Book Bits & Chill

Remember when reading used to feel like the most exciting thing in the world? Staying up way too late for one more chapter, fighting for the next library book, and fully believing you might stumble into a magical world someday?So...when did we stop having that much fun?This week on Book Bits & Chill, we're doing a full READING RESET. We're talking about why so many adults fall out of love with reading, what childhood readers knew that we somehow forgot, and how to actually find that feeling again.And because fall might be the perfect season for a reading slump reset, we're sharing our fall book recs for every mood: cozy romance, dark academia, magical schools, spooky sci-fi, and the slightly existential books that make you want to get your life together before 2027.WHAT TO EXPECT:• Why adults fall out of love with reading• The childhood reading magic we lose as we get older• Phones vs. school vs. adult life: who's the biggest culprit?• What actually gets you out of a reading slump• The romance-to-romantasy gateway pipeline• Why audiobooks might be the ultimate reading reset• Why fall makes us want to become readers again• Fall book recs for cozy, spooky, nostalgic, and existential moodsBOOKS + AUTHORS MENTIONED:The Princess Academy by Shannon HaleTrial of the Sun Queen By Nisha J TuliACOTAR by Sarah J MaasHalf City & Cursed City by Kate GoldenZodiac Academy by Caroline Peckham & Susanne ValentiNightshade by Autumn WoodsBook Lovers by Emily HenryChristina Lauren booksLyla Sage booksFirst-Time Caller by B.K. BorisonMidnight Train by Matt HaigDark Matter by Blake CrouchIf your TBR has been collecting dust, you're deep in a reading slump, or you just miss the way books used to make you feel, consider this your official fall reading reset.Grab a blanket, pick the book that sounds FUN, and let's bring the whimsy back.New episodes of Book Bits & Chill every week.Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookbitsclubSubscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BookBitsAndChill

Is Rachel Gillig’s The Knave and the Moon a worthy finale to the Stonewater Kingdom duology? We’re breaking down the highly anticipated romantasy sequel to The Knight and the Moth, from Rory and Sybil’s romance and the infamous gargoyle to Benji’s villain era, the tournaments, the sprites, and that emotional ending. Plus, we compare The Knave and the Moon vs. The Knight and the Moth and decide which book wins.⚠️ SPOILERS HALFWAY THROUGH! If you haven’t finished The Knave and the Moon, listen through the first half for spoiler-free reactions.00:00 — The Knave and the Moon Review: Should You Read It? 01:00 — The Knight and the Moth Recap 02:00 — Rory, Sybil & the Dual POV 05:30 — The Romance, Yearning & Spice 08:30 — Why the Stonewater Kingdom Duology Works 16:30 — Our Ratings: 4.5 vs. 5 Stars 18:00 — SPOILERS BEGIN 18:40 — Bartholomew / The Gargoyle 21:00 — Sybil's Character Arc 22:00 — Benji's Villain Era 28:45 — The Tournaments & Game of Thrones Vibes 31:00 — History Repeating Itself & the Sprites 40:45 — THE ENDING: Maud, Bartholomew & Benji 46:00 — Rory & Sybil's Ending 47:00 — The Knave vs. The Knight and the Moth 50:15 — Which Book Is Better? 53:00 — Who Should Read The Knave and the Moon?Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookbitsclubSubscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BookBitsAndChill

August was one of our most chaotic reading months of the year...and somehow September is gearing up to be even crazier. This month we're wrapping up everything we read in August, from literary fiction and fantasy to rock star romance, tiny Victorian journals, and the rarest Book Bits & Chill event of all: a book we BOTH gave 5 stars.Then it's time to build our September TBR, and the publishing industry has given us absolutely no peace. We're talking huge romantasy releases, adaptations we need to prepare for, pirates, John Green, books that will probably make us cry, and one sequel theory that already has us spiraling.WHAT TO EXPECT:✨ Our 5-star read of the month📖 August reading wrap up + honest book reviews🚩 Emily's questionable return to her dark romance roots⚽ Friends-to-lovers discourse🗡️ Our most anticipated September romantasy releases🎬 Reading The Love Hypothesis before the movie🏴‍☠️ Our incoming pirate girl era🌙 The Knave and the Moon theories that have us STRESSEDBOOKS MENTIONED:The Good PartsSweet as SinSlanting Towards the SeaThey're Going to Love YouAbby OffsidesSweet HeatThe Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion Vol. 4The Knave and the MoonThreshing DayCursed CityThe Love HypothesisTempestThe Pirate QueenHollywood EndingGood PeopleLittle WondersCome back next week for our Should You Read This? episode on The Knave and the Moon because we need answers immediately. Specifically: KNAVE. MENDACIOUS. WHAT DOES THE MOON MEAN?!Subscribe for weekly book chats, BookTok reviews, romantasy chaos, author interviews, and recommendations from your book besties who are reading for pleasure, not pressure. 💕Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookbitsclubSubscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BookBitsAndChill

