Join us for another episode as we build our epic 2025 TBR lists! From Maddie tackling The Wheel of Time and A Song of Ice and Fire (yes, really) to Kristen’s cozy fantasy era with The House on the Cerulean Sea and Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea, we’re sharing all the books we can’t wait to dive into. Plus, we dish on viral sensations like Quicksilver and Flawless, classics we’re finally picking up (Six of Crows, anyone?), and our most anticipated new releases from Olivie Blake and Rachel Gillig. Expect tangents about sparkling water, Percy Pig candies, and series dilemmas (Zodiac Academy, we’re looking at you), and help us out by recommending personal development books and adventure reads! Whether you're here for TBR inspo, bookish banter, or a good laugh, this episode has it all. Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro: Welcome to our 2025 TBR-building adventure! 01:57 - Maddie’s loose approach to her 2025 reading list 03:44 - Kristen’s commitment: Reading to her own taste in 2025 07:00 - Allowing our TBRs to be interrupted: Why flexibility matters 10:55 - Kristen’s first priority: The Wolf Den Trilogy by Elodie Harper (thanks, @thebrothersgwynne ) 14:23 - Maddie’s first priority: Starting The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan 16:14 - Kristen’s Zodiac Academy dilemma: Where to begin with this sprawling series? 18:29 - Maddie’s love for The Expanse series by James S. A. Corey 21:50 - Kristen enters her Regency Romance era with Bridgerton by Julia Quinn 23:49 - Maddie takes on a series she swore she’d never read: A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin 26:42 - Kristen’s cozy fantasy picks: The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst, House on the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune, Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne 28:08 - Maddie’s epic dive into The Licanius Trilogy by James Islington 28:34 - Kristen’s long-overdue read: When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker 29:55 - Maddie’s most anticipated 2025 releases: Gifted and Talented by Olivie Blake & The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig 30:23 - Kristen’s continuation of her Olivie Blake journey with One for My Enemy 31:08 - Kristen’s YA excitement: The Infernal Devices trilogy by Cassandra Clare 32:55 - Audience callout: We need your personal development book recs! 34:45 - Kristen’s viral book picks: Quicksilver by Callie Hart & Flawless by Elsie Silver 36:56 - Adventure movie vibes: We need book recs that capture that magic! 38:47 - Did we set reading goals this year? Reflections and plans. 39:25 - Kristen’s physical TBR priorities: The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon, Her Majesty’s Royal Coven by Juno Dawson, Fairytale by Stephen King, Where the Dark Stands Still by A.B. Poranek, Anathema by Keri Lake, The Six of Crows Duology by Leigh Bardugo, and Piranesi by Suzanna Clarke 40:27 - Maddie’s physical TBR priorities: Michael J. Sullivan books, Pachinko by Min Jin Lee, The Neopolitan Quartet by Elena Ferrante, Upgrade and The Wayward Pines trilogy by Blake Crouch 41:46 - Outro: Wrapping up our TBR extravaganza! OTHER MENTIONS Books: Slow Productivity by Cal Newport The Lost Queen by Signe Pike (shoutout to M.K. for the rec https://www.tiktok.com/search?q=mkreads26&t=1736434626358 ) Ice Planet Barbarians By Ruby Dixon Zodiac Academy by Suzanne Valenti and Caroline Peckham Lord of the Rings By J.R.R. Tolkien Harry Potter By J.K. Rowling Realm of the Elderlings By Robin Hobb Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, and Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros The Shepherd King Duology by Rachel Gillig Januaries, Masters of Death, and Alone With You in the Ether by Olivie Blake Belladonna by Adalyn Grace Twilight by Stephanie Meyers The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins Dopamine Nation By Anna Lembke The Untethered Soul By Michael Allen Signer Films: Hustlers Star Trek the Next Generation Star Wars Pirates of the Caribbean film Ever After Podcasts: @TheDiaryOfACEO @2ToRamble (Thx for the equipment list) Snacks: @WaterlooSparklingWater in Summer Berry Percy Pig Naughty and Nice Piglets candies from Beth G!

