Currently Reading Podcast: Season 7, Episode 47 Title: Reading Life Temp Check + Pressing Books Into Each Other's Hands Release Date: June 30, 2025 Hosts: Meredith Monday Schwartz and Kaytee Cobb

1. Bookish Moment of the Week

Katie Cobb shares a personal milestone, humorously referring to her recent need for reading glasses as earning a "reader scout badge." She explains, “As a 41-year-old woman for the first time, I had to get reading glasses this week… It’s a different thing to have to put on different eyes to read and then take them off to look far away” (03:21). Her children affectionately comment, “look, you look so smart, mommy, you look so fancy,” adding a delightful personal touch to her update.

Meredith Schwartz, on the other hand, reflects on her growing proficiency in DNFing (Did Not Finish) books. She admits, “I’m kind of scared at how good I’m getting at dnfing books” (00:33), highlighting a shift in her reading habits and mindset.

2. Deep Dive: Reading Temp Check

The hosts delve into a "Reading Temp Check," assessing their current reading experiences and emotions surrounding their literary journeys. Meredith suggests incorporating a segment to discuss DNFs, pondering, “Maybe there are some through lines that are telling us something about who we are as a reader right now” (05:00). Katie concurs, expressing her increased tendency to DNF books: “I’ve probably DNF'd twice as many books in this second quarter of the year as I did in the first quarter” (40:44).

They discuss the potential benefits of sharing DNF highlights, noting how it could provide insights into their evolving tastes and preferences. Katie humorously mentions the podcast's reading tracker spreadsheet, saying, “it pulls them over to a separate sheet so you can make additional notes” (06:54), envisioning a “wall of shame” for unfavorable recommendations.

3. Current Reads

Katie Cobb's Selections:

1. "A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke" by Adriana Herrera

   • Genre: Historical Romance (Las Leonas Series)
   • Overview: This third installment follows Aurora Montalban, a physician championing women's rights in the Regency era, and Duke Apollo, the only black peer of the realm. Their professional arrangement evolves into a deep, complex relationship.
   • Highlights: Katie praises the series for its strong, passionate heroines and Herrera’s evocative writing. She states, “Adriana Herrera is now on my auto buy list” (08:30).
   • Notable Quote: “This book was delicious with a capital D and it was a perfect end to this series as a whole” (11:54).

2. "Uncommon Measure" by Natalie Hodges

   • Genre: Nonfiction (Memoir)
   • Overview: Natalie Hodges recounts her journey as a violin prodigy dealing with performance anxiety and societal pressures. The book intertwines her personal experiences with discussions on time in music, philosophy, and quantum physics.
   • Highlights: Katie appreciates the book's blend of personal narrative and scientific exploration, connecting it with a recent Phoenix Symphony concert she attended.
   • Notable Quote: “Natalie Hodges story is one of excellence mixed with anxiety, exceptionalism, and model minority prejudices” (18:27).

3. "Prodigal Summer" by Barbara Kingsolver

   • Genre: Literary Fiction
   • Overview: A braided narrative set in Appalachia, the novel interweaves the lives of Deanna, Lusa, and Garnet, each grappling with personal challenges and deeply rooted in their community.
   • Highlights: Katie lauds Kingsolver’s masterful depiction of nature and character development, awarding it five stars.
   • Notable Quote: “It was so beautifully written that I didn’t mind at all” (26:49).

Meredith Schwartz's Selections:

1. "With a Vengeance" by Riley Sager

   • Genre: Suspense/Mystery
   • Overview: Anna Matheson orchestrates a revenge scheme by luring six conspirators onto a train, only for the plan to unravel when a passenger is murdered, revealing another vengeful force onboard.
   • Highlights: Meredith critiques the book's derivative plot, feeling it lacks the depth and originality of Sager’s previous works.
   • Notable Quote: “The plot was just absolutely silly, with twists upon twists that… tied itself up in knots” (16:09).

2. "Midsummer Bride" by Katie Wilde

   • Genre: Romance/Fantasy
   • Overview: Princess Elena, battling a mysterious illness, enters a transactional marriage with warrior Warwick to fulfill an ancient prophecy, leading to unexpected romantic developments.
   • Highlights: Meredith praises the book for its fairytale elements and engaging romance, despite minor stylistic grievances.
   • Notable Quote: “This is the Midsummer Bride by Katie Wilde… a 4 out of 5 Chili Pepper Spice ranking” (24:00).

