We're back for one last deep dive of episode six of Heated Rivalry, aka the FINALE!!!! How did we get here so soon??? 

It's been an absolute blast recapping these with you. If you've enjoyed our show, consider following us into the new year. We'll be back every other Tuesday with more book goodness. 

We're also on Instagram and Bluesky at @readirectpodcast. Emily is everywhere at @emilyrojasreads and Abigail is on TikTok @fabigail11. We love you see you soon!!! <3

Here is our recap of episode 5. In exchange for editing this insane episode down to something consumable, please leave us a 5-star review, follow us on IG and Bluesky at @readirectpodcast, and tell a friend to tell a friend to listen. 

We love you, we love Hollanov, we'll see you next week!!!!

All the things she said, all the things she said, running through my head, running through my head!!!! We're back with a DEEP-DIVE of episode 4, and WOW! Did we have a lot to talk about! 

Join us to unpack the whole episode: ginger ale, tuna melt, hockey, montages, and that f***ing club scene. This whole episode was catharsis for us all. 

We'll be back with our recap of episode 5 & more regular episodes soon!! Until then, you can leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and let us know you're enjoying the show. You can also follow us on Instagram and Bluesky at @readirectpodcast. 

We recap Episode 3 of Heated Rivalry! 

You can follow us on Instagram and Bluesky at @readirectpodcast. You can follow Emily on all platforms at @emilyrojasreads and Abigail on TikTok at @fabigail11.

It's not quite the end of 2025, but we're checking in for our annual year-in-review episode. 

We celebrate a breakout year of reading and real talk: how to hit big number goals, diversify authors with intention, and find joy reading. We share five-star favorites, surprising hits, and a few fears about the 2026 release drought (let's not talk about how no new books are coming from Ali Hazelwood, Casey McQuiston, Talia Hibbert, Alison Cochrun, OR Emily Henry so far in 2026 - SAVE US!!!) 

Follow us on Instagram and Bluesky at @readirectpodcast. Emily is on Instagram and TikTok @emilyrojasreads, and Abigail is on TikTok @fabigail11. 

See you later this week for another Heated Rivalry Bonus Episode !!!! 

We're popping in with a check-in chat quickly discussing our initial thoughts on episodes one and two of Heated Rivalry! 

This long-awaited adaptation is finally here. If you were sick of us (Emily, mostly, let's be honest) before, it's only going to get worse from here! 

In this brief bonus episode, we're talking our expectations, viewing experiences, initial reactions, and even discussing the popularity of MM romance as a genre. 

Let us know what you thought & if you'd like us to keep doing this for future episodes. We are ever at your service <3 

Follow us on Instagram and Bluesky at @readirectpodcast. 

You can also follow Emily on TikTok and Instagram at @emilyrojasreads and Abigail is on TikTok at @fabigail11. 

Want to gift a book this holiday season, but not sure where to start? Tune in to today's episode for a thoughtful, curated holiday gift guide. Plus the Goodreads Book Awards, recent reads, and more. 

In honor of the 20th anniversary of Twilight's release AND to commemorate our origins as a podcast, today's episode is all about Twilight! Hear our experiences attending screenings in the theater and our updated thoughts now that we are fully formed adults and not Edward-obsessed tweens. Plus Emily's 14-year-old self's unedited thoughts on the Breaking Dawn of it all. 

Read: Why We Love (and Hate) Twilight by Sarah Gallagher

Recent Reads: 

• Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia by Sabrina Strings
• Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine May
• We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer
• The Brightness Between Us by Eliot Schrefer

Follow us on Instagram and Bluesky at @readirectpodcast! You can also email us at [email protected] 

If you really, really love the show, feel free to leave us a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Or (even better) share our show with a friend and help us grow our community of book loving nerds.

We're back with another series of book recommendations as submitted by our listeners! 

PLUS: Breaking news from Abigail, recent reads, Mate reactions, the Louvre heist (???) and more chaos! 

BOOK REC LINKS: 

• Heated Rivalry 
• The Long Game 
• COZY MYSTERIES: 
  • Wrong Place Wrong Time
  • Famous Last Words
  • Everyone in my Family Has Killed Someone
  • You Can Run
  • Station Eleven, The Glass Hotel, and Sea of Tranquility
  • The Ministry of Time
  • Conclave
• PALATE CLEANSERS: 
  • A Witch's Guide to Magical Inkeeping
  • Summer Romance
  • Ali Hazelwood
  • The Raven Boys
  • Kiss Her Once for Me
  • wading in waist-high water
• TRICK YOUR PARENTS: 
  • Margo's Got Money Troubles
  • Beartown 
  • Wool 
  • Careless People 
  • Leave the World Behind
  • The Will of the Many
• LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND: 
  • Bride and Mate 
  • Wolfsong
  • Fourth Wing
  • Brown Sisters Trilogy 
  • The Duke and I 
  • The Paradise Trilogy
• HOLIDAY BOOK RECS: 
  • Winter Street
  • Only Santas in the Building
  • Merry Inkmas
  • The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year
  • Time to Shine
  • A Home for the Holidays 

We're back for a chill book talk episode where Emily is definitely not going insane about Heated Rivalry for the 40th time this year.  

We catch up after travel, compare notes on The Thursday Murder Club film, and share a stack of recent reads. 

Here for the links? 

• Request Heated Rivalry on your favorite streaming services. DO IT FOR EMILY IF NOTHING ELSE!!!! 
  • NETFLIX – https://help.netflix.com/en/titlerequest
  • HBO – https://help.hbomax.com/us-en/Home/Index
  • HULU – https://help.hulu.com/feedback
  • Amazon Prime – https://digprjsurvey.amazon.com/api/feedbacks/AIV/website
• Heated Rivalry official trailer
• Heated Rivalry and The Long Game books
• Thursday Murder Club book
• wading in waist-high water by colgatemintybluegel 

Recent Reads

• Play Nice by Rachel Harrison
• The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas
• The Beartown Trilogy by Fredrick Backman
• Come & Get It by Kiley Reid
• Tough Guy by Rachel Reid
• The Compound by Aisling Rowle
• The Fall by Tal Bauer