Reading Glasses Podcast Episode Summary
Episode: Ep 417 - Anticipated Books for July and August!
Release Date: June 26, 2025
Hosts: Brea Grant and Mallory O'Meara
Podcast Description: Reading Glasses is a weekly podcast hosted by Brea Grant and Mallory O’Meara, dedicated to helping book lovers enhance their reading experience. The show covers a range of topics including combating To-Be-Read piles, organizing bookshelves, reviews of the latest reading gadgets, and tackling common bookish challenges.
1. Current Reads
Bria Grant on "It Rhymes with Takei" by George Takei
Bria shares her enthusiasm for George Takei's new graphic memoir, It Rhymes with Takei, illustrated by Harmony Becker. She highlights the memoir's focus on Takei's activism and his journey in acting, particularly emphasizing his late-life coming out at age 68.
"He's just a wonderful writer, and he's so cute and funny. He has the most amazing quips." [02:08]
Mallory O'Meara on "The Lilac People" by Milo Todd
Mallory discusses her current read, The Lilac People, a historical fiction novel set during World War II. The story explores the lives of a young trans couple in Berlin and their struggles amidst the rise of the Nazis, intertwining themes of love, resilience, and LGBTQ activism.
"I feel like we haven't gotten the chance to read about trans people in history like this before." [04:16]
2. Listener Feedback
Amanda's Email on E-Readers and Bookshop.org
Amanda praises the podcast for introducing her to Bookshop.org's new ebook feature, which allows her to read books from various apps on a single device, supporting bookstores and preferred podcasts with her purchases.
"Thank you for bringing Bookshop's ebooks to my attention. I love being able to support a bookstore or a podcast of my choosing." [04:39]
Evie's Experience with Reading Slumps
Evie shares how Reading Glasses helped her overcome multiple reading slumps, embracing audiobooks and managing to read over 50 books in 2024 despite personal challenges like completing her bachelor's degree, dealing with loss, and new parenthood.
"Reading glasses has helped me through multiple book slumps... now I read audiobooks almost exclusively." [05:55]
3. Membership and Community Engagement
Mallory emphasizes the importance of Max Fun members in supporting the show, sharing her appreciation for their contributions that allow her to dedicate extensive time to curating content. She encourages listeners to join the community for exclusive benefits like access to the Discord server and special content.
"When it's 10pm and I have been looking at book titles for eight hours, I think of you and I appreciate you." [14:24]
Brea and Mallory also request listeners to leave reviews on platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify to help the show reach milestones, highlighting their goal of attaining 2,000 reviews on Apple Podcasts.
4. Most Anticipated Books for July
Shared Pick: "The Bewitching" by Sylvia Moreno
A multigenerational horror saga where three women from different eras face dangers and witchcraft. Set across 19th century Mexico and 1990s Massachusetts, the narrative intertwines personal struggles with supernatural elements.
"Back then, when I was a young woman, there were still witches." [15:13]
Shared Pick: "Another" by Paul Tremblay
A middle-grade horror book revolving around Casey Wilson, who deals with social ostracization post a mysterious incident. A peculiar friend arrives for a sleepover, bringing eerie elements that challenge Casey's understanding of friendship and fear.
"It's not normal. There's something going on here." [16:03]
Bria's Pick: "The Woman in Sweet Eleven" by Ruth Ware
A thriller set in a luxury Swiss hotel owned by a billionaire, where unsettling events unfold leading to a cat-and-mouse pursuit across Europe. Bria appreciates Ruth Ware's compelling voice and intricate mysteries.
"I love the woman in cabin 10 because it was this mystery. You didn't know what happened to this woman." [18:05]
Mallory's Pick: "A Resistance of Witches" by Morgan Ryan
A historical fantasy set during World War II, featuring British witches engaging in magical espionage against Nazi witches. The plot centers on a quest to secure a magical grimoire before it falls into the wrong hands.
