Red Wine Reads

5: Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez: Trash Pandas + Toilet Kings = The Perfect Love Story

"I literally think I'm going to take dating advice from this book."
This week, we read Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez.
Abby joins me on this episode to discuss:
Why two romance haters will recommend this book to everyone they know.
Why the trash pandas and toilet king were the true stars of this book.
What makes a man smell good.
Open your book and press play on a podcast episode that made Jenna rethink EVERYTHING.
Mentioned in the Pairings section of the podcast:
DRINK - Raspberry High Noon Iced Tea, Nice glass of Cabernet Sauvignon
TV SHOW - Virgin River, Gilmore Girls
BOOK - To All the Boys I Loved Before, Maybe in Another Life
MOVIE - 10 Things I Hate About You, Safe Haven, When in Rome
!! WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD !!
Once you're done listening, hop onto our Instagram and TikTok @rwreadspodcast to give us your thoughts on the discussion and the book. We look forward to hearing from you!
Disclaimer * At Red Wine Reads, we want to engage in the stories of people from all kinds of backgrounds and experiences. The value of books lies in the power of storytelling and sharing a range of perspectives. We don't want to just read what we know, we want to read stories that open our worldview. And in turn, that means getting into challenging, rewarding conversations. But we are not experts in any field — literature, race relations, politics, etc .— and we know that our reviews of these books come from a place of privilege. We encourage our community of readers to add to these conversations with their own thoughts, critiques, and questions. We want to open up a safe place for people. That being said, we also realize that getting into race, sexuality, gender, and other difficult topics can be triggering. We aim to include content warnings whenever they are applicable but we are not perfect. So as we continue to do our best, know you have the room to tell us when we can do better and even, if you want to, share resources with us. Let's learn, grow, and have fun together.

4: The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by S.A. Chakraborty: Retired pirates and sexy demons…yes, please!

”He is such a piece of trash and I f**ing love him.”
This week, we read The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by S.A. Chakraborty.
Sierra joins me on this episode to discuss:
The exciting premise and flawless execution that this book offers.
Why we keep mentioning “naked pirates”.
Why the spice level may have been a determining factor in Sierra’s final rating.
Open your book and press play on a podcast episode that will have you feeling all the aches and pains of being a retired lady pirate.
Mentioned in the Pairings section of the podcast:
DRINK - Naked Pirate
TV SHOW - Working Moms, House of the Dragon
BOOK - The Book of Longings, Daughter of the Moon Goddess
MOVIE - Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, 3000 Years of Longing
!! WARNING: SPOILERS IN THIS EPISODE !!
Once you're done listening, hop onto our Instagram and TikTok @rwreadspodcast to give us your thoughts on the discussion and the book. We look forward to hearing from you!
Disclaimer * At Red Wine Reads, we want to engage in the stories of people from all kinds of backgrounds and experiences. The value of books lies in the power of storytelling and sharing a range of perspectives. We don't want to just read what we know, we want to read stories that open our worldview. And in turn, that means getting into challenging, rewarding conversations. But we are not experts in any field — literature, race relations, politics, etc .— and we know that our reviews of these books come from a place of privilege. We encourage our community of readers to add to these conversations with their own thoughts, critiques, and questions. We want to open up a safe place for people. That being said, we also realize that getting into race, sexuality, gender, and other difficult topics can be triggering. We aim to include content warnings whenever they are applicable but we are not perfect. So as we continue to do our best, know you have the room to tell us when we can do better and even, if you want to, share resources with us. Let's learn, grow, and have fun together.

3: The Shamshine Blind by Paz Pardo: Weaponized colors like 'Inside Out'

“We're going to be slovenly and yelling at each other by the end of the hour.”
This week, we read The Shamshine Blind by Paz Pardo
Ella joins me on this episode to discuss:
How Inside Out and Detective Pikachu relate to this book. 
Why Ella is talking in a New York cop accent
Why we ended up on polar opposite sides of this book
Open your book and press play on a podcast episode that will have you feeling all the colors.
Mentioned in the Pairings section of the podcast:
DRINK - Double Titos Pineapple, Daiquiri
TV SHOW - Three Body Problem, His Dark Materials
BOOK - The Giver, Fahrenheit 451
MOVIE - Detective Pikachu, Furiosa
!! WARNING: SPOILERS IN THIS EPISODE !! 
Once you're done listening, hop onto our Instagram and TikTok @rwreadspodcast to give us your thoughts on the discussion and the book. We look forward to hearing from you!
Disclaimer * At Red Wine Reads, we want to engage in the stories of people from all kinds of backgrounds and experiences. The value of books lies in the power of storytelling and sharing a range of perspectives. We don't want to just read what we know, we want to read stories that open our worldview. And in turn, that means getting into challenging, rewarding conversations. But we are not experts in any field — literature, race relations, politics, etc .— and we know that our reviews of these books come from a place of privilege. We encourage our community of readers to add to these conversations with their own thoughts, critiques, and questions. We want to open up a safe place for people. That being said, we also realize that getting into race, sexuality, gender, and other difficult topics can be triggering. We aim to include content warnings whenever they are applicable but we are not perfect. So as we continue to do our best, know you have the room to tell us when we can do better and even, if you want to, share resources with us. Let's learn, grow, and have fun together.

