Currently Reading – Season 8, Episode 28: Reader Speed Dating + CR Style Book Clubs

Hosts: Meredith Monday Schwartz & Kaytee Cobb
Date: February 16, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of Currently Reading centers on the joy of discovering fellow readers “in the wild” and explores how to create and run a "Currently Reading" style book club. Meredith and Kaytee, ever honest and spoiler-free, share recent reads across a wide range of genres, discuss why certain themes and book club structures make for richer reading lives, and highlight community interactions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Bookish Moments of the Week

Riding Uphill in Reading (00:37)

• Meredith kicks off with a metaphor from a bookish friend, Ilsa: that the beginning of a book is "like riding a bike uphill"—it gets easier as you settle in. This metaphor, often used with kids to help them push through difficult starts, is a good reminder for adult readers, too.
• Meredith:

  "The beginning of a book, especially that 20 to 50%, is like riding a bike uphill...but the payoff is there in the second half." (01:37)

Reader Speed Dating (04:52)

• Kaytee recounts accompanying her son to a go-kart race and bonding with another parent reading nearby.
• Kaytee:

  "It was just that instant connection point. For those of us who carry a book with us wherever we go." (04:52)

• She dubs this "reader speed dating"—finding kinship through obvious signs of bookishness in public.

2. Recent Reads: Honest, Spoiler-Free Mini-Reviews

Meredith’s Picks

• A Violent Age by Sarah Blake (06:21)

  • Slice-of-life novella about a high school therapist and her daughter, set amid a dystopian school safety program.
  • Meredith found it uncategorizable—loved the mother-daughter dynamic but was thrown by a bizarre plot twist and the author's apologetic note.
  • Meredith:

    "I'm genuinely not sure who I would give this book to or how I would tell them exactly what it is." (11:53)

  • Notable moment: The author's note at the end is strikingly honest. Meredith confesses she’s "thought quite a bit about" the book even in confusion.

• Speedy Death by Gladys Mitchell (17:26)

  • A 1929 Golden Age mystery in which the detective, Mrs. Bradley (psychoanalyst/amateur sleuth), gleefully subverts genre norms.
  • Quirky, surprising, and written by an Agatha Christie contemporary, this book is more about the iconoclastic protagonist than the whodunit plot.
  • Meredith:

    "Mrs. Beatrice Lestrange Bradley could not be more different from Miss Marple if she tried." (20:11) "There were two times that I literally gasped out loud." (21:05)

• The Witch's Orchard by Archer Sullivan (28:40)

  • Five-star debut crime novel featuring PI Annie Gore, who investigates the cold case of missing children in an Appalachian town.
  • Meredith raves about the intricate plot, atmospheric setting, and deeply human protagonist.
  • Meredith:

    "This is the kind of debut that makes me think this might be like another really, really big author in the crime fiction arena." (32:35)

Kaytee’s Picks

• Partners in Crime by Alisha Rai (13:03)

  • Rom-com action about Meera and ex-Naveen, forced together (and kidnapped) amid Las Vegas jewel-thief antics.
  • Fun, fast-paced, "madcap" (a term Meredith admits turns her off!), likened to Ocean's Eleven and The Lost City.
  • Kaytee:

    "It's a contemporary romance that bridges on rom com...It's propulsive and funny and there's glitz and glam and fun all the way through." (15:18)

  • Rated 2.5-3 chili peppers on the spice scale and four stars overall.

• A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid (23:22)

  • YA/adult academic mystery/fantasy with a crumbling haunted house, academic rivals, and a moody, atmospheric setting.
  • Kaytee loved the premise and world but felt the middle lagged and characters lacked depth.
  • Kaytee:

    "I was swindled by a pretty copy. I only gave it three and a half stars, but if I could shelve it on my bookshelves, I would shelf it with the page edges facing out, because then it might be worth keeping." (27:56)

• Everyone Is Lying to You by Jo Piazza (33:27)

  • Fast-paced thriller set around an influencer conference, exploring the blurry lines between curated reality and hidden truth.
  • Kaytee:

    "This is a trad wife murder mystery. So this is a peek into influencer culture...I was obsessed the whole way through." (33:40)

  • She raced through the audiobook, pressed it on a friend, and found the exploration of real vs. online personas especially compelling.

