Reads and Rants Pod

🌴 Ranting About… Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid Surfboards. Secrets. Siblings. And a party that burns everything down. In this episode, we dive into Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid — the 80s-set historical fiction beach read about the iconic Riva siblings and one unforgettable summer night in Malibu. We unpack: ✨ Nina Riva and the burden of being “the responsible one” ✨ Mick Riva: Ar...

AHHHHH! It’s finally here 👀 People We Meet on Vacation went from page to screen — and we have opinions . In this bonus episode, we’re breaking down the book vs. movie adaptation :🎬 What the movie changed 😬💘 Poppy & Alex’s chemistry — did it translate?? 😭 The moments that still emotionally destroyed us👀 What made us scream “the book did it better…” Perfect for:✨ Emily Henry fans✨ Romanc...

🎸 Reads & Rants: Ranting about... Daisy Jones & The Six This week we’re diving into the glitter-drenched chaos of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Daisy Jones & The Six , the book (and hit series!) that made all of us wish we were on tour in the ’70s. We unpack the Daisy vs. Billy creative chemistry , the quiet power of Camila, addiction and fame in the LA rock scene, and how TJR’s oral-history...

🎙️ Ranting about… The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo 💚✨ Step into the world of Old Hollywood glam, scandal, and sapphic love affairs as we unpack The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid! From iconic emerald gowns and tabloid-worthy secrets to heartbreak, ambition, and morally gray women, we’re diving deep into everything that makes this book a BookTok favorite. Join us as we deba...

Grab your garlic and your popcorn because this week Reads & Rants teams up with our friends at Super Film Club for a fang-tastic crossover episode all about vampire fiction, folklore, and the film Sinners 🎬 From Dracula to Twilight , Carmilla to Sinners , we’re tracing how the undead evolved from gothic monsters to seductive immortals — and how Ryan Coogler’s Sinners gives the vampire myth a...

🎉 One Year of Reads & Rants! 🎉 We’re celebrating our 1-year anniversary with a deep dive into Hannah Whitten’s For the Throne —a dark romantasy sequel full of shadowy magic, morally gray characters, and enemies-to-lovers tension that had us swooning and ranting. That’s not all– we’re joined by a most specialist guest and fantasy superfan, Liz Kluge!  This episode we’re breaking down: 🖤 Trop...

Episode Title: 🌲✨ Ranting about… For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten ✨🌲 The Vibes: ​Gothic romantasy 💀🌹 ​ Beauty and the Beast meets Little Red Riding Hood ​Dark forests, blood magic, cursed traditions, and a broody Wolf you’ll definitely simp for ​Perfect for fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses , Uprooted , and other fairy tale retellings Tropes We’re Talking About: ​Slow burn romance 🔥 ​Morall...

💕We laughed, we swooned, we ranted … and now we’re closing out our Emily Henry era in peak chaotic fashion — by ranking all our book boyfriends from the EH universe. From broody beach-house neighbors to our favorite sweethearts, no fictional man is safe from our very “official” madness bracket. We’re also spilling our favorite romance tropes (forced proximity! rivals-to-lovers! small-town meet-cu...

🎙️ Ranting about… A Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry 📚 ✨This week, we’re spiraling (in the best way) over A Great Big Beautiful Life , the newest emotion filled, utterly glamorous novel by Emily Henry . If you thought she couldn't ruin us more than she did with Funny Story ... think again. We unpack the big feelings , the slow-burn romance , the love that you have to let go , and the...

🎙️ Ranting About... Funny Story by Emily Henry 💔🍒✨ In this episode of Reads & Rants , we’re unpacking Emily Henry’s 2024 rom-com Funny Story — a breakup book that’s equal parts soft, swoony, and chaotically healing ? We’re talking fake-dating tropes, roommate hookups, and what happens when your life changes course. Yes, it’s messy. Yes, it’s healing. Yes, we’re obsessed. 💫 From revenge Ins...

🎙️ Episode Title: Ranting About… Happy Place by Emily Henry 💖 🌟 Summary: Grab your favorite cozy drink and join us as we dive into Happy Place by Emily Henry! In this episode, we’re unpacking all the feels, the friendships, and the unforgettable romance of this swoon-worthy summer read. 🌞 Follow Harriet and Wyn, who return to their “happy place” — a Maine cottage — to face their past, all while...

Episode Title: Ranting About... Book Lovers by Emily Henry Join us for our latest episode filled with rants about… Senior Superlatives, Easter Day drinks, anxious older siblings and all our favorite fantasy books ✨ Summary : This week, we’re unpacking Book Lovers by Emily Henry! Nora, a tough literary agent, and Charlie, a grumpy editor, meet in the small town of Sunshine Falls. What starts as pr...

