Are these popular booktok books overhyped... or actually worth it? Let's find out!
Books Discussed:
The Love Hypothesis - Ali Hazelwood
The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller
Shatter Me - Tahereh Mafi
Normal People - Sally Rooney
People We Meet on Vacation - Emily Henry
The God of the Woods - Liz Moore
The Inheritance Games - Jennifer Lynn Barnes
The Secret History - Donna Tartt
The Perfect Son - Freida McFadden
House of Flame and Shadow - Sarah J Maas
Iron Gold - Pierce Brown
Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod
Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast
Jaime's socials:
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Tiktok: @jaime.fok
Freya's socials:
https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio
Instagram: @freyv_reads
Tiktok: @freyvalerio
(00:00) intro & current reads
(08:52) taylor swift's audiobook
(11:48) the love hypothesis
(16:33) the song of achilles
(21:34) shatter me
(25:50) normal people
(31:16) olympics sidebar
(33:26) people we meet on vacation
(40:59) the god of the woods
(46:29) the inheritance games
(51:13) the secret history
Let's wrap up our December reading month & talk about our 2026 reading goals!
Books Discussed:
The Strength of the Few - James Islington
House of Flame and Shadow - Sarah J Maas
A Day of Fallen Night - Samantha Shannon
The Fellowship of the Ring (Lord of the Rings) - JRR Tolkein
The Bright Years - Sarah Damoff
Iron Gold - Pierce Brown
The Stormlight Archive - Brandon Sanderson
Oathbringer - Brandon Sanderson
A Sea of Unspoken Things - Adrienne Young
The Unmaking of June Farrow - Adrienne Young
A Sky Beyond the Storm - Sabaa Tahir
Broken Country - Clare Leslie Hall
Fallen City - Adrienne Young
The Ex-Wives Club - Sally Hepworth
The Poet Empress - Shen Tao
The Elsewhere Express - Samantha Shannon Yambao
People We Meet on Vacation - Emily Henry
The Housemaid - Frieda McFadden
Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod
Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast
Jaime's socials:
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Freya's socials:
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Instagram: @freyv_reads
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(00:00) intro & current reads
(12:36) december recap
(30:06) 2026 reading goals
(53:47) january news
2025 wrapped! Let's talk about the best and worst books we read this year, going month to month. THANK YOU for listening this year, and can't wait for more episodes to come in 2026!
Books Discussed:
The Strength of the Few - James Islington
Oathbringer - Brandon Sanderson
Red Rising - Pierce Brown
The Favourites - Layne Fargo
Love in the Time of Serial Killers - Alicia Thompson
Blood Over Bright Haven - ML Wang
Pumpkin Spice Cafe - Laurie Gilmore
Sunrise on the Reaping - Suzanne Collins
Deep End - Ali Hazelwood
Wild Reverence - Rebecca Ross
Immortal Dark - Tigest Girma
Us Against You - Fredrik Backman
Firefly Lane - Kristin Hannah
Atmosphere - Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Summer We Ran - Audrey Ingram
Jade War - Fonda Lee
We'll Always Have Summer - Jenny Han
Jade Legacy - Fonda Lee
Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales - Heather Fawcett
Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir
Metal Slinger - Rachel Schneider
Words of Radiance - Brandon Sanderson
Mate - Ali Hazelwood
Red City - Marie Lu
The Poet Empress - Shen Tao
Morning Star - Pierce Brown
Heartstopper - Alice Oseman
Hero of Ages - Brandon Sanderson
His and Hers - Alice Feeney
The Blood Traitor - Lynette Noni
All I Ever Wanted Was to be Hot - Lucinda Price
Reckless - Lauren Roberts
Holding the Reins - Paisley Hope
A Familiar Stranger - AR Torre
A Torch Against the Night - Sabaa Tahir
Save Me - Mona Kasten
The Raven Scholar - Antonia Hodgson
Our Infinite Fates - Laura Steven
The Way of Kings - Brandon Sanderson
Wild Side - Elsie Silver
Kingdom of Copper - SA Chakraborty
Regretting You - Colleen Hoover
The Will of the Many - James Islington
People Watching - Hannah Bonam Young
The Defender - Ana Huang
The Cursed Melodies - Connie Glynn
Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod
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Jaime's socials:
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Freya's socials:
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Instagram: @freyv_reads
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(00:00) intro & current reads
(15:22) year in review
(27:42) january
(36:28) february
(45:35) march
(48:16) april
(52:55) may
(56:55) june
(01:00:58) july
(01:07:53) august
(01:12:29) september
(01:15:02) october
(01:20:01) november
(01:23:48) final thoughts & happy holidays!
