All Too Well Read

Megan Blust & Christiana Salerno

📖✨ Welcome to All Too Well Read—the bookish podcast where your hosts, Megan & Christiana, dive into everything we love about books—from swoon-worthy romances to epic fantasy adventures and everything in between. As a couple of Swifties who believe in the magic of words, we're obsessed with the stories that make us feel all the things. We know what it's like to be consumed by a book all too well. Whether we're dissecting the latest fantasy world, gushing over our current book boyfriends, or exploring the creative process, we're here to fangirl, clown around, and celebrate the power of storytelling. So grab your favorite cozy read, a cup of coffee (or glass of wine!), and join us as we read everything, feel everything, and fall in love with books over and over again. 📚💫

Episodes

  1. 11/04/2025

    From Breakups to Breakthroughs: The Magic of Book Trip

    Your favorite book besties are back — refreshed, reflective, and a little bit feral about how much can change in a year. In this cozy catch-up episode, Megan and Christiana spill all the tea on their second annual Book Trip—from changing plans last minute (goodbye, Florida!) to discovering creative synchronicity in the heart of Virginia wine country. What started as a trip for reading Quicksilver turned into something so much bigger: rodeos, revelations, and the birth of a new joint project that feels like pure magic. Grab your mug of cider (or glass of cabernet), settle in, and get ready for a heart-filled episode on creativity, friendship, and trusting divine timing.   Follow the ATWR Pod on IG Megan IG Chris IG Subscribe to Chris's Substack Subscribe to Megan's newsletter Megan's website Chapters 00:00 We're Back! Catching Up After a Break 01:13 Anticipation for Taylor's New Release 02:47 Reflecting on Taylor's Past Albums 04:06 Plans for the New Album Release Day 06:07 Life Updates and Moving Stories 07:52 Book Trip Adventures and Changes 09:41 Unexpected Magic in Virginia 13:30 Creative Synergy and Future Dreams 21:57 Unexpected Restaurant Vibes 23:23 Creative Flow and New Project 25:01 Reflecting on Friendship and Collaboration 25:28 Practical Magic and Wine 26:19 The Magic of Book Trip 28:51 Empowering Women Through Creativity 31:00 Personal Growth and Achievements 32:54 The Importance of Community 36:43 Book Trip Memories and Future Plans 41:27 Technical Difficulties and Final Thoughts

    47 min
  2. 09/04/2025

    Our Summer Reads Part 2: Just For The Summer & This Summer Will Be Different

    In this episode, Megan and Christiana dive into two standout summer romances that finally delivered the vibes they've been craving: Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez and This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune. They unpack what made these stories so compelling—from depth of character development to heartfelt themes of family, healing, and love. The hosts share laughs, rant about stickers on book covers and annoying side characters, and gush over summer settings that make them want to pack a bag and travel immediately. ✨Key Takeaways: 📚Just for the Summer (Abby Jimenez) delivers a heartfelt, emotionally layered romance with realistic challenges and strong character development. 🌊This Summer Will Be Different (Carley Fortune) brings swoony best-friend's-brother romance set in a vivid Prince Edward Island backdrop. 📚Both novels balance summer romance fun with deeper themes of family, healing, and choosing love. 🌊Abby Jimenez and Carley Fortune are now auto-buy authors for the hosts. PODCAST LINKS: Follow the ATWR Pod on IG Megan IG Chris IG Subscribe to Chris's Substack Subscribe to Megan's newsletter Megan's website Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Excitement for Summer Romances 00:31 The Search for the Perfect Summer Read 01:51 Discussion on Book Covers and Accuracy 02:45 Thoughts on the First Book: Just for the Summer 04:12 Character Development and Universe Connections 08:17 Heartbreaking Moments and Real-Life Issues 16:34 Final Thoughts on Just for the Summer 25:54 Introduction to This Summer Will Be Different 28:44 Initial Impressions and Character Dynamics 29:12 Plot Developments and Key Moments 32:21 Character Relationships and Conflicts 35:29 Bridget's Big Reveal and Its Impact 42:14 Book's Ending and Final Thoughts 48:38 Upcoming Reads and Podcast Wrap-Up

