In this special holiday episode, I’m diving into a festive holiday this-or-that—and along the way sharing some of the traditions and memories that shaped my childhood, plus the new ones I’m building with my own little family. It’s warm, nostalgic, a little reflective, and full of the cozy-season energy we all need right now.

I wrap things up with 15 holiday book recommendations to carry you through the season—everything from heartwarming reads to wintry escapes. You’ll find the full list waiting in the show notes!

Grab a blanket, light a candle, and settle in for some bookish holiday cheer.

Holiday TBR

1. Grace and Henry's Holiday Movie Marathon by Matthew Norman 2. Snow Kissed by RaeAnne Thayne 3. My Favorite Holidate by Lauren Blakely 4. Good Spirits by BK Borison 5. The Key to my Heart by Lia Louis 6. A Little Christmas Spirit by Sheila Roberts 7. Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan Henry 8. Eight Perfect Hours by Lia Louis 9. A Cross-Country Christmas by Courtney Walsh 10. One Last Gift by Emily Stone 11. A Gingerbread Bakery by Laurie Gilmore 12. One Day in December by Emily Stone 13. Dear Santa by Debbie Macomber 14. Merry Ex-Mas by Courtney Walsh 15. A Wedding in December by Sarah Morgan

Author Ashley Manley is back — and she’s my very first second-time guest on the podcast! We had so much to catch up on since her debut, including the exciting news that her beloved book Every Beautiful Mile is being pitched to Netflix (and is now available as an audiobook!). Ashley also shares the inspiration behind her brand-new Christmas novella The Holiday Club, plus her honest thoughts on choosing to stay indie for now. She’s as down-to-earth and genuine as ever, and it’s always such a joy to chat with her.

Grab her books here: https://www.ashleymanleywrites.com/

Get ready to build your 2026 TBR! In this episode, I’m sharing fifteen books coming out in the first half of the year that have already caught my eye. From anticipated debuts to big-name releases and a few hidden gems, we’re diving into all the upcoming titles I can’t wait to get my hands on.

The Line Up:

1. Meet the Newmans by Jennifer Niven (1/6)
2. The Infamous Gilberts by Angela Tomaski (1/20)
3. Warning Signs by Tracy Sierra (2/10)
4. Keeper of Lost Children by Sadeqa Johnson (2/10)
5. More Than Enough by Anna Quindlen (2/24)
6. Strangers in the Villa by Robyn Harding (3/3)
7. Everyone in this Bank is a Thief by Benjamin Stevenson (3/17)
8. Start at the End by Emma Grey (4/7)
9. My Dear You by Rachel Khong (4/7)
10. The Caretaker by Marcus Kliewer (4/21)
11. The One Day You Were My Husband by Rosie Walsh (5/19)
12. Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan (5/26)
13. A Fortune of Sand by Ruta Sepetys (6/2)
14. Land by Maggie O’Farrell (6/2) 
15. Nine Lives by Catherine Steadman (6/23)

This week, I’m joined by Julie Olivia, author of If It Makes You Happy—a cozy, small-town romance set in 1997 Vermont that’s full of flannel, baked goods, and second chances. We talk about her path from self-publishing to traditional publishing and what makes a romance feel like home. Thanks for listening!

Website: https://julieoliviaauthor.com/

IG: @julieoliviaauthor

This week, I’m joined by the wonderful bestselling author Monica Wood to chat all about her heartfelt new novel, How to Read a Book. It’s a story that beautifully explores forgiveness, second chances, and the quiet ways books can change our lives.

We talk about what inspired Violet, Harriet, and Frank’s intersecting stories, the real-life inspiration behind the prison book club at the heart of the novel, and how reading can help us find connection and healing when we least expect it.

If you love stories that remind you of the goodness still left in the world, this is one you won’t want to miss. How to Read a Book is tender, hopeful, and so fitting for book clubs — and my conversation with Monica felt like sitting down with an old friend who just really gets why we love stories.

Website: https://www.monicawood.com/

The Book Monica Recommends: Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel

October turned out to be one of my best reading months yet! I read 16 books—13 of them on audio—including three from the charming Emma M. Lion series. I also found several standout favorites that weren’t even on my original TBR (sometimes the best reads are the unexpected ones!). Tune in for all the highlights and surprises from a truly great month of reading.

Loved

🎧 Yellow Wife ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎧 The Book of Magic ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎧 Grace and Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎧 Buckeye ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

🎧 The Unselected Journals of Emma M Lion #5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎧 The Unselected Journals of Emma M Lion #6 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Liked

🎧 The Guncle ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎧 My Favorite Holidate ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎧 Good Spirits ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

One and Only ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎧 Before I Forget ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎧 The Unselected Journals of Emma M Lion #7 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Just okay, maybe skip

This Book Made Me Think of You ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

🎧Date Night in December ⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎧 Soul Searching ⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎧 Bride ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Once and Again ⭐️⭐️

Bestselling author B.K. Borison joins the podcast to talk about why romance deserves a seat at the literary table. *(cue fan girl moment for me!)* We talk about the importance of taking romance novels seriously, the joy of writing love stories that matter, and her enchanting new holiday book Good Spirits — a magical, heart-tugging romance that might just make you believe in the Ghost of Christmas Past. Thanks for listening!

Website: https://bkborison.com/

IG: @authorbkborison

WARNING: There will be spoilers about the Book!

Our October book club discussion is here! This month we dove into Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell — a breathtaking, emotional novel that reimagines the life and loss of Shakespeare’s only son. We chat all about O’Farrell’s exquisite writing, the portrait of Agnes as a wife and mother, and the ways grief and love can shape art. It’s a rich, heartfelt conversation that explores both the history behind the book and the emotional layers within it. Thanks for tuning in and being part of book club.

In this episode, I sit down with Laurie Gilmore, New York Times bestselling author of The Gingerbread Bakery. We dive into her journey from aspiring writer to bestselling author, the craft of writing small-town romance, and the magic of creating characters readers root for. Plus, Laurie gives us a peek at what’s coming next in her cozy, romantic universe. Thanks for listening!

Website: https://www.thelauriegilmore.com/

IG: @lauriegilmore_author

Curl up with your favorite fall drink and join me as I share 10 things I’m absolutely loving this season — from the coziest candle to the perfect fall playlist. Think of this episode as a warm hug in audio form. Thanks for listening!