*Note: At times throughout the episode, Mia’s mic was giving her grief. Please give us grace.*

Well, hello there! We’re back in your ears and we’re so excited to share our top fiction books of 2024. We each have our top 10 lists and we even have 2 books in common, gasp! We hope you enjoy our lists and the giggles and we’re wishing you happy holidays from our bookshelves to yours.

Number 10[07:22] M: TOLD YOU SO by Sarah Asermily[09:10] S: HOW TO HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT by Emma Noyes

Number 9[10:18] M: SOMEONE YOU CAN BUILD A NEST IN by John Wiswell[11:39] S: THE DAYS I LOVED YOU MOST by Amy Neff

Number 8[12:45] M: MARGO’S GOT MONEY TROUBLES by Rufi Thorpe[13:52] S: THE SAME BRIGHT STARS by Ethan Joella

Number 7[14:45] M: SMALL MERCIES by Dennis Lehane[15:45] S: THE HEART’S INVISIBLE FURIES by John Boyne

Number 6[16:51] M: THE SAME BRIGHT STARS by Ethan Joella[17:51] S: FATHER OF THE RAIN by Lily King

Number 5[18:40] M: BLACKTOP WASTELAND by S.A. Cosby[19:42] S: MARGO’S GOT MONEY TROUBLES by Rufi Thorpe

Number 4[20:36] M: A HEAD FULL OF GHOSTS by Paul Tremblay[22:13] S: BLUE SISTERS by Coco Mellors

Number 3[23:04] M: IF WE WERE VILLAINS by M.L. Rio[24:08] S: THE OTHER YEAR by Rea Frey

Number 2[25:33] M: YOU LIKE IT DARKER by Stephen King[26:35] S: THE WOMEN by Kristin Hannah

Number 1[27:45] M: I’M THINKING OF ENDING THINGS[29:13] S: SANDWICH by Catherine Newman

Also mentioned:

* Best of 2024 Books So Far

* Fired Up: How to Turn Your Spark into a Flame and Come Alive at Any Age by Shannon Watts (Sarah’s story is in here!)

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit readingthroughlife.substack.com/subscribe

Show notes:

We left you with a cliffhanger in our last episode about some big news for RTL. Well, the day has come to give you the full scoop about the podcast and its future. This is a don’t-miss episode, so please tune in! We love you, book nerds. 

 

Join our RTL Substack to become a free or paid subscriber.

Follow RTL on Instagram: @readingthroughlifepod

Follow Sarah on Instagram: @sarahhartleyco 

Follow Mia on Instagram: @fastlifeinslowlane

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit readingthroughlife.substack.com/subscribe

Show notes:

We’re back again with our monthly reading recap. We’re sharing 10 books we read in March and giving you the scoop on what we loved and didn’t. Also, Patrons, don’t forget to tune into our Overflow bonus episode this Friday to hear the rest of our March reviews. Happy listening!

 

Find the time stamped show notes below with links to all of the fun things we mentioned.

 

Something Bookish:

[01:59] S: The Bookish Goods store

[02:53] M: I Am Homeless If This is Not My Home by Lorrie Moore

Lithub article: 30 New Books Critics Think You Should Read Right Now

 

Books We Read in March:

[05:04] S: Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

[06:59] M: It Waits in the Woods by Josh Malerman

[08:33] S: Interesting Facts About Space by Emily Austin

[10:18] M: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

[12:37] S: Something Wild by Hanna Halperin

[14:27] M: Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

[16:48] S: Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano

[18:16] M: Ankle Snatcher by Grady Hendrix

[19:54] S: Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez

[22:36] M: Shark Heart by Emily Habeck

 

[25:54] The Rest of the Books We Read in March

 

Want our show notes delivered right to your inbox? Join our RTL Substack so that you’ll get a link for every single book we mention with no extra work. It’s free!

Follow RTL on Instagram: @readingthroughlifepod

Follow Sarah on Instagram: @sarahhartleyco 

Follow Mia on Instagram: @fastlifeinslowlane

 

* The books noted above contain affiliate links. This means that we may get a small kickback if you purchase through our links, at no additional cost to you.

