Beach reads. Chick lit. Rom coms. The genre goes by many names, but there’s usually one guarantee for each book: People are kissing (or something more) just about 50 percent into it. Katey Outka and Abigail Rosenthal are journalists, former co-workers-turned-friends and romance fanatics who have been trading books for years. Join us for biweekly episodes, including a monthly book club discussion of our pick, as well as chats about new releases, what we love about the genre, HEAs, our favorit ...
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'Haunted Ever After' by Jen DeLuca
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Katey and Abigail kick off spooky season with podcast favorite Jen DeLuca’s “Haunted Ever After.” Other topics include bougie pajamas, passionate defenses of Texas beach towns, a misguided but well-intentioned gift from Abigail’s ex-boyfriend’s mom and the type of ghost Katey wants to be. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod…
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From the archives: 'The Dead Romantics' by Ashley Poston
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We're taking a little break, so enjoy the first official week of fall with this re-release from August 2022! In a bonus book club episode based on Katey’s unwavering insistence, Abigail and Katey chat about “The Dead Romantics” by Ashley Poston, a love story about a ghostwriter and an actual ghost. It also features the worst man to ever exist, a ve…
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'A Court of Thorns and Roses' LIVE from Fae Ball Austin!
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This episode is a live recording from Katey and Abigail’s first ever live show at Fae Ball Austin! Katey makes Abigail finally read Sarah J. Maas’ “A Court of Thorns and Roses.” They also play several rounds of “smash or pass” with the various fae men and chat about faerie sex parties and whether or not Feyre can actually paint. --- Support this po…
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Why men should read romance novels
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47:37
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Katey and Abigail discuss the things (cishet) men could learn from romance novels, including communication, empathy and — yes — sex. Other topics include their feelings on grand gestures, Abigail’s panic before her husband proposed, Katey’s dog escaping during her proposal, and which fictional men are the best (and worst) examples for IRL men. Call…
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'Just One Taste' by Lizzy Dent
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1:00:56
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Katey and Abigail read Lizzy Dent’s “Just One Taste” and dream of eating copious amounts of Italian food. Other topics include flying with cremains, their chaotic beach trip, being nosy in vacation rentals and a VERY exciting announcement! Calling all central Texas book lovers! Fae Ball Austin is coming. A book convention by day and an immersive fa…
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'The Honeymoon Crashers' by Christina Lauren
1:09:25
1:09:25
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In honor of Abigail's honeymoon (that Katey tagged along on...long story), the girls listen to Christina Lauren's audio-exclusive "The Honeymoon Crashers," the sequel to all-time fave "The Unhoneymooners." Other topics include pizza at weddings, the YMCA, their individual audiobook listening habits and how expensive this trip must have been. Callin…
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'Summertime Punchline' by Betty Corrello
1:24:56
1:24:56
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In the dead heat of summer, Katey and Abigail read “Summertime Punchline” by Betty Corrello. Other topics include several stories about the times they met Glen Powell (including one swoonworthy moment on the University of Texas campus), as well as Katey’s longing for a pair of Margaritaville Crocs (size 7 if anyone can get their hands on some), Waw…
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'A Novel Love Story' by Ashley Poston
1:33:24
1:33:24
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Abigail and Katey read Ashley Poston's latest magical realism rom-com, "A Novel Love Story." Other topics include Thundercloud Subs (#iykyk), Abigail's busted-but-maybe-not-too-busted(?) car, failed hobbies and the tiny baby bird they spotted out of Katey's office window. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fifty-perce…
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Romance novels to read this summer
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Katey and Abigail round up the romance novels they’re looking forward to reading this summer. Other topics include the enduring legacy of “Smooth” by Santana feat. Rob Thomas, Abigail’s sister’s aspiring stand-up routine, Cybertrucks, and Hot European Summer. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fifty-percent-podcast/su…
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'The Paradise Problem' by Christina Lauren
1:01:19
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Katey and Abigail read "The Paradise Problem" by Christina Lauren, revisiting the writing duo that started their bookish friendship. Other topics include the LEGO sets Katey is saving up for, the golden age of magazines, papasan chairs and Anthony Bourdain. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fifty-percent-podcast/supp…
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'Happy Medium' by Sarah Adler
1:07:28
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Katey and Abigail read "Happy Medium" by Fifty Percent fave Sarah Adler. Other topics include baby goats (obviously), morally gray main characters, ghosts who love TV, "divorced dad shampoo" and good (and bad) tattoos on male leads in romance novels. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fifty-percent-podcast/support…
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'Funny Story' by Emily Henry
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In this episode, Katey and Abigail tackle the newest book from their favorite romance girlie Emily Henry: "Funny Story". Other topics include the feminine urge to run away to Michigan, stock tank pools, the snacks to bribe Katey with and healthy adult friendships. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fifty-percent-podca…
