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This episode was originally published on August 29, 2022

This episode was initially published in August 2022 — but lately, one book keeps coming up in nearly every author interview I record: A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna. It’s easily the top Fall 2025 book recommendation among authors, and after reading it myself, I completely understand why.

So I’m pulling this conversation from the vault. In this interview, I chat with Sangu about how she built the whimsical, witchy world of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, what inspired her to write for adults after years in YA and middle grade, and how her stories deliver the kind of cozy comfort we all crave when the world feels heavy.

If you’ve already fallen in love with A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping, this episode gives you a deeper look at where it all began — straight from the author herself.

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna — Buy on Amazon | Cozy Fantasy, Witchy Romance | Audio ✅

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna — Buy on Amazon | Cozy Fantasy, Found Family | Audio ✅

Babel by R.F. Kuang — Buy on Amazon | Dark Academia, Historical Fantasy | Audio ✅

Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood — Buy on Amazon | STEM Romance, Enemies to Lovers | Audio ✅

[00:00] – Welcome + why we’re revisiting this conversation

[01:00] – The cozy, witchy vibes of A Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

[03:00] – Writing for adults after years in YA and middle grade

[05:00] – Character-driven fantasy and how Sangu builds her worlds

[07:00] – How she balances writing across genres and age categories

[08:00] – Sangu’s favorite reads and upcoming projects

[10:00] – Where to find Sangu online

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In this new What to Read Next series, Laura reunites with her OG book besties — Amy from NovelGossip and Sarah from Really Into This — for an unfiltered, cozy group chat straight from their DMs to your ears.

They dish on everything they’re really into right now: Dancing with the Stars drama, Real Housewives chaos, and the books they can’t stop reading (and recommending). Expect laughter, gossip, and plenty of book talk — because that’s what friends do best.

Your Favorite Scary Movie by Ashley Cullins — Buy on Amazon | Horror/Thriller | Audio ✅

Willing Prey by Allie Oleander — Buy on Amazon | Spicy Romance | Audio ✅

Too Blessed to Stressed by Alli Hoff Kosik — Buy on Amazon | Upmarket Women’s Fiction (Upcoming 2026 Release)

Half Light Harbor by Samantha Young — Buy on Amazon | Romantic Suspense | Audio ✅

Save You by Mona Kasten (Maxton Hall #2) — Buy on Amazon | New Adult Romance  | Audio ✅

Merry Christmas, You Filthy Animal by Meghan Quinn — Buy on Amazon | Holiday Rom-Com |KU✅/ Audio ✅

Twelve Slays of Christmas by Jacqueline Frost — Buy on Amazon | Cozy Mystery | Audio ✅

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter — Buy on Amazon | Cozy Mystery | Audio ✅

Soulgazer by Maggie Rapier — Buy on Amazon | Fantasy Romance |

Phantasma by Kaylie Smith — Buy on Amazon | Fantasy / Thriller Romance | KU ✅/ Audio ✅

[00:00] Intro to The Group Chat & Meet Amy & Sarah

[04:00] About the Spice & Swoon Book Club

[06:00] What We’re Watching: Dancing with the Stars & Housewives Gossip

[14:00] What We’re Reading: Samantha Young, Maxwell Hall, and More

[18:00] October Book Club Pick: Willing Prey

[21:00] Upcoming Reads: Holiday Romances & Cozy Mysteries

[26:00] Cozy Mystery Author Talk: Pseudonyms & Publishing

[33:00] Fantasy Romance, Paranormal Light & What’s Next

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If you love Emily Henry, Annabel Monaghan, and Carley Fortune’s brand of emotional, character-driven romance, this episode is for you.

This week, I sat down with Rena Rani, the brilliant writer behind the Substack Smart Romance, to talk about what makes a romance “smart” — from up-market rom-coms to Nora Roberts’ lasting influence. We went deep into the craft side of the genre: how authors balance humor with heartbreak, why line-level prose matters, and what defines the new wave of “elevated” romance that still gives you all the feels.

Rena also shared her favorite under-the-radar reads and walked me through how she scouts new talent (hint: she loves digging through agent wishlists). If you’re craving thoughtful conversations about love stories that respect both the heart and the art, you’ll love this one.

