That Pretentious Book Club

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to this Season 6 bonus episode of That Pretentious Book Club!  What happens when only half of a book club reads LJ Andrews’s spicy romantasy hit The Ever King… and then have to explain the entire plot to the club members who know absolutely nothing about it? Confusion. Unjustly hot characters. Questionable explanations. Wheezy’s golden retriever. General unhinged behavior....

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Season 6 Episode 8 of That Pretentious Book Club!  In this episode, the hosts dive into The Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine—a beloved young adult fantasy filled with courage, sisterhood, and the kind of quiet bravery that lingers long after the final page. We’re also breaking in our brand-new microphones (so yes, we sound a little different), while Wheezy sh...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Season 6 Episode 7 of That Pretentious Book Club!  In this episode, the hosts dive into The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig—a lush, atmospheric fantasy filled with prophecy, devotion, and an overachieving heroine. For once, the hosts find themselves surprisingly aligned on most of the book… except for the love interest—which, yet again, sparks some spirited disagre...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Season 6 Episode 6 of That Pretentious Book Club! In this episode, the hosts are once again joined by special guest Lacy for an absolutely unhinged deep dive into the YA/NA fantasy Elixir by Hilary Duff (yes—that Hilary Duff). What starts as a seemingly straightforward read quickly spirals into wild theories, wildly different opinions, questionable love interest allegia...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Season 6 Episode 5 of That Pretentious Book Club! In this episode the hosts return to discuss famous classic The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain—a tale of switched identities, social satire, and boys who definitely should not have been left unsupervised in historic England. Expect big opinions and some debate, as certain hosts were charmed while others were... skept...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Season 6 Episode 4 of That Pretentious Book Club! In this episode the hosts dive without hesitation into Small Favors by Erin A. Craig! This charming gothic retelling of classic fairytale Rumplestiltskin seasoned liberally with elements of horror was a gripping read start to finish. One of the club's most unhinged episodes in a while, you can expect plenty of laugh...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Season 6 Episode 3 of That Pretentious Book Club! In this twisty episode, the club dives into With a Vengeance by Riley Sager—a 1950s, fast-paced psychological thriller that had even the smartest of us second-guessing everything. Join the hosts as they unravel the backstories of a cast of incredibly dislikable suspects, all of whom played a part in the mysterious traged...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of That Pretentious Book Club , hosts Spoons, Wheezy, and Gino are joined by fellow teacup Grandmaster Myla for a magical deep dive into Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston. This popular middle grade fantasy quickly has quickly become a contender for one of the best books in the genre— ever. We're talking Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief level pra...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Season 6, Episode 1 of That Pretentious Book Club! In the first episode of season 6, Spoons, Wheezy, and Gino join The Teacups to discuss ethereal classic mystery The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins. Heralded as one of the first detective novels (despite the absence of any licensed detective), this book ranges from spooky to intensely intriguing, heart-wrenching, and b...

Send us Fan Mail ✨ Come behind the scenes of our Spring 2025 Story Sirens Writing Retreat—a weekend filled with creativity, connection, and storytelling magic! In this short episode, we share some of our favorite moments from Story Sirens inaugural retreat and discuss some of the things we are looking forward to at our next one! 🌿 Whether you're drafting a novel, revising a memoir, or just...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Season 5, Episode 23 of That Pretentious Book Club!  In this episode (the last episode of Season 5!), hosts Spoons, Wheezy, and Gino dive into the girl-power-inspired world of Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix. This Cinderella retelling flips the classic tale on its head, exploring the harsh realities and pressures of royal life for our beloved protagonist, Ella. As...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Season 5, Episode 21 of That Pretentious Book Club! In this episode, Spoons and Wheezy deep-dive into listener recommendation North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. This Victorian romance is rife with more than just yearning (although make no mistake—the yearning is copious), and also features fascinating social commentary and confirmation that humans have always been hu...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Season 5, Episode 20 of That Pretentious Book Club! In this episode Wheezy and Gino slip into the shadowy world of The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides—an unsettling psychological thriller and the second book by this author the club has covered this season! Fueled by a hilariously fitting cocktail, chaos quickly takes the reins as our hosts try to piece together the t...

