Book Talk, etc. — October Books on the Radar (2025)

Host: Tina (@tbretc) and Hannah (@hanpickedbooks)
Date: September 30, 2025
Theme: October New Releases — Discovering notable books for the fall, with a focus on upcoming horror, thrillers, historical fiction, and more. The hosts share their “loving lately” items, discuss recent reads (with an accidental zombie theme!), and highlight their most-anticipated October releases.

Main Theme / Purpose

Tina and Hannah take listeners through their October 2025 new release “radar,” spotlighting varied fiction titles perfect for fall reading. The episode weaves together personal anecdotes, lively banter, and thoughtful book talk, helping listeners expand their TBR piles with new and unexpected recommendations across genres—particularly horror, thrillers, and literary fiction. The episode also features "loving lately" picks and current reads, fostering a mood of cozy community and enthusiasm for books.

Highlights & Discussion Breakdown

1. Catching Up & Loving Lately (00:02–10:00)

• Tina’s “Loving Lately”:
  • Self-adhesive individual eyelashes — Easy to apply, affordable ($11–$12 for 156 pieces), and time-saving (“It took me three minutes total. Both eyes. I'm like, this is incredible.” — Tina, 05:09).
  • Tina explains the term “full beat” and shares her makeup enthusiasm.
• Hannah’s “Loving Lately”:
  • Book: 101 Things for Kids to Do Screen-Free — A family favorite that offers easy, minimal-prep activities.
  • Emphasizes the book’s accessibility for working parents: “Some of these just have really minimal materials, which is great.” — Hannah, 08:33
  • Shares personal anecdotes about simple, engaging activities from the book.

2. Recent Reads & Accidental Zombie Pairing (10:00–19:28)

• Tina: One Yellow Eye by Lee Radford (11:19–15:23)
  • Post-zombie-epidemic London, scientific and emotional depth, inspired by Frankenstein.
  • “I wept. No joke, not a hyperbole. By the end, I was ugly, crying.” — Tina, 13:24
  • Emotional resonance, strong depiction of grief.
• Hannah: And Then I Woke Up by Malcolm Devlin (15:23–19:01)
  • Philosophical horror novella about reality, groupthink, and perception.
  • “This book is surprisingly emotional and introspective for basically being again, a book about zombies and the end of the world.” — Hannah, 16:39
  • Explores themes of propaganda and reality in evocative, restrained horror style.

3. October New Releases — Main Recommendations (19:28–44:00)

Each pick includes a brief synopsis, key points from the hosts, and their personal takes. Notable quotes and banter included.

Tina’s Picks

• Workhorse by Caroline Palmer (21:29)
  Workplace drama in early-2000s NYC, ambition in the fashion magazine world.
  “I love a workplace novel, so that's what caught my eye. … I don't feel like I've read a ton of books that specifically take place in the early 2000s.” — Tina, 22:18
• Boomtown by Nic Stone (25:56)
  Adult thriller debut; erotic dancers, mystery, and Atlanta underworld.
  “Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl meets P. Valley … two missing erotic dancers from Atlanta’s most notorious gentleman’s club and the women committed to finding them.” — Tina, 25:57
• When They Burned the Butterfly by Wen Yi Lee (30:54)
  Adult fantasy; Singapore in the 1970s, magical gang-girl syndicates, revenge, and family secrets.
  “I think this one sounds interesting. I am somebody that is potentially open to trying more fantasy, especially if it's accessible.” — Tina, 32:48
• Gone Before Goodbye by Reese Witherspoon & Harlan Coben (35:08)
  Thriller about a surgeon drawn into a dangerous conspiracy.
  “It sounds hella cheesy, but also I'm intrigued. … I like a medical professional who's forced maybe to compromise their ethics a little bit because of something that a rich person wants.” — Tina, 36:39
• The Unveiling by Quan Berry (41:16)
  Antarctic-set horror/thriller about a stranded film scout and a group of tourists.
  “I am in. I’ve actually never read this author before, so I’m excited to give them a shot. … I do think this is a horror novel, so it's got a little bit of maybe, I don't know, spooks and scares as well.” — Tina, 41:39

Hannah’s Picks

• The Hitchhikers by Chevy Stevens (23:30)
  1976 Canadian road thriller with dangerous hitchhikers.
  “There is something about a thriller specifically that is on the road that I like, even if it isn’t … a highbrow or really smart thriller. … I'm probably going to have a good time and I need to have a good time right now.” — Hannah, 24:04
• Boleyn Trader by Philippa Gregory (28:02)
  Historical fiction; Jane Boleyn’s survival in the Tudor court.
  “This one looks like it stands alone and sounds really interesting. … The Boleyn family has just always fascinated me.” — Hannah, 29:18
• Girl Dinner by Olivie Blake (33:28)
  Campus horror about a mysterious, powerful sorority.
  “I have really enjoyed Olivie Blake in the past. … I'm really curious to see what she does with horror. This one sounds really interesting. I love a campus setting.” — Hannah, 34:33
• Minor Black Figures by Brandon Taylor (38:16)
  Black painter finding his way in the New York art world.
  “Brandon Taylor once again delivers a sharp and tender exploration of friendship, creativity and what it takes to carve out space for yourself.” — Hannah, 39:41
• The Isle in the Silver Sea by Tasha Suri (42:29)
  Fantasy romance set in a Britain where stories fuel fate, featuring a witch and a knight caught in a cursed love cycle.
  “I have read from this author before in the past and really enjoyed their world building and they just write really lovely romances as well.” — Hannah, 43:31

