⚠️ CONTENT WARNING: Discussion of domestic violence, psychological abuse, and gaslighting

Discover why Kendra Elliot's latest psychological thriller has readers divided—achieving a 4.50-star Goodreads rating while critics question whether franchise ambitions overshadow mystery construction. This deep-dive review examines how a bestselling author with 13 million books sold tackles domestic abuse through the cold case thriller framework.

Trigger Warning: This episode includes detailed discussion of psychological manipulation, emotional abuse in relationships, and domestic violence themes.

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Discover why All Systems Red swept every major science fiction award and launched Martha Wells from struggling author to genre superstar. This deadpan, TV-obsessed security android who'd rather watch soap operas than interact with humans has become the most relatable AI protagonist in modern sci-fi.

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Discover why Till Summer Do Us Part dominated Amazon's #1 Romance Comedy spot despite reader disappointment. Meghan Quinn's latest fake marriage romance follows newly divorced Scottie who lies about having a husband at work, then hires millionaire improv actor Wilder for an 8-day couples retreat that turns into unexpected chaos.

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⚠️ CONTENT WARNING: Discussion of Holocaust themes, child death, and family trauma

Discover why this bestselling Holocaust novel about generational trauma and family bakeries has divided readers since its June 2025 release. Join TS from Bestsellers & Brews as he examines Shirley Russak Wachtel's 19th book - a deeply personal story drawing from her mother's experience as a baker in Nazi-occupied Poland.

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Discover why Never Lie became a million-copy bestseller despite plot holes that "rival Swiss cheese." McFadden's controversial psychological thriller achieved 23 consecutive weeks on bestseller lists and secured a Netflix adaptation, proving that shocking twists can triumph over narrative logic.

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⚠️ CONTENT WARNING: Discussion of suicide, drunk driving fatality, mortality themes

Discover why Foreign Affairs won the 1985 Pulitzer Prize and became a groundbreaking portrayal of middle-aged romance. Alison Lurie's sophisticated comedy of manners follows two American academics in London finding unexpected second chances at life.

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Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussion of suicidal ideation, drunk driving resulting in death, and mortality themes.

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Why Shield of Sparrows became the #1 New York Times bestseller that pulled TS back into romantasy after swearing off the genre. This comprehensive review compares Perry's monster-hunting debut against Fourth Wing and Quicksilver to see what works—and what definitely doesn't.

This is TS's third romantasy review on Bestsellers and Brews. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts for more honest book breakdowns and writing craft discussions.

Next Episode: Foreign Affairs by Alison Lurie

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⚠️ CONTENT WARNING: Discussion of domestic violence, mental health institutionalization, and infant loss

Discover why The Lost Bookshop became a global phenomenon, selling over 1 million copies in just 11 months. Evie Woods' debut magical realism novel weaves together 1920s Paris and contemporary Dublin through a vanishing bookshop that appears only to those who need it most.

This comprehensive review examines both the magical charm and structural flaws of Woods' bestselling debut. We explore how a book about books captured readers worldwide while analyzing specific craft elements that could have elevated it from commercial success to literary masterpiece. Perfect for aspiring writers seeking to understand what makes bestsellers work—and how they could work better.

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses domestic violence, asylum abuse, and infant loss as portrayed in the novel.

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Next Week: We'll be diving into Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry!

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Discover why Project Hail Mary sold over 1 million audiobooks despite critical character flaws. Andy Weir's third novel won the 2022 Audie Award and earned endorsements from Barack Obama and Bill Gates, yet struggles with the same characterization issues that plagued Artemis. This comprehensive review examines why Rocky the alien saves an otherwise flawed narrative.

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Discover why Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow became 2022's most celebrated literary phenomenon and #76 on The New York Times' 100 Best Books of the 21st Century. Gabrielle Zevin's acclaimed novel about video game designers Sam and Sadie revolutionized how literature treats gaming culture.

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