Episodes

Jayda Justus recommends books for gift giving this holiday. Her recommendations: Favorite Fiction: Maria: A Novel of Maria von Trapp by Michelle Moran What the Mountains Remember by Joy Callaway Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear Evelyne Redfern series by Julia Kelly Shogun by James Clavell The Turtle House by Amanda Churchill London or New York by Edward Rutherfurd A Woman of Intelligence by Karin Tanabe Only the Beautiful by Susan Meissner Presidential or First Lady history buff: The O...

In this interview, I chat with Marybeth about Every Moment Since , the inspiration for this book, her book dedication, society's current obsession with true crime, changing agents due to writing this book, how she chose who would tell the story, pouring her heart and soul into this one, her title and cover, and much more. Marybeth's recommended reads are: The Devil at His Elbow by Valerie Bauerlein What in the World?! by Leanne Morgan Want to know which new titles are publishing in January - May...

In this episode, Kelly and I chat about our favorite books that published in July through early October 2024. Our shared top reads: The Wedding People by Alison Espach We Solve Murders by Richard Osman The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman Kelly’s remaining top reads: The Same Bright Stars by Ethan Joella Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder by Kerryn Mayne The Best Lies by David Ellis Worst Case Scenario by T.J. Newman The Axeman’s Carnival by Catherine Chidgey The Borrowed Life ...

In this interview, I chat with Elly Griffiths about The Man in Black , how this group of short stories came into being, her favorite story in the collection, what surprised her the most when writing them, how the stories are ordered, her covers in the U.K. and the U.S., her work in translation, and much more. Elly's recommended reads are: One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter? by Nicci French Babel by R. F. Kuang Want to know which new titles are publishing in January ...

Kelly Hooker joins me for the November's Real Time Reading episode where we highlight our current, past and upcoming reads. Kelly’s Selections: Last: The Favorites by Layne Fargo A Very Bad Thing by J.T. Ellison Now: The Dollhouse Academy by Margarita Montimore The Dark Hours by Amy Jordan Next: The Fisherman’s Gift by Julia R. Kelly T he Quiet Librarian by Allen Eskens DNFs or Didn't Like: The Garden by Nick Newman The Family Inside by Katie Garner Tilt by Emma Pate Book Mail Highlights : All T...

In this interview, I chat with Sy Montgomery about What the Chicken Knows , her title and cover, why she loves chickens so much, what she wants her readers to take away from this book, how each flock has its own vibe, and much more. Sy's recommended reads are: Playing Possum: How Animals Understand Death by Susana Monso Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton Want to know which new titles are publishing in January - May of 2025? Check out our third Literary Lookbook which contains a comprehensive but not e...

In this interview, I chat with Marissa Stapley about The Lightning Bottles , her musical muses for Jane and Elijah, including a road trip component in her story, how she approached writing about the drug use of the era, determining who tells the story and why she chose who she did, and much more. Marissa's recommended reads are: Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang Want to know which new titles are publishing in January - May of 2025? Check out our third ...

For today’s episode, I am running a Chapters and Chats conversation with Chris Whitaker about All the Colors of the Dark . Chapters and Chats is run by Kelly of @kellyhook.readsbooks and Ivana of @beachesbooksnbubbles. You can contact either one of them to be added to their list for a particular chat. Check out their Instagram accounts to learn more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this interview, I chat with Kirsty Greenwood about The Love of My Afterlife , how popular the romance genre currently is, romance tropes and including them in her book, her favorite trope, her U.S. and U.K. covers, being selected as the GMA July pick, the screen adaptation, and much more. Kirsty's recommended reads are: Under Your Spell by Laura Wood How to End a Love Story by Yulia Huang Join my Patreon to support the production of my podcast. Other ways to support the podcast can be found ...

In this interview, I chat with Lynda Cohen Loigman about The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern , the familial inspirations for this book, her title and stunning cover, including humor into the narrative, how hard she worked to get her characters' voices right, the research she conducted, The Thursday Authors, and much more. Lynda's recommended reads are: The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo The Wedding People by Alison Espach Four Squares by Bobby Finger Join my Patreon to support the production of my podca...

Kelly Hooker joins me for the October's Real Time Reading episode where we highlight our current, past and upcoming reads. Kelly’s Selections: Last: Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister Now: Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley The Small and the Mighty by Sharon McMahon Next: The Family Inside by Katie Garner One Good Thing by Georgia Hunter DNFs or Didn't Like: Isola by Allagra Goodman Clever Little Thing by Helena Eschlin Book Mail Highl...

Mary Webbey O'Malley and Pamela Klinger-Horn join me to recommend their favorites reads of Fall 2024. Mary's selections: Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors Rejection by Tony Tulathimutte Eden Undone by Abbott Kahler The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Loigman Remember You Will Die by Eden Robbins American Rapture by CJ Leede Libby Lost and Found by Stephanie Booth Hate Follow by Erin Quinn-Kong Life's Short, Talk Fast bby Ann Hood The Serviceberry by Robin Kimmermer The Hidden Life of Trees Illu...

