Red Wine Reads

This week, we read Atonement by Ian McEwan 

This 2001 novel follows thirteen-year-old Briony Tallis who witnesses a moment’s flirtation between her older sister, Cecilia, and Robbie Turner, the son of a servant and Cecilia’s childhood friend. But Briony’s incomplete grasp of adult motives—together with her precocious literary gifts—brings about a crime that will change all their lives.

Ella joins me on this episode to discuss: 

• Why we had to reschedule this recording so Jenna could watch the movie 


• Why the second third of the book lost us


• Why the bomb scene in Oppenheimer and the sex scene in Atonement hold the same tension. 

Open your book and press play on a podcast episode that will have you hearing a typewriter sound everywhere you go. 

Mentioned in the Pairings section of the podcast:

• DRINK: Choc-tail


• TV SHOW - The Pursuit of Love, Severance 


• BOOK - The Great Gatsby, The Nightingale 


• MOVIE -  Lady Chatterley's Lover, 1917

*** 

Once you're done listening, hop onto our Instagram and TikTok @rwreadspodcast to give us your thoughts on the discussion and the book. We look forward to hearing from you! 

* Disclaimer *

At Red Wine Reads, we want to engage in the stories of people from all kinds of backgrounds and experiences. The value of books lies in the power of storytelling and sharing a range of perspectives. We don't want to just read what we know, we want to read stories that open our worldview. And in turn, that means getting into challenging, rewarding conversations. But we are not experts in any field — literature, race relations, politics, etc .— and we know that our reviews of these books come from a place of privilege. We encourage our community of readers to add to these conversations with their own thoughts, critiques, and questions. We want to open up a safe place for people. That being said, we also realize that getting into race, sexuality, gender, and other difficult topics can be triggering. We aim to include content warnings whenever they are applicable but we are not perfect. So as we continue to do our best, know you have the room to tell us when we can do better and even, if you want to, share resources with us. Let's learn, grow, and have fun together.

This week, we read How to Fall in Love with Anyone by Mandy Len Catron

This memoir from the author of the popular New York Times essay, “To Fall in Love with Anyone, Do This,” explores the romantic myths we create and explains how they limit our ability to achieve and sustain intimacy. When her parents divorced after a twenty-eight year marriage and her own ten-year relationship ended, those were the questions that Mandy Len Catron wanted to answer.

Bekah joins me on this episode to discuss: 

• Why Bekah gave this book 2 stars and Jenna gave this book 5 stars…


• An inside look at Bekah and Jenna’s love lives


• Why Pretty Woman is the ultimate love story

Open your book and press play on a podcast episode that will have you either stressed out or hopeful about love. 

Mentioned in the Pairings section of the podcast:

• DRINK: Milkshake with two straws, red wine


• TV SHOW - New Girl, Normal People


• BOOK - Wild Geese, Of Love, Traveling Mercies


• MOVIE -  Pretty Woman, The Last Five Years

*** 

Once you're done listening, hop onto our Instagram and TikTok @rwreadspodcast to give us your thoughts on the discussion and the book. We look forward to hearing from you! 

* Disclaimer *

At Red Wine Reads, we want to engage in the stories of people from all kinds of backgrounds and experiences. The value of books lies in the power of storytelling and sharing a range of perspectives. We don't want to just read what we know, we want to read stories that open our worldview. And in turn, that means getting into challenging, rewarding conversations. But we are not experts in any field — literature, race relations, politics, etc .— and we know that our reviews of these books come from a place of privilege. We encourage our community of readers to add to these conversations with their own thoughts, critiques, and questions. We want to open up a safe place for people. That being said, we also realize that getting into race, sexuality, gender, and other difficult topics can be triggering. We aim to include content warnings whenever they are applicable but we are not perfect. So as we continue to do our best, know you have the room to tell us when we can do better and even, if you want to, share resources with us. Let's learn, grow, and have fun together.

This week, we read The Paris Apartment  by Lucy Foley.

