Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Booked, Blonde & Busy w/ Olivia Ponton

SURPRISE, ANGELS!!! This is an exclusive sit-down Booked, Blonde & Busy conversation with the incredible cast of Verity. I had the honor of sitting with Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson & Josh Hartnett to talk about the headboard bites, their favorite scenes they filmed, and the way they got into the twisted world of Verity. 

xoxo 

Olivia 🎀

I've been cheated on in nearly every relationship I've ever had...so I asked a licensed therapist the question I can't stop thinking about: why do people do it?

Kier Gaines breaks down what's really going on in a cheater's brain (spaghetti and a dirty chicken wing are involved), then we get into over-functioning and why so many of us work ourselves into the ground. 

xoxo,
Olivia 

Timestamps
00:04-02:25 Olivia's cheating hot take

02:26-04:10 Why do people cheat?

04:11-05:33 What's going on in a cheater's brain?

05:34-06:44 Would you stay?

06:45-07:42 A reason, not an excuse

07:43-08:49 Trust & miscommunication

08:50-10:19 What is overfunctioning?

10:20-12:18 When work bleeds into everything

12:19-14:52 Finding the root of overfunctioning

Hey Angels!

Today I'm sitting down with a licensed therapist who has DEFINITELY been on your For You page - the one and only Kier Gaines!

His new book It All Starts When You Do: How to Do the Real Work of Self-Healing just came out, and it had me rethinking my own life choices (in the best way)...

We get into claiming your baggage, why "have healed" hits different than "healed," and I get real about a friendship breakup I still can't shake. Then I put Xaden, Maven and Johnny on the therapy couch, and Kier does NOT go easy on our book boyfriends.

You DO NOT want to miss this one!

xoxo,
Olivia 

Timestamps
Intro/Bev of the Day
00:29-01:39 Sour Apple Is Bad ?
01:40-02:42 Who is Kier Gaines?
02:43-03:33 The biggest misconception about Kier

03:37-06:41 60-second pitch of It All Starts When You Do

06:42-09:34 What's your pebble?

09:35-11:04 How do you slow down in NYC?

11:05-12:42 Getting asked for a pic mid-fight

12:43-14:17 How to tell a fan "not right now"

14:18-15:03 Practice saying no

15:04-18:05 How social media targets men vs women

18:06-20:23 Men with feminine energy

20:24-21:16 Most of Kier's clients are women?!

21:17-23:07 Why men talk shoulder to shoulder

23:08-24:17 What do men vs women talk about in therapy?

24:18-26:50 "Healed" vs "have healed"

26:51-27:53 Living with depression

27:57-30:30 Olivia's friendship breakup

30:31-33:22 Kier's follow-up questions

33:23-34:01 Drinking friends vs sober friends

34:02-36:09 Should Olivia reach back out?

36:13-37:10 What is a book boyfriend?

37:11-39:37 Book boyfriend 1: Xaden (Fourth Wing)

39:38-41:01 Book boyfriend 2: Maven (Red Queen)

41:02-43:25 Book boyfriend 3: Johnny (Binding 13)

43:26-44:28 The best-friend-of-the-month friend

Growing up on the Upper East Side, author Alexandra Andrews is all too familiar with the secret lives of the ultra-wealthy, and is not afraid to write about it in her book The Fine Art of Lying. 

From art auctions, archaeology, and a lifestyle so absurd it will have you asking… is this actually what people do with their free time?? 

xoxo, 

Olivia 

Timestamps

00:04-01:30 Archeology 

01:31-02:29 Art auction politics

Hi angels! 🪽

Today I am sitting down with one of the hottest authors on the market right now, Miss Alexandra Andrews! She writes sexy thrillers with complicated, morally gray women and we are so obviously here for it. 💁‍♀️

Her newest book The Fine Art of Lying has not only consumed my brain for the last few weeks, but is also Reese’s Book Club pick for the month of May AND an adaptation is already in the works with Scarlett Johansson attached.

Watch while we discuss Alexandra’s writing process, from plotting out all the crazy twists to how her daughter inspires her.

xoxo,

Olivia 🎀

This week, we get a rare peek behind the curtain of women’s HERstory. 

