In this episode, we’re diving into the reading habits that shaped us growing up — the books we devoured, the ones we insisted the other sister would love, and the early signs that we were developing different literary personalities.

We’ll compare childhood favourites with our current-day bookish equivalents, put our sibling knowledge to the test by guessing how the other rated a certain book, and answer the ultimate question: which books would each sister take to a deserted island? 🏝️📖

There will be nostalgia. There will be hot takes. There will be accusations of having questionable taste.

Because apparently, sharing childhood books does not guarantee sharing book taste. Who knew? 😉

Books recommended/mentioned include:

Daggermouth by HM Wolfe

The Future Saints by Ashley Winstead

Rina Kent universe

Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston

The Games Gods Play by Abigail Owen

Serpents and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent

Crescent City series by Sarah J Maas

On The Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Just For The Summer by Abby Jimenez

Things are about to get a little bit magical — and possibly a little bit emotional.

In this episode, we’re diving headfirst into the wonderfully strange world of magical realism and exploring the catalogue of Ashley Poston — where ghosts, grief, romance, fate and a little bit of magic weave themselves together in the best possible ways!

We chat about what makes a novel magical realism, why Poston’s stories have a particular talent for sneaking up on our feelings, and the books that made us laugh, swoon, wonder, and — inevitably — get a little misty-eyed.

It’s a conversation about why sometimes the books that break your heart are the ones you’re most grateful to have read.

⚠️ SPOILERS: We'll be discussing Dead Romantics, The Seven Year Slip, A Novel Love Story, Sounds Like Love and The Someday Garden by Ashley Poston, including some key plot points - please be advised. 

We also discuss death of loved ones, loss and grief in this podcast in relation to Poston’s books and our own experiences. Please consider this if these topics may TRIGGER you.

Books recommended/mentioned include:

Nocticadia by Keri Lake

Crescent City series by Sarah J Maas

Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston

The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston

A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston

Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston

The Someday Garden by Ashley Poston

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V E Schaub

Good Spirits by BK Boris

Soul Searching by Lyla Sage

It’s our mid-year bookish review… arriving fashionably late in August. Because apparently, “mid-year” is more of a vibe than a deadline.

Join the Novel Ideas Sisters as we look back at all the books we’ve read so far this year — the five-star favourites, the unexpected delights, the books that absolutely did not live up to the hype, and the ones we’re still emotionally recovering from.

We’re catching up on our reading year so far, making some bold declarations about our best (and worst) reads, and trying to remember what we actually read six months ago. Expect strong opinions, questionable reading decisions, plenty of book talk, and probably a siblings digs along the way.

So grab your TBR, settle in, and join us for a mid-year review that is only slightly delayed. August counts as the middle of the year if you don’t think about it too hard, right?

Books recommended/mentioned include:

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

Mate by Ali Hazelwood

Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J Maas

A Court Of Silver Flames

Monster Trilogy by Rina Kent

Illicit Illustrations by EL Koslo

An Academic Affair by Jodi McAlister

Pen Pal by JT Geissinger

On The Wings Of Blood by Briar Boylen

Love Song by Elle Kennedy

Dire Bound by Sable Sorenson

In Her Own League by Liz Tomforde

The Night We Met by Abby Jiminez

Moonfall series by Sarah J Parker

Boston Bolts series by Brittanee Nicole

All For Love by Katie Van Brunt

Shield of Sparrows series by Devney Perry

Letters of Enchantment series by Rebecca Ross

The wait for the next Empyrean adventure just got a whole lot more exciting!

In this episode of The Novel Ideas Sisters, we're chatting all about Threshing Day, the newly announced Empyrean novella collection, and what this surprise release could mean before Book 4 finally lands. Is it just a fun bonus, or are there hidden clues waiting to reshape everything we thought we knew?

Of course, one announcement is never enough, so we're diving straight back into our favourite pastime: theorising! From second signets to family trees, gods, runes, and all those unanswered questions keeping us awake at night, we're sharing our latest predictions and seeing which theories are getting stronger... and which ones might need to be retired.

If you love overthinking every tiny detail, connecting impossible dots, and spiralling over the Empyrean series as much as we do, this episode is for you!

⚠️ SPOILERS: We'll be discussing Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, Onyx Storm, and what we know for the newly announced Threshing Day, so make sure you're caught up before you listen.

