We're turning to our listeners for another round of book recommendations! We asked, and boy did you answer. We did our best to fit the brief and recommend books to add to your TBR. Plus a discussion of the cover reveals for the new Emily Henry and Hunger Games books! AHH! Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @readirectpodcast.…

What happens when childhood friends reunite on a European food and wine tour? Join us as we explore this story of second chances and personal growth, while also celebrating McQuiston's knack for creating relatable, complex characters. We really liked this interview with Casey McQuiston in Rolling Stone. Abigail also recommends pairing this book wit…

We're here to deep dive and debunk the allure of Nicholas Sparks. What were beloved books to us at one point in our lives, are now bizarre, hilarious, and at times, genuinely disturbing. First, some...concerning allegations about Nicholas Sparks, with receipts. If it's not clear by the content of this episode, we strongly disavow any homophobia, ra…

Get ready to expand your fall reading list with our carefully selected book recommendations. Grab your favorite fall beverage and settle in for an episode packed with books that have rich storytelling, emotional depth, and the perfect vibes for autumn. Happy reading! Emily's Fall Picks: Rabbit Hole by Kate Brody Blake Crouch's entire catalog (speci…

Travis, we gotta talk about it. Eternal disclaimer that we do not support JK Rowling in any way, and encourage partaking in only fanfiction and avoiding her altogether. ANYWAYS! When we tell you to, you can skip to 51:56 to miss all Marauders talk. Abigail has FINALLY read All the Young Dudes by the legendary MsKingBean89, and WE GOTTA TALK ABOUT I…

In today’s episode, we’re doing a deep dive into one of our FAVORITE playthings from childhood—American Girl Dolls and their accompanying books. Joined by very special guest and leading American Girl expert Emma Wright, we’re revisiting the stories that shaped our childhood. Today, we’re revisiting Kit and Addy’s stories, plus a brief mention of Do…

Did you know that Stephanie Meyer wrote a gender-swapped Twilight book for the 10-year anniversary of Twilight? Are you looking for your next summer read that will start to make you question what you ever saw in this godforsaken book series in the first place?? Look no further babes, it's Life and Death, Twilight Reimagined! When we say there is fa…

We are back with our third (AND FINAL) installment in our Harry Potter Deep Dive. Did we intend for this to be a full and lengthy three parts? Clearly not. However, it was fun, unhinged, and chaotic in the best ways. Listen to this deep dive where we're covering books five, six, and seven. Emily tries to be normal about Sirius and Remus, and chicke…

In the second installment of our Harry Potter deep dive, we're covering Prisoner of Azkaban and Goblet of Fire. Did we assure you we could wrap this series up in two parts? Yes. Did we fail miserably? Also yes. As a reminder, we're raising money for the Trevor Project as long as this series continues. Donate at this link to enter for a chance to wi…

Major Disclaimer: This podcast and its hosts do not in any way, shape, or form endorse or support or agree with JKR and her awful, transphobic viewpoints. We encourage you to avoid supporting her financially or in any other way. All June, we are raising funds for The Trevor Project in honor of Pride Month. Consider donating at this link! For part o…

For today's episode, we're sharing our summer reading bucket lists, filled with exciting new releases like "The Guncle Abroad" by Steven Rowley, envisioning perfect reading spots from beachside getaways to cozy backyard hammocks. With plans for a season filled with adventure, relaxation, and great books, we capture the whimsical spirit of summer th…

For today's episode, we read Romancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julia Quinn and watched part one of Bridgerton Season 3. We're comparing the book to the tv show, and discussing our many feelings about Collin and Penelope. Plus, recent reads All The Young Dudes by MsKingBean89 and How to Fall Out of Love Madly by Jana Casale. Follow us on IG at @readirectp…

Today we're convening our Book Club for a deep discussion on Emily Henry's newest release, Funny Story! Join us for a discussion of the key plot points, the characters, and find out where we rank this book in the Emily Henry universe. You will feel like you're chatting with your friends about this book, so join in on the conversation with today's e…

Join us today for a little wine and cheese pairing, if you will. That's right, we're picking out some of our favorite books and pairing them up with the perfect companion Taylor Swift song and lyrics. Books Mentioned: Circe by Madeline Miller The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid Don't Want…

For today's episode, we are swapping reads that challenge our literary comfort zones. Emily chose One Day by David Nicholls for Abigail to read, and Abigail selected Heartsopper, vol. 1 by Alice Oseman for Emily to read. We're sharing our thoughts, FEELINGS, expectations, and recommendations after reading each other's chosen books. In addition, we'…

Today, we're inviting you along for an intimate book club discussion that's all about our recent book goals. We're talking about the following books... Bride by Ali Hazelwood The Wallflower Series Chain-Gang All Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah And exciting upcoming relesaes... The Guncle Abroad The Paradise Problem One of Us Knows Funny Story by …

