I grew up on A League of Their Own. My grandma and I sat on the couch and rewatched it so many times, to the point where we were quoting it in our day to day life.

I’ve also been getting into sports recently, thanks to Ashley, a former FBC contributor who championed the WNBA here several times. Ashley got me into the WNBA, made sure I knew when the season was starting, and gave me everything I needed to know. From the WNBA, it has spiraled into women’s sports in general. So I am going to give you all the ultimate breakdown of the inaugural WPBL season.

The Teams

We have four teams, each representing their own city: Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York. Each time is named after a woman who left a large impact on their city, which I think is absolutely amazing.

The Boston Hunters are named after Harriot Hunt, a doctor, abolitionist, and women’s rights activist who fought hard to become a doctor. She is the founder of the Ladies in Physiology Society. Their team captain is Alli Schroder, a Canadian pitcher and firefighter.

The Los Angeles Queens are named after “The Queen of Baseball”, Lizzie Murphy. She was the first woman to play against major league players, starting in a traveling team based in Boston. Their team captain is Ashton Lansdell, but you will most likely hear people talking about Mo’ne Davis. During the first game of the WPBL, bobbleheads of Davis were given out, and she ended up scoring the first run in the league’s history.

The San Francisco Firebells get their name from “Firebelle Lil”, Lillie Hitchcock Coit. If you’ve been to San Francisco, you may have heard of Coit Tower. She left part of her estate to the city of San Francisco, and they used that money to build Coit Tower. When she was a teenager, she saw a short staffed fire engine respond to a fire, and she decided to help them. She became an honorary member of the San Francisco Fire Department. The Firebells team captain is Kelsie Whitmore, the number one pick in the first ever WPBL draft. A pitcher and an outfielder, Whitmore was the 2022 Baseball Sportswoman of the Year, when she was also playing as a designated hitter.

The New York Heights are named after Dorothy Height, a civil and women’s rights activist who was often considered a core part of the “Big Six” (civil rights leaders including Martin Luther King, Jr. and John Lewis) but is left out due to sexism. She helped create the March on Washington, best known for the “I Have a Dream” speech. The Heights team captain is Danae Benites, who hit the first home run in the league’s history.

The Legacy

I shared all of this information because the WPBL has made legacies an integral theme in their league. The league “mascot” is Maybelle Blair, who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in 1948 for the Peoria Redwings. She also serves as the Honorary Chair of the WPBL Advisory Board, and threw the first pitch at the first game.

From the naming conventions of the teams to the way the league honors Blair and the AAGPBL, legacy is built into everything about the league. Players are constantly referencing the players who came before them, and I think they are doing a great job at honoring where we’ve been and inspiring where we’re going.

How The League Works

It’s important to note that unlike the NBA and WNBA, the WPBL has no association with the MLB. We are seeing several differences due to this. There are seven inning instead of nine. Players use aluminum bats instead of wooden ones. A team is made up of 15 to 25 players, which makes them on the smaller side. The most notable difference, I believe, is that all 30 games during the season are going to be played in the same stadium - Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois. While teams are meant to represent the four cities (Boston, LA, San Francisco, and NYC), they will all be playing in Illinois, alternating who is considered the “home” team and “away” team. I feel like this has an impact on how people interact with the teams, which has already been affected by my next point.

How Do I Watch?

Originally, the league didn’t have a media deal, so they were going to stream all games for free on YouTube. Other women’s sports leagues have done this with great success, such as F1 Academy and the PWHL.

However, a few days before the first game, the league announced that they made a deal with ESPN Select, which costs $13 a month to watch. People were outraged. The league had been hyping up how you could watch the games for free, and now they are behind yet another paywall. Even more frustrating, the league is still streaming the games! International viewers are able to watch every game on YouTube, as originally planned.

Between the media deal and the fact that every team is playing only in Springfield, Illinois, I worry that there might be some problems connecting to loyal fans. At the same time, the league is just starting out. It makes sense to keep everything small while finding your balance. No matter what, I’m excited for what the league brings us!

I hope you find some way to support the WPBL. Which team are you supporting this season? Personally, I’m rooting for the Firebells, even though I’m from LA. Let us know your choice down in the comments!

Here's your weekly roundup of romances hitting shelves this week that have a Rebel Ever After vibe. Reminder that I haven't read any of these titles yet, so this isn't an official endorsement unless noted. If there are other books out today that you think folks will enjoy, feel free to recommend them in the comments.

[This isn't an exhaustive list of every romance novel published this week. If you are an author with a progressive romance coming out soon, please email brosandprose@gmail.com to get it on my radar!]

Devil by Sierra Simone (Bloom Books) — The fourth book in the delightfully blasphemous Priest erotic romance series! I recommend checking the content warnings on Sierra's site just in case.

See You at the Sunset by Susan Lee (MIRA) – I saw Susan speak at LoveLitCon about writing HEAs for underrepresented folks and she is so damn funny.

World's Okayest Oracle (Reluctantly) Seeks Demon by Olivia Dade (Berkley) — We always stan Olivia Dade. A new rom-com in the universe of ZOMROMCOM! Prepare yourself by listening to our episode from last summer.

Let's Kiss and Tell by Joss Richard (Viking) — A sex writer fake-dates a colleague who is reporting on a sex work scandal. You best believe they fuck. I interviewed Joss about the book (and her deranged fan-fiction origins) a few weeks ago.

Professionally Yours by Kayla Ashlyn (indie) — Small-town found-family romance about falling in love with your boss. Whom among us.