The Best Worst Thing by Lauren Okie — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary; infertility journey; emotionally realistic

You Between the Lines by Katie Naymon— Buy on Amazon | Academia rivals-to-lovers; poetry as structure

August Lane by Regina Black — Buy on Amazon | Music industry; mixed-media storytelling

The Art of the Scandal by Regina Black — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary; scandal fallout, reinvention

Heavy Hitter by Katie Cotugno — Buy on Amazon | Celebrity + athlete; ambition; messy, unflinching

32 Days in May by Betty Corrello — Buy on Amazon | Up-market contemporary; Smart Romance book club pick

Backlist to Explore: Nora Roberts (romantic suspense & contemporary), Susan Elizabeth Phillips (sports romance), Julie James (career/office romance)

[00:00] Intro & Rena’s Substack origin

[01:00] Nora Roberts: why the backlist matters

[06:00] Craft chat: plots, subplots, interiority

[09:00] Defining “up-market romance”

[11:00] YA authors crossing into adult romance

[13:30] Covers & market shifts since 2018

[15:30] Genre history shoutouts (SEP, Julie James, McNaught)

[16:45] Rena’s underrated romance picks

[22:00] Finding gems via agent wishlists

[24:00] Book club pick: 32 Days in May

[25:00] What to expect at Smart Romance

[26:30] Outro & future Nora Roberts episode

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How do you actually use Libby to find hidden gems and save on books? Librarian Jenni Meyers and I break down everything—from advanced searches to borrowing across states—and share our personal Libby routines.

As someone who proudly carries way too many library cards, I love helping readers get the most out of their local libraries—and this week’s guest, Jenni Meyers, knows all about that life. Jenni is a full-time librarian and co-host of the Buzzing About Romance podcast, and together we dig into how libraries really work, how to use Libby to its full potential, and why supporting your local branch matters more than ever.

We also talk about the library’s hidden perks (from printing to streaming movies), how to request new releases before they hit shelves, and why non-resident cards are the best-kept secret for book lovers. Plus, Jenni shares her love for Penny Reid’s romance universe—and where to start if you’re new to her books.

• Truth or Beard by Penny Reid — Buy on Amazon | Small-Town Romance | Audio ✅
• Knitting in the City Series by Penny Reid — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance |  Audio ✅
• Beard Science (Cletus Winston) by Penny Reid — Buy on Amazon | Romantic Comedy | Audio ✅
• Engagement and Espionage by Penny Reid — Buy on Amazon | Cozy Romantic Mystery | Audio ✅

Library Tips Covered:

• How to find digital lending platforms like Libby, Hoopla, and Kanopy
• Why your library’s Friends of the Library group matters
• How to request books before release day
• How to advocate for funding and stop book bans
• Tricks for getting non-resident library cards in other states

[00:00] — Meet Jenni Meyers & Buzzing About Romance

[03:00] — Why libraries are the ultimate community hub

[06:00] — How to find free events & resources near you

[08:00] — Digital lending: Libby, Hoopla & Kanopy explained

[10:00] — How to get multiple library cards & advocate for funding

[16:00] — Requesting books from your library

[21:00] — Tips for organizing your Libby tags & holds

[22:00] — Getting started with Penny Reid books

[27:00] — Final thoughts: Why everyone should get a library card

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Bloodsuckers are back, baby. In this episode, Francesca joins Laura to dish on dark, gothic, funny, and YA vampire reads—with a special shout to Kindle Unlimited for budget-friendly bingeing.

You’ll hear why vampires are resurging (thanks, romantasy!), what’s new beyond the Black Dagger era, and exactly where to start if you want broody politics, murder-mystery shenanigans, or campus drama. Plus a quick nonfiction detour for Vampire Diaries superfans.

A Bargain So Bloody by Vasilka Drake — Buy on Amazon | Paranormal Romance, Enemies-to-Allies | KU ✅

Loving a Vampire’s Total Chaos by Aura Hayes — Buy on Amazon | Paranormal Romcom, Murder Mystery | KU ✅

The Serpent’s Bride by Kathryn Ann Kingsley — Buy on Amazon | Gothic PNR, Mafia Politics, Dark Romance | KU ✅

Nocture by Karina Halle — Buy on Amazon | Noir PNR, Historical (1947 LA)

Blood Moon by Britney S. Lewis — Buy on Amazon | YA Paranormal, Vamps & Wolves, Campus Mystery