    56 min
  3. 08/06/2025

    Our Summer Reads, ACOTAR 6 Clowning, and Emotional Welfare at the Beach

    In this episode, Megan and Christiana are back with all the summer book recs, juicy updates, and deeply unhinged theories about ACOTAR 6. Spoiler: we may be feral over a "first draft" and theorizing multiple books… but we don't care. The SJM brainrot is real, and we're here for it. They also dive into their personal creative journeys—from Christiana's emotional ocean revelations and book ideas pouring in like waves, to Megan's dreamy European girl summer (France! Tapas! Fantasy castles! The best cheeseburger of her life!). Plus, they share their honest takes on the summer reads they've been devouring—and dragging. ✨ Top 3 Takeaways: 📚 We're in our Summer of Romance era—here's what's worth reading (and what isn't). 🌊 Sometimes all you need is the ocean, a voice memo app, and a dream. 🧚‍♀️ Sarah J. Maas did give us crumbs—and yes, we're spiraling. Whether you're currently crying in the waves or scrolling for your next beach read, this episode is full of heart, hilarity, and peak hot reader energy. 📖 Books Mentioned: – Every Summer After by Carley Fortune – It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey – The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters – The Love Haters by Katherine Center – The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner – Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner – and more 👀 PODCAST LINKS: Follow the ATWR Pod on IG Megan IG Chris IG Subscribe to Chris's Substack Subscribe to Megan's newsletter Megan's website Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:22 Sarah J. Maas Book Announcement 01:52 Fan Theories and Speculations 05:56 Crescent City and Series Connections 12:15 Life Updates and Summer Reflections 14:32 Beach Day and Creative Inspirations 25:04 European Vacation Highlights 36:36 Reflecting on the Louvre Experience 37:07 Inspiration from Travel and Writing Retreats 41:56 ChatGPT and Creative Exploration 44:50 Astrocartography and Personal Growth 46:30 Summer Reads Part One 46:59 Book Reviews and Recommendations 01:02:53 Misleading Book Covers and Expectations 01:11:51 Conclusion and Future Reading Plans

    1h 13m
  4. 07/10/2025

    Our Emily Henry Summer: Discussing Her Backlog and Ranking our Favorites

    In this episode, we're living our best Emily Henry summer, reflecting on her entire backlog and (controversially) ranking our favorites. From Funny Story to Book Lovers, Happy Place to Beach Read, we dive into what makes Emily Henry such a relatable, comfort-read queen—and where we had some critiques (we're looking at you, misleading beach reads and groping scenes). We also unpack her latest release, The Great Big Beautiful Life, and share our honest thoughts on the book's structure, its unexpected plot twist, and why the romance fell a little flat for us. Plus, we spiral (lovingly) about single POV, dual POV, and the chaos of dick-twitching male perspectives in romance. You know... classic ATWR energy. ✨ Key Takeaways: We break down The Great Big Beautiful Life and why it wasn't our fave—but still had some standout moments. Our definitive (and slightly chaotic) Emily Henry ranking — including why Funny Story and Book Lovers hold top spots for us. Hot takes on romance tropes: fake dating, single POV supremacy, and our complicated relationship with dual POV spice scenes. We'd love to hear your Emily Henry rankings! Slide into our DMs or comment below with your favorite of her books—and tell us why. We are so here for hearing how these stories met you where you're at. And don't forget to like, subscribe, and let us know what's on your summer reading list. Until next time, happy reading, friends! 📚☀️   PODCAST LINKS: Follow the ATWR Pod on IG Megan IG Chris IG Subscribe to Chris's Substack Subscribe to Megan's newsletter CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction and Catching Up 00:29 Taylor Swift's Re-recordings and Reputation 03:34 Summer Plans and Reading Updates 06:46 Emily Henry's Great Big Beautiful Life 32:31 Ranking Emily Henry's Books 41:15 Ranking the Six Books 42:25 Discussing 'Happy Place' 46:30 Exploring 'Funny Story' 58:10 Diving into 'Book Lovers' 01:09:01 Single POV vs. Dual POV 01:19:17 Concluding Thoughts and Summer Reads

