Podcasts about tbr

FROM TODAY'S RECAP: -  Article: The Ancient Hebrew Alphabet - The Bible Recap - Day 231 - TBR on YouTube Note: We provide links to specific resources; this is not an endorsement of the entire website, author, organization, etc. Their views may not represent our own. SHOW NOTES: - Follow The Bible Recap: Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube - Follow Tara-Leigh Cobble: Instagram - Read/listen on the Bible App or Dwell App - Learn more at our Start Page - Become a RECAPtain - Shop the TBR Store PARTNER MINISTRIES: D-Group International Israelux The God Shot TLC Writing & Speaking DISCLAIMER: The Bible Recap, Tara-Leigh Cobble, and affiliates are not a church, pastor, spiritual authority, or counseling service. Listeners and viewers consume this content on a voluntary basis and assume all responsibility for the resulting consequences and impact.

September is bringing some SERIOUS TBR temptation. This week, Joe is joined by Madison (@simon.says.read) to dive into the September 2026 book releases they're most excited to read.  From gothic romantasy and fantasy to thrillers, romance, historical fiction and spooky season reads, there are way too many new books fighting for a spot on the TBR. Plus, Joe and Madison reveal the books they're already counting down the days to read, the titles they almost included and which September releases might become your next obsession.  What September 2026 book are you most excited to read? Add it to your TBR and let us know!  Book Lounge by Libby is your place for book conversations, recommendations and the people behind the stories.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Follow Madison on Instagram!  Books Recommendations:   Madison's Picks:   The Knave and the Moon – Rachel Gillig  Taipei Story – RF Kuang  The Thoroughbreds – Elin Hilderbrand  Grim Tidings – BK Borison  The Pirate Queen – Ariel Lawhon  Tempest – Victoria Aveyard  Threshing Day – Rebecca Yarros  The Witches of Cambridge – Alice Hoffman  A Time of Witches – Madeline Martin  Fallow – Sarah Anderson    Joe's Picks: Honorable mentions:   The Most Dangerous Games – MrBeast, James Patterson  Building 903 – Lois Lowry  Hollywood, Ending – John Green  Incarnate – Alma Katsu  Sometimes I Scare Myself – Jeneva Rose    Kiss Slay Replay – Rachel Harrison  The Dating Game – Ally Zetterberg   Your Boyfriend Needs an Exorcist – Justine Pucella Winans  Scion – James Islington  Asmodeus – Rita Indiana (tr. Achy Obejas)  Mischief Girls – Aashna Avachat  Feeling Like an ADHD Alien – Pina Varnel  Pretty Evil – Rebekah McKendry, David Ian McKendry  The House of Gardenias – Isabel Cañas  Time stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 Intro 00:05:51 Our September 2026 Book Picks 01:30:42 Outro   Enjoying the show? Follow Book Lounge by Libby, leave a rating or review, and watch every episode on the Libby App YouTube channel. Find us on https://pages.libbylife.com/BL-Links   Got a book recommendation, dream guest or just want to say hi? We'd love to hear from you at bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com.  Looking for Book Lounge merch? Visit Plot Threads.   Library friends: Add episodes of Book Lounge by Libby to your digital collection for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. You can also purchase the titles featured in today's episode in OverDrive Marketplace.  Browse our cumulative reading list for the season: https://marketplace.overdrive.com/Marketplace/OneCopyOneUserAndMeteredAccess/SuggestedList/41378  Today's featured books: https://marketplace.overdrive.com/Marketplace/OneCopyOneUserAndMeteredAccess/SuggestedList/41379   Happy Reading! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us Fan MailIn Episode 266 of Book Talk Etc., Tina and Hannah share some of the September 2026 Book Releases that top our TBR!If you enjoy this commercial-free podcast, consider supporting us on Patreon! Your membership includes access to bonus episodes like What's in the Mailbag, Bookstore Browse: The Handsell, and Book Talk After Dark, invites to monthly community events like Mood Reader Happy Hour, and entry into our private Facebook group and Discord server- all for just $5 a month.Loving Lately1% Better - @Slow_GoingMaybelline Lifter Glaze Oil BalmLatest ReadPlant Lady | Kang Minyoung (T)Swordheart | T. Kingfisher (H)Books on the RadarThe Witches of Cambridge | Alice Hoffman (T)The Eye of Goliath | Diego Muzzio (H)Strange Case of Jane O | Karen WalkerQueenie is Working on It | Candace Carty-WilliamsPictures of You | Josh Malerman (H)Bird Box | Josh MalermanFallow | Sarah AndersonLords of Serendipity | Randy Boyagoda (H)Hollywood Ending | John Green (T)Ripeness | Sarah Moss (H)Call off the Dark | Hallie Shepherd (T)Trust Fall | Lynn Painter (H)Current ReadThe Secret Dinner | Raphael Montez (T)Helpless | Jessica Knoll (H)Support the showLet's Connect... Email us at booktalketc@gmailBTE on YoutubeTina's TikTok , IG @tbretc YT @tbretcHannah's TikTok , IG @hanpickedbooksJonathan IG @infiltrate_jayPodcast IG @booktalketcRenee's Substack Newsletter , IG@Itsbooktalk

Want to know what kind of reader you are? TAKE OUR QUIZ: https://www.currentlyreadingpodcast.com/quiz   In this episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee brings in Kelly Holmes for a special episode. They talk all things bookish moments, their current reads, and bring a fun deep dive on new and upcoming releases to add to your TBR. They end with the Before You Go segment, where Kelly brings something she is currently curious about.   Show notes are time-stamped below for your convenience. Read the transcript of the episode (this link only works on the main site).   0:00 Welcome to Currently Reading 1:25 Bookish Moments of the Week 6:02 Current Reads 6:32 Ribbonwood by Ruby Landers (Kelly) https://bookshop.org/a/79394/9780648640295  10:52 When The World Tips Over by Jandy Nelson (Kaytee) https://bookshop.org/a/79394/9780147516664  15:30 Art Cure: The Science of How the Arts Save Lives by Daisy Fancourt (Kelly) https://bookshop.org/a/79394/9781250364531  21:30 American Wolf by Nate Blakeslee (Kaytee) https://bookshop.org/a/79394/9781101902806  25:16 The Rewind Files by Claire Willett (Kelly) https://a.co/d/04xkgwSJ (amazon link) 29:28 Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross (Kaytee) https://bookshop.org/a/79394/9781250373359  32:60 Deep Dive: Eager Beavers, New Releases Check out the New Release Spreadsheet HERE 65:57 Before We Go 69:49 Wrap-Up #books #reading #currentlyreading #podcast #currentreads ❤️ Support Us: Become a Bookish Friend on Patreon | https://patreon.com/currentlyreadingpodcast  Grab Some Merch on Zazzle | http://www.zazzle.com/store/currentlyreading Shop Bookshop dot org | https://bookshop.org/shop/currentlyreading Bookish Friends Receive: The Indie Press List with a curated list of five books hand sold by the indie of the month. August's IPL is a special murderful edition brought to you by Fabled Bookshop in Waco, TX.  Love and Chili Peppers with Kaytee and Rebekah - romance lovers get their due with this special episode focused entirely on the best selling genre fiction in the business All Things Murderful with Meredith and Elizabeth - special content for the scary-lovers, brought to you with the behind-the-scenes insights of an independent bookseller From the Editor's Desk with Kaytee and Bunmi Ishola - a quarterly peek behind the curtain at the publishing industry The Bookish Friends Facebook Group - where you can build community with bookish friends from around the globe as well as our hosts Connect With Us: The Show:  Instagram | https://instagram.com/currentlyreadingpodcast Website | https://currentlyreadingpodcast.com/ Email | hello@currentlyreadingpodcast.com Substack | https://currentlyreadingpodcast.substack.com/ Youtube | https://www.youtube.com/@currentlyreadingpodcast Threads | https://www.threads.net/@currentlyreadingpodcast The Hosts and Regulars:  Meredith | https://instagram.com/meredithmondayschwartz Kaytee | https://instagram.com/notesonbookmarks Mary | https://instagram.com/maryreadsandsips Roxanna | https://instagram.com/roxannathereader Elizabeth | https://instagram.com/wacoreads Production and Editing:  Megan Phouthavong Evans | https://instagram.com/mostofmegansreads

#162 TBR: Fort Building with Books Let's talk about what we're currently reading. Wrote a book? We'd love to review and interview you, so hit us up, and play with us. Don't forget that books CAN become a divination tool. It's known as Bibliomancy. We want to thank Red Wheel/Weiser, Llewellyn Worldwide; US Games Inc.; RedFeather MBS (formally Schiffer) for publishing great resources for expanding knowledge.   Never stop learning. Magic and divination evolves and these books help break through your barriers.   Homework: Grab a book from your TBR pile and give yourself a reading by flipping to a random page and picking a sentence. Interpret it as a tarot card.   Grab your tickets for Kitchen Table Gathering now! Melissa Cynova, Hilary Parry Haggerty, Jade Moore, and Bo Joffrion will instruct you. https://melissacynova.com/events/kitchen-table-gathering-2026/   Melissa has a Patreon! Check it out at https://www.patreon.com/cw/Melissacynova. She's teaching classes and checks in regularly through Patreon live streams. It's a hoot!   Hilary's livestreams are every Friday night at 6:30pm EST, unboxing tarot decks and tarot education.   Jaymi is reopening her private one-on-one sessions. To book a reading, go to https://www.innercompasstarot.com/reading-rates/ and schedule a time that works for you.   Catch Hilary and Melissa on Instagram for live readings at 11:11am CST Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Follow them both and get a quick reading.   Shoutouts Happy birthday to Rachel Pollack, we miss you. Happy birthday to Amber Highland. Love you.   Resources Mentioned So many books!   Tarot for the Wild Soul by Lindsay Mack https://bookshop.org/p/books/tarot-for-the-wild-soul-a-trauma-informed-approach-for-growth-healing-and-grounding-in-the-present-moment-lindsay-mack/b08c91f8e5b10c40?ean=9780762488971&bkshp-astro=t   The Left-Hand Path of Tarot by Cherry Parra https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-left-hand-path-of-tarot-breaking-taboos-confronting-shadows-and-achieving-self-love-cherry-parra/dd41281a9067cffe?ean=9781578638789&bkshp-astro=t   The Tarot of You by Dawn Michelle https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-tarot-of-you-explorations-for-personal-growth-dawn-michelle/ba77b0414078801c?ean=9780738781167&bkshp-astro=t   Dark Shadow, Golden Shadow by Shannon Knight https://bookshop.org/p/books/dark-shadow-golden-shadow-magickal-tools-and-tarot-to-confront-your-fears-and-free-your-potential-shannon-knight/4e764dcfe8e19f18?ean=9781578638925&bkshp-astro=t   Tarot by Tempest by Laura Tempest Zakroff https://bookshop.org/p/books/tarot-by-tempest-playing-with-numbers-meaning-movement-laura-tempest-zakroff/55317e7569fd903f?ean=9780738779461&bkshp-astro=t   Tarot Tableau Revolution by María Alviz Hernando https://bookshop.org/p/books/tarot-tableau-revolution-a-breakthrough-system-to-see-the-whole-story-in-your-readings-maria-alviz-hernando/56f74b110afe376c?ean=9781578638840&bkshp-astro=t   Making Tarot Magic by Briana Saussy https://bookshop.org/p/books/making-tarot-magic-rituals-and-remedies-to-transform-readings-into-action-briana-saussy/eb4f550f9c3d12e6?ean=9781578638765&bkshp-astro=t   Tarot and the Psychology of the Soul by Mariana Louis  https://bookshop.org/p/books/tarot-and-the-psychology-of-the-soul-exploring-the-archetypal-mirrors-of-the-psyche-mariana-louis/fa8d557ddb55359d?ean=9781578638987&bkshp-astro=t   Talismans & Tarot by Lori Lytle https://bookshop.org/p/books/talismans-and-tarot-magical-tools-to-amplify-attract-and-manifest-lori-lytle/d3d1a5129cea4fff?ean=9781578638758&bkshp-astro=t   Charm Casting by Tina Hardt https://bookshop.org/p/books/charm-casting-divining-with-trinkets-trifles-baubles-and-bits-tina-hardt/d67ce46084aea829?ean=9781578638727&bkshp-astro=t   Tarot Spreads by Meg Jones Wall https://bookshop.org/p/books/tarot-spreads-how-to-read-them-create-them-and-revise-them-meg-jones-wall/5b2b42a52bbde843?ean=9781578638550&bkshp-astro=t   Tarot for the Flawed & Fearless by Shavonne “V.” Readus https://bookshop.org/p/books/tarot-for-the-flawed-and-fearless-22-keys-to-master-self-confidence-shavonne-readus/6e2a74c810ab36d8?ean=9781578638598&bkshp-astro=t   New Moon Life Design by Yesbelt Fernandez https://bookshop.org/p/books/new-moon-life-design-manifest-the-life-you-want-using-lunar-cycles-tarot-and-astrology-yesbelt-fernandez/55bf0feee260c480?ean=9781578638741&bkshp-astro=t Do you like what you hear? Please send feedback to us at cardslingerscc@gmail.com. Follow us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/cardslingerscc. Support our podcast with books or decks. We're adding all the books from each episode to our Cardslingers CC bookshop.org store. Each purchase from this store gives us a percentage to cover our costs! www.bookshop.org/shop/cardslingerscc.

