Bubbles and Books

Today, Ellyn is joined by Dog-Eared's Roxy Strike and Nick Narigon—writer, indie press founder, and former Iowa County resident. They chat about everything from favorite ‘90s angst anthems to what it's really like starting a small press. It's a fun, honest conversation full of hometown memories and creative inspiration. Be sure to check out Nick's Hayseed Press to see what he's been working on! Nick who is joining us from Singapore, has 20+ years of writing and editing experience in America, Tokyo, and Singapore. His writing has appeared in Kinfolk magazine, Scouting magazine, Wall Street Journal-Asia, Time Out Tokyo, etc. Most recently he was editor-in-chief of Tokyo Weekender magazine, Japan's number one English-language lifestyle magazine.  Learn more about The F Man Himself by Nick Narigon HERE ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

On this week's Bubbles & Books, Ellyn and Amanda are joined by bestselling author Jess Walter to talk about his upcoming novel So Far Gone. Expect laughs, insights, and thoughtful discussion as Jess shares how this novel took shape, what it says about the world today, and why he chose to leave social media. And we're so excited to share that Jess will be coming to Dog-Eared Books for a Cocktails & Convos event on Friday, September 12, at 7 PM.  Pop open your favorite bubbly or pour yourself a spiked coffee, and be prepared to become obsessed with Jess Walter if you're not already — you don't want to miss this one! Pre-Order So Far Gone by Jess Walter HERE Rhys Kinnick is an aging former journalist who's secluded himself in the woods of Washington after a family blow-up and his increasing disenchantment with the way the world is changing around him. Like Rhys, our human tendency is to withdraw when the world seems to be falling apart, but Jess Walter's novel shows us why it's important to hold onto connections with the people we love, even when those connections are sometimes fraught. The book is filled with a colorful cast of fully-developed characters – all multi-facetted people with nuanced storylines. It's both hilarious and heart-rending, while offering astute and timely social commentary. Follow Jess Walter on Instagram HERE Visit Jess Walter's website HERE ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

We are heading into summer and all the reading lists are coming out. Some are thoughtfully curated, and others… sloppily slapped together by AI. But today, we present you with an “AE” (Amanda & Ellyn) generated summer reading list—and trust us, it's way better than whatever the bots cooked up. Whether you're into breezy rom-coms, twisty thrillers, or something a little more unexpected, they've got you covered. Check out the Book Riot summer reading list HERE. Please enjoy our "AE" generated summer reading list, and let us know which ones you pick up! Ellyn's Currently Reading | Run For the Hills by Kevin Wilson & Indian Country by Shobha Rao Amanda's Currently Reading | Endling by Maria Reva Books coming out this week | Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood & Never Flinch by Stephen King Catch up on these books that everyone's been talking about that you haven't gotten to you. Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman James by Percival Everett I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman  The Names by Florence Knapp Heartwood by Amity Gage Beach Reads One golden Summer by Carley Fortune Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston (out June 17) Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood (out this week) Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry Remarkable Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt Here Beside the Rising Tide by Emily Jane Road trip books Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett If You Love Us, you'll make sure you read: So Far Gone by Jess Walter (out June 10) O Sinners! by Nicole Cuffy For fuck's sake, if you haven't read American Mermaid by Julia Langbein yet, do it. You won't regret it Read Only One Book This Summer Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurty Hot Titles Coming Out This Summer Bury the Bones in the Midnight Soil by VE Schwab  (out June 10) Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid (out June 3) Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson  (out July 22) ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

We are excited to welcome Dog-Eared Books' best-selling author to the Bubbles & Books podcast! Amanda & Ellyn have popped the bubbles and are chatting all about Kristen's adult cozy mystery How to Solve Your Own Murder and its sequel How to Seal Your Own Fate. Her books are full of twisty plots and eclectic characters, and she's sharing how she crafts a mystery that's both page-turning and comforting. We chat about the appeal of the cozy crime genre, what it's like writing in an English village setting from abroad, and a few hints about what's next in her literary world.    Books recommended by Kristen Perrin: The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett Voyage of the Damned by Frances White All the Colors of the Dark by Christ Whitaker Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt   Kristen will be at Boucher Con! Learn more about it HERE Order your copy of How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin HERE Order your copy of How to Seal Your Own Fate by Kristen Perrin HERE Discover other books by Kristen Perrin HERE Follow Kristen Perrin on Instagram HERE ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

