Shit We've Read

It’s our Season Three finale! We’re returning to the world of Legends & Lattes with a discussion of Travis Baldree’s BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST; “a journey of high fantasy, first loves, and second-hand books.” Join Jason, Bella, and Laura as we discuss how well this prequel connects to the first book, Jason questions if the genre of cozy fantasy is for Laura, and we share what we would call “smut” in a fantasy setting… Plus, we give our predictions for the type of cozy business a future book in this series might be about.

As a reminder, this is our last episode of the season, but we will be back in May for Season Four! Thanks for listening and for all your support this season. To keep up with any updates and announcements we make during our break, be sure to follow us on social media!

New Ways To Support SWR:
We're excited to announce our new merch store! Get your SWR t-shirts, hoodies, drinkware, and more. plus, keep an eye out for new designs over the coming months.

We're also an affiliate on bookshop.org! Order books through our link HERE and a small commission will go towards the podcast.

Thank you for your support!

Connect with SWR
Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | Facebook | Website
Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico. This podcast is part of the BYLO Network. Visit BYLONetwork.com for more great geeky podcasts.

Magic Tavern by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https://creatorchords.com
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

It’s the last After Dark episode of the season and we’re discussing Laura’s pick, GOOD DEEDS by Kathryn Moon; a “whychoose romance novel, starring a feisty heroine and five fritzing hot android heroes.” Listen in as we question why the sex scenes weren’t more imaginative, Emma brings up the unintentional ableism, and Jason explains why this book put the fun back into sex. Plus, Bella learns what “knotting” is! It’s a feisty episode with four fritzing hot co-hosts!

CONTENT WARNING: This episode features discussions of an adult-themed book, contains explicit language, and is intended for mature audiences only. Listener discretion is advised.

Connect with SWR
Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | Facebook | Website
Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

Shit We've Read After Dark is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and EmmaSkies, with an introduction by Jessilee Windhaus and editing by Jason Rico. This podcast is part of the BYLO Network. Visit BYLONetwork.com for more great geeky podcasts.

Apollo 11 by Electronic Senses | https://soundcloud.com/electronicsenses
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)|
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

Happy New Year! Joining us for the first episode of 2024 is returning guest host, Sir Aaron Carter, for a discussion of THE ROAD TO ROSWELL—Connie Willis' "novel about alien invasions, conspiracies, and the incredibly silly things people are willing to believe". Listen in as this episode brings us to the brink of a Shit We’ve Read civil war, we question how telepathy works, and decide why Aaron may not want to show his face in author Connie Willis' hometown… Plus, Aaron tells us about what we can expect from Gods Watch—the latest series of BYLO Watch with co-host EmmaSkies.

New Ways To Support SWR:
We're excited to announce our new merch store! Get your SWR t-shirts, hoodies, drinkware, and more. plus, keep an eye out for new designs over the coming months.

We're also an affiliate on bookshop.org! Order books through our link HERE and a small commission will go towards the podcast.

Thank you for your support!

Connect with SWR
Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | Facebook | Website
Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico. This podcast is part of the BYLO Network. Visit BYLONetwork.com for more great geeky podcasts.

Space Ambience by Alexander Nakarada | https://creatorchords.com
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

It's our holiday episode and joining us is EmmaSkies for a good old-fashioned Secret Santa book exchange! How well do we know each other's reading preferences? Find out as we each try to guess who gifted us our books. Plus, Laura gives us all a mini surprise inspired by Bookstagrammer Jaysen Headley (aka @ezeekat), Bella explains why the book they were gifted is perfect for anybody who’s ever experienced white people, and we reveal which two past guest hosts helped decide some of our book choices.

Thanks for listening, Happy Holidays, and we hope you have a Happy New Year!

New Ways To Support SWR:
We're excited to announce our new merch store! Get your SWR t-shirts, hoodies, drinkware, and more. plus, keep an eye out for new designs over the coming months.

We're also an affiliate on bookshop.org! Order books through our link HERE and a small commission will go towards the podcast.

Thank you for your support!

Connect with SWR
Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | Facebook | Website
Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico. This podcast is part of the BYLO Network. Visit BYLONetwork.com for more great geeky podcasts.

Christmas Is Coming by Alex-Productions | https://onsound.eu
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

In this After Dark episode, we’re discussing THE STING OF VICTORY, S.D. Simper’s sapphic tale of the toxic love affair between a witch and her vampiric lover. Settle in and join us as Bella describes the anxiety-induced fugue state they were in when choosing this book, we attempt to figure out the actual plot, and Emma shares the many alternative names she has for the book’s main character, Flowridia. Plus, find out Laura’s pick for the last After Dark episode of the season!

CONTENT WARNING: This episode features discussions of an adult-themed book, contains explicit language, and is intended for mature audiences only. Listener discretion is advised.

Connect with SWR
Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | Facebook | Website
Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

Shit We've Read After Dark is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and EmmaSkies, with an introduction by Jessilee Windhaus and editing by Jason Rico. This podcast is part of the BYLO Network. Visit BYLONetwork.com for more great geeky podcasts.

Magic Tavern by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https://www.creatorchords.com
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In this episode, the SWR crew delve into the chilling and evocative world of Trang Thang Tran’s debut horror novel, SHE IS A HAUNTING. Join us as we break down this story of “a Vietnamese American girl visiting her estranged father in Vietnam and the house that doesn't want them to leave”, Laura and Bella each share how they related to the novel’s main character via their experiences of being mixed race, and we praise the book’s more nuanced queer representation than in some other recently read books. Plus, Jason gives us a peek into some of the other spooky titles he’s reading this month. Thanks for listening and Happy Halloween!

