Dearest Reader

📚🖤 Welcome to Dearest ReaderThis isn’t your average book podcast.Hosted by two readers who feel everything way too deeply, Dearest Reader is where we unpack the stories that wreck us, reshape us, and refuse to let us go. Expect raw reactions, honest opinions, and deep dives into books that aren’t afraid to explore identity, grief, love, power, and everything in between. In honor of National Arab American Heritage Month, we’re spotlighting Arab American authors and stories that deserve way more attention. From powerful cultural narratives to unforgettable characters, we’re diving into books that expand perspectives and stay with you long after the last page.If your TBR is already out of control… we’re about to make it worse. 📖🔥🎧 Press play. Get comfortable. Let’s talk books.Your favorite podcasters,Shreya & Rose 💕⁠⁠Follow our Podcast IG! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Shreya on IG! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Rose on IG! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Rose on Tiktok! ⁠⁠

Happy Wednesday, Dearest Readers!Since April is National Poetry Month, Rose (they/them) and Shreya (she/her) are sharing poems that reflect one another and their friendship. So, grab a snack (and maybe some tissues) before you hop into today's episode! As always, follow us on our socials and feel free to give our podcast a review! We love each and every one of you so much! <3Your favorite podcasters,Shreya & Rose 💕⁠Follow our Podcast IG! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Shreya on IG! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Rose on IG! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Rose on Tiktok! ⁠⁠

Dear listeners,We’re officially closing the chapter on the first quarter of the year, and you know we had to sit down and spill all our bookish favorites so far 👀💌From unforgettable characters to stories that completely consumed our thoughts (and maybe ruined our sleep schedules), this episode is all about the books that defined our reading lives these past few months. Expect passionate rambling, a few strong opinions, and plenty of recommendations to add to your ever-growing TBR 📖🔥So grab your current read, get cozy, and join us as we gush, debate, and celebrate the stories we couldn’t put down 💕With love,Dearest Readers 💋

Happy Tuesday, Dear Readers! 💌Your favorite bookish duo, Shreya (she/her) and Rose (they/them), are back at it again—fashionably late, but worth the wait! 📚✨ In this cozy (and slightly cheeky 😉) episode, we dive into why reading smut can actually be so beneficial! From exploring intimacy on the page to understanding how stories help us connect with ourselves and others—this episode gets real, thoughtful, and a little spicy.⚠️ Content Warning: Discussions of intimacy, as well as mentions of SA and related topics, are included. Please listen with care and take breaks if you need to.Your favorite podcasters,Shreya & Rose 💕Follow our Podcast IG! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Shreya on IG! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Rose on IG! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Rose on Tiktok! ⁠Books mentioned:Breathe with Me by Becca MackWild Eyes by Elsie SilverThe Arabian NightsThe Black family who built America by McKissack familyLinks for SA & related hotlines:https://www.helpguide.org/find-helphttps://nomoredirectory.org/https://www.theamieffect.com/global-directory-of-abuse-helplines/Link for free sex education resources:https://www.carefortheculture.com/lets-talk-about-prephttps://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-pacific-southwest/campaigns/sex-ed-to-gohttps://sexedrescue.com/

Welcome back, Dearest Readers! <3March is here, and we’re celebrating International Women’s Month in the only way we know how — talking books 💐📚On this special episode of Dearest Reader, we dive into the women who’ve shaped our reading lives. From our favorite female authors, to unforgettable female main characters, to the delicious, cathartic chaos of female rage — nothing was off the table.We chat about the stories that made us feel seen, the characters who made us gasp (or scream), and why women’s voices in literature continue to hit so hard. Expect passionate opinions, a few dramatic tangents, and a lot of love for the books and women who inspire us.Whether you’re here for powerful heroines, iconic authors, or a little righteous rage, this episode is for you.Tune in, grab your current read, and let’s celebrate women on the page and beyond. 💗✨Follow our Podcast IG! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Shreya on IG! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Rose on IG! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Rose on Tiktok! ⁠#BookPodcast#BookPod#BookishPodcast#DearestReader#BookLovers#Bibliophile#ReadersOfInstagram#BookCommunity#CurrentlyReading#BookDiscussion#InternationalWomensMonth#WomensHistoryMonth#CelebrateWomen#WomenSupportingWomen#WomenInLiterature#FemaleVoices#WomenAuthors#WomenWriters#HerStory#EmpoweredWomen

Episode 6: When the Al Enters the Chat 🤖📖AI is everywhere — writing essays, recommending books, generating fanfic, maybe even trying to write the next bestseller 👀 — but what happens when it steps into bookish spaces?In this episode of Dearest Readers, Shreya (she/her) and Rose (they/them) dive into the not-so-glowy side of AI in the literary world. We’re talking algorithm-driven recommendations, AI-generated books, creativity vs. convenience, author livelihoods, originality, and whether tech is enhancing our reading lives… or quietly reshaping them in ways we should be questioning.Is AI helping readers discover hidden gems?Is it flooding the market with soulless content?And what does this mean for the future of storytelling?As always, we’re bringing thoughtful takes, chaotic energy, and a whole lot of love for the bookish community 💌Grab your current read, get comfy, and let’s talk about the robots in the reading room.We appreciate any 5 star reviews you leave behind!Follow our Podcast IG! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Shreya on IG! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Rose on IG! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Rose on Tiktok! ⁠