Anna McCallie, author of breakout sports romance debut Abby Offsides, joins us to talk soccer (football), found family, and falling for the wrong guy at the right time. Abby Offsides has taken over romance readers' shelves this year, pulling comparisons to Ted Lasso meets Off Campus, and this episode gets into all of it: the real footballers who inspired swoony Scottish football captain Lachlan Ramsey, why sports romance is having its moment right alongside the World Cup, and the messy, morally complicated stakes that make this slow burn hit different. We also get the real story behind the "Offside" versus "Offsides" title debate, what it was like writing a heroine who reinvents her whole life overnight, and a first look at what Anna's writing next, including a surprise reveal about an unreleased Pride and Prejudice retelling. Whether you're already deep in the sports romance pipeline or you've never watched a match in your life, this one has the banter, the emotional damage, and the BBC-coded chaos you came for.Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookbitsclubSubscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BookBitsAndChill

This week on Book Bits and Chill we are investigating the two types of readers who are reading This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me right now:⭐ The “Five stars. One of my favorite books of the year. Ilona Andrews can do no wrong.”and🫠 The “I’m 30% in and I genuinely do not know who anyone is.”And somehow...we get BOTH.By the end of this episode youll know if you should bump it up your TBR to get into the action or if this one is best saved for later.First, we’re keeping it completely spoiler-free and answering the important questions: What are you getting yourself into? How bad is the learning curve REALLY? Who is going to eat this book up? And is it worth pushing through the confusion?Then the spoiler warning hits and we’re talking about EVERYTHING.So if This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me has been staring at you from your TBR while the internet screams conflicting opinions at you, consider this your book bestie consultation. 💗Subscribe for more Book Bits & Chill, including fantasy and romance book reviews, BookTok reads, author interviews, monthly reading wrap-ups, and all the chaotic book bestie conversations in between.Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookbitsclubSubscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BookBitsAndChill

Emma Brodie, author of Into the Blue, sits down with us to talk about writing a fictional fandom that feels completely real, the improv background behind AJ and Noah's connection, why she chose to market this as a love story instead of a novel, and THAT ending that we're still processing. Plus the origin of the hairdryer, her honest take on the romantasy crossover, and the TV adaptation news we're manifesting as super fans of this book. Spoiler territory starts about halfway through, you've been warned.Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookbitsclubSubscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BookBitsAndChill

It's time for another Monthly Reading Wrap Up!July gave us everything... new obsessions, unexpected disappointments, emotional damage, and a few books we already know we'll be recommending for a long time.This week we're sharing everything we read in July, including our biggest surprises, books that lived up to the hype (and ones that maybe didn't), before building our August TBR featuring BookTok favorites, romance, fantasy, literary fiction, and the books we're most excited to pick up next.Books Mentioned: • Games: A Love Story • Along Came Amor • Burn Down Master's House • The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion • Ballad of the Falling Dragons • The Paradise Problem • This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me • On Mystic Lake • The Good Parts • Big Fan • Piranesi • The Alchemist • Love Hypothesis • Razorblade Tears • The Shampoo Effect • Little Wonder • Evenings and WeekendsWhether you're looking for your next romance, fantasy, literary fiction, or emotional read, we've got plenty of recommendations.💛 And if you're looking for more book recommendations, author interviews, and weekly conversations that feel like chatting with your book besties, make sure to subscribe and join us every week.Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookbitsclubSubscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BookBitsAndChill

Is Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey a faithful adaptation, or did he rewrite Homer for the algorithm? We saw it opening weekend expecting a straightforward book to screen discussion and left with a full spoiler breakdown instead. In this episode we get into Matt Damon's performance, the Cyclops scene that had us covering our eyes, the sirens moment the internet cannot stop talking about, and why the American accents have everyone online so fired up. We also rank our favorite scenes, make some very confident Oscar predictions, and give you our book recommendations if you loved the vibes and want more siren lore, more Circe, or more Penelope. Full spoilers ahead, you've been warned.Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookbitsclubSubscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BookBitsAndChill

