If you’ve ever looked back at your younger self and thought, “Girl… you deserved better books,” this episode is for you. This week on Mad About Books, we’re unpacking the five titles I wish someone had shoved into my tote bag at nineteen—books that aren’t self-help, but somehow still healed, challenged, and shaped me in all the right ways.

Think of this as the older-sister pep talk I desperately needed prior to being 19: honest, cozy, a little chaotic, and full of stories about the pages that taught me how to think, feel, dream, and actually live. We’re talking fiction that rewired my brain, classics that humbled me, and those unexpected reads that still echo in my faith, my creativity, and my sense of self today.

Whether you’re nineteen right now (bless you) or simply nostalgic for your bookish origin story, this episode is packed with warmth, wisdom, and recs that will make you fall in love with reading all over again.

Get comfy, grab a latte, and let’s talk about the books that could’ve changed everything a little sooner.

Let's begin. 

CONNECT WITH ME AND FIND YOUR NEXT FAVORITE BOOK! 

My Blog with thoughtful, concise book reviews: https://madaboutbooks.blog/ 

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If you're anything like me, you love a book that takes place in the season you're actively experiencing. Especially when that season is fall. Today on the show, we're tackling the top seven books you have to read in the -ber months, with a specific emphasis on the perfect reads for Halloween that won't have you losing sleep, but will have you turning pages. Let's dive in, so you can live your best bookish life this autumn with all the cozy, spooky, and downright enjoyable reads! 

Let's begin. 

CONNECT WITH ME AND FIND YOUR NEXT FAVORITE BOOK! 

My Blog with thoughtful, concise book reviews: https://madaboutbooks.blog/ 

My Social Media so you can follow your new book bestie: https://www.instagram.com/madaboutbooks.blog/ 

Sign up for my email list so you never miss my content: https://madaboutbooks.blog/book-me/ 

What happens when a book girl answers the real questions about heartbreak, healing, and the stories that shape who we become?

Let's begin.

CONNECT WITH ME AND FIND YOUR NEXT FAVORITE BOOK! 

My Blog with thoughtful, concise book reviews: https://madaboutbooks.blog/ 

My Social Media so you can follow your new book bestie: https://www.instagram.com/madaboutbooks.blog/ 

Sign up for my email list so you never miss my content: https://madaboutbooks.blog/book-me/ 

Is it just me, or have you noticed an uptick in the trend of Hollywood saying a movie is inspired by a classic novel, but then completely changing the plotline? In today's episode, we're talking all about the 2026 movie adaptation of the beloved classic, Wuthering Heights, starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, and discussing why we should be offended by the way Hollywood takes such liberty with classic works.

While Hollywood seems to consistently negate the purpose of the works of classic authors, it's not the only thing they're targeting. They're going after the authors themselves. Join me for a passionate conversation all about why Hollywood is doing this, how it destroys the reputations of classical authors, especially the female ones, and why the longing and desperation in Wuthering Heights cannot be reduced merely to sexual tension. 

Let's begin. 

CONNECT WITH ME AND FIND YOUR NEXT FAVORITE BOOK! 

My Blog with thoughtful, concise book reviews: https://madaboutbooks.blog/ 

My Social Media so you can follow your new book bestie: https://www.instagram.com/madaboutbooks.blog/ 

Sign up for my email list so you never miss my content: https://madaboutbooks.blog/book-me/ 

After taking a week off to commemorate the life and sacrifice of Charlie Kirk, I'm back in the studio asking myself, "what's next?" I think I can confidently say that all of us feel a certain sense of urgency and determination following Charlie's assassination, but how do we move forward as creatives and readers? That's the questions I seek to answer in this episode, and I think you'll be surprised by some of my solutions. 

We as readers are in love with certain captors. Who are those captors? You'll just have to listen and find out. 

Let's begin. 

CONNECT WITH ME AND FIND YOUR NEXT FAVORITE BOOK! 

My Blog with thoughtful, concise book reviews: https://madaboutbooks.blog/ 

My Social Media so you can follow your new book bestie: https://www.instagram.com/madaboutbooks.blog/ 

Sign up for my email list so you never miss my content: https://madaboutbooks.blog/book-me/ 

Hating reading isn’t the end of the story—it’s just the beginning.

In this episode, I dive into why so many people (maybe even you or your friends) grew up disliking books and how to rediscover the joy of reading. We’ll talk about tracing back where that dislike started, experimenting with every kind of book until you stumble on something you genuinely love, and why the best place to start might be with older reads rather than anything written in the last decade.

Whether you’re a self-proclaimed book hater or just someone who hasn’t found the one yet, this episode is your permission slip to reset your reading life.

Let's begin.

CONNECT WITH ME AND FIND YOUR NEXT FAVORITE BOOK! 

My Blog with thoughtful, concise book reviews: https://madaboutbooks.blog/ 

My Social Media so you can follow your new book bestie: https://www.instagram.com/madaboutbooks.blog/ 

Sign up for my email list so you never miss my content: https://madaboutbooks.blog/book-me/ 

Are you a writer tired of only thinking about the marketability of your book during the writing process? Or are you a reader who is tired of reading books with ridiculous mistakes, unoriginal ideas, and the constant feeling that something is lacking? I'm both, and I want to see these problems solved in the world of literature. 

The good news is, we are the solution we've been waiting for. In this episode, come with me as I explore the topic of literature becoming a little too identical to fast fashion, and talk about how our tastes as readers set the tone for what does or doesn't become a bestseller. 

Let's begin. 

CONNECT WITH ME AND FIND YOUR NEXT FAVORITE BOOK! 

My Blog with thoughtful, concise book reviews: https://madaboutbooks.blog/ 

My Social Media so you can follow your new book bestie: https://www.instagram.com/madaboutbooks.blog/ 

Sign up for my email list so you never miss my content: https://madaboutbooks.blog/book-me/ 

Self-help books promise quick fixes, but the real transformation often comes from stories. In this episode, I explore why myth, poetry, and fiction shape us more deeply than another list of “life hacks.” From myth grounding us in meaning, to poetry sharpening our sense of truth and beauty, to fiction expanding our empathy—literature offers wisdom that self-help can’t. Let's begin!

CONNECT WITH ME AND FIND YOUR NEXT FAVORITE BOOK! 

My Blog with thoughtful, concise book reviews: https://madaboutbooks.blog/ 

My Social Media so you can follow your new book bestie: https://www.instagram.com/madaboutbooks.blog/ 

Sign up for my email list so you never miss my content: https://madaboutbooks.blog/book-me/ 

Ready to tune in to your new favorite podcast? I'm Madeline, and on the Mad About Books Podcast we'll be discussing only the best books. 

Whether you read to escape reality, go on adventures you only find through literature, or whether you want to write your own books in the future, you're in the right place. 

Click that play button to get all the details about my book reviews, my writing pursuits, and why books are the very best of companions! Let's begin.