 

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit readingthroughlife.substack.com/subscribe

Show notes:

Music and books pair together so well. We’re both huge music fans and reading books about music and musicians really fascinates us. Today, we’re sharing some fiction and nonfiction books recs about music and we hope you’ll tune in to find some new faves!

 

Click here to join us on Patreon for exclusive bonus bookish goodies! Get our monthly overflow, new books episodes, and Life Through Reading episodes, our private Facebook group, and more. Plus, supporting us in this way just shows that you love what we do!

 

Find the time stamped show notes below with links to all of the fun things we mentioned.

 

Something Bookish:

[04:43] S: Grayson by Lynne Cox

This is Love podcast, “Something Large and Wild”

[06:18] M: A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay

 

Fiction Books About Music:

[12:35] S: Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

[13:20] M: Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

[14:22] S: The Final Revival of Opal and Nev by Dawnie Walton

[14:57] M: The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Albom

[16:06] S: Wreck the Halls by Tessa Bailey

[16:53] M: Run, Rose, Run by Dolly Parton and James Patterson

[17:42] S: Charm City Rocks by Matthew Norman

[18:19] M: Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel

[19:11] S: The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb

[20:06] M: The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

[21:03] S: Modern Lovers by Emma Straub

[21:41] S: The Breakup Tour by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka

 

Nonfiction Books About Music:

[22:29] M: The Beautiful Ones by Prince

[23:10] S: The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music by Dave Grohl

[23:56] M: Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics by Dolly Parton

[24:38] S: Open Book by Jessica Simpson

[25:16] M: Scar Tissue by Anthony Kiedis

 

Want our show notes delivered right to your inbox? Join our RTL Substack so that you’ll get a link for every single book we mention with no extra work. It’s free!

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit readingthroughlife.substack.com/subscribe

Show notes:

It’s time for our February reading recap! We’re sharing 10 books we read in February and our opinions of them, the good and the bad. It was a bit of a weird reading month for us, but we powered through! Also, Patrons, don’t forget to tune into our Overflow bonus episode this Friday to hear the rest of our February reviews. Happy listening!

 

Click here to join us on Patreon for exclusive bonus bookish goodies! Get our monthly overflow, new books episodes, and Life Through Reading episodes, our private Facebook group, and more. Plus, supporting us in this way just shows that you love what we do!

 

Find the time stamped show notes below with links to all of the fun things we mentioned.

 

Something Bookish:

[02:13] M: If you’re in a reading rut, try reading books in a different format. Audiobooks have helped me get my reading mojo back!

[02:45] S: I’m sharing a lovely memory of going to the bookstore with all of my boys recently. 

 

Books We Read in February:

[05:51] M: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

[07:54] S: This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan

[10:14] M: Leaving: A Novel by Roxana Robinson

[13:12] S: Five Years From Now by Paige Toon

Only Love Can Hurt Like This by Paige Toon

[14:59] M: In Bloom by Paul Tremblay

[16:17] S: Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin

[18:10] M: Survive the Night by Riley Sager

[19:49] S: The Great Transition by Nick Fuller Googins

The Displacements by Bruce Holsinger

[22:50] M: If We’re Being Honest by Cat Shook

[25:06] S: Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout

 

[27:40] The Rest of the Books We Read in February

 

Want our show notes delivered right to your inbox? Join our RTL Substack so that you’ll get a link for every single book we mention with no extra work. It’s free!

Follow RTL on Instagram: @readingthroughlifepod

Follow Sarah on Instagram: @sarahhartleyco 

Follow Mia on Instagram: @fastlifeinslowlane

 

* The books noted above contain affiliate links. This means that we may get a small kickback if you purchase through our links, at no additional cost to you.

 

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit readingthroughlife.substack.com/subscribe

Show notes:

Debut novels are so exciting! Can you imagine being a writer and getting your book out into the world for the first time? We love supporting debut authors and today we’re sharing more debut novels we’ve loved (check out episode 74 of the podcast for part 1) and a few we’re excited to try. 

