It is a truth universally acknowledged that one brilliant opening sentence can ruin your sleep schedule.
Join us in this episode as we gush about why first lines are so potent, how they cast their spell within seconds, and which recent ones are our current favorites!

Non-Book Things

Turkey Pastry

Asia Phsical 100

Book Things

A Sorceress Comes to Call by T Kingfisher

Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley

Books with great opening lines:

My Friends by Fredrik Backman

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

The Martian by Andy Weir

Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield

My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix

Vicious & The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by VE Schwab

Lone Women by Victor LaValle 

Send us a text

Thanks so much for listening to I’d Read That!

We’d love to hear from you—your feedback, questions, and book suggestions help shape the show. Drop us a line anytime at [email protected]
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Want a little more between episodes? Subscribe to our Substack for bonus thoughts, updates, and companion pieces at idreadthat.substack.com.

And of course, if you enjoyed the episode, tell a friend or leave us a review—it really helps us grow this book-loving community.

It's our latest book club discussion, Slewffot: A Tale of Bewitchery. This spoiler-filled discussion lets us dive into the rich world that's part of our history.

Connecticut, 1666: An ancient spirit awakens in a dark wood. The wildfolk call him Father, slayer, protector. The colonists call him Slewfoot, demon, devil. To Abitha, a recently widowed outcast, alone and vulnerable in her pious village, he is the only one she can turn to for help.

Together, they ignite a battle between pagan and Puritan – one that threatens to destroy the entire village, leaving nothing but ashes and bloodshed in their wake.

Send us a text

Thanks so much for listening to I’d Read That!

We’d love to hear from you—your feedback, questions, and book suggestions help shape the show. Drop us a line anytime at [email protected]
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Want a little more between episodes? Subscribe to our Substack for bonus thoughts, updates, and companion pieces at idreadthat.substack.com.

And of course, if you enjoyed the episode, tell a friend or leave us a review—it really helps us grow this book-loving community.

In this episode, we discuss books that don't fit into one genre box neatly. We delved into novels that add a twist to familiar stories; horror that becomes healing, sci-fi that becomes terrifying, and fantasy with real-world emotional stakes.

Non-Book Things

Below Deck Mediterranean

Peacemaker Season 2

Books Mentioned

Play Nice by Rachel Harrison

The Sentence by Louise Erdrich

Genre Bending Books

Home Before Dark by Riley Sager

All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders

Dead Silence by SA Barnes

Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki

Strange Love by Ann Aguirre

A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

Send us a text

Thanks so much for listening to I’d Read That!

We’d love to hear from you—your feedback, questions, and book suggestions help shape the show. Drop us a line anytime at [email protected]
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Want a little more between episodes? Subscribe to our Substack for bonus thoughts, updates, and companion pieces at idreadthat.substack.com.

And of course, if you enjoyed the episode, tell a friend or leave us a review—it really helps us grow this book-loving community.

It's time to reveal how Jerry handled his Spicy Romance Challenge. There were laughs, tears, pearl clutching; it's all here and more!

Non-Book Things

Alice in Borderland

More Lawn Work!

Book Things

Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green

Absolutely No Thoughts of Pounding During My Fun Day with This Kind T-Rex Because I'm Aromantic and Asexual and That's a Wonderfully Valid Way of Proving Love Is Real by Chuck Tingle

Liz's Spicy Romance Challenge 

Send us a text

Thanks so much for listening to I’d Read That!

We’d love to hear from you—your feedback, questions, and book suggestions help shape the show. Drop us a line anytime at [email protected]
.

Want a little more between episodes? Subscribe to our Substack for bonus thoughts, updates, and companion pieces at idreadthat.substack.com.

And of course, if you enjoyed the episode, tell a friend or leave us a review—it really helps us grow this book-loving community.

 This week, we're doing a deep dive into seven essential short story collections. We cover books that span the entire emotional spectrum: from Argentine gothic horror and Korean surrealism to sharp American satire and the most swoon-worthy love stories you've ever read. If you only listen to one episode about short stories, make it this one! 

Non-Book Things

3rd Annual Ostomy Race for Awareness

28 Years Later

Books Mentioned

Exhaltations  by Ted Chaing

The Booker Prize 2025 Shortlist

Short Story Collections:

Things We Lost in the Fire by Mariane Enrique

Out There by Katie Folk

The Office of Historical Corrections by Danielle Evans

The Rock Eaters by Brenda Peynado

Cursed Bunny by Bora Chung

Her Body and Other Parties by Her Body and Other Parties

Love in Color by Bolu Babalola

Book Club Pick!

 Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery by Brom 

Send us a text

Thanks so much for listening to I’d Read That!

We’d love to hear from you—your feedback, questions, and book suggestions help shape the show. Drop us a line anytime at [email protected]
.

Want a little more between episodes? Subscribe to our Substack for bonus thoughts, updates, and companion pieces at idreadthat.substack.com.

And of course, if you enjoyed the episode, tell a friend or leave us a review—it really helps us grow this book-loving community.

