Episode 36: Our Favorite Books of the Year!

It’s time for our best books of the year episode! We also have an announcement about the podcast and Roni has a new book coming out. Join us for the end-of-the-year fun!

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: 

• An announcement about the podcast

• Noticing the themes of our favorite books this year

• The genres that worked and didn’t work for us this year

• Roni loves a book statistic and she found some surprises about her reading life this year

• Our favorite romances

• Dawn’s dark darkness

• Yes, Roni uses quarter stars

• Books that speak to your Id

• Our favorite mysteries and suspense

• Roni’s favorite non-fiction

• Leonard the dog tries to dismantle the office

• A book Roni thinks everyone should listen to 

• Our most anticipated books for 2023

• Roni’s new book Good Girl Fail comes out January 17th!

***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 

• Luck of the Draw by Kate Clayborn 

• The Impossible Us by Sarah Lotz 

• Praise by Sara Cate 

• The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han 

• See You Yesterday by Rachel Lynn Solomon

• The Nothing Man by Catherine Ryan Howard

• Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes

• The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule

• Tell Me Everything by Erika Krouse 

• The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green 

• Bomb Shelter: Love Time and Other Explosives by Mary Laura Philpott 

• The Nineties by Chuck Klosterman

• Tastemakers: Seven Immigrant Women Who Revolutionized Food In America by Mayukh Sen 

• Cultish by Amanda Montell

• Bittersweet by Susan Cain 

• The Only Plane In the Sky by Garrett M. Graff

• In Every Generation by Kendare Blake

• One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle

Books recommended by Dawn:

• Gravity and Free Fall by Sara Cate

• A Rival’s Kiss by Maya Hughes

• The Alpha’s Seduction Marlowe Roy 

• The Sinful Empire Trilogy by Eva Charles

• The Sweetest Oblivion by Danielle Lori

• The Darkest Hour by Delaney Foster (Obsidian Brotherhood series)

• 56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard

• The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

• Devastated and Devoted by Marie Johnston

• The Beauty and the Assassin by Nadia Lee

• Fire in His Blood by Ruby Dixon

• Taken by Fate by Shannon Meyer

Most Anticipated (Roni has a new book coming out!)

• Good Girl Fail by Roni Loren

• One Girl in All the World by Kendare Blake

• Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo

• How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

Our Very Favorite Book of the Year: 

• Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister (Dawn’s pick)

• This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub (Roni’s pick)

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 35: Women's Fiction with Guest Author Sierra Godfrey

RAD Reading Podcast
Episode #35 

Episode Title: Women’s Fiction with Guest Author Sierra Godfrey

Release Date: Oct. 28, 2022

Episode Summary:

Today, we welcome Sierra Godfrey, author of A Very Typical Family, to talk about Women’s Fiction. Is it a genre? What does that category mean? Can it have romance in it? Does it have to have a certain kind of ending? We answer those questions and more. Then we’re giving our best women’s fiction recommendations!

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: 

• Something in Sierra’s author bio already has Dawn nervous

• The challenge of writing sibling stories as an only child

• Women’s Fiction and what does that mean exactly

• Roni can’t help being a “Well, actually…” person

• Our best women’s fiction recommendations

• If Dawn is ever in the woods, it means we need to send help

• Our RAD Recs of the Week

• Go sign up for Sierra’s newsletter because it’s awesome (says Roni the newsletter snob)

**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!

Our guest’s book and her recommendations:

• A Very Typical Family by Sierra Godfrey

• Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan

• Less by Andrew Sean Greer

• As Seen on TV by Meredith Schorr

• Nothing But the Truth by Holly James

• The Last Housewife by Ashley Winstead

• The Catch by Alison Fairbrother

• The Cactus by Sarah Haywood

• A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder by Diane Freeman

Books recommended by Roni:

• Old School Taylor Jenkins Reid

• One True Loves

• Maybe In Another Life

• After I Do

• This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub

• One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle

• Someday Someday Maybe by Lauren Graham

• The Suite Spot by Trish Doller

• Cackle and Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison

• The Mother-In-Law by Sally Hepworth

Books recommended by Dawn:

• Angry Housewives Eating Bonbons by Lorna Landvik

• Why Moms Are Weird by Pamela Ribon

• The Things We Wish Were True by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen

RAD Reading Recs of the Week: 

• Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman (Dawn’s rec)

• A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting by Sophie Irwin (Roni’s Rec)

Other books mentioned:

• The Last Summer at the Golden Hotel by Elyssa Friedland

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 34: Let's Get Spooky - October's Read/Watch/Listen Recs

RAD Reading Podcast

Episode #34 

Episode Title: October’s Read/Watch/Listen

Release Date: October 14, 2022

Episode Summary:

It’s that time of year again! Light the pumpkin-scented candle, get a bowl of your favorite Halloween candy, and turn on a stormy night soundtrack to set the mood. Today, we’re bringing you the best scary (from Roni) and gently spooky (from Dawn) things we’ve read, watched, and listened to lately.

