Lit Sh*t - TopPodcast.com

A Christmas Notch Trilogy Oct 24, 2024

The newest addition to Sierra Simone and Julie Murphy's A Christmas Notch trilogy, A Jinglebell Mingle, is out so we're diccusinng all things sexy christmas included spoilers from books one and two. Join us for what we liked, what we didn't and how Nolan sounds like every person's most bangable character in the books haha.

Remarkably Bright Creatures Oct 08, 2024

We talk about Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. We discuss aging, complicated family dynamics, and friendships with sea creatures. What a fun beautiful book; we all need a Marcellus!

At First Spite Sep 24, 2024

We talk about At First Spite by Olivia Dade. It's a small town enemies to lovers romance between a sassy plus size heroine and her doctor neighbor...who is also her ex-fiance's brother. We love reading this book and how the author covers mental health and childhood trauma thoughtfully.

Lies and Weddings Sep 10, 2024

We talk about Lies and Weddings by Kevin Kwan. Discuss being longtime fans of Crazy Rich Asians, this is our first time covering a Kevin Kwan book, and it's also our first time digging into a satire. Join us as we talk about rich people behaving ridiculously!

Ink Blood Sister Scribe Aug 27, 2024

We talk about Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Torzs. We enjoy this debut with a really interesting magical system, sketchy family members, and magical libraries. We chat through some plot questions and discuss the logistics of the magic system.

The Sunbearer Trials Aug 13, 2024

We chat about The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas. It's a Hunger Games-esq YA fantasy based on Central American mythology. It is packed with action, lovable character and great LGBTQ+ representation!

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde Jul 31, 2024

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams is our book of the episode. We were split in our opinions of this book but man did it give us a lots to chat about! From magical realism to music to flowers and their meanings and of course the romance there was something for everyone. This book also gives wonderful history on the Harlem Renaissance!

Best Books January Through June 2024 Jul 16, 2024

We've had some good reading so far this year, so join us for our discussion of the best books we've read in the first half of 2024. We have some great romances, some fantasy, and some upcoming books to look forward to.

Netflix's Bridgerton Season 3 remarks Jul 02, 2024

Penelope and Colin's story is one of our favorite Bridgerton books (along with Hyacinth's) and we were so excited for their season. We had some ups, some downs and some side characters we were like excuse me but why, why did they make our Eloise so mean, please fix this! Overall we enjoyed this season more than last season and will impatiently wait for the next season's release.....in 2 years.

Love Theoretically Jun 19, 2024

If you haven't read any of best selling author Ali Hazelwood, you're in for a treat! Today we are discussing possibly our favorite book of hers Love Theoretically. We related so much with Elsie and she deserved all the happiness she gets with Jack. We are also a huge fan of how well mental and physical health were handled and how the author covers women in STEM and the obstacles they still have to overcome today. 10 out of 10 we recommend this book across the board!

The True Love Experiment Jun 04, 2024

We discuss The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren. If you love reality dating shows like The Bachelor and you love romance novels, this is DEFINITELY the book for you. A romance author goes on a dating show with a cast of real-life romance tropes. What more could you want?

The Wishing Game May 21, 2024

We talk about Meg Shaffer's novel The Wishing Game. Whimsical and emotional this book about found family and finding your community was one we all enjoyed. A heartwarming tale about the power of a good book.

The Song of Achilles May 07, 2024

We revisit the Achilles myth by discussing The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. This retelling digs deep into Achilles' story from Patroclus' perspective and follows the two from childhood through Achilles' death in the Trojan War. We were divided on our feelings of this book.

The Inheritance Games Apr 23, 2024

We love puzzles and we love discussing a longtime Staci favorite-The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. This book is kind of like YA "Knives Out" meets "Ready Player One" and we're here for all the twists, turns, riddles, and games.

Fourth Wing Apr 09, 2024

We are just as obsessed with Fourth Wing as the rest of the internet, so of course we had to make an episode about it! Rebecca Yarros gives us dragon riders, shadow daddies, and a badass heroine with a disability who offers great commentary on accessibility and choosing your own identity. Saddle up!

Stroked Long Mar 26, 2024

We add swimming to our list of romance sports novels with Stroked Long by Meghan Quinn. This book is a sexy romance with a thoughtful portrayal of a character with obsessive compulsive disorder.

House of Flame and Shadow Mar 12, 2024

Multiverses are the new romances, and Sarah J. Maas has had us on the edge of our seats for two years waiting to happen what's next in the Crescent City Series. Will Bryce get back to Midgaard? Will Hunt and Ruhn escape the Asteri? Are all the characters that are supposed to be dead truly dead? It's gonna be a wild ride!

Air Awakens Feb 27, 2024

We talk about Air Awakens by Elise Kova. This is a YA fantasy novel with elemental magic that gives Avatar: The Last Air Bender vibes, and we're here for it.

