Nach Genre filtern
Do you enjoy reading YA books? Are you dying to talk about them and hear what others think about your favorite books? Are you outside of the YA age bracket (like myself) but still enjoy them? Then this is the podcast for you! Join me and my friends, as we discuss our favorite YA books and authors! We’ll chat spoiler-free at the start of each episode, just in case you haven’t read the book yet. Then I’ll give a warning before heading into our spoiler zone. I'll also have special episodes where I'll interview YA authors! I’ll be discussing books by Victoria Aveyard, Holly Black, Neal Shusterman, Veronica Roth, Pierce Brown, Marissa Meyer, Suzanne Collins, Veronica Roth, Stephanie Garber, Melissa de la Cruz, and many more!Have questions on your favorite books? Want to know my thoughts on them? Have a book you love that you want me to discuss? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com. I’d love to hear from you!
- 120 - Author Interview: Jennifer Donnelly (Beastly Beauty)
Today I am chatting with NY Times Bestselling author of fiction for all ages, Jennifer Donnelly!
Today Jennifer and I are chatting about her brand new fairy tale retelling, a gender swapped reimagining of Beauty and the Beast, Beastly Beauty. Beastly Beauty is Jennifer's third fairy tale retelling. Her others are Stepsister and Poisoned, which tell the tales of Cinderella's "ugly" stepsister, and Snow White.
Take a listen as Jennifer and I chat all about her writing style, her inspiration for these fairy tale reimagining's, the messages society sends young women and how we can combat them, pulling inspiration from Grimm's fairy tales, and so much more!
You won't want to miss it!
A little aboutBeastly Beauty:
What makes a girl "beastly?" Is it having too much ambition? Being too proud? Taking up too much space? Or is it just wanting something, anything, too badly?That's the problem Arabella faces when she makes her debut in society. Her parents want her to be sweet and compliant so she can marry well, but try as she might, Arabella can't extinguish the fire burning inside her -- the source of her deepest wishes, her wildest dreams.
When an attempt to suppress her emotions tragically backfires, a mysterious figure punishes Arabella with a curse, dooming her and everyone she cares about, trapping them in the castle. As the years pass, Arabella abandons hope. The curse is her fault -- after all, there's nothing more "beastly" than a girl who expresses her anger -- and the only way to break it is to find a boy who loves her for her true self: a cruel task for a girl who's been told she's impossible to love.
When a handsome thief named Beau makes his way into the castle, the captive servants are thrilled, convinced he is the one to break the curse. But Beau -- spooked by the castle's strange and forbidding ladies-in-waiting, and by the malevolent presence that stalks its corridors at night -- only wants to escape. He learned long ago that love is only an illusion. If Beau and Arabella have any hope of breaking the curse, they must learn to trust their wounded hearts, and realize that the cruelest prisons of all are the ones we build for ourselves.
A special thank you to Jennifer Donnelly for coming on the podcast and chatting with me today! And a special thank you to Amanda Trautmann at Scholastic, Inc. for setting up the interview!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 29 Apr 2024 - 119 - Author Interview: F. T. Lukens (Otherworldly)
Today I am chatting with New York Times Bestselling author F. T. Lukens.
Take a listen as F. T. and I chat all about their latest queer speculative fiction young adult novel, Otherworldly.You'll hear us chat not just about this fantastic supernatural story, but about F. T. Lukens' writing process, what it would be like to live in a never ending winter for five years, mythology, meet cutes vs. meet disasters, how M. Night Shyamalan scared the heck out of both of us, and how both F. T. and I worked as dish washers at one point (just like our main character, Ellery).
Otherworldly is a sweet cozy fantasy filled with magic, mythology, supernatural characters, and more! You'll travel into Ellery and Knox's worlds, discover their found family, hope along with them as they go on this incredible journey. And, while there are definitely creepy magical moments in this book, Otherworldly will leave you feeling like you just received a warm hug. This is one young adult fantasy you don't want to miss!
About Otherworldly:
Seventeen-year-old Ellery is a non-believer in a region where people swear the supernatural is real. Sure, they’ve been stuck in a five-year winter, but there’s got to be a scientific explanation. If goddesses were real, they wouldn’t abandon their charges like this, leaving farmers like Ellery’s family to scrape by.
Knox is a familiar from the Other World, a magical assistant sent to help humans who have made crossroads bargains. But it’s been years since he heard from his queen, and Knox is getting nervous about what he might find once he returns home. When the crossroads demons come to collect Knox, he panics and runs. A chance encounter down an alley finds Ellery coming to Knox’s rescue, successfully fending off his would-be abductors.
Ellery can’t quite believe what they’ve seen. And they definitely don’t believe the nonsense this unnervingly attractive guy spews about his paranormal origins. But Knox needs to make a deal with a human who can tether him to this realm, and Ellery needs to figure out how to stop this winter to help their family. Once their bargain is struck, there’s no backing out, and the growing connection between the two might just change everything.
Thank you to F. T. Lukens for coming on the podcast and chatting with me today! And a special thank you to Alex Kelleher at Simon and Schuster for setting up the interview.
Check out F. T. Lukens website
Follow F. T. Lukens on Instagram
Purchase OtherworldlyHave a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 15 Apr 2024 - 118 - These Violent Delights
Today I am chatting about These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong. Joining me as my guest is Rachel from the Barely Bookish podcast.
If you love the story of Romeo and Juliet, you will love this re-imagining of Shakespeare's classic story. Chloe Gong takes the story of Romeo and Juliet and plunges it into 1926 Shanghai. This story has it all; warring gangster families, a forbidden romance, war in the city, and a monster who wants to destroy them all. And in the midst of it all, is the classic star-crossed lovers story of Romeo and Juliet, complete with a vast amount of Easter eggs from Shakespeare's original story.
Join Rachel and me as we chat all about the story, characters, Romeo and Juliet Easter eggs, 1926 Shanghai and U.S. fashion, monsters, and more!
A little about These Violent Delights:
The year is 1926, and Shanghai hums to the tune of debauchery.
A blood feud between two gangs runs the streets red, leaving the city helpless in the grip of chaos. At the heart of it all is eighteen-year-old Juliette Cai, a former flapper who has returned to assume her role as the proud heir of the Scarlet Gang—a network of criminals far above the law. Their only rivals in power are the White Flowers, who have fought the Scarlets for generations. And behind every move is their heir, Roma Montagov, Juliette’s first love…and first betrayal.
But when gangsters on both sides show signs of instability culminating in clawing their own throats out, the people start to whisper. Of a contagion, a madness. Of a monster in the shadows. As the deaths stack up, Juliette and Roma must set their guns—and grudges—aside and work together, for if they can’t stop this mayhem, then there will be no city left for either to rule.Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 01 Apr 2024 - 117 - Author Interview: Emily Locker
Today I am joined by debut author Emily Locker to chat about her YA Rom Com, Running Mates!
Take a listen as Emily and I chat about her journey to becoming a traditionally published author, romance novels, our love for independent bookstores, the fantastic characters and plot line, our swoony cinnamon role love interest, youth activism, star-crossed love, and more!
The entire episode is spoiler free!
A little aboutRunning Mates:
In the quaint yet politically charged town of Edgartown, North Carolina, two worlds are about to collide. Meet Annabelle Morningstar, an impassioned, quirky high school activist raised by her news anchor and surgeon mothers, both champions of progressive ideals. Across town, there's Gabe Delgado, the quintessential all-American boy, molded by his conservative, Cuban senator father. Edgartown is a town literally divided―the Liberal East and the Conservative North coexisting as neighbors but rarely as friends. But what happens when the two sides meet in the least likely of places: a local bookstore?When employees at Annabelle's favorite literary haven decide to unionize, she finds her path unexpectedly crossing with Gabe's. And then they're tossed together weekly as they get special training help for their beloved cross-country competitions. With their worlds thrown into disarray, the two high schoolers must navigate their complex feelings for each other while wrestling with their polarized upbringings. Can love bloom in the crossfire of political discord?
A special thank you to Emily for coming on the podcast today. And a special thank you to Kathleen Carter at Kathleen Carter Communications for setting up the interview.
Check out Emily's website
Follow Emily onInstagram
Purchase Running MatesHave a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 25 Mar 2024 - 116 - Author Interview: Abigail Morrison
Today I am joined by YA Indy author Abigail Morrison to chat about her YA adventure fantasy novel, The Yochni's Eye.
Abigail is a self-published author, who has worked hard to create this amazing adventure story full of incredible world building, creatures, and important themes that explore revenge and redemption. Take a listen as Abigail and I chat all about the self-publishing world, her character creation, plot devices, writing style, world building, and so much more!
Entire episode is spoiler free!
A little aboutThe Yochni's Eye:
Every six hundred years, the yochni blinks, changing one thing about the world based on the wish of the last creature it sees. Sixteen-year-old dwarven champion Mira Goldfist wants nothing more than to wish the bogeys—the giant, dog-like race that has enslaved her people—out of existence. But when Kraven Monteyeaux, a magical arbiter and reluctant medic, forces Mira and Atlan Qierce, the high prince and heir to the bogey empire, into a magical contract to reach the yochni together, all three will have to overcome their prejudices and pride to stop an even deadlier wish.
Check out Abigail's website.
Purchase The Yochni's Eye.
A special thank you to Abigail for coming on the podcast and chatting with me today.Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 11 Mar 2024 - 115 - Author Interview: Bethanie Finger
Today I am chatting with one of my best friends, Bethanie Finger, about her debut YA Historical Fantasy novel, More Than Life!
Take a listen as Bethanie and I chat all about her journey to get her book traditionally published, her motivation behind writing this story, how writing this book helped her process the grief of losing her own father, the plot line, characters, world building, Taylor Swift, and more!
The entire episode is spoiler free!
A little about More Than Life:
As the daughter of a high-ranking sea captain, nineteen-year-old Cordelia Kimbal lives a life of luxury in the sea faring kingdom of Mikiria. But when her father dies unexpectedly, she is stripped of her title and home, and forced to join the working class in order to survive.
Determined to rise above her losses, Cordelia is eager to prove her worth and stand on her own. But four months after her father's passing, a mysterious letter arrives, revealing the secret location of the mythical island of Qualaris. Known for concealing the secrets of magic and eternal life, Qualaris is often dismissed as mere legend, but Jaspar, Cordelia's father's enigmatic apprentice, is convinced of its existence and is harboring its secrets—secrets that the dark enchanter, Janus would stop at nothing to obtain.
For generations, Jaspar and his ancestors have pursued the discovery and rescue of Qualaris while battling a curse of nonexistence, and he believes that Cordelia is the island's true protector, the one who can save it and its people from Janus's impending threat.
Faced with the daunting task of defending Qualaris and its people, Cordelia embarks on a quest to locate the island, embrace her birthright, and take on the darkest enchanter in history. If she doesn’t, the island and its people won’t be the only casualties of Janus’s war.
Join Cordelia on her journey as she navigates a world of magic, mystery, and danger, discovering her true self and the strength within her.
A special thank you to Bethanie for chatting with me on the podcast today and sharing your story!
Follow Bethanie on Instagram.
Check out Bethanie's website.
Purchase More Than Life!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 19 Feb 2024 - 114 - The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway
To celebrate Valentine's Day I am chatting with my good friend Victoria Koops about the swoony YA Rom Com, The Renaissance of Gwen Hathawayby Ashley Schumacher.
This is such a fun book! If you enjoy Renaissance Festivals, Shakespearean things, Medieval Times, adorable singing bards (like Jaskier from The Witcher), a plus-sized protagonist, theatre, LGBTQ+ representation, and teen romance, this book is for you!
Join Victoria and me as we chat all about Renaissance festivals, theatre kids/theatre life, the swoony romance between our two main characters, grief/grieving, relating to a plus-sized protagonist, believing in fate, our dream to quit our jobs and travel to all the Renaissance festivals in the States, and so much more!
The first 30 minutes are spoiler free!
A little about The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway:
Since her mother’s death, Madeline “Gwen” Hathaway has been determined that nothing in her life will change ever again. That’s why she keeps extensive lists in journals, has had only one friend since childhood, and looks forward to the monotony of working the ren faire circuit with her father. Until she arrives at her mother’s favorite end-of-tour stop to find the faire is under new management and completely changed.
Meeting Arthur, the son of the new owners and an actual lute-playing bard, messes up Maddie’s plans even more. For some reason, he wants to be her friend - and ropes her into becoming Princess of the Faire. Now Maddie is overseeing a faire dramatically changed from what her mother loved and going on road trips vastly different from the routine she used to rely on. Worst of all, she’s kind of having fun.
Ashley Schumacher's The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway is filled with a wise old magician who sells potion bottles, gallant knights who are afraid of horses and ride camels instead, kings with a fondness for theatrics, a lazy river castle moat with inflatable crocodile floaties, and a plus-sized heroine with a wide open heart... if only she just admits it.
Check out Victoria's website
Purchase Victoria's debut novel: Who We Are in Real LifeHave a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Wed, 14 Feb 2024 - 113 - Author Interview: Victoria Koops (Who We Are In Real Life)
Today I am interviewing a debut author who also happens to be one of my very dear friends. I am so excited for all of you to listen to today's episode, where I chat with my friend, and frequent podcast guest, Victoria Koops about her debut YA Rom Com novel, Who We Are In Real Life!
Join Victoria and me as we chat all about this fantastic book and Victoria's writing process. You'll hear us dive into what it took in order to get the book published, the inspiration for the book (such a fun story!), the characters, queer representation, the swoony romance, Dungeons and Dragons, Victoria's advice for new writers trying to break into the world of publishing, teen relationships, and more!
Whether you're a long-time listener who has come to love my episodes with Victoria, or a newcomer, you will enjoy this episode and Victoria's wonderful new book!
Entire episode is spoiler free!
A little about Who We Are In Real Life:
IRL, Darcy has just moved to the small prairie town of Unity Creek with her two moms. It feels like she left everything good behind in the city. She misses her tabletop gaming friends and her boyfriend ― and is horrified by the homophobia her family faces in their new home. Then she meets kind, quiet Art, who invites her to join his Dungeons & Dragons game.Art is mostly happy fading into the background at school and only really coming alive during his friends’ weekly D&D game ― until meeting Darcy pulls his life off-course in wonderful and alarming ways. Suddenly he has something worth fighting for. But what if that something puts him in conflict with his father, an influential and conservative figure in their town? Can Art stand up against his father’s efforts to prevent Darcy and her friends from starting a queer-straight alliance at school?
Meanwhile, in game, Darcy’s and Art’s D&D characters join forces to fight corruption as they grow closer in the homebrew world of Durgeon’s Keep ― as fantasy and reality collide.
A special thank you to Victoria Koops for chatting with me today, and to her publicist at Groundwood books for the ARC.Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 05 Feb 2024 - 112 - Author Interview: Lauren Munoz (Suddenly A Murder)
Today I am chatting with author Lauren Munoz about her debut YA Murder Mystery novel, Suddenly A Murder.
If you love a good murder mystery, you will love Suddenly A Murder! This story follows seven high school friends who are celebrating graduating from high school on a private island for a 1920s-themed getaway. But while there, one of them turns up dead.
Take a listen as Lauren and I chat all about this suspenseful book! We chat about the characters, the 1920s theme, Agatha Christy novels, Lauren's writing style, writing from one character's POV vs. multiple in a murder mystery, the perils of living in Chicago in the winter, and so much more!
The entire episode is spoiler-free!
A little aboutSuddenly A Murder:
Someone brought a knife to the party.
To celebrate the end of high school, Izzy Morales joins her ride-or-die Kassidy and five friends on a 1920s–themed getaway at the glamorous Ashwood Manor. There, Izzy and her friends party in vintage dresses and expensive diamonds—until Kassidy’s boyfriend turns up dead.
Murdered, investigators declare when they arrive at the scene, and now every party guest is a suspect. There’s the girlfriend, in love. The other girl, in despair. The old friend, forlorn. The new friend, distressed. The brooding enigma. And then, there’s Izzy—the girl who brought the knife.
To find the killer, everyone must undergo a grueling interrogation, all while locked in an estate where, suddenly, the greatest luxury is innocence.
Check out Lauren's website.
Follow Lauren on Instagram andTwitter (X).
PurchaseSuddenly A Murder.
A special thank you to Lauren Munoz for being my guest today. And a special thank you to Jordana Kulak at Penguin Young Readers for setting up the interview.Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 22 Jan 2024 - 111 - Author Interview: Ayana Gray (Beasts of Prey/Ruin/War)
Today I am chatting with NY Times Best Selling author Ayana Gray!
Ayana and I will be chatting about her Beasts of Prey trilogy. We discuss all three books in the trilogy; Beasts of Prey, Beasts of Ruin, and the final book in the series (which publishes on January 16, 2024),Beasts of War.
Take a listen as Ayana and I chat about the storyline of each book, her writing style, challenges she's faced in writing the series, the inclusion of African culture and history in each book, the characters, Ayana's world building, and more!
The entire episode is spoiler-free!
A little aboutBeasts of War:
Once a prisoner to Fedu, the vengeful god of death, Koffi has regained her freedom, but she is far from safe. Fedu will stop at nothing to hunt her down and use her power to decimate the mortal world. Koffi knows when Fedu will strike: during the next Bonding, a once-in-a-lifetime celestial event. To survive, Koffi will have to find powerful new allies quickly, and convince them to help her in the terrible battle to come.
