Is Amazon using authors' work to train AI without consent? We break down the controversy. Plus, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are producing 'The Wedding Date' for Netflix! In this episode of Novel Hour live show, we discuss the latest bookish news and share our definitive list of the best books of 2025.

Grab a hot drink, your TBR list, and hang out live in the chat with us! Drop your thoughts in the chat - we want to hear from you!

Watch the video: https://youtube.com/live/9npoVUouNgs

Tune in EVERY THURSDAY at 12 PM ET, join the chat, and share your thoughts!

📚 BOOKS MENTIONED

This weeks' new releases: https://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/new-book-releases-this-week/

→ Love in Plain Sight by Lauren Connolly: https://rstyle.me/+SwkcypKahAg9djGexCyrOQ

→ The Opportunist by Tarryn Fisher: https://rstyle.me/+l1qsoIpcKqFfMAm2dNuHvA

→ You Can Scream by Rebecca Zanetti: https://rstyle.me/+4hYREUfgFjb1tvIoxHE2nw

→ Caste in the Stars by Leylah Attar: https://rstyle.me/+V6QxOkbG5925Gk6mRbqJtg

→ A Most Worthy Husband by Faye Delacour: https://rstyle.me/+TCUHChFvH2UXmX2_yYJk1Q

→ A Fate So Dark and Delicate by Sophia St. Germain: https://rstyle.me/+9xMuZftmukx8n5a4c9I6JA

→ Avenging Angel Bad Medicine by Kristen Ashley: https://rstyle.me/+z2AFhKDisNTuRZ9P2eULaA

→ A Whisper of Secrecy by Darcy Burke: https://rstyle.me/+NJ0QTov11K_iVjzEmVJaTw

LINKS:

Winter Reading Guide: https://bibliolifestyle.com/2026-winter-reading-guide/

Romanceopoly 2026: https://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/reading-challenge/

WATCH NEXT:

2025 Reading Wrapped: https://youtu.be/3YCUQJqEsGs

Best Fantasy Romance of 2025: https://youtu.be/8LlbZQkKaMg

Best Historical Romance of 2025: https://youtu.be/NfmYMR3yaIU

Best Kindle Unlimited Authors I Read in 2025: https://youtu.be/5xiSn7IcAgw

SOURCES:

https://www.tiktok.com/@dietrichstogner/video/7584108074705685773?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

https://deadline.com/2025/12/the-wedding-date-netflix-movie-prince-harry-meghan-markle-in-works-1236650457/

Hit play, grab a snack, and let’s scream into the void together.

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Follow Reading Under the Covers wherever you listen and leave a quick review. It helps more romance readers find us (and lets me know what you’re loving). 💕

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📚 Stay Connected:

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Hello everyone.

2

Welcome, welcome.

3

Amazon is scraping author's

work and we need to talk about

4

it because we're wondering now

are they doing this to train ai?

5

And I dunno if you've heard

it, but Prince Harry and Meghan

6

Markle are producing a massive new

romance adaptation for Netflix.

7

So big things happening there.

8

Today we're gonna break down

the biggest bookish headlines.

9

We have some exciting new

releases to talk about as well.

10

And we're also sharing our

favorite reads from the year.

11

So it's gonna be top 10 between us.

12

Fran will share five, I will share five.

13

We'll tell you what is worth your time.

14

And yeah, you are in the right place

if you wanna talk all things books.

15

But let's get into the news, shall we?

16

First off, we wanna go to Deadline.

17

We got this reporting from Deadline.

18

They are reporting that Netflix is

adapting the wedding date, which is

19

the romcom you might be familiar with

by Jasmine Guillory with girls trip

20

writer and producer Tracy Oliver is

who is set to write the adaptation.

21

So that is a big thing right there.

22

The project will be produced

by Prince Harry and Meghan

23

Markle Arch Well Productions.

24

So this is gonna be, you know,

their romance forward literary

25

adaptation because they have

to build out a Netflix slate.

26

In case you're not familiar, the wedding

27

Two, I would say, you

know, popular reception.

28

It's also the first book in a bestselling

series about a career-driven political

29

strategist whose fake date to a wedding

scenario turns into an unexpected,

30

charming love story about, you know,

timing and life and letting romance in.

31

So let us know in the comments if

you have read the wedding dates.

32

If you are excited about it,

we'd love to hear, uh, from you.

33

If you're nervous about the

adaptation, let us know as well.

34

But Fran, I'm curious, do you think

one, the wedding date will be a

35

good movie or a limited series?

36

How do you feel about the girls trip,

um, lady doing the writing for this?

37

But also the Harry and Meghan of it all.

38

If you are new here, I am not a fan.

39

Okay.

40

I am not a fan.

41

I'm not a fan, but I wanna

hear Francesca's thoughts.

42

Speaker 2: I'm waiting

for the tea on that.

43

'cause when I first saw this,

I think it was on threats.

44

The only thing that popped

to my head was Victoria.

45

But I'm actually excited because

I really did enjoy the book.

46

Uh, I think it will be a fun adaptation.

47

I think that it's probably good

with the girl from, you know, girls

48

Trip, the whole Harry and Megan.

49

I don't know where they fit in with

this, only because like their track

50

record in, like what have they done?

51

I feel like I would've

rather seen someone else.

52

But I think it'll still be good.

53

I think the source material is good.

54

So.

55

It'll probably be enjoyable,

but I'm just, I am ready, I am

56

set for the Meghan Markle team.

57

Speaker: Listen, I know this

is an unpopular opinion, okay?

58

I am not a Meghan Markle fan.

59

I'm, I'm not.

60

Okay.

61

I know people are gonna come for me.

62

I'm going to wait until the

adaptation to spill the tea.

63

You are?

64

Come to the live.

65

Just keep coming to the live.

66

I'll eventually get into it,

but I'm just, I'm not a fan.

67

Okay?

68

Not a fan.

69

But you let us know your thoughts

in the comments real quick.

70

We wanna shout out.

71

Tiff is excited for today's live.

72

She wants to hear about the Amazon

AI because it's causing drama.

73

Well, girl, we are gonna

talk about that next.

74

Mm-hmm.

75

We also wanna shout out Roro reads.

76

Hey girl.

77

Hey.

78

Hi.

79

Roro also said, I haven't read it

yet, but it's on my TV R I'm always

80

nervous about adaptations though.

81

Listen, you and I.

82

You and I, I'm just recently

getting into my adaptations bag.

83

I'm always nervous.

84

How about you Fran?

85

Speaker 2: I feel like I have low

expectations, so I'm not nervous in the

86

fact that my expectations are never high.

87

Mm-hmm.

88

I always know that it's not gonna

quite live up to it, so I think that's

89

probably, I don't get as nervous.

90

Um, and when something really impresses

me, which we'll talk about one later,

91

it's something that I am watching.

92

Um, but I feel like going in with low

expectations is probably a safe bet and

93

that's, that's where I'm at with anything.

94

Mm-hmm.

95

Speaker: I agree.

96

The one I guess you could say

shining or what do they call it?

97

Um, golden thing under the cloud.

98

I forgot that saying.

99

Silver lining.

100

There you go.

101

The one silver lining

is the girls trip lady.

102

So hopefully, you know, that brings

that good energy because if it was

103

just Harry and Meghan, I would've

tell y'all, listen, let's skip that.

104

Adapt.

105

Alright.

106

Speaker 2: That kind of goes back to

your review of, uh, Meghan Markle Show.

107

Speaker: Oh, in case y'all are new

here, again, not a Meghan Marco

108

fan, however, I did review, so

it's up on biblio lifestyle.com.

109

I did review her show.

110

I watched season one.

111

I watched season two.

112

I shared the um, you know,

I didn't like season one.

113

Long story short, she improved in season

two, but it was still a dumpster fire.

114

But there is a specific reason why.

115

So if you want the early

tea B below lifestyle.com,

116

just click the what I'm watching category.

117

I share all that mess over there,

but we have more news to talk about.

118

Mm-hmm.

119

Okay.

120

And this is the one that

Tiff says she is here for.

121

So we need to get into

the Amazon of it all.

122

Okay.

123

Um, Amazon is.

