Episode 21: A Matter of Taste - Bad Book or Just Not For You?

RAD Reading Podcast
Episode #21 

Episode Title: A Matter of Taste: Bad Book or Just Not for You? 

Release Date: April 15, 2022

Episode Summary:

Learning your personal reading tastes is one of the best ways to enhance your reading life. Today we’re talking about the difference between a “bad” book and a book that’s just not for you (or not for you right now.) Plus, we’re giving examples of books that fall into those categories for us along with our RAD Reading recs of the week!

Listen above or in your favorite podcast app:

• Apple podcasts

• Audible

• Spotify

• Or add to your favorite podcast app with their “Add by URL” feature and paste this link there: https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/rad-reading

Highlights: 

• To read reviews or not to read reviews

• Roni’s trying something new with book reviews

• Dawn is not allowed to be on TikTok

• Where we look for book recommendations 

• Roni’s favorite bookish podcasts

• Book twins

• Random raptors and when one-star reviews are unhelpful

• Books and movies that are so bad they’re good

• “Bad” vs. “unenjoyable” - there’s a difference

• Not for you ever vs. not for you right now

• Roni’s reading journal “breaking news”

• Running experimental trials on your reading life

• Seasons of life and how it changes your reading

• Do you need likable characters?

• What Roni learned while reading domestic suspense

• Dawn’s hate-reading/rage-reading

• Dawn puts on her editing hat to teach us about author intrusion

• A list of books that were for us, not for us right now, and not for us ever

• Grim vs. dark

• Our RAD Reading recs of the week

• The blooper reel

Books recommended by Roni:

• It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

• The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule

Books recommended by Dawn:

• My Favorite Half-Night Stand by Christina Lauren

• Dark Matter by Black Crouch

RAD Reading Recs of the Week: 

• The Chalk Man by CJ Tudor (Dawn’s rec)

• The Nothing Man by Catherine Ryan Howard (Roni’s rec)

Other books mentioned:

• Devil’s Bride by Stephanie Laurens

• Why It’s OK to Love Bad Movies by Matthew Strohl

• In My Dreams I Hold a Knife by Ashely Winstead

• YOU by Caroline Kepnes

• I’ll Be Gone In the Dark by Michelle McNamara

• One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus

• The Push by Ashley Audrain

Other things mentioned:

• Currently Reading podcast

• Sarah’s Bookshelves Live podcast

• Books In the Freezer podcast

• Chopping Mall (on Hoopla)

• Night of the Comet

• License to Drive

• Fated Mates podcast

• Day One app

• New Girl

• Roni’s Happy for Now newsletter

• Our DNF episode

RAD Reading Recs of the Week: 

• The Chalk Man by CJ Tudor (Dawn’s rec)

• The Nothing Man by Catherine Ryan Howard (Roni’s rec)

Find us online:

RAD Reading on Instagram

RAD Reading Facebook Page

RAD Reading Website

Connect with Roni on her website or @roniloren on Instagram

Connect with Dawn on her website or @dawnalexanderbooks on Instagram

Another note: Because we are both in the publishing industry, sometimes the books we recommend might be by an author we know personally, an author who shares a publisher, editor, or agent with Roni, or an author whom Dawn has edited. Publishing is a small world, so that will happen from time to time. However, we guarantee that we only recommend books we love. We have not been asked to promote any of these books and none are paid ads. However, some books we review may be ARCs (advanced reading copies provided by publishers to reviewers for honest reviews.)

Episode 17: Reading on a Budget

RAD Reading Podcast
Episode #17 

Episode Title: Reading on a Budget

Release Date: Feb. 18, 2022

Episode Summary

There’s nothing wrong with wanting ALL the books. Give us all the books! Unfortunately, very few of us have an unlimited book budget. So today we’re sharing our best tips on how to keep your TBR piled high without having to dig for quarters in your couch cushions. 

