to his discontinued NASA email address. Little does she know, though, that Chris is watching them and developing a crush of his own. Devin’s key takeaways were:

Not only is the book full of videos where Chris describes what it’s like to live on the ISS, but there’s metaphorical space for better and worse laced throughout this novel. Chris works for NASA and did 5 months in space, but both he and Hallie struggle with space, taking up more of it in their lives and not letting it get in the way of their fledgling romance.
Both protagonists have a lot of trauma and a lot of current struggles with their families, especially their parents. This informs how they show up in their relationship and how they react to various triggers. A lot of the book involves the repair or boundary setting of Hallie and Chris with their families.
Chris, having dated a socialite named Darcy and Hallie who is consistently wrapped up in the world through her work have to fight for their positions in society and for authenticity in their relationships. Even Hallie’s dad struggles with posturing and connection when he buys a gigantic house to make his ex jealous.

The Dagger (23:48): Holly discussed Station Eternity by Mur Lafferty, book one in the Midsolar Murders series and a novel following Mallory Viridian, a human living on the space station Eternity amongst various species of aliens. Having left earth after realizing that people connected to her are murdered at an alarming rate, Mallory’s existence on Eternity is peaceful… until a shuttle full of humans comes to the station and the bodies begin to pile up again. Holly’s key takeaways were:

One of the best aspects of the book was the various aliens on board, ranging from the Gneiss who are creatures made of living rock to the Sundry, an insect species similar to wasps who have a hive mind and can only communicate with you if three or more of them gather together.
The murder mystery component of the story felt misleading - there wasn’t so much the real focus of this story and didn’t come together in a way that felt satisfying; there was some confusion on the core thrust of the plot and what the reader should be focused on.
Ultimately, this book had a lot of promise and intriguing world building of alien species cohabitating in a sentient space station, but the execution felt chaotic and messy. If you’re looking for a sci-fi thriller with a unique twist, though, check out this series.

Hot On the Shelf (47:34):

Holly: Shark Heart: A Love Story by Emily Habeck
Devin: How You Get the Girl by Anita Kelly

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (50:52):

Holly: Dune Part 2
Devin: Bread baking weekly

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 57: Horses (Girls and Their Horses + Done and Dusted) Mar 12, 2024

Summary: Giddy up, friends, and join us for a ride into the wild world of horses. Holly has been a lifelong Horse Girl and Devin spent a decade taking horseback riding lessons, but neither of them have been as involved with the animals as any of the characters in their featured books today. For better or worse, a life revolving around horses can be all encompassing and high pressure; our hosts highlight the good and bad in their respective wheelhouses today.

Topics Discussed:

The Dagger (6:39): Holly discussed Girls and Their Horses by Eliza Jane Brazier, a thriller perfect for anyone looking to read about rich people behaving badly. We follow two teenage sisters, Piper and Maple, and their mother, Heather. as they move to an exclusive community in the heart of Southern California. Once there, they begin riding at the Rancho Santa Fe Equestrian, where horses (and murder) are a lifestyle. Holly’s key takeaways were:

From the start we learn that someone is dead, and then Brazier weaves us through the lead up to the incident with alternating perspectives from Heather, her daughters, and other “Barn Moms” at the stables.
There are distinct socioeconomic themes and dynamics in this book; Heather is newly wealthy and determined to give her daughters the life she never had, but the established families in the community are suspicious and judgemental.
This book is full of characters that are flawed, hurt, downright unlikeable and their internal challenges clash against their peers as they feed their ambitions and fight for what they believe they deserve.

The Heart (21:44): Devin discussed Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage, a novel following professional barrel racer Emmy Ryder as she returns to her hometown of Meadowlark, Wyoming after an accident renders her unable to get back on her horse. Once there, she’s met with more than she expected as her brother’s best friend, Luke Brooks, becomes more than just an occasional thorn in her side. Devin’s key takeaways were:

If you’re looking for some horse energy, this is the book for you. Emmy’s family owns Rebel Blue Ranch which raises cattle, horses, gives riding lessons and embraces the classic western vibes. Luke and Emmy spend most of their time around horses and the deepening of their romantic dynamic is part and parcel with those interactions.
The story does not hold back on the steam front; this book is almost shockingly sexy and involves dirty talk. If you’re looking for a more subtle, closed door romance vibe, tread lightly with this book. If you’re not, join Devin for an absolute blast.
Sage has ADHD herself and worked hard to bring more authentic representation of the disorder with Emmy. Both she and Luke have traumas and experiences that inform and block their connection that they work through together to grow as people (and together).

Hot On the Shelf (45:32):

Holly: The Searcher by Tana French
Devin: Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (50:00):

Holly: The Night Of on HBO
Devin: Mr. and Mrs. Smith on Amazon Prime

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Throne of Glass Debrief #3: The Assassin's Blade Mar 05, 2024

Summary: Welcome to Episode 3 of our special Throne of Glass series, friends! Get excited as we dig into the prequel novellas that make us fall in love with Celaena even more (and understand why she’s in dire need of therapy). Today we explore The Assassin’s Blade, five short stories focused on Celaena’s time as an assassin before she’s sent to Endovier and the plot of Throne of Glass begins.

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/shop/heartsanddaggerspod (purchases support our work)

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 56: Short Stories (Love in Color + Sleep No More) Feb 27, 2024

Summary: Sometimes the best gifts come in smaller packages - join us today, friends, as Holly and Devin review short story collections in their respective wheelhouses. With a deep history of reading short fiction from their college years, Holly and Devin reflected that while less common to read in adulthood, short stories haven’t lost their value or potency. Being able to impact a reader quickly enough to have a complete short story is a feat of writing prowess and the two collections they review today prove that.

Topics Discussed:

The Heart (2:58): Devin discussed Love in Color by Bolu Babalola, a collection of myth retellings centered around West Africa with a sprinkling of Greek and Middle East legends thrown in. Babalola reshapes the tales of Nefertiti, Scheherazade, Psyche and others to move away from patriarchal tropes and toward a women-centered happily ever after. Devin’s key takeaways were:

Many of these myths end badly and usually with the death or subjugation of the female protagonist; by applying common romance tropes in the retelling they take on a more hopeful, lighter air and really underline the value of love conquering all
The default characters were all BIPOC, and the book told stories that aren’t well-known outside of the home cultures/countries. It was amazing to recognize stories like that of Psyche and Thisbe from Greek mythology that we were taught in school, but then also dive headfirst into new-to-you myths. Definitely worth researching the myths as you go to compare vs. Babalola’s work.
Told from the perspective of the woman instead of the man in all but one of the stories (Attem), the reader is left overall with a feeling of empowerment and connection. By resetting the myths in modern Manhattan, for example, we are reminded that myths aren’t history but evolve with us, acting as a mirror that reflects who we are and who we want to be.

The Dagger (15:56): Holly discussed Sleep No More: Six Murderous Tales by P.D. James, a reprinted series of short stories published posthumously in 2017 from works written between 1973 and 2005. With the title a nod to Macbeth, James stories pack a punch with ordinary characters who commit dark acts. Holly’s key takeaways were:

Influenced by the likes of Agatha Christie, James took the popular murder mystery concept and deepened it by adding emotional, moral, and psychological layers that draw the reader in and are clear even in the short story format.
Interestingly, many of the stories in this collection are set around Christmas. If you’re a reader who loves a little murder for the holidays, this collection is for you. For example, a cozy mystery author reflects on being caught up in a real-life murder as a youth when his family had guests to their home for Christmas and the person who dresses up as Santa is found dead.
Told mostly in the first person with unnamed narrators, James’ builds tension with car trips gone wrong (three were in the car when they pulled over, why do only two arrive at the house?), deep family history, wolves in sheeps clothing, and the close quarters of vacations and manor homes in the UK.

Hot On the Shelf (38:21):

Holly: A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab
Devin: Interesting Facts about Space by Emily Austin

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (42:38):

Holly: Godzilla Minus One film
Devin: Get On Your Knees comedy special by Jaqueline Novak on Netflix

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 55: Teenagers (Where Sleeping Girls Lie + Henry Hamlet's Heart) Feb 13, 2024

Summary: Grab that benzoyl peroxide and your Abercrombie cologne, friends, we’re talking teenagers on this lovely Galentine’s day! Whether you always felt like an old soul the way Holly did, or hid behind athletics and Evanescence like Devin to get through those spicy years of youth, the YA books our hosts discuss today will bring you comfort, connection, and cringe.

Topics Discussed:

The Dagger (4:35): Holly discussed Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Abike-Iyimide, a YA mystery following Sade as she navigates her third year at the prestigious Alfred Nobel Academy boarding school after being homeschooled most of her life. The very first night, Sade’s roommate and house sister Elizabeth disappears. Soon after, the body of a student turns up and the search for Elizabeth becomes frantic. Holly’s key takeaways were:

With vibes that bring “Wednesday” and “Mean Girls” together, this novel is heavily dark academia. There is a clear sense of place, and boy is that place creepy! The uneasy undercurrents fit perfectly with the plot as Sade and her best friend Baz investigate their friend’s disappearance.
The student dynamics in play are not only fun to read but also amplify the sense of teenage angst through the novel. The Unholy Trinity, a group of 3 popular girls, along with Sade’s best friends not only have various queer and cis-het romantic intrigues but also deep relationships and conflicts that connect to the disappearance.
At over 400 pages, this book would have likely been more impactful and effective if it were edited down a bit, especially in the middle. There were some questions floating around about the mystery we follow that required some suspension of disbelief, although once past there enjoyable nonetheless.

The Heart (21:55): Devin discussed Henry Hamlet’s Heart by Rhiannon Wilde, a YA romance following the titular character as he confronts his final year at Brisbane Northolm Grammar School for Boys, the uncertainty of his future heading to Uni, and the burgeoning romantic feelings that he never saw coming. Devin’s key takeaways were:

Henry’s struggle to understand his sexuality, his blossoming romantic love for his platonic best friend, Len, and also what he wants from his future as a high performing perfectionist at school is fantastic, authentic, and endearing. By contrast, Len’s confidence in his bisexuality and his self-acceptance acts as an anchor for us and draws Henry like a moth to flame.
Figuring out your sexuality in a cis-het society is full of stress, second-guessing, and gaslighting. Wilde’s gentle treatment can act as a guide for YA readers and a soothing balm for queer people like Devin who suppressed those feelings in high school and acted straight.
We root for Henry easily, but he’s also not mature or polished and grapples constantly with the impacts of his choices on his future, which feels too big. His internal narrative feels true to his age and he’s a bit of a mess, but is also pressured by various family members to focus on different aspects of himself as he takes the step to university.

Hot On the Shelf (36:13):

Holly: Faebound by Saara El-Arifi
Devin: The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (40:24):

Holly: Fleabag on Amazon Prime
Devin: We’re Here to Help Podcast

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Throne of Glass Debrief #2: Crown of Midnight Feb 06, 2024

Summary: Welcome to Episode 2 of our special Throne of Glass series, friends! Buckle up as we get in deeper with Celaena, Chaol, and Dorian as they FAFO what happens after the king’s champion is crowned. Today we dive into Crown of Midnight and break down the romances, friendships, speculation and heartache that draw us deeper into SJM’s first fantasy series.

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/shop/heartsanddaggerspod (purchases support our work)

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 54: Polar Adventures (The Tourist Attraction + A Haunting in the Arctic) Jan 30, 2024

Summary: Brrrrrr, it’s cold in here, there must be some novels in the atmosphere! (sorry). Join Holly and Devin today as they head up to the great white north and explore books set in the Arctic. Cold this biting can drive people together or even further apart, and braving the elements requires trust and risks a lot when that trust is broken. Holly and Devin both love when their protagonists battle the elements, but for very different reasons and with very different outcomes.

Topics Discussed:

The Heart (4:31): Devin discussed The Tourist Attraction by Sarah Morgenthaler, a romance following Zoey Caldwell for her once-in-a-lifetime vacation to the town of Moose Springs, Alaska. Once there, in collaboration with her wealthy best friend Lana and a handsome townie who hates tourists named Graham Barnett, Zoey explores the natural wonders of the region… and some much more interpersonal wonders with Graham. Devin’s key takeaways were:

If you’re looking for a taste of arctic adventures, this book delivers pretty well. There are moose (mooses? meese?) galore, four-wheeling adventures, whale watching, you name it. That being said, Zoey runs into a lot of problems on her adventures (even zip lining doesn't go right) so the reader’s enjoyment gets a bit clouded by the continuous mishaps.
The friendships and side characters in this book were amazing. Lana is a complicated and fascinating character I wish we had seen more of, and Graham's cohort of local friends are unique, rounded, and intriguing. Even Lana’s wealthy friends who suck are hilarious and add good color to the story.
Graham is a bit of a complicated (read: toxically masculine) protagonist; he won’t stop calling Zoey “gorgeous” as a pet name, he resorts to violence and throwing punches during any conflict, and isn’t great at processing his own emotions. He also hates tourists without acknowledging that all his income and his lifestyle are thanks to their money.

The Dagger (23:17): Holly discussed A Haunting in the Arctic by C.J. Cooke, a supernatural horror novel with two timelines set on a single location - the whaling ship Ormen. In the modern-day timeline, a cohort of explorers and content creators arrive in northern Ireland to squat on the shipwrecked vessel before it is dragged out to sea and sunk by officials. The reader gets insight into 1901 events that ripple into today, though, as they follow a young woman in Scotland who is attacked and taken aboard the Orman against her will. Holly’s key takeaways were:

Cooke creates a bone-chilling and creepy atmosphere with strong writing and invocation of rhymes and sailor song; the book captures the sense of isolation and madness that can plague people in arctic elements for too long. While great, Holly wishes there had been even more of this woven in.
Like many readers, when there are dual timelines Holly is usually drawn to one more than the other. Here, she found the present timeline was focused on content creation and engaging a social media audience. The other timeline that follows a woman as she awakes surrounded by a sailing crew headed deeper and deeper into the arctic held more intrigue.
This book is dark; it’s all about trauma and the permanent traces that haunt us, with many violent acts committed throughout. Cooke weaves in metaphors and commentary on humanity’s violation and pillaging of the environment - particularly the entitlement of men and the harms they’ve caused over time.

Hot On the Shelf (42:13):

Holly: The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo
Devin: Heartstopper Volume 5 by Alice Oseman

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (45:42):

Holly: Poor Things, 2023 film
Devin: Skiing Big Sky in Montana for the first time

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 53: Podcasters (None of This Is True + Hana Khan Carries On) Jan 16, 2024

Summary: Let’s get meta, friends! Today, Holly and Devin talk through books with podcasters as the protagonists. They use this podcast medium to dig into the value of podcasting and the way that an audio medium impacts our lives, for better and for much, much worse. Due to its growing popularity in the last decade - true crime for Holly and comedy/science for Devin - podcasts are more and more featured in books and as podcasters themselves, our hosts are all for it. They’ll stop saying “podcast” so much now…

Topics Discussed:

The Dagger (3:20): Holly discussed None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell, a psychological thriller that follows popular podcaster Alix Summers as she crosses paths with an unassuming woman named Josie Fair. After Josie pitches herself as the subject in one of Alix’s podcast episodes, the women become progressively more entwined and Alix is left to uncover the dark, terrible legacy of Josie after her sudden disappearance. Holly’s key takeaways were:

Jewell alternates the POV between Alix and Josie and includes excerpts from the podcast episodes they record; Holly recommends this book on audio specifically because of the mixed media elements.
From the start, Alix and Josie are foils for each other. Alix is pretty, upper middle class, successful and fulfilled in her work. Josie is frumpy, constantly described as wearing denim everything and married to a man almost 30 years her senior. Jewell weaves them together in a fascinating and terrifying way.
As the title indicates, Jewell masterfully balances perspective (via Alix, who is uncertain about who Josie is and whether to keep working with her) such that the reader even to the end cannot feel confident in who to believe and where lies the truth.

The Heart (20:22): Devin discussed Hana Khan Carries On by Uzma Jalaluddin, a “You’ve Got Mail” retelling that follows Hana Khan as she balances her passion for podcasting with her efforts to save her mother’s halal restaurant, Three Sisters Biryani Poutine. When a competitor, Wholistic Burgers and Grill, opens on the same street, Hana is thrown into battle against the charming and gorgeous Aydin Shah. With her podcast, Ana’s Brown Girl Rambles, as a solace and the dedicated listener Stanley P as a confidant, how can Hana do it all? Devin’s key takeaways were:

Instead of email for this Rom Com re-do, Aydin and Hana come together and are kept apart by her podcast and their DMs. Her engagement with audio allows the reader to explore what having a voice means, especially with moments of anti-muslim hate crime in the story.
Yes, this is a romance but Jalaluddin focuses on Hana as a full and complete woman outside of romantic love, and explores self-love, familial love, and community love and care through the novel - with a special emphasis on the Toronto Golden Crescent neighborhood.
With concerns over the failing restaurant run by her mother for so long, Hana has to fight to keep traditions alive but also has deep passion for audio broadcasting and the modern ways people connect to each other. Both Aydin and Hana have to wrestle with those pressures and the possible gentrification of their Muslim neighborhood in Scarborough.

Hot On the Shelf (39:09):

Holly: Independent People by Halldor Laxness
Devin: Text Appeal by Amber Roberts

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (43:08):

Holly: A new season of reading in 2024
Devin: Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Throne of Glass Debrief #1: Throne of Glass Jan 09, 2024

Summary: To start year 3 of Hearts & Daggers with a bang, we are launching a brand-new special miniseries that is sure to delight Hearts and Daggers readers alike.

In this our first episode, we will share a brief introduction to the series; the order in which we'll be reading; and then dive into discussion of the book Throne of Glass. Each episode will have spoilers for the book being discussed and any of the books we've read previously, but we won't give spoilers beyond that point. We will warn you in this episode before we get into spoilers, in case you want to listen and get a taste before diving into the series yourself. Episodes will continue to drop each month until we finish the series.

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/shop/heartsanddaggerspod (purchases support our work)

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 52: Debut Authors (Lunar Love + Winter Counts) Jan 02, 2024

Summary: Welcome to year three of Hearts & Daggers, friends! We are so delighted you are along on this ride with us. To get 2024 started, Holly and Devin are digging into books by debut authors. There may be nothing more impressive that someone who puts their heart and hard work on the line to publish their first book. It’s not only difficult to get published in the first place, but once your book is out there are thousands if not millions of people who experience your finished work. Holly and Devin both love reading debuts, finding that the more diverse voices added to the canon the more they enjoy diving in.

Topics Discussed:

The Heart (3:45): Devin discussed Lunar Love by Lauren Kung Jessen, an enemies-to-lovers centered around Olivia Huang Christenson and Bennett O’Brien as they go head-to-head in a competition to see whose Chinese zodiac matchmaking approach is best. Liv is working hard to maintain the traditions of her grandmother’s matchmaking business and Bennett has launched a new dating app that recommends matches using the Chinese zodiac. Devin’s key takeaways were:

The crux of the romance and the plot of the novel is the push/pull between tradition and innovation. How can one maintain culture via traditional practices and where should technology and new perspectives impact those traditions?
Devin is year of the Horse and Holly is year of the Snake, but either had been exposed very much to the Chinese zodiac before Devin read this book; Kung Jessen pulls from her Chinese-American heritage to add a unique cultural and historical perspective to the novel without making it seem like a lesson at school.
Lunar Love was a bit light on the romance side and not very steamy. That being said, it was built authentically through Liv and Bennett’s competition. Reading how each of them watched each other on dates that they themselves orchestrated and the complicated feelings there was especially enjoyable.

The Dagger (19:22): Holly discussed Winter Counts by David Heska Wanbli Weiden, a crime thriller following Virgil Wounded Horse as he delivers vigilante justice for his Lakota Nation community when the American legal system and the trivial council fall short. When heroin makes its way onto the reservation and directly impacts Virgil’s nephew, his career in vigilantism suddenly becomes personal. Holly’s key takeaways were:

This novel was not only an extremely solid debut, but an important fresh voice for the triller genre; it was character-driven and a slower build in terms of action, but Holly read it in a day and found it was impossible to put down.
Winter Counts explores themes of justice and the corruption that can preclude real accountability and fairness within not only the federal policing system as it interacts with the Native communities, but also the tribal councils themselves and the cascading impacts it has on the people.
Through Virgil and the other characters of the book, Weiden explores not only how personal history and trauma influence perspectives and actions but also the challenges of maintaining and evolving cultural identity and traditions for the Native communities in the modern era.

Hot On the Shelf (35:26):

Holly: The Eyes Are the Best Part by Monika Kim
Devin: The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (41:29):

Holly: Rewatching Avatar: The Last Airbender
Devin: The Old Man and the Pool by Mike Bribiglia

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Announcement: Throne of Glass Special Series Dec 26, 2023

Summary: Happy Holidays, folks! To start year 3 of Hearts & Daggers with a bang, we are launching a brand-new special miniseries that is sure to delight Hearts and Daggers readers alike.

We have both been reading the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas, a mutual favorite author who we celebrated in a previous LoveFest episode. We’re excited to share that we will be releasing monthly special episodes in which we debrief on each book as we go throughout the series.

The first episode will air in January and they’ll continue to drop each month until we finish the series.

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 51: Coming Home (Sundial + Delilah Green Doesn't Care) Dec 19, 2023

Summary: Welcome home, friends! Join Holly and Devin today as they discuss books that feature a return to our roots, to going back where we came from (for better or worse). Devin highlights that this trope is common and effective in romances - Hallmark and Lifetime use it constantly. Holly shares that thrillers remind the reader that “home” isn’t always cozy and safe but can be the source of trauma and horrors to make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck.

