Podcast Summary: "Book Talk w/ Kris & Mads!!!"

Podcast: I’ll Read What She’s Reading
Hosts: Reggie, Mikayla, Kennedy
Guests: Kris and Mads (BookTok creators)
Date: August 20, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode welcomes special guests—and BookTok sister duo—Kris and Mads for an in-depth, wildly fun conversation about bookish life, their journey as creators, and more. The group dives into the unique dynamics of sisterhood, building community through BookTok, favorite reads, disagreement over books, and the realities of collaborative content creation. Lively banter, vulnerable insights, and laughs abound as they cover everything from building bookshelves to dream book boyfriends.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introducing Kris & Mads—and Sisterhood in Bookish Spaces

• Meet Kris and Mads: The hosts express their excitement at having Kris and Mads, both popular BookTok creators, on the show.
• Bookish Sister Dynamic: The duo shares their bond and working history, explaining how their relationship as sisters informs their content and teamwork.
  • “We’ve always really worked together...but I think this is the best it’s ever been.” – Mads (03:19)

Notable Moments

• Addressing online confusion: many assume they’re a couple due to their close rapport.
  • “We are from the same womb...we’re sisters, not lovers.” – Mads (02:40)

2. Childhood Reading Roots & Path to BookTok

• Early Reading Influence: Growing up homeschooled, their parents integrated reading deeply into their education.
  • Exposure to classics (from mom) and sci-fi/fantasy (from dad).
  • “We didn’t have a TV...primarily what we were allowed to watch were adaptations of books we had read and black-and-white musicals.” – Kris (06:29)
• BookTok Origin Story: Maddie discovered BookTok after Throne of Glass left her wanting more recommendations; Kris initially doubted the platform.
  • “I didn’t know that people filmed videos of themselves talking about books on the internet...I was like, we could do better!” – Kris (09:06)

Notable Moments

• Their first TikTok went viral, giving them early positive feedback.

3. The Appeal and Power of Online Book Community

• BookTok as the Water Cooler: The group discusses how BookTok and similar platforms act as communal spaces for readers:
  • “I think readers have always been longing for a place that we could all do that around books...BookTok gives us that.” – Kris (11:04)
• Making Friends Worldwide: Mads bonds with readers from Australia and Canada, and their book trips (Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Egypt) have sparked global friendships. (13:49–14:10)
• Taking Risks and Main Character Energy: Travel and online friendships encourage “bravery bonds.”
  • “It helps us take on that main character energy and just do something brave together.” – Mads (15:10)

4. Bookish Aesthetics & Shelf Styling

• Decorating Bookspaces: Mads, with a background as an interior stylist, shares bookshelf design wisdom, reflecting diverse reader habits.
  • “There are people who do all their reading on audio...some love collecting. That’s been my biggest challenge with this series.” – Kris (17:45)
• DIY Built-ins: Their Instagram-worthy shelves started as IKEA Billy bookcases, trimmed and painted for built-in appeal. (18:35)

5. Advice for Bookish Content Creators

• Alignment & Authenticity: Both sisters stress the importance of pursuing content creation with passion and alignment rather than pressure.
  • “If it’s not meant for you...you’ll find excuses to not do it. We always wait for the energy to be there and the focus.” – Kris (19:50)
  • “Treat it as generosity. If five people see your video, you were able to be generous to five more people than you could have been in your normal life.” – Mads (21:30–22:03)

6. Navigating Partnership, Conflict, and Growth

• Healthy Collaboration: Kris and Mads discuss honest communication and holding space for each other, prioritizing their relationship over business.
  • “No amount of money, success, popularity, anything would be worth losing my relationship with my sister.” – Kris (27:07)
  • “Sometimes...we have some tears and some honest words...honesty does not always feel great, but we always hug and always feel growth.” – Kris (22:41)

7. Book Preferences, Overlaps & (Rare) Disagreements

• Reading Taste Venn Diagram: Out of hundreds of shared books, they disagree on very few.
  • “It took us all weekend to come up with eight [books] we disagreed on.” – Kris (30:57)
• Disagreement Highlights:
  • The Grace Year – Kris rated it 5 stars, Maddie 2.
  • Normal People – Maddie loved it, Kris found it depressing.
  • Picture of Dorian Gray – Maddie adores classics, Kris prefers plot-driven, upbeat reads.

