Books Between Friends Podcast

In our first episode of 2026, Books Between Friends is diving into Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard—and we’re officially entering a world divided by blood. In this kickoff episode, we cover Red Queen Chapters 1–5, where we meet Mare Barrow, a girl living in a society split between Silvers with godlike powers and powerless Reds who exist to serve them. What starts as a familiar dystopian setup quickly...

Welcome to our final episode before the new year hits! When we talk about expansive world building, great magic systems, and complex and interesting characters, Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series most definitely hits the mark from our catalog of 2025. Join us for this Greatest Hits episode as we dive into Sanderson's world of political intrigue, incredible heist plots, and a badass magic system f...

This is our next installment of our greatest hits from 2025! What better way to nerd out with book friends than by discussing this dark urban, portal fantasy from V.E. Schwab. Come travel with us, book friends... As Travars!

Our next installment of our greatest hits from 2025 is here! One of our most popular discussions was over The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. Join us as we discuss Part 1 of this epic historical fiction!

Hi book friends-- As we mentioned in our previous episode, the three of us are taking a break during this holiday season to recharge and come back strong in 2026. Until that time, please enjoy some of what we are calling our "Greatest Hits of 2025!" These are the episodes that you, our book friends, have commented on and interacted with the most, so... we're bringing them back for an encore perfor...

In our final episode of this season’s read, (and final episode of our first season), we conclude The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune, covering Chapter 16 through the Epilogue. This section brings emotional confrontations, powerful moments of truth, and the culmination of Linus’s transformation as he faces the consequences of his choices. We unpack the climax on the mainland, the heartwarming...

In this episode of Books Between Friends, we explore chapters 11–15 of The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune—where the magic of Marsyas Island truly begins to deepen. Linus continues warming to the children (and vice versa), but his caseworker instincts clash with the growing sense that there’s more to this orphanage—and to Arthur Parnassus—than the files ever revealed. We break down the tende...

In this week’s episode of Books Between Friends, we continue our journey through The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune, diving into chapters 6–10. Linus Baker has finally arrived at the Marsyas Island Orphanage—and nothing is as expected. From the eccentric caretaker Arthur Parnassus to a group of magical children with secrets of their own, Linus’s rule-bound world begins to unravel in the mos...

This episode, we’re diving into The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune — a heartwarming fantasy full of found family, whimsy, and compassion. In this first episode, we cover chapters 1–5, where we meet Linus Baker, a rule-loving caseworker for the Department In Charge of Magical Youth (DICOMY), and glimpse his orderly world before it’s turned upside down. Join us as we unpack Klune’s charming w...

We’ve arrived at the final chapter of our The Bewitching read-along, and this episode is all about reflection, revelation, and our honest thoughts. In this finale, we wrap up Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s haunting tale by discussing the conclusion of the story, how the mysteries unraveled, and whether the ending delivered on the atmosphere and tension built throughout the novel. We break down character a...

The tension is reaching a fever pitch in our penultimate discussion of The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. In this episode, we explore how the threads of memory, guilt, and obsession start to weave tightly together as the truth behind the haunting begins to take shape. Join us as we unravel Moreno-Garcia’s signature blend of psychological suspense, gothic atmosphere, and simmering witchcraft,...

We’re back with Part 2 of our book club discussion on The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, covering up to Chapter 7 of the 1998 timeline. In this episode, we dive deeper into the unsettling energy pulsing beneath the surface of the story—where rumors, memory, and witchcraft begin to blur. Join us as we unpack the shifting character dynamics, discuss the growing tension between past and present,...

Welcome back to Books Between Friends! In this episode, we're kicking off our book club-style deep dive into The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Join us as we explore the gothic atmosphere, eerie magic, and simmering tensions that set the stage in the opening chapters of this haunting novel. If you love witchy historical fiction, slow-burn suspense, and Moreno-Garcia’s signature blend of folkl...

The final chapters of Blood Over Bright Haven deliver everything we’ve been waiting for—emotional intensity, moral reckoning, and revelations that challenge everything we thought we knew about Tiran. As the truth comes to light, characters face impossible choices between ambition, love, and conscience, and the story’s haunting questions about knowledge and power come to a head. In this finale disc...

In this stretch of Blood Over Bright Haven, the stakes rise and the consequences of hidden truths begin to surface. Chapters 13–18 challenge characters in unexpected ways, as ambitions collide and long-held convictions are tested. Loyalties are blurred, choices carry heavier weight, and the fragile balance of Tiran feels more precarious than ever. We dive into the themes of power, morality, and id...

The journey into Blood Over Bright Haven continues as we dive into chapters 7–12. In this section, the world of Bright Haven expands with even more layers of intrigue, ambition, and the clash between knowledge and power. Core beliefs that once seemed unshakable begin to fracture, forcing characters to question themselves, their choices, and the society they live in. We unpack the themes, explore c...

We’re diving into Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang, and the first six chapters are already giving us plenty to talk about. In this episode of Book Between Friends, we set the stage with our first impressions of Wang’s dark academia-inspired world—where magic, power, and politics collide in ways that feel both dazzling and dangerous. Join us as we unpack what drew us in, the atmosphere of the o...

We’ve reached the epic finale of Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn: The Final Empire! In this episode, we’re covering chapters 32 through the epilogue, exploring the thrilling conclusion to Vin’s journey, the crew’s daring mission, and the fate of the Final Empire itself. Join us as we share our thoughts on the action, the surprises, and the emotional moments that make this ending unforgettable. We’ll...

We’re back in the world of Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn with chapters 24–31—and things are getting intense. In this section, secrets begin to unravel, relationships are tested, and the stakes for the crew grow higher than ever. We talk about the twists and turns that kept us on edge, the deeper look into Allomancy’s potential, and the way Sanderson weaves tension into every scene. As always, expec...

The plot thickens in Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn as we dive into chapters 16–23! In this section, the balance between politics, rebellion, and personal stakes begins to shift in big ways. We explore how the crew’s plans are coming together (...or falling apart), the growing tension between trust and betrayal, and the expanding rules of Allomancy that have us geeking out. These chapters are packed...

Our journey into Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn continues with chapters 8 through 15! In this section, we start to see the world open up even more—new dynamics between characters, deeper hints about Allomancy, and plenty of moments that made us pause and speculate. We share our reactions to the unfolding plot, the themes beginning to take shape, and the details that are making this book hard to put...

We’re kicking off a brand-new read: Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson! In this episode, we dive into the prologue through chapter 7 and share our first impressions of the world, the characters, and Sanderson’s unique style of storytelling. From the atmospheric opening to the hints of a bigger magical system at play, we discuss what’s caught our attention so far, what we’re curious about, and the vibes...

We've reached the final chapters of Beach Read by Emily Henry, and we have thoughts. In this episode, we unpack the emotional moments, character arcs, and all the heart-stirring escapades that made this ending so discussion-worthy. Honest reactions, favorite highlights, and revelations of how we feel now that we've turned the final page are waiting for your ears to press play. Whether you're finis...

In this episode, we dive into chapters 15 through 21 of Beach Read by Emily Henry. The story continues to pull us in with sharp banter, emotional depth, and moments that had us pausing to reflect (and maybe squeal a little). We talk about how the characters are growing, the tension that’s building, and some standout scenes that hit us right in the feels—all without giving anything away for what’s...

Things are heating up in Beach Read as January and Gus continue their unconventional summer challenge. In this episode, we talk about how their banter turns into something deeper, what these chapters reveal about their fears and ambitions, and how two writers from opposite genres might just change each other’s perspectives on life—and love. We also explore themes of vulnerability, creative block,...