Shit We've Read

After Dark: House of Rayne

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0000

We’re closing out Season Five with the gothic sapphic romance HOUSE OF RAYNE by Harley Laroux! Join us as we find out if it’s a worthy After Dark finale, compare it to Laroux’s Her Soul to Take, which we previously read on the show, and watch Jason discover the power of the mute button.

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.

Buy the Book!
Bookshop.org | Libro.fm

Other books mentioned in this episode:

Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid
Her Soul to Take by Harley Laroux
Savage Blooms by S.T. Gibson
Desperate Measures by Katee Robert
To Bargain With Mortals by R.A. Basu
The Archaeology of Falling Worlds by Megan Chee

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

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Thank you for your support!

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Credits:
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.

Dark Hollows by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https://creatorchords.com
Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
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February 2026 Update

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 23:30:00 +0000

Hey, friends! You may have noticed there was no new episode this month. That's because sometimes life gets in the way and, unfortunately, that's exactly what happened this month. As you may have already suspected, we're sorry to announce that we had to cancel February's planned discussion of DEATH OF THE AUTHOR by Nnedi Okorafor. At this time, we're unsure whether we'll reschedule it, but we will be back next month with our planned After Dark episode for the Season 5 finale.

Thanks so much for your understanding and we'll see you next month!

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

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Credits:
Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson and Jason Rico, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico.

After Dark: Savage Blooms

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 11:00:00 +0000

We’re kicking off 2026 with a tale of "mind games, kink, and ancient enchantment," because we read SAVAGE BLOOMS by S.T. Gibson! Join us as we spiral into yet another Heated Rivalry tangent, compare the novel to one of its inspirations (Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë), and debate whether it lives up to the other Gibson books we’ve covered. Plus, find out which After Dark pick Laura chose that has Emma absolutely hyped.

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.

Buy the Book!
Bookshop.org | Libro.fm

Other books mentioned in this episode:

Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid
The Long Game by Rachel Reid
Naughty or Ice by Sylvia Pierce
Pucking Around by Emily Rath
Game Misconduct by Ari Baran
A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson
Evocation by S.T. Gibson
An Education in Malice by S.T. Gibson
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid
The Dragon's Bride by Katee Robert
House of Rayne by Harley Laroux
To Bargain With Mortals by R.A. Basu
The Archaeology of Falling Worlds by Megan Chee

Support SWR!
PayPal | Venmo | SWR Merch

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

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Thank you for your support!

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Credits:
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.

Ruins in the Forest by Justin Allan Arnold | https://www.ifnessfreemusic.com

Dark Hollows by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https://creatorchords.com

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The 2025 SWR Holiday Special

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 11:00:00 +0000

It's the final episode of 2025, and we're wrapping things up with our 3rd annual Secret Santa book exchange! Join Bella, Emma, Jason, and Laura for our coziest, messiest holiday tradition as we exchange books, hot takes, and answer the following questions: Did the right books go to the right recipients this year? Which one of us didn’t finish their book, and what went wrong? Which host picked their Secret Santa book during an active criminal investigation? And which current Emma obsession led us on a ten-minute tangent?

Thank you so much for listening and supporting us this year. We’re endlessly grateful for you. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and we’ll see you in 2026!

Buy the Books!

Jason’s Book: Amazon.com | Libro.fm
Laura’s Book: Bookshop.org | Libro.fm
Bella’s Book: Bookshop.org | Libro.fm
Emma’s Book: Bookshop.org | Libro.fm

Other media mentioned in this episode:

Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan
Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett
The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
Warehouse 13
The SCP Foundation
The City We Became by NK Jemisin
The Magnus Archives Podcast
House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid

Support SWR!
PayPal | Venmo | SWR Merch

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

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Thank you for your support!

Connect with SWR!
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Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

Credits:
Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico.

Christmas Is Coming by Alex-Productions | https://onsound.eu
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Author Interview: R.A. Basu

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 11:00:00 +0000

In this special author interview, Bella and Jason sit down with the effortlessly charming R.A. Basu to talk about her debut novel, TO BARGAIN WITH MORTALS—“a stunning reflection on politics and purpose, blood and allegiance—and what we do with the histories we inherit.”

Join us as R.A. spills the chai on the chaotic journey her book took to publication, including the incredible lengths publisher Emma Skies went to acquire it. She also shares how her original inspiration began with Jimin from the K-pop sensation BTS, and how she drew upon her own South Asian identity to infuse the story with cultural depth. Plus, R.A. shocks with a (in hindsight, fairly obvious) revelation about the TV series House, M.D.

You can grab your copy of TO BARGAIN WITH MORTALS now wherever books are sold!

Buy the Book!
Bookshop.org | Libro.fm

Other books mentioned R.A. in this episode:

Burn the Sea by Mona Tewari
Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite
Jade City by Fonda Lee

Guest:
R. A. Basu is an Indian Canadian author from Ontario who works in digital development by day and binge reads novels by night. When she’s not writing, she can be found playing on the Nintendo Switch, fighting for her life in a Pilates class, or looking for the best matcha in her city. She is represented by Allegra Martschenko at BookEnds Literary Agency.

You can find her on Instagram @rabasuwrites

Support SWR!
PayPal | Venmo | SWR Merch

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

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Thank you for your support!

Connect with SWR!
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Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

Credits:
Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico.

Music by Tunetank from Pixabay

After Dark: Sing Me to Sleep

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 11:00:00 +0000

You voted, and we listened! Your choice for our Halloween After Dark pick is SING ME TO SLEEP by R.M. Virtues—a dreamy tale of a sleep demon who falls for the woman he was meant to haunt. ⁣

This episode has everything: tipsy hosts, personal encounters with sleep paralysis (we’ll let you guess if any demons were involved), and a passionate discussion about the need for editing in self-publishing. Plus, a moment so tense that Emma and Jason almost come to blows.

Remember, listeners, you brought this upon yourselves! Happy Halloween!

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.

Buy the Book!
Amazon.com (unfortunately, the only place to purchase)

Other books mentioned in this episode:

Drag Me Up by R.M. Virtues
Desperate Measures by Katee Robert
Lord of Eternal Night by Ben Alderson
Angels Before Man by Rafael Nicolás
Savage Blooms by S.T. Gibson
A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson
Evocation by S.T. Gibson
An Education in Malice by S.T. Gibson
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
To Bargain With Mortals by R.A. Basu

Support SWR!
PayPal | Venmo | SWR Merch

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

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Thank you for your support!

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

Credits:
Shit We've Read After Dark is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies, with an introduction by Jessilee Windhaus and editing by Jason Rico.

Halloween Theme 1 by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https://creatorchords.com
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40: The Library at Hellebore (w/ Emma Skies)

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +0000

We’re celebrating spooky season with THE LIBRARY AT HELLEBORE by Cassandra Khaw—a fantasy horror about a group of magical students who seek refuge in the school’s library when the faculty go on a ravenous rampage.

Listen as Laura and Emma try to keep track of the many characters and their unique abilities, discuss the idea of monstrosity—specifically how women are made monstrous by monstrous men—and… Jason is there, too! Plus, Emma wonders whether this book is truly part of the dark academia genre.

Happy Halloween!

