The Bookish Hour

Holiday Book Recs: All the Festive(y), Wintery & Spicy Books

• Jor & Fab • Season 1 • Episode 42

Share episode

With the holiday spirit in full swing, we couldn't resist chatting about festive book recommendations, especially for those who have a penchant for romance. 

From cozy tales in the Scottish Highlands to enchanting Nutcracker retellings, our curated list promises something special for everyone. We shared laughs over gifting mishaps and mused about the quirks of seasonal reading, all while urging everyone to embrace the joy of books, whether in or out of season. 

Get ready to cozy up with these heartwarming reads, perfect for the festive season.

Cover Art by: Fabienne and Jordan
Contact email: thebookishhourpod@gmail.com
Intro/Outro music: Season Two: Ramaramaray by Aiyo via Epidemic Sound Season One: Sweet Psycho via TikTok’s Offical Sound Studio on Capcut
Follow Us:
Podcast: @thebookishhourpod
Fabienne: @oxonheart
Jordan: @sipsoffiction

Jordan:

welcome to the bookish hour with jor fob wait, wait no, I can't. Oh, there we go. I couldn't find it. Oh no, I'm still not there you're not here.

Fabienne:

Where are you? Somewhere out never, never land, never, never land. Sure, hi wait. Why is your video not? Why is your camera not on?

Jordan:

because it's it's telling me that it usually. Oh, there we go, okay, oh goodness but it was like giving me options and I was like I've never had options before. Usually just my camera turns on, so then it was like it gave me like a drop down of right options. Anyways, how are you?

Fabienne:

I am doing well. How are you? Good, I'm done working, so thank goodness, oh my goodness, yes, yes, I've. I'm also obviously done working. I've been done for quite a few hours actually. Sorry, I'm just rambling, okay. So wait, wait, wait, wait. I know that we normally start off our episodes with like a good week thing, but I think this week specifically, both of our good week thing is like one and the same of course it is yes, duh duh, do you want to take this one? What's our good week, jorg?

Fabienne:

the, the arc of all arcs, were given to us and I know, I know we are making faces, I am trying to make noise Sit up. But oh my dear Lord, oh my God.

Jordan:

I just no words. No, I do have to say I'm only a chapter in. I couldn't pick it up the first day and then the second day I needed to actually like finish a book. I was like currently reading. So I literally, for my lunch, read one chapter and I I'm so excited but I'm so scared because it's like the end and the fact, like all of runix's posts oh wait, we're talking about the syndicator, right? I feel like we still didn't say that. The syndicator, the last book in the dark first series by runix, or were we supposed to leave that out?

Fabienne:

no, I don't know. No, we definitely could.

Jordan:

No, we can make no difference, but yeah, because like clearly, we're gonna do a book club of it.

Fabienne:

Duh.

Jordan:

And maybe that will be coming out within two weeks of this episode.

Fabienne:

Who knows? Yeah, who knows? It's all a mystery. It's anybody's guess not ours. I mean, we know, but you know the rest of them?

Jordan:

No, exactly, but I have a question for you because you've had so like. This was the first like arc I've gotten of. Runix, yes.

Fabienne:

And I did have some technical issues which, by the way, fantastic, you know as in that you did receive the arc in the end.

Jordan:

Oh yes, no, I was like I like Emily, her PA is amazing and I messaged her because you know how sometimes PR companies, authors, assistants, are like we only send it out once, we're not going to send it out again, which I completely understand. There's so many people, if you so sorry, like I didn't get it. Um, I don't know if it's because they were wrong email and I had shared my kindle email address and I was like could we just put this email address instead? Um, I completely understand if you can't send it again, but maybe for, like, future arcs. And she's like oh yeah, we definitely had the wrong email, but it was the right email, just the wrong spelling. So I must have spelled it wrong.

Jordan:

Like on the sheet of like filling it out and um she was like nope, sent it again and I was like, oh my god, that's honestly, that's the sweetest right it's like right, you said like a lot of people, like a lot of pas from authors like I'm, I don't.

Fabienne:

I don't want to like say that they're. You know like a pain of people. Like a lot of pas from authors like I'm, I don't. I don't want to like say that they're, you know like a pain in the ass in that sense, because obviously there's like rules and you know like limitations of what they can send it, like how many times and whatnot. And also you know you shoot your shot and if you mess it up, that's it. But also just runix, like in her entirety of sending out arcs, and like emily as well. They have both been so incredibly helpful. They want the reader to actually receive the arc. Yes, kind of adds to like their whole vibe. You know it's like being partners too, like they're a great team, but I am so happy you got it in the end.

Fabienne:

I actually I didn't even know, like when I saw Okay, wait, I am totally claiming your story here, which can just give me one second because I need to get this out, okay, okay. So I saw like it was during my lunch break, obviously at work, and I saw Andrea post about it. That's sinful peaches. She posts a lot of runic's books and like post like a lot of I don't know teaser. It's just like you know, full on. I received the ARC and I, I don't know, I don't have like my notifications for every single app like toggled on. So I didn't see that I also actually received one. But I saw that during my lunch break no one else at work actually knows that I have a book Instagram, that I you know that I do have quite a following, that we do this podcast.

Fabienne:

So I was sure I freaked out and everyone at the table was like what's going on? What's, what's just happened? But of course I I can't like contain that joy, right. So I hold them in a very vaguely manner that I received a sort of a manuscript, because I also didn't want to dive in too deep, because you know, I don't really want to share that part of me yet with, like, the semi-new workplace, even though I've been working there for five months.

Fabienne:

But I digress, but I was so stoked and I was so sad that I had to go back to work, but I like I was a computer, I was a robot. The rest of the day I was only like I gotta finish this so I can go back home and read. I gotta finish this so I can go back home and read. But I didn't text you. But also you didn't let me know at the moment that you had obviously there's time difference, but still like we didn't really talk to each other like whether we both had received it. And then I saw your post about it and I was like so freaking happy for you so it was actually it was your post that I saw.