3. "The River Has Roots" by Amal El Mokhtar

   • Genre: Literary Fairy Tale
   • Overview: Sisters Esther and Isabel navigate family obligations in the magical town of Thistleford, balancing their bond amidst supernatural challenges and romantic tensions.
   • Highlights: Meredith admires the book's lush language and deep exploration of sisterhood, fitting seamlessly into her literary fairy tale preferences.
   • Notable Quote: “This is a beautifully written book… a total Meredith book” (38:17).

4. Reading Life Temp Check

Katie Cobb reflects on her evolving reading habits amidst personal upheavals, notably her recent divorce. She shares, “I've been finding a lot of comfort in nonfiction… Uncommon Measure by Natalie Hodges” (40:44), emphasizing her shift towards educational and anti-racism topics. Katie also highlights her increased rate of DNFing books, acknowledging a decrease in her annual reading tally, “this year I'm going to end at fewer than 200 books” (46:23).

Meredith Schwartz echoes similar sentiments, describing her reading as “incredibly distracted” due to work demands. She expresses frustration with her current reading season, saying, “I have a couple of standouts… but I don't have that 'this one was like, oh, I will never forget that story'” (48:57). Both hosts agree that this phase is temporary and embrace the changes without pressure to revert immediately.

5. Pressing Books Into Each Other's Hands

In a segment filled with anticipation, Meredith and Katie each select a book for the other to read over the summer.

• Katie Presses to Meredith:

  • Book: "Razor Blade Tears" by S.A. Cosby
  • Overview: Ex-convicts Ike and Buddy Lee embark on a journey of vengeance and redemption after the murder of their sons, who were married to each other.
  • Highlights: Katie emphasizes the book’s graphic and violent content, confident in Meredith’s ability to handle its intensity.
  • Notable Quote: “This is a phenomenal story… Murderful Meredith can handle that” (52:22).

• Meredith Presses to Katie:

  • Book: "Fourth Wing" by Rebecca Yarros
  • Overview: Though not detailed in the transcript, Meredith describes it as an adventure-filled, spicy novel that stands out in the Romantasy genre.
  • Highlights: Meredith passionately endorses the book, calling it one of her favorite reading experiences in a decade.
  • Notable Quote: “This is one of my favorite books, favorite reading experiences in a decade” (55:08).

6. Upcoming Plans and Conclusion

Meredith and Katie announce their upcoming summer break, with only one episode scheduled on July 28th and a return on August 11th to discuss their press-picked books. They express excitement about the special episodes and encourage listeners to engage through social media and Patreon for additional content.

Notable Quotes from Conclusion:

• Meredith: “May your coffee be hot and your book be unput downable” (61:35).
• Katie: “Happy reading, Meredith” (61:38).

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Meredith on DNFing: “I’m kind of scared at how good I’m getting at dnfing books” (00:33).
• Katie on Reading Glasses: “I had to get little readers… it does feel very like my kids were like, look, you look so smart, mommy, you look so fancy” (03:21).
• Meredith on Incorporating DNFs: “Maybe there are some through lines that are telling us something about who we are as a reader right now” (05:00).
• Katie on "A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke": “This book was delicious with a capital D and it was a perfect end to this series as a whole” (11:54).
• Meredith on "With a Vengeance": “The plot was just absolutely silly, with twists upon twists that… tied itself up in knots” (16:09).
• Meredith on "Midsummer Bride": “This is a 4 out of 5 Chili Pepper Spice ranking” (24:00).
• Katie on "Razor Blade Tears": “This is a phenomenal story… Murderful Meredith can handle that” (52:22).
• Meredith on "Fourth Wing": “This is one of my favorite books, favorite reading experiences in a decade” (55:08).

Timestamps Reference

• [00:00 – 01:07] Introduction and initial banter
• [02:22 – 04:58] Bookish Moment of the Week
• [05:00 – 07:42] Deep Dive into DNFs
• [07:54 – 21:44] Current Reads – Katie’s selections
• [21:46 – 38:17] Current Reads – Meredith’s selections
• [38:17 – 39:16] Reading Life Temp Check
• [39:33 – 49:57] Personal Reading Habits and Challenges
• [49:57 – 58:24] Pressing Books into Each Other’s Hands
• [58:24 – 61:38] Conclusion and Upcoming Plans

Connect with the Hosts

• Meredith Monday Schwartz: Instagram
• Kaytee Cobb: Instagram
• Show Notes & Updates: currentlyreadingpodcast.com
• Email: currentlyreading@podcastmail.com
• Patreon: Join as a bookish friend for exclusive content!

Happy Reading, and May Your Books Be Unputdownable!