🚨 Book rants & wildly fluctuating opinions incoming! 🚨

This week, Rachael Johns and Anthea Hodgson take on Sally Rooney’s latest, where two brothers navigate grief, romance, and existential dread—all while occasionally playing chess.

Along the way, we discuss:

♟️ The many, many chess metaphors—how far is too far?

📖 Why this book is giving Ulysses energy (but make it Rooney)

💔 A love triangle that had us screaming “just pick someone already!”

🎭 The existential crisis of two brothers navigating grief, relationships, and Dublin

And, of course, we rate it: Kiss, Kill, or Marry? (Spoiler: it’s a tough call.)

⏰ Timestamps

00.00 Intro

1.19 Sally Rooney is very young and very famous – like Rachael!

2.04 The more famous you are – the shorter your biography

3.47 Rachael has reasons for reading Rooney – Anthea’s just here for the accents

5.42 The blurb – not bad – but does it over promise?

6.42 Sibling drama and its role in literature and in life

9.06 Rating Intermezzo – Kiss, Kill and Cigarettes

10.22 Are long books the enemy? Does size really matter?

12.47 Goodreads ratings – Sally Rooney is more popular than Guinness

15.25 Meet Peter and Ivan, and the women they love, mostly

21.13 Reviews – the good, the bad and the ugly

22.01 Autism and disability in fiction

25.06 James Joyce – what are you doing here?

32.17 Crisis! Every time we meet a new character

35.17 Killing Intermezzo, with love

36.54 Rachael susses Anthea out for a throuple. Anthea is not keen.

39.42 Hat puzzle confusion (no green hats were harmed in the making of this

conversation)

41.47 What does Intermezzo mean, anyway?

42.45 The Bridges of Madison County next time! Surely it’s a marry???

👉 Listen now, subscribe, and tell us—did Intermezzo hit or miss for you?

🚨 Time travel, book rants & chaos incoming! 🚨

In this episode of Reading Between Deadlines, Rachel Johns and Anthea Hodgson take on The Ministry of Time—a book that dares to mix time travel, romance, and social commentary. Does it work? Do they even understand the plot? Who's to say!

Along the way, they tackle:⏳ The baffling science of time travel (we’re still confused)💔 A romance that…was technically there?🔥 Sideburns, honour, and whether Victorian men can handle the 21st century🤯 A plot twist that came in way too late📖 The real reason this book blew up (spoiler: we have theories)

Plus: Listener reviews, husbands with opinions, and a rating system that gets more chaotic by the episode.

Join us for bookish banter, hot takes, and at least one moment of Wait, what just happened? 🎙️

👉 Subscribe, leave us a review (preferably with words!), and tell us what book to tackle next!

⏰ Timestamps

00:00 – Intro & Weather Chat – Because every good book discussion starts with a dramatic climate update.

03:42 – Podcast Reviews & Listener Feedback – We read your reviews! Some glowing, some… interesting.

06:39 – Husband's Feedback & Podcast Dynamics – The men have opinions. Some are useful. Some are… less so.

09:12 – Introducing the Book: The Ministry of Time – Time travel, romance, and sideburns for days.

10:35 – Book Awards & Reception – This book has won everything. But do we agree?

12:26 – Book Recap & Our Wildly Fluctuating Rating System – Kiss, Kill, Marry—or do we need a new category?

13:56 – Character Names & Why We Apparently Don’t Need Them – A bookish trend or just confusing?

14:18 – Story Recap: Time Travellers, Secret Agencies & Victorian Charm – A crash course in who’s who.

16:13 – Time Travel & Romance: A Perfect Pairing? – Or just an awkward history lesson?

18:05 – Social Commentary: Race, Climate Change & Colonialism – Big themes, but do they land?

20:07 – Plot Twists & Character Development – Surprises! Betrayals! Future versions of ourselves!

22:04 – Ratings & Personal Reflections – Is this a book we’d marry, kiss, or dramatically dump?

26:04 – Final Thoughts on the Book – Wrapping it all up before we time travel out of here.

28:49 – The Romance: A Slow Burn or Just… Slow? – Exploring the chemistry (or lack thereof).

35:00 – Confusion vs. Clarity: Did We Keep Up? – A deep dive into what worked and what left us scratching our heads.

41:28 – Why Is This Book So Popular? – Theories, analysis, and maybe a tiny existential crisis.

46:20 – Engaging with Literature & What’s Next – Looking ahead, plus how you can help pick future books!

Rachael Johns and Anthea Hodgosn interview author Jacqueline Bublitz about her latest book (and book club pick), LEAVE THE GIRLS BEHIND. They discuss Jacqueline's journey from a call center worker to a successful author, her writing process, and the themes explored in her novels, particularly around crime and gender. The conversation delves into the challenges of writing, character development, and the influence of personal experiences on her storytelling. Jacqueline also shares insights into her reading habits and future projects, making for an engaging and insightful discussion for book lovers.

👋 Follow Jacqueline

💻 Jacqueline’s Website

📸 Jacqueline’s Instagram

⏰ Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest

03:25 Jacqueline Bublitz: Author's Journey and Background

06:20 Transition to Writing: From Reviews to Novels

11:59 Exploring 'Leave the Girls Behind': Concept and Themes

16:18 Character Development and Writing Process

21:45 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

23:21 Navigating Expectations and Second Book Syndrome

26:15 Exploring the Crime Genre and Its Nuances

30:52 Reading Habits and Influential Books

36:47 Upcoming Projects and Themes in Writing

39:20 Introduction to the Book Club

39:21 Engaging with Literature

🎥 Watch it now

Join authors Rachel Johns and Anthea Hodgson in their inaugural episode of 'Reading Between Deadlines,' where they dive into Miranda July's eyebrow-raising 'All Fours.' They debate the book's shock value, delve into its portrayal of midlife awakenings, and humorously dissect its outrageous moments. Don't miss their playful banter and honest critique as they rate the book on their unique 'Kiss, Kill, Marry' scale. Plus, get a sneak peek at upcoming reads and author interviews!

⏰ Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to Reading Between Deadlines

00:42 Meet the Hosts: Rachel and Anthea

00:56 The Origin of Rachel Johns Book Club

03:42 Transition to Podcasting

05:25 Podcast Rules and Rating System

08:00 First Book Discussion: All Fours by Miranda July

11:28 Diving into the Plot and Characters

16:43 Themes and Shock Value

22:16 Questioning the Protagonist's Attraction

22:36 The Unlikely Romance

23:10 Self-Absorption and Midlife Crisis

23:50 The Social Media Dilemma

24:39 Exploring Relationship Dynamics

25:20 Menopause and Sexuality

29:46 Coincidences and Plot Twists

34:39 Privilege and Relatability

38:37 Final Thoughts and Reflections

43:06 Upcoming Book Club Picks

In just under a week, our bookish podcast, Reading Between Deadlines launches and we can’t wait to share it with you!

Here’s a sneak peek…sneak listen? Sneak listen…🎧😊

What should we read next? Let us know in the comments below.