Are these popular booktok books overhyped... or actually worth it? Let's find out!

Books Discussed:

The Love Hypothesis - Ali Hazelwood

The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller

Shatter Me - Tahereh Mafi

Normal People - Sally Rooney

People We Meet on Vacation - Emily Henry

The God of the Woods - Liz Moore

The Inheritance Games - Jennifer Lynn Barnes

The Secret History - Donna Tartt

The Perfect Son - Freida McFadden

House of Flame and Shadow - Sarah J Maas

Iron Gold - Pierce Brown

Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod

Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Jaime's socials:

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Instagram: @jaimefok

Tiktok: @jaime.fok

Freya's socials:

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Instagram: @freyv_reads

Tiktok: @freyvalerio

(00:00) intro & current reads

(08:52) taylor swift's audiobook

(11:48) the love hypothesis

(16:33) the song of achilles

(21:34) shatter me

(25:50) normal people

(31:16) olympics sidebar

(33:26) people we meet on vacation

(40:59) the god of the woods

(46:29) the inheritance games

(51:13) the secret history

Let's wrap up our December reading month & talk about our 2026 reading goals!

Books Discussed:

The Strength of the Few - James Islington

House of Flame and Shadow - Sarah J Maas

A Day of Fallen Night - Samantha Shannon

The Fellowship of the Ring (Lord of the Rings) - JRR Tolkein

The Bright Years - Sarah Damoff

Iron Gold - Pierce Brown

The Stormlight Archive - Brandon Sanderson

Oathbringer - Brandon Sanderson

A Sea of Unspoken Things - Adrienne Young

The Unmaking of June Farrow - Adrienne Young

A Sky Beyond the Storm - Sabaa Tahir

Broken Country - Clare Leslie Hall

Fallen City - Adrienne Young

The Ex-Wives Club - Sally Hepworth

The Poet Empress - Shen Tao

The Elsewhere Express - Samantha Shannon Yambao

People We Meet on Vacation - Emily Henry

The Housemaid - Frieda McFadden

Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod

Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Jaime's socials:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: @jaimefok

Tiktok: @jaime.fok

Freya's socials:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: @freyv_reads

Tiktok: @freyvalerio

(00:00) intro & current reads

(12:36) december recap

(30:06) 2026 reading goals

(53:47) january news

2025 wrapped! Let's talk about the best and worst books we read this year, going month to month. THANK YOU for listening this year, and can't wait for more episodes to come in 2026!

Books Discussed:

The Strength of the Few - James Islington

Oathbringer - Brandon Sanderson

Red Rising - Pierce Brown

The Favourites - Layne Fargo

Love in the Time of Serial Killers - Alicia Thompson

Blood Over Bright Haven - ML Wang

Pumpkin Spice Cafe - Laurie Gilmore

Sunrise on the Reaping - Suzanne Collins

Deep End - Ali Hazelwood

Wild Reverence - Rebecca Ross

Immortal Dark - Tigest Girma

Us Against You - Fredrik Backman

Firefly Lane - Kristin Hannah

Atmosphere - Taylor Jenkins Reid

The Summer We Ran - Audrey Ingram

Jade War - Fonda Lee

We'll Always Have Summer - Jenny Han

Jade Legacy - Fonda Lee

Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales - Heather Fawcett

Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir

Metal Slinger - Rachel Schneider

Words of Radiance - Brandon Sanderson

Mate - Ali Hazelwood

Red City - Marie Lu

The Poet Empress - Shen Tao

Morning Star - Pierce Brown

Heartstopper - Alice Oseman

Hero of Ages - Brandon Sanderson

His and Hers - Alice Feeney

The Blood Traitor - Lynette Noni

All I Ever Wanted Was to be Hot - Lucinda Price

Reckless - Lauren Roberts

Holding the Reins - Paisley Hope

A Familiar Stranger - AR Torre

A Torch Against the Night - Sabaa Tahir

Save Me - Mona Kasten

The Raven Scholar - Antonia Hodgson

Our Infinite Fates - Laura Steven

The Way of Kings - Brandon Sanderson

Wild Side - Elsie Silver

Kingdom of Copper - SA Chakraborty

Regretting You - Colleen Hoover

The Will of the Many - James Islington

People Watching - Hannah Bonam Young

The Defender - Ana Huang

The Cursed Melodies - Connie Glynn

Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod

Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Jaime's socials:

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Instagram: @jaimefok

Tiktok: @jaime.fok

Freya's socials:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: @freyv_reads

Tiktok: @freyvalerio

(00:00) intro & current reads

(15:22) year in review

(27:42) january

(36:28) february

(45:35) march

(48:16) april

(52:55) may

(56:55) june

(01:00:58) july

(01:07:53) august

(01:12:29) september

(01:15:02) october

(01:20:01) november

(01:23:48) final thoughts & happy holidays!

Let's go over the Goodreads Choice Awards nominees and winners of 2025! Why is the romantasy category so confusing...?

Books Discussed:

Just Friends - Haley Pham

Of Flame and Fury - Mikayla Bridge

The Princess Knight - Cait Jacobs

The Ballad of Falling Dragons - Sarah A Parker

When the Moon Hatched - Sarah A Parker

Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod

Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Jaime's socials:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: @jaimefok

Tiktok: @jaime.fok

Freya's socials:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: @freyv_reads

Tiktok: @freyvalerio

(00:00) intro & current reads

(09:27) wicked: for good debrief

(16:12) the ballad of falling dragons announcement

(19:15) fiction

(27:18) historical fiction

(31:04) mystery thriller

(34:40) romance

(39:20) romantasy

(47:14) fantasy

(54:29) sci-fi

(56:18) horror

(57:35) debut

(58:51) audiobooks

(59:12) YA fantasy

(01:03:27) YA fiction

(01:05:08) nonfiction

(01:09:17) final thoughts

Time to talk about the BEST reads of 2025! In this episode, we go over YOUR top 10 books that you read this year. Thank you everyone for submitting your favs, hope you enjoy!

