Hearts & Daggers

Summary: Today, Holly and Devin explore the rest of what happens after "and they were roommates!"  by discussing books featuring people who move in together. While this theme might feel squarely in Devin's wheelhouse, but not to worry - murder can happen when you move in together, too. They agree that similar to any forced proximity narrative, a roommate situation really amps up the pressure and f...

Summary: By now you all know that Devin loves a good romance - but how did she get into the genre she's now so passionate about? Read below to learn more and understand how to follow in her footsteps: Devin read her first romance in 2019, at the age of 29. Late in life? Maybe, but better late than never. She found a grocery store paperback romance in a time when a distraction and escapism were mor...

Summary : Hop on board, buckle up, and stow your luggage, folks - we're in transit today! Whether by plane, train or automobile, travel can open up a lot of possibilities for characters across genres. Holly and Devin talk through the "closed door" atmosphere transit can bring to a story, and how physical travel can augment the metaphorical evolution of character arcs with a more unique twist.  Top...

Summary : We were honored to have our first author guest on the podcast, Jessa Maxwell! The Golden Spoon , which we discussed in episode 23, is available wherever you get your books today (March 7, 2023). Holly and Jessa discuss the book, key points of which were:  Maxwell had always wanted to write a book (inspired by Lucy Foley) and was passionate about a locked room mystery. During the pandemic...

Summary : Louise Penny is one of Canada's most prolific and successful authors - she writes dark, heart wrenching murders that somehow pair well with a quiet town with quaint bed and breakfasts and bistros with some of the best food ever described. Holly and Devin fell in love with the Armand Gamache detective series years ago, and today they finally get to gush about Louise and her writing for th...

Summary: We've all faced it, but for some it's hard to do and fills us with guilt. What is DNF (not to be confused with DTF…) and why is it so important to abandon books when they do not serve you?    DNF: Did Not Finish (you abandoned the book)   Holly DNFs when: There's no page requirement, but her main rule of thumb is - if she thinks it, it's already too late. The main driver? She no longer ca...

Summary: Happy Valentine's Day, friends! While neither Holly nor Devin are superfans of this holiday, they wanted to take some time to highlight marriage with two books this week. Oddly enough, Holly's thriller wheelhouse is chockablock full of married couples on the rocks, but Devin's romance genre almost never centers on a couple that have already found their happily ever after. All told, though...

Summary: Today, Devin shares her Top 10 books of 2022. Use this to create a TBR for 2023, or simply get a deeper sense of what stood out to Devin as the most romantic tales she read last year.    She also took a little time to wax poetic about Valentine's day. Whether you care about this holiday or not, Devin figures hey, it's cold and gray out, spring is far away - whether you're in a relationshi...

Summary: Ah, the follies and joys of youth! If you've been with us since the start, you know that Holly and Devin love stories with octogenarian protagonists. This week we're mixing it up and focusing on 20-something people who are still figuring themselves out. Holly struggled to find a book in her wheelhouse for this theme, but is generally drawn to young protagonists in thrillers because the si...

Summary: Today, Holly shares her Top 10 books of 2022. Use this to create a TBR for 2023, or simply get a deeper sense of what makes Holly happiest as she reads about murder!  10: A Good Marriage by Kimberly McCreight (Episode 16, New York City) 9: White Smoke by Tiffany Jackson (Episode 21, Ghosts) 8: Breathless by Amy McCulloch (Episode 26, Winter Sports) 7: The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule (E...

Summary: Join Holly and Devin as they explore jolly ol' London town! Blimey! Not only is this city the only reason our co-hosts became friends in the first place, but they have a blast diving deeply into books set in the iconic city. While one book involves multiple dead bodies and the other involves multiple broken hearts, they unite around the unique character of London. Holly is a self-identifi...

Summary: It has officially been one year since we launched Hearts & Daggers! As you likely know, in our usual episodes we discuss two books–one lighter, one darker–through the lens of a common theme. These episodes will continue to come out bi-weekly, that is, every other week. We are excited to share that during the off-weeks between our main episode releases, we will be putting out a new series...

