Shows
Hearts & DaggersEp. 90: LoveFest (Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend)Summary: For the final episode before our hiatus, it is only fitting that Holly and Devin get to spend an hour gushing about one of their favorite middle grade series, Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend. Written by a queer Australian, these books bring middle grade fantasy into technicolor from black and white. With rich world building, a menagerie of friends, foes, and frights this series will make the hearts race for readers of any age. Reminder: Holly is a new mom! While she spends some time with her evolving family, we’ll be taking a hiatus from the po...
2025-06-1738 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 89: Pregnancy (Ready or Not + Tilt)Summary: Let’s talk about babies, baby! Today our hosts discuss books featuring pregnant protagonists. This is especially timely given that Holly is pregnant (and upon release, perhaps Baby has already arrived!). Whether you’re looking for an unexpected romance or a real look into vulnerability and perseverance, reading works centered on pregnant folks is a great avenue to go down. Note: Given the imminent arrival of Holly’s baby, we will be going on a hiatus after our 90th episode, through the summer and fall. We will keep you all posted from there about what’s next as...
2025-06-0341 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 88: Villainous Jobs (Sign Here + Assistant to the Villain)Summary: Muahaha! Cower in fear, dear listeners, as Holly and Devin discuss villains… who need a paycheck too. Whether you’ve worked in Corporate America or just like to imagine hell as an office building, these books will be a home run. Topics Discussed: The Dagger (3:26): Holly discussed Sign Here by Claudia Lux, a satirical exploration of morality and corporate offices following Peyote Trip, a caseworker in the Deals Department of the fifth floor of Hell. Responsible for securing soups by making deals with humans desperate enough to sign away their afterlives, Peyote is on the c...
2025-05-2046 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 87: Nigeria (The Sweetest Remedy + Gaslight)Summary: E Káàró, friends! Today, Holly and Devin armchair travel to Nigeria. Known for its vibrant culture, diversity, rich artistic heritage and a thriving film industry (Nollywood), this country has so much to explore. With both books set in the bustling city of Lagos, our hosts get to explore the romantic and thrilling aspects of this amazing country. Topics Discussed: The Heart (3:00): Devin discussed The Sweetest Remedy by Jane Igharo, a novel following Hannah Bailey, successful biracial business woman living in San Francisco, who is invited to her estranged father’s funeral - in Lagos...
2025-05-0637 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 86: Apartment Buildings (Lock Every Door + Lease on Love)Summary: Make sure you keep the volume on this episode down so as not to disturb your neighbors! Today, Holly and Devin dive into the wonderful world of apartment buildings. They discuss how stacking people like blocks in a single building can facilitate both a lust for blood as well as good old fashioned lust. Whether you’ve always lived in a single family home and have only seen apartments in shows like Friends or you’re listening to this from an apartment right now, our hosts have got what you need to explore this living situation! Topic...
2025-04-2244 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 85: The Wild West (Lucky Red + Lone Women)Summary: Howdy, partner! Saddle up today and join Holly and Devin as they explore the Wild West - the region of the United States west of the Mississippi River between the 1830s and the early 1900s. Whether you’re looking for love or a spooky thrill, books set in the Wild West are more violent, raw, and connected to the dangers of the wide open plains. Stark and vivid, these stories strip life down to the most basic aspects of human nature and explore what we’ll do to survive. Topics Discussed: The Heart (5:09): Devin discu...
2025-04-0842 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 84: Theme Parks (FantasticLand + Hot Dog Girl)Summary: Hm, is that sound of screaming from the joy of a roller coaster or a stabbing? Today our hosts discuss books set in Theme Parks! Whether like Holly you’re more drawn to the magic and experience of places like DisneyLand or you’re like Devin chasing adrenaline on some of the fastest and most intense roller coasters on earth, there are books that can give you the thrill you’re looking for. Topics Discussed: The Dagger (6:53): Holly discussed FantasticLand by Mike Bockoven, a horror book reminiscent of an adult Lord of the Flies. After a...
2025-03-2550 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 83: Ireland (Last Call at the Local + Strange Sally Diamond)Summary: Grab a pint and cozy up with us to talk all things Ireland on today’s episode! Whether you have Irish blood in your family like Holly or have never visited the country like Devin, the unique and salt-of-the-earth culture of this small island country has captured the hearts and imaginations of authors in every genre. With gray skies and warm, well-lit pubs creating contrast, this country is the ideal intersection between our hosts’ wheelhouses. Topics Discussed: The Heart (3:30): Devin discussed Last Call at the Local by Sarah Grunder Ruiz, a romance following free-spirited Ameri...
2025-03-1137 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 82: Novellas (We Have Always Lived in the Castle + Loathe to Love You)Summary: We’ll make it quick this week, folks! Or not, since Holly and Devin can’t resist waxing poetic about how awesome novellas are. Shorter than a novel, longer than a short story, these ~160 page books really pack a punch. Growing in popularity in Holly’s wheelhouse lately but still more rare in Devin’s, this corner of published works is sometimes overlooked but always worth digging into more deeply, especially if you enjoy watching authors use economy of words to create a world you’re sucked into. Topics Discussed: The Dagger (5:15): Holly discussed We Have Alw...
2025-02-2539 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 81: Young Adult (I Kissed Shara Wheeler + The Grace Year)Summary: Whether you’re young or just young at heart, the explosion of Young Adult novels in the last decade has made an impact on the publishing industry and readers alike. Today, Holly and Devin review YA stories from their wheelhouses, showing us the breadth and depth of YA stories - they can get intense, both romantically and horrifically. Topics Discussed: The Heart (6:23): Devin discussed I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuinston, a YA romance following Chloe Green after her rival and prom queen Shara Wheeler kisses her and then disappears from their small Alabama com...
2025-02-1143 min
Hearts & DaggersEpisode 80: LoveFest (Top Books of 2024)Summary: Welcome to a very special Love Fest to celebrate our 80th episode! Today, Devin and Holly share their top 10 Hearts and Daggers books from 2024. Holly spent the year falling in love with more literary stories from the darker wheelhouse with mic drop endings. Devin’s year was highlighted by audiobooks, digging deeper into cozy romantasy as well as incredibly sexy scenes. Either way, it was a banner year for reading and we hope you had a great one too! Topics Discussed (10:40): The Dagger: 10: Three Assassins by Kotaro Isaka 9: Bluebird, Bluebird by...
2025-01-2848 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 79: Second Chances (My Murder + Before I Let Go)Summary: Welcome to 2025 and a fresh start! Join our hosts today as they discuss books that feature second chances. What happens when you don’t nail it the first time, but get another shot to turn things around? What if that new shot is a cloned body after you were murdered, or a co-parent looking more and more like the love of your life again? Whatever your wheelhouse, this time of year is a great opportunity to get a fresh perspective. Topics Discussed: The Dagger (4:15): Holly discussed My Murder by Katie Williams, a sci-fi mystery thr...
