Freida McFadden’s The Housemaid has taken TikTok, BookTok, and every library hold list by storm, but does this psychological thriller actually live up to the hype? In this episode, we dive into the wild plot twists, questionable character logic, audiobook chaos, and why this book feels like the literary equivalent of junk food… in the best (and worst) way.

From Millie’s “fresh out of prison but still somehow naïve?” behavior to Enzo absolutely stealing the show, we get into everything that worked, everything that absolutely didn’t, and whether The Housemaid deserves its bestseller status. We also talk reading slumps, social book club picks, and the upcoming movie adaptation starring Amanda Seyfried, Sydney Sweeney, and Michelle Morrone.

✨ In this episode:

• Spoiler-free recap of The Housemaid
• Audiobook thoughts (including that Brooklyn accent)
• Why this book is so bingeable — and so frustrating
• Plot holes, cliffhangers & popcorn-read energy
• Character deep dive: Millie, Nina, Enzo + the rest
• Who should read this book (and who absolutely shouldn’t)
• Movie adaptation casting hot takes
• Our final ratings & book club potential

If you loved Verity, The Last Mrs. Parrish, or fast, twisty psychological thrillers, this episode is for you.

✨ Follow @bookbitsclub on Instagram & TikTok for more book club chaos, recaps, recs, and reviews.

Ever wondered why you pick a book that makes you ugly-cry… and then recommend it to all of your friends? On this episode of Book Bits & Chill, we dig into the brain science of sad books, explore why we keep going back for more, and share the titles that wrecked us (in the best way).

What you'll hear:

• Fiction as therapy: how sad books become safe space
• The empathy magic: why tearing up makes us kinder
• Our 2025 tear-jerker list + why each hit
• Sad Girl Confessionals: standing in the rain, mixtapes, public sobbing

Featured: The Nightingale, Martyr, Atmosphere, Go as a River, The Last Letter + the tear-jerker film Beautiful Boy.

👉 Tap ★★★★★, follow the show, and drop your book that made you cry in the Q&A. New chats every week!

✨ Follow @bookbitsclub on Instagram & TikTok for more book club chaos, recaps, recs, and reviews.

Romantasy readers, this might be the next Maasverse moment. We're sitting down with Bree Grenwich and Parker Lennox, the indie duo behind The Ascended, Riftborne, and Duskbound. Their Sundered Realms series is filled with gods, revenge, trials and star-wielding magic and is taking BookTok by storm.

Discover how they co-write each chapter as best friends, the inspiration behind their universe and why fans are calling The Ascended the next ACOTAR.

Support indie authors:
Purchase The Ascended directly through their website to support Bree and Parker as independent creators, or find it on Amazon.
👉 https://www.grenwichlennox.com/books

What you’ll hear:
• How two friends write every chapter together
• Creating the twin bond and star-powered magic in The Ascended
• Dungeons & Dragons inspiration
• Balancing romance and high fantasy
• Fan casting and Easter eggs
• Reading order and what comes next

The Ascended, Bree Grenwich, Parker Lennox, Romantasy, Fantasy Romance, Maasverse, ACOTAR, Sundered Realms, BookTok, Indie Authors, Riftborne, Duskbound, Trials of Ascension

✨ Follow @bookbitsclub on Instagram & TikTok for more book club chaos, recaps, recs, and reviews.

This week on Book Bits & Chill, we’re diving into Quicksilver by Callie Hart — the dark, chaotic romantasy that has BookTok in a chokehold. With Brimstone right around the corner, we’re serving up a complete Quicksilver recap in under 60 minutes, plus our unfiltered thoughts on whether it still deserves the hype.

From forbidden fae secrets to god-tier spice, we’re revisiting every moment that made this book unforgettable — and testing if it still holds up a year later in our Bookok Tested series. Expect laughter, chaos, and a few heated debates!

✨ In this episode:

• Quicksilver full recap in under 60 minutes
• BookTok Tested Review — does it live up to the BookTok hype?
• Our reactions to the world building, tropes, and shadow-daddy energy
• Who we’d recommend this Romantasy book to
• Final thoughts before Brimstone releases

Whether you’re re-reading Quicksilver, catching up before the sequel drops, or just living your romantasy era, this one’s for you.

📚 Get the book here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/bookbitsclub/list/35VAKXI0EXW4D?ref_=aipsflist

✨ Follow @bookbitsclub on Instagram & TikTok for more book club chaos, recaps, recs, and reviews.

It’s the final battle! We’re wrapping up our recap of A Court of Wings and Ruin (ACOWAR) by Sarah J. Maas in this dramatic, war-focused second part.

