Savor the Story

2025 Mid-Year Reading Check-in

It’s time for Nicole and Vanessa’s 2025 Mid-Year Check-in!!
This episode, they are reflecting on their reading goals so far, checking in on how the challenges they laid out for themselves are going, and sharing some standout favorites from the first half of the year. They also tease some books they will be reviewing in some upcoming episodes.
How is YOUR reading goal going so far? Let them know!
Thanks for listening!!
 
You can watch us on YouTube! @SavortheStoryPod
Follow us on Instagram @savorthestorypod
Email us from our website at savorthestorypod.com
 
Interested in Kindle Unlimited? Sign up here:  https://amzn.to/4jM1qL9
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(As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you!)
 
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro and Updates
12:39 Bookish Community Drama
17:35 BookTok Deep Thoughts
24:06 Mid-Year Goals and Reflections
36:27 Challenge Check in
01:01:50 Five Star Discussion
01:04:33 Snack and Closeout
01:06:52 Blooper featuring Tim

Bonus Bite #9 | The Unbound Witch (Unmarked #2)

This month, Vanessa and Nicole returned to the world of the Unmarked series with The Unbound Witch. Listen to learn what theories they had throughout the book (and hint- just about none of them happen!) and find out their final thoughts of this duology’s conclusion. Plus… they reveal which book they’ve chosen for the next Bonus Bites series! Grab a snack, settle in, and don’t forget to reach out and let them know how YOU felt about this series.
Thanks for listening!!
 
You can watch us on YouTube! @SavortheStoryPod
Follow us on Instagram @savorthestorypod
Email us from our website at savorthestorypod.com
 
Want to grab this book? Use our link to pick it up! https://amzn.to/3Gn4e2Q  (As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you!)
Interested in Kindle Unlimited? Sign up here: https://amzn.to/3XFggds
 
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction of The Unbound Witch by Miranda Lyn
01:36 Series Giveaway Teaser
02:14 Chapters 1-13
35:11 Chapters 14-32
01:08:51 Chapters 33-48
01:28:53 Chapters 49-65
01:50:29 Final Thoughts, Ratings, and Next Months Bonus Bite Book!

E46 Caught Dead

Welcome to E46 where there’s still some unease about the new intro… what do you think?! Meanwhile, chaotic snack talk might be becoming their signature? This week, Nicole and Vanessa each review one book and dive into their buddy read—Caught Up by Navessa Allen. Plus, they reveal their surprising lists of auto-buy authors. Who’s on your list? Thanks for listening!!
 
You can watch us on YouTube! @SavortheStoryPod
Follow us on Instagram @savorthestorypod
Email us from our website at savorthestorypod.com
 
Want to grab any of the books we read this week? Use our link to pick it up! (As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you!)
Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead by Elle Cosimano: https://amzn.to/43RgTnV 
Caught Up by Navessa Allen: https://amzn.to/4lcIm9h 
You, With A View by Jessica Joyce: https://amzn.to/4eeZTeK 
 
Interested in Kindle Unlimited? Sign up here:  https://amzn.to/4jM1qL9
Interested in Audible? Sign up here: https://amzn.to/3YCIs17
 
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro and Random Updates
04:29 Book News: Shadowhunter Series Updates
14:47 Snacks!!
20:44 Nicole's News
22:44 You, With A View by Jessica Joyce
32:56 Caught Up by Navessa Allen
48:56 Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead by Elle Cosimano
54:44 Discussion: Auto-Buy Authors

E45 Donovan's Demise

Welcome to E45 Donovan’s Demise!
Nicole and Vanessa are testing out a new intro style this week… and honestly, who knows how long it sticks. They appreciate you coming along as they evolve and learn. But through the changes, two things remain the same: BOOKS & SNACKS! This week brings a chaotic snack discussion, a dive in AI in the writing world, a discission on how cliffhangers can ruin your life, and Vanessa starts reviewing a fun series!
Thanks for listening!!
 
