This month, Emhma, Laurha, Rhico, and Bhella are sinking their teeth into J.R. Ward’s DARK LOVER, the first book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Before romantasy took over BookTok, paranormal romance was serving leather-clad vampires, tortured alpha males, and… ninja stars?!

Listen in as we untangle the mythology, examine the book as a fascinating study of masculinity, and realize one important element of the book was so lackluster, we almost forgot to even bring it up.

So, pour yourself your favorite Kraken Rum cocktail (Kraken, you know where to find us) and get ready for some early 2000’s nostalgia.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode features discussions of an adult-themed book, contains explicit language, and is intended for mature audiences only. Listener discretion is advised.

Buy the Book!
Bookshop.org | Libro.fm

Other media mentioned in this episode:

• A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole
• Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
• The Blood Books/Victory Nelson series by Tanya Huff
• Lord of Eternal Night by Ben Alderson
• Strange Love By Ann Aguire
• The Archaeology of Falling Worlds by Megan Chee
• Twilight (2008)
• Queen of the Damned (2002)
• Blood Ties (2007)
• The Matrix (1999)
• Blade (1998)
• Heroes (2006-2010)

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We're also an affiliate on Bookshop.org and Libro.fm! Order books and ebooks through our link HERE and audiobooks HERE and a small commission will go towards the podcast.

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

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Credits:
Shit We've Read After Dark is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and EmmaSkies, with an introduction by Jessilee Windhaus and editing by Jason Rico.

Catalyst by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChord...

This month, we officially welcome Brittney to her first full episode as we jump into OPERATION BOUNCE HOUSE by Matt Dinniman, the New York Times bestselling author of the smash-hit Dungeon Crawler Carl.

Listen as we break down the lore of Chuck Tingle, discuss the book’s representation and normalization of sex work, and question what Dinniman has to say about AI. Plus, we explore some of the book’s unsettling parallels to current world events.

Buy the Book!
Bookshop.org | Libro.fm

Other books mentioned in this episode:

• Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
• Strange is the Light by Sarah Maria Griffen
• Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle
• Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle
• Abyss by Nicholas Binge
• The Subtle Art of Folding Space by John Chu
• The Odyssey by Homer
• Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
• Sublimation by Isabel J. Kim
• A Wall Is Also a Road by Annalee Newitz
• The Archaeology of Falling Worlds by Megan Chee
• Daggermouth by H.M Wolfe
• The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown
• The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
• Dark Lover by J.R. Ward
• She’s a Doll by Barbara Truelove
• Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove

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We're also an affiliate on Bookshop.org and Libro.fm! Order books and ebooks through our link HERE and audiobooks HERE and a small commission will go towards the podcast.

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

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Pour yourself a glass of Barefoot Wine, get cozy, and join us as we take our first bite of Season Six! In this After Dark episode, we’re discussing the sapphic werewolf romance SHE CAME FOR THE PACK by Darva Green! Vibe out with us as we discuss content warnings and who they benefit, unpack the book’s sapphic take on Alpha/Omega tropes, and decide whether this is a satisfying standalone or leaves us wanting more. Plus, Emma schools us (not for the first time, and probably not for the last time) on the intricacies and origins of the Omegaverse.

For more on the Omegaverse, listen to our After Dark discussion of Dark City Omega!

Check out the list of Ao3’s most written Alphas & Omegas of all time!

CONTENT WARNING: This episode features discussions of an adult-themed book, contains explicit language, and is intended for mature audiences only. Listener discretion is advised.

Buy the Book!
Bookshop.org | Libro.fm

Other books mentioned in this episode:

• Her Soul to Take by Harley Laroux
• Maneater by Emily Antoinette
• Dark City Omega by Elizabeth Stephens
• A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole
• She Came From the Swamp by Darva Green
• Railed by the Krampus by Dalia Davies
• The Sting of Victory by S.D. Simper
• Lord of Eternal Night by Ben Alderson
• Sing Me to Sleep by R.M. Virtues
• Desperate Measures by Katee Robert
• Dark Lover by J.R. Ward
• The Archaeology of Falling Worlds by Megan Chee
• To Bargain With Mortals by R.A. Basu

Support SWR!
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We're also an affiliate on Bookshop.org and Libro.fm! Order books and ebooks through our link HERE and audiobooks HERE and a small commission will go towards the podcast.

Create your podcast today!

Meet Brittney! In this Season Six premiere minisode, we shoot the shit with the newest co-host of Shit We’ve Read to talk about books, pets, and everything she’s bringing to the podcast. Listen in as we reveal the sad story behind Laura and Brittney's first meeting, we go on yet another mini Heated Rivalry tangent, and Jason comes to the surprising defense of an author he’s never read. Plus, we discuss the language of cults, so join us in welcoming Brittney to our own!

About Brittney:
Brittney grew up in a small town with busy working parents, so her constant companions were her books. When she is not deep in the pages of a fantasy or contemporary romance, you can catch her spending time with her four dogs, camping, paddle boarding, or hanging out at a brewery with her book club. Follow her on Instagram @nghtreadrslibrary

Books mentioned in this episode:

• Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove
• The Last Adventure of Constance Verity by A. Lee Martinez
• Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
• Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard
• Tempest by Victoria Aveyard (On Sale Sept. 8, 2026)
• A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
• Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
• One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
• Winterveil by Ava Reid (On Sale Sept. 15, 2026)
• Galaxy’s Edge series by Jason Anspach & Nick Cole
• Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid
• Off-Campus series by Elle Kennedy
• Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell

Support SWR!
PayPal | Venmo | SWR Merch

We're also an affiliate on Bookshop.org and Libro.fm! Order books and ebooks through our link HERE and audiobooks HERE and a small commission will go towards the podcast.

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Thank you for your support!

Connect with SWR!
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Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

Credits:
Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Brittney Wong, with editing by Jason Rico, and music by Joshua Chilton.

We’re closing out Season Five with the gothic sapphic romance HOUSE OF RAYNE by Harley Laroux! Join us as we find out if it’s a worthy After Dark finale, compare it to Laroux’s Her Soul to Take, which we previously read on the show, and watch Jason discover the power of the mute button.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode features discussions of an adult-themed book, contains explicit language, and is intended for mature audiences only. Listener discretion is advised.

Buy the Book!
Bookshop.org | Libro.fm

Other books mentioned in this episode:

• Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid
• Her Soul to Take by Harley Laroux
• Savage Blooms by S.T. Gibson
• Desperate Measures by Katee Robert
• To Bargain With Mortals by R.A. Basu
• The Archaeology of Falling Worlds by Megan Chee

Support SWR!
PayPal | Venmo | SWR Merch

We're also an affiliate on Bookshop.org and Libro.fm! Order books and ebooks through our link HERE and audiobooks HERE and a small commission will go towards the podcast.

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Thank you for your support!

Connect with SWR!
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Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

Credits:
Shit We've Read After Dark is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and EmmaSkies, with an introduction by Jessilee Windhaus and editing by Jason Rico.

Dark Hollows by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https://creatorchords.com
Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Hey, friends! You may have noticed there was no new episode this month. That's because sometimes life gets in the way and, unfortunately, that's exactly what happened this month. As you may have already suspected, we're sorry to announce that we had to cancel February's planned discussion of DEATH OF THE AUTHOR by Nnedi Okorafor. At this time, we're unsure whether we'll reschedule it, but we will be back next month with our planned After Dark episode for the Season 5 finale.

Thanks so much for your understanding and we'll see you next month!

Support SWR!
PayPal | Venmo | SWR Merch

We're also an affiliate on Bookshop.org and Libro.fm! Order books and ebooks through our link HERE and audiobooks HERE and a small commission will go towards the podcast.

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Thank you for your support!

Connect with SWR!
Instagram | TikTok | Discord | Website

Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

Credits:
Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson and Jason Rico, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico.

We’re kicking off 2026 with a tale of "mind games, kink, and ancient enchantment," because we read SAVAGE BLOOMS by S.T. Gibson! Join us as we spiral into yet another Heated Rivalry tangent, compare the novel to one of its inspirations (Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë), and debate whether it lives up to the other Gibson books we’ve covered. Plus, find out which After Dark pick Laura chose that has Emma absolutely hyped.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode features discussions of an adult-themed book, contains explicit language, and is intended for mature audiences only. Listener discretion is advised.

Buy the Book!
Bookshop.org | Libro.fm

Other books mentioned in this episode:

• Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid
• The Long Game by Rachel Reid
• Naughty or Ice by Sylvia Pierce
• Pucking Around by Emily Rath
• Game Misconduct by Ari Baran
• A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson
• Evocation by S.T. Gibson
• An Education in Malice by S.T. Gibson
• Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
• The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
• A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid
• The Dragon's Bride by Katee Robert
• House of Rayne by Harley Laroux
• To Bargain With Mortals by R.A. Basu
• The Archaeology of Falling Worlds by Megan Chee

Support SWR!
PayPal | Venmo | SWR Merch

We're also an affiliate on Bookshop.org and Libro.fm! Order books and ebooks through our link HERE and audiobooks HERE and a small commission will go towards the podcast.

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Thank you for your support!

Connect with SWR!
Instagram | TikTok | Discord | Website
Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

Credits:
Shit We've Read...

It's the final episode of 2025, and we're wrapping things up with our 3rd annual Secret Santa book exchange! Join Bella, Emma, Jason, and Laura for our coziest, messiest holiday tradition as we exchange books, hot takes, and answer the following questions: Did the right books go to the right recipients this year? Which one of us didn’t finish their book, and what went wrong? Which host picked their Secret Santa book during an active criminal investigation? And which current Emma obsession led us on a ten-minute tangent?

Thank you so much for listening and supporting us this year. We’re endlessly grateful for you. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and we’ll see you in 2026!

Buy the Books!

• Jason’s Book: Amazon.com | Libro.fm
• Laura’s Book: Bookshop.org | Libro.fm
• Bella’s Book: Bookshop.org | Libro.fm
• Emma’s Book: Bookshop.org | Libro.fm

Other media mentioned in this episode:

• Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan
• Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett
• The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett
• And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
• Warehouse 13
• The SCP Foundation
• The City We Became by NK Jemisin
• The Magnus Archives Podcast
• House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
• Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
• Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid

Support SWR!
PayPal | Venmo | SWR Merch

We're also an affiliate on Bookshop.org and Libro.fm! Order books and ebooks through our link HERE and audiobooks HERE and a small commission will go towards the podcast.

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Thank you for your support!

Connect with SWR!
Instagram | TikTok | Discord | Website

Request transcripts on ou...