Kelly Hooker joins me for the May Real Time Reading episode where we highlight our current, past, and upcoming reads.

Kelly’s Selections:

Last: 

The Grand Paloma Resort by Cleyvis Natura

When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy

Now:

Four Mothers by Abigail Leonard

Silver Elite by Dani Francis

Next:

Far & Away by Amy Poeppel

Sunburned by Katherine Wood

DNFs or Didn't Like:

Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson

Book Mail Highlights:

Battle of the Bookstores by Ali Brady

The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey

Cindy's Selections:

Last:

Tilt by Emma Pattee

Matriarch by Tina Knowles

Now:

Conform by Ariel Sullivan 

Hunger Like a Thirst: From Food Stamps to Fine Dining, A Restaurant Critic Finds Her Place at the Table by Besha Rodell

Next:

The One and Only Vivian Stone by Melissa O’Connor 

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

DNFs or Didn’t Like:

Gracie Harris Is Under Construction by Kate Hash 

Book Mail Highlights: 

Friends with Words : Adventures in Languageland by Martha Barnette 

The Midnight Hour by Eve Chase

Interested in each of our Summer Reading Guides? Grab Kelly’s here and Cindy’s here. You will add so many great books to your TBR from both lists. We have very little overlap so check them both out!

Donate to the podcast here or on Venmo.

Want to know which new titles are publishing in June - October of 2025? Check out our fourth ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Literary Lookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead.    

Looking for something new to read? Here is my monthly ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buzz Reads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ column with five new recommendations each month.

Link to my article about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠older protagonists in fiction⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.    

Connect with Kelly Hooker on Instagram.

Connect with me on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Threads. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this interview, I chat with Kristy Woodson Harvey about ⁠⁠⁠⁠Beach House Rules, deciding on a format for telling the story, finding the right title for this one, what surprised her the most about writing this one, why she chose a white collar crime and her reasearch on the subject, and much more.

Kristy's recommended reads are:

Listen to the Friends and Fiction Fifth Anniversary Episode.

Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠2025 Winter Reading Guide⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ with 45 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this winter. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings.

Want to know which new titles are publishing in June - October of 2025? Check out our fourth ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Literary Lookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead.    

Beach House Rules⁠⁠ can be purchased at my Bookshop storefront. 

Looking for something new to read? Here is my monthly ⁠⁠⁠⁠Buzz Reads⁠⁠⁠⁠ column with five new recommendations each month.

Link to my article about ⁠⁠⁠⁠older protagonists in fiction⁠⁠⁠⁠.    

Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this interview, I chat with Annabel Monaghan about ⁠⁠⁠It's a Love Story, her inspiration for this book, writing sex scenes, creating Jane's character, reader response to Jane, what surprised her the most when writing this one, and much more.

Annabel's recommended reads are:

Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page ⁠⁠⁠⁠2025 Winter Reading Guide⁠⁠⁠⁠ with 45 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this winter. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings.

Want to know which new titles are publishing in June - October of 2025? Check out our fourth ⁠⁠⁠⁠Literary Lookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead.    

It's a Love Story⁠ can be purchased at my Bookshop storefront. 

Looking for something new to read? Here is my monthly ⁠⁠⁠Buzz Reads⁠⁠⁠ column with five new recommendations each month.

Link to my article about ⁠⁠⁠older protagonists in fiction⁠⁠⁠.    

Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this interview, I chat with Mary Alice Monroe about ⁠⁠⁠Where the Rivers Merge, setting the book in the ACE Basin, writing a duology, her love of the land and its ecosystems, crafting a strong sense of place, writing her first historical novel, her title and cover, and much more.

Mary Alice's recommended reads are:

Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page ⁠⁠⁠2025 Winter Reading Guide⁠⁠⁠ with 45 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this winter. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings.

Want to know which new titles are publishing in June - October of 2025? Check out our fourth ⁠⁠⁠Literary Lookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead.    

Where the Rivers Merge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ can be purchased at my Bookshop storefront. 

Looking for something new to read? Here is my monthly ⁠⁠Buzz Reads⁠⁠ column with five new recommendations each month.

Link to my article about ⁠⁠older protagonists in fiction⁠⁠.    

Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this interview, I chat with Judith Viorst about ⁠⁠⁠Making the Best of What's Left, living the fifth fifth of your life, dealing with loneliness and redefining happiness, what surprised her the most when writing this one, her cover, the importance of community, reader response, and much more.

Judith's recommended reads are:

Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page ⁠⁠⁠2025 Winter Reading Guide⁠⁠⁠ with 45 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this winter. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings.

Want to know which new titles are publishing in June - October of 2025? Check out our fourth ⁠⁠⁠Literary Lookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead.    

⁠⁠⁠⁠Making the Best of What's Left⁠ can be purchased at my Bookshop storefront. 

Looking for something new to read? Here is my monthly ⁠⁠Buzz Reads⁠⁠ column with five new recommendations each month.

