Latest / Fated / Books We're FERAL! For
Transcript
- Tay: Welcome to the podcast where your next favorite story is already written in the stars. April: Where are your new book besties? April. Tay: Ante here to get your book craving started and satisfied. April: Why? Tay: Because around here it's faded. April: Also grab your current read, maybe a cozy drink, and hide your TBR list because today we're discussing books we're feral for. Tay: And you know, it changes with the season, y'all. So I think y'all can all relate when you're listening here. You listen to what you're feeling like. And right now, these are just the things that me and April happen to be gravitating towards right now. And, you know, you might find a couple book recommendations you might like. But I will kick us off with just some of my interests. my interests right now are rock stars. Tattooed men, which my parents are like and Regency Romance. What a spin on that. But those are like my three like top reads right now. Like I love going around that circuit. And I don't know why. It's just is well. Actually, I know why. Okay. So Atron is also listening to this. This is my bestie and April's sister. but she's listening right now and she knows why. The reason why is because Youngblood, Youngblood is all over our page. Also for me is Melrose Avenue right now. And I'm like just sold on the Tattooed Men, Rockstar, Angsty. I love it. I eat it up. I want it. And then as far as like Regency romance, I've been watching a lot of shows that kind of had some Regency flair. So, you know, I was kind of feeling it in a book. So I sent out a a wild message to our group and I was like, give me some recommendations based on this. I actually just finished one you'll recommend it to me and I'll talk about that. But what are you into right now, April? April: Yeah. So my typical, like I am such a mood reader with the weather Tay: Mm-hmm. April: too. It really affects what I want to read. Maybe some people out there can relate, but I'm always in the mood for like dark romanticy, urban fantasy, things like that really always are kind of on my list. but I need breaks from those sometimes. And so lately I've also been into billionaire, which is wild for me because that's not typically Tay: Mm-hmm. April: a book type that I gravitate towards, not a trope that I'm really into, but I have been eating them up this week. Also, I am always down for historical romances, especially in the summertime. I don't know what it is. I've got a little bit more time to read than I do during the other months, and I have just been digging them lately. Tay: No, they got some depth to too, I think, like April: Yeah. Tay: with historical romances. They just feel very, very romantic, very deep. But then also too, I'm picturing fields and like you said it was Scottish, April: Yeah. Tay: the one that you were particular. So I'm like, I'm picturing, of course, Jamie Fraser, you know, everybody's go to April: Right. Tay: book man for historical. But, you April: Ha ha Tay: know, it just feels like I don't know, like summer. It's just a feeling. So I April: It does. And it takes you to someplace different and someplace new. And I'm just like, yes, I need to travel. I'm too poor to travel physically. But gosh darn it, I can travel in a book. Yeah. Exactly. Tay: Tell me about these places where I can't go, but I want to go and I can read about. That's the beauty about books, y'all. Like we get to like transport ourselves. We get to as much as somebody can give me a description of a character, I'm always gonna picture myself, homie. like I go, she's got really dark hair and blue eyes. Wow, it sounds like she has hazel and dirty blonde hair. April: She's me. Tay: And she's what? She's 5'8 too? Say less. I'm 5'8. I always in the books, they're always either like extremely tall or extremely short. I need a medium-sized queen. So somebody write me at least in between. You're either like April: Mm. Tay: five six to five eight, somewhere in the the range of my height. Cause otherwise they're like, she's so petite. I could pick her up. She's 4'11. I cannot. April: I need him to grunt a little when he picks me up. Tay: cannot picture myself. Then I'm picturing like a male super, super tall. 'Cause I'm like, okay, April: Yeah. Tay: well if I have to picture myself now, he's now six seven. Six seven. all right, we're gonna give you some book recs based on those feelings that we're feeling right now. So I'm gonna lean in on the rock star tattooed vibes right now. So you're thinking of, you know, like if you've ever pictured in your mind going to a rock concert, you're in that mosh pit, you're wanting the guy to see you and serenade to you, These books are your vibe. The first book is Dirty Like Me by Jane Diamond. So good. So good. One of my favorites. it's the first book in the Dirty Rockstar romance series. It features a fake dating plot. There's a Briesta Katie. she agrees to a six week fake dating relationship with a famous rock star, Jesse. and for his album promotion leading into chemistry and romance. So That's a very quick synopsis of it. but I love a fake dating trope. she's supposed to be his