A BookTok creator is facing backlash after revealing that indie authors would need to pay up to $1,000 for him to read and review their books. Today, we’re breaking down the controversy, his response, and the bigger conversation around paid book reviews, creator influence, and whether monetizing your platform can go too far.

✨ Today's cocktail: Sparkling Ice Water!

 🎧 Tune in, sip with us, and remember — keep your glass, your bookshelf, and your TBR full. 🍸📖✨

CHAPTERS

0:00 - intro

7:29 - the drama breakdown

10:50 - PB Squamers Tiktok for Navessa Allen

12:05 - the breakdown of who he is

13:31 - his apology for the $1000 video

16:47 - his original post

24:44 - discussion time!!

38:07 - listener questions & lines we loved!

__________________________________________________________________________

Welcome to Plot Twist, Please – the ultimate bookish podcast for readers who love deep discussions, honest book reviews, and trending BookTok favourites. We talk fantasy books, romance books, thrillers, YA series, and everything in between whilst sipping on our favourite cocktails. From old favourites to the latest viral reads, we’re here for all the plot twists.

✨ Weekly episodes featuring book recommendations, character analysis, and spoiler-filled discussions. If you love BookTok, BookTube, and Bookstagram, this is your space!

BOOK CLUB ON FABLE: https://fable.co/club/plot-twist-please-with-susannah-friesen-259062561689

📚 Follow for more bookish content and reading inspo

 📺 YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@plottwistpleasepod

📱 INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/plottwistpleasepod

🎧 Available on all major podcast platforms

For inquiries or requests, email [email protected]

INTRO 
Music by TossedOnion - Just Vibin' - https://thmatc.co/?l=0191967D

Music by Anja Kotar - July (strings version) - https://thmatc.co/?l=3E25A972

Support the show

This week on Plot Twist, Please, we’re talking about the rise of the “reading police” on BookTok — from creators being accused of lying about the books they’ve read, to people analyzing pristine bookshelves, Goodreads goals, Fable stats, page counts, reading speeds, and whether anyone could possibly read 300+ books in a year.

 ✨ Today's cocktail: Meuse Strawberry Moon Fruited Belgian Witbier / Wheat Beer

 🎧 Tune in, sip with us, and remember — keep your glass, your bookshelf, and your TBR full. 🍸📖✨

CHAPTERS

0:00 - intro

5:35 - the drama & discussion

23:14 - GUESS THESE BOOKS: never read, read once, read 100+ times

29:13 - the race of reading

45:17 - hot take, lines we loved, and housekeeping!

__________________________________________________________________________

Welcome to Plot Twist, Please – the ultimate bookish podcast for readers who love deep discussions, honest book reviews, and trending BookTok favourites. We talk fantasy books, romance books, thrillers, YA series, and everything in between whilst sipping on our favourite cocktails. From old favourites to the latest viral reads, we’re here for all the plot twists.

✨ Weekly episodes featuring book recommendations, character analysis, and spoiler-filled discussions. If you love BookTok, BookTube, and Bookstagram, this is your space!

BOOK CLUB ON FABLE: https://fable.co/club/plot-twist-please-with-susannah-friesen-259062561689

📚 Follow for more bookish content and reading inspo

 📺 YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@plottwistpleasepod

📱 INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/plottwistpleasepod

🎧 Available on all major podcast platforms

For inquiries or requests, email [email protected]

INTRO 
Music by TossedOnion - Just Vibin' - https://thmatc.co/?l=0191967D

Music by Anja Kotar - July (strings version) - https://thmatc.co/?l=3E25A972

Support the show

AI is changing publishing in more ways than one. This week, we're unpacking the Daggermouth controversy, discussing whether AI accusations have become modern-day witch hunts, hearing from aspiring fantasy author Nathan James, and exploring the ethics of AI companies scanning—and reportedly destroying—books to build their models.

 ✨ Today's cocktail: West Avenue Cider Oracle 2023 - Vidal Cabernet Merlot and golden russet sparkling wine-Cider hybrid 

 🎧 Tune in, sip with us, and remember — keep your glass, your bookshelf, and your TBR full. 🍸📖✨

CHAPTERS

0:00 - Intro

3:21 - Daggermouth Controversy Breakdown

20:07 - The Bigger Conversation Around Daggermouth

32:52 - Aspiring Author Special Guest | How This Affects Authors

45:14 - $2 Million Dollar Deal Dropped Due to AI Allegations

52:39 - AI Companies Destroying Older Books

55:48 - Viewer Questions & Lines We Loved ft Special Guest

__________________________________________________________________________

Welcome to Plot Twist, Please – the ultimate bookish podcast for readers who love deep discussions, honest book reviews, and trending BookTok favourites. We talk fantasy books, romance books, thrillers, YA series, and everything in between whilst sipping on our favourite cocktails. From old favourites to the latest viral reads, we’re here for all the plot twists.

