Have you ever been surprised by how powerful a story about an animal can be?
In this episode, we’re sharing book recommendations for the “books about animals” category of our 2026 Reading Challenge.
We start with a quick bookish check-in: Ashley is reading Pugs and Kisses by Farrah Rochon (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm), and Jen is listening to With Love from Harlem by ReShonda Tate (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm). Then we each share a featured recommendation: Ashley highlights Shelby
Van Pelt’s Remarkably Bright Creatures (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm), and Jen recommends The Tusk That Did the Damage by Tania James (Bookshop.org), two very different but equally compelling stories where animals play a central role.
We wrap up with a Lit Chat about books that have inspired us in real life.
Whether you’re checking off a challenge category or just looking for a great read, we hope you’ll join us for the conversation!
Visit the Unabridged website forour full show notes and links to the books mentioned in the episode. Interested in what else we're reading? Check out our Featured Books page.
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