Reading Through Life

Show notes:

It’s monthly wrap up time! Today, we’re sharing 10 books that we read in February. It was an overall decent month for both of us. We’re both really into climate fiction lately, so it’s been fun to find more books in that genre. Hope you had a great reading month as well! 

 

Click here to join us on Patreon to get an exclusive bookish goodie every single Friday. With fun bonus episode series like: Monthly Overflow Books, Backlist Book Club, The New Books in Our Lives plus a private community for RTL Book Nerds only, you’re going to love being a part of our Patreon. Not only that, but you’re helping to support our show by saying I LOVE WHAT YOU DO. 

 

Find the time stamped show notes below with links to all of the fun things we mentioned.

 

Support indie bookstores by shopping our picks on Bookshop.org!

 

Something Bookish:

[5:01] S: Book stand to save you from wrist pain

[6:43] M: RTL tote bag to carry around all your books

 

Our February Reads:

[9:40] S: Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan

[11:29] M: The Hopkins Manuscript by R.C. Sherriff

[13:35] S: Someday, Maybe by Onyi Nwabinelli

[15:33] M: Have Mercy by N.E. Henderson

[18:26] S: Once More With Feeling by Elissa Sussman (out May 30, 2023)

[20:51] M: Ghost 19 by Simone St. James

[22:18] S: Good Girl Complex by Elle Kennedy

[24:25] M: The Sunflower by Simon Wiesenthal

[26:42] S: Cold People by Tom Rob Smith

[29:14] M: The Family by Naomi Krupitsky

 

[31:16] The Other Books We Read in February

Follow RTL on Instagram: @readingthroughlifepod

Follow Sarah on Instagram: @thekindredvoice 

Follow Mia on Instagram: @miasutton5

 

* The books noted above contain affiliate links. This means that we may get a small kickback if you purchase through our links, at no additional cost to you.

 

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit readingthroughlife.substack.com/subscribe

Show notes:

We get so many questions about our reading process - where we find books, how we track them, how we decide what to read next, and more. And that’s what we’re talking about in today’s episode. It also highlights the difference between Sarah and Mia’s reading habits. Which one do you think is more organized and which one is more fly by the seat of her pants? 

 

Click here to join us on Patreon to get an exclusive bookish goodie every single Friday. With fun bonus episode series like: Monthly Overflow Books, Backlist Book Club, The New Books in Our Lives plus a private community for RTL Book Nerds only, you’re going to love being a part of our Patreon. Not only that, but you’re helping to support our show by saying I LOVE WHAT YOU DO. 

 

Find the time stamped show notes below with links to all of the fun things we mentioned.

 

Support indie bookstores by shopping our picks on Bookshop.org!

 

Something Bookish:

[3:27] S: Too many giggles? And the outpouring of love from our community

[5:22] M: Tweet from Barnes & Noble

 

Topics Covered:

• How we find new books

• How we track books we want to read

• How we decide which format to read each book (digital, audio, physical)

• How we decide what to read next

• How we take note of important points in the books we’re reading

• How we track our books once we’re done reading

• How we prepare books we’ve read for discussion on the podcast

 

Also Mentioned:

• BookPage newsletter

• Off the Shelf newsletter

• HTP Books newsletter

• Bookclubs newsletter

• Brightly newsletter

• Netgalley

• Trello

Follow RTL on Instagram: @readingthroughlifepod

Follow Sarah on Instagram: @thekindredvoice 

Follow Mia on Instagram: @miasutton5

 

* The books noted above contain affiliate links. This means that we may get a small kickback if you purchase through our links, at no additional cost to you.

 

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit readingthroughlife.substack.com/subscribe

Show notes:

We have been friends for over 7 years and talk almost every day. You’d think we know EVERYTHING about one another. But in this episode, we decided to ask each other some questions that we’ve always wondered about. Plus, our patrons sent in some questions as well. This might be our longest episode so far! Tune in to hear all the things about us - some book-related and some not. 

