Shit We've Read

This month, Emhma, Laurha, Rhico, and Bhella are sinking their teeth into J.R. Ward’s DARK LOVER, the first book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Before romantasy took over BookTok, paranormal romance was serving leather-clad vampires, tortured alpha males, and… ninja stars?!

Listen in as we untangle the mythology, examine the book as a fascinating study of masculinity, and realize one important element of the book was so lackluster, we almost forgot to even bring it up.

So, pour yourself your favorite Kraken Rum cocktail (Kraken, you know where to find us) and get ready for some early 2000’s nostalgia.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode features discussions of an adult-themed book, contains explicit language, and is intended for mature audiences only. Listener discretion is advised.

Buy the Book!
Bookshop.org | Libro.fm

Other media mentioned in this episode:

Support SWR!
PayPal | Venmo | SWR Merch

We're also an affiliate on Bookshop.org and Libro.fm! Order books and ebooks through our link HERE and audiobooks HERE and a small commission will go towards the podcast.

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Thank you for your support!

Connect with SWR!
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Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

Credits:
Shit We've Read After Dark is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and EmmaSkies, with an introduction by Jessilee Windhaus and editing by Jason Rico.

Catalyst by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https://creatorchords.com
Royalty Free Music by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This month, we officially welcome Brittney to her first full episode as we jump into OPERATION BOUNCE HOUSE by Matt Dinniman, the New York Times bestselling author of the smash-hit Dungeon Crawler Carl.

Listen as we break down the lore of Chuck Tingle, discuss the book’s representation and normalization of sex work, and question what Dinniman has to say about AI. Plus, we explore some of the book’s unsettling parallels to current world events.

Buy the Book!
Bookshop.org | Libro.fm

Other books mentioned in this episode:

Support SWR!
PayPal | Venmo | SWR Merch

We're also an affiliate on Bookshop.org and Libro.fm! Order books and ebooks through our link HERE and audiobooks HERE and a small commission will go towards the podcast.

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Thank you for your support!

Connect with SWR!
Instagram | TikTok | Discord | Website

Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

Credits:
Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Brittney Wong, with editing by Jason Rico and music by Joshua Chilton.

Honour Among Thieves by Scott Buckley | https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckley
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Pour yourself a glass of Barefoot Wine, get cozy, and join us as we take our first bite of Season Six! In this After Dark episode, we’re discussing the sapphic werewolf romance SHE CAME FOR THE PACK by Darva Green! Vibe out with us as we discuss content warnings and who they benefit, unpack the book’s sapphic take on Alpha/Omega tropes, and decide whether this is a satisfying standalone or leaves us wanting more. Plus, Emma schools us (not for the first time, and probably not for the last time) on the intricacies and origins of the Omegaverse.

For more on the Omegaverse, listen to our After Dark discussion of Dark City Omega!

Check out the list of Ao3’s most written Alphas & Omegas of all time!

CONTENT WARNING: This episode features discussions of an adult-themed book, contains explicit language, and is intended for mature audiences only. Listener discretion is advised.

Buy the Book!
Bookshop.org | Libro.fm

Other books mentioned in this episode:

Support SWR!
PayPal | Venmo | SWR Merch

We're also an affiliate on Bookshop.org and Libro.fm! Order books and ebooks through our link HERE and audiobooks HERE and a small commission will go towards the podcast.

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Thank you for your support!

Connect with SWR!
Instagram | TikTok | Discord | Website
Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

Credits:
Shit We've Read After Dark is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and EmmaSkies, with an introduction by Jessilee Windhaus and editing by Jason Rico.

Moon by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https://creatorchords.com
Royalty Free Music by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Meet Brittney! In this Season Six premiere minisode, we shoot the shit with the newest co-host of Shit We’ve Read to talk about books, pets, and everything she’s bringing to the podcast. Listen in as we reveal the sad story behind Laura and Brittney's first meeting, we go on yet another mini Heated Rivalry tangent, and Jason comes to the surprising defense of an author he’s never read. Plus, we discuss the language of cults, so join us in welcoming Brittney to our own!

