In this episode, author Paige Harbison joins us to unpack The Other Side of Now—a grief-tinged “what if” that drops a woman into an alternate version of her life. We talk about how loss reshapes identity, the fault lines in friendships when reality shifts, and why the book’s timeline jump works without leaning heavy into sci-fi.

Links

• Official author website: (https://www.paigeharbison.com/)
• The Other Side of Now: (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217388211-the-other-side-of-now)
• Paige Harbison on Goodreads: (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4130856.Paige_Harbison)

Chapters

• (01:57) - Why Kristy picked it
• (05:22) - Book summary (spoiler-free)
• (07:18) - SPOILER ALERT!
• (07:36) - Kristy's review
• (09:37) - Jon's review
• (11:44) - What about the 'what if'
• (16:17) - Reshaping choices, values, and relationships
• (23:16) - Fame and identity
• (25:55) - The reveal
• (29:34) - You're not the person I know!
• (33:40) - What would your alternate reality look like?
• (35:25) - Interview with the author
• (01:06:27) - Wrapping up

For this episode, Kristy made Jon read Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson—a thriller where a 27-year-old, given one week to live after a Halloween attack, decides to investigate her own impending murder. We talk about the impending tension and who to trust when everyone’s a suspect. Listen for our takes on character choices, twists, and whether the premise sticks the landing.

Links

• Not Quite Dead Yet (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/220223963-not-quite-dead-yet)
• Holly Jackson on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18229614.Holly_Jackson)

Chapters

• (03:20) - Book summary (spoiler-free)
• (04:18) - SPOILER ALERT!
• (04:41) - Jon's review
• (06:15) - Kristy's review
• (08:26) - Jet as a narrator
• (13:04) - A few days left to live
• (16:50) - Police inadequacies
• (20:01) - Who did Jon suspect
• (25:55) - Trust Luke?
• (27:30) - Good & evil
• (29:43) - The final chapters
• (34:39) - Reaction to Luke's decision
• (37:22) - Did it feel YA to Jon?
• (39:19) - Final thoughts

In this episode, we discuss Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by Jessica Guerrieri, joined by the author herself. It’s a powerful story of motherhood, identity, and the phantom life that lingers in the background. We unpack the choices, struggles, and regrets that make Leah O’Connor’s journey unforgettable.

Links

• Official author website: (https://www.jessicaguerrieri.net/)
• Book on Goodreads: (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/216052784-between-the-devil-and-the-deep-blue-sea)
• Jessica Guerrieri on Goodreads: (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/50861087.Jessica_Guerrieri)

Chapters

• (01:23) - Why Krsity picked this book
• (04:05) - Book summary (clean)
• (05:29) - SPOILER ALERT
• (05:45) - Kristy's review
• (07:09) - Jon's review
• (08:30) - A metaphorical title
• (10:16) - A phantom life
• (15:04) - Sympathetic or infuriating
• (18:07) - Reliable or unreliable
• (20:38) - Shaping a sense of self
• (23:23) - Leah’s relationships
• (27:26) - Paving another path
• (30:24) - Making different choices
• (32:53) - Failures or societal pressures
• (35:03) - More from the ending?
• (39:39) - Interview with Jessica
• (01:08:49) - Final thoughts

Kristy and Jon dive into Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid, a sweeping novel set in NASA’s 1980s shuttle program. They unpack Joan Goodwin’s path from professor to astronaut, the heartbreaking tension of mission STS-LR9, and the slow-burn love story that had them publicly sobbing by the pool. With laughs, tears, and plenty of side-eye for Barbara, they explore ambition, sacrifice, and what it means to find love among the stars.

Links

• Official author website: (https://taylorjenkinsreid.com/)
• Atmosphere: (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/220817728-atmosphere)
• Taylor Jenkins Reid on Goodreads: (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6572605.Taylor_Jenkins_Reid)

Chapters

• (04:23) - Jon's review
• (06:26) - Kristy's review
• (07:51) - The storytelling
• (10:54) - Cast of characters
• (15:17) - More than friendship
• (17:56) - Thoughts on the love story
• (21:17) - NASA program
• (25:27) - Barbara, Barbara, Barbara
• (28:05) - Space vs Earth
• (30:48) - A romance exposed
• (34:51) - No one left behind
• (39:06) - THe ending
• (44:56) - The ending being the ending
• (48:25) - Wanna go to space, puppy?
• (51:46) - Final thoughts

We’re back in the world of Basgiath—and things are darker, deadlier, and dragon-ier than ever. In this episode, we dive into Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros to unpack the twists, the trauma, and THAT final reveal. Violet’s world is crumbling and Xaden’s fate hangs in the balance. So. Many. Thoughts.

