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

“Get on your knees, my little pet," Jerome growled, his voice rough with command. His fingers tangled in my hair, guiding me down as my pulse roared in my ears. The heat of his body pressed closer, and I trembled not from fear, but from the dark thrill of surrender. "Show me how hungry you are." Rachel is a college senior studying art and design, and her life feels dull and uninspiring. She has been dating Jack since freshman year, but their relationship is lukewarm he doesn’t ignore her, but he doesn’t truly care about her either, especially since he’s always eyeing her best friend, Jessica. Rachel feels stuck in a routine, going through the motions without any real passion until everything changes when her drawing teacher gets into an accident. The school brings in a substitute Jerome, a young, breathtakingly attractive artist who immediately commands the room. Rachel tries to ignore the way her body reacts to him, but the pull is too strong. His gaze lingers on her a second too long, his voice sends shivers down her spine, and when he gets close, she can’t think straight. She knows it’s wrong teachers and students can’t be together but she can’t resist. Then she discovers Jerome’s secret he’s a werewolf, part of a powerful pack with three other dangerously seductive men Dante, Kade, and Elias. They’ve been watching her, waiting, and now that she’s near Jerome, their instincts take over. They growl, they claim, and Rachel, despite her fear, finds herself drawn deeper into their world. Drawn into a world of forbidden desire, Rachel surrenders to a passionate affair.

My best friend and I were in relationships with the brothers from the Wilson Family, and we both got pregnant at the same time. She flaunted her relationship publicly, making everyone in Junopia know that Rick had left the monastery for her. On the other hand, I kept silent about my relationship with the heir of the Wilson Family. Thus, everyone mistakenly thought I was single. That was until my best friend saw my pregnancy report. In a fit of rage, she rallied a group of friends, stormed into my dorm, and vandalized my room with food waste. "I thought you were my best friend, and here you are, trying to steal my man," she accused. Not only did she live-stream this accusation, trying to paint me as the other woman, but she also spiked my chicken soup, hoping to get rid of my unborn child. In defiance, I poured the contaminated soup over her head. "Just so you know, Rick isn't the only Wilson brother," I retorted. Later, Rayden, the man who controlled Junopia, wrapped his arm around me and declared icily, "I've heard troubling rumors about my wife being called a mistress. We need to talk."

Alina believed that Alpha Caleb was her true mate, but as secrets unravel and the truth comes to light, she discovers that she is merely a pawn in a game of deceit and manipulation. Her dreams shatter when she learns that she was never meant to be Caleb's mate but merely a substitute for his deceased wife. Betrayed by the one she trusted the most, Alina attempts to escape the pack and seek freedom. But as she runs away, Alina's path collides with Prince Alaric, her true mate. Haunted by past betrayals, she struggles to trust him, even if they are fated to be together. Alaric, a royal werewolf prince, had tirelessly searched for his mate, but to no avail. Attending a banquet at Caleb's pack, he unexpectedly finds her, but she is hurt and broken. Despite the odds, Alaric vows to heal her wounds and win her trust, determined to show her the love and devotion she deserves. Will Alina open her heart to the one who has been searching for her all along?

He was ruthless and a killer, she knew, everyone knew. Everyone had heard takes of hus tyranny and feared for her life. Yet she couldn't bring herself to run away from him when he had requested her father send her to him. She was a princess and this was the price she would pay for her people. But when she arrives and things are a lot more different than she'd ever known how does she find a way to tell everyone that all they knew was a lie?

Ariella has been silent since she was four. Unable to talk after being abused by her sister. But her 18th birthday brings her wolf, healing, and freedom. She Escapes her abusive and neglectful home only to meet her Mates! Just when she feels her life about to begin, they reject her! When her second chance takes claim will she finally have the life she deserves will she forever be the neglected, rejected, and abused Princess of Werewolves!