🚨 WARNING! This one includes SPOILERS 🚨 Who reigns supreme in the world of epic stories? We teamed up with Rich and Austin from 2 to Ramble to defend our top picks – Lord of the Rings, Red Rising, Dune, and The Sword of Kaigen. From legendary characters to mind-blowing worlds, things got heated as we battled over which tale truly deserves the crown. Who won? Hit play to find out – and let us know if we got it right! 👀🔥

Check out @2ToRamble and the episode we did with them here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3A4AtPj97jk&t=89s

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In this episode, we sit down with New York Times Bestselling author Olivie Blake, the mastermind behind The Atlas Six, Masters of Death, Alone With You in the Ether, and more. We discuss everything from her transition from indie to traditional publishing, her signature writing style, and the complex psychology woven into her characters. She shares her thoughts on the power of storytelling, why she loves writing about messy yet hopeful characters, and gives us an exclusive sneak peek at her upcoming books: Gifted and Talented (April 2025) and Girl Dinner (October 2025). Plus, find out two truths and a lie about Olivie! Find Olivie online: https://www.olivieblake.com/ Join our patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/KrisandMadsSisterhood Follow us on IG https://instagram.com/krisandmads Follow us on TikTok https://tiktok.com/@kris.and.mads Email: contact.kris.and.mads@gmail.com Everything else here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.mads Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction to Olivie Blake: New York Times Bestselling Author 01:05 – Two Truths and a Lie: Fun Facts About Olivie Blake 03:19 – What Makes a Perfect Book? Olivie Blake's 5-Star Reads 06:14 – From Indie Publishing to Traditional Publishing: Olivie Blake’s Journey 09:16 – How Olivie Blake Developed Her Signature Writing Style 13:12 – Creative Story Structures in Olivie Blake’s Books 17:07 – Exploring Power and Nihilism in The Atlas Six with Olivie Blake 21:13 – Art and Illustration in Olivie Blake's Brand 24:29 – Behind the Scenes of Audiobook Production for Januaries 31:28 – Writing as an Art Form: Olivie Blake on Creative Liberation 35:40 – Vulnerability and Mental Health in Alone With You in the Ether 44:34 – Why Success Doesn’t Make Olivie Blake Feel Safe—Choosing to Be Brave 51:04 – What’s Next for Olivie Blake: Gifted and Talented (April 2025) and Girl Dinner (October 2025) #OlivieBlake#TheAtlasSix#MastersOfDeath#AloneWithYouInTheEther#OneForMyEnemy#DarkAcademiaBooks#FantasyAuthor#BestsellingAuthor#BookTube#BookishContent#AuthorInterview#PodcastEpisode#BookClubPodcast#WritingPodcast#BookishChat#AuthorChat#WritingTips#IndieAuthorToTradPub#PsychologicalFiction#FantasyBooks#RomanticFantasy#DarkAcademiaVibes#CreativeWritingTips#StorytellingSecrets#YouTubePodcast#BookTubeCommunity#TrendingBooks#ReadersOfYouTube#2025BookReleases

