Currently Reading
Season 8, Episode 17 – New Bookcases + Reading Therapy with Mary Heim
November 24, 2025

Episode Overview

In this special episode, hosts Meredith Monday Schwartz and guest host Mary Heim (standing in for regular co-host Kaytee Cobb) dive into the joys and struggles of building the perfect bookish space at home, share their latest reads, and introduce a unique "reading therapy" segment. They candidly discuss how reading intersects with well-being, burnout, and our search for meaning, all with their trademark warmth, honesty, and plenty of strong opinions. The episode is filled with practical book recommendations, readerly insights, and even some professional wisdom from Mary’s background as a therapist.

Bookish Moments of the Week (01:21–08:08)

Mary’s Bookish Joy: New Built-in Bookcases

• Mary shares the long, meandering journey of finally getting custom floor-to-ceiling bookshelves in her renovated living room nook.
• “It is bringing me so much joy...we've decided to fill these particular shelves with just our all time faves. And it has been so much fun curating what will go in this bookshelf. We're really taking our time to make sure that it's exactly what we want it to be.” (01:40)
• Her space now feels like home—complete with twinkly lights and space to watch her child play.

Meredith’s Piles and Book Cull

• Meredith recounts converting her dining room and office into book-filled libraries using IKEA Billy bookcases, and the creeping realization that she needed a serious book cull after a UK trip.
• She explains her method: favorites on one shelf, the rest are TBR (to be read)—which led to letting go of many books she “was no longer that reader” for.
• “There's just like a little bit of sadness letting all those books go.” (06:41)
• The conversation becomes existential, with Mary reflecting: “Am I still the reader for these books anymore? And that feels like a harder question to ask than you would think.” (07:01)

Notable moment: Both hosts connect deeply to the notion that our shelves reflect our evolving identities as readers, with bittersweet feelings over letting go and making space for growth.

Current Reads (08:18–39:02)

Mary’s Reads

• The Executioners 3 by Susan Dennard (08:18)

  • YA atmospheric mystery—described as “Stars Hollow meets Sleepy Hollow,” set in the '90s.
  • Features folklore, cozy friendship, and a rising creep factor.
  • “This one absolutely reeks of foggy woods and chilly winds, crumpled and spent leaves crackling underfoot...” (09:54)

• The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand & Shelby Cunningham (17:36)

  • Campus novel set at an elite boarding school.
  • Mary praises atmospheric food descriptions but criticizes pacing and unresolved plot threads: “I wasn’t expecting to love any of these characters, but...the adults made some truly awful choices.” (19:58)
  • She suspects it’s meant as a duology but felt unfulfilled: “For a 400+ page book, there were just too many threads introduced and never resolved for me.” (19:58)

• Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross (28:02)

  • Epic fantasy prequel to the Divine Rivals duology.
  • Mary describes it as world-building, rich in mythology and character depth: “This novel...captured me brain, body, mind, soul for an entire week as I savored this story.” (30:19)
  • She likens the prose to Madeline Miller, and calls it a “masterpiece.”

Meredith’s Reads

• 25 Days by Per Jacobsen (10:58)

  • Advent horror novel structured for one chapter per day, December 1–25.
  • “What makes 25 Days such a ride is the experience...the daily anticipation is more than half of the fun.” (14:29)
  • “The writing here is not going to blow your mind. It's functional. But that's not why you read this book.” (14:12)
  • Trigger warning: Gory, with animal deaths.

• Madame Pamplemousse and Her Incredible Edibles by Rupert Kingfisher (21:44)

  • Middle grade, whimsical Parisian adventure—“like Julie and Julia meets Matilda with a little bit of magic thrown in.” (24:53)
  • Recommended for middle-grade readers and their grown-ups, featuring strong found-family vibes.
  • “The villain Uncle Lard is deliciously horrible. As all good villains in middle grade should be.” (24:53)
  • Mary says she immediately ordered multiple copies for the little ones in her life.

• Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage (33:20)

  • Adult royal drama: Tasmanian doctor unexpectedly becomes heir to the British throne.
  • “I'd call it frothy with a lot of substance. Like, it's frothy, but we've got stiff peaks on the froth. It's a meringue more than anything.” (35:53)
  • Smart, emotionally satisfying, with an unpredictable outcome.