2025-01-1435 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 78: Winter (A Winter in New York + Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead)Summary: Bundle up and stay inside with us for a very topical episode today; Holly and Devin sip hot coco and discuss books set in the Winter! Whether you love the cold and the snow like Devin or have moved as far away from the season as you reasonably can like Holly, books set in winter create the perfect vibe for our host’s respective wheelhouses. Nothing is cozier or more ominous than this season, where being stuck inside can be perfect for smooching or for bodies being found. Topics Discussed: The Heart (4:30): Devin discussed A W...
2024-12-3141 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 77: Small Towns (The Whisper Man + Book Lovers)Summary: Get ready to run into that one kid from high school in today’s episode - Small Towns! Whether you’re like Devin who grew up and still lives in small towns or like Holly who is a big city gal, these spaces are almost always pressure cookers. The intimacy of the community can make any character claustrophobic (especially if a serial killer is lurking) or euphoric with love; the past and the present intermingle in these places and nothing is anonymous, for better or worse. Topics Discussed: The Dagger (5:29): Holly discussed The Whisper Man b...
2024-12-1736 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 76: Fantasy (Legends and Lattes + The Library at Mount Char)Summary: From Lord of the Rings to ACOTAR, Fantasy is a genre that is as unique and multifaceted as the human imagination. Today, Holly and Devin give a sense of the range and flexibility of the genre by bringing books from their wheelhouses - how can a single genre be the coziest and creepiest? What we do know, at least, is that any fantasy story will be a great escape from reality and any great fantasy author can build us vivid worlds we’ve never seen before. Topics Discussed: The Heart (4:01): Devin discussed Legends and La...
2024-12-0341 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 75: Victorian (Things in Jars + The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes)Summary: Travel back in time with us to one of history’s most prolific literary periods (and, if Holly says so herself, peak fashion as well). Today our hosts discuss books set between the 1830s and 1900, a period known commonly as the Victorian period after Queen Victoria of Britain. With a strong emphasis on social morality, industrialization and elaborate ornamentation, both romance and thriller stories set in this era are vivid, chaotic, and gothically influenced. Topics Discussed: The Dagger (3:58): Holly discussed Things in Jars by Jess Kidd, a mystery with fantastical elements following Bridie Devine, a f...
2024-11-1940 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 74: Dramione (Draco Malfoy and the Mortifying Ordeal of Being in Love + Regression)Summary: While many authors dream of the day when their story will be picked up by Simon and Schuster, many more decide not to wait for their own IP or publisher. These brave, creative souls write fanfiction. One of the most popular ships in the fanfic world is that of Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger - iconic hero and villain characters from the Harry Potter franchise. Join Devin (seasoned Dramione and fanfic reader) and Holly (experiencing her first ever fanfiction for this episode) as they explore the oft-overlooked world of fanfic. Topics Discussed: The Heart (5:31): D...
2024-11-0544 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 73: Undead (Dread Nation + Angelika Frankenstein Makes Her Match)Summary: Grab a bowl of brains and hunker down for a perfect theme for spooky season - the Undead! Today Holly and Devin sink their teeth into these legendary creatures; deceased but actually alive, depicted as everything from vampires, zombies, mummies and skeletons. Whether you vibe with Brendan Frasier in the iconic 1999 film or are a huge fan of The Walking Dead, these beings have captured our imaginations for centuries for a great reason. Topics Discussed: The Dagger (3:37): Holly discussed Dread Nation by Justina Ireland, an alternate history novel where the Civil War ended not b...
2024-10-2239 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 72: Mediums (Happy Medium + Hazardous Spirits)Summary: Grab your ouija boards and candlesticks, folks, it’s time to get messages from the other side! Today, Holly and Devin dabble in the world of Mediums! Whether you’ve visited a medium yourself or don’t believe in ghosts, our hosts are leaning into spooky season by discussing books that feature folks who can (well, can they really, though?) commune with the beyond. Topics Discussed: The Heart (5:01): Devin discussed Happy Medium by Sarah Adler, a spooky romance following Gretchen Acorn, a grifter who delights and consoles the grieving of DC by “channeling” their dearly depa...
2024-10-0844 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 71: Librarians (How Can I Help You + The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches)Summary: Welcome to spooky season (nerd edition) friends! Today Holly and Devin explore a joint favorite career through grim and gleeful stories - librarians. While both our hosts fantasized about working in libraries and being able to read all the time surrounded by thousands of books, they’ll settle today for a chat about when librarians can use books for good, or for evil. Listen in to hear how librarians have important roles to play in any genre and are always a worthwhile addition to a good story. Topics Discussed: The Dagger (4:21): Holly discussed How Can...
2024-09-2442 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 70: LoveFest (Practical Magic Series by Alice Hoffman)Summary: Welcome to Fall, friends, and dive into Spooky Season with Holly and Devin today. Our hosts are launching their favorite season of the year with our 7th LoveFest! We’re diving deep into the Practical Magic series by Alice Hoffman - a four book, multi-generational saga following the Owens witches as they explore, grow, and combat a curse that keeps them all from long-time love. Hoffman’s style is known for its connection to nature, the focus on women, and a bittersweet treatment of life and aging. Whether you read these books in publication or chronological order, you’re in...
2024-09-1053 min
Hearts & DaggersThrone of Glass Debrief #8: Kingdom of Ash, Part 1Summary: Welcome to Episode 8 of our special Throne of Glass series, friends! Aelin is being tortured and held inside an iron coffin by Maeve and her lackey, Cairn. Lysandra plays her at the front, Rowan will stop at nothing to find her, and things are looking very grim for our heroes. Today we explore Kingdom of Ash Part 1, the seventh (or eighth depending on your reading order) book in ToG. As Maeve and Erawan begin to make their final moves, the grand tapestry of friends, allies and lovers across continents must come together and find a way to overcome...
2024-09-0337 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 69: Washington State (Written in the Stars + The Return of Ellie Black)Summary: Welcome to the final stop on our Summer Road Trip Series, friends! Today, Holly and Devin sip some tea while sheltering from the Seattle rain in Washington State. With cozy vibes that can quickly turn sinister, this state is ripe with potential for stories in either wheelhouse for our hosts. Culturally and literally this state is rooted in nature and the natural world, which can highlight the most epic loves or the darkest, chilling terrors. We’re so delighted you joined us for our road trip and are excited to dive into Spooky Season with you next! ...
2024-08-2743 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 68: California (Good Rich People + The Rom-Commers)Summary: Holly would like to welcome you to her state! On this stop of their Summer Road Trip Series, Holly and Devin discuss books set in the sunny, lovely California. Whether you’re basking in the glitz and glam of Hollywood in LA, sipping wine in Napa Valley or dancing in the queer energy of San Francisco, this state truly has it all. That applies to books as well - from serial killers to rich people behaving badly to epic romances, Holly and Devin feel like they’d never run out of Cali stories to enjoy. Topics Discu...
2024-08-1344 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 67: Colorado (The Gamble + No Exit)Summary: Devin would like to welcome you all to her state! On this stop of their Summer Road Trip, Holly and Devin discuss books set in the Rocky Mountain state. Even though we’re all battling heat waves, both their books feature blizzards, being snowed in, and close quarters tension. In every other way, though, the plots differ drastically. Known for its outdoor culture, snow skiing, and craft beer this state has a lot to offer those seeking an adrenaline rush like our hosts! Topics Discussed: The Heart (5:21): Devin discussed The Gamble by Kristen Ashley, a...
2024-07-3044 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 66: Chicago (The Fourth Monkey + Love at First)Summary: Grab a book and a slide of deep dish pizza, it’s time to visit Chicago folks! Today Holly and Devin discuss books set in the iconic city that brought us greats like The Bean and Al Capone. While neither host has a lot of experience in the midwest or in Chicago itself, they both think it’s a great setting for a book - especially in Holly’s darker wheelhouse. Stick around after the end credits for a spoiler-y romp through some horrifying details on her book today! Topics Discussed: The Dagger (3:05): Holly discuss...
2024-07-1650 min
Hearts & DaggersThrone of Glass Debrief #7: Tower of DawnSummary: Welcome to Episode 7 of our special Throne of Glass series, friends! Leaving Aelin and her court behind this time, we follow Chaol and Nesryn as they visit a new part of the world and embark on their own adventures. Today we explore Tower of Dawn, the sixth (or seventh depending on your reading order) book in ToG. Chaol and Nesryn have traveled to Antica to achieve two goals: benefitting from their world-class healers to help Chaol walk again and secure the support of the Khagan in the war. Both become more complicated and more important and sooner than...
2024-07-0952 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 65: Texas (Pumpkin + Bluebird Bluebird)Summary: Howdy, partners! Stop number three on our road trip this summer is the Lone Star state - Texas! Join Holly and Devin as they take a romp around the second largest state in the union. It’s huge, it’s hot and as Holly underlines, tensions tend to run high. A melting pot of the West, the South, American and Mexican influences, Texas really does have it all. Holly and Devin share the ends of the spectrum with their books today. Topics Discussed: The Heart (3:55): Devin discussed Pumpkin by Julie Murphy, a novel that follo...
2024-07-0244 min
Hearts & DaggersMinisode: Stephen King Summer with Laura TremaineSummary: Today Holly is joined by a special guest - Laura Tremaine, the host of the 10 Things To Tell You podcast and author of The Life Council: 10 Friends Every Woman Needs and Share Your Stuff, I’ll Go First. Laura has been sharing her life online for over a decade. She writes about friendship, anxiety, motherhood, and marriage. Her posts and podcast episodes resonate with women looking for ways to connect more deeply with others as they transform from one era of life into another. Laura’s favorite author is Stephen King, a masterful storyteller and a mutua...
2024-06-2543 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 64: The Carolinas (Decent People + Late Bloomer)Episode 64: The Carolinas Summary: Welcome to stop two of our summer road trip around the United states - the Carolinas! Holly and Devin both have connections to these southern states (Holly’s bachelorette was in Charleston, SC!) but the books they brought today made them feel even closer to the region. Whether you’re curling up to read a sapphic romance or buckling up for a character-driven murder mystery, our hosts have something for you today! Topics Discussed: The Dagger (4:04): Holly discussed Decent People by De’Shawn Charles Winslow, a historical mystery set in the segrega...
2024-06-1844 min
Hearts & DaggersThrone of Glass Debrief #6: Empire of StormsSummary: Welcome to Episode 6 of our special Throne of Glass series, friends! Aelin is on the move to build an army after being rejected from her rightful throne in Terrassen. Today we explore Empire of Storms, the fifth (or sixth depending on your reading order) book in ToG. Aelin’s court has just come together and is immediately at risk for being torn asunder. With monsters threatening from sea and air, within and without their group, Aelin must decide who she is and what she’s willing to sacrifice to save the world. We have both been read...
2024-06-1153 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 63: Maine (Evvie Drake Starts Over + Granite Harbor)Summary: We’re choosing the scenic route this summer as we travel around the United States book by book. Join Holly and Devin on their first stop today - Maine! Known for its lobsters, gruff people, rocky shores and gorgeous landscapes this state is the easternmost state of the 50. While the vibes skew much more toward Holly’s wheelhouse, we’re reminded that love can happen anywhere with Devin’s book. Topics Discussed: The Heart (4:01): Devin discussed Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes, a novel following Eveleth “Evvie” Drake as she becomes a recluse after the unt...
2024-06-0448 min
Hearts & DaggersMinisode: Genre Fiction & Dark Literature with Sara Hildreth @FictionMattersSummary: Today Holly is joined by a special guest - Sara Hildreth, the creator behind FictionMatters - a literary Instagram account, newsletter, and book club focused on putting thought-provoking books into the hands of adventurous readers. Sara also co-hosts Novel Pairings, a podcast dedicated to making the classics readable, relevant, and fun. As a former English teacher, Sara’s literary knowledge and thoughtfulness has greatly enriched the reading lives of thousands, including Holly’s. Keep an eye out for Sara’s Paperback Summer Reading Guide 2024 and the Novel Pairings summer readalong of Les Miserables by Victor Hugo! ...
2024-05-2848 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 62: Babysitters (Hidden Pictures + Life's Too Short)Summary: We left money by the phone for pizza, listeners! The parents are out to dinner tonight while Holly and Devin discuss books featuring babysitting. Whether you made pocket money as a teenager or lived your best life as an Au Pair in Europe, most of us have experience babysitting and certainly being babysat. Books that explore the power, social, and logistical dynamics of babysitters with their employers and children usually go one of two ways, and Holly and Devin are the resident experts for both. Grab a slice of greasy cheese and get excited to hear them break...
2024-05-2149 min
Hearts & DaggersThrone of Glass Debrief #5: Queen of ShadowsSummary: Welcome to Episode 5 of our special Throne of Glass series, friends! Aelin is back in Rifthold and ready to break hearts, faces, and rules in order to tee up the future she and her fledgling court are fighting for. Today we explore Queen of Shadows, the fourth (or fifth depending on your reading order) book in ToG. Now that Celaena has let go of her assassin pretenses and stepped into her true identity as Aelin Galathynius, she and her team return to Adarlan to confront old and new enemies alike with an eye toward claiming her throne in...
2024-05-1443 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 61: Rural (Maggie Moves On + Bad Cree)Summary: From horror to Hallmark, a small town setting is ripe for intrigue for Holly and Devin this week. Join our hosts as they break down books set as far from a city as possible. Living in a town of 3,000 people, Devin feels right at home with a rural community and Holly brings the creepiness and the connections of more isolated regions via her book. Both hosts agree that rural settings turn up the heat in their respective wheelhouses, but with wildly different outcomes (you know, bonking vs. butchering). Topics Discussed: The Heart (3:59): Devin discussed M...
2024-05-0751 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 60: LoveFest (V.E. Schwab)Summary: Welcome to LoveFest number six, where Holly and Devin gush about the acclaimed fantasy author V.E. Schwab. Every ten episodes our hosts come together to highlight where their tastes intersect. While you may think of V.E. Schwab as being squarely in Holly’s wheelhouse, this author is more similar to Neil Gaiman and infuses empathy, care, and creativity into plots so that even the most sensitive romance reader can find something to love. Topics Discussed: Author Background (4:04): Completing her first work at the age of 19, V.E. Schwab (pronouns she/the...