Jordan:

And so, like I went, and I went and checked my email. Well, actually, yeah, so I saw your post. I went and checked my email and I hadn't received it. So I was like, oh, maybe I'm not like on the list. So then that's when I was like, I was like yeah, and so I was really bummed because I was like, oh, maybe I like wasn't, like, maybe I'm not supposed to get it, and I was like, well, that's okay, at least it still comes out on Friday, like it won't, I don't have to wait too long in, like the grand scheme of things. But then I was like, well, and then I happened to check Facebook, because I know like things would have been posted there, and I was like, well, no, I'm in like the arc Facebook group. So I'm like I think I should have gotten it. So I was like you know what? I'm just gonna message Emily and I'm going to figure this out. And so like that is.

Jordan:

But your, but your post is what like prompted me to like to do it, though, which I'm so grateful that you posted about it, but I have to say okay. Also, other side note, and I don't know if this happened to you with cause, I know you got the annihilator. Annihilator, because I know you got the annihilator. Annihilator, the amount of people that had messaged me asking for me to send them the syndicator. No, fuck off. Yes, like so many DM requests, and I was like the fact that you think I'm going to send it to you.

Jordan:

I literally just started deleting them all, but I was like it, people came out of the woodwork asking me for this. Like they were, like some of them didn't even make sense, like some of them weren't like a full that I was like I don't. At first, i'm'm like are they asking me? Like when it's supposed to come out, uh-huh, or are they asking me to send it to them because they would mention like epub. But I mark like I know, yeah, like I'm like I don't know. So I just anything that had to do with, like runix or the syndicator. I was just deleting them all because I was like I don't know, I didn't even want to start a like thread, but I was like did that happen to you?

Fabienne:

no also. But then to be fair, like I have sort well, not that I am like mia in like the community, but I have been like been more like on the background, right. So no one actually like dms me anymore, which I'm, honest to god, really thankful for not that I received a lot of like messages and to begin with, but I just don't have like the mental space to like respond to every single one. Also, I am like bitchy as fuck in that regard. I mean, you are like so kind to people, like people feel like um, I don't know like almost encouraged to like come talk to you about a certain book and they don't Wait, they don't do that with me, what You're kind.

Fabienne:

Well, you're kind yeah, but some people yeah, I mean I can come across as bitchy as fuck and I don't really intend to, but you know like my texting is really dry. I mean mean, if you look at our chat, my message is all very dry.

Jordan:

It's very clinical sometimes I do like like to chase this up with like an emoji, but no, two weeks ago you already asked me this drawer and I was like, yeah, no, shit, bob, you're not here. Oh my god, yeah, no, but honestly I was like laughing because I was like, yeah, no, I know, I asked you like a couple hours ago, but you're not here.

Fabienne:

You know what's funny? I literally this well, I mean, obviously we know each other for a long time. I don't even know why I go down this route, but I, um, you know, like with close friends or just like people that you like talk to or like talk with, often that you read their texts in their manner of speaking, like in their tone of voice, like in their actual voice. When, when I sent you that, like yeah, we already, we already talked about this I heard you literally well, not literally, but like in my head, saying, yes, bob, I know that I did ask you. I just like hurt you, oh, like, with that like um intonation, like the tone. I'm just but yeah, that was funny, oh, good times, good times. But anyway, circling back to me getting questions about sending them, like the arc, uh, no, no, no, okay. So I guess I lucked out or I lucked in, I don't know. No, I was just like I didn't receive it I was like

Jordan:

so like taking it back, yeah, but then like and I was gonna post it on like my like Instagram stories to talk about it, but then I didn't want like anybody to see it and then like for it to get like misconstrued, that like I was sending it to these people, and then Runix kicked me off, so I was like you know, I'll save it for the podcast. Yes, In fact I did not send it to anybody for anybody listening. No one got, just me myself and I the arc. That's it.

Fabienne:

Good, and that other one email that apparently was misspelled. Oh yeah, someone who does have ag. Wait, what happens if someone figures out that mail address, creates an account, and then can they? Well, no, I wonder how that works.

Jordan:

So if no one has the email address, it just gets bounced back and it's undelivered. So it would never like somebody couldn't create it. But if the email address existed then somebody would get it. But the likelihood of this email address having an account is slim to none. And if it did, then for them to have a book funnel account and a Kindle like there, it would just be like I'm most definitely certain it was undeliverable.

Fabienne:

It's non-existent, bad, no, okay, huh, also very logical. Of course, I don't even know why I kind of like opted that possible reason. No, never mind, just, just, just, just let me be, let me just ramble, whatever. But, um, also like you saying that you couldn't or like haven't really read past the very first chapter, I have only read the prologue and I said this like on instagram too.

Fabienne:

I know this is gonna bite me in the ass for like possible future arcs, but I just, I don't dare start and I know that sounds like so, like, like theatrical, like you know, over exaggerated and whatnot, but I literally can't make myself read it because I'm just so, like, I feel so bittersweet about this series, like ending, and I've, I've tried, like I've tried reading past, like the very first page on my on Apple Books because I did download it like to my Apple Books with the book from Alep and like the very first page about, well, dane, I mean, I can say it right, it's like it's Dane, the first chapter and I just, I just can't, I just can't read it. I just have to like I don't know, like, yeah, just find the crisis it sounds so silly and it sounds like.

Fabienne:

Why are you making such a big deal out of it? But I'm like I generally cannot start it.

Jordan:

I don't think people will understand. I don't think people will understand because, like, we read it like at this point three years ago, where the it was like before the fifth book was out, and then it's been like two and a half years since Runix has published anything, and then it happens to be this, which I'm so grateful for. But we've lived in this like happy plate. Well, clearly, like the characters go through some stuff, but in this happy place that the series isn't over, like we know that there's more to come, and now, now there's like an ending.

Jordan:

so it's just like this weird face of like I can like told, but I feel like people that are picking up this series now cannot understand where our mindset is, just because it's like I want, like we grew up with it in a way, like we read these books and then we we've just been like meandering through life waiting for this like final book, and now it's here, but like we've grown so much because that was three years ago, so it's just like insane. Oh, my goodness.

Fabienne:

It's been so long. When you say it like that, like it's been two to three years, I'm like, honestly, that's a fucking long time.

