Hi, Natalie. Welcome to What Your Next Podcast.

Hi. I'm so happy to be here.

I am so excited to have you here. Okay, listeners, first things first. I've known Natalie since her college days because I was her advisor back in the day, and this is a long time ago, and we eventually became sorority sisters. We're part of Lamb Theta Alpha Latin Sorority Incorporated, which was founded in 1975 in New Jersey, and it's the first Latin sorority. So that's like our claim to fame. So we both have been involved in the sorority so I have been friends for some time and actually really love that Natalie has joined me in my book, Obsession of it all. So we were catching up about what's been going on, how we been doing. 'cause we've known each other for. It's when you, yes. Tell us a.

Yeah. So, well thank you again. So, so happy to be here and, for having me on your podcast. But I, the best way to describe myself, I'm a Latina that lives in Maryland. I've recently joined the book community as of maybe officially. Again in 2024. Prior to that, I was diving into books, but not as much until, I found a certain genre that I really love and I've been addicted ever since. And yeah, I love reading, I love audiobooks, I love eBooks. I can devour them. I'm part of a, an amazing book club. They're called the Baddies Book Club, so I can give you guys all the information afterwards. But we're a very tight knit community from across the nation. We have a lot of book members from the west coast to the East coast, to the Midwest, and yeah, they've been my community over the last two years. And yeah, just happy to be here.

Oh my gosh, I'm so excited. Now I need to know about the book club, but first things first, we gotta talk about. LTA because we might as well do a little bit. We're in Puerto Rican week, we've been Puerto Rican Day celebration, but,

Bad bunny.

Bad money, best Spanish album. We are in that era. And so a lot of people don't know about like Greek life. They assume Greek life is what we see in Rush talk, which is not, that's Panhellenic, that's a whole different ball game. Multicultural Latin, Greek. Historical, black fraternity sororities are very different. The way we are bringing a tight-knit community to the, not just for ourself to help you empower and grow and to, do so well professionally, but they're also. It's a place for us to connect as a community. For me, LTA was a place where I moved to a new place. A new city. I was a young professional and I was looking for a community. I did not join, well, I was an undergrad. Natalie did join, which was undergrad. I did not, I actually joined afterwards as a so a young professional. And that's one of the different things is like you actually can join at different era of your life and it's just an opportunity to have networking opportunities, but connect with other women and connect with, get back to the community which is so important. But I was involved in in the s in the early 2010s, but now has been involved and she is on national board and she's their chapter president. And so I was like asking her all the tea of what was happening in sorting so.

Yeah, we are, we're connected through a sorority but we've both been active at different stages of our lives. I've been very involved since I joined the organization in 2003. I've served on different levels of leadership, so on an area, so like a local level. And then on an, on a national board level. And so I've seen the organization grow over the last 20 years and it's been amazing to see that. Like Laura mentioned, we are across the nation including Puerto Rico. We have an active alumni chapter there now, so I'm very excited about that. Actually one of my founding sisters from my university is one of the charter members in Puerto Rico.

I just a fun fact. The reason why I'm a sister is because of Natalie and her line sisters because there were the first group that actually advised as a Latin American I think it Latino advisory. Like it was the Drop and you were the first group. And I love your line sisters who really. Put me on my toes and actually work me to the ground. But I learned so much and I am so proud of you guys because you how all have thrive and it this wonderful, see, as an undergrads, you're just like big spirits, big dreams. And then being like, okay, how I'm gonna get this done? And so seeing the advocacy, seeing the level of professionalism, level of work and ethic is yeah, this is what we're here for.

yeah. No, it's the organization itself has, helped me a lot e even in my professional career it is through my network that I've been able to work in the field that I work. So I work in public health communications and I've been working for different nonprofits for, as a government contractor. And it's because of my sorority sisters who have connected me to the right people or have pulled me into there. Projects that I've been able to like really flourish in that space. So not only is it like a sisterhood, but it's also like a very powerful networking community that has, it's a lifetime commitment and I'm very proud of it. So, like you said, Laura you saw me from my college days. I've grown up a lot over the last 20 years. But yeah we're very proud of what we've been able to accomplish through the sorority.

