Season 7, Episode 49: The Listener Press!

Summary

Podcast Summary: Currently Reading – Season 7, Episode 49: "The Listener Press!"

Release Date: July 14, 2025
Hosts: Meredith Monday Schwartz and Katie Cobb
Episode Type: Listener Press Episode

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Overview

In Season 7, Episode 49 of the Currently Reading podcast, hosts Meredith Monday Schwartz and Katie Cobb dedicate the episode to their listeners by showcasing a special "Listener Press" segment. In this episode, passionate readers from around the globe share their favorite book recommendations, providing a diverse array of genres and narratives. Meredith and Katie dive into each recommendation with enthusiasm, offering their insights and reactions, enriched by memorable quotes from the listeners' descriptions. This episode serves as a treasure trove of book suggestions, perfect for listeners seeking their next great read.

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Listener Press Highlights

1. "The Glorious Heresies" by Lisa McInerney

   • Listener: Katie Drummonds from Delaware
   • Timestamp: [02:01]
   • Summary: Katie introduces The Glorious Heresies as exemplary dark Irish fiction, highlighting its themes of murder, drug dealing, and atmospheric London settings.
   • Notable Quote:
     "While there is a hopeful thread, we are really here for the delicious murder, the drug dealing, the prostitution, the dead bodies wrapped in carpets and thrown in the Thames." ([02:10])
   • Hosts' Reaction: Meredith echoes the allure of the London setting, while Katie appreciates the backlist selection, expressing excitement about revisiting familiar terrains.

2. "The Last Woman in the World" by Inga Simpson

   • Listener: Carly from suburban Sydney, Australia
   • Timestamp: [03:40]
   • Summary: Carly describes this atmospheric apocalyptic novel set in near-future Australia, focusing on themes of survival, trauma, and motherhood.
   • Notable Quote:
     "Inger Simpson blends lyrical prose with slow building suspense, crafting a tale that feels slow and deliberate while somehow pulling us along with a fast-moving plot." ([04:59])
   • Hosts' Reaction: Both hosts express excitement for Australian fiction and draw parallels to previous listener presses, appreciating the continuity in genre preference.

3. "Motel Styx" by Michelle Von Eschen and Jonathan Butcher

   • Listener: Katherine from Long Beach, California
   • Timestamp: [06:01]
   • Summary: Katherine presents this extreme horror and psychological thriller set in a world where human corpses are legally used recreationally, exploring deep themes of grief and consent.
   • Notable Quote:
     "This book runs a range of emotions. It's funny, it's sad, there's some questionable power dynamics in the workplace." ([42:38])
   • Hosts' Reaction: Meredith praises the boldness of the recommendation, and Katie admires Katherine’s candid introduction, acknowledging the book's challenging content.

4. "Zero Stars. Do Not Recommend." by MJ Wassmer

   • Listener: Kristin Kessinger from Elk Grove Village, IL
   • Timestamp: [09:09]
   • Summary: Kristin shares Zero Stars, a debut novel that combines apocalyptic scenarios with personal growth, societal critiques, and a touch of humor.
   • Notable Quote:
     "I laughed out loud. I teared up and I kept furiously turning pages to see what would happen next." ([10:37])
   • Hosts' Reaction: Both hosts appreciate the blend of humor and apocalyptic themes, noting its suitability for summer reading and its appealing cover design.

5. "Northwoods" by Daniel Mason

   • Listener: Samantha from Michigan
   • Timestamp: [11:41]
   • Summary: Samantha recommends Northwoods, an intricately researched novel following a house through various historical eras, emphasizing themes of legacy and change.
   • Notable Quote:
     "Each chapter is written in a different style. Some include songs, some are epistolary. One of my favorite chapters is actually an epistolary chapter." ([13:43])
   • Hosts' Reaction: Meredith and Katie commend the unique narrative structure and the book’s enduring presence in listeners' minds, highlighting its cross-generational appeal.

6. "Another" by Paul Tremblay

   • Listener: Joanna from Western Massachusetts
   • Timestamp: [16:19]
   • Summary: Joanna introduces Another, a middle-grade horror novel that delves into themes of friendship, family connections, and contemporary issues like cyberbullying and anxiety.
   • Notable Quote:
     "Its horror style is best described as Creeping Dread and that is one of my absolute favorites." ([16:19])
   • Hosts' Reaction: Meredith and Katie express anticipation for the release, relating it to their interest in middle-grade horror and praising its timely themes.

7. "Farthing" by Jo Walton

   • Listener: Melinda from Hillsboro, Oregon
   • Timestamp: [17:05]
   • Summary: Melinda presents Farthing, an alternate history mystery set in a 1949 where Hitler has conquered Europe, focusing on political intrigue and dark societal shifts.
   • Notable Quote:
     "There is a much darker element. While this book was originally published in 2006, it feels very much like it is speaking to our current timeline." ([18:46])
   • Hosts' Reaction: Enthusiasm for alternate history narratives shines through, with hosts noting the book's relevance and compelling storyline.

8. "Sky's End" by Mark Gregson

   • Listener: Lindsay Strater from Wichita, Kansas
   • Timestamp: [19:21]
   • Summary: Lindsay shares Sky's End, a young adult fantasy adventure that follows a 16-year-old's quest to save his sister by entering a brutal competition to kill sky monsters, filled with themes of leadership and found family.
   • Notable Quote:
     "It's a dystopian novel that's the first book of a trilogy. I hope you all enjoy it." ([20:20])
   • Hosts' Reaction: Both hosts are eager to explore this trilogy, appreciating its epic adventure and heartwarming themes.

9. "Catherine" by Anya Seton

   • Listener: Merit Madine Wachsmith from Seattle, Washington
   • Timestamp: [21:19]
   • Summary: Merit recommends Catherine, a historical fiction novel set in 14th-century England, exploring the romantic and political struggles of John of Gaunt and Catherine de Roeth.
   • Notable Quote:
     "This is a compelling read as fresh today as it was back then." ([22:13])
   • Hosts' Reaction: The hosts laud Merit’s expertise in historical fiction, emphasizing the book’s timeless appeal and rich narrative.

10. "Finnegan of the Rock" by Melina Marchetta

    • Listener: Kelsey from Abbotsford, BC, Canada
    • Timestamp: [23:07]
    • Summary: Kelsey introduces Finnegan of the Rock, a backlist young adult fantasy trilogy that intertwines themes of exile, political intrigue, and the quest for reclaiming a homeland.
    • Notable Quote:
      "Characters are nuanced, complex, and relatable. This world is gritty and brutal, yet beautiful too." ([24:30])
    • Hosts' Reaction: Both hosts are impressed by the depth and complexity of the trilogy, noting its enduring impact and captivating storyline.

11. "Nesting" by Roshan O'Donnell

    • Listener: Stephanie from Maryland
    • Timestamp: [26:00]
    • Summary: Stephanie presents Nesting, a debut novel that delves into the struggles of a young mother fleeing an abusive husband amidst the Irish housing crisis.
    • Notable Quote:
      "O'Donnell's writing offers a powerful, hopeful story about reclaiming autonomy and rebuilding a life in the face of adversity." ([27:35])
    • Hosts' Reaction: Meredith and Katie commend the book’s heartfelt portrayal of resilience and systemic challenges, recognizing its emotional depth.

