Reading Materials

In this episode of Reading Materials, we sit down with L. V. Matthews to discuss her gripping new thriller To Love A Liar, out September 11, 2025.

We explore the art of plotting twists that keep readers guessing, the secrets behind her book dedications, and how she manages to write chilling mysteries while raising two children.

Join us for a conversation full of insight, intrigue, and a peek behind the curtain of a masterful storyteller.

Thank you to Viking and Penguin for sending us advanced copies of To Love a Liar.

In this episode of Reading Materials, we discuss Rie Qudan's Sympathy Tower Tokyo (released on August 21st, 2025). We enter into a deep discussion about the ins and outs of judicial systems, ponder the differences between Eastern and Western culture, and explore language and its evolution, including the use of AI in literature.

Join us for an interesting exploration of this translation of Rie Qudan's Tōkyō-to Dōjō Tō, originally published in 2024 in Japan, and winner of the Akutagawa Prize.

Thank you to Penguin for sending us advanced copies of this book!

Episode Timepoints:

00:00 - Intro

00:20 - Life Updates

05:45 - A Brief Introduction to the Author

08:20 - Spoiler Alert

08:50 - The Blurb

10:10 - Our Discussion of Sympathy Tower Tokyo

01:11:10 - Next Time on the Reading Materials Podcast

01:12:06 - Outro

In this episode of Reading Materials, we discuss Carissa Broadbent’s The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk (released on August 5th, 2025). We unpack our frustrations with the lack of chemistry between the main characters, the repetitiveness of the plot compared to the first book in the duology, and our lingering confusion around the world-building.

Join us for an honest conversation about what worked for us—and what didn’t—in this much-anticipated sequel.

Thank you to Tor and Pan Macmillan for sending us advanced copies of this book!

Episode Timepoints:

00:00 - Intro

00:20 - Life Updates

02:35 - Spoiler Alert

03:30 - A Brief Introduction to the Author

08:50 - The Blurb

09:50 - Our Discussion of The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk

53:15 - Next Time on the Reading Materials Podcast

53:55 - Outro

We are so excited to welcome our eighth author to our podcast! In this episode we speak with debut author Sarah Hamdan about her powerful first novel, 'What Will People Think?', released in May 2025.

Sarah shares how her own life experiences shaped the narrative, the vital role characters and setting play in telling authentic stories, and her hope to shine a light on Palestinian culture through fiction. Join us for a thoughtful conversation about identity, storytelling, and writing with purpose.

In this episode we dive into Josie Silver’s Slow Burn Summer. We share our honest reactions to the novel, from the lack of real chemistry between the main love interests to some of the over-the-top moments that pulled us out of the story. We also reflect on the challenge of giving critical reviews, especially when we’ve had the chance to speak directly with the author.

Episode Timepoints:

00:00 - Intro

00:20 - Life Updates

07:10 - Spoiler Alert

07:25 - An Introduction To the Author

12:00 - The Blurb

13:20 - Our Discussion of Slow Burn Summer

54:20 - Next Time on Reading Materials

55:15 - Outro

In this week's episode, we chat with bestselling author Josie Silver about her latest novel, Slow Burn Summer, released on July 17th.

Josie opens up about the experience of writing under pseudonyms, how fleeting real-life moments can spark entire stories, and what’s next on her horizon—including a delightful shift into cosy paranormal romance.

In this episode, we unpack The Other Wife  - the sharp, intimate debut by Jackie Thomas-Kennedy (published July 17th, 2025).

Join us for a conversation about unlikeable characters, its ambiguous title and cover, and how it made us reflect on our own lives in unexpected ways.

Episode Timepoints:

00:00 - Intro

01:15 - Life Updates

03:00 - A Brief Introduction to Jackie Thomas-Kennedy

05:35 - Spoiler Alert

06:05 - The Blurb

06:50 - Our Discussion of 'The Other Wife'

56:40 - Next Time on Reading Materials

57:45 - Outro

In this week's episode, we sit down with author Jackie Thomas-Kennedy, whose debut novel The Other Wife hits shelves on July 15th.

Jackie shares the journey of transforming short stories into a full-length novel, the intricacies of crafting character-driven narratives, and how she explores the texture of time in her writing. We dive into how reading books at the start of her writing sessions fuels her creativity and how poetry can inspire.

Episode Timepoints:

00:00 - Intro

00:30 - Interview with Jackie Thomas-Kennedy

47:45 - Outro

In this episode, we dig into The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst — where the plants have opinions, the family reunions come with emotional baggage, and the magic is as warm as a fresh-baked honey cake.

Join us as we talk about sentient flora, hark back to our love of The Spellshop, and why the greenhouses were more confusing than magical.

Episode Timepoints:

00:00 - Intro

00:20 - Life Updates

02:30 - An Introduction to the Author

05:00 - A Brief Chat About 'The Spellshop'

07:55 - The Blurb

09:15 - Our Discussion of 'The Enchanted Greenhouse'

58:30 - Next Time on the Reading Materials Podcast

59:30 - Outro

In this week's bonus episode we are so excited to be talking to New York Times Bestselling author Sarah Beth Durst, whose newest novel The Enchanted Greenhouse will be published on July 15th, 2025.

Join us as we talk finding joy, sentient plants, writing for different age groups and ... bunnies?

Thank you to Pan MacMillan for sending us an advanced reader copy of The Enchanted Greenhouse, and thank you so much to Sarah Beth for being our guest!