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'The Tortured Poets Department' reaction
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In this episode, Katey and Abigail step away from romance novels for a moment to talk about their OTHER obsession: Taylor Swift. Take a track-by-track journey through “The Tortured Poets Department,” featuring some early-20s relationship reflections and an argument for why every woman should date a himbo at least once in her life. --- Support this …
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'Just for the Summer' by Abby Jimenez
1:02:26
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In this episode, Abigail and Katey read “Just for the Summer,” another banger from one of our fave girlies, Abby Jimenez. Other topics include the subreddits we lurk in, Culver’s, crowdfunding to get Nadia Cakes delivered to Texas, and the moment in the book that made our jaws literally drop. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com…
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'Do You Take This Man' by Denise Williams
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In honor of Abigail’s impending nuptials, Abigail and Katey read “Do You Take This Man?” by Denise Williams. Other topics include…mostly wedding-related things, like how much officiants get paid these days, but also discuss RJ the raccoon from “Over The Hedge” and Jeff Bezos. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fifty-p…
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'The Idea of You' by Robinne Lee
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Katey and Abigail read Robinne Lee’s “The Idea of You” ahead of the movie’s premiere at SXSW (and on Amazon Prime in May). Other topics include seasonal allergies, fake artists, paparazzi and Abigail’s impending nuptials. Buy 'The Idea of You' Shop our Bookshop Follow us on Instagram --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show…
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'Divine Rivals' by Rebecca Ross
1:11:16
1:11:16
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Abigail begins her romantasy journey in this "Divine Rivals" book club! We read it using Storygraph's buddy read feature, which we loved. Other topics include the value of newsroom coffee pots, hierarchy of settlements, Katey and Abigail’s potential Halloween costume, T-Rexes and whether Rebecca Ross has ever met a journalist. --- Support this podc…
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Katey and Abigail discuss their respective “romantasy” journeys — a journey Katey began last year and Abigail is about to embark on. They define the meaning of romantasy, discuss BookTok’s influence on their reading habits and debate the merits of reading in the mornings before work before their brains are fried. Other topics include the Pirates of…
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'A Winter in New York' by Josie Silver
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In the spirit of January's chilly weather, Abigail and Katey read Josie Silver's "A Winter in New York," which led to a lot of gelato cravings. Other topics include Cake Boss, noodles, people living in storage units and the questionable ethical decisions of this book's main character. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sho…
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Katey and Abigail recap their favorite romance reads of 2023 (and a few other genres too!) and talk about what new releases they're looking forward to in 2024. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fifty-percent-podcast/support
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'The Rewind' by Allison Winn Scotch
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Happy New Year! Katey and Abigail ring in 2024 with “The Rewind” by Allison Winn Scotch, a romance that wasn’t exactly romantic. Other topics include Y2K panic, online dating, head injuries, self awareness, and looking at people as complicated beings. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fifty-percent-podcast/support…
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'Three Holidays and a Wedding' by Uzma Jalaluddin and Marissa Stapley
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For their final book club of the year, Katey and Abigail read "Three Holidays and a Wedding" by Uzma Jalaluddin and Marissa Stapley, a delightfully chaotic book. Other topics include Nokia brick phone games, private jet YouTube, the wondrous infrastructure of Snow Falls, "Hotel California" and Texas weather woes. Happy holidays! Buy the book --- Su…
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'Tis The Damn Season' by Kimi Freeman
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In this book club episode, Katey and Abigail discuss “Tis the Damn Season” by Kimi Freeman, a debut 16-year-old (!!!!!!) author. Other topics include their Ren Faire outfits, the formative experience of having a Lorde “Pure Heroine” phase as a youth, their acting experiences growing up (mostly in Christmas nativity settings) and growing as writers …
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In this book club episode, Abigail and Katey reread Jen DeLuca’s “Well Met” ahead of a trip to the Texas Renaissance Festival over Thanksgiving weekend. They discuss turkey legs, the merits of a pizza-place-slash-dive-bar, at what age you really feel like an “adult,” being properly wooed and what the “Well Met” universe and the Sims 4 universe have…
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A roundup of 2023 holiday romances
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In this episode, Katey and Abigail blind react to the descriptions of new releases for this upcoming holiday season — the sweet, the unhinged and everything in between. Other topics include an absurd trip that they’re going on together soon with their significant others and the apparent trend of celebrity romances in upcoming holiday releases. --- …
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'You, Again' by Kate Goldbeck
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1:19:25
