Read the Book First

It's the movie the bookish internet has been drooling over,  Wicker ! This week, Jenessa and Marissa compare Ursula Will's The Wicker Husband , a short fable, and the 2026 film adaptation, Wicker , starring Oliva Coleman and Alexander Skarsgård. Time Stamps: The Wicker Husband fable discussion: 00:00.48 Wicker  film discussion 00:27.17 content warnings: abandonment, cheating, sex, violen...

It's time for our annual Twilight Saga movie watch! This year Stephanie and Jenessa discuss the 2010 adaptation,  Eclipse . Make sure you check out the previous episodes all about the first two Twilight books and movies! content warning: vampirism, assault, self-harm, blood Send us Fan Mail Support the show All episodes can be played at readthebookfirst.buzzsprout.com Join our Patreon at patr...

It's time for our third annual Twilight Saga episode! Stephanie has returned to talk all things  Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer! content warnings: vampirisms, grooming, assault, violence, suicidal ideation, death Send us Fan Mail Support the show All episodes can be played at readthebookfirst.buzzsprout.com Join our Patreon at patreon.com/ReadtheBookFirst Don't forget to subscribe, rate us 5...

It's spooky season! Alyssa returns to discuss the 1999 Tim Burton film, Sleepy Hollow . Follow Alyssa @stories.and.spoilers.podcast and listen to our past collab episodes! Send us Fan Mail Support the show All episodes can be played at readthebookfirst.buzzsprout.com Join our Patreon at patreon.com/ReadtheBookFirst Don't forget to subscribe, rate us 5 stars, and follow us on Instagram @r...

It's officially spooky season! Join Alyssa and Jenessa as they discuss  The Legend of Sleepy Hollow  by Washington Irving. Follow Alyssa @stories.and.spoilers.podcast and listen to our past collab episodes! Send us Fan Mail Support the show All episodes can be played at readthebookfirst.buzzsprout.com Join our Patreon at patreon.com/ReadtheBookFirst Don't forget to subscribe, rate us 5 s...

It's time for the witchiest movie of the season! Today we're discussing the 2026 film,  Practical Magic 2 ! Follow Emma on Instagram and Tiktok !  content warning: death, witchcraft, complicated family dynamics Send us Fan Mail Support the show All episodes can be played at readthebookfirst.buzzsprout.com Join our Patreon at patreon.com/ReadtheBookFirst Don't forget to subscribe, ra...

In preparation for  Practical Magic 2 coming to theaters, Emma joins Jenessa to discuss  The Book of Magic  by Alice Hoffman. Follow Emma on Instagram and Tiktok !  content warning: death, witchcraft, complicated family dynamics Send us Fan Mail Support the show All episodes can be played at readthebookfirst.buzzsprout.com Join our Patreon at patreon.com/ReadtheBookFirst Don't forget to subsc...

This week Jenessa is joined by Isaac to discuss Tim Burton's 2003 adaptation of Big Fish.  Send us Fan Mail Support the show All episodes can be played at readthebookfirst.buzzsprout.com Join our Patreon at patreon.com/ReadtheBookFirst Don't forget to subscribe, rate us 5 stars, and follow us on Instagram @readthebookfirstpodcast - Happy reading! Business inquiries only - readthebookfirs...

Isaac joins Jenessa to discuss  Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions  by Daniel Wallace. How much truth is within the stories we tell each other? Can one become immortal through stories? Listen to find out! Send us Fan Mail Support the show All episodes can be played at readthebookfirst.buzzsprout.com Join our Patreon at patreon.com/ReadtheBookFirst Don't forget to subscribe, rate us 5 sta...

Today's episode is a little bit different. Even though we both read the book (epic poem) first, Jenessa and Alexa discuss Christopher Nolan's 2026 adaptation of The Odyssey . Alexa's Recommended Odyssey Reads: The Odyssey translated by Emily Wilson Women of Troy series by Pat Barker Circe   by Madeline Miller Emily Wilson's review of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey Send us...

Amanda and Jenessa discuss the 1996 adaptation,  James & the Giant Peach . Were the changes good? Is the stop motion fun or just creepy? Listen to find out! Send us Fan Mail Support the show All episodes can be played at readthebookfirst.buzzsprout.com Join our Patreon at patreon.com/ReadtheBookFirst Don't forget to subscribe, rate us 5 stars, and follow us on Instagram @readthebookfirstp...

We're back after our mid-season 5 hiatus! Amanda returns to help us discuss another Roald Dahl classic,  James and the Giant Peach . We discuss how James doesn't know "stranger danger", giant bugs, and how sharks can't quite eat the giant peach. Check out Amanda's Shark Report, exclusively on our Patreon! Send us Fan Mail Support the show All episodes can be played at...

