Our Home Libraries

Our Home Libraries

A spoiler-filled podcast where we discuss the books we've read together. Episodes could include reviews, discussions of key points, books we love and books we dislike, books we couldn't finish, and other book-ish things.

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Episodes

Funny Story
May 21 2024
Funny Story
In "Funny Story" by Emily Henry, Daphne's life takes an unexpected turn after her fiancé Peter leaves her for his childhood best friend, Petra…literally the day after his bachelor party. Stranded in Waning Bay, Michigan, Daphne finds herself without close friends or family but still has her dream job as a children’s librarian. Financially stretched, she ends up sharing a home with Petra's ex, Miles Nowak, a disheveled man who finds comfort in sad love songs. Initially, Daphne and Miles keep their distance, but shared heartache leads to a budding friendship and a playful scheme involving misleading photos to document their faux summer escapades. As they navigate their complex feelings, Daphne faces the possibility of falling for her ex-fiancé’s current fiancé's ex, challenging her previously practical and reserved nature.How does Daphne’s initial heartbreak shape her journey throughout the story? Did Daphne find the fresh start she was looking for? How would we rate Emily Henry’s books from least to most favorite? Join us as we discuss these questions and more in this episode of our spoiler-filled podcast.Great music huh?! The music for the intro and outro are segments from a song titled "Busy City" by TrackTribe, which was accessed through the YouTube audio library.Coming up next: Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. MaasInterested in starting your own podcast? Sign up with Buzzsprout using our referral code and we'll both get a $20 amazon gift card! https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1894341
Throne of Glass
May 7 2024
Throne of Glass
Throne of Glass follows Celaena Sardothien, an infamous assassin who is serving a life sentence in the salt mines of Endovier. Her life takes a dramatic turn when Crown Prince Dorian Havilliard offers her a chance at freedom. The King of Adarlan is hosting a deadly competition to find a champion, and Celaena’s skills make her a prime candidate. Escorted by Captain of the Guard, Chaol Westfall, Celaena arrives at the glass castle to compete against other skilled fighters. Despite the brutal challenges, she proves herself as a formidable contender, while navigating political intrigue and forming unexpected alliances. As the competition progresses, Celaena discovers a dark force lurking in the castle that’s causing a series of mysterious deaths, and she unravels a conspiracy tied to ancient magic and dark secrets. Amidst the competition and the unfolding dangers, she finds herself torn between her duty to the crown and her desire for freedom. As the contest draws to a close. Celaena must confront her past and make a life-altering decision that will shape her destiny and the fate of the Kingdom.This book is a blend of fantasy, action, and political intrigue. How did these different elements complement each other? How did the competition to become the King’s Champion affect the dynamics between the characters? Join us as we discuss these questions and more in this episode of our spoiler-filled podcast.Great music huh?! The music for the intro and outro are segments from a song titled "Busy City" by TrackTribe, which was accessed through the YouTube audio library.Coming up next: Funny Story by Emily HenryInterested in starting your own podcast? Sign up with Buzzsprout using our referral code and we'll both get a $20 amazon gift card! https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1894341
Assistant to the Villain
Mar 12 2024
Assistant to the Villain
“Assistant to the Villain" by Hannah Nicole Maehrer is a captivating blend of fantasy, romance, and dark humor. The story revolves around Evangeline "Evie" Sage, who takes up a job as a personal assistant to a notorious character simply known as The Villain. Evie, struggling to support her family after her father's illness, finds herself in the midst of a gory and scary adventure within The Villain's manor. Despite his reputation for wreaking havoc and causing chaos in the town of Rennedawn, Evie discovers that The Villain's actions, though unconventional, are driven by a desire for the greater good. The narrative explores the complexity of moral grey areas, challenging traditional notions of good and evil. Evie and The Villain's relationship evolves from a professional one to a romantic involvement, unfolding slowly and revealing deeper aspects of their characters. The story is rich in suspense, humor, and emotional depth, offering a thrilling ride for readers who enjoy a mix of fantasy and moral ambiguity.What role does humor play in the narrative and how does it affect the story’s darker themes? What are our thoughts on the book’s portrayal of good versus evil? Join us as we discuss these questions and more in this episode of our spoiler-filled podcast.Great music huh?! The music for the intro and outro are segments from a song titled "Busy City" by TrackTribe, which was accessed through the YouTube audio library.Coming up next: House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. MaasInterested in starting your own podcast? Sign up with Buzzsprout using our referral code and we'll both get a $20 amazon gift card! https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1894341
