Red Flag Readers is the podcast for readers who know the best fictional men are the ones we’d absolutely run from in real life. 🚩📚
Three women. Too many books. Questionable fictional crushes. And absolutely no judgment.
We dive into romantasy, dark romance, indie authors, and new releases, talking tropes, plot twists, spice, morally gray characters, red flags, and the moments that make us whisper, “Girl… you should probably leave.”
Whether you’re obsessed with enemies-to-lovers, desperate for your next morally questionable book boyfriend, or looking for your next indie gem, Red Flag Readers is your place to gush, rant, laugh, and unapologetically love the books that make you question your standards.
Red flags in life are warnings. Red flags in books are recommendations. 📖🚩
Grantor Of Beginnings by Megan Von Allmen Author Interview
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! (https://rss.com/podcasts/red-flag-readers/voicemail)
Welcome to Red Flag Readers, where the books are spicy, the morals are gray, and the red flags are somehow our favorite color. 🚩
This week marks a very special first for Red Flag Readers. We are our first author interview! Our good friend, Megan Von Allmen has just published her debut novel, Grantor of Beinnings! Like today!
We break down our favorite scenes, the characters we love to hate (and maybe hate to love), and the who the biggest red flag is.
⚠️ A Spoiler Free Episode! Unusual for us, but we let Megan break down her novel and whats next in the Heirs of the Everlasting series.
Red flags in real life are warnings. Red flags in books are recommendations. 🚩📚
🚩 The Valiant Interrupter
Bright, Fall Spices, Balanced
Ingredients
1½ oz dark run
1 oz fresh orange juice
½ oz orange liquor like cointreau
1/2 oz honey-cinnamon syrup* recipe below
1/4 oz fresh lemon juice
Pinch Ground Cinnamon
Ice
Cinnamon-Honey Syrup
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup water
2 cinnamon sticks
Simmer the ingredients for 5-10 minutes, cool and strain.
Instructions
Fill a shakerwith ice.
Add all ingredients
Shake virogously for 15-20 seconds.
Strain into chilled coupe
Garnish with orange peel and cinnamon stick
Authors Highlighted: Ivy's Touch by Stefany Linaweaver
Follow Us at: @redflagreaderspod @booksbloomsbarns @astridjane_author @jillyysbooks
27 Oct 2026
Vasmora by Keri Lake
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! (https://rss.com/podcasts/red-flag-readers/voicemail)
Welcome to Red Flag Readers, where the books are spicy, the morals are gray, and the red flags are somehow our favorite color. 🚩
This week, we tried to stick to one book, but ended up delving into three, The Eating Woods Trilogy by Keri Lake. Most of our attention is on Vasmora, the conclusion of the series, but we just couldn't help ourselves.
We break down our star and spice ratings, favorite scenes, the characters we love to hate (and maybe hate to love), and the BIG red flags.
⚠️ Major spoilers ahead! If you haven't read Vasmora, or other books in the Eating Woods, read it first—we're not holding back.
Plus, we spotlight several incredible indie authors feature our favorite segment, Mama's Spice Cupboard which is NOT to be missed. Yet again, Mama delivers, and your sides will ache from laughter.
Red flags in real life are warnings. Red flags in books are recommendations. 🚩📚
🚩 The Blackened Woods
Dark berries • Citrus • Black sparkle
Ingredients
1½ oz vodka
1 oz blackberry syrup or black raspberry liqueur
½ oz lemon juice
3 oz lemon-lime soda or ginger ale
Edible black glitter
Ice
Instructions
Fill a glass with ice.
Add vodka, blackberry syrup, and lemon juice.
Add the black glitter and stir so the shimmer disperses.
Top with lemon-lime soda and stir gently.
Garnish with blackberries or a lemon twist if you have them.
Authors Highlighted: Mountain Daddy by S.J. Tilly, Blades and Blood Series by T.K Drake, The Ninth Realm by Julia Silverwood
Follow Us at: @redflagreaderspod @booksbloomsbarns @astridjane_author @jillyysbooks
13 Oct 2026
The Poison Daughter by Sheila Masterson
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! (https://rss.com/podcasts/red-flag-readers/voicemail)
Welcome to Red Flag Readers, where the books are spicy, the morals are gray, and the red flags are somehow our favorite color. 🚩
This week, we've visited the discussion that launched this podcast: Sheila Masterson's The Poison Daughter. This book features a black widow FMC, a morally gray MMC, and whole lot of spice.
We break down our star and spice ratings, favorite scenes, the characters we love to hate (and maybe hate to love), and the BIG red flags.
⚠️ Major spoilers ahead! If you haven't read The Poison Daughter yet, read it first—we're not holding back.
Plus, we spotlight several incredible indie authors featue our favorite segment, Mama's Spice Cupboard which is NOT to be missed. Yet again, Mama delivers, and your sides will ache from laughter.
Red flags in real life are warnings. Red flags in books are recommendations. 🚩📚
🚩 The Poison Kiss
1.5 oz vodka
1 oz strawberries macerated and cooked down with sugar
.5 oz black berries macerated and cooked down with sugar
3 dashes chocolate bitters
3 oz soda water
Pour all ingredients into a shaker with except the soda water. (you can substitute pre-made syrups for the fresh fruit compote if you would like). Shake until well blended.
Pour into a coupe or martini glass, up.
Top off with soda water.
