Once Upon a Hot Take

Weyward by Emilia Hart is the book for today's episode! Leah and Jordan choke down a disgusting cocktail created by Jordan while they unpack all the heartbreak and empowerment of the Weyward women. Get ready for a Steven and Natalie cameo, an unpacking of a truly revolting bug scene, and - BIG NEWS- a new #1 bad dad on the bad dad ranking.

Leah and Jordan talk for WAY longer than they thought they would about ACOTAR book 4: A Court of Frost and Starlight. Tune in to hear why Jordan knocks Rhys down a few pegs on her book boyfriend list, Leah vent about Elain, and even more speculation for book 6. There's a fun new addition to the podcast room, so make sure to check the social media platforms or watch this episode on YouTube so you c...

In this conversation, Leah is joined once again by James Voorhees to discuss the release of James's new book, The Lost Champion, the final installment of the Ambassador Chronicle series. They explore themes of character development, the writing process, and the emotional journey of both the characters and the author. In this conversation, James discusses his experiences as an indie author PANSTER!...

Leah and Jordan keep riding the ACOTAR train with book #3: A Court of Wings and Ruin. In this episode, the girls lock in their portrayals of some of the main characters, debate the morality of mind reading, fume over the lack of info on mating bonds, and speculate on theories for book #6. Join them for this unpacking of one of their favorite romantasy series of all times!

Leah and Jordan continue their coverage of Sarah J. Maas's ACOTAR world with book #2: A Court of Mist and Fury. As Leah likes to say, "This is the PTSD one." But as we mentioned numerous times in our ACOTAR #1 episode, you need to read book 2 in order for book 1 to blow your mind about book 1. As always, we've got lots of opinions coming in hot, specifically about the cover, title, Tamlin, and que...

Guest host Angela joins Leah and Jordan on this week's episode, covering the thriller Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes. Get ready for a shocking FMK segment, a disgusting character cocktail, and a summary that will knock your socks off. Leah, Jordan, and Ang all play on the same softball team, so there'll be some good-humored roasting, plenty of laughing (Leah does a literal spit take b...

On this special episode, Leah is joined by Paris with the Chatting Chapters podcast from down under! This crossover includes segments from both podcasts, plenty of laughs, and of course, a number of hot takes. The gals chat about Into the Blue: A Love Story by Emma Brodie. If you like Star Trek (neither of us have seen it), drama, will-they-won't-they romance, a witty FMC, nepo baby Hollywood hott...

Guest host Kelsey joins Leah in their discussion on Honey and Heat by Aurora Palit, a contemporary workplace enemies-to-lovers romance featuring Cynthia Kumar and Rohit Patel. The story explores themes of family, identity, and empowerment. It was the Loom & Lore book club pick for the month of July, so Leah and Kelsey share out some of the topics discussed at book club. Loom & Lore website...

Once Upon a Hot Take podcast is 1 year old! Come celebrate with Leah and Jordan as they reminisce about their favorite (and least favorite) moments of podcasting for a whole year. Also, if Exactly Right Media is looking, we are available to be added to your lineup 😉

This is the episode in which Leah's husband Paul guest hosts and cashes in his lost bet. The internet voted and determined the married couple would cover Butcher and Blackbird by Brynne Weaver. The husband and wife duo discuss all the usual segments of the pod: character cocktails, FMK, highs/lows, but with the added twist of married couple banter. Tune in to hear Paul's hot takes on this dark rom...

Bet you didn't know folding towels could be a hot take debate! In this episode, Leah and guest host Laura react to Quicksilver by Callie Hart. They kick things off with sisterly banter and then jump into a great idea for a book maturity rating system. The sisters unpack all your beloved (and hated) characters, including Saeris, Kingfisher, Carrion, and Onyx, while debating the book’s world-buildin...