Yes, and if you're interested,

Lambda lady.org.

All right, so let's talk about your book journey, because you were always a reader, I'm assuming, and then something happened. Maybe one book or one idea. Clicked it, for me was the off-campus series. It was learning that there was something as a book tube actually happening and that opened up the windows for books to read.

Yes.

And I was unemployed at the time, and I was like, well, I have nothing else to do, so I'm just gonna read books. What was it for you? What was a catalyst that came from like a regular reader, an occasional reader to a reader?

Yeah. Oh my God. So my book journey was really interesting because I wanna say I went through two different phases. The first one was I think it was so, so cringe to admit this, but like 50 Shades of Gray was the first actual series that I read when it came out. And that got me hooked into reading. However I have to admit that I am a very slow reader. It takes a lot of time. I don't know, it's just like how my brain works. It's like it's, it takes me a long time to read. So to get through a book, it would take me weeks to do. But that was one of those books that I just couldn't, I couldn't stop. I remember buying, because back then there was no eBooks. The Kindle didn't even exist. Audiobooks wasn't really a. Thing that people knew about. So I would by the physical book and read it on my way to my job in New York and like literally devour him. And then I also there was another series that I also devoured at the same time, but then I fell off like. I read those two series and it was just like, I didn't really continue because I couldn't find anything like it anymore or nobody, I didn't have somebody to point me in the right direction. So for years I stopped. And I also really, life happened. I got really busy, I got really involved in the sorority and it was very time consuming, so I just dropped off. I didn't get back until 2024. In with the what's it called? The Bridgeton series actually. Because I, I'm a huge Bridgeton fan and I found out that it was based off of book. So I was just like, you know what? Like I'm might as well just read it and, and compare. 'cause I like to compare and read the visual versus the book. And I started reading and then somebody told me, I was like, well, since you say you're a slow reader, I was having a conversation with a friend. It was like. How about you try audio books? And I'm like, I don't know. Well, how does that work? And somebody had to really explain it to me. They educated me on Audible on Libby and Hoopla. Oh, you can get a library card, you can actually get them for free. And I was like, okay, let me try that. And it changed my life. Like I love hearing the story. I actually retain it a lot better. But then somebody, even one other thing that rocked my world was that. They were like, well, why don't you do immersive reading? So you're listening to it, but you're act actually reading it at the same time. And that's what I do now. Like I do immersive reading and I get through the books quicker and I retain it better. So I think once you find your groove and you find your listening style, then that's, like it's game over. And I haven't stopped ever since. I think last year I read 203 books. I was like, what? I went over way over my goal, and then this year I'm trying to meet I think I said 1 75. I can't remember what my goal is, but yeah, we'll see.

I'm so proud of you. This is like a, this is the reason why I have this podcast. The reason why I have this podcast is because I was just like you. I live in New York. I was reading Shade So Gray, whatever the news for telling me whatever I saw on the subway. When people read we had the books and you're like, oh, this is a book. You're like, oh, okay, that one. But there was like not a lot of consistent. And for me it was reading on my phone on a Kindle. Basically just scrolling through my phone instead of going through Facebook or going through Instagram. I was just on my phone reading and then eventually evolved to audiobooks. I was like, wait, I can listen to books at falling asleep. Or I can listen to books while I'm doing my errands and I can do the space. But that first year, like finding that click, finding the right reading style that works, and then just going for it. And then seeing the vast amount of options that you have, because that's the other part, it's like not knowing what to read, like it's It now has too many options and so this is the other problem 'cause you get decision paralysis, but the reason why I have this podcast is because I wanted to have a conversation and try to tell you like, here's some books you can read. Because it's tough. It's tough out there.

And I think that was the problem before there, like we didn't know what type of genres fell under romance. I thought romance was just one thing. But then there's so many different types of romance. I didn't even know what SMU was. I was like, what is that? And so until somebody actually explained it to me, I was like, Ooh. And then my first dark romance, I was like, Ooh.

Yeah.

