Novel Nights: 2024 Fall Bookish Tea

Welcome to our episode of Novel Nights, where Laura from What to Read Next, and Victoria from the BiblioLifestyle, chat with special guest Kelly from Boobies and Noobies about the latest bookish tea from the past month.

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Here’s a quick recap of what you can expect from this chat.

What’s Been Happening?

Hosts Victoria and Laura carried on without Francesca, who was dealing with hurricane watch and weather issues in Florida. Laura gave a live weather update from Tampa, while Victoria shared more personal insights. They welcomed back special guest Kelly, who was excited about publishing her fourth book, Pitches Be Crazy, a baseball romance featuring a plus-size heroine and a sweet younger cinnamon roll hero.

Laura also updated everyone on her content, including upcoming fall audiobook recommendations and cozy fall reads that capture small-town vibes. Meanwhile, Victoria is in the middle of her “30 Days of Cozy Mysteries” challenge and has been sharing cozy mystery series and spooky witchy romances to get everyone in the fall spirit. She also reminded viewers to check out her fall reading guide on her Substack.

Bookish Tea

Colleen Hoover Drama
The live show opened with a spicy conversation about the press tour for It Ends With Us. Many took issue with the marketing campaign’s approach, which seemed to undermine the sensitive topic of domestic violence by promoting it as a light rom-com. The group shared their personal distance from the Colleen Hoover fandom and discussed the problematic aspects of the press circuit and promotions.

PR Box Controversies
A publisher sent out a controversial PR box that included a sex toy, causing some confusion and discomfort among readers. The group dove into discussions about consent when sending items to influencers and how the lack of communication can lead to awkward situations.

The Self-Publishing Debate
Another hot topic was the gatekeeping around self-publishing versus traditional publishing. One commenter stated that self-publishing shouldn’t be considered “real” publishing, leading to a fiery debate. The group defended self-published authors, highlighting the hard work, investment, and dedication it takes to produce a book.

Scamming in the Book Community
The group also discussed a BookTok influencer who allegedly scammed indie authors by charging for book reviews but never delivering. The influencer is now supposedly writing a book, adding another layer to the drama. The hosts were both fascinated and shocked by the level of deception.

Bridgerton Ball Scandal
Perhaps the juiciest piece of tea was the failed Bridgerton-themed ball in Detroit, which turned out to be a disaster. Guests paid up to $1,000 for an event that promised elegance, only to be greeted by sparse decor, a pole dancer as entertainment, and little to no food or drink. The entire situation was branded as “Scammerton.”

Review Bombing
The hosts also tackled the growing issue of review bombing. Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros received poor reviews from readers upset that she was working on other projects instead of releasing the sequel faster. The group expressed their disapproval of this behavior and reiterated that review bombing does a disservice to authors.

The discussion covered everything from fall book recommendations to deeper conversations about integrity in the book world. Next week, the hosts are getting festive by celebrating Mean Girls Day in pink, so stay tuned for more bookish fun!