Buy the Book!
Bookshop.org | Libro.fm

Other books mentioned in this episode:

The Devils by Joe Abercrombie
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
Katabasis by RF Kuang
The Milky Way: An Autobiography of Our Galaxy by Moiya McTier
Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw
The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw
Critical Role: Bells Hells - What Doesn't Break by Cassandra Khaw
The Poppy War by RF Kuang
A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid
A Theory of Dreaming by Ava Reid
To Bargain With Mortals by R.A. Basu
Sing Me to Sleep by R.M. Virtues

Support SWR!
PayPal | Venmo | SWR Merch

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

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Thank you for your support!

Connect with SWR!
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Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

Credits:
Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson and Jason Rico, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico.

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)
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39: A Cruel Thirst

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Spooky season is officially here! In this episode, we’re celebrating both our favorite time of the year and Hispanic Heritage Month with A CRUEL THIRST by Angela Montoya—a YA fantasy full of vampires, forbidden romance, and Mexican folklore.

Join us as we explore how the book draws on Latin American culture to make vampires feel fresh, why this tale about bloodsucking monsters gives off cozy vibes, and what we think of the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Zorro” comparison. Plus, find out how A Series of Unfortunate Events helped Bella with the Spanish vocabulary in this book!

Buy the Book!
Bookshop.org | Libro.fm

Other books mentioned in this episode:

The Final Six by Alexandra Monir
The Life Below by Alexandra Monir
Little Thieves by Margaret Owen
Holy Terrors by Margaret Owen
Blood Moon by Jillian Graves
Titan: A Gargoyle Daddy Dom Romance by Jillian Graves
A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab
The Milky Way: An Autobiography of Our Galaxy by Moiya McTier
To Bargain With Mortals by R.A. Basu

Support SWR!
PayPal | Venmo | SWR Merch

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

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Thank you for your support!

Connect with SWR!
Instagram | TikTok | Discord | Website

Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

Credits:
Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico.

Waking Up in Mexico City by Justin Allan Arnold | https://www.ifnessfreemusic.com
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
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After Dark: Bull Moon Rising

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 10:00:00 +0000

In this episode of After Dark, Bella is back and bringing the chaos with her pick, BULL MOON RISING by Ruby Dixon. Join us as we explore this steamy romantasy set “in a world of magical artifacts and fantastical beings, [where] a woman determined to save her family joins forces with an unlikely partner.”

Along the way, Bella reveals which co-hosts are the most (and least) fabulous, Jason makes a connection to The Mummy (1999), and Emma explains how the book suffers from what she calls the Fourth Wing Phenomenon.

Listen now to discover why this book left the hosts so divided!

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.

Buy the Book!
Bookshop.org | Libro.fm

Other books mentioned in this episode:

Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon
Deep End by Ali Hazelwood
Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver
Leather & Lark by Brynne Weaver
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Lord of Eternal Night by Ben Alderson
The Sting of Victory by S.D. Simper
Railed by the Krampus by Dalia Davies
A Cruel Thirst by Angela Montoya
Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage
This Ravenous Fate by Hayley Dennings
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab
To Bargain With Mortals by R.A. Basu

Support SWR!
PayPal | Venmo | SWR Merch

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

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Thank you for your support!

Connect with SWR!
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Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

Credits:
Shit We've Read After Dark is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies, with an introduction by Jessilee Windhaus and editing by Jason Rico.

Ruins in the Forest by Justin Allan Arnold | https://www.ifnessfreemusic.com
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
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38: Brighter Than Scale, Swifter Than Flame (w/ Fictional Tiff)

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 10:00:00 +0000

We’ve got a fever, and the only prescription is more dragons! In this episode, we discuss BRIGHTER THAN SCALE, SWIFTER THAN FLAME by Neon Yang, a queer, Asian-inspired fantasy novella about a renowned dragon slayer who never takes their armor off in public. Joining us for this discussion of identity, duty, and the power of love is multi-hyphenate guest host Fictional Tiff—musician, queer activist, and leader of the Sacramento Silent Book Club.

Listen as we celebrate the queer-normative worldbuilding and how it allows for exploration of personal identity, Laura draws parallels between the book and blind religious devotion, and Tiff shares why sometimes friendship means saying, “I love you, but you suck.” Plus, find out which of us is hoping for a sequel full of dragon smut.

Guest Host:
Fictional Tiff is a book blogger turned many things over the years. From heading up the Sacramento Silent Book Club to being a musician, gogo dancer, queer activist, weightlifter, and writer. She keeps her mind busy and shines bright and loud for her community. Reading books is what set Tiff on the course to being passionate about so many things, and she owes them her life. So ask her what she’s currently reading and be prepared for nonstop chatter.

You can find her on Instagram @fictionaltiff and listen to her music on Spotify here.

Buy the Book!
Bookshop.org | Libro.fm

Other books mentioned in this episode:

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz
You Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne
Out of the Drowning Deep by A.C. Wise
Outdrawn by Deanna Grey
We Solve Murders by Richard Osman
The Black Tides of Heaven by Neon Yang
The Genesis of Misery by Neon Yang
Fable for the End of the World by Ava Reid
Death’s Country by R.M. Romero
The Ghosts of Rose Hill by R.M. Romero
Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta
The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers by Samuel Burr

Support SWR!
PayPal | Venmo | SWR Merch

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

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Thank you for your support!

Connect with SWR!
Instagram | TikTok | Discord | Website

Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

Credits:
Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson and Jason Rico, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico.

Space Ambience by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
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37: Of Monsters and Mainframes (w/ Arden Harris)

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 10:00:00 +0000

It’s Pride Month! And we’re celebrating with OF MONSTERS AND MAINFRAMES by Barbara Truelove, a clever mashup of genres featuring an AI ship, a motley crew of supernatural monsters, and one very vengeful Dracula. Joining us for this discussion of love, found family, and identity is guest host Arden Harris (they/them) of A Seat at the Table Books in Elk Grove, CA, and host of the Sci-fi/Fantasy Book Club.

Listen as Arden weighs in on this story’s comparisons to both Murderbot and The Locked Tomb, we celebrate the queer representation (and beyond), and discover why Jason blocked the audiobook experience from his mind. Plus, Jason channels Haddaway to ask the eternal question: “What is love?”

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Guest Host:
Arden Harris (they/them) is a bookseller, crafter, and aspiring writer. You can often find them haunting the shelves at A Seat at the Table Books in Elk Grove, CA, or spending time with their wife and four cats.

They tend to lurk in the sci-fi, fantasy, and horror sections, but can occasionally be found creeping into other genres when the mood strikes.

They can be reluctantly perceived on Instagram @bookstore.cryptid

Buy the Book!
Bookshop.org | Libro.fm

Other books mentioned in this episode:

Notes from a Regicide by Isaac Fellman
Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Volatile Memory by Seth Haddon
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill
Dracula by Bram Stoker
The Call of Cthulhu by H.P. Lovecraft
The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
I, Robot by Isaac Asimov
Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame by Neon Yang
Bobiverse series by Dennis E. Taylor
Rose/House by Arkady Martine

Support SWR!
PayPal | Venmo | SWR Merch

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

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Thank you for your support!

Connect with SWR!
Instagram | TikTok | Discord | Website

Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

Credits:
Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson and Jason Rico, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico.