In Episode 232, Sarah is joined by returning guest Anderson McKean of Page & Palette Bookstore for the 2026 edition of Micro Genres! Each year, this series gives us a chance to niche down even further into the kinds of books we love — spotlighting those very specific sub-sub-genres that capture a particular reading taste. This year, Sarah and Anderson have 10 all-new Micro Genres to share, along with standout books for each. With more than 80 books mentioned, you're bound to find a few new additions to your TBR — and maybe recognize a Micro Genre or two of your own. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog. Politically-Adjacent Stories (Sarah) The Hopefuls by Jennifer Close (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [3:00]  Charlotte Walsh Like to Win by Jo Piazza (2018) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:11]  American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld (2008) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [3:36] Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [3:38]   Vantage Point by Sara Sligar (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [3:47] The Emperor of Ocean Park (Elm Harbor, 1) by Stephen L. Carter (2002) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [4:48]   Palace Council (Elm Harbor, 3) by Stephen L. Carter (2008) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [4:49]  The Boomerang by Robert Bailey (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [5:23] State of Terror by Louise Penny and Hillary Clinton (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [6:14]  The Situation Room by George Stephanopoulos (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [6:55]  Becoming by Michelle Obama (2018) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [8:18]  From the Corner of the Oval by Beck Dorey-Stein (2018) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [8:53]  Retellings that Are NOT Mythological (Anderson) Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser (2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [10:41]  The Beheading Game by Rebecca Lehmann (2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:58]  Beautiful Little Fools by Jillian Cantor (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [11:55]  Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [12:23]  Honeysuckle by Bar Fridman-Tell (2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [12:55]  Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [14:03]  Anna K (Anna K, 1) by Jenny Lee (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [14:08]  Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [14:20]  The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [14:36]  The Favorites by Layne Fargo (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [14:48]  Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [14:57]  Wasp's Nest by Kat Stoddard (2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [15:26]  A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley (1991) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [15:39]  Other Books Mentioned The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne (1850) [12:32]  James by Percival Everett (2024) [12:36]  Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813) [14:07]  Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (1878) [14:11]  David Copperfield by Charles Dickens (1850) [14:24]  Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith (1950) [14:41]  Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë (1847) [14:55]  The Go-Between by L. P. Hartley (1953) [15:03]  The Philadelphia Story by Philip Barry (1939) [15:32]  King Lear by William Shakespeare (1608) [15:45]  Ministers Behaving Badly (Sarah) Dominion by Addie E. Citchens (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [16:36] Awake by Jen Hatmaker (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [16:45] God Spare the Girls by Kelsey McKinney (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [17:19] The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman by Deesha Philyaw (Sep 29, 2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [17:36] The Dearly Beloved by Cara Wall (2019) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [17:51] The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (1998) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [18:16] Dear Reader / Love Letters to Books (Anderson) This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page (2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [19:14] The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern (2019) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [19:53] The Borrower by Rebecca Makkai (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [20:22] Dear Fahrenheit 451 by Anne Spence (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [22:24] Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan (2012) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [22:37] The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin (2014) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [22:56] Other Books Mentioned I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai (2023) [20:29] The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai (2018) [20:31] Yellowface by R. F. Kuang (2023) [22:15] Dark Humor (Sarah) Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [23:52] Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [23:53] The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [23:55] Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [24:41] Cleo Dang Would Rather Be Dead by Mai Nguyen (2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [25:42] Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash (2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [25:51] The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [26:00] Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [26:47] Other Books Mentioned Real Americans by Rachel Khong (2024)  [24:44] Fantasy Even Sarah Might Like / Fantasy-Lite (Anderson) Conform (Conform Series, 1) by Ariel Sullivan (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [28:54] The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [30:13] The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [30:39] The Atlas Six (The Atlas Trilogy, 1) by Olivie Blake (2022)* | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [30:53] A Darker Shade of Magic (Shades of Magic, 1) by V. E. Schwab (2015) | Amazon| Bookshop.org  [31:57] Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V. E. Schwab (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [32:02] The Midnight Train (The Midnight World, 2) by Matt Haig (2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [32:04] The Midnight Library (The Midnight World, 1) by Matt Haig (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [32:05] The Measure by Nikki Erlick (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [32:20] The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [32:25] The Other Valley by Scott Alexander Howard (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:28] Other Books Mentioned The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, 1) by Suzanne Collins (2008) [29:03] The Handmaid's Tale (The Handmaid's Tale, 1) by Margaret Atwood (1985) [29:04] Like Friday Night Lights, But Book Form (Sarah) a.k.a. Sports Books That Are About Far More Than Sports The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [35:06]  The Slip by Lucas Schaefer (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [35:15]  The World According to Garp by John Irving (1978) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:51] In One Person by John Irving (2012) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [35:53]   Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:12]  The Flock by Ellen Bar (Apr 27, 2027) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [36:41]  The Last Days of Vic & Coco by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Mar 2, 2027) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [38:31]  Other Books Mentioned The Amateur by Chris Bohjalian (2026)  [37:29]  The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian (2007)  [37:48]  Women Rule the World (Anderson) The Romanov Empress by C. W. Gortner (2018) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [40:16]  Mademoiselle Chanel by C. W. Gortner (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [40:41] Marlene by C. W. Gortner (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [40:43] The Woman with the Cure by Lynn Cullen (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [41:07]  Mrs. Poe by Lynn Cullen (2013) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [41:28]  Twain's End by Lynn Cullen (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [41:31] Lady Clementine by Marie Benedict (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [41:36]  The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [41:53] The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict (2019) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [41:47] Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen by Sarah Bird (2018) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [42:03] Other Books Mentioned Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler (2013) [43:13]  Isola by Allegra Goodman (2025) [43:32]  Royals (Sarah) The Royal We (The Royal We, 1) by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [45:04]  Red, White & Royal Blue (Red, White & Royal Blue, 1) by Casey McQuiston(2019) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [45:06]  American Royals (American Royals, 1) by Katharine McGee (2019) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [45:09]  Spare by Prince Harry (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [45:19] The Force of Such Beauty by Barbara Bourland (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [45:29] The Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:48]   The Windsor Affair by Melanie Benjamin (2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [46:03]  This Land is Your Land (Anderson) Land by Maggie O'Farrell (2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [46:34]  Damnation Spring by Ash Davidson (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [47:33]  I Will Send Rain by Rae Meadows (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [47:52]  The Well and the Mine by Gin Phillips (2007) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [48:07]  Greenwood by Michael Christie (US Release 2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [49:03]  The Islanders by Lewis Robinson (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [49:32]  The Shark House by Sara Ackerman (2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [49:40]  *Publication year reflects the later traditionally published edition for a book originally self-published.

We have a new topic for you this week with books we are embarrassed we haven't read. There are some classics on our list that we just haven't gotten to yet plus some that have been on our TBR for so long! We also chat some of our upcoming book club books and adaptations!   Currently Reading: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn Nine Liars by Maureen Johnson Amor Vincit Omnia by Twin Flame Blues Star-Crossed Summer by Devon Daniels Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine

Tune in today as we dish and spill the tea on the latest Summer Marvel Hit Movie " Spiderman: Brand New Day". Thanks for listening and don't forget to hit subscribe, leave a 5-star rating and write a review. You can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. *Looking for your next fandom adventure? Whether it's a concert, comic con, Broadway show, sporting event, or the fan experience you've been counting down to for months, we've got you covered. Check out our affiliate partner, Vivid Seats, and grab your tickets through the link in our show notes. Every purchase helps support the podcast at no extra cost to you, and helps us keep bringing you more fun, fandom, friendships, and fangirling. https://mave.ly/fandom-finds/post/vivid-seats *Love books, collectibles, and binge-worthy adaptations? If you're between 18 and 24 years old, Amazon's Prime for Young Adults might be one of the best deals out there. Enjoy a 6-month free trial, discounted membership pricing afterward, fast shipping for your latest book haul, access to Prime Video adaptations, and exclusive deals on merch and collectibles. Whether you're building your TBR pile, hunting for your next fandom obsession, or preparing for your next book release, it's worth checking out. Claim your free trial here: https://amzn.to/3SXMH7s Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, The Fan Girls Podcast may earn a commission from qualifying purchases or eligible sign-ups made through this link at no additional cost to you. Every trial signup helps support the podcast and allows us to continue creating content centered around fun, fandom, friendships, and fangirling. Thank you for supporting the show! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For years now, our team members have joined Anne on the podcast in late summer to share the books they've been loving most this season. Last year, we split this conversation into two episodes: we heard really positive feedback, so that's what we're doing again this year.   In today's episode, the first in our two part series, Anne is in conversation with three of our team members: our Resident Spreadsheet Queen Donna Hetchler, our Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club Community Manager Ginger Horton, and Modern Mrs Darcy Editor and Social Media Manager Leigh Kramer. Next week, you'll hear from the rest of our team. Our reading lives vary widely and we read across a range of genres that reflect the reading world at large. Today you'll hear about true crime and books in translation, a backlist novel that inspired an award-winning musical, a literary mystery from a fan favorite author, romantasy and thriller titles that captured our team's imagination this season, and more.  Find the list of titles discussed today and leave a comment to share your best book of the summer on ⁠our show notes page.⁠ Fall reading is just around the corner and if you're curious about the titles that you may be hearing about in the weeks ahead, or what new releases might be suited to your TBR list, our Fall Book Preview was designed to help with those answers. We'll be gathering for our 8th annual Fall Book Preview on Thursday, September 17. A la carte ticketholders and eligible community members will receive a downloadable digital preview, as well as an invitation to the live Unboxing event happening that night at 8pm EDT.  We're also offering a printed booklet edition of the digital preview: it's smaller and in a different format than our printed magazine-style Summer Reading Guide, and priced accordingly. Find out more and join us at modernmrsdarcy.com/fbp.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we're bringing back one of our OG bookish chats featuring Samantha Brinn (before she was a published romance author) and doing a full deep dive into Kiss and Don't Tell by Tessa Meghan Quinn.But first, Cortney and Mary are checking in with a little summer chaos. We're talking current romance reads, the books living rent-free in our heads, reading slumps, and our ever-growing TBRs.Then we jump back into our original conversation with Sam to talk all things Vancouver Agitators.Whether Kiss and Don't Tell  is one of your favorite Meghan Quinn books or it has been sitting untouched on your TBR, come hang out with us while we revisit the romance and Meghan just released that these babies are coming to stores because they were picked up by Bloom and will be re-releasing soon with new covers!!!..Apply to be a Guest on our showSign up for our Substack Newsletter..Support Our Show (May Include Affiliate Links)Amazon Product Links (Books, Shows, Products mentioned)Sponsorship or Ad Affiliate InquiriesWell Read Candle Company - WhatTheSmut10 saves you $$Audible Free TrialKindle Unlimited Free Trial..Where to Find UsWe are the most active on InstagramWhatTheSmutPodcastMarySend us a voice noteWell Read Candle Co10% Off WHATTHESMUT10 Support the show

In this episode:* Anna has a big, big surprise!* Bracey is coming off a fun month of travel.* A discussion of the most important book we've read on the pod - do yourself a favor and put it on your TBR immediately* What systemic collapse looks like* Prepping for weather events without becoming a prepper* How Bracey is handling explaining system collapse to her kids* A beautiful Jewish tradition for bearing grief collectively* How uncertainty tolerance factors into it all* What we're changing in response to this bookLinks & Resources:* Want a reading of your own? Email likeheartedpodcast@gmail.com* Subscribe: likehearted.substack.com* Instagram: @likeheartedpodSome episodes you may have missed….Here's some good ones from the archives!What's On Our Minds: August 2026Self-AcceptanceThe Book of Alchemy Book ReviewIf you've enjoyed any of our episodes, we'd appreciate it if you'd share with a friend. That's how podcasts grow - through connection - and we appreciate you helping us grow! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit likehearted.substack.com

FROM TODAY'S RECAP: - Article: A Royal Priesthood in Christ - Article: Is the Royal Priesthood of all Believers Biblical? - The Bible Recap - Day 225 - TBR in ASL Note: We provide links to specific resources; this is not an endorsement of the entire website, author, organization, etc. Their views may not represent our own. SHOW NOTES: - Follow The Bible Recap: Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube - Follow Tara-Leigh Cobble: Instagram - Read/listen on the Bible App or Dwell App - Learn more at our Start Page - Become a RECAPtain - Shop the TBR Store PARTNER MINISTRIES: D-Group International Israelux The God Shot TLC Writing & Speaking DISCLAIMER: The Bible Recap, Tara-Leigh Cobble, and affiliates are not a church, pastor, spiritual authority, or counseling service. Listeners and viewers consume this content on a voluntary basis and assume all responsibility for the resulting consequences and impact.

