This week we are delighted to welcome to the show veteran journalist and debut novelist Juliet Izon. We discuss her childhood love of writing, her dream to work at Vogue, the first kernel of her book idea, the original title for The Encore and its deep meaning, casting inspiration for a future screen adaptation, her advice for aspiring writers, and why she believes adults need to have creative hobbies. Juliet also shares books she's read recently and loved. To see that full list, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at [email protected]. 

We have a thematic episode for you this week, as we share our favorite sports books. Spanning contemporary fiction, non-fiction, young adult, and middle grade, our top picks cover stories about baseball, football, surfing, track & field, and more. Our chat includes a lively discussion about the difference between being a fan of live sports vs. being endlessly curious about the behind-the-scenes realities of athlete lives. In our catch up this week, Steph recommends two TV shows, Kaitlin recaps her weekend hosting her college besties, and Molly gushes about a friend's birthday party that inspired her. In what we're reading this week, Steph reviews the new Riss M. Nielson book, Kaitlin plucks Stay True off her TBR pile, and Molly falls head over heels for Emma Brodie's Into the Blue. 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 welcome To The Gallows author Elizabeth Skarpnes to the show. She discusses her childhood love of reading, choosing library time over recess, how her book was inspired by a TikTok video, writing the first line in a Taco Bell parking lot, deciding to describe the story as "Tangled meets The Princess Bride," transitioning from nursing to writing full-time, the importance of booksellers championing authors, and how she made all her merch dreams come true with her Kickstarter campaign. To see the full list of Elizabeth's recommended reads, join us on Instagram, @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at [email protected]. 

This week we're chatting about the upcoming novel from an author we all adore. We deep dive on Cherry Baby, discussing the reality of moving through the world in a plus-size body, the love triangle that progressed unexpectedly, Rowell's commitment to honesty and messiness in relationships, who we think really needs to read this book, and how each of us rated it and why. In our catch up this week, Kaitlin recaps the Lady Gaga concert, Hello Kitty night at Fenway Park, the scallion pancake / crab rangoon mashup at Dynasty, and seeing her former student star in Outsiders. Molly shares about her trip to Charleston, including hitting five indie bookstores and trying the Kevin McAllister pizza at Renzo. Steph returns from New York City, sharing all the great food spots she hit and the serious dose of Spring she experienced. In what we're reading this week, Steph introduces us to The Fall of Iris Henley, Molly finishes F1 romance Crash Test, and Kaitlin falls down the space exploration rabbit hole with Rocket Men. To check out 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 debut novel that the author self-describes as "Daisy Jones & the Six meets Gossip Girl." We chat about receiving an early copy, meeting Juliet on her book tour, the cover art, how we pictured the three lead characters in our minds, the focus on music, the nostalgia of the college years, and our hopes for this to be adapted for the screen. In our catch up this week, Steph gives a recommendation for a TV show set in Boston and Molly recaps our evening at trivia night during the Bow Market Book Fair. In what we're reading this week, Steph finally gets her hands on Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke and Molly shares her real-time reaction to finishing Cherry Baby by Rainbow Rowell. 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 are joined by author and Heated Rivalry super fan, Jessica Guerrieri. We talk about what hooked us on the show, the beautiful combination of safety, consent, and vulnerability, the tunnel scene, Rose as the most beloved supporting character, freckle pens, and a shared love of Taylor Swift. Then, Jessica chats with us about her upcoming book, Both Can Be True. We discuss the category of "auto-fiction," the importance of hopeful stories, the complicated dynamic between sisters, addiction and recovery, and how women disappear in plain sight. To see the list of all the books we mentioned, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at [email protected]. 

This week we're discussing an epistolary novel that has taken the world by storm. We chat about the joy of reading letters, the fiery personality of the main character, the wide variety of topics covered - love, loss, grief, regret, romance, gardening, and gossip, the cover art design, and who we think will enjoy this book. In our catch up this week, Steph signs copies of Golden Hour at a bookstore, we have a day of fun seeing the page-to-screen adaptation of Reminders of Him, trying the St. Patrick's Day parfait at Dairy Queen, and starting the new murder mystery TV series 56 Days. In what we're reading this week, Steph finishes an ARC of Rainbow Rowell's Cherry Baby and Molly is 250 pages into Pictures of Him by Clare Leslie Hall. 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 solving a mystery with Holly Jackson's debut adult thriller. We discuss the expert pacing of the story, the interesting use of past and present tense, the endearing friendship between Jet and Billy, and our desire for this to become a TV miniseries. In our catch up this week, Kaitlin starts researching 55+ communities, and Molly admits her new obsession with her local "Buy Nothing" group. In what we're reading this week, Kaitlin is devouring the ARC of Both Can Be True by Jessica Guerrieri and Molly finishes The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. To follow along with all of the books we mentioned this week, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at [email protected]. 

Our "I'm coming to the cottage" candle is lit and we're talking about books 4 - 6 of the Game Changers series. We gush about the cherub of a person that is Harris, Ilya as a dog dad, the wedding scene we hope makes it to screen, the final book as a "love blimp," Kaitlin's desire for Kingfisher merch, and how the Heated Rivalry fandom rivals the Swiftie fandom for most dedicated. In our catch up this week, Kaitlin shares about her trip to Florida, hosting a baby shower, and a new restaurant that wowed her. Molly jumps for joy upon receiving her Girl Scout cookie delivery, gives her review of the Wuthering Heights movie, and we collectively sigh about the incoming snowstorm. In what we're reading this week, Molly is gripped by Holly Jackson's Not Quite Dead Yet and Kaitlin begins The Enemy of Time by Haley-Grace McCormick. To check out our full list of book recommendations, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at [email protected]. 

We've got all the feels like week after reading Emily Henry's homage to annual traditions. We talk about her gift for conjuring nostalgia, the way she creates intimacy without relying on the physical, the beauty with which she captures the evolution of friendship, and the setting details she chose for the state of Maine. In our catch up this week, we break down the Tell Me Lies series finale, share our winter Olympics highlights, and revisit our friendship origin story (from the night of the 2006 opening ceremony!). In what we're reading this week, Steph explains the popular Dungeon Crawler Carl, Molly gushes about the banter in a Christina Lauren romance, and we tease a book we'll cover in a future episode, The Encore by Juliet Izon. To follow along with all of our book recommendations, join us on Instagram @plansarebooked. You can also write to us at [email protected].