Skip to content
Artwork for Red Flag Readers
ArtsBooksExplicit

Red Flag Readers

Chelsea Hartley, Astrid Jane, Jill McBee

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. 📖🚩

Play
  • 3 episodes
  • Avg 50 min
  • English
  • S1 · E2
    September 15 · 1 hr 35 min

    Bloody Black by Rhiannon Hargadon

    Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. 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

  • S1 · E1
    September 1 · 56 min

    The Heartstring Duet by Liv Zander

    Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. 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

  • August 28 · 47 sec

    Red Flag Readers: A New Pod Trailer

    Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. 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.

Showing 1–3 of 3 episodes