From the Front Porch

The Bookshelf Thomasville

Welcome to From the Front Porch, a weekly conversational podcast on books, small business, and life in the South, produced by The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in Thomasville, Georgia.

  • 51 minutes 54 seconds
    Episode 578 || Literary Therapy, Vol. 27

    This week on From the Front Porch, it’s a Literary Therapy session! Our literary Frasier Crane, Annie, is back to answer more of your reading questions and dilemmas. If you have a question you would like Annie to answer in a future episode, you can leave us a voicemail here.

    To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search episode 578) or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app.

    Anonymous Voicemail:

    Anonymous Voicemail:

    Caroline

    Jeanette

    Trudy

    From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook, and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com

    A full transcript of today’s episode can be found here.

    Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations.

    This week, Annie is listening to Judy Blume by Mark Oppenheimer.

    If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch.

    We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week.

    Our Executive Producers are...Ashley Ferrell, Beth, Cammy Tidwell, Gene Queens, Jammie Treadwell, Joseph Shorter IV, Kimberly, Linda Lee Drozt, Nicole Marsee, Stephanie Dean, and Wendi Jenkins.

    23 April 2026, 9:10 am
  • 42 minutes 37 seconds
    Episode 577 || From the Front Porch Live from Reader Retreat

    This week on From the Front Porch, we have a special treat: a recording of our live show from The Bookshelf’s March 2026 Reader Retreat! In this episode, Annie and Hunter engage in an abbreviated March Madness debate and play the Newlywed Game with help from Ashley. Enjoy!

    To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search episode 577), or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app:

    From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook, and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com

    A full transcript of today’s episode can be found here.

    Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations.

    If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch.

    We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week.

    Our Executive Producers are...Ashley Ferrell, Beth, Cammy Tidwell, Gene Queens, Jammie Treadwell, Joseph Shorter IV, Kimberly, Linda Lee Drozt, Nicole Marsee, Stephanie Dean, and Wendi Jenkins.

    16 April 2026, 7:00 am
  • 33 minutes 40 seconds
    Episode 576 || What Would the March Sisters Read?

    This week on From the Front Porch, Annie shares the modern books she would recommend to the March sisters from Little Women. Listen to find out what books Annie would recommend for Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy if they walked into The Bookshelf.

    To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search episode 576), or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app:

    For Meg

    For Jo

    For Beth

    For Amy

    From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook, and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com

    A full transcript of today’s episode can be found here.

    Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations. 

    This week, Annie is reading Love By The Book by Jessica George.

    If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch.

    We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week.

    Our Executive Producers are...Ashley Ferrell, Beth, Cammy Tidwell, Gene Queens, Jammie Treadwell, Joseph Shorter IV, Kimberly, Linda Lee Drozt, Nicole Marsee, Stephanie Dean, and Wendi Jenkins.

    9 April 2026, 7:00 am
  • 53 minutes 40 seconds
    Episode 575 || April 2026 New Release Rundown

    This week on From the Front Porch, it’s a New Release Rundown! Annie, Erin, and Olivia share the March releases they’re excited about to help you build your TBR. When you purchase or preorder any of the books they talk about, enter the code NEWRELEASEPLEASE at checkout for 10% off your order!

    To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search episode 575), or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app:

    Annie’s books
    The Midnight Show by Lee Kelly and Jennifer Thorne (4/7)
    Love by the Book by Jessica George (4/7)
    Cleo Dang Would Rather Be Dead by Mai Mguyen (4/14)

    Olivia’s books
    The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke (April 7th)
    Anna-Jane and the Endless Summer by Paige Classey (April 28th)
    We Burned So Bright by TJ Klune (April 28th)

    Erin’s books
    Like This, But Funnier by Hallie Cantor (April 7th)
    Small Town Girls by Jayne Anne Phillips (April 21st)
    The Radiant Dark by Alexandra Oliva (April 28th)

    From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook, and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com

    A full transcript of today’s episode can be found here.

    Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations. 

    This week, Annie is reading The Amateur by Chris Bohjalian. Olivia is reading Young World by Soman Chainani. Erin is reading Detour by Jeff Rake and Rob Hart.

    If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch.

    We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week.

    Our Executive Producers are...Ashley Ferrell, Beth, Cammy Tidwell, Gene Queens, Jammie Treadwell, Joseph Shorter IV, Kimberly, Linda Lee Drozt, Nicole Marsee, Stephanie Dean, and Wendi Jenkins.

    2 April 2026, 7:15 am
  • 51 minutes 27 seconds
    Episode 574 || March 2026 Reading Recap

    This week on From the Front Porch, Annie recaps the books she read and loved in March. You get 10% off your books when you order your March Reading Recap bundle. Each month, we offer a Reading Recap bundle, which features Annie’s favorite books she read that month.