Book Lovers
Feb 13 2024
Book Lovers
Nora Stephens, a ruthless literary agent who lives and breathes books, is persuaded by her sister Libby to spend a month in a quaint small town called Sunshine Falls. Nora’s general aversion to small town life is challenged when she runs into (literally) a bookish and brooding editor from her past, Charlie Lastra. Amidst the picturesque backdrop, they find themselves drawn to each other in ways they never could have anticipated. Nora’s cynicism about love starts to soften and Charlie’s self-imposed isolation starts to crumble. Through witty banter and a shared love for books, this is a captivating tale of two unlikely souls finding love in the most unexpected of places, a story of challenging assumptions, embracing change, and discovering the unexpected twists that life has in store.How does Nora’s perception of herself and her priorities change throughout the story? How does the contrast in settings affect the characters’ evolving relationships? What lasting lessons do we hope Nora and Charlie learned during their time in Sunshine Falls? Join us as we discuss these questions and more in this episode of our spoiler-filled podcast.Great music huh?! The music for the intro and outro are segments from a song titled "Busy City" by TrackTribe, which was accessed through the YouTube audio library.Coming up next: House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. MaasInterested in starting your own podcast? Sign up with Buzzsprout using our referral code and we'll both get a $20 amazon gift card! https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1894341
House of Earth and Blood
Jan 30 2024
House of Earth and Blood
“House of Earth and Blood” follows Bryce Quinlan, a young woman living in Lunathion (a.k.a. Crescent City), a place where humans and fae coexist. Her story begins with a brutal murder. For two years, Bryce is wracked with grief and survivor’s guilt, until the Governor comes to her for help. Similar murder have started happening again and Bryce seems to be the thing linking the victims. Fallen angel and renowned assassin, Hunt Athalar, becomes her protector and sounding board as they work together to solve the murders before the Summit - a meeting between the Governor and the heads of each district. Together, Bryce and Hunt navigate the intricate and often dangerous political landscape of Crescent City, uncovering dark secrets and confronting powerful foes. As they delve deeper into the investigation, they realize that the murders are small pieces of a much larger conspiracy that threatens the fragile peace between the humans and the fae. A gripping tale of adventure and self-discovery in a fantastical setting, Sarah J. Mass once again showcases her signature blend of compelling characters and intricate storytelling.How did the traumatic events that Bryce experienced shape her as a character throughout the story? What aspects of the world-building stood out to us? Which plot twists surprised us the most? Join us as we discuss these questions and more in this episode of our spoiler-filled podcast.Great music huh?! The music for the intro and outro are segments from a song titled "Busy City" by TrackTribe, which was accessed through the YouTube audio library.Coming up next: Book Lovers by Emily HenryInterested in starting your own podcast? Sign up with Buzzsprout using our referral code and we'll both get a $20 amazon gift card! https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1894341
Ghost 19
Oct 31 2023
Ghost 19
As the result of a recent mental breakdown, Ginette has left the fast-paced acting life of New York City and rented a house in the small town of Merrittville to isolate herself during her recovery. She has become obsessed with watching her neighbors. Mr. Elias spends the whole day sitting in front of a typewriter. Trixie plays with her dolls in her backyard. And the Lowells are an affectionate newlywed couple. This changes when Mr. Lowell’s mother moves in. Ginette notices a man standing outside her window watching Mr. Lowell’s mother, and since she can’t seem to sleep, she sees the mother walking in the alleyway between their houses in the middle of the night…specifically 3 am, which we commonly call the devil’s hour. The second time this happens, the mysterious man is following her, and Ginette gets the feeling that the mother is no longer living and that the mysterious man isn’t a man at all. He’s something worse. But Ginette can’t seem to leave the house. Any time she tries to make for the front door, she is overwhelmed by nausea and a voice in her head repeatedly screaming to shutup shutup shutup. Is Ginette seeing ghosts? Or is she still having a psychotic break?Did Kayla’s expectations of Simone St. James live up to the amount of hype Karey has been giving it? What distinctions do we