Gang, what a special episode for all this go round. We're celebrating our 50th episode!

In honor of that, we are revisiting our first episode where we discuss our Mt. Rushmore of books...and there have been changes!

Find out what they are and drop a note via email or on our Substack.

Non-Book Things

TruFru Snacks

Jerry's Lawn

Irish Works: Episode 39

Book Things

The Possession of Alba Diaz by Isabel Canas

The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Farrow - My playlist

Liz's Rushmore

Jerry's Rushmore

Send us a text

Thanks so much for listening to I’d Read That!

We’d love to hear from you—your feedback, questions, and book suggestions help shape the show. Drop us a line anytime at [email protected]
.

Want a little more between episodes? Subscribe to our Substack for bonus thoughts, updates, and companion pieces at idreadthat.substack.com.

And of course, if you enjoyed the episode, tell a friend or leave us a review—it really helps us grow this book-loving community.

In this episode, we let ourselves gush over all things Riley Sager—the twists, the thrills, the atmosphere, and why his books are such addictive reads. From favorite characters to unforgettable reveals, we dig into what makes Sager’s work so compulsively bingeable and why we can’t stop coming back for more.

Non Book Things

America's Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys

Alien: Earth

Books Mentioned

When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy

Riley Sager books:

Middle of the Night

The Last Time I Lied

Lock Every Door

Home Before Dark

Final Girls

The House Across the Lake

With a Vengeance

Survive the Night

The Only One Left

Send us a text

Thanks so much for listening to I’d Read That!

We’d love to hear from you—your feedback, questions, and book suggestions help shape the show. Drop us a line anytime at [email protected]
.

Want a little more between episodes? Subscribe to our Substack for bonus thoughts, updates, and companion pieces at idreadthat.substack.com.

And of course, if you enjoyed the episode, tell a friend or leave us a review—it really helps us grow this book-loving community.

It's hot. So hot.

July is a good time to reflect on 2025 so far and share some thoughts about how our reading journey is progressing. 

Spoiler Alert, it's going great!

What are your favorite reads so far in 2025?

Non-Book Things

The Bear - Season 4 Trailer

Summer 5K Training

Book Things

Hungerstone by Kat Dunn

The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohammed

Mid-Year Highlights

The Art Thief by Michael Finkel

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

Into the Bright Open: A Secret Garden Remix by Cherie Dimaline

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix

Send us a text

Thanks so much for listening to I’d Read That!

We’d love to hear from you—your feedback, questions, and book suggestions help shape the show. Drop us a line anytime at [email protected]
.

Want a little more between episodes? Subscribe to our Substack for bonus thoughts, updates, and companion pieces at idreadthat.substack.com.

And of course, if you enjoyed the episode, tell a friend or leave us a review—it really helps us grow this book-loving community.

In this special episode, we explore the Enneagram through the lens of literature—matching all 9 personality types with unforgettable characters and storylines that reflect their deepest motivations, struggles, and growth arcs. Whether you're a loyal Type 6, a passionate Type 4, or a driven Type 3, there’s a book on this list that will feel like it was written for you.

Non Book Things:

Lorde - "Shapeshifter"

Pink Pony Club - Kids Bop

Book Things

Caught Up by Navessa Allen

Love Theoretically by Ali Hazlewood

Enneagram Books

Take a free Enneagram Test

Type 1: The Reformer

• Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker
• The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Type 2: The Helper

• Beartown by Fredrik Backman
• Samwise Gamgee from The Lord of the Rings 

Type 3: The Achiever

• The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
• The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald

Type 4: The Individualist

• The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

Type 5: The Investigator

• Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
• The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green

Type 6: The Loyalist

• The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

Type 7: The Enthusiast

• Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
• It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey

Type 8: The Challenger

• Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

Type 9: The Peacemaker

• Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson
• Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree

Send us a text

Thanks so much for listening to I’d Read That!

We’d love to hear from you—your feedback, questions, and book suggestions help shape the show. Drop us a line anytime at [email protected]
.

Want a little more between episodes? Subscribe to our Substack for bonus thoughts, updates, and companion pieces at idreadthat.substack.com.

And of course, if you enjoyed the episode, tell a friend or leave us a review—it really helps us grow this book-loving community.

In today's episode, Jerry & Liz discuss their next book club pick, Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker.

Cora Zeng is a crime scene cleaner, washing away the remains of brutal murders and suicides in Chinatown. But none of that seems so terrible when she’s already witnessed the most horrific thing possible: her sister, Delilah, being pushed in front of a train.

Before fleeing the scene, the murderer shouted two words: bat eater.

We discuss all the gory details in this spoiler filled episode. There's a lot of blood and ghosts!!

Send us a text

Thanks so much for listening to I’d Read That!

We’d love to hear from you—your feedback, questions, and book suggestions help shape the show. Drop us a line anytime at [email protected]
.

Want a little more between episodes? Subscribe to our Substack for bonus thoughts, updates, and companion pieces at idreadthat.substack.com.

And of course, if you enjoyed the episode, tell a friend or leave us a review—it really helps us grow this book-loving community.