Kris and Mads

We read 17 books in June and had THOUGHTS. From a surprisingly good dark romance to two disappointing hyped books, this wrap-up has it all: spicy fantasy (From Blood and Ash), sci-fi (All Systems Red), classics (Emma + Picnic at Hanging Rock), a pop-culture classic (The Perks of Being a Wallflower), and even more Wheel of Time—where one of us finally gave a book in the series 5 stars! 😱We give spoiler-free takes on each read, share what worked (and what didn’t), and talk about what we’re learning from reading so many books together—especially as book club hosts. Whether you love Stephen King, Jane Austen, or graphic novels like Saga, we’ve got a recommendation—or a rant—for you.Drop your June reads in the comments, and tell us if we’re wrong for being underwhelmed by a certain viral novella 👀📚Timestamps00:00 Intro02:58 From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout04:58 Comparing FBAA to An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir15:38 All Systems Red by Martha Wells19:51 What we’ve learned about books worth reading in a book club21:51 Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor28:11 Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay34:08 Summer in the City by Alex Aster39:46 Ravenhood Series by Kate Stewart46:11 Emma by Jane Austen50:25 The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky56:18 Saga by Brian K. Vaughan and illustrated by Fiona Staples58:44 A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young01:00:48 Fairytale by Stephen King01:04:30 Knife of Dreams, Gathering Storm, and Tower of Midnight by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson (Wheel of Time books 11-13)Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email us: [email protected] TikTok:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books #ReadingWrapUp #BookRecommendations #FromBloodAndAsh #WheelOfTime #StephenKing #JaneAusten #BookClubReads #DarkRomance #BooktokReads #FantasyBooks #PodcastForReaders #BookReviewPodcast #ViralBookReviews #JuneReads

We picked one favorite book for every month of 2025 so far, and honestly? It was harder than we expected. From massive fantasy series to books that made us cry (or scream), we’re talking about the standouts that actually stuck with us.If you’re looking for what to read next, want to know which books are really worth it, or you’ve read some of these and just wanna hear us gush… this episode is for you.We’re talking:• The Lord of the Rings, The Wheel of Time, Six of Crows• Little Women, Sense and Sensibility, The Outsiders• And newer picks like Our Infinite Fates & The Knight and the MothThis is for the fantasy lovers, the BookTok browsers, the “I’m overwhelmed by my TBR” folks, and anyone who loves hearing passionate book chat.Basically, if you love books, you’ll probably vibe.Books Mentioned:The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. TolkienThe Wheel of Time by Robert JordanThis Is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone and Amal El-MohtarWayward Pines Trilogy by Blake CrouchThe Licanius Trilogy by James IslingtonSix of Crows by Leigh BardugoLittle Women by Louisa May AlcottOur Infinite Fates by Laura StevenSunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne CollinsThe Outsiders by S.E. HintonSense and Sensibility by Jane AustenThe Fires of Vengeance by Evan WinterThe Fitz and the Fool Trilogy by Robin HobbRoyal Assassin by Robin HobbThe Knight and the Moth by Rachel GilligFairytale by Stephen KingAn Ember in the Ashes by Sanaa TahirA Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. MartinLet’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email us: [email protected] TikTok:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  Timestamps:00:00 Intro00:37 Favorite Books from January05:05 Favorite Books from February15:16 Favorite Books from March19:06 Favorite Books from April23:26 Favorite Books from May30:04 Favorite Books from June#BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books #FantasyBookRecommendations #BestBooks2025 #BookPodcast #MonthlyReads #BookTube #WhatToReadNext #FantasyReaders #BookTalkPodcast #EpicFantasy #YAReads #ClassicBooks #BookReviewPodcast #BestFantasyBooks #ReadingWrapUp #FavoriteBooksOfTheYear