Topics Discussed:

The Dagger (3:40): Holly discussed Sundial by Catriona Ward, a novel following Rob, a woman who has it all - a husband, two children and a nice house in the suburbs. At least, that’s how it looks on paper. After discovering that her husband is cheating on her with her only friend and feeling increasingly worried for her daughter Callie’s bizarre behaviors, Rob seeks answers at Sundial, the remote desert ranch where Rob grew up. Holly’s key takeaways were:

This novel explores the theme of nature vs. nurture, both in humans and animals. What makes us who we are, and how much can human intervention modify and control the choices we make? The setting in the Mojave desert doubles down on this exploration, portrayed as a brutal, hungry animal waiting to be fed.
Ward keeps us back on our heels through the novel with alternating timelines and POVs; we follow Rob and Callie in the present day, but also see Rob of the past and her childhood at Sundial. We are left feeling distrustful of everyone and unsure which story we can rely on.
Rob’s return home and Callie’s introduction to Rob’s fraught past is a major factor in this novel; we are privy to the present day experience of Rob coming back to Sundial, but we also move back in time to learn what happened there when she and her sister Jack were growing up, particularly the events surrounding their late teens.

The Heart (17:17): Devin discussed Delilah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake as we follow the titular character from the life she’s fought hard to build in New York City back to her hometown of Bright Falls for her step-sister’s wedding. As a professional photographer, she’d normally reject the opportunity outright but the five-figure paycheck sways her. Once there, she meets her sister’s friend Claire and decides that the entire two-week extravaganza would be more fun with some flirtation. Delilah ends up with way more than she bargains for and so does the reader. Devin’s key takeaways were:

Even with Astrid, Delilah’s cold and perfectionistic step sister, a lot of this book is about finding your voice and learning how to stand for what you need and want, with boundaries and sharing feelings etc. whether in romantic partnerships or platonic friendships.
The first of a three book series, this novel is a sapphic romance and is very fantastically steamy; Herring Blake focuses her talents on not just sexy moments but hot dialogue to make even the most seasoned romance reader blush. As queer romances go, this one is a fantastic representation of real queer community and intimacy.
The chaos and stress of going home, facing triggers head-on and the complicated family dynamics between Claire and her ex husband all build to the sense that this whole exercise is tough for everyone, but also worthwhile to build a better future for everyone involved.

Hot On the Shelf (37:09):

Devin: A World of Curiosities by Louise Penny
Holly: The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (40:46):

Devin: Boygenius (especially Julien Baker)
Holly: The Crown, Season 6 Part 1

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 50: LoveFest (Fredrik Backman) Dec 05, 2023

Summary: It’s time for another awesome LoveFest with Devin and Holly! This week they discuss Swedish author extraordinaire, Fredrik Backman. Known globally for his stories full of heart, redemption, and seeking meaning in the hardest parts of life, he’s been a long-time favorite of both hosts. He sheds light on octogenarians and children, the ignored and the marginalized in his writing and brings would-be villains into a gentle light. We love rooting for all his characters!

Topics Discussed:

Background (4:39): Backman debuted with A Man Called Ove in 2012 and lives in Sweden with his wife and two children; Holly and Devin discuss how they discovered his work and stand-out aspects of his writing.
Curmudgeon Book Discussion (10:59):

A Man Called Ove: After his wife’s death, Ove decides life isn’t worth living. But life has a funny way of pulling you back in and with a colorful and caring cast of characters, this grump discovers just how much there is to live for.
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry: After the death of her sole caretaker and grandmother, Elsa is left with a series of letters addressed to residents of their apartment building. The adventure she goes on to deliver them opens up Elsa’s world and reveals a community she never thought she had.
Britt-Marie Was Here: A sequel to “My Grandmother…” this novel hones in on the strict, cleanliness- and rules-focused character Britt-Marie as she leaves her unfaithful husband and tries to rebuild her life in the decrepit town of Borg. There, she uncovers that the colorful inhabitants of the town are much more than meets he eye and that perhaps, sometimes, mess is ok.

Recent Book Discussion (26:02):

And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer: This tear-jerker focuses on loss, aging, and dementia as three generations of men confront the decline of the grandfather.
Anxious People: Following a failed robbery attempt at a cashless bank in a small Swedish town, this novel examines what happens when strangers become entwined in a hilarious hostage situation and compassion and vulnerability win the day.

Beartown Series (35:20):

A three-book series (Beartown, Us Against You, The Winners), Backman explores a tiny community in a frozen north-Sweden forest that revolves around it’s hockey teams. His magnum opus, these stories follow the junior ice hockey team, it’s coaches, players, and parents, as they struggle to survive trauma, a declining economy, and other challenges. Trigger warning for sexual assault.

Hot On the Shelf (51:54):

Devin: Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan
Holly: Happiness Falls by Angie Kim

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (55:30):

Devin: David Sedaris Live Reading at CU Boulder
Holly: Killers of the Flower Moon movie (you can check out the book here!)

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep 49: Cabin in the Woods (City Baker's Guide to Country Living + In the House in the Dark of the Woods) Nov 21, 2023

Summary: Pour yourself a mug of warm cider and snuggle under a blanket for this week’s episode - we’re hanging out in cabins in the woods! Is the wind outside a soothing background to a great makeout session or the cover for clomping feet coming to get us? One thing we’re sure of - our hearts sure are racing whenever protagonists end up in rural cabins. Devin and Holly agree that while the outcomes of the stories in their respective wheelhouses differ, the allure is the same - isolated, cozy, and full of the unknown.

Topics Discussed:

The Heart (2:31): Devin discussed The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living by Louise Miller, a novel following Boston-based pastry chef Olivia Rawlings and she escapes a professional disaster by moving to a tiny Vermont town called Guthrie. Once there, she is hired to work at the Sugar Maple Inn by the owner, Margaret, who has her own apple-pie agenda, thrusting Livvy into a tiny community that makes a big impact on her life. Devin’s key takeaways were:

Livvy and the other characters in this novel all have their own ambitions, goals, and hang-ups. Some may seem silly on the surface (winning a pie baking contest) but are much more profound once you dig in. This story counteracts the assumptions we make about small towns and reminds us that community, whatever the size, makes us who we are.
The descriptions of food in this novel are some of the best I’ve seen and rival Louise Penny. The sugar, the bread, the kitchen Livvy bakes in every morning and the way she approaches new recipes with us experiencing each ingredient makes this cozy novel delicious as well.
Vermont as the setting also amplifies the cozy happy energy of the story; there’s line dancing, small bars, a tiny sugar cabin Livvy moves into that has a woodstove, so many blankets and smells of pine and nature. Every season described is idyllic and enjoyable, even aside from the plot!

The Dagger (16:37): Holly discussed In the House in the Dark of the Woods by Laird Hunt, a historical fiction suspense book set in colonial New England that follows a woman, Goody, who leaves her husband and son for the day to pick berries. She finds herself venturing deeper and deeper into the woods and stumbles upon a house - and much, much more. Holly’s key takeaways were:

This novel is lyrical but concise and reminded Holly of T.S. Elliott poems; the woods act as a symbol for freedom and dreams, for example. There’s tension between the woods, where women can be wild and free, and fear of that from the uptight rules of religion and Goody’s society.
The reader encounters many eerie and unknown things through this story; a deep well, a living ship made of human bones, butchering pigs, and “swallowing screams” are a short list. The setting in the woods and in rural cabins gives us a sense of creeping unknown and begs the question - are things what they seem?
A central theme of the story is womanhood and exploring the archetypes of being a woman; Hunt explores how women in history have been limited, abused, and subjugated to the rule of them through the guise of religion. Goody must break out of her traditional roles and learn to rely on the women she encounters who try to help; no one else will.

Hot On the Shelf (37:31):

Holly: Linghun by Ai Jiang
Devin: The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (40:37):

Holly: Lupin Part 3 on Netflix
Devin: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-verse

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 48: Modern Classics (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo + The Lion's Daughter) Nov 07, 2023

Summary: Get those reading glasses on and join us for some extra nerdy energy this week, friends! Holly and Devin discuss Modern Classics today - those works post World War II that created pivot points in the cannon for the Thriller and Romance genres. In this era, ideas about race, gender and class are shifting as readers broadened their understanding of an interconnected world. Sexual liberation and violent horrors that had previously been viewed as outrageous become commonplace, so of course both our hosts have a blast this episode!

Topics Discussed:

The Dagger (3:02): Holly discussed The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson, a Nordic crime fiction novel following Mikael Blomkvist (journalist and publisher) and Lisbeth Salander (a computer hacker) as they investigate the disappearance of a woman 40 years ago. Together, Blomkvist and Salander uncover the secrets of the woman’s family through the darkest corners of Swedish society. Holly’s key takeaways were:

The novel delves into themes of violence, sexual abuse, and family secrets. It explores how individuals and families can hide dark and painful truths, often at great cost including corruption and financial malfeasance.
Lisbeth is a central character who represents female empowerment; her intelligence, resilience and capacity for self-defense are key elements in the story. Larsson explores issues of gender and the societal treatment of women.
This novel had a significant cultural impact and made important contributions to the mystery and thriller genres. Specifically, the complex female protagonist, darker themes, moral ambiguity and critique of society are now common in the genre, begun by Larsson in 2005.

The Heart (20:31): Devin discussed The Lion’s Daughter by Loretta Chase, a bodice-ripper romance from 1992 following the fiery-haired and -tempered Esme Brentmore as she works to avenge her father’s (supposed) murder, entangled all the way with the scoundrel and handsome rake, Varian St. George. They roam the country of Albania as fiendish plots and unspoken feelings bring them together and threaten to tear them apart. Devin’s key takeaways were:

This novel and others by Chase are part of the bodice-ripper romance era (think: woman in silk dress laid sensually in a field with her blouse exposing ample cleavage). Bodice Rippers are known for “exotic” locations, sexually explicit material, heroines with careers outside of housewife/mother who are also virginal yet fierce and handsome alpha males bent on seducing and dominating that woman.
Chase brings all the above tropes to the table with the country of Albania as the background. Albanian herself, Chase adds a real air of authenticity to Esme, who was born and raised in Albania by her English father, Jason, and to many of the colorful side characters.
The romance in this novel is filled with delightful tension (once you become aware that Esme is over 18 and there is therefore no statutory rape going on - yikes) and a lot of “I must have you” energy. Esme is witty, combative, and quick to anger. Varian is immature, selfish, and devastatingly charming (also known as a fuckboi).

Hot On the Shelf (48:50):

Holly: Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton
Devin: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (53:09):

Holly: Stray, the video game
Devin: Our Flag Means Death on HBO Max

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 47: Vampires (My Roommate is a Vampire + Vampires of El Norte) Oct 24, 2023

Summary: Welcome to (ripped out) Hearts and (wooden) Daggers, where today we discuss our fanged frenemies - vampires! Whether you enjoy Edward Cullen at the height of sparky, pop-culture vibes or Bram Stoker’s original work, it’s hard to top vampires when you think of the best monsters of spooky season. Holly and Devin both appreciate the way vampires are simultaneously sexy and alluring and also genuinely terrifying, and the books they bring today perfectly encapsulate that versatility.

Topics Discussed:

The Heart (3:01): Devin discussed My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine, a novel following Cassie Greenberg as she works to survive and thrive as an artist in Chicago. With a crazy limited budget and a “too good to be true” craigslist ad looking for a roommate, she meets Frederick J. Fitzwilliam - a vampire looking to blend into modernity. Devin’s key takeaways were:

Frederick as a vampire walks the line between a unique twist to fit into 2023 while holding to a lot of traditional vampiric traits - he cannot enter a building without being invited but he can go out into the sun.
This spooky story has many of Devin’s favorite romance tropes that any romance reader will enjoy sinking their teeth into (get it? *winks awkwardly*): arranged marriage, roommates/forced proximity, forbidden love, and “looks like they could kill you but is actually a cinnamon roll” to name a few.
While the focal point remains Cassie and Frederick throughout, the cast of supporting characters and the multimedia narrative approach (featuring text threads, emails, diary entries etc.) add colorful dimensions that really make this romance come to life.

The Dagger (24:35): Holly discussed Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas, a historical horror romance novel set in 1840s Medico. We follow 13 year-old Nena as she and her vaquero friend Nestor decide to find buried silver in a place where little lights gleam up from the ground - legend says it was left by a Spanish explorer and could hold the key to Nena’s freedom from arranged marriage. Nothing goes according to plan, though, and the disastrous night they go to search leaves too much unresolved. Holly’s key takeaways were:

The vampires in this book are represented as actual monstrous creatures: gray skin, no eyes, mouths full of sharp teeth. Cañas also leaves the reader to contemplate on the vampiric nature of the colonialist Anglos who haunt the communities and suck them dry of everything the locals have built and grown.
There is a surprising amount of romance in this book! A great middle ground for Hearts & Daggers listeners alike. Nena’s fight to choose her own life and get out from under her volatile father’s thumb is accentuated by a high-stakes romance that builds tensions throughout.
The gothic, Mexican west atmosphere of the novel fits perfectly for the plot and the monsters you’ll encounter; Cañas infuses a lot of descriptions of the chaparral (scrublands that exist between ranchos and towns) with the storytelling and lore sharing by Nena’s abuela and the rancho’s curandera (healer).

Hot On the Shelf (43:56):

Devin: You, Again by Kate Goldbeck
Holly: The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (49:35):

Devin: The season of Autumn
Holly: A Haunting in Venice

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 46: Serial Killers (All the Sinners Bleed + Love in the Time of Serial Killers) Oct 10, 2023

Summary: Welcome to Spooky Season, friends! Holly and Devin kick their favorite time of year off with a real bang today discussing books with serial killers. One host avoids true crime and scary stories at all costs - the other host has never felt more at home than in October vibes. Both hosts agree that that national obsession with serial killers acts as both an exploration into the muddy waters of human nature and a genuinely helpful protective mechanism for cis and trans women who need to be on their guard. Join us for some lighthearted fun about more than one murder!

Topics Discussed:

The Dagger (3:17): Holly discussed All The Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby, a detective procedural following Titus Crown, the first Black sheriff of Charon County, as he responds to a call about a shooting at a local school and then must confront a reeling community and the fact that the true threat is still at large - a serial killer hiding in plain sight. Holly’s key takeaways were:

While sometimes plot is enough, S.A. Cosby’s writing is phenomenal in this book, filled with with the kinds of delightful and original turns of phrase common in Southern speaking; he even names the county after the figure who ferries souls across the Rivers Styx and Acheron into the underworld in Greek mythology.
Racism and hatred that exists bubbling under the surface, or on the surface at times, of this town and community. Titus must confront his own role and place in racial dynamics as a Black man but also as a law enforcement officer; he is met with hatred by both Black and white members of the community as he seeks to understand what “right” is.
The cat-and-mouse game between Titus and the serial killer explores how things may not be what they seem - which is also reflected in the religious community. Cosby explores the choices people can make and how bad people can still do good things - they just prefer to do bad things more.

The Heart (20:30): Devin discussed Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson, a novel following PhD candidate Phoebe Walsh as she spends a summer in Florida cleaning out her childhood home after her estranged father’s passing. Things escalate quickly when she becomes convinced that the next door neighbor, Sam Dennings, is a serial killer. Devin’s key takeaways were:

Thompson highlights the very real (but slightly exaggerated) feelings across many cis and trans women of fearing cis men, especially men they don’t know or trust, and how knowing everything about Ted Bundy is actually a mechanism by which they protect themselves from very real danger.
At twelve, Phoebe’s parents divorced and she and her brother Connor (he was five at the time) essentially picked sides and were subsequently raised by different parents; in returning to Florida, Phoebe must confront her past, her trauma, and her defense mechanisms that keep her from vulnerability that might unlock the door to real romantic love.
This novel explores confirmation bias and what assumptions can do to our sense of selves and our relationships. Phoebe makes a lot of assumptions about Sam, who he is and what he cares about, and Thompson shows the reader the importance of uncovering truth.

Hot On the Shelf (40:10):

Devin: On Beauty by Zadie Smith
Holly: Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (44:46):

Devin: What We Do in the Shadows Season 5 on Hulu
Holly: Big Fish

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 45: Biologists (The Love Hypothesis + A Solitude of Wolverines) Sep 26, 2023

Summary: Grab your beakers and your wolverine traps - Holly and Devin are talking biologists today! The more specific our themes get, the more fascinating we find the comparisons between books in our wheelhouses get; both books have a heavy focus on women in STEM and making careers in male-dominated fields, but while one gets your blood pumping with a fake dating trope, the other has your hackles up with the scent of murder. Overall, books featuring biologists and other scientists are entering the zeitgeist in a real way - with “Cli-fi” (climate change disaster fiction) and “women in STEM” rich ground for the modern writer.

Topics Discussed:

The Heart (2:10): Devin discussed The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood, a STEM-y (get it?) story following third-year PhD candidate Olive Smith as she navigates her career and convincing her best friend Anh that she’s over her ex so that Anh will finally cave and date him herself. To prove that Anh has the green light, Ali decides to show and not tell by kissing the first man she sees - who unfortunately happens to be Adam Carlsen, the hotshot professor who is notorious for his scathing feedback and relentlessly high expectations in the department. Devin’s key takeaways were:

The fake dating trope has never been more delicious to read; Adam needs to prove to his department head that he’s putting down roots and not planning to leave the university so his research funds get released, and Olive is desperate to help her friend find her own happy ending.
Hazelwood confronts some very real, very upsetting realities for women working in STEM and navigating careers when internal politics, sexism, and unfair power dynamics create barriers at every stage; yes this is a romance, but it’s also an accurate and incisive look at what blocks success for anyone that isn’t a cis man in the sciences.
This book features Hazelwood’s now trademark steaminess; Adam Carlsen reminds Devin of a brooding, cinnamon-roll-on-the-inside Adam Driver (so, basically, just Adam Driver); if you’re looking for a sexy, tension-filled romance balanced out by real science, this book is for you.

The Dagger (18:27): Holly discussed A Solitude of Wolverines by Alice Henderson, a thriller that starts with a bang as protagonist Alex Carter almost dies at an event celebrating the completion of a recent conservation project to protect wetlands near Boston; someone has brought a gun to the event and opens fire. Saved at the last second, Alex decides to recover by taking a job studying wolverines in Montana. To Holly’s delight, the research takes place at a creepy, rundown old ski resort. Her key takeaways were:

There is a heavy sprinkling of important (and real, Holly should know from her work at the Audubon society) wildlife conservation issues; Henderson explores not only wolverines interacting with their environment but the importance of native plants and programs collaborating with farmers and ranchers to help protect birds and other wildlife.
Amidst the science, Alex is nearly driven off the road and spies footage in a wolverine trap camera of a badly injured man out in the snow; tension builds as time runs out to get to the bottom of what really is going on - all while still confronting lingering questions about what happened with the shooting in Boston.
While this is a rock solid thriller, it wasn’t the most memorable Holly has read. Many of the male main characters felt interchangeable and became hard to follow at times. If you’re looking for a plot-heavy environmental thriller, A Solitude of Wolverines is worth a shot (winks awkwardly).

Hot On the Shelf (38:39):

Devin: The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston
Holly: The Daughters of Izdihar by Hadeer Elsbai

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (43:27):

Devin: Good Omens Season 2 on Amazon Prime
Holly: Only Murders in the Building Season 3 on Hulu

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 44: Neighbors (The Last House on Needless Street + The Switch) Sep 12, 2023

Summary: Howdy, neighbor! Join Holly and Devin today as they discuss a theme that catalyzes some of the most intense plotlines in both their wheelhouses; who is sexier and/or creepier than your neighbor? They agree that the tropes in both horror/thriller and romance stories featuring neighbors are some of their favorites. Stick around at the end for some *spoilers* on Holly’s book that blew Devin’s mind!

Topics Discussed:

The Dagger (3:57): Holly discussed The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward, a horror novel following Ted Bannerman - the classic creepy neighbor. He lives alone with his cat, Olivia, in a dilapidated house at the end of a cul-de-sac. Visited by his daughter, Lauren, and with perspectives shifting between them, a neighbor Dee, and the cat Olivia (you read that right), this novel explores what it means to be a neighbor, and to know (or not) yours. Holly’s key takeaways were:

This novel examines the impact of traumatic events on individuals’ perceptions, behaviors, and mental well-being. Ward delves into how psychological trauma can distort memories and influence actions, including the nature of reality.
Much of what you can expect from this book is disturbing; the author taps into fears and anxieties of the characters and the reader to create an unsettling atmosphere and unshakeable sense of unease.
The unreliable narrators contribute to the suspense and ambiguity of the story; nothing in the book is what it seems - the reader is presented with perspectives that shift and befuddle.

The Heart (18:18): Devin discussed The Switch by Beth O’Leary, a novel that follows Leena Cotton and her 79-year-old grandmother, Eileen, as they switch houses for two months. After a panic attack and subsequent sabbatical from work, Leena needs a change of pace and is looking for a quieter life than her bustling experience in London. Eileen is newly single, about to turn eighty, and ready to mingle. Devin’s key takeaways were:

While this novel is definitely a romance (for both Leena and Eileen), we also witness important and equally transformative platonic and familial relationships; our protagonists redefine their relationship through the novel and come to a deeper understanding of each other as they live each other’s lives.
One of the main themes O’Leary teases out is self-discovery at any age; whether you’re about to be 30 or about to be 80, there is more to uncover about who you are, what you want, and where you want your life to go.
Unlike many romances, The Switch has octogenarian representation and intergenerational connections; as a reader we get to experience well-rounded characters in multiple generations who come together to grow and learn from each other.