12. "A Change of Habit" by Sister Monica Clare

    • Listener: Erin Gill from Macon, Georgia
    • Timestamp: [28:30]
    • Summary: Erin recommends A Change of Habit, a memoir detailing Sister Monica Clare's transition from a Hollywood advertising executive to an Episcopal nun, emphasizing themes of solitude and personal transformation.
    • Notable Quote:
      "It really spoke to me to find moments of quiet and solitude where you can." ([29:42])
    • Hosts' Reaction: The hosts appreciate the memoir’s introspective journey, relating it to similar narratives of personal reinvention.

13. "The Murderer's Ape" by Jacob Vegelius

    • Listener: Lea from Düsseldorf, Germany
    • Timestamp: [30:10]
    • Summary: Lea introduces The Murderer's Ape, a middle-grade novel featuring Sally Jones, a gorilla engineer navigating friendship and resilience amidst a murder mystery.
    • Notable Quote:
      "Few books have moved me so completely. This was an experience in every sense of the word." ([31:50])
    • Hosts' Reaction: Enthusiasm for the book’s unique premise and compelling narrative shines through, with Meredith highlighting the captivating cover design.

14. "Splendid Little Schemes" by Robyn Strong

    • Listener: Hannah from Austin, Texas
    • Timestamp: [35:33]
    • Summary: Hannah presents Splendid Little Schemes, a domestic thriller set within the Mormon mommy culture, exploring themes of manipulation, friendship, and societal pressures.
    • Notable Quote:
      "If you enjoyed watching the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, then I think you'll like this one a lot too." ([35:03])
    • Hosts' Reaction: Meredith and Katie express interest in the book’s exploration of complex social dynamics, appreciating its nuanced portrayal of MLM schemes.

15. "Clean" by Alia Trabuco Serran

    • Listener: Ana from London
    • Timestamp: [36:30]
    • Summary: Ana recommends Clean, a Spanish-translated novel that serves as a murder mystery and social commentary on class, power, and survival in Santiago de Chile.
    • Notable Quote:
      "It reminded me a little bit of Demon Copperhead in the sense that what stands out from the novel is such an original strong voice." ([37:05])
    • Hosts' Reaction: The hosts admire Ana’s focus on translated literature, valuing the cultural depth and the book’s compelling narrative voice.

16. "Camelot and Vine" by Petrae Bouchard

    • Listener: Sheri Slater from Muskegon, Michigan
    • Timestamp: [37:30]
    • Summary: Sheri shares Camelot and Vine, a historical fantasy novel where an actress escapes to the Cotswolds and is transported to the 6th century, blending legend with personal healing.
    • Notable Quote:
      "Bouchard takes us on a wild and circuitous ride full of historical correctness of what life might be like in the 6th century." ([37:35])
    • Hosts' Reaction: Both hosts are captivated by the book’s adventurous premise and historical richness, anticipating its appeal to fans of legendary escapes and personal transformation.

17. "Sky Daddy" by Kate Folk

    • Listener: Tiernan from [Location Not Specified]
    • Timestamp: [41:14]
    • Summary: Tiernan recommends Sky Daddy, a novel about Linda, a woman who believes her destiny is to marry an airplane, exploring unconventional love and self-discovery.
    • Notable Quote:
      "If you're looking for a book that is well written, fantastic pacing, and just something totally out of the ordinary, I really suggest picking up Sky Daddy." ([41:22])
    • Hosts' Reaction: Meredith and Katie are intrigued by the book’s offbeat premise, appreciating its uniqueness and the emotional range it promises.

18. "Names for the Dawn" by C.L. Beaumont

    • Listener: Gretchen from Oregon
    • Timestamp: [44:03]
    • Summary: Gretchen introduces Names for the Dawn, a heartwarming story of Will Avery, a trans man park ranger in Alaska, and his blossoming relationship with Nick Rajwat, a wolf biologist.
    • Notable Quote:
      "It's a story of friendship. Fierce, selfless, and unwavering." ([44:55])
    • Hosts' Reaction: Both hosts are moved by the narrative’s focus on identity and love, praising the atmospheric cover and the book’s emotional resonance.

19. "Withered Hill" by David Barnett

    • Listener: Clare from Norwich, UK
    • Timestamp: [45:22]
    • Summary: Clare presents Withered Hill, a modern folk horror novel detailing Sophie’s eerie experiences in an isolated village, intertwining suspense with dark folklore.
    • Notable Quote:
      "Katie, this is the book that I am currently reading." ([46:21])
    • Hosts' Reaction: Meredith and Katie express immediate interest, noting the book’s horror elements and its compelling cover, eager to delve into its mysterious narrative.

20. "The Stone Carvers" by Jane Urquhart

    • Listener: Matt from Toronto
    • Timestamp: [48:01]
    • Summary: Matt recommends The Stone Carvers, a quintessential Canadian novel following German Canadian siblings navigating love, loss, and legacy amidst the backdrop of World War I.
    • Notable Quote:
      "It's a beautiful novel that's full of heart, beauty, and spirit." ([48:08])
    • Hosts' Reaction: The hosts applaud the recommendation, acknowledging its significance in Canadian literature and expressing excitement to explore its lyrical storytelling.

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Closing Remarks

In wrapping up the episode, Meredith and Katie express heartfelt gratitude to their listeners for their thoughtful and engaging book recommendations. They encourage listeners to share the episode on social media, support the podcast through ratings and reviews, and join their Patreon community for exclusive content. The hosts reflect on their excitement to delve into the myriad of books introduced, highlighting their diverse genres and the passionate endorsements from their audience.

Notable Closing Quote:
"May your coffee be hot and your book be unputdownable." ([52:30])

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Connect with the Hosts

• Meredith Monday Schwartz: Instagram
• Katie Cobb: Notes on Bookmarks
• Podcast Website: currentlyreadingpodcast.com
• Show Notes: Available on the podcast website with book titles and timestamps.
• Support & Patreon: Become a Bookish Friend

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Conclusion

Season 7, Episode 49 of Currently Reading offers a rich and varied collection of book recommendations from dedicated listeners, each bringing unique perspectives and genres to the table. Whether you’re a fan of dark fiction, historical narratives, or imaginative fantasy, this episode provides a plethora of options to satisfy every book lover’s appetite. Meredith and Katie’s engaging discussions and genuine enthusiasm make this listener press episode a standout, ensuring that even those new to the podcast will find plenty of inspiration for their next literary adventure.

Transcript

[Katie Drummonds]

Foreign.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

Hey readers, welcome to the Currently Reading podcast. We are bookish best friends who spend time every week talking about the books that we've read recently. And as you know, we won't shy away from having strong opinions. So get ready.

[Katie Cobb]

We are light on the chit chat, heavy on the book talk, and our conversations will always be spoiler free. Today we have a very special episode for you.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

I'm Meredith Monday Schwartz, a mom of four and full time CEO living in Austin, Texas and this is my favorite episode of the whole season.

[Katie Cobb]

And I'm Katie Cobb, a homeschooling mom of four living in Arizona and my summer TBR is chock full of delights. This is episode number 49 of season seven. We are so glad you're here.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

Oh, this is one of our favorite episodes of the year. It's my favorite episode, the listener press episode where we hand the mic over to y' all to give us again, truly amazing recommendations of books that I have never heard before.