124

Okay, rolling out a new AI feature.

125

It's on KU that will scrape the books

for plot points and summaries, and

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authors have no way of opting outta this.

127

I have this content creator up on screen.

128

Their username is Dietrich Stagner, if

I'm pronouncing the name wrong, apologies.

129

There's a link in the video description.

130

Um, this content creator really

described everything that is happening

131

to the T and people are responding.

132

Of course, you know, I'm gonna

search the internet to get, you

133

know, like some, um, news-based,

fact-based thing that I could find.

134

This is from pc mag.com.

135

Link is also in a video description.

136

Long story short, is this.

137

The Amazon rollout, again,

is a Kindle feature.

138

It's called Ask This Book.

139

It allows readers to highlight passages

in their Kindle iOS app and ask questions

140

about prop points, characters, or

relationships without leaving the page.

141

This feature is automatically embedded for

thousands of bestselling language English

142

language books, and notably they're saying

authors and publishers cannot opt out.

143

So it's raising concerns about

consent, copyrights, and just

144

AI in publishing in general.

145

Amazon is also introducing

AI generated recaps.

146

So that is similar to the, you know,

like previously on or previously a part

147

of, um, feature for like book series.

148

But now they're gonna make this

broader rollout plan for physical

149

kindles, also for Android devices.

150

And a lot of this AI stuff

151

So that is high level

what you need to know.

152

Again, watch the video, let

me get the creator back up.

153

Watch this creator who really

summarized it really well.

154

But also if you want like, you know, more

info checkout PC mag I, um, I think, yeah,

155

I think those are the high level points.

156

I am curious for readers, 'cause I'm

gonna assume you're watching this, you

157

are here with us live, you are a reader.

158

Would you use an AI feature

like this when reading?

159

I legit just wanna know from you

guys, share it in the comments.

160

If you are watching and you're an

author, you know, do does this worry you?

161

How do you feel about this and should

Amazon allow people to opt in and opt out?

162

Me personally, I'm always team options.

163

I'm team choice.

164

I, I, I'm freedom all around.

165

You should have the freedom to opt

in and out, but Fran, from a reader

166

first perspective, does this feel

helpful to you or intrusive to you?

167

Speaker 2: I guess from a

reader perspective, I don't see

168

why someone would need this.

169

You know, like people have

been reading books for however

170

long, like we don't need.

171

To have a feature on a reading

device that we can ask questions to.

172

Like, I feel like part of asking

questions is part of the reader community.

173

So like if I want to ask a question

about something, maybe it's a plot

174

point or a character or something like

you're saying, I'm gonna go somewhere

175

where there's other readers and we can

discuss it, a reader forum, like a Reddit

176

or, or any social media or whatever.

177

So I don't need to have that

conversation with a chat bot that's

178

going to answer a question and then

like, is it really right, does it not?

179

Right.

180

So I mean, it, it seems stupid.

181

It seems like a useless feature to me

to, for them to even think about it.

182

So the first thing that my mind

goes to is the fact that with.

183

Plus the fact that they're not allowing

any opt-out for authors and publishers.

184

And the fact that Amazon knows that they

are kind of like the only pla, they're

185

the biggest place that books are sold.

186

So I mean, that, that's, authors

have to be on there to make money.

187

So in a way, they are forced

to be there and they are forced

188

now to opt into this thing.

189

So that means that their material is going

to be used to feed AI no matter what.

190

And I, it's funny to me that this is

happening after the Anthropic lawsuit

191

and all these other things just, you

know, came, came out and it's maybe,

192

let me put my conspiracy theory hat on.

193

I feel like they are now creating this

particular AI that now is going to be

194

force fed everyone's books now that they

can use to sell it, sub it or whatever

195

to anyone that wants to use it for.

196

Nefarious activities, it can even be the

publishers and they are, you know, going

197

to use that data and start creating AI

authors or something like, I mean, like

198

all the possibilities are just awful.

199

Um, down whatever rabbit hole you go down

and with whatever intention you go down.

200

So like, to me it's just Yeah.

201

A terrible thing.

202

Yeah.

203

And like you said, if you're gonna roll

something out, at least when, when you

204

are doing the option to opt out, I will

give them the benefit of the doubt that

205

they're not doing something nefarious.

206

Mm-hmm.

207

But with them doing it this way, it's

like everything is going to be forcibly

208

fed into this thing for some bad reason.

209

Like that's my bottom line

is there is a bad reason.

210

Nobody was asking for this.

211

There is no reader demand

for this kind of feature.

212

So.

213

I got nothing.

214

Nice.

215

Speaker: I mean, I'm always gonna look

at things from a consumer point of

216

view, because at the end of the day,

businesses are in business to make money.

217

They're here to provide a

service or solve a problem for,

218

um, you know, their customers.

219

Which is why I was like,

readers, are we using this?

220

Well, RO reads is chiming in.

221

I'm so sad that these companies are just

allowing AI into creative human spaces.

222

I think there is use for ai, but not when

it comes to human thought and creativity.

223

Agree.

224

Also saying, Nope, definitely not.

225

I would rather watch a

reviewer recap if I need it.

226

And if you're just joining us alive, it

was because I asked the question, would

227

you use an AI feature like Amazon is

proposing when you are reading your books?

228

Um, TIFF is also saying, wait

to take the joy out of reading.

229

There's really no point of reading it.

230

Um, if we can just search things

to find out what's going on in

231

the book, this is pointless to me.

232

Um, and last while, uh, Roro also

saying Amazon is signing their downfall.

233

I would love to see readers and authors

mass move to another platform like Cobo.

234

And I swear Ro I

235

Speaker 2: just order my Cobo

236

Speaker: Roro is reading my mind

because after reading the comments,

237

I was gonna say, my point is,

we're so intri intrinsically,

238

I can't remember the word tied.

239

Mm-hmm.

240

To Amazon, unfortunately.

241

Yeah.

242

Especially when it comes

to books and publishing.

243

And my thing always goes

to the authors, right?

244

The people who give us

these incredible stories.

245

'cause that is not me.

246

Okay?

247

I'm a consumer of the content I read.

248

I'm grateful that there are people

who are super talented out there

249

stringing these words together.

250

With that said.

251

For authors who this is their living,

this is their main source of income.

252

You know, they don't have a

day job or they have a day job.

253

It's part of the economics of publishing.

254

Yeah.

255

So if we tell everyone to pack up

and leave Amazon, it is unrealistic

256

'cause no other platform matches.

257

No other platform has as many readers.

258

No other platform gives as much

royalties as little as they are.

259

'cause I'm always team.

260

Paid authors some more money.

261

However, it's just, I don't

see a viable alternative else.

262

I would be here saying we

need to pack up and leave.

263

Um, and unfortunately

Amazon has gotten too big,

264

Speaker 2: I think.

265

I think that the only

way to change that is.

266

First before we tell the authors to

move us as consumers, because we're the

267

only ones that can dictate the stuff.

268

So us as consumers, we need to be

consuming our books and content elsewhere.

269

So even though you may still

have the authors that you support

270

on Kindle Limited, which I.

271

I totally get, and I do still think

that they need to make a living.

272

So I'm, I'm not gonna stop

supporting them because I know

273

they need to pay their bills.

274

Um, but I do think as consumers

we need to make very conscious

275

efforts to move to other platforms

so that we can affect that change.

276

'cause this is a big

change that we need to do.

277

And it's not gonna happen

overnight, but we need to start

278

moving to other platforms.

279

Like I said before, I just ordered my

Cobo so hopefully it will be coming soon.

280

I am very excited about that.

281

So I, I just, I think that we need

to work as a community to do that.

282

'cause if we are over there buying, then

authors will know that they can now move,

283

but they, we cannot ask them to move

until the base is there to buy there.

284

You know what I mean?

285

So, because.

286

They gotta pay their bills.

287

I mean, finances are

finances and I get that.

288

So I get that.

289

I wish that could happen fast,

but I know the book community.

290

Yeah.

291

Yeah.

292

I know it'll be slow, but

hopefully we can do it.

293

So hopeful we can get there.

294

Speaker: Tiff is saying Amazon

and kinder aren't going anywhere.

295

I agree.

296

Andro is saying.