Hot On the Shelf (36:17):

Holly: The Master Key by Masako Togawa
Devin: Will They or Won’t They by Ava Wilder

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (40:42):

Holly: Taylor Swift (Holly came out as a Swiftie)
Devin: Heartstopper Season 2

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 43: LoveFest (Jane Austen) Aug 29, 2023

Summary: Summer is coming to a close and academia is back on our minds. Welcome to our fourth LoveFest, where Holly and Devin talk about Jane Austen for literally longer than they’ve ever spoken about anything on the podcast before. Born in 1775, Austen received a home-based education and began writing in her teens. Her novels were published anonymously during her short life; she died in 1817 at age 41 of what modern physicians believe to be Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Her six novels, though, have endured for centuries and are recognized especially for their wit, humor, and keen social commentary.

Topics Discussed:

Sense and Sensibility (13:09):

Elinor and Marianne Dashwood teach the reader via their contrasting approaches to love that a successful romance requires both logic and passion; Holly’s introduction to Austen and a mutual favorite
Adaptations: 1995 film ft Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Alan Rickman, Hugh Grant, and Harriet Walter. 2008 BBC Miniseries ft. Dan Stevens, Hattie Morahan and Charity Wakefield.

Pride & Prejudice (25:53):

This novel is the foundation of what we think of as a romance book and is still the template some 200+ years later; Lizzie Bennet is a heroine for the ages and Darcy one of the best romantic leads in all of literature.
Adaptations: 1995 BBC Miniseries ft. Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle. 2005 Joe Wright film ft. Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen

Emma (39:43):

Emma Woodhouse goes from playing matchmaking games and meddling in the lives of her friends and acquaintances to realizing she has to mature to earn the proper match of her own in this hilarious, witty novel; Mister Knightley is a favorite of both Holly and Devin.
Adaptations: 1995 film Clueless ft. Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash and Brittany Murphy, 2009 BBC miniseries ft. Romola Garai and Johnny Lee Miller, 2020 film ft. Anya Taylor Joy and Johnny Flynn

Mansfield Park (49:01):

Following one of the harder heroines to love and root for, Fanny, the reader journeys through all kinds of tomfoolery and propriety transgressions on their way to a happy ending in Austen’s least-loved novel (for Holly and Devin, at least); key themes of class differences, privilege, and morality add meaning.
Adaptations: Don’t bother.

Northanger Abbey (1:01:13):

It’s a teenage dream for the reader as we follow Catherine Morland through her summer in Bath as she discovers herself, the meaning of true and false friendships, and ultimately - love (with a side of melodrama and a “murder investigation”); Austen pokes fun at the Gothic novels so popular at the time.
Adaptations: 2007 Northanger Abbey TV miniseries featuring Felicity Jones

Persuasion (1:11:36):

In her final work, we follow Austen’s oldest protagonist (27, gasp!) Anne Elliot, who had forsaken her love of Frederick Wentworth years ago after pressure from her family about his status. The reader explores the power of love, of self-advocacy, and not bending to societal pressure while rooting enthusiastically for Anne and Wentworth alike. If you want more details on this novel, check out Episode 17, Classics.
Adaptations: 1995 film ft. Ciaran Hinds and Amanda Root, 2007 film ft. Sally Hawkins, 2022 film ft. Dakota Johnson and Cosmo Jarvis (skip unless you want a laugh)

Hot On the Shelf (1:18:58):

Devin: With Love, from Cold World by Alicia Thompson
Holly: Let Him In by William Friend

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (1:21:37):

Devin: Barbie
Holly: Oppenheimer

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 42: Politics (Red, White and Royal Blue + State of Terror) Aug 15, 2023

Summary: Join Holly and Devin as they explore the world of US and international politics on today’s episode! While neither of them have read many political books in the past, they appreciated these books specifically for their accuracy, the tension built, and the clear demonstration of the impact politics can have on the lives of those working in those spaces.

Topics Discussed:

The Heart (3:23): Devin discussed Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuinston, a novel that follows Alex (first son of the United States) and Henry (grandson to the King of England) in one of the most epic enemies to lovers romances out there. After bad press from an incident involving a destroyed wedding cake, Alex and Henry are thrust together for a PR campaign that slowly becomes much, much more. It has just been released on Amazon Prime as a movie - check it out! Devin’s key takeaways were:

More than anything, this novel is about and conveys LGBTQIA+ joy. Henry is gay but forced to remain in the closet by his family and the crown. Alex had never come to terms with his own sexuality and his journey into understanding his bisexuality is moving and important.
Politics, shocker, are at the core of this novel and Alex’s mother (the President) is working to be elected for a second term. The accuracy of a re-election campaign, the exploration of a new friendship out of political necessity, and the adrenaline rush of following our protagonists as they navigate their feelings and the potential global consequences would get any reader’s heart beating faster.
UK and American history is woven throughout the novel; the histories greatly inform the choices, pressures, and decisions Alex and Henry make. They must grapple with what history means for them, what history will see in them, and how they can impact the outcome of their futures by the decisions in their present.

The Dagger (23:40): Holly discussed State of Terror by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny, a political thriller following new Secretary of State Ellen Adams. A wide-ranging and global story, Clinton and Penny delve into the lives of Ellen Adam and a low-level State Department Employee named Anahita after news of a bomb exploding on a bus in London and Paris breaks. Holly’s key takeaways were:

Clinton and Penny collaborated together to write this novel during the pandemic. They got to the core of the story they wanted to tell when Louise asked Hillary what kept her up at night, what gave her nightmares when she herself was Secretary of State. Penny’s writing is as strong as ever and Hillary’s expertise shines through via plot and structure.
This book explores the power of female friendship and being a woman in politics; a lot of the main characters are representatives from different countries like Iran, Pakistan, India, and Russia and Betsy, Ellen’s number two is named after and an homage to Hillary and Louise’s mutual friend who passed away.
Yes, State of Terror is a thriller, but don’t forget the politics. A lot of the drama happens at a conference room table and the driver behind all of the plot ultimately is the domestic and international political situations that Ellen must navigate.

Hot On the Shelf (43:00):

Devin: That Summer Feeling by Bridget Morrissey
Holly: The Quiet Tenant by Clémence Michallon

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (46:57):

Devin: Baking bagels for the first time!
Holly: The film Theater Camp

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 41: Argentina (Death Going Down + Hades, Argentina) Aug 01, 2023

Summary: ¡Bienvenido a Argentina! In our fifth and final stop of the Summer Jetset Series, Holly and Devin spend some time in South America enjoying books set in Argentina. They both agree that South America is underrepresented in books for both their wheelhouses and advocate for readers to seek out books from the continent purposefully, especially in translation. The use of magical elements across genres and the horrors of Argentine history are key for novels from the country and they both agree if available, Holly and Devin would literally and metaphorically travel to Argentina again.

Topics Discussed:

The Dagger (3:34): Holly discussed Death Going Down by María Angélica Bosco, a 1950s whodunnit that begins with a young man stumbling home drunkenly in the wee hours of the morning to find a beautiful young woman in the elevator up to his apartment - dead. From there, detectives delve into the mystery of the victim and her death as well as the colorful lives of the building residents. Holly’s key takeaways were:

Bosco’s style is reminiscent of Agatha Christie or the Nancy Drew series; there’s a large cast of characters in the building that act as suspects and each has their own secrets and motives. Unlike Louise Penny, the novel focuses less on the detectives and much more on the residents of the building - all of whom Holly enjoyed greatly.
This book brought a strong sense of history and its place in time. Written in 1954, “Death Going Down” includes the fallout from WWII and the European (and nazi) escaping to Argentina and other South American countries. There’s a sense of suspicion around certain characters depending on where they’re from originally.
The novel lacks a strong sense of place and the reader shouldn’t expect to get a very good feel of Argentina as a whole. The focus remains on the apartment building and its residents, similar to the TV show “Only Murders in the Building.”

The Heart (16:34): Devin discussed Hades, Argentina by Daniel Loedel, an Orpheus retelling set during the Dirty War of Argentina, specifically 1976. Tomás Orilla is a young medical student in Buenos Aires who has been in love with his childhood friend Isabella for years. As tensions increase between the Argentinian government and young insurgents fighting the oppressive regime, Tomás does all he can to prove his love to Isabella until he’s forced to flee the country for New York City, living as Thomas Shore for a decade. But can he ever truly leave behind Isabelle and what he did in ‘76?

As Orpheus descended into hell to retrieve Eurydice, so too Tomás entered the underworld to save Isabelle and make peace with his choices. A magical realism ghost story, Loedel blurs the lines between modern reality and ghosts interacting with our protagonist. Usually this is to good effect, but occasionally leaves the reader confused about which world we’re in.
Tomas and almost every character in the book are plagued by guilt and shame over what they did to survive during the Dirty War. There are also descriptions of what many of those acts were, including torture and sexual violence. Please use caution as there are *trigger warnings* for the novel.
Loedel treats young love as simultaneously foolish and a force so powerful it brings back the dead. “Hades, Argentina” explores the extent to which someone will sacrifice their self-hood for love and how unrequited love can impact the trajectory of a person.

Hot On the Shelf (37:52):

Devin: Just As You Are by Camille Kellogg
Holly: The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (42:31):

Devin: FIFA Women’s World Cup
Holly: The Bear Season 2 on Hulu

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 40: South Korea (XOXO + The Plotters) Jul 18, 2023

Summary: Add some Seoul to your day and join Holly and Devin in South Korea for today’s Summer Jetset Series episode! While neither of them have made it to Korea yet, they have both fallen in love with the country, the culture, the vibrancy and K-Pop. They appreciate the country for its massive pop-cultural influence in both music with KPop, KDramas and K-beauty trends and fashion - it’s exciting to see South Korea stepping more and more onto the global stage. Until you can book your tickets, come armchair travel with us!

Topics Discussed:

The Heart (2:51): Devin discussed XOXO by Axie Oh, a delightful YA novel that follows cellist Jenny as she travels from her home in LA to Seoul and the Seoul Arts Academy for a semester to help her mother care for her ailing grandmother. Once there, Jenny realizes that the mysterious hunk she connected with one random night in LA is actually Jaewoo, star of an up-and-coming K-Pop group. Devin’s key takeaways were:

Whether you’re a huge K-Pop fan or new to the scene, this book provides a fantastic overview of the K-Pop experience, both for the fandom and for the group members themselves. Oh executes with wonderful accuracy on the excitement and struggles of Jaewoo and his groupmates.
Unlike most Hallmark movies, XOXO doesn’t involve Jenny giving up her own dreams and goals for the sake of Jaewoo; she continues to explore what her cello career and future studies mean to her and her growth is not exclusively driven by her romance; a refreshing and important perspective for all readers.
The side characters of this novel are phenomenal, well-rounded, and provide a pop of color and texture to the main plotline of a forbidden love between Jenny and Jaewoo.

The Dagger (16:47): Holly discussed The Plotters by Un-Su Kim, a contemporary novel that delves into the secretive world of assassins. The reader follows Reseng, a contract killer who was raised by the head of an underground organization, Old Racoon. The tensions between old guard leaders like Old Racoon and new blood portrayed by Hanja add layers of intrigue on top of an already compelling assassin story. Holly’s key takeaways were:

Don’t judge a book by it’s assassin plot! This novel is introspective and explores the theme of personal identity and the search for meaning in life. Reseng grapples with questions about his own identity as he begins to recognize that his life has been controlled by external forces who have been pulling the strings behind the scenes.
The Plotters raises ethical questions about the nature of killing and the moral implications of assassination while weaving in some seriously intense action scenes. As is the case with 21st-century Korean crime films, this novel relies heavily on sharp and pointy objects that get deadly - principally, knives and hatchets.
As we follow Renseng on his journey, Kim explores the complexities of loyalty and betrayal within his sphere of assassins and underground groups. It raises questions about trust, the nature of relationships, and the lengths to which individuals will go to protect their own interests.

Hot On the Shelf (33:13):

Devin: The Fiancé Farce by Alexandria Bellefleur
Holly: The Whispers by Ashley Audrain

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (36:42):

Devin: The Nowhere Bookshop in San Antonio, TX (owned by Jenny Lawson!)
Holly: Past Lives, a film in theaters!

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 39: France (Bruno, Chief of Police + The Paris Connection) Jul 04, 2023

Summary: Bienvenue à Coeurs et Poignards, where today we’ll be armchair traveling to France for the next episode in our Summer Jetset Series! Both Holly and Devin have spent quality time in the country already; Devin is francophone and has lived in both Paris and Bordeaux, and Holly visited the south of France on her honeymoon (on top of other visits!). They agree that French culture resonates with their lifestyles, values, and dreams - passion, great food, relaxed lifestyle, art and millions of dead bodies buried in the Catacombs.

Topics Discussed:

The Dagger (5:21): Holly discussed Bruno, Chief of Police by Martin Walker, the first book in a delightful, 21-book murder mystery series following Benoît "Bruno" Courrèges as he dines, delves, and detects in the fictional southwestern French town of Saint Dénis. Holly’s key takeaways were:

While Bruno is typically peaceful (never wears his gun, never arrests anyone, lives in a restored shepherd’s cottage), a murder has disrupted the tranquility of St. Dénis; a North African man is found dead with a swastika carved into his chest. Walker then explores the role of police in small, tight-knit communities and corruption that extends into an international community.
While murder is a focal point of the book (obviously) so is the outstanding cuisine of France. Replete with descriptions of local dishes, ingredients, and cooking techniques, the novel becomes vivid by engaging all five senses and providing the reader an opportunity to explore the impact of gastronomy on the culture and local economy.
Ultimately this novel and the subsequent series explores the charm and idyllic nature of rural communities in southern France. The identity, sense of belonging, and prejudices of folks in the tiny town unveil to the reader the tensions we may all encounter; tradition vs. modernity, diversity vs. homogeneity, globalization vs. local culture.

The Heart (17:36): Devin discussed The Paris Connection by Lorraine Brown, a novel that follows protagonist Hannah as she is separated from her boyfriend, Simon, on an overnight train destined for Amsterdam but half of which splits off (with Hannah in the wrong section) to Paris. What follows is a day of hijinks, self-discovery, and the intrigue of new connections. Devin’s key takeaways were:

When Hannah finds herself in Paris with no luggage, phone charger, and very little money, she ends up relying on the generosity of a disgruntled (and attractive) parisian man named Léo. In spite of her hesitation and negative perception of Léo at the start, Hannah soon finds herself on the back of his moped experiencing Paris in a way she never has before.
With a spice rating of “negative chili peppers,” this novel strikes Devin more as a self-discovery, almost coming-of-age story than a true romance. Brown created an amazing premise with one real challenge; the timeframe in which Hannah and Léo need to figure it out and fall in love. Almost too reliant on the “love at first sight” (in French, coup de foudre i.e. lightning strike) trope, the reader misses out on the joy of a slower, more organic evolution of chemistry between the main pairing.
Ultimately, it is the vivid and detailed tour around the key neighborhoods of Paris that keep the reader beside Hannah through this novel; Brown animates the city in all its glory, giving proper attention to the architecture, character, cuisine, and atmosphere of the iconic City of Lights.

Hot On the Shelf (35:13):

Holly: Sun Damage by Sabine Durrant
Devin: The Assassin’s Blade by Sarah J. Maas

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (38:03):

Holly: Sex and the City
Devin: Platonic on AppleTV

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 38: India (Holly Jolly Diwali + Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line) Jun 20, 2023

Summary: Welcome to the second stop of our Summer Jetset Episode Series! Today, Holly and Devin are lucky enough to armchair visit a country neither of them have been able to see in person yet - India! A country much larger than it is often portrayed on maps, they are both drawn to the geographic, cultural, and culinary variety of the country. While neither have read a ton of books set in India, they are both avid readers of Indian (and Indian Immigrant) authors. They’ve also committed to set a budget and start saving for a trip there!

Topics Discussed:

The Heart (3:04): Devin discussed Holly Jolly Diwali by Sonya Lalli, a novel that follows protagonist Niki Randhawa through Mumbai and Goa and, more importantly, her own journey of self-discovery. Niki works as a data analyst, has always stayed close to home and always taken the least risky path. When she’s laid off just before her friend Diya’s wedding, however, she realizes even the best laid plans can fall apart and heads for Mumbai. Devin’s key takeaways were:

At the Diwali celebration, Niki meets Sameer Mukherji, a London-based musician and mutual friend. Their “love at first sight” connection and witty banter draw the reader in, but the rest of the novel relies heavily on the lightning strike trope, which underserves the character development.
Lalli positions this book not only as a romance but also as solid education for those uninitiated into Indian culture and stereotypes. At times the novel can turn a bit preachy and overt in the educational focus, but it does paint a vivid picture of Mumbai and especially Goa. Niki, though Indian herself, is positioned as the conduit for the reader to get educated.
Ultimately this book is about Niki’s evolution; after a restrained life of responsible choices, she doesn’t have a grasp on who she is or what she wants. With the help of Sam, her sister Jasmine, and her friend group (focused on Diya), she finally breaks the mold and begins to live authentically.

The Dagger (19:50): Holly discussed Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line by Deepa Anappara, an urban noir mystery following nine-year-old Jai and friends Pari and Faiz as they take justice into their own hands and investigate the disappearance of their classmate. Jai lives in a basti, a sprawling slum located in an unnamed city in India. His prized possession is the television they have because of his passion for reality police shows. Holly’s key takeaways were:

Anappara, who was a journalist reporting on children living in poverty across India, explores in this book the harsh realities faced by marginalized communities in the country. The novel prompts discussions on the causes and consequences of urban poverty, access to basic amenities, and the role of government in addressing those issues.
Through the lens of Jai and his friends, this story captures the resilient spirit and enduring hope of children in the face of adversity. It portrays the strength of friendship and the power of imagination in coping with difficult circumstances (please note: no actual Djinns appear in the novel).
While the exact city is left unnamed, the reader is left with an incredibly vivid sense of the basti itself, the marketplace, the many foods and smells (both good and bad), the noise and the chaos that convey and conceal the dangers and challenges faced by the poor who live there.

Hot On the Shelf (34:41):

Holly: Looking Glass Sound by Catriona Ward
Devin: Happy Place by Emily Henry

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (40:12):

Holly: Love and Death on Max
Devin: The National Parks System

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 37: Italy (Death at La Fenice + One Italian Summer) Jun 06, 2023

Summary: Ciao, bella! Welcome to the first stop on our Summer Jetset Series - Italy! Today Devin and Holly visit Venice and Positano together to understand the close relationship between love and death in Italy. Since the time of Shakespeare, the country has been a place of passion in literature (second only, perhaps, to France). They agree that regardless of your prior experience visiting the country, novels set in the country are always vivid, intriguing, and colorful.

Topics Discussed:

The Dagger (4:19): Holly discussed Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon, a crime fiction novel set in Venice featuring the fictional hero Commissario Guido Brunetti. The book opens at the end of intermission at Teatro La Fenice; the conductor, Maestro Wallauer, has been poisoned and is dead on the floor of his dressing room. Holly’s key takeaways were:

The mystery of who killed the Maestro is a slow burn through the book. Brunetti’s tactics are conversation focused, and the novel is the opposite of a templated popcorn thriller. That being said, it came together very effectively by the end.
Leon has lived in Venice for years and brought her experiences to the page; we get great behind-the-scenes looks at the Venetian opera house, excursions by canal around the city, and a colorful cast of Italian characters (most of whom are constantly smoking and drinking coffee)
This series is the Italian cousin to the Bruno Chief of Police series set in southern France; if you’re a fan of Louise Penny you’ll also likely enjoy these books!

The Heart (17:35): Devin discussed One Italian Summer by Rebecca Searle, a novel set in Positano that follows Katy Silver on a vacation that was intended as a mother-daughter trip. When Katy’s mother dies before they can make it to the Amalfi Coast, Katy’s entire sense of reality and herself is turned upside down. She is unsure if she wants to stay in her marriage, and uses the vacation to get some space. Devin’s key takeaways were:

This is essentially a time travel story; once Katy arrives, she meets her own mother (Carol) at 30 years old in the summer she had spent in Positano before meeting her husband and settling down. The time travel element isn’t fully explained and the reader is left unsure of how Katy travels back and forth across decades (best not to think too hard on this and just enjoy the story).
Searle explores this mother-daughter relationship in-depth through the novel. Katy has a romantic fling as well, but ultimately the book posits that Carol is her soulmate. Katy must learn how to reframe herself as an individual, instead of as a bonded pair with her mother.
Regardless of the plot holes, this novel had such vivid descriptions of Positano, the hotels, the hills, the restaurants, even Katy’s outfits, that the reader is fully drawn into the Italian adventure. The sense of place could not be stronger.

Hot On the Shelf (38:34):

Holly: Decent People by De’Shawn Charles Winslow
Devin: In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (41:15):

Holly: Libro.fm
Devin: Ted Lasso Season 3

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Minisode: Summer Hiatus Update May 30, 2023

We’re coming to you today with a quick announcement - our minisodes will be going on hiatus for the summer! We’ll be giving ourselves a little extra free time this season and plan to bring our minisodes back bigger and better than ever soon.

In the meantime, our main episodes will continue on their usual bi-weekly cadence to make sure that you all have what you need about genre fiction books and are sufficiently inspired for your summer beach reads.

As always, if you have ideas for themes or other ways we can help you all explore the wide world of books through this podcast, you can submit them to us via our online form at heartsanddaggerspod.com

Ep. 36: Hollywood (The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo + The Black Dahlia) May 23, 2023

Summary: Welcome to Tinseltown, folks! This week, Holly(wood) and Devin dive into the glitz, the glam, the seedy underbelly of the symbol of the entertainment business. Holly recently moved closer to the epicenter of celebrity, while Devin has always been terrified to visit - intimidated by all of the people who figured out how to get famous. They find that across genres Hollywood has always held a wide appeal, and in almost no other theme is the difference between romance and murder so thin.

