This week we're talking about a mystery that took us by surprise. Author Karin Slaughter has written dozens of books, and this particular story stands out because it's deeply relationship driven. We talk about the suspects, the teenage girls at the center of the crimes, the unexpected second and third acts, and our hopes for this to become a television mini series. In our catch up this week, Kaitlin gets ready to put up her Christmas tree, Molly recaps meeting Heather Aimee O'Neill, and Steph shares putting the finishing touches on the Golden Hour cover. In what we're reading this week, Steph is revisiting a childhood classic, Molly finishes the memoir of a social media star, and Kaitlin relives memorable music moments with Cameron Crowe's memoir. To follow along with all of our book recommendations, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at [email protected]. 

Join us for our third annual holiday gift recommendation episode! This week we are sharing ideas for everyone on your list. We've got coffee table books, cookbooks, young adult novels, memoirs, poetry collections, and books that will instantly upgrade the look of your shelves. In our catch up this week, Molly raves about Friendsgiving, Steph finalizes the cover design for Golden Hour, and Kaitlin recaps her trip to Portland, Maine. In what we're reading this week, Steph races through Between Two Kings, Molly gushes about a restaurateur memoir, and Kaitlin falls down the rabbit hole with a new hockey romance series. You can find all of our book picks on Instagram, @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at [email protected]. 

We've got the giggles this week, reminiscing about past pop culture obsessions. In our catch up, Kaitlin reviews the page-to-screen adaptation of Regretting You, Steph is devouring the new episodes of Maxton Hall, and Molly admits to binge-watching the entire new season of Selling Sunset. Our book this week is E. Lockhart's We Fell Apart. We discuss the Massachusetts setting, the wildly eccentric characters, the fractured family relationships (her signature), read aloud a passage we think is her best writing yet, and reveal some of her real life author friends who are thanked in the acknowledgements. In what we're reading this week, Molly begins a Karin Slaughter murder mystery and Steph details Rebecca Yarros' The Last Letter. To follow along with all of our book recommendations, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at [email protected]. 

This week we're discussing Buckeye, a relationship-driven book about life in small town America across several decades. We talk about how the story follows both the characters and our country as they move through big changes, the ways in which the writing felt observational, and the themes of duty and repression. In our catch up this week, Kaitlin seeks overalls advice from Steph, Steph recaps her time dog sitting in Indiana, Molly attends a live podcast recording with Katie Sturino, and Kaitlin fills us in on her first Halloween party at her new house and the installation of her Little Free Library. In what we're reading this week, Steph enjoys Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score, Molly raves about the newest cowboy romance from Jessica Peterson, and Kaitlin starts Lightlark by Alex Aster. To follow along with all of our book picks, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at [email protected]. 

This week we are transported to Long Island, literally and via the setting of this debut novel. We are talking about The Irish Goodbye by Heather Aimee O'Neill, which was selected as the Jenna Reads Book Club pick for October 2025. We talk about the family drama genre (and Molly shouts out a few of her favorites), the uniqueness of siblings as narrators, the undercurrent of grief throughout this story, the role of religion in intergenerational dynamics, and our thoughts on a potential screen adaptation. In our catch up this week, Kaitlin recaps her trip to the North Fork of Long Island, and Molly shares about a visit to a new restaurant in the Fenway neighborhood. In what we're reading this week, Kaitlin encounters the paranormal in the new Lyla Sage series, and Molly hits the jackpot with a popular thriller find in a Little Free Library. To follow along with all of the books that we mention, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at [email protected]. 

This week we're gushing about the first novel from an author we all adore: Rainbow Rowell. We reviewed Rowell's Slow Dance (Chapter 49) and were excited to go back in time to the book that started it all. We talk about the power of coming-of-age stories, this sweet relationship that blooms on the school bus, the potent mix of excitement and nervousness of a first crush, how this moment in time (the 1980s) differs from how we communicate today, and our resounding agreement that we will read anything this author puts out into the world. In our catch up this week, Kaitlin has a bestie in town and goes to her first headbanger concert, Steph has a great time dog sitting and admits her wing woman status at the bookstore, and Molly visits an unusual and delicious dessert cafe. In what we're reading this week, Molly picks up TV writer Monica Heisey's Really Good, Actually, Kaitlin makes an impulse purchase at an indie bookstore, and Steph continues to embrace hoa hoa hoa season with Ali Hazelwood's newest, Mate. To follow along with all of our book recommendations, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at [email protected]. 

This week we're talking about a very special book with a truly unusual narrator - Marcellus the octopus. We discuss how cover art influences our first impression of a story, emotion-driven vs. action-oriented plots, the beautiful relationship between Tova and Cameron, the moving way this book makes you think about the circle of life, and how it encourages readers to find joy in the small moments. We also share all the questions we wish we could ask the author and our excitement to see the film adaptation when it comes to Netflix. In our catch up this week, Steph asks, "is it perimenopause or is it a handsome man?" and reacts to the first draft of the cover art for her book. Molly raves about two recent dining experiences at Nebo and Sofra, noting her commitment to supporting female-owned businesses. In what we're reading this week, Steph embraces Hoa Hoa Hoa season with werewolf story Bitten, and Molly falls in love with the Lioness of Boston, sparking a heated discussion about whether or not Isabella Stewart Gardner was a Libra. To follow along with all of our book picks, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at [email protected]. 

This week we're praising the pride of Massachusetts, Taylor Jenkins Reid, as we celebrate her latest novel, Atmosphere. We talk about childhood fascination with the stars and space, our deepened appreciation for NASA's Mission Control, how this may be her most romantic story yet, and the 'butter moment' that left us swooning. In our catch up this week, Steph shares an interaction at the bookstore and updates us on her self-publishing journey, Kaitlin recaps her trip to the Oceans Calling music festival, and Molly gushes about her birthday celebrations. In what we're reading this week, Molly is reeled in by the first sentence of Patrick Ryan's Buckeye, Steph tears through the latest from E. Lockhart, and Kaitlin finds a gem at the Brookline Booksmith with a very unique premise. To follow along with all of our book recommendations, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at [email protected]. 

This week we're talking about a children's book that rustled up many childhood memories. Pax is the story of a boy and his pet fox, separated but determined to find their way back to each other. We talk about the parallels to Homeward Bound and Toy Story, how an animal as a central character reels in young readers, the importance of found family, and the meaning behind the name Pax. In our catch up this week, Stephanie introduces a new segment inspired by handsome visitors to the bookstore, Kaitlin shares the challenges of puppy training and her excitement for some upcoming outings, and Molly congratulates a friend of the pod on the upcoming opening of her indie bookstore. In what we're reading this week, Steph finishes Atmosphere and moves on to a racy story set in Boston, Molly is charmed by the octopus in Remarkably Bright Creatures, and Kaitlin is enjoying Angeline Boulley's latest release. To follow along with all of our book picks, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at [email protected]. 

This week we're discussing a very short book with a powerful punch. Address Unknown is an epistolary novel set in the 1930s that tells the story of two business partners whose relationship is dramatically impacted by Hitler's rise to power. We talk about the letter writing format, the erosion of the characters' friendship, parallels to changes we're seeing in the U.S. government today, and how we believe this should be required reading in every high school. In our catch up this week, Steph shares about some recent cuteness at the bookstore and her decision to self-publish Golden Hour, and Molly admits all the ways she is clinging to summer at the beach. In what we're reading this week, Steph is enjoying a family drama with an incredible title and Molly is happy to be reunited with Elissa Sussman's characters for her third book. To follow along with all of our book recommendations, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at [email protected].