In today's episode Amanda & Ellyn are breaking down the data from Indie Bookstore Day and giving you the best-sellers, how many passports we gave out, and special anecdotes we noticed throughout the day. Thank you to our listeners who came out to Dog-Eared Books and those who also participated in the Central Iowa Indie Bookstore Day passport. And especially to those who said "Chambong me b*tch." We love you. As hear on the podcast:  Follow Annie B. Jones on Instagram Listen to From the Front Porch Podcast   What we're drinking | French Blue Rose Brut Ellyn's Currently Reading | Mystery Royale by Kaitlyn Cavalancia, Ordinary Times by Annie B. Jones, & Murder in the Dollhouse by Rich Cohen Amanda's Currently Reading | The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson & The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett Books coming out this week | Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt (now in paperback) & The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner  _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

We put it out there and asked everyone who follows us on social media to ask us anything. From bookish to random, Ellyn and Amanda are sharing everything. This Saturday, April 26, 2025 spend your day visiting Indie Bookstores for Indie Bookstore Day! The Central Iowa Indie Bookstores have brought back the passport challenge. Visit all the indies in two days to win a grand prize! What we're drinking | Cocktails from Della Viti Ellyn's Currently Reading | Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry & The Greatest Possible Good by Ben Brooks Amanda's Currently Reading | How to Seal Your Own Fate by Kristen Perrin & The Island of Last Things by Emma Sloley Rachel's Currently Reading | The Underground Girls of Kabul by Jenny Nordberg Books coming out this week | Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

Ellyn has a game for Amanda & Rachel... and they're not very good at it. This episode is a fun one of chatting current reads and testing our bookish knowledge. Get tickets for Kevin Wilson at Dog-Eared Books HERE What we're drinking | Cocktails from Della Viti Ellyn's Currently Reading | Vera, or Faith by Gary Shteyngart & Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez Amanda's Currently Reading | Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry & The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson Rachel's Currently Reading | The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar & The Original Daughter by Jemimah Wei Books coming out this week | Wild and Wrangle by Lyla Sage ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

It's a very exciting episode, because Amanda and Ellyn are joined by fellow indie bookstore owner Abbey Paxton. Abbey owns Storyhouse Bookpub, located in the East Village of Des Moines. Today Amanda, Ellyn, and Abbey chat about the indie bookstore industry, the good and bad parts of owning a indie bookstore, and the exciting things we have coming up for Indie Bookstore Day 2025.  Mark you calendars for the last weekend in April because the Central Iowa Indie Bookstore Day Passport is back! Visit all nine indie bookstores on the passport to celebrate and have the chance to win a $100 gift card to the last bookstore you visit.  Order a Raygun t-shirt to wear on Indie Bookstore Day and to support Annie's Foundation: ORDER HERE Follow Storyhouse Bookpub on Instagram: FOLLOW HERE Ellyn's Currently Reading | Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green, Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez & Horse by Geraldine Brooks Amanda's Currently Reading | The Greatest Possible Good by Ben Brooks & Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall Abbey's Currently Reading | The Mushroom at the End of the World by Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

If you listen to Bubbles & Books, you should know how excited we are about today's guest's upcoming book, "Sky Daddy." Iowa Native Kate Folk joins us to chat about how she came up with the genius novel about a woman who is attracted to planes and hopes to one day be wed to an actual plane in a very tragic way. What may seem like a ridiculous and hilarious novel is a beautiful one about friendship and what it means to be human. We can't wait to see "Sky Daddy" hit shelves on April 8, but in the meantime, listen to this great Bubbles & Books episode with Kate. As Ellyn says, "Sky Daddy" has the secret sauce to a great book.  Order your copy of "Sky Daddy" by Kate Folk HERE Follow Kate Folk on Instagram HERE Follow Sky Daddy Linda on Instagram HERE ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

We have indie bookstore supporter, our friend, and Dog-Eared best-selling author Denise Williams on today's episode of Bubbles & Books. She joins Ellyn and Amanda to chat all about her upcoming book Just Our Luck, the romance genre, and donuts (duh.) Denise has published nine novels including Technically Yours and her debut novel How to Fail at Flirting which just so happens to be the first book to ever grace the shelves of Dog-Eared Books. Her next book Just Our Luck comes out March 25, and we can't wait to host Denise on pub day in conversation with author Ali Hazelwood. Get your tickets today! Follow Denise on Instagram HERE Ellyn's Currently Reading | So Far Gone by Jess Walter & Tilt by Emma Pattee Amanda's Currently Reading |  Just Our Luck by Denise Williams, Deep End by Ali Hazelwood, & So Far Gone by Jess Walter Denise's Currently Reading | In A Jam by Kate Canterbary, Unead and Unwed by Sam Tschida, & When Javi Dumped Mari by Mia Sosa ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

