Episode 32: Unlikable Heroines with (Likable) Guest Author Pippa Grant

RAD Reading Podcast
Episode #32 

Episode Title: Unlikable Heroines with (Likable) Guest Author Pippa Grant

Release Date: September 16, 2022

Episode Summary

USA Today and #1 Amazon Bestselling author Pippa Grant is joining us today to talk about unlikable heroines and why they need love too. Plus, we get to hear a little about her romantic comedies! (Fair warning: this talk is more PG-13 than some of our others so don’t listen with kiddos in the car.)

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: 

• Unlikable heroines need love too

• Not all things marketed as romantic comedy are true comedy

• Pippa’s got a new release coming called Irresistible Trouble

• Dawn and Roni have their RAD Reading After Dark voices going because when we recorded, we were both recovering from COVID

• Unlikable heroine does not mean a badly written heroine

• The double standard for heroines

• Types of unlikable heroines - the b**ch, the achiever, the sexually liberated heroine, the messy heroine, true female villains

• Why authors try not to read their own reviews

• Roni has feelings about Fatal Attraction

• “Cool motive. Still murder.” – Dawn

• Roni’s meanest heroine

• Our reading recs for books with unlikable heroines

• Our RAD recs of the week

**episode spoilers 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:

• Book Lovers by Emily Henry

• The Intimacy Experiment by Rosie Danan

• The One You Can’t Forget by Roni Loren

• Never Saw Me Coming by Vera Kurian

Books recommended by Dawn:

• By the Hour by Roni Loren

• In Death series by J.D. Robb

• Make Me Shiver by Marie Johnston

Books recommended by Pippa:

• Always Only You by Chloe Liese

• After Hours by Milagro Street by Angelina M. Lopez

• The One Who Loves You by Pippa Grant

RAD Reading Recs of the Week: 

• Paper Ghosts by Julie Heaberlin (Dawn’s rec)

• Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead (Roni’s Rec)

Other books mentioned:

• Stud in the Stacks by Pippa Grant

• Flirting with the Frenemy by Pippa Grant

• Irresistible Trouble by Pippa Grant

• Mr. McHottie by Pippa Grant

• Summer Sisters by Judy Blume

• Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Other things mentioned:

• The Proposal (movie)

• Vampire Academy TV show (Peacock)

Visit Pippa on her website

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 28: Dawn's Special Birthday Episode + Book Bonanza

RAD Reading Podcast

Episode #28 

Episode Title: Dawn’s Special Birthday Episode!

Release Date: July 22, 2022

Episode Summary:

It’s Dawn’s birthday week! Today, we’re going to celebrate Dawn with an episode dedicated to the books she loves. First, she’s bringing us a list of books that she credits with making her into a reader. Then, Roni is “gifting” Dawn with three book recommendations that are tailor-made for her. Plus, we’re bringing you a recap from our fabulous weekend at the Book Bonanza conference!  Join us for the birthday bash!

Listen 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: 

• Our Book Bonanza conference recap

• Dawn the Designated Extrovert

• Miss Connie the super librarian

• Roni played Never Have I Ever with some superstar authors…and can’t remember much because she might’ve metaphorically blacked out on stage

• Strawberry Ice Cream Hershey kisses are dangerous

• We almost had a murderous dinner

• Readers truly are the best

• The books that made Dawn into a reader

• Read the book but skip this movie

• The power of English teachers

• The book that every 80s kid had tucked inside their backpack

• The book that taught Dawn it was okay for stories not to have a happy ending

• The book Dawn would save in a fire

• Roni gifts Dawn with three book recommendations

• Dawn’s husband is very nice but she does like an alphahole hero in her books

• Our RAD Recs of the Week

**episode spoilers 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 Dawn:

• A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L’Engle

• The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

• The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

• The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier

• After the First Death by Robert Cormier

• Forever by Judy Blume

• Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume

• Places I Never Meant to Be edited by Judy Blume

Roni’s birthday recommendations to Dawn:

• Fallen Too Far by Abbi Glines

• Dirty Ties by Pam Godwin

• Wolf Gone Wild by Juliette Cross

RAD Reading Recs of the Week: 