Link to my articles about ⁠⁠older protagonists in fiction⁠⁠ and Gifting Books for Mother's Day.

Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this interview, I chat with Elisabeth Dini about ⁠⁠Bearer of Bad News, the idea of a bearer of bad news, what surprised her the most when writing this one, how she settled on the format, honoring real women through her character names, her job at the International Criminal Court and how it informed the story, and much more.

Elisabeth's recommended reads are:

Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page ⁠⁠2025 Winter Reading Guide⁠⁠ with 45 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this winter. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings.

Want to know which new titles are publishing in June - October of 2025? Check out our fourth ⁠⁠Literary Lookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead.    

⁠Bearer of Bad News⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ can be purchased at my Bookshop storefront. 

Looking for something new to read? Here is my monthly ⁠Buzz Reads⁠ column with five new recommendations each month.

Link to my article about ⁠older protagonists in fiction⁠.    

Connect with me on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Friends & Fiction authors Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, Kristy Woodson Harvey, and Patti Callahan Henry join me to chat about celebrating their fifth anniversary. We discuss how the group formed originally, centering independent bookstores on their platform, impact of Friends & Fiction on their writing, how inclusive they are, how they handle disagreements, and more.

Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page ⁠⁠2025 Winter Reading Guide⁠⁠ with 45 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this winter. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings.

Want to know which new titles are publishing in June - October of 2025? Check out our fourth ⁠⁠Literary Lookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead.    

Looking for something new to read? Here is my monthly ⁠Buzz Reads⁠ column with five new recommendations each month.

Link to my article about ⁠older protagonists in fiction⁠.    

Connect with me on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠. 

Friends & Fiction links:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kelly Hooker joins me for the April's Real Time Reading episode where we highlight our current, past and upcoming reads.

Kelly’s Selections:

Last: 

Slanting Towards the Sea by Lidija Hilje

King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby 

Now:

The River Is Waiting by Wally Lamb

This American Woman: A One-in-a Billion Memoir by Zarna Garg

Next:

The Midnight Estate by Kelly Rimmer

The Other Side of Now by Paige Harbison 

DNFs or Didn't Like:

Notes on Infinity by Austin Taylor

The Marigold Cottage Murder Collective by Jo Nichols

Book Mail Highlights:

Mean Moms by Emma Rosenblum 

Abigail and Alexa Save the Wedding by Lian Dolan

Cindy's Selections:

Last:

My Friends by Fredrik Backman

Valley So Low: One Lawyer’s Fight for Justice in the Wake of America’s Great Coal Catastrophe by Jared Sullivan

Now:

Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection by John Green

The Names by Florence Knapp

Next:

The Passengers on the Hankyu Line by Hiro Arikawa

All the Glimmering Stars by Mark Sullivan 

DNFs or Didn’t Like:

Aftertaste by Daria Levelle 

Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston 

Book Mail Highlights: 

A Most Puzzling Murder by Bianca Marais 

The Last Assignment by Erika Robuck  

Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page ⁠⁠2025 Winter Reading Guide⁠⁠ with 45 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this winter. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings.

Want to know which new titles are publishing in June - October of 2025? Check out our fourth ⁠⁠Literary Lookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead.    

Looking for something new to read? Here is my monthly ⁠Buzz Reads⁠ column with five new recommendations each month. 

Join my ⁠Patreon⁠ group to support the podcast.  Other ways to support the podcast can be found ⁠here⁠.    

Connect with Kelly Hooker on ⁠Instagram⁠.

Connect with me on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠YouTube⁠, and ⁠Threads⁠. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this interview, I chat with Virginia Evans about ⁠The Correspondent, how her blurbs helped her encapsulate the book's description, the role Ann Patchett has played in her life, Sybil's story arc, her lengthy cover story, the power of human connection, and much more.

Virginia's recommended reads are:

Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page ⁠2025 Winter Reading Guide⁠ with 45 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this winter. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings.

Want to know which new titles are publishing in June - October of 2025? Check out our fourth ⁠Literary Lookbook⁠⁠ ⁠which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead.    

The Correspondent⁠⁠ can be purchased at my Bookshop storefront. 

Looking for something new to read? Here is my monthly Buzz Reads column with five new recommendations each month.

Link to my article about older protagonists in fiction.    

Connect with me on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠YouTube⁠, and ⁠Threads⁠. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this interview, I chat with Kristin Koval about Penitence, why she decided to write about forgiveness, choosing who would tell the story, tackling such a difficult topic, her stunning cover, how the book's title was chosen, and much more.

Kristin's recommended reads are:

Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page 2025 Winter Reading Guide with 45 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this winter. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings.

Want to know which new titles are publishing in January - May of 2025? Check out our third Literary Lookbook which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead.    

Penitence can be purchased at my Bookshop storefront.     

Connect with me on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Threads. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices