Book Talk, Etc.
Episode: Easily Distracted by New Releases + Prepping for Winter Reading
Hosts: Tina (@tbretc) & Hannah (@hanpickedbooks)
Date: November 11, 2025
Episode Overview
This cozy, conversational episode sinks into the perennial allure of new book releases and the joys (and logistics) of prepping for winter reading. Tina and Hannah, true Midwestern mood readers, share what’s getting them through the seasonal transition, gush over recent reads—almost all hot-off-the-presses—and discuss how they approach end-of-year reading, including holiday picks and plans for the 2025 Goodreads Choice Awards. Expect plenty of book recommendations, personal anecdotes, and a dash of Midwest weather banter.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Midwest Weather & Setting the Mood
[01:36–05:33]
- The hosts set the seasonal scene, discussing Midwest fall nostalgia and prepping for the shift to winter.
- Tina describes the bittersweet transition from crisp, colorful fall days to winter weather in Chicago.
- Hannah compares Michigan’s own pre-winter atmosphere.
- Both bemoan wrangling children into winter gear—finding it more cumbersome than prepping for summer.
Quote:
"Clothes for me. Yeah, same clothes for me. My kids have melanin, so I don't have to be as vigilant [with sunscreen]... For me, the bundling up is a task."
—Tina [04:13]
Loving Lately
1. Kids Eat in Color’s “Affordable Flavors” Meal Plan ([05:33–08:54])
- Tina: Recommends the “Kids Eat in Color” Instagram and their free, nutritionist-authored 30-day meal plan, emphasizing its utility for meal-planning-weary parents.
- Resource includes flavorful, healthy recipes, shopping lists, WIC-eligible items, and is currently free with the code “flavor.”
- She uses Notability to keep the PDF handy.
2. The Tiny Bookshop Game ([09:01–13:19])
- Hannah: Loving this cozy, bookish Nintendo Switch game also available on Steam.
- Players run a miniature bookshop, recommending real books to customers with quirky, specific requests.
- Enjoys the cozy, relaxing gameplay, though notes it's not audiobook-friendly as it requires a lot of reading.
- The majority of in-game books are real titles, making it a dream for book lovers.
Quote:
"There are definitely some requests where you're like, I have to have a book about animals, but I mostly read romance, and you're like, okay, well, let's see what I have."
—Hannah [10:45]
Latest Reads
1. Life and Death in Giants by Ron Rindo
Rec’d by Tina | [13:42–19:25]
- Genre: Literary fiction with a folkloric, sports element.
- Follows Gabriel, a nearly 8-foot-tall orphan with mysterious abilities, raised by Amish grandparents and thrust into local football stardom.
- Unique in that Gabriel’s story is told only through the perspectives of those around him.
- Tina praises its Midwestern setting and blend of fairy-tale and reality—also appeals to sports fiction fans.
Quote:
"You are hearing about Gabriel by those whose lives were transformed by him."
—Tina [15:49]
2. Dating After the End of the World by Geneva Rose
Rec’d by Hannah | [20:06–24:19]
- Genre: Apocalyptic romantic comedy.
- Protagonist Casey, raised by a doomsday prepper, faces a real zombie-esque viral outbreak and must return home—where her former high school nemesis awaits.
- Not deep or literary, but highly entertaining, satirical, and quick to read; likened to “Warm Bodies.”
- Satisfies the need for a palate cleanser read.
Quote:
"This is just a fun romance with a zombie apocalypse thrown in."
—Hannah [23:37]
Winter & End-of-Year Reading Plans
[24:43–33:49]
- Tina and Hannah discuss the shift in their reading moods as the year winds down—Tina craves literary fiction post-thriller-season, while Hannah assembles a loose TBR to avoid feeling untethered.
- Both acknowledge the liberating (but also daunting) feeling of reading without a fixed agenda.
- Tina announces an ambitious plan: to read every mystery/thriller nominated for the Goodreads Choice Awards (long list), possibly documenting the journey on YouTube.
Quote:
"I'm going to read every— we'll see if I do it— every mystery and thriller that is nominated for the Goodreads Choice Awards. I'm going to read all of them."
—Tina [30:38]
Holiday Books & the Winter Reading Guide
[33:58–36:41]
- Both hosts enjoy reading one or two holiday-themed books a year, with Tina leaning into holiday mysteries/thrillers/horror, while Hannah steers toward family stories or literary fiction set during the holidays (not so much romances).