• One for the Money by Janet Evanovitch (Dawn’s rec)

• Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Other books mentioned:

• Waking the Dragon by Juliette Cross

• The Say Everything series audiobooks with Desiree Ketchum’s narration

• The Black Lily by Juliette Cross

Other things mentioned:

• The Book Bonanza conference

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 26: Get Swept Away - Books That Transport You

RAD Reading Podcast

Episode #26 

Episode Title - Get Swept Away: Books That Transport You

Episode Summary:

A great book can sweep you away, but some books really take you on a trip. Today, we’re talking about books that transport you either to another place or transport you through time (because one of us is kind of obsessed with time travel/time loop stories.) So grab your suitcase or your flux capacitor and join us!

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: 

• Cheap travel via books

• Australian listeners, please reassure us there aren’t giant man-eating spiders everywhere

• Our favorite book settings

• Roni wants to read summer camp books but not actually, you know, attend anything involving camping

• Time travel books count as travel books because we say so

• Watch out, don’t accidentally stumble into a wormhole

• If Roni and Dawn were in a book with a grumpy/sunshine trope, it’s clear who would be the grumpy one and who would be the sunshine one

• Time loops, and wormholes, and multiverses, oh my

• Thoughts on sexy times in cringe-y locations

• Dawn feels Outlander shame

• Roni needs someone to explain season 2 of Russian Doll to her

• Dawn explains reverse harem books

• A stack of books we tried for this episode but that didn’t really work for us

• Roni gets library hold guilt

• Some books on our TBR that fit this theme but that we haven’t gotten to yet

• Dawn’s Friday the 13th trauma

• If Dawn ends up climbing a mountain, something has gone very wrong in the world

• Our RAD Recs of the week

**episode spoilers 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:

• See You Yesterday by Rachel Lynn Solomon

• Maybe In Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid

• In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

• One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

• One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle

• 11/22/63 by Stephen King

• Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

• Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Books recommended by Dawn:

• The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

• Company Assassin by Claudia Blood

• The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

• An Adventurer’s Manifesto by Megan Rho

• Lawless by Crystal Ash (SPELL)

• Submit by Tana Stone

Other books mentioned:

• The Dry by Jane Harper

• The Impossible Us by Sarah Lutz

• Year of Yes by Shonda Rimes

• The Unsinkable Greta James by Jennifer E. Smith

• Distress Signals by Catherine Ryan Howard

• Do Not Become Alarmed by Maile Maloy

• Girl’s Night Out by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke

• Hide by Kiersten White

• The Counselors by Jessica Goodman

• Camp So-and-So by Mary McCoy

• The Summer Job by Lizzy Dent

• Breathless by Amy McCulloch

Other things mentioned:

• Russian Doll (Netflix)

• Happy Death Day

• The Map of Tiny Perfect Things

• Roni’s substack newsletter

• Stranger Things

• Lucky Number Slevin

RAD Reading Recs of the Week: 

• Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village by Maureen Johnson and Jay Cooper

• This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub

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 25: Romance Author Taylor Lunsford + Our Favorite Books on Writing

RAD Reading Podcast

Episode #25 

Episode Title: Romance Author Taylor Lunsford + Our Favorite Books on Writing

Release Date: June 10, 2022

Episode Summary:

Today we welcome romance author Taylor Lunsford, who is sharing some of her favorite romantic books with us, and then we’re doing a special segment for those of you who may want to try writing your own book this summer. Join us as we get a little nerdy and share our favorite books on writing!

