Book Bits & Chill
For readers who want book club energy without the homework. Every Sunday, Cassie & Emily spill about the books everyone’s reading — from booktok, to romance, romantasy, and all the fictional drama in between so you know what to add to your TBR (or not).Listen in for recommendations & totally biased reviews, short & sweet recaps as we re-read our favorite series, and general book club fun. Whether you’re reading along or just here for the tea, you’ll leave with a bigger TBR and zero regrets.
Our 5-Star Reads of 2026 (So Far)
This week, we're sharing our 5-star reads of 2026 so far and helping you figure out which ones belong at the top of your TBR.
From books that completely consumed our lives to stories that left us emotionally devastated, we're matching our favorite reads to the type of reader who will love them most.
Looking for your next obsession? A reading slump cure? A book that will make you feel something? We've got recommendations for all of the above.
In this episode, we're talking about:
⭐ The book that had us staying up wa...
The Secret Behind Romantasy's Best Slow Burn: Helen Scheuerer on Legends of Thezmarr
She built one of the most passionate reader communities in romantasy right now and she did it by trusting her gut, staying off Goodreads, and planning that Vows and Ruins ending from day one.
This week we're sitting down with Helen Scheuerer, the author behind the Legends of Thezmarr series, to talk all things Thea, Wilder, and the slow burn that has readers absolutely losing their minds. Helen walks us through the craft behind writing a romance that feels genuinely earned across four books, why she made Thea morally gray, and what it actually feels like to...
Best Book of the Year?! + Our Summer Reading TBR
In today’s episode of Book Bits & Chill we’re diving into our May reading wrap up and June TBRs, but somehow this episode also became a full existential crisis about reading moods, sequel fatigue, BookTok pressure, and whether we’ve all been forcing ourselves to read books like homework.
We talk about:
- the books that completely consumed our personalities
- our newest 5 star reads
- the most emotionally lingering books of the month
- why we think romantasy burnout is REAL
- sequel fatigue and release pressure
- the Bi...
Off Campus Review: Is the Prime Video Show Better Than The Deal? (Book vs. Show Breakdown)
Off Campus just dropped on Prime Video and we spiraled so hard we had to make an episode about it. This week Cassie and Emily are breaking down the full Season 1 adaptation of Elle Kennedy's The Deal — what the show got exactly right, what they changed from the book, and whether you should read The Deal before or after watching.
We get into the scenes that had us absolutely feral (THAT "show me" scene — they delivered), why Allie and Dean almost stole the show entirely, the female gaze vs. the millennial gaze, the iconic cinematic parallels to our...
Fury Bound Review | Is This Just Another Fourth Wing?
Fury Bound is one of the most hyped romantasy sequels of 2026 and the internet keeps calling it “Fourth Wing with wolves”… so obviously we had to talk about it.
In this episode of Book Bits & Chill, we review Dire Bound and Fury Bound by Sable Sorensen and answer the big question: should you actually read this viral romantasy series right now, or can it wait?
We get into:
• Fourth Wing comparisons
• Our final review
• Entry-level romantasy vs expert romantasy readers
• The plot twist chaos
• Whether the deaths actually landed emotionally
• The wolf b...
Remarkably Bright Creatures Netflix Movie Review | Book vs. Screen Verdict
Did Netflix nail the Remarkably Bright Creatures adaptation? We're breaking down the May 8th release of Shelby Van Pelt's bestselling novel and giving our full book-to-screen verdict — spoilers included.
In this episode, Cassie and Emily dive into the casting choices (Sally Field as Tova = perfection, but who is Lewis Pullman as Cameron?), debate whether Marcellus the octopus got the voiceover he deserved (David Attenborough vs. Michael Urie's iconic audiobook performance — fight us), and unpack the sly changes Netflix made from the book, including the shift from estranged brother to husband and the minimized search for Cameron's father.
We Failed Our TBR… April Wrap Up + May TBR | Romantasy, Hockey Romance
Okay besties… we failed our TBR.
We break down our April wrap up and May TBR, including what we actually read, what surprised us, and what completely derailed our plans. From Shield of Sparrows to The Deal and other viral BookTok books, this month had range.
