Literature & Libations

In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Jeffrey Eugenides’s 2002 novel Middlesex. Topics include proper name pronunciation, iced coffee orders, surprising narrative decisions, the immigrant experience in America and the disillusionment of the American dream, Calliope/Cal and the turbulence of adolescence, and Cal’s ultimate decision on how to live his life. Plus, we go on a slight tangent...

In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Louis Sachar’s 1998 novel Holes. Topics include childhood memories, the questionable Texas justice system, the tragic tale of Kissin’ Kate Barlow and Sam the Onion Man, coincidence or magic, Stanley’s growth, and terrible adults. Plus, we talk about the stellar movie adaptation, and other required reading in elementary school.  This week’s drink: Ra...

In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Xochitl Gonzalez’s 2026 novel Last Night in Brooklyn. Topics include the Great Gatsby parallels, bringing previous book characters back (oh hi Lily King), different types of privilege, brunch confrontations, nostalgia for the cities you lived in, early 2000s Muse and Shiny Toy Guns, Alicia’s journey, and the illusion of freedom wealth brings. Plus,...

In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Mieko Kawakami’s 2026 novel Sisters in Yellow. Topics include Mieko’s aesthetic, problems and difficulties with Japanese to English translation, immersion in time and place and expanding our conception of Japan, Hana’s (and other’s) dependence upon and obsession with money, the enigma of Kimiko, and the importance of yellow.  This week’s drink: Lemo...

In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Laurie Colwin’s 1990 novel Goodbye Without Leaving. Topics include Laurie Colwin’s style, Geri’s compassion for black music and awareness of black/white relationships in her current time, domestic apprehension, Geri’s quest for identity and belonging, and European immigrants and American identity. Plus, we sing the praises of the Combo Caddy . This...

In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Ariel Lawhon’s 2023 novel The Frozen River. Topics include the latest hot goss on Disney/Marvel vs Dune 3, cover gripes, the real Martha Ballard and the “mom-ness” of the book, the continuing injustice for women, Taylor’s soapbox on women and medicine, the return of Puritanical hypocrisy, and the inclusion of Doctor and Native medicine. Plus, Taylor...

In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Alexandra Bell’s 2025 novel The White Octopus Hotel. Topics include plane books (and plane experiences in general), some gripes about the novel, art deco, and the intricacies of time travel. Plus, we check in about the Remarkably Bright Creatures movie, and talk about Spider-Man. This week’s drink: Death in the Afternoon via liquor.com INGREDIENTS ...

In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Nathaniel Hawthorne’s 1850 novel The Scarlet Letter. Topics include delicious recipes, listening to the “modern reader” edition, was Nathaniel Hawthorne a woman in disguise?, Hawthorne’s hilarious disdain for Puritans, Arthur Dimmesdale (owner of the Dimmsdale Dimmadome) and his struggles, Pearl and her uncanny understanding of the world, and the on...

In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Michael Cunningham’s 1998 novel The Hours. Topics include smoking while pregnant (no good very bad don’t do it), the two Clarissas, the haunted Laura Brown, and the tragedy of Virginia Woolf. This week’s drink: The Clarissa (a Taylor original) INGREDIENTS  1 oz gin ¾ oz Lillet Blanc 1 oz dry vermouth ½ oz orange juice Pinch of turmeric  INSTRUCTIONS...

In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Virginia Woolf’s 1925 novel Mrs. Dalloway. Topics include the best way to read this book, horn rimmed glasses and the people who wear them, and deep dives into the main characters. Plus, we talk about the shows we are currently watching (Heated Rivalry, The Pitt, and Derry Girls). This week’s drink: the Virginia Woolf via Buzzworthy INGREDIENTS  2 s...

In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Madeline L’Engle’s 1962 classic A Wrinkle in Time Topics include Disney Channel classic Johnny Tsunami, the idiocy of teenage boys, there’s Jesus in my science!, the clunkiness of the plot, how the series continues, realizing your parents don’t have all the answers, Meg as a great example for young girls, and the power of love. Plus, we go on a slig...

In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan’s 2025 “supernatural love story” Remain. Topics include the unfortunate name Tate (Tateifer?), Cape Cod vibes, ghost sex, not your typical love story ending, and our low threshold for hauntings. Plus, Kayla shares some exciting news! This week’s drink: Cape Codder via liquor.com INGREDIENTS  1 1/2 ounces vodka...