Ranting about... People We Meet on Vacation 🌴✈️ Grab your sunscreen, pack your bags, and take a vacation with us! In today’s episode, we’re diving into Emily Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation , the ultimate friends-to-lovers romance that’ll have you falling in love with the characters, new destinations and have you rewatching When Harry Met Sally for the 1000th time. 🏖️ Poppy and Alex have been...

Episode Title: "Yapping about Beach Reads" Grab your beach towels, a chilled drink, don’t forget your sunscreen and let’s escape into Emily Henry’s Beach Read ! 🏖️📚 In this episode, we dive deep into the story of January Andrews and Gus Everett —two authors at opposite ends of the writing world, stuck in neighboring beach houses, making a bet that turns into so much more. 😏✍️ We chat about: ​ Ja...

🎙️ Episode Title: "Haunting NYC with the Triple Goddess" Welcome to another episode of ReadsandRantsPod ! 🔥 In today’s mythologically-charged episode, we’re diving into Wrath of the Triple Goddess —a story full of divine drama, powerful prophecies, and a whole lot of godly tension. 💫 We chat about the key scenes that had us hooked and discuss all the legendary figures and maybe even a surprise b...

📚 Episode Title: Chalice of the Gods – Percy Jackson's Most Stressful Quest Yet! In this episode, we dive into Chalice of the Gods , where Percy faces his biggest challenge yet: college applications (with a side of divine chaos, of course). Join us as we break down: 🔹 The quest for Ganymede’s chalice: Why can’t gods keep track of their stuff? 🔹 Grover’s goat wisdom: Did we get enough Grover? 🔹...

✨ Episode Description: Grab your celestial bronze swords and hop on your pegasi because we’re diving head first into the epic finale of the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series: The Last Olympian ! ⚡ In this episode, we’re breaking down: 🏛️ The Battle of Manhattan—who fought, who fell, and who made us cry 🗡️ Percy’s terrifying swim in the River Styx (Achilles could never) 💔 Luke Castellan’s...

This week, we’re stepping into one of Percy’s most dangerous quests yet: The Battle of the Labyrinth ! Join us as we follow the gang through a maze of shifting walls, deadly traps, and surprising allies. Annabeth is leading our quest with the help of Percy, Grover, Tyson and even, dare I say, Rachel Elizabeth Dare! Bari and Emily unpack the craziest twists and turns in this book with a special gue...

Show Notes : In this episode, we dive into Percy Jackson and the Titan's Curse , the third book in Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson & the Olympians series. Percy and his friends face their most dangerous challenge yet as they embark on a quest to rescue the goddess Artemis and Annabeth and stop the rise of the Titan's Curse. We discuss: The Story's Premise : Percy and his friends, Grover, and Thal...

Episode Title: Sailing on the Sea of Monster Summary: Percy Jackson’s journey continues in Sea of Monsters , where he and his friends must venture into dangerous seas to save Camp Half-Blood. This episode takes us through pivotal scenes, emotional twists, and mythical wonders as we unpack the themes of loyalty, family, and heroism that make this story unforgettable. Favorite Quotes: “Families are...

Reads&Rants Podcast: Percy Jackson and the Olympians – The Lightning Thief SPOILERS BELOW: Episode Overview: In this episode, we’re diving into Rick Riordan’s The Lightning Thief , the book that kicked off the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. Join us as we discuss the origins of Percy’s character, his life-changing journey to Camp Half-Blood, and the epic quest that introduced us to a m...

Reads&RantsPod Episode 4: Specials by Scott Westerfeld Episode Overview Welcome back to Reads&Rants! In today’s episode, we’re diving into the third installment of Scott Westerfeld’s Uglies series: Specials. Join us as we discuss Tally Youngblood’s transformation into a Special, her struggles with her identity, and the intense action that propels this thrilling conclusion to the trilogy. W...

Reads & Rants Podcast: Episode 3 — The Pretty Party In this Episode: In this episode of the Reads & Rants Podcast, we dive into Scott Westerfeld’s Pretties , the second installment in the Uglies series. Join us as we break down the world of New Pretty Town and Tally Youngblood’s ongoing battle with identity, control, and what it truly means to be “Pretty.” From her thrilling (and risky!) e...

Reads & Rants – Episode 2: Uglies by Scott Westerfeld In this episode of Reads & Rants , we dive into Scott Westerfeld’s Uglies , a dystopian novel that challenges us to question our society’s obsession with beauty and the lengths we’ll go to achieve perfection. Join us as we accompany Tally Youngblood on her journey from being an eager “Ugly” desperate for the Pretty operation to a rebel...

Reads & Rants Podcast: Episode 1 – Trials of Twilight Episode Summary: In this episode, we dive deep into the world of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight , where love and danger collide in the misty town of Forks. From Bella’s first encounter with Edward Cullen to the mysterious allure of vampires and werewolves, we explore the key moments, iconic movie scenes, and themes that made Twilight a cult...