Shows
The Readirect PodcastPride Month Book DraftJoin us for our highly competitive Pride Month book draft! We each take turns selecting our team of favorite books about queer characters and/or authors who are LGBTQIA+. Team Abigail: The Song of Achilles by Madeline MillerHere We Go Again by Alison CochrunHeartstopper by Alice OsemanAtmosphere by Taylor Jenkins ReidTeam Emily: The Pairing by Casey McQuistonA Lady for a Duke by Alexis HallThe Celebrants by Steven RowleyTime to Shine by Rachel ReidFor even more of us gushing about The Pairing, check out our book club episode!2025-06-241h 00The Readirect PodcastBook Talk: Silver Elite, Problematic Summer Romance, and Publishing Dramione Fan Fiction (+ More!)It's time for another jam-packed Book Talk episode! We catch up on our recent reads, from Abigail's recent Emily Henry reread journey to five-star favorites and recent DNFs, plus discuss the controversial marketing of fanfiction in traditional publishing.Abigail's complete (revised) Emily Henry reread rankings: Funny StoryHappy Place Beach ReadPeople We Meet on Vacation Book Lovers Great Big Beautiful Life Plus, we're covering: Recent DNFs including First Time Caller by BK Morrison and Silver Elite (please bully me, Emily, if you think I should give these a secon...2025-06-101h 00The Readirect PodcastBook Club: Careless People by Sarah Wynn-WilliamsWe're joined by dear Friend of the Show Colleen to discuss Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams. This book details Sarah's account of her time working for Facebook, and it is definitely explosive. We're recapping the highlights and horrifying revelations including: shark attacks, private planes, Settlers of Catan, Zika virus, global politics, and more. Read the book & join along, or listen to our recap as a ;tldr version of events. Either way, we hope you'll enjoy this book club episode! Recent Reads: Heated Rivalry and The Long Game by Rac...2025-05-271h 15The Readirect PodcastSummer 2025 Beach ReadsToday's episode is all about our picks for your beach reads this year! As a reminder, the beach is a closed ecosystem and what you read there does not transcend into other realms. Like the airport, nothing matters here. Read your crazy books, be free, have fun. BEACH READS: Bull Moon Rising by Ruby DixonFunny Story by Emily HenryThe Fake Boyfriend Fiasco by Talia HibbertGravity & The Other Side of the Story by Tal BauerHere We Go Again by Alison CochrunYou With a View by Jessica JoyceThe Five Year Lie by Sar...2025-05-1350 minThe Readirect PodcastBook Club: Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily HenryJoin us for a deep dive of Emily Henry's newest release, Great Big Beautiful Life! Plus a discussion of upcoming releases, movie adaptations, and casting for Sunrise on the Reaping. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a five-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, follow us on Instagram and Bluesky at @readirectpodcast, and share our show with a friend.Recent Reads: Trial of the Sun Queen by Nisha TuliDeep Cuts by Holly BrickleyPlus a sh*t ton of hockey romances (DM Emily for details) 2025-04-291h 02The Readirect PodcastUnpopular Book Opinions 2We're here with a short and hilarious episode that had us CRYING laughing on multiple occasions. Today, we're sharing our unpopular bookish opinions, as well as the unpopular opinions of listeners & strangers on Reddit. Want to help us grow our community of book loving nerds? Leave us a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, follow us on Instagram and Bluesky at @redirectpodcast, and share the show with a friend! Recent Reads: Deep End by Ali HazelwoodFamous Last Words by Gillian McCallisterYou Didn't Hear This From Me by Kelsey McKinney2025-04-0841 minThe Readirect PodcastBook Club: Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne CollinsSPOILER ALERT! We will be discussing this book in exhaustive details, proceed with caution! Today, we're doing a deep dive on Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins. The raw audio for this episode was over an hour and a half long, and it still somehow feels like we barely scratched the surface. There's so much to unpack with this new Hunger Games prequel. Tune in to hear our thoughts, reactions, and speculations. Recent Reads: The Roommate Risk by Talia HibbertThe Cadence of Part-Time Poets by motswoloFamous Last Wor...2025-03-251h 21The Readirect PodcastNormal People by Sally RooneyWe're seven years late to reading Sally Rooney's Normal People, a time capsule that takes us back to the 2010s and explores the complex relationship between two Irish teenagers as they navigate high school, college, and early adulthood.If you've been enjoying the podcast, we would humbly ask that you support us in a few very simple ways. Leave us a five-star review on Apple Podcasts, follow us on Instagram and Bluesky at @readirectpodcast, and share our show with a friend. Tune in for our next episode which will cover Sunrise on the Reaping.2025-03-111h 02The Readirect