Jennie Nash hosts a #amwriting podcast BookLab with guest Kathleen Barber, author of Truth Be Told and newly released Sisterhood Above All (co-written with Amayah Shaienne), and discusses Barber's range across thrillers and romance, her character-first approach, and how RushTok inspired an authentic sorority-rush thriller featuring Madison, Shay, and Ava as tensions escalate and someone dies. They define RushTok as viral TikTok coverage of University of Alabama sorority recruitment and note its broad international fascination. In the BookLab, they evaluate three first-page submissions by asking “Would we turn the page?” They praise Heather's Trust Me for strong voice, vivid Austin setting, and an intriguing problem hook, with minor notes about genre context. They decline Odeon Omega due to unearned logistics and too much dialogue despite an intriguing title/advert. They find Empty Spaces compellingly written but confusing from too many names and unclear stakes, suggesting more interiority and clarity.#AmWriting is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Connect with KathleenVisit Kathleen's website to find her books and more: https://www.kathleenbarber.comTranscriptJennie: [00:00:00] Hi, I'm Jennie Nash, and you're listening to the #amwriting podcast, the place where we help writers of all kinds play big in your writing life, love the process, and stick with it long enough to finish what matters most. This is a book lab session where we answer the most important question about your first pages.Would we pick up the book? Would we turn the page? Today, I have a really special guest with me. I have Kathleen Barber here, who is so many things. She's the author of Truth Be Told, which was adapted as a series on Apple TV, Follow Me, Both Things Are True, and just brand new, like it came out four days ago, Sisterhood Above All, with, I'm gonna try her name, Amaya Chen?How do you-Barbara: Yeah. Uh, um, yeah. That's, that's very close. I think it's Amaya Chen.Jennie: Okay. Yeah. Uh, so we're gonna hear about that in a minute. Um, I haven't, I haven't cracked it open yet, but I'm so [00:01:00] excited for it. Um, Kathleen's also an Author Accelerator certified book coach and a former attorney, and she lives in Washington, DC with her family.So welcome, Kathleen.Barbara: Thank you so much for having me. I'm really excited to be here.Jennie: So I watched your unboxing the other day. It was so fun, and I didn't realize that we had scheduled this right on top of, like the actual- Oh ... launch of your book.Barbara: No, that, that's okay. It's, it's great. Um, it gives me something to think about that's not just, like, spiraling.Like, is anybody gonna read my book? Is anybody gonna like it? Um, so it gives me something else to focus on.Jennie: Well, it's so interesting you say that because I think of you as this really seasoned pro and, you know, it's been really interesting for me to watch your career because you've written some really different kinds of books.You did a ... Well, your first book was obviously a big thriller and a huge success, and at one point, you pivoted to romance, and now you're doing ... Well, I, I saw that book list [00:02:00] called Sisterhood Above All, a soapy thriller Yes. Yes ... which is such a great description, and you did it with a collaborator. So you just seem interested in story to me.Barbara: I, I am. Yeah. I'm always very ... I always start a story with the characters. Um, and so then their story kind of spirals out from there. Um, yeah, so I, my last book that came out before this one was, was a rom-com. Um, and I was really nervous when I started writing it. I was like, “How am I going to write this when I've been writing suspense and thrillers before?”And it turns out that, like, at the heart of it, stories are stories, and people are people, and, you know, in a romance, happy things happen. In a thriller, bad things happen, but things still happen.Jennie: Amazing. So give us the overview of the brand new book, ‘cause it's, it's really juicy.Barbara: Yeah. Yeah, so I'm really excited about it.Um, Sisterhood Above All is a thriller set during sorority rush, and so it follows three different [00:03:00] women who are involved there. There's Madison, who is the president of what's she perceives as to be the coolest sorority on campus, so she's kind of the gatekeeper, and there's Shay, who is the president of a rival sorority and trying to shake, shake up the Greek institutions, and then there's Ava, who is a potential new member.She's going through rush. She's desperate to join Madison's sorority, um, and she might be a little too desperate. Uh, so you know, it's a thriller. Bad things happen. Somebody dies, um, you know, and things kind of spiral out, spiral out of control.Jennie: But tell us about the collaboration, ‘cause it's- Yeah ... so interesting how that came about and how it went and-Barbara: Yeah.You know, it was, it was a lot of fun. Um, I, like many writers, write alone, and I had never really considered collaborating with anybody before, um, but- But when I was kind of talking about this, I, I'd been pitching my agent a sorority themed thriller for a while. [00:04:00] Um, and at one point when, when Rush Talk was getting really big a couple summers ago, she was like, “This is the moment.This, you should write this book, but I think that in order to make it feel more authentic, we should bring in somebody who's living this in this moment.” Um, so one of her colleagues found Amaya, who, um, was up until very, very recently an active member of a sorority at the University of Alabama, and brought us together.And Amaya and I got along right away, and we both had kind of the same vision for what we wanted the book to be, and so collaborating with her was, was a lot of fun in a way that I had been nervous that it wouldn't be. But it was, it was a really good time, and I'm really, really proud of the book.Jennie: So for those who don't know or weren't following, can you tell us what Rush Talk-Barbara: YeahwasJennie: or isBarbara: or- Yeah ... shall be? Yes, yes, yes. So, um, so if you're gonna join a sorority, um, you go through, you go through recruitment and which is very slangily [00:05:00] called rush. Um, and so on TikTok a few years ago, um, people started sharing about their experiences during sorority rush, but specifically, uh, during sorority rush at the University of Alabama.Um, and it really took on a life of its own, like people were watching it like it was, you know, a television program. Uh, they made a documentary about it, which, you know, I'll, I will let you make your own conclusions about the documentary. Um, but people just got really, really into it, and people... And it was kind of appealing to people who had gone through sorority rush at some point, were thinking about going through a sorority rush, or who were just invested in, you know, watching people have these kind of outlandish experiences and, and share them.So, um, itJennie: was a lot of fun. My understanding was that it got very, very popular in other countries?Barbara: I- it's definitely... [00:06:00] Yeah. You know, um- So sorority, some, some sororities are international. Not, not all of them are. Um, but by and large, when they say international, they mean that there are chapters in Canada, not that, like, there are chapters in, you know, like Europe or, or other countries.And so it just, it's something that is so unique and so, like, uniquely about, like, this type of college experience that I think it's been really interesting to people in lots of different places.Jennie: Yeah, yeah. Fascinating. So obviously the book has been out, like, mere hours here. But, um, how does it feel? Are you, are you- It's excitingyou said you were excited and proud and- SoBarbara: exciting. Yeah. I'm, I'm, I'm really, really proud of the book. I love it. I mean, I know everybody, like, loves their own books, but I do. I truly, like, love this book, and I just really hope that the readers do too.Jennie: You know, it's not true that everybody loves their book.I, I was dying to have somebody on the podcast who will never come on the podcast. But I- Yeah ... I heard a story about somebody who [00:07:00] got a seven-figure deal for a book that they really didn't actually love, and then- Oh, no ... they, they wrote it. It came out, and then when they had to co- come time to do the publicity, they just dreaded it.They, it was like a, just they did it for the money. They got the money, and then didn't, didn't wanna talk about it, like felt sort of ashamed about it. And I was like, “Oh, please, come talk about that.” But of course they, they won't. So...Barbara: That's wild. Isn't that wild? That's wild. Yeah. I just, I just can't even imagine how that would feel.Um, I mean...Jennie: I know. Well, I, uh, the cover of this, um, of this new book, Sisterhood Above All, is- is really cool too. So we will link to it in the show notes, and everyone can go read it and check it out, and, um, Kathleen's other books, I've read them all, and you have such range and, um, like I said, [00:08:00] interesting stories.So with that, let's get to our, our Book Lab entries. We just always wanna start by thanking those who submitted. It's not easy to do this, to put your stuff out there with no context and no ability to talk back or anything and have random s- people on the internet, you know, talk about your stuff. So really appreciate the, the risk-taking of doing that, and we do this in order to help us all get better and, and learn, you know, what works and, and, um, for your own self or your own writing, what, what you want it to be.So what we're gonna do, as always, is I'm gonna read the entry, and then we're gonna ask ourselves, would we turn the page? So, um, the first entry is Fiction and it is, uh, author's name is [00:09:00] Heather and the name of the work is Trust Me. So here we goI can't tell you whether it's the Johnny Cash mural, clusters of candles nestled into every corner of the long stone bar, or the smoky scent of Palo Santo that tucks Austin into my head the first night. Maybe it's the unexpected jazz trio on a Tuesday in a town built for blues, country, and rock, or it could be the two cowboys deep in conversation at a table in the back of the bar.I'll later, I'll later learn that making a hot Austin guy a cowboy because of his hat, faded jeans, and scuffed boots is the same as labing- labeling a frat bro in a hoodie and sweats an athlete. It's just how they dress. I can tell you I like the looks of Austin men a hell of a lot better, especially that wide silver belt buckle that dresses up the whole package in a bow.It's going [00:10:00] on nine PM when I arrive at Whistlers in East Austin, and the bartender hands, hands me a peach-colored mezcal craft cocktail. Fresh juice, pungent herbs, and the smoky sister to tequila are the perfect salve after what's transpired since my flight landed from New York two hours earlier. I follow the snake tattoo on his foreha- forearm as the bartender shakes another cocktail for the couple next to me.Damn, he's hot, too. The crowd starts to pick up, and I signal Snake Tattoo for another before I lose his attention for good. The warm agave liquor spreads through my bones, and I start to relax. Maybe this isn't the disaster I think it is. Maybe I can actually pull it off. I glance around at the mostly twenty and thirty-something crowd angling for spots at the bar.The women wear short dresses and long hair. The men, well, those jeans are something, along with their finely cut biceps and well-placed tattoos. Can't help but glance over at those cowboys again and get a warm smile in [00:11:00] return. Easy, girl. Back to business. I have a problem, and this second mezcal is going to help me solve it.All right. What do you think? What was your first impression?Barbara: I really enjoyed that. I would definitely turn the page there. I, I feel like there was, like, a really strong sense of, sense of place, and I, in particular, I really enjoyed the, the first line, not only because it gives us that sense of place, but it, because it also then tells us something about the narrator and how she perceives the world around her in that first line.Jennie: Yeah, and, and there's a good m- a, a good question at hand here, which is what's she doing here?Barbara: Mm-hmm.Jennie: She's come from New York. We get that. It's a little unclear how, how old she is, ‘cause she's referencing other people's ages, but not her own, so we, we don't really know what's happening or what, what's, what's about.[00:12:00] Um, I mean, I thought the writ-Barbara: Well, IJennie: agree. Yeah. I thought the writing was great. It sort of tripped along-Barbara: Mm ...Jennie: um, nicely. IBarbara: like at the end where... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to step on you. No,Jennie: no, go. Yeah. I like atBarbara: the end, I like at the end where, um, she says she has a problem, and the second mezcal is gonna help her solve it.I thought that was really interesting, ‘cause I, it piqued my interest, made me wanna know what the problem is, but it's also kind of funny. Like, the mezcal's probably not gonna help you solve your problem, but it's like...Jennie: Yeah. No, it's so true. I was longing for a little bit more of a sense of what's happening here.I mean, this could be any kind of story at this point. It could be she could be a spy. She could be an assassin. She could be trying to get a guy back. Like, we, there's really no sense of what the story's gonna be. I always like that on the first page. What about you?Barbara: Yeah. I, I agree with you. I, it, it could, it could go in any direction.I kind of [00:13:00] sense from the tone that it's, you know, it's going to be something, uh- Well, I guess I don't know. You know, honestly. Now, now that I'm looking at it again and thinking about it, um, you're right, it could be... The, the problem that she has could be a thriller problem, or it could be a romantic problem, since she's kind of made, made comments about the different men.I think that was a hint to me that it might be a romantic problem that she's having, but I actually don't know.Jennie: Yeah. The, the- obviously she's clocking all the hot guys in this bar, which tells us something, either about her or what she's up to. We don't know. Um, but yeah, it's, um, really good detail, like the, you mentioned that first line, and I liked the line about her sh- the self-awareness about, you know, she calls him a cowboy and then she says, you know, sort of like, “Oh, right, that's not really fair.”Mm-hmm. “We don't know.” [00:14:00] You know, that, I thought that was, made me think- Yeah ... this character's gonna know themselves.Barbara: Mm-hmm. Yeah. I agree with that. I, I also really enjoyed the kind of specificity that she uses in the descriptions, like when she talks about, you know, the, the cocktail that she's drinking, and the tattoo on the bartender's arm.Like, I just felt like those details really made the story come alive for me. So that, like, even if I didn't exactly know where we were going, I could, I could picture where we were.Jennie: Yeah. Yeah. That's really well said. Well, we like this. I think I would, I would turn the page.Barbara: I would, I would too, yeah. Mm-hmm.Jennie: We would turn the page. Um, I mean, the only notes I think for me would be, I mean, it's always so tricky, because if we were picking this book up, the title, Trust Me, doesn't really tell us anything, but the cover would.Outro: Mm-hmm.Jennie: The vibe of the cover would. We'd have a little more context for where we were and [00:15:00] what this was about, and that would probably help with the issue that, that I have, which is, well, what kind of book is this?We don't know. Um, and you know, now that I'm thinking of it, we don't even know whe- where we are in time. Um, I'm, I'm assuming modern day, but I don't know why I assumed that. It, maybe it's not. So maybe just a tiny bit more of a sense of- Uh, context for the reader. Mm-hmm. But that's my only note. L- do you have any notes?Barbara: Yeah. You know, I honestly don't think that I, I have any additional notes. I mean, I, I really enjoyed this selection, and I would definitely keep reading here.Jennie: Well, Heather, that's high praise, soBarbara: Yeah, I, I usually have ideas. I usually have notes but I don't.Jennie: Yeah, that's, uh, that's g- a good one for us to start with, and very fun, I hope, for you to hear that from Kathleen.All right, let's [00:16:00] go to our, our next one. This is fiction. It's called Odeon Omega, um, and the author is ... Well, the, the, um, it's coming across as, um, Sound Smith, but who knows what that is? So, um, Odeon Omega, they will know who they are, for sure. All right, here we go. “The grand O-O opening continues all month long at your new entertainment destination, the one and only, first of its kind on this or any other coast, the all-new, all-excitement Odeon Omega.‘Gah!' Emmy shrieked from the bathroom. ‘You can turn the TV volume down now, Seth. We're done.' Seth was still lying in bed, his naked body mostly covered with Emmy's cream-colored, satiny soft sheets. He chuckled while reaching for the remote. ‘I wasn't the one who turned it up.' ‘I know that. I have to [00:17:00] turn the TV way up like that, though.It's the only way to drown out the neighbors. The walls in this place are so damn thin, and they're always banging on them, disturbing me when I'm trying to have sex.' ‘Those b******s,' Seth chuckled. ‘I'm saying, I like ... I'm saying, like, what am I supposed to do? Not f**k? Hey, that is so not an option,' Seth p- Seth pressed the mute button, then went back to lying on his back, his hands behind his head.Another noise startled him, this one coming from Emmy's phone. A toneless version of Girls Just Wanna Have Fun blared from Emmy's clutch purse. ‘Turn that off, too,' Emmy shouted from the bathroom. ‘That's my mother's ringtone. I don't feel like talking to her right now.' Seth rolled over to the nightstand and opened her clutch and found the button to silence Emmy's phone.He lingered on the image of Emmy's mother. ‘Wow, Emmy, you and your mom could pass for sisters, easy.' ‘Ew, don't tell me that,' Emmy said. ‘Tell her that, but not me. Bet you're already imagining yourself in a threesome with her and me, [00:18:00] aren't you?' ‘Huh, what's that?' Seth was distracted by Emmy's driver's license in the clutch's interior pocket.He slid it out of the pocket and read what he assumed was Emmy's birth name. ‘Myrtle? What? Your re- your real name is Myrtle?' Emmy stepped out of the bathroom, still naked from their lovemaking, with a sky blue-colored towel clenched between her legs.”That's a vibe.Barbara: It is. It is, yeah. I mean, opening, uh, opening in the aftermath of sex is a, is a bold choice. I'll be honest, I don't feel like I have very much context for what's happening here. Um, it seems like Emmy and Seth don't know each other veryJennie: well. I got that sense, too. I got that sense, too, and that the sex that she has this system for turning up the TV has been for other people.Barbara: Mm-hmm. [00:19:00] Yeah. On, on that note, though, I did kind of have, uh, a fundamental disbelief about the setup that was giving me a stumbling block when I was reading this, just because it didn't seem to make a lot of sense to me that she would turn up the television to distract herself from the neighbors, when I would think that that would be more distracting or, you know, just use music or...And I didn't really understand why she would be explaining it to him after the fact instead of in the moment. Um, that felt like it was perhaps just put there for the reader,Jennie: so that we could be distracted. Yeah, it was a little explainy, a little... Yeah, like a, um, we use that term info dump, and an info dump doesn't have to be a whole scene.It can just be a line like that where I, I didn't buy it either that she would actually say that to him now. Mm-hmm. If... He probably would've said, “Why are you turning the TV on?”Barbara: Right.Jennie: Earlier.Barbara: Yeah. Yeah, [00:20:00] yeah, and it seemed like that would be the conversation that would have before we got to this moment. So that was something that, that I struggled with a bit.Jennie: I also didn't believe, it felt like, uh, unearned that he's pulling this license out of her purse. I could see, I could see that he might have seen something on her phone if he's turning her phone off. But-Barbara: Mm-hmm ...Jennie: to, to actually then see... I kept, like I was trying to think through the logistics. Like, okay, see one of those little slidey things inside a purse, but you can't see- Mmthe driver's license. Like, why would he reach in and pull it out? It felt like the author wanted us to get to this moment where- Mm-hmm ... Seth got this information.Barbara: Mm-hmm. Yeah.Jennie: It, yeah, it felt unearned to me.Barbara: Yeah. I, I agree, especially because it doesn't seem like Seth knows her very well, obviously. Then for him to be [00:21:00] digging around in her clutch purse felt- Untrue to the situation, um, unless something else was going on that we don't hear about.Jennie: Yeah, yeah. Um, this... When I said, like, “Well, this is a vibe,” this character has a, a tone or a style or sense about, like a sort of swagger about- Mm-hmm ... her that interests me. Um, I happen to be in the middle... I'm behind everybody else, but I'm in the middle of reading Yesteryear. Oh. Have you read-Barbara: Oh. Yes, yes.Jennie: Don't tell me what ha- I, I- Don't tell me ...Barbara: I w- I won't. I was also late to it, and everybody was trying to tell me about it, and I was just constantly walking around going, “No spoilers, no spoilers.” Yeah.Jennie: But the, that character has, has such a brashness- Mm-hmm ... of point of view and opinion in both, um, both parts of the story there, and there's something about this character that rem- reminds me of that.[00:22:00] There's like a, I don't know, um, a, just a brashness. S- And I, I've been enjoying that protagonist- Mm-hmm ... the Yesteryear protagonist, just ‘cause it's unusual. I've read a tiny bit, and I know people are saying, “Oh, she is so unlikable,” but there's just something of a character that's so owning their, um-Barbara: Mm-hmmJennie: way, and this woman's ownership of, of her sexuality, I guess, I, I thought was- Hmm ... interesting.Barbara: Yeah. No, I, I, I know what you mean, and I, I, I am intrigued by her as a character because, I mean, again, here she, she seems to have kind of an interesting setup in a, an apartment building that has thin walls, um, has this system of turning up her television, um, but not with Seth before.So, you know, it seems like she's had several partners back to this, this space. Um, but she seems very, very confident and, like you said, kind of swaggery [00:23:00] with him. Um, so yeah, I, I am intrigued to know more about, like, who she is and what makes her that way. Um...Jennie: Yeah. Uh, for me, probably not enough to turn the page.Um-Barbara: Not for, not for me either. I-Jennie: Yeah. And, and I have to say that the thing that intrigues me the most about this whole thing is that the title of this book is Odeon Omega, and that's the random, um- I think that's the random show on TVBarbara: Yeah,Jennie: the- Am I ma- am IBarbara: making that up? No, no, no, that, that, that's the first line.It's, um, it sounds like it's maybe like a commercial. I was kind of envisioning it from the way that it was spelled out as, you know, kind of like, uh, oh, the way that like a, a carnival or like a car salesman is like, “The grand o- o- opening.” Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, that's kind of how I was envisioning it.Um, so I, I didn't, I did enjoy s- seeing that right up front, um, [00:24:00] but I wanted more context to understand what it was, because without that, I, I don't know what that line means. Um-Jennie: And that just the author's choice, like, okay, the TV's on f- for a random reason- Mm-hmm ... or for her systematic sex reason, and, and she's hearing this show opening, and then that's the title of the book.Like, something about this, I, I thought of it as a, yeah, like a carnival or a show or something- Mm-hmm ... a theme park, um, that there's g- that's gonna become central to the story. It's kind of an interesting way of putting that in in, and presumably- Mm ... it will come back, um- Yeah ... in an important way. But I, I was intrigued by that most of all, actually.Barbara: Yeah. No, same, especially because that's the moment that Emmy says, “Turn the volume down.” So I was, uh, so it made it seem, to me at least, that there was something about that particular advertisement that she [00:25:00] was reacting to, and I wanted to know what that was.Jennie: Well, that's a really great point, and I think if we were to give this writer some guidance- Um, it might be to make more of that.Mm. If the character reacts more to that. Like, in, you know, that she can't hear it or that it's upsets her in a particular way, or she gives us some information or context about that so that we, I don't know, I guess we need to be more grounded in, in what's happening.Barbara: Yeah. And I also just feel like that would give us a little bit more s- because it, that's right there in the title, so it's obviously gonna be important to the story.And so like that would give us a little bit of curiosity about what it is and would propel us to try and understand why she's reacting the way that she is. Um-Jennie: Yeah. And just from a technical [00:26:00] standpoint, I'm looking at this entry, it's almost all dialogue.Barbara: Mm-hmm.Jennie: Which I think is hard on a, an opening page.Uh, don't you? I think-Barbara: I, I do. I, I would really have liked to see a little bit more interiority from Emmy here to kind of, I don't know, understand how she feels, not only about that advertisement, but about, about Seth. Like, did she li- does she like Seth, or is he just like a guy, you know? Um, I just wanted to know a little bit more about how she, who I'm presuming is the protagonist, is experiencing this scene.Jennie: Yeah. Um, yeah, there was even a moment when I thought, “Is she selling sex?” Mm-hmm. Is, is that... Is she a sex worker? Um, you know- True ... so too many questions about what's, what's happening here, which I think could be solved by, um, balancing out the dialogue, um, w- with some other information. [00:27:00] Mm-hmm. Um, yeah, I mean, I'm, um, I'm hoping that this character gets a story that we want, we want to read ‘cause I'm intrigued.Barbara: Yeah. Same. Same.Jennie: Yeah. All right. We have one more that we're going to, um, read. Do you wanna read this one? From your little, “Oh, oh, oh,” opening- ... I was like, “Oh, maybe you're a good narrator. I'm not.”Barbara: Sure. Sure. I'll, I'll read it. Um, so this one is called Empty Spaces. Um, it's fiction. I'm not entirely certain who the author is, unless I'm missing that in the spreadsheet.It looks like perhaps it starts with a T. Um, but here, here is the submission. “April 1st, 1995. ‘Please, please, please,' Corey sputtered, gripping the black receiver with both hands while the operator relayed her [00:28:00] request. ‘Person-to-person call for Tess. Will you accept the charges?' ‘No, she's asleep.' Corey knew her mother was at the beige phone on the kitchen wall a thousand miles away.Then her father's voice in the background. ‘Honey, let the girl talk to her dau-...' And dial tone. Corey slammed the receiver back into its cradle. ‘What the f**k?' She missed. Her knuckles scraped the chrome holder, and she unleashed her fury on the edge of the black payphone. ‘F**k, f**k, f*****g f****r.' The rain that had been collecting in the roo- in the rim of the payphone box was shaken loose by her tantrum and cascaded down inside the collar of her flay- flight jacket.Well, Charlie's flight jacket. ‘Skipper,' came Top's quiet baritone from behind her. ‘We're ready to roll.' ‘Thanks, Top.' Corey accepted the styrofoam cup of coffee he handed her, then sloshed her way to the lead truck, Arlo trotting at her heels. She hoisted herself up into the passenger side of the rig. Arlo curled up beside her and dug his head into her lap.Why did her mother have to be such a [00:29:00] little b***h? And on this night. Was it too much to expect her to remember that it was Charlie's birthday? No, Maria remembered. She was the one who kept a file of birthday cards, organized by month and paper clipped to envelopes, neatly stamped and addressed to the recipient.But nobody sends a birthday card to a dead person.” After a few minutes, Top started his status report. “Got word from the 24-hour man. The lot they gave us was too small and underwater. He put up a fuss and got us moved to the football field at the high school.” Corey took a sip. “It'll be nice to have a dry lot.Daisy's got that one nail that looks a little soft.” She fiddled with the radio, settling on a country station, what else was there, and yawned. “Where are we headed tonight?” And that is it.Jennie: Wow, well, author T., uh, Wood, what a treat to have Kathleen Barber read your, read your stuff like that. Gee, you, you sounded amazing.You sounded like you'd written that. That was so cool. Do you- I, uh- ... narrate your own books?Barbara: I, I do not, but I have [00:30:00] small children, and I read aloud every night.Jennie: Do you do the voices?Barbara: Oh, yes, I definitely do the voices.Jennie: Do you do all of them, like, in aBarbara: very- I do all of them.Jennie: You do?Barbara: Yeah, yeah. My, my kids were really into the Wings of Fire series, so I've read all of those books, and there are many, many dragons, and they all have different voices, and if I do not remember the different voice, my children will be like, “Mommy, that's not what Peril sounds like,” and then I'll have to remember and try again,Jennie: so.Take notes? Do you have, do you have a guide? Do you just remember? Um,Barbara: no, I just, I just try and remember.Jennie: Oh,Barbara: my. I should take notes, but I'm not that organized. I just go off.Jennie: That, that's amazing. That's amazing. Um, just while we're talking about it, is there audio already for the new book, for, uh, Sisterhood Above All?Barbara: There, there is. There is, yeah. Um, I recently got, uh, got a peek at it, and I am very, very excited. We have a different [00:31:00] narrator for each of the POV characters, and they are all fantastic. Super excited.Jennie: Amazing. All right, so back to this, back to this work. Um, I thought this was great. Uh, did you, did you, how did you feel reading it?Barbara: I, I, I enjoyed reading it. Um, when, when I was, when I was reading it the first time, I, I found myself getting stopped a few times because I felt like there were a lot of names, and I was confused. Um, you know, it's, it's in- I don't feel like an author needs to spell out for me who every single character is on the first page at all.Um, it just felt like in a small amount of time, there were a lot of names that I felt like I was trying to keep track of, and that was a bit confusing for me. Slowed me down a little bit.Jennie: I agree with that. Actually, the first time that I read it And [00:32:00] admittedly, I was scanning these really fast the first time I read it, but there, there's something to that, how things hit your head.But I thought that, um, I thought Daisy was a horse because I was like the one nail that looks a little soft, like is who, what- Yeah ... where would that matter that we need to be on grass? And, and, and then I was like, “Wait, who even is Daisy?” So I got stuck on that- Yeah ... for sure. And, um, and then the, um, there's a nickname that I think the main...I think Corey, the, the other character calls her Skipper, so I was confused by that. Right. So it, yeah. Yeah. Are those some of the things that you mean?Barbara: Yeah. The, those was... And I was also just a little confused when I first started reading that it starts out with person to person call for Tess, and then we're talking about her mother.And I, I thought at first that her mother was [00:33:00] named Tess, and that, and that the operator was trying to reach her, and that her mother was simply not, simply not wanting to talk even though she was by the phone. But then later on I realized that her mother is actually named Maria, and that Tess must be somebody else.Um, I think Corey's daughter, but I didn't, I didn't catch that on first reading. I had to read it again to be able to understand that.Jennie: Yeah. So there, there is a lot going on for sure. When I said that I thought it was great, I- I'm, I'm hoping that this character's some kind of trucker just because that's cool, and, um, it, it seemed like we have some tension both in whatever's happening around...You know, like, they have a 24-hour man. They're... Uh, so there's something afoot. Like, there's a pr- a project or something afoot that feels like it's not gonna go well or something's gonna [00:34:00] happen there. Um, and I also, you know, now we have the thing with the, well, we learn I think it's the mom. But, um, th- there- Yeahwere enough elements of intrigue, like, what's, what's going on here, what's gonna happen, that I... And I thought it was well-written.Barbara: Yeah. No, and I, one of the things that I really enjoyed was the way, the, the descriptions of what the, what the scenery looks like with the, with like the weather. So like there's, there's the rain, um, there's another line about how when they're like getting into the truck that like the lot is underwater, so I'm kind of like envisioning...I actually don't know what time of day it is, but for some reason I'm envisioning it being a little bit darker, but that might just be because of, of the rain that's happening. Maybe that's what's making me think that it's, it's a little bit darker outside, but I'm like envisioning the, the rain, and they're getting into the rig.But I, I didn't get that she was a truck driver. I, I, I think maybe... But I, but I, [00:35:00] I don't know. I don't know. I thought that maybe she was some sort of- Some sort of, like, news person. But I don't... ‘Cause I don't actually, I don't actually know what a 24-hour man is, so I think that might have... Okay. Yeah. No, I don't know.I was just like... So I, so I didn't know. Um, but I was, I was curious to know... Yeah. I was gonna say, I was curious to know why she was making this call to her mother at this moment, and why she was so desperate for her mother to answer the phone at this moment. Um, so yeah, th- those were, those are questions that I had.Jennie: Usually, back in the day, which this was, um, will you accept the charges was something you did when you had no money.Barbara: Mm-hmm.Jennie: You know, you would call home or wherever and, ‘cause you didn't have money to make a call, so the operator would place the call and ask the [00:36:00] person to accept the charges. Mm-hmm. And normally you would do that with somebody who knows you have, you're having a problem, or, you know.So, like, this is a very particular moment that led me to believe that she didn't, she didn't even have money for a call. So- Mm-hmm ... I don't know why I placed her as a trucker. Like, she climbed into the- Oh, okay ... the rig. She s- she sloshed her way to the lead truck. She's fiddling with the radio station. Like, what, where we headed?Yeah. Like, we're just on a job. I totally made her a truckerBarbara: and I- Yeah. No, no, no. I, well, I think maybe the reason I thought maybe she wasn't was because there were all these other... Because, like, Top is there, and the, it's, it's a lead truck, and she's, she's getting into the passenger side. And there's also a, a, a dog, I assume.I assume Arlo's a dog. I suppose it could be some other sort of animal that's, that's with her, but I, I assume Arlo's a dog. Um- Well,Jennie: so this is actually a really great [00:37:00] conversation for anybody listening, and particularly for this author. You can see that if you confuse your reader They're gonna spend their time with these kinds of questions.Like, is the mother Tess or is it Corey? Is this woman a trucker or not? Is... You know, and those are not the kind of questions you want to be leaving your reader with. Those are-Barbara: Yeah ...Jennie: um, I don't know w- how we would describe them, almost logistics. They're,Barbara: they're more like de- yeah, yeah, exactly. ‘Cause I mean, they're, I, I, I enjoy getting a good question at the start of reading something, you know?Like, you know, I mean, for example, it's, it's really interesting that Corey made what seems to be a collect call, and they didn't just not answer it. They answered it, and then hung up on her, which feels, like, very purposeful. And so, like, I'm very, I'm very curious about that relationship. I'm curious about the fact that, that Charlie is, is dead, um, and [00:38:00] who Charlie is to the, to the narrator.These are things that, like, have piqued my curiosity, and I would like to learn more about, um, would inspire me to read more, to learn more about those things. Uh, but then those other things that we were talking about, like, well, like, who is this? W- what kind of animal is Daisy? Like, what are, where are they actually going?Like, what, what is, what is the goal here? What, what is the deal about the, the lot and the, and the football field? The, w- what are we gonna do here? Those are questions that, that slowed me down, and made me less likely to want to keep reading.Jennie: Yeah. I loved that line, “But nobody sends a birthday card to a dead person.”Barbara: Yeah.Jennie: And I, I'm thinking- Really poignant ... that that's the center of this story, you know, s- who, who was Charlie? I think you said that. Mm-hmm. Was-Barbara: Mm-hmm.Jennie: And ‘cause she's got the jacket.Barbara: Yeah.Jennie: She's got Charlie's jacket, so- That, that'sBarbara: true, and sh- and she's wearing it, I think. [00:39:00]Jennie: Yeah, and, and so- I mean, I suppose Charlie could be a child if this person is older.Barbara: Yeah.Jennie: Like, you know, um, but y- I ... So I had this weird reaction to this, which is I thought it was fun, and maybe that was you reading it. I thought, I thought the writing was great, but I wouldn't turn the page. I'd be frustrated. You know, if, if there was another book or another story that was, um, didn't make me work so hard- Mmto figure out where I was or what was happening, I would choose that over this. So it's a weird combination for me of great job, but it's a no for me.Barbara: Yeah,Jennie: that- What about you?Barbara: That's, that's how I felt. There, there were a lot of elements here that I think are, that are intriguing and that if presented slightly differently would make me want to turn the page.But as, as it is right now, I, I would not. [00:40:00]Jennie: I agree with that. I think it feels close. Mm-hmm. Um, so how could we give this person some direction for, um- Yeah ... well, you talked about all the names, and I don't think the solution is ID all these names.Barbara: Right.Jennie: Mm-hmm. That's gonna be clunky. Or ID all these people. Um-Barbara: Yeah.I, I think for, for me personally, what I think would help was if we were to get a bit more of a peek inside the nar- inside Corey's head, so we could understand from her perspective why it's important that she's making this call, like, what the goal is with the truck. Um, if we just saw it a little bit more from her view and got to know a little bit more of the information that she already holds in her head, I think that would go a long way to making the story feel more accessible to the reader.Jennie: That's really well said, and [00:41:00] hopefully that helps the writer for your next pass to, to think about. But I- there's something, there's something good I think here going on. Mm-hmm. And, uh, I have the same, um, comment that I had earlier. I, I wanna know what kind of story I'm in, and I'm s- and I'm not sure. We were talking about sorting out these relationships and what's happening with the field and the truck and then the weather and all that, but again, is thisThere's no sense of what kind of story this is going to be. And, um, I, I always want a little more. And, and the title is Empty Spaces, which doesn't help, um- Yeah ... point us to that. I hear that. So just a little more, um, of a sense of what world are we? What, what problem do we have? What world are we in? Um, you know, and even just that last bit where the character turns the radio station on and yawns, “Where are we headed [00:42:00] tonight?”It- there's, there's not an urgency of It's, s- nobody's running from anything. There's no- Right ... threat, uh,except for the mom who won't answer the call.Barbara: Yeah, yeah.Jennie: Yeah. Um, so a little, a little more of a sense of what's at stake. Um, I know, we always are asking so much on a first page, but- I know ...Barbara: uh. I know, but e- you know, it's, there are so many things to read, you know, from, like agents, editors, readers, all have so many things to choose from, and so it's just so important to nail that first page, you know?Jennie: How many times do you rewrite your first pages?Barbara: Oh my gosh, so many times. So many times. Yeah. Yeah, well, um, ‘cause usually I write the first page, and then I write the rest of the book, and then I'm like, “Oh, like, the rest of the book does something different. I need to go back and, like, make this first page...”Also, I do, I often do the thing that I think a lot of writers do, which is, [00:43:00] once you've written a little bit further, you realize that, like, you've started at the wrong spot. Um, I mean, the, one of, one of the things that helps me when I, when I think to do it is to use one of the exercises that's in, that's in your work, where you, where you start what, you, you write the beginning and the ending before you even start anything.Um, and I, I, when I remember to do that the right way, that really, definitely helps me. Um, but I don't always remember to do that, and so I have, like, partway in, and then I'm like, “Wait, no, the first page.” So,Jennie: it's- Well, that, yeah, that's a, um, a step in the blueprint for a book book. Um, it's a good one, for sure.Uh, well, thank you so much for joining me for, for this, Kathleen, and congratulations on the new book. Um, for everyone listening, go check out, you can find everything at KathleenBarber.com. And, um, you can find Sisterhood Above All, which is brand new and just out and sounds like so much [00:44:00] fun. I, it's on my TBR, TBR.Yay. I just can't read, I just can't read thrillers at night. I get too scared. So,Barbara: um-Jennie: That'sBarbara: fair. That's fair ...Jennie: I, I have to wait till I'm, like, on a plane or, um, you know, somewhere where I'm reading during the day. Yeah. Is this one, is this one l- scary scary?Barbara: I mean, it's, it's not, like, scary scary. It's, it's not, like, uh- It's, it's not like there's someone who's out there to kill you for reasons that you cannot control.You know what I mean? Like, it's like- Yeah, yeah ... it would be scary to the people inside the book, but it should not be scary to you. ButJennie: I understand how- Well, we don't need to reas- We don't need to reassure me because people love these, love these- Yeah ... and, uh, what a fun, fun setting and setup for- Thank youa thriller. It's, it's exciting. Thanks. So can't wait to see how, how the world receives it. And- Mm ... um, I always hate to say this to somebody whose book just came out, but can't wait to see what you do next. [00:45:00]Barbara: Don't worry, I'm already writingJennie: stuff. Oh, yeah. Do you, ooh, do you wanna, do you wanna tell or no?Barbara: I, I do not, just ‘cause I get really superstitious about it, but, um, but I have something that I'm working on that I'm excited about, so you know, we'll see how it goes.Jennie: I love it. Well, thank you for joining us for Book Life, Jennifer.Barbara: Thanks for having me. That was a lot of fun.Jennie: For our listeners, let's get back to work and finish what matters most.Outro: The hashtag amwriting podcast is produced by Andrew Perilla. Our intro music, aptly titled Unemployed Monday, was written and played by Max Cohen. Andrew and Max were paid for their time and their creative output because everyone deserves to be paid for their [00:46:00] work This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amwriting.substack.com/subscribe

