It's like Summer Reading Bingo, Except Winter, and Also Unhinged.
This piece of literary mayhem is exclusive to Smart Bitches After Dark, but fret not. If you’d like to join, we’d love to have you! Have a look at our membership options, and come join the fun! If you want to have a little extra fun, be a little more yourself, and be part of keeping the site open for everyone in the future, we can’t wait to see you in our new subscription-based section … Continue reading Sunday Sale Digest! (All Freebie Edition)
January is soon coming to an end. Here’s what we’re reading right now: Lara: I tried to read a book featuring a disabled/chronically ill couple but instead of relating or learning, I just felt deeply triggered. So that was that. Now I’m flailing looking for something to take me out of my head. Sarah: Oh heck I hate when that happens. I’m sorry you’re going through it. Do you have a “break glass in case … Continue reading Whatcha Reading? January 2026, Part Two
Butcher and Blackbird by Brynne Weaver is $1.49! This is book one in The Ruinous Love series. I read this one and these are my thoughts from my Goodreads review:
This one started off really promising. Unfortunately, the pacing started to falter about about a third of the way into it. The last quarter was suspenseful and I appreciated the twist, but yeah…the middle of the book felt mostly like filler. I also didn’t feel a ton of romantic progression between the leads.
One thing that really confounded me was that Sloane is described as being in her early twenties. She’s an accomplished serial killer and quotes Zoolander (which came out in 2001). Look, I love Zoolander as much as the next person, but it’s not exactly the Criterion Collection. It really took me out and had me wondering when exactly did this story take place.
Overall, I enjoyed the tone and dark humor. It’s a unique romance, but needed some refinement.
I talk a lot about how SBTB feels like a piece of vintage internet sometimes. I mean, we’re a book blog, albeit a large one with a podcast and a bunch of social media accounts, and every now and again I’m reminded that we’re one of the classic pieces of the internet. (Also: STILL HERE!) YouTube was founded the 14th of February 2005, a few weeks after this here website, in fact. Yup, both YouTube … Continue reading Friday Videos Want to Know: What’s the Oldest Online Video You Remember?
Candy recapped Heated Rivalry, and is that enough? No, of course not. We had MANY things we wanted to exclaim at each other about, so why not podcast about it? We’re going to talk about the show, the acting, the adaptation, and the fact that this show could never have been made in the US. Jacob Tierney is a genius, and we have many a rabbit hole of research to explore. If you’ve been thinking … Continue reading 702. Heated Rivalry with Candy Tan
RECOMMENDED: The Roommate by Rosie Danan is $2.99! I liked this one and gave it a B+. Ellen also read the follow-up and gave that on a similar grade.
Back by popular demand, it’s Which One First, where we recommend where new readers should start with an author’s considerable backlist. And also by request: it’s Which One First? Alice Coldbreath Edition! Alice Coldbreath, if you aren’t familiar, is a massively popular author of historical romances, specifically medievals and some Victorian stories. I love the entire existence of Coldbreath’s career. In a time where historical romance is not as dominant as it once was, and … Continue reading Which One First: Alice Coldbreath
Welcome back! Firstly, thank you all for your flu commiserations! Breathing is better, but definitely not at 100%, plus a little cough as started to make an appearance. I’m full steam ahead on cozy activities, like gaming in bed, nudging my partner to help figure out how our propane fireplace works, making warm salads like this one. (Highly recommend this whole channel for easy meals that are packed with veggies and protein.) But my biggest … Continue reading Links: Cross Stitch, Lore Olympus, & More
RECOMMENDED: Partners in Crime by Alisha Rai is $1.99! Lara read this one and gave it an A- in a Lightning Review:
Because of my absolute abhorrence of a Big Misunderstanding plot, I nearly didn’t come back to this book, so if that turns you off, too, don’t make my mistake. You’ll be rewarded with a fun, emotionally nuanced, and surprising heist adventure – a very memorable one!