Let's go over the Goodreads Choice Awards nominees and winners of 2025! Why is the romantasy category so confusing...?
Books Discussed:
Just Friends - Haley Pham
Of Flame and Fury - Mikayla Bridge
The Princess Knight - Cait Jacobs
The Ballad of Falling Dragons - Sarah A Parker
When the Moon Hatched - Sarah A Parker
Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod
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Jaime's socials:
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Freya's socials:
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Instagram: @freyv_reads
Tiktok: @freyvalerio
(00:00) intro & current reads
(09:27) wicked: for good debrief
(16:12) the ballad of falling dragons announcement
(19:15) fiction
(27:18) historical fiction
(31:04) mystery thriller
(34:40) romance
(39:20) romantasy
(47:14) fantasy
(54:29) sci-fi
(56:18) horror
(57:35) debut
(58:51) audiobooks
(59:12) YA fantasy
(01:03:27) YA fiction
(01:05:08) nonfiction
(01:09:17) final thoughts
Time to talk about the BEST reads of 2025! In this episode, we go over YOUR top 10 books that you read this year. Thank you everyone for submitting your favs, hope you enjoy!
Books Discussed:
We Three Heroes - Lynette Noni
We Were Liars - E Lockhart
Atmosphere - Taylor Jenkins Reid
Sunrise on the Reaping - Suzanne Collins
Blood Over Bright Haven - ML Wang
Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir
The Will of the Many - James Islington
The Strength of the Few - James Islington
Onyx Storm - Rebecca Yarros
The Knight and the Moth - Rachel Gillig
Once Upon a Broken Heart - Stephanie Garber
The Poppy War - RF Kuang
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue - VE Schwab
Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod
Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast
Jaime's socials:
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Freya's socials:
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Instagram: @freyv_reads
Tiktok: @freyvalerio
(00:00) intro & current reads
(02:55) the will of the many movie adaptation
(06:27) sunrise on the reaping trailer
(09:58) current reads
(15:06) rental family
(18:10) top 10 books!
(18:40) 10th place
(23:03) 9th place
(24:44) 8th place
(27:23) 7th place
(33:14) 6th place
(36:36) 5th place
(40:11) 4th place
(46:31) 3rd place
(50:59) 2nd place
(56:45) 1st place
Let's talk about the hard truth of publishing with Sarah Mughal Rana, author of debut fantasy Dawn of the Firebird. From her experience with writing an immersive and unique fantasy story in an age of romantasy, to her experience with defamation & review bombing, to social media marketing - join us in this fun chat with our first ever guest!
Books Discussed:
Dawn of the Firebird - Sarah Mughal Rana
Edgedancer - Brandon Sanderson
Words of Radiance - Brandon Sanderson
The Defender - Ana Huang
Stories of Your Life and Others - Ted Chiang
Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod
Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast
Jaime's socials:
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Instagram: @jaimefok
Tiktok: @jaime.fok
Freya's socials:
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Instagram: @freyv_reads
Tiktok: @freyvalerio
(00:00) intro & current reads
(08:25) welcome sarah mughal rana!
(10:39) sarah's current read
(13:45) life while publishing a book
(16:48) social media marketing & PR
(17:31) what is dawn of the firebird about?