 

Click here to join us on Patreon for exclusive bonus bookish goodies! Get our monthly overflow, new books episodes, and Life Through Reading episodes, our private Facebook group, and more. Plus, supporting us in this way just shows that you love what we do!

 

Find the time stamped show notes below with links to all of the fun things we mentioned.

 

Something Bookish:

[02:49] M: Let’s be friends on Goodreads.

[03:07] S: Check out PangoBooks and visit my store.  

 

Debut Novels We’re Excited to Try:

[05:49] M: Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera (out Mar 5, 2024)

[07:02] Jaded by Ela Lee

[07:50] S: The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown

[09:32] A Good Happy Girl by Marissa Higgins (out Apr 2, 2024)

 

Debut Novels We’ve Loved:

[10:59] M: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

Verity by Colleen Hoover

[12:27] S: In Memoriam by Alice Winn

[13:35] M: Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

Dracula by Bram Stoker

[14:59] S: Out of Love by Hazel Hayes

[16:08] M: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

[17:25] S: Shark Heart by Emily Habeck

[19:58] M: Brooklyn ‘76 by Anthony Ausiello

[21:20] S: A Little Hope by Ethan Joella

[22:28] M: Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill

[23:54] S: The Measure by Nikki Erlick

 

[25:02] Sarah’s Other Notable Debuts:

• The Sky Blues by Robbie Couch

• Love Buzz by Neely Tubati Alexander

• How to be Eaten by Maria Adelmann

• Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors

• Pete and Alice in Maine by Caitlin Shetterly

• Talking at Night by Claire Daverley

• The Christmas Orphans Club by Becca Freeman

 

Also Mentioned:
RTL Episode 74, Debut Novels We Loved

Want our show notes delivered right to your inbox? Join our RTL Substack so that you’ll get a link for every single book we mention with no extra work. It’s free!

Follow RTL on Instagram: @readingthroughlifepod

Follow Sarah on Instagram: @sarahhartleyco 

Follow Mia on Instagram: @fastlifeinslowlane

 

* The books noted above contain affiliate links. This means that we may get a small kickback if you purchase through our links, at no additional cost to you.

 

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit readingthroughlife.substack.com/subscribe

Show notes:

Hip, hip, hooray! It’s reading recap time again. Here are 10 books we read in the month of January. If you’d like to hear the rest of the book we read, you should become a patron and listen to our Overflow episode coming out this Friday. Cheers!

 

Click here to join us on Patreon for exclusive bonus bookish goodies! Get our monthly overflow, new books episodes, and Life Through Reading episodes, our private Facebook group, and more. Plus, supporting us in this way just shows that you love what we do!

 

Find the time stamped show notes below with links to all of the fun things we mentioned.

 

[04:09] Something Bookish:

Tune in for our special announcement on some changes to the show!

 

What We Read in January:

[07:17] M: The Escape Room by Megan Goldin

[09:41] S: The Same Bright Stars by Ethan Joella (out July 2, 2024)

[11:49] M: The Usborne Encyclopedia of World Religions by Susan Meredith + Clare Hickman

[13:12] S: The Other Year by Rea Frey

[15:29] M: Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine

[18:04] S: Leaving by Roxana Robinson (out February 13, 2024)

[22:28] M: The Pram by Joe Hill

[24:35] S: Foster by Claire Keegan

[26:19] M: Switched On by Franklin Horton

[28:24] S: Dixon, Descending by Karen Outen (out February 6, 2024)

 

[30:32] Extra Books We Read in January

Want our show notes delivered right to your inbox? Join our RTL Substack so that you’ll get a link for every single book we mention with no extra work. It’s free!

Follow RTL on Instagram: @readingthroughlifepod

Follow Sarah on Instagram: @sarahhartleyco 

Follow Mia on Instagram: @fastlifeinslowlane

 

* The books noted above contain affiliate links. This means that we may get a small kickback if you purchase through our links, at no additional cost to you.