She Haunts Me Still by De Elizabeth (Dutton) — A dark academia theater new adult bisexual love triangle paranormal ROMP. I devoured this twisty turny book and haven't stopped thinking about one sex scene in particular ever since.

In What World by Bridget Morrissey (Berkley) — Sapphic enemies-to-lovers about two former high school rivals who are trying to solve a mystery and somehow alternate dimensions are involved and they meet alternate versions of themselves who are in love???

The Magic We Made by Meg Cabot (Avon) — I haven't read any of Meg Cabot's adult novels! Have folks here read them? Tell me if I should pick them up as a diehard Princess Diaries fan!

For the Love of the Quest by Alexandra Ammon Parthun (Alcove) — From the marketing copy: "The search for King Arthur’s Excalibur invites danger…and potentially love in this sapphic historical romance perfect for fans of Cat Sebastian and Freya Marske."

As a reminder, I have some events coming up in the NY area!

8/12: Celebrating Sea of Charms with Sarah Beth Durst at Northport Books in Northport, Long Island. Tickets here.

8/26: Rebel Ever After Bindery virtual launch party with special guests Adib Khorram, Laura Piper Lee, and Erin Baldwin. Join for free on Bindery to attend.

9/3: Launching Love Me Like a Rock Song with Shelly Jay Shore at the Ripped Bodice BK. Tickets here.

9/30: Launching Happily Ever Afterlife with Emma R. Alban at the Ripped Bodice BK. Tickets here.

Let's talk about annotating! Do you annotate your books? In the comments, let us know why or why not.

I occasionally annotate my books. I do like to use page flags or highlighters to mark certain moments or quotes that stand out to me. I used to do a thorough annotation by writing in the book, highlighting, and adding post-its.

Okay, things look a little different around here this week.

For a while, my Bindery page has mostly been a place to find the week’s new releases. And while I LOVE keeping you updated on all the books hitting shelves, I kept thinking… why stop there?

I spend basically my entire week talking about books anyway. I’m reading them, reviewing them, interviewing authors, falling down weird book-news rabbit holes, and occasionally explaining to my family why I absolutely DO need another book when there are already unread books all over my house.

So we’re expanding.

Every Tuesday, you’ll still get the new releases before my social media roundup goes live, but now we’re also talking about the biggest bookish stories I’ve been obsessing over, sharing pieces of my author conversations, and (because she has demanded editorial control) checking in with Link.

Basically: more books. More opinions. More fun.

Welcome to the new newsletter. 🖤

📚 NEW THIS WEEK

Another Tuesday, another completely unreasonable number of books I want to read.

Here’s what’s hitting shelves this week (all links to purchase books can be found at the bottom of this email!).

🩸 HORROR

• A Plagued Sea by Kim Bo-Young
  An isolated Korean seaside village + an ancient plague + people transforming into monsters from the sea. This is a translated Lovecraftian horror novella, and at only 112 pages, it sounds like something you could absolutely devour in one sitting.

• Reliquary by Hannah Whitten

• The Hill in the Dark Grove by Liam Higginson

⚔️ FANTASY + ROMANTASY

• Winterborne by J.D. Netto

• A Dance of Burning Blades by M. H. Ayinde (book 2)

• Splintered Kingdom by Gretchen Powell Fox (book 2)

• Dreamland by Olivie Blake

• The Silver Hand by Shawn Carpenter (book 2)

• Heavensent & Hellbent by Sara Jafari

Fantasy readers are EATING this week. A Dance of Burning Blades is the second book in M. H. Ayinde’s Invoker Trilogy, while Olivie Blake has another new release hitting shelves with Dreamland.

🔎 THRILLER + MYSTERY

• The Nobody Code by Miciah Bay Gault

• Drowning in Paper Flowers by E.L. Westbury

• Don’t Cross Mo Ellery by Birdie Horne

• Brimstone Hollow by Archer Sullivan (book 2)

• Butcher Legacy by Alaina Urquhart (book 3)

• There Are Ghosts Here by Adrienne Tooley

• Codebreakers by Stella Sands (book 2)

The one immediately catching my attention here is The Nobody Code. A woman returns to Vermont and starts investigating whether the vigilante group she joined as a teenager (and the things they did together) are coming back to haunt her decades later. The publisher is pitching it for fans of The God of the Woods, which is obviously going to get my attention.

📖 LITERARY FICTION

• You’ll Love It Here by Natalie Sue

• Night Songs by Alli Dyer

You’ll Love It Here follows Mona after her career implodes and she reluctantly becomes the superintendent of her crumbling apartment building. Nosy neighbors + found family + a woman whose life absolutely did not go according to plan? This sounds incredibly charming.

💕 ROMANCE

• The Magic We Made by Meg Cabot (book 2)

• Counting the Days by Laura Chinn

• A Witch in Notting Hill by Alexandra Paige

Which one are you adding to your TBR? Hit reply and tell me because I need to know what everyone else is eyeing this week.

☕ THE BOOKISH GROUP CHAT

A few things happening in the book world that caught my attention this week:

• Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey takes some BIG swings from Homer. From character changes to mythology and story structure, Reader’s Digest breaks down what the movie changed from the original epic, and whether those changes actually work. Read now via Reader’s Digest.

• Ann Patchett radically decluttered her bookshelves. Yes, even sentimental and signed books. As someone who attaches approximately SO MANY memories to every book I keep, this concept is mildly horrifying to me. 😂 Read now via Good Housekeeping.

🎙️ AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: R. JOHN DINGLE

This week, I’m spotlighting thriller author R. John Dingle, whose Gus Wheeler series blends fast-paced FBI investigations, twisty cases, and something I particularly love in a thriller series: actual character evolution.