Yeah I've d I've dived into everything in the last two years, and I actually know exactly what type of tropes I like now, what type of genres under the romance genre that I like. And I think Book Talk really changed the game, to be honest. So, like I, that's all on my feed right now, is everything about books.

It's a, it is a really exciting time. I think I call the pre 2020 era. We were the grandparents. We were like, yeah we built this thing all by one. And then we see the explosion of it and we're like, yeah, we read. I 'cause a lot of the book talk books in 2020 are. Popular in 2016 we're the ones that were coming out in 2016. So that's what I was reading. And then now seeing like evolution of it and now seeing like Indi trot or trot pups or lots of ku, like lots of different experiences like, there's monsters, there's aliens, there's polyamory, there's white choose. There's a mega verse, there's dark Romans. There's. All different charges and are romances. There's romantic thrillers. There's romantic mysteries. I'm right now in a mystery romcom. Those are like my favorite thing where there's like a murder and then there's also a romance. I'm like, did the husband did it or are we gonna fall in love with a husband? So I think Romans is like such a big genre like that it like people are like, oh, you just, and before 2020. There was a stigma around reading moments. There was a, and there's still a stigma, but if you go to your friends, they're like, oh good, what did you read? Can you recommend me a book? I think I saw this in the, actually, I was watching the Loveless V, which is, this season is not that good. But the guy was like, I read The Alchemist., The girl he matched up with was reading fourth, and then he was like, look down. And she's I'm just reading Dragon Spots. And he's I'm the Alchemist because everyone, I'm like, sir, not everyone has read The Alchemist. Not everyone that doesn't make, that's like a book. You pretend you wanna read that you think you read, like there's other books in the space but yeah, I think it's like Romans is now part of the Lexington. People talk about it, especially with heated robbery coming out. I was early heated robbery early, like I am. Mm-hmm.

I saw it. I saw your podcast episode.

first podcast interview was with me because I was like, obsessed with this book.

It's so good. I read the the long game and then I read the first one. What was it? Change,

game changers.

game Changer.

You can read role model, I think it's role model. It's the fifth book. It has IA in it. It's the social media and the hockey guy. I really love that book so, so much because it's like you get ia, cameos, but at the same time you get like a really cute romance within the social media guy and the guy who is like, who has to clean up his image and it's just so tender, so good.

Yeah, going back to what you said earlier yeah, there was like a stigma, and I think that's another reason why when I first started, like it was even buying the physical book and trying to read that on the train, I was like, hiding. Because I didn't wanna be judged for it. But now I don't care. Honestly, like I told, I was like, there's no shame in liking romance. And when people ask me, I'm more than happy to tell them well, what, what's the vibe you're going for? It was just like, do you want some B-B-D-S-M or do you want Lovey dovey? What spectrum are you on right now? And I always give some really good recommendations.

Yes. I love this. And you live in Maryland. The DC area, which you're eligible to have a bunch of libraries, which is Amazing. Amazing. You can keep just three listeners for looking for library live in DMV area. Get advantage of as many libraries as possible. 'cause you can't.

Yeah they have mutual agreements. I think that's what they're called or something like that. But yeah, I can even get library cards from Virginia Maryland

Maryland. You can go to any libraries. You can take a little road trip down to Baltimore or Annapolis and go stop at the library and get your library card.

Yep. Yep. Girl. I took advantage of that. I have a lot of library

Yes.

and I get most of my books from Libby, to be honest with you. And if I can't find it then or that, or hoopla I'll definitely consider purchasing it. But for the most part, oh, and I also have Kindle Unlimited,

yeah. and kind limited. You get the whisper sank. So you get to, and it's actually gone cheaper. It used to be $7, now it's $5 or $4. So it's like good way. I only use kind limited whisper sank for audible exclusive ones. I had some personal rules 'cause I was like, I don't wanna spend too much money. And a lot of kind limited books are becoming available in the library. 'Cause they're getting produced or just like dumping them on hoopla and you're like, I don't even need to use Ottawa. I don't need to spend too much money here.

