The 5 O’Clock Book Club

Happy Monday! Why wait for a Wednesday when an episode is edited and ready for upload, amiright!This week we read The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins. This was his debut novel and certainly a wild ride. Neither one of us knew quite what to expect, nor could we possibly have been able to. Pour up a drink and enjoy this episode! Next book: Calamity Club by Kathryn StockettLove ya <3!

Happy Wednesday! As promised we are still semi-back! This week we read the instant-classic, Piranesi, by Suzanna Clark. A traipse through a classical architecture-inspired, labyrinthine, Salvador Dali-esque "house" turns slowly into a dark academia style mystery in this unique novel. Spoiler alert - we loved it! Piranesi was the most lovable protagonist and the inner-monologue of his first-person perspective is beyond endearing. Pour up a drink, get comfy, and enjoy this week's episode!Next book: The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins Love ya!

Well, well, well… if it isn’t Wednesday!That hasn’t meant anything for the last 7 months, but it means something today… The 5 O’Clock Book Club is back! We had to take some time off because life is crazy (you know how it is)! But we are semi-back and so happy to be. You can start expecting new episodes from us, albeit sporadically (at least once a month maybe?, idk we’ll see).  This week we finally finished the Zodiac Academy series, all 9 of them! Now we can move on with our lives! From the first to the last book we have witnessed character development and growth; we have laughed, cried, and cringed; we have questioned the authors’ and our own sanity. But most of all, we’ve had a ball (no rhyme intended)! What more is there to say? Thank you Zodiac Academy, thank you Suzanne Valenti, thank you Caroline Peckam, y’all are wild! We had a great time!!!!Now that that’s settled, pour up your drink, kick back, and enjoy this week’s episode! Love ya!

Happy, happy Wednesday and welcome back to another episode of The 5 O'Clock Book Club. This week we read SenLinYu's debut novel, Alchemised. This book has been long-awaited, it has broken records, and it is SO good. Alchemised is an adapted version of an online work by the same author called Manacled, which was originally written as a work of Harry Potter fan fiction. Don't let this turn you off, though; this is no Master-of-the-Universe-turned-50-Shades-of-Grey. Alchemised is a work of art, it is surprising and emotionally devastating in the best possible way.Get comfy and pour up a drink (or two, this one's a long one) and enjoy the episode!! Next episode: The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley (probably lol)Love ya!

Happy Wednesday, and welcome back to another episode of The 5 O'Clock Book Club! (I know it's Thursday, but we can pretend we're not a day late). This week we read what we proclaim to be a masterpiece, Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby. What isn't this book? To call it a crime novel (which it is) almost feels reductive. This book is full of nuance, passion, excitement, adventure, sorrow, growth, and so much more. This book burrows right into the heart of the human condition in a way that transcends race, sexuality, gender, and class - all themes that S.A. Cosby employs. If you want to read a GOOD book, a GREAT book, this is the one. Pour up a drink, get settled, and enjoy this week's episode! Next episode's read: Alchemised by SenLinYuLove ya!

Happy Wednesday! Welcome back to another episode of The 5 O'Clock Book Club. This week, we read the ultimate cool-girl nonfiction book, Didion and Babitz by Lili Anolik (forgive our consistent mispronunciation of Anolik in this ep). Are you Team Didion or Team Babitz? It seems like there's only one side to walk away from this book on. Is this a shortcoming? Maybe. However, the vivid, vicarious, sex-drugs-and-rock-and-roll daydream this book allowed us to live made up for any of its imperfections. Join us in wishing we'd been members of the scene, living slow days with fast company! Pour up a drink, kick back, and enjoy this episode! Next episode's book: Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby Love ya, -Em and SK <3

Happy Wednesday! Welcome back to another episode of the 5 O'Clock Book Club. This week we read the new-ish bestseller Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry. They're writers, she's bubbly, he's a storm cloud, they're obsessed with each other, 50s rich people flashbacks. What more could you want?? We're a little mad about the ending, but overall, we're blushing, we're giggling, we're kicking our feet. Grab a drink, kick back, and enjoy the episode!!! Next episode's book: Didion and Babitz by Lili Anolik Love ya!

Happy Wednesday! Welcome to another episode of the 5 O'Clock Book Club! This week we read the highly acclaimed Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. Project Hail Mary came out in 2021, but with a movie adaptation scheduled for 2026 has been as relevant as ever this year. We had to get in on the hype and we. were. not. disappointed. Project Hail Mary has entered our top ranking of books. Andy Weir has created a book where every page is a new discovery. Prepare to explore the true final frontier alongside theoretical scientist-turned-astronaut Rylan Grace. (Sorry for the audio issues in the first few minutes, it goes away.) Next episode's book: Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry Love ya!

Happy Wednesday! Welcome back to another (now biweekly) episode of The 5 O'Clock Book Club. We are SO close to being done with this series. One more to go! Anyway, in this episode, we read books 7 and 8, both at a page count of over 1000. We are dealing with some Zodiac exhaustion but we continue to stand by our opinion that the books are getting better and better. Get ready for a main character death, occult-ish blood magic, and minotaur terms of endearment. We would love to say that the next episode of this podcast will see the Zodiac series completed, but we are in need of a detox (we'll get to it eventually). Next episode: Project Hail Mary by Andy WeirLove ya!

Happy Wednesday! We're baaaaaackkkk!!! Your girls simply had to take a little summer break from the pod, but we are back and better than ever. This week we read the 6th installment of the Zodiac Academy series, Fated Throne by Caroline Peckam and Suzanne Valenti. We are riveted, we are enamored, and we are also very ready for it to be over. These books keep getting better and better, but they also keep getting longer and longer. It's been a continuously wild ride that we are loving. Enjoy this week's episode! (Disclaimer: This episode was recorded on June 19th before our hiatus began.)Next week's books: Heartless Sky and Sorrow and Starlight (Zodiac Academy #7 & #8) by Caroline Peckam and Suzanne ValentiLove ya!