Jess needs a fresh start. She’s broke and alone, and she’s just left her job under less than ideal circumstances. She decides to visit her half-brother Ben in Paris — but he’s not there. The longer he stays missing, the more Jess starts to dig into her brother’s situation, and the more questions she has. Ben’s neighbors are an eclectic bunch, and not particularly friendly. Everyone's a neighbor. Everyone's a suspect. And everyone knows something they’re not telling.

Abby joins me on this episode to discuss: 

• Why the characters are so messy and complicated — and why we’re loving it. 


• WTF happened in that last scene in the attic.


• Why Abby and I have the EXACT same taste in books, TV shows, and movies.

Open your book and press play on a podcast episode that will have you booking a flight to Paris and hoping your trip goes much more smoothly than Jess’s trip. 

Mentioned in the Pairings section of the podcast:

• DRINK: Expensive Red Wine 


• TV SHOW - Only Murderers in the Building 


• BOOK -  The Guest List, Murder on the Orient Express


• MOVIE -  Taken 

*** 

Once you're done listening, hop onto our Instagram and TikTok @rwreadspodcast to give us your thoughts on the discussion and the book. We look forward to hearing from you! 

* Disclaimer *

At Red Wine Reads, we want to engage in the stories of people from all kinds of backgrounds and experiences. The value of books lies in the power of storytelling and sharing a range of perspectives. We don't want to just read what we know, we want to read stories that open our worldview. And in turn, that means getting into challenging, rewarding conversations. But we are not experts in any field — literature, race relations, politics, etc .— and we know that our reviews of these books come from a place of privilege. We encourage our community of readers to add to these conversations with their own thoughts, critiques, and questions. We want to open up a safe place for people. That being said, we also realize that getting into race, sexuality, gender, and other difficult topics can be triggering. We aim to include content warnings whenever they are applicable but we are not perfect. So as we continue to do our best, know you have the room to tell us when we can do better and even, if you want to, share resources with us. Let's learn, grow, and have fun together.

This week as book three of our Spooky Reviews Series, we read The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

This novel tells the story of four seekers who arrive at a notoriously unfriendly house called Hill House: Dr. Montague, an occult scholar looking for solid evidence of a “haunting”; Theodora, his lighthearted assistant; Eleanor, a friendless, fragile young woman well acquainted with poltergeists; and Luke, the future heir of Hill House. But Hill House has its own plans for its guests. 

Ella joins me on this episode to discuss: 

• Why we were left feeling disappointed and sad with this book. 


• Do we believe in ghosts? 


• Why, in this special case, the movie (or TV show) is truly so much better than the book. 

Open your book and press play on a podcast episode that will have you looking for spooky, scary skeletons around every corner. 

Mentioned in the Pairings section of the podcast:

• DRINK: Whiskey, Manhattan 


• TV SHOW - The Haunting of Hill House


• BOOK - Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, The Shining


• MOVIE -  It, Shirley, Monster House 

*** 

Once you're done listening, hop onto our Instagram and TikTok @rwreadspodcast to give us your thoughts on the discussion and the book. We look forward to hearing from you! 

* Disclaimer *

At Red Wine Reads, we want to engage in the stories of people from all kinds of backgrounds and experiences. The value of books lies in the power of storytelling and sharing a range of perspectives. We don't want to just read what we know, we want to read stories that open our worldview. And in turn, that means getting into challenging, rewarding conversations. But we are not experts in any field — literature, race relations, politics, etc .— and we know that our reviews of these books come from a place of privilege. We encourage our community of readers to add to these conversations with their own thoughts, critiques, and questions. We want to open up a safe place for people. That being said, we also realize that getting into race, sexuality, gender, and other difficult topics can be triggering. We aim to include content warnings whenever they are applicable but we are not perfect. So as we continue to do our best, know you have the room to tell us when we can do better and even, if you want to, share resources with us. Let's learn, grow, and have fun together.

This week as book two of our Spooky Reviews Series, we read The Hike by Drew Magary

This novel follows Ben, a man who finds himself on a path into the woods behind his hotel, but he quickly comes to realize that the path he has chosen cannot be given up easily. With no choice but to move forward, Ben finds himself falling deeper and deeper into a world of man-eating giants, bizarre demons, and colossal insects.

