In this interview, I chat with Martha Barnette about Friends with Words, her interest in words and word origins, hosting A Way With Words, what a call-out show is and how it works, her favorite questions she is asked on her show, writing this memoir, her title, and much more.

Martha's recommended reads are:

Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my printable 18-page Summer Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a tip of your choice or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for a set price here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via credit card with over 60 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this summer - books you will not see on other guides. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings.

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.    

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Friends with Words⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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. 

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

Kelly’s Selections:

Last: 

The Killer Question by Janice Hallett

Heart the Lover by Lily King

Now:

Spectacular Things by Beck Dorey-Stein

The Future Saints by Ashley Winstead 

Next:

Cape Fever by Nadia Davids 

Westward Women by Alice Martin

DNFs or Didn't Like:

None

Book Mail Highlights:

Murder by the Book by Amie Schaumberg

What We Can Know by Ian McKewan

Cindy's Selections:

Last:

The Mother Next Door: Medicine, Deception and Munchausen by Proxy by Andrea Dunlop

Scythe, Thunderhead, and The Toll by Neal Shusterman

Now:

A Flower Traveled in My Blood by Haley Cohen Gilliland

The Round House by Louise Erdrich

Next:

Matchmaking for Psychopaths by Tasha Corryell

The Mires by Tina Makereti 

DNFs or Didn’t Like:

Bug Hollow by Michelle Huneven

We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter 

How to Lose Your Mother by Molly Jung-Fast 

Book Mail Highlights: 

Paper Girl: A Memoir of Home and Family in a Fractured America by Beth Macy 

Photograph by Brian Freeman 

Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my printable 18-page Summer Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a tip of your choice or ⁠⁠⁠⁠for a set price here⁠⁠⁠⁠ via credit card with over 60 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this summer - books you will not see on other guides. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings.

Connect with Kelly Hooker on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠.

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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠stories set on school campuses⁠.    

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

Sign up to be added to my Literary Salon list here.

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In this episode, Kelly and I chat about our favorite books that published in April through June 2025.

Our shared top reads:

Kelly’s remaining top reads:

Cindy’s remaining top reads:

Kelly's Favorites of 2025 (so far):

Cindy's Favorites of 2025 (so far):

Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my printable 18-page Summer Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a tip of your choice or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for a set price here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via credit card with over 60 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this summer - books you will not see on other guides. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings.

Connect with Kelly Hooker on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠stories set on school campuses.    

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

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

Mary Webber O'Malley and Pamela Klinger-Horn join me to recommend their favorites reads of the third quarter of 2025. 

Pamela's Selections:

July 
A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst
Typewriter Beach by Meg Waite Clayton
The Harvey Girls by Juliette Fay
Ashes to Ashes by Thomas Maltman
August
Joy Moody Is Out of Time by Kerryn Mayne
Just Another Dead Author by Katarina Bivald
The Lies They Told by Ellen Marie Wiseman
Destroy This House by Amanda Uhle
September
Life and Death and Giants by Ron Rindo
Sweet, Tart by Kara Thom 
Whatever Happened to Lori Lovely? by Sarah McCoy
The Many Mothers of Dolores Moore by Anika Fajardo

Mary’s Selections:

July
No Lost Causes Club by Lauren McQuistin

The Cleaner by Mary Watson

The Satisfaction Cafe by Kathy Wang

The Lake's Water Is Never Sweet by Giulia Caminito

August

This Happened to Me by Kate Price

Ghosts of Hiroshima by Charles Pellegrino

We Should All Be Birds by Brian Buckbee

Are You Mad at Me by Meg Josephson, MSW

September

Awake by Jen Hatmaker

Hot Desk by Laura Dickerman

Buckeye by Patrick Ryan

Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy

Check out our FB Live event.

Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my printable 18-page Summer Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a tip of your choice or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for a set price here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via credit card with over 60 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this summer - books you will not see on other guides. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings.