We have THE Nicole Cuffy on today's episode. Her upcoming novel O Sinners!, our March 18, 2025 needs to be on your TBR asap. In O Sinners! a young journalist, reeling from loss, investigates a mysterious cult in the California redwoods, only to be drawn in by its charismatic leader—an addictive novel that asks why people give up control and what it takes, ultimately, to find your place in the world. Cuffy is the author of Dances, longlisted for the Carol Shields prize for fiction and the Pen/Hemingway award. Cuffy has a MFA from The New School. She is a lecturer at the University of Maryland and American University. Her work can be found in Mason's Road, The Master's Review Volume VI (curated by Roxane Gay), Chautauqua, and Blue Mesa Review, and her chapbook, Atlas of the Body, won the Chautauqua Janus Prize and was a finalist for the Black River Chapbook Competition. Follow Nicole on instagram: @nikk2cole Songs recommended by Nicole when working on O Sinners! Fortunate Son by Credence Clearwater Revival Marvin Gaye A Change is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke Blowin' in the Wind by Bob Dylan Watch on Netflix: Wild Wild Country Books Nicole recommends: Lone Women by Victor Lavalle Model Home by River Solomon ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com  

Amanda & Ellyn are yapping. And as much as they like to think they're in the know with the youths, they sometimes are a little behind on the times. Hence, teaching them all about yapping. Rachel gave them a list of different topics and yap they did.   Ellyn's Currently Reading | American Mythology by Gino Cromely Amanda's Currently Reading |  The Favorites by Layne Fargo  Books coming out this week | Deep End by Ali Hazelwood & The Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

What is happening in our country feels very scary and very dark. But if there's one thing Timothy Snyder taught us, it's "Don't obey in advance." We hope today's episode can offer you a bright moment in these chaotic times.  Books on authoritarian governments | Autocracy, Inc by Anne Applebaum The Small and the Mighty by Sharon McMahon Prophet Song by Paul Lynch Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah As Mentioned in the podcast | 1. Des Moines Register Data Base on Banned Books in Iowa School 2. Follow Bess Kalb Ellyn's Currently Reading | The Women by Kristin Hannah & The Secret History of the Rape Kit by Pagan Kennedy Amanda's Currently Reading |  The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan  Books coming out this week | Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson, Tartufo by Kira Jane Buxton, & The Crash by Freida McFadden ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

Emily Jane author of On Earth As It Is On Television and soon-to-be-released novel Here Beside the Rising Tide, out January 28, joins Amanda and Ellyn on today's Bubbles & Books episode. After reading her first published novel in 2023, and choosing it for the Dog Pack subscription, Amanda & Ellyn knew anything Emily Jane wrote next would deliver. AND. IT. DID. Listen to learn more about Jane's writing, plus you won't want to miss Emily revealing a very exciting secret. Pre-order your copy of Here Beside the Rising Tide HERE Order On Earth As It Is On Television HERE Follow Emily Jane on Instagram HERE ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

Get your notes app ready because you're going to want to write down the books we're excited for for the first half of 2025. Amanda & Ellyn are breaking down all of the big hitters to be on the lookout for in publishing.  Listen and tell us what you're looking forward to! Ellyn's Currently Reading | The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan Amanda's Currently Reading | Private Rites by Julia Armfield ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

We're back baby, it's 2025, and we're coming at you with an episode all about what we're taking into 2025 with us and what we're leaving behind in 2024. Vision boards were even made with glue sticks, cutouts, and digital scrapbooking. Amanda & Ellyn are excited to share what they're hoping the new year brings. What we're drinking |  Piattelli Vineyard Methode Champenoise Ellyn's Currently Reading | Havoc by Christopher Bollen, How to Seal Your Own Fate by Kristen Perrin, Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy, & Here Beside the Rising Tide by Emily Jane Amanda's Currently Reading | Run For the Hills by Kevin Wilson, Lost & Found by Helen Chandler-Wilde, & Waiting for Electricity by Christina Nichol Books coming out this week: Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams, A Language of Dragons by S.F. Williamson, & The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

RECEIPTS

Today we welcome Main Street Executive Director Travis Toliver to Bubbles & Books. We're chatting all about Small Business Weekend, and what you can experience in Downtown Ames. Check out our holiday gift guide HERE. ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

October is officially over and we're ready for some holiday romance. In this episode you'll hear about some of our favorite classic holiday romance storylines, books to look out for this season, a possible true love romance in the making, and Rachel & Amanda narrowly avoid parking tickets. This is a classic wild episode of Bubbles & Books you won't want to miss.   Holiday Romances mentioned: Christmas Is All Around by Martha Waters The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch Love You A Latke by Amanda Elliott I'll Be Gone For Christmas by Georgia K. Boone The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore   Ellyn's Currently Reading | Lost & Lassoed by Lyla Sage & A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young Amanda's Currently Reading |  Tartufo by Kira Jane Buxton & Everyone This Christmas Has A Secret by Benjamin Stevenson Rachel's Currently Reading | Best Hex Ever by Nadia El-Fassi Don't miss authors Mac Barnett & Shawn Harris at Dog-Eared Books Saturday, November 9, at 3 PM! Get your tickets HERE! ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