3. Deep Dive: Currently Reading Style Book Clubs (38:52)

Format Explained:
— Instead of reading the same book, each member brings one or more recently finished books to share/discuss.
— Can be enhanced by a “deep dive” topic, book swaps, or themed snacks/games.
— Especially well-suited for mood readers or those who struggle with assigned titles.

Practical Tips:

• Ideal group size: Cap at 10. Larger? Break into smaller groups for deeper conversation. (41:37)
• Only share finished books—not current reads you might DNF.
• Keep it spoiler-free (unless everyone agrees otherwise).
• Designate a moderator/host for smoother flow, especially in public places or larger groups. (46:26)
• Can be virtual or in-person; both have pros and cons regarding connection and distraction. (47:04)
• Cadence: Does not have to be monthly! Customize to the group’s needs (every 6 weeks, quarterly, etc.). (48:19)

Why It Works:

• Builds community and deeper understanding of fellow readers’ tastes.
• Allows for tailored recommendations—bookish “twins” and “anti-twins” emerge.
• Great for both planned and mood readers.
• Encourages literary serendipity and reading diversity.

Kaytee:

"Bookish friends are the best friends." (49:52)

4. Community & Listener Highlight

Bookish Friend of the Week: Alicia (50:14)

• Recognized for leveraging the Bookish Friends group for Japanese translation recs—members quickly delivered 33+ comments and suggestions.
• Meredith highlights Confessions by Kanae Minato as a personal favorite to add to Alicia’s growing TBR.

5. Sleeper Hit Recommendation

Timeline by Michael Crichton (52:19)

• Meredith calls this blend of time travel and historical adventure one of her favorite audiobooks ever, especially for fans of science-meets-storytelling.
• Meredith:

  "If you like books with time travel, but you've never tried Michael Crichton, this is the perfect place to dip your toe." (54:06)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Meredith (on A Violent Age):

  "There is no way on the planet that you could guess what the thing is." (12:40)

• Kaytee (on reader speed dating):

  "If she looks up, then I’m safe to talk to her. And it was." (05:18)

• Meredith (on book club format):

  "It's kind of like an old school literary society...Just get together and everyone talks about the books they’ve been reading recently." (39:07)

• Kaytee (on being a mood reader at book club):

  "For a lot of us, being told what to read the next month is the surest way to kill our reading mojo." (45:15)

• Both, several times:

  "Bookish friends are the best friends." (49:52)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Bookish moments: 01:37–05:59
• Current reads: 06:21–38:29
  • A Violent Age: 06:21
  • Partners in Crime: 13:03
  • Speedy Death: 17:26
  • A Study in Drowning: 23:22
  • The Witch’s Orchard: 28:40
  • Everyone is Lying to You: 33:27
• Deep Dive – Currently Reading Style Book Clubs: 38:52–49:52
• Bookish Friend of the Week: 50:14
• Sleeper Hit – Timeline: 52:19

Tone and Vibe

The banter is warm, energetic, and refreshingly honest. Meredith and Kaytee are unafraid of strong opinions or a little confusion ("I'm confused about it and now you all are confused about it with me" (11:58)), and their friendship shines through their encouragement of literary serendipity and bookish connection. Their love of community—both IRL and virtual—is a guiding theme, as is building your "readerly life" around personal joy and authentic tastes.

Takeaway

Whether you're looking for your next twisty mystery, a quirky Golden Age classic, or practical tips for creating a low-pressure, high-connection book club, this episode brims with candor, warmth, and literary wisdom. The "Currently Reading" ethos: embrace your reading identity unapologetically, seek out fellow book lovers, and let curiosity drive your TBR.