Podcast Partner:
Our partner for this episode is Are You Afraid of the Dark Universe?, a fun and creative show where horror writer Dalton Deschain and film critic Dylan Roth are tasked with reviving Universal Pictures’ short-lived Dark Universe of horror movies, pitching each other a new installment in a Marvel-style grand opus featuring classic Universal Monsters like Frankenstein, Dracula, the Mummy, and more. Perfect for fans of monsters from classic literature, horror movies, and shared universes.

Connect with SWR
Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | Facebook | Website
Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico. This podcast is part of the BYLO Network. Visit BYLONetwork.com for more great geeky podcasts.

Horror by Alex-Productions | https://onsound.eu
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

In this After Dark episode, we’re stepping into the supernatural world of Jillian Graves' titillating monster romance novel, TITAN. Grab a glass of wine, dim the lights, and join us as we discuss such thought-provoking topics as “the world’s worst antibiotic-resistant UTI”, Emma’s aftercare kink, and we finally learn the answer to the question that’s on everybody’s mind: would Jason sleep with a gargoyle?

CONTENT WARNING: This episode features discussions of an adult-themed book, contains explicit language, and is intended for mature audiences only. Listener discretion is advised.

Connect with SWR
Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | Facebook | Website
Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

Shit We've Read After Dark is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and EmmaSkies, with an introduction by Jessilee Windhaus and editing by Jason Rico. This podcast is part of the BYLO Network. Visit BYLONetwork.com for more great geeky podcasts.

Dark Hollows by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

We’re kicking off spooky season with a paranormal tale of “sisterhood and female defiance— inspired by lives of real teenage twin mediums in the 19th century.” And who better to join us on this episode discussing Amanda Glaze’s historical fantasy debut, THE SECOND DEATH OF EDIE AND VIOLET BOND—set in Sacramento, 1885—than new guest host and Sacramento History Museum tour guide and volunteer, Erin Harris! Listen in as we examine the accuracy of Sacramento landmarks and geography as portrayed in the book, Erin reveals why this book made her think of Long Island Medium, and we choose a side in the ‘enemies-to-lovers’ vs. ‘friends-to-lovers’ trope war. Plus, guess which host described themselves as a “book snob” and which as a “book whore”!

Guest Host:
Erin Harris’ (she/her) shelves are lined with books written by women for women, murder mysteries, dark academia, and the odd memoir. As a corporate girlie, tour guide and volunteer for the Sacramento History Museum, she’s always busy. Erin’s downtime consists of crocheting and hunting for the perfect spot to hang her hammock.

Podcast Partner:
The Tipsy Nerds Book Club podcast is your home for the best of science fiction and fantasy—with a twist. Whether you prefer your stories with dragons or aliens, your drinks shaken or stirred, Tipsy Nerds Book Club delivers lively and fun nerdy conversation every month with hosts—scifi and fantasy authors (and proud tipsy nerds)—Natalie Wright and Robyn Dabney. For fans of the SFF genre, Tipsy Nerds Book Club is the perfect antidote to the news-cycle blues.

Connect with SWR
Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | Facebook | Website
Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico. This podcast is part of the BYLO Network. Visit BYLONetwork.com for more great geeky podcasts.

Celtic Ambiance by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In this episode of Shit We've Read, we discuss the novella THE MIMICKING OF KNOWN SUCCESSES by Malka Older—a cozy Holmesian murder mystery and sapphic romance, set on Jupiter. Listen in as we examine the balance of sci-fi, mystery, and romance, Jason reveals our Ken's job, Laura compares the story to Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet, and more!

Sponsors:
Liquid I.V. is the category-winning hydration brand fueling your well-being. Ready to shop better hydration, use our special link https://zen.ai/swrpod to save 20% off anything you order. 

Podcast Partner:
Our partner for this episode is Are You Afraid of the Dark Universe?, a fun and creative show where horror writer Dalton Deschain and film critic Dylan Roth are tasked with reviving Universal Pictures’ short-lived Dark Universe of horror movies, pitching each other a new installment in a Marvel-style grand opus featuring classic Universal Monsters like Frankenstein, Dracula, the Mummy, and more. Perfect for fans of monsters from classic literature, horror movies, and shared universes.

Connect with SWR
Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | Facebook | Website
Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico. This podcast is part of the BYLO Network. Visit BYLONetwork.com for more great geeky podcasts.

Discovery by Scott Buckley | https://www.soundcloud.com/scottbuckley
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

When we saw that Emma was reading THE DRAGON’S BRIDE by Katee Robert, we knew it was the perfect opportunity to fit in an impromptu After Dark episode. Join us as we discuss the one glaring omission to the variety of sex scenes featured in this book, Bella explains why they prefer a kraken to a dragon, and Emma reveals the worst book she’s read all year.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode features discussions of an adult-themed book, contains explicit language, and is intended for mature audiences only. Listener discretion is advised.

Sponsors:
Liquid I.V. is the category-winning hydration brand fueling your well-being. Ready to shop better hydration, use our special link https://zen.ai/swrpod to save 20% off anything you order. 

Connect with SWR
Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | Facebook | Website
Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

Shit We've Read After Dark is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and EmmaSkies, with an introduction by Jessilee Windhaus and editing by Jason Rico. This podcast is part of the BYLO Network. Visit BYLONetwork.com for more great geeky podcasts.

Dark Hollows by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/