It's time for us to share our favorite books of 2025! Get your notebooks ready because WE! HAVE! RECS! 📚

Becca's Fave Books

The Force of Such Beauty by Barbara Bourland

Heart the Lover by Lily King

One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune

Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley

Loved One by Aisha Muharrar

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy

The Safekeep by Yael Van Der Wouden

The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood

Shoutout to 2 2026 books that are already faves: Little One by Olivia Muenter, So Old, So Young by Grant Ginder

Olivia's Fave Books

Heartwood and Seawife by Amity Gaige

Godshot by Chelsea Bieker

Rainbow Black by Maggie Thrash

Isola by Allegra Goodman

Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance by Allison Espach

Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst

Big Girl by Mecca Jamilah Sullivan

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy

Tilt by Emma Patee

The Reformatory by Tanaraive Due

Not My Type by E. Jean Carroll

We Don't Talk About Carol by Kristen L. Berry

Greenwich by Kate Broad

All The Other Mothers Hate Me by Sarah Harman

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

The Safekeep by Yael Van Der Wouden

Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors

The Colony by Annika Norlin

Adelaide by Genevieve Wheeler

Listener Voicemails

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy

Overdue by Stephanie Perkins

One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance by Allison Espach

Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green

Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley

The Wolf King by Lauren Palphreyman

So Thrilled For You by Holly Bourne

Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell

Weekly Obsession

Becca - Sweans

Olivia - FP Coastline Beanie

What We Read This Week

Olivia - The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams

Becca - Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino

January's Book Club Pick - Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino

Sponsors

Quince - Go to Quince.com/bop for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

Join our Facebook group for amazing book recs & more!

Buy our Merch!

Join our BFF Group!

Preorder Olivia's Book, Little One, and order Such a Bad Influence!

Subscribe to Olivia's Newsletter!

Order Becca's Book, The Christmas Orphans Club!

Subscribe to Becca's Newsletter!

Follow us on Instagram @badonpaperpodcast. Follow Olivia on Instagram @oliviamuenter and Becca @beccamfreeman.

The holidays are (almost) here! We're talking about all the things we're excited about this season, from most anticipated events, white elephant gifts, holiday movie rankings, festive FMK's, and more!

Olivia's Things

Most anticipated holiday events

Admin Advent calendar

Holiday Movie Battle

Becca's Things

White elephant gift ideas

Festive FMK's

Reflecting on the year

Sign up for Olivia's virtual Q&A!

Weekly Obsession

Becca - Heated Rivalry

Olivia - The Incredible Dr. Pol

What We Read This Week

Olivia - Harmless by Miranda Schulman

Becca - And Then There Was You by Sophie Cousens, So Old, So Young by Grant Ginder

This Month's Book Club Pick - No December book club, but now's the perfect time to catch up on past book club picks!

Sponsors

Cozy Earth - Head to cozyearth.com and use our code BOP for up to 20% off.

Wayfair - Head to Wayfair.com to shop all things home.

Caraway Home - Visit Carawayhome.com/BOP for up to 25% off your next purchase.

Join our Facebook group for amazing book recs & more!

Buy our Merch!

Join our BFF Group!

Preorder Olivia's Book, Little One, and order Such a Bad Influence!

Subscribe to Olivia's Newsletter!

Order Becca's Book, The Christmas Orphans Club!

Subscribe to Becca's Newsletter!

Follow us on Instagram @badonpaperpodcast. Follow Olivia on Instagram @oliviamuenter and Becca @beccamfreeman.

The year is coming to a close, and you know what that means! It's time to look back at our highs of 2025. We reminisce on work wins, new hobbies, mantras, and more!

Best New Artist Discovery of The Year (Author, Artist, Filmmaker, Dancer, etc.)

Olivia - Allegra Goodman, Joshua Burnside

Becca - Francis Featherstone, Anna Kwan, Sarah Martinez, Barbara Bourland

Best Song of The Year

Olivia - Baby Steps by Olivia Dean

Becca - Moves by Suki Waterhouse

Best Movie or Show of The Year:

Olivia - Train Dreams

Becca - The Summer I Turned Pretty

Best Purchase of the Year

Olivia - Shiseido Illuminating Micro Spot Serum

Becca - Weighted Eye Mask

Best Sandwich of The Year

Olivia - Fork & Whisk Chicken Salad

Becca - Hillstone French dip

Obsession:

Becca - Margaret from Bad Art Everyday's Post

Olivia - Pluribus

Reading:

Olivia - Wreck by Catherine Newman

Becca - Between Two Kings by Lindsay Straube, I Wrote This for Attention by Lukas Gage

This Month's Book Club Pick - No December book club, but now's the perfect time to catch up on past book club picks!