2: Poor Things by Alasdair Gray and Frankenstein by Mary Shelley: Not a classics girly.

“I love when women write men. Holy s**t. It was so good.”
This week, it’s a 2 for 1! We read Poor Things by Alasdair Gray and Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Bekah joins me on this episode to discuss:
The book vs. movie when talking about Poor Things
Women writing men
The problems and triumphs of classics
Open your book and press play on a podcast episode that will have you slogging your way through another classic novel. 
Mentioned in the Pairings section of the podcast:
DRINK - Frankenpunch, Bloody Mary
TV SHOW - The Fall of the House of Usher, Fullmetal Alchemist
BOOK - The Haunting of Hill House, Bunny, Pet Sematary
MOVIE - Fresh, Poor Things, Ex Machina
Content Warning: We talk about death, sex, and murder in the episode. Please take caution when listening.
WARNING!! SPOILERS IN THIS EPISODE!!

1: People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry - A 5% attraction is better than nothing.

”She's always talking about him slouching. I'm sorry, I do not find that attractive. Be assertive!”
This week, we read and reviewed People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry.
Abby joins me on this episode to discuss:
Why the book was just too long…360 pages for a romance?
Why the climax was quite anti-climatic
Why this was the light and fun summer read that we needed.
Open your book and press play on a podcast episode that will have you planning your next summer vaycay. 
Mentioned in the Pairings section of the podcast:
DRINK - Piña Colada,
TV SHOW - One Day, Dawson’s Creek (Joey and Pacey)
BOOK - Beach Read, The People We Keep
MOVIE - Palm Springs, Definitely, Maybe
Once you're done listening, hop onto our Instagram and TikTok @rwreadspodcast to give us your thoughts on the discussion and the book. We look forward to hearing from you!
WARNING ‼️  SPOILERS IN THIS EPISODE !!

Unveiling Season 2 of Red Wine Reads!

Here's what you can expect from our newest iteration of Red Wine Reads: 
New scripts
Drinking games
More social media content 
Same old heated banter
More books spanning across a variety of genres
We love you all and want to give you the best possible listening experience we can. So we present to you, Red Wine Reads - Season 2. 
 
Let's pull some corks and get reading! 

Ella and Jenna review “All About Love” a hearty nonfiction novel uncovering the truth about love.

I never thought I’d open up this much on a podcast…but here we are
This week, we read All About Love by bell hooks
Ella joins me on this episode to discuss:
The many meanings behind “Love” and what role it plays in both Ella and I’s lives.
Why billionaires kind of suck.
Why it was tough to jump back into a dense nonfiction book.
Open your book and press play on a podcast episode that will have you journaling more than you ever thought possible.
Mentioned in the Pairings section of the podcast:
DRINK: Cosmo, Whiskey Sour
TV SHOW - Modern Love, I Will Destroy You, One Day
BOOK - Help, Thanks, Wow, How to Fall in Love with Anyone, Generations
MOVIE -Someone Great, Together
Once you're done listening, hop onto our Instagram and TikTok @rwreadspodcast to give us your thoughts on the discussion and the book. We look forward to hearing from you!
Disclaimer * At Red Wine Reads, we want to engage in the stories of people from all kinds of backgrounds and experiences. The value of books lies in the power of storytelling and sharing a range of perspectives. We don't want to just read what we know, we want to read stories that open our worldview. And in turn, that means getting into challenging, rewarding conversations. But we are not experts in any field — literature, race relations, politics, etc .— and we know that our reviews of these books come from a place of privilege. We encourage our community of readers to add to these conversations with their own thoughts, critiques, and questions. We want to open up a safe place for people. That being said, we also realize that getting into race, sexuality, gender, and other difficult topics can be triggering. We aim to include content warnings whenever they are applicable but we are not perfect. So as we continue to do our best, know you have the room to tell us when we can do better and even, if you want to, share resources with us. Let's learn, grow, and have fun together.

