"Courage, Compassion, Soup" – Comparing The Tale of Despereaux Book & Movie 🐭🍲
Join Sam & Tim as we dive into Kate DiCamillo’s beloved children’s classic The Tale of Despereaux and compare it to its big-screen adaptation. From brave little mice to misunderstood rats, magical soup to royal drama, we’ll explore what the movie got right, what it changed, and why some choices work… and others left us scratching our heads.

📚 In this episode, we discuss:

• How the movie shifts the tone from the book

• Which characters shined and which felt flat

• The emotional heart of Despereaux’s journey

• Why soup is more than just soup 🍲✨

Whether you’re a lifelong fan of the book, saw the movie first, or are just curious about talking mice and destiny, this episode is for you!

📅 New episodes every Monday at 8 AM EST

📝 Follow the Author:

Website: https://www.katedicamillo.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KateDiCamillo

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#TaleOfDespereaux #BookVsMovie #KateDiCamillo #MovieReview #BookPodcast

🧁💀 Murder by Cheesecake: A Golden Girls Cozy Mystery | Escape With Me Bookclub Ep. 134

Murder, mayhem, and Miami? This week, we’re heading back to Florida for Murder by Cheesecake by Rachel Ekstrom Courage, the hilarious and nostalgic first entry in a brand-new cozy mystery series inspired by The Golden Girls!

When Dorothy’s disastrous date turns up dead (face-first in a cheesecake, no less), it throws a wrench into Rose’s St. Olaf–themed wedding week, threatens a family elopement, and leaves every guest under suspicion. With a herring-themed reception hanging in the balance, it’s up to Dorothy, Blanche, Rose, and Sophia to crack the case, clear their names, and maybe even serve some justice with dessert.

Join us as we talk about VHS dating disasters, fishy festivities, and the perfect blend of cozy crime and iconic sass.

📝 Follow the Author
Website: https://www.rachelekstromcourage.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100071357919222

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelekstromcourage/

📅 New episodes every Monday at 8 AM EST

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🎙️ Incredibles is UK now? | Suddenly Super by Jen Calonita
Welcome back to Escape With Me Bookclub! This week, we're diving into Suddenly Super by Jen Calonita — a charming middle grade superhero story that feels like The Incredibles met British boarding school drama in the best way possible.

From secret powers and sidekick rules to unexpected betrayals and family bonds, we break down what worked, what surprised us, and where we hope the sequel goes. If you love magical abilities, middle school antics, and superhero family stories, this one’s for you!

📚 Book: Suddenly Super by Jen Calonita🎧 Podcast: New episodes every Monday at 8 AM EST

👇 Chapters (Timestamps):
00:00 Intro

00:47 Background

04:32 About the Author

07:42 Age Level & Content Warning

08:23 Judge a Book by It's Cover

10:32 Discussion

57:24 General Thoughts

01:00:14 One Question for the Author

01:01:58 Rating

01:03:03 Read Again?

01:04:25 Outro

🔗 Follow the Author:Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.jencalonitaonline.com/⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/jencalonitabooks⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jencalonita/⁠⁠⁠Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/JenCalonita⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@jencalonitaofficial⁠⁠⁠

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💬 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more bookish content every week!

#SuddenlySuper #MiddleGradeBooks #JenCalonita #EscapeWithMeBookclub #SuperheroBooks #BookReviewPodcast

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen | Full Discussion & Reaction

Join us as we dive into Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility—a timeless classic of love, heartbreak, and societal expectations. We break down the iconic sisters Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, analyze the contrasting themes of reason vs. emotion, and discuss how this novel still resonates today. Whether you're here for the romance, the drama, or the Austen wit, this episode has something for every book lover.

✨ Expect:

• Character deep dives

• Austen’s take on love and class

• Why Willoughby still makes us mad

• Our favorite (and least favorite!) moments

• Comparisons to other Austen works

📘 Haven’t read it yet? No worries! We keep it fun, accessible, and spoiler-aware.

👇 Let us know your favorite Austen heroine in the comments!

🔗 Time Stamps:0:00 Intro

🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe and hit the bell for more bookish deep dives!

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#SenseAndSensibility #JaneAusten #BookDiscussion #ClassicLiterature #BookClub #AustenAdaptations #LiteraryPodcast

Welcome to our latest episode, where we dive headfirst into the deadly Tournament of Champions in The Savior’s Champion by Jenna Moreci!