After Dark: A Hunger Like No Other

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 28 May 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Sink your fangs into our first After Dark episode of the season with A HUNGER LIKE NO OTHER by Kresley Cole—a steamy paranormal romance where “a fierce werewolf and a bewitching vampire become unlikely soul mates whose passion will test the boundaries of life and death.”

Emma kicks off the season with this pick and sparks a conversation about what happens when monster theory meets gender essentialism. Meanwhile, Laura draws some surprising parallels to Star Wars, and we collectively urge parents to warn their children about the dangers of fated mates. Plus: find out why this book forced Jason to add a brand-new category in his After Dark grading system.

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.

Buy the Book!
Bookshop.org | Libro.fm

Other books mentioned in this episode:

The Sting of Victory by S.D. Simper
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Dracula by Bram Stoker
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
Bride by Ali Hazelwood
Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon
The Bones Beneath My Skin by T.J. Klune
Railed by the Krampus by Dalia Davies
Lord of Eternal Night by Ben Alderson
Desperate Measures by Katee Robert
The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson
To Bargain With Mortals by R.A. Basu

Support SWR!
PayPal | Venmo | SWR Merch

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

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Thank you for your support!

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

Credits:
Shit We've Read After Dark is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies, with an introduction by Jessilee Windhaus and editing by Jason Rico.

36: All Systems Red – The Murderbot Diaries, Book 1 (w/ Sir Aaron Carter & Emma Skies)

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 14 May 2025 10:00:00 +0000

We’re kicking off Season Five with ALL SYSTEMS RED by Martha Wells—and a couple of very special guests! Sir Aaron Carter and Emma Skies join us to talk Murderbot ahead of the AppleTV+ adaptation premiering May 16th. (And yes, they’ll be covering the show in their very own Watch podcast, so stay tuned!)

Listen in as we dig into what makes Murderbot such a compelling character, why Emma has read this book four times, and whether Jason—reading it for the first time—thought it lived up to the hype. Plus, Aaron shares what took him so long to read the second Murderbot novella, and why he refuses to read book two of the similarly-themed Monk & Robot series.

Guest Hosts:
Aaron Carter is a writer, Twitch streamer, and Dungeon Master. He’s also a seasoned podcaster and co-host of BYLO Watch, a podcast series that looks at the film and television adaptations of novels. Beyond that, you won’t find him on social media. He’ll find you.

Emma Skies is a content creator, Twitch streamer, and host of multiple podcasts, including Reader Tangents, BYLO Watch, and our very own Shit We’ve Read After Dark. She’s also the acquiring editor for Skies Press, a publishing imprint under Bindery Books. Skies Press' first acquisition—To Bargain With Mortals by R.A. Basu—releases October 2025. You can find her discussing all the things she loves (and hates) in books and bookish things on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Bluesky, and Threads @EmmaSkies, and find her publishing updates on Instagram @SkiesPress.

Buy the Book!
Bookshop.org | Libro.fm

Other books mentioned in this episode:

Five Survive by Holly Jackson
Anji Kills a King by Evan Leikam
Wayward Children series by Seanan McGuire
Cold Eternity by S.A. Barnes
Legendborn series by Tracy Deonn
Monk & Robot by Becky Chambers
Baccano! by Ryōgo Narita
Service Model by Adrien Tchaikovsky
The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig
Katabasis by R.F. Kuang
To Bargain With Mortals by R.A. Basu

Support SWR!
PayPal | Venmo | SWR Merch

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

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Thank you for your support!

Connect with SWR!
Instagram | TikTok | Discord | Website

Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

Credits:
Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson and Jason Rico, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico.

Murderbot End Credits by Amanda Jones
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Author Interview: Olivia Waite

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 10:00:00 +0000

In this special author interview, Jason and Laura sit down with Olivia Waite to talk about her beautiful new novella, MURDER BY MEMORY—a “sci-fi ode to the cozy mystery, helmed by a formidable no-nonsense auntie of a detective.” Listen in as Olivia shares how Star Wars unexpectedly led her to read her first romance novel, and reflects on the ways grief continues to shape her writing. She also opens up about which childhood memory she’d most love to recover, and makes a case for why the novella is the perfect length for impactful storytelling.

Oh—and did you know a glass brain was found among the victims of Mount Vesuvius? Olivia did, and that’s just the start of the incredible things she wants to share with you.

You can grab your copy of MURDER BY MEMORY now wherever books are sold!

Other books mentioned by Olivia in this episode:

All Fired Up by M.K. England
Discworld by Terry Pratchett
Imperial Radch Trilogy by Ann Leckie
Warrior’s Woman by Johanna Lindsey
Babel by R.F. Kuang
Murderbot by Martha Wells

Guest:
Olivia Waite writes queer historical romance, fantasy, science fiction, and essays. She is the romance fiction columnist for the New York Times Book Review. When the birds are propitious, she sends out the Oliviary: a newsletter full of news, recommended reads, and intriguing content curated from niche corners of the internet. She is represented by Courtney Miller-Callihan of Handspun Literary.

You can find her at OliviaWaite.com or on Bluesky @oliviawaite.com

Credits:
Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico.

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After Dark: Married to the Alien Cowboy

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Saddle up for one last ride before the season’s over! For our Season Four finale, we’ve headed to the cowboy colony planet for a discussion of MARRIED TO THE ALIEN COWBOY by Ursa Dax — a sci-fi western romance featuring a quiet alien cowboy, a human woman on the run, and one very messy marriage of convenience. Join us as Jason surprises his co-hosts with this pick, we ponder what makes a tentacle a tentacle, and question if Ursa Dax is secretly a pen name for our very own Laura.

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.

Credits:
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.

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35: Immortal Dark

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0000

This month, we’re sinking our teeth into IMMORTAL DARK by Tigest Girma—a dangerously romantic dark academia fantasy where a lost heiress must infiltrate an arcane society and live with the vampire she suspects killed her family. Join us as we celebrate the portrayal of Black characters, break down what makes this vampire story feel fresh, and examine the delicate relationship between humans and dranaics. Plus, get a peek at the types of books Bella keeps on her shelves.

Credits:
Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico.

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After Dark: Maneater

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0000

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, it’s the perfect time to indulge in a cozy, high-heat monster romance novella. But there’s one big question: Has Bella finally broken her streak of bad After Dark picks, or is this another miss? There’s only one way to find out! Join us as we discuss MANEATER by Emily Antoinette and examine how the 1980s play into the story’s setting, why Emma and Bella are craving more pathetic men in fiction, and what this book has to say about sex work.

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.

Credits:
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.

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34: Out of the Drowning Deep

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 12:00:00 +0000

We’re kicking off 2025 with the divine novella OUT OF THE DROWNING DEEP by A.C. Wise—set in the distant future, when mortals mingle with the gods in deep space, an out-of-date automaton, a recovering addict, and an angel race to solve the Pope’s murder in an abandoned corner of the galaxy. Listen in as we discuss Jason’s Pirate Era, the casting of Ryan Gosling in the upcoming Project Hail Mary film adaptation, and the use of neo-pronouns in this novella—plus what they mean for the future of literature.

Credits:
Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico.