2024-04-231h 05
Hearts & DaggersEp. 59: Visual Artists (The Mill House Murders + Hello, Stranger)Summary: Grab your brushes and palettes, friends - we’re talking Visual Artists today! Join Holly and Devin as they discuss the role of art in their own lives and books in their wheelhouses. Whether you grew up drawing horses and chickens like Holly or unable to even master stick figures like Devin, a splash of color from artists (or blood) will be just what you need to get your hearts racing. Topics Discussed: The Dagger (5:28): Holly discussed The Mill House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji, a puzzle game mystery novel set in 1985. On a long, sto...
2024-04-0955 min
Hearts & DaggersThrone of Glass Debrief #4: Heir of FireSummary: Welcome to Episode 4 of our special Throne of Glass series, friends! The universe we understand in this series explodes with new characters, new places, new faces, and new challenges. Today we explore Heir of Fire, the third (or fourth depending on your reading order) book in ToG. After the crushing events of Crown of Midnight, Celaena travels under the guise of an ordered assassination to Wendlyn. Once there, she is brought face-to-face with her history, her future, and who she needs to become. We have both been reading the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J M...
2024-04-0236 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 58: Space (A Cosmic Kind of Love + Station Eternity)Summary: You’re out of this world, listener! Join Holly and Devin today as they discuss books set in or featuring outer space. Devin has always been obsessed with space exploration and studied it in college, whereas Holly only really wants to read about this subject in her books. Whether you have a passion for astronomy or astrology, whether you dream of flying to the moon or are glad your feet are firmly planted on earth, these books have something for you! Topics Discussed: The Heart (3:41): Devin discussed A Cosmic Kind of Love by Samantha You...
2024-03-2655 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 57: Horses (Girls and Their Horses + Done and Dusted)Summary: Giddy up, friends, and join us for a ride into the wild world of horses. Holly has been a lifelong Horse Girl and Devin spent a decade taking horseback riding lessons, but neither of them have been as involved with the animals as any of the characters in their featured books today. For better or worse, a life revolving around horses can be all encompassing and high pressure; our hosts highlight the good and bad in their respective wheelhouses today. Topics Discussed: The Dagger (6:39): Holly discussed Girls and Their Horses by Eliza Jane Brazier, a...
2024-03-1255 min
Hearts & DaggersThrone of Glass Debrief #3: The Assassin's BladeSummary: Welcome to Episode 3 of our special Throne of Glass series, friends! Get excited as we dig into the prequel novellas that make us fall in love with Celaena even more (and understand why she’s in dire need of therapy). Today we explore The Assassin’s Blade, five short stories focused on Celaena’s time as an assassin before she’s sent to Endovier and the plot of Throne of Glass begins. We have both been reading the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas, a mutual favorite author who we celebrated in a previous LoveFest e...
2024-03-0533 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 56: Short Stories (Love in Color + Sleep No More)Summary: Sometimes the best gifts come in smaller packages - join us today, friends, as Holly and Devin review short story collections in their respective wheelhouses. With a deep history of reading short fiction from their college years, Holly and Devin reflected that while less common to read in adulthood, short stories haven’t lost their value or potency. Being able to impact a reader quickly enough to have a complete short story is a feat of writing prowess and the two collections they review today prove that. Topics Discussed: The Heart (2:58): Devin discussed Love in...
2024-02-2753 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 55: Teenagers (Where Sleeping Girls Lie + Henry Hamlet's Heart)Summary: Grab that benzoyl peroxide and your Abercrombie cologne, friends, we’re talking teenagers on this lovely Galentine’s day! Whether you always felt like an old soul the way Holly did, or hid behind athletics and Evanescence like Devin to get through those spicy years of youth, the YA books our hosts discuss today will bring you comfort, connection, and cringe. Topics Discussed: The Dagger (4:35): Holly discussed Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Abike-Iyimide, a YA mystery following Sade as she navigates her third year at the prestigious Alfred Nobel Academy boarding school after being...
2024-02-1346 min
Hearts & DaggersThrone of Glass Debrief #2: Crown of MidnightSummary: Welcome to Episode 2 of our special Throne of Glass series, friends! Buckle up as we get in deeper with Celaena, Chaol, and Dorian as they FAFO what happens after the king’s champion is crowned. Today we dive into Crown of Midnight and break down the romances, friendships, speculation and heartache that draw us deeper into SJM’s first fantasy series. We have both been reading the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas, a mutual favorite author who we celebrated in a previous LoveFest episode. We will be releasing monthly special episodes in which we de...
2024-02-0631 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 54: Polar Adventures (The Tourist Attraction + A Haunting in the Arctic)Summary: Brrrrrr, it’s cold in here, there must be some novels in the atmosphere! (sorry). Join Holly and Devin today as they head up to the great white north and explore books set in the Arctic. Cold this biting can drive people together or even further apart, and braving the elements requires trust and risks a lot when that trust is broken. Holly and Devin both love when their protagonists battle the elements, but for very different reasons and with very different outcomes. Topics Discussed: The Heart (4:31): Devin discussed The Tourist Attraction by Sarah Mo...
2024-01-3050 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 53: Podcasters (None of This Is True + Hana Khan Carries On)Summary: Let’s get meta, friends! Today, Holly and Devin talk through books with podcasters as the protagonists. They use this podcast medium to dig into the value of podcasting and the way that an audio medium impacts our lives, for better and for much, much worse. Due to its growing popularity in the last decade - true crime for Holly and comedy/science for Devin - podcasts are more and more featured in books and as podcasters themselves, our hosts are all for it. They’ll stop saying “podcast” so much now… Topics Discussed: The Dagger...
2024-01-1654 min
Hearts & DaggersThrone of Glass Debrief #1: Throne of GlassSummary: To start year 3 of Hearts & Daggers with a bang, we are launching a brand-new special miniseries that is sure to delight Hearts and Daggers readers alike. We have both been reading the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas, a mutual favorite author who we celebrated in a previous LoveFest episode. We will be releasing monthly special episodes in which we debrief on each book as we go throughout the series. We encourage you to read along with us throughout the year–or at whatever point you’re jumping into these episodes–and enjoy our...
2024-01-0940 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 52: Debut Authors (Lunar Love + Winter Counts)Summary: Welcome to year three of Hearts & Daggers, friends! We are so delighted you are along on this ride with us. To get 2024 started, Holly and Devin are digging into books by debut authors. There may be nothing more impressive that someone who puts their heart and hard work on the line to publish their first book. It’s not only difficult to get published in the first place, but once your book is out there are thousands if not millions of people who experience your finished work. Holly and Devin both love reading debuts, finding that the more di...
2024-01-0248 min
Hearts & DaggersAnnouncement: Throne of Glass Special SeriesSummary: Happy Holidays, folks! To start year 3 of Hearts & Daggers with a bang, we are launching a brand-new special miniseries that is sure to delight Hearts and Daggers readers alike. We have both been reading the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas, a mutual favorite author who we celebrated in a previous LoveFest episode. We’re excited to share that we will be releasing monthly special episodes in which we debrief on each book as we go throughout the series. We encourage you to read along with us throughout the year–or at whatev...