girlfriend, you know, et cetera. But these two's chemistry from the get-go is I just like eat it up. she ends up, they get to finally where it's like, my gosh, kind of heated, they're making out whatever. He has to go. And he's like, I'm so sorry. you know, time wise, she's like, You better go, you better run. And he leaves the room. She then such and such grabs her little friend and she begins to, you know, take care of business. Okay. And he forgot something. He walks back in the room and literally it flies out of her hand across the room and it lands at his feet and it's still buzzing. And he's like, And he literally, it's like, it says, Jesse just stood there looking at me. The vibrator was still buzzing and and he picked it up and like he goes, I just forgot my phone. And he runs out of the room and like it was just too good. I love that moment. I felt like I was there. My body shelled up when I was reading that. I'm literally wanting to throw my Kindle when I'm reading it. I'm like, my God, I've been caught. Yeah. April: Second hand embarrassment is real. Tay: Real. I was reading that. I was like, my God. Like that April: Ha ha Tay: is so and it it cracks me up. I love that, like I guess a trope in a book. But I died. I didn't even know I liked that trope, but it was so funny reading it. And then two, I could relate as far as being a woman or whatever. I just like had that inward embarrassment. Like, my God, he just caught that. That's crazy. too good. I love that so much. it was definitely something that part of the book that like sold on the rest of it. I was like, that's hilarious. And also too, the chemistry is just too good. he goes into the next day and he's still thinking about it. And he's just I love a guy in this book too, because he like, he goes, I caught her in a vulnerable moment. She probably doesn't even want to see me or whatever. And meanwhile, she's like, no, I want you to hurry up. it's so good. So We love a man April: I love that. Tay: that was like patient and waiting for her to make the move. So super good. Love that one. That one hit all the boxes on a rock star. Another rock star romance is one that's a little deep, so definitely has some sad points and some trigger warnings. And I highly recommend you read those before you read this book. But it is a phenomenal book. This is The Words by Ashley Jade. It's a standalone enemies to lovers romance about a rock star. And a girl he once broke up with who is hired years later to be his sober companion on tour, forcing them to confront their past and rekindle their connection amidst secrets, forgiveness, and second chances. Very good book. I'll kind of leave it at that. It gets really heavy. There's a lot of plot there that I don't want to like expel, but that one is also a really good rungster romance. if you're on the same kick that I am on TikTok and your algorithm is just like mosh pit after mosh pit. Read these. April: Yes. And on the words too. That's a really deep romance Tay: Mm-hmm. April: too. There's a lot to it. It's a huge book. Tay: It is. April: it's really good, but definitely do not read it if you are feeling emotionally vulnerable because it will get to you hands down. Tay: Yeah, we talked about emotional book Say You Swear last week. And that also has that same vibe. So if you've cried during Say You Swear and maybe you're like, I like that kind of feeling when I get in a book, but maybe you haven't tried a rockstorm romance and you're branching out. So if you wanted that in a book April: Mm-hmm. Tay: again and you want to feel all the things, read that book. April: For sure, hands down, Okay, so the first one that I'm gonna talk about is literally no surprise to you or anybody who knows me. But I have been on the biggest JR Ward kick lately. Okay, so I have this one particular is Dark Lover. This is actually not the book that I am reading right now. I'm on John Matthews' book. For those people who know the series, you'll know. But I did want to mention the first book. So this is the first book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series where we meet the king of vampires. His name is Wrath. Okay. We love it. We love it. he's the leader of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, whose mission is to protect their people from the big baddies called the Lessers. And Wrath is introduced to Beth, and she's like a half human, half vampire, and she's about to go through her transition, and he's kind of tasked with helping her. it's not as dark as like some of the other books in the series. For those who've read it, you Zadis is a super dark book, but also so good. But it starts this massive world that has just become something that I love so much. So I wanted to mention it here. I am way further down in the series than this book, but it's such a good one if you are willing to pick up something. I know it's intimidating because there are a ton of books and then there's a ton of spin-off series on it, but it's a great read. Highly recommend. Tay: And you've told me multiple times that her quality stays the same. she is a fantastic writer, which is really hard, people in long story writing