Topics Discussed:

The Heart (4:42): Devin discussed The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid, a novel that traces through the long life of famous actress Evelyn Hugo as she shares a tell-all with up-and-coming reporter Monique Grant. Please be aware that below is a *spoiler* but also a key plot point that Devin couldn’t avoid touching on:

Through the interview process and early-ish in the book, Evelyn reveals to Monique that the great love of her life was actually a woman - fellow actress Celia St. James - and that she is bisexual. Devin finally understood why *everyone* was trying to push her to read a book about a celebrity with 7 male husbands.
Reid explores the challenges of Hollywood and conformity in society writ large through the life of Evelyn Hugo - she is a woman in a patriarchal society, she is a cuban woman passing as a white woman, and she’s bisexual in an era when deviance from the norm and wlw was demonized.
Evelyn’s grit, drive to succeed, and nimbleness to use societal expectations to craft the life she wanted is admirable and exciting to read. There is a final twist at the end of the book, though, that Devin felt was unnecessary and pushed the book from engaging to dramatic.

The Dagger (20:13): Holly discussed The Black Dahlia by James Ellroy, a crime fiction novel from 1987 that is loosely based on the infamous (real) unsolved case of Elizabeth Short, who was found brutally murdered and dismembered in Los Angeles in 1947. The fictionalized version follows two LAPD detectives - Bucky and Lee - who become obsessed with the victim and her case. Holly’s key takeaways were:

Ellroy is a very gritty noir writer, and the novel not only exposes the corruption, violence, and depravity that lies just beneath the glittered surface of Hollywood, but toxic masculinity and themes of violence as well.
Bucky and Lee are friends but also rivals in love with the same woman - Kay Lake (Lee’s live-in girlfriend). There is a black-and-white film version of the novel and Kay is played by Scarlett Johansen. Their rivalry and their methods of beating suspects, use of violence to solve cases, etc. allow Ellroy and the reader to explore the moral question of if the ends justify the means.
The victim, Elizabeth, had many aliases and was obsessed with becoming a Hollywood star; women in this novel are portrayed largely as victims or objects of desire for the male characters. The fact that this was a real crime adds a layer of gravity and reality to the themes explored in The Black Dahlia.

Hot On the Shelf (38:29):

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (42:40):

Holly: Book signing event at Zibby’s with Sally Hepworth
Devin: Season 10 of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Minisode: We Ask ChatGPT to Write Romance & Mystery Plots May 16, 2023

Summary: “In this episode, we explore the capabilities of ChatGPT, a large language model trained by OpenAI, to come up with romance and mystery synopses. Our hosts, Holly and Devin, will be using ChatGPT to generate plots and storylines for their very own romance and mystery novels.” And that was ChatGPT, too! Continuing these show notes using our boring human brains…

Holly is fascinated and intrigued by ChatGPT and AI in general; Devin has been scarred since Smart House, the 1999 Disney Channel Original movie came out and prophetically underlined the dangers of letting Alexa into your home.
To better understand the AI trend sweeping the nation, Holly and Devin each prepared two synopses for either a romance or mystery, read them aloud, and then their co-host would guess the prompt before the final reveal of what we plugged into ChatGPT to get each synopsis.
Overall, both hosts agree that they’d read the books that ChatGPT created and had an absolute blast using AI for some very nerdy, hilarious use cases.

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 35: Weekend Getaway (Rock Paper Scissors + Just Haven't Met You Yet) May 09, 2023

Summary: Pack your carry-on and get the heck outta town - this week, Holly and Devin break down books centered around a weekend getaway. They agree that putting protagonists in a brand new environment acts as a fantastic plot and character development catalyst - but of course the outcome of lighting that fuse could be murder or makin’ out, depending on genre. Get ready for some armchair travel on today’s episode.

Topics Discussed:

The Dagger (3:39): Holly discussed Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney, a psychological thriller centered around Adam and Amelia Wright as they head on a weekend to Scotland in a last-ditch effort to save their marriage. Holly’s key takeaways were:

After winning a trip to stay in an old, remote chapel in Scotland, Adam and Amelia jump on the opportunity to try and reignite their marriage at the advice of their marriage counselor. It quickly becomes evident, though, that they have their own plans and motives up their sleeves.
Trust is a central theme of the book; the protagonists are constantly questioning each other’s motives and actions - there’s no surprise at all why they ended up in counseling. There’s also a healthy dose of revenge as Adam and Amelia seek revenge for past wrongs.
The perspective alternates in chapters between Adam’s and Amelia’s voice and both are unreliable narrators. This allows Feeney to explore not only the nature of truth and reality, but also the complexities of marriage and maintaining relationships.

The Heart (18:41): Devin discussed Just Haven’t Met You Yet by Sophie Cousens, a delightful romp through the Channel Isles (specifically Jersey) following Laura La Quesne, a journalist for the magazine ‘Love Life’ who decides to return to her roots near England for a piece on her parent’s tragic but profound love story and finds much more along the way. Devin’s key takeaways were:

Laura is a fun protagonist to root for, even if some of her hijinks throughout the book are cringeworthy. After accidentally taking the bag of a stranger, she roots through the contents and decides that the love of her life is the owner of said bag. Things escalate quickly from there.
There is a clear love triangle in this novel between Ted, the grumpy taxi driver who shows Laura the island and helps her hunt down her mystery man and the man himself, Jasper, who oddly enough is *not* the villain of this story.
Ultimately this book is about selfhood, searching for identity, the power of story, and the choices we make that define who we are and what love means to us. Laura seeks to understand her family history and find love, but uncovers more about herself than anything else on this whirlwind long-weekend adventure.

Hot On the Shelf (37:47):

Holly: Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout
Devin: Ana María and the Fox by Liana de la Rosa

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (41:25):

Holly: Succession Season 4 on HBO Max
Devin: The Meg with Jason Statham

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Minisode: How We Prioritize Reading May 02, 2023

Summary: Do you wish you could read more, or start building a new habit of reading? Today, Devin and Holly discuss how they prioritize reading amidst their crazy schedules and lives. Their top tips are:

Audiobooks! While you’re on a walk, at the gym, cooking, running errands, or cleaning - pop on an audiobook. Both Devin and Holly are not sensory snobs and absolutely count listening to an audiobook as reading. Don’t hesitate to speed the audio up, as well. Devin enjoys 1.2x but there are people who can get to 2x or 3x speed and get through books much more quickly.
Create a cozy reading environment when you do go for physical books: create a custom reading playlist to fit the vibe, go to a coffee shop that you love and read for an hour or two, designate spaces in your home as “reading spots” to give yourself a mental break from screens, responsibilities, etc.
Take the pressure off! You don’t have to sit and read dozens of pages in one go. Take 10 minutes and read a little bit. Bring a book (or an audiobook) with you to make waiting in line, waiting for appointments, etc. more enjoyable.
Using reading to help with sleep hygiene is a great combination. Avoid screens by reading a book right before bed to ensure you get better sleep, and start your day off more peacefully (especially on weekends) with a few chapters of a good book before getting out of bed.
If you’re looking to build a new habit or get back into reading, make sure you pick books that you’re really excited to read. Pick books where you know you’ll be obsessed and want to be reading all the time to unveil the biggest opportunities in your day to dive in and read more.

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 34: Neurodivergence (The Kiss Quotient + The Good Sister) Apr 25, 2023

Summary: Happy National Autism Awareness Month! Today, Holly and Devin discuss books with neurodivergent protagonists. They agree that all kinds of diversity in books are not only important but provide a helpful and enjoyable window into the lives of folkx with whom you haven’t interacted (yet). Holly shared some key things to look out for in neurodivergent writing - avoiding stereotypes, ensuring there’s diversity of gender, sexuality and race, avoiding infantilizing neurodivergent characters, and being especially cautious in sci-fi with aliens who are just caricatures of people on the autism spectrum. (Credit to a BookRiot article by Susie Rodarme and a Medium article by Cassie Josephs)

Topics Discussed:

The Heart (3:49): Devin discussed The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang, a steamy gender-bent play on tropes found in Pretty Woman. Stella Lane is a rock star data scientist with a career she loves. On the autism spectrum, she has always thought of kissing as “a shark getting its teeth cleaned by a pilot fish,” but she is looking for love and marriage. Her solution? Hire an escort to teach her everything she needs to know for her future husband. Devin’s key takeaways were:

Helen Hoang self-diagnosed being on the autism spectrum through research and working with a therapist in 2016. While Stella is also on the spectrum and it is a big driver of the premise, Hoang ensures that Stella isn’t mocked, belittled, etc. at any point because of her autism, nor is it used as a reason for conflict in the book.
Michael Phan, the escort that Stella hires, has his own motivations for agreeing to work with Stella longer term; his mother is battling cancer and the bills are piling up. While Stella sees Michael as the powerful one in their dynamic for already being great at sex, Michael respects Stella’s career, her stability and her attitude toward life’s challenges and ultimately no one character is seeking the upper hand - a refreshing, balanced take on classic tropes
Because Stella is hypersensitive and often struggles to be touched, the book focuses a lot around consent. Michael respects her boundaries and waits until she’s ready for every single step they take physically, but he’s also verbally describing his intent and what he’s going to do nonstop. This beautiful show of consistent requesting of consent adds an extra spicy layer of dirty talk that readers will love.

The Dagger (17:11): Holly discussed The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth, a mystery-thriller published in 2020 by the Australian author. The book follows fraternal twins Fern and Rose who are very close but very, very different. Fern hasn’t been formally diagnosed but has sensory issues and a very literal interpretation of the world around her. Rose is an interior designer who has been trying to get pregnant to no avail. Rose takes care of Fern in many ways, but how close are they really? Holly’s key takeaways were:

Through her research, Holly found that the representation of someone on the autism spectrum is quite great. Hepworth has shared that she has neurodiversity in her family including autism, ADHD, and sensory processing disorder. The diversity of symptoms and experiences is key in the novel and deftly handled.
All of the characters, especially Fern, are incredibly real-feeling and round. It doesn’t take long to get deeply invested as we learn that Rose and Fern’s mother was very narcissistic and they suffered from homelessness and some abuse; this culminates in a traumatic event the sisters experienced at age 12 that impacted the rest of their lives.
This book explores the power and danger of vulnerability and kindness. Fern’s literal interpretation of the world sets her on a path to get pregnant herself; since Rose is struggling and they are twins, she figures she can just get pregnant on her own and hand the baby off to Rose as a gift. What ensues demonstrations Hepworth’s ability to balance tense and unsettling relationships with the beauty and power of deep bonds.

Hot On the Shelf (32:23):

Devin: Loathe to Love You by Ali Hazelwood
Holly: A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (36:50):

Devin: Detroiters on Paramount+
Holly: Derry Girls on Netflix

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Minisode: Debriefing A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J Maas Apr 18, 2023

Summary: SPOILER ALERT! This minisode is a deep-dive with Holly and Devin after they finished reading A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J Maas and they do *not* hold back. If you haven’t read the series or this book yet, we highly recommend that you go back and get caught up before listening! Holly and Devin’s key points were:

Silver Flames was clearly a transitional book in the series: there was more telling than showing for most of the novel, the enemies and villains felt far away and temporary, and the biggest arc of the plot was Nesta’s personal development.
Holly and Devin’s favorite character in this book was The House of Wind, who becomes a friend to Nesta and in Devin’s words “has a secure attachment style.” The house acted as a support system to Nesta when she was still working hard to alienate everyone in her life.
Therapeutic practices and classic therapy techniques are hallmarks of this book - Nesta and her fellow Valkyries work to recover from a lifetime of trauma through a wide variety of cognitive behavioral therapy, physical workouts and other approaches. Reading about her journey left both Holly and Devin feeling inspired to meditate and even practice self defense.
Holly’s Dagger Moments:

Nesta in the bog with the Kelpie when she gets the mask, emerging from the water with the head of her enemy
Nesta and Cassian going back to the prison to get the harp and fight Lanthys (Holly thinks it’s so cool and creepy in that prison)

Devin’s Heart Moments:

Nesta and Cassian making out for the first time at the dinner table and the way that the building tension broke - evolving into a tit for tat of sexual funtime.
Nesta and Cassian completing their mating bond and the description of the golden threads of their souls coming together was profound and deep.

Theories on what’s next in the series:

Azriel and his tension with Elain and Gwyn will be a fun love triangle to explore. Devin is rooting for Mor and Emerie to get together.
Devin thinks that the rest of the series will focus on the oldest, most ancient evil magic against both Fae and humans such that they have to unite to save the entire world.
Holly loves the characters the most, even more than the plot. She sees redemption arcs in store for several characters and thinks the focus will pivot at some point to Elain - but more than that, the next book will dive more deeply into the other realms since Silver Flames focused primarily in the Night Court.
Holly and Devin think that this book was designed to center Nesta as the heroine of the next few books.

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 33: On Set (Plain Bad Heroines + You Had Me at Hola) Apr 11, 2023

Summary: Lights, Camera, Action! In our case, sometimes the action is steamy and other times involves more knives and screaming. Devin and Holly discuss books that take place on set today, and agree that the pizzazz and magic of making films or TV shows add a fun dimension to books across genres. Devin highlighted the focus for romance authors on the “everyman” character getting their spotlight - readers won’t relate as well to famous people being famously in love. Holly appreciated how sets can callow for a great locked room environment, working with a finite group of cast and crew.

Topics Discussed:

The Dagger (4:09): Holly discussed Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth, a 640-page Literary Gothic Horror novel referred to as a “sapphic romp” set in a cursed New England boarding school. The book oscillates between 1902 and the experience of students at the Brookhants School for Girls and the 2015 film production of a “Blair Witch”-style retelling of the haunting events that closed the school over a century before. Holly’s key takeaways were:

The writing is dark, funny, and incisive; it vibrates with creepy environmental and natural horror elements (lots of wasps). Danforth drew upon stories surrounding films such as The Omen, The Exorcist, and Poltergeist as inspiration for her plotlines.
Danforth wanted her novel to focus on explicitly queer characters vs. queer coding and queer erasure. Holly appreciated the range of representation through the novel and how each character relates to their own sexuality vs. just a single perspective on how to be queer or lesbian.
The novel pivots between two storylines, which led to some confusion for the reader and ultimately a lack of cohesion. The book is quite a brick, and could probably have been edited down a bit to resolve some of the storyline pivoting.

The Heart (19:05): Devin discussed You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria, book one in the Primas of Power series. If you love Jane the Virgin or the Kiss Quotient, you’ll have a blast with this steamy telenovela-focused novel. Jasmine Lin Rodriguez and Ashton Suárez are paired up as the protagonists of a new telenovela filmed in New York City, “Carmen in Charge.” The problem? Jasmine is giving up on romance after a very public breakup and Ashton is fighting for his last shot at success in the United States before he’d forgo his Hollywood dreams - and they have zero chemistry on screen. Devin’s key takeaways were:

Jasmine and Ashton as protagonists each have their own very authentic motivations that drive the plot and ensure nothing feels contrived; they need this show to succeed, they need to have on-screen chemistry, so why not run lines and scenes together after work to get it right? *Devin winks aggressively*
Daria put heavy emphasis on an all Latinx cast and crew and representation in Hollywood. She also included an intimacy coordinator for the show which highlighted the importance of consent both in private and for the telenovela.
As is the case with most romances, the fallout of this novel hinges on a miscommunication and it left Devin feeling a little underserved - Aston is almost 40 and it would have been nice to see him use his words a bit better like a real adult.

Hot On the Shelf (37:27):

Holly: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Devin: Killing Eve Series by Luke Jennings

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (41:42):

Holly: Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes on Audiobook
Devin: Shrinking on Apple TV

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Minisode: Holly's Mystery Origin Story Apr 04, 2023

Summary: Holly spent much of her childhood dressing and acting like Wednesday Addams - so her passion for mysteries and thrillers should be no surprise. But how did she get into the genre she’s now so passionate about? Read below to learn more and understand how to follow in her footsteps:

Holly fell in love with mysteries early in life, keeping a notebook à la Harriet the Spy and binge watching Are You Afraid of the Dark? In her youth. She then pivoted to Sherlock Holmes and Nancy Drew stories, falling in love with the hunt for meaning and becoming familiar with the formula of solving mysteries along with a protagonist.
After college and the required reading of being an English Major, Holly re-discovered her passion for thrillers with the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series and Gillian Flynn novels. From there, she
Why does Holly love creepy books? It’s the aesthetic (crows, gothic manors, something scary around a corner) and the adrenaline rush of those spikes of fear. The key, though, is that something should happen and the plot should be oriented around intelligible rules that pull Holly forward into solving the books’ puzzles - her naturally inquisitive mind hungers to understand.
There’s something for everyone in the mystery/thriller genre. If you’re looking to dip your toe in, be curious and find what resonates with you. There are cozy mysteries that are much more soft, and very intense thrillers that keep you on the edge of your seat. Explore authors and tones that resonate until you find what you love to read!

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep: 32: Moving In Together (Count Your Lucky Stars + 56 Days) Mar 28, 2023

Summary: Today, Holly and Devin explore the rest of what happens after “and they were roommates!” by discussing books featuring people who move in together. While this theme might feel squarely in Devin’s wheelhouse, but not to worry - murder can happen when you move in together, too. They agree that similar to any forced proximity narrative, a roommate situation really amps up the pressure and forces both the reader and the protagonists to ask “how well do you really know someone?” Of course, for Devin’s books the answer is likely “enough to tongue kiss them, at least” and for Holly… well…

Topics Discussed:

The Heart (3:07): Devin discussed Count Your Lucky Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur, a novel following childhood best friends Margot and Olivia after a chance encounter brings them back together…and lands them as unexpected roommates. Olivia is recently divorced and back in Seattle, as the wedding planner for Margot’s best friends. Margot doesn’t do relationships, but watching her best friends all get married leaves her feeling behind. Devin’s key takeaways were:

This sapphic romance and the wider series by Bellefleur refers frequently to astrology. Devin drew a connection between astrology and the LGBTQIA+ community, quoting Chani Nicholas from an article in the Advocate:

“When a lot of the religious institutions or traditions that we come from have shunned us, on a deep soul level, we want to be seen. And when we grew up in a culture that doesn't see us, that doesn't witness our gender, that invisibilizes us, that makes us into something that we're not, we need ways of being reflected that feel true.”

This book has a little bit of many of Devin’s favorite tropes - mutual pining, forced proximity, childhood friends to lovers - you name it, Bellefleur crushes it. Margot and Olivia as protagonists are really well rounded, easy to empathize with, and have a lot going on in their lives beyond romantic relationships.
Five chili peppers warning! This book is steamy - so graphically intimate that some folks on Goodreads knocked off stars. So beware if that isn’t your thing (especially dirty talk) - but clearly it is Devin’s so she highly recommends.

The Dagger (19:10): Holly discussed the book 56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard, a novel with one of the best taglines ever. This Covid-era thriller starts when Oliver and Ciara have a few great dates and then strict lockdown restrictions land them as roommates… but within 56 days there’s a decaying body in the apartment and detectives are left to figure out what went so horribly wrong. Holly’s key takeaways were:

Howard uses different points of view very effectively, especially working inside such a tight timeline from the investigation back to their first date, less than two months earlier. Her narrative structure that weaves across the timeline keeps the reader guessing as to who is the perpetrator and who is the victim.
While generally it is still too soon for Holly to seek out books that include Covid, this novel worked very well because the pandemic acted as a catalyst for the plot, but wasn’t *the* plot.
What should be an exciting positive time at the start of moving in with a romantic partner quickly turns into a pressure cooker environment that goes from zero to 60, and Howard explores not just how little Oliver and Ciara know about each other but also how much we as the reader know and assume about our protagonists.

Hot On the Shelf (34:06):

Devin: Georgie All Along by Kate Clayborn
Holly: The God of Endings by Jacqueline Holland

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (36:23):

Devin: Extraordinary on Hulu
Holly: Crash Landing on You on Netflix

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Minisode: Devin's Romance Origin Story Mar 21, 2023

Summary: By now you all know that Devin loves a good romance - but how did she get into the genre she’s now so passionate about? Read below to learn more and understand how to follow in her footsteps:

Devin read her first romance in 2019, at the age of 29. Late in life? Maybe, but better late than never. She found a grocery store paperback romance in a time when a distraction and escapism were more welcome than ever and she’s never looked back.
Intimacy and romantic relationships are, for most folx, a huge part of our lives that is rarely discussed enough. Romance novels are a great way to understand what consent, self-advocacy, equity, and true enjoyment can look like in myriad relationships and connections - it’s not *just* for fun here, people!
Reading romance or about intimacy and sex comes with a lot of baggage and shame. If you feel that, don’t beat yourself up! Beat up the patriarchy. Devin and Holly discuss the female gaze and its increased prevalence in media these days, and they both encourage anyone listening to explore genre fiction and find what works for them.
If you’re looking to get into romance and you don’t know where to start: begin with what you already like! Super into science? Check out Ali Hazelwood! Love your office job? Turn up the heat with an office romance first. Romances can take place at any time, any place (sci-fi too!), and include any combination of character and intrigue.

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 31: In Transit (Bullet Train + The Unhoneymooners) Mar 14, 2023

Summary: Hop on board, buckle up, and stow your luggage, folks - we’re in transit today! Whether by plane, train or automobile, travel can open up a lot of possibilities for characters across genres. Holly and Devin talk through the “closed door” atmosphere transit can bring to a story, and how physical travel can augment the metaphorical evolution of character arcs with a more unique twist.

