Episodes

  • Democracy in Retrograde: Civics Tips That Don't Make You Spiral | Non-Fiction

    Democracy in Retrograde: Civics Tips That Don't Make You Spiral | Non-Fiction
    Jun 12 2026

    This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

    If politics feels overwhelming, chaotic, or just plain exhausting right now — this episode is for you. Emily Amick, the attorney-turned-Instagram creator behind Emily in Your Phone, joins the show to talk about her book Democracy in Retrograde (co-authored with Sami Sage) and why civic action doesn't have to feel hopeless.

    From calling your actual representative (not Chuck Schumer) to showing up for your local library board, Emily breaks down the concrete, manageable things readers can do to engage with democracy right now — including a real talk about the 2026 midterms. If you've been doom-scrolling and wondering what to do, this conversation is your next step.

    📚 Books Mentioned

    Democracy in Retrograde by Emily Amick & Sammy Sage — Buy on Amazon | Nonfiction / Civics / Political Education | Audio ✅

    Note: This episode focuses on a single title. The paperback edition is currently available.

    ⏱️ Timestamps

    [00:00] Welcome & intro — what this episode is about

    [00:45] Emily introduces herself: Senate counsel, lawyer, Instagram creator

    [01:30] Why Democracy in Retrograde was written — answering "I feel hopeless"

    [02:30] How Emily started Emily in Your Phone during the first Trump term

    [05:00] What actually works: calling your representative (and why it has to be yours)

    [07:30] Other ways to engage: town halls, letters to the editor, local Facebook groups

    [08:45] Local elections matter — school boards, library boards, running for office

    [10:00] Becoming a poll worker: what it involves and why it matters

    [11:00] Staying focused: how to pick your one issue and advocate for it

    [12:00] Auditing your news diet — from the workbook section of the book

    [13:00] Laura on libraries, Medicaid, and using your expertise as advocacy

    [14:00] Why library boards need people who actually love books

    [15:30] Libraries as third spaces — more than just books

    [16:30] The 2026 midterms: what's at stake (House, Senate, Supreme Court)

    [17:30] Swing Left, Vote Forward, and relational organizing explained

    [19:00] Having hard political conversations — and why most people aren't as extreme as you think

    [20:30] Where to find Emily online

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    21 mins
  • YA Historical Fiction That Adults Need to Read Right Now with Karyn Parsons

