Episode Overview

Podcast: Reading Glasses
Episode: 438 - What’s the Ideal Wheelhouse Size?
Hosts: Brea Grant & Mallory O’Meara
Release Date: November 20, 2025

This episode centers around the concept of a "reading wheelhouse"—the specific themes, genres, tropes, or elements that instantly attract you to a book. Brea and Mallory revisit their own wheelhouses, debate whether a wheelhouse can ever be too big or too small, and help listeners refine their own lists for optimal reading enjoyment. Additionally, the hosts respond to listeners' questions and share library tips, plus recommend books that will hit readers with strong, visceral impact.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. What Are You Reading?

• [00:49] Brea just finished The Hounding by Zenobi Purvis, describing it as “‘The Crucible’ meets ‘The Virgin Suicides’,” set in a small town with rumors of witchcraft and wild, free-spirited girls.
  • “I highly recommend it. It's a really well written book. Like, super interesting writing style. I highly recommend it.” — Brea [01:00]
• [02:10] Mallory is reading What Fury Brings by Tricia Levenseller, a "romantasy" with a matriarchal fantasy world where women wield power, involving a warrior princess and a political kidnap plot.
  • “Literally go to romance stores and I’m like, can you give me a romance novel with a physically badass warrior lady who’s a beefy queen? ...and I got it, baby.” — Mallory [03:31]

2. Listener Feedback

• Book Bow Praise & Library Hacks: Listener Jess highlights the flexibility of book bows for travel and shares a hot tip about using library audiobooks for language learning, saving money on expensive courses.
  • “With this logic, the library will save me literally hundreds of dollars as I continue my lessons. And it's another way I realized libraries are so great.” — Jess [06:29]
• Cute Wedding Vows: Michelle (a listener) shares that their wedding vows with Bethany included Reading Glasses references, delighting the hosts:
  • “So it will be through my actions and behavior that I will say I love you...like taking time to be with ourselves, a full day road trip and listening to Reading Glasses...” — Michelle [07:51]
  • “...I promise to love you fiercely, compassionately, unconditionally...and of course, through every Reading Glasses episode to come.” — Bethany [08:23]
• Bethany’s Wheelhouse Example: Non-fiction read by the author, cozy fantasy, fiber arts, witchy stuff, character-driven sci fi, bookstore/library settings, friends-to-lovers tropes, etc.

3. Deep Dive: The Ideal Reading Wheelhouse

• Definition & Usage: The wheelhouse is the set of book elements that guarantee you’ll pick up a title and are commonly enjoyed by you—not just things you like in theory, but reliable attractions.
  • “A wheelhouse is not items you’re always looking for and can’t find... Your wheelhouse is items you regularly read and regularly love.” — Mallory [16:18]

Revisiting and Amending Personal Wheelhouses [13:31–19:54]:

• Brea’s Changes:
  • Dropping “space/other planet” books, adding Japanese mysteries, science/anthropology nonfiction, and consolidating overlapping items.
  • Adding “heartwarming family story” to reflect new interests.
  • Realizing her own focus as a “location reader.”
• Mallory’s Changes:
  • Keeps classics like haunted houses and werewolves, adds grief books, historical genre books, monsters, funny memoirs (esp. by women), enemies-to-lovers romances, and art history (both fiction and non-fiction).
  • Drops “Interior lives of women” in favor of funny memoirs.

How to Refine a Wheelhouse [21:12–25:41]:

• Can your wheelhouse be too big?
  • If you have dozens of items but aren’t passionate about each, it may be time to prune. Only include things that make you pick up a book instantly.
  • “You have to remember...you will pick up that book no matter what and you will enjoy it because of that.” — Brea [21:39]
• Can it be too small?
  • If you only have a couple things, look for less obvious characteristics (tropes, formats, narrators). Be specific (“body horror” vs. general “horror”).
  • “Don’t be afraid to get super specific because that’s just going to help you find more books.” — Mallory [25:41]
• Ideal Size?
  • Both settle on around 5–12 items as a practical range. The right number is “long enough to easily find books, not so long it’s overwhelming.” [26:08–26:53]
  • Ultimately, the wheelhouse is personal and should serve your reading life, not restrict it.