Today, we're revisiting a childhood favorite, "The Boxcar Children" by Gertrude Chandler Warner. Diving into the historical context surrounding the tale's publication, we discuss the stark differences between the 1924 original and the 1942 revision, revealing how time can color a story's message. Take the Personality Quiz! Explore the Boxcar Childr…

Crack open the pages of controversy with us as we venture through the tangled web of banned and challenged books. Today, we're drafting our team of banned books, each picking three books we love that are frequently banned or challenged. Join us and discover how these books are more than just stories; they're crucial conversations on racism, margina…

Join us as we sit down with debut-author Jason Kirk, whose novel "Hell is a World Without You" paints a visceral portrait of life growing up in the grip of Southern evangelical culture. Whether or not your story follows a similar path to main-character Isaac's, we think you'll find something to relate to in this novel. Join us as we sit down for an…

Ever find yourself in a literary rut, wondering what book to pick up next? Fear not, we are here with a treasure trove of curated reads that promise to ignite your passion for books. We asked our listeners to share their recent favorite and least favorite reads, and created a list of personalized recommendations for them! Here's a list of our recom…

It's a jam-packed Book Talk episode today, as we have A LOT to discuss. First, we're talking Manacled, the Dramione story that rivals the original Harry Potter series. Emily may have gone on a deep dive into more Draco/Hermione pairings, and is also recommending Draco Malfoy and the Mortifying Ordeal of Being in Love. To avoid Manacled spoilers, sk…

We're back from holiday break with a fresh episode where we recap our recent reads and look forward to 2024. Books Mentioned I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid Two Dead Wives by Adele Parks Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam Heartstopper (series) by Alice Oseman Joseph Smith and the Mormans by Noah Van Sciver Manacled (fanfiction) by sen…

We're on a holiday break, but we're re-releasing one of our favorite bonus episodes, all about Judy Blume's cherished novel, "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret." Having both missed out on this gem in our tween years, we unpack the novel's continued relevance. This deep dive sheds light on the book's educational value in navigating the roaring ti…

Ready for a literary adventure? Buckle up as we, your hosts Abigail Hewins and Emily Rojas, invite you to remanence about 2023's year of books, featuring our dear friend and book-lover, Hannah (@dollhousebooks on IG!). A soon-to-be librarian and an active bookstagrammer, Hannah adds an enriching perspective to our animated discussion on our top rea…

We're back today for another Book Talk episode to discuss all things book-related we've been meaning to talk about! Mostly, this is a deep dive into our initial reactions of Iron Flame, sequel to Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. We're talking about the book's plot, THAT SHOCKING ENDING, and our theories for future installments. Spoiler alert!! Plus, …

Join us for a very exciting interview with NYT bestselling author, Jennifer L. Armentrout! Jennifer is the author of the renowned 'Blood and Ash' series, and she's here today to discuss her newest release, A Fire in the Flesh, book #3 in the prequel 'Flesh and Fire' series. We're discussing world-building, writing a prequel series while simultaneou…

For today's episode we're deep-diving the newest celeb memoir release - The Woman in Me by Britney Spears. Join us as we discuss the things you've already read from the headlines about this book, and the parts that haven't made as big of a splash. We surprisingly really loved this book, and found it heartbreaking, devastating and insightful. Read B…

Journey with us as we navigate the heart-wrenching narrative of sacrifice, rebellion, and hope in Susan Collins' Hunger Games trilogy, and the much-anticipated prequel, the Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. We'll paint a vivid picture of the oppressive regime, love triangles, and plot twists that keep readers turning the pages. We'll enlighten you on…

Do the words, YA books, complex plots, and lovable characters make your heartbeat faster? Brace yourselves as we plunge into the eerie world of our favorite books, perfect for those autumn nights. Join us as we take you down these chilly paths with our second annual spooky season book draft! This year's draft picks: Emily The Other Black Girl by Za…

BONUS EPISODE (Interview begins at 3.38) It is currently the Full Worm Moon here in the Southern Hemisphere. Maru is an Elimination Communication and Potty Training Consultant and Aware Parenting Instructor. More Information: Maru's Website: www.parenttogether.co.uk Maru's Instagram: @_maru.rojas_ Aware Parenting Institute Website: http://awarepare…

Today we're covering the memoir we've been dying to read ever since it was first announced... Counting the Cost by Jill Duggar Dillard! Join us as we go chapter by chapter and deep dive all the secrets revealed inside this book. Tune in next week as we'll be doing our annual Spooky Season book draft!…

We're back with another book talk episode, the time for us to catch up on all things book-related! Today we're recapping books we've read recently, discussing our progress on our goals, and previewing upcoming new releases. Our next episode, we'll be doing a book club on Jill Duggar Dillard's upcoming memoir, Counting the Cost. Be sure to tune in f…

Today we're recapping and deep-diving into the wildly popular Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston! From the flirty emails to the political implications to the biggest reaches, we're covering it all. Also, we both watched the Amazon Prime original movie, and we're discussing the casting, the changes, and the love story. Here's the article Emi…

