We're so excited to chat through a fresh batch of new things. What are our character naming rules? What teachers made an impact on us? Do we still care about the Met Gala? Find out this and more in this week's episode!

Olivia's Things

Naming Book Characters

Teachers who have made an impact on us

Do we still care about the Met Gala?

Becca's Things

Famesick by Lena Dunham

Author Career Milestones

May's Book Club Pick - Into the Blue by Emma Brodie

What we read this week

Olivia - American Fantasy by Emma Straub, The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clark

Becca - Vantage Point by Sara Sligar

Obsession

Olivia - Killeagh by Kingfishr

Becca - Haagen Dasz Caramel Cone Ice Cream

Sponsors

Caraway Home - Visit Carawayhome.com/xxxx to take an additional 10% off using code xxxx on your next purchase.

Cozy Earth - Head to cozyearth.com and use my code BOP for an exclusive 20% off.

Join our Facebook group for amazing book recs & more!

Buy our Merch!

Join our BFF Group!

Order Olivia's Books, Little One, and Such a Bad Influence!

Subscribe to Olivia's Newsletter!

Order Becca's Book, The Christmas Orphans Club, and preorder Back Where We Started!

Subscribe to Becca's Newsletter!

Follow us on Instagram @badonpaperpodcast. Follow Olivia on Instagram @oliviamuenter and Becca @beccamfreeman.

This week, we're catching up and going deep on our writing and reading lives, home updates, and what we're looking forward to this summer.

May's Book Club Pick - Into the Blue by Emma Brodie

What we read this week

Becca - Famesick by Lena Dunham, Found Time by Caroline Goldstein

Obsession

Olivia - Her Crocs

Becca - Ladies of London

Sponsors

Quince - Head to Quince.com/bop for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns

Ritual - Save 25% on your first month at Ritual.com/BADONPAPER

Wayfair - Head to Wayfair.com to shop all things home.

Join our Facebook group for amazing book recs & more!

Buy our Merch!

Join our BFF Group!

Order Olivia's Books, Little One, and Such a Bad Influence!

Subscribe to Olivia's Newsletter!

Order Becca's Book, The Christmas Orphans Club, and preorder Back Where We Started!

Subscribe to Becca's Newsletter!

Follow us on Instagram @badonpaperpodcast. Follow Olivia on Instagram @oliviamuenter and Becca @beccamfreeman.

So excited to dive deep into our April Book Club Pick: Good People by Patmeena Sabit! We chat about the news story that inspired this novel, its inventive structure, the POVs we connected to the most, the book's (intentionally) vague marketing package, and what we think happened at the end!

For more references for the content in this episode, read more here and here.

May's Book Club Pick - Into the Blue by Emma Brodie

What we read this week

• Becca - The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson (out June 30)
• Olivia - Bad Words by Rioghnach Robinson (out October 6)

Obsession

• Olivia - Ladies of London
• Becca - Real Housewives of Rhode Island

Sponsors

• Cozy Earth - Head to cozyearth.com and use my code BOP for an exclusive 20% off
• BetterHelp - get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/BADONPAPER

Additional resources

• Join our Facebook group for amazing book recs & more!
• Buy our Merch!
• Join our BFF Group!
• Order Olivia's Books, Little One, and Such a Bad Influence!
• Subscribe to Olivia's Newsletter!
• Order Becca's Book, The Christmas Orphans Club, and preorder Back Where We Started!
• Subscribe to Becca's Newsletter!
• Follow us on Instagram @badonpaperpodcast. Follow Olivia on Instagram @oliviamuenter and Becca @beccamfreeman.

This week, we're diving back into our reading history and pulling out the books we think deserve a little more love. TBR Fillers ahead!

Olivia's Hidden Gem Reads:

Fellowship Point by Alice Elliot Dark

Vantage Point by Sara Sligar

Whale Fall by Elizabeth O'Connell

Sam by Allegra Goodman

The Bombshell by Darrow Farr

Becca's Hidden Gem Reads:

Family Drama by Rebecca Fallon

This Love by Lotte Jeffs

The Arc by Tory Henwood Hoen

The Impossible Us by Sarah Lotz

Lizzie & Dante by Mary Bly

Listener Hidden Gem Reads:

Bloom by Robbie Couch

Love is a Mixtape by Rob Sheffield

Better than the Movies by Lynn Painter

Sunset by Jessie Cave

Tartufo by Kira Jane Buxton

My Husband by Maud Ventura

Goodbye Again Caitlin Moss

Foster Dade Explores the Cosmos by Nash Jenkins

Have A Great Summer by Francesca Cocchi

April's Book Club Pick - Good People by Patmeena Sabit

What we read this week

Becca - The Missed Connection by Tia Williams (out June 9)

Olivia - Dear Monica Lewinsky by Julia Langbein

Obsession

Olivia - Trust Me, The Truth & Tragedy of Moriah Wilson

Becca - Zip Ties

Sponsors

Caraway Home - Visit Carawayhome.com/BOP to take an additional 10% off your next purchase.

