Salacious Sips, a drinky book club

Erotic poetry, tentacles, a scone-baking Dark Lord, and war crimes... somehow they all belong in the same episode.
This week, the ladies tackle their latest Dildo Dartboard Decisions pick: The Dark Lord's Guide to Dating by Tiffany Hunt—and it turns out to be one of the biggest surprises of the year.
Between a delightfully unconventional Dark Lord, chapter titles that get progressively more unhinged, and enough laugh-out-loud moments to keep the drinks flowing, the ladies' had an absolute blast. Along the way, 'Stina explains why she'll never fall for the classic "Knight in Shining Armor," Claire and Laurel accidentally introduce her to Portland Leather, and everyone discovers that sometimes the weirdest books are the most unforgettable.
What starts as another chaotic book club episode quickly becomes one of those rare reads that has all three ladies immediately clicking "Buy Now" for the sequel.
So pour yourself a glass of wine (Portugal optional 😉), settle in, and join us for an episode packed with laughter, spicy fantasy, unexpected heart, and just enough tentacle-related shenanigans to keep things interesting.

**There was a plan... and then brunch happened.**
What started as a structured episode quickly devolved into the kind of delightfully chaotic conversation you've come to expect from the ladies. From the books they *actually* read in high school (and the ones 'Stina definitely didn't), to Brendan Fraser appreciation, and an unexpected detour into nerd culture courtesy of Henry Cavill, no topic was safe.
Of course, despite their best efforts, the conversation somehow found its way right back to the Sarah J. Maas universe. At this point, they've accepted that escaping the SJMverse is probably impossible—and honestly, they're perfectly okay with that.
Grab your favorite drink and join the chaos as the ladies chat books, fandoms, pop culture, and everything in between.

The ladies wrap up Brynne Weaver's delightfully chaotic Ruinous Love Trilogy with Scythe & Sparrow—all while desperately trying to caffeinate.
Miraculously, this installment committed far fewer food crimes than its predecessors, so everyone's snacks survived... this time.
Laurel actually remembered the book, 'Stina may have mixed up the entire timeline (blame the coffee... or what was added to the coffee), and Claire never managed to read it because, well... life happens.
As always, the conversation quickly derails into everything from Throne of Glass tandem reads to whatever random rabbit hole catches their attention next. If you're looking for a polished literary analysis, you're definitely in the wrong place. If you're here for laughs, cocktails, bookish chaos, and three friends who can't stay on topic to save their lives, you've found your people.

This week, the ladies step outside their usual smutty romance comfort zone and dive into a book that's equal parts hilarious, chaotic, and murderous: Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano.
With Laurel as the only host who actually managed to finish a book this week, she takes Claire and 'Stina on a spoiler-light journey through the wildly entertaining world of accidental crime, unexpected twists, and laugh-out-loud moments. The result? Claire and 'Stina downloaded the book before the recording session was even over.
Of course, this wouldn't be a Salacious Sips episode if the conversation stayed on track. What starts as a discussion about one book quickly spirals into recommendations, shocking DNF confessions, abandoned series, and all the other books currently living rent-free in our heads.
Pour yourself a drink and join us for a chaotic conversation about funny thrillers, reading slumps, and the books we just can't stop talking about.
Featured Book: Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano

Life absolutely kicked our asses in May, so instead of attempting to coordinate a proper book club episode, we poured some rum and let the conversation go wherever it wanted.
What starts as a discussion that's at least vaguely adjacent to books and booze quickly turns into one of our classic wandering episodes. Along the way, we revisit some favorite topics—including the SJMverse, Heated Rivalry, hockey romances, and other bookish obsessions—before somehow ending up deep in home renovation territory.
Laurel is planning a gallery wall. 'Stina is dreaming of French doors and a library makeover. Claire would simply like to stop paying rent. It's a journey.
If you've ever sat around with friends, a drink in hand, and watched a conversation spiral from romance novels to real estate dreams, this episode is for you. Grab your beverage of choice and join us for an hour of bookish tangents, questionable priorities, and the kind of chaos that happens when life gets in the way of the schedule.