    YA Historical Fiction That Adults Need to Read Right Now with Karyn Parsons
    Jun 8 2026
    This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when a beloved actress becomes a storyteller of forgotten Black history? Karyn Parsons — yes, the Hilary Banks from Fresh Prince of Bel-Air — joins us to talk about her powerful historical fiction for young readers, her nonprofit Sweet Blackberry, and why books like hers matter more in 2026 than ever.In this episode, we dig into Blue Beach, a YA murder mystery set on a segregated Black beach in 1929 that is equal parts page-turning thriller and gut-punch history lesson. We also talk about Clouds Over California, Karyn's middle grade novel set in the 1970s that reframes the story of the Black Panthers. Whether you're a longtime reader of YA or someone who thinks "that's not for me" — this conversation will change your mind. Adults: these books are absolutely for you.Plus: Karyn shares what she's been reading lately, including a deeply unsettling thriller about smell, murder, and obsession, a darkly funny book that involves... cannibalism (?!), and why Kindred by Octavia Butler is a required read for every human.📚 Books MentionedBlue Beach by Karyn Parsons — Buy on Amazon | YA Historical Fiction / Mystery | Set in 1929 on a segregated Black beach; a murder mystery with powerful themes of race, community, and colorismClouds Over California by Karyn Parsons — Buy on Amazon | Middle Grade Historical Fiction | 1970s California; reframes the Black Panthers through the eyes of a young Black girlPerfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind — Buy on Amazon | Literary Thriller | A man with a preternatural sense of smell pursues an obsession with devastating consequences — dark, rich, and unforgettableKindred by Octavia Butler — Buy on Amazon | Speculative/Historical Fiction | A modern Black woman is pulled back in time to the antebellum South — a masterclass in writing and a required readA Certain Hunger by Chelsea G. Summers — Buy on Amazon | Dark Satire / Literary Fiction | A witty, darkly funny novel about a food critic with a very particular appetite — not for the faint of heart (cannibalism warning, delivered with humor)A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas — Buy on Amazon | Fantasy / Romantasy | Book 1 of the ACOTAR seriesA Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas — Buy on Amazon | Fantasy / Romantasy | Book 2 — where the series truly takes offPet Sematary by Stephen King — Buy on Amazon | Horror | A meditation on mortality and grief as much as a horror novel — deeply unsettlingFemme Feral by Sam Beckbessinger — Buy on Amazon | Horror / Dark Fiction | Female rage, perimenopause, and werewolves — Laura's current read⏱️ Timestamps[00:00] Welcome & intro — Karyn Parsons, aka Hilary Banks from Fresh Prince of Bel-Air[01:00] How Karyn became a historical fiction author and the origin of Sweet Blackberry nonprofit[04:00] Why she writes truthfully — empathy, history, and what literature can do[05:00] Blue Beach — the real story of Bruce's Beach that inspired the novel[07:00] Growing up in Santa Monica on a beach that had been segregated — and not knowing it[10:00] Elevator pitch for Blue Beach: the setup, the murder, the stakes[12:00] Colorism, community, and the paper bag test in the story[13:00] Clouds Over California — reframing the Black Panthers for middle grade readers[16:00] The parallels between the 1970s, Black Lives Matter, and today[18:00] Karyn's reading life: what she reaches for and why[19:00] Perfume: The Story of a Murderer — obsession, scent, and murder[22:00] Pet Sematary and revisiting Stephen King; Misery memory[24:00] Kindred by Octavia Butler — why it's a masterclass and a required read[27:00] A rec for A Court of Thorns and Roses and the ACOTAR series[28:00] Femme Feral — female rage, perimenopause, and horror as a new genre for Laura[29:00] A Certain Hunger — a darkly funny, very specific rec (you'll know when you hear it)[31:00] Where to find Karyn online and info about Sweet BlackberryJoin the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read NextSubscribe & leave a review!
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    32 mins
  • Game Set Match: The Tennis Romance You Need to Read with Jennifer Iacopelli