Lifelong feminist Dannielle Robay joins us today to give us ALL the details about Gloria Steinem's Talking Circles, a tradition that's shaped generations of feminist conversation, and why it still matters today.

xoxo,
Olivia 

Hi angels! I couldn't be more excited about this week's guest, Danielle Robay!👸👠Known as the Queen of Questions, she hosts not one but TWO iconic podcasts: Reese Witherspoon's book club podcast "Bookmarked" and her own show "Question Everything," where she interrogates the most interesting people alive. Today, we're flipping the script and putting HER in the hot seat.We're asking her about her love of books, how she's developed her interview style, and where her curiosity comes from — and maybe I'll pick up a few nuggets of wisdom for my own interviewing along the way.You don't want to miss this one, babes!coxo,Olivia 🎀Timestamps:00:28-02:45 Intro/Bev of the Day02:46-05:06 Danielle’s likes & hobbies05:44-08:54 What’s it like interviewing for a living?08:55-11:55 Favorite authors to interview11:56-14:55 Learning from others vs experience14:56-19:44 Advice for interviewing Chapter 119:48-25:06 Danielle’s reading journey 25:07-27:37 Hosting Bookmarked (Reese’s Book Club podcast)27:38-30:06 Getting into fantasy booksChapter 230:10-35:35 Booktok vs “institutional” book world35:36-37:18 What Danielle’s reading now37:19-40:12 How do you read 100 books a year??40:13-41:41 Books every girl should readChapter 341:46-45:22 Rapid fire book recs45:22-45:51 Wrap up!#booktube #booktok #bookish

Not sure if Red Queen is for you?? Let us help!

Victoria Aveyard and I describe the type of girl who would love this book so you’ll know exactly whether it belongs on your TBR 

(Spoiler: it probably does...)

Hi angels!!!

Today I am joined by the one and only Victoria Aveyard, the BRILLIANT mind behind Red Queen... the only book I have ever reread in my entire life 😭📖

We get into her film school background and how 'Game of Thrones' shaped her writing, why dystopian fiction feels more relevant than ever, and how to actually write a plot twist that makes your readers lose their minds 👀✨

Plus we dive into her newest book Tempest, the Pirates of the Caribbean inspiration I did NOT see coming, and a very important conversation about women and power.

This one is for the girls who aren’t afraid of a strong female character....

xoxo,

Olivia 🎀

#authorinterview #romantasy #bookrecommendations #fantasybook #bookish #booktok

This week's guest, Caitlin Bea (the QUEEN of BookTok) went on the set of The Housemaid and is here to spill her behind-the-scenes secrets... everything from the hidden details you missed from the film and yes… what Freida McFadden is really like in real life!

Your all access pass to The Housemaid starts NOW!!

xoxo,

Olivia  

Hey angels!!

Today I am joined by a certified Booktok baddie with the BEST book recs — the iconic Caitlin Bea!We are getting into everything — what we love AND hate about BookTok, our full Colleen Hoover spiral (Verity specifically… iykyk), and dropping some hot takes that might just break the comments section.

You DO NOT want to miss this one!

xoxo,

Olivia 🎀

Nobody knows a perfect summer day better than the queen of the beach read herself... Carley Fortune breaks down her ideal day and exactly what she's reading on it!!xoxo,Olivia 🎀

❤︎ Join The Conversation→ Patreon (it's free!): https://www.patreon.com/cw/OliviaPonton→ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/olivia.ponton→ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamoliviapontonTimestamps:00:04- 01:13 Carley’s ideal summer day01:14-02:54 Growing up on a lake02:55-05:33 The ideal beach read#bookish #beachreads #summerreading

Hi angels!! 🎀🪽Today I am joined by the CEO of beach reads, the one and only Carley Fortune! We are diving into her brand new book Our Perfect Storm (avail now!) and what it's actually like watching Every Summer After come to life on screen (Every Year After started streaming on Prime starting June 10th). And because we couldn't help ourselves... we also ranked the best and worst ways to break up with somebody... This one is so fun! Grab a drink and get your bathing suits on because it's time for a beach read! xoxo, Olivia Grab your copy of 'Our Perfect Storm!'https://go.shopmy.us/p-70324612❤︎ Join The Conversation→ Patreon (it's free!): https://www.patreon.com/cw/OliviaPonton→ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/olivia.ponton→ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamoliviaponton→ Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/add/olivia_ponton12Timestamps:00:37-1:28 Intro/Bev of the DayChapter 11:30-03:47 Our Perfect Storm03:48-07:09 Best friends to lovers?07:10-10:40 Building real people with backstory10:41-13:06 What is Tofino? 13:07-18:29 All of those whales?18:30-23:43 Tropes - and writing a beach read.Chapter 223:45-27:44 Every Summer After!!! 27:44-29:21 When Carley thought of the Every Year After casting29:22- 31:17 Building real words from the page Chapter 331:19-36:37 How to break up with someone, Carley Fortune style36:38-37:02 What's next for Carley?#booktube #bookish #bookreview