This week on Book Bits & Chill, we're sharing our ultimate spicy romance guide by ranking 12 of our favorite romance books from Entry, Intermediate, and Expert spice. From beach reads and vacation romances to cowboys, billionaires, romantasy, and books that will have you checking the trigger warnings twice, we're helping you find your perfect summer read.We're talking fake dating on a lake, Sicily vacations, cowboy ranches, Olympic athletes, romantasy with primal play, rock stars, private jets, and everything in between. Plus, we debate what actually makes a romance book "spicy" and discover that Emily's spice scale might not be the same as everyone else's.Whether you're reading by the pool, packing for vacation, heading to the beach, or just trying to mentally escape your air-conditioned house, this episode is packed with romance recommendations for your summer TBR.Books Mentioned: • Funny Story by Emily Henry • Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood • One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune • Wild and Wrangled by Lyla Sage • Along Came Amor by Alexis Daria • Deep End by Ali Hazelwood • Fall of Ruin and Wrath by Jennifer L. Armentrout • Games: A Love Story by Anna Maria Volkova • The Poison Daughter by Sheila Masterson • Backstage Pass by Olivia Cunning • Chasing the Wild by Elliott Rose • In Flight by R.K. Lilley✨ Let us know in the comments: What's your romance spice level: Entry, Intermediate, or Expert?If you enjoyed today's episode, don't forget to subscribe for new book recommendations, reading guides, author interviews, BookTok discussions, and all things romance, romantasy, and reading every week.Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookbitsclubSubscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BookBitsAndChill

Kalie Cassidy, author of the Siren Mage duology, joins us to talk sirens, sea monsters, and the morally gray heroine everyone in the romantasy space cannot stop talking about.We get into how Kalie built the world of In the Veins of the Drowning and In the Wake of the Ruined out of a lifelong obsession with Greek mythology, why she committed to telling Imogen's story in two books instead of stretching it into a trilogy, and how her background as a theater actor shapes the way she writes tension, pacing, and atmosphere. We also talk about Theo, the yearning that has completely taken over our brains, and what it actually takes to write a slow burn where the tension never lets up.This is a must listen if you love dark fantasy romance, morally gray heroines, forced proximity, or a slow burn that actually delivers. In the Wake of the Ruined is out now, so grab a copy first if you want to stay fully spoiler free.Follow Kalie Cassidy on Instagram @kaliecassidybooks for updates on her next project.New episodes of Book Bits & Chill every week. Follow along for honest book talk, reading recs, and the occasional unhinged Google search history.Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookbitsclubSubscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BookBitsAndChill

What if your favorite Romance or Romantasy books didn't have to end when you closed the cover?This week we're recommending the TV shows that give us the exact same feelings we chase in Romance and Romantasy books. Whether you're obsessed with yearning, slow burns, forced proximity, ballroom scenes, found family, medieval fantasy or unforgettable FMCs, these are the shows we think every reader needs to watch.We skipped the obvious recommendations and instead shared some of our favorite hidden gems, including The Buccaneers, Poldark, The Empress, The Other Bennet Sister, Sanditon, My Lady Jane, Wheel of Time, and The Gilded Age.Whether you're looking for your next comfort watch or trying to fill the void after finishing your latest five-star read, we've got you covered.What we talk about: • Why romance readers are addicted to yearning • The TV shows that nail forced proximity • Ballroom scenes that make us want to learn all 14 Regency dances • Medieval fantasy worlds every romantasy reader should visit • The most underrated TV shows we wish more readers knew aboutWhat TV show gives you the same feeling as your favorite book? Let us know in the comments!Grab your blankets, grab your book boyfriends, and we'll see you there. 💙Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookbitsclubSubscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BookBitsAndChill

We barely read this month and somehow had more to say than ever. This is our June wrap up and July TBR, and it got existential fast.Cassie went down a full Carly Fortune rabbit hole (Every Summer After, One Golden Summer, Our Perfect Storm) and has thoughts on where to actually start. We both got completely wrecked by The Midnight Train by Matt Haig, the companion to The Midnight Library. And we finally talk about the Siren Mage duology by Kalie Cassidy, because In the Wake of the Ruined drops in July and the yearning genuinely changed us.Plus the Every Year After adaptation that broke our hearts (and not in the good way), House of the Dragon season three, and the July TBR we are absolutely going to lie to ourselves about.In this episode: – The Carly Fortune ranking and where not to start – Why The Midnight Train hit harder than The Midnight Library – The Siren Mage duology and the best yearning we've read in ages – When the Moon Hatched: do we agree with BookTok? – Book vs show: Every Year After, House of the Dragon, Midnight Library – Our wildly unrealistic July TBRIf you love romantasy, contemporary romance, and honest reactions over hype, hit follow and tell us in the comments: where should a Carly Fortune beginner actually start?#romantasy #booktok #bookpodcast #romancebooks #julytbrFollow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookbitsclubSubscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BookBitsAndChill