PodcastBook Talk: This Episode is CursedWarning: This Episode is Cursed! Just kidding, but seriously, we tried recording this episode like three separate times and it felt like the forces of nature were conspiring against us! Even in the middle of this recording, we both got phone calls randomly, which we left part of the audio in for so you can see how truly chaotic this episode was. Anyway, we've read a lot lately! If you want the name of the fanfiction I (Emily) bleeped out, feel free to DM us but I can't just put my business out on the i...2025-02-2554 minThe Readirect PodcastOur Favorite Banned & Challenged BooksThis episode may sound familiar, because it is! Tune in for a timely re-release of this older episode where we discuss our favorite banned and challenged books. This episode felt relevant when we first recorded it, and even more so now. We hope you'll consider adding some of our faves to your TBR in 2025! Team Abigail: The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret AtwoodLooking for Alaska by John GreenThe Complete Persepolis by Marjane SatrapiTeam Emily: A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J GainesNative Son by Richard WrightAre You There, God...2025-02-1156 minThe Readirect PodcastBook Club: Onyx Storm by Rebecca YarrosToday, we're putting the ROMA into ROMAntasy with an Onyx Storm deep dive. We yapped for an hour and a half and it still wasn't enough to figure out what happened in this book & theorize what's going to come next. Join us on this journey with our favorite shadow daddy Xaden & clueless heroine Violet. Plus, recent reads: Flirting with Disaster by Naina KumarTrial of the Sun Queen by Nisha J. TuliPlus - follow us on Instagram and Bluesky at @readirectpodcast. 2025-01-311h 35The Readirect PodcastBook Talk: Holiday Reads, 2024 Goals, and 2025 ReleasesWe reflect on our holiday reading experiences and recap our ambitious goals for 2024. Join us as we discuss our favorite books, share insights into reading strategies, and anticipate exciting upcoming releases to fill our TBRs.Emily's Mentions (we know there were many)The Natural Series by Jennifer Lynn BarnesNever Lie and The Housemaid Series by Freida McFaddenI Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston Quicksilver by Callie HartAbigail's MentionsBull Moon Rising by Ruby DixonFourth Wing Audiobook on HooplaRomantic Comedy by Curtis SittenfeldRodham by Curtis Sittenfeld2025 Releases We're E...2025-01-1458 minThe Readirect PodcastReading Rewind: The Lion, the Witch, and the WardrobeOur latest episode revisits the beloved Chronicles of Narnia, focusing particularly on The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, exploring its impact on faith, morality, and our childhood memories. Together, we navigate how these themes resonate differently in adulthood, the complexities of C.S. Lewis’s biography, and the cultural conversations surrounding the stories.Don't forget to follow us on Instagram and Tiktok @readirectpodcast! 2024-12-3153 minThe Readirect PodcastReading Reflections: 2024 in Review + Setting Goals for 2025!In today's episode, we're taking a walk down memory lane for a recap of our reading in 2024! First, we'll revisit our goals for the year and update you on our successes and failures. Then, we're reviewing our five-star reads from 2024 (hint: Abigail is a little more judicious with this honor than Emily). Finally, we'll give you our BEST tips for success in 2025! Books we've read recently...AbigailWinter Street Series by Elin HilderbrandUnder the Mistletoe SeriesEmilyA Lady for a Duke by Alexis HallThe Husbands...2024-12-171h 06The Readirect PodcastBookish Holiday Gift GuideSIGN UP FOR OUR HOLIDAY BOOK SWAP: Click here to participate! Are you looking for the perfect gift for your book-obsessed friend? Look no further, we're here to guide you this year! Listen to this episode to find the perfect gift for...The coastal grandmother in your lifeThe goal-oriented, resolution-setterThe person who's committed to protecting their peaceThe fired-up advocateThe fan-fiction obsessed friendThe Bridgerton fan who's looking to move into the modern eraAnd give us a gift by leaving a five-star review and following us on TikTok and Instagram! 2024-12-0354 minThe Readirect PodcastWicked! The Book, the Musical, and the Movie—Oh My!In preparation for the upcoming movie adaptation of beloved musical, Wicked, we're reading the source material by Gregory Maguire! Let's just be honest, we're not the biggest fans of this book, so if it's one of your beloveds please know we're approaching this with a critical eye. Fair warning! We love the musical, and we're apprehensively excited for the movie adaptation. For more on the Wizard of Oz curse, read this article from Time. As always, let us know your thoughts on our TikTok or Instagram at @readirectpodcast. 