Podcast Summary: Reading Glasses Ep 427 - Most Anticipated Books for September and October!

Hosts: Brea Grant & Mallory O’Meara
Release Date: September 4, 2025

Episode Overview

In this energetic and bookish episode, Brea and Mallory dive into their most anticipated book releases for September and October 2025, traversing genres, spotlighting author friends, and sharing curated “must-add” titles for your To-Be-Read list. The hosts provide both quick-hit opinions and deep dives, recommend titles across horror, literary fiction, romance, and more, and even share practical tips for fellow book lovers. The episode maintains their friendly, slightly irreverent banter and is packed with recommendations, listener feedback, and community updates.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. What Are We Reading? (00:44–04:40)

• Mallory’s Pick: The Good House by Tananarive Due

  • Rereading for book club (audio narrated by Robin Miles).
  • “It’s a haunted house book, but...it’s actually a demon possession story...a demon possession wrapped in a haunted house.” (Mallory, 01:26)
  • Praises its writing, characters, spooky atmosphere, and considers it a modern horror classic.
  • Recommendation for both print and audio formats.

• Brea’s Pick: Another by Paul Tremblay

  • Paul Tremblay’s middle grade horror debut.
  • “He’s having some mental health issues...pandemic, bullied at school...parents buy an old rotary phone...phone rings, clay boy comes to life, parents act weird.” (Brea, 03:01)
  • Lauds its spookiness and depth, plus “found it really relevant to the AI conversation.”

2. Listener Feedback and Community Joy (04:51–09:00)

• Tara’s Email:

  • Reading Glasses challenges expanding reading horizons.
  • “The more different books I try, the more curious I become...my reading range grows even more.” (Tara, 06:21)

• Terry’s Email:

  • Retired librarian, running impromptu “reading retreats” at home with snacks and cozy gear to self-soothe after canceled plans.
  • “Should we have a shirt that says books and books and books?” (Mallory, 08:22)
  • Wheelhouse: dark thrillers, wacky husband plots, haunted houses, and “humor that most people think is too dark.” (Bria, 08:43)

3. Housekeeping and Upcoming Glassers Events (09:00–11:25)

• Readathon Announcement:

  • September 13th, Saturday, full day to read and connect; check-ins on Instagram Live and community platforms.
  • “Tag us in your stacks for the Reading Glasses Readathon...post some photos on Instagram.” (Mallory, 09:52)

• Glasser Book Club:

  • Next club pick is The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno Garcia.
  • “Start reading now, baby!” (Mallory, 11:18)

4. Main Feature: Most Anticipated Books (12:21–41:47)

A. September: Hall of Fame Horror Month & More

• Shared Picks and Friends of the Show:

  • Why I Love Horror (Becky Spratford)
    • “If you love horror or you have a friend...you have to get this book.” (Bria, 15:32)
  • Fiend (Alma Katsu)
  • Acquired Taste (Clay McLeod Chapman, short stories)
  • Spread Me (Sarah Gailey)
    • “It’s erotic horror...the Thing, if the Thing was horny.” (Bria, 16:30)
  • Play Nice (Rachel Harrison)
  • House of Idol (Delilah Dawson)
    • “She pitched this to me as evil Jared Leto with dark magic.” (Bria, 17:13)

• Bria’s Personal Picks:

  • Culling Season by Mona Awad (sequel/prequel to Bunny)
    • “Frankenstein by way of Heathers...another Bunny book.” (Mallory, 18:56)
  • The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy
    • “I love a friendship book...over the course of their 20-year friendship.” (Bria, 22:06)
  • What Fury Brings by Trisha Levenseller
    • “Sexy romantasy...a warrior general who must kidnap and train her husband...” (Bria, 24:32)
  • Mockingbird Court by Juno Black (Shady Hollow series)
    • “I’m like, levitate. I don’t want this series to end.” (Bria, 33:59)
  • The Salvage by Ambara Salaam
    • “Underwater haunting...I don’t think I’ve ever read a book like that.” (Bria, 41:02)

• Mallory’s Personal Picks:

