Escape with Me Bookclub

Lunar Skulk Productions

Come with us as we evade reality and escape into a new book. From mystery to romance to speculative fiction, we read books from all different kinds of books and love to get together and talk about these books.

  1. 5d ago

    Fourth Wing -

    Episode 179 - Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros It finally happened. After months (okay... years) of recommendations, Kaitlyn has finally convinced Sam (the podcast's biggest skeptic) to read one of the biggest fantasy books of the decade. The pressure was on. When seemingly everyone around you loves a book, can you still judge it on its own merits? Sam certainly tries. In this episode, Sam and Kaitlyn discuss: Sam's long-awaited first read of Fourth WingWhether the hype helped or hurt the experienceThe worldbuilding, dragons, romance, and actionDisability representation in the bookWhether Sam's expectations were changed or confirmedWhether you're a devoted fan, a curious skeptic, or somewhere in between, join us as we dive into one of BookTok's biggest sensations. New episodes every Monday at 8 AM EST ✨ Next week: Death on the Lanai by Rachel Ekstrom Courage ⏱️ Time Stamps 00:00 Intro 01:13 Background 05:35 About the Author 13:04 Age Level & Content Warning 13:45 Judge a Book by Its Cover 15:17 Discussion 01:30:46 General Thoughts 01:34:12 One Question for the Author 01:36:20 Eyebrows and Dain's Beard 01:37:37 Rating 01:39:15 Read Again? 01:42:04 What Next? 01:43:12 Outro 📖 Follow the Author - Rebecca Yarros Website: https://rebeccayarros.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RebeccaElizabethYarros/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccayarros/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rebeccayarros Pinterest: https://au.pinterest.com/rebeccayarros/ 🔗 Connect with Us on SocialsFacebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575460276754Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/lunar_skulk/TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/lunar_skulk⁠⁠⁠⁠🎧 Listen Wherever You Get Podcasts

    Fourth Wing -
  2. Jul 13

    Secrets of My Hollywood Life - Forgot the Entire First Book

    Episode 178 - Secrets of My Hollywood Life by Jen Calonita Can a book be nostalgic if you barely remember reading it? Sam first read Secrets of My Hollywood Life back in middle school and remembers loving the series. Here's the strange part: she can still recall events from later books, but she'd completely forgotten the plot of the very first one, including the fact that the main character spends the book trying to attend a normal high school. So how does a childhood favorite hold up when you remember the series but not the beginning? Sam and Danielle discuss: -Revisiting a YA favorite nearly 20 years later -Why Book 1 felt almost like a brand-new read -The celebrity-meets-normal-life premise -Which parts still work today and which feel very much like the mid-2000's -Whether this series deserves a modern reread There's something fascinating about rediscovering a story you thought you knew. This episode is part nostalgia trip, part first-time reaction, and all kinds of fun. New episodes every Monday at 8 AM EST ✨ Next week: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros ⏱️ Time Stamps 00:00 Intro 01:46 Background 09:15 Age Level & Content Warning 13:00 Judge a Book by Its Cover 14:26 Discussion 43:37 General Thoughts 46:12 One Question for the Author 49:16 Rating 50:35 Read Again? 51:29 Outro 📖 Follow the Author: Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.jencalonitaonline.com/⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/jencalonitabooks⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jencalonita/⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/JenCalonita⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@jencalonitaofficial ⁠⁠⁠🔗 Connect with Us on Socials Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575460276754 Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/lunar_skulk/ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/lunar_skulk⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎧 Listen Wherever You Get Podcasts

    Secrets of My Hollywood Life - Forgot the Entire First Book
  3. Jul 6

    Disney After Dark - Does Anyone Remember this Series?

