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May 1 General Strike: The Very Best Reason to Stay Home and Read

Women have always been crucial to the success of strikes in America and worldwide.

Hide Your Wallet

Hide Your Wallet: April 28th Release Week

Happy Tuesday! It’s the last release week of April. How are we feeling about our TBR piles? We have a couple historical romances on the list this week, plus fantasy romances are still going strong. What new releases are you anticipating? Let us know in the comments!

Books On Sale

Mostly Contemporary Romances

Books on Sale: Mine to Take by Jackie Ashenden & More

RECOMMENDED: Mine to Take by Jackie Ashenden is $1.99! In one of the RT Rewind episodes, Sarah and I discussed how Ashenden’s books felt like a precursor to today’s dark romance. Elyse read this and really enjoyed it. She gave the book an A-:

I immensely enjoyed the start of this series and am looking forward to the rest of the books. If you like sexy biker gang president CEO heroes who are bossy in the bedroom–and let’s be honest, who doesn’t?–then consider picking up Mine to Take.

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Book Review

How to Fake it in Society by KJ Charles

How to Fake It in Society

This book brought me a tremendous amount of pleasure. It’s a KJ Charles book, so that’s probably stating the obvious, but this is KJ Charles at her best. Nico is a French aristocrat with a painting to sell in order to pay off a terrifying moneylender on behalf of his cousin Evelyn (usually referred to as Eve). Nico is engaged to Miss Whitecross, a phenomenally wealthy old woman. He is not old – probably in … Continue reading How to Fake it in Society by KJ Charles

Cover Snark: Detective Stabler, Is That You?

The Alien Farmer Needs a Wife by Ava Blaire. A shirtless man stares at us while an intense lightning storm happens in the background. He is very orange and shiny, like his whole body is dusted in makeup highlighter. He also looks like actor Christopher Meloni.,

Welcome back to Cover Snark! Elyse: The artist was sick the day the learned to draw the lower body. Sneezy: Never skip leg day. Amanda: Her dress reminds me of those Barbie dress cakes. Sarah: That is just So Much Dress. Also, are his trousers open in the front?! My word! From Syntha: I don’t even know where to start with this one. Sarah: He looks like someone. Who does he look like. It’s going … Continue reading Cover Snark: Detective Stabler, Is That You?

Get Rec’d with Amanda – Volume 113

Hello and welcome back! In this edition, we have two very different mystery options. There’s also some cozy fantasy and non-fiction. Have any book recommendations you’d like to pass along? Drop them in the comments!

Sunday Sale Digest!

Smart Bitches in a blue typewriter font, and After Dark lit up like hot pink neon

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!

Whatcha Reading? April 2026, Part Two

Featured image for Whatcha Reading? April 2026, Part Two

Welcome back! Here’s what we’re reading right now: Carrie: I just finished the Trembling Hand, a nonfiction that I read slowly, and am starting The Chamber, a thriller which I hope to speed through since it’s all plot Lara: I just started a cosy mystery by an author that (from what I can tell) started as an influencer. The Potting Shed Murder by Paula Sutton. I’m only a couple pages in but I’m intrigued! Amanda: … Continue reading Whatcha Reading? April 2026, Part Two

Friday Videos Love Vintage Videos

An image of a VHS cassette with a label that reads FRIDAY VIDEOS Smart Bitches Ep. 21 against a pink crosshatch background

Happy Friday! I have been watching a lot of old, excuse me, vintage You Tube videos. I still quote these all the TIME. And I miss the period of time when a new Homestar Runner update was Very Exciting. Internet cartoon shows – done originally, I think, in Adobe Flash? Oh, Flash. You were everywhere. Haaaanyway. Remember these? I did NOT expect that to be so…prescient. And of course, this 23 (?) year old moment: … Continue reading Friday Videos Love Vintage Videos

Podcast

715. Books, Wine & Nachos at Joie de Livres: A Conversation with Claire Trottier

Thanks for Geoffroy in the podcast Patreon (merci, Geoffrey!) my guest this week is Claire Trottier, owner of Joie de Livres, a romance and speculative fiction bookshop in Montreal, Canada. Hi Neighbors! We’re going to talk about: Opening a romance and speculative fiction book store Wealth disparity! Seeing the world premiere of episode 1 of Heated Rivalry at the Image+National queer film festival in Montreal The effect of Heated Rivalry on Joie de Livres Then … Continue reading 715. Books, Wine & Nachos at Joie de Livres: A Conversation with Claire Trottier

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