The Reader's Couch

Send me a text message How well do you know your friends?  Dive into a gripping tale of friendship, betrayal, and a mysterious disappearance in Leah Konen's "Keep Your Friends Close."  In the novel we meet Mary, who is isolated and in a custody battle, and she is yearning for a friend.  She meets the charming Willa and their friendship seems fated, until she shares a secret about he...

Send me a text message Sharing my experiences with living in tune with the seasons and ideas and opportunities for you to embrace spring and be present this season.  Spring is not just a transition from winter to summer; it's a fresh start, a rebirth, and it encourages us to restart or open new chapters in our lives. SHOW NOTES & BOOKLIST: Find the episode show notes and a list of all the...

Send me a text message Sun of Blood and Ruin is a Zorro-inspired historical fantasy that intertwines Mesoamerican mythology and Mexican history.  Set in an alternate 16th-century colonial Mexico, the novel follows a Mestiza woman named Leonora.  Leonora possesses the ability to transform into a panther, and we see her as she joins forces with an Indigenous alliance to resist Spanish control. BOOK:...

Send me a text message From a thrilling mystery to keep you guessing, a fantasy you can escape into, and travel back in time with historical fiction or romance to make you swoon, these six books will keep you turning the pages! LINKS MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE: - Sign up and download The BiblioLifestyle 2024 Spring Reading Guide. - The 2024 Spring Reading Guide Shortlist: Get access to all 93 books...

Send me a text message The mythological and the mysterious are intertwined in Yangsze Choo's novel "The Fox Wife."  The story is set in 1908 Manchuria (in northeast China,) and we meet a fox spirit named Snow who assumes a human form to track down the person responsible for her child's death.  Also in the novel, we meet Bao Gong, a retired teacher and detective who has a specia...

Send me a text message Peel back the layers of a diverse Palestinian American community in Baltimore.  That's what you can expect in "Behind You Is the Sea" by Susan Muaddi Darraj.  "Behind You Is the Sea" follows three main families - the Baladis, the Salamehs, and the Ammars - each navigating their own challenges living in America.   We also see the intersection of class...

Send me a text message If you love classic horror movies and 90’s nostalgia then you’re in for a treat because Emily Ruth Verona joins me on the couch to talk about her debut horror thriller "Midnight on Beacon Street."  In the novel, we follow a babysitter named Amy who is hired to watch two children while their mom goes on a date.  But Amy's world is turned upside down when a grou...

Send me a text message Set in pre-Civil War New Orleans, we follow Ady, an enslaved girl who joins a secret resistance movement run by women who are fighting against slavery and sabotaging the Confederacy.   That's what you can expect in "The American Daughters" by Maurice Carlos Ruffin.  So in this episode, Maurice shares insights into "The American Daughters" and our con...

Send me a text message How do you prepare loved ones for your inevitable disappearance?  We unravel all this plus more in Joma West's novel, "Twice Lived."  In the novel, we follow a troubled teen, torn between two families and lives, while also navigating the challenges of shifting between parallel worlds.  As Canna and Lily face their final shift, they must prepare both families f...

Send me a text message From talking about friends old and new, how to meet new friends, and rekindle old friendships that have fallen by the wayside, this is a heartfelt chat on the significance of friendships in adulthood.  Amy and I unravel the complex yet rewarding nature of friendships by sharing our experiences over the years.  Plus, Amy shares a treasure trove of book recommendations!  So wh...

Send me a text message This is a makeover reality television show and behind-the-scenes romance mash-up, where the lines between performance and authenticity blur.   Today on the couch, I'm joined by Jenny L. Howe, whose charm, laughter, and candid banter are as delightful as her romantic comedy "On the Plus Side."  In the novel, we meet Everly Winters, our lovable protagonist who p...

Send me a text message As I flipped through the pages of my journals, I gained so much perspective on life.  I had the opportunity to relive memories and experiences, and I have a tried and true place where I can work through the ups and downs. In today's episode, I invite you into the intimate world of journaling, an endeavor that has shaped my life.  I talk about both personal and reading j...