You can watch us on YouTube! @SavortheStoryPod
Follow us on Instagram @savorthestorypod
Email us from our website at savorthestorypod.com
 
Want to grab any of the books we read this week? Use our link to pick it up! (As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you!)
Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano: https://amzn.to/4kM8ZC8
His Mortal Demise by Vanessa Le: https://amzn.to/4kPtq1e
 
Interested in Kindle Unlimited? Sign up here:  https://amzn.to/4jM1qL9
Interested in Audible? Sign up here: https://amzn.to/3YCIs17
 
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction and New Beginnings
06:33 Book News!!
13:55 All the Snacks!
21:30 Mr. Chatty's Corner
28:36 The Last Bloodcarver and His Mortal Demise by Vanessa Le
40:54 Vanessa's Week of Reading
42:18 Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano
50:34 Discussion: Cliffhangers

E44 Yours Truly, Hettie

Welcome to Episode 44!This week’s episode is brought to you by forgotten words, technical difficulties, and a whole lot of “wait, what were we saying?” Nicole and Vanessa are barely hanging on…  but the books were still discussed (eventually), and the laughs were very real. They forgot to do a discussion question. They forgot how to speak and what words are.
BUT! There’s a giveaway happening this week (for 2 books!)… so you’ll definitely want to tune in, laugh through the mess with them, and find out how to enter!
Thanks for listening!!
 
You can now watch us on YouTube! @SavortheStoryPod
Follow us on Instagram: @savorthestorypod
Click here for the form to enter the giveaway:  Savor the Story Giveaway
 
Want to grab any of the books we read/discussed this week? Use our link to pick it up! (As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you!)
Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez:  https://amzn.to/43zgPZG
Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia: https://amzn.to/4jCs3kY
The Hanging of Hettie Gale by Tess Burnett: https://amzn.to/4kYy1hg
Sleep like Death by Kalynn Bayron: https://amzn.to/3Hw08pq
 
Interested in Kindle Unlimited? Sign up here:  https://amzn.to/4jM1qL9
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Timestamps:
00:00 Intro, Podcast Updates, and Random Thoughts
11:04 Random TV News from Vanessa
12:56 Mr. Chatty tells us if JLA is more SJM or RY
22:30 All About Snacks
27:51 Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
34:34 Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
40:42 The Hanging of Hettie Gale by Tess Burnett
51:27 Giveaway Announcement: Sleep Like Death by Kalynn Bayron

E43 The Dark Collapse

Welcome to Episode 43!This week, Nicole and Vanessa have a few snacks but A LOT of bookish talk! Vanessa reveals her big unpopular bookish opinion and fears what people will think (please be gentle, haha). They also have a super fun (and dark) shared read this week! They close out chatting all about who their leading men are that they picture while reading romances. Who are yours??
Thanks for listening!!
 
You can now watch us on YouTube! @SavortheStoryPod
Follow us on Instagram @savorthestorypod
 
Want to grab any of the books we read this week? Use our link to pick it up! (As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you!)
The Deep Dark Descending by Allen Eskens: https://amzn.to/43UgRvc
Lights Out by Navessa Allen: https://amzn.to/4ks7vNo
System Collapse by Martha Wells: https://amzn.to/4kebRaC
 
Interested in Kindle Unlimited? Sign up here:  https://amzn.to/4jM1qL9
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Timestamps:
00:00 Intro, Updates, and Snacks!
08:38 Unpopular Bookish Opinions
19:36 Snacks!
27:44 System Collapse by Martha Wells
38:53 Lights Out by Navessa Allen
54:45 The Deep Dark Descending by Allen Eskens
01:00:12 Discussion: Who do you picture as your leading man in books?

Bonus Bite #8 | The Unmarked Witch (Unmarked #1)

It’s time for another deep dive with Nicole and Vanessa!
This month they dove into the witchy world with Raven, Kirsi, and The Dark King in The Unmarked Witch by Miranda Lyn. Recorded in sections, you’ll hear real-time reactions and theories along the way (some right, some… hilariously wrong). Grab your favorite snack, settle into your coziest spot, and see if you figured things out faster than they did!
Thanks for listening!!
 
You can watch us on YouTube! @SavortheStoryPod
Follow us on Instagram @savorthestorypod
Email us from our website at https://www.savorthestorypod.com/
 
Want to grab this book? Use our link to pick it up! https://amzn.to/3SwpaXU (As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you!)
Interested in Kindle Unlimited? Sign up here: https://amzn.to/3XFggds
 
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro into The Unmarked Witch by Miranda Lyn
04:05 Chapters 1-5
30:32 Chapters 6-13
57:49 Chapters 14-24
01:25:46 Chapters 25-40
01:50:57 Theories for Book 2
01:53:06 Reviewing Book 1 Theories
01:58:17 More Book 2 Theories!
02:01:27 Final Ratings and Reflections

E42 Something About Rage

Welcome to Episode 42!This week is full of snacks and bookish surprises. Nicole and Vanessa cover two books each, get into some nacho love talk, and Vanessa opens up about how she came back from a 10 year reading slump (yes, really). They wrap up with a fun conversation about which characters they’d like to meet in real life. They would love to know who YOU would like to meet! Let them know who’s on your list!
Thanks for listening!!
 