297

I agree.

298

I'm just wishing here,

RO I just had an idea.

299

I just had an idea.

300

The only way this could work.

301

Okay.

302

'cause as y all are commenting,

my brain is working.

303

The only way we could get this to

work is if the super big KU authors

304

like the super big ones, you know,

like the second of book drops.

305

We are there, we are reading if they

started moving their stuff over, like

306

what is there, is there because, you

know, it's contracts, it's agreements.

307

Speaker 3: Mm-hmm.

308

But if like

309

Speaker: future books, future, um,

future things, they move to the the Cobo.

310

I don't have a Cobo.

311

I need to get on that bandwagon as well.

312

But if those authors started doing it, we

would start dipping our toes over there.

313

Mm-hmm.

314

Speaker 2: Yeah.

315

I think it's the big authors

that that would help for sure.

316

'cause they can

317

Speaker: afford to do it.

318

They

319

Speaker 2: can afford to because they're

gonna get the sales no matter what.

320

Speaker: And that's how I feel

because I'm always that person.

321

We, Fran and I always

talk about economics.

322

We are very realistic.

323

We live in a real world.

324

Okay, we have bills to pay as well.

325

Speaker 2: Are you gonna pay the bills?

326

Speaker: No, it's not

gonna pay if we don't work.

327

So, um, from that point of view,

that's why they always say to whom

328

much is given, much is expected.

329

If, if you can afford to make certain

moves, okay, because your roof over

330

your head isn't threatened, your food

isn't threatened, and you can take

331

care of yourself and your family.

332

If these big authors who are

successful can make that move, I

333

think that would be an opening.

334

But mm-hmm.

335

Let us know your thoughts

and the comments.

336

Any final thoughts, Fran

and Oh, the opting out.

337

We do not talk about the opting out.

338

I think any platform, at

339

Speaker 2: a bare minimum, we need

to push for that at a bare minimum.

340

Speaker: I think that's what we need

to get behind, not the boycott yet.

341

We need to get them to provide the

option where authors and publishers

342

and readers people can opt out.

343

I think that would be helpful.

344

Speaker 2: Yeah.

345

Yeah,

346

Speaker: yeah.

347

Speaker 2: Oh, and um, TIFF was

asking what's the difference

348

between a Cobo and a Kindle?

349

Um, I don't know all the

specific and the details yet.

350

I have heard that the COBO is faster.

351

So, you know, some of the sluggishness

of reading on a Kindle is not there.

352

The one that I got, you can

annotate right on the page.

353

So it does, uh, it comes when you can

buy a stylist, but you can also buy a

354

different stylist on Amazon, um, cheaper.

355

So it does have those kind of features and

I think there's other things, but I will,

356

I will definitely do a review of both,

you know, my, my paper white and the Cobo.

357

But I am excited.

358

I did get the color one.

359

I was not happy with the

color from the paper White.

360

So hopefully this will be better.

361

So I will, I will keep

you guys updated on that.

362

Speaker: Yes, we are looking forward

to that for sure, because again, um,

363

I'm gonna let you take the plunge

report back and then I'll show,

364

Speaker 2: oh, and it has buttons.

365

So I think, I don't, I don't know if

all of them, but all the ones I was

366

looking at, they have the buttons.

367

And this is me going back like way,

way back, show my age, um, when

368

the Kindle Paper whites and all

the Kindle devices had the buttons.

369

And I did like those.

370

So, um, another thing that I, I

did see on reviews is that you can

371

adjust the brightness of the Cobo

screen just by like swiping up and

372

down on the screen as opposed to

going into your settings to do that.

373

So that might also be easier.

374

Um, to use is more practical and

the remote for the Cobo, which you

375

can also buy straight from them.

376

It is, um, what do you call it, like

with the Kindle, you have to attach

377

this thing that it kind of clips

on and it has to touch the screen

378

in order to flip with the remote.

379

This one is just Bluetooth.

380

You don't attach nothing to the

device and it's just clicking right

381

off with nothing on your screen.

382

Couple of main differences there.

383

Speaker: Roro is also saying the

devices appear to be cheaper as well.

384

So hello savings.

385

I'm always a team saving.

386

They,

387

Speaker 2: they do have a lot of options.

388

They have a lot of options.

389

Speaker: That's awesome.

390

Closing out the Amazon Roro says

opt out needs to always be an option

391

with things like this, in my opinion.

392

And listen, we agree.

393

We need choice.

394

Yes.

395

Okay.

396

Choice, choice, choice.

397

I'm always about, um, choice all the time.

398

Yeah.

399

But that's it for the Amazon of it all.

400

If you're just joining us,

welcome to Novel Hour Live.

401

We go live here every

Thursday, 12 noon Eastern time.

402

We are not going live next week.

403

It is Christmas.

404

The week after that is New Year's,

but we'll be back the following week.

405

And listen, we our last live of the

year, it's our last live of the year.

406

I would be lying to you all if I ain't

say I'm looking forward to that break.

407

I am.

408

We're gonna be taking a

409

Speaker 2: nice, nice break.

410

Speaker: Yes.

411

I'm gonna be reading all the books.

412

I'll come back and tell

you all the things.

413

I'm gonna have a good old time.

414

I'm gonna eat, I'm gonna

read, but mark your calendars.

415

We will be back live January 8th.

416

Had to check the calendar

so we will be back live.

417

January 8th, and from there

every Thursday after that.

418

But if you are bored during

the holidays, check out the

419

replays on both our channels.

420

Okay.

421

Replays for days over a year's worth.

422

Every Thursday.

423

This is our first holiday

during the holidays.

424

Yes.

425

So

426

Speaker 2: every other year we've

been live on Christmas week.

427

Thanksgiving week, new Year's.

428

We're, we're taking a break.

429

We're taking

430

Speaker: a break.

431

We're taking a break.

432

Go watch the replays.

433

Um, we are also shouting out.

434

Erin.

435

Hey girl.

436

Hey, listen, if you're at work,

we've been telling Erin and everyone

437

joining us live, just put in the

air buds and do what you have to do.

438

Sometimes you need that distraction,

but in this case, we have to send

439

a letter to Erin's boss, okay?

440

But yes, amen.

441

For replays.

442

Yes, replays are here from the live.

443

So you can catch up on the

news we shared earlier.

444

We were talking about a new adaptation

from, um, prince Harry and Meghan.

445

We talked about the Amazon AI of

it all, but now we are rolling

446

into this week's new releases.

447

And I have to tell you, I'm coming

in with very few releases this week.

448

Okay?

449

It's coming down to Christmas,

so it's very skinny.

450

The Opportunist by Taryn Fisher.

451

This is a republishing, okay?

452

It's a three book series.

453

They're repackaging, they're

coming again, all brand new.

454

You know how we say what's old is new?

455

Yes.

456

So this is a messy love

triangle, um, kind of.

457

Thriller, read, you know,

obsession, emotional, um,

458

consequences, all the things tied.

459

I think this is more

psychological, less romance.

460

You know, I always liked Taryn Fisher.

461

She writes a good suspense.

462

So, um, keep your eyes out for

that one, but also new this week.

463

I had a little fun with this book.

464

It was cute.

465

It's Love in Plain Sight

by Lauren Connolly.

466

We have a Grumpy Flight instructor.

467

Grumpy flight instructor and

his best friend's sister.

468

They're clashing, of course,

it's a romance, so they're gonna

469

be some, um, sparks as well.

470

Um, so it's, it's kind

of career driven force.

471

Proximity, aviation, themed romance.

472

It was a good time.

473

It was a good time.

474

Um, it's not perfect.

475

Okay, not perfect, but it

provided a great escape for me.

476

So, like I said, I'm coming in with

just two reads, but need not fair.

477

Francesca has some new releases

to share for you as well.

478

Speaker 2: So the first one is

actually staple in the romance genre.

479

Kristin Ashley, it's the new one in her

Avening Angel series is Bat Medicine.

480

So this is, you know, her usual blend.

481

It's it's slow burn romance,

lots of heat and hard.

482

Um, we have a heroine who's

completely done with man and a

483

hero who is a protective alpha

as she likes to write with a.