We also get into:
00:00 We failed our TBR
02:00 DNF to obsessed… Shield of Sparrows pipeline
06:00 Is binge reading better than waiting for sequels?
10:30 The Deal review… fun or cringey?
15:30 Book to movie adaptations… are we doing too much?
21:00 The most divisive book of the m...
The Romantasy That Wrecked Us: Nisha J. Tuli on Trial of the Sun Queen and Storm Breaker
This week on Book Bits & Chill, we are joined by bestselling author Nisha J. Tuli, the brilliant mind behind the Artefacts of Ouranos series, including Trial of the Sun Queen, as well as contemporary romance and her highly anticipated YA dystopian debut, Storm Breaker.
We get into ALL of it: the iconic first line that started everything, how the Atlas misdirect was completely intentional (she knew exactly what she was doing to us), why the slow burn had to hurt that badly across four books, and how Nadir went from secondary character to the love interest we...
Rites of the Starling Review: Is Devney Perry’s Sequel Worth the Hype?
In this episode of Book Bits & Chill, we’re diving into Rites of the Starling by Devney Perry, book two in the Shield of Sparrows series, and asking the real question: is this sequel actually worth the hype or are we in another cursed Book 2 era?
We start spoiler-free (promise, not even a whiff), then move into full book club chaos with spoilers, unhinged theories, and gossip.
We’re chatting:
Spoiler-free review: vibes, pacing, and where it sits on the romantasy spectrumWho should read it now vs who should wait until book 3 is outOur hone...Auto-Buy Authors Guide & Where to START (Emily Henry, TJR, Kristin Hannah)
In this episode of Book Bits & Chill, we’re breaking down our ultimate auto-buy authors guide. Including what an auto-buy author actually is, why they’re the best reading hack, and the exact roadmap you should follow to fall in love with them (instead of getting burned).
We’re sharing:
Our definition of a true auto-buy author The authors we will read no matter what Who we read for comfort, ugly crying, tension, and feeling ✨intellectual✨ AND the exact reading order for some of our favorite authorsIncluding deep dives into:
Emily HenryKristin Hanna...March Reading Wrap-Up & April TBR: 5-Star Reads, Book Hangovers & What We're Reading Next
March was unhinged in the best way. Emily went on a full romantasy deep dive and has zero regrets, and Cassie somehow gave out three five-star ratings in a single month — and yes, she stands by every single one.
In this episode we're doing our March reading wrap-up and breaking it down with awards instead of a boring ratings list: main character energy books, plot twist reads, red flags, and full-on book hangovers. Then we're getting into our April TBRs — and yes, this might finally be Joey's month.
Books we talk about in t...
The Poison Daughter Interview with Sheila Masterson | Dark Romantasy, Spice & Writing Viral Books
This week on Book Bits & Chill, we are sitting down with the mind behind one of the most viral dark romantasy books right now… Sheila Masterson, author of The Poison Daughter!
This is the book that took over BookTok, climbed the Kindle Unlimited charts, and had readers staying up until 2am questioning everything. After binge reading this book we had questions, so we brought on the genius herself!
⏱️ WHAT YOU’LL HEAR:
✨ 00:00 Welcome + why The Poison Daughter is taking over
✨ 01:00 Meet Sheila Masterson
✨ 03:00 Her journey into romantasy + writing during COVID
✨ 07:00 Vibe Check (reading h...
Project Hail Mary: Did the Movie Do the Book Justice? (Spoilers)
Hollywood finally did it right. We saw Project Hail Mary opening weekend — and came out genuinely shocked that they pulled it off.
In this episode, Cassie and Emily dig into the movie adaptation of Andy Weir's beloved novel: what changed, what landed, and what we're still thinking about days later. We cover Ryan Gosling's performance (yes, Emily is eating her words), how Rocky was brought to life without CGI, why the sound design deserves an Oscar conversation, and the few moments that didn't hit quite as hard as the book.
We also run through our Bo...
The Romantasy Starter Guide: What to Read After Fourth Wing & ACOTAR
If you read Fourth Wing or A Court of Thorns and Roses and suddenly realized you might be a Romantasy reader… you are not alone.
