53 episodes

Join indie romance author Summer O’Toole and Best Friend Kelsey as they chat, laugh, and swoon over fictional men with often questionable morals.

The HEA Book Club: Reading Romance with Friends Summer O’Toole

    • Arts
    • 4.1 • 10 Ratings

Join indie romance author Summer O’Toole and Best Friend Kelsey as they chat, laugh, and swoon over fictional men with often questionable morals.

    Ep. 53: United States of Anarchy | The Twisted Sisters with Book Bestie Lindsey

    Ep. 53: United States of Anarchy | The Twisted Sisters with Book Bestie Lindsey

    Ep. 53: United States of Anarchy | The Twisted Sisters with Book Bestie Lindsey
    Join us for our second to last episode of the HEA Book Club where I'm joined by Mary the Viberarian and Book Bestie Lindsey to talk the wild west of Why Choose: The Twisted Sisters in all their out of pocket glory. 
     
    We dissect how these authors create multi-series universes and layer in characters that keep you hooked as well as whether or not Rogue is a pick-me and the Why Choose archetypes. 
     
    Books mentioned by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti:
    The Harlequin Crew series
    The Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac 

    • 39 min
    Ep. 52: The Romantic Psychopath | Marrow with Brynne Weaver and Trisha Wolfe

    Ep. 52: The Romantic Psychopath | Marrow with Brynne Weaver and Trisha Wolfe

    Ep. 52: The Romantic Psychopath | Marrow with Brynne Weaver and Trisha Wolfe
    In this episode of the HEA Book Club, we sit down with co-authors Brynne Weaver and Trisha Wolfe to talk about their latest release: Marrow.
     
    Marrow is a rival serial killer romance and we discuss the intersection between glitter and psychopathy (hint: it's cozy).
     
    You can find these two talented authors on Instagram @Trisha_wolfe and  @Brynne_weaver
     

    • 58 min
    Ep. 51: Dream Jobs and Jizz-Flavored Mints | Bookish Businesses with Bruce and Asscrack

    Ep. 51: Dream Jobs and Jizz-Flavored Mints | Bookish Businesses with Bruce and Asscrack

    Ep. 51: Dream Jobs and Jizz-Flavored Mints | Bookish Businesses with Bruce and Asscrack
     
    Ever wondered what it takes to quit your 9 to 5 to talk about smut all day? Kristie from Between the Wines Consulting and Samantha from the SmutHood have carved out niches for themselves in the spicy book world. 
     
    But I can’t promise this will be a how-to episode. We take some unruly tangents to Alcatraz, foot vaginas, mattress humping and bonkers romance tropes. 
     
    I hope you laugh listening to this as much as we did recording and that your intercourse usually involves less teeth. 
     
    Mentioned: 
    SmutHood Facebook group 
    SmutHood Authors group (& book tours)
    Between the Wines Consulting
     
    Episodes you may also like:
    -First episode with Kristie: Episode 7
    -More bookish businesses with The Last Chapter Book Shop: Episode 35
     
    Books Mentioned:
    The Blood We Crave by Monty Jay
    Burn With Me by Lucy Smoke
    Last on the List by Amy Daws
    Tempt by Melanie Harlow
    American Queen by Sierra Simone
    Stupid Cupid and Dear Monster Claus by Maeve Black
    Desperate Measures by Katee Robert

    • 50 min
    Ep. 50: Dick Photo Albums and Alien Invasions | Interview with Author Marie Maravilla

    Ep. 50: Dick Photo Albums and Alien Invasions | Interview with Author Marie Maravilla

    Ep. 50: Dick Photo Albums and Alien Invasions | Interview with Author Marie Maravilla
     
    As always, we had a great time catching up with friend and author Marie Maravilla. Co-host this week was Val and we started off strong with valentine presents from our favorite, crazy book boyfriends. 
     
    Marie recently released her second book and first Why Choose romance, an absolute action-packed book with a cast of absolutely bonkers characters. We talk all about writing Syndicate of Sins, our favorite funny moments and steamy sex scenes. 
     
    At the end of the day, this episode is about owning your strengths, being unapologetically yourself and not shying away from pushing the limits. 
     