Send us Fan Mail In this special episode, Wheezy (aka Ash O'Rourke) is joined by guests Lacy Rising and Madison Hull to dive into the romantasy sensation that has taken the internet by storm – Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros! Surprisingly on-topic (no skip notes needed this time!), this trio doesn't have to search hard for juicy details in this spicy, action-packed fantasy. Tune in as we b...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Season 5, Episode 18 of That Pretentious Book Club! This week, Spoons, Wheezy, and Gino are venturing into a world of treacherous fae, forbidden love, and a Cinderella story like you've never seen before. In Ash by Malinda Lo, we’re diving deep into a fable reimagined—a tale of grief, magic, romance, and a powerful journey of self-discovery.  Tune in as we give thi...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Season 5 Episode 17 of That Pretentious Book Club!   In this episode Spoons, Wheezy, and Gino dive headfirst into the wildly popular academic folkloric fantasy, Emily Wilde's Encylopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett. Get ready for some serious fangirling over Wendell Bambleby—who somehow manages to be both a golden-haired prince AND a bad-boy dreamboat, and a mai...

Send us Fan Mail It's that time of year again! Are you ready to throw out the time codes and embrace the nonsense? Welcome to Season 5 Episode 16 of That Pretentious Book Club and Episode 117 of The Scripturient Society -- also known as the 4th Annual Story Sirens Studio Christmas Party! Join the hosts for a series of bookish games, deranged laughter, and friendship as all four hosts come tog...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Season 5 Episode 15 of That Pretentious Book Club!   In this episode Spoons and Wheezy discuss cozy regency romance Merry Little Match by independent author Celine Rachelle. Inspired by Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (an all-time and iconic pod-favorite) but taking place during Christmas, this story is positively bursting with holiday cheer and all the enemies-t...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Season 5 Episode 14 of That Pretentious Book Club!   In this episode Gino and Wheezy discuss the absolutely gripping thriller The Fury by Alex Michaelides. This novel takes place on a private Greek island when an ex-movie star's spontaneous vacation is derailed by a shocking murder, told in a series of five acts by an unreliable narrator who--let's face it--we...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Season 5 Episode 13 of That Pretentious Book Club!   In this episode Spoons and Wheezy come to you (recorded) live from "Girl World" to discuss classic young adult novel The Outsiders , by master-of-her-craft S. E. Hinton. This coming-of-age novel has more than earned its spot in middle and high school reading curriculums, and may just be begging to take up re...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Season 5 Episode 12 of That Pretentious Book Club!   In this episode Wheezy and Gino fill their glasses and dive into the sweet, slightly nostalgic young adult fantasy Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones--the inspiration for Studio Ghibli's 2004 Japanese animated fantasy film of the same name. From comparisons between the relative "thirst-worthiness...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Season 5 Episode 11 of That Pretentious Book Club!   In this episode Spoons, Wheezy, and Gino team up for a (slightly out of control) discussion of YA sci-fi/fantasy Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte. Catch up with the club, sit back, relax, and listen to some very mixed opinions about this book. Skippers jump to 12:16 Pour yourself a cup of tea, raise a pinky, and joi...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Season 5 Episode 10 of That Pretentious Book Club!   In this episode Spoons and Wheezy return for a rousing (and mildly deranged) discussion about none other than the infamous tragedy Macbeth by the bard himself, William Shakespeare -- or as the club may better know him, good ol' Billy Shakes. Join Ash and Kendall as they dive into the spooky, treacherous, and ques...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Season 5 Episode 9 of That Pretentious Book Club!   In this episode the club makes a spectacular return from its extended hiatus with the addition of new co-host Myrissa "Gino" Yokie! Join Ash (AKA Wheezy) and Gino as they celebrate this return with a fittingly chaotic and humorous discussion of YA fantasy Chaos and Flame by Justina Ireland and Tessa Gratton....

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Season 5 Episode 9 of That Pretentious Book Club and Episode 103 of The Scripturient Society ! After a long, unannounced hiatus, Wheezy and Spoons return for this bookish holiday extravaganza--and introduce a new little member of the pod crew while they're at it! Join sister podcasts and Story Sirens Studio productions The Scripturient Society and That Pretentious...