Do audiobooks count as reading? We have thoughts. This week we're getting into the best audiobooks we've ever listened to, the narrators we can't stop thinking about, and whether the right voice actor can actually make a book better (or completely ruin it).We cover our audiobook gateway drug, the books that hit harder on audio than on the page, graphic audio (and whether it's a little too graphic), and the narrator obsessions living rent free in our heads.Books and narrators we get into:Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, aka the audiobook we hand to anyone who says they don't like audiobooksTaylor Jenkins Reid's full catalog, from Daisy Jones and the Six to AtmosphereThe Favorites by Layne Fargo and Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-BrenyahAllie Hazelwood's Mate and Problematic Summer RomanceTrial of the Sun Queen by Nisha J. Tuli and Duskbound by Greenwich and LennoxJulia Whalen, the narrator we'd follow anywherePlus Dark Matter, Catch Me If You Can, Babel, The Knight and the Moth, and our graphic audio hot takesWhether you're a die hard audiobook listener or someone who's never pressed play, consider this your guide. Tell us your favorite narrators and we'll see you next week for our June TBR wrap up.Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookbitsclubSubscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BookBitsAndChill

This week, we're sharing our 5-star reads of 2026 so far and helping you figure out which ones belong at the top of your TBR.From books that completely consumed our lives to stories that left us emotionally devastated, we're matching our favorite reads to the type of reader who will love them most.Looking for your next obsession? A reading slump cure? A book that will make you feel something? We've got recommendations for all of the above.In this episode, we're talking about:⭐ The book that had us staying up way too late⭐ The most emotionally impactful read of the year⭐ The perfect reading slump cure⭐ A recommendation for romantasy readers looking to branch out⭐ The one book we'd bet money you'll loveBooks discussed:• Binding 13 by Chloe Walsh• The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff• Daggermouth by H.M. Wolfe• One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune• Into the Blue by Emma Brodie• The Correspondent by Virginia Evans• Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross• The Everlasting by Alix E. HarrowPlus, we're debating what actually makes a book five stars and if readers have become harder to impress...Grab your notes app. Your TBR is about to get longer.Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookbitsclubSubscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BookBitsAndChill

She built one of the most passionate reader communities in romantasy right now and she did it by trusting her gut, staying off Goodreads, and planning that Vows and Ruins ending from day one.This week we're sitting down with Helen Scheuerer, the author behind the Legends of Thezmarr series, to talk all things Thea, Wilder, and the slow burn that has readers absolutely losing their minds. Helen walks us through the craft behind writing a romance that feels genuinely earned across four books, why she made Thea morally gray, and what it actually feels like to resist caving to the tension as a writer. We also get into the Wilder discourse, her honest take on navigating reader reactions, and the intentional choices behind keeping conflict alive across an entire series.Plus we talk about her brand new book Kiss of the Black Flame, her first traditionally published US title, what it means to start completely fresh after a series that exceeded every expectation, and what she wishes she'd known at the start of her indie publishing career.If you've been living in the Thezmarr world, this one is going to hit. And if you haven't started the series yet, consider this your sign.Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookbitsclubSubscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BookBitsAndChill

In today’s episode of Book Bits & Chill we’re diving into our May reading wrap up and June TBRs, but somehow this episode also became a full existential crisis about reading moods, sequel fatigue, BookTok pressure, and whether we’ve all been forcing ourselves to read books like homework.We talk about:- the books that completely consumed our personalities- our newest 5 star reads- the most emotionally lingering books of the month- why we think romantasy burnout is REAL- sequel fatigue and release pressure- the Binding 13 casting discourse- mood reading vs forcing your TBR- our perfect summer reading plans- the books we think could become favorites of the yearBooks mentioned include:Into the Blue by Emma BrodieYesteryear by Caro Claire BurkeFamesick by Lena DunhamDire Bound & Fury Bound by Sable SorensonThe Boys of Tommen series by Chloe WalshThe Unselected Journals of Emma M. LionWhen the Moon Hatched by Sarah A ParkerScore by Kennedy RyanEmma by Jane AustenPhoebe Berman’s Gonna Lose It by Brooke Averick…and more.If you love romantasy, literary fiction, contemporary romance, honest ratings, chaotic reader conversations, and hearing two girls spiral over fictional men and their TBRs… welcome home.Subscribe for weekly podcast episodes, book reviews, reading updates, BookTok Tested videos, and all things books.Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookbitsclubSubscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BookBitsAndChill

