164. Brand New Books with Backlist Pairings: Summer 2025 Edition

165. Celebrate Novel Pairings with Chelsey and Sara with a Farewell Q&A

For our final episode of Novel Pairings, we opened up the mailbag to answer your thoughtful listener questions. From reflections on our favorite classics to behind-the-scenes stories, we're sharing a lot today! And celebrating the journey we've shared with all of you. We'll also be offering some closing thoughts on what this podcast has meant to us, what we've learned along the way, and what comes next for each of us. This is our final season with Novel Pairings, but we are saving all of our episodes right here for you to return to, plus we're opening a shop for our exclusive classes and recap series. To learn more about our storefront and to get all new announcements, make sure you are following @novelpairingspod [https://www.instagram.com/novelpairingspod/] on Instagram and subscribed to novelpairings.substack.com [http://novelpairings.substack.com/]. Novel Pairings Bundles: novelpairings.gumroad.com [https://novelpairings.gumroad.com/] Find us individually and continue to read with each of us here: Chelsey – IG: @chelseyreads [http://www.instagram.com/chelseyreads] | Substack: chelsey.substack.com [https://chelsey.substack.com/] Sara – IG: @fictionmatters [http://www.instagram.com/fictionmatters/] | Substack: https://fictionmatters.substack.com/fictionmatters.substack.com [http://fictionmatters.substack.com] Books Mentioned Summer [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780241630815] by Edith Wharton A Midsummer Night's Dream [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780743477543] by William Shakespeare Quicksand [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780385721004] by Nella Larsen A Wrinkle in Time [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780312367541] by Madeleine L'Engle Passing [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780142437278] by Nella Larsen The Custom of the Country [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780143137214] by Edith Wharton Pride and Prejudice [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780593622452] by Jane Austen The Great Gatsby [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9781982146702] by F. Scott Fitzgerald The Scarlet Letter [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780143107668] by Nathaniel Hawthorne The Catcher in the Rye [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780316769488] by J.D. Salinger 1984 [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780451524935] by George Orwell Of Mice and Men [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780140177398] by John Steinbeck Wuthering Heights [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780141439556] by Emily Brontë There is Confusion [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9781513282411] by Jesse Redmond Fossett Also Mentioned From the Front Porch/The Bookshelf Conquer a Classic with Annie and Hunter [https://www.patreon.com/fromthefrontporch] Shelf by Shelf on Substack [https://www.shelfbyshelf.com/] The Novel Tea Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-novel-tea/id1669618959] 250th Anniversary of Jane Austen [https://jasna.org/] Smith and Taylor Classics [https://www.unnamedpress.com/smith-and-taylor] Persephone Books [https://persephonebooks.co.uk/] McNally Editions [https://www.mcnallyeditions.com/?srsltid=AfmBOopbHCtcKlDYgMb2qP6vUF2Q-ch29c7auFk1qXWuoOIE3N-9cOa9] New York Review [https://www.nybooks.com/] Penguin Modern Classics [https://www.penguin.co.uk/series/PENMODC/penguin-modern-classics] Center for Fiction [https://centerforfiction.org/] Wuthering Heights adaptation [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32897959/] Pride and Prejudice adaptations [https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/pride-and-prejudice-cast-photos-release-date-news]

