Shit We've Read

Taking center stage in this After Dark episode is COSMIC KISS by Clio Evans—a steamy alien romance where a rising star finds herself in a tantalizing love triangle with two irresistible aliens. Join us as we break down the balance of smut to plot, revisit our love (or not) for the fated mate trope, and, of course, get insights from our resident tentacle expert, Jason, on the use of tentacles in th...

Be gay. Solve crimes. Take naps. I n this episode, we dive into Courtney Smyth’s “witty and quirky fantasy murder mystery,” THE UNDETECTABLES . J oin us as we celebrate the strong friendships between the main characters, explore the disability representation and its impact on the story, and hear Bella share how their expertise in micro-mobility and transportation equity shaped their interpretation...

It’s our most “wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey” episode yet! Guest host Erin Harris returns to join Jason and Laura in discussing Kate Mascarenhas’ debut, THE PSYCHOLOGY OF TIME TRAVEL . Tune in as we explore this ambitious time travel murder mystery, attempt to untangle the complexities of time travel, and debate if we have what it takes to journey through time. Plus, we tackle the intriguing question...

We’re back with a new set of After Dark episodes, and this one is knot to be missed as we are discussing Emma’s pick—DARK CITY OMEGA by Elizabeth Stephens; a “dark fantasy romance full of [...] omegas with magic and monsters who always get the girl.” Listen in as Emma gives us a rundown of the Omegaverse, we hear Jason’s embarrassing attempt at a brogue accent, and we discuss what sets this A/B/O...

Join us as we sit down with author S.T. Gibson to discuss her enchanting new book, Evocation ; "the first book in a spellbinding and vibrant new series filled with fortune telling, tarot cards, intrigue and unexpected romance." Listen to our impromptu therapy session as we all bond over being reformed Catholics, we discuss the importance of bi-visibility, and Jason and Saint gush over their shared...

Hello and welcome back to another season of Shit We’ve Read ! We’re kicking off Season Four with a discussion of the first volume of the Eisner, Harvey, and Hugo Award-winning comic book series, SAGA! Written by Brian K. Vaughan with art by Fiona Staples, this “sexy and subversive adult drama” is the “sweeping tale of one young family fighting to find their place in the worlds.” Join us for anothe...

It’s our Season Three finale! We’re returning to the world of Legends & Lattes with a discussion of Travis Baldree’s BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST ; “a journey of high fantasy, first loves, and second-hand books.” Join Jason, Bella, and Laura as we discuss how well this prequel connects to the first book, Jason questions if the genre of cozy fantasy is for Laura, and we share what we would call “sm...

It’s the last After Dark episode of the season and we’re discussing Laura’s pick, GOOD DEEDS by Kathryn Moon; a “whychoose romance novel, starring a feisty heroine and five fritzing hot android heroes.” Listen in as we question why the sex scenes weren’t more imaginative, Emma brings up the unintentional ableism, and Jason explains why this book put the fun back into sex. Plus, Bella learns what “...

Happy New Year! Joining us for the first episode of 2024 is returning guest host, Sir Aaron Carter, for a discussion of THE ROAD TO ROSWELL—Connie Willis' "novel about alien invasions, conspiracies, and the incredibly silly things people are willing to believe". Listen in as this episode brings us to the brink of a Shit We’ve Read civil war, we question how telepathy works, and decide why Aaron ma...

It's our holiday episode and joining us is EmmaSkies for a good old-fashioned Secret Santa book exchange! How well do we know each other's reading preferences? Find out as we each try to guess who gifted us our books. Plus,  Laura gives us all a mini surprise inspired by Bookstagrammer Jaysen Headley (aka @ezeekat),  Bella explains why the book they were gifted is perfect for anybody who’s ever ex...

In this After Dark episode, we’re discussing THE STING OF VICTORY, S.D. Simper’s sapphic tale of the toxic love affair between a witch and her vampiric lover. Settle in and join us as Bella describes the anxiety-induced fugue state they were in when choosing this book, we attempt to figure out the actual plot, and Emma shares the many alternative names she has for the book’s main character, Flowri...

In this episode, the SWR crew delve into the chilling and evocative world of Trang Thang Tran’s debut horror novel, SHE IS A HAUNTING. Join us as we break down this story of “a Vietnamese American girl visiting her estranged father in Vietnam and the house that doesn't want them to leave”, Laura and Bella each share how they related to the novel’s main character via their experiences of being mixe...