[Katie Cobb]

Yes, it makes me so happy to watch these emails roll in to see the names of people we've interacted with for seven years at this point and then to hear what they are so excited to tell us about. It ranges all over the chronological map, the bookstore, library map with genres, accents.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

All over the world map.

[Katie Cobb]

Yes. I love it so much. It makes me so happy. So I think we should just get into it.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

Absolutely. And I will just say sneak peek. I am currently reading a book that is on this list and it is so good.

[Katie Cobb]

Ooh, that's exciting. One of them, or gosh, probably five of them are on my like, Katie, you better get this before everybody else starts talking about it. Even if it's from 2005.

[Katie Drummonds]

Yep.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

We gotta get to it. All right, let's get this listener press party started. Here is our first listener recommendation.

[Katie Drummonds]

Hi everyone, this is Katie Drummonds from Delaware and I'm calling in today to press the Glorious heresies by Lisa McInerney into your hands.

[Katie Cobb]

This is dark Irish fiction at its best.

[Katie Drummonds]

While there is a hopeful thread, we.

[Katie Cobb]

Are really here for the delicious murder, the drug dealing, the prostitution, the dead bodies wrapped in carpets and thrown in the Thames. If you know, you know.

[Katie Drummonds]

Hope you guys enjoy.

[Katie Cobb]

This is the Glorious heresies by Misa McInerney.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

I love it so much. I am in the know about all the bodies in the Thames river when we went to London, every single time we were next to the river, I was like, you know, there are hundreds of bodies down there. Yes, this book sounds great. The Glorious Heresies But I feel like.

[Katie Cobb]

Wrapping on carpet is the wrong move. I feel like that's gonna float up. You're gonna reveal your crime faster than if you just tie some bricks on the bottom.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

Well, who knows the quality of criminal here? But I. This is a book that just immediately add to tbr.

[Katie Cobb]

Yes, we love a police procedural. We love a London setting. Ugh, Bring it on. Especially after both of our trips there. What? When was that? Almost two years ago now. Meredith, when are we going back to London? I know.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

Well, I'm going back in September.

[Katie Cobb]

See, we lucky, right? That's exciting. Okay. Yes. Can't wait for that one. I did make a note in our spreadsheet that is from 2015, so we are backlist, which we love. And a lot of these are.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

Yeah, a lot of backlists on this list, which makes me feel like people really understood the assignment. I love it so much.

[Katie Cobb]

Yes, me too.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

All right, here is our second listener.

[Katie Drummonds]

Press. Hi, this is Carly from suburban Sydney, Australia. The Last Woman in the World by Inga Simpson is a hauntingly atmospheric apocalyptic novel set in a near future Australia ravaged by environmental collapse and societal breakdown. This story follows Rachel, a glassblowing artist who lives in isolated solitude deep in the bushland of southern New South Wales. Her quiet existence is shattered when a terrified woman and baby appear at her doorstep, fleeing a mysterious threat sweeping across the country. Should she risk herself to help these strangers? Can she believe the descriptions of the outside world? And does she have the strength to try? As Rachel is drawn back into a world she had abandoned, she must confront both the dangers of this new chaotic reality and the emotional wounds she tried to escape. This novel explores themes of survival, trauma, trust and motherhood. Inger Simpson blends lyrical prose with slow building suspense, crafting a tale that feels slow and deliberate while somehow pulling us along with a fast moving plot. The novel gives a brilliant sense of place with the descriptions of dry Australian bushland, including scenes of attempting to escape bushfire, which had me frantically flipping the pages. This story has plenty of trigger warnings including trauma, grief, death, bushfire and more. This is one of three books I've read by Inga Simpson. They each felt quiet, yet leave you feeling taken away by a fabulous story.

[Katie Cobb]

I've loved them all and I can't.

[Katie Drummonds]

Wait to read more of hers. So I'm pressing the Last Woman in the World by Inga Simpson.

[Katie Cobb]

Gold star to Carly.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

She closed it out perfectly, set it up so well. That sounds. I mean, who doesn't love an apocalyptic thriller?

[Katie Cobb]

Yes, exactly. I have to admit that Right before we were choosing our listener presses for this episode, I just finished I who have Never Known Men, which is also like post apocalyptic. There's an unnamed woman at the center of the story, has never known men.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

And was a listener press and also.

[Katie Cobb]

Was a listener press last year, I think. Yeah. So there is this fun, like, continuation through line between those two presses that I was like, oh, the last woman in the world. Definitely interested in that after having really loved this other one.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

And again, I've never heard of it.

[Katie Cobb]

Neither had I. I mean, I love it so much. Bring on the Australian accents too.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

Yes, I know, I know. And the Australian fiction, which I need more of in my life.

[Katie Cobb]

Yeah. Okay.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

This next one sounds like a banger.

[Katie Cobb]

Oh my gosh, I loved this one. Hi readers, this is Katherine from Long Beach, California. I want to share with you the delightfully dreadful Motel Styx by Michelle Von Eschen and Jonathan Butcher. This is a husband and wife duo who thought up one of the most heinous storylines I've heard of. Yet, in a world otherwise not different from our own, a new law has passed to legalize the recreational use of. Of human corpses. Yes, you heard that right. This story follows the recently bereaved as he attempts to track down his wife's remains in one of the world famous necrotelles, which is basically a brothel specialized for those with a certain taste. As he goes undercover as a patron, we come to wonder who really is our main character and why has his wife ended up here? In this brutally extreme horror and psychological thriller, we explore themes of not only grief, but also pleasure, consent, domestic violence, taboo, and the shifting of societal norms. It goes without saying that no trigger is left behind here. So if you can stomach it literally, it is a challenge. You are in for a wild ride. I devoured this book in less than 24 hours and I don't know what that says about me, but it was a peak reading experience. Honestly, for all of its darkness, the subject matter feels nicely buoyed by clever touches like the Yelp style reviews that begin each chapter and and the literal website replete with booking page and tacky tourist ephemera. It's gruesome, it is gripping, it is graphic. My friends, this is Motel Sticks by Michelle Von Eschen and Jonathan Butcher.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

No trigger left behind.

[Katie Cobb]

Katie. Oh my gosh, our faces as we listened to that. Okay, I want to clarify that Katherine's email, she was like, I hope I don't get kicked off the show for this. Like, I liked the way that she introduced the idea to us. I. I had not listened to the entire listener press before this moment, so there's a lot in there that I hope you're not associating. Like, oh, yeah, Katie said she loved this one. I loved Katherine's email. I'm excited about this.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

I love the ballsiness of the recommendation. You know, again, not every book is for every reader.

[Katie Cobb]

Just know yourself reader.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

Yeah, exactly. And I think that Katherine does a really good job of being very, very aware of it. So if that's something that sounds absolutely awful, great. Super easy to just skip on by to the next one. But if that's something that sounds really great, we wanted to make sure that no trigger was left behind.

[Katie Cobb]

We gotta check all those boxes.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

And I love how she says she read it in 24 hours, that she doesn't know what that says about her as a person. It says that you and I should probably be really good friends.

[Katie Cobb]

That's what it says, honestly. True. Yes. There is a little through line between that one and this one in that this next one is called Zero Stars. Do NOT Recommend. And we had the Yelp reviews of Motel Sticks, so we've got a little common alley here. But I think that's the only place where they're going to come together.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

Exactly. Let's listen to this one.