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The 2024 SWR Holiday Special

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 25 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000

It's our final episode of 2024, and we're wrapping up the year with our 2nd annual Secret Santa book exchange! Join us for lighthearted fun as we guess who gifted which books, Emma shares a history lesson on the Luddites, and we learn how the results of the recent election affected the book Jason received. All that, plus the most shocking plot twist in SWR history!

Thank you for listening, Happy Holidays, and see you in the new year!

A special shoutout to our Christmas elves, Jayson LaFrance and Sander Richardson, for their help with this episode!

Credits:
Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico.

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After Dark: Railed by the Krampus

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 13:00:00 +0000

It’s an eggnog-filled edition of SWR After Dark! In this episode, we unwrap the holiday novella RAILED BY THE KRAMPUS by Dalia Davies. When Holly jokingly offers her soul for a lump of coal, she never expects the creature from his winter domain to take her seriously—or demand something infinitely more tempting. Was this book naughty or nice? Join us as we share our thoughts on this paranormal romance, why Bella will never look at eggnog the same way (it’s exactly what you’re thinking), and how this book turned out to be oddly educational. Plus, Laura asks the big question: “Do people in this world not poop?” Happy Holidays!

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.

Credits:
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.

Nouvelle Noel by Kevin MacLeod
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Welcome to Pinewood Falls: A TTRPG Special—Part 2

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 13:00:00 +0000

It’s the thrilling conclusion to our first-ever TTRPG adventure!

Join Bellz, Jason, and Laura—guided by Game Master Sir Aaron Carter—as they enter the Blackwood House and confront the mysteries haunting their hometown of Pinewood Falls.

Thank you for joining us on this journey!

This is Part 2 of our special Welcome to Pinewood Falls series. Missed the first half? Listen to Part 1 here.

A special thanks to Jayson LaFrance and Sander Richardson for their invaluable help in setting up this session. This game was played using the Kids on Bikes RPG. Check it out and start your story today!

Credits:
Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico.

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Welcome to Pinewood Falls: A TTRPG Special—Part 1

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Welcome to our first-ever TTRPG special!

It’s the summer of 1987, and nestled among ancient forests and rolling hills lies the quiet town of Pinewood Falls. But this idyllic town is far from peaceful—strange weather and mysterious sightings draw three childhood friends back together to uncover a long-buried mystery. Join Bellz, Jason, and Laura—guided by Game Master Sir Aaron Carter—as the echoes of a childhood discovery make their way back into their lives…

Credits:
Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico.

Headless Horseman by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https://creatorchords.com
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After Dark: Monsters' Manor

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Trick or treat! It’s a fun size episode of SWR After Dark as we explore MONSTERS’ MANOR by Leigh Miller—a steamy paranormal romance where a reluctant witch finds herself working in a haunted manor brimming with real monsters. Join us as we share whether this tale lived up to our Halloween expectations, Emma talks proper tail hygiene, and we debate whether the vibes lean cozy or fluff. Plus, Laura makes an important plea to the furry community. So, grab a drink with a little extra pumpkin spice and settle in for some Halloween heat. Thanks for listening, and Happy Halloween!

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.

Credits:
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.

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33: Earthdivers, Vol. 1

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Climb aboard as we set sail through the first volume of EARTHDIVERS, Stephen Graham Jones and Davide Gianfelice's time-hopping comic series about far-future Indigenous outcasts on a mission to kill Christopher Columbus.

Join us as we share our occasional frustration with ongoing comic series, explore the 'earth-diver' cosmogony among Indigenous peoples of the Americas, and uncover the moral dilemma that caused Bella to lose more brain cells.

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Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico.

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After Dark: Cosmic Kiss

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Taking center stage in this After Dark episode is COSMIC KISS by Clio Evans—a steamy alien romance where a rising star finds herself in a tantalizing love triangle with two irresistible aliens.

Join us as we break down the balance of smut to plot, revisit our love (or not) for the fated mate trope, and, of course, get insights from our resident tentacle expert, Jason, on the use of tentacles in this book. Plus, the quest to get Barefoot Wine as a sponsor continues!

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.

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Check out our MERCH STORE! Get your SWR t-shirts, hoodies, drinkware, and more. Plus, keep an eye out for new designs coming soon.

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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.

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32: The Undetectables

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Be gay. Solve crimes. Take naps. In this episode, we dive into Courtney Smyth’s “witty and quirky fantasy murder mystery,” THE UNDETECTABLES.

Join us as we celebrate the strong friendships between the main characters, explore the disability representation and its impact on the story, and hear Bella share how their expertise in micro-mobility and transportation equity shaped their interpretation. And Jason? He’s embracing his new title as “Thot With the Thoughts” while breaking down how this mystery stacks up against the greats like Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Plus, don’t miss his shoutout to Australian breakdancing sensation Raygun, who made waves at the 2024 Summer Olympics!

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Check out our MERCH STORE! Get your SWR t-shirts, hoodies, drinkware, and more. Plus, keep an eye out for new designs coming soon.

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Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico.

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31: The Psychology of Time Travel (w/ Erin Harris)

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 12:00:00 +0000

It’s our most “wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey” episode yet! Guest host Erin Harris returns to join Jason and Laura in discussing Kate Mascarenhas’ debut, THE PSYCHOLOGY OF TIME TRAVEL.

Tune in as we explore this ambitious time travel murder mystery, attempt to untangle the complexities of time travel, and debate if we have what it takes to journey through time. Plus, we tackle the intriguing question on every potential time traveler’s mind: “If you could meet yourself from another period in time, would you hook up with yourself?”

This episode is a wild ride that left our brains hurting, but we hope you enjoy it!

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Check out our MERCH STORE! Get your SWR t-shirts, hoodies, drinkware, and more. Plus, keep an eye out for new designs coming soon.

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Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico.

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After Dark: Dark City Omega

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 12:00:00 +0000

We’re back with a new set of After Dark episodes, and this one is knot to be missed as we are discussing Emma’s pick—DARK CITY OMEGA by Elizabeth Stephens; a “dark fantasy romance full of [...] omegas with magic and monsters who always get the girl.”

Listen in as Emma gives us a rundown of the Omegaverse, we hear Jason’s embarrassing attempt at a brogue accent, and we discuss what sets this A/B/O story apart from others. All that plus we continue our quest to get Barefoot Wine to sponsor our podcast and Laura reveals her pick for our next After Dark book!

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.

Support SWR!
Check out our MERCH STORE! Get your SWR t-shirts, hoodies, drinkware, and more. Plus, keep an eye out for new designs coming soon.

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

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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.

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Author Interview: S.T. Gibson

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 29 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Join us as we sit down with author S.T. Gibson to discuss her enchanting new book, Evocation; "the first book in a spellbinding and vibrant new series filled with fortune telling, tarot cards, intrigue and unexpected romance."

Listen to our impromptu therapy session as we all bond over being reformed Catholics, we discuss the importance of bi-visibility, and Jason and Saint gush over their shared love of Leda. Plus, Saint tells us about the time she joined something cult adjacent and so much more. Whether you're a devoted fan or new to Gibson's work, this episode promises to be magical.

And if you haven’t already picked up your own copy, Evocation is available now!

