Latest / Fated / Book Dedications, Wholesome to Spicy!
Transcript
- Tay: Welcome to the podcast where your next favorite story is already written in the stars. April: For your new book besties, April. Tay: And Tay, here to get your book Cravings Started and Satisfied. April: Why? Tay: Because around here it's faded. April: So grab your current read, maybe a cozy drink, and hide your TBR list because today we're talking about our favorite book dedications and the authors behind them. Tay: Yes, we But first, hi friends. I'm so excited I get to see you this week. April: Yes. I know and I hear you have something you're like dying to tell me. Tay: okay. Well, ⁓ I am dying. I'm dying to tell you about this, but I'm also like just I'm excited for City Fling to like get underway and us go to City Fling and we have fabulous ribbons. So if you see us on YouTube, you will see what the ribbon looks like. But I'm gonna be handing out ribbons to follow the pod. so we can get some listeners in on the fun that we do here once a week on Thursday. So looking forward to that, but also getting to meet one of my favorite authors for the first time April: ⁓ yeah. Tay: Ali Hazelwood. I am stoked. May her presence just grace me and like just rain down sunlight from the sky because ⁓ am so excited to meet her. I think she's a fabulous writer and a fabulous human being. And I love that she promotes women and STEM in her books. So so excited. there's a little thing with the ticketing I'm a little, ⁓ little for, but like my mission is her. Like if there's nothing else that I see, as long as I see her, we're Gucci. So I'm stoked. but I am reading this book and I specifically texted April, our listeners here, and I said, I have this book. I'm waiting to talk about it on the podcast because it's gonna make for such good material. but basically, in essence, I am reading this book called Souls in Ruin. Have you read this book? ⁓ okay. April: I have not. Tay: Yay! Even better. I the okay, for our listeners listening, it is a rarity that I find a book that April has not read. we are very, very similar in taste. And I find something that she hasn't read, it's like finding a unicorn in the woods. Like ⁓ she totally read everything. So I'm so glad I'm have found something she hasn't read, but I want her to read it now. But it's called Souls in Ruin. It is a romanticy. I am fresh out the gate into this book. specifically ⁓ page 113. So just kind of getting into the book, just a couple chapters in, nothing crazy. But we start off with our FMC. ⁓ She is named Muriel. I'm thinking that's how it's spelled. It's M-I-R-E-L-L-E. So I'm thinking it's Muriel. But Muriel is the bastard daughter of a king. So had an affair and she was born out of wedlock. she starts book off with like basically telling her life story. Like everybody in this kingdom hates my guts. the stepmother hates her, all these things. And like everybody ostracizes her. So she's like, I don't need these people. But like her dad still takes care of her. she's protected at least ⁓ by being the kingdom and all of these things. Well, her dad says, ⁓ We're in middle of this war, daughter. I have now sold you to marry. you're gonna alliance two places. And the blood king is coming tomorrow to wed you. And she's like, Well, blood king, like, you know, and she's like, this is your duty. You will do this, blah, blah, blah. You're my daughter, you know, and it is what it is. come to find out, you know, it's the like the mother had something to do with. She's like, I'm so glad to get you out of my house, you know. Ew. Yeah. ⁓ but ⁓ our ⁓ FMC little, spicy, okay? She's like, you know what? April: Yeah. Tay: If this is gonna happen, I'm gonna ⁓ my thing before my wedding. So there's the head guard of the castle and like right hand mandator, her dad, ⁓ and like, let's go to our secret meeting spot. And they do the dirty. Okay. She does the dirty with him. ⁓ And she's doing the dirty with him. And I highlighted this quote because I thought it was so funny. He pulls down his breeches ⁓ and his member, and she says, it was a pleasant sight. Not magnificent enough to build a life of around, but certainly adequate for the purpose at hand. was like, Jesus, ⁓ gonna marry it, but good enough for the deed. So just died, first of all. I was like, that is the funniest thing I've read. So after that, I was like, and that's on page 32. So I'm hooked. I'm like, okay, you have my you have my attention. I'm continuing to read this. ⁓ More she goes to like finally meet this blood king. Of course. He's, you know, fine as all get out. And she's like suddenly April: Wow. You're sold, yeah. Tay: You know, all these things about I hate this guy, blah, blah. And she sees him and she's like, That's my husband? Wow. Okay. and he walks in first thing and he's like, I need a private audience with my future betrothed. And they're all like, I mean, can't really do that. he's like, No, I demand it. And so they clear the room and They go have this private conversation and him and her, they're kind of snarky back and forth to one another. And he's like, ⁓ you have spice, I'll have fun breaking you, you know, whatever. And she's just like, hmm, la di da. they have this whole tift. Well, then he finally like gets into her face, goes to the other side of her ear and says, If I smell him on you again, princess, he whispered, voice velvet wrapped in venom. I'll rip every vein from his body and string it like a necklace for you, a wedding gift, if you will. April: Speechless. Tay: Speechless. If that's what it's touch her and die moment, I was like, that is so good. she's thinking she's cute and snarky and getting some business with this adequate member. And then meanwhile, like, if you ever smell like that again, I will. I'm like, no, he could smell that she had hooked up the night before. And I was like, wow, just snaps, snaps for that. April: Ha ha hmm. Mm. ⁓ Chef Kiss. Yes. Tay: So that is the book I'm reading. I highly recommend at this point. I haven't even finished it. Like I said, that was on page 47. So 32 to 47, that happens. And then now I'm on 113. I this. I