[Katie Drummonds]

Hi, this is Kristin Kessinger from elk Grove Village, IL. And reading with Kristin on Instagram, I'd like to press 0 stars. Do not recommend. By MJ Wassmer. Into your hands. I went into this book expecting a fun, zany read, and I got that. But I also got so much more. This debut novel was hilarious, sad, poignant, reflective, infuriating and hopeful. And I loved the entire journey. Dan is at a new resort on a secluded Bahamian island when the sun explodes in front of his very eyes. Instant darkness ensues, but life somehow remains. Temperatures drop, resources are scarce, and the rich are behaving badly. Can they live long enough to be rescued? Can anyone on the planet survive long term? Will they bond together to overcome obstacles? Or will they hurt each other to save themselves? Amidst the apocalyptic premise, Dan is also reflecting on his own life. He's 30 and works at a thankless job, and he has no real focus on his ambitions or dreams. Is it too late to make something of himself? Will becoming the accidental leader of the vacationers show him that he might have more potential than he realizes? These are all serious questions and topics, but the execution is so much fun. And on top of all this, we get a hilarious skewering of MLMs and bath babe culture. What a ride. I laughed out loud. I teared up and I kept furiously turning pages to see what would happen next. Once again, that zero stars do not recommend by MJ Wasmer. And I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.

[Katie Cobb]

This reminds me of that current meme going around right now where it's like. And I realized that I was the person who would just continue working my day job through the apocalypse. I'd know what it says about me that all the choices I've made so far are apocalyptic. I think there's something happening there with myself, but.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

Well, we did get quite a few apocalyptic recommendations. So I think in general, you had a lot to choose from.

[Katie Cobb]

Yeah, I did. I mean, this one has like a cute rom com looking cover which definitely drew me in. Right. I was like, yeah, let's just make.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

Light the cute apocalypse.

[Katie Cobb]

I think the best kind, which I.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

Think is a nice foil to Motel Styx. Like, you know, we contain multitudes and I, I like that we're getting that here, definitely. All right, this next one, Katie, we wanted to include because there were so many presses for this one particular book that I just felt like we needed to include it on this list. So this is a book that you've heard of before, but I will co sign if you haven't read it. This is one of those, like, lifetime grades for me.

[Katie Drummonds]

Hi, this is Samantha from Michigan and I am here to press Northwoods by Daniel Mason. I read this book about a year and a half or so ago and it just blew me away. And I think everybody needs to read it. Here's the setup in this book. We follow a house. That's right. The main character is a house and the piece of property in New England in which this house sits. We follow this place from the colonial era, when two young lovers leave their Puritan colony to start a life on their own, through the American revolution, throughout the 19th century, the 20th century, and into the future. And as we follow these various storylines, which, as a historian, I have to say are thoroughly researched to the point where I actually had to look up one of the characters to see if it was a real person, we see these different pieces of the lives that these characters build carry over from one landowner to the next, to the next to the next, we see the changes that they bring on this house and sometimes the not so good things that are also left behind. Apples play a big piece of this story, which might seem like a silly thing to mention, but I've actually spent time researching the History of apples and love Crunching into a delightful apple in the fall. This was an unexpected piece of the story that also really hit for me. Each chapter is written in a different style. Some include songs, some are epistolary. One of my favorite chapters is actually an epistolary chapter. It was just sweeping. Sweeping in a way that tells an American story and examines the impact and the ghosts that people leave behind on one piece of property. That would be Northwoods by Daniel Mason. Pick it up as fast as you can.

[Katie Cobb]

A little book bossy at the end there. I love that.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

I mean, agreed. This is just one of those that I did not expect to be as propulsive as it is. And I love the concept of following a house and not a person or a family.

[Katie Cobb]

Yes, everything about that appeals to me. I just really needed them to release the paperback with a different cover.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

We'll get the British cover. That's an option too, because the British cover is great.

[Katie Cobb]

Ooh, that's a good idea.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

This is a book that lives rent free in my head. And it doesn't surprise me that we got so many people for whom this is the book that if they could say, please read it, this is the book they would hand to someone. I feel like this is a really quality press.

[Katie Cobb]

That's all we ever want is to get the ones that you guys are saying, please read this.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

Absolutely.

[Katie Cobb]

Oh, my gosh.

[Katie Drummonds]

The British cover is so pretty, though, of Northwoods.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

Yes, it is.

[Katie Drummonds]

The apple.

[Katie Cobb]

Now I want it.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

Yeah, it's really pretty. It's so much better. All right, let's go to listener press number six.

[Katie Drummonds]

Hello there. This is Joanna from Western Massachusetts, and I am here to press the book Another by Paul Tremblay. It's his middle grade debut and it's actually not out until July 22, but it's well worth the wait. As a big fan of middle grade horror and having read most of Tremblies adult novels, I was lucky to get this arc and I dove right into it. Here is the setup. Casey Wilson is having a tough time. Ever since a certain zoom incident, kids at school have been treating him like a bit of an outcast. He's been feeling isolated and his tics are worse than ever. And then one day, his parents bring home a rotary phone, and when it rings, they arrange for Casey to have a sleepover with a new friend. When Morel comes over, Casey finds him strange in many ways. He looks a bit like he's made of clay and he doesn't speak. Casey's parents, however, find Morel very charming and Casey starts to enjoy having some company. But who is Morel? Why does he seem to be changing? Why is this sleepover lasting for days? And why does that weird old phone keep ringing? I found this short middle grade novel to be incredibly unsettling, and yet parts were also very sweet. Trembly plays with ideas about friendship and family connections, but also timely Covid issues for kids like cyberbullying anxiety and social isolation. I enjoyed this one the most of all of Trembley's novels. Its horror style is best described as Creeping Dread and that is one of my absolute favorites. I highly suggest you check it out this summer. Or maybe in the Spooky Season. That's another by Paul Tremblay.

[Katie Cobb]

Right, right.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

That is so Paul Toon Blade. But make it middle grade.

[Katie Cobb]

Yes, Creeping Dread.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

Who knew we needed that?

[Katie Cobb]

We did need that. I briefly had a little inkling that he was coming out with a middle grade book. I think you and I discussed it right before or right after recording one day, but this is like I hope Mary is listening to this episode. She definitely needs to put this one on her spoopy season tbr. It's gonna be perfect for that season of this year. But I cannot wait to get my hands on this. And I love that this episode comes out in July. So it's just around the corner. Still pre orderable, but it's coming up.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

Right away July 22nd. Okay, that one sounds really, really good. Let's go on to oh, I can't wait for this next one too.

