Books and Brunch

Our Share of Night

Amber and Noelle — Sat, 18 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0700

On this episode of Books and Brunch Noelle and Amber discuss the Gothic/Horror/Paranormal novel Our Share of Night by Mariana Enriquez. This book is now in Noelle's top five books of all time, while Amber didn't even finish it! Listen to their different takes and thoughts on this novel that explores the dark side of a cult mixed with the protectiveness of a parent.

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Spooky Reads Ep 4: Possessions, Ghosts, and other Body Take Overs

Amber and Noelle — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0700

On this spooky themed mini episode of Books and Bunch Noelle and Amber talk about their favorite books that have to do with possession, body snatching and other fun paranormal books! Layla for the Colleen Hoover Fans, The Little Stranger, John Dies at the End, Steven King and for some reason Sons of Anarchy.

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Spooky Reads Ep 3: Vampires and Guilty Pleasures

Amber and Noelle — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0700

On this spooky season inspired episode of Books and Brunch Amber and Noelle give quick recaps and recommendations of just a few of their favorite vampire books! You know they talk Salem's Lot by Stephen King, God of Endings by Jaqueline Holland, Twilight by Stephanie Meyer, Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead, and more! Most of these have been turned into films so of course they have to compare the books to the movies!

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Spooky Reads Ep 2: All Things Magical

Amber and Noelle — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0700

On this mini episode of Books and Brunch Amber and Noelle talk about books with magical vibes including witches, secret societies, grim reapers, and more! Think Annihilation, Mort, Our Share of Night, Ninth House, House of Hollows, First Grave on the Right, Betwixt, Needful Things, The Women Could Fly, and more!

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Spooky Reads Ep 1: Creepy Houses

Amber and Noelle — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0700

On this mini episode of Books and Brunch Noelle and Amber give several recommendations of spooky books featuring creepy,haunted, or just bizarre houses! These are books to help you get in the mood for fall!

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Dark Beauty Mini Episode

Amber and Noelle — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0700

On this episode Noelle and Amber discuss the spicy thriller Dark Beauty by Blake Rudman (published by Hellbound Books) paired with prickly pear Margaritas! A suspenseful page-turner about gorgeous identical twins who lead very different lives in Hollywood - with some very dark secrets and acts of unthinkable betrayal.

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Spill the Sweet Tea Mini Episode

Amber and Noelle — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0700

On this episode Amber is still trying to get Noelle to read a steamy romance so she reviews the brand new release Spill the Sweet Tea from Lyra Parish!

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The Handmaid's Tale

Amber and Noelle — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0700

On this episode Noelle and Amber discuss the classic and wildly successful Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood along with a brunch recipe and drink idea! Everything to prepare for book club with your friends!

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Can I Stray

Amber and Noelle — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0700

On this episode, Amber and Noelle review indie author, Jenna Adams' debut novel, Can I Stray. Parts Girl, Interrupted - Part Lolita. This novel is about trauma and healing, growth and stagnation, romance and heartbreak. Grab your air-fryer and toss in some chips, smother them in gavy, and pour a nice hot cup of english breakfast tea. This is one bloody 'ell of an episode!

Trigger warning: this episode contains discussions about self-harm, suicide ideation, age gap relationships, and toxic relationships.

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The God of Endings

Amber and Noelle — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0700

On this (wine fueled) episode Noelle and Amber fangirl over Jacqueline Holland's debut novel The God of Endings! An unexpected take on vampires and an all around fabulous read. Join us for a new recipe and discuss this tragic, haunting, beautifully-written book. As always, find us on Instagram @booksandbrunchcast and on YouTube for video episodes. Read, Eat, and repeat!

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The Women Could Fly

Amber and Noelle — Wed, 12 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0700

On this episode Amber and Noelle discuss The Women Could Fly by Megan Giddings paired with a recipe and adult beverage inspired by the book. They discuss author, writing style and synopsis before getting into spoilers. They give a spoiler warning about halfway through so if you want to listen to the beginning to decided if this is a book for you it won't get spoiled! Then come back and listen to the rest of the episode!