One Bite Was All It Took. NATHANIEL Nathaniel Black was used to rejection. As a werewolf-demon hybrid, he is constantly stuck between two feuding worlds. When he meets she-wolf Ayra Staxton, who challenges his authority, he feels a burning desire like no other, triggering his demon. Out of jealousy, he marks her, effectively thrusting her into a world she has no knowledge of - a world of demons. AYRA STAXTON Waking up in a strange place with zero recollection of her memory, the last thing Ayra expects is to catch the eye of the dominant Alpha Nathaniel. She is disgusted by his possessive behavior, but under all that hatred is an undeniable attraction. With death knocking on her door, will the duo be able to work through their differences and become a team, and most importantly, will they be able to bare it all, leaving them vulnerable in front of each other? One thing was certain, though - they had to eliminate the threat or they risked losing all that is dear to them.

She was sold to a man who didn't believe in love—only control. When Elizabeth Harper is forced into a paper marriage with cold, powerful billionaire Christian Reed, she expects distance, indifference… maybe even cruelty. What she doesn’t expect is the tension that crackles between them every time they're in the same room. He’s dangerous, possessive, and utterly off-limits. But when one drunken night leads to secrets unraveling and desires surfacing, Elizabeth finds herself trapped in a deadly game of power, passion, and obsession. He owns her on paper. But she might be the one who owns his soul. Steamy. Twisted. Addictive. This is not your typical billionaire romance.

WARNING: MATURE CONTENT Emily Simpson believes she would get her happy ever after and can't wait to say her vows to Brian, the love of her life but her dreams are shattered when Daniel Straw walks into the church. Daniel straw, the leader of the "Blood Dragon Mafia gang is known to be ruthless and is greatly feared by everyone in Texas. What most people don't know is that he doubles as the Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack. Having stayed twelve years without being mated to anyone, Daniel has long given up on the possibility of ever having a mate which is why he feels extremely surprised when he gets mated at the age of thirty. He excitedly searches for his mate and finds her in a church, ready to tie the knot with another man. What is worse, he realizes that she is a human. Disappointed, Daniel decides to reject Emily but changes his mind when he overhears a conversation her fiance makes on the phone. He ends up marrying her forcefully and takes her captive. Emily displays nothing but hatred for the seemingly cold-hearted Mafia boss and wants to reunite with her Brian at all costs. Daniels's heart finally softens and he chooses to let Emily go despite his love for her. But, what happens when Emily realizes that she is not yet ready to let go of her captor?

At the full moon gathering, I learned that my mate Carrick was forced to bond with the Omega daughter of our rival pack. He rushed to complete a mating ritual with her regardless of the consequences. They fled to the Northern Territories that very night. Their childhood bond story went viral among the packs, but I became the shameful third wheel who interfered with their "true pairing" and was shunned so severely that I couldn't even leave my den. Unexpectedly, Alex, the blind Alpha of the Silver Crest Pack—Carrick's sworn enemy—appeared at my door. "I've always been a vengeful wolf. Carrick stole my intended mate through deception, so I will claim his rightful Luna." His unseeing eyes somehow found mine with uncanny precision. "Alliances require balance, Jenna. Are you willing to complete the mating bond with me?" I looked at the image of their moonlight ceremony being shared through pack links, and without hesitation, I handed him my wrist, exposing my scent gland for the claiming bite.

She gave them her loyalty. They repaid her with betrayal. Alaina was the cherished Luna of Moonridge Pack—respected, radiant, and deeply in love with her mate. Until the night of their anniversary, when a single video shattered her world. Her best friend. Her mate. A secret affair. A pregnancy. A public humiliation too cruel to be real. Stripped of her title and exiled from her pack, Alaina must navigate a world that sees her as nothing but broken and barren. But beneath the ashes of her old life smolders a new strength, fierce, vengeful, and waiting to rise. And when she crosses paths with a dangerous Alpha who sees her not as weak but as a challenge… the game of power, passion, and revenge begins. Perfect for fans of fierce heroines, forbidden bonds, and slow-burning revenge, this is a story where a Luna doesn’t break, instead she transforms.