Reading Materials

In this episode of  Reading Materials , we’re joined by author Ross Montgomery to talk about his latest release,  The Murder at World’s End , published on October 30, 2025. Ross shares insights into his career as a beloved children’s author, what it was like transitioning to writing murder mysteries for adults, and the books he read as a child that completely blew his mind. It’s a fun and fascinat...

In this week's episode of Reading Materials, we dive into  Kill the Beast  by Serra Swift and talk about how refreshing it was to read a fairy-tale retelling with no romance in sight. We discuss the role of trusty companion Brandy, unpack the mechanics of curse-breaking, and explore why this story works so well without leaning on romantic love as a solution. Episode Timepoints: 00:00 - Intro 00:20...

In this episode of  Reading Materials , we’re joined by author Serra Swift to talk about her upcoming fantasy novel  Kill the Beast , out October 14, 2025. Serra shares her thoughts on navigating the pitfalls of professional jealousy, the differences between YA and adult fantasy from the author's perspective, and how to strike the balance between being a great writer and a great storyteller. It’s...

In this episode of  Reading Materials , we’re joined by author Nuala Ellwood, also known as Iris Costello, to talk about her newest novel  The Paris Bookshop Secret , released in July 2025. Nuala shares how a haunted Georgian mansion inspired her current project, the power of books to help readers process grief, and the rituals she uses to get into the writing zone. It’s a rich and reflective conv...

In this episode of  Reading Materials , we dive into  To Love a Liar  by L. V. Matthews, released on September 11, 2025. We chat about the joy of exploring different genres, our feelings about Jackson the dog, and which characters had us second-guessing their every move. It’s a lively discussion full of twists, suspicions, and the thrill of a well-crafted mystery. Thank you to Penguin for sending...

In this episode of  Reading Materials , we sit down with L. V. Matthews to discuss her gripping new thriller  To Love A Liar , out September 11, 2025. We explore the art of plotting twists that keep readers guessing, the secrets behind her book dedications, and how she manages to write chilling mysteries while raising two children. Join us for a conversation full of insight, intrigue, and a peek b...

In this episode of  Reading Materials , we discuss Rie Qudan's  Sympathy Tower Tokyo (released on August 21st, 2025). We enter into a deep discussion about the ins and outs of judicial systems, ponder the differences between Eastern and Western culture, and explore language and its evolution, including the use of AI in literature. Join us for an interesting exploration of this translation of Rie Q...

In this episode of  Reading Materials , we discuss Carissa Broadbent’s  The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk (released on August 5th, 2025). We unpack our frustrations with the lack of chemistry between the main characters, the repetitiveness of the plot compared to the first book in the duology, and our lingering confusion around the world-building. Join us for an honest conversation about what worked...

We are so excited to welcome our eighth author to our podcast! In this episode we speak with debut author Sarah Hamdan about her powerful first novel, ' What Will People Think?' , released in May 2025. Sarah shares how her own life experiences shaped the narrative, the vital role characters and setting play in telling authentic stories, and her hope to shine a light on Palestinian culture through...

In this episode we dive into Josie Silver’s  Slow Burn Summer . We share our honest reactions to the novel, from the lack of real chemistry between the main love interests to some of the over-the-top moments that pulled us out of the story. We also reflect on the challenge of giving critical reviews, especially when we’ve had the chance to speak directly with the author. Episode Timepoints: 00:00...

In this week's episode, we chat with bestselling author Josie Silver about her latest novel,  Slow Burn Summer , released on July 17th. Josie opens up about the experience of writing under pseudonyms, how fleeting real-life moments can spark entire stories, and what’s next on her horizon—including a delightful shift into cosy paranormal romance.

In this episode, we unpack  The Other Wife   - the sharp, intimate debut by Jackie Thomas-Kennedy (published July 17th, 2025). Join us for a conversation about unlikeable characters, its ambiguous title and cover, and how it made us reflect on our own lives in unexpected ways. Episode Timepoints: 00:00 - Intro 01:15 - Life Updates 03:00 - A Brief Introduction to Jackie Thomas-Kennedy 05:35 - Spoil...

In this week's episode, we sit down with author Jackie Thomas-Kennedy, whose debut novel  The Other Wife  hits shelves on July 15th. Jackie shares the journey of transforming short stories into a full-length novel, the intricacies of crafting character-driven narratives, and how she explores the texture of time in her writing. We dive into how reading books at the start of her writing sessions fue...