Other Books Mentioned by Saint in this episode:

The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty by Anne Rice
The Sins on Their Bones by Laura R. Samotin
The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater
Hellblazer by Jamie Delano & John Ridgway
Spectred Isle by K.J. Charles
Welcome to Bordertown by Holly Black
Nightside series by Simon R. Green

Guest:

Saint is a literary agent, author, and village wise woman in training. A graduate of the creative writing program at the University of North Carolina at Asheville and the theological studies program at Princeton Seminary, she currently lives in Boston with her partner, spoiled Persian cat, and vintage blazer collection. She is represented by Tara Gilbert of the Jennifer De Chiara literary agency.

You can find her on Instagram @stgibsonauthor, the X formerly known as Twitter @s_t_gibson, and by joining her Substack at saint.substack.com

Support SWR!
Check out our merch store! Get your SWR t-shirts, hoodies, drinkware, and more. Plus, keep an eye out for new designs coming soon.

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Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico.

30: Saga, Vol. 1

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 22 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Hello and welcome back to another season of Shit We’ve Read! We’re kicking off Season Four with a discussion of the first volume of the Eisner, Harvey, and Hugo Award-winning comic book series, SAGA! Written by Brian K. Vaughan with art by Fiona Staples, this “sexy and subversive adult drama” is the “sweeping tale of one young family fighting to find their place in the worlds.”

Join us for another episode of “Is this more scifi or fantasy?”, we discuss the book’s theme of outsourcing war, and Jason explains why you shouldn’t buy this book for your grandson. Plus, learn why Bella describes Jason as “That Girl”. ‍♀️

Support SWR!
Check out our MERCH STORE! Get your SWR t-shirts, hoodies, drinkware, and more. Plus, keep an eye out for new designs coming soon.

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Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico.

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29: Bookshops & Bonedust

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000

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.

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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.

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After Dark: Good Deeds

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 13:00:00 +0000

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.

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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.

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28: The Road to Roswell (w/ Sir Aaron Carter)

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 13:00:00 +0000

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!

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The SWR Holiday Special

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Mon, 25 Dec 2023 13:00:00 +0000

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!

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After Dark: The Sting of Victory

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 13:00:00 +0000

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.

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27: She is a Haunting

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 25 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0000

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.

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After Dark: Titan

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0000

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.

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26: The Second Death of Edie and Violet Bond (w/ Erin Harris)

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 12:00:00 +0000

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.

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25: The Mimicking of Known Successes

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 12:00:00 +0000

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.

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After Dark: The Dragon's Bride

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 18:01:00 +0000

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.

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After Dark: That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 12:00:00 +0000

In this After Dark episode, we discuss Emma’s pick, THAT TIME I GOT DRUNK AND SAVED A DEMON by Kimberly Lemming; and really, who among us hasn’t found themselves in the same situation? For those keeping score at home, that is now two demon books Emma has chosen. Join us as we reveal if the amount of smut lived up to our expectations, we discuss the author’s interesting use of simile to describe orgasms, and Jason admits to misunderstanding what the main character’s “snack pocket” was. Plus, find out who’s picking our next After Dark pick and what they chose.

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.

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24: Winter's Orbit (w/ EmmaSkies)

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 28 Jun 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Welcome to a special Pride Month episode where we rocket into the captivating worlds of Everina Maxwell's queer space opera, WINTER’S ORBIT, alongside our guest host, EmmaSkies! Set in a futuristic system on the brink of political turmoil, Winter's Orbit follows the arranged marriage between Prince Kiem and Count Jainan. As they navigate their new relationship, secrets and conspiracies unravel, challenging their notions of duty, loyalty, and personal freedom.

It’s a book Emma has read before and already loves, so she comes to this discussion with enthusiasm and opinions aplenty! Join us as we analyze the book's tropes and gender systems, Bella makes the sci-fi more complicated than it is, Jason & Emma explain the story of Bigolas Dickolas, and so much more!

It’s an episode filled with love, laughter, and chaotic energy. Happy Pride!

Guest Host:
EmmaSkies is a Twitch streamer, cosplayer, co-host of BYLO Watch podcast, and a huge fan of fantasy books. You can follow her on Twitch, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @EmmaSkies, and her Bookstagram @BiblioSkies.

Sponsor:
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:
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—sci-fi and fantasy authors (and proud tipsy nerds)—Natalie Wright and Robyn Dabney. The first season focused on NPR's Top 100 Science Fiction, Fantasy Books, but the Nerds now focus on more recent titles, movies, and streaming shows. The show has also featured guests such as best-selling authors Hugh Howey, J Todd Scott, and Darynda Jones, as well as Shit We’ve Read’s own Jason Rico. For fans of the SFF genre, Tipsy Nerds Book Club is the perfect antidote to the news-cycle blues.

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Author Interview: Kika Hatzopoulou

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Get ready to be transported to a world where Greek mythology, urban fantasy, and romance collide as we chat with author Kika Hatzopoulou about her debut novel, THREADS THAT BIND, described by Hatzopoulou as a “fantasy noir about a descendent of the Greek Fates, using her skills to work as a detective in a half-sunken post-apocalyptic city.” Listen in as we unravel the inspirations behind Hatzopoulou's inventive world-building, celebrate the importance of “casual queerness” in stories, learn how her love of the “fated/soul mates trope” has evolved as an adult, and so much more. It was an absolute joy talking to Kika and this interview is not to be missed.

And if you haven’t already picked up your own copy, Threads That Bind is available now!

Other books mentioned by Kika in this episode:

Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter
Bitterthorn by Kay Dunn
Lore by Alexandra Bracken
Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Fallen by Lauren Kate

Guest:
Kika Hatzopoulou writes stories for all ages, filled with lore and whimsy. Her debut YA fantasy novel, Threads That Bind, arrives in May 2023 from Razorbill in the US and Puffin in the UK. She is the author of several short stories, including anthologies such as Game On and Firsts and Lasts. She holds an MFA in writing for children from the New School and works in foreign publishing. She currently splits her time between London and her native Greece, where she enjoys urban quests and gastronomical adventures while narrating entire book and movie plots with her partner.

You can find her on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @kikahatzopoulou and on her website kikahatzopoulou.com.

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After Dark: Soul Eater

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 31 May 2023 12:00:00 +0000

It’s our first After Dark episode of the new season and trust us when we say it's going to be a wild ride! This month, we discuss the listener-recommended SOUL EATER by Lily Mayne; a story about monsters and human men falling in love in a post-apocalyptic world. Join us for our most chaotic and explicit episode yet, and listen in as we applaud the chemistry between the two MCs, Laura has some questions about male anatomy, and we ponder if there’s a "help me stepbro, I'm stuck" cinematic universe. Plus, find out who’s choosing the next After Dark book.

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.

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23: Legends & Lattes

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 17 May 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Welcome back to Shit We've Read! In this Season Three premiere episode, we are excited to discuss Travis Baldree's TikTok sensation, LEGENDS & LATTES—”a cozy, heartwarming slice-of-life fantasy about found families and fresh starts.” Listen in as Laura explains why she has a love/hate relationship with this book, we discuss the difference between coffee and espresso within the context of the story, we play a game of “Does This Common Food Exist in This Universe?”, and more!

So grab a latte, settle in, and join us for a fun and cozy episode to kick off the new season!

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.