see between the thriller genre and the horror genre, and which does this book fall into? How important is the setting to this story? Join us as we discuss these questions and more in episode 24 of our spoiler-filled podcast.Questions: The questions discussed in this episode come from mystery and suspense .com, with a few sprinkled in that Karey came up with. → https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/thriller-book-club-questions/Our spooky season music is from a song titled “Horror Background Music” by Lesfm from Pixabay.Coming up next: A Touch of Chaos by Scarlett St. ClairInterested in starting your own podcast? Sign up with Buzzsprout using our referral code and we'll both get a $20 amazon gift card! https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1894341
The Library of the Dead
Oct 24 2023
The Library of the Dead
“The Library of the Dead” is a thrilling, urban fantasy novel. Set in Edinburgh, the story follows Ropa, a young girl with a unique ability - she can communicate with the spirits of the dead. In a world where the supernatural is an everyday occurrence, Ropa uses her gift to work as a ghostalker, helping lost spirits find closure and pass on peacefully. But her life takes a dangerous turn when she gets involved in a sinister conspiracy. Children are going missing, and Ropa discovers that a powerful entity known as the “Collector” is behind the abductions. To rescue the missing children and unveil the truth, Ropa embarks on a perilous journey through the magical and supernatural aspects of Edinburgh, learning more about her own abilities and the dark forces at work along the way.How does the blending of the mundane and supernatural elements impact the overall atmosphere of the novel? How do themes of inequality and the exploitation of the vulnerable manifest within the story’s plot and characters? Join us as we discuss these questions and more in episode 23 of our spoiler-filled podcast.Questions: The questions discussed in this episode were generated by ChatGPT.Our spooky season music is from a song titled “Horror Background Music” by Lesfm from Pixabay.Coming up next: Ghost 19 by Simone St. JamesInterested in starting your own podcast? Sign up with Buzzsprout using our referral code and we'll both get a $20 amazon gift card! https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1894341
Doctor Sleep
Oct 3 2023
Doctor Sleep
Doctor Sleep is sequel to The Shining and follows Dan Torrance, who is now an adult. The book opens with Dan struggling with alcoholism, as he uses alcohol to suppress his shine, but he quickly finds a town and people that get him into alcoholics anonymous. He becomes known as “Doctor Sleep” while working at a hospice, using his shine abilities to help comfort patients in their final moments. He also establishes a telepathic connection with a young girl named Abra Stone, who possesses an extraordinarily powerful shine. Their peaceful existence is disturbed when a group of malevolent beings called the True Knot, led be Rose the Hat, targets children with psychic abilities to feed off their “steam,” a psychic essence that prolongs their unnaturally long lives. Dan and Abra must confront the True Knot and protect innocent children from falling into their hands, which leads to a pretty thrilling showdown between good and evil.Why did Stephen King choose to resurrect Mrs. Massey as the first ghost we see in this book? Why is is so significant that Danny sees his old friend Tony as soon as he enters the town of Frazier? Join us as we discuss these questions and more in episode 20 of our spoiler-filled podcast.Questions: The questions discussed in this episode come from Bookswarm. → https://stephenking.bookswarm.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/doctor_sleep_guide.pdfOur spooky season music is from a song titled “Horror Background Music” by Lesfm from Pixabay.Coming up next: A Path of Thorns by A.G. SlatterInterested in starting your own podcast? Sign up with Buzzsprout using our referral code and we'll both get a $20 amazon gift card! https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1894341
A Touch of Malice & A Touch of Ruin
Sep 26 2023
A Touch of Malice & A Touch of Ruin
A Touch of Ruin continues the story of Hades and Persephone as their relationship goes public. The resulting media storm has disrupted Persephone’s life and she’s continuing to try to hide her divinity. When tragedy strikes, Persephone goes to Hades for help, which he refuses because her request would upset the Fates. So she seeks the help of another God, Apollo, and the result isn’t what she thought it would be. The negative outcome makes her question whether she can truly be the Queen of the Underworld. In the third book of the series, A Touch of Malice, Hades and Persephone are confronted with Demeter’s wrath when she summons a snow storm in the middle of summer that cripples New Athens. She won’t let up unless they call off their engagement, so the Olympians are force to intervene, but they can’t come to a consensus. If they allow the marriage to go forward, there will be war with Demeter. If they refuse to allow the marriage, there will be war with Hades. Will