4. Current Reads (44:00–46:27)

• Tina: Nobody Knows You’re Here by Bryn Greenwood
  Dark thriller/kidnapping, very intense, reading slowly due to emotional tension.
  “I am nervous, but I'll report back and let you know how I enjoy it.” — Tina, 45:05
• Hannah: The Once and Future Me by Melissa Pace
  Psychological thriller set in a psychiatric hospital, intriguing cast of women.
  “We're getting to meet a lot of the women in the psychiatric hospital and kind of starting to learn some of the lore that is a little bit problematic and trying to piece together what is going on and why the main character that we are following is even here in the first place.” — Hannah, 45:49

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “[These eyelashes] are so easy to put on … three minutes total. Both eyes. I'm like, this is incredible.” — Tina, 05:09
• “Some of these just have really minimal materials, which is great. So we have been loving this, and that is 101 Things for Kids to do Screen Free.” — Hannah, 08:33
• “I wept. No joke, not a hyperbole. By the end, I was ugly, crying.” — Tina, 13:24
• “This book is surprisingly emotional and introspective for basically being again, a book about zombies and the end of the world.” — Hannah, 16:39
• “It was really interesting that we both brought zombie novels, like, who would have guessed it really? And kind of different ones.” — Hannah, 19:17
• “I love a workplace novel… I would like to start [reading more set in the early 2000s].” — Tina, 22:18
• “There is something about a thriller specifically that is on the road that I like, even if it isn't … a highbrow or really smart thriller. … I'm probably going to have a good time and I need to have a good time right now.” — Hannah, 24:05
• “I'm glad that you brought this one. I was so close [to picking it] … I want to know what Reese Witherspoon is doing.” — Hannah on Gone Before Goodbye, 37:13
• “We can do it. We can do it. I, too, want to read some longer books by the toward the end of the year …” — Tina, 30:10
• “I'm glad that you brought a romance. You've got to stay true to who you are at your core.” — Tina, 43:55

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Start Time | |----------------------------------------------|:----------:| | Bookish Banter & Intros | 00:02 | | Loving Lately Picks | 03:33 | | Hannah’s “Screen-Free” book | 06:11 | | Recent Reads — Zombie Book Double Feature | 10:00 | | One Yellow Eye by Lee Radford | 11:19 | | And Then I Woke Up by Malcolm Devlin | 15:23 | | Main Topic: October New Release Radar | 19:28 | | Workhorse by Caroline Palmer | 21:29 | | The Hitchhikers by Chevy Stevens | 23:30 | | Boomtown by Nic Stone | 25:56 | | Boleyn Trader by Philippa Gregory | 28:02 | | When They Burned the Butterfly by Wen Yi Lee | 30:54 | | Girl Dinner by Olivie Blake | 33:28 | | Gone Before Goodbye (Witherspoon & Coben) | 35:08 | | Minor Black Figures by Brandon Taylor | 38:16 | | The Unveiling by Quan Berry | 41:16 | | The Isle in the Silver Sea by Tasha Suri | 42:29 | | Current Reads | 44:00 |

Tone & Language

Conversational, warm, enthusiastic, and honest—with plenty of Midwest charm and real-life tangents. Tina and Hannah bring authenticity, relatability, and humor (“It took me three minutes total. Both eyes. I'm like, this is incredible.” — Tina, 05:09), as well as genuinely insightful commentary on both big and small book world trends.

Takeaways for Listeners

• October 2025 offers a tight, diverse representation of genres: horror, thrillers, historical fiction, and ambitious literary novels.
• Unexpected themes emerge—like accidental “zombie double features”—sparking organic, insightful discussions.
• The hosts’ picks reflect both personal tastes and broader trends, making their recs relevant to a wide span of readers.
• Practical tips (“self-adhesive lashes!”) and family-friendly book recs offer additional value for listeners' everyday lives.
• Above all, listeners are invited into an informed, welcoming bookish community focused on camaraderie and curiosity.

Links to all books mentioned are in the shownotes.

Connect with Tina and Hannah: @booktalketc on Instagram/YouTube, or individually at @tbretc (Tina) and @handpickedbooks (Hannah).
To support the show: patreon.com/booktalketc

“Everything’s better with books.”