Authors Highlighted: Bound by Hearts and Stone by Lauren Sanatra, Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman, An Age of War and Prophecy by Lacey Lahotzky
Follow Us at: @redflagreaderspod @booksbloomsbarns @astridjane_author @jillyysbooks
29 Sept 2026
Dante by Sadie Kincaid
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! (https://rss.com/podcasts/red-flag-readers/voicemail)
Welcome to Red Flag Readers, where the books are spicy, the morals are gray, and the red flags are somehow our favorite color. 🚩
This week, we challenge Chelsea's genre boundaries with a mafia romance that features a morally gray MMC, a black cat FMC, a vacation at a virtual Club Med, and enough spice to heat up a winter cabin.
We break down our star and spice ratings, favorite scenes, the characters we love to hate (and maybe hate to love), and the BIG red flags.
⚠️ Major spoilers ahead! If you haven't read Dante yet, read it first—we're not holding back.
Plus, we spotlight several incredible indie authors featue our favorite segment, Mama's Spice Cupboard which is NOT to be missed. Yet again, Mama delivers, and your sides will ache from laughter.
Red flags in real life are warnings. Red flags in books are recommendations. 🚩📚
🚩 Whisky, neat
Per cocktail:
2 oz of your favorite whisky or scotch.
Pour into rocks glass.
This is after all a mafia romance. We need tough "man" drinks. (Though it is Astrid's go to order as well).
Authors Highlighted: Dust of the Earth by Morgan Vayle, One Small Echo by Jane Washington, Lia Lamar Lust and Honor (book 3 of The Honor Series)
Follow Us at: @redflagreaderspod @booksbloomsbarns @astridjane_author @jillyysbooks
15 Sept 2026
Bloody Black by Rhiannon Hargadon
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! (https://rss.com/podcasts/red-flag-readers/voicemail)
Welcome to Red Flag Readers, where the books are spicy, the morals are gray, and the red flags are somehow our favorite color. 🚩
This week, we dive all the way into Davy Jones' Locker with Bloody Black by Rhiannon Hargadon-a Black Beard retelling with a morally gray FMC, a found family that makes you smile, and no small portion of feminine rage.
We break down our star and spice ratings, favorite scenes, the characters we love to hate (and maybe hate to love), and the BIG red flags. With a near complete summary of the story, this is one that left us grinning at revenge, grieving for characters, and pining over a new favorite MMC.
⚠️ Major spoilers ahead! If you haven't read Bloody Black yet, read it first—we're not holding back.
Plus, we spotlight several incredible indie authors and debut our new segment: Mama's Spice Cupboard which is NOT to be missed. You'll be clutching your sides, we promise.
Red flags in real life are warnings. Red flags in books are recommendations. 🚩📚
🚩 Dark 'n' Stormy
Per cocktail:
2 oz dark rum (traditionally Gosling's Black Seal Rum)
Ginger Beer: 4 to 6 oz
Lime: A wedge or slice for garnish, with an optional squeeze of fresh lime
Ice: cubes to fill a high ball glass
Fill a highball glass with ice
pour in the ginger beer
Float the dark rum over a spoon or directly onto the surface to create a layered look.
Garnish with a lime wedge. Stir before drinking if you prefer a fully blended flavor.
Authors Highlighted: Storm by R.A. Raine, A Scent of Sea and Ash by Beth Ann Bautiste, Villains and Virtures Trilogy by A,K. Caggiano
Follow Us at: @redflagreaderspod @booksbloomsbarns @astridjane_author @jillyysbooks
1 Sept 2026
The Heartstring Duet by Liv Zander
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! (https://rss.com/podcasts/red-flag-readers/voicemail)
Welcome to the first episode of Red Flag Readers, where the books are spicy, the morals are gray, and the red flags are somehow our favorite color. 🚩
This week, we dive headfirst into Liv Zander’s Heartstring Duet, Crown Me and Crown Me Yours—a dark gothic fantasy romance packed with rot, curses, manipulation, morally questionable characters, and one seriously complicated love story.
We break down our star and spice ratings, favorite scenes, the characters we love to hate (and maybe hate to love), and the BIG red flags. Then we get into the emotional devastation at the heart of the story: love, loss, mortality, vulnerability, and whether loving someone is worth the pain of eventually losing them.
⚠️ Major spoilers ahead! If you haven't read the Heartstring Duet yet, read it first—we're not holding back.
Plus, we spotlight several incredible indie authors and announce a giveaway! Visit @redflagreaderspod on instragram for details.
Red flags in real life are warnings. Red flags in books are recommendations. 🚩📚
🚩 The Red Flag
Per cocktail:
1½ oz vodka
½ oz Cointreau
¾ oz grenadine
½ oz fresh lemon juice
2 dashes chocolate bitters
¼ oz vanilla syrup (optional, but I like it)
1 dash orange bitters (optional)
Ice
Shake hard with ice for about 10–15 seconds and strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass.
Garnish: Luxardo cherry + orange peel.
Authors Highlighted: Unravel by Daya Winters, Untamed by Analise Song, A Wolfe In The Woods by Zoey Draven and Marcio Catalano
Follow Us at: @redflagreaderspod @booksbloomsbarns @astridjane_author @jillyysbooks
28 Aug 2026
Red Flag Readers: A New Pod Trailer
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! (https://rss.com/podcasts/red-flag-readers/voicemail)
Join three friends, Chelsea, Astrid, and Jill as they discuss the red flags in books that fill our hearts with joy and love.
Red Flag Readers Podcast: Unhinged Books, Unfiltered Opinions
A new podcast that drops of September 1st, 2026.
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Spotify
5.0 / 5
8 ratings
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