A Cruel Thirst by Angela Montoya — Buy on Amazon | YA Paranormal, Forbidden Allies

The Last Vampire by Romina Garber — Buy on Amazon | YA Paranormal, Boarding School, Pride&Prejudice-ish |

I Accidentally Hooked Up with a Vampire by Jessica Cage — Buy on Amazon | PNR Romcom, Found Family | KU ✅

Road Trip with a Vampire by Jenna Levine — Buy on Amazon | Light PNR, Amnesia, Road Trip

Space Vampire by Ruby Dixon — Buy on Amazon | Sci-Fi PNR Novella, Forced Proximity | KU ✅

I Was Feeling Epic (Oral History of The Vampire Diaries) — Buy on Amazon | Nonfiction/Audiobook | Audio ✅

Paperback Crush by Gabrielle Moss — Buy on Amazon | Nonfiction, ‘80s/’90s Teen Lit |

Your Favorite Scary Movie by Ashley Cullins — Buy on Amazon | Nonfiction/Audiobook, Scream Franchise | Audio ✅

Welcome to the O.C. by Josh Schwatz, Stephanie Savage and Alan Sepinwall— Buy on Amazon | Nonfiction/Audiobook, TV Oral History | Audio ✅

[00:00] Intro & why Laura is a vampire-over-werewolf girly

[02:00] Life updates + Francesca’s 2026 Romanceopoly plans

[05:00] Why vampires are resurging (romantasy → PNR pipeline)

[06:30] Rec #1: A Bargain So Bloody (witch x vampire, enemies-to-allies)

[08:30] Rec #2: Loving a Vampire’s Total Chaos (romcom + murder case)

[10:00] Rec #3: The Serpent’s Bride (gothic mafia, morally gray MMC)

[13:00] Kindle Unlimited talk: borrowing limits & trad-to-KU notes

[14:00] Rec #4: Torn (LA noir, Black Dahlia atmosphere)

[16:00] YA lane & who actually reads it

[18:00] Rec #5: Blood Moon (vamps/wolves, campus mystery)

[20:00] Rec #6: Thirst (slayer + newly turned vamp)

[21:00] Rec #7: The Last Vampire (P&P energy, boarding school)

[21:30] Rec #8: I Accidentally Hooked Up with a Vampire (chaotic fun)

[22:30] Rec #9: Road Trip with a Vampire (amnesia + travel)

[23:30] Rec #10: Space Vampire (scared-sexy novella set)

[24:30] Nonfiction: I Was Feeling Epic (TVD oral history)

[26:00] More oral histories: Paperback Crush, Your Favorite Scary Movie, Welcome to the O.C.

[27:30] Where to find Francesca (Under the Covers Book Blog)

[27:50] Outro + blog CTA

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Ever wondered what Jane Austen would write if she lived online? Nikki Payne reimagines romance for our era—where identity, love, and culture collide.

In this episode, Laura chats with romance author Nikki Payne, a cultural anthropologist and writer of Pride and Protest, Sex, Lies and Sensibility, and The Princess and the PI. They dive into why Nikki reimagines Austen’s classics through a modern, intersectional lens, how online personas shape our identities, and what makes “weird fic” and “out-of-pocket women” so irresistible. Plus, Nikki shares her must-read recommendations across romance, mystery, and literary fiction.

Pride and Protest by Nikki Payne — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅

Sex, Lies and Sensibility by Nikki Payne — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅

The Princess and the PI by Nikki Payne — Buy on Amazon | Mystery Romance | KU ✅ / Audio ✅

August Lane by Regina Black — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅

King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby — Buy on Amazon | Crime Thriller | Audio ✅

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow — Buy on Amazon | Fantasy | Audio ✅

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston — Buy on Amazon | Classic Fiction

• Instagram: @nikkipaynebooks
• TikTok: @nikkipayneromance
• Substack: The Painful Truth

[00:00] Meet Nikki Payne: Cultural Anthropologist & Romance Author

[00:03] Reimagining Jane Austen with Black & Asian Leads

[00:06] The Princess and the PI: Reddit Sleuths & Modern Mysteries

[00:10] Online Personas vs Real Life Identity

[00:11] Exploring Body, Control, and Patriarchy in Fiction

[00:13] Neuroplasticity, Healing, and Finding Love

[00:14] What Nikki’s Reading: Weird Fic & Out-of-Pocket Women

[00:15] Book Recommendations for After The Princess and the PI

[00:16] Where to Find Nikki Online

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Originally Published October 30, 2023

Looking for fast-paced thrillers to binge this fall? In this replay episode from 2023, Amy from Novel Gossip joins me to share six twisty, addictive reads that are perfect for cozy nights in.