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: 

• We welcome Taylor Lunsford, author of the upcoming romance You’ve Got Matches

• Fan-fiction as an entrance ramp to writing

• The joys and pitfalls of online dating

• Roni’s own You’ve Got Mail moment

• Love at the DMV

• Roni’s dog is post-surgical, in a vest, and not happy about it

• Taylor’s recommendations

• Thoughts on illustrated covers in romance & author input on covers

• Roni is slightly obsessed with books on writing

• The Newsies and New Kids on the Block fanfiction in our pasts

• Dawn was already asking for book reviews in elementary school

• NaNoWriMo - National Novel Writing Month - and Camp NaNoWriMo

• Roni’s accidental Twilight marathon and breaking news: she has changed Edward vs. Jacob “teams”

• Our favorite books on writing

• Books if you’re brand new to writing

• Where our ideas come from

• What we’re reading now

• Rereading vs. rewatching

• Our RAD Recs of the Week

***EPISODE SPOILERS 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!

Books recommended by Roni:

• Save the Cat by Blake Snyder

• Story Trumps Structure by Steven James

• The Emotional Wound Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi

• Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell

• The Art of War for Writers by James Scott Bell

• Goal Motivation Conflict by Debra Dixon

• On Writing by Stephen King

• Light the Dark essays edited by Joe Fassler

• Bomb Shelter by Mary Laura Philpott

Books recommended by Dawn:

• Romancing the Beat by Gwen Hayes

• Super Structure by James Scott Bell

• How I Write by Janet Evanovitch

• Mastering Suspense, Structure, and Plot by Jane Cleland

• The Now Write! Series, specifically Now Write! Mysteries edited by Sherry Ellis and Laurie Lamson

• Free Fall by Sara Cate

Books recommended by Taylor:

• The Gown by Jennifer Robson

• The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai

• How to Catch a Queen by Alyssa Cole

• Incense and Sensibility by Sonali Dev

RAD Reading Recs of the Week: 

• Tinder Box by Rachel Grant (Dawn’s rec)

• I Miss You When I Blink by Mary Laura Philpott (Roni’s rec)

Other books mentioned:

• Pride and Prejudice and Other Flavors by Sonali Dev

• For You & No One Else by Roni Loren

• Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

• Now Write! Screenwriting edited by by Sherry Ellis and Laurie Lamson

• Now Write! Fiction Writing Exercises edited by Sherry Ellis

• Now Write! Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror edited by Laurie Lamson

• Gravity by Sara Cate

• The Emma Project by Sonali Dev

• The Rest of the Story by Sarah Dessen

Other things mentioned:

• KISS app

• Roni’s writing classes at Fearless Romance Writing

• Scrivener writing program

• One Stop for Writers

• Dawn’s class on conflict

• Smart Bitches Trashy Books reading spreadsheet

• Along for the Ride movie (Netflix)

Find our guest Taylor and her books online:

• Taylor’s website

• You’ve Got Matches

• Fair Game

• Love Set Match

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 24: The Summer Reading Extravaganza!

RAD Reading Podcast

Episode #24 - Summer reading

Episode Title: The Summer Reading Extravaganza

Release Date: May 27, 2022

Episode Summary:

It’s one of the best bookish times of the year—summer reading season! Today, we’re giving you our best picks to add to your poolside stack, whether you’re looking for traditional breezy beach reads or something a little darker to keep you turning the pages.

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: 

• Does our reading change during summer?

• Roni got herself in trouble with summer reading lists and her library holds

• Our easy breezy summer pics

• The book Roni was able to read at a NASCAR race and not be distracted

• Dawn is reading some historicals now but she needs something extra in them

• Roni is slightly concerned with her obsession with dual timelines and time-travel in contemporaries

• Why Dawn has a friend to thank for not missing her “moment” to meet her husband and Roni has an old computer and a non-compatible America Online CD-ROM to thank for not missing hers

• How Dawn failed as a parent ;)

• What Dawn can’t listen to on audio

• Our darker “summer is too sunny” recs

• Roni’s weird category of books that make her think of summer

• Our RAD Recs of the week

**spoilers for book picks 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:

• One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle

• Hello, Sunshine by Laura Dave

• The Roommate by Rosie Danaan

• The Suite Spot by Trish Doller

• Lady Bridget’s Diary by Maya Rodale

• Maybe In Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid

• Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

• Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

• Every Wild Heart by Meg Donahue

• Good Neighbors by Sarah Langan

• A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

• The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

• The House Next Door by Anne Rivers Siddons

• Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

• 11/22/63 by Stephen King

• Joyland by Stephen King

• Fantasticland by Mike Bockoven

• Fierce Kingdom by Gin Phillips

• Hot Dog Girl by Jennifer Dugan

Books recommended by Dawn:

