Dark romance, romantasy and everything in between. The Spicy Librarian Podcast is back with a post-holiday reading debrief nobody asked for and every book adaptation we are all having big feelings about. Dee and Katie read an unreasonable amount of books. We are not sorry.

We planned an episode. We did not do that episode. What we did instead was sit down, debrief everything we read over the summer, and spiral into a very passionate conversation about the book adaptations that need to happen immediately and the ones that are already in the works.

Katie brings us dark romance, contemporary and romantasy reads including Grave Matter by Karina Halle, Nightshade & Daybreak by Autumn Woods, and Twisted Hate by Ana Huang — enemies to lovers, slow burn, and a slow creeping dread that we absolutely did not see coming.

Dee went everywhere — from dark romance to fantasy to literary fiction — covering Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman, Body Count by Codie Crowley, First Flight Final Fall by C.W. Farnsworth, and Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke among many others.

Then, we get into adaptations — Haunting Adeline and Hunting Adeline by H.D. Carlton, the MindFck Series* by S.T. Abby, Verity by Colleen Hoover, Boys of Tommen by Chloe Walsh and Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman. Which ones are happening, which ones need to happen, and which ones we would personally executive produce given half a chance.

Timestamps:

03:12 — Katie's Post Holiday Reading Debrief

Books Discussed:

Katie's Reads:

Dee's Reads:

Adaptations Discussed:

If you loved this episode follow the podcast so you never miss a drop, leave us a review — it genuinely means the world — and head to our website or Instagram for more details on everything we have coming up. We'll see you next Thursday. 🖤

This week on The Spicy Librarian Podcast, Katie and Dee were forced to played bookish 20 questions. Post it notes on foreheads, sunglasses on, eyebrows firmly raised, and this is genuinely the closest we have ever come to a full falling out. You are welcome.

*If you want to play along, listen on audio, or for spoilers, head to the YouTube!* 

We want to be clear. We are fine. We are friends. But this episode tested us in ways we did not anticipate and we are still processing.

Bookish 20 questions. Where you wear the book on your head and ask yes or no questions until you figure it out, sounds innocent, sounds simple, sounds easy. It is not. Not when the books are Penpal by J.T. Geissinger, Credence by Penelope Douglas, The Wolf King by Lauren Palphreyman, Hooked by Emily McIntire, One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig, and No for an Answer by C.J. Riggs. Not with these two. Not today.

Three rounds. Multiple near misses. One almost-falling-out. Post it notes, sunglasses, and more raised eyebrows than we promised. This is the most chaotic episode we have made and we stand by every second of it.

Timestamps:

00:00 — Introduction & Rules

36:10— Round Three

If you loved this episode follow the podcast so you never miss a drop, leave us a review -- it genuinely means the world -- and head to our website or Instagram for more details on everything we have coming up. We'll see you next Thursday. 🖤

The July reading roundup and book club is here! Between Dee and Katie, they've read what feels like half the internet this month. Dark romance, romantasy, contemporary, and everything in between. Buckle up, your TBR is about to suffer beautifully.

July was a big reading month. Katie and Dee take you through everything they've read this month — from indie darlings to highly anticipated sequels, spicy contemporaries to romantasy worlds we do not want to leave — before we get into the book club picks that had us absolutely feral.

This month's book club brought us Crown Me Dead / Crown Me Yours by Liv Zander for dark romance, Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent for romantasy, and Archer's Voice by Mia Sheridan for contemporary — and we had a lot of big feelings about all three, a lot.

We've also got news and updates dropping, so stay tuned for that, and a sneak peek at what we have coming in August including Dominion by Jean Kwok, How to Kidnap a Fake Date by Effie Campbell, and The Voice by Maggie Ray Jones.

Timestamps:

00:09 — Katie's July Reading Roundup

Books Discussed in This Episode:

Crown Me Dead / Crown Me Yours — Liv Zander

If you loved this episode follow the podcast so you never miss a drop, leave us a 5* review — it genuinely means the world — and head to our website or Instagram for more details on everything we have coming up. We'll see you next Thursday. 🖤

This week on The Spicy Librarian Podcast we are coming straight to you -- answering your bookish questions, giving you the latest shop and event updates. Then Dee opens the clinic to personally prescribe your next five star read. Come in, sit down, she'll see you now.

Consider this your official TSL check in. This week D and Katie are doing what they do best — yapping — but with purpose. We're going through your questions, the ones you've been sending in about books, the shop, upcoming events, and everything in between, and we are answering all of it.

Then Dee opens the book clinic. You tell us what you loved, what you hated, what tropes make you feral and which ones send you running — and Dee will prescribe your next five star read. No appointment necessary. Results may include an immediately extended TBR and zero regrets.

If you want to be featured in a future episode, send in your reading profile and let Dee do her thing.

