Reading Glasses Ep 440 Summary: Best Book COVERS of the Year + Alonzo Duralde!

Date: December 4, 2025
Hosts: Brea Grant & Mallory O'Meara
Special Guest: Alonzo Duralde

Episode Overview

In this festive episode, Brea and Mallory celebrate the visual side of reading by unveiling their picks for the best book covers of 2025, spanning series, horror, nonfiction, sci-fi, romance, and more. They also interview film critic and author Alonzo Duralde about the new edition of his Christmas movie book, discuss favorite book-to-movie Christmas adaptations, and offer creative gift ideas for the digital reader.

What Are You Reading? [00:35–06:29]

Brea:

• The Midnight Shift by Chun Sun Ran, tr. Jean Ping
  • Literary horror from Korea involving elderly people "jumping" from a hospital, possible vampire involvement, suicide notes, and queer elements.
  • "Whenever vampires want you to die by suicide, that's all that blood you're throwing out the window." – Brea, [02:41]

Mallory:

• Willing Prey by Ali Oleander
  • Wild, smutty, contemporary romance: recently divorced teacher is paid by her ex’s boss to be “hunted in the woods.”
  • "When he catches her, he bangs the hell out of her." – Mallory, [05:18]

Listener Feedback [06:39–13:26]

• Sami shares her experience volunteering with the Women’s Prison Book Project, highlights the value of book donations (especially in Spanish and horror genres), and recommends monetary donations due to prison restrictions.

  • "It's really inspiring to be a part of a service that provides these women with books that can entertain, educate, and ultimately make the lives of them just a little bit easier." – Sami (read by Mallory), [07:17]

• Melissa recalls sneaking into a Richelle Mead signing at BookCon, emphasizing that confidence (and colorful wristbands) can get you far.

  • Brea shares her own “Bria plus 17” party-crashing Comic-Con lore.
  • "If you just act like it's normal… I will really try to book a success." – Brea, [10:54]

New Segment: Best Book Covers of the Year [16:02–29:27]

Brea and Mallory introduce their new tradition of celebrating the best book covers across genres, with candid explanations of their preferences for simplicity, cleverness, and mood.

Best Series

• Brea: Adrift in Currency, Clear and Clean (Wayward Children #10) – Consistent, subtle, fantasy covers with a “clean,” childlike aesthetic. [17:04]
• Mallory: Mockingbird Court (Shady Hollow series by Juno Black) – Hand-drawn, woodcut-style woodland creatures; so beautiful Mallory considered themed wallpaper. [18:35]

Best Horror

• Brea: Best of All Worlds by Kenneth Awful – Stark red cover with upside-down house; "so unnerving." [20:10]
• Mallory: Fiend by Alma Katsu – Ominous penthouse with stormy pink/blue gradient; “sinister, creepy covers that make you feel weird.” [20:56]

Best Nonfiction

• Brea: Sister by Claire Hoffman – Vintage, ethereal treatment of Amy Semple McPherson’s image. [22:04]
• Mallory: Sucker Punch by Sachi Kul – Neon green with brass knuckles/engagement ring visual; “eye-catching and clever.” [22:46]

Cutest Cover

• Brea: Automatic Nouvelle by Annalee Newitz – Animated robot hands with noodles; “bright, cutesy, but not over the top.” [23:41]
• Mallory: Cosmic Love at the Multiverse Hair Salon by Annimary – Groovy, 70s-style art that “looks like a poster you’d want in your living room.” [24:13]

Best Sci Fi/Fantasy

• Mallory: Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett – Hardcover, printed direct with classic fairy tale design. [24:45]
• Brea: A Strange Case of Of Jano by Karen Thompson Walker – Aura photography vibe; ethereal, moody colors. [25:22]

Best Literary Fiction

• Mallory: Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One Before by Kristen Arnett – Title typography forms a clown face. [26:22]
• Brea: Blob by Maggie Sue – “Just the word blob, magnified by a blob”; simple, mysterious, yellow. [26:59]

Best Smut/Romance

• Brea: Sky Daddy by Kate Falk – Phallic airplane cover, “super comical and brilliant.” [27:29]
• Mallory: A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke – New illustration avoids making romance covers look like YA; “Reading Glasses purple.” [28:14]

Notable Quote:
"We like a clever cover on this show, I think." – Brea, [28:12]

Interview: Alonzo Duralde on Christmas Movies [32:15–43:35]

Intro: Alonzo, Max Fun podcaster and critic, shares insights from the updated edition of Have Yourself a Movie Little Christmas.