• Only a Crush by Delancey Stewart

• Her Highlander Choice by Fenley Grant

• Second Chance Summer by Kait Nolan

• The One Night by Meghan Quinn

• Lucky Charmed by Sharla Lovelace

• Dirty Lies by Kristy Mallory

• The Survivors by Jane Harper

• Princess Claimed by Alison Aimes

• The Dragon of New Orleans by Genevieve Jack

• Scarred by Emiy McIntire

• Hard Time by Cara McKenna

Roni’s Summer Release

For You & No One Else by Roni Loren (July 5th)

RAD Reading Recs of the Week: 

• A Sinful Empire Trilogy by Eva Charles (Dawn’s rec)

• Tell Me Everything by Erika Krouse (Roni’s rec)

Other books/things mentioned:

• Timeline (movie)

• Along for the Ride (movie on Netflix)

• The Reunion by Meghan Quinn

• A Charmed Little Lie by Sharla Lovelace

• Serial podcast

• Upgrade by Black Crouch

• We Keep the Dead Close by Becky Cooper

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

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 16: We've Only Just Begun - Our Favorite Series Starters

RAD Reading Podcast
Episode #16

Episode Title: We’ve Only Just Begun: Our Favorite Series Starters

Release Date: Feb. 4, 2022

Episode Summary:

It’s all about book series today! We're defining the different types of series, talking about why we love reading them, and then we’re giving our favorite series starter books. Let’s do this!

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: 

• To series read or not to series read

• Connected series vs. continuing series

• Duets and trilogies

• Shared world series

• Roni remembers a book she forgot she wrote

• Dawn makes friends in parking lots with people pulling things out of their trunks 

• Series and fandoms and which fandom Roni was googling a decade ago

• Why we love series

• Why not waiting for a whole series to be written before buying can be important

• RIP one of Roni’s series

• Relief from decision fatigue

• Our favorite series starters recs

• Our RAD Recs of the Week

• How Loren is pronounced

*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!

Beyone here lie episode spoilers…

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Books recommended by Roni:

• The Duke and I by Julia Quinn (The Bridgerton series)

• Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas

• Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan

• Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

• Halfway to the Grave by Jeannine Frost

• Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

• City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

• Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

• Captive in the Dark by CJ Roberts

Books recommended by Dawn:

• Scoring a Soulmate (Mr. Match series) by Delancey Stewart

• Big Chance Cowboy by Teri Anne Stanley

• Company Assassin by Claudia Blood

• Greed (A Sinful Empire series) by Eva Charles

RAD Reading Recs of the Week: 

• Mischief Night by Delaney Foster (Dawn’s rec)

• Simply: Easy Everyday Dishes by Sabrina Ghayour (Roni’s rec)

Other books mentioned:

The Ones Who Got Away series by Roni Loren

Melt Into You by Roni Loren

Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan

The Black Company series by Glen Cook

One for the Money by Janet Evanovitch

In Death series by J.D. Robb

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

The Enchanted Rock Immortals series

Blurring the Lines by Roni Loren (Invitation to Eden series)

True North series by Sarina Bowen

The Cocky Hero Club series by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward

Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto  (reader 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 10: What-to-Read Decision Fatigue + the Secret to Reading Reviews

RAD Reading Podcast
Episode #10 

Episode Title: What to Read Decision Fatigue + the Secret to Reading Reviews

Release Date: 12/3/21

Episode Summary: 

The What to Read decision fatigue is real, y’all. Join us today as we talk about some practical (and some bonkers!) ways to pick your next book, how to deal with choosing if you’re a mood reader, and what to do if you keep picking up books you don’t like. Also, we’re giving you insider tips on how to read those Amazon and Goodreads reviews because all is not as it seems at first glance. Oh, and there’s an incident with an umbrella. 

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 decision fuel tank and Roni melting down over a Christmas tree

• The teetering TBR and the Why did I buy that again? brain fog

• Roni loves a spreadsheet as long as there is no math (and you can download a blank copy of her TBR spreadsheet for yourself!)