Welcome back to another week of Bubbles & Books. This week, we're so excited to welcome children's picture book author & illustrator Jess Hannigan to the podcast. Jess is the mind behind one of our favorite books this year Spider in the Well. Her clever story has brought us so much joy this year, and we loved having the opportunity to chat about how she got started and what we can expect next.  Ellyn's Currently Reading | The Barn by Wright Thompson & O Sinners! by Nicole Cuffy Amanda's Currently Reading |  Tartufo by Kira Jane Buxton & Inciting Joy by Ross Gay Books coming out this week: The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny & The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

The leaves are falling, and that's a sure sign of the book fair rolling into your schools. And if you're lucky, a local bookstore is giving you a taste of the book fair you remember fondly from your youth, but making it fun for your adult self. This week we're reminiscing about the book fair, talking facts about the beginning of the Scholastic Book Fair, and of course sharing all about our upcoming public school book fairs and our adult Boozy Book Fair! We've got bookseller Bailey on the podcast to talk about everything she has prepped and it's a fun one full of nostalgia.  Note: In the episode Amanda begins discussing the story of the Minotaur, Ariadne, and who unalives who... You can read about the myth here.    Ellyn's Currently Reading | The Last Murder At the End of the World by Stuart Turton & Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs by Luis Elizondo Amanda's Currently Reading |  What I Ate In One Year by Stanley Tucci & Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson Bailey's Currently Reading | Lady Audley's Secret by M.E. Braddon  Books coming out this week: Hot Mess: Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney, Patriot by Alexei Navalny, & Everyone This Christmas Has A Secret: A Festive Mystery by Benjamin Stevenson Don't miss author Neal Stephenson at Dog-Eared Books on Sunday, October 27, at 6 PM. Get your tickets HERE. ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

We'll tell you now, you're going to want to grab the tissues for this episode. Recently we shared some sad news about our incredible shop dog Lovie getting a cancer diagnosis. While we're confident in the lovely medical team at Iowa State University's Vet Med. But with a tough diagnosis comes tough conversations. Today we are joined by picture book author Derick Wilder. His story "The Longest Letsgoboy," will bring tears to your eyes but offer comfort to the difficult moments in life that are eventual with family and pets. We're honored to have Derick with us on today's episode and we hope that his story might find you when the time comes.  What we're drinking | Definitely bubbles Ellyn's Currently Reading | The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston Amanda's Currently Reading |  What I Ate In One Year by Stanley Tucci Books coming out this week: Poloston by Neal Stephenson & What I Ate In One Year by Stanley Tucci Don't miss author Neal Stephenson at Dog-Eared Books on Sunday, October 27, at 6 PM. Get your tickets HERE. ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

In honor of tonight's vice presidential debate - book pairings! Ellyn has combined some of your favorite reads with the perfect pairing. One might call her a book sommelier!   What we're drinking | Bubbles of course! Ellyn's Currently Reading | We Do Not Part by Han Kang & The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston Amanda's Currently Reading |  Anne of Windy Poplars by L.M. Montgomery Books coming out this week: The Mighty Red by Louise Erdrich & Revenge of the Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

We're back! Amanda & Ellyn are our queens of a random tangent, so today Producer Rachel has asked the people to ask Amanda & Ellyn random questions, book recommendations, and anything they might want to know.  What we're drinking | Forgot to look at the name, but listener Dace brought it from the country of Georgia! Ellyn's Currently Reading | Colored Television by Danzy Senna Amanda's Currently Reading |  Anne of Windy Poplars by L.M. Montgomery Books coming out this week: Intermezzo by Sally Rooney & Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Wrath of the Triple Goddess by Rick Riordan ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

Today we're bringing you an episode of all the things we've been chatting about behind the counter at Dog-Eared Books. There's cannibalism. There's sea monsters. We're talking about menopause. And so many more random, yet entertaining topics. And please make sure to let us know if you think Ellyn and Rachel would be perfect on the Amazing Race.   What we're drinking | I can't remember but it's French and is bubbly! Ellyn's Currently Reading | The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse & The Life Impossible by Matt Haig Amanda's Currently Reading | Burn by Peter Heller & The Mystics Would Like A Word by Shannon K. Evans Rachel's Currently Reading | Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel & Intermezzo by Sally Rooney Mariah's Currently Reading | A Sign of Affection by Suu Morishita, Slewfoot by Brom, & Beautyland by Marie Helene-Bertino Books coming out this week: The Mystics Would Like A Word by Shannon K. Evans & Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

