In this cozy fall episode of Lit with Lara Ashley, Lara Ashley brings together two of the best parts of the season: spooky middle grade books and classic Halloween candy.

From magical pumpkin-filled adventures to eerie ghost stories, Lara curates six middle grade reads that capture the spirit of Halloween, pairing each one with a nostalgic candy that perfectly matches its vibe.

Featuring books like Small Spaces, City of Ghosts, Amari and the Night Brothers, and the classic Coraline (plus a special spotlight on the Pumpkin Princess series), this episode is all about rediscovering the magic of storytelling through a nostalgic, autumn lens.

Whether you’re building your October TBR, looking for something cozy and slightly spooky, or just want to feel like a kid again, this episode is your perfect fall companion.

Expect candy pairings like Reese’s pumpkins, KitKats, Sour Patch Kids, and more, all matched to the mood of each story.

Lara Ashley also invites listeners to join the fun by sharing their own Halloween candy + book pairings on Instagram (@litwithlarashleyyyyy), with a chance to be featured in a future episode.

Grab your favorite fall drink, settle in, and let’s get spooky and sweet.

This episode was lit.

This week on Lit with Lara Ashley, Lara dives into an early review of Fortune and Glass by John Mutter: a historical literary novel blending espionage, political unrest, and a layered love story set during the rise of Nazi Germany in the 1930s and 1940s.

In this episode, Lara discusses: 1. The emotional and political themes woven throughout the novel 2. Sarah and Rudi’s morally complex relationship 3. The atmospheric writing and historical tension 4. The challenge of the book’s fast-moving timeline jumps 5. And why the story feels surprisingly relevant today

Lara also shares two signature drinks inspired by the novel: The Quiet Repeat Berlin, Through Glass

Plus, this week’s Community Library features publisher spotlight picks and historical fiction recommendations perfect for readers who love stories about resistance, survival, and humanity during uncertain times.

Community Library Includes:

• All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
• The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
• Everyone Brave Is Forgiven by Chris Cleave
• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Thank you to Left Field Publishing for providing this ARC for review.

✨ Expected Release: September 2026

With lit pages and layered stories, Lara Ashley 💛📖

In this deeply reflective episode of Lit with Lara Ashley, Lara Ashley discusses one of the most intense and unforgettable books she’s read this year:

Tweak by Nic Sheff.

Recommended by her husband, this raw and unfiltered memoir pulled Lara into a world she had little personal exposure to growing up: drug addiction, relapse, survival, and the emotional destruction that comes with substance abuse.

After reading the book in less than 24 hours (and staying up until 1:30 am to finish it), Lara reflects on:

• The brutal honesty of Nic’s addiction journey
• The chaos of meth and heroin use
• Toxic relationships and relapse
• Trauma, shame, and self-destruction
• And the difficult process of rebuilding yourself from the inside out

Lara also compares the memoir to The Many Lives of Mama Love and shares why Tweak felt so much darker, more immediate, and emotionally unsettling.

This episode is ultimately about more than addiction. It’s about healing, self-worth, and learning that peace cannot come from other people; it has to begin within ourselves.

Community Library recommendations include:

• Beautiful Boy
• The Many Lives of Mama Love
• Quit Like a Woman

If you’ve ever read a book that completely changed or shocked you, Lara would love to hear from you.

Follow along on Instagram: @litwithlarashleyyyyy

This episode was lit. ✨

In this special, vibe-filled episode of Lit with Lara Ashley, Lara Ashley pairs books with music to create the ultimate reading experience, where every story has a soundtrack.

From soft, emotional longing to bold confidence and self-discovery, this episode explores how the right song can transform the way you connect with a book.

Featuring pairings like:

• “missin u” by Tori Kelly with Open Water
• “On My Mama” by Victoria Monét with Such a Fun Age
• “Shy” by Reneé Rapp with Giovanni’s Room
• “CUFF IT” by Beyoncé with Shut'em Down: Black Women, Racism and Corporate America
• “Because I Love You” by Halle with Honey & Spice

This episode is about more than recommendations; it’s about creating moments, setting moods, and experiencing stories in a deeper, more intentional way.