  • Salt Cop by Yumi Katasi
    • “I feel like you have two kinds of cli-fi—dry or wet. This is wet.” (Mallory, 21:39)
  • Extremity by Nicholas Benj
    • “Philip K. Dick meets True Detective...a detective finds two bodies—the same guy.” (Mallory, 23:24)
  • Heart the Lover by Lily King (connected to Writers & Lovers)
  • Psychopomp and Circumstance by Eden Royce
    • “Southern gothic, historical fantasy...I like a funeral book.” (Mallory, 32:21)
  • Girl Dinner by Olivia Blake
    • “It’s dark academia, sorority meets...it all comes with a bloody cost.” (Mallory, 40:06)
  • Replaceable, You: Adventures in Human Anatomy by Mary Roach
    • “There’s fireworks going off around me...I’ve been holding it like a tub of ice cream in the freezer.” (Bria, 28:17)

B. October: Chilling Fall Reads

• Shared Picks:

  • The Unveiling by Quan Barry
    • “She’s on a cruise to the Antarctic to location scout and they get stuck there. That’s all.” (Bria, 29:59)
  • Nowhere Burning by Catriona Ward
    • “About feral children in the mountains...runaway teens, staying comes with a price.” (Bria, 31:03)

• Mallory’s October Picks:

  • Psychopomp and Circumstance by Eden Royce (see above)
  • Heart the Lover by Lily King (see above)
  • Bog Queen by Anna North
    • “I love bogs...it’s a literary fiction book about a forensic anthropologist investigating a perfectly preserved bog body.” (Bria, 36:07)
  • Girl Dinner by Olivia Blake (see above)
  • New Susan Orlean memoir
    • “Every day is an opportunity for discovery and every moment has the potential for wonder.” (Mallory, 38:11)

• Bria’s October Picks:

  • Mockingbird Court by Juno Black (see above)
  • Bog Queen by Anna North (see above)
  • The Hong Kong Widow by Christian Loesch
    • “Competition book, but for mediums, in Hong Kong’s most haunted house. A seance competition.” (Bria, 38:52)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Get ready to put things on hold at the library. Ready your little Libby pressing fingers.” – Brea, (00:35)
• “It’s a haunted house book, but it’s actually a demon possession story.” – Mallory, (01:26)
• “I found it really relevant to the AI conversation. I don’t know if Paul intended, but I loved it.” – Brea (03:34)
• “Books and books and books. Should we have a shirt that says that?” – Mallory, (08:22)
• “If you love horror or you have a friend who loves horror, you have to get this book.” – Bria, (15:32)
• “The Thing, if the Thing was horny.” – Bria, on Spread Me, (16:30)
• “You could write a ton of books in this world and I’m so happy Mona Awad did it.” – Mallory, (18:56)
• “I just love strong women. I want a woman who can crush your head like a watermelon.” – Mallory, (25:22)
• “If you want to get on the Shady Hollow train, this is the perfect time.” – Bria, (34:09)
• “I’ve been holding [Mary Roach’s new book] like a tub of ice cream, for when you really, really need it.” – Bria, (28:17)
• “We have really dry skin, so she likes a wet book.” – Mallory, (37:23)
• “A horror buffet this month...it is so much. An embarrassment of riches.” – Mallory, (41:33)
• “Start reading now, baby!” – Mallory, (11:18)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Intro & Book Chat: 00:07–04:40
• Listener Feedback: 04:51–09:00
• Readathon & Glasser Book Club: 09:00–11:25
• September Most Anticipated: 12:21–28:34
• October Most Anticipated: 29:18–41:47

Additional Resources & Community Links

• Curated Show Notes List: Full, detailed catalog of September & October releases—including genres, “wheelhouse” tags, and author info—available in the show notes and on the episode page at Maximum Fun.
• Newsletter Signup: For monthly reading lists delivered to your inbox.
• Discord & Slack: Community groups accessible to supporting members for deeper book chat and more.
• Void Merch Store: Seasonal Reading Glasses sweatshirts and more (proceeds “help feed the cats!”).
• Upcoming AMA: Submit your silly questions for the 2000-reviews milestone AMA episode.

Summary

With infectious energy and a true book-devourer spirit, Brea and Mallory’s roundup is a treasure trove for readers of all tastes, especially horror lovers and fans of women authors. The episode balances in-depth picks with community participation, emotional support, and a touch of trademark goofiness. Whether you’re seeking your next cozy mystery, a chilling horror novel for Halloween, or a literary deep dive—all the highlights and timestamps you need are above.

Find the full, curated book list and show links in the episode notes or at maximumfun.org.