Rebekah and Marlee join me on this episode to discuss: 

• Why a crab created the craziness plot twist in this book


• What kind of cricket Ben fought in the attic, but let’s be real, any giant insect would be terrifying


• THE ENDING

Open your book and press play on a podcast episode that will have you questioning who has journeyed on the path or…who else has to keep the secret. 

Mentioned in the Pairings section of the podcast:

• DRINK: Peach Schnapps, Single Malt Whiskey  


• TV SHOW - Black Mirror: S3 E2 Playtest, Severance 


• BOOK - The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, The Midnight Library, Paper Girls 


• MOVIE - Ready Player One, Alice in Wonderland


• SPECIAL PAIRING VIDEO GAME: Baldur's Gate 3

*** 

Once you're done listening, hop onto our Instagram and TikTok @rwreadspodcast to give us your thoughts on the discussion and the book. We look forward to hearing from you! 

* Disclaimer *

At Red Wine Reads, we want to engage in the stories of people from all kinds of backgrounds and experiences. The value of books lies in the power of storytelling and sharing a range of perspectives. We don't want to just read what we know, we want to read stories that open our worldview. And in turn, that means getting into challenging, rewarding conversations. But we are not experts in any field — literature, race relations, politics, etc .— and we know that our reviews of these books come from a place of privilege. We encourage our community of readers to add to these conversations with their own thoughts, critiques, and questions. We want to open up a safe place for people. That being said, we also realize that getting into race, sexuality, gender, and other difficult topics can be triggering. We aim to include content warnings whenever they are applicable but we are not perfect. So as we continue to do our best, know you have the room to tell us when we can do better and even, if you want to, share resources with us. Let's learn, grow, and have fun together. 

This week as part of our Spooky Reviews Series, we read The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

This novel follows Vivi, a witch who cursed her long-lost lover Rhys after he broke her heart. Nine years later, Rhys returns to their home of Graves Glen and finds himself facing two dangerous things: his scorned ex and a cursed town. 

Sierra and Claire join me on this episode to discuss: 

• Why this book fell so flat with so many plot holes 


• Why we are not invested enough to read the sequels


• Why this book felt like it was trying to fit into too many different genres: romance, comedy, dark witches

Open your book and press play on a podcast episode that will have you getting in the Halloween spirit. 

Mentioned in the Pairings section of the podcast:

• DRINK: Frankenstein Punch, Blackberry Margarita, One Tree Hard Cider: Caramel Cinnamon 


• TV SHOW - The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Charmed, Gilmore Girls, Sabrina the Teenage Witch


• BOOK - Beach Read, The Kiss Curse, Matilda 


• MOVIE -  Practical Magic, Hocus Pocus, The School of Good And Evil, Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters, Bewitched, Halloweentown

*** 

Once you're done listening, hop onto our Instagram and TikTok @rwreadspodcast to give us your thoughts on the discussion and the book. We look forward to hearing from you! 

* Disclaimer *

At Red Wine Reads, we want to engage in the stories of people from all kinds of backgrounds and experiences. The value of books lies in the power of storytelling and sharing a range of perspectives. We don't want to just read what we know, we want to read stories that open our worldview. And in turn, that means getting into challenging, rewarding conversations. But we are not experts in any field — literature, race relations, politics, etc .— and we know that our reviews of these books come from a place of privilege. We encourage our community of readers to add to these conversations with their own thoughts, critiques, and questions. We want to open up a safe place for people. That being said, we also realize that getting into race, sexuality, gender, and other difficult topics can be triggering. We aim to include content warnings whenever they are applicable but we are not perfect. So as we continue to do our best, know you have the room to tell us when we can do better and even, if you want to, share resources with us. Let's learn, grow, and have fun together.

This week, we read Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

This novel follows Dana, a black woman who travels back in time to Antebellum Maryland and has to save her family line. She must face the horrors of American slavery and explores the impacts of racism, sexism, and white supremacy then and now.

Ella joins me on this episode to discuss: 

• The reason why EVERYBODY IS NOT READING THIS EFFIN’ NOVEL! 


