Life and Lit

This week Sydney and Paige are joined by guest host Torrey to give our thoughts on "Iron Flame" by Rebecca Yarros. The second book in the hit fantasy series follows Violet and her squad as secrets come to light and rebellion simmers under the surface of Navarre. We break from our usual format to give our totally unhinged and decidedly nonlinear hot takes on the dramatic action-packed plo...

This week, Sydney and Paige are back from break with a new author and a twisty thriller! "Cut to the Bone" by Ellison Cooper follows FBI agent Sayer Altair as she hunts down a killer. Fans of "Criminal Minds" and "Mindhunter," this one's for you.

This week Sydney and Paige discuss the newest release from iconic historical fiction author Kristen Hannah. "The Women" follows Army nurse Frankie McGrath as she goes from California socialite to saving lives in the jungles of Vietnam. Once her two tours are over, Frankie returns to a country and family that aren't supportive of her service. As she overcomes the challenges of returni...

Sydney and Paige round out February with a historical fiction. "West with Giraffes" by Lynda Rutledge tells the incredible story of two giraffes traveling across America. Based on a true story, this epic story captures adventure, love, and growing up.

This week Sydney and Paige feel the love for Valentine's Day by discussing their favorite literary romances. Tune in as we discuss the Top 10 Romance Novels as determined by GoodReads. Which teenage favorites made the list? Did our favorite of all time come out on top?

This week, Paige and Sydney kick off February with a double feature for Black History Month. Sydney covers the novel "Maame" by Jessica George, while Paige covers "Born a Crime" by the comedian Trevor Noah. Two totally different books that have similar themes--we love when that happens!

This week Sydney and Paige discuss the latest hot fantasy read "Fourth Wing" by Rebecca Yarros. Violet Sorrengail is forced to carry on her family's legacy of becoming a dragon rider--that is if she can survive the journey to become one. Violet takes on task after task to earn her bond with her dragons all while fighting off enemies within the walls of Basgiath War College. When the...

This week, Paige and Sydney kick off the new year with a double feature. Paige covers "500 Miles from You" by Jenny Colgan, and Sydney features "One Night Only" by Catherine Walsh. They also say "like" approximately 129 times....

This week Sydney and Paige return from the holiday break and reminisce about 2023. We discuss our favorite reads from 2023 and books/adaptations we are looking forward to in 2024! A lighthearted discussion to start the New Year--what are you guys excited to read this year? **episode starts at 2:14. Sorry for the technical difficulties**

Sydney and Paige get in the holiday spirit with a double feature on two holiday books! Paige covered "Three Holidays and a Wedding" by Uzma Jalaluddin and Marissa Stapley, and Sydney features "Love, Holly" by Emily Stone. The best part? The get to swap books in person next week!

This week Sydney and Paige kick off the holidays with "Always in December" by Emily Stone. Josie makes a point to avoid Christmas and the personal heartbreak it brings every year. That is until one day she runs into Max-a stranger who will ultimately change her life. But after a whirlwind holiday romance, Max disappears. Over the following year, Max and Josie find their way back to each...

This week, Sydney and Paige round out November with a new fantasy duology. "One Dark Window" by Rachel Gillig, follows our heroine and the dark force that's invading her mind. Magic, romance, and a great cast of characters ; this novel has it all for fantasy fans!

Paige and Sydney cover a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr. They cover the beloved novel and the new Netflix adaptation--with some interesting thoughts on the latter.

This week Sydney and Paige finally discuss a topic near and dear to their hearts: horses. Tune in as we discuss "Horse" by Geraldine Brooks. "Horse" follows three separate yet intertwined timelines starting in Kentucky in the 1850s with Jarrett and his beloved horse Darley to modern day DC with Theo and Jess, an artist and a scientist with common interest in a legendary racehor...

Sydney and Paige end the spooky season with a thriller by a new to us author "The Housemaid" by Freida McFadden. This book kept us guessing on who to trust, and who was in control. A perfect Halloween read!

This week, Sydney and Paige dive in to the thriller "They Never Learn" by Layne Fargo. Taking notes from "Dexter" and "Killing Eve," it's a psychological look in to the mind of a killer.

This week Sydney and Paige continue their spooky season picks with "The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches" by Sangu Mandanna. Mika has never felt she has a place in the world to call her own. Forced to move around on her own at risk of being discovered as a witch, she's mostly maintained a lonely life in London. Until one day she gets a message from someone who wants her to me...

This week, Sydney and Paige discuss the popular fall romcom "The Ex Hex" by Erin Sterling. Vivienne Jones thought Rhys Penhallow was out of her life for good after their whirlwind summer romance ended in heartbreak. Fourteen years later, Rhys is back in town for the Fall Festival, and Vivi realizes her "innocent" Bath and Body Works Curse wasn't so innocent after all... This fun, magical romcom is...

This week, Paige and Sydney kick off spooky season with a great thriller from Riley Sager, "The House Across the Lake." The girls dive in to their theories and the completely unexpected twist that they never saw coming.

This week Sydney and Paige kick off spooky season a little early with "Spells for Forgetting". Emery and August grew up on the magical yet ominous island of Soairse. Desperate to make their own way in the world, they have plans to leave the island together until the murder of a friend and August's suspected involvement alter their relationship with each other and the island forever. Fourteen years...

This week, Paige and Sydney head back to one of their favorite genres, historical fiction. "Hannah's War" by Jan Eliasberg is a cat-and-mouse spy novel about a female scientist working with the Americans to develop the atomic bomb....but who's side is she really on? We loved this novel about one of the most important scientific discoveries of the 20th century!

This week Sydney and Paige return to a tried and true pod author with "My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She's Sorry" by Fredrik Backman. Backman does it again with this touching story of grief told from almost 8 year old Elsa's eyes. A portrait of humanity effortlessly woven with a grandmother's fairytales, Backman delivers a touching tale of overcoming grief and what it m...

This week we're back with a double feature of celebrity memoirs. Paige dives in to "Beyond the Wand" by Harry Potter star Tom Felton (of course), and Sydney covers "Finding Me" by the great Viola Davis.

This week Sydney and Paige discuss the latest book in the ACOTAR series "A Court of Silver Flames" by Sarah J. Maas. Shifting focus from Feyre and Rhys, this time our main characters are Nesta and Cassian. Recovering from the physical and emotional wounds from the war has proven to be more difficult for Nesta after her father's death. The war may be over for now, but threats to Pryth...

This week, Sydney and Paige discuss "Brooklyn" by Colm Toibin. It's a story of the Amerian dream, and a young girl who immigrates from Ireland to chase it. It's also a feature film starring the wonderful Saoirse Ronan. Listen to our thoughts on "Brooklyn" now!