In this episode, we dig into  The Enchanted Greenhouse  by Sarah Beth Durst — where the plants have opinions, the family reunions come with emotional baggage, and the magic is as warm as a fresh-baked honey cake. Join us as we talk about sentient flora, hark back to our love of The Spellshop, and why the greenhouses were more confusing than magical. Episode Timepoints: 00:00 - Intro 00:20 - Life U...

In this week's bonus episode we are so excited to be talking to New York Times Bestselling author Sarah Beth Durst, whose newest novel The Enchanted Greenhouse will be published on July 15th, 2025. Join us as we talk finding joy, sentient plants, writing for different age groups and ... bunnies? Thank you to Pan MacMillan for sending us an advanced reader copy of The Enchanted Greenhouse, and than...

In this episode, we sink our teeth into  Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil  by V. E. Schwab. From the haunting pull of vampire lore to the raw portrayal of anxiety and mental health, we explore how Schwab reshapes the gothic tradition. We ask: How would this story shift if its characters were older? What role does the setting play in how we perceive the vampires? Join us as we unearth the buried...

This week, we’re diving into  Favourite Daughter  by Morgan Dick—a novel that had us flipping pages and raising eyebrows. Join Corrie and Lucia as we unpack complicated mother-daughter dynamics, messy characters that felt  a little too real, and the hazy line between bad choices and full-on disaster. From addiction to manipulation, this one gave us a lot to talk about—and even more to side-eye. Th...

In this week's bonus episode we are joined by author Morgan Dick, whose debut novel Favourite Daughter was published on May 1st, 2025. Join us as we talk inspiration, writer's block, Morgan's advice to authors just starting and where she finds her next read. Thank you to Penguin Random House for sending us an advanced reader copy of Favourite Daughter , and thank you so much to Morgan for being ou...

In this bonus episode, Corrie and Lucia dive into Emily Henry’s latest release,  Great Big Beautiful Life . From the perks of getting an ARC to the emotional weight of the final chapters, we unpack what worked (the characters), what felt familiar, and why we were left with some very mixed feelings. Thank you to Viking and Penguin Random House for sending us advanced reader copies of this book! Epi...

In this season finale of the  Reading Materials Podcast , we wrap up our full Sarah J. Maas era by looking back at  Throne of Glass ,  A Court of Thorns and Roses , and  Crescent City . We crown our favorite female and male main characters, debate our ultimate villain, and rank the couples who absolutely wrecked us. From the most epic, scream-worthy moments to the emotional scenes that left us sta...

In this episode of the  Reading Materials Podcast , we finish our journey through  Kingdom of Ash  by Sarah J. Maas and unpack the choices that define the series’ endgame. We talk about how Aelin isn’t the one to vanquish the big bad, share our very real feelings about the Thirteen’s devastating sacrifice, and debate whether this epic deserved an epilogue. From triumph to heartbreak, we break down...

In this episode of the Reading Materials, we dive into Part 1 of Kingdom of Ash  and unpack the first 67 chapters of Sarah J. Maas’s epic finale. We talk through the most badass moments, share our favorite character pairings as alliances start to shift, and explore what has us most excited (and nervous) for the second half of the book. From survival and strategy to sparks of hope in the darkest pl...

In this episode of the  Reading Materials Podcast , we journey to the Southern Continent with  Tower of Dawn  and dive deep into the revelations and relationships that redefine the series. We unpack the bombshell twist that Maeve is Valg, we vent our continuing frustration with Chaol as his healing arc tests everyone’s patience, and we talk through why Yrene’s choices left us more disappointed tha...

Maria is back this week as co-host to continue diving into the Throne of Glass series with Lucia. This week, we are tackling the gut-wrenching Empire of Storms . Join us for our thoughts on Aelin’s epic trust issues, that long-awaited “we’re mates” moment with Rowan, and the sizzling slow burn between Dorian and Manon. Plus—Elena, the gods, and that cursed lock that ruined  everything . Episode Ti...

Lucia and Maria are half-way through their re-read of the  Throne of Glass  series by Sarah J. Maas. In this week's episode, Aelin has accepted her destiny as the rightful Queen of Terrasen and returns to Rifthold to enact revenge upon Arobynn... Join us for our discussion of  Queen of Shadows  and hear our thoughts on Aelin’s masterminding, Lysandra’s powers, Aedion’s comedic relief, Rowan’s mixe...