What’s He Reading? [32:34]

• Oh, Christmas by Steve from Deck the Hallmark podcast; Hallmark tropes, poking fun, self-aware.

About the Book [33:24]

• 15 years after original 2010 edition, the new update includes new releases and classic films like holiday noir that the original missed.
• "We get so used to websites where you can always sort of append and adjust. Books are just there, and they are… done deals." – Alonzo, [33:34]

Favorite A Christmas Carol Adaptation [35:04]

• Scrooge (1970, Albert Finney musical): Epic sets, atmospheric London, “yummy Britishness”; also praises Muppets and classics.

Other Christmas Book-to-Film Adaptations [37:10]

• A Christmas Story (Jean Shepherd’s essays)
• It’s a Wonderful Life (based on short story "The Greatest Gift"—discovered via Christmas card!)
  • "He just put it in a Christmas card. And Frank Capra was like, I like this. Let’s do something." – Alonzo, [37:54]

Christmas Book Recommendations [38:25]

• Christmas: A Biography (“Here’s the history of Christmas trees or mistletoe, she really digs into the customs.”)
• Christmas Days: 12 Stories and 12 Feasts for 12 Days by Jeanette Winterson (essays & stories, “an advent calendar in a book”).

Christmas Wheelhouse [39:28]

• Fiction: gravitates toward queer Christmas stories, especially by Rowan Parish
• Christmas tropes: "I love a Fake Fiancé." [39:49]
• On satisfying Christmas movies: The best include redemption arcs—“The fact of Christmas itself makes people work toward being their best selves…” [42:13]

Find Alonzo’s Book

• Best bet is online retailers, also request your library to order it.
• “I’m the easiest person on Earth to Google, so have at it.” – Alonzo, [43:04]

Bookish Problem: Gifts for a Digital Reader [43:43–47:36]

Listener asks for ideas to celebrate his wife’s reading achievements as a digital reader.

Suggestions:

• Knit or purchase a fancy e-reader sleeve, or personalize with a sticker celebrating her achievement.
• Create a print display edition of her favorite read this year.
• Creative/crafty options: Print tiny versions of book covers she read, display in a jar or ornament (“mini library”). [46:01]
• Purchase a new e-reader accessory: stand, case, page-turner, etc.

Notable Quote:
"The weird thing about being an e-reader is… you have this relationship [with books], but you don't ever get to see them." – Brea, [45:26]

Tone and Vibe

• Highly conversational, warm, supportive, and often hilarious.
• Self-deprecating references to not being art experts.
• Strong undercurrent of appreciation for book lovers, book gift-givers, and community involvement.

Memorable Quotes

• “We like a clever cover on this show, I think.” – Brea, [28:12]
• “When he catches her, he bangs the hell out of her.” – Mallory, on Willing Prey [05:18]
• “If you just act like it’s normal… I will really try to book a success.” – Brea, [10:54]
• “The fact of Christmas itself makes people work toward being their best selves…” – Alonzo Duralde, [42:13]

Episode Highlights by Timestamp

• 00:35 – What Are You Reading?
• 06:39 – Listener Feedback (Book programs, BookCon shenanigans)
• 16:02 – Best Book Covers of the Year Discussion Begins
• 32:15 – Interview with Alonzo Duralde (Christmas movies & books)
• 43:43 – Bookish Problem: Gifts for Digital Readers

This episode blends bookish eye-candy with practical advice and festive recommendations, making it the perfect listen (or read) for anyone wanting to celebrate the year in books—and the holidays—with style, heart, and a dash of irreverence.