Today I am chatting with my friend and author Victoria Koops about The Lies We Conjure by Sarah Henning. If you love magic, witches, The Inheritance Games, murder mysteries, and treasure hunts, this book is perfect for you!

Take a listen as Victoria and I take a deep dive into all things magical and witchy! We chat about the characters, plot, witches, magic, scavenger hunts, murder, how our personalities relate to the lead characters, Renaissance festivals, and so much more! We had so much fun chatting about this fantastic book and I know you'll enjoy listening.

A little about The Lies We Conjure:

Ruby and her sister, Wren, are normal, middle-class Colorado high school students working a summer job at the local Renaissance Fest to supplement their meager college savings.

So when an eccentric old lady asks them to impersonate her long-absent grandchildren at a fancy dinner party at the jaw-dropping rate of two grand―each―for a single night… Wren insists it’s a no-brainer. Make some cash, have some fun, do a good deed.

But less than an hour into the evening at the mysterious Hegemony Manor, Ruby is sure she must have lost her mind to have agreed to this.

The hostess is dead, the gates are locked, and a magical curse ensures no one can leave until they solve both her murder and the riddles she left behind―in just three days. Because everyone else at this party is a powerful witch. And if the witches realize Ruby and Wren are imposters? The sisters won’t make it out of Hegemony Manor alive.

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Purchase her book HERE or HERE.

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Today I am chatting with NY Times Bestselling author Jason June! We are going to be chatting about his brand new holiday rom com, Flopping in a Winter Wonderland.

Flopping in a Winter Wonderland is a deliciously fun YA Queer romance set during the Christmas season. It is reminiscent of all your favorite Hallmark Christmas movies, is full of all kinds of holiday antics, boasts a wonderful setting, and will give you all the feels!

Join Jason June and me as we chat about his writing, Jason June's love for Christmas, his inspiration for Flopping in a Winter Wonderland, what it means to be a hopeless romantic, the fantastic characters in this book, the storyline, and so much more!

A little about Flopping in a Winter Wonderland:

All Aaron wants for Christmas is for his brother, Casey, to get over his ex, Raquel. He’d prefer not to be at Winter Wonderland, the island north of Alaska that’s home to a year-round Christmas theme park. But Casey loves Christmas, so here they are. Unfortunately for Aaron, Casey’s determined to do anything to win Raquel back.

All Kris wants for Christmas is for his uncle to move back to Winter Wonderland to be the first gay Santa. To make that happen Kris needs to win the Race, his grade’s annual competition to see who can get a guest to fall in love with them first. Winning means a trip to New York, where Kris would be able to plead his uncle’s case to the founder of Winter Wonderland himself.

After some slippery ice sends Aaron and Kris literally flopping into each other, Kris agrees to help Aaron with his plan to keep Casey single. But in all their scheming, both can’t stop thinking about kissing the other, and it’s not just because of the mistletoe around every corner. Too bad true love isn’t on either of their Christmas lists. . . .

I'd like to say a special thank you to Jason June for coming on the podcast and chatting with me today! And a special thank you to Martha Kiley for setting up the interview.

Check out Jason June's website
Follow Jason June on Instagram, and X.com
Purchase Flopping in a Winter Wonderland

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Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com

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Today I am chatting with my friend Rebecca about YA magical realism novel, The Stones of Burren Bay, by Emily De Angelis.

Take a listen as Rebecca and I chat about the plot, characters, Irish/Celtic spiritualism, Native American culture and spiritualism, grief/grieving, and more!

The first fifteen minutes are spoiler free!

A little about The Stones of Burren Bay:

In a tragic car accident, 15-year-old Norie loses her deadbeat father while her distant mother is injured. Her prized possession, an antique artist’s box that traveled from Ireland with her great-great-grandmother, is destroyed along with her deep connection to her art.
As Norie grapples with her self-identity, obscured by grief and anger, she and her physically and emotionally fragile mother are forced to relocate. With no other relatives to rely on, they call on the kindness of her mother’s oldest friend Dahlia and her daughter Wil, who run the Jolly Pot Tearoom and Burren Bay Lighthouse Museum on Manitoulin Island.
Dahlia introduces Norie to ancient Irish Celtic spiritualism and opens the thin veil between the past and present where Norie encounters the echo of a century’s old spirit, Oonagh. Through Oonagh’s own story Norie comes to terms with her father’s betrayal and death and rediscovers her passion for art. As her mother’s emotional wounds reach a crisis, Norie realizes they must face their guilt and grief together in order to heal and become reunited as mother and daughter.

Send us a text

Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com

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Today I am chatting with YA Heist Thriller author Kavion Lewis! Kavion previously joined me to chat about her debut novel, Thieves' Gambit, and today we are chatting about the second book in that duology, Heist Royale.