[Katie Drummonds]

That's a theme. Hello, my name is Melinda from Hillsboro, Oregon, and I'm here to press Farthing by Jo Walton. Here's the setup. The book opens at a weekend party at an English country house in 1949, but not the 1949 that we know. It is eight years after Hitler has conquered continental Europe and a group of influential politicians in England known as the Farthing Set has brokered a peace with the Third Reich. This group, named after the country house, is still climbing the political ladder and is about to make their leap to the top. Lucy Kahn, a daughter of the group, has been coerced into attending this party by her cold and distant mother. While she prefers to skip such events, her Jewish husband convinces her that attending is like extending an olive branch to her mother, who has never approved of their marriage. And as so often happens at weekend parties at English country houses, someone ends up dead. Sir James Thurke is found stabbed with a Star of David pinned to his chest. The clues immediately point towards Lucy's husband. But Inspector Peter Carmichael thinks things seem too obvious. In many ways, this feels like a Golden Age mystery. We have the nobility behaving badly, dinner parties and secrets, and the clever inspector who reminded me quite a bit of Atticus Pund from the Susan Ryland series by Anthony Horowitz. But there is a much darker element. While this book was Originally published in 2006, it feels very much like it is speaking to our current timeline as our world is inching towards a fascist future in ways that no one is recognizing. This is the first book in a trilogy, but I felt that it stood well on its own. I have yet to read the following two books, but I immediately ordered them upon finishing Farthing, which I'm sure will end up on my best books of the year.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

I love an alternate history.

[Katie Cobb]

Seriously, I can't think of a single one that didn't at least meet expectations for me, which is weird. Yeah.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

And this is one that's been recommended by a couple of people to me, so this really pushed it up for me. In fact, I think I have it on my print bookshelf. This is one that is gonna need to be prioritized this summer for sure.

[Katie Cobb]

Yeah, I had not heard of this one at all, but I'm excited about it. Although Third Reich stuff is a little. A little rough right now. Yeah.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

Let's go to this next one, which is a big left turn.

[Katie Drummonds]

Hello. Currently reading Friends, this is Lindsay Strater from Wichita, Kansas. I am pressing a young adult fantasy adventure called Sky's End by Mark Gregson. Here's the setup. 16 year old Conrad refuses to become the heir to his murderous uncle in order to save his sister from a similar fate. He joins the hunter trade where he must participate in a brutal competition to kill monsters in the sky to win his freedom. I absolutely love this book because it was such an epic page turning adventure filled with flying ships, monster battles, twists and turns, leadership, friendship, and the most heartwarming found family. If you have a teenager who needs an epic summer book, this is your adventure. But also, I was gifted this book by my adult brother and we both loved the Wild Ride. As an added bonus, this dystopian novel is a first book of a trilogy. I hope you all enjoy it. This is Sky's End by Mark Gregson.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

Can't you just hear all the people rushing to put this in their library? Hold this for their kids or for themselves?

[Katie Cobb]

Absolutely, absolutely. This one is from last year. I didn't hear about it at all. How unfair. Good job, Lindsay. Though, for making sure that it is on our TBRs and we can rush to the library as God intended. Exactly.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

Exactly. I feel like we need more than one listener press episode a year because there's just so much good stuff.

[Katie Cobb]

There are so many good things. We are not going to do that.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

I know, I know. They take so much work.

[Katie Cobb]

They really do. There's so much work and then, like, prying them out of people's emails. But sometimes our bookish friends do get bonus listener presses throughout the year. Our bookish super friends get bonus listener presses throughout the year. So if this is also one of your favorite episodes, you can find more where this came from over there.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

Meredith, that was an accidental commercial. I did not think that through.

[Katie Cobb]

All right, let's visit one of our favorite friends.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

Yes, I love her.

[Katie Drummonds]

Hi, readers. I'm Merit Madine Wachsmith, a Seattle native now residing in southern Oregon. The book I want to press into your hands is Catherine by Anya Seton. Historical fiction says of 14th century England and based on true royal events of the time. John of Gaunt, son of Edward iii, falls in love with commoner Catherine de Roeth. But they have many obstacles to overcome, including the politics of the time and even John's brief arranged marriage to Constance of Castile, daughter of King Peter of Castile. Will these two soulmates ever find happiness? Written in 1954, this compelling read is as fresh today as it was then. This is Catherine by Anya Satan.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

Here's the thing. Don't mess with Maudine on the historical fiction.

[Katie Cobb]

Seriously.

[Katie Drummonds]

Right?

[Katie Cobb]

If there's anybody that's a wizard, it's her.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

And 14th century. If she wants to press this into our hands, if historical fiction is as much a love for you listener as it is for me, I feel like we really need to take this press seriously.

[Katie Cobb]

Definitely. And she doesn't shy away from big books. And I mean, Maudine has been a friend for. For so long. A bookish friend for so long. Yep. She knows her Philippa Gregory. She knows her Anya Seton. She knows her Anne Rice. Like she knows these gems from way back in the catalog. And if this was her press, we best listen. Exactly.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

That is a really, really good one.

[Katie Cobb]

Okay, our 10th press. Yes.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

We're coming to the halfway point. Okay, let's go to number 10.

[Katie Drummonds]

Hi, currently reading friends. My name is Kelsey from Abbotsford, bc, Canada. I hope to press into your hands.

[Katie Cobb]

A backlist YA fantasy trilogy, starting here with book one, Finnegan of the Rock by Melina Marchetta, published in 2008. This is a bit risky for me as I would consider this whole trilogy a six star read, and it would pain me to know if people don't love it like I do. Nevertheless, I'm willing to take the risk in hopes that these special books find their way to the right reader at.

[Katie Drummonds]

The start of our story.

[Katie Cobb]

Finnegan and his guardian and mentor, Sir Topher, have been wandering the land as exiles for the past 10 years after their country of Lumatere endured five days of the Unspeakable, when the entire royal family were brutally slaughtered with an impostor king taking the throne. On that fifth day of bloodshed, a curse was pronounced over the land that caused a literal maelstrom to descend on Lumatere's borders, cutting off those within the kingdom from those who had fled. Like young Finnegan, now 10 years later and on the cusp of adulthood, he and Sertofer are pursuing an almost impossible hope. In a remote cloister, a young novice named Evangeline claims she has had dreams.

[Katie Drummonds]

That the heir to the throne, Balthazar.

[Katie Cobb]

Still lives and that she alone can lead the others to him so he can break the curse and they can finally take back their home. Finnegan reluctantly follows her, but soon starts to question her motives, even while they gather Lumateran allies that have been scattered across the land and begin their pilgrimage.

[Katie Drummonds]

Back to their homeland.

[Katie Cobb]

For me, there is so much to love in this book. The characters are nuanced, complex and relatable. This world is gritty and brutal, yet beautiful too, full of political intrigue and with themes of hope, redemption and sacrifice.

[Katie Drummonds]

That can be felt deeply throughout.

[Katie Cobb]

It explores what it means to be refugees in exile with the loss of common identity and cultural community. There is a strong found family element which only becomes even more poignant and meaningful further on in the trilogy. Speaking of which, this is only the beginning, folks. Marketa starts strong, but knocks it out of the park with the next two books. I guarantee these characters are going to stay with you. I sincerely hope I can recruit some new fans of Lumitaire. This is Finnegan of the Rock by Melina Marchetta.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

This one just sounds so good.

[Katie Cobb]

Start of a trilogy backlist from 2008. I mean, what's not to love, right?

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

It's giving me all the cursed, so dark and lonely vibes.

[Katie Cobb]

Yeah, I've got some Name of the Wind percolating around in the back of my head right now. It sounds excellent. Well done, Kelsey. Setting that one up too.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

Yes, very, very good setup. We are at the halfway point now. We are coming down the backside here. We've got our next one is number 11.

