logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2025
23m 12s

Spicy Book Confessions: Tropes vs. Plot,...

Alex Hourigan
About this episode

BookTok isn’t just about swooning over annotated romances and sprayed-edge hardcovers — it’s also the internet’s hottest arena for bookish debates. In this episode we’re spilling the tea on the spiciest takes lighting up your For You page: from the rise of “spice over substance,” to the collector’s-edition industrial complex, to whether every viral book really needs a screen adaptation. We’ll unpack why these opinions matter, how they’re reshaping what publishers release, and what readers actually want from their next binge read.

Up next
Mar 2026
NEW ACOTAR 6 Theories I Can't Stop Thinking About
We’re breaking down the wildest ACOTAR 6 theories after Sarah J. Maas’ latest interview, and honestly… some of these are starting to feel real. From Mor’s hidden powers to crossover clues and mating bond drama, these are the theories we cannot stop thinking about.Thank you Audibl ... Show More
22m 59s
Mar 2026
Everything You Missed From the Sarah J. Maas' Call Her Daddy Interview (No Spoilers)
SPOILER FREE! I've broken down all the juicy parts book by book so you can skip to which part you want to listen to!Time Chapters: ACOTAR: 7:45 - 22:19Crescent City: 22:19 - 24:29Throne Of Glass 24:29 - 31:30Sarah J. Maas just appeared on Call Her Daddy and the internet is losing ... Show More
36 m
Dec 2025
The Housemaid Review & Our Adaptation Expectations (SPOILER FREE!)
A thriller set in the world of wealth, power, and professionally cleaned bathrooms? Say less. We’re diving into The Housemaid, where every polished surface hides a dirty secret. We talk pacing, unpredictability, and why the plot twist deserves a standing ovation. Plus our excitem ... Show More
21m 49s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2024
Bookish Hot Takes
This week, we're doing something special: sharing your hot takes on popular books, genres, and authors. You've sent in your most controversial bookish opinions, and now it's time for us, your hosts Mikayla, Reggie, and Kennedy, to respond! Get ready for a lively discussion filled ... Show More
45m 19s
May 2025
Overhyped & Not Hyped Enough
In this episode of I’ll Read What She’s Reading, Reggie, Kennedy, and Mikayla dive headfirst into their thoughts of "bookish hype." You know those books that everyone and their dog is raving about on BookTok or in your group chat? Yeah… we’ve read them. We’re breaking down the ti ... Show More
1h 15m
Jun 2025
Reading Your Bookish HOT TAKES
Buckle up, because this week the girls are reading YOUR hot takes that you submitted! They’re unhinged, relatable, and most importantly piping hot. With topics like shadow daddies, Throne of Glass, spice, nothing is safe in this episode! Tune in and see if you agree, or disagree, ... Show More
1h 2m
Jun 2023
Worth the Hype, Not Worth the Hype, & Not Hyped Enough!
Booktok has introduced the girls to a variety of books. Today, each of the girls are sharing books they thought were worth the hype, not worth the hype, and are not hyped enough. Will you agree or disagree with their choices? Tune in to find out! And get ready to add some gems to ... Show More
42m 40s
Mar 2023
BookTok
With the future of TikTok increasingly uncertain in the US and other countries, Malin Hay talks to Tom about the app’s powerful reading-focused corner, BookTok: what it is, how it works, and the tropes which dominate its favourite genre, romance fiction. They also look at some re ... Show More
41m 48s
Jan 2023
S3 Ep2: Spicy Books and Representation
Anyone else on 🌶spicy🌶 book tok or is it just Lauren? A good romance book written by a woman just hits different, but it can be really hard to find the right one (almost as hard as reading one in public🤣)!! So in this episode, Lauren’s telling us what we should look, which boo ... Show More
43m 14s
Nov 2022
Episode 22: BookTok
<p>Reading is FUN(damental)! On this week&apos;s episode, Zoe and Hannah are discussing the viral sensation known as BookTok. They chat about how TikTok&apos;s completely changed the publishing industry, the authors who&apos;ve benefited from it the most (looking at you, Colleen ... Show More
1h 31m
May 2024
#4 Pull Up To The Bookshop And Say It!
In this episode the trio have a chinwag on the various news within the book world, ranging from The British Book Award winners, criticising authors on social media and literary vs commercial fiction triggered by a poor review of James Baldwin. Make yourself a beverage and get stu ... Show More
49m 33s
Feb 2023
A Court of Thorns and Roses: Listener Thoughts (Part 5)
In this week's mini episode, Jac and Amy discuss listener-submitted hot takes regarding the A Court of Thorns and Roses series. Prepare yourself for spoilers and opinions you might not agree with! Thanks to all our listeners who submitted their hot takes via our Instagram storie ... Show More
31m 56s