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In this episode, Abigail and Katey discuss Kate Goldbeck’s “You Again.” Other topics include the $5 DVD bin at Walmart, who they’d want to be friends with in the “When Harry Met Sally” universe, taking photos of food, counting how many Taylor Swift references are in this book and Abigail’s childhood improv comedy experiences. --- Support this podca…
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'Payback's a Witch' by Lana Harper
1:12:41
1:12:41
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Abigail and Katey are finally wearing sweaters and leaning into cozy fall vibes with “Payback’s A Witch” by Lana Harper. This book has everything they want out of fall, including an excellent bar and some witchy “John Tucker Must Die” shenanigans. They also discuss Katey’s adventure getting Halloween decorations, ghosts interrupting hook-ups and gr…
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'The Neighbor Favor' by Kristina Forest
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In this book club episode, Abigail and Katey discuss Kristina Forest's "The Neighbor Favor." Other topics include how fall is simply a state of mind in Texas even as the weather continues to hit 100 degrees, how IKEA is a perfect date spot, and how many books we added to our TBR after seeing all the book recommendations *within* this book. --- Supp…
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A conversation with Sarah Adler, author of 'Mrs. Nash's Ashes'
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1:04:45
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In a Very Special Episode, Abigail and Katey interview Sarah Adler, author of “Mrs. Nash’s Ashes.” Conversation topics include Jose Napoleoni’s gritty backstory, taxidermy, how Sarah comes up with names for her characters, unique small-town festivals, Steely Dan, and Sarah’s upcoming novels (!!). --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify…
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'The Seven Year Slip' by Ashley Poston
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1:05:47
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In this episode, Katey and Abigail revisit their close personal friend Ashley Poston to read “The Seven Year Slip.” They also discuss the science and ethical dilemmas behind time traveling apartments, bad chef tattoos, what the Jeff Goldblum pillow probably looks like, pretentious restaurant menus, and suffering through the summer in Texas. --- Sup…
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Reading Romance: Then vs. Now
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1:01:46
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In this episode, Katey and Abigail get more ~academic~ and analyze a book Katey found at her office. Published in the 1984, Janice Radkey’s “Reading the Romance” studies why the genre was so popular among women. In their analysis, Katey and Abigail wonder whether Radkey’s research holds up in the contemporary romance genre and discover more about t…
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‘Mrs. Nash's Ashes’ by Sarah Adler
1:04:09
1:04:09
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In this book club episode, Abigail and Katey discuss “Mrs. Nash’s Ashes” by Sarah Adler, a book they haven’t seen much about but might be the romance of the year. Outside of how excellent this book is, they discuss old PBS shows, the wonder that is Mexican Italian fusion, their personal experiences with taxidermy, and the beauty in the “right nows”…
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Non-Romance Book Club: 'Goodbye Earl' by Leesa Cross-Smith
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Katey and Abigail take on a book outside of the romance genre simply because they couldn’t resist the title and premise of Leesa Cross-Smith’s “Goodbye Earl” (and yes, it’s inspired by the song). Other topics include friend group names, early 2000s nostalgia, the privilege of having a cattle guard, black eyed peas and our love-hate relationships wi…
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'It Happened One Summer' by Tessa Bailey
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1:19:41
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Abigail and Katey forced their respective fiancé and husband to read their first-ever romance novel, Tessa Bailey’s “It Happened One Summer.” The boys join as guests on the podcast to discuss the book. Shenanigans ensue, including discussions of the lack of hot men on “Deadliest Catch,” “Vanderpump Rules,” seductive jeans shopping, secret millionai…
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'Every Summer After' and 'Meet Me at The Lake' by Carley Fortune
1:04:38
1:04:38
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In this episode, Abigail and Katey read Carley Fortune’s first novel “Every Summer After” and her latest release, “Meet Me at the Lake.” They break down how the books tackle Big Teenage Feelings, the mild online controversy surrounding the first book and the merits of judging books based on characters’ decisions. --- Support this podcast: https://p…
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'The Unhoneymooners' by Christina Lauren
1:21:33
1:21:33
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Katey and Abigail revisit the book that truly kicked off their friendship: “The Unhoneymooners” by Christina Lauren. On top of determining that it does in fact hold up, they discuss the tackiest wedding in the world, whatever “snuba” is, the merits of $1.99 mai tais, and finding your identity in your career. --- Support this podcast: https://podcas…
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Books we're taking on vacation this summer
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In this episode, Katey and Abigail discuss which books they’re taking on their upcoming vacations, as well as new releases they’re looking forward to this summer. Other topics include Marcel the “Friends” monkey living at the San Diego Zoo, Abigail’s travel with people twice her age, ghosts and luxury boats. --- Support this podcast: https://podcas…
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'Happy Place' by Emily Henry
1:24:12
1:24:12