484

Passed on his own and he's basically

decided that she is it, he's gonna

485

be patient and persistent to get her

little bit of danger, little bit of

486

drama, you know, kind of like the,

the perfect Kristen Ashley Reed.

487

The next one is actually the last

book in a fantasy romance series.

488

So this is a Faith, so Dark

and Delicate by Sophia St.

489

Germane.

490

This is another s Slow romantic.

491

Um, I think, I believe this is.

492

I could be wrong, but I

believe it's the fourth.

493

So it's starcrest lovers, political

intrigue, magical powers, and

494

basically it's at the end of the story.

495

So it is basically the fate of

the realm, um, you know, the two

496

main characters are dealing with.

497

And it kind of still deals with the root

of the Romans 'cause you're following

498

the same couple throughout as well.

499

So if you like a Good Fantasy

Romance series, this one is

500

on my TBR, this whole series.

501

But I have heard amazing, amazing things.

502

So I'm excited to read it next year.

503

Uh, the next is a historical romance.

504

It's a most worthy husband by Faye de

Laur, so it's perfect for Bridgeton fans.

505

You know, we're getting ready for

the Bridgeton season in January.

506

Some scandals, some SaaS fake engagement.

507

Um.

508

The Herron wants to ruin her own

reputation to get out of the marriage

509

schemes, and she ends up caught,

caught up in a surprise engagement

510

with a disgrace Navy officer, which

I think is kind of different and

511

refreshing for, you know, for the time.

512

So I'm excited to read this one.

513

Then I have Cast in the

Stars by Layla Atar.

514

Now this one is a little bit

emotional, a little bit suny.

515

It's a second chance romance, also with

a, um, different cultures mixed in here.

516

So our heroin, Priya, uh,

is back in her hometown.

517

She is supposedly going to help

run her family's funeral home.

518

She's recently divorced.

519

You know, her life fell apart and her

parents are running this funeral home.

520

But it's more as in like their

tradition of their caste and what

521

they're supposed to do as caste

is to run this type of business.

522

And she never wanted

anything to do with it.

523

So now she's back there, she's.

524

Kind of having to feel like that's

her only option to take over.

525

But she doesn't really wanna do it.

526

So she wants her parents to sell.

527

Um, and in comes her childhood crush

and the next door neighbor who was

528

uh, her best friend's brother, he

is now a Hollywood celebrity actor.

529

And he kind of needs to get a little

bit of research for a role, which means

530

he needs to be in the funeral home

and like see how things are running.

531

So he makes this thing that he's gonna

rent the room there, um, and see what's

532

the feel for the, for the funeral home.

533

And she needs him out of there 'cause

he's actually giving them money to

534

do this and they needed the money and

that was her whole scheme of selling.

535

So, uh, it's really interesting

to see the cultural aspects

536

that the heroin is dealing with.

537

I think that part was done really well.

538

I can be a little bit immature and

a little bit, you know, like lit

539

slightly, a little bit annoying.

540

I think it, it is probably one of my

least favorite Layla ATAR books, but

541

I still really, really enjoyed it.

542

I love the Second Chance and the Brother

in the Best Friend's sibling thing and

543

all of the culture and identity and,

you know, the, the conflicts between

544

that with the family and everything.

545

So I think that that was done really well.

546

So I do recommend this one.

547

Now.

548

The next one is a historical mystery.

549

It's a Whisper of Secrecy by Darcy Burke.

550

This is a series that's been on my TBR all

year, so I plan on reading it next year.

551

So we've got Murder, psychic

Ability, some family secrets.

552

It is basically a PI heroin.

553

And in this one she is revisiting

her father's cold case and her

554

partner has like these supernatural

gifts and might be like the key

555

to finally cracking that case.

556

So I'm super excited to get

into this series next year.

557

So if you like historical mystery,

that's a whole one to dive into.

558

And next we have, you can

screen by Rebecca Zanetti.

559

Now this is more of a

psychological suspense.

560

We have, uh, the heroin laurel and

her half sister, um, her half sister

561

is on trial for killing their father.

562

So little bit of a mess.

563

So, um, the father maybe was

not as innocent, you know,

564

in this whole situation.

565

So we do have all of that investigation,

FBI, drama, detention, uh, some

566

twists and all of the things.

567

I think Rebecca Zani is really

good at writing suspense and

568

psychological thrillers and all that.

569

So I think that that would

be a great one to get into.

570

More of a thriller though.

571

Just, just a little bit of

romance with more of a thriller.

572

Speaker: Mm.

573

Awesome.

574

Awesome.

575

Well, Erin has a question.

576

Erin wants to know if that is

where you would start with a

577

Layla atar or a different one.

578

Let me get back to that.

579

I would

580

Speaker 2: say it depends

what mood you are in.

581

Uh, if you want more of the

cultural issues and you know, and

582

I think she did that really well.

583

I think this is a great place to start.

584

If you want more of a romcom vibe.

585

I always recommend moti on the water.

586

Um, if you want something, oh,

Aaron was looking for something

587

that might make you cry.

588

Um, oh God.

589

What is the name of that book?

590

Hold on, hold on.

591

Speaker: We're finding this in real time.

592

Yes, it's a live show,

593

Speaker 2: folks, miss of

the Serengeti by Layla.

594

That's probably one of

my favorites by her.

595

It is absolutely beautiful.

596

It's set in Tan Tanzania and there is

kind of like a bombing that happens at

597

the beginning and the heroin goes there.

598

And I'm not gonna tell you the

story, but that one loved it so good.

599

It, it did make me cry 'cause

uh, it is a little set and

600

rough, so maybe that's the one.

601

Speaker: Okay.

602

It made friend cry.

603

Okay.

604

Okay.

605

And if

606

Speaker 2: dark, she also has

dark, but I, you know, well let

607

us know in the, she has range.

608

Speaker: She has range.

609

Okay.

610

Alright.

611

Well Erin is happy with

her recommendations.

612

Yes.

613

But you let us know in the comments what

books you are gonna add to your TBR.

614

I mean.

615

I didn't read the Taryn Fisher series,

but I just know what Taryn Fisher is.

616

Good.

617

I'm a huge fan, so I would add Taryn

Fisher, so that would be number one.

618

You guys can put the

numbers in the comments.

619

You don't have to type out the titles, but

I'm thinking number one for me, if you're

620

looking on screen, I would also add, Ooh,

Rebecca's the Neti, so that would be six.

621

But I was really intrigued with number

eight, that historical mystery you are

622

talking about, is that the last book in

a series or the first book in a series?

623

No, I

624

Speaker 2: think it's

like Book four, book four.

625

Oh.

626

I mean, each book does.

627

Finish out a case, but,

628

Speaker: okay.

629

Okay.

630

Well that means it's a series

I can hibernate with this.

631

Mm-hmm.

632

Mm-hmm.

633

Mm-hmm.

634

Okay, so I'm closing now.

635

Little super

636

Speaker 2: little supernatural

psychic, um, historical mystery.

637

Okay.

638

Speaker: One, six and eight for me.

639

What's on

640

Speaker 2: your

641

Speaker: TBR?

642

Speaker 2: So I did read already

one way, way back in the day.

643

Um, so I definitely have three

on my TBR, um, and then six and

644

eight as well, maybe five too.

645

Maybe depending how I go with historicals.

646

Speaker: Oh my gosh.

647

All right, let me switch the screen.

648

Let's see what is going.

649

Oh, oh.

650

So kind.

651

You opted, so book so well.

652

I never know what to say.

653

Number three as a series is

on my TV offer next year.

654

Ooh.

655

You and Fran have that in comment.

656

Mm-hmm.

657

Mm-hmm.

658

Speaker 2: I've heard so many

good things about that series.

659

I really wanted to get to it this year.

660

Just there's no time.

661

Speaker: Erin says one to say,

well, Erin means one to eight,

662

but my credit card needs.

663

When I tell you that

664

Speaker 2: finances

665

Speaker: to keep up

with our habit, my lord.

666

Um, TIFF says I'm closing out

667

this, we need to go, well

look at the bright side.

668

Okay.

669

The bank accounts will have a break

because we are on a two week break.