Until Rebecca Yarros shatters our theories again, saddle up, cadets—it's time to deep dive.

In this gloriously unhinged episode of The Novel Ideas Sisters, we're risking our entire bookish reputations by confessing the reading habits we'd usually take to the grave 🤐

We're talking about the books we haven’t read, our controversial audiobook narrator takes, popular authors who we might skips and all the questionable reader behaviour that would get us roasted on Bookstagram 😅

We’re also gonna talk the books that often get a bad rep (we’re looking at you GoodReads) that we think deserve more love 🩷

In this episode full of laughs, hot takes and questionable reading habits, we listen and we judge… but also prove that every reader is at least a little unhinged. 

Grab your emotional support beverage and prepare to either feel incredibly seen... or personally attacked.

THERE ARE NO MAJOR SPOILERS FOR THIS EPISODE

Books recommended/mentioned include:

Starside by Alex Aster

Fury Bound by Sable Sorensen

Children of Fallen Gods by Carissa Broadbent

The Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas

ACOTAR series by Sarah J Maas

People Watching by Hannah Bonam Young

The Nanny by Lana Ferguson

Not In Love by Ali Hazelwood

The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton

Romantasy fans know that book twos can make or break a series—but what exactly makes a great sequel? 🤔

This episode, we're diving headfirst into romantasy sequels and asking the big question: what makes a book two truly unforgettable? We're chatting about Rites of the Starling by Devney Perry and Fury Bound by Sable Sorensen, sharing our thoughts on the latest instalments, the romances, the drama, and all the ways these stories build on what came before ✨

Along the way, we're discussing the highs and lows of second books in fantasy romance series. Should the world get bigger? Should the romance get messier? How much emotional damage is too much emotional damage? Was that emotional damage even necessary? And what separates an epic sequel from a classic case of middle-book syndrome?

Join us as we gush, debate, and probably add even more books to our TBRs while celebrating the magic (and occasional chaos) of romantasy book twos.

SPOILERS: In this episode we discuss Shield of Sparrows and Rites of the Starling by Denver Perry, AND Dire Bound and Fury Bound by Sable Sorensen. Specific discussions begin at 8:15 but if you haven’t read these and do not want to be spoiled, we suggest giving this episode a miss until you’ve read these books.

TRIGGER WARNINGS for the books discussed include:

-on page violence

-sexual assault

-expsexual content

-mental health

-death of a loved one (human and animal) 

Books recommended/mentioned include:

Just Playing For Keeps by Lauren Blakely

Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry

Rites of the Starling by Devney Perry

Dire Bound by Sable Sorensen

Fury Bound by Sable Sorensen

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

A Court Of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas

Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig

Play With Me by Becka Mack

The guys and girls Briar U have officially hit our screens, and you know we had THOUGHTS. In this episode of The Novel Ideas Sisters, we’re diving headfirst into the Amazon Prime adaptation of the Off Campus series by Elle Kennedy — from the casting choices we’re obsessed with to the book changes we’re still emotionally processing.

We’re breaking down the scenes that had us screaming, giggling, and pausing the TV every five seconds, plus all the moments that felt ripped straight from our imaginations with special appearances from the amazing duo Reading At Isaacs (@reading_at_isaacs). Did they do our favourite hockey boys justice? Which casting choices surprised us? And which scenes deserved even MORE screen time?

Expect chaotic sister energy, questionable levels of emotional attachment to fictional hockey players, and plenty of hot takes as we unpack everything about the adaptation that BookTok cannot stop talking about.

SPOILERS: We discuss the Off Campus TV series and books, including spoilers from the book series that have no appeared in the TV show yet. Please keep this in mind and consider skipping to avoid potential spoilers.

TRIGGER WARNINGS for this episode (and books/TV series) include: 

Sexual assault

Domestic violence

Addiction

Death and grief

Books recommended/mentioned include:

The Off Campus and Briar U books by Elle Kennedy

Break the Rules and Cross the Line by Lauren Jackson

The Undone Series by Peyton Corrine

Audiobooks count as reading — and we’re ready to defend it. 🎧📚
In this episode, the Novel Ideas Sisters talk all things audiobooks: the different styles and formats, our best listening hacks and why audiobooks are perfect for busy readers. Plus, we’re sharing some of our all-time favourite narrators and the voices we’d happily listen to read the phone book. Whether you listen while driving, cleaning, walking, or avoiding your responsibilities, this one’s for the audiobook lovers.

