Red Flag Readers

Chelsea Hartley, Astrid Jane, Jill McBee

Red Flag Readers is the podcast for readers who know the best fictional men are the ones we’d absolutely run from in real life. 🚩📚 Three women. Too many books. Questionable fictional crushes. And absolutely no judgment. We dive into romantasy, dark romance, indie authors, and new releases, talking tropes, plot twists, spice, morally gray characters, red flags, and the moments that make us whisper, “Girl… you should probably leave.” Whether you’re obsessed with enemies-to-lovers, desperate for your next morally questionable book boyfriend, or looking for your next indie gem, Red Flag Readers is your place to gush, rant, laugh, and unapologetically love the books that make you question your standards. Red flags in life are warnings. Red flags in books are recommendations. 📖🚩

Episodes

  1. 1d ago

    Grantor Of Beginnings by Megan Von Allmen Author Interview

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Welcome to Red Flag Readers, where the books are spicy, the morals are gray, and the red flags are somehow our favorite color. 🚩 This week marks a very special first for Red Flag Readers. We are our first author interview! Our good friend, Megan Von Allmen has just published her debut novel, Grantor of Beinnings! Like today! We break down our favorite scenes, the characters we love to hate (and maybe hate to love), and the who the biggest red flag is. ⚠️ A Spoiler Free Episode! Unusual for us, but we let Megan break down her novel and whats next in the Heirs of the Everlasting series. Red flags in real life are warnings. Red flags in books are recommendations. 🚩📚 🚩 The Valiant Interrupter Bright, Fall Spices, Balanced Ingredients 1½ oz dark run1 oz fresh orange juice½ oz orange liquor like cointreau1/2 oz honey-cinnamon syrup* recipe below1/4 oz fresh lemon juicePinch Ground CinnamonIceCinnamon-Honey Syrup 1/2 cup honey1/2 cup water2 cinnamon sticksSimmer the ingredients for 5-10 minutes, cool and strain. Instructions Fill a shakerwith ice.Add all ingredientsShake virogously for 15-20 seconds. Strain into chilled coupeGarnish with orange peel and cinnamon stick Authors Highlighted: Ivy's Touch by Stefany Linaweaver Follow Us at: @redflagreaderspod @booksbloomsbarns @astridjane_author @jillyysbooks

    Grantor Of Beginnings by Megan Von Allmen Author Interview
  2. Oct 27

    Vasmora by Keri Lake

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Welcome to Red Flag Readers, where the books are spicy, the morals are gray, and the red flags are somehow our favorite color. 🚩 This week, we tried to stick to one book, but ended up delving into three, The Eating Woods Trilogy by Keri Lake. Most of our attention is on Vasmora, the conclusion of the series, but we just couldn't help ourselves. We break down our star and spice ratings, favorite scenes, the characters we love to hate (and maybe hate to love), and the BIG red flags. ⚠️ Major spoilers ahead! If you haven't read Vasmora, or other books in the Eating Woods, read it first—we're not holding back. Plus, we spotlight several incredible indie authors feature our favorite segment, Mama's Spice Cupboard which is NOT to be missed. Yet again, Mama delivers, and your sides will ache from laughter. Red flags in real life are warnings. Red flags in books are recommendations. 🚩📚 🚩 The Blackened Woods Dark berries • Citrus • Black sparkle Ingredients 1½ oz vodka1 oz blackberry syrup or black raspberry liqueur½ oz lemon juice3 oz lemon-lime soda or ginger aleEdible black glitterIceInstructions Fill a glass with ice.Add vodka, blackberry syrup, and lemon juice.Add the black glitter and stir so the shimmer disperses.Top with lemon-lime soda and stir gently.Garnish with blackberries or a lemon twist if you have them. Authors Highlighted: Mountain Daddy by S.J. Tilly, Blades and Blood Series by T.K Drake, The Ninth Realm by Julia Silverwood Follow Us at: @redflagreaderspod @booksbloomsbarns @astridjane_author @jillyysbooks

    Vasmora by Keri Lake
  3. Oct 13

    The Poison Daughter by Sheila Masterson

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Welcome to Red Flag Readers, where the books are spicy, the morals are gray, and the red flags are somehow our favorite color. 🚩 This week, we've visited the discussion that launched this podcast: Sheila Masterson's The Poison Daughter. This book features a black widow FMC, a morally gray MMC, and whole lot of spice. We break down our star and spice ratings, favorite scenes, the characters we love to hate (and maybe hate to love), and the BIG red flags. ⚠️ Major spoilers ahead! If you haven't read The Poison Daughter yet, read it first—we're not holding back. Plus, we spotlight several incredible indie authors featue our favorite segment, Mama's Spice Cupboard which is NOT to be missed. Yet again, Mama delivers, and your sides will ache from laughter. Red flags in real life are warnings. Red flags in books are recommendations. 🚩📚 🚩 The Poison Kiss 1.5 oz vodka 1 oz strawberries macerated and cooked down with sugar .5 oz black berries macerated and cooked down with sugar 3 dashes chocolate bitters 3 oz soda water Pour all ingredients into a shaker with except the soda water. (you can substitute pre-made syrups for the fresh fruit compote if you would like). Shake until well blended. Pour into a coupe or martini glass, up. Top off with soda water. Authors Highlighted: Bound by Hearts and Stone by Lauren Sanatra, Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman, An Age of War and Prophecy by Lacey Lahotzky Follow Us at: @redflagreaderspod @booksbloomsbarns @astridjane_author @jillyysbooks

