In Bed With Books

Melissa
  • 4.8 (5)
  • BOOKS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

A bookish podcast for bookish babes. Hosted by Melissa, a former academic and long-time lover of fantasy, romance, and literature. Join me every Monday for new episodes! Where to find the pod >> Instagram: https://instagram.com/inbedwithbookspod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InBedWithBooksPod Email: inbedwithbookspodcast@gmail.com

  1. APR 9

    Heiress of Nowhere: Historical Gothic Romance Book Review

    In this week’s episode, I’m talking about my latest read: Heiress of Nowhere by Stacey Lee. This book was offered as an ARC by the publisher. Heiress of Nowhere is the latest release from author Stacey Lee. This book follows Lucy, an orphan and heiress to her benefactor’s vast estate, racing to uncover a killer. Stuck on a small island off the coast of Washington, Lucy navigates folklore, local superstition, and myths of demons controlling whales, as two men she’s known all her life suddenly decide that now would be a good time to feud for her affections. Will she choose the dashing almost-inheritor of the estate who she’s convinced has always ignored her but is clearly in love with her? Or her life-long best friend whose anger issues seem to override her goals at every turn? Lucy vows to use her newfound wealth to solve her employer’s death, and maybe figure out who her parents are in the process. Along the way, she goes from orphan, whose only relations are her coworkers at the estate, to someone with a lush life, full of love, learning, and family. It's a mystery set near the end of World War I, but the isolation of Orcas island and of Lucy’s life, the ever-present natural life, and the subtle, unexplainable fantastical elements balance the beautiful and the sublime of Lucy's coming of age. You can buy the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/54661/9781665978965 You can learn more about Stacey Lee and her work here: https://www.staceyhlee.com/ If you have an author, book, or topic you want to hear about on the podcast, then don't hesitate to slide into my DMs on Instagram or shoot me an email! Subscribe to my newsletter to keep up to date on the latest podcast happenings: https://in-bed-with-books.kit.com/76d11f1d51 Where else to find me: IG: @inbedwithbookspod YT: https://www.youtube.com/@InBedWithBooksPod EM: inbedwithbookspodcast@gmail.com Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 00:45 Setting My Book Rating Standards 02:28 About Heiress of Nowhere 06:46 From Kitchen Orphan to True Crime Heiress 17:26 Love Triangle (Or Not) 28:20 Isolation of Orcas Island 30:54 Breadcrumbing the Mystery 36:08 Final Thoughts 37:05 Upcoming Things for In Bed with Books 37:42 Closing Remarks

    39 min

  2. MAR 27

    Petty Revenge or Justice Served? Interview with Sally Kilpatrick, author of "Little Miss Petty"

    In this episode of In Bed with Books, I’m joined by Sally Kilpatrick, author of Little Miss Petty! It was fantastic getting to speak with her about the inspiration for the book, the generations of characters, and the romance between the book’s main character, Stella Stark, and her mysterious new neighbor, Malone. Little Miss Petty follows Stella Stark, a private investigator forced to take on a side hustle after her boyfriend and business partner cheats on her, pushing her out of the business they built together. Her side hustle? Dealing out petty revenge for people seeking justice. Her work hits a snag when she can’t seem to crack the soon-to-be-ex-husband of one of her clients. He defies every expectation her client has created, and proves Stella’s expectations of men wrong so many times that she starts to question her cynical ways. Kilpatrick and I discussed the inspiration for the novel - another person in power getting away with things they shouldn’t because of money - as well as the inspiration for the leading man, Malone. In her own words, Malone is the wholesome, non-toxic man who begs the question, do you need to get a better man? A major theme within the novel is generations and we got to chat about how Stark and her new friends, Salcedo and Havisham, show Stark about the importance of friendships alongside romantic relationships. Inspired by the philosophy of Practical Magic, the women plot their petty revenge, while daring the universe to send them real love. You can learn more about Sally Kilpatrick here: https://www.sallykilpatrick.com/ You can buy the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/54661/9781662532474 If you have an author, book, or topic you want to hear about on the podcast, then don't hesitate to slide into my DMs on Instagram or shoot me an email! Subscribe to my newsletter to keep up to date on the latest podcast happenings: https://in-bed-with-books.kit.com/76d11f1d51 Where else to find me: IG: @inbedwithbookspod YT: https://www.youtube.com/@InBedWithBooksPod EM: inbedwithbookspodcast@gmail.com

    52 min

  3. MAR 4

    Interview with Author Jayne Ann Krentz: Powerful Women and Romantic-Suspense in "The Shop on Hidden Lane"

