Podcast Summary: From the Front Porch – Episode 551 || Literary Therapy, Vol. 25

Host: Annie Jones
Date: October 16, 2025

Overview

In this cozy “Literary Therapy” installment, Annie Jones, owner of The Bookshelf in Thomasville, GA, dives into the mailbag to answer listener questions about fall and autumnal reads. The episode brims with book recommendations for every kind of fall mood—cozy, mysterious, darkly funny, atmospheric, or suitable for classroom read-alouds. Annie’s thoughtful responses are bookish care packages, sprinkled with southern warmth, humor, and expertise.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Autumnal Vibes Without the Scare

Listener: Christy from Tennessee [03:05]
Question: Books with fall vibes that aren’t scary?
Annie’s Approach:
Not everyone wants to read spooky books in October. These recommendations have “autumnal vibes” (Annie jokes about overusing the term) through cozy academic, New England, or family settings.

Recommendations:

• Elizabeth Strout: Tell Me Everything, Olive, Again, Oh, William!
• The Road to Dalton by Shannon Bowring
• Empire Falls by Richard Russo
• The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand
• The Fortunate Ones by Ed Tarkington
• My Monticello by Jocelyn Nicole Johnson
• Like Family by Aaron O. White (upcoming release)
• The Book of Goose by Yuyun Li
• The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff (“one of my favorite Lauren Groff books” – Annie)
• We Loved to Run by Stephanie Rentz
• We Ride Upon Sticks by Quan Barry
• Old Lovegood Girls by Gail Godwin
• The Headmaster by John McPhee (“it apparently reads like a New Yorker profile…if you’re obsessed with boarding school campuses, this has gotten really good reviews” – Annie [07:08])

Quote:
“These are books set around the academic year or on an academic campus...books that have in my mind a cozy autumnal setting.” (Annie, [03:50])

2. Audiobooks for Autumnal Moods

Listener: Courtney from Massachusetts [08:07]
Question: Autumnal, possibly spooky or mysterious books that are great on audio?
Annie’s Approach:
She prioritizes audiobook quality and production and matches Courtney’s love of mysteries and atmospheric stories.

Audiobook Recommendations:

• The H by Zinnabie Purvis (“The publisher is pitching this as The Crucible meets Virgin Suicides…definitely on the weirder side of things” – Annie, [09:20])
• Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
• All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker (“fantastic audiobook…everyone on staff loved except Nancy” [09:40])
• The Nature of Disappearing and These Silent Woods by Kimmy Cunningham Grant
• Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera (“there’s a podcast element, great sound effects, well produced” [10:25])
• The Professor and The Resemblance by Lauren Nossett (set on campus, detective mysteries)
• Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn
• The Librarian by an unmentioned author (upcoming, in the vein of Killers of a Certain Age)
• Dominion by Addie Kitchens (not spooky, “really well produced, great narration…if you liked The Mothers by Brit Bennett, this will be for you” [12:44])

3. Fall Literary & Cocktail Flight

Listener: Molly from Texas [15:17]
Question: Pair cozy drinks with great fall reads; bonus if closed door/trigger free.

Annie’s Literary & Drink Pairings:

1. Old Fashioned — Buckeye by Patrick Ryan
   • “A new modern classic…feels like a sophisticated book.” (Annie, [16:28])
2. Tipperary (Irish cocktail) — The Likeness by Tana French
   • “Almost a dark academia feel…If you like The Secret History, you’ll like The Likeness.” [18:32]
3. Xanthia (celebratory cocktail) — Table for Two by Amor Towles
   • “Short stories feel like an after dinner mint or after dinner cocktail.” [19:51]

Non-Alcoholic Combos:

• Chai tea — Play for Me by Libby Hubscher (“a lovely autumnal rom com, perfect for reading or listening to” [21:48])
• Pumpkin spice latte — Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell (“I think I should reread Pumpkinheads every year. It’s a delightful graphic novel.” [22:14])

Quote:
“Molly, I took this really seriously and I hope you know that.” (Annie, [17:52])

4. Autumnal Literary Thrillers

Listener: Christine [22:42]
Question: Literary thrillers in the autumnal vein, akin to Saint X or God of the Woods?
Annie’s Recommendations:

• Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn (with TV adaptation: “underpraised in my opinion” [23:36])
• Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy (“set in the Arctic or in Antarctica, feels cold…end of November or December” [24:08])
• Heartwood by Amity Gage (“set in New England, loved this book” [24:32])
• Penitents by Kristin Kovacic (“great for fans of Defending Jacob” [25:10])
• Knife River by Justine Champagne (“if you’re a fan of Long Bright River” [25:22])
• Granite Harbor by Peter Nichols (“if you like serial killer detective stories” [25:34])
• Fox by Joyce Carol Oates (“very dark…feels a little like required reading for parents” [26:04])

Note: Trigger warnings apply to many of these titles.