Dearest Reader…This week, Shreya (she/her) and Rose (they/them) step into the shadows with dark romance author Nadine Theiss for an intimate deep dive into the mind behind her stories.Follow our Podcast IG! ⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Shreya on IG! ⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Rose on IG! ⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Rose on Tiktok! ⁠We unpack:🖤 The psychology of morally grey characters🔥 Crafting tension, obsession, and emotional intensity📖 The behind-the-scenes reality of writing dark romance⚡ Power dynamics, vulnerability, and character depth✍🏽 What her writing process actually looks likeIf you’re drawn to complex anti-heroes, layered heroines, and love stories that blur the line between danger and desire, this episode is for you.Whether you're a devoted dark romance reader, an aspiring writer, or simply curious about what fuels stories that dare to go there — consider this your invitation into the author’s mind.Dearest Reader… enter if you dare.#DearestReaderPodcast#DarkRomance#DarkRomanceAuthor#AuthorInterview#RomancePodcast#MorallyGreyCharacters#SpicyBooks#BookTok#Bookstagram#RomanceReaders#IndieAuthor#WritingCommunity#CreativeProcess#BehindTheScenes#ReadersOfInstagram#PodcastLife#NewEpisode

Dearest Readers… it’s a solo takeover episode. 💌📚While Rose was taken out by the flu, the amazing Shreya grabbed the mic and ran with it — and by ran with it, we mean passionately spiraled into all things romance.In this episode, we’re diving into the romance books on Shreya's ever-growing TBR (because self-control is a myth) and the ones she’s already read and absolutely recommends. Expect swoony moments, dramatic declarations, unhinged enthusiasm, and probably a few “just one more” additions to your own reading list.If you love honest thoughts, a little bit of chaos, and heartfelt bookish rambling about stories that make you kick your feet and giggle, this one’s for you.As always, we’re just two readers obsessing over fictional people — and this week, one very committed co-host holding down the fort.With love,The Dearest Readers Podcast 💕

📚✨ Best of Fiction, Best of Intentions ✨📚In this episode, we crack open Barnes & Noble’s Best of Fiction 2025 list and let our bookish curiosity run wild. Which novels are calling our names? Which ones are boldly going on our ever-growing TBR shelves? And which picks make us say, “Okay… maybe someday”?We chat about the stories we’re most excited to dive into, speculate wildly based on vibes alone, and make a few reading promises we fully intend to keep (no guarantees). If you love fiction, book lists, and the thrill of choosing your next great read, this episode is basically your happy place.Grab a bookmark and join us 📖🎧

Welcome, Dearest Readers! Today is Chapter. 3 of our podcast where we discuss whether or not reading is political and how that may look. I will put a Trigger Warning here right now; as we do have discussions touching tough and uncomfortable subjects such as racism, hate crimes, privileges, etc. We hope you enjoy this episode and we hope you stick around for Monday's episode! We love having you here and hope you give us a follow over on Instagram! Follow us on IG!Follow Shreya on IGFollow Rose on IGFollow Rose on TikTok

In this episode, we’re diving headfirst into the books we’re loving in 2025—one favorite per genre and plenty of opinions to go around 📖✨From romance to fantasy, literary fiction to nonfiction, we break down what’s been hitting for us as readers in our mid-twenties and why these stories matter. We also talk about how reading is inherently political, what that means in today’s world, and how books shape the way we see ourselves and each other.Plus, we share our highlights of the week, what we’re looking forward to next, and our current last, now, and next reads because our TBRs are always evolving. And we want to hear from you! 💬We’re opening the floor for a Q&A so send us your bookish questions, hot takes, recommendations, or anything you want us to discuss in a future episode. Whether you’re a lifelong reader or just getting back into books, this space is for you. Grab a cozy drink, settle in, and read along with us 📚💖Follow our Podcast IG! ⁠⁠Follow Shreya on IG! ⁠⁠Follow Rose on IG! ⁠⁠Follow Rose on Tiktok!

In this episode of Dearest Reader, we introduce ourselves and share our personal journeys as readers—from our earliest memories with books to the stories that shaped us. We also dive into a thoughtful conversation about the political side of reading, exploring our beliefs on education, literacy, and why these issues matter. Tune in for an honest and heartfelt start to our podcast adventure where friendship and books come together.Follow our Podcast IG! Follow Shreya on IG! Follow Rose on IG! Follow Rose on Tiktok!