Sponsors

Cozy Earth - Head to cozyearth.com and use code BOP for up to 40% off by December 12th for guaranteed Christmas delivery.

Quince - Go to Quince.com/bop for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

Uncommon Goods - To get 15% off your next gift, go to uncommongoods.com/bop

Join our Facebook group for amazing book recs & more!

Buy our Merch!

Join our BFF Group!

Preorder Olivia's Book, Little One, and order Such a Bad Influence!

Subscribe to Olivia's Newsletter!

Order Becca's Book, The Christmas Orphans Club!

Subscribe to Becca's Newsletter!

Follow us on Instagram @badonpaperpodcast. Follow Olivia on Instagram @oliviamuenter and Becca @beccamfreeman.

It's time for our final book club episode of 2025! We're discussing a book we've been seeing everywhere, The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. We talk about why we think this book has become so popular, if we've read epistolary novels before, our thoughts on the novelty of the mother/daughter relationship, how it brought up feelings about retirement for us both, and more!

Also, the Wall Street Journal's profile of Virginia Evans is a great read.

Obsession:

Becca - Leset Pointelle Boxer Pants

Reading:

Olivia - The Fox Hunt by Caitlin Breeze (Out February 16, 2026)

Becca - Daddy Issues by Kate Goldbeck, Between Two Kings by Lindsay Straube

This Month's Book Club Pick - No December book club, but now's the perfect time to catch up on past book club picks!

Sponsors

Cozy Earth - from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday, get 40% off at cozyearth.com

with code BOP.

Caraway - Visit Carawayhome.com/BOP to take advantage of this limited-time offer for up to 25% off your next purchase.

Join our Facebook group for amazing book recs & more!

Buy our Merch!

Join our BFF Group!

Preorder Olivia's Book, Little One, and order Such a Bad Influence!

Subscribe to Olivia's Newsletter!

Order Becca's Book, The Christmas Orphans Club!

Subscribe to Becca's Newsletter!

Follow us on Instagram @badonpaperpodcast. Follow Olivia on Instagram @oliviamuenter and Becca @beccamfreeman.

It's time for this year's Bad on Paper Gift Guide! We're so excited to dive into our picks that are very us-coded.

Becca-Coded Picks

Gifts for People Who Love NYC

Katie Kime NYC Toile Tea Towels ($58)

Chefanie - I Love NY cocktail napkins ($48)

All the restaurants prints (5x7 $55) - John Donahue - also Paris, London, DC, Philly, Chicago, Napa

W/ Hudson & Mark acrylic frame (A5 size) - Reg $44, sale: $35

Hobby-Forward Gifts (Knitting, Watercolors, Pickleball, MahJong etc.)

Emily Lex Studio Watercolor Books ($24) + Optional paint set ($18)

Mark & Graham Pickleball Tote (Reg $79, Current $59)

Pickle playing Pickleball Ornament ($25)

Pickleball snack serving plate ($58)

We Are Knitters Scarf Kit - Stan Scarf (Reg $74, Current $52) or Dinka Scarf (Reg: $55, Current $39)

Gifts for People Who Love to Travel

Dagne Dover Landon Carry On Duffel - Lg - (Reg: $240, sale $180)

Etsy watercolor print of a fave city/destination

Turtl pillow - (regular $55, sale $44)

Gifts for People Who Love to Host

Dan Pelosi Let's Party Cookbook (32.62)

Anthro striped snack bowls ($18 for 2)

Apertivo Spoon Set - $36

Olivia-Coded Picks

Gifts for Thrifters/Antique Lovers

Frames + Photos, choose their own adventure

Search hobbies or interests on Etsy or Ebay + 'vintage'

Planning a thrifting "day" - Choose a handful of different secondhand stores, stop for a coffee, make a day of it.

Gifts for Pisces

Hand curated playlist - "these songs remind me of you/us and why"

Mini ocean oil painting

Anything sentimental

Gifts for Real Housewives Fans

Beaded Coin Purse ($27+)

Heather Ornament ($12.99)

Brittani Bateman cameo

Gifts for Candle Lovers

Library in a Forest Candle from the New Savant

Antique french match striker (etsy)

Antique candle snuffer

eBay/etsy candle stick holders + taper candles

Bad on Paper Coded Picks

Bookish Gifts

Ban.do Bookworm mug ($18)

Gift your favorite book of the year or a book you think the recipient would love

Signed first edition of favorite books (modern classics aren't wildly expensive usually)... also, reach out to their favorite authors!

Writer-ish Gifts

Le Pen 10-color set ($19.99) + a notebook

Save the Cat Writes A Novel (16.78) + Story Genius (16.77) + a notebook for their own ideas

Cajou Alba Laptop Cover w/ Initials

Wild Card Gifts

For teen: BaubleBar custom makeup pouch ($38) + a lip balm

Buffalo chicken ornament ($24)

Beaded Bag Chain/Custom Hat

Obsessions

Becca - Who's the Clown? by Audrey Hobert

Olivia - My new glasses!

