Reading Glasses Podcast Summary: Episode 418 - Best Books of the Year Halftime Show!

Release Date: July 3, 2025
Hosts: Brea Grant and Mallory O’Meara

Introduction to the Halftime Show

In Episode 418 of Reading Glasses, hosts Brea Grant and Mallory O’Meara celebrate the midpoint of 2025 by unveiling their favorite books released in the first half of the year. Titled Best Books of the Year Halftime Show!, this episode is a vibrant exploration of the top literary picks that have captivated the Reading Glasses community so far.

Current Reads

Brea Grant is eagerly diving into Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid. She expresses her enthusiasm for Reid's work, highlighting how each of her novels, including The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Malibu Rising, consistently delivers compelling stories. In Atmosphere, the narrative unfolds in Houston during the 1980s space shuttle program, focusing on a woman aspiring to become an astronaut. The novel intricately weaves themes of ambition, competition, and personal discovery, especially as the protagonist navigates her growing feelings for a fellow female candidate. Brea remarks:

"It's both about space and the competition between all the astronauts, and also about their relationship. It's just really beautifully written. It's so gorgeous." (00:50)

Mallory O’Meara, on the other hand, is immersed in Bull Moon Rising by Ruby Dixon as this month’s smart book. Moving away from Dixon's previous sci-fi series, this book delves into a fantasy realm where magic is tied to ancient artifacts. The story follows a woman from a noble family striving to restore her family's fortunes by becoming an artifact hunter. Mallory is particularly excited about the book's inclusion of romantic elements with a unique twist involving a minotaur character. She shares:

"It's straight up fantasy... there's a minotaur race in this book who... they have a rut where they get really horny, and he's about to go into that." (02:35)

Listener Feedback

The hosts take a moment to engage with their listeners' feedback, showcasing the community's involvement and appreciation.

• Sarah's Comment:
  Sarah praises the book tracking episode, sharing her experience of managing multiple spreadsheets to keep up with her reading. She states:

  "You knew I had definitely found my book person home with that episode." (05:10)

• Adriana Wroten's Insight:
  Adriana, a Lab Operations Manager at a conservation lab in Philadelphia, discusses the impact of recent funding cuts to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). She emphasizes the threat these cuts pose to the preservation of rare books and cultural artifacts, urging listeners to support libraries through donations. Adriana passionately urges:

  "Without grant support, materials may suffer irreversible damage... consider directly donating to them or to other organizations committed to preserving cultural heritage." (05:36)

Brea acknowledges Adriana's heartfelt message, reinforcing the importance of supporting cultural institutions.

Best Books of 2025 So Far

Shared Pick: The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett

Brea and Mallory both laud Annie Hartnett's The Road to Tender Hearts as their joint favorite. This heartwarming yet dark narrative follows an older, troubled man who unexpectedly becomes responsible for two distant relatives. Their subsequent road trip is fraught with emotional depth, including themes of grief and redemption. Despite its light-hearted premise, the book delves into intense subjects such as a murder-suicide and a mystical cat that predicts death. Mallory reflects:

"This book is about grief, magical realism with animals, and somehow it's making me feel better about life." (14:30)

Brea Grant's Individual Picks

1. Daughter of Daring by Mallory O’Meara
   A touching non-fiction piece exploring the resilience of women in Hollywood, focusing on Helen Gibson, America’s first stuntwoman. Brea highlights its timely relevance and inspirational narrative:

   "It gave me a lot of hope... women filmmakers come back like the wolves in Yellowstone." (16:10)

2. Wake Up and Open Your Eyes by Clay McLeod Chapman
   A gripping horror novel that delves into themes of misinformation and societal addiction to the internet. Brea praises its timely commentary and chilling storyline:

   "This book really scared me... it's about our addiction to the Internet and how people aren't critical of the information they take in." (19:32)

3. Sky Daddy by Kate Falk
   An unconventional and humorous tale about a woman obsessed with marrying her soulmate plane. Brea admires Falk's unique blend of humor and deep character exploration:

   "She believes it's her destiny to marry one of these planes by dying in a plane crash... you convinced me to hope that this woman dies in a plane crash." (26:10)

4. Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping on a Dead Man by Jesse Sutanto
   A cozy mystery featuring the beloved character Vera Wong, who solves another intriguing case involving a missing influencer. Brea appreciates the comforting and quirky nature of the series:

   "It's a fun little mystery with Vera Wong... she's amazing." (32:04)

5. Strange Case of Jano by Karen Thompson Walker
   A speculative fiction novel exploring dissociative episodes and supernatural elements through the protagonist's fragmented memories. Brea commends its literary depth and emotional complexity:

   "It's a really beautifully written, cool speculative fiction sort of book." (35:54)

Mallory O’Meara's Individual Picks

1. Old Soul by Susan Barker
   A literary horror that intertwines human and monster perspectives, set against a backdrop of cosmic themes. Mallory is captivated by its unique narrative structure and queer representation:

   "You get the protagonists trying to track down the monster, but you also get the point of view of the monster as well." (19:16)

2. Raising Hair by Chloe Dalton (Audiobook)
   A quiet memoir about finding a baby hair and its transformative impact on the protagonist’s hectic life. Mallory praises the audiobook's introspective and life-affirming storytelling:

   "She starts raising it and the hair completely transforms her life... teaches her how to slow down and enjoy life more." (30:12)

3. Blob by Maggie Sue
   A literary fiction piece where a woman discovers a sentient blob, exploring themes of relationships and self-discovery. Mallory is enthralled by its surprising twists and depth:

   "It's one of those books where you're like, sometimes what you think you want is not actually what you want or need." (27:36)

4. A Letter from the Lonesome Shore by Sylvie Cathall
   The second installment in the Sunken Archive duology, this book delves into an underwater future world with a focus on a blossoming relationship and high-stakes mystery. Mallory highlights its sweet and imaginative narrative:

   "It's so sweet to read because you're just like, oh, yeah, I wish we get to that world where people are baffled by bad behavior." (24:36)

5. Vantage Point by Sarah Sligar
   A tense family drama with supernatural elements, set in Maine. The novel examines complex relationships and mysterious deaths occurring every April. Mallory describes it as a high-powered family saga with tight pacing:

   "It's a very weird, tense family drama that has this almost supernatural element to it because of the April thing." (36:46)

Conclusion and Community Engagement

As the episode wraps up, Brea and Mallory encourage listeners to share their favorite books of 2025 and engage with the Reading Glasses community through Discord and their newsletter. They express gratitude towards their moderators and highlight ways listeners can support the show, including merchandise and direct ratings.

Notable Quotes Highlights:

• Bria on Atmosphere:
  "It's both about space and the competition between all the astronauts, and also about their relationship." (00:50)

• Mallory on Bull Moon Rising:
  "It's straight up fantasy... there's a minotaur race in this book who... they have a rut where they get really horny." (02:35)

• Adriana Wroten on Libraries:
  "Without grant support, materials may suffer irreversible damage... consider directly donating to them or to other organizations committed to preserving cultural heritage." (05:36)

• Bria on The Road to Tender Hearts:
  "This book is about grief, magical realism with animals, and somehow it's making me feel better about life." (14:30)

• Mallory on Old Soul:
  "You get the protagonists trying to track down the monster, but you also get the point of view of the monster as well." (19:16)

For more insights and updates, listeners can join the Reading Glasses Discord community or subscribe to their newsletter through the show’s website.