Control Your Shelf

In this episode, we go through a bunch of bookish 'would you rather' type questions, though some of them turn into kpop chatter(in the best way). Give us some of your scenarios in the comments, and be sure to check out Kat's books if you've just finished kpop demon hunters and simply need MORE like the rest of us!

In this episode we have each picked out a handful of books that we've either covered on the podcast, or are super popular(Booktube/BookTok etc.)! We all guess the book based off of the one star rated reviews, and try not to get offended if it's one we love, or have highly rated ourselves. Get in on the fun! Let us know your favorite one start reviews for a book you either hate or love!

🕯️ Content Warning: This episode discusses themes of systemic racism, child abuse, and historical trauma. Time for Rose's pick! We dive deep into 'The Reformatory', Tananarive Due’s chilling blend of historical fiction, horror, and social commentary. Whether you’re a longtime fan of Tananarive Due, new to her work, or simply drawn to stories that mix social truth with spine-tingling suspense, this...

Hot topic book episode! We’re cracking open 'Sunrise on the Reaping', Suzanne Collins’ highly anticipated return to Panem! This prequel promises political intrigue, emotional damage, and a fresh lens on a familiar dystopia. Join us as we break down the plot, get upset at name choices, and chit chat general hungerverse lore. It’s part book chat, part therapy session, and 100% tribute-approv...

Grab your carpet coats, because we take a closer look at 'Rot & Ruin', the first book in Jonathan Maberry’s post-apocalyptic series set years after a zombie outbreak. We discuss the novel’s major themes, characters, and much more! Whether you've read the book or are just curious about it, this episode offers a thoughtful introduction to the story and its larger questions. But be su...

We’ve got a special returning guest(Christian!) who’s diving deep into the world of smut for the very first time. Join us as we get his hilarious and shocked reactions to 'Pounded By Produce', by our fav gal GM Fairy. We discuss the book as tastefully as we can, and keep NSFW words in code, so no need to fear! There's plenty of laughter, maybe a bit of blushing, and definitely some hea...

Time till floor collapse: 56 minutes... Just kidding!! Come crawl into the world of 'Dungeon Crawler Carl', a thrilling and humorous LitRPG novel that blends adventure, humor, and a dash of gaming culture. Join us as we explore the journey of an average guy who finds himself trapped in a dystopian game world filled with deadly monsters, quirky allies, and high-stakes challenges. We discuss...

We’re starting 2025 by sharing our reading hopefuls for this year! What books are we excited to dive into? How do we plan on challenging ourselves to read more (or differently) in the new year? Plus, we’re taking a trip down memory lane, reflecting on our absolute favorite reads of 2024. Tune in for some reading inspiration, and a sneak peek at the literary adventures that await us in 2025!✨ Don’...

Join us in commemorating 2024 with a Book Awards Ceremony, featuring the ever so wonderful Cari Can Read! Find out which books get the good, the bad, and the oddly specific awards from your fav book besties in a year filled with quite the array of stories to add to your TBRs(or to avoid). Be sure to let us know in the comments what some of YOUR awards would be from your own 2024 reading list! &amp...

Get cozy and take a series of quirky book-related Buzzfeed quizzes with us! From discovering which novel matches our personalities to wild would-you-rathers, we’re taking on the literary world one imaginary library trip at a time. Whether you're a bookworm or just here for the fun, this episode is sure to bring plenty of laughs and shocking results. Tune in and play along with us!

It's finally Carlos' pick!!!! In this episode, we embark on an enchanting journey through Brandon Sanderson's groundbreaking novel, Mistborn. Join us as we unravel the intricate magic system of Allomancy, delve into the complex characters, and explore the themes of power, rebellion, and sacrifice that permeate the story. We’ll discuss Vin's transformation from a street urchin to a key player in th...

We have another installment of your favorite book besties swapping 5 star reads! This time around we've got Lauren's pick, which is 'The Road of Bones', by Demi Winters! This is a multiple POV story with a solid found family vibe, and even includes some norse mythology. This novel is not a standalone, but the first book in what will be a five book series. We are calling it 'epi...

Your favorite book besties are swapping 5 star reads! In this episode, Rose starts us off with her pick of, The Last Housewife, a mystery/thriller with cult, podcast, and duel timeline aspects. This entire episode is breaking down the plot, characters, and insanity with lots of spoilers on the main twists, so read before you watch if that's something you want to be surprised about. Let us know...

