Send us Fan Mail

How is Insurgent for a middle book? Compelling or basic? We’re reading the Divergent series for the first time and today we’re diving deep into Insurgent, book two in the original trilogy. As the “middle book,” which can sometimes be the most difficult to get through in any series, we’re here to answer the question: does this one hold up?

Tris and Four are figuring out how deep the government conspiracies go and have to make some difficult choices to survive. This has them questioning if they, or the rebels they're supporting are becoming just as tyrannical as those they’re trying to overthrow.

As we prepare to bring you our deep dive coverage on the new release: The Sixth Faction, and The Last Testimony (out on February 2, 2027) we’re examining these young adult novels with a fine toothed comb. How are they contributing to the “are books political” conversation? Are these stories considered coming of age? And how do they execute science fiction and dystopian themes that are digestible for young audiences? We want to know if the new duology is necessary, timely, and entertaining, and if it’s a money grab or actual quality.

Oh… and we’ll also be following up on our thoughts regarding Tris and Four and their suspicious similarities to a certain other couple in a certain other series that we’ll now be referring to as "Divergent with Dragons…” Join us for all this, then tune in next Friday for Allegiant, the epic (and polarizing) conclusion to the original trilogy!

Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes Friday!…)

• Shop our Merch line | * https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.com

Check out these narrator interviews? ⬇️

Anthony Palmini gives us the lowdown on what it’s like to voice act Rhysand, Kingfisher, AND Slade Ravinger!

https://youtu.be/zcCyrlZ5Jcc?si=2k7ULbRPgZl_5pUJ

Check out these author interviews? ⬇️

We go behind the book with NYT Bestselling author Autumn Krause and The Gods Will Sing Our Song: https://youtu.be/656QHeao6F4?si=VMLZ-zAa6pltOio9

THE Sheila Masterson yaps with us about going trad & her book community phenomenon The Poison Daughter! https://youtu.be/V9MpoOX3CyQ?si=TMLPJeBNcSrpxYou

We interviewed Penn Cole about Burn of the Everflame & the end of the Kindred’s Curse Saga! https://youtu.be/nYDN-XCTkbM?si=ivFq7kWg6rNGWP6j

CJ Leede talks with us about impactful feminist horror and always writing outside the box: https://youtu.be/jb0DW2ap3Ds?si=gCUkr-vvFQAFMxw2

____

Shop Bookish Merch we are wearing:

Ashley is wearing a Eureka Books Tee from @eurekabooks | https://www.eurekabookshop.com

Liz is wearing a Scream Ghostface Crewneck from Etsy

Any link with an * is an affiliate link through the service Magic Links and is eligible for a commission to us with no extra cost to you. Thank you for helping support our podcast!

Support the show

YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms
@BestiesandtheBooksPodcast

Besties and the Book Club on Fable!
https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358

Liz
Instagram | TikTok
@TheRealLifeVeganWife

Ashley
Instagram | TikTok
@AshleyEllix

Send us Fan Mail

We’re reading the Divergent series for the first time! We know, we know… we’re an entire fifteen years late, but our curiosity finally got the best of us and the timing seems pretty perfect.

Sci-Fi Summer has turned into dystopian sci-fi fall because Veronica Roth decided to come out with a whole new alternate reality duology retelling of the Divergent universe starting with The Sixth Faction. Part one dropped about two weeks ago, and part two, The Last Testimony, releases everywhere on February 2, 2027.

We’re here to expand our “‘market research” of the dystopian, science fiction, “are books political?” and coming of age genres. We’ve covered The Hunger Games, Wicked, and Red Rising because we recognize how relevant these stories are in our current societal climate and we want to keep these conversations going. Plus, we want to know if the new duology is necessary, timely, and entertaining. Is it a money grab or is it actually good?

We’ll be releasing a full-length bonus episode on Divergent, Insurgent, Allegiant, and Four, plus the short story We Can Be Mended, and finally, The Sixth Faction plus the movies! And don’t worry, in February we will follow up with our official ranking and wrap up with The Last Testimony. Join us on Instagram and over on the free Fable app for our spoiler free reading updates.

Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes Friday!…)

• Shop our Merch line | * https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.com

Check out these narrator interviews? ⬇️

Anthony Palmini gives us the lowdown on what it’s like to voice act Rhysand, Kingfisher, AND Slade Ravinger!

https://youtu.be/zcCyrlZ5Jcc?si=2k7ULbRPgZl_5pUJ

Check out these author interviews? ⬇️

We go behind the book with NYT Bestselling author Autumn Krause and The Gods Will Sing Our Song: https://youtu.be/656QHeao6F4?si=VMLZ-zAa6pltOio9

THE Sheila Masterson yaps with us about going trad & her book community phenomenon The Poison Daughter! https://youtu.be/V9MpoOX3CyQ?si=TMLPJeBNcSrpxYou

We interviewed Penn Cole about Burn of the Everflame & the end of the Kindred’s Curse Saga! https://youtu.be/nYDN-XCTkbM?si=ivFq7kWg6rNGWP6j

CJ Leede talks with us about impactful feminist horror and always writing outside the box: https://youtu.be/jb0DW2ap3Ds?si=gCUkr-vvFQAFMxw2

____

Shop Bookish Merch we are wearing:

Ashley is wearing our Besties and the Books Merch | * https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.com

Liz is wearing a discontinued “Fireheart” hoodie by @downthebondofficial | Code: BestiesandtheBooks | https://www.downthebond.com

Any link with an * is an affiliate link through the service Magic Links and is eligible for a commission to us with no extra cost to you. Thank you for helping support our podcast!

Support the show

YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms
@BestiesandtheBooksPodcast

Besties and the Book Club on Fable!
https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358

Liz
Instagram | TikTok
@TheRealLifeVeganWife

Ashley
Instagram | TikTok
@AshleyEllix