Scandal, sun, and secrets—hello, summer reading! These are all the ingredients that make up the irresistible literary cocktail that is The Island Club by Nicola Harrison.

Set on Balboa Island in the 1950s, this captivating novel transports readers into a world of housewives, tennis clubs, social expectations, and women searching for their identities beneath the polished surface. It's the perfect blend of glamour, intrigue, and heart.

Nicola and I chatted about her research process, her writing journey, and so much more. Honestly, it's shocking this is her first time on the podcast, we've been internet friends and mutual fans for years!

If you love Big Little Lies, a dash of Real Housewives drama, and stories centered on complicated women and juicy secrets, you'll want to add this one to your summer stack immediately.

Pinch me! I got to welcome back one of my absolute favorites, Tia Williams! We reunited to celebrate her latest novel, The Missed Connection, a steamy summer romance guaranteed to turn up the heat.

Filled with chance encounters, heart, chemistry, and just the right touch of mystery, this novel delivers all the signature elements readers have come to love from Tia. We caught up about her writing process, book-to-screen adaptations, beauty products, and so much more.

And if you haven't explored Tia's backlist yet, consider this your sign. Her catalog is a beach reader's dream and the perfect summer spritz - light, refreshing, and impossible to stop sipping before diving into The Missed Connection.

If you're looking for a sweeping, epic, and dramatic love story to kick off your summer reading, look no further than Into the Blue. This novel checks every box, and I absolutely loved it. I was thrilled to welcome Emma Brodie to the podcast to celebrate not only the book's release, but also its selection as Reese's Book Club and a Book of the Month pick for May.

As fellow New Englanders, Emma and I had plenty to discuss, especially since the region is woven so beautifully into the story. We talked about her path to publication, the challenges and joys of writing a sophomore novel, how Vanderpump Rules and the infamous Scandoval saga unexpectedly influenced the book's development, our mutual love for Julia Spiro, and what it's been like publishing under Jenna Bush Hager's imprint.

Trust me when I say this: Into the Blue belongs on your summer TBR. It's the kind of unforgettable love story that will stay with you long after the final page—and you'll thank me later.

Sometimes you invite an author onto your podcast because their book sounds fabulous. And then sometimes, you discover their book is amazing and they're your Bravo and pop culture soulmate.

Erica Hendry's debut, Let's Not Go Overboard Here, is a love letter to the Bravoverse and anyone who considers pop culture a second language. Trust me when I say this one belongs in your beach bag this summer.

This wildly entertaining mystery, set aboard a luxury yacht, will have you missing your favorite Below Deck crew while racing to uncover what really happened. I loved every minute of my conversation with Erica, from the inspiration behind the novel to her encyclopedic knowledge of all things pop culture, her journey to publication, and what's next for her career.

And Andy Cohen, if you're listening, Erica is your next Watch What Happens Live bartender. No receipts, proof, timelines, or screenshots required.

My OG OG, Kristy Woodson Harvey, is back! And when I say we go way back, I mean over a decade ago when I first received her debut novel and welcomed her onto my blog. She has been a favorite ever since and truly is one of the absolute best.

We celebrated her latest novel, Summer State of Mind, and trust me, the title says it all. Once you dive in, you can practically feel the summer breeze coming off the pages. People calls her books “elevated beach reads,” and I could not agree more. Kristy has such a gift for pulling readers into stories that are equal parts escapist and heartfelt.

This latest delivers everything readers love about her work: a strong leading lady, characters you genuinely want to spend time with, rich Southern charm, and emotional depth that lingers long after the final page. It is classic Kristy in every way.

We also caught up on all the exciting things happening in her world, from new developments and more Peachtree Bluff conversations to life as an athlete, her latest favorite reads, and so much more.

Consider this your sign to add Summer State of Mind to your beach read TBR immediately.

Elated to welcome back one of the queens of summer reads, Annabel Monaghan. These conversations are always among my favorites, and I’m endlessly grateful that Annabel continues to return to celebrate her books with me. She has such a gift for making every story feel deeply personal, like a place you’ve known or people you’ve grown up beside, while remaining so grounded, warm, and relatable.

This year, I am screaming from the rooftops about Dolly All the Time. Newly selected as the June GMA Book Club pick, this is going to be the book of the summer — the ultimate beach accessory, if you ask me. I told Annabel it may be my favorite book she’s written, which is saying a lot, but also one of my all-time favorite reads. Yes, I said it.

Why? Because Annabel captured something so specific and nostalgic for me. The setting felt so close to home, and the characters reminded me of people I grew up with. I was instantly transported back to summers by the ocean, to that unmistakable feeling of home and memory colliding. If you grew up near the water, you’ll understand exactly what I mean.

We talked about the inspiration behind the novel, the pull of the ocean, the beautiful dedication to caregivers, and so much more. Honestly, I didn’t want the conversation to end.

Dolly will stay with me all summer long because it is a reminder of humanity, humor, and love — all the things we need most right now.

What a delight it was to welcome THE Brooke Averick to Books Are Chic to celebrate her debut novel, Phoebe Berman’s Gonna Lose It. I’m telling you now, this book is going to be the ultimate seaside companion this summer. Phoebe is the kind of leading lady you won’t soon forget, and Brooke is absolutely about to become a new auto-buy author for your bookshelf.

Brooke and I chatted about the transition from podcaster to author, the pressure of writing for an audience that already knows and loves her voice, the magic of a great love story, and the excitement of finally sending this book into the world. While Phoebe delivers plenty of romance, the real heartbeat of the novel is its celebration of friendship and the people who carry us through life.

Latest Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick and author of one of my all-time favorite novels, Alexandra Andrews joins me on the podcast! Her latest thriller, The Fine Art of Lying, is a slow-burn suspense story packed with the kind of twists only Alexandra can deliver.

Her debut, Who Is Maud Dixon, remains one of my ultimate gateway recommendations for anyone looking to get back into reading. I’m genuinely jealous of anyone experiencing it for the first time.

The Fine Art of Lying follows a deliciously complicated leading lady who becomes entangled in the dark underbelly of the art world, and I could not put it down. Alexandra and I chatted about sophomore novels, the art world, becoming part of Reese’s Book Club, and of course, my endless fangirling over Maud Dixon.

I already can’t wait for her next book… though if you listen to the episode, you’ll probably hear me say that at least a million times.

One of my all-time favorite, auto-buy authors joined me once again to celebrate her latest rom-com, The Shippers: queen, icon, legend, Katherine Center. To say she gets better with every book somehow still feels like an understatement.

The Shippers is classic Center magic, set aboard a cruise ship where childhood friends JoJo and Cooper fake date in an attempt to help JoJo win over her longtime crush and, naturally, the chaos and chemistry quickly take over.

Katherine and I chatted all things cruises, the research behind the book, the enduring power of romance, adaptations, and so much more. She will always have an open invitation to Books Are Chic, and every conversation with her feels like such a joy.

Continuing the reign of YA royalty, I was so thrilled to chat with K. L. Walther about her latest, We're a Bad Idea, Right?. I had the best time reading this book and getting to know its unforgettable cast of characters.

I loved talking with KL about the inspiration behind the story, especially her love of EmHen banter, as well as her continued affection for iconic 80s movies and the role they’ve played throughout her recent books.

I’ve said it before, but we are fully in our YA era, and KL’s writing is the perfect gateway for getting tweens and teens excited about reading again. It’s such a gift to have authors creating stories that not only entertain, but also help shape the reading lives and imaginations of such a special generation of readers.