    Game Set Match: The Tennis Romance You Need to Read with Jennifer Iacopelli
    Jun 3 2026
    This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.If you've been sleeping on sports romance, this episode is your wake-up call. Tennis romance is officially having its moment in publishing — and the author who was writing it a decade before anyone else is finally getting her flowers.In this episode, Laura chats with Jennifer Iacopelli, author of Game Set Match and its sequel Wild Card — new adult tennis romances newly re-released through Little Brown's Requited imprint after Jennifer's YA novel Finding Her Edge was adapted into a Netflix series. They dig into Jennifer's 15-year publishing journey, the ensemble cast storytelling structure of the Game Set Match series, the road from canceled Olympics to Netflix, and why tennis provides the perfect natural force-proximity setup for romance. Plus, Jennifer shares her top sports romance recs (including a few you can grab right now) and a YA F1 romance that's coming in 2027 that you'll want to add to your TBR immediately.Perfect for fans of Challengers, sports romance, and anyone who loves a resilience arc — in fiction and in real life.📚 Books MentionedGame Set Match by Jennifer Iacopelli — Buy on Amazon | New Adult Romance / Sports Romance / Tennis | KU ✅ (backlist) | Audio ✅ (check availability)Wild Card by Jennifer Iacopelli — Buy on Amazon | New Adult Romance / Sports Romance / Tennis | (sequel to Game Set Match; releasing June 2026)Finding Her Edge by Jennifer Iacopelli — Buy on Amazon | YA Romance / Sports Fiction / Olympic Figure Skating | Now a Netflix series ✅Break the Fall by Jennifer Iacopelli — Buy on Amazon | YA Romance / Sports Fiction / Olympic Gymnastics | Audio ✅ (check availability)Thirty Love by Tom Vellner — Buy on Amazon | Adult Romance / Sports Romance / Tennis | MM Romance | (recently released)The Open Era by Edward Schmit — Buy on Amazon | Adult Romance / Sports Romance / Tennis | (recently released)The Fast Track by Angelica Chang — Buy on Amazon | YA Romance / Sports Fiction / F1 Racing | (releases summer 2026 — add to your TBR now!)The Someday Garden by Ashley Poston — Buy on Amazon | Adult Romance | Secret Garden vibes | (upcoming — release date June 2026)⏱️ Timestamps[00:00] Welcome & intro — Jennifer Iacopelli joins the show[00:45] Jennifer's background: YA and new adult sports romance author[01:30] Game Set Match debut in 2013 — the pre-BookTok era of publishing[02:30] How the 2008 financial crisis led Jennifer to write her debut novel[04:30] Publishing journey: aging the book down, small digital publishers, and a closed imprint[06:00] Break the Fall — writing in response to the USA Gymnastics scandal[07:30] The COVID Olympics cancellation and its impact on her publishing career[08:30] Finding Her Edge and the road to Netflix[10:00] Little Brown's Requited imprint and bringing Game Set Match back as new adult[11:30] Tennis romance having its moment — the publishing landscape then vs. now[13:00] The ensemble, serialized storytelling structure of the Game Set Match series[14:30] The tennis calendar as a natural force-proximity story engine[15:30] What's next: could a US Open book be coming?[16:00] Jennifer's involvement in the Finding Her Edge Netflix adaptation[19:00] Writer's room, ensemble TV storytelling, and the evolution of teen drama[21:30] The non-linear reality of publishing careers[23:00] The book format conversation: mass market paperbacks, special editions & reading culture[25:00] Book Recs: Thirty Love by Vellner— tennis rivalry MM romance[26:00] Book Recs: The Open Era by Edward Schmit — tennis romance[26:30] Book Recs: The Fast Track by Angelica Chang — YA F1 romance (2027)[27:30] Book Recs: The Someday Garden by Ashley Poston — Secret Garden vibes[29:00] The rise of women's sports and niche sports fandoms[31:00] Where to find Jennifer online[31:30] Wrap-upJoin the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read NextSubscribe & leave a review!
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    32 mins
  • A Debut Romance Set at the US Open You Need to Read | The Open Era by Edward Schmit

    A Debut Romance Set at the US Open You Need to Read | The Open Era by Edward Schmit
    Jun 1 2026

    This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

    What happens when the first openly gay man competes in a Grand Slam — and falls for his opponent across the net? Debut author Eddie Schmit joins the show to talk about The Open Era, his queer tennis romance that's equal parts heart-racing competition and sweet slow-burn love story.

    Eddie shares how a mental health journey led him to tennis, how tennis led him to a book deal with Penguin Random House, and why the US Open — right in his Queens backyard — became the perfect backdrop for a story about identity, anxiety, and falling in love at exactly the wrong time. We also dig into his reading list: the Andre Agassi memoir that gripped him from page one, a practical mental health survival guide, a quirky queer literary novel about a mountain lion in the LA hills, and a cozy paranormal romance that reads like a warm hug.

    📚 Books Mentioned

    The Open Era by Edward Schmit — Buy on Amazon | Queer Romance / Sports Romance | Audio ✅

    Open by Andre Agassi — Buy on Amazon | Memoir / Sports Nonfiction | Audio ✅

    Where to Start by Mental Health America, illus. Gemma Carrell — Buy on Amazon | Nonfiction / Mental Health | Young Adult crossover; also available in Spanish

    The Inner Game of Tennis by W. Timothy Gallwey — Buy on Amazon | Nonfiction / Sports Psychology | 50th Anniversary Edition | Audio ✅

    Dearly Departed by Chip Pons — Buy on Amazon | Queer Paranormal Romance / Mythology Romance

    Open Throat by Henry Hoke — Buy on Amazon | Queer Literary Fiction | Short / great for gifting | Audio ✅

    ⏱️ Timestamps

    [00:00] Welcome & introducing Eddie Schmit

    [00:30] Eddie's background: acting, PR, and New York City life

    [02:00] Finding tennis as a mental health tool

    [04:30] How tennis became a full personality — and a book

    [06:00] The Open Era: plot, characters & what makes it special

    [08:00] Anxiety, masking, and representing mental health realistically in fiction