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Nightbitch

Amber and Noelle — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0700

On this episode Amber and Noelle discuss Rachel Yoder's debut novel Nightbitch. Is violence an intrinsic part of our human nature? Where does our sense of identity come from? Why is there tension between societal expectations and our more primal instincts? Am I turning into a dog? We ask ourselves all of these questions and more. Grab your copy of Nightbitch, a grossly undercooked steak, a bottle of red wine, and join us for another episode of Books and Brunch. You can watch an edited (shorter) video version of this episode on the Books and Brunch YouTube channel AND all recipes and reading lists on Instagram @booksandbrunchcast. Read, eat, and repeat!

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Romancing Mister Bridgerton

Amber and Noelle — Fri, 23 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0700

On this episode Amber takes Noelle on a journey outside of her comfort zone with a historical romance! Not just any historical romance but the basis for the next Bridgerton season on Netflix! This is the fourth book in the series by Julia Quinn. Get Noelle's fresh take on a new genre and Amber's take on her continued reading of Julia Quinn.

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Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow

Amber and Noelle — Tue, 30 May 2023 14:15:00 -0700

In this episode Amber and Noelle discuss Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. Prepare yourselves for a very nerdy edition of Books and Brunch because Noelle loves video games and really loves this book. Amber also has a lot to say about Zevin's big, action-packed, heart-wrenching novel as well. Grab a slice of pizza and your retro Nintendo 64 console and join us!

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House in the Pines part 2

Amber and Noelle — Wed, 17 May 2023 06:43:00 -0700

This week Amber and Noelle finish their discussion of Ana Reyes' debut thriller, The House in the Pines. While most of their audio/tech issues have been worked out, this entire episode was riddled with an assortment of inconvenient interruptions - sweltering heat, bees, visitors, animals, phone calls, etc. Grab a bowl of homemade chili (or whatever your childhood comfort food may be) and curl up in front of the fireplace (or air conditioner) and listen to this episode! As always, let us know what you think of the show, our book choices, and send suggestions! Read, eat, and repeat!

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The House in the Pines (Part 1)

Amber and Noelle — Fri, 12 May 2023 11:49:00 -0700

In this episode, Amber and Noelle discuss Ana Reyes' debut thriller The House in the Pines - there are no spoilers in this episode, they are saving those for Part 2 which will be out next week. In this episode they cover themes within the novel and discuss some of the characters and components of the thriller genre. Join us!

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Four Treasures of the Sky

Amber and Noelle — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 14:03:00 -0700

In this week's episode Amber and Noelle discuss Four Treasures of the Sky by Jenny Tinghui Zhang. For brunch, they're eating ginger chicken with rice - a recipe inspired by a celebratory meal from the book. This episode is full of tangents and side-stories, so we apologize if this is not necessarily your cup of tea (some episodes just turn out that way, ya know?) but we hope that you enjoyed this book, the meal, and our show. Read, eat, and repeat!

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Oryx and Crake: Part 2

Amber and Noelle — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 11:59:00 -0700

This week's episode is the second half of the Margaret Atwood series in which Amber and Noelle continue their discussion about the novel Oryx and Crake. There will be spoilers in this episode - both in regards to the novel and the future of humanity - consider yourself warned!

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Cleopatra and Frankenstein

Amber and Noelle — Sat, 18 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0700

In this week's episode Amber and Noelle discuss Coco Mellors' novel Cleopatra and Frankenstein and discuss character development, plot vs. emotion-driven narrative styles, comfort food, and what love is "supposed" to feel like. Join us in another novel deep dive. Read. Eat. and Repeat.

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Oryx and Crake Part 1 (cause we stayed at Chilli's too long)

Amber and Noelle — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 17:18:00 -0700

In Episode seven Amber and Noelle discuss Margaret Atwood and introduce the themes within her novel Oryx and Crake in this first part of a two-part series. One does not simply read a Margaret Atwood novel in a week and cover everything about the author and the book in a single episode. Oh, no. This is a two-parter for sure! There are no spoilers in this episode, so if you haven't read the book yet, this is a perfect teaser and an informative nugget about the author and the implications of themes such as "how far is too far when it comes to the science of genetic manipulation?" or "is there a point of no return for human technological progress?" and "is lab-grown food really food and should we eat it?" Some may say this novel is a warning to humanity to avoid running blindly toward a dystopian future. Join our discussion and let us know what YOU think.

