Life and Lit

This week, Sydney and Paige wrap up 2022 with a look back at the first year of podcasting and the books read. We answer questions about our favorites of the year, memorable characters, and how we became book lovers in the first place. 

This week Sydney and Paige wrap up their holiday picks with "The Christmas Bookshop" by Jenny Colgan.  Carmen's life is upended when she suddenly loses her job and has to move in with her sister Sofia in Edinburgh.  At first reluctant, Carmen starts to settle in to her new job at the quirky bookstore she's trying to help save in the charming city she never thought she'd call home.  With a love triangle, idyllic setting, and holiday magic, what's not to love?

This week, Sydney and Paige hop across the pond with "Royal Holiday" by Jasmine Guillory. This wasn't the Harry and Meghan vibes we expected, but still serves up some good Hallmark moments. Plus, we will dive into our thoughts on the real Royal family, the Crown, and that hot new Netflix docuseries. 

This week, Sydney and Paige round out November with "American Dirt" by Jeanine Cummins. This novel focuses on the struggles a young mother faces as she is forced to flee from Mexico into America, and the depths she will go to to protect her son. We dive into this immigration story, and some of the controversy surrounding it this week. 

Sydney and Paige discuss one of their favorite books by a favorite author, 11/22/63 by Stephen King. This book has it all-historical fantasy, romance, and some JFK. Tune in to hear our takes on 11/22/63!

This week Sydney and Paige discuss the debut novel of the pod's threepeat author Taylor Jenkins Reid.  Published long before her popular bestsellers "Evelyn Hugo", "Carrie Soto", and "Daisy Jones", "Forever, Interrupted" follows the whirlwind romance of Elsie Porter and Ben Ross.  Elsie and Ben quickly fall head over heels for each other until they romance is cut short by Ben's death in an accident.  "Forever, Interrupted" follows Elsie's grief with flashbacks of their once in a lifetime romance.

This week Sydney and Paige discuss the sweeping family saga written by Juliet Grames, "The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna." Despite Paige's protesting about the depressing nature of the book, we think you'll love this story of human resiliency that centers around Stella Fortuna, a young woman who immigrates to America from Italy. It's a tale of hardship, family, and history all wrapped in to one. 

This week Sydney and Paige discuss the highly anticipated new release from Colleen Hoover "It Starts With Us".  After the success of "It Ends With Us", CoHo gives fans a look at what happens next with Lily, Atlas, and Ryle.  An instant bestseller, tune in for our take on Lily and Atlas's world, CoHo's proclivity for unusual names, and the many T-Swift references we were able to draw (it was too easy).

This week Sydney and Paige close out spooky season with a thriller by another one of our favorite author's with "The Woman in Cabin 10" by Ruth Ware.  Tune in to hear our thoughts on yet another classic by Ware with the group setting and whodunnit vibes.  We didn't guess the twist at the end, but did you?