Once a warrior-turned-runaway, Ekon has carved out a new life for himself outside Lkossa, but the shadows of his past still haunt him. Now, alongside unexpected friends, Ekon tries to focus on getting Koffi to the Kusonga Plains before the next Bonding. If he fails, Koffi will be consumed, either by her own dangerous power, or the terrible fate Ekon is doing everything he can to prevent. Ekon devotes himself to protecting Koffi, but the lingering threats from his own past are more urgent than he knows.
As Koffi and Ekon race to the Kusonga Plains—and try to garner the help of Eshōza’s ancient gods along the way—they must face a slew of dangerous beasts old and new. In the end, destiny may unite Koffi and Ekon for the last time—or tear them apart for good.
I'd like to say a special thank you to Ayana Gray for coming on the podcast and chatting with me today. And a special thank you to Sierra Pregosin at Penguin Young Readers for setting up the interview.
Check out Ayana's website
Follow Ayana on Instagram
Purchase Beasts of WarHave a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 08 Jan 2024 - 110 - Assistant to the Villain
Today I am chatting with my friend Morgan about Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer.
Take a listen as Morgan and I chat all about this hilarious grumpy vs. sunshine New Adult Fantasy Rom-Com! You'll hear us chat about how villains aren't supposed to be so attractive, a dragon tamer who's not good at taming dragons, how the villain is totally undone by his assistant, an adorable crown-wearing frog, an ogre who bakes, and more! This is such a fun episode and you won't want to miss it!
And, be sure to check out my previous episode where Iinterviewed the author!
A little about Assistant to the Villain:
ASSISTANT WANTED:Notorious, high-ranking villain seeks loyal, levelheaded assistant for unspecified office duties, supporting staff for random mayhem and terror, and other Dark Things In General. Discretion a must. Excellent benefits.
With ailing family to support, Evie Sage's employment status isn't just important, it's vital. So when a mishap with Rennedawn’s most infamous Villain results in a job offer―naturally, she says yes. No job is perfect, of course, but even less so when you develop a teeny crush on your terrifying, temperamental, and undeniably hot boss. Don’t find evil so attractive, Evie.
But just when she’s getting used to severed heads suspended from the ceiling and the odd squish of an errant eyeball beneath her heel, Evie suspects this dungeon has a huge rat…and not just the literal kind. Because something rotten is growing in the kingdom of Rennedawn, and someone wants to take the Villain―and his entire nefarious empire―out.
Now Evie must not only resist drooling over her boss but also figure out exactly who is sabotaging his work…and ensure he makes them pay.Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Wed, 20 Dec 2023 - 109 - The Inheritance Games
Today I am chatting with my friend Abigail about The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes.
Join Abigail and me as we chat all about this enthralling book! We will not only be chatting about the plotline, but about all the characters (including those we love to hate), the Hawthorne family secrets, Hawthorne Manor, our favorite Hawthorne brothers, if we are Team Jamison or Team Grayson, and more!
First 15 minutes are spoiler free!
A little about The Inheritance Games:
Avery Grambs has a plan for a better future: Survive high school, win a scholarship, and get out. But her fortunes change in an instant when billionaire Tobias Hawthorne dies and leaves Avery virtually his entire fortune. The catch? Avery has no idea why - or even who Tobias Hawthorne is.To receive her inheritance, Avery must move into sprawling, secret passage-filled Hawthorne House, where every room bears the old man's touch - and his love of puzzles, riddles, and codes. Unfortunately for Avery, Hawthorne House is also occupied by the family that Tobias Hawthorne just dispossessed. This includes the four Hawthorne grandsons: Dangerous, magnetic, brilliant boys who grew up with every expectation that one day, they would inherit billions.
Heir apparent Grayson Hawthorne is convinced that Avery must be a con-woman, and he's determined to take her down. His brother, Jameson, views her as their grandfather's last hurrah: A twisted riddle, a puzzle to be solved. Caught in a world of wealth and privilege, with danger around every turn, Avery will have to play the game herself just to survive.
Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 04 Dec 2023 - 108 - Author Interview: Susan Dennard (The Luminaries & The Hunting Moon)
Today I am chatting with New York Times Bestselling author Susan Dennard!
Susan is the author of the Witchlandsseries as well as The Luminaries series. Today, Susan and I are chatting about book two in her Luminaries series, The Hunting Moon. Take a listen as Susan and I chat about Susan's writing process, world-building, character development, and all the Nightmares who live in Hemlock Falls...
The entire episode is spoiler-free!
A little about The Hunting Moon...
Winnie Wednesday has gotten everything she thought she wanted. She passed the deadly hunter trials, her family has been welcomed back into the Luminaries, and overnight, she has become a local celebrity.
The Girl Who Jumped. The Girl Who Got Bitten.
Unfortunately, it all feels wrong. For one, nobody will believe her about the new nightmare called the Whisperer that's killing hunters each night. Everyone blames the werewolf, even though Winnie is certain the wolf is innocent.
On top of that, following her dad's convoluted clues about the Dianas, their magic, and what happened in Hemlock Falls four years ago is leaving her with more questions than answers.
Then to complicate it all, there is still only one person who can help her: Jay Friday, the boy with plenty of problems all his own.
As bodies and secrets pile up around town, Winnie finds herself questioning what it means to be a true Wednesday and a true Luminary―and also where her fierce-hearted loyalties might ultimately have to lie.
A special thank you to Susan Dennard for chatting with me today! And thank you also to Giselle Gonzalez at Tor Teen for setting up the interview!
Check out Susan's website
Follow Susan on Instagram, and Twitter (X)
Check out Susan's monthly newsletter for writers!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 13 Nov 2023 - 107 - Author Interview: Kate Alice Marshall (The Narrow)
Today I am chatting with Adult, Middle Grade, and Young Adult fiction author Kate Alice Marshall about her newest book, The Narrow.
The Narrowis a haunting ghost story that will give you chills down your spine...
Join Kate and I as we chat about the challenges of writing a ghost story with a mystery element, the complicated characters, Kate's writing style, and the hauntingly dangerous river that inspired it all.
The entire episode is spoiler free!
A little about The Narrow:
Everyone has heard the story of the Narrow. The river that runs behind the Atwood School is only a few feet across and seemingly placid, but beneath the surface, the waters are deep and vicious. It’s said that no one who has fallen in has ever survived.
Eden White knows that isn’t true. Six years ago, she saw Delphine Fournier fall into the Narrow—and live.
Delphine now lives in careful isolation, sealed off from the world. Even a single drop of unpurified water could be deadly to her, and no one but Eden has any idea why. Eden has never told anyone what she saw or spoken to Delphine since, but now, unable to cover her tuition, she has to make a deal: her expenses will be paid in return for serving as a live-in companion to Delphine.
Eden finds herself drawn to the strange and mysterious girl, and the two of them begin to unravel each other’s secrets. Then Eden discovers what happened to the last girl who lived with Delphine: she was found half-drowned on dry land. Suddenly Eden is waking up to wet footprints tracking to the end of her bed, the sound of rain on the windows when the skies are clear, and a ghostly silhouette in her doorway. Something is haunting Delphine—and now it’s coming for Eden, too.
A special thank you to Kate for chatting with me on the podcast today. And a special thank you to Kaitlin Kneafsey at Penguin Young Readers/Penguin Random House.
Check out Kate's website.
Follow Kate on Instagram and Goodreads.Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 30 Oct 2023 - 106 - Author Interview: Kayvion Lewis (Thieves' Gambit)
Today I am interviewing YA author Kayvion Lewis about her brand new book Thieves' Gambit!
Join Kayvion and me as we chat all about this heart-pounding, high-octane, thrill ride! You'll hear us talk about Kayvion's writing process, the fantastic characters, what you need to Google in order to write a book about a heist, gorgeous, thieving British men, and so much more!
The entire episode is spoiler-free!
A little about Thieves' Gambit:
At only seventeen years old, Ross Quest is already a master thief, especially adept at escape plans. Until her plan to run away from her legendary family of thieves takes an unexpected turn, leaving her mother’s life hanging in the balance.
In a desperate bid, she enters the Thieves’ Gambit, a series of dangerous, international heists where killing the competition isn’t exactly off limits, but the grand prize is a wish for anything in the world—a wish that could save her mom. When she learns two of her competitors include her childhood nemesis and a handsome, smooth-talking guy who might also want to steal her heart, winning the Gambit becomes trickier than she imagined.
Ross tries her best to stick to the family creed: trust no one whose last name isn’t Quest. But with the stakes this high, Ross will have to decide who to con and who to trust before time runs out. After all, only one of them can win.
A special thank you to Kayvion Lewis for being a guest on the podcast today! And a special thank you to Olivia Russo and Lizzie Gooddell at Penguin Young Readers/Penguin Random House for setting up the interview.
Check out Kayvion's website
Follow Kayvion on Instagram
Purchase Thieves' GambitHave a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 16 Oct 2023 - 105 - Stars and Smoke
Today I am chatting with my friend, and YA Book Chat Patreon member, Abigail about Stars and Smoke, by Marie Lu.
Join Abigail and me as we chat all about this exciting YA contemporary novel that follows a young pop star, as he's drawn into the world of being a spy and trying to take down a major criminal. In this episode we chat about hot young Asian men, pop stars, what it might be like for a 19-year-old to be a spy, family issues, what you should do if you have a fever (Yes, it's applicable to the book!), the plotline, the importance of Necco Wafers, and so much more!
The first 15 minutes are spoiler-free!
A little about Stars and Smoke:
Meet Winter Young―Global pop sensation, with a voice like velvet and looks that could kill. His star power has smashed records, selling out stadiums from LA to London. His rabid fans would move heaven and earth for even a glimpse of him―just imagine what they’d do to become his latest fling.
Meet Sydney Cossette―Part of an elite covert ops group, Sydney joined their ranks as their youngest spy with plans to become the best agent they’ve ever had. An ice queen with moves as dangerous as her comebacks, Sydney picks up languages just as quickly as she breaks hearts. She's fiery, no-nonsense, and has zero time for romance―especially with a shameless flirt more used to serving sass than taking orders.
When a major crime boss gifts his daughter a private concert with Winter for her birthday, Sydney and Winter's lives suddenly collide. Tasked with infiltrating the crime organization’s inner circle, Sydney is assigned as Winter's bodyguard with Winter tapped to join her on the mission of a lifetime as a new spy recruit. Sydney may be the only person alive impervious to Winter's charms, but as their mission brings them closer, she’s forced to admit that there's more to Winter Young than just a handsome face . . .
Follow Abigail Spaggiari on Instagram
Purchase Abigail's book
Read more of Abigail's writing on Wattpad.Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Tue, 03 Oct 2023 - 104 - The Cursebound Thief
Today I am chatting with my friend, and Patreon member, Sarah about the young adult contemporary fantasy The Cursebound Thief, by Megan O'Russell. This is the first book in the Fracture Pact series.
The Cursebound Thief is a thrill ride from start to finish. With dynamic characters, a fantastic magic system, a heist to restore magic, and more, this book has something for everyone! Join Sarah and me as we chat all about it.
The first 15 minutes are spoiler-free!
A little about The Cursebound Thief:
The world wants a hero. The curse needs a thief.The party of the decade stands between Jerek Holden and saving the people he would do anything to protect. After twelve years, he’s finally found a way to break the curse that ripped all magic from the world and destroyed the peace that took generations to build. All he needs is one, simple artifact. But he can’t steal the heliostone alone.
A girl with a soul of fire.
A vampire bound by a vow.
A werewolf bent on revenge.
A knight torn between honor and duty.
A hacker to keep them all alive.The fate of magic lies in their hands―if they can survive long enough to pull off the heist of the century.
Check out Megan O'Russell's website.
Follow Megan on Instagram.Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 25 Sep 2023 - 103 - Author Interview: Hannah Nicole Maehrer (Assistant to the Villain)
Today I am chatting with Tiktoker and debut author Hannah Nicole Maehrer about her brand new book, Assistant to the Villain!
Join Hannah and I as we chat all about how she turned her viral TikTok videos into a hilarious debut YA novel! Hannah and I also chat about her characters, world building, Grumpy vs. Sunshine trope, Villain gets the girl trope, and so much more.
Assistant to the Villain is a laugh-out-loud YA fantasy rom-com you don't want to miss!
A little about Assistant to the Villain:
Once Upon a TimemeetsThe Officein Hannah Maehrer’s laugh-out-loud viral TikTok series turned novel, about the sunshine assistant to an Evil Villain…and their unexpected romance.
ASSISTANT WANTED:Notorious, high-ranking villain seeks loyal, levelheaded assistant for unspecified office duties, supporting staff for random mayhem and terror, and other Dark Things In General. Discretion a must. Excellent benefits.
With ailing family to support, Evie Sage's employment status isn't just important, it's vital. So when a mishap with Rennedawn’s most infamous Villain results in a job offer―naturally, she says yes. No job is perfect, of course, but even less so when you develop a teeny crush on your terrifying, temperamental, and undeniably hot boss. Don’t find evil so attractive, Evie.
But just when she’s getting used to severed heads suspended from the ceiling and the odd squish of an errant eyeball beneath her heel, Evie suspects this dungeon has a huge rat…and not just the literal kind. Because something rotten is growing in the kingdom of Rennedawn, and someone wants to take the Villain―and his entire nefarious empire―out.
Now Evie must not only resist drooling over her boss but also figure out exactly who is sabotaging his work…and ensure he makes them pay.
A special thank you to Hannah for chatting with me today! And thank you to Kaitlyn Kennedy at Kaye Publicity for setting up the interview!
Follow Hannah on TikTok and Instagram
Purchase Assistant to the VillainHave a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 04 Sep 2023 - 102 - Author Interview: J. Elle (House of Marionne)
Today I am chatting with NY Times Bestselling author and NAACP Image Award Nominee J. Elle about her brand new YA Fantasy, House of Marionne!
Take a listen as we chat about this spellbinding story, J. Elle's worldbuilding, her extensive magic system, representation in YA novels, how power corrupts, the amazing characters and plot, enemies to lovers, the world of social elites, how the idea for this story started with a tiara growing out of a head, and more! This is a YA fantasy like no other, and you won't want to miss it!
Entire episode is spoiler free!
A little about House of Marionne:
17 year-old Quell has lived her entire life on the run. She and her mother have fled from city to city, in order to hide the deadly magic that flows through Quell’s veins.
Until someone discovers her dark secret.
To hide from the assassin hunting her, and keep her mother out of harm’s way, Quell reluctantly inducts into a debutante society of magical social elites called the Order that she never knew existed. If she can pass their three rites of membership, mastering their proper form of magic, she’ll be able to secretly bury her forbidden magic forever.
If caught, she will be killed.
But becoming the perfect debutante is a lot harder than Quell imagined, especially when there’s more than tutoring happening with Jordan, her brooding mentor and— assassin in training.
When Quell uncovers the deadly lengths the Order will go to defend its wealth and power, she’s forced to choose: embrace the dark magic she’s been running from her entire life or risk losing everything, and everyone, she’s grown to love.
Still, she fears the most formidable monster she’ll have to face is the one inside.
A special thank you to J. Elle for coming on the podcast today!
And a special thank you to Kaitlin Kneafsey and Jaleesa Davis at Penguin Random House/Penguin Young Readers for setting up the interview!
Check out J. Elle's website
Follow J. Elle onInstagram, TikTok, and Twitter
Purchase House of MarionneHave a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Tue, 29 Aug 2023 - 101 - Author Interview: Jamison Shea (I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast is Me)
Today I am chatting with debut author Jamison Shea about their brand new book, I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast is Me.
Join Jamison and me as we chat about this thrilling dark horror story about a girl who knows what she wants, and has to decide how far she will go to get it. Jamison and I dive into their writing style, research, character and world building, and more! If you love creepy horror stories, this is the one for you!
Entire episode is 100% spoiler free!
A little about I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast is Me:
Laure Mesny is a perfectionist with an axe to grind. Despite being constantly overlooked in the elite and cutthroat world of the Parisian ballet, she will do anything to prove that a Black girl can take center stage. To level the playing field, Laure ventures deep into the depths of the Catacombs and strikes a deal with a pulsating river of blood.
The primordial power Laure gains promises influence and adoration, everything she’s dreamed of and worked toward. With retribution on her mind, she surpasses her bitter and privileged peers, leaving broken bodies behind her on her climb to stardom.
But even as undeniable as she is, Laure is not the only monster around. And her vicious desires make her a perfect target for slaughter. As she descends into madness and the mystifying underworld beneath her, she is faced with the ultimate choice: continue to break herself for scraps of validation or succumb to the darkness that wants her exactly as she is―monstrous heart and all. That is, if the god-killer doesn’t catch her first.
From debut author Jamison Shea comes I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast Is Me, a slow-burn horror that lifts a veil on the institutions that profit on exclusion and the toll of giving everything to a world that will never love you back.
Content Warning:
Blood, gore, bones, corpses, ritualistic self-harm (with the purpose of summoning a nonhuman entity), body horror, an instance of body-shaming related to ballet, non-graphic torture, murder, vomit, and a very toxic relationship.There are also themes around classism, racism, parental neglect, and abandonment that are not graphically depicted but still permeate the work.