• Your taste and how books go stale

• Dawn and The Umbrella, you’ll just have to listen to understand

• Reading challenges and our opposing views

• Using “best of” book lists for inspiration

• Strange Facebook recommendation groups

• Some bonkers options for picking your next book

• Wrapping books? Um, what?

• Mood reading struggles

• Contagious bookish excitement and where to find it

• Book monogamy not required

• What to do when you keep picking up books you don’t enjoy

• Deciphering the gold in book reviews

• When  “adorable” and “hilarious” are bad words

• No, Roni doesn’t have a chip on her shoulder about reviews, shut up

• “Weird sex” reviews

• Our RAD Reading Recs of the week

Book selection spoilers ahead

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RAD Reading Recs of the Week: 

• Mercy Street by Mariah Stewart (Dawn rec)

• It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas and Devil In Winter by Lisa Kleypas (Roni rec -- yes, she cheated with two.)

Other books mentioned:

The Third Best Thing by Maya Hughes

No Exit by Taylor Adams

Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon

Cackle by Rachel Harrison

Joyland by Stephen King

Riley Thorn and the Dead Guy Next Door by Lucy Score

Breath of Deceit by Selena Laurence

Other things mentioned:

Roni’s TBR/Book Rec spreadsheet - you can access a blank version here

Roni’s Read Wide Challenge

Help Name That Book facebook group

The umbrella photo

Book Darts, Dice Rolls, and Other Creative Ways to Pick Your TBR on Book Riot

Fated Mates podcast with Sarah MacLean and Jen Prokop

Storygraph

Find us online:

RAD Reading on Instagram

RAD Reading Facebook Page

RAD Recs page

Connect with Roni on her website or @roniloren on Instagram

Connect with Dawn on her website or @dawnalexanderbooks on Instagram

*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!

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 4: October's Read/Watch/Listen Recs

RAD Reading Podcast
Episode #4

Episode Title: October’s Read/Watch/Listen 

Release Date: Oct. 22, 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

This week we’re giving you all of our favorites of the month! Join us as we share the books, audiobooks, TV shows, and movies that have gotten our highest marks.

Highlights:

• Dawn recommends lots of books with shirtless man covers 

• Roni recommends a steamy one with a deceiving cover

• Roni’s go to comfort read when she’s buried in revisions

• Dawn trying to get Roni to understand superheroes

• A documentary Roni couldn’t resist

• Roni’s audiobook recs

• Why 70s and 80s country songs probably messed us up

• Dawn’s singing debut in a Pizza Hut

• The songs Roni never skips

• Our RAD Reading 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!

Books recommended by Roni:

• The Roommate by Rosie Danan

• On the Way to the Wedding by Julia Quinn

• When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn

Books recommended by Dawn:

• Samson by Callie Rhodes (The Boundarylands Omegaverse series)

• Zeke by Callie Rhodes

• Troy by Callie Rhodes

• Riley Thorn and the Dead Guy Next Door by Lucy Score

• Waking the Dragon by Juliette Cross

Watch Recommendations from Roni:

• LuLaRich (Amazon Prime)

• Modern Family (Hulu)

• Milk Street (PBS)

Watch Recommendations from Dawn:

• Alias (Amazon Prime)

• What If (Disney+)

• Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings 

• Archer

Listen Recommendations from Roni:

• Making Space Clutter Free by Tracy McCubbin

• The Mother-In-Law by Sally Hepworth

• “All My Favorite Songs” by Weezer

• “All I Wanted” by Paramore

RAD Reading Recs of the Week: 

• The Martian by Andy Weir (Dawn rec)

• Joyland by Stephen King (Roni Rec)

Other things mentioned:

• Outlander 

• Bob’s Burgers

• The Goldbergs

• “Drinking my Baby Goodbye” by The Charlie Daniels Band

• Dark Matter by Black Crouch

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

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

Episode 2: Feeling All the Fall Feels - Seasonal Book Recs

Fall is here! This week we’re talking about whether or not we’re seasonal readers and how to enhance those autumnal vibes with your reading choices. We’re also bringing you a big stack of book recommendations! Roni’s got a pile of recs from one of her very favorite micro-genres: dark academia & campus novels. And Dawn is bringing the heat with sexy football-themed romances and some fun seasonal rom-coms. Come feel all the Fall feels with us!