    1h 22m
  5. 06/25/2025

    The Book We Didn't Know We Needed To Read - Love and Other Words

    Welcome back, book besties! In this episode, we're diving into the Christina Lauren novel that completely gutted us—in the best way possible. Love and Other Words might have been published back in 2018, but thanks to BookTok and divine timing, this story found us exactly when we needed it. We unpack the swoony nostalgia of first love, the gut-punch plot twist that left us emotionally unwell, and how this book inspired Megan to rethink her own novel's ending. Plus, we share all the tea from attending Christina Lauren's book tour on opposite coasts (and yes, Megan gushed like an idiot meeting them). If you love second-chance romance, emotional damage, and bookish merch hauls… you're in the right place. ✨ Key Takeaways: Love and Other Words delivers that rare combo of devastating plot twist and wholesome nostalgia. We share how seeing Christina Lauren in person left us inspired (and low-key feral for more author events). Megan's own writing process is forever changed after reading this—and she spills what she's reworking in her book. If you've read Love and Other Words, we NEED to hear your thoughts—DM us, comment, yell into the void, we'll find it. And don't forget to subscribe, leave a rating, and join us next time for our Emily Henry episode. Until next time, happy reading! 📚 Follow the ATWR Pod on IG Megan IG Chris IG Subscribe to Chris's Substack Subscribe to Megan's newsletter Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome Back to All Too Well 00:38 Diving into Our Reading Era 01:10 Weekend Reading Marathon 01:50 Contemporary Romance vs. Fantasy 04:06 New Dog in the Family 05:30 Book Character Names for Pets 08:15 Book Merch and T-Shirts 16:57 Love, In Other Words: Initial Thoughts 27:15 Reflecting on High School Relationships 27:40 The Impact of a Memorable Book 28:15 Analyzing Romance in Literature 31:22 A Heart-Wrenching Plot Twist 35:32 The Emotional Climax 41:37 Author Insights and Writing Process 50:26 The Power of Romance Genre 59:52 Concluding Thoughts and Future Reads

    1h 3m
  6. 04/16/2025

    Getting Cozy with Iron Flame

    Grab your wine, and prepare for chaos, because Megan and Christiana are diving into the dragon-filled, emotionally explosive world of Iron Flame! In this episode, they break down everything from the slow-burn start (hello war strategy overload) to the emotional gut punches, the messy miscommunication, and the beautifully unhinged character arcs that kept them up way too late reading. From screaming about Xaden and Violet's trust issues to unpacking Nolan's betrayal, this conversation is part therapy session, part theory spiral, and part still trying to understand what even happened. They tackle everything—torture scenes, redemption arcs, venin power, Andarna's importance, color symbolism, and whether anyone in this book knows how to use their words. (Spoiler: they don't.) ✨ Key Takeaways: 🔥 Iron Flame was an intense ride with chaotic energy and a different kind of pacing 🖤 Violet's character growth hit hard—especially after that torture scene. 💔 Xaden + Violet = passion, secrets, bickering, and emotional damage. 🐲 Killing a dragon?! Emotional devastation. Character depth unlocked. 🔮 Venin powers, prophetic nightmares, and the magic of the earth = wild fantasy mechanics we're still processing. 🌀 Redemption arcs (hi Dain & Cat!) gave us something to hold onto in the storm. 🧡 Andarna's presence continues to be quietly powerful and surprisingly essential. 🎨 The color symbolism might mean more than we think... 👀 🌗 Power isn't just destruction—it's choice, growth, and balance. 🥹 We're already desperate for the next book. Let the theory spirals begin. So if you're emotionally wrecked, slightly confused, and full of fantasy-fueled opinions—same. Let's talk it out, scream into the void, and celebrate the mess and magic of this series together.   PODCAST LINKS: Follow the ATWR Pod on IG Megan IG Chris IG Subscribe to Chris's Substack Subscribe to Megan's newsletter

    2h 2m
  7. Fourth Wing: Recap & Review

    04/02/2025

    Fourth Wing: Recap & Review

    In this episode of All Too Well Read, Megan and Christiana take flight into the world of Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. From the very first page to the final gasp-worthy twist, they're recapping it all—favorite quotes, character arcs, dragon dynamics, and all the brutality that is Basgiath. The conversation goes beyond the page as they explore the emotional highs and heartbreaks of the story, dive into the themes of strength, betrayal, and vulnerability, and unpack what it means to create (and consume!) stories that truly move them. Plus, they share their own writing journeys, book boyfriends, and why they're both obsessed with the fantasy genre's unique ability to make them feel seen. Grab your weapons, tighten your saddle straps, and get ready for a ride—because this episode is a wild one. Key Takeaways: Character deep dives into Violet, Xaden, and the most villainous of villains (we're looking at you, Jack Barlow and Dain) Themes of love, loss, and the messy beauty of trusting others—even when secrets abound A behind-the-scenes look at the hosts' own creative journeys and why enjoying the process matters more than chasing perfection Don't Miss: 🔥 Favorite quotes that left us swooning 🐉 Dragon bonds and brutal battles 📚 Final ratings and our Iron Flame anticipation level (spoiler: it's high) PODCAST LINKS: Follow the ATWR Pod on IG Megan IG Christiana IG Subscribe to Christiana's Substack Subscribe to Megan's newsletter

