Booked AF Podcast

We’re heading back to the dystopian life of the Red Rising Trilogy with Pierce Brown’s second book “Golden Son”. Get ready for a wild ride! Other books mentioned this episode* The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown * Road of Bones by Demi Winters *  End of Men by Christina Sweeney-Baird * Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. MaasTo prepare for the next episode, read parts 3 and 4 of Golden Son! Join the discussion on Instagram at @booked_af_podcast or e-mail us at [email protected] by Nancy Leal, Rebecca Tumino, and Vanessa Duncan

A little late on the upload but here’s Part 2 of Big Swiss! Get ready for a bumpy ride because this book was a challenge for a few of us! Other books mentioned this episode- Three Mothers by Hannah Beckerman- Blood of Hercules by Jasmine Mas- 5 years to Freedom by Rejean Venne- The wrong daughter by Dandy Smith- Beneath the Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan- One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune - The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine - You Shouldn’t Have Come Here by Jeneva Rose - Tough Guy by Rachel Reid (3rd in the Game Changer series)- Caught Up by Liz Tomforde (3rd in the Windy City series)- The Road of Bones by Demi Winters- The Housemaid by Freida McFadden- Smoke gets in your eyes by Caitlin Doughty - Katabasis by R.F. Kuang - The End of Men by Christina Sweeney-BairdTo prepare for the next episode, read Golden Son by Pierce Brown! Join the discussion on Instagram at @booked_af_podcast or e-mail us at [email protected] by Nancy Leal, Rebecca Tumino, and Vanessa Duncan

We’re pivoting once again to a new genre that’s both chaotic and messy with Jen Beagin’s Big Swiss. We’ll be tackling chapters 1 to 9 in this first episode and trust us it’s a doozy. Other books mentioned this episode:The Long Walk by Stephen King Darling Girl by Liz Michalski Invisible Women (Data bias in a world designed by Men) by Caroline Criado Perez Game Changer by Rachel Reid Every Summer After by Carley Fortune Hidden Figures by Margot Lee ShetterlyFriends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry (a memoir) The Poison Daughter by Sheila Masterson How to Age Disgracefully by Claire Pooley - super cute Started The Housemaid by Freida McFadden To prepare for the next episode, read Big Swiss chapters 10 to the end! Join the discussion on Instagram at @booked_af_podcast or e-mail us at [email protected] by Nancy Leal, Rebecca Tumino, and Vanessa Duncan

Time to finish off our hot takes and hypotheses for the first book in the Red Rising Saga (trust me, we’ve got plenty) and find out where the first book lies on our bookshelf. Other books mentioned this episode:I hope this finds you well by Natalie Sue  Two can Play by Ali Hazelwood The Long Walk by Stephen KingHeated Rivalry - Rachel ReidThe Poison Daughter by Sheila MastersonHidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly The Anthropocene Reviewed by John GreenHow to Age Disgracefully by Clare PooleyQueen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas To prepare for the next episode, read Big Swiss chapters 1-9. Join the discussion on Instagram at @booked_af_podcast or e-mail us at [email protected] by Nancy Leal, Rebecca Tumino, and Vanessa Duncan

We’re jumping into a whole new genre once again with some dystopian Sci-Fi vibes coming your way! A well-known new classic Red Rising by Pierce Brown, will be our March book club book, so join us for our usual chaos. Other books mentioned this episode:- Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros - It should have been you by Andrea Mara- I hope this finds you well by Natalie Sue - The Ascended by Grenwich and Lennox - The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho- Unsteady by Peyton Corinne - Heated Rivalry’ by Rachel Reid - Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas- Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin- This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp- The Strength in Our Scars by Bianca Sparacino- The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a human-centred planet by John GreenTo prepare for the next episode, read Red Rising parts 3 and 4. Join the discussion on Instagram at @booked_af_podcast or e-mail us at [email protected] by Nancy Leal, Rebecca Tumino, and Vanessa Duncan

We’re finishing off this love story by Emily Henry and deciding where it will go on our famous bookshelf. Where do you think Great Big Beautiful Life landed?Other books mentioned this episode:- In Order to Live by Yeonmi Park - Cold Cold Bones by Kathy Reichs - Doomed by Chris Palaniuk - Onxy Storm by Rebecca Yarros - The Housemaid by Freida McFadden- The Ascended by Bree Grenwich and Parker Lennox- Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. To prepare for the next episode, read Red Rising parts 1 and 2. Join the discussion on Instagram at @booked_af_podcast or e-mail us at [email protected] by Nancy Leal, Rebecca Tumino, and Vanessa Duncan