Send me a text message Family and social media can be loving and bring us together, but they can get complicated and messy fast.  In this episode, I had the pleasure of hosting Laurie Frankel, whose novel "Family Family" unravels the layers of family, specifically an adoptive family, as seen through the eyes of her protagonist, India Allwood, her adoptive daughter Fig and the daughter sh...

Send me a text message From literary fiction to thrillers, horror,  historical fiction, and more, this episode is a treasure trove for any bibliophile seeking a glimpse into some of the fantastic books we can look forward to in 2024. SHOW NOTES & BOOKLIST: Find the episode show notes and a list of all the books mentioned here . LINKS MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE: - Full List of My Most Anticipated...

Send me a text message What happens when a murder is linked to a group of mothers you're friends with?  In The Other Mothers, a young journalist finds herself in the middle of a wealthy London community of mothers, but as she investigates mysterious deaths, she starts questioning her new friends' intentions.  In this episode, Katherine Faulkner shares her insights on crafting a suspensef...

Send me a text message In this episode, I open up and share my top five priorities and goals for 2024.  I share where my head is, what I think and feel, and what I'm working towards.  My main pillars are community, collaboration, confidence, boundaries, and being present, all of which support my mindful and intentional approach to life. SHOW NOTES & BOOKLIST: Find the episode show notes a...

Send me a text message There's something undeniably magical about reconnecting with a past love, especially when that journey intertwines with a rediscovery of your own roots.  That's the spellbinding ride Raquel Vasquez Gilliland takes us on with her enchanting paranormal romance, "Witch of Wild Things."  In this episode we unravel the tale of Sage Flores, a woman whose life i...

Send me a text message Listen in as I turn the pages of The BiblioLifestyle 2024 Winter Reading Guide and share six page-turners that are the perfect companions for the cold winter months.  You'll also get insights into the guide's cover design, the shortlist of books I read, loved, and had under consideration for the guide, book-like recommendations, and more.  So listen to this episode...

Send me a text message What would you do if you won the lottery?  We discuss that plus more as we unravel how a lottery win turns into a deadly curse in Gilly Macmillan's novel, "The Manor House."  In the novel, we meet childhood sweethearts Nicole and Tom, and we see how their lives are transformed overnight after winning the lottery.  But when Tom is found dead, Nicole's worl...

Send me a text message This episode is a get-to-know-us chat trio edition!  Joining me on the couch is Cindy Burnett from the Thoughts from a Page Podcast and Amy Allen Clark, who runs the momadvice.com blog and the Book Gang Podcast .  In this episode, you'll get to know us more, from childhood reading experiences to our present-day relationship with books and reading, how we started sharing...

Send me a text message Ever wished you could fast-forward to the best parts of your life?   That's what Lucy Young did in Sophie's Cousens's latest novel, "The Good Part."  In "The Good Part," Lucy stumbles upon a wishing machine and wishes to skip to the "good part" of her life:  where she has a career she's proud of, she isn't broke, and she...

Send me a text message Craft your own reading life for a more meaningful literary year ahead!  Join me on the couch as I share five tips to help you create reading goals that align with your life and passions.  Learn how to reflect on past reading habits, tailor goals to your current lifestyle, and curate a list of must-reads.  Also, discover the joy of setting realistic reading aspirations and ho...

Send me a text message Eating key lime pie and paper-thin Santas with a side of palm trees are some very  Floridian Christmas traditions, and in this episode, we're embracing a sunny twist on all things holidays!  I had the pleasure of sitting on the couch with the delightful TJ Alexander to talk about their holiday rom-com, "Second Chances in New Port Stephen." In "Second Chan...

Send me a text message Ready to expand your reading list?  Listen in as I share my top 13 personal favorite books of 2023!  I think each book on this list is a winner, and I share a spoiler-free description of what you can expect, why each book made the list, and what makes them stand out.  You can expect stories brimming with intrigue and emotion, stories that provide vivid explorations of the hu...

Send me a text message Ever wondered what it's like to keep alive the legacy of a legendary author like Agatha Christie?  Sophie Hannah spills the beans on her journey writing new Poirot novels authorized by the Christie estate, and we talk about her latest novel "Hercule Poirot's Silent Night." Not just that, Sophie shines in coming up with a gripping murder mystery on the spo...