    Episode 177 - Disney After Dark by Ridley Pearson This might be the most unhinged premise we've ever covered. Thanks to Keira's special interest in the Disney Parks, we discovered the Kingdom Keepers series and after reading the first book, we have just one question: Who approved this? Every night, five middle schoolers are teleported into Walt Disney World Resort while they sleep. Their mission? Save the parks from the Disney villains, solve a mystery connected to Walt Disney himself, and keep the Magic Kingdom from falling into chaos. Is it completely ridiculous? Absolutely. Is it giving serious Disney Channel Original Movie energy? Without question. Are we immediately committing to the rest of the series? Also yes. In this episode, Sam and Keira discuss: -Why this premise somehow works despite being completely bonkers -Keira's Disney Parks knowledge and how it changes the reading experience -The campy adventure vibes -Whether this deserves its cult following -Why we're absolutely continuing the series Sometimes the weirdest books become the most fun to talk about. New episodes every Monday at 8 AM EST ✨ Next week: Secrets of My Hollywood Life by Jen Calonita ⏱️ Time Stamps 00:00 Intro 01:01 About the Author 03:53 Background 06:29 Age Level & Content Warning 08:01 Judge a Book by Its Cover 46:27 General Thoughts 47:46 One Question for the Author 52:29 Rating 53:42 Read Again? 54:41 Outro 📖 Follow the Author - Ridley Pearson Website: https://ridleypearson.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thekingdomkeepers Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ridleypearson YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ridleyp Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ridleypearson/ 🔗 Connect with Us on Socials Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575460276754 Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/lunar_skulk/ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/lunar_skulk ⁠⁠⁠⁠🎧 Listen Wherever You Get Podcasts

    Disney After Dark - Does Anyone Remember this Series?
  4. Jul 4

    The Well of Ascension - Second for Better or Worse

    Episode 176 - The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson Is being a "middle book" an excuse... or a flaw? Sam and James continue their journey through the Mistborn trilogy with The Well of Ascension, and while they agree on one thing (that this is very much a second book in a trilogy) they couldn't disagree more on whether that's a compliment. For Sam, "middle book syndrome" means one thing: filler until the finale. For James, it's exactly what a sequel should do: build anticipation and make you desperate to read the final book. In this episode, we discuss: -Whether The Well of Ascension suffers from middle-book syndrome -The political intrigue, character development, and expanding world of The Final Empire -What makes a great second book in a trilogy -Whether this installment stands on its own or exists primarily to set up the finale -And whether we'll settle the debate or simply agree to disagree. If you've ever argued about whether a sequel is "all setup" or "necessary development," this episode is for you. New episodes every Monday at 8 AM EST ✨ Next week: Disney After Dark by Ridley Pearson ⏱️ Time Stamps 00:00 Intro 00:51 Background 05:11 Age Level & Content Warning 06:07 Judge a Book by Its Cover 07:49 Discussion 01:00:07 General Thoughts 01:01:24 One Question for the Author 01:05:56 Read Again? 01:07:21 Favorite of the Series so Far 01:09:32 Death of the Author? 01:11:24 Outro 📚 Follow the Author: Website: https://www.brandonsanderson.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrandSanderson/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandsanderson/ Twitter: https://x.com/BrandSanderson TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorbrandonsanderson YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrandSanderson 🔗 Connect with Us on Socials Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575460276754 Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/lunar_skulk/ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/lunar_skulk ⁠⁠⁠⁠🎧 Listen Wherever You Get Podcasts

    The Well of Ascension - Second for Better or Worse
  5. Jun 23

    Somewhere Beyond the Sea - We Weren't Prepared

    Episode 175 - Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune We thought we knew what we were getting into. After loving The House in the Cerulean Sea for its cozy, heartwarming vibe and hopeful message, Sam and Hannah went into Somewhere Beyond the Sea expecting something similar. We were not prepared. This sequel keeps the compassion and humanity of the first book, but the conversations become much heavier. What starts as a return to a beloved world quickly turns into a discussion about prejudice, fear, belonging, and the weight of trying to create a better future. We talk about: -Why the tone feels so different from the first book -The themes that hit much harder than expected -Whether the sequel succeeds because of that shift -And why this might be a book that deserves a content warning conversation before recommending it We'd still gift Cerulean Sea to almost anyone. Somewhere Beyond the Sea? We'd gift it with a long conversation attached. New episodes every Monday at 8 AM EST ✨ Next week: The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson ⏱️ Time Stamps 00:00 Intro 01:02 Background 02:54 Age Level & Content Warning 04:38 Discussion 01:02:01 One Question for the Author 01:07:01 Rating 01:07:51 Read Again? 01:08:52 Favorite of the Series 01:13:07 Outro 📚 Follow the Author: Website: ⁠https://www.tjklunebooks.com/⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/tjklunebooks/ ⁠⁠Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/tjklune⁠ 🔗 Connect with Us on Socials Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575460276754 Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/lunar_skulk/ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/lunar_skulk⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎧 Listen Wherever You Get Podcasts