I asked John how he balances character development with the nonstop pacing readers expect from a thriller.

His answer? He learned the hard way.

“My first several books were… all plot, no character.”

Gus actually wasn’t supposed to become a recurring character at all. But as the series evolved, John had to figure out how to keep each investigation satisfying as a standalone while still allowing longtime readers to watch Gus change from book to book.

And after reading Before the Devil Knows, I can say that character growth is one of my favorite things about this series.

🎧 Listen to our full conversation on Spotify
📺 Watch the full interview on YouTube

🐾 LINK’S CORNER

Link has discovered representation in literature.

This week’s important canine literary news: Paul Yoon’s new novel Etna follows a former military dog making his way home through a war-torn country.

The entire story is told from Etna’s perspective, and reviewers have described it as a modern canine Odyssey exploring war, loyalty, memory, survival, and what it means to find your way home.

Link’s official thoughts:

Finally, a protagonist with range.

• Brave? ✅

• Loyal? ✅

• Dog? ✅

• Humans making everything unnecessarily complicated? Presumably. ✅

She has not read it, obviously, but she supports more dogs securing leading roles in publishing.

Read The New York Times review of Etna.

📖 BEFORE YOU GO...

That’s it for our first edition of the new format!

New releases will still land here every Tuesday before I share them anywhere else, but now we get to dig into everything else happening in our little corner of the book world too.

And I want this newsletter to feel like our bookish group chat, so tell me what you want to see.

Reply and tell me:

What book are you most excited about this week, and could you EVER do an Ann Patchett-level bookshelf purge?

Because personally, Link will probably learn to read before I willingly get rid of some of mine.

See you next Tuesday. 🖤📚

Happy Tuesday, mis internet amigxs,

Before I begin, I wanted to acknowledge the devastation in Colombia today. As of the time I'm writing this, I don't have any resources to share, but I will be sharing on social media as soon as I've had a chance to vet aid going along.

In addition, I wanted share a resource for the Puerto Rican water crisis, if you want to donate and/or amplify.

Plentitud helps folks install filtration systems on the island

*EDIT: I had previously recommended Project PR Relief, but it has come to my attention that they might not be legit. I'll be looking further into it but wanted to err on the side of caution.

Again, I'll pass along more links on social media, as time allows.

SEPTEMBER BOOK CLUB

September fiction AND nonfiction book club selections have been announced.

We're still reading The Intrigue by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and finishing up Cuba: An American History by Ada Ferrer this month and there is plenty of time to join in the discussion.

We've also already announced our October fiction selection, You Should Have Been Nicer to My Mom by Vincent Tirado.

November book club voting will be up by the end of the week--I can't believe we're already looking at books to round out the year.

Okay, I'm not crying, YOU are...so let's get started with today's releases....including one I missed in the exclusive newsletter (if you want an exclusive early newsletter, considering upgrading to Libritos or Lectores membership level).

Romance Fantasy

The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Audiobook)

Short Story Collection

Pinen by Daniela Catrileo and translated by Jacob Edelstein (Audiobook)

Romance

The Replay by Leonor Soliz

Cookbook

Cooking Con Omi: A Love Letter to Puerto Rican Home Cooking by Omi Hopper

xo,

Carmen

The Crimson Dagger has arrived and your complete Steelborn Reader Kits are officially ready for The First Editions! ⚔️📚

We’ve been busy behind the scenes turning Taylor J. LaRue’s Steelborn into a full reading experience, and now it’s time for you to grab your kits and get reading, discussing, predicting, debating, snacking, and maybe becoming just a little too emotionally attached to Reya and Caelan.

Never run. Never bow. Never die.

But definitely download your kits. 😉

🗡️ FOUR FULL STEELBORN READER KITS ARE READY

Whether you're reading with your entire book club, a buddy, or completely on your own, we've created a kit to make your reading experience even better.

📚 THE FULL BOOK CLUB KIT

Planning an in-person or virtual book club meeting?

Your complete Steelborn Book Club Kit includes everything you need to turn your discussion into a full fantasy reading experience:

🧭 Complete discussion guide
🍷 Themed food & recipes
🗡️ Themed activities
🗝️ Crimson Dagger Heist
🎁 Themed door-prize ideas
🏆 Printable awards
📝 Voting & rating pages
💻 Virtual meeting resources
📋 Host checklist
📸 Bookish social-media ideas
…and plenty more!

👉 Tap the link to download your full Steelborn Book Club Kit. Book Club Kit & Individual Book Club Member Reader Guide

📖 THE FULL INDIVIDUAL READER GUIDE

Want something to use while you're reading?

Your Individual Reader Guide is designed to help you slow down and get even more immersed in the story.

Track:

❤️ Reya & Caelan
🔥 Romance & chemistry
🗡️ Tropes
🔮 Predictions & theories
🕵️ Secrets & lies
✨ Magic & world-building
😱 Emotional reactions
📚 Favorite moments
⭐ Final ratings

👉 Tap the link to download your full Individual Reader Guide. Book Club Kit & Individual Book Club Member Reader Guide

🗡️ THE FULL BUDDY READER KIT

Reading Steelborn with your favorite bookish buddy?

This kit is built specifically for two readers, whether you're meeting face-to-face or reading from opposite sides of the country.

You'll get:

🗓️ Reading checkpoints
🧭 Spoiler-safe discussions
❤️ Romance conversations
🔮 Prediction challenges
🗡️ Two-person activities
🍷 Themed food & drinks
🗝️ Buddy Heist activity
🎁 Prize ideas
🏆 Final awards
💻 Virtual buddy-read resources
…and more!