(19:39) the journey of writing a book
(23:56) building a rich world filled with culture & FOOD
(26:12) love to australian readers
(26:51) high fantasy in a world of romantasy
(29:13) a strong, flawed female protagonist
(33:22) crafting the perfect fight scene
(38:37) making readers cry
(39:38) review bombing & defamation while publishing
(52:04) rapid fire this or that
(54:12) what can we look forward to in the sequel?
Let's talk about some bookish habits and trends that we just want to leave behind in 2025... and forget about as we move into 2026!
Books Discussed:
Words of Radiance - Brandon Sanderson
The Vanishing Half - Brit Bennett
Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod
Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast
Jaime's socials:
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Freya's socials:
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Instagram: @freyv_reads
Tiktok: @freyvalerio
(00:00) intro & current reads
(07:27) not letting goodreads ratings determine what to read
(10:45) getting book recs from hype only
(13:53) continuing series I don't like
(18:50) picking up series in the wrong order
(22:20) stop taking breaks in between series
(27:00) reading comments on viral videos
(34:52) reading books I think I should vs what I actually crave
(38:30) letting reviews influence my rating after I've read the book
(42:49) stressful 24 hour readathons
(46:10) putting off reading an intimidating book
(49:50) feeling guilty about buying books
(57:08) sticking to familiar authors only
Let's talk about some of those hidden gem books that we all forgot about... but we would still highly recommend!
APOLOGIES for some of the audio quality in this episode, we had some technical difficulties this week 😭 Hope you're still able to enjoy this one!
Books Discussed:
Violet Thistlewaite is Not a Villain Anymore - Emily Krempholtz
Warbreaker - Brandon Sanderson
Six of Crows - Leigh Bardugo
Pachinko - Min Jin Lee
Sabriel - Garth Nix
Five Feet Apart - Rachael Lippincott
The Name of the Wind - Patrick Rothfuss
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow - Gabrielle Zevin
Red, White and Royal Blue - Casey McQuiston
Lessons in Chemistry - Bonnie Garmus
Renegades - Marissa Meyer
Carrie Soto is Back - Taylor Jenkins Reid
Northern Lights - Phillip Pullman
Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod
Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast
Jaime's socials:
https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok
Instagram: @jaimefok
Tiktok: @jaime.fok
Freya's socials:
https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio
Instagram: @freyv_reads
Tiktok: @freyvalerio
(00:00) intro & current reads
(08:07) six of crows re-edits?
(12:09) sabriel
(14:48) pachinko
(18:33) the name of the wind
(24:48) five feet apart
(28:52) red, white & royal blue
(32:13) tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow
(36:48) renegades
(38:51) on the topic of palate cleansers
(41:25) lessons in chemistry
(44:24) northern lights
(47:48) carrie soto is back
Let's talk about the books (series) that we gave up on and DNF'd... but also chat about some series we are SO excited to start!
Books Discussed:
Direbound - Sable Sorensen
The Raven Scholar - Antonia Hodgson
Legendborn - Tracy Deonn
Red Queen - Victoria Aveyard
The House in the Cerulean Sea - TJ Klune
Haunting Adeline - HD Carlton
Twisted Love - Ana Huang
Zodiac Academy - Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti
The Deal - Elle Kennedy
The Witcher - Andrej Sapkowski
The Fifth Season - NK Jemisin
The Jasad Heir - Sara Hashem
Red City - Marie Lu
This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me - Ilona Andrews
The Will of the Many - James Islington
Vicious - VE Schwab
The Fragile Threads of Power - VE Schwab
Lady of Darkness - Melissa K Roehrich
Jade City - Fonda Lee
The Poppy War - RF Kuang
Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod
Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast
Jaime's socials:
https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok
Instagram: @jaimefok
Tiktok: @jaime.fok
Freya's socials:
https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio
Instagram: @freyv_reads
Tiktok: @freyvalerio
(00:00) intro & current reads
(06:20) series we dnf'd
(06:53) cat and mouse
(10:00) the legendborn cycle
(14:07) twisted
(17:15) red queen
(21:43) zodiac academy
(25:47) cerulean chronicles
(29:31) off campus
(31:45) powerless
(35:37) series we want to start
(35:49) hierarchy
(36:25) villains
(39:37) the witcher
(43:05) threads of power
(46:09) the broken earth
(48:16) lady of darkness
(50:31) the scorched throne
(52:40) the green bone saga
(56:07) red city
(58:10) the poppy war
(01:00:13) maggie the undying
Let's create our ULTIMATE Fantasy stories! This episode just confirmed we should NOT be authors, but we had fun doing it anyways! 😂
The Will of the Many Bonus Chapter:
https://d1hbl61hovme3a.cloudfront.net/assets_us/interlude-confessiones-ad-mortuos.pdf?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaf2xFmz8pt_wyrplgvh8jxL2qxgze2T8JM4GhiB7U-uwIzLLUvHOhzYK4hznw_aem_eZlx6ZYwt7SnX_OsLup1ng
Books Discussed:
The Astonishing Color of After - Emily XR Pan
The Will of the Many - James Islington
Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod
Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast
Jaime's socials:
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Instagram: @jaimefok
Tiktok: @jaime.fok
Freya's socials:
https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio
Instagram: @freyv_reads
Tiktok: @freyvalerio
(00:00) intro & current reads
(13:00) a jacks and evangeline novella!
(14:35) rf kuang's next novel (taipei story)
(16:43) our fantasy survival skills
(18:47) our subgenres
(21:21) who is writing our fantasy?
(26:08) who is the protagonist
(28:12) the magic system
(34:16) world building
(39:14) magical creatures
(43:30) our plot tropes
(48:57) romance subplots
(53:39) putting it all together... our final plots
Today, we are going to give you our book recs for ALL your very specific moods. Hope you love this one!
(We apologize for the audio quality in the last 2 minutes, we had some technical difficulties <3)
Books Discussed:
The Intruder - Freida McFadden
Alchemised - SenLinYu
Katabasis - RF Kuang
Alchemy of Secrets - Stephanie Garber
Masters of Death - Olivie Blake
Shark Heart - Emily Habeck
Immortal Consequences - IV Marie
Water Moon - Samantha Sotto Yambao
A Harvest of Hearts - Andrea Emmes
Madwoman - Chelsea Bieker
Blood Over Bright Haven - ML Wang
Firefly Lane - Kristin Hannah
Just for the Summer - Abby Jimenez
A Study in Drowning - Ava Reid
Recursion - Blake Crouch
A River Enchanted - Rebecca Ross
Magnolia Parks - Jessa Hastings
Binding 13 - Chloe Walsh
To Kill a Kingdom - Alexandra Christo
The Sirens - Emilia Hart
Tress of the Emerald Sea - Brandon Sanderson
Once Upon a Broken Heart - Stephanie Garber
A Winters Promise - Christelle Dabos
Belladonna - Adalyn Grace
Kiss of Deception - Mary E Pearson
Five Broken Blades - Mai Corland
A Song to Drown Rivers - Ann Liang
Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod
Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast
Jaime's socials:
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Instagram: @jaimefok
Tiktok: @jaime.fok
Freya's socials:
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Instagram: @freyv_reads
Tiktok: @freyvalerio
(00:00) intro & current reads
(11:19) book to screen adaptation announcements
(15:08) the animal companion is kind of a jerk
(19:06) something that feels like a liminal space
(23:01) makes you think about life, death, right and wrong, while also making you feel all the feels
(25:58) queer dark academia with a twist
(28:14) you're bundled up in a cozy cabin sipping coffee while it rains
(32:31) a girl goes insane
(36:14) summer nights when it is late and you and your friend are the only ones awake watching the stars
(39:29) literally like walking into a storm
(45:22) everyone thinks is spicy, but is actually low key
(48:25) with sirens, mermaids and pirates
(51:17) running barefoot through a castle wearing a flowy dress
(54:46) a fantasy, set in a kingdom, no magic, enemies to lovers, betrayal and arranged marriage
Let's talk about reading order for some of our FAVOURITE authors! We'll talk about our fav books from each, as well as where to start with them.