Royally Not Ready Feb 20, 2024

We discuss Royally Not Ready by Meghan Quinn. This romance novel is kind of like...BDSM princess diaries? Listen to learn how we get from Miami party princess to Scandinavian royal heir!

Tokyo Dreaming Feb 13, 2024

We discuss Tokyo Dreaming by Emiko Jean. This is the follow-up to Tokyo Ever After. Will Princess Izumi take her place within the Japanese Royal Family? Will her parents get their happily ever after? Did we like the book? Listen to find out.

These Hollow Vows Feb 06, 2024

We talk about These Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan. This is a YA fantasy book with dueling Fae courts, a heroine with secret powers and quick thinking, and plenty of romantic tension and court intrigue.

Once Burned Jan 30, 2024

We talk about Once Burned by Jeaniene Frost. This is a paranormal romance with a heroine with mysterious electrical powers, a sexy protective vampire "prince" (don't call him Dracula!), and an ancient grudge.

Bonus: Best Books July-December 2023 Jan 16, 2024

We're taking an intermission in our Royals season to hop in with a bonus episode! We talk about the best books we read in the second half of 2023. Join us for some ideas for your next favorite book!

The Royal We Jan 02, 2024

We discuss The Royal We by the Fug Girls, Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan. This royal romance is loosely based on Will and Kate. It's an Erica pick, and we definitely had some mixed reviews!

A Magic Steeped in Poison Dec 26, 2023

We talk about A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lim. This is a YA fantasy novel with a very unique take on magic that centers on tea ceremony. We have a magic competition, court intrigue, and political scheming.

American Royals Dec 19, 2023

We talk about one of Erica's guilty pleasures, American Royals by Katharine McGee. This YA novel follows four young women, two of them princesses, in an alternate reality where George Washington was America's first king instead of its president. It's like Gossip Girl meets Princess Diaries!

Royally Screwed Dec 12, 2023

We're kicking off our royals seasons with Royally Screwed by Emma Chase. This is a fun quick read romance that is set in a fake country reminiscent of a Hallmark movie. The main couple steams up the pages and the side characters are endearing and hilarious. Perfect book for readers who love a good contemporary romance!

Bonus: If This Then That-Round 2 Nov 14, 2023

We're playing another round of "If This Then That," where we revisit our most popular episodes from past seasons and recommend books you might like to read next.

Bonus: Holiday Themed Book Recommendations Nov 14, 2023

We're sharing recommendation of books we love in case you want to align your reading seasonally! We've got Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Ramadan, St. Patrick's Day....even Earth Day!

Bonus: Halloween Fun Oct 31, 2023

We're getting in on the Halloween fun with a get-to-know us episode, with some quirky bookish Halloween prompts. What are our favorite candies? Who would our favorite couples dress up as? Listen to find out!

Bloodmarked Oct 03, 2023

We cannot sing the praises of Tracy Deonn's Legendborn cycle enough, and continue our fangirling by discussing the second book, Bloodmarked. We pick up Bree's journey with the descendants of King Arthur's round table as she fights corruption, racism and bigotry within the system and learns more about her magic.

An Ember in the Ashes Sep 26, 2023

We talk about the first book in one of Angie's recent favorite series, An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir. We have a war college with a reluctant soldier, the daughter of rebel leaders trying to save her family, and a broken system primed for rebellion.

Him Sep 19, 2023

We revisit pod favorite author Elle Kennedy with Him, her collaboration with Sarina Bowen. It's a heartwarming male/male hockey romance about two childhood friends who may become more after a casual summer camp bet. Bring on the steam, sexual discovery, the hockey, intense real adult communication and more. We'd give this book more than 5 stars if we could!

The Ten Thousand Doors of January Sep 12, 2023

We frequently sing the praises of Alix E. Harrow, and we're finally reading one of her books on the podcast with The Ten Thousand Doors of January. This is a fun fantasy novel which takes us between many worlds as we watch our heroine learn more about her family history and magical abilities.

Our Thoughts on the Red White and Royal Blue Movie Aug 29, 2023

We're taking a break from our regularly scheduled programming to share our thoughts on the Red, White, and Royal Blue movie adaptation by Amazon Prime. We adore this book its author, Casey McQuiston, and have been anxiously awaiting this movie. We're so glad it's finally here!

The Bear and the Nightingale Aug 15, 2023

We discuss The Bear and the Nightingale, the first book in Katherine Arden's Winternight trilogy. We love the folklore in this story about a strong heroine fighting to preserve her village's traditions. It's an excellent commentary on feminism and religious persecution.

Dial A for Aunties Aug 08, 2023

We discuss Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto. This book is a fun, wild ride about an accidental murder and deep family ties. There's a lot of humor, a bit of romance, and a hilariously loveable group of meddling aunties.

