Literature & Libations

In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Caro Claire Burke’s 2026 novel Yesteryear. Topics include the perils of social media, #tradwifelife, the Manosphere, unlikable main characters, and childrearing. Plus, we make a special announcement about the future of this podcast.

This week’s drink: Gin Old Fashioned via Difford’s Guide

INGREDIENTS 

• 2 oz Old Tom Gin (or oude genever)
• 1 tsp simple syrup (or, to get real old fashioned, a sugar cube)
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Stir all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice (30 stirs)
2. Strain into a chilled old fashioned glass with 1 large ice cube
3. Garnish with lemon or orange twist
4. If using a sugar cube, dash the bitters onto the cube so that it melts, then stir in remaining ingredients

Current/recommended reads, links, etc.:

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

Follow us on Instagram @literatureandlibationspod.

You can email us at [email protected].

Please leave us a review and/or rating! It really helps others find our podcast…and it makes us happy!

Purchase books via bookshop.org or check them out from your local public library. 

Join us next time as we read Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Dan Brown’s 2003 novel The Da Vinci Code. Topics include book monogamy, AP Art History, Robert Langdon aka Kayla’s Dream Man aka Cooler Dan Brown, the top-drawer mystery, why the church/men hate the idea of Jesus getting it on, the overall appeal of the Robert Langdon series, and religion and science. 

This week’s drink: The Holy Grail via Kindred Cocktails

INGREDIENTS 

• 1 1⁄2 oz Amaro Montenegro
• 1⁄2 oz Mezcal
• 3⁄4 oz Pineapple juice
• 1⁄2 oz Lime juice
• 1⁄4 oz Orgeat

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Shake it all up and strain over rocks in a rocks glass. Garnish with pineapple wedge and a few nice fronds.

Current/recommended reads, links, etc.:

East of Eden by John Steinbeck

The rest of the Robert Langdon series by Dan Brown

Widow’s Bay on AppleTV

Country People by Daniel Mason

Follow us on Instagram @literatureandlibationspod.

You can email us at [email protected].

Please leave us a review and/or rating! It really helps others find our podcast…and it makes us happy!

Purchase books via bookshop.org or check them out from your local public library. 

Join us next time as we read Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke.

In this week’s From-the-Patreon-Vault episode, we bring it all home with Breaking Dawn AND Midnight Sun (because we’re monsters, Bella!). Topics include “having a hair up your butt”, the end of an era(s tour), the imprinting on a baby of it all, the unnecessary length of Midnight Sun (and how it does Bella both dirty…and…well? ugh), Edward’s self-loathing, good ol’ Rigatoni, what our vampire powers would be, the enigma that is Stephenie Meyer, and the legacy of the Twilight Saga.

This month's cocktail: Born to be a Vampire

INGREDIENTS:

• Sparkling red wine
• Edible glitter

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Pour yourself a big glass of red wine, sparkling if you can get it
2. Add more sparkle with edible glitter
3. Sip and bask in the knowledge that you vamp better than anyone else

Well, it’s been a real slice, folks. Thanks for coming along on this journey with us! Join us next time as Kayla returns from maternity leave and we read The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown.

In this week’s From-the-Patreon-Vault episode, we somehow manage to get through the 3rd book in the Twilight Saga,  Total Eclipse of the Fart. Topics include the one good line in the book, the “love triangle”, Jacob being a total asshole (oh my god are we Team Edward??), the absolutely cringe way Bella talks about Her Personal Miracle Edward, this book being racist AF, the atrocity that is imprinting, Rosalie’s backstory, the twisted mind of Bella Swan (who just wants to get on that vampire dick), and some truly unsettling pieces of information about vampire sex. Plus, Kayla gives her report on Life and Death, the gender-swapped retelling of Twilight.

This month's cocktail: Eclipse Cocktail via Difford’s Guide

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 black olive
• ⅙ oz grenadine or pomegranate syrup 
• 1 ½ oz sloe gin
• ¾ oz gin

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Drop pitted black olive into glass and cover with grenadine
2. Stir gin and sloe gin with ice and carefully strain and pour down the shaft of a bar spoon to layer over grenadine

Join us next time as we conclude our Twilight Saga journey with Breaking Dawn and (dun dun duuuun) Midnight Sun! You know, just for funzies.

In this week’s From-the-Patreon-Vault episode, we (cliff) dive into the second book in the Twilight series: New Moon. Topics include the complete lack of fun Edward and Bella have together ever (meanwhile Aro is over in Italy have the most fun), tying your self-worth to a man, Kayla valiantly playing Bella’s advocate (much to Taylor’s ~chagrin~), passing the Twat Torch, Carlisle’s faith [WE INTERRUPT THIS PODCAST FOR IMPORTANT TAYLOR SWIFT NEWS], Ms. Meyer’s incredibly problematic use of Native peoples in her narrative, and New Moon Movie Corner!

This month's cocktail: “Where the Hell Have You Been, Loca?!”

INGREDIENTS: 

• 1 oz tequila
• 1 oz orange liqueur
• 2 oz Campari
• Juice of ½ orange, grapefruit, or any citrus you have lying around
• Tonic water, to top

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Add tequila, orange liqueur, Campari, and citrus juice in a shaker with ice. Shake until chilled.
2. Pour into a glass with ice and top with tonic water.