We're talking tattoos and body art this week! You might not have a tattoo, but odds are you've read a few thousand of them, as romance novels love a main character with a message…right on their skin. We talk about some of our favorite tattoo romances, about what tattoos represent, why they're so sexy, and why romance loves a tattoo artist. Every one of these books is a banger…enjoy filling your end of summer TBR with them.Come talk about your favorite romances with tattoos or about romance in general over on our Patreon! You'll get an extra monthly episode from us and access to the incredible readers and brilliant people on the Fated Mates Discord. Learn more at fatedmates.net/patreon.Our next read along, in two weeks, is Sarah's A Rogue By Any Other Name, the first in her casino series. This is one we've gotten a bunch of requests for, and so, it will be our final read along of the season. Get it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books or wherever you get your books.BooksThe Montgomery Ink series by Carrie Ann RyanThe Duke with the Dragon Tattoo by Kerrigan ByrneTo Desire a Devil by Elizabeth HoytThe Magpie Lord by KJ CharlesDaring and the Duke by Sarah MacLeanThese Summer Storms by Sarah MacLeanMerry Inkmas by Talia HibbertRepeat by Kylie ScottWritten on his Skin by Simone StarkThree Dirty Secrets by Nikki SloaneUnder Her Skin by Adriana AndersPermanent Ink by Avon Gale and Piper VaughnSin & Ink by Naima SimoneReaper's Legacy by Joanna WyldeHard as it Gets by Laura KayeNotesTattoos have a long history tangled up with colonization, which is why for a long time they were thought to be stigmatizing. They are definitely more mainstream now, which means tattoo culture is changing which has caused its own clashes, but they also aren't thought of as class markers anymore.All about sextants.Merry Inkmas is actually Talia's second book, her first was Bad for the Boss, which is no longer in print. Jen reviewed both of those for The Book Queen when they were released.Check out the secret tattoos collection on our website.SponsorsEllie Devine, author of The Survival Guide to Alexander McBryde, available in print or ebook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited.E. Kennedy, author of Thornbird, available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books, or wherever you get your books.Harpercollins, publishers of Spellfire by Agatha WIllow, available in print or ebook at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books, or wherever you get your books.The RestFor even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2026/8/10/0847-romance-tattoo If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It's so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates. Beyond your favorite podcast app, you can find us on Instagram, Threads, Blue Sky, Tumblr, and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode, there's no better time than now.