    Mentioned: Tiffany Robert’s Patreon for all your NSFW art needs and Fated Romance Box & Shop
     
    Episodes you may also like:
    -First interview with Marie: Episode 33
    -Interview with Fated Romance co-owners: Episode 31
     
    Books Mentioned:
    Skeletons of Society by Marie Maravilla
    Syndicate of Sins by Marie Maravilla
     

    • 58 min
    Ep. 49: Ruining Our pH and Our Sanity | Lee Jacquot’s Holinight Novellas with Malika

    Ep. 49: Ruining Our pH and Our Sanity | Lee Jacquot’s Holinight Novellas with Malika

    Ep. 49: Ruining Our pH and Our Sanity | Lee Jacquot’s Holinight Novellas with Malika
     
    “I’ve seen this women across the street and I’ve thrown her over my shoulder and kidnapped her and we’re in love and now she’s pregnant and the whole thing is 50 pages.” 
     
    We are talking spicy novellas this week! Malika and I chat about Lee Jacquot’s A Holinight Novella series and break down Lee’s recipe for a perfect smutty novella. We may or may not have also planned Lee’s next four books for her…unbeknownst to her. 
     
    Novellas are well loved because they operate by different rules than regular romance novels, but for Malika, some things go too far and she has to protect what normal she has left. But not too normal, Orcs are still the hottest monsters and anything with tentacles. 
     
    Mentioned: Tiffany Robert’s Patreon for all your NSFW art needs
     
    Episodes you may also like:
    -Ep. 8: Interview with Elizbeth Stephens and Xiveri Mate books 1-2
    -Ep. 27: Creature Cafe and Jessa Kane with Literary Alexandra
    -Ep. 48: Writing Process with Naomi Loud
    -Ep. 6: Smutty Novellas with Molly Doyle 
     
    Books Mentioned:
    Holinight Novellas by Lee Jacquot
    Desert Island by Olivia T Turner
    When the Farmer Met the City Girl by Jessa Kane
    Cookies For My Orc Neighbor by Michele Mills
    Ensnared by Tiffany Roberts 
    Was I Ever Real by Naomi Loud
    Room Twenty-Two by Mila Crawford
    Xiveri Mates by Elizabeth Stephens
    Creature Cafe by Clio Evans
     

    • 43 min
    Ep. 48: We’re Freaking Out But It’s Fine | Indie Publishing and Writing Sequels with Author Naomi Loud

    Ep. 48: We’re Freaking Out But It’s Fine | Indie Publishing and Writing Sequels with Author Naomi Loud

    Ep. 48: We’re Freaking Out But It’s Fine | Indie Publishing and Writing Sequels with Author Naomi Loud
     
    I’m not freaking out, you’re freaking out! Summer and Naomi talk about their hopes and anxieties about their upcoming dark romance releases. 
     
    We also dive into our best advice for new authors, writers in general. Summer and Naomi have two very different takes on how they view themselves as artists. 
     
    This episode will be great for anyone who has a story to tell but suffers from imposter syndrome or writer’s block–you can do it!
     
    Follow along with our releases on instagram:
    @Naomi.Loud
    @SummerOtoole
     
    Books mentioned:
    Hate Me by Summer O'Toole
    Was I Ever Real by Naomi Loud
     

    • 47 min

Customer Reviews

4.1 out of 5
10 Ratings

10 Ratings

Haylee_Marlene ,

Bestie Vibes

Okay, I want to start out by saying I was introduced to Summer through her books via booktok. Shoutout to Pamlikestoread (Tiktok handle) for the introduction of Stolen At Sea! Which I fell in love with, btw!!

Anyways, enough of the origin!!

This feels like you’re sitting in on a FaceTime with two besties. The book community is super supporting and we all enjoy books.. what a way to communicate them through a podcast! I love this!!

This episode in particular touches base on some of my favorite topics - spicy novellas!!

Much pleasure listening to you gals!

cosmoqueen99 ,

LOVE

Awe I just love this podcast. I love the banter in between talking about the books. also….give us all the spicy book recs. ☺️

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