Books Discussed:

We Three Heroes - Lynette Noni

We Were Liars - E Lockhart

Atmosphere - Taylor Jenkins Reid

Sunrise on the Reaping - Suzanne Collins

Blood Over Bright Haven - ML Wang

Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir

The Will of the Many - James Islington

The Strength of the Few - James Islington

Onyx Storm - Rebecca Yarros

The Knight and the Moth - Rachel Gillig

Once Upon a Broken Heart - Stephanie Garber

The Poppy War - RF Kuang

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue - VE Schwab

Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod

Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Jaime's socials:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: @jaimefok

Tiktok: @jaime.fok

Freya's socials:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: @freyv_reads

Tiktok: @freyvalerio

(00:00) intro & current reads

(02:55) the will of the many movie adaptation

(06:27) sunrise on the reaping trailer

(09:58) current reads

(15:06) rental family

(18:10) top 10 books!

(18:40) 10th place

(23:03) 9th place

(24:44) 8th place

(27:23) 7th place

(33:14) 6th place

(36:36) 5th place

(40:11) 4th place

(46:31) 3rd place

(50:59) 2nd place

(56:45) 1st place

Let's talk about the hard truth of publishing with Sarah Mughal Rana, author of debut fantasy Dawn of the Firebird. From her experience with writing an immersive and unique fantasy story in an age of romantasy, to her experience with defamation & review bombing, to social media marketing - join us in this fun chat with our first ever guest!

Books Discussed:

Dawn of the Firebird - Sarah Mughal Rana

Edgedancer - Brandon Sanderson

Words of Radiance - Brandon Sanderson

The Defender - Ana Huang

Stories of Your Life and Others - Ted Chiang

Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod

Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Jaime's socials:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: @jaimefok

Tiktok: @jaime.fok

Freya's socials:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: @freyv_reads

Tiktok: @freyvalerio

(00:00) intro & current reads

(08:25) welcome sarah mughal rana!

(10:39) sarah's current read

(13:45) life while publishing a book

(16:48) social media marketing & PR

(17:31) what is dawn of the firebird about?

(19:39) the journey of writing a book

(23:56) building a rich world filled with culture & FOOD

(26:12) love to australian readers

(26:51) high fantasy in a world of romantasy

(29:13) a strong, flawed female protagonist

(33:22) crafting the perfect fight scene

(38:37) making readers cry

(39:38) review bombing & defamation while publishing

(52:04) rapid fire this or that

(54:12) what can we look forward to in the sequel?

Let's talk about some bookish habits and trends that we just want to leave behind in 2025... and forget about as we move into 2026!

Books Discussed:

Words of Radiance - Brandon Sanderson

The Vanishing Half - Brit Bennett

Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod

Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Jaime's socials:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: @jaimefok

Tiktok: @jaime.fok

Freya's socials:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: @freyv_reads

Tiktok: @freyvalerio

(00:00) intro & current reads

(07:27) not letting goodreads ratings determine what to read

(10:45) getting book recs from hype only

(13:53) continuing series I don't like

(18:50) picking up series in the wrong order

(22:20) stop taking breaks in between series

(27:00) reading comments on viral videos

(34:52) reading books I think I should vs what I actually crave

(38:30) letting reviews influence my rating after I've read the book

(42:49) stressful 24 hour readathons

(46:10) putting off reading an intimidating book

(49:50) feeling guilty about buying books

(57:08) sticking to familiar authors only

Let's talk about some of those hidden gem books that we all forgot about... but we would still highly recommend!

APOLOGIES for some of the audio quality in this episode, we had some technical difficulties this week 😭 Hope you're still able to enjoy this one!

Books Discussed:

Violet Thistlewaite is Not a Villain Anymore - Emily Krempholtz

Warbreaker - Brandon Sanderson

Six of Crows - Leigh Bardugo

Pachinko - Min Jin Lee

Sabriel - Garth Nix

Five Feet Apart - Rachael Lippincott

The Name of the Wind - Patrick Rothfuss

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow - Gabrielle Zevin

Red, White and Royal Blue - Casey McQuiston

Lessons in Chemistry - Bonnie Garmus

Renegades - Marissa Meyer

Carrie Soto is Back - Taylor Jenkins Reid

Northern Lights - Phillip Pullman

Follow us on Instagram: @onceuponatimezonepod

Watch our video podcasts on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponaTimeZonePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Jaime's socials:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@jaimefok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: @jaimefok

Tiktok: @jaime.fok

Freya's socials:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@freyvalerio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: @freyv_reads

Tiktok: @freyvalerio

(00:00) intro & current reads

(08:07) six of crows re-edits?

(12:09) sabriel

(14:48) pachinko

(18:33) the name of the wind

(24:48) five feet apart

(28:52) red, white & royal blue

(32:13) tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow

(36:48) renegades

(38:51) on the topic of palate cleansers

(41:25) lessons in chemistry

(44:24) northern lights

(47:48) carrie soto is back