We’re starting off our first Romance read for the love month of February! We’ll be jumping into Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry to see if we feel the love between the FMC, MMC and anything else along the way! Other books mentioned this episode:- The Sweetness of Forgetting by Kristin Harmel- Sense and Second Degree Murder by by Tirzah Price- Damned by Chuck Palahniuk- A Death at Party by Amy Stuart- The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo- Cold Cold Bones by Kathy Reichs- In Order to Live by Yeonmi Park- Eldritch by Keri Lake - Drive by Kate Stewart - Brimstone by Callie Hart - Lies He Told Me by James Patterson- The Housemaid by Freida McFadden - The Ascended by Bree Grenwich and Parker Lennox- The Savage Noble Death of Babs Dionne by Ron Currie- Assassin’s Blade by SJM- The 7 husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid - When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi - Heir of Fire by SMJ- Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin?- Katabasis by R. F. Kuang To prepare for the next episode, read Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry from chapter 22 to the end of the book! Join the discussion on Instagram at @booked_af_podcast or e-mail us at [email protected] by Nancy Leal, Rebecca Tumino, and Vanessa Duncan

We’re finishing off Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt! Join us as we finalize our thoughts, theories, and, of course, our rating of this book. (Will this be one we agree on finally??) Other books mentioned this episode:- The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown- In Five Years by Rebecca Serle- Katabasis by R. F. Kuang- Good Spirits by B.K. Borison - King’s Cage by Victoria Aveyard- God of the Woods by Liz Moore- The Savage Noble Death of Babs Dionne by Ron Currie. - Assassin’s Blade by SJMTo prepare for the next episode, read from the beginning until Chapter 22 of Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry. Join the discussion on Instagram at @booked_af_podcast or e-mail us at [email protected] by Nancy Leal, Rebecca Tumino, and Vanessa Duncan

We’re jumping into a whole new contemporary book! Join us as we get into Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. This one might be a tear-jerker; see what we have to say. Other books mentioned this episode:- Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown- Katabasis by R.F.Kuang - The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith - Lovelight Farms by B.K Borison - King’s Cage by Victoria Aveyard- Sunrise on the Reaping by Susanne CollinsTo prepare for the next episode, read until from A Three Martini Truth to the end of Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. Join the discussion on Instagram at @booked_af_podcast or e-mail us at [email protected] by Nancy Leal, Rebecca Tumino, and Vanessa Duncan

We’re finishing up our first duology with the Crowns of Nyaxia! Join us as we finish off The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King by Carissa Broadbent. Let’s finish up and find out if we have ALL our questions answered by the end of this romantasy. Other books mentioned this episode:- Fourteen Days (a Collaborative Novel)- Everyone in my Family has killed someone by Benjamin Stevenson- The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown - Katabasis by R.F. Kuang - Red Queen and Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard- The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith- Holiday Ever After by Hannah Grace- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho- The Assassin’s Blade by Sarah J. MaasTo prepare for the next episode, read until from the beginning until A Three Martini Truth in Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. Join the discussion on Instagram at @booked_af_podcast or e-mail us at [email protected] by Nancy Leal, Rebecca Tumino, and Vanessa Duncan

We’re jumping back into the Crowns of Nyaxia! Follow along as we talk about the first 42 chapters of The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King, the second book in the Nightborn duology by Carissa Broadbent. Let’s unpack all that high-stakes drama we know and love!Other books mentioned this episode:- The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman- Fourteen Days: A Collaborative Novel- Everyone in my Family has killed someone by Benjamin Stevenson - Riftborne and Duskbound by Greenwich and Lennox - One Day in December - Josie Silver - Sister Wife: A memoir of faith, family and finding freedom by Christine Brown Woolley - Tender is the Flesh by AgustinaTo prepare for the next episode, read chapters 42 to the end of the book! Join the discussion on Instagram at @booked_af_podcast or e-mail us at [email protected] by Nancy Leal, Rebecca Tumino, and Vanessa Duncan

Welcome to the second part of The Wedding People by Alison Espach. Follow along as we discuss the rest of Phoebe’s journey and what makes this book so relatable. Grab your drink of choice and join us — it’s going to be a good one! Other books mentioned this episode:- Elphie by Gregory Maguire- The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman - Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid - Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris- Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins - Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas- Everyone in my family has killed someone by Benjamin Stevenson - Sister Wife: A memoir of faith, family and finding freedom by Christine Brown Woolley To prepare for the next episode, read chapters 1-42 of The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King by Carissa Broadbent

This episode we’re talking about the first half of The Wedding People by Alison Espach - a heartfelt and darkly funny story about love, loss, and starting over when life doesn’t go as planned. Join us as we chat about Phoebe’s journey and all the messy real-life emotions this book brings. Other books mentioned this episode:- Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris- Strange Pictures by Uketsu - The Dragon Wakes With Thunder by K. X Song - The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman- We’ll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han - Everyone in my family has killed someone by Benjamin Stevenson- Anathema by Keri Lake- Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris- We Were Liars by E. Lockhart- Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. MaasTo prepare for the next episode, read the second half of the Wedding People by Alison Espach. Join the discussion on Instagram at @booked_af_podcast or e-mail us at [email protected] by Nancy Leal, Rebecca Tumino, and Vanessa Duncan

It’s spooky season, and we’re throwing it way back to where the chills began — R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps: Welcome to Dead House 👻In this Halloween special, we dust off our childhood nightmares, debate the most unhinged plot points, and ask the real questions: Why did everyone in this town act so weird? And why did every 90s kid think this was fine bedtime reading?!Join the discussion on Instagram at @booked_af_podcast or e-mail us at [email protected] by Nancy Leal, Rebecca Tumino, and Vanessa Duncan