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 me on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠Threads⁠, and ⁠Twitter⁠. 

Mary's social media handles: ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠Threads⁠, and ⁠Twitter⁠.

Pamela's social media handles: ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠Facebook⁠, and ⁠Twitter⁠.

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

In this interview, I chat with Nathalia Holt about ⁠The Beast in the Clouds⁠⁠, how the panda bear was the last large mammal unknown to science, the Roosevelt brothers' unlikely but successful excursion, how they changed the way the world viewed conservation, how she learned about this story, finding a publisher for this tale, and much more.

Nathalia's recommended reads are:

Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my printable 18-page Summer Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a tip of your choice or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for a set price here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via credit card with over 60 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this summer - books you will not see on other guides. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings.

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.    

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠The Beast in the Clouds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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 Bruce Holsinger about Culpability,⁠ why his publishing date moved up by three months (now we know it's an Oprah pick!), the research he conducted for this one, P(doom) numbers, his stunning cover, and much more.

Bruce's recommended reads are:

Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my printable 18-page Summer Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a tip of your choice or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for a set price here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via credit card with over 60 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this summer - books you will not see on other guides. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings.

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.    

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Culpability⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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 Lidija Hilje about ⁠⁠⁠Slanting Towards the Sea⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, writing about present day Croatia, her father's health and how it inspired this story, writing in her second language and why she chose to write the book in English, her title and cover, and much more.

Lidija's recommended reads are:

Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my printable 18-page Summer Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a tip of your choice or ⁠⁠⁠⁠for a set price here⁠⁠⁠⁠ via credit card with over 60 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this summer - books you will not see on other guides. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings.

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.    

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Slanting Towards the Sea⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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 Laura Wood about ⁠⁠Let's Make a Scene⁠⁠, the challenges she faced while writing her first dual timeline and dual POV book, her favorite tropes, her fascination with how fame impacts a person in today's world, referencing her favorite rom-coms in this one, giving cameos to the character from Under Your Spell, the title drama, and much more.

Laura's recommended reads are:

Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my printable 18-page Summer Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a tip of your choice or ⁠⁠⁠for a set price here⁠⁠⁠ via credit card with over 60 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this summer - books you will not see on other guides. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings.

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.    

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Let's Make a Scene⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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

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

Kelly’s Selections:

Last: 

Everything is TB The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection by John Green

Everything is Beautiful and Everything Hurts by Josie Shapiro

Now:

Culpability by Bruce Holsinger

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir 

Next:

What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon 

Buckeye by Patrick Ryan

DNFs or Didn't Like:

Sunburned by Katherine Wood

Book Mail Highlights:

Heart the Lover by Lily King 

A Beautiful Family by Jennifer Trevelyan

Cindy's Selections:

Last:

Mrs. Spy by MJ Robotham

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

Now:

Silver Elite by Dani Francis

The White Octopus Hotel by Alexandra Bell 

Next:

Anne of Avenue A by Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding 

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

DNFs or Didn’t Like:

The Wasp Trap by Mark Edwards 

Through an Open Window by Pamela Terry 

Book Mail Highlights: 

History Lessons by Zoe B. Wallbrook 

To the Moon and Back by Eliana Ramage

Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my printable 18-page Summer Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a tip of your choice or ⁠⁠⁠for a set price here⁠⁠⁠ via credit card with over 60 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this summer - books you will not see on other guides. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings.

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 me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

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

In this interview, I chat with Travis Kennedy about ⁠⁠⁠The Whyte Python World Tour⁠, his inspiration for this book, creating Rikki Thunder, what surprised him as he wrote this one, screen adaptation plans, determining when during the Cold War to set the book, his research, and much more.

Travis's recommended reads are:

Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my printable 18-page Summer Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a tip of your choice or ⁠⁠for a set price here⁠⁠ via credit card with over 60 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this summer - books you will not see on other guides. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings.

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.    

⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Whyte Python World Tour⁠⁠ 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. 

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