2023-12-2601 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 51: Coming Home (Sundial + Delilah Green Doesn't Care)Summary: Welcome home, friends! Join Holly and Devin today as they discuss books that feature a return to our roots, to going back where we came from (for better or worse). Devin highlights that this trope is common and effective in romances - Hallmark and Lifetime use it constantly. Holly shares that thrillers remind the reader that “home” isn’t always cozy and safe but can be the source of trauma and horrors to make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck. Topics Discussed: The Dagger (3:40): Holly discussed Sundial by Catriona Ward, a novel...
2023-12-1953 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 50: LoveFest (Fredrik Backman)Summary: It’s time for another awesome LoveFest with Devin and Holly! This week they discuss Swedish author extraordinaire, Fredrik Backman. Known globally for his stories full of heart, redemption, and seeking meaning in the hardest parts of life, he’s been a long-time favorite of both hosts. He sheds light on octogenarians and children, the ignored and the marginalized in his writing and brings would-be villains into a gentle light. We love rooting for all his characters! Topics Discussed: Background (4:39): Backman debuted with A Man Called Ove in 2012 and lives in Sweden with his wife...
2023-12-051h 02
Hearts & DaggersEp 49: Cabin in the Woods (City Baker's Guide to Country Living + In the House in the Dark of the Woods)Summary: Pour yourself a mug of warm cider and snuggle under a blanket for this week’s episode - we’re hanging out in cabins in the woods! Is the wind outside a soothing background to a great makeout session or the cover for clomping feet coming to get us? One thing we’re sure of - our hearts sure are racing whenever protagonists end up in rural cabins. Devin and Holly agree that while the outcomes of the stories in their respective wheelhouses differ, the allure is the same - isolated, cozy, and full of the unknown. Topi...
2023-11-2145 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 48: Modern Classics (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo + The Lion's Daughter)Summary: Get those reading glasses on and join us for some extra nerdy energy this week, friends! Holly and Devin discuss Modern Classics today - those works post World War II that created pivot points in the cannon for the Thriller and Romance genres. In this era, ideas about race, gender and class are shifting as readers broadened their understanding of an interconnected world. Sexual liberation and violent horrors that had previously been viewed as outrageous become commonplace, so of course both our hosts have a blast this episode! Topics Discussed: The Dagger (3:02): Holly discussed T...
2023-11-0758 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 47: Vampires (My Roommate is a Vampire + Vampires of El Norte)Summary: Welcome to (ripped out) Hearts and (wooden) Daggers, where today we discuss our fanged frenemies - vampires! Whether you enjoy Edward Cullen at the height of sparky, pop-culture vibes or Bram Stoker’s original work, it’s hard to top vampires when you think of the best monsters of spooky season. Holly and Devin both appreciate the way vampires are simultaneously sexy and alluring and also genuinely terrifying, and the books they bring today perfectly encapsulate that versatility. Topics Discussed: The Heart (3:01): Devin discussed My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine, a novel follo...
2023-10-2454 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 46: Serial Killers (All the Sinners Bleed + Love in the Time of Serial Killers)Summary: Welcome to Spooky Season, friends! Holly and Devin kick their favorite time of year off with a real bang today discussing books with serial killers. One host avoids true crime and scary stories at all costs - the other host has never felt more at home than in October vibes. Both hosts agree that that national obsession with serial killers acts as both an exploration into the muddy waters of human nature and a genuinely helpful protective mechanism for cis and trans women who need to be on their guard. Join us for some lighthearted fun about more...
2023-10-1049 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 45: Biologists (The Love Hypothesis + A Solitude of Wolverines)Summary: Grab your beakers and your wolverine traps - Holly and Devin are talking biologists today! The more specific our themes get, the more fascinating we find the comparisons between books in our wheelhouses get; both books have a heavy focus on women in STEM and making careers in male-dominated fields, but while one gets your blood pumping with a fake dating trope, the other has your hackles up with the scent of murder. Overall, books featuring biologists and other scientists are entering the zeitgeist in a real way - with “Cli-fi” (climate change disaster fiction) and “women in STEM”...
2023-09-2649 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 44: Neighbors (The Last House on Needless Street + The Switch)Summary: Howdy, neighbor! Join Holly and Devin today as they discuss a theme that catalyzes some of the most intense plotlines in both their wheelhouses; who is sexier and/or creepier than your neighbor? They agree that the tropes in both horror/thriller and romance stories featuring neighbors are some of their favorites. Stick around at the end for some *spoilers* on Holly’s book that blew Devin’s mind! Topics Discussed: The Dagger (3:57): Holly discussed The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward, a horror novel following Ted Bannerman - the classic creepy neigh...
2023-09-1251 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 43: LoveFest (Jane Austen)Summary: Summer is coming to a close and academia is back on our minds. Welcome to our fourth LoveFest, where Holly and Devin talk about Jane Austen for literally longer than they’ve ever spoken about anything on the podcast before. Born in 1775, Austen received a home-based education and began writing in her teens. Her novels were published anonymously during her short life; she died in 1817 at age 41 of what modern physicians believe to be Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Her six novels, though, have endured for centuries and are recognized especially for their wit, humor, and keen social commentary. To...
2023-08-291h 28
Hearts & DaggersEp. 42: Politics (Red, White and Royal Blue + State of Terror)Summary: Join Holly and Devin as they explore the world of US and international politics on today’s episode! While neither of them have read many political books in the past, they appreciated these books specifically for their accuracy, the tension built, and the clear demonstration of the impact politics can have on the lives of those working in those spaces. Topics Discussed: The Heart (3:23): Devin discussed Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuinston, a novel that follows Alex (first son of the United States) and Henry (grandson to the King of England) in one...
2023-08-1551 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 41: Argentina (Death Going Down + Hades, Argentina)Summary: ¡Bienvenido a Argentina! In our fifth and final stop of the Summer Jetset Series, Holly and Devin spend some time in South America enjoying books set in Argentina. They both agree that South America is underrepresented in books for both their wheelhouses and advocate for readers to seek out books from the continent purposefully, especially in translation. The use of magical elements across genres and the horrors of Argentine history are key for novels from the country and they both agree if available, Holly and Devin would literally and metaphorically travel to Argentina again. Topics Discussed:
2023-08-0148 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 40: South Korea (XOXO + The Plotters)Summary: Add some Seoul to your day and join Holly and Devin in South Korea for today’s Summer Jetset Series episode! While neither of them have made it to Korea yet, they have both fallen in love with the country, the culture, the vibrancy and K-Pop. They appreciate the country for its massive pop-cultural influence in both music with KPop, KDramas and K-beauty trends and fashion - it’s exciting to see South Korea stepping more and more onto the global stage. Until you can book your tickets, come armchair travel with us! Topics Discussed: Th...
2023-07-1846 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 39: France (Bruno, Chief of Police + The Paris Connection)Summary: Bienvenue à Coeurs et Poignards, where today we’ll be armchair traveling to France for the next episode in our Summer Jetset Series! Both Holly and Devin have spent quality time in the country already; Devin is francophone and has lived in both Paris and Bordeaux, and Holly visited the south of France on her honeymoon (on top of other visits!). They agree that French culture resonates with their lifestyles, values, and dreams - passion, great food, relaxed lifestyle, art and millions of dead bodies buried in the Catacombs. Topics Discussed: The Dagger (5:21): Holly discussed Brun...