Jordan:

And if you think about it too, especially us not saying that no one else has the right to say that they like grew up with it, because they totally do, but like for us specifically, we also like Runix is the reason we started this whole podcast.

Fabienne:

Not necessarily the Gerber, but like gothic comics yeah exactly.

Jordan:

And then from there we did the Predator and the Reaper on Smutty, then we interviewed her, and then we interviewed her again on this one, so like we've like progressed with her or whatnot, and then I feel like it's gonna come so full circle when we do the book club of the syndicator too I was this much afraid that you were gonna say it's not full on the podcast.

Fabienne:

Like ends and like stops with the syndicator oh my god, no, no, no, okay, no, okay, no, okay, good, oh. But jesus christ, I actually made a reel for it. It's going live on the 15th when it comes out it's just what I'm guessing you have some voiceover reel like okay, but no, like this. Okay, no spoilers though no, no, no, it's all very like. I mean the prologue we did read um.

Jordan:

It's relatively vague, um, but I think like no, no, it's, it's definitely no spoilers, that's so, that's the reason I'm like picking it up now is because I saw one of Runix's stories saying like people have been posting spoilers. So I'm like terrified Right, I'm terrified to see one Like I will Okay, I was going to say murder, but I feel like that's very aggressive. I will murder someone if they spoil this book for me.

Fabienne:

Did you mean annihilate, just to stay in like the same vein of the Dark Force?

Jordan:

I will become the predator and I will finish them. Reap.

Fabienne:

Reap or have it. Nice one. What can we do with the emperor? Oh yeah.

Jordan:

There's the dome. Then I will become the emperor and annihilate everybody. We'll just go with it.

Fabienne:

No, you really did and succeeded, and succeeded, and succeeded, thank you. But also well, not also, because it's like completely different, like the syndicator is not the focus of this episode. No, no, no, no, oh no, that's completely okay. I mean, we'll just talk and yap and sap over the syndicator in a next episode, and when that will be, you obviously will find out when we both throughout it. But this week's episode, jordan, is about holiday recommendations.

Jordan:

That's right.

Fabienne:

No, that's Halloween.

Jordan:

There's no like Do-do-do.

Fabienne:

Yeah, sure I did research. I have an entire paper written.

Jordan:

Okay, but we have to go over the books that we've read and loved first, and then we can do books for.

Fabienne:

TBR Okay, my list is really fucking short. My winter list like my holiday romance.

Jordan:

I can try. I can, I can try.

Fabienne:

I can try for you. I do have some of my own books too, so I can definitely take the lead on yeah, thank you.

Jordan:

Yeah, I love holiday books. Okay, so I need to start with the bar. I. I follow beach read and bubbly and I know you know who she is, um, because I know I've talked to her about you, oh, talked to you about her, um, oh, I was just about to say what things have you told her about me, Jor?

Fabienne:

please, please, share with the class. I have not talked to her. No, safe.

Jordan:

But she explains it so well. She's like holiday books, like a five star holiday read is not like a five star everyday read, because it just you just are here for the vibe, and so the first, I read the first three and I'm actually going to read the fourth one with my mom, like next week, but would be Ellen.

Fabienne:

Hildebrand, that's adorable, sorry.

Jordan:

Right, a little buddy read with my mom, but Ellen Hildebrand's Winter Street. Granted, this is the third one because I don't know where my first one is, but this is a great holiday, winter street. Granted, this is the third one because I don't know where my first one is, but this is a great holiday and they're super fast reads. Um, not spicy though, but like so much drama. This is like they it's explained. They describe ellen hildebrand as like your mom's type of book, like they, like she explains it that way. So like not spicy but like filled with drama. Actually, very good, like. I'm obsessed with them and I can't wait to read the fourth one.

Fabienne:

I actually kind of know like what you're talking about then, though, because do you? You know lucinda riley, you know some um santa montefiore, like all of those, like sappy beach romance novels, like those feel-good romance novels. They're not like spicy, but they have like this incredibly loves, like incredible love story. There is like drama, there is like family history, you know whatever.

Jordan:

I feel like those are those types of books like ellen hildebrand yeah probably, and I've only read her like winter books, but I do want to try her other books too. Um, I feel like another classic would be love light farms by bk borison, which I feel like this one is so good for, and I'm not a huge friends to lovers and this is like friends to lovers is spicy, which. So if you want spicy, okay, there you go.

Fabienne:

I read talking spicy. Hang on, I have a question. Are we talking spicy as in like there is messing around with, like the christmas lights type of spicy?

Jordan:

do you mean like?

Fabienne:

being tied up yeah, that's exactly what I'm talking about no, I don't think that level of spice in this okay, I don't think so, but it's like it's still pretty spicy, but like normal spicy two chilies, three.

Jordan:

I read it like two years ago so I like can't fully remember and I feel like at that time I was reading like a lot more spicy. So I feel like I would have labeled it less chili peppers, but like if I were to pick that up now maybe it would be more.

Fabienne:

Okay, fair.

Jordan:

Fair Node In for Christmas by Jacqueline Snow. So cute, so cute, and I would say this has like it's lower on the chili pepper. I feel like there was just like one scene, if I remember correctly, but this was like last year's christmas read still pretty good, still pretty good. Um, then I also read a very mere, a very merry mistake, which I think there's gonna be the second one this year, so I think there's supposed to be three of them all in, uh, standalones. But this one was very good too.

Jordan:

This one is spicy okay, I don't remember how spicy though, because again, I read this last year. I need to remember. But my favorite, favorite is If you Give a Grump, a Holiday Wishlist.

Fabienne:

I just want to say that I recognize this cover. Is this one from last year?

Jordan:

Yes, so I read this one last year and it's very short, it's just like a novella, but I feel like it's perfect if you want to like start in the holiday spirit but like this one, read it last year, totally remember it. So like start in the holiday spirit but like this one, read it last year, totally remember it. So cute, very like he's in the city, she works, her boss is like a grumpy boss in like New York City, and then she's going home to her small town in Maine and he comes with her. So they have to. It's like fake dating grumpy sunshine, it's the perfect Hall, yes, and it's like, is it? And it's spicy.

Jordan:

This one I would label like pretty spicy, which is like so fun, so fun, but like not not missing on the plot though, but it is like it's definitely like a hallmark book version, a good hallmark book version thing, something I know and, and she has another one coming out.

Jordan:

So by the time when this episode airs, her other book, the christmas clause, I know the santa clause, I think it's the santa clause that's coming out December 6th, so like, and I think that's another novella too, which honestly her novellas are on point Her like. I just love her fluffy romances, so just every single one. But this one, if you give a grump, a holiday wishlist Anne Interson, I think, is how you pronounce her last name and then the holiday holiday Claus.

Fabienne:

Yeah.

Jordan:

The Santa Claus, santa Claus, and then the holiday holiday clause. Yeah, the santa claus, santa claus, I think let me look the santa cause.

Fabienne:

I don't know.

Jordan:

I feel like maybe it might be a cause. Um, I need to book covers. I think I still have it in here. Hold on, I I like I now need to make sure I have it right no, no, I get that.

Fabienne:

I'll just uh, uh the holiday clause.

Jordan:

A grumpy sunshine, small town, holiday novella yes, holiday clause okay, holiday clause, or the, the very important distinction, the holiday Okay gotcha Question for you.

Fabienne:

Yes, do you feel like holiday romances work best if they are a novella, since technically they are stuck within a certain timeframe?

Fabienne:

I mean, I sometimes see, I mean the one that you showed before, like the, the one with the blue cover, the I forgot his name already very merry yeah, I mean yes, yes, I mean it's pretty thick, like it's pretty long book, yeah, in comparison to, um, the one you just had now soap opera titles I do apologize, but I yeah that one. I mean look at the look at the length difference. I mean I feel like I almost want to say that in my and this is obviously like a very um, prejudiced kind of opinion in a way, because I don't really read holiday romances, I mean I haven't really read like how much I've been with reading anyways, um, on its own, so let's not tackle that. But I feel like a holiday romance, also like with Halloween, they work best if they are like shorter books. I feel like 200 to 50 pages is like, yeah, maybe three is like already, like you know towing the line.

Jordan:

If I remember correctly, there were points that I just started skimming this, which is why I think it might have been spicy Because I think I might have been skimming like the spicy scenes just because it was like all right, let's get back to the plot, let's get back to like where this was going going. So I guess I do prefer it to be more novella length, but I have a couple on my like tbr for this holiday season that are on the longer side. So I am kind of nervous because I agree, like I think I it doesn't need to be like a novella length, but I do think it shouldn't like surpass like 400 pages.

Jordan:

Because even 350, because I feel like, exactly, unless there really is like a plot to it, like this one still like snowed in for Christmas, like it is still kind of thick but thick, but like I didn't think it was too long, like I thought this was like a perfect size and it's like, if this is, yeah, it's like 120 or 320 pages and honestly this was like perfect, perfect size. But like this one, I think, is definitely longer. It's yeah, 350, but like the pages there's like it's a bigger book and the font is different.

Fabienne:

Okay, so it definitely is bigger. Yeah, no, yeah, like I said, I don't really have books I can truly recommend. I do, like I said before, I do have an entire list of books, like, and when I say an entire list, I mean I have like over 25 titles for you ready to go and. And actually I know, honey, when you ask me to do homework, I do my homework, you know I take this shit seriously you, you do, and also I kind of label them in terms of like are they possible?

Fabienne:

dark romances or like romances, the darker twists, are they like a fantasy book or more mystery or just like the Ellen Hildebrand type of romance books. I'm just, I'm just gonna go down the list and you'll just stop me whenever you want honey, because you know that I can ramble on. Okay, so the first one that I do have and that actually piqued my interest is one by Donna Ashcroft and it's called Christmasmas in the scottish highland. Now, I don't have the covers for you, but one, the fact that it's like um, a contemporary romance novel, like fiction, and um, it's in the scottish highlands, kind of like.

Jordan:

I don't don't know, okay, I don't know why, but I thought it was going to be like a historical one for some reason, like Scottish Highlands just screams historical and I don't know why it just does so I, when you said contemporary, I was like oh, okay.

Fabienne:

Well, maybe there is dual timelines that the back, like the, the, the blurb, doesn't really note about.

Jordan:

Or maybe not, and I'm just a weirdo.

Fabienne:

Well, I mean that you are. There's no doubt about that. There is also one that I drew a little heart next to, which means that it also piqued my interest during lunch when I made this list. This one is by Sarah Morgan and it's called the Christmas Book Club. Now I guess it's pretty obvious why that one piqued my interest. That sounds so cute. Honey, I need you to look up the cover, because I remember that this cover was actually pretty darn cute.

Jordan:

What was it Like the Christmas Book Club.

Fabienne:

Yeah, that's exactly it. Christmas book club by sarah morgan. I don't know, it just looked very cozy to me, I liked I. I like the colors on the covers, oh, this is cute, this is really cute and has a lot of like ratings too. That's the cover that is not the cover, because that is the christmas something, something hotel and I said the christmas book club oh, the book club hotel.

Jordan:

Yep, that's not right but it's Sarah Morgan.

Fabienne:

Oh wait, huh did I fuck up, which is also really highly possible, of course, wait, I'll just. This list is going really well already. I'm not even okay.

Jordan:

Wait, wait, there's the christmas bookshop by jenny colgan.

Fabienne:

That's the second one that I have that covers also pretty cute. Is that the one? Is that the same cover? Or like the same um, um who wrote yeah, that's the one, yeah, that's not the one that I that I was going next for, in the sense of um, there you have. You read the pumpkin spice, something, something, book.

Jordan:

Oh, not too long ago yes, by laurie gilmore, I think, and she has a christmas. It's like the christmas she has like book, then the cinnamon something, and then she has christmas tree something.

Fabienne:

So that is the christmas tree farm, then I did write that down too.

Jordan:

Yes, yep, wait, I'm jumping into because I have a contemporary, then this uh, how my neighbor stole christmas, by megan quinn. I, I'm actually this one. This is right. This is like one of two that I for sure want to get to this season. The only thing is is when we were talking about page length, I went and looked and it's 470 pages.