4. Book Tech: Library Cards for International Users [30:34]

• A selection of US and UK libraries offer cards for out-of-country residents.
• Notable suggestions:
  • Chapel Hill Public Library (US)
  • Queensborough Library, NY ($50/year)
  • Kensington and Chelsea (UK)—free international membership
  • Queer Liberation Library—a free, online, queer-focused lending library
  • Orange County Library (FL)—$150/year
  • Small US library in Shenandoah Valley—$10 for 6 months
• [34:01] “We’re going to put a whole list in the show notes ... for all of our international Glassers out there, get yourself a new library card!”

5. Recommendation Request—“Books That Punch You in the Stomach” [34:45]

Listener Lauren requests incredibly visceral books across any genre, as a distraction from “meh” and stressful times (avoiding politics).

• Brea’s Pick: Angel Down by Daniel Kraus

  • Brutal, one-sentence novel following World War I soldiers who find an angel.
  • “It is like someone hits you in the head with a bowling ball... Just going and going and going...” — Brea [36:57]

• Mallory’s Pick: Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

  • A tense, psychological page-turner about literary theft and identity in the publishing world.
  • “It’s the equivalent of watching a child about to touch a stove... It's such a risk for reading experience, especially as someone who likes books.” — Mallory [38:26]
  • “[Main character] is so driven by insecurity and ambition and how bad she wants these things, and she’s going about them in the worst way... I can't put it down.” [39:22]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I feel like it's a Goldilocks situation. You know, Is it too... Is it too big, too short, or just right?” — Brea [00:24]
• “A wheelhouse is not items you’re always looking for and can’t find... Your wheelhouse is items you regularly read and regularly love. There is a big difference.” — Mallory [16:18]
• “If you only have two things on there, maybe it's time to look at all the books that you've loved recently and find some other stuff. And I agree. Maybe it's time to get more specific.” — Mallory [24:55]
• “The Goldilocks size of wheelhouse is in your heart.” — Mallory [27:00]
• “This is why you do a podcast book podcast with somebody—they know your reading better than you know your reading.” — Mallory [20:30]
• “It is like, like, oh my god—like, it's like...someone hits you in the head with a bowling ball. ...I would definitely describe it as visceral.” — Brea on Angel Down [36:57]
• “It's the equivalent of watching a child about to touch a stove... I could not wait for something bad to happen to this character!” — Mallory on Yellowface [38:26]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:49 | What Brea is reading: The Hounding by Zenobi Purvis
• 02:10 | What Mallory is reading: What Fury Brings by Tricia Levenseller
• 05:07 | Listener feedback (Book Bow, library audiobook hacks)
• 07:14 | Wedding vows with Reading Glasses references
• 12:55 | Episode main topic: Wheelhouse size (Intro)
• 13:31–19:54 | Revisiting personal wheelhouse lists, defining/adjusting them
• 21:12–25:41 | Can wheelhouses be too big or too small? How to refine
• 26:08–26:53 | Ideal wheelhouse size discussion
• 30:34 | Book tech: Libraries with out-of-country cards, international library tips
• 34:45 | Recommendation segment: Books that are a visceral punch
• 36:57 | Brea on Angel Down: “Like someone hits you in the head with a bowling ball...”
• 38:26–39:22 | Mallory on Yellowface: “It's the equivalent of watching a child about to touch a stove... I can't put it down.”

Summary Flow & Tone

Brea and Mallory keep their famously warm, nerdy, and bantering tone throughout, full of personal anecdotes, laughter, and encouragement for all styles of reading. The discussion is both introspective and practical, offering concrete advice on refining a reading wheelhouse. Listener engagement (through letters and the Discord) is central, and the episode as always balances practical bookish hacks with the hosts’ trademark wit.

This episode is an excellent resource for anyone thinking deeply about their reading life, struggling to find books they love, or wanting solidarity with their ever-shifting tastes. Whether you’re looking for book recommendations that are an emotional gut punch or searching for international library hacks, Brea and Mallory have you covered—with heart and humor.