🎧 Listen along with the playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3BYZtErvZSbWJvpwyJceI7?si=gZ8jganSSuqEsTmW5bh03A

Lara Ashley also invites listeners to join the conversation by sharing their own book + song pairings on Instagram (@litwithlarashleyyyyy), which may be featured in a future episode.

If you’ve ever wanted your reading life to feel more immersive, more cinematic, and more you, then this episode is for you.

Grab your favorite drink, press play on the playlist, and let the vibe take over.

This episode was lit. ✨

In this August reset episode of Lit with Lara Ashley, Lara Ashley shares a curated list of self-help and personal growth books designed to help you get back into your routine, realign your mindset, and step into the version of yourself you’ve been envisioning.

From building confidence and discipline with You Are a Badass to gaining control of your finances with Rich AF, this episode explores practical ways books can support real-life transformation.

Lara also highlights Make Your Bed for structure and consistency, The Year of Dating Myself for reconnecting with yourself, and All the Cool Girls Get Fired for navigating career shifts and unexpected transitions.

This episode is about more than productivity; it’s about becoming intentional, building habits that support your life, and creating a routine that feels aligned with who you’re becoming.

Lara also invites listeners to be part of the Lit with Lara Ashley community by sharing their favorite self-help and reset reads on Instagram (@litwithlarashleyyyyy), which will be featured in an upcoming Community Library episode in September.

If you’re ready to reset, refocus, and step into your next chapter, this episode is for you.

Grab your favorite drink, settle in, and let’s get into it.

This episode was lit. ✨

In this summer-inspired episode of Lit with Lara Ashley, Lara Ashley shares a curated list of books that will transport you, whether you’re boarding a flight or just dreaming of your next getaway.

From the emotional, reflective journey of One Italian Summer to the fun, chemistry-filled energy of Just for the Summer, this episode explores stories that feel like travel, escape, and summer in book form.

Lara Ashley also shares why One Italian Summer resonates personally, reflecting on her own mother-daughter trips, including a special visit to Italy, and how books can connect us to memory, place, and emotion in unexpected ways.

Plus, she highlights immersive reads like Babel and shares exciting July releases on her radar, including Augusta Pine Does Not Exist and Free Girls.

To close, Lara Ashley builds out a Community Library of travel-inspired reads that capture romance, adventure, and self-discovery.

Whether you’re heading to the beach, traveling abroad, or staying close to home, this episode is your guide to reading your way through summer.

Grab your favorite drink, settle in, and let these stories take you somewhere new.

This episode was lit. ✨

In this deeply personal Juneteenth episode of Lit with Lara Ashley, Lara Ashley reflects on the meaning of Juneteenth through the lens of her great-grandmother’s life.

While Juneteenth marks the delayed announcement of freedom for enslaved Black Americans, this episode explores what freedom looked like in the generations that followed, and how systems of labor, control, and survival continued to shape everyday life.

Lara shares the story of her great-grandmother, who worked in a strawberry field under harsh conditions, earning little pay while living in an environment that reflected the complexities of post-emancipation life. Through this reflection, she connects history to lived experience, highlighting resilience, endurance, and the quiet strength of Black women.

This episode also weaves in Lara’Ashley's current writing journey, as she begins to tell a loosely inspired romance story rooted in her family’s legacy, honoring not just what her great-grandmother endured, but how she lived, loved, and built a life within those realities.

This conversation is about more than history. It’s about memory, legacy, and the stories we carry forward.

Grab your favorite drink, settle in, and sit with this moment of reflection.

This episode was lit. ✨

In this deeply personal episode of Lit with Lara Ashley, Lara Ashley steps into a new chapter; not just as a reader, but as a writer.

Inspired by the life and love story of her grandmother, Lara shares why she decided to begin writing a loosely based romance novel rooted in memory, legacy, and emotional truth. She reflects on the process of turning personal history into storytelling, the vulnerability that comes with it, and the desire to honor a story that deserves to be felt, not just remembered.

Lara also opens up about joining a writers’ group in Raleigh, North Carolina, what she hopes to learn from being in community with other writers, and the reality of starting something without having it all figured out.

This episode is about more than writing. It’s about healing, growth, and answering the quiet call to create.

If you’ve ever felt pulled to tell a story, this conversation is for you.

Grab your favorite drink, settle in, and join Lara as she shares the beginning of her writing journey.

This episode was lit. ✨