Grab a chair and join the good vibes with NYT Bestseller, Sasha Peyton Smith, as we chitchat about what books define our varying tastes in novels! Here you will find tons of great recs to add to your never-ending TBRs, silly banter, as well as some minor spoilers for a few books, but you'll be warned before anything is said in case you need to fast forward! To support Sasha, head over to whate...

We decided to bring the game of 'Smash or Pass' into the bookish world by judging quite a few tropes. What's a book trope you ask? In short, it's a plot structure/theme/storyline/character trait/motif/plot device that is commonly used in storytelling. We go through our favorites, and which to throw in the bin!

Come get comfy with us as we chitchat about the bananas magic system and in-depth plot of 'Blood Over Bright Haven', by M.L. Wang. This episode has **tons** of spoilers, as we truly explain the entire book and give our little ratings at the end, so be mindful of that if this is something you want to read beforehand! This is Carlos' pick, so if you find yourself agreeing with him often,...

**This video is a plot breakdown, so beware of spoilers** Have a cozy little seat while the three of us attempt to go through the events of 'The Ones We're Meant To Find', by Joan He. This is a Young Adult sci-fi novel that has one cold/disconnected MC who wants to solve the disappearance of her sister, and another MC who is kind and carefree and trying to escape a deserted island to f...

***trigger warnings*** 🐦‍⬛chainsaws, knives, various sharp objects 🔪accidental and totally on purpose cannibalism 🐦‍⬛questionable use of mummified corpse 🔪lobotomized man servant 🐦‍⬛amateur surgery (involving eye sockets and various body parts) 🔪talk of sexual assault(but not in detail) The dark romance girlies are really going all in for this one, you guys. Naturally, that meant we had t...

Control Your Shelf is back with our first episode of the new year as we begin SEASON 2 of the pod. Each of us wraps up 2023 with our top 5 favorite books that we'd read last year, and give some insight on personal reading goals, plus 5 books that we for sure want to read in 2024(both already out and new releases). We also give you guys a little sneak peak into what you can expect from us in th...

Since the gate was left open, come discover the typewritten secrets at Hope's End with us, alongside our very special guest from the wonderfully hilarious 'It Can't Be That Bad' Podcast, Christian! Breaking down this insane plot and going deeper into the twists doesn't happen straight away, so feel free to enjoy spoiler-free content for the first 10-ish minutes. Don't forget to bring your briefcas...

***Trigger Warnings*** cannibalism, unconsensual sex, necrophilia, drug abuse, talks of aborted fetuses, in-depth descriptions of extremely graphic content, suicide Content note: this episode was recorded on 08/07/2023 We are joined by the wonderful Hailey Hughes  to chit chat about the extreme horror novel that has been quite the trend on BookTok as of late. Dead Inside is not for the faint of he...

The story that took BookTok by storm(lightning included, obviously). Was it worth the hype? Would your three favorite booksellers recommend Fourth Wing to fellow readers? Journey to Basgiath War College with us as we dragon-nose dive into one of the hottest books of the year. If you don't want spoilers, then don't enter Threshing just yet, because this episode is FULL of spoilers and hot t...

*First 10 minutes are spoiler free* Climb aboard the Coordinated Endeavor for our launch into space as we review ‘The Darkness Outside Us’, by Eliot Schrefer. Two boys are alone in space with evidence indicating that strangers have been aboard. A brooding shipmate has barricaded himself away. What could go wrong? Journey to Titan with us for an unpacking of twist after twist, philosophical plot po...

You’re gonna want to winnow into this inner circle meeting, trust us. ***The entirety of this episode is spoilers galore for the ACOTAR series, as well as a little sprinkle of the Crescent City books*** Don’t care about spoilers, or have read just enough to follow along? (Insert Rhys purr here.) Come and enjoy the usual servings of piping hot tea and mayhem! We cover controversies, plot holes, fav...

You all submitted your favorite 'book boyfriends', and boy did we listen. For this episode, we've rounded up the top 40 characters to compete fan art to fan art in a bracket-style tournament. But beware... Things will get heated and feelings will be hurt (both ours and probably yours at some point). From heartthrobs to vampires to scholars to bat boys—who will end up on top?