Currently Reading
Season 8, Episode 25: “Get Your Eyes Checked + All Things Special Editions”
January 26, 2026
Hosts: Meredith Monday Schwartz and Kaytee Cobb

Episode Overview

In this episode, Meredith and Kaytee deliver their signature spoiler-free, in-depth book chats centered around their latest reads, a vibrant discussion about special edition books, and their weekly visit to "the fountain" (wishes and recommendations). The heart of the episode is a thoughtful, sometimes nostalgic and sometimes practical, exploration of special editions—what makes them meaningful, what’s driving this publishing trend, and how the rise of bells-and-whistles hardbacks is changing reader behavior.

Bookish Moments of the Week (01:42-06:44)

Kaytee’s Bookish Moment (01:42)

• Slow reading year: Kaytee’s reading pace is off to a slow start because she’s “spending every waking minute working in people’s spreadsheets.”
• Reinvigorating Bookstagram: Decides to post every finished book alongside her 3D-printed reading counter for accountability and community.
  • On the reading counter: “They are just very cute. ... I am sending them to friends as gifts. ... No, we will not be selling them. They take many hours to print and design.” (02:52)
• Community response: The reading counter is a conversation starter, with lots of interaction about its design and use.

Meredith’s Bookish Moment (03:27)

• Reader Type Quiz: Launch of the “What is your reader type?” quiz on the Currently Reading website, a long-term dream finally realized.
  • “Thousands of people [have] taken it already ... pretty spread out amongst the four reader types.” (04:15)
• Podcast Recommendation for Murder Mysteries:
  • Side Door by the Smithsonian, Episode: “The Golden Age of Arsenic”: Historical look at 19th-century poisonings, particularly by women.
  • “This is what happens when women don’t have a lot of options, apparently.” (05:26)
  • “Very well done, not overly sciency, but very, very interesting. Especially for my murderful friends who love their historical mysteries, this is a really, really good one.” (06:26)

Current Reads (06:53-35:20)

Kaytee’s Picks

• Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle (06:53)

  • Debut novel (May 2025), foodie with supernatural grief themes.
  • Protagonist Kostya channels the spirits of the dead via mixology in NYC’s cutthroat restaurant scene: “If that means we have a killer mob boss and Russians pulling the strings ... then so be it.” (09:16)
  • Balanced unique premise, intense pacing, and character-driven plot. “...Not a saccharine book like Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom. ... Instead something closer to a food-based thriller that really moves at a clip.” (09:56)

• Democracy Awakening by Heather Cox Richardson (16:07)

  • Essay collection tracing U.S. political/historical developments from founding fathers to present.
  • “It was not fun to read, but necessary. ... She helps her readers to understand the trajectory ... weaponized language, falsified history books, and how the wealthy became the powerful.” (16:20)
  • Concise yet comprehensive; recommended for anyone wanting an accessible re-entry into U.S. history.

• The Last Animal by Ramona Ausubel (23:55)

  • Literary, reflective, lightly science-fictional family story centering around a mother and her daughters who discover a baby mammoth.
  • “...It’s a story of family and feminism and the ways we protect the creatures in our communities and the ones on our planet.” (25:55)
  • Strong sister dynamics, global settings, and questions about science and ethics.

Meredith’s Picks

• Voices in the Snow by Darcy Coates (10:49)

  • Horror/suspense, Book 1 of the Black Winter series.
  • Atmospheric blizzard, gothic mansion, unreliable rescuer: “Doran insists they are alone in the house, but Claire knows that is not true.” (12:25)
  • “Darcy Coates is really good at dropping breadcrumbs ... something much more unsettling happening here.” (14:04)
  • Fast-paced, great for those who like “trapped with a stranger” tension and wintery horror.

• Two Cures for Love by Wendy Cope (19:22)

  • Poetry collection, annotated by the poet herself.
  • “Wendy Cope is sassy in the best possible way. ... Not ‘I’m trying to get likes on Instagram’ kind of sass.” (20:10)
  • “Will have you both laughing out loud and getting a little misty sometimes—and sometimes within the same poem.” (20:28)
  • Highly accessible, emotionally resonant; potential “poet of my soul.”