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: 

• Why Dawn can’t go to the movies in October

• Reading slumps are the worst

• Roni tried a new method to tackle her giant TBR pile and it worked!

• A book that was on Roni’s TBR for 7 years

• Locked basements are a bad sign

• A book that had one of us thinking WTF the whole time

• We need warnings if the dog dies

• A book that was just right for Dawn

• Roni’s spooky/scary TV and movie recommendations (and an anti-recommendation)

• Dawn recommends a few fun and not-so-spooky things to watch

• A genre mash-up with fantastic audiobook narration

• Lycanthropy is a word and Roni is standing by that

• It always comes back to Buffy

• 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:

• 16 Things I Thought Were True by Janet Gurtler

• Love In the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson

• Comfort Me with Apples by Catherynne M. Valente

• For the kiddos: Goosebumps - Welcome to Dead House by R.L. Stine

Books recommended by Dawn:

• Crux: The Dragon Brides (Intergalactic Dating Agency) by Kate Rudolph

• Grave Reservations by Cherie Priest

• For the kiddos:

• Bunnicula by James and Deborah Howe

• The Haunting by Margret Mahy

• Secret of the Sevens by Lynn Lyndquist

Watch Recs by Roni:

• Freaky (Netflix)

• Midnight Club (based on Christopher Pike book) on Netflix

• Boo, Bitch (Netflix)

• Anti-Rec: My Best Friend’s Exorcism movie

• The 20/20 episode The Vanishing Act (about Sheri Papini)

• Looking forward to watching:

• The new Interview with a Vampire series

• (rewatch) The Craft

• (rewatch) The Grudge

• Hereditary

• Idle Hands

• Smile

• (rewatch) Jennifer’s Body

Watch Recs by Dawn:

• The Good Place

• She-Hulk

• Rings of Power

Listen Recs by Roni:

• Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison

• Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town by Jon Krakauer (rec with reservations)

• Listening now: It Came From the Closet: Queer Reflections on Horror edited by Joe Valesse

• Listening now: Bloody Fool for Love by William Ritter - Spike from Buffy prequel

RAD Reading Recs of the Week: 

• Saltaire by Hazel Jacks (Dawn’s rec)

• Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo (Roni’s rec)

Other books mentioned:

• What If You & Me by Roni Loren

• Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo

Other non-book recommendations:

• Storygraph app

• Currently Reading podcast

• Last Year’s Halloween episode: They All Float

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 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 31: Don’t You Forget About Me - Stories Told In Alternative Formats

RAD Reading Podcast 
Episode #31 

Episode Title: Don’t You Forget About Me: Stories Told In Alternative Formats

Release Date: September 2, 2022

Episode Summary:

Sometimes we get so focused on the traditional novel that we forget that stories come in all different types of formats and structures. This week, we’re giving those kinds of stories the spotlight. Join us as we recommend graphic novels, anthologies, short stories, novels with creative formats, and some truly wacky things Dawn found at the bookstore.

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: 

• • Reading is reading and don’t let anyone tell you format dictates whether something counts

• • Roni gets on her reading soapbox at a football game and was “that person”

• • Giving things a try that you think may not be for you

• • Dawn wants to time travel

• • The upsides of short stories

• • Dawn was definitely almost killed by one of the Children of the Corn

• • Leonard the dog makes known his love of LGBTQIA+ romance

• • The difference between graphic novels and comics 

• • Roni discovers a new way to read graphic novels that makes it so much easier for her to follow the story

• • Roni is going through a Buffy phase #sorrynotsorry

• • Novels with interesting formats

• • Remember when Twitter wasn’t a hellscape?