Check out Jamison Shea's website
Follow Jamison on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter
Purchase I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast is Me
A special thank you to Jamison Shea for being my guest today! And thank you as well to Chantel Gersch at MacMillian Children's Publishing group (Fierce Reads) for setting up the interview!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 21 Aug 2023 - 100 - Beasts of Prey
Today my friend Morgan and I are chatting about Beasts of Prey by Ayana Gray.
Take a listen as Morgan and I rehash this fantastic YA fantasy filled with magic, secrets and lies, enemies to lovers, a dangerous forest filled with mythical creatures, the poor tragic life of one of our main characters, the celebration of Black excellence, and more!
First 15 minutes are spoiler free!
A little about Beasts of Prey:
There’s no such thing as magic in the broken city of Lkossa, especially for sixteen-year-old Koffi, who indentured to the notorious Night Zoo, knows the fearsome creatures in her care and paying off her family's debts to secure their eventual freedom can be her only focus. But the night those she loves are gravely threatened by the Zoo’s cruel master, Koffi unleashes a power she doesn’t fully understand, upending her life completely.
As the second son of a decorated hero, Ekon is all but destined to become a Son of the Six—an elite warrior—and uphold a family legacy. But on the night of his final rite of passage, Ekon encounters not only the Shetani—a vicious monster that has plagued the city for nearly a century and stalks his nightmares—but Koffi who seems to have the power to ward off the beast. Koffi’s power ultimately saves Ekon, but his choice to let her flee dooms his hopes of becoming a warrior.
Desperate to redeem himself, Ekon vows to hunt the Shetani and end its reign of terror, but he can’t do it alone. Koffi and Ekon form a tentative alliance and together enter the Greater Jungle, a world steeped in wild, frightening magic and untold dangers. The hunt begins. But it quickly becomes unclear whether they are the hunters or the hunted.Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 07 Aug 2023 - 99 - Author Interview: Julie Wright (Swimming in a Sea of Stars)
Today I am chatting with author Julie Wright about her brand new book, Swimming in a Sea of Stars.
In this episode, Julie and I chat about her writing style, what it's like writing romance novels vs. a contemporary novel, why focusing on teen mental health is important, how one small act of kindness can change someone's life, and the hope that lies within us all.
Entire episode is spoiler free!
Join us!
A little about Swimming in a Sea of Stars:
Addison is no stranger to feeling stressed, insecure, and sad. Her therapist recommended she keep a journal to help her understand those feelings better, which she really needs today. It’s her first day back to school, several weeks after she survived her suicide attempt. She knows there are rumors about why she did it: A lousy home life? Bullying? Heartbreak? None of them are true, but it doesn’t matter because Addison still feels like she’s drowning. She still holds secrets she’s not ready to share.During the school day, Addison encounters four other students struggling with their own secrets:
Booker is anxious about seeing Addison. They were sort of a couple until he tried to kiss her. She fled and then tried to end her life. Those two things couldn’t be related, could they?
Celia feels trapped by her mother’s abusive boyfriend. She can guess why Addison did what she did.
Damion is TikTok-famous and thinks befriending Addison could boost his followers. But what no one knows is he needs the world to remember him since his sick mom doesn’t anymore.
Avery is considered a loner and doesn’t know Addison, but they have neighboring lockers. With Avery’s older brother in jail for dealing drugs, Avery is desperate for meaningful human connection.
Swimming in a Sea of Stars is a poignant and gripping novel about how we’re all interconnected, like the stars in the night sky that form constellations and map out the universe, and if even one star goes missing, the effect is profound.
Check out Julie's Website
Follow Julie on Instagram
Thank you so much to Julie Wright for coming on the podcast today and chatting with me! And thank you to Kenny Vesey at Thatcher & Co. for setting up the interview!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 24 Jul 2023 - 98 - City of Shattered Light
Today I am chatting about the book City of Shattered Lightby Claire Winn.
Joining me today is my friend and Patreon member, Dani.
Take a listen as Dani and I dive into this fast paced sci-fi novel! We discuss the fun storyline, fantastic characters, futuristic world building, love triangle and enemies to lovers tropes (Yes! Two love tropes!), our thoughts on what happens in the sequel, our fear of AI taking over the world...and more!
First 15 minutes are spoiler free!
Here's a little about City of Shattered Light:
As darkness closes in on the city of shattered light, an heiress and an outlaw must decide whether to fend for themselves or fight for each other.
As heiress to a powerful tech empire, seventeen-year-old Asa Almeida strives to prove she's more than her manipulative father's shadow. But when he uploads her rebellious sister’s mind to an experimental brain, Asa will do anything to save her sister from reprogramming—including fleeing her predetermined future with her sister’s digitized mind in tow. With a bounty on her head and a rogue AI hunting her, Asa’s getaway ship crash-lands in the worst possible place: the neon-drenched outlaw paradise, Requiem.
Gunslinging smuggler Riven Hawthorne is determined to claw her way up Requiem’s underworld hierarchy. A runaway rich girl is exactly the bounty Riven needs—until a nasty computer virus spreads in Asa’s wake, causing a citywide blackout and tech quarantine. To get the payout for Asa and save Requiem from the monster in its circuits, Riven must team up with her captive. Riven breaks skulls the way Asa breaks circuits, but their opponent is unlike anything they’ve ever seen. The AI exploits the girls’ darkest memories and deepest secrets, threatening to shatter the fragile alliance they’re both depending on. As one of Requiem’s 154-hour nights grows darker, the girls must decide whether to fend for themselves or fight for each other before Riven’s city and Asa’s sister are snuffed out forever.
Check out Dani'sBookstagram!
Check out the sequel to City of Shattered Light: City of Vicious NightHave a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 26 Jun 2023 - 97 - Made of Stars
Today I am chatting with my friends Abby and Mo from The Book Life Podcast about Made of Stars by Jenna Voris.
Take a listen as we chat about this fantastic Bonnie and Clyde inspired sci-fi story! We chat all about the plotline, Bonnie and Clyde, Star Wars vs. Star Trek, and more!
First 15 minutes are spoiler free!
A little aboutMade of Stars:
Shane and Avaare a team. He steals the aircraft, she charms their mark, and together they take what they need. Not even their distracting chemistry could get in the way. Until Shane was caught and left to rot on a prison moon. Now, freshly escaped from confinement and simmering with anger, he has his sights set on their biggest job yet.
Cyrusjust graduated from the flight academy with a shiny new position lined up reporting to a well-respected general. On his very first assignment, he stops the outlaws in their tracks—or he would have, if his annoyingly handsome copilot, Lark, hadn’t fallen for Ava’s deception.
But when Shane uncovers a top-secret plot that would leave his and Ava’s home world at the mercy of Cyrus’s military leaders, he makes it his mission to thwart them at all costs. It isn’t long before the two of them make interstellar headlines with each new heist. And thanks to a chance run-in with the rebels, Cyrus is caught between two versions of the truth. He must pick a side—and fast. Because Shane and Ava will bring the planet to its knees . . . or die trying.
Follow The Book Life Podcast on Instagram
Check out The Book Life's PatreonHave a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 05 Jun 2023 - 96 - Author Interview: Rebecca Mahoney (The Memory Eater)
Today I am thrilled to be chatting with author Rebecca Mahoney about her new book, The Memory Eater.
Take a listen as Rebecca and I chat all about The Memory Eater, Rebecca's first book, The Valley and the Flood, Rebecca's writing process (find out if she's a plotter or a pantser), Japanese ghost stories, horror movies, and so much more!
Entire episode is spoiler free!
A little about The Memory Eater:
For generations, a monster called the Memory Eater has lived in the caves of Whistler Beach, Maine, surviving off the unhappy memories of those who want to forget. And for generations, the Harlows have been in charge of keeping her locked up—and keeping her fed.
After her grandmother dies, seventeen-year-old Alana Harlow inherits the family business. But there’s something Alana doesn’t know: the strange gaps in her memory aren’t from an accident. Her memories have been taken—eaten. And with them, she’s lost the knowledge of how to keep the monster contained.
Now the Memory Eater is loose. Alana’s mistake could cost Whistler Beach everything—unless she can figure out how to retrieve her memories and recapture the monster. But as Alana delves deeper into her family’s magic and the history of her town, she discovers a shocking secret at the center of the Harlow family business and learns that tampering with memories always comes at a price.
A special thank you to Rebecca for coming on the podcast today!
Thank you also to Layne Mandros at Books Forward for setting up the interview!
Check out Rebecca's website
Follow Rebecca onInstagram and Twitter
Purchase a signed copy of The Memory Eater from Porter Square BooksHave a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 22 May 2023 - 95 - Author Interview: Angeline Boulley (Warrior Girl Unearthed)
Today I am chatting with NYT Bestselling Author, Angeline Boulley. We will be talking about both her debut novel, Firekeeper's Daughter, and her brand new novel, Warrior Girl Unearthed. Also joining me today is my friend Victoria, who serves as my co-host for this special episode.
Take a listen as we chat spoiler free about both books, the importance of representation in YA books for Native Americans, Native American culture, and so much more.
A little about Warrior Girl Unearthed:
Perry Firekeeper-Birch has always known who she is - the laidback twin, the troublemaker, the best fisher on Sugar Island. Her aspirations won't ever take her far from home, and she wouldn't have it any other way. But as the rising number of missing Indigenous women starts circling closer to home, as her family becomes embroiled in a high-profile murder investigation, and as greedy grave robbers seek to profit off of what belongs to her Anishinaabe tribe, Perry begins to question everything.
In order to reclaim this inheritance for her people, Perry has no choice but to take matters into her own hands. She can only count on her friends and allies, including her overachieving twin and a charming new boy in town with unwavering morals. Old rivalries, sister secrets, and botched heists cannot - will not - stop her from uncovering the mystery before the ancestors and missing women are lost forever.
Thank you to Angeline Boulley for chatting with me today!
And a special thank you to Morgan Rath at MacMillan for setting up the interview!
Check out Angeline Boulley's website for more information on her and her novels.Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 08 May 2023 - 94 - The Luminaries
Join me and my friend Victoria as we dive into The Luminaries, by Susan Dennard.
If you enjoy books involving the forest, creepy monsters, redemption stories, trials involving surviving in a forest filled with nightmarish creatures, and friends to lovers, you will enjoy this book. Take a listen as Victoria and I talk all about it. You'll also hear why the teacher side of me really appreciated one particular line in the book. In addition, you'll learn about the incredible way the story for The Luminaries evolved.
First 15 minutes are spoiler free!
A little about The Luminaries:
Hemlock Falls isn't like other towns. You won't find it on a map, your phone won't work here, and the forest outside town might just kill you.
Winnie Wednesday wants nothing more than to join the Luminaries, the ancient order that protects Winnie's town―and the rest of humanity―from the monsters and nightmares that rise in the forest of Hemlock Falls every night.
Ever since her father was exposed as a witch and a traitor, Winnie and her family have been shunned. But on her sixteenth birthday, she can take the deadly Luminary hunter trials and prove herself true and loyal―and restore her family's good name. Or die trying.
But in order to survive, Winnie enlists the help of the one person who can help her train: Jay Friday, resident bad boy and Winnie’s ex-best friend. While Jay might be the most promising new hunter in Hemlock Falls, he also seems to know more about the nightmares of the forest than he should. Together, he and Winnie will discover a danger lurking in the forest no one in Hemlock Falls is prepared for.
Not all monsters can be slain, and not all nightmares are confined to the dark.
A special thank you to Tor Teen for sending me an ARC, a finished hardcover copy, and laminated pin! Alexis and Annaliese, you are the best!
Follow Victoria on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and TikTokHave a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 24 Apr 2023 - 93 - When You Wish Upon A Lantern
Today I am chatting about Gloria Chao's brand new book When You Wish Upon A Lantern.Joining me is my friend Morgan.
When You Wish Upon A Lantern is my favorite read of 2023 so far! It is the most adorable YA Contemporary Romance I have ever read! I couldn't stop gushing over it. The whole time I was reading this book I kept thinking, "Awww...that's so cute!"
So, join Morgan and me as we chat all about this swoon worthy book! You'll get to hear me pronounce Chinese names correctly for the first time ever. HA! And there's a very specific reason why I actually know how to pronounce these ones...take a listen to find out why!
A little about When You Wish Upon A Lantern:
Liya and Kai had been best friends since they were little kids, but all that changed when a humiliating incident sparked The Biggest Misunderstanding of All Time—and they haven’t spoken since.
Then Liya discovers her family's wishing lantern store is struggling, and she decides to resume a tradition she had with her beloved late grandmother: secretly fulfilling the wishes people write on the lanterns they send into the sky. It may boost sales and save the store, but she can't do it alone . . . and Kai is the only one who cares enough to help.
While working on their covert missions, Liya and Kai rekindle their friendship—and maybe more. But when their feuding families and changing futures threaten to tear them apart again, can they find a way to make their own wishes come true?
Follow Morgan on InstagramHave a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 10 Apr 2023 - 92 - Shadow of the Fox
Today I am chatting about Shadow of the Foxby Julie Kagawa. Joining me is my friend Amanda from Fictional Hangover podcast.
Take a listen as Amanda and I chat about the characters, plot line, crazy weird man-eating centipedes, hear Leah mispronounce pretty much every Japanese name and word in the story, and more!
First 15 minutes are spoiler free!
A little about Shadow of the Fox:
Every millennium, whoever holds the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers has the power to call the great Kami Dragon from the sea and ask for one wish. The time is near...and the missing pieces of the scroll will be sought throughout the land of Iwagoto.
When demons kill half-kitsune Yumeko’s adoptive family, she’s forced to flee her home with one part of the ancient scroll. Fate thrusts her into the path of mysterious samurai Kage Tatsumi, who is Yumeko’s best hope for survival. But he’s under orders to retrieve the scroll. An uneasy alliance forms, and Yumeko begins the deception of a lifetime, knowing her secrets are more than a matter of life or death―they’re the key to the fate of the world.
Check outFictional Hangover
Follow Fictional Hangover on Instagram, Twitter, and FacebookHave a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 06 Mar 2023 - 91 - Beautiful Creatures
Today I am chatting about the bookBeautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. Joining me today is one of my fabulous Patreon members, Dani!
Beautiful Creaturesis the story of two star-crossed lovers, who meet and fall in love in a small southern town, where nothing exciting ever happens. But Lena Duchennes is about to change all of that...
Join Dani and I as we chat all about the plot, the fun characters, the portrayal of southern life in the story, and more!
A little aboutBeautiful Creatures...
Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power, and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever. Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met.When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them. In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.
Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 20 Feb 2023 - 90 - Author Interview: Lauren Blackwood (Wildblood)
Today I am chatting with NY Times Bestselling author Lauren Blackwood. Lauren is the author of Within These Wicked Walls, a Reese's Book Club Fall 2021 YA pick, and her newest book, Wildblood.
Join us as we chat about what it was like for Lauren, hitting the bestseller list as a debut author, her writing process for Wildblood, the research she did, the magic system in the book, how Lauren weaved her Jamaican heritage into this book, and more!
This entire episode is spoiler free!
A little about Wildblood:
Eighteen-year-old Victoria is a Wildblood. Since she was kidnapped at the age of six and manipulated by the Exotic Lands Touring Company, she’s worked as a tour guide ever since with a team of fellow Wildbloods who take turns using their magic to protect travelers in a Jamaican jungle teeming with ghostly monsters.
When the boss denies Victoria an earned promotion to team leader in favor of Dean, her backstabbing ex, she’s determined to prove herself. Her magic may be the most powerful on the team, but she’s not the image the boss wants to send their new client, Thorn, a renowned goldminer determined to reach an untouched gold supply deep in the jungle.
Thorn is everything Victoria isn't - confident, impossibly kind, and so handsome he leaves her speechless. And when he entrusts the mission to her, kindness turns to mutual respect, turns to affection, turns to love. But the jungle is treacherous, and between hypnotic river spirits, soul-devouring women that shed their skin like snakes, and her ex out for revenge, Victoria has to decide - is promotion at a corrupt company really what she wants?
Check out Lauren's website
Follow Lauren on Instagram and Twitter
Thank you to Lauren for coming on the podcast and chatting with me! And thank you to Layne Mandros at Books Forwardfor setting up the interview!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 06 Feb 2023 - 89 - Author Interview: Maureen Johnson (Nine Liars)
Join NY Times Bestselling Author Maureen Johnson and me as we chat about her brand new book, Nine Liars. Nine Liars follows Johnson's teen sleuth, Stevie Bell, as she tries to solve a cold case murder from 1995.
In this episode, Maureen and I chat all about Maureen's writing process, what it was like bringing Stevie in for another book, life in college theatre, what it's like having an English husband who have friends with amazing English country homes, how to craft a murder mystery, and more! You'll even get to hear a little bit about Maureen's good friend and fellow author, Holly Black.
Entire episode is spoiler free!
About Nine Liars:
Senior year at Ellingham Academy for Stevie Bell isn’t going well. Her boyfriend, David, is studying in London. Her friends are obsessed with college applications. With the cold case of the century solved, Stevie is adrift. There is nothing to distract her from the questions pinging around her brain—questions about college, love, and life in general.Relief comes when David invites Stevie and her friends to join him for study abroad, and his new friend Izzy introduces her to a double-murder cold case. In 1995, nine friends from Cambridge University went to a country house and played a drunken game of hide-and-seek. Two were found in the woodshed the next day, murdered with an ax.
The case was assumed to be a burglary gone wrong, but one of the remaining seven saw something she can’t explain. This was no break-in. Someone’s lying about what happened in the woodshed.