If you love popcorn thrillers, domestic drama, or a touch of supernatural suspense, these backlist titles are easy to find at your local library or on audio.

The September House by Carissa Orlando — Haunted Victorian home, dark humor, supernatural twist. | Audio ✅

The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James — True crime blogger interviews a murder suspect from the 1970s. | Audio ✅

Where the Blame Lies by Mia Sheridan — Romantic suspense duology with dark psychological tension. | KU ✅ / Audio ✅

We’re All Lying by Marie Still — Popcorn domestic thriller full of secrets, lies, and messy marriages.  | Audio ✅

The Wife Before by Shanora Williams — Fast, juicy thriller with soap-opera energy and short, bingeable chapters. | KU ✅ / Audio ✅

Bonus mentions: Freida McFadden, Kiersten Modglin, A.R. Torre — for fans of quick, twisty thrillers available to borrow on Kindle Unlimited.

🎧 Want to explore even more thrillers you can borrow without breaking your budget?

Check out the post: Libraries that still offer non-resident cards in 2025

[00:00] – Welcome and fall reading chat

[02:00] – Why thrillers are hard to write

[04:00] – The September House by Carissa Orlando

[06:00] – The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James

[08:00] – Where the Blame Lies by Mia Sheridan

[11:00] – We’re All Lying by Marie Still

[14:00] – The Wife Before by Shanora Williams

[17:00] – Final thoughts & where to find Amy

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A high-heat, spooky-season romance with a heartbeat. Author Allie Oleander joins us to talk about Willing Prey—a primal-play, midlife-awakening romance where a 40-year-old lawyer proposes a “hunt” for 30 days… and catches real feelings.

This episode is for readers who love darker vibes without trauma plots: think obsession, contracts, chase-in-the-woods tension, and the guaranteed safety of a romance HEA. We dig into Allie’s indie-to-trad journey, writing an “obsessed but tender” hero, and why horror and romance are emotional cousins.

Books Mentioned

• Willing Prey by Allie Oleander — Buy on Amazon | Dark Contemporary Romance, Primal Play, Age 35+ Leads
• Little Deaths by Nenia Campbell — Buy on Amazon | Erotic Romance/Horror-adjacent, Dub-Con/Non-Con Content, Ex-Horror Actress FMC

Where to find Allie

• Website: allieoleander.me
• Instagram/Threads: @allie.oleander

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A career journalist turned thriller powerhouse, Hank Phillippi Ryan joins Laura to talk about the high-stakes cat-and-mouse ride of her latest novel, how book tour can turn terrifying, and why she writes smart women who fight for justice.

In this episode, you’ll hear the real author-on-tour grind (airports, hotels, libraries, bookstores—only!), the secret that could upend everything for protagonist Tessa Calloway in All This Could Be Yours, and Hank’s philosophy on propulsive storytelling and triumphant endings. We also squeeze in a stellar “what to read next” pick.

• All This Could Be Yours by Hank Phillippi Ryan — Buy on Amazon | Thriller, Cat-and-Mouse | Audio ✅ (narrated by Sarah Mollo-Christensen)
• Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister — Buy on Amazon | Time-twist Thriller | Book Club-worthy | Audio ✅

Website: https://hankphillippiryan.com/

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In this week’s preview episode, we’re going full Stars Hollow life—think Gilmore Girls banter, cozy small-town charm, and just the right amount of romance. If you love the feeling of a Hallmark fall movie in book form, this one’s for you. We kick things off with Fall I Want by Lyra Parish, a grumpy/sunshine small-town romance set against crisp autumn days, pumpkin spice lattes, and fake-dating swoons—all available on Kindle Unlimited.

This is just a taste of what you’ll find inside our new community podcast on Substack. Along with bonus episodes, you’ll also get quarterly meetups, virtual author panels, and a weekly mood-reading curated daylist to help you build the perfect TBR.

Right now, you can lock in a 20% off forever annual subscription—just $48 for the year. Join us for cozy recs, community vibes, and your next favorite read.

Sign up here!

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