Listen above or in your favorite podcast app:

• Apple podcasts

• Audible

• Spotify

• Acast  

• Or add to your favorite podcast app with their “Add by URL” feature and paste this link there: https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/rad-reading

Highlights: 

• When we use the phrase “at least it’s not drugs” and reference Scrooge McDuck right out of the gate

• Roni and pandemic book buying

• Why libraries are awesome and how to use yours to its fullest

• Dawn the book thief

• The fancy copy of The Neverending Story

• The magic of non-resident library cards

• Our favorite insider library tips

• Library sales

• Book subscriptions

• Book deal email lists

• Dawn uses “Roni curation” deals

• Goodreads giveaways and the one annoying feature that pushes Roni’s uptight buttons

• Becoming a book reviewer

• Dawn may still be bitter about getting rejected for a particular book

• Used bookstores

• Little Free Libraries

• Book swaps & Dawn declares “There are RULES for books swaps.”

• Don’t invite Roni to your book swap

• RAD Reading recs of the week

*spoilers of our picks ahead*

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*Note: all book links are affiliate links which means the podcast makes a small commission if you make a purchase, but there is no extra cost to you!

Things mentioned:

• A list of libraries that offer non-resident cards 

• Kindle Unlimited

• The Book of the Month club

• The Bookworm Box

• The Book Drop

• Audible

• Libro.fm

• Bookbub

• Kindle Daily deals

• Nook Daily finds email 

• Book Riot Deals email

• Modern Mrs. Darcy daily deals email

• Audible daily deal email

• NetGalley

• Edelweiss

• Little Free Library

• Book darts

RAD Reading Recs of the Week: 

• Chasing Fire by Emery Jacobs (Dawn’s rec)

• The Suite Spot by Trish Doller (Roni’s rec)

Find us online:

RAD Reading on Instagram

RAD Reading Facebook Page

RAD Reading Website

Connect with Roni on her website or @roniloren on Instagram

Connect with Dawn on her website or @dawnalexanderbooks on Instagram

Another note: Because we are both in the publishing industry, sometimes the books we recommend might be by an author we know personally, an author who shares a publisher, editor, or agent with Roni, or an author whom Dawn has edited. Publishing is a small world, so that will happen from time to time. However, we guarantee that we only recommend books we love. We have not been asked to promote any of these books and none are paid ads. However, some books we review may be ARCs (advanced reading copies provided by publishers to reviewers for honest reviews.)

Episode 13: Let's Get Nerdy - Setting Reading Challenges & Goals for 2022

RAD Reading Podcast
Episode #13 

Episode Title: Let’s Get Nerdy - Setting 2022 Reading Challenges & Goals

Release Date: Dec. 31, 2021

Episode Summary: 

It’s one of our favorite times of the year—time to set new reading goals and challenges for 2022! Roni is sharing the many nerdy reading challenges that she’s tackling this coming year, and Dawn is firmly anti-challenge but has chosen some goals to enhance her reading year. Also, as always, we have our RAD reading recs of the week!

Listen above or in your favorite podcast app:

• Apple podcasts

• Audible

• Spotify

• Acast  

• Or add to your favorite podcast app with their “Add by URL” feature and paste this link there: https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/rad-reading
  
  
  

Highlights:

• One of us declares New Year’s their favorite holiday

• The difference between a reading challenge and a reading goal

• Can you count a DNF in a reading challenge?

• Dawn’s audiobook goal

• Roni’s book subscription addiction & Dawn tries to stage an intervention

• Reading goal suggestions

• The pros and cons of reading challenges

• The personality type that fits best with reading challenges

• The book Dawn flat out refused to read in school

• The Pizza Hut Book-It Challenge was our 80s jam

• Roni’s experience with her Read Wide challenge

• One of us has strong feelings about the randomness of some reading challenges

• Roni talks about the personal growth of not finishing one of her reading challenges this year (Update: since recording, she finished it because…personal growth is hard. :) )

• How to choose the right reading challenge for you

• Creating or customizing your own challenge

• Read Your Way to 10k (words not kilometers)

• Dawn’s reading goals

• The Bookish Subscription challenge

• The Indie Author challenge

• The Romance Roots/Fated Mates challenge

• Roni’s reading goals

• RAD Reading recs of the week

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*Note: all book links are affiliate links which means the podcast makes a small commission if you make a purchase, but there is no extra cost to you!