Who knows you better than your own friend group?? The girls and I sit down to *lovingly* call out each other's most toxic traits and honestly? It might be the most self aware we've ever been. Jojo, Aleska, Phoenix, and Hannah... thank you for keeping it real… I think? Cozy, chaotic, and weirdly therapeutic. You're going to love this one.

xoxo,

Olivia 🎀❤︎ Join The Conversation→ Patreon (it's free!): https://www.patreon.com/cw/OliviaPonton→ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/olivia.ponton→ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamoliviaponton→ Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/add/olivia_ponton12

Timestamps:00:00-02:05 - Jojo’s toxic trait02:06-03:30 - Aleksa and Hannah’s toxic trait03:31-05:57 - Pheonix and Olivia’s toxic trait05:58-10:11 - Toxic relationships

My own real life Sex and the City friend group just took over the podcast!!! 🎀✨Hi angels!Jojo, Aleksa, Phoenix, Hannah and I are here to spill what we've been reading, settle the book adaptation debates once and for all, and expose whoever has been faking their way through a book (you know who you are 👀)And because it's Pride month... we're talking queer reads, coming out stories, and how we're celebrating. 🏳️‍🌈💛Happy Pride!! xoxo, Olivia 🎀✦︎ Listen To 'Booked & Busy' Everywhere You Stream→ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Zf0lWdrYI61m3OTd80Bxp→ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/booked-busy-w-olivia-ponton/id1848952840→ Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f5856969-999f-4aff-b523-ff96e1121a56/booked-busy-w-olivia-ponton❤︎ Join The Conversation→ Patreon (it's free!): https://www.patreon.com/cw/OliviaPonton→ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/olivia.ponton→ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamoliviaponton→ Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/add/olivia_ponton12Timestamps:00:00-03:32 Friend intros!Chapter 103:35-04:07 Guilty or Not Guilty 04:08-05:25 Lying about reading05:26-07:26 Jojo’s reading habits and Hannah’s rec07:27-08:56 DNF a book everyone loved08:57-12:12 is Booktok dead?12:13-13:00 Pheonix’s recent reads13:01-15:54 Favorite tropes 15:55-16:45 book that got you into readingChapter 216:46-17:51 Book adaptations bracket17:52-24:02 Off Campus 24:03-26:52 Divergent and Twilight 26:53-29:20 Harry Potter vs Hunger GamesChapter 329:21-30:59 Pride!31:00-32:37 LGBTQIA books (Evelyn Hugo playlist?)32:38-35:12 advice for coming out 35:13-37:21 Olivia’s coming out story 37:22-37:57 OutroBooks mentioned:It Ends with Us by Coleen HooverUgly Love by Coleen HooverThe Never King by Nikki St. Crowe (not “Lost King”)Just Kids by Patti SmithA Little Life by Hanya YanagiharaA Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. MaasBinding 13 by Chloe Walsh Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver Martyr! by Kaveh AkbarPeople You Read on Vacation by Emily HenryNext to Heaven by James FreyThe Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins ReidCrave by Tracy WolffPercy Jackson & the Olympians series by Rick RiordanThe Selection series by Kiera Cass#booktok #booktube #bookish #booklover #podcast

Hi angels! 🎀🪽You know I had to put Candace to the test... so I pulled out some of the Gen Z terms we use on a daily basis and had the woman who basically wrote the dating bible for an entire generation try to guess what they mean. From "the ick" to "situationships," let's just say some of these landed and some of them did NOT. Honestly though, half of these she probably could've coined herself back in the day. Watch the full episode for the real Sex and the City stories, dating advice, and so much more. xoxo, Olivia

Hi angels! This week on Booked, Blonde & Busy, I'm sitting down with the woman who created Carrie Bradshaw herself...Candace Bushnell.