like where it goes. you know, honestly, it's a to me. I can kind of predict at least where somewhat of this is going. April: Is gold. Tay: But you know, I like the journey. The the talk and the tea has been good thus far. So that is why I saved that for this moment. ⁓ this author is a fairly new author. It's Jaclyn White. So this is book one and it's gonna have three books. April: Yeah. That's awesome. Who's the author? Who wrote the book? Hmm, Jacqueline, okay. Well I will be adding that to my DBR because that sounds amazing. ⁓ Tay: It was a pleasant sight, not magnificent enough to build a house around, but certainly adequate for the purpose at hand. April: I can't. That's awesome. Like snaps to them, kudos to them. Yeah. Tay: Love it. So good. So my so my week's actually been okay because of this book. Honestly, it's just given me a little bit of like I needed that amplify because I kind of been, I think I'd go in through a book rut in the last like two weeks. I hadn't really found anything I wanted to read, specifically because I was so hooked on off campus. I was like, I don't have time to sit here and read. I am binging this show ⁓ on and now the show's over and I've rewatched twice. So now I'm like, okay, back to books. ⁓ April: Priorities. Yeah. That's acceptable. I know. Well, and I go through that too, like these reading slumps where I'm just like, I can't find anything that I want to read, especially like in the summertime because such a mood reader. but that sounds like it would definitely check all the boxes there. Gonna have to look that one up later. ⁓ Tay: Priorities. Yeah. I know. I'm like, you love a good romanticy, so I'm just thrilled you haven't read it. I finally get to share one because you always give me good rec, so I'm like, now it's my turn. I don't know how it ends, so if it ends bad, I'm sorry. I never feel like the trauma. Please stop. April: Yeah. ⁓ I know, I know. I've been going I'm blaming you. We'll never accept another recommendation again. No, I'm just I've been reading this So ⁓ I have gone down like weird hole. And it all started with a conversation that we were having with like these monster romances where we touched on a couple weeks ago. And so I was like feeling nostalgic Ice Planet Barbarians ⁓ and I got into Zoe Horde King series. Tay: ⁓ no. April: Which is like super similar to Ice Planet Barbarians. And it is just like it is great. I am eating that stuff up. I think I'm on book three already. I finished two books this week. They are so good. Tay: I mean that Ice Planet Barbarians, I think I read like seven books by the time I was like deep and I'm like, how many books about a blue alien can I read? Like I literally was so hooked. It was like crack. April: like they're like the first two books, it's like Married to the Horde King ⁓ and by the Horde King. They're both by Zoe Draven. It's in the series, very similar to Ice Planet, but it's the same kind of like pieces of the story just put together a little bit differently. humans are on this alien planet. Aliens don't really like them. Humans are taking advantage of their resources. That's bad. I'm gonna marry a human. Like it's like ⁓ it's the same of Things all put together, but something about it has just my brain is like, I gotta read them all. I'm gonna read them all. So Tay: Like I have to wrap my head around this. It's too good. Like I can't like I like it. I like it. April: Yeah. Addicting. And I think she's gonna be at City Fling, I'm pretty sure. And if I get an opportunity, I am volunteering there. I'm not ⁓ going as an attendee, so I don't know. But if I get an opportunity, gonna swing by and be like, These books are crack. Like so good. Tay: I Which because April is doing our behind the scenes volunteer experience, she's gonna give us the full thread of what it was like. And this is her first your first time, right? Ever volunteering? Yeah. So this is her first ever experienced volunteering. I know there's some top book conventions out there that treat their volunteers like so well. So we're excited to see it. ⁓ manifesting good vibes. April: Yeah, volunteering. Mm-hmm. Tay: but excited, for you to get that kind of like expose for us to tell us, you know, if it's worth it or should should we try for other events? Maybe I'll do the next one. April: Yeah. Tay: today's episode, are doing dedications. We said that at the beginning. we gathered nine books, which such an obscure number. but you know, hey, it's just what called to us. Nine books each. April: Yeah. Tay: I'll let you pick. Should I go smuddy or I go sweet? Smuddy sweet. April: Mmm. Okay. So first of all, shout out to Atron for recommending this to us because she started this by sending a book dedication in our group chat one day. And I was like, ⁓ book dedications are so good and so underrated. But I'm feeling like you were reading a really spicy book and giving a spicy recommendation. So let's go, let's go spicy. Spicy. Tay: Let's go spicy. Okay. So talked about this book last week, but we're gonna go with green light. ⁓ April: Okay, no, I'm actually sold. Like what is the dedication in this book? Tay: Literally had the All right, dedication in this book. To those of you with inboxes full of sixty year old sugar daddies, may one of them be secretly obsessed, tattooed, and tortured anti-hero craving to defile you on camera. April: Please need sugar daddies for books. Tay: I was like, my gosh, that is so great. I love dedications like that. To me, they're so fun. granted, I do love when people dedicate to like their families and stuff. And that's touching for them. I will say, as a reader, I love more stuff like this because I'm like, that's funny. I can relate to that. I can't relate to mama. Like, mama may be great. And I may read the book and be like, wow, mama must have been a good lady. but ⁓ April: Yeah. Tay: This is hilarious. I'm like, that's so good. Sixty year old sugar daddies secretly obsessed, tattooed, and tortured. April: I know you haven't read Green Light, right? So we don't know if it's in the book or not. Because usually dedications are tied into something with