• Why Octavia E. Butler is an absolute trailblazer in the science fiction genre and she is not getting enough recognition. 


• How Jenna and Ella were absolutely gobsmacked by the ending. 

Open your book and press play on a podcast episode that will have you closing the book, and feeling unsure whether you should scream, cry, or both. 

Mentioned in the Pairings section of the podcast:

• DRINK: Moonshine


• TV SHOW - Outlander, The Good Lord Bird


• BOOK - Who Fears Death, The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois


• MOVIE - BlacKkKlansman, Triangle of Sadness


• SPECIAL PAIRING: NPR’s Throughline: Octavia Butler: Visionary Fiction (2021)

*** 

Once you're done listening, hop onto our Instagram and TikTok @rwreadspodcast to give us your thoughts on the discussion and the book. We look forward to hearing from you! 

* Disclaimer *

At Red Wine Reads, we want to engage in the stories of people from all kinds of backgrounds and experiences. The value of books lies in the power of storytelling and sharing a range of perspectives. We don't want to just read what we know, we want to read stories that open our worldview. And in turn, that means getting into challenging, rewarding conversations. But we are not experts in any field — literature, race relations, politics, etc .— and we know that our reviews of these books come from a place of privilege. We encourage our community of readers to add to these conversations with their own thoughts, critiques, and questions. We want to open up a safe place for people. That being said, we also realize that getting into race, sexuality, gender, and other difficult topics can be triggering. We aim to include content warnings whenever they are applicable but we are not perfect. So as we continue to do our best, know you have the room to tell us when we can do better and even, if you want to, share resources with us. Let's learn, grow, and have fun together.

This week, we read Priest by Sierra Simone

This novel follows a Catholic priest in small town Kansas who meets Poppy — a high-end stripper trying to escape her horny past — and they spark a very strong connection. 

Abby Williams, who can never take communion the same way ever again, and Sierra Marshall, the expert in all things romance and smut, join me today to talk about sex and faith. 

In this episode we cover: 

• Why Jenna’s face gets progressively more red the longer this recording goes on. 


• The “WTF” factor that set in just 20 pages into this book.


• Why if you’re new to romance and smut…just please skip this book and come back to it. It is an expert level book. 

Open your book and press play on a podcast episode that will have you either siding with Sierra or siding with Abby…nobody’s right or wrong, just VERY different tastes. 

Mentioned in the Pairings section of the podcast:

• DRINK: Whiskey, Communion Wine


• TV SHOW - Derry Girls (Father Peter Conway), Gossip Girl (New HBO Series), Fleabag (Season 2)


• BOOK - Birthday Girl,  Fifty Shades of Gray, Misadventures with a Professor 


• MOVIE - Fifty Shades of Gray, Spotlight, Magic Mike, Moulin Rouge

*** 

Once you're done listening, hop onto our Instagram and TikTok @rwreadspodcast to give us your thoughts on the discussion and the book. We look forward to hearing from you! 

* Disclaimer *

At Red Wine Reads, we want to engage in the stories of people from all kinds of backgrounds and experiences. The value of books lies in the power of storytelling and sharing a range of perspectives. We don't want to just read what we know, we want to read stories that open our worldview. And in turn, that means getting into challenging, rewarding conversations. But we are not experts in any field — literature, race relations, politics, etc .— and we know that our reviews of these books come from a place of privilege. We encourage our community of readers to add to these conversations with their own thoughts, critiques, and questions. We want to open up a safe place for people. That being said, we also realize that getting into race, sexuality, gender, and other difficult topics can be triggering. We aim to include content warnings whenever they are applicable but we are not perfect. So as we continue to do our best, know you have the room to tell us when we can do better and even, if you want to, share resources with us. Let's learn, grow, and have fun together.

*SPECIAL EPISODE: RWR BOOK CLUB*

This week, we read The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

This novel follows two sisters, separated by years and experience, by ideals, passion and circumstance, each embarking on her own dangerous path toward survival, love, and freedom in German-occupied, war-torn France. It shows the side of the war that is seldom seen: the women’s war. 

