Once Upon a Time Zone: A Bookish Podcast

Jaime Fok and Freya Valerio
  • 5.0 (12)
  • BOOKS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Two friends, two time zones, and a shared love of stories. We are Freya (from Australia) & Jaime (from Canada), book besties who are worlds apart. As lovers of fantasy, romance, and fiction - we'll dive into what we are reading, TBRs, recommendations, and all things books! Join us as we bridge together our time zones, one chapter at a time 📚✨ IG: @onceuponatimezonepod Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast Jaime: https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok IG: @jaimefok TT: @jaime.fok Freya: https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio IG: @freyv_reads TT: @freyvalerio

  1. 5D AGO

    December Reading Recap & Our 2026 Reading Goals & TBR! 📚 [EP#25]

    Let's wrap up our December reading month & talk about our 2026 reading goals! Books Discussed: The Strength of the Few - James Islington House of Flame and Shadow - Sarah J Maas A Day of Fallen Night - Samantha Shannon The Fellowship of the Ring (Lord of the Rings) - JRR Tolkein The Bright Years - Sarah Damoff Iron Gold - Pierce Brown The Stormlight Archive - Brandon Sanderson Oathbringer - Brandon Sanderson A Sea of Unspoken Things - Adrienne Young The Unmaking of June Farrow - Adrienne Young A Sky Beyond the Storm - Sabaa Tahir Broken Country - Clare Leslie Hall Fallen City - Adrienne Young The Ex-Wives Club - Sally Hepworth The Poet Empress - Shen Tao The Elsewhere Express - Samantha Shannon Yambao People We Meet on Vacation - Emily Henry The Housemaid - Frieda McFadden Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jaime's socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: @jaimefok Tiktok: @jaime.fok Freya's socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: @freyv_reads Tiktok: @freyvalerio (00:00) intro & current reads (12:36) december recap (30:06) 2026 reading goals (53:47) january news

    59 min

  2. 2025-12-19

    The BEST and WORST Books We Read This Year | 2025 Reading Wrap Up 📚 [EP#24]

    2025 wrapped! Let's talk about the best and worst books we read this year, going month to month. THANK YOU for listening this year, and can't wait for more episodes to come in 2026! Books Discussed: The Strength of the Few - James Islington Oathbringer - Brandon Sanderson Red Rising - Pierce Brown The Favourites - Layne Fargo Love in the Time of Serial Killers - Alicia Thompson Blood Over Bright Haven - ML Wang Pumpkin Spice Cafe - Laurie Gilmore Sunrise on the Reaping - Suzanne Collins Deep End - Ali Hazelwood Wild Reverence - Rebecca Ross Immortal Dark - Tigest Girma Us Against You - Fredrik Backman Firefly Lane - Kristin Hannah Atmosphere - Taylor Jenkins Reid The Summer We Ran - Audrey Ingram Jade War - Fonda Lee We'll Always Have Summer - Jenny Han Jade Legacy - Fonda Lee Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales - Heather Fawcett Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir Metal Slinger - Rachel Schneider Words of Radiance - Brandon Sanderson Mate - Ali Hazelwood Red City - Marie Lu The Poet Empress - Shen Tao Morning Star - Pierce Brown Heartstopper - Alice Oseman Hero of Ages - Brandon Sanderson His and Hers - Alice Feeney The Blood Traitor - Lynette Noni All I Ever Wanted Was to be Hot - Lucinda Price Reckless - Lauren Roberts Holding the Reins - Paisley Hope A Familiar Stranger - AR Torre A Torch Against the Night - Sabaa Tahir Save Me - Mona Kasten The Raven Scholar - Antonia Hodgson Our Infinite Fates - Laura Steven The Way of Kings - Brandon Sanderson Wild Side - Elsie Silver Kingdom of Copper - SA Chakraborty Regretting You - Colleen Hoover The Will of the Many - James Islington People Watching - Hannah Bonam Young The Defender - Ana Huang The Cursed Melodies - Connie Glynn Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jaime's socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: @jaimefok Tiktok: @jaime.fok Freya's socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: @freyv_reads Tiktok: @freyvalerio (00:00) intro & current reads (15:22) year in review (27:42) january (36:28) february (45:35) march (48:16) april (52:55) may (56:55) june (01:00:58) july (01:07:53) august (01:12:29) september (01:15:02) october (01:20:01) november (01:23:48) final thoughts & happy holidays!

