We’re talking books, authors, reading obsessions and a whole lot of literary rabbit holes!

This week, we’re joined by author Craig Brown for a fun conversation about his literary journey and his upcoming book, Dignity, releasing September 1.

We also dive into: The Booker Prize Long List, why our brains convince us to buy more books than we could ever possibly read, the surprising influence of The Odyssey on poetry, Our thoughts on several recent reads, and plenty of bookish opinions and stories along the way!

Basically, it's a conversation about all the things we love about the bookish world.

So grab your TBR pile, your favorite reading drink, and come hang out with us!

#HappyReading

If your TBR wasn't already out of control... we're about to make it worse.

It's Book Club time, and the Book Club Girls are diving into Melissa Albert's The Children and breaking down the creepy vibes, the twists, and everything that had us questioning what was real.

Then we're talking all things Books in Cinema, including The Odyssey, the Hunger Games theater re-release (because yes, we're absolutely going back), and our reactions to the trailers for Other Mommy and The Love Hypothesis.

We're also reviewing The Bookshop Below by Georgia Summers, Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood, and Poison in Pickensburg by Ron Peer.

Basically? If it's bookish, we're talking about it. New releases, adaptations, reviews, theories, and plenty of unhinged bookish chatter along the way. Grab your drink, press play, and come hang out with us!

#HappyReading

About Speaking LITerally

Resident bookworms Liz & Holly explore their favorite world--BOOKS--in this all new podcast focused around new releases, old favorites, and everything in between.

What are you reading? Find our their favorites and upcoming reads along with stories from authors and more on Speaking LITerally!

Follow on Instagram

• @speakliterallypodcast
• @lizzieslittlebooknook
• @azdesert_bookworm

CM Kuhtz joins the show to talk about their writing journey in the indie book world including their book imprint, which was just started. Their most recent book, Everything the Sun Touches, was also just released in March!

The show also covers topics such as:

• does reading make you more attractive
• book inspired traveling
• even more book to screen (of game) adaptations.

A few of the books discussed include Daggermouth by H.M Wolfe and Without a Hitch by Portia Macintosh.

We'll be back in July! #HappyReading

About Speaking LITerally

Resident bookworms Liz & Holly explore their favorite world--BOOKS--in this all new podcast focused around new releases, old favorites, and everything in between.

What are you reading? Find our their favorites and upcoming reads along with stories from authors and more on Speaking LITerally!

Follow on Instagram

• @speakliterallypodcast
• @lizzieslittlebooknook
• @azdesert_bookworm

Indie author Kelsey Painter joins the show to talk about her books, her current project and her writing journey. Check out her latest book, How Deep is the Ocean which just released in May.

This episode has a little bit of everything with no shortage of books to talk about. Some of the titles we take a look at include Dungeon Crawler Carl, The Correspondent, Remarkably Bright Creatures, Whalefall, and the Odyssey to name a few.

Plus, Holly shares an Indie focused 2026 Beach Reads list that includes titles from Jenn Bouchard, Ally Hollis, Becca Lopez, Jenny Kane, Tonya Kappes, Usher Evans and a few others. All cozy mysteries and fun foodie/beachy reads. It will definitely fill up your TBR.

Until next time.... #HappyReading!

About Speaking LITerally

Resident bookworms Liz & Holly explore their favorite world--BOOKS--in this all new podcast focused around new releases, old favorites, and everything in between.

What are you reading? Find our their favorites and upcoming reads along with stories from authors and more on Speaking LITerally!

Follow on Instagram

• @speakliterallypodcast
• @lizzieslittlebooknook
• @azdesert_bookworm

Lis McDermott joins the show to talk about her writing process, and her books! Specially, the latest in her series, The Beaconsbury Forest, which has book 3, Kian, releasing on June 17.

What are your thoughts on the AI controversy? We discuss some current AI concerns and thoughts as well as Brandon Sanderson's latest adaptation announcement.

Additionally, some books discussed through out the episode include Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid and Rites of the Starling by Devney Perry.

Take a listen and enjoy!

#HappyReading

About Speaking LITerally

Resident bookworms Liz & Holly explore their favorite world--BOOKS--in this all new podcast focused around new releases, old favorites, and everything in between.

What are you reading? Find our their favorites and upcoming reads along with stories from authors and more on Speaking LITerally!