a book. Tay: No, and I don't think it is because this was the stepbrother and the sister and like this has the bathroom. Yeah. Yeah. And so I'm like, I don't think it's the trope in it, but she just wanted to let everybody know that tattooed sugar daddies are out there and they're for you. To defile you on camera. Can they def de file me in private? I don't know, but ten out of ten had to had to share that one. Give me one, April. April: So it's not a trope in it. manifesting that please have questions. ⁓ ⁓ Tay: do you have a sweet one? Well, let's go sweet. April: ⁓ I do have sweet. okay, so this one is one my most favorite, like kind of ⁓ not maybe like preteen books. ⁓ And super anime movie was made from this book. And it is House Moving Castle from Diana Wynn Jones, K. This is I think the fairy loot version of the book, but Tay: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. April: The dedication in this is like adorable. She wrote, This one is for Steven. The idea for this book was suggested by a boy in a school I was visiting who asked me to write a book called The Moving Castle. I wrote down his name and put it in such a safe place that I have been unable to find it ever since. I would like to thank him very much. And I'm like, of all, can relate about writing down something and then losing it forever because I put it in a special place. ⁓ I'm like, ⁓ what a touching thing to write about somebody. ⁓ Tay: Very beautiful. That is very sweet. Yeah, that is very sweet. I like that. April: I know. And honestly, ten out of ten book. Different from the movie for those who've watched. So How's Moving Castle? I feel like I don't even need to give a synopsis about this because I feel like most people know it just from the studio Ghibli movie. But if you like the movie, read the book. It is a little bit different. Tay: Very nice. I've never read the book. I might have to add that to my TBR. April: Good. It's a very cute read. And Hal's a bit more annoying in the books than he is in the movie, believe it or not. Tay: like when the character has a little more depth though in a book. I really do. Cause then you can get to know a little more inner monologues, things like that that you miss out that movies just don't capture. I that kind of gives a little more insight. Like I noticed, and I'm gonna go back to ⁓ off campus, so It's just the latest topic, people. everybody talks about like Garrett's inner monologue in the book and things and in the show, how that was lacking. April: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Tay: And then when I did do a rewatch, I could totally pick up on those pieces and I was like, Yeah, that kinda is a bummer that they didn't include like those inner things 'cause then you don't get that full empathy. in the book, you're hearing like his inner thoughts of him discovering his dad's abuse towards him and different things and it just, you know, kind of all settling in while in the show it doesn't really capture all that. It's just like, you know, him saying it, but not so I I like the depth that a book can add to someone. April: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm, for sure. Tay: my next one, I'll give a sweet one as well. This one is Love Redesigned by Lauren Asher. Sorry about that. I have read this one and it was cute. I really liked it. I don't it's not as much as the fine print books. I love those ones because they kind of just the dreamland billionaires remind me so much of Disney. And like I just I I just, you know, I'm a girl at heart. So April: I have never read those books. Tay: I was just like, ⁓ I really like that. But this one was good, I will say. And I really like the book dedication. So it says, to those who love language is words of affirmation, your kink is safe with me. Okay, this wasn't a sweet one. I forgot. ⁓ April: I mean I'm glad that our praise kink is safe with her. That is very sweet. Thank you for that. Tay: Yeah, sorry. Well, she said was safe with her and Julian Lopez. And Julian Lopez is like our main male character. So, but I thought that was cute. Whose love language is words of affirmation and your praise kink is safe with me. I literally thought that was a April: Okay. So Love Redesigned, is that a billionaire romance or what's this book about? Tay: I'll just read the synopses. it says if I ever caught on fire, Dahlia Munoz would fan the flames with a smile. So it's enemies to lovers. she returns and it's like former friends, they knew each other growing up. It's like when she returns to Wisteria Lake, I fully intend to avoid the interior designer, but her meddling mother exploit has a savior complex, and the faster I help Dahlia create her creative spark, the sooner she will leave town. But as soon as I get busy getting rid of Dahlia, I'm overlooked with one potential issue. What happens if I want her to stay? I would say this is probably a good, like cozy, like a lake romance is kind of what I get vibes off of it. it has like a bridge too on the front, but it's really good. I liked it. It's just if I'm gonna choose favorites, I like the other series a little more. April: Good to know, good to know. Okay, so kind of going on with a more serious book, my next dedication, Say You Swear, Megan Brandy. Hey, this book is first of all, huge, enormous, like whew, a chunker of a book. And a chunker of a book when it comes to like emotions and heavy topics and Tay: Mm-hmm. Thick. April: There's so much that happens in this book. I feel like I can't even accurately describe it, but it is so good. You need to read it if you have not already. Tay: Can we just can we just talk about like Noah Riley? Noah Riley is the book boyfriend of all book boyfriends. And then second of all, she of hinted at that maybe there's a television show getting developed of this. And I'm sorry, but Noah is high standards for me. Megan Brandy wrote this man and he is like top tier to any other. So I'm like, girlfriend, this this can try, but it ain't gonna even I don't even think touch that book. That book is so emotionally driven, but also so ⁓ good. April: Yes. And so yeah, just