 

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit readingthroughlife.substack.com/subscribe

Show notes:

When you’re reading a book, do you ever find yourself struck by the profound beauty of the writing? Because we definitely do. You can find us jotting down quotes that speak to us in some way and saving them for later. In this episode, we’re sharing 16 of those notable book quotes with you.

 

Click here to join us on Patreon for exclusive bonus bookish goodies! Get our monthly overflow, new books episodes, and Life Through Reading episodes, our private Facebook group, and more. Plus, supporting us in this way just shows that you love what we do!

 

Find the time stamped show notes below with links to all of the fun things we mentioned.

 

Something Bookish:

[02:33] M: Check out our RTL merch shop.

[02:53] S: The Humans by Matt Haig

 

Books Featuring Our Notable Quotes:

[05:52] M: A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

[06:59] S: The Idea of You by Robinne Lee

[08:24] M: Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune

[09:26] S: Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano

[10:09] M: More Than You’ll Ever Know by Katie Gutierrez

[10:54] S: Shark Heart by Emily Habeck

[11:59] M: After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid

[12:36] S: The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

[13:18] M: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

[13:53] S: The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker

[14:39] M: The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams

[15:31] S: Sparks Like Stars by Nadia Hashimi

[16:16] M: Delicious! by Ruth Reichl

[16:38] S: Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors

[18:01] M: Write for Life by Julia Cameron

[18:44] S: The Door-to-Door Bookstore by Carsten Henn

Want our show notes delivered right to your inbox? Join our RTL Substack so that you’ll get a link for every single book we mention with no extra work. It’s free!

Follow RTL on Instagram: @readingthroughlifepod

Follow Sarah on Instagram: @sarahhartleyco 

Follow Mia on Instagram: @fastlifeinslowlane

 

* The books noted above contain affiliate links. This means that we may get a small kickback if you purchase through our links, at no additional cost to you.

 

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit readingthroughlife.substack.com/subscribe

Show notes:

Our most downloaded episode ever was about books that we think need more love. So, in today’s episode we figured we’d share some more books that are underrated and deserve all the praise and attention. Plus, these are backlist titles, so they should be easier to find at the library or wherever you get your books. Happy reading! 

 

Click here to join us on Patreon for exclusive bonus bookish goodies! Get our monthly overflow and new books episodes, our private Facebook group, and more. Plus, supporting us in this way just shows that you love what we do!

 

Find the time stamped show notes below with links to all of the fun things we mentioned.

 

Something Bookish:

[03:59] S: Book FOMO is real. But also, don’t buy into it.

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

[05:30] M: The next pick for my classics book club is: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. 

 

Underrated Backlist Books We Hope More People Read:

[07:37] M: Ghost 19 by Simone St. James 

[08:40] S: When I Ran Away by Ilona Bannister

[09:54] M: We Are Not From Here by Jenny Torres Sanchez

American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins

[11:11] S: Truth and Other Lies by Maggie Smith

[12:29] M: No One Crosses the Wolf by Lisa Nikolidakis

[13:59] S: Most Likely by Sarah Watson

[15:17] M: A Frenzy of Sparks by Kristin Fields

[16:38] S: Man O’War by Cory McCarthy

[18:13] M: Winders by Ryan O’Nan

[19:46] S: The Heart of the Deal by Lindsay MacMillan

 

Honorable Mentions:

[21:38] M:

• The Boys in the Cave by Matt Gutman

• Wild Words by Nicole Gulotta

• No Ordinary Time by Susan A. Mulder

• The Boat Rocker by Ha Jin

• I Will Find You by Joanna Connors

 

[23:21] S:

• The Leftovers by Cassandra Parkin

• The Bennet Women by Eden Appiah-Kubi

• The Boys by Katie Hafner

• Stay Gold by Tobly McSmith

• Shoulder Season by Christina Clancy

 

Also Mentioned:

• Episode 94, Books We Think Deserve a Second Life

Want our show notes delivered right to your inbox? Join our RTL Substack so that you’ll get a link for every single book we mention with no extra work. It’s free!