We talk about everything from the real stories that inspired Sex and the City, what New York nightlife was actually like before social media, dating in your 20s, financial independence, and why Candace's advice to young women today is to focus on getting the money.

We also get into BookTok, modern relationships, her one-woman show, and what it's been like watching a whole new generation discover Sex and the City nearly 30 years later.

Whether you're a Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda, or Samantha, this episode is for you.

xoxo, 

Olivia

✦︎ Listen To 'Booked & Busy' Everywhere You Stream

→ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Zf0lWdrYI61m3OTd80Bxp

→ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/booked-busy-w-olivia-ponton/id1848952840

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❤︎ Join The Conversation

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→ Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/add/olivia_ponton12

Timestamps:

00:00-00:52 - Intro

00:53-01:21 - Beverage of The Day

01:22-09:52 - New York City Culture + Nightlife in the 90s

09:53-11:11 - Could 'Sex And The City' Exist In The World of Social Media?

11:12-14:35 - How SATC (The Book) Came To Be + The Stories Behind Them

14:36-15:47 - Mining Real Life for Inspo

15:47-18:17 - Working On The SATC Series, Lipstick Jungle + Candace's Writing Process

18:18-22:16 - What/Who Really Inspired Sex And The City?

22:16-25:47 - Does Candace Realize How Major SATC Truly Is?

25:48-30:28 - BookTok, Imitation As Flattery + The Cultural Impact

30:29-34:02 - What Would SATC Look Like In 2026?

34:03-39:45 - Candace Bushnell's One Woman Show

39:45-41:37 - What's It Like Having A New Generation of SATC Fans?

41:38-50:34 - If Candace Could Give Gen Z One Piece of Advice... (Men, Women + Dating)

50:34-52:02 - Outro#booktube #bookrecommendations #sexandthecity #satc #bookish #booktok #candancebushnell #carriebradshaw

Ever wonder what actually goes on at the Met Gala?? Because Josephine Skriver just gave us the inside scoop and you do NOT want to miss this. We're talking wardrobe mishaps, bathroom secrets, and the question that has genuinely kept me up at night: how do you even LEAVE the Met Gala?? Consider this your all-access pass 🎀

xoxo,

Olivia

TIME STAMPS

00:00-2:32 inside the met gala

2:33-4:35 Olivia’s wardrobe mishap

Welcome to Season 2 of Booked, Blonde & Busy!!! 🎀

We are back and even more booked, busier and blonder than ever! That’s right, new name alert - we are now Booked, BLONDE and Busy. Because blonde is a state of mind ;)

To kick things off, I brought in someone truly iconic... Victoria's Secret Angel AND certified book girlie, Josephine Skriver. Yes, THAT Josephine Skriver. She showed up and did not disappoint. This week we're diving into Keeping 13 by Chloe Walsh, spilling our most chaotic reading habits, debating the ACOTAR fan casting of our dreams, and so so much more.

We are SO back, angels!

xoxo, Olivia

❤︎ Join The Conversation

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→ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/olivia.ponton

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→ Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/add/olivia_ponton12

TIME STAMPS

00:00-3:30 Intro/Beverage of the day

3:50-7:17 what got us into reading

7:18-11:30 the rise of fanfics and Wattpad

11:33-16:16 dark books and red flags

16:20-19:00 Keeping 13

19:11-21:05 Throne of Glass series

21:06-24:58 Boys of Tommen series

24:58-28:05 rereading ACOTAR

28:06-31:25 Sarah J Maas universe

31:26-33:29 publishing schedules

33:30-35:10 fan theories

35:11-40:12 Book adaptations

40:13-45:49 ACOTAR fan cast

45:50-49:14 ACOTAR predictions

49:15 wrap up :)

