In Bed With Books

Join me and author Noel Stark for episode 86 of the podcast, where we talk about her debut novel, Love, Camera, Action , a workplace romance set on a modern television set between Cali, the director, and Jory, the director of photography. We discuss the enemies-to-lovers arc that the leads follow, the themes of creative tension in their love story, and the elements of realism that Stark was able t...

In episode 85, I’m giving a review of Analeigh Sbrana’s, “Lore of the Wilds,” a romantasy novel set in a world where generations ago, Lore Alemeyu’s ancestors fell into a magical world ruled by fae. Now, Lore’s village is held prisoner by the reigning kingdom, subject to the cruelty of the sentries and whims of the royals. I have my qualms with the book, but it was a great debut. From the brooding...

In episode 84, I was joined by author Jade Presley to talk about her new book, The Never List ! It was a joy to have Jade on to talk about her writing process, how she found the why-choose genre, and how a healthy dose of delusion can be great on the road to publication. The Never List follows Rylee, a woman on a quest to save her sister who gets a little side-tracked trying to save her kingdom. T...

In this episode, I’m talking about my reading goals for 2025! As a devotee of SMART goals for many years, my reading goals are really more intentions than milestones I’m looking to achieve. This year, I’m really trying to find the joy in reading again, without the pressure that super defined goals can bring. This year is about me reinforcing reading’s role in my downtime and escape, and it really...

In episode 82, I’m giving a review of the latest book from The Hollows series by Kim Harrison, “Demon’s Bluff,” an urban fantasy novel set in an alternate world where magic and modern sensibilities coexist. As always, I was so excited to talk about this book and this series, since I’ve been such a big fan of Rachel Morgan and her adventures as a witch in Cincinnati for so long. Join me as discussi...

In this episode of In Bed With Books , I sit down with J.K. Kennedy, author of Clumsy Beauty , a beautifully illustrated collection of bite-sized poems filled with warmth, wit, and a dash of irreverence. Clumsy Beauty is a celebration of life’s imperfections, offering inspiration for embracing our quirks, stumbles, and unique journeys. J.K. and I discuss the joy of self-acceptance and finding beau...

In episode 80 of In Bed With Books , I dive into What the River Knows by Isabel Ibanez, a captivating historical fantasy romance. Join me as I explore Inez’s thrilling adventure to uncover the truth behind her parents' deaths and the mysterious gifts they left behind, including the dreamy but closed-off Whitford Hayes. With book two, Where the Library Hides , coming soon, this is the perfect time...

Join me and author Lyndsay Rush in conversation about her new book, A Bit Much . Her book is a collection of poems that explore all of the big feelings that we experience as women today - from love and rage, to impassioned or doubtful. Rush’s poems are a confident look at how life could feel if we let ourselves take up more space than we’ve been allowed. A Bit Much is available now! So run to your...

Join me and my long-time friend, Kristin, for the final part of our bookish chat! We start off with some pretty strong opinions on Pride and Prejudice, before moving onto a conversation about audiobooks. We are pro-audiobook, of course, but whether we actually know what's going on in the books is a different story. We end the episode talking about DNFing books vs pushing through, and expectations...

Join me for episode 77 of In Bed With Books, where I’ll be reviewing the books I’ve read over the past Spring! Please be warned, there are spoilers ahead. If you want more reviews from me, you can find me on Goodreads or Storygraph! Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/86407489-melissa Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/melissa_rose Books Discussed: On Silver Winds by Ava...

And we’re back! This time with another (longer) installment of my earlier conversation with Kristin. This time around, we’re getting a little more critical of books we’ve read - some recent and some not so recent. We talked about our terrible tolerance for horror, gave some book recommendations, and some books we recommended never picking up. Once again, Kristin proves that she doesn’t know a sing...

In this episode of In Bed With Books, I’m joined by author Mai Corland to talk about her upcoming book release, Five Broken Blades , transitioning from Children’s lit to adult fantasy, and the craft behind creating the world in her book. Please note: This is a spoiler free discussion, as the book has not been released at the time of this episode’s premiere. We discuss Mai’s early introduction to b...