• For Whom the Bell (B E L L E) Tolls by J.C. Lin (27:49)

  • Cozy fantasy romance; viral TikTok origin.
  • Protagonist Lily dies, lands in an afterlife that runs on retail logic, organizes the “gates of hell”: “These gates to hell need more ... better customer service ... Because, as you can imagine, when people find out they are supposed to go to hell, you can imagine they become real ‘Karen’ real quick.” (29:38)
  • Found family, self-worth themes, emotionally warm, lightly spicy (three chili peppers).
  • “If I could organize the afterlife, this is exactly the way I would do it. It’s clever and creative and just different enough.” (33:01)
  • Content note: protagonist dies of cancer on page 1; “If you don’t love it in the first five pages, it’s probably not for you.” (34:08)

Deep Dive: All Things Special Editions (35:20–46:41)

The Special Editions Publishing Boom

• Prompted by a listener (Holly) sharing a reel; modern boom attributed to books like Fourth Wing (36:06)
• Meredith: “That was the first time I cared about what edition of a book I had. ... Like, purely for the special edition.” (36:43)

UK vs. US markets:

• UK seemed to reach “special edition fever” first—more widespread sprayed edges, endpapers, unique inclusions.
• “Publishers have decided this is something worth their money.” (37:02)

Cost and Value Dilemmas

• Kaytee on prices: “Used to be able to get a hardback for $18, and now just a regular hardback is $30 ... and a paperback is $18, with no special treatment.” (38:10)
• Readers face a choice: thrifted paperbacks vs. premium, lavishly-produced editions.
• Special editions can include: sprayed edges, reversible dust jackets, extra art/maps, bonus chapters, maps, author notes, character/family trees.

When Are Special Editions Worth It?

• Meredith: “I can be very, very tempted by a special edition ... But now that they’re getting kind of everywhere, I think it’s going to force me to make more of a choice.” (40:14)
• Both agree: Save “shelling out” for a special edition for titles significant in your life or “keeper shelf” worthy.
• Loss of “specialness”: “If everything is special, then nothing is special.” (43:04 – Kaytee)

Types of Special Editions

• Meredith: “There’s really two kinds ... one that’s got additional color, maybe sprayed edges, but everything else is the same. ... But a true special edition ... might have something inside that the other editions simply don’t have.” (45:02)
• Kaytee: “Like a bonus chapter or an epilogue ... or even an extended author’s note ...” (46:03)

Final Take

• Both are wary of collecting special/fancy editions unless it’s a beloved book or something uniquely noteworthy.
• Meredith: “Anytime more money and attention is being given to printed books, I feel like that’s a good thing.”
• But—will “special” become standard, and does that harm the magic?

The Fountain: Wishes and Presses (46:41–51:56)

Kaytee’s Wish/Press (46:51)

• Press: Hench by Natalie Zena Walshots
  • “If you’ve ever thought a dark and complicated villain was easier to root for than they should have been, this book is for you.” (48:09)
  • Humor, darkness, and critique of superhero collateral damage.
  • Connects with For Whom the Bell Tolls (organizational, behind-the-scenes, genre subverting).

Meredith’s Wish (49:57)

• Advice for slumpy readers: “Get your eyes checked.”
  • “Sometimes our eyes and brains do such a good job compensating, you might not even realize [why] ... you feel a little bit distracted.” (50:53)
  • Recommends checking when you last saw an eye doctor, advocating for self-care as a way to revive your reading life: “You’re worth it.” (51:36)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On 3D-printed reading counters: “They're just very cute. ... No, we will not be selling them.” – Kaytee (02:52)
• “This is what happens when women don’t have a lot of options, apparently.” – Meredith, on the Golden Age of Arsenic (05:26)
• “[Wendy Cope is] sassy in the best possible way ... she is by turns serious and silly, which means some poems rhyme and are short, almost like limericks.” – Meredith (20:10)
• On special editions: “If everything is special, then nothing is special.” – Kaytee (43:04)
• “Anytime more money and attention is being given to printed books, I feel like that’s a good thing.” – Meredith (39:41)
• “Go get your eyes checked ... it can really help.” – Meredith (50:53)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Bookish Moments of the Week: 01:42–06:44
• Current Reads: 06:53–35:20
• Special Editions Deep Dive: 35:20–46:41
• The Fountain (Wishes & Presses): 46:41–51:56

For a full list of books (with timestamps), show notes, and to take the “What is your reader type?” quiz: visit currentlyreadingpodcast.com.

Tone & Language:
Warm, witty, conversational, highly knowledgeable—and always honest about each title discussed. The episode balances practical reader advice with plenty of book joy and inside-book-community observations.

For those new to the show:
Expect honest opinions, enthusiastic recommendations, and a real sense of bookish camaraderie—plus a running joke about never underestimating the value of a good eye exam.