Hades have to burn the world or will Demeter freeze it?We learn more about several characters of mythology in these two books, namely Aphrodite, Hephaestus, and Apollo. How do their depictions relate to what you knew about them going into these books? Is there anything that could help resolve the conflict between the gods, the demigods, and the humans? Which of the three books in this series (so far) was our favorite? Join us as we discuss these questions and more in season two episode 19 of our spoiler-filled podcast.Questions: We actually made these questions up ourselves…can you believe it?!Great music huh?! The music for the intro and outro are segments from a song titled "Busy City" by TrackTribe, which was accessed through the YouTube audio library.Coming up next: Doctor Sleep by Stephen KingInterested in starting your own podcast? Sign up with Buzzsprout using our referral code and we'll both get a $20 amazon gift card! https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1894341
The Soulmate Equation
Sep 12 2023
The Soulmate Equation
After a series of failed first dates and relationships, Jess is hesitant to trust the concept of soulmates and prefers to rely on her own instincts in matters of the heart. Her best friend convinces her to take the leap and participate in the GeneticAlly’s matchmaking process, and Jess never expected the results she got. She discovers that her match is none other than River Peña, the scientist behind the algorithm. River is just as surprised by the match, given that he had briefly met Jess before the results were revealed. Despite his initial skepticism, he become intrigued by the idea of exploring a potential romantic connection with Jess. And, with such a high match score and a presentation to potential investors just around the corner, this is the perfect opportunity for some good publicity for the company. The company offers to pay Jess and get to know River and given that she recently lost one of her freelance jobs, she’s not really in the position to turn it down. Amidst the scientific experiment that brought them together, Jess and River’s connection deepens, and they find themselves falling for each other. As they confront their doubts and insecurities, they learn to trust in the chemistry between them and embrace the. Possibility of love in unexpected places.Do we believe love is scientifically quantifiable? Is DNAduo a self-fulfilling prophecy or is the algorithm really that accurate? Is it possible to have more than one soulmate? Join us as we discuss these questions and more in episode 18 of our spoiler-filled podcast.Questions: The questions discussed in this episode come from the reading group guide in the back of the book → https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Soulmate-Equation/Christina-Lauren/9781982171117Great music huh?! The music for the intro and outro are segments from a song titled "Busy City" by TrackTribe, which was accessed through the YouTube audio library.Coming up next: A Touch of Ruin and A Touch of Malice by Scarlett St. ClairInterested in starting your own podcast? Sign up with Buzzsprout using our referral code and we'll both get a $20 amazon gift card! https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1894341
A Court of Silver Flames
Aug 29 2023
A Court of Silver Flames
During the events of the war with Hybern, Nesta experienced a lot of difficult things that still haunt her. Hybern’s attempted manipulation of her through her father, Hybern’s murder of her father, and Hybern’s attempt to use Cassian to manipulate her all led her to conclude that caring about people is bad news. Anyone she cares about could be used against her. She has disregarded what was essentially a declaration of love from Cassian as he was dying and is engaging in destructive behaviors like drinking and sleeping around in an attempt to forget. Her family has had it and gives her an ultimatum. She either moves up to the House of the Wind and trains with Cassian or she goes back to mortal lands alone. It’s obvious to us that Cassian has always had some kind of attraction toward Nesta, but while he’s training her, he’s also trying to deal with the aftermath of the war. The wall doesn’t exist anymore, and there are some that would attempt to claim mortal lands for themselves. He is acting as a go-between so that Eris can communicate with the inner circle of the Night Court.How comfortable were we with the spice level in this book? What did we think of the conclusion to this plot? What role do we think the mysterious Mother will play in future books in this series? Join us as we discuss these questions and more in episode 17 of our spoiler-filled podcast.Questions: The questions discussed in this episode come from Karey’s brain.Great music huh?! The music for the intro and outro are segments from a song titled "Busy City" by TrackTribe, which was accessed through the YouTube audio library.Coming up next: The Soulmate Equation by Christina LaurenInterested in starting your own podcast? Sign up with Buzzsprout using our referral code and we'll both get a $20 amazon gift card! https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1894341