Fabienne:

Oh, but then again, hon, if the book is good, like if story-wise it makes sense, that's true, oh, my receipt is in it.

Jordan:

Oh, okay, now you can confirm.

Fabienne:

Okay, yes, oh, seat is in it. Oh, okay, now you can. Okay, yes, oh, um, I also have a, I think, fantasy book. Um, it's by m a hasniar, if I pronounce it correctly, and it's called midnight in everwood. So I feel like you know.

Fabienne:

Um, normally holiday romances are like winter types of books, um christmasy settings they're. They normally take place in like either historical fiction or just like contemporary fiction. But this one, um, is a fantasy book, but it does tackle like a christmasy sort of vibe. It has like a holiday-esque feeling to it. So I just wanted to add that to the list as well. Um, but other than that I don't have any like fantasy. Oh, no, I do. Oh, my god, rebecca efkin, I have not read it, but it's been actually on my tbr for since I've known, it's like since I found out about this book. It's a um, it's like the nutcracker retelling, which I find hilarious because it's a romance and it's called Nutcracker, but then again, that's too meta. It's called A Quart of Sugar and Spice and I just wanted to share that with you.

Jordan:

A Quart of Sugar and Spice. I feel like I've seen this before, or something.

Fabienne:

It could be. I think maybe you've seen this on Instagram before, like circling around. It could be. I think maybe you've seen this on Instagram before, like circling around. I like the recipe that follows with a quart of, you know, with Sarajima, but then also sugar and spice because of Christmas, like the holiday vibe, but also spice because of romance.

Jordan:

The cover is not screaming Christmassy, though.

Fabienne:

No, not at all. You really have to look at like this title yeah, um, for, for, for, like the reader or like the possibly like interest a party to know, that is, that this is like a christmas sort of book. So not correctly telling interesting, that's cool um.

Fabienne:

So that's like a little um holiday romance too, one that I think might pique your interest. It's a collection of um stories. It's basically like um, what, what did you call? Like an omnibus, or like, uh, anthology? Yeah, that's the one. Thank you so much. I do not have like all the writers like here on my piece of paper, but it's called the Winter Spirits and they are ghostly tales for frosty nights.

Jordan:

I'm like ghostly tales, I know, but still like very Christ is this, the winter spirits, it's, it's almost giving um like, like, what is it with scrooge like christmas, past, present, future, um, yeah, what the fuck is? That story yeah, what the christmas carol? Holy shit, that I could not think of that.

Fabienne:

I thought you knew your classics, honey. What a shame, what a shame. No, apparently not.

Jordan:

What was the title actually?

Fabienne:

the winter spirits, ghostly tales for frosty nights, oh, wait, um kind of obsessed with the cover right, I know, I know it's so very um well, it's minimal, but it's like also very cute and also, yeah, I don't know, it just looks very traditional. I think it's also traditionally published, right, or is it like yeah, it's shut.

Jordan:

Yeah Right. The only thing is you can't get it on Amazon. It's saying that it won't ship. It's saying in stock, but it won't ship. You won't get it until.

Fabienne:

December your allocation? I don't know. Oh, maybe it hasn't been released yet. Well, that's what I'm.

Jordan:

No, that's what I thought, but it says October 1st. That was released.

Jordan:

Oh, that's just weird, I don't know, Okay, that's strange, yeah, okay, then I'm jumping in with my second book that I'm definitely reading the Plight Before Christmas by Kate Stewart. I heard this one is like an amazing Christmas book. And if people say that, like if you can only, like, if you only read one Christmas book, like let it be this one and I've heard that like multiple years and I meant to read it last year and I just never got to it, so I like really want to read it this season.

Fabienne:

The Plight Before Christmas, bymas, by wait, is this the kate stewart? Yes, oh yes okay, I didn't I almost want to say that I didn't know that she wrote a christmas novel or like a holiday book, but I think, maybe somewhere in the back of my mind, that I did know about this, because the title sounds really familiar it came out in 2021.

Jordan:

I didn't know it was that old. I thought it came out in like 2022, like I thought it was out for like a year just off by one year, sorry.

Fabienne:

Yes, oh, this is that old. I didn't know that it came out in 2022. What a difference, sorry what a difference what a difference? Uh, well, I mean, if you say that, like, if you know, like if you're only going to read one book, then let it be that one.

Fabienne:

Maybe, maybe, yeah maybe I should but then this one yeah, no, kate stewart is like yeah, this is just it's more attracting to me. That's a weird way of describing it, but it's yeah, just because it's kate stewart and I love her writing character banter, is amazing.

Jordan:

You will actually laugh out loud for her books, because I read A Not-So-Meet-Cute and I was dying. I started it before I went to bed and then I ended up staying up until like 2 am reading it because I couldn't stop. But then again I've done that with Kate Stewart too.

Fabienne:

Oh, okay, Well, you know balance.

Jordan:

You get to Exodus and you can't, you're not stopping.

Fabienne:

Wait, did you ever read that Dominic novel?

Jordan:

No no.

Fabienne:

The Last.

Jordan:

Rainy Day. I can't, I can't.

Fabienne:

I know that steph did it and I think I think she was like mia for like two whole weeks on instagram after that yeah, no, I can't do it the good woman is obsessed with the ravener trilogy as she should but once that novella came out, I'm like no, I can't. It's like a series that you have to read once You've got to experience it, and just like do not touch it ever again.

Jordan:

Yep exactly.

Fabienne:

It's fantastic, but no.

Jordan:

Yeah, I could Nope Okay any more holiday books.

Fabienne:

Yes, definitely. Also a potential dark romance holiday recommendation for those who are interested. Uh, by aurelia knight, sacked and slayed, and then slayed, of course, the word pun here. Um, yeah, I have no idea what it is about, but I saw it like on when I was doing my due diligence and, like you know, my research. Earlier today I saw it like you know better, got to write it down. It's got to go on the list so you know to. For everyone who's like looking for a little something, and if they want dark romance in their holiday romances, then I think this is.

Jordan:

Did you ever read Molly Doyle's's scream no melt for us I did and it was horrible.