beautiful it's a beautiful love story, very heavy, kind of second chance, heavy topics. Go in, of course, knowing trigger warnings if you do pick it up, but ⁓ a good book and such a good book, boyfriend. You are a hundred percent correct. I agree with everybody who's like nobody could be cast to be as good as him. ⁓ so Tay: No. I don't I don't know how they're gonna touch that. But she said manifest she seems happy, so I'm happy for her, but I'm also like, that is a hard, hard role to fill. So good luck to whoever gets that. April: Luck to whoever. Yeah. The dedication of this book, of course, says, For the one who feared the fall but dared to jump anyway. This one is for you. And I'm like, what a touching dedication. But also like taking a chance and doing it anyways, even if you're scared. Totally fit the book. Totally fit all the themes. Such a good one. Had to share it. Too good to pass up. Tay: And it's nice, short and sweet, too. Okay. This one, I'm gonna, I'm gonna give us the feels of our friendship. I'm actually pulling one from the middle tier of my also to I don't know if you've seen this book of mine, but you're gonna love the cover. So this one is the playlist, Morgan's version by Morgan Elizabeth. April: Yeah. Ooh. Yeah. Hey, hey. ⁓ that is so cute. And I love that they did the Taylor's version font on it too. Tay: It literally has like the playlist, the fearless tour, all these things, right? Okay. The book dedication. says to the Swifties who found themselves somewhere between the bridge and the chorus and let them shape how you see love and life. Long live. April: that is like wow, mic drop, we're done with the episode. Nobody else can top that. ⁓ sweet. Tay: That is so I was like, I was like done. This book is totally going in my book dedications. it's actually book five of a series, which is like, how is this not book one? First of all, it's so stunning. but it's not. it's like April: Mm. Wow. I know. Yeah. Tay: Friends to Lovers, Childhood, Romance. I would say in essence, a lot of themes of Taylor Swift. ⁓ she, I mean, loves Taylor. She has like a whole dedication on the front here. Yeah, it's it's so cute. It was before any of the other ones came out because it has like midnights on here. But I mean, the even the little art is so cute. I love it so much. Yeah, it's all the vibes, all the vibes wrapped into one. But I was like. April: Adorable. Wow. Disney. Tay: Between the bridge and the chorus and then she ends it with long live. April: Yeah. Yeah. That's top tier dedication. And it's dedications like that that make me want to read a book. Like I will also be looking that one up after this just because of the dedication. Tay: Dead. Dead. Done. So good. Top tier. Yeah. And then I had to have it too because it says Morgan's version. And that's our friend. Shout out to Mo. She's our number one listener. She's probably first one listening to this Thursday morning. And I'm so excited for you to be hearing this. But also, yes, Morgan's version. Is there any better version? ⁓ Just Taylor's. ⁓ April: Yeah. Shout out to Mo. So cute. I love that. Yeah. goodness. Okay, so ⁓ next one is actually gonna be I'm gonna read it from my phone. It is a book I read on my Kindle, and it's called The Deathless One by Emma Ham. I wouldn't call it like a true romantic. There is like gods in it, and it's about this kingdom. Tay: Okay. April: that has been affected by this plague and there's witches in this kingdom who are hunted and you know crucified for being witches and then there's these gods that have all kind of disappeared in this big war. But this girl, she's the princess of the kingdom and her mother and like all her closest people are slaughtered in front of her and she herself ⁓ is killed by her betrothed, who is supposed to like save them and make them stronger. And he sacrifices her into the sea. Well, there she's brought back to life by a god called the Deathless One. And it is, it is a really good novel. Okay. I was really surprised by it. Emma Ham, for those who may or may not be familiar with her writing, she's very kind of wordy. Like there's sometimes where I'd be What does that word mean? But it's such a good book. Yeah. it's such a good book. Tay: Big brain things. always say that. I'm like when they just include I'm like, you had just have a huge brain and I appreciate that. If I have to hold it down on Kindle for it to define it for me, yeah. I'm like, that's crazy. Good job. The Soros. ⁓ April: Yeah. Mm-hmm. It's okay to do every now and again. Like it's not like quite like purple writing, but it is, yes. her dedication in this book though is for all the women who descended from witches who were burned. They weren't witches, they were women. And that rage is something none of us have forgotten. And I'm just like, girl, feminine rage, we like it in a book. ⁓ Tay: Wow. Yeah. I love it. There is nothing better than feminine rage. I still think illicit affairs angry version is like brings out something in me. I'm just like like that is just Yeah. Yeah. So good. So so good. So yeah, no, praise her. That's great. I love that. Also, rest in peace to those women. You were not witches. You were. April: Yeah. Taylor Swift's Mad Woman or whatever that one is. ⁓ so good. Yeah. Mm. Just women and girls. Tay: Wonderful and magical. my gosh. Okay, let's see. Which one do I want to do now? I think I'm gonna break ⁓ I think this one is a spicy ⁓ Let's a spicy. Okay, I'm bringing into our April: Break it up a little bit. Yeah. Tay: Ooh, yeah, this is a good one. Okay. We're gonna do truly madly deeply, LJ Shin. Yeah. Yeah. It's good. It's got a good dedication. Okay. Dedicated to all the girls who know Prince Charming is nice, but the villain really knows all the pent up rage between the sheets. Here's to choosing a guy that can be both. Which goes perfect. Just with the one you just said. All that pent up rage. I'm like, yeah. April: ⁓ I almost grabbed that book. I almost did. I love you, smile J. Yes, yes. So good. Choosing the villain every single time. I actually don't know that I've read Truly Madly Deeply. And I've read almost all of