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder Aug 01, 2023

We indulge in some true crime with A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson. This YA murder mystery is twisty, clever, and the first of a pod favorite trilogy. Plus it's YA so it's not TOO scary. LOL.

The Gilded Ones Jul 25, 2023

Erica has been talking up The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna and finally managed to get it onto a podcast season. We chat about this YA fantasy novel with its f*** the patriarchy vibe, strong female soldiers, and deep friendships between women. Plus an adorable cat creature!

From Blood and Ash Jul 18, 2023

Staci has been waiting for AGES to choose From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L Armentrout as a podcast book, and the time is finally here! We love this pick from pod favorite author Jennifer L. Armentrout. We have fantasy, romance, court intrigue, a bada**heroine and sexy hero...what more could we ask for?

The Best Books We've Read in the First Half of 2023 Jul 04, 2023

Join us as we share our favorite books we read from January-June 2023! We have some buddy reads, some ongoing series, and plenty of romance novels. There's magic, dragons, and even a nonfiction pick thrown in there for variety!

Queen Charlotte Reigns Supreme! Jun 19, 2023

What are your thoughts on Netflix's Bridgerton spin off Queen Charlotte? We chat our opinions from casting and attire to music and what we wished we had more of. Plus of course our love of Julia Quinn, Shonda Rhimes and how Queen Charlotte and Lady Danbury ruled the series again!

Literary Travel Itinerary Jun 06, 2023

We're welcoming summer with a discussion of our dream literary travel itinerary. We talk about the real and fictional places we dream of visiting because we read about them in books. We crisscross the globe and even visit other worlds. It's an epic vacation!

In Deeper Waters May 23, 2023

We're finishing out our season with In Deeper Waters by F.T. Lukens. This book is an absolutely adorable YA fantasy about a merman, a prince with fire powers, and a political conspiracy that threatens their kingdom.

A Merry Little Meet Cute May 16, 2023

It's Christmas in May as we discuss A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone. We highly recommend this book for romance book lovers! We completely loved our plus size porn star FMC and her former boy band crush MMC and wished for more toys to come out in the bedroom. We also adored the shenanigans that come from having a bunch of porn industry workers involved in making a movie set in a Christmas Hallmark-style town, fun business names included!

The Color Purple May 09, 2023

We discuss The Color Purple by Alice Walker. We have mixed reviews of this classic novel but can all agree that it is a great book for those wanting to educate themselves, opinions on the audiobook, and three different cover versions!

Count Your Lucky Stars May 02, 2023

We discuss the fun book Count Your Lucky Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur. Most of us would recommend this second chance romance featuring a variety of LGBTQ+ representation including pansexual main characters and bi and lesbian side characters plus a queer author. We love the characters and the sex scenes were well written but we all agree a little more variety would have been appreciated.

The Other Merlin Apr 25, 2023

We discuss The Other Merlin by Robin Schneider. We enjoy this gender-bending retelling of the King Arthur story with a bookish Arthur, a bisexual female Merlin masquerading as her brother, and a gay Lancelot. We have some questions and issues with historical setting and world building.

Redefining Realness Apr 18, 2023

We discuss Redefining Realness, a memoir by Janet Mock. We appreciate hearing a trans woman's story from her own voice-the triumphs, the pain, and the honesty.

The House in the Cerulean Sea Apr 11, 2023

We discuss The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune. We fell in love with this fantasy story about found family. We love the magical children we meet, including a gnome, a wyvern, and the antichrist. We root for a government employee in a dead-end job who has his life turned upside down. We add a new author to our favorites list.

This Savage Song Apr 04, 2023

We talk about This Savage Song. We're excited to finally be discussing a book by V.E. Schwab. This is a gritty YA distopia/fantasy where human crime drives the spontaneous creation of monsters! It's heartbreaking and enthralling, and most of us enjoyed it.

Boyfriend Material Mar 28, 2023

It's the start of our LGBTQIA+ season and we discuss Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall. We all love this romance from one of our favorite LGBTQIA+ authors. We have a fake dating scheme, bumbling coworkers, ride-or-die friends, and a M/M romance. All the makings of a great read with lots of laugh out loud moments!

Midnights Book Pairings Mar 14, 2023

We combine two of our favorite things: books and Taylor Swift! We talk through the book pairings which we feel embody the vibes of each of the songs on Taylor's Midnights album (the original, not the 3am version).

Books We're Excited to Read in 2023 Feb 28, 2023

We talk about the book releases we're looking forward to reading in 2023. The list includes a surprising number of royalty themed books, a new release from one of our favorite authors we've read for the podcast, and continuations of series we love.

