The Menuscript

Trust no one, question everything, and maybe think twice before picking up a mysterious manuscript! This week on The Menuscript Podcast , we're diving into the twisty worlds of Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn and Verity by Colleen Hoover. We'll explore the allure of thrillers, unreliable narrators, shocking plot twists, and the unsettling question of how well we really know the people around us...

Books and faith both have the power to shape our lives in incredible ways, and can influence one another too. Today, Reverend Dr. Christopher Carter of the Progressive Christian Podcast steps into the kitchen to talk about faith, books, and stories that help us make sense of both. Want to hear more from Dr. Carter? Check out the Progressive Christians Podcast , or the Loft if you're in LA! Fol...

Author Megan Shade steps into the kitchen to talk all about her new book, Washwoman at River’s End . We talk about the inspiration for the book, the challenges and joys of writing, and what to expect for the rest of the series.  Want to order this incredible book? Find it here !  Recipe: 1 lb. ground beef or turkey, 1 chopped onion, tsp salt, ½ tsp pepper, ½ tsp nutmeg, shortcrust pastry...

Game, set, match! Carrie Soto is back in your podcast feed! With the US Open in it’s final rounds, the time felt perfect for releasing this Season 1 episode on a book that continues to stand out in my memory. Grab a snack, a water bottle, and your racket and let’s go.  Recipe:You will need: a cup of peanut butter (or some other nut butter if you are allergic or just don’t like peanut butter)...

Lots of exciting news for the ACOTAR fans! This episode begins with a quick taste of the titles and blurbs for ACOTAR 6 and 7. Then we dish out First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave, the sequel to her 2021 novel The Last Thing He Told Me . Featuring summaries, setup, chef’s kiss quotes, and book recommendations. And, of course, a recipe! Recipe: Want to make some ratatouille? You will need: olive oil...

A golden book for a golden summer! Allen Levi’s Theo of Golden has surged atop the bestseller list and it’s not hard to see why. It’s heartwarming, inspiring, and lifts hopes for humanity. This episodes chews on why I read the book, what it’s about, and key takeaways. Sprinkled with other favorite segments and some surprise flavors! Want to relisten to Ballad of Falling Dragons ? Find it here on S...

What do you get when you cross a love of fantasy books and writing with a love of musical theater? An Instagram post that inspired me to reach out to VB Lacey! This romantasy author crafts some incredible worlds and you’ll definitely pick up the musical elements. Lacey joins me in the kitchen today to talk about her duology and her independent series. Find VB Lacey’s books and everything else you...

Author SL Rosencrans steps into the kitchen to discuss his debut novel, The Shape of What We Keep . There’s nothing like getting an inside peek at an author’s mind and hearing about how they crafted their masterpiece. Dark, moving, and immensely thought provoking, this book provided a bounty of conversation topics and is a very satisfying read! Recipe: Steve had a great suggestion for a summery di...

Join us as we sing the praises of Ballad of Falling Dragons ! This was such an epic read and a great followup to When the Moon Hatched . We discuss failed predictions, major revelations, fun theories, and more! Recipe: It’s hot out and that means smoothie season! You will need: frozen watermelon chunks, a kiwi, a spoonful of plain or vanilla Greek yogurt, and possibly more ice or water. Scoop out...

Anyone who has read The Odyssey or seen Season 2 of Percy Jackson knows Circe, the witch on an island who turns men into pigs. But how did she get to that island? Why pigs? What is Circe’s story? That’s what Madeline Miller addresses in her 2018 bestseller, Circe . Dominique del Calzo returns to the kitchen to discuss this fabulous book and fascinating character. Settle in with a snack and prepare...

There’s nothing like a great rom-com book to kick off summer. Who does rom-coms better than Abby Jimenez? Who discusses them better than Sarah Razner? Settle down with a poolside snack for this delicious, nut-free, appetizer! Find Sarah on Goodreads !  Recipe: You will need: a large sweet potato, a tablespoon of olive oil, salt and pepper to taste, rosemary or some other kind of herb that you...

The time has finally come to journey to Middle Earth and break down Lord of the Rings . On a scale of 1-10, this series is an 11. I love the books and the films for so many reasons, and couldn’t resist featuring them in this month’s bonus. Research Methods: using Amazon and Goodreads, I filtered to find 60 4 or 5 star reviews for each of the three Lord of the Rings books. Using R, I did some quali...