This fantasy-romance adventure follows Tobias, an artist-turned-gladiator, forced to fight for the hand of the Savior—the mystical ruler of his realm. But this tournament isn’t what it seems… blood spills, secrets unfold, and love threatens to upend everything.

⚔️ Is survival worth more than love? Is the Savior truly divine?
We talk all things worldbuilding, tropes, romance, and the ethics of bloodsport. And yes—there’s a lot of screaming.

🧠 Expect:
• Found family vs fake friendships• The political weight of divine rule• How Jenna Moreci built her empire on indie grit and YouTube• And who we would not want to live past the tournament...

👇 Let us know your thoughts in the comments! Have you read The Savior’s Champion or its sequel The Savior’s Sister?

📖 Follow the author:

Website: https://www.jennamoreci.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jennamoreci

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjennamoreci

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TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jennamoreci

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jennamoreci/

⏰ Time Stamps

00:00 Intro

01:08 Background

02:02 About the Author

03:20 Age Level & Content Warning

04:30 Judge a Book by It's Cover

05:55 Discussion

01:10:27 General Thoughts

01:11:57 One Question for the Author

01:12:52 Rating

01:14:02 Read Again?

01:15:07 Outro

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#TheSaviorsChampion #JennaMoreci #FantasyBooks #IndieAuthors #BookTube #DarkFantasy #Romantasy #TournamentOfChampions

Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) by Jesse Q. Sutanto | Cozy Mystery Review

Welcome back to the show! This week, we’re digging into the delightful chaos that is Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) by Jesse Q. Sutanto. Murder in a tea shop? A nosy widow with a talent for uncovering secrets? Found family and a touch of mystery? Yes, please!

Join us as we break down this genre-bending cozy mystery that mixes heart, humor, and homicide. We talk tone shifts, favorite characters, unexpected twists, and how Vera is the chaos grandma we all need in our lives.

🕰️ TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Intro

00:54 Background

01:54 About the Author

04:10 Age Level & Content Warning

04:44 Judge a Book by It's Cover

07:30 Discussion

31:30 General Thoughts

35:05 One Question for the Author

36:29 Rating

37:22 Read Again & Favorite of the Series so Far

38:01 Outro

📚 Follow the Author:🔗 Jesse Q. Sutanto:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.jesseqsutanto.com/⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/JesseQSutanto/⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/thewritinghippo⁠⁠⁠

Instagram:⁠⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/jesseqsutanto/⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@jessesutanto?lang=en

⁠⁠⁠Good Reads:⁠⁠⁠ https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19278992.Jesse_Q_Sutanto⁠⁠⁠

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💬 What did YOU think of Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man)? Did the tone shift catch you off guard or were you fully in for the ride? Drop your thoughts below!

#CozyMystery #VeraWong #JesseQSutanto #MurderMystery #BookReview #CozyReads #BookTube #VeraWongsGuide #FoundFamily #DeadManInTheTeaShop

📚 Animorphs Deep Dive: Books 4–6 | The Message, The Predator, The Capture

The saga continues! This week, we’re diving into the next trio of Animorphs books by K.A. Applegate: The Message, The Predator, and The Capture. The stakes are rising, the fights are weirder (did someone say swimming slugs?), and the moral dilemmas are just getting started.

From dolphins to bug fighters to the horrors of being trapped in morph, we’re talking about the sci-fi series that shaped a generation and why it still holds up (and sometimes terrifies us) today.

👁️ Identity, war, loss, and alien slugs, let’s morph!

👇 Timestamps below so you can jump to your favorite morph moment!

📖 Books Discussed:

• -The Message (Book 4, Cassie POV)

• -The Predator (Book 5, Marco POV)

• -The Capture (Book 6, Jake POV)

  
  

  📚 Follow the Author
  Learn more about K.A. Applegate and the Animorphs series:

  Website: ⁠https://katherineapplegate.com/⁠Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/kaaauthor⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/kaaauthor/⁠BlueSky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/kaaauthor.bsky.social⁠

  
  

  📍 Timestamps

  00:00 Intro

  01:22 Background

  06:00 About the Author

  07:52 Age Level & Content Warning

  08:10 Judge a Book by It's Cover

  13:17 The Message

  29:19 The Predator

  43:24 The Capture

  01:01:26 General Thoughts

  01:02:53 One Question for the Author

  01:04:45 Rating

  01:05:33 Read Again?