👉 Tap the link to download your full Steelborn Buddy Reader Kit. Buddy Reader Kit 

🔮 THE FULL SOLO READER KIT

Prefer to experience Steelborn on your own?

We've got you.

Your Full Solo Reader Kit is designed to turn your reading time into an immersive personal adventure with:

🗡️ Character dossiers
🔥 Trope tracking
❤️ Romance tracking
🔮 Prediction vaults
🕵️ Secret & lie tracking
✨ Magic & world-building pages
😱 Emotional reaction trackers
🎨 Creative activities
🍷 Themed recipes
🏆 Final awards
📸 Bookish photo challenges
📚 Reading reflections
…and more!

👉 Tap the link to download your full Steelborn Solo Reader Kit. Solo Reader Kit 

📚 And Don't Miss Our Steelborn Deep Dive!

Finished Steelborn?

Then you definitely need to read our Page Ladies Book Club Deep Dive Book Review.

Our six-member book club takes a closer look at the characters, romance, fantasy elements, world-building, tropes, twists, and the moments that gave us plenty to talk about.

We've already finished the book, so this is where we can really get into the story and our thoughts without holding back.

👉 Tap to read our full Steelborn Deep Dive Book Club Review.

⚠️ Finished reading first if you want to avoid spoilers!

⚔️ Your Steelborn Reading Adventure Starts Now

So, First Editions, grab your copy of Steelborn, download your favorite or all four Reader Kits, and get ready to enter Rhiterra.

Read it.

Annotate it.

Track the tropes.

Make your predictions.

Argue with fictional characters.

Fall for the immortal warrior.

Make something delicious.

And then come back and tell us everything.

Because around here, we don't just read the book.

We make the book club experience part of the story. 🖤📚

💬 FIRST EDITIONS QUESTION

Which Steelborn Reader Kit are you using first: the Full Book Club Kit, Individual Reader Guide, Buddy Reader Kit, or Solo Reader Kit?

#Steelborn #TaylorJLaRue #ThePageLadiesBookClub #TheFirstEditions #BookClubKit #RomantasyBooks #FantasyRomance #BookishCommunity

Never run. Never bow. Never die.

Six Page Ladies. One fantasy romance. An immortal warrior. A notorious thief. A deadly curse. A whole lot of magic. And enough enemies-to-lovers tension to keep our book club talking long after we turned the final page.

We went into Steelborn by Taylor J. LaRue ready for fantasy, romance, danger, and adventure and this book gave us all of that with a side of deadly heists, complicated characters, buried secrets, and one extremely inconvenient attraction. ⚔️🔥

After reading and discussing Steelborn as a book club, we had a LOT of thoughts.

So let's get into our deep dive.

📚 Our Honest Take on Steelborn

At the center of Steelborn is Reya Connery, the Crimson Dagger, a notorious thief who has built her reputation around three simple rules:

Never run. Never bow. Never die.

Reya knows how to survive. She's clever, cocky, dangerous, fiercely independent, and very good at keeping her secrets buried.

But when a heist goes wrong just as she's about to pay off a dangerous debt to a ruthless crime lord, survival suddenly requires a new plan and probably a lot more coin.

Enter Caelan Halcyon, an immortal warrior whose magic has made him a valuable target and whose curse is slowly inching toward his heart.

He needs a cure.

Reya might be the only person capable of finding it.

There's just one tiny problem:

They absolutely cannot stand each other.

Naturally, this is where things get fun.

Their reluctant partnership takes them far beyond the original mission, toward the edge of the known world and into a conflict much bigger than either of them expected.

What begins as a desperate attempt to survive becomes a fight involving magic, power, secrets, revenge, attraction, and the fate of the magic-born.

And yes, our book club had plenty to say about all of it.

🗡️ Reya Connery: The Crimson Dagger

Let's start with Reya because this woman knows how to make an entrance.

She's not waiting around for someone to save her.

She's the one with the dagger.

Reya has survived by relying on her instincts, her skills, her rules, and her ability to stay several steps ahead of everyone around her. Her reputation as the Crimson Dagger isn't something she was simply handed; she earned it.

But underneath that confidence is a character carrying secrets, anger, pain, and a lifetime of learning not to trust anyone.

One of the things we found interesting about Reya was the tension between the woman she's convinced herself she has to be and the person she might actually want to become.

Her rules have protected her.

But they may also be keeping her trapped.

And that became one of the bigger topics we discussed as a group.

⚔️ Caelan Halcyon: The Cursed Immortal Warrior

Then there's Caelan.

An immortal warrior.

A powerful magic user.

A man who is running out of time.

And apparently, someone who was designed in a laboratory specifically to make a fantasy-romance reader forget all their responsibilities.

Okay, that last part may be our opinion. 😂

Caelan's curse is slowly moving toward his heart, and finding the legendary cure isn't just a matter of convenience, it's a race against death.

Unfortunately, the person who may be able to help him is Reya Connery.

The notorious thief.

The woman he doesn't trust.

The woman he absolutely does not want to need.

The woman he is increasingly attracted to.

Oh, Caelan. You poor, doomed man.

🔥 The Romance: Enemies, Reluctant Allies & WAY Too Much Chemistry

If you're here for enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance, Steelborn knows exactly what it's doing.

Reya and Caelan come from completely different worlds.

She's a thief who trusts survival instincts over honor.

He's an immortal warrior who values honor and duty.

She bends the rules.

He follows them.

