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

In the electrifying world of Formula 1, Alex Dupont and Marco Bianchi are more than just fierce rivals; they're each other's obsession. As they race towards the championship, their secret passion off-track intensifies, threatening to unravel their careers. When a devastating crash brings their hidden feelings to the forefront, they must decide if their love is worth the ultimate risk. "You know, I can't stand how you're always pushing me on the track," Alex said, frustration lacing her voice. Marco leaned in closer, his eyes locking with hers. "I can't help myself when l see you out there, Alex. You bring out the best- and sometimes the worst- in me." "Driven by Desire" is a captivating story of forbidden romance, high-speed rivalry, and the perilous balance between ambition and desire.

“ I don’t like you, you’re not fit to be called my mate,”he growled , his cold gaze piercing through me. “ I hate you , I don’t want to be your mate ,” I fired back at him. Thereafter he rejected me, I accepted ,but the bond refused to break. *** When Layla was forced into an arranged bond with the Heir-Alpha after the moon goddess chose her as his mate during a ceremony, he doesn’t love her because his heart is tied to someone else. She doesn’t have any reason to be tied to a cold , bitter Alpha. But then they had no choice. Living under the same roof, in the same room, resisting their mate bond became a daily battle. When dark secrets begin to unfold and danger threatens the pack, their fake connection may be the only thing that can save them. Will they finally seal the bond to protect everything that they know or will their secrets tear them apart?

Lily was the little sister of my fiancé’s best friend. She was a mistress to a mafia Don—a sugar daddy—until his wife found out, and the clip of Lily getting beaten up ended up on the local news. Yet, somehow, everyone thought the woman getting dragged on TV was me. People at work who never liked me jumped at the chance to pile on. One of them even pointed right at my face and called me shameless. I tried to explain, “My fiancé is Sam Johnson, the CEO of Johnson Group. He’s handsome and ranked third on the Forbes list. Why would I become a mistress to a sugar daddy?” However, no one believed me. If anything, they looked at me like I was even more pathetic. One coworker sneered and pointed to the TV. “You’re not just morally bankrupt; you’re a liar. The CEO’s fiancée? That’s not you.” The TV was playing a breaking news segment titled: First Appearance of Johnson Group CEO’s Fiancée. And there Sam was, arm in arm with Lily, officially announcing their relationship.

In the depths of despair, Cassia's life is a tapestry of pain and torment. Abused and broken, betrayed by her family, she finds herself sold into a world beyond human reckoning. Her buyer, Samael, a merciless demon prince, is as feared as he is captivating. As Cassia enters the darkness of Samael's realm, she discovers a connection that defies the boundaries of good and evil. Bound by a powerful, inexplicable force, they navigate a treacherous path where love, redemption, and danger entwine. In a world where demons rule and secrets shroud reality, Cassia must confront her past and find the strength within her to not only survive but to melt the icy heart of the demon prince who now holds her fate in his hands. This is a tale of forbidden love, dark desires, and the enduring power of the human spirit. But as Cassia and Samael's connection deepens, whispers of ancient prophecies and hidden truths cast doubt upon Cassia's humanity. With each passing day, she begins to question her very essence. Is she truly just a helpless human, or is there something more, something extraordinary lurking within her? In a world where demons and destiny collide, their love becomes a beacon of hope, challenging the boundaries of what it means to be human. Can love truly to conquer all, even when faced with the darkness of demons and the mysteries of destiny?

Kyra is a resilient, compassionate, yet quite naive nineteen-year-old girl who lived with her father and stepmother ever since she lost her mother. Her stepmother, driven by greed, was determined to sell her off to an old man for money. Due to this pressure, Kyra sold herself to a ruthless billionaire. Will Kyra's sacrifice lead to her freedom, or will it trap her in a cage she can never escape.

“I, Marcus Steele, Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack, reject you, Luna Blackwood, as my mate and Luna.” Luna Blackwood’s wedding day becomes her nightmare when her Alpha publicly rejects her, declaring her too weak to bear his children. As her former best friend steps forward as his chosen replacement, Luna’s world crumbles. But what Marcus doesn’t know could destroy them all. Luna carries the last royal werewolf bloodline, a secret that makes her the most powerful supernatural being alive. Hidden from those who hunted her kind to extinction, she possesses abilities that could reshape their world forever. When mysterious Alpha Kai Nightshade reveals the conspiracy behind her rejection, Luna faces an impossible choice: remain broken and hidden, or embrace her destiny as the prophesied Lycan Queen who will unite all supernatural beings. From public humiliation to ultimate power, Luna’s transformation will prove that being rejected was the best thing that ever happened to her. But first, she has a war to win.

To the world, they are perfection, the billionaire and his elegant wife, the family everyone envies. But behind closed doors, they are strangers bound by a contract and by one secret that could destroy them both. When Alexander and Elena Harrington announce their “divorce,” everyone expects a scandal. But they can’t let the real reason for their separation become public. Their empire is built on illusion, and if the truth gets out, it could destroy everything. Their only son is the fragile thread holding them together, and the same reason they can’t let go. But love was never part of the deal. As society braces for scandal, a rival billionaire shows Elena what affection truly feels like. And the man who never shows emotion begins to unravel, consumed by jealousy and obsession. In a world where loyalty is currency and betrayal comes wrapped in diamonds, some vows are meant to break and others become the only thing worth saving.

The stench of silver dust filled the air, and every breath seared my lungs. My broken body lay twisted among the jagged rocks of the abandoned silver mine, where even the strongest werewolf would feel their strength waning. Beside me, my mate’s first love, Sophia, whimpered softly. A shallow scrape marked her knee. The tunnel was collapsing. Only two people could pass through the exit at a time. Lucas did not hesitate to scoop Sophia in his arms and abandon me. His golden eyes, once filled with unwavering loyalty toward me, now burned with something colder—indifference. I reached out, my fingers trembling as they grasped the hem of his clothing. My voice was hoarse with despair. "Lucas… please… don't leave me here." “I am your mate. I’m carrying your pups.” He glanced at me with a clenched jaw and broke free, shoving me back onto the silver-laced ground. Agony burned through my veins, consuming my soul like fire. “Are you serious, Ava?! After pushing Sophia into this damn abyss and getting her injured, you still dare to compare with her.” “You know what?! You deserve to be left here and reflect on your mistakes!” With that, he vanished into the light, and the tunnel collapsed behind him. His words cut deeper than silver ever could, and the last thing I heard before darkness swallowed me was the sound of their retreating footsteps.

This is the darkest kind of story - pull at it and you will bleed. Be ready for consequences. The deeper you read, the harder it will clutch at you. A violent night. Two lives shattered. One child plucked from the river and hidden away. Years of running, of fierce protection, of desperate love that wears the face of a wound. When the disease drags them back to the city that stole everything, the past wakes like a predator. He is a monster wrapped in grief - magnetic, ruthless, and obsessed. She is the woman who saved a life and raised a devil of her own making, unaware that the blood she shields belongs to the man who destroyed her world. He does not know; she does not know. Fate will tell them both.

Mistreated her whole life by the family she was adopted into, Dakota Stone still strives to win her stepfamily’s love and approval despite their aloof and uncaring behavior towards her. Her life takes an unexpected turn when Elias Persson, a cold and intimidating billionaire, who was supposed to marry her sister, takes a sudden interest in her instead. Faced with a shocking betrayal by her fiancé and sister, she turns to Elias with a surprising proposal - a contract marriage. As long buried secrets in her family come to light, will the weight of her family’s deeds destroy her or will she find a safe haven in the arms of Elias?