Tune in today as we chat all about the 19 Emmy Nominated Mystery-Thriller/Comedy "Widows Bay". Thanks for listening and don't forget to hit subscribe, leave a 5-star rating and write a review. You can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. *Looking for your next fandom adventure? Whether it's a concert, comic con, Broadway show, sporting event, or the fan experience you've been counting down to for months, we've got you covered. Check out our affiliate partner, Vivid Seats, and grab your tickets through the link in our show notes. Every purchase helps support the podcast at no extra cost to you, and helps us keep bringing you more fun, fandom, friendships, and fangirling. https://mave.ly/fandom-finds/post/vivid-seats *Love books, collectibles, and binge-worthy adaptations? If you're between 18 and 24 years old, Amazon's Prime for Young Adults might be one of the best deals out there. Enjoy a 6-month free trial, discounted membership pricing afterward, fast shipping for your latest book haul, access to Prime Video adaptations, and exclusive deals on merch and collectibles. Whether you're building your TBR pile, hunting for your next fandom obsession, or preparing for your next book release, it's worth checking out. Claim your free trial here: https://amzn.to/3SXMH7s Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, The Fan Girls Podcast may earn a commission from qualifying purchases or eligible sign-ups made through this link at no additional cost to you. Every trial signup helps support the podcast and allows us to continue creating content centered around fun, fandom, friendships, and fangirling. Thank you for supporting the show! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens when one of Greek mythology's greatest warriors becomes the center of a deeply personal love story?In this spoiler-lite Fantasy for the Ages review, Zach takes the lead on Madeline Miller's acclaimed novel The Song of Achilles—a retelling of the story of Achilles and Patroclus set against the gathering storm of the Trojan War.Jim hasn't read this one. In fact, it isn't even on his mountainous TBR! So Zach has a challenge: explain what makes this award-winning novel so beloved—and determine whether there's any chance of convincing his dad to add yet another book to the pile.We discuss:

Send us Fan MailIn Episode 264 of Book Talk Etc., Tina and Hannah tackle the TBR shelf and read books from their personal home libraries in an effort to kick those books off their TBRs. Every month, Tina and Hannah spin the wheel, and randomly select a patron selected prompt. This month, we read books from our TBR shelf that we found intimidating!If you enjoy this commercial-free podcast, consider supporting us on Patreon! Your membership includes access to bonus episodes like What's in the Mailbag, Bookstore Browse: The Handsell, and Book Talk After Dark, invites to monthly community events like Mood Reader Happy Hour, and entry into our private Facebook group and Discord server- all for just $5 a month.Loving LatelyJuley.app (T)The Commons | Rebecca IhimWelly Bandages (H)Latest ReadThe Elementals | Michael McDowell (T)Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow | Jessica Townsend (H)Intimidating BooksThe Lion Women of Tehran | Marjan Kamali (T)The Stationery Shop | Marjan KamaliThe Calamity Club | Kathryn Stockett (H)East of Eden | John Steinbeck (T)East of Eden - Penguin Orange Classic EditionGirl on Girl | Sophie Gilbert (H)Shelf AdditionThe Silent Appeal | Janice Hallett (T)Hive Mind | Allison Gunn (H)If you prefer other shopping options, you can find today's books on Bookshop.org or Blackwell's. Purchasing through these links supports us with a small commission, at no extra cost to you.Support the showLet's Connect... Email us at booktalketc@gmailBTE on YoutubeTina's TikTok , IG @tbretc YT @tbretcHannah's TikTok , IG @hanpickedbooksJonathan IG @infiltrate_jayPodcast IG @booktalketcRenee's Substack Newsletter , IG@Itsbooktalk

We're throwing it back to 2024 for the perfect summer rerelease, Book Nerds!This week, we're bringing back one of our OG bookish chats featuring Zoey from ZozosBookshelf and doing a full deep dive into It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey.But first, Cortney and Mary are checking in with a little summer chaos. We're talking current romance reads, the books living rent-free in our heads, reading slumps, our ever-growing TBRs, reality TV, and somehow the fact that our kids don't understand what life was like when you actually had to put a DVD into a player.Then we jump back into our original conversation with Zoey to talk all things Piper and Brendan.If you love grumpy/sunshine romance, small-town romance, enemies-to-lovers vibes, he falls first, obsessed heroes, spicy romance books, and a FMC who has some serious character growth, this one is for you.Whether It Happened One Summer is one of your favorite Tessa Bailey books or it has been sitting untouched on your TBR, come hang out with us while we revisit the romance, the spice, the fishermen, and all the chaos.Spoiler Warning: We deep dive into the entire book, so if you haven't read It Happened One Summer yet and don't want spoilers, you will want to stop the episode when we give the spoiler warning and the come back afterwards!Grab your favorite snacky snack, your beverage of choice, and come see what the smut we're talking about this week.And as always, slide into our DMs and tell us: Who would YOU have cast as Piper, Brendan, Hannah, and Fox?..Apply to be a Guest on our showSign up for our Substack Newsletter..Support Our Show (May Include Affiliate Links)Amazon Product Links (Books, Shows, Products mentioned)Sponsorship or Ad Affiliate InquiriesWell Read Candle Company - WhatTheSmut10 saves you $$Audible Free TrialKindle Unlimited Free Trial..Where to Find UsWe are the most active on InstagramWhatTheSmutPodcastMarySend us a voice noteWell Read Candle Co10% Off WHATTHESMUT10 Support the show

Today I'm reviewing The Secret Astronomers by Jessica Walker—a visually striking YA novel that turns an old astronomy textbook into the heart of an intimate story about connection, identity, and finding someone who understands you.Set in rural West Virginia, the novel follows two high school pen pals who communicate through notes, drawings, and artwork left inside an 1888 astronomy textbook. Rather than relying on traditional narration, the story unfolds through this epistolary format, allowing us to piece together their lives and relationship through what they choose to share with one another.The combination of handwritten messages, illustrations, and astronomy gives the book such a distinctive personality, making the physical presentation part of the storytelling rather than simply decoration. It's an inventive approach to YA contemporary fiction that makes reading it feel like discovering a private conversation hidden between the pages of an old book.

John Gwynne knows how to go BIG—and his Of Blood and Bone Trilogy takes readers back to the Banished Lands for another sprawling adventure packed with warriors, monsters, massive battles, ancient powers, and plenty of bloodshed!In this spoiler-lite Fantasy for the Ages review, Zach makes the case for why epic fantasy fans should read A Time of Dread, A Time of Blood, and A Time of Courage. What does this trilogy do especially well? How does it build on the world Gwynne created in The Faithful and the Fallen? And are there reasons some fantasy readers might want to skip it?Jim hasn't read Of Blood and Bone yet—but he HAS read and enjoyed all four books of The Faithful and the Fallen. So the big question is: Will Zach's review convince him that this trilogy needs to move up his mountainous TBR?Join us as we discuss:⚔️ John Gwynne's return to the Banished Lands

We love a TBR episode, and even better is a TBR episode when we pick books for each other! Listen in for our selections, and we'll end with what we're reading this week. Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Ann's picks: The God of the Woods by Liz Moore – Long Bright River by Liz Moore The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill – The Woman in the Library in Sulari Gentill – Five Found Dead by Sulari Gentill Enlightenment by Sarah Perry – Charles Dickens books – Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi – The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton Halle's picks: The Briar Club by Kate Quinn – The Empress of Rome series by Kate Quinn – Kate Quinn books Sorry, Bro by Taleen Voskuni – Our Ex's Wedding by Taleen Voskuni Masquerade by O.O. Sangoyomi What We're Reading This Week: Ann: Strange Houses by Uketsu – Strange Buildings by Uketsu Halle: Scandal of the Summer by Alexandra Vasti – Tessa Dare books – Swipe Bite by Alexandra Vasti – Judith McNaught books – Loretta Chase books Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Instagram Well-Read on Bookshop

With thousands of new books published every year, how do you decide what's actually worth reading?In this episode, Goldsboro Books co-founder and literary agent David Headley does the choosing for you, sharing 12 new and upcoming books that have caught his attention. From gripping crime and clever thrillers to ambitious debuts, historical fiction and unforgettable stories from some of the biggest names in publishing right now.Whether you're looking for your next page-turner, want to discover a brilliant new voice or simply need some inspiration for your reading pile, there should be something here to tempt you.The only question is: how many will end up on your TBR pile?Send Me Your Book Confessions — share your favourite books, collecting stories, questions and reactions to episodes.

Premium chapbook magnate Mitch Hull joined me in this episode to talk about all the crazy good books that are releasing this month. It's The ARC Party's Horror TBR series, and in it we talk about twelve amazing August releases. In the episode we also talk about Mitch's recent announcement for his partnership with Shortwave Publishing. Starting in 2027, Shortwave will add Rapture Trade as an imprint of their company, and all trade paperbacks that Mitch acquires will be published via Rapture Trade, which will benefit from Shortwave's recent distribution deal with Simon & Schuster - putting Rapture Trade books on shelves in bookstores in a way that isn't usually possible for a young company like Rapture. We also talked about what Rapture has coming out for chapbooks for the rest of the year, and the roster is pretty insane. Otessa Moshfegh? Holy crap. Definitely check out Rapture's website for what they have going on, and get in on these chapbooks. They're so worth it. I hope you enjoy this TBR, and remember to use the button above to preorder the books in this episode that you're excited for! For the folks who want to watch on YouTube: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thearcparty.com/subscribe

This week on From the Front Porch, it's a New Release Rundown! Annie and Erin share the August releases they're excited about to help you build your TBR. When you purchase or preorder any of the books they talk about, enter the code NEWRELEASEPLEASE at checkout for 10% off your order! To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search episode 584), or download and shop on The Bookshelf's official app: Annie's books Everything That Is Beautiful by Louise Nealon (August 6th, 2026) A Tender Age by Chang-Rae Lee (August 11th, 2026) Crocodilopolis by John Manuel Arias (August 25th, 2026) Erin's books Etna by Paul Yoon Sunlight Finds You by Laura Moriarty Kitten by Stacey Yu  From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf's daily happenings on Instagram and Facebook, and all the books from today's episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com.  A full transcript of today's episode can be found here. Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations.  This week, Annie is reading Wasp's Nest by Kat Stoddard. Erin is listening to Carl's Doomsday Scenario by Matt Dinniman. If you liked what you heard in today's episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch. We're so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week. Our Executive Producers are...Joseph Shorter IV, Beth, Jammie Treadwell, Kimberly, Gene Queens, Stephanie Dean, Linda Lee Drozt, Martha, Nicole Marsee, Wendi Jenkins and Cammy Tidwell.

Dive beneath the waves into one of the most imaginative indie science fiction worlds I've explored this year!

Send us Fan MailWelcome to August, witches. We're starting off this week's episode with our August Tarot forecast asking how you can be more awesome and more efficient this month. Let the cards guide you to a deeper level of self-care.Then we're sharing our latest witchy book recommendations. We're both pretty hardcore nerds when it comes to witchcraft, so we've got a collection of fiction and non-fiction books to make your life more awesome. From house magick to cheese spells to rebellious magical street urchins, we'll help you expand your TBR list.Then, Renee is letting go of guilt around how much fun she has at work, and Louise is taking the first steps in her journey to becoming a morning person. For complete show notes and links, go to awesomeon20.com/episode269Follow Renee on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Renee_awesomeon20/Follow Louise on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Louise_awesomeon20Support the showIf you're able, give this podcast your support by joining the International Coven of Awesomeness on Patreon so we can keep sharing witchy content for that's free for all.Get your free ebook How to Work with the Moon to Get Things Done.Check out the latest workshop offerings from the STC Witchcraft Academy for both online workshops and in-person circles in the Glasgow, Scotland area.Find all your favorite recipes and witch tips at Awesome on 20 Kitchen Magick.Book a tarot reading with Renee at Sagittarian Tarot & Coaching. Join the Moon Magic Membership coven to receiving ongoing support in your witchcraft journey. Join our Coven of Awesomeness Facebook group open to everyone.

Buckle up "Stays" and tune in today as we chat all about the hit Straykids concert documentary "Dominate". Thanks for listening and don't forget to hit subscribe, leave a 5-star rating and write a review. You can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. *Looking for your next fandom adventure? Whether it's a concert, comic con, Broadway show, sporting event, or the fan experience you've been counting down to for months, we've got you covered. Check out our affiliate partner, Vivid Seats, and grab your tickets through the link in our show notes. Every purchase helps support the podcast at no extra cost to you, and helps us keep bringing you more fun, fandom, friendships, and fangirling. https://mave.ly/fandom-finds/post/vivid-seats *Love books, collectibles, and binge-worthy adaptations? If you're between 18 and 24 years old, Amazon's Prime for Young Adults might be one of the best deals out there. Enjoy a 6-month free trial, discounted membership pricing afterward, fast shipping for your latest book haul, access to Prime Video adaptations, and exclusive deals on merch and collectibles. Whether you're building your TBR pile, hunting for your next fandom obsession, or preparing for your next book release, it's worth checking out. Claim your free trial here: https://amzn.to/3SXMH7s Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, The Fan Girls Podcast may earn a commission from qualifying purchases or eligible sign-ups made through this link at no additional cost to you. Every trial signup helps support the podcast and allows us to continue creating content centered around fun, fandom, friendships, and fangirling. Thank you for supporting the show! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What's up, Book Nerds!We finally got to record an episode together in the same room (yes... from a hotel room

We know it is already August, but it feels like we have a stretch of hot, summer days ahead of us. In this bonus episode, we add a few new selections to our TBR list. We love that we each select books the other has not heard of! Listen in to find some of your late summer reads.Here are the books we discuss.Whistler by Ann PatchettLand by Maggie O'FarrellGood Joy, Bad Joy by Mikki BrammerContrapposto by Dave EggersAn Infinite Love Story by Chanel CleetonSocial Animals by Camille PerriYou'll Love It Here by Natalie SueSunrise by Tea ObrehtLet's not forget a bright summer cocktail for your outdoor reading.Peach & Thyme Prosecco Spritz1 oz frozen peach puree4 oz ProseccoSplash of sodaSpring of thymeSounds like dessert in a glass! Enjoy your summer reading!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when the Grim Reaper falls for a children's librarian? Kelly Creagh's adult debut says: absolute chaos, and a whole lot of heart.YA fan-favorite Kelly Creagh (the Nevermore trilogy) makes her adult debut with A Date with Death, a spicy, comedy-forward paranormal rom-com about a Grim Reaper and the sunshine-y librarian who steals his afterlife. In this episode, Kelly talks about jumping from YA to adult romance, writing comedy after years in paranormal horror, and her upcoming Hades and Persephone romantasy retelling — plus she shares the books currently topping her TBR. Perfect for readers who love cozy paranormal rom-coms, monster romance, and stories about finding your process as a writer.