670

The show is going on a two week break,

but if you're watching the replay, replay

671

crew, we'd love to hear from you as well.

672

So share the numbers of the

books you are interested in.

673

The comments.

674

Alright, so we covered quite a bit today,

but we're still not done with you yet.

675

Okay.

676

We are gonna share our

top recommendations.

677

These are some of our

favorite books from the year.

678

Of course, we have extensive lists

on both our individual blogs.

679

I know Francesca has some videos

on her channel where she is

680

sharing some of her favorite books.

681

I'm gonna queue up mine where

sharing five books each.

682

This week in my newsletter coming

on Friday, I'll be sharing my top 10

683

fiction books, my top 10 nonfiction

books, and then kind of like my

684

personal favorites where the books

aren't perfect, but you know what?

685

I had a good time.

686

All of that is coming in the

newsletter, biblio lifestyle.com.

687

Okay, subscribe.

688

I send an email out, so

be sure to check that out.

689

But I'm gonna share five with you today.

690

I love this book, the Heart of

Winter, by Jonathan Everson.

691

This book was early in the year.

692

It came out in January.

693

I had it featured in my

winter reading guide.

694

Yes, I have a current winter reading guide

now, but this one was just so much fun.

695

It was about, it's, it's tracing a

decades long marriage and there's

696

something that happens, you know,

they're going through a health situation.

697

You're just kind of seeing them go

through that, um, was very enlightening.

698

I love to read stories when

people are later on in life.

699

So this gave us a full marriage.

700

I'm gonna throw a dystopian at you

where the axis varied by Ray Lia.

701

This is set in an AI driven

authoritarian, um, world.

702

Okay?

703

The regime is intense, and I

know we were talking about we not

704

Speaker 2: our way into it.

705

Speaker: Yes, we're

marching our way into it.

706

We just talked about Amazon earlier on.

707

Um, but the world building, the

world building in this one is great.

708

It's, it's a bit dense.

709

I will say There's a lot of intellectual,

um, stuff in here, but it really

710

is a meditation on surveillance

and just control and resistance.

711

I thought it was great.

712

I didn't see enough

people reading this one.

713

A big summer book for me is

Great Black Hope by Rob Franklin.

714

This is a debut, very well done.

715

We see someone who after losing their

best friend, um, and they now are kind

716

of spiraling, they had an arrest, um,

and lots of things just happening.

717

We see a very privileged, very

privileged young man, just kind of

718

really spiraling out, um, and just, you

know, having his own personal reckoning.

719

So it's like a coming of age, but, um,

again, you know, very wealthy individual,

720

so you're gonna have those class issues

and all the things to talk about.

721

Very beautiful, though, very well written.

722

I was impressed.

723

It was a debut.

724

Also Amity by Nathan Harris.

725

This is a revisionist western.

726

So all those historical fiction

lovers out there, if you kind of

727

want a new take on like the American

frontier, you'll get it in this one.

728

It's just so vividly done.

729

It's so ambitious.

730

It, it came together very beautifully.

731

The emotional impact.

732

There's a broan sister in the mix.

733

It just, ah.

734

So good.

735

But again, Western historical

fiction, revisionist history,

736

American Frontier, that's my pitch.

737

So good.

738

Amity top tier.

739

And then I wanna share the

Wilderness by Angela Flournoy.

740

This one came out in the fall as

well, around the same time as Amity.

741

I think September.

742

This one I really appreciated

because I love a story about

743

women and friendship, right?

744

Especially decades long friendship.

745

So we see the lives of four women.

746

Um, again, they're friends and we

just see how their lives turned out.

747

You know, adulthood, ambition,

um, surviving different

748

things happening in the world.

749

Again, beautifully written.

750

It was just.

751

It was good.

752

It felt though, and I will say it's more

a character study than anything else.

753

The narrative might not feel

cohesive for some readers, and I'm

754

very well aware, but I just, I just

love the stories of these women.

755

I was here for the women.

756

I love books about women.

757

So those are my reads.

758

Oh, Erin said Amity was so very good.

759

See, there's a co-sign.

760

Lemme get the cover back up there.

761

People, people, historical fiction lovers.

762

You need this Western in your life.

763

It really.

764

Chef's kiss.

765

You know how I'm saying the

other one wasn't so perfect.

766

This one is perfection.

767

Okay, perfection.

768

But those are my, those are my five.

769

But as always, Fran has some

books to share with you as well.

770

I can't wait to hear about your five

'cause I, we don't talk about these

771

books ahead of time people, so I'm

discovering it alongside you as well.

772

Speaker 2: Yeah, I was, I had a hard time

picking like, which five, they're not

773

necessarily my in order top five, but

I wanted to give a nice little variety.

774

Um, so the first one is

a historical romance.

775

It's Don't Let Your Dukes Grow

Up To Be Scoundrels by Louisa.

776

Darling recommend this whole series,

and I actually picked this up because I

777

realized that Louisa Darling is Louisa.

778

Edwards I think.

779

And she writes cont well, she used to

write Contemporary Romance and I really

780

liked her books as contemporary romance.

781

I just saw that she started publishing,

I believe last year, historical.

782

And this was just a lot of fun.

783

And also, I like the fact that

all of the books are dealing with

784

a little bit of class difference.

785

Uh, and they also have like a

different take on historical.

786

So for example, in this one, the

heroin is, I'm not gonna say like a

787

gold digger, but she does have the

intention of marrying a wealthy man.

788

And she and her family ended up

moving to like the country because

789

they inherited this dilapidated in.

790

So her.

791

Purpose is that any Duke or any Earl

or whatever that comes by, she's

792

like, she's gonna try to get herself

and her family in a better place.

793

And now there's the bar keep

that works there at the end.

794

And they have a lot of banter and

a lot of like great chemistry.

795

But of course she's like, that's

not what I'm looking for because I

796

need to help my family and I need

to do better and dah, dah, dah.

797

And he is actually a

Duke in disguise there.

798

'cause like he is running away from

his responsibilities and his problems.

799

And so he was already there and nobody

really knows who he is and whatever.

800

So I really like that different take on

roles plus also the class differences and

801

we don't necessarily see the heroines.

802

Um, being the ones like, yeah, I gotta,

I gotta do what I gotta do, marry for.

803

For station and money.

804

So I did appreciate that.

805

I had a great time with all

of the books in this series.

806

So highly recommend.

807

Um, the next one is,

uh, paranormal Romance.

808

And this was a surprise for me and

I ended up going down a Harley Larou

809

rabbit hole, but it's her soul to

take by Harley nor Ru, very spicy.

810

Just gonna put that out there.

811

It's very spicy.

812

It's a demon romance.

813

Our heroine runs like this.

814

I think it was a YouTube, uh, or

a podcast or some kind of a show.

815

She's an influencer in like ghost hunting.

816

And so she goes to this place that

is supposed to be like haunted

817

and whatever, and she thought she

was just gonna film content there.

818

And she ends up actually

summoning a demon.

819

And, you know, things happen with

the demon and, uh, he is there

820

sometimes to protect her from things

that are happening in the town.

821

So I did have a great time with this.

822

Uh, I, like I said, I went down in Harley

la Ru Rabbit Hole with another series.

823

I didn't go to book two in the series,

but that's the project for next year.

824

So I highly, highly recommend that.

825

I did enjoy it a lot.

826

The next one is.

827

We who will die.

828

Now, this comes out at the end of this

month actually, and I absolutely loved it.

829

This is great.

830

I think also for like old

school paranormal fans, but

831

with a very fresh new take.

832

So it is a fantasy romance, and the,

the premise is it's like vampires.

833

So there, there are vampires in the

story, but it's also gladiators.

834

So our heroine is a gladiator,

basically, like they, they go into this

835

gladiator style arena and the vampires

are kind of like the ruling kind.

836

And she has, she's tasked to say, in order

to save her brother, she is tasked to go

837

in there and she basically has to kill,

she has to kill the king of the vampires.

838

Um, there are two, a little bit of

a love triangle I see forming here.

839

Two possible love interests.

840

You kind of start off liking the one guy.

841

Then I slowly started going for the

bad guy instead towards the end.

842

So, I mean, it will be interesting to see

where Book two goes, but I love this book.