✨ Weekly episodes featuring book recommendations, character analysis, and spoiler-filled discussions. If you love BookTok, BookTube, and Bookstagram, this is your space!

BOOK CLUB ON FABLE: https://fable.co/club/plot-twist-please-with-susannah-friesen-259062561689

📚 Follow for more bookish content and reading inspo

 📺 YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@plottwistpleasepod

📱 INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/plottwistpleasepod

🎧 Available on all major podcast platforms

For inquiries or requests, email [email protected]

INTRO 
Music by TossedOnion - Just Vibin' - https://thmatc.co/?l=0191967D

Music by Anja Kotar - July (strings version) - https://thmatc.co/?l=3E25A972

Support the show

The announcement of a Haunting Adeline film adaptation has sparked one of the most divisive conversations the online book community has seen this year.

In this episode of Plot Twist, Please, we break down what happened, present both perspectives on the adaptation, discuss H.D. Carlton's publicly shared comments about the book's origins, and explore why the conversation became so polarized.

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode discusses mature themes, including abuse, trauma, stalking, SA, and online harassment.

 ✨ Today's Drink: Cotton Candy Alani's!

 🎧 Tune in, sip with us, and remember — keep your glass, your bookshelf, and your TBR full. 🍸📖✨

CHAPTERS
0:00 - INTRO
7:46 - WHO IS H.D CARLTON
10:21 - DARK ROMANCE & THE MOVIE ANNOUNCEMENT 
15:26 - WHY PEOPLE WERE EXCITED
20:31 - THINGS ESCALATED..
25:06 - FOR VS AGAINST | DEEPER DISCUSSIONS
40:57 - H.D CARLTONS RESPONSE
43:38 - DOES SOCIAL MEDIA REWARD OUTRAGE?
49:31 - QUESTIONS FOR VIEWERS & LINES WE LOVE!

__________________________________________________________________________

Welcome to Plot Twist, Please – the ultimate bookish podcast for readers who love deep discussions, honest book reviews, and trending BookTok favourites. We talk fantasy books, romance books, thrillers, YA series, and everything in between whilst sipping on our favourite cocktails. From old favourites to the latest viral reads, we’re here for all the plot twists.

✨ Weekly episodes featuring book recommendations, character analysis, and spoiler-filled discussions. If you love BookTok, BookTube, and Bookstagram, this is your space!

BOOK CLUB ON FABLE: https://fable.co/club/plot-twist-please-with-susannah-friesen-259062561689

📚 Follow for more bookish content and reading inspo

 📺 YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@plottwistpleasepod

📱 INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/plottwistpleasepod

🎧 Available on all major podcast platforms

For inquiries or requests, email [email protected]

INTRO 
Music by TossedOnion - Just Vibin' - https://thmatc.co/?l=0191967D

Music by Goat - Tesseract - https://thmatc.co/?l=9391AB0D

Support the show

OceanofPDF has been shut down, and the book community is completely divided. In this episode, we're breaking down the drama, the ethics of book piracy, why readers use sites like this, and how it impacts authors—especially indie authors. Is there ever a justification for pirating books, or is it always wrong? Let's talk about it. 📚☕

 ✨ Today's cocktail: Malibu Pina Colada

 🎧 Tune in, sip with us, and remember — keep your glass, your bookshelf, and your TBR full. 🍸📖✨

CHAPTERS
0:00 - INTRO (drink of the episode/what we are reading)
4:54 - THE DRAMA & DISCUSSION
17:00 - COULD THIS AFFECT THE FUTURE OF BOOKS?
19:52 - THE ARGUMENTS AGAINST PIRACY
28:14 - PIRACY VS FANFICTION
29:25 - PIRACY VS LIBRARY
31:49 - WHY ARE SOME FORMS OF PIRACY MORE ACCEPTABLE?
34:08 - ALTERNATIVES TO PIRATING 
35:16 - HOT TAKES DISCUSSION
39:18 - QUESTIONS FOR VIEWS & LINES WE LOVED
__________________________________________________________________________

Welcome to Plot Twist, Please – the ultimate bookish podcast for readers who love deep discussions, honest book reviews, and trending BookTok favourites. We talk fantasy books, romance books, thrillers, YA series, and everything in between whilst sipping on our favourite cocktails. From old favourites to the latest viral reads, we’re here for all the plot twists.

✨ Weekly episodes featuring book recommendations, character analysis, and spoiler-filled discussions. If you love BookTok, BookTube, and Bookstagram, this is your space!