LJ's books, so that's crazy. Tay: We need both. have read this one. Ambrose Casablancas is a chef. women are distraction. He doesn't do those. his baby sister's best friend, trope, entire existing is complicated. She's awkward, eccentric, infuriating. April: ⁓ Tay: she does a bully romance like nobody's business. And I specifically remember this also being kind of similar to vicious in that regard. Cal shows up at the doorstep of Ambrose looking for a job. ⁓ And so he's like, I'll help you. But his patient is waning away in each day. he's also like, I just kind want to make her mine. So that kind of is kind of a little bit of the book. But yeah, he's a chef, she needs a job, it's good. April: Mm. Tay: I like this one. April: So good. I love LJ Shan. She does you're right. She does bully romances really well. Really well. Tay: Yeah. She does a good job of making me go, Wow, that character's a dick. I wanna see him kiss. ⁓ April: Yeah. I could never date you in real life, but God, you're so hot. Yeah. ⁓ Truth. ⁓ right. My next one I'm going to do, The Book of Azreel by Amber Vina Cole. I talk about this book all the time because I love her so much and I love this book so much. Short like summary of it because I've talked about it before. We have Diana, and I'm going to show because the artwork in this book, this is just the regular like deluxe version of it. Tay: Ten out of ten. Good job, LJ. April: She is a badass. ⁓ very much like ⁓ morally gray. And I really like that when it's the female main character who is morally gray. Like the male main character in the story is more like upstanding and righteous, has made mistakes, but way less morally gray than her. And it is such a good book. If you have not read it, and if you don't just the artwork itself. I'm sorry to people who are not watching this, but the artwork itself speaks like I don't Tay: Yeah. April: I feel like I don't even have to say anything more about it. Just read the book. It's so good. But the dedication says to the reader, look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent underneath. And that's actually a quote from Shakespeare's Macbeth. I hate Shakespeare. Okay, I'm gonna get like crucified for this. ⁓ okay. ⁓ That's a whole nother episode for a whole nother day, my dislike for Shakespeare. Tay: Yeah. Hot. Hot hot. Yeah. No, I I took Shakespeare in high school. And let me tell you, as someone who's dyslexic, it was like reading gibberish. And like we had to popcorn. My teacher was a huge fan of that. And if for listeners, if you don't know what popcorn is, the teacher would yell popcorn and like the next person would take on a next part of reading. I could never gauge who was gonna popcorn because she would literally popcorn to anybody. And then it would get to me and I'm sitting there like tripping over my words, ⁓ tis of the like I can't even get out the words because my brain is jubbling them and reading out loud. Like that's one thing my dad instilled in me my whole life was like, you know, overcome how you read and just challenge your mind and keep reading so it's almost like I wanted to keep reading to kind of beat that dyslexic kind of thing that my brain would do, add words and add letters. Yeah, so I found a lot of solace and peace in reading, but the problem is I still have to read something multiple times, like speeches and other things to prepare ahead of time when I read. Because if I'm just reading directly from something, and y'all probably heard it before when I've read from our script, our little scene at the beginning, I stumble a little. And it's just because it's hard for me to read something in the moment without having read it ⁓ so yeah, Shakespeare was a nightmare. I was like, ha ha. April: ⁓ yeah. Tay: Please don't popcorn to me. This is public humiliation. They just think I can't read. I'm Ferah. I am illiterate. April: Yeah. Yeah. You know what though? Kudos to Amber V Nicole for pulling out a Shakespeare dedication to the readers. It's an awesome dedication. Could not read Shakespeare myself. I yeah. Tay: Yeah. No, I my high school Shakespeare teacher was convinced that everything stemmed from Shakespeare. She's like, Give me a give me a movie, give me a show. And she'd tell us a play that related to it. She's like, That's Shakespeare. That's Shakespeare. That's Shakespeare. I'm like, God, we're gonna give this guy all the credit. April: ⁓ may or may not have actually even written some of the things. Yeah. ⁓ Tay: I'm sorry, I didn't know he was the first man on earth. I know. Like, let's just let's just give him all the credit. That sounds is he white? Is he male? Yeah, let's give him all the credit. April: Yeah. It's him. It was him. That word you just know that was made up by this guy. William Shakespeare made that word. Tay: My next one is is in feels, and I'm gonna totally just like grab you, grab Morgan, grab Adrian for this because imagine that y'all are be the one told this to. So we have the right move by Liz Tom Forte. you've read this book, you love this book. The dedication at the front of this is Liz Tom Forte calls out her best friends, which are Mark, Allison, Paige, and Camille. April: Ooh, okay. Tay: And so I'm calling out my best friends. It says, one of the themes of this book is finding friendships that fill your cup instead of draining it. Thank you for being the people who fill mine. April: ⁓ Tay: So much. I'm like, that is so great. Like, see, to me, she kind of spun the idea of giving somebody a dedication, but also making it relatable. And that I love. So if you were dedicating, like I said at the beginning of a book to Mama, if you add something like that to Mama, I'm like, okay, yes, like I understand Mama's character. She is someone I can chill with. Liz just told me everything I needed to know. I have, I have those I relate to that. Like, April: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. Tay: I don't need people. I'm too old to have friends that don't like, you know, fill my cup, but also are not worth the time of day or energy. And I would spend all my energy on y'all in a heartbeat. So if I have