136: The Mid-May Book Chat

142: May Books

May was a busy reading month filled with a few highlights, some disappointments, and plenty to discuss. In this episode, I'm breaking down every book I finished, sharing what stood out, what fell flat, and which stories are still lingering in my mind. I kept things as spoiler-free as possible but did warn you that I talk more about the plot issues I had in Life, and Death, and Giants, but I warn you! Hope you had a wonderful month and I can't wait to see what we read in June! Favorites: 🎧 Five  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 🎧 Down with the Shipmans ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Top of the World ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really Liked 🎧 Both Can Be True ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🎧 A Sociopath’s Guide to a Successful Marriage ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🎧 Villa Coco ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🎧 The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🎧 The Forgotten Midwife ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🎧 Cover Story ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 Just Okay 🎧 Good at Being Alive ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 Habits of the Sea ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🎧 The Summer Share ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🎧 The Island Club ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🎧 Austenland ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🎧 The Midnight Train ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh 🎧 Wasp’s Nest ⭐️⭐️💫 🎧 Take Me With You ⭐️⭐️💫 🎧 Life, and Death, and Giants ⭐️⭐️💫 The Half Life DNF @50%

141: Chat with Meg Mitchell Moore

On today’s episode, I’m joined by bestselling author Meg Mitchell Moore to celebrate her newest novel, Down with the Shipmans, available now. We had such a fun conversation about the writing process behind this summery family drama, Meg’s journey to becoming a published author, and the scenes and storylines that ultimately had to be edited—or completely removed—from the book. We also chat about the exciting events surrounding the release and what readers can expect from this heartfelt story about three sisters returning to their childhood home, each carrying secrets of their own. If you love family drama, complicated relationships, and behind-the-scenes publishing talk, this episode is for you. Website: https://www.megmitchellmoore.com/ IG: @megmitchellmoore

140: Life Lately: A Mid-Year Q&A

I’m back with a mid-year catch-up Q&A episode, and it was really fun to dive deeper into some of the questions submitted earlier this week on Instagram. I share more about leaving the church, how it has affected our kids, relationships with friends and family who are still in the church, and whether we have any interest in seeking out another religion. I also chat about trying alcohol for the first time!!! I discuss more about my job, starting a bookstagram account, making money online, and my plans for the new library space (spoiler: more bookshelves are definitely involved). Plus, I share a little about our summer plans and what our routine looks like this season. I always enjoy these more personal catch-up episodes and hope listeners enjoy getting to know me a little better too! Happy Summer!

139: Chat with Annabel Monaghan

This week on the podcast, I’m joined by bestselling author Annabel Monaghan to chat about her delightful new novel, Dolly All the Time — a heartfelt and funny romance about a single mom returning to her seaside hometown and falling into a fake dating situationship with a wealthy workaholic. Annabel is always such a joy to talk to, and her warmth and humor shine just as brightly in conversation as they do in her books. We catch up on life, writing, and all the latest happenings in her world. Website: https://annabelmonaghan.com/ IG: @annabelmonaghan

138: What I'm Loving

May’s “What I’m Loving” episode is here and somehow we’re already heading toward summer! This month felt especially full in the best way — lots of reading, a few new obsessions, and plenty of little things bringing me joy lately. I always love getting to sit down for these episodes and share the books, shows, habits, and random favorites currently making life feel fun. The lineup for this month’s episode is below. Thanks so much for listening! 1. What I’m Watching 2. What I’m Reading 3. What I’m Cooking 4. What I’m Doing More Of 5. What I’m Buying 6. What I’m Looking Forward To