BOOK CLUB ON FABLE: https://fable.co/club/plot-twist-please-with-susannah-friesen-259062561689

📚 Follow for more bookish content and reading inspo

 📺 YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@plottwistpleasepod

📱 INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/plottwistpleasepod

🎧 Available on all major podcast platforms

For inquiries or requests, email [email protected]

INTRO 
Music by TossedOnion - Just Vibin' - https://thmatc.co/?l=0191967D

Music by Anja Kotar - July (strings version) - https://thmatc.co/?l=3E25A972

Music by Goat - Tesseract - https://thmatc.co/?l=9391AB0D

Support the show

This week on Plot Twist Please, we're unpacking some of the biggest conversations happening in the book community. From Hadeal Reads being accused of stealing reviews, to the House of Maher backlash over tagging author Kalie Cassidy in a negative review, to the latest Hannah Selinger controversy—we're discussing review etiquette, whether authors should be tagged, what makes a review worth reading, and who reviews are really written for. We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

 ✨ Today's cocktail: Purple Cotton Candy Alani's!

 🎧 Tune in, sip with us, and remember — keep your glass, your bookshelf, and your TBR full. 🍸📖✨

CHAPTERS
0:00 - INTRO (drink of the episode/what we are reading)
6:42 - HADEAL READS DRAMA (Review Plagiarism)
20:27 - GOOD REVIEW VS BAD REVIEW
35:52 - VALLEY OF THE MOMS/HANNAH SELINGER DRAMA
45:18 - HOUSE OF MAHER PODCAST TAGS AUTHOR IN NEGATIVE REVIEW
53:21 - QUESTIONS FOR YOU & LINES WE LOVE

__________________________________________________________________________

Welcome to Plot Twist, Please – the ultimate bookish podcast for readers who love deep discussions, honest book reviews, and trending BookTok favourites. We talk fantasy books, romance books, thrillers, YA series, and everything in between whilst sipping on our favourite cocktails. From old favourites to the latest viral reads, we’re here for all the plot twists.

✨ Weekly episodes featuring book recommendations, character analysis, and spoiler-filled discussions. If you love BookTok, BookTube, and Bookstagram, this is your space!

BOOK CLUB ON FABLE: https://fable.co/club/plot-twist-please-with-susannah-friesen-259062561689

📚 Follow for more bookish content and reading inspo

 📺 YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@plottwistpleasepod

📱 INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/plottwistpleasepod

🎧 Available on all major podcast platforms

For inquiries or requests, email [email protected]

INTRO 
Music by TossedOnion - Just Vibin' - https://thmatc.co/?l=0191967D

Music by Anja Kotar - July (strings version) - https://thmatc.co/?l=3E25A972

Support the show

It's time for another DNF Diaries! 📚 This month we're reading YOUR submissions about the books you couldn't finish!

📚 Spoiler alert: This episode contains spoilers for the following books and series beside the chapters

CHAPTERS:
0:00 - INTRO
6:17 - My Husband's Wife – Alice Feeney 
9:32 - Broken Country – Clare Leslie Hall 
15:02 - Library System Reset series – K.T. Hanna
15:50 - Wuthering Heights – Emily Brontë 
16:25 - Confessions of a Shopaholic – Sophie Kinsella 
17:31 - Apples Never Fall – Liane Moriarty 
18:16 - Babel – R.F. Kuang 
19:02 - Daisy Jones & The Six – Taylor Jenkins Reid 
20:19 - A Hunger Like No Other – Kresley Cole 
20:58 - The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty – A. N. Roquelaure (Anne Rice) 
21:25 - Lightlark series – Alex Aster 
26:45 - The Wedding People – Alison Espach

 ✨ Today's cocktail: Cass's White Wedding Wine

 🎧 Tune in, sip with us, and remember — keep your glass, your bookshelf, and your TBR full. 🍸📖✨

__________________________________________________________________________

Welcome to Plot Twist, Please – the ultimate bookish podcast for readers who love deep discussions, honest book reviews, and trending BookTok favourites. We talk fantasy books, romance books, thrillers, YA series, and everything in between whilst sipping on our favourite cocktails. From old favourites to the latest viral reads, we’re here for all the plot twists.

✨ Weekly episodes featuring book recommendations, character analysis, and spoiler-filled discussions. If you love BookTok, BookTube, and Bookstagram, this is your space!

BOOK CLUB ON FABLE: https://fable.co/club/plot-twist-please-with-susannah-friesen-259062561689

📚 Follow for more bookish content and reading inspo

 📺 YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@plottwistpleasepod

📱 INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/plottwistpleasepod

🎧 Available on all major podcast platforms

For inquiries or requests, email [email protected]

INTRO 
Music by TossedOnion - Just Vibin' - https://thmatc.co/?l=0191967D

Music by Anja Kotar - July (strings version) - https://thmatc.co/?l=3E25A972

Music by Goat - Tesseract - https://thmatc.co/?l=9391AB0D

Support the show

A luxury reading retreat. A $900 price tag. An itinerary that promised relaxation, crafts, good food, and a weekend with fellow book lovers... but according to attendees, that's not what happened.

