The Ezra Klein Show Reading List: Books Recommended By Guests On The Podcast (part 1 Of 3)

Zara Adigun never believed in fairy tales especially not the kind that involved arrogant billionaires and cold, calculated marriages. But when her father fell ill and her family is drowning in debt, she agrees to a one-year marriage contract with the most powerful and emotionally detached bachelor in Lagos (Dami Adeyemi). The deal is to pretend to be the perfect couple in public, live together under strict conditions that she must comply with, and leave when the contract ends with no strings and no emotions attached. But Dami’s icy rules begin to melt as Zara’s fire draws out the man he’s buried deep beneath his grief and guilt. The closer they get, the harder it becomes to stick to the rules, until secrets from the past threaten to destroy everything they were nurturing. Jide Adeyemi—Dami’s estranged brother and Zara’s first love came into the picture to reignite old flames and dark family secrets, Zara finds herself caught in a dangerous love triangle where trust is fragile, and the truth is a weapon. Now, she must decide: 1. To follow the terms of the contract. 2. Run back to the man who once broke her heart, or 3. Fight for a love that was never meant to happen. When hearts are bound by fate, will love survive the truth?

“Meet me in my chamber April, tonight i shall weaken your bones with pleasure” “ Do not come with your underpants” Wiston added with a wink.“Yes my lord” April replied shyly as her face turned pink.April had always identified as the "Weak One", a A wolfless omega without powers. For years, she's been trapped in a pack that rejects outsiders, relying solely on her love for her mate,Wiston, but when her own mate, the pack alpha, turns against her, she knows it's time to escape. With pain, fear and rage she flees and finds herself face-to-face with three powerful alphas who claim her as their own. However April was left in dilemma, confused as her heart beats for them all. But she’s to choose one! How will she navigate between three Alphas?How will she control her thirst for revenge? The pack that once rejected her will soon tremble with fear, will her thirst for revenge consume her? Or will she finally get what she has always wanted?

"St... Stay away" Her voice trembled in fear as he leaned closer, invading her personal space. His palms were pressed against the wall, caging her in his embrace while her tiny fists were making futile attempts to push him back. "So, you want me to go out to satisfy my needs when I have a beautiful wife at home?" His thumb stroked her lips, his eyes fixated on them, unyielding and hungry. "But you made it clear that your heart belongs to someone else and our marriage is nothing but an agreement" her heart throbbed with pain as she thought about it. After the horrific and pitiful past, destiny has bestowed her a devil for a husband. "That's true," he cocked his head. "But we don't love every chic we fuck. Do we?" His callous words shattered Roseline's world. All she wanted was to cry on her fate! Her pain was evident through her eyes but this didn't stop him from getting what he wanted! ~•~•~•~ In an unexpected twist of fate, Orphan Roseline finds herself in a contract marriage with a ruthless Billionaire, Vincenzo De Luca. On the first night, she gets to know that he has married her on purpose, and the doors to his heart are securely guarded. He has money, looks, and fame, but not the love for which she has craved her whole life. She has an infectious laugh, he never graced his lips with a smile. She follows her path, he demands unwavering obedience. She is sympathetic, he is cold-hearted. Their personalities are worlds apart, yet both harbor secrets concealed behind their respective facades. Will Roseline be able to make her space in his heart or will she be cast aside once his hidden purpose is fulfilled?

"Sit down, pet." Those words echo through Raya's mind as she thinks about how her drastically her life changed in the past 24 hours. She knew her entire life that she wasn't like everybody else, that she was actually a half-vampire. She always wondered who her father was, but it seemed to be the one secret her mother was determined to take to her grave. Raya knows next to nothing about her heritage or this other side of herself and what she is capable of. Now that she is stuck with three hot vampire brothers that want answers she has no idea what will become of her.

Guilt eats you up, filling up most of your thoughts, dreams, and shadows every hint of happiness, making you feel like you do not deserve any form of happiness. "Chained By Guilt" is about that kind of love story. What started as a beautiful night when they were in high school turned into a nightmare that left Ezra Klein confined to a wheelchair and full of resentment and anger, while Sarah Norwels was left with guilt and regret. Will the two let the past eat them up when they reunite after so many years or will love win and finally heal them?