any hours left in a day, that would just go to our group text or this podcast. That's pretty much all I got. April: Yeah. Right. ⁓ you know what? It is so on theme for that too. For those who haven't read The Right Move, it's such a good book. And I really do think that Stevie and Indy's friendship, best friendship in that, really blooms and blossoms in a beautiful way. And that like Stevie is just there for Indy when she's going through ⁓ like breakup that's awful for her. And I just love that so much. Those themes. So good. Tay: Yeah. Yeah. And then she ends up giving with her brother when like Ryan Shea is just top tier. Also, too, I got this cute little book vellum for the people that can look, but this is like my little insert and he's like has his basketball and her little crisscross like chucks. They're so cute. Ugh. April: Yes, Ryan Shay. So cute. I remember we were at the that book signing holiday with the bells and you saw that and you're like, is that Ryan Shea? And that like made the choice for you if you were gonna buy that or not. Done. Sold. If you haven't read it, go read it. Tay: Yeah. Yeah. It's like done deal sold. Ring it up. I almost bought a hat. If she's if I see her again, I'm getting one of them hats. April: Yes, yes. Okay, so on the theme of friendship book dedications, there are so many good ones out there, but this was just one I happen to have on my shelf that I feel like this book is not talked about enough. It is called Sanctum. It's by Hannah McBride. it is actually a wolf shifter novel. Okay. It's really good though. they go to like college and they meet there and it's a really good book. Tay: Yes. Mm-hmm. April: So Faded Mates for people who like the Faded Mates trope, hands down, this book is full of it. Yeah. but the dedication says for Aria, the girl who inspired me to live my dreams, can I keep you? I'm like, ⁓ hope you can. Please keep Aria. Friends inspire you to chase your dreams are the best kind of friends to have, for sure. Tay: Hmm. We love dated mates. That is. That is awesome. Yeah. that's so sweet. I love that. Can I keep you? I can just see the friend being like, ⁓ my god, you put that in the book. That's so embarrassing. They're think I'm so small and pocket sized. We have a pocket sized friend. April: I know. Can I keep you? we do. Tay: She hates that right now. okay. I'm pulling out this one because I know you're gonna love it and you're gonna be like surprised I grabbed it. Deal with the elf king Yes. Yes. April: Okay. I am actually really surprised. I was looking at the book as well, so. Tay: wondering if we were gonna crisscross because I was like I know she has this. I love this one. This one's very simple, short and sweet, but to the point. ⁓ It for those who need a break and a second glass of wine. April: It was really close on a Moms everywhere. We're raising our hands. need a break, a book, a glass of wine, and to read about some orgasms. ⁓ Tay: And I need this ⁓ this elf king right here. ⁓ my god. Yes. Yes, please. I need this, a glass of wine, and alone time. It sounds great. ⁓ I would say our listeners too, it is definitely YA, in terms of cause Lease is not April: She is not adult. Tay: ⁓ she does not do any of the spice or any of that. so if you're looking for that, this isn't not the place for that. But I would say ⁓ you like something like Throne of Glass that is more fade to black you will still love this. But her world building skills and like just the way she makes you feel I really I did enjoy this book and you recommended it the first time we went to the book conference and saw her. And this was my signed copy I got. I think I listened to it. when I got it and I was like, ⁓ my gosh, no, I really love this book. But you prepared me. You were like, it's YA, don't, you know, think of smut happening in this book. It's not gonna but it is really a solid book. So ten out of ten, recommend. April: No. Touching. Okay, my next one, which is probably gonna be no surprise to you, and I need you to read this book so that we can talk about it. And I need you to read it soon before book two comes out. But it is Terror at the Gates by Scarlett St. Clair. Okay, I know you're not surprised I mentioned this book. So for those who have ashamedly not read this book yet, Feminine Rage is a huge trope in this book. she is living estranged from her powerful family. Tay: No. April: She's kind of living in the slums, like neighborhood district, I guess you would call it. And the man who runs the slums is just chef's kiss to die for. I yeah, can't even it's so good. I've talked about this book before on the podcast. It is worth reading. And her says to the women who were told they must submit to the dominance of man. And I'm like, Scarlet, get it, It's all about that. And it's not like feminist in a way that it's men are awful, men are awful. It's just like, no, ⁓ some men are awful, but then also like men who get it, you know? And he, the male main character in this book, gets it. It's so good. Tay: So good. wanna read that. It's on my it's on my list. I have three books right now I'm doing a you, you do this, like where you have three books going on at once. I am currently physically only reading the one I just about, but I'm actually listening to two. I'm listening to the second book of Silver Elite. one that just came out. Broken Dove. I'm listening to Broken Dove. And then I'm also l listening to Book of Azreel. But then after that book, I have lined up Tier at the Gates. So I'm like, I it's it's in cue. It's in Q, baby. We're just, you know, trying to get through all these TBRs that keep popping up. And unfortunately, the book that I'm reading right now has jumped to the front because last night I went to bed at like probably 10 o'clock after I got done doing homework. I go to bed and I had this book and it has good ratings. And I'm like reading. I probably read till midnight. April: Ha. Tay: like I'm like I can't stop reading and I was like dang it I gotta I literally had to do this with my Kindle like just please don't want to read anymore because like I literally was hooked April: Awake. That's