This week we're breaking down the controversy surrounding Celestial Meg's reading retreat, why it's being compared to the Fyre Festival, what attendees have publicly shared about their experience, and the bigger conversation about influencer-hosted events and accountability.

📚 Spoiler alert: No books were spoiled in the making of this episode!
 ✨ Today's cocktail: STARBUCKS
 🎧 Tune in, sip with us, and remember — keep your glass, your bookshelf, and your TBR full. 🍸📖✨

__________________________________________________________________________

Welcome to Plot Twist, Please – the ultimate bookish podcast for readers who love deep discussions, honest book reviews, and trending BookTok favourites. We talk fantasy books, romance books, thrillers, YA series, and everything in between whilst sipping on our favourite cocktails. From old favourites to the latest viral reads, we’re here for all the plot twists.

✨ Weekly episodes featuring book recommendations, character analysis, and spoiler-filled discussions. If you love BookTok, BookTube, and Bookstagram, this is your space!

BOOK CLUB ON FABLE: https://fable.co/club/plot-twist-please-with-susannah-friesen-259062561689

📚 Follow for more bookish content and reading inspo

 📺 YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@plottwistpleasepod

📱 INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/plottwistpleasepod

🎧 Available on all major podcast platforms

For inquiries or requests, email [email protected]

INTRO 
Music by TossedOnion - Just Vibin' - https://thmatc.co/?l=0191967D

Support the show

In this episode of Plot Twist, Please, we're diving into the rise of performative reading and how social media has completely transformed reading culture. From BookTok trends and reading goals to trophy books, aesthetic bookshelves, and the pressure to keep up with every viral release, we're discussing whether modern reading has become less about enjoyment and more about appearance, status, validation, and relevance.

📚 Spoiler alert: No books were spoiled in the making of this episode!
 ✨ Today's cocktail: Cottage Springs Vodka Soda Freezies
 🎧 Tune in, sip with us, and remember — keep your glass, your bookshelf, and your TBR full. 🍸📖✨

__________________________________________________________________________

Welcome to Plot Twist, Please – the ultimate bookish podcast for readers who love deep discussions, honest book reviews, and trending BookTok favourites. We talk fantasy books, romance books, thrillers, YA series, and everything in between whilst sipping on our favourite cocktails. From old favourites to the latest viral reads, we’re here for all the plot twists.

✨ Weekly episodes featuring book recommendations, character analysis, and spoiler-filled discussions. If you love BookTok, BookTube, and Bookstagram, this is your space!

BOOK CLUB ON FABLE: https://fable.co/club/plot-twist-please-with-susannah-friesen-259062561689

📚 Follow for more bookish content and reading inspo

 📺 YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@plottwistpleasepod

📱 INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/plottwistpleasepod

🎧 Available on all major podcast platforms

For inquiries or requests, email [email protected]

INTRO 
Music by TossedOnion - Just Vibin' - https://thmatc.co/?l=0191967D

Support the show

This week on Plot Twist Please, we're diving into one of BookTok's most controversial reading debates yet. From dialogue-only readers and AI Bookstagrammers. We have one word: Wild.

📚 Spoiler alert: No books were spoiled in the making of this episode!
 ✨ Today's cocktail: GIRLS NIGHT OUT LIMONCELLO SPRITZ
 🎧 Tune in, sip with us, and remember — keep your glass, your bookshelf, and your TBR full. 🍸📖✨

__________________________________________________________________________

Welcome to Plot Twist, Please – the ultimate bookish podcast for readers who love deep discussions, honest book reviews, and trending BookTok favourites. We talk fantasy books, romance books, thrillers, YA series, and everything in between whilst sipping on our favourite cocktails. From old favourites to the latest viral reads, we’re here for all the plot twists.

✨ Weekly episodes featuring book recommendations, character analysis, and spoiler-filled discussions. If you love BookTok, BookTube, and Bookstagram, this is your space!

BOOK CLUB ON FABLE: https://fable.co/club/plot-twist-please-with-susannah-friesen-259062561689

📚 Follow for more bookish content and reading inspo

 📺 YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@plottwistpleasepod

📱 INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/plottwistpleasepod

🎧 Available on all major podcast platforms

For inquiries or requests, email [email protected]

INTRO 
Music by TossedOnion - Just Vibin' - https://thmatc.co/?l=0191967D

Support the show