Being Bookish

Raye
  • 4.9 (21)
  • Books
  • Updated Biweekly

Avid reader, big book lover. I talk about books. I love recommending books, across genres including fantasy, romantasy, cosy mystery and science fiction. I also speak with authors, and I always ensure I don't spoil the ending. Episodes released every other Tuesday.

  1. 2d ago

    An Interview with Author Rachel Peterson

    YA Thrillers are living their best moment right now, and if you ever wanted to attend a barn party, or wondered what it would be like to be questioned by the police when your best friend is murdered, then this book is for you. Killing Sadie is Rachel Peterson's debut novel, published by SimonTeen. Here’s what we do know: there was another infamous barn party at the McClain family farm last night, and things went horribly wrong. By the end of the night, there were two dead bodies in the old barn: seventeen-year-old Sadie Cooper and her killer, Mason Vreeland. The murder was heartbreakingly witnessed by Sadie’s twin sister, Jayne, and Sadie died in her arms. Mason was killed by Sadie’s boyfriend, Ben, in an attempt to save Sadie. Aside from figuring out Mason’s motive, it should be an open-and-shut case. But it’s not. The story unfolds just after the murders, and Jayne, Ben, and Sadie’s best friend, Liz, are telling the cops what transpired at the party and the events leading up to it. But little details don’t match. And those little details start to add up to big discrepancies. But who’s lying, and why? The shocking truth is revealed in the third act, when the POV shifts to victim Sadie herself, in the days leading up to the party. Witness exactly what happened—and see if you can piece it all together. Because poor Sadie totally missed what was right in front of her. Want to know more about how this story came to be, what the inspiration was and how Rachel went about writing it (lots of planning, perhaps?), then check out this episode to learn more. Rachel's Links Website Instagram Buy the book

  2. Aug 5

    An Interview with Author Grace Viall

    If you ever long for the days when Syfy was making and airing their monster-of-the-week shows, or miss the early seasons of The X-Files, then the book I have this week is definitely one for you. (Mostly) Human Resources is the debut novel from American author Grace Viall. An urban fantasy that blends the world of monsters, monster hunters and the modern world together. In the first in her Entity Case Files trilogy, we meet the employees of Entity, an organisation which hunts and destroys the monsters that lurk, the monsters from folklore and legend. Banshees, Silver Giants, jackalopes - all of them are real, and all of them may be dangerous. Alexys Keane works in the HR department, looking after the wardens who go out to hunt these creatures that could possibly go bump in the night. She's a desk jockey, who likes where she is. A rule-follower, she's less than impressed when she's forced to work with the less traditional and definitely more rebellious Nic Dyre...and things get even worse when an employee assessment goes awry. To learn more about this book and why you should definitely read it...as well as possibly pick up a boxset of Warehouse 13, get your earbuds in and give this interview a listen. I promise, it's a world of fun. Grace's Links Grace's Website Grace's Instagram Buy the book

  3. Jul 20

    An Interview with Author Kristina Thornton

    Join me this week as I have a special guest, author Kristina Thornton. Her second novel is due to be released on the 28th July, published by Harpeth Road Press, and is titled Forty Going on Nineteen. As you may guess from the title, it has a little bit of a time travel vibe, though there is no de-ageing or battling with school bullies. Instead, our main character is about to turn forty (and for anyone who has experienced this, you'll know it's a mental hurdle), and her best friend encourages her to revisit what her life was like when she was nineteen. We have friends, family and the reappearance of an old crush, as well as a visit from the ex! There are also emotional revelations, realisations and the battling of a few fear demons (not in the literal sense, of course). Find out more about Kristina Thornton: Kristina's Website Facebook Instagram Buy Forty Going on Nineteen TikTok

  4. Jul 8 ·  Bonus

    The Stephen King Thing - The Shining

    Welcome to the latest episode of The Stephen King Thing, a special spin-off series from the Being Bookish podcast. In this part of the show, Lorraine and I are dedicating our time to exploring the extensive bibliography of the master of horror, and this time, both Lorraine and I will be somewhat reluctantly and definitely nervously checking into the Overlook Hotel to dissect his 1977 masterpiece, The Shining. Because we're taking a deep dive into the chilling isolation of the Torrance family and the hotel's sinister grip on Jack's sanity, these episodes do things a little differently. As I've mentioned before, unlike my usual episodes, the Stephen King thing is not spoiler-free, and due to the nature of the content, is definitely not family-friendly! So be warned... If you're ready to venture down those haunted, snowbound corridors with us, join us as we explore one of the most iconic horror stories ever written. Want to watch this episode on YouTube? You can find it here.