A Literary Valentine's Day Feb 14, 2023

Happy Valentine's Day! We talk about our favorite book romances: the best couples, literary date ideas, our dream book boyfriends. Plus we play a round of f***/marry/kill where we each pick scenarios for each other!

The Best Books We've Read in the Second Half of 2022 Jan 31, 2023

We talk about the best books we've read from July-December of 2022. We have some old favorites, continuations of series we love, and some unexpected new finds. Plus, learn about the books we love so much we keep gifting them back and forth to each other, and even a book Erica received from a stranger.

Dating Dr. Dil Jan 17, 2023

We are ending our color season talking about the much loved book Dating Dr. Dil by Nisha Sharma. We adore this creative retelling of The Taming of the Shrew, with all the spice and none of the abuse of the original. We have a badass heroine, a sexy doctor who doesn't believe in romantic love, and a great cast of meddling aunties. Plus a completely epic date at the Met!

Severance Jan 10, 2023

We talk about Severance by Ling Ma. We have thoughts about the formatting of this postapocalyptic distopia novel. We have some flashbacks to our own pandemic experience. We discuss the symbolism of office drudgery and struggle to connect with the characters.

The Happy Ever After Playlist Jan 03, 2023

We’re on to our final color of the season Pink and naturally starting off with the romance book The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez. We have a cute dog meet cute, an adorable romance, predatory record label antics, and a banging playlist.

Shatter Me Dec 27, 2022

We talk about longtime pod-favorite Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi. We love her writing style and how she manages to convey the main character's mental and emotional state in a unique way. We're intrigued about where the series is going. We're not sure if we should love the love interest or hate the bad guy. And we have differing opinions on Dystopian stories as a genre.

Tokyo Ever After Dec 20, 2022

We talk about Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean. It's kind of like a Japanese Princess Diaries, and we're here for it. We talk about teenage stereotypes, royal protocols, scheming cousins, and ride or die BFFs.

The Locker Room Dec 13, 2022

Our color season is moving on to blue books and first up is The Locker Room by Meghan Quinn. We have some baseball players who are absolutely FINE. We love the witty banter. We also talk about our love of sports romances and our least favorite romance tropes.

Fire Dec 06, 2022

We discuss Fire by Kristin Cashore. We have mixed reviews and talk about how this book fits in the overall Graceling series. We talk about character development, love stories...and what the heck does it mean to be a Graceling?

Fable Nov 29, 2022

We talk about Fable by Adrienne Young. We enjoy this new twist on a pirate story starring a compelling female lead. We have some unanswered questions about Fable's mom and her abilities. We discuss Saint's...not so saintly parenting. As always, we love a strong heroine!

The Heart Principle Nov 22, 2022

We're kicking off our colors season with Red books. First up: The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang. We talk about dreamy love interests, challenging family dynamics, realistic mental health portrayals, and root for our heroine. We've also got a cute date, characters we love to hate, and a wild athletic challenge.

Torn Movie Review Nov 08, 2022

We chat about our reactions to the Passionflix movie adaptation of Torn, the second book in Jennifer L. Armentrout's Wicked trilogy. We talk about the acting, plot gaps, and how closely the movie follows the original book. Plus, full-size Tink and baby DIXON!!!

2022 Holiday Gift Guide Oct 25, 2022

We're kicking off the 2022 holiday season by sharing our gift guide to give you ideas of books you can give to everyone in your life. We have fiction and nonfiction, so hopefully there's an idea for anyone you might have in mind.

2nd Year Recap Oct 11, 2022

We've completed our second year of the podcast! What started out as a quarantine project is now something we love making and sharing with our book-loving community. We're recapping the second year of the podcast (seasons 5-7). We dig into which books were our favorites, which we didn't like so much, and which surprised us.

Legendborn Sep 27, 2022

We discuss Legendborn by Tracy Deonn. We've been wanting to discuss this for ages, so we're so excited! This book is a retelling of Arthurian legend with a fresh and compelling new perspective. We talk about fun things like young love and magic, but also go deep with discussions of racism and grief. We talk about who we ship, and who we can't stand. Plus, there is more than one way to be a magical bada$$.

A Game of Fate Sep 20, 2022

We discuss A Game of Fate by Scarlett St. Clair, which is a modern romance retelling of the Greek myth of Hades and Persephone. We love the twist on the story and the redemption of Hades. Persephone is kind of annoying. In this version, the Underworld sounds like a place we would actually want to visit, and the inclusion of the Fates and themes of balance add unexpected depth.

Six Crimson Cranes Sep 13, 2022

We discuss Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim. We talk about curses, evil (or not so evil) sorceresses, dragons, and princes with hearts of gold. We have vague memories of watching The Swan Princess as children. And we're so excited to find a new author to love!

