Everyone Loved It But Me

Lisa discusses The Women by Kristin Hannah, published in February 2024 and about a woman named Frances “Frankie” McGrath, who becomes a nurse in Vietnam. The book is unique in that it highlights the nurses in Vietnam.    The Washington Post offers a list of Vietnam War books to consider reading.  Books discussed:    Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes   The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen   The Sorrow o...

Lisa discusses an overlooked book, Foster by Claire Keegan and also Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan.  The New York Times addresses this book and also talks about how novellas don’t get the same attention as other books. For more information, find Lisa on Instagram , Twitter , Facebook and her website . *The book titles mentioned include affiliate links. You can support the podcast by purc...

Lisa discusses A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles and the new TV show, which was just released on Paramount Plus. There will be spoilers for the first TV episode. Lisa discussed the book in 2022 with author Joshua Berkov and if you would like to listen to that episode, it is here . The New York Times discusses how Ewan McGregor and Mary Elizabeth Winstead first filmed together back in 2017. They...

Lisa discusses Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton. Published in 1948, the book details South Africa before the apartheid political system came into effect. The book sold more than 15 million copies before Paton’s death. It is studied internationally by many schools.   Lisa talks about the experience of reading the book while also listening to it on YouTube, being read by Best Tutor Friend who...

Lisa and her special guest daughter, Liz Hedger, discuss the super-popular Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros.   Lisa and Liz discussed the first book in the series, Fourth Wing in the fall of 2023 in the Fourth Wing Episode and if you haven’t listented to that episode first, you may want to do so.   Today’s episode does include spoilers of Fourth Wing and Iron Flame. Iron Flame has more than 832,000 re...

Lisa discusses several books to consider putting on your To Be Read (TBR) list for reading and learning more about powerful women in our history. There’s a wide variety of books discussed in today’s episode.   Here’s a list of books to consider from Boston University’s story .   The Women by Kristin Hannah Romantic Outlaws: The Extraordinary Lives of Mary Wollstonecraft & Mary Shelley Paperbac...

Lisa and Diana Rodriguez Wallach talk about young adult horror books. Diana is a multi-published author of young adult novels. Her recent young adult Latinx Horror novel is Lizzie Borden meets Supernatural, named Hatchet Girls . It was released in October 2023.   She did an extensive research and slept in the house where Borden’s parents were killed and she hiked in the nearby forest. She also dis...

Lisa and Diana Rodriguez Wallach discuss Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews, a gothic horror novel about four children trapped in an attic by their mother and grandmother. This book was the first in a series. The book sold more than 40 million copies, but Book Riot addresses how Andrews was perceived differently than Stephen King in this article .  Diana Rodriguez Wallach is a multi-published au...

Lisa discusses a number of unpopular bookish opinions including celebrity stickers affixed to book covers. There’s also a discussion about where to put award stickers on books in Publisher's Weekly .  Another pet peeve discussed is the cartoonish covers that are taking place on most of the romance book covers in this article .   Books Discussed:    Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano   The Hati...

Lisa discusses Britney Spears: The Woman in Me , a memoir that was released in the fall of 2023. Britney Spears discusses the trauma she experienced in her childhood and even as a young adult. She had very few advocates in her life sticking up for her and she felt very alone as she fought for her children.  Books Discussed:  Paris: The Memoir For more information, find Lisa on Instagram , Twitter...

Lisa discusses Being Henry: The Fonz...and Beyond by Henry Winkler .  Lisa talks about Winkler’s memoir and how he delves into his dyslexia and his highly complex relationship with his parents. He also shares his longtime relationship with Ron Howard.    Books Discussed:   Bettyville: A Memoir For more information, find Lisa on Instagram , Twitter , Facebook and her website . *The book titles ment...

Lisa discusses the celebrity memoir Counting the Cost by Jill Duggar, which came out in the fall of 2023. She was raised in a conservative household and is famous because her family was on TLC’s popular show, 19 Kids and Counting. Jill marries Derick and grapples with her life being raised in a semi-cult. She was taught that men are superior and women’s roles are to raise children and marry, and a...