Retold Recycling - try Retold Recycling for 10% off with code BOP10 at retoldrecycling.com.

Join our Facebook group for amazing book recs & more!

Buy our Merch!

Join our BFF Group!

Order Olivia's Books, Little One, and Such a Bad Influence!

Subscribe to Olivia's Newsletter!

Order Becca's Book, The Christmas Orphans Club, and preorder Back Where We Started!

Subscribe to Becca's Newsletter!

Follow us on Instagram @badonpaperpodcast. Follow Olivia on Instagram @oliviamuenter and Becca @beccamfreeman.

We are bursting at the seams to talk about our April Things! We're talking juicy reads, sharing some grievances, debunking rumors, discussing book thoughts, and more!

Olivia's Things

Strangers by Belle Burden

Things that make us irrationally angry

Writing and reading sequels

Becca's Things

What constitutes literary fiction?

Good Hang with Amy Pohler, specifically the episode with Steve Carell

A Bookstore rumor debunked!

April's Book Club Pick - Good People by Patmeena Sabit

What we read this week

Becca - The Lost Book of Lancelot by John Glynn

Olivia - Murder Bites by Mimi Montgomery (out August 4), The Names by Florence Knapp, Adult Braces by Lindy West, This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum, Strangers by Belle Burden

Obsession

Olivia - Taste Back by Harry Styles

Becca - Jessica Brody fast drafting course

Sponsors

Better Help - Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/BADONPAPER

Master Class - Get 15% off at masterclass.com/BOP

Skims - Shop Everyday Cotton and more at skims.com. After you place your order, select "podcast" in the survey, then our show in the dropdown menu to let them know we sent you.

Join our Facebook group for amazing book recs & more!

Buy our Merch!

Join our BFF Group!

Order Olivia's Books, Little One, and Such a Bad Influence!

Subscribe to Olivia's Newsletter!

Order Becca's Book, The Christmas Orphans Club, and preorder Back Where We Started!

Subscribe to Becca's Newsletter!

Follow us on Instagram @badonpaperpodcast. Follow Olivia on Instagram @oliviamuenter and Becca @beccamfreeman.

This week, we chatted with literary agent Alyssa Morris and East City Bookshop Buyer Emilie Sommer about 2026 publishing trends! We pick their brains about customer shopping behavior, what editors are looking for, how they know something is going to hit, and their big bets for the year.

Alyssa's 2026 Picks

In Stormy Weather by Chelsea Curto

The Poison Daughter by Sheila Masterson

One & Only Maurene Goo

Games by Anna Maria Volkova

Emilie's 2026 Picks

Leave Your Mess at Home by Tolani Akinola

Five by Ilona Bannister

London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe

Under Story by Chloe Benjamin

The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson

American Fantasy by Emma Straub

April's Book Club Pick - Good People by Patmeena Sabit

What we read this week

Olivia - The Fountain by Casey Scieska, In Her Defense by Phillipa Malicka, Whale Fall by Elizabeth O'Connor, The Sirens by Emilia Hart

Becca - Once And Again by Rebecca Serle; American Fantasy by Emma Straub

Obsession

Becca - Garlic Slicer

Olivia - New notes app system

Sponsors

Cozy Earth - Head to cozyearth.com and use code BOP for an exclusive 20% off

Ritual - save 25% on your first month of ritual at Ritual.com/BADONPEPER.

Wayfair - Take up to 80% off with fast and FREE shipping on everything at Wayfair.com from April 25 - 27th to shop Way Day.

Caraway home - Visit Carawayhome.com/BOP for an additional 10% off your next purchase.

Join our Facebook group for amazing book recs & more!

Buy our Merch!

Join our BFF Group!

Order Olivia's Books, Little One, and Such a Bad Influence!

Subscribe to Olivia's Newsletter!

Order Becca's Book, The Christmas Orphans Club, and preorder Back Where We Started!

Subscribe to Becca's Newsletter!

Follow us on Instagram @badonpaperpodcast. Follow Olivia on Instagram @oliviamuenter and Becca @beccamfreeman.

How time has FLOWN! Eight years into the podcast, we wanted to look back and re-listen to our first episode with Olivia as a co-host! We reflect on how our lives have changed since 2022, listen back to highs and lows of the time, and revisit the questionnaire we used to break the ice!

April's Book Club Pick - Good People by Patmeena Sabit

Obsession

Olivia - Project Hail Mary (The movie!)