164. Brand New Books with Backlist Pairings: Summer 2025 Edition

Get ready to load your summer totes with compelling reads, both new and old! We're sharing our anticipated summer releases on today's episode, carefully curated from a long list of captivating titles to shake up your TBR. As always, we've included some perfectly paired backlist favorites to enjoy while you wait for the buzzy new books. Today, we explore an exciting mix of poignant literary fiction, immersive historical narratives, richly layered contemporary stories, and even a touch of magical realism to spark your imagination. You'll find everything from heartfelt memoirs threaded with nostalgia to sharp, insightful critiques of today's world, alongside enchanting tales perfect for reading all season long. This is our final season with Novel Pairings, but we are saving all of our episodes right here for you to return to, plus we're opening a shop for our exclusive classes and recap series. Stay tuned. To learn when our shop opens up and to get all new announcements, make sure you are following @novelpairingspod [https://www.instagram.com/novelpairingspod/] on Instagram and subscribed to novelpairings.substack.com [http://novelpairings.substack.com/]. Find us individually and continue to read with each of us here: Chelsey – IG: @chelseyreads [http://www.instagram.com/chelseyreads] | Substack: chelsey.substack.com [https://chelsey.substack.com/] Sara – IG: @fictionmatters [http://www.instagram.com/fictionmatters/] | Substack: https://fictionmatters.substack.com/fictionmatters.substack.com [http://fictionmatters.substack.com] Books Mentioned Great Big Beautiful Life [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780593441299] by Emily Henry Heart, Be at Peace [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780593834640] by Donal Ryan (5/20) The Queen of Dirt Island [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780593652954] by Donal Ryan Dubliners [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780140186475] by James Joyce I'll Tell You When I'm Home [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9781982182588] by Hala Alyan (6/3) Disoriental [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9781609454517] by Négar Djavadi Atmosphere [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780593158715] by Taylor Jenkins Reid Challenger [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9781982176617] by Adam Higginbotham The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9781501161933] by Taylor Jenkins Reid Malibu Rising [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9781524798673] by Taylor Jenkins Reid Daisy Jones & the Six [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9781524798642] by Taylor Jenkins Reid The Listeners [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780593655504] by Maggie Stiefvater (6/3) The Remains of the Day [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780679731726] by Kazuo Ishiguro Skipshock [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9781536228816] by Caroline O'Donoghue (6/3) A Darker Shade of Magic [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9781250891211] by VE Schwab The Möbius Book [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780374615406] by Catherine Lacey (6/17) Audition [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780593852323] by Katie Kitamura Liars [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780593241257] by Sarah Mangusso The Tiny Things are Heavier [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9781639734108] by Esther Ifesinachi Okonkwo (6/24) Transcendent Kingdom [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9781984899767] by Yaa Gyasi El Dorado Drive [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780593084960] by Megan Abbott (6/24) Katabasis [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780063021471] by R.F. Kuang (8/26) Poppy War Trilogy [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780063347755] by R.F. Kuang Babel [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780063021433] by R.F. Kuang Yellowface [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780063250857] by R.F. Kuang The Inferno [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780451531391] by Dante Alighieri The Odyssey [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780393356250] by Homer The Austin Affair [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9781250373519] by Madeline Bell Northanger Abbey [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780141439792] by Jane Austen Minor Black Figures [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780593332368] by Brandon Taylor On Beauty [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780143037743] by Zadie Smith Heart the Lover [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780802165176] by Lilly King The Rachel Incident [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780593469446] by Caroline O'Donoghue The Unveiling [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780802165350] by Quan Berry Endurance [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780465062881] by Alfred Lansing Also Mentioned Paperback Summer Reading Guide [https://fictionmatters.substack.com/] Libro FM [https://libro.fm/?srsltid=AfmBOoqDX6yJGMJ6GmqYlZVdpHq06JkGhZWhDLEEEGiy9M480Cr1c0We] The Irishification of Pop Culture [https://culturestudypod.substack.com/p/the-irishification-of-pop-culture] (The Culture Study Podcast) LuLaRich Documentary [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15213278/]

