Ep 53 Asking Each Other UNHINGED & JUICY questions + 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY Celebration!

03/18/25 • 58 min

WE’RE ONE YEAR OLD! Today we’re celebrating our one year anniversary of podcasting over at Besties and the Books and we just want to say THANK YOU to each and every one of you for being here! You’re helping us to create this amazing community, and we couldn't be more grateful to watch it grow. 🖤
Check out the Thank You *GIVEAWAY* on our Instagram! | https://www.instagram.com/bestiesandthebookspodcast?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
So in celebration we’ve decided to go into a blind Q&A with as many silly, unhinged, random questions we could think of to get to know each other, and for you guys to get to know your hosts even better.
If we could be trapped in an elevator with one real or fictional person for four hours, who would it be? What’s the best cereal? Would we repopulate the earth with a Skarsgard brother? If so, which one? What would we do if we found out we were married to robots? Stick around to hear us answer these pressing questions, and many more.
Plus, a faves and fails from our first year as podcasters, and a smash or pass with “embarrassing” childhood crushes. Oh... and as our big thank you to you, we’re doing a very special one year anniversary GIVEAWAY! Keep your eyes and ears peeled for the deets! 👀
Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes, Friday!)
Check out these author interviews? ⬇️
We interviewed Callie Hart all about her NYT Bestseller Quicksilver! Watch it here! https://youtu.be/CED5s7qDBdQ?si=8xtIRO1IzX6Rsld4
Check the official Author Interview with Lindsay Straube of Split or Swallow! Now a Barnes & Noble &
Amazon best seller titled: Kiss of the Basilisk! | https://youtu.be/fknhocSNIKM
Watch our Author Interview with Indie Dark Romance Author Ember Nicole here | https://youtu.be/tHV9rXSTBpY?si=OwxdMVfPmtFkcYu6
Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode!
Ashley is wearing: “Max’s Garden” Tee by @thebeanworkshop | Use Code: BOOKBESTIES10 to save! | https://thebeanworkshop.store/discount/BOOKBESTIES10?dt_id=1636083
Liz is wearing: “Fire Breathing B*tch Queen” Tour Tee by @shopmcstudios | https://shopmcstudios.com/shop/p/firebreathingbitchqueentourtee?rq=Tour%20tee
Any link with an * is an affiliate link through the service Magic Links and is eligible for a commission to us with no extra cost to you. Thank you for helping support our podcast!

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SHOOKED & COOKED after reading Hunger Games MOCKING JAY! | Book 3 Review & Summary | Bonus Minisode

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Welcome back to Ashley & Liz’s dystopian sci fi episode bonus series: The Hunger Games!

Today we get SERIOUS as we discuss the amazingly well written, heart wrenching grand finale to the original trilogy. What parallels do we see reflected in real life? Are the dystopian themes regarding media control, rebellion, war, government control, environmental degradation and resource allocation applicable to today’s world? Come with us as we open these topics of discussion through a Katniss Everdeen lens.

If you’ve been following along and watched our “From 1984 to Hunger Games” dystopian themes in media and literature episode then you know we’re fascinated with everything about this genre and need to delve into this discussion! It just happens to be a BIG bonus that Ashley had never read it before.

The debate currently on the book talk table is whether or not books (and the act of reading) are inherently political. We’d encourage anyone who has a doubt in their mind to read this series... with themes like media control, a totalitarian regime, and rebellion, it’s hard to see how it ISN’T political.

Episode 3 covers book 3: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. The first five-ish minutes are spoiler free with our one sentence rapid star reviews. Then we jam pack this mini episode with an entire plot summary in five sentences (yes, with a keyboard...), discuss what our faves and fail characters and plot points are, our feelings, notable quotes, and add a fun piece of Hunger Games trivia.

Then we wrap this trilogy up with the ultimate Gale vs. Peeta debate. Were these characters meant to represent something much larger than themselves? We’ll see... and then we’ll dive right into A Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes... because obviously Snow was a smash. 😉

Join our Virtual Book Club & Buddy Read on Fable! |

https://fable.co/club/hg-minisode-read-with-bestiesandthebookclub-161881401047

Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday... and sometimes Friday!

Check out these author interviews? ⬇️

We interviewed Callie Hart all about her NYT Bestseller Quicksilver! Watch it here! https://youtu.be/CED5s7qDBdQ?si=8xtIRO1IzX6Rsld4

Check the official Author Interview with Lindsay Straube of Split or Swallow! Now a Barnes & Noble & Amazon best seller titled: Kiss of the Basilisk! https://youtu.be/fknhocSNIKM

Watch our Author Interview with Indie Dark Romance Author Ember Nicole here | https://youtu.be/tHV9rXSTBpY?si=OwxdMVfPmtFkcYu6

Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode!

Ashley is wearing “I’m a Book Dragon” Clash of Tides tee from the Author Alivia Maar @livesbookshelf (gifted in PR.)

Liz is wearing “The Serpent & the Wings of Night” Crewneck. Shop closed.

Any link with an * is an affiliate link through the service Magic Links and is eligible for a commission to us with no extra cost to you. Thank you for helping support our podcast!

Next Episode

DON’T SKIP The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes!!! | Hunger Games Book 4 Review & Summary | Bonus Minisode

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Welcome back to Ashley & Liz’s dystopian sci fi episode bonus series: The Hunger Games!

Today we go back in time to discuss President Snow and his origin story. How exactly did he become a “villian” and what does his evolution into a tyrannical dictator say about the society that created him? How did Panem and the games themselves evolve into the world we know?

This book is full of so many amazing “easter eggs” and tie-ins to the original trilogy. We’re ready to pick those apart and make all of those connections with you as we gear up for our final book episode all about Sunrise on the Reaping.

Episode 4 covers book 4 (or 0.5?): A Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes by Suzanne Collins. The first five-ish minutes are spoiler free with our one sentence rapid star reviews. Then we jam pack this mini episode with an entire plot summary in five sentences (yes, with a keyboard...), discuss what our faves and fail characters and plot points are, our feelings, notable quotes, and add a fun piece of prequel trivia.

Then we wrap this up with a little smash or pass and some big excitement to read the new book with all of you!

Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday... and sometimes Friday!

Check out these author interviews? ⬇️

We interviewed Callie Hart all about her NYT Bestseller Quicksilver! Watch it here! https://youtu.be/CED5s7qDBdQ?si=8xtIRO1IzX6Rsld4

Check the official Author Interview with Lindsay Straube of Split or Swallow! Now a Barnes & Noble & Amazon best seller titled: Kiss of the Basilisk! https://youtu.be/fknhocSNIKM

Watch our Author Interview with Indie Dark Romance Author Ember Nicole here | https://youtu.be/tHV9rXSTBpY?si=OwxdMVfPmtFkcYu6

Shop bookish apparel worn in this episode!

Ashley is wearing “To Whatever End” Throne of Glass tshirt from @thebeanworkshop Use code BOOKBESTIES10 to save! | * https://www.thebeanworkshop.store/BOOKBESTIES10

Liz is wearing Besties & the Books Exclusive Beanie & “Bookish” Necklace by @twiheartmerch | https://www.etsy.com/shop/TwiHeartMerch?ref=related&from_page=listing&listing_id=1787487095

Any link with an * is an affiliate link through the service Magic Links and is eligible for a commission to us with no extra cost to you. Thank you for helping support our podcast!