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22: The Last Adventure of Constance Verity

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 29 Mar 2023 12:00:00 +0000

It’s our last book of Season Two as we read the appropriately titled The Last Adventure of Constance Verity by A. Lee Martinez, a humorous urban fantasy about the world’s greatest adventurer and her quest to become ordinary. Listen in as Jason makes the shocking revelation that he doesn’t like reading, Laura confirms she is an android, and the book’s metaphysics prove too much for Bella’s mind.

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 @ShitWeveRead on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. See you again with new episodes starting in May!

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Author Interview: Jenna Voris

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 12:00:00 +0000

We have another incredible author interview for you! We were fortunate enough to have debut author Jenna Voris join us to chat about her upcoming young adult space opera Made of Stars, described by her as “inspired by the story of Bonnie and Clyde, but set in space.” Listen as Voris tells us about the inspirations for her novel, how her experience getting Made of Stars published has changed her writing process, she reveals some of her favorite book tropes, and shares how she was personally victimized by Taylor Swift’s 2019 album, Lover.

Made of Stars is out March 28, 2023!

Be sure to check out Jenna's character playlists on Spotify!
Ava | Shane | Cyrus | Cornelia

Guest:
Jenna Voris writes books about ambitious girls and galaxy-traversing adventures. She was born and raised in Indiana—where she learned to love roundabouts and the art of college basketball—and now calls Washington D.C. home. When she’s not writing, she can be found perfecting her road trip playlists and desperately trying to keep her houseplants alive. Made of Stars is her debut.

Follow her online @JennaVoris and at jennamvoris.com.

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21: Dawn

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 13:00:00 +0000

We’re celebrating Black History Month with a discussion of Dawn by Octavia E. Butler, one of the most renowned voices in Black science fiction. “Hopeful and thought-provoking, this post-apocalyptic narrative deftly explores gender and race through the eyes of characters struggling to adapt [...] in a world devastated by nuclear war.” Listen in as Bella explains why they don’t like 80s science fiction, Laura admits she felt weird during the alien sex scenes, and we talk about how this book was both ahead of its time for its concepts of gender yet still problematic for its depiction of dubious consent.

Other books we mention in this episode:

Rubicon by J.S Dewes
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60784443-rubicon

World Running Down by Al Hess
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62900625-world-running-down

Season of the Dragon by Natalie Wright
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/95586977-season-of-the-dragon

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After Dark: Lord of Eternal Night

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 13:00:00 +0000

It’s Valentine’s Day—a day for sex, love, and romance—which means it’s the perfect day for another After Dark discussion. In this episode, we chat about Bella’s book choice, Lord of Eternal Night, a paranormal romance by Ben Alderson. Listen in as Bella explains how they had choice paralysis when choosing this book, we question the physical aspects of one of the sex scenes, and Jason stands up for the baker’s son (IYKYK.) Plus, find out what opinion Emma shared that left Bella and Jason absolutely speechless.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode features a discussion of an adult-themed book and is intended for mature audiences only.

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20: The Shadow in the Glass (w/ Megan Wilson)

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 13:00:00 +0000

Happy New Year! It’s the first episode of 2023 and guest co-host Megan Wilson returns to join Jason and Bella for a discussion of The Shadow in the Glass, a “terrifying new spin on Cinderella” by JJA Harwood. Listen in as we debate if it’s accurate to call this story a retelling of Cinderella, Megan shows us where to find hope within this book, and Bella asks a question that makes Jason rethink his entire understanding of this story.

Guest Host:
Megan (sher/her) is a vegan foodie, animal welfare non-profit founder (coming soon!), and lover of all things Disney, dinosaurs, and D&D podcasts. Find her cuddled up with her dogs and a glass of wine watching a spooky movie or re-visiting comfort shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gravity Falls.

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19: Iron Widow (w/ Amy K.)

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 28 Dec 2022 13:00:00 +0000

Join us as we close out 2022 and welcome new guest host Amy K. with a discussion of Xiran Jay Zhao's debut novel, Iron Widow; a feminist sci-fi story inspired by the rise of Wu Zetian, the only female emperor in Chinese history. Listen in as we question why the two top shelves on Goodreads for this book are 'fantasy' and 'young adult', we discuss whether or not the book’s commentary on gender roles within a patriarchal society was successful, and in true geek fashion, Jason compares elements of this story to both Power Rangers and DC Comics' Green Lantern Corps. We hope you enjoy the episode and see you in 2023!

Guest Host:
Amy (she/her) is a full-time humanitarian worker and cat parent with overflowing collections of succulents on her porch and books on her Libby app. A self-described "book vacuum", Amy will (and does) read anything, but most enjoys romance, mystery, and reflective non-fiction. In addition to reading books, Amy enjoys exploring new places, hiking and rock climbing, and smashing the kyriarchy.

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After Dark: Her Soul to Take

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 14 Dec 2022 13:00:00 +0000

It’s Emma’s book choice and with it comes her first official hosting duties! All four SWR After Dark hosts come together for a discussion of Her Soul to Take by Harley Laroux, book one of the Souls Trilogy. It’s a book Emma has previously read and she asked the rest of us to read it too, so listen in as we decide whether we agree with Emma’s opinion, we debate the balance of plot vs. sex scenes, and we consider whether a demon dick is enough to classify this book as a “monster romance”.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode features a discussion of an adult-themed book and is intended for mature audiences only.

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18: Blood Like Magic (w/ Jessilee Windhaus)

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 30 Nov 2022 13:00:00 +0000

This month we are joined by returning guest host Jessilee Windhaus for a discussion of Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury; “an urban fantasy debut following a teen witch who is given a horrifying task: sacrificing her first love to save her family’s magic. The problem is, she’s never been in love—she’ll have to find the perfect guy before she can kill him.” Listen in as we compare this book to the Disney animated film Encanto, we praise the author’s blending of young adult fantasy and science fiction, and Jessilee reveals why she’s dusting off her pun skills.

Guest Host:
Jessilee (she/her) is a proud Sacramento native and 20-year theatre and improv veteran who has trained with the Upright Citizen’s Brigade, The Groundlings, and toured with the world-renowned Missoula Children’s Theatre. She is cofounder of the local performing arts nonprofit Empire Arts Collective, as well as the founder of That Plus Chips, a live sketch and improv comedy ensemble. You can find Empire Arts Collective on Facebook and follow them on Twitter & Instagram @empireartsco, and follow Jessilee on TikTok @jessileeinthehaus.

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17: In Every Generation (w/ Z LaFrance & Megan Wilson)

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 12:00:00 +0000

October is for vampires and spooky books, so this month we are joined by returning guest host Z LaFrance as well as first-time guest host Megan Wilson for a discussion about In Every Generation by Kendare Blake; “the first in an all-new series [continuing] the world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer featuring the next generation of Scoobies and Slayers who must defeat a powerful new evil.” Listen in as Z explains how queerness and the Buffyverse are one and the same, we call out the disrespect of a major Buffy character being given an off-screen death, and Bella forgets how to close out the episode.

Guest Hosts:

Z LaFrance (they/them) is a graphic designer, illustrator, sewist, shapeshifter, and cat lover. Their preferred type of book includes broody vampires, a queer love story, haunted Victorian mansions, and the “enemies to lovers” trope. When they aren't reading, you will most likely find them in front of a computer screen, on the couch watching a horror movie, or asleep in their coffin.