Welcome to the first Mid-Year Check-In with Jenessa! In this episode, Jenessa talks about what books she's read in the first half of 2026, answers some questions from listeners, and gives some updates on the podcast.  Send us Fan Mail Support the show All episodes can be played at readthebookfirst.buzzsprout.com Join our Patreon at patreon.com/ReadtheBookFirst Don't forget to subscribe,...

Marissa and Jenessa discuss the whimsical, early 00's fantasy, almost juke-box musical, Ella Enchanted .  Send us Fan Mail Support the show All episodes can be played at readthebookfirst.buzzsprout.com Join our Patreon at patreon.com/ReadtheBookFirst Don't forget to subscribe, rate us 5 stars, and follow us on Instagram @readthebookfirstpodcast - Happy reading! Business inquiries only -...

Today's episode is all about one of Jenessa's favorite childhood books,  Ella Enchanted ! Listen along as Jenessa and Marissa discuss middle grade literature, ogres, diaries, and magic! Send us Fan Mail Support the show All episodes can be played at readthebookfirst.buzzsprout.com Join our Patreon at patreon.com/ReadtheBookFirst Don't forget to subscribe, rate us 5 stars, and follow...

Marissa and Jenessa discuss the origins of the classic fairytale, Cinderella , as well as the many movie and book adaptations that have been made throughout the years. What version of Cinderella is your favorite? Content Warning - (via discussion of the Brothers Grimm fairytale) bodily harm, death, murder, abuse Send us Fan Mail Support the show All episodes can be played at readthebookfirst.buzzs...

This week we discuss the Oscar winning short film, Hair Love , and the picture book that came shortly after. Make sure you watch the short film and listen along! Follow Alyssa @stories.and.spoilers.podcast and listen to our past collab episodes! We Review Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder We Watched Nightbitch We Review How Stella Got Her Groove Back by Terry McMillan We Watched How Stella Got Her Groove...

Join Jenessa and her two favorite bird nerds, Marissa and Delaney, as they discuss the 2025 Hallmark adaptation,  Adventures in Love and Birding .  Check out Delaney's outdoor adventure tour, Out To Sea Expedition Company ! Send us Fan Mail Support the show All episodes can be played at readthebookfirst.buzzsprout.com Join our Patreon at patreon.com/ReadtheBookFirst Don't forget to subsc...

It's the bird nerd special! We have not one, but TWO returning guests! Marissa and Delaney join us to discuss  Birding with Benefits by Sarah T. Dubb ! Check out Delaney's outdoor adventure tour, Out To Sea Expedition Company ! Send us Fan Mail Support the show All episodes can be played at readthebookfirst.buzzsprout.com Join our Patreon at patreon.com/ReadtheBookFirst Don't forget...

Jenessa and Amanda finish their trio of  The Sea of Monster  episodes with an episode all about  Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Season 2 . Send us Fan Mail Support the show All episodes can be played at readthebookfirst.buzzsprout.com Join our Patreon at patreon.com/ReadtheBookFirst Don't forget to subscribe, rate us 5 stars, and follow us on Instagram @readthebookfirstpodcast - Happy readi...

Ahoy! Join Jenessa and Amanda as they dive into the 2013 adaptation, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters . Make sure to check out the Patreon exclusive video where Jenessa and Amanda discover their godly parent! Send us Fan Mail Support the show All episodes can be played at readthebookfirst.buzzsprout.com Join our Patreon at patreon.com/ReadtheBookFirst Don't forget to subscribe, rate us 5 stars,...

Jenessa and Amanda return to the world of Percy Jackson. We reread  The Sea of Monsters  by Rick Riordan and had a blast! Listen to hear our full thoughts on one of our childhood favorite books! Send us Fan Mail Support the show All episodes can be played at readthebookfirst.buzzsprout.com Join our Patreon at patreon.com/ReadtheBookFirst Don't forget to subscribe, rate us 5 stars, and follow...

Marissa joins us to discuss the 2026 film  People We Meet On Vacation . Can men and women be "just friends"? Is this the beginning of the romcom-aissance? Listen to find out! Send us Fan Mail Support the show All episodes can be played at readthebookfirst.buzzsprout.com Join our Patreon at patreon.com/ReadtheBookFirst Don't forget to subscribe, rate us 5 stars, and follow us on Inst...

Romance is so back!  Marissa joins the pod to discuss People We Meet on Vacation  by Emily Henry.  Which Emily Henry book is your favorite?! Send us Fan Mail Support the show All episodes can be played at readthebookfirst.buzzsprout.com Join our Patreon at patreon.com/ReadtheBookFirst Don't forget to subscribe, rate us 5 stars, and follow us on Instagram @readthebookfirstpodcast - Happy readi...

Spencer and Jenessa discuss the ups, downs, and "what in the world" of Emerald Fennell's 2026 adaptation, "Wuthering Heights" . content warnings: death, sexual content, explicit language Send us Fan Mail Support the show All episodes can be played at readthebookfirst.buzzsprout.com Join our Patreon at patreon.com/ReadtheBookFirst Don't forget to subscribe, rate us 5 s...