[Katie Cobb]

Fun fact about this one this presser was most on the ball. This is the first one that we received in our inbox after that episode dropped when we requested them. So gold star, Gold star to this person.

[Katie Drummonds]

Hi Currently reading Family It's Stephanie from Maryland and my Listener Press is Nesting by Irish author Roshan o'. Donnell. This is a debut novel and was long listed for the 2025 Women's Prize for Fiction. Here's the setup. The story follows Kira, a young mother in Dublin who escapes her emotionally and psychologically abusive husband with her two young daughters. The novel is set against the backdrop of the Irish housing crisis, highlighting the compounded struggles faced by women fleeing domestic abuse, homelessness, financial insecurity, and the lack of a support system. Kira's journey is one of survival and resilience. She leaves her husband and finds herself isolated with no job, dwindling savings, and her family across the the sea. Forced to live in emergency accommodations, she must navigate the challenges of raising her children in a hotel room. This novel is a realistic, compassionate portrayal of gaslighting emotional abuse and the systemic failures that make escaping such situations so difficult. O' Donnell's writing offers a powerful, hopeful story about reclaiming autonomy and rebuilding a life in the face of adversity. Her writing style has a strong sense of place and is filled with longing. You will be emotionally shot out of a cannon from the start and invested in these characters and their lives. I think about this book often and I know it will live in my heart forever. This is Nesting by Roshan o'. Donnell.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

A couple things about this book. First of all, it has a 4.3 Goodreads rating on almost 8,500 ratings. That's really high for that number of ratings. The other thing is I downloaded the sample and she is totally right. From the first scene. It's the family going to the beach together. You get completely drawn in where you're like, oh, I have to find out what's going to happen to this family.

[Katie Cobb]

Emotionally shot out of a cannon. What a great way to tell us that it's going to grab you from the first page. I love that.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

That is the kind of beginning that I would say don't start this book until you can get into it because you are not going to want to do anything like make sure everyone's fed.

[Katie Cobb]

Yeah, this is not your grocery store checkout line. I'll just dip in while we wait for this person to pay in cash with her change.

[Katie Drummonds]

Right? Okay.

[Katie Cobb]

Our next one is the only nonfiction on Our list this year.

[Katie Drummonds]

I'm Erin Gill from Macon, Georgia. And the book that I want to press into your hands today is a memoir called A Change of Habit by Sister Monica Clare. The memoir tells the story of Sister Monica Clare's journey to becoming an episcopal nun at 46 years old after a career as a Hollywood advertising executive. And it talks about her early life and where she came from in her childhood, but it also talks about a desire to sort of strip things away. And one of the things that I loved most about the book is that it chronicles a journey of going from something in a life situation where, you know, most people think she had it all and she wanted to get to a lifestyle that was a little more quiet. She talks a lot about being an introvert, but that gave her some time to focus inward and to focus on the things that were important in a season of kind of hustle and bustle, where your kids are at home and things like that. It really spoke to me to be able to find the moments of quiet and the moments of solitude where you can. That's A Change of Habit by Sister Monica Claire.

[Katie Cobb]

This one is specifically for Roxanna. Yes, she needs to pick this up right away. The subtitle of this one is Leaving Behind My Husband, Career and Everything I Owned to Become a Nun. That just blew my mind.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

Right? It sounds just like in this house of breed. That's exactly what happens in one of Roxanna and I's favorite novels of all time.

[Katie Cobb]

Yes. The fact that it's like a nonfiction pairing for this classic novel. Oh, perfect.

[Katie Drummonds]

So excited about this one.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

I love it.

[Katie Cobb]

Okay. Meredith, you were specifically very excited about book number 13. Yes, I've already bought it. I'm not surprised.

[Katie Drummonds]

Hi, bookish friends. This is Lea from Dusseldorf, Germany. And the book I'm pressing today is the Murderer's Ape by Jacob Vegelius. Here's the setup. This is the story of Sally Jones, a gorilla, a brilliant engineer, and an utterly unique narrator. Though she cannot speak, she has found plenty of ways to communicate. Together with her best friend, the Chief, she has spent years exploring the high seas. But when a mysterious job in Lisbon goes terribly wrong and the Chief is falsely accused of murder, Sally finds herself alone and determined to clear his name. What unfolds is a sweeping adventure that takes her across continents, and powerful forces are soon working to silence the truth. But at its heart, this is the story of friendship. Fierce, selfless, and unwavering. It's also a story of resilience and the quiet, persistent will to live and to love in the face of impossible odds. I found this book through bookish serendipity and it wiped me off my feet. I laughed, I cried, my heart broke and healed again and again. Not because of how sad it was, but because of how pure love and friendship are displayed. Few books have moved me so completely. This was an experience in every sense of the word. And if there was one book I could demand everyone to read, it would be. Trust me, it's worth it. This was the Murderous Ape by Jakob Vergelius.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

Please just take a minute and go look at the COVID of this book. It's one of the best covers I've ever seen. I just love everything about it. Middle grade covers do such a good job of incorporating pieces of the story into the COVID and it just wakes up the 12 year old reader in me. 10 year old reader?

[Katie Cobb]

Yes, definitely. I had heard of this one briefly. Bumi mentioned it on again a Patreon episode behind the Paywall. She gives us some great behind the scenes gems sometimes and this one was on there having Lilia set it up for us. She did such a great job. And yay for a German accent on our listener press episode. Beautiful. Let's read the world Meredith.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

I mean all of the listener presses delight my heart. Really, truly.

[Katie Cobb]

Yes.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

I get so much joy out of listening to them because you guys are doing such a good job of setting up your books and it's not easy to do really. On the whole, everybody did a really, really great job. But when we can incorporate some from Canada, Germany, Australia, you know, all over just makes us feel really good.

[Katie Cobb]

Yes, most definitely.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

Okay, so now we're going to go to number 14.

[Katie Drummonds]

Hi, currently reading this is Hannah coming from Austin, Texas and I'm here to press into your hands a criminally underrated debut novel, Splendid Little Schemes by Robyn Strong. Here we meet Anna, a struggling single mom, smack dab in the middle of Mormon mommy culture. Hannah finds herself the unwitting target of pyramid scheming Vicky, who is married to an important religious leader. In their small community, many women have fallen victim to Vicki's scheme schemes and these women see Anna as the perfect mole to take down the multi level marketing company from the inside. Anna's mission makes the pages turn quickly, but we also learn these women's stories, including Vicky's. It quickly becomes clear that Vicky, though not innocent, is clinging to a mirage of control as an MLM rep because she doesn't have much power elsewhere. Sound familiar? She has plenty of wrongs to rights and entire organization hangs in the balance. Not to mention Culdesac full of mommy bloggers, church communities and individual families including Vicki's own, who all find themselves in this tangled web. There is so much here. The audio was fantastic, especially considering it was self published. Please go show this title some love. Like I said, it's criminally underrated with just four 40something ratings on Goodreads. You might compare it to the Lifeguards by Amanda Ward. Just any other domestic thriller, but there is just so much more complexity here. Also, if you enjoyed watching the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, which has been very buzzy lately, then I think you'll like this one a lot too. So pick it up. If you have any kind of interest in religious trauma and the ways it's that plays out or in mommy bloggers and multilevel marketing. All of these are catnip to me and I think they will be to you too. That is splendid. Little Schemes by Robin Strong.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

Now I'm surprised that that wasn't one that I picked.