RF Kuang video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPMmm4ikRgU/
Books Discussed:
Fake Skating - Lynn Painter
Alchemised - SenLinYu
Six of Crows: A Darker Shore (Letters from Ketterdam) - Leigh Bardugo
The Poppy War - RF Kuang
Babel - RF Kuang
Katabasis - RF Kuang
Yellowface - RF Kuang
Shadow and Bone - Leigh Bardugo
Six of Crows - Leigh Bardugo
King of Scars - Leigh Bardugo
Ninth House - Leigh Bardugo
The Familiar - Leigh Bardugo
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue - VE Schwab
A Darker Shade of Magic - VE Schwab
Vicious - VE Schwab
The Fragile Threads of Power - VE Schwab
Gallant - VE Schwab
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil - VE Schwab
City of Bones - Cassandra Clare
Clockwork Angel - Cassandra Clare
Chain of Gold - Cassandra Clare
The Bane Chronicles - Cassandra Clare
Lady Midnight - Cassandra Clare
Sword Catcher - Cassandra Clare
Beartown - Fredrik Backman
A Man Called Ove - Fredrik Backman
Anxious People - Fredrik Backman
My Friends - Fredrik Backman
Atmosphere - Taylor Jenkins Reid
Carrie Soto is Back - Taylor Jenkins Reid
After I Do - Taylor Jenkins Reid
One True Loves - Taylor Jenkins Reid
Malibu Rising - Taylor Jenkins Reid
Forever, Interrupted - Taylor Jenkins Reid
Evidence of the Affair - Taylor Jenkins Reid
Daisy Jones and the Six - Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod
Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast
Jaime's socials:
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Instagram: @jaimefok
Tiktok: @jaime.fok
Freya's socials:
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Instagram: @freyv_reads
Tiktok: @freyvalerio
(00:00) intro & current reads
(12:45) six of crows announcement!
(16:48) we aren't qualified to discuss brandon sanderson
(17:38) rf kuang
(22:21) leigh bardugo
(29:13) ve schwab
(36:15) cassandra clare
(45:07) fredrik backman
(50:52) taylor jenkins reid
Let's talk about some books that the world HATED (aka had very low Goodreads ratings)... but we loved.
Books Discussed:
Us Against You - Fredrik Backman
Words of Radiance - Brandon Sanderson
Alchemised - SenLinYu
The Will of the Many - James Islington
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue - VE Schwab
Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir
Silvercloak - LK Steven
The Raven Scholar - Antonia Hodgson
Yellowface - RF Kuang
Forever, Interrupted - Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Fury - Alex Michaelides
The Ministry of Time - Kaliane Bradley
A Song to Drown Rivers - Ann Liang
Ruthless Vows - Rebecca Ross
Siege and Storm - Leigh Bardugo
Masters of Death - Olivie Blake
The Striker - Ana Huang
Swordcatcher - Cassandra Clare
Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod
Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast
Jaime's socials:
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Instagram: @jaimefok
Tiktok: @jaime.fok
Freya's socials:
https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio
Instagram: @freyv_reads
Tiktok: @freyvalerio
(00:00) intro & current reads
(07:54) our recent book purchases
(10:06) yellowface
(15:33) siege and storm
(19:30) forever, interrupted
(23:44) goodreads rant
(24:47) masters of death
(29:41) the fury
(34:31) the striker
(38:16) the ministry of time
(43:44) swordcatcher
(47:26) a song to drown rivers
(52:04) ruthless vows
Let's talk about some popular BookTok books that we just do not want to read...