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:

• To Pumpkin Spice Latte or not?

• Which of us is a seasonal reader

• The genres we reach for in Fall

• How to enhance the season with your reading

• The types of books that are particularly suited for Fall

• Halloween getting the short end of the holiday stick

• Roni trying to pronounce “horror” but sounding like she’s saying something offensive

• Roni’s favorite dark academia and campus novels

• Why Dawn almost had to move out of her new house

• Why Roni, the romance author, doesn’t read a ton of romance 

• Roni horrifies Dawn with her stance on mysteries

• Texting whodunnit guesses while reading

• Dawn recs a football-themed romance series and some LOL seasonal rom coms

• The RAD Reading Recs of the week

• How Roni sees book scenes through Instagram filters

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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:

• THE SECRET HISTORY by Donna Tartt

• FINDING FELICITY by Stacey Kade

• NINTH HOUSE by Leigh Bardugo 

• MISADVENTURES WITH A PROFESSOR by Sierra Simone

• NEVER SAW ME COMING by Vera Kurian

• IN MY DREAMS, I HOLD A KNIFE by Ashley Winstead 

• THE MAIDENS by Alex Michaelides 

• DINNER: A LOVE STORY by Jenny Rosenstrach

Books recommended by Dawn:

• THE FOURTH TIME CHARM by Maya Hughes

• THE ART OF FALLING FOR YOU by Maya Hughes

• FALLING INTO FOREVER by Delancey Stewart

• SHAKING THE SLEIGH by Delancey Stewart

• PINWHEELS, POTIONS, AND POSSIBILITIES by Fenley Grant

RAD Reading Recs of the Week: 

• THE LOST MAN by Jane Harper (Dawn’s rec)

• THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE by V.E. Schwab (Roni Rec)

Other books/authors mentioned:

• The Babysitter’s Club series

• The Harry Potter series

• Author Grady Hendrix

• Author Riley Sager

• Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

• The Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris

• Author Kresley Cole

• Harlequin holiday books

• Author Ruth Reichl’s food memoirs

• My Life in France by Julia Child

• Shadow & Bone by Leigh Bardugo

• The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

Other non-book recommendations:

• Felicity (TV Show)

• YOU (TV show)

As promised on the podcast, here are photos of Roni’s cookbook collection:

Episode 1: The Life-Changing Magic of the DNF (Did Not Finish)

RAD Reading Podcast
Episode 1

The Life-Changing Magic of the DNF (Did Not Finish)

Release Date: Oct. 1, 2021

WAYS TO LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE:

• Apple podcasts

• Audible

• Spotify

• Acast  

• On the web without a podcast app

• 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

• Or just listen below!

Episode Summary/Highlights: 

Our first episode! Join us as we talk about our vision for the podcast, preview our weekly bookish themes, and then jump into our topic of the week--the life-changing magic of not finishing a book you’re not enjoying. And make sure you stay until the end to get our RAD Reading Book Recommendations of the week!

Highlights:

• A sneak peek of our four weekly themes

• The “I used to be a reader” struggle

• Why being a chronic finisher can be a roadblock to a happy reading life

• Reasons it’s so hard for some of us to DNF (not finish a book)

• The book trope Roni hates

• How to combat the DNF fears

• Do DNFs count for reading challenges?

• Tips for becoming a DNF master 

• The difference between a DNF and a Not For Now

• How to pick better books

• Our RAD Book 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!

RAD Reading Recs of the Week: 

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (Dawn rec)

I’ll Be Gone In the Dark by Michelle McNamara (Roni rec)

Other books mentioned:

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

Emma by Jane Austen

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

The Only Plane In the Sky by Garrett M. Graff 

Non-book things mentioned:

9/11: I Was There (documentary)

Find us online:

RAD Reading Facebook Page

RAD Reading Website

The RAD Reading List

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.)