Besties and the Books Podcast
We’re Ashley and Liz, two real-life besties who’ve loved books since we first learned to read, so naturally, we started a podcast! We would say the rest is history but in actuality, it's just the beginning. So come join us in the next chapter of our lives as we introduce ourselves, and laugh our way through the world of books with a focus on Fantasy, Romantasy, and Dark Romance. Of course we have love for all book genres, but those are our absolute favorites!
Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!
YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms
@BestiesandtheBooksPodcast
Liz
Instagram | TikTok
@TheRealLifeVeganWife
Ashley
Instagram | TikTok
@AshleyEllix
Email bestiesandthebooks@gmail.com
Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!
YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms
@BestiesandtheBooksPodcast
Liz
Instagram | TikTok
@TheRealLifeVeganWife
Ashley
Instagram | TikTok
@AshleyEllix
Email bestiesandthebooks@gmail.com
Episodes
75 episodes
Ep 55 APRIL FOOLS! 🤪 Reacting to AITA PRANK STORIES!
We’re just girls. And today we’re just girls obsessed with pranks. Stick around if you want to hear about our fave and fail prank edition… if you like hearing about AITA pranks gone wrong…if you’re someone who observes Apr...
•
Episode 55
•
55:26
SUNRISE ON THE REAPING … more like WEEPING! | Hunger Games Book 5 Review & Summary | Bonus Minisode
Today we’re discussing the highly anticipated brand new book in the Hunger Games world: Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins. We go back in time (yet again!) to the 50th Quarter Quell, also known as Haymitch Abernathy’s Hunger Games to ...
•
1:07:11
Ep 54 “now WE are the A HOLES!” Our Bookish HOT TAKES!
We’ve responded to the internet’s bookish hot takes… we responded to YOUR hot takes… and now it’s finally time for you guys to be mad at US! Today’s episode is all about Ashley and Liz’s bookish hot takes. Maybe you’ll agree, maybe you won’t. M...
•
Episode 54
•
57:55
*DON’T SKIP* The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes!!! | Hunger Games Book 4 Review & Summary | Bonus Minisode
Welcome back to Ashley & Liz’s dystopian sci fi episode bonus series: The Hunger Games!Today we go back in time to discuss President Snow and his origin story. How exactly did he become a “villian” and what does his evoluti...
•
1:10:00
Ep 53 Asking Each Other UNHINGED & JUICY questions + 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY Celebration!
WE’RE ONE YEAR OLD! Today we’re celebrating our one year anniversary of podcasting over at Besties and the Books and we just want to say THANK YOU to each and every one of you for being here! You’re helping us to create this amazing community, ...
•
Episode 53
•
58:41
SHOOKED & COOKED after reading Hunger Games MOCKING JAY! | Book 3 Review & Summary | Bonus Minisode
Welcome back to Ashley & Liz’s dystopian sci fi episode bonus series: The Hunger Games!Today we get SERIOUS as we discuss the amazingly well written, heart wrenching grand finale to the original trilogy. What parallels do w...
•
1:13:47
Ep 52 📚 100 Books in 30 Minutes | Rapid Fire Book Reviews from the Last 6 Months
Get out that good ol’ stack of post it notes and your favorite annotating pen (or just use the “notes” app in your phone) because your TBR is about to get even longer! If that’s possible. Today Ashley and Liz are recapping...
•
Episode 52
•
51:41
WE CAUGHT FIRE in The Hunger Games Catching Fire | Book 2 Review & Summary | Bonus Minisode
Welcome back to Ashley & Liz’s dystopian sci fi episode bonus series: The Hunger Games!We spend ½ of this episode playing the piano (yes, you read that right) and the other ½ convincing you to read this series. If that doesn’t do it ...
•
47:31
Ep 51 Our Romantasy BookCon Experience + 5 Tips and Tricks for Book Convention Newbies!
Today we’re chatting about Romantasy Bookcon, Los Angeles, 2025! This amazing convention put on by Fabled Fantasy Events was Liz and Ashley’s first, but it surely will not be our last! We talk about our overall faves and fails o...
•
Episode 51
•
1:25:29
We Wouldn’t Survive the HUNGER GAMES | Book 1 Review & Summary | Bonus Minisode
Welcome to Ashley & Liz’s dystopian sci fi episode bonus series: The Hunger Games!If you’ve been following along and watched our “From 1984 to Hunger Games” dystopian themes in media and literature episode then you know we’re fascin...
•
1:11:36
Ep 50 From 1984 to Hunger Games, HOW DID WE GET HERE?! Dystopian Themes in Media and Literature
This week is. The. Week. We’re officially back in mini episode bonus mode with The Hunger Games book 1, by Suzanne Collins dropping this Friday! So today Ashley and Liz are setting us all up for success in our dystopian sci fi series with an ep...