War has arrived in Prythian, the wall is down, and the Inner Circle is struggling to unite the High Lords against Hybern. We discuss all the most pivotal, heart-stopping moments:

• Feyre's controversial sacrificial moves
• Tamlin’s unexpected return as a hero
• Mor’s quiet, powerful moment revealing her deepest secret
• Papa Archeron's shocking, tear-jerking sacrifice
• Elain's first and potentially final strike
• Amren’s explosive transformation and the price of her freedom
• Rhysand’s shocking end that had our jaws on the floor

We also debate our official character rankings and dive deep into fan theories about Nesta's power, a potential Throne of Glass crossover, and what’s next for Azriel and the Archeron sisters in ACOTAR 6.

It’s the ultimate Type-B reader debrief—equal parts recap, chaos, and book-best-friend therapy.

✨ Follow @bookbitsclub on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for reels, recaps + Romantasy chaos.

✨ Follow @bookbitsclub on Instagram & TikTok for more book club chaos, recaps, recs, and reviews.

Was A Court of Wings and Ruin really the weakest book in the ACOTAR series—or the one setting up everything still to come?

In this episode of Book Bits & Chill, Cassie and Emily break down A Court of Wings and Ruin (Pt. 1)—from Feyre’s Spring Court takedown through the chaotic High Lords meeting. Expect red flags, unhinged Tamlin moments, and Massiverse fan theories that will change how you see the series.

We’re talking:
• Feyre’s villain era and Spring Court revenge
• Rhys’s communication issues (🚩 on the field)
• Nesta & Amren becoming everyone’s favorite duo
• Why the High Lords meeting felt like a Bravo reunion
• Character rankings that might spark fights in the comments
• The fan theories tying ACOTAR 6 to Crescent City and the Princes of Hell

It’s the ultimate Type-B reader debrief—equal parts recap, chaos, and book-best-friend therapy.

🎧 Listen for Part 2 next week, when we cover the battle, final twists, and our re-review of ACOWAR after the reread.

✨ Follow @bookbitsclub on Instagram & TikTok for more book club chaos, recaps, recs, and reviews.

Some romantasy series have us feral (Fourth Wing). Others… we’re barely holding on (Crescent City, Crowns of Nyaxia, Quicksilver). In this Reader Hotline episode, we debate which hyped series we’ll keep reading — and which ones we’re officially DNF’ing. Expect chaos, hot takes, and a fictional Tinder game you didn’t know you needed.

🔖 Timestamps:
00:00 – Ring, ring! Welcome to the Reader Hotline
04:05 – Divine Rivals verdict
05:52 – Crescent City debate & tattoo bet
08:30 – When the Moon Hatched (dragon fatigue?)
13:47 – Plated Prisoner & Gilded Cage rant
16:39 – Crowns of Nyaxia chaos
19:02 – Rapid-fire: Fourth Wing, Shield of Sparrows, Metal Slinger, Silver Elite
23:36 – Quicksilver reread + Brimstone hype
25:11 – Noctadia & gothic vibes
38:35 – Fictional Tinder game
43:00 – What’s next on the pod

Series Discussed: Fourth Wing, Crescent City, Crowns of Nyaxia, Quicksilver, Divine Rivals, Plated Prisoner, Powerless, and more.

💬 Tell us: which romantasy are you sticking with — and which are you dropping?
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch on YouTube.
📲 Follow @bookbitsclub on Instagram & TikTok.

✨ Follow @bookbitsclub on Instagram & TikTok for more book club chaos, recaps, recs, and reviews.

Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary had us laughing, crying, and questioning whether we’d ever sign up for a one-way ticket to space. From Ryland Grace’s wild survival story to his unlikely bestie Rocky, this book gave us science experiments, emotional gut punches, and one of the best reads of 2025.

We break down everything from the audiobook experience to the accuracy of the science, what makes Andy Weir’s writing so addictive, and whether Ryan Gosling is the right choice for the upcoming Project Hail Mary movie adaptation.

✨ In this episode:

• Project Hail Mary summary & review (spoiler-free overview + reactions)
• Why Ryland & Rocky are the ultimate buddy comedy
• Our thoughts on Andy Weir’s science writing style & humor
• Ending reactions + who should (and shouldn’t) read this book
• Casting hot takes for the Project Hail Mary movie with Ryan Gosling
• Book club potential, final star ratings & recommendations for what to read next

If you loved The Martian, Dark Matter, or just want to join the hype before the movie, this episode is for you.

Get the book here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/bookbitsclub/list/35VAKXI0EXW4D?ref_=aipsflist

✨ Follow @bookbitsclub on Instagram & TikTok for more book club chaos, recaps, recs, and reviews.