The ladies needed a break.
‘Stina’s hungover. Claire’s operating on elder millennial survival mode. Laurel is trying (and failing) to keep this train on the tracks. So naturally, the only reasonable choice was diving back into Leather & Lark — because apparently peace and stability aren’t part of the Salacious Sips experience.
What starts as a "simple" episode immediately devolves into absolute chaos.
We’re talking quadruple-fisted drinks, unexpected trauma involving beer, pizza, and teeth (trust us…you’ll understand), Laurel attempting to herd feral cats (also known as Claire and ‘Stina), more SJMverse tangents than anyone planned, Heated Rivalry side quests, and enough unhinged energy to concern several licensed professionals.
If your favorite kind of book club involves romance books, drinks, chaos, and friends aggressively losing the plot, welcome home.
Grab a cold one and join the beautifully unmitigated disaster that is Salacious Sips.
Cheers. 🍻📚✨

This week was SUPPOSED to be a Quickie where 'Stina tells the girls about Nora Roberts’ Identity.
And for a solid 30 minutes? They really tried.
But somewhere between the Palomas, the wine/liquor combo, and one too many side quests…everything completely derailed. Naturally.
Instead, the ladies spiral into chaotic discussions about the SJMverse, Tristan & Isolde retellings, why Fifty Shades still deserves jail time, random book tangents, emotional support nonsense, and the general struggle of simply making it through the week.

Not every book is a hit—and this week, we’re proving it.
‘Stina, Claire, and Laurel dive into Pirate UN, an episode born from pure chaos after reading Hunt on Dark Waters by Katee Robert… and yeah, it did not go well. What started as a hopeful read quickly turned into a rare, unanimous SPIT rating (no sips, no swallows—just vibes gone very, very wrong).
Laurel experiences her first Katee Robert read in real time (and lives to tell the tale), Claire makes the executive decision to DNF, and ‘Stina rage-reads her way through to the end. All of this is especially tragic considering how much we loved Neon Gods—which makes this disappointment hit even harder.
As the drinks keep flowing, the conversation quickly derails into everything from updates and theories for ACOTAR to nostalgic dives into Harry Potter, plus a candid discussion on what makes worldbuilding work… and what absolutely doesn’t.
It’s honest, it’s unfiltered, and it’s a reminder that even beloved authors can miss the mark sometimes.

This one? Fully unhinged from start to finish.
‘Stina shows up with a dangerously strong sangria and things spiral immediately. What follows is a chaotic ride through dildo dartboard decisions (yes, that’s how we pick our next book club read now), deep dives into Heated Rivalry (book and show 👀), and plenty of Regency romance tangents—because obviously.
Along the way, we get into problematic people, questionable opinions, and somehow… the actual state of the world. We said this podcast was an escape, and yet—gestures wildly at everything 😵‍💫
Vibe progression:Chaos → Woke → Tired → Another drink 🍷
If you like your book talk a little messy, a little boozy, and completely unfiltered—this one’s for you.

Hold on to your tits — this one’s a wild ride. This week we dive into the deliciously unhinged chaos of Brynne Weaver’s Ruinous Love Trilogy, starting with Butcher & Blackbird. What began as an unexpected pick from Laurel quickly turned into a hilariously disturbing good time.
Think classic film villains with a dash of Dexter energy, an endearing-but-feral MMC, and a neurotic, antisocial FMC who somehow steals the show. It’s dark, it’s chaotic, it’s weirdly wholesome… and we have questions about ourselves afterward.
Grab your favorite bourbon (bonus points if you’ve got Weller) or mix up a cucumber margarita and join us as we unpack the mayhem — including why this book has permanently ruined orzo pasta and cookies & cream ice cream for us.
Chaos, cocktails, and questionable life choices await. 🎧🥃🍹