About Brittney:
Brittney grew up in a small town with busy working parents, so her constant companions were her books. When she is not deep in the pages of a fantasy or contemporary romance, you can catch her spending time with her four dogs, camping, paddle boarding, or hanging out at a brewery with her book club. Follow her on Instagram @nghtreadrslibrary

Books mentioned in this episode:

Support SWR!
PayPal | Venmo | SWR Merch

We're also an affiliate on Bookshop.org and Libro.fm! Order books and ebooks through our link HERE and audiobooks HERE and a small commission will go towards the podcast.

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Thank you for your support!

Connect with SWR!
Instagram | TikTok | Discord | Website

Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

Credits:
Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Brittney Wong, with editing by Jason Rico, and music by Joshua Chilton.

We’re closing out Season Five with the gothic sapphic romance HOUSE OF RAYNE by Harley Laroux! Join us as we find out if it’s a worthy After Dark finale, compare it to Laroux’s Her Soul to Take, which we previously read on the show, and watch Jason discover the power of the mute button.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode features discussions of an adult-themed book, contains explicit language, and is intended for mature audiences only. Listener discretion is advised.

Buy the Book!
Bookshop.org | Libro.fm

Other books mentioned in this episode:

Support SWR!
PayPal | Venmo | SWR Merch

We're also an affiliate on Bookshop.org and Libro.fm! Order books and ebooks through our link HERE and audiobooks HERE and a small commission will go towards the podcast.

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Thank you for your support!

Connect with SWR!
Instagram | TikTok | Discord | Website
Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

Credits:
Shit We've Read After Dark is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and EmmaSkies, with an introduction by Jessilee Windhaus and editing by Jason Rico.

Dark Hollows by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https://creatorchords.com
Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Hey, friends! You may have noticed there was no new episode this month. That's because sometimes life gets in the way and, unfortunately, that's exactly what happened this month. As you may have already suspected, we're sorry to announce that we had to cancel February's planned discussion of DEATH OF THE AUTHOR by Nnedi Okorafor. At this time, we're unsure whether we'll reschedule it, but we will be back next month with our planned After Dark episode for the Season 5 finale.

Thanks so much for your understanding and we'll see you next month!

Support SWR!
PayPal | Venmo | SWR Merch

We're also an affiliate on Bookshop.org and Libro.fm! Order books and ebooks through our link HERE and audiobooks HERE and a small commission will go towards the podcast.

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Thank you for your support!

Connect with SWR!
Instagram | TikTok | Discord | Website

Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

Credits:
Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson and Jason Rico, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico.

We’re kicking off 2026 with a tale of "mind games, kink, and ancient enchantment," because we read SAVAGE BLOOMS by S.T. Gibson! Join us as we spiral into yet another Heated Rivalry tangent, compare the novel to one of its inspirations (Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë), and debate whether it lives up to the other Gibson books we’ve covered. Plus, find out which After Dark pick Laura chose that has Emma absolutely hyped.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode features discussions of an adult-themed book, contains explicit language, and is intended for mature audiences only. Listener discretion is advised.

Buy the Book!
Bookshop.org | Libro.fm

Other books mentioned in this episode:

Support SWR!
PayPal | Venmo | SWR Merch

We're also an affiliate on Bookshop.org and Libro.fm! Order books and ebooks through our link HERE and audiobooks HERE and a small commission will go towards the podcast.

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Thank you for your support!

Connect with SWR!
Instagram | TikTok | Discord | Website
Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

Credits:
Shit We've Read After Dark is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and EmmaSkies, with an introduction by Jessilee Windhaus and editing by Jason Rico.

Ruins in the Forest by Justin Allan Arnold | https://www.ifnessfreemusic.com

Dark Hollows by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https://creatorchords.com

All music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

It's the final episode of 2025, and we're wrapping things up with our 3rd annual Secret Santa book exchange! Join Bella, Emma, Jason, and Laura for our coziest, messiest holiday tradition as we exchange books, hot takes, and answer the following questions: Did the right books go to the right recipients this year? Which one of us didn’t finish their book, and what went wrong? Which host picked their Secret Santa book during an active criminal investigation? And which current Emma obsession led us on a ten-minute tangent?