Fabienne:

I am so sorry to disappoint you.

Jordan:

Why no, I just remember reading scream for us? Well, no, I'm not very much. I mean I liked it. It serves its purpose of just being shmuddiness. So if you just want some shmuddiness and you want tangled up christmas lights, then that's the book you read.

Fabienne:

That is just actually yes, I mean, it is a book recommendation. I would not.

Jordan:

But tired that we're just going to wait. Can you say that again? I mean it just caught, cut you off.

Fabienne:

Discord hates me, I swear. You know what it's not to be repeated. Oh, to be repeated, it's not to be. Remember. How I said earlier on, I could be like a bitch.

Jordan:

That was you being a bitch Case in point yeah. Alright.

Fabienne:

I'll just continue. I'll just continue, okay, okay. One that also apparently got a heart from me, as in like one that I actually do want to read, is one by Grace Myers the Christmas Cottage, and I also need to think of that. The christmas cottage by grace myers. Look up the cover, look oh, look up the cup.

Jordan:

Okay, yes, okay, I need all right.

Fabienne:

Do I need to say simon says before you do anything, or because you? Know it cut you off, so I had no idea what you did the fuck okay, uh, grace myers, I'm just gonna repeat it. Hopefully discord picks it up. Now, grace myers, to christmas cottage oh, oh, I found it.

Jordan:

I a different one popped up first and I was like that cover is not that cute. What are you talking about? Different author, different author. Oh, it's so cozy, right, right.

Fabienne:

I just Honestly. I can see myself read that book Like sitting all on the sofa With a tree in the background. Also, I can't wait to put up that tree again.

Jordan:

I'm so I just want a tree. We're gonna have a tiny tree in here, but I still want, want it just one of those little pot at once for like in the windowsill.

Fabienne:

Yeah, hey, hey. If it's a tree is a tree, no matter the size.

Jordan:

I take it it's like it's actually my mom's, but she's gonna give it to us because we're gonna use ours in the living room. So we're like switching it, but I'll take it wait I have. I have a novella it's called second bite, a tilly world holiday novella, which a lot of people said that they loved this christmas novella. Not gonna lie, I'm not obsessed with the cover. It's not a cute cover, but apparently everybody loves this second bite.

Fabienne:

It looks like a stock photo gone wrong.

Jordan:

Yeah.

Fabienne:

Huh Interesting.

Jordan:

But people love it.

Fabienne:

Second bite I've never heard of this author. Not that I haven't heard of the authors that I'm looking for.

Jordan:

I think she does like dark romance, maybe I don't know, but like 115 pages, so like this is a good, like novella size second bite um.

Fabienne:

I also have um a mystery holiday romance hit me by alexandra benedict. Murder on the Christmas Express.

Jordan:

Like the Polar Express.

Fabienne:

I was more going to go with Agatha Christie Murder on the Express, Polar Express as well. Yeah, Tom Hanks, you know Well you got to make it Christmas-y. Actually, yes, you know what Merge those two and then I think you have. So Also, lucy, score this one. I do know about the Christmas Fix you know that one.

Jordan:

Oh, I'm not a huge Lucy Score fan. I think her books are, like always, OK. Granted, I've only read one, so can I really talk?

Jordan:

talk probably not, but like it was 100 pages too long and I was like I can't, I can't yeah, okay but I do have a holiday romance which I think came out two years ago, and then there's like a uh, second book that came out last year, but I, I've heard this is so cute. Uh, katherine walsh a totally hilarious and unforgettable christmas romantic comedy. She meant to be she's meant to be catching flights, not catching feelings. So I, I actually like this is one that I most definitely want to read oh, let me guess she ends up catching both Duh Of course Duh the best. What is he? A holiday book without?

Fabienne:

Sorry, just had to make the corny joke. I just had to Duh Also, also, also. Also, I have another few that are Christmassy. They're not romances, they are actual thriller slash, mystery, detective books.

Jordan:

Yeah, this is for the people that don't want romance. Hit us.

Fabienne:

I mean by two books by Alex Pine, the Night Before Christmas, how utterly authentic. And then the other one is called the Winter Killer. And I have a third option, which is by Chris Frost, ironically, the Killer's Christmas List Dun, dun, dun.

Jordan:

Now that fits for them.

Fabienne:

That actually did fit. Yes, and then I have. I have like 10 more or so. Do I just go through them?

Jordan:

Well then, let me do another one. Yes, thank you, I still have some. So I have claws and effect like claws, but like santa claus and this is by piper rain I think that's how you spell their name but like this is one that's like good, because it's like 200 pages, 250 oh, fantastic, this is like a short one, looks super cute. And then I have one another short one, sorry yeah, no, no, no, no, no, no.

Jordan:

You take the floor the stances suit by mary k andrews, which I think she has. Another christmas book, that relative that just relatively came out, or maybe that was last year, but I got this one on the bargain bin at the bookstore so I spent four bucks on it. So I was like you're doing a good bargain.

Fabienne:

Yeah, actually I like that cover right, isn't it so cute.

Jordan:

Oh, oh, this christina lauren in a holidays, that is really good that one I know that one's good. I can't find my copy. I probably sold it. That's why you actually have a lot of Christmas like tangible copies yeah well, so last year I decided I wanted a bunch of Christmas books, so I literally bought like 10 of them.

Fabienne:

Oops, you know what, when, you set your eyes on something a bunch of Christmas books so I literally bought like 10 of them. Oops, you know what, when you set your eyes on something, you just gotta see it through. You do, you do.

Jordan:

Exactly.

Fabienne:

Okay, wait, wait, wait, wait, I, I, I, I. Oh, fuck my laptop, almost knocked it over.

Jordan:

There we go, oh boy.

Fabienne:

Um, I have Josie Silver, A Winter in New York. Are you kidding? You have that one there.

Jordan:

No one day in December. But I heard this is actually like really sad. I think Like it's actually like a sad one. The one that you have, or the winter?

Fabienne:

New York one. Oh, this one, this one, uh-huh, but I have it too, still a very December slash wintry type of book, so it still counts. Yeah but I want like a happy.