She doesn't trust easily.

He has every reason to distrust her.

So naturally…

They have to work together.

Their forced partnership gives the romance plenty of friction, banter, suspicion, and attraction.

And we loved that their relationship doesn't happen in a vacuum. Their feelings develop while they're dealing with danger, secrets, curses, enemies, and increasingly enormous stakes.

There's always something threatening to blow everything up.

Which, let's be honest, is exactly what we want from our fantasy-romance couples.

🔥 The Steelborn Trope Check

For our trope-loving readers, here's where Steelborn really shines.

🗡️ Our trope radar picked up:

🔥 Enemies to lovers
⚔️ Reluctant allies
🖤 Morally gray characters
🗡️ Notorious thief heroine
⚔️ Immortal warrior hero
💀 Cursed hero
✨ Magic and supernatural powers
💰 Heists and criminal underworld
🔥 Forced partnership
❤️ Romantic tension
🌎 Epic fantasy journey
🔮 Hidden secrets
🩸 Deadly enemies
💥 High-stakes fantasy adventure
👑 Fate-of-the-world stakes

Basically?

If your TBR is powered by tropes, Steelborn brought snacks.

🌎 From One Botched Heist to the Fate of the Magic-Born

One thing we appreciated about Steelborn was the way the story expands.

It doesn't remain a simple “thief helps cursed warrior find a cure” adventure.

The farther Reya and Caelan travel, the larger the stakes become.

Their journey takes them toward the edge of the known world, where secrets begin coming to light and Reya has to confront more than just external enemies.

She also has to confront the rage she's spent years trying to bury.

And suddenly, their personal survival isn't the only thing at stake.

The fate of the magic-born is hanging in the balance.

That escalation gave us plenty to discuss because the story keeps shifting from personal stakes to much bigger consequences.

🧭 What We Actually Discussed at The Page Ladies Book Club

This is where our book club members really got into it.

After reading Steelborn, we didn't just stop at “Did you like it?”

We talked about the characters, the romance, the choices they made, the rules they lived by, and what happens when those rules stop working.

Here are some of the questions and topics that actually came up during our book club discussion:

🗡️ 1. Do Reya's rules protect her or hold her back?

Reya's rules have helped her survive, but we talked about whether they're actually keeping her safe or preventing her from moving beyond the life she's created for herself.

⚔️ 2. Could Reya and Caelan ever really understand each other?

These two approach practically everything differently.

We discussed whether their opposing values ultimately make them stronger together or create problems that could never truly be overcome.

🖤 3. How much should we forgive a morally gray character?

Reya makes questionable choices, but we also understand why she's made them.

That led us into a bigger discussion about whether understanding a character's motivations changes how much we forgive their actions.

🔮 4. Would you trust someone you don't like if your life depended on them?

Caelan desperately needs Reya, even though trusting her goes against practically everything he believes.

We debated whether survival would make us put our trust in someone we fundamentally didn't trust.

💥 5. When do personal choices become bigger than the people making them?

Reya and Caelan begin with very personal goals.

But their choices eventually affect something much larger than either of them.

We talked about how their individual journeys connect to the larger threat facing the magic-born.

❤️ 6. Are Reya and Caelan's differences what make their chemistry work?

Obviously, we had to talk about the romance.

😂

Their opposing personalities create so much of their tension, and we discussed whether that friction made their attraction more compelling.

🗡️ 7. Who would you actually trust in the world of Steelborn?

This one was fun because this world is full of secrets, competing motivations, and characters who don't always tell the whole truth.

Let's just say…

Trust was not handed out freely at our book club table.

⭐ Our Final Page Ladies Verdict

Steelborn gave us the kind of fantasy-romance reading experience that works especially well for a book club because there's something to talk about beyond the romance.

We had Reya's character arc.

Caelan's curse.

Their enemies-to-lovers tension.

The question of trust.

The moral gray areas.

The magic.

The secrets.

The escalating stakes.

And, of course, the jawline.

😂

Taylor J. LaRue creates a story that blends fantasy romance, adventure, magic, danger, thieves, immortal warriors, curses, and high-stakes worldbuilding while giving readers two characters with plenty of friction to keep things interesting.

For readers who love enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance, morally gray characters, cursed heroes, strong heroines, forced proximity, magical worlds, deadly quests, and slow-burning romantic tension, Steelborn is definitely one to add to your TBR.

And for book clubs?

Bring your opinions.

Because Reya and Caelan are the kind of characters who give everyone something to say.

📚 Want to Dive Deeper Into Steelborn?

We've already read it.

We've discussed it.

We've debated it.

We've brought Reya, Caelan, the magic, the romance, and all the questionable decisions to The Page Ladies Book Club table.

Now we're giving you the tools to create your own Steelborn discussion.

Whether you're reading with a full book club, tackling the book with a buddy, or enjoying it on your own, we've created resources to help you dig deeper into the characters, relationships, themes, magic, and major discussion points.

✨ Tap the link to download your FREE mini versions: https://canva.link/d78e9klzqjxl7na 

📖 Mini Book Club Kit & Individual Book Club Member Reading Guide
👯 Buddy Reader Kit
📚 Solo Reading Kit

Want the complete experience?

Join The First Editions to unlock the full Steelborn book club kits and take your discussion even deeper.

Because sometimes finishing a book isn't the end of the experience.

It's where the best conversations begin. 📚💬

💙 Thank You!

A huge thank-you to The Novl and Taylor J. LaRue for sharing Steelborn with us.

We loved getting the opportunity to read, discuss, debate, and obsess over this story together!