Links

• Official author website (https://rebeccayarros.com/)
• Onyx Storm on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/209439446-onyx-storm)
• Rebecca Yarros on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7539785.Rebecca_Yarros)

Chapters

• (02:00) - Podcast format
• (03:49) - RomanceCon '25
• (07:32) - Kristy's review
• (10:15) - Jon's review
• (13:22) - Adding to the world building
• (17:08) - Magicless
• (20:13) - Andarna's teenage sass
• (21:14) - How Andarna was treated
• (25:12) - Are there others?
• (26:15) - The second signet
• (29:57) - Other second signets
• (32:56) - Building their own army
• (35:37) - Violet's dad
• (38:43) - Asher's excerpts
• (41:41) - The last 100pgs Pt1
• (46:27) - The last 100pgs Pt2
• (50:03) - Bonds
• (52:44) - Final thoughts

In this episode, we discuss The Love Haters by Katherine Center, a witty, heart-filled rom-com where a jaded producer meets her match in a real-life hero. We discuss the importance of self-love, sibling rivalries, and why George Bailey is a great name for a dog.

Links

• Official author website (https://katherinecenter.com/)
• The Love Haters on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217387810-the-love-haters)
• Katherine Center on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/409113.Katherine_Center)

Chapters

• (00:46) - Intro
• (02:11) - Special announcement
• (02:57) - Book summary
• (04:06) - SPOILER ALERT!
• (04:40) - Kristy's review
• (06:03) - Jon's review
• (07:13) - Katie's inner dialogue
• (11:55) - Culture of appreciation
• (14:56) - Take me to Key West
• (17:37) - Lover hater yes or no?
• (19:12) - Humor levels
• (20:15) - Sibling rivalries
• (23:11) - Fake dating?
• (25:22) - A collective hallucination
• (27:53) - A realistic survival?
• (30:46) - George Bailey
• (31:54) - Discussing the author's note
• (34:41) - Recommendation

In this episode, we dive into Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry—a genre-bending story of rival writers, buried secrets, and one enigmatic woman at the center of it all. We unpack parental expectations, weird endings, and why being 5'7" is apparently a plot point.

Links

• Official author website (https://www.emilyhenrybooks.com/)
• Great Big Beautiful Life (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/218559595-great-big-beautiful-life)
• Emily Henry on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13905555.Emily_Henry)

Chapters

• (02:07) - Book summary
• (03:48) - SPOILER ALERT!
• (04:29) - Jon's review
• (05:41) - Kristy's review
• (08:46) - Genre mixing
• (11:05) - Crossing lines of love and work
• (14:09) - Parental expectations
• (17:09) - Margaret's story
• (19:58) - Media's impact on the soul
• (22:15) - The twist
• (24:27) - What would Jon have done?
• (27:32) - Margaret's decision
• (30:00) - Wanna be famous?!
• (31:34) - Three versions of a story
• (33:34) - Who Jon would tell-all on
• (36:19) - Final thoughts

In this week’s episode, we’re talking The Trade Off by Samantha Greene Woodruff—a sharp, fast-paced historical fiction set in 1920s New York. Join us as we dig into ambition, gender roles, market chaos, and what it means to be the smartest (and most ignored) person in the room.

Links

• Official author website (https://www.samanthawoodruff.com/)
• The Trade Off (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/207644520-the-trade-off)
• Samantha Greene Woodruff on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21418696.Samantha_Greene_Woodruff)

Chapters

• (00:46) - Skip intro
• (01:24) - A special guest?!
• (04:11) - Book summary
• (05:17) - SPOILER ALERT!
• (05:47) - Kristy's review
• (07:02) - Jon's review
• (09:29) - Impressions of Bea
• (11:50) - Shifting social status
• (14:30) - Bea & Sophie
• (16:44) - Henny & Millie
• (18:52) - Jake
• (22:59) - The Great Crash
• (25:13) - What if Jon was Bea?
• (27:27) - Trust & perseverance
• (29:49) - Oh, Nate
• (35:31) - Pauline
• (38:27) - Introducing our special guest!
• (48:05) - Interview debrief
• (48:33) - Recommendations