The Mamas get festive for the last episode of 2023 with a holiday-themed short story collection for 8–12-year-olds filled with murder, mystery, and mayhem. If you enjoy a holiday haunted house, listen in as the Mama’s say good-bye to 2023 with a book chat about creepy funhouses, famous cat burglars, and conspiracies meant to silence the most benevolent among us. Happy Holidays!  

Book Chat:

The Very Merry Murder Club edited by Serena Patel and Robin Stevens

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Stuff your mouth with turkey while the Mama’s share their opinions on funny, sexy, and murdery Grown Up books that made the top of their lists in 2023. Heather went for fantasies filled with dragons and angry gods, while Margie nabbed myths, space murders and, of course, zombies. 

You can’t go wrong when a nerd and an outcast team up – that’s when the Two Lit Mamas are at their finest. Happy Thanksgiving! And, don’t forget to hit your local bookstores on Small Business Saturday or you’ll end up on the Mamas’ naughty list.

The Mamas’ Top Just-for-Fun Reads

Heather’s Faves:

Circe by Madeline Miller 

An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good by Helene Tursten

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

Margie’s Faves:

Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn

The Push by Ashley Audrain

Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica

Holiday Gift Guide Grown Up & YA Recs:

Heather’s Picks:

The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman

Accountable by Dashka Slater

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

Fourth Wing  and Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

Margie’s Picks:

Eat Your Heart Out by Kelly deVos

Into The Light  by Mark Oshiro

The Only Girl in Town by Ally Condie 

Daughters of Sparta and The Shadow of Perseus by Claire Heywood

Starter Villain by John Scalizi

The Midsolar Murders by Mur Lafferty

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The Mamas have once again donned their pointy hats and elf ears for another Holiday Gift Guide Extravaganza-ganza-ganza! As a special treat, they've also included an highlight reel for 2023. Get out your pen or open an app so you can make your list. Don't forget to check it 500 times. Happy Shopping!

2023 Highlight Reel
Heather's 2023 Faves:

•  Area 51 Files by Julie Buxbaum
• Gnome is Where Your Heart is by Casey Lyall
• A Rover’s Story by Jasmine Warga
• Falling out of time by Margaret Peterson Haddix
• Purple Carrot by Rebecca Mullin

Margie's 2023 Faves: 

• Sinister Summer Series by Kiersten White, Wretched Waterpark
• Holler of the Fireflies by David Barclay Moore
• Pie in the Sky Remy Lai
• Dust and Grim by Chuck Wendig
•  Super Puzzletastic Mysteries - edited by Chris Grabenstein

Our Series Faves with New Books in 2023

• City  Spies, James Ponti, latest release  City of the Dead  (book 4)
• Show me a sign series - Ann Clare LeZotte, Sail Me Away Home
• Amari and the Night Brothers by BB Alston,  Amari and the Great Game

2023 Holiday Gift Guide 
Margie's List:

• Wrecker by Carl Hiaasen
• Alex Wise vs. the End of the World  by Terry J. Benton-Walker
• Enlighten Me by  Minh Lê  (Author), Chan Chau  (Illustrator)
• The Labors of Hercules Beal by  Gary D. Schmidt
• Field of Screams by Wendy Parris 

Heather’s List

• Dog Town by Katherine Applegate
• Wow in the Wow series by Guz Raz and Mindy Thomas
• The Puppets of Spelhorst by Kate DiCamillo
• Grace and Box by Kim Howard
• The Golden Glow by Benjamin Flouw
• Hot Dog by Doug Salati

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Episode 77: Ghost Stories for Spooky Season

It’s the Mamas’ favorite time of the year when they happily scare themselves silly with ghost stories that are not only bone-chilling but also life affirming. The Mamas start the book chat by chanting Bloody Mary’s name three times in the dark so watch out – she might be coming for you with a hearty Clamato drink garnished with chicken wings. You’re welcome. After the Mamas gush over middle grade ghosts, they dig into a sweet grown up ghost story with even more bone-chilling, life affirmations. Drink it down, just don’t spew it as your head slowly rotates 180 degrees. Happy Halloween!

