It’s time for our best books of the year episode! We also have an announcement about the podcast and Roni has a new book coming out. Join us for the end-of-the-year fun! Highlights: An announcement about the podcastNoticing the themes of our favorite books this yearThe genres that worked and didn’t work for us this yearRoni loves a book statistic and she found some surprises about her reading life this yearOur favorite romancesDawn’s dark darknessYes, Roni uses quarter starsBooks that speak...

Today, we welcome Sierra Godfrey, author of A Very Typical Family, to talk about Women’s Fiction. Is it a genre? What does that category mean? Can it have romance in it? Does it have to have a certain kind of ending? We answer those questions and more. Then we’re giving our best women’s fiction recommendations! Highlights: Something in Sierra’s author bio already has Dawn nervousThe challenge of writing sibling stories as an only childWomen’s Fiction and what does that mean exactlyRoni can’t...

Episode Summary:It’s that time of year again! Light the pumpkin-scented candle, get a bowl of your favorite Halloween candy, and turn on a stormy night soundtrack to set the mood. Today, we’re bringing you the best scary (from Roni) and gently spooky (from Dawn) things we’ve read, watched, and listened to lately. Highlights: Why Dawn can’t go to the movies in OctoberReading slumps are the worstRoni tried a new method to tackle her giant TBR pile and it worked!A book that was on Roni’s TBR...

Today, we’re celebrating Roni’s birthday by talking about the books that influenced her as a reader. Then, Dawn is gifting Roni with a stack of book recommendations tailored to her tastes. Plus, we’re celebrating our 1-year podcast anniversary! Come and join our bookish party! Highlights: Our little baby podcast is now one year old!Roni’s embarrassing TBR confessionWe get wistful about the Scholastic book fair flyerTeam Babysitters Club vs Team Sweet Valley HighA book that gutted Baby...

USA Today and #1 Amazon Bestselling author Pippa Grant is joining us today to talk about unlikable heroines and why they need love too. Plus, we get to hear a little about her romantic comedies! (Fair warning: this talk is more PG-13 than some of our others so don’t listen with kiddos in the car.) Highlights: Unlikable heroines need love tooNot all things marketed as romantic comedy are true comedyPippa’s got a new release coming called Irresistible TroubleDawn and Roni have their RAD...

Sometimes we get so focused on the traditional novel that we forget that stories come in all different types of formats and structures. This week, we’re giving those kinds of stories the spotlight. Join us as we recommend graphic novels, anthologies, short stories, novels with creative formats, and some truly wacky things Dawn found at the bookstore! Highlights: Reading is reading and don’t let anyone tell you format dictates whether something countsRoni gets on her reading soapbox at a...

It’s too hot here in Texas so today we’re dreaming about Fall and sharing a BIG list of paranormal reads to add to your TBR. We’ve got vampires and witches and shifters, oh my! Plus, you know Dawn is bringing dragons and Roni's going to talk too much about Buffy. We’re also talking about how the trend of paranormals has waxed and waned over the decades and how it seems to be coming back after a dormant period. And we’re so here for it!  Highlights: Seasonal reading - our versions of itRoni’s...

We've both got COVID, y'all. Ugh! So this week we've got a mini-episode with just me (Roni) because Dawn got hit with Covid harder and needs to rest. I'm sharing an update about my summer reading, and I want to hear how yours is going as well! Highlights:How's my summer book cart working out? (spoiler: things are not going well, y'all.)An app that I'm loving for my book journalingA change in my reading habits that I didn't expectMentioned in the episode:The journaling app I'm lovingThe...

Episode Summary:It’s Dawn’s birthday week! Today, we’re going to celebrate Dawn with an episode dedicated to the books she loves. First, she’s bringing us a list of books that she credits with making her into a reader. Then, Roni is “gifting” Dawn with three book recommendations that are tailor-made for her. Plus, we’re bringing you a recap from our fabulous weekend at the Book Bonanza conference!  Join us for the birthday bash! Highlights: Our Book Bonanza conference recapDawn the...

Today, we’re sharing the best things we’ve read, watched, and listened to over the last month—along with a few books that didn’t quite work for us. Plus, we’re celebrating Roni’s new book release! Highlights: Roni has a new book out! Get your copy of For You & No One ElseIf you’re at the Book Bonanza conference this weekend, stop by Roni’s table and say hi to both of us!Roni had a great reading month, Dawn…not so muchOur favorite print reads this monthAn element Dawn loves in a book:...

A great book can sweep you away, but some books really take you on a trip. Today, we’re talking about books that transport you either to another place or transport you through time (because one of us is kind of obsessed with time travel/time loop stories.) So grab your suitcase or your flux capacitor and join us! Highlights: Cheap travel via booksAustralian listeners, please reassure us there aren’t giant man-eating spiders everywhereOur favorite book settingsRoni wants to read summer camp...

Episode Summary:Today we welcome romance author Taylor Lunsford, who is sharing some of her favorite romantic books with us, and then we’re doing a special segment for those of you who may want to try writing your own book this summer. Join us as we get a little nerdy and share our favorite books on writing! Highlights:  We welcome Taylor Lunsford, author of the upcoming romance You’ve Got MatchesFan-fiction as an entrance ramp to writingThe joys and pitfalls of online datingRoni’s own...

