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Ash Sax

@ashsaxreadsstacks

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indie pubs•translated•story collections•🎧•ARCs
cohost of @otsspod 🤙🏻
wife(hi, bi erasure🙄)•mom•millennial•neuro🌶️
📍MI • 🇲🇽🍞

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My two (still unread) book club books for October 😁😁

(Anyone else running slightly behind? 🙋‍♀️)

So many of you have already read Addie Larue and said it’s incredible and you loved it. Going into that one with a lot of confidence it will be really great!

Now…let’s talk about Big Swiss…

I had never heard of this book until it was brought up as an option for October in a bookstagram book club I’m in called *Weird Girl Lit Babes”. I honestly do not know where the admins find these book options, but they’re always wild and I love it. Obsessed.

I started Big Swiss last night 👀

Quick summary :: Greta spends her days transcribing therapy sessions for a sex coach who calls himself Om. She becomes infatuated with his newest client, a repressed married female who she affectionately refers to as “Big Swiss”. They both have dark histories, but Big Swiss chooses to remain unattached to her suffering while Greta continues to be tortured by her past. One day, Greta recognizes the voice of Big Swiss in town…

You’ll have read the whole summary or just the dang book at this point because it sounds weird and is so good so far! Bizarre. But good.

Go order an iced latte and I’ll TTYL ✌️ 🩷

#bookclub #newbooks #readersofig #bookobsessed #whatareyoureading

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July is always a great month for me because it’s cancer season AND it’s the middle of summer. This year was no exception!

This month I went to the lake, and went to Baltimore and saw tame impala ON MY BIRTHDAY with my college besties and one of my clt besties (love when I make my worlds collide!!), went out with friends and saw @yeahimreading , and did lots of crafts!

I know a lot of yall on here go feral over fall and that’s fine I guess but that is not me I LOVE LOVE LOVE summer!!

I read 7 books (4/3 audio/physical split) this month, and they were mostly pretty good

The Beheading Game || 5/5⭐️
His fic, fantasy

Hamlet & Juliet || 2.5/5⭐️
Shakespeare reimagining

A shopgirl’s guide to wooing a lord || 3.5/5⭐️
Historical Romance

Feast || 4/5⭐️
Hist fic

When among crows & to clutch a razor || 4.5/5 ⭐️
Polish fantasy

Our Dark Incantations || 4/5 ⭐️*
Romantasy, published ff

This month’s TBR is long because I can’t stick to a real TBR list so the odds of me actually reading something off my TBR is higher if I give myself a lot of options.

What’re yall reading in August? Have you read any of these? Should paramount create a Zuko movie next (yes)?

#bookrecs #bookstagram #summerreading #bookrecs #booktok

The beheading game was…just so good. I did this on audio and the narrator was excellent.

Veronica Roth slayed once again

Our dark incantations is great for fourth wing lovers and anyone who is already interested in the source material

Coolest thing was this dirt cake in the top left…it was ice cream, cookies, cake, some sort of cream, Oreo crushed on top, mint leaf…in a little flower pot…so cutesy

Considering the lengths I went to to get a physical copy of summer of love it’s shocking that I still haven’t read it yet

Not shocking at all is the fact that the highest priority on this list is currently broken flames

I’m 14% into villain edit and it is slow but I believe in the power of Rosie danan to write an excellent funny spicy book so I may persevere…but it is hard so far…

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come read by the pool with me (and greyson)!!!! 💦🐠🍇⛱️📖☀️🤩🍈💕

We are reading: Hamlet & Juliet by Clare Edge

Juliet has come back to life. Haunted by the ghost of Romeo and plagued by a mother who wants to marry her off for social gain, she attends the coronation of the new King of Denmark, whose brother was recently felled by suspicious means (sound familiar?) Here, she meets hottie Prince Hamlet (yaaaas), who is seeking for an answer to the conspiracy of his father’s death. They both need a necromancer, and they need each other! King Lear is also there, I think.

I would say I am a medium-shakespeare enjoyer. I enjoy Romeo & Juliet, the modern adaptations of his plays (lion king 🤝 hamlet slaaaay), and I loved If We Were Villains, so this sort of retelling seemed right up my alley! so far, it has been a really interesting read, and I am enjoying it! I have been in a reading slump for like a month and this is intriguing enough to pull me out of it.

this is out 1/7/26!! thank you to @netgalley for this eARC 🤞

Grey is reading Dungeon Crawler Carl, thanks to @miaatkinstv ’s recommendation!!! He seems to be enjoying it, which is a major slay.

He recently finished final girl support group by grady hendrix, which he did not like that much. He said some of why he didn’t like that one was because he recently read final girls by riley seger and they were similar. Personally, I would’ve liked that because then I could compare them, but to each their own.

I can’t wait to keep reading this one! what are yall reading this week!?!?! 🫶

This spindrift flavor is the BEST!!!!

Shoutout to @bookstagabs for getting married and inviting me so I could get this koozie that I use every time it’s above 85 degrees

It was 100 degrees this day I fear

FRUIT BREAK

2 ish hours because I forgot to check the time before I started and I was estimating

Look at him being so aesthetic. Need him to take pics like this of ME!

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🪻 Ep 24 🪻 w/ @kirstenlking

The ultimate Q&A with Kirsten! 🎙️We sat down on Monday to talk with author and screenwriter Kirsten King about all things storytelling. We geeked out over her wild FMC, the details behind drafting her novel, and the differences between writing for the screen and the page.

Catch the full interview on YouTube or via our bio 🔗!

👉🏼Who is your favorite unhinged FMC or whatcha reading today? 💕

#otsspodcast #authorinterview #podcast #kirstenking #agoodperson @hussy_for_hardbacks @ashsaxreadsstacks @putnambooks

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⛰️🐺 CLOSED 🐺⛰️

Giveaway alert! 🚨 We are so excited to chat with the incredible CJ Leede this June! Ahead of our interview, we are giving away a copy of her highly anticipated upcoming novel, Headlights, before it hits the shelves.

📝 How to Enter the Giveaway
* Follow our account, @ceejthemoment, and @tornightfire (and stick around)
* Like this post
* Tag a bookish friend in the comments (each tag = 1 entry)
* Bonus: Share this post to your story for an extra entry and tag us!

📅 Buddy Read Timeline
* How to Join: Comment the 📚 emoji or DM us
* Group Launch: May 19
* Read-Along Dates: June 12th – June 17th
* Where: Private Instagram group chat

👉🏼If you could be any animal for a day, what would you choose? Or tell us what you’re reading! 🐺

This giveaway runs from May 19 to May 23 at 11:59 PM, and is hosted solely by us and is not affiliated with any other party. The winner will be chosen and contacted by us on May 24.

@tornightfire @hussy_for_hardbacks @ashsaxreadsstacks

#otsspodcast #authorpodcast #cjleede #headlights #arcgiveaway

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♍️ Ep 23 ♍️ w/ @___adorn

From perfume and cancel culture to astrology and Lana Del Rey, our chat with Anna covered it all. 🎙️ Episode 23 is officially live! Hit the link in our bio or head to our YouTube channel to dive into the brilliant, hilarious mind behind the books you love.

Also, do yourself a favor and subscribe to Sample Sluts, the perfume and culture Substack she co-writes with her friend Crissy Milazzo. It is wonderfully kitschy and creative.

👉🏼If you could live inside the universe of any book you’ve ever read, which one would it be?

#annadorn #otsspodcast #authorinterview #podcast #bookpodcast

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☁️☁️☁️CLOSED☁️☁️☁️

💜☁️ TWO (2!!!) copy giveaway 💜☁️

For a chance to win a copy of But Won’t I Miss Me,

◽️Follow @otsspod, @harperviabooks @tiffanytsao (& stick around!)
◽️Like & save this post
◽️Tag 1 friend in the comments (1 tag per comment w/ no limit, go wild!)

𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐄𝐗𝐓𝐑𝐀 𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒,

◽️Reshare this post
◽️Share this to your story (letting it remain for 24hrs!) & tag @otsspod —this can be done once every 24hr period

𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐊𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐀,

◽️Share this post w a friend via DMs
◽️ Request your library orders But Won’t I Miss Me

👉🏻Describe your current read in only three emojis!

ᴏᴘᴇɴ ᴛᴏ ᴇɴᴛʀᴀɴᴛs ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴜs ᴡɪʟʟɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴘʀᴏᴠɪᴅᴇ ᴜs ᴡɪᴛʜ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴍᴀɪʟɪɴɢ ᴀᴅᴅʀᴇss.

ɢɪᴠᴇᴀᴡᴀʏ ᴇɴᴅs 5/15 ᴀᴛ 11:𝟻𝟿ᴘᴍ.
2 ᴡɪɴɴᴇʀs ᴡɪʟʟ ʙᴇ ʀᴀɴᴅᴏᴍʟʏ sᴇʟᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ, ᴀɴɴᴏᴜɴᴄᴇᴅ ᴠɪᴀ sᴛᴏʀɪᴇs & ᴄᴏɴᴛᴀᴄᴛᴇᴅ ᴠɪᴀ ᴅᴍ ʙʏ ᴜs (@otsspod) ᴏɴ 5/16.

ᴀɴʏ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴀᴄᴛ ɪs ᴜɴᴀғғɪʟɪᴀᴛᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜɪs ɢɪᴠᴇᴀᴡᴀʏ, ᴀs ɪs ɪɴsᴛᴀɢʀᴀᴍ.

#otsspodcast #giveaway #butwontimissme #harpervia #tiffanytsao @hussy_for_hardbacks @ashsaxreadsstacks

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💜💚 CLOSED 💚💜

𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐀 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐖𝐈𝐍 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐂𝐎𝐏𝐘 𝐎𝐅 A Good Person,

◽️Follow @otsspod, @putnambooks, & @kirstenlking (& stick around!)
◽️Like & save this post
◽️Tag a friend in the comments (1 tag per comment w/ no limit, go wild!)

𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐄𝐗𝐓𝐑𝐀 𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒,

◽️Reshare this post
◽️Share this to your story (letting it remain for 24hrs!) & tag @otsspod —this can be done once every 24hr period

𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐊𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐀,

◽️Share this post w a friend via DMs
◽️Request your local library obtains a copy!

👉🏻 Who is your favorite unreliable narrator in fiction?

ᴏᴘᴇɴ ᴛᴏ ᴇɴᴛʀᴀɴᴛs ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴜs ᴡɪʟʟɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴘʀᴏᴠɪᴅᴇ ᴜs ᴡɪᴛʜ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴍᴀɪʟɪɴɢ ᴀᴅᴅʀᴇss.

ɢɪᴠᴇᴀᴡᴀʏ ᴇɴᴅs Monday 5/11 ᴀᴛ 11:𝟻𝟿ᴘᴍ.
𝟷 ᴡɪɴɴᴇʀ ᴡɪʟʟ ʙᴇ ʀᴀɴᴅᴏᴍʟʏ sᴇʟᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ, ᴀɴɴᴏᴜɴᴄᴇᴅ ᴠɪᴀ sᴛᴏʀɪᴇs & ᴄᴏɴᴛᴀᴄᴛᴇᴅ ᴠɪᴀ ᴅᴍ ʙʏ ᴜs (@otsspod) ᴏɴ ғʀɪᴅᴀʏ 𝟸/𝟷𝟹.

ᴀɴʏ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴀᴄᴛ ɪs ᴜɴᴀғғɪʟɪᴀᴛᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜɪs ɢɪᴠᴇᴀᴡᴀʏ, ᴀs ɪs ɪɴsᴛᴀɢʀᴀᴍ.