Megan Wilson (she/her) is a vegan foodie, animal welfare non-profit founder (coming soon!), and lover of all things Disney, dinosaurs, and D&D podcasts. Find her cuddled up with her dogs and a glass of wine watching a spooky movie or re-visiting comfort shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gravity Falls.

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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.

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16: The Kaiju Preservation Society (w/ Sir Aaron Carter)

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 12:00:00 +0000

It’s a discussion of gigantic proportions as we’re joined once again by Sir Aaron Carter, host and co-creator of the Before You Log Off podcast, to talk about The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi; “a thrilling, fast-paced adventure set on an alternate Earth [about an] ‘animal rights organization’ that is way more than it appears.” Listen in as we debate whether or not we’d try the book’s “poopfruit”, Laura and Jason scold Aaron for having never watched the first Pacific Rim film, and we get fired up over how Amazon mishandled their promotion of the TV adaptation of Paper Girls.

Guest Host:
Sir Aaron Carter (he/him) is host and co-creator of the Before You Log Off podcast and founder of the BYLO Network. You can follow him and his podcast on Twitch at twitch.tv/beforeyoulogoff and Twitter @beforeyoulogoff. Listen to Before You Log Off and Aaron’s other great BYLO Network podcasts, like Uncanny and BYLO Watch, wherever you get your podcasts.

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15: The Book Eaters (w/ Sarah Marie Hawkins)

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 12:00:00 +0000

This month, we discuss Sunyi Dean's debut contemporary fantasy The Book Eaters, "a story of motherhood, sacrifice, and hope; of queer identity and learning to accept who you are; of gilded lies and the danger of believing the narratives others create for you.” Joining us once again is Sacramento multimedia artist Sarah Marie Hawkins. Listen in as we talk about Dean's creation of a new creature with in-depth lore, debate the technical definition of "cannibalism", and Jason tries to figure out if he even read the right book.

Guest Host:
Sarah Marie Hawkins (she/her) is a queer API artist, photographer and curator based in Sacramento, CA. You can follow her on Instagram @artbysarahmarie.

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After Dark: Stalked by the Kraken

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 12:00:00 +0000

We are so excited to be joined once again, for this and all future SWR After Dark episodes, by ongoing After Dark co-host EmmaSkies. In this episode, Emma sits down with Jason and Bella for a spicy discussion of the monster romance Stalked by the Kraken, book one of the Monstrous Matches series by Lillian Lark. Listen in as we discuss the trifecta of Emma’s least favorite smutty tropes, we talk about how the MC needed therapy (not a penis), and Bella gets their soundboard privileges revoked.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode features a discussion of an adult-themed book and is intended for mature audiences only.

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Shit We've Read After Dark is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and EmmaSkies, 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.

14: The Daughter of Doctor Moreau

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 27 Jul 2022 12:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Jason and Bella venture into another Silvia Moreno-Garcia novel, this time discussing her latest release, The Daughter of Doctor Moreau—"a dreamy reimagining of The Island of Doctor Moreau set against the backdrop of nineteenth-century Mexico." Listen in as we discuss the book’s commentary on race, colorism, and Western beauty standards, Bella ponders the age-old question, “Is there truly such a thing as a selfless act?”, and we announce our next After Dark book.

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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.

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13: Major Detours (w/ Jessilee Windhaus)

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 29 Jun 2022 12:00:00 +0000

It’s Pride Month and we’re celebrating by doing what we do best—reading a queer, YA novel featuring a custom VW van, a road trip across California, and a mystical adventure about a mysterious tarot deck. Joining us for this month’s discussion of Zachary Sergi’s Major Detours is Jessilee Windhaus, cofounder of local performing arts nonprofit, Empire Arts Collective. Listen in as we choose our own paths and share our thoughts on spirituality and mysticism, praise the casual queer representation in this book, and find out what makes us agree to fight to the death.

Guest Host:
Jessilee Windhaus (she/her) is a proud Sacramento native and twenty-year theatre and improv veteran who has trained with the Upright Citizen’s Brigade, The Groundlings, and toured with the world-renowned Missoula Children’s Theatre. She currently runs the improv comedy program at Empire Arts Collective. You can find Empire Arts Collective on Facebook and follow them on Twitter & Instagram @empireartsco, and follow Jessilee on TikTok @jessileeinthehaus.

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After Dark: Desperate Measures

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 25 May 2022 12:39:00 +0000

On this premiere episode of SWR After Dark, guest-host Emma Skies returns for a spicy discussion of the dark romance Desperate Measures by Katee Robert–the first novel in the Wicked Villains series. Listen in as we debate who's to blame for this episode, Jason explains how he once read an erotic series by accident, and Emma questions the logistics of how the main characters' sex scenes are happening back-to-back.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode features a discussion of an adult-themed book and is intended for mature audiences only.

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Author Interview: Heather Walter

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 11 May 2022 12:09:00 +0000

We are absolutely thrilled to be joined by award-winning author Heather Walter to discuss her new novel Misrule. Listen as Walter chats with Jason, Bella, and EmmaSkies about the importance of normalizing queerness, we learn her process for going from an idea in the Notes app on her phone to a complete published novel, hear her theory on why we’re still so obsessed with fairy tales, and remind children not to commit arson.

Guest:
Heather Walter is the award-winning author of the Malice duology, including the new novel Misrule. You can follow her on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @heatherrwalter5.

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12: Star Wars: Light of the Jedi

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 04 May 2022 12:09:00 +0000

We’re excited to be back for SEASON TWO of Shit We’ve Read with a special May the 4th/Star Wars Day premiere episode discussing Star Wars: Light of the Jedi, by Charles Soule, the first novel in the High Republic sub-era of the Star Wars universe. Laura, Jason, and new co-host Bella talk about how The High Republic series connects to Star Wars canon, what hyperspace is, reading vs listening to audio books, and discuss who the main protagonist/antagonist might be.

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Minisode: Meet Bella

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 20 Apr 2022 12:39:00 +0000

We have a new co-host! Friend of the show, Bella Romero is joining us full-time and we couldn’t be more excited. If you’re a listener of the show, there’s a good chance you’ve already gotten to know them a bit, but we sat down with them to learn more about their favorite genres, what they do when not reading, and how Bella & Jason first became frenemies. Have a listen and then we’ll see you again in a couple of weeks for our Season Two premiere!

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11: The Black Veins

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 02 Mar 2022 13:45:00 +0000

We’re closing out Season One of Shit We’ve Read with a discussion of Ashia Monet’s self-published debut novel, The Black Veins. Listen in as we describe this book as ‘X-Men with magic’, admit we’re both too dumb for hard science fiction, and Laura reveals why she would never try to write a book.

As a reminder, this is our last episode of Season One after which we will be taking a short hiatus to recharge and plan out Season Two. We’ll be back with new episodes (and some exciting surprises) starting in May! Follow us @ShitWeveRead on Instagram and Twitter for updates and announcements.