Episode Summary:It’s one of the best bookish times of the year—summer reading season! Today, we’re giving you our best picks to add to your poolside stack, whether you’re looking for traditional breezy beach reads or something a little darker to keep you turning the pages. Highlights: Does our reading change during summer?Roni got herself in trouble with summer reading lists and her library holdsOur easy breezy summer picsThe book Roni was able to read at a NASCAR race and not be...

Today, we’re keeping it casual and having our first guests over to share their best book recommendations! Join us as we welcome indie editor Jessica Snyder and mystery writer Stacy Woodson. Expect some great romance, mystery, and suspense recommendations! Also, Roni has a number of books that she didn’t know quite how to rate because…reasons. Highlights: Meet our guests!Dawn is giving her visitors the full Texas experienceRoni admits she used to line danceBooks that are hard to rateDawn...

Episode Summary: It’s a Freaky Friday! Dawn and Roni have accidentally swapped reading tastes this week. Roni is recommending suspense novels, true crime books, and true-crime documentaries. Dawn has all the romantic picks–including a subgenre she never reads. Also, we have some more library tips to share! Highlights:We had a library adventure and Dawn is now the proud owner of a non-resident library cardRoni is officially hoarding library cardsWays to get extra library cards in totally legal...

Learning your personal reading tastes is one of the best ways to enhance your reading life. Today we’re talking about the difference between a “bad” book and a book that’s just not for you (or not for you right now.) Plus, we’re giving examples of books that fall into those categories for us along with our RAD Reading recs of the week! Highlights: To read reviews or not to read reviewsRoni’s trying something new with book reviewsDawn is not allowed to be on TikTokWhere we look for book...

Episode Summary In honor of April Fool’s Day, we’re talking about the ways books can trick you—the good and the bad—and sharing the books that tricked us! WARNING: Because of some of the bookish topics, this isn't an episode to listen to with your kids in the car. ;) Highlights: The worst prank Dawn experiencedWhy Roni can’t hear the 80s song “Don’t Treat Me Bad” without having prank flashbacksGood twists vs. bad twistsBooks that switch genres on youMisleading book coversSecondary plots that...

It’s been a while since one of our Read/Watch/Listen episodes, so now we have a big list of TV shows, movies, audiobooks, playlists, and yes, books to share with you today!  Highlights: Calling a podcast audibleReading slumps Roni is horrified by what her dog’s favorite treat is made out ofStress levels and how they affect what type of reading we doBooks that make us clean out closetsWhat would be a cry for help from Dawn?Did Amy Adams channel Meg Ryan?Dawn’s interesting movie experience at...

Today is all about the autobuy authors. We love finding autobuys, but we can also get stuck in a rut, only reading our sure things. Join us as we tackle the pros and cons of autobuy authors and then share a list of our favorite autobuys. And warning, technology and Roni’s puppy hated us this episode, so expect some bloopers in the middle and some outtakes at the end. Highlights: Texas ice sucksRoni’s 6-month writing sabbaticalPuppies eating post-it notesWhat is an autobuy authorWhy we love...

There’s nothing wrong with wanting ALL the books. Give us all the books! Unfortunately, very few of us have an unlimited book budget. So today we’re sharing our best tips on how to keep your TBR piled high without having to dig for quarters in your couch cushions.  Highlights: When we use the phrase “at least it’s not drugs” and reference Scrooge McDuck right out of the gateRoni and pandemic book buyingWhy libraries are awesome and how to use yours to its fullestDawn the book thiefThe fancy...

It’s all about book series today! We're defining the different types of series, talking about why we love reading them, and then we’re giving our favorite series starter books. Let’s do this! Highlights: To series read or not to series readConnected series vs. continuing seriesDuets and trilogiesShared world seriesRoni remembers a book she forgot she wroteDawn makes friends in parking lots with people pulling things out of their trunks Series and fandoms and which fandom Roni was googling a...

Episode Summary:This week we’re chatting about how books can help our mental health, the kinds of books that work best for us when we’re feeling anxious or down, and we’re discussing the practice of putting trigger warnings in books. Also, we have our RAD Reading Recs of the week plus a few bonus picks! Spoiler Alert: Spoiler for the book The Push by Ashley Audrain at 42:55, skip ahead one minute to 43:55 mark if you don’t want a spoiler. Highlights: Roni got a puppy and is feeling loopy...

It’s that time of year, and we’re so here for it. Join us as we get all ourselves together for 2022. We’re sharing which planners we’re using to set goals and organize our year, and then we’re recommending our favorite self-improvement books for improving your home life, reducing distractions, getting control of your time, and boosting your creativity. We've got a long list! Plus, as always, we’ll be sharing our RAD Recs of the week. Highlights: We’ve both ditched the planners we’ve used in...

It’s one of our favorite times of the year—time to set new reading goals and challenges for 2022! Roni is sharing the many nerdy reading challenges that she’s tackling this coming year, and Dawn is firmly anti-challenge but has chosen some goals to enhance her reading year. Also, as always, we have our RAD reading recs of the week! Highlights:One of us declares New Year’s their favorite holidayThe difference between a reading challenge and a reading goalCan you count a DNF in a reading...