Lit with Lara Ashley

In this Mental Health Awareness Month episode, Lara Ashley reflects on burnout: what it looks like today, how it affects us emotionally and physically, and how we begin to recover.Through personal reflection and insights from Rest Is Resistance by Tricia Hersey, this episode explores the importance of rest, boundaries, and redefining productivity.Lara also shares accessible mental health resources and a Community Library of books focused on healing and self-care.If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or disconnected. This episode is for you.This episode was lit. ✨

In this special episode of Lit with Lara Ashley, Lara Ashley takes you inside the world of BookCon; one of the most exciting events in the book community where readers, authors, and publishers come together.Whether you’re planning to attend or just curious about what happens behind the scenes, this episode breaks down everything you need to know: from author panels and book signings to navigating the event like a pro and making the most of your experience.Lara shares what she’s most excited about, how to prepare, and why events like BookCon are so important for building connection in a space that’s often experienced alone.You’ll also hear insights pulled from the official FAQs, tips for first-time attendees, and ways to engage with the community — even if you’re not there in person.If you’ve ever wanted to step deeper into the book world, this episode is your guide.Grab your favorite drink, settle in, and let’s talk BookCon.This episode was lit. ✨

Spring is a season of becoming, and in this episode of Lit with Lara Ashley, Lara Ashley dives into The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham, a story filled with secrets, shifting friendships, and the quiet pressure to belong.Set in an elite boarding school, The Academy explores what it means to enter new spaces and navigate identity, ambition, and social dynamics while trying to stay true to yourself. Lara reflects on the characters we root for, the ones we side-eye, and the universal experience of figuring out who we are when everything around us is new.In honor of AAPI Heritage Month, this episode also highlights author Axie Oh and the importance of supporting culturally rich, emotionally grounded storytelling.Plus, Lara shares a curated Community Library featuring dark academia and elite school reads like Babel, Ace of Spades, and The Secret History.Grab your favorite drink, settle in, and join the conversation on identity, belonging, and becoming.This episode was lit. ✨

It’s time for a different kind of spring cleaning.In this cozy, reflective episode, Lara Ashley takes you inside her home library, shelf by shelf: sharing the stories behind her collection, what she’s loving, what she needs to read next, and where she’s learning to slow down.From a romance shelf that’s almost full (and a reminder to read before buying more), to banned books, graphic novels like Lore Olympus, and nostalgic favorites like Harry Potter and Amari and the Night Brothers, this episode is a personal walk through a reader’s life.Lara also shares her love for cozy fantasy (Legends & Lattes), thrillers, holiday reads, and the books that have shaped her, including memoirs like The Truths We Hold and her own unpublished novel, which holds a special place on her shelf.This episode is about more than organizing books; it’s about reflecting on identity, growth, and the stories we choose to keep close.If you’ve ever looked at your bookshelf and seen a version of yourself staring back, this one’s for you.Grab your favorite drink, settle in, and come spring clean with me.This episode was lit. ✨

For Fat Tuesday, Lara Ashley dives into Park Avenue; a novel steeped in wealth, ambition, romance & the quiet cost of success. In this Mardi Gras-themed episode, Lara Ashley explores how power operates behind polished facades, why ambition can both intoxicating and exhausting, & what it means to take off the masks we wear in our careers & relationships. She reflects on how the book’s exploration of legacy, money, & reinvention mirrors the spirit of Mardi Gras: indulgence, performance, & the reflection that comes before a reset.Grab your favorite drink, settle in & enjoy a thoughtful Fat Tuesday read that lingers long after the celebration ends.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Lara Ashley switches things up with Lights Out; a dark, spicy romance that’s addictive, chaotic, & impossible to put down.In this episode, Lara Ashley unpacks why stories like Lights Out work so well as escapism, the appeal of morally gray characters, & why it’s okay to enjoy red flags in fiction while still wanting healthy love in real life.Grab your favorite drink, settle in, & let’s talk about romance that’s definitely not for the faint of heart

In the first official episode, Lara Ashley dives into The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh. A beautifully written fantasy inspired by Korean mythology.Lara Ashley shares how this book found her at the end of 2025, why it felt like the perfect story to open the podcast with, & what made Mina such a compelling and unforgettable heroine. Together, we explore themes of sacrifice, quiet bravery, compassion & the power of questioning the stories we’ve always been told.Grab your favorite drink, get comfortable & settle in-this episode is lit.

Welcome to Lit with Lara Ashley-your passport to all things bookish, one indie shelf at a time.In this soft launch episode, I’m stepping bending the mic to finally start something I’ve been dreaming about for a long time. No guests, no scripts; just me, sharing why this podcast exists, what will explore, & what finally pushed me to stop planning and start recording.Whether you’ve been waiting to start something of your own, or you’re just here for the books-this one’s for you.