Life and Lit

This week Sydney and Paige dive in to a sweet romance. "The Love Hypothesis" by Ali Hazelwood follows PhD student Olive as she conspires to convince her best friend that she's moved on to a happy new relationship...with the help of an unlikely man. Fake dating, quirky characters, miscommuncations...what more could you want? We LOVED this romcom novel!

This week Sydney and Paige discuss the memoir of one of their favorite travel influencers "My Own Magic" by Anna Kloots. Finding herself in a one-sided relationship and feeling invisible in her own marriage, Anna writes about the process of re-discovering herself and forging her own path. She writes of her various travels and experiences being a magician's wife, but the main lesson we took away fr...

This week, Sydney and Paige are back with a true crime thriller, "Notes on an Execution" by Danya Kukafka. This book tells the story of a serial killer on death row, and his story is told in part through the eyes of women in his life. It's an interesting perspective on our culture's obessisson with true crime. Join us for the discussion!

This week Sydney and Paige are joined by our first cohost, Lizbeth De Los Reyes, as we discuss Gus Moreno's This Thing Between Us. Join the girls as we discuss this grief thriller that threw us all through a loop. Things get a little existential as we discuss the topics Moreno focuses on in this genre defying debut novel: grief, modern technology, immigration, cultural connection, and much more. J...

This week, Paige and Sydney cover a new author in one of their favorite genres. "The Secret Book of Flora Lea" by Patti Henry Callahan follows a young woman on the quest to solve her sisters decades old disappearance. Set amongst a backdrop of WWII and 1960s London, this novel has it all--war, heartbreak, mystery, and redemption.

This week we cover the latest release from Emily Henry, "Happy Place." This romcom novel follows Harriet and Wyn, a broken-up couple who has to pretend they are back together to keep peace with their friends. It's the perfect mix of romance, friendship, and summer vibes. Plus we bring back our Casting Couch to dream up who could play these ensemble characters!

This week Sydney and Paige return to the world of fantasy to discuss the third book in the ACOTAR series "A Court of Wings and Ruin" by Sarah J. Maas. War has come to Prythian, and Feyre is doing everything she can to save those she loves. In the Spring Court, she attempts to bring down Tamlin's court and sow discord throughout his lands. As she returns to Rhysand, she assumes her ne...

Paige and Sydney go back to a tried and true genre, historical fiction. "Salt to the Sea" by Ruta Sepetys covers a little known but vastly important even from WWII. You know we love an ensemble cast set amongst real life history, and this one does not disappoint!

This week Sydney and Paige discuss a new author to the pod with "Lock Every Door" by Riley Sager. Jules is down on her luck when she sees an ad in the newspaper for an apartment sitter at one of the most famous buildings in New York City--the Bartholomew. She can't believe her luck and soon settles in amongst the famous residents there. When strange events start happening that she ca...

This week, Sydney and Paige cover another epic from Stephen King. "Fairy Tale" follows Charlie Reade, a 17 year old boy who lands himself in a fantasical adventure. But before that, we have to discuss the real life unhappy ending of one of our favorites. Why can't everything have a happy ending?

This week Sydney and Paige discuss yet another TJR novel with "One True Loves". Emma Blair met the love of her life, Jesse, in high school. Together they made it out of their hometown and travelled the world. On their first wedding anniversary, Jesse is on his way to an assignment when the helicopter goes down. Jesse is presumed dead. Emma goes back to her hometown to piece her life back...

Paige and Sydney kick off April with a repeat author by discussing "Beartown" by Fredrik Backman. This novel, while seemingly only about the world of junior hockey, isn't really about hockey. It's a novel that will make you laugh, cry, and reflect on life in true Fredrik Backman style.

This week Sydney and Paige discuss the spicy second book in the ACOTAR series "A Court of Mist and Fury" by Sarah J. Maas.  Feyre is coming to terms with what happened under the mountain while trying to make sense of her new life as a High Fae.  Things are rocky between her and Tamlin in the Spring Court while she fulfills the promise she made with Rhysand under the mountain.  When...

This week we cover another page to screen adaptation with "Daisy Jones and the Six" by Taylor Jenkins Reid. This novel about the rise and fall of a '70s rock band has just premiered as a miniseries on Amazon Prime. We cover the book and first episode and give our thoughts on how the series measures up to the book. 

This week Sydney and Paige close out Black History Month with a double feature: "Becoming" by Michele Obama and "The Butler" by Wil Haygood.  Following an unplanned political theme, we discuss inside gossip from the White House, the meaning of celebrity status, how the people behind the scenes make the world go round, and ultimately the inspiring stories of Michele Obama and Eugene Allen. &nb...

This week, Sydney and Paige celebrate Valentine's Day with a romcom novel, "The Proposal" by Jasmine Guillory. When Nik's hot actor boyfriend proposes to her on a JumboTron in front of thousands of people, things don't exactly go as planned...but it leads her to something even better! This story had the makings of a classic romance novel. Tune in to get in the Valentine's spirit!

This week Sydney and Paige discuss "Transcendent Kingdom" by Yaa Gyasi.  Giftie is a PhD student at Standford studying the effects of addiction on the brain in order to create an effective treatment.  Little known to her friends and colleagues, Giftie's passion for this science stems from personal experience when her older brother Nana died from an opioid overdose.  With hard hitting themes of add...

This week Sydney and Paige discuss the hottest fantasy book of the moment, "A Court of Thorns and Roses" by Sarah J. Maas.  Feyre, a huntress struggling to feed her family, has no idea the consequences that will follow when she kills a wolf in the woods one night as she hunts.  Retribution is demanded by a terrifying and magical creature known only from legends.  She is taken to live in the world...

This week, Sydney and Paige cover another novel by one of their favorite authors, "The Alice Network" by Kate Quinn. This novel has it all: dual perspectives, war, and tragedy--but it always comes together in the end. 

This week Sydney and Paige discuss the dazzling debut novel from Bonnie Garmus, "Lessons in Chemistry".  Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman.  In fact, she believes there is no such thing as an average woman.  Elizabeth's passion lies in science, and she is all too familiar with the stigmas she has to deal with professionally.  Then one day she meets fellow scientist Calvi...

This week, Sydney and Paige wrap up 2022 with a look back at the first year of podcasting and the books read. We answer questions about our favorites of the year, memorable characters, and how we became book lovers in the first place. 

This week Sydney and Paige wrap up their holiday picks with "The Christmas Bookshop" by Jenny Colgan.  Carmen's life is upended when she suddenly loses her job and has to move in with her sister Sofia in Edinburgh.  At first reluctant, Carmen starts to settle in to her new job at the quirky bookstore she's trying to help save in the charming city she never thought she'd call home.  ...

This week, Sydney and Paige hop across the pond with "Royal Holiday" by Jasmine Guillory. This wasn't the Harry and Meghan vibes we expected, but still serves up some good Hallmark moments. Plus, we will dive into our thoughts on the real Royal family, the Crown, and that hot new Netflix docuseries. 

This week Sydney and Paige kick off the holidays with a rom com double feature!  Sydney discusses "The Matzah Ball" by Jean Meltzer, while Paige reviews "A Holly Jolly Diwali" by Sonya Lalli.  While about two different holidays, we found surprising correlations in our heroines with their journeys of self discovery and understanding of the holiday season.  Tune in for some light hearted holiday rom...

This week, Sydney and Paige round out November with "American Dirt" by Jeanine Cummins. This novel focuses on the struggles a young mother faces as she is forced to flee from Mexico into America, and the depths she will go to to protect her son. We dive into this immigration story, and some of the controversy surrounding it this week.