🗡️ Now We Want to Hear From You!

If you were Reya, would you break your own rules to save Caelan or would you stick to the Crimson Dagger's code no matter what?

And, more importantly…

Which Steelborn trope would get you to immediately add this book to your TBR? 👀📚

#Steelborn #TaylorJLaRue #FantasyRomance #Romantasy #FantasyBooks #BookClub #BookClubDiscussion #BookReview #FantasyRomanceBooks #EnemiesToLovers #RomantasyBooks #BookRecommendations #BookClubKit #ThePageLadiesBookClub

Hey all, I'm back from my li'l vacation so let's get this week's update! Let me know the books you plan on reading this week in the comments and I'll share with you what I'm workin' on!

READING

REVIEW

SUNBURN by CHLOE MICHELLE HOWARTH (literary fiction)

Progress: Finished

Holy shit! I mean, holy f'n shit! I'd heard this was a wild one and I God was it ever. This was yearning on nuclear, world-ending levels and the religious imagery and exploration of Catholic guilt and young love was all just so beautifully done. I was literally holding my breath for the final sentence. This is the type of bonkers I want from any story with heavy romance from now on.

FIRE & BLOOD by GEORGE RR MARTIN (fantasy)

Progress: 350/706

I didn't even mean to pick this up I was just spot-checking things vs. the show and ended up starting from the beginning because I'm a goblin. Anyway, the King is dead, long live the King (Viserys I)! As a history reader the way this is written appeals to me, and The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu takes a similar approach to the narrative history style, if you're into that kinda thing. I'm gonna set this aside so I can start the book club reads but I'll come back to it right after.

PREVIEW/AUGUST BOOK CLUB PICKS

Little bit of a late start but this week will be all about the Fiction/History Sickos Book Club picks, The Odyssey by Homer (any translation) and Black Flag, Blue Waters by Eric Jay Dolin. I didn't get nearly as much reading done as I anticipated last week but we're gonna get stuck in.

EVERYTHING ELSE

• Publishing News: ICYMI we announced our second acquisition earlier this month, Grave of Petals by Ofelia J. Vazquez!

• Game of the Week: I'm up to level 52 in Assassin's Creed Odyssey with plenty of game left. This'll go great with The Odyssey read (there's so many pig farms in the game).

• Show of the Week: I'm just about all the way done with my House of the Dragon re-watch so S3 will be started this week.

• Movie of the Week: idk but I did see Spiderman in the theater last week so that was a good time.

• I'll be going to England in September, huzzah! This is part of an event for Infinite Wisdom by Thomas R. Weaver, which is a sequel to the excellent Artificial Wisdom. September 11th, at the London, Penguin Random House HQ, I'll be co-hosting an event with my honorary sisters Kris & Mads. It's an exclusive event with only 150 spots, and you can apply to secure a spot here.

• Our Monthly Wrap Call in Discord will be Tuesday, 8pm EST!

Hi frens,

We've partnered with Bookshop.org to giveaway some copies of Resonant! Be sure to enter here before August 28th for your chance to win.

Yes, you read that right!

you can now order a copy of What Feeds Below with these gorgeous sprayed edges by Ink and Edge books! You might need another copy, I dunnnnnnnno!!

https://inkandedgebooks.com/products/what-feeds-below-preorder?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAdGRleATmtZpwZG9mAmZkaWQWUMNR9x0Zx7nVUYxzKp_uJ3cbO9RykWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzEyNDAyNDU3NDI4NzQxNAABp1_G5-GOPrd-N-cGCbZgo86DFI3sRdORv0PQbwkv1vgEO3FIr14Jz084rpYN_aem_Z8fgM-8ByyqQJasDPgI6VA

Happy Monday, mis internet amigxs!

Our September book club selection is for the chismosas!!

There was a tiny bit of a difference with our fiction picks in the results here on Bindery and Discord, so I defaulted to Discord results, which leaned towards a book that just released on paperback!

Here's a recap of where we are and what we're reading next, for those who have been thinking about joining us for book club discussions on Discord and need a little push.

AUGUST - CURRENTLY READING

FICTION: The Intrigue by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

NONFICTION SIDEQUEST: We are finishing up Cuba: An American History for Ada Ferrer

SEPTEMBER - Latinx Heritage Month begins September 15th

FICTION: The Grand Paloma Resort by Clevis Natera

NONFICTION SIDEQUEST: First month of reading The Latinx Guide To Liberation by Vanessa Pezzo

OCTOBER - Latinx Heritage Month ends October 15th

FICTION: You Should Have Been Nicer To My Mom by Vincent Tirado

NONFICTION: Second month of reading The Latinx Guide To Liberation by Vanessa Pezzo

November/December book club polls will be up later this week, as we begin looking at closing out 2026 reading--be prepared for something a little bit different as we close out the year.

Hope your week is off to a great start!

xoxo,

Carmen

This week my guest is Alicia Thompson, the author of five adult romance novels including With Love, From Cold World and Never Been Shipped. We talked about balancing magical realism with grounded characterization in her new book In Every Possible Way. Plus: Alicia’s amazing newsletter about music, our hatred of the “reverse” trope, and how she writes men worth falling for.

Listen on:

• Apple Podcasts

• Spotify

• Castbox

• Libsyn

Follow Alicia on Instagram @aliciabooks and on Substack at aliciabooks.substack.com. Purchase Alicia's books from the Rebel Ever After affiliate bookstore at bit.ly/REAbooks

Rep the podcast with Rebel Ever After MERCH! Browse our new store here: https://rebeleverafter.creator-spring.com/

Don't forget to rate and review on your favorite podcast app, too!