Exactly, and I feel the same way. Like I'll I do have, I, this is the first year I actually have, a subscription with Audible, but it's because they're like, I took advantage of like a promo they were having during the holidays. But typically I just, I like to stick and support our libraries because right now the libraries are suffering getting, budget cuts all over. And so as much as I can, I try to support my local libraries. Yeah.

We love libraries here. Libraries are my favorite thing in the world. I love seeing libraries. I love going to libraries. I love seeing what people are reading. If you travel to a new place, go to the local library and see what the locals are reading So, and it's free and it's, there's a few places it's free and we've gotta take advantage of that.

Yeah. Well save our libraries guys. Everybody should get a library card.

Okay, so let's talk some Booker recommendations. What kind of books do you wanna recommend to us?

Yes. Ooh. Okay. So I submitted my list and it was hard, like to narrow it down. I think for the first one, 'cause I try to do books that people may not have heard of it. I really love one that is called a broken Romeo.

I read this. so good.

But I love it. That was actually one of the books I probably read around the time of 50 Shades of Gray and I it just. Like it captured my heart. It was so devastating. But in a good way. Like I, in the way that book ended, it was just like you needed more. And like back then you had to wait for the next book to come out. It wasn't like right away. So I ended up reading the whole series eventually. But I highly recommend that book. Broken Romeo is one of my favorites, and I actually just reread it. Last month because I was, you know what, it's been 10 years. Let me see if this hits the same way. I actually rated it higher this time. I think last time I rated it four stars. This time I rated it five stars because I actually did the audiobook on top of reading, which audiobook didn't exist back then and I felt it even more in my soul. So highly recommend that one

Oh my gosh. I need to bump it up 'cause I read it 10 years ago. I bing so serious. 'cause it was like, by the time I read them the role, the series were coming out, it was Romeo, Juliet and something else. And I was like, I was obsessed with the series and I need to reread this now.

Yeah, it was it is so, it's so, so good. Another one that I recommend is the Blue Ranch Series by Lyla Sage. So that was actually one of my recommendations when I did what do I recommend for 2025? I had ne that was my first Cowboy Romance series, and I was like, oh, I didn't know that I needed this in my life. But they're pretty short. But like her writing style like is really good and you can feel the passion between the characters the drama that is ensued, all of that, like highly recommend that series if you're really looking into look into cowboy romances.

Yeah. I remember Blue Series it was originally Indy. And because of the cover and because of like the bus, like it just, it got picked up right away. And I've been impressed. I love the final book in the series where she's like a runaway bride and he basically texts her like, saves her soul. It's just a fun thing. And you know what, these are not MAGA cowboys or there were foreign cowboys. They were like our cowboys. So I really appreciate I do have a name with Lila, so if you wanna hear when she started writing the first book in the series and the explosion with it, I'll link it to this episode, so you get to hear that. But that's a great series to go and she has soul searching, which is like a new series coming up.

Yeah, I actually read her first one. It was definitely different because it's not a cowboy romance. It was actually paranormal. And I was like, oh, this is very interesting. Like different writing. But she, it's just, I think it's her writing, honestly. It's really good. So highly recommend her. Oh yes. Okay. Pen pal. I just, this is one that people will judge it by its cover. I don't know why they picked that cover. I mean, the guy's sexy on that cover., I'm not gonna lie, but I think people are like, oh, this is gonna be like really s Muddy or whatever, but it's actually a really good book because it has a plot twist at the end that nobody expects. I didn't expect it, and when it happened to me, when I read it the first time, I literally had to stop because I was crying my eyes out.

Not a romance, just an FYI. It's not a romance. It has a romantic twist.

I consider it.

it's not because there's rules for.

Okay. Fine. It definitely, but I feel like the

it's darker. It is gritty. It is fun. It has a twist. There's a Roman's undertone. But if you're expecting that, because I know my Roman's reader, like they, Johns are like, this is not a Roman.

Okay. Fine. Outta respect, it's not,

twist. A romantic

a romantic twist, but I love that book and it's one that I've recommended to a lot of my friends recently, because it's one of those that I wanna say, don't judge the book by its cover. It's definitely really good. And it's the ending that you probably would've never imagined.

And have you read her mafia wands?

No, I haven't.