In this After Dark episode, we’re stepping into the supernatural world of Jillian Graves' titillating monster romance novel, TITAN. Grab a glass of wine, dim the lights, and join us as we discuss such thought-provoking topics as “the world’s worst antibiotic-resistant UTI”, Emma’s aftercare kink, and we finally learn the answer to the question that’s on everybody’s mind: would Jason sleep with a g...

We’re kicking off spooky season with a paranormal tale of “ sisterhood and female defiance— inspired by lives of real teenage twin mediums in the 19th century.” And who better to join us on this episode discussing Amanda Glaze’s historical fantasy debut, THE SECOND DEATH OF EDIE AND VIOLET BOND—set in Sacramento, 1885—than new guest host and Sacramento History Museum tour guide and volunteer, Erin...

In this episode of Shit We've Read , we discuss the novella THE MIMICKING OF KNOWN SUCCESSES by Malka Older—a cozy Holmesian murder mystery and sapphic romance, set on Jupiter. Listen in as we examine the balance of sci-fi, mystery, and romance, Jason reveals our Ken's job, Laura compares the story to Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet , and more! Sponsors: Liquid I.V. is the category-winning hydration...

When we saw that Emma was reading THE DRAGON’S BRIDE by Katee Robert, we knew it was the perfect opportunity to fit in an impromptu After Dark episode. Join us as we discuss the one glaring omission to the variety of sex scenes featured in this book, Bella explains why they prefer a kraken to a dragon, and Emma reveals the worst book she’s read all year.   CONTENT WARNING: This episode features di...

In this After Dark episode, we discuss Emma’s pick, THAT TIME I GOT DRUNK AND SAVED A DEMON by Kimberly Lemming; and really, who among us hasn’t found themselves in the same situation? For those keeping score at home, that is now two demon books Emma has chosen. Join us as we reveal if the amount of smut lived up to our expectations, we discuss the author’s interesting use of simile to describe or...

Welcome to a special Pride Month episode where we rocket into the captivating worlds of Everina Maxwell's queer space opera, WINTER’S ORBIT, alongside our guest host, EmmaSkies! Set in a futuristic system on the brink of political turmoil, Winter's Orbit follows the arranged marriage between Prince Kiem and Count Jainan. As they navigate their new relationship, secrets and conspiracies unravel, ch...

Get ready to be transported to a world where Greek mythology, urban fantasy, and romance collide as we chat with author Kika Hatzopoulou about her debut novel, THREADS THAT BIND, described by Hatzopoulou as a “fantasy noir about a descendent of the Greek Fates, using her skills to work as a detective in a half-sunken post-apocalyptic city.” Listen in as we unravel the inspirations behind Hatzopoul...

It’s our first After Dark episode of the new season and trust us when we say it's going to be a wild ride! This month, we discuss the listener-recommended SOUL EATER by Lily Mayne; a story about monsters and human men falling in love in a post-apocalyptic world. Join us for our most chaotic and explicit episode yet, and listen in as we applaud the chemistry between the two MCs, Laura has some ques...

Welcome back to Shit We've Read ! In this Season Three premiere episode, we are excited to discuss Travis Baldree's TikTok sensation, LEGENDS & LATTES —”a cozy, heartwarming slice-of-life fantasy about found families and fresh starts.” Listen in as Laura explains why she has a love/hate relationship with this book, we discuss the difference between coffee and espresso within the context of the...

It’s our last book of Season Two as we read the appropriately titled The Last Adventure of Constance Verity by A. Lee Martinez, a humorous urban fantasy about the world’s greatest adventurer and her quest to become ordinary. Listen in as Jason makes the shocking revelation that he doesn’t like reading, Laura confirms she is an android, and the book’s metaphysics prove too much for Bella’s mind. Th...

We have another incredible author interview for you! We were fortunate enough to have debut author Jenna Voris join us to chat about her upcoming young adult space opera Made of Stars , described by her as “inspired by the story of Bonnie and Clyde, but set in space.” Listen as Voris tells us about the inspirations for her novel, how her experience getting Made of Stars published has changed her w...

We’re celebrating Black History Month with a discussion of Dawn by Octavia E. Butler, one of the most renowned voices in Black science fiction. “ Hopeful and thought-provoking, this post-apocalyptic narrative deftly explores gender and race through the eyes of characters struggling to adapt [...] in a world devastated by nuclear war.” Listen in as Bella explains why they don’t like 80s science fic...

It’s Valentine’s Day—a day for sex, love, and romance—which means it’s the perfect day for another After Dark discussion. In this episode, we chat about Bella’s book choice, Lord of Eternal Night, a paranormal romance by Ben Alderson. Listen in as Bella explains how they had choice paralysis when choosing this book, we question the physical aspects of one of the sex scenes, and Jason stands up for...