When Beauty Tamed the Beast Sep 06, 2022

We discuss When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa James. Most of us enjoyed this surprisingly funny historical romance inspired by Beauty and the Beast. We debate what counts as an adaptation vs. just being a trope, talked about epidemic responses, and touch on the show House whom the main male character is based off.

Black Sun Aug 30, 2022

We discuss Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse. Our enjoyment of this book scans the spectrum, so we debate what we like and don't like. We enjoy diving a bit into Native American mythology. There are a lot of characters and POVs to keep up with. At least one of us is curious what comes next.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea Aug 23, 2022

We discuss The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh. We like the imagery, and are reminded of Spirited Away and other Studio Ghibli movies. We discuss the story's shuffling of gods and fates. We enjoy this retelling of a Korean folk tale.

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin Aug 16, 2022

We discuss A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown, which is based on Egyptian mythology. We have some thoughts about character development and world building. We'd like to connect with our characters, and have some strong opinions about how family relationships can help us do that.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess Aug 09, 2022

We discuss Daughter of the Moon Goddess, by Sue Lynn Tan. This book is adapted from the story of Chang'e, the Chinese moon goddess. We love that our kick-butt archer heroine gives us Mulan vibes. The fantasy setting of this book is gorgeous and makes our hearts ache. We've got a love triangle and a betrayal that some of us saw coming...but not all. And we have a new author to love!

Uprooted Aug 02, 2022

We're kicking off our myths and legends season with a chat about Uprooted by Naomi Novik, which is rooted in Polish folklore. We have an unexpectedly compelling villain, a naive but determined heroine, and mixed feelings about our hero. Plus a "dragon," a tower, and insidious evil.

Books People Should Talk About More Jul 19, 2022

We chat about books we love which we wish people would talk about more. Some of these are recent discoveries which have quickly become new favorites. Some we've loved for along time. And some we've been telling each other for ages we need to read, and we're finally getting to it! Hopefully this inspires your next great find as well.

The Best Books We've Read in the First Half of 2022 Jul 05, 2022

We chat about our favorite books of everything we've read so far in 2022. We have romance, mystery, plenty of fantasy, OF COURSE some Sarah J. Maas. We have page turners, books that read like poetry, and books we can't stop thinking about. We revisit some old favorite authors and discover some new ones we can't stop reading. We hope our picks help you find your next favorite read!

Bridgerton Books Awesomeness Jun 21, 2022

We love ourselves some Julia Quinn books so in this special bonus episode we chat all things Bridgerton. Which book was our fave and least fave? Which characters did we like the best? Who's love story mad eour hearts melt? And most important of all which Bridgerton brother would we match ourselves with!

House of Sky and Breath: Part 3 Jun 07, 2022

We discuss the third and final part of House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas. We debate character development, secrets, and fae history. We discuss ongoing theories: who is Hunt's daddy? Does the Thunderbird kid have powers? Are the Asteri the same villain in a different book? Plus we have THOUGHTS on the SJ Maas multiverse. Namely, we are HERE. FOR. IT.

House of Sky and Breath: Part 2 May 31, 2022

We talk about Part 2 of House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas. We FINALLY get the payoff after waiting a book and a half for the steamy scenes. Our fae/angel/mer friends get more deeply involved with some rebels of questionable morals. Erica's attempts to guess the identity of a certain spy are laughable.

House of Sky and Breath Part 1 May 24, 2022

We discuss part 1 of House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas. We have mermen and angels and wolves (oh my!) Plus fae. Always sexy fae. We speculate about the status of a missing Thunderbird. We weigh in on the beginnings of a social justice rebellion, supernatural spying, and a wolf shifter with more secrets than one person has any right to have. Buckle up!

House of Earth and Blood: Parts 3 and 4 May 17, 2022

We chat about Parts 3 and 4 of House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas. The fae and angels are still sexy. This murder mystery kicks into high gear. We deep dive into which romances we hope to see, predictions for the rest of the Crescent City series, and theories about a possible SJ Maas multiverse. Buckle up!

House of Earth and Blood: Parts 1 and 2 May 10, 2022

We're kicking off Sarah J. May by discussing parts one and two of House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas. We fangirl. HARD. We have sexy fae, sexy angels, tattooed bad boys, wicked smart party girls, a whole world that combines magic and technology. Plus, a supernatural murder mystery. We really couldn't ask for more. This ain't a YA fantasy.

Bridgerton Netflix Season 2 Recap Apr 26, 2022

Did we like it, what was the romance level, was Newton as cute in the show as in the book? We spill the tea on Netflix's newest season of Julia Quinn's Bridgerton.

Bonus: If This Then That Apr 12, 2022

In today's bonus episode, we're revisting our most popular episodes from our first five seasons...and recommending what to read next! We'll each give a recommendation for anyone who loved the most popular books. We hope you find your next favorite read!