2023-07-0446 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 38: India (Holly Jolly Diwali + Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line)Summary: Welcome to the second stop of our Summer Jetset Episode Series! Today, Holly and Devin are lucky enough to armchair visit a country neither of them have been able to see in person yet - India! A country much larger than it is often portrayed on maps, they are both drawn to the geographic, cultural, and culinary variety of the country. While neither have read a ton of books set in India, they are both avid readers of Indian (and Indian Immigrant) authors. They’ve also committed to set a budget and start saving for a trip there! ...
2023-06-2046 min
Hearts & DaggersEp. 37: Italy (Death at La Fenice + One Italian Summer)Summary: Ciao, bella! Welcome to the first stop on our Summer Jetset Series - Italy! Today Devin and Holly visit Venice and Positano together to understand the close relationship between love and death in Italy. Since the time of Shakespeare, the country has been a place of passion in literature (second only, perhaps, to France). They agree that regardless of your prior experience visiting the country, novels set in the country are always vivid, intriguing, and colorful. Topics Discussed: The Dagger (4:19): Holly discussed Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon, a crime fiction novel set i...
2023-06-0652 minHearts & DaggersMinisode: Summer Hiatus UpdateWe’re coming to you today with a quick announcement - our minisodes will be going on hiatus for the summer! We’ll be giving ourselves a little extra free time this season and plan to bring our minisodes back bigger and better than ever soon. In the meantime, our main episodes will continue on their usual bi-weekly cadence to make sure that you all have what you need about genre fiction books and are sufficiently inspired for your summer beach reads. As always, if you have ideas for themes or other ways we can help y...
2023-05-3001 minHearts & DaggersEp. 36: Hollywood (The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo + The Black Dahlia)Summary: Welcome to Tinseltown, folks! This week, Holly(wood) and Devin dive into the glitz, the glam, the seedy underbelly of the symbol of the entertainment business. Holly recently moved closer to the epicenter of celebrity, while Devin has always been terrified to visit - intimidated by all of the people who figured out how to get famous. They find that across genres Hollywood has always held a wide appeal, and in almost no other theme is the difference between romance and murder so thin. Topics Discussed: The Heart (4:42): Devin discussed The Seven Husbands of E...
2023-05-2348 minHearts & DaggersMinisode: We Ask ChatGPT to Write Romance & Mystery PlotsSummary: “In this episode, we explore the capabilities of ChatGPT, a large language model trained by OpenAI, to come up with romance and mystery synopses. Our hosts, Holly and Devin, will be using ChatGPT to generate plots and storylines for their very own romance and mystery novels.” And that was ChatGPT, too! Continuing these show notes using our boring human brains… Holly is fascinated and intrigued by ChatGPT and AI in general; Devin has been scarred since Smart House, the 1999 Disney Channel Original movie came out and prophetically underlined the dangers of letting Alexa into your home.
2023-05-1624 minHearts & DaggersEp. 35: Weekend Getaway (Rock Paper Scissors + Just Haven't Met You Yet)Summary: Pack your carry-on and get the heck outta town - this week, Holly and Devin break down books centered around a weekend getaway. They agree that putting protagonists in a brand new environment acts as a fantastic plot and character development catalyst - but of course the outcome of lighting that fuse could be murder or makin’ out, depending on genre. Get ready for some armchair travel on today’s episode. Topics Discussed: The Dagger (3:39): Holly discussed Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney, a psychological thriller centered around Adam and Amelia Wright as they head...
2023-05-0947 minHearts & DaggersMinisode: How We Prioritize ReadingSummary: Do you wish you could read more, or start building a new habit of reading? Today, Devin and Holly discuss how they prioritize reading amidst their crazy schedules and lives. Their top tips are: Audiobooks! While you’re on a walk, at the gym, cooking, running errands, or cleaning - pop on an audiobook. Both Devin and Holly are not sensory snobs and absolutely count listening to an audiobook as reading. Don’t hesitate to speed the audio up, as well. Devin enjoys 1.2x but there are people who can get to 2x or 3x speed and...
2023-05-0218 minHearts & DaggersEp. 34: Neurodivergence (The Kiss Quotient + The Good Sister)Summary: Happy National Autism Awareness Month! Today, Holly and Devin discuss books with neurodivergent protagonists. They agree that all kinds of diversity in books are not only important but provide a helpful and enjoyable window into the lives of folkx with whom you haven’t interacted (yet). Holly shared some key things to look out for in neurodivergent writing - avoiding stereotypes, ensuring there’s diversity of gender, sexuality and race, avoiding infantilizing neurodivergent characters, and being especially cautious in sci-fi with aliens who are just caricatures of people on the autism spectrum. (Credit to a BookRiot article by Susi...
2023-04-2542 minHearts & DaggersMinisode: Debriefing A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J MaasSummary: SPOILER ALERT! This minisode is a deep-dive with Holly and Devin after they finished reading A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J Maas and they do *not* hold back. If you haven’t read the series or this book yet, we highly recommend that you go back and get caught up before listening! Holly and Devin’s key points were: Silver Flames was clearly a transitional book in the series: there was more telling than showing for most of the novel, the enemies and villains felt far away and temporary, and the biggest arc of the...
2023-04-1822 minHearts & DaggersEp. 33: On Set (Plain Bad Heroines + You Had Me at Hola)Summary: Lights, Camera, Action! In our case, sometimes the action is steamy and other times involves more knives and screaming. Devin and Holly discuss books that take place on set today, and agree that the pizzazz and magic of making films or TV shows add a fun dimension to books across genres. Devin highlighted the focus for romance authors on the “everyman” character getting their spotlight - readers won’t relate as well to famous people being famously in love. Holly appreciated how sets can callow for a great locked room environment, working with a finite group of cast and cr...
2023-04-1148 minHearts & DaggersMinisode: Holly's Mystery Origin StorySummary: Holly spent much of her childhood dressing and acting like Wednesday Addams - so her passion for mysteries and thrillers should be no surprise. But how did she get into the genre she’s now so passionate about? Read below to learn more and understand how to follow in her footsteps: Holly fell in love with mysteries early in life, keeping a notebook à la Harriet the Spy and binge watching Are You Afraid of the Dark? In her youth. She then pivoted to Sherlock Holmes and Nancy Drew stories, falling in love with the hunt...
2023-04-0416 minHearts & DaggersEp: 32: Moving In Together (Count Your Lucky Stars + 56 Days)Summary: Today, Holly and Devin explore the rest of what happens after “and they were roommates!” by discussing books featuring people who move in together. While this theme might feel squarely in Devin’s wheelhouse, but not to worry - murder can happen when you move in together, too. They agree that similar to any forced proximity narrative, a roommate situation really amps up the pressure and forces both the reader and the protagonists to ask “how well do you really know someone?” Of course, for Devin’s books the answer is likely “enough to tongue kiss them, at least” and for...