#booktube #romantasy #bookrecommendations #fantasybook #bookish #booktok

Surprise!! 🎀 We couldn't fully conclude season one of Booked & Busy without taking it back to our very first guest, the one and only Alex Aster! I sat down with Alex at Spotify Studios to chat all things Starside, her most recent book that she'd been writing in secret for years. From the world of Starside vs. Stormside, magical swords, the 'beast tree,' and female rage - to the romantasy genres booming success, audiobooks as an immersive portal into new stories and even the one's we already love... this is a bonus episode you do not want to miss! Special thanks to Spotify for hosting us at their studio, and if you're an audiobook reader - be sure to check out their 'Page Match' feature! This may be the OFFICIAL last episode of season one... but I have a feeling there's an update in store for you all very very soon ;)xoxo,Olivia Listen to the Starside Audiobook on Spotify Now: https://open.spotify.com/show/3heMK5Z9F20k9r0j2EoZjH?si=a1bec28f19924c6f❤︎ Join The Conversation→ Patreon (it's free!): https://www.patreon.com/cw/OliviaPonton→ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/olivia.ponton→ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamoliviaponton→ Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/add/olivia_ponton12Timestamps:00:00-00:06 - Intro00:06-00:53 - Writing adult romantasy for the first time00:53-01:41 - What does Alex want people to get out of 'Starside?'01:41-02:25 - Escapism, and why fantasy and romantasy are having a moment right now02:25-03:10 - Books as medicine + swapping scrolling for reading03:10-04:08 - What inspired the world of 'Starside' + the talking the sword magic system04:08-05:28 - How the audiobook format amplifies the reading experience05:28-07:20 - Reaching a new audience through this adult genre + the audiobooks07:20-07:48 - How reading transforms us + builds community07:48-08:11 - If 'Starside' had a playlist, what songs would be on it?08:11-08:35 - Alex describes 'Starside' in three words08:35-09:40 - Sword tattoos, dagger sisters, and the 'beast tree'09:40-09:51 - Outro✎ This Episode Is For You If You Like...→ Genres / Topics: romantasy, fantasy, author interviews, world-building, maps and magic systems→ Themes: female rage and resilience, rising from the ashes, enemies-to-lovers, → Books & Authors Mentioned: Starside by Alex Aster, Lightark series, Summer in the City, Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, King of Greed by Ana Huang★ If You're Searching For:→ Alex Aster Starside book review and discussion→ Alex Aster interview→ author interview 2026→ Lightark series→ enemies to lovers fantasy books 2026→ female rage in fantasy books→ best romantasy books 2026→ how to get back into reading#booktube #romantasy #bookrecommendations #fantasybook #bookish #booktok

Season one of Booked & Busy is a wrap, but we honestly could not let it go by without a best moments compilation 🎀📖

From my best friend Emma Brooks talking about the wretched Korea Town apartment that started it all, to Rebecca Serle revealing the psychic prophecy that literally inspired In Five Years...this season was one for the books ;))

We talked about changing dreams, crying in ubers, writing on kitchen floors covered in index cards, friendship soulmates, manifestation, what the 20s are actually for, and why a crush is just a lack of information (life changing revelation, by the way).

If you're new here, this is your sign to go back and watch every episode, and if you've been here from the start...thank you!!! genuinely. this podcast started because i kept DMing authors with questions and someone told me to just start a show and now here we are 🥹🪽

big things coming soon 💝

xoxo,
Olivia

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Rebecca Serle is officially Booked & Busy 📖🌊

Okay so I need to set the scene. I started reading 'In Five Years' on a 6-hour bus ride to the Kelly Slater Surf Ranch surrounded by surfers who absolutely did not care about the emotional spiral I was having. I finished it on the way back... was not okay. Stared at the wall for a minimum of 30 minutes after the last page and had so many questions. A few weeks later I somehow ended up sitting across from the author herself, and that's why I love this podcast!!

We get into EVERYTHING. The full breakdown of In Five Years (spoilers included so be sure to pay attention to the timestamps), the psychic prophecy that actually inspired the entire book and turned out to be true, why Rebecca wrote that ending, and a peek into her brand new book 'Once and Again.' We also talk about motherhood, growing apart from friends, why happy marriages don't make interesting novels, and sooo much more!!!

Grab a drink and snack and let's get into it 🎀

xoxo,
Olivia

❤︎ Join The Conversation
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Haley-Grace McCormick is officially Booked & Busy 💙🕗

If you know me, you know I don't cry from just any book, but then I finished 'The Enemy of Time' by Haley-Grace McCormick in a hotel room the night before a big shoot and proceeded to absolutely fall apart... 

