Two booklovers reunite for a heartfelt conversation spanning European adventures and the surprising power of community reading.

CATCH UP WITH US: it's been a minute and we are sorry!! (but also not really because life)

Budapest emerges as the unexpected star of the travel segment, with gorgeous thermal baths housed in Art Nouveau buildings and unlimited prosecco cruises along the Danube proving worthy of any travel bucket list. While the city's vast scale might seem intimidating, its walkable streets and convenient electric scooters make three days the perfect timeframe for soaking up its culture, architecture, and surprisingly safe nightlife.

The conversation shifts to a deeper exploration of how physical book clubs are creating meaningful connections in our increasingly digital world. As one host discovers the joy of a local "Beach Read and Bubbly" gathering, we're reminded of what sociologists call "third places" - those vital community spaces beyond home and work that foster authentic human connection. After years of pandemic isolation and virtual interaction, these in-person literary gatherings represent something profoundly important about our fundamental need for community.

Ready to find your own bookish community or add some page-turning summer reads to your collection? Join the conversation by rating, reviewing, and sharing your own book club experiences with us!

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

After a successful career in blogging and screenwriting—selling projects to networks like ABC, NBC, and Netflix—Jessie Rosen found her voice in novel writing through a personal family belief: that rings carry the energy of everyone who's worn them before.

"The Heirloom," her breakout novel, explores what happens when a woman insists on knowing the complete history of her engagement ring before accepting it. Jessie reveals how this wasn't mere fictional invention but a deeply held family truth that sparked debate among her own friends when she refused heirloom jewelry for her own engagement.

Her newest release, "All the Signs," continues this exploration of how beliefs shape our lives, drawing from her real-life experiment of tracking down people with her exact birth chart "star twins" to test the validity of astrology.

The conversation reveals fascinating insights about her creative process, including how she plots extensively yet allows herself flexibility within that structure, and how morning hours are reserved for fresh writing while afternoons focus on structure and planning. For aspiring writers, Jessie emphasizes the importance of building a consistent body of work that publishers can trust, whether through blogs, newsletters, or social media.

Follow Jessie's journey through her books and her newest project, a Substack newsletter called "Bravery," where she connects with readers between book releases.

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

The Art of Bookstagram

Meet Liz, the creative force behind The Boho Book Blogger, whose stunning flat lays and authentic approach to book content has captivated over 33k followers. In this warm and insightful conversation, Liz takes us behind the scenes of her bookstagram journey, sharing how a pandemic reading revival in 2020 blossomed into a thriving creative outlet and community.

You'll discover the secrets behind those enviable flat lays and hear Liz's perspective on what makes the book community so special compared to other social media spaces. "The community aspect of Bookstagram is so cool," she explains. "Being able to talk to literal strangers on the internet about books - there's something so special about that."

Whether you're a devoted bookstagrammer looking for inspiration or simply curious about the digital reading revolution, this episode provides an intimate look at how books continue to bring people together in new and unexpected ways.

Follow Liz at @thebohobookblogger on Instagram and TikTok to join her community of passionate readers and see those gorgeous flatlays.

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

Ever wonder what it really takes to craft bestselling fantasy romance novels?

In the interview with Abigail Owen she pulls back the curtain on her creative process in this intimate conversation that takes us from her earliest writing memories to the upcoming release of her highly-anticipated sequel, The Things Gods Break.

Her approach to Greek mythology in The Games Gods Play series demonstrates her willingness to break traditional molds. Instead of retelling the familiar Hades-Persephone myth, Owen crafted an entirely new love story for the god of the underworld. This creative freedom extends to her world-building, where she incorporates "little brushstrokes" from mythology, like positioning Lethe, goddess of oblivion, as the perfect bartender in a god's establishment.

Fans eagerly awaiting the September release of The Things Gods Break will appreciate Owen's teases about adventures in Tartarus, new trials, and yes—another cliffhanger ending. The physical book promises to be as breathtaking as its predecessor, with special artwork that left even Owen speechless.

Ready to dive deeper into mythology, romance, and the creative process? Follow Abigail at abigailowen.com or on Instagram and TikTok.

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

BOOKCLUB BOOK!!

Our conversation dives into what makes this book both delightful, we explore how the novel's format, which cleverly incorporates radio transcripts into the narrative, enhances the reading experience while other elements like character development left us wanting more. The "single mom" trope feels somewhat underutilized, with Lucie's daughter Maya appearing more as a roommate than a child in many scenes.

The chemistry between characters sparked interesting debate - we found ourselves drawn to the dynamic between Lucie and her ex Grayson, adding complexity to the central romance. We couldn't help but notice the male lead on the cover bears a striking resemblance to actor Theo James, which definitely shaped how we imagined Aiden throughout the story!

Have you read any of BK Borison's books? We'd love to hear your thoughts on this one or recommendations for which of her other novels we should pick up next!

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

Books on Wheels: Stephanie's Romantic Book Truck Adventure

What happens when a book lover spots a vintage Volkswagen truck for sale near the beach?

Stephanie's creation—The Fleuria, a charming mobile romance bookstore—represents a perfect blend of entrepreneurial spirit and literary passion. Rather than committing to the sky-high commercial rents of a traditional bookstore in LA, she took a different road entirely—quite literally. Stephanie shares her vision for creating a mobile literary space that partners with local women-owned and BIPOC-owned businesses throughout Los Angeles. Beyond just selling books, Stephanie's mission centers on community building.

Whether you're a romance reader in Los Angeles hoping to catch The Fleuria at a local pop-up, an aspiring book entrepreneur seeking inspiration, or simply someone who appreciates seeing dreams take physical form, Stephanie's story reminds us that sometimes the best adventures begin with a single book—or in this case, a single book truck.

Follow her journey on Instagram @thefleuria and @stephiepao

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

On The Bookish Hour, we dive into some genuinely shocking book community drama.

Our conversation kicks off with the most disturbing revelation involves an Australian romance author who was recently arrested after publishing a book containing inappropriate content. We discuss how the book was completely scrubbed from all platforms, yet not before receiving some positive reviews, raising serious questions about ethical boundaries in fiction.

The drama continues as we explore the contentious debate around negative reviews on social media. Should readers only post positive content, or is there value in honest criticism?

Finally, we break down the certain booksta/booktoker controversy where a content creator's negative review of a popular book led to an author unfollowing her, spiraling into a much larger drama. This situation perfectly illustrates how parasocial relationships distort online interactions, with followers feeling entitled to defend creators they've never actually met against perceived slights.

Throughout our discussion, we emphasize that ultimately, the power lies with each user to curate their online experience. Whether you're posting reviews or deciding who to follow, you have the ability to create boundaries that work for you in this ever-evolving digital book landscape.

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

BOOKCLUB with SPOILERS

The Bookish Hour dives into Ali Hazelwood's "Deep End," a college romance about pre-med students and competitive divers navigating their intense chemistry and BDSM dynamic.

• Discussing the unique blend of competitive diving, academic brilliance, and BDSM elements
• Analyzing the sophisticated vocabulary and whether it feels authentic for college-aged characters
• Appreciating Lucas and Scarlett's unspoken connection and how they communicate through expressions
• Examining the slow burn romance and satisfying character development
• Debating whether the ending feels rushed, particularly regarding the diving storyline
• Celebrating the epilogue from Lucas's perspective that provides glimpses into their future
• Noticing cameos from characters in Hazelwood's "The Love Hypothesis"

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