2023-03-2843 minHearts & DaggersMinisode: Devin's Romance Origin StorySummary: By now you all know that Devin loves a good romance - but how did she get into the genre she’s now so passionate about? Read below to learn more and understand how to follow in her footsteps: Devin read her first romance in 2019, at the age of 29. Late in life? Maybe, but better late than never. She found a grocery store paperback romance in a time when a distraction and escapism were more welcome than ever and she’s never looked back. Intimacy and romantic relationships are, for most folx, a huge part...
2023-03-2114 minHearts & DaggersEp. 31: In Transit (Bullet Train + The Unhoneymooners)Summary: Hop on board, buckle up, and stow your luggage, folks - we’re in transit today! Whether by plane, train or automobile, travel can open up a lot of possibilities for characters across genres. Holly and Devin talk through the “closed door” atmosphere transit can bring to a story, and how physical travel can augment the metaphorical evolution of character arcs with a more unique twist. Topics Discussed: The Dagger (9:10): Holly discussed Bullet Train by Kotaro Isaka, a novel that follows the perilous train ride of five highly motivated assassins, the principal of which is Nana...
2023-03-1451 minHearts & DaggersMinisode: Author Interview, Jessa Maxwell (The Golden Spoon)Summary: We were honored to have our first author guest on the podcast, Jessa Maxwell! The Golden Spoon, which we discussed in episode 23, is available wherever you get your books today (March 7, 2023). Holly and Jessa discuss the book, key points of which were: Maxwell had always wanted to write a book (inspired by Lucy Foley) and was passionate about a locked room mystery. During the pandemic, she finally decided to go for it and after hours of drawing while The Great British Baking Show played in the background, she found her starting point. This novel t...
2023-03-0720 minHearts & DaggersEp. 30: LoveFest (Louise Penny)Summary: Louise Penny is one of Canada’s most prolific and successful authors - she writes dark, heart wrenching murders that somehow pair well with a quiet town with quaint bed and breakfasts and bistros with some of the best food ever described. Holly and Devin fell in love with the Armand Gamache detective series years ago, and today they finally get to gush about Louise and her writing for the podcast! Check out a spoiler-free LoveFest to learn why both Holly and Devin cannot get enough of these murder mysteries! Topics Discussed: Plots (6:28): ...
2023-02-2858 minHearts & DaggersMinisode: When to DNFSummary: We’ve all faced it, but for some it’s hard to do and fills us with guilt. What is DNF (not to be confused with DTF…) and why is it so important to abandon books when they do not serve you? DNF: Did Not Finish (you abandoned the book) Holly DNFs when: There’s no page requirement, but her main rule of thumb is - if she thinks it, it’s already too late. The main driver? She no longer cares what is going to happen. She can get actively anno...
2023-02-2116 minHearts & DaggersEp. 29: Marriage (The Bromance Book Club + The Echo Wife)Summary: Happy Valentine’s Day, friends! While neither Holly nor Devin are superfans of this holiday, they wanted to take some time to highlight marriage with two books this week. Oddly enough, Holly’s thriller wheelhouse is chockablock full of married couples on the rocks, but Devin’s romance genre almost never centers on a couple that have already found their happily ever after. All told, though, they find the relationship dynamics of a marriage as great drivers of plot and character across genres. Topics Discussed: The Heart (3:09): Devin discussed The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa...
2023-02-1450 minHearts & DaggersMinisode: Hearts Top 10 of 2022Summary: Today, Devin shares her Top 10 books of 2022. Use this to create a TBR for 2023, or simply get a deeper sense of what stood out to Devin as the most romantic tales she read last year. She also took a little time to wax poetic about Valentine’s day. Whether you care about this holiday or not, Devin figures hey, it’s cold and gray out, spring is far away - whether you’re in a relationship or not, this is a great opportunity to *treat* *your* *self*. So grab one (or all) of the below st...
2023-02-0716 minHearts & DaggersEp. 28: Young Twenty-Somethings (The Secret History + Act Your Age, Eve Brown)Summary: Ah, the follies and joys of youth! If you’ve been with us since the start, you know that Holly and Devin love stories with octogenarian protagonists. This week we’re mixing it up and focusing on 20-something people who are still figuring themselves out. Holly struggled to find a book in her wheelhouse for this theme, but is generally drawn to young protagonists in thrillers because the silly mistakes they make to get murdered seem more plausible. Devin struggles to find books that *don’t* focus on 20-somethings, since the romance genre has a long history of focusi...
2023-01-3147 minHearts & DaggersMinisode: Daggers Top 10 of 2022Summary: Today, Holly shares her Top 10 books of 2022. Use this to create a TBR for 2023, or simply get a deeper sense of what makes Holly happiest as she reads about murder! 10: A Good Marriage by Kimberly McCreight (Episode 16, New York City) 9: White Smoke by Tiffany Jackson (Episode 21, Ghosts) 8: Breathless by Amy McCulloch (Episode 26, Winter Sports) 7: The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule (Episode 22, Nonfiction) 6: The Lighthouse Witches by C.J. Cooke (Episode 20, Witches) 5: The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth 4: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by A...
2023-01-2421 minHearts & DaggersEp. 27: London (One Day in December + The Victoria Vanishes)Summary: Join Holly and Devin as they explore jolly ol’ London town! Blimey! Not only is this city the only reason our co-hosts became friends in the first place, but they have a blast diving deeply into books set in the iconic city. While one book involves multiple dead bodies and the other involves multiple broken hearts, they unite around the unique character of London. Holly is a self-identified Anglophile and Devin struggles to remember romances set in the city because, frankly, she’s too focused on the juicy deets of her novels. They agree, though, that unique cities like...
2023-01-1743 minHearts & DaggersIntroducing: MinisodesSummary: It has officially been one year since we launched Hearts & Daggers! As you likely know, in our usual episodes we discuss two books–one lighter, one darker–through the lens of a common theme. These episodes will continue to come out bi-weekly, that is, every other week. We are excited to share that during the off-weeks between our main episode releases, we will be putting out a new series of minisodes! Outline of the alterations below: Minisodes will be shorter than typical episodes, usually between 10 to 20 minutes. They will also be more free-form, allowing us to of...
2023-01-1005 minHearts & DaggersEp. 26: Winter Sports (Breathless + Edge of Glory)Summary: Happy 2023, friends, and welcome to Season 2 of Hearts & Daggers! We’re starting this year off with a bang - the bang of the starting gun in a Super G ski race, that is. If you’ve been with us for a while know, you know that this theme is right up Devin’s alley and aligns with many of her existing hobbies. Holly, while not a fan of sports generally, loves ice skating and is a sucker for mountain climbing exhibition stories (especially when things start to go wrong). Topics Discussed: The Dagger (4:10): Holly discussed Breath...
2023-01-0344 minHearts & DaggersEp. 25: Holidays (The Holiday Swap + I Am Half Sick of Shadows)Summary: It’s a holly, jolly holiday here on Hearts & Daggers! Today, Holly and Devin discuss books set during this holiday season. Whatever holiday you do (or don’t) celebrate, these co-hosts appreciate the season for its coziness, the twinkling lights, and an excuse to spike hot chocolate with Bailey’s Irish Cream before the seasonal depression really hits. Both books this round are on the lighter side, and for Holly that means just one (1) murder. Topics Discussed: The Heart (5:26): Devin discussed The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox, a book chockablock full of fun romance tropes. Cass an...