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The Davenports

Amber and Noelle — Sat, 04 Mar 2023 09:50:00 -0700

In this episode Amber and Noelle discuss Krystal Marquis' debut novel The Davenports. For fans of historical romance, like Amber, and rich character development and subversive undertones, like Noelle, this book does not disappoint. Set in Chicago in 1910 the four main female characters deal with familial expectations, gender roles, racial identity, the civil rights movement, forbidden love, and face the ultimate question: what gives your life purpose? A story that feels like Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing meets Netflix's Bridgerton, The Davenports hardly feels like a Young Adult novel and instead is an enjoyable novel with a lot of heart steeped in rich history. Read. Eat. Repeat!

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Eileen

Amber and Noelle — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 12:55:00 -0700

On this episode Amber and Noelle discuss Ottessa Moshfegh’s debut novel Eileen and all of the uncomfortable feels it brought to the surface. For brunch they have prepared Vermouth Poached Pears in honor of titular character Eileen’s drink of choice. Trigger warning: this book deals with topics such as mental illness, eating disorders, and sexual assault. Amber and Noelle do their best to navigate the darkness of Eileen and highlight the strange beauty of Moshfegh’s sensuous prose. Follow us on Instagram @booksandbrunchcast for full brunch recipes and future books.

**Note: Noelle misspoke when she mentions the classic novel A Clockwork Orange in this episode - she meant to say Burgess, not Huxley, when mentioning the author.**

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The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

Amber and Noelle — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 09:27:00 -0700

In this episode Amber and Noelle discuss Taylor Jenkins Reid's novel The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo over a Cuban Manhattan and a slice of rich chocolate cake. This episode covers issues of racial identity, passing (particularly in Hollywood), LGBTQ+ rights, and the two-edge sword that is female sexuality. As always you can find the recipes for this week's episode on Instagram @booksandbrunchcast - read, listen, and dine with us. We appreciate feedback so if you have something to share, don't hesitate to reach out.

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Just Like Home

Amber and Noelle — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 11:54:00 -0700

This week Amber Kay and Noelle discuss Sarah Gailey's Just Like Home, a novel chock-full of unlikeable characters, sensuous descriptions, and an ubiquitous sense of dread. It's like Pieces of April meets The House that Jack Built - if you know, you know. If you have not finished the novel, dread not; a warning will be given near the halfway point in the episode before Amber Kay and Noelle shamelessly flaunt their spoilers like drunk chicks at Mardi Gras.

What's for brunch? Sparkling lemonade, of course. Are you dying (of thirst)? If so, you'll be renewed (or at least preserved) by Noelle's refreshing "Spectral Lemonade" - a haunting twist on a classic brunch beverage. You may be asking yourself, "but what about the *food*?" Silly, you. There is no joy in the Crowder House. So raise your glass, check under your bed, and toast to Sarah Gailey for knocking this book out of the basement!

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Bones and All

Amber and Noelle — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 11:52:00 -0700

This week Amber and Noelle discuss Camille DeAngelis' Bones and All in addition to the 2022 film by Luca Guadagnino. If you have not finished the book or seen the film, there will be spoilers, though they've done their best to warn you at the halfway point before spoiling away. This novel is a gritty, coming-of-age, roadtrip story with a macabre twist - like The Motorcycle Diaries meets Byzantium. Buckle up, it's going to be a bloody ride.

What's for brunch? Only the quintessential brunch beverage cleverly renamed "Bloody Maren" for obvious reasons. With so many veggies packed into one drink, it's practically a salad. For the full recipe check us out on Instagram @booksandbrunchcast - a drink so good you'll devour it olives and all.

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Layla "What you taco-ing about?"

Amber and Noelle — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 10:09:00 -0700

Amber and Noelle discuss Colleen Hoover's Layla on this week's episode. This novel blends romance and the paranormal - like The Poltergeist meets Before Sunrise. If you haven't finished the book yet, we'll give a spoiler warning near the halfway point of the episode. If you like what you hear, follow the Instagram page @booksandbrunchcast and join the coolest book club on the internet.

What's for brunch? This week Noelle crafted "Tacos a la Layla" - chicken tacos with homemade sriracha sauce and fresh cilantro. Tacos play a fairly important role in Hoover's Layla and it seemed only natural to partake in the titular character's favorite food. Find the full recipe on Instagram @booksandbrunchcast - it's hauntingly good.

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