Today we’re talking about the books that built us, or books we read at a young age that helped shape us into who we are today. Here’s that first kiss video Emily referenced. Thanks for listening!By Emily Rojas & Abigail Hewins

We're going back to elementary/middle school for today's episode and re-reading The Giver by Lois Lowry! We loved this book as kids, but as we learned from Little House on the Prairie, not every book holds up to adult scrutiny. Listen to this episode to find out what we thought on the re-read. Plus find out what we've been reading lately (big updat…

For today's episode, we're joined by screenwriter, old-timey novel lover and Abigail's fiance, Zach Freshley! We're discussing all things book-to-screen adaptations, ones we've loved, ones we've hated, and ones we're dying to see come to fruition.By Emily Rojas & Abigail Hewins

Today we're just catching up on all the book-related topics we've been dying to discuss! First, we talk about our recent read, The Song of Achilles. Then, we're recapping a few recent favorites. Finally, we're asking ourselves, why do so many book synopses have the word, "penetrating" in them? All of this and more is in today's Book Talk episode! H…

Love her or hate her, most people have an opinion on one of the most prolific authors of our time. (And fair warning, we lean more towards hating her on that spectrum on this podcast, so be warned!) Today we're deep diving Colleen Hoover. Where did she come from? What has made her so popular? And why...? Just why. Here's her addressing one of the s…

Today we're drafting some books for you to read on the beach this summer. What makes a good beach read, and what would we never read on the beach? Listen to find out! Beach Reads Chloe Cates is Missing, Mandy Mchugh Winter in Paradise series, Elin Hilderbrand The Unhoneymooners, Christina lauren The Woman in the Window, AJ Finn Ice Planet Barbarian…

Today we're talking all things memoirs! First, hear our checklist of what gives you the right to write a memoir in the first place (looking at you Bachelor Nation). Then we're discussing who hasn't written a memoir yet that we absolutely need to spill all their dirty secrets in the pages of a best-seller. Somehow we get on a tangent about Bobby Fla…

Today we're diving deep into the newest Emily Henry release, Happy Place! Tune in to hear us recap the book, read some of our favorite quotes, and fancast the movie we're already dreaming of (ahem, Miles Teller as Wyn). Books we've read recently: Emily: The Identicals by Elin Hilderbrand Abigail: Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert As always, …

In honor of this beloved book hitting the big screen this week, we're dropping our first ever BONUS episode to discuss Judy Blume's classic novel, Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. Neither of us actually read this book as children, so we're coming to it for the first time as seasoned adults. Books We've Read Recently: Abigail - Carrie Soto is B…

Today we're sharing our deepest, darkest unpopular book opinions! We've also solicited listener comments on Instagram and dived into the comments section on Reddit to gather even more unpopular opinions. To watch a semi-cringey video of Rupi Kaur's poetry, click here. Books We've Read Lately: Abigail: A Court of Thrones and Roses by Sarah J. Maas E…

Today's episode is our first ever "Book Talk" episode, where we're just catching up on all book-related topics we've been wanting to talk about. First, we're sharing how our reading journeys have been going so far this year. Here is a list of books mentioned: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston T…

Today we're talking all about fan fiction - the good, the bad and the ugly. We're sharing the fics we read, and Emily's even reading an excerpt from a fic she wrote back in the day. You can read Peeta's Games by igsygrace at this link. And listen to the episode of Normal Gossip about fan fiction at this link. What We've Been Reading Lately: Abigail…

If you loved Little House on the Prairie as a kid, you might be wondering, "Was there anything problematic about those books?" We're here to breakdown the entire book - the good, the bad and the (very) ugly. What happened to Jack the dog? Does Pa have an undiagnosed mental illness? And does bread & molasses actually taste good (yes, we're doing a g…

Today we're discussing two books - one fiction and one non-fiction - with our very special guest, Emma Wright! We're talking all about Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid and Making Rumours by Ken Callait. That means we're covering rock and roll, drug use, rumors, scandals, affairs, love, longing and more. If you enjoyed this episode, be s…

Today we're doing a deep dive Book Club episode on Spare by Prince Harry! We have been DYING to talk about this book, so excuse the lengthy run time on this one, but we had THOUGHTS. Many, many thoughts. Avoid this episode if you're a Harry and Meghan hater (we are emphatically not) or if you are such a fanatic over the royal family that you will n…

Today we're talking all things dystopian books! From The Handmaids Tale to The Hunger Games, Station 11 to Delirium, dystopian books have certainly captured our attention over the years. We're doing a deep dive into dystopian books - where they originated, why they became so popular in YA fiction in the early 2000s, and their lasting legacy. Books …

We all make New Year's Resolutions, but we don't always stick to them! Did you make reading more a goal for 2023? Are you looking for our tips, tricks and suggestions to stay on track? Whether you want to read more books, diversify your reading, join a book club or start a book podcast this year, we've got the episode for you. Maybe you're a number…