If you loved this episode follow the podcast so you never miss a drop, leave us a review — it genuinely means the world — and head to our website or Instagram to send in your questions or book clinic requests. We'll see you next Thursday. 🖤

Timestamps:

02:45 — Katie's Reading Recap

Crown Me Dead / Crown Me Yours — Liv Zander

Spicy Honey — Juno Rose North

Heated Rivalry — Rachel Reid

Ballad of the Fallen Dragons — Sarah A. Parker

F*ck, Marry, Kill but make it bookish — this week on The Spicy Librarian Podcast we are making the hard decisions about our favourite MMCs and the series we love most. One night stand, forever, or goodbye. Nothing and no one is safe. 

This week we are playing the most chaotic, most emotionally devastating version of F*ck, Marry, Kill you have ever witnessed. We are talking about our favourite MMCs — seriously thinking through the actual implications of a marriage, a one night stand, and yes, murdering our beloved book boyfriends within their own universes and in ours. We took this very seriously. Possibly too seriously. 

Then we turn it on the series. Which one could we re-read forever and never get tired of? Which one do we have one read left in us? And which series — as much as it destroys us to say it — do we have to say goodbye to for good? The answers may surprise you. They surprised us.

If you shouted at your phone, your TV, your partner, or a complete stranger on the bus — we want to know. Get in the comments and tell us where we went wrong. We can take it.

If you loved this episode follow the podcast so you never miss a drop, leave us a review — it genuinely means the world — and head to our website or Instagram for more details on everything we have coming up. We'll see you next Thursday. 🖤

Timestamps:

00:34 — Updates & The Spicy Librarian Live

Books & Series Mentioned:

Throne of Glass — Sarah J. Maas

This week on The Spicy Librarian Podcast we're sitting down with one of the UK's most exciting up and coming indie authors — Juno Rose. We're talking her debut novel Salt and Sweet, her next release Spicy Honey, an exclusive look at what's coming next, and of course things get completely unhinged along the way.

Juno Rose is a London-based indie author writing high heat contemporary romance with heart, humour, and chemistry that absolutely jumps off the page. Her debut Salt and Sweet — a brother's best friend, forbidden romance following Emmy as she rebuilds her life with a secret spicy bucket list and the very last man she should want — has taken the indie romance community by storm, and we are completely obsessed.

This week we sit down with Juno for an exclusive chat about Salt and Sweet, her next release Spicy Honey, and a little insider look at what she has coming after that. We also do what we do best — drag her into some thoroughly unhinged bookish games — and get a real insight into what it's like building an indie romance career in the UK right now.

If you haven't read Juno Rose yet, consider this your very loud sign to start immediately.

Timestamps:

00:01 — Introduction

CTA:

If you loved this episode follow the podcast so you never miss a drop, leave us a review — it genuinely means the world — and head to our website or Instagram for more details on everything we have coming up. We'll see you next Thursday. 🖤

Books Discussed in This Episode:

Salt and Sweet — Juno Rose

The June reading roundup is here and we went wide this month — dark romance, romantasy, contemporary, beachy reads, and everything in between.

Dee and Katie are back with the book club picks, the reads that wrecked them, and the ones that surprised them most. Your TBR will not survive.

Yes we know it's not June anymore. 

Timestamps:

00:00 — Dee's June Reading Roundup

If you loved this episode follow the podcast so you never miss a drop, leave us a review — it genuinely means the world — and head to our website or Instagram for more details on everything we have coming up. We'll see you next Thursday. 🖤

Books Discussed in This Episode:

Branded — Saffron A. Kent

Bookish Bingo lands on The Spicy Librarian Podcast this week — and it turns out Dee and Katie are not even a little bit competitive. From sports romance to special editions, historical romance to books that made us ugly cry, we're covering every square on the card.

This week join Dee and Katie for a game of Bookish Bingo — who we found aren't at all competitive. We're working through the full card, from books read in one sitting to series we're still in the middle of, plots that floored us, characters who share our names, and the very specific joy of a book you found because you spotted a stranger reading it.

Every square is a recommendation, a confession, or a chaotic tangent — sometimes all three. If your own TBR survives this episode intact we genuinely respect it.

Timestamps:

00:00 — Sulking Over Bingo Dabbers

If you loved this episode follow the podcast so you never miss a drop, leave us a review — it genuinely means the world — and head to our website or Instagram for more details on everything we have coming up. We'll see you next Thursday. 🖤

Books Discussed in This Episode:

Tourist Season — Bryn Weaver

Your ultimate guide to romantasy and dark romance is here. The Spicy Librarian Podcast's Book Recs 101 is the episode every new and seasoned spicy reader needs. Whether you're just starting out or ready for the deep end, Dee and Katie have you completely covered.