to keep the consistency April: Mm. Tay: because and there's favorites that everybody will pick on in the series, but the fact that each one is consistently good speaks a lot for JR Ward. April: For sure. Tay: actually this book is intimidating as far as the list, but it's on my radar. I wanna read them. We have talked about it so, so many times. I actually the other day went into Barnes and Oval and I looked at her section and they had like three of them, but they were all random. And I'm like, no, if I'm gonna dedicate, I'm starting at book one and I'm going through April: Yes. Tay: all of them the way they should be read. I can't April: Exactly. Tay: I didn't want to start out of order. So I was like, I knew dark lover, it wasn't there. So was like, Well, we're gonna manifest that as soon as yeah, April: Yep. Half price books it. Tay: I I probably get them on Kindle first and then go and buy But yes, I need to look for them. April: That's fair too. Yeah. Tay: I really do. April: Yeah. Okay. And then for my billionaire, which I picked this up because of you, because you love this author. You love this series. Now, I had actually read this book a while ago. And then when you were talking about book three in the series, I kind of came back to it And I started reading book two. I literally finished book two last night. I'm now on book three, which may be my favorite. I don't know. But The series, well, the first book is Black Ties and White Lies by Kat Singleton. they're all billionaire romances. But what I love about this is it's a trilogy and it's all about these best girlfriends who meet and fall in love with billionaires. And of course, it's like interconnected with some of her other series, but this one in particular, we have Marg, and she's like an up and coming artist who suddenly finds herself fake, which is awesome. Love that trope. Fake anything or down for it. Tay: Mm-hmm. April: Fake engaged to her ex's boyfriend, who of course happens to be a tech billionaire named Beckham. And I have, like I said, I binged this series, billionaire is not normally something that I'm feral for. I don't know what it is. If it's summer and me just feeling like I want to live a different life. But this has been hitting the spot. I literally, like I said, I just started book three, which features a tattooed sports player. He's a football quarterback. but they are so good, and I love the friendship between the girls in the book and how that close-knit friendship goes on to include also the male main characters. I think that's really awesome. And they are super smutty books, okay? So I wouldn't say that these books are particularly like dirty dirty, but there is a lot of smut in them. So if you're looking for Yes. Tay: Brother, that book changed me. I wasn't a believer in X's brother, I didn't think I would like that trope. I just something about it. I was like, ew, you know, but then April: Mm-hmm. Tay: they played it so well. he literally treated her like April: Yeah. Tay: garbage. it was not like They were meant April: Yeah. Tay: to be the stars aligned, whatever. And then two, him and his brother don't even get along. So it's like, okay, April: Yeah. Tay: it set it up to my mind. I could kind of wrap it and be like, yeah, that's great. he was just so dominant from the get go. he was just like I mean, he kind of let it be known that he liked her this whole time. And he's just like, Well You know, I like you and who better to help me get my company back than you pretending to be my fake engaged, you know, person. April: Mm-hmm. Tay: I've known you too, you know, 'cause you dated my, you know, dipshit brother, but so April: Yeah. Yeah. And it's so good. I will say I've read another Cat Singleton book and I can't think of what it's called. Good co it's not good company. It's another Cat Singleton book. but she she d is it in good company? She Tay: think it's in good company. I think it is. Yeah. Mm-hmm. April: does that ex is, you know, brother trope more than once. she did it in this book Tay: Mm-hmm. Yeah. April: and then she did it in another book, and I feel like she does it really well because I feel like it can get kinda messy. Anything with an ex and you're dating somebody related to the ex gets really messy really fast for me too. But she does do it really well and it always seems to be like they're estranged or something is going on where they're not necessarily close, you know, relatives. Tay: Yeah, I read one once it was like a ex and then relative, but it was the dad. my gosh. Wouldn't it well, okay. April: You're thinking of birthday girl, Penelope Douglas, huh? Tay: So yes, Penelope Douglas, but then also too, April: Mm-hmm. Tay: there's a QB Tyler one. She does a trope of that as well. And like both of those books though, like, man, it's just like it go it explodes. you know what's gonna happen and you're tense. You're like, Ooh, as soon as that ex finds out, man, it's gonna be like and it was in both books. I'm being like, my god. So at least for some reason, brother wasn't as bad. I'm like, hmm, you know, fine. Dad. Yeah, huge difference. That is just to me. April: There's a huge difference