This week we’re diving into A Court of Frost and Starlight—the ACOTAR book that often gets brushed off as “just a novella,” but actually does a lot of quiet, important work.

We break down the key moments, character beats, and subtle setup happening beneath the cozy, holiday-themed surface. From healing and grief to relationships shifting and future conflicts brewing, this book is less about action and more about what happens after the war.

In this episode, we talk about:

❄️ Why ACOFAS is a necessary pause in the series

❄️ Feyre, Rhys, and the emotional aftermath of war

❄️ Nesta, Elain, and the cracks starting to show

❄️ Small details that feel insignificant now—but won’t be later

❄️ Theories about what ACOFAS is quietly setting up for the rest of the Maasverse

If you’ve ever felt unsure about where A Court of Frost and Starlight fits into the series, this episode is for you.

📩 Contact us: ACourtofCortisolandChaos@gmail.com

💫 Thanks for spiraling with us—now get back to your TBR!

We’re back with Part 2 of our Brimstone series, and this time we’re getting a little more chaotic.

We kick things off with a quick chat about whether we prefer audiobooks or physical books, then dive deeper into the plot of Brimstone and start spiraling into theories.

Important context: Amy is the only one who has finished the book, so we’re balancing spoiler-aware reactions with full-blown unhinged predictions.

In this episode we cover:

🎧 Audiobooks vs. physical reading debates

🖤 Deeper plot breakdowns of Brimstone by Callie Hart

🧠 Theories, foreshadowing, and chaotic predictions

👀 The tension of having one fully-informed reader in the group

Join us as we spiral just a little further inside this story.

📩 Contact us: ACourtofCortisolandChaos@gmail.com

📚 Join our Fable book club:

https://fable.co/club/read-yap-with-acocac-with-acourtofcortisolchaospodcast-514859046979

💫 Thanks for spiraling with us—now get back to your TBR!

Welcome to our Friendsgiving Special!

With so many new listeners joining the chaos, we wanted to slow down, cozy up, and let you in on our story—how we met, how this podcast came to be, and why this little corner of bookish chaos means so much to us.

In this episode we share:

• How four SJM-obsessed girls became friends
• The chaotic birth of A Court of Cortisol and Chaos
• Our unhinged early conversations that should have warned us we’d end up here
• Why we’re genuinely so grateful—for each other, and for YOU
• A sprinkle of theories and inevitable SJM spiraling (because of course)

✨ Plus shoutouts to some incredible bookish creators you should absolutely be following

This one is warm, messy, heartfelt, and full of the friendship energy that started it all.

📩 Contact us: ACourtofCortisolandChaos@gmail.com

💫 Thanks for spiraling with us—now get back to your TBR!

Emily (@emily.reads.alot) is BACK, and in honor of Kaine Ferron, we’re kicking off today’s episode by sharing our favorite non-typical book boyfriends—the quietly dangerous, morally questionable, emotionally complex men who live rent-free in our brains.

Then we shift into the heart of the episode: diving deep into the plot and themes of Alchemised by SenLinYu.

This week, we explore:

✨ Healthcare burnout and the emotional cost of caretaking

✨ Generational trauma and how it shapes identity

✨ Mental health representation—especially when healing isn’t linear

✨ The invisible labor of women and the weight they carry without recognition

Books mentioned:

📚 Tongue So Sweet and Deadly by Sophia St. Germain (Compelling Fates Saga)

📚 Alchemised by SenLinYu

This is a grounded, heartfelt conversation about the emotional architecture of Alchemised and why its themes resonate so deeply with readers navigating the complexities of real life.

📩 Contact us: ACourtofCortisolandChaos@gmail.co

💫 Thanks for spiraling with us—now get back to your TBR!

It’s officially cozy season! For the first week of November, we’re kicking off the holidays SJM-style with a game of “What Would We Gift These Characters?” From Rhysand to Aelin (and maybe even Tamlin 👀), we’re getting creative with holiday presents for our favorite fantasy icons.

Then we shift from fictional shopping lists to real-life holiday book recommendations—for both adults and kids. Whether you’re gift shopping or just want to curl up with something festive, we’ve got you covered.

Your favorite SJM-obsessed hosts talk through:

✨ The most unhinged (and perfect) SJM character gifts

✨ Holiday book recs for cozy adult reads & magical kid picks

✨ What’s on our bookish wish lists this season

✨ A healthy dose of chaos, warmth, and holiday spirit

📚 Weekly bookish chaos, fandom spirals, and cozy seasonal vibes.

👑 Subscribe & join the chaos—it’s giving fae Christmas morning.

📩 Contact us: ACourtofCortisolandChaos@gmail.com

Thanks for spiraling with us, now get back to your TBR!

📚 Books Mentioned:

Alaskan Holiday- Debbie Macomber

Starry Night- Debbie Macomber

Royal Holiday- Jasmine Guillory

The Christmas Tree Farm- Laurie Gilmore

Eight dates and Nights- Betsy Aldredge

Bullets and Mistletoe- CJ Lucci

The Matzah Ball- Jean Meltzer

Frostfully Yours- Breanne Bergie

Three Holidays and a Wedding- Uzma Jalaluddin and Marissa Stapley

Five More Sleeps Till Christmas- Jimmy Fallon

Merry Christmas You Filthy Animal- Meghan Quinn

Holiday Ever After- Hannah Grace

Good Spirits- BK Borison

Sugar and Sin- Nova B Quinn

Mistletoe Missus- Breanne Bergie

The Very Hungry Caterpillar's, Peekaboo Christmas

How My Neighbor Stole Christmas- Meghan Quinn

You’re My Little Pumpkin Pie- Natalie Marshall

You’re My Little Christmas Cookie- Natalie Marshall

There Was a Cold Lady Who Swallowed Some Snow- Lucille Colandro

Poke a Dot the Night Before Christmas

Our Table- Peter H Reynolds

Wreck the Halls- Tessa Bailey

Little Blue Truck’s Christmas- Alice Schertle

A Court of Frost and Starlight- Sarah J Maas

Harry Potter- JK Rowling

The Snowy Day- Ezra Jack Keats

Santa Bruce- Ryan T Higgins

The Polar Express- Chris Van Allsburg

Ten Ways to Hear Snow- Cathy Camper