Did you know we're an INTERNATIONAL DESTINATION?!? Yes it's true, and we're so honored to have met our friend Dace who traveled all the way from the county of Georgia to visit us in little old Iowa. So in Dace's honor, we are talking about bookstores we would love to visit around the world.  Bookstores we want to visit around the world: Propsero's Books Hay-on-Wye (Hi on Wye) Shakespeare and Company El Ateneo Grand Splendid Boekhandel Selexyz Dominicanen Chongqing Zhongshuge Bookstore Livraria Lello Brome Lake Books - Livres Lac-Brome As heard in the episode: "This is a Megan Follows Bar" What we're drinking | Marani Sparkling Wine Brut (from the country of Georgia and gifted to us by Dace!) Ellyn's Currently Reading | A Good Girls Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson Amanda's Currently Reading | The Gray Wolf by Louise Penny Books coming out this week: Daydream by Hannah Grace ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

Today is another round of good books bad reviews. The game where Ellyn reads a terrible review of one of her and Amanda's favorite books! But this time, Rachel is roped in to play the game too. Listen along and see if you can guess the book from a bad review. What we're drinking | Water sadly Ellyn's Currently Reading | Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty & Private Rites by Julia Armfield Amanda's Currently Reading | Lazarus Man by Richard Price Rachel's Currently Reading | My Mother Cursed My Name by Anamely Salgado Reyes Books coming out this week: By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult & There are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

Kaliane Bradley, author of The Ministry of Time, graciously joined us for a Poppin' Off episode of Bubbles & Books Podcast. The book, which was an instant bestseller at Dog-Eared Books, was recently named to former president Barack Obama's summer reading list. It's a fascinating story of time travel, love, and identity, and you won't want to put it down. In today's episode, Kaliane shares the details of the real-life inspiration for the book, what's happening with the TV adaptation, and what we can expect from her next. It's a wonderful episode, and we hope you love it as much as we did! Order your copy of The Ministry of Time HERE. ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to follow and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

Today's episode is a special one. We've invited bookseller Bailey, mixologist extraordinaire Darian Everding from London Underground, and author of Absinthe: The Exquisite Elixir, Ted Breaux. Ted is considered to be the godfather of Absinthe, having helped revive its popularity and study it under a modern lens. We're lucky to have Ted and Darian join us on today's podcast and share their knowledge behind this unique and storied liqueur. We're drinking a few Death in the Afternoons, understanding more about Absinthe and chatting about our pub fiction book The Absinthe Underground by Jamie Pacton. What we're drinking | Jade Liqueurs Books coming out this week: Burn by Peter Hellers & Hera by Jennifer Saint ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

Today, we have booksellers Katie and Nayeli joining Ellyn on the podcast. We're chatting about Steamy Lit Con, romance books we're loving, and we ask the questions about cryptid sexiness.  Most importantly, we discuss Bookstore Romance Day which takes place on Saturday, August 17! Dog-Eared Books will be celebrating with all kinds of fun pop-ups. Throughout the course of the day, if you come in and sign up for the Love Unleashed Romance subscription, you will receive a $10 gift card. While we will have our drink special and subscription sign-up special all day. The party is taking place from 4 - 6  PM featuring:  + Bloom Bar from Violet Lane Florals + Free Chair Massages from Whitney Judas, LMC. + Book displays by your favorite romance readers Katie & Nayeli! + Romance Games + Blind Dates with a Book What we're drinking | We had drink pre-pod... oops! Ellyn's Currently Reading | Coming Home by Brittney Griner & The Heart in Winter by Kevin Barry Katie's Currently Reading | Zoe Brennan, First Crush by Laura Piper Lee Nayeli's Currently Reading | What Hurts Us by Maggie Gates & The Phoenix Keeper by S.A. MacLean Rachel's Currently Reading | My Mother Cursed My Name by Anamely Salgado Reyes Books coming out this week: The Fiancé Dilemma by Elena Armas ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

This week we're hosting Cori Theroux on Bubbles & Books! Cori is not only the owner of The Green Dragon Bookstore, but also is the brain behind the Iowa Indie Bookshop Tour currently happening in Iowa! The Iowa Indie Bookshop tour is a summer long challenge to visit 36 of Iowa's indie bookstores! There are so many great bookshops to visit you won't want to miss. Plus, if you visit all 36 bookstores on the tour you will be entered to win a $300 gift card to the Iowa indie bookstore of your choice! Hear all about how Cori started this trip, what you can expect on the journey, and what she hopes the future holds for the bookshop tour. We're so excited to be part of the tour and to visit as many indie bookstores in Iowa as possible! Check out the Iowa Indie Bookshop Tour HERE! What we're drinking | Chandon Brut Sparkling Wine Ellyn's Currently Reading | The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins & Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman Amanda's Currently Reading | Coming Home by Brittney Griner & The Mighty Red by Louise Erdrich Cori's Currently Reading | We Solve Murders by Richard Osman Books coming out this week: The Book of Elsewhere by Keanu Reeves and China Miéville & Catalina by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