So good First book is okay, but the second book, it's like my favorite female character she gets, okay, so she causes a whole Mobo war happening and she gets kidnapped by the Irish mob and personally, I love kidnapping captor, captive romances. I don't know what it says about me. I just love them. But she is like the best character. She's kidnapped and then she's like trying to like be the boss around it and like she succeeds being the boss around it and the guy's I kidnapping you. I just like, I.

Okay. Please send it to me because I'll definitely read it.

But I think it, the first book is Carnal Urges by JT Geissinger It is so good if you're looking for mafia Romans, if you're not it's a really good, like maybe mafia romances to go to. I love mafia. That's like my favorite, like sub genre that I, I haven't given enough time to. But Carna Arga and stuff like that, it's delightful. So, and that, that's a romance. That is a romance and it's muddy and it has all the elements and everything,

Okay, I'll definitely check it out, I promise. I actually don't think I've read a lot of kidnapping or captivity type

Oh, I have an episode for you. I do have a captor captive episode. And I really should do an upgraded one 'cause y'all love it.

It's a genre I haven't explored

Yes, actually mafia is I don't know what it does, says. I personally, I think what it is like I'm okay with a cinema role hero and stuff like that, but I like, like an Alpha Men. Like someone who's like full of red flag, who's like outline alive someone on the side and then have you and be

You're mine.

and stuff like that. Your mind, if there's something to, I think maybe 'cause when I came of age I was like reading romance. It was mainly alpha male, we, the thing like then they went to therapy and they'd start talking about your feelings and stuff like that. It's cute. But there's something to be said about red flag men. It's I, there used to be a TikTok. It's what is a Romans red flag that you like? What's a real life red flag that you'll see behind your Romans that you'll be like, obsessed with and obviously kidnappings red flag. And

I kinda maybe Okay, maybe I have read a a few mafia ones, but not to that extreme, so I'll definitely look it up. But for example, I'm real, one of my favorite books was Lights Out by Navessa Allen.

I have to read it. Yes.

And I love the audio book. I love the book. It was so funny. It was so hilarious. But it has, it has some like stalking.

Yes. I dunno. I there is I love dark romcoms. So sort the newer undertone, like stocking on the, like a little romcom thing. I.

It was perfect. I love those. I love those. But yeah I think the other series that I highly recommend and that people I'm surprised I'm, some people know about it, some people don't, but I highly recommend the Bourbon Boys series Victoria Wilder And yeah, I went, I came across it honestly, like I'm the type of person who's yeah, if you have a beautiful cover. I'm most likely gonna read it, and that series has beautiful covers and it, but the story is so good, so I definitely recommend that one

She's also, she's in the protective service, like she got caught up in some mob situation and that in Federal Protection program. So, Again, still a little bit darker stuff. It has a little touch of romantic suspense at the same time. It's a pretty good romance. And I've read the rest of the series, but I read Bourbon Secrets. I think that's the first one I

Yeah, I've read the first and the second. I only have the third one left that I

Yeah, so, but does it get serious, and I think it's available on print now, so you might be able to get bookstore.

Yeah, for sure. The last one that I think I put on my list, this one's more contemporary, but I love her and I'm a huge fan. It's yours truly by Abby Jimenez. And I know Abby has become very popular over the last few years. But that was the book that really made me a fan because it was beautifully written. And I felt represented in that book because the main character is Salvadorian from Central America. And I'm Salvadorian, so like I feel. Oh, she's writing about me and I connected with it. So, but yeah, after I read that book, I read her complete collection and I actually have all the physical books in my library and her writing is so fantastic. I love every single book.