"British witches going against Nazi witches. Plus a magical book sold very." [18:54]
Bria's Additional Picks:
- "Angel Down" by Daniel Krause: A World War I horror novel where soldiers discover a fallen angel that could end the war.
- "The Convenience Store by the Sea" by Sunoco Machida: Magical realism set in a Japanese convenience store, exploring interconnected stories with a cozy, wish-fulfillment atmosphere.
Mallory's Additional Picks:
- "How to Survive a Horror Story" by Mallory Arnold: A fantasy thriller where writers participate in a deadly game within a mansion, solving puzzles to stay alive.
- "The Library at Hellbore" by Cassandra Kaw: Dark academia meets supernatural horror in a school for gifted individuals destined to impact the apocalypse.
- "The Original" by Nell Stevens: Queer historical fiction about an art forger uncovering family secrets in 1899 England.
5. Most Anticipated Books for August
Shared Pick: "Automatic Noodle" by Annalee Newitz
A cozy near-future sci-fi novella where leftover robots open their own noodle shop, blending warmth and charm with futuristic themes.
"Every time I read the description of this book, my heart grows a little bit." [29:02]
Bria's Pick: "A Catabasis" by RF Kuang
A fantasy novel about two graduate students who embark on a perilous journey to hell to save their deceased professor's soul, highlighting themes of academic rivalry and sacrifice.
"It's like Orpheus and Eurydice, but instead of love, you have to go back so you can get your recommendation." [30:05]
Mallory's Pick: "The Hounding" by Zenobi Purvis
A historical horror mystery set in 18th century England where five sisters are suspected of transforming into dogs, blending gothic elements with eerie town secrets.
"It's like The Crucible meets The Virgin Suicides." [31:06]
Bria's Additional Pick: "The Midnight Shift" by Sun Run Chun
A vampire murder mystery set in Korea, exploring queer love and the consequences of loneliness as elderly individuals die under mysterious circumstances.
"Four elderly people die back to back in the same hospital by jumping out of the sixth-floor window." [38:08]
Mallory's Additional Pick: "The Game in Yellow" by Haley Piper
A queer horror novel inspired by The King in Yellow, where a kinky couple delves into dark magical practices through a mysterious book, blending cosmic horror with erotic elements.
"A queer version of the King in Yellow." [39:12]
Bria's Final Pick: "Lessons in Magic and Disaster" by Charlie Jane Anders
An adult fantasy set in New England during autumn, following Jamie, a powerful witch balancing her academic pursuits, a queer relationship, and generational trauma.
"Jamie is basically your average New England academic in training. She has a strong queer relationship, an esoteric dissertation proposal, and inherited generational trauma." [35:31]
6. Community and Engagement
The hosts encourage listeners to share their book recommendations and anticipated reads via email or through their Discord server. They also highlight the importance of community moderators in maintaining an engaging and supportive environment for listeners.
"If there's a book you're looking forward to, we want to hear about it. Let us help." [27:41]
They also mention their upcoming 250th episode celebration, emphasizing that each episode stands on its own with unique and fascinating topics.
7. Final Remarks
Brea and Mallory wrap up the episode by reiterating the importance of listener support through reviews and memberships. They express gratitude towards their community and promote their merchandise store for listeners interested in showing their support.
"If you like the show, why not give us a nice rating? Write a little lovely review." [40:10]
Notable Quotes:
- "June is coming after me like a wave." — Bria Grant [00:34]
- "You have to live long and prosper." — Bria Grant [12:30]
- "It's like a competition that's after death." — Mallory O'Meara [23:28]
- "A lot of fun coming out." — Bria Grant [28:49]
Engage with Reading Glasses:
- Email: readingglassespodcast@gmail.com
- Instagram: Reading Glasses Podcast
- Discord Server: Join via Maximum Fun maximumfun.org/join
- Merchandise: Available through the show notes link.
Support the Show:
Leave a five-star review on your preferred podcast platform and consider becoming a Max Fun member to support future episodes and gain exclusive access to content.
Thank you for tuning into Reading Glasses! Happy reading and see you next week with more exciting book discussions.