Reading Materials

We wrap up Season 3 with special guest Luisa and a wild ride through Marc-Uwe Kling’s  QualityLand . From rogue AIs to political satire—and yes, unexpected pink dolphin vibrators—we unpack this sharp, strange, and bitingly funny dystopia where algorithms know you better than you know yourself. Episode Timepoints: 00:00 - Intro 01:00 - Introduction to Luisa 03:45 - An Introduction to the Author 07:...

In the penultimate episode of the season, we unpack Claire North’s  The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August —a time-travel tale with a twist. From looping lives to moral grey zones in science, we unpack nonlinear storytelling and ask: if you could live your life over and over… should you? Episode Timepoints: 00:00 - Intro 00:15 - Some Life Updates 06:55 - Spoiler and Trigger Warnings 08:05 - An In...

Surprise switch-up! Instead of aliens, we’re diving into  The Bromance Book Club  by Lyssa Kay Adams. Join us for a chat about second chances at love, subverting romance tropes, and yes—the infamous book boner scale. Turns out, emotional vulnerability  is  swoon-worthy. Episode Timepoints: 00:00 - Intro 00:20 - Life Updates 03:15 - Brief Discussion of To Sleep in a Sea of Stars 07:10 - An Introduc...

Welcome to Discworld—a flat planet, four elephants, one giant turtle, and infinite chaos! In this episode, we dive into  MORT  by Terry Pratchett and chat about brilliant world-building, magical mishaps, laugh-out-loud moments, and whether damsels really need saving. Episode Timepoints: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:40 - Life Updates 00:02:13 - Spoiler Warning 00:02:37 - Introduction to MORT  00:05:20 -...

It’s our one-year podiversary! 🥳 And what better way to celebrate than by diving into  Never Let Me Go  by Kazuo Ishiguro? Join us as we get deep (and a little emotional) about creativity, control, and the quiet heartbreak of a life not fully lived.  Episode Timepoints: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:17 - Happy Anniversary to our Podcast 00:02:40 - Life Updates 00:04:50 - Introduction to Never Let Me Go...

We’re back in the Crescent City with  House of Sky and Breath  by Sarah J. Maas! This week, we dive into old favorites and exciting new characters, unpack the whole “mates” thing, and debate the explosive ending that’s got fans buzzing. Episode Timepoints: 00:00 - Intro 00:15 - Life Updates 01:20 - Spoiler Warning 03:05 - An Introduction to the Author 03:55 - Blurb for House of Sky and Breath 04:5...

We’re back with a fan favourite! Join us as we dive into  House of Earth and Blood  by Sarah J. Maas. Expect best friends, fierce female heroines, sizzling chemistry, and our hot takes on what’s next for the Crescent City series. Episode Timepoints: 00:00 - Intro 00:25 - Life Updates 04:00 - An Introduction to the Author 07:45 - Blurb for House of Earth and Blood 09:25 - Spoiler Warning 10:30 - A...

This week we sink our teeth into  Empire of the Vampire  by Jay Kristoff — possibly our biggest read yet! From bloodthirsty vampires to religion, originality, and scientific accuracy, we cover it all in this epic, sprawling tale. Please note it is difficult to put trigger warnings in the below timepoints, as there is discussion of death, murder, blood, gore, rape and bad language throughout this e...

This week, we dive into meritocratic regimes and embark on a fantastical adventure with Kestrel, Bowman, and Mumpo in William Nicholson’s  The Wind Singer . Join us as we explore the power of rebellion, family bonds, and the magic of a society turned upside down. Episode Timepoints: 00:00 - Intro 00:18 - Life Updates 01:05 - An Introduction to the Author 04:05 - The Blurb for The Windsinger 05:15...

Welcome to Yale—where the ghosts are real, the secret societies are dangerous, and the dark magic is darker than your coffee. In this episode, Corrie and Lucia sink their teeth into  Ninth House  by Leigh Bardugo, a gritty dark academia novel full of mystery, power, and one seriously badass protagonist: Galaxy “Alex” Stern. Join us as we talk privilege, pain, and plot twists we never saw coming. E...

Season 3 kicks off with  The Vanishing Half  by Brit Bennett—a moving, multi-generational story of identity, sisterhood, and the long shadows of passing. Join Corrie and Lucia as they dive into the novel’s emotional depth, rich characters, and the ripple effects of choices made across time and race. It’s layered, thought-provoking, and a powerful start to the season. Episode Timepoints: 00:00 – In...

In this surprise bonus episode, Corrie and Lucia dive into  The Thursday Murder Club  by Richard Osman—a cozy crime caper with unexpected heart. Tune in as we chat about rating books with science (sort of), the joy of a truly diverse cast, and the surprising depth tucked behind the banter and bodies. Episode Timepoints: 00:00 - Intro 01:45 - An Introduction to the Author 05:20 - A Discussion of Th...