Take a listen as Kavion and I chat all about the book, it's characters, the research necessary to write these amazing heists, how her characters have grown since book one, the fact that Thieves' Gambit is getting made into a movie (!!), how Kavion's brother played a small part in this book, and so much more!

This is a super fun episode you won't want to miss! The entire episode is spoiler free!

A little about Heist Royale:

It's been six months since the end of the Gambit. Instead of winning an impossible wish, Ross has the threat of her family’s execution hanging over her head. Devroe, the only person Ross thought she could trust, could wish the Quests into oblivion at any time. Shockingly, despite his betrayal, Devroe is still making a play for Ross’s heart as the two work together pulling jobs for the Organization. But Ross has learned her lesson: A Quest can only trust another Quest.

When Ross finds herself at the center of a power struggle within the Organization, she sees her chance to change her fortunes. As a new deadly Gambit develops for control of the criminal underworld, Ross strikes a risky deal to guarantee protection for herself and her family.

In this final clash, Ross will square off against a ruthless opponent who will stop at nothing to seize power, and in their corner will be not only Devroe but his mother, who wants to destroy the Quests at any cost.

The new Gambit takes Ross and her crew into the intoxicating casinos of Monte Carlo and across treacherous snow-covered slopes in Antarctica as Ross competes against Devroe in a fight for her life. Loyalties will be tested, backs stabbed, hearts broken. May the best thief win.

A special thank you to Kavion Lewis for coming on the podcast today. And a special thank you to Audrey French at TvS Media Group for setting up the interview.

Check out Kavion's website
Follow Kavion on Instagram
Purchase Thieves Gambit & Heist Royale

Send us a text

Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com

Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!

Today I am chatting with New York Times Bestselling author Ellen Hopkins about her new Young Adult novel, Sync.

Written in verse, Sync is the story of twins Storm and Lake as they are shuffled through the foster care system and kept apart from each other.

In this episode Ellen and I chat about her writing style, what it's been like being the author of multiple banned books, the foster care system, the plot of Sync, her characters, and more.

The entire episode is spoiler free!

A little about Sync:
Seventeen-year-old twins Storm and Lake have always been in perfect sync. They faced the worst a parent could do and survived it together. In the wake of their mother’s rejection, they’ve spent the last five years moving from foster home to foster home—sometimes placed together, sometimes apart.

After being separated from his sister once again, Storm is devastated. He’s the older brother and promised to always take care of Lake. But after a stint in juvie, his newest placement has him feeling almost hopeful. His foster dad is kind, and his girlfriend, Jaidyn, is the first person other than Lake he feels he can trust. But when Jaidyn is sexually assaulted by a violent ex, it pushes Storm over the edge. He retaliates and lands back in lockup—and he fears this time it will be for good. He wishes he could talk to Lake, but he doesn’t know where she is, and he' s now feeling more alone and out of sync than ever before.

Lake, like Storm, has found her own happiness in a relationship with someone new—her fellow foster, Parker. Life with Parker is never boring, but Parker has her own scars. She can be withdrawn and unpredictable, and that can be dangerous, especially after Parker convinces Lake to run away from their Bible-thumping fosters after they are caught in a compromising position. With no money, shelter, or ID, they’re living on the streets. Lake thinks of Storm and his promise to take care of her, and wonders where he could be now.

Told in dual perspectives through unsent letters, at turns heartbreaking and always honest, this latest novel in verse from #1 New York Times bestselling author Ellen Hopkins is a searing and unforgettable account of two teens caught in the teeth of the foster care system, fighting their way out and back to each other.


A special thank you to Ellen Hopkins for coming on the podcast and chatting with me today. And a special thank you to Jenna Smith at Penguin Young Readers for setting up the interview.

Check out Ellen's website
Follow Ellen on social media: Instagram, Twitter/X

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Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com

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Today I am chatting with award winning author, and fellow Princess Bride lover, Sarah Henning!

Sarah is no stranger to YA Book Chat, as she has been here previously to discuss her Kingdoms of Sand and Sky series (The Princess Will Save You, The Queen Will Betray You, The King Will Kill You), and I have previously reviewed her book Sea Witch.

Take a listen as Sarah and I chat all about her brand new YA standalone supernatural thriller, The Lies We Conjure. Hear about Sarah's writing process for this book, her magic system, what it was like to combine a murder mystery with magic, the fantastic characters and plot line, Sarah and my favorite Renaissance Festival foods (yes, it's applicable!), slow burn romance, and so much more!

The entire episode is spoiler free!

A little about The Lies We Conjure:

Thirteen witches, a locked-room murder, and two non-magical sisters trapped in a deadly game of Clue.

Ruby and her sister Wren are normal, middle-class Colorado high school students working a summer job at the local Renaissance Fest to supplement their meager college savings.

