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Welcome to Season 5, Episode 21 of That Pretentious Book Club!

In this episode, Spoons and Wheezy deep-dive into listener recommendation North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. This Victorian romance is rife with more than just yearning (although make no mistake—the yearning is copious), and also features fascinating social commentary and confirmation that humans have always been humans. Featuring the first truly in-depth author bio the club has covered in a while, this slightly-longer-than-usual episode is bound to have you in fits, with the hosts doing their best to remind you why this podcast is shelved under "comedy" on your listening app of choice.

Skippers jump to 37:39

Now pour yourself a cup of tea, raise a pinky, and join the club for this discussion of North and South!

P.S. Wheezy may or may not have lost her editing notes for this episode—so if you catch a few extra “um”s, awkward pauses, or rogue throat clearings, just pretend it’s part of the authentic Victorian atmosphere.

Support the show

Find this episode's book and more by shopping at https://bookshop.org/shop/storysirensstudio to support the club AND local bookstores!

Visit us at storysirensstudio.com or find us on social media @thatpretentiousbookclub.

Check out sister podcast The Scripturient Society for writers and join our writing group on Facebook!


Find Space Aliens, Southerners, and Saving the World by Ash Leigh O'Rourke on Amazon.

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Welcome to Season 5, Episode 20 of That Pretentious Book Club!

In this episode Wheezy and Gino slip into the shadowy world of The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides—an unsettling psychological thriller and the second book by this author the club has covered this season! Fueled by a hilariously fitting cocktail, chaos quickly takes the reins as our hosts try to piece together the tangled threads of a story where silence speaks louder than words—and nothing is ever quite what it seems. Expect unexpected feline interference from Flora the Void Cat, scattered memories of mind-bending plot twists, and the creeping suspicion that someone—or something—isn’t telling the whole truth.

Skippers jump to 40:21

Now pour yourself a cup of tea, raise a pinky, and join the club for this discussion of The Silent Patient!

Support the show

Find this episode's book and more by shopping at https://bookshop.org/shop/storysirensstudio to support the club AND local bookstores!

Visit us at storysirensstudio.com or find us on social media @thatpretentiousbookclub.

Check out sister podcast The Scripturient Society for writers and join our writing group on Facebook!


Find Space Aliens, Southerners, and Saving the World by Ash Leigh O'Rourke on Amazon.

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In this special episode, Wheezy (aka Ash O'Rourke) is joined by guests Lacy Rising and Madison Hull to dive into the romantasy sensation that has taken the internet by storm – Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros!

Surprisingly on-topic (no skip notes needed this time!), this trio doesn't have to search hard for juicy details in this spicy, action-packed fantasy. Tune in as we break down the plot, characters, and all the moments that have made this story capable of capturing so many imaginations.

Grab a cup of tea, raise your pinky, and join the club for this chaotic yet thorough review of Fourth Wing.

And don't forget to follow Lacy Rising on Instagram @author_lacyrising for more literary goodness!

Support the show

Find this episode's book and more by shopping at https://bookshop.org/shop/storysirensstudio to support the club AND local bookstores!

Visit us at storysirensstudio.com or find us on social media @thatpretentiousbookclub.

Check out sister podcast The Scripturient Society for writers and join our writing group on Facebook!


Find Space Aliens, Southerners, and Saving the World by Ash Leigh O'Rourke on Amazon.

Send us a text

Welcome to Season 5, Episode 18 of That Pretentious Book Club!

This week, Spoons, Wheezy, and Gino are venturing into a world of treacherous fae, forbidden love, and a Cinderella story like you've never seen before. In Ash by Malinda Lo, we’re diving deep into a fable reimagined—a tale of grief, magic, romance, and a powerful journey of self-discovery.

Tune in as we give this enchanting novel a thorough review, complete with the full spectrum of pinkies-up ratings, ranging from “must-read” to “meh, not so much.”

Skippers jump to 29:42

Pour yourself a cup of tea, raise a pinky, and join the club for this discussion of Ash!

Support the show

Find this episode's book and more by shopping at https://bookshop.org/shop/storysirensstudio to support the club AND local bookstores!

Visit us at storysirensstudio.com or find us on social media @thatpretentiousbookclub.

Check out sister podcast The Scripturient Society for writers and join our writing group on Facebook!


Find Space Aliens, Southerners, and Saving the World by Ash Leigh O'Rourke on Amazon.