"I, Alpha Dylan Langley, Alpha of the waterside pack Reject you, Esme West pack member of waterside west to be my mate and Luna" On Esme's 18th birthday she figured that the Alpha of the pack was her true mate which meant she would be Luna to the waterside pack. She felt the mate bond breaking and it hurt so much. She didn't know if she was string enough to handle the rejection completely. She was holding back her tears to show him no weakness and no emotion towards his rejection. "I, Esme West of the waterside pack accept your rejection to be you mate and Luna of this pack" I turn towards the entrance of the pack gates and slowly walk towards our home where my mom and dad are sorting mine and my brother's birthday out. I didn't want to cry. I heard of the tales of the rejection and the pain it causes to fated mates but I never thought I would be rejected I especially didn't think the moon goddess would have the Alpha to be my mate. I'm a nothing but a lowly omega. I work for nothing and I am the packs punching bag. Especially the queen be herself who has always wanted Alpha Dylan to be her mate...Adeline carter... Some Wolf's who have been rejected have often left the pack but have not managed to find a new pack who is willing to take them in within the time frame off 2 weeks and they are automatically classed as rogues. Rogues are wolfs who have no packs, some are nice but the thing's I have heard some rogues will kill to get what and where they want to be in the chain.

“You should have died.” His voice was cold. “But I saved you… and now you carry my heir.” I froze. “You’re lying.” “Am I?” His eyes burned into mine. Neglected by Mate, Accepted by His Brother Maddena thought finding her mate, Alpha Lucas of Fangsmoon Pack, would be her happy ending. Seven years of a childless union didn’t shake her loyalty—until she finally conceived… and he accused her of betrayal. Branded a cheater, sentenced to death, and cast into the sea, Maddena lost everything. But fate had other plans. Rescued by a mysterious Lycan King, Lucas’s estranged twin brother Damien, Maddena awakens in a world far from the cruelty she once knew. As truths unravel and forbidden feelings ignite, Maddena discovers a heartbreaking secret: her child doesn’t belong to the mate who betrayed her… but to the brother who saved her. Torn between vengeance, truth, and a love she never expected, Maddena must choose; return to the past that broke her or embrace the future that could heal her.

Serena’s POV Matagal kong inakalang hawak lang ako ng kontrata—isang papel na pumirmi sa buhay ko, sa katawan ko, at sa kalayaan ko. Pero ngayong nakahiga ako sa tabi ni Damien, natatakpan ng init ng balat niya ang lahat ng sugat sa puso ko, alam kong mali ako. Hindi na kontrata ang nagbubuklod sa amin. Hindi na utang. Hindi na desperasyon. Ako mismo ang pumili sa kanya. Dahan-dahan niyang hinila ang kumot pababa, inilantad ang bawat bahagi ng katawan kong kanina pa nanginginig, hindi dahil sa takot kundi dahil sa pananabik. Mainit ang hininga niya sa leeg ko, at ang bawat halik na inilapat niya ay parang panata na hindi na niya ako bibitawan. “Wala nang papel na nagdidikta sa’yo, Serena,” bulong niya habang pinapadaanan ng labi ang balikat ko. “Ako na ang pipiliin mo. Ako na ang kailangan mo.” Napapikit ako, hinayaan ang katawan kong lunurin ng bawat haplos niya. Hindi na ito transaksyon. Hindi na ito kasunduan. Ito ay kagustuhan naming pareho. Nagtagpo ang mga labi namin, mas mariin, mas buo—parang wala nang bukas. Ang bawat paghinga niya ay naging akin, ang bawat ungol ko ay naging kanya. Hanggang sa wala nang natira kundi ang mga katawan naming nag-uusap, nagsasanib, nagtatakda ng bagong simula. At sa gitna ng dilim ng kwarto, habang pareho kaming nilalamon ng init at ng pagmamahal, alam kong wala nang atrasan. Ako si Serena Villareal. Hindi na bilang alipin ng kontrata, kundi bilang babaeng kusang nagpa-angkin, kusang nagmahal, at kusang nagpasakop—sa lalaking siya ring nagpalaya sa akin.

"Leave me," I said, struggling to get out of his grip… "Ahh," an unwanted moan escaped from my lips when he sucked on my neck harder. "If you want me to leave you then why do you call me daddy to tease me?" He groaned, having a hard time controlling himself. "Now you have to pay for it, my little dove." She closed her eyes in sensation knowing the dirty meaning behind those innocent words. She hated him, and his feelings were not different, but their desire was overpowering their hatred. . Monika is an Alpha woman who falls in love three times, but everyone rejects her, including her fated mate. She accepted her fate of being doomed in love until her ex returned to her life after knowing she hid her pregnancy for him. She was the mother of his child. He forced her to sign a contract marriage where there would be only lust and no place for love. What will she choose? If she said yes, then what would happen when a girl who is rejected by everyone gets accepted by a ruthless Alpha who is heartless as a rock? Wanna know? Read the journey of Monika finding love.

Eureka was forced into a marriage with Raymond Blackwood, the CEO who never wanted her. Lies, betrayal, and a broken heart sent her running.   Years later, she returns successful, with a teenage boy Raymond doesn’t even know exist, and the quest to find her daughter because she gave birth to twins, but one was stolen. When fate brings them together again, the truth behind their broken marriage starts to surface.   Can Raymond fix the damage he caused, or is it too late for forgiveness and love?