Bonus: A Discovery of Witches Season 3 Mar 29, 2022

We discuss the third and final season of the TV adaptation of A Discovery of Witches. What did they get right? What would we have changed? Tune in to find out!

Bonus: Literary Matchmaker Mar 15, 2022

We're in between seasons, so today's episode is a bonus episode! Join us as we play matchmaker for some of our favorite heroes and heroines-matching them with characters not in their original book or series!

The Deal Mar 01, 2022

We discuss The Deal by Elle Kennedy. It's the last of Staci's sports-themed romance pics, and the last episode of this season! We fall in love with a strong female lead and a sexy hockey player.

The Dating Playbook Feb 22, 2022

Our sports-themed romance discussion continues with the Dating Playbook by Farrah Rochon. This is a fun one because it's set in our hometown, and features our favorite college football team!

Simon Says Feb 15, 2022

We're kicking off Staci's picks for this season (sports romances) with Simon Says by Lori Foster! We chat about gender tropes, MMA, and the early 2000s.

Firekeeper's Daughter Feb 08, 2022

We discuss Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley. We chat about the masterful writing of this book and how much we enjoyed getting to learn about Indigenous People's customs and rituals.

The Dictionary of Lost Words Feb 01, 2022

We discuss The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams. We talk about what words we consider valuable, and how societal inequalities impact our perception of language.

Hana Khan Carries On Jan 25, 2022

We discuss Hana Khan Carries On by Uzma Jalaluddin. We identify with our heroine-a T-Swift loving podcaster like us. We cheer Hana on as she navigates love, family, and career. Mindy Kaling is producing an adaptation of this book, and we're excited!

Fangirl Jan 18, 2022

We discuss "Fangirl" by Rainbow Rowell. Erica has an encounter with her past self. We reminisce about our memories of our own fandoms and all the midnight releases we've attended.

With the Fire On High Jan 11, 2022

We discuss "With the Fire On High" by Elizabeth Acevedo, Erica's second NaNoWriMo pick. Erica makes risotto. We talk about plot structure and enjoy just rooting for a character. We get hungry.

The Night Circus Jan 04, 2022

We're kicking off season five with The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern. It's Erica's favorite book of all time, so be prepared for some fangirling. We chat about star-crossed lovers and our favorite parts of the circus.

Bonus: Our Favorite Books - 2H 2021 Dec 21, 2021

We talk about our favorite books we've read from July-December of 2021. Our picks include some upcoming new releases, plenty of romance, and of course more Sarah J. Maas!

Bonus: Books That Shaped Us When We Were Young Dec 07, 2021

Join is as we chat through our childhood favorites in this nostalgia-packed episode! We talk about the books that shaped us when we were young. Some are our earliest reading memories. Some are books we still return to.

Bonus: Get to Know Us...Through Books! Nov 23, 2021

It's been a while since we've done any kind of get-to-know-us episode, so today we're asking each other important questions about our literary preferences. What worlds would we want to live in? What's our fictional dream house? Whose powers would we steal?

Bonus: Seasons 1-4 Recap Nov 09, 2021

Join us for our recap of our first four seasons! We talk about which books were our favorites, which let us down, the one we all hated, and which authors we're still reading off-pod.

Reel Oct 25, 2021

For the last podcast of Season 4, we discuss the amazing book Reel by Kennedy Ryan. This book is powerful and emotional with top notch steamy romance! Standing ovation for Neeva and Canon in this love letter to black history and art they embody.

Archangel's Kiss Oct 19, 2021

In this episode, we discuss Archangel's Kiss by Nalini Singh. We discuss how crazy Lijuan is and how much we LOVE the baby angels and of course our favorite Illium.

The Hawk Oct 12, 2021

We talk about "The Hawk" by Monica McCarty. We learn some Scottish history. We make Outlander comparisons. We discuss romance stereotypes and disagree on this book.

Lover Awakened Oct 05, 2021

We discuss Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward. We get a new twist on vampires, and they're bros. We love a good redemption story. We love rooting for these characters!

Rebel Sep 28, 2021

We talk about "Rebel" by Beverly Jenkins. We have mixed reviews but appreciate the historical context. We discuss story development and how to build dramatic tension.

Red, White, and Royal Blue Sep 21, 2021

We talk about "Red, White, and Royal Blue" by Casey McQuiston. We fall head over heels for these characters. Erica's royals fangirling comes out. We share our dreams for Texas politics. We stan.

Something to Talk About Sep 14, 2021

We discuss "Something to Talk About" by Meryl Wilsner. We deep dive into character development, romantic chemistry, and what hooks us in a story.

Darkfever Sep 07, 2021

We discuss "Darkfever" by Karen Marie Moning. We have more questions than answers. We reminisce about early 2000s fashion. We have no idea how to pronounce "sinsar dubh." Plus, does this book even count as romance?

