Thee Midnight Bookworm: Recent Episodes
Neela Gilbert
Calling all bookworms! Whether you're looking for book reviews or a one-sided book discussion, this podcast is for you. For each episode, host Neela Gilbert will discuss 2-3 books that have a specific book trope/setting, as well as a comparison of the plot and character development, trope usage, and more!
Instagram: @theemidnightbookworm
What do serial killers, small-town carpenters, and college hockey players have in common? They're the stars of Neela's current romance reads. She's on a break from "Read of the Week" (to return next episode) and indulging in some binge-able palette cleanser romances. Listen for spoiler-free series recommendations that you can get lost in!
Immortal Longings transports readers to the fantasy city of San-Er, with corrupt royals, a plot to kill a king, and a game with only one victor. The book has a full cast: a murderous princess, an exiled aristocrat, and a calculating prince complete with magic skills and shady pasts. Listen to the episode to hear Neela's reviews (spoiler-free) on the book's discussions of morality and loyalty, along with its Shakespearean veins.
Anita de Monte Laughs Last follows two heroines intertwined by art, love, racism, and murder. Based on the true story of the murder of Cuban American artist Ana Mendieta, this book has plot twists and spiritual turns. Listen to the episode to hear Neela's reviews (spoiler-free) on the simplicity of these parallelisms and all the details lost in between.
Holiday Country focuses on matriarchs and family lines, country loyalty, second languages, and more - all through the eyes of 19-year-old Ada, a half-Turkish teenager whose life is split between America and Turkey. Listen to the episode to hear Neela's reviews (spoiler-free) and thoughts on who the book is perfect for.
Introducing a new TMB series: Read of the Week! Neela gives a spoiler-free review of a (non-romance) fiction book and gives her thoughts and recommendations. Outline discusses motherhood, marriage, men versus women, writers, and more through dialogue-heavy chapters. This episode provides a small glimpse into Outline to help listeners decide whether to read it, without feeling like they've read the whole book!
Happy (almost) summer! In this episode, Neela discusses the upcoming summer's ins and outs, or "mini-goals" as she puts it. She also discusses her summer book club, which is about to start. The first book will be The Heiress by Rachel Atkins, which she encourages you to find at your local library. Stay tuned for more book club content and head to the TMB Instagram bio for the link to the online book club!
Woah woah woah. Is this another (extremely micro) influencer claiming to be "that girl"? Not to fear because Neela is always about the process, never claiming the label. In this episode, she talks about little steps to "becoming that girl", which has gone from an aesthetic picture of matcha to becoming the best version of you you can be. No book content in this episode, but a summer book club will be coming soon!
It's been a while...
Welcome to a new series at TMB! In this series, Neela will be addressing the world around her, outside of books of course. In this episode, Neela talks about her running journey that started in August and continues today. She addresses wellness, eating habits, and society's treatment of human bodies. If body image discussion isn't for you, try out another episode!
Have you ever struggled with reader's burnout? (If you don't know what that is, listen to the episode!) In this episode, Neela talks about beating the cold weather blues by changing up your reading habits. She mentions methods she uses and ways to incorporate reading into your daily life, whether you're in school or working a 9-to-5. Stay around at the end for some romance recommendations and a bit of ranting. This is your sign to make the upcoming cooler months full of reading!
Welcome back! After a three-month break, Neela is back and ready to dive into the world of books. This episode is a rundown of Girl Woman Other by Bernardine Evaristo, a novel following the lives of 12 different Black British women. If you don't have time to read the 450+ page book but have always been curious to know more, this episode is perfect for you! It is mainly spoiler-free but does cover how some of the characters are related to each other. If you've been thinking about reading this book, this is your sign!
In this episode, Neela summarizes chapters 1-11 of A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Mass. Much more entertaining than an audiobook, this episode also includes her commentary about the book (characters and plot), mini-spoilers, and the universe of fantasy books in general. If you've been wanting to read this book but don't have the time, this episode is perfect for you!
In this episode, Neela gives her advice on alternative ways to read. This includes different ways to "procure" books, or read without any books. If you were a teenage Wattpad girl, this one's for you.
Welcome to Season 3 of Thee Midnight Bookworm. Thanks to all of our loyal listeners, and hello to all the new ones! In this episode, Neela discusses some life updates and her favorite reads (so far) of 2023. Books mentioned include the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin, Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo, The God of Endings by Jacqueline Holland, Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid, The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell, and One Night on the Island by Jovie Silver.
Welcome back! In this episode, Neela discusses her highly anticipated books of 2023, along with some hopes for the future of books, including diversity and storytelling.