Topics Discussed:

The Dagger (9:10): Holly discussed Bullet Train by Kotaro Isaka, a novel that follows the perilous train ride of five highly motivated assassins, the principal of which is Nanao, aka Ladybug. Boarding a bullet train from Tokyo to Morioka, Ladybug is given one simple task - grab a suitcase and get off at the next step. Things quickly devolve as he is met with competition, challenge, and various murder attempts. Holly’s key takeaways were:

This novel takes the time to take us inside characters to understand the shame, motivations, and quirks of a grisly set of over-the-top assassins. The depth Isaka achieves adds to the satirical tone while also increasing reader investment in the outcome of the wild train ride.
While rife with murder, Bullet Train is also full of humor. Nanao keeps trying and failing to get off at the next stop, people get killed and characters have to prop them up to seem like they’re still alive, and accidents lead to additional problems throughout the novel.
The 2022 Brad Pitt film version changed a lot of the characters’ racial and gender identities, but overall it captured the spirit, plot, and humor of the original story well.

The Heart (24:50): Devin discussed The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren, a novel of mishaps and undesired outcomes that leads to a destiny no one ever imagined. Olive Torres has always seen herself as unlucky, and having to survive her sister’s wedding next to her arch nemesis (and the brother of the groom) Ethan is just one more bit of evidence that she’s right. When all the guests (and the happy couple) get food poisoning except for Olive and Ethan, they agree to go on the honeymoon so as not to waste the trip. Devin’s key takeaways were:

Olive and Ethan’s mutual animosity was born from a misunderstanding and simple miscommunication. By traveling to Hawaii together and escaping their typical routines, they’re both afforded space and a different perspective to begin to reconcile their differences.
A combination of The Hating Game and Forgetting Sarah Marshall, this novel is full of hijinks, forced proximity, and miscommunication that ultimately allows both protagonists to reframe and transform their perception of reality. All it took was bad buffet food and a faux honeymoon to Hawaii.
Trigger Warning: there are consistent references to body, physical beauty, and allusions to body dysmorphia that any reader, and especially those with a history or sensitivity to eating disorders, should be aware of.

Hot On the Shelf (42:24):

Holly: Three Assassins by Kotaro Isaka
Devin: River of Consciousness by Oliver Sacks

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (45:27):

Holly: The Last of Us on HBO
Devin: Heavenly Ski Resort in Lake Tahoe, CA

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Minisode: Author Interview, Jessa Maxwell (The Golden Spoon) Mar 07, 2023

Summary: We were honored to have our first author guest on the podcast, Jessa Maxwell! The Golden Spoon, which we discussed in episode 23, is available wherever you get your books today (March 7, 2023). Holly and Jessa discuss the book, key points of which were:

Maxwell had always wanted to write a book (inspired by Lucy Foley) and was passionate about a locked room mystery. During the pandemic, she finally decided to go for it and after hours of drawing while The Great British Baking Show played in the background, she found her starting point.
This novel took her only three months to write! Once inspiration struck, it all came together quickly and she didn’t even need to consult with anyone who had actually been on a cooking or baking show.
Though there are many characters to juggle in the book, Maxwell felt confident in what each brought to the plot and didn’t struggle with telling them apart as she wrote. Holly personally felt she could keep everything straight more easily because of the press release featured at the start of the story.
Betsy, the host of the competition, is widely known as a kindly grandmother figure and has been famous for a long time. Maxwell enjoyed delving into her private life vs. public experience and how people are not always what they seem.
Maxwell would love Mary Berry to read The Golden Spoon, but everyone should give it a try! Whether you’re passionate about murder mysteries, cooking competitions, or creepy mansions with secrets to hide - this book is for you!
Jessa’s Hot on the Shelf: The Reunion by Kayla Olsen
What’s Making Jessa’s Heart Race: Mike Birbiglia’s new broadway show, The Old Man and the Pool

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 30: LoveFest (Louise Penny) Feb 28, 2023

Summary: Louise Penny is one of Canada’s most prolific and successful authors - she writes dark, heart wrenching murders that somehow pair well with a quiet town with quaint bed and breakfasts and bistros with some of the best food ever described. Holly and Devin fell in love with the Armand Gamache detective series years ago, and today they finally get to gush about Louise and her writing for the podcast! Check out a spoiler-free LoveFest to learn why both Holly and Devin cannot get enough of these murder mysteries!

Topics Discussed:

Plots (6:28):

The mysteries themselves are unusual and ultimately a bit odd - no one is ever taken out by a gun in front of a security camera. This makes the books super fresh and unlike other mystery novels.
Penny intends to leave the reader off-balance, and her masterful writing is intended to keep us guessing without ever making us question plausibility.
The books must be read in order because there are multi-book plotlines that investigate larger issues than each murder - corruption, racism, drug trafficking, and infrastructure neglect to name a few.

Characters (15:15):

Every character, recurring or not, is flawed and therefore deeply human. As a reader, it becomes easy to empathize even with Ruth, a mean old crone alcoholic and poet (Devin’s car is named Ruth after her).
The series centers around the citizens of Three Pines, a fictitious Québec town that acts as a microcosm of community everywhere.
We follow a core group of characters as they grow, evolve, live and die in Three Pines; the ultimate feeling for the reader is that they are journeying through life with friends they care about deeply.

Writing (21:12):

Part of the magic of Penny is that she writes about each character as if she is in their head; if they are confident they are right, only time and the advancing plot will show us. This adds a propulsive and immersive element to the story where you as the reader feel like you’re experiencing it with them as things evolve, versus being told a story.
Louise Penny may as well have been a psychologist (and one of the Three Pines residents, Myrna, actually is!) for how deeply she understands the human condition and infuses that deep compassion into her writing.

Themes (27:20):

Motivation: there are deep emotional and psychological motivations for all characters which drives both good and bad decisions across the series. Grief plays an especially large role, unveiling the long-term impacts of death and trauma.
Art: there is art all over this series! Ruth is a poet, Armand quotes poetry and literature freely while they investigate murder, Clara and Peter are visual artists, music features heavily throughout.
Justice: While Armand is of course a detective, the series also interrogates the true meaning of justice as a concept, pitting Armand and his team multiple times against various power structures and corrupt systems that force them to make decisions - doing what is right, what is easy, and sometimes, what is technically illegal.
Community: Yes, these are murder mystery books, but all 18 books are united by a compelling and heartwarming sense of community. The characters care about each other, about their place in the world, and about how their decisions impact others.

Details (33:56):

The food!! We could talk for two hours about the food alone. Penny enlists the help of all five senses to create a vivid world that grounds the reader and makes Three Pines come to life, one croissant at a time.
Each book tends to be quite seasonal, centered on a specific time of year that adds to the tension, plot, and sense that we are experiencing life as it happens for the characters.
The police investigations are not glossed over and have many nitpicky details that brings the reader more deeply into the often confusion, dead-end exploring world of detective Gamache as he and his team solve murders.

Favorite Books (40:16):

Holly: The Beautiful Mystery (Book 8)
Devin: How the Light Gets In (Book 9)

Hot On the Shelf (49:14):

Holly: She is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran
Devin: Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (51:04):

Holly: Andor on Disney+
Devin: Paul T. Goldman on Peacock

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Minisode: When to DNF Feb 21, 2023

Summary: We’ve all faced it, but for some it’s hard to do and fills us with guilt. What is DNF (not to be confused with DTF…) and why is it so important to abandon books when they do not serve you?

DNF: Did Not Finish (you abandoned the book)

Holly DNFs when: There’s no page requirement, but her main rule of thumb is - if she thinks it, it’s already too late. The main driver? She no longer cares what is going to happen. She can get actively annoyed with characters, but for whatever reason she no longer cares about the future plot of the book.

Devin DNFs when: she starts avoiding the book. When she needs to DNF, she essentially ghosts the book, focusing instead on chores, television, and crafting. She sometimes won’t even realize right away that it’s time to DNF until she recognizes that she hasn’t read in almost a week.

Reading a book can sometimes feel like a relationship, and when things go wrong it’s natural for us to wonder if the problem is with… us. But there isn’t anything wrong with giving up on a book that doesn’t bring you joy. The key is to not waste time on books that bother you, but instead to keep exploring genres and authors until you find your wheelhouse just like Holly and Devin with thrillers and romances.

Holly recommends reviewing each book you read or DNF so you can more consciously hone what works (or not) for you in your reading. Devin acknowledges that sometimes a book doesn’t serve us in that season of our lives, so a DNF doesn’t have to be permanent and revisiting books even years later can lead to fulfillment.

Overall, reading as adults is fun and supposed to bring us joy. So much of life is full of pressure, and reading should not be one. Ultimately, life is too short to read books you don’t like. So DNF and do it with pride!

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 29: Marriage (The Bromance Book Club + The Echo Wife) Feb 14, 2023

Summary: Happy Valentine’s Day, friends! While neither Holly nor Devin are superfans of this holiday, they wanted to take some time to highlight marriage with two books this week. Oddly enough, Holly’s thriller wheelhouse is chockablock full of married couples on the rocks, but Devin’s romance genre almost never centers on a couple that have already found their happily ever after. All told, though, they find the relationship dynamics of a marriage as great drivers of plot and character across genres.

Topics Discussed:

The Heart (3:09): Devin discussed The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams, a novel that turns most romance novels on its head by centering on a man working to save his marriage via an unusual book club. Gavin Scott is Nashville Legends second baseman who thinks he has it all - a loving wife, twin daughters, and a career he loves. When Thea admits that their intimate relationship has never satisfied her, he’s left desperate and on the path to divorce. To save it, he ends up in a circle of men who read romance novels to give them advice on how to navigate their relationships with their wives. Devin’s key takeaways were:

This is the first novel focused on men reading romance stories that Devin has been able to find, and the new perspective on the genre was refreshing and invigorating. She’d rather men not have to read romance novels to act as “manuals” for their own love lives, but hey, she’ll take it.
Gavin’s wife Thea carries trauma that adds feasibility to the storyline. Her sister, however, was so anti-Gavin and pro-divorce that at times it was off-putting and unnatural.
Adams had a feminist focus throughout the book and clearly strove to drive messages home about intimacy, vulnerability, and relationships. It was preachy at times but ultimately the execution on the rest of the novel was a success.

The Dagger (17:44): Holly discussed The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey, a sci-fi novel following Evelyn Caldwell, a scientist who has discovered how to clone human adults. Her recent awards and professional success is marred when she discovers that her soon-to-be ex-husband has been cheating on her… with a clone of herself named Martine. As Evelyn works to process these recent life changes and come to terms with everything, she gets a call one day from a panicked Martine; it turns out Nathan is dead and the two women must come together to clean up the mess and hide the crime. Holly’s key takeaways were:

With a fairly unusual premise, this novel dives deeply into key themes and commentary of our society, principally gender norms for women and women in marriage. Gailey explores what it means to be a woman through Evelyn and her clone, a woman re-programmed to be more docile and subservient than Evelyn is naturally.
Through the science of cloning, the reader also confronts ideas and challenges around identity - what makes you, you? What role does biology vs. experience play in making us who we are, and how much of a choice do we have?
Be mindful if you are sensitive to gore, and make sure you listen through the very end of our episode for a spoiler-filled tidbit from Holly that blew Devin’s mind!

Hot On the Shelf (35:52):

Devin: Lunar Love by Lauren Kung Jessen
Holly: Elsewhere by Alexis Schaitkin

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (38:05):

Devin: Glass Onion on Netflix
Holly: Fleischman is in Trouble on Hulu

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Minisode: Hearts Top 10 of 2022 Feb 07, 2023

Summary: Today, Devin shares her Top 10 books of 2022. Use this to create a TBR for 2023, or simply get a deeper sense of what stood out to Devin as the most romantic tales she read last year.

She also took a little time to wax poetic about Valentine’s day. Whether you care about this holiday or not, Devin figures hey, it’s cold and gray out, spring is far away - whether you’re in a relationship or not, this is a great opportunity to *treat* *your* *self*. So grab one (or all) of the below steam-fests, draw a bath, light some candles, and celebrate Valentine’s Day right!

10: She Gets the Girl by Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick

9: Henry Hamlet’s Heart by Rhiannon Wilde

8: Love and Other Disasters by Anita Kelly (Episode 23)

7: I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuinston

6: Lease on Love by Fallon Ballard

5: The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston (Episode 21)

4: Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert (Episode 28)

3: A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J Maas (Episode 19)

2: Book Lovers by Emily Henry

1: The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 28: Young Twenty-Somethings (The Secret History + Act Your Age, Eve Brown) Jan 31, 2023

Summary: Ah, the follies and joys of youth! If you’ve been with us since the start, you know that Holly and Devin love stories with octogenarian protagonists. This week we’re mixing it up and focusing on 20-something people who are still figuring themselves out. Holly struggled to find a book in her wheelhouse for this theme, but is generally drawn to young protagonists in thrillers because the silly mistakes they make to get murdered seem more plausible. Devin struggles to find books that *don’t* focus on 20-somethings, since the romance genre has a long history of focusing solely on young people. Overall, though, they always have a blast following young protagonists through thorny plots and tough growth, and today’s episode is no exception!

Topics Discussed:

The Dagger (3:04): Holly discussed The Secret History by Donna Tartt, a novel following 6 friends at an elite Vermont college who, through their own hubris, are sucked into a dark tangled web heavily featuring Greek Classics. As an inverted detective story, we quickly learn that the group is responsible for the murder of one of their own, Edward “Bunny” Corcoran, whose body is found days after his disappearance at the bottom of a ravine. Her key takeaways were:

Tartt captured the 20-something experience by delving into themes that resonate with that time in life. Holly was especially impacted by the dangers of isolation, superficiality, and the weight of keeping secrets for the group of 6 young students.
While initially fearful of reading this book because it might be too pretentious for her taste, Holly enjoyed it thoroughly after 8 years on her TBR shelf. The writing is incredibly strong and Holly was ultimately drawn to the group of friends and Tartt’s phenomenal character development
This book popularized the dark academia / campus novel subgenre when it was published in 1992; Holly especially appreciated the chill fall moods and dusty college setting that added to the sense of isolation and doom for the plot.

The Heart (20:21): Devin discussed Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert, Book 3 in the Brown Sisters series that follows Eve Brown, the youngest sibling and a 26 year old self-described mess. When Eve fails at yet another job, a fight with her parents sends her driving nowhere just to escape; 45 minutes later she stops for a snack at a bed and breakfast that is in desperate need of a new cook. She interviews on the fly with the B&B owner, Jacob Wayne, but his stormy and abrasive attitude make her flee yet again - only to hit Jacob (by accident) with her car.

If you haven’t already, Devin *highly* recommends reading all 3 books in the Brown Sisters series! You can check out all the offerings at Talia Hibbert’s website here; they are diverse, sexy, well-written plots with characters you’ll love!
Both Eve and Jacob are on the autism spectrum and their mutual support, communication, and clarification of their needs throughout the book not only makes their enemies to friends to lovers journey something to root for, but the intimacy and sexual connection between them much more profound.
As a coming of age romance, Eve is the sunshine, singsong friend and Jacob is the gray, stormy, unyielding counter. Together, though, their witty banter evolves into growth for both - Jacob with his abandonment issues and Eve with her deel fear of failure.

Hot On the Shelf (37:59):

Devin: The Winners by Fredrik Backman
Holly: Babel by R.F. Kuang

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (42:27):

Devin: Cross-country skiing setup
Holly: The Banshees of Inisherin

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Minisode: Daggers Top 10 of 2022 Jan 24, 2023

Summary: Today, Holly shares her Top 10 books of 2022. Use this to create a TBR for 2023, or simply get a deeper sense of what makes Holly happiest as she reads about murder!

10: A Good Marriage by Kimberly McCreight (Episode 16, New York City)

9: White Smoke by Tiffany Jackson (Episode 21, Ghosts)

8: Breathless by Amy McCulloch (Episode 26, Winter Sports)

7: The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule (Episode 22, Nonfiction)

6: The Lighthouse Witches by C.J. Cooke (Episode 20, Witches)

5: The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth

4: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

3: The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman

2: The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman

1: A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny

Bonus Titles Hot on Holly’s Shelf:

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 27: London (One Day in December + The Victoria Vanishes) Jan 17, 2023

Summary: Join Holly and Devin as they explore jolly ol’ London town! Blimey! Not only is this city the only reason our co-hosts became friends in the first place, but they have a blast diving deeply into books set in the iconic city. While one book involves multiple dead bodies and the other involves multiple broken hearts, they unite around the unique character of London. Holly is a self-identified Anglophile and Devin struggles to remember romances set in the city because, frankly, she’s too focused on the juicy deets of her novels. They agree, though, that unique cities like London add additional sensory layers to stories and a vivid sense of place.

Topics Discussed:

The Heart (3:01): Devin discussed One Day in December by Josie Silver, a novel that explores the role of destiny in our lives after the protagonist Laurie makes intense eye contact with a stranger at a bus stop. The problem? She’s on the bus and he’s on the outside, leaving Laurie to hunt all over London for him to no avail. Fast forward a year and Laurie’s roommate Sarah brings her new boyfriend to a party - Jack, the “bus guy” himself! Devin’s key takeaways were:

This novel requires some suspension of disbelief for the precipitation of the plot - that 10 seconds of sustained eye contact could lead to years of love, loss, betrayal, and growth. But once you buy in, it’s a worthwhile ride.
Jack and Laurie as the focal couple are not always the most sympathetic, and Silver explores how complicated attraction, friendship, and lifestyle choices can be as we grow and evolve through our lives.
Unlike many romances this novel spans 10 years, marked by Laurie’s New Year’s Resolutions that give the reader a vivid picture of how she, Jack, and Sarah are evolving in their unique love triangle.

The Dagger (16:45): Holly discussed The Victoria Vanishes by Christopher Fowler, book six in the Peculiar Crimes Unit novels. In this installment, we follow Arthur Bryant and John May as they discover and then investigate the mysterious deaths of older women killed in crowded pubs - after which the pubs themselves disappear. And thus, “The octogenarian detectives ready themselves for the pub crawl of a lifetime.” Holly’s key takeaways were:

The Pubs that Bryant and May explore act as characters in the book and in London; they are all different and have their own rich histories and micro-communities. The book explores the idea that people should be able to feel safe and these strings of murders corrupt these social spaces.
If you’re tired of the many domestic thrillers or locked room style mysteries and want a mystery that’s a bit more complicated, a bit slower and very unique, this is for you.
Our protagonists Bryant and May have worked together for the last 50 years and have a clearly deep friendship and mutual respect. The book has an undertone of the Peculiar Crimes Unit’s struggle to survive in the face of being undervalued and seen as useless - an authentic exploration of octogenarian life.

Hot On the Shelf (32:41):

Devin: The Madness of Crowds by Louise Penny
Holly: A Phoenix First Must Burn by Patrice Caldwell

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (37:39):

Devin: Amon Amarth
Holly: Listening to deep-dive commentary on books she’s read and already loves. Including but not limited to the podcasts Harry Potter and the Sacred Text, Hot and Bothered and From the Front Porch.

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Introducing: Minisodes Jan 10, 2023

Summary: It has officially been one year since we launched Hearts & Daggers! As you likely know, in our usual episodes we discuss two books–one lighter, one darker–through the lens of a common theme. These episodes will continue to come out bi-weekly, that is, every other week.

We are excited to share that during the off-weeks between our main episode releases, we will be putting out a new series of minisodes! Outline of the alterations below:

Minisodes will be shorter than typical episodes, usually between 10 to 20 minutes.
They will also be more free-form, allowing us to offer a wide range of content to supplement our typical episodes.
- Sometimes this may be a closer look at a book or passage featured in a main episode; sometimes we’ll go deeper with particular topics or themes; and there may even be some author interviews or other conversations with special guests.
Down the road, our goal is to launch a Patreon. The plan is for these minisodes to eventually be exclusive to our patrons. Until we are ready to get that up and running, our minisodes will be available to you all and give you a taste of what you might expect to hear on the Patreon someday.

Tune in next week when we’ll be back to our usual episode format chatting all things romantic and terrifying. We are so grateful to every single one of you for listening to our show and being so supportive of our work. Here’s to 2023!

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 26: Winter Sports (Breathless + Edge of Glory) Jan 03, 2023

Summary: Happy 2023, friends, and welcome to Season 2 of Hearts & Daggers! We’re starting this year off with a bang - the bang of the starting gun in a Super G ski race, that is. If you’ve been with us for a while know, you know that this theme is right up Devin’s alley and aligns with many of her existing hobbies. Holly, while not a fan of sports generally, loves ice skating and is a sucker for mountain climbing exhibition stories (especially when things start to go wrong).

Topics Discussed:

The Dagger (4:10): Holly discussed Breathless by Amy McColloch, a novel following Cecily Wong as she strives to climb Menaslu, the 7th tallest peak on earth. A journalist herself, Cecily is fighting to prove herself by scoring an interview with famous mountaineer Charles McVeigh as he seeks to break records climbing the highest summits without supplemental oxygen. His condition? That she go with his team all the way to the top. Her highlights were:

McCulloch climbed Menaslu herself and it shows through in the writing, with vivid and accurate descriptions of mountaineering and the trials this group faces from nature as they work toward the top.
If that wasn’t enough, one of their team meets an accidental (or not) death and things begin to deteriorate with the group. Cecily finds herself stranded on the mountain not knowing who she can trust during a journey that requires complete trust in the group to survive. The tension builds naturally and in a riveting way.
The uniting driver for all characters in this thriller is desperation. Whether it’s Cecily, who ended a romantic relationship and risked her entire career for this expedition, or the sherpas who are duty-bound to get the team to the summit, everyone is desperately trying to accomplish their (sometimes contradictory goals).