Buckle up fans as we dish and spill the tea on another fun whodunit film wit "Enola Holmes 3". Thanks for listening and don't forget to hit subscribe, leave a 5-star rating and write a review. You can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. *Looking for your next fandom adventure? Whether it's a concert, comic con, Broadway show, sporting event, or the fan experience you've been counting down to for months, we've got you covered. Check out our affiliate partner, Vivid Seats, and grab your tickets through the link in our show notes. Every purchase helps support the podcast at no extra cost to you, and helps us keep bringing you more fun, fandom, friendships, and fangirling. https://mave.ly/fandom-finds/post/vivid-seats *Love books, collectibles, and binge-worthy adaptations? If you're between 18 and 24 years old, Amazon's Prime for Young Adults might be one of the best deals out there. Enjoy a 6-month free trial, discounted membership pricing afterward, fast shipping for your latest book haul, access to Prime Video adaptations, and exclusive deals on merch and collectibles. Whether you're building your TBR pile, hunting for your next fandom obsession, or preparing for your next book release, it's worth checking out. Claim your free trial here: https://amzn.to/3SXMH7s Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, The Fan Girls Podcast may earn a commission from qualifying purchases or eligible sign-ups made through this link at no additional cost to you. Every trial signup helps support the podcast and allows us to continue creating content centered around fun, fandom, friendships, and fangirling. Thank you for supporting the show! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Jennifer E Tirrell, author of the book Jane's Secret.  Jennifer E. Tirrell was orphaned by the age of three, and kinship-adopted. She knows what it means to rise from broken roots into a life of purpose. Now a transparent and encouraging writer and speaker, she uses her personal story to connect deeply with others. With boldness and vulnerability, she invites you to merge your roots, purpose, and blessings — to live all-in.   Her award-winning Children's Picture Book, Little Sprout says Yes! is based on a real one-horned goat who finds home in the family of God. Book One of Pets to the Rescue, a Cousin Crew Series is available now! Written to promote literacy in children, The Apple Butter Adventure is so fun, your kids will want to read it again and again. Finally, her poignant time-split novel, Jane's Secret debuted in 2026. She is a contributing writer to Focus on the Family, Arise Daily Devotions, Guideposts and more.   She is thrilled to have received her crown of white hair and six dear grandchildren to go with it—so far! Jennifer and her husband, Bobby, live life to the fullest in the Coastal Carolinas.   In my book review, I stated Jane's Secret is a dual timeline Christian historical fiction by Jennifer E Tirrell. We quickly meet Jane, a wealthy young woman who stands to inherit a house and land once she marries. But her father dies, her stepfather is mean and greedy, and her life takes a different course. I loved her bold personality despite the limitations set on women of the day.   We also meet modern Kaitlyn who was given an old key that has been passed down through the generations. This key, she is told, will bless her and her posterity. When she finds a letter that gives her more information about the key, she decides to go to England to investigate. What starts out as curiosity is soon laden with romance, mystery, and potential murder.   The romance will keep you smiling. The history will keep you learning. The twists and turns will keep you reading. Definitely add this book to your TBR!   Subscribe to Online for Authors to learn about more great books! https://www.youtube.com/@onlineforauthors?sub_confirmation=1   You can follow Author Jennifer E Tirrell Website: www.writingwithjet.com FB: @jennifer.e.tirrell IG: @jennyisajet LinkedIn: @Jennifer E Tirrell X: @authenticJET   Purchase Jane's Secret on Amazon: Paperback: https://amzn.to/4xbCIec Ebook: https://amzn.to/4eoUAuQ   Teri M Brown, Author and Podcast Host: https://www.terimbrown.com FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor IG: @terimbrown_author X: @terimbrown1   Want to be a guest on Online for Authors? Send Teri M Brown a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/member/onlineforauthors   #jenniferetirrell #janessecret #historicalfiction #christianfiction #terimbrownauthor #authorpodcast #onlineforauthors #characterdriven #researchjunkie #awardwinningauthor #podcasthost #podcast #readerpodcast #bookpodcast #writerpodcast #author #books #goodreads #bookclub #fiction #writer #bookreview *As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Whether you enjoy a character-driven mystery, cozy or suspenseful ride, you're sure to discover something to add to your TBR list in this episode featuring librarians Desirae and Sarah.Books mentioned: Missing by E.A. Jackson, How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin, That's Not My Name by Megan Lally, With My Little Eye and Missing Sister by Joshilyn Jackson, Heartwood by Amity Gaige, Whidbey by T Kira Madden, Kill Your Darlings by Peter Swanson, Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers and Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping on a Dead Man by Jesse Q. Sutanto, and A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny.Find the bonus chapter of That's Not My Name here: https://www.meganlallywrites.com/tnmn-bonus-chapterCheck out books, TV shows and movies at countycat.mcfls.org, wplc.overdrive.com, hoopladigital.com and kanopy.com/en/westallis. For more about WAPL, visit westallislibrary.org.Music: Tim Moor via Pixabay

This week I talk about BTG with a smattering of B&B. The Ones Who Got Away by Roni Loren is a great second chance, Becoming a Vincent by C. M. Owens is a best friends to lover and Slave to Sensation is enemies to lovers in case your TBR needs some new books!! Thanks for listening

Buckle up fans & bring your tissues (and hug your siblings) because we're about to dish & spill the tea on "Voicemails for Isabelle". *Looking for your next fandom adventure? Whether it's a concert, comic con, Broadway show, sporting event, or the fan experience you've been counting down to for months, we've got you covered. Check out our affiliate partner, Vivid Seats, and grab your tickets through the link in our show notes. Every purchase helps support the podcast at no extra cost to you, and helps us keep bringing you more fun, fandom, friendships, and fangirling. https://mave.ly/fandom-finds/post/vivid-seats *Love books, collectibles, and binge-worthy adaptations? If you're between 18 and 24 years old, Amazon's Prime for Young Adults might be one of the best deals out there. Enjoy a 6-month free trial, discounted membership pricing afterward, fast shipping for your latest book haul, access to Prime Video adaptations, and exclusive deals on merch and collectibles. Whether you're building your TBR pile, hunting for your next fandom obsession, or preparing for your next book release, it's worth checking out. Claim your free trial here: https://amzn.to/3SXMH7s Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, The Fan Girls Podcast may earn a commission from qualifying purchases or eligible sign-ups made through this link at no additional cost to you. Every trial signup helps support the podcast and allows us to continue creating content centered around fun, fandom, friendships, and fangirling. Thank you for supporting the show! *Thanks for listening and don't forget to hit subscribe, leave a 5-star rating and write a review. You can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Rom-com author Victoria Lavine joins us to talk enemies-to-lovers banter, writing wedding chaos, and the funniest, freshest romance reads on her TBR.Victoria Lavine, author of Any Trope But You and the upcoming Not That Kind of Proposal, sits down to talk about crafting high-stakes rom-coms, why banter is her favorite thing to write, and the books that made her cackle out loud this year. If you love enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, and grumpy-meets-sunshine energy, this episode is for you.

Have you been longing for a return to classic fantasy—where the hero isn't morally gray, but genuinely strives to do what's right?In this spoiler-lite review, I finally dive into Sheepfarmer's Daughter by Elizabeth Moon, the opening novel in The Deed of Paksenarrion trilogy. This has been one of the biggest gaps in my fantasy reading for years, and after Glenn (The Geeky Hippie) strongly encouraged me to move it to the top of my TBR, I finally gave it a shot.Was he right?Absolutely.Join me as I discuss what makes Paksenarrion such a compelling protagonist, why the military fantasy elements work so well, the classic fantasy atmosphere that made me fall in love with the genre in the first place, and a few reasons why this beloved novel might not be for everyone.In this review:⚔️ Book details and publication history⚔️ Why I finally picked up Elizabeth Moon⚔️ A spoiler-lite plot summary⚔️ Six reasons you may love this novel⚔️ Five reasons it may not be for you⚔️ My final thoughts and whether I'll continue the trilogy.Have you read Sheepfarmer's Daughter? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments—but please keep them spoiler free for those who haven't experienced Paks's journey yet!If you enjoy fantasy, science fiction, and horror book reviews, rankings, discussions, and recommendations, be sure to Like, Subscribe, and ring the notification bell so you don't miss future episodes!Thank you to our amazing Patreon supporters for helping make Fantasy for the Ages possible!: patreon.com/FantasyForTheAges#Fantasy #EpicFantasy #ElizabethMoon #SheepfarmersDaughter #TheDeedOfPaksenarrion #BookReview #FantasyBooks #MilitaryFantasy #ClassicFantasy #FantasyForTheAgesWant to purchase books/media mentioned in this episode?Sheepfarmer's Daughter: t.ly/F5f35Ways to connect with us:Follow Jim/Father on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/13848336-jim-scriven Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/jMWyVJ6qKk Follow us on "X": @Fantasy4theAges Follow us on Blue Sky: @fantasy4theages.bsky.socialFollow us on Instagram: fantasy_for_the_ages Follow us on Mastodon: @FantasyForTheAges@nerdculture.de Email us: FantasyForTheAges@gmail.com Check out our merch: https://www.newcreationsbyjen.com/collections/fantasyfortheagesJim's Microphone: Blue Yeti https://tinyurl.com/3shpvhb4 Jim's Camera: Razer Kito Pro https://tinyurl.com/c873tc2n 0:00 - Opening2:02 - Book Details3:15 - Why Jim Read This4:40 - Spoiler-Lite Summary & Commentary5:56 - Six Reasons You May Love This Novel8:53 - Five Reasons to Avoid This Novel11:38 - Jim's Final Thoughts13:33 - Closing & Wrap-Up————————————————————————————Music and video elements licensed under Envato Elements:https://elements.envato.com/

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Every summer, one question comes up again and again: what Elin Hilderbrand book should I read next? This week, Laura teams up with Julianne Buonocore of Friday Night Readers to answer it once and for all.Laura and Julianne each count down their personal Top 5 Elin Hilderbrand novels — from Nantucket scandals to a St. John getaway gone sideways — then hand over a list of read-alike authors for anyone who's already blown through the backlist. Perfect for beach bag planning, TBR building, or anyone debating where to start with the Queen of Beach Reads.

What's better than talking about great books? Talking about all the great books.  This week, Joe is joined by romance novel matchmaker, bookseller, and creator Destinee for a delightfully bookish conversation that bounces around bookish things everyone can't stop talking about.  Grab your headphones, your library card, and maybe a notebook—you'll definitely leave with a longer TBR.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Who's in this episode:   Destinee - links  Time stamps:  00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 Welcome and Introductions 00:01:52 A chatty episode with Destinee 01:03:55 Wrapping up and outro  Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today's episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy.   Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Buckle up Star Wars Fans as we dish and spill the tea on the hit Star Wars Film " Mandalorian and Grogu". Vivid Seats *Looking for your next fandom adventure? Whether it's a concert, comic con, Broadway show, sporting event, or the fan experience you've been counting down to for months, we've got you covered. Check out our affiliate partner, Vivid Seats, and grab your tickets through the link in our show notes. Every purchase helps support the podcast at no extra cost to you, and helps us keep bringing you more fun, fandom, friendships, and fangirling. Link: Vivid Seats *Love books, collectibles, and binge-worthy adaptations? If you're between 18 and 24 years old, Amazon's Prime for Young Adults might be one of the best fandom deals out there. Enjoy a 6-month free trial, discounted membership pricing afterward, fast shipping for your latest book haul, access to Prime Video adaptations, and exclusive deals on merch and collectibles. Whether you're building your TBR pile, hunting for your next fandom obsession, or preparing for your next book release, it's worth checking out. Claim your free trial here: https://amzn.to/3SXMH7s Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, The Fan Girls Podcast may earn a commission from qualifying purchases or eligible sign-ups made through this link at no additional cost to you. Every trial signup helps support the podcast and allows us to continue creating content centered around fun, fandom, friendships, and fangirling. Thank you for supporting the show! *Thanks for listening and don't forget to hit subscribe, leave a 5-star rating and write a review. You can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Le mix de Marlo dans 103 Klubb le 20 Juin 2026 de 19H à 20H Tracklist: Adip Kiyoi - Hope & Faith *** ShortRound - Bam's Workout *** Nemke - Maia *** SONIN - Next To You *** MaRLo - Feel The Love *** Van Snyder, Serena Bleu, Alexander Popov - You Get What You Give (B Jones Remix) *** Hardwell, MAKJ - Countdown 2026 *** CIElll - Tethered *** Phynn, David Forbes - Lucid *** THOMM, Blasterjaxx - ROM!G *** MatricK - Can't Stop Us Now *** Jochen Miller - Lost Connection (Mark Sherry & Bill Neilson Remix) *** KI/KI - Going Existential In The Rave *** A2A - Bass Is *** Aida Arko - The Art Of Rebirth *** Maddix - Acid For Breakfast *** Oskah - Dirty Romance *** V3NOM, TBR, ILSE - Overloader *** Bonka, Acina - Sound Of The Police

In Booktalks Podcast Episode 108, we're sharing everything we read in June and the books we're hoping to tackle in July!Kayla wraps up an incredible month of reading 11 books, including a deep dive into Maggie Gates' romance universe, while Marisa gives an update on her physical TBR challenge and shares her latest thriller and romance reads.We also discuss Every Summer After, The Deal, The Someday Garden, The Silent Patient, Deep End, upcoming ARCs, Kindle Unlimited favorites, and the books we're most excited to read this month.Whether you're looking for your next romance, thriller, fantasy, or beach read, we've got plenty of recommendations to add to your TBR.Follow Book Talks Podcast on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for more book reviews, reading vlogs, author interviews, and weekly bookish content. Don't forget to join our Fable Book Club and read along with us each month!