• • The elusive state of “full mental capacity”

• • IKEA can be effing scary

• • The curse of “have a great summer”

• • Roni loves her scary movies and books but she’s terrified of one book Dawn loves

• • Dawn cheats on “choose your adventure” books

• • Coloring books with interesting subjects

• • Our RAD Reading Recs of the week - including a book a listener recommended to us!

***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:

• Night Shift by Stephen King

• Different Seasons by Stephen King

• Vampires Never Get Old edited by Zoraida Cordova and Natalie C. Parker

• Slasher Girls and Monster Boys edited by April Genevieve Tucholke

• Echoes: A Ghost Story anthology edited by Ellen Datlow

• Take the Heat: A Criminal Romance anthology

• Nightingale charity anthology 

• Fifty First Times: A New Adult Anthology

• Break Me Down by Roni Loren

• Yours All Along by Roni Loren

• Heartstopper by Alice Oseman (multiple volumes)

• Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8 Volume 1 comic

• The Neverending Story by Michael Ende

• The Appeal by Janice Hallett

• Goodnight Tweetheart by Teresa Medeiros

• Catherine Ryan Howard books

• House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski

• Night Film by Marisha Pessl

• Grady Hendrix’s books

Books recommended by Dawn:

• The Tattered Blue Line anthology

• Dissent: A charity anthology for reproductive rights  

• Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh

• Solutions and Other Problems by Allie Brosh

• Chat stories 

• Love Letters by A.R. Gurney

• Minalima pop-up books - Alice In Wonderland, Wizard of Oz

• My Lady’s Choosing by Kitty Curran and Larissa Zagris

• Murdered by James Schannep

• Paint by Sticker books

• Crush and Color - Ryan Reynolds edition

RAD Reading Recs of the Week: 

• Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell (Roni’s rec)

• Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister (Dawn’s rec)

Other books mentioned:

• American Predator by Maureen Callahan

• Vicious by V.E. Schwab

• Not Until You serial by Roni Loren

• By the Hour by Roni Loren

• Where’d You Go, Bernadette? By Maria Semple

• Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

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 23: Casual Friday with Bookish Friends

RAD Reading Podcast
Episode #23 

Episode Title: Casual Friday with Bookish Friends - Editor Jessica Snyder and Author Stacy Woodson

Release Date: May 13, 2022

Episode Summary:

Today, we’re keeping it casual and having our first guests over to share their best book recommendations! Join us as we welcome indie editor Jessica Snyder and mystery writer Stacy Woodson. Expect some great romance, mystery, and suspense recommendations! Also, Roni has a number of books that she didn’t know quite how to rate because…reasons.

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: 

• Meet our guests!

• Dawn is giving her visitors the full Texas experience

• Roni admits she used to line dance

• Books that are hard to rate

• Dawn recommends a book with the word “sausage” in the tagline

• Editor Jess has a rec that’s a master class in upping the stakes in a story

• Editor/writer brain showing up when you’re reading can be a problem

• Thoughts on love triangles

• A tip for listening to books on your Kindle

• The upside of reading anthologies

• Roni found a book she didn’t know existed but definitely needed in her life

• Should authors go back and change things in earlier books

• Our RAD recs of the week

• And stay tuned for bloopers, in which Roni reveals just how embedded in her psyche, Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer is

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:

• Hello, Sunshine by Laura Dave

• The Appeal by Janice Hallett

Books recommended by Dawn:

• Make Me Shiver by Marie Johnston

• Baby for the Bosshole by Nadia Lee

Books recommended by our guests:

• After Hours on Milagro Street by Angelina M. Lopez

• Blind Tiger by Sandra Brown 

• Tinderbox by Rachel Grant

• The Escape Artist by Brad Meltzer

Other books mentioned:

• “Two Tamales, One Tokarev, and a Lifetime of Broken Promises” by Stacy Woodson

• Praise by Sara Cate

• Gravity by Sara Cate

• Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovitch

• Dangerous Ground by Rachel Grant

• Crime Hits Home anthology by Mystery Writers of America edited by S.J. Rozan

• The Other Half of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Other non-book recommendations:

• The apple cobbler crock pot recipe

• Sandra Brown episode on Fated Mates podcast

RAD Reading Recs of the Week: 

• Summer Sisters by Judy Blume (Dawn’s rec)

• Taste Makers: Seven Immigrant Women Who Revolutionized Food In America by Mayukh Sen (Roni’s rec)

Connect with our guests:

• Editor Jessica Snyder - her website

• Author Stacy Woodson - her website

Connect with Roni on her website or @roniloren on Instagram

Connect with Dawn on her website or @dawnalexanderbooks on Instagram

Find us online:

RAD Reading on Instagram

RAD Reading Facebook Page

RAD Reading Website

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 22: Freaky Friday - We've switched reading tastes!