The Heart (18:22): Devin discussed Edge of Glory by Rachel Spangler, a winter sport turducken that follows two Olympic athletes - one in boardercross (competition snowboard racing) and the other in downhill skiing. Corey LaCroix is a snowboarding icon, with too many medals to count. But at 30, she’s noticed her knees are aching and it’s taking longer and longer to recover - putting her behind a highly motivated, younger cohort. Elise Brandeis, fighting to recover from a major crash and severe injury the year before after having been the most promising up and coming ski star for the 2018 Olympics, only cares about the gold medal she feels she earned, along with her nickname the Ice Queen. Devin’s key takeaways were:

Spangler is a queer romance author and the skill shines through. Unlike many romances, this one evolves from enemies to friends to lovers over the course of months, giving the plot and relationship a much more organic and authentic feel.
Elise and Corey both embody the stereotypes of their respective sports - Elise being uptight and unsociable, while Corey is the life of the party (routinely parties she throws). Through their growing connection, the reader peels back the layers of those stereotypes to find the person below and how Elise and Corey are actually more alike than different.
Accompanied by a delightfully round cast of side characters and even a side romance, this book delivers on every front for a heartwarming and unusual love story while also maintaining high fidelity to what Devin assumes is the real process of training for and participating in the Olympics.

Hot On the Shelf (36:30):

Devin: Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett
Holly: The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (39:43):

Devin and Holly: Wednesday on Netflix

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 25: Holidays (The Holiday Swap + I Am Half Sick of Shadows) Dec 20, 2022

Summary: It’s a holly, jolly holiday here on Hearts & Daggers! Today, Holly and Devin discuss books set during this holiday season. Whatever holiday you do (or don’t) celebrate, these co-hosts appreciate the season for its coziness, the twinkling lights, and an excuse to spike hot chocolate with Bailey’s Irish Cream before the seasonal depression really hits. Both books this round are on the lighter side, and for Holly that means just one (1) murder.

Topics Discussed:

The Heart (5:26): Devin discussed The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox, a book chockablock full of fun romance tropes. Cass and Charlie are identical twin sisters living very different lives; Charlie is a glamorous cooking show co-host down in LA, while Cass helps run their parents’ bakery in their quiet, quaint hometown. Due to a series of unfortunate (or fortunate?) events, they switch places without telling anyone and get a taste for how the other twin lives. Her key takeaways were:

Written under a penname by two Canadian journalist/authors, The Holiday Swap is a delightful combo of The Princess Switch, The Parent Trap, and the entire Hallmark Channel without, somehow, being too much in a single book.
Cass and Charlie are endearing protagonists and their love interests (a Physician’s Assistant and a Firefighter) are unique, interesting, and just the right amount of stereotypically hunky.
Unlike many holiday romances, the side characters in this novel are well-rounded and complete, adding depth to a light romance that does in fact include a small-town holiday festival with vendor booths, hot coco, and ice skating.

The Dagger (20:28): Holly discussed I Am Half Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley, the fourth book in the Flavia de Luce mystery series. Set at Christmastime in 1950s England, Flavia’s family rents their derelict mansion out to a film crew for the holidays after they fall on hard times financially. Flavia is principally focused on finally catching Santa by concocting a glue that will stick him to the chimney flue, but when someone is found murdered in the mansion this 11 year-old pivots with gusto. Her key takeaways were:

Written from Flavia’s point of view, the book runs rampant with philosophical, literary, and mythological references with lots of dry wit and humor that allows our youthful protagonist to really shine.
Bradley weaves in some Sherlockian moments in the novel; Flavia has chemical expertise and attention to detail that helps her notice aspects of crime scenes or corpses that the detectives all miss.
Overall, the mystery itself was a bit lacking but the biting wit of the writing and a young narrator we can root for made this novel a true holiday delight for anyone who loves murder but also cozy season.

Hot On the Shelf (44:27):

Devin: Kiss Her Once For Me by Alison Cochrun
Holly: The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (47:34):

Devin: Single All The Way on Netflix
Holly: The Menu (film)

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 24: Snowed In (One by One + Frigid) Dec 06, 2022

Summary: Brrrrr, it’s cold in here! There must be murder (or love?) in the atmosphere. Today Holly and Devin explore books where the characters are snowed in. They agree that putting characters in “locked room” situations is more intriguing, especially when the author is adept at character development and turning the location into a pressure cooker for the protagonists. It was especially interesting to reflect on how the same exact situation, with a few tweaks, can logically lead to lovemaking or murder.

Topics Discussed:

The Dagger (3:55): Holly discussed One by One by Ruth Ware, a novel set in a rustic mountain ski chalet in the French Alps that follows a group of employees at the fictitious company Snoop as they navigate being trapped in the home after an avalanche blocks all exits. Her key takeaways were:

Snoop, a trendy Londo tech startup, allows users to listen to whatever music a celebrity or other user is listening to right at that moment; Ware uses app features effectively to build tension as the book progresses.
The narrative point of view oscillates between Liz (former Snoop employee, now shareholder) and Erin (chalet housekeeper who is stuck along with Danny, the cook) to give both an insider and outsider perspective on the Snoop drama.
A buyout offer is brought to the table just before the avalanche hits; the power is cut off and the tension builds as the group tries to reach backup generators to no avail. Slowly, the situation becomes more and more sinister and Holly especially loved scenes where everyone has to go to sleep but cannot because they are terrified and suspicious.

The Heart (18:28): Devin discussed Frigid by Jennifer L. Armentrout, a novel that tracks two childhood best friends (Sydney and Kyler) as they go on the final winter break trip of college to Kyler’s family cabin at a ski resort in West Virginia. Initially intending to be a group trip, Sydney and Kyler end up being the only two to make it to the cabin before the Nor’Easter bears down on the town and makes travel impossible. Her key takeaways were:

Written in 2013, this book leverages some classic tropes for college romances; a virginal woman hung up on the “man whore” best guy friend who is too distracted by leggy blondes to notice that his amazing brunette best friend also has great boobs.
Once they arrive in the ski town, a subplot emerges where an unknown entity is trying to actively hurt or sabotage them by cutting the generator, slashing tires, and even shooting buckshot into the cabin at one point. This serves to add tension to the plot, but Devin would have preferred if the characters were developed enough to have tension all on their own.
The romance in the novel was fun and included several NSFW scenes. That being said, if you’re a stickler for grammar, character development, and don’t like the pet name “baby,” perhaps pass on Frigid.

Hot On the Shelf (37:32):

Holly: Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell
Devin: Season of Love by Helena Greer

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (40:55):

Holly: White Lotus on HBO Max
Devin: Falling for Christmas on Netflix

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 23: Cooking Competitions (Love and Other Disasters + The Golden Spoon) Nov 22, 2022

Summary: Lace up your aprons and preheat the oven to 350 degrees, friends! We’re talking Cooking Competitions today. Holly and Devin unpack the way that a competitive atmosphere can turn up the heat on both romantic tension and animosity with two books that follow the same plot of filmed cooking competitions but land with completely different outcomes. They both agree that food adds two more senses to descriptions in books; instead of merely visual and auditory prompts, food descriptions add taste and smell to ensure the reader is immersed in the created world.

Topics Discussed:

The Heart (3:30): Devin discussed Love and Other Disasters by Anita Kelly, a novel centering around two contestants on the cooking show Chef’s Special. Dahlia Woodson is a queer divorcée starting her life over again and hoping the competition will jumpstart her new direction. London Parker is an openly nonbinary, pansexual person out to show their haters and the world that they’re more than their gender identity (and that their desserts are truly the best). Her key takeaways were:

Our protagonists are just as easy to fall in love with as they were falling in love with each other; Dahlia is spunky, energetic, and has dark flowing hair that London can’t help but gaze at. London is focused, reserved, and brave in a way that will inspire any reader.
Chef’s Special, which is similar to the real shows MasterChef or Top Chef, serves as a romantic catalyst by proximity but also to add tension and uncertainty to our burgeoning love story - at any point, either London or Dahlia can be sent home.
There are trigger warnings for transphobia, homophobia, and misgendering. Devin also wants to add more for toe sucking and sex with foods because she hates being sticky. That being said, the sex in this book is fantastic.

The Dagger (18:42): Holly discussed The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell, a debut true crime novel that will be released on March 7, 2023. It opens on the gothic family estate of host and celebrity chef Betsy Martin, where the 10th season of the hit TV show Bake Week will be recording in the next 7 days. Betsy is faced with a massive thunderstorm on the property in chapter 1 and let’s just say that things don’t improve from there. Holly’s key takeaways were:

The baking show itself was reminiscent of The Great British Baking Show, and Holly thoroughly enjoyed the descriptions of food and baking throughout the novel, though it is eventually overtaken by the mystery at the core of the story.
The book peeks behind the glossy curtain of these kinds of shows and digs into the night scenes, post-filming, where the cast dine and sleep together (including all the tensions and discomfort that involves)
The POV alternates between all the characters, which can normally be tricky for the reader. Maxwell is able to execute such that it worked for this novel, and while Holly felt confused on a few occasions, overall felt it was the best choice based on the plot.

Hot On the Shelf (34:57):

Devin: Thistlefoot by GennaRose Nethercott
Holly: Flight by Lynn Steger Strong

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (39:23):

Devin: Snow skiing in Colorado
Holly: Barbarian, a horror film

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 22: Nonfiction (The Stranger Beside Me + Atlas of the Heart) Nov 08, 2022

Summary: Welcome to Nonfiction November! Holly and Devin are kicking off this month by diving into two very different nonfiction books: Holly’s, a deep dive into serial killer Ted Bundy, and Devin’s, a deep dive into the full spectrum of human emotion and how they can enrich our lives. Couldn’t be more different, but Holly and Devin unite over the place of nonfiction in their lives and how books like these can impact them both inside and outside their wheelhouses.

As a reminder, you can review and purchase all books we discuss and mention on this podcast through the Hearts & Daggers Bookshop site; any book you purchase using our affiliate links supports our show.

Topics Discussed:

The Dagger (3:47): Holly discussed The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule, an in-depth, journalistic approach to the story of Ted Bundy and the murder spree he went on between 1973 - 1978. Rule, who had been a journalist investigating the murders and disappearances of women in Washington State in the early 70s, worked with Bundy at a crisis call center and was contracted to write her book before the killer was identified. Holly’s key takeaways were:

Bundy’s murders spanned 4 states but always involved a similar profile for victim; young, brunette women with long hair parted down the middle (As a curly-haired blonde, Devin felt comforted by this - even though he died in 1989). He would routinely fake a broken arm or a broken-down car to engage with them.
The most impactful and interesting aspect of the book was Ann Rule’s own personal connection to Ted and the cases. Her journey discovering that her friend was a suspect, denial and confusion, and eventual horrifying realization and acceptance as the situation turned ever more dire and damning carried the reader through the book in a unique way.
Holly also wants to underline: never hitchhike, keep your doors and windows locked, avoid walking alone esp at night, look like you know where you’re going when walking (even if you don’t), and never go to someone’s car with them.

The Heart (32:26): Devin discussed Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown, a gorgeously formatted book that archives the eighty-seven emotions and experiences that define what it means to be human. Brown uses descriptions and overviews of these emotions as a conduit to drive home a wider message; the better we can understand and articulate how we feel about our lives, the more deeply we can connect to those around us. Devin’s key takeaways were:

Applying qualitative research to something as elusive and difficult to understand as the spectrum of human emotion allows the reader to more deeply inspect their own experiences, unconscious drivers, and relationships with others with both passion and scientific precision.
Brown categorizes emotions into buckets that also serve to augment the reader’s experience and sense of unification across feelings and experiences all humans have. Devin’s favorites were “Places we go when it’s beyond us” (awe, wonder, confusion, curiosity, interest, surprise) and “Places we go with others” (compassion, pity, empathy, sympathy, boundaries, comparative suffering)
The foundational takeaway from Devin from this book is being able to articulate not just four emotions (happy, sad, angry, horny) but many more and how the simple act of being self-aware enough to name a nuanced emotion will revolutionize our relationships.

Hot On the Shelf (54:51):

Devin: Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood
Holly: The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (57:13):

Devin: Delta Airlines’ flight experience
Holly: Los Angeles Haunted Hayride

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 21: Ghosts (The Dead Romantics + White Smoke) Oct 25, 2022

Summary: Wrapping up spooky season this year with one of the world’s favorite halloween tropes - ghosts! Holly wishes she could believe in them, but is too logical and naturally skeptical to really dig in. Devin respectfully asks any ghosts reading this to please leave her alone and she apologizes in advance if she insulted any of them. No one will be surprised to learn that ghosts appear much more often in the books Holly reads, but Devin enjoys the way that death and the occasional ghost can help amplify the meaning of love in our lives.

Topics Discussed:

The Heart (5:05): Devin discussed The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston, a novel that follows Florence Day from her job as a ghostwriter for romance author Ann Nichols in New York City to her sleepy South Carolina hometown after the death of her father. The twist? Florence can see and speak to ghosts, and finds herself haunted by her sexy (previously alive) book editor, Benji Andor. Her key takeaways were:

Even with her quirk of chillin with ghosts, Florence is an incredibly relatable protagonist and navigates the thorny world of grief, family, and love with the enthusiasm of most oldest sibling millennials.
If you’re looking for a deeper romance, read this novel. Poston takes time to explore death, mortality, and grief - and especially how the certainty of death amplifies the importance of love in all our lives.
The cast of characters and the apparition of Benji pull you through the novel and will leave you laughing, crying, and decently horny. How, you may ask, when the male protagonist is dead? *Devin winks*

The Dagger (18:10): Holly discussed White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson, a supernatural horror novel centered around Marigold (Mari) and her family, who move to California to Cedarville, a midwestern city with layers and layers of tension, history, and ongoing battles. Their new, pristine home is nestled inside a dilapidated neighborhood and it isn’t long before Mari isn’t just facing the metaphorical ghosts of her past. Her key takeaways were:

This novel is YA, and a great introduction to the horror genre for those who want to dip their toes in (Devin will not, of course, be doing this). Jackson, as a Brooklyn-based YA author, has always loved the horror genre and this is her first horror novel.
Mari’s 10-year old stepsister Piper instantly augments the uneasiness of the new, blended family and their new, confusing neighborhood; she keeps bringing up a “friend” named Miss Suga who wants Mari out of the house and their lives.
This book blends traditional horror elements of slamming doors, flickering lights, and foul smells with more modern takes like mental health issues, gentrification, and systemic racism very successfully.

Hot On the Shelf (36:46):

Devin: The Bullet that Missed by Richard Osman
Holly: The Lost History of Dreams by Kris Waldherr

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (41:47):

Devin: The Great British Baking Show on Netflix
Holly: The Rings of Power on Amazon Prime

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 20: Witches (The Lighthouse Witches + The Ex Hex) Oct 11, 2022

Summary: Let’s get witchy with it, friends! This week, Holly and Devin live out their dreams of discovering late-in-life magical prowess by discussing books centered around witches. Devin found her love of the sorceress lifestyle very early in life, whereas Holly was enchanted later. They agree that whether you’re discussing the Salem witch trials or the Wicked Witch of the West, these stories embody what has culturally been feared about women, and explore what happens if women have power.

Topics Discussed:

The Dagger (5:33): Holly discussed The Lighthouse Witches by C.J. Cooke, a novel centering around Liv, an artist with three young daughters, the trip to paint a mural in a remote lighthouse in Scotland, and how it all goes very horribly wrong. Her key takeaways were:

Cooke, author of the acclaimed novel The Nesting, delves into the secrets of witches that have reached across centuries in this chilling Gothic thriller.
While hinging on the disappearance of Liv, Saffy, and Clover who left middle-daughter Luna to fend for herself and search for her family for 23 years, this book also features a grimoire that explores life on the island centuries before.
When Luna’s younger sister Clover reappears decades later but still ages just seven years, she realizes she must return to the lighthouse and confront the past if she ever hopes to unravel the creepy mystery.

The Heart (19:50): Devin discussed The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling, a delightful romp through the town of Graves Glen, Georgia, and Vivi Jones after she gets over her teenage heartbreak with vodka, candles, and a less-than-sober hex on her ex, Rhys Penhallow. Her key takeaways were:

This book was essentially Sabrina the Teenage Witch combined with Stars Hollow (Gilmore Girls) plus some extra sexy steam; Vivi is the witch we’d all love to be and Devin tried to Zillow homes in Graves Glen before remembering the town is fictitious.
Our hero, Rhys, is not only unreasonably attractive and magical, but has a Welsh accent that makes you want to melt even if you’re not listening to this book on audio. His chemistry with Vivi, combined with the very real challenge of his family history and the potential disaster it implies for the town, keeps you guessing and intrigued the whole time.
With ley lines, hexes, a witch college, possessed toys and a talking cat, this book is the perfect, lighthearted witchy romance for spooky season; grab a mug of mulled wine, light a candle, and dive in.

Hot On the Shelf (41:30):

Devin: Lease on Love by Fallon Ballard
Holly: Amari and the Great Game by B B Alston

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (45:19):

Devin: Ghosts on CBS
Holly: The Patient on on Hulu

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 19: LoveFest (ACOTAR by Sarah J. Maas) Sep 27, 2022

Summary: If the length of an episode is anything to go by, Holly and Devin are *the most* excited to talk about ACOTAR, the A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas in our second LoveFest episode! This series is the perfect meld of the hearts and daggers that Holly and Devin love most; the seamiest, sexiest love scenes mixed with the creepiest, most anxiety-inducing action. Please note that this episode contains spoilers starting around 11 minutes in!

Topics Discussed:

Book 1 - A Court of Thorns and Roses (5:50):

Framed as a Beauty & the Beast retelling, the book opens with a human woman, Feyre, as she hunts and kills an unusually large wolf to keep her family from starvation. Unfortunately for her, the beast was actually Fae, and she is taken by the High Fae leader into his court as punishment for her crime.
Once over the wall that separates the human and Fae worlds in Prythian, Feyre is met with new monsters, new friends, and new feelings for her captor, Tamlin, that she must learn to navigate to save her life and the lives of those she loves.
As her world expands, Feyre is confronted with challenges ranging from lower fae creatures who’d love to eat her, to the Queen Under the Mountain, Amarantha, and her conniving lap dog, Rhysand.

Key Themes - *Spoilers Begin* (10:45):

The cast of characters surrounding Feyre as we dive more deeply into the series are a stand-out aspect of Maas’ work; even seemingly side characters are rich, deep, and well-rounded - you cannot help but love them all.
Maas’ series is notably feminist; both male and female characters seek empowerment for themselves and each other in an almost anti-patriarchal way. The men show emotion, support each other, ask for help, and honor and respect the women in their lives. The women lift each other up, are taken seriously, and ultimately find their own authentic paths.
Trauma, PTSD, and deep psychological motivations drive many of the characters in the series; Maas’ representation of trauma and healing are grounded in an authenticity generally avoided in fantasy and war novels, but which serves to deepen our connection to every character as they wage war against real enemies and internal demons.
The world building in this series is excellent for a high fantasy approach. The realization of Prythian, the various courts, as well as how cohesively everything is rendered ensures that Sarah J. Maas stands out as a superstar in the genre.

The Daggers (35:36):

No fantasy series would be complete without a host of creepy characters, and ACOTAR does it better than most! Holly loved the creativity put into the darker side of the fae world, all our lore and nightmares made real.
While BookTok leans heavily on the sexier side of these novels, they are very plot forward and full of actual daggers, battles, and outright war and all that implies.

The Hearts (38:20):

To say ACOTAR is sexy is like saying summer in Phoenix gets “warm.” This series features incredibly steamy, explicit sex scenes that will knock your socks off.
To Devin, the romance in the novels is augmented by the exploration into the “mating bond” for Fae folks; you can be in love, get married, have babies, and not be with your mate. You can find your mate and hate them, or find your mate and have stars collide.
Maas is a master in balance - the timing, execution, and details of the romance in the book serve to augment the larger plot; everything feels authentic, organic, and very, very hot.

Hot On the Shelf (49:53):

Devin: Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts by Kate Racculia
Holly: Fairy Tale by Stephen King

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (53:40):

Devin: The Season of Autumn
Holly: House of the Dragon on HBO

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 18: Back to School (What You Wish For + Every Heart a Doorway) Sep 13, 2022

Summary: If you’re anything like Devin and Holly, one of your favorite smells is new notebooks, binders, pens - essentially what hits you when you walk into a Staples. Today, we’re headed back to school! Holly and Devin deep dive into how school settings shape their excitement for fall, for learning, for romance, and for things that go bump in the night (for Holly, usually a body hitting the ground). As will be no surprise, they both love autumn and the way it symbolizes a return to education; these books about school only amplify those feelings as the leaves start to turn this September.

Topics Discussed:

The Heart (2:57): Devin discussed What You Wish For by Katherine Center, a book that revolves around an elementary school in Galveston, TX and the librarian, Samantha Casey. Told from her perspective, the book starts as the principal, Max, passes away and is replaced by Sam’s old love interest, Duncan Carpenter. Her key takeaways were:

As with many of Center’s books, trauma and fear play a major role in what drives the protagonists and shapes how they evolve as they either succumb to the fear or overcome it.
Duncan used to be a goofy life of the party with bright colored shirts and costumes every day, but when Sam reconnects with him at the new school, he wears grays and is as serious as a banker in a financial crisis. It’s basically a reverse bad-boy trope - how can Sam get Duncan back to who he used to be?
The school setting allows for fantastic side characters like Chuck Norris, a security labradoodle who cannot seem to do his job well, Babette, the wife of the deceased principal and mother figure to Sam, and Alice, Sam’s math wiz best friend - all of whom add to a vivid sense of community in the novel.