We are halfway through 2024 and the books have been so so GOOD. Amanda & Ellyn are breaking down their top books of the year so far and this list is one you'll want to pay attention to.  Best of the Year So Far List: The God of the Woods by Liz Moore Same As It Ever Was by Claire Lombardo Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzales The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley Martyr! By Kaveh Akbar The Husbands by Holly Gramazio Absolution by Alice McDermott Bear by Julia Philllips Headshot by Rita Bullwinkle What we're drinking | Veuve Clicquot Ellyn's Currently Reading | Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross & Bride by Ali Hazelwood Amanda's Currently Reading | Same As It Ever Was by Claire Lombardo & Playground by Richard Powers Books coming out this week: I Was A Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones & Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELMANDA! Today's episode is all about celebrating Amanda and Ellyn's birthdays. These two born one year and one day apart were meant to have a friendship that blossomed into the beautiful partnership of Dog-Eared Books. In this episode They're sharing their birthday wishes and what they would like this year. It's fun, outrageous, and there's cake!  What we're drinking | Albert Bichot Ellyn's Currently Reading | All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker Amanda's Currently Reading | Same As It Ever Was by Claire Lombardo & Playground by Richard Powers Books coming out this week: All This and More by Peng Shepard & The Briar Club by Kate Quinn Fun Things Happening | Get your ticket for Claire Lombardo at Dog-Eared Books: HERE ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

Welcome to Poppin' Off! In this episode we welcome Rufi Thorpe, author of Margo's Got Money Troubles & The Knockout Queen, to the Bubbles & Books podcast! Thorpe is an author both Amanda & Ellyn talk about often after they bonded over their love of The Knockout Queen. Most recently Amanda has been working through some of Rufi's other backlist books. When Margo was announced as a forthcoming novel, both Amanda and Ellyn knew without question they were going to get a favorite book of the year. Rufi Thorpe received her MFA from the University of Virginia in 2009. She is the author of three other novels, The Girls from Corona Del Mar, Dear Fang, With Love, The Knockout Queen, which was a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner award.  It was a joy to have Rufi join us and we can't wait to see what she writes next!  ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

Ellyn is joined by Bailey and Rachel this week, and they're talking about OLD books. Specifically OLD Book Club–obscure, lesser-known, and, hopefully, divine–aims to explore the diverse array of books we call “classic” and to discuss the malleable bounds of the category while also making an often intimidating genre feel both more accessible and more fun. The selection of books intentionally covers a broad range of nationalities, experiences, cultures, and time-periods to broaden the traditionally narrow parameters of classic literature. Most importantly, we're here to have a good time. Check out what OLD Book Club is reading for the next six month HERE. What we're drinking | Coffee (unfortunately) Ellyn's Currently Reading | Same As It Ever Was by Claire Lombardo Bailey's Currently Reading | In the Time of Butterflies by Julia Alvarez & Private Rites by Julia Armfield Rachel's Currently Reading | The Cottage Around the Corner by D.L. Soria Books coming out this week: Bear by Julia Phillips A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston Fun Things Happening | Get your ticket for Claire Lombardo at Dog-Eared Books: HERE ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com  

Sharks. Sleuthing. Stories. OH MY! Ellyn brought Rachel on this episode to play a game of riddles. The two see who are super sleuths and ask each other riddles to solve. Listen along to see if you can figure out the answer for yourself. Plus, you won't want to miss Ellyn sharing all about shark movies. She's made it a mission of hers to watch as many shark movies as possible this summer, starting with Sharks Under Paris. A movie she claims is a "must-watch."  There are so many great books coming out this week, including Same As It Ever Was by Claire Lombardo, who will be joining us for Cocktails and Convos on Thursday, July 11, at 7 PM.  What we're drinking | Cocktails from Della Viti! Ellyn's Currently Reading: The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes Rachel's Currently Reading: The Frame-Up by Gwenda Bond Books coming out this week: The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley Middle of the Night by Riley Sager The Art of Catching Feelings by Alicia Thompson Same As It Ever Was by Claire Lombardo Fun Things Happening: Get your ticket for Chloe Angyal at Dog-Eared Books: HERE Get your ticket for Claire Lombardo at Dog-Eared Books: HERE ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

Ah summer, one of our most favorite seasons of reading. We say that as though we know every season is a favorite reading season. But in summer, there's a level of relaxation that we experience and sometimes our reading habits change a bit too. So in this episode Amanda and Rachel go through some of the notable books coming out this summer you won't want to miss.  What we're drinking | Coffee and Pop Amanda's Currently Reading: Say Hello to My Little Friend by Jennine Capó Crucet Rachel's Currently Reading: God Of The Woods by Liz Moore Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett Books coming out this week: Fire Exit by Morgan Talty Most anticipated Books of Summer Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley Middle of the Night by Riley Sager Same As It Ever Was by Claire Lombardo God Of The Woods by Liz Moore The Briar Club by Kate Quinn I Was A Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

