In Episode 7, Ashley Spivey (founder of #SpiveysClub Facebook Group and former Bachelor contestant) shares Galentine’s Day book recommendations and talks a bit of The Bachelorbehind-the-scenes!

We had a lot to cover this week (including 3 extra book recommendations from Ashley!), so the episode as a little longer than you’re used to. But, I don’t think you’ll be mad about it!

This post contains affiliate links, through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!).

Highlights

• Surviving The Bachelor without being allowed to read.
• A bit of behind-the-scenes of The Bachelor & what it’s like to be a contestant on the show.
• Why Ashley doesn’t like reading books in advance of publication.
• Sarah’s favorite podcasts.
• Why Ashley rarely DNF’s books.
• Ashley’s dream job.
• Authors on social media (and some that are particularly good follows).
• Why Ashley doesn’t read books about The Bachelor anymore.

Ashley’s Book Recommendations

Four OLD Books She Loves

• Tell the Wolves I’m Home by Carol Rifka Brunt | Buy from Amazon [22:29]
• I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson | Buy from Amazon [25:01]
• Forever is the Worst Long Time by Camille Pagan | Buy from Amazon [27:37]
• Stay with Me by Ayobami Adebayo | Buy from Amazon [31:24]

Two NEW Books She Loves

• Tell Me Lies by Carola Lovering | Buy from Amazon [33:47]
• Matchmaking for Beginners by Maggie Dawson | Buy from Amazon [37:05]

One Book She Didn’t Love

• The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah (My Quick Thoughts) | Buy from Amazon [40:21]

Two Upcoming Releases She’s Excited About

• Otherwise Engaged by Lindsey J. Palmer (Publication Date: February 26) | Buy from Amazon[43:52]
• The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvais Graves (Release Date: April 2, 2019) | Buy from Amazon [46:51]

Other Books Mentioned

• Life of Pi by Yann Martel | Buy from Amazon [3:54]
• Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart | Buy from Amazon [10:34]
• Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center | Buy from Amazon [12:52]
• How to Walk Away by Katherine Center (My Review) | Buy from Amazon [13:04]
• It’s Not Okay: Turning Heartbreak into Happily Never After by Andi Dorfman | Buy from Amazon [18:18]
• The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern | Buy from Amazon [22:02]
• The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai (My Review) | Buy from Amazon [24:26]
• A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara (My Review) | Buy from Amazon [24:44]
• The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne (My Review) | Buy from Amazon [24:44]
• Life and Other Near-Death Experiences by Camille Pagan | Buy from Amazon [27:49]
• I Miss You When I Blink by Mary Laura Philpott | Buy from Amazon [29:29]
• Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie | Buy from Amazon [32:15]
• The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P. by Adelle Waldman (My Review) | Buy from Amazon [35:47]
• The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman | Buy from Amazon [38:24]
• The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah (My Review) | Buy from Amazon [41:15]
• All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr | Buy from Amazon [41:45]
• Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian | Buy from Amazon [41:45]
• On the Island by Tracey Garvais Graves | Buy from Amazon [46:59]
• The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang | Buy from Amazon [47:31]
• The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion | Buy from Amazon [47:40]
• Bachelor Nation by Amy Kauffman (My Review) | Buy from Amazon [49:21]
• The Favorite Sister by Jessica Knoll (My Review) | Buy from Amazon [51:06]
• The Book of Essie by Meghan MacLean Weir (My Review) | Buy from Amazon [51:06]
• Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld | Buy from Amazon [51:16]
• American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld | Buy from Amazon [51:26]
• You Think It, I’ll Say It: Stories by Curtis Sittenfeld (My Review) | Buy from Amazon [51:26]

Other Links

• #SpiveysClub Facebook Group
• The Strand Bookstore in New York City
• Sarah’s 2018 Summer Reading Guide
• Some of Sarah’s Favorite Podcasts: From the Front Porch, Gladiator, Dirty John
• Camille Pagan Twitter and Instagram
• Emily Giffin Twitter (her Instagram is sadly private)
• The Stripe blog (Twitter, Instagram)
• Bad on Paper podcast (Instagram)
• The Tattooist of Auschwitz scandal
• Reality Steve

About Ashley

Facebook Group | Instagram | Twitter 

Ashley is the founder of the #SpiveysClub Facebook Group and Book Club. She’s also co-host of the He Said, She Said Podcast sharing advice on life and love with Reality Steve. Prior to all that, she was a contestant on Season 15 of The Bachelor with Brad Womack.

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