If you love book recs with a touch of sass, and are even a little curious about what it‘s like to run a bookshop and be part of a thriving literary community, this is the podcast for you!
Episodes
Thursday Apr 10, 2025
Thursday Apr 10, 2025
"Just found out the wife is writing a book about our honeymoon called 50 Shades of Just OK." - Conan O'Brien
It is no surprise that I have some contrary ideas about romance novels. I love a good romance, after all, I've been feasting on romcoms & romance novels for the past 40+ years, and I have seen how the world has changed in its acceptance of romance novels in popular culture. There is a difference between smut and romance, and I am happy to sit down with two romance readers today to talk about what they love about the genre and what critiques they have about tropes, book boyfriends, and steamy scenes. Michelle and Vanessa are regulars around the bookshop, and it is a genuine delight to spend time with them. I knew their bookish relationship would be one that you'd enjoy too, so I was eager to invite them onto the pod. Enjoy this convo, and don't worry, I will have more in future episodes about strong opinions about the genre... I hold nothing back. ;-)
Books Discussed:
A Court of Thorns and Roses
Butcher and Blackbird
Lights Out
Swift & Saddled
The Forty Year Kiss
Birthday Girl
Wild Love/Wild Eyes/Wild Side
Fourth Wing
Throne of Glass
The Fault in Our Stars
Flawless/Heartless/Powerless/Reckless
The Friend Zone
Truth or Beard
The Striker
Ready or Not
Prayer For the Crown Shy
Bright Side
Ice Planet Barbarians
Funny Feelings
Dungeon Crawler Carl
Outlander
Haunted Ever After
Things We Never Got Over
My Best Friend's Exorcism
The Way of Kings
Into Shadow
The Fine Print
The Time I Got Abducted By Aliens and Now I'm Trapped in a Romcom
Say You'll Remember Me
Lord of the Rings
Kingdom of Ash
Harold and the Purple Crayon
The Pandas Take a Vacation
The Widow's Guide to Dead Bastards
Project Hail Mary
** For information on the upcoming Booktruck BOOK, please go to my BLOG for updates, access to sneak peeks, and more!
Let's get social - follow Daisy Chain Book Co. on Instagram, Bluesky, and TikTok, or email me at brandi@daisychainbook.co
Our bookstore offers audiobooks that you can listen to on your iPhone, Android device, or PC. These audiobooks are available through our partner, Libro.fm, and all sales support our store. Choose to support indie bookstores with your audiobooks - it MATTERS.
If you are in the Edmonton area, come and see our beautiful store in High Street, and if you are in the community of Beaumont, come and see us on Main St. as the only bookshop in town! For updates on all the bookish events at the bookstore, and an online database of our marvelous books visit Daisy Chain Book Co.
Podcast theme music created and performed by the incredible Kerri Bridgen.
Tuesday Apr 01, 2025
Tuesday Apr 01, 2025
"Whatever you do, always give it 100% - unless you're donating blood." - Bill Murray
What if you could invite someone into your reading life, someone who knows you better than anyone, and you could swap books and book recs like a Book Club of 2? At Daisy Chain Book Co., I met Sylvia and Kelsie, a mother/daughter reading duo who have taught me a lot about inviting someone you trust into your bookish life. So, you know I had to talk with them about their marvelous reading habits!
Books Discussed:
The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf
Beneath the Devil's Bridge and The Patient's Secret by Loreth Anne White
The Measure by Nikki Erlich
The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz
Everyone Here is Lying by Shari Lapena
Beartown and My Friends by Fredrik Backman
Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
The Nightingale and Angel Falls by Kristin Hannah
Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez
The One With the Kiss Cam by Cindy Steel
The Warehouse by Rob Hart
I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue
All the Other Mothers Hate Me by Sarah Harman
The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young
The Next Mrs. Parrish and The Last Mrs. Parrish by Lynn Constantine
What Happened to Nina? by Dervla McTiernan
The Other Valley by Scott Alexander Howard
Morbidly Yours by Ivy Fairbanks
A Very Bad Thing by J.T. Elison
The Favorites by Layne Fargo
A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab
The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters
Love You Forever by Robert Munsch
The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue by V.E. Schwab
The School of Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan
The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston
** For information on the upcoming Booktruck BOOK, please go to my BLOG for updates, access to sneak peeks, and more!
Let's get social - follow Daisy Chain Book Co. on Instagram, Bluesky, and TikTok, or email me at brandi@daisychainbook.co
Our bookstore offers audiobooks that you can listen to on your iPhone, Android device, or PC. These audiobooks are available through our partner, Libro.fm, and all sales support our store. Choose to support indie bookstores with your audiobooks - it MATTERS.
If you are in the Edmonton area, come and see our beautiful store in High Street, and if you are in the community of Beaumont, come and see us on Main St. as the only bookshop in town! For updates on all the bookish events at the bookstore, and an online database of our marvelous books visit Daisy Chain Book Co.
Podcast theme music created and performed by the incredible Kerri Bridgen.
Friday Mar 21, 2025
Friday Mar 21, 2025
"It is said that Negronis are like breasts: “One is not enough, two is perfect, and three is just too many.” Today I am tempted to see what happens if I drink four.”
― Taste: My Life Through Food
Who doesn't enjoy a good meal, served in a space that makes you sigh with delight? We are fortunate to have Chartier as our neighbors in our Daisy Chain Book Co. Beaumont location. Crystal Hemmerling is one of the owners of this fine establishment, and she is here to tell us why they are exceptional at offering a high caliber of cuisine and experience to its patrons.
Eat-Read-Drink Book Pairing Event
Books discussed:
Let Them Theory
** For information on the upcoming Booktruck BOOK, please go to my BLOG for updates, access to sneak peeks, and more!
Let's get social - follow Daisy Chain Book Co. on Instagram, Bluesky, and TikTok, or email me at brandi@daisychainbook.co
Our bookstore offers audiobooks that you can listen to on your iPhone, Android device, or PC. These audiobooks are available through our partner, Libro.fm, and all sales support our store. Choose to support indie bookstores with your audiobooks - it MATTERS.
If you are in the Edmonton area, come and see our beautiful store in High Street, and if you are in the community of Beaumont, come and see us on Main St. as the only bookshop in town! For updates on all the bookish events at the bookstore, and an online database of our marvelous books visit Daisy Chain Book Co.
Podcast theme music created and performed by the incredible Kerri Bridgen.
Thursday Mar 06, 2025
Thursday Mar 06, 2025
"You owe it to all of us to get on with what you're good at." - W.H. Auden
When I started with the booktruck, I could never have dreamed that we would have as many fun bookish in-store events, or host such incredible authors as we have already done. Last autumn, we had the pleasure of welcoming NY Times Bestselling Author TJ Klune to our bookshop for a 100 person ticketed event to promote his newest book, "Somewhere Beyond the Sea". Ours was the only independent bookstore in all of Canada that he visited (and he only visited 3 cities in the country), and we were blown away by the whole privileged experience. We continue to raise the bar for events and have noticed that other stores are paying attention and have begun to do similar things. As always, we delight in being innovative and setting a new standard for what readers can expect form indies.
Thanks to Mark who recorded and edited the Q&A videos shared in this episode. The videos can be found on our TikTok page if you want to see me blubber and try not to cry ugly tears and fail miserably.
Let's get social - follow Daisy Chain Book Co. on Instagram, Bluesky, and TikTok, or email me at brandi@daisychainbook.co
For information on the Booktruck BOOK, please go to my BLOG for updates, access to sneak peeks and more!
Our bookstore offers audiobooks that you can listen to on your iPhone, Android device, or PC. These audiobooks are available through our partner, Libro.fm, and all sales support our store. Choose to support indie bookstores with your audiobooks - it MATTERS.
If you are in the Edmonton area, come and see our beautiful store in High Street, and if you are in the community of Beaumont, come and see us on Main St. as the only bookshop in town! For updates on all the bookish events at the bookstore, and an online database of our marvelous books visit Daisy Chain Book Co.
Podcast theme music created and performed by the incredible Kerri Bridgen.
Thursday Feb 20, 2025
Thursday Feb 20, 2025
"Some days you eat salads and go to the gym, some days you eat cupcakes and refuse to put on pants. It's called balance."
We are all doing the best we can to check items off our lists and still be SANE. I get it. Running 2 bookstores and trying to have a vibrant life that supports that requires a lot of saying NO to people, which I am totally fine with, by the way. I hope some of this info helps and gives you permission to retreat and READ because it just makes you a better human.
Books discussed:
First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison
A Very Punchable Face by Colin Jost
Thank you to Lynne + Laurie for the question, and I am eager to hear what happens next in your story.
Let's get social - follow Daisy Chain Book Co. on Instagram, Bluesky, and TikTok, or email me at brandi@daisychainbook.co
For information on the Booktruck BOOK, please go to my BLOG for updates, access to sneak peeks and more!
Our bookstore offers audiobooks that you can listen to on your iPhone, Android device, or PC. These audiobooks are available through our partner, Libro.fm, and all sales support our store. Choose to support indie bookstores with your audiobooks - it MATTERS.
If you are in the Edmonton area, come and see our beautiful store in High Street, and if you are in the community of Beaumont, come and see us on Main St. as the only bookshop in town! For updates on all the bookish events at the bookstore, and an online database of our marvelous books visit Daisy Chain Book Co.
Podcast theme music created and performed by the incredible Kerri Bridgen.
Wednesday Feb 12, 2025
Wednesday Feb 12, 2025
Friends, lets face it. We are all trying to figure this thing out. Supporting a local Canadian small business has never been more important. Thanks for joining me on the adventure of post-booktrucking and writing about it while I run 2 bookshops. What a ride!
xo B
Let's get social - follow Daisy Chain Book Co. on Instagram, Bluesky, and TikTok, or email me at brandi@daisychainbook.co
For information on the Booktruck BOOK, please go to my BLOG for updates, access to sneak peeks and more!
Our bookstore offers audiobooks that you can listen to on your iPhone, Android device, or PC. These audiobooks are available through our partner, Libro.fm, and all sales support our store. Choose to support indie bookstores with your audiobooks - it MATTERS.
If you are in the Edmonton area, come and see our beautiful store in High Street, and if you are in the community of Beaumont, come and see us on Main St. as the only bookshop in town! For updates on all the bookish events at the bookstore, and an online database of our marvelous books visit Daisy Chain Book Co.
Podcast theme music created and performed by the incredible Kerri Bridgen.
Wednesday Feb 05, 2025
Wednesday Feb 05, 2025
Friends, we are back.
It has been a whirlwind year that I am eager to tell you about, and we are starting back with new episodes, a new commitment to sassy and honest convos, and lots of fun, bookish moments for your ears.
Find us on all the socials: @daisychainbookco
Or email me at brandi@daisychainbook.co
Our bookstore offers audiobooks that you can listen to on your iPhone, Android device, or PC. These audiobooks are available through our partner, Libro.fm, and all sales support our store. Choose to support indie bookstores with your audiobooks - it MATTERS.
If you are in the Edmonton area, come and see our beautiful store in High Street, and if you are in the community of Beaumont, come and see us on Main St. as the only bookshop in town! For updates on all the bookish events at the bookstore, and an online database of our marvelous books visit Daisy Chain Book Co.
Podcast theme music created and performed by the incredible Kerri Bridgen.
Wednesday May 31, 2023
Wednesday May 31, 2023
This was a fun one!
Forgive us the wild peals of laughter and background noises as we recorded this podcast episode at my kitchen table after a leisurely brunch. Rachel Bergeron and Justine Mah spearheaded The Black Bookshelf Project, a collaborative initiative that provides BIPOC books for kids on a black bookshelf with coloring sheets, additional resources, and Indigenous affirmation cards for children to enjoy. Rachel and Justine do not hold back on why these stories are important, and why they believe these bookshelves will open conversations and generate an appreciation for perspectives and experiences from other cultures and experiences. These shelves are important, and we are proud to have one in each of our bookstores for our community to enjoy.
If you would like to know more about The Black Bookshelf Project, please go to their website, and follow them on Instagram.
Let's get social - follow Daisy Chain Book Co. on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok, or email me at brandi@daisychainbook.co
Our bookstore offers audiobooks that you can listen to on your iPhone, Android device, or PC. These audiobooks are available through our partner, Libro.fm, and all sales support our store. Choose to support indie bookstores with your audiobooks - it MATTERS.
If you are in the Edmonton area, come and see our beautiful store in High Street, and if you are in the community of Beaumont, come and see us on Main St. as the only bookshop in town! For updates on all the bookish events at the bookstore, and an online database of our marvelous books visit Daisy Chain Book Co.
Podcast theme music created and performed by the incredible Kerri Bridgen.
Friday Mar 24, 2023
Friday Mar 24, 2023
I have received so many questions, and I thought of a fun way to answer some of them. I'm calling it a Five, 5 and 5: 5 books that changed me, 5 small biz bits, and 5 random things about me. Hope they are fun and insightful!
5 Books:
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
Don't Keep Your Day Job by Cathy Heller
The Bible
5 Small Biz Bits:
- Social Media Face
- Vote with your dollars
- It's hard but it's worth it and it's hard
- passion costs $$
- copycats weren't cool in school and not in biz either
5 things about me:
- smile
- sunshine
- heights
- cheesecake
- bull
Let's get social - follow Daisy Chain Book Co. on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok, or email me at brandi@daisychainbook.co
Our bookstore offers audiobooks that you can listen to on your iPhone, Android device, or PC. These audiobooks are available through our partner, Libro.fm, and all sales support our store. Choose to support indie bookstores with your audiobooks - it MATTERS.
If you are in the Edmonton area, come and see our beautiful store in High Street, and if you are in the community of Beaumont, come and see us on Main St as the only bookshop in town! Location and hours available on our website. For updates on all the bookish events at the bookstore, and an online database of our marvelous books visit Daisy Chain Book Co.
Podcast theme music created and performed by the incredible Kerri Bridgen.
Saturday Mar 11, 2023
Saturday Mar 11, 2023
Hello, Friend. Would you believe that at the end of last month I achieved my goal of getting 4 days off IN A ROW?? Don't go into business for yourself if you want to have oodles of spare time.
So, after a spell away from the microphone I am here to present a smattering of some of the books I have read since we last talked. Some great, some blah, and I am here to share the truth about them all. A bookstore owner who doesn't read a wide range of titles can't be trusted to make solid book recommendations, so I will keep reading outside my comfort zone and being wooed by compelling backlist titles and sparkly new releases so I can share them with you!
Books Discussed:
Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes
Pretty Things by Janelle Brown
Forever... by Judy Blume
We Spread by Iain Reid
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration Into the Wonder of Consciousness by Sy Montgomery
The Change by Kirsten Miller
The Family Game by Catherine Steadman
Night Road by Kristin Hannah
Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
Near the Bone by Christina Henry
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting by Evanna Lynch
Our bookstore offers audiobooks that you can listen to on your iPhone, Android device, or PC. These audiobooks are available through our partner, Libro.fm, and all sales support our store. Choose to support indie bookstores with your audiobooks - it MATTERS.
Let's get social - follow Daisy Chain Book Co. on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok, or email me at brandi@daisychainbook.co
If you are in the Edmonton area, come and see our beautiful store in High Street, and if you are in the community of Beaumont, come and see us on Main St as the only bookshop in town! Location and hours available on our website. For updates on all the bookish events at the bookstore, and an online database of our marvelous books visit Daisy Chain Book Co.
Podcast theme music created and performed by the incredible Kerri Bridgen.