149: Chat with Ethan Joella

149: Chat with Ethan Joella

Bestselling author Ethan Joella joins me on the podcast to talk about his moving new novel, The Top of the World — a heartfelt story about grief, healing, sibling relationships, and the quiet ways people change each other’s lives. Ethan is always such a joy to talk to, and this conversation felt especially honest and thoughtful as we discussed the writing process behind this book, his “pantser” approach to storytelling, the edits and revisions that shaped the final novel, and how he’s learned to develop a tough skin while still staying emotionally open enough to write characters with such depth and humanity. We also dive into the nostalgic setting of the Poconos in the 1970s, the emotional core of Maggie’s search for answers after her brother’s death, and why stories centered on connection and hope continue to resonate so deeply with readers. If you love emotionally rich fiction and behind-the-scenes author conversations, this is one you won’t want to miss. Website: https://www.ethanjoellawriter.com/ IG: @joellawriting

148: Q3 All About the Books

Q3 episode is here! Hannah from @booksandbitesroc joins me again to talk about the books we're most excited about coming out in July, August, and September. We covered everything from buzzy bestsellers to under-the-radar gems, and after more than an hour of book talk, your TBR is guaranteed to grow. All of the books we discuss are listed in the show notes! July Books Habits of the Sea by Shea Ernshaw 7/7, Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt by Ben Reeves 7/7, Helpless by Jessica Knoll 7/7, Love You More by Emily Giffin 7/7, Pretty Dead Things by Kelsey Cox 7/7, Man Overboard! by Kathleen Rooney 7/7, Ungodly Rich by Katharine McGee 7/7, An Infinite Love Story by Chanel Cleeton 7/7, The Season of Sinking by Daphne Woolsoncroft 7/7, Crash Into Me by Robinne Lee 7/7, Star-Crossed Summer by Devon Daniels 7/7, Most Ardently Yours by Freya Sampson 7/7, Last Night Was Killer by Mary Pauline Lowry 7/7, Lady X by Molly Fader 7/14, The Romance Revival by Christina Lauren 7/14, The Half Life by Rachel Beanland 7/14, Hot Girl Murder Club by Ashley Winstead 7/14, Cool Machine by Colson Whitehead 7/14, The Parisian Heist by Jo Piazza 7/14, Extracurricular by Rachel Lynn Solomon 7/14, Unreliable Narrator by Araminta Hall 7/14, If Books Could Kill by Kate Eberle 7/21, Married with Benefits by Ellie Palmer 7/21, Destination Funeral by Paige Harbison 7/21, Deadly Does It by Abbi Waxman 7/21, Not that Kind of Proposal by Victoria Lavine 7/21, Three Reasons for Revenge by Dervla McTiernan 7/21, Buyer Beware by Catherine Ryan Howard 7/28, The Whisper by Chelsea Iversen 7/28, Meet Me in Paris by Kristin Harmel 7/28, Getting Away with Murder by Shari Lapena 7/28, Wild Goose Chase by Sarah Adler 7/28 August Books The Amateur by Chris Bohjalian 8/4, The Unknown by Riley Sager 8/4, The Women in White by Sarah Pekkanen 8/4, When Lemons Give You Life by Anna Johnston 8/4, You'll Love it Here by Natalie Sue 8/11, The Magic We Made by Meg Cabot 8/11, That Night by Gillian McAllister 8/18, Something About September by Julia McKay 8/18, My Sister is Going to Kill Me by Nina Simon 8/18, How to Find a Romance in a Bookshop by Poppy Alexander 8/18, Ideal Life by Evelyn Skye 8/18, Promise Me Never by Liv Constantine 8/18, God's Country by William Kent Krueger 8/18, The Phone Swap by Lia Louis 8/25, Wicked Wanted Widows by Vanessa Lillie; Kimberly Belle; Cate Holahan 8/25, They Say a Girl Died Here by Sarah Pinborough 8/25, Heart of Glass by Jennifer Hillier 8/25, Big Little Truths by Liane Moriarty 8/25 September Books A Time of Witches by Madeline Martin 9/1, Mother Daughter Sister Stranger by Hank Phillippi Ryan 9/1, The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies by Kate Westbury 9/1, Paper Ghosts by Sarah Addison Allen 9/1, Understory by Chloe Benjamin 9/1, The Truth About Ruby Cooper by Liz Nugent 9/1, Before You Were Anne by Emiko Jean 9/1, Kiss Slay Replay by Rachel Harrison 9/1, The Witches of Cambridge by Alice Hoffman 9/8, Love Felt Like This by Julie Olivia 9/8, The Pirate Queen by Ariel Lawhon 9/8, Taipei Story by RF Kuang 9/8, Queenie Is Working on It by Candice Carty-Williams 9/8, The Thoroughbreds by Elin Hilderbrand + Daughter 9/15, Dead Beat by Leigh Bardugo 9/15, Grim Tidings by BK Borison 9/15, Thank You for Remembering by Emily Harding 9/15, Exit Party by Emily St John Mandel 9/15, Falling for Peachtree Bluff by Kristy Woodson Harvey 9/15, Hollow Bones by Jodi Picoult 9/15, A Study in Sparkling by Jodi McAlister 9/15, We Chase Shadows by Richard Osman 9/15, The Wonder of One by Suzanne Redfearn 9/15, Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel by Lucy Foley/Agatha Christie 9/22, Free Falling by Lyla Sage 9/22, Hollywood, Ending by John Green 9/22, It's Not What You Think by Clare Mackintosh 9/22, American Hagwon by Min Jin Lee 9/29, Beyond the Graves Waits Mist and Sea by Kathleen Kaufman 9/29, The French Illusion by John Grisham 9/29, The Weight of Angels by John Boyne 9/29, *Untitled Empyrean (Not Book Four)Rebecca Yarros 9/29