Hold on to your TBRs because this week we are sitting down for a full hour of book recommendations- and we are not sorry about what we have done to your reading list. From gentle entry points to the books that will absolutely ruin you, we're covering the full spectrum of romantasy and dark romance in one gloriously chaotic episode.

We break it down into three categories- start me gently, middle of the road, and drop me in at the deep end. We cover the first romantasy and dark romance reads you should pick up, where to go next once you're hooked, and what you graduate to when you are ready to go full feral reader. Consider this your official reading roadmap.

Our TBRs have extended by approximately 100 books as a result of this conversation and we regret absolutely nothing. This is part one; buckle up.

00:00 — Introduction and Etsy Witches for the Weather

If you loved this episode follow the podcast so you never miss a drop, leave us a review — it genuinely means the world — and head to our website or Instagram for more details on everything we have coming up. We'll see you next Thursday. 🖤

Books mentioned; 

Bitter Sweet- Hattie Williams

Crown me Yours- Liv Zanders

Death Valley- Karina Halle

Vanguard- Karina Halle

Branded- Saffron A Kent

White Rose painted Red- Blake Lawson and ELENA. LAWSON

Blood of Hercules- Jasmine Mas

The games God play- Abigail Owens

Such a Dirty Girl- Effy Campbell

Hot Creep series- Effy Campbell

Sugar Baby, Good Girl, Brat Baby- Harley Madison

Secret Club, Secret Job, Secret Proposal, Secret Stalker- Ruby Sky

Starside- Alex Aster

Blood and Steel Series- Helen Scheuerer

Den of Vipers- KA Knight

White Rose painted Red- Blake Lawson and ELENA. LAWSON

Blackwood Institute- J Rose

Credence- Penelope Douglas

Birthday Girl- Penelope Douglas

Sabre Security- J Rose

When the Moon Hatched- Sarah A Parker

The Knight and the Moth- Rachel Gillig

Bad Bishop- LJ Shen

Twister Pawn- LG Shen

Made Mad Series- Danielle Lori

Crescent City- S J Maas

The Devil Night Series- Penelope Douglas

City of Gods and Monsters- Kayla Edwards

A Court of Thrones and Roses- S J Maas

Servant of Earth- Sarah Hawley

A Witches Guide to Fake Dating a Demon- Sarah Hawley

A Ship of Bones and Teeth- Karina Hallie

One dark window, Two twisted Crowns- Rachel Gillig

Enchantra Phantasma- Kaylie Smith

Fourth Wing- Rebecca Yarros

When the Moon Hatched- Sarah A Parker

From Blood and Ash- Jennifer L. Armentrout

QuickSilver- Callie Hart

Lights Out- Navessa Allen

Butcher and Blackbird- Bryn Weaver

Tourist Season- Bryn Weaver

Sinners Retreat, Slay Ride, Ship Happens, Slaughter Park- Lauren Biel

What We Need- Lizzie Stanley

The Predator- RuNyx

Lord Series, The Ritual, Chantelle Tessier

Haunting Adeline- H D Carlton

Hunting Adeline- H D Carlton

Sanctuary of Lies- J Rose

Feather so Vicious/ Shadow so Cruel- Liv Zanders

Dark romance and romantasy meets Telestrations on this week's Spicy Librarian - we're drawing tropes, guessing characters, and somehow attempting to pitch the next New York Times bestselling romance novel. We cover romantasy and dark romance rounds, weekly reading recaps, and watch the whole thing descend into glorious bookish chaos.

This week on Spicy Librarian, we played Telestrations, that random game from primary school where you draw a section of a thing, fold the page and pass it on. But we made it bookish and spicy. We took the most iconic tropes, characters, and moments from dark romance and romantasy and decided to see if we could plot the next New York Times bestseller, but probably not. We do tropes, settings, plot twists and pairings, triggers and memorable quotes- and watched the whole thing descend into absolute bookish chaos. Let us know if you think our pitch has legs, better yet, write it yourself.

00:00 — Welcome to the Spicy Librarian Podcast

Books mentioned-

YesterYear- Caro Claire Burke

The Voice- Maggie Ray Jones

Heavy- ML Burns

The Dorians- Nick Cutter

Black Phone- Joe Hill

Remarkably Bright Creatures- Shelby Van Pelt

Direbound/ Furybound- Sable Sorenson

Regretting you- Colleen Hoover

A Stage Set for Villains- Shannon J. Spann

Pieces of the Night- Jennifer Hartman

Branded- Saffron A Kent

Ravenous- Thea Lawrence

Crown Me Dead- Liv Zander

Harvest Season- Brynn Weaver

Butcher and Blackbird- Bryne Weaver

Thursday Murder Club- Richard Osman

Metal Slinger /Light Wielder- Rachel Schneider

If you loved this episode follow the podcast so you never miss a drop, leave us a review, it genuinely means the world, and head to our website or Instagram for more details on everything we have coming up. We'll see you next Thursday.