Serving up two books for this grand tour of an English manor. We’ll be dining in the gardens and the library (carefully not spilling crumbs) as we serve up The Restoration Garden by Sara Blaydes and The Astral Library by Kate Quinn. Recipe: You will need: ½ a cup of olive oil, ⅓ cup of lemon juice, 2 Tbsp minced garlic, 1 tsp dijon mustard, 1 tsp oregano, 1 tsp paprika, salt and pepper to taste, a...

Celebrating independent bookstores and libraries! Thank goodness for these wonderful spaces for book lovers and communities as a whole. Please share your favorite indie bookstores! Also recapping some April reads and sharing excitement of upcoming books. Follow me on Instagram to see the mouthwatering meals I’m making and amazing books I’m reading. You can order this book, or any book, using my Bo...

What do you do when the truth isn’t something people want to hear, and which some are actively denying? That is one of many questions facing Harry in the fifth installment of the Harry Potter series, Order of the Phoenix . In this episode, I enter the Great Hall with Laura from Mugglecast to serve up the emotional core of the story, shifting dynamics at Hogwarts, and the ways Harry and his friends...

Kicking off season five with a trip to the faerie lands of A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas—a story that proves one questionable decision in the woods can turn your world upside down. That goes for the characters and the readers. I’m joined by That Team Rhysand Guy, Jon, for a talk about fairy tale vibes, dramatic world-building, suspiciously charming characters, and why communication...

This month’s bonus features the very first podcast Rachel was ever on. She joined the podcast, Novel Finds, to discuss the remarkable book Remarkably Bright Creatures . Haven’t read it yet? You’re just in time! The movie comes out in May and this is a book you absolutely will not regret picking up.  Want to hear more Novel Finds ? Check it out! You can also find the Finds on Instagram . Artwo...

Last summer I met an author who sold me on her book by drawing a connection to The Vampire Diaries . This month's bonus features that author as we talk about her books, plans for more books, and The Vampire Diaries . Join me and Bree Wilde to hear all about it! Check out Bree on Instagram @authorbreewilde and find her books here . Follow me on Instagram here to keep up with all the latest updates...

It’s time to return to the wizarding world of Harry Potter. Breaking down the fourth book in the series, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire , with Barry Watson of Retold: A Harry Potter Podcast. Find it on Spotify , or wherever you listen. You can also follow him on Instagram and YouTube . Book Recommendations - Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson, Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman, and Powerles...

Nothing like gathering with friends to share thoughts about books! Want to hear more from the Book Thots? Find them on Spotify , or wherever you listen. You can also check out their website for more info and merch. You can also follow them on Instagram . We had two recipes for you in this episode. Bonus episode, bonus recipe! Chocolate cake: Baking is kind of an alchemical process, and some foods...

Tired of real world news? Blast off with The Menuscript as I share some thoughts and a meal about Pierce Brown’s dystopian sci-fi series, Red Rising . This episode may be served solo but it’s packed with all your favorite episode ingredients, covers two books, and hints at my predictions for the third. Recipe: You will need: a tube of crescent rolls, a head of broccoli, one cup of shredded cheddar...

Books provide an amazing platform for learning about the world. Sara Novic’s True Biz not only tells a great coming-of-age story, but it educates readers on deaf culture, probes thoughts on issues such as accessibility, civil rights, and so much more. Sarah Razner, a fellow author of a coming-of-age novel, returns to the kitchen to break bread over the book.  Recipe for Chicken Tacos: 2 Tbsp...

“I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book! -- When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.” - Jane Austen ( Pride and Prejudice ) Such a true line, and such a great book! While we’re talking about Persuasion and its modern day retelling Anne of Avenue A , I couldn’t resist this booky quo...

Merry Christmas! We don’t need Hercule Poirot to help us solve the mystery of why this is one of the greatest days of the year. What we do need him for is a Christmas murder! Here to discuss Hercule Poirot’s Christmas is Dominique del Calzo. Link to Dominique’s books . Follow me on Instagram here to keep up with all the latest updates and reviews of what I am reading, and the mouth-watering meals...

From page to stage! What does it take to bring a bestselling novel to a Broadway stage? Or to stages around the country. Joining me in the kitchen to discuss Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen is Connor Sullivan, the actor currently portraying August in the national tour.  Find out where you can see Water for Elephants by checking out the tour schedule.  Follow me on Instagram here to kee...