the best. Yeah. Tay: And April: I am very proud of you. Tay: okay, my next book is gonna be Meet Your Match by Candy Steiner. Also, to this is one of my favorite discrete covers, ⁓ so so that I actually, spoiler alert for people listening, I have book. It is unfinished. Don't know when a release date, and don't expect one anytime soon, because I'm in grad school people. but when grad school is over, the idea of the game is to publish a book. April: Ooh. Tay: Whether anybody reads it, who cares? But I want to publish a book. And I did hire someone to do my art. I specifically hired Stacy Hart, who did the design of this book, to do my cover. she already did the art and everything. And it's beautiful. ⁓ it me all the feels that this book did. So I actually met her 'cause she's her own author and I was talking about like exchanging number and everything. And I finally messaged her and said, hey, can you make, me a book cover? Well, this was before I even decided to go to grad school. And the book has since been put on the back burner. eventually it will see the light of day. And when it does, the cover will grace y'all's presence and it's so beautiful. But anywho, ⁓ off per ush. this book dedication says to the ones who run despite the rain, who jump without the fear of falling, who open hearts when the world said it's foolish to do so, ⁓ and who are crazy enough to believe in love. This one's for you. I love that so much. But this book specifically is a hockey romance. So if hockey is big for y'all right now, like I'm sure it is for everybody else, this one is one of those. it says the headline says it all, my bosses are over the moon when an opportunity of a lifetime lands in my lap. They aren't aware that I've met Vince Cool at the R all-star Gala. And we were at each other's throats the entire time. He's the kind of hot that shows gods ⁓ favorites. That's the fact. ⁓ yeah. she does interviewing and and so she has to go on the team and like interview him. once again, enemies to lovers, and ⁓ I like that in a book. But he's a hot shot rookie, so super good. this one, meet your match. April: okay. That is really cute and I'm so excited for your book when it comes out. You will have at least three readers for sure. Guaranteed. At least three. Yeah. Three is great. Tay: ⁓ at least three. Yeah, that's good. And maybe one of our listeners that's like i just interested enough to be like, Hey, let's let's take a whack at this book. And hey, we even know one star reviews can be funny. So if it's a one star for you, at least make it funny. April: Yeah. Yeah, we'll take it. Please. right. My next one is called And So the Breaking Begins. I'm gonna read it off of my phone. I read it on my Kindle. And I feel so bad. I cannot pronounce this author's last name. I should have probably looked it up better, like a pronunciation before this. So this book though is written by Tay: Mm-hmm. April: Lacey Lehotsky. Lacey Lehotsky. I'm it's it's rough I'm so sorry, Lacey. I actually recently just finished it, In this book, it is about a girl and she is a part of like something called like the Elessarium. I'm probably saying that wrong too. And they are all about peace. ⁓ And in this world. Angels and demons are at war, and she's an angel who believes in no war, peacetime only, like we can solve things without violence. she ends up being a faded mate to the ⁓ of queen of the angels, ⁓ and he all about violence, all about war. ⁓ And it actually a really good story. It really draws you in. It is a part of like this massive interconnected series. very heavy though, some heavy tropes, but the dedication in this book says, To the women who have been hiding from their power, break the cage, rewrite your fate, become the person they cannot control. And I was like, snaps, Lacey. Wow, that's deep. I was not expecting that when I started this book at like midnight one night. It is deep, but it it is such a good thing. I I love dedications where it's just really kind of inspiring. And so I appreciate that thought. Tay: Makes you wanna, you're like, you know what? Yeah, we can see the direction that this is going in. I vibe with you. Nice. actually, and I didn't realize my last two books are both Cat Singleton books. I do love her, and it's from the same series, so she must write good book dedications. April: Yeah. Yeah. Ooh. Tay: the first one is Black Ties and White Lies. And first of all, I love this book. this is an author that when I went up to, I was like, can you put my name in that book? ⁓ I wanted to say to Taylor Cat Singleton because ⁓ I love this book so The the dirty talk was just so good. his first thing, meeting her, he said something about like, I'm gonna bend you over a table or something. Or I remember some along those lines, and I was like, Say less. I'm hooked. it's her ex boyfriend's brother. so he he treated her like trash, and he's like, I'm not gonna treat you like trash. he does a whole like fake dating kind of thing. he needed a fiance because his company would not leave him like as CEO if he wasn't you know, a stable, married, guy. he's like, I need you to be my fake fiance and like, I'll write up a contract and all this other stuff. and then she kept saying his brother's name. And he was like, if you say my brother's name ⁓ one more time, I'm gonna come over there, bend you over this and spank you or something. I was like, I say it again? ⁓ I? I'm ⁓ I rules here. So I liked it. this one says, for all my besties who are just looking for the simple things in life, a hot billionaire to spoil you with gifts and orgasms. Beck is for you. Yeah. ⁓ Billionaires and orgasms. Bring on. April: Right. knows what we want. ⁓ Please. a great dedication. Tay: just like so yeah, yeah. she is one of my favorites. I love Black Ties and White Lies. like I was just like, ⁓ I need to meet her. ⁓ like the way she writes Dirty and Spice. It's so good. so sweet, so sweet in person. And just one more time, I'm gonna reiterate when authors are sweet, like I wanna read anything that they write. she also wrote April: Ha ha ha Tay: Bright lights and summer nights. So black