You can now watch us on YouTube! @SavortheStoryPod
Follow us on Instagram @savorthestorypod
 
Want to grab any of the books we read this week? Use our link to pick it up! (As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you!)
Roar by Cora Carmack: https://amzn.to/3Z2wOwI
Rage by Cora Carmack: https://amzn.to/43t6q0h
Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells: https://amzn.to/3SJhEcl
There's Something About Mira by Sonali Dev: https://amzn.to/4kdC6xN
 
Interested in Kindle Unlimited? Sign up here:  https://amzn.to/4jM1qL9
Interested in Audible? Sign up here: https://amzn.to/3YCIs17
 
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction, Updates, and Snacks!
12:26 Owlcrate Publishing News
15:27 Vanessa's ~10 year Reading Slump
25:54 Nicole's Books
26:40 There's Something About Mira by Sonali Dev
35:23 Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells
43:47 Vanessa's Books
44:19 Roar by Cora Carmack
54:14 Rage by Cora Carmack
58:25 Listener's Corner
01:00:08 Discussion: Book character you'd like to meet?

E41 Network Conspiracies

Welcome to Episode 41!Nicole had lots of snacks to discuss this week and she IS BAFFLED by Vanessa never having tried pineapple upside down cake (she’s going to force Vanessa to try it soon!). Nicole discusses how she is still experiencing a bit of a reading slump and Vanessa is NO help at all. They’ve got an array of books this week with more Murderbot and an adorable paranormal romance. And then… they chat about their favorite series and if you’ve been listening at all, you already know Vanessa’s! Let them know yours!
Thanks for listening!!
 
You can now watch us on YouTube! @SavortheStoryPod
Follow us on Instagram @savorthestorypod
 
Want to grab any of the books we read this week? Use our link to pick it up! (As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you!)
Love and Other Conspiracies by Mallory Marlowe: https://amzn.to/43qVwrV
Network Effect by Martha Wells: https://amzn.to/44RLH90
Grave Talk by Nick Scalding:  https://amzn.to/4muk5wM
 
Interested in Kindle Unlimited? Sign up here:  https://amzn.to/4jM1qL9
Interested in Audible? Sign up here: https://amzn.to/3YCIs17
 
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction, Updates, and Snacks!
20:38 Mr. Chatty's Corner
25:15 Nicole's Books
31:26 Network Effect by Martha Wells
38:24 Grave Talk by Nick Spalding
45:47 Love and Other Conspiracies by Mallory Marlowe
54:24 Discussion: Favorite Series?!

E40 Funny Strategy

Welcome to Episode 40!They covered a lot this week! Nicole and Vanessa are digging into some publishing news from the book box world, some drama in the bookish community, and a review that they were in wild disagreement about (they may even be fighting?!)! They wrap up with a discussion all about reading out in the world- where do you go to read outside of the house and why would you do this?! Let them know!
Thanks for listening!!
 
You can now watch us on YouTube! @SavortheStoryPod
Follow us on Instagram @savorthestorypod
 
Want to grab any of the books we read this week? Use our link to pick it up! (As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you!)
Beach Read by Emily Henry: https://amzn.to/3GNumno
Funny Story by Emily Henry: https://amzn.to/3F3CKPh
Exit Strategy by Martha Wells: https://amzn.to/43oA8oj
 
Interested in Kindle Unlimited? Sign up here:  https://amzn.to/4jM1qL9
Interested in Audible? Sign up here: https://amzn.to/3YCIs17
 
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction, Updates and Snacks
18:21 Book News (Owlcrate and Fairyloot)
23:54 Book Community Drama: Apollycon and A Million Lives Event
38:56 Murderbot Apple+ Series News!
43:11 Exit Strategy by Martha Wells
47:56 Funny Story by Emily Henry
01:05:05 Beach Read by Emily Henry
01:12:45 (mild) Listener Corner
01:15:42 Discussion: Do you read in public places?