5. Deeper Novels with Nonfiction Feel

Listener: Matt from Pittsburgh [26:44]
Question: Books that feel like nonfiction, are deeper but have a plot (“Stonyard Devotional”, “The Correspondent”, “Beautyland”)
Annie’s Picks:

• Heart the Lover by Lily King (“It’s about friendship…and grappling with who we once were.” [27:44])
• Play World by Adam Ross (“Lengthy and reads slowly in the best way…a coming of age story.” [28:12])
• Among Friends by Hal Ebbitt (“examination of a lifelong friendship…beautifully written” [28:52])
• Dinosaurs by Lydia Millet (“quiet, short little book about neighborliness…much more interesting this way” [29:20])
• Beautiful World, Where Are You? by Sally Rooney (“remains one of my favorite Sally Rooney books…so timely for right now” [29:44])
• Flashlight by Susan Choi (“about family trauma, absolutely adored it, could not put it down” [30:23])

6. The Seriously Silly: Outlandish, Satirical, Ridiculous Fiction

Listener: Alana from Fresno, CA [32:25]
Question: “What do we call books that are a touch outlandish/ridiculous? Examples: Unlikely Animals, The Sweet Spot” & more recommendations.

Annie’s Term(s):

• “Darkly comedic,” “satirical,” “seriously silly,” “fiction that borders on the ridiculous.”

Book Suggestions:

• Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple (“that feels like the kind of thing we’re talking about” [34:23])
• The Misfortune of Marian Palm by Emily Culliton (“so funny, so dark…she’s embezzled from her children’s school!” [35:23])
• Far and Away and The Sweet Spot by Amy Poeppel (“any of Amy Poeppel’s books…just as delightful” [36:06])
• My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite (“if you want to go even darker” [36:40])
• The Big Finish by Brooke Fossey (“one of those quarantine reads that has stuck with me” [37:02])
• The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett
• Less by Andrew Sean Greer
• Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe (“certainly not PG, but you didn’t ask for PG, Alana” [37:34])
• Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
• Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett

Quote:
“I like the phrase seriously silly…laugh out loud funny. Because a lot of these books that I’m gonna recommend, I hope in my mind, are laugh out loud funny.” (Annie, [33:58])

7. Read-Alouds for Second Grade

Listener: Anna Urban from Duluth, MN [38:42]
Question: Middle grade read-alouds, appropriate for 2nd grade, exciting but not too mature.

Collaborative Recommendations:

• The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane and The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo (“Both...made my list and they made Jennifer’s as well” [40:05])
• The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
• Mrs. Piggle Wiggle by Betty McDonald (“That book is old, but I loved it as a kid” [40:30])
• The Midd Night Post and the Post Box Clock by Sarah Dean (“beautiful illustrations and perfect for second graders” [41:00])
• Skunk and Badger by Amy Timberlake
• The Silver Arrow by Lev Grossman
• All the Best Dogs by Emily Jenkins
• Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
• Ramona series by Beverly Cleary

Quote:
“Thank you for all that you do for students and for little ones.” (Annie, [39:44])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Every once in a while here on from the Front Porch, I dive into the metaphorical mailbag and I peruse your readerly hangups and your bookish conundrums, like a literary Frasier Crane tackling your issues on air.” (Annie, [02:15])
• “Molly, I took this really seriously and I hope you know that.” (Annie, [17:52])
• “It feels like a sophisticated book…I was right, and it was the Jenna Bush Hager pick for, I believe, September. So I feel really good about that.” (Annie, on Buckeye by Patrick Ryan, [16:35])
• “If you like the Secret History, I think you will like The Likeness.” (Annie, [18:41])
• “I like the phrase seriously silly…but in terms of what we call this subgenre…seriously silly or fiction that borders on the ridiculous.” (Annie, [33:58])
• “I have such fond memories of being read to…and so I love the role you’re playing in your classroom and the memories that your kids are gonna have of you reading to them.” (Annie, [41:25])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:05] – Christy: Non-scary autumnal books
• [08:07] – Courtney: Audiobook recommendations for fall moods
• [15:37] – Molly: Autumnal book and drink pairings (includes non-alcoholic options)
• [22:42] – Christine: Autumnal literary thrillers
• [26:44] – Matt: Deeper novels that almost feel nonfictional
• [32:25] – Alana: Seriously silly, outlandish, darkly comic fiction
• [38:42] – Anna: Second-grade classroom read-alouds

Tone & Style

Annie’s responses are warm, conversational, and occasionally gently self-deprecating. She leans into the southern charm and bookish expertise that characterize the podcast, keeping the discussion friendly and deeply informative, with moments of humor and personal reflection.

Takeaways

This episode is a goldmine for anyone seeking a perfect fall read—whether you want coziness, a literary chill, a heartier topic, a laugh, or a story to share with young listeners. Annie’s thoughtful curation and recommendations offer something for every reading mood and level, all delivered with Bookshelf warmth and wit.