Medium Lady Reads

Episode 55: Mostly Vibes Not Much Plot

Hello, hi, and “Welcome back to Medium Lady Reads! This is Episode 55, “Mostly Vibes Not Much Plot” We’re so glad you are here! Spring is in the air — or at least we're willing it there — and we are back with books, opinions, and a little bit of our signature chaos. We have a solid lineup for you today. Erin and Jillian are both coming in with reviews, they've got thoughts on the holds list, and later in the episode we want to talk about something all readers are obsessed with but we’ve never asked… why do we count our books? Like, what is that actually about? We'll get into it. Mentioned In This Episode: * The ladies check in to see how their reading is going and even mention a few books in the process. * If you’re wondering what types of books the ladies include this week, don’t worry because we share the deets. * Ready or not, it’s time to add 6 new books to your TBR. Jillian and Erin share 3 new books each. * Up next is hot takes, and we’re talking book counts in this episode.  * It’s time for the holds list – Erin and Jillian share what’s on their holds list and what’s up next for them in the book world. Books Mentioned In This Episode: * Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell  * Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear * The White Hot by Quiara Alegría Hudes * The Book of Lost Hours by Hayley Gelfuso * The Time Travelers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger * The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley * The Tell by Amy Griffin  * All Systems Red by Martha Wells * The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff * Tiny Experiments by Anne-Laure Le Cunff * Little One by Olivia Muenter * Anatomy of an Alibi by Ashley Elston * The Correspondent by Virginia Evans * Just Friends by Haley Pham * And Now Back to You by B.K. Borison

Episode 54: I should have DNFd it and other tales from our winter hiatus

Hello, hi, and “Welcome back to Medium Lady Reads! This is Episode 54, “I should have DNFd it and other tales from our winter hiatus.” As always, Erin and Jillian have new book recommendations to share! We are back after a winter hiatus, and still in the thick of our winter reading. While the hiatus went a bit longer than we expected, we’re still here, and we’re still reading! Sort of…and we still have a series of book reviews coming your way, plus the cozy book chat you know and love! In This Episode: * Jillian and Erin kick off the show by checking in and sharing how their last couple of months have been going and what they’re currently reading. * Bring on the books! The ladies share their latest 6 reads. * Hot takes are up next! Tune in to hear what Erin and Jillian are dishing about this week.  * Time to wrap up the show… The ladies share what they’re waiting for from the library and what their next read will be. Books Mentioned In This Episode: * The Mating Game by Lana Ferguson * Bride by Ali Hazelwood * I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman * An Academic Affair by Jodi McAlister * The Death of Us by Abigail Dean * Why Fish Don’t Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of Life by Lulu Miller * Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt * All Fours by Miranda July * All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker * This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron * This Wicked Fate by Kalynn Bayron * Circe by Madeline Miller * The Mother Act by Heidi Reimer * Theo of Golden by Allen Levi  * The Midnight Library by Matt Haig * The Correspondent by Virginia Evans * Verity by Colleen Hoover * Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir * Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman * And Now Back to You by B.K. Borison * So Old, So Young by Grant Ginder * The Housemaid by Freida McFadden * The Seven Daughters of Dupree by Nikesha Elise Williams * Anatomy of an Alibi by Ashley Elston * First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

Episode 53: Trust your Gut and Read What You Want PLUS our Best Books of the Year

Hello, hi, and “Welcome back to Medium Lady Reads! This is Episode 53, “Trust your Gut and Read What You Want PLUS our Best Books of the Year.” As always, Erin and Jillian have new book recommendations to share! We’re so happy you’re here—especially in this cozy, end-of-year stretch. Whether you’ve been listening all along or you’re finding us for the first time, thank you for choosing to spend a little reading time with us. Today we’re settling in with fresh book talk, comforting reads, and a few titles that might be just right for this quiet in-between week. In This Episode: * It’s time for a check-in! The ladies check in on how their reading and life are going. * After the check in, the ladies jump into their book reviews. Tune in to hear what books they’re recommending this week.  * Instead of Hot Takes, this week the ladies are sharing the books that stuck with them throughout the year. * The ladies wrap up their last show of the year by sharing what’s on their holds list and what’s coming next on their TBR.  * The ladies will be taking a winter break for all of January, but will be back in February. Books Mentioned In This Episode: * Alchemised by SenLinYu * A Merry Little Life by Sarah Morgan * Half Spent Was the Night by Ami McKay * Mate by Ali Hazelwood * The Irish Goodbye by Heather Aimee O'Neill * Girl Dinner by Olivie Blake * The Will of the Many by James Islington * The Strength of the Few by James Islington * Sweet Heat by Bolu Babalola * Honey and Spice by Bolu Bablola * Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese * The Dirt Beneath Our Door by Pamela Jones * Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison * The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton * Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy * Can’t Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan * The Heartbreak Hotel by Ellen O’Clover * Weyward by Emilia Hart * The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon * The Unseen World by Liz Moore * Women Who Work Too Much by Tamu Thomas * One Perfect Summer by Carley Fortune * The Gift by Danielle Steel * The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow * An Academic Affair by Jodi McAlister * Meet Me Under the Mistletoe by Jenny Bayliss