 

Click here to join us on Patreon to get an exclusive bookish goodie every single Friday. With fun bonus episode series like: Monthly Overflow Books, Backlist Book Club, The New Books in Our Lives plus a private community for RTL Book Nerds only, you’re going to love being a part of our Patreon. Not only that, but you’re helping to support our show by saying I LOVE WHAT YOU DO. 

 

Find the time stamped show notes below with links to all of the fun things we mentioned.

 

Support indie bookstores by shopping our picks on Bookshop.org!

 

Something Bookish:

[4:17] S: Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton

    The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton

[6:27] M: L.A. Times article about Zibby Owens opening bookstores in L.A., but mostly her quote that she doesn’t really read the books that are discussed on her podcast [gasp!]

Books Mentioned:

• Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

• Comfort Me With Apples by Catherynne M. Valente

• Cover Story by Susan Rigetti

• The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

• The Measure by Nikki Erlick

• The Idea of You by Robinne Lee

• A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

 

Also Mentioned:

• Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books podcast

• Kindred

Follow RTL on Instagram: @readingthroughlifepod

Follow Sarah on Instagram: @thekindredvoice 

Follow Mia on Instagram: @miasutton5

 

* The books noted above contain affiliate links. This means that we may get a small kickback if you purchase through our links, at no additional cost to you.

 

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit readingthroughlife.substack.com/subscribe

Show notes:

February 20th is National Clean Out Your Bookcase Day, which we didn’t realize was a thing, but here we are. We’ll be talking about bookcases, organization, storage, how we purge books, and more. But we’re also challenging you to clean out your bookcase, too! Let’s do this. 

 

Click here to join us on Patreon to get an exclusive bookish goodie every single Friday. With fun bonus episode series like: Monthly Overflow Books, Backlist Book Club, The New Books in Our Lives plus a private community for RTL Book Nerds only, you’re going to love being a part of our Patreon. Not only that, but you’re helping to support our show by saying I LOVE WHAT YOU DO. 

 

Find the time stamped show notes below with links to all of the fun things we mentioned.

 

Support indie bookstores by shopping our picks on Bookshop.org!

 

Something Bookish:

[3:48] M: Mothered by Zoje Stage

[5:12] S: Henry is a book hoarder! He picked up this Geronimo Stilton collection for his birthday. 

 

Books Mentioned:

[16:37] M: My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares

[24:35] S: 

• Someday, Maybe by Onyi Nwabineli
• Cover Story by Susan Rigetti
• Waiting for Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey
• A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
• The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
• Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian

 

Also Mentioned:

• Sarah’s Pango Books shop
• Sarah’s bookshelf from Amazon
• RTL Episode 50, Ask Us Anything (the episode where we describe our ideal reading spaces)

Follow RTL on Instagram: @readingthroughlifepod

Follow Sarah on Instagram: @thekindredvoice 

Follow Mia on Instagram: @miasutton5

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit readingthroughlife.substack.com/subscribe

Show notes:

Time for our most popular type of episode each month - our monthly reading wrap up! Here’s what we read in January. We’re celebrating that we both had pretty great reading months. We say it all the time, but this diverse group of books just represents how different our reading tastes are and we are so here for it! 

Click here to join us on Patreon to get an exclusive bookish goodie every single Friday. With fun bonus episode series like: Monthly Overflow Books, Backlist Book Club, The New Books in Our Lives plus a private community for RTL Book Nerds only, you’re going to love being a part of our Patreon. Not only that, but you’re helping to support our show by saying I LOVE WHAT YOU DO. 

Find the time stamped show notes below with links to all of the fun things we mentioned.

Support indie bookstores by shopping our picks on Bookshop.org!