Send us a text

Welcome to Season 5 Episode 17 of That Pretentious Book Club!

In this episode Spoons, Wheezy, and Gino dive headfirst into the wildly popular academic folkloric fantasy, Emily Wilde's Encylopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett. Get ready for some serious fangirling over Wendell Bambleby—who somehow manages to be both a golden-haired prince AND a bad-boy dreamboat, and a main character who is nothing less than an inspiration to the hosts (and probably all women everywhere). From swooning to snarking, we can’t help but gush, laugh, and go off about this enchanting, hilarious, and occasionally curmudgeonly cast of characters. You won’t want to miss it!

Skippers jump to 21:10

Pour yourself a cup of tea (or hot chocolate), raise a pinky, and join the club for this discussion of Emily Wilde's Encylopaedia of Faeries!

P.S. Don't forget to sign up for the Spring 2025 Writing Retreat! https://storysirensstudio.com/retreats/spring2025

Support the show

Find this episode's book and more by shopping at https://bookshop.org/shop/storysirensstudio to support the club AND local bookstores!

Visit us at storysirensstudio.com or find us on social media @thatpretentiousbookclub.

Check out sister podcast The Scripturient Society for writers and join our writing group on Facebook!


Find Space Aliens, Southerners, and Saving the World by Ash Leigh O'Rourke on Amazon.

Send us a text

It's that time of year again! Are you ready to throw out the time codes and embrace the nonsense?

Welcome to Season 5 Episode 16 of That Pretentious Book Club and Episode 117 of The Scripturient Society -- also known as the 4th Annual Story Sirens Studio Christmas Party!

Join the hosts for a series of bookish games, deranged laughter, and friendship as all four hosts come together for the first time ever for this holiday extravaganza. This year you can look forward to (or possibly fear), a return of Lewis's custom madlibs and a shockingly dark Christmas chain story.

Keep your teacups full, pinkies high, and we'll see you on the next pretentious page! Did we do that right?

Support the show

Find this episode's book and more by shopping at https://bookshop.org/shop/storysirensstudio to support the club AND local bookstores!

Visit us at storysirensstudio.com or find us on social media @thatpretentiousbookclub.

Check out sister podcast The Scripturient Society for writers and join our writing group on Facebook!


Find Space Aliens, Southerners, and Saving the World by Ash Leigh O'Rourke on Amazon.

Send us a text

Welcome to Season 5 Episode 15 of That Pretentious Book Club!

In this episode Spoons and Wheezy discuss cozy regency romance Merry Little Match by independent author Celine Rachelle. Inspired by Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (an all-time and iconic pod-favorite) but taking place during Christmas, this story is positively bursting with holiday cheer and all the enemies-to-lovers vibes an Austen girlie could wish for.

Skippers jump to 37:23

Pour yourself a cup of tea (or wassail--however that's pronounced), raise a pinky, and join the club for this discussion of Merry Little Match!

Support the show

Find this episode's book and more by shopping at https://bookshop.org/shop/storysirensstudio to support the club AND local bookstores!

Visit us at storysirensstudio.com or find us on social media @thatpretentiousbookclub.

Check out sister podcast The Scripturient Society for writers and join our writing group on Facebook!


Find Space Aliens, Southerners, and Saving the World by Ash Leigh O'Rourke on Amazon.

Send us a text

Welcome to Season 5 Episode 14 of That Pretentious Book Club!

In this episode Gino and Wheezy discuss the absolutely gripping thriller The Fury by Alex Michaelides. This novel takes place on a private Greek island when an ex-movie star's spontaneous vacation is derailed by a shocking murder, told in a series of five acts by an unreliable narrator who--let's face it--we would all love to be friends with (at least for a little while). This story takes the locked-door-murder-mystery trope and turns it on its head for a high stakes, fast-paced, irresistible story rife with allusions to Greek mythology and reflections on the human condition.

Skippers jump to 28:00

Pour yourself a cup of tea (or a "perfect" martini), raise a pinky, and join the club for this discussion of The Fury!

Support the show

Find this episode's book and more by shopping at https://bookshop.org/shop/storysirensstudio to support the club AND local bookstores!

Visit us at storysirensstudio.com or find us on social media @thatpretentiousbookclub.

Check out sister podcast The Scripturient Society for writers and join our writing group on Facebook!


Find Space Aliens, Southerners, and Saving the World by Ash Leigh O'Rourke on Amazon.