This week Gabi and Megan discuss books about love: romantic love, friendship, found family, and familial love. They talk about their favorite rom-coms and tropes and will add so many books to your TBR.

Books Discussed:

Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon

The Mismatch by Sara Jafari

Wahala by Nikki May

Most Likely by Sarah Watson

Last Summer at the Golden Hotel by Elyssa Friedland

Beach Read by Emily Henry

A Season for Second Chances by Jenny Bayliss

Meant to Be Mine by Hannah Orenstein

The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams

Very Sincerely Yours by Kerry Winfrey

To Sir With Love by Lauren Layne

You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

Happily Ever Afters by Elise Bryant

A Pho Love Story by Loan Lee

The Holiday Switch by Tif Marcelo

Good Rich People by Eliza Jane Brazier

The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina by Zoraida Cordova

This Must Be the Place by Maggie O'Farrell

This week, Gabi and Megan have a catch-up episode after a busy few weeks. They talk about their recent travels, upcoming projects they're excited about, and the books they're reading.

Books Discussed:

The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller

A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny

Cultish by Amanda Montell

To Sir With Love by Lauren Layne

Seasonal Work by Laura Litman

Wahala by Nikki May

Finlay Donvan Knocks Em Dead by Elle Cosimano

To All The Boys I'ved Loved Before by Jenny Han

Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant by Anne Tyler

This week, Gabi and Megan have a creativity episode for you. They chat about loneliness in self-employment and how they navigate those emotions. They talk about ways they are intentional about finding community and some tips that have helped them in their own career experiences.

They also talk about the Enneagram, starting a yoga practice, and their current reads! 

Gabi and Megan chat with Mary @maryslittleway about starting a blog, finding your style, tips for starting a capsule wardrobe, and of course, all the books!

We recorded this episode back in November and had to push its publication date due to our holiday episode schedule, so we chat about the holidays and some events that have since passed! Megan's new release she is excited about is out now, so you can purchase it at the link below.

Books Discussed:

Mary's Book Picks:

A book I recently loved: Please Don't Sit on My Bed in Your Outside Clothes by Phoebe Robinson, The Divines by Ellie Eaton

A new release I'm excited about: Vladimir by Julia May Jones

A book I always recommend: Still Missing by Chevy Stevens

Megan's Book Picks:

A book I recently loved: 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

A new release I'm excited about: One True Loves by Elise Bryant

A book I always recommend: Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

Gabi's Book Picks:

A book I recently loved: The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox

A new release I'm excited about: Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield

A book I always recommend: The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver

Follow Mary on Instagram: @maryslittleway

Follow us on Instagram: @andherbookspod

In this episode, Gabi and Megan each discuss their five most anticipated new releases for Winter 2022.

Gabi's Picks:

Olga Dies Dreaming by Xóchitl Gonzàlez Pub Date: January 4th

Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Soloman Pub Date: January 11th

The Roughest Draft by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka Pub Date: January 25th

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson Pub Date: February 1st

Pure Color by Sheila Heti Pub Date: February 15th

Megan's Picks:

Fiona and Jane by Jean Chen Ho Pub Date: January 4th

Brown Girls by Daphne Palasi Andreades Pub Date: January 4th

Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan Pub Date: January 11th

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson Pub Date: February 1st

Red Thread of Fate by Lyn Liao Butler Pub Date: February 8th

This week, Gabi and Megan discuss their reading intentions for 2022. They chat about what they want more of in their reading lives for the new year and of course- talk about their current reads.

Mentioned in the episode:

From the Front Porch

@paulineisreading

Follow us on Instagram: @andherbookspod

Today, Gabi and Megan each discuss their top ten reads of the year. They rapid-fire each of their top books and then deep dive into their 2021 reading trends. This is our last episode of the year, thank you so much for being here and listening! We are extremely grateful to each of you.

Gabi's Top 10:

• The Summer Job by Lizzy Dent
• Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano
• Reprieve by James Han Mattson
• Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto
• Olympus, Texas by Stacey Swann
• Infinite Country by Patricia Engel
• The Office of Historical Corrections by Danielle Evans
• The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary
• I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman
• A Season for Second Chances by Jenny Bayliss

Megan's Top 10:

• Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
• Infinite Country by Patricia Engel
• Happily Ever Afters by Elise Bryant
• Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
• This Must Be the Place by Maggie O'Farrell
• Olympus, Texas by Stacey Swann
• The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina by Zoraida Cordova
• Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
• Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
• These Precious Days by Ann Patchett

This week, Gabi and Megan share their book recommendations for last-minute holiday gift ideas. They go through some general recommendations and then respond to guest submissions!

For the person who wants to get into fiction: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

For the person who's ready to escape to a small town: A Season for Second Chances by Jenny Bayliss

For the person who has read everything: My Reading Life: A Book Journal by Anne Bogel

For the hostess: 100 Cookies by Sarah Kieffer

For the person who loves a cozy mystery: A Deadly Inside Scoop by Abby Colette

For the person who needs rest: The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

For the person who loves a wild story: Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder

For the man in your life: Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

For the person who loves family drama: All Adults Here by Emma Straub

For the traveler: American Royals by Katherine McGee

Guest Submissions:

Holly's Request: teenage sons, books with adventure, and quirky characters. Stay away from anything that is too heavy.

Recommendation: Legendborn by Tracy Deonn, Pendergast series by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, Orange World by Karen Russell, The Book of Joe by Jonathan Tropper

Hannah's Request: sci-fi, fantasy, young-adult thrillers

Recommendation: Brandon Sanderson The Stormlight Archives (The Way of the Kings) Legend by Marie Lu 

Yente's Request: historical fiction, historical non-fiction, WWII lover, loves Band of Brothers

Recommendation: Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown, The Bomber Mafia by Malcolm Gladwell

Amie's Request: loved the Thursday Murder Club

Recommendation: Agatha Christie, Sleep Donation by Karen Russell, The Switch by Beth O'Leary

Ashley's Request: sweet books, loves decorating, lives in a small town, loves to bake/cook/spend time with her dog

Recommendation: Cozy Minimalist Home by MyQuillyn Smith, The Late Bloomer's Club by Louise Miller

Julia's Request: A friend who wants to diversify her reading collection

Recommendation: Infinite Country by Patricia Engel and Somebody's Daughter by Ashley C. Ford

In this episode, Gabi and Megan discuss The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox. They discuss the small-town setting, their favorite characters, and their favorite holiday baking traditions!

Spoilers are discussed! We recommend pausing this episode and finishing the book before listening!

This week, Megan and Gabi share their holiday book recommendations and discuss their own TBR's for the season. They bring you a full list of festive recommendations!

Gabi's Recommendations

• It Won't Be Christmas Without You by Beth Reekles
• The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss
• A Princess for Christmas by Jenny Holiday

Megan's Recommendations

• Evergreen Tidings From the Baumgartners by Gretchen Anthony
• Winter Solstice by Rosamund Pilcher 
• Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory

Gabi's TBR

• Always, in December by Emily Stone
• Amor Actually by Alexis Daria
• Blame it on the Mistletoe by Beth Garrod

Megan's TBR

• The Holiday Switch by Tif Marcelo
• The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox
• A Season for Second Chances by Jenny Bayliss