    1h 41m
  8. 03/19/2025

    Pisces Season, Romance Slumps, & The Book That Saved Us: The Paradise Problem💘📚

    It's Pisces season, besties—aka the time to get dreamy, creative, and maybe just a little emotionally unhinged.  In this episode, Megan and Christiana kick things off with all the ways to tap into inspiration during this mystical season before diving into contemporary romance—a genre that's been testing them lately.   But fear not! Just when they thought they'd hit a romance reading slump, The Paradise Problem swooped in and saved the day. They break down why this book restored their faith in the genre (and maybe humanity??), what makes a contemporary romance actually work, and why well-written characters matter so much. Plus, they dive into astrology's influence on creativity, the books that shaped them, and what's next on their reading list.    Key Takeaways:  Pisces season is the ultimate time to get inspired and unlock creativity. (Tap into your main character energy!)  The Paradise Problem pulled us out of a contemporary romance crisis—here's why it worked.  Contemporary romance can be hit or miss, but when it's good, it's SO good.  Character development makes or breaks a story—quirky characters included.  Astrology and storytelling? A match made in the stars.  A strong setting and atmosphere make a romance novel unforgettable.  Emotional depth = the secret sauce to making readers feel everything.  Our TBR list is growing—get ready for some new recs!   So grab your favorite book, channel that Pisces season magic, and let's talk all things love, creativity, and storytelling! LINKS: Follow the ATWR Pod on IG Megan IG Christiana IG Subscribe to Christiana's Substack Subscribe to Megan's newsletter TIME STAMPS 00:00 Celebrating Milestones and Personal Growth 02:50 The Power of Books in Transformative Journeys 04:52 Astrology and Its Influence on Creativity 07:42 Pisces Season: Dreaming and Creating 10:23 Navigating Identity and Authenticity in Creativity 13:00 Exploring Contemporary Romance and Its Trends 28:46 Finding our Way Back to Contemporary Romance 39:32 The Paradise Problem: A Refreshing Read 48:57 Character Depth in Romance 57:57 The Search for More Recommendations

    1h 3m
  9. House of Flame and Shadow Recap & Review 🔥✨

    03/05/2025

    House of Flame and Shadow Recap & Review 🔥✨

    Welcome to the very first episode of All Too Well Read! Megan and Christiana are kicking things off with a deep dive into House of Flame and Shadow, the latest whirlwind from Sarah J. Maas. From jaw-dropping plot twists to swoon-worthy (and sometimes infuriating) character moments, they're spilling all their unfiltered thoughts and feelings. Did this book live up to its reputation? Are we actually okay after that ending? And what does this all mean for the SJM multiverse? Buckle up, book besties, because this is one wild ride. ⚠️ Warning: This episode contains spoilers related to the Throne of Glass series. We advise coming back to this episode once you have completed Kingdom of Ash. Key Takeaways: All Too Well Read is here! Megan and Christiana are turning their long-distance bookish convos into a podcast. Sarah J. Maas rekindled their love for reading, and they have thoughts—especially when it comes to character relationships. House of Flame and Shadow left them with mixed emotions—some moments had them screaming, and not always in a good way. They're big believers in taking time with creative work and avoiding rushed storytelling. The blending of worlds in this book? A game-changer. So grab your favorite cozy drink and get ready to gush, rant, and swoon over books with us! Follow & Subscribe  Follow the pod on IG  Follow Megan on IG  Follow Christiana on IG Time Stamps 00:00 Welcome to All Too Well Read 02:37 Intro of Megan and Christiana 08:39 House of Flame and Shadow Review 10:48 Overall Expectations 15:11 Expectations vs. Reality in Storytelling 21:19 Things that didn't work for us 35:20 Things we absolutely loved 40:35 Connections to the Throne of Glass Universe 49:24 Unanswered questions we still have 58:19 Our Biggest Clowns 01:06:56 Book Boyfriends and Character Dynamics 01:10:23 Favorite Lines 01:12:04 Our final rating 01:13:55 Looking Ahead: Next Adventures in Fantasy

    1h 18m

About

📖✨ Welcome to All Too Well Read—the bookish podcast where your hosts, Megan & Christiana, dive into everything we love about books—from swoon-worthy romances to epic fantasy adventures and everything in between. As a couple of Swifties who believe in the magic of words, we're obsessed with the stories that make us feel all the things. We know what it's like to be consumed by a book all too well. Whether we're dissecting the latest fantasy world, gushing over our current book boyfriends, or exploring the creative process, we're here to fangirl, clown around, and celebrate the power of storytelling. So grab your favorite cozy read, a cup of coffee (or glass of wine!), and join us as we read everything, feel everything, and fall in love with books over and over again. 📚💫