Jordan:

I want happy cozy, not sad and depressing.

Fabienne:

Yeah, but maybe other people do want like sad and depressing. Well then one day in December is for you. You know that, wait, have you ever seen? Oh, oh, fuck, what's that one series? Um, it's with the guy from like arrested development. Um the ozark. Have you ever seen like, oh, no, that series? You know? Do you know, like that julia character on the show like the? Um, the british girl who portrays like this, like a southern lady, like she has, like the?

Fabienne:

south, the blonde curly hair yeah, yeah, I'm not really sure if it's like in that series, but I needed you to understand which woman I'm talking about. She is like there's like a meme going around, or not even like going around, but there's like this one meme on instagram or whatever, and she's like literally what you just said, like, then, this is the one. You like the way that she says it. It's like a thing like a meme. Do you know that meme? No, I'm explaining this so poorly. Oh, my goodness, okay, well as you. Just, this is a very long-winded way of me trying to say like, oh, you just sounded just like her, but then obviously not having a clue who I was talking. Okay, anyways, moving on. Um, oh right, I wanted to say this too josie silver has like a lot of romance books, like a lot of holiday romance books oh really, I just know one day in december but a funny story about this one, so my friend um she was set in depressing well, yeah, this book is okay.

Jordan:

But funny story with this book is my uh friend gave it to me like a while ago. But, like as in to like, she gave me like a stack of books to read, which I have not read any of them, but one of them was this book. So when I told her I bought this book, she was like jordan, I gave you my copy to read. Why did you go buy it? And I was like, oh Oops, I didn't know you did that, so now, currently have two. But I have two. You are a grateful swine, I know.

Fabienne:

No, actually, it would have been worse if you said that you lost the other copy.

Jordan:

Oh my God, but then I would have just given her this one, so it would have been fine.

Fabienne:

That's true. Can't say out Lindsay Kelk, the Christmas Wish Also. How original. But yes, I have no clue. If it's good, I don't know what it is about, but I'm sure it's happening at Christmas.

Jordan:

It's definitely Christmas Day or something, yes. Watch it be like nothing to do with it.

Fabienne:

That would be like nothing to do with it, that that would be funny. Did you know that christmas is actual, actually like a legit last name, like a surname christmas yeah, they must be holly jolly what if their name is actually holly that, oh you're, I swear, if you are listening to this and your name is Holly Christmas. Like your parents, they either love you to death or they hate your guts.

Jordan:

Or did you just win the lottery? How fucking cool is that?

Fabienne:

I guess maybe not outside of Christmas, no one would ever take you seriously. No, no, if you were to go to a bank bank and you want to, you know, I don't know, like an account, like you know, have a joint account with your partner and you're like what's your name, holly Christmas? Yeah, what's your name, holly Christmas? You're never going to be taken seriously.

Jordan:

That is.

Fabienne:

Well, but if you're getting married then you change your name, so it'd be holly, whatever. For example, wait, wait, can I, can, I just, can I just go this little like site sidetrack of like silly names. So there is like, there is like um, like obviously, there's like the phenomenon where, um, um, when you write out your name like your first, like your first letter of your first name, and then, like you know, like a full stop and then your last name, and then there's this phenomenon I already said that in, at least in dutch where um that makes up another word. So, for example, um, this is going to be a really weird example, like a really really strange out of the blue example. So, for example, if your name going to be a really weird example, like a really really strange out of the blue example.

Fabienne:

So, for example, if your name is peter and for whatever reason, honey, you are so if your name is peter, and so if your name is peter yes, if your name is peter and your last name would be like arsley, for whatever reason it's not an actual last name, but just go with me on, just stay with me here. So then it would shorten to P dot Arsley and that would spell parsley. Like the, like the herb.

Jordan:

Okay.

Fabienne:

You'd not see where I'm going with this. Okay, so if you have, like I don't know your, your name is, but your last name is rex, then it would be t rex. Okay, you know what? Just just scratch this. I thought I was going something which is like silly names, like do you not have that there? Like when you have, like when you pick up like a phone book not that that really exists anymore, but when you pick up like a phone book not that that really exists anymore, but when you pick up like a phone book you would have like silly names in there. Wasn't that a thing that?

Jordan:

no, because it would be like person's last name comma first name, oh fuck, that's true, I forgot about that.

Fabienne:

Yeah, you guys did it differently, we don't? This was a funny story that didn't make any sense at all. Um, just ignore this and just like move past it, please. Yeah, okay, cool, I have one other. How much did you miss me? Tell me, you miss me, please tell me you did I miss you so much do. Do not lie, Jordan. I know where you live.

Jordan:

I could never see you in maybe six to seven hours.

Fabienne:

Yep, honestly, if you say it like that, we don't really live too far apart. No, we don't. That makes me a little bit less sad, I have to admit, a little bit less sad.

Jordan:

It's true and it's yeah. You're going back in time so you get those hours back. I'm going into the future so I can pick lotto numbers.

Fabienne:

I know Win-win situation here. Really no losses. Wait, I know win-win situation here, really no losses um. Wait last last, um dark romance holiday recommendation by Karen Hart really should stay. It's a title doesn't scream dark romance doesn't scream dark romance, no, but I feel like the title does suggest dubious consent like that. Wait, what was the title again really should stay. You know there's been like a debate about that one old-timey christmas song. Like you really should stay.

Jordan:

Baby, it's cold outside. Baby, it's cold outside. That's that's. I feel like I really have to go, but baby, you should. But like also, I think it's like a middle of a. I'm also like I love that song and I don't want it to be like canceled, but also like I think he's describing it as and there's like a giant snowstorm and she's going to go out in the snow storm and he's like you really shouldn't go in the snow storm, you really shouldn't but really that's that's.

Fabienne:

I mean, that's the way that I listen to it too, and I think that's the only right way to listen to it. But you know, what do I know? Same what do I know? Oh, wait, no, okay, I have a last one, um, it's one by rosie blake and it's called the higa holiday. You know, like that one swedish word that cannot be translated, but technically sort of captures like the coziness of, like a home. No, you do not. Okay, higa, have you ever heard or like seen? Okay, well, no, okay, jordan, will you please um, google higa for me?

