Welcome back to Whatcha Reading! Here’s how we’re wrapping up May: Elyse: I just started This Monster of Mine. The author said the hero was inspired by Ben Barnes as the Darkling so … Claudia: I’m struggling with the new Susanna Kearsley book, The King’s Messenger. It’s told from the perspectives of multiple characters and to me it just feels jarring, like I don’t get to know any of them. Amanda: What a coincidence, I … Continue reading Whatcha Reading? May 2025, Part Two →

Thanks as always to Garlic Knitter for being awesome!
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There’s a lot of things I could write about Another Simple Favor. I could write about whether or not Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively get along with each other! I could write about our current societal obsession with True Crime! I could write about how the conversation about mommy vlogging has changed since 2018! I could write about stereotypes about Italians – we aren’t all in the mob! Some of us are freelance writers! But … Continue reading Movie Review: Another Simple Favor →

Inspired by a recent episode of The Sam Sanders Show, Amanda and I are sharing our own hot takes and possibly controversial opinions about romance. We’re talking: Third act bleak moments! Transcending the genre! Rom coms! Cozy things! Conferences and gatherings! Accessories for Readers! TW/CW: We take a brief side trip into parental estrangement and emotional abuse. … Check out the SKIMS Ultimate Bra Collection and more at https://www.skims.com/sarah #skimspartner
I’m keeping this review brief because there’s only so much you can say about the third book in a trilogy without completely giving away the other two books. Also, this book is kind of a letdown. The glory and wonder of that angry vampire in book two is admittedly a tough act to follow. But let’s unpack. There are two plots in this book: the romance plot and the adventure plot. The romance plot focuses … Continue reading Rebel in the Deep by Katee Robert →
Welcome back everyone! This week and the last week have felt like such a slog. I feel like I could sleep through an entire weekend at this point. In fairness, I’ve had a lot of social obligations and deadlines. Hopefully, I can get a weekend just to rot soon! Anyone else feeling some burn out? … This link was sent in by Vicki S. Connecticut has passed a bill to give libraries more agency when … Continue reading Links: Always Cats and Libraries →
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 After Dark at the Movies: Ball of Fire →
Behooved is a charming fantasy romance that draws from Beauty and the Beast stories and shifter romances in a creative and sometimes very funny way. It also has a solid representation of life with a chronic illness. While this book wasn’t subtle about its messages, it was heartwarming, exciting, and sweet. Bianca (our narrator) is a princess whose parents teach her to honor duty above all else and to conceal any vulnerability at all cost, … Continue reading Behooved by M. Stevenson →