Reading Between Deadlines Podcast

How would you survive the apocalypse? Would you need a talking pig? This episode's pick: Set in the near future after a devastating pandemic, How High We Go in the Dark follows a series of interconnected characters as humanity tries to rebuild. From a theme park for terminally ill kids to a talking pig and space travel, the stories explore grief, resilience, and what it means to be human when the...

Did Butter live up to the hype? This episode's pick: Butter by Asako Yuzuki is a Japanese literary sensation that’s an unusual blend of murder mystery and food writing. Inspired by a true crime case, it’s about women, food, desire, and manipulation. Did it win us over, or was it all sizzle and no steak (or…butter)? In this episode, we cover: How hype and translation shaped our expectations Food wr...

How far would you go back to save your child? This episode's pick: Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister—a Reese’s Book Club thriller where a mother sees her teenage son commit a murder… only to wake up the next day and realize she’s gone back in time. As each morning takes her further into the past, she pieces together secrets about her son, her husband, and herself. It’s a murder mystery,...

Did Broken Country live up to the hype? This episode's pick: Broken Country by Claire Leslie Hall — a Reese’s Book Club favourite that’s been compared to The Paper Palace and Where the Crawdads Sing . It’s got love, loyalty, guilt, and a courtroom drama at its heart… but did it win us over? In this episode, we cover: Why this book caught our attention (and everyone else’s) How hype and word-of-mou...

Jungle fever or just fever dream? This episode's pick: State of Wonder by Ann Patchett—a literary thriller set in the Amazon, complete with pharmaceutical intrigue, moral dilemmas, and one very unfortunate snake encounter. It’s lush, layered, and filled with anacondas, tarantulas, and questionable fertility science. But did it live up to the hype? This week’s guest: Pamela Cook —author, podcaster,...

Is this space book really about space? This episode's pick: Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid—a book that is rumoured to have made her an $8 million dollar advance but may have come at the price of her personal privacy. Part space epic, part love story, part unbelievable side characters and strange snacks. We blast off into TJR’s most interesting book yet. In this episode, we cover: Why Atmosphere...

Maeve Binchy’s Evening Class —comfort fiction or structural masterclass? This week, bestselling author Tess Woods joins us to discuss her all-time favourite Maeve Binchy novel: Evening Class . It’s a quiet, sprawling book with no clear protagonist, barely a plot, and somehow...it works. In this episode, we explore: - Why “quiet” doesn’t mean boring - The weirdly satisfying moment when a character...

Can a Name Change Your Fate? This episode's pick: The Names by Florence Knapp—a 2025 debut that’s been dubbed the best in years. It’s a literary “Sliding Doors” novel, but with three parallel lives instead of two. The question at its heart? What happens when a single choice—a baby’s name—changes everything? In this episode, we cover: Why The Names is more craft experiment than comfort read The DV...

Maeve Binchy’s Evening Class —comfort fiction or structural masterclass? This week, bestselling author Tess Woods joins us to discuss her all-time favourite Maeve Binchy novel: Evening Class . It’s a quiet, sprawling book with no clear protagonist, barely a plot, and somehow...it works. In this episode, we explore: - Why “quiet” doesn’t mean boring - The weirdly satisfying moment when a character...

This episode's pick: Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry—her sixth novel and departure from pure rom-com territory into mystery/women's fiction waters. But did we want to take that journey with her? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit readingbetweendeadlines.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome back to Reading Between Deadlines , the podcast where we read with the same chaotic energy we usually reserve for missed deadlines, burnt toast and re-reading our own bios in horror. This week continues our new format—where a guest author brings a book they adore, and we read it for the first time (sometimes very reluctantly). Our guest this episode? The always delightful and impressively...

Welcome back to Reading Between Deadlines , the podcast where two authors read with the kind of energy usually reserved for stress-dreams about book launches. In this episode, Rachael Johns and Anthea Hodgson dive into Swept Away by Beth O’Leary—a bestselling author known for quirky, heartfelt rom-coms. But this one? Let’s just say, our anchors weren’t the only things that didn’t stay put. In this...

This book contains a content warning for loss of a child. Welcome back to Reading Between Deadlines , the podcast where we read with the kind of unhinged energy usually reserved for deadline week meltdowns. In this episode, Rachael Johns and Anthea Hodgson attempt to unpack the cult favourite Brother of the More Famous Jack by Barbara Trapido—a book that’s been praised by literary giants and passi...

This book contains a content warning for loss of a child. Welcome back to Reading Between Deadlines , the podcast where we read with the kind of unhinged energy usually reserved for deadline week meltdowns. In this episode, Rachael Johns and Anthea Hodgson attempt to unpack the cult favourite Brother of the More Famous Jack by Barbara Trapido—a book that’s been praised by literary giants and passi...

Welcome back to Reading Between Deadlines , the podcast where we devour books with the same chaotic energy we bring to deadline week. This week, Rachael Johns and Anthea Hodgson dive tentacle-first into The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus —a debut novel full of moody university students, Scottish castles, emotionally unavailable parents, and yes... actual octopus metaphors. Written by Emma Knight...

Welcome back to Reading Between Deadlines , where we devour books with the same unhinged enthusiasm as we write them. This week, Rachael Johns and Anthea Hodgson take on The Bridges of Madison County —the love story that convinced an entire generation that cheating is fine as long as it’s poetic. Yes, it’s that 90s classic about a lonely farm wife, a broody photographer, and an affair so powerful...

🚨 Book rants & wildly fluctuating opinions incoming! 🚨 This week, Rachael Johns and Anthea Hodgson take on Sally Rooney’s latest, where two brothers navigate grief, romance, and existential dread— all while occasionally playing chess. Along the way, we discuss: ♟️ The many, many chess metaphors—how far is too far? 📖 Why this book is giving Ulysses energy (but make it Rooney) 💔 A love triangle...

🚨 Time travel, book rants & chaos incoming! 🚨 In this episode of Reading Between Deadlines , Rachel Johns and Anthea Hodgson take on The Ministry of Time —a book that dares to mix time travel, romance, and social commentary. Does it work? Do they even understand the plot? Who's to say! Along the way, they tackle:⏳ The baffling science of time travel (we’re still confused)💔 A romance that…was t...

Rachael Johns and Anthea Hodgosn interview author Jacqueline Bublitz about her latest book (and book club pick), LEAVE THE GIRLS BEHIND. They discuss Jacqueline's journey from a call center worker to a successful author, her writing process, and the themes explored in her novels, particularly around crime and gender. The conversation delves into the challenges of writing, character development, an...

🎥 Watch it now Join authors Rachel Johns and Anthea Hodgson in their inaugural episode of 'Reading Between Deadlines,' where they dive into Miranda July's eyebrow-raising 'All Fours.' They debate the book's shock value, delve into its portrayal of midlife awakenings, and humorously dissect its outrageous moments. Don't miss their playful banter and honest critique as they rate the book on their u...

In just under a week, our bookish podcast, Reading Between Deadlines launches and we can’t wait to share it with you! Here’s a sneak peek…sneak listen? Sneak listen…🎧😊 What should we read next? Let us know in the comments below. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit readingbetweendeadlines.substack.com/subscribe