Seven suspects. Two murders. One killer still playing a deadly game.
*A special thank you to Maureen Johnson for coming on the podcast and chatting with me. And thank you to Megan Beatie at MB Communications for setting up the interview.
Check out Maureen's website
Follow Maureen on Instagram, Twitter, and FacebookHave a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 30 Jan 2023 - 88 - The Queen of Nothing
Today I am chatting about the final book in Holly Black's The Folk of the Air series, The Queen of Nothing.Joining me today is Elise from the Novel Feelings podcast.
The Queen of Nothingwraps up Jude Duarte's story. We finally find out how her and Cardan truly feel about each other, discover if those rumors about him being nursed by a cat are true or not, find out what Jude's been up to in the human world, see what happens when a fae curse comes about, get immersed in faerie politics (again), and get to experience more of our favorite troublemaking faerie, Cardan.
It's a fantastic ending to this great series! So, join Elise and I as we chat all about it!
First 15 minutes are spoiler free!
A little about The Queen of Nothing:
Power is much easier to acquire than it is to hold onto. Jude learned this lesson when she released her control over the wicked king, Cardan, in exchange for immeasurable power.
Now as the exiled mortal Queen of Faerie, Jude is powerless and left reeling from Cardan's betrayal. She bides her time determined to reclaim everything he took from her. Opportunity arrives in the form of her twin sister, Taryn, whose life is in peril.
Jude must risk venturing back into the treacherous Faerie Court, and confront her lingering feelings for Cardan, if she wishes to save her sister. But Elfhame is not as she left it. War is brewing. As Jude slips deep within enemy lines she becomes ensnared in the conflict's bloody politics.
And, when a dormant yet powerful curse is unleashed, panic spreads throughout the land, forcing her to choose between her ambition and her humanity .
Find out more about Novel Feelings Pod HERE
Check out Novel Feelings onInstagramHave a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 16 Jan 2023 - 87 - Author Interview: Ellie Marney (The Killing Code)
Today I am chatting with NY Times Bestselling author Ellie Marney about her latest crime thriller, The Killing Code.
Ellie is multi-award-winning crime author who has gone behind the scenes at the Westminster Mortuary in London and interviewed forensic and technical specialists around the world in pursuit of just the right details for her brand of pulse-pounding thrillers. Her titles include The Killing Code, None Shall Sleep, the Every trilogy, No Limits, White Night and the Circus Hearts series.
The Killing Code is set in Virginia, 1943; World War II is raging in Europe and on the Pacific front when Kit Sutherland is recruited to help the war effort as a codebreaker at Arlington Hall, a former girls’ college now serving as the site of a secret US Signal Intelligence facility. Kit is soon involved in another kind of fight: Government girls are being brutally murdered in Washington DC, and when Kit stumbles onto a bloody homicide scene, she is drawn into the hunt for the killer.
Join us as Ellie and I chat about what it was like for these women living during WWII, how code breakers helped change the war, these fabulous characters and plot line, Ellie's extensive research for this book, her writing process, and more!
A special thank you to Ellie for coming on YA Book Chat today! And also thank you to Little Brown for Young Readers for setting up this interview!
Check out all of Ellie's books on her website.
Follow Ellie on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 02 Jan 2023 - 86 - Author Interview: Karen M. McManus (Nothing More To Tell)
Today I am chatting with NY Times Bestselling author, Karen M. McManus about her latest YA thriller, Nothing More To Tell.
Karen is the author of the highly acclaimed One of Us is Lying series, which is also now a television series on Peacock and Netflix. She is also the author of the standalone novels Two Can Keep a Secret, The Cousins, and You’ll Be the Death of Me.
Nothing More To Tell follows the story of teenager Brynn as she tries to solve the four year old murder of her favorite teacher at St. Ambrose School. Now that Brynn is moving home and starting her dream internship at a true-crime show, she’s determined to find out what really happened.
Join Karen and I as we chat about the plot of this thrilling story, the characters, Karen's writing process, and more!
A special thank you to Karen for coming on YA Book Chat today. And thank you as well to Kathleen Dunn at Penguin Random House for setting up this interview.
Find out more about Karen and her books on her website.
Follow Karen on Instagram and Twitter.Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 19 Dec 2022 - 85 - Sorcery of Thorns
Today I am chatting with my friend Rachel from the Barely Bookish podcast about the book Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson.
What could be better than a book about magical books? I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this book! Take a listen as Rachel and I chat about the magic system, magical grimoires with their own personalities, what happens when a sorcerer has nightmares, the fantastic enemies to lovers trope, our speculations on if a demon can truly care for someone or not, and more!
A little about Sorcery of Thorns:
All sorcerers are evil. Elisabeth has known that as long as she has known anything. Raised as a foundling in one of Austermeer’s Great Libraries, Elisabeth has grown up among the tools of sorcery—magical grimoires that whisper on shelves and rattle beneath iron chains. If provoked, they transform into grotesque monsters of ink and leather.
Then an act of sabotage releases the library’s most dangerous grimoire, and Elisabeth is implicated in the crime. With no one to turn to but her sworn enemy, the sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn, and his mysterious demonic servant, she finds herself entangled in a centuries-old conspiracy. Not only could the Great Libraries go up in flames, but the world along with them.
As her alliance with Nathaniel grows stronger, Elisabeth starts to question everything she’s been taught—about sorcerers, about the libraries she loves, even about herself. For Elisabeth has a power she has never guessed, and a future she could never have imagined.
Check out Barely Bookish onInstagram
Check out the Barely Bookish website
Connect with Barely Bookish on TwitchHave a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 05 Dec 2022 - 84 - Author Interview: M.T. Zimny (The Apex Cycle)
Today I am joined by author M.T. Zimny to chat about her series The Apex Cycle!
Join us as we chat about books one and two in the series, and give you a sneak peek at book three (coming December 2022!). If you are a fan of theRenegadestrilogy by Marissa Meyer, enjoy reading about superheroes and anti-heroes, these books are for you!
A little about Beta (Book 1):
Samantha Havardson is not an Apex.Seriously. She's completely ordinary with a totally normal family that just happens to be moving to the Apex epicenter of the world- the manmade island city of New Delos. Although she thinks her lack of super Apex abilities will keep her out of the limelight, it quickly becomes apparent that the city has different plans, sweeping Samantha up in a world of secret identities and super powers where anyone, even those closest to her, might be an Apex.
Plagued by missing students, secret Apex teams, and a mysterious man named Adrestus, Samantha searches for answers, causing secrets to unravel about her classmates, her family, and herself that drag her deeper into the secret world of the Apex.
Thank you so much to M.T. Zimny for being on the show today!
Check out her website
Follow her on InstagramHave a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 31 Oct 2022 - 83 - Zyla & Kai
In today's episode I'll be chatting with my friend Bethanie of the Prince Kai Fan Pod about the book Zyla & Kai by Kristina Forest.
Zyla and Kai is the story of how two teens meet and fall in love. But theirs is not an easy love story. There are plenty of bumps along the way.
Join Bethanie and me as we chat all about the teen drama, complicated relationships, what it's like for a teen in therapy, the mean girls we all encounter in high school, and so much more!
A little about Zyla & Kai:
While on a school trip to the Poconos Mountains (in the middle of a storm) high school seniors, Zyla Matthews and Kai Johnson, run away together leaving their friends and family confused. As far as everyone knows, Zyla and Kai have been broken up for months. And honestly? Their break up hadn't surprised anyone. Zyla and Kai met while working together at an amusement park the previous summer, and they couldn't have been more different.
Zyla was a cynic about love. She'd witnessed the dissolution of her parents' marriage early in life, and it left an indelible impression. Her only aim was graduating and going to fashion school abroad. Until she met Kai.
Kai was a serial dater and a hopeless romantic. He'd put a temporary pause on his dating life before senior year to focus on school and getting into his dream HBCU. Until he met Zyla.
Alternating between the past and present, we see the love story unfold from Zyla's and Kai's perspectives: how they first became the unlikeliest of friends over the summer, how they fell in love during the school year, and why they ultimately broke up... Or did they?
Check out Bethanie's podcast: Prince Kai Fan Pod
Follow Bethanie on Instagram
Thank you to Penguin Random House for sending me this book!
Have a question about Zyla & Kai? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!
Check out my Patreon! Join now for some great benefits and perks!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 17 Oct 2022 - 82 - Author Interview: Sara Bennett Wealer (Grave Things Like Love)
Welcome to Season 3 of YA Book Chat!
For my first episode of the new season, I am bringing you an interview with author Sara Bennett Wealer about her brand new YA Contemporary Romance with a paranormal twist, Grave Things Like Love! Sara is also the author of Now and When,Rush, and Rival.
If you enjoy contemporary romance, ghost hunting, and complicated relationships, this book is for you! Sara takes us on a ghost hunt through the eyes of a teenage girl who lives above a funeral home. This book also explores what it's like for a teenager with anxiety, what it means to stand on your own two feet, and what it looks like as a teenager trying to figure out who they are and where they want to go in life.
Grave Things Like Love is a fantastic story you won't want to miss!
Entire episode is 100% spoiler free!
A little about Grave Things Like Love:
Elaine's home is a bit...different. It's a funeral home that has been in her family since the 1800s - and it's why everyone calls her Funeral Girl. And even though she's lived there her whole life, there are still secrets to be found.When Xander, a cute new boy with a penchant for ghost hunting, arrives in town, Elaine feels an instant spark. His daring and spontaneous ways help her go from Funeral Girl to Fun Girl. Then there's Miles, Elaine's oldest friend, who she's starting to see in a completely new light.
After Xander convinces her to stage a seance one night, Elaine discovers that her home might be haunted by a kindred spirit - the daughter of the funeral home's original owner. But who wants to be haunted by the dead when there are boys to spend time with? After all, you only live once....
Check out Sara's website
Follow Sara onInstagram,Facebook, and Twitter
Purchase Grave Things Like Love
Thank you to Sara Bennett Wealer for chatting with me. And thank you to Layne Mandros at Books Forward for setting up the interview.
Have a question about Grave Things Like Love? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!
Check out my Patreon! Join now for some great benefits and perks!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 03 Oct 2022 - 81 - Author Interview: Katie Keridan (Reign Returned)
Today I am chatting with author Katie Keridan about her debut YA Fantasy novel, Reign Returned. Reign Returned is book one of The Felserpent Chronicles.
In today's episode, Katie and I chat about her transition from being a doctor to becoming a full time author, her amazing world building for Reign Returned, the fantastic characters, the challenges she faced in writing this story, and so much more. Join us!
This entire episode is100% spoiler FREE!
A little about Reign Returned:
Kyra Valorian is the most gifted Astral healer the golden-blooded realm of Aeles has seen in ages. When tragedy strikes, Kyra discovers she possesses a life-changing gift: she's a Recovrancer, able to enter the realm of the dead and recover those who've died before their time. Unfortunately, recovrancy is outlawed in her realm. Desperate for answers, Kyra will do anything to get them . . . even partner with a dangerous enemy.
Check out Katie's website
Buy Reign Returned
Follow Katie onInstagram, Twitter, and TikTok
Thank you to Katie Keridan for taking the time to chat with me today. And thank you to Hanna Lindsley at Spark Press for setting up the interview.
Have a question about Reign Returned? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!
Check out my Patreon! Join now for some great benefits and perks!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Wed, 31 Aug 2022 - 80 - Author Interview: Margot Harrison (We Made It All Up)
Today I am chatting with author Margot Harrison about her brand new book, We Made It All Up.
Margot is the author of The Glare and The Killer in Me. You won't want to miss this episode, as we chat all about her brand new thriller! This murder mystery will keep you on the edge of your toes, questioning who the killer could be. Not only that, Harrison tackles some strong themes that are important for young adult readers.
So, join Margot and me as we chat all about We Made It All Up!
Episode is 100% spoiler free!
A little aboutWe Made It All Up:
Celeste is the talk of the town when she moves to Montana from Montreal, but the only friend she makes is Vivvy, the heir to the town’s founder and a social pariah. Inspired by a passion-fueled school incident, they begin writing a love-story fanfic between the popular guy and the school stoner, one that gradually reveals Celeste’s past. While her bond with Vivvy makes Celeste feel safe and alive again, Vivvy keeps prodding Celeste to turn fantasy into reality. When they finally try, one drunken night on a dark mountainside, Celeste is the one who ends up kissing golden boy Joss. And Joss ends up dead.
Celeste doesn’t remember the end of that night and can’t be sure she didn’t deliver the killing blow. Could she still be that scared of getting close to a boy? Secrets are hard to keep in a small town, and even Vivvy seems to suspect her. Exploring the winding passages of the cave where Joss died, Celeste learns he had his own dark secrets, as does Vivvy. The town isn’t as innocent as it appears.
Check out Margot Harrison's website
Follow Margot on InstagramandTwitter
Purchase We Made It All Up
Thank you to Margot for being a guest today! And thank you to Cassie Malmo at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for setting up the interview!
Have a question about We Made It All Up? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!
Check out my Patreon! Join now for some great benefits and perks!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 22 Aug 2022 - 79 - Daughter of the Pirate KingToday my friend Sarah and I are chatting about Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller.
This was the first book by Tricia Levenseller that I've read, and I loved it so much that now she is an automatic buy for me. Both Sarah and I devoured this book and its sequel. If you like pirates, this book is for you. It's like Pirates of the Caribbean but with a female lead. There's treasure hunting, greedy pirates, trickery, Siren's, a pirate romance, and more! You won't want to miss this fantastic story!
First 15 minutes are spoiler FREE!
A little about Daughter of the Pirate King:
Sent on a mission to retrieve an ancient hidden map―the key to a legendary treasure trove―seventeen-year-old pirate captain Alosa deliberately allows herself to be captured by her enemies, giving her the perfect opportunity to search their ship. More than a match for the ruthless pirate crew, Alosa has only one thing standing between her and the map: her captor, the unexpectedly clever and unfairly attractive first mate Riden. But not to worry, for Alosa has a few tricks up her sleeve, and no lone pirate can stop the Daughter of the Pirate King.
Check out Sarah's Instagram
Have a question about Daughter of the Pirate King? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!
Check out my Patreon! Join now for some great benefits and perks!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 08 Aug 2022 - 78 - Love and Gelato
Today my friend Victoria and I are chatting about the book Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch.
Love & Gelato is such a fun book! It's the story of a young girl who goes to Florence, Italy to stay with a man she's never met before; a man who may just be her father. While in Italy, Lina discovers a lot about Florence, her mom, and herself. It's such a fantastic coming of age story that will make you want to travel to Italy yourself, to take in the local cuisine and all the sights! So, join Victoria and me as we chat about this fun book. We'll also chat about the new Netflix movie, of the same name.
First 15 minutes are spoiler free!
A little about Love & Gelato:
Lina is spending the summer in Tuscany, but she isn’t in the mood for Italy’s famous sunshine and fairy-tale landscape. She’s only there because it was her mother’s dying wish that she get to know her father. But what kind of father isn’t around for sixteen years? All Lina wants to do is get back home.
But then Lina is given a journal that her mom had kept when she lived in Italy. Suddenly Lina’s uncovering a magical world of secret romances, art, and hidden bakeries. A world that inspires Lina, along with the ever-so-charming Ren, to follow in her mother’s footsteps and unearth a secret that has been kept for far too long. It’s a secret that will change everything Lina knew about her mother, her father—and even herself.
People come to Italy for love and gelato, someone tells her, but sometimes they discover much more.
Victoria is becoming a published author! Follow along with her on this journey on social media:
Victoria's Instagram
Victoria's Website
Victoria's TikTok
Victoria's Facebook
Victoria's publisher Groundwood Books
Have a question about Love & Gelato? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!
Check out my Patreon! Join now for some great benefits and perks!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 25 Jul 2022 - 77 - Author Interview: Sarah Henning (The King Will Kill You)
I am excited to welcome author Sarah Henning back to YA Book Chat! When she was first here, Sarah and I discussed her book The Princess Will Save You,book 1 in her Kingdoms of the Sand and Sky trilogy. Today, Sarah and I are chatting about her brand new book, The King Will Kill You, book 3 in this fantastic trilogy.
Join us as we chat about what it was like going from book one to book three, the characters, plot line, Sarah's writing process, what it was like for her to write two books at the same time, and more!
The King Will Kill Youwill be available August 2, 2022.
A little about The King Will Kill You:
Princess Amarande is finally on the verge of having everything she wants. To be with her true love Luca, no one nor law standing in the way. To rule Ardenia as queen outright, no marriage necessary, as Luca does the same with the reformed Torrence. To rebuild the continent of The Sand and Sky into a place not defined by archaic, patriarchal laws, but by the will of its people.However, threats await in the shadows of Amarande’s hoped-for happily ever after. One expected and deadly to both her love and every one of her objectives. The other, unexpected, and arising with a vicious aim: revenge at any cost. Against the princess who killed him, the boy whose love made her do it, and the continent cruel enough to deserve his rage.
Thank you to Sarah Henning for being a guest on today's episode!
Thank you to Giselle Gonzalez at TorTeen for setting up this interview!
Pre-order The King Will Kill You from The Raven Bookstore
Follow Sarah on Instagram
Check outSarah's website!
Purchase Sarah's latest book,It's All In How You Fall
Have a question about The King Will Kill You? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!
