In this episode of the Bookish Care podcast, host Jenyve continues an in-depth review of Mary Janice Davidson's Undead series, focusing on books nine through fifteen.

The discussion revolves around the adventures of Queen Betsy, the vampire queen, and her dealings with complex time-travel scenarios, including altering historical events and confronting her future tyrant self.

Key plot points include Betsy's deal with the devil, time-traveling mishaps, confrontations with past and future selves, and the impact of these adventures on her relationships and destiny.

Betsy's final battles include managing hell, confronting her hypocrite father and sister, and ultimately becoming the public face of the supernatural world.

Jenyve highlights the themes of chosen family and the importance of personal choices in shaping one's future.

In this episode of the Bookish Cure podcast, host Jenyve dives into the first eight books of the 'Undead' series by MaryJanice Davidson.

The series, known for its humorous and lighthearted take on paranormal romance, centers around Elizabeth Anne Taylor (Betsy), who becomes the prophesied queen of the vampires after her untimely death.

Jenyve provides character introductions, highlights key plot points, and discusses the evolution of the series' tone. She also issues content warnings for sensitive topics and reflects on her personal connection to the series.

The episode concludes with Jenyve expressing the therapeutic value of revisiting beloved books and teasing a continuation of the series recap in the next episode.

In this episode of the Bookish Care podcast, Jenyve returns after a brief hiatus to discuss her October reads, beginning with a wrap-up of the Hispanic Heritage Month series.

The highlighted book is 'Daughter of Fire' by Sophia Robleda, a narrative set in 1551 Guatemala, focusing on a young woman's struggle to preserve her Mayan heritage amidst Spanish colonization.

The discussion then shifts to a selection of Halloween-themed reads, including several cozy romance and horror books.

Titles discussed are part of 'The Scared Sexy Collection' and include 'Hot for Slayer' by Allie Hazelwood and 'Falling' by Christina Lauren, among others. The host also delves into '13 Months Haunted' by Jimmy Juliano and 'The 31st Trick or Treater' by Ben Farthing.

The episode closes with a look ahead to the November series, focusing on a return to the 'Undead, Queen Betsy' series by MaryJanice Davidson.

In this episode, I dive into Dominicana by Angie Cruz—a powerful historical fiction novel set against the backdrop of the Dominican Republic’s turbulent 1960s and the immigrant experience in New York City.

We’ll explore Ana Cancion’s journey from a 15-year-old bride uprooted from her home to a young woman navigating survival, duty, and the quiet rebellions that shape her identity.

Along the way, I’ll share the Dominican history that frames this story, unpack themes of agency, immigration, and coming of age, and connect Ana’s experiences to the generational stories within my own family.

If you’re drawn to historical fiction that blends political upheaval with deeply personal struggles, or if you’ve ever wondered what survival, resilience, and self-discovery look like in the face of impossible choices—this conversation is for you.

✨ Shelf Therapy Takeaway: Finding your voice, and honoring your roots while creating your own path are forms of strength.

Tune in for a discussion that will move you, challenge you, and maybe even shift how you see your own family’s story.

This week, I’m taking you back to 2006 with Lara Rios’s Becoming Latina in 10 Easy Steps—a mid-2000s romcom that’s equal parts hilarious, heartfelt, and deeply relatable.

Marcela Alvarez, a 27-year-old animator in Hollywood, discovers a family secret that throws her entire identity into question. In an effort to “out-Latina” her relatives, she creates a ten-step plan to reconnect with her culture—only to realize that authenticity isn’t found in checklists, but in embracing who you already are.

In this episode, we unpack Marcela’s journey of self-discovery, complicated family dynamics, and the humor (and heartbreak) of trying to “fix” ourselves when our foundations feel shaky.

I also share how this book mirrored my own experiences with cultural identity, family secrets, and learning to accept that I am enough—exactly as I am.

💛 Shelf Therapy Takeaway: Healing happens when we stop trying to prove we belong and start embracing the messy, beautiful truth of who we already are.

Thank you for listening! See you next Monday!

This week, we’re diving into Candelaria by Melissa Lozada-Oliva, a debut novel that blends family curses, magical realism, and Latina identity into a multigenerational saga that’s both intimate and apocalyptic.

Recording on Guatemalan Independence Day and the start of Hispanic Heritage Month made the timing even more meaningful. Lozada-Oliva’s lyrical storytelling connects family history, Mayan mythology, and the realities of immigration in a way that feels both raw and magical.

Disclaimer: this book touches on topics that are considered taboo and does get graphic.

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• 👩‍👧‍👧Candelaria's family across three generations and how their lives intertwine with loss, love, and survival

• 🌎 How Mayan mythology and the 1976 Guatemalan earthquake shape the novel’s magical realism

• 📚 Why representation matters and what it means to see Guatemalan voices in contemporary fiction

• 💛 My Shelf Therapy Takeaway: We get to choose which parts of our family’s story we carry forward and which cycles we’re ready to break

✨ Let’s connect!
Have you read Candelaria? Do magical realism elements work for you? What family stories have shaped your own identity? Share your thoughts with me on Instagram @thebookishcure.