    Somewhere Beyond the Sea - We Weren't Prepared
  6. Jun 8

    Sunrise on the Reaping - Best Hunger Games Book?

    Episode 173 - Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins After more than a decade of encouragement, recommendations, and relentless badgering from Danielle, Sam is finally caught up on the entire Hunger Games book series. Mission accomplished. Now comes the next challenge: convincing her to watch the movies. But first, we have to answer a much bigger question: Is Sunrise on the Reaping the best Hunger Games book? Danielle says no. Sam is prepared to make her case. We discuss: • Sam's first-time reaction to the newest Hunger Games novel • Whether it belongs at the top of the series ranking • The themes that make the book resonate so strongly • How it changes the way we view the rest of the series • Sam's increasingly controversial Hunger Games reading order: Book 1 → Sunrise on the Reaping → Book 2 → The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes → Book 3 Whether you agree or disagree, this episode is packed with Hunger Games discussion, rankings, and probably a few hot takes. New episodes every Monday at 8 AM EST ✨ Next week: The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis ⏱️ Time Stamps 00:00 Intro 00:51 Background 08:09 Age Level & Content Warning 8:33 Judge a Book by Its Cover 10:12 Discussion 58:13 General Thoughts 01:04:50 One Question for the Author 01:06:05 Rating 01:06:58 Poetry in the Book 01:08:26 Favorite of the Series 01:10:10 Reading Order 01:12:28 Outro 📖 Follow the Author - Suzanne Collins Website: https://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/ 🔗 Connect with Us on Socials Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575460276754 Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/lunar_skulk/ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/lunar_skulk⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎧 Listen Wherever You Get Podcasts

    Sunrise on the Reaping - Best Hunger Games Book?
  7. Jun 2

    "Just Get Past the First Book" - Throne of Glass by Sara J. Maas

    Episode 172 - Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas “You just need to get past the first book.” That was the recommendation. Repeatedly. So Sam and Kaitlyn finally picked up Throne of Glass and… oh boy. We get into what worked, what absolutely did not, and the question we kept circling back to the entire episode: Why did people keep reading this series? From characterization to pacing to the overall reading experience, we unpack why this first entry was a rough ride for both of us while also trying to understand the absolutely legendary reader loyalty surrounding Sarah J. Maas. Honestly, the author’s ability to inspire devotion deserves academic study. We talk about: • First-time reactions to Throne of Glass • Why the “it gets better later” recommendation is so fascinating • What did (and didn’t) work for us • Whether we understand the fandom… at all If you’ve ever pushed through a first book because everyone swore the series improves, this one is for you. New episodes every Monday at 8 AM EST ✨ Next week: Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins ⏱️ Time Stamps 00:00 Intro 01:51 Background 06:35 Age Level & Content Warning 08:21 Judge a Book by Its Cover 10:46 Discussion 01:05:32 General Thoughts 01:08:36 One Question for the Author 01:09:57 Rating 01:10:59 Read Again? 01:11:40 Outro 📖 Follow the Author - Sarah J. Maas Website: https://sarahjmaas.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theworldofsarahjmaas/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahjmaas/ Twitter: https://x.com/SJMaas TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sarahjmaas 🔗 Connect with Us on Socials Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575460276754 Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/lunar_skulk⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/lunar_skulk ⁠⁠⁠🎧 Listen Wherever You Get Podcasts

    "Just Get Past the First Book" - Throne of Glass by Sara J. Maas

Ratings & Reviews

4.3
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Come with us as we evade reality and escape into a new book. From mystery to romance to speculative fiction, we read books from all different kinds of books and love to get together and talk about these books.

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