Every season we tell ourselves we'll be more selective. Every season publishers respond by announcing another avalanche of books we want to read!In this episode, we look ahead to the second half of 2026, sharing the forthcoming novels, nonfiction, translations, and reissues we're most excited to get our hands on. Along the way we talk about why anticipation is such a pleasurable part of being a reader. Whether you're planning your own reading for the months ahead or simply enjoy hearing two readers get far too excited about books they probably don't have time to read, we hope you'll discover a few titles to add to your ever-growing TBR.2026 Novella Book ClubWe have announced the four novellas we will be reading for The Mookse and Gripes Novella Book Club in 2026!* January: Daisy Miller, by Henry James* April: An Episode in the Life of a Landscape Painter, by César Aira* July: The Hour of the Star, by Clarice Lispector* September: Prelude, by Katherine MansfieldDiscussions will be hosted at The Mookse and the Gripes Discord (see below!).We've got some fantastic author-focused episodes lined up for the foreseeable future, and we want to give you plenty of time to dive in if you'd like to read along with us. These episodes come around every ten episodes, and with our bi-weekly release schedule, you'll have a few months to get ready for each. Here's what we have in store:* Episode 145: Elizabeth Taylor* Episode 155: Naguib Mahfouz* Episode 165: Annie Ernaux* Episode 175: Henry JamesThere's no rush—take your time, and grab a book (or two, or three) so you're prepared for these as they come!Join the Mookse and the Gripes on DiscordWant to share your thoughts on these upcoming authors or anything else we're discussing? Join us over on Discord! It's the perfect place to dive deeper into the conversation—whether you're reading along with our author-focused episodes or just want to chat about the books that are on your mind.We're also just about to read the second novella book club book of 2026: An Episode in the Life of a Landscape Painter, by César Aira, translated by Chris Andrews. It's a fantastic book, and we'd love to have you join the discussion. It's a great space to engage with fellow listeners, share your insights, and discover new perspectives on the books you're reading.Shownotes* Paul: Life and Fate, by Vasily Grossman, translated by Robert Chandler* Trevor: The Girls of Slender Means, by Muriel Spark* Ada, by Mark Haber* We Were Forbidden, by Jacqueline Harpman, translated by Ros Schwartz* Unsayable: A Life in Writing, by Michael Cunningham* Five, by César Aira, translated by Chris Andrews* Bury Your Dead, by Ana Paula Maia, translated by Padma Viswanathan* The Anniversary, by Andrea Bajani, translated by Geoffrey Brock* Life of M, Rachel Cusk* The Song of Stork and Dromedary, by Anjet Daanje, translated by David McKay* Dèy, by Edwidge Danticat* Last Day of a Prior Life, by Andrés Barba, tr. Lisa Dillman* Crossing the Wine-Dark Sea: Journeys Through Ancient Literature, by Emily Wilson* I Liked Rex, by Diane Williams* The Rouse, by China Miéville* Ambivalence: An Education, by Brian Dillon* Dodge City, by Patrick Dewitt* Foam, by Kate Zambreno* Ply, by Hernan Diaz* American Hagwon, Min Jin Lee* Exit Party, by Emily St. John Mandel* Said the Dead, by Doireann Ní Ghríofa* About Looking, by John Berger* Fair Ones: A Double Novel, by Lydia Millet* Vaim Hotel, by Jon Fosse, translated by Damion Searls* Inshallah, Madonna, Inshalla, by Miljenko Jergović, translated by Ellen Elias-Bursać and Mirza Purić* Off the Reservation, by Stephen Graham Jones* Partita, by Barbara Kingsolver* Music Against the Night, by Yiyun Li* Hackenfeller's Ape, by Brigid Brophy* In Transit, by Brigid Brophy* The Rush: California Gold, the Civil War, and the Making of the Modern World, by Nathaniel Philbrick* Morel's Invention, by Adolpho Bioy Casares, translated by Margaret Jull Costa* Anita Brookner: Art and Life, by Hermione Lee* Opus Siniestrus, by Leonora Carrington* Phantom Limb, by Brian Evenson* Doppleganger, by Sam Riviere* Long Wave, by Daisy Jones* Murmurs from the Hills: Rwandan Tales, by Scholastique Mukasonga, translated by Mark Polizzotti* Annie Proulx Stories: New and Selected* I Won't See You Die, by Antonio Muñoz Molina, translated by Curtis Bauer* A Woman of Thirty, by Honoré de Balzac, translated by Jeanine Herman* The Statuary Gardens, by Jacques Abeille, translated by Alex Andriesse* Diary Without Vowels, by Aleksander Wat, translated by Alissa Valles* The Sunday Woman, by Franco Lucentini, translated by William Weaver* The Dead Girl, by Melanie Thernstrom* Rhyming and Necromancy, by Harry Fainlight* The Peacock Garden, by Anita Desai* Notes on Postcards, by Jennifer Croft* On the Calculation of Volume V, by Solvej Balle, translated by Sophia Hersi Smith and Jennifer Russell* Primeval and Other Times, by Olga Tokarczuk, translated by Antonia Lloyd Jones* The Bridge, by Colm Toibin* The Fires of December, by Brandon SandersonThe Mookse and the Gripes Podcast is a bookish conversation hosted by Paul and Trevor. Every other week, we explore a bookish topic and celebrate our love of reading. We're glad you're here, and we hope you'll continue to join us on this literary journey!A huge thank you to those who help make this podcast possible! If you'd like to support us, you can do so via Substack or Patreon. Subscribers receive access to periodic bonus episodes and early access to all new episodes. Plus, each supporter gets their own dedicated feed, allowing them to download episodes a few days before they're released to the public. We'd love for you to check it out! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mookse.substack.com/subscribe

Send us Fan MailIn Episode 259 of Book Talk Etc., Tina and Hannah tackle the TBR shelf by reading through Book of the Month titles that have been on their shelves for more than 2 years.New for July- join our Patreon for access to our Summer Read-a-Thon! Participants read from a set of curated prompts, submit the titles they finish for points, and follow along on a game board as they go patreon.com/booktalketcIf you enjoy this commercial-free podcast, consider supporting us on Patreon! Your membership includes access to bonus episodes like What's in the Mailbag, Bookstore Browse: The Handsell, and Book Talk After Dark, invites to monthly community events like Mood Reader Happy Hour, and entry into our private Facebook group and Discord server- all for just $5 a month.Loving LatelySummer Bucket List (T)Water Table (T)The Crash (H)Maternal Instinct (H)Latest ReadThe Truth About Ruby Cooper | Liz Nugent (T)Sacculina | Phillip Fracassi (H)BOTM BooksBOTM Historical Data BaseNot That I Could Tell | Jessica Strawser (T)You're Invited | Amanda Jayatissa (H)The Joy Luck Club | Amy Tan (T)Once There Were Wolves | Charlotte McConaghy (H)Shelf AdditionDie for Me | Shirlene Obuobi (T)The Missed Connection | Tia Williams (H)If you prefer other shopping options, you can find today's books on Bookshop.org or Blackwell's. Purchasing through these links supports us with a small commission, at no extra cost to you.Support the showLet's Connect... Email us at booktalketc@gmailBTE on YoutubeTina's TikTok , IG @tbretc YT @tbretcHannah's TikTok , IG @hanpickedbooksJonathan IG @infiltrate_jayPodcast IG @booktalketcRenee's Substack Newsletter , IG@Itsbooktalk

Hey HBs! It's part 1 of BY THE HORNS by Ruby Dixon! We're back in this minotaur grave robbing romance series, with a mystery to boot! Here's the deal though: Mel was recently felled by a summer cold and the state of her voice was froggy… if we're being generous. Thankfully, Sabrina swooped in and scheduled a bunch of recordings with some bookish pals to give Mel and her ravished vocal chords a break. So, we're still covering books in series we've recapped before, but the next couple of weeks will be with Sabrina and guests! Today we've got two friends and fellow HBs, from The Busy Romnivores podcast! TBR is on a hiatus right now, so this episode is like a mini reunion! Here are Sabrina, Kristen, and Hayley recapping BY THE HORNS by Ruby Dixon! Also, if you want to hear about the first book in this series, listen to episodes 414 parts 1 & 2 about BULL MOON RISING, which we rereleased in January of this year (2026). Bonus Content: Bull riding jokes, terrible investigations, the definitive definition of "Himbo," and so much more! This Friday on PATREON, Sabrina is telling Mel about the Swanlea Sisters series by Sabrina Jeffries! That historical rabbit hole has been treating S real good.  Want to support the show? Rate and review us on your favorite podcast app! It super helps the algorithm connect us to new listeners.  Credits: Theme Music: Brittany Pfantz  Art: Author Kate Prior (her newest release MATED TO MY EX is out now!!)  Want to tell us a story, ask about advertising, or anything else? Email: heavingbosomspodcast (at) gmail  Follow our socials:  Instagram @heavingbosoms Tiktok @heaving_bosoms  Facebook group: the Heaving Bosoms Geriatric Friendship Cult The above contains affiliate links, which means that when purchasing through them, the podcast gets a small percentage without costing you a penny more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Want to know what kind of reader you are? TAKE OUR QUIZ: https://www.currentlyreadingpodcast.com/quiz   In this episode of Currently Reading, Meredith and Kaytee let listeners take the lead by bringing books they think everyone should read. Every year, the Listener Press episode consistently ranks as one of the favorite episodes of the season. Be prepared to have your TBR explode!   Show notes are time-stamped below for your convenience. Read the transcript of the episode (this link only works on the main site).   0:00 Welcome to Currently Reading 1:38 - Listener Presses 1:51 – Red City by Marie Lu (Sarah) https://bookshop.org/a/79394/9781250885678 5:04 – The Sicilian Inheritance by Jo Piazza (Braden) https://bookshop.org/a/79394/9780593474181 8:46 – Strange Pictures by Uketsu (Sarah) https://bookshop.org/a/79394/9780063433083 11:48 – Bellwether by Connie Willis (Diane) https://bookshop.org/a/79394/9780553562965 16:07 – The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri (Sophie) https://bookshop.org/a/79394/9780593128176 19:38 – Cascade Failure by L.M. Sagas (Dana) https://bookshop.org/a/79394/9781250871251 22:26 – What We Talk About When We Talk About Dumplings by John Lorinc (Gail) https://bookshop.org/a/79394/9781552454527 26:06 – Evening Class by Maeve Binchy (Molly) https://bookshop.org/a/79394/9780385341806 30:39 – Eleanor of Avignon by Elizabeth Delozier (Sidra) https://bookshop.org/a/79394/9780593475058 33:37 – Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick (Liza) https://bookshop.org/a/79394/9781596438026 36:33 – Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez (Jessica) https://bookshop.org/a/79394/9781419735219 39:00 – Atomic Love by Jennie Fields (Rachel) https://bookshop.org/a/79394/9780593085349 41:29 – The Sunlight Pilgrims by Jenni Fagan (Tyler) https://bookshop.org/a/79394/9780553418897 44:55 – The Rage of Plum Blossoms by Christine Whitehead (Monica) https://www.amazon.com/Rage-Plum-Blossoms-Christine-Whitehead/dp/1537338579  47:43 – That's What Friends Are For by Wade Rouse (Kristin) https://bookshop.org/a/79394/9781525800054 50:09 – The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner (Kelsey) https://bookshop.org/a/79394/9780062642967 54:34 – Before We Go 56:20 – Wrap-Up   #books #reading #currentlyreading #podcast #currentreads ❤️ Support Us: Become a Bookish Friend on Patreon | https://patreon.com/currentlyreadingpodcast  Grab Some Merch on Zazzle | http://www.zazzle.com/store/currentlyreading Shop Bookshop dot org | https://bookshop.org/shop/currentlyreading Bookish Friends Receive: The Indie Press List with a curated list of five books hand sold by the indie of the month. July's IPL is brought to you by our new anchor store, Booktenders in Barboursville, West Virginia. Love and Chili Peppers with Kaytee and Rebekah - romance lovers get their due with this special episode focused entirely on the best selling genre fiction in the business All Things Murderful with Meredith and Elizabeth - special content for the scary-lovers, brought to you with the behind-the-scenes insights of an independent bookseller From the Editor's Desk with Kaytee and Bunmi Ishola - a quarterly peek behind the curtain at the publishing industry The Bookish Friends Facebook Group - where you can build community with bookish friends from around the globe as well as our hosts Connect With Us: The Show:  Instagram | https://instagram.com/currentlyreadingpodcast Website | https://currentlyreadingpodcast.com/ Email | hello@currentlyreadingpodcast.com Substack | https://currentlyreadingpodcast.substack.com/ Youtube | https://www.youtube.com/@currentlyreadingpodcast Threads | https://www.threads.net/@currentlyreadingpodcast The Hosts and Regulars:  Meredith | https://instagram.com/meredithmondayschwartz Kaytee | https://instagram.com/notesonbookmarks Mary | https://instagram.com/maryreadsandsips Roxanna | https://instagram.com/roxannathereader Production and Editing:  Megan Phouthavong Evans | https://instagram.com/mostofmegansreads

A little mid-summer check-in from your book besties! ☀️

FROM TODAY'S RECAP: - Shop Amazon* via TBR's Storefront *Affiliate link Note: We provide links to specific resources; this is not an endorsement of the entire website, author, organization, etc. Their views may not represent our own. SHOW NOTES: - Follow The Bible Recap: Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube - Follow Tara-Leigh Cobble: Instagram - Read/listen on the Bible App or Dwell App - Learn more at our Start Page - Become a RECAPtain - Shop the TBR Store PARTNER MINISTRIES: D-Group International Israelux The God Shot TLC Writing & Speaking DISCLAIMER: The Bible Recap, Tara-Leigh Cobble, and affiliates are not a church, pastor, spiritual authority, or counseling service. Listeners and viewers consume this content on a voluntary basis and assume all responsibility for the resulting consequences and impact.

FROM TODAY'S RECAP: - The Bible Recap - Day 130 - TBR on YouTube Note: We provide links to specific resources; this is not an endorsement of the entire website, author, organization, etc. Their views may not represent our own. SHOW NOTES: - Follow The Bible Recap: Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube - Follow Tara-Leigh Cobble: Instagram - Read/listen on the Bible App or Dwell App - Learn more at our Start Page - Become a RECAPtain - Shop the TBR Store PARTNER MINISTRIES: D-Group International Israelux The God Shot TLC Writing & Speaking DISCLAIMER: The Bible Recap, Tara-Leigh Cobble, and affiliates are not a church, pastor, spiritual authority, or counseling service. Listeners and viewers consume this content on a voluntary basis and assume all responsibility for the resulting consequences and impact.

FROM TODAY'S RECAP: - Video: Model of Solomon's Temple - Video: A'in Dara Temple in Syria (before/after air strikes) - TBR on YouTube Note: We provide links to specific resources; this is not an endorsement of the entire website, author, organization, etc. Their views may not represent our own. SHOW NOTES: - Follow The Bible Recap: Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube - Follow Tara-Leigh Cobble: Instagram - Read/listen on the Bible App or Dwell App - Learn more at our Start Page - Become a RECAPtain - Shop the TBR Store PARTNER MINISTRIES: D-Group International Israelux The God Shot TLC Writing & Speaking DISCLAIMER: The Bible Recap, Tara-Leigh Cobble, and affiliates are not a church, pastor, spiritual authority, or counseling service. Listeners and viewers consume this content on a voluntary basis and assume all responsibility for the resulting consequences and impact.