🎧 Thanks for listening to The Bookish Cure. Until next Monday, happy reading, and remember: your story matters.

This week, we’re traveling back to 1969 with Elin Hilderbrand’s Summer of ’69. It’s the summer of moon landings, Woodstock, Chappaquiddick and one unforgettable Nantucket family. Between family secrets, complicated marriages, and sisters coming of age in a turbulent time, the Levin family proves that no summer is ever simple.

✨ What you’ll hear in this episode:

• A quick historical refresher on 1969 (moon landing, Civil Rights, Vietnam protests, Chappaquiddick, and Woodstock).

• Kate’s tangled past, Wilder’s betrayals, and the shadow they cast over her marriage to David.

• Blair, Kirby, and Jessie’s unique journeys through love, rebellion, and self-discovery.

• How Elin ties family drama to real history, making this book more than a breezy beach read.

• Shelf Therapy takeaway: Every family has secrets and messy moments... it’s okay not to be perfect all the time.

📚 My rating: 4.5 stars A perfect blend of Nantucket nostalgia, historical detail, and multi-layered family drama.

🎧 Next week: We’re leaving summer reads behind and diving into cozy fall lighthearted romcoms.

💛 Come hang out with me on Instagram ⁠@thebookishcure⁠. Do you love a beach read with historical layers, or do you prefer to keep your summer stories light and frothy? Let’s chat!

In this special bonus episode, we’re diving into the engagement that feels like it was ripped straight out of a novel: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. Normally, I don’t do celebrity news but this one hits different. Taylor isn’t just a pop icon, she’s a storyteller, and her lyrics are full of literary references that have always connected her to the bookish community.

We’ll talk about:
✨ Why Taylor’s engagement resonates so deeply with readers
✨ Her literary nods from The Great Gatsby to Rebecca
✨ The Pen System and how she thinks like an author when she writes
✨ Taylor + Travis as the ultimate romance trope (celebrity love story, slow burn, fairytale ending)
✨ Why this moment feels especially powerful for millennial readers who’ve grown up with Taylor’s music

Whether you’re a Swiftie, a romance reader, or just here for the bookish take on pop culture, this one’s for you.

This week, we’re diving into Elle Cosimano’s latest installment of the Finlay Donovan series, where chaos follows Finlay everywhere she goes. Between juggling single-mom life, her writing deadlines, and the small detail of being entangled with the Russian mob, Finlay once again manages to dig herself into trouble... literally. Expect grave-digging antics, laugh-out-loud banter with Vero, and twists that somehow make suburban life feel like a full-blown crime caper.

✨ What you’ll hear in this episode:

• A quick refresher on the Finlay Donovan books leading up to this one.

• Finlay & Vero’s wild partnership (the heart of the chaos).

• Mafia messes, romantic complications, and Finlay’s latest “oops, I’m in danger again” moment.

• Why this book hits the sweet spot of humor, suspense, and suburban relatability.

• Shelf Therapy takeaway: Sometimes friendship, laughter, and sheer stubbornness are the only tools you need to survive the mess you’ve made.

📚 My rating: 5 stars Cosimano continues to serve up sharp humor, high stakes, and heart. This series is my comfort-chaos read.

🎧 Next week: We’re switching gears and cozying up with Elin Hilderbrand’s Summer of ’69, a dreamy, nostalgic escape before we lean fully into fall vibes.

💛 Come hang out with me on Instagram @thebookishcure. Which Finlay moment had you laughing the hardest? Let’s compare notes!

Welcome back to The Bookish Cure Podcast, your little corner of shelf therapy for comfort rereads, chaotic TBR energy, and nostalgic throwbacks.

This week, we’re stepping away from Becky Bloomwood’s shopping chaos and into the glittering, gilded (and honestly super creepy) world of Amy Ewing’s The Jewel. Think: palace intrigue, strict caste systems, lush dresses, and girls sold at auction to bear children for the elite. If The Selection had a messy, dystopian cousin who hung out with The Handmaid’s Tale, this is it.

✨ What you’ll hear in this episode:

• A quick refresher on the Lone City universe and its brutal caste system.

• Violet Lasting’s journey from the Marsh to the ultimate gilded cage.

• Other key characters—Raven, Lucian, Ash, and of course the terrifying Duchess of the Lake.

• My original YA dystopia phase memories (yes, 2010s audiobook snobbery included 🤦‍♀️).

• Why the auction scene still gives me major chills.

• Shelf Therapy takeaway: Even in worlds built to control you, love and loyalty are lifelines.

  
  

📚 My rating: 3.5 stars – A solid series opener with unforgettable moments, cringey teen romance, and just enough palace drama to keep you hooked.

🎧 Next week: We’re lightening things up with Finlay Donovan and her chaotic, suburban murder-mystery misadventures in Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave. Because after the Jewel’s darkness, I need some laugh-out-loud crime capers.

💛 Come chat with me on Instagram @thebookishcure. Did the auction scene creep you out as much as it did me? Let’s talk!