But once you enter this genre, there are levels.
So today on Book Bits & Chill, we’re breaking down the Romantasy reader pipeline.
We rank the genre into three levels:
📚 Entry Level Romantasy
⚔️ Intermediate Romantasy
🔥 Expert Level Romantasy
And we recommend the best books to read at each level based on where you are in your Romantasy journey.
We also disc...
Binding 13 by Chloe Walsh: Hot Takes, the Prime Video Show & Why We Couldn't Put It Down
This week on Book Bits & Chill, we're breaking down Binding 13 by Chloe Walsh — the BookTok sensation, NYT bestseller, and soon-to-be Prime Video series. We went in knowing almost nothing (just girls crying on TikTok holding this book), and came out completely wrecked in the best way.
We're covering: a spoiler-free recap of Binding 13 and the Boys of Tommen series, our honest book club hot takes and ratings, the big debate about whether this is actually a YA book or if every adult reader is just as invested, plus our thoughts on th...
February Reading Wrap Up: 5 Star Books & Our March Romantasy TBR
In this episode of Book Bits & Chill, we’re breaking down our full February reading wrap up and lining up our hopefuls for our March TBR! This month one of us gave THREE 5-star ratings, one of us is still recovering from a book hangover, and in March we are reclaiming our love for Romantasy!
We’re talking:
01:00 Giving our month a reading score
04:20 The Daggermouth obsession
06:30 Thriller surprise 5 star
11:18 Another 5 star sports romance
13:16 Historical fiction book club debate
15:34 Short horror fantasy surprise
17:39 BK Borison discussion
23:06 Wuthering Heights verdict
...
Wuthering Heights Book vs Movie: Is Emerald Fennell’s Adaptation a Betrayal?
Is Wuthering Heights actually a romance… or have we all been gaslit for 200 years?
In this episode of Book Bits & Chill, we’re breaking down the original novel by Emily Brontë and the highly controversial new film adaptation directed by Emerald Fennell starring Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie.
We discuss:
• Why Wuthering Heights became a cult classic
• Whether Heathcliff and Catherine are romantic icons… or cautionary tales
• What Emerald Fennell changed (and removed entirely) from the book
• The generational trauma storyline that didn’t make it to screen
• Casting, chemistry, and the...
Is The Long Game Worth It? Heated Rivalry Sequel + The Rise of Hockey Romance
In this episode, we’re diving into The Long Game by Rachel Reid, the highly anticipated sequel to Heated Rivalry, and breaking down whether it lives up to one of the most beloved sports romances of all time.
We’re discussing:
- Our honest ratings (was it a 5 star sequel or not?)
- The emotional evolution of Shane & Ilya
- The spice level 👀
- Why hockey romance has an absolute chokehold on the genre
- And Book Boyfriend Olympics! Who deserves gold, silver, bronze… or immediate disqualification
If you love romance bo...
Should You Read Daggermouth? A Dark Dystopian Romance with Teeth
In this episode, we’re breaking down Daggermouth by H.M. Wolfe, a dark dystopian romance that blends brutal political systems, true enemies-to-lovers tension, and unapologetic feminine rage.
We walk through a spoiler-free overview of the world of New Found Haven, discuss the book’s oppressive power structures and themes of survival, and explore why this story feels eerily relevant in today’s world. From dictatorship and dehumanization to rebellion, endurance, and love as resistance, Daggermouth is more than just a dystopian romance — it’s a mirror.
We also dive into:
Whether...Our February Mood | Romance Reads, Valentine Energy, The Olympics & Bridgerton
Are you entering February as a hopeless romantic, a Valentine’s Day skeptic, or someone fully prepared to let romance books, the Winter Olympics, and Bridgerton distract you from real life?
In this episode of Book Bits & Chill, we’re setting our February mood and resetting the vibes for the month ahead. We talk about Valentine energy, romance skepticism, Olympic-level distractions, Bridgerton season anticipation, and what kinds of stories we’re actually craving right now.
We also get into February TBR plans, Black History Month reading priorities, upcoming book-to-screen adaptations, and why romance as a genre...
