General Episodes

In this episode, Kelly and I chat about our favorite books that published in January through March 2026. Our shared top reads: Good People by Patmeena Sabit Her Last Breath by Taylor Adams Wait for Me by Amy Jo Burns Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser Upward Bound by Woody Brown Kelly’s remaining top reads: Murder Your Darlings by Jenna Blum My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney How to Get Away With Murder by Rebecca Philipson Where The Wildflowers Grow by Terah Shelton Harris A Good Anima...

Mary Webber O'Malley and Pamela Klinger-Horn join me to recommend their favorites reads of the second quarter of 2026. Mary’s Titles: April Everything has Happened by T. Greenwood Love & Other Monsters by Emily Franklin Moonshine Women by Michelle Collins Anderson The Drop by SR Masters Go Gentle by Maria Semple Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth May Homebound by Portia Elan American Rambler by Isaac Fitzgerald The Foursome by Christina Baker Kline Take Me With You by Steven Rowley June Mari...

Kelly joins me for March's Real Time Reading episode where we discuss our current, past, and upcoming reads. Kelly's Selections: Last: Start at the End by Emma Grey The Fine Art of Lying by Alexandra Andrews Now: Keep Them Close by David Ellis Leave and Come Back by Lavanya Lakshminarayan Next: City of Widows by Nadia Hashimi Time to Burn by Ellery Lloyd DNFs: None Book Mail highlights: The Brunswick by Callie Murray In Deep Water: A True Story of Sharks, Survival, and Courage by Michae...

Kelly joins me for February's Real Time Reading episode where we discuss our current, past, and upcoming reads. Kelly's Selections: Last: Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth So, I Met This Guy by Alexandra Potter Now: Good Joy, Bad Joy by Mikki Bramer The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff Next: Liberty Street by Heather Marshall Sublimation by Isabel J. Kim Didn't Work/DNFs: Love by the Book by Jessica George Book Mail highlights: Everything was Beautiful and Nothing Hurts by Ben Reeves 138 Main by ...

Kelly joins me for January's Real Time Reading episode where we discuss our current, past, and upcoming reads. Kelly's Selections: Last: Upward Bound by Woody Brown That’s Not How it Happened by Craig Thomas Now: Love by the Book by Jessica George Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke Next: Villa Coco by Andrew Sean Greer The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke DNFs: The Survivor by Andrew Reid Book Mail highlights: The One Day You Were My Husband by Rosie Walsh A Fortune of Sand by Ruta Se...

Mary Webber O'Malley and Pamela Klinger-Horn join me to recommend their favorites reads of the first quarter of 2026. Mary’s titles January: All The Little Houses by May Cobb Skylark by Paula McLain The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave February: Imposter by LJ Ross Saoirse by Charleen Hurtubise More than Enough by Anna Quindlen So Old So Young by Grant Ginder It's Not Her by Mary Kubica March : Wait For Me by Amy Jo Burns Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser Bloom by Robbie Couch Murder at 30...

In this episode, Kelly Hooker and I discuss our top reads of 2025. Our Top Shared Reads: Dead Money by Jacob Kerr This American Woman by Zarna Garg The Correspondent by Virginia Evans The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Majumdar Kelly’s Remaining Selections: Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy The Girls Who Grew Big by Leila Mottley Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall Slanting Towards the Sea by Lidija Hilje Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild The...

Jayda Justus of The History Mom recommends books for gift giving this holiday. Favorite Fiction: ● Nostalgic reading - The Star of Camp Greene by Joy Callaway ● Old favorites made new - The Gatsby Gambit by Claire Anderson Wheeler, The Worlds of Jane Austen: The Influences and Inspiration Behind the Novels by Helena Kelly, and Jane Austen’s Fashion Bible by Ros Ballaster ● Old favorite/new favorite pairing - Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell and The Jackal’s Mistress by Chris Bohjalian....

Kelly joins me for October's Real Time Reading episode where we discuss our current, past, and upcoming reads. Kelly's Selections: Last: The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow Dominion by Addie E. Citchens Now: Wait for Me by Amy Jo Burns Bone Valley by Gilbert King Next: Good People by Patmeena Sabit Scavengers by Katherine Boland DNFs: Warning Signs by Tracy Sierra Book Mail highlights: The Astral Library by Kate Quinn Ruins by Lily Brooks-Dalton Cindy's Selections: Last: Yesteryear by Ca...

In this episode, Kelly and I chat about our favorite books that published in July through September 2025. Our shared top reads: Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild Culpability by Bruce Holsinger Slanting Towards the Sea by Lidija Hilje The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey The Killer Question by Janice Hallett Kelly’s remaining top reads: Guess Again by Charlie Donlea The Grand Paloma Resort by Cleyvis Natura Life & Death & Giants by Ron Rindo Everyone Is Lying to You by Jo Piazza D...

In this interview, I chat with Pamela Lamp about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Do the Next New Thing, how she came up with the ideas for her book, writing a book, how hard it can be to make friends as an adult, her blog Who I Met Today, and much more. Pam's recommended reads are: Let's Call Her Barbie by Renee Rosen One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune Thanks so much to those of you who have donated to the show. Donate to the podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Venmo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Want to...

Kelly Hooker joins me for the September's Real Time Reading episode where we highlight our current, past and upcoming reads. Kelly’s Selections: Last: A Guardian and a Thief by Megan Majumdar A Good Animal by Sara Mauer Now: Indian Country by Shoba Rao Warning Signs by Tracy Sierra Next: The Sunshine Man by Emma Stonex The Exes by Leodora Darlington DNFs or Didn't Like: Adrift by Will Dean Book Mail Highlights: The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave Skylark by Paula McLain Cindy's Sel...