Mad geniuses, memory-twisting lies, and a protagonist who can’t fake a smile.  We wrap up Season 2 with special guest Jessica, Lucia’s good friend, as we dive into  A Face Like Glass  by Frances Hardinge. Expect thoughts on naive heroes, dystopian strangeness, and uncanny reflections of our real world—all with a healthy dose of giggling. Episode Timepoints: 00:00 - Intro 00:30 - An Introduction to...

Found families, magical misfits, and a grumpy man with a clipboard.  In this episode, Corrie and Lucia dive into  The House in the Cerulean Sea  by T.J. Klune. We talk big themes—prejudice, purpose, and parenting—as well as the joyful charm of this unforgettable cast of characters. Warning: gushing ahead. Episode Timepoints: 00:00 - Intro 00:15 - Life Updates 05:43 - An Introduction to the Book 09...

Seatbelts, smartphones, drug trials—what do they all have in common? They weren’t designed with women in mind. In this episode, Corrie and Lucia dive into  Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men  and explore how missing data shapes our daily lives. Expect personal stories, big stats, and a healthy dose of righteous rage. Episode Timepoints: 00:00 - Intro 00:15 - Some Life Updates 0...

Slightly messing up the timing of Season 2, here is your end of season bonus episode, a little early! We sit down to talk about 2021, and answer a few more of the listener's questions as a continuation from the Season 1 bonus. Episode Timepoints: 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:01:33 - A look back at 2021 00:04:30 - Goals for 2022 00:07:35 - Our favourite books of the year 00:15:45 - Our least favourit...

In this very special Christmas episode we discuss A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Christmas Day in the Morning by Pearl S. Buck, and we recommend gifts for book lovers if you stick around to the end! Episode Timepoints: 00:00 - Welcome 01:40 - Introduction to the books 01:50 - Discussion of Christmas Day in the Morning 11:03 - Discussion of A Christmas Carol 25:05 - Our Christmas Traditions...

If you could travel back in time… but only until your coffee gets cold—would you?  In this episode, Corrie and Lucia discuss  Before the Coffee Gets Cold  by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, a quiet, quirky novel that brews up big emotions. Expect thoughts on regret, memory, and the strange rules of time travel (all served with a side of Japanese café vibes). Episode Timepoints: 00:00 - Intro 00:15 - Life Upd...

Firemen, forbidden books, and a future that feels a little too real.  In this episode, Corrie and Lucia dive into  Fahrenheit 451  by Ray Bradbury to unpack themes of censorship, control, and what happens when society stops thinking critically—and starts burning. Episode Time Points: 00:00 - Intro and life updates 02:43 - Synopsis of Fahrenheit 451 04:10 - An Introduction to Ray Bradbury 05:16 - A...

Magicians, mysteries, and a cursed love story that spans decades.  In this episode, Corrie and Lucia dive into  The Ladies of the Secret Circus  by Constance Sayers, talking time travel, twisted family legacies, and whether the magic hit the mark—or missed the tent entirely. Episode Time Points: 00:00 - Intro 00:20 - Reading Updates 05:35 - Synopsis of The Ladies of the Secret Circus 06:40 - An In...

Victorian London, autopsies, and a bit of tea—what more could you want?  In this episode, Corrie and Lucia dig into  Stalking Jack the Ripper  by Kerri Maniscalco, unpacking its blend of gore and glamour, feminist flair, and that final twist we didn’t see coming. Episode Timepoints: 00:00 Intro 02:39 A Discussion of Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco 01:01:01 Summary 01:02:36 Outro Other...

We’re heading back to sci-fi with Ursula K. Le Guin’s  The Left Hand of Darkness - an interplanetary deep dive into gender, politics, and icy survival.  Join Corrie and Lucia as they navigate the frozen world of Gethen, grapple with culture shock, and discuss what this classic still has to say about identity and connection. Episode Timepoints: 00:00 - Intro 02:50 - Brief life updates 02:55 - An in...

Season 2 kicks off with  Beach Read  by Emily Henry - because nothing says “new season energy” like enemies-to-lovers, lakeside cottages, and a whole lot of emotional baggage. Join Corrie and Lucia as they unpack what makes this rom-com more than just summer fluff, from grief and writer’s block to banter that actually delivers. Previous episode: Bonus Questions with Corrie and Lucia Episode Timepo...

It's time for a bonus episode! This week we are answering listeners' bookish questions. Books Mentioned in this Episode: Fishes of the Orinoco in the Wild by Ivan Mikolji Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro Before I Go To Sleep by S. J. Watson The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Atonement by Ia...

We wrap up Season 1 with our first-ever guest! Matt joins us to chat about  Convenience Store Woman  by Sayaka Murata—a sharp, surreal look at societal norms, personal identity, and the rhythm of retail life. We discuss quirky characters, Murata’s real-life inspiration, and whether we’ve all felt a little bit like Keiko. Episode Timepoints: 00:00 Intro 00:32 Welcoming Matthew 06:00 A Discussion of...