Summary: Happy 2023, friends, and welcome to Season 2 of Hearts & Daggers! We're starting this year off with a bang - the bang of the starting gun in a Super G ski race, that is. If you've been with us for a while know, you know that this theme is right up Devin's alley and aligns with many of her existing hobbies. Holly, while not a fan of sports generally, loves ice skating and is a sucker for m...

Summary: It's a holly, jolly holiday here on Hearts & Daggers! Today, Holly and Devin discuss books set during this holiday season. Whatever holiday you do (or don't) celebrate, these co-hosts appreciate the season for its coziness, the twinkling lights, and an excuse to spike hot chocolate with Bailey's Irish Cream before the seasonal depression really hits. Both books this round are on the light...

Summary: Brrrrr, it's cold in here! There must be murder (or love?) in the atmosphere. Today Holly and Devin explore books where the characters are snowed in. They agree that putting characters in "locked room" situations is more intriguing, especially when the author is adept at character development and turning the location into a pressure cooker for the protagonists. It was especially interesti...

Summary: Lace up your aprons and preheat the oven to 350 degrees, friends! We're talking Cooking Competitions today. Holly and Devin unpack the way that a competitive atmosphere can turn up the heat on both romantic tension and animosity with two books that follow the same plot of filmed cooking competitions but land with completely different outcomes. They both agree that food adds two more sense...

Summary: Welcome to Nonfiction November! Holly and Devin are kicking off this month by diving into two very different nonfiction books: Holly's, a deep dive into serial killer Ted Bundy, and Devin's, a deep dive into the full spectrum of human emotion and how they can enrich our lives. Couldn't be more different, but Holly and Devin unite over the place of nonfiction in their lives and how books l...

Summary: Wrapping up spooky season this year with one of the world's favorite halloween tropes - ghosts! Holly wishes she could believe in them, but is too logical and naturally skeptical to really dig in. Devin respectfully asks any ghosts reading this to please leave her alone and she apologizes in advance if she insulted any of them. No one will be surprised to learn that ghosts appear much mor...

Summary: Let's get witchy with it, friends! This week, Holly and Devin live out their dreams of discovering late-in-life magical prowess by discussing books centered around witches. Devin found her love of the sorceress lifestyle very early in life, whereas Holly was enchanted later. They agree that whether you're discussing the Salem witch trials or the Wicked Witch of the West, these stories emb...

Summary: If the length of an episode is anything to go by, Holly and Devin are *the most* excited to talk about ACOTAR, the A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas in our second LoveFest episode! This series is the perfect meld of the hearts and daggers that Holly and Devin love most; the seamiest, sexiest love scenes mixed with the creepiest, most anxiety-inducing action. Please note...

Summary: If you're anything like Devin and Holly, one of your favorite smells is new notebooks, binders, pens - essentially what hits you when you walk into a Staples. Today, we're headed back to school! Holly and Devin deep dive into how school settings shape their excitement for fall, for learning, for romance, and for things that go bump in the night (for Holly, usually a body hitting the groun...

Summary: Join us as we start the school year with a deep dive into our English major roots with a lively discussion around Classics! Holly and Devin explore books that gave modern writers their templates and tropes for successful mysteries and romances. Plus, they spill the tea on the most recent Austen film adaptation, Netflix's Persuasion , a segment you won't want to miss.  Topics Discussed: Th...

Summary: Take a bite out of the Big Apple with Holly and Devin today! They peel back the layers of New York City with books that focus on Harlem and Park Slope, Brooklyn. Holly and Devin both lived in the city (Devin for 2 years, Holly for 20) so it holds a special place in their hearts. That being said, stories set in the city can be over-romanticized and a lazy choice and the books they apprecia...

Summary: Grab your phones and log onto Instagram, Holly and Devin dive into social media themes today! They investigate how social media can be a hindrance and a help for protagonists in modern novels. Holly and Devin both agree that leaning on miscommunication from social media can feel lazy and frustrating, but when used well, social media accents can build intrigue and serve the plot well. Holl...

Summary: Grab your towel and flip flops, we're hanging out poolside this week. Today, Holly and Devin discuss books featuring pools. They discover that Holly has always thought pools were creepy (thanks, "Are You Afraid of the Dark?") and that sometimes a pool doesn't even have to have water in it to act as a plot device! Devin prefers pools to the ocean, and Holly doesn't make fun of her for it a...