Reading Challenges mentioned:

• Dawn’s Read Your Way to 10k goal (download)

• RAD Romance Reading Challenge (download)

• Roni’s Read Wide challenge

• Roni’s TBR Backlog challenge

• Book Riot’s Read Harder challenge

• Roni’s Bookish Subscription challenge - read 12 books from bookish subscriptions

• Roni’s Indie Author challenge - read at least 10 indie-published books

• Roni’s Romance Roots challenge - read 12 foundational romances

• Big list of other reading challenges from A Little Read blog

Romance Roots challenge

Bookish subscription challenge

Indie Author Challenge

TBR Backlog challenge

Read Wide Challenge

RAD Reading Recs of the Week: 

• “Two Tamales, One Tokarev, and a Lifetime of Broken Promises by Stacey B. Woodsen in the Guns and Tacos anthology (Dawn’s pic)

• One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Roni’s pic)

Other things mentioned:

• The Book Drop subscription (Roni’s getting the “Bubbly” box)

• The Bookworm Box subscription

• Book of the Month club

• Fated Mates podcast

• Roni’s Happy for Now newsletter

• The Romantic Movie Marathon 

• Strictly Ballroom

Find us online:

RAD Reading on Instagram

RAD Reading Facebook Page

RAD Reading Website

Roni’s Happy for Now newsletter

Connect with Roni on her website or @roniloren on Instagram

Connect with Dawn on her website or @dawnalexanderbooks on Instagram

Another note: Because we are both in the publishing industry, sometimes the books we recommend might be by an author we know personally, an author who shares a publisher, editor, or agent with Roni, or an author whom Dawn has edited. Publishing is a small world, so that will happen from time to time. However, we guarantee that we only recommend books we love. We have not been asked to promote any of these books and none are paid ads. However, some books we review may be ARCs (advanced reading copies provided by publishers to reviewers for honest reviews.)

Episode 12: The Best of the Best - Our Top Reads of 2021

RAD Reading Podcast
Episode #12 

Episode Title: The Best of the Best: Our Top Reads of 2021

Release Date: December 17, 2021

Episode Summary: 

Who doesn’t love a “Best of” book list? Join us today as we share our top reads of 2021!

Listen above or in your favorite podcast app:

• Apple podcasts

• Audible

• Spotify

• Acast  

• Or add to your favorite podcast app with their “Add by URL” feature and paste this link there: https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/rad-reading
  
  
  

Highlights:

• Roni shares her nerdy, detailed reading statistics and the spreadsheet she used to track them

• Roni’s most successful book recommendation source

• Our favorite thrillers of the year

• Our favorite contemporary romances of the year

• Roni’s favorite historical romances

• Giving audiobooks a chance and Roni’s faves 

• Our favorite fantasy books of the year

• Roni’s favorite memoirs and essay collections

• Our favorite general fiction books

• Dawn’s random favorites

• Our RAD recs of the week

*Note: all book links are affiliate links which means the podcast makes a small commission if you make a purchase, but there is no extra cost to you!