Come hang out with Leah as she chats with Kate and April, the creators behind Lumnia Literary Tours , the women-only tour group for bookish travelers. Find out what inspires the upcoming tours, how long it takes to plan a tour, who should come on one of these amazing adventures, and speculate what "cone chicken" is in France. 🤔

It is time! Leah and Jordan finallllllly discuss Sarah J Maas's A Court of Thorns and Roses . And it did not disappoint. Both Leah and Jordan had very different opinions on a re-read and were even able to change each other's minds on some aspects. This episode ONLY focuses on book 1, so those of you who haven't finished the series are safe to listen to this episode!

Once Upon a Hot Take teams up with fellow book lovers Claire and Yana of My Best Friend's Book Club to bring you allllllll of the hot takes on the iconic Twilight movie.

Well, we had so much fun with the first one, we decided to do it again! Leah is joined by 4 more indie authors to talk about their tips and tricks of the trade, promote their books, and get the hottest of takes on anything and everything that goes into the book-writing, editing, and publishing process.   Take a listen to find your next read, learn some tricks of the trade, or simply enjoy as some...

This episode covers Daniel G. Miller's The Red Letter : part thriller, part murder mystery. Leah and Jordan share their stellar picks for a screen adaptation, discuss Hazel's insane Red Bull obsession, and laugh over some cold takes. Dive into this adventure with this bookish dynamic duo!

We are SOOO excited to share our very first indie author-themed episode! Leah interviewed 5 amazing indie authors who shared all their wisdom and hot takes on the writing process, why they chose self-publishing vs. traditional publishing, their collective hate for editing 😆, and –of course– many, many laughs.  We hope you find some new books to add to the TBR or gain some inspiration to finally s...

This episode covers the book Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell. Leah and Jordan also add their hot takes regarding the movie. Notable topics include the etymology of the phrase "eat crow," an excellent nickname for one of the worst characters, a heated argument in the FMK segment, and a true appreciate for capital "L" literature.

In this episode, we explore Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary , discussing the differences between the book and movie, character development, scientific accuracy, and the emotional impact of the story. Join us for a deep dive into sci-fi storytelling and filmmaking insights. We share hot takes, favorite moments, and insights into the science and characters that make this story a must-listen for sci-fi...

In this special episode, Leah and Jordan interview Samantha, the host of the Benevolent Ball, who shares insights about planning the upcoming fantasy ball, the Fractured Heavens Masquerade. She discusses the charitable aspect of the ball and the pre-ball market, offering a glimpse into the immersive world of fantasy balls. We get a behind-the-scenes look at planning and organizing a fantasy-themed...

Delta County by J.L. Hyde follows the story of Heather, who moves back to her idyllic small town in the UP, only to find out it's not as quaint and unassuming as she remembers. Leah and Jordan share their hot takes on e-readers, drinking culture, college housing, and much more! If you like Colleen Hoover and Freida McFadden, Delta County is right up your alley.   Takeaways E-readers vs. Physical B...

Tune in to Leah and Jordan's coverage of Throne of Glass. They butcher some name pronunciations, share their best/worst parts of the book, debate the merits of love triangles, pick some excellent actor choices, and share some theories about the rest of the series.

Join Jordan and Leah as they unpack the grand adventure in the debut novel by indie author Brian Maes! This fantasy story is book 1 in a series currently under way. Leah and Jordan discuss all the fantasy tropes they love about this book, from magic to immortals, element control to alternate dimensions. They also have a special author interview for the second half of the episode! Brian gives his h...

To celebrate Valentine's Day, Leah and Jordan are coving the romance novel Book Lovers by Emily Henry. Tune in to hear all of their hot takes (and differing opinions!) on the book and the romance genre in general. From character analysis to actor portrayals to character cocktails, they are covering it all for this romance novel full of witty banter!

Leah and Jordan dive into the life of author Ally Shaw in her debut memoir Chasing Tigers in the Dark: Life Lessons of a Fierce Survivor. Ally brings her positive energy onto the page as she tells her stories of the multiple traumas that have plagued her life and how she has processed this trauma and has learned life lessons along the way in the hopes of helping others in similar situations. Her s...