What You Should Read

Send us Fan Mail

Hi, Should-Heads! Hopefully you’re enjoying amazing books like we are but if you’re in a reading slump or just looking forward to some upcoming releases, we’ve got you. Plus our fantastic friend Kathy Coe is back and she’s always got amazing recommendations. Also, as an update: you can actually contact us with the link in the show notes. Feel free to give us your recommendations or pitch show ideas. 

Book News:

It looks like almost every single author we love is releasing books next year! There are new Kristin Hannah, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Meryl Wilsner, Carley Fortune and Emily Henry releases to look forward to and they’re all out between March and May.

Most Anticipated:

Kathy: The Sixth Faction (Veronica Roth), Villain Edit (Rosie Danan) and Once Again Always (Amanda Gayle)

Rachael: Partita (Barbara Kingsolver), A Married Little Christmas (Abby Jimenez) and American Hagwon (Min Jin Lee)

Kelly: Bad Company (Sara Paretsky), And I Will Tell You Mine (Sophia Bush) and I Don’t Want to Wait (Kerr Smith)

Twitter and Instagram: wysr_podcast

Send us Fan Mail

Hi, Shouldheads! We took a summer vacation and accidentally forgot to come back. Oops.

But we’re here now and we’ve got a fun episode of recommendations and a look at what we’re covering soon. 

Book news:

One Italian Summer will be a movie! https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/one-italian-summer-brie-larson-release-bradbeer-paramount-1236700819/

Tara Westover’s releasing a sequel of sorts. 
https://people.com/tara-westover-memoir-brothers-and-sisters-12125745 

Twitter and Instagram: wysr_podcast

Send us Fan Mail

Hi, Should-Heads! We're here with an unfortunate episode. We're not reading the way we should and we're trying to get that back. We're discussing the things that have worked for us in the past and what new ideas we may try. If you've got any ideas, please text us (the link is here in the notes!). We'll also happily take any book recommendations.

Twitter and Instagram: wysr_podcast

Send us Fan Mail

Should-Heads, this is probably going to be a dangerous episode for you to listen to. First, our favorite reading enthusiast Kathy Coe is back, so automatically, you know it'll be fun. We've got a list of the best books we've read so far this year and the five books we're each most excited to read before Labor Day.

LINKS MENTIONED:

AI Summer Reading

AI Prompt in Published Book

AI and James Frey

Twitter and Instagram: wysr_podcast

Send us Fan Mail

We can't believe it, Should-Heads, but our podcast is five years old! We discuss our favorite episodes and guests, plus goals of where we would like to go from here. We've also got very fun stories about Julia, forever our Kristy Thomas. 

LINKS MENTIONED:

Baltimore convention goes very wrong

Judy Blume's novel Forever... is on Netflix now

New Thursday Next novel! 

Christmas Peanut Butter Balls recipe episode!

Twitter and Instagram: wysr_podcast

Send us Fan Mail

You Should Read: Stephen King! (With special guest Mom of the Pod Becky Hall)!

Should-Heads, our favorite mom is back to discuss Stephen King! We've got great recommendations for you and no matter your comfort level with horror, there are a handful of stories you'll love without losing any sleep.

Links mentioned:

John Lithgow

Open letter asking him to quit

Boleyn Traitor!

Twitter and Instagram: wysr_podcast

Send us Fan Mail

Hello, Should-Heads! We had such a great time with this episode a few weeks back that we decided to make it a regular feature. Our friend Kathy came back to help us choose what our next reads should be and we discuss how this experiment went last time. 

Also, you can text the podcast now! There's a link in each episode's show notes. Feel free to request our help or to give us recommendations. This is a new thing that Buzzsprout is doing and we're excited to see what happens.

Links mentioned:

Dangerous Liaisons as a K-Drama

Julie Murphy and Jonathan Van Ness are Co-Writing a Book

Just One Day is going to be a TV Show

Twitter and Instagram: wysr_podcast

Send us Fan Mail

Should-Heads, we’ve talked about doing starter kit episodes for years but we’re finally doing it! Every starter kit episode will feature at least one but usually two authors with extensive backlists and we’ll help you figure out where to start. 

Links mentioned:

The Testaments: https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/handmaids-tale-sequel-the-testaments-hulu-cast-1236353125/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20Handmaid's%20Tale%E2%80%9D%20sequel%20series,Brad%20Alexander%20and%20Mabel%20Li.

Tim Curry’s Memoir: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/tim-curry/vagabond/9780306835841/

Girl Scout Cookie locator: https://www.girlscouts.org/en/cookies/how-to-buy-cookies.html

Twitter and Instagram: wysr_podcast

Send us Fan Mail

As you know, we’re very in love with books…but we’re also in love with TV and movies. When we find a fictional place that feels like home, sometimes we find additional stories that let us stay there a bit longer. Our friend Amanda stops by to discuss her favorite fanfic stories. 

Links:

Independent Bookstore Day catalog https://www.bookweb.org/independent-bookstore-day-2025-exclusives-catalog

Sugarquill Archived

After The End on Fanfiction.net 

Twitter and Instagram: wysr_podcast

Send us Fan Mail

Hello, Should-Heads! We're giant fans of the Book of the Month Club and we've been subscribers for years. Mom of the Pod Becky comes on and we discuss our favorite picks and the ones we hope to get to soon.

Book News: 

Tori Woods and Daddy's Little Toy

And there's an update! She was arrested.

For Fun!

Mom's Advent Calendar Minisode Episode

Twitter and Instagram: wysr_podcast