Join us next time as we continue our Twilight Saga re-read with Eclipse (the Thursday of the series, apparently…)

In this month's Patreon episode, we begin a new series: The Twilight Saga, by Stephanie Meyer. We start with…Twilight! Topics include our initial reactions to reading this book as emotional teens, Vampire Garbage Edward Cullen, Human Bowl of Oatmeal Bella, the unnervingly fast timeline of this book, what the heck is up with Stephenie Meyer, and Taylor’s utter ~chagrin~ throughout this episode. Plus, a quick Vampire Diaries tangent. And of course, we dive into the Twilight movie franchise.

This month's cocktail: The Skin of a Killer (aka Special Sparkly Gin & Tonic)

INGREDIENTS: 

• 6 oz elderflower tonic water (or regular tonic water)
• 1.5 oz Gin
• Juice of ½ lime
• 3 dashes lavender bitters
• 3 dashes orange bitters
• 1 tap edible glitter

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Fill tall glass with ice. Add all ingredients and stir
2. Garnish with a lime wheel
   
   
   

Join us next time as we continue our Twilight Saga re-read with New Moon!

In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Tom Lin’s 2026 novel Babylon, South Dakota. Topics include traveling to the Dakotas, sentences with “good mouth feel”, the confusing concept of the Methuselah Project (we try our best), the unexpectedly tragic ending, and the souls of animals. 

This week’s drink: South Dakota Gold Rush via Valiant Winery + Distillery

INGREDIENTS 

• 2 oz Clay Turner bourbon
• ¾ oz South Dakota honey syrup
  • Dissolve ½ cup honey into ¼ cup hot water. Let cool before using.
• ¾ oz fresh lemon juice

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice
2. Shake vigorously until well chilled
3. Strain into a whiskey glass
4. Garnish with a lemon wheel

Current/recommended reads, links, etc.:

Come As You Are: The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life by Emily Nagoski

Big Mistakes on Netflix

Avatar: The Last Airbender (live action) on Netflix

Angel Down by Daniel Kraus

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke

Follow us on Instagram @literatureandlibationspod.

You can email us at [email protected].

Please leave us a review and/or rating! It really helps others find our podcast…and it makes us happy!

Purchase books via bookshop.org or check them out from your local public library. 

Join us next time as we begin a revisit of the Twilight series - Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn - from previously recorded Patreon-only episodes, now available on the main feed!

In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Jeffrey Eugenides’s 2002 novel Middlesex. Topics include proper name pronunciation, iced coffee orders, surprising narrative decisions, the immigrant experience in America and the disillusionment of the American dream, Calliope/Cal and the turbulence of adolescence, and Cal’s ultimate decision on how to live his life. Plus, we go on a slight tangent about AI.

This week’s drink: Sidecar (via liquor.com)

INGREDIENTS 

• 1 1/2 ounces cognac
• 3/4 ounce orange liqueur (such as Cointreau)
• 3/4 ounce lemon juice, freshly squeezed
• Garnish: orange twist
• Garnish: sugar rim (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Coat the rim of a coupe glass with sugar, if desired, and set aside.
2. Add the cognac, orange liqueur and lemon juice to a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled.
3. Strain into the prepared glass.
4. Garnish with an orange twist.

Current/recommended reads, links, etc.:

Second Life: Having a Child in the Digital Age by Amanda Hess

Follow us on Instagram @literatureandlibationspod.

You can email us at [email protected].

Please leave us a review and/or rating! It really helps others find our podcast…and it makes us happy!

Purchase books via bookshop.org or check them out from your local public library. 

Join us next time as we read Babylon, South Dakota by Tom Lin

In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Louis Sachar’s 1998 novel Holes. Topics include childhood memories, the questionable Texas justice system, the tragic tale of Kissin’ Kate Barlow and Sam the Onion Man, coincidence or magic, Stanley’s growth, and terrible adults. Plus, we talk about the stellar movie adaptation, and other required reading in elementary school. 

This week’s drink: Ranch Water (via liquor.com)

INGREDIENTS 

• 1 1/2 ounces blanco tequila
• 1/2 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed
• Topo Chico, chilled, to top (about 6 ounces)
• Garnish: lime wedge

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Add all ingredients into a collins or highball glass over ice and stir briefly and gently to combine.
2. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Current/recommended reads, links, etc.:

Follow us on Instagram @literatureandlibationspod.

You can email us at [email protected].

Please leave us a review and/or rating! It really helps others find our podcast…and it makes us happy!

Purchase books via bookshop.org or check them out from your local public library. 

Join us next time as we read Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Xochitl Gonzalez’s 2026 novel Last Night in Brooklyn. Topics include the Great Gatsby parallels, bringing previous book characters back (oh hi Lily King), different types of privilege, brunch confrontations, nostalgia for the cities you lived in, early 2000s Muse and Shiny Toy Guns, Alicia’s journey, and the illusion of freedom wealth brings. Plus, we talk about the Netflix adaptation of Remarkably Bright Creatures.

This week’s drink: Bensonhurst via Difford’s Guide

INGREDIENTS 

• 1 1⁄2 oz Straight rye whiskey
• 1⁄3 oz Luxardo Maraschino liqueur
• 1 oz Dry Vermouth
• 1⁄6 oz Cynar or other carciofo amaro
• Maraschino cherry, for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Chill a coupe glass
2. Stir all ingredients with ice and strain into the chilled glass
3. Garnish with a maraschino cherry

Current/recommended reads, links, etc.:

Lit Hub Best of the Best Books Summer Reading Challenge

Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson

Follow us on Instagram @literatureandlibationspod.

You can email us at [email protected].

Please leave us a review and/or rating! It really helps others find our podcast…and it makes us happy!

Purchase books via bookshop.org or check them out from your local public library. 

Join us next time as we read Holes by Louis Sachar