    1h 26m

  3. 2025-12-12

    The Goodreads Choice Awards 2025… What Is Going On? 📚 [EP#23]

    Let's go over the Goodreads Choice Awards nominees and winners of 2025! Why is the romantasy category so confusing...? Books Discussed: Just Friends - Haley Pham Of Flame and Fury - Mikayla Bridge The Princess Knight - Cait Jacobs The Ballad of Falling Dragons - Sarah A Parker When the Moon Hatched - Sarah A Parker Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jaime's socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: @jaimefok Tiktok: @jaime.fok Freya's socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: @freyv_reads Tiktok: @freyvalerio (00:00) intro & current reads (09:27) wicked: for good debrief (16:12) the ballad of falling dragons announcement (19:15) fiction (27:18) historical fiction (31:04) mystery thriller (34:40) romance (39:20) romantasy (47:14) fantasy (54:29) sci-fi (56:18) horror (57:35) debut (58:51) audiobooks (59:12) YA fantasy (01:03:27) YA fiction (01:05:08) nonfiction (01:09:17) final thoughts

    1h 11m

  4. 2025-12-05

    Reacting to Your TOP 10 Books of 2025! 📚 [EP#22]

    Time to talk about the BEST reads of 2025! In this episode, we go over YOUR top 10 books that you read this year. Thank you everyone for submitting your favs, hope you enjoy! Books Discussed: We Three Heroes - Lynette Noni We Were Liars - E Lockhart Atmosphere - Taylor Jenkins Reid Sunrise on the Reaping - Suzanne Collins Blood Over Bright Haven - ML Wang Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir The Will of the Many - James Islington The Strength of the Few - James Islington Onyx Storm - Rebecca Yarros The Knight and the Moth - Rachel Gillig Once Upon a Broken Heart - Stephanie Garber The Poppy War - RF Kuang The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue - VE Schwab Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jaime's socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: @jaimefok Tiktok: @jaime.fok Freya's socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: @freyv_reads Tiktok: @freyvalerio (00:00) intro & current reads (02:55) the will of the many movie adaptation (06:27) sunrise on the reaping trailer (09:58) current reads (15:06) rental family (18:10) top 10 books! (18:40) 10th place (23:03) 9th place (24:44) 8th place (27:23) 7th place (33:14) 6th place (36:36) 5th place (40:11) 4th place (46:31) 3rd place (50:59) 2nd place (56:45) 1st place

    1h 4m

  5. 2025-11-28

    The Realities of Publishing a Debut Fantasy with Sarah Mughal Rana | Dawn of the Firebird 📚 [EP#21]

    Let's talk about the hard truth of publishing with Sarah Mughal Rana, author of debut fantasy Dawn of the Firebird. From her experience with writing an immersive and unique fantasy story in an age of romantasy, to her experience with defamation & review bombing, to social media marketing - join us in this fun chat with our first ever guest! Books Discussed: Dawn of the Firebird - Sarah Mughal Rana Edgedancer - Brandon Sanderson Words of Radiance - Brandon Sanderson The Defender - Ana Huang Stories of Your Life and Others - Ted Chiang Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jaime's socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: @jaimefok Tiktok: @jaime.fok Freya's socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: @freyv_reads Tiktok: @freyvalerio (00:00) intro & current reads (08:25) welcome sarah mughal rana! (10:39) sarah's current read (13:45) life while publishing a book (16:48) social media marketing & PR (17:31) what is dawn of the firebird about? (19:39) the journey of writing a book (23:56) building a rich world filled with culture & FOOD (26:12) love to australian readers (26:51) high fantasy in a world of romantasy (29:13) a strong, flawed female protagonist (33:22) crafting the perfect fight scene (38:37) making readers cry (39:38) review bombing & defamation while publishing (52:04) rapid fire this or that (54:12) what can we look forward to in the sequel?

    58 min

  6. 2025-11-21

    Bookish Things We Are LEAVING in 2025 📚 [EP#20]

    Let's talk about some bookish habits and trends that we just want to leave behind in 2025... and forget about as we move into 2026! Books Discussed: Words of Radiance - Brandon Sanderson The Vanishing Half - Brit Bennett Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jaime's socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: @jaimefok Tiktok: @jaime.fok Freya's socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: @freyv_reads Tiktok: @freyvalerio (00:00) intro & current reads (07:27) not letting goodreads ratings determine what to read (10:45) getting book recs from hype only (13:53) continuing series I don't like (18:50) picking up series in the wrong order (22:20) stop taking breaks in between series (27:00) reading comments on viral videos (34:52) reading books I think I should vs what I actually crave (38:30) letting reviews influence my rating after I've read the book (42:49) stressful 24 hour readathons (46:10) putting off reading an intimidating book (49:50) feeling guilty about buying books (57:08) sticking to familiar authors only

    1h 2m

  7. 2025-11-14

    Books you FORGOT About... But Should Still Read 📚 [EP#19]

    Let's talk about some of those hidden gem books that we all forgot about... but we would still highly recommend! APOLOGIES for some of the audio quality in this episode, we had some technical difficulties this week 😭 Hope you're still able to enjoy this one! Books Discussed: Violet Thistlewaite is Not a Villain Anymore - Emily Krempholtz Warbreaker - Brandon Sanderson Six of Crows - Leigh Bardugo Pachinko - Min Jin Lee Sabriel - Garth Nix Five Feet Apart - Rachael Lippincott The Name of the Wind - Patrick Rothfuss Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow - Gabrielle Zevin Red, White and Royal Blue - Casey McQuiston Lessons in Chemistry - Bonnie Garmus Renegades - Marissa Meyer Carrie Soto is Back - Taylor Jenkins Reid Northern Lights - Phillip Pullman Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jaime's socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: @jaimefok Tiktok: @jaime.fok Freya's socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: @freyv_reads Tiktok: @freyvalerio (00:00) intro & current reads (08:07) six of crows re-edits? (12:09) sabriel (14:48) pachinko (18:33) the name of the wind (24:48) five feet apart (28:52) red, white & royal blue (32:13) tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow (36:48) renegades (38:51) on the topic of palate cleansers (41:25) lessons in chemistry (44:24) northern lights (47:48) carrie soto is back

    55 min

  8. 2025-11-07

    Book Series We DNF'd... vs Series We Can't Wait to Start! 📚 [EP#18]

    Let's talk about the books (series) that we gave up on and DNF'd... but also chat about some series we are SO excited to start! Books Discussed: Direbound - Sable Sorensen The Raven Scholar - Antonia Hodgson Legendborn - Tracy Deonn Red Queen - Victoria Aveyard The House in the Cerulean Sea - TJ Klune Haunting Adeline - HD Carlton Twisted Love - Ana Huang Zodiac Academy - Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti The Deal - Elle Kennedy The Witcher - Andrej Sapkowski The Fifth Season - NK Jemisin The Jasad Heir - Sara Hashem Red City - Marie Lu This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me - Ilona Andrews The Will of the Many - James Islington Vicious - VE Schwab The Fragile Threads of Power - VE Schwab Lady of Darkness - Melissa K Roehrich Jade City - Fonda Lee The Poppy War - RF Kuang Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jaime's socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: @jaimefok Tiktok: @jaime.fok Freya's socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: @freyv_reads Tiktok: @freyvalerio (00:00) intro & current reads (06:20) series we dnf'd (06:53) cat and mouse (10:00) the legendborn cycle (14:07) twisted (17:15) red queen (21:43) zodiac academy (25:47) cerulean chronicles (29:31) off campus (31:45) powerless (35:37) series we want to start (35:49) hierarchy (36:25) villains (39:37) the witcher (43:05) threads of power (46:09) the broken earth (48:16) lady of darkness (50:31) the scorched throne (52:40) the green bone saga (56:07) red city (58:10) the poppy war (01:00:13) maggie the undying

    1h 3m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Two friends, two time zones, and a shared love of stories. We are Freya (from Australia) & Jaime (from Canada), book besties who are worlds apart. As lovers of fantasy, romance, and fiction - we'll dive into what we are reading, TBRs, recommendations, and all things books! Join us as we bridge together our time zones, one chapter at a time 📚✨ IG: @onceuponatimezonepod Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast Jaime: https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok IG: @jaimefok TT: @jaime.fok Freya: https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio IG: @freyv_reads TT: @freyvalerio

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