 

Something Bookish:

[4:06] S: BOTM Challenge for February

[4:57] M: Sentimental Garbage Podcast, the Flowers in the Attic Episode

Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews

 

Book We Both Read in January:

[8:50] Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

 

Our January Books:

[13:14] M: The Displacements by Bruce Holsinger

[15:42] S: The Road by Cormac McCarthy

[17:30] M: I’d Rather Be Reading by Anne Bogel

[18:56] S: In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune

[21:25] M: A Rip in Heaven by Jeanine Cummins

American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins

[23:48] S: Spare by Prince Harry

[27:00] M: Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica

[29:04] S: Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead

[32:22] Extra Books We Read in January for the Overflow Episode

 

Also Mentioned:

• RTL Episode 72, Improving Our Reading Lives in 2023
• Fable book club app

Follow RTL on Instagram: @readingthroughlifepod

Follow Sarah on Instagram: @thekindredvoice 

Follow Mia on Instagram: @miasutton5

 

* The books noted above contain affiliate links. This means that we may get a small kickback if you purchase through our links, at no additional cost to you.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit readingthroughlife.substack.com/subscribe

Show notes:

Debut books and authors feel like unicorns of the publishing world. But are they, really? Every author had to start somewhere, right? Today, we’re talking about debut novels that we’ve loved and debut novels that we are excited to read. Trust us, there are books for everyone in this episode! 

 

Click here to join us on Patreon to get an exclusive bookish goodie every single Friday. With fun bonus episode series like: Monthly Overflow Books, Backlist Book Club, The New Books in Our Lives plus a private community for RTL Book Nerds only, you’re going to love being a part of our Patreon. Not only that, but you’re helping to support our show by saying I LOVE WHAT YOU DO. 

 

Find the time stamped show notes below with links to all of the fun things we mentioned.

 

Something Bookish:

[4:01] S: Henry and Sarah picked out books for each other. 

[4:57] M: Mia has finally been reading the stack of physical books that’s overflowing by her window. 

 

Support indie bookstores by shopping our picks on Bookshop.org!

 

Debut Books Discussed:

[11:08] M: The Secret History by Donna Tartt | Amazon // Bookshop 

[12:44] S: The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare | Amazon // Bookshop  

[13:43] M: Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng | Amazon // Bookshop  

[14:54] S: The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan | Amazon // Bookshop  

[16:08] M: The Push by Ashley Audrain | Amazon // Bookshop 

[17:14] S: Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn | Amazon // Bookshop  

[18:31] M: My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell | Amazon // Bookshop  

[20:14] S: Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley | Amazon // Bookshop 

[20:58] M: Carrie by Stephen King | Amazon // Bookshop  

[22:18] S: The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner | Amazon // Bookshop  

 

Other Debut Books Mentioned:

[23:48] M:

• Tell the Wolves I’m Home by Carol Rifka Brunt | Amazon // Bookshop 
• The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz | Amazon // Bookshop 
• All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood | Amazon // Bookshop
• The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger | Amazon // Bookshop 
• The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern | Amazon // Bookshop
• The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath | Amazon // Bookshop 

 

[24:11] S: 

• We Are the Brennans by Tracy Lange | Amazon // Bookshop 
• A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum | Amazon // Bookshop
• The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker | Amazon // Bookshop
• The Idea of You by Robinne Lee | Amazon // Bookshop 
• Red, White, & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston | Amazon // Bookshop 
• Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight | Amazon // Bookshop
• The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin | Amazon // Bookshop 
• What Comes After by Joanne Tompkins | Amazon // Bookshop 
• Every Summer After by Carley Fortune | Amazon // Bookshop

 

Debut Books We’re Excited to Read Soon:

[24:49] S: Maame by Jessica George (Jan 31, 2023) | Amazon // Bookshop 

[25:17] M: Wandering Souls by Cecile Pin (Mar 2, 2023) | Amazon // Bookshop 

[26:01] S: My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallent | Amazon // Bookshop 

[26:43] M: There There by Tommy Orange | Amazon // Bookshop

[27:27] S: Stay With Me by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ | Amazon // Bookshop  

[28:40] M: On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong | Amazon // Bookshop  

Follow RTL on Instagram: @readingthroughlifepod

Follow Sarah on Instagram: @tkvcommunity 

Follow Mia on Instagram: @miasutton5

 

* The books noted above contain affiliate links. This means that we may get a small kickback if you purchase through our links, at no additional cost to you.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit readingthroughlife.substack.com/subscribe

Show notes:

OK, hear us out. We know we’re a book podcast, but every once in a while, we want to talk about other stuff. Like ourselves! Today, we’re answering questions from the Anything But Books tag. Come listen and get to know even more about us and how weird we are. There will be giggles galore, we promise!