We’re diving into part 2 of How to Survive a Horror Story to find out if anyone can survive this vengeful house and if we were able to predict who made it out alive! (Spoilers: we did not). Other books mentioned this episode:- Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingslover - Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi- Intermezzo by Sally Rooney- The Late Mrs Willoughby by Claudia Gray- Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris- It’s Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han- The Wolf King and The Night Prince by Lauren Palphreyman- Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson- Throne of Glass by Sarah J Mass- Whalefall by Daniel Kraus- We Were Liars by E. LockhartOur next episode will be a special Halloween-themed episode! Listen in for some nostalgic spooky vibes. Join the discussion on Instagram at @booked_af_podcast or e-mail us at [email protected] by Nancy Leal, Rebecca Tumino, and Vanessa Duncan

We’re ready to kick off Spooky Season by reading How to Survive a Horror Story by Mallory Arnold. In this first episode, we’re reading chapters 1-12. Listen to find out what we think of this new horror fiction novel. Other books mentioned this episode:- The Favourites by Layne Fargo- Heartless Sky by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti (The Zodiac Academy)- Everyone in My Family has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson- Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver- A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang- Mickey7 by Edward Ashton- Throne of Glass by Sarah J. MaasTo prepare for the next episode, read Chapters 13 to the end of How to Survive a Horror Story by Mallory Arnold. Join the discussion on Instagram at @booked_af_podcast or e-mail us at [email protected] by Nancy Leal, Rebecca Tumino, and Vanessa Duncan

We’re diving into part 2 of “TSTWON” (listen to us make a fool of ourselves trying to say that acronym) to see if our predictions about the deadly Kejari and our handsome MMC are correct. We definitely had a lot to say about this second part of the book, get ready for some strong opinions and debates.Other books mentioned this episode:- Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver- Mickey7 by Edward Ashton- Summer I turned Pretty by Jenny Han- The Favourites by Layne Fargo To prepare for the next episode, read Chapters 1-12 of How to Survive a Horror Story by Mallory Arnold. Join the discussion on Instagram at @booked_af_podcast or e-mail us at [email protected] by Nancy Leal, Rebecca Tumino, and Vanessa Duncan

We’re tackling a whole new genre with our newest book, The Serpent and the Wings of Night, by Carissa Broadbent. In this first part we’re reading chapters 1-30. Find out what we think of badass FMCs, a whole new magical realm, and maybe a swoonworthy MMC. Other books mentioned this episode:- Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver- Absolution by Jeff Vandermeer- Shadow and Storms by Helen Sheurer- Heartless Sky by Caroline Peckham and Susanne ValentiTo prepare for the next episode, read Chapters 31-56 of The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent. Join the discussion on Instagram at @booked_af_podcast or e-mail us at [email protected] by Nancy Leal, Rebecca Tumino, and Vanessa Duncan

We’re diving into part 2 of 2 of our first book, Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. We read chapters16-30, finishing the book. Follow along as we talk about what happens, discuss our hot takes and opinions on the ending of the book!Other books mentioned this episode:-The Princess Bride by William Goldman-Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver-Absolution by Jeff Vandermeer-Shadow and Storms by Helen Sheurer-My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand-Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby JiminezTo prepare for the next episode, read Chapters 1-30 of The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent.Join the discussion on Instagram at @booked_af_podcast or e-mail us at [email protected] by Nancy Leal, Rebecca Tumino, and Vanessa Duncan

Welcome to episode one, where we tackle our first book Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. In part 1 of 2, we review chapters 1-15 with all our predictions and crazy theories. Get ready for a wild ride! Other books mentioned this episode:- Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldtree- The Princess Bride  by William Goldman- All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr - The Three Body Problem Trilogy by Cixin Liu - Blood and Steel by Helen Sheuerer- My Lady Jane by Cynthia HandTo prepare for the next episode, read chapters 16-30 of Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. Join the discussion on Instagram at @booked_af_podcast or e-mail us at [email protected] by Nancy Leal, Rebecca Tumino, and Vanessa Duncan

In this episode,Listen as Nancy, Rebecca, and Vanessa spill the tea on:📚 Who we are – reading habits, favorite genres, and bookish red flags📚 Why we started this podcast (hint: for the hot takes and unhinged group chats)📚 How the show works – we pick a book, break it into weekly chapter chunks, and dive deep with our reactions and theories📚 What you can expect – spoilers, laughter, tangents, and some strong opinionsWhether you’re reading along or just here for the chaos, we’re so glad you came. Grab a blanket, a beverage, and your most annotated paperback—we’re just getting started!Other books mentioned this episode: Legends & Lattes by Trevor BaldreeZodiac Academy Series by Caroline Peckham and Susanne ValentiSunrise on the Reaping by Susanne Collins All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr To prepare for the next episode, read chapters 1-15 of Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. Join the discussion on Instagram at @booked_af_podcast or e-mail us at [email protected] by Nancy Leal, Rebecca Tumino, and Vanessa Duncan