Bringing Down the Duke Aug 31, 2021

We're kicking off our romance season with Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore. It's basically like Bridgerton with suffragettes. What more could you want?

Bonus: Our Favorite Books YTD Aug 17, 2021

In this bonus episode, we discuss each of our favorite books we read in the first half of 2021. We hope you find your next read from one of our lists!

Bonus: Authors Dinner Party Aug 03, 2021

We're in between seasons, so today's episode is a bonus episode. We each invite some of our favorite authors to a fictional dinner party. We talk through our guest lists, and why those particular authors were invited. None of us is shocked that our dinner parties have VERY different vibes.

Bonus Episode: The Rest of the Selection Series Jul 20, 2021

We're in between seasons so yay for a fun bonus episode! We discuss The Elite and The One the ending of Maxim and America's story and the first three books in The Selection series. Join us as we harp on Aspen, enjoy America growing up some and the happily ever after.

Bonus Episode: Wicked trilogy and movie recap Jul 06, 2021

In this first bonus episode of the Season 3, we discuss the rest of the Wicked Trilogy by Jennifer L Armentrout: Torn and Brave, along with the movie by Passionflix. Join us as we rave about our favorite character Tink and all the surprises she had in store for us as we continued this romance and fantasy journey she has created.

An Offer From a Gentleman Jun 22, 2021

We discuss An Offer From A Gentleman, the third Bridgerton book by Julia Quinn. We debate our preferred Bridgerton brother. Mama B. is the best. We love this twist on the Cinderalla story.

Two Kisses for Maddy Jun 15, 2021

We discuss Two Kisses for Maddy by Matt Logelin. It's the podcast's first memoir and our first nonfiction book. We talk about grief, hopes for our families, and remembering loved ones.

The Girls I've Been Jun 08, 2021

In this episode, we discuss the thriller/mystery YA The Girl's I've Been by Tess Sharpe. We didn't get much suspense, Nora had a lots of past names and we sure did have fun talking about nicknames! We also appreciated the LGBTQIA+ characters.

Redeeming Love Jun 01, 2021

We discuss Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. Angie is reading it for the first time. Erica and Staci are reading it for a second time, older and wiser. We can understand the appeal of a lonely cabin in the woods.

Wicked May 25, 2021

We discuss Wicked by Jennifer L. Armentrout. This book was the breakout favorite of the season. We cheer on a bada** fae hunter. We dig the romance. And we love, Love, LOVE Tink. We are so glad the movie is coming out this week!!!

The Selection May 18, 2021

We discuss The Selection by Kiera Cass, which we feel is a Bachelor/Royals/Hunger Games hybrid. There's a love triangle, and we're all aligned in our opions about it. We never expected to be so bothered about maps.

The Nightingale May 11, 2021

We discuss The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. We love Isabel-Vianna, not so much. We talk about hard choices in war, and learn about the occupation of France during WWII.

The Viscount Who Loved Me May 04, 2021

We're starting Season 3 off with The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn. YAY for more Bridgerton!! This book focuses on Anthony. Up for discussion is: do we actually like Anthony, how awesome Kate is and more!

Bonus: A Court of Silver Flames Apr 27, 2021

We discuss A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas. Our Sarah J. Maas fangirling is on full display.

Bonus: A Discovery of Witches Season 2 Recap Apr 13, 2021

Join us as we talk through our reactions to Season 2 of the TV adaptation of A Discovery of Witches. Buckle your seat belts, because we have opinions.

Bonus: Bridgerton Season 1 Reaction Mar 30, 2021

Join us as we talk about our reactions to the first season of the Netflix adaptation of Julia Quinn's Bridgerton series. We basically fangirl for a while.

Bonus: Books Which Should Be Movies Mar 16, 2021

We're in between seasons, so today we've got a bonus episode! We discuss books we wish would be made into movies or TV shows.

Angel's Blood Mar 02, 2021

We discuss Angel's Blood by Nalini Singh. It's Erica's first romance novel EVER.

Black Leopard, Red Wolf Feb 23, 2021

We discuss "Black Leopard, Red Wolf" by Marlon James. We have thoughts. We are confused. And two out of three of us didn't finish the book.

Monday's Not Coming Feb 16, 2021

We discuss the book Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D Jackson. We finally find out what happened to Monday and figure out why there are sections called the after, the before and the before the before!

The Kingmaker Feb 09, 2021

We discuss "The Kingmaker" by Kennedy Ryan. We swoon over a sexy environmentalist. We learn about social justice. We go on some lacy tangents and have a lot of fun doing it.

