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

She was wolfless. All her life, Holly Ambrose had been longing for her family to reciprocate the love she had been working hard to get from her father and her sister, Irina. Unfortunately, they only saw her as an embarrassment to the pack and used her instead so that Irina could refuse to marry Alpha Evander Edgerton: the ruthless and cold-blooded Alpha of the Blackwood Pack. Thinking that it was the only way to escape them, Holly accepted the proposal. Alpha Alec, her former mate and her sister’s fiance begged her not to. He confessed he still had feelings for her and wanted her back as his mate. Too late because there was no stopping her from having her freedom. But would Holly be truly free if Irina had no intention to stop destroying her life after Alec left Irina to claim Holly back? Would she stay with Alpha Evander even after she found out that his former mate came back and was pregnant with his child?

“Darkness and Light must unite and find a balance… or the world will fall.” When the moon's light vanishes and rogue wolves rise with unnatural strength, the balance between fate and chaos begins to crack. Selene, a fragile orphan with a weak wolf and a mysterious past, has always been dismissed as powerless—but the Moon Goddess has other plans. Everything changes the night she collides with Alpha King Ronan—a cold, battle-hardened leader who vowed never to love, scarred by his parents’ tragic bond. Their fated connection shouldn't exist, but the prophecy says otherwise. Thrown into a dangerous spiral of secrets, betrayals, and forbidden power, Selene and Ronan must confront enemies lurking within and beyond their packs. As prophecies awaken and war brews, love may be their greatest strength—or their undoing. Can two broken souls defy destiny, or will the darkness consume them before they embrace the light?

The book contains explicit sexual and gay contents. From an abusive mate to an unexpected death, Trivia is born into a new world of mystery, and desire this time, her body craves the touch of not one, but three dangerous alphas: her gay fiancé, her bisexual Lycan king, and her seductive hybrid. But with a twisted past, dark secrets, and a possessive ex-husband on her heels, can Trivias embrace her new life without losing herself—or her heart?” * An arranged marriage? Keeping my secrets hidden? Doing as the council of elders wanted? Making my mother happy? Trying to keep my gay status hidden? All those were nothing but crappy lies. I saw her, I wanted her, and I had to find something to say. I had to find a web to have her all tangled in. I wanted her to be mine. Even if I had to go down to the dirt, down to the grounds, into the mud, and even lower than the earth, Into hell, just to make sure she was mine, I certainly would. Losing her wasn't an option; indeed, she had stolen from me. My heart… she stole my heart. Mi LADRONA.

"Oh princess... love was never my religion but I'd devote my whole life to you." Lumaki si Amira na hindi man lang naranasan na makatanggap ng pagmamahal mula sa kanyang mga magulang. Palibhasa ay madalas nauutal at tahimik, mas pinapaburan ng kanyang mga magulang ang kanyang Ate Alysa, na maliban sa napakaganda ay napakatalentado pa. Kaya hindi na nagtaka ang dalaga nang sa halip na ang kanyang nakakatandang kapatid ay siya ang ipinagbili ng mga ito, upang masagip ang papaluging kompanya ng kanilang pamilya. At para siyang papanawan ng ulirat nang malaman niyang ipinagbili siya ng kanyang magulang kay Yasir Reza, ang pinakamayaman-at pinakawalang-puso-na lalaki sa buong siyudad. Alam niyang panganib ang hatid ni Yasir. Kung hindi kamalasan ay higit lang na pasakit ang kanyang matatanggap. Walang puso ang pagkakakilala ng mga tao sa lalaki, at halos lahat ng mga napapangasawa nito ay namamatay, kung hindi man nakikipaghiwalay sa bilyonaryo. Nakikinita na ni Amira ang kahihinatnan niya. Ngunit kahit na alam niya ang peligro na bitbit ng kanyang asawa, hindi niya masawata ang pintig ng kanyang puso nang sa unang gabi nila ay masuyo siya nitong hagkan... Si Yasir na ba ang anghel na magpaparanas sa kanya ng walang katumbas na pagmamahal, o ito ang demonyong magdudulot ng higit pang pait sa puso niya?