Summer is fast upon us and at Dog-Eared we're gearing up for our summer reading challenges. We of course are doing our classic kids Cheesy Reading Challenge, in which kids can read towards a goal of earning a free small one-topping pizza from Great Plains Sauce & Dough. But we are also bringing back our adult summer reading BINGO card! With a few fun changes, we have Mariah on the podcast to share all about how she put this years BINGO card together. Both challenges begin on May 25th, and you can stop in that day or any day after throughout the summer to pick up your reading challenge.  What we're drinking | French Blue Rachel's Currently Reading: God Of The Woods by Liz Moore The Manicurist's Daughter by Susan Lieu The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane Ellyn's Currently Reading: Help Wanted by Adelle Waldman Funny Story by Emily Henry Mariah's Currently Reading Legacy: A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine by Uché Blackstock The Cautious Traveller's Guide to the Wastelands by Sarah Brooks The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley Books coming out this week: The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton You Like It Darker: Stories by Stephen King ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

This episode is definitely rated XXX. On this episode, we welcome one of our good friends, and host of Dog-Eared's Between the Covers rom-com book club, DeAnn Malone! DeAnn is extremely well read when it comes to romance novels which makes her the perfect guest for Ellyn's game she put together. In this episode Ellyn reads off the chili pepper scenes from some of the best romances and DeAnn has to guess the book, and if she gets the author name and character names she gets bonus points. What does she win? Well... bragging rights of course! This is a silly, weird, fun episode that will definitely have you laughing. We recommend headphones in when listening.  What we're drinking | Albert Bichot Amanda's Currently Reading: The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave God Of The Woods by Liz Moore Ellyn's Currently Reading: Murder Your Employer by Rupert Holmes Swift and Saddled by Lyla Sage DeAnn's Currently Reading Funny Story by Emily Henry Bridesmaid For Hire by Meghan Quinn The Vanished by Cara Putman Just For the Summer by Abby Jimenez Books coming out this week: The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren All Fours by Miranda July ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

We are fresh off of Small Business Week, and Amanda & Ellyn have fellow Main Street small business owner Jenny Pollard on the podcast. Jenny has not only one business on Main Street but two! You may know her incredible store Life Distilled, but she will soon be opening her second project Homegrown Iowa! Homegrown Iowa, is located at 218 Main Street (right across from Dog-Eared Books), and will be opening on Wednesday, May 15!  When you visit Homegrown, you will find items that highlight Iowa's unique culture and fresh talents with an exclusive selection of trendy, high-quality, locally-made gifts and apparel. We're of course sharing what we're reading, what's coming out, and everything poppin' at the store. What we're drinking | Oops forgot to look at the label, but it was pink. Amanda's Currently Reading: Dear Fang, with Love by Rufi Thorpe The Girls From Corona del Mar by Rufi Thorpe A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Slyvie Cathrall  The Hypocrite by Jo Hamya Ellyn's Currently Reading: The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin The Art Thief by Michael Finkel Books coming out this week: The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

What. A. Weekend. We survived Indie Bookstore Day 2024 and we're here to recap all that went down. We've got the data, we got audio clips live from the store, we've got everything you might want to hear about when it comes to the most exciting day of the year. Once again thank you to Fireside Winery for gifting us a bottle of their sparkling Noir de Brickyard to drink on today's episode. What we're drinking | Noir de Brickyard Amanda's Currently Reading: A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Slyvie Cathrall  The Hypocrite by Jo Hamya Mr. And Mrs. American Pie by Juliet McDaniel Ellyn's Currently Reading: Murder Your Employer: The McMaster's Guide to Homicide by Rupert Holmes Books coming out this week: The Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson Real Americans by Rachel Khong Paperback Release: Murder Your Employer: The McMaster's Guide to Homicide by Rupert Holmes ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

We officially have a sponsored episode for bubbles! Many thanks to Cassie and Fireside Winery, located in Marengo, Iowa, for sending us a bottle of their sparkling white Blanc de Brickyard!  Today's episode is all about the beef. A litany of grievance if you will. Amanda & Ellyn are joined by bookseller Mariah, because she is the queen of beef, to chat about all the ridiculous things they have beef with and what they find underrated.  Thank you Fireside Winery for our bubbles, it was delish! What we're drinking | Fireside Winery Blanc de Brickyard Amanda's Currently Reading: A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall Ellyn's Currently Reading: Poverty By America by Matthew Desmond Say Hello to My Little Friend by Jennine Capó Crucet Mariah's Currently Reading: Knife by Salman Rushdie Say You'll Be Mine by Naina Kumar Boulder by Eva Baltasar The Hemlock Queen by Hannah Whitten The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley Books coming out this week: Funny Story by Emily Henry Lucky by Jane Smiley ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