Kelly Hooker joins me for the August's Real Time Reading episode where we highlight our current, past and upcoming reads. Kelly’s Selections:Last: The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey 59 Minutes by Holly Seddon Now: The Tragedy of True Crime by John J. Lennon The Odds of You by Kate Dramis Next: The Mad Wife by Meagan Church A Good Animal by Sara Mauer DNFs or Didn't Like: Saltcrop by Yume Kitasei Book Mail Highlights: The Day I Lost You by Ruth Mancini Where the Wildflowers Grow by T...

In this episode, Kelly and I chat about our favorite books that published in April through June 2025. Our shared top reads: The Correspondent by Virginia Evans This American Woman by Zarna Garg My Friends by Fredrik Backman It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan Kelly’s remaining top reads: Abigail & Alexa save the Wedding by Lian Dolan The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff Detective Aunty by Uzma Jalaluddin The Names by Florence Knapp The Summer We Ran by Audrey Ingram T...

Mary Webber O'Malley and Pamela Klinger-Horn join me to recommend their favorites reads of the third quarter of 2025. Pamela's Selections: July A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst Typewriter Beach by Meg Waite Clayton The Harvey Girls by Juliette Fay Ashes to Ashes by Thomas Maltman August Joy Moody Is Out of Time by Kerryn Mayne Just Another Dead Author by Katarina Bivald The Lies They Told by Ellen Marie Wiseman Destroy This House by Amanda Uhle September Life and Death and Giants by Ron Rin...

Kelly Hooker joins me for June's Real Time Reading episode where we highlight our current, past and upcoming reads. Kelly’s Selections: Last: Everything is TB The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection by John Green Everything is Beautiful and Everything Hurts by Josie Shapiro Now: Culpability by Bruce Holsinger Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir Next: What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon Buckeye by Patrick Ryan DNFs or Didn't Like: Sunburned by Katherine Wood Book M...

Kelly Hooker joins me for the May Real Time Reading episode where we highlight our current, past, and upcoming reads. Kelly’s Selections: Last: The Grand Paloma Resort by Cleyvis Natura When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy Now: Four Mothers by Abigail Leonard Silver Elite by Dani Francis Next: Far & Away by Amy Poeppel Sunburned by Katherine Wood DNFs or Didn't Like: Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson Book Mail Highlights : Battle of the Bookstores by Ali Brady The...

Friends & Fiction authors Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, Kristy Woodson Harvey, and Patti Callahan Henry join me to chat about celebrating their fifth anniversary. We discuss how the group formed originally, centering independent bookstores on their platform, impact of Friends & Fiction on their writing, how inclusive they are, how they handle disagreements, and more. Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page ⁠⁠2025 Winter Reading Guide⁠⁠ with 45 new titles vetted...

Kelly Hooker joins me for the March's Real Time Reading episode where we highlight our current, past and upcoming reads. Kelly’s Selections: Last: Slanting Towards the Sea by Lidija Hilje King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby Now: The River Is Waiting by Wally Lamb This American Woman: A One-in-a Billion Memoir by Zarna Garg Next: The Midnight Estate by Kelly Rimmer The Other Side of Now by Paige Harbison DNFs or Didn't Like: Notes on Infinity by Austin Taylor The Marigold Cottage Murder Collecti...

In this episode, Kelly and I chat about our favorite books that published in January through March 2025. Our shared top reads: Dead Money by Jakob Kerr Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson Kelly’s remaining top reads: More or Less Maddy by Lisa Genova Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy The Favorites by Layne Fargo Dream State by Eric Puchner Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley The Snowbirds by Christina Clancey The Quiet Librarian by Allen Eskens The Moth...

Mary Webber O'Malley and Pamela Klinger-Horn join me to recommend their favorites reads of the second quarter of 2025. Pamela's selections: April: I See You've Called in Dead by John Kenney May: Speak to Me of Home by Jeanine Cummins Shop Girls by Jessica Anya Blau The River Is Waiting by Wally Lamb It's a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough June: The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark Far and Away by Amy Poeppel Hazel Says No by Jessica Berger ...

Kelly Hooker joins me for the March's Real Time Reading episode where we highlight our current, past and upcoming reads. Kelly’s Selections: Last: Too Old for This by Samantha Downing The Correspondent by Virginia Evans Now: Notes on Infinity by Austin Taylor Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds by Allison Brennan Next: Slanting Towards the Sea by Lidija Hilje The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb DNFs or Didn't Like: The Compound by Aisling Rawle Book Mail Highlights: Everyone is Lying to You by ...

Kelly Hooker joins me for the February's Real Time Reading episode where we highlight our current, past and upcoming reads. Kelly’s Selections: Last: Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild Nesting by Roisin O’Donnell Now: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by Jessica Guerrieri The Names by Florence Knapp Next: What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown The Compound by Aisling Rawle DNFs or Didn't Like: None Book Mail Highlights: Home of the American Circus by Allison Larkin The Girls Who ...

Kelly Hooker joins me for the January's Real Time Reading episode where we highlight our current, past and upcoming reads. Kelly’s Selections: Last: Any Trope But You by Victoria Lavine Penitence by Kristen Koval Now: The House of My Mother: A Daughter’s Quest for Freedom by Shari Franke Dream State by Eric Puchner Next: Our Last Resort by Clemence Michallon The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett DNFs or Didn't Like: The Antidote by Karen Russell Book Mail Highlights: Finding Grace ...