- Anticipation builds for their upcoming Winter Reading Guide, available December 2 for patrons or purchase, featuring curated seasonal reading recommendations.
More Book Recommendations
Tina’s Picks:
-
Seascraper by Benjamin Wood | [36:58–40:56]
- Short, Booker-longlisted novel about Thomas, a “seascraper” (shrimp fisherman) with dreams of songwriting.
- Slower, literary, and best on audio (narrated by the author with music).
- Described as unexpectedly uplifting and fitting for winter reading.
-
The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy | [46:08–51:52]
- An “era-defining” novel following five Black women through 20 years of friendship, from the mid-2000s to late-2010s.
- Nonlinear structure, almost like interconnected short stories.
- Rich in depiction of female friendship and the complexities of adult life; strong emotional payoff at the end.
Quote:
"She portrayed friendship very well...when you do [reconnect], you still love each other just as you had."
—Tina [49:00]
- Murder Most Haunted by Emma Mason (Shelf Addition) | [59:09–61:23]
- Cozy, locked-room holiday murder mystery.
- Retired detective Midge McGowan finds herself solving a murder in an isolated, snowed-in mansion during a haunted house tour.
Hannah’s Picks:
-
The Ten Year Affair by Erin Summers | [41:34–45:19]
- Sliding Doors-style novel about a married woman tempted by a connection with a fellow parent.
- Feeds on the tension and emotional fallout of bad choices, using parallel realities more as internal speculation than strict plot device.
- Recommended for those who like messy, unlikable characters and exploring the consequences of infidelity—potentially polarizing.
-
It's Different This Time by Joss Richards | [52:47–56:43]
- Standout second-chance romance set in a New York brownstone, featuring dual timelines.
- Heavy on emotional development and pining, light on early spice, and full of cozy fall-in-the-city vibes and theater kid nostalgia.
- Hannah’s favorite romance of the year so far.
Quote:
"The stakes were so high with this one, in such a good way. I love Adam and June so much, and I missed them so much already."
—Hannah [56:33]
- Frida's Cook by Florencia Echeves (Shelf Addition) | [61:30–64:09]
- Historical/literary dual-timeline novel about Frida Kahlo’s cook in 1930s Mexico City and her granddaughter in present-day Buenos Aires unraveling family secrets.
- Celebrates female friendship, art, and resilience.
Memorable Moments
-
[12:31] Tina’s lighthearted question about real vs. in-game books in Tiny Bookshop:
"Are the books that you're recommending real books or are they made up for the game?"
-
[57:07] Hannah’s hilarious Goodreads ‘meet-cute’ fail:
"Lo and behold, we're not even done recording this podcast yet, and I have a direct message from this person: 'Well, I stumbled across your profile. You caught my eye.' This is not what Goodreads is for. It’s not for a meet cute."
Timestamps by Segment
- [00:26] - Introduction & Podcast greeting
- [01:36] - Midwest weather report and the approach of winter
- [05:33] - Loving Lately: Kids Eat in Color (Tina)
- [09:01] - Loving Lately: Tiny Bookshop game (Hannah)
- [13:42] - Latest Reads: Life and Death in Giants (Tina)
- [20:06] - Latest Reads: Dating After the End of the World (Hannah)
- [24:43] - End-of-Year reading talk and TBR planning
- [30:38] - Reading project: Goodreads Choice Awards thrillers (Tina)
- [33:58] - Discussion: Holiday reading and the upcoming Winter Reading Guide
- [36:58] - Tina’s Latest Read: Seascraper
- [41:34] - Hannah’s Latest Read: The Ten Year Affair
- [46:08] - Tina’s Latest Read: The Wilderness
- [52:47] - Hannah’s Latest Read: It's Different This Time
- [59:09] - Shelf Additions: Murder Most Haunted (Tina); Frida's Cook (Hannah)
The Episode in a Nutshell
A cheerful, banter-filled exploration of what it's like to be a mood reader heading into winter: Tina and Hannah juggle new releases, reflect on end-of-year strategies, and trade both literary and cozy book recommendations—plus highlight the practical tools and games that keep life fun and organized. Throughout, they capture the spirit of bookish community, celebrate the highs and quirks of reading life, and prep listeners for winter reading with plenty of titles to add to the TBR.
To get the full notes, bonus episodes, and upcoming Winter Reading Guide, check out their Patreon at patreon.com/booktalketc.