What we read this week

Olivia - Sky Daddy by Kate Folk, A Good Person by Kirsten King

Becca - I Wrote this for Attention by Lukas Gage, Daddy Issues by Kate Goldbeck

This Month's Book Club Pick - The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (have thoughts about this book you want to share? Call in at 843-405-3157 or email us a voice memo at [email protected])

Sponsors

Better Help - Get 10% off their first month at BetterHelp.com/BADONPAPER.

Quince - Go to Quince.com/bop for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

Join our Facebook group for amazing book recs & more!

Buy our Merch!

Join our BFF Group!

Preorder Olivia's Book, Little One, and order Such a Bad Influence!

Subscribe to Olivia's Newsletter!

Order Becca's Book, The Christmas Orphans Club!

Subscribe to Becca's Newsletter!

Follow us on Instagram @badonpaperpodcast. Follow Olivia on Instagram @oliviamuenter and Becca @beccamfreeman.

This week, we're talking all about portfolio careers! We discuss the current iteration of our own careers and then chat with Leigh Stein and Ali LaBelle—two other professionals with portfolio careers—to break down the work they do, time management, and advice for people interested in transitioning to a portfolio career.

Obsessions

Becca - West End Girl

Olivia - Beth's Dead

What we read this week

Olivia - The Good Daughters by Brigitte Dale

Becca - The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer (Out April 7), Little One by Olivia Muenter (Out Feb 3)

This Month's Book Club Pick - The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (have thoughts about this book you want to share? Call in at 843-405-3157 or email us a voice memo at [email protected])

Sponsors

Wayfair - Head to Wayfair.com to shop Wayfair's Black Friday deals for up to 70% off.

Caraway Home - Visit Carawayhome.com/BOP for up to 20% off your next purchase.

Uncommon Goods - Go to uncommmongoods.com/BOP for 15% off.

The Room Next Door - Go to Audible.com/theroomnextdoor and start listening today.

Join our Facebook group for amazing book recs & more!

Buy our Merch!

Join our BFF Group!

Preorder Olivia's Book, Little One, and order Such a Bad Influence!

Subscribe to Olivia's Newsletter!

Order Becca's Book, The Christmas Orphans Club!

Subscribe to Becca's Newsletter!

Follow us on Instagram @badonpaperpodcast. Follow Olivia on Instagram @oliviamuenter and Becca @beccamfreeman.

November Things are coming in HOT! Keep listening for podcast recs, supernatural talk, guessing games, and more!

Also, donate to your local foodbank! Find one local to you here.

Olivia's Things

Emma Straub's newsletter about David Harbor's pseudonym

Do you believe in ghosts?

1 new habit we like, 1 that we want to kick to the curb

Becca's Things

Current Podcast Listening Lineup (Olivia's is Book Gang, Pen Pals, Glamorous Trash) (Becca's are The Shit No One Tells You About Writing, Books, Beach, & Beyond, Open Book With Jenna, Otherppl with Brad Listi)

The most expensive liquids you can buy without a permit

Are you a pumpkin or an apple fall person?

Obsessions

Becca - Vince Coat from The Real Real

Olivia - Dancing With the Stars

What we read this week

Olivia - Sister Wife by Christine Wooley Brown

Becca - Finished Kiss of the Basilisk by Lindsay Straube, Female Fantasy by Iman Hariri-Kia

This Month's Book Club Pick - The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (have thoughts about this book you want to share? Call in at 843-405-3157 or email us a voice memo at [email protected])

Sponsors

Cozy Earth - Right now, stack code BOP on top of their sitewide sale for up to 40% off at cozyearth.com

The Room Next Door - Go to Audible.com/theroomnextdoor and start listening today.

Quince - Go to Quince.com/bop for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

Join our Facebook group for amazing book recs & more!

Buy our Merch!

Join our Geneva!

Preorder Olivia's Book, Little One, and order Such a Bad Influence!

Subscribe to Olivia's Newsletter!

Order Becca's Book, The Christmas Orphans Club!

Subscribe to Becca's Newsletter!

Follow us on Instagram @badonpaperpodcast. Follow Olivia on Instagram @oliviamuenter and Becca @beccamfreeman.

We can't wait to discuss our October Book Club Pick, Heart The Lover by Lily King! We're talking about Lily King's favorite shape (the triangle!), the surprising crossover with Writers & Lovers, crying on airplanes, male friendship, and so much more.