2022-12-2052 minHearts & DaggersEp. 24: Snowed In (One by One + Frigid)Summary: Brrrrr, it’s cold in here! There must be murder (or love?) in the atmosphere. Today Holly and Devin explore books where the characters are snowed in. They agree that putting characters in “locked room” situations is more intriguing, especially when the author is adept at character development and turning the location into a pressure cooker for the protagonists. It was especially interesting to reflect on how the same exact situation, with a few tweaks, can logically lead to lovemaking or murder. Topics Discussed: The Dagger (3:55): Holly discussed One by One by Ruth Ware, a novel s...
2022-12-0647 minHearts & DaggersEp. 23: Cooking Competitions (Love and Other Disasters + The Golden Spoon)Summary: Lace up your aprons and preheat the oven to 350 degrees, friends! We’re talking Cooking Competitions today. Holly and Devin unpack the way that a competitive atmosphere can turn up the heat on both romantic tension and animosity with two books that follow the same plot of filmed cooking competitions but land with completely different outcomes. They both agree that food adds two more senses to descriptions in books; instead of merely visual and auditory prompts, food descriptions add taste and smell to ensure the reader is immersed in the created world. Topics Discussed: The Hea...
2022-11-2244 minHearts & DaggersEp. 22: Nonfiction (The Stranger Beside Me + Atlas of the Heart)Summary: Welcome to Nonfiction November! Holly and Devin are kicking off this month by diving into two very different nonfiction books: Holly’s, a deep dive into serial killer Ted Bundy, and Devin’s, a deep dive into the full spectrum of human emotion and how they can enrich our lives. Couldn’t be more different, but Holly and Devin unite over the place of nonfiction in their lives and how books like these can impact them both inside and outside their wheelhouses. As a reminder, you can review and purchase all books we discuss and mention on this...
2022-11-081h 01Hearts & DaggersEp. 21: Ghosts (The Dead Romantics + White Smoke)Summary: Wrapping up spooky season this year with one of the world’s favorite halloween tropes - ghosts! Holly wishes she could believe in them, but is too logical and naturally skeptical to really dig in. Devin respectfully asks any ghosts reading this to please leave her alone and she apologizes in advance if she insulted any of them. No one will be surprised to learn that ghosts appear much more often in the books Holly reads, but Devin enjoys the way that death and the occasional ghost can help amplify the meaning of love in our lives. T...
2022-10-2546 minHearts & DaggersEp. 20: Witches (The Lighthouse Witches + The Ex Hex)Summary: Let’s get witchy with it, friends! This week, Holly and Devin live out their dreams of discovering late-in-life magical prowess by discussing books centered around witches. Devin found her love of the sorceress lifestyle very early in life, whereas Holly was enchanted later. They agree that whether you’re discussing the Salem witch trials or the Wicked Witch of the West, these stories embody what has culturally been feared about women, and explore what happens if women have power. Topics Discussed: The Dagger (5:33): Holly discussed The Lighthouse Witches by C.J. Cooke, a novel cente...
2022-10-1150 minHearts & DaggersEp. 19: LoveFest (ACOTAR by Sarah J. Maas)Summary: If the length of an episode is anything to go by, Holly and Devin are *the most* excited to talk about ACOTAR, the A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas in our second LoveFest episode! This series is the perfect meld of the hearts and daggers that Holly and Devin love most; the seamiest, sexiest love scenes mixed with the creepiest, most anxiety-inducing action. Please note that this episode contains spoilers starting around 11 minutes in! Topics Discussed: Book 1 - A Court of Thorns and Roses (5:50): Framed as a Beauty & the Beast...
2022-09-271h 00Hearts & DaggersEp. 18: Back to School (What You Wish For + Every Heart a Doorway)Summary: If you’re anything like Devin and Holly, one of your favorite smells is new notebooks, binders, pens - essentially what hits you when you walk into a Staples. Today, we’re headed back to school! Holly and Devin deep dive into how school settings shape their excitement for fall, for learning, for romance, and for things that go bump in the night (for Holly, usually a body hitting the ground). As will be no surprise, they both love autumn and the way it symbolizes a return to education; these books about school only amplify those feelings as the...
2022-09-1342 minHearts & DaggersEp. 17: Classics (The Hound of the Baskervilles + Persuasion)Summary: Join us as we start the school year with a deep dive into our English major roots with a lively discussion around Classics! Holly and Devin explore books that gave modern writers their templates and tropes for successful mysteries and romances. Plus, they spill the tea on the most recent Austen film adaptation, Netflix’s Persuasion, a segment you won’t want to miss. Topics Discussed: The Dagger (3:58): Holly discussed The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the most famous in the Sherlock Holmes series and a mystery that established many of the d...
2022-08-3049 minHearts & DaggersEp. 16: New York City (Real Men Knit + A Good Marriage)Summary: Take a bite out of the Big Apple with Holly and Devin today! They peel back the layers of New York City with books that focus on Harlem and Park Slope, Brooklyn. Holly and Devin both lived in the city (Devin for 2 years, Holly for 20) so it holds a special place in their hearts. That being said, stories set in the city can be over-romanticized and a lazy choice and the books they appreciate most have a true, granular sense of place and don’t just center around Times Square. Topics Discussed: The Heart (2:26): Devin dis...
2022-08-1645 minHearts & DaggersEp. 15: Social Media (Like a Sister + Chef's Kiss)Summary: Grab your phones and log onto Instagram, Holly and Devin dive into social media themes today! They investigate how social media can be a hindrance and a help for protagonists in modern novels. Holly and Devin both agree that leaning on miscommunication from social media can feel lazy and frustrating, but when used well, social media accents can build intrigue and serve the plot well. Holly generally hates modern books and will avoid any book that prints text bubbles, but Devin’s romances are rife with texts, emails, and DMs. Also, we have officially launched the Hea...
2022-08-0254 minHearts & DaggersEp. 14: Poolside (The People We Meet On Vacation + The Drowning Kind)Summary: Grab your towel and flip flops, we’re hanging out poolside this week. Today, Holly and Devin discuss books featuring pools. They discover that Holly has always thought pools were creepy (thanks, “Are You Afraid of the Dark?”) and that sometimes a pool doesn't even have to have water in it to act as a plot device! Devin prefers pools to the ocean, and Holly doesn’t make fun of her for it at all. Overall, it’s another fun summer theme that carries polar opposite energies depending on the book genre. Topics Discussed: The Heart (2:46...
2022-07-1939 min
Outlaw BlitzInterview 29- Devin 'The King' OlenSend us a textThe Outlaws sit down with up and coming MMA Flyweight Devin 'The King' Olen. From humble beginnings to being on the edge of stardom this interview covers all the angles. Devin discusses he dedication to his family, training and career. He is set to fight March 11,2022 @ the Rivers Casino in Schenectady NY at Cage Wars 51Support the show#outlawblitz @outlawblitz
2022-03-0655 min