A lot has been happening at Dog-Eared Books and with Amanda and Ellyn, so this episode is all about catching up with each of them, the fun things happening at Dog-Eared Books and of course books that have caught their attention recently. What we're drinking | Sunny With a Chance of Flowers Amanda's Currently Reading: I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass Ellyn's Currently Reading: Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera Unlikely Animals by Annie Harnett Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage Books coming out this week: Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder by Salman Rushdie Paperback Release: Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by Ryan J. Stradal ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

The best day of the year is coming up soon, and that's Indie Bookstore Day! Held on the last Saturday of every April every year. It is a day to celebrate Indie Bookstores across the country. Each store has a unique fun take on the day, and this year will be better than ever! On this episode Ellyn, Amanda, and Rachel talk about all the exclusives and special things happening at Dog-Eared Books this year. As well talking about how we are once again participating in the Central Iowa Indie Bookstore Day Passport! Don't miss out, and make sure to plan your Indie Bookstore Day!   All the bookstores participating in the Indie Bookstore Day Passport:  Beaverdale Books | Des Moines Sat: 10 AM - 5 PM Sun: 12 PM - 4 PM Dog-Eared Books | Ames Sat:8 AM - 8 PM Sun: 9 AM - 6 PM Dungeon's Gate | Ankeny Sat: 10 AM - 10 PM Sun: 12 PM - 10 PM The Little Book | Des Moines Sat: 10 AM - 8 PM Sun: 10 AM - 4 PM Pageturners Books | Indianola Sat: 10 AM - 4 PM Sun: 10 AM - 4 PM Raccoon River Press | Ankeny Popping up at Uptown Garage | 305 SW Walnut St., Ankeny Sat: 10 AM - 7 PM Sun: 1 PM - 6 PM Reading in Public | West Des Moines Sat: 9 AM - 8 PM Sun: 10 AM - 4 PM Storyhouse Book Pub | Des Moines Sat: 9 AM - 7 PM Sun: 10 AM - 4 PM   Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

At Dog-Eared Books we love hosting book clubs. We have so many excellent options including our newest one, the Your Best Self book club. Amanda & Ellyn are joined by book club host Christi Hegstad, a professional Certified Coach (PCC) in personal growth and professional development. Your Best Self book club discusses nonfiction books geared toward living and working to our highest potential! Christi mentions a blog with 12 of her favorite nonfiction books: READ HERE Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com  

In the spirit of March Madness, we've built our own March Fiction Madness Bracket, drawing from the best titles of 2023 that are finishing out “the season” with great sales in March. Listen to our podcast, Bubbles & Books to find out who made the bracket and why, then vote in our social media stories in the coming weeks to help your favorite books advance to the Big Dance.  We're starting with a round of 32 current fiction bestsellers. Fill our your bracket now and vote in our stories tomorrow (Saturday, March 23rd) to help your favorite books advance to the Sweet Sixteen. Watch our social media to see results from the first-round head-to-head matchups, and keep playing in the week ahead to find out who will clinch the March Fiction Madness title.  Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com  

Ellyn claims she has created a perfect playlist “Ellyn Middle School Vibes” on Spotify. From this selection of songs, she's using as inspiration for today's episode. Ellyn is going to name a song, share a part of the lyric and then her, Amanda and Rachel are going to build the plot of a story!   Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

Amanda & Ellyn are recapping their experience from the bookselling industry's biggest conference of the year, Winter Institute. They share all about the bookstores they visited, authors they met, and other shenanigans they got up to while in Cincinnati. Listen today!  Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

Happy almost Valentine's Day! With the day of love upon us, today's episode is dedicated to books that will break your heart. How romantic, right? Sometimes, a heartbreak book might be just what you need! We had our booksellers help us collaborate on a list of books we think will guarantee a few cracks and tears. Plus, you will want to listen to Ellyn serenade with a Jewel song.  Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

Ellyn has created a game for Amanda...and sort of Rachel. She did the research and discovered the WORST reviews of some of the best books. This is hilarious and fun, and Amanda & Ellyn have some thoughts on some of these reviews.  Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

Today's episode is all about the horror genre, specifically our book club dedicated to horror: BOO*-k Club! Booksellers Bailey and Mariah join Amanda and Ellyn to discuss the first six books they've chosen for the year and what participants can expect! Dog-Eared Books has lots of book clubs of all varieties and we encourage you to participate in one or many of them! You can view our whole list of book clubs by visiting the Dog-Eared Books website. Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com