Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir completely blew us away. In this episode of Booktalks Podcast, we dive into our full spoiler review, why we LOVED this sci-fi masterpiece, and how it somehow still has 1 star reviews?!

We talk all things Rocky (our favorite character), the emotional moments we didn’t expect, and our personal reading experiences with this unforgettable story.

If you’re a fan of Project Hail Mary, The Martian, or character-driven sci-fi, this episode is for you!

Let us know in the comments:
Did you love Project Hail Mary as much as we did? And WHAT are those 1-star reviews about?!

Booktalks Podcast Book Club - join us on Fable!
We read a new book every month, so join us and read along! Currently we're reading The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez.

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
02:15 Initial thoughts
08:40 Rocky appreciation segment
18:20 Breaking down 1-star reviews
30:10 Final ratings & wrap-up

#ProjectHailMary #AndyWeir #BookPodcast #BookTube #SciFiBooks #RockyDeservesBetter

In this episode of Book Talks Podcast, we’re diving into our March Reading Wrap Up—where we somehow read 18 books between us.

We’re breaking down our favorite reads, biggest disappointments, and the books we can’t stop thinking about. From thrillers to romance (and a few chaotic reads in between), this month had everything.

We also talk about reading habits, book-to-screen adaptations, and how we’re planning our April TBR.

If you love honest book reviews and unfiltered reader opinions, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Book Talks Podcast, Kayla and Marisa celebrate reaching 100 subscribers and discuss their February Book Club pick: Red Rising by Pierce Brown.

Spoiler Warning: This episode contains full spoilers for Red Rising.

They break down Darrow’s journey from a Red miner on Mars to infiltrating the elite Gold society, discuss the brutal trials at the Institute, and share thoughts on memorable characters like Sevro, Mustang, and Cassius.

The discussion covers:

• The Red Rising world and color hierarchy

• Darrow’s transformation and mission

• The Institute trials and strategy

• Favorite characters and heartbreaking moments

• The Jackal twist and ending reveal

• Predictions for the rest of the series

The episode also includes their final ratings and the reveal of the next book club pick.

Sarah J Maas gave a rare interview on the Call Her Daddy podcast on March 4, 2026. Kayla and I break down EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW plus give our thoughts and insights into the fan theories she confirmed and denied. We discuss Nesta's journey (a highly controversial topic), the debate around Feyre's pregnancy, and the breaking news about the ACOTAR 6 and 7 release dates.

If you love Sarah J Maas, ACOTAR, TOG, and Crescent City, this video is for you.

SPOILER WARNING: This episode contains spoilers for Throne of Glass and Wuthering Heights.

In this episode of Book Talks Podcast, Kayla and Marisa share their February Reading Wrap Up and March TBR while surviving busy season as tax accountants.

We discuss DNF’ing Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil, reviewing Wuthering Heights (and debating whether it’s even a romance), finishing our Throne of Glass reread, starting Red Rising, and announcing our March Book Club pick: How to Kill a Guy in 10 Dates.

We also rank the entire Throne of Glass series, play rapid-fire character questions, and talk about fantasy vs romance reading slumps.

If you love Sarah J. Maas, fantasy books, romance novels, controversial classic takes, and monthly reading wrap ups — this episode is for you.

In this episode of BookTalks Podcast, we dive into Ruth Ware's latest thriller, The Woman in Suite 11. We discuss our differing perspectives on the characters, the pacing of the plot, and the decisions made by the protagonist. Our conversation highlights the book's build-up to suspense, character dynamics, and the overall enjoyment of the read, while also critiquing its rushed ending and the necessity of its sequel status.

Chapters

• 00:00 The Thriller Element
• 09:03 Anxiety and Decision-Making
• 14:27 Forced Sequel and Conclusion
• 19:28 Rushed Ending and Pacing (Continued)
• 24:55 Forced Elements and Conclusion (Continued)

Love it or hate it, Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to talk about romance books 💘

In this special episode of Book Talks Podcast, Kayla and Marissa dive into all things romance — from their all-time favorite tropes to the ones that instantly ruin a book. Kayla (our resident romance lover) and Marissa (selectively romantic) break down what makes a swoony love story work… and what makes them cringe.

They chat about:

• Enemies-to-lovers vs. friends-to-lovers
• Fake dating, one-bed tropes, and slow burns
• The controversial pregnancy trope (and whether Twilight traumatized an entire generation 👀)
• Love triangles (looking at you, The Summer I Turned Pretty)
• Morally gray love interests: hot or toxic?
• Kindle Unlimited romances — hidden gems or hit-or-miss?

They also share their go-to romance recommendations for new readers, including favorites from:

• Emily Henry
• Abby Jimenez
• Katherine Center
• Christina Lauren
• K.A. Tucker

Plus, they reflect on the books that got them back into reading, the romances that live rent-free in their heads, and why communication could solve 90% of third-act breakups.

Whether you’re a die-hard romance reader or just romance-curious, this episode is full of trope debates, chaotic hot takes, and plenty of laughter.

Happy Valentine’s Day from Kayla & Marissa 💌📚

Kayla and Marisa discuss their January wrap-up, setting reading goals, book ratings and reviews, book discussions and recommendations, adapting books to screen, exploring different genres, anticipated book adaptations, and speculating future book releases. The conversation covers a range of topics including book characters and movie portrayals, TV shows and reality TV, book series and author trauma, thriller book reviews, and February reading goals. The hosts discuss their interest in TV shows, reality TV, and book series, as well as their reviews of thriller books and their reading goals for February. They also share their experience at a bookstore event.

Takeaways

• Setting reading goals is important for staying on track with reading targets.
• Book adaptations to screen can be controversial and may not always align with the original book content. Discussion of book characters and movie portrayals
• Interest in TV shows and reality TV
• Review of thriller books
• February reading goals

Chapters

• 00:00 January Wrap-Up
• 07:08 Book Ratings and Reviews
• 15:52 Adapting Books to Screen
• 21:00 Exploring Different Genres
• 28:44 Speculating Future Book Releases
• 34:34 TV Shows and Reality TV
• 45:02 Thriller Book Reviews
• 53:50 February Reading Goals

We're kicking off 2026 by reflecting on our favorite books of 2025, sharing our most anticipated reads of 2026, and setting our bookish goals for the year. We also speculate on ACOTAR 6, talk about being OVER smut, and share our excitement for Bookcon 2026!

In this episode of Book Talks, Kayla and Marisa dive into 'The Love Haters' by Catherine Center, exploring its themes of self-discovery, body image, and the importance of friendship. They discuss character development, emotional connections, and the role of the Coast Guard in the narrative. The conversation highlights the impact of trauma and healing, as well as the significance of supportive relationships in the protagonist's journey. The episode concludes with reflections on the book's ending and a preview of their upcoming reads.