    To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search episode 574), or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app:

    Reading Recap Bundle

    Upward Bound by Woody Brown

    Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan

    One & Only by Maureen Goo

    The Mash Up by Laura Marie Meyers

    Joyful Anyway by Kate Bowler

    Cleo Dang Would Rather Be Dead by Mai Nguyen

    Unspeakable Things by Brooke Nevils

    Look What You Made Me Do by John Lanchester

    Phoebe Berman's Gonna Lose It by Brooke Averick

    Celestial Lights by Cecile Pin

    All the World Can Hold by Jung Yun

    From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook, and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com

    A full transcript of today’s episode can be found here.

    Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations. 

    This week, Annie is reading Abby Offsides by Anna McCallie.

    If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch.

    We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week.

    Our Executive Producers are...Ashley Ferrell, Beth, Cammy Tidwell, Gene Queens, Jammie Treadwell, Joseph Shorter IV, Kimberly, Linda Lee Drozt, Nicole Marsee, Stephanie Dean, and Wendi Jenkins.

    26 March 2026, 7:00 am
  • 1 hour 4 minutes
    Episode 573 || March Madness 2026 with Jordan Jones

    This week on From the Front Porch, it’s all about books and basketball! Annie is joined by her husband and friend, Jordan, to set different books head to head and debate their merits in this beloved yearly tradition.

    If you love From the Front Porch, get your tickets to our live show on Saturday, March 28 at 8 p.m. in Thomasville, Georgia! Join us for an evening of book banter, laughter, and fun. Learn more and get your tickets here.

    To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search episode 573), or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app:

    My Southern Kitchen by Ivy Odom vs. Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

    Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry vs. It's a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan

    Heartwood by Amity Gaige vs. Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy

    A Century of Healing: Centennial Reflections on the John D. Archbold Memorial Hospital by C. L. Bragg vs. Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green

    The Correspondent by Virginia Evans vs. The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry

    Same by Hannah Rosenberg vs. A Rebellion of Care by David Gate

    Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes vs. Onyx Storm  by  Rebecca Yarros

    Ordinary Times by Annie B. Jones vs. The Complete Stories by Flannery O’Connor

    A Woman’s Place is in the Paint T-Shirt

    From the Front Porch Live Tickets - Saturday, March 28

    From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook, and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com

    A full transcript of today’s episode can be found here.

    Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations. 

    If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch.

    We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week.

    Our Executive Producers are...Ashley Ferrell, Beth, Cammy Tidwell, Gene Queens, Jammie Treadwell, Joseph Shorter IV, Kimberly, Linda Lee Drozt, Nicole Marsee, Stephanie Dean, and Wendi Jenkins.

    19 March 2026, 7:00 am
  • 52 minutes 32 seconds
    Episode 572 || What Would Susie Read?

    This week on From the Front Porch, Annie chats with her mom, Susie, about books for readers with PG-13 tastes. You get 10% off the Susie-approved reads mentioned in this episode when you use code SHOPMOMSELECTS at checkout online and in-store!

    To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search episode 572), or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app:

    Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano

    The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street by Helene Hanff

    Hurricane Season by Lauren K Denton

    The Chancellor's Mansion: A Renovation Story of Family, Home, History, and Mystery by Jamie Arty

    A Change of Habit: Leaving Behind My Husband,Career, and Everything I Owned to Become A Nun by Sister Monica Claire

    Awake: A Memoir by Jen Hatmaker

    Summer Light on Nantucket by Nancy Thayer

    A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus

    The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles

    The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan

    The Women on Platform Two by Laura Anthony

    Family of Spies by Christine Kuehn

    Something to Look Forward To by Fanny Flagg

    Marce Catlett: The Fore of a Story by Wendell Berry

    My Beloved: A Mitford Novel by Jan Karon

    Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

    The Sisters of Book Row by Shelly Noble

    100 Rules for Living to 100: An Optimist's Guide to a Happy Life by Dick Van Dyke

    More Than Enough by Anna Quindlan

    From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook, and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com

    A full transcript of today’s episode can be found here.

    Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations. 

    This week, Annie is listening to Annie is reading Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan. Susie is reading The Little Bookshop by the Harbor by Jean Stone.

    If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch.

    We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week.

    Our Executive Producers are...Ashley Ferrell, Beth, Cammy Tidwell, Gene Queens, Jammie Treadwell, Joseph Shorter IV, Kimberly, Linda Lee Drozt, Nicole Marsee, Stephanie Dean, and Wendi Jenkins.