843

Uh, highly recommend.

844

The next one is The Death Made

Prince by Elicit Marshall.

845

This is definitely more of

a slow burn fantasy romance.

846

Absolutely love the though.

847

Um, the Herod is a ruin witch.

848

The hero is a necro.

849

Maner.

850

Her, his father was, you know,

did awful things to her family.

851

So like they have this kind of

like enemies in a way to love

852

her situation, but they have

to go on this journey together.

853

He helps her get out of prison 'cause

he needs her magic and she actually

854

wants him to use his neck commander

powers to bring back to life.

855

Her ex was a total douche,

um, but she didn't see that.

856

It has a great OCD

representation with the heroine.

857

So we do get to experience

that a lot through her.

858

I think that was done really well.

859

It is a great slow bird.

860

I also have to say I really

love that this is a hero.

861

Like I said, the X was a douche

and the heroin didn't see

862

that, and I feel like that x.

863

Put her down like he was

gaslighting her so bad.

864

And you are seeing all of

that still in her mind.

865

And the new, you know, the hero

of the book this new guy is he

866

sees through that immediately

whenever she makes these comments.

867

And like he was building her

up throughout this whole book.

868

And I absolutely love to see that.

869

So totally down with that.

870

So great slow romance if you want that.

871

And then the next one is

actually coming out next year.

872

This comes out in February and

it's promised me by Sarah Kate.

873

This is an erotic romance.

874

It's the male male romance and

it's the second book in a series.

875

I didn't read the first one.

876

I didn't feel like I was missing anything.

877

But it does follow these two

guys that were having, um, this

878

relationship throughout many years.

879

They were, uh, college roommates.

880

They kind of like started

this in, in some ways it.

881

Parallels in, in some instances too, like

the heater rivalry relationship where

882

you know, they were together for a little

bit and then there's all this time apart.

883

So there was a long period of time

where they would only see each other

884

once a year, and obviously that was

like the time they would come together.

885

They would hooking up and then

they would go their separate ways.

886

And it did get to the point where the

relationship was not working because

887

of that and because of not being open.

888

So I think that that.

889

Definitely created a lot of friction

and a lot of like acceptance.

890

And one admitting that not so much of

admitting that they wanted to be with men,

891

but there was, um, first of all, admitting

that you love someone and wanting to

892

be in a relationship with someone and

like overcoming like your own issues in

893

life, you know, family issues and stuff.

894

And then also the fact that they are

also kind of at, they also like, like

895

more of the BDSM, the relationships.

896

So they did needed to explore that.

897

And how much, and am I willing, is this

something that I like or I don't like?

898

So we do get to see a lot of the

conflict, but you know, that's the.

899

The past of what their relationship was.

900

But this book is actually opening up

when, um, one of the main characters,

901

his family runs this manner and they

basically are hosting weddings there.

902

And the siblings want to keep doing that.

903

He doesn't, so he's like, I'm gonna

be the one that runs the weddings

904

for one week and if I can do that,

'cause he's like, he's an artist.

905

He, he's not that kind of person.

906

And so if I can do that, you guys are

gonna stop doing this shit in my house.

907

That was the agreement, except the wedding

that is happening that week just happens

908

to be the wedding of that ex to this

super celebrity, um, actor and stuff.

909

And like now he has them there and he

has to like, get their wedding set up and

910

all of this stuff while dealing with all

of his feelings and all of his issues.

911

It was just so good.

912

I loved it.

913

I loved it.

914

Speaker: I love that.

915

That's so cool.

916

I love it.

917

I love it.

918

But when Erin said, I mean

who has an accident, right?

919

I was dead.

920

If you guys missed it, let me get

that book cover up because I was

921

gonna say I got sold on this book.

922

Just hearing you talk about it.

923

Speaker 2: It was good.

924

It was, listen, I read two accidental

summoning of demon books this year.

925

'cause there's also, I accidentally

summon a demon, I think is the

926

name of the book by Jessica Cage.

927

Highly recommend that one.

928

That's more of a romcom.

929

Mm-hmm.

930

But you know, it does happen a lot.

931

Speaker: And then Roro said, we Who

Will Die is definitely on my TBR.

932

If you missed that one.

933

There it is.

934

There.

935

It's that.

936

So good.

937

That was so good.

938

When did you

939

Speaker 2: say that one comes out?

940

I think that comes out at

the end, maybe December 31st.

941

Okay.

942

December 30th is like at

the very end of December.

943

So I

944

Speaker: mean soon-ish.

945

Soon-ish, indeed.

946

But let us know what are some of your

favorite books that you read this year?

947

Pop them in the chat.

948

Replay crew.

949

If you're watching a replay, um, let

us know some of your favorites as well.

950

In the meantime, we're gonna just

roll into the last thing that

951

we're gonna talk about today.

952

We're just gonna close out

what we've been watching.

953

I have to be honest and say, look, I

haven't been watching much on television.

954

Y'all know if you, you know, if you're

new here, I dibble and dabble into

955

the Housewives from time to time.

956

Southern Charm is back.

957

Um, I'm behind.

958

Listen, it's the holidays, you know, I'll

catch up on the things and the in-between.

959

But reading and putting

together the Winter Reading

960

Guide was become my priority.

961

However, I have been having cinema

dates, so I go to the cinema.

962

I watch Wicked.

963

So if you're new here, I watch

Wicked, loved it, shared my review.

964

It's on the channel.

965

I also watched Hamnet for

my Shakespeare Peoples.

966

I know they're not a lot of

Shakespeare people, but it's fine.

967

It is fine.

968

I watched it.

969

Very, very interesting.

970

Very faithful adaptation.

971

There were some creative differences,

but you know, it is what it is.

972

But tomorrow, you wanna know

what I'm gonna be watching?

973

I am watching the House made.

974

I have my ticket already.

975

Okay.

976

I got my ticket locked down.

977

I.

978

Excited.

979

Excited.

980

Um, it's a Freedom McFadden adaptation.

981

Um, actually someone on my

channel also requested it.

982

They're like, you're watching

the Frida one, right?

983

I said, yes, yes.

984

Video will be coming this weekend.

985

Um, so I haven't like, been

actively in the TV like that,

986

but um, I'm going to the cinema.

987

I think this is gonna be the

last one for the year though.

988

Um, but I know you've been watching

things or who have you been watching?

989

Speaker 2: Um, I mean, I have

been watching this series with

990

like mafia and, and drug smuggling

and corrupt cups and stuff.

991

So we don't need to talk about that.

992

Um, what we need to talk

about is he rivalry.

993

'cause I've been religiously

watching that every single week.

994

I absolutely love every single episode.

995

I think they are being

quite faithful to the books.

996

I think, in my opinion, this has

been one of the best adaptations of

997

a romance novel that I have seen.

998

If not ever, then at least.

999

Very long time.

00:46:24,750 --> 00:46:28,440

Uh, the chemistry between

the two actors is amazing.

00:46:28,440 --> 00:46:32,730

Like they, they are just embodying

the characters so well, and the

00:46:32,730 --> 00:46:37,740

emotions and there's a lot of

internal, uh, like internal dialogue

00:46:37,740 --> 00:46:39,509

and internal struggle in the book.

00:46:39,720 --> 00:46:43,415

And I think that they are able to

convey that so well sometimes with just

00:46:43,470 --> 00:46:46,080

like facial expressions or gestures.

00:46:46,080 --> 00:46:48,690

And I think that they're doing

really, really good with that.

00:46:48,990 --> 00:46:54,690

Uh, it is painful to watch it, you

know, week by week because it's always

00:46:54,690 --> 00:46:59,730

ending in some devastating cliffhanger

and I cannot wait for tomorrow.

00:46:59,730 --> 00:47:05,400

Um, and as much as I can't wait for

tomorrow, there's only one episode left,

00:47:05,400 --> 00:47:08,100

which, you know, it's, it's sad and.

00:47:09,570 --> 00:47:13,410

And all the things, but on, on a good

note, they did announce that it's

00:47:13,500 --> 00:47:15,720

already been renewed for season two.

00:47:15,720 --> 00:47:17,490

I am so happy about that.

00:47:17,790 --> 00:47:20,970

That is definitely all the buzz online.

