Kris and Mads

• Are Book Reviews Trash?! We Have Thoughts…

  As the 20th best reviewer on Goodreads (out of 150 million users!), Maddie shares the truth about book ratings, how reviews impact our reading experiences, and why they might not be as objective as we think. Kristen, on the other hand, is overcoming her doubts about whether reviewing books is worth the effort. We break down how we rate books, the difference between popularity and quality, and whether our ratings actually change over time. Whether you're a dedicated reviewer or just want to know if that viral book is actually good, this episode is for you!Mentioned in this EpisodeLord of the Rings by J.R.R. TolkienRealm of the Elderlings by Robin HobbStormlight Archive by Brandon SandersonA Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. JensenWhen the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. ParkerArtificial Wisdom by Thomas WeaverThe Grace Year by Kim LiggettThe Sword of Kaigen by M.L. WangBlood Over Bright Haven by M.L. WangBrandon Sanderson’s lectures: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEUh_y1IFZYTimestamps00:00 – Intro00:13 – Maddie is the 20th top reviewer on Goodreads!01:56 – Kristen’s reluctance to write book reviews02:40 – How writing reviews helps Maddie think critically & guide readers06:07 – Why good reviews include both strengths & weaknesses08:58 – Maddie’s reading tracking spreadsheet: why she made it10:16 – Maddie’s rubric for rating & reviewing books14:25 – How reviewing books helps you learn your taste16:30 – What earns 5 stars in the character category?21:20 – Are popular books actually good? Does hype = quality?25:04 – How we rate plot differently28:36 – Can ratings change over time? Are reviews even objective?33:08 – How we analyze themes in books41:18 – Final thoughts on rating & reviewingLet’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email us: [email protected] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kris.and.madsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/krisandmadsAll our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:https://www.youtube.com/@SeeRayHardly#BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books #BookReview #Goodreads #BookTok #BookPodcast #BookRatings #ReadingCommunity #BookLover #Bookish

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  45:20
• The Self-Help Books That Transformed Our Money, Manifesting, Mental Health & More

  In this episode, we get raw and honest, sharing our biggest mistakes and breakthroughs in each of these areas: finances, authenticity, manifesting, simplifying, parenting, physical health, mental health, and career. From hard lessons learned to the transformative books that reshaped our mindsets, we’re pulling back the curtain on the real, messy, and often unpopular truths behind our self-improvement. If you’ve ever wondered what non-fiction books changed how we think, tune in!Books Mentioned: Secrets of Six-Figure Women by Barbara Stanny Broken Open by Elizabeth Lesser Ask and It Is Given by Esther and Jerry Hicks Simple Matters by Erin Boyle Heart Thoughts by Louise L. Hay Bringing Up Bebe by Pamela Druckerman Moon Time by Lucy H. Pearce Real Food for Pregnancy by Lily Nichols 10% Happier by Dan Harris Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey Timestamps:00:00 Intro01:48 Finances06:42 Authenticity 10:13 Manifesting13:58 Simplifying21:34 Parenting29:41 Physical Health33:36 Mental Health36:56 Entrepreneurship Let’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email us: [email protected] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kris.and.madsInstagam: https://www.instagram.com/krisandmadsAll our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:https://www.youtube.com/@SeeRayHardly#BookTube #selfhelpbooks #selfdiscovery #selfimprovement #selfgrowth #BookClub #Reading #Books #manifesting #meditation #mimimalism #money #parentingbooks #careerbooks #health #wellness #wellnessbooks

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  44:14
• Books We BOTH Rated 5 Stars 📚 Our Top Book Recommendations Across 8 Genres!

  In this episode, we’re recommending 16 incredible books that we both rated ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ across 8 genres—even though we don’t always agree! Whether you love sci-fi, fantasy, thriller, magical realism, romantasy, contemporary romance, literary fiction, or YA fantasy books, you'll find a recommendation on this list. If you enjoy deep themes, analyzing entertainment, discussing popular media, and being part of a book club-style conversation, join us for this episode! Subscribe for more book recommendations, in-depth discussions, and literary deep dives! 📚✨Timestamps:00:00 Intro01:02 Two sci-fi books that we both rated 5 stars11:31 Two high fantasy books that we both rated 5 stars22:03 Two poetic books with flowery prose that we both rated 5 stars27:08 Two romantasy romance books that we both rated 5 stars33:46 Two contemporary books that we both rated 5 stars38:56 Two magical realism books that we both rated 5 stars46:50 Two literary fiction books that we both rated 5 stars54:10 Two young adult fantasy books that we both rated 5 stars59:42 Is there such a thing as a perfect book?Books Mentioned: Red Rising by Pierce Brown Artificial Wisdom by Thomas R. Weaver The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang The Will of the Many by James Islington If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio Masters of Death by Olivie Blake One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig Belladonna by Adalyn Grace Happy Place by Emily Henry The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V.E. Schwab The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin Legendborn by Tracy Deonn Six of Crows by Leigh BardugoLet’s connect!Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhoodHave a business inquiry? Email us: [email protected] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kris.and.madsInstagam: https://www.instagram.com/krisandmadsAll our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.madsTo check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:https://www.youtube.com/@SeeRayHardly#BookTube #FantasyBooks #BookClub #Reading #Books #BookRecommendations #5StarBooks #ThrillerBooks #SciFiBooks #YAFantasy #Romantasy #LiteraryFiction #MagicalRealism #MustReadBooks #BookClubReads #PopularBooks #BooksWorthTheHype #DeepThemes #StoryAnalysis #BestBooks2025 #BookLovers #TBRList #ReadingRecommendations #FictionLovers