Follow on Instagram

• @speakliterallypodcast
• @lizzieslittlebooknook
• @azdesert_bookworm

We can't wait to talk about several authors who just announced new books. Plus, what happened at BookCon? There is quite a bit of book news to talk about before getting into the Book Club Discussion on McConaghy's Wild Dark Shores.

In this episode we also discuss Bromeliad House by Jessika Grewe Glover and Piranesi by Suzanna Clark.

Catch up on all the latest bookish news!

#HappyReading

About Speaking LITerally

Resident bookworms Liz & Holly explore their favorite world--BOOKS--in this all new podcast focused around new releases, old favorites, and everything in between.

What are you reading? Find our their favorites and upcoming reads along with stories from authors and more on Speaking LITerally!

Follow on Instagram

• @speakliterallypodcast
• @lizzieslittlebooknook
• @azdesert_bookworm

Indie author DW Brooks returns to the show to share everything she has been up to over the last 2 1/2 years since she first appear. We share in the delights of her newest release, The Match Game, which was released last month.

This show is also one for the tangent record books. But, how could we over look the historical mission of Artemis 11? Ok, the Titanic tangent may be a little unpredictable!

We do also discuss books! In this episode we discuss The Things Gods Break by Abigail Owen and Hopeless by Elsie Silver, plus Remarkably Bright Creatures and the House on the Cerulean Sea. There are plenty of laughs as we share our love of books.

#HappyReading

About Speaking LITerally

Resident bookworms Liz & Holly explore their favorite world--BOOKS--in this all new podcast focused around new releases, old favorites, and everything in between.

What are you reading? Find our their favorites and upcoming reads along with stories from authors and more on Speaking LITerally!

Follow on Instagram

• @speakliterallypodcast
• @lizzieslittlebooknook
• @azdesert_bookworm

Author and Filmmaker Leon Mitchell joins the show to share is experience as a children's author and storyteller. His insightful thoughts on writing for children vs adults will make you want to pick up his most recent book, Felicity Fire and the Forever Key. And, if you are a fan of 80s movies, you won't want to miss this conversation.

Also in this jam packed episode, we discuss the Tucson Festival of Books, Harry Potter TV series trailer, a bookish t-shirt design contest and so much more!

Some of the books discussed include Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, Bromelaid House by Jessika Grewe Glover, Gunslinger by Stephen King and The Beach House on Amelia Island by Hope Holloway.

About Speaking LITerally

Resident bookworms Liz & Holly explore their favorite world--BOOKS--in this all new podcast focused around new releases, old favorites, and everything in between.

What are you reading? Find our their favorites and upcoming reads along with stories from authors and more on Speaking LITerally!

Follow on Instagram

• @speakliterallypodcast
• @lizzieslittlebooknook
• @azdesert_bookworm

Big literary news this week with new ACOTAR books in our future and World Book Day. There was quite a bit to chat about this epsiode. Fan of Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow? We've got news for you.

Indie romance author, Hadley Grey also joins the show to talk about her experience as an indie author as well as her latest novel, Seducing the Scientist.

Until next time.... #HappyReading

About Speaking LITerally

Resident bookworms Liz & Holly explore their favorite world--BOOKS--in this all new podcast focused around new releases, old favorites, and everything in between.

What are you reading? Find our their favorites and upcoming reads along with stories from authors and more on Speaking LITerally!

Follow on Instagram

• @speakliterallypodcast
• @lizzieslittlebooknook
• @azdesert_bookworm

Nothing makes a podcast better than talking about a book focused on serial killers falling in love with each other and then having an either/or speed round that is just as disturbing, but that's what you get in the latest episode. All that and a lot of laughs.

We also talk about Game of Thrones and the new app "Upscrolled". But, once again, the book club girls go a little off the rails, although it's for all the best reasons. Check it out and share the laughter and the love of books.

Until next time.... #HappyReading

About Speaking LITerally

Resident bookworms Liz & Holly explore their favorite world--BOOKS--in this all new podcast focused around new releases, old favorites, and everything in between.

What are you reading? Find our their favorites and upcoming reads along with stories from authors and more on Speaking LITerally!

Follow on Instagram

• @speakliterallypodcast
• @lizzieslittlebooknook
• @azdesert_bookworm