Theme music created by Dalton Deschain.

Media mentioned this episode:

• Hype & Type marketing newsletter: bethearchetype.substack.com

• Ulysses by James Joyce

• Groundhog Day (1993)

• Chernobyl (2019, HBO)

• The Cranberries

• Tom Petty

• Kelly Clarkson

Ella's Upcoming events:

8/12: Celebrating Sea of Charms with Sarah Beth Durst at Northport Books in Northport, Long Island. Tickets here.

8/26: Rebel Ever After Bindery virtual launch party with special guests Adib Khorram, Laura Piper Lee, and Erin Baldwin. Join for free on Bindery to attend.

9/3: Launching Love Me Like a Rock Song with Shelly Jay Shore at the Ripped Bodice BK. Tickets here.

9/30: Launching Happily Ever Afterlife with Emma R. Alban at the Ripped Bodice BK. Tickets here.

This past week was busy busy for me so there wasn't a lot happening on the reading front, but let's get into it. Books marked with a * were gifted to me.

The Pairing by Casey McQuiston* - This was a reread for me, as it was my Spicy Book Club's pick this month. I know this book was divisive when it came out, and I'm glad to say I'm still firmly on the I LOVE IT side. The descriptions of the food and countryside are just so glorious. I am also a fan of how instead of alternating POVs each chapter, it switches once halfway through the book. I think that helps keep the miscommunication from being too frustrating.

Together We See by Ari Tison* - I have never read a book starring the Bribri people of Costa Rica, and this YA mystery made me feel like I was right on the territory with them. It went on a little long with no progress on the mystery for me, though I don't know if that's just a function of it being YA or not. I really liked watching siblings Ulá and Kabék work through their complicated relationships with their father, each other, and their ancestors.

I also had one DNF this week: What If We Get It Right? Visions of Climate Futures by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson. It wasn't bad, just repetitive. I was listening to the audiobook, which is just audio of the interviews, and it started feeling like I was listening to the same podcast over and over again. I made it 27% in before DNFing.

Hello Cozy Family!!

What have you been reading recently?

Here's a quick recap of what I've read and brief thoughts on them:

1. Once Upon A Crime by Brynn Kelly - 5 stars! (audiobook)

I had no expectations going into this audiobook. It had been in my Audible library for a long while after a random impulse add a couple of years ago. But wow!! I LOVED this book so much!! I did not want to stop listening to it and I did not want it to end! It was so much fun!

1. Elsie Silver

I read Flawless, the first in the Chestnut Springs series, a few years back and remembering thinking it was just okay so never carried on. But recently I was heading into a reading slump and thought just why not, so I picked the next one up (Heartless). Suffice to say I have now finished the Chestnut Springs series and have gone back to read the Gold Rush Ranch series (currently reading the first one now - Off To The Races).

Flawless - 4 stars (2024)

Heartless - 5 stars!!

Powerless - 3.5 stars

Reckless - 4.5 stars

Hopeless - 4.5 stars

Heartless was definitely my favourite, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I also loved Reckless and Hopeless. Without rereading Flawless, I would take that 4 stars with a pinch of salt. I remember not liking it that much and was surprised when I saw I rated it 4 stars honestly. I think my rating may have partly been a subconscious peer pressure at the time as so many people loved it. I plan to reread it soon and see if it really is a 4 star or not. Despite Powerless being 3.5 stars, I do think I enjoyed it more than Flawless from what memory serves. So stay tuned for that update when I manage to reread it.

1. Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid - 5 stars!! (audiobook)

I don't have enough words, the right words, or even any words currently to fully express my love for this book. I am planning to write out a full review, which I think will end up more an essay of love. So stay tuned for that in the near future. In the meantime, just know this book is everything to me.

1. The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem - 3 stars

2. The Jasad Crown - DNF

This is a duology that I need to take a bit of time to try and understand my full thoughts and work out why it didn't work for me. Because it should have been something I loved. So many people rave about this duology and I can understand why but it unfortunately wasn't for me.

I'm currently reading:

1. The Martian by Andy Weir (audiobook)

2. Off To The Races by Elsie Silver

3. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

4. The Odyssey - Emily Wilson translation (audiobook and physical book immersion reading)

And very soon I will be starting Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson, which is our book club pick for August.

Until next time,

Charlotte xx

In One Sentence: The book club will be pivoting to focus on banned books, both reading them and working against book banning.

In Several Paragraphs: In a little over a week, I'll celebrate the 1-year anniversary of posting silly videos of my face on the internet. Believe it or not, the very first video I ever posted was just a shout into the void encouraging people to start a book club (and lauding the always-excellent Glorious Exploits).

In the 12 months since then, my collective channels have racked up ~36K followers and tens of millions of views, which is chump change on the internet, but has manifestly changed my life for the better, and I'm truly grateful for everyone who made it possible.

Unfortunately, in the mad scramble of an internet newbie to say yes to opportunities, I've handled some things better than others, and a constant source of personal shame for me has been how poorly I've handled this book club.

Part of the problem is being spread a little too thin, but I think a greater issue has been loving the idea of having a book club, but never really knowing what to do with it. Book clubs seem to work best when they organize around some point of commonality, either in the members or in the genre read. Well, we're on the internet, and I don't want to exclude anyone from the group on the basis of identity. My reading habits are also too haphazard to easily focus on a single genre — in the last week alone, I've read literary fiction, self-improvement, and two (!!) Warhammer 40K books. I don't know how to neatly package that other than say "hey, it's me."