00:47:20,970 --> 00:47:23,730

Like you can't look anywhere

without seeing someone

00:47:23,730 --> 00:47:25,170

talking about heated rivalry.

00:47:25,170 --> 00:47:28,680

And what I have loved about that

whole experience is I am seeing so

00:47:28,680 --> 00:47:32,790

many people that don't even read

it's number one on HBO Max right now.

00:47:33,780 --> 00:47:37,860

Oh, on all of HBO Max, like you are

seeing all these people like, well,

00:47:37,860 --> 00:47:39,690

okay, I saw so much buzz about this.

00:47:39,780 --> 00:47:42,150

I had to, I had to watch this.

00:47:42,570 --> 00:47:47,070

And, and then because of the gap between

the episodes, now I'm seeing those

00:47:47,070 --> 00:47:49,230

people going and picking up the books.

00:47:49,650 --> 00:47:54,330

So on a side note though, as much as

the, I, I mean love everything about

00:47:54,330 --> 00:48:00,000

everything that's happening on the show,

Harlequin has fumbled the bag so badly

00:48:00,000 --> 00:48:07,800

with this release because for the first

two or three weeks, nobody had books.

00:48:08,145 --> 00:48:11,355

You couldn't buy this book,

how it was not available.

00:48:11,355 --> 00:48:13,425

They didn't start, Amazon didn't have it.

00:48:14,295 --> 00:48:16,725

It was out of stock everywhere.

00:48:18,285 --> 00:48:20,175

They did almost no promo.

00:48:20,175 --> 00:48:23,745

Like you see, first of all, the

marketing has been amazing, but

00:48:23,745 --> 00:48:25,215

really the marketing has been amazing.

00:48:25,215 --> 00:48:29,830

Coming from Crave and coming from the,

um, the, the show's account show people,

00:48:30,075 --> 00:48:34,755

the actors have been doing amazing work

promoting, like all the social media.

00:48:35,025 --> 00:48:37,035

They did really good even before the show.

00:48:37,305 --> 00:48:37,635

Um.

00:48:38,250 --> 00:48:38,790

Premier.

00:48:38,790 --> 00:48:42,840

They, they, they've been working this

for months, um, and they've been doing a

00:48:42,840 --> 00:48:44,580

really, really good, good job with that.

00:48:44,850 --> 00:48:50,490

Now, when, when, 'cause technically up

to a week before, we didn't know we were

00:48:50,490 --> 00:48:52,170

gonna get it here in the United States.

00:48:52,170 --> 00:48:54,720

It was just the Canada

only release through Crave.

00:48:54,960 --> 00:48:58,560

And then a week before we did get the

news that it was gonna be on HBO Max.

00:48:58,920 --> 00:49:03,660

Praise the Lord, whatever, all

the things, but Harlequin didn't,

00:49:03,870 --> 00:49:05,280

was not prepared for this.

00:49:05,280 --> 00:49:09,870

Now, I will say, 'cause I read this

originally when it was released, this

00:49:09,870 --> 00:49:14,550

book in this series was published through

an imprint of Harlequin that is digital

00:49:14,550 --> 00:49:21,330

only, which is probably why they are

not equipped with this kind of work.

00:49:21,330 --> 00:49:29,760

However, Harlequin as a company is big

enough and they know the, the market

00:49:29,760 --> 00:49:32,190

for this series is, there's a big.

00:49:33,300 --> 00:49:37,290

Speaker: But wait, the park that is

digital only, but there have been print

00:49:37,290 --> 00:49:39,990

books before, so who had the print rights?

00:49:39,990 --> 00:49:43,350

Speaker 2: They were doing print

because this series got so big.

00:49:43,740 --> 00:49:49,770

Even I remember back in the day

when the eBooks sold so well, people

00:49:49,770 --> 00:49:52,710

were like, I want this on paper.

00:49:53,070 --> 00:49:57,750

And even to get that back then

was like, okay, it was, you know,

00:49:58,200 --> 00:49:59,430

that was already a struggle.

00:49:59,640 --> 00:50:03,600

Now recently, and I think it's probably

when Crave bought the rights to make

00:50:03,600 --> 00:50:07,230

it into a movie, they now did like

all the new illustrated covers for

00:50:07,230 --> 00:50:08,880

them and they had that available.

00:50:09,240 --> 00:50:11,955

Yeah, but that was like two years ago ago.

00:50:11,960 --> 00:50:14,400

And then now you know that

this thing is gonna drop.

00:50:15,030 --> 00:50:16,920

And you don't have enough.

00:50:17,010 --> 00:50:19,530

First of all, forget the fact

that you don't have enough stock.

00:50:19,560 --> 00:50:22,230

They don't have a tie in cover for this.

00:50:22,230 --> 00:50:26,250

Like with the no check,

there is no tie in cover.

00:50:26,640 --> 00:50:28,380

There wasn't even stock.

00:50:29,310 --> 00:50:33,810

The Harlequin accounts are just barely

doing a little bit of marketing.

00:50:33,810 --> 00:50:38,130

Like I think those two actors lead,

the leading actors are doing more

00:50:38,130 --> 00:50:40,830

marketing of them reading the book.

00:50:41,340 --> 00:50:43,200

'cause they are doing that in, in videos.

00:50:43,500 --> 00:50:47,070

They're doing more marketing

for the book than Harlequin.

00:50:47,340 --> 00:50:48,720

It, it's ridiculous.

00:50:48,720 --> 00:50:50,460

It's, it's, Quinn dropped the

00:50:50,460 --> 00:50:51,060

Speaker: bag.

00:50:51,060 --> 00:50:52,950

I mean, personally, badly, badly.

00:50:53,700 --> 00:50:56,910

I haven't watched this, but I've

seen people talking about it.

00:50:56,910 --> 00:50:58,440

So I know the fandom is there.

00:50:58,440 --> 00:51:01,350

Roro is asking, should

I read the book first?

00:51:01,980 --> 00:51:06,750

Speaker 2: I mean, if you ask me,

yes, but I mean you, I think you

00:51:06,750 --> 00:51:09,330

can still watch the show first.

00:51:09,810 --> 00:51:15,450

I do think that because there is

so much internal monologue and you

00:51:15,450 --> 00:51:19,920

know all the things, I think you'll

probably do better with reading it.

00:51:19,920 --> 00:51:22,020

Not that you can get enjoyment out of it.

00:51:22,049 --> 00:51:24,990

'cause I have seen so many people

that they've never read anything and

00:51:24,990 --> 00:51:27,240

they were getting enough out of it.

00:51:27,600 --> 00:51:30,690

But I do think that it's

better to read it first.

00:51:31,020 --> 00:51:35,279

Um, you can just read the, the, so

their book is book two in the series.

00:51:36,060 --> 00:51:39,150

There is an episode in the series

that is technically the couple

00:51:39,150 --> 00:51:41,580

in the first book in the series.

00:51:41,580 --> 00:51:47,279

So in reality, I would say at a

minimum reads book one and two.

00:51:48,180 --> 00:51:50,160

And then watch this show.

00:51:51,029 --> 00:51:51,060

Okay.

00:51:51,060 --> 00:51:52,500

That would be my recommendation.

00:51:52,500 --> 00:51:56,220

And then technically there is a second

book for this couple, which I think

00:51:56,220 --> 00:52:00,480

is book six in the series, and that's

probably gonna be the next season.

00:52:00,480 --> 00:52:03,930

And I imagine that they're gonna do

that one and then intersperse some

00:52:03,930 --> 00:52:05,819

of the characters in the other books.

00:52:05,819 --> 00:52:06,420

Speaker 3: Mm-hmm.

00:52:06,545 --> 00:52:07,805

Speaker 2: So, okay.

00:52:08,545 --> 00:52:08,765

Yes.

00:52:09,210 --> 00:52:12,750

But highly recommend

both read and and watch.

00:52:13,950 --> 00:52:13,980

Speaker: Okay.

00:52:14,100 --> 00:52:15,600

I see how that shows up for me.