We talk everything from the story behind how this book came to life starting with a college short story class and a bunch of old journals, growing apart from friends, writing through her first real heartbreak and how that changed the story, the 'spicy' scene her dad had to read out loud to her (i could actually never), what's coming next from her and SO so so so much more!

Grab your beverage of the day (ours was a blue smoothie to match the cover) and let's get Booked & Busy ;) 

xoxo,
Olivia

✎ This Episode Is For You If You Like...
→ Genres: contemporary romance, emotional contemporary fiction
→ Tropes / Vibes: author interviews, debut novels, emotional devastation and heartbreaking love stories, friends to lovers, flashbacks, non-linear storytelling

❤︎ Join The Conversation
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→ Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/add/olivia_ponton12

Emma Brooks is officially Booked & Busy 🎀📖

Today's episode is maybe my favorite so far because I'm joined by my actual best friend in the whole word... THE Emma Brooks. And tbh, this episode feels like the one that started it all, because in a way she's lowkey the reason this podcast even exists!!

We talk about how we both fell in love with reading (hint...it starts with a 500-page book and a questionable Koreatown apartment in Los Angeles), our full reading journeys from the Crave series by Tracy Wolf, Colleen Hoover, and Taylor Jenkins Reid to the ACOTAR series and what we've been reading most recentlyyy. We also dive into our favorite tropes, self-care reading routines, audiobooks and the books that made us book a session with our therapists post-breakdown (and like so so much more omg)

Grab a beverage and a snack, get cozy, and let's get Booked & Busy ;)

xoxo,
Olivia

✎ This Episode Is For You If You Like...
→ Genres: romance, romantasy, contemporary romance, fantasy, dystopian fantasy
→ Tropes / Vibes: enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, plot twists, booktok/booktube recs, hidden gem book recs, YA nostalgia
→ Books Mentioned: Crave Series, ACOTAR (Court of Thorns and Roses, Court of Mist and Fury), Throne of Glass, Fourth Wing, The Alchemist, Normal People, Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Malibu Rising, Daisy Jones and the Six, Guild, The Butcher and the Blackbird, Book Lovers, If He Had Been With Me, A Thousand Boy Kisses, Quicksilver, Confirm, Every Summer After (and probably so many more i missed girl idk lol)

❤︎ Join The Conversation
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→ Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/add/olivia_ponton12

Welcome back to Booked & Busy... my podcast for all the girlies who love to read 💌

This week I'm SO excited to be joined by Lucy Score, #1 New York Times bestselling author and the fabulous mind behind the 'Knockemout' series! 

In this episode we're talking 'Things We Never Got Over' (including the series adaptation in development with Amazon MGM Studios), writing routines, character chemistry, slow burns and the editing process that "kills your soul." We're ALSO getting a little preview of Lucy's soon to be released, 'Mistakes Were Made,' 👀 which is the second book in her hit 'Story Lake' series.

So grab a drink or a snack, get cozy, and let's get Booked & Busy! 🎀📖

xoxo,
Olivia

📅 Mistakes Were Made drops March 10th, 2026 

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Happy (belated) Valentine's Day angels 🎀🪽

On today's episode of Booked & Busy we'll be focusing on 'The Deal' by Elle Kennedy... the perfect fake-dating hockey romance for Valentine's Day!! It's sweet, it's surprisingly deep and emotional, it's... a little cringe tbh. Honestly what else could we ask for?!?!

Instead of doing a heavy synopsis, we'll be mostly chatting about my thoughts and opinions on the characters, their relationship, and why they do the things that they do.

A quick TW for this one: 'The Deal' covers topics like assault and domestic abuse / family trauma, but we touch on it only briefly, so feel free to check the timestamps so you can skip through if needed. 

Love you always xoxo,
Olivia

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Welcome back to Booked & Busy 📚💘

Today is going to be an extra fun episode because we're joined by Abby Abell, a member of the Amazon Editors team! We're diving into all the best romance and romantasy books of 2025, the most anticipated releases of 2026, and the trends we're seeing in the literary space continuing into 2026.

Get ready to add 20+ more books to your never-ending TBR... because, from enemies to lovers and forced proximity to second-chance romances and love triangles, we have something for EVERYONE this week 🎀🎀

Let me know your favorite books of 2025 and most anticipated releases of 2026 in the comments down below!!

xoxo,
Olivia

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Hi angels!!