June Preview — Classics, Casting Spells, and Changing Audio

Today we're diving into which books we'll be reading and reviewing in June. From classic horror tales, to sister witch dramas, to beautiful rich people hoofin' it in upstate New York, we're reading some great books this month. 
Whether you want to read one, none or all of them, the choice is up to you. We will be having great conversations all month long, so we hope you join us!
Everyone has different tastes, but we hope this podcast is fun to listen to, no matter how you like your books. Let me know which books you are most excited for on our Instagram and TikTok at rw reads podcast.
Links to all books are down below: 
All About Love by bell hooks
The Beautiful and Damned by Scott F. Fitzgerald
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs
***
Yes, I know my mic didn't work in the first half of this episode. I apologize and will do better in the future. Thanks for hanging in there with me. 

Bekah and Jenna review “The Push” an unbelievable memoir of a climbing legend.

Justice for Kevin Jorgeson!
This week, we read The Push by Tommy Caldwell
Bekah joins me on this episode to discuss:
Why this memoir appeals to both the climbers and non-climbers of the world.
Why Bekah felt the need to shout, “Justice for Kevin!” about 5 times throughout the full episode.
How we talked for over an hour and still didn’t event scratch the surface of his wild, wonderful life.
Open your book and press play on a podcast episode that will have you shouting, “Kevin! Pitch 15!”
Mentioned in the Pairings section of the podcast:
DRINK: IPA brewed in CO: Station 26 Juicy Banger
TV SHOW - Edge of the Unknown
BOOK - Into Thin Air, Outliers: The Story of Success
MOVIE - The Dawn Wall, Free Solo, Summit of the Gods, The Alpinist
Special Pairing: Against the Odds: Rock Climbers Abducted
Once you're done listening, hop onto our Instagram and TikTok @rwreadspodcast to give us your thoughts on the discussion and the book. We look forward to hearing from you!
Disclaimer * At Red Wine Reads, we want to engage in the stories of people from all kinds of backgrounds and experiences. The value of books lies in the power of storytelling and sharing a range of perspectives. We don't want to just read what we know, we want to read stories that open our worldview. And in turn, that means getting into challenging, rewarding conversations. But we are not experts in any field — literature, race relations, politics, etc .— and we know that our reviews of these books come from a place of privilege. We encourage our community of readers to add to these conversations with their own thoughts, critiques, and questions. We want to open up a safe place for people. That being said, we also realize that getting into race, sexuality, gender, and other difficult topics can be triggering. We aim to include content warnings whenever they are applicable but we are not perfect. So as we continue to do our best, know you have the room to tell us when we can do better and even, if you want to, share resources with us. Let's learn, grow, and have fun together.

Sierra and Jenna review “My Roommate is a Vampire” and things get…weirdly sexual in a Marvel way?

"I can't pre-game before this. Things get too crazy." 
"You can, and you should!"
This week, we read My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine
Sierra joins me on this episode to discuss:
A threesome involving Marvel’s infinity gauntlet
Why the ending really put a damper on the whole novel
All things relating to vampires — including fruit powers
Open your book and press play on a podcast episode that was fueled by wine and romance novels…which always leads to good decisions.
Mentioned in Pairings:
DRINK: Vampire Wine, Vampire Mimosa
TV SHOW - What We Do in the Shadows, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
BOOK - The Ex Hex, Deal with the Elf King
MOVIE - Twilight, Vamps, Dark Shadows
Quick Summary:
Cassie Greenberg loves being an artist, but it’s a tough way to make a living. On the brink of eviction, she’s desperate when she finds a too-good-to-be-true apartment in a beautiful Chicago neighborhood. Of course, her new roommate Frederick J. Fitzwilliam is far from normal. He sleeps all day, is out at night on business, and talks like he walked out of a regency romance novel. He also leaves Cassie heart-melting notes around the apartment, cares about her art, and asks about her day. And he doesn’t look half bad shirtless. But when Cassie finds bags of blood in the fridge that definitely weren’t there earlier, Frederick has to come clean. . .Cassie’s sexy new roommate is a vampire.
Once you're done listening, hop onto our Instagram and TikTok @rwreadspodcast to give us your thoughts on the discussion and the book. We look forward to hearing from you!
 
Disclaimer
At Red Wine Reads, we want to engage in the stories of people from all kinds of backgrounds and experiences. The value of books lies in the power of storytelling and sharing a range of perspectives. We don't want to just read what we know, we want to read stories that open our worldview. And in turn, that means getting into challenging, rewarding conversations. But we are not experts in any field — literature, race relations, politics, etc .— and we know that our reviews of these books come from a place of privilege. We encourage our community of readers to add to these conversations with their own thoughts, critiques, and questions. We want to open up a safe place for people. That being said, we also realize that getting into race, sexuality, gender, and other difficult topics can be triggering. We aim to include content warnings whenever they are applicable but we are not perfect. So as we continue to do our best, know you have the room to tell us when we can do better and even, if you want to, share resources with us. Let's learn, grow, and have fun together.