Notable Quotes

• “I think that’s my biggest issue with contemporary romance; I would never be friends with the main chick.” – Mads (37:40)
• “I just want to see more real...I can’t relate to 18-year-olds anymore.” – Kris (38:05)

8. Book Recommendations & Personal Favorites

Kris’ Top Books:

• The Fellowship of the Ring (J.R.R. Tolkien)
• Red Rising (Pierce Brown)
• Sense and Sensibility (Jane Austen)
• Throne of Glass (Sarah J. Maas)
• First Time Caller (BK Borison)

Mads’ Top Books:

• The Two Towers (J.R.R. Tolkien)
• Red Rising (Pierce Brown)
• Realm of the Elderlings (Robin Hobb)
• Alone With You in the Ether (Olivie Blake)

Notable Bookish Banter (32:19–37:32)

• Both fangirl over Pierce Brown; speculate about his upcoming book.
• Hot take: Characters with confidence (esp. FMCs) > characters with low self-esteem.

9. Genre Preferences and Reading Mood

• Kris avoids horror and sad books unless the timing’s right; loves fun and fantasy.
• Mads enjoys literary fiction, deeper character transformation, but is wary of books she feels are emotionally manipulative for tragedy’s sake (Kristin Hannah’s works discussed at 47:47–49:43).

10. Rapid-Fire “Newlywed Game” Segment (50:28–56:37)

Fun Q&A to see how well Kris and Mads know each other.
Example Results:

• Favorite trope: Chosen One (Mads), Friends to Lovers (Kris)
• Book boyfriend: Cade (Kris), Draco from “Manacled” or Rowan (Mads)
• Favorite author: Robin Hobb (Mads), Sarah J. Maas/John Gwynne (Kris’s trusted)

11. Current Non-Bookish Obsessions (58:32–63:23)

• Both love their Nuuly clothing subscription.
• Kris: Animal Crossing, dance/spin classes, pickleball, puzzles, gaming.
• Mads: Korean skincare rabbit hole, daily 10k steps with kids, meal prepping, gardening, watching Wheel of Time (show and audiobook with Rosamund Pike).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• “I was a nanny for her for a couple of years because her kids are older than mine...now it’s like I don’t know if I could have as functioning a relationship with any other co-worker.” – Mads (03:19)
• “I’m such a mood reader...if I’m catching that a book is going to take me down a darker, sadder road, I just have to check in with myself and say OK, am I in a place where I can do that right now or am I not?” – Kris (46:46)
• “Sometimes the most profound transformation happens subtly and it happens internally...So long as the transformation is deep, the circumstances don’t have to be that extreme for me.” – Mads (48:54)
• “We love our book club so much. It’s like our most favorite community.” – Mads (63:39)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:00 | Show welcome and guest intro
• 06:29 | Sisters’ childhood reading memories and home environment
• 09:41 | How Kris and Mads launched BookTok
• 11:04 | BookTok’s role as a “water cooler” for readers
• 13:47 | On making international friends and book-inspired travel
• 16:42 | Bookshelf tips and DIY built-ins
• 19:50 | Advice for aspiring BookTokers (show up when you’re in alignment)
• 22:41 | Conflict resolution and prioritizing the sister relationship
• 30:36 | Book disagreements: “The Grace Year,” “Normal People,” “Dorian Gray”
• 32:19 | Personal favorite books and overlap/disagreement
• 37:32 | Hot takes on contemporary romance heroines
• 43:11 | Genre and reading mood preferences
• 50:28–56:37 | “Newlywed Game” bookish Q&A segment
• 58:32 | Current obsessions and favorite non-bookish activities

Overall Tone & Takeaways

The conversation is energetic, deeply authentic, and candid, characterized by quick-witted banter, supportive encouragement, and a focus on intentional living, both on and offline. The episode is as much about the lived, messy, and joyful experience of reading and creating together as it is about the books themselves.

For listeners seeking inspiration, community, or new reads (or bookshelf decor hacks!), this episode delivers with humor, heart, and a palpable love of stories and sisterhood.

Find Kris and Mads:

• Everywhere as "@kris.and.mads" (see links in their linktree and Patreon for book clubs)
• “We love our book club so much. It’s like our most favorite community.” – (63:39)