Deep Dive – Reading Therapy (39:05–58:36)

Segment Introduction (39:05)

• Meredith and Mary tackle the mental health side of reading. They clarify this isn't formal therapy or medical advice, just the intersection of reading and well-being. (39:44–40:07)

Reading Therapy Questions

1. Burnt Out in Boston (40:18)

• A listener feels professionally and personally burnt out, despite a successful career and consistent reading life, and seeks guidance on rekindling inspiration.

Meredith’s Advice:

• Validates the listener's burnout (“these feelings are real and they really do affect you”).
• Suggests a “whole self reading” from Gemini Wrongs (Meg Teets' Substack).
• Recommends The Firestarter Sessions and The Desire Map by Danielle LaPorte, and Ina Garten’s Memoir as a lighter, inspiring read.

Mary’s Advice (43:48):

• Emphasizes radical acceptance (accepting circumstances even if you don’t like them), using a Midwest analogy about a road trip to Minneapolis—but ending up in Iowa.
• “You don't have to like what you're accepting to just accept that this is what it is.” (44:59)
• Encourages aligning actions with values—if energy is limited, invest it where it truly matters (maybe that’s not reading right now).
• Cautions against guilt over not reading, especially during hard times: “Sometimes it just might not be that a book is gonna work for you. And instead of bemoaning why you're not in Minneapolis...what am I gonna accept about where I'm at right now and where can I put my energy?” (48:50)
• Recommends Tiny, Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed and Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans.

2. Numbness in Tough Times (Jesse Weaver) (50:50)

• Jesse and other listeners are finding that typical feel-good books leave them cold, and ask how to make their “heart work again.”

Mary’s Perspective:

• Resonates with feeling allergic to escapist, saccharine fiction during tough times: “Anything that is saccharine in its resolution whatsoever makes me want to chuck it across the room.” (51:34)
• Suggests leaning into stories where characters truly struggle and rebuild, not just quickly tie everything up with a bow.
• Recommends Reincarnation Blues by Michael Poore—“a book for our time,” dealing with hardship head-on.
• Reflects: “For a while we could do that. But now it's just...yeah, right. It's this like, we are the ones we've been waiting for kind of a vibe.” (54:95)
• Recommends books about community care, such as The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer.

Meredith’s Recommendations:

• The Small and the Mighty by Sharon McMahon—blends honest struggle with hope and practical action.
• When wanting the world to “make sense,” she turns to Agatha Christie: “The bad guy always gets caught. Just make it make sense.” (57:41)

Takeaway: The hosts stress the importance of figuring out when to read for escape, and when to read for catharsis, healing, and realism. Notice what you need; choose accordingly.

Fountain Wishes (58:44–61:51)

• Mary’s Wish:
  Encourages listeners who notice long, unbreakable reading slumps or "check engine lights" in their reading lives to consider if it might be time for extra support, maybe even therapy. “There's no shame in realizing that maybe what has kept you afloat for a long time has just stopped working. You just need some more skills, tools.” (60:05)

• Meredith’s Wish:
  Light recommends binging the Peacock adaptation of All Her Fault by Andrea Mara: “It is a wild ride that I stayed up until 2 in the morning watching this show. And I never do that.” (61:47)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Do I stay at a job I've excelled at but feel zero passion for anymore? Or do I push myself to see what else is possible? Where do I go from here?” – Listener "Burnt Out in Boston" (40:41)
• “Sometimes, it just might not be that a book is gonna work for you. And instead of bemoaning why you're not in Minneapolis...what am I gonna accept about where I'm at right now?” – Mary (48:50)
• “I just want to read. Why can't I be reading? Why can't I enjoy my books? ...So it's hard for me to take my own advice here to friends.” – Mary (46:53)
• “If a book sells me a solution in fiction that is too sweet, easy, or saccharine—especially right now—I'm like, hell no. Get that away from me.” – Mary (51:34)

[Timestamps for Key Segments]

• Bookish Moments of the Week: 01:21–08:08
• Current Reads: 08:18–39:02
• Reading Therapy Deep Dive: 39:05–58:36
• Fountain Wishes: 58:44–61:51

Tone and Style

• Warm, personal, and candid—balancing deep reflection with friendly banter.
• Uplifting, even when touching on hard seasonal or existential topics.
• Gentle and encouraging, especially around the intersection of books and mental health.

Summary

This episode of Currently Reading is a balm for book lovers navigating both readerly and real-world malaise. With insightful reading therapy, measured book talk, and honest reflections on burnout and identity, Meredith and Mary offer empathy and practical suggestions—reminding listeners that our reading lives always reflect our evolving selves.