Lisa discusses Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley. This is a young adult book based in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan centered on the Ojibwe tribe and a young adult who tries to solve a murder mystery. The artwork on the cover is beautiful and this article discusses how the artwork was set up. Other books discussed:    Backwater by Joan Bauer For more information, find Lisa on Instagr...

Lisa and Boston artist Julia Purdy discuss Still Life by Louise Penny, the first Inspector Gamache series. This was published in 2005 and there are 18 books in this series. It is an internationally recognized series.   This article in Vox discusses how Louise Penny has perfected the literary genre with combining murder mysteries in a small town idyllic town filled with artists.   Julia is an artis...

Lisa discusses how challenging it can be when you're in a reading rut and crafts some ideas on how to move past the rut along with other unique reading goals for 2024. Consider goals that go beyond the "number" of books you read. 

Lisa discusses her five most favorite and least favorite books that she read in  2023. Not all of these books were written in 2023.   Books Discussed: Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President by Candace Millard The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka  Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner Hey Kiddo: A Memoir by Jarrett J. Krosoczka  Last Night in Twisted River by John...

Lisa discusses some of the most anticipated books for 2024. She highlights books written by extremely popular authors such as Matt Haig, Emily Henry and Kristin Hannah.    Books Discussed:    The Life Impossible by Matt Haig James by Percival Everett out in May 2024 Funny Story by Emily Henry Somewhere Beyond the Sea by T.J. Klune Martyr! By Kaveh Akbar Come and Get It by Kiley Reid The Women by K...

Lisa discusses her reading in 2023 and ways you can evaluate your success other than just hitting a certain number of books.   Books discussed:  Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi  Bit Flip by Mike Trigg Monique and the Mango Rains by Kris Holloway   Falling for You: A Buckeye Falls Novel and Falling Home: A Buckeye Falls Novel .    The Measure by Nikki Erlick  The Shining by Stephen King.  Stoner by John Wil...

 Lisa and romance author Libby Kay discuss Libby’s book series, the Buckeye Falls novels. She’s written four so far and is working on the fifth one. You can find all of the books on her website , but books in that series include Falling for You: A Buckeye Falls Novel and Falling Home: A Buckeye Falls Novel .   You can find more information about her writing and novels on Instagram and Facebook . S...

Lisa and author Libby Kay discuss Skipping Christmas by John Grisham. This was a humorous holiday book released in 2001 and turned into a popular movie by the name of Christmas with the Cranks.  Libby has written the Buckeye Falls novels, including Falling for You: A Buckeye Falls Novel and Falling Home: A Buckeye Falls Novel .   You can find more information about her writing and novels on her we...

Lisa and author Genevieve Wheeler discuss the 1984 by George Orwell. They discuss the book in depth including a number of topics such as the forbidden affair in the book. The book was written more than 70 years ago, but it discusses how a number of the issues addressed are still essential today.   They also discuss Genevieve’s book ADELAIDE , which was published this year by St. Martin’s Press. Yo...

  Lisa discussed her five favorite audiobooks that she listened to this year and a number of her favorite audio books.   Books discussed:    Hey Kiddo: A Memoir by Jarrett J. Krosoczka    Spare by Prince Harry   Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain    Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid   Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger    Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders   Bo...

Lisa discusses three popular books that, in the fall of 2023, have been released on the screen – either as a movie or a limited series. She discusses Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus, All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr and Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann.  Lisa delves into each movie and how it compares to the book. Time Magazine says the limited series of All The Light We...

Lisa and Megan Samarin , the co-host of the podcasts Girls Gone Hallmark and Approved with Megan and Wendy discuss The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren, (a combined pen name) of Christina Hobbs and Laura Billings. They write a number of fiction and romance novels.   The Unhoneymooners is set up as an enemies-to-lovers trope. Megan and Lisa discuss their thoughts on the book and Megan shared othe...

Lisa discusses five celebrity memoirs she’d like to read – all three memoirs have been released this year, and have created a massive buzz. It’s possible she’ll discuss one of these books in-depth in the coming weeks.    The Woman in Me by Britney Spears. She didn’t give any face-to-face interviews about this book, and New York Times writes about how it’s quite unique that she didn’t give any inte...