Follow RTL on Instagram: @readingthroughlifepod

Follow Sarah on Instagram: @sarahhartleyco 

Follow Mia on Instagram: @fastlifeinslowlane

 

* The books noted above contain affiliate links. This means that we may get a small kickback if you purchase through our links, at no additional cost to you.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit readingthroughlife.substack.com/subscribe

Show notes:

They say opposites attract, right? Well, we couldn’t be more opposite with our reading tastes. So, we’re doing what makes total sense and recommending books to each other. Tune in for our tailored book recs and tell us how we did.  

 

Click here to join us on Patreon for exclusive bonus bookish goodies! Get our monthly overflow and new books episodes, our private Facebook group, and more. Plus, supporting us in this way just shows that you love what we do!

 

Find the time stamped show notes below with links to all of the fun things we mentioned.

 

Something Bookish:

[3:46] S: My husband is reading!

Holly by Stephen King

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

The Wager by David Grann

[5:30] M: Here’s your encouragement (and mine!) to read slowly.

 

Books We’re Recommending to Each Other:

[9:08] M: 11/22/63 by Stephen King

[12:29] S: The Door to Door Bookstore by Carsten Henn

The Storied Life of AJ Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

[14:25] M: Tell the Wolves I’m Home by Carol Rifka Brunt

The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker

[16:19] S: Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson

Everyone On This Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson

[18:13] M: The Promise of Stardust by Priscille Sibley

[20:02] S: This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub

[21:52] M: Holiday Country by İnci Atrek

[24:06] S: The Book of M by Peng Shepherd

 

Also Mentioned:

• Episode 117: Our 2023 Books Superlatives

• Pomegranate by Helen Elaine Lee

• Shark Heart by Emily Habeck

Want our show notes delivered right to your inbox? Join our RTL Substack so that you’ll get a link for every single book we mention with no extra work. It’s free!

Follow RTL on Instagram: @readingthroughlifepod

Follow Sarah on Instagram: @sarahhartleyco 

Follow Mia on Instagram: @fastlifeinslowlane

 

* The books noted above contain affiliate links. This means that we may get a small kickback if you purchase through our links, at no additional cost to you.

 

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit readingthroughlife.substack.com/subscribe

Show notes:

Hey friends! Happy New Year! We’re thrilled to be back in your ears after our holiday break. Today, we’re giving you a recap of what we read in December. In case you need a refresher, this means we’re reviewing 5 books each that we read in the month. Here’s to more reading in 2024!

 

Click here to join us on Patreon for exclusive bonus bookish goodies! Get our monthly overflow and new books episodes, our private Facebook group, and more. Plus, supporting us in this way just shows that you love what we do!

 

Find the time stamped show notes below with links to all of the fun things we mentioned.

 

Something Bookish:

[2:17] S: StoryGraph

[3:22] M: The Ultimate Best Books of 2023 list from LitHub

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

 

Books We Read in December:

[6:53] M: Christmas at the Island Hotel by Jenny Colgan

[9:10] S: Girlfriend on Mars by Deborah Willis

[10:59] M: Much Ado About Nada by Uzma Jalaluddin

[13:28] S: Christmas by the Book by Anne Marie Ryan

[15:15] M: Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam

[18:24] S: Dinosaurs by Lydia Millet

[21:45] M: What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher

The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe

[24:15] S: Reproduction by Louisa Hall

[26:29] M: All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers

[28:50] S: Maybe Next Time by Cesca Major

 

[30:42] The Rest of the Books We Read in December

Want our show notes delivered right to your inbox? Join our RTL Substack so that you’ll get a link for every single book we mention with no extra work. It’s free!

Follow RTL on Instagram: @readingthroughlifepod

Follow Sarah on Instagram: @sarahhartleyco 

Follow Mia on Instagram: @fastlifeinslowlane

 

* The books noted above contain affiliate links. This means that we may get a small kickback if you purchase through our links, at no additional cost to you.

 

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit readingthroughlife.substack.com/subscribe