Fabienne:

h wait, like, just like google, or am I like, amazoning, like, is this like a title you're spelling out, or just, I am, I'm spelling out word, so just go to Google first and then we'll just move on to the next step, which is Amazon. Okay, so Higa, h-y-g-g-e.

Jordan:

E, e, okay, and then?

Fabienne:

just go, I guess, yeah, maybe even add meaning to it, and then just see what Google says, what it does like, what it means.

Jordan:

Higa is a Danish or Norwegian word that describes a feeling of contentment and well-being that comes from the can uh, a merry, festive or boisterous celebration, yes or cozy, that one that one needs to be added to the mix as well.

Fabienne:

So rosie blake has a book that's called the higa holiday and, um, sorry, like a scratch on my nose Um and Haga, kind of like translated to geselech, like in Dutch, also like the one word that no one can ever pronounce and also, you know, like it's very untranslatable. Um, it's basically one and the same, and I thought the Haga holiday sounded just like really cozy, and I liked the book cover too, and now you may go to Amazon and look up the cover. Oh, oh, oh, yep, the Higa holiday uno momento.

Jordan:

Coloring book um what?

Fabienne:

no, it's not a coloring book. Wait is the.

Jordan:

Rosie Blake. Oh no, you could get a coloring book, but this one yeah, I thought it was cute, and that's me saying that a little village of art, the art of happiness.

Fabienne:

I thought it was cute. Had to go on the list, so on the list, it did go. Has to go on the list, so on the list, it did go. Has to go on the list, has to, has to. Now I'm through with my list. I hope you all like my list. No, kidding, no, but actually those are my recommendations. I have three more Sort of oh my god, you really just pull those books out of nowhere.

Jordan:

Yep, because I need them, them. Okay. I have the xmas holidays by zoe allison, which honestly, I have no idea anything about it. It's not like something that needs to be read this year. I could wait till next year too. Okay, in no rush. Okay, christmas in Coconut Creek. This was actually like a book club pick for probably smut. Again, not in any rush to read this one either. So who knows? And then I have wreck the halls by Tessa Bailey, which I've heard very mixed feelings about. This one, like I heard it's like not that good, of course, after I bought it. So I'm again, in no rush, but I do really want to read her window shopping book and I'm kind of mad because it got like a revamp on the cover and I do not like the cover, like the new cover, so I probably won't get that one either. But I, I mean I have like a good amount that I like want to read like this season. So like I'll just stick with you, okay that's a little.

Fabienne:

You think you're actually gonna read all of those. That's a lot. You think you're actually gonna read all of those, yeah wait, do you know?

Jordan:

but thank the mama oh shit, my laptop is not safe here it's not safe, but like you think about it, it's definitely not safe I can decide which one I want to read, like on my kindle, read one, as maybe I shouldn't do that with holiday books, but then I could like pick a audiobook as one of them, read physically one of them, but I I feel like I might confuse myself, so I should probably only stick with one christmas book at a time, but sometimes, like, I feel like I could do this one as like an audiobook. Like the holiday romance I hear is like a really good audiobook. Um, I actually heard this one is a really good audiobook. Um, how, the how my neighbor stole christmas. Someone was telling me that it is a full cast. So I don't know if there's like multiple care, there's got to be multiple characters or something, because I don't know how many characters. But someone was saying that it's like a full, full cast of narrators for this one.

Jordan:

So I'm like, maybe this is one that I right, so maybe this would be one I listen to, and if it's like 400 pages, 470 pages, this one might be the perfect audiobook. And then this one I definitely want to read the Plight Before Christmas, as in like physically read it, either this or on my Kindle, because this one's on Kindle Unlimited.

Fabienne:

Actually, I'm just gonna add that to my list here, so I don't forget about it. Yes, please.

Jordan:

Are you like not one to typically like read holiday books?

Fabienne:

no, that came out so as we're giving recommendations for holiday books hey, to be fair, in my defense, before I started my soliloquy about oh, you're my book, I did say that I normally do not read.

Jordan:

You did.

Fabienne:

Oh my Wait, can you? No wait. I feel like I have to take a picture of this just because there's Okay, but I gotta do it again because they fell over One more time.

Jordan:

Okay, I'm sorry. Okay, okay okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay. I just have to restack them because they fell. So I just All my Christmas books, but I don't have Winter Street.

Fabienne:

I can't even get the wall. No, Okay, that was fun. I'm going to send it to you. They're probably like horrible, but you know, blackmail Might come in handy. Wait, I'm going to send it more. It says when do we have a send later option? Is that new?

Jordan:

Wait, that's cool, I didn't know about that. I feel like I need to figure out which ones I want and which ones I don't want, as in right now. But I have started my Christmas reads just because I've been buddy reading the Elvin Hildebrand books with my mom.

Fabienne:

Like we read the first two last year.

Jordan:

So we wanted to get started earlier on them because we wanted to make sure we finished them, because since we started, like in December last year, we only could get through the first two. Cause I felt weird reading it in January, like I didn't want to read a book. No, so I was like we'll just wait until next year.

Fabienne:

It's the same like when you read a very beachy type of book and it's, like you know, mid-december, like.

Jordan:

I can't do it.

Fabienne:

Like when we were doing like the spooky recommendations, there's Halloween, there's Nicole Fiorina fiorina, and then also like she's written um bone island. That book cannot be read during spooky. No, that book needs to be read in january, like february, march yes or something agreed um, but hey, if you are one of those people who can read, I don't know like think thanksgiving books and holiday versus like christmas, hanukkah, whatever it's like in the middle of june, go nuts, do it do it up, yeah, yeah, but if you're like us, then, just read these now yeah, because, like this episode's coming out early december so, like your chance, you read all of them, but that would be like a book of guides, all of them I actually think they're gonna read the kids to everyone, just because it's yes

Jordan:

exactly, exactly we like need to but not before I read the syndicator oh no, we have to read that yes, so yeah no, of course, of course thank you so much for listening and please don't forget to rate and review wherever you can find us so catch you next time bye rate and review wherever you can find us. So catch you next time. Bye.