 

Click here to join us on Patreon to get an exclusive bookish goodie every single Friday. With fun bonus episode series like: Monthly Overflow Books, Backlist Book Club, The New Books in Our Lives plus a private community for RTL Book Nerds only, you’re going to love being a part of our Patreon. Not only that, but you’re helping to support our show by saying I LOVE WHAT YOU DO. 

 

Find the time stamped show notes below with links to all of the fun things we mentioned.

 

Something Bookish:

M: The Measure by Nikki Erlick | Amazon // Bookshop

S: The Book Drop subscription

 

Books Mentioned:

Fifty Feminist Mantras by Amelia Hruby | Amazon // Bookshop

The Idea of You by Robinne Lee | Amazon // Bookshop

It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover | Amazon // Bookshop

 

Also Mentioned:

• Anything But Books tag on the Zezee With Books blog
• Mia’s poetry book, In the Depths

Follow RTL on Instagram: @readingthroughlifepod

Follow Sarah on Instagram: @tkvcommunity 

Follow Mia on Instagram: @miasutton5

 

* The books noted above contain affiliate links. This means that we may get a small kickback if you purchase through our links, at no additional cost to you.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit readingthroughlife.substack.com/subscribe

Show notes:

Today, we’re talking about reading goals, challenges, and plans - oh my! Basically, we want to improve our reading lives this year and we share how we’re going to make it happen. Our motto for 2023 will definitely be: quality over quantity. But don’t worry, we’ll still have plenty of reading material to bring you each week!

 

Click here to join us on Patreon to get an exclusive bookish goodie every single Friday. With fun bonus episode series like: Monthly Overflow Books, Backlist Book Club, The New Books in Our Lives plus a private community for RTL Book Nerds only, you’re going to love being a part of our Patreon. Not only that, but you’re helping to support our show by saying I LOVE WHAT YOU DO. 

 

Find the time stamped show notes below with links to all of the fun things we mentioned.

 

Something Bookish:

[3:13] M: 1) Cookbook buying spree at Barnes and Noble 2) Romance author who faked suicide

[6:25] S: Leaks from Spare by Prince Harry | Amazon // Bookshop

 

Books Mentioned:

[13:40] Both: Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver | Amazon // Bookshop

[23:56] M: The Meaning of Mariah Carey by Mariah Carey and Michaela Angela Davis | Amazon // Bookshop

[24:46] M: Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica | Amazon // Bookshop  

[25:40] M: Wintering by Katherine May | Amazon // Bookshop  

[26:40] S: Babel by RF Kuang | Amazon // Bookshop 

[27:29] S: The One by John Marrs | Amazon // Bookshop  

[28:08] S: Scenes From My Life by Michael K. Williams | Amazon // Bookshop  

 

Also Mentioned:

• Appalachian Book Club by @readappalachia
• RTL Episode 48, How to Read More Books 
• Fable: The Book Club App

Follow RTL on Instagram: @readingthroughlifepod

Follow Sarah on Instagram: @tkvcommunity 

Follow Mia on Instagram: @miasutton5

 

* The books noted above contain affiliate links. This means that we may get a small kickback if you purchase through our links, at no additional cost to you.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit readingthroughlife.substack.com/subscribe

Show notes:

It’s a new year and we know that all you book nerds are like us - busy preparing your reading lists and joining reading challenges for 2023. Well, allow us to add more books to your TBR for this year. In this episode, we’re sharing 14 books that are coming out in early 2023 that we cannot wait to read and we bet you’ll be checking them out, too.  

 

Click here to join us on Patreon to get an exclusive bookish goodie every single Friday. With fun bonus episode series like: Monthly Overflow Books, Backlist Book Club, The New Books in Our Lives plus a private community for RTL Book Nerds only, you’re going to love being a part of our Patreon. Not only that, but you’re helping to support our show by saying I LOVE WHAT YOU DO. 

 

Find the time stamped show notes below with links to all of the fun things we mentioned.

 

Something Fun for You:

Join The Collective, a small group program all about confidence, led by Sarah, and beginning on January 23rd. Click here for more information.