Check out my Patreon! Join now for some great benefits and perks!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 11 Jul 2022 - 76 - Author Interview: Elayne Audrey Becker (Forestborn & Wildbound)
Today I am excited to welcome author Elayne Audrey Becker to the podcast!
Join us as Elayne and me chat about her Forestborn duology. Wildbound, book two, will be released August 30, 2022. In this episode Elayne and I chat about the publishing process, character development, worldbuilding, and so much more! You won't want to miss this!
Check out my previous episode to learn more about Forestborn. Read below to learn a bit about Wildbound.
With the assassination of Telyan’s king, the time for peace has passed.
Determined to make up for his failure to procure the stardust, Helos finds work as a healer at Fendolyn’s Keep, the historic garrison to which Telyan’s exiled royals—and half its civilians—have fled. Racing against the Fallow Throes’ ticking clock, he endeavors to repair his relationship with Prince Finley and dreams of his claim to a faraway throne, as the base around him prepares for war.
Half a continent away, his sister Rora is doing everything she can to reawaken the land and end Eradain’s slaughter of magical beings. Still reeling from the revelation that Eradain’s violent monarch is her half-brother, she journeys to the kingdom determined to infiltrate his court in disguise—and finds the seeds of rebellion are already stirring.
With a magical illness running rampant and the continent arming for battle, the three realms’ long-feared destruction seems inevitable. But the two shifters they believed would bring about Alemara’s ruin may in fact hold the key to its survival.
Follow Elayne on Instagram
Check out Elayne'sWebsite
Buy Forestborn & Wildbound
Thank you to TorTeen for setting up this interview!
Have a question about Forestborn and/or Wildbound? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!
Check out my Patreon! Join now for some great benefits and perks!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 27 Jun 2022 - 75 - Forestborn
Join my friend Morgan and me as we chat about Forestbornby Elayne Audrey Becker.
Forestborn is a fantastic, magical adventure that will keep you on your toes! It's true fantasy with magic forests, creatures, and people; a quest for our main characters, two love stories, and more! Come along and join us on this fantastic journey!
A little about Forestborn:
Rora is a shifter, as magical as all those born in the wilderness―and as feared. She uses her abilities to spy for the king, traveling under different guises and listening for signs of trouble.
When a magical illness surfaces across the kingdom, Rora uncovers a devastating truth: Finley, the young prince and her best friend, has caught it, too. His only hope is stardust, the rarest of magical elements, found deep in the wilderness where Rora grew up―and to which she swore never to return.
But for her only friend, Rora will face her past and brave the dark, magical wood, journeying with her brother and the obstinate, older prince who insists on coming. Together, they must survive sentient forests and creatures unknown, battling an ever-changing landscape while escaping human pursuers who want them dead. With illness gripping the kingdom and war on the horizon, Finley’s is not the only life that hangs in the balance.
Thank you to TorTeenfor sending me this book!
Follow Morgan on Instagram
Have a question about Forestborn? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!
Check out my Patreon! Join now for some great benefits and perks!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 20 Jun 2022 - 74 - Sea Witch
Today my friend Bethanie and I will be chatting about the bookSea Witch,by Sarah Henning.
Sea Witchis the beautifully told origin story of the Sea Witch from Hans Christian Anderson's classic fairy tale, The Little Mermaid. Sarah Henning takes Hans Christian Anderson's beautiful story and weaves it's elements into her own story in such a breathtaking way. Don't believe everything Disney throws at you...Ursula is not the real Sea Witch. Evie is. And her story is like none you've ever read before.
So, come along as Bethanie and I chat all about this fantastic story!
A little about Sea Witch:
Ever since her best friend Anna died, Evie has been an outcast in her small fishing town. Hiding her talents, mourning her loss, drowning in her guilt.Then a girl with an uncanny resemblance to Anna appears on the shore, and the two girls catch the eyes of two charming princes. Suddenly Evie feels like she might finally have a chance at her own happily ever after.
But magic isn’t kind, and her new friend harbors secrets of her own. She can’t stay in Havnestad - or on two legs - without Evie’s help. And when Evie reaches deep into the power of her magic to save her friend’s humanity - and her prince’s heart - she discovers, too late, what she’s bargained away.
Check out Prince Kai Fan Pod
Follow Prince Kai Fan Pod onInstagram
Check out Sarah Henning's website
Follow Sarah on Instagram
Purchase Sea Witch
Have a question about Sea Witch? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!
Check out my Patreon! Join now for some great benefits and perks!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 06 Jun 2022 - 73 - BONUS EPISODE :: Q & A with Bethanie of Prince Kai Fan Pod
Today I am featuring a special crossover episode with Bethanie of Prince Kai Fan Pod!
Bethanie is celebrating the three year anniversary of PKFP! So, to celebrate, we asked our listeners to send us questions about anything, and Bethanie and I answered them ALL!
Join us for this super fun Q&A episode!
Check out Prince Kai Fan Pod
Follow PKFP on Instagram
Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!
Check out my Patreon! Join now for some great benefits and perks!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Wed, 25 May 2022 - 72 - Author Interview: Rachel A. Greco (The Gift of Dragons)
Today I am joined by YA author Rachel A. Greco to chat about her brand new YA Fantasy, The Gift of Dragons!
Join Rachel and me as we chat about this incredible new world she has created, where humans and dragons strive to live together. We chat about the plot, characters, world building, Rachel's writing style, what Rachel is working on next, and more!
Join us!
A little about The Gift of Dragons:
When the prince Adelaide seeks to overthrow tries convincing her that the legendary dragons exist and need help, Adelaide must decide where her true allegiance lies before the kingdom shatters.Ever since the Gyndilians murdered her sister, Adelaide has plotted a rebellion to overthrow the king and prince who failed to protect them during the attack.
Following her across the country is a stranger–not just any stranger, but the prince she’s hoping to overthrow–and Adelaide’s plans begin to collapse. But Prince Elias has his own dangerous secrets–secrets connected to the dragons that once lived in the land. If he can’t earn Adelaide’s trust, there may never be any peace for Adelaide, her people, or the dragons.
Can Adelaide overcome her prejudices and thirst for revenge to do what’s best for her people before rage and sorrow consume her?
Follow Rachel onInstagram
Check out Rachel's website
Purchase The Gift of Dragons HERE or HERE
Have a question about The Gift of Dragons? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!
Check out my Patreon! Join now for some great benefits and perks!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 16 May 2022 - 71 - Firekeeper's Daughter
Today I will be chatting with my friend Victoria about the critically acclaimed book Firekeepers Daughter, by Angeline Boulley.
*Content Warning: This book deals with drug abuse, gun violence, murder, physical assault, and sexual assault. Please keep that in mind before you read the book and/or listen to this episode.*
In this episode, Victoria and I chat not just about the plot of the book, but about the importance of representation of Indigenous peoples in literature, and some of the challenges Indigenous women specifically, face each day. We also chat about drug abuse, violence, and sexual assault (as per the content of the book).
A little about Firekeeper's Daughter:
Eighteen-year-old Daunis Fontaine has never quite fit in, both in her hometown and on the nearby Ojibwe reservation. She dreams of a fresh start at college, but when family tragedy strikes, Daunis puts her future on hold to look after her fragile mother. The only bright spot is meeting Jamie, the charming new recruit on her brother Levi’s hockey team.Yet even as Daunis falls for Jamie, she senses the dashing hockey star is hiding something. Everything comes to light when Daunis witnesses a shocking murder, thrusting her into an FBI investigation of a lethal new drug.
Reluctantly, Daunis agrees to go undercover, drawing on her knowledge of chemistry and Ojibwe traditional medicine to track down the source. But the search for truth is more complicated than Daunis imagined, exposing secrets and old scars. At the same time, she grows concerned with an investigation that seems more focused on punishing the offenders than protecting the victims.
Now, as the deceptions - and deaths - keep growing, Daunis must learn what it means to be a strong Anishinaabe kwe (Ojibwe woman) and how far she’ll go for her community, even if it tears apart the only world she’s ever known.
Victoria is becoming a published author! Follow along with her on this journey on social media:
Victoria's Instagram
Victoria's Website
Victoria's TikTok
Victoria's Facebook
Have a question about Firekeeper's Daughter? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!
Check out my Patreon! Join now for some great benefits and perks!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 02 May 2022 - 70 - Six Crimson Cranes
Today I am joined by Abby and Mo from The Book Life Podcast to chat about Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim.
Take a listen as Abby, Mo, and I chat about this beautiful retelling of The Six Swans by the Brothers Grimm. You'll also get a sneak peek into what's to come in book two of this fantastic duology!
A little about Six Crimson Cranes:
Shiori'anma, the only princess of Kiata, has a secret. Forbidden magic runs through her veins. Normally she conceals it well, but on the morning of her betrothal ceremony, Shiori loses control. At first, her mistake seems like a stroke of luck, forestalling the wedding she never wanted. But it also catches the attention of Raikama, her stepmother.A sorceress in her own right, Raikama banishes the young princess, turning her brothers into cranes. She warns Shiori that she must speak of it to no one: for with every word that escapes her lips, one of her brothers will die.
Penniless, voiceless, and alone, Shiori searches for her brothers, and uncovers a dark conspiracy to seize the throne. Only Shiori can set the kingdom to rights, but to do so she must place her trust in a paper bird, a mercurial dragon, and the very boy she fought so hard not to marry. And she must embrace the magic she's been taught all her life to forswear - no matter what the cost.
Check out Abby and Mo's podcast: The Book Life Podcast
Check out The Book Life podcast on Instagram
Check out their individual Instagram accounts to see what Abby and Mo are up to, and what they are reading!
Mo's Instagram
Abby's Instagram
Have a question about Six Crimson Cranes? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!
Check out my Patreon! Join now for some great benefits and perks!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 18 Apr 2022 - 69 - Red Wolf
Today I am joined by Bethanie of the Prince Kai Fan Pod podcast and my friend Lily, and we will be chatting about Red Wolf by Rachel Vincent.
Join us as we dive into this fantastic Red Riding Hood retelling that is also a Big Bad Wolf origin story. We'll chat not just about the book, but about the original Red Riding Hood fairy tales by Charles Perrault and the Brothers Grimm, and will discover how they tie into Red Wolf.
A little about Red Wolf:
For as long as 16-year-old Adele can remember, the village of Oakvale has been surrounded by the dark wood - a forest filled with terrible monsters. A forest that light itself cannot penetrate.Unlike her fellow villagers, Adele cannot avoid the dark wood.
Adele is one of a long line of guardians: women who secretly take on the form of a wolf, in order to protect their village.
But when accepting her fate means giving up the boy she loves, abandoning the future she imagined for herself, and breaking her own moral code, she must decide how far she is willing to go to keep her neighbors safe.
Check out Prince Kai Fan Pod
Follow Prince Kai Fan Pod onInstagram
Have a question about Red Wolf? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!
Check out my Patreon! Join now for some great benefits and perks!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 04 Apr 2022 - 68 - Author Interview: V.E. Schwab (Gallant)
Join me today as I chat with #1 NY Times, USA, and Indie Best Selling author V. E. Schwab!
V. E. and I are chatting (100% spoiler FREE!) about her brand new thriller, Gallant! We chat all about her writing career, how writing Gallant was different than her previous books, what Gallant is all about, what it was like for her writing a main character that is non-verbal, and more!
Join us!
A bit about Gallant:
Olivia Prior has grown up in Merilance School for Girls, and all she has of her past is her mother’s journal—which seems to unravel into madness. Then, a letter invites Olivia to come home to Gallant. Yet when Olivia arrives, no one is expecting her. But Olivia is not about to leave the first place that feels like home; it doesn’t matter if her cousin Matthew is hostile, or if she sees half-formed ghouls haunting the hallways.Olivia knows that Gallant is hiding secrets, and she is determined to uncover them. When she crosses a ruined wall at just the right moment, Olivia finds herself in a place that is Gallant—but not. The manor is crumbling, the ghouls are solid, and a mysterious figure rules over all. Now Olivia sees what has unraveled generations of her family, and where her father may have come from.
Olivia has always wanted to belong somewhere, but will she take her place as a Prior, protecting our world against the Master of the House? Or will she take her place beside him?
Thank you to V.E. Schwab for chatting with me today, and thank you to Lauren Levite at Harper Collins for setting up this interview!
Check out V.E. Schwab's website!
Check out V.E. Schwab'sInstagram!
Buy Gallant!
Have a question about Gallant? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!
Check out my Patreon! Join now for some great benefits and perks!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 21 Mar 2022 - 67 - Author Interview: Vanessa Len (Only A Monster)
Today I am joined by debut author Vanessa Len!
Vanessa and I are chatting (100% spoiler free!!) about her brand new YA novel, Only A Monster. Take a listen as we chat about what it was like for Vanessa to debut her first novel, her writing process, the characters and stories, time travel, and more!
I highly recommend this book, so take a listen to discover if you'll love it as well.
A little about Only A Monster:
Don’t forget the rule. No one can know what you are. What we are. You must never tell anyone about monsters.Joan has just learned the truth: her family are monsters, with terrifying, hidden powers.
And the cute boy at work isn’t just a boy: he’s a legendary monster slayer, who will do anything to destroy her family.
To save herself and her family, Joan will have to do what she fears most: embrace her own monstrousness. Because in this story…she is not the hero.
A special thank you to Vanessa Len for joining me today!
And thank you to Lauren Levite at Harper Collins for setting up this interview!
Purchase Only A Monster
Check out Vanessa's website
Follow Vanessa onInstagram
Read a short excerpt from Only A Monster
Have a question about Only A Monster? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!
Check out my Patreon! Join now for some great benefits and perks!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 07 Mar 2022 - 66 - Author Interview: Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman (Aurora's End)
Join me and special guests New York Times Bestselling authors Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman as we discuss their Aurora Cycle series, and hit specific points about the most recent release in the series, Aurora's End.
Jay, Amie, and I chat about all things Aurora Cycle (LOTS of spoilers!!), sci-fi interests, hidden Easter eggs, what the most difficult part of writing Aurora's End was, The Princess Bride, and more!
SPOILER WARNING: This ENTIRE episode contains spoilers forall three booksin the Aurora Cycle series.
A special thank you to both Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman for taking the time to chat with me. And thank you to Josh Redlic at Random House for setting up this interview.
Check out Jay Kristoff's website
Check outAmie Kaufman's website
Follow Jay andAmieon Instagram
Purchase theAurora Cycle series
A little about the Aurora Cycle:
The year is 2380, and the graduating cadets of Aurora Academy are being assigned their first missions. Star pupil Tyler Jones is ready to recruit the squad of his dreams, but his own boneheaded heroism sees him stuck with the dregs nobody else in the academy would touch . . .
A cocky diplomat with a black belt in sarcasm
A sociopath scientist with a fondness for shooting her bunkmates
A smart-ass tech whiz with the galaxy's biggest chip on his shoulder
An alien warrior with anger-management issues
A tomboy pilot who's totally not into him, in case you were wondering
And Ty's squad isn't even his biggest problem--that'd be Aurora Jie-Lin O'Malley, the girl he's just rescued from interdimensional space. Trapped in cryo-sleep for two centuries, Auri is a girl out of time and out of her depth. But she could be the catalyst that starts a war millions of years in the making, and Tyler's squad of losers, discipline cases, and misfits might just be the last hope for the entire galaxy.
NOBODY PANIC.
Have a question about the Aurora Cycle series? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!
Check out my Patreon! Join now for some great benefits and perks!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 14 Feb 2022 - 65 - Every Reason We Shouldn't
We are at the start of the 2022 Winter Olympics! What better way to kick off this special time of year than by covering a book about two Winter Olympic hopefuls?
Today I am chatting with author Sara Fujimura about her book Every Reason We Shouldn't.
This heartwarming contemporary YA book, tells the story of sixteen year old figure skater Olivia Kennedy, who's Olympic dreams have been shattered, and new boy in town, Jonah Choi, an up and coming speed skater with Olympic dreams of his own.
This book will give you all the feels! It's filled with complicated family relationships, uplifting friendships, a sweet romance, and a look into life as an Olympic hopeful. Inspired by the story of real Olympian Apollo Ohno, this book does not disappoint!
So, pull up a chair and take a listen and Sara and I chat all about her fantastic book, the Olympics, Apollo Ohno, figure skating, and so much more!
Check out Sara'swebsite!
Follow Sara on Instagram!
BuyEvery Reason We Shouldn't!
Check out the books Sara mentions in our interview:
Zero Regrets by Apolo Ohno
The Boy Next Door by Katie Van Ark
Have a question about Every Reason We Shouldn't? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!
Check out my Patreon! Join now for some great benefits and perks!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 07 Feb 2022 - 64 - Author Interview: Kris Faryn (The Siren's Call Series)
I am excited to be joined by award winning author Kris Faryn today!
Kris and I will be discussing her latest YA series, the Siren's Call series. We will be chatting about books 1 and 2 in the series (Song of Destiny, and Song of Wings). You will also get a sneak peek at book 3 in the series (Song of Curses, available February 14, 2022)).
The Siren's Call series, a YA dark fantasy series, follows the story of Korrina Lore. Korrina is a teenage girl with a secret, she has a voice with a song inside of her that can kill. One day she meets someone who can silence her song, and she thinks he can help solve her problems. But she'll soon discover there is more to her song than she thought.
If you enjoy Greek mythology, you will love the Siren's Call series! Join us to hear all about it.