Join me and my long-time friend Kristin for the second part of our chat! We grabbed some cheese and wine, and caught up on our TBR's. We're talking about why I haven't read Fourth Wing yet (while Kristin continues to try and convince me), the issue with series that go on for too long, and some of our broader requirements for really enjoying fantasy reads. This is part of a longer conversation. You...

Join my friend Michael and me for a conversation about the necessity of fantasy, fiction, and the simple act of play, whether that's through fantasy and romance books or tabletop games, like D&D. This conversation started in response to his recent academic paper where Michael defends play, and fantasy, as a way to create meaning, reflect, and to simply take the edge off. Through the episode, w...

In episode 72, I'm reviewing some of my recent reads over the last few months! If you want to read more fleshed out versions of these reviews, then find me on Goodreads or Storygraph! Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/86407489-melissa Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/melissa_rose Books discussed: The Scarlet Veil by Shelby Mahurin Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan S...

Join me and my long-time friend Kristin in my living room for a bookish chat! We grabbed some cheese and wine, and caught up on what we're currently reading. We talked about Kristin's (not-so) scathing GoodReads reviews, her love of Emily Henry, and whether she actually knows who Jessica Biel is. And the episode wouldn't be complete without me bringing up vampires! Thank you, Shelby Mahurin and Th...

Join me for another episode of In Bed With Books! Today we're chatting with the author of Sanctuary of the Shadow , Aurora Ascher. We talk about different inspirations for the book, her writing rituals, the women-led reimagining of the publishing process, and a little hint about the sequel. (shh!) Sanctuary of the Shadow was release on January 9th, 2024 through Red Tower Books. You can find out mo...

In episode 69, we're looking at the second half of the FBAA/ALITF saga for any theories or guesses to get our hopes up for the next book, A Soul of Ash and Blood . Armed with our insatiable curiosity and sharp analytical skills (re: occasionally being right), we retraced our steps through each of the FBAA and AFITF episodes. From questions of loyalty to heartbreaking betrayals, we try to unravel t...

In episode 68, we're taking a retrospective journey through our From Blood and Ash episodes in anticipation of next month's new release! Armed with our insatiable curiosity and sharp analytical skills (re: occasionally being right), we retraced our steps through each of the FBAA and AFITF episodes. From intricate character arcs to enigmatic plot twists, we unravel the threads of our own conjecture...

In episode 67, we're talking about James Baldwin's If Beale Street Could Talk , a novel that explores the love story between Tish and Fonny, two young African Americans living in 1970s New York City. Between Fonny's wrongful imprisonment and Tish's preparation for their child, it seems as though they have every reason to lose hope, but Baldwin's frank writing style blends together the hope and fea...

In episode 66, we're chatting about the books we're currently reading and what we think about them so far. Like most of our conversations, we got a little side-tracked, so listen for more Maas theories, personal stories (like, very personal), and occasional book talk. Got something to say? Feel free to email us at inbedwithbookspodcast@gmail.com, shoot us a dm on IG @inbedwithbookspod, or reach ou...

In episode 65, we're talking about s-e-x, baby. It's time to get deep with the smut. Whether you're seeking thrills or some x-rated high fantasy, this episode has the dirty talk. 🎧 From the first signs of enemies to lovers to the soulmate revelation, we're talking about when the sex is good for the plot, and when sex IS the plot. And of course, we share some of our hottest reads. From classic lov...

In episode 64, we're talking about the finale to Kerri Maniscalco's Kingdom of the Wicked trilogy. Kingdom of the Feared is the fantastic ending to Emilia's story, her journey back to herself. After months of mourning Vittoria's death, and then discovering Vittoria was not actually dead and also possibly the one behind all of their troubles, Emilia returns to her full power, breaks curses, saves h...

In episode 63 of our podcast, we're delving into the theme of revenge, exploring its long history in storytelling. Join us as we examine revenge as a compelling plot device, discussing its intricacies and its appeal with examples across books, TV, and movies. We touch on the distinction between revenge and justice, challenging the traditional "eye for an eye" mentality. We're unraveling the secret...

In episode 62 of our podcast, we're talking about Eclipse , the third installment in Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Saga. We're following Bella as she tries to balance her love for Edward with her kind-of-love for Jacob? It's a very confusing love triangle for everyone involved, ourselves included. The episode starts with a little catch-up, after a couple of months' hiatus, including a look at the sea...