    [10:00] The messy, non-linear journey of managing anxiety

    [12:00] How Eddie ended up writing romance

    [14:30] Why romance is the perfect genre for character arcs and high stakes

    [16:00] Nonfiction rec: Open by Andre Agassi

    [18:30] Nonfiction rec: Where to Start by Mental Health America

    [20:30] Nonfiction rec: The Inner Game of Tennis by W. Timothy Gallwey

    [23:30] Fiction rec: Dearly Departed by Chip Pons

    [24:30] Fiction rec: Open Throat by Henry Hoke

    [25:30] Where to find Eddie + The Open Era release date

    Join the Conversation

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    26 mins
  • The YA Authors Writing Adult Books You'll Obsess Over

    The YA Authors Writing Adult Books You'll Obsess Over
    May 26 2026
    This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.If you loved YA but drifted away — or if you're a YA fan wondering where to start in adult fiction — this episode is your permission slip to do both. School librarian and book lover Kelly Mayfield joins Laura to talk about the YA authors crossing over into adult fiction, and why the YA genre has been ahead of the curve on diversity, representation, and storytelling for years.From Rainbow Rowell's slow-burn adult romances to Jesse Q. Sutanto's cozy mysteries with unforgettable ensemble casts, Kelly shares four authors you'll want on your radar — whether you're coming from YA or discovering them fresh. It's also National Library Week, so we're talking about why school libraries matter more than ever and the real-world impact they have on literacy and access.📚 BOOKS MENTIONEDRainbow RowellEleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary YA / Romance | Audio ✅Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary YA | Audio ✅Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell — Buy on Amazon | Adult Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅Cherry Baby by Rainbow Rowell — Buy on Amazon | Adult Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅ (new release)Jesse Q. SutantoThe Obsession by Jesse Q. Sutanto — Buy on Amazon | YA Thriller | Audio ✅You Will Never Be Me by Jesse Q. Sutanto — Buy on Amazon | Adult Thriller | Audio ✅Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto — Buy on Amazon | Cozy Mystery | Audio ✅Mrs. Mabel Goes Back to the Chopping Block by Jesse Q. Sutanto — Buy on Amazon | Cozy Mystery | Audio ✅ (check KU availability)T. Kingfisher (also writes as Ursula Vernon)A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher — Buy on Amazon | Fantasy / Fairy Tale Retelling | Audio ✅Snake Eater by T. Kingfisher — Buy on Amazon | Fantasy / Suspense | Audio ✅Wolfworm by T. Kingfisher — Buy on Amazon | Fantasy | Audio ✅ (newest release)Melissa de la CruzThe Five Stages of Courting Dalisay Ramos by Melissa de la Cruz — Buy on Amazon | Adult Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅Blue Bloods series by Melissa de la Cruz — Buy on Amazon | YA Paranormal / Vampire | Audio ✅Also Referenced (briefly mentioned):The Secret History by Donna TarttTomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin⏱️ TIMESTAMPS[00:00] Welcome & guest intro — Kelly Mayfield, school librarian and book lover[00:01] National Library Week: why school libraries matter[02:00] Book banning, funding gaps & the 40% of schools without a trained librarian[03:00] Laura's reading history: growing up in Puerto Rico without public libraries[05:00] What makes YA different — happy endings, diverse representation, and being ahead of the curve[07:00] Novels in verse and other formats YA pioneered before adult fiction[10:00] Book Rec #1: Rainbow Rowell — Eleanor & Park, Fangirl, Slow Dance, Cherry Baby[12:30] Book Rec #2: Jesse Q. Sutanto — The Obsession, You Will Never Be Me, Vera Wong series, Mrs. Mabel[16:00] Book Rec #3: T. Kingfisher — A Sorceress Comes to Call, Snake Eater, Wolfworm; horror light vs. true horror[18:30] Book Rec #4: Melissa de la Cruz — Blue Bloods, The Five Stages of Courting Dalisay Ramos[21:00] Bonus mentions: Ashley Poston, Amy Spalding, and other YA-to-adult crossover authors[23:00] Kelly's Substack + the joy of backlist reading and breakout hits💌CONNECT WITH KELLY MAYFIELDhttps://kellymayfield.substack.com/Join the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read NextSubscribe & leave a review!
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    27 mins
  • She Wrote Her Debut at 18 — Now It's a Viral Romantasy Series | Powerless by Lauren Roberts