In this interview, I chat with Kimberly Brock about The Fabled Earth , how she decided to write about Cumberland Island and how she created her characters, building a strong sense of place, looking back on history through a 2024 lens, what makes us human, her cover and title, and much more. Kimberly's recommended reads are: Circe by Madeline Miller Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver Join my Patreon to support the production of my podcast. Other ways to support the podcast can be found here ...

In this episode, Kelly and I chat about our favorite books that published in April through June 2024. Our shared top reads: How To Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley Long Time Gone by Charlie Donlea Kelly’s remaining top reads: The Sicilian Inheritance by Jo Piazza Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez Long After We Are Gone by Terah Shelton Harris I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue Assassins Anonymous by Rob Hart Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kleiw...

In this interview, I chat with Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding about Elizabeth of East Hampton , how they decided to write together, modernizing Jane Austen and the pressure of updating such an iconic author's works, how writing for television is different than writing novels, how they decide which book to tackle and when, and much more. Audrey's recommended reads are: You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by Victoria Schwab The Paradise Problem by Christina L...

In this interview, I chat with Gill Paul about Scandalous Women , how she decided to write about these two women and why she paired them together, what surprised her the most when writing this one, her fascinating research, the changes these authors made in the publishing industry, and much more. Gill's recommended reads are: Songs in Ursa Major by Emma Brodie The Last Light Over Oslo by Alix Rickloff The Women by Kristin Hannah Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my Summer Reading Gu...

In this interview, I chat with Alison Espach about The Wedding People , her title and cover, the inspiration for this novel, the role a "stranger" plays in a story, the hardest thing about writing the book, and much more. Alison's recommended reads are: Green Dot by Madeleine Gray Big Swiss by Jen Beagin Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my Summer Reading Guide Preview or my complete printable 12-page 2024 Summer Reading Guide with 45 new titles vetted by me that will provide great ...

In this interview, I chat with Jennifer Mathieu about The Faculty Lounge , how she began writing this book, writing an adult novel versus a YA book and how the two differ, weaving the characters together, what surprised her the most when writing this one, her fun cover, and much more. Jennifer's recommended reads are: Rift by Cait West I'm Wearing Tunics Now by Wendi Aarons Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my Summer Reading Guide Preview or my complete printable 12-page 2024 Summer...

In this interview, I chat with Flynn Berry about Trust Her , why she returned to writing about Tessa and Marian, creating such a strong sense of place, focusing on motherhood, her title and cover, her writing process, Northern Spy 's screen adaptation, Reese's Lit Up program, and much more. Flynn's recommended reads are: Greta & Valdin by Rebecca K. Reilly Roman Stories by Jhumpa Lahiri Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my Summer Reading Guide Preview or my complete printable 12-pag...

In this interview, I chat with Laura Wood about Under Your Spell , writing an adult novel, how she wrote this one, her title and cover, how writing adult novels varies from Young Adult and children's books, her title and cover, and much more. Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my Summer Reading Guide Preview or my complete printable 12-page 2024 Summer Reading Guide with 45 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this summer. Want to know which new titles are pu...

In this interview, I chat with Kristy Woodson Harvey about A Happier Life , her title and cover, why this is a very personal story for her, tackling a dual timeline story, unearthing her feelings about traditions, her next book, and much more. Kristy's recommended reads are: Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan A Novel Summer by Jamie Brenner Seven Summer Weekends by Jane L. Rosen The Summer Pact by Emily Giffin A Wedding at Lake Como by Jennifer Probst Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews Loo...

In this interview, I chat with Julie Satow about When Women Ran Fifth Avenue , deciding to write about these women, her research, getting the cover right, how her title came about, and much more. Julie's recommended reads are: Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan All the Summers in Between by Brooke Lea Foster Seven Summer Weekends by Jane L. Rosen Anna Bright Is Hiding Something by Susie Orman Schnall Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my Summer Reading Guide Preview or my complete pr...

In this interview, I chat with Laura Hankin about One-Star Romance , setting the book over a longer period of time than most rom-coms, the publishing world as a backdrop, writing a rom-com versus women's fiction, and much more. Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my Summer Reading Guide Preview or my complete printable 12-page 2024 Summer Reading Guide with 45 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this summer (free to paying patrons). Want to know which new tit...

In this interview, I chat with Clare Pooley about How to Age Disgracefully , including a memorable dog in this book, how readers do not like dogs to die in books, Iona Iverson's various covers and titles, the easiest and hardest characters to write in this one, her research into gang behavior, and much more. Clare's recommended reads are: Weyward by Emilia Hart You Are Here by David Nicholls Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my Summer R...