Book Talk, Etc. - Episode Summary

Podcast: Book Talk, Etc.
Hosts: Tina (@tbretc) and Hannah (@hanpickedbooks)
Episode: Tina and Hannah’s All-Time Favorite Thrillers & Romances
Date: February 10, 2026

Episode Overview

This lively episode of Book Talk, Etc. centers on Tina and Hannah’s all-time favorite thrillers and romance novels, followed by their impressions and recommendations in the genre-blending world of romantic suspense. Expect impassioned book talk, strong opinions, thoughtful definitions, and a deep dive into what makes stories stick with readers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Defining Romantic Suspense (00:40, 43:32)

• The episode was inspired by a listener's question about the hosts’ top five thrillers and romances, leading to a discovery and discussion of “romantic suspense”—a genre mixing high-stakes mystery or thriller plots with the emotional tension of a developing love story.

  • Quote [43:32, Tina]:
    "A romantic suspense novel is a romance novel with a plot that focuses on a mystery, suspense, or thriller storyline... The stakes are high on both the romance and the suspense fronts."

• Both admit initial confusion ("what the is romantic suspense?") before researching the subgenre’s structure and popular appeal. They discuss how genre expectations matter, and why blending categories is both rewarding and challenging for readers.

2. Loving Lately: Gym Time & Food Content (03:09, 08:04)

• Tina: Obsessed with Vasa Fitness, a family-friendly, regional gym with comprehensive amenities and affordable kid care.

  • Kid care at the gym is a game-changer for parents (06:45).
  • Quote [05:55, Tina]:
    "If you're able to find a gym that has kid care, it really changed things for me."

• Hannah: Loving Instagram account “Wicked Confections”—notably the “Lost Black Recipes” video series for its authenticity, humor, and top-notch production values.

  • Quote [08:30, Hannah]:
    "If you bring this to the potluck, you're gonna have leftovers. It's bad. I just really like her. She's funny."

3. Latest Reads

Tina - Anatomy of an Alibi by Ashley Elston (10:08)

• Southern-set thriller featuring two women entangled in secrets and a murder, told through multiple, layered timelines.
• Recommendation: Read in print or ebook for clarity with complex perspectives.
  • Quote [13:48, Tina]:
    "This is not maybe a typical popcorn thriller...There's layers. There's a lot of layers to this."
• Gave it 4.5 stars.

Hannah - The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (15:25)

• Literary fiction told through letters spanning a complicated life.
• Praise for format/style but found main character hard to empathize with, which hampered enjoyment.
  • Quote [18:19, Hannah]:
    "I found [the protagonist] really difficult to empathize with...She was just so dense toward any of the affection."
• Provides a moment of solidarity for similarly inclined readers.

4. Tina & Hannah’s Top 5: Thrillers & Romances

A personal, all-timer list informed by reading impact, revisit frequency, and recommendation habits (22:13, 23:12).

Tina’s Top Thrillers

1. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson (24:25)
   • Praised for "everything"—murder mystery, subterfuge, memorable protagonist.
2. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (27:04)
   • "The book that launched a thousand ships," noted for its literary strength and impact.
   • Quote [27:34, Tina]:
     "There's something so freaking annoying slash badass about Gillian Flynn not publishing after the first...three books and that's it."
3. Razor Blade Tears by S.A. Cosby (31:46)
   • Cinematic, brutal, with vengeance, corruption, and strong motivation for the thriller.
   • Quote [32:04, Tina]:
     "I need motivation, corruption, revenge, whatever it is..."
4. Confessions by Kanae Minato (34:32)
   • Jaw-dropping, short, dark revenge tale with shifting perspectives.
5. Next of Kin by Kia Abdullah (38:50)
   • Heavy, emotional, legal drama with surprising twists.

Hannah’s Top Romances / Love Stories

1. Every Summer After by Carly Fortune (25:06)
   • Friends-to-lovers, messy, real, and emotionally resonant.
2. Open Water by Caleb Azuma Nelson (29:13)
   • Lyrical, poetic, literary take on romance.
   • Quote [30:29, Hannah]:
     "I think this is the romance you should read if you love literary fiction."
3. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell (32:23)
   • YA/coming-of-age classic that cemented her love for romance.
4. The View Was Exhausting by Michaela Clements & Anjuli Dada (36:26)
   • Friends-to-lovers, celebrity romance, and fake dating; highly unrated.
   • Quote [36:46, Hannah]:
     "Not a single book has held up since...it wasn't just like, here are the tropes that we're working with."
5. Talking at Night by Claire Daverly (40:06)
   • Lifelong soulmate story; Hannah’s current favorite.
   • Quote [41:22, Hannah]:
     "I love this book and would defend it with my life."

