Books Just Wanna Have Fun

Join us as we unpack the dual timelines of Opaline in 1920s Dublin and Martha in present day—a story woven with magical realism, love, trauma, and secrets. We break down the murky boundaries between ghostly apparitions, mystical bookshops, and buried family secrets that defy explanation. You'll discover why many readers felt this book was beautifully written but frustratingly incomplete, with loose threads and unexplored mysteries that leave you longing for closure.We explore the specific elements that make this book unique: the mysterious missing bookshop, the obsessive quest for Emily Brontë’s hidden manuscript, Martha’s psychic powers, and the haunting connection between the characters across time. Plus, we examine whether the book’s unresolved plot points are a flaw or an invitation for your imagination to run wild. For anyone who loves stories that leave a lot to decipher—and are willing to embrace the mystery—this episode is essential listening.

This month Pamela gets the honor of interviewing an author!!!Join Jennifer van der Kleut, author of The Better Mother, as she unveils the secrets behind crafting a gripping thriller. Discover how her journalism background and love for suspenseful stories helped her create a novel that captivates from start to finish. In this episode, Jennifer shares her journey from journalist to novelist, offering insights into writing fast-paced fiction and navigating the publishing world.

Join Pamela and her friend LA on this episode of "Books Just Wanna Have Fun" as they dive into the eerie world of T. Kingfisher's "The Hollow Places." Discover the spine-chilling adventures of Kara and Simon as they stumble upon alternate realities and face abysmal creatures. With a mix of humor and insightful commentary, Pamela and LA explore the book's themes, share their personal takes, and even offer some unconventional self-care tips inspired by the story. Tune in for a spooky yet entertaining discussion that will keep you guessing and laughing along the way. Don't forget to rate and subscribe for more bookish fun!

Season 3 is here, and we’re kicking things off with a round of Reading Roulette! Pamela dives into The Knight and The Moth, Jessica's husband Ray descends into Dungeon Crawler Carl, and the Wheel of Fun decides our fate. Expect chaos, laughter, and a few bookish surprises along the way.

Pamela and Jessica dive into The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix and Falling by Christina Lauren. When the Wheel of Fun lands on What If…, things get weird (and hilarious). Werewolves crash the book club, relationships get second chances, and logic takes the day off.

May the odds be ever in your favor! Pamela has finally read The Hunger Games trilogy and Jennifer is more than happy to chat about the books! We try to talk about all three but had so much to say we stopped at the first two! (there's an entire bonus episode's worth of chatting cut out from this!)

In this episode Pamela, Jessica, and guest Ray review: Voice of the Ocean by Kelsey Impicciche, Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson, and Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura.

This month Pamela interviews K.L. Vincent before the release of her upcoming novel Poisoned Pawn: Lost Sovereigns Book 1.It comes out June 21st, you can find it where you get most books!Follow her (and her sister and cousin) over on Instagram TheBlueStockingTrio

This week we read The Lost Letters of Aisling by Cynthis Ellingson. We introduce a new summary method and our wheel spin is playing"what if?"

Guest Ashleigh joins the chat. In this episode we talk about The Secret Place by Tana French, The One by John Marrs, and Spellbreaker by Charlie N Holmberg.

We are so incredibly excited to share our very first author interview book discussion!RubyAnn Stiegelmeier joins us to talk about her book! We had so much fun with this. We hope you find her as wonderful and charming as we did. You can find her book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/fytPE5MTW: suicide

This month we tell each other about The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden, Written in My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon, and The Measure by Nicki Erlick

Podcast Created by Jessica Hart and Pamela Linstad Hosted by Jennifer Flannery, Jessica Hart, and Pamela Linstad Edited by Pamela Linstad Music Performed by Bryan Lindstrom

Miss us? We had Jessica's husband read Pen Pal and share his thoughts! See you in season 2

In this episode, we dive deep into J.T. Geissinger's "Pen Pal", a book that took the BookTok world by storm. We'll explore the discrepancies between the book blurb and the actual story, discussing how the marketing might have set different expectations for readers. We'll also answer questions about the book and spin our Wheel of Fun for some laughs and surprises along the way! Join us as we unravel the mystery and drama of "Pen Pal" and share our thoughts on this thrilling, dark romance. Don't miss out on this engaging and entertaining discussion! Hosted by: Jennifer Flannery, Jessica Hart, and Pamela Linstad Music performed by Bryan Lindstrom Created by Jessica Hart and Pamela Linstad

This month we ramble about The Only One Left by Riley Sager, Same Time Next Year by Tessa Bailey; and Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Hosted by: Jessica Hart, John Weinstein and Pamela Linstad Music Performed by Bryan Lindstrom Created by Jessica Hart and Pamela Linstad Edited by Pamela Linstad

This week we try out a new more book clubish structure as we read the book by Grady Hendrix. Editorial notes: GHB is a growth hormone that if used a certain way can be a date rape drug. Vestry is a location at a church or a meeting of parishioners. Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret is about puberty and faith. Forever... is about romance and sexuality.

We rate and review: If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy, The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore, and So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison. Hosted by: Jennifer Flannery, Jessica Hart and Pamela Linstad Music Performed by Bryan Lindstrom Created by Jessica Hart and Pamela Linstad Edited by Pamela Linstad

Welcome to our first podcast episode! Join us as we test out our format and have a lot of fun talking about Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin Podcast created by Jessica Hart and Pamela Linstad Edited by Pamela Linstad Hosted by Jennifer Flannery, Jessica Hart, and Pamela Linstad Music performed by Bryan Lindstrom

Hey book lovers! Welcome to Books Just Wanna Have Fun, the podcast where we dive into the world of books and bring you honest reviews, insightful discussions, and random topics based on a wheel spin. If you’re looking for your next great read or just love talking about books, join us on Books Just Wanna Have Fun.