In this episode, we’re sharing our mindful reading goals for 2025 and why we’re embracing a slower, more intentional approach to our TBRs. Maddie is setting a 100-book reading limit to focus on quality over quantity, while Kristen is incorporating cozy fantasy, nostalgic rereads, and expanding her home library. From rating systems to physical TBRs, we’re breaking down how we plan to read more thoughtfully, track our progress, and enjoy the journey. Plus, we’re diving into the impact of audiobooks vs. physical books, finding our own influences, and prioritizing movies and TV. Tune in for all the details and get inspired to set your own 2025 reading goals! Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro: Kicking Off Our 2025 Reading Goals 06:23 - Kristen’s Plan: Reading Fewer Series & Focusing on Standalones 10:02 - Maddie’s Rating System Overhaul 15:01 - Why Maddie Is Setting a 100-Book Limit for 2025 16:54 - Kristen’s Cozy Fantasy Picks and Slow Reading Rituals 17:35 - Tracking Our Reading in 2025: Reviews, Journals, etc 19:39 - Kristen’s Reading Journal: Keeping Track of Progress 22:08 - Nostalgia Reads & Rereads: Kristen’s 2025 Priority 22:55 - Maddie’s Focus on Classics: A New Direction for 2025 25:00 - The Four Series Maddie Plans to Tackle in 2025 27:03 - Maddie’s Physical TBR Goal: Under 10 Books 28:20 - Kristen’s Shift to Standalones & Building a Home Library 30:55 - Prioritizing Romance: Kristen’s 2025 Genre Spotlight 34:18 - Diversifying Recommendations: Plan for Variety 38:20 - Being Your Own Tastemaker: Avoiding Reading FOMO 39:25 - Our New Twist: Giving Each Other 3 Passes for the Year 42:27 - Choosing Physical Books Over Audiobooks in 2025 45:47 - Audiobooks vs. Physical Books: Balancing Time & Value 48:13 - Making Time for More Movies & TV in 2025 Join our Patreon: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhood Find us everywhere: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.mads Biz inquiries: contact.kris.and.mads@gmail.com

What do you get when you mix a shocking (and oddly funny) kidnapping story with insights on becoming a full-time content creator? This episode with Michael Kist! 🎉 Join us as Michael hilariously recounts being literally kidnapped at 11 years old (yes, really) and how his love for books, history, and fantasy shaped his path to success. Whether you’re a fan of epic reads, deep dives into creative careers, or just love hearing creators overshare, this episode has it all! 🎙️ What We Cover: Timestamps 00:00 Intro 15:19 📚 How Childhood Stories Inspire Reading & Content Creation 21:07 ⚠️ The Weird, Wild Risks of Being a Creator 24:53 🔥 Juggling Passion, Burnout, and Everything in Between 27:51 🎯 Why Success Isn’t Just About the Views 32:44 📏 From Short-Form to Long-Form Content: The Big Transition 37:39 💬 Handling Critics & Keeping Fans Happy (or Not) 42:06 🤝 Engaging with Communities Like a Pro 49:12 💡 Negotiation 101: Knowing Your Worth as a Creator 56:00 🌟 What’s Next? Michael’s Personal & Professional Aspirations If you’re into books, reading, history, or fantasy—or want to master the art of content creation—this episode is a must-listen. 📖 Love storytelling? Michael drops gems on how his love for epic tales influences his creative process. 🎥 Thinking of going full-time? Hear tips on navigating audience expectations, burnout, and the ever-evolving creator economy. 🛠️ Bonus laughs included. Tune in for inspiration, laughs, and the most unexpected kidnapping story ever.

You can find Michael's content here: @KistReadsBooks and around the web: https://linktr.ee/michaelkist biz inquiries: contact.kris.and.mads@gmail.com Patreon, Tiktok, Instagram, merch, and more here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.mads

📚 Are you wondering how we manage to read so many books every month? In this episode, we spill all our secrets! From our favorite reading spots to how we build our TBRs, track our reading progress, and decide between physical books, audiobooks, and Kindle, we cover it all. 📖✨

Plus: 🤔 How We read so many books 🎧 Why we love (or hate) different reading formats 🛋️ The best places to read and set the mood ✍🏻 How we build our TBR lists 📚 Where we buy our books, including special editions 📲 The apps and tools we swear by for tracking our reads 👩‍💻 How we engage with authors and make reading a social experience 🛍️ Bookish merch we can't get enough of! If you're looking to up your reading game, discover new tools, or simply get some bookish inspo, this episode is for you! Hit play, and let's chat all things books! 🎙️💬

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