Well Read Dames Book Club

We're diving back into the Bright Falls series by Ashley Herring Blake and read Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail this episode! Please see our previous podcast for Delilah Green Doesn't Care if you want to listen to them in order. This book has rom-com vibes along with HGTV vibes which is a very fun element to the story. This book is a delightful sequel and we all really enjoyed Astrid's journey of self discovery. Grab your headphones, your favorite drink/snack combination, and join us for this book club discussion!

Join the Well Read Dames as we read this feminist classic from 1983 by Marion Zimmer Bradley, which turns the tale of Camelot on its head. Told from Morgaine's point of view opposed to Arthur's, Lancelot's, the Merlin's, or any other member of the round table's point of view, this book explores Avalon's side of the Camelot tale. Join us as we discuss the book and the mini series adaptation!

Join the Well Read Dames as we discuss the lovely rom-com Delilah Green Doesn't Care by Ashley Herring Blake! We dig deep in this one to discuss miscommunications, childhood trauma, and of course that embarrassing meet-cute! We love a book that makes us laugh, and grin ear to ear, opposed to cry so please grab your headphones, favorite beverage of choice, and join us for this book club discussion! This episode has been updated because the audio cut-off halfway through the episode. Sorry for that and thank you for listening!

The Well Read Dames are taking a break from book discussion to discuss a show we love as much as our books! Following the season 3 finale, and what might have been the series finale of Apple+ comedy Ted Lasso, we break down our favorite moments, characters, and discuss what we'd like to see in the future if we're gifted with more of this show that we love, including our thoughts on potential spin offs.

Join the Well Read Dames as we continue our favorite series so far of 2023! This episode we are discussing book 2, The Ballad of Never After by the brilliant Stephanie Garber. To recap, Stephanie Garber first brought us the Caraval series, which we read and published our book club episodes of at the end of 2022. This new series takes Jacks, a character from Caraval, and gives him his own series, as a continuation of his story in these books. Our main character, whose POV we get for both books is, Evangeline, who has been teamed up with/stuck with Jacks, aka the Prince of Hearts, since she made a deal with him in Once Upon a Broken Heart to try and save those that she loved. We pick up where we left off in this book and Evangeline struggles to simultaneously not trust Jacks, and to trust him, as her feelings for him grow ever more complicated, as does her life. Evangeline finds herself caught between curses, magical gemstones, and handsome vampires in this book. And there is also the whole ancient prophecy thing going on. Grab your favorite drink, throw on your headphones, and join us as we discuss this book, which in addition to being extremely fun, has one of the craziest cliffhangers we have ever encountered!

Join the Well Read Dames as we embark on our favorite series so far of 2023! We have already bought fan art, and are full of fan theories for what the end of this series will hold, but join us first at the beginning of book 1, Once Upon a Broken Heart by the brilliant Stephanie Garber. Stephanie Garber first brought us the Caraval series, which we read and published out book club episodes of at the end of 2022. This new series takes Jacks, a character from Caraval, and gives him his own series, as a continuation of his story in these books. We are also introduced to one of our favorite main characters, Evangeline, who is not afraid to make a deal with the Prince of Hearts to save those she loves. Grab your favorite drink, throw on your headphones, and join us for this magical ride!

Welcome to this episode where we are discussing the second book in the Crescent City series, House of Sky and Breath written by Sarah J. Maas, or Queen Maas, as I like to call her. This book was a long and fantastic ride, which ended in my favorite cliffhanger of all time, which is saying quite a lot. Join us as we discuss each character's journey this book, our favorite moments, favorite characters, and break down our reactions to the cliffhanger, which left us literally screaming. Since it doesn't look like we're getting CC3 or any other SJM book in 2023, talking about the books we already have out is the next best thing.

Join us as we discuss the conclusion to The Folk Of The Air series by Holly Black! This third book is such a wonderful ride full of confessions, vulnerability, and of course monsters. Without giving it away, we loved this book and hope you did as well!

Happy Sunday and welcome to Cardan's reign as the King of Elfhame! This week The Well Read Dames are discussing The Wicked King, which is the second book in Holly Black's The Folk of the Air series. Jude finds herself in a powerful position but knows it is a matter of time until the other shoe drops, and it drops in a big way! Will Cardan be able to step up from puppet king to the real king that Elfhame needs? Or will he just drink faerie wine as Locke throws lavish revels with the crown's money? Just when you think you know what is going to happen in this series, everything gets turned upside down which is part of what makes it such a joy to read. I wanted to chuck this book across the room at the end, and I loved every minute of it. Join us this week as we break down the second book in this series and prepare yourself for next week when we discuss the third book in the series, Queen of Nothing! 

Happy Sunday! The week The Well Read Dames enter the world of Faerie and the Kingdom of Elfhame as they discuss The Cruel Prince by Holly Black. We loved this series, officially titled The Folk of the Air, by Holly Black and are very exited to share our discussion with you. Grab your drink of choice and join us as we discuss Jude and her many actions, our thoughts of Taryn, Locke, and of course Prince Cardan. Our next episode will continue the series next week when we discuss The Wicked King!

Happy February Book Club members! The Well Read Dames are dropping this episode out of order as we discussed the recent holidays at the beginning and I didn't want to cut our banter in case anyone else could relate! This episode we discuss Madeline Miller's book The Song of Achilles! As lovers of all things Ancient Greek, mythology, romance, and LGBTQ friendly, we had high hopes picking up this book and are happy to report it exceeded our expectations! This book is a beautiful tragedy full of young love, war, and heroic acts. I hope you enjoy this episode of the Well Read Dames Book Club and join us next time when we begin The Folk of the Air Series by Holly Black. 

Happy New Year everyone and welcome to 2023! Join the Well Read Dames as they embark on a journey with the Eastwood sisters in The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow! This book was a wild ride from the first page to the last and each sister's story was unique, compelling, and frequently frustrating along the way. We thoroughly enjoyed reading it and hope you have fun listening to our book club discussion. 

Join us as we discuss Finale, the third and final book in The Caraval Series by Stephanie Garber. This book is written from both Scarlett and Tella's point of views as secrets are discovered and true identities are revealed. This book and episode of our podcast are my personal favorites of the series because it was the first episode in many months that we were able to record in person. The chaos that resulted has mostly been edited out aside from an occasional squeaky chair to some minor pet interruptions. Still, I hope you have as much fun listening to this episode as we did discussing it and I hope this is a series that swept you away and that you truly enjoyed reading. 

I hope everyone had a wonderful week and are ready to continue the adventures of Scarlett and Tella as The Well Read Dames discuss Legendary, the second book in Stephanie Garber's Caraval series! Legendary is primarily told from Tella's perspective and nothing is certain as she tries to determine who she can trust while she tries to win the game. The stakes are higher than they have ever been, not for Tella, but for her entire family. 

One Sunday, two new episodes?! That's right, today we are back with two new book club podcast episodes! In this episode, the Well Read Dames, head into a new world of magic and mystery as we discuss Caraval, the first book in a series by the same name, written by Stephanie Garber. Join us as we discuss the adventures of Scarlett and Tella while trying to figure out who can be trusted in this exciting book. 

And we're back! I apologize for the unexpected hiatus, but please do enjoy this Book Club episode where we are breaking down all the twists and turns of A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas! 

Join the well read dames as we discuss one of our favorite books we’ve ever read, The Midnight Library by Matt Haig! We get in depth during this one and discuss how this book resonated with us on multiple levels. Matt Haig has crafted Nora’s story, her journey, into a touching and strangely relatable tale as she evaluates her perceived missteps and missed opportunities and is given the option to see what might have been. Apologies that this episode took so long to be published. I hope that you love it and that it was worth the wait!

Welcome to the Well Read Dames book club discuss of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's gothic horror thriller, Mexican Gothic! Grab a drink and join us as we discuss Noemi's harrowing journey and unlock the mystery and monsters that lurk inside the Doyle mansion. We really enjoyed this book and discussion and look forward to the Hulu adaptation coming at some point in the future! 

Hello and welcome to the Well Read Dames everyone! I apologize this episode has taken so long to come out but it was a doozy of an editing process and a heck of a year so far. But I am excited to present our book club discussion on Winter, the Fourth and final book (aside from some spin offs) in the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer! We loved this series and enjoyed discussing Winter. We're not afraid to be critical of some plot points here and there but a book isn't exciting unless it sparks conversation! Winter is a snow white retelling, brining us one of our favorite characters that our main compliant was that we wanted more of her in the series although that wouldn't have exactly worked! Put on your headphones, grab your drink and join us as we discuss the final book in this epic saga! 

Join the Well Read Dames as we discuss Cress, the third book in The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer. This Rapunzel retelling may be my favorite book of the series and we have a fantastic time breaking it down in a whole new way. Grab a drink of your choice and join us as we follow our new protagonist Cress, and the notorious Captain Carswell Thorne as they find their way through an adventure neither of them was prepared for!