Relaxing Reads

In our latest podcast, hosts Simone, Tanya and Deb talk to the author of “Death by a Thousand Cuts” Shashi Bhat. She shares what inspired these stories and what's next for her. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our latest podcast, hosts Simone, Tanya and Deb discuss “Death by a Thousand Cuts” a collection of short stories, that comes from author Shashi Bhat. A writer discovers that her ex has published a novel about their breakup. An immunocompromised woman falls in love, only to have her body betray her. After her boyfriend makes an insensitive comment, a college student finds an experimental procedure that promises to turn her brown eyes blue. A Reddit post about a man's habit of grabbing his girlfriend's breasts prompts a shocking confession. An unsettling second date leads to the testing of boundaries. And when a woman begins to lose her hair, she embarks on an increasingly nightmarish search for answers. It’s in these stories that many women will find very familiar moments!!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our latest podcast, hosts Simone, Tanya and Deb discuss our latest read This Summer Will Be Different which comes from New York Times Best Selling author, Carley Fortune, and it’s as hot and steamy as our summer!!! Lucy is the tourist vacationing at a beach house on Prince Edward Island. Felix is the local who shows her a very good time. The only problem: Lucy doesn’t know he’s her best friend’s younger brother. Lucy and Felix’s have an unreal chemistry, but the list of reasons why they need to stay away from each other is long, and they vow to never repeat that electric night again. It’s easier said than done. It's a setting that’ll have you planning out a trip to the island, there’s a ride-or-die friendship like Anne and Dianna from Anne of Green Gables and a sexual tension that’ll melt that Cows brand ice cream!! Time to grab a glass of Vino Verde and shuck some oysters as you listen to this steamy episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our latest episode, hosts Simone, Tanya and Deb discuss "It Ends with Us" by Colleen Hoover. The novels takes us through Lily Bloom's emotional journey as she navigates relationships with Atlas, her childhood love, and Ryle, her husband who has shown abusive behavior. The story explores the complexities of Lily's connections, her inner turmoil, and her determination to break the cycle of abuse for her daughter's well-being. As she confronts the harsh realities of her marriage, she resolves to prioritize her child's safety and embark on a path of healing, ultimately seeking the nurturing love she deserves. The novel, which is inspired by the author's own parents, has spent 157 weeks on the New York Times' paperback trade fiction bestseller list.  The movie with same name releases on August 11th in theatres starring Blake Lively.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our latest episode, hosts Simone, Tanya and Deb chat with the author of What Wild Women Do - Karma Brown. She shares some great insight into the book, including what inspired it, and what she has in store for us next.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our latest podcast, hosts Simone, Tanya and Deb discuss What Wild Women Do from Karma Brown. The story about 1970s feminist, Eddie facing the costs of loss and autonomy strives to create a better future for women at her Adirondacks camp; the other woman, Rowan, an aspiring screenwriter of today, makes a shocking discovery that sets her on a course of rewriting her own story. It’s lives that interweave as two women in very different circumstances go on journeys of self-discovery. So compelling, wonderfully written, part mystery, part journey to self-discovery.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hosts Simone, Deb and Tanya chat with Sarah Bernstein about her book "Study For Obedience".See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our latest episode, hosts Simone, Deb and Tanya discuss Study for Obedience from Sarah Bernstein.  This book tells the story of a young woman who moves from the place of her birth to the remote northern country of her forebears to be housekeeper to her brother, whose wife has recently left him. Soon after arriving, a series of inexplicable events occurs – deaths of cattle; the demise of a ewe and her lamb; a local dog's phantom pregnancy; a potato blight too. She notices that locals suspect she might be the cause, the reason… It explores themes of guilt, abuse and prejudice through the eyes of its unreliable narrator.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hosts Simone, Deb and Tanya chat with the bestselling author of The Maid, Nita Prose about her latest book "The Mystery Guest". We chat about how she got the idea, the cast of characters and storyline, plus Nita shares some really big news with us!!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our latest episode, hosts Simone, Deb and Tanya discuss a book from the bestselling author of The Maid, Nita Prose called The Mystery Guest. Molly Gray is not like anyone else. With her flair for cleaning and proper etiquette, she has risen through the ranks of the glorious five-star Regency Grand Hotel to become the esteemed Head Maid. But just as her life reaches a pinnacle state of perfection, her world is turned upside down when J.D. Grimthorpe, the world-renowned mystery author, drops dead—very dead—on the hotel’s tea room floor.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hosts Simone, Deb and Tanya chat with the bestselling author of Breathless, Amy McCulloch about her latest book "Midnight”. In the previous Relaxing Reads episode they discussed the book "Midnight". It's another pulse-pounding thriller: a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Antarctica to camp beneath the midnight sun becomes a desperate battle for survival against a killer determined to follow their prey to the very ends of the earth. With 24 hours of daylight, there is nowhere to hide.Olivia has always dreamt of spending a "white night" on the frigid continent, but never thought she'd have the chance….until her high-powered art-dealer boyfriend, Aaron decides to stage an exhibition on a luxury expedition.It's like a real life murder-mystery weekend Olivia didn’t sign up for. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our latest read, hosts Simone, Deb and Tanya discuss a book from the bestselling author of Breathless, Amy McCulloch "Midnight”. It's another pulse-pounding thriller: a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Antarctica to camp beneath the midnight sun becomes a desperate battle for survival against a killer determined to follow their prey to the very ends of the earth. With 24 hours of daylight, there is nowhere to hide.Olivia has always dreamt of spending a "white night" on the frigid continent, but never thought she'd have the chance….until her high-powered art-dealer boyfriend, Aaron decides to stage an exhibition on a luxury expedition.It's like a real life murder-mystery weekend Olivia didn’t sign up for. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our latest read, The Mythmakers is Keziah Weir’s debut novel about a young journalist named Sal who discovers a short story by an older author she met years ago. The story she believes is about her and that moment she met the man, Martin. Her life is in shambles, with a relationship falling apart and a career that’s taking a nosedive…so why not leave it all behind in search of that manuscript. This leads to an entanglement with the author’s widow, daughter and former best friend. It’s a story about the memory, perspective through different time lines, love, discovery within one’s self and the twists and turns that life presents! Plus a Q & A with the author!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our latest read, hosts Simone, Tanya and Deb discuss “Three Holidays and a Wedding” a team effort from authors, Uzma Jalaluddin and Marissa Stapley. As strangers and seatmates Maryam and Anna fly to Toronto over the holidays — Maryam to her sister's impromptu wedding, and Anna to meet her boyfriend's wealthy family for the first time—neither expect that severe turbulence will scare them into confessing their deepest hopes and fears to one another. They end up being forced to delay those holiday plans thanks to a Snowmageddon scenario… and land at a quirky inn on the outskirts of Snow Falls — a picture-perfect town where a holiday romance. But as Maryam and Anna start to feel the magic of Snow Falls — and find love better than their deepest hopes — they just might realize there's no place they'd rather be for the holidays!!!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hosts Josie, Ryan and (Britney Super-Fan) Simone discuss the book that has everyone talking, Britney Spears 'The Woman in Me'. Our three hosts go beyond the Justin Timberlake headlines and discuss Britney's often sad, but amazing journey and surviving it all, in her own words. In June 2021, the whole world was listening as Britney Spears spoke in open court. The impact of sharing her voice—her truth—was undeniable, and it changed the course of her life and the lives of countless others. The Woman in Me reveals for the first time her incredible journey—and the strength at the core of one of the greatest performers in pop music history. Written with remarkable candor and humor, Spears’s groundbreaking book illuminates the enduring power of music and love—and the importance of a woman telling her own story, on her own terms, at last.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our latest read, hosts Simone, Tanya and Deb discuss Pebble & Dove from Amy Jones. A once-famous but now-abandoned aquarium-in-a-ship in Florida is the backdrop for a novel of family secrets and dysfunction, and the ways in which it can sometimes take an animal to remind us how to be human.This is the story of a family falling apart, only to be brought back together again by an unlikely champion—a 1,000-pound manatee named Pebble. Lauren’s life is a mess, with a teenage daughter, Dove, who barely speaks to her. …there are quite a few secrets, it’s a little dark, but very moving, as they try to figure out how to choose between what’s worth saving and what needs to be let go. This one will pull at your heartstrings. Plus a Q & A with the author. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Guest hosts, The B-Team!, Josie and Ryan are back! In this episode they discuss Viola Davis's powerful memoir 'Finding Me' and learning about the incredible struggle and success of Viola's life. "In my book, you will meet a little girl named Viola who ran from her past until she made a life-changing decision to stop running forever. This is my story, from a crumbling apartment in Central Falls, Rhode Island, to the stage in New York City, and beyond. This is the path I took to finding my purpose but also my voice in a world that didn’t always see me."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our latest read, hosts Simone, Tanya and Deb chat about A History of Burning by Janika Oza. This epic debut novel is about how one act of rebellion can influence a family for generations. Beginning in 1898 with a young boy, Pirbhai, being tricked into traveling from India to Africa to help build the East African Railway, this sweeping saga traces the story of four generations told in snapshots through the years. It explores the impacts of colonialism, resistance, exile and the power of family. The book shines a light on some dark parts of history, but also offers love through the resilience of the human spirit. Plus we chat with the author. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our latest read, hosts Simone, Tanya and Deb chat about Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, A lonely shopkeeper takes it upon herself to solve a murder in the most peculiar way in this captivating mystery by Jesse Q. Sutanto, bestselling author of Dial A for Aunties. When one thinks of the ideal amateur detective, none of Vera Wong's qualities — like tampering with evidence and romantically setting up two of her suspects together — would come to mind. But when the tea shop owner, who watches an unhealthy amount of “CSI,” suddenly finds a dead body in her shop, she believes she’s the only one who can solve the case. Nobody spills the tea like this amateur sleuth in this comedic mystery. Plus we chat with the author.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our latest read, hosts Deb, Simone and Tanya discuss  “The Whispers” from Ashley Audrain which takes us to a well-to-do neighbor­hood where couples and their kids gather for a barbecue as the summer winds down. Everything is fabulous until Whitney, the picture-perfect hostess, explodes in fury because her son disobeys her.Everyone at the party hears her exquisite veneer crack—loud and clear.Before long, that same young boy falls from his bedside window in the middle of the night. And then his mother can only sit by her son's hospital bed, where his life hangs in the balance.Over the course of a tense three days, the women on the street grapple with what led to that terrible night. There are secrets, deceptions and lies within this group of women on Harlow Street. Plus a Q & A with the author!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.