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In their latest book club, Katey and Abigail discuss Emily Henry’s latest book “Happy Place.” They discuss how freakin’ sad this book is, how they’d react if they were trapped in a wine cellar, the pros and cons of surprise tattoos, how they can’t keep secrets, and how hard it is to be in your 20s. Buy "Happy Place" Shop our Bookshop Buy "The Unhon…
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In this very special episode, Katey and Abigail pretend this isn’t a book podcast and instead break down their trip through Taylor Swift’s Eras at the first night of the Houston Eras Tour. Setlist spoilers abound, so listen at your own risk! Other topics include choreography, the power of female friendship, costumes and how much we cried. Shop our …
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'Yours Truly' by Abby Jimenez
1:23:03
1:23:03
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Katey and Abigail finally give one of their favorite authors, Abby Jimenez, a full book club episode. They discuss the author’s latest release, “Yours Truly,” as Katey discovers Abby Jimenez is a cupcake entrepreneur and reveals who she would give a kidney to. Other topics include a discussion of men and hand towels, good dogs, and of course, more …
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Romance novels as Taylor Swift songs
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1:11:03
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Katey and Abigail are in their Eras era and finally fulfill their dream of a Taylor Swift-themed episode. They assign Taylor Swift songs to each of the Fifty Percent Book Club books (with some bonus extras), speculate around the Eras Tour setlist, and assign themselves the impossible task of identifying their top 10 Taylor songs. Shop our Bookshop …
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'Icebreaker' by Hannah Grace
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1:12:31
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Katey and Abigail discuss “Icebreaker” by Hannah Grace and discover they, too, might be joining the TikTok girlies as puck bunnies. Other topics include casting Chase Stokes as Nate in Katey’s head, Aaron being the new enemy number one of the podcast, “Cruel Summer,” some quick therapy, and the possibility of a Range Rover as a push present. Shop o…
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In this episode, Abigail and Katey recap what they read while taking a break from the podcast and discuss Katey’s new habit of (finally) being OK with DNFing books. They discuss when to DNF (did not finish) a book and their personal DNF red flags. Other topics include Christmas gifts from dads, what they thought of Jen DeLuca’s “Well Traveled,” the…
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'The No-Show' by Beth O'Leary
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Katey and Abigail return! In the first episode of season two, they discuss “The No-Show” by Beth O’Leary, a book that left them skeptical at first but then devastated (in the best way) by the end. Other topics include Abigail’s impending nuptials, dry January and an unlikely choice for a February book club pick. Buy The No-Show Shop our Bookshop Fo…
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'A Merry Little Meet Cute' by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone
1:36:35
1:36:35
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In their last book club (and last episode!) of the year, Abigail and Katey discuss “A Merry Little Meet Cute” by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone. Conversation topics include why male leads in romance novels always have bad tattoos, a dancer named Prancer, gingerbread-scented lotion, Katey’s fear of horses and big life news from Abigail to end the ye…
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'You're a Mean One, Matthew Prince' by Timothy Janovsky
1:14:25
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In their first holiday-themed book club episode, Abigail and Katey discuss “You’re A Mean One, Matthew Prince” by Timothy Janovsky, in which a rich socialite’s heart grows three sizes thanks to the magic of bunk beds and small town Christmas spirit. They also discuss the worst movies to make out to, “Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas,” a short story…
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Holiday romance recommendations
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1:11:53
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Abigail and Katey decided since it’s finally cold where they live, it’s time for the holidays, and that means it’s time to list out some of their favorite Christmas and holiday adjacent books. They also discuss the ordeal they went through acquiring Taylor Swift tickets, the magic of the night before Thanksgiving, and books they’re excited to read …
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Our favorite books of the year
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In an episode rounding up their favorite books of the year, Abigail and Katey give awards for Best Grand Gesture, Best Male Lead and Best Dog Character, among others. They also discuss books they loved outside of the romance genre, what books they’re looking forward to in 2023 and what they’re excited to read over the holidays. --- Support this pod…
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'Go Hex Yourself' by Jessica Clare
1:16:23
1:16:23
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In their second spooky book club episode of October, Katey and Abigail discuss "Go Hex Yourself" by Jessica Clare, which is best described as "Halloweentown but...spicy?" Conversation topics include old lady food fights, espionage, Legos, pumpkin bread, and, most importantly, Taylor Swift's "Midnights." Buy Go Hex Yourself --- Support this podcast:…
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'Angelika Frankenstein Makes Her Match' by Sally Thorne
1:04:49
1:04:49
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For one of two spooky October book clubs, Katey and Abigail discuss ‘Angelika Frankenstein Makes Her Match' by Sally Thorne, a delightfully weird piece of Frankenstein fan fiction. They also take BeReal snaps and wonder about the ethical ramifications of reanimating corpses. This spooky romance also inspires discussions of the book’s resemblance to…
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