Episode 52: Romantasy VS Your English Lit degree

Hello, hi, and “Welcome back to Medium Lady Reads! This is Episode 52, “Romantasy VS Your English Lit Degree.” As always, Erin and Jillian have new book recommendations to share! We’re really glad you’ve joined us today. As we ease deeper into the holiday season, maybe your reading life feels steady and cozy… or maybe it’s a little chaotic. Either way, we’ve got some great books to share that might meet you exactly where you are. In This Episode: * The ladies start the show the same way they usually do by checking in on how their reading and life is going.  * Time to jump into the meat of the episode! Erin starts the show off with her review, and Jillian’s review follows it. * Next up is hot takes! This week, the ladies discuss this Instagram reel [https://www.instagram.com/p/DRc_jHyEksO/] from @kaila.books [https://www.instagram.com/kaila.books/]. * Erin and Jillian wrap up with the holds list and share what they’re going to read next.  Books Mentioned In This Episode: * Sweet Heat by Bolu Babalola * The Will of the Many by James Islington * Primal Intelligence by Angus Fletcher * If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia * Sisters In the Wind by Angeline Boulley * The Firekeepers Daughter by Angeline Boulley * Wreck by Catherine Newman * Sandwich by Catherine Newman * We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman * Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker * Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams * Brimstone by Callie Hart * Run Rose Run by Dolly Parton and James Patterson * An Academic Affair by Jodi McAlister * The Irish Goodbye by Heather Aimee O'Neill * Katabasis by R. F. Kuang  * Cover Story by Mhairi McFarlane * The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai * The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson  * Hagitude by Sharon Blackie * Alchemised by SenLinYu * Snowed In For Christmas by Jaqueline Snowe

Episode 51: Cozy Christmas Reads 2025

Hello, hi, and welcome to Medium Lady Reads. This is episode 51 - A VERY special episode, our FIFTH annual Cozy Christmas Reads! This is the perfect time of year for some emotional junk food in book form! We are celebrating the fifth season of our annual Cozy Christmas Reads episode. Here are the links to 2021 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/1ppcQ9sdrytIvQPiZvxdZO?si=fa0fb52b471b4429&nd=1&dlsi=7232373785ed4df9], 2022 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5G0mRKaffkPO4ExFMB2FAG?si=lub-FWVHRVib5mGpjmRCJw&nd=1&dlsi=06cd914a1f5c4811] and 2023 [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2210837/episodes/14121367] and 2024 [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2210837/episodes/16254988]. For those who know the Cozy Christmas episode traditions well, you know that means we’re joined by two amazing and special guests Stef Cunningham [https://www.instagram.com/steffski/] and Ali Oppenlaender [https://www.instagram.com/alioppenlaender/]. In This Episode: * The show starts how it always does, with the ladies & their special guests checking in on how their reading is going. * The ladies rank their reads from Scrooge to Christmas on Hallmark Street. * Next up, the friends share the books they brought to the episode. Listener, you’ll be walking away with 8 cozy books for your holiday listening. * It wouldn’t be an episode of Medium Lady Reads without hot takes. Tune in to find out what we’re all thinking. * All four women share what they’re waiting for from the library and what they’re reading next. Books Mentioned in This Episode: * All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker  * Maple Syrup: A Short History of Canada's Sweetest Obsession by Peter Kuitenbrouwer * Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson * Tress and The Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson * Hot Desk by Laura Dickerman * Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry * Girl Dinner by Olivie Blake * I’ll Be Home for Christmas by Jenny Bayliss * Season for Second Chances by Jenny Bayliss * Meet Me Under the Mistletoe by Jenny Bayliss * The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss * December to Remember by Jenny Bayliss * Kiss Me at Christmas by Jenny Bayliss * Half Spent was the Night by Ami McKay  * The Mistletoe Mystery: A Maid Novella by Nita Prose * A Merry Little Lie by Sarah Morgan * The Book Club Hotel by Sarah Morgan * The Bookbinder by Pip Williams * The Dictionary of Lost of Words by Pip Williams * Good Spirits by B.K. Borison * Love Light Farms by B.K. Borison * First Time Caller by B.K. Borison * The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter * Christmas at the Ranch by Julia McKay * How to Read a Book by Monica Wood * One In A Million Boy by Monica Wood * The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna * A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna * Sweet Heat by Bolu Babalola * In the Veins of the Drowning by Kalie Cassidy * Alchemised by SenLinYu  * Spectacular by Stephanie Garber * Winterhouse by Ben Guterson * Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy * The Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean * Wreck by Catherine Newman * The Correspondent by Virginia Evans  * Walking with Beth by Merilyn Simonds * Accomplish to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer  * August Lane by Regina Black