"You claim to hate me because I'm an animal but look at how your c**t has soaked my fingers," he brought his hand to my face and indignation washed through me when I saw how soaked his fingers were from my wetness. I tried to avert my eyes, to look away but my eyes were latched on his hand and he brought it to his mouth to lick his fingers clean and he released the last one with a pop with his eyes locked on mine. And I died. Literally. **************** Nadine Singh is a human in the normal and she works in a real estate company. When she proposes a development plan to convert a forest into a mega city, she doesn't know that she's stepping on the toes of the race of werewolves that inhabit the forest and are unseen to the humans until she's kidnapped by their Lycan King. Kai Cruz, the Lycan King and the Alpha of the surviving werewolf race that lives in Eden City, a city that looks like a deep forest to humans is forced to make a drastic decision to save his people. He's forced to kidnap the human that's hell-bent on converting their natural habitat into a mega city. He plans to convince her to stop the development and he's not prepared to discover that the human is actually his mate, a mate that he has been looking for for years because she's the only one that can put a stop to an impending doom for the whole werewolf race. Will Nadine accept her fate as being mated to a Lycan King and fall in love with him or will she fight her for her freedom all the way to the end?

Delilah Rivers, a half-human outcast in the Moonhaven Pack, faces constant ridicule for her inability to shift. Rejected by her mate and burdened by her mother’s forbidden union, she flees her pack, only to be captured by the Lycan Prince, Caspian, of the Goldencrest Pack, who mistakes her for a rogue. Caspian soon discovers that she's the neice of alpha Rowan, the alpha of moonhaven pack. At Goldencrest, Delilah’s fiery spirit clashes with Caspian’s arrogance, even as their attraction grows, leading Caspian to imprint on her. Determined to prove her strength, Delilah uncovers her uncle’s dark secrets, including his role in her parents’ deaths and a conspiracy involving Lucian, Caspian’s vengeful brother. As Delilah’s dormant powers awaken, she becomes key to uniting the fractured packs. Betrayed by her cousin Theo and doubting her place in the werewolf world, Delilah finds solace in her love for Caspian. When rogue attacks escalate, she shifts into a wolf for the first time, severing her human side to protect the packs. Theo redeems himself through sacrifice, while Delilah defeats Lucian, securing peace. Emerging as the new werewolf queen alongside King Caspian, Delilah’s bravery transforms her from a ridiculed outcast to a celebrated leader. She regains her human side, finding balance and a brighter future with Caspian by her side.

Sabrina was taken captive by a man and was sold as a slave in the black market. She became a slave for five years, and just when she thought nothing could get worse than that, she, along with the girls she was with, were sold to a lycan man to be offered to their king. To say that she hated the lycan king is an understatement. She loathed the man to her core, feeling like his tyranny was the reason why her father died and her life became miserable. But when The Offering ceremony started, Sabrina never thought she’d find her mate. And her mate was none other than the lycan king himself. The man she hated the most.

Summer was about to be crowned Luna when she was humiliated by her mate. Shockingly, her step sister was announced as the mate instead of her. Like that wasn't humiliating enough, she was accused of her parent's murder which was allegedly confirmed by her step sister too and soon, everyone in the kingdom turned against her and wanted her dead! But the fickle finger of fate had different plans that unexpectedly turned to her favour. Just when all hope seemed lost, a new player emerged from the shadows: the Lycan King. His imposing presence silenced the tumultuous cacophony of voices, bringing a tense, eerie stillness to the room. She was betrayed by the exchange, sold to the Lycan King where her life actually BEGINS! What did fate have to offer summer? How was life without her mate?

"You have this beauty that captivates men, don’t you? There were plenty of naked women in this room, but the second you walked in, the men lost control. They wanted a piece of you. They wanted to own you." His fingers trail down my jaw, tilting my chin up. "Not knowing you already belong to me." I swallow hard, my breath caught in my throat. He moves away, settling into a chair with ease. He unbuttons his coat, leans back, spreads his legs apart like a king, which I guess he is... And then, his voice turns lethal. "From now on, Ariella Costa, you are mine to use. Mine to play with. Mine to do with as I please." The words hit me like a heart attack. "Your body belongs to me. Your mind belongs to me. Your soul belongs to me." He smirks, his dark eyes locking onto mine. "I own you."

“What’s your name?” The alpha asked, seemingly unsettled by all the attention on him. “Jessica.” She replied quietly. She was about to ask for his name when the other’s thumb brushed her lips, before he released his hold. It left a sensation that was domineering and territorial. The Alpha stepped back, earnest stare burning into Jessica giving a slight glare of irritation at the other wolves before walking away. Tasha giggled, eyes turning into crescents. “Jessi. He claimed you.” “H-He did not,” Jessi started. “Yes, yes he did. He didn’t mark you, but he like, scent-claimed you in front of – of everyone!” Tasha said with glee. “He left his scent on you.” *** *** Jessica Hart is an Omega wolf who wants to find a mate who will accept her and she’s determined their story would be ‘love at first sight’ until she meets him and ... he’s an Arrogant Alpha. Chadwick Kai, who is a mysterious, devastatingly handsome Alpha that confuses Jessica.