A Song Below Water Feb 02, 2021

We discuss "A Song Below Water" by Bethany C. Morrow. We have mixed reactions. We learn some new mythology, but are confused in the process. We talk about the social commentary we appreciated in this book and the world building we wish had been richer.

Mexican Gothic Jan 26, 2021

We discuss Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Key takeaway: what just happened? We compare notes. We compare timelines. We're confused, creeped out, and intrigued.

Pride Jan 19, 2021

We discuss "Pride," by Ibi Zoboi. We love a modern adaptation of a classic, so this was a fun one!

There There Jan 12, 2021

We discuss There There by Tommy Orange. This book was a tough one to read, but we felt like we learned some new perspectives and have a little more empathy than we did before.

Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows Jan 05, 2021

We discuss "Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows" by Balli Kaur Jaswal. There are a lot of genres. We debate fantasy situations. We have our first cocktail of the season!

Bonus: Movies Better Than Their Books Dec 22, 2020

As readers, we firmly believe the book is almost always better than the movie. Emphasis on almost. Today we're talking about exceptions to the rule where the movie adaptation is better than the book it's based on.

Bonus: Literary Heroes Supersquad Dec 08, 2020

Last episode we drafted literary heroines for Avengers-style supersquads. We didn't want the dudes to feel left out, so this week we're giving the heroes a chance.

Bonus: Literary Heroines Supersquads Nov 24, 2020

In this episode, we draft literary heroines for Avengers-style supersquads. What are our squads fighting for? We don't really know, but they will kick a**.

Time's Convert: Episode 2 Nov 10, 2020

We discuss part 2 of Time's Convert by Deborah Harkness. Baby vampires get bitey. Everyone has a new favorite uncle. And we can finally stop talking about Phoebe.

Time's Convert: Episode 1 Nov 03, 2020

Today we discuss the first part of Time's Convert by Deborah Harkness. Some of the characters are whiny. Most of them frustrate us. And the dating options are slimmer than Bumble on New Year's Eve.

The Book of Life: Episode 3 Oct 27, 2020

Today we're discussing chapter 33-the end of The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness. Everyone gets some closure. The wicked B**** is dead. And is there a secret island somewhere none of us knows about?

The Book of Life: Episode 2 Oct 20, 2020

Today we're discussing chapters 15-28 of The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness. In summary: F*** Benjamin, Jack is back, and just how big is the dragon really?

The Book of Life: Episode 1 Oct 13, 2020

We discuss chapters 1-14 of The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness. We debate our feelings about a new character, our little b**** meter blows up, and Angie's casting decisions include Clay Matthews III.

Shadow of Night Episode 3: Parts 5 and 6 Oct 06, 2020

Join us as we discuss parts 5 and 6 of Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness. A jousting game goes awry and we debate relationship boundaries. Diana gets some unexpected fatherly advice. The rules of time travel get confusing. Then Matthew and Diana go back to the future.

Shadow of Night Episode 2: Parts 3 and 4 Sep 29, 2020

We discuss parts 3 and 4 of Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness. We learn more about Diana's colorful history. We add some new creatures to our friends list. We add some royalty to our little b**** list. Plus, we have another bangin' cocktail.

Shadow of Night Episode 1: Parts 1 and 2 Sep 22, 2020

Today we're discussing parts 1 and 2 of Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness. Matthew and Diana are back in time in Elizabethan England. We get to meet some historical figures and some bada** vampires. We debate Anne Boleyn's romantic rejects. Also, Erica tries to do a wine tasting like the vampires and Staci learns how to pronounce names.

A Discovery of Witches Episode 3: Madison Sep 15, 2020

Join us as we discuss the last third of A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. We make some new friends. Diana is fire. Miriam casually drops a conversational bombshell and some random old stuff strategically shows up. Oh, and the Bishop family house is a character in its own right. Can we move in?

A Discovery of Witches Episode 2: France Sep 08, 2020

Matthew and Diana are in Matthew's home in France. We want it to be cute and romantic. It's really not, and his mom is there. The stakes get higher, the witchy shadiness goes deeper, and we learn Staci has an impressive knowledge of homeopathic birth control.

A Discovery of Witches Episode 1: Oxford Sep 01, 2020

We meet Diana Bishop and Matthew Clairmont in Oxford. A mysterious book shows up, some sketchy witchy stuff goes down, and a budding romance simmers. We meet some cute vampires, some little B witches, and WTF is the correct way to pronounce "daemon?" Join us for our discussion of chapters 1-17 of "A Discovery of Witches" from the All Souls series by Deborah Harkness.

Introduction: Welcome to Lit Sh*t! Aug 25, 2020

Welcome to Lit Sh*t! In this prologue episode, we (Angie, Erica, and Staci) introduce ourselves, our reading styles, and our favorite books. Listen to this episode to get a sense of what we sound like so you know us a bit when we start season one!

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