In this special behind-the-scenes episode, we're stepping away from book reviews to answer your most personal questions—straight from our private book-to-screen club on Patreon. (Thanks for the questions FAMBAM!) We're getting real about our relationship as sisters and co-workers, our crunchy health habits (yes, we talk home births and meditation), and our approach to wellness.We also dive into the stories behind our kids' names, our favorite comfort shows, what fantasy worlds we'd want to live in, our personality types, and how we built and expanded our content.Listen for:• Our top wellness values & crunchy lifestyle confessions• Childhood dreams & how we met our husbands• The fantasy worlds we’d wake up in• Books we love but hate the covers of• Enneagram deep dive + Big Five results• The truth about our sister dynamic and business partnershipJewelry Brands Mentioned ⁨@mejuri⁩   ⁨@D.Louise⁩   ⁨@katiewaltmanboutiquehttps://jenny-bird.com/Timestamps:00:00 Intro00:57 Are we crunchy: home births, naturopaths, meditation09:43 Our favorite book challenge: TBR wheel10:47 Would we ever write a book?12:42 Where do we get our jewelry?14:05 What would our animal companion be?15:30 What are our drink orders?16:17 Top 5 comfort movies/shows: You’ve Got Mail, The Holiday, Newsies, Summer Stock, Gilmore Girls, Outlander, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Sense & Sensibility18:11 Where would we live in the U.S. and abroad?19:08 Our health/wellness philosophies29:37 The story behind our kids’ names34:52 What were our childhood dreams?40:15 How did we meet our husbands?43:35 What time period would we teleport to?44:59 What places are on our bucket lists?47:55 What fantasy world would we want to wake up in?48:47 What books that we love have bad covers?49:45 Tips for getting out of a reading slump53:16 What are our enneagram numbers? The Big Five Personality Test.56:23 What is our health attitude?59:27 Our content creation journey/strategy01:03:45 Our meditation practices01:11:13 What are some of our favorite bands?01:13:33 Have we always been this close? All about our relationshipLet’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email us: [email protected] TikTok:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books Q&A podcast episode, sisters podcast, personal Q&A, health and wellness podcast, crunchy lifestyle, behind the scenes podcast, book lovers podcast, fantasy book questions, enneagram personality types, sister co-hosts, bookish podcast, comfort movies, wellness values, private book club, TBR challenge, reading slump tips, book world we’d live in, content creator journey, podcast for women, Patreon Q&A, book influencer podcast

We’re back with a very requested video — the one where my sister and I talk about the books we totally disagree on 😅📚In our last video, we chatted about the books we both loved and rated highly, but obviously… we don’t always align when it comes to reading taste. So today, we’re getting into the stories that one of us adored and the other just did not vibe with.We’re talking about:✨ what makes a book hit (or flop) for each of us✨ our hot takes on series vs. standalones✨ how our reading preferences differ — and why that’s okay!✨ and a little sibling-style debate (but always with love 🫶)This was so fun to film, and honestly, it gave us a better understanding of what we each look for in a book. Hope it’s just as fun for you to watch!Let us know in the comments if you agree with one of us… or neither 😂And tell us what books you’ve argued about with your own reading buddies!Books MentionedThe Grace Year By Kim Liggett The Picture of Dorian Gray By Oscar WildeMistborn Trilogy By Brandon Sanderson Our Infinite FatesBy Lauren Steven Assassin’s Apprentice Robin Hobb Normal PeopleBy Sally Rooney A Discovery of WitchesBy Deborah HarknessOne for my Enemy By Olivia Blake Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email us: [email protected] TikTok:   / kris.and.mads  Instagam:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  Time Stamps00:00 Into 02:30 The Grace Year 08:43 The Picture of Dorian Gray 17:59 Mistborn 24:26 Our Infinite Fates33:16 Assassin’s Apprentice 41:33 Normal People 50:11 A Discovery of Witches 54:47 One For My Enemy 01:00;00 Final thoughts #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books

We read 17 books in May and wow… it was A LOT. From a 1-star romantasy (sorry Onyx Storm) to one of our favorite books of the year, plus our first-ever Stephen King (which totally surprised us), this wrap-up is packed.We’re talking fantasy, sci-fi, romance, classics, self-help. Oh! And Maddie is finally out of the Wheel of Time slog. We let the TBR wheel pick some of our reads this month too, so things got a little chaotic (in the best way).Come hang out for book reviews, big opinions, and our take on why Robin Hobb is still the queen of epic fantasy (and why George R.R. Martin might need to take notes 👀). Timestamps are below so you can jump around!We mentioned our friend Gina and Michael in the episode. Here are their awesome channels:‪@geenahreads‬ ‪@KistReadsBooks‬ We also mentioned the ‪@TheDiaryOfACEO‬ podcast episode with Anna Lembke. It's this one:    • Dopamine Expert: Doing This Once A Day Fix...  And you can download Maddie's FREE Dune Reading Guide here:https://drive.google.com/file/d/12QRO...TIMESTAMPS00:00 Intro01:32 Morning Glory Milking Farm by C.M. Nascosta Book Review06:03 Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros Book Review10:19 The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gill Book Review17:06 The Shadowed Land by Signe Pike Book Review22:08 Dopamine Nation by Anna Lembke Book Review30:32 Vilest Things by Chloe Gong Book Review33:05 11/22/63 by Stephen King Book Review37:32 Gifted and Talented by Olivie Blake Book Review43:59 Dune by Frank Herbert Book Review47:05 Oathbound by Tracy Deonn Book Review50:43 Heartless by Elsie Silver Book Review55:34 Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan (Winter’s Heart and Crossroads of Twilight Book Reviews)01:03:23 The Realm of the Elderlings by Robin Hobb (Royal Assassin, Assassin’s Quest, Fool’s Quest, and Assassin’s Fate Book Reviews)Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email us: [email protected] TikTok:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books #ReadingWrapUp #Romantasy #SciFiBooks #StephenKing #RobinHobb #WheelOfTime #BookReviews #TBRList #WhatToReadNext #MonthlyReads #BookRecommendations #BookishPodcast #ReadersOfBookTube