    12 March 2026, 7:00 am
  • 54 minutes 22 seconds
    Episode 571 || March 2026 New Release Rundown

    This week on From the Front Porch, it’s a New Release Rundown! Annie, Erin, and Olivia share the March releases they’re excited about to help you build your TBR. When you purchase or preorder any of the books they talk about, enter the code NEWRELEASEPLEASE at checkout for 10% off your order!

    To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search episode 571), or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app:

    Annie's books:

    Olivia's books:

    Erin's books:

    From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook, and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com

    A full transcript of today’s episode can be found here.

    Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations. 

    This week, Annie is listening to Annie is reading Look What You Made Me Do by John Lanchester. Olivia is reading Devious Prey by Scott Reintgen. Erin is listening to Escape! by Stephen Fishbach.

    If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch.

    We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week.

    Our Executive Producers are...Ashley Ferrell, Beth, Cammy Tidwell, Gene Queens, Jammie Treadwell, Joseph Shorter IV, Kimberly, Linda Lee Drozt, Nicole Marsee, Stephanie Dean, and Wendi Jenkins.

    5 March 2026, 8:00 am
  • 43 minutes 21 seconds
    Episode 570 || February 2026 Reading Recap

    This week on From the Front Porch, Annie recaps the books she read and loved in February. You get 10% off your books when you order your February Reading Recap bundle. Each month, we offer a Reading Recap bundle, which features Annie’s favorite books she read that month.

    To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search episode 570), or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app:

    Kin by Tayari Jones 

    Another Marvelous Thing by Laurie Colwin 

    Man Overboard! by Kathleen Rooney 

    Strangers by Belle Burden 

    Warning Signs by Tracy Sierra 

    February Reading Recap Bundle

    From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook, and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com

    A full transcript of today’s episode can be found here.

    Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations. 

    This week, Annie is listening to One and Only by Maureen Goo.

    If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch.

    We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week.

    Our Executive Producers are...Ashley Ferrell, Beth, Cammy Tidwell, Gene Queens, Jammie Treadwell, Joseph Shorter IV, Kimberly, Linda Lee Drozt, Nicole Marsee, Stephanie Dean, and Wendi Jenkins.

     

     

     

    26 February 2026, 8:00 am
  • 45 minutes 3 seconds
    Episode 569 || Off the Shelf with Annie & Ashley: Winter 2026

    This week on From the Front Porch, it's an episode of Off the Shelf with Annie & Ashley! Annie is joined by friend, cousin, and former colleague, Ashley Sherlock, to chat about what they’re reading – but also what they’re watching, listening to, and buying.

    To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search episode 569) or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app:

    Annie reading:

    Ashley reading:

    Annie listening to:

    Ashley listening to:

    From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook, and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com

    A full transcript of today’s episode can be found here.

    Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations. 

    This week, Annie is reading Kin by Tayari Jones. Ashley is reading The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien.

    If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch.

    We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week.

    Our Executive Producers are...Ashley Ferrell, Beth, Cammy Tidwell, Gene Queens, Jammie Treadwell, Joseph Shorter IV, Kimberly, Linda Lee Drozt, Nicole Marsee, Stephanie Dean, and Wendi Jenkins.

    19 February 2026, 8:00 am
  • 46 minutes 9 seconds
    Episode 568 | The Bookshelf Recommends: 831 Stories

    This week on From the Front Porch, it’s an episode of The Bookshelf Recommends! In this series, Annie (and occasionally other team members) curates a stack of books in a certain genre or theme for you – just as if you walked into our brick-and-mortar store, The Bookshelf. This time, Annie, Caroline, and Kyndall chat about publisher 831 Stories, the romance genre, and their favorite 831 Stories novellas.

    To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search episode 568) or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app:

    Annie:

    Big Fan by Alexandra Romanoff

    Caroline:

    Set Piece by Lana Schwartz

    Kyndall:

    Hardly Strangers by AC Robinson

    831 Stories Book Bundle, including all three novellas

    Silent Reading Hour tickets

    From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook, and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com

    A full transcript of today’s episode can be found here.

    Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations. 

    This week, Annie is reading The Reservation by Rebecca Kauffman. Caroline is reading Comedic Timing by Upasna Barath. Kyndall is reading Phoebe Berman’s Gonna Lose It by Brooke Averick.

    If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch.

    We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week.

    Our Executive Producers are...Ashley Ferrell, Beth, Cammy Tidwell, Gene Queens, Jammie Treadwell, Joseph Shorter IV, Kimberly, Linda Lee Drozt, Nicole Marsee, Stephanie Dean, and Wendi Jenkins.

    12 February 2026, 8:00 am
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