January Reading Wrap-Up: When a Six-Star Read Ruins the Month (Plus What We Read & Watched)
January is officially over — and the receipts are in. In this cozy but chaotic January wrap-up episode, we’re revisiting our reading goals, giving ourselves a very unserious report card, and unpacking what actually happened versus what we thought this month would look like.
We talk about slowing down instead of burning out, and how one six-star read completely reshaped our expectations for all Romantasy books that followed. We also get into book tracking apps, reading slumps, and why some hyped books just don’t hit depending on timing, mood, or mindset.
We share what we rea...
People We Meet on Vacation: Book vs Movie Adaptation
People We Meet on Vacation is officially on screen… and romance readers are divided.
In today’s episode of Book Bits & Chill, we’re diving into the People We Meet on Vacation book to movie adaptation. Are we book-to-screen purists or sympathizers? What did Hollywood change, and did those changes actually work? We break down everything from Barcelona vs Palm Springs, the ending swap, the missing Alex backstory, and whether Emily Henry protected the emotional spine of the story.
⏱️ WHAT YOU’LL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE
00:00 — Purists vs Sympathizers 📚🎬
05:40 — Palm Springs vs Barcelona 🇺🇸🇪🇸
10:20 — That controversial end...
Should You Read The Everlasting? | The 6-Star Romantasy + 2026 Book Releases We’re Excited For
Is The Everlasting really a six-star read — and should you read it?
In this episode, we’re diving into one of the most talked-about books on BookTok and Bookstagram, often hailed as a top book of 2025 and a romantasy that the genre should be taking notes from. We start with a spoiler-free recap to set the stage, then break down our honest thoughts, reactions, and reflections.
We discuss why The Everlasting feels different from copy-and-paste romantasy, how it challenges reader expectations, and whether the hype actually holds up. From nuan...
Big 2026 Energy: Resolutions, Reading Goals, and Becoming Your Favorite Version of You
It’s a new year… which means new intentions, fresh planners, and at least three versions of ourselves living rent-free in our brains.
In this episode, we talk about:
• why resolutions feel overwhelming and how to make them realistic
• big goals vs tiny dopamine-hit goals
• whether rereads “count” towards your goal
• attention spans, burnout, and Romantasy overload
• choosing a word of the year (Youthful? Whimsy? Immersive?)
• motivating reads, comfort reads, and perspective-shifting picks
• building a real, inclusive book community in 2026
We’re starting the year with optimism, intention, and a TBR that...
A Court of Silver Flames Full Recap & ACOTAR 6 Predictions
In this episode, we’re wrapping up the ACOTAR series with a full recap of A Court of Silver Flames.
We break down Nesta Archeron’s journey from rage to healing, her relationship with Cassian, the rise of the Valkyries, the Blood Rite, the Dead Trove, and the events that reshape Prythian by the end of the book. We also share our honest reactions, what worked for us on reread, and where Silver Flames fits within the series overall.
To close out our final ACOTAR episode, we dive into ACOTAR 6 theo...
Good Spirits Review & the Christmas Classics Debate
There is something about the holidays that makes us crave familiarity. The stories we return to, the movies we rewatch, and the books that feel more like comfort than content.
In this Christmas episode of Book Bits & Chill, you can expect:
✨ Spoiler-light Good Spirits review
👻 Hot ghosts and holiday romance expectations
🎄 What makes a Christmas classic
🎬 Favorite holiday movies and comfort watches
To finish things off, we play a Naughty or Nice game featuring bookish hot takes, DNFing, enemies to lovers crimes, holiday smut opinions, and extremely specific reader behavio...
Why Smut Has a Chokehold on Women (And Why We’re Not Mad About It)
Why do smutty books have such a chokehold on women? And why do we keep choosing fictional men over real ones?
In this episode of Book Bits & Chill, Cassie and Emily dive deep (pun fully intended) into the world of smut, erotica, and spicy romance — and why women can’t get enough of it. We talk about why women are turned on by words more than visuals, and how romance novels act as emotional foreplay and low-stakes escapism.
We unpack the difference between slow burn yearning and instant gratification, debate when smut enhances a story vers...