Books recommended/mentioned include:

Rites of the Starling by Devney Perry

The Grump Next Door by Brighton Walsh

God of Fury by Rina Kent

Wolfe by Paisley Hope

Bridesmaid For Hire by Meghan Quinn

ACOMAF by Sarah J Maas

The Graham Effect by Elle Kennedy

Leather and Lark by Brynne Weaver

War AND Hockey Boy by Brittanee Nicole

Gloves Off by Stephanie Archer

Booked For The Holidays by Erin Hawkins

In Her Own League AND Rewind It Back by Liz Tomforde

Lights Out by Navessa Allen

Part of Your World by Abby Jiminez

Nocticadia by Kerri Lake

Checkered Hearts by AG Starling

Soul Searching by Lyla Sage

Empyrean Series by Rebecca Yarros

Fae and Alchemy series by Callie Hart

The Dugout series by Piper Rayne

We’re pressing play on passion, vengeance, and a whole lot of morally grey mayhem as we dive deep into Game On by Navessa Allen 👀🔥

Join your favourite bookish sisters as we unpack the deliciously dark world of dark romance—the men we can’t help but love, the lines that get blurred, and the joy of Navessa Allen’s dark but hilarious world!

We’re not alone either! Our behind-the-scenes queen, producer Beth, steps out from the shadows to share her hot takes 🎧✨ plus our bookstagram bestie Charese (who can be found @charese_reads on Instagram and TikTok) joins the chat for some seriously fun (and slightly chaotic) commentary you won’t want to miss.

Expect laughs, gasps, and maybe a few “did she really just say that?” moments as we break down Game On and the genre that we’re learning to love

SPOILERS: Specific discussions around the plot of Game On by Navessa Allen and the other Into The Darkness books, begin at 8:30 and continue until 47:10. Please consider skipping this section to avoid spoilers.

TRIGGER WARNINGS for this episode (and book) include: gambling, alcohol and drug use, mafia and serial killer discussions, food insecurity and restriction, bullying/coersion/threats, chronic illness, description of car accident, amputation, child abuse and neglect, cheating, kidnapping, blackmail, death of a parent, explicit sexual content. 

Other books recommended/mentioned include:

Under Your Scars by Ariel Anderson

Rites of the Starling by Devney Perry

Throne of Nightmares by Kerri Manisclaco

The Into The Darkness series by Navessa Allen

The Never After series by Emily McIntyre

The Monster series by Rina Kent

God of Fury by Rina Kent

Welcome back to The Novel Ideas Sisters, where sibling chaos meets serious bookish debates 📚✨

This week’s episode, The Battle of the Tropes, is exactly what it sounds like… and then some. We’re going head-to-head, trope by trope, each bringing our ultimate book pick to the table. 

The rules? Simple.

We’re each assigned the same trope.

We each nominate a book.

And then… we fight for our lives (dramatically, of course) to prove why our pick is the superior example.

Expect passionate arguments, questionable logic and a few resigned forfeits. We’re likely to convince each other but will we convince you? That’s the real battle.

So grab your TBR, pick a side, and prepare to defend your favourite tropes—because this is Battle of the Tropes. 🥊📖

Books recommended/mentioned include:

In Her Own League - Liz Tomforde

House In The Cerulean Sea - TJ Klune

Rosewood River Series - Laura Pavlov

The Chase - Elle Kennedy

Down Pour - Maggie Gates

Happy Place - Emily Henry

Play With Me - Becka Mack

Done & Dusted - Lyla Sage

Things We Never Got Over - Lucy Score

Business Casual - B. K. Borison

The Deal - Elle Kennedy

Yours Truly - Abby Jiminez

Out On A Limb - Hannah Bonam-Young

Slapshot Surprise - Melanie Harlow

Caught Up - Liz Tomforde

Maggie Moves On - Lucy Score

Not In Love - Ali Hazelwood

Problematic Summer Romance - Ali Hazelwood

Just For The Summer - Abby Jiminez

Gloves Off - Stephanie Archer

Lovelight Farms - B. K. Borison

Butcher & Blackbird - Brynne Weaver