[Katie Cobb]

I was also surprised when I went in and I was like, ooh, I get to choose this one, right?

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

Because that seems right up my alley because I love mommy blogger stuff and then domestic suspense. That sounds so like a perfect summer read.

[Katie Cobb]

Well, and I feel like anything MLM is just begging for this treatment, right? To be like, let's get to the seedy underbelly, right? Let's dig around in the dirt a little. So good.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

All right, number 15.

[Katie Drummonds]

Hi, my name is Ana. I am currently in London and I'm here to recommend the novel Clean by Alia Trabuco Serran. It's a novel in translation from the Spanish, and it was the best thing I read last year. So here's the setup. The novel is told through the voice of the main character, Estela. She's a maid and she seems to be in an interrogation room where she's seeming to be confessing to having killed the daughter of the house. But the novel is truly a murder mystery, also because we don't know if she was the killer or what happened to the little girl. But beyond that, the novel is a commentary, a social commentary on class, on power, on machismo, on class structure, on poverty, and what people need to do to survive in difficult circumstances. What stands out from the novel is the voice of Estela. It reminded me a little bit of Demon Copperhead in the sense that what stands out from the novel is such an original strong voice from a character who is struggling and comes from such extreme poverty. But in the setting of having that character work in the home inside the home of a very rich family in Santiago de Chile. I love the novel. I think it's extraordinary. The translation is great. And this is clean from the Spanish Limpia by Alia Trabuco Serrano novel in translation.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

And it sounds fascinating.

[Katie Cobb]

Yes, definitely. And I love getting a press from Ana. She pressed a book last year called Elena Knows or Elena Sabe in Spanish. So she's always bringing us these great translated thrillers and I just think that's such a cool niche for us to be able to provide to our listeners. Thank you, Ana, for that service.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

Exactly. So, so good. All right, number 16.

[D]

Hi, my name is Sheri Slater and I live in Muskegon, Michigan. I am a longtime listener of your show. I absolutely love you both and so glad to be participating in this listener press. The book that I want to share with you is Camelot and Vine by Petrae Bouchard. This is the setup. Casey, an actress about to turn 40, is feeling the real pain, or real world pain of a not very illustrious career coming to an end. She feels she's been living a life full of compromise and lies, including her love life with a married man, no less. How could she be so cliche? She's just lost her only steady paying job, which she is certain is age related, and Hollywood is suddenly been there, done that. She's got to get out of there. So she's mad at herself and the world. She decides on a whim to fly to London and disappears somewhere in the Cotswolds like we all want to do. She wants a little town with no noise or people or problems and just hopefully regroup. It was most likely her father's influence behind her reasoning to flee to this part of England. He had been a historian and instilled in her a love of history and most importantly, a deep and adventurous love of the legends surrounding King Arthur. It was this Camelot, the roundtable, Merlin, Excalibur, and his faded love for Guinevere. A fantasy world where Casey had always felt safe. Also, she had dearly loved her father and she knew he really loved her. She had felt safe with him, but now he was also gone. So why not try for Camelot? She finds the perfect little town not too far from where the legendary kingdom may have been and attempts to settle in, feeling around the rough edges of a deep depression. She rather quickly falls through a rabbit hole into the 6th century, very nearly into the lap of King Arthur himself. But not until suffering the humiliation of capture, imprisonment, rough Handling by brutes, her adventures begin. Bouchard takes us on a wild and circuitous ride full of historical correctness of what life might be like in the 6th century, while exploring the cost, the courage, the burden, and perhaps the reward of being truthful, even in a land of legends and fantasy. I loved the story. It is a perfect light hearted escape into wishful thinking. Something I found very useful as a reboot. I highly recommend my subtitle for this is. Ah, To Fall in Love with a Real Fake King. So once again, this is Camelot and Vine by Petra Bouchard. Thank you so much.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

What a great setup.

[Katie Cobb]

I love how excited Sheri is to tell us about her book.

[Katie Drummonds]

Right?

[Katie Cobb]

We can feel her passion, right?

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

Who can resist?

[Katie Drummonds]

Yes.

[Katie Cobb]

Yeah, exactly. There's some Outlander tie in here, like Falling into History. The characters you already know. Ah, this sounds so good. It's from 2013. I've never heard of this book. Where did this come from?

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

I know, exactly. And it's gonna be a bunch of people's favorite book of the entire year.

[Katie Cobb]

Gosh, I hope so.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

That's the magic of this episode.

[Katie Drummonds]

Yes.

[Katie Cobb]

Yes. So good. Do you think this next one is gonna be a bunch of people's favorite book of the whole year?

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

I sure as heck hope so.

[Katie Cobb]

Hi, this is Tiernan and my listener press is Sky Daddy by Kate Folk. Sky Daddy is about a young woman named Linda who lives on the outskirts of San Francisco. She rents a windowless garage and she works for a tech company where she is an online moderator. Linda at first seems like a normal late 20s gal living in San Francisco, but what we come to find out is that Linda has a passion, and that passion is for airplanes, but it runs a little bit deeper. Linda believes her destiny is to marry an airplane. Yes. The plot is absolutely bonkers. Did you read it? Yes. This book was totally out of my reading comfort zone, but I'd read a couple reviews of it and people really seemed to love it. This book runs a range of emotions. It's funny, it's sad, there's some questionable power dynamics in the workplace. It discusses friendship and culture, society and love. If you're looking for a book that is well written, fantastic pacing, and just something totally out of the ordinary, I really suggest picking up Sky Daddy by Kate Fulk.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

I just. I love that we contain so many multitudes and that we can have a book like Catherine or a book like Camelot and Vine.

[Katie Cobb]

Motel Styx.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

Right, With Sky Daddy and Motel Styx. It's just. It makes me so happy and I For better or for worse. And, you know, sometimes it's for worse. I love a bonkers premise.

[Katie Cobb]

As do I, for some reason. You know, I've heard this set up a few times, having Tiernan set it up for us. I'm Getting Vibes of Mrs. Caliban by Rachel Ingalls. Yeah, Remember that? Where it's like, I mean, this is about some of those things you expect, but it's also about, like, desire and being a woman and it's quirky and it's literary and it's like not at all what you expect.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

It's not about what you think it's about. It's not about the. I'm in love with an airplane.

[Katie Cobb]

Yes, exactly Right.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

It's subversive that way. And that, you know, it's not definitely not a book for everyone. I know some readers who've absolutely loved it, some readers who didn't love it as much. It was an IPL pick this last month, which of course we absolutely love. So it's not going to be for everyone, but for the people for whom it is, they are going to really love it.

[Katie Cobb]

Well, and that's the thing. It was pressed on the IPL by book tenders, who we have just. We're like, yes, we will hold your hands and you can take us where you want to go with them because they are so good at it. So it's like, you know what? Tiernan Trust. Go ahead. We're going to go ahead with you.

[Katie Drummonds]

Yeah.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

All right, number 18. We're getting there.