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  1:02:51
• Exposing Ourselves: Shadow Work with Existential Kink’s Carolyn Elliott

  Are you ready to break free from repeating patterns and uncover the hidden desires shaping your life? In this powerful episode, we sit down with Carolyn Elliott, author of Existential Kink, to explore the transformative practice of shadow work. If you're a reader who loves self-help books, personal development, and discovering new tools for growth, this interview is for you. Carolyn shares how embracing the unconscious parts of ourselves—yes, even the uncomfortable ones—can lead to profound breakthroughs in relationships, finances, and creativity. Whether you're stuck in a cycle you can't escape or just looking for your next must-read book, Existential Kink offers a fresh, fun, and empowering approach to leveling up your life. Tune in to hear how this book became essential in our journey and why it might just be the missing piece in yours! You can find out more about Carolyn's work and her book Existential Kink here: https://carolynlovewell.com/ Let’s connect! Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhood Have a business inquiry? Email us: [email protected] TikTok:   / kris.and.mads   Instagam:   / krisandmads   All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.mads To check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:    / @seerayhardly   Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:47 Two Truths and a Lie 04:42 What is Existential Kink? - Shadow Work and Radical Acceptance 11:36 Why Change if you already have everything you want? 14:44 Maddie’s kink 18:05 The knight and the lady - conscious and unconscious love story 21:42 Aligning the subconscious and conscious selves 23:58 What about collective kinks of society? Feeling like a victim. 26:27 Kristen’s kink - and what our favorite romance tropes teach us about our unconscious selves 30:18 What about global patterns of pain and violence? Can shadow work have an impact? 36:14 Maddie’s thoughts on impacting the collective experience 38:53 Is magic real? #ShadowWork #ExistentialKink #CarolynElliott #PersonalGrowth #SelfHelpBooks #BreakTheCycle #InnerWork #BookLovers #TBRList #MindsetShift #UnconsciousDesires #SpiritualAwakening #TransformYourLife #BookClubReads #EmpowermentJourney #SelfDiscovery #HealingJourney #GrowthMindset #NewBookRecommendations #OvercomingPatterns #BookClub #Reading #Books

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  45:23
• The Best & Worst Book Club Reads of 2024 | What We Loved, Hated, & Wish We Hadn’t Read

  ⁠Join our Patreon⁠ ⁠Find Our Other Links and Resources⁠ Email: [email protected] 📚 We read 12 books with our book club in 2024 – and let’s just say, some were incredible, some were just okay, and a few we seriously regretted! In this episode, we rank our book club picks, sharing which books sparked deep discussions (including our deep thoughts on death and life’s meaning) and which ones fell flat. If you're looking for the best books to read with your book club (or want to avoid the duds), this episode is for you!👀 Books we discuss: All About Love: New Visions by Bell Hooks Butcher and Blackbird by Brynn Weaver Powerless by Lauren Roberts Magnolia Parks by Jessa Hastings Normal People by Sally Rooney Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom Wool by Hugh Howey The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie The Book of Doors by Garreth Brown Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl Listen to find out which ones were hits and misses! ✅ Perfect for: Finding must-read book club books Choosing books that spark discussion Avoiding book club books that don’t work Hearing honest book reviews from fellow readers ✨ What was YOUR favorite (or least favorite) book club read this year? Drop it in the comments! Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 03:31 The members of our book club 05:47 All About Love: New Visions by Bell Hooks 09:33 Butcher and Blackbird by Brynn Weaver 12:42 Powerless by Lauren Roberts 16:05 Magnolia Parks by Jessa Hastings 20:27 Normal People by Sally Rooney 24:31 Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom 33:05 A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness 37:19 Wool by Hugh Howey 40:52 The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne 47:20 And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie 49:48 The Book of Doors by Garreth Brown 52:28 Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl Other Books Mentioned: Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey Beautiful World Where Are You by Sally Rooney The Faithful and the Fallen Series by John Gwynne The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

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  1:00:01

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