Julia Whelan is officially Booked & Busy!

Today's episode is a really exciting one because I'm joined by Julia Whelan...bestselling author, former actor, and one of the most iconic audiobook narrators of all time (she's narrated 700+ audiobooks, like hello??). We're talking all things My Oxford Year, the book and the movie adaption, plus Julia's writing process, how audiobooks actually get made, adapting scripts into novels, and why sometimes your dreams change... and that it's not failure, it's growth.

So grab your beverage of the day (ours is an English Breakfast tea for My Oxford Year) and let's get into it!

xoxo,
Olivia

A house that feels to quiet. A wife who feels too perfect. A job that feels...off.

Today on Booked & Busy, we're deep diving The Housemaid by Freida McFadden, a psychological thriller novel that burrows under your skin and refuses to let go. This is a story about power, control, survival and the terrifying intimacy of domestic spaces. From unreliable narrators and emotional manipulation to locked doors, gaslighting, and performance perfection... this book had me questioning everything.

We're breaking this episode into three parts:
The Book (themes, characters, symbolism)
The Movie (adaptation choices, performances, and visual tension)
The Reality Check - where we compare the ending, unpack what changed, and decide which version I preferred.

Grab a drink, lock your doors, and step inside the Winchester house with me!

⚠️ Spoiler warning for The Housemaid book and film.

xoxo,
Olivia Ponton

Alex Aster is officially... Booked & Busy 📚✨

Welcome back to another episode of Booked & Busy, and today's a major one! We're welcoming our very first guest author, Alex Aster. In this episode, we deep dive into her viral fantasy series (Lightlark), her New York City rom-com Summer in the City, how BookTok changed everything, and what it's actually like to write four books in a year!

We talk fast-paced fantasy world building, romance tropes, and the reader-favorite Team Grim vs Team Oro debate. Alex also spills on all things Crowntide, the newest installation in the Lightlark series - plus her new adult romantasy book (Starside) and exciting updates on the Lightlark and Summer in the City film adaptations currently in development!

"This or Thats," writing confessions, rapid-fire questions, and a peek into Alex's real everyday life... all of this and more, in this week's episode of Booked & Busy!

Crowntide is now available online or in stores, with Starside hitting the shelves on March 24th, 2026!

Join the Booked & Busy Patreon (it's free!): patreon.com/cw/OliviaPonton

The Bachelor reimagined through a dystopian, royal lens.

Today on Booked & Busy, I’m diving into The Selection by Kiera Cass — a world of castes, palace politics, rebellions, and a love triangle that unravels slowly and beautifully.

We follow America Singer as she navigates duty, desire, and the weight of choosing between what’s familiar and what could change her life entirely. I’m unpacking the characters, the social hierarchy, the rebellion threads woven into the background, and the scenes that feel almost cinematic.

If you’ve ever wondered how this story would translate on screen… I have thoughts.

Pour a cup of tea and settle in — this episode is for anyone who loves romance with a layer of world-building and social commentary.

Spoiler warning for anyone who hasn’t finished the series yet.

Welcome to the very first episode of Booked & Busy with me, Olivia Ponton!

We're kicking things off with one of the most talked-about fantasy romance books of all time... Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. Think dragons, romance, war college drama, and an underdog main character we can't help but root for. In this episode, I'm diving into all the twists, betrayals, and (of course) the romantic sparks.

This one's for the readers who wish they lived in the world of Basgiath, can't stop thinking about dark-haired men with secret agendas, and the emotional rollercoaster that is Violet Sorrengail's journey.

Spoiler warning! If you haven't read Fourth Wing yet, go finish it first, then come back so we can spiral together properly.