Not to mention, I share my book content on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, where the vast majority of my audience is. I'd be shocked if any of you found me through any other source. So what's special about the community on Bindery?

BUT! After some reflection, I've realized there is one area of my reading that can 1) include everyone, 2) serve as a framework for a common reading list, and 3) involve collaboration and discussion that doesn't easily happen on the short form video channels.

I'm talking, of course, about my near-fanatical opposition to book banning, wherever it happens to exist. I've made several videos on the subject in the last year, and for years before I posted a single picture, made a habit of reading at least a few banned books every year.

So, in the coming weeks I'm going to pivot what little I have here towards banned books. There will be more to come on what that looks like, and I'm targeting an official launch of 9/1 (in time for back to school, anyone?) but if you want to join along with an August read, I just picked up Last Night at the Telegraph Club, a much-lauded book I'd never heard of until it showed up on the "Most Banned Books of 2025" lists a few months ago.

More to come as I update the copy on this website, restructure the Discord, and otherwise get organized...

Hi friends,

I hope you had a lovely Disability Pride Month and start to August! I was able to track down 20 books ft disabled main characters that released in July!

books by own voices or otherwise disabled authors

Extracurricular by Rachel Lynn Solomon

Genre: romance

Representation: PTSD, panic attacks

Lord of the Wood by E.M. Anderson

Genre: fantasy horror

Representation: autism, chronic fatigue, chronic pain

Burn Her They Said by Cherish Wright

Genre: fantasy romance

Representation: autoimmune disorder

Wild Goose Chase by Sarah Adler

Genre: romance

Representation: neurodivergence

Double Standard by Mallory Thomas

Genre: romance

Representation: ehlers danlos syndrome

Breakup for Two by E.M. Wilson

Genre: romance

Representation: endometriosis

The Body's Betrayal by Violet Roseberry

Genre: poetry

Representation: chronic illness

Yes, Chef by Grace Reilly

Genre: romance

Representation: ADHD

Darker Shore: Letters from Ketterdam by Leigh Bardugo

Genre: YA fantasy

Representation: PTSD, cane user, chronic pain

Heartstopper: Volume 6 by Alice Oseman

Genre: YA romance, graphic novel

Representation: OCD, eating disorder, depression

books by non-disabled authors*

*or authors of unknown ability

Alex, by Proxy by Karen Myna Cantor

Genre: YA contemporary

Representation: PTSD, dysautonomia, munchausen by proxy

Whole Together by Nomi J. Avery

Genre: romantic suspense

Representation: PTSD, amputee

Wrangled by the Star by Nikki Jewell

Genre: romance

Representation: anxiety

Scream for Me by Ayla Valentine

Genre: dark romance

Representation: PTSD

Checking Out Santa by L.E. Wagensveld

Genre: romance

Representation: migraines

Tethered Love by Ann Einerson

Genre: romance

Representation: type 1 diabetes

The Winged Game by Sophie Kim

Genre: fantasy romance

Representation: PTSD, panic attacks

The Demon Star by Jesse Aragon

Genre: science fiction

Representation: addiction, alcoholism

The Final Score by Lana Ferguson

Genre: romance

Representation: anxiety, panic attacks

The Case of Elmwood Ranch by Deanna Grey

Genre: paranormal romance, mystery

Representation: anxiety, panic attacks

So how do I manage to create bookstagram content while working full-time and raising two kids? The truth is, reading is the easy part.

I can read anywhere. I read in bed after everyone is asleep. I read during my kid's activities. I read in the school pickup line. If I'm lucky enough to be passenger princess, you bet I have my Kindle open. Filming though? That's a whole different story.

I cannot have anyone around. First, because I'm usually talking about monster fucking, and my kids definitely do not need to overhear half the things coming out of my mouth. Second, because I'm ridiculously self-conscious. If my husband is in the next room, I refuse to even whisper on camera. I need everyone to get the fuck out of my house.

So how do I make it work?

1. I batch film.

   I'll usually knock out at least five videos in one sitting. Each one takes about 5-6 minutes to film, so all I really need is 30 minutes of uninterrupted alone time. If my husband heads to the gym, the kids get 30 minutes of tablet time upstairs, and I get to spend that half hour talking about minotaur cum.

2. Edit with headphones.

   The longest part of the process is honestly editing. It can take anywhere from 20-30 minutes to edit one 2 minute video for my social media reviews. That's 2-3 hours of editing for one batch of videos. My secret? I use my headphones and lay in bed and edit instead of scrolling on my phone. Sometimes I get tired and fall asleep my scene cut. But I'll pick up where I left off the next night and end up with a week's worth, or more, of content ready to go.

3. Consistency is Key

   Ever notice I wear the same thing in every video? Yea well I do. A black hoodie. This way when I make videos in batches, I don't have to do outfit changes. I also have to think very little during video prep. Hoodie on. Tripod up. Hit Record. It's one less thing to worry about.

   This probably won't work for everyone, but it's what I've found works best for me and my schedule. Sometimes I'll finish filming, sit down to edit, and realize the whole thing feels rushed. You can tell I was racing against the clock because I only had a tiny window to film. When that happens, I scrap the entire video, delete it, and start over the next day. It sucks, but I'd rather post something I'm proud of than something that feels forced.

   There are definitely days when it's stressful and overwhelming trying to balance a full-time job, two kids, and content creation. But I genuinely love reading, and I love sharing the books I read with other people. Being able to connect with other readers, recommend books I can't stop thinking about, and completely geek out over minotaur cum brings me so much joy. For me, all the late nights and tired mornings are absolutely worth it.