The Dagger (17:09): Holly discussed Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire, a novel that explores what happens to children after they’ve fallen down the rabbit hole or walked through the wardrobe to Narnia; what happens when they’ve found their way back to the normal world and are expected to get on with their lives? Enter Miss Eleanor West’s School for Wayward Children. Her key takeaways were:

The novel follows Nancy Whitman, who ended up as a servant for the Lord and Lady of the Dead after she went through a magical door in her basement that landed her in the Halls of the Dead. Sent back to the real world by the Lord of the Dead so she can make a choice on where she wants to spend the rest of her life.
Eleanor’s school is a haven for children like Nancy; she caters to students who have experienced “high nonsense” worlds, who were kidnapped by fairies, who apprenticed for vampires or were made princesses in a world of genteel spiders; McGuire explores representation and embracing individuality in all its forms through these students.
This novel aligns with the tradition of old British children’s literature boarding school books, such as Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children or even X-Men; be warned, however, that there is more gore and murder in this one than many of the others in the canon.

Hot On the Shelf (35:35):

Devin: The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon
Holly: The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (38:04):

Devin: Paddle Boarding
Holly: The Sandman on Netflix

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 17: Classics (The Hound of the Baskervilles + Persuasion) Aug 30, 2022

Summary: Join us as we start the school year with a deep dive into our English major roots with a lively discussion around Classics! Holly and Devin explore books that gave modern writers their templates and tropes for successful mysteries and romances. Plus, they spill the tea on the most recent Austen film adaptation, Netflix’s Persuasion, a segment you won’t want to miss.

Topics Discussed:

The Dagger (3:58): Holly discussed The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the most famous in the Sherlock Holmes series and a mystery that established many of the devices with which we’re familiar today - ranging from a sidekick character who represents the reader to using science to solve a case. Her key takeaways were:

The interplay between science and the supernatural in this 1902 work foreshadowed and gave rise to other pop-culture contributions such as Scooby Doo and Nancy Drew.
Dr. Watson, portrayed in films as either a portly bumbling idiot or Jude Law (somehow), opens the book by attempting to use his observational skills to determine the owner of an ornamental cane he sees in Sherlock’s home. Sherlock proceeds to dunk on him, but Doyle leverages Watson throughout to act as an entrypoint for us, the reader, even 120 years later.
Set in the Moors of England, the novel has a distinctly gothic feel that augment the creepiness of the looming threat represented by the mythically large hound suspected to be the killer; Sherlock must push past emotion toward the real answer, and the journey he takes resonates to this day.

The Heart (19:24): Devin discussed Persuasion by Jane Austen, the final novel written by the author who passed away at age 41 soon after its completion. Set 8 years after a broken engagement between Anne Elliot and Captain Frederick Wentworth, Austen explores what happens to a woman when she does not remarry and pines for a lost love after pressure from family and society persuaded her to dismiss Wentworth. Her key takeaways were:

Unlike Austen’s other novels, our heroine is more reserved and jaded after ending up with a life she never asked for and a heap of disappointments that aren’t softened at all by her demanding, narcissistic family members. Anne suffers with dignity, and the novel traces her phoenix-like awakening.
Set principally in Bath with a heavy focus on naval officers and sea travel, Austen explores second chances and how an uninterrupted horizon of potential can exist even for an “old maid,” unmarried at 27.
Austen’s biting wit and scathing sarcasm shine forth in this novel more than many others, especially in the criticism of superficial society and pretension over true love and happiness that Anne and Wentworth must navigate.

Hot On the Shelf (42:01):

Holly: Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
Devin: Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (45:40):

Holly: Only Murders in the Building on Hulu
Devin: What We Do in the Shadows on Hulu

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 16: New York City (Real Men Knit + A Good Marriage) Aug 16, 2022

Summary: Take a bite out of the Big Apple with Holly and Devin today! They peel back the layers of New York City with books that focus on Harlem and Park Slope, Brooklyn. Holly and Devin both lived in the city (Devin for 2 years, Holly for 20) so it holds a special place in their hearts. That being said, stories set in the city can be over-romanticized and a lazy choice and the books they appreciate most have a true, granular sense of place and don’t just center around Times Square.

Topics Discussed:

The Heart (2:26): Devin discussed Real Men Knit by Kwana Jackson, a book that starts right after the death of Mama Joy, the adoptive mother of 4 grown men and the lynchpin of their Harlem community. She ran a knitting store for decades, and after her untimely passing the family and community are left to pick up the pieces and figure out who they are without her. Devin’s key takeaways were:

Kerry Fuller and Jesse Strong, the central couple of the book, are deeply connected to Mama Joy and the shop specifically, but their dynamic for most of the book feels more brother-sister than the tension you’d hope for from a friends to lovers romance.
Jesse has 3 brothers (Noah, Lucas, and Damien) who act as foils for Jesse’s immaturity and propensity to ignore responsibility for the sake of sleeping with more women; they also want to close the shop which acts as the central driver for Jesse and the book’s plot.
Overall, this book felt more like a family and community story than it did a romance. There was a deep sense of place and connection to Harlem throughout, but the book got a steaminess rating of 2.

The Dagger (15:38): Holly discussed A Good Marriage by Kimberly McCreight, a thrilling romp that unpacks the torrid affairs and pulse-quickening drama of the wealthy Park Slope elites. NYC criminal defense attorney Lizzie receives a call from Rikers Prison - her friend from college, Zach Grayson, is in prison after his wife is found dead at the bottom of the stairs of their Brooklyn brownstone. Her key takeaways were:

The book oscillates between Lizzie’s first-hand account of figuring out what really happened, the wife Amanda’s diary in the days leading up to her death, and Grand Jury testimony transcripts; this serves to heighten intrigue and give the reader lots of puzzle pieces to fit together.
While the book doesn’t criticize gentrification directly, there is definite shade thrown at the bougie Park Slope mom’s and the elite culture (including a partner-swapping sex party!)
While the book had a few red herrings that felt like a stretch, Holly still rated this book very highly and recommends the book especially on audio.
Holly also wanted to recommend When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole as a good accompaniment to A Good Marriage.

Hot On the Shelf (34:17):

Holly: Kismet by Amina Akhtar
Devin: Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (39:25):

Holly: Watching Showgirls at Cinespia, Cemetery Films
Devin: American Rescue Dog Show on ABC/Hulu

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 15: Social Media (Like a Sister + Chef's Kiss) Aug 02, 2022

Summary: Grab your phones and log onto Instagram, Holly and Devin dive into social media themes today! They investigate how social media can be a hindrance and a help for protagonists in modern novels. Holly and Devin both agree that leaning on miscommunication from social media can feel lazy and frustrating, but when used well, social media accents can build intrigue and serve the plot well. Holly generally hates modern books and will avoid any book that prints text bubbles, but Devin’s romances are rife with texts, emails, and DMs.

Also, we have officially launched the Hearts & Daggers Online Shop on Bookshop.org! That means you can purchase books you hear us talk about on the show - or any other books you’re looking to read - via our dedicated store link and your purchase will directly support our show.

Topics Discussed:

The Dagger (4:51): Holly discussed Like a Sister by Kellye Garrett, which follows Lena as she tries to piece together what really happened to her reality TV star and influencer sister, Desiree, after she was found dead in a playground in the Bronx, NYC. Her key takeaways were:

Social media is an integral part of the novel; Garrett not only explores celebrity and the way social media allows us only small glimpses into someone’s life, but also how misinterpretation can impact those closest to us.
Lena and Desiree are half-sisters who could not have had more different upbringings; Lena has a graduate degree from Columbia and lives a quiet life, while Desiree was more privileged, reckless, and enjoyed time in the public eye.
The book oscillates between Lena’s first-person voice as she figures out her sister’s death and glimpses at Desiree’s recent social media posts, counting forward to the night she died.

The Heart (21:26): Devin discussed Chef’s Kiss by T.J. Alexander, a book that follows Simone Larkspur as she is shoved into the limelight with her outgoing coworker Ray Lyton to record videos that are designed to revitalize the old-school cookbook publisher The Discerning Chef. Her key takeaways were:

While social media isn’t the focal point of the book, it acts as a catalyst for the initial plot and to augment tension and call out the dynamic between Simone and Ray through youtube comments, video feedback etc.
Alexander examines public vs. private life through the lens of Ray coming out as nonbinary, wanting to be open, and being silenced and mistreated by the leadership at The Discerning Chef.
While the book is told from Simone’s point of view, the true star and driving force behind the plot is Ray; their experience and perseverance in fighting toward the life they deserve and imagined is admirable and informative. Please note there are trigger warnings for transphobia, misgendering, and homophobia in the novel.

Hot On the Shelf (43:02):

Holly: The Change by Kirsten Miller
Devin: Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (47:04):

Holly: Everything Everywhere All At Once starring Michelle Yeoh
Devin: Twilight Films on Amazon Prime

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 14: Poolside (The People We Meet On Vacation + The Drowning Kind) Jul 19, 2022

Summary: Grab your towel and flip flops, we’re hanging out poolside this week. Today, Holly and Devin discuss books featuring pools. They discover that Holly has always thought pools were creepy (thanks, “Are You Afraid of the Dark?”) and that sometimes a pool doesn't even have to have water in it to act as a plot device! Devin prefers pools to the ocean, and Holly doesn’t make fun of her for it at all. Overall, it’s another fun summer theme that carries polar opposite energies depending on the book genre.

Topics Discussed:

The Heart (2:46): Devin discussed The People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry, a book that elaborates upon the “will they, won’t they” friendship of Poppy Wright and Alex Nilson over a decade, culminating in a less-than-ideal vacation in Palm Springs. Poppy is vibrant, outgoing, and adventurous. Alex loves khakis and a quiet night with a book. They’ve been going on summer vacations for a decade, but nothing is that simple. Her key takeaways were:

The friends to lovers trope can feel so overdone and boring, but Henry goes above and beyond to refresh it in this book that centers around a Palm Springs cheap motel but really delves deeply into what makes friendship platonic, romantic, and enduring through time.
The pool in this novel is found empty after an unfortunate poop accident, and though there is no lounging and splashing, the pool acts as a catalyst for the tension to build and ultimately break between Poppy and Alex.
A delightful summer read, this novel harkens back to the Meg Ryan Rom-Com golden era; it brings the steam of modern romance with the nostalgia and energy of When Harry Met Sally.

The Dagger (16:54): Holly discussed The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon, a supernaturally creepy novel that follows social worker Jax as she navigates her relationship with a manic and unstable sister, Lexie. Things come to a head when Jax receives nine missed calls and frantic voicemails from her one night. The next day, Jackie finds out that Lexie is dead – drowned in the deep, dark spring-fed pool they grew up swimming in at their grandmother’s Vermont house, Sparrow Crest. Her key takeaways were:

McMahon balances a dual timeline narrative incredibly well; they directly relate to one another and the same core plot, even though they are told from different moments in history.
The setting of an old Vermont house with a spring-fed pool out back that was rumored to be bottomless is the perfect backdrop for a supernaturally spooky plotline and exploration into family drama.
McMahon delves into the concept of a wishing well, of water being sacred and gifts from gods, to give the book good historical grounding and a modern twist on a benign children’s story to fantastic effect.

Hot On the Shelf (31:15):

Holly: The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka
Devin: The Music of What Happens by Bill Konigsberg

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (35:19):

Devin: Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi on Disney+
Holly: New reading spaces (including outdoor) in California

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 13: Hit the Beach (Evil Under the Sun + House in the Cerulean Sea) Jul 05, 2022

Summary: Grab your SPF 30 and watch out for rip currents, we’re headed to the beach! Today, Holly and Devin bring books that take place at the beach and by the sea. The summer vibes are strong, and Holly and Devin find that they crave more whimsical, light versions of the books in their wheelhouses this time of year. They agree that beach-themed books across genres can flood the market and not all of them are gems. When done well, however, these books provide escapism and fun they both can’t get enough of.

Topics Discussed:

The Dagger (4:06): Holly discussed Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie, a 1941 murder mystery novel that follows our favorite detective Hercule Poirot on what was meant to be a vacation and quickly turns into the murder investigation of the beautiful actress, Arlena Marshall. Her key takeaways were:

The beach is central to the novel in both fun and important ways; Arlena is found strangled on the beach, and Poirot tracks the fun in the sun activities of all his suspects throughout the novel until we find our killer.
As with Christie’s other novels, this book is a product of the time in which it was written and some descriptions of characters or phrases contain the racism and xenophobia prevalent at the time, and unfortunately still prevalent in many arenas today.

If you’re looking for books with a similar structure but a more modern voice, Holly recommends:

Christie’s books are hinged on small details - objects, things that go missing or suddenly reappear, timing, etc. and the puzzle of it all is Holly’s favorite part; you know that by the end you will have found the killer, and the rest of the time is fun in the sun following Poirot as he hunts.

The Heart (19:03): Devin discussed The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune, a novel following boring, solitary Linus Baker from his desk job for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth (DICOMY) to a magical orphanage on an island in which 6 magical children reside with their caretaker, the charming Arthur Parnassus. Her key takeaways were:

The beach and ocean in this novel play myriad roles, but the clearest comes in the contracts between Linus’ life before (very black and white) and his life when he arrives on the island (high saturation, vibrant color). It serves to separate the orphanage from the mainland, but also brings comfort, power, and happiness to all the characters.
The quirky and fascinating cast of characters (including the Antichrist and a were-Pomeranian) teach Linus (and therefore the reader) about passion, authenticity, love, and finding your own super power. Linus is the only non-magical person on the island, and his evolution shows us that kindness is magical too.
Klune, in an interview, stated that this novel was inspired in part by The Sixties Scoop - the mass removal of Aboriginal children from their families to the child welfare system, in most cases without consent, throughout the 1960s in Canada. This caused a fair bit of controversy, and readers can choose to engage with the book or not at their discretion. However, we encourage respect for T.J. Klune himself and remind everyone that inspiration can come from anywhere - it doesn’t mean the work itself is valueless.

Hot On the Shelf (37:17):

Holly: The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine
Devin: Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (41:20):

Holly: Season 4 of Stranger Things on Netflix
Devin: Heartstopper on Netflix

Graphic Novel Series: Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 12: Summer Camp (You Have a Match + The Last Time I Lied) Jun 21, 2022

Summary: The sun is out and people are either making out or getting murdered! Today, Holly and Devin dish on books that take place at summer camp. Their key takeaways were that these lighter romances and thrillers are a blast, and the setting creates all kinds of tension - whether creepy tension beside Murder Lake, or sexy tension in the medical tent.

Topics Discussed:

The Heart (3:14): Devin discussed You Have a Match by Emma Lord. This book brings protagonist Abby to a summer camp, confronting not only her crush and best friend Leo, but the biological sister she didn’t know she had until she took a DNA test, Savannah. Her key takeaways were:

The book, told from Abby’s perspective, has a vivid sense of place and the key cast of characters are all well rounded and engaging. Abby, as a photographer and clumsy adventure seeker, is someone we can all rally around.
Beginning with the Big Embarrassing Incident (B.E.I.) that hints at a burgeoning romance with her best friend Leo, the book explores the romantic possibilities, but ultimately that isn’t the main focus of the plot (to Devin’s chagrin).
A surprise biological sister in Savannah turns this book much more into a coming-of-age story, and ultimately Lord perhaps packed too much into a single book to do every plotline justice.

The Dagger (18:55): Holly discussed The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager, a thriller spanning decades that begins with the disappearance of three girls from Camp Nightingale. Protagonist Emma Davis has become a successful artist in New York City in the 15 years since her friends disappeared, but is called back to work as an art teacher by Franny Harris-White, the camp’s owner. Holly’s key takeaways were:

The book centers around a “two truths and a lie” structure, playing into the camp classic to build tension and mistrust for anyone involved in the cold case that Emma just can’t let go of.
Assigned to the same cabin and bunk she occupied when her 3 friends snuck away to evaporate into thin air all those years ago, things quickly turn incredibly creepy and Emma is haunted by the sense she is being watched.
The rich setting and the isolation of a sleepaway camp allow Sager to turn up the intensity quickly on a woman who has processed her trauma as a child via vivid art depicting the girls she was never able to find.

Hot On the Shelf (36:33):

Devin: Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
Holly: Fuzz by Mary Roach

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (42:14):

Devin: Bill Nye’s MasterClass
Holly: The Righteous Gemstones on HBO Max

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 11: Multiple Realities (The Space Between Worlds + The Two Lives of Lydia Bird) Jun 07, 2022

Summary: Today, Holly and Devin explore uncharted territories with books that center around multiple realities, sometimes referred to as multiverses. While the two books vary wildly in terms of actual plot and the structure of the realities, they agree that a multiverse opens an author up to explore themes like grief, privilege, and identity in unique ways. Overall, there are many more thrillers with multiple realities versus romances, but when done well they are guaranteed enjoyable reads.

Topics Discussed:

The Dagger (2:22): Holly discussed The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson, a post-apocalyptic story of a world in which multiverse travel is possible. Her key takeaways were:

Cara, the protagonist, is able to travel to almost 400 other universes because the version of herself on those worlds has already died; this makes her a perfect candidate for multiverse travel since you cannot travel to a dimension in which you are still alive.
This book explores identity in a unique way; as Cara bops between worlds, you get to see other versions of the characters you know from “Earth Zero,” exploring how they are similar or totally different.
There is an interesting tension between science and spirituality, and unique power dynamics since the least privileged people on Earth Zero are the most appealing candidates for multiverse travel (since they are more likely to have died already in the other universes).

The Heart (18:53): Devin discussed The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver, a romance that begins with the death of the love of Lydia’s life. Her key takeaways were:

Once she begins to take sleep meds to help with her grief, Lydia’s life is split between two worlds: Awake and Asleep. When she sleeps, she continues to live a life where Freddie, her fiancé, never died in a car accident on her 29th birthday.
Silver explores grief through this multiverse exercise; how can Lydia reconcile (or not) the worlds in which Freddie still exists and the “more real” one in which he does not? Is escaping into Asleep as much as possible the best way forward?
Lydia is surrounded by powerful characters such as her sister, Elle, who help her navigate a future she never expected, and the path to becoming a person she never expected, turning the novel from a strict romance into an exploration of myriad kinds of love and how they prop us up or weaken us.

Hot On the Shelf (35:23):

Holly: Hide by Kiersten White
Devin: Bittersweet by Susan Cain

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (39:56):

Holly: Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness
Devin: Thor: Love and Thunder

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 10: LoveFest (Neil Gaiman) May 24, 2022

Summary: Welcome to our first LoveFest! Today, Holly and Devin discuss myriad works from one of their favorite authors, Neil Gaiman. They first discuss books they’ve both read, sharing key themes and impacts the books made. Then, they each share a Gaiman book they’ve read the other hasn’t experienced yet. Overall, Gaiman unites Holly and Devin because of how he approaches humanity in his books - allowing each character to be flawed, to self-discover a new path, and to fight physical manifestations of the metaphorical demons we all battle.

Topics Discussed:

Books in Common (2:28):

Neverwhere: The first Gaiman book both Holly and Devin ever read, this introduction into Gaiman’s style and his techniques of world-building ignited a desire in both hosts to dive in more deeply to other Gaiman works. Protagonist Richard Mayhew finds himself in London Below, and discovers through a series of creepy and challenging events that he is more than just a young boring businessman.
The Graveyard Book: Inspired by The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling, this book follows a boy who is raised in a graveyard by ghosts. Even though the novel opens with the murder of three people, even Devin wasn’t deterred because of Gaiman’s wit and care for all his characters and the assurance that good wins in the end.
Good Omens: By far their favorite Gaiman book of all time, this book and the accompanying Amazon Prime show by the same name are staples for Holly and Devin; the dynamic between angel Aziraphale and demon Crowley actually inspired the structure of Hearts & Daggers itself. Co-authored with Terry Pratchett, this book can be summed up well by Aziraphale’s comment to Adam, the Antichrist - “I was scared that you’d be hell incarnate. I hoped you’d be heaven incarnate. But you’re not either of those things; you’re much better. You’re human incarnate.”

Separate Experiences (27:53):

Devin - American Gods: This brick of a book follows Shadow, an ex-convict who is released from prison early when his wife is killed in a car accident alongside his best friend, with whom she had been having an affair. From there, Shadow is contracted as a bodyguard for Mr. Wednesday, a mysterious mafioso who sends Shadow all over America, to run into dozens of modern gods - a leprechaun, Easter, Whiskey jack, Johnny Appleseed, and more. Gaiman, while British, does a fantastic rendering of the expansiveness, the vapidness, and the hunger of American culture and the gods we worship today.
Holly - The Sandman Series: Gaiman worked at DC Comics for some time, where he conceived of a series that tells the tale of the ageless, anthropomorphic personification of Dream, his sister, Death (one of Holly’s personal favorites) and the other five Endless. The series began in 1989 and ran through 1996, but will be coming to Netflix as a series this year! Holly loved the creativity and execution of the artwork and plot in the Sandman series, and recommends it to comics lovers and the uninitiated alike.

Gaiman Overall (39:14): Holly and Devin could have talked about Neil Gaiman for hours. To conclude, though, they have a deep love for Gaiman and would read anything he writes, even a grocery list. While many of his books walk the line between humor and terror, his works are accessible even to folks like Devin who normally shy away from scary stories. Gaiman uses his monsters to teach us all about being brave, facing our fears, and standing for what we believe in despite pressure to do otherwise.

