Red Flag Readers

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Welcome to Red Flag Readers, where the books are spicy, the morals are gray, and the red flags are somehow our favorite color. 🚩

This week, we've visited the discussion that launched this podcast: Sheila Masterson's The Poison Daughter. This book features a black widow FMC, a morally gray MMC, and whole lot of spice.

We break down our star and spice ratings, favorite scenes, the characters we love to hate (and maybe hate to love), and the BIG red flags.

⚠️ Major spoilers ahead! If you haven't read The Poison Daughter yet, read it first—we're not holding back.

Plus, we spotlight several incredible indie authors featue our favorite segment, Mama's Spice Cupboard which is NOT to be missed. Yet again, Mama delivers, and your sides will ache from laughter.

Red flags in real life are warnings. Red flags in books are recommendations. 🚩📚

🚩 The Poison Kiss

1.5 oz vodka

1 oz strawberries macerated and cooked down with sugar

.5 oz black berries macerated and cooked down with sugar

3 dashes chocolate bitters

3 oz soda water

Pour all ingredients into a shaker with except the soda water. (you can substitute pre-made syrups for the fresh fruit compote if you would like). Shake until well blended.

Pour into a coupe or martini glass, up.

Top off with soda water.

Authors Highlighted: Bound by Hearts and Stone by Lauren Sanatra, Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman, An Age of War and Prophecy by Lacey Lahotzky

Follow Us at: @redflagreaderspod @booksbloomsbarns @astridjane_author @jillyysbooks

Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.

Welcome to Red Flag Readers, where the books are spicy, the morals are gray, and the red flags are somehow our favorite color. 🚩

This week, we challenge Chelsea's genre boundaries with a mafia romance that features a morally gray MMC, a black cat FMC, a vacation at a virtual Club Med, and enough spice to heat up a winter cabin.

We break down our star and spice ratings, favorite scenes, the characters we love to hate (and maybe hate to love), and the BIG red flags.

⚠️ Major spoilers ahead! If you haven't read Dante yet, read it first—we're not holding back.

Plus, we spotlight several incredible indie authors featue our favorite segment, Mama's Spice Cupboard which is NOT to be missed. Yet again, Mama delivers, and your sides will ache from laughter.

Red flags in real life are warnings. Red flags in books are recommendations. 🚩📚

🚩 Whisky, neat

Per cocktail:

• 2 oz of your favorite whisky or scotch.
• Pour into rocks glass.
  • This is after all a mafia romance. We need tough "man" drinks. (Though it is Astrid's go to order as well).

Authors Highlighted: Dust of the Earth by Morgan Vayle, One Small Echo by Jane Washington, Lia Lamar Lust and Honor (book 3 of The Honor Series)

Follow Us at: @redflagreaderspod @booksbloomsbarns @astridjane_author @jillyysbooks

Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.

Welcome to Red Flag Readers, where the books are spicy, the morals are gray, and the red flags are somehow our favorite color. 🚩

This week, we dive all the way into Davy Jones' Locker with Bloody Black by Rhiannon Hargadon-a Black Beard retelling with a morally gray FMC, a found family that makes you smile, and no small portion of feminine rage.

We break down our star and spice ratings, favorite scenes, the characters we love to hate (and maybe hate to love), and the BIG red flags. With a near complete summary of the story, this is one that left us grinning at revenge, grieving for characters, and pining over a new favorite MMC.

⚠️ Major spoilers ahead! If you haven't read Bloody Black yet, read it first—we're not holding back.

Plus, we spotlight several incredible indie authors and debut our new segment: Mama's Spice Cupboard which is NOT to be missed. You'll be clutching your sides, we promise.

Red flags in real life are warnings. Red flags in books are recommendations. 🚩📚

🚩 Dark 'n' Stormy

Per cocktail:

• 2 oz dark rum (traditionally Gosling's Black Seal Rum)
• Ginger Beer: 4 to 6 oz
• Lime: A wedge or slice for garnish, with an optional squeeze of fresh lime
• Ice: cubes to fill a high ball glass

1. Fill a highball glass with ice
2. pour in the ginger beer
3. Float the dark rum over a spoon or directly onto the surface to create a layered look.
4. Garnish with a lime wedge. Stir before drinking if you prefer a fully blended flavor.

Authors Highlighted: Storm by R.A. Raine, A Scent of Sea and Ash by Beth Ann Bautiste, Villains and Virtures Trilogy by A,K. Caggiano

Follow Us at: @redflagreaderspod @booksbloomsbarns @astridjane_author @jillyysbooks

Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.

Welcome to the first episode of Red Flag Readers, where the books are spicy, the morals are gray, and the red flags are somehow our favorite color. 🚩

This week, we dive headfirst into Liv Zander’s Heartstring Duet, Crown Me and Crown Me Yours—a dark gothic fantasy romance packed with rot, curses, manipulation, morally questionable characters, and one seriously complicated love story.

We break down our star and spice ratings, favorite scenes, the characters we love to hate (and maybe hate to love), and the BIG red flags. Then we get into the emotional devastation at the heart of the story: love, loss, mortality, vulnerability, and whether loving someone is worth the pain of eventually losing them.

⚠️ Major spoilers ahead! If you haven't read the Heartstring Duet yet, read it first—we're not holding back.

Plus, we spotlight several incredible indie authors and announce a giveaway! Visit @redflagreaderspod on instragram for details.

Red flags in real life are warnings. Red flags in books are recommendations. 🚩📚

🚩 The Red Flag

Per cocktail:

• 1½ oz vodka
• ½ oz Cointreau
• ¾ oz grenadine
• ½ oz fresh lemon juice
• 2 dashes chocolate bitters
• ¼ oz vanilla syrup (optional, but I like it)
• 1 dash orange bitters (optional)
• Ice

Shake hard with ice for about 10–15 seconds and strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass.

Garnish: Luxardo cherry + orange peel.

Authors Highlighted: Unravel by Daya Winters, Untamed by Analise Song, A Wolfe In The Woods by Zoey Draven and Marcio Catalano

Follow Us at: @redflagreaderspod @booksbloomsbarns @astridjane_author @jillyysbooks

Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.

Join three friends, Chelsea, Astrid, and Jill as they discuss the red flags in books that fill our hearts with joy and love.

Red Flag Readers Podcast: Unhinged Books, Unfiltered Opinions

A new podcast that drops of September 1st, 2026.