    She Wrote Her Debut at 18 — Now It's a Viral Romantasy Series | Powerless by Lauren Roberts
    May 21 2026
    This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.She wrote her debut novel at 18, self-published it, went viral on TikTok — and now she's a Simon & Schuster author with a dramatized audiobook. Lauren Roberts is living proof that passion plus scrappiness can take you very, very far.In this episode, Lauren breaks down the wild origin story behind Powerless — from pitching the idea live on TikTok to Googling her way through ISBN numbers and copyright filings. We talk about what makes the Powerless trilogy so addictive (enemies to lovers! forbidden romance! high-stakes trials!), the incredible new dramatized audiobook of Powerless, and the literary fiction authors who are quietly shaping Lauren's writing voice.Whether you're a romantasy superfan or just looking for your next unputdownable series, this one's for you.📚 Books MentionedPowerless by Lauren Roberts — Buy on Amazon | Romantasy / YA Fantasy | Audio ✅(Dramatized Audiobook available!)Reckless by Lauren Roberts — Buy on Amazon | Romantasy / YA Fantasy | Audio ✅ Fearless by Lauren Roberts — Buy on Amazon | Romantasy / YA Fantasy | Audio ✅ Alone With You in the Ether by Olivie Blake — Buy on Amazon | Literary Fiction / Romance | Audio ✅Masters of Death by Olivie Blake — Buy on Amazon | Literary Fiction / Fantasy | Audio ✅One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig — Buy on Amazon | Gothic Fantasy | Audio ✅Vicious by V.E. Schwab — Buy on Amazon | Dark Fantasy | Audio ✅Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson — Buy on Amazon | Fantasy / Romantasy (Duology) | Audio ✅⏱️ Timestamps[00:00] Welcome & introducing Lauren Roberts[00:45] Lauren's background — writing at 18 and the TikTok origin story[02:30] Figuring out self-publishing from scratch (ISBNs, copyright, editors)[04:30] Simon & Schuster reaches out — the surreal moment it all changed[05:30] What drives Lauren: supporting other creatives and following your passion[06:30] Elevator pitch for Powerless — the plot, the world, the magic system[07:45] The romance: enemies to lovers, forbidden tropes, and sky-high stakes[08:30] The dramatized audiobook of Heartless — a movie for your ears[10:30] Behind the scenes: scripting, sound effects, music, and casting the voices[12:30] Lauren voices a character herself — and what it felt like to hear Powerless fresh[13:00] Lauren's reading life: the literary fiction curveball[14:00] Olivie Blake and V.E. Schwab — balancing lyrical prose with fantasy[15:00] Where Lauren's own writing is heading next[15:30] Book recommendations: Lauren's top picks for listeners[16:30] Where to find Lauren online (Instagram, TikTok, Substack)Join the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read NextSubscribe & leave a review!
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    18 mins
  • Quit Your Job & Open a Bookshop: 3 Reads You'll Love | Reads with Alicia

    Quit Your Job & Open a Bookshop: 3 Reads You'll Love | Reads with Alicia
    May 18 2026

    This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

    What if your dream bookshop was hiding inside the pages of a book? This week's guest is making that fantasy feel very real.

    London-based bookworm and Substack newsletter writer Alicia joins us to share her love of a very specific and very delightful trope: woman quits job to open a bookshop. If you've ever fantasized about leaving it all behind for a life surrounded by shelves and the smell of old paper, Alicia has three gorgeous, lesser-known reads that will feed that daydream beautifully. From translated Japanese fiction to a moving Korean novel, these books explore healing, community, and the quiet courage it takes to build a life you actually want — even when you're not sure you're ready.

    📚 Books Mentioned

    The Bookshop Woman by Nanako Hanada — Buy on Amazon | Nonfiction / Memoir | A quiet, insightful look at the world of bookselling and how small changes create big impact.

    Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa — Buy on Amazon | Japanese Translated Fiction / Contemporary | A healing, character-driven story about a woman who finds herself — slowly — through books.

    Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum — Buy on Amazon | Korean Translated Fiction / Contemporary | A raw, courageous story about a woman who opens a bookshop from a place of grief and finds herself living her values anyway.

    ⏱️ Timestamps

    [00:00] Welcome & introduction — meet Alicia from London

    [01:00] What Alicia reads: contemporary, literary, historical fiction & nonfiction

    [02:00] Alicia's nonfiction picks: memoirs, economics, music

    [03:30] What led Alicia to start Reads with Alicia on Substack

    [05:00] Building a bookish community online — Substack, BookTok & beyond

    [07:00] Alicia's Seasonal Reads with Friends collaboration series

    [08:30] The episode's trope: "Woman quits job to open a bookshop"

    [10:00] Book #1 — The Bookshop Woman by Nanako Hanada

    [13:00] Why book recommendations are an act of care

    [14:00] Book #2 — Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa

    [16:00] Book #3 — Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum

    [19:30] Living your values even in hard times

    [20:00] Where to find Alicia online & wrap-up

    Join the Conversation

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    21 mins
  • Billionaire, Secret Societies & Spicy Romance with Ava Rani

    Billionaire, Secret Societies & Spicy Romance with Ava Rani
    May 13 2026
    This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What if your love stories came with secret societies, art forgery rings, and a twist you never saw coming? Author Ava Rani joins us to talk books, balance, and why she refuses to write a boring romance.Ava Rani is an author who does it all — indie publishing, traditional publishing, and somehow fitting it in between a medical career and motherhood. In this episode, she walks us through her Biotech Billionaires series (think Gossip Girl meets Succession, Scandal, and Crazy Rich Asians), her standalone Out of Her League (a surgeon, a soccer star, and a fake-dating trip to Paris — need we say more?), and her New Adult mystery-romance Poisoned Ivy, which she lovingly describes as Never Have I Ever meets Rory Gilmore's Yale years. If you love sharp heroines, enemies-to-lovers slow burns, and plots that actually keep you guessing, this episode is for you.📚 Books MentionedThe Spare by Ava Rani — Buy on Amazon| Contemporary Romance / Billionaire Romance | Biotech Billionaires #1The Heir by Ava Rani — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance / Billionaire Romance | Biotech Billionaires #2The Charmer by Ava Rani — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance / Billionaire Romance | Biotech Billionaires #3Out of Her League by Ava Rani — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance / Sports Romance / Fake Dating | Check KU & Audio availabilityPoisoned Ivy by Ava Rani — Buy on Amazon | New Adult Romance / Mystery | The Legacy Series #1 | Audio ✅ (available on Libro.fm/library apps)Gilded Lilly by Ava Rani — Forthcoming | New Adult Romance / Bodyguard Romance | The Legacy Series #2⏱️ Timestamps[00:00] Welcome & introducing Ava Rani[00:01] Ava's writing life, motherhood & Nancy Meyers goals[00:02] How she balances it all: schedules, productivity & the sloth era[00:05] Social media detox & the "Brick" app hack[00:06] Intro to the Biotech Billionaires series[00:07] The Heir — Henry, Selena & the PR romance[00:09] The Spare — Marcus, Sloan & the Darcy-coded runner[00:11] The Charmer — Xander, Penelope & the rewritten love story[00:13] The Gossip Girl comparisons (Succession, Scandal, Crazy Rich Asians)[00:14] Out of Her League — Issa the surgeon meets soccer star Austin Cade[00:16] The fake-dating setup: a wedding in Paris & one bed[00:19] Issa's career journey & the child-free storyline[00:22] Why Ava wrote a heroine grappling with being child-free[00:25] How career milestones deserve the same celebration as weddings[00:26] Poisoned Ivy — secret societies, campus chaos & a twist[00:27] Meet Malena: part Rory Gilmore, part Davy Vishwakumar[00:29] The masquerade, the catacombs & Conrad Hastings (aka Fixed Logan)[00:31] The art forgery mystery unravels[00:33] Gilded Lilly — Sabrina's book, a bodyguard & a suspicious Duke[00:35] Forbidden romance, yearning & Anastasia vibes[00:36] Where to find Ava Rani onlineJoin the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read NextSubscribe & leave a review!
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    37 mins