Hot On the Shelf (43:21):

Holly: The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn
Devin: Greedy by Jen Winston

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (45:42):

Holly: Elizabeth Holmes (journalist)
Devin: Minx on HBO Max

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 9: Workplace Drama (The Hating Game + All Her Little Secrets) May 10, 2022

Summary: Holly and Devin dove into a super fun theme this week - workplace drama. Rarely in the podcast have they discussed a theme that pans out so differently in romances vs. thrillers, and the books they brought highlighted those differences well. Holly was pleasantly surprised by her book, as she is often left feeling like workplace dramas drag. Workplace romances are a common trope in the books Devin reads, and the inherent taboo of coworkers falling in love creates a tension she always enjoys.

Topics Discussed:

The Heart (1:43): Devin discussed The Hating Game by Sally Thorne. The book follows two executive assistants - Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman - who hate each other loudly, aggressively, and passionately. When a Managing Director role opens up at the recently merged Bexley & Gamin publishing house, their animosity is taken to the next level - and becomes mixed with another kind of passion. Her key takeaways were:

The tension and banter in this novel are next-level, with great dialogue and intriguing evolution of Lucy and Joshua’s dynamic. The make-out session in the elevator is one of her favorite elevator moments of all time.
The story is told from Lucy’s POV, which keeps Joshua’s feelings and intensions in the dark and maintains the “will they, won’t they” dynamic until the climactic end - sometimes to the point where you question Lucy’s empathy and perspective on Joshua, however.
This book is great for someone looking for a light romantic read. The character’s lives don’t extend much beyond work, with almost all of the scenes taking place in the office until the 3rd act.

The Dagger (19:34): Holly discussed All Her Little Secrets by Wanda M. Morris. The book starts off with a bang, as protagonist Ellice Littlejohn finds her boss dead in his office - the boss with whom she’s been having an affair. From there, Ellice is caught up in a world of police investigations, corporate plots and cover-ups, and reckoning with her own past. Holly’s key takeaways were:

This propulsive corporate thriller has it all - Morris explores racism, white supremacy, childhood trauma, corporate corruption, and more. While Holly sometimes fears workplace thrillers can be dry or dense, Morris executed well in this instance.
Set in Atlanta, the tense sense of office atmosphere keeps the reader moving through the story and reflecting on who we are in the office and our personal lives, and if reinventing ourselves is even possible.
Holly recommends this book to anyone who enjoys thrillers that weave more complex themes and social commentary throughout - Ellice is not only combating against a murder investigation, but also climbing the corporate ladder as a Black woman.

Hot On the Shelf (36:16):

Devin: The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
Holly: Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (39:25):

Devin: Her new car (named Ruth Zardo) a 2022 Hybrid Honda CR-V
Holly: Pachinko on Apple TV

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 8: Struggles with Depression (When The Stars Go Dark + Honey Girl) Apr 26, 2022

Summary: Holly and Devin both bring books that feature characters struggling with depression in this week’s episode. While the overall tone of each book differs greatly, they unite around key aspects of trauma, mental health, reckoning with the past and our choices, and seeking help to heal. Both Holly and Devin agree that these portrayals, when handled deftly, are helpful to any reader - especially those struggling with anxiety and depression - to ensure no one ever feels alone. Topics Discussed:

The Dagger (2:05): Holly discussed When The Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain, a literary mystery novel that takes place in Northern California and follows a missing person’s detective, Anna Hart. Her key takeaways were:

McLain, as a historical fiction author, takes a deep look into the psychology of the characters throughout, highlighting the psychological effects of trauma and how it can drive bad decisions.
A slower burn book, it is technically a detective procedural but differs in the diligence of McLain’s analyses into not only victims and suspects but the detectives themselves.
The book explores the dangers of untreated traumas and grief leading to poor decisions, and how those traumas make us susceptible to people who will take advantage, including potentially violent predators.

The Heart (20:23): Devin discussed Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers, a romantic coming of age story that follows Grace Porter as she wraps up her Astronomy PhD and realizes that she hasn’t yet figured out who she is and what she wants from her life. Her key takeaways were:

Burnout leading to depression and the existential crisis Grace experiences should resonate with anyone who has either graduated school or had a transition that ripped the rug out from under their previous way of life.
The number of systemic barriers in place for Grace - her womanhood, her Blackness, her queerness - add extra pressure and drive her toward a deeper existential crisis than her ex-military father’s disapproval would have done on it’s own.
The dynamic between Grace and the woman she married while blacked out in Las Vegas, Yuki, helped explore the key theme of depression, loneliness, and self-exploration, but sometimes Rogers’ writing made the dynamic feel YA instead of a true adult romance.

Hot On the Shelf (38:14):

Holly: Gallant by V.E. Schwab
Devin: Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (44:13):

Holly: Hot & Bothered Podcast, Season 4 “Live at Pemberly”
Devin: Abbott Elementary on Hulu

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 7: Motherhood (Still Life with Bread Crumbs + The School for Good Mothers) Apr 12, 2022

Summary: Holly and Devin dive into books about mothers, what they go through, and how authors portray them. While some tropes about motherhood can be worn out and uninteresting, they both agreed that a fresh and nuanced perspective on mothers can bring a lot of richness to any book.

Topics Discussed:

The Heart (1:36): Devin discussed Still Life with Bread Crumbs by Anna Quindlen. A financially strapped professional photographer Rebecca Winters finds herself leaving Manhattan for rural New York in an effort to save money. Once there, she not only uncovers a new community but a new perspective on herself, her family, and her future. Her key takeaways were:

While set up as so many Hallmark movies are, with the Big City Woman going to find a Small Town Fella, Quindlen’s empathy and creativity around each character adds a depth that creates profundity while the reader also gets to enjoy the coffee shop banter and peacefulness quintessential to daytime TV rom coms.
While our protagonist is a mother herself, a key exploration of the theme came in her art; Rebecca initially became famous for a series of photographs from domestic life and the messiness therein for mothers, as well as photos of her infant son.
The 3 generations of family portrayed by the Winters clan (Rebecca’s mother, Rebecca, and Rebecca’s son) gives a nuanced and important portrayal of parenthood, trauma, and the past’s impact on present-day choices.

The Dagger (20:29): Holly discussed The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan. Our protagonist Frida is struggling through a divorce with a one year-old little girl to take care of. One bad choice brings her in front of Child Protective Services, and lands her at the School for Good Mothers, where she must prove that she is capable again of having custody of her daughter, Harriett. Holly’s key takeaways were:

Chan works to expose society’s lack of support for mothers, racism, and unhealthy expectations for parents via an extreme scenario: forcing those who have made mistakes into a cruel rehabilitation program.
This dystopian novel is close enough to reality that the added layers at the School of Good Mothers are especially disturbing and impactful. There is an unexpected sci-fi element and the novel called to mind others like The Push and Klara and the Sun.
This book will give the reader even more empathy for mothers and to critically analyze their own biases and judgements of parents, motherhood, and portrayals on social media.

Hot On the Shelf (41:38):

Devin: One Italian Summer by Rebecca Searle
Holly: The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James

What’s Making Our Hearts Race(45:01):

Holly: Inventing Anna on Netflix
Devin: Turning Red on Disney+

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 6: Historical Settings (The Satapur Moonstone + Portrait of a Scotsman) Mar 29, 2022

Summary: Today, Holly and Devin dig into one of their favorite themes, books set in the past! They are in agreement that historical settings work well for both mysteries and romances, especially when the author does their research and works hard to make the setting vivid and accurate. Both books touched on feminist characters and themes, and have connections to the British colonial empire. Beyond that, though, the books diverge in plot but remain united as fantastic examples of historical settings done well.

Topics Discussed:

The Dagger (2:24): Holly discussed The Satapur Moonstone by Sujata Massey. The year is 1922 and the princely state of Satapur, India has suffered multiple tragedies that culminate in the new king being a 10 year-old boy. The dowager queen and her daughter-in-law seek the aid of Perveen Mistry, the only female lawyer in Bombay. Her key takeaways from this book were:

Feminism and female empowerment are a major theme, with explorations ranging from a purdah (custom in some Muslim and Hindu societies where women sequester themselves to stay out of sight of men) to a woman going to Oxford to become a lawyer and coming back to pioneer the career in Bombay.
The vivid description of the environment and the jungle/rural area of Satapur transported Holly in an enjoyable way; Massey described the treacherous journeys back and forth from where Perveen was staying and the palace itself.
If you enjoy literary mysteries and historical fiction, this series is a must-read. Massey’s books combine the techniques of Agatha Christie and Louise Penny, while following a badass lawyer.

The Heart (18:46): Devin discussed Portrait for a Scotsman by Evie Dunmore. In this third book of the League of Extraordinary Women series, Dunmore explores 1880s England and Scotland with two enemies who end up in a forced marriage - Hattie Greenfield and Lucian Blackstone. Her key takeaways were:

Dunmore touches on similar themes to her past novels in the series, driving home key messages on the patriarchy and the restrictive society in late 19th century England. In this novel, though, she adds an extra socialist layer by examining themes like worker’s rights and socioeconomic inequality.
If you ship Dramione (Draco Malfoy/Hermione Granger), this is the book for you. The romance and intimacy is explicitly and steamy, and the redemption arc for Lucian as the initial villain is juicy.
At times, Hattie comes across as just a bit too privileged and pampered to be sympathetic, whereas Lucian is the true hero of the book and the exploration into his motivations and traumas is the actual cornerstone of the book.

Hot On the Shelf (41:04):

Holly: A Court of Mist and Fury Sarah J Maas
Devin: Musicophilia by Oliver Sacks

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (47:46):

Holly: Love is Blind Japan on Netflix
Devin: Our Flag Means Death on HBO Max

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 5: Time Travel (One Last Stop + Kindred) Mar 15, 2022

Summary: Today, Holly and Devin tackle books that center around time travel, but in two very different ways. They agree that time travel can often create gaping plot holes and can become a distraction from other themes and elements of plot. In the two books they brought, however, the time travel was well executed and augmented other aspects of the story instead of detracting. Both books were united not only in time travel but how moving through time opened up analyses of civil rights struggles for BIPOC and the LGBTQIA+ community. Topics Discussed:

The Heart (1:48): Devin discussed One Last Stop by Casey McQuinston, a book that centers a romance in the most unlikely place - the Q train in New York City. Her key takeaways were:

Found family in the queer community was a major element of the book, and the cast of characters felt authentic, unique, and delightful as rendered by McQuinston’s sharp writing.
The magic elements around Jane’s time travel not only served as a conduit to better understand the LGBTQIA+ struggles of the 70s and 80s, but also served to increase tension and romance throughout the novel.
August and Jane have incredibly strong chemistry for a couple that cannot meet outside of a train car on the Q, and the sex scenes are a cleverly rendered display of queer passion in unusual circumstances.

The Dagger (24:54): Holly discussed Kindred by Octavia Butler, a gripping thriller in which the protagonist, Dana, is sent against her will between 1970s Los Angeles, CA and an antebellum plantation in Maryland. Her key takeaways were:

Butler used Dana’s experiences in modern day and antebellum Maryland to explore how the past affects the present, how the present impacts the past, and how history affects how we understand ourselves.
The narrative explores the complex and long-reaching horrors of slavery from the viewpoint of a modern Black woman who knows she’s descended from these individuals.
After an explosive and gripping opening sequence, Butler’s approach to time travel is unique; by forcing Dana without her express will between eras, Butler evaporates time between the two and emphasizes how close that period in history still is to our modern experience.

Hot On the Shelf (42:56):

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (47:06):

Holly: The Last Duel, film featuring Jodie Comer, Adam Driver, and Matt Damon
Devin: Heli Skiing at Silverton Mountain in South-Western Colorado.

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Ep. 4: Elderly Protagonists (It's Not All Downhill From Here + The Thursday Murder Club) Mar 01, 2022

Summary: Today, Holly and Devin rave about books with elderly protagonists. They review how older characters open up books to touch on other themes beyond youthful searches for meaning. Themes of death, illness, health concerns unite both books, but so do themes of change, renewal, vigor, and fulfillment at any age. They end by agreeing that they want more books focusing on elderly protagonists and that it’s a theme they’re both drawn to.

Topics Discussed:

The Heart (2:24): Devin discussed Its Not All Downhill From Here by Terry McMillan, a book centered around a group of female friends as they explore how to make the most of their late 60s and grapple with relationship challenges, health concerns, and what it means to not give up in old age. Her key takeaways were:

While not a true romance novel, there are romantic elements threaded throughout the novel; these friends discuss love and sex, look for love, find love, break up, try online dating, and validate that you can crave intimacy and connection at any age.
Told from the first-person perspective of Loretta “Lo” Curry, the reader gets a front-row seat into her white lies, her not-so-white lies, her opinions of her friends, and her grief, hope, despair, fear, and excitement through the novel.
McMillan does a lot of work setting up what “downhill” would look like for this group of friends, covering health concerns, financial issues, family challenges, and despair at aging; the turning point doesn’t come until 75% through the book, but the resolution is satisfying and meaningful.

The Dagger (21:03): Holly discussed The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, a book that follows a quartet of folks in a retirement community who gather once a week to discuss cold cases, until they land with a very warm case with a murder in their own community. Her key takeaways were:

This murder mystery feels at times cute, jaunty and warm but there are definite dark elements and a clear sense that, even though they’re investigating the murder, any of the characters could be guilty or involved.
Osman creates a vibe where Louise Penny mysteries meet A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman, with dark humor as well as moments of sudden depth (and death).
Ultimately, the mystery itself was a little convoluted and opaque, but the way Osman treats aging, grief, dementia, and meaning for these characters with care and humor.

Hot On the Shelf (35:57):

Holly: Violeta by Isabel Allende
Devin: The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (41:09):

Holly: Binging Agatha Christie on audiobook
Devin: The 2022 Winter Olympics

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Keywords: Literature, Books, Reading, Bookish, Pop-culture, Romance, Mystery, Elderly, Elderly Protagonists, Its Not All Downhill From Here, Terry McMillan, The Thursday Murder Club, Richard Osman, Violeta, Isabel Allende, The Ten Thousand Doors of January, Alix Harrow, Agatha Christie, Olympics, 2022 Winter Olympics, Beijing, Old People, Murder

Ep. 3: Inherited Homes (The Family Upstairs + Satisfaction Guaranteed) Feb 15, 2022

Summary: Today, Holly and Devin tackle books that kick off with the inheritance of a home. They discuss how the homes are both catalysts to plot and also characters in and of themselves. While the value of the inheritance varies wildly between the books, they agree that the plot device is effective at bringing characters together and precipitating growth, evolution, and depth. These books also sit squarely in each host’s wheelhouse - Holly’s book being especially creepy with cults, poison, and bumps in the night, while Devin’s is a manifesto of queer love, sex toys, and enthusiastic consent.

Topics Discussed:

The Dagger (1:32): Holly discussed The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell, a book that starts with the inheritance of a multi-million dollar home in central London, and weaves together 3 principal story lines to illuminate the creepy mystery surrounding the abandoned mansion. Her key takeaways were:

This thriller truly had it all - an abandoned creepy mansion, a cult, a suicide-murder, missing kids, a deadly herb garden, and more, ranking it in the top 3 of thriller books for Holly in 2019.
Jewell covers story arcs for the three principal characters–Libby, Lucy, and Henry Jr.--in such a way that the reader delves into multiple mysteries across various decades and geographies.
Jealousy and obsession played large roles through every arc in the book - amongst the adults, and amongst the kids/teens, which leads to dangerous decision-making and increased tension.

The Heart (16:29): Devin dove into Satisfaction Guaranteed by Karelia Stetz-Waters, a book where two women are thrust together after inheriting both a house and a sex shop for a recently deceased aunt. Her key takeaways were:

The protagonists Cade Elgin and Selena Mathis are perfect foils for each other, but instead of a typical “enemies to lovers” trope, Stetz-Waters instead explores how they can help each other evolve without the typical initial resistance.
While definitely sexy, Satisfaction Guaranteed approached topics like self-pleasure, sex, consent, and toys almost academically. Running a sex toy shop is actually educational, and the tension with your co-worker is a cherry on top.
Art is a throughline of the book, with paintings, galleries, artists and the act of creation playing almost as large a role as the inherited home.

Hot On the Shelf (41:28):

Holly: The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell
Devin: The People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (45:07):

Holly: Kinokuniya, a Japanese bookstore in Manhattan
Devin: Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly getting engaged and being agents of chaos

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Keywords: Literature, Books, Reading, Bookish, Pop-culture, Thriller, Romance, Satisfaction Guaranteed, Karelia Stetz-Waters, The Family Upstairs, Lisa Jewell, Homes, Inheritance, Inherited Homes, The Family Remains, The People We Meet on Vacation, Emily Henry, Kinokuniya, Megan Fox, Machine Gun Kelly, Engagement, Bookstore, Japanese, Manhattan, Cult

Ep. 2: Protagonists Who Are Writers (Misery + Seven Days in June) Feb 01, 2022

Summary: Today, Holly and Devin connect to discuss books that feature writers as their protagonists. They review how the protagonists’ writing careers are used as catalysts for plot and for character growth. Publicity and fandom are a major theme across both books, and they end by agreeing that writers as protagonists is only effective when the author of the book itself is adept and not using it to be lazy and “writing what they know” too much.

Topics Discussed:

The Heart (19:41): Devin discussed Seven Days in June by Tia Williams, a book where both main protagonists are writers. Her key takeaways were:

The book featured one of her top 10 sex scenes of 2021; an unusual (and public!) location, a surprising reunion and a release of fantastically pent-up tension.
Williams took romance novels to a more literary place by touching on themes of chronic illness, BIPOC struggles in America, and recovering from childhood trauma.
While the main pair are drawn together by chemistry and shared history, the ultimate success of the book is the demonstration of love and lifestyle as a conscious, mature choice.

The Dagger (2:14): Holly brought Misery by Stephen King to the table, with Paul Sheldon as the acclaimed author of the Misery series. Her key takeaways were:

The exploration of addiction was a fascinating throughline of the novel, with Paul being drawn in by painkillers supplied by his captor, Annie, and Annie having an unhealthy relationship to Paul and his series.
Horror is not just jump scares but often disgusting, creepy, and off-putting in less “fear-inducing” ways, but that are more elaborately terrifying. King executes on true horror well in Misery.
King explores what it means to be a writer, with Paul physically trapped in not just this house, but in a literal chair with the keyboard strapped on top of his lap.

Hot On the Shelf (39:30):

Holly: Hell of a Book by Jason Mott
Devin: Originals by Adam Grant

What’s Making Our Hearts Race (42:43):

Holly: “The Tragedy of MacBeth” film with Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand
Devin: “Don’t Look Up” film with Leo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Keywords: Misery, Stephen King, Tia Williams, Seven Days in June, Writers, Horror, Romance, Macbeth, The Tragedy of MacBeth, Don’t Look Up, Denzel Washington, Frances McDormand, Leo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Literature, Books, Reading, Bookish, Pop-Culture

Ep. 1: Classic Retellings (Ayesha At Last + The Wife Upstairs) Jan 18, 2022

Summary: Welcome to our first episode! Holly and Devin come together to discuss modern retellings of classic stories. They compare and contrast each book with the original text, and evaluate how the authors wove the classic plot lines and characters into a modern retelling. Holly and Devin share books they’re excited to read next, and then dive into pop culture spiciness to wrap things up.

Topics Discussed:

The Heart (1:47): Devin shares her thoughts on Ayesha and Last by Uzma Jalaluddin, a retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Her key takeaways included:
- The structures of Austen-era society aligned almost perfectly with Muslim modern society including family involvement in love and marriage.
- Jalaluddin went further than Austen with harsh critiques of modern society’s racism, sexism, fatphobia and xenophobia.

Ayesha at Last takes a plotline folks have read and watched a million times and uses it as a gateway into a culture and ideologies with which some might be unfamiliar.

The Dagger (13:13): Holly shares her perspective on The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins, a retelling of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. Her key takeaways included:
- The Southern Gothic rendering of the haunting classic featuring transgressive thoughts, desires, and impulses was a fresh but resonant take on Jane Eyre.
- Hawkins leveraged a “Desperate Housewives” dynamic with women in the neighborhood to explore the fragile social order and Jane’s desperation to belong.
- Jane becomes intrigued by Bea (the deceased wife) and her rags-to-riches tale even as she remains haunted by her own past, finding herself working to, in some ways, become Bea.
Hot Off the Shelf (31:30):
- Holly: Scarlet, book two of The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer
- Devin: A Better Man, book 15 of the Armand Gamache series by Louise Penny
What’s Making Our Hearts Race (34:27):
- Holly: “The Vow”, series on HBO about cult NXIVM and leader Keith Raniere
- Devin: “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” the most recent Marvel film released

Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod

Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Welcome to Hearts & Daggers Jan 07, 2022

Welcome to Hearts & Daggers, a podcast where we chat about the books that make our hearts race—whether we're swooning onto the bed, or hiding under the covers.

Our hosts are Devin, a New Englander living in Colorado who loves diving into romances that amp her up and make her giggle; and Holly, a New Yorker who loves nothing more than reading something dark, creepy, and mysterious.

Each episode we will discuss two books—one lighter, one darker—that are united by a common theme. We will also each share one book we haven't read that we are excited about, and will end with something in pop-culture or life right now that is making our hearts race.

Join us bi-weekly for some fun conversations about romances, thrillers, and all the books in between that get our heart rates pumping!

Learn more by following us on Instagram @HeartsAndDaggersPod or by visiting our website www.heartsanddaggerspod.com.

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