Sierra Marshall, love story aficionado and two other very special guests: Claire (our RWR Book Club fearless founder) and Marlee (the one who seems to mic drop in every episode she appears in).

In this episode we cover: 

• The powerful writing that is Kristin Hannah - and why I am very much obsessed with her.


• Why the ending frustrated most of us and what we wanted to see instead. 


• How the strength of women continues to amaze us. 

Open your book and press play on a podcast episode that will have you climbing a mountain in order to read this book (not really, but we hope you’ll enjoy it as much as we did). 

Mentioned in the Pairings section of the podcast:

• DRINK: French 75, Espresso Martini, Irish Coffee  


• TV SHOW - Wynonna Earp, The Handmaid's Tale, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Bluey, Downton Abbey, Peaky Blinders


• BOOK - The Diamond Eye, Night Witches, The Book Thief, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society


• MOVIE - Harriet, The Book Thief

*** 

Once you're done listening, hop onto our Instagram and TikTok @rwreadspodcast to give us your thoughts on the discussion and the book. We look forward to hearing from you! 

* Disclaimer *

At Red Wine Reads, we want to engage in the stories of people from all kinds of backgrounds and experiences. The value of books lies in the power of storytelling and sharing a range of perspectives. We don't want to just read what we know, we want to read stories that open our worldview. And in turn, that means getting into challenging, rewarding conversations. But we are not experts in any field — literature, race relations, politics, etc .— and we know that our reviews of these books come from a place of privilege. We encourage our community of readers to add to these conversations with their own thoughts, critiques, and questions. We want to open up a safe place for people. That being said, we also realize that getting into race, sexuality, gender, and other difficult topics can be triggering. We aim to include content warnings whenever they are applicable but we are not perfect. So as we continue to do our best, know you have the room to tell us when we can do better and even, if you want to, share resources with us. Let's learn, grow, and have fun together. 

This week, we read The Cloisters by Katy Hayes

This novel follows an academic that scores a job at The Cloisters, a gothic museum and garden renowned for its medieval art collection and its group of enigmatic researchers studying the history of divination. When the dangerous game of power, seduction, and ambition at The Cloisters turns deadly, our main character becomes locked in a race for answers as the line between the arcane and the modern blurs.

Rebekah Sausmikat, a New Yorker thriving off of the New York diet: caffeine and nicotine, joins me to talk about a book that was given to us by Sierra that had made its rounds on TikTok. We were pretty skeptical at first…but the book did grow on us. 

In this episode we cover: 

• Why the addition of multiple plot twists was Jenna’s cup of tea, but not Bekah’s


• How Jenna didn’t know this was a real place before sitting down to record


• The different roles Tarot plays in both Bekah and Jenna’s lives. 

Open your book and press play on a podcast episode that will have you reaching out into the void for some answers from a higher power. 

Mentioned in the Pairings section of the podcast:

• DRINK: Liquid Death, Canned Red Wine - Freakshow

• TV SHOW - Gossip Girl, The Librarians


• BOOK - Other People’s Clothes, Stargazer, Verity


• MOVIE - Harry Potter series, Knives Out, I Care a Lot

*** 

Once you're done listening, hop onto our Instagram and TikTok @rwreadspodcast to give us your thoughts on the discussion and the book. We look forward to hearing from you! 

* Disclaimer *

At Red Wine Reads, we want to engage in the stories of people from all kinds of backgrounds and experiences. The value of books lies in the power of storytelling and sharing a range of perspectives. We don't want to just read what we know, we want to read stories that open our worldview. And in turn, that means getting into challenging, rewarding conversations. But we are not experts in any field — literature, race relations, politics, etc .— and we know that our reviews of these books come from a place of privilege. We encourage our community of readers to add to these conversations with their own thoughts, critiques, and questions. We want to open up a safe place for people. That being said, we also realize that getting into race, sexuality, gender, and other difficult topics can be triggering. We aim to include content warnings whenever they are applicable but we are not perfect. So as we continue to do our best, know you have the room to tell us when we can do better and even, if you want to, share resources with us. Let's learn, grow, and have fun together.