Books Discussed:
The Names - Florence Knapp
The Kingdom of Copper - SA Chakraborty
Icebreaker - Hannah Grace
Flawless - Elsie Silver
Wild Card - Elsie Silver
Problematic Summer Romance - Ali Hazelwood
Mate - Ali Hazelwood
Bride - Ali Hazelwood
Not in Love - Ali Hazelwood
Deep End - Ali Hazelwood
Credence - Penelope Douglas
Binding 13 - Chloe Walsh
City of Gods and Monsters - Kayla Edwards
The Fine Print - Lauren Asher
Throttled - Lauren Asher
King of Wrath - Ana Huang
Lights Out - Navessa Allen
The Ritual - Shantel Tessier
God of Malice - Rina Kent
God of Fury - Rina Kent
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue - VE Schwab
Katabasis - RF Kuang
The Knave and the Moon - Rachel Gillig
The Knight and the Moth - Rachel Gillig
Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod
Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast
Jaime's socials:
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Instagram: @jaimefok
Tiktok: @jaime.fok
Freya's socials:
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Instagram: @freyv_reads
Tiktok: @freyvalerio
(00:00) intro & current reads
(08:15) the knave and the moon announcement!
(09:53) we are the same height
(12:46) jaime met rf kuang!
(16:43) icebreaker
(22:13) throttled
(25:32) flawless
(28:08) TSITP tangent
(29:49) credence
(32:05) problematic summer romance
(33:55) mate tangent
(36:55) wild card tangent
(37:36) king of wrath
(41:44) binding 13
(46:08) lights out
(48:45) buddy reading the invisible life of addie larue
(51:38) city of gods and monsters
(54:33) god of malice
Ever wonder about book shopping habits, book prices, bookish events & communities across the world? Today we are chatting about our reading experiences as book lovers in Australia vs Canada 💖
Books Discussed:
Mate - Ali Hazelwood
Bride - Ali Hazelwood
Golden Son - Pierce Brown
Red Rising - Pierce Brown
Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod
Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast
Jaime's socials:
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Instagram: @jaimefok
Tiktok: @jaime.fok
Freya's socials:
https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio
Instagram: @freyv_reads
Tiktok: @freyvalerio
(00:00) intro & current reads
(07:40) where we buy books & prices of books
(16:44) book formats & special editions
(22:30) when are books released?
(28:45) seasonal book releases
(33:22) getting ARCs
(39:43) social media & being content creators
(48:30) book events & author meets
(54:00) fantasy balls
When your book bestie hasn’t read your FAVORITE BOOKS… Just trying to convince each other to read our favs! Hope you enjoy this episode 💖
People mentioned:
Emmy 🫶🏻 - https://www.youtube.com/@emmyrosam
Books Discussed:
Metal Slinger - Rachel Schneider
Immortal Consequences - IV Marie
Blood Moon - Britney S Lewis
Binding 13 (Boys of Tommen) - Chloe Walsh
The Poppy War - RF Kuang
The Raven Scholar - Antonia Hodgson
Silvercloak - LK Steven
A Song to Drown Rivers - Ann Liang
Not Quite Dead Yet - Holly Jackson
Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir
A Torch Against the Night (An Ember in the Ashes) - Sabaa Tahir
The Will of the Many - James Islington
The Fragile Threads of Power - VE Schwab
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue - VE Schwab
Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod
Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast
Jaime's socials:
https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok
Instagram: @jaimefok
Tiktok: @jaime.fok
Freya's socials:
https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio
Instagram: @freyv_reads
Tiktok: @freyvalerio
(00:00) intro & current reads
(09:17) binding 13
(16:48) the poppy war
(22:37) the raven scholar
(27:48) a song to drown rivers
(32:49) not quite dead yet
(36:58) project hail mary
(41:36) a torch against the night
(45:22) the will of the many
(52:06) the invisible life of addie larue & the fragile threads of power
From Ali Hazelwood, to Sarah J Maas, to Jessa Hastings, to Leigh Bardugo and more. Let's chat about some of the books one of us LOVED, and the other didn't love so much.
