Karla and Alex share what their listeners/followers are listening to, and pretty much stay on track on this episode! Let us know if you love or hate the focus on this episode!

What You've Been Reading: Andee is re-reading Fourth Wing and Iron Flam in anticipation of Onyx Storm release

Bri is reading Kingdon of Ash from TOG series

@Flippingpages10 is reading Butter, by Asako Yuzuki

@Ghentontheblock is reading The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore, finished T Will of the Many, Heir, and The Dryad Storm (final book in black witch series) Books discussed by Karla and Alex: Anita de Monte Laughs Last, by Xochitl Gonzalez

Where The Forest Meets the Stars, by Glendy Vanderah

A Welcome Reunion, by Lucinda Berry

Don't Let Her Stay, by Nicola Sanders

So Thirsty, by Rachel Harrison

Lovers at the Museum, by Isabel Allende

Let us know what you've been reading!

Editing Credit: Kelly Shook

Music Credit: Brisket Taco by Cumbia Deli

Karla and Alex start their podcasting year in 2025 by talking about the medicinal uses of garlic (obvioulsy), as well as discussing reading goals or the lack thereof. We discuss the books we've been reading, as well as the books we've been having trouble reading, and Karla has a genious recommendation for those that can't read long-form books (which Leigh also discussed in Episode 11).

Books discussed:

There are Rivers in the Sky, by Elif Shafak Love, Holly, by Emily Stone Book 4 The Dark Tower, by Stephen King A Sunny Place for Shady People, by Mariana Enriquez Flock, by Kate Stewart The True Love Experiment, by Christina Lauren So Thirsty, by Rachel Harrison Anita de Monte Laughs Last, by Xochitl Gonzalez The Starless Sea, by Erin Morgenstern

Also referenced:

The Island of Missing Trees, by Elif Shafak The Underground Railroad, by Colson Whitehead

Happy Reading!

Editing credit: Kelly Shook

Music credit: Aurora on the Boulevard by National Sweetheart

We open with the word that makes Alex uncomfortable and she can't even type out. We talk about a new Christmas experience Alex discovered through holiday romances. Karla is traumatized by her book choice. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Also: confirming that quotidian IS an English word.

Books discussed:

• The Christmas Tree Farm, by Laurie Gilmore
• Beautiful World Where Are You, by Sally Rooney
• All I Want is You, by Falon Ballard
• Valentine, by Elizabeth Wetmore (sexual assault and racism trigger warnings)
• Meave Fly, by CJ Leede (all the trigger warnings)
• There Are Rivers in the Sky, by Elif Shafak (book I couldn't think about when discussing this book is Cloud Cuckoo Land)
• Maggie's Grave, by David Sodergren

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Editing by Kelly Shook

Music Credit: Apollo by Patrick Patrikios

We explore a shorter format - let us know what you think! Karla explores romance short stories, and Alex talks about her reading funk.

Books discussed:

Planes, Trains, and all the Feels, by Livy Hart

The Life Impossible, by Matt Haig

The Christmas Cookie Wars, by Eliza Evans

Hello Beautiful , by Ann Napolitano

Improbable Meet Cute series (Amazon series)

Under the Mistletoe Amazon Series (incorrectly referenced as Cozy Sweater Series, which was last year's series)

In a Holidaze, by Christina Lauren

The Murmur of Bees, by Sofia Segovia

The Will of the Many, by James Islington

The Dark Tower series, by Stephen King

Chronicle of a Death Foretold, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, by V.E. Schwab

Editing credit: Kelly Shook

Music credit: Sunset Dream by Cheel

Join us as we enjoy the culinary delicacy that is a pumpkin seed, while we discuss the social etiquette of listening to audio books in public, and how French silk pie + banana cream pie = chefs kiss! Oh and we discuss some books, too!

Books discussed:

• The Haunting of Alejandra, by V. Castro
• We Three Kings, by Kristen Bailey
• Love You a Latke, by Amanda Elliot
• Green Lights, by Matthew McConaughy
• The Girl With the Louding Voice, by Abi Dare
• The Fall and The Night, by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan
• Snow if Falling, by Sarah Bennett

Editing by Kelly Shook

Music: Brisket Taco by Cumbia Deli

We check in on our buddy reads, discuss our current reads, Alex begs for attention from listeners, Karla short circuits, and we enlist the public in a search for a long lost book by Gay Talese.

Books discussed:

• You Like it Dark, by Stephen King
• This Time Next Year, by Sophie Cousens (small spoiler)
• A Ghost of a Chance, by Brittany Kelley
• The Strain by Guillermo del Toro & Chuck Hogan
• Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
• The Pit and the Box short story series by Guillermo del Toro & Chuck Hogan (all the spoilers)
• Daughter of fire by Sofia Robleda

Editing Credit: Kelly Shook

Music Credit: Apollo by Patrick Patrikios

Although not strictly a Halloween episode, Karla does share some of her most favorite spooky reads, and Alex shares a couple of her favorite fall reads. In addition to discussing the books we've been reading, we dive into rollercoasters and the book spine debate: to crack or not to crack?

Apologies for all the typing background noise in this episode and the last...we're slowly figuring this out! Books mentioned or discussed:

The Paris Novel, by Ruth Reichchl

The Sun Down Motel, by Simone St. James

Full Dark No Stars, by Stephen King

Everything is Eventual, by Stephen King

City Baker's Guide to Country Living, by Louise Miller

Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe, by Heather Webber

The Berry Pickers, by Amanda Peters

Twisted Lies, Ana Huang

Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay⁠Daughter of Fire, by Sofia Robleda⁠⁠It, by Stephen King

Link of all books discussed Editing Credit: Kelly Shook

Music Credit: Marimba Chill by Jimena Contreras

Trigger warnings: suicide ideation and infertility, death of spouse and grief.

We open with a discussion of Ben, J-Lo and Matt Damon, and it just gets better from there! We revisit our youth, talk about the dangers people face when crossing the border, announce new buddy reads, discuss two different books with death-bed promises (no bueno!), and touch on the privilege of being able to jet off when things get tough. Alex also discusses what she looked forward to at the end of a week when she was deep in the baby days.

Books discussed:

• Beneath the Lemon Trees, by Emma Burstall

• Apprentice to the Villain, by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
• Lute, by Jennifer Thorne
• The Wedding People, by Alison Espach (small spoiler)
• American Dirt, by Jeanine Cummins
• Assistant to the Villain, by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Editing credit: Kelly Shook Music credit: Summer Somewhere in Cuba by Cumbia