163. Reflections on Emma and 250 years of Jane Austen

We're wrapping up our Emma readalong with final reflections on rereading, standout themes, and Austen's legacy. We also chat about how we're marking the momentous occasion of Jane Austen's 250th anniversary and the ways this milestone is resonating with us as readers. This is our final season with Novel Pairings, but we are saving all of our episodes right here for you to return to, plus we're opening a shop for our exclusive classes and recap series. Stay tuned. To learn when our shop opens up and to get all new announcements, make sure you are following @novelpairingspod [https://www.instagram.com/novelpairingspod/] on Instagram and subscribed to novelpairings.substack.com [http://novelpairings.substack.com]. Find Chelsey and Sara on Substack, too! Chelsey, The Eclectic Reader: chelsey.substack.com [http://chelsey.substack.com] Sara, Fiction Matters: fictionmatters.substack.com [http://fictionmatters.substack.com] Books Mentioned * The Custom of the Country [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780684825885] by Edith Wharton Les Misérables [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780451419439] by Victor Hugo * Pride and Prejudice [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780593622452] by Jane Austen * Mansfield Park [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780141439808] by Jane Austen * The Gruffalo [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780142403877] by Julia Donaldson Superworm [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9781338827255] by Julia Donaldson * Jane Austen's Bookshelf [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9781982190248] by Rebecca Romney * Wild for Austen [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9781250361332] by Devoney Looser * Persuasion [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780141439686] by Jane Austen * Juvenilia [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9781107044166] by Jane Austen * Of Love and Friendship [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9781847496331] by Jane Austen * Sense and Sensibility [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780141439662] by Jane Austen * Northanger Abbey [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9780141439792] by Jane Austen Also Mentioned * Novel Pairings Readalongs [http://www.patreon.com/novelpairings] * Emma Footnotes #4: Foils [https://www.patreon.com/posts/124794427/edit] * 250 Years of Jane Austen [https://janeaustens.house/visit/jane-austen-250/] * Pride and Prejudice Series on Netflix [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/pride-and-prejudice-netflix-emma-corrin-jack-lowden-1236187190/] * Hamilton [https://hamiltonmusical.com/new-york/] * Pride and Prejudice on the big screen [https://www.amctheatres.com/movies/pride-prejudice-20th-anniversary-79618] * Emma [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9214832/] * Slow Horses [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5875444/]

162. Emma by Jane Austen Recap Six: A Perfect Union

In this episode, we reach the culmination of Jane Austen's Emma, where secrets are revealed, relationships evolve, and characters face pivotal choices that will shape their futures. We discuss shifting affections, unexpected engagements, and the web of emotions that bind the residents of Highbury together. We will conclude our Emma series with a finale reflection episode in a few weeks to give you a chance to catch up on recaps. This is our final season with Novel Pairings, but we are saving all of our episodes right here for you to return to, plus we're opening a shop for our exclusive classes and recap series. Stay tuned. To learn when our shop opens up and to get all new announcements, make sure you are following @novelpairingspod [https://www.instagram.com/novelpairingspod/] on Instagram and subscribed to novelpairings.substack.com [http://novelpairings.substack.com]. Find Chelsey and Sara on Substack, too! Chelsey: The Eclectic Reader @ chelsey.substack.com [http://chelsey.substack.com] Sara: Fiction Matters @ fictionmatters.substack.com [http://fictionmatters.substack.com] Books Mentioned Jane Austen, Her Life and Letters [https://bookshop.org/a/1300/9782382740866] by William Austen-Leigh Also Mentioned Novel Pairings Odyssey Readalong [https://www.patreon.com/collection/414265?view=expanded] Novel Pairings Les Miserables Readalong [https://www.patreon.com/collection/503310?view=expanded]

161. Emma by Jane Austen Recap Five: Badly Done, Emma

In this episode, we're unpacking so many juicy moments—from Frank Churchill's restless return to Highbury and the long-awaited ball at the Crown Inn to Harriet's shocking misadventure and Mr. Knightley's heroic turn on the dance floor. We'll explore Emma's ever-active imagination, Mrs. Elton's relentless meddling, and some subtle but oh-so-important moments between Emma and Mr. Knightley. Plus, we'll chat about strawberry-picking at Donwell Abbey, and all the little details that make this part of the novel so rich and entertaining. As a reminder, we've historically shared these "big book readalong" recap series in our patreon community, but to celebrate five years of podcasting, we're sharing it on the public feed! We're so excited to have all of you reading with us. To grab our reading schedule, go to our instagram page @novelpairingspod for our pinned post or subscribe to our free weekly substack newsletter where you'll get reminders and announcements at novelpairings.substack.com. This is our final season with Novel Pairings, but we are saving all of our episodes right here for you to return to, plus we're opening a shop for our exclusive classes and recap series. Stay tuned.