Shit We've Read

Hey, friends! You may have noticed there was no new episode this month. That's because sometimes life gets in the way and, unfortunately, that's exactly what happened this month. As you may have already suspected, we're sorry to announce that we had to cancel February's planned discussion of DEATH OF THE AUTHOR by Nnedi Okorafor. At this time, we're unsure whether we'll reschedule it, but we will be back next month with our planned After Dark episode for the Season 5 finale.

Thanks so much for your understanding and we'll see you next month!

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We're also an affiliate on Bookshop.org and Libro.fm! Order books and ebooks through our link HERE and audiobooks HERE and a small commission will go towards the podcast.

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Credits:
Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson and Jason Rico, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico.

We’re kicking off 2026 with a tale of "mind games, kink, and ancient enchantment," because we read SAVAGE BLOOMS by S.T. Gibson! Join us as we spiral into yet another Heated Rivalry tangent, compare the novel to one of its inspirations (Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë), and debate whether it lives up to the other Gibson books we’ve covered. Plus, find out which After Dark pick Laura chose that has Emma absolutely hyped.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode features discussions of an adult-themed book, contains explicit language, and is intended for mature audiences only. Listener discretion is advised.

 

Buy the Book!
Bookshop.org | Libro.fm

 

Other books mentioned in this episode:

Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid

The Long Game by Rachel Reid

Naughty or Ice by Sylvia Pierce

Pucking Around by Emily Rath

Game Misconduct by Ari Baran

A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson

Evocation by S.T. Gibson

An Education in Malice by S.T. Gibson

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

The Dragon's Bride by Katee Robert

House of Rayne by Harley Laroux

To Bargain With Mortals by R.A. Basu

The Archaeology of Falling Worlds by Megan Chee

 

Support SWR!
PayPal | Venmo | SWR Merch

We're also an affiliate on Bookshop.org and Libro.fm! Order books and ebooks through our link HERE and audiobooks HERE and a small commission will go towards the podcast.

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Thank you for your support!

 

Connect with SWR!
Instagram | TikTok | Discord | Website
Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

 

Credits:
Shit We've Read...

It's the final episode of 2025, and we're wrapping things up with our 3rd annual Secret Santa book exchange! Join Bella, Emma, Jason, and Laura for our coziest, messiest holiday tradition as we exchange books, hot takes, and answer the following questions: Did the right books go to the right recipients this year? Which one of us didn’t finish their book, and what went wrong? Which host picked their Secret Santa book during an active criminal investigation? And which current Emma obsession led us on a ten-minute tangent?

Thank you so much for listening and supporting us this year. We’re endlessly grateful for you. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and we’ll see you in 2026!

 

Buy the Books!

Jason’s Book: Amazon.com | Libro.fm

Laura’s Book: Bookshop.org | Libro.fm

Bella’s Book: Bookshop.org | Libro.fm

Emma’s Book: Bookshop.org | Libro.fm

 

Other media mentioned in this episode:

Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan

Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett

The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

Warehouse 13

The SCP Foundation

The City We Became by NK Jemisin

The Magnus Archives Podcast

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid

 

Support SWR!
PayPal | Venmo | SWR Merch

We're also an affiliate on Bookshop.org and Libro.fm! Order books and ebooks through our link HERE and audiobooks HERE and a small commission will go towards the podcast.

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Thank you for your support!

 

Connect with SWR!
Instagram | TikTok | Discord | Website

Request transcripts on ou...

In this special author interview, Bella and Jason sit down with the effortlessly charming R.A. Basu to talk about her debut novel, TO BARGAIN WITH MORTALS—“a stunning reflection on politics and purpose, blood and allegiance—and what we do with the histories we inherit.”

Join us as R.A. spills the chai on the chaotic journey her book took to publication, including the incredible lengths publisher Emma Skies went to acquire it. She also shares how her original inspiration began with Jimin from the K-pop sensation BTS, and how she drew upon her own South Asian identity to infuse the story with cultural depth. Plus, R.A. shocks with a (in hindsight, fairly obvious) revelation about the TV series House, M.D.

You can grab your copy of TO BARGAIN WITH MORTALS now wherever books are sold!

 

Buy the Book!
Bookshop.org | Libro.fm

 

Other books mentioned R.A. in this episode:

Burn the Sea by Mona Tewari

Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite

Jade City by Fonda Lee

 

Guest:
R. A. Basu is an Indian Canadian author from Ontario who works in digital development by day and binge reads novels by night. When she’s not writing, she can be found playing on the Nintendo Switch, fighting for her life in a Pilates class, or looking for the best matcha in her city. She is represented by Allegra Martschenko at BookEnds Literary Agency.

You can find her on Instagram @rabasuwrites

 

Support SWR!
PayPal | Venmo | SWR Merch

We're also an affiliate on Bookshop.org and Libro.fm! Order books and ebooks through our link HERE and audiobooks

You voted, and we listened! Your choice for our Halloween After Dark pick is SING ME TO SLEEP by R.M. Virtues—a dreamy tale of a sleep demon who falls for the woman he was meant to haunt. ⁣

This episode has everything: tipsy hosts, personal encounters with sleep paralysis (we’ll let you guess if any demons were involved), and a passionate discussion about the need for editing in self-publishing. Plus, a moment so tense that Emma and Jason almost come to blows.

Remember, listeners, you brought this upon yourselves! Happy Halloween!

 

CONTENT WARNING: This episode features discussions of an adult-themed book, contains explicit language, and is intended for mature audiences only. Listener discretion is advised.

 

Buy the Book!
Amazon.com (unfortunately, the only place to purchase)

 

Other books mentioned in this episode:

Drag Me Up by R.M. Virtues

Desperate Measures by Katee Robert

Lord of Eternal Night by Ben Alderson

Angels Before Man by Rafael Nicolás

Savage Blooms by S.T. Gibson

A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson

Evocation by S.T. Gibson

An Education in Malice by S.T. Gibson

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

To Bargain With Mortals by R.A. Basu

 

Support SWR!
PayPal | Venmo | SWR Merch

We're also an affiliate on Bookshop.org and Libro.fm! Order books and ebooks through our link HERE and audiobooks HERE and a small commission will go towards the podcast.

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Thank you for your support!

 

Connect with SWR!
Instagram | TikTok | Discord | Website
Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

 

Credits:
Shit We've Read After Dark is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and Emma Skies, with an introduction by Jessilee Windhaus and editing by Jason Rico.

Halloween Theme 1 by Alexande...