00:52:15,600 --> 00:52:19,560

But I saw everyone, I was starting

to feel firmer, but if anyone has

00:52:19,560 --> 00:52:22,799

watched it, you know, replay crew,

share your thoughts in the comments

00:52:22,799 --> 00:52:24,779

about the heated rivalry of it all.

00:52:25,515 --> 00:52:28,005

We have some things to talk

about before we sign off.

00:52:28,005 --> 00:52:31,935

Francesca upload romance ly

while I go through the comments.

00:52:31,965 --> 00:52:33,885

Upload the, the design.

00:52:34,665 --> 00:52:35,235

Speaker 2: I forgot about that.

00:52:35,775 --> 00:52:39,195

Speaker: Yes, but in the comments,

Roro said, I love the Battle of

00:52:39,195 --> 00:52:44,085

the Bookstores by Ali Brady and

the Ashes of Thema series by Helen.

00:52:44,505 --> 00:52:44,805

Sure.

00:52:44,805 --> 00:52:47,325

I know that series, the, the Thema series.

00:52:47,685 --> 00:52:48,585

That is good.

00:52:48,735 --> 00:52:52,605

I'm a big Ali Brady fan, but I have

to be honest, I don't think Battle

00:52:52,605 --> 00:52:54,945

of the Bookstores, um, is their best.

00:52:55,245 --> 00:52:58,485

I remember, man, what is

the name of the first book?

00:52:58,485 --> 00:53:02,325

They, they had this book that they

did together and it was about sisters.

00:53:02,325 --> 00:53:06,255

It kind of gave parent trap vibes and

they were coming like to some beach

00:53:06,255 --> 00:53:10,305

house the dad had in the panhandle

of Florida, and they had to settle

00:53:10,305 --> 00:53:13,455

some things or decide whether to

keep the house or sell the house.

00:53:13,455 --> 00:53:15,645

Like one sister didn't have any money.

00:53:15,645 --> 00:53:18,315

The other half sister,

you know, want to keep it.

00:53:18,315 --> 00:53:19,065

It was a whole thing.

00:53:19,305 --> 00:53:20,565

I like Ali Brady.

00:53:21,134 --> 00:53:26,384

Um, that author duo, um, I, the

bookstore for me was my favorite.

00:53:26,415 --> 00:53:29,805

And Erin is shouting out my winter

reading guide saying it's a hit.

00:53:29,805 --> 00:53:30,165

Thank you.

00:53:30,165 --> 00:53:31,065

Thank you friend.

00:53:31,275 --> 00:53:36,674

If you all are new here, I put together

a seasonal reading guide every season.

00:53:37,065 --> 00:53:41,565

So we have winter to start

00:53:41,955 --> 00:53:44,685

This guide has How many

books does this guide have?

00:53:44,745 --> 00:53:47,715

This guide has, oh wait,

I uploaded the PDF.

00:53:47,715 --> 00:53:48,045

Right.

00:53:48,045 --> 00:53:51,285

So you see my, my editor,

my listen to the editor.

00:53:51,465 --> 00:53:52,575

I thought it was just a cover.

00:53:52,725 --> 00:53:53,985

This is a table of content.

00:53:53,985 --> 00:53:58,245

We have 10 categories, three books

in each category, but because it

00:53:58,245 --> 00:54:04,035

is a digital PDF at the end of each

category, there is a link to go get

00:54:04,035 --> 00:54:07,545

the expanded list of the other books

I read and loved, um, and had in mind.

00:54:07,545 --> 00:54:09,674

So as you can see,

table of contents there.

00:54:09,945 --> 00:54:13,605

But I do want every season we

have spring, that comes in March.

00:54:13,845 --> 00:54:15,525

We have summer that comes in.

00:54:15,525 --> 00:54:18,855

May we have fall that comes in September.

00:54:19,440 --> 00:54:23,820

Um, so yeah, we have the reading

guide, but also we have romance ly.

00:54:23,820 --> 00:54:26,970

Okay, here's a beautiful map.

00:54:26,970 --> 00:54:28,410

Let me get this comment down.

00:54:28,680 --> 00:54:30,360

Beautiful map.

00:54:30,570 --> 00:54:31,110

Okay?

00:54:31,110 --> 00:54:33,960

If y'all wanna read more romance,

so it's one outta two things.

00:54:34,230 --> 00:54:36,840

If you read and love romance,

this is perfect for you.

00:54:36,840 --> 00:54:39,240

If you wanna read more romance,

this is for you and Fran is

00:54:39,240 --> 00:54:40,740

gonna tell you more about it.

00:54:41,760 --> 00:54:44,100

Speaker 2: So this year

we're doing a campus theme.

00:54:44,100 --> 00:54:48,330

So it's gonna be a choose your

own adventure, um, challenge.

00:54:48,330 --> 00:54:52,320

So basically you do have some core

prompts that everybody has to do,

00:54:52,320 --> 00:54:56,580

but besides that, you choose your

departments, so your major and your minor.

00:54:56,580 --> 00:54:59,010

And then after that you

choose a few electives.

00:54:59,250 --> 00:55:04,500

You can choose optionally to join

clubs, uh, to do sports events.

00:55:04,710 --> 00:55:05,910

So everything has.

00:55:05,915 --> 00:55:09,515

Certain number of prompts that just

get added on so that way you can

00:55:09,515 --> 00:55:12,935

kind of customize and build your

challenge however you want to.

00:55:13,235 --> 00:55:16,325

Uh, we are doing a group over on Discord.

00:55:16,325 --> 00:55:20,675

We are also doing a group over on

Fable, so wherever is more accessible

00:55:20,675 --> 00:55:23,765

to you if you wanna stay in touch

and as for recommendation and give

00:55:23,765 --> 00:55:25,895

recommendations as well to other people.

00:55:25,925 --> 00:55:29,255

And I always do recommend that

you sign up for the newsletter

00:55:29,255 --> 00:55:31,475

as well for Roman Napoli.

00:55:31,475 --> 00:55:35,795

'cause I am gonna try to handhold you guys

through the year a little bit and keep you

00:55:35,795 --> 00:55:39,845

motivated and give you some activities and

other things that are not necessarily only

00:55:39,845 --> 00:55:42,365

book related to do every single month.

00:55:42,365 --> 00:55:47,825

So I think it's gonna be lots of fun and

yeah, it's, it's a fun little college

00:55:47,825 --> 00:55:51,035

thing, like we're going to school for

romance, but don't take it too seriously.

00:55:51,035 --> 00:55:54,125

Like, I know that some, some people

do like to take it seriously,

00:55:54,125 --> 00:55:55,475

but just, we're having fun here.

00:55:55,475 --> 00:55:56,105

We're having fun.

00:55:57,640 --> 00:55:58,359

Speaker: I love it.

00:55:58,629 --> 00:56:00,160

I'm really excited for it.

00:56:00,430 --> 00:56:05,950

Um, Roro said, um, she lo um, she

loved it because of the dyslexia rep.

00:56:05,950 --> 00:56:07,839

In case you, you don't know

what we're talking about.

00:56:07,839 --> 00:56:10,480

It's the Battle of the

Bookstores by Ali Brady.

00:56:10,779 --> 00:56:15,129

Um, Roro says, I have dyslexia and

I love seeing it done so well and

00:56:15,129 --> 00:56:17,980

in a dys, dyslexia friendly format.

00:56:18,129 --> 00:56:19,690

Listen, I love that author duo.

00:56:19,720 --> 00:56:23,200

I'm glad the representation

resonated with you.

00:56:23,680 --> 00:56:24,910

I love their books in general.

00:56:24,910 --> 00:56:25,810

I love all their books.

00:56:26,230 --> 00:56:30,220

I'm ranking, I'm, my brain is always

ranking and I'm like, yeah, this wasn't

00:56:30,279 --> 00:56:32,890

the, the, the dynamics wasn't my favorite.

00:56:33,279 --> 00:56:37,660

Um, Erin is saying The Zodiac

wrecks are always so fun and

00:56:37,990 --> 00:56:40,000

hard to be, you're a Scorpio.

00:56:42,220 --> 00:56:43,660

You okay?

00:56:43,660 --> 00:56:47,710

People if you are just driving

us, hold on all that on, I was

00:56:47,710 --> 00:56:49,779

talking about my reading guide.