We're back with something a little different this month! 💫 In this May Favorites video, we're sharing all the non-bookish things we're loving right now — from our Nuuly fashion picks 👗 and colorful home decor 🖼️ to our current TBRs 📚, skincare routines 🧴, new go-to meals 🥗, and even a new car 🚗!If you're usually here for the book talk (BookTube fam, we see you! 👋), we think you’ll love this peek into the other cozy, creative, and inspiring things that bring us joy outside of reading.Maddie’s Chicken nuggets of choice https://www.target.com/p/just-bare-li...Metal meal meal prep containers https://a.co/d/imTCa39Maddie’s Airfryer https://fromourplace.com/products/won... ⁨@fromourplace⁩  Hatch https://www.hatch.co/restore/putty ⁨@hatchforsleep⁩  Website for Skincare Pore Clogging Ingredients https://acneclinicnyc.com/pore-cloggi... Celimax Ji.Woo.Gae Heartleaf BHA Peeling Pad  https://a.co/d/bQGGfPbAnua Azelaic Acid 10 Hyaluron Redness Soothing Serumhttps://a.co/d/843186uPURITO Mighty Bamboo Panthenol Creamhttps://a.co/d/jiauISmNuuly  ⁨@nuuly⁩  Maddie’s Link https://share.nuuly.com/maddie6445Kristen’s Link https://share.nuuly.com/kristen2485Record Player https://a.co/d/ecBeaJeKristen’s decor account recs  / steffy    / flashesofstyle  TBR wheel inspiration from our friend Dylan Books MentionedOnyx StormBy Rebecca YarrosHer Majesty’s Royal CovenBy Juno Dawson Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email us: [email protected] TikTok:   / kris.and.mads  Instagam:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  Time Stamps00:00 Intro00:56 Meal prepping 03:20 Air Fryer 06:16 Macha obsession 09:27 Kristen’s Meals 10:48 Maddie’s favorite meal 12:38 Hatch 18:52 Nail Art 21:15 Accutane 22:51 Maddie’s Skincare27:46 Nuuly 33:27 Maddie’s Bronco 36:28 Record Player 38:20 Colorful Decor 42:10 To be read list #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books

Creating a book collection you truly love sometimes means getting rid of books—and yes, even the unread ones. In this episode, we’re doing the unexpected as book influencers: we’re decluttering our home libraries.We talk through how we decide which books to keep, which ones to donate, and how to let go of guilt in the process. Whether your shelves are your TBR, your trophy case, or your lending library, this conversation will help you curate a collection that reflects you—not just everything you've ever owned.Perfect for overwhelmed readers, recovering book hoarders, or anyone dreaming of a more intentional reading space. Let’s make your bookshelves a place of joy—not stress.Timestamps:00:00 Intro03:53 How to get rid of books you have read without guilt12:59 How to get rid of books you haven't read, TBRs are too long!22:10 How do you want your book collection to feel?30:21 Practical tips and mental shifts to help with declutteringLet’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email us: [email protected] TikTok:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #booksofinstagram #BookDeclutter#BookshelfOrganization#BookUnhaul#MinimalistBookshelf#HomeLibraryGoals#TBRDeclutter#BookishLife#IntentionalReading#ReadingCommunity#BookLoverProblems#BookshelfMakeover#BookishContent#BookishPodcast#BooktokUnhaul#DeclutteringTips

Is it time to stop forcing yourself to finish mediocre series? In this fiery, bookish episode, we’re diving into over 20 book series where the first book is the best one—and yes, we're naming names 👀. Whether you're a fantasy fan, romance reader, or sci-fi binge addict, we're here to save you time, money, and reading energy by spilling the truth about series that peak at book one.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro

01:54 – Series we’ve read where Book One is the strongest (but the rest is still good!)