For more information on Kris and her books, check out her website.
Follow Kris on Instagram.
Have a question about The Siren's Call Series? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!
Check out my Patreon! Join now for some great benefits and perks!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 24 Jan 2022 - 63 - Lore
Today my friend Sarah and I are chatting about Lore by Alexandra Bracken!
Join us as we chat about this exciting contemporary, urban fantasy based on Greek mythology. We chat about the plot, our favorite characters, how this particular love trope was torturous, hear all my favorite quotes, and more!
A little about Lore:
For centuries, Zeus has punished the gods with a game called the Agon, which turns them mortal for one week, and at the mercy of being hunted by those with godly ambitions. Only a handful of the original Greek gods remain, the rest replaced by the mortals who killed them and ascended.
After her family's sadistic murder by a rival bloodline, Lore escapes and vows to repay her parents' sacrifice by doing one thing - surviving. For seven years, she has pushed back dark thoughts of revenge against the man responsible for their murder, a man by the name of Wrath who has attained unimaginable power. Except for one week, every seven years. A week that is fast approaching ...
When Lore comes home on the first night of the Agon to find Athena gravely wounded on her doorstep, the goddess offers her an alliance; they have a mutual enemy, after all. But as the world trembles under the force of Wrath - a god with the power to destroy all of humanity - will Lore's decision to bind her fate with Athena's come back to haunt her?
Have a question about Lore? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!
Check out my Patreon! Join now for some great benefits and perks!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 10 Jan 2022 - 62 - Lost in the Never Woods
Calling all fans of Peter Pan! If you love the story of the boy who never grew up, you will LOVE Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas.
Today I am joined by self proclaimed Peter Pan expert Drew and his lovely podcasting partner Cassie (Of Slippers and Spindles Podcast). We will chat all things Peter Pan (book, movie, and Broadway) as we dive into Lost in the Never Woods. This is a wonderful Peter Pan retelling, and a must read for anyone who is a fan of Peter Pan. This is my favorite Peter Pan story by far.
First 15 minutes are spoiler free! Join us!
A little about Lost in the Never Woods:
It’s been five years since Wendy and her two brothers went missing in the woods, but when the town’s children start to disappear, the questions surrounding her brothers’ mysterious circumstances are brought back into the light. Attempting to flee her past, Wendy almost runs over an unconscious boy lying in the middle of the road...
Peter, a boy she thought lived only in her stories, asks for Wendy’s help to rescue the missing kids. But, in order to find them, Wendy must confront what’s waiting for her in the woods.
Follow Of Slippers and Spindles Podcast onInstagram.
Check them out on Facebook.
Follow Drew and Cassiein all their adventures on Instagram.
Have a question about Lost in the Never Woods? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!
Check out my Patreon! Join now for some great benefits and perks!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 20 Dec 2021 - 61 - Shadow and Bone
Join fellow podcaster Abby and me as we chat about Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo! Hear the story of why it took me so long to get around to reading this book and covering it on the podcast. There is a (funny and crazy) reason. In addition to chatting about the book, Abby and I also dive into the Netflix television series as well.
First 15 minutes are spoiler free!
Join us!
A little about Shadow and Bone:
Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves her life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.
Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha… and the secrets of her heart.
Follow Abby's podcast, The Book Life Podcast, onInstagram
Follow Abby on Instagram
Check out the Book Life Podcast on Facebook
Check out The Book Life's Patreon
Have a question about Shadow and Bone? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!
Check out my Patreon! Join now for some great benefits and perks!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 06 Dec 2021 - 60 - The Wicked King
Join me and my friends Claire and Amanda from Fictional Hangover podcast, as we discuss the second book in Holly Black's Folk of the Air trilogy, The Wicked King.
This episode is full of moments that will make you laugh. Not only do we discuss the plot of the fabulous book, but we also talk about the intricacies of how it's possible for a fae prince to be weaned on cat milk, if mermaids/mermen end up eating their own poop, how Jude is quite the "stupid human," and so much more!
Join us! First 15 minutes are spoiler free! (And that was very difficult for Claire and Amanda! ha ha!)
A little about The Wicked King:
After the jaw-dropping revelation that Oak is the heir to Faerie, Jude must keep her younger brother safe. To do so, she has bound the wicked king, Cardan, to her, and made herself the power behind the throne. Navigating the constantly shifting political alliances of Faerie would be difficult enough if Cardan were easy to control. But he does everything in his power to humiliate and undermine her even as his fascination with her remains undiminished.When it becomes all too clear that someone close to Jude means to betray her, threatening her own life and the lives of everyone she loves, Jude must uncover the traitor and fight her own complicated feelings for Cardan to maintain control as a mortal in a Faerie world.
Follow Fictional Hangover Podcast on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter
Fictional Hangover Podcast Website
Have a question about The Wicked King? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!
Check out my Patreon! Join now for some great benefits and perks!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 22 Nov 2021 - 59 - House of Hollow
Welcome to the first episode of season three of YA Book Chat!
Today I am joined by Elise from Novel Feelings Podcast, to chat about House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland.
House of Hollow is a suspenseful, creepy/horror (YA) story that will keep you guessing the entire book. It's a nail biter for sure! So, join Elise and I as we chat about all things creepy and gory, plus cuckoo birds, changelings, the Upside Down, and more!
A little about House of Hollow:
Iris Hollow and her two older sisters are unquestionably strange. Ever since they disappeared on a suburban street in Scotland as children only to return a month a later with no memory of what happened to them, odd, eerie occurrences seem to follow in their wake. And they're changing. First, their dark hair turned white. Then, their blue eyes slowly turned black. They have insatiable appetites yet never gain weight. People find them disturbingly intoxicating, unbearably beautiful, and inexplicably dangerous.
But now, ten years later, seventeen-year-old Iris Hollow is doing all she can to fit in and graduate high school on time--something her two famously glamourous globe-trotting older sisters, Grey and Vivi, never managed to do. But when Grey goes missing without a trace, leaving behind bizarre clues as to what might have happened, Iris and Vivi are left to trace her last few days. They aren't the only ones looking for her though. As they brush against the supernatural they realize that the story they've been told about their past is unraveling and the world that returned them seemingly unharmed ten years ago, might just be calling them home.
Follow Elise and Novel Feelings Pod on Instagram
Check out the Novel Feelings website
Read theNovel Feelings blog
Have a question about House of Hollow? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!
Check out my Patreon! Join now for some great benefits and perks!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 08 Nov 2021 - 58 - Author Interview: C.S. Pacat (Dark Rise)
Today I am chatting with International best selling author, C.S. Pacat, about her brand new book, Dark Rise. Pacat is the author of the Captive Prince Series and the Fence graphic novels.
Join us as we chat about classic good vs. evil fantasy stories, our Italian heritage, M. Night "Shenanigans," and, of course, this fantastic new book!
A little about Dark Rise:
Sixteen-year-old dock boy Will is on the run, pursued by the men who killed his mother. Then an old servant tells him of his destiny to fight beside the Stewards, who have sworn to protect humanity if the Dark King ever returns. Will is thrust into a world of magic, where he starts training for a vital role in the oncoming battle against the Dark.As London is threatened and old enmities are awakened, Will must stand with the last heroes of the Light to prevent the fate that destroyed their world from returning to destroy his own.
Visit C.S. Pacat's website
Purchase Dark Rise
Follow C.S. Pacat on Instagram
Have a question about Dark Rise? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!
Check out my Patreon! Join now for some great benefits and perks!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 20 Sep 2021 - 57 - BONUS EPISODE: Fall/Winter 2021 New YA Book Releases
Today I am chatting about new YA releases coming out September - December. I'll share with you which books are highly anticipated, which are sequels, and which ones I am most looking forward to.
Join me!
All the books in today's episode are listed below. Check them out!
The Last Legacy-Adrienne Young
Dark Rise -C.S. Pacat
Once Upon a Broken Heart-Stephanie Garber
Beasts of Prey-Ayana Gray
Steelstriker-Marie Lu
White Smoke-Tiffany D. Jackson
Some Faraway Place-Lauren Shippen
Kingdom of the Cursed-Kerri Maniscalco
Bad Girls Never Say Die-Jennifer Mathieu
Vespertine-Margaret Rogerson
City of Shattered Light-Clair Winn
Little Thieves-Margaret Owen
Gilded-Marissa Meyer
Aurora's End-Jay Kristoff & Amy Kaufman
Into the Bloodred Woods-Martha Brockenbrough
All of Us Villians-Amanda Foody & Christine Lynn Herman
The Righteous-Renee Ahdieh
Here's to Us-Adam Silvera & Becky Albertalli
Heart of the Impaler-Alexander DelaHave a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Wed, 15 Sep 2021 - 56 - Author Interview: Chandra Prasad (Mercury Boys)
Today I am chatting with critically acclaimed author Chandra Prasad about her new book, Mercury Boys.
Mercury Boys is a story like none other! It takes us on a remarkable journey through time, and explores the ups and downs of adolescent relationships. This book takes the meaning of the words "mean girls" to a whole new level!
Join Chandra and I as we chat about the plot, Chandra's writing style, history and time travel, and more!
This episode is 100% spoiler free!
A little about Mercury Boys:
When high schooler Saskia Brown plays around with a vial of liquid mercury, then touches a tattered old daguerreotype, she makes a startling discovery. She is somehow able to visit the man in the daguerreotype: Robert Cornelius, a brilliant young inventor from the nineteenth century. The hitch: she can see him only in her dreams.Saskia soon shares her revelation with some female classmates. Under Saskia’s guidance, the other girls try the experiment for themselves. They steal portraits of young men from a local college’s daguerreotype collection. Then, each of the girls tries to make contact with her own personal “Mercury Boy,” from an injured Union soldier in the Civil War to a charming pickpocket in New York City.
At night, the girls visit their “forever boyfriends” in their dreams. During the day, they hold clandestine meetings of their new secret society: the Mercury Boys Club. At first, the club is a thrilling diversion from the girls’ troubled everyday lives. But all good things must come to an end, and it’s not long before jealousy, violence, and lies threaten everything the girls hold dear.
Check out Chandra's website
More info on Mercury Boys
Follow Chandra onInstagram
Purchase Mercury Boys
Have a question about Mercury Boys? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!
Check out my Patreon! Join now for some great benefits and perks!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 06 Sep 2021 - 55 - Author Interview: Sara Fujimura (Faking Reality)
Today I am joined by award winning author Sara Fujimura to chat about her brand new book, Faking Reality.
If you are a fan of HGTV, best friends to lovers, Japanese food and culture, and YA contemporary romance, this book is for you! It encompasses all of these things, and is such a fun read! You'll find strong characters, family themes, and more.
Join Sara and I as we chat about Faking Reality, Sara's writing style, our love of HGTV, Japanese culture, and more!
About Faking Reality:
Dakota McDonald swore after “The Great Homecoming Disaster” that she’d never allow her romantic life to be a plot line in her parents’ HGTV show again. But when the restaurant run by the family of her best friend (and secret crush), Leo, is on the line, Dakota might end up eating her own words.
Leo Matsuda dreams of escaping the suffocating demands of working in his family’s restaurant, but the closer he gets to his goal―thanks to the help of his best friend (and secret crush) Dakota―the more reasons there are for him to stay.
Check out Sara'swebsite!
Follow Sara on Instagram!
BuyFaking Reality!
Have a question about Faking Reality? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!
Check out my Patreon! Join now for some great benefits and perks!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 23 Aug 2021 - 54 - A Touch of Gold with special guest Author Annie Sullivan
Join me and my guests as we chat about A Touch of Goldby Annie Sullivan.
Today I am joined by my friend Sarah, and Annie Sullivan herself! We open the podcast with some questions for Annie, and then dive into a full on (spoiler filled) plot discussion. Come listen and discover whatA Touch of Gold is all about!
First 20 minutes are spoiler FREE!
A little about the book...
After King Midas’s gift—or curse—almost killed his daughter, he relinquished The Touch forever. Ten years later, Princess Kora still bears the consequences of her father’s wish: her skin shines golden, rumors follow her everywhere she goes, and she harbors secret powers that are getting harder to hide.
Kora spends her days concealed behind gloves and veils. It isn’t until a charming duke arrives that Kora believes she could indeed be loved. But their courtship is disrupted when a thief steals treasures her father needs to survive. Thanks to Kora’s unique ability to sense gold, she sails off on her quest to find the missing items.
Magic, mythology, fantasy, and pirate adventures charge through every page as Kora learns that not everything is what it seems—not her companions, not the thieves, and not even Kora herself.
Check out Annie's website
Follow her on Instagram,Twitter, Facebook
Buy A Touch of Gold and A Curse of Gold
Have a question about A Touch of Gold? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!
Check out my Patreon! Join now for some great benefits and perks!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 09 Aug 2021 - 53 - Author Interview: Emily Colin (Sword of the Seven Sins)
Today I am joined by NYT Best Selling author Emily Colin to chat about her Sword of the Seven Sins series. Come take a listen as Emily and I dive into the world of this series, her writing style, the characters, dystopian and fantasy YA, and even how Emily came to organize a Coney Island tattoo and piercing show. We'll even have a short spoiler chat at the end. You won't want to miss this!
Emily's next book in the series, Siege of the Seven Sins will be available August 3, 2021.
A little about Sword of the Seven Sins:Eva Marteinn never wanted to be a killer.
Raised in the Commonwealth, where citizens live and die by the code of the Seven Sins, Eva is sickened by the barbaric punishments the High Priests inflict. She sees the Bellators of Light, the Commonwealth’s executioners, as no more than conscienceless killers.
When she’s Chosen as the first female bellator—and can’t refuse, on threat of exile or disgrace—Eva is devastated. But she turns out to be inordinately gifted at the very role she abhors…no thanks to her mentor, Ari Westergaard, who alternates between ignoring her and challenging her to impossible tests.
Ari’s indifference conceals a dangerous secret: He’s loved Eva since they were children. When Eva falls for Ari too, she knows they should do anything to avoid each other. Love is forbidden. Lust is a death sentence. But as mentor and apprentice, they’re bound by the blood oath they swore the day of Eva’s Choosing.
Balanced on a razor’s edge of desire and betrayal, the two uncover a secret that could overturn the Commonwealth itself. Now Eva must make an impossible choice: Turn her back on Ari, and remain loyal to the only home she’s ever known—or risk everything on the slim hope of freedom, and stake her life on the boy she’s come to love.Check out Emily's website!
Be sure to check out the Siege of the Seven Sins preorder campaign!
Say hello to Emily onInstagram!
Purchase Emily's books on Amazon!
Have a question about Sword of the Seven Sins? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!
Check out my Patreon! Join now for some great benefits and perks!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 02 Aug 2021 - 52 - Author Interview: Lynn Slaughter (Leisha's Song)
Today I am joined by author Lynn Slaughter! Lynn is the author of While I Danced, It Should Have Been You, and her brand new book, Leisha's Song. Lynn and I will be chatting today about Leisha's Song.
Leisha has always been the ultimate pleaser. She never intended to fall in love with classical singing, become an amateur detective, or get involved with Cody Harrington. But now she finds herself on a direct collision course with her African American grandfather, the only parent she’s ever known. But a more immediate danger looms as she draws closer to uncovering the truth about her mentor’s disappearance, putting her life in grave danger.
If you are a fan of cozy mysteries, this book is for you! But Leisha's Songis not only a mystery, it's a coming of age story that deals with racism, and other issues faced by teens today.
Check out Lynn's other books on her website!
Follow Lynn on Facebook!
Purchase Leisha's Song HERE orHERE or HERE!
Have a question about Leisha's Song? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!
Check out my Patreon! Join now for some great benefits and perks!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 26 Jul 2021 - 51 - Realm Breaker
Join my guests and me as we chat about Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard.
Today I am joined by Michael and Barbara from the Badass Literature Society podcast.
Realm Breaker is the first book in Victoria Aveyard's newest YA fantasy series, and is a thrill ride all the way through. If you enjoyed her Red Queen series, you won't want to miss this one either. Fan of Tolkien? This book is for you as well! It's a high fantasy full of adventure, magical creatures, unexpected plot twists, and a band of heroes trying desperately to save the realm they live in.
A little more about Realm Breaker:
A strange darkness grows in Allward.Even Corayne an-Amarat can feel it, tucked away in her small town at the edge of the sea.
She soon discovers the truth: She is the last of an ancient lineage—and the last hope to save the world from destruction. But she won’t be alone. Even as darkness falls, she is joined by a band of unlikely companions:
A squire, forced to choose between home and honor.An immortal, avenging a broken promise.An assassin, exiled and bloodthirsty.An ancient sorceress, whose riddles hide an eerie foresight.A forger with a secret past.A bounty hunter with a score to settle.Together they stand against a vicious opponent, invincible and determined to burn all kingdoms to ash, and an army unlike anything the realm has ever witnessed.
Be sure to check out Michael and Barbara on their podcast, BadAss Literature Society!
Follow them on Instagram andFacebook
Have a question about Realm Breaker? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!
Check out my Patreon! Join now for some great benefits and perks!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Wed, 14 Jul 2021 - 50 - Poisoned
Join my friend Lily and me as we dive into the book Poisoned by Jennifer Donnelly!
Poisoned is a creative retelling of the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Sophie is a loving, kind hearted girl who is continually told her kindness makes her weak, and that she could never be a good queen. Her (evil) step mother never lets Sophie forget this fact, and tells Sophie she must marry a prince who can rule for her.