Books Discussed:
Rewind it Back - Liz Tomforde
The Nightingale - Kristin Hannah
Silvercloak - LK Steven
Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir
Deep End - Ali Hazelwood
Ninth House - Leigh Bardugo
Magnolia Parks - Jessa Hastings
Where the Crawdads Sing - Delia Owens
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder - Holly Jackson
Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald
A Court of Wings and Ruin - SJM
Quicksilver - Callie Hart
Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod
Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast
Jaime's socials:
https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok
Instagram: @jaimefok
Tiktok: @jaime.fok
Freya's socials:
https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio
Instagram: @freyv_reads
Tiktok: @freyvalerio
(00:00) intro & current reads
(07:57) our rating systems
(09:58) deep end
(15:49) ninth house
(22:18) magnolia parks
(26:56) where the crawdads sing
(33:18) the good girl's guide to murder
(37:59) pride and prejudice
(41:42) the great gatsby
(44:47) ACOWAR
(48:06) quicksilver
Let's do a book club style deep dive today. The book in question... The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson. We LOVED reading about Kaladin, Shallan, Dalinar, Szeth & Hoid, and cannot WAIT to continue the Stormlight Archive series and the Cosmere in general!
As a note - the first portion of this episode is SPOILER FREE. We give a warning in the episode once we start going into spoiler territory!
Jaime's Options:
A Darker Shade of Magic
The Favourites
Shadow and Bone
Yours Truly
Caraval
When the Moon Hatched
Beartown
Mistborn
The Seven-Year Slip
Wild Love
Freya's Options:
Magnolia Parks
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Beach Read
Say You’ll Remember Me
The Prison Healer
Spark of the Everflame
A River Enchanted
Powerless
One for My Enemy
One Dark Window
Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod
Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast
Jaime's socials:
https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok
Instagram: @jaimefok
Tiktok: @jaime.fok
Freya's socials:
https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio
Instagram: @freyv_reads
Tiktok: @freyvalerio
(00:00) intro & current reads
(09:01) spoiler free brief synopsis
(11:18) the magic system
(14:08) brandon sanderson writes like a plain chip
(22:31) cosmere reading order
(25:03) our brandon sanderson rankings
(28:00) spoilers start!
(28:17) kaladin
(43:16) shallan
(54:44) dalinar
(01:04:59) szeth
(01:08:33) hoid
BOOK CHALLENGE TIME! Let's challenge our memories to see if we can remember the first lines of some of our favourite popular books. Take a stroll down our reader history and play along with us!
Jaime's Options:
A Darker Shade of Magic
The Favourites
Shadow and Bone
Yours Truly
Caraval
When the Moon Hatched
Beartown
Mistborn
The Seven-Year Slip
Wild Love
Freya's Options:
Magnolia Parks
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Beach Read
Say You’ll Remember Me
The Prison Healer
Spark of the Everflame
A River Enchanted
Powerless
One for My Enemy
One Dark Window
Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod
Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast
Jaime's socials:
https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok
Instagram: @jaimefok
Tiktok: @jaime.fok
Freya's socials:
https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio
Instagram: @freyv_reads
Tiktok: @freyvalerio
(00:00) intro & current reads
(08:47) the game
(10:42) round one
(12:34) round two
(15:39) round three
(16:57) round four
(18:49) round five
(20:47) round six
(23:36) round seven
(25:10) round eight
(26:55) round nine
(29:27) round ten
(33:08) round eleven
(34:30) round twelve
(36:00) round thirteen
(39:16) round fourteen
(40:06) round fifteen
(41:50) reflection
(49:52) next episode announcement
In this episode, Freya & Jaime talk about those books that we would highly recommend, and were still quite possibly 5 star reads... but just had one element that made it not quite perfect. Lots of good book recs in this one for you!
Bailee's video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKjj01Z38dc
Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod
Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast
Jaime's socials:
https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok
Instagram: @jaimefok
Tiktok: @jaime.fok
Freya's socials:
https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio
Instagram: @freyv_reads
Tiktok: @freyvalerio
(00:00) intro & current reads
(07:46) how we became friends
(11:03) recursion
(14:39) malibu rising
(19:35) yumi and the nightmare painter
(23:49) once upon a broken heart
(28:50) the favorites
(31:07) masters of death
(34:47) shark heart
(38:47) just for the summer
(43:17) ready or not
(46:03) the prison healer
(50:23) blood over bright haven