Best Books of 2025 | Reader Superlatives, Book Boyfriends, Romantasy & BookTok Favorites
Today we’re handing out our 2025 Reader Superlatives and Best Books of the Year — and yes, it’s as chaotic as it sounds. If your reading year was fueled by BookTok recommendations, romantasy spirals, emotional damage, and wildly inappropriate book boyfriends, welcome home. In this awards-show-style book podcast episode, we crown the best books of 2025 across romance, fantasy, sci-fi, literary fiction, and thrillers.
We give out awards for Best Book Boyfriend, Most Likely to Keep You Up Until 3AM, Most Emotionally Devastating Read, Funniest Book of the Year, Biggest Mind-Bender, Emotional Support Book, Most Confusing Fantas...
Brimstone (Callie Hart) Deep Dive: Chaos, Spice & Confusion, Oh My
Today we’re diving into Brimstone by Callie Hart — and wow, do we have thoughts. If you’ve finished this book and thought “what did I just read?”, welcome home. In this chaotic, spoiler-packed book club episode, we break down everything from the world-building, the nonstop venom dosing, the missing characters, the plot threads going nowhere, and Kingfisher’s surprising new name reveal.
We talk about whether Brimstone works as a sequel to Quicksilver, why the pacing felt unhinged, which characters actually carried the book, and how this series might wrap up from here...
Do Not Read A Court of Frost and Starlight
We need to talk about A Court of Frost and Starlight. Because after rereading it for this episode… we are begging you not to waste your time. This novella is a winter solstice fever dream filled with a nauseating amount of POVs, zero plot movement, and Feyre giving everyone paintings of their trauma.
So we made the episode that will save you the read.
Inside this recap we cover:
• the entire plot in under 30 minutes
• whether ANY of this matters for A Court of Silver Flames
• final review, spice rating, hangover level & book club...
The Housemaid Review: The Thriller Everyone’s Reading… But Should You?
Freida McFadden’s The Housemaid has taken TikTok, BookTok, and every library hold list by storm, but does this psychological thriller actually live up to the hype? In this episode, we dive into the wild plot twists, questionable character logic, audiobook chaos, and why this book feels like the literary equivalent of junk food… in the best (and worst) way.
From Millie’s “fresh out of prison but still somehow naïve?” behavior to Enzo absolutely stealing the show, we get into everything that worked, everything that absolutely didn’t, and whether The Housemaid deserves its bestselle...
Why We Love Sad Books (+ 5 That Ruined Us in 2025)
Ever wondered why you pick a book that makes you ugly-cry… and then recommend it to all of your friends? On this episode of Book Bits & Chill, we dig into the brain science of sad books, explore why we keep going back for more, and share the titles that wrecked us (in the best way).
What you'll hear:
Fiction as therapy: how sad books become safe spaceThe empathy magic: why tearing up makes us kinderOur 2025 tear-jerker list + why each hitSad Girl Confessionals: standing in the rain, mixtapes, public sobbingFeatured:...
BookTok’s Next Maasverse? Bree Grenwich & Parker Lennox on The Ascended
Romantasy readers, this might be the next Maasverse moment. We're sitting down with Bree Grenwich and Parker Lennox, the indie duo behind The Ascended, Riftborne, and Duskbound. Their Sundered Realms series is filled with gods, revenge, trials and star-wielding magic and is taking BookTok by storm.
Discover how they co-write each chapter as best friends, the inspiration behind their universe and why fans are calling The Ascended the next ACOTAR.
Support indie authors:
Purchase The Ascended directly through their website to support Bree and Parker as independent creators, or find it on...
QUICKSILVER Full Recap in Under 60 Minutes + Our Honest Review | Callie Hart BookTok Tested
This week on Book Bits & Chill, we’re diving into Quicksilver by Callie Hart — the dark, chaotic romantasy that has BookTok in a chokehold. With Brimstone right around the corner, we’re serving up a complete Quicksilver recap in under 60 minutes, plus our unfiltered thoughts on whether it still deserves the hype.
From forbidden fae secrets to god-tier spice, we’re revisiting every moment that made this book unforgettable — and testing if it still holds up a year later in our Bookok Tested series. Expect laughter, chaos, and a few heated debates!<...
