Sarah and Cynthia discuss the novel The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick. It is the early 1960's and four very different women in a DC suburb come together to discuss The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan. Perhaps "The Bettys" as they come to call themselves will take some of the books messages to heart and life. Listen in and decide if you want to add it to your summer reading list.

Along with their discussions, "The Bettys" enjoy a cocktail - or two. We tried one of their favorites: The Vodka Stinger.

2 parts vodka

1 part Creme de Menthe

(we added a drop or two of green food coloring)

Mix over ice in a cocktail shaker and serve in a chilled martini glass.

Listen in to the episode to get the mocktail recipe.

Other books we mention in this episode:

Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green

Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

Sarah and Cynthia discuss historical fiction novel, The Swan's Nest, by Laura McNeal and dive into the love story of Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning framed by the backdrop of industrial London, tainted wealth, and limited choices from their families and society.

This episode's cocktail is fittingly called, The Poet.

2 oz rye whiskey

1/4 oz simple syrup or honey

1 tsp fresh ginger, peeled

1 lemon wedge

2 sprigs mint

splash of soda water (we used more than a splash)

Muddle the ginger, lemon, and one sprig of mint in the simple syrup. Add ice, whiskey, and soda then mix well. Add the second sprig of mint as a garnish if you are feeling fancy. Who doesn't want to feel fancy! We added the second sprig.

Welcome to The Reading Lounge! This month Cynthia and Sarah discuss Hum by Helen Phillips. A work of speculative fiction that leaves a long-lasting impact. In the novel, we follow one woman as she makes a variety of choices tobring her family closer together while living in a not-to-distant future world of AI. We had much to say about this novel and we think you will, too.

Here are the others books mentioned :

Black Woods, Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey

The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods

The Story Collector by Evie Woods

The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali

The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

Don’t Forget to Write by Sara Goodman Confino

This month’s cocktail and mocktail is called BotanicalGarden. Read the book and it will all make sense!

Botanic Garden – original recipe

50 ml Pineapple Tequila

20 ml Lime juice

20 ml Basil syrup

25 ml Pineapple juice

Basil leaves

Top with prosecco

Mix first five ingredients in a shaker with ice. Strain intoa cocktail glass. Top with prosecco and gently stir. Garnish with a basil leaf.

Our Mocktail Botanic Garden

Same ingredients minus the tequila and adding club soda.

Mix lime juice, pineapple juice and basic syrup in shakerwith ice. Pour into glass and top with club soda and mix. Garnish with basil.

Enjoy!

We each highlight a few new books that we're adding to our TBR list. Plus, we have a Spring cocktail you may enjoy whenever you find some reading time in this new season.

Vodka Thyme Lemonade

1 C sparkling lemonade

3 oz vodka

1 sprig thyme

Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and pour over ice!

In this episode of The Reading Lounge Sarah and Cynthia discuss West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge. Inspired by a true story, Rutledge takes us on a journey with a pair of giraffes, their caretaker, and our storyteller across the country headed for the San Diego Zoo. A tale told against the backdrop of The Great Depression makes for great discussion. Join us while sipping on this month's cocktail, a Giraffe's Print!

2 oz spicy golden rum

1 oz Amaretto

1 oz fresh lemon juice

1 oz simple syrup

2 dashes Angostura bitters

1 egg white

Ice

Orange peel (we used lemon peel) for garnish

Add rum through bitters into shaker with ice and pour into your favorite cocktail glass. Whip up egg white and add a dollop to top. Garnish with citrus peel.

Enjoy!

Welcome to The Reading Lounge! Sarah and Cynthia discuss Mrs. Quinn's Rise to Fame by Olivia Ford. Perhaps not many find fame in the sunset of their lives but Mrs. Quinn's love of baking puts her front and center. The unexpected fame also illuminates the cost of keeping secrets in a nearly 60-year long marriage. If you enjoy The Great British Baking Show as much as we do, the setting for this fun and engaging novel will make you smile and keep turning page after page.

Let's not forget this episode's cocktail - A Sticky Toffee Fizz!

You'll need:

1 oz. Spiced Rum

1/2 oz. Butterscotch liqueur

1/2 oz Caramel Toffee liqueur

1 2/3 oz Brut Champagne/sparkling wine

We made a few modifications - listen in to find out what to do when you can't find Caramel Toffee liqueur!

Thank you for joining us in The Reading Lounge.

Thanks for joining us in The Reading Lounge! Sarah and Cynthia discuss the novel A Walker in the Evening by Nick Owchar. This is a beautifully crafted literary novel that is intelligent, interesting, and will keep you turning page after page.

Be sure to try this episode's signature cocktail: The Night Walker!

1 oz Rum

1 oz Vodka

1/2 oz Triple Sec

1 oz Cassis

2 oz Orange Juice

1 oz Lime Juice

Mix all ingredients in a shaker, serve over crushed ice. Garnish with pineapple wedge or lime.

Hint: We think fresh lime juice was key!

Cynthia and Sarah recap their reading year and choose their favorite books and cocktails. We hope you enjoy this brief bonus episode. Join us to raise a glass to the great reading of 2024!

Cynthia and Sarah discuss the 2013 novel The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey. Set in 1918, the story follows two people attempting to craft a life in the harsh Alaskan wilderness. The tragedies and longings are with them and so is hope that manifests in numerous ways. A great read at any time of year, but the novel beautifully captures the Alaskan seasons - especially the beauty and harsh reality of winter.

We paired this novel with a Holiday Aperol Spritz shared by @drinkswithdanica.

2 oz aperol

2 oz cranberry juice

1 oz club soda

3+ oz Proseco

Fill a wine glass with ice. Add aperol, cranberry juice and club soda. Stir and top with Proseco. Garnish with cranberries and a rosemary sprig. (We think the garnish really makes this drink!)

Thanks for stopping by The Reading Lounge!

Join Cynthia and Sarah in The Reading Lounge for a lively discussion of Young Jane Young by Gabrielle Zevin. The novel harkens back to not so long ago scandals and led us to the question, "Has anything changed?" Be sure to sip on The Politician, a fitting cocktail for this fun read.

We'll meet you in The Reading Lounge!

The Politician

.75 oz gin

.75 oz whisky

1 oz lemon juice

.5 oz grenadine

.5 oz grapefruit syrup

.25 oz simple syrup

Mix and serve over ice with a lemon twist.