2024-11-1949 minThe Readirect PodcastBook Characters We'd Vote ForEscape your Election Day anxiety by exploring an imaginary world where book characters run for office! As always, follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @readirectpodcast. And if you're seeing this before the polls close, don't forget to VOTE! 2024-11-0556 minThe Readirect PodcastListener Book Recommendations 2We're turning to our listeners for another round of book recommendations! We asked, and boy did you answer. We did our best to fit the brief and recommend books to add to your TBR.Plus a discussion of the cover reveals for the new Emily Henry and Hunger Games books! AHH! Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @readirectpodcast. 2024-10-2253 minThe Readirect PodcastBook Club: The Pairing by Casey McQuistonWhat happens when childhood friends reunite on a European food and wine tour? Join us as we explore this story of second chances and personal growth, while also celebrating McQuiston's knack for creating relatable, complex characters. We really liked this interview with Casey McQuiston in Rolling Stone. Abigail also recommends pairing this book with the Somm documentary.Books We Read Recently: We Solve Murders by Richard OsmanA People's History of the United States by Howard ZinnYou're the Problem, It's You by Emma AlbanWe'd also recommend chasing th...2024-10-0848 minThe Readirect PodcastNicholas Sparks Deep Dive | Emotional Manipulation, Poorly Written Women, and Eternal SunsetsWe're here to deep dive and debunk the allure of Nicholas Sparks. What were beloved books to us at one point in our lives, are now bizarre, hilarious, and at times, genuinely disturbing.First, some...concerning allegations about Nicholas Sparks, with receipts. If it's not clear by the content of this episode, we strongly disavow any homophobia, racism, or other discriminatory practices. And, there are simply much better authors to give your time and money to! As for books we've read recently: The Pairing by Casey McQuistonThe Will of the Many by Ja...2024-09-2454 minThe Readirect PodcastCozy Up With Fall ReadsGet ready to expand your fall reading list with our carefully selected book recommendations. Grab your favorite fall beverage and settle in for an episode packed with books that have rich storytelling, emotional depth, and the perfect vibes for autumn. Happy reading!Emily's Fall Picks: Rabbit Hole by Kate BrodyBlake Crouch's entire catalog (specifically Dark Matter, Recursion, or Upgrade!)A Witch's Guide to Fake-Dating a Demon by Sarah HawleyAbigail's Fall Picks: Conclave by Robert HarrisThe Dutch House by Ann PatchettMidnight Feast by Lucy FoleyThe Will of the Many by Ja...2024-09-1051 minThe Readirect PodcastBook Talk: All the Young Dudes, Recent Reads, and PR Dumpster FiresTravis, we gotta talk about it.Eternal disclaimer that we do not support JK Rowling in any way, and encourage partaking in only fanfiction and avoiding her altogether. ANYWAYS! When we tell you to, you can skip to 51:56 to miss all Marauders talk. Abigail has FINALLY read All the Young Dudes by the legendary MsKingBean89, and WE GOTTA TALK ABOUT IT.This is now a Wolfstar podcast, we will not be accepting comments, criticism, or negative reviews at this time. Good vibes only for our favorite gay wizards from...2024-08-271h 10The Readirect PodcastReading Rewind: American Girl Dolls (Meet Kit and Addy!)In today’s episode, we’re doing a deep dive into one of our FAVORITE playthings from childhood—American Girl Dolls and their accompanying books. Joined by very special guest and leading American Girl expert Emma Wright, we’re revisiting the stories that shaped our childhood. Today, we’re revisiting Kit and Addy’s stories, plus a brief mention of Dolls of Our Lives, another book. For more about the making of Addy, we highly recommend this Slate article. Plus, take the AG personality quiz! Finally, read-along with us as we reviewed...2024-08-131h 09The Readirect PodcastLife & Death: Twilight Reimagined | Vampires, Gender Swaps, and Insane NamesDid you know that Stephanie Meyer wrote a gender-swapped Twilight book for the 10-year anniversary of Twilight? Are you looking for your next summer read that will start to make you question what you ever saw in this godforsaken book series in the first place?? Look no further babes, it's Life and Death, Twilight Reimagined! When we say there is fanfiction better than most books, this is the book, and Stephanie Meyer is the fanfiction author who should DROP HER PEN. This book is an atrocity, but one we had a lot of insane fun discussing. 2024-07-301h 11The Readirect PodcastHarry Potter and Naming Your Kids After Dead People (Deep Dive Part 3)We are back with our third (AND FINAL) installment in our Harry Potter Deep Dive. Did we intend for this to be a full and lengthy three parts? Clearly not. However, it was fun, unhinged, and chaotic in the best ways.Listen to this deep dive where we're covering books five, six, and seven. Emily tries to be normal about Sirius and Remus, and chicken-wing Voldemort makes a long-awaited reappearance. As always, we adamantly do not support JK Rowling and her views. To do our part to counteract the negativity she's bringing into...2024-07-161h 26