But Sophie isn't so sure...after all, it's the kindness of seven strangers that saves Sophie's life after the Huntsman takes her heart.
Sophie soon discovers that her step mother may not be the only one who wants her dead, and that there is an even more dangerous foe lurking in the Dark Wood. A foe she must defeat if she wants to take her throne back and become queen.
Poisoned is not only a wonderful retelling of Snow White, it is also full of encouragement that we all need to hear. Jennifer Donnelly weaves truths into her story that we all need to hear; truths about how we let peoples poisoned words devour our hearts and cause us to live in fear. But we shouldn't do that...kindness and love are strengths, and can overcome all fear.
***Note: There was a thunderstorm that occurred during the recording of this episode, so please excuse the thunder in the background at a few points.***
Check out Lily's Instagram!
Have a question about Poisoned? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!
Check out my Patreon! Join now for some great benefits and perks!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 28 Jun 2021 - 49 - Renegades
Join my friend Bethanie and me as we chat about the bookRenegades by Marissa Meyer.
Renegades is a classic superhero, good vs evil story, with a few twists along the way. It's exciting, surprising, full of adventure and fun loving characters, and so much more!
First 15 minutes are spoiler free!
More about Renegades:
The Renegades are a syndicate of prodigies―humans with extraordinary abilities―who emerged from the ruins of a crumbled society and established peace and order where chaos reigned. As champions of justice, they remain a symbol of hope and courage to everyone...except the villains they once overthrew.
Nova has a reason to hate the Renegades, and she is on a mission for vengeance. As she gets closer to her target, she meets Adrian, a Renegade boy who believes in justice―and in Nova. But Nova's allegiance is to a villain who has the power to end them both.
Check out Bethanie's podcast Prince Kai Fan Pod
Prince Kai Fan Pod Instagram
Prince Kai Fan Pod Patreon
Have a question about Renegades? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!
Check out my Patreon! Join now for some great benefits and perks!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 14 Jun 2021 - 48 - FanGirl
Join my friend Victoria Koops and me as we chat about Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. I absolutely adored this book! It brought back so many memories from my college days, introduced me to true fan fiction, and just brought me pure joy!
Come take a listen as Victoria and I chat all about the characters, plot line, college, and more! Yes, we may veer off in a different direction and dive into the world of Marvel vs. DC movies. I promise, it does relate!
Come join us for some fun!
A little about Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell:
Cath is a Simon Snow fan. Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan, but for Cath, being a fan is her life―and she's really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it's what got them through their mother leaving.
Cath's sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can't let go. She doesn't want to.
Now that they're going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn't want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She's got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can't stop worrying about her dad, who's loving and fragile and has never really been alone.
For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?
Check out my guest Victoria Koops! Follow her on her adventures as an emerging YA author!
Victoria's Instagram
Victoria's website
Sign up forVictoria's Newsletter!
Have a question about Fangirl? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!
Check out my new Patreon! Join now for some great benefits and perks!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 17 May 2021 - 47 - Fable
Today I am covering the fantastic tale of Fable by Adrienne Young!
Join my guest Rachel and me as we "dive in" to the story of Fable, a young girl abandoned on an island by her father when she was just 13 years old. If you like pirates, treasure, adventure, and intrigue, you will love the world of Fable!
So join us for a chat!
A little about Fable:
Welcome to a world made dangerous by the sea and by those who wish to profit from it. Where a young girl must find her place and her family while trying to survive in a world built for men.
As the daughter of the most powerful trader in the Narrows, the sea is the only home seventeen-year-old Fable has ever known. It’s been four years since the night she watched her mother drown during an unforgiving storm. The next day her father abandoned her on a legendary island filled with thieves and little food. To survive she must keep to herself, learn to trust no one and rely on the unique skills her mother taught her. The only thing that keeps her going is the goal of getting off the island, finding her father and demanding her rightful place beside him and his crew. To do so Fable enlists the help of a young trader named West to get her off the island and across the Narrows to her father.
But her father’s rivalries and the dangers of his trading enterprise have only multiplied since she last saw him and Fable soon finds that West isn't who he seems. Together, they will have to survive more than the treacherous storms that haunt the Narrows if they're going to stay alive.
Check out my guest Rachel and her podcast Barely Bookish!
Barely Bookish Website
Barely Bookish Instagram
Have a question about Fable? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!
Check out my new Patreon! Join now for some great benefits and perks!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 19 Apr 2021 - 46 - BONUS EPISODE: Tokyo Ever After
Join me today as I give you a sneak peak of the brand new contemporary YA novel Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean.
This book is a fantastic read, and I highly recommend it! Listen to this 100% spoiler FREE episode to learn what makes it such a wonderful story.
A little about Tokyo Ever After:
Izumi Tanaka has never really felt like she fit in - it isn't easy being Japanese American in her small northern California town. Raised by a single mother, Izumi has always felt it's been her and her mom against the world. But then she discovers a clue to her previously unknown father's identity...and he's none other than the Crown Prince of Japan. Which means outspoken, irreverent Izumi is literally a princess. In a whirlwind, Izzy travels to Japan to meet the father she never knew and discover the country she always dreamed of. But being a princess isn't all ball gowns and tiaras...
Thank you so much to Flatiron Books for sending me an ARC so I could review Tokyo Ever After!
Follow Flatiron Books on Instagram.
Follow Emiko Jean on Instagram.
Check out Tokyo Ever After and Emiko Jean's other books on her website!
Pre-Order your very own copy of Tokyo Ever After! (Publication Date May 18th)
Love the podcast? Want to know how you can support YA Book Chat? Sign up for my Patreon! You'll receive lots of perks, like early access to episodes, a monthly bookmark, YA Book Chat podcast merch, and more! Join now for some great benefits!
Have a question about Tokyo Ever After? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Wed, 14 Apr 2021 - 45 - Aurora Rising
Today I am joined by Abby from The Book Life podcast. Abby and I are chatting about a fantastic YA Science Fiction book, Aurora Rising, by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufmann.
I wasn't sure how I would feel about this book at first, but I ended up LOVING it! I got pulled in so quickly, and my interest never faltered! Take a listen as Abby and I talk about all the reasons we both love this book!
First 15 minutes are spoiler free!
A little about Aurora Rising...
The year is 2380, and the graduating cadets of Aurora Academy are being assigned their first missions. Star pupil Tyler Jones is ready to recruit the squad of his dreams, but his own boneheaded heroism sees him stuck with the dregs nobody else in the academy would touch....
A cocky diplomat with a black belt in sarcasm
A sociopath scientist with a fondness for shooting her bunkmates
A smart-ass tech whiz with the galaxy's biggest chip on his shoulder
An alien warrior with anger-management issues
A tomboy pilot who's totally not into him, in case you were wondering
And Ty's squad isn't even his biggest problem - that'd be Aurora Jie-Lin O'Malley, the girl he's just rescued from interdimensional space.
Trapped in cryo-sleep for two centuries, Auri is a girl out of time and out of her depth. But she could be the catalyst that starts a war millions of years in the making, and Tyler's squad of losers, discipline cases, and misfits might just be the last hope for the entire galaxy.
**NOTE** In the spoiler section of today's episode, Abby and I discuss what we believe to be a reference to The Princess Bride. Turns out, we are correct! I sent a message to Jay Kristoff and he confirmed it IS indeed a reference to the amazing movie/book The Princess Bride.
Folly Abby's bookstagram!
Follow The Book Life Podcast on Instagram!
Love the podcast? Want to know how you can support YA Book Chat? Sign up for my Patreon! You'll receive lots of perks, like early access to episodes, a monthly bookmark, YA Book Chat podcast merch, and more! Join now for some great benefits!
Have a question about Aurora Rising? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 05 Apr 2021 - 44 - Matched
Join my guest Abigail and me as we chat about Matchedby Ally Condie!
Abigail and I had so much fun chatting about this book! We also talk about Abigail's beautiful Cress cosplay, her love for tigers, and more. Oh, and we maylet a small spoiler from book two in this series slip. Whoops! But don't worry, it's in the spoiler section anyway.
First 15 minutes are spoiler free!
A little about Matched:
In the Society, Officials decide. Who you love. Where you work. When you die.
Cassia has always trusted the Society’s choices. And when her best friend appears on the Matching screen, she is certain he’s the one—until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. Now she is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she’s ever known and a path no has dared to follow . . . between perfection and the truth.
Follow Abigail's fun Lunar Chronicles Instagram!
Follow Abigail's personal/author Instagram!
Purchase a copy of Abigail's book, Daughter of the Moon!
Love the podcast? Want to know how you can support YA Book Chat? Sign up for my Patreon! You'll receive lots of perks, like early access to episodes, a monthly bookmark, YA Book Chat podcast merch, and more! Join now for some great benefits!
Have a question about Matched? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 22 Mar 2021 - 43 - Author Interview: Jillian Boehme (The Stolen Kingdom)
Today I have the privilege of interviewing the "Authoress" herself, YA author Jillian Boehme!
Jillian is known to the online writing community as Authoress, hostess of Miss Snark's First Victim, a blog for aspiring authors. She is the author of a short story in the book When the Hero Comes Home 2,and her first YA novel, Stormrise.
Today Jillian and I are chatting about her brand new book, The Stolen Kingdom!
For a hundred years, the once-prosperous kingdom of Perin Faye has suffered under the rule of the greedy and power-hungry Thungrave kings. Maralyth Graylaern, a vintner's daughter, has no idea her hidden magical power is proof of a secret bloodline and claim to the throne. Alac Thungrave, the king’s second son, has always been uncomfortable with his position as the spare heir—and the dark, stolen magic that comes with ruling.
When Maralyth becomes embroiled in a plot to murder the royal family and seize the throne, a cat-and-mouse chase ensues in an adventure of dark magic, court intrigue, and forbidden love.
Get your very own copy of The Stolen Kingdom!
Check out Jillian's website and be sure to subscribe to her newsletter to receive a free audiobook!
Follow Jillian onInstagram!
Thank you to Tor Teen for giving me the opportunity to interview Jillian!
Love the podcast? Want to know how you can support YA Book Chat? Sign up for my Patreon! You'll receive lots of perks, like early access to episodes, a monthly bookmark, YA Book Chat podcast merch, and more! Join now for some great benefits!
Have a question about The Stolen Kingdom? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 08 Mar 2021 - 42 - Stalking Jack the Ripper
Join my guest Sarah and me as we chat about Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco!
Sarah and I chat all about the book, Jack the Ripper himself, London fog, kidnapping Zachary Levi, and much more! It's a fun episode you don't want to miss.
First 15 minutes are spoiler FREE!
Here's a bit about Stalking Jack the Ripper...
Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord's daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life. Against her stern father's wishes and society's expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle's laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine.
When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world. The story's shocking twists and turns, augmented with real, sinister period photos, make this dazzling book impossible to forget.
My guest today is one of my Patrons! Want your chance to be a guest also? Sign up for my Patreon! You'll receive lots of perks, like early access to episodes, a monthly bookmark, YA Book Chat podcast merch, and more! Join now for some great benefits and perks!
Have a question about Stalking Jack the Ripper? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 22 Feb 2021 - 41 - The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
Join my guest Rachel (Barely Bookish Podcast) and me as we dive into the prequel for The Hunger Games, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes!
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes follows the story of a young Coriolanus Snow, and his experience as a mentor for the 10th Hunger Games. Coryo's experience as a mentor molds and shapes who he grows to become. This fantastic backstory gives you so much insight into President Snow, and how he became who he is in The Hunger Games.
It's a story you don't want to miss!
Check out my guest Rachel and her podcast Barely Bookish!
Barely Bookish Website
Barely Bookish Instagram
Have a question about The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!
Check out my new Patreon! Join now for some great benefits and perks!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 08 Feb 2021 - 40 - Children of Blood and Bone
Today I am joined by special guest Dawn from the Novel Universe Podcast.
Dawn and I sat down to chat about Tomi Adeyemi's fantastic YA fantasy novel, Children of Blood and Bone. If you have not yet read this book, be sure to take a listen to my spoiler free section. This is a book you don't want to miss!
Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls.
But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope.
Now Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.
Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers and her growing feelings for an enemy.
Check out Dawn's podcast:NovelUniversePod
Follow Dawn on Instagram
Have a question about Children of Blood and Bone? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!
Check out my new Patreon! Join now for some great benefits and perks!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 25 Jan 2021 - 39 - BONUS EPISODE: The Starless Sea
Today's special Bonus episode features the book The Starless Sea, by Erin Morgenstern. While this is not a YA book, it's definitely one I wanted to hash out and chat about with a friend.
Author Megan O'Russell joins me on today's episode as we try to figure out just what happened in the Starless Sea. We're a little confused...but have a LOT of fun trying to figure it all out.
A little about The Starless Sea:
Zachary Ezra Rawlins is a graduate student in Vermont when he discovers a mysterious book hidden in the stacks. As he turns the pages, entranced by tales of lovelorn prisoners, key collectors, and nameless acolytes, he reads something strange: a story from his own childhood. Bewildered by this inexplicable book and desperate to make sense of how his own life came to be recorded, Zachary uncovers a series of clues—a bee, a key, and a sword—that lead him to a masquerade party in New York, to a secret club, and through a doorway to an ancient library hidden far below the surface of the earth. What Zachary finds in this curious place is more than just a buried home for books and their guardians—it is a place of lost cities and seas, lovers who pass notes under doors and across time, and of stories whispered by the dead. Zachary learns of those who have sacrificed much to protect this realm, relinquishing their sight and their tongues to preserve this archive, and also of those who are intent on its destruction. Together with Mirabel, a fierce, pink-haired protector of the place, and Dorian, a handsome, barefoot man with shifting alliances, Zachary travels the twisting tunnels, darkened stairwells, crowded ballrooms, and sweetly soaked shores of this magical world, discovering his purpose—in both the mysterious book and in his own life.
Check out all of Megan O'Russell's books on her WEBSITE
Check out Megan O'Russell on social media!
Instagram
Facebook
Have a question about The Starless Sea? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!
Check out my new Patreon! Join now for some great benefits and perks!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Wed, 20 Jan 2021 - 38 - Instant Karma
Join my friends Bethanie, Taylor, and me as we dive into Marissa Meyer's newest book, Instant Karma!
Instant Karma is a sweet, contemporary romance about teenager, and chronic overachiever, Prudence Barnett. Prudence is always quick to cast judgment on the lazy, rude, and arrogant residents of her coastal town. Her dreams of karmic justice are fulfilled when, after a night out with her friends, she wakes up with the sudden ability to cast instant karma on those around her.
Pru giddily makes use of the power, punishing everyone from public vandals to mean gossips, but there is one person on whom her powers consistently backfire: Quint Erickson, her slacker of a lab partner. Quint is annoyingly cute and impressively noble, especially when it comes to his work with the rescue center for local sea animals.
When Pru resigns herself to working at the rescue center for extra credit, she begins to uncover truths about baby otters, environmental upheaval, and romantic crossed signals―not necessarily in that order. Her newfound karmic insights reveal how thin the line is between virtue and vanity, generosity and greed . . . love and hate… and fate.
Check out Bethanie and Taylor on social media!
Bethanie: Prince Kai Fan Pod
Taylor M: Renegade Anarchist
Check out Taylor's cute Merch page: Angel.Dane.Shop
Pacific Marine Mammal Center
Have a question about Instant Karma? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!
Check out my new Patreon! Join now for some great benefits and perks!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 11 Jan 2021 - 37 - Author Interview: Janet Olson (New Beginnings)
Today I will be chatting with author Janet Olson about her book, New Beginnings.
Join us!
A little about New Beginnings:
Seventeen year old Ida's life is turned upside down when her best friend dies. Not long after, Ida discovers she is pregnant. As a result, her parents send to her be part of a volunteer program in Africa, hoping it will help Ida out of her funk, and discover who she is. While Ida isn't thrilled about being shipped off to Africa for six months, it ends up being a life-changing journey she will never forget.
Check out New Beginnings on Amazon
Follow Janet on Instagram
Have a question about New Beginnings? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Wed, 30 Dec 2020 - 36 - Author Interview: Derek Alan Siddoway (Djinn Tamer Series)
Join me today in a conversation with author Derek Alan Siddoway!
I covered Derek's book Djinn Tamer: Starter in Season 1, and today I get to chat with Derek himself! Join us as we chat about Derek's books, our outdoor adventures, what it's like to be a rancher in Utah, and so much more!
Check out Derek on his social media platforms, and be sure to check out all his fantastic books!
Derek'sWebsite
Derek's InstagramHave a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 28 Dec 2020 - 35 - Ash Princess
Join my friend Amanda and me as we discuss the first book in Laura Sebastian's Ash Princess series. Amanda and I delve into the world of magic and intrigue in this page-turning book.
A little about Ash Princess:
Theodosia was six when her country was invaded and her mother, the Fire Queen, was murdered before her eyes. On that day, the Kaiser took Theodosia's family, her land, and her name. Theo was crowned Ash Princess--a title of shame to bear in her new life as a prisoner.
For ten years Theo has been a captive in her own palace. She's endured the relentless abuse and ridicule of the Kaiser and his court. She is powerless, surviving in her new world only by burying the girl she was deep inside.
Then, one night, the Kaiser forces her to do the unthinkable. With blood on her hands and all hope of reclaiming her throne lost, she realizes that surviving is no longer enough. But she does have a weapon: her mind is sharper than any sword. And power isn't always won on the battlefield.