In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Elaine Dundy’s 1958 novel The Dud Avocado. Topics include the fun and original voice of Sally Jay, the darker themes in the book (surprise surprise, they involve men), free-wheeling and heavy-drinking Paris nightlife, how not to lose your passport, trips to Canada, being a Dreaded Librarian, and Sally Jay’s ending - what does zymotic mean in this co...

Welcome, 2026! In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss pod favorite Lily King’s 2025 novel Heart the Lover. Topics include the way Lily King packs a punch in a short time, pompous young adult men in academia, Sam vs. Yash, revealing Jordan’s real name and how the men in her life defined her, the importance of first loves and how weird it is when you realize you’ll never talk to that perso...

In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor wrap up 2025 with their favorite pod (and non-pod) reads, plus other favorites from movies, TV, music, and more! This week’s drink: French 75 via Friday Night Cocktails INGREDIENTS: 1 oz gin ½ oz lemon juice, freshly squeezed ½ oz simply syrup 3 oz Champagne Lemon twist, for garnish INSTRUCTIONS: In a cocktail shaker, add the gin, lemon juice, and simple sy...

In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Madeline Miller’s 2018 novel Circe. Topics include work holiday parties, weird winter weather, every child’s obsession with Greek mythology, the true nature of the gods, Circe’s banishment, and commentaries on womanhood and motherhood. Plus, we cannot recommend the 1997 Disney movie Hercules enough. Go watch it! This week’s drink: The Circe (a Taylo...

In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss our One Hundredth Book!! M.L. Rio’s 2017 novel If We Were Villains. Topics include Stranger Things, Bisexual Disaster Oliver Marks, insufferable drama kids, the genius of Shakespeare, 90s Shakespeare adaptations, the frustratingly vague ending, and shades of Half-Blood Prince (and High School Musical??) This week’s drink: The Friendly Betrayal via T...

In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Gabrielle Zevin’s 2014 novel The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry. Topics include a seemingly lackluster movie adaptation that we definitely will end up watching, the Hallmark movie premise that’s very well written, our desire to monologue in real life, reading short stories, literary fiction vs. genre fiction, chicken pox and shingles, what spices we wou...

In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Kiran Millwood Hargrave’s 2019 novel The Mercies. Topics include Leif Erickson Day, an entire village of women obviously being witches, the divide between the old ways and the new, men feeling the need to burn women to appease their fragile little egos, and endless night in the north. Plus: inflammation! (and not the witch burning kind).  This week’...

In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Stephen Graham Jones’s 2025 novel The Buffalo Hunter Hunter. Topics include pronouncing French words, tiki tiki tiki tiki tiki drinks, reading (and watching) horror, new vampire lore, the importance of buffalo, America’s nightmare, the nuance of Arthur Beaucarne, and giant mole people. This week’s drink: Blood Moon Boulevardier via The G&M Kitch...

In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Lidia Yuknavitch’s 2022 novel Thrust. Topics include chicken stock, Neptune’s gin, water apocalypse, the Statue of Liberty (and Clueless quotes about it), the sexy bits of the novel, toxic masculinity (oh hey, we know her), and feeling your feelings. Plus, we talk about The Life of a Showgirl (of course).  This week’s drink: Sea Foam via Rhubarb &am...

In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Kazuo Ishiguro’s 2005 novel Never Let me Go. Topics include the 20th anniversary of this book, how to classify it, the ethics of cloning for organ harvesting, memory and loneliness, rich people clones, talkin’ the title, Kathy as narrator (and carer), and the medical inaccuracies of Grey’s Anatomy. Plus, we talk at length about quitting social media...

In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Christopher Buehlman’s 2012 novel Between Two Fires. Topics include delicious cocktails we had in California, how this book came on our radar, our appreciation of the writing and language used, the horrors unleashed (and how extra they are), the devastation of the Black Death, Heaven vs. Hell (and religion vs. science), and our motley band of heroes...

In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Taylor Jenkins Reid’s latest novel, Atmosphere. Topics include the powers of TJR, the particular charms of Lydia, Barbara (aka the WORST PERSON EVER), gaaaaaays in spaaaaaace, the iconic Sally Ride, the unbearable emotion of the last few pages, Joan’s views on God (and issues we may have with them), the utterly terrifying vastness and unknowableness...

In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss N. Scott Momaday’s 1968 novel House Made of Dawn. Topics include diabolical library pranks, Momaday’s influence on future Native writers, lyrical prose, Spark Notes coming in clutch, non-cringe sex scenes (including a tangent about smut), and Angela and Milly. Plus, we go down a rabbit hole about weird internet videos. And George the Cat makes anoth...