between brother and dad. Not just the age gap, but there is a huge difference in that, yeah. Tay: I don't I I'm just I I sat there with anxiety the entire time. I needed it as any April: Yeah. Tay: after I've read it because I'm like, my god, like please, like I just know April: Yeah. Tay: it's gonna happen. It's gonna be so awkward and whatever. I'm April: Yeah. Tay: still gonna read it, but I'm so stressed. April: Yeah, Birthday Girl is so hot, but it is one of those books that I like had to suspend my own reality for because you know, 'cause you always think of the people you've dated, their dads, and you're no. But Tay: I was like separate. April: it is a really good book. You just have to forget some things. Yeah. Tay: Separate. Yeah. Yeah. You just have to like, you know, like we said, take a step out into a different world. This isn't this isn't Taylor's world. This isn't April's world. This is a new world. This is a book world. My mind can go there and be totally fine. So April: We can forget some details as we're reading. That's completely fine. Tay: Dad psh daddy April: Dad y Tay: my gosh. April: gosh. Tay: Well, we kind of both have like similar next like vibes going on. I have the Regency, you have the historical. for my Regency that I'm actually recommending is one that y'all recommended to me, is a book by Tessa Dare. It's A Week to Be Wicked, which I didn't realize April: Mm. Tay: was the second book in the series. So my bad. I'll have to go back and read the first. but it was so good. I was Giggling the entire time. The banter was really good. So picture like a very snarky, Elizabeth Bennett, and vibe character, which her name is Minerva. Minerva? I can't never say it. I know it's like the same, April: Minerva, yeah. Tay: yeah. Minerva. Yeah, Highwood. And then there's Lord Payne. he's like a a rake, you know. through society, whatever, but he's gonna, you know, inherit all this money when he turns a certain age, etc. she's like, you know, kind of the girl that you would see at a party sitting down reading a book. She's not all about that. She's like, you know, I'm all about books and I'm about book smarts. And she really wants to go to this symposium in Scotland she found like a fossil and she wants to go present it at this geology convention. So she Like creates a scheme basically, and she's like, Okay, I see you wanted to marry my sister, but I'll do you one better. to get your inheritance money, because also too, he gets it early if he gets married. It's like, you can marry me and you can take me to Scotland and we can run away together. I won't have any expectations or whatever from it, but that way I can get out of here and do what I want to do and et cetera, and you leave my sister out of it. And he's just like, What a weird no, And so constantly like telling her no and she's just like, It's happening, you're coming. and then he's like, Why did I show up? Why am I here waiting on this cart? I don't know why I'm still catering to this. And so they have really great chemistry back and forth. And I like this one quote that he said, in her monologue about himself. He says, she made him as randy as youth and twice as stupid. So he finally got her like the hots for her. but he goes, I keep doing all these dumb things for this woman. April: Ha ha Tay: is like, yeah, dummy, like you're falling in love with her. the reader can figure it out before they figure it out. You're like, duh, all the signs are there, stupid. Yeah, you were twice as stupid. You're falling in love with her. but it's super good. I just really enjoyed it. I've watched the shows like Bridgerton and I've really wanted to read the books. I just read The Duke and I, and that's the only one I've ever read. but I've wanted to read the other ones because I've heard great things about the other books in the series. And so, but I didn't really necessarily want to jump into that. I wanted to try someone else that writes Regency to see, honestly, too, if it was a trope that I enjoyed, and it is. It's a trope that I truly love. So I'm gonna keep those books flowing. April: Yes. I have to say though, on Tessa Dare, I love her books. I remember reading Tessa Dare when she first came out, Goddess of the Hunt. I'm pretty sure it was her first book. And I bought it. I was in high school, like probably junior, senior year high school. That's how long ago this was. I bought it at a store that doesn't even exist anymore. And I remember just reading it and eating it up, and then she became a favorite from then on. And it's sad now because she's not publishing anymore, and I don't really know the reasons behind, but she does have a fabulous Backlist for those who are interested, and for you too. She has some really good books out there. I highly recommend. And she's a great introduction to, I feel like, historical romances because she takes it pretty easy. Now, her later series, I feel like, get way more like, you know, you really gotta pay attention to the language and stuff. But her first few series and Spindle Cove is a great one. okay. Yeah. Tay: Yeah, I enjoyed the heck out of it. I was like, my gosh, this is so good. I just I felt