Bitter Sweet

The Girls of the Glimmer Factory

Welcome into The Reading Lounge. In this episode, Cynthiaand Sarah discuss The Girls of the Glimmer Factory by Jennifer Coburn. This historical fiction novel tells the intertwined story of two young women, their families,and those they meet during their different paths in Nazi-occupied Europe. Set largely in Nazi-occupied Europe, the novel confronts the Nazi propaganda machine designed to dehumanize while giving voices to those being dehumanized. We created a cocktail called Redemption. 1 ½ oz bourbon 1 oz apple juice ½ oz lemon juice 1-2 dashes angostura bitters ¼ oz honey 1 ½ oz sparkling water Mix first five ingredients in a shaker, strain over ice, andtop with sparkling water.   Other books discussed in this episode: Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar Jane Austen’s Bookshelf by Rebecca Romney Shut Up and Read by Jeannine Cook Shame Must Change Sides by Gisele Pelicot

New Books for Spring 2026: Bonus Episode

It's still spring and we have selected six new books we are adding to our TBR lists. If you're looking for suggestions for your next spring read, listen in to this bonus episode of The Reading Lounge! We are also going to give this refreshing cocktail a try during spring reading season: Primavera Spritz 1.5 oz vodka or gin 1 oz fresh orange juice 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice 1/2 oz simple syrup or honey 2 - 3 oz sparking water or club soda Mix all ingredients and serve over ice.

My Mother Cursed My Name

Welcome into The Reading Lounge! We are discussing My Mother Cursed My Name by Anamely Salgado Reyes. Three generations of Mexican American grapple with family history and the "curse" of their names. We discovered this novel and this author at the 2026 Women's Literary Festival in Long Beach, California. This episode's libation is called: The Truth Tea. 2 oz gin 2 oz chilled mint tea top with a splash of elderflower liqueur Shake with ice Pour into ice filled glass and top with an ounce or two of tonic water, to taste. Garnish with a lime Other books we talk about in this episode: Project Hail Mary The Boleyn Traitor Homeseeking The Conjuring of America Thanks for joining us in The Reading Lounge.

The Vulnerables

Pull up a chair in The Reading Lounge as we discuss The Vulnerables by Sigrid Nunez. The short, spare novel gave us a lot to discuss as we decided on our thoughts and ratings about the novel. The book takes place during the COVID pandemic as a woman navigates her new, adjusted life in New York City. She manages to create a couple of new relationships, including with a parrot named Eureka. And we found a cocktail aptly named Eureka for our libation! 1 1/2 oz Bourbon 3/4 oz lemon juice 3/4 oz honey chamomile syrup Mix all ingredients in a shaker and serve over ice. The honey chamomile syrup was easy and could be used for cocktails, mocktails, or iced tea! Other books we discussed: Red Clay by Charles Fancher All the Beauty in the World by Patrick Bringley The Women on Platform Two by Laura Anthony Thanks for joining us in The Reading Lounge.

Bitter Sweet

It's February in The Reading Lounge and we stepping into the world of romance. Bitter Sweet by Hattie Williams is a story of obsession and bad choices set in the world of book publishing. Listen in to find out if you should add this novel to your TBR list. We've waved goodbye to dry January and are toasting this read with an appropriately named cocktail. The Illicit Affair 1 1/4 oz. Vodka 1 1/3 oz. orange juice 1 1/3 oz. cranberry juice 2 dashes orange bitters Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into an ice-filled glass. Garnish with an orange slice. Enjoy!