So I think I have to say I have interviews with Abby actually from 2019. I recorded before I was living in New York when I recorded that one. That's like when she was the reason why there's author interviews is because of Abby, because back in 20 19, I. Mentioned the friend zone early on before it was a debut, like it was like months before we came out and I met the publicist and she's Hey, would you be fun to have Abby comment on the show? And I was like, oh yes you should. And we ended up doing it for Happily Ever After Playlist, which was the second book, but technically the first book that she wrote, 'cause she wrote that one first and then the Fzo. And it was like, serendipitous. 'cause that was like, I had author interviews and then 2020. Everything shuts down. People are like, where are we going? They're all coming to the podcast. And so I do have interviews with JT Geisinger. I have a couple of those with her. I have Sage when she released the Blue Ranch Series, Victoria Wilder came twice, came for written secrets and then actually stuff. So I feel like I'll link those interviews, but there's other interviews for these books that you have, like you can hear behind the scene what the others have to recommend for you to risk. To listen or read afterwards,

Oh my God. I look forward to listening to

yeah,

episodes because they've become my, my, my favorite authors, to be honest. Like anytime they come out with a new book, I'm like, sign me up. I already know you're writing and it's amazing. So I loved it.

Let's talk about the book Love. Actually Let's do book club. Okay. Tell me all about the book club.

Yeah, so, the Baddies Book club, you can follow us on Instagram at the underscore baddies book club. It first started by one of my sorority sisters. Her name is Myrna Ruiz, and she's from California. She started it in 2024. Verna and I are very close, and she approached me and a couple of others and was like, Hey, I really wanna start a book club. I don't wanna do it like locally because I know a lot of people and we're all in different states. This would become like a virtual community. And I was like, sign me up. So we started in July of 2024 and our book club has grown so much since then. I think it, initially it was only like, maybe like less than 10 of us. And then now I think we. Well over 20 or 30 or close to 30 people I think at this point. But we're a community. We meet every month. And the thing is like not just. Sorority sisters from our organization, but it's also like friends and family who have you, who have seen us online and was like, I wanna join that. And so, people have joined and so we don't make it just exclusive. And we try to be as inclusive as possible. As of right now, it's only been females, but, we don't discriminate. So if boys love. Book clubs they can join us as well. But yeah, follow us. We're open for people to join. Our, if you want a little taste, you can see what type of books we read. We try to do it by theme every month. So we have like different themes and then we all submit recommendations and we have a little spin the wheel and then we select which books we're gonna read. We try to do like a main book and then we have an optional book because some people like to read more. Some you don't have to if you don't want to, but we meet every month virtually, and we talk about it. And the good, the fun thing about, of our community is that we also do gift exchanges. Like we try to do four a year. So like we just recently had our Valentine's Day or a Valentine's Day. Love exchange. And so we get gifted each other like romance books and in addition to other things that we have on our wishlist. But the exciting thing about this year is because we've been so, we've been growing so much. We decided to do our first in-person retreat, and so we're doing one in April. And we are meeting in Austin, Texas.

Oh my gosh.

Yeah, so we're really excited. Not everybody can go, but a good group of us are gonna go and we're gonna bond and just have a book retreat and some of us, we haven't met each other yet in person. Some of us we have, but I'm just really excited to meet everyone and just spend time a weekend with them and yeah, I love 'em. I love my book club.

Oh my gosh. I'm so excited now. I'm like, I want join. Tell us where can find you online. Talk to us about your book page.

Yes, it's been something I've been wanting to do for a very long time, especially now that I've gotten into books. I decided to do it this year. Finally, were really pushing me. I was like, Hey, you should have your own book page. And I was like, I didn't wanna annoy anybody with my own Instagram

I love your Instagram. I was so proud of you. I was like, remember telling you I, didn't wanna overwhelm her. I was like, what books do you need? I can help you. I was like, so

Thank you.

need.

Oh, well, thank, no I really wanted to do this and I finally just. Jumped the gun and was like, let's do it. But you can find me on Instagram. My handle is Nats next book. And I'll provide it to Laura so she can add it to the description, but please follow me. I, like I said, I love romance. So most of the book that I do review are romance, but I also read a lot of other genres like ya. Dystopian mystery. Thrillers, things like that. So, or any of the ones, because our book club is not just romance. We do other genres. So like I also review all the books we read through the book club. But yeah, like I'm, please follow me, support me on my journey and yeah. Love it.

I love this. Thank you, Natalie, for coming into the show.

Thank you so much for having me.

Thanks for listening to the What three next. For more book lists, cozy reads and library tips, visit the what three Next block.com. Your next great read might be waiting there.