08:36 – Series we’ve read where Book One is the best (and the rest gets worse)

16:16 – Series where we only read Book One and it works as a standalone

18:11 – Our theories on why series often peak with Book One

25:18 – Series we haven’t read, but we’ve heard you should stop after Book One

27:25 – A wild card: Dune by Frank Herbert—whether to continue depends on what you want

Books Mentioned:

📚 Book One is the strongest, but the rest is still good:

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent

Pines by Blake Crouch

📉 Book One is the best—skip the rest:

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

🛑 We only read Book One—it works as a standalone:

Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco

Silver Under Nightfall by Rin Chupeco

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Dune by Frank Herbert

Vicious by V.E. Schwab

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

👂 Haven’t read, but heard you should stop after Book One:

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry

Scythe by Neal Shusterman

Trial of the Sun Queen by Nisha J. Tuli

Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email us: [email protected] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kris.and.madsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/krisandmadsAll our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:https://www.youtube.com/@SeeRayHardly#BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books

Are you a new or aspiring book content creator wondering how to stand out online? In this episode, we sit down with our friend and fellow creator ‪@zoranne_‬ to talk about how she built her community, started a publishing imprint, avoided burnout, and became a recognized tastemaker in the book world.Whether you're dreaming of BookTok success, building a YouTube channel, or launching your first brand collab, this conversation is full of real, actionable advice—plus encouragement for the hard days.⏳Timestamps included so you can skip to the good stuff!💬 Leave a comment with your favorite takeaway or advice you wish you had when you started.💡Made for small, new, or aspiring bookish creators ready to grow their platforms and connect deeper with their audience.Timestamps:00:00 Intro01:26 Meet Zoranne – Two Truths and a Lie04:48 How Zoranne Started Creating & Took Off07:16 Growing Beyond Regular Posting08:22 Business vs. Community Building09:47 Nurturing vs. Growing an Audience11:27 Luck, Manifesting, or Grit?13:54 Starting a Publishing Imprint with Bindery19:58 Becoming a Tastemaker with Bindery21:00 Avoiding Burnout as a Creator24:09 Connecting Through Books & Intentionality26:27 Why Content Creation Can Be Life-Giving28:44 Networking = Talking to People33:08 Prepping for Rejection36:07 Defining Success as a Creator42:07 How to Fill Your Cup Creatively46:22 What Zoranne's Excited About Next50:06 Zoranne’s Top 3 Tips for Bookish CreatorsSubscribe for more conversations like this every week! 🧡Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email us: [email protected] TikTok:   / kris.and.mads  Instagram:   / krisandmads  All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:   / @seerayhardly  #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books #BookTok #BookCreator #ContentCreatorTips #BookInfluencer #AuthorTube #ReadingCommunity #SmallCreatorSupport #Zoranne #BehindTheScenes #CreatorAdvice #HowToGrowOnline #BookishContent #PublishingTips #BookNerd #Bindery #BurnoutPrevention #ManifestingSuccess #BookTalkInterview #GrowYourPlatform

✈️ Come with us as our online book club takes on the Italian Riviera — a week of adventure, laughter, and unexpected twists! From the sun-soaked shores of Alassio to the colorful villages of the Cinque Terre, from the magical bridges of Dolceacqua to the glamour of Portofino, we journeyed through Italy with open hearts (and a few plot twists we definitely didn’t plan for!).

In this episode, you’ll see how we embrace the adventure of group travel, stay flexible through the surprises, and create deep, meaningful connections with fellow book lovers at every stage of life. This isn’t just about travel — it’s about growth, friendship, and the magic of stepping outside your comfort zone.

Whether you’re an aspiring traveler, a woman looking for real community, or a bookworm dreaming of meeting kindred spirits around the world, this episode will inspire you to say yes to something new.

Timestamps:00:00 Intro

03:04 Alassio

14:29 Sanremo

17:01 Dolceacqua

28:42 Camogli

29:48 Larici

33:23 Cinque Terre

38:31 Fruttuoso

40:12 Portofino

🌍 Ready to join us on our next bookish adventure? Find out more on Patreon this week patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhood and join women who are ready to grow, connect, and explore!

🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe for more travel vlogs, book recommendations, reviews, and more!

All thumbnail photos courtesy of Kailee Welp: https://www.kaileealsens.com/

Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email us: [email protected] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kris.and.madsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/krisandmadsAll our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:https://www.youtube.com/@SeeRayHardly

#ItalianRiviera #TravelVlog #BookClubTravel #WomenTravelers #ItalyTravelVlog #BookishTravel #GroupTravelForWomen #PlotTwistTravel #FriendshipThroughTravel #CinqueTerreVlog #PortofinoTravel #BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books