Thank you so much for listening and supporting us this year. We’re endlessly grateful for you. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and we’ll see you in 2026!

Buy the Books!

Other media mentioned in this episode:

Support SWR!
PayPal | Venmo | SWR Merch

We're also an affiliate on Bookshop.org and Libro.fm! Order books and ebooks through our link HERE and audiobooks HERE and a small commission will go towards the podcast.

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Thank you for your support!

Connect with SWR!
Instagram | TikTok | Discord | Website

Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

Credits:
Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico.

Christmas Is Coming by Alex-Productions | https://onsound.eu
Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

The Illusionist by Scott Buckley | https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckley
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Ablation Suite by Hayden Folker | https://soundcloud.com/hayden-folker
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

Signal To Noise by Scott Buckley | https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckley
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Voice Of An Angel One by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https://creatorchords.com
Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Deck The Halls (Lo-Fi Hip-Hop) by Alex-Productions | https://onsound.eu/
Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

In this special author interview, Bella and Jason sit down with the effortlessly charming R.A. Basu to talk about her debut novel, TO BARGAIN WITH MORTALS—“a stunning reflection on politics and purpose, blood and allegiance—and what we do with the histories we inherit.”

Join us as R.A. spills the chai on the chaotic journey her book took to publication, including the incredible lengths publisher Emma Skies went to acquire it. She also shares how her original inspiration began with Jimin from the K-pop sensation BTS, and how she drew upon her own South Asian identity to infuse the story with cultural depth. Plus, R.A. shocks with a (in hindsight, fairly obvious) revelation about the TV series House, M.D.

You can grab your copy of TO BARGAIN WITH MORTALS now wherever books are sold!

Buy the Book!
Bookshop.org | Libro.fm

Other books mentioned R.A. in this episode:

Guest:
R. A. Basu is an Indian Canadian author from Ontario who works in digital development by day and binge reads novels by night. When she’s not writing, she can be found playing on the Nintendo Switch, fighting for her life in a Pilates class, or looking for the best matcha in her city. She is represented by Allegra Martschenko at BookEnds Literary Agency.

You can find her on Instagram @rabasuwrites

Support SWR!
PayPal | Venmo | SWR Merch

We're also an affiliate on Bookshop.org and Libro.fm! Order books and ebooks through our link HERE and audiobooks HERE and a small commission will go towards the podcast.

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Thank you for your support!

Connect with SWR!
Instagram | TikTok | Discord | Website

Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

Credits:
Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico.

Music by Tunetank from Pixabay

You voted, and we listened! Your choice for our Halloween After Dark pick is SING ME TO SLEEP by R.M. Virtues—a dreamy tale of a sleep demon who falls for the woman he was meant to haunt. ⁣

This episode has everything: tipsy hosts, personal encounters with sleep paralysis (we’ll let you guess if any demons were involved), and a passionate discussion about the need for editing in self-publishing. Plus, a moment so tense that Emma and Jason almost come to blows.

Remember, listeners, you brought this upon yourselves! Happy Halloween!

CONTENT WARNING: This episode features discussions of an adult-themed book, contains explicit language, and is intended for mature audiences only. Listener discretion is advised.

Buy the Book!
Amazon.com (unfortunately, the only place to purchase)

Other books mentioned in this episode:

Support SWR!
PayPal | Venmo | SWR Merch

We're also an affiliate on Bookshop.org and Libro.fm! Order books and ebooks through our link HERE and audiobooks HERE and a small commission will go towards the podcast.

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Thank you for your support!

Connect with SWR!
Instagram | TikTok | Discord | Website
Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

Credits:
Shit We've Read After Dark is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies, with an introduction by Jessilee Windhaus and editing by Jason Rico.

Halloween Theme 1 by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https://creatorchords.com
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/