 

Something Bookish:

[6:12] S: Scribd. Click here to get 2 months free. 

[8:47] M: What’s your reading goal for 2023? Come comment on Instagram and tell us.

 

Upcoming Releases We’re Excited to Read:

[9:58] S: Spare by Prince Harry (Jan 10) | Amazon // Bookshop  

[11:14] M: All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham (Jan 10) | Amazon // Bookshop  

[12:42] S: Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson (March 7) | Amazon // Bookshop  

[13:49] M: Really Good, Actually by Monica Heisey (Jan 17) | Amazon // Bookshop  

[15:15] S: Evil Eye by Etaf Rum (March 28) | Amazon // Bookshop  

A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum | Amazon // Bookshop

[16:53] M: What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez by Claire Jimenez (March 7) | Amazon // Bookshop  

When We Believed in Mermaids by Barbara O’Neal | Amazon // Bookshop

[18:29] S: The Skin and Its Girl by Sarah Cypher (April 25) | Amazon // Bookshop  

[20:08] M: Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano (March 14) | Amazon // Bookshop  

[21:30] S: Rosewater by Liv Little (April 25) | Amazon // Bookshop  

[23:08] M: The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane (May 2) | Amazon // Bookshop  

[24:24] S: In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune (April 25) | Amazon // Bookshop  

[26:00] M: Yellowface by R.F. Kuang (May 16) | Amazon // Bookshop  

[28:22] S: Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune (May 2) | Amazon // Bookshop  

Every Summer After by Carley Fortune | Amazon // Bookshop

[30:01] M: All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby (June 6) | Amazon // Bookshop  

Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby | Amazon // Bookshop

Follow RTL on Instagram: @readingthroughlifepod

Follow Sarah on Instagram: @tkvcommunity 

Follow Mia on Instagram: @miasutton5

 

* The books noted above contain affiliate links. This means that we may get a small kickback if you purchase through our links, at no additional cost to you.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit readingthroughlife.substack.com/subscribe

Show notes:

Yay! It’s our first show of 2023. We hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and we’re so happy to be back in your ears. Today, we’re sharing what we read in December. Spoiler alert: there may or may not be a bunch of Christmas romances. #sorrynotsorry 

 

Click here to join us on Patreon to get an exclusive bookish goodie every single Friday. With fun bonus episode series like: Monthly Overflow Books, Backlist Book Club, The New Books in Our Lives plus a private community for RTL Book Nerds only, you’re going to love being a part of our Patreon. Not only that, but you’re helping to support our show by saying I LOVE WHAT YOU DO. 

 

Find the time stamped show notes below with links to all of the fun things we mentioned.

 

Something Bookish:

[5:41] S: Working through a bookish challenge gift with Henry

[7:08] M: I’d Rather Be Reading by Anne Bogel | Amazon // Bookshop

 

Books We Both Read in December:

[9:58] The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow | Amazon // Bookshop

[10:15] Faking Christmas by Cindy Steel | Amazon 

 

Our December Reads:

[13:42] M: Always, in December by Emily Stone | Amazon // Bookshop 

[15:04] S: The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton | Amazon // Bookshop  

[16:54] M: The Christmas Key by Lori Wilde | Amazon // Bookshop

[18:41] S: The Selection series by Kiera Cass (9 books): The Selection, The Elite, The One, The Heir, The Crown / Novellas: The Prince, The Guard, The Queen, The Favorite | Amazon // Bookshop

[22:41] M: Fairy Tale by Stephen King | Amazon // Bookshop   

[25:07] S: Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley | Amazon // Bookshop 

[26:37] M: Resting Scrooge Face by Meghan Quinn | Amazon

[28:38] S: Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert | Amazon // Bookshop  

Follow RTL on Instagram: @readingthroughlifepod

Follow Sarah on Instagram: @tkvcommunity 

Follow Mia on Instagram: @miasutton5

 

* The books noted above contain affiliate links. This means that we may get a small kickback if you purchase through our links, at no additional cost to you.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit readingthroughlife.substack.com/subscribe