    This week, I was joined by author Jayne Ann Krentz to talk about her recent release, The Shop on Hidden Lane. You might know her as Jayne Castle, if you’re familiar with her futuristic/paranormal romantic-suspense or Amanda Quick, if you know her historical romantic-suspense. The Shop on Hidden Lane is the most recent publication in Krentz 'decades-long career writing romance. In it, Sophy and Luke have to set aside their families’ generations-long feud so they can find their missing aunt and uncle. Krentz dives into what draws her to love stories like Sophy and Luke’s (hint: men who don’t cower in the presence of powerful women), and the importance of timelines in romantic-suspense - sometimes there’s spice on page 60 and that’s why we’re here! We also talked about what originally drew her to writing romance, how the landscape of romance publishing has changed in recent years, and how that helps it persist in the face of criticism. You can buy the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/54661/9798217187348 You can learn more about Jayne here: https://jayneannkrentz.com/ If you have an author, book, or topic you want to hear about on the podcast, then don't hesitate to slide into my DMs on Instagram or shoot me an email! Subscribe to my newsletter to keep up to date on the latest podcast happenings: https://in-bed-with-books.kit.com/76d11f1d51 Where else to find me: IG: @inbedwithbookspod YT: https://www.youtube.com/@InBedWithBooksPod EM: inbedwithbookspodcast@gmail.com

    1h 3m

  4. FEB 17

    Inside "Songs of Ash and Dawn": Author Gabrielle Wanek on Grief, Isolation, and How the Real World Shapes Fiction

    This week, I sat down with author Gabrielle Wanek to talk about her latest release, Songs of Ash and Dawn. Wanek explores themes of isolation and grief as her main character, Aidan, navigates the grief of losing her grandmother in the face of an evil hunting down magic users like her. Gabrielle and I talked about her writing process and her inspiration – like deciding “I can do better than that,” while watching Game of Thrones – and the ways that covid lockdown influenced the theme of isolation into Songs of Ash and Dawn. We explored some of the seeds that grew into Aidan and Cora, the main point of views in the first book of this series, and how her relationship with her own grandmother helped shape Aidan’s arc. Throughout the conversation, we discussed what influenced the building of this world, and how Wanek’s background in video game development helped hone her skills in that. You can read the first three chapters of Songs of Ash and Dawn on her website here: https://www.songsofashanddawn.com/ You can buy the book here: https://a.co/d/0izRDZ6d You can find her self-help book here: https://a.co/d/0gj7BuDq If you have an author, book, or topic you want to hear about on the podcast, then don't hesitate to slide into my DMs on Instagram or shoot me an email! Subscribe to my newsletter to keep up to date on the latest podcast happenings: https://in-bed-with-books.kit.com/76d11f1d51 Where else to find me: IG: @inbedwithbookspod YT: https://www.youtube.com/@InBedWithBooksPod EM: inbedwithbookspodcast@gmail.com

    50 min
  5. Let’s Talk "Babel": Power, Language, and Resistance in Dark Academia

    11/25/2025

    Let’s Talk "Babel": Power, Language, and Resistance in Dark Academia

    In this episode of In Bed With Books, I’m joined by my friend Michelle Craft for a chat about our recent buddy read, Babel by R.F. Kuang. We start the conversation with a close reading of the full title, Babel, or The Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translator’s Revolution, asking what we can consider violence, and how it builds on itself. Kuang’s commentary on colonialism and empire, its exploration of language as power and the emotional destruction of the ending (yes, there be spoilers), feels like just the beginning of this conversation. Tune in as Michelle and I also take a look at some of the biggest critiques of the book - its over-intellectualized style, as well as the accusation of it being too obvious, and how those things can both exist in the novel. Kuang’s homage to 19th century writing shines in this, and Michelle and I have a blast talking about how that, as well as the choice to write the story through Robin’s eyes, drive home the dark academia vibes and the inevitability of the novel’s conclusion. Whether you loved Babel, were haunted by it, or are on the fence about the delivery of its message, have a listen. You can learn more about Michelle and her work here: https://www.soulhealingwithmichelle.com/ If you have an author, book, or topic you want to hear about on the podcast, then don't hesitate to slide into my DMs on Instagram or shoot me an email! Subscribe to my newsletter to keep up to date on the latest podcast happenings: https://in-bed-with-books.kit.com/76d11f1d51 Where else to find me: IG: @inbedwithbookspod YT: https://www.youtube.com/@InBedWithBooksPod EM: inbedwithbookspodcast@gmail.com

    1h 11m
  6. Inside "Original Sinner": Author Kait Ballenger on Lucifer, Dark Romance & Fantasy Worldbuilding

    11/18/2025

    Inside "Original Sinner": Author Kait Ballenger on Lucifer, Dark Romance & Fantasy Worldbuilding