RAD Reading Podcast
Episode #22 

Episode Title: Freaky Friday - We’ve swapped reading tastes this week!

Release Date: April 29, 20222

Episode Summary: 

It’s a Freaky Friday! Dawn and Roni have accidentally swapped reading tastes this week. Roni is recommending suspense novels, true crime books, and true-crime documentaries. Dawn has all the romantic picks–including a subgenre she never reads. Also, we have some more library tips to share!

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 had a library adventure and Dawn is now the proud owner of a non-resident library card

• Roni is officially hoarding library cards

• Ways to get extra library cards in totally legal ways

• Our reading tastes have flip-flopped this week

• The importance of chasing reading whims, especially as a writer

• A book recommended by a favorite author that totally worked for Roni 

• Roni gets nerdy about writing craft

• Dawn is late-night clicking and not remembering how books ended up on her e-reader

• Roni learns an important DNF (did not finish) lesson

• The books we added to our library stacks

• A little lesson on “high concept” reads

• Recommending books to your library

• The true crime documentaries Roni’s been watching

• What Dawn’s been watching (and has been getting nightmares from)

• Our movie outing and unrealistic book launch parties

• A RAD Reading announcement!

• 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:

• Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes

Books added to Roni’s TBR:

• The Sorority Murder by Allison Brennan

• The Chase by Candice Fox

• The Yoga Store Murder by Dan Morse

• The Appeal by Janice Hallett

• The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James

• Green River, Running Red by Ann Rule

Books recommended by Dawn:

• Praise by Sara Kate

• How to Be a Wallflower by Eloisa James

Books added to Dawn’s TBR:

• Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey

• My American Duchess by Eloisa James

• The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict

• Last Seen Alone by Laura Griffin

• The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

• What Happened to the Bennetts by Lisa Scottoline

RAD Reading Recs of the Week: 

• A Rival’s Kiss by Maya Hughes (Dawn’s rec)

• The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green (Roni’s Rec)

• Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes (Roni’s other rec)

Other books mentioned:

• Columbine by Dave Cullen

• The Ones Who Got Away series by Roni Loren

• 56 Days and The Nothing Man by Catherine Ryan Howard

• Where They Wait by Scott Carson

• Fire Heart by Emma Hamm 

• The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule

• The Guest List by Lucy Foley

Other things mentioned:

• Library extension add-on

• Sarah’s Bookshelves Live podcast - episode with Catherine Ryan Howard

• Meredith’s recs on Currently Reading podcast

• Laura Tremaine’s newsletter

Roni’s True Crime Doc Recs

• Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer (Amazon Prime)

• 20/20 - “Taken” Season 43, episode 20 

• The Murder of Gabby Petito: Truth, Lies, and Social Media (Peacock)

• True Crime Obsessed podcast

What Dawn’s Watching

• Moon Knight

• Outer Range (Amazon Prime)

• The Lost City

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 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 20: April Fools' Special - Books That Tricked Us

RAD Reading Podcast
Episode #20 

Episode Title: Books That Tricked Us

Release Date: April 1, 2022

Episode Summary

In honor of April Fool’s Day, we’re talking about the ways books can trick you—the good and the bad—and sharing the books that tricked us! Warning: Because of some of the bookish topics, this isn't an episode to listen to with your kids 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: 

• The worst prank Dawn experienced

• Why Roni can’t hear the 80s song “Don’t Treat Me Bad” without having prank flashbacks

• Good twists vs. bad twists

• Books that switch genres on you

• Misleading book covers

• Secondary plots that take over

• The “It was all a dream…” Dallas cliche

• Dawn’s fraught relationship with Nicholas Sparks

• The book that didn’t play fair (in our opinions)

• URNs and the Gone Girl effect

• Non-fiction can trick us too!

• Book expectations vs. the reality - why the mismatch?

• Horror vs. thriller

• Great books that tricked us

• RAD Reading Recs of the week

• Roni’s written a steamy story for a charity anthology to help Ukraine, pre-order Nightingale today!

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 mentioned (Note, some of these are recommendations, some are ones whose “tricks” didn’t work for us. Listen to find out which!)

