August! You came and went in a flash and somehow I kept reading even with back to school, sickness, and limited time to focus. My standout favorite is easily The Women on Platform Two by Laura Anthony. I can’t stop talking about it! Runner up favorites were Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe and The Matchmaker’s Gift. Did you have any favorites in August?

🎧 The Women on Platform Two ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎧 The Wishing Game ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎧 I’ll Come to You ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Bookstore Keepers ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎧 The Matchmaker’s Gift ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎧 A History of Wild Places ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎧 Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Deal with the Bossy Devil ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

🎧 The Dirty Version ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

🎧 The Sirens ⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎧 Full Bloom ⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎧 Play Nice ⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎧 84, Charing Cross Road ⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎧 Not Quite Dead Yet ⭐️⭐️

Remain ⭐️⭐️

In this episode, I sit down with Laura Anthony, author of The Women on Platform Two, a moving and powerful novel inspired by a true story of women in 1970s Dublin who risked everything to fight for reproductive rights. We chat about Laura’s many pseudonyms (and why she writes under them!), her favorite things about living in Ireland, and what’s next for her writing.

The Women on Platform Two weaves together past and present: in 1969, Maura and Bernie face devastating choices in a country where contraception is forbidden; in 2023, Saoirse begins to uncover just how hard-won today’s freedoms truly are. It’s an unforgettable story of courage, resilience, and the women who dared to change history.

IG: @lauraanthonybooks

Books that Laura Recommends:

Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall and PS I Love You by Cecelia Ahern (not the movie haha)

Books to Try:

The Secret Life of Beatrice Alright by Brooke Harris

Under Lying by Janelle Harris

Our August book club pick brought something extra special—author Virginia Evans herself joined us! We had the gift of listening as she shared the story behind The Correspondent, what it took to bring this novel to life, and even a glimpse at what’s next for her. It was such a beautiful, memorable night of conversation and connection.

⚠️ Spoiler Alert: This episode does contain spoilers, so be sure to finish the book before you listen!

This week I’m joined by 5 time author Amy Poeppel, whose brand new novel Far and Away takes us on a laugh-filled adventure of a house swap between families in Texas and Germany. Amy shares the personal connection she has with Germany, the quirky cultural nuances she loved weaving into the story, and the humor that makes her books such a delight. We also chat about what’s next for her writing—and she leaves us with five fantastic book recommendations you won’t want to miss!

Website: https://www.amypoeppel.com/

IG: @amypoeppel

Books Amy Recommends:

The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett, Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson, The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman, The Island Club by Nicola Harrison (April 2026), The Weekend Crashers by Jamie Brenner (Nov 2025)

This week my husband joins me on the mic for such a fun conversation! Ryan's sharing the last 10 books he’s read, how he finally found his way into fiction, and what surprised him along the way. We laughed a lot, swapped reading stories, and I think you’ll love hearing his perspective as a newer fiction reader.

The Books We Talked About:

Dragon Teeth - Michael Crichton, The Terminal List - Jack Carr, Dark Matter - Blake Crouch, Wolf Trap - Connor Sullivan , The River We Remember - William Kent Krueger , The Breach - Patrick Lee, True Believer - Jack Carr, Middle of the Night - Riley Sager, The Butcher - Jennifer Hillier , Upgrade - Blake Crouch 

This week, I’m joined by the incredibly talented Lynda Cohen Loigman, author of The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern and three other beautiful novels. Lynda’s last two books have woven in just a touch of magic—something we definitely dive into during our chat. We talk about her writing journey, her decision to add a dash of the mystical to otherwise grounded stories, and what life looks like both on and off the page these days. If you love stories that blend heart, humor, and a little enchantment, this episode’s for you.

Her recommended books: Far and Away by Amy Poeppel, The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo, The Stone Witch of Florence by Anna Rasche

Website: https://lyndacohenloigman.com/

IG: @lloigman

This week, I’m sharing a mid-month check-in that’s close to my heart...the joy of a surprise birthday trip with my sisters and the reminder of how special it is to reconnect. I also give you a peek into my recent reads, current reads, and the stories that have been keeping me company. It’s a mix of heartwarming moments and bookish chatter — the perfect blend for a cozy listen. Thanks for being here.

Internationally bestselling author Samantha Downing is back with a killer new book—literally. Too Old For This stars an elderly woman who just happens to be a serial killer, and let’s just say… she’s not slowing down anytime soon. We had such a fun chat about twisted characters, dark humor, and why murder might just be the ultimate retirement plan.

Website: https://www.samanthadowning.com/

IG: @smariedowning

To celebrate my 39th birthday, I’m sharing 39 book recommendations—yes, all 39 made it into this episode! From thrillers and rom-coms to memoirs and comfort reads, I’ve got something for every kind of reader. I also kick things off with a quickfire round of fun “get to know me” questions! Grab a treat, press play, and come celebrate with me!

THE LIST

1. Every Beautiful Mile by Ashley Manley
2. 🎧 We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer
3. Forever and Back by Ashley Manley
4. 🎧 Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
5. 🎧 Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by Jessica Guerierrie
6. 🎧 The Poppy Fields by Nikki Erlick
7. 🎧 Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall
8. It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan
9. 🎧 The Corespondent by Virginia Evans
10. 🎧 The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett
11. 🎧 The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau by Kristin Harmel
12. 🎧 Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
13. 🎧 These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean
14. 🎧 Night Watcher by Daphne Woolsoncroft
15. 🎧 The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff
16. 🎧 Beach House Rules by Kristy Woodson Harvey
17. 🎧 The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman
18. 🎧 Here One Moment by Lianne Moriarty
19. 🎧 The Heart of Winter by Jonathan Evison
20. 🎧 Orbital by Samantha Harvey
21. 🎧 Is She Really Going Out With Him? by Sophie Cousens
22. 🎧 The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop
23. 🎧 If We Were Villians by ML Rio
24. 🎧 The Same Bright Stars by Ethan Joella
25. 🎧 The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
26. 🎧 The Goddess of Warsaw by Lisa Barr
27. 🎧 Real Americans by Rachel Khong
28. 🎧 Middletide by Sarah Crouch
29. 🎧 Kill for Me, Kill for You by Steve Cavanagh
30. The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh
31. 🎧 Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett
32. 🎧 Sylvia’s Second Act by Hilary Yablon
33. 🎧 While You Were Out by Meg Kissinger
34. 🎧 The Home for Unwanted Girls by Joanna Goodman
35. 🎧 Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra
36. 🎧 Long Bright River by Liz Moore
37. 🎧 The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
38. 🎧 The Measure by Nikki Erlick
39. 🎧 The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger

Author Ellie Palmer is back! Her charming debut Four Weekends and a Funeral was a Book of the Month pick, and now she’s just released her second novel Anywhere With You. We chat all about her writing journey, her swoony new romance, and what it’s like to follow up a buzzy debut with another heartfelt hit. Thanks for listening!

Website: https://www.elliepalmerwrites.com/

IG: @elliepalmerwrites