5. Romantic Suspense: Deep Dive (43:32)

• Genre bridges thriller and romance, creating challenges for authors and potentially split expectations for readers.
• Both hosts are self-aware: Tina prefers thrillers to stay focused and romance to be explicit rather than a subplot; Hannah appreciates when tension is balanced.
  • Quote [45:00, Tina]:
    "When I am reading a thriller...and all of a sudden they're like, getting it on in the background, I'm like, we're not focused on that!"
• Both agree: not likely to become their favorite genre, but appreciate the exploration for self-insight as readers.

6. Romantic Suspense: Recent Reads (49:34+)

Tina - Woman Down by Colleen Hoover

• Anticipated as a thriller in the vein of Verity but found to be defensive, meta-fictional, and highly toxic.
  • Quote [50:02, Tina]:
    "It feels like Colleen Hoover fan fiction about Colleen Hoover."
  • Criticizes it as "woe is me writers have it so hard," and not a recommend.
  • Quote [54:04, Tina]:
    "There are so many better thrillers and better books out there, in my opinion. I can't recommend this one and I probably won't read her again."

Hannah - A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn (55:52)

• Historical, witty, slow-burn romantic mystery with clever banter and excellent writing.
  • Quote [58:19, Hannah]:
    "I rarely bookmark a thriller or a romance, and the dialogue in this one was so witty."
  • Unsure it's true romantic suspense, but counts it—and plans to read further in the series.

Tina - This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crumb (59:49)

• Early-release audio thriller about two podcast hosts. Engaging use of podcast production as narrative device, well-executed and emotionally resonant.
  • Quote [62:08, Tina]:
    "Sometimes podcasts are entered into thriller books, especially, and it's almost a gimmick... Not so with this one."

Hannah - Hideaway by Nora Roberts (64:28)

• Great premise and momentum, but problematic character writing and muddled messaging. Would not recommend, but open to trying more Nora Roberts one day.

7. Shelf Additions: Upcoming Anticipated Reads (68:59)

• Tina: Discipline by Larissa Pham – Literary fiction revenge story about a writer facing her past on a remote island.
• Hannah: The One Day You Were My Husband by Rosie Walsh – Romantic suspense where a woman’s whirlwind marriage is interrupted by a mysterious abduction and twelve years of unanswered questions.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Tina, on finding new genre clarity [46:07]:
  "As long as I know going in what it is, I'm cool with it."
• Hannah, on learning as a reader [47:59]:
  "I learn something about myself as a reader every single time we do these things...That’s valuable data."
• Hannah, on honesty in reviews [18:19]:
  "I'm sorry if this ruffles some feathers, but hopefully there are others out there that felt similarly to me and can feel a moment of solidarity."
• Tina, on Colleen Hoover’s newest [50:02]:
  "It feels like Colleen Hoover fan fiction about Colleen Hoover."
• Tina, on This Story Might Save Your Life [62:08]:
  "I wanted their podcast to be real. I was like, actually, I would listen to them."

Important Timestamps

• 00:40 — Introduction to romantic suspense and show theme
• 03:09 — Tina’s Loving Lately: Vasa Fitness
• 08:04 — Hannah’s Loving Lately: Wicked Confections, food content
• 10:08 — Tina’s latest read: Anatomy of an Alibi by Ashley Elston
• 15:25 — Hannah’s latest read: The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
• 24:25 – 42:19 — Back-and-forth: All-time favorite thrillers and romances
• 43:32 — Definition and boundaries of “romantic suspense”
• 49:34 — Tina: Woman Down by Colleen Hoover (not recommended)
• 55:52 — Hannah: A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn (recommended)
• 59:49 — Tina: This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crumb (highly recommended)
• 64:28 — Hannah: Hideaway by Nora Roberts (not recommended)
• 68:59 — Shelf Additions: Most anticipated upcoming reads

Episode Tone & Style

• Warm, humorous, candid, and friendly; the hosts balance gushing (over favorites) with critique (of less-successful reads).
• They encourage listeners to explore genres with curiosity while remaining honest about their own tastes.
• Regular conversational banter, Midwest charm, and reader-to-reader relatability abound.

Takeaways for Listeners

• Expect a healthy mix of thriller and romance picks—each host leaning into her favorite comfort reads and stretching into new reading territory.
• Not all genre mash-ups work for everyone, but there’s value in the attempt and in being open to “blending” genres.
• Tina and Hannah provide a book lover's resource list rooted in personal experience, not just trendiness.
• Try out highlighted "best of all time" books, enjoy an emerging author or anticipate exciting upcoming releases—with the caveat that even much-hyped novels (ahem, Colleen Hoover) aren't for everyone.

Connect with the Hosts

• Instagram: @booktalketc, @tbretc, @hanpickedbooks
• Patreon: patreon.com/booktalketc

Final Note:
This episode is an inviting, comprehensive discussion for anyone looking to expand their TBR, revisit beloved books, or dip into the sometimes-murky waters of genre blends with two trusted bookish guides.