IS RHYSAND DEAD? Everything That Happened in ACOWAR (Part 2) | Final War Recap, Archeron Sisters' Defining Moments, & ACOTAR 6 Theories
It’s the final battle! We’re wrapping up our recap of A Court of Wings and Ruin (ACOWAR) by Sarah J. Maas in this dramatic, war-focused second part.
War has arrived in Prythian, the wall is down, and the Inner Circle is struggling to unite the High Lords against Hybern. We discuss all the most pivotal, heart-stopping moments:
Feyre's controversial sacrificial movesTamlin’s unexpected return as a heroMor’s quiet, powerful moment revealing her deepest secretPapa Archeron's shocking, tear-jerking sacrifice Elain's...Did We All Misjudge ACOWAR? | Feyre’s Revenge, Rhys’s Red Flags & Massverse Clues
Was A Court of Wings and Ruin really the weakest book in the ACOTAR series—or the one setting up everything still to come?
In this episode of Book Bits & Chill, Cassie and Emily break down A Court of Wings and Ruin (Pt. 1)—from Feyre’s Spring Court takedown through the chaotic High Lords meeting. Expect red flags, unhinged Tamlin moments, and Massiverse fan theories that will change how you see the series.
We’re talking:
• Feyre’s villain era and Spring Court revenge
• Rhys’s communication issues (🚩 on the f...
Romantasy Series We Will or Won’t Be Finishing: Crescent City, Plated Prisoner, & More
Some romantasy series have us feral (Fourth Wing). Others… we’re barely holding on (Crescent City, Crowns of Nyaxia, Quicksilver). In this Reader Hotline episode, we debate which hyped series we’ll keep reading — and which ones we’re officially DNF’ing. Expect chaos, hot takes, and a fictional Tinder game you didn’t know you needed.
🔖 Timestamps:
00:00 – Ring, ring! Welcome to the Reader Hotline
04:05 – Divine Rivals verdict
05:52 – Crescent City debate & tattoo bet
08:30 – When the Moon Hatched (dragon fatigue?)
13:47 – Plated Prisoner & Gilded Cage rant
16:39 – Crowns of Nyaxia chaos
19:02 – Rapid-fire: Fourth Wing, Shield...
BEST BOOK OF 2025: Project Hail Mary Review, Summary & Movie Adaptation Hot Takes
Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary had us laughing, crying, and questioning whether we’d ever sign up for a one-way ticket to space. From Ryland Grace’s wild survival story to his unlikely bestie Rocky, this book gave us science experiments, emotional gut punches, and one of the best reads of 2025.
We break down everything from the audiobook experience to the accuracy of the science, what makes Andy Weir’s writing so addictive, and whether Ryan Gosling is the right choice for the upcoming Project Hail Mary movie adaptation.
✨ In this episode:
Project Hail Mary...ACOMAF Part 2 Recap, Review, & Character Ranking + Spicy Reactions
The back half of A Court of Mist and Fury is packed with iconic moments, and we had a LOT of feelings about them. From the Summer Court heist to the one-bed inn, Starfall, the soup confessional, and Feyre’s jaw-dropping High Lady reveal, this episode is part recap, part unfiltered reactions, and part chaotic character ranking.
If you’re re-reading ACOTAR, diving in for the first time, or just love hearing book besties yell about Tamlin and swoon over Rhysand, this one’s for you.
✨ What you’ll hear:
Our reactions to Starfall & the soup s...ACOMAF Recap & Character Ranking + ACOTAR 6 and Crescent City Theories
In this episode of Book Bits & Chill, we’re rereading A Court of Mist and Fury (ACOMAF) — the Romantasy Bible by Sarah J. Maas.
We recap Part 1 of ACOMAF: Feyre’s wedding meltdown, Tamlin’s gaslighting era, Rhysand’s chaos goblin entrance, and Feyre’s first trip to the Night Court. We also rank ACOTAR characters from worst (Tamlin, Ianthe, Lucien) to best (Rhys, Mor, Cassian, Azriel, Amren).
🎧 Perfect for fans searching for:
ACOTAR recap & analysisA Court of Mist and Fury summaryRomantasy book reviewsF...