  01:06:11 Favorite of the Series so Far?

  01:07:37 Outro

  
  

  💬 What do YOU think?Tell us your Animorphs memories, favorite characters, and theories in the comments! Or just yell “Tobias deserves better!” We’ll know what you mean.

  
  

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📚 Anti-Fantasy Fantasy Deconstruction | “I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons” by Peter S. Beagle

What happens when dragons aren’t monsters to be slain or even a problem at all?

In this episode, we dive into I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons by Peter S. Beagle, a whimsical and deceptively simple tale that flips traditional fantasy on its head. From its jaded prince to the casual presence of dragons, Beagle challenges everything we expect from the genre.

Is this really a fantasy story… or a critique of one?
What are the rules about who learns to read?
And what’s Beagle really saying about power, complacency, and the stories we tell ourselves?

Join us for a cozy deconstruction of one of fantasy’s most underrated gems.

👇 Let us know your thoughts in the comments:Did you read this one? Love it? Confused by it? We want to hear from you!

📖 Follow the Author
Website: https://beagleverse.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PeterSBeagleBooksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/beagleverse_official/Twitter: https://x.com/Peterbeaglever1

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#PeterSBeagle #ImAfraidYouveGotDragons #FantasyBooks #BookDiscussion #AntiFantasy #BookPodcast #Dragons #LiteraryAnalysis #PodcastEpisode

🌀✨ The Twisted Tale You Didn’t Know Existed? That’s right! In this week’s episode, we’re diving into Set in Stone by Mari Mancusi, the Disney Twisted Tale that never released in the U.S. (Yep, you read that correctly.)

This installment reimagines the story of The Sword in the Stone, focusing on a young Arthur, Merlin, and a timeline-shattering twist that raises the stakes for the entire kingdom. Magic, destiny, and dragon-sized consequences await and we're here to unpack every bit of it.

📚 Why wasn’t this released in the U.S.?⚔️ What makes this Twisted Tale truly twisted?🐉 And does it live up to the rest of the series?

Whether you're a hardcore Disney Twisted Tales fan or just curious about hidden gems that flew under the radar, you won’t want to miss this one.

📌 Follow the Author

Website: http://www.marimancusi.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marimancusi

Twitter: https://x.com/marimancusi

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/marimancusi

⏱️Time Stamps:

00:00 Intro

02:21 Background

04:20 About the Author

05:58 Age Level & Content Warning

09:12 Judge a Book by It's Cover

11:45 Discussion

59:29 General Thoughts

01:03:03 One Question for the Author

01:04:28 Rating

01:05:11 Read Again?

01:05:43 Outro

#TwistedTale #DisneyBooks #SetInStone #MariMancusi #DisneyTwistedTales #BookPodcast #SwordInTheStone #ArthurianRetelling #HiddenBooks #FantasyReads #BookTube

💄✨ Mean girls, designer labels, and middle school drama. We’re diving into The Clique by Lisi Harrison and its 2008 movie adaptation!

In this episode, we’re breaking down the iconic (and chaotic) world of the Pretty Committee, from the catty book that launched a series empire to the movie that brought all the drama to life.

🎬 Was the movie a worthy adaptation or just a watered-down version of the original snark?
👠 Did the casting match what we imagined from the books?
💬 How does The Clique hold up in 2025 and is nostalgia enough to save it?

We’re talking characters, fashion, quotable lines, early 2000s pop culture, and whether Claire is a misunderstood queen or just a middle school menace.

👛 If you ever dreamed of getting an invite to the Pretty Committee, this one’s for you.

📌 Follow the Author
Website: https://lisiharrison.com/#

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelisiharrison

Twitter: https://x.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2Flisiharrison

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorlisiharrison/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lisiharrison/

⏱️ Time Stamps00:00 Intro

00:46 Background with Books

01:54 About the Author

02:34 Background with Movie

05:46 Age Level & Content Warning

06:53 Judge a Book by It's Cover

07:46 Discussion

51:48 General Thoughts

57:11 One Question for the Author

59:45 Rating

01:00:42 Read Again?

01:01:29 Outro

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