Obsessions

Becca - The Diplomat Season Three

Olivia - Twinless

What we read this week

Olivia - Heart The Lover by Lily King, The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

Becca - Ready or Not by Cara Bastone, Kiss of the Baselisk by Lindsay Straub

This Month's Book Club Pick - The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (have thoughts about this book you want to share? Call in at 843-405-3157 or email us a voice memo at [email protected])

Sponsors

Macmillan - Listen to Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Everything by Alyson Stoner wherever you get your audiobooks

The Room Next Door - Go to Audible.com/theroomnextdoor and start listening today.

Join our Facebook group for amazing book recs & more!

Buy our Merch!

Join our Geneva!

Preorder Olivia's Book, Little One, and order Such a Bad Influence!

Subscribe to Olivia's Newsletter!

Order Becca's Book, The Christmas Orphans Club!

Subscribe to Becca's Newsletter!

Follow us on Instagram @badonpaperpodcast. Follow Olivia on Instagram @oliviamuenter and Becca @beccamfreeman.

This week, we're chatting with 4 debut authors about their experience bringing a book into the world in 2025! They share the pitch for their book and what surprised them about their debut experience.

Our debut authors & their books!

Katie Yee - Maggie; Or A Man and A Woman Walk Into A Bar

Natalie Guerrero - My Train Leaves at Three

Laura Leffler - Tell Them You Lied

Aisha Muharrar - Loved One

Obsessions

Olivia - Not wearing mascara

Becca - Leopard Coat from Mango

What we read this week

Becca- The Ten Year Affair by Erin Somers

Olivia - Take Me Apart by Sara Sligar

This Month's Book Club Pick - Heart The Lover by Lily King (have thoughts about this book you want to share? Call in at 843-405-3157 or email us a voice memo at [email protected])

Sponsors

Better Help - get 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/BADONPAPER

Uncommon Goods - get 15% off your next gift at uncommmongoods.com/bop

Room Next Door - Don't miss Wendy Walker's new Audible Original The Room Next Door. Go to Audible dot com

Join our Facebook group for amazing book recs & more!

Buy our Merch!

Join our Geneva!

Preorder Olivia's Book, Little One, and order Such a Bad Influence!

Subscribe to Olivia's Newsletter!

Order Becca's Book, The Christmas Orphans Club!

Subscribe to Becca's Newsletter!

Follow us on Instagram @badonpaperpodcast. Follow Olivia on Instagram @oliviamuenter and Becca @beccamfreeman.

We're so excited for you to hear our conversation with Nic Stone! We chat with Nic about her author origin story, why she made the jump from YA to adult with her (very!) adult debut Boom Town, writing off her strip club visits for research, and more!

Obsessions

Becca - Shonda Rhimes on Call Her Daddy

Olivia - Floor lamp from Wayfair

What we read this week

Becca - The Idiot by Elif Batuman, The Force of Such Beauty by Barbara Bourland

This Month's Book Club Pick - Heart The Lover by Lily King (have thoughts about this book you want to share? Call in at 843-405-3157 or email us a voice memo at [email protected])

Sponsors

Quince - Go to Quince.com/bop for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns

Caraway Home - Carawayhome.com/BOP for an additional 10% off your next purchase

The Room Next Door by Wendy Walker - Go to Audible.com/TheRoomNextDoor and start listening today.

Join our Facebook group for amazing book recs & more!

Buy our Merch!

Join our Geneva!

Preorder Olivia's Book, Little One, and order Such a Bad Influence!

Subscribe to Olivia's Newsletter!

Order Becca's Book, The Christmas Orphans Club!

Subscribe to Becca's Newsletter!

Follow us on Instagram @badonpaperpodcast. Follow Olivia on Instagram @oliviamuenter and Becca @beccamfreeman.

This week, we're sharing an inside look at our reading habits! We dive into how we choose what to read, our favorite times to read, who we talk about books with IRL, our rules of thumb for DNF-ing, and more!

Becca's TBR - The Ten Year Affair by Erin Somers, Daddy Issues by Kate Goldbeck, Anatomy of an Alibi by Ashley Elston

What we read this week

Becca - Boom Town by Nic Stone (Out October 14!)

This Month's Book Club Pick - Heart The Lover by Lily King (have thoughts about this book you want to share? Call in at 843-405-3157 or email us a voice memo at [email protected])

Sponsors

Wayfair - Head to Wayfair.com to shop all things home

Cozy Earth - Head to cozyearth.com and use our code BOP for up to 20% off!

Join our Facebook group for amazing book recs & more!

Buy our Merch!

Join our Geneva!

Preorder Olivia's Book, Little One, and order Such a Bad Influence!

Subscribe to Olivia's Newsletter!

Order Becca's Book, The Christmas Orphans Club!

Subscribe to Becca's Newsletter!

Follow us on Instagram @badonpaperpodcast. Follow Olivia on Instagram @oliviamuenter and Becca @beccamfreeman.