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10: Ninth House (w/ Bella Romero & Z LaFrance)

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 13:18:00 +0000

This month, Jason is joined by new guest host Z LaFrance as well as a returning Bella Romero to discuss Ninth House, “the mesmerizing adult debut from Leigh Bardugo” about “power, privilege, dark magic, and murder set among the Ivy League elite.” Listen in as Jason finds out he may already be part of a cult, Z creates two brand new SWR segments—Which Character in This Book Would Be a Vampire? and Which Character in This Book is Gay?—and we ban the use of the word toilet.

09: The Space Between Worlds (w/ Sir Aaron Carter)

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 13:18:00 +0000

In this month’s Shit We’ve Read we celebrate National Science Fiction Day (a few days late) by discussing The Space Between Worlds, Micaiah Johnson’s debut scifi multiverse novel. Joining us is special guest host Sir Aaron Carter, host and co-creator of the Before You Log Off podcast and BYLO Network! Listen in as we chat about getting into Webtoon reading, the pros and cons of balancing science fiction with spiritualism, and Laura agrees to write a fanfiction sequel.

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08: Gearbreakers (w/ Sarah Marie Hawkins)

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 13:05:00 +0000

This month’s Shit We’ve Read is all about Gearbreakers, Zoe Hana Mikuta’s debut young adult novel about two girls on opposite sides of a war fighting for the same cause. Joining us is Sarah Marie Hawkins, an amazing multimedia artist and book nerd. Listen in as we discuss wanting to know more about the Windups (mechas), needing a villain to hate, and how we always unintentionally age-up all the characters when reading young adult books.

07: A Dowry of Blood (w/ Emma Skies)

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 03 Nov 2021 12:17:00 +0000

This month on Shit We’ve Read, guest-host Emma Skies returns for a spooky discussion of A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson, a lyrical retelling of Dracula’s brides. Listen in as Emma laments the early cancellation of NBC’s Dracula series, we discuss how a character doesn’t need to be a Monster to be a monster, and we give first confirmation of a potential SWR After Dark spin-off series.

Minisode: The Plot, Part Two

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 20 Oct 2021 12:54:00 +0000

Shit We’ve Read is back for the conclusion of our two-part minisode discussion of The Plot, a horror fantasy comic book written by Tim Daniel and Michael Moreci with art by Joshua Hixson. In this episode, we cover The Plot: Part Two and witness Laura making an air horn sound for the first time in her life, we speak out against girls dating swamp boyfriends, and Jason discovers a deeper meaning behind the book’s title.

06: Mexican Gothic (w/ Bella Romero)

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 06 Oct 2021 11:58:00 +0000

In this month’s Shit We’ve Read, Bella Romero joins us again to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a discussion of Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s Mexican Gothic, a Latinx gothic horror about a fabulous debutante trying to save her cousin from a mysterious house in the Mexican countryside. Listen in as Bella angers both Star Trek and Star Wars fans, we try to figure out what “first cousin, once removed” means, and Bella and Jason pitch their own sequels for a Mexican Gothic trilogy.

Minisode: The Plot, Part One

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 12:01:00 +0000

Surprise! Shit We’ve Read finally got together to discuss a graphic novel! To start celebrating the spooky season, we read The Plot: Part One, a horror fantasy by Tim Daniel and Michael Moreci with art by Joshua Hixson. Listen in as we talk about sassy teenagers, cockblocking houses, and predict what will happen in Part Two.

If you enjoy this graphic novel and our discussion on it, be sure to catch our discussion on The Plot: Part Two in October!

05: Piranesi

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 12:17:00 +0000

Shit We’ve Read is back from our short hiatus! This month we discuss Piranesi, by Susanna Clarke, a lyrical tale of a man who lives in a house with infinite rooms and a labyrinth of halls. We talk about the ego, the super-ego, and the id, draw parallels to quarantine, and scold Jason for, again, not watching another well-known movie.

August 2021 Update

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 12:20:00 +0000

Hey, friends! You were probably expecting a new episode today, but sometimes life, uh, gets in the way. As such, we’re taking a short, one month hiatus from regular episodes, but will be back with a new one in September. Follow us on social media @shitweveread for books, updates, and a GIVEAWAY! Yay! Details are coming soon so keep your eyes on our social feeds!

In the meantime, here’s more of guest host Bella Romero’s origin story from Ep04: The Lost Apothecary. Happy listening!

04: The Lost Apothecary (w/ Bella Romero)

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 12:05:00 +0000

In this month’s episode of Shit We’ve Read, we talk about The Lost Apothecary, the debut novel by Sarah Penner. Joining us this time is our friend Bella Romero, a fellow book nerd and legislative advocate. Though a little longer than usual, we had a lot of fun discussing our literary pet peeves, women’s autonomy throughout history, and debating the merits of our incorrect theories. We also decide to write a Lost Apothecary fanfic sequel and Jason pitches CSI: 1791.

Bonus Drinking Game
Take a shot every time Bella describes somebody as "trash” and let us know how well you held up.

Follow Guest Host Bella Romero
Instagram: @bella_romero
Twitter: @bella_romero_

03: The Ones We're Meant to Find

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 23 Jun 2021 12:20:00 +0000

On this bonus episode of SWR, Jason & Laura chat about The Ones We’re Meant to Find, a beautifully-written young adult dystopian scifi by Joan He. Listen in as we discuss two very different sisters and their struggles living in a world ravaged by climate change. We also talk about that surprise twist, compare this book to a couple different Disney films, and chat about... Elon Musk??? Tune in to find out what that's about.

02: The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (w/ Emma Skies)

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 12:05:00 +0000

We’re back for a second episode of Shit We’ve Read! And It’s Pride Month! So, on this month’s episode, Laura & Jason are discussing the queer space opera The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers. Joining us for the conversation is our very first guest host - Twitch streamer, cosplayer, and all-around lover of fantasy - Emma Skies! We have a lot of fun in this episode as we talk about the diverse cast of characters, species, and cultures, discuss banning FTL technology, and decide which space beverage is best. Oh, and Laura disowns both Jason & Emma over Firefly.

Follow EmmaSkies
Twitch/Twitter/Instagram: @emmaskies

Minisode: Meet the Hosts

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 19 May 2021 12:16:00 +0000

Surprise! We're hitting you with a special bonus minisode of Shit We've Read! Get to know Laura & Jason a bit more as we discuss how we met, our literary histories, the inspiration for this podcast, and what listeners can expect with future episodes.

01: Renegades Trilogy

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Wed, 05 May 2021 12:26:00 +0000

Welcome to the triple-stuffed premiere episode of Shit We've Read, where we cover not one, not two, but three books! This month we discuss Renegades, Archenemies, and Supernova, a young adult superhero trilogy by Marissa Meyer, author of The Lunar Chronicles. So, join us as we spread our podcasting wings for the first time to compare Meyer's superhero story to those from comic books, discuss what makes a society dystopian, and use reverse psychology to get you to read this trilogy.

Shit We've Read Trailer

Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies — Sat, 01 May 2021 09:40:00 +0000

Hey, bookworms! Do you love talking about all the books you’ve read? So do we! That’s why we started Shit We’ve Read, a monthly podcast where we talk about the latest sci-fi, fantasy, and YA books we’ve just read.

Find us @shitweveread on Instagram and TikTok.

About Us:
Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico. For episode transcripts and more information about us, please visit shitweveread.com.