Roni’s Faves of 2021:

• In My Dreams I Hold a Knife by Ashely Winstead (reviewed in episode 2)

• Good Neighbors by Sarah Langan

• Never Saw Me Coming by Vera Kurian (reviewed in episode 2)

• The Roommate by Rosie Danan (reviewed in episode 4)

• The Wallflower series by Lisa Kleypas (reviewed in episode 11)

• When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn (reviewed in episode 4)

• My Life In France by Julia Child (reviewed in episode 7)

• Share Your Stuff, I’ll Go First by Laura Tremaine

• Shadow and Bone trilogy by Leigh Bardugo (reviewed in episode 6)

• Vicious by V.E. Schwab (reviewed in episode 9)

• I Miss You When I Blink by Mary Laura Philpott

• Text Me When You Get Home by Kayleen Schaeffer

• Joyland by Stephen King (reviewed in episode 4)

• Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult (reviewed in episode 7)

Dawn’s Faves of 2021:

• No Exit by Taylor Adams (reviewed in episodes 5 and 9)

• Twisted Hearts/Unraveled Love (duet) by Stacey Lynn

• Fireproof by Delancey Stewart

• The Art of Falling for You trilogy by Maya Hughes (reviewed in episode 2)

• You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle

• Waking the Dragon by Juliette Cross (reviewed in episode 4)

• At the Cabin by Claudia Blood

• The Alpha’s Salvation by Marlowe Roy

• Hooked by Emily McIntire 

RAD Reading Recs of the Week: 

• Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan (Roni rec)

• Yes & I Love You by Roni Loren (Dawn rec)

• What If You & Me by Roni Loren (Dawn rec)

Other books mentioned:

• As Always, Julia: The Letters of Julia Child and Avid DeVoto by Joan Reardon

• The Ones Who Got Away by Roni Loren

Other non-book recommendations:

Sarah’s Bookshelves Reading Tracker 

Find us online:

RAD Reading on Instagram

RAD Reading Facebook Page

RAD Reading Website

Connect with Roni on her website or @roniloren on Instagram

Connect with Dawn on her website or @dawnalexanderbooks on Instagram

Another note: Because we are both in the publishing industry, sometimes the books we recommend might be by an author we know personally, an author who shares a publisher, editor, or agent with Roni, or an author whom Dawn has edited. Publishing is a small world, so that will happen from time to time. However, we guarantee that we only recommend books we love. We have not been asked to promote any of these books and none are paid ads. However, some books we review may be ARCs (advanced reading copies provided by publishers to reviewers for honest reviews.)

Episode 8: Shameless Reading - Liking What You Like + Our Shameless Recs

RAD Reading Podcast
Episode # 8 

Episode Title: Shameless Reading - Like What You Like + Our Shameless Book Recs

Release Date: November 19, 2021

Episode Summary

This week we’re talking about dropping reader shame and reading what you want to read. Plus, we’re giving our favorite shameless recs! Make sure the kids aren’t in the room for this one, y’all. ;) Join us and read shameless! 

Listen above or in your favorite podcast app:

• Apple podcasts

• Audible

• Spotify

• Acast  

• Or add to your favorite podcast app with their “Add by URL” feature and paste this link there: https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/rad-reading

Highlights: 

• The language/terms used to shame readers about certain types of books

• Roni gets on her soapbox about the word “cheesy”

• How genres read primarily by women are often shamed the most

• Shame about book covers, titles, taboos, and uncomfortable topics

• Self-help books and why they shouldn’t be shamed

• Graphic novels count as reading

• Romance novels and mental health

• People who watch romance on the screen but won’t read a romance novel

• Ways to keep things private if you really can’t been outwardly shameless

• Finding your people

• Our shameless book recs including Dawn’s blue aliens and Roni’s kinky picks

• Our RAD Reading Recs of the week

*spoilers of which books we talk about below*

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*Note: all book links are affiliate links which means the podcast makes a small commission if you make a purchase, but there is no extra cost to you!