    This week on In Bed With Books, I’m joined by author Kait Ballenger to talk about her dark and sexy paranormal romance, Original Sinner. The book follows Charlotte, a budding PR agent for a luxury company in NYC, who finds herself thrust into the middle of her boss’ sibling rivalry. Except that her boss is Lucifer and the siblings are the other 6 deadly sins. Kait and I start the conversation by looking at the books and myths that influenced Charlotte and Lucifer’s story. She let us in on her writing process, explaining why this story makes the most sense as a dark romance, since we get to see them explore their trauma through kink and BDSM dynamics (it’s a spicy one, folks!), letting the dark romance context exist as a space for healing, empowerment, and emotional honesty. Kait also discusses her worldbuilding process, how the idea of the seven deadly sins as billionaires came to be, and how this all helped balance out the emotional side of Charlotte’s healing arc. To round things out, Kait gives us a sneak peek at where we can expect to see our lovers go in books two and three! You’ll see book three on shelves in May of next year! If you’re still trying to scratch the Hades/Persephone itch, love paranormal, dark romance, or a (genuinely!) morally gray love interest, then add Original Sinner to your tbr. For more information on Kait: https://www.kaitballenger.com/ Original Sinner (The Original Sinners #1): https://bookshop.org/a/54661/9781662528873 Wicked Believer (The Original Sinners #2): https://bookshop.org/a/54661/9781662528880 If you have an author, book, or topic you want to hear about on the podcast, then don't hesitate to slide into my DMs on Instagram or shoot me an email! Subscribe to my newsletter to keep up to date on the latest podcast happenings: https://in-bed-with-books.kit.com/76d11f1d51 Where else to find me: IG: @inbedwithbookspod YT: https://www.youtube.com/@InBedWithBooksPod EM: inbedwithbookspodcast@gmail.com

    53 min
  7. Inside "Honeymoon Stage" | Author Margaux Eliot on Reality TV, Feminism & the Psychology of Fame

    11/12/2025

    Inside "Honeymoon Stage" | Author Margaux Eliot on Reality TV, Feminism & the Psychology of Fame

    For this week’s episode, I got to sit down with author Margaux Eliot to talk about her nostalgic but dark debut novel, Honeymoon Stage. Set against the early years of celebreality TV in the aughts, Honeymoon Stage is part romance, part chaos, and all sharp commentary on the way we consume women in the media. Margaux shares why she wrote the novel under a pen name (you can also find her under her real name, Julia Fine), how her gothic speculative fiction helped shape this book, and what she learned about reality television and our need to observe the unobservable while researching for this. Together, we unpack isolation as an integral part of celebrity and reality television, the treatment of women like Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson in the media, how those stories shaped a generation’s view of femininity and success, and how that view is changing in just a couple of decades. You can find Honeymoon Stage in bookstores now! Grab a copy here: https://bookshop.org/a/54661/9781662533105 You can learn more about Margaux Eliot here: https://www.julia-fine.com/ If you have an author, book, or topic you want to hear about on the podcast, then don't hesitate to slide into my DMs on Instagram or shoot me an email! Subscribe to my newsletter to keep up to date on the latest podcast happenings: https://in-bed-with-books.kit.com/76d11f1d51 Where else to find me: IG: @inbedwithbookspod YT: https://www.youtube.com/@InBedWithBooksPod EM: inbedwithbookspodcast@gmail.com

    50 min
  8. The Ethics of Fandom: What “Alchemised” Reveals About Publishing in 2025

    11/04/2025

    The Ethics of Fandom: What “Alchemised” Reveals About Publishing in 2025

    This week’s episode is part two of my chat with Kristin, and we’re continuing our chat on Harry Potter but from a slightly different angle. In the second half of our conversation, we’re (at times unseriously) looking at one of the biggest and most complicated conversations in the book world right now: the Alchemised controversy and what it says about fanfiction, publishing, and existing IP. In this episode, we dig into whether the art and the artist can be separated in cases like this, and we bring up some of our favorite examples – Fifty Shades of Gray, The Love Hypothesis, Dead Romantics. But we also look at the bigger picture about how fandom culture shapes publishing, and how we can answer questions about ownership and moral responsibility when AI has also entered the chat. Of course, it wouldn't be a Kristin chat without several tangents, so tune in for additional conversation on our recent reads (including some dark romance), taboos, and where we draw the line when reading these. Question: Do you think the art and the artist can be separated? Tell us in the comments below. If you have an author, book, or topic you want to hear about on the podcast, then don't hesitate to slide into my DMs on Instagram or shoot me an email! Subscribe to my newsletter to keep up to date on the latest podcast happenings: https://in-bed-with-books.kit.com/76d11f1d51 Where else to find me: IG: @inbedwithbookspod YT: https://www.youtube.com/@InBedWithBooksPod EM: inbedwithbookspodcast@gmail.com

    1h 6m
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4.8
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

A bookish podcast for bookish babes. Hosted by Melissa, a former academic and long-time lover of fantasy, romance, and literature. Join me every Monday for new episodes! Where to find the pod >> Instagram: https://instagram.com/inbedwithbookspod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InBedWithBooksPod Email: inbedwithbookspodcast@gmail.com

Information

  • Creator
    Melissa
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    101
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © In Bed with Books 2021
  • Show Website
    In Bed With Books