    The Poison Daughter by Sheila Masterson
  4. Sep 15

    Bloody Black by Rhiannon Hargadon

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Welcome to Red Flag Readers, where the books are spicy, the morals are gray, and the red flags are somehow our favorite color. 🚩 This week, we dive all the way into Davy Jones' Locker with Bloody Black by Rhiannon Hargadon-a Black Beard retelling with a morally gray FMC, a found family that makes you smile, and no small portion of feminine rage. We break down our star and spice ratings, favorite scenes, the characters we love to hate (and maybe hate to love), and the BIG red flags. With a near complete summary of the story, this is one that left us grinning at revenge, grieving for characters, and pining over a new favorite MMC. ⚠️ Major spoilers ahead! If you haven't read Bloody Black yet, read it first—we're not holding back. Plus, we spotlight several incredible indie authors and debut our new segment: Mama's Spice Cupboard which is NOT to be missed. You'll be clutching your sides, we promise. Red flags in real life are warnings. Red flags in books are recommendations. 🚩📚 🚩 Dark 'n' Stormy Per cocktail: 2 oz dark rum (traditionally Gosling's Black Seal Rum)Ginger Beer: 4 to 6 ozLime: A wedge or slice for garnish, with an optional squeeze of fresh limeIce: cubes to fill a high ball glassFill a highball glass with icepour in the ginger beerFloat the dark rum over a spoon or directly onto the surface to create a layered look.Garnish with a lime wedge. Stir before drinking if you prefer a fully blended flavor. Authors Highlighted: Storm by R.A. Raine, A Scent of Sea and Ash by Beth Ann Bautiste, Villains and Virtures Trilogy by A,K. Caggiano Follow Us at: @redflagreaderspod @booksbloomsbarns @astridjane_author @jillyysbooks

    Bloody Black by Rhiannon Hargadon
  5. Sep 1

    The Heartstring Duet by Liv Zander

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Welcome to the first episode of Red Flag Readers, where the books are spicy, the morals are gray, and the red flags are somehow our favorite color. 🚩 This week, we dive headfirst into Liv Zander’s Heartstring Duet, Crown Me and Crown Me Yours—a dark gothic fantasy romance packed with rot, curses, manipulation, morally questionable characters, and one seriously complicated love story. We break down our star and spice ratings, favorite scenes, the characters we love to hate (and maybe hate to love), and the BIG red flags. Then we get into the emotional devastation at the heart of the story: love, loss, mortality, vulnerability, and whether loving someone is worth the pain of eventually losing them. ⚠️ Major spoilers ahead! If you haven't read the Heartstring Duet yet, read it first—we're not holding back. Plus, we spotlight several incredible indie authors and announce a giveaway! Visit @redflagreaderspod on instragram for details. Red flags in real life are warnings. Red flags in books are recommendations. 🚩📚 🚩 The Red Flag Per cocktail: 1½ oz vodka½ oz Cointreau¾ oz grenadine½ oz fresh lemon juice2 dashes chocolate bitters¼ oz vanilla syrup (optional, but I like it)1 dash orange bitters (optional)IceShake hard with ice for about 10–15 seconds and strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass. Garnish: Luxardo cherry + orange peel. Authors Highlighted: Unravel by Daya Winters, Untamed by Analise Song, A Wolfe In The Woods by Zoey Draven and Marcio Catalano Follow Us at: @redflagreaderspod @booksbloomsbarns @astridjane_author @jillyysbooks

    The Heartstring Duet by Liv Zander

About

Red Flag Readers is the podcast for readers who know the best fictional men are the ones we’d absolutely run from in real life. 🚩📚 Three women. Too many books. Questionable fictional crushes. And absolutely no judgment. We dive into romantasy, dark romance, indie authors, and new releases, talking tropes, plot twists, spice, morally gray characters, red flags, and the moments that make us whisper, “Girl… you should probably leave.” Whether you’re obsessed with enemies-to-lovers, desperate for your next morally questionable book boyfriend, or looking for your next indie gem, Red Flag Readers is your place to gush, rant, laugh, and unapologetically love the books that make you question your standards. Red flags in life are warnings. Red flags in books are recommendations. 📖🚩