the immersion. Like I was there. she describes like being on carts and the mud getting in tires and things like that. So I felt transported while I was reading the book April: Mm-hmm. Tay: and then could feel for the character. And she kept the banter for that time, which was so cool. April: Mm-hmm. Tay: it wasn't aged up because I've seen a lot of authors do that too, where they don't do a lot of research and For me, if you're gonna write a book that's based back in the day, you really need to fully commit, go all in and April: Mm-hmm. Tay: like use the language from that time, Because otherwise, April: Mm-hmm. Tay: I mean, using Gen Z or millennial terms in a April: Yeah. Tay: book that's supposed to be from the eighteen hundreds doesn't make sense. I felt that way the entire book. So I love that so, April: Mm-hmm. Tay: so much. April: Yes, she's so good. And I have such a s a soft spot for historical romances because actually they are the first true romance novels I remember reading. Like Say You Love Me by Joanna Lindsay, I'm pretty sure is the first romance romance novel I ever read. And I was probably high school, maybe late middle school. So they hold a super special part in my heart. But this author right here, this is Julie Garwood. This particular book is Shadow Music. Julie Garwood is probably arguably my most favorite historical romance author. She has so many out there. She also has a ton of different genres. If historical romance is not your jam, she's got tons of others out there. her books, though, are not only addicting, but this one in particular is so freaking funny. Okay. I laugh so much. Every time I read this book, it's so funny. In this book, we have Princess Gabrielle, and she is gorgeous. Okay, that's kind of like her thing she's really beautiful. And because she's really beautiful, she becomes a sort of a bargaining chip for the king of England, who is trying to make peace offers to the Highlands. Okay. So she's forced into this arranged marriage, but she's not necessarily going to go willingly. she gets to the Scottish Highlands and she meets the male main character whose name is Colum. And he sees her as like more than just a pretty face, but I also have to say the banter in this and just the amount of times that the female main character has just wowed the male main character is hilarious. it has some of the funniest and hottest scenes that I've ever read in a historical romance novel. She literally brings a horse like inside their keep inside their house, and he is like, What are you doing? It is so funny. I highly recommend. It is just a fantastic read. I read this book a long time ago and I still go back regularly and reread it whenever I need like a historical romance who's gonna make me laugh and also feel things. This is definitely the book that I pick up. Tay: have to add that one to my list too. That sounds super April: Yeah. Tay: good. I love a funny book. Like, to me, that's something too. we're still in the process of writing my book, but like that is something my goal is to accomplish. If you read it and you laugh, I've done something right. So, like when I April: Mm-hmm. Tay: was giving some of my pages and everybody's like, my gosh, that's funny. I'm like, sold. That's great. I want to keep that because I love. Moment in a book. I love when a book can kind of I don't know, take a spin. I'm like, okay, it's gonna go this way, but then she says something so off-wall, or the guy does, and I'm like, What? Like, I don't know, it makes you take a step back and then you laugh, and how many times has my husband probably heard me laugh stupidly in bed, just like holding April: Yeah. Tay: my Kindle to my face? And he's just like, What what are you laughing at? I tell him and he's like, of course, that's not as funny, but I'm like, in context, it's hilarious. April: Yeah, it's yeah. It's Tay: I'm adding that one. That one's gonna be on my next one. I mean, hey, it still kind of fits my vibe. I mean, it's not Regency, April: It's so good. Yeah. Tay: but hey, you know it all kind of under the same umbrella, you know. April: you're gonna love it. It's a great book. Tay: probably at the end of summer, whenever the fall starts to change, I'll be like back into some moody reading. And honestly, y'all, we're coming up on fall of Aquatar. So all of October, actually April: Mm. Tay: end of October, we're gonna be busy. We're gonna be busy and then we're gonna be stressed with the rest of y'all. Yeah. my God. Yeah. We're booked and busy. So April: And we've got the fourth wing novellas coming out. Like we are booked and busy for the fall. Tay: so sorry if fantasy is not your thing. April: I love that. Well, all right, besties. That's it for today's episode. Tay: Make sure to follow, download, and share our podcast socials with your other book besties. We would love to hear the books that you're feral for. And please leave a comment on your favorite platform letting us know. April: And join us next week where we're gonna play a game of Would We Survive Book Edition. Spoiler alert, I probably won't. Tay: my gosh. And remember April: We're glad you're here because Tay: It's faded.