ties, white lies, summer nights. So she's got a lot of these like and title books, but this is the second book. this one, the girl is rich and live in the Hamptons, ⁓ the guy is a former basketball player ⁓ and he a fake dating trope. So I think if I remember correctly, all the books in the series are fake dating of some kind. this one is as well. And the April: Ooh. Tay: Book dedication for this one is a little longer. Also, too, the page is really beautiful for the book dedication. Like, I just want to be wherever this is. It looks very the summary turned pretty. ⁓ but it says, For my girlies that are still figuring life out, here's to getting a little lost before being found. I hope you find your very own grumpy billionaire with a dirty mouth along the way. Until then, have the best time with Preston Rhodes. April: Okay. Yes. Ha ha Tay: Like almost she left us in the hands of her MMC. She's like, It's okay if you haven't found him yet, but my MMC, he's gonna take care of you, baby girl. Like I'm like, Yeah. April: So good. I have not read that book, but I might now. Like I might. Dedications and one-star reviews can sell your book, people. Tay: Yeah. And this is the one where I said the first song on the is When Emma Falls in Love by Taylor Swift. And I'm like, vibe. April: Ugh. Yeah. Yeah. What a wholesome song too. Aww. So my next one is Throne of the Fallen by Carrie Manascalco. This is, if you've read Kingdom of the Wicked, which I know you have, but to our listeners or people watching, if you've read Kingdom of the Wicked, this is actually about the Prince of Envy and his love story, I guess we'll call it. But her dedication in this one is ⁓ Tay: I know, right? Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. April: For those who can't help falling for the villain and love, a simply wicked fairy tale, this one is for you. I'm like, yes, we love villains. Yes, we love simfully wicked fairy tales. So check, check. ⁓ Tay: I yeah, check, check all the things. I do wish I will say about her books. just bought the first book of that series. I wish they match. Like the Kingdom of the Wicked ⁓ and those just look so vastly different. ⁓ And ⁓ wish publisher would just be like, hey, let's take Kingdom of the Wicked and do a reprint so they match because they just don't meld together at all. And you would never think that they even relate. April: ⁓ yeah. Yeah. Yeah. were the same series. Yeah. This one is this version yeah, I see where you're getting with that one. It's not like a clear series. Tay: But they do, like it's literally like in the same realm. You know it ha yeah, I don't have mine and it's such a good series, such a good highly recommend. April: Mm-hmm. Such a good series. If you like yearning and yeah. I don't want to spoil good book series. Okay, our final one of the night. Fear the Flames by Olivia Rose Darling. This is, I think, this book that I'm holding up for those who are watching is done by Ink the Pages, Ink Pages. I'm honestly don't know. ⁓ but the spine has a dragon. Okay. Tay: Yeah. Yeah. Ooh. ⁓ God, it's beautiful. April: In this book though, without spoiling too much, she is kind of like a castaway princess from kingdom, and she had dragons, her dragons got taken away from her, she wants them back, ⁓ and I don't want to give away too much because I feel like it's a really good story to go into not knowing much, but the dedication is great. It says, for those who carry the weight of the world with a smile and never stop chasing dreams that others deem unrealistic. Tay: Mm-hmm. April: Too big or impractical. Every word is for you. Your dreams are alive and so are dragons. And I'm like, yes, yes. The moral of this episode is chase your dreams, don't give up. Yeah. Tay: Correct. Yes. Don't give up. You know, do the hard things. Like you can do all the things. So if there's someone sitting out there right now and they're like, work is just killing me. I'm not, you know, thriving, change it. Do something. Do something that you love. Hey, if it's taking on a new hobby and say, I want to do needle pointing now. Do needle pointing. Hey, I wanna start this full series. book You know, from start to finish, it's got twelve books. Do it. Read it right now. I want to go do a podcast with my best friend. Do it. You might love it. Do book that may never see the light of day in publishing. Do ⁓ I'm like, you know what? There are so many things you can do and a lot can fit within a twenty four hour time frame and life is too short. And you I'll sleep when I'm dead. So, you know, hey. April: Do it anyways. Yeah. Yeah. That's right. Tay: I'd rather be present and do all the fun things and have all the experiences. just might be a little tired from time to time, but don't hold it against me. April: That's right. ⁓ And, know, we appreciate listeners and people watching who are taking time out of their twenty four hours, to spend a little time with us. We hope it brings you joy every week. We're having a great time. I am thriving with this. So much fun every week. ⁓ highlight of my week for sure. Tay: Yeah. No, this this has definitely been a highlight of my week. I look forward to getting honestly our reactions from our two friends make ⁓ the world a difference. So ⁓ you know, hey, we've getting more and more. So I just want to thank our listeners. Thank you for listening and taking time out of your day to listen to us. We hope you continue listening. April: Yeah. Tay: We want to do this for the rest of the year and create good content that y'all enjoy and listen to. So if there's any feedback or anything that y'all want to give us, we will gladly take just so we can keep you on and keep you invested. April: All right, besties. That's it for today's episode. Tay: sure to follow, download, and share the podcast socials with other book besties. We would love to hear your favorite book dedications as well. Please leave a comment on your favorite platform letting us know. April: And join us next week where we're gonna talk about our favorite summer beach reads. Tay: and remember ⁓ April: We're glad you're here because Yay. Tay: It's faded.