Off Campus just dropped on Prime Video and we spiraled so hard we had to make an episode about it. This week Cassie and Emily are breaking down the full Season 1 adaptation of Elle Kennedy's The Deal — what the show got exactly right, what they changed from the book, and whether you should read The Deal before or after watching.We get into the scenes that had us absolutely feral (THAT "show me" scene — they delivered), why Allie and Dean almost stole the show entirely, the female gaze vs. the millennial gaze, the iconic cinematic parallels to our favorite rom-coms, and why Belmont Cameli's jaw ticks broke us on a personal level.Plus: our full book vs. show ratings, the read-before-or-after debate (we disagree), and our theories on what Season 2 is going to do with Dean and Allie's storyline.If you binged Off Campus and immediately doom-scrolled TikTok fan edits at 1am, this episode is for you.Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookbitsclubSubscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BookBitsAndChill

Fury Bound is one of the most hyped romantasy sequels of 2026 and the internet keeps calling it “Fourth Wing with wolves”… so obviously we had to talk about it.In this episode of Book Bits & Chill, we review Dire Bound and Fury Bound by Sable Sorensen and answer the big question: should you actually read this viral romantasy series right now, or can it wait?We get into:• Fourth Wing comparisons• Our final review• Entry-level romantasy vs expert romantasy readers• The plot twist chaos• Whether the deaths actually landed emotionally• The wolf bonds, magic system, and romance• Why this series feels like “junk food books”• Whether book three is worth continuingThis episode is spoiler free at the beginning, then turns into full book club discussion with spoilers for Dire Bound and Fury Bound.If you love romantasy, fantasy romance, Fourth Wing, ACOTAR, Quicksilver, or dramatic book club conversations, welcome home.Subscribe for weekly romantasy reviews, book club discussions, adaptation reactions, BookTok Tested verdicts, and chaotic reader commentary.Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookbitsclubSubscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BookBitsAndChill

Did Netflix nail the Remarkably Bright Creatures adaptation? We're breaking down the May 8th release of Shelby Van Pelt's bestselling novel and giving our full book-to-screen verdict — spoilers included.In this episode, Cassie and Emily dive into the casting choices (Sally Field as Tova = perfection, but who is Lewis Pullman as Cameron?), debate whether Marcellus the octopus got the voiceover he deserved (David Attenborough vs. Michael Urie's iconic audiobook performance — fight us), and unpack the sly changes Netflix made from the book, including the shift from estranged brother to husband and the minimized search for Cameron's father.We also cover:– The CGI Marcellus and whether it landed emotionally– Why the twist hit harder in the book than on screen– The mop-bucket finale that wrecked us both– Why this is the perfect Mother's Day movie watch– Our final star ratings on adaptation accuracy, emotional impact, and castingIf you loved the BookTok-famous novel, are deciding whether to stream the movie, or just want a cozy, character-driven cry — this one's for you.🎧 Next week: Should You Read This? on Fury Bound by Sable Sorenson, the highly anticipated follow-up to Direbound.Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookbitsclubSubscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BookBitsAndChill

Okay besties… we failed our TBR.We break down our April wrap up and May TBR, including what we actually read, what surprised us, and what completely derailed our plans. From Shield of Sparrows to The Deal and other viral BookTok books, this month had range.We also get into:00:00 We failed our TBR02:00 DNF to obsessed… Shield of Sparrows pipeline06:00 Is binge reading better than waiting for sequels?10:30 The Deal review… fun or cringey?15:30 Book to movie adaptations… are we doing too much?21:00 The most divisive book of the month26:00 May TBR… are we being realistic?30:00 What we are actually excited to readThen we reset for May with a more realistic TBR… or at least we are pretending it is.If you are looking for what to read next or want honest reader reactions, this one is for you.BOOKS MENTIONED• Beach Read by Emily Henry• Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry• Rites of the Starling by Devney Perry• The Deal by Elle Kennedy• Into the Blue by Emma Brodie• Dire Bound by Sable Sorenson• Fury Bound by Sable Sorenson• Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan• Stormbreaker by Nisha J. Tuli• Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune• The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff• Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke• Fame Sick by Lena DunhamJOIN THE CHAT: What did you read in April? Did you stick to your TBR or spiral like us? What is on your May TBR?Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookbitsclubSubscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BookBitsAndChill