Check out Amanda's podcast! Adapted For Your Viewing
Follow Adapted For Your Viewing on Instagram
Follow Amanda on Instagram
Have a question about Ash Princess? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
And be sure to check out my new Patreon!!! There are lots of great benefits you don't want to miss out on! https://linktr.ee/YABookChat
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 14 Dec 2020 - 34 - Author Interview: Marissa Meyer (Instant Karma)
I am so very thrilled to bring you this interview I did with NYT Bestselling author, Marissa Meyer!
Join Marissa and me as we chat about her brand new book, Instant Karma. We talk about where the idea for Instant Karma came from, why Marissa chose to write a romance, all about the main character, and different themes in the book, Marissa's writing process, and more! I'll also be asking Marissa some questions from her fans/my listeners.
Plus, Marissa reveals what her next book will be!!
You won't want to miss this!
Check out Marissa's website, books, and podcast:
Marissa's website - MarissaMeyer.com
Marissa's Author Instagram account - MarissaMeyerAuthor
Marissa's Podcast Instagram account - The Happy Writer
Marissa's Podcast -The Happy Writer
Marissa's books - All books HERE
Have a question about Instant Karma? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
And be sure to check out my new Patreon!!! There are lots of great benefits you don't want to miss out on! https://linktr.ee/YABookChat
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 30 Nov 2020 - 33 - The Beautiful
Join me on a journey to 1872 New Orleans, a city ruled by the dead, as we dive into The Beautiful by Renee Ahdieh.
My guest today is the delightful Heather Berghaier. Come along as Heather and I explore this dark world of demons and other worldly creatures, hunting and skulking in the city of New Orleans.
A little about The Beautiful:
In 1872, New Orleans is a city ruled by the dead. But to seventeen-year-old Celine Rousseau, New Orleans is a safe haven after she's forced to flee her life as a dressmaker in Paris. Taken in by the sisters of the Ursuline convent in the middle of the carnival season, Celine is quickly enraptured by the vibrant city, from its music to its fancy soirées and even its danger. She becomes embroiled in the city's glitzy underworld, known as La Cour des Lions, after catching the eye of the group's enigmatic leader, Sébastien Saint Germain.
When the body of one of the girls from the convent is found in Sébastien's own lair--the second dead girl to turn up in recent weeks--Celine battles her attraction to Sébastien and suspicions about his guilt along with the shame of her own horrible secret.
After a third murder, New Orleans becomes gripped by the terror of a serial killer on the loose--one who has now set Celine in his sights. As the murderer stalks her, Celine finally takes matters into her own hands, only to find herself caught in the midst of an age-old feud between the darkest creatures of the night, where the price of forbidden love is her life.
Links:
Here is a link to the vampire book series I mention in this episode.
Bloodlines series by Richelle Mead
Have a question about The Beautiful? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
And be sure to check out my new Patreon!!! There are lots of great benefits you don't want to miss out on! https://linktr.ee/YABookChat
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 16 Nov 2020 - 32 - Red Rising
Today I am diving into Pierce Brown's first book in the Red Rising saga.
My special guest today is Amanda from Fictional Hangover podcast.
Amanda and I had so much fun chatting about Darrow of Lykos, and his world on Mars. Join us!
A bit about Red Rising:
Darrow is a Red, a member of the lowest caste in the color-coded society of the future. Like his fellow Reds, he works all day, believing that he and his people are making the surface of Mars livable for future generations. Yet he spends his life willingly, knowing that his blood and sweat will one day result in a better world for his children. But Darrow and his kind have been betrayed. Soon he discovers that humanity reached the surface generations ago. Vast cities and sprawling parks spread across the planet.Darrow - and Reds like him - are nothing more than slaves to a decadent ruling class. Inspired by a longing for justice, and driven by the memory of lost love, Darrow sacrifices everything to infiltrate the legendary Institute, a proving ground for the dominant Gold caste, where the next generation of humanity's overlords struggle for power. He will be forced to compete for his life and the very future of civilization against the best and most brutal of Society's ruling class. There, he will stop at nothing to bring down his enemies...even if it means he has to become one of them to do so.
Check out Amanda's podcast, Fictional Hangover!
Fictional Hangover Website
Fictional Hangover Instagram
Fictional Hangover Patreon
Have a question about Red Rising? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!
https://linktr.ee/YABookChatHave a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 02 Nov 2020 - 31 - The Cruel Prince
Join my friend Lauren Hennessy and me as we dive into Holly Black's Faerie fantasy world of The Cruel Prince!
Holly Black'sThe Folk of the Air trilogy is one you don't want to miss! The first book, The Cruel Prince, will draw you in and keep you wanting more.
About The Cruel Prince...
Jude Duarte was seven years old when her parents were brutally murdered in front of her, and she and her sisters were stolen away to live in the High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to fit in and truly belong, and be accepted by the fey. But many of the fey despise humans, including the young Prince Cardan; the youngest and most wicked son of the High King of Faerie.
To win a place at court, Jude must defy Cardan and face the consequences.
Check out Lauren's podcast And Here's Why
Follow Lauren on Instagram
Have a question about The Cruel Prince? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 19 Oct 2020 - 30 - Ember and Stone
Welcome to Season 2 of YA Book Chat!
I am excited to start my second season off with a bang by featuring the first book in the Ena of Ilbrea series, Ember and Stone by Megan O'Russell. Not only that, but I am joined by Megan herself on today's episode!
Join Megan and me as we talk about her fantastic book, as well as Megan's writing process, how life as an actor sometimes bleeds into her writing, and get a glimpse at Megan's other book series.
A bit about Ember and Stone...
After her home is reduced to ash, Ena is swallowed by a world of secrets and magic. When a stranger with sorcery in his blood gives Ena a glimpse of a life she didn't know she longed for, a beautiful future seems within reach.
But we all know, nothing comes to us so easily...everything comes at a price, and that is something Ena discovers very quickly.
Check out all of Megan O'Russell's books on her WEBSITE
Check out Megan O'Russell on social media!
Instagram
Facebook
Have questions on Ember and Stone? Have a book you want me to review? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 05 Oct 2020 - 29 - Caraval
Join my guest Alice and me as we dive into Stephanie Garber's magical world of Caraval!
Caraval is a magical world like none other! Scarlett Dragna and her sister Donatella have always dreamed of attending Caraval, but have never left the tiny island on which they live. But fortune finally smiles on them when Scarlett receives an invitation to Caraval from Caraval Master himself, Legend. But Scarlett soon discovers that her sister Tella is the object of the game this year. Tella has been kidnapped by Legend, and in order to save her, Scarlett must win the game.
Jump in and join Alice and me as we weave our way through Stephanie Garber's world of mystery and intrigue.
Check out Alice's website and podcast, and be sure to follow her on Instagram!
AliceAshcroft.com
In Our Own Words podcast
The music of Alice - Instagram
Have a question about Caraval? Any books you want me to read/review? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at YABookChat@Gmail.comHave a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 31 Aug 2020 - 28 - An Ember In The Ashes
Join my guest and me as we discuss the first book in Sabaa Tahir's fascinating series, An Ember In The Ashes.
Today I'm joined by Amanda Ellingson from the Adapted For Your Viewing Podcast. Amanda and I really dive in and hash out this amazing book! Take a listen as we discuss elements such as the world building, depth of characters, love triangles, magic, and more!
As always, the first 10-15 minutes is spoiler FREE, and then you'll get a warning before we head into our spoiler zone.
An Ember in the Ashes takes place in the Martial Empire, where defiance is met with death. Laia and her family strive to live under the radar and not challenge the empire. But when Laia's brother Darin is arrested for treason, Laia will stop at nothing to rescue him.
Elias is the strongest soldier at Blackcliff Academy. But he's also its most unwilling. He wants nothing more than to leave the academy and the life of a Mask behind him. But life isn't as simple as that...
Laia and Elias' paths soon discover their destinies are intertwined, and the choices they make individually, and together, will change the fate of the Empire.
Check out Amanda's podcast! Adapted For Your Viewing
Follow Adapted For Your Viewing on Instagram
Follow Amanda on Instagram
Have a question about An Ember In The Ashes? Any books you want me to read/review? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at YABookChat@Gmail.comHave a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 17 Aug 2020 - 27 - Serpent & Dove
Join my friend Victoria and me as we discuss Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin!
(As always, the first 10-15 minutes are spoiler FREE, and then I'll give you a warning before we jump into our spoiler section.)
Serpent & Dove is the exciting story of Louise le Blanc, a witch who fled her coven two years ago, and Reid Diggory, a man who's sole purpose in life is to rid the world of witches.
An unexpected situation pushes Lou and Reid into circumstances they never planned on - Marriage - to each other!
Join Victoria and I as we discuss this fantastic book that is full of mystery, magic, impossible situations, unexpected romance, and twists and turns you won't see coming!
Check out Victoria Koops online!
Website: Victoriakoops.com
Social Media: @victoriakoopswrites
Facebook
Instagram
Have a question about Serpent & Dove? Any books you want me to read/review? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at YABookChat@Gmail.comHave a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 03 Aug 2020 - 26 - Jo & Laurie
Join my friend Bethanie and me as we dive into the world of Little Women!
If you love Little Women, you will adore Jo & Laurie! Our talented authors take us through Jo & Laurie's complicated relationship, and Jo's writing process, as she fumbles through writing her novels.
Think you know the story of Little Women? Think again...
1869, Concord, Massachusetts: After the publication of her first novel, Jo March is shocked to discover her book of scribbles has become a best seller, and her publisher and fans demand a sequel. While pressured into coming up with a story, she goes to New York with her dear friend Laurie for a week of inspiration - museums, operas, and even a once-in-a-lifetime reading by Charles Dickens himself! But Laurie has romance on his mind, and despite her growing feelings, Jo's desire to remain independent leads her to turn down his heartfelt marriage proposal and sends the poor boy off to college heartbroken.When Laurie returns to Concord with a sophisticated new girlfriend, will Jo finally communicate her true heart's desire or lose the love of her life forever?
Check out Bethanie's podcast: Prince Kai Fan Pod
Books and movies we talked about in this episode and links to purchase them:
1)Jo & Laurie
2) Little Women
3) Pride & Prejudice
4) Anne of Green Gables
5) Little Women movie (1949)
6) Little Women movie (1994)
7) Little Women movie (2019)
And, since we talked about marriage and marriage proposals...Check out episode #46 of the Fancy Free Podcast, where I tell the embarrassing story of how I ruined my husband's marriage proposal.
Have a question about Jo & Laurie? Any books you want me to read/review? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at YABookChat@Gmail.comHave a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 20 Jul 2020 - 25 - Author Interview: Sarah Henning (The Princess Will Save You)
**Entire episode is SPOILER FREE**
Join award winning author Sarah Henning and I as we discuss her brand new book, The Princess Will Save You.
The Princess Will Save Youis a fun story inspired by the hit movie, The Princess Bride,but with a twist...What would have happened if Buttercup had saved Westley?
When her father dies, Princess Amarande is given an ultimatum: marry the leader of a neighboring kingdom, or loose her crown - and possibly her life. To force her hand, her beloved, the stable boy Luca, is kidnapped.
But Amarande was raised to be a warrior, not a sacrifice. And nothing will stop her from saving her true love and rescuing her kingdom.
This story, which flips the switch on the classic damsel-in-distress story, is full of adventure, finding your true identity, and of course, true love. And If you are a Princess Bride fan, you will love this book!
Sarah Henning is the author of Sea Witch, Sea Witch Rising, Throw Like a Girl, and The Princess Will Save You.She is "...a recovering journalist who has worked for The Palm Beach Post, Kansas City Star and Associated Press, among others. When not writing, she runs ultramarathons, hits the playground with her two kids and hangs out with her husband Justin, who doubles as her long-suffering IT department. Sarah lives in Lawrence, Kansas, hometown of Langston Hughes, William S. Burroughs and a really good basketball team."
Find out more about Sarah Henning's books HERE
Order your copy of The Princess Will Save You HERE
Check out the virtual tour for The Princess Will Save You HERE
Follow YA Book Chat on Instagram and Facebook.
Have a question about The Princess Will Save You? Any books you want me to read/review? Send me an email at YABookChat@Gmail.comHave a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Wed, 15 Jul 2020 - 24 - Divergent
Join my guest Lauren, from And Here's Why Pod, and me as we talk about Divergent, the first book in Veronica Roth's best selling series!
Make sure you listen to the end because I included a short bonus section where Lauren and I discuss the Divergent movies. You won't want to miss it!
In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue - Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is - she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are - and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death...
Follow Lauren on Instagram
Check out Lauren's Podcast: And Here's Why
Follow YA Book Chat on Instagram and Facebook.
Have a question about Divergent? Any books you want me to read/review? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at YABookChat@Gmail.comHave a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 06 Jul 2020 - 23 - The Queen's Assassin
**Please note: This episode was recorded before I changed my format. Therefore, it is a bit longer than my last few episodes. But, it's packed full of goodness! So be sure to take a listen!**
Join my guest Christi and I as we embark on a journey of adventure and intrigue.
The Queen's Assassin is the story of Caledon Holt and Shadow of the Honey Glade. Caledon is the Hearthstone Guild's deadliest assassin and the kingdom's deadliest weapon. He is sworn to the service of Queen Lilliana, to guard and defend her kingdom, and to continue the quest his father began; to find the Dein Scrolls.
Shadow has trained her whole life to be a part of the Hearthstone Guild. It's what she wants more than anything. But her mother and her aunts want her to serve the queen in the palace instead.
When a surprise situation brings Caledon and Shadow together, their lives take a turn they never expected...
Join Christi and I as we follow Shadow and Caledon on their quest, and watch their new relationship unfold.
Check out Christi's blog HERE
Follow YA Book Chat on Instagram and Facebook.
Have a question about the Queen's Assassin? Any books you want me to read/review? Send me an email at YABookChat@Gmail.comHave a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 29 Jun 2020 - 22 - StepSister
Today I am sharing with you one of my all-time favorite YA books.
StepSister, by Jennifer Donnelly, is a fairytale retelling like none other!
Isabelle is Cinderella's ugly stepsister. Her jealousy of Cinderella has made her mean and hollow. But now Isabelle has the chance to change her fate and chose her own destiny. She will prove "it takes more than heartache to break a girl."
StepSister is a wonderful story that shows us that ugly is in the eye of the beholder, and that pretty is more than just our physical appearance.
This story will capture your heart like none other as you are wooed by Jennifer Donnelly's wonderful wit and words of wisdom. You'll feel like she is not just telling a story, but speaking to your soul.
My guest today is Joanne Jarrett of the Fancy Free Podcast
Check out Joanne's blog: cozyclothesblog.com
StepSister is available for purchase on Amazon
You can pre-order Jennifer Donnelly's new book, Poisoned on Amazon
Follow YA Book Chat on Instagram and Facebook.
Have a question about StepSister? Any books you want me to read/review? Send me an email at YABookChat@Gmail.comHave a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Mon, 15 Jun 2020 - 21 - Djinn Tamer: Starter
If you are a fan of Pokemon, Digimon, and Monster Rancher, then this is the book for you!
Come along with my guest David and me as we dive into the world of monster taming and battling!
Young Jackson Hunt wants nothing more than to be a professional Djinn Tamer. However, due to circumstances at home, he is forced to spend his days working in order to help his grandmother make ends meet.
But one day Jackson discovers a young, untrained Djinn that his dead mother left behind for him. Jackson works hard to bond and train his Djinn in hopes that he can become a professional tamer and earn money to save his and his grandmother's home.
But nothing is as easy as it seems...
Thanks to Undaunted Publishing for asking me to review this book and sponsoring a giveaway!
Thanks to Derek Alan Siddoway for the autographed books!
Check out David's Podcast: Adapted For Your Viewing
Here's where to purchase Djinn Tamer: Starter
Check out the author: Derek Alan Siddoway
Check out Djinn Tamer on Instagram: @DjinnTamer
Have a question about DjinnTamer: Starter? Any books you want me to read/review? Other thoughts? Send me an email at YABookChat@Gmail.comHave a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com
Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!Wed, 03 Jun 2020
Podcasts ähnlich wie YA Book Chat
- Global News Podcast BBC World Service
- El Partidazo de COPE COPE
- Herrera en COPE COPE
- The Dan Bongino Show Cumulus Podcast Network | Dan Bongino
- Es la Mañana de Federico esRadio
- La Noche de Dieter esRadio
- Hondelatte Raconte - Christophe Hondelatte Europe 1
- Dateline NBC NBC News
- 財經一路發 News98
- La rosa de los vientos OndaCero
- Más de uno OndaCero
- La Zanzara Radio 24
- L'Heure Du Crime RTL
- El Larguero SER Podcast
- Nadie Sabe Nada SER Podcast
- SER Historia SER Podcast
- Todo Concostrina SER Podcast
- 安住紳一郎の日曜天国 TBS RADIO
- TED Talks Daily TED
- アンガールズのジャンピン[オールナイトニッポンPODCAST] ニッポン放送
- 辛坊治郎 ズーム そこまで言うか! ニッポン放送
- 飯田浩司のOK! Cozy up! Podcast ニッポン放送
- 吳淡如人生實用商學院 吳淡如
- 武田鉄矢・今朝の三枚おろし 文化放送PodcastQR