Middle Grade Book Chat:

The Clackity and The Nighthouse Keeper by Lora Senf

The International House of Dereliction by Jacqueline Davies

Grown Up Book Chat:

Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune

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The Mamas want to help get your Middle Schoolers off screens with game-themed novels for 8-12 year olds! Join the book chat as the Mamas share two new fantasy/sci-fi novels that will appeal to gamers: one book is set in a haunted woods and includes three sixth-graders who play a game to save the town, and the other book is set in a floating fun park that is taken over by androids and only the owners’ son and friends realize it. Both books are sure to satisfy your little gamers as much as they did the Mamas. And, if you know a few adults who struggle with putting down the gaming controls, the Mamas have a grown-up, gaming-themed book that will give their screen-weary eyes a break too. Now, get out of that gaming chair, take your dog for a walk, and bring the Mamas along.

Middle Grade Book Chat:

The Bellwoods Game by Celia Krampien

Futureland: Battle for the Park by H.D. Hunter

Grown Up Book Chat:

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

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The Mamas shine in their diamond episode, geeking out over their favorite genre, mysteries. First, the Mamas fangirl about TV cozies, then they chat it up with two new mystery novels for kiddos, ages 8-12: one that Margie recommends for the classroom and one that Heather recommends for family car trips. At the end of the 75th episode, the Mamas discuss a new grown up murder mystery that honors three generations of strong women. Put on your sleuthing caps!       

Middle Grade Book Chat:

Linked by Gordan Korman

No One Leaves the Castle by Christopher Healy

Grown Up Book Chat:

Mother Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon


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It’s a magical moment indeed when Margie realizes a book can have too many fart jokes. Heather didn’t even use her witch wand to open Margie’s eyes. Shocking! In the latest episode of the Two Lit Mamas podcast, the Mamas sprinkle fairy dust on their Middle Grade book chat to spin stories filled with the magic of Gullah conjurers and Norse gods; stories that have the Mamas wishing for broomstick guardians and talking alligators. The Mamas then compel you to listen until the end when they share their latest grown-up book pick, a very twisty turny non-magical mystery that will make you laugh and yell, “girlllllll, don’t do it!”   

Middle Grade Book Chat:
Loki: A Bad God’s Guide to Being Good by Louie Stowell
Conjure Island by Eden Royce

Grown Up Book Chat:
Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano

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The Mamas boldly and happily leave Earth for an hour to stowaway with space pirates and explore mars with a sentient rover in the 73rd episode of the Two Lit Mamas Podcast. If your Middle Schoolers would rather blast into space than go back to school, then listen in for books that will help them escape. A special bonus for midlife Earthlings includes The Mamas first official grown up book chat about aging GenXers, there's nothing more punk than that. Grab your moon boots, you’ll need them.

Middle Grade Book Chat:
A Rover’s Story by Jasmine Warga
Stowaway by John David Anderson

Grown Up Book Chat:
Excuse Me While I Disappear by Laurie Notaro   

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The Mamas are back from summer hiatus and fangirling hard for MPH’s newest book Falling Out of Time, a companion piece to Running Out of Time (for kids aged 8-12). They have a lot to say about the two Middle Grade novels but not until they get caught up after a month off. Hear how the Mamas got kicked out of puppy school and went on wildly inappropriate back-to-school shopping sprees. Stick around to the end, the Mama’s are mixing things up and hope you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Book Chat:

Falling Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix

None of this Would Have Happened if Prince Were Alive by

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The Mamas revisit their favorite topic, food! Gather the kid foodies in your life and share these fun summer reads for ages 8-12 that focus on diversity, overcoming adversity, friendship, family and most importantly delicious foods. The Mamas will wet your appetite for fiction, fusion food and cake! If you can stave off hunger, hang on to the end of the episode for recommendations from the Mamas for six new books with LGBTQIA+ characters and themes in honor of PRIDE month.  

Book Chat:

Pie in the Sky by Remy Lai

The Takeout by Tracy Badua

Pick 6: LGBTQIA+ Books for Middle Grade

Ellie Engle Save Herself by Leah Johnson

Too Bright to See by Kyle Lukoff 

The Insiders by Mark Oshiro

Ring of Solomon by Aden Polydoros

Glitter Boy by Ian Eagleton

The Song of Us by Kate Fussner



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