Happy New Year! Ring in 2023 with these resolution-themed romances. Neela discusses romances about love (duh), fitness, and family. No matter your year goal, there's a rec for you! Books mentioned include What If? by Shari Low, The Fastest Way to Fall by Denise Williams, and Delilah Green Doesn't Care by Ashley Herring Blake.
Happy (almost) New Year! In this episode, Neela goes over her Year in Books (courtesy of Goodreads), dishing out countless romance recs from fake dating to a gender-swapped bodyguard trope. Come along for the ride with TMB's last episode of 2022.
In this episode, Neela describes three memoir-style books that describe the lives of "it" girls, fictional or real. From the 1940s to the 1990s, these books span decades as they take readers of adventures of romance and lived experiences. Quintessentially, these books are about hot girls for hot girls (girls is a gender-neutral term here). The books are Black Swans by Eve Babitz, City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert, and Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
Happy Holidays! In this episode, Neela discusses a couple of holiday romances to get you in the spirit. Mentions include Tis the Season for Revenge by Morgan Elizabeth, The Mistletoe Motive by Chloe Liese, and The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer.
In this episode, Neela discusses her favorite YA book series (The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani) and her thoughts on its recent movie adaptation. If you haven't read the series, stick around for her critiques of movie adaptations and their pitfalls.
Welcome to Season Two of Thee Midnight Bookworm! In this episode, Neela discusses how to be a reader in a busy world, especially as a college student. There aren't any specific book recommendations in this episode, but there are lots of tips on how to get back into reading and remain consistent.
Season one is coming to an end! In this episode, Neela discusses three books (Things We Lost in the Fire by Mariana Enríquez, This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi, and If The Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy) that made a memorable impact on her this year. Honorable mentions include Halloween, a Cinderella retelling, and supporting morally grey female main characters no matter what.
Fall is around the corner and a new season means new books! In this episode, Neela discusses three romance books (The Bodyguard by Katherine Center, Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez, and Dating Dr. Dil by Nisha Sharma) published this year. Honorable mentions include the power of aunties, ninja powers, and sunshine characters.
Sports may be a bit confusing to watch, but sports romance books on the other hand...In this episode, Neela discusses three books (Always Only You by Chloe Liese, Intercepted by Alexa Martin, From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata) that focus on professional sports romance. Honorable mentions include being called 'Meatball', the hierarchy of figure skating, and modern stalker behaviors.
Small town settings are a quintessential romance subgenre. In this episode, Neela discusses three books (The Never Have I Ever Club by Mary Jayne Baker,
Work for It by Talia Hibbert, and Twice Shy by Sarah Hogle) that focus on out-of-the-box small-town romances. Honorable mentions include twin bonds, flower-picking, and daydreaming.
Having sisters can be a deadly handful, especially in a fantasy world of magic. In this episode, Neela discusses two fantasy books (Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake and The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle Jensen) that focus on sisterhood in fantasy. Honorable mentions include the "I've been sent here to kill you" trope, Midwest farms, and escaping the suburbs.
If you've ever been on Pinterest, you probably know about dark academia. In this episode, Neela discusses two realistic fiction books (Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo and The Secret History by Donna Tartt) that focus on the evils of elitism and its academic roots. Honorable mentions include ghosts, the reading of entrails, and lots of plaid clothing.
Medical practices that took place in 19th century Europe were certainly...enlightening. In this episode, Neela discusses two historical fiction books (The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee and Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco) that focus on historical medical mysteries. Honorable mentions include a Spiderman meme, not-like-the-other-girls syndrome, and lots of pirates.
Happy Pride! In this episode, Neela discusses two books with WLW couples (One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid) who face the trials of loving during their respective time periods. Honorable mentions include fried chicken, leather jackets, and Slytherin traits.
Happy Pride! This episode marks the start of TMB's Pride Series highlighting LGBTQ+ romances. In this episode, Neela discusses three romance books with MLM couples (The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun, If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich, and Red White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston) who face forbidden love and dodge the media. Honorable mentions include One Direction, Wolfstar, and reality TV.
Books that start with a wedding, rather than end with one, certainly flip the script. In this episode, Neela discusses three romance books (The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory, The Worst Best Man by Lucy Score, and The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren) and their use of the 'wedding meet-cute' trope. Honorable mentions include a wedding kidnapping, the usefulness of coupons, and the geography of California.
Falling in love abroad...does it work? In this episode, Neela discusses three romance books (Sweet on the Greek by Talia Hibbert, The Highland Fling by Meghan Quinn, and The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas) and their use of the 'love abroad' trope. Honorable mentions include Scottish Highland cows, the prince saving the princess, and golden retriever boyfriends.
A look into how future episodes will be formed and a general outline of this podcast’s mission