Welcome back to another episode of Booked & Busy! This week we're not just breaking down one book... we're diving into the ENTIRE 'Twisted' series by our absolute queen, Ana Huang!!

The 'Twisted' series is not just one continuous storyline, but four different emotional fantasies (whether you're into obsessive devotion, enemies-to-lovers, or royal romances), which makes these books perfect for all different types of readers! So for this episode we'll dive into why the 'Twisted' series dominates BookTok, which book you'll probably connect with most based on your favorite romance tropes, and so so much more!

This series was highly requested in our Patreon community, so if you want to weigh in on future books/series to deep dive, be sure to join the conversation! 💓💓

xoxo,
Olivia Ponton

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Julia Whelan is officially Booked & Busy!

Today's episode is a really exciting one because I'm joined by Julia Whelan...bestselling author, former actor, and one of the most iconic audiobook narrators of all time (she's narrated 700+ audiobooks, like hello??). We're talking all things My Oxford Year, the book and the movie adaption, plus Julia's writing process, how audiobooks actually get made, adapting scripts into novels, and why sometimes your dreams change... and that it's not failure, it's growth.

So grab your beverage of the day (ours is an English Breakfast tea for My Oxford Year) and let's get into it!

xoxo,
Olivia

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A house that feels to quiet. A wife who feels too perfect. A job that feels...off.

Today on Booked & Busy, we're deep diving The Housemaid by Freida McFadden, a psychological thriller novel that burrows under your skin and refuses to let go. This is a story about power, control, survival and the terrifying intimacy of domestic spaces. From unreliable narrators and emotional manipulation to locked doors, gaslighting, and performance perfection... this book had me questioning everything.

We're breaking this episode into three parts:
The Book (themes, characters, symbolism)
The Movie (adaptation choices, performances, and visual tension)
The Reality Check - where we compare the ending, unpack what changed, and decide which version I preferred. 

Grab a drink, lock your doors, and step inside the Winchester house with me!

⚠️ Spoiler warning for The Housemaid book and film.

xoxo,
Olivia Ponton

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Alex Aster is officially... Booked & Busy 📚✨

Welcome back to another episode of Booked & Busy, and today's a major one! We're welcoming our very first guest author, Alex Aster. In this episode, we deep dive into her viral fantasy series (Lightlark), her New York City rom-com Summer in the City, how BookTok changed everything, and what it's actually like to write four books in a year!

We talk fast-paced fantasy world building, romance tropes, and the reader-favorite Team Grim vs Team Oro debate. Alex also spills on all things Crowntide, the newest installation in the Lightlark series - plus her new adult romantasy book (Starside) and exciting updates on the Lightlark and Summer in the City film adaptations currently in development!

"This or Thats," writing confessions, rapid-fire questions, and a peek into Alex's real everyday life... all of this and more, in this week's episode of Booked & Busy! 

Crowntide is now available online or in stores, with Starside hitting the shelves on March 24th, 2026!

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The Bachelor reimagined through a dystopian, royal lens.

Today on Booked & Busy, I’m diving into The Selection by Kiera Cass — a world of castes, palace politics, rebellions, and a love triangle that unravels slowly and beautifully.
We follow America Singer as she navigates duty, desire, and the weight of choosing between what’s familiar and what could change her life entirely. I’m unpacking the characters, the social hierarchy, the rebellion threads woven into the background, and the scenes that feel almost cinematic.
If you’ve ever wondered how this story would translate on screen… I have thoughts.
Pour a cup of tea and settle in — this episode is for anyone who loves romance with a layer of world-building and social commentary.
Spoiler warning for anyone who hasn’t finished the series yet.

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Welcome to the very first episode of Booked & Busy with me, Olivia Ponton!
We're kicking things off with one of the most talked-about fantasy romance books of all time... Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. Think dragons, romance, war college drama, and an underdog main character we can't help but root for. In this episode, I'm diving into all the twists, betrayals, and (of course) the romantic sparks.
This one's for the readers who wish they lived in the world of Basgiath, can't stop thinking about dark-haired men with secret agendas, and the emotional rollercoaster that is Violet Sorrengail's journey.
Spoiler warning! If you haven't read Fourth Wing yet, go finish it first, then come back so we can spiral together properly.

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