•
Episode 50
•
1:07:23
Ep 49 Let’s Travel into the QUICKSILVER! | Book Review & Summary
A few episodes back we brought you an exclusive interview with the extraordinarily talented Callie Hart, author of the New York Times bestselling romantasy novel Quicksilver (linked below). It should come as no surprise that Liz and Ashley b...
•
Episode 49
•
59:29
Ep 48 A Truly CRINGEY Valentine's Day Read!
First there was a cringey Thanksgiving with a sack full of turkey. Then there was a cringey Christmas alien with a magic mirror, and a magic… you know what. And now, we bring to you: a very cringey Valentine’s Day featuring old timey dete...
•
Episode 48
•
1:09:03
Ep 47 ONYX STORM *HONEST REVIEW* cuz we NEED to talk about this!!!
Well, sh*t. 😂 Some of you are going to be screaming at your screen / headphones, upset at us that Onyx Storm just wasn’t it for us. And that’s okay! That’s what we absolutely love about reading. There’s something for everyone. And if this 3⭐️ /...
•
Episode 47
•
1:44:03
Ep 46 “Am I The A**HOLE for Reading Romance Books?” 🩷 AITA VALENTINES DAY EDITION!
Today is all about romance. We’re gearing up for Valentine’s Day over here at Besties & the Books Podcast and what exactly does that mean (you might be wondering)? Well, it means we’re going to be diving back into the Reddit realms to bring...
•
Episode 46
•
1:25:43
Ep 45 Callie Hart Quicksilver Tell All! | Author Interview
We’ve been keeping a BIG secret from you… our book besties… and today is finally the day we get to reveal it! We interviewed Callie Hart!! *Insert happy screaming here.* We are SO excited to share this SPOILER FREE author interview with you,...
•
Episode 45
•
1:11:50
Ep 44 A Court of Silver Flames and STRONG OPINIONS! aka ACOSF...ASO
Today is the day we all do our best to take it…seriously. All the girthy 784 pages of this big boy must be discussed. And as the longest of the bunch (according to some) all we can do is grab onto that headboard and just like Nesta, “climb [tha...
•
Episode 44
•
1:08:14
Ep 43 These Books Ripped Our Hearts Out! Break For Me, Survive For Me, LIVE FOR ME Summary and review!!!!
Liz and Ashley are back from their holiday hibernation, ready to talk about everything Broken Bounty Series by Ember Nicole. Today’s episode is the spoiler-y follow up to our spoiler FREE author interview that dropped in December. W...
•
Episode 43
•
1:10:02
Ep 42 AITA Christmas Special! + Holiday Smash or Pass and ULTIMATE XMAS Q & A
Merry Christmas Book Besties! Today Liz and Ashley are here to discuss all things even remotely related to this glorious holiday… and we do it in special light up Christmas Tree hats. You’re welcome. First, we’ll ask each ...
•
Episode 42
•
1:44:05
Ep 41 It’s Time to Talk Broken Bounty with Ember Nicole! | Live For Me Author Interview
Today we have a very special interview* with dark romance indie author and the queen of heartbreaking cliffhangers herself, Ember Nicole. We chat all things Broken Bounty series to celebrate the release of Live For Me, book three in this em...
•
Episode 41
•
55:44
Ep 40 we NEED to talk about WICKED & our 2025 Bookish Goals!
We’re nearing the end of 2024. So naturally, Liz and Ashley are reflecting on the important things in life. Our goals, our hopes, our dreams… and of course, the most important thing of 2024: WICKED, Part 1 (and Jonathan Bailey).Let’s cha...
•
Episode 40
•
1:41:25
Ep 39 A VERY (unhinged) & CRINGY CHRISTMAS READ! 💚 ❤️
It’s officially Christmas season over here on the BATB Pod and Ashley and Liz are kicking off December with two “cringy” Christmas novellas that double as unhinged! This go-around we dive into Mr. Jingle, a Christmas-themed paranormal m...
•
Episode 39
•
1:13:43
Ep 38 🦃 1st Annual Thanksgiving Special! AITA, Smash or Pass, and more!
Happy Thanksgiving Book Besties! Today Liz and Ashley are here to discuss all things even remotely related to Turkey Day, in all its glory… and we do it in special hats. You’re welcome. First, we’ll ask each other a series...
•
Episode 38
•
1:18:45
we READ AND WATCHED the entire Twilight Saga for the First Time…was it worth it? | Bonus Minisode Wrap Up!
It’s truly the end of an era. Our Twilight virgin era. We read all the books for the very first time, and rewatched all the movies since our original jump scare years ago, and now we’re here. We’re Ashley and Liz, new Twilight fans and just ...
•
58:42
Ep 37 Let’s Play WOULD YOU RATHER! (Bookish edition)
Every Friday is “Bestie Card Friday” with Ashley and Liz over on the good old Instagram. We pick some cards, we answer an unhinged “would you rather” question, and you guys vote on what YOU would rather do. We’ve been doing that for almo...
•
Episode 37
•
48:06