147: Chat with Kyleigh Leddy

In today’s episode, I’m joined by debut author Kyleigh Leddy to talk all about her powerful first novel, Worse Than Strangers. Kyleigh brings a unique perspective to her writing, with a background that spans journalism, therapy, and fiction—having written for The New York Times, New York Magazine, and more, and earning recognition on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Media list. We dive into the inspiration behind her debut, the emotional layers of the story, and how her work as a licensed therapist shapes the way she approaches character and connection. Kyleigh also shares insights into her writing journey, from her academic path to publishing her first novel. This is a thoughtful and compelling conversation you won’t want to miss. Website: https://kyleighleddy.com/ IG: @kyleighleddy

146: Why My Kids Love Reading

This week is a special episode of the podcast because I’m joined by my favorite guests—my kids! We’re chatting about their favorite books, the stories they recommend most, and what they love about reading. They also share how becoming strong readers has helped them in school, built their confidence, and opened the door to new interests. Whether you're raising readers, looking for book recommendations for kids, or simply curious to hear their perspective, this fun and candid conversation is packed with insights, laughs, and plenty of book talk. 8 yo old book recs Big Nate Dragon Master series Guts, Smile, Sisters 11 yo old book recs Percy Jackson Harry Potter 13 yo book recs I Survived books The Hunger Games Lynn Painter's YA 16 yo book recs Love & Gelato series The Naturals The Inheritance Games

145: What I'm Loving

It's time for another What I'm Loving episode! This month, I'm sharing everything that's been bringing me joy lately—from what I'm reading and watching to a few things making everyday life a little brighter. We chat about the World Cup excitement taking over our house, my thoughts on reading The Calamity Club, and some behind-the-scenes updates, including why the podcast will be taking a short break in July. As always, this episode feels like catching up with a friend, and I'm so glad you're here. What I'm Loving Categories: What I'm Watching What I'm Reading What I'm Eating What I'm Doing More Of What I'm Buying What I'm Looking Forward To