• High Five by Stephanie Plum

• Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough

• We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

• Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

• Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

• The Roommate by Rosie Danaan

• Where’d You Go, Bernadette? By Maria Semple

• 56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard

• The Mother-In-Law by Sally Hepworth

• Four-Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman

• Fantastic Land by Mike Bockoven

• No Exit by Taylor Adams

• Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon

• The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager

• In My Dreams, I Hold a Knife by Ashley Winstead

• Ten by Gretchen McNeil

Other things mentioned:

• The Strangers movie

• No Exit movie

RAD Reading Recs of the Week: 

• Nomad by S.M. West (Dawn’s rec)

• One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle on audio (Roni’s rec)

Roni’s in a charity anthology for the Ukraine - pre-order your copy for a good cause!

Nightingale charity anthology

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 18: Take My Money Please - Autobuy Authors

RAD Reading Podcast
Episode #18 

Episode Title: Take My Money Please: Autobuy Authors

Release Date: March 4, 2022

Episode Summary:

Today is all about the autobuy authors. We love finding autobuys, but we can also get stuck in a rut, only reading our sure things. Join us as we tackle the pros and cons of autobuy authors and then share a list of our favorite autobuys. And warning, technology and Roni’s puppy hated us this episode, so expect some bloopers in the middle and some outtakes at the end.

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: 

• Texas ice sucks

• Roni’s 6-month writing sabbatical

• Puppies eating post-it notes

• What is an autobuy author

• Why we love autobuy authors

• Why autobuys can sometimes get us stuck

• Your dad and James Patterson

• Somehow Twilight comes up again and we’re on different #TeamJacob #TeamEdward teams

• Where to find authors and books like your favorite autobuys

• Sometimes you can’t trust cover quotes

• Stephen King blurbs everything

• Our favorite autobuy authors in multiple genres

• Queso currency

• Dawn talks about ending on a cliffhanger and then the universe makes a joke about it

• Roni institutes the Emergency Kong Protocol

• Dawn and her aliens

• Our RAD Recs of the week

• Roni lent Dawn a book! 

• Stay tuned for outtakes

**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!

Roni’s autobuy authors:

• Christina Lauren

• Colleen Hoover

• Taylor Jenkins Reid

• Leigh Bardugo

• V.E. Schwab

• Gretchen Rubin

• Cal Newport

Dawn’s autobuy authors:

• Roni Loren

• Maya Hughes

• Marie Johnston

• Eva Charles

• Delaney Foster

• Emily McIntire

• Delancey Stewart

• Nadia Lee

• Meghan Rho

• Jane Harper

• Ruby Dixon

• Callie Rhodes

• Marlowe Roy

• Riley Sager

• Laura Griffin

RAD Reading Recs of the Week: 

Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica (Dawn’s rec)

56 Days 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 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 15: Reading for Mental Health + Trigger Warnings

RAD Reading Podcast
Episode #15 

Episode Title: Reading for Mental Health + Trigger Warnings

Release Date: January 21, 2022

Episode Summary:

This week we’re chatting about how books can help our mental health, the kinds of books that work best for us when we’re feeling anxious or down, and we’re discussing the practice of putting trigger warnings in books. Also, we have our RAD Reading Recs of the week plus a few bonus picks!

Spoiler Alert: Spoiler for the book The Push by Ashley Audrain at 42:55, skip ahead one minute to 43:55 mark if you don’t want a spoiler.

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 got a puppy and is feeling loopy from lack of sleep

• Why waiting rooms can be a gift

• Reading and health

• Goat yoga but with teeth

• Calgon, take me away reading moments

• Dark stories in dark times

• Bibliotherapy is a real thing and a cool word

• Someone send Roni recs for dog-themed essay collections!

• That “this is me” feeling when reading

• How A Wrinkle In Time found Dawn at the exact right moment

• Romance, weirdness, and acceptance

• Thoughts on menage and laundry

• The beauty of the guaranteed ending

• Dawn throws shade at Nicholas Sparks (do people still say “throw shade”?)

• Romance vs. “a love story”

• Genre mystery vs. literary mystery vs. cozy mystery

• Dawn’s Apollo 13 anxiety

• Sometimes sad moods and happy comedic books are a bad mix

• What is a trigger warning? 

• Are trigger warnings spoilers?

• Transcending our GenX-ness (but Roni’s not giving up her Doc Martens)

• Our personal experiences with triggers in books

• Roni wants a “Does this book have…?” database

• Different ways authors handle trigger warnings

• Roni let Dawn down by not giving her a trigger warning for a movie

• Bonus books recs 

• The RAD Reading Recs of the week

• Stay tuned for bloopers!

*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:

• Smooth Talking Cowboy by Maisey Yates

Books recommended by Dawn:

• Marrying My Billionaire Boss by Nadia Lee

• Beauty and the Assassin by Nadia Lee

RAD Reading Recs of the Week: 

• Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb (Roni Rec)

• Kiss and Tell by Maya Hughes

Other books mentioned:

• Wanderers by Chuck Wendig

• The Girlfriend’s Guide to Pregnancy by Vicki Iovine

• A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L’Engle

• Yes & I Love You by Roni Loren

• What If You & Me by Roni Loren

• Captivated by Tessa Bailey and Eve Dangerfield

• Melt Into You by Roni Loren

• When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain

• One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

• Make Me Whole by Marie Johnston

• The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

• The Push by Ashley Audrain

Other things mentioned:

• Healthline article on reading and blood pressure

• Roni’s Romantic Movie Marathon

• Does the dog die? Website (has other triggers too for movies)

• Ghostbusters: Afterlife

• Infinity War

• End Game

Find us online:

RAD Reading on Instagram

RAD Reading Facebook Page

The full list of RAD Reading Recs from every episode

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 14: Get It Together in 2022 - Our Favorite Planners & Self-Improvement Books

RAD Reading Podcast
Episode # 14

Episode Title: Get It Together in 2022: Our Favorite Planners & Self-Improvement Books

Release Date: January 7, 2022

Episode Summary:

It’s that time of year, and we’re so here for it. Join us as we get all ourselves together for 2022. We’re sharing which planners we’re using to set goals and organize our year, and then we’re recommending our favorite self-improvement books for improving your home life, reducing distractions, getting control of your time, and boosting your creativity. We’ve got a long list! Plus, as always, we’ll be sharing our RAD 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: 

• We’ve both ditched the planners we’ve used in the past and switched to new ones

• Which planners we’re using this year – and yes, there are multiple planners because we contain multitudes, okay. No one planner can contain us! ;) 

• Roni’s a pushy planner person

• How Dawn lost many hours of her life…planning her planner

• A "happy life" planner

• Dawn made a stencil journal

• Roni is learning to “use the things”

• Roni apparently needs a lot of self-help while Dawn only needs a little

• Books really can fix things

• Books for improving your home life

• Pondering deep questions like “why am I folding my underwear?”

• Books that helped us reduce distractions and tame social media/staring at our phones all the time

• Books that help you take back your time 

• Books that give you a creativity boost

• Our RAD Reading Recs of the week 

• We still can't say “RAD Reading Rec” without stumbling on our words

• An important change to the podcast

**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:

• Happier at Home by Gretchen Rubin

• Organizing Solutions for People with ADHD by Susan C. Pinksy

• The Joy of Less by Francine Jay

• Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport

• How to Break Up With Your Phone: The 30-Day Plan to Take Back Your Life by Catherine Price

• Essentialism by Greg McKeown

• Off the Clock by Laura Vanderkam

• Make Time by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky

• Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

• Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative In Good Times and Bad by Austin Kleon

Books recommended by Dawn:

• The Me Project by Kathi Lipp

• Organize Your Way: Simple Strategies for Every Personality by Katie and Kelly McMenamin

• Unf*ck Your Habitat: You’re Better Than Your Mess by Rachel Hoffman

• Dear Writer, Are You In Burnout? By Becca Syme

RAD Reading Recs of the Week: 

• Captivated by Tessa Bailey and Eve Dangerfield

• Love & Other Words by Christina Lauren

Other things mentioned:

Rocketbook notebook

Roni’s Romantic Movie Marathon in her newsletter

Roni’s blog and her posts on digital detoxing and device-free summers

Roni’s Fighting for Focus class

Planners mentioned:

Day Designer

Cloth & Paper planner

Cloth & Paper subscription box

Powersheets

Sarra Cannon’s HB90 system

Ban.do planner

Doodlelove year at a glance poster

Passion Planner

Agendio planner

Bloom planner

Plum Paper planners

Find us online:

RAD Reading on Instagram

RAD Reading Facebook Page

RAD Rec Master 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.)

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.)