Becca - Godlight by Noah Kahan

Sponsors

Quince - Go to quince.com/bop for free shipping and 365-day returns. Quince dot com slash bop.

Caraway Home - Visit Carawayhome.com/BOP to take an additional 10% off your next purchase.

Join our Facebook group for amazing book recs & more!

Buy our Merch!

Join our BFF Group!

Order Olivia's Books, Little One, and Such a Bad Influence!

Subscribe to Olivia's Newsletter!

Order Becca's Book, The Christmas Orphans Club, and preorder Back Where We Started!

Subscribe to Becca's Newsletter!

Follow us on Instagram @badonpaperpodcast. Follow Olivia on Instagram @oliviamuenter and Becca @beccamfreeman.

Time is flying—both in this book and you know… in life—and we're clocking back in for another book club! We're excited to discuss this month's pick, So Old, So Young by Grant Ginder! We chat about why we chose it, its unique structure, the dynamic of friends with vs without kids, and what 5 parties define our adulthood!

If you liked this book, you may like - The Celebrants by Steven Rowley, The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer, Olive by Emma Gannon.

What we read this week

Olivia - Good People by Patmeena Sabit, So Old, So Young by Grant Ginder

Becca - Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson, Vacationland by Meg Mitchell Moore

April's Book Club Pick -

Obsession

Becca - Up Thai on 72nd and 2nd

Sponsors

Cozy Earth - Head to cozyearth.com and use my code BOP for up to 20% off.

MacMillan - Tiffany Crum's This Story Might Save Your Life is read by Julia Whelan and Sean Patrick Hopkins and available now, wherever you listen to audiobooks!

Join our Facebook group for amazing book recs & more!

Buy our Merch!

Join our BFF Group!

Order Olivia's Books, Little One, and Such a Bad Influence!

Subscribe to Olivia's Newsletter!

Order Becca's Book, The Christmas Orphans Club, and preorder Back Where We Started!

Subscribe to Becca's Newsletter!

Follow us on Instagram @badonpaperpodcast. Follow Olivia on Instagram @oliviamuenter and Becca @beccamfreeman.

SO excited to have bestie of the pod (and co-host emeritus), Grace Atwood, on to talk about what she's been up to lately, specifically the joy of starting to write a novel!

What we read this week

Olivia - You Between the Lines by Katie Naymon, Under Story by Chloe Benjamin, Warning Signs by Tracy Sierra, A Visit from the Good Squad by Jennifer Egan

Becca - Lake Effect by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney

Grace's Recent Reads

In Her Defense by Philippa Malicka, The Force of Such Beauty by Barbara Bourland, Strangers by Belle Burden, The Storm by Rachel Hawkins, Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser, Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

March's Book Club Pick - So Old, So Young by Grant Ginder

Obsession

Becca - American Girls and Taste Back by Harry Styles

Sponsors

Better Help - Get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/BADONPAPER.

Master Class - Get an additional 15% off any annual membership at masterclass.com/BOP.

Skims - Shop SKIMS Fits Everybody collection at SKIMS.com.

Join our Facebook group for amazing book recs & more!

Buy our Merch!

Join our BFF Group!

Order Olivia's Books, Little One, and Such a Bad Influence!

Subscribe to Olivia's Newsletter!

Order Becca's Book, The Christmas Orphans Club, and preorder Back Where We Started!

Subscribe to Becca's Newsletter!

Follow us on Instagram @badonpaperpodcast. Follow Olivia on Instagram @oliviamuenter and Becca @beccamfreeman.

New month, new installment of Three Things! We're ready to get introspective, set goals, get random, and more!

Becca's Things

Reece Witherspoon's Reel about talent vs. passion.

Is contemporary romance dead?

How to set writing goals.

Olivia's Things

Things from our childhoods that aged poorly (and well).

What we're excited about this year.

The last internet rabbit hole you fell into.

Obsession

Becca - Viral rotisserie chicken recipe

Olivia - The Hand by Annabelle Dinda

What we read this week

Becca - Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano

March's Book Club Pick - So Old, So Young by Grant Ginder

Sponsors

Caraway - take an additional 10% off your next purchase at Carawayhome.com/BOP or use code BOP at checkout.

Cozy Earth - Head to cozyearth.com and use my code BOP for up to 20% off.

Ritual - Save 25% on your first month at Ritual.com/BADONPAPER.

Join our Facebook group for amazing book recs & more!

Buy our Merch!

Join our BFF Group!

Order Olivia's Books, Little One, and Such a Bad Influence!

Subscribe to Olivia's Newsletter!

Order Becca's Book, The Christmas Orphans Club, and preorder Back Where We Started!

Subscribe to Becca's Newsletter!

Follow us on Instagram @badonpaperpodcast. Follow Olivia on Instagram @oliviamuenter and Becca @beccamfreeman.