#giveaway #otsspodcast #kirstenking #agoodperson @hussy_for_hardbacks @ashsaxreadsstacks

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𝔼ℙ 22• Leave Your Mess at Home w/ @tolani_akinola

Em had the chance to chat with Tolani about her debut novel, Leave Your Mess at Home, and the creative journey behind the book. They also talked about some of Tolani’s favorite literary inspirations, so keep an ear out for some great book recs to add to your TBR pile!

You can watch the full interview on our YouTube channel now or thru the 🔗 in our b!o!

Leave Your Mess at Home is available everywhere, grab your copy now so you can meet the Longe family! Pro tip: the audio is top tier!

👉🏻 Tell us one underrated book that you think everyone should read!

#otsspodcast #authorinterview #authorpodcast #tolaniakinola #leaveyourmessathome @ashsaxreadsstacks @hussy_for_hardbacks

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Aphrodite in Pieces | Book Review
4/5 ⭐️ | Greek Mythology Retelling

Aphrodite appears in the middle of the night, unannounced, and tells her life story to the sculptor Alexandros of Antioch, who will become the creator of the Venus de Milo. She hopes that he will create a likeness of her that tells the true story of her, rather than the one that is passed between humans and gods alike: that she is a whore, a slut, a temptress—that she is to blame for the lust of men.

I am not super well-versed in this specific category of classics (I do not read the Odyssey for fun), but from what I do know of Greek mythology, this felt pretty on-par. I googled a couple of things throughout my read to confirm if what was written was in line with the widely accepted tale of any given God, and everything I googled matched what happened in the story, so I think if you are someone who enjoys a closer one for one retelling this is probably going to please you. Greek mythology stories are always so devastating! Nobody can ever catch a break!

One of the goals of this book is to create commentary on how women have been villainized across history, myth, culture, religion, etc. Aphrodite is constantly being placed within the parameters of men’s needs (as a wife, a sex symbol, a scapegoat for sin, etc) and despite her attempts to liberate herself and other women on Mt Olympus, she is constantly painted as the antagonist. This book definitely gets that point across; though I do think it did a great job of showing us this and did not also need to spell it out for us too.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and will be adding it to my (meager) mythology bookshelf!

Thank you to @berkleypub for sending me this copy of Aphrodite in Pieces!

#berkleypub #greekmythology #retelling #greekmythologyretelling #bookreview

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𝔼ℙ 21• I Love You Don’t Die and Chlorine w/ @jadessong

Em chats candidly with Jade about what truly fuels their art, uncovering cool facts along the way. You can watch the full interview on our YouTube channel now!

Jade’s new collection of short stories will be released in early 2027!

👉🏻What is your favorite coming-of-age story? Or tell us your favorite mythological creature! 🧜🏼‍♀️

You can find the ep on Youtube now or thru the 🔗 in our b!o!

#jadesong #iloveyoudontdie #chlorine #authorinterview #otsspodcast @hussy_for_hardbacks @ashsaxreadsstacks

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𝔼ℙ 20• The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman & The Secret Lives of Church Ladies w/ @deeshaphilyaw

Over the weekend, Em and 👑 Deesha 👑 spent an engrossing hour deep-diving into womanhood and the unfiltered secrets of Deesha’s creative brain. You can watch the full interview on our YouTube channel now!

Deesha’s forthcoming novel, 👑 The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman 👑 releases on 9/29! Pre-order directly from HarperCollins, indie bookstores or major retailers.

👉🏻If you could experience one book for the first time again, which would it be?

You can find the ep on Youtube now or thru the 🔗 in our b!o

#thetrueconfessionsoffirstladyfreeman #thesecretlivesofchurchladies #deeshaphilyaw #otsspodcast #authorinterview @hussy_for_hardbacks @ashsaxreadsstacks @marinerbooks

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