[Katie Drummonds]

Hi, my name is Gretchen from Oregon and I would like to press Names for the dawn by C.L. beaumont. This book is following Will Avery, who is a park ranger for years in Denali in Alaska. He loves it and has always been kind of a loner, but mainly that's because no one knows that he's a trans man. Until someone shows up, visiting wolf biologist named Nick Rajwat, and they hit it off and it's about their story, their love story. Being in Alaska is so beautiful, in Alaska wilderness. And just the story between the two of them and figuring out who they are as individuals but also together. It was just wonderful. Again, this is Names for The dawn by C.L. boma.

[Katie Cobb]

We can guess that Gretchen knew she was gonna get me with this one, right? Yeah. Yes, a little bit. I love the COVID of this. It looks like a nature journal, like somebody pressed flowers inside and then there's notes around it. There's a coffee mug circle on it. It feels very atmospheric to exactly what she's talking about here. Yeah, I definitely will be reading this.

[Katie Drummonds]

One over the summer.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

Yeah, that one sounds good. That one sounds perfect.

[Katie Cobb]

All right.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

Number 19, the penultimate listener. Press.

[Katie Drummonds]

Hi, I'm Clare from Norwich in the uk and I have been waiting for months for this chance to press Withered Hill by David Barnett, particularly into Meredith's hands. This is a modern folk horror that I really loved. Here's the setup in London, we are counting down the days to Withered Hill, following Sophie, who leads a chaotic life, while all her friends seem to be moving on and leaving her behind. Meanwhile, in the quaint old fashioned and more than slightly strange isolated village of Withered Hill, the days are counting down until Sophie can leave. We see flashbacks to the day Sophie awoke naked and confused in the village and the strange customs and festivals Withered Hill prides itself on. This book was utterly compelling. I raced through it as I couldn't put it down. I really wanted to see what would finally happen as we reach the end of each countdown. And the ending was highly satisfied. Buying. This is Withered Hill by David Barnett.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

Katie, this is the book that I am currently reading.

[Katie Cobb]

Is it okay? That sounds perfect. I love that it was specifically pressed into Meredith's hands. But just like, I mean, waking up naked in a village, like, yep, I gotta know what happened.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

I mean, this is definitely horror. This is folk horror. This is if you liked slue foot. Okay, Brom, you're gonna be really, really happy here. It's got an interesting construction, like she kind of intimated, but until you read it, it's hard to kind of understand how the construction is put together. But the author is messing with timelines in a really interesting way. It's not confusing, it just adds to the propulsiveness. There's villagers who are wearing animal masks, like actual heads of animals. Actual animals. There's things dripping. It's sexier than you think it's going to be. It is gorier than you think it's going to be. This book has my name and my number, both.

[Katie Cobb]

All right, well, as long as we don't get. Are we getting a Withered Hill tattoo when you're done?

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

I mean, there would be so many cool ones that you could get. I just have to say that cover.

[Katie Cobb]

I know, it's really. I mean, you could get a tattoo. Sounds great, right?

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

You guys won't hear about this book until after our summer break, but I can't wait to finish it, like, literally. We've been recording for a lot of hours today because it's crush weekend, but the thing that I am going to treat myself with is time reading this book and an iced coffee because she.

[Katie Cobb]

Drinks coffee all day long.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

All day and all night. All right, Katie, we've got our very last listener press and it's from a.

[Katie Cobb]

Boy, our one guy this season. We are so glad that Matt sent us an email.

[Katie Drummonds]

Hey there, it's Matt from Toronto. And in honor of Katie and Roxanna's recent chat about fun Canadian middle grade and romance titles, I thought I'd share a bit more of a traditional canlit title. What is, to my mind and heart, the great Canadian novel the Stone Carvers by Jane Urquhart. Set in the first decades of the last century, it follows a German Canadian brother and sister as they navigate love, loss, prejudice, and the struggle to belong. Their story ends up taking them to France where they try to leave a lasting legacy in stone in the aftermath of the first World War. There's a long standing joke about how all canlit is about World War I and coming of age in the country. But while this book definitely checks both of those boxes, don't let that stop you from giving it a try. It's a beautiful novel that's full of heart, beauty and spirit. That's the Stone Covers by Jane Urquhart.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

And a beautiful cover.

[Katie Cobb]

And from 2001, so good CanLit, which.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

Is always so, so good. That's a great one to end on because again, high quality backlist. Neither of us have ever heard about it.

[Katie Cobb]

Nope.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

So excellent, Katie. Those are 20amazing, varied, passionate listener presses. And again, we are so grateful to all of you who make this episode so highly rated, and all of you who take the time and the effort to think through what book you want to do, how you want to set it up, and then get that to us. We so appreciate it. The biggest thing that you guys can do for us after an episode like this, which takes a lot of effort for us to put together, by us, I mean, Katie and Megan, it's a collective.

[Katie Cobb]

We.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

Exactly. The best thing that you can do for us is to share this out on social media because not a lot of podcasts are doing this. And if you love listening to this and you're like, I'm so glad that they do it, that would be a great way for you to thank us and also to, you know, send us out into our summer break with some extra eyeballs on all the work that we're doing here.

[Katie Cobb]

Yes, definitely.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

That was absolutely fantastic. Okay, Katie, I have to ask you. I'm reading Withered Hill. What? From this List is going to be the first thing that you pick up.

[Katie Cobb]

Okay. The one that is going to matching the mood I'm in right now because as we know, Katie has turned into more of a mood reader is zero stars. Do not recommend. Yes, I have a long drive today, so I'm going to finish my current audiobook and then I think I'm going to dive directly into that one. I think it's just going to be a really great segue from the one to the other.

[Katie Drummonds]

All right, good.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

Well, I'm going to finish Withered Hill. I'm sure that I'm going to need to go into something incredibly light and frothy after that. But then I will be turning my attention to Ye Olde Motel sticks.

[Katie Cobb]

Ye Olde Motel sticks.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

I'm gonna do it.

[Katie Cobb]

So good. I'm gonna do it.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

I have such a dark heart.

[Katie Cobb]

Well, we know. We love you for it.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

All right, that is it for this week. As a reminder, here's where you can connect with us. You can find me, I'm Meredith, Meredith Monday Schwartz on Instagram and you can.

[Katie Cobb]

Find me, Katie at Notes on Bookmarks on Instagram. Our show is produced and edited every week by Megan Putovong Evans. You can find her on Instagram at most of megansreads full show notes with.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

The title of every book we mentioned in the episode and timestamps. So you can zoom right to where we talked about. It can be found in our show notes and also on our website@currentlyreading podcast.com.

[Katie Cobb]

Youm can also follow us and share about us on Instagram, urrentlyreading podcast or email us, especially if you've got ideas@currentlyreading podcastmail.com and if you love this kind.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

Of content and want to support us, hear more from us. Become a bookish friend. It's just $5 a month on Patreon. And you can also not only get all of this content, you get a ton of bookish community and you keep this show commercial free all year long. If you also want to help us, you can do that by rating and reviewing us on Apple podcasts and shouting us out on social media. Every one of those things helps us to find our perfect audience.

[Katie Cobb]

Yes, bookish friends are the best friends. Thank you for helping us grow and get closer to our goals and for sending us your listener presses.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

Yes, thank you so much for that. All right, until next week, may your.

[Katie Cobb]

Coffee be hot and your book be unputdownable.

[Meredith Monday Schwartz]

Happy reading, Katie.

[Katie Cobb]

Happy reading, Meredith.

[Katie Drummonds]

That.