Books recommended by Roni:

• Natural Law by Joey W. Hill

• Willing Victim by Cara McKenna

• Liberating Lacey by Anne Calhoun

• The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

• Solve for Happy by Mo Gawdet

• Stillness Is the Key by Ryan Holiday

• The Upward Spiral by Alex Korb

Books recommended by Dawn:

• Omegaverse novels by Callie Rhodes

• Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon

• Bound by Eva Charles

• Masters of the Shadowlands series by Cherise Sinclair

• Sky Mates series by Susan Grant

RAD Reading Recs of the Week: 

• American Queen by Sierra Simone (Dawn rec)

• A Knight In Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux (Roni Rec)

Other books mentioned:

• My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

• Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Other non-book things mentioned:

• How Romance Novels Helped Me Life Myself Out of Postpartum Depression by author Sherry Thomas

• Navigating Depression with the Help of Romance Novels by Carolina Ciucci

• Outlander TV show

• Bridgerton TV show

• True Blood TV show

Find us online:

RAD Reading Facebook Page

RAD Reading Instagram

Connect with Roni on her website or @roniloren on Instagram

Connect with Dawn on her website or @dawnalexanderbooks on Instagram

Another note: Because we are both in the publishing industry, sometimes the books we recommend might be by an author we know personally, an author who shares a publisher, editor, or agent with Roni, or an author whom Dawn has edited. Publishing is a small world, so that will happen from time to time. However, we guarantee that we only recommend books we love. We have not been asked to promote any of these books and none are paid ads. However, some books we review may be ARCs (advanced reading copies provided by publishers to reviewers for honest reviews.)

Episode 3: Making Your Own Reading Journal (AKA Fun with Office Supplies)

RAD Reading Podcast
Episode # 3

Episode Title: Making Your Own Reading Journal (AKA Fun with Office Supplies)

Release Date: October 15, 2021

Listen above or in your favorite podcast app:

• Apple podcasts

• Audible

• Spotify

• Acast  

• Or add to your favorite podcast app with their “Add by URL” feature and paste this link there: https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/rad-reading

Episode Summary: 

We love upgrading our reading lives, so this week we’re talking about one of our favorite ways to enhance the reading experience--creating our own reading journals! Plus, as always, we’re giving our RAD Reading Recs of the week.

Highlights:

• Why Dawn’s teen journals led her to get grounded--unnecessarily!

• The one journal Roni’s been able to stick with

• The basics of a reading/book journal

• Private reading journals vs. Goodreads 

• Roni avoiding awkward book signings

• What Dawn said that made Roni clutch her pearls

• The unexpected benefits of a reading journal

• Dawn’s epiphany about stencils

• The nuts & bolts of putting together your own journal

• What Roni wishes she’d been putting in her journal from the start

• Rating systems - Roni’s highly detailed one & Dawn’s low-key method

• Documenting reading challenges

• Finding your journaling style - decorative, bare bones, etc.

• Digital options for journaling

• Dawn’s signal that she’s been kidnapped

• Journaling tips

• Instagram perfect journals are not necessary

• Our favorite journaling supplies

• Our RAD Reading Recs of the Week

*Note: all book/product links are affiliate links which means the podcast makes a small commission if you make a purchase, but there is no extra cost to you!

Supplies recommended by Roni:

• Leuchtturm1917 Journal 

• Stabilo Fineliner Pens

• Zebra Mildliner highlighters 

• Staedtler Ergosoft colored pencils 

• Staedtler Template, Geometric Shapes & Symbols to draw boxes and circles

Supplies recommended by Dawn:

• Plum Paper Notebook 

• Frixion pens

• Prisma Color Pencils 

Other resources mentioned:

• Roni’s free downloadable Romance Reading Journal

• Rock Your Reading Tracker by Sarah’s Bookshelves

• My Reading Journal by Anne Bogel (Modern Mrs. Darcy)

• Pensieve app

• Book of the Month club 

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Dawn’s Reading Journal

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Roni’s Reading Journal

RAD Reading Recs of the Week: 

Dear Writer, Are You In Burnout? by Becca Syme (Dawn’s rec)

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert (Roni’s rec)

Find us online:

RAD Reading Facebook Page

RAD Reading Website

Connect with Roni on her website or @roniloren on Instagram

Connect with Dawn on her website or @dawnalexanderbooks on Instagram