So when an eccentric old lady asks them to impersonate her long-absent grandchildren at a fancy dinner party at the jaw-dropping rate of two grand—each—for a single night…Wren insists it’s a no-brainer. Make some cash, have some fun, do a good deed.

But less than an hour into the evening at the mysterious Hegemony Manor, Ruby is sure she must have lost her mind to have agreed to this.

The hostess is dead, the gates are locked, and a magical curse ensures no one can leave until they solve both her murder and the riddles she left behind—in just three days. Because everyone else at this party is a powerful witch. And if the witches realize Ruby and Wren are imposters? The sisters won’t make it out of Hegemony Manor alive.

Special thanks to Sarah Henning for coming on the podcast and chatting with me today! And special thanks to Giselle Gonzalez at Tor Teen for setting up the interview!

Check out Sarah's website
Follow Sarah on social media: Instagram, Twittter/X
Purchase The Lies We Conjure

Send us a text

Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com

Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!

Today I am chatting with author Nancy McCabe about her debut YA novel, Vaulting Through Time, a story that follows a teen gymnast as she travels through time to learn about her family and discover who she is.

Take a listen as Nancy and I chat about her writing style, what it's like being a gymnastics mom, the rules of time travel (we need Marty McFly!), the research that needs to be done for a book that spans multiple decades, adoption, character development, the Olympics, this creative story, and more!

The entire episode is spoiler free!

A little about Vaulting Through Time:

Sixteen-year-old gymnast Elizabeth Arlington doesn't care that her mother is older than the other girls' moms or that she doesn't look anything like her parents. She has too much other stuff to worry about: an embarrassing crush on her ex-best-friend Zach, and changes in her body that affect her center of gravity and make vaulting and tumbling more terrifying than they used to be. But when she makes a discovery that throws her entire identity into question, she turns to Zach, who suggests a way for her to find the answers her mother won't give her: a time machine they found in an abandoned house.

As Elizabeth catapults through time, she encounters a mysterious abandoned child, an elite gymnast preparing for Olympic Trials, and an enigmatic woman who seems to know more than she's revealing. Then when a thief makes off with an identical time machine, Elizabeth finds herself on a race to stop the thief before the world as she knows it—and her own future—are destroyed.

A special thank you to Nancy McCabe for coming on the podcast and chatting with me. And a special thank you to Simone Jung at Books Forward PR for setting up the interview.

Check out Nancy's website.
Purchase Vaulting Through Time.

Send us a text

Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com

Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!

Today I am chatting with young adult author Rachel A. Greco!

Rachel is no stranger to the podcast, as she has been on previously to discuss her first book, The Gift of Dragons. Today we are chatting about its sequel, The Hope of Dragons.

Take a listen as Rachel and I chat all about her writing process, the complicated characters and their character arcs, world building, creating dragons who have fun personalities, finding hope in the darkness, and more!

Please note: While most of this episode is spoiler free, there is one question where we discuss spoilers from The Gift of Dragons. But you will hear a warning before that happens.

A little about The Hope of Dragons:
In the aftermath of Adelaide's failed attempt to save her people and her beloved man-dragon, Klinhun is left vulnerable and on the brink of war with the neighboring country of Gyndilad. Determined to ensure her people's survival and secure lasting peace, Adelaide embarks on a perilous quest alongside her loyal hawk, Cyr, in search of the legendary dragons.

However, the dragons prove to be less cooperative than Adelaide anticipated, placing the fate of Klinhun squarely on her shoulders. With the help of a small group of dragons, Adelaide, Cyr, and their newfound allies must confront the Gyndilians and protect their homeland. Yet, the weight of this responsibility threatens to overwhelm Adelaide, especially as she grapples with her own deadly dragon abilities.

As Adelaide navigates the treacherous landscape of Gyndilad, she discovers a web of secrets that jeopardize everything she holds dear, including her closest friend, Gunter. Trapped amidst his enemies, Gunter must find a way back home while struggling to preserve his identity. Will he reunite with his loved ones, or will he lose himself in the clutches of the enemy?

In the fiery sequel to The Gift of Dragons, Adelaide faces not only the formidable Gyndilians but also her own nagging doubts that threaten to consume her. To save the ones she cherishes, she must conquer her inner turmoil and confront the challenges that lie ahead once and for all.

Check out Rachel's website
Follow Rachel on social media: Instagram, Facebook
Purchase Rachel's books

A special thank you to Rachel A. Greco for coming on the podcast and chatting with me today!

Send us a text

Have a question about today's book or author? Have a book you want me to review on the podcast? Just want to say hi? Send me an email at yabookchat@gmail.com

Don't forget to give the podcast a 5 star rating, and leave a review! Thank you for your support!