  5. Jul 6

    Starside by Alex Aster

    In this episode of Being Bookish, I'm digging into the layers of Starside, the 2026 fantasy novel by Alex Aster. This book marks her first step into more adult romantasy after her original foray into the genre with the YA Lightlark series. While there's plenty of talk online about the deadly competition framework and the familiar tropes in this book, I'm much more interested in tackling the online discourse and evaluating how well these elements are actually executed. I'll be exploring whether the heavy use of the enemies-to-lovers trope feels justified and looking closely at whether the characters and world history have enough depth to keep us invested. I'm taking a close look at the book to talk about character motivations and the pacing of the romance without getting distracted by the marketing hype. Instead, I'm actually delving into how the book fits into the genre, questioning the accusations of unoriginality while also examining the missed opportunities in the background lore and the balance of the central relationships. Whether you're a fan of high-stakes trial stories or you're looking to see how a popular release handles these specific tropes, I've got plenty of personal feelings to share on where this book fits on your fantasy reading list. Join me, grab yourself a cuppa and let's get into this secret-filled world together. Featured Episodes Dire Bound Just Desserts - Oops, a book I actually need to review! Blood of Hercules

  6. Jun 22

    2026 Mid-Year Reading Wrap-Up

    Welcome back to another episode of Being Bookish. I'm not quite sure how it happened, but we're almost halfway through 2026, so it's time for a bit of an update, and I am doing it differently this year! In this wrap-up, I am focusing a lot on expectation versus reality in my personal reading experience. I'm going to share my thoughts on the standout books I cannot stop thinking about, the ones that didn't quite hit the spot, and the upcoming releases I am looking forward to later this year. 2026 has brought a brilliant mix of genres, including my very first venture into LitRPG with Matt Dinniman's Dungeon Crawler Carl. I share my thoughts on diving into this massive series, the exciting news of a television adaptation, and how his darker, highly political standalone novel, Operation Bounce House, received a mixed reception from readers on Goodreads and Storygraph. Of course, a completely honest wrap-up means talking about the disappointments too. I open up about my recent DNFs, like Claire North's Slow Gods, why I am trying to be kinder to myself when a book isn't working, and what happens when an individual read simply becomes one of the worst books I've finished all year. On a brighter note, my mission to discover new authors has so far been something of a success (at least I think so), with seventeen new writers added to my list. I discuss the emotional highs of a beautiful contemporary romance read on my birthday—Jill Mansell's Just One Look at You—and contrast it with a highly anticipated Beth O'Leary release that unfortunately turned into a major seafaring plot disappointment. I also explore whether "sequel syndrome" has struck some of the fantasy and romantasy series I loved last year, including Lauren Palphreyman's The Night Prince. Finally, I look ahead to the final six months of 2026. I take a look at some of my most anticipated upcoming releases, from Madeline Miller's short mythological tale Mestra and Carissa Broadbent's dark vampire romantasy The Lion and the Deathless Dark, to Victoria Aveyard's adult debut Tempest. Featured episodes Silver Elite Dungeon Crawler Carl Warrior Princess Assassin This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me Blood of Hercules Dire Bound The Wolf King

  7. Jun 8

    The Ever King by LJ Andrews

    In this week's episode of Being Bookish, I'm digging into the layers of The Ever King, the 2023 fantasy novel by LJ Andrews that made the transition from indie favourite to traditional publication in 2025. While there's plenty of talk online about the relationships and the sea fae romance elements in this book, I'm much more interested in pulling apart the high-seas intrigue and evaluating the genuine mystery at the heart of the story. I'll be exploring how the character dynamics, the pirate sub-plot, and the Norse-inspired mythology connections hold up. As all my episodes are always spoiler-free, I have taken the time to really look at the story, looking critically at how the book fits into the dark fantasy/romantasy genre. I am going so far as to ask the big question...is this really dark fantasy? Whether you're a fan of Viking folklore retellings or you're looking to see how a character-driven story handles these specific tropes, I've got plenty of personal feelings to share on where this book might fit on your fantasy reading list. It's a deep dive into a possibly dark world, so grab yourself a cuppa and let's get into the sea fae secrets together. I'm really looking forward to sharing my honest thoughts with you. Episode Links Blood of Hercules Review of When Gracie Met the Grump by Mariana Zapata The Stephen King Thing - Cujo Audio | Video

  8. May 27 ·  Bonus

    The Stephen King Thing - Cujo

    In the second episode of the Being Bookish spin-off where I am reading my way through Stephen King’s novels, joined by my friend and fellow podcaster, Lorraine, we’re taking a look at Cujo, his 1981 novel, the second to feature Castle Rock. As previously mentioned, these episodes are approximately 6 weeks apart as there is a lot to cover. Cujo is the story of a friendly St Bernard, beloved family pet and best friend of Brett Camber, who, one day, is unfortunately the victim of a bat bite. What happens after that isn’t his fault; it’s the virus in his nervous system, but by the end of the story, there are a lot more victims to this madness. Join us both as we take a tour through Stephen King's universe, and experience some of these books for the first time in decades! If you prefer, you can watch this on YouTube.

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4.9
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About

Avid